Fandom Distorted Mirror [IC]

[MyrtenRose]

All of that went out the window, somehow. She didn't want to say she didn't have it in her to play the tough girl, to act like none of this had an effect on her and that she came out of it completely fine, act like this was nothing more than a brief, all expenses paid vacation in the middle of saving the world(s!), and if it had been Ruby who'd shown up with the rescue team, that probably would've been exactly what happened. But once her thoughts cleared and the fact that this was reality and not just some particularly obnoxious dream hit her, she realized she really just didn't want to do any of that. "Took you long enough" she muttered, muffled in her uncle's shirt.

He let the warmth he felt from seeing her take over for just a moment, smirk growing more sincere and contrite. "...Sorry, firecracker. This was... it was too long. We're holed up with the Mantle resistance, but even getting a footing in Atlas has been hard. Weiss practically owns this city, bought-n-paid for in full, and she's really doubled down on personal security as of late. Must've realized the jaws are closing in."

...Really, guys? Now? Raven thought to herself. She didn't remotely think this was the right time for any of that. As far as she was concerned, a round of hugs and sentiment could wait until they were no longer in the middle of what was quite possibly one of the most dangerous places in the city to be. That said, despite the thought she couldn't help but give a hint of a smirk. It was only there briefly, and there was a sad tinge to it, but it had been there.​

"Too bad your plan's no good; Either we're gonna have to go chase Weiss down, or I'm gonna have to sit tight for a while longer." she said, poking her head down the hall in the direction Zwei had tore down in a sprint.

"Nope. We are not doing that." Getting out of here would be difficult enough without them making a move on Weiss herself--​

"If you two stand down, I promise I won't kick your asses too much."

Jerks getting their comeuppance from worse jerks was kinda funny in his book, so he couldn't keep a note of faintly smug swagger out of his voice. Karma rewarded him instantly with Harriet showing him up.

"Ahhh, crap."

And the universe proved her riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. This should have been a quick in and out, a stealth mission that nobody realized had even happened until they were all long gone. This, that right here, the soldier there in front of them threatening them with a bad time, that was why any hugs and extended conversations, however heartwarming, should have absolutely waited until they were back at a safer location. Not when they were still in the middle of a mission like this, so that they didn't end up having one of Atlas's best staring them down. Oh well. Too late now.

Raven just immediately attacked Harriet.​

 

[Gus Gungus]

Raven just immediately attacked Harriet.

Qrow joined in, for the record.

 

[Schnee Corp Lawyer]

h crap. There he was, getting so caught up in the moment he was being a bad uncle again. He turned right back around from the door and into instinctively catching Yang as she flung herself at him, so urgently stressed about whatever Mission Impossible fantasy he was living out right now that he totally forgot the emotional element to all this, or at the very least downplayed it for the time being and assumed Yang would follow suit. Maybe close to two months apart just meant he needed some reminding of what kind of person his niece was, and some of the tension unwound from his neck and shoulders as he returned the embrace with a hand on her crown, letting a good chunk of his worry and relief out in the form of a sigh.

All that said, what he said next was probably the most shit-eating thing Yang had ever heard him say in his entire life.

"Yeah, well. We realized it was actually kinda quiet without you around, soooo..."

"oh shut up!" she said with a snort as she slugged him in the arm once the hug was released and rolled her eyes. "It took you guys five minutes tops to realize you guys lost your only sense of humor. Who was gonna take my place? You? Eve? Shortwatts?"

"Nahhh. Raven and I've been swingin' by every day since we found out you were here. Tried to find spots you could see us in, but ice queen went ahead and made the entire grounds a no-fly zone for crows and ravens. Couldn't even show up in a pair without everyone going on red alert. Took a whole two weeks of eyeballing Weiss's new security detail just to figure out their routes and reach your window."

Tenderness of the moment aside, he seriously was living out the whole Mission Impossible thing and it was kinda awesome. Kinda also giving him a continuous heart attack. This was it. His big chance to get Yang out, bring her back to her sister where she belonged. It was almost sooner than they were ready for, but after a month and a half of recon and entrenching themselves with Robyn's people they had all the pieces they needed to move, and when he realized what was happening with Weiss he knew it was an opportunity they couldn't pass up. They were blowing this creepy joint Alcatraz-style. Whatever Alcatraz was.

He let the warmth he felt from seeing her take over for just a moment, smirk growing more sincere and contrite. "...Sorry, firecracker. This was... it was too long. We're holed up with the Mantle resistance, but even getting a footing in Atlas has been hard. Weiss practically owns this city, bought-n-paid for in full, and she's really doubled down on personal security as of late. Must've realized the jaws are closing in."

He gave a bitter snort, long legs carrying him back over to the door. The look on his face was one of extreme caution once again as he checked both ways up and down the hallway himself, rubbing a faint scar on the side of his neck Yang couldn't recall seeing before.

"...Speaking of which, seriously. Keep your voice down."

On that note, his niece's declaration left him a bit puzzled, but he copped it a second later and shook his head with a rueful grin.

"Oh. It's fine, Yang; we know about the chip. Robyn's got a guy who can take care of it, we're pretty sure. And your sister's not here. Like I said, oodles to catch up on, ABSOLUTELY NOT the time. Let's just say Weiss is having some trouble with her boss and leave it at that."

Yang's eyes furrowed as she processed all that, a thousand questions cropping up in her head. Problems with her boss? Who the hell was Weiss dealing with then? Blake, someone else? And what the heck did he mean Ruby wasn't here? Just not in the mansion? or not in Atlas at all? Unfortunately he was right; it wasn't the time, and most all of those questions could be answered once they got out of here... except one. Namely...

"Whether she makes it through tonight in one piece is anyone's guess, but personally? I'd say the odds aren't great."

... how Yang Xiao Long felt about that? About Weiss Schnee potentially meeting her hands at the end of one of Ozpin's goons? Any Weiss, or just This Weiss in particular? The one who took the arm that got her through so much, ripped her from her family, and held her hostage. The one who shot her a hello every morning, indulged some of Yang's goofier requests, and had a wicked sharp sense of humor.

Who'd kept Yang trapped and caged like a helpless pet to lord over like a particularly blonde corgi. The one who'd ended up curled in Yang's room after a particularly bad night.

Did she like this Weiss? Who she was as a person? The choices she made? No. Not really. She was kind of a petty brat, who proudly proclaimed that she'd tossed all her emotions aside like that was even something a human could really do instead of just burying them and who'd sided with some genuinely awful monsters just to increase her own personal power. If this was a question of being friends when she wasn't stuck in this house against her will, she would've hopped out that window backwards with both middle fingers up and called it a day, with at most a note telling Weiss to give her a ring if she ever got her shit together and that she was coming to kick her ass if she didn't. But was she okay with her dying? With that happening, and Yang doing nothing?

It was way way more complex than this, but a lot of it boiled down to which side of herself Yang wanted to indulge; the fiery, angry bruiser who crusaded against the dark, who busted grimm skulls and stabbed stalker exes and frankly didn't feel all that guilty after -- or the warm, bleeding heart protector, who kept letting people in, getting burned for it, and doing it all over again, the big sister who took the hits so no one else had to, who did her own emotional gravedigging so she could be a stalwart shoulder for whoever needed it.

She...

Why did Zwei have Schnee's rapier and why were these people in the prisoner's room?

Holding Zwei under one arm, Harriet narrowed her eyes.

"If you two stand down, I promise I won't kick your asses too much."

"...Oh so NOW YOU WANT TO TALK!?"

She clapped a hand to the side of her face and dragged it down with a deep breath. "Ok, so-"

And the universe proved her riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. This should have been a quick in and out, a stealth mission that nobody realized had even happened until they were all long gone. This, that right here, the soldier there in front of them threatening them with a bad time, that was why any hugs and extended conversations, however heartwarming, should have absolutely waited until they were back at a safer location. Not when they were still in the middle of a mission like this, so that they didn't end up having one of Atlas's best staring them down. Oh well. Too late now.

Raven just immediately attacked Harriet.

Qrow joined in, for the record.

"oh"

...

SHe had, quite genuinely, zero doubts over who was gonna win that fight. The odds were stacked and then some. But Harriet was an aceop. It wouldn't be over in a flash, and Raven wouldn't risk a portal while the literal speedster was still standing, right? So Yang had time. Just a quick sprint to see if Weiss was holding her own, and a quick sprint back. Totally, absolutely, a fool proof plan with no holes whatsoever.

So that's what she did : |

 

[Gus Gungus]

"oh"

...

SHe had, quite genuinely, zero doubts over who was gonna win that fight. The odds were stacked and then some. But Harriet was an aceop. It wouldn't be over in a flash, and Raven wouldn't risk a portal while the literal speedster was still standing, right? So Yang had time. Just a quick sprint to see if Weiss was holding her own, and a quick sprint back. Totally, absolutely, a fool proof plan with no holes whatsoever.

So that's what she did : |

"Yang."

The crow who became a man before her eyes was truly implacable as he simply let his sister keep taking care of it and passed his niece out handily in bird form. Hahaha, oh man. Like hell. Zwei did, however, screech to a halt just over his shoulder, peering back with head cocked and ears drooping as Yang stopped following.

"The way I see it, there's two angles here. Either she's in your head, which is what this Weiss does and probably wanted, or you're just being yourself. In which case..."

He huffed out a heavy, reluctant sigh, not exactly keen on ruining their touching reunion.

"...No. I'm sorry, but we don't have the time and you're not in the condition. Some people make their own beds, anyways."

​

 

[Schnee Corp Lawyer]

"Yang."

The crow who became a man before her eyes was truly implacable as he simply let his sister keep taking care of it and passed his niece out handily in bird form. Hahaha, oh man. Like hell. Zwei did, however, screech to a halt just over his shoulder, peering back with head cocked and ears drooping as Yang stopped following.

"The way I see it, there's two angles here. Either she's in your head, which is what this Weiss does and probably wanted, or you're just being yourself. In which case..."

He huffed out a heavy, reluctant sigh, not exactly keen on ruining their touching reunion.

"...No. I'm sorry, but we don't have the time and you're not in the condition. Some people make their own beds, anyways."

​

She skidded to a halt and gripped her hand into a fist with a frustrated frown. "Look-"

She winced at the sound of a wall being crashed through behind them, but she focused herself back into a glare as she met her uncle's eyes.

"-I'm not an idiot, okay!? I know Weiss isn't a good person. I get it. She's the bad guy, she's dug her own grave, and she deserves a kick to the head or six I get it! But after being stuck here I get her too. I don't know where it went different but this place-" she said, sweeping her hands across the mansion hallway "-is freaking cursed ground. None of the other people who lived in this crappy house are still here and I can still feel it, uncle. I was only here a month and it felt like it was eating my soul. It makes me appreciate just how strong the Weiss we know is. But this Weiss isn't evi!. She's the bad guy, she needs to be taught a lesson, and I won't hesitate to fight her if she tries to hurt another innocent person, but no, she's not evil. Just... just broken."

She squared her shoulders and tried to put a hand a Qrow's shoulder to shove past him.

"And I can't just be the the last person in a long line to put break another piece off. Not if she'll die for it."

 

[Gus Gungus]

She skidded to a halt and gripped her hand into a fist with a frustrated frown. "Look-"

She winced at the sound of a wall being crashed through behind them, but she focused herself back into a glare as she met her uncle's eyes.

"-I'm not an idiot, okay!? I know Weiss isn't a good person. I get it. She's the bad guy, she's dug her own grave, and she deserves a kick to the head or six I get it! But after I get her too. I don't know where it went different but this place-" she said, sweeping her hands across the mansion hallway "-is freaking cursed ground. None of the other people who lived in this crappy house are still here and I can still feel it, uncle. I was only here a month and it felt like it was eating my soul. It makes me appreciate just how strong the Weiss we know is. But this Weiss isn't evi!. She's the bad guy, she needs to be taught a lesson, and I won't hesitate to fight her if she tries to hurt another innocent person, but no, she's not evil. Just... just broken."

She squared her shoulders and tried to put a hand a Qrow's shoulder to shove past him.

"And I can't just be the the last person in a long line to put break another piece off. Not if she'll die for it."

Whatever Qrow could see from his angle of the fight going on behind her, he didn't seem to consider it worthy of his attention. He didn't uncross his arms, and only when she started relating yet another dangerous lunatic from this timeline to the heroic girls she knew back home did Qrow's expression shift.

It wasn't for the better.

He didn't say it to her. They didn't have time, and he didn't know how. But he just... didn't agree. What he had done to Nora had been hard. In the moment, watching it happen, it had devastated him. But then he thought about it. Would he have shed as many tears if he offed that Hazel guy, the one they knew back home? Now there was a lousy life. And what the hell had happened to Tyrian Callows to make him so screwed up? The way things had played out on this world, maybe he had witnessed the start of that, or at least something very similar. Even still, would he have ever for even one second considered weighing their lives against one of his nieces'?

The answer, of course, was not a chance in hell. He liked the real Weiss; she wasn't one of his, per se, the way she was for Yang and Ruby, but he did. If her fate on this world was to be chewed up by that freak that took a bite out of him, sure, he'd feel guilty for a while.

But he wouldn't be jeopardizing his niece's life. And he wouldn't regret it.

He said nothing, but the decisionmaking process was all over his face even during Yang's words as he closed his eyes and let his head bow for the duration. Yang already knew what his answer was by the time she was finished talking, and when she went to shove past she found a surprisingly firm hold on that wrist.

"I know this is important to you. I get it."

His words were heavy enough, his tone solemn enough, that he didn't need to justify that much.

"...But you're more important to me. And we both remember what happened the last time I listened to you. So, y'know..."

Woo. Oldest family member authority override activated.

He really couldn't have picked a worse memory to recall in light of the whole 'guilt' thing, though.​

 

[MyrtenRose]

Raven took the time out of her fight to karate chop the auraless and semblanceless Yang in the back of the neck and knocked her the hell out for easier dragging purposes.

 

[MidwayLives]

"So they're going back to Mistral?" She frowned, pondering the circumstances before she remembered. "Right, Atlas's trading port is to the very north. They probably want to get to Atlas for the next relic. The agenda really has been pushed forward. Ungh, hopefully they won't stay for long in Mistral. Considering, y'know, the people we pissed off. Or rather I did." Her demeanor in its entirety shifted to encapsulate the essence of a frown, a soft thrumming signalling her discontentment before she nodded as an affirmation to herself. Something of an assurance.

"Yeaaaah, they won't be there long. Shouldn't be a problem. We'll be fiiiine."

Shockingly, Neo didn't have much to say or anything at all really.

She was mostly content to let Emerald take the lead on things and she'd help when needed.

It was...a nice feeling to be needed and yet not bossed around like she was just some backalley thug.

So, Neo paid Emerald's comment about as much weight as it deserved which was to say very little.

That was until Emerald brought up the 'people she'd pissed off'

A devious grin broke out along Neo's face.

Hush got an affectionate pat. It'd been far too long~

"*giggle with murderous intent*"
​

Well within the confines of the tiny and tidy room, Lil' Miss's demeanor distorted, a quivering in the shoulders escalating into a strong shuddering that crept up the neck and finally to her skull, with the epitome of disgust well in display across her features. Her form cracked, before shattering to reveal

Neo watched the illusion shattered while gulping down a soda and blinked.

Huh, it was somewhat disconcerting to go from such a ugly face to a cute one like Emerald's.
​

"I know, this has to be rough on you Neo. I'm trying to space out how long I keep up appearances but this piggy was entrenched in doing business first hand. Not how I'd operate a syndicate but she made it work... as much as I hate, hate, hate, hate it."

A haggard sigh followed as she rested one hand on her hip, eyes half lidded in contemplation before she swung around completely to face Neo.

Neo waved it off and set her soda down and off to the side.

Sure, frequent use of her semblance like this was tiring but she couldn't fault Emerald.

Because while those who worked on their Salem's side weren't exactly the best of people, Neo felt grateful to her fellow illusionist.

Sure, Malachite begged for her life, she even offered Neo anything she could have wanted. Money, drugs, all the different vices that life had to offer.

It took Neo all of five seconds to decide.



Let's face it, boys and girls, a woman's gotta have her priorities.

*STAB STAB STAB STAB*

Neo killed Malachite about as well as she'd ever killed anyone.

Now that Emerald and her were free to do as they wished? It didn't matter what forces Ozpin had, nobody was going to stop them.

Nobody.
​

"It's just about becoming a bit too much keeping up this charade. It's necessary, if we wanna keep the others safe, but something's going to break and this house of ciggarette cartons' going to come crashing down all around us. I realize grieving is a real important process and it's different for everyone blah blah blah but d'ya think you have an idea how longer we might have to stay here?"

A pause as she considered something else.

"Though the flow of info and lien is monumentally helpful so I shouldn't really be complaining. Even if some details are... interesting and conflicting."

If the other her and their band of friends and people that Neo hated really did have desires to go to Atlas, well...

Neo at least had something of a headsup on they could best handle themselves.

Still, for as much as she disliked that snobby bitch, it was nice to have a Maiden's power at your disposal.

Hopping up from the chair she'd been sitting on, Neo held up two fingers.

Give everybody two more days and then figure out where they were gonna move forward from there.

​

"Uh-huh." Tock answered with a nod, thumbing over her shoulder to the side at something further inside the ship. "See, I've run in certain circles in the past. At times when Salem's in need of information. Info she suspects the underworld might have. So I went to one of the local bosses in Mistral to see if maybe she'd have details on the Atlesian blockade that's closing their kingdom off, or maybe ask her to divulge any discreet 'trade routes' that could get into the kingdom despite all that. Nobody gets past security like seasoned criminals, yeah? Figured it was worth a shot to see if she would play ball and share before I tried to follow after Ray and the others. 'Cept I didn't find that. Found these two instead."

Tock had been long dead in Neo's world.

So when she came snooping around to Neo it looked like somebody being too damn nosey.

Somebody she'd have to kill...

"*laughter with ill intent*"

Turns out murder wasn't necessary since they wanted similar things.

A way into Atlas.

Still, didn't feel all that great actually working with team goody good. Sure, watching over and helping from afar was nice. Made Neo felt like she was doing something good without actually needing to worry about both sides trying to attack her. But if anything was really going to get done, she supposed she'd just have to bite the bullet.

Stepping forward from inside the airship, Neo looked over Hazel and Gretchen. One of them looked like a younger version of that big guy and the other? Uh, it just looked like some chick.

Then there was...

Oh, no.

That wasn't going to do.



Neo rolled her eyes in clear disgust of the maiden that was standing before her with that goddamn face.​

 

[Schnee Corp Lawyer]

He said nothing, but the decisionmaking process was all over his face even during Yang's words as he closed his eyes and let his head bow for the duration. Yang already knew what his answer was by the time she was finished talking, and when she went to shove past she found a surprisingly firm hold on that wrist.

"I know this is important to you. I get it."

His words were heavy enough, his tone solemn enough, that he didn't need to justify that much.

"...But you're more important to me. And we both remember what happened the last time I listened to you. So, y'know..."

Woo. Oldest family member authority override activated.

He really couldn't have picked a worse memory to recall in light of the whole 'guilt' thing, though.​

She tried to twist her wrist free and found that as hard to actually achieve as everything else was these days, and settled for letting her glare turn back on Qrow and took another step forward in their already close proximity, shaking the hand off her head so they were so close their noses were practically touching.

If there was one thing that team RWBY all had in common outside of their good nature, it was that they didn't take to well to shows of authority.

Even well meaning ones. She got where he was coming from. She even appreciated it. She was glad that he cared so much about her. But Weiss was one of hers. Just like Ruby was. Just like Blake was. She hadn't given up on Blake, and all she'd done was clothesline Yang and tell her she was gonna kill her. She'd told Ruby she'd be coming back to talk to her, and all she'd done was try to kill her real sister with an explosive prosthetic. Even if she wasn't her actual sister, and if there weren't the same sort of feelings that were between Yang and Blake, Weiss was...

"...Not friends. Family."

"The last time you trusted me, I knew what I was doing, and what I might have to pay for it. Its the same thing here, Uncle. I'm not saying either of you have to come with me, not when there's a more important fight in the grand scheme of things. But I can't. I can't just leave."

 

[MidwayLives]

Raven just immediately attacked Harriet.

Harriet didn't have much time in between Zwei running off to reacting to Raven being upon her.

"What the fu-"

*SMASH*

Harriet was left flat on her ass and across the room as Raven tackled her. The soldier didn't make it her business to know the moods of Weiss's pets but she'd never in all her time here or working for Schnee any of her dogs snap or growl like that. Something was clearly up and the longer this farce dragged on, the more she felt she'd be kicking herself once it was all said and done.

She had to follow that dog and she had to do it now.

Rising to her feet, Harriet cracked her neck from side to side.

"Pretty good opener, bitch."

Activating Fast Knuckles, Harriet's eyes narrowed.

"But I was wrong, you're the least of my priorities right now. So I'm gonna need you..."

"OUT OF MY WAY!"

Harriet unleashed her semblance and raced to the left of Raven to try and crack her in the face. Send this chick through the same hole she'd just made. Whether or not it succeeded or really injured her didn't matter. The objectives had changed and Harriet wasn't going to just let the prisoner that Weiss had ordered her to keep an eye on just waltz on off. She'd find Schnee and inform her of what was going on and between the two of them, they could wreck these two. Something fishy was going on here and she was Harriet goddamn Bree and she was going to get to the bottom of it. Turning in the direction that she'd seen Zwei bounding off to, Harriet raced after him. The dog had made an ass out of her infront of these two intruders and the prisoner by nipping at her.

"Eat my dust!"​

 

[Gus Gungus]

"The last time you trusted me, I knew what I was doing, and what I might have to pay for it. Its the same thing here, Uncle. I'm not saying either of you have to come with me, not when there's a more important fight in the grand scheme of things. But I can't. I can't just leave."

Qrow stared at her for a solid five seconds after that, not giving any ground body language-wise to either the getting in his face or the one last attempt at reason. It was his own grave pondering that had him close his eyes with a deep, vexed sigh a few moments later, still holding Yang fast by the wrist.

"...You are being exactly like your mother right now. And I'm not talking about either of my sisters."

With all Ruby's similarities (physical and spiritual) to Summer, Yang's own didn't get talked about enough. Enough of Tai's wannabe cool guy schtick was there to hide it, but...

"I trusted her too, y'know." Notes of resignation and sadness mingled in his voice as it rasped those words, a bitter acknowledgment that he wasn't gonna be able to get her to back down through his famous no-nonsense powers of persuasion. It might've been enough to give her a little hope until he spoke again, a morose, penitent growl.

"Don't make me carry you."

"Arf!"

"ENOUGH MELODRAMA, THE QUEEN MOTHER PERISHES."

Harriet found herself thrown for a loop as something came bounding around the corner before she could reach it, bouncing off her head so hard her logic about not letting Yang waltz off and then running away from her almost made sense. The corgi launched itself into a glorious flight trajectory through the air, the object in its mouth hard to discern until he dropped it into Yang's palm with flawless accuracy, its shape and weight revealing it to be a—To her—familiar remote control.

Qrow had no idea what it was, honestly way more preoccupied by the corgi itself as it immediately sprinted away to snatch up Myrtenaster again. "So wait, is that actually Zwei?"​

 

[MidwayLives]

Harriet found herself thrown for a loop as something came bounding around the corner before she could reach it, bouncing off her head so hard her logic about not letting Yang waltz off and then running away from her almost made sense. The corgi launched itself into a glorious flight trajectory through the air, the object in its mouth hard to discern until he dropped it into Yang's palm with flawless accuracy, its shape and weight revealing it to be a—To her—familiar remote control.

"STOP MAKING ME CHASE YOU!!!"

Why couldn't Zwei just be a good boy like Marrow??​

 

[MyrtenRose]

Neo rolled her eyes in clear disgust of the maiden that was standing before her with that goddamn face.

"....." Great I haven't even said a single freaking word to Neo upon reuniting after that bad night in the camp and already she's giving me some serious stinkeye oh god I can't win here what do, someone help, Salem take the wheel, I--wait. Cinder squinted, taking a deeper look and studying the woman more thoroughly. It isn't my Neo. Of course it isn't! Why would she have been found there anyway, huntress in training to criminal would be one really really really bad jump in career options not to mention totally wrong, like why would she even...oh god did team MTE--...team MEN break up for good too? Please no. Don't let it be that. Can't ask that directly though, no tact with that. Argh...what to do what to do???

Apparently Cinder settled on smile awkwardly and hope for the best. "Yo." She threw up a shaky peace sign.​

 

[Schnee Corp Lawyer]

Qrow stared at her for a solid five seconds after that, not giving any ground body language-wise to either the getting in his face or the one last attempt at reason. It was his own grave pondering that had him close his eyes with a deep, vexed sigh a few moments later, still holding Yang fast by the wrist.

"...You are being exactly like your mother right now. And I'm not talking about either of my sisters."

With all Ruby's similarities (physical and spiritual), Yang's own didn't get talked about enough. Enough of Tai's wannabe cool guy schtick was there to hide it, but...

"I trusted her too, y'know."

Notes of resignation and sadness mingled in his voice as it rasped those words, a bitter acknowledgment that he wasn't gonna be able to get her to back down through his famous no-nonsense powers of persuasion. It might've been enough to give her a little hope until he spoke again, a morose, penitent growl.

"Don't make me carry you."

Of all the things to say, of all the people to compare her to...

That one hurt.

She knew Ruby missed her more, that she was her whole world, instead of just of just a big part of it. But Yang had been old enough to remember her, really remember her, instead of just an idea, and had crystal clear, still painfully sharp memories of what it felt like when she didn't come back. Both for her and her sister. If she was doing the same... The resolve in her eyes finally flickered as she glanced off to the side-

"Arf!"

"ENOUGH MELODRAMA, THE QUEEN MOTHER PERISHES."

Harriet found herself thrown for a loop as something came bounding around the corner before she could reach it, bouncing off her head so hard her logic about not letting Yang waltz off and then running away from her almost made sense. The corgi launched itself into a glorious flight trajectory through the air, the object in its mouth hard to discern until he dropped it into Yang's palm with flawless accuracy, its shape and weight revealing it to be a—To her—familiar remote control.

Qrow had no idea what it was, honestly way more preoccupied by the corgi itself as it immediately sprinted away to snatch up Myrtenaster again. "So wait, is that actually Zwei?"

"...Yea. It is. One Weiss' rescues."

Her voice was quiet, far off as she stared at the remote in her hand and what it meant. Either Weiss was already a goner and Zwei got this off her... or...

"...I can't even pretend this is why I'm going, but there's one more reason we shouldn't let this happen." She said as she looked back up at Qrow, whatever cracks those words had left in resolved already melting back together as she wore a grim frown. "If Oz is sending people after Weiss, she's outta his good graces. Seem's like you guys already know who's down there, yea? Whoever it is... do you really want them to be the winter maiden, instead of Weiss?"



She'd had a whole month and a half to think about this part, though she never thought this was how they'd be having this discussion. If they really did need all four relics, then that meant they also needed all four maidens on their side. Which meant either convincing Weiss she was on the wrong side, or killing her.

As much as she'd never ever would've admitted to Weiss the entire time she'd been here, the latter wasn't something she thought she'd ever be able to do.

She looked back down and pressed the button on the remote, and absolutely failed to contain the gasp of adrenaline and delight that spiked through her system as her aura came rushing back. Fire filled her veins and her eyes were flickering orange, and her hair was already aglow like she was knee deep in a beatdown, all of that pent of energy permeating every inch of her soul and looking for any sort of outlet. She clenched her fist and watched the way her aura flickered into existence to protect herself from her own strength, and when her eyes met Qrow's own again every inch of Yang's normal swagger was contained in that smirk.

"So if you'll excuse me, I've gotta go save the world's biggest spoiled brat, and then maybe kick her ass too. Gonna play it by ear. Hey, bunnycop!"

She planted her foot and shook her wrist free with far more force than she had seconds ago, and the floorboards cracked and shattered underneath her stride as she skidded to halt at the corner just long enough to stick her tongue out at Harriet before she continued on.

"Gonna beat ya there."

 

[MyrtenRose]

"OUT OF MY WAY!"

Harriet unleashed her semblance and raced to the left of Raven to try and crack her in the face. Send this chick through the same hole she'd just made. Whether or not it succeeded or really injured her didn't matter. The objectives had changed and Harriet wasn't going to just let the prisoner that Weiss had ordered her to keep an eye on just waltz on off. She'd find Schnee and inform her of what was going on and between the two of them, they could wreck these two. Something fishy was going on here and she was Harriet goddamn Bree and she was going to get to the bottom of it. Turning in the direction that she'd seen Zwei bounding off to, Harriet raced after him. The dog had made an ass out of her infront of these two intruders and the prisoner by nipping at her.

It didn't. Harriet was quick on her feet, but Raven reacted just in time to parry the blow off to the side instead of letting it strike her in the face as intended and--oh. She was leaving. Well that wouldn't do. Not at all. If Weiss or anybody else got wind of this...no, that was a scenario they just couldn't let happen. It was most definitely one Raven would not let happen so long as she had a say in it.​

"Eat my dust!"

That did not happen. Oh, for sure, Raven likely would have been hard-pressed to keep up with Harriet if the Ace Ops soldier got going at top speed, let alone keep a step ahead and block her path before the speedster could warn Weiss or anybody else. But she didn't have to do that, and instead went for a different option. As the soldier argued with the dog and had her attention focused on it, there was a flash at the corners of Raven's eyes and in a blink Harriet suddenly found her whole body rapidly freezing from the legs up, maiden magic utilized in an attempt to keep her stuck rooted to the spot.​

"So if you'll excuse me, I've gotta go save the world's biggest spoiled brat, and then maybe kick her ass too. Gonna play it by ear. Hey, bunnycop!"

She planted her foot and shook her wrist free with far more force than she had seconds ago, and the floorboards cracked and shattered underneath her stride as she skidded to halt at the corner just long enough to stick her tongue out at Harriet before she continued on.

"Gonna beat ya there."

And she went for the same for Yang too, having not been remotely joking when she had said no. Of course, that wasn't going to hold her daughter for long, given the very nature of Yang. Now that her aura was seemingly back. Which is why, as soon as it settled fully or even if it didn't, she made an instant rush for Yang/the ice sculpture Yang to grab hold firmly. "Qrow, we have to get out now!"​

 

[Schnee Corp Lawyer]

And she went for the same for Yang too, having not been remotely joking when she had said no. Of course, that wasn't going to hold her daughter for long, given the very nature of Yang. Now that her aura was seemingly back. Which is why, as soon as it settled fully or even if it didn't, she made an instant rush for Yang/the ice sculpture Yang to grab hold firmly. "Qrow, we have to get out now!"

The ice raced up Yang's legs, up her torso, around her arms-

It already started to crack by the time Raven cleared half the distance. A few inches of solid ice might've been enough for someone with a broken aura, or even just an average one.

It barely dented Yang's fiery momentum, and the instant Raven reached out to grab her shoulder that shoulder was ducking out of the way to throw a wild haymaker at the side of her head with enough force to put her straight through Weiss' wall and into the lovely adjoining bath Yang's guest room had. Yang stared at the aftermath for a few seconds. She probably didn't need to do that. Coulda just talked to her mom. Of course, her mom coulda tried talking too instead of launching a sneak attack on her daughter and trying to use force and strength above all to get her way, like always. Did she feel bad about it?

"...Nope!" she decided aloud before she turned on her heel and continued sprinting.

 

[MidwayLives]

"Gonna beat ya there."

Harriet did indeed come to a stop as the ice engulfed her waist.

If manipulating ice was her semblance then she'd have just frozen Harriet to the wall the second opp she got. Instead of tackling her through a wall like an absolute neanderthal.

This was bad, very bad.

"You won't...stop me!"

Harriet swung Fast Knuckles against the ice to try and shatter it and free herself.

She was going to beat that Blondie in a race and save her boss.

​

 

[MyrtenRose]

The ice raced up Yang's legs, up her torso, around her arms-

It already started to crack by the time Raven cleared half the distance. A few inches of solid ice might've been enough for someone with a broken aura, or even just an average one.

It barely dented Yang's fiery momentum, and the instant Raven reached out to grab her shoulder that shoulder was ducking out of the way to throw a wild haymaker at the side of her head with enough force to put her straight through Weiss' wall and into the lovely adjoining bath Yang's guest room had. Yang stared at the aftermath for a few seconds. She probably didn't need to do that. Coulda just talked to her mom. Of course, her mom coulda tried talking too instead of launching a sneak attack on her daughter and trying to use force and strength above all to get her way, like always. Did she feel bad about it?

"...Nope!" she decided aloud before she turned on her heel and continued sprinting.

"...Ow." Raven grunted from under the heap of shattered wall she'd been buried under after getting knocked into the bathroom. Yet after a few moments she pushed herself free of all the debris. It would take more than a single wild punch to put her down, no matter how forceful the blow. And once she did get back onto her feet...she did not make any moves to rush after her foolish daughter. She didn't even take a single step to get out of this room she'd been sent into. She just gripped her sword, swung it, and as Yang sprinted off at great speeds fueled by her desire to get to Weiss...a familiar portal of red sprang up so suddenly that Yang didn't even have time to avoid, not with her current momentum.

A portal that tossed Yang right back through over here and right into:

Spoiler

Truly the best way to handle this. Once that was done, Raven took a few steps back before opening her mouth. "Now listen here, daughter. I don't know what you think no means, but let me tell you. it doesn't mean yes. It doesn't mean maybe, or perhaps, or possibly. It means absolutely not! You are absolutely not going to do anything that BONEHEADED! Do you hear me? We are getting out of here, now, whether you like it or not!"​

 

[Gus Gungus]

"Oooooooohhhhhh hell no. YOU TWO HOTHEADED BIMBOS ARE NOT DOING THIS RIGHT NOW!!!!! PICK ONE, I DON'T EVEN GODDAMN CARE ANYMORE, GOING OR STAYING, I'LL GO WITH WHOEVER, WHAT-GODDAMN-EVER, WHO THE HELL CARES, RIGHT, WHY NOT, WHY NOT GO, SUUUUUUUUURRRRREEEEE! IT'LL BE GREAT! HEY RAVEN, IT'LL BE GREAT LET'S JUST GO, LET'S JUST HUMOR THE KID RAVEN IT'LL BE FINE, WE'RE DOING IT, YOU'RE OUTVOTED! NEW LAY OF THE LAND, ONE OF YOU IS FALLING IN LINE AND NEXT PERSON TO DO OR SAY ANYTHING I DON'T LIKE IS GETTING MY FOOT SHOVED SO FAR UP THEIR ASS YOU'LL TASTE THE SHOE LEATHER, OKAY??!?!??!?!?!?!??!"​

 

[Gus Gungus]

She was going to beat that Blondie in a race and save her boss.

Harriet finally skidded around the corner into the service corridor the undisputed victor, though it had to be said Zwei looked a little disappointed as he perked his head up at her in confusion from where he waited patiently by the cellar. "Rrr?"

"NO MORE THAN THE FODDER. VERY WELL, SWEET RABBIT. BETTER WE DIE HERE TOGETHER THAN LIVE ON ALONE."

The smashed bottle of wine on the floor and single discarded tarp among a row of covered-up statues were the only signs of any struggle, but Zwei's ears and tail both drooped in a foreboding way, and there wasn't a sound to be heard save for a steady drip coming from somewhere as he waited apprehensively for her to open the cellar doors.

​

 

[MidwayLives]

Harriet finally skidded around the corner into the service corridor the undisputed victor, though it had to be said Zwei looked a little disappointed as he perked his head up at her in confusion from where he waited patiently by the cellar. "Rrr?"

"NO MORE THAN THE FODDER. VERY WELL, SWEET RABBIT. BETTER WE DIE HERE TOGETHER THAN LIVE ON ALONE."

"Don't worry, Zwei. I'll get your, uh, 'Mommy' back."

Referring to Schnee as 'Mommy' made Harriet shudder just a bit. Weird feeling, didn't like.

As she looked over the growing ominous cellar doors, Harriet gulped.

She'd seen how much alcohol the councilwoman turned maiden could chug. There was no way this was a simple accident or anything. Something was lurking down there and just the idea of whatever it could have been made Harriet's skin crawl. As she reached for the doors, Harriet felt beads of sweat rolling down her forehead.

Little by little she reached for the handles...

"Oh, screw it!"

She wasn't going to save Weiss by pussyfooting around! Nervous or not, she had a job to do! She pulled the doors open and jumped down into the cellar. "Weiss!!"​

 

[Gus Gungus]

It became immediately apparent to Harriet that the darkness she descended into was not natural.

The room was pitch black, but she knew from the moment she landed its every surface was coated with... something. The floor her boots thudded against felt adhesive somehow, not overtly but as if millions of tiny suckers gripped onto her soles and only came away with a bit of resistance and noise like elastic bands snapping. Zwei immediately whined when his own paws touched the substance, gently lifting his paws and hopping around like he was trying to navigate his way through a field of nettles instead of a cellar room floor, and eventually opted to scrambling his way up to rest on Harriet's shoulders and rest his muzzle on what struck him as her very bald head.

Even if she'd been a faunus befitting her namesake her eyes wouldn't really have been able to pick out anything in that gloom. The darkness was deeper, more encompassing, made all the more sinister by how just when she felt like her vision had adjusted enough to make out a solid object or two they would move, distorting or curling into the shadow around them like wisps of smoke. Sometimes she even thought she felt herself move, as if the floor beneath her feet suddenly shifted, spun, or otherwise displaced her around whatever space she was in without her say-so. It wasn't long before she realized: she had no idea where the exit was. It was just her, Zwei, and what appeared to be an endless void.

"...Operative Bree, please... please..."

The voice that reached her was not its customarily strong and authoritative self. It sounded weak, preoccupied, like a candle on the verge of being snuffed out and requiring active concentration to refrain from doing so, and though she didn't see anything it was clear that wherever Weiss was in this mess she was not enjoying the experience.

She did not, however, sound afraid. And although still weak, still intensely focused on something that wasn't Harriet to the point she sounded almost irritated at having to deal with her, when the voice addressed her again it was firmer, more prompt, even a little disdainful.

"...Please return to your post. I'm in the middle of a negotiation, and I don't recall ever asking you to snoop around my manor. In fact, didn't I assign you to monitor Yang? Isn't that the ENTIRE REASON you're in my house? That's right, it is, and now you mean to tell me you reacted to a perceived dangerous intrusion in said house by abandoning the person I told you to guard?? While you're here, why don't you tell me exactly which part of my instructions you interpreted as optional???"

The ace op heard a scoff.

"No, don't bother. Just leave. If anything happens to her before morning I'm holding you personally accountable."​

 

[Schnee Corp Lawyer]

Yang's head ate floorboards, but she flexed out of the grip immediately after and rolled to her feet, snatched the front of Raven's robe... and pulled her into a headbutt that, while not gentle, clearly wasn't meant to be a continuation of any sort of physical fight. She just wanted to make sure her mom heard her loud and clear this time as her eyes burned into Raven's.

"You gave up the right to make that call for me twice. and-"

"Oooooooohhhhhh hell no. YOU TWO HOTHEADED BIMBOS ARE NOT DOING THIS RIGHT NOW!!!!! PICK ONE, I DON'T EVEN GODDAMN CARE ANYMORE, GOING OR STAYING, I'LL GO WITH WHOEVER, WHAT-GODDAMN-EVER, WHO THE HELL CARES, RIGHT, WHY NOT, WHY NOT GO, SUUUUUUUUURRRRREEEEE! IT'LL BE GREAT! HEY RAVEN, IT'LL BE GREAT LET'S JUST GO, LET'S JUST HUMOR THE KID RAVEN IT'LL BE FINE, WE'RE DOING IT, YOU'RE OUTVOTED! NEW LAY OF THE LAND, ONE OF YOU IS FALLING IN LINE AND NEXT PERSON TO DO OR SAY ANYTHING I DON'T LIKE IS GETTING MY FOOT SHOVED SO FAR UP THEIR ASS YOU'LL TASTE THE SHOE LEATHER, OKAY??!?!??!?!?!?!??!"​

"...Yea. Stellar"

She shoved Raven away, gave her one last glare, and turned on her heel for the hall Harriet had sprinted down.

"...You guys don't have to come too. Just because I have to do this doesn't mean..."

...Oh, whatever. The heroic confidence in her stride had been literally suplexed outta her, but she still had to do this. It was just a little harder to justify risking anyone else's life on what was objectively a real stupid idea. She'd just have to make sure they kicked some serious ass when they got down there. She rolled her shoulders, flexed her fingers, and took off towards the cellar.

 

[MyrtenRose]

"Oooooooohhhhhh hell no. YOU TWO HOTHEADED BIMBOS ARE NOT DOING THIS RIGHT NOW!!!!! PICK ONE, I DON'T EVEN GODDAMN CARE ANYMORE, GOING OR STAYING, I'LL GO WITH WHOEVER, WHAT-GODDAMN-EVER, WHO THE HELL CARES, RIGHT, WHY NOT, WHY NOT GO, SUUUUUUUUURRRRREEEEE! IT'LL BE GREAT! HEY RAVEN, IT'LL BE GREAT LET'S JUST GO, LET'S JUST HUMOR THE KID RAVEN IT'LL BE FINE, WE'RE DOING IT, YOU'RE OUTVOTED! NEW LAY OF THE LAND, ONE OF YOU IS FALLING IN LINE AND NEXT PERSON TO DO OR SAY ANYTHING I DON'T LIKE IS GETTING MY FOOT SHOVED SO FAR UP THEIR ASS YOU'LL TASTE THE SHOE LEATHER, OKAY??!?!??!?!?!?!??!"​

"..." She didn't think it humanly possible for Qrow to simultaneously be so completely responsible in taking charge of a volatile situation like a leader and yet at the same time be so utterly irresponsible by declaring his support of Yang's absolutely boneheaded, braindead plan. Sarcastic support or not, it was a monumentally idiotic idea from where she was standing. "Have you already forgotten that the last time we charged off into the unknown, it ended with some half human half grimm monstrosity damn near ripping a chunk out of your throat???" Raven pointed out, exasperated beyond belief by the perceived questionable choices they both seemed committed to making. Yet despite her obvious frustration, she had no desire to provoke Qrow's anger any more than she already had. Especially not after her solitary speech to his unconscious wounded self much earlier.

She'd been trying to do better here, if in intention and not quite in method...for all the good it seemed to do.​

Yang's head ate floorboards, but she flexed out of the grip immediately after and rolled to her feet, snatched the front of Raven's robe... and pulled her into a headbutt that, while not gentle, clearly wasn't meant to be a continuation of any sort of physical fight. She just wanted to make sure her mom heard her loud and clear this time as her eyes burned into Raven's.

"You gave up the right to make that call for me twice. and-"

Fiery determination was even more present in her daughter's face than frustrated anger was in her brother's, judging from how Yang's eyes shifted from the normal lilac to a red to match her own. There was a nearly inaudible sigh that hissed out from Raven's mouth at Yang's statement there, even with how close the blonde was, it was real difficult to hear. "......Fine." She shook her head. "Fine. On with the stupid plan." A hand rose to rub at her forehead but she ceased trying to prevent this. She'd just wanted this escape to be a quick in and out, gone before anybody realized. It seemed that was too much to ask of her family.​

She shoved Raven away, gave her one last glare, and turned on her heel for the hall Harriet had sprinted down.

"...You guys don't have to come too. Just because I have to do this doesn't mean..."

...Oh, whatever. The heroic confidence in her stride had been literally suplexed outta her, but she still had to do this. It was just a little harder to justify risking anyone else's life on what was objectively a real stupid idea. She'd just have to make sure they kicked some serious ass when they got down there. She rolled her shoulders, flexed her fingers, and took off towards the cellar.

"...You really think we came all this way just to let you go at whatever this is, alone?" Raven shook her head as she followed behind. "It...may not be my place to say it, after everything.....but....." She struggled to force her words out, emotions warring inside in ways that were becoming increasingly more common the longer she was stuck on this Remnant. "If you are this wholly dedicated to this foolish idea...then I'm with you."

She just hoped this was not something she would regret doing tomorrow.​

 

[Gus Gungus]

"..." She didn't think it humanly possible for Qrow to simultaneously be so completely responsible in taking charge of a volatile situation like a leader and yet at the same time be so utterly irresponsible by declaring his support of Yang's absolutely boneheaded, braindead plan. Sarcastic support or not, it was a monumentally idiotic idea from where she was standing. "Have you already forgotten that the last time we charged off into the unknown, it ended with some half human half grimm monstrosity damn near ripping a chunk out of your throat???" Raven pointed out, exasperated beyond belief by the perceived questionable choices they both seemed committed to making. Yet despite her obvious frustration, she had no desire to provoke Qrow's anger any more than she already had. Especially not after solitary speech to his unconscious wounded self much earlier.

She'd been trying to do better here...for all the good it seemed to do.

He put his hands up like a boxer on the ropes, rattled by her dizzying display of logic.

"Oooooohhhh, hey, you're riiiiiight, so let's just all go back to ATTACKING EACH OTHER! LET'S START FLINGING AROUND STUPID VAGUELY DEFINED MAGICAL POWERS AT ONE ANOTHER 'CAUSE THAT MAKES SENSE, RAVEN, THAT MAKES SOOOOO MUCH FREAKIN' SENSE!"

He managed to find it in himself to shift the bulk of the frustration he felt away from her, since somehow despite everything she wasn't the family in the room he was unbelievably pissed at right now. "You think I don't remember? I shouldn't have to point out that I'm not the one making the particularly stupid call for once, sis, but hey, it's fiiiiinnne. Yang knows best, right? Like always."

Fiery determination was even more present in her daughter's face than frustrated anger was in her brother's, judging from how Yang's eyes shifted from the normal lilac to a red to match her own. There was a nearly inaudible sigh that hissed out from Raven's mouth at Yang's statement there, even with how close the blonde was, it was real difficult to hear. "......Fine." She shook her head. "Fine. On with the stupid plan." A hand rose to rub at her forehead but she ceased trying to prevent this. She'd just wanted this escape to be a quick in and out, gone before anybody realized. It seemed that was too much to ask of her family.

Maybe it didn't entirely diffuse the complete, vehement horror he felt at the prospect of Yang ever ending up in the same room as the freak of nature he brushed with back in Argus, nor the actual livid fury he felt at the kid for refusing to listen to him at a time like this; but whatever that display provoked in Qrow was at least enough for him to go back to bottling up the negative feelings he felt literally all the time, kneading his brow with a terse, frustrated huff.

"...You guys don't have to come too. Just because I have to do this doesn't mean..."

And then Yang very nearly set him off again.

"HELLO?????? Any inklings on why that might not gel with the ENTIRE REASON both of us are here?! You're roping us into this bad idea of yours, kid, whether you think so or not, so how 'bout you save any more nuggets of wisdom for the long, difficult conversation we get to have about your priorities once this is through, shut your trap and concentrate on staying behind me?"

There was a brief, tense pause after that as they ran, enough to give the impression he was willing to leave it there and let things drift into a heavy silence. But that wasn't his style, and on some level even in his rage he knew there was no reason to keep making Yang feel like crap for wanting to do what she thought was right. Even if he thought she was being selfish without knowing it.

"...Not that you'd ever catch up with those dumpy leeeegggs-"

It was more because of his long and spindly ones, but something about the way Yang got passed out in their sprint was equally driven by sheer, motivated rage, even if he eased off the throttle on her in both wording and tone. Because oh man was he gonna ream this little turd once he made sure she got out of here.

Though come to think of it... No way in hell should all three of them have been anything but arrested right now, in all honesty. Not with the amount of guards Weiss actually had outside and ultimate volume level of this Impossible Mission from hell. Something had to be up there. He already had a bad feeling, but it was only getting worse.

Also Zwei had coughed up a trail of fluff from a pillow he ate earlier so they were able to follow it.​