Fandom Distorted Mirror [IC]

[Schnee Corp Lawyer]

Still, she eased back and shrugged. "Well.....kinda got a headache, I'm really confused cause like, is that really Cinder over there doing...all that? Cinder??? Also worst of all, I apparently missed you killing the big bad grimm of the bunch?! That is beyond unfair."

"P'shaw" Yang replied with a wave of her hand and a faux humble smile. "I was only doing what any good huntress would do. Besides, I had to take my shot" She said as she lost the airs to give a smirk as she squeezed Ruby's shoulder "Every other giant grimm monster we've fought got bagged by a certain super eyes powerhouse, when's the next time I'll ever have a chance like that?"

"Also I think your mom wants us to get on the train now. We probably should do that."

"...hrmmm..." She drummed her fingers on Ruby's shoulders as she processed that. "Weeeeell there's a few things wrong in that sentence but rather than go through em all I'll justHONK!" she declared, suddenly tweaking Ruby's nose. She released her prey with a snicker and pushed herself up to her feet, dusting off her pants before she arched her back in a stretch that went so far as to make her stand on her tippy toes. She was sore, but it was the good kind of sore. Except for the face bruise. That one just hurt.

"C'mon then. I'm gonna go to bed."

 

[Schnee Corp Lawyer]

Tyrian had expected this.

He saw Arthur as a friend and that wouldn't change. But out of all his teammates, the faunus doubted his relatively pampered team leader would understand his motives.

So, Tyrian didn't turn to face his leader, giving his back to Arthur.

"What?"

​

The response was so short that it briefly startled Arthur, and his steps hesitated for a moment before his face turned into an even deeper scowl than before.

"What do you mean, what? LITERALLY what else could I be referring to??? My words seemed pretty clear to Hazel and Cinder, and last I checked there wasn't anything physically wrong you're hearing." He stalked around to try and get in front of Tyrian with his hands held up.

"So again. What the hell was that?"

 

[MidwayLives]

"What do you mean, what? LITERALLY what else could I be referring to??? My words seemed pretty clear to Hazel and Cinder, and last I checked there wasn't anything physically wrong you're hearing." He stalked around to try and get in front of Tyrian with his hands held up.

"..."

Tyrian's right hand slowly balled up into a fist.

He could feel his temper rising, the urges nipping at his heels.

....He exhaled and kept his cool.

This conversation, brief as it was, was starting to annoy him but he didn't have a right to put his hands on his friend.

For once, it was a fight that Tyrian didn't want.
​

"So again. What the hell was that?"

Tyrian made no sudden moves as Arthur moved infront of him.

But Tyrian's eyes seemed adamant in refusing to meet his.

"It was me fighting the Grimm. Like I-we're supposed to do. I'm still here listening to this aren't I? So, I don't see what your problem is."

Tyrian's eyebrows were furrowed and his lips stuck in a tight frown.

Arthur was doing this because he was concerned. Tyrian could see that, anybody with half a brain cell could, but Tyrian's mentality wasn't so simply pushed aside.

HE wanted to fight the Grimm. HE wanted to kiil it!

And he hadn't.​

 

[MyrtenRose]

"P'shaw" Yang replied with a wave of her hand and a faux humble smile. "I was only doing what any good huntress would do. Besides, I had to take my shot" She said as she lost the airs to give a smirk as she squeezed Ruby's shoulder "Every other giant grimm monster we've fought got bagged by a certain super eyes powerhouse, when's the next time I'll ever have a chance like that?"

"...Touché." Ruby conceded. "I just wish I could have, y'know, seen you do it."​

"...hrmmm..." She drummed her fingers on Ruby's shoulders as she processed that. "Weeeeell there's a few things wrong in that sentence but rather than go through em all I'll justHONK!" she declared, suddenly tweaking Ruby's nose. She released her prey with a snicker and pushed herself up to her feet, dusting off her pants before she arched her back in a stretch that went so far as to make her stand on her tippy toes. She was sore, but it was the good kind of sore. Except for the face bruise. That one just hurt.

"C'mon then. I'm gonna go to bed."

"...….."

"...Yang, you know that's wrong, right? You're not supposed to say honk when you do that, you're meant to say 'boop!' I mean, Nora would never let anybody forget that so long as she could help it, so I don't know how that slipped your mind--" Ruby suddenly faltered, the thought springing to mind. "Wait hold on....does this world's Nora yell HONK when she does that? That miiiiiiiiiiiiight be the weirdest thing yet." She stood after her sister did, idly rubbing at her forehead as she walked off.

"Yeah, ditto." Bed sounded good right now. Real good.​

 

[Gus Gungus]

She laid there with a look of dumb surprise a full three seconds after Eve threw down that gauntlet... before she absolutely lost it in a bout of laughter. At the sheer pettiness of the line, at herself for making such a stupid mistake, at the fact that the one person she liked the least on this train except Watts maybe was absolutely the reason she had such an easy time killing that ridiculous monstrosity, a thought she was way too confident in herself to not believe Eve mirrored.

"Pffft, HAAHAHAHA, hahaha, you are such a brat! " She managed past her giggles before she propped herself up on one elbow and cupped the other hand to call after Eve's withdrawal, because like hell was she gonna let 'walking speed' stop her from shooting back. "WHO OBVIOUSLY DOESN'T KNOW WHAT 'IVE GOT THIS' MEANS, OR HOW TO COUNT!" There wasn't any bite in it; She was far, far, far away from ever liking the cocky, sanctimonious, edgelord of a faunus, but...

She flopped back down onto the ground spread eagle, a few more giggles bubbling up as she wound down with a grin on her face that wanted to be annoyed but couldn't put the heart into it.

"We're even. At best."

The irony of it wasn't lost on her. That catch meant she definitely won, though.

Eve's unconcerned saunter didn't abate for Yang's clarifications, but the flat, mirthless snort the words and laughter drew was evidence enough she heard them. She half-turned with a smirk that was less harsh, more reflective of a combat-fueled urge to stay and bullheadedly hammer out the point until one of them gave something, but part of her knew if she did that it'd turn ugly fast and completely shatter whatever temporary rapport was born in the heat and thrill of a shared victory. She felt... too tired for that right now. So instead she just faced front again and dropped a jab, as searing and merciless as if she had learned to harness her semblance with words now as she kept to her casual stride.

"Sorry. That must be a lot of math for your hair color."

In whatever measure of time passed between that moment and the rest, Eve found her return walk interrupted by the sudden appearance of a Neo at her side, eyes closed in a cheerful grin as she held up a hand for a high five.

The smirk got a little thinner as the student appeared so suddenly beside her, but the exquisitely droll eye roll that accompanied it was tragically hidden from the world. Initially, she let the gesture linger just a beat or two past the point where Neo might've started to get the impression it wouldn't be returned, the faunus instead focused on undoing the knot she kept some of her hair pinned back in to keep it from getting too wild during fights, radiating either the air of someone who felt they were above high fives or someone who was too cool for them. There was a thin line there.

Finally, right as Eve was setting foot on the train, she turned, swung, and delivered a quiet SLAP to the extended palm before anyone could see.

"You're not gonna start tickling me or something, right?" She deadpanned warily, scrunching her nose with lip curled as her gaze turned slightly towards where Ruby and Yang were entangled under the tree. It was a memory swiftly deleted.​

 

[Schnee Corp Lawyer]

"..."

Tyrian's right hand slowly balled up into a fist.

He could feel his temper rising, the urges nipping at his heels.

....He exhaled and kept his cool.

This conversation, brief as it was, was starting to annoy him but he didn't have a right to put his hands on his friend.

For once, it was a fight that Tyrian didn't want.


Tyrian made no sudden moves as Arthur moved infront of him.

But Tyrian's eyes seemed adamant in refusing to meet his.

"It was me fighting the Grimm. Like I-we're supposed to do. I'm still here listening to this aren't I? So, I don't see what your problem is."

Tyrian's eyebrows were furrowed and his lips stuck in a tight frown.

Arthur was doing this because he was concerned. Tyrian could see that, anybody with half a brain cell could, but Tyrian's mentality wasn't so simply pushed aside.

HE wanted to fight the Grimm. HE wanted to kiil it!

And he hadn't.​

"My problem, Tyrian, is that we are supposed to fight the grimm together, NOT as a unit of three plus one suicidal moron who can't follow basic instructions!" Watts seethed as he crossed his arms.

"Do you actually fathom how dangerous that was??? if it weren't for the other two then there is not an iota of doubt in my mind that you would've been crushed by the monster, and none of us would have been able to help you!"

"...Yang, you know that's wrong, right? You're not supposed to say honk when you do that, you're meant to say 'boop!' I mean, Nora would never let anybody forget that so long as she could help it, so I don't know how that slipped your mind--" Ruby suddenly faltered, the thought springing to mind. "Wait hold on....does this world's Nora yell HONK when she does that? That miiiiiiiiiiiiight be the weirdest thing yet." She stood after her sister did, idly rubbing at her forehead as she walked off.

"Ruby, I dunno if you've noticed buuuut the only person Nora boops is Ren" Yang deadpanned as she let her arms drop, one of them coming to rest on Ruby's shoulder as she gave her a very serious frown.

"And this isn't that kinda anime sis : | "

The smirk got a little thinner as the student appeared so suddenly beside her, but the exquisitely droll eye roll that accompanied it was tragically hidden from the world. Initially, she let the gesture linger just a beat or two past the point where Neo might've started to get the impression it wouldn't be returned, the faunus instead focused on undoing the knot she kept some of her hair pinned back in to keep it from getting too wild during fights, radiating either the air of someone who felt they were above high fives or someone who was too cool for them. There was a thin line there.

Finally, right as Eve was setting foot on the train, she turned, swung, and delivered a quiet SLAP to the extended palm before anyone could see.

"You're not gonna start tickling me or something, right?" She deadpanned warily, scrunching her nose with lip curled as her gaze turned slightly towards where Ruby and Yang were entangled under the tree. It was a memory swiftly deleted.

Neo was so perfectly still that Eve could've been forgiven for thinking it was another of her illusions, but that mostly wasn't the case. The only exception was that Neo's face stayed plastered with that closed eyes grin via an illusion as one eye cracked open and her smile shifted into a slightly embarrassed frown. Too soon? Maybe she didn't wanna be friends with humans? what if-

The hand slapping her shattered the illusion over her face to reveal basically the exact same face except with her eyes open in glee, only for her to pull her hand away with an almost concerned tint to her grin as she tilted her head at Eve in askance. Like. She was definitely tempted now that Eve had even said that but what the heck brought it up? Was that the normal followup to a high five in the White Fang?

 

[Gus Gungus]

Neo was so perfectly still that Eve could've been forgiven for thinking it was another of her illusions, but that mostly wasn't the case. The only exception was that Neo's face stayed plastered with that closed eyes grin via an illusion as one eye cracked open and her smile shifted into a slightly embarrassed frown. Too soon? Maybe she didn't wanna be friends with humans? what if-

The hand slapping her shattered the illusion over her face to reveal basically the exact same face except with her eyes open in glee, only for her to pull her hand away with an almost concerned tint to her grin as she tilted her head at Eve in askance. Like. She was definitely tempted now that Eve had even said that but what the heck brought it up? Was that the normal followup to a high five in the White Fang?

Eve had been preoccupied staring at her hand with a nonplussed frown ever since the force from the high five seemed to... shatter Neo's face, having very little insight as to what happened there. It was really concerning and weird. Her attention eventually snapped up when Neo's stare became apparent, closing her fist as the confusion put her on the defensive. "...Because of the-!"

She thrust a hand vigorously in the vague direction of the others amid their revelry, including such gleeful highlights as wholesome sister time and Mercury and Emerald carrying Cinder back to the train on a throne of their arms.

"You're a chummy bunch. It's not really my style." She continued gravely, pulling a mild scowl.​

 

[MidwayLives]

"My problem, Tyrian, is that we are supposed to fight the grimm together,

Tyrian's frown began to break ever so slightly as he bit down on his bottom lip.

"I would have been fine-"
​

NOT as a unit of three plus one suicidal moron who can't follow basic instructions!"

Tyrian paused and he leaned back. Looking as though Watts had pulled out his pistol and shot him point blank.

Moron.

Is that really what Watts thought of him after what he'd done.

'Make him pay for that!' 'He's just like every other human. They haven't changed.'

'No!'

Tyrian shook his head to try and clear up his head before his impulses got graphic.

"I can follow instructions. I just couldn't follow the ones you gave me. I wanted to fight it up close and I did! Everyone else seemed to have seen me stab it's wing BUT you!" He snapped back, his shoulders heaving up and down in tempered anger. Tempered like one would gently hold a cup that was about to overflow with the slightest shake. He was starting to lose his cool and it was really worrying him. The last thing he'd ever want would be to hurt Arthur.

So, why did he have to continue pushing Tyrian into a corner like this?!
​

"Do you actually fathom how dangerous that was??? if it weren't for the other two then there is not an iota of doubt in my mind that you would've been crushed by the monster, and none of us would have been able to help you!"

"I know EXACTLY how dangerous it was! THAT's why I couldn't obey that plan! Shooting it from a safe distance...No. I wanted to maim it, to kill it up close! Eve and the blonde warrior did and I don't hear you besmirching their battle stratagem! I don't need to be babysat like I'm some kind of invalid! I had my reasons for doing what I did out there and out of everyone here, I certainly didn't expect someone like you to even come close to understanding them!" He snarled, his hands starting to tremble.

After he'd lost his last fight/his parents discovered where he'd been 'working' all these years, Tyrian and them were forced to promise to never tell anyone of what had transpired there. For everyone's sake supposedly but mostly theirs. As he glared at Arthur, Tyrian's nostrils flared.

"Go back to your owners."

Perhaps it was the anger overtaking him but those words were starting to drag themselves to the surface yet again.

In his heart of hearts, is that how Watts saw his role as leader?

"Cinder and Hazel have already returned to the train. We're done here. I'll see you onboard." Tyrian stated as he started trying to walk past Watts.
​

 

[MidwayLives]

Well, well, well! Everything had worked out pretty okay hadn't it?

Everyone was banged up, he was pretty sure he'd seen that thing breath fire on Hazel. But everyone here were tough customers, they'd pull through just fine.

As he saw everyone walking back to the train with differing emotional states: Hazel looked like he just wanted a nap(who could blame him???), Em and Merc were carting Cinder around and...

Well, he was just standing around. Looking up at the sky, Roman couldn't help but smile wistfully.

"Despite how scared I was, I think I was more pissed off at the idea that I'd never get to look at you again." If fate had plans for him, there wasn't much he could do about that. But, he'd take his lumps and keep moving forward. It was all he could do, all anyone could do.

...

As he glanced around to survey his surroundings, and once he got the mental go-ahead that he wouldn't be bothered, he pulled out his scroll and pressed record...



​

 

[MyrtenRose]

"..."

Tyrian's right hand slowly balled up into a fist.

He could feel his temper rising, the urges nipping at his heels.

....He exhaled and kept his cool.

This conversation, brief as it was, was starting to annoy him but he didn't have a right to put his hands on his friend.

For once, it was a fight that Tyrian didn't want.


Tyrian made no sudden moves as Arthur moved infront of him.

But Tyrian's eyes seemed adamant in refusing to meet his.

"It was me fighting the Grimm. Like I-we're supposed to do. I'm still here listening to this aren't I? So, I don't see what your problem is."

Tyrian's eyebrows were furrowed and his lips stuck in a tight frown.

Arthur was doing this because he was concerned. Tyrian could see that, anybody with half a brain cell could, but Tyrian's mentality wasn't so simply pushed aside.

HE wanted to fight the Grimm. HE wanted to kiil it!

And he hadn't.​

"My problem, Tyrian, is that we are supposed to fight the grimm together, NOT as a unit of three plus one suicidal moron who can't follow basic instructions!" Watts seethed as he crossed his arms.

"Do you actually fathom how dangerous that was??? if it weren't for the other two then there is not an iota of doubt in my mind that you would've been crushed by the monster, and none of us would have been able to help you!"

Tyrian's frown began to break ever so slightly as he bit down on his bottom lip.

"I would have been fine-"

Tyrian paused and he leaned back. Looking as though Watts had pulled out his pistol and shot him point blank.

Moron.

Is that really what Watts thought of him after what he'd done.

'Make him pay for that!' 'He's just like every other human. They haven't changed.'

'No!'

Tyrian shook his head to try and clear up his head before his impulses got graphic.

"I can follow instructions. I just couldn't follow the ones you gave me. I wanted to fight it up close and I did! Everyone else seemed to have seen me stab it's wing BUT you!" He snapped back, his shoulders heaving up and down in tempered anger. Tempered like one would gently hold a cup that was about to overflow with the slightest shake. He was starting to lose his cool and it was really worrying him. The last thing he'd ever want would be to hurt Arthur.

So, why did he have to continue pushing Tyrian into a corner like this?!

"..."​

"Cinder and Hazel have already returned to the train. We're done here. I'll see you onboard." Tyrian stated as he started trying to walk past Watts.

Not quite.

Not if the sudden hand stopping him from going anywhere was any indication.

"Excuse me a sec." Cinder had remarked to her partner in celebratory fangirling as well as Mercury just a bit earlier, hopping on down from the impromptu throne before she had gotten to the train and stomping on over to be the third side in the tense conversation. "Whoa, whoa dudes. Time-out!" She interrupted, emphasizing it further by making a T gesture with both her hands and swinging it between them to make absolutely sure they both saw it. "We just won a MAJOR victory over some grimm pulled straight out of some twisted rated-R horror movie. Us! We did that! A bunch of students with some escorts! Not some professional huntsman team with years or decades under their belt. A feat like that is something we should all be taking pride in! We should be celebrating our victory, not arguing among ourselves!" That it was actually happening brought a frown to her face as her eye shifted between them.

"Arthur. You're doing this because you're worried, and no don't even try to deny that fact, I'm not having any of it. And yeah, you should absolutely be concerned about what Tyrian did, but you can get through to him and guarantee he never pulls a stunt like that again without having it descend into an argument. C'mon my guy, my dude, my partner...you have a big brain. Something you never fail to remind us of at every opportunity. I'm sure you could think up a better way to approach this. And you!" Cinder rounded on Tyrian.

"Arthur's right, that was incredibly boneheaded of you! Reckless and stupid! What were you thinking??? No wait, scratch that. You obviously weren't thinking. Tyrian...Watts is our team leader. When he gives an order, we should follow it, not rush off to do our own thing just because you fucking want to! We're a team! A unit. A f--" She caught herself before she said any more of that word, letting her gaze drift to the ground. "You..."

"...You could have died there. If it had just been our team, only the four of us here? You probably would have." She gulped and exhaled, holding back the strong emotions she could feel swelling within and lifting her head to direct a pleading look at both of them. "No more arguing. Please."​

 

[Schnee Corp Lawyer]

Tyrian's frown began to break ever so slightly as he bit down on his bottom lip.

"I would have been fine-"


Tyrian paused and he leaned back. Looking as though Watts had pulled out his pistol and shot him point blank.

Moron.

Is that really what Watts thought of him after what he'd done.

'Make him pay for that!' 'He's just like every other human. They haven't changed.'

'No!'

Tyrian shook his head to try and clear up his head before his impulses got graphic.

"I can follow instructions. I just couldn't follow the ones you gave me. I wanted to fight it up close and I did! Everyone else seemed to have seen me stab it's wing BUT you!" He snapped back, his shoulders heaving up and down in tempered anger. Tempered like one would gently hold a cup that was about to overflow with the slightest shake. He was starting to lose his cool and it was really worrying him. The last thing he'd ever want would be to hurt Arthur.

So, why did he have to continue pushing Tyrian into a corner like this?!


"I know EXACTLY how dangerous it was! THAT's why I couldn't obey that plan! Shooting it from a safe distance...No. I wanted to maim it, to kill it up close! Eve and the blonde warrior did and I don't hear you besmirching their battle stratagem! I don't need to be babysat like I'm some kind of invalid! I had my reasons for doing what I did out there and out of everyone here, I certainly didn't expect someone like you to even come close to understanding them!" He snarled, his hands starting to tremble.

After he'd lost his last fight/his parents discovered where he'd been 'working' all these years, Tyrian and them were forced to promise to never tell anyone of what had transpired there. For everyone's sake supposedly but mostly theirs. As he glared at Arthur, Tyrian's nostrils flared.

"Go back to your owners."

Perhaps it was the anger overtaking him but those words were starting to drag themselves to the surface yet again.

In his heart of hearts, is that how Watts saw his role as leader?

"Cinder and Hazel have already returned to the train. We're done here. I'll see you onboard." Tyrian stated as he started trying to walk past Watts.
​

"We are not 'done'" Arthur growled as his hand snatched Tyrian's shoulder when he tried to walk away, his eyes set into a hard glare. If he had any idea of what was going through his teammate's head, he might've taken a softer approach, but he didn't. All that he was thinking about was Beacon.

"What you want doesn't matter, Callows. Not when you are part of this team. I don't care that there were twelve other hunters here, I wouldn't care if there was an army here, WTCH works together, or we die. Hazel isn't invincible, Cinder's powers don't make her skin any harder for a claw to tear through, and I couldn't give a rat's ass about how good of a fighter you think you are. You couldn't even handle Valkyrie by yourself! The huntress and the white fang member aren't my responsibility." He continued as he let the shoulder go to jab his finger into Tyrian's chest.

"You are. and I will not-"

His agonized screams as Nora had his tail in an iron-tight grip, forcing his scorpion stinger deep into his own shoulder with a manic grin on her face, was proof enough that he desperately needed help. NOW.

"-let a defeat like Beacon-"

The big guy landed sprawled upon one of the tables within and before he could get up, she had reloaded and let loose with another salvo of grenades. They probably did not hurt him any more than the last batch, but that didn't matter. The explosions weakened the building's foundations and brought the whole thing crashing down on top of him.

"-ever, ever-"

he attack still cut along her face and the amount of agonizing pain that shot through her system was unbearable. She fell backwards onto the ground again, writhing around and rolling in suffering as her hands gripped her face. Her anguished screams would have made most anybody feel sorry for her. If either of the others felt that, it didn't show.

"-happen again! Not while I'm team leader. And-"

Not quite.

Not if the sudden hand stopping him from going anywhere was any indication.

"Excuse me a sec." Cinder had remarked to her partner in celebratory fangirling as well as Mercury just a bit earlier, hopping on down from the impromptu throne and stomping on over to be the third side in the tense conversation. "Whoa, whoa dudes. Time-out!" She interrupted, emphasizing it further by making a T gesture with both her hands and swinging it between them to make absolutely sure they both saw it. "We just won a MAJOR victory over some grimm pulled straight out of some twisted rated-R horror movie. Us! We did that! A bunch of students with some escorts! Not some professional huntsman team with years or decades under their belt. A feat like that is something we should all be taking pride in! We should be celebrating our victory, not arguing among ourselves!" That it was actually happening brought a frown to her face as her eye shifted between them.

"Arthur. You're doing this because you're worried, and no don't even try to deny that fact, I'm not having any of it. And yeah, you should absolutely be concerned about what Tyrian did, but you can get through to him and guarantee he never pulls a stunt like that again without having it descend into an argument. C'mon my guy, my dude, my partner...you have a big brain. Something you never fail to remind us of at every opportunity. I'm sure you could think up a better way to approach this. And you!" Cinder rounded on Tyrian.

"Arthur's right, that was incredibly boneheaded of you! Reckless and stupid! What were you thinking??? No wait, scratch that. You obviously weren't thinking. Tyrian...Watts is our team leader. When he gives an order, we should follow it, not rush off to do our own thing just because you fucking want to! We're a team! A unit. A f--" She caught herself before she said any more of that word, letting her gaze drift to the ground. "You..."

"...You could have died there. If it had just been our team, only the four of us here? You probably would have." She gulped and exhaled, holding back the strong emotions she could feel swelling within and lifting her head to direct a pleading look at both of them. "No more arguing. Please."​

"..."

Watts let out a low, frustrated stream of breath between his teeth before he took a step back from Tyrian with his hands up. "...As you wish, partner. Far be it from me to ruin our little victory dance. Perhaps your right. I certainly thought Tyrian had more self control than this before today, and maybe that was the correct instinct, and this was one lapse in judgement. An anomaly"

He clasped his hands behind his back and turned to head towards the train, though not without shooting Tyrian one more glower over his shoulder.

"I certainly hope it was"

 

[Schnee Corp Lawyer]

Eve had been preoccupied staring at her hand with a nonplussed frown ever since the force from the high five seemed to... shatter Neo's face, having very little insight as to what happened there. It was really concerning and weird. Her attention eventually snapped up when Neo's stare became apparent, closing her fist as the confusion put her on the defensive. "...Because of the-!"

She thrust a hand vigorously in the vague direction of the others amid their revelry, including such gleeful highlights as wholesome sister time and Mercury and Emerald carrying Cinder back to the train on a throne of their arms.

"You're a chummy bunch. It's not really my style." She continued gravely, pulling a mild scowl.​

That... only kinda tracked, and Neo found herself covering a quiet giggle at how commited the faunus was to being adamantly standoffish. If it were anyone else, she probably would have immediately confirmed those fears, a bit of illusion and dancing fingers to instigate the only sort of assassination this Neo intended to ever partake in. But when such a large part of her ability to comminucate came from physical contact, and when you'd been through what she had... you learned to notice other people's boundaries pretty quick. to look out for the small stuff

There was nevertheless a sharp, almost flustered urgency to the faunus's first attempt to pull away

So instead she put her hands up in a helpless 'what can you do?' shrug and gave Eve a warm smile and a single wave before she spun towards the group... and after staring at them for a few seconds, spun back around and hopped inside the train before Eve could beat her to it, disappearing almost the moment she was inside.

 

[MyrtenRose]

"Ruby, I dunno if you've noticed buuuut the only person Nora boops is Ren" Yang deadpanned as she let her arms drop, one of them coming to rest on Ruby's shoulder as she gave her a very serious frown.

"And this isn't that kinda anime sis : | "

"That is definitely not what I meant." ​

 

[Schnee Corp Lawyer]

"That is definitely not what I meant." ​

"Good" She continued in the same exact deadpan before her frown went from joking to radiating some genuine concern. "Your aura coming back okay?" she asked

 

[MyrtenRose]

"Good" She continued in the same exact deadpan before her frown went from joking to radiating some genuine concern. "Your aura coming back okay?" she asked

“Fine.” She brushed off that concern, legit more so concerned about her sister. “I was about to ask you the same thing. Sorta. That tree hit earlier didn’t look fun and I can’t even guess what kind of stuff you might have taken fighting that Grimm.” ​

 

[Schnee Corp Lawyer]

“Fine.” She brushed off that concern, legit more so concerned about her sister. “I was about to ask you the same thing. Sorta. That tree-"

"-Also good!" She suddenly interrupted with a cheery grin as she absolutely bulldozed over Ruby's attempts to see if her sister was alright in turn as she shifted her grip on her sister's shoulder a little lower and grabbed the other shoulder in similar fashion.

"Because I wanna take the first shower. RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"

For the second time before Remnant finished a full rotation Ruby found herself flung into the air like a tiny human javelin, but at an angle towards the horizon this time. Just like dear old coach taught her T~T

Then she turned and sprinted for the rail car like a madwoman because that still only gave her like, a 40% chance of winning that race, tops.

 

[MidwayLives]

"We are not 'done'" Arthur growled as his hand snatched Tyrian's shoulder when he tried to walk away, his eyes set into a hard glare. If he had any idea of what was going through his teammate's head, he might've taken a softer approach, but he didn't. All that he was thinking about was Beacon.

Tyrian's stride came to a sudden halt as he felt Watt's hand on his shoulder.

"Get your hand off me. Right. Now."

Although it was Arthur, Tyrian's teammate and friend, who was standing behind him. That wasn't who it was to the faunus.

It was any number of humans who had a beef with him.

Most of them were adults who hated him for usually beating their prize fighters to a pulp. Or outright refusing attempted bribes. Some threatened him, some pushed him, even punched him. One had even spit on him. All for doing what he was told, what he loved to do. Other faunus his age, some old enough to be his parents/grandparents drank themselves to death and others simply died in the ring, having no other skills but fighting. Tyrian was such a case and he was proud of it. Fighting was integral to him as a person. Fangirls flocked to him every now and again when he'd fought but he never had what they wanted: attention and romance. They were weak and annoying. Just like the humans who hurt him.

But he never fought back in any cases.

Because his family would have been the one who suffered for his actions.
​

and I couldn't give a rat's ass about how good of a fighter you think you are. You couldn't even handle Valkyrie by yourself! The huntress and the white fang member aren't my responsibility." He continued as he let the shoulder go to jab his finger into Tyrian's chest.

The mention of Valkyrie, the jab at his fighting ability...It was all starting to boil over-
​

"You are. and I will not-"

-That had done it.

Tyrian stood as still as a rock at the repeated finger jabs. His eyes finally met Arthur's and the glare was just as hard.

His tail started to unravel and Tyrian grit his teeth.

"No human owns-"
​

"Excuse me a sec." Cinder had remarked to her partner in celebratory fangirling as well as Mercury just a bit earlier, hopping on down from the impromptu throne before she had gotten to the train and stomping on over to be the third side in the tense conversation. "Whoa, whoa dudes. Time-out!" She interrupted, emphasizing it further by making a T gesture with both her hands and swinging it between them to make absolutely sure they both saw it. "We just won a MAJOR victory over some grimm pulled straight out of some twisted rated-R horror movie. Us! We did that! A bunch of students with some escorts! Not some professional huntsman team with years or decades under their belt. A feat like that is something we should all be taking pride in! We should be celebrating our victory, not arguing among ourselves!" That it was actually happening brought a frown to her face as her eye shifted between them.

"....Cinder."

Tyrian's tail stopped before it became fully unraveled and he relaxed somewhat. His young friend had a bad habit of excuding an energy where you didn't want to see her upset.

And damn her it was working.
​

"Arthur's right, that was incredibly boneheaded of you! Reckless and stupid! What were you thinking??? No wait, scratch that. You obviously weren't thinking. Tyrian...Watts is our team leader. When he gives an order, we should follow it, not rush off to do our own thing just because you fucking want to! We're a team! A unit. A f--" She caught herself before she said any more of that word, letting her gaze drift to the ground. "You..."

Tyrian said nothing.

What could he say?

'I've been fighting for my life since I was a little boy. Fighting is all I know! It's all I have room for!'

So, instead he said nothing until he heard the slightest hint of 'family' come out of Cinder's mouth.

"...Cinder, I...."
​

"..."

Watts let out a low, frustrated stream of breath between his teeth before he took a step back from Tyrian with his hands up. "...As you wish, partner. Far be it from me to ruin our little victory dance. Perhaps your right. I certainly thought Tyrian had more self control than this before today, and maybe that was the correct instinct, and this was one lapse in judgement. An anomaly"

He clasped his hands behind his back and turned to head towards the train, though not without shooting Tyrian one more glower over his shoulder.

"I certainly hope it was"

"it won't happen again, leader."

Tyrian narrowed his eyes and met Arthur's glare as he started to walk off.

Once Arthur was gone, Tyrian turned away from Cinder.

"I'm....sorry I worried you guys. I told Arthur the same but...I had my reasons for doing what I did. Reasons I've never told anyone."

Tyrian took a deep breath and exhaled.

'And I can't tell you.'

Looking over at the crater that the Typhon had made, Tyrian spoke again, his tone far more melancholic.

"The Grimm are hideous abominable creatures. But do you know what I hate the most about them?"

Tyrian kicked a small pebble which when it fell over kicked up a minuscule cloud of dust.

"When they die, they disappear. Gone from sight but not from memory. That's what I desire. To be surrounded by those I've bested fair and square. So I can get one last look at them and remember the strides I've made as a fighter and so they can look upon me and see who bested them, who humbled them. Can't do that with Grimm."

Turning back towards Cinder, Tyrian reluctantly opened his arms up for a hug.

"I'm sorry."

​

 

[MyrtenRose]

"-Also good!" She suddenly interrupted with a cheery grin as she absolutely bulldozed over Ruby's attempts to see if her sister was alright in turn as she shifted her grip on her sister's shoulder a little lower and grabbed the other shoulder in similar fashion.

"Because I wanna take the first shower. RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!"

For the second time before Remnant finished a full rotation Ruby found herself flung into the air like a tiny human javelin, but at an angle towards the horizon this time. Just like dear old coach taught her T~T

Then she turned and sprinted for the rail car like a madwoman because that still only gave her like, a 40% chance of winning that race, tops.

“...........................”

This second, though admittedly lesser, betrayal? It most assuredly meant the war was on. Yang would soon rue the day she dared to throw Ruby twice!!!

But it was not the day for the revenge of the Ruby. When Ruby landed this time, it was with at most a light jog that she moved back towards the train, content to let Yang take that shower. Alpha Grimm slaying earned first shower privileges.​

 

[MidwayLives]

Whatever his recording entailed was finished. Tucking his scroll away back within the safety of his jacket, Roman sighed.

This was a joyous occasion! They'd been faced with a true monster and prevailed.

Yet, he still felt on edge.

Roman reached into his pocket without thinking and remembered.

"Ah. Threw out my cigars and lighter for the girl I love. Right."

Oh well.

Turning back towards the train finally, Roman climbed aboard. Eager to just get into bed and rest...and also compliment the upgrade 'Hush' had gotten!!!

....But, more to the point, whenever he saw her? He felt safe.​

 

[Gus Gungus]

That... only kinda tracked, and Neo found herself covering a quiet giggle at how commited the faunus was to being adamantly standoffish. If it were anyone else, she probably would have immediately confirmed those fears, a bit of illusion and dancing fingers to instigate the only sort of assassination this Neo intended to ever partake in. But when such a large part of her ability to comminucate came from physical contact, and when you'd been through what she had... you learned to notice other people's boundaries pretty quick. to look out for the small stuff

Likewise, her people tended to have a greater proclivity towards the nonverbal and tactile forms of communication than most humans. It was a tendency Eve herself had always particularly identified with; as was typical for someone with her standoffish leanings, she subscribed to the line of thinking that people overused their words more often than not. The more somebody talked, the more shallow she was inclined to find them. Usually.

So she sure as hell didn't miss someone quietly laughing at her, so as soon as they stood before the door to the train car she whirled with an air of confrontation. It was considerably milder than her usual fare, however, the faunus's face more sullen than hostile as she put her hands on her hips and blew on the hair over her eye with questioning, almost suspicious, exasperation.

"That's not the reaction I go for. Why?"

So instead she put her hands up in a helpless 'what can you do?' shrug and gave Eve a warm smile and a single wave before she spun towards the group... and after staring at them for a few seconds, spun back around and hopped inside the train before Eve could beat her to it, disappearing almost the moment she was inside.

"..." Eve stepped onto the train barely a second later and glanced in both directions, lip curled with obvious displeasure. "Hnh."

A ghost...

​

 

[MyrtenRose]

Once Arthur was gone, Tyrian turned away from Cinder.

"I'm....sorry I worried you guys. I told Arthur the same but...I had my reasons for doing what I did. Reasons I've never told anyone."

Tyrian took a deep breath and exhaled.

'And I can't tell you.'

Looking over at the crater that the Typhon had made, Tyrian spoke again, his tone far more melancholic.

"The Grimm are hideous abominable creatures. But do you know what I hate the most about them?"

Tyrian kicked a small pebble which when it fell over kicked up a minuscule cloud of dust.

"When they die, they disappear. Gone from sight but not from memory. That's what I desire. To be surrounded by those I've bested fair and square. So I can get one last look at them and remember the strides I've made as a fighter and so they can look upon me and see who bested them, who humbled them. Can't do that with Grimm."

"...You don't have to tell me either, you stubborn fool." She replied, but the words were much less biting than they might have been if they came out of Watts' mouth. "But that doesn't change the facts, what you did there was incredibly reckless. Like I said, if it had just been us? Team WTCH alone? You...may not have been as lucky." Cinder put it as vaguely as possible and listened intently as the scorpion faunus explained what he hated most about the detestable monsters. "Tyrian. You can't look at it like that. Grimm don't care in the slightest about what you desire, and fighting them...it's not like an honorable duel between two people, or a sanctioned fight in some arena, or anything like that. Every time you engage with those monsters, it isn't about what's fair or unfair. It's about life or death, pure and simple. They won't be fighting fair. Ever. And if you do...all you're doing is giving them one more advantage against you. You have to know that, right?"
​

Turning back towards Cinder, Tyrian reluctantly opened his arms up for a hug.

"I'm sorry."

There was no hesitation as she practically lunged forward to give him as tight and warm an embrace as she could manage. "Yeah, well, you should be. You literally could have died, you bonehead." Her eyes softened in the midst of that hug. "Listen...nobody knows more than me that sometimes Arthur's orders can be annoying or just plain infuriating. But Salem...she chose him as our team leader for a reason. Even if we can't trust the headmistress in everything...I think her judgment is one thing we should trust her in. If we don't stick to the plans he comes up with then...we aren't really a team. Just a bunch of individuals."​

 

[MidwayLives]

You have to know that, right?"

"...I do."

Tyrian's voice trembled for what felt like the first time in years.

Cinder was no longer standing infront of him.

Rather it'd been the elderly man who'd 'bought' Tyrian and pampered him and did his best to protect him. All while continuing to use the young boy as his champion.

"Tyrian, what's wrong...? Why do you cry?"

The young faunus wiped at his eyes, sniffling.

"I do what I love and they spit on me! They spit on me..."

As his vision cleared, Tyrian trembled and wiped away the tears threatening to form in his eyes.

"....Fighting is the only place I truly feel like myself, Cinder. I understand what you and Arthur meant. But...I can't pass up a fight. Even if it'd cost me. It's just who I am."
​

There was no hesitation as she practically lunged forward to give him as tight and warm an embrace as she could manage. "Yeah, well, you should be. You literally could have died, you bonehead." Her eyes softened in the midst of that hug. "Listen...nobody knows more than me that sometimes Arthur's orders can be annoying or just plain infuriating. But Salem...she chose him as our team leader for a reason. Even if we can't trust the headmistress in everything...I think her judgment is one thing we should trust her in. If we don't stick to the plans he comes up with then...we aren't really a team. Just a bunch of individuals."

Tyrian hugged Cinder tightly and even lifted her off her feet as he looked down to meet her eyes.

"....I don't want you to think I dislike him. I'd lay down everything for you three. But..." Tyrian closed his eyes and hesitated. "....I have been fighting for a very long time, Cinder. My mind is open but my heart is less so."

He set Cinder down and gently ruffled her hair.

"I don't like seeing you upset. It's one of the worst things ever. I'll....try to do better."

Tyrian held his hand out to hold Cinder's.

"...Could you hold this scorpion's hand? It is awfully chilly out here..."

It wasn't, not really, but he wanted to see his little friend smile as they walked back to the train. Together.​

 

[MyrtenRose]

"....Fighting is the only place I truly feel like myself, Cinder. I understand what you and Arthur meant. But...I can't pass up a fight. Even if it'd cost me. It's just who I am."

"You don't have to! You can still fight alongside us...that's kinda the whole point of huntsman teams." :|​

Tyrian hugged Cinder tightly and even lifted her off her feet as he looked down to meet her eyes.

she only has one you insensitive fuck​

"....I don't want you to think I dislike him. I'd lay down everything for you three. But..." Tyrian closed his eyes and hesitated. "....I have been fighting for a very long time, Cinder. My mind is open but my heart is less so."

He set Cinder down and gently ruffled her hair.

"I don't like seeing you upset. It's one of the worst things ever. I'll....try to do better."

"That's all I'm asking. That's all Watts is asking too, just to do better." Cinder flashed a reassuring smile.​

Tyrian held his hand out to hold Cinder's.

"...Could you hold this scorpion's hand? It is awfully chilly out here..."

"...no it isn't."​

 

[MidwayLives]

she only has one you insensitive fuck

>. (

​

"...no it isn't."

Oh well.

He wasn’t one for being subtle anyway!

Picking up Cinder, Tyrian placed her atop his shoulders and raced off towards the train.

“I’ll do....BETTER!!!”​

 

[MyrtenRose]

Picking up Cinder, Tyrian placed her atop his shoulders and raced off towards the train.

“I’ll do....BETTER!!!”

“...”

This, the Emerald Mercury throne...what fate had this tiny child unleashed upon herself when she first asked to ride Hazel’s shoulders...​