#Qrow's semblance screws up any attempt

[nectaric]

@littleblackqrow asked: calm down, you are safe (for Tai

the only thought given any sanctuary inside of taiyang's mind before he tumbled over the edge of the cliff into darkness was please, not again. but his plea fell on deaf ears, panic crawling up his throat in record time. his heartbeat grew erratic, each breath coming faster than the last. his eyes welled with tears but he screwed them shut immediately, collapsing onto the sofa as he attempted to regain any semblance of control over his own body.

he was used to this now -- a cruel reality, that despite his best efforts to get better, he was still trapped in this cycle.

taiyang almost failed to notice qrow slip into the room, hands clutched over his chest and eyes shut. it was only when his kind crow spoke that tai came back down to earth, bleary eyes searching for him in desperation.

calm down, you are safe.

tai wanted to believe it. he wanted to believe it so desperately it made his chest ache more than before, tear-filled eyes locked on qrow's as he fought to regain his breath. the moments passed slowly, but eventually his heartrate began to settle, unable to tear his gaze away from qrow's face. the last push he needed was zwei's gentle weight in his lap, settling there to provide him comfort as he had been trained to do.

taiyang took a shaky, but decidedly steady breath at long last. blinking back a few more tears, the huntsman reached out to clutch qrow's hand in his. "keep talking?" he asked hoarsely. "i like your voice."

#littleblackqrow #m: taiyang. #panic attack /

[drunkscythmaster]

STRQtober Day 22: Chef

“That looks… great…” Tai tried to look encouraging. “It’s a… good effort…” Summer added, trying not to wince at the mostly charcoal pizza. “We didn’t set the kitchen on fire this time.” Qrow tried to sound optimistic. “Really, Qrow and I just shouldn’t cook,” Raven decided, sighing. 

No one disagreed.

#STRQtober #Summer Rose #taiyang xiao long #raven branwen #qrow banwen #STRQ #Raven and Qrow can't cook to save a life #Day 22 #chef #50 word stories #Qrow's semblance screws up any attempt #Raven just doesn't have the patience unless it's tea

[itsclydebitches]

"I hate that a woman who didn't want to be a mother is never allowed to be anything other than what Yang sees her as." — excuse me anon? raven didn't Have to become a mother, you're telling me a technologically advanced world like remnant didn't have birth control or abortions? there were a million & one things raven could've done that didn't involve neglecting her newborn or abusing the adult yang grew into. stop with the raven apologism, yeesh.

Like taking the simple statement “But Raven was allowed to leave the Salem fight,” it’s not so much what she did but how she did it. The fact remains that we simply don’t know anything about Yang’s conception, Remnant health care, or the family dynamics involved (who might have wanted a kid straight out of school and who might not), which just leaves us with the action “Raven decided she didn’t want to raise Yang.” Which I have no problem with. That’s adoption. Mother carries a child to term (for whatever reason), decides she doesn’t want to be a mother (for whatever reason), and allows someone else to care for the child, in this case a very loving ex and his new girlfriend/wife. That’s all fine. 

The problem is how Raven treated Yang after that. She didn’t remove herself entirely from the family, which seems to have left Tai and Qrow in the awkward spot of telling Yang, “It’s complicated.” Is your mother coming back? Does she intend to be a part of your life? Does she care about you at all? We don’t know because she ran off with her horrible bandit tribe and only talks to us when she wants something (more on that below). It wasn’t a clean break with a hard, but equally clear story to tell a child: No, your biological mother isn’t a part of your life. Summer is your mother. So please don’t ever, say, go traversing very dangerous woods in an attempt to find her. A clean break would have allowed Yang’s family to definitively say that Raven wasn’t ready/willing/capable of being a part of the family, answering the, “Why did you leave me?” question. 

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Raven didn’t become a non-mother part of Yang’s life either. Which would have been really easy considering she has a portal semblance that takes her right to her family on a whim. She could have been the “complicated” family member who visits every few months, knowing Yang but not being close to her as a mom would. It still would have been hard, but at least it would have created opportunities for them to talk, providing that closure, and likewise given Yang an answer to that question, “Hey, why did you leave?” 

Instead, Raven tried to maintain this in-between status that (clearly) really messed with Yang. She’s not a mother who divorced her husband (or whatever relationship she and Tai had), permanently removing herself from that dynamic. Nor is she someone who divorced Tai but visits when she can, letting Yang have a relationship with both parents. She turned herself into a mystery, even more-so when she decided “Okay I’ll save you ONCE but never again.” How cruel is that? Not just the implication that Yang is only worth saving once, but the act of unexpectedly entering her life at the age of 16 and then leaving again via portal. There she absolutely abandoned Yang, leaving her with those same fears of, “Why aren’t I good enough for you to stick around?” We also know that she uses her family like chess pieces, only calling on them when she thinks it can be beneficial to her - “Can’t a girl just catch up with family?” 

Qrow: Did you know Yang lost her arm?

Raven: That’s not - 

Qrow: Rhetorical question. I know you know. It’s just obnoxious you’d bring up family and then carry on like your own daughter doesn’t exist. 

Raven: I saved her!

Qrow: Once. Because that was your rule, right? Real mom of the year material, sis. 

[Raven proceeds to grab Qrow and demands to know, again, whether Salem has the relic]

Does Yang losing her arm endanger Raven? No. Does it help Raven? No. So right now Raven doesn’t care. She’s going to turn the conversation back to herself: how much power does Salem have and how likely am I to feel the heat for it? 

Raven: I just want to know what we’re up against

Qrow: Which ‘we’ are you referring to? 

Qrow knows that ‘we’ doesn’t include him, or his allies, or the rest of his family - including Yang. The ‘we’ is Raven, first and foremost, and whatever bandits are willing to follow and (in Vernal/the maiden’s case) die for her. She might “lead her people” but so far we’ve only seen her use those people to help keep herself alive. Even if we work under the assumption that both women are outliers (which I don’t think we should), Raven’s people are “killers and thieves.” She leads a group that ransacks others to the extent that it draws grimm and leaves devastation in its wake. This is what Raven’s leadership looks like:  

Her justification? “The weak die. The strong live.” 

Raven thinks she should be supported because they’re family by blood, even though she hasn’t been there for them. Raven thinks she can save Yang once and then be rewarded for it, as if she hasn’t ignored her for the rest of her life. Hell, Raven could have even screwed up throughout Yang’s childhood (she’s human!) but then apologized later, admitting that she hasn’t done right by her. Instead, Raven has two significant conversations with Yang and in both she refuses to take any responsibility for her own actions. Ozpin wasn’t strong enough to beat Salem so she had to abandon everyone. The spring maiden wasn’t strong enough so she had to kill her. Even if Raven’s negligence had been completely unintentional (which I don’t think it was), she hasn’t demonstrated any true remorse for what she’s done to Yang, intentional or otherwise. When something bad happens it’s never her fault. 

If Raven had made a clean break from Yang that would have been fine. If she’d become a part of Yang’s life as something other than her mother that also would have been fine. But Raven uses Yang like a tool. She saves her so she can hold that over Qrow’s head later. She becomes interested in her only when she’s powerful, trying to tempt her into the tribe. Yang isn’t a daughter to Raven, she’s a potential weapon, a shield, or whatever else Raven might need her to be. In the vault, Yang becomes her new decoy target. And if Raven were to ever deem Yang “weak,” she’d abandon her completely, or even kill her as a “mercy.” Like she did with the spring maiden. Like she did with the people of Shion. Like she did with every hero in the story when she decided that supporting Salem had a better chance of resulting in her survival. Raven didn’t abandon Yang because she was a mother who decided she didn’t want a kid. Raven abandoned Yang because she’s stayed in her life just enough to treat her like a tool instead of like a daughter, or even just a stranger. There’s a lot that I don’t trust about Yang’s perspective, but when she says her mom is an abandoning coward? 100% agree. 

#rwby #rwde #mymetas #ironpines

[razorblade180]

Rosebud prep 8

[Tai’s House]

Today was a special day. Lately Ruby has been having a life’s worth of those. From the excitement of Weiss’s luxurious baby shower, to the knowing what it’s like to not see her own toes. She’s roughly roughly eight months pregnant and has been assaulted with every conceivable thing they pregnancy had to offer. It was very fortunate that not only had she married a patient man. She married one with enough sisters to handle any obstacle. Truly Ruby has lucked out once again. Combat skirts and corsets had been ditched for months and replaced with Tai’s oversized T-shirts and her red sweat pants. It was scary how used she had gotten to do nothing. The thought of weighing herself gave her dread to the point Jaune keeps track of the number without revealing it. Everyday there was pain coursing through her feet and the baby has obviously gotten her high spirits because boy did it kick hard! Ruby loved every moment of it.

Right now the woman sat in one of Maria’s many rocking chairs and enjoyed the fresh autumn air. The sky is painted an intoxicating orange that gave her chills. Her hand on her stomach as she lightly hummed. As much as she loved fairytales, nursery rhymes escaped her mind often. The only song that was constant in her mind was Gold since Yang had lovingly lulled the girl to sleep with it all the time growing up. It would just be another thing to bond over along with being an autumn born child. At this point she was crossing her fingers that this kid would get something from Jaune. Her train of thought was broken the moment her gaze went away from the sky and back to the porch’s other guests.

Ruby:*smiling* You know y’all didn’t have to take time off for me right?

Yang:You are actually insane if you believe for even a second that I am going to be across the world when you go into labor. I will be around for my baby sister giving birth to her baby. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

Ruby:Blake can you please tell your future wife that being here for a month is crazy and better spent planning the wedding she’s dreamed of?

Blake:Do you think I would be here if I agreed with you? This baby tops whatever plans we have. Yang has already bought a shirt that says “hot aunt” on the front.

Ruby:I wanna believe you’re joking, but I absolutely know your not.

Weiss:I begged her not to.

Yang:Then she found one in white.

Weiss:Now we match.

Ruby:You didn’t....

Weiss:We both know how I feel about kids. Better believe that shirt is hanging up in a proud spot in my closet.

Blake:If it makes you feel better they also had a black one. We are all still color correct.

Ruby:And I thought Jaune was losing it over this bundle of joy. All of you are no better.

Yang:Where is the baby daddy anyways? I thought he’d never leave your side.

Jaune:*opens door* He hasn’t.

Tai:*walks out with ice tea pitcher* He was just helping me in the kitchen.

Jaune:What did I miss?

Ruby:Yang is replacing you as clinging blonde who loves this baby.

Yang:Oh don’t act like you don’t love it.

The older sister walks over as tea is passed around. She kneels down and gently wraps her arms around Ruby; laying her head on the baby bump and making her little sis giggle.

Yang:Hey there little rascal. Your mother thinks we’re all looney for loving you so much but she’s just playing cool. I can tell out of everyone that she’s thrilled the most. Just wait, I’ll gonna smother you with love the way only an aunt can. This family is pretty noisy but we know you’ll get used to it.

Ruby:Pfft, now I feel bad. I- Yang....?

Yang:Right now the whole family can’t be here but that’s okay. You’re gonna love uncle Ren and auntie Nora. If anyone who’s an expert on kids by now it’s them. Not to mention your great uncle Qrow. He might look grumpy but he’s a big softie. His semblance makes him wary to be around Ruby right now but I’m sure you’ll get along great.

Ruby:Yang....

Yang:Am I forgetting anyone really important? Well there’s-

Ruby:YANG!!

Yang:Huh???

Ruby:I uhhh, I think my water just broke.

Everyone:......

Jaune:.......WHAT!?

Suddenly Ruby hunches over like the wind got knocked out of her. Yang quickly jumps to her feet and is fully alert and caught of gaurd.

Yang:Right now!?

Ruby:Ri....agh! Yeah it’s definitely right now!

Tai:I’ll drive!!!

Blake:I’ll call ahead!!!!

Weiss:I’ll make sure we have everything. This is actually happening!

Jaune:Alright Ruby, up you go. Let’s go have a baby....

Ruby:Ugh, this gonna hurt a lot isn’t it?

xxxx

Ruby: AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Doctor M:You’re doing great Ruby. Just a little bit more to go I promise!

Ruby:It........really hurts........

She had been screaming for at least half an hour now; not that she could really tell. First it was from the contractions but now came the time to actually push. Desperately she tried to control her breathing as did nothing but focus on the task at hand. Her hair clinged to her forehead that was covered in sweat that coated everywhere. Ruby never felt so tired before. Fighting Salem was ten times easier than this hands down. Once or twice Ruby looked to her right to see Jaune looking at her with nothing but vigor and determination; silently letting her know that he was here and that she could do this. His hand being grabbed like a vice by hers as she nodded. Screw the pain, the sweat, the blinding lights; none of that mattered. She had a job to do and she knew that it’ll be worth it. The only thing that mattered was to-

Doctor M: PUSH!!!!!

Ruby:AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

The echoes of scream mightier than a grimm dragon filled the halls off Vale’s hospital. Everyone sat in the waiting room in nail biting anticipation. Few people around them needed to ask what had them so tense. Consciously Yang knew the reason for the screaming yet it didn’t calm her big sister instincts as she paced around the tile floor. Each scream making her flinch hard. She doesn’t think she ever heard Ruby in such pain. Blake saw her partner gradually start to unravel bit by bit and took her hand in reassurance.

Blake:She’ll be alright.

Yang:I know but.....

Tai:Trust me when I say Summer screamed louder. I know Jaune must be scared to death right now.

Blake:My mom apparently sounded like some primal beast with me. I hope I don’t sound too bad.

Yang:....

Blake:What?

Yang:You....want kids? *blushing*

Blake:Yeah. Wait, do you not?

Yang:Oh I want kids we just never really mentioned it before. That’s just...phew, anyone else light headed?

Weiss:Yang please go sit down and I’ll go get you some water.

Yang:*sits* Thank you.

The Heiress wonders off at brisk speed. I’m truth, Weiss also really couldn’t take hearing the screams of her partner happen in intervals. She was granted a reprieve however since the vending machine was a few floors down; the sounds being almost like whispers. The glare from the setting sun hurt her stress filled eyes to the point she wanted to cover the window in solid ice. Two water bottles finally came out and Weiss immediately put one of them on her forehead with her eyes closed.

Weiss:(Ruby I love you pieces but you’re making my head pound)

Thump Thump Thump....

Weiss:*opens eyes* That...that wasn’t my head.

Thump Thump Thump....

The noise continues in random succession as Weiss confusingly walks around the area until it eventually gets louder. Her head turns to see a door completely on the the other end slightly jiggle in beat of the thumping with a nurse by it. The blue sign next to it quickly told her what room it was.

Weiss:The restroom???

xxxx

Doctor M: Alright Ruby, just give me one more big push. You’re in the home stretch.

Ruby: huff...Sweatie..?huff

Jaune:I’m here. *tighting grip*

Ruby:I know. *smirks* Ready to lose our bet?

Jaune:*smiles* Only one way to find out.

Doctor M:All set!?

Ruby:Bring it on.

Doctor M:One three then. One...Two...THREE!!!

Call it her second, conviction, you can call it the absolute power of the Gods and women itself. Regardless of the label, Ruby Rose summoned every once of strength she had left to push as hard as she could; a kind of strength that she didn’t even know was possible at all let alone something she could possess. With it came a scream but from the pain. It was resolve. Love. Soon the screamed was met another that silenced hers. It was small yet so mighty that Ruby couldn’t help but succumb to tears. She wasn’t the only one. Jaune braced his arm against her hospital bed while his right hand covered his mouth; tears forming as easily as rain.

The doctor grinned at both of them as she held the source of the small scream wrapped up in a blanket in her arms. All Ruby could do is put her hands out in an eager and tired attempt to hold finally see her baby; the doctor didn’t make her wait a second longer and put it gently in her arms. Time felt like it stopped; reality slipping away. The only thing that remained was her, Jaune, and the new addition to their life. Her finger brushing a head of black and faded red hair out of the way to reveal eyes that dazzled like the moon; like hers. Ruby slowly pulled it closer to her chest to embrace tiny warmth further. Jaune reached out to cradled the both of them and doing his best not to fall apart.

Jaune:Doctor, can you do the honors?

Doctor M:Congratulations to your healthy baby boy.

Ruby:A boy. Jaune we have a beautiful baby boy. *sniffling*

Doctor M:Looks like someone needs to be fitted for a dress.

Jaune:Wouldn’t be the first time. I’d lose a thousand times over for this moment.

Tai:Oh my goodness...

The new parents look up to see Tai, Yang, and Blake crowding the doorway in awe. Ruby waves them in one by one happily seeing their face light up as they get closer.

Ruby:Hey you guys. Come meet the newest member of the group. Dustin Arc Rose.

Tai:I’m a grandpa.....*tearing up*

Blake:He is gorgeous.

Yang:How are you feeling?

Ruby:Like I fought a hundred battles in a row. Jaune I have no idea how your mother did this eight time. Arc’s really are a sturdy bunch.

Jaune:Trust and believe that no one knows what makes her such a trooper but hey, you’re one too now. Is there anything the number one huntress can’t do?

Ruby:Not as long as she has you. All of you.

Yang:Can I hold him please?

Doctor M:Hold up. As much as I love creating beautiful moments, still have a job to do which ruins them. I gotta clean the little guy off properly and make sure he’s actually all ready to go. Those screams where a good sign and if he’s anything like his parents then this won’t take too long. Ruby I hate to be a mood killer but....

Reluctantly she handed over her baby and received a wink from the doctor as she exited the room. She already missed him but was immediately surrounded by family smiles. Tai handed her another well deserved pillow for his daughter. Adrenaline and holding Dustin was all that kept her body from instant fatigue black out but now it was trying to catch her. Sleep never sounded so good.

Jaune:You okay there Rubes?

Ruby:You think the doctor would be upset if you used your aura to give me a pick me up?

Jaune:I feel like this type of tired is above my threshold.

Tai:If you’re anything like your mother then you’ll bounce back better than ever.

Ruby:Hehe, looks like I’m getting cooler from here on out.

Yang:That’s nothing new. Just rest up, you can have my water whenever Wei-Oh my god Weiss missed all of this because of me!!!!

Ruby:I was wondering where she was.

Blake:She’s going to be so livid.

Yang:Wh...who knows? Maybe she will be completely calm about the whole thing?

Weiss:*runs in* H E Y ! ! ! Tell me I’m not late!?

Yang:Ahh! I’m sorry! We already saw the baby and he’s adorable! He’ll be back in a few minutes with- *turns around*

Yang’s words got caught in her throat as she saw the shaken expression on Weiss’s face. Urgency filled the shorter girls eyes but that’s not what stunned th room. Weiss’s clothes, they were covered in blood. The Two more sets of footsteps come from behind her. One was a trembling nurse who was also covered in blood as she supported a body around her shoulder. The person was bleeding from their torso and looked half dead; their head hanging and in ruined surgical attire. The room went pale and stomachs dropped when they saw person raise their head with fading eyes. It was doctor Michaels.

Doctor Michaels:Tr.....p tr...a..p

Tears ran down her face before her body went limp. The nurse layed her on the ground and was about to rush in to grab tools but immediately stopped at the sight of the doctors face. She gone. Ruby felt completely numb. If this was the doctor....

Jaune:EVERYBODY FAN OUT!!!

Ruby watched Jaune and her team dash out the room immediately and slpit off; busting open Every single door they came across. Tai took the nurses hand and guided her and the doctor to Ruby before heading out the door way.

Tai:Lock this door and call the authorities immediately!

Ruby:D...dad? W....where’s my baby?

He watched tears form in Ruby’s eyes. What could he say? What do you say? His hands clenched tightly before running off and joining the search. Time was everything. The nurse immediately closed the door and followed Tai’s instruction. Ruby reached for the bed rail to pull herself up but her arm went limp in a second. Making her fall back against the pillow. She tried again but the outcome was the same. Not even her legs would respond properly as she desperately tried to move before the nurse restrained her so she didn’t injure herself. Giving birth had taken to much energy. Ruby was a sitting duck.

Ruby:Let me go!!! I gotta find my son!

Nurse:You are in no condition to move! Right now you’re-

knock knock knock

Both of them shifted attention to the door. There wasn’t anymore knocking. Instead the door handle slowly grew brighter and brighter until it melted off completely. That was all Ruby needed to immediately feel terror and rage grip her soul. The nurse reached for phone but was immediately struck with glass right through her stomach through the newly made hole. She didn’t feel pain at first; just overwhelming heat ripping through her body as the door opened. Revealing Ruby’s fear complete with an old outfit she hadn’t seen since she was fifteen.

Cinder:Helpless. That’s what you were going to say right?

xxxx

Yang and Jaune raced down the hall in full force. She recklessly swung open every door to her right and knocked into people while Jaune did the same one the left. Nothing. With each failure they got faster and faster as they raced up the stairs to the higher floors. Yang grabbed her scroll to call Weiss and Blake who where going down.

Yang:Please tell me you found him!

Blake:Not yet!

Weiss:Damnit!!! There’s too many rooms and people!

Jaune:KEEP LOOKING! They couldn’t have-

Yang:THERE!

His eyes shifted to see the “Doctor” standing in the elevator holding the baby; his baby. The person locked eyes with the bonds as they struggled to reach the kidnapper before the doors closed. Unfortunately it was in vain. Halfway way there they watched the door closed on a sadistic smirk but that’s not all. Yang’s eyes went deep red watching the set of emerald eyes turn pink and brown. With one powerful step she lunged over all the people and pried the doors open to see the elevator car going up fast. If wasn’t for the baby she would’ve snapped the cable right then and there.

Yang:IT’S FUCKING NEO!!!

Blake:What!!!

Weiss:Does that mean Cinder is here?

Yang:She’s heading to the roof!

Tai:Damnit all! I’m heading back to Ruby!

Blake:You’ll need back up. I’ll head back too. Everyone else go to the roof.

Yang:Okay. Jaune let’s-

He was already moving towards the staircase. His aura washed over his body in a divine white and pushed his body beyond its normal limits. Increasing his speed dramatically. Yang followed his lead by jumping of the railing and propelling herself upwards like a rocket with her arm.

A few floors down, Weiss smashed a window and jumped out. She waved her left hand to form a glyph platform then made a line of them running along the entire building. She ran up towards the top while Blake stopped at the floor Tai was on and continued back to Ruby’s room. This was beyond bad; they were completely blindsided. Worst of all, it had been in a hospital. They were weaponless.

xxxx

Cinder:Surprised to see me little Rose? Well, I guess you’re not that little anymore now are you? You seemed to surprised to see me. I guess that makes since; it’s been a few years since our last encounter. Longer since you seen me in this.

Ruby:Cinder. I....I spared your life....

Cinder:Bet your regretting that decision now aren’t you?

The nurse tried to move until the blood in her veins lit up along with the shard in her. Bringing the woman to her knees and hacking like a feral animal. Ruby leaned forward before the weight of Cinder’s grimm arm pressed her back down. The nails slightly digging into her neck. Ruby’s eyes lit up dimly before fading and draining away what little energy she had.

Cinder:I wouldn’t try to move. It’ll only get worse.

Ruby:Leave her alone Cinder or-

Cinder:Or what? Silver eye blast? You can’t even sit up. Kids really are the death of us huh? It’s almost sad really.

Ruby:If you want me then fine. Just....cough let everyone else go.

Cinder:Pfft, typical. Always trying to play the hero. Always thinking your above others; stronger than them.

Ruby:You’re deranged.

Cinder:And you are pathetic. Brain dead even. Are all honest souls like this or just you? I wonder how that kid is the same? Or at least, would he have been? Given the chance to grow up.

Ruby couldn’t do anything but listen as Cinder laughed at her. Tears rolled down her face uncontrollably. Grabbing Cinder’s wrist weakly in desperation and despair.

Cinder:That’s what I wanted to see. How long has it been? Since you’ve felt so powerless.

Ruby:Please.......

Cinder:Hmm?

Ruby:If you want me dead then just do it already but please......leave him out of this. He has nothing to do with this!

Cinder:*grabs harder* He has everything to do with this. Listen closely, I’m not gonna kill you. That doesn’t settle what you did to me. After all you didn’t kill me. No, you killed my dreams; my perception this world. You made me realize I wasn’t as strong as I thought. Because of you and your friends my dreams of ruling under Salem and being on top are history. Now it’s your turn for dreams to die. I’m killing your happy ending and the best part is it’s all because you had to take the moral high ground. Reap what you sow right? Eye for an eye. Speaking of which, I guess I have a two brand new ones. You think his left or right eyes would look best on me.

Ruby:I’m going to kill you....

Cinder:Little late don’t you think? Maybe in your dreams.

Monstrous fingers squeezed tighter until Ruby’s vision went blurry. Seconds passed until she blacked out; never standing a chance. Cinder stared at her work. Even the sight of Ruby knocked out and still crying made her furious but she kept composure then left the room. She didn’t get one step in before Tai and Blake turned the corner to see her leaving the room. Both of them rushed her instinct but wasn’t expecting Cinder to yank the nurse out the room and throwing her towards them. The glass glew brighter than ever until bursting into flames and spreading it throughout the hall. The nurse screamed before turning into ash and distracting the pair. By the time they got through the flames, Cinder had vanished. Tai immediately ran into the room to check on Ruby.

Tai:She’s breathing but roughed up!

Blake:Guys we saw Cinder but she got away! Did you get Dustin!?

......

Blake:Yang!? Weiss!? Jaune!? Someone answer me!!

xxxx

They didn’t feel tired or scared or anything for that matter. The three of them just simply ran and ran and didn’t once stop. Never stumbling. Never losing sight of their goal. All at once they arrived at their destination. Weiss over the edege if the building, Yang through the door to the room, and was immediately followed by Jaune. The trio locking eyes on Neo and closing in around her with arms stretched out. Just to be met the sound and sight of shattering glass the moment they can in contact. Their surroundings crumbled like their resolve. It was only them on the roof; staring at a helicopter fly away into the dreadful sunset and out of their reach in silence. Yang’s mouth open in an attempt to scream but was stopped by Weiss grabbing the girls hand. The fiery rage died painfully the moment she turned towards her. Weiss’s other hand was clinging to Jaune’s as the man dropped to the ground shaking in uncontrollably. The aura around him dying down to a complete stop; revealing tears running down his face.

Only one person should be screaming but he didn’t. He just watched. Yang’s red eyes turned back to normal and bent down towards Jaune with Weiss. The two women put their arms around him and held tightly. Finally he broke the silence; Wailing and screaming at the world for doing this to him. To Ruby. All while Weiss and Yang sunk into the shared sorrow. Tears staining Jaune’s shirt, but they never screamed. Only one person should be screaming right now. The man who just lost his son.

Part 7

#rwby rosebud #rwby #ruby rose #weiss schnee #blake belladonna #yang xiao long #jaune arc #taiyang xiao long #cinder fall #neo politan #im crying too #rwby lancaster

[fire-the-headcanons]

Tai scratched his neck with a thoughtful frown at the floor. "Have you told Professor Carmine you can carve?"

"No. …Why?"

"Custom parts for weapons. Embellishments, mostly. There was always a two-week wait at Signal for anything they didn't already have the molds for. With all the professional Huntsmen that come here for repairs, I bet it's even worse."

"Hey, yeah, I never thought of that," Summer said, pausing her rifling through the paints. "Wouldn't that be cool? Your stuff being part of real Huntresses' weapons!"

"Summer, we're not fake Huntsmen," Tai complained.

Follow the Beacon Summer—Care Package

[Link to Masterpost]

[The promised fluff! And @ranger-lcat‘s favorite chapter, actually.

TW: slight existentialism, jump to CARE PACKAGE! in all caps to skip]

"Oh—you're that kid."

Summer paused, the pen dwindling to a stop halfway through her signature. "...Oakley?"

"Are you okay?" they asked, sliding the box onto the counter. "You seemed a little... freaked out, on Halloween. I thought later maybe I should have broken character."

"N-no, it was fine!" And not at all embarrassing. She hurried to scrawl the rest of her signature. 

Slush sprayed under her boots as she headed back to the dorm. You never expect to know the person under the sheet. But they were back in reality now, and she didn't have to stand back and watch helplessly while people were hurt.

Starting with the ones in front of her.  

"CARE PACKAGE!" Summer shouted, kicking the door open a little harder than intended. It banged into Qrow's desk loud enough to send half the room diving for cover. "Whoops. Sorry."

"It's gigantic," Tai scoffed, believably, jumping up to help her carry it in. "What's in here?" They dumped it at the foot of Summer's bed with a muffled floof. 

...It was bigger than she'd expected. How much did Huang have lying around? It wasn't like anything of Summer's would fit either of the twins. "I guess Mom didn't know which paints to send, so they just sent everything." She slid Gungnir's arrow from the barrel and sliced through the tape. "Aaaaand it's a bunch of your old clothes."

"I asked him to send, like, two things. Half of these don't even fit me anymore… I thought we donated this." He held up an old band T-shirt—most of the lettering had peeled off, but the bone-like patches sewn on to imitate a Beowolf's pattern remained. She was reasonably sure it wasn't Tai's, either, his dad was the one who liked that group. Then again, Summer had mentioned the twins wearing Grimm colors on a phone call sometime in September. I guess they remembered.

"Cool." 

They both glanced at Raven, who hurriedly looked back at her textbook.

"Then it's yours," Tai said, tossing it right over the pages. "Take whatever you want, the rest is going to Ramparts. Here they are!" he shouted, pulling some of his orange zip-off cargo pants from the bottom of the pile. "I knew I had another pair! ...What's this?" he muttered with genuine confusion, drawing a note out of the pocket.

Summer grabbed a loose corner and dragged it open. "Hey kids, we've been too busy to get into Vale, could you drop this stuff off next time you're in town, Claret and Huang."

"That explains why they have some stuff in here too," Tai said, pulling a deep red skirt from the box with his free hand. Summer fought back a smile. It was perfect—her mother was about Raven's size, and while her red had a bit more of a purplish hue it was definitely closer than Tai's orange. Huang had thrown in some plain brown pants for Qrow, too, by the looks of it—

"My paints!" she gushed, pulling a large plastic toolbox from the giant wad of clothing. Another lay beneath it. "And all the figures…" You didn't need to sell it that hard.

"Sorry. Guess Dad figured Uncle Balt was dropping it off for free and just sent half the cabin." Tai grinned. "But hey, maybe we can scrape together a group to play a little Grottoes and Grimm."

"Dan won't want to, though," she said, turning her old Huntress over in her hands. It didn't look like any paint had chipped during transit. Then again… some of these were early attempts and an excuse to redo them wouldn't really hurt.

"He can deal with it for a Saturday or two," Tai said dismissively.

"Can I see them?" Qrow asked. "…The figures?"

"Of course!" Summer said, turning the toolbox to face him as he limped over. 

It had been a whole day and his aura was barely recharging, but he refused to go to the doctor. If it kept up any longer they'd probably have to drag him—if something had torn in his knee it could keep siphoning his energy forever until he got medical attention.

"Your leg doing any better?" Tai asked.

"A little." 

And all of that was ignoring the gashes on his face and neck. If he could really keep his defenses up in his sleep, it would take more than a distracted tumble down the stairs to injure him.

What they couldn't figure out was why he would lie. 

Summer inspected a little plastic Ursa, wrinkling her nose. "These don't look as good as I remember."

"They look great." Qrow picked through the box carefully, one at a time. "Well, the paint looks amazing," he amended.

"Yours are way better than the plastic," she said, setting the Ursa back down. "...You're sure you want me to paint them?"

"It'd take me forever to learn to do this," he said, holding up a little Huntress with a battleaxe. "Go for it."

Tai scratched his neck with a thoughtful frown at the floor. "Have you told Professor Carmine you can carve?" 

"No. …Why?"

"Custom parts for weapons. Embellishments, mostly. There was always a two-week wait at Signal for anything they didn't already have the molds for. With all the professional Huntsmen that come here for repairs, I bet it's even worse."

"Hey, yeah, I never thought of that," Summer said, pausing her rifling through the paints. "Wouldn't that be cool? Your stuff being part of real Huntresses' weapons!"

"Summer, we're not fake Huntsmen," Tai complained.

"You know what I mean!" She grabbed a scratch sheet of paper from her desk and dipped her smallest brush into the red paint, tracing a few practice swirls. Once she put brush to bone it wasn't likely she'd be able to erase any mistakes. When the motions finally felt automatic, she picked up the Beowolf and traced the little lines on its mask.

He peered at it, smiling. "I love it."

"Those are way better than the plastic models," Tai agreed.

"Hey, when you paint the Grimm Reaper, can you use a little of the silver just on the edge of the blade?" Qrow asked, pointing out the little tube of metallic paint sitting on the toolbox's tray.

"Ooh, and leave some of the bone showing?" Summer asked. "That's a great idea!" She beamed at him. Behind him, his sister threaded a needle. "Oh, Raven, if you're going to tailor that shirt you'll need some stay tape. I think it's knit. Here, use some of mine."

"Oh, thanks." 

Much better, Summer thought, tracing the next set of red lines onto her practice sheet for the nevermore. Raven quickly got engrossed in her project, and a slightly confused Qrow listened to Tai's enthusiastic retelling of their last G&G campaign while he picked through the box of clothes. 

Finally, the cloud of the last few days began to lift.

Next Chapter: Taiyang—Scars

[On one hand, I don't have any ideas for a Grimm and Grottoes campaign with these four. On the other hand, Qrow's Semblance screwing with the players and the GM equally would be hilarious. "Miss." "Miss." "Miss." "Miss." "Miss." "...Nat one." "You take… fifty-six points of damage." "Guys, I don't think this is working."]

#rwby #rwby fanfiction #summer rose #taiyang xiao long #qrow branwen #raven branwen #strq #team strq #follow the beacon

[rwdestuffs]

this is a loaded question but is there a reason why people hate miles so much?

Miles has been known to disregard virtually all criticism if it’s not worded nicely, bemoans not knowing how to write racism well (and then going on to still not change how he writes racism), put a lot of favoritism towards jaune, and in give the rest of the main cast the shaft in general.

At one point, he said that if he had known how popular Pilot Boi would have become, he would have kept the line about him having a boyfriend in the scene, not realizing that the issue would have been him pulling a “Bury Your Gays” right there. His inability/unwillingness to learn from his mistakes is what makes people dislike him.

In a post-Volume 3 interview with Buzzfeed, Kerry made a comment that heavily implied that Miles shoved in Silver Eyes without consulting him. Miles has had a history of just also being really cocky. And while I haven’t heard him doing it much now, responses to the criticisms regarding the plot holes and such were met with “Monty wrote it.”- Effectively trying to deflect blame.

Effectively, Miles has acted a lot like jaune in the sense that he just doesn’t want to take responsibility for his screw-ups.

Miles also surrounds himself with fans who won’t complain about anything, constantly reassuring that he’s doing fine without providing any tips on how to improve. He’s also hypocritical, making claims that LoK missed the mark when rwby seems to be heading in the exact same direction.

On top of which, while not directly Miles’ fault, there’s also how the company has treated Monty’s friends and family. Sheena was cut off from the project unceremoniously and Shane was fired. This was before all the lay-offs. Miles and Kerry took a show that had so much potential, and made it a run of the mill show that doesn’t really do much.

The LGBT+ Rep came off as really bad considering that the first confirmed LGBT+ Character we had was Ilia, a bitter lesbian who was complicit in the attempted murder of Blake’s parents and was willing to drag Blake back to Adam against her will. The way they handle racism is horrible too, as it comes off as “The oppressed people should stick up for the oppressors and simply ask kindly that they not be oppressed.”

The way the narrative frames female characters’ reactions to male characters is also one of note. Yang rushes in to save Blake, and she’s met with belittlement and a lost arm. Jaune rushes in to get revenge and he’s met with unlocking his semblance and being validated. Yang, Blake, and Salem are all traumatized and they’re met with “They should get over it! They ruined everything! They’re being drama queens!” while tai, jaune, and oz are also traumatized and they’re met with “Oh, poor things! They deserve all the sympathy! They should be allowed to rest!” Yang yells at Oscar to bring back Ozpin and she’s met with “What a bitch” qrow and jaune physically assault Oscar and they get “Well, they’re angry and are feeling betrayed, it’s understandable!”- Miles’ inability/unwillingness to address these issues is also a point of contempt.

Plus, Miles was known for constantly saying stuff like “I’m not a professional writer!” Which led to his staunch defenders to leap to his defense and make excuses. While I have no issues with Miles not being a professional writer, he doesn’t ask for help, nor does he accept it when it’s offered. It’s very jaune-esque.

TL;DR: There’s a lot of things, mostly stemming from Miles’ ego, that makes rwde dislike him.

#anonymous #rwde #writers crit

[kob131]

https://rwdestuffs.tumblr.com/post/612147027824066560/this-is-a-loaded-question-but-is-there-a-reason

This is so full of bullshit.

Miles has been known to disregard virtually all criticism if it’s not worded nicely, bemoans not knowing how to write racism well (and then going on to still not change how he writes racism), put a lot of favoritism towards jaune, and in give the rest of the main cast the shaft in general.

That’s full of shit because A. He has openly accepted criticism and your definition of ‘nicely worded’ is ‘reducing the number of death threats to one’. B. you guys are even worse at that and you suck off each other and C. Miles has outright said he hates voicing Jaune at this point and OTHER WRITERS write his scenes now.

At one point, he said that if he had known how popular Pilot Boi would have become, he would have kept the line about him having a boyfriend in the scene, not realizing that the issue would have been him pulling a “Bury Your Gays” right there. His inability/unwillingness to learn from his mistakes is what makes people dislike him.

That’s a complete lie because Miles SPECIFICALLY said they removed that line BECAUSE of that dumbass trope.

In a post-Volume 3 interview with Buzzfeed, Kerry made a comment that heavily implied that Miles shoved in Silver Eyes without consulting him. Miles has had a history of just also being really cocky. And while I haven’t heard him doing it much now, responses to the criticisms regarding the plot holes and such were met with “Monty wrote it.”- Effectively trying to deflect blame.

So basically ‘Imma make up shit that never happened to bash Miles for it’ even though when KERRY HIMSELF takes responsibility for Jaune’s scenes, you still blame Miles.

Oh and Monty probably DID write it because those Silver Eyes only exist because of the Maidens. And who wrote in the Maidens despite his cowriters asking him not to? ... Yeah I thought so.

Effectively, Miles has acted a lot like jaune in the sense that he just doesn’t want to take responsibility for his screw-ups.

No, that’s you projecting on multiple levels.

Oh you think I’m exaggerating?

A. It projects his bias against Jaune because that’s a blatant lie.

B. It projects his inability to separate fiction and reality by seeing Jaune and Miles as interchangeable.

And C. It projects himself because Dudeblade never admits his own fuckups.

Miles also surrounds himself with fans who won’t complain about anything, constantly reassuring that he’s doing fine without providing any tips on how to improve. He’s also hypocritical, making claims that LoK missed the mark when rwby seems to be heading in the exact same direction.

ANd there he goes lying again.

A. He’s never shown to block anyone so it’s their own damn fault for not bringing their compliants directly to Miles.

B. He’s repeatedly said how he’s improved and repeatedly said he’s not a good writer.

And C. he said the FINALE of LoK JUST missed the mark and the rest was execellent, you just cut everything inconvienent to you out.

On top of which, while not directly Miles’ fault, there’s also how the company has treated Monty’s friends and family. Sheena was cut off from the project unceremoniously and Shane was fired. This was before all the lay-offs. Miles and Kerry took a show that had so much potential, and made it a run of the mill show that doesn’t really do much.

A. Shane was fired because he refused to change the system that only worked for the one guy who DIED.

B. It was never his fault his happened so you’re full of it to blame him.

And C. Considering that you assholes are quickly becoming a minority, you just sound desperate to reaffirm your delusions.

The LGBT+ Rep came off as really bad considering that the first confirmed LGBT+ Character we had was Ilia, a bitter lesbian who was complicit in the attempted murder of Blake’s parents and was willing to drag Blake back to Adam against her will. The way they handle racism is horrible too, as it comes off as “The oppressed people should stick up for the oppressors and simply ask kindly that they not be oppressed.”

A. You PURPOSEFULLY took Illa to be that way. Illa was never bitter about Blake not loving her, she STOPPED the attempted murder and felt CONFLICTED the entire way. You’re actually BEING homophobic for assuming g her flaws had anything to do with her sexuality.

And B. No it comes across as ‘You shouldn’t be a violent douchebag no better than your enemies’ AKA atheme of the damn show, you just want to be violent.

The way the narrative frames female characters’ reactions to male characters is also one of note. Yang rushes in to save Blake, and she’s met with belittlement and a lost arm. Jaune rushes in to get revenge and he’s met with unlocking his semblance and being validated. Yang, Blake, and Salem are all traumatized and they’re met with “They should get over it! They ruined everything! They’re being drama queens!” while tai, jaune, and oz are also traumatized and they’re met with “Oh, poor things! They deserve all the sympathy! They should be allowed to rest!” Yang yells at Oscar to bring back Ozpin and she’s met with “What a bitch” qrow and jaune physically assault Oscar and they get “Well, they’re angry and are feeling betrayed, it’s understandable!”- Miles’ inability/unwillingness to address these issues is also a point of contempt.

Translation: “He’s bad for not being sexist like me.” Because this shit makes in context, Dudeblade just sees dicks and vaginas.

Plus, Miles was known for constantly saying stuff like “I’m not a professional writer!” Which led to his staunch defenders to leap to his defense and make excuses. While I have no issues with Miles not being a professional writer, he doesn’t ask for help, nor does he accept it when it’s offered. It’s very jaune-esque.

Dudeblade, you call ‘pointing out your blatant lies’ as making excuses.

And considering the other writers, he clearly HAS.

Oh and speaking of THEM, why do you never bitch at them?

After all, Kerry voices Neptune whose more of a self insert than Jaune and has been on teh show JUST as long and Eddy has been MORE hostile towards ‘critics’ than Miles. So how come you don’t give a shit?

Oh wait, Kerry and Eddy will verbally kick the ass of any of you douchebags and Miles is too passive and nice to do it.

Because that’s the real reason why you have an issue. It has nothing to do with anything factual or even logical, you think you’re entitled to have this shit go your way (we can see it when you throw a fit if Jaune is onscreen for more than a second) and you know Miles won’t stand up for himself so you target him.

It’s basically bully behavior and that’s all you, RWDE, are. A bunch of entitled bullies too weak to even take an ounce of your own bullshit.

There is no ego problem, Miles seems to have a dangerous LACK of an ego.

There is no self insert problem, NO ONE would want to be Jaune except maybe sucidial people who think they get themselves killed easily.

The writing problem is just an excuse, you’re bold faced LYING most of the time.

The racism excuse is bullshit, half of you fuckers are racist.

The LGBT excuse is bullshit, you flip flopped on this issue.

You just go after the weakest link, like the cowards you are.

[littlemisssquiggles]

Do you think we'll see any Snowbird action in the next episode? CRWBY does seem to have a habit of hinting some kind of relationship between Crow and Winter. TBH I'm just a shipper with needs

OoohI’d love to see some Snowbird quips next episode. It’d be cute to see Qrow getunder Winter’s skin. You’re not the only one who feels like there was somethingbetween them before. My theory is that Qrow and Winter actually did share aprior intimaterelationship but it was during apretty rocky time for Qrow. Summer had just passed away and Qrow was dealing heavilywith the depression of that.

WhenI imagine Snowbird,I picture their relationship being somewhat like Mark Sloanand LexiGrey from Grey’s Anatomy.  A couple between an older man and a youngerwoman that had its fair share of ups and downs but no matter how many times thetwo would fall part, they always gravitate right back to one other because theywere soulmates or the closest equivalent to it.

Y’know what’sinteresting. I find it rather ironic that both of Qrow’s past hinted loveinterests share names that match seasons: Summer and Winter.

Summercomes before Winter in the order of the seasons so going back to my firstpoint, after Summer passed, Qrow probably hookedup with Winter for a while and things were probably beginning to get alittle serious between them. Maybe they even had one night of doing the ole meet and greetbetween the sheets which led a naïveyoung Winter to think that there might be a future with them or something.

Winter,more or less comes off as someone who appears strict and cold, only showing a softer side of herself to those she cares about. She onlyreserves her warmth for the people who are dearest to her. Before that was onlyfor family members like her younger sister Weiss.

QrowBranwen was probably the one man Winter actually allowed into her heart who wasn’ta person she respected like General Ironwood. This is going to sound cheesier than an omelette du fromage but…imagine if…at some point, QrowBranwen had managed to thaw away Winter’s frozen heart to the point that shemight have found herself falling in love with him---genuinely in love. Not the fakekind that her father used to manipulate her mother and their family.

Imagine…Qrow being Winter’sfirst love but just when Winter was beginning to enjoy that warmth, it’ssnuffed out by Qrow himself who basically made it seem like he didn’t feel thesame way. Imagine Winter Schnee losing her virginity toQrow---actually opening herself up to him to that degree which wasn’t easy forher. Only for Qrow to  pull the fuck boyapproach and basically tell Winter that it was just sex to him and nothingmore.

Theway Winter acts around Qrow reminded me of a bitter ex who got hurt by theirlast relationship and still hasn’t gotten over it. And rather than forgivingtheir ex and moving on, they remain spiteful and angry. I feel like that’s whathappened with Qrow and Winter. They hooked up. Winter was beginning to fall forQrow, thought they had something going on but the minute Winter got closer tothe Branwen Man, he suddenly pushes her far away.

Andto add more insult to injury, the next time Qrow interacts with Winter, hebasically acts as if their breakup didn’t affect him as much as it didher---that their entire relationship meant nothing which, for Winter, onlyadded more salt to the wound.

Nowjust to clarify something, even if Qrow Branwen did put the ole ‘Screw ‘em andLeave ‘em’ approach with Winter, I don’t think Qrow would willinglydo that. Qrow might look like a promiscuous charmer but in reality; he strikesme as the kind of guy who takes every relationship he has seriously. I mean, I’dexpect him to given his semblance and I’d like to think that Qrow’s  only ever loved two womenin his life.

Ina way, Qrow is like Tai Yang to me. My theory is that just as Raven was Tai’sfirst love, SummerRose was Qrow’s first love---the one he envisionedhimself having that happily ever after withbut because of his curse, Qrow had to unfortunately let Summer go. And the nexttime Qrow saw her, not only had she moved on with his ex-brother-in-law---theformer lover of his own sister but the two had also started a family together---the family that Qrow was supposed tohave.

SeeingSummer end up with Tai must’ve been quite the kicker forQrow if my theories about him and Summer are proven true. And to add moreinsult to injury, just when Qrow figured his luck in his love life couldn’t getany worse, Summer ends up dying in his arms while trying to protect him. Atleast by my theory.

Ican see Qrow’s past with Summer being a crutch that might’ve prevented him fromhaving any other meaningful romantic relationship afterwards. The one exceptionwas Winter. I’d like to think that Winter could’ve been the one other personQrow possibly saw himself with but…before that could go anywhere, Qrow had nochoice but to break Winter’s heart for two very good reasons.

Oneof them being his misgivings over his misfortune semblance and two…what if…General Ironwood wasn’t too thrilled about Qrow getting too chummy with his best operative and sort of gave Qrow awarning in regards to Winter. He didn’t actively try and stop Qrow frompursuing Winter but his omens about their relationship was enough to make Qrow reconsiderit.

Sojust like with Summer, Qrow walked away from another potential love interest.The only difference is while Summer moved on while still caring deeply forQrow, Winter was the opposite. Bitter and a bit snarky.

Butin a strange way, I’d like to think that Qrow prefers things between him andWinter to be this way. Winter’s hatred toward him acts as the perfect repellent to keep her from ever getting tooclose to him again and in Qrow’s head, that’s much better.

Eitherthat or…Qrow and Winter have no real romantic past. They just met on a whimthrough their primary affiliations with Oz and Ironwood. Qrow probably does like Winter but she’s so uptight that he gets a betterkick out of teasing the living daylights out of her rather than just straightflirting with her or asking her out on a date---like a kindergartener throwinga pencil at their crush trying to get their attention. And Winter, who’sprobably a bonified dumbass to her own feelings and romantic gestures ingeneral, mostly takes Qrow’s attempts at charming her as immature quips forlaughs at her expense which she doesn’t shy away from throwing any punches rightback at the Branwen male.

Basically;the Snowbird ship is just a pair of adult toddlers who don’t knowhow to express their feelings for one another properly so rather than talk theyjust channel their sexual tensions through sword fights and naïve bickering. Stillvery entertaining to watch though.

I’dlike to believe that if Qrow and Winter we to stop their quips, they might realizethat they oddly like each other more than they realized and that can turn intoa romance.

Atleast, that’s my theory. Man I’d love if Winter’s return drops the bomb on herand Qrow sharing a former romance. I like the idea of Qrow seeing Winter as his second chanceat a happy ending but once again he’sforced himself to not take it out of fear that he might end up losing Winterthe way he lost Summer.

Ironically,the same could be said for Winter in a sense. I doubt her experiences inromance have been favourable. I mean just look who she has as her example. IfJacques is the type to use his family to get what he wants, imagine if therewas a time Jacques had planned to marry Winter off to some rich smuck butIronwood manged to save Winter from that by awakening her true potential. Afterthat Winter must’ve shut herself off from the possibility of love and a lifewith a companion. Who knows?

Idunno, if Snowbird gets to a point where Qrow falls for Winter andbucks up the balls to ask her to marry him orwhatnot, he better do it in a similar fashion as Edward Elric from FullmetalAlchemist Brotherhood just to have that parallel. Now that I think about, Qrowand Winter kind of remind me of Ed and Winrey. Huh…very interesting.

Don’tworry Local,I’m a shipper with needs as well and I honest would love tosee Winter and Qrow hook up because I think they can work and again, I cannotstress this enough, it’s bought time Qrow Branwen gets his own happily everafter.

Hesays he’s cursed but perhaps Winter will be the white knight that Qrow has beenwaiting for to lift his curse.

MaybeWinter will get him to stop drinking or even better, perhaps Qrow will make thehonest decision to seek professional help to aid with his alcoholism anddepression because he wants to make what he and Winter have work. #QrowDeservesAHappyEnding#SnowbirdEverAfter

Waita minute, if Qrow and Winter were actually get together then Weiss, Yang andRuby would become family through marriage.

Weissis Winter’s sister. If Qrow and Winter got hitched, Qrow would become Weiss’sbrother in law. But Qrow is Ruby and Yang’s uncle. So…if Weiss become’s Qrow’ssister in law, that would make her Ruby and Yang’s…aunt-in-law? What?

NowI’m imagining Yang and Ruby poking fun at Weiss and teasingly calling her ‘auntie’.

IfQrow does end up getting engaged to Winter at some point---if possible---then Ihope Qrow reconciles his longstanding friendship with Ozpin in time so that Ozcan at least be there at his wedding. Ozpin was practically the closest thingto a best friend and a father-figure to Qrow. Oz has to be there to see Qrowget his happy ending because I’d like to think that’s something Oz wanted forQrow since they met. But these are just my theories here.

LittleMissSquiggles (2018)

#squiggles answers: rwby #winter schnee #qrow branwen #rwby snowbird #weiss schnee #rwby theories #rwby volume 6 theories #local-conservative-minority

[kikisfics]

Chained in Servility Ch 3

So here’s chapter 3 of Chained in Servility. Again, not much to say other than I utterly fell in love with Dove in the little bit I’ve written her. She’s a sweetheart but you DO NOT cross her. It also explains a LOT about why Raven is the way she is.

Links: [AO3][FFN][Wattpad] Or read below the cut

Rating: T

Characters: Raven Branwen, Qrow Branwen, OCs

Content Warning(s): Implied/referenced child abuse

Summary:

All your faith in ancient ways, / Leaves you trapped inside a maze / Chained in servility and made to see / The world / Without a way to see the truth. Alternate universe.

Preview:

Immediately Dove turned and faced her, opening her arms. Raven ran over and embraced her mother, a few tears rolling down her cheeks. “Welcome home, Raven. I missed you so much.” Dove’s grip tightened and Raven clung to her, unable to stop the tears from falling freely.

“I missed you too.” She hadn’t been able to return home this past active season, so she hadn’t seen Doven since that spring. With her of age, she had to learn how to be the chief and chiefs had to lead. There was no returning home during the active season for them.

Raven closed the door to Corma’s room and swallowed when she bumped into her father. His crimson eyes bored into hers and she pressed against the door, trembling fingers searching for the knob again.

“Raven.” She froze, entire body tense as he spoke. Oh ancestors, she’d finally messed up. It’d been a wildly successful season and she hadn’t gotten on his bad side once, but in the final, most important moment, she’d mseed up.

She flinched when he put his hands on his hips, color draining from her cheeks as she waited. “I’m disappointed.” With that, Fallon walked away and she slid down the door, burying her face in her hands. Relief flooded her to the roots of her hair. She had a feeling the strike would come later, but at least it hadn’t for now.

She forced herself to her feet as the warm scents from the kitchen tempted her. She peeked in and smiled a bit when as she saw her mother move around, poking at the fire on the hearth. Her mouth watered as fresh fish wafted toward her and she stepped around the doorway.

Immediately Dove turned and face her, opening her arms. Raven ran over and embraced her mother, a few tears rolling down her cheeks. “Welcome home, Raven. I missed you so much.” Dove’s grip tightened and Raven clung to her, unable to stop the tears from falling freely.

“I missed you too.” She hadn’t been able to return home this past active season, so she hadn’t seen Doven since that spring. With her of age, she had to learn how to be the chief and chiefs had to lead. There was no returning home during the active season for them.

Dove ruffled Raven’s hair and the teen smiled up at her, receiving a light poke to the nose. “You got here just in time to help me pull everything out.” Raven smiled warmly and nodded, brightening immediately when she saw the cloth in the boiling water.

“A pudding! What kind?” Raven was pretty sure she already knew but…

Dove poked her nose again and she felt the love radiate from her mother for the first time in nearly three months. “Your favorite, of course.” Raven just nodded as her mother pulled away. With that, she helped set the table, settling with her legs beneath her on the cushion. Dove sat to her left with Qrow to her right. Dove just tutted as she looked at him.

“Honestly, Qrow, do you ever wash your hair? You look like you just dumped a pot of grease on your head.” She reached over and ruffled his hair a bit. He rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t hide the small, affectionate smile on his face.

“Sorry, Mother; it’s just so hard to wash my hair enough during the active season. Not like you would know, though.” Despite the jab, there was no heat to it and Dove just chuckled. Raven could only smile as she filled her plate and started to eat. It felt good to be home after the rough season. She’d missed her mother immensely and no words could describe how happy she was to to be with her whole family again.

Fallon came in late and settled down, turning to Dove. “So how many births have there been while I’ve been away?”

“Ten, though we lost one of the twins and Masi died shortly after having her little boy.” Raven winced at the revelation. Masi had been one of their most gifted medics, so losing her was a huge blow to the tribe. She’d planned on returning the following active season since her son would be old enough to stay with someone else but with this…

Fallon’s expression fell and he nodded. “Her loss is a great one and a huge blow to the tribe. She will be missed by many. May her soul soar free.” Everyone bowed their heads and gave a moment of silence in Mesi’s memory before conversation returned to normal. Crop yields, loss of cattle to predators, and other mundane details floated in and out of Raven’s consciousness as her attention to what Qrow had mentioned.

Fallon wanted to ask something of the two of them? What was it? Fear and anxiety orucjked her scalp and she closed her eyes while she ate. She knew she needed to listen to the conversation going on but…

A hand on her shoulder made her look over at her brother. He offered a small smile and then glanced at Fallon, his expression begging the topic he was avoiding. The man sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose before putting his bowl down and squaring his shoulders. Calm radiated outward from Dove as she tried to keep things mellow before it even started, but it only put Raven more on edge.

Fallon let his hands fall into his lap and he sighed. “Qrow, Raven, this is something I was going to wait about a month to ask, but since it seems Qrow overheard somewhat… On behalf of the tribe, I’d like you two to attend Beacon.” Raven’s silverware clattered to the table as she and her brother exchanged looks. Leave the tribe? Wouldn’t they be exiled if they left for four years? Nobody had ever done that as far as they knew! A million other protests formed in Raven’s mind, but her hand trembled at the thought of speaking up against her father.

“Hunters have become increasingly belligerent over the past ten years. We have strength in numbers, but their advanced weaponry and tactics make it hard for us to fight back at times. I know Haven Academy is closer, but Beacon is said to be the best of the Hunter Academies. We need you to learn from the best, so this is the logical option.”

Raven’s lips quivered as she swallowed the protests, knowing Fallon would strike her in private if she did so. She’d already screwed up by checking on Jia over making sure the tribe was settled. She really couldn’t risk angering him further since this was for the good of the tribe. From the look on his face, he dared her to speak up and she knew what the consequences would be if she did. So she just nodded and bowed her head, closing her eyes. “Yes, Father; we’ll attend Beacon.”

Qrow’s grip on her shoulder tightened and she glanced at him, his pale red eyes sharpened as he looked up at Fallon. She winced from the pressure, but said nothing. “It’s only because you’ve become more belligerent toward Mistral itself. Hunters are paid to keep the kingdoms and surrounding areas safe. Attacking villages unprovoked is going to put everyone on edge. Yeah, the past five or so winters have been harsh, but that’s hardly justification. You seem to have lost your sense of honor.” Tension crackled in the air between Fallon and Qrow, causing Raven to retreat into Dove’s arms. A gentle, calm warmth swept over the room and attention turned to her. Her red eyes swept the room, making both men settle back into their seats.

“Both of you relax. Qrow, you have a point and the elders will meet with your father over the issue in three days. The past few active seasons have been unacceptable. Unfortunately, they’ve already convened and decided that you going to Beacon is the best course of action for you and your sister. Your father agrees, so raising protests won’t do any good.” Dove’s sharp tone left no room for argument. Despite Fallon being feared for his cutthroat tactics, nobody dared cross Dove. Her tongue lashings were worse than any sword strike.

Raven shivered and pressed into her mother. She didn’t want to leave the tribe, but it was majority rule. They had no room to argue. Qrow just pushed himself to his feet and stalked out of the room, leaving a a tension in the air despite DOve’s best attempts to clear it out. She kissed Raven’s head and the meal finished in silence until Fallon looked at her. She stiffened and she caught her mother’s eyebrow raise out of the corner of her eyes.

“Raven, when you leave, you and your brother will have seven years to return. Beacon will teach you much, but it’s just a school; you’ll need to get field experience. Any time longer than that and you’ll be considered a traitor to the tribe.” Raven nodded, inclining her head down. That seemed like a long time away, but she knew it would pass in the blink of an eye. Plus, with her Semblance, she could return and see her mother, grandmother, Jia, and anybody else on a whim. It wasn’t like she’d be away forever.

Thankfully, dinner wrapped up after that and Raven headed to her room. She took down her hair and flipped on her bed, forearm covering her eyes. She sighed, thankful for the mattress after the hard cots for the past six months.

What had been a promising day had quickly gone downhill due to yet another one of her poor decisions. She’d wanted to make sure her friend was okay, but she’d neglected and abandoned her tribe despite her responsibilities. She’s almost argued with her father in front of her mother. The rift between her father and brother had grown even wider.

A soft knock on her door made her look over and Dove slipped in, bearing a small piece of cake. She sat it on the nightstand and sat next to Raven, pulling her head into her lap. Raven closed her eyes and curled into a ball as her mother threaded her fingers through her hair. “I’m so sorry this is being forced onto you, dearheart. It won’t be forever and you’ll get a perspective that no other tribe member has before.” She kept her voice soft, but Raven could tell she didn’t agree with the decision. Even though she acted as village chief during the active season, Fallon was ultimate sill the chief and the elders had agreed. There was no getting out of this.

Raven rolled over onto her stomach, looking up at her mother. “Yeah… I am curious about the outside world…” She’d been in the trading party two years in a row and it’d finally exposed her to outsiders in a way she wasn’t used to. There were plenty in the tribe, but to actually experience the world more or less on their level was eye opening. She wanted to learn more and this was the perfect opportunity.

She just wished it wasn’t like this.

Once again, gentle warmth settled over her and she allowed her mother’s Semblance to wash away the worry. She smiled and closed her eyes, glad to be home after so long.

#RWBY #Raven Branwen #Qrow Branwen #fanfic #fanfiction

[itsclydebitches]

RWBY Recaps: “Gravity”

Good lord, folks. Buckle your seat-belts because we’ve got a lot to get through this episode. I think this is my longest recap to date, so settle in.

Episode Eleven’s “Gravity” starts out simple enough, focusing on the two fights we’d set up during “Out in the Open.” First up, Ironwood vs. Watts. Overall this fight does a really excellent job of showcasing their different fighting styles. Right from the start Watts is pointing his gun forward to take a clear shot at Ironwood, whereas Ironwood points his backwards to use as a surge of momentum.

He’s going to do this frequently throughout the battle, constantly using his gun to maneuver in the air, slow falls, regain his balance, and change directions, a much more complicated series of choices than the one-off shots we see Ruby use with her sniper rifle. This is partly because Ironwood seems to have a much larger supply of bullets---some sort of energy/dust ammo---than Watts does. His steampunk-esque gun holds only nineteen bullets, requiring him to keep track throughout the fight. Which is always a fun trope but sorry, Watts, you can’t compare to the king.

Thus, with limited weaponry available to him, Watts is forced to get creative with the arena itself. We see him manipulating gravity, shooting up columns of water and fire, and making use of his own pathways between platforms, all in an effort to throw Ironwood off and catch up unawares. However, Ironwood is, frankly, the much better fighter. He was right last week to assume he could handle Watts even though he sent three off to tackle Tyrian. He’s able to recover much more quickly and learns from any mistakes, as evidenced by his ability to hit Watts dead on while in the air the second time he takes out the gravity. When they come together in hand-to-hand Ironwood easily dominates, no doubt thanks not just to his military training and huntsmen lifestyle, but also in large part to his prosthetics which I would assume grant him more speed and power. Throughout the course of the fight we see Watts consistently take more damage to his aura and he’s unable to sense when Ironwood is sneaking up on him. After that little maneuver, Watts (presumably) grows reckless and lets off his last three or four shots in a random barrage. All of them miss.

This emphasis on emotion continues when they land back onto the main stage with Watts shouting, “You never appreciated my genius, James! You just stood atop it and called yourself a giant.” Oh, did Ironwood actually do something horrendous in the past? Is there something juicy that would explain---though not excuse---Watts’ turn towards villainy? Nah. He quickly follows that up with, “You chose that fat imbecile over me!” referring to Pietro. So... nice one, Watts. Crazy arrogance, willful ignorance of Pietro’s own, clear genius (anyone who can create Penny is no slouch), as well as a bit of fat-shamming on top of it all. No sympathy from me.

This moment emphasizes how unhinged Watts is becoming though as the fight turns against him. Even when he manages to setup a head shot Ironwood reveals, “You’re smart, but you’re not the only one who can count,” referencing that Watt’s emotions got the better of him, leading to him wasting his last bullet before it could be of real use.

...except not. I’ve got to admit, I was very pleased when all of this---or at least this particular moment---was merely a plan to get Ironwood to let his guard down. Watts is way too smart a character to be done in by the “You got too emotional and that made you sloppy” trope. So kudos there (even if it remains to be seen whether that Pietro comment was really his motivation, or just another part of the plan). Instead, he uses Ironwood’s confidence in his victory to trap him with the rings that control the arena, essentially pinning Ironwood’s non-prosthetic arm through the energy shields he’s been using. We can immediately see that the parts that have touched Ironwood already have horribly burned the skin.

And that ends up being Watt’s downfall. Not stupidity on his own part, but his lack of understanding of Ironwood himself. He assumes that this truly is a trap for him, rather than another sacrifice. After all, what fool would ruin their one remaining arm to stop him? Watts himself wouldn’t. Don’t pull, he cautions Ironwood, not “unless you’re hoping to add more metal to that body of yours.” Watts goes so far as to turn his back on Ironwood who then makes the sacrifice we all knew he would. One burned, useless arm later and he’s free.

I would like everyone to keep this moment in mind. Namely the utter devastation of it. I’d go so far as to say it’s as bad at Yang losing her arm in Volume 3. Despite seeing it bandaged later, Watts at least thinks it will be a complete loss if Ironwood sacrifices it. He’ll need to “add more metal,” AKA replace his arm, so though he obviously still has it in the following scenes, we don’t know if it will ever be functional again. Just as important, Ironwood had to choose to do that to himself. That wasn’t a horrific, but ultimately clean cut done in a moment of surprise. That was a conscious decision, a slow pull through all that pain, and then having to finish your fight immediately afterward. It’s a very different kind of psychological trauma, no better or worse than having someone take your arm from you by force. Throughout this volume I’ve seen a lot of fans being critical not only of Ironwood’s main decisions, but just his overall attitude as well. Too strict, too stern, doesn’t smile enough, yells sometimes, etc. basically associating someone who isn’t all sunshine and smiles with someone who is “bad.” Ignoring for the moment that we can say the same thing about many of our group---notably Yang---I have little doubt that I’ll see similar posts after this episode. Writings in the vein of, “Ironwood is unhinged! I can’t believe he yelled and hit his desk like that!” So everyone just keep this moment in mind and ask yourself how calm you’d be if you’d sacrificed your arm like that all of half an hour ago. And then found Salem’s calling card on your desk. And then came to the realization that the allies you trusted have been lying to you from the start. And then Salem herself appears to mock you. And then your city is about to be overrun. Basic summary of the rest of the episode: holy shit. So yeah. If Yang is allowed to be angry and upset after losing her arm, or just angry in general like she is in the later half of “Gravity,” I think we owe it to Ironwood to let him be angry too. I have a lot of feelings about the utter insanity he’s been forced through with little to no support and if he wants to take all that out by hitting his desk once, by god I’d say that’s a good coping strategy given the circumstances. Both the writing and the fans tend to erase trauma once you’ve passed age 25. The girls have every right to be upset, to break, to not trust people because they’ve been through a few months of hardship, but Ozpin isn’t allowed the same after a couple thousand years of that. We’re going to see the same hypocrisy later in this episode---the group can be upset about lies but Ironwood is not---and I’m hoping (against hope) that the fandom doesn’t make that worse by sweeping this injury under the rug. It’s horrific and absolutely has a bearing on his inability to keep his cool with the group immediately afterwards. We’ve long passed Ironwood owing them endless reassurances and calm responses. 

Anyway, Ironwood still manages to finish the fight because his remaining arm is his robotic one, giving him the strength to easily drag and raise Watts into the air one-handed. He dangles him over the edge of the arena, announcing that he will “sacrifice whatever it takes to stop [Salem].” A clear bit of foreshadowing for his decision at the end of the episode. Watts responds that he hopes he does.

We then move to the Tyrian fight which, on the whole, I don’t think was done quite as well. Granted, there are a lot of enjoyable and badass moments. I like that Clover’s first act is to announce that Tyrian is under arrest, maintaining the law that Atlas (and Ironwood) works to uphold. It doesn’t matter that Tyrian is a crazy serial killer in league with an immortal sorceress hell-bent on destroying the world. Even crazy serial killers have rights and are given the option of surrendering, even when everyone present knows there’s exactly zero chance of that happening. It’s the principal of the thing and the ability to say, “We gave him a chance.” In a world overrun with inequality, this is a small but important attempt to level the field. If you do something wrong you face legal action and those rights are announced to you. Same for Tyrian. Same for Team RWBY. But we’ll get to that.

For now, we see Qrow attack first and like back in Volume Four he and Tyrian are pretty evenly matched. The tide doesn’t turn until Robyn and Clover come into play. Throughout this exchange we see a lot of cool combos among the three of them. Tyrian will block an incoming arrow with his tail only for Clover to snag it with his hook. Robyn can get another arrow to perfectly bounce off the walls and then Qrow’s scythe, hitting Tyrian dead on. Clover can dive between Tyrian’s legs, giving Qrow the opening he needs to attack. It is, as said, pretty badass... almost a little too badass. Personally, I would have appreciated them messing up once or twice. They’re all professionals, yes, but Qrow and Clover have only had one fight together. Robyn, meanwhile, wasn’t even allied with them until an hour ago. This is a situation where skills shouldn’t really trump, “We’re three very distinct people who don’t know each other’s fighting styles well, trying to attack one guy in very close quarters.” There should have been some screw-ups. Especially when we take semblances into account. What, are we supposed to assume here that Clover’s semblance just conveniently overrides Qrow’s? That no mistakes---let alone anything bad---will happen in this fight despite the fact that it’s an extreme parallel to Volume Four? That whole battle emphasized, “Don’t come closer!” because when people fight near Qrow bad shit happens. Now, he fights with two other people in a narrow alleyway and there’s not a single repercussion. Based on their travels looking for the geist, I don’t buy that Qrow’s semblance is just conveniently inactive while near Clover. Even if I did... that’s not a very good writing decision. To me, it’s just more evidence that Rooster Teeth doesn’t understand its own rules/doesn’t know what to do with an ability like Qrow’s. It causes problems only when they explicitly want it to. Then, miraculously, it’s no longer in effect.

Still, we’ll acknowledge that RWBY had a lot else it wanted to accomplish in this episode, so the need to power through this fight is somewhat justified. I personally would have had the entirety of this episode be the two battles---I was shocked when both ended just eight minutes in---but I’m obviously not the one writing the show. Thus, instead of an episode devoted to both the action and the emotion of confronting our two main villains this volume, Tyrian loses his cool after getting punched in the gut, manages to catch Robyn’s arrow in his teeth... 

But it’s a bomb. 

Down he goes. Fight’s done.

Which leads us into the second half of the episode. I want to preface this with a short acknowledgment before we go any further.

Did these last ten minutes give me what I’ve been looking for since the beginning of Volume Six? No. It’s easy to assume it did because all the pieces are there. Ironwood is finally angry about the secret keeping. The Ace Ops are criticizing the group left and right. Surely this is the “The group is capable of making mistakes and they should be called out for it!” that I wanted, right? Not really. For the simple reason that there is a massive difference between:

A story that acknowledges mistakes as mistakes. The characters either grow from this lesson or dig in their heels and are painted as being in the wrong for that decision.

and

A story that takes what the audience (me) perceives as mistakes and frames them as justified choices. The characters do not grow because they’re 100% sure they’re in the right and those who would criticize them are painted as in the wrong. 

“Gravity” is so far into that second option I don’t think the series can come back from it. Does the group face criticism? Yes, but every single time the writing insists that it’s undeserved criticism. It paints the group as the underdogs facing unfair odds, rather than equals---with all the responsibility that comes with that---facing criticism that they need to own up to. Absolutely nothing in this second half implies that the group is going to learn from their mistakes because they, and the writing, still insists that they weren’t mistakes. Which is precisely what we’ve gotten before. Cordovin might criticism them, but Cordovin is in the wrong. Winter might criticism them, but Winter is in the wrong. Every time a character goes, “Hey, you shouldn’t have done this” the group responds with, “Yes we should have!” and the story backs them up. Yes, you should have attacked Argus. Yes, you should have stolen an airship. Yes, you should have lied to Ironwood and spilled the secret to Robyn. Yes, yes, yes. That’s the takeaway every single time. The group is never in the wrong. Others just think they are and those others are painted as cruel, militaristic, unhinged characters.

It’s not at all what I was looking for. Just more of the same.

So that’s the preface. In terms of what we actually get, Ironwood returns to his office with his arm bandaged and in a sling, carrying Watts’ bag, only to drop it when he sees the queen piece on his desk. He calls Winter asking, “Was anyone caught entering the school grounds while I was away?” and when she says no Ironwood has her race off to the Winter Maiden, unknowingly leading Cinder there in the process. “Now show me where you’ve been hiding her.”

We then cut to the group where the trouble begins. They’re not just curious about why Ironwood is recalling them with Mantle still in need of evacuation, they’re actively questioning it. This is the attitude I simply don’t understand. The group acts as if Ironwood is deliberately screwing everyone over when they know better. This is no longer the beginning of the volume where they thought he was some horrific dictator hell bent on destroying his own Kingdom. This is just an hour or so after, “We should tell Ironwood!” and the happy-go-lucky ‘We trust him now’ moment. Even less time after Ruby stared up at him in awe with, “He’s doing it.” They had reason to trust him before they even made it to Atlas. They were given even more reasons in the form of Ironwood sharing his secrets, early licenses, and being allowed to work on the tower. They then still waited until Ironwood was doing everything they wanted before giving him some of that trust back... but the moment he stops doing precisely what they want---we want to keep evacuating Mantle---he’s deemed suspicious again. 

I mean seriously, is the group that dense? Are they incapable of thinking to themselves, “Wow, something must have happened if Ironwood is recalling us before evacuations are complete,” which is precisely the case. The scene tries to frame it as “Group Good” and “Ace Ops Blinding Obeying Orders Bad” but that aspect doesn’t even come into play. There’s nothing blind about it. It simply takes two seconds of critical thinking skills to realize that something really awful must have happened back at the Academy that trumps what you’re doing in Mantle. This is what I mean by the writing being biased. Before we even reach the fight in Ironwood’s office it’s trying to paint him as potentially cruel, potentially suspicious, potentially abandoning his people, look how worried our heroes are about this secret decision he’s made... when all that requires ignoring some really basic deduction in order to reach those assumptions. Remember that intelligence is a plot device in RWBY. If they want Ironwood forced to spill his secrets, he’ll randomly start talking about them in front of his enemies. If they want Ironwood painted as the villain, the group will randomly be incapable of realizing that maybe, just maybe, something went wrong on the home front and you’re needed there.

Things just get so much worse from then on. The group splits with JNR going off to find Oscar and, admittedly, I was shocked we got that at all. I mean yeah, it’s setup for the final reveal at the end of the episode, but the fact that anyone remembered Oscar was missing---let alone happily went off to find him---was still a surprise. So only Team RWBY heads back to Ironwood’s office where they find him (rightfully) panicking over the queen on his desk. Weiss tries to baby him, acting like he’s freaking out over nothing, when all these characters should recall precisely what Ironwood himself points out: the last time we saw this symbol it was a message that Beacon had fallen. He’s not paranoid here. He’s entirely justified in his panic. Ironwood likewise points out that they may have been duped into bringing thousands of people into Atlas as easy targets and Vine agrees, setting up that the Ace Ops are on Team Ironwood throughout the course of this conversation. Not out of blind loyalty, but because he’s right. That is a concern. That may be the plan. We do need to try and do something about that. Team RWBY, however, isn’t convinced.

That is, until Ruby realizes that the chess piece is made of black glass. Which means Cinder left it. Normally I’d congratulate her on that deduction---it is the one smart move we see Ruby pull this whole episode---but I just hate what follows. Namely that Ruby and Ruby alone controls her team’s opinions on a situation. Again. We saw it back in the snow, then again when Blake announced in the elevator that they’d do whatever she wanted. Team RWBY is the one who blindly follows their leader, not the Ace Ops, the only exception being Blake and Yang going rogue in regards to Robyn, but we see that hive-mind mindset here again. Ironwood brings up a good point? Nothing. Ace Ops support that point with more logic? Nothing. Ruby supports it? Oh, suddenly Weiss and Blake are taking this seriously. Suddenly Yang is fired up and ready to do whatever is necessary. Ruby controls the room. It’s only when she’s on board that her teammates decide this is worth getting riled up about.

Which, as I’ve said before, is a horrible way to write a diverse group. Especially when the writing is trying to paint the Ace Ops as mindless soldiers. For all their claims that they just have to follow orders, they’re the only ones parsing through this situation and coming to their own conclusions. It’s just that their conclusions do end up aligning with Ironwood’s which is the “bad” take in this scene. Team RWBY, however, waits until their leader makes a decision and then simply rides her cloak tails. The day that Blake, Yang, or Weiss legitimately disagree with Ruby---not a token “Are you sure we should keep secrets from Ironwood? We’re not actually challenging this. Just checking in”---is the day the writing will disagree with her. AKA, no time soon.

Blake tries to give some bland reassurance about them all being with Ironwood to which he responds, “Are you with me? How did Robyn know about the global communications tower?” Thank you! Thank you for giving us Ironwood’s characterization back and acknowledging that he has no reason to buy their generic ‘Got your back’ statements when everything they’ve done this volume has proven otherwise. They don’t support Ironwood, only themselves and their own teams. The minute he does something they don’t like he’s chucked under the bus. Too bad the writing doesn’t acknowledge any of this and instead continually paints the group as being justified in their decisions. It’s that hypocrisy again. When the group yells at Ozpin for keeping secrets we’re supposed to be on their side. When the Ace Ops yell at the group for keeping secrets we’re... still supposed to be on their side.

Weiss tries to diffuse the situation with “None of this matters right now!” which is real rich when they were just complaining about Ironwood not telling them why they were called back. They get to worry over that, but Ironwood isn’t allowed to worry about them outright betraying him? “Loyalty always matters!” he shouts back and he’s right. Why should Ironwood trust them to have his back in this crucial moment when they’ve never had it before? I’m already seeing more of this hypocrisy among the fandom. When Ozpin kept secrets and told lies the group was given a whole volume to be pissed about that and fans still, to this very day, insist that it hasn’t been enough time for them to get over it, to regain even a portion of that trust. But now that Ironwood has been lied to and betrayed in the same manner? People are annoyed that he’s not just shrugging it off. How dare you not get over in thirty seconds what our heroes got weeks to work through. His inability to just suck it up, as it were, is used to make him seem irrational here. I don’t see anyone, characters or fans alike, acknowledging that his anger is as righteous as the group’s was out in the snow. That there is the disconnect.

Of course, something has to break the tension. Drawn by all the fury and fear, a grimm pops out of Watts’ bag. A fail-safe for if he was defeated and captured. Salem immediately takes control of the grimm and kills it, using its form to appear before them. She reveals that it doesn’t matter that her men were captured. They were just there to “set the stage,” which they’ve done. Still doesn’t explain the random Penny side plot to my mind (seriously, why did the story bother to resurrect her when she has done nothing plot-wise or emotionally?), but whatever. Much more importantly, the stage is set for Salem herself. She’s approaching with the grimm army we saw her amassing which is... iffy.

First off, why? Why after a thousand years has she suddenly changed her MO from keeping to the sidelines to a full-on attack? Again, what’s the catalyst for that massive change? We don’t know. Meanwhile, from a writing perspective, I’m hesitant about having our Big Bad thrown into the mix before the finale. We know there are plenty of volumes left in this series, which automatically undermines any battle they might have with Salem. Will they win?? Of course not! Because RWBY isn’t over yet. Granted, this could all just be a ruse of some sort. Maybe Salem just wants them to think she’s approaching with an army, which would be much more up her alley in terms of long-distance manipulation. But if not... seriously, what’s the point of that?

Here’s hoping it’s a bluff.

Speaking of manipulation, we get a fantastically creepy moment where Salem tells Ironwood to “simply accept the futility of your situation” while smiling like a kind mother. That’s the Salem who is truly dangerous. Ironwood reaffirms that he won’t give up the relics and Ruby pips up with, “We don’t have to kill you to stop you.”

Hey wait. I’m gonna give you all another graphic.

This is Ozpin’s stance! This is his plan! His version of hope! We spent all of Volume Six having the cast beat on him for, “Omg Salem is immortal?!” and with the exception of Nora’s comment, no discussion of this in Volume Seven... but now suddenly Ruby is making this announcement? The group came to this revelation sometime off screen which we a) don’t get to see and b) once again created no scenario in the form of, “Wow! Ozpin was right all along! Maybe we should go talk to him...”

I’m just... wow. The number of times the writing takes what the group and the adults do, the exact same perspectives and decisions, and twists it so that the group comes out looking like heroes and the adults look like misguided, unhinged fools who need to be put in their place... I’m really over it at this point. And by extension the group themselves. Their characterizations have been so badly mangled at this point I legitimately don’t like them as people. I don’t care if they say they want to protect Mantle, or if they say they’ll support Ironwood, or if they say they’re unsure about their choices. All their actions claim otherwise.

Rather than grappling with the huge revelation that the group is apparently no longer obsessed with Salem’s immortality (or rather that Ruby isn’t. The rest of the group doesn’t actually matter. As established, they sync up with her beliefs the second she announces them), we return to Summer Rose. Salem goes, “Your mother said those words to me” and Ruby... loses it? What? I would have been 100% on board with this if we’d gotten it last Volume because then we saw Ruby losing her cool periodically. The smashed alcohol bottles. Chucking her scroll. Screaming at Qrow. That was all building to something. But then we had a year and roughly twelve episodes of normality. Ruby jumps into her fight with Cordovin and has been fine ever since. Hell, she’s been bubbly and confident, goofing off with Penny in one episode, then giving strong orders to her team in another. The one time we see her falter was in her conversation with Qrow and he reassured her completely that she was both doing the right thing and in no way comparable to Ozpin. Now, suddenly, one line from Salem and Ruby collapses? Full on incapacitated? I could buy the crying while still standing strong, I could buy a collapse if we’d kept her characterization going from Volume Six, but this kind of reaction in this context just felt so extreme. Doesn’t help that I really wasn’t sold on the voice acting here. Those cries sound less like devastated sobs and more like weird hiccups. Not to rag on Lindsay. On the whole I think she does a really excellent job as Ruby, it’s just this particular moment didn’t read right to me. I didn’t feel Ruby’s supposed grief here.

So that was... a lot for one line from Salem in a volume of otherwise confident and cool-headed Ruby. We also don’t see it amounting to anything, as per usual with RWBY’s writing. Ruby isn’t out of commission for the rest of the conversation or anything. She pops right back up after a second in Yang’s lap, just as confident and go-getting as before. There was no lead up to this and there are no consequences for the breakdown. Rooster Teeth honestly seems to think they can just chuck random things into the story---Ruby needs to show emotion at some point!---and then just leave it at that, entirely disconnected from everything else around it. Would we have known that Ruby just had her first breakdown of the series a minute later while once again betraying Ironwood? Nope.

Finally, this scene shows us again that the Argus battle was a bunch of nonsense. Ruby’s eyes nearly activate when she’s grieving for her mother, imagining---or perhaps seeing via Salem?---a sad Summer, not a smiling one. Just like her eyes activated while seeing Pyrrha die. Just like they activated when Blake was nearly killed by the Apathy. They activate now while thinking about her mother’s death. The montage of happy moments in lieu of the sad ones not working last volume was entirely out of place.

Salem finally leaves. Now everyone is panicking about this army. Elm points out that they’ll know if anything approaches. Vine checks and realizes that Watts took out their perimeter. Either that or Salem has already destroyed everyone and everything out there. It’s impossible to know. During all this Blake asks if the Amity tower is actually finished and we get more nonsense about how Ironwood is evil for telling a lie, but the group is always justified in telling theirs. The writing really tried to compare Ironwood telling Mantle---who I guarantee 100% does not care about whether a communications tower is finished while they’re getting attacked by grimm---a lie to lure out one of their biggest threats to Blake and Yang going behind Ironwood’s back to tell a potentially non-trustworthy outlaw about said tower, risking that the information would fall into the wrong hands and doom the project before it could be completed either way. Those are not in any way comparable situations, yet the writing really has Weiss going, “General Ironwood?” in a ‘How could you betray us like that?’ tone while Yang continues to look pissed.

And as if they didn’t know! How is this a personal betrayal? They were all helping to build that tower. Surely they’d know it it was that close to being done. Again, critical thinking skills, people. Anyone with two brain cells and their insider information should have looked at Ironwood’s announcement and gone, “Oh, that must be a bluff. Just a few days ago we were arguing about whether to continue taking resources from Mantle. No way is Amity ready. He’s going after Watts. Who is indeed the much bigger threat. Considering that he has control over the entirety of our technology and there’s literally no downside to telling Mantle about a finished tower when they’re getting devoured by grimm.” This is another, “But lying is wrong!” in the face of “But lying kept us alive...?” 

Does everyone get what I’m saying here? How RWBY takes these situations and tries to paint them in an absolutely ridiculous light, expecting the audience to blindly accept this perspective despite everything else they’ve seen for themselves? Like, two episodes ago? I swear I’ve never encountered writing that treats its audience this badly. Scene after scene relies heavily on the viewer having no ability to think for themselves. Just accept that Ironwood is a horrible person for lying about the tower even though there are no repercussions for that and we JUST watched him defeating Watts as a result. Like, five minutes ago. That just happened. In this episode. 

Ironwood then drops the bomb that Winter has gone off to claim the Maiden power. Interesting development. I wonder what that means exactly. Is she just going to lock herself away until the Maiden dies naturally? Do they have her on some sort of life support and is there an agreement to pull the plug if necessary? Are they going to use a machine similar to the one Pyrrha was in and try to force the change early? Or is this just a misleading comment and Winter is merely off to protect the Maiden, no intention of taking the power now? Who knows. We’ll have to wait until next episode to find out.

Ironwood likewise announces that the staff and the lamp need to be locked away now that they’re compromised, even though they’ve been compromised since they first saw Tyrian in Mantle. Insert another [this scenario is so stupid and contrived] explanation here. It’s made worse by Ruby’s childish “You said we could keep it.” Excuse me? What, did you think the lamp was your personal property now forever and always? Is Ruby really sitting there arguing that something Ironwood told her weeks ago trumps the obvious logic of putting the relic where it’s somewhere safe? That’s the characterization we’re going for, a leader who cares more about, ‘But you said we could have it!’ over the fate of the world? What even is this? The fact that Ironwood has to explain to them that the situation has changed just reinforces the group’s overall attitude. That is, one of arrogance and importance. They literally need to be told why putting the relic in a nearly impenetrable vault is better than letting them have it just because they want it. Plus, you know, they lied about the lamp from the start. So there’s that too.

Finally, Ironwood reveals that Amity was originally a plan of Ozpin’s but he didn’t push it far enough. Instead, he intends to use the staff to lift all of Atlas instead, hopefully taking two relics and a Maiden far out of Salem’s reach. Ruby wants to use the tower for its designed purpose instead, which is only a valid option in her mind because the writing was stupid last week. If there had actually been any logic there---if people had been allowed to react naturally and in a variety of ways to the Salem announcement, rather than a super convenient “Yeah! Let’s all work together!” across an entire, panicking city---she wouldn’t be quite so eager to tell the whole world. But we all know at this point that logic bends to the protagonists’ whims, so Ruby wants that same perfect ending across all of Remnant. She stands her ground, as does her team. Obviously.

Meanwhile, the Ace Ops aren’t just following Ironwood’s orders like the writing wants us to think via Harriet’s earlier comment. Rather, they’re each thinking through the situation for themselves and making very good points. If Salem has taken out our perimeter than we know our tech and people don’t stand a chance against this army. We just finished up the fight in Mantle and none of us are in a position to start another. Notably, Harriet brings this up, the one whose aura took a massive hit while nearly getting crushed underfoot. Vine points out that sometimes you have to lose a battle to win the war, but Team RWBY, to be blunt, simply doesn’t care.

I’ll be blunt myself here too: I don’t have an easy solution to this particular scenario. I don’t know what the “right” or the “wrong” choice is. Weighing starting a fight with VERY high stakes you’ll lose against abandoning the people of Mantle is just a straight up horrific decision. Like so much of what Ozpin faced, there is no clear-cut, good answer here. Do you stand by the people and risk the world, or work to save the world and doom the people? I don’t know and I do commend Rooster Teeth for writing a difficult choice... just not in giving each side the weight it deserves. Because as said, we’re meant to root for Team RWBY, always. Theirs is presented as the “right” choice every time, despite the fact that, as established, this is far from a black and white decision.

What frustrates me the most is when faced with all of these logical and very important considerations (we might not have backup, we’re in no position to fight, if Salem gets the relics and another Maiden the world is screwed) the group won’t even acknowledge these things. They’re so set in their own perspective they won’t even give these HUGE concerns the time of day. Rather, Yang shoots back, “You can’t just back down from a fight!”

That’s it. That’s the group’s problem in a single line.

This is what got Pyrrha killed.

It’s something the group should remember. She also insisted on fighting when she should have retreated and, since this was back during the days when characters actually faced consequences for their actions, it cost Pyrrha her life. Granted, going after Cinder was a truly useless endeavor. Pyrrha achieved nothing with her sacrifice. Here, Team RWBY hopes to save the people of Mantle, adding a clear justification for their insistence on fighting... but this is nevertheless indicative of that larger “punch it until it stops moving” mindset. It’s not that they decide to fight instead of retreating that’s the problem, it’s that to their mind fighting is the only option. Ever. This is what led to them attacking Cordovin and destroying Argus’ mech, drawing a massive grimm in the process. When faced with the option of backing down, Team RWBY doesn’t consider that an option at all. Which is heroic when up against an actual enemy, far less so when you’re facing an ally and the choice to fight has serious repercussions attached to it. Hell, the group doesn’t even consider compromises. They could have easily acknowledged that collecting the relics, the Maiden, and getting the staff to work on Atlas will take time. You do that while we focus on evacuating the rest of Mantle to the city. But no, even the concept of a compromise simply isn’t possible. You just always fight. Straight up. Anyone who suggests anything less isn’t a true huntsmen. “We’re loyal to the people!” Ruby shouts, as if “the people” doesn’t also include the rest of the world that Ironwood is trying to save and that they’re endangering by keeping the relics and Maiden within Salem’s reach. 

That is one messed up perspective to tout in a story infused with the complex and the morally gray.

The real kicker though? Ruby’s ‘My way or the highway’ attitude obliterates a solution that fell straight into her lap. Jaune calls and says straight out that they have another situation. If Ruby had listened to her teammate for just three seconds they all would have learned about Oscar, thereby undermining Ironwood’s plan. He can’t keep the lamp safe if he doesn’t know where it is. You look for it while, again, we evacuate Mantle. Then we take everything out of Salem’s reach. Win-win. Instead, Ruby blasts her way through the situation. Literally, dodging Ironwood and hiding behind his desk shouting a highly bias version of his plan in the hopes of getting everyone on her side. And it works. 

Because those like Clover don’t get to hear any of that context. Like how the perimeter is gone, there’s an army potentially coming, no one is in a position to fight, we’ve already lost a relic... they just here a Ruby’s version of events that paints Ironwood as the callous man Robyn thought he was---oh my god he’s abandoning Mantle for no good reason!---and people will react accordingly. Ruby likewise doesn’t care that shouting such information over all channels does things like, say, clue Tyrian into their plan. She just wants to do things her way, right now. Pausing to think (because thinking isn’t fighting) simply doesn’t happen.

I used to adore Ruby as a hero. Someone who was intrinsically good, hopeful, and wickedly clever in her ability to come out on top. Now she’s stubborn, arrogant, at times cruel, and charges in headfirst like her sister, refusing to consider any perspective other than her own. And her team endlessly supports that. The writing endlessly supports that. This isn’t our hero working through her flaws, but rather a flawed character that the writing refuses to acknowledge is flawed. When Ruby flies behind Ironwood’s desk the music rises triumphantly, just like it did when she attacked Cordovin’s mech. When Ironwood announces that they’re under arrest, Ruby spits back, “We won’t just let you take us” and we’re supposed to cheer.

Which brings us back to the question of whether the group really faced consequences here. Let me give you all a random, non-RWBY example of two scenes. Scenario One:

Parent: You punched her?

Teen: She insulted me!

Parent: I understand that, but that doesn’t mean you were justified in attacking her.

Teen: Oh, I was.

Parent: Maybe you were, maybe you weren’t, but you can’t solve all your problems that way.

Teen: I... I know that, okay. Back off. I just get so angry...

Parent: I know. We’re going to work on that. You’re grounded this weekend. We can discuss this more then.

Teen: [sighs] Fine.

vs. Scenario Two:

Parent: You punched her?

Teen: She insulted me!

Parent: I understand that, but that doesn’t mean you were justified in attacking her.

Teen: Oh, I was.

Parent: Maybe you were, maybe you weren’t, but you can’t solve all your problems that way.

Teen: Screw you! It worked didn’t it? I think a good punch goes a long way.

Parent: That’s not... okay look. You’re grounded this weekend so---

Teen: Like hell I am. [Proceeds to run off]

Teen: [Later to friend] ---and then she tried to ground me? Can you believe that?

Friend: Holy shit what an asshole.

If we put aside my own iffy dialogue for the moment, Scenario One acknowledges the complexity of the situation while likewise pointing out that the teen didn’t handle herself well. RWBY has achieved that here: the ethics of this scenario are acknowledged as complicated, but the group did things they shouldn’t have, as evidence by Ironwood’s anger and the Ace Ops’ criticism. However, Scenario One goes on to let the teen acknowledge that mistake, thereby validating it in the first place. A consequence is set, grounding, and they accept that, thereby further validating that their behavior needs work. They accept the consequence because both they and the writing acknowledge that the consequence is deserved. It takes what was previously two subjective stances---they say I’m wrong, I say I’m right---and encourages the audience to find the middle ground. Neither was totally wrong or right. The teen might be justified in some respects, but still made mistakes in others. She needs to improve. 

RWBY, however, steers firmly into Scenario Two wherein the teen (Team RWBY) insists points blank that they never made mistakes in the first place, thereby encouraging the audience to question whether Ironwood and the Ace Ops (the parent) is right to be calling them out at all. We see no humility or guilt, only confidence. Ruby shouting “No!” at Cordovin when she’s told to surrender. Yang keeping silent after admitting that she and Blake told Robyn, not bothering to apologize or admit that this might have been a breech of trust. They challenge the validity of the claim that mistakes were made and by virtue of being protagonists encourage the audience to challenge it too. Finally, we see them reject the consequence because they will not admit that it’s deserved. The teen will not accept a grounding. Ruby: “We won’t just let you take us.” We’re then told by others that this rejection was warranted. The friend reinforces the view that the teen was right to run because that punishment is undeserved. The message is, “You never did anything wrong in the first place.” The plot of RWBY likewise reinforces the view that resisting Cordovin’s arrest was right by having her randomly let the group go. The consequence is replaced with a reward and, presumably, we’ll have a similar situation wherein the group either defeats the Ace Ops or is released by them. The consequences never take hold because the writing doesn’t think there should be consequences in the first place. Team RWBY isn’t going to be arrested here. They’re certainly not acknowledging that on some level they deserve to be. We didn’t see that humility while they were cuffed on the airship---that most basic acknowledgement of, “Did we make some mistakes? Could we have done something better? Is Ironwood right to be this mad?”---and there’s none of it now here, either. The tone is pure, “How dare you try and arrest us? We’re the good guys here!” 

This remains as pro-protagonist as it has been the last two volumes. There are no consequences, only another hurdle for the group to overcome, painted as heroes for doing so. It’s Team RWBY vs. The Ace Ops and there’s no confusion about who we’re supposed to be rooting for. The Ace Ops because the group should rightly be stopped from hindering Ironwood’s attempts to keep the relics and a Maiden out of Salem’s hands, for their own lies and secret keeping that endangered them all this volume? Nope. It’s Team RWBY as the presumed heroes, facing off against soldiers who (supposedly) prioritize orders over what’s “right.” 

And yeah, Oscar is gone. There are a number of dismantled robots and blaster fire in the room where Neo presumably took him. So unless they do a flashback we don’t get to see if/how Ozpin reacted to this initial attack. I hope they do provide a flashback because otherwise that’s another crucial scene of Oscar’s that happened off screen...

Can’t wait to see what else we’ll end up with next week! Until then, 💜

#rwby #rwby volume 7 #rwby volume 7 spoilers #rwby recaps #mymetas

[fire-the-headcanons]

The rest of the students all scowled, eyes screwed shut, except for Qrow. Professor Mikado was frowning at him, and as Summer watched, he pulled a loose bullet from his sleeve and tossed it gently in his face. Aura sparks flickered red as it bounced off his defenses and clattered to the floor. "Mr. Taupe, you will find the exercise more effective if you attempt it."

"Why would I want to lower my shields if you're gonna throw things at me?"

Summer snorted, aura flying back out into place as she tried not to laugh, and she wasn't the only one.

Follow the Beacon Summer—Missing Piece

[Link to Masterpost]

[TW for blood and injury. @ranger-lcat yelled at me that it was gross, anyway.  Summary at the bottom as usual.]

"It's really not bad…" Summer said.

"Sure."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

You don't seem fine. How could someone be so… present in a fight, and so determined to be invisible the rest of the time? Our team is so disjointed. If I'm supposed to be the leader, does that mean it's my fault?

It had been a rocky first month of school. At least Raven had been less hostile than during initiation, but mostly the twins were just quiet. It was hard to be friends with people who only ever wanted to talk about schoolwork…

…though Summer had to admit the obvious advantages to having study partners who had grown up outside a Kingdom. Actually outside a kingdom, not on a sheltered island where Signal's staff and students outnumbered the locals three to one. 

Camping, tracking, identifying Grimm… anything even tangentially related to outdoor survival, they were masters. Luckily for them, Summer and Tai were fairly good with math and history. What team STRQ lacked in camaraderie they made up for in study group efficacy.

And Qrow worked harder than anyone in every subject—but he refused to work on his Semblance. He wouldn't go to the classes, wouldn't try meditating or aura focusing, and whenever she tried to bring it up he'd interrupt her with a question about history. 

Which was how Summer ended up heading to the gym on the last Thursday of September with a very sullen friend finally in tow. She couldn't understand it, she'd been dreaming of unlocking her own gift since forever.

The door squealed open, and the gym's occupants paused in their conversations. Professor Mikado broke into a smile. "Mr Taupe, welcome."

"Uh...thanks."

The other students went back to their conversation as he approached them both. "There's no need to feel nervous. This is not a remedial class, it's more of a guided meditation group," he reiterated what he'd said to everyone else during the first session.

Qrow frowned. "Then… why is it mandatory?"

"Several combat schools have found it beneficial to have regular support groups for students that are having trouble with their Semblances. Ozpin extended the program to Beacon."

"Oh."

He chuckled at Qrow's defeated expression. "Don't worry, it's only mandatory the first year. Please, give it a chance—you'll find some good friends here."

Qrow nodded, and the professor turned to address everyone. "Welcome back. Today we'll be trying a meditation style that originated in Vacuo, though it was long before the actual Kingdom was founded." He took a seat on one of the mats, legs crossed with arms resting comfortably on them. Everyone else quickly followed. "Begin with slow breaths—breathe in as you count slowly to four… hold it, and count to seven… release as you count to eight. In… hold… out…"

They'd done the breathing exercises every week, but the professor was probably trying to get Qrow on the same page.

"Now, focus on your aura. Feel it swirling, ebbing and flowing with each breath. Draw it all into your core, as if gravity were weighing it down."

Summer's shields faded as their fuel retreated toward her heart. It didn't feel anything like gravity, it felt like trying to stuff a plushie while sitting inside it. Wisps of cotton, springing back into place as soon as she removed her focus.

It was a powerful and a vulnerable feeling, having so much energy packed in around her heart but having no defenses. Almost unsettling, in a way. Finally, with something like a secure grip on all the little cotton strands, she risked looking around.

The rest of the students all scowled, eyes screwed shut, except for Qrow. Professor Mikado was frowning at him, and as Summer watched, he pulled a loose bullet from his sleeve and tossed it gently in his face. Aura sparks flickered red as it bounced off his defenses and clattered to the floor. "Mr. Taupe, you will find the exercise more effective if you attempt it."

"Why would I want to lower my shields if you're gonna throw things at me?"

Summer snorted, aura flying back out into place as she tried not to laugh, and she wasn't the only one.

The professor chuckled as well. "Begin by relaxing, then. That's what the slow breathing is intended for."

Focus. Summer shook herself mentally. The exercise works a lot better if you attempt it. Okay… drawn in like a well of gravity…

Minutes passed, probably. From the occasional frustrated noises of the other students, they were having a harder time with it. She'd always had easy mastery of her aura, which made her lack of Semblance even more—

BANGhissssss

Something slammed into her right side, throwing her down and pinning her with face pressed against the mat.

"Get back from it!" Professor Mikado shouted. Summer pushed against the floor with all her panic-enhanced might just as an arm hooked around her stomach and dragged her back. Off balance, they tumbled back to the ground, but she was free at last.

Shards of Dust and glass littered the floor, still sparking and smoking. One of the overhead lights had exploded.

"Are you hurt?!" Qrow demanded, grabbing her shoulder. 

Dazed, she slowly tore her gaze away from the smoldering pile of rubble. "I'm fine…" He stared at her with terrified eyes, glass in his hair and dusting his clothes. "Are you?!"

"Your shields—"

He cut off at a groan of pain from the other side of the debris. Arylide sat with her hands pressed to her head, blood welling between her fingers and running down her arms. Professor Mikado was already standing over her, examining the wound.

"It's not as bad as it seems." He spared a glance at the rest of the class. "Who else is hurt?"

"I… uh…" Brick was clutching a spot just above his elbow, looking slightly nauseated. "There's some in my arm. My aura, uh… h-healed over it…"

"All right, class dismissed. Let's get the two of you to the hospital." He turned back to Arylide. "May I carry you?"

Her voice shook with pain. "Yes, please." 

Summer stared, disbelieving, as they vanished through the doors. Of all the times for the light to break, five people were sitting underneath it with their auras down. She glanced at Qrow with a shaky laugh. "Well. That was an interesting first class. It's usually a lot qui—what's wrong?"

He swallowed hard, but his nauseated expression stayed unrelieved. "I'm fine."

"Did you get cut?" 

"No." He brushed at clothes, aura crackling against the sharp edges of glass. "Taking our shields down is a bad idea."

"Well, we have to sleep sometimes, right?"

His hand stilled, tangled in his hair and still glittering red. It almost matched his eyes. "You can't keep your shields up when you're asleep?"

Summer's mouth fell open. "You can?! That takes years—decades!—of training! How did you learn so quickly?"

"I dunno," he said defensively, "I guess it's because Raven and I would camp out in the woods so much on hunting trips. We just sort of...figured it out."

"Ooh, maybe I should try that!" 

"Don't." His voice soured. "People die. A lot."

Oh. That train of thought seemed to bother him, so she scrambled for something positive. "We're lucky nobody got Dust in a cut." 

"...Yeah. Lucky."

Next Chapter: Qrow—Doomed to Repeat It

Summary:

Summer reflects on the first month at Beacon. Raven's been less prickly than expected, but Qrow's also been quieter than during initiation. STRQ is a study group powerhouse—Summer and Tai are decent at math and history, and the twins are excellent at anything to do with surviving in the wild—but don't talk about much besides schoolwork, and Summer is frustrated by her team's lack of cohesion, blaming herself a bit as their leader.

Qrow has been refusing to do anything to try to unlock his Semblance and changes the subject any time it's brought up. It's the last class of the month, though, so he HAS to go to this one. Professor Mikado leads the five students through meditation and calls out Qrow for pretending to follow along. As soon as Qrow attempts the exercise in earnest, an overhead light explodes, raining glass on them while their shields are compromised. Qrow (who definitely was not expecting something like this to happen) tackles Summer and shields her, but two of the other students are hurt.

Summer and Qrow are talking as they leave, and she is surprised to hear that he and Raven are capable of maintaining their defenses in their sleep, something that can take decades to learn.

#rwby #summer rose #qrow branwen #raven branwen #taiyang xiao long #strq #team strq #rwby hummingbird #just a tiny bit #you've been warned #tw blood #tw body horror #i can't believe doomed to repeat it is next week #everyone is going to yell at me #i'm so sorry in advance

[itsclydebitches]

RWBY Recaps: Vol. 5 Known By Its Song

This is a re-posting from Nov. 18th, 2017 in an effort to get all my recaps fully on tumblr. Thanks!

Five years on air and RWBY still has the ability to make me stupidly emotional. This episode was no exception.

Our title, "Known By Its Song" comes from the old saying that "A bird is known by its song, a man by his words," presumably referring to times when a man's "word" was equated with his honor. We begin the episode with Qrow--someone who is notably both man and corvus, a dichotomy that the episode will later comment on--who is out keeping his own word to Ozpin, searching for other huntsmen and huntresses to help them in their battle against Salem.

...and he's a complete drama queen about it.

Yes, in retrospect this is a Very Serious Situation, but getting a montage of Qrow literally bending over backwards in frustration before finally collapsing to his knees? Pretty hilarious. The first bar he visits, looking for someone named Shiro, doesn't go well at all, but for two minutes at least we can chock everything up to Qrow's semblance: the bartender doesn't know where Shiro is, he's not allowed back until he pays what he owes, and that debt is apparently high enough to warrant Qrow getting a knife thrown at him through the wall. Yeesh.

As his mission continues though, it becomes clear that there's far more at play than a bit of bad luck. Qrow is conducting his search in the poverty stricken areas of Haven, which is both a wonderful bit of world building and a perfect bit of characterization. After all, Qrow had a life of raids and disreputable behavior before he hooked up with the Ozilluminati. Any friends that he goes "way back" with are bound to be, if not criminals, then other huntsmen and huntresses with equally dubious pasts. The area where Qrow expects to find his friends is drab and gray, a sharp contrast to the beautiful seating area he'll rest in later, complete with holographic technology and a water garden with lily pads. The houses are boarded up and falling apart. The people wear filthy clothes, spend their time betting on street fights, and have some rather horrific injuries--hello, one-eyed weapons seller. What really completes the picture is a sign outside the bar proclaiming that there are NO FAUNUS allowed. Here in the U.S. racism has long been used as a means of pacifying those at or below the poverty line. Struggling to survive? Facing a government that cares little about whether you eat or your kids go to school? Well at the very least you're still white! It's a horrific truth about this country, but a truth nonetheless, and for once I'm glad that Rooster Teeth is forcing their race analogy back into the narrative. As flimsy as it still is, it does make sense that the most poverty-ridden parts of Haven would also be one of the most overtly discriminatory. This is just a more blunt version of what we saw back in Atlas during Jacques' little charity ball. He makes speeches about faunus who complain about dangerous working conditions. Bartenders in Haven slap up signs on their wall. It's the same thing with a different face.

Not that Qrow has time to worry about that right now. He runs through name after name learning that each person is missing--or worse. His search comes to an end when, frustrated, he reams out a guy right before a little girl toddles up, asking if this strange man knows where her Mommy is. I find it rather poignant that it's in this moment, one of his worst, that Qrow actually resists his flask. Perhaps he wants to keep feeling whatever emotions rose up from that little encounter. I think he hates himself just enough to go that route.

I also find it reassuring that for all his talk about how he can't get close to others because of his semblance, Qrow does know a lot of people. He's popular in his own way, making allies, acquaintances, and friends on both sides of the fence, so to speak. It's a punch to the gut when we see him back among Haven's upper class, staring at a mission board like the one we saw in Beacon. Every name up there--all these people he's come to care about--are missing, gone on search and destroy missions and never returned. Just as the viewer is beginning to realize why Shiro hasn't payed his debt, that it probably has nothing to do with a sleazy nature, Qrow is back at the bar. He pays off the money Shiro owes and tells the bartender firmly that "His name is clear" now.

I'd be more moved by this scene if I wasn't distracted by how the hell lien works in this world. Seriously. It seems straightforward enough at first glance. Different colors represent different amounts, right? But then here's Qrow throwing down a single card that pays off the16,000 debt. That seems like a random number. Who makes a 'bill' worth that exact amount? Unless Qrow payed him more than the minimum, or that was acting more like a credit card.

I don't know. This is the fantasy show that has yet to introduce languages other than English. You can't look too closely at RWBY's world building.

On to things I can actually conceptualize: Yang and Weiss are finally having their talk with Raven. Who was surprised by the setting that includes a decorative tea set and low table? Not me. I've seen a bunch of comics these last two weeks depicting that conversation exactly as it occurred, at least aesthetically. How did we know? Something something Yang's Asian influence. Again, don't look too closely. The point is that Raven is starting a very ironic conversation regarding "truth."

I actively dislike this woman.

Her attempts to manipulate Yang two episodes back were pretty blatant, but kudos for better subtly here: by insisting that Yang needs to question everything--including Raven--Raven actually positions herself as both wise (the one to gift Yang with this advice) and trustworthy; as the only one to admit her own, potential duplicity, she paradoxically comes across as the most honest. Too bad Yang's too smart to fall for her mind games. Or too straight forward. Weiss is the one talking herself in circles about whether magic might actually exist or not. Yang has a laser focus that nothing can penetrate: find Ruby.

I said last time that Raven was going to either drop some crazy plot twist about Ozpin, or just catch the girls up on what we already know. Looks like Rooster Teeth went with option two. Raven (taking her sweet time and being real vague about it) sums up what we've learned this season, if not earlier: Salem is a person that exists and is a Big Threat, she wants to kill off all of humanity (which presumably includes the faunus?), magic is a thing, and Raven just happens to know someone who can "come back from the dead." Wow. Wonder who that could be!

She does actually drop a few tidbits of interesting information. She reveals that she and Qrow entered Beacon to learn how to kill huntsmen and obviously only one of the twins was dissuaded from that goal. Her comment that the entrance exams were "child's play" is particularly fascinating because I'd always assumed there had to be something beyond just sending in transcripts and not screwing up initiation. Which begs the question, how did Jaune get past an exam of that caliber? Did Ruby just skip it with Ozpin's permission? Presumably.

In the end though, no matter how much Raven might want Yang to believe her "truth," her overwhelming bias shines through. The fact that she claims to have info on Ozpin and makes the beginning of the conversation all about Qrow hints at those feelings of betrayal. She ends the conversation on Tai--an insult that finally has Yang losing her patience. And throughout the middle Raven emphasizes that Salem is an entity that can't be stopped. Her beef with Ozpin (according to this conversation at least) isn't that he's inherently evil, but that he's convincing people to fight with him in an impossible war.

The problem here is that Raven is the only one who sees this war as "impossible." I've touched on this before, but Volume 5 is pulling strongly from that mission in Mountain Glenn, back when Oobleck got Team RWBY to think about why they wanted to be huntresses in the first place. Yes, on the surface that episode seems to confirm Raven's belief that most enter the life for money, fame, or power: Blake wants tools to fight for equality, Weiss wants to break away from her father, Yang wants an exciting life--they all have ulterior motives. But Raven didn't watch the full episode, all the way to when the girls acknowledge this around the campfire and make conscious (if silent) decisions not to be overly influenced by these motivations. They're fighting first and foremost because it's the right thing to do. Raven sees them as the "poster children" of Beacon academy, naive kids who are too blinded by their ideals to realize how cruel the world is, easily manipulated and then sacrificed by Ozpin. But she's the one who's blind here. The girls know more than they let on, they've acknowledge their failings and the world's... and they've decided to fight anyway.

For Team RWBY/JNPR  fighting Salem isn't impossible. It's just incredibly hard. Ruby, their leader, is the embodiment of this belief, reminding Oscar last episode that they have to keep moving forward. And it’s a sign of growth: Team RWBY is what Ozpin once hoped Team STRQ could be. Raven hates Ozpin because she sees a man sacrificing pawns to an unbeatable foe. Ozpin's allies love him because they see a man doing everything he can to defeat an incredibly powerful foe. But not an invincible one.

Of course, we don't have all the information yet. Raven says that she hates Ozpin for one more reason, for "what he did to my brother and me." The pacing of this scene is important, because Raven's second in command tells Yang and Weiss to go "see for themselves" what this horrible sin is and it's then that we get Raven soaring through the air in her bird form. It's been a big question for a while now: how can Qrow and Raven transform if they have other semblances? The reigning theory was that it had something to do with their tribe connection, but now it seems that this was, somehow, Oz's doing.

Oz is the Wizard theory, anyone?

Why Raven views being able to turn into a kickass bird as a bad thing, I don't know. Some aversion to magic perhaps? Is there a downside here? I’m rather confused as to how this is something bad... And I'd actually always assumed that Ruby and Yang knew about their uncle's ability, but we learn otherwise here. Why keep it from the girls then? Is it just because it's personal, like a semblance? Or does Qrow also view his transformations as something tainted... unnatural even? I hope this aversion is addressed. Perhaps it will tie back to this volume's focus on semblances. In that, if Team RWBY is truly Team STRQ 2.0, then Ozpin might well gift the girls with new abilities too, just as he did for Qrow and Raven. He's already admitted that there are heights to reach beyond merely unlocking and practicing your semblance--heights that he can perhaps unlock.

Which raises another interesting possibility: Could Summer do something extra? ... can Tai?

(And then here's prodigy Ruby with semblance, silver eyes, and potential magic powers on the way. Don't overload the small child lol. There needs to be some struggle.)

In the end, if Raven had hoped that her little talk would get Yang on her side she was very mistaken. She opens the portal and Yang drives them through without hesitation, right when Qrow is agonizing over what's happened to all his contacts. His panicked "Raven?" transforming into a simple, happy "...oh" was a blessing in two words.

Then. Then we're given the scene that watered my crops, cleared my skin, and has done all my other writing for me. Ren, Nora, and Ruby happily cooking up a huge dinner together, expecting a whole slew of fighters to show up with Qrow and intending to feed every one of them. Ruby burning the food despite Ren's warnings. Hearing Qrow calling her and knowing what was about to happen. It’s all great. 

I really love that Ruby was so nervous when she caught sight of Yang. Despite her letter last volume where she admits that running off to Haven was reckless, we haven't seen much about her thoughts on that decision. It all comes tumbling out here though. That a part of her regrets it, how sorry she is that she didn't wait for Yang, she should have tried to do more...everything. Not that Yang blames Ruby for any of that. She takes one look at her crying sister and runs to hug her, saying only, "I love you."

And Weiss... oh Weiss. How dare you question your place here. She looks discouraged for only a moment before Ruby (always perceptive) calls her over.

The episode ends with this.

And we're officially halfway through the volume. We've got Team RWY back together, much sooner than I expected, honestly. 

Now it's time to find Blake!

Other Details of Note

Of course Weiss can tell the difference between a crow and a raven. I mean yes, that was necessary for the plot, but still.

Weiss' "I know that you're really obnoxious" in response to Raven's attempts at hospitality. Pfff drag her.

Weiss' eye roll when Raven said she wouldn't be as "nice" next time they meet. Please.

Weiss' overt concern for Yang and saying straight out that it's okay if she's not okay and my god she was on fire this episode for someone mostly sticking to the background.

Yang telling Raven not to talk about "my family" that way. Raven is no longer a part of that picture and I want to cheer at how Yang is handling all this so far.

I also appreciate the contrast, visually, between Qrow's transformation and Raven's. Their 'reveals' are done in opposite directions and for opposite purposes: Qrow transforms while flying left to right across the screen and attempting to save his family; Raven transforms right to left while trying to keep Yang from hers. Nicely done there.

I forgot to mention this last time but... can we lay off the Nora + food jokes? It was funny before we learned she starved for most of her childhood. So yeah, comments about how she's going to eat everything in sight aren't so much a joke as a sign of trauma. Let the poor girl eat what she likes.

Yang cradles Weiss in "Lighting the Fire" the exact same way she cradles Ruby here. Yang is confirmed big sister to the entire RWBY/JNPR group.

Oscar's confused look that melts into understanding, courtesy of Ozpin. It's a subtle moment, but just another indication of how they're synching up. Lovely detail there.

#rwby #mymetas #RWBY Recaps