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Pyrrha went back to that tower by herself because... she believed she had a destiny. I think... that burden of expectation and greatness can sometimes be a lot harder to bear than... than being a failure.
[ And Jaune has a master degree in the latter, so he can't imagine what it's like to always be expected to succeed. ]
I just don't want Ruby to think... that it's her responsibility alone. We're all in this together. And yet, in my heart... I feel scared every time we part ways. It starts to hurt, before anything even has a chance to happen. A pain that's not even really there.
[ He knows now what people like Cinder and Tyrian are capable of, and he knows full-well that his friend is a high priority target for them. He also knows that Ruby is reckless because he is, too, although he thinks the only difference is that he's prepared to die every day. ]
Yang... do you think Cinder is really gone?
[ And Jaune has a master degree in the latter, so he can't imagine what it's like to always be expected to succeed. ]
I just don't want Ruby to think... that it's her responsibility alone. We're all in this together. And yet, in my heart... I feel scared every time we part ways. It starts to hurt, before anything even has a chance to happen. A pain that's not even really there.
[ He knows now what people like Cinder and Tyrian are capable of, and he knows full-well that his friend is a high priority target for them. He also knows that Ruby is reckless because he is, too, although he thinks the only difference is that he's prepared to die every day. ]
Yang... do you think Cinder is really gone?
[Her focus drifts steadily back to Jaune as he speaks, a small sad smile shifting across her features.
Because Yang understands that feeling almost exactly.
She's scared for her sister. Scared for her friends. They couldn't possibly be in more danger than they are now back home and she understands the risks of that. Yet the thought of something happening to any of them, especially her team...her family. It's unbearable.
Yang has weathered loss before. All kinds of loss. But she also knows her limits.
And she cannot lose anyone else.
That question prompts her to glance away, the slightest tension settling into her shoulders.]
I don't...know.
[She pauses and there's the sense that she's choosing her words very carefully.]
But...does Cinder strike you as somebody who'd just surrender and walk away? Who'd accept anything less than total victory?
Because Yang understands that feeling almost exactly.
She's scared for her sister. Scared for her friends. They couldn't possibly be in more danger than they are now back home and she understands the risks of that. Yet the thought of something happening to any of them, especially her team...her family. It's unbearable.
Yang has weathered loss before. All kinds of loss. But she also knows her limits.
And she cannot lose anyone else.
That question prompts her to glance away, the slightest tension settling into her shoulders.]
I don't...know.
[She pauses and there's the sense that she's choosing her words very carefully.]
But...does Cinder strike you as somebody who'd just surrender and walk away? Who'd accept anything less than total victory?
[ Yang's sudden shift in body language isn't hard to miss, but Jaune can't begin to guess any specific reasons for it. Maybe she had an unpleasant confrontation with Cinder in the vault? The woman does have a way of leaving a haunting impression on people.
He'll never forget how powerless she made him feel, after all. ]
She's driven if nothing else...
[ Yang's answer doesn't give him any peace of mind, but he's been living with paranoia for a while now that he thinks he prefers it rather than being caught with his guard down someday. ]
When Ruby disarmed her at Haven, I tried to end her with my blade. I've been wondering for a while if that was the right thing to do, if I should've given her a chance to surrender. ... That time has passed.
[ If Cinder will not accept anything other than total victory, then he knows what he must do. If she's still out there, then there may come a time when Cinder dies on her knees, a fitting end for someone who took Pyrrha in the same way, but Jaune won't have any pleasure in it. His heart may be broken but it's not cold just yet... he won't let it get to that. ]
Maybe you should head back.
[ He feels so useless. He had hoped he would come up with something helpful to say if Yang agreed to go for a walk, but the words just aren't coming to him. There's nothing he can say to make any of this better. He knows someone who can, though, and she's back at the house. ]
He'll never forget how powerless she made him feel, after all. ]
She's driven if nothing else...
[ Yang's answer doesn't give him any peace of mind, but he's been living with paranoia for a while now that he thinks he prefers it rather than being caught with his guard down someday. ]
When Ruby disarmed her at Haven, I tried to end her with my blade. I've been wondering for a while if that was the right thing to do, if I should've given her a chance to surrender. ... That time has passed.
[ If Cinder will not accept anything other than total victory, then he knows what he must do. If she's still out there, then there may come a time when Cinder dies on her knees, a fitting end for someone who took Pyrrha in the same way, but Jaune won't have any pleasure in it. His heart may be broken but it's not cold just yet... he won't let it get to that. ]
Maybe you should head back.
[ He feels so useless. He had hoped he would come up with something helpful to say if Yang agreed to go for a walk, but the words just aren't coming to him. There's nothing he can say to make any of this better. He knows someone who can, though, and she's back at the house. ]
[Yang's expression has shifted to something unreadable as she listens. She looks as if she's regarding him very carefully, before giving a small thoughtful huff of breath.]
Jaune. [Pausing in her steps and moving to stand in front of him, she places a hand on his shoulder, her tone warm as she says with a gentle smile.] Don't tell me what to do.
[It's a half-hearted attempt at some levity. She's not at all insulted or bothered, but she's also not about to go home and leave Jaune to deal with his own thoughts alone when they're both so obviously in the same depressing boat. It's true, Yang does have someone back at the house who could possibly make her feel better about this whole thing, but she didn't agree to this walk with the idea she'd come out of it feeling 100% better about everything.
Letting go of his shoulder, she starts walking again, tone still soft.]
What I meant was...I don't think Cinder is the kind of person who'd just give up and walk away. Not with the Relic right there.
[Yang pauses again and looks over at him with a sad smile on her face.]
My mom is really good at killing people too. We both know that.
[Yang doesn't hold herself accountable for any of the horrible things Raven has done, but they still horrify her. An entire peaceful village wiped off the map. No doubt just one of many. There's no coming back from something like that. Raven has killed...so many people...even people who trusted her...]
And...given the chance...I don't think Raven would have hesitated to kill her too. Definitely not if she'd double-crossed her.
[Yang never saw the fight itself but it wasn't impossible for her to put two and two together. Vernal dead, debris everywhere, and no Cinder. There was only one obvious outcome.]
So...hopefully none of us will have to make that choice with Cinder now.
[It's not the most comforting thought, if only because Cinder's far from the only enemy they have that won't stop until they're all dead, but it's...something?]
Jaune. [Pausing in her steps and moving to stand in front of him, she places a hand on his shoulder, her tone warm as she says with a gentle smile.] Don't tell me what to do.
[It's a half-hearted attempt at some levity. She's not at all insulted or bothered, but she's also not about to go home and leave Jaune to deal with his own thoughts alone when they're both so obviously in the same depressing boat. It's true, Yang does have someone back at the house who could possibly make her feel better about this whole thing, but she didn't agree to this walk with the idea she'd come out of it feeling 100% better about everything.
Letting go of his shoulder, she starts walking again, tone still soft.]
What I meant was...I don't think Cinder is the kind of person who'd just give up and walk away. Not with the Relic right there.
[Yang pauses again and looks over at him with a sad smile on her face.]
My mom is really good at killing people too. We both know that.
[Yang doesn't hold herself accountable for any of the horrible things Raven has done, but they still horrify her. An entire peaceful village wiped off the map. No doubt just one of many. There's no coming back from something like that. Raven has killed...so many people...even people who trusted her...]
And...given the chance...I don't think Raven would have hesitated to kill her too. Definitely not if she'd double-crossed her.
[Yang never saw the fight itself but it wasn't impossible for her to put two and two together. Vernal dead, debris everywhere, and no Cinder. There was only one obvious outcome.]
So...hopefully none of us will have to make that choice with Cinder now.
[It's not the most comforting thought, if only because Cinder's far from the only enemy they have that won't stop until they're all dead, but it's...something?]
[ So that's how it is... maybe he has been worrying about nothing all along. ]
I guess your mom's pretty driven, too.
[ He smiles a little, appreciating that Yang isn't willing to let herself be pushed away, but she's also trying to make him feel better. It's not easy, considering the cards they've been dealt with, but she's doing her best and he won't let that go unnoticed.
There's not much else they can do about it for now, but if she's willing to still stick around with him, then he thinks he knows what they can do for the time being. ]
Y'know, I was gonna pick up a couple of milkshakes for the house, but... I only got so many hands, heh. Mind if I borrow yours?
[ a beat ]
I'll bring it back.
[ A joke, of course. What he's really asking is if she'd like to come along and help him in this endeavour. ]
I guess your mom's pretty driven, too.
[ He smiles a little, appreciating that Yang isn't willing to let herself be pushed away, but she's also trying to make him feel better. It's not easy, considering the cards they've been dealt with, but she's doing her best and he won't let that go unnoticed.
There's not much else they can do about it for now, but if she's willing to still stick around with him, then he thinks he knows what they can do for the time being. ]
Y'know, I was gonna pick up a couple of milkshakes for the house, but... I only got so many hands, heh. Mind if I borrow yours?
[ a beat ]
I'll bring it back.
[ A joke, of course. What he's really asking is if she'd like to come along and help him in this endeavour. ]
[Yang can't help the derisive snort that escapes her.]
That's one word for it.
[He can just say Raven's an asshole, she's not gonna disagree with him.
Her expression softens again however at the mention of milkshakes, before it shifts into a mock pout, her left hand settling at her waist as her mechanical right one holds up a finger to interrupt.]
Nnnnope~ No way! Sorry Jaune. [She folds both her arms in a faux huff.] Me and this arm are a package deal.
[She's barely hiding her grin at this point, knowing exactly what he was really asking.]
So I'll just have to come with.
That's one word for it.
[He can just say Raven's an asshole, she's not gonna disagree with him.
Her expression softens again however at the mention of milkshakes, before it shifts into a mock pout, her left hand settling at her waist as her mechanical right one holds up a finger to interrupt.]
Nnnnope~ No way! Sorry Jaune. [She folds both her arms in a faux huff.] Me and this arm are a package deal.
[She's barely hiding her grin at this point, knowing exactly what he was really asking.]
So I'll just have to come with.
Ahh, well, far be it from me to "tell you what to do"...
[ He says it with a grin that matches hers, obviously pleased with this outcome. Maybe going for a walk wasn't such a bad idea after all, and when they return, the mood back in the house might even feel a little lighter again. Milkshakes won't solve all of their problems, but it will do for now as they figure out what to do next in the near future. ]
...Thanks, Yang.
[ He says it with a grin that matches hers, obviously pleased with this outcome. Maybe going for a walk wasn't such a bad idea after all, and when they return, the mood back in the house might even feel a little lighter again. Milkshakes won't solve all of their problems, but it will do for now as they figure out what to do next in the near future. ]
...Thanks, Yang.
Edited 2019-02-01 09:00 (UTC)
[Her expression warms, the grin she'd just barely containing settling into a bright smile.]
Anytime.
[There's gratitude in her tone as well, an unspoken, "Thank you as well". She's maybe only witnessed a small tip of the iceberg when it comes to what Jaune does, not just for his own team, but for Ruby and Weiss: Encouraging them, bolstering them when they're down, even playing the fool just to get a laugh. But what she has seen him do for the people she cares about means more to her than anything and she knows he's tried to do the same for her which is...admittedly still something she has more practice giving than receiving. But still appreciated all the same.
Milkshakes definitely can't solve all of their problems, but all of them working together and supporting each other? Maybe, just maybe, that'll be enough.]
Anytime.
[There's gratitude in her tone as well, an unspoken, "Thank you as well". She's maybe only witnessed a small tip of the iceberg when it comes to what Jaune does, not just for his own team, but for Ruby and Weiss: Encouraging them, bolstering them when they're down, even playing the fool just to get a laugh. But what she has seen him do for the people she cares about means more to her than anything and she knows he's tried to do the same for her which is...admittedly still something she has more practice giving than receiving. But still appreciated all the same.
Milkshakes definitely can't solve all of their problems, but all of them working together and supporting each other? Maybe, just maybe, that'll be enough.]
...If I were a chocolate chip cookie, I would eat myself. I know I would. I wouldn't even question it.
[ ...Welcome to the idle thoughts of your sister, Yang. ]
[ ...Welcome to the idle thoughts of your sister, Yang. ]
Edited 2019-02-23 19:40 (UTC)
[ Yeah, yeah...it probably is...but it bears repeating! She thinks about it a lot. ]
Oh, I would! But if I was the cookie, wouldn't that make me break —
[ Wait. ]
Yang?
Oh, I would! But if I was the cookie, wouldn't that make me break —
[ Wait. ]
Yang?
...Yeah?
[Yang's not sure what Ruby just interrupted herself for...particularly since she had a great jab about chunky cookies in response to that unfinished question. Alas...
She's no stranger to Ruby suddenly switching mental gears though so she'll just wait for Ruby to explain.]
[Yang's not sure what Ruby just interrupted herself for...particularly since she had a great jab about chunky cookies in response to that unfinished question. Alas...
She's no stranger to Ruby suddenly switching mental gears though so she'll just wait for Ruby to explain.]
How did you hear me just now? I didn't mean to send that to you!
[ Word of the misfires hasn't quite caught her ear yet, so all she knows is that a very private thought (it wasn't that private) actually went to her sister instead. She hadn't even been thinking about Yang when she sent that out, so...how had it happened? ]
[ Word of the misfires hasn't quite caught her ear yet, so all she knows is that a very private thought (it wasn't that private) actually went to her sister instead. She hadn't even been thinking about Yang when she sent that out, so...how had it happened? ]
You didn't...? Wha-...wait, how would I know that??
[Both the "she heard something she wasn't supposed to" thing and also that Ruby didn't meant to talk to her in the first place. They may have telepathy here but that still doesn't give her clairvoyance.
However that might've come off a little grumpy and Yang's quick to own up to it.]
Sorry. Honestly? I think something's up with my crystal. I don't usually listen to a lot of the chatter that goes on over the amulets but I haven't been able to ignore anything coming over it today.
[It's the worst, Ruby. It's like getting unsolicited calls over her Scroll that she can't even block except the Scroll is her braaaaaain T_T ]
[Both the "she heard something she wasn't supposed to" thing and also that Ruby didn't meant to talk to her in the first place. They may have telepathy here but that still doesn't give her clairvoyance.
However that might've come off a little grumpy and Yang's quick to own up to it.]
Sorry. Honestly? I think something's up with my crystal. I don't usually listen to a lot of the chatter that goes on over the amulets but I haven't been able to ignore anything coming over it today.
[It's the worst, Ruby. It's like getting unsolicited calls over her Scroll that she can't even block except the Scroll is her braaaaaain T_T ]
[ Now that she mentions it, that has been happening a lot today, hasn't it? Maybe there's something bigger at work here than just Yang's amulet malfunctioning. ]
I don't think it's just you. That's been happening to me, too. I'm not hearing that little noise that a message is coming through, and all of a sudden someone else's voice is in my head! I didn't think that would have with thoughts I didn't mean to send, though...
[ That thought about eating herself as a cookie was private!! ]
I don't think it's just you. That's been happening to me, too. I'm not hearing that little noise that a message is coming through, and all of a sudden someone else's voice is in my head! I didn't think that would have with thoughts I didn't mean to send, though...
[ That thought about eating herself as a cookie was private!! ]
You too? [It's both relieving as well as concerning that it's not just happening to her. She sighs in response.] Ugh, great. The last thing we need is a network breakdown here.
[The one they're still dealing with back home is problem enough.]
I guess we should ask around? Find out if anyone else has been having problems and if they know why?
[The one they're still dealing with back home is problem enough.]
I guess we should ask around? Find out if anyone else has been having problems and if they know why?
Ugh, I guess so...even if I ask the wrong person, that might be helpful, too.
[ That would tell them a lot about whether or not the malfunction is widespread, anyway. Look on the bright side...maybe they can make some new friends this way!!
She's trying to look at it positively, anyway. ]
[ That would tell them a lot about whether or not the malfunction is widespread, anyway. Look on the bright side...maybe they can make some new friends this way!!
She's trying to look at it positively, anyway. ]
Just another mission for Team RWBY, huh?
[She says it reassuringly. They're not really "on the clock" here even if it sure does seem like there's always something they've got to look into or fix. At least this seems like a mild inconvenience at worst.
Warmly, if with a slight tease, she adds.]
I promise your cookie-self eating reflections are safe with me.
[She won't tell a soul! Big Sister's honor.]
[She says it reassuringly. They're not really "on the clock" here even if it sure does seem like there's always something they've got to look into or fix. At least this seems like a mild inconvenience at worst.
Warmly, if with a slight tease, she adds.]
I promise your cookie-self eating reflections are safe with me.
[She won't tell a soul! Big Sister's honor.]
[An icy cold drops into Yang's stomach like a stone at Allura's revelation. It was bad enough learning about Salem and her single-minded desire to spite everything and everyone. It was bad enough finding out that Remnant's own Gods had wiped humanity off the planet once already and were poised to do it again if they were summoned and displeased with what they found. But it's a new sort of terrifying to think that something she has 100% no awareness of, that's so completely removed from her own world that nobody knows anything about it, could almost destroy it. Could destroy everything.
There's a scope here that she can't quite fathom, isn't even sure that she wants to try to fully understand. But it rocks her to her core, what Allura's sacrifice really entailed.
In an instant, she has Allura wrapped back up in the tightest hug imaginable.]
You're amazing.
[Her mind's still a bit of a jumble right now and that's the first coherent phrase that manages to break through. There's so much sadness wrapped up in what Allura's told her but there's also so much gratitude and awe at her heroism that it feels wrong not to acknowledge it.]
God I'm so sorry...
[It's not fair. It's not fair.]
There's a scope here that she can't quite fathom, isn't even sure that she wants to try to fully understand. But it rocks her to her core, what Allura's sacrifice really entailed.
In an instant, she has Allura wrapped back up in the tightest hug imaginable.]
You're amazing.
[Her mind's still a bit of a jumble right now and that's the first coherent phrase that manages to break through. There's so much sadness wrapped up in what Allura's told her but there's also so much gratitude and awe at her heroism that it feels wrong not to acknowledge it.]
God I'm so sorry...
[It's not fair. It's not fair.]
Mhmm... of course, what was I thinking?
[But even with how dry she is, there's the faintest quirk of amusement still lingering on her lips.]
[But even with how dry she is, there's the faintest quirk of amusement still lingering on her lips.]
[She gives a soft laugh... She wishes she could take all the credit, but... Honerva made that sacrifice too, to fix the damage she did. Neither of them could have done it alone, unfortunately... But that's part of why Allura is quiet about that part. Honerva is still in the city, from long before going down that particular path. Those last few battles cured her of her wounds and the bitterness they left, and she forgives Zarkon and Honerva now, but she's not sure the others would.
For now, though, she just hugs Yang tighter.]
So are you. You are worth it, Yang.
[And she means it with all her heart. Even if she didn't remember it, Yang, Coran, Romelle, every single life she's encountered, past and present, her world or this one, was more than worth it.]
For now, though, she just hugs Yang tighter.]
So are you. You are worth it, Yang.
[And she means it with all her heart. Even if she didn't remember it, Yang, Coran, Romelle, every single life she's encountered, past and present, her world or this one, was more than worth it.]
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