u/Thrythlind

Time to shop... and deal with unwanted family finances.

CW: gaslighting, financial abuse, harassment, emotional abuse

https://archiveofourown.org/works/90911546/chapters/242100476

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Mrs. Belladonna’s jacket was black and gold and covered her arms and shoulders, and she’d been right. It was too large, the sleeves reached half-way down her hands and her shoulders were just about swimming.“Scrolls are pretty resilient, how’d you lose yours?” The shopkeeper was a plump woman with mouse whiskers and the sort of neutral face that took practice.

Weiss kept one hand behind her back as she rubbed her claws together and kept her own mask up. “I think I dropped it somewhere.”

The woman nodded and put Weiss’s money in the cash register. “You don’t need to hide claw rubbing. Just do it calmly, it’s pretty normal. Hiding it just makes it weird.”

Weiss grimaced and pulled her hand from behind her back and waved it. “You can hear it.”

“You’re used to passing as human.” The shopkeeper looked up. “Claws can do that pretty well.”

“Passing. Sure.”

“Human family? Was it your mother or father?”

“Yes, and it was my maternal grandmother.”

The shopkeeper’s eyes widened. “I thought that was a myth. Are you sure you’re not adopted or…”

“My father’s not the adopting kind” Weiss started entering her information into her scroll. “And my mother wouldn’t have cheated.” She paused and thought about it. “I half wish she would.”

“I’m from Mantle, you?”

Weiss looked up. “Atlas.”

“Not many faunus up there, no wonder you don’t think about how well some of us hear.” She nodded. “Well, have a good day, Miss.”

“Hey, Weiss, are you finished?” Yang called out.

“Yes, I’m on my way out.” She turned to the shopkeeper. “Thank you.”

Time to shop... and deal with unwanted family finances.

CW: gaslighting, financial abuse, harassment, emotional abuse

https://archiveofourown.org/works/90911546/chapters/242100476

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Mrs. Belladonna’s jacket was black and gold and covered her arms and shoulders, and she’d been right. It was too large, the sleeves reached half-way down her hands and her shoulders were just about swimming.“Scrolls are pretty resilient, how’d you lose yours?” The shopkeeper was a plump woman with mouse whiskers and the sort of neutral face that took practice.

Weiss kept one hand behind her back as she rubbed her claws together and kept her own mask up. “I think I dropped it somewhere.”

The woman nodded and put Weiss’s money in the cash register. “You don’t need to hide claw rubbing. Just do it calmly, it’s pretty normal. Hiding it just makes it weird.”

Weiss grimaced and pulled her hand from behind her back and waved it. “You can hear it.”

“You’re used to passing as human.” The shopkeeper looked up. “Claws can do that pretty well.”

“Passing. Sure.”

“Human family? Was it your mother or father?”

“Yes, and it was my maternal grandmother.”

The shopkeeper’s eyes widened. “I thought that was a myth. Are you sure you’re not adopted or…”

“My father’s not the adopting kind” Weiss started entering her information into her scroll. “And my mother wouldn’t have cheated.” She paused and thought about it. “I half wish she would.”

“I’m from Mantle, you?”

Weiss looked up. “Atlas.”

“Not many faunus up there, no wonder you don’t think about how well some of us hear.” She nodded. “Well, have a good day, Miss.”

“Hey, Weiss, are you finished?” Yang called out.

“Yes, I’m on my way out.” She turned to the shopkeeper. “Thank you.”

Continuation of Not who I know how to be in the Not who I thought I was series

In the wake of the attack on Vale, Team RWBY+P arrive at Menagerie for lunch with the Belladonnas.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/90911546/chapters/241827341

--------------------------------------------

The gangplank lowered down from the ship to the dock and provided an unblocked view of the stilt houses and lush green trees that bedecked the hills surrounding the bay.

And the people.

So many people.

And almost everyone faunus.

There was a twitch that she’d begun to wonder was her non-existent ears trying to flatten against her head. At least that was one good thing. She couldn’t be betrayed by body parts she’d never trained to be placid in the face of stress.

“Here we are.” Blake gestured out across the city and took the lead off the ship.

“Wow. There are so many people!” Penny’s smile was wide as she half bounced on her raw structural prosthetics.

“There’s more people here than in Vale.” Ruby’s mouth was a gaping smile.

The creaking as compared to Penny’s normal limbs was nerve-wracking, but she also didn’t want to curb her android friend’s enthusiasm.

But there might be a safety issue. “Penny, are your legs supposed to make that sound?”

She stopped and looked down at her legs. “I do not actually know. Weiss. I shall keep a monitor on their structural feedback.”

“So, where do we go from here?” Yang asked, hands behind her head.

Blake pointed. “Straight up and over the hill. The chieftain’s estate is at the end of the Main Street.”

Weiss followed a few steps behind Blake. Her face was placid but the porcelain still didn’t fit around the edges the way it used to. She needed an outlet and right now that was rubbing her claws together.

And it was hard not to look at the variety of faunus walking about in their daily life. A lot like Blake, Sun, or Velvet with one animal like feature like a pair of ears, a tail, or patches of scales. Here and there, someone with more traits, like… Ilia with both scales and the shifting colorization.

Continuation of Not who I know how to be in the Not who I thought I was series

In the wake of the attack on Vale, Team RWBY+P arrive at Menagerie for lunch with the Belladonnas.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/90911546/chapters/241827341

--------------------------------------------

The gangplank lowered down from the ship to the dock and provided an unblocked view of the stilt houses and lush green trees that bedecked the hills surrounding the bay.

And the people.

So many people.

And almost everyone faunus.

There was a twitch that she’d begun to wonder was her non-existent ears trying to flatten against her head. At least that was one good thing. She couldn’t be betrayed by body parts she’d never trained to be placid in the face of stress.

“Here we are.” Blake gestured out across the city and took the lead off the ship.

“Wow. There are so many people!” Penny’s smile was wide as she half bounced on her raw structural prosthetics.

“There’s more people here than in Vale.” Ruby’s mouth was a gaping smile.

The creaking as compared to Penny’s normal limbs was nerve-wracking, but she also didn’t want to curb her android friend’s enthusiasm.

But there might be a safety issue. “Penny, are your legs supposed to make that sound?”

She stopped and looked down at her legs. “I do not actually know. Weiss. I shall keep a monitor on their structural feedback.”

“So, where do we go from here?” Yang asked, hands behind her head.

Blake pointed. “Straight up and over the hill. The chieftain’s estate is at the end of the Main Street.”

Weiss followed a few steps behind Blake. Her face was placid but the porcelain still didn’t fit around the edges the way it used to. She needed an outlet and right now that was rubbing her claws together.

And it was hard not to look at the variety of faunus walking about in their daily life. A lot like Blake, Sun, or Velvet with one animal like feature like a pair of ears, a tail, or patches of scales. Here and there, someone with more traits, like… Ilia with both scales and the shifting colorization.

A glimpse of Winter's view on events.

Arc finale

https://archiveofourown.org/works/89191911/chapters/241422286

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Winter had looked up at the wide smile her father wore as he circled an arm around her mother. She beamed brightly under the attention and only barely cringed under her cultured etiquette. It was something that would only become clear later on when Winter was older and able to look back at all those memories leading up to when Willow had drifted into being incapacitated as often as not.

“Yes, soon Winter won’t be an only child, she’ll have a little sister or brother to share her life with.” Willow had smiled.

“My wife was an only child, you see. Her parents were never able to have another. Health concerns.”

Jacques smirk stood out clear in her memory. Some would tell her that memory was never reliable, but even so much of their life hadn’t been recorded at the time, that smirk would be burned in her mind.

“I’m sure the competition will drive them both to grow.”

That was the thing of course, it was always the competition. Having more children than Nicolas Schnee was a triumph. And he had expected Winter and Weiss to be working against each other to make sure they were always on top. Multiple children was a diversified investment or a way to hedge a bet.

The reporter turned to her then. “And what do you think about this new sibling, Miss Schnee.”

Ten year old her had looked across to her parents with Willow’s soft smile and Jacques smile underneath hard and warning eyes. “I cannot wait to meet them, of course.”

Father’s enthusiasm for the new child lasted only until she was born and then his mood was dark and angry. For the next several weeks, she would catch him watching her as if he had caught her disobeying him somehow. That had… eased off a couple of weeks after a doctor’s appointment.

He treated Mother the same way, and the rate of her drinking had spiked. By the time he’d decided he trusted them again, such as he was capable of, the damage had been done.

A glimpse of Winter's view on events.

Arc finale

https://archiveofourown.org/works/89191911/chapters/241422286

----------------------------------

Winter had looked up at the wide smile her father wore as he circled an arm around her mother. She beamed brightly under the attention and only barely cringed under her cultured etiquette. It was something that would only become clear later on when Winter was older and able to look back at all those memories leading up to when Willow had drifted into being incapacitated as often as not.

“Yes, soon Winter won’t be an only child, she’ll have a little sister or brother to share her life with.” Willow had smiled.

“My wife was an only child, you see. Her parents were never able to have another. Health concerns.”

Jacques smirk stood out clear in her memory. Some would tell her that memory was never reliable, but even so much of their life hadn’t been recorded at the time, that smirk would be burned in her mind.

“I’m sure the competition will drive them both to grow.”

That was the thing of course, it was always the competition. Having more children than Nicolas Schnee was a triumph. And he had expected Winter and Weiss to be working against each other to make sure they were always on top. Multiple children was a diversified investment or a way to hedge a bet.

The reporter turned to her then. “And what do you think about this new sibling, Miss Schnee.”

Ten year old her had looked across to her parents with Willow’s soft smile and Jacques smile underneath hard and warning eyes. “I cannot wait to meet them, of course.”

Father’s enthusiasm for the new child lasted only until she was born and then his mood was dark and angry. For the next several weeks, she would catch him watching her as if he had caught her disobeying him somehow. That had… eased off a couple of weeks after a doctor’s appointment.

He treated Mother the same way, and the rate of her drinking had spiked. By the time he’d decided he trusted them again, such as he was capable of, the damage had been done.

A long belated conversation.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/89191911/chapters/241302211

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“So it turns out that Weiss’s sister trusts the White Fang over their father’s people.” Yang stretched out comfortably.

Weiss scoffed and shook her head. Beside her, Ruby nodded and held her hand. “Well, yeah. Everything Weiss told us? That makes sense, but…”

Ruby’s gaze turned to where Penny was sitting in a bed, listening politely.

“I am not sure what this means for me. These interim prosthetics will serve for day to day purposes but they are not combat ready.” She lifted the very obvious new arm and kicked the legs briefly. Then she looked back toward Ruby. “However Weiss and Blake have assured me that SDC would not be interested in our continued function as much as determining how we function.”

“Yeah. The expressions those three gave when Winter said who was coming were… pretty clear.” Yang thought about it. “Make that all four of them. Winter looked shocked.”

“And, well… that’s everything that happened while you were out.” Blake leaned on her knees.

Ruby sighed and shook her head. “I mean, where do we even start?”

Weiss sucked in on her teeth, lips pressed closed together. She stood up and walked to the cabin door and looked outside both ways down the corridor.

Behind her Yang shrugged and looked from Ruby and Blake back to Weiss. “Hey, Weiss. Is everything okay?”

Weiss pulled the door closed and turned around to face the room, leaning back against the door, hands pressed back to the surface behind her.

“No. We all almost died.” Weiss licked her lips nervously. “JNPR are almost all hospitalized. And… and the people that made all that happen are still out there.” She took in a long shuddering breath. “We weren’t enough.”

A long belated conversation.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/89191911/chapters/241302211

-------------------------------------------------

“So it turns out that Weiss’s sister trusts the White Fang over their father’s people.” Yang stretched out comfortably.

Weiss scoffed and shook her head. Beside her, Ruby nodded and held her hand. “Well, yeah. Everything Weiss told us? That makes sense, but…”

Ruby’s gaze turned to where Penny was sitting in a bed, listening politely.

“I am not sure what this means for me. These interim prosthetics will serve for day to day purposes but they are not combat ready.” She lifted the very obvious new arm and kicked the legs briefly. Then she looked back toward Ruby. “However Weiss and Blake have assured me that SDC would not be interested in our continued function as much as determining how we function.”

“Yeah. The expressions those three gave when Winter said who was coming were… pretty clear.” Yang thought about it. “Make that all four of them. Winter looked shocked.”

“And, well… that’s everything that happened while you were out.” Blake leaned on her knees.

Ruby sighed and shook her head. “I mean, where do we even start?”

Weiss sucked in on her teeth, lips pressed closed together. She stood up and walked to the cabin door and looked outside both ways down the corridor.

Behind her Yang shrugged and looked from Ruby and Blake back to Weiss. “Hey, Weiss. Is everything okay?”

Weiss pulled the door closed and turned around to face the room, leaning back against the door, hands pressed back to the surface behind her.

“No. We all almost died.” Weiss licked her lips nervously. “JNPR are almost all hospitalized. And… and the people that made all that happen are still out there.” She took in a long shuddering breath. “We weren’t enough.”

And while RWBY faced Adam, JNPR+I had fiery problem.

Pyrrha interlude

CW: maiming

https://archiveofourown.org/works/89191911/chapters/241171446

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“Whoa! Do you think it can still fly?”

Jaune had stopped at the corner and Pyrrha realized why as soon as she caught up to him and saw the off-kilter bullhead blocking most of the street. Immediately she looked up toward Beacon, knowing what he was thinking about.

“Whether it can or cannot does not matter if none of us can fly it.”

She looked back to see Nora finishing off a group of beowulves and Ren clearing some creeps from trying to surround her. The White Fang agent passed between them as she finished off an ursa and walked up beside her.

Ilia looked at the bullhead and scoffed. “I could fly if it weren’t a wreck. You’d have a better chance trying to ride one of the griffins.”

Jaune’s eyes widened and he turned around to smile at Ilia, pointing. “That’s a great idea!”

Ilia frowned. “What’s a great idea?”

“I’m not sure that’s a viable idea.” Pyrrha turned and slashed through the necks of two Grimm.

“What are we talking about?” Ilia lashed an alpha beowulf several times, electrocuting it until it turned to black mist.

“Hey, it worked for Ruby and Weiss.” Jaune intercepted an ursa claw with his sword and then shoved it back with brute force until tripped and he stabbed forward with sword.

“What are we saying ‘worked for Ruby and Weiss’?” Nora stepped in and swung her hammer into and through a small swarm of creeps, scattering them as she laughed uproariously.

“The nevermore thing.” Jaune called over his shoulder, he stepped in at Pyrrha’s flank, holding his shield out.

“What’s the nevermore thing?!”

Pyrrha hurled Miló and guided it through several Grimm then “bounced” it off a wall and back to her hand. “He thinks it might be a way to get up to Beacon.”

“I wouldn’t say it really worked for Ruby and Weiss.” Ren’s dual guns fired in a suppressing spray.

“Would one of you please tell me what you are talking about?”

Pyrrha laughed nervously as she turned to look at the faunus girl.

And while RWBY faced Adam, JNPR+I had fiery problem.

Pyrrha interlude

CW: maiming

https://archiveofourown.org/works/89191911/chapters/241171446

------------------------------------

“Whoa! Do you think it can still fly?”

Jaune had stopped at the corner and Pyrrha realized why as soon as she caught up to him and saw the off-kilter bullhead blocking most of the street. Immediately she looked up toward Beacon, knowing what he was thinking about.

“Whether it can or cannot does not matter if none of us can fly it.”

She looked back to see Nora finishing off a group of beowulves and Ren clearing some creeps from trying to surround her. The White Fang agent passed between them as she finished off an ursa and walked up beside her.

Ilia looked at the bullhead and scoffed. “I could fly if it weren’t a wreck. You’d have a better chance trying to ride one of the griffins.”

Jaune’s eyes widened and he turned around to smile at Ilia, pointing. “That’s a great idea!”

Ilia frowned. “What’s a great idea?”

“I’m not sure that’s a viable idea.” Pyrrha turned and slashed through the necks of two Grimm.

“What are we talking about?” Ilia lashed an alpha beowulf several times, electrocuting it until it turned to black mist.

“Hey, it worked for Ruby and Weiss.” Jaune intercepted an ursa claw with his sword and then shoved it back with brute force until tripped and he stabbed forward with sword.

“What are we saying ‘worked for Ruby and Weiss’?” Nora stepped in and swung her hammer into and through a small swarm of creeps, scattering them as she laughed uproariously.

“The nevermore thing.” Jaune called over his shoulder, he stepped in at Pyrrha’s flank, holding his shield out.

“What’s the nevermore thing?!”

Pyrrha hurled Miló and guided it through several Grimm then “bounced” it off a wall and back to her hand. “He thinks it might be a way to get up to Beacon.”

“I wouldn’t say it really worked for Ruby and Weiss.” Ren’s dual guns fired in a suppressing spray.

“Would one of you please tell me what you are talking about?”

Pyrrha laughed nervously as she turned to look at the faunus girl.

Adam has found Team RWBY and he is not willing to let them leave.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/89191911/chapters/240944201

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“Weiss? What is it?”

Her sister’s voice was small over the line and didn’t help to distract her from the way Adam Taurus glaring at them from down the street as he almost negligently dispatched several Grimm trying to swarm him. Ruby had clutched Blake’s arm and was looking back over her shoulder.

“Adam Ta…” There was a snarl and the black-suited man began to charge. “Adam’s here!”

“Look what you’ve done to all of us, Blake!”

Yang and Weiss were already moving before Ruby called out “Freezerburn!”

Her scroll was tossed aside as she slammed Myrtenaster into the ground to cover it with ice just a moment before the already airborne Yang slammed down to raise a fog cloud. Ruby had already carried Blake away reappearing far down the street. Weiss leaped back to the edge of the cloud and prepared a glyph.

“Penny! We’re running!” Yang shouted as she half dragged the android out of the cloud to appear beside Weiss in time for the clock hands to hasten into a chime.

“I don’t understand. Do we not engage the criminal?” Penny asked as the three ran to catch up with Blake and Ruby under the brief impulse of Weiss’s speed glyph.

Adam burst out of the cloud not long after them and fell swiftly away while the hasten glyph lasted. He slashed out with his sword and pointed the sheath. Weiss turned around and parried several bullets before running again and slicing through a small cluster of creeps that had peeled off from the waves after Adam. Meanwhile Yang took her place deflecting bullets and then it was Penny, still confused but at least going with the flow.

An icy projectile shot past Weiss’s shoulder heading for the charging bull faunus and she watched his stance shift moments before he sliced through the ice and continued to chase. Weiss could feel the haste spell fading away.

“Thundercloud!”

Weiss and Yang both turned around, Penny stopping short. Yang turned to her. “Block fire!”

“Right. I am ready.”

Adam has found Team RWBY and he is not willing to let them leave.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/89191911/chapters/240944201

---------------------------------------------

“Weiss? What is it?”

Her sister’s voice was small over the line and didn’t help to distract her from the way Adam Taurus glaring at them from down the street as he almost negligently dispatched several Grimm trying to swarm him. Ruby had clutched Blake’s arm and was looking back over her shoulder.

“Adam Ta…” There was a snarl and the black-suited man began to charge. “Adam’s here!”

“Look what you’ve done to all of us, Blake!”

Yang and Weiss were already moving before Ruby called out “Freezerburn!”

Her scroll was tossed aside as she slammed Myrtenaster into the ground to cover it with ice just a moment before the already airborne Yang slammed down to raise a fog cloud. Ruby had already carried Blake away reappearing far down the street. Weiss leaped back to the edge of the cloud and prepared a glyph.

“Penny! We’re running!” Yang shouted as she half dragged the android out of the cloud to appear beside Weiss in time for the clock hands to hasten into a chime.

“I don’t understand. Do we not engage the criminal?” Penny asked as the three ran to catch up with Blake and Ruby under the brief impulse of Weiss’s speed glyph.

Adam burst out of the cloud not long after them and fell swiftly away while the hasten glyph lasted. He slashed out with his sword and pointed the sheath. Weiss turned around and parried several bullets before running again and slicing through a small cluster of creeps that had peeled off from the waves after Adam. Meanwhile Yang took her place deflecting bullets and then it was Penny, still confused but at least going with the flow.

An icy projectile shot past Weiss’s shoulder heading for the charging bull faunus and she watched his stance shift moments before he sliced through the ice and continued to chase. Weiss could feel the haste spell fading away.

“Thundercloud!”

Weiss and Yang both turned around, Penny stopping short. Yang turned to her. “Block fire!”

“Right. I am ready.”

The raid on Vale is underway.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/89191911/chapters/240765806

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The green flash emerging from a disused and bricked up stairwell was ignored among several other sounds and distractions. A moment later the sound of shattering brick and concrete heralded opened the way up. Weiss followed behind Yang and Nora and stepped aside to make room for others looked across the smoke rising up into the sky through which numerous creatures of Grimm wheeled. Her eyes turned up the cliffs beyond the city now to where Beacon’s tower stood swarming with Grimm. In the distance she could hear the roar of Grimm and the exchange of gunfire.

A massive dragon-like Grimm circled above, surrounded by swarms of other flying Grimm.

A sound of squealing tires drew her attention to a car careening into the scene covered in creeps. She rolled Myrtenaster’s chamber and summoned a spinning clock glyph underneath her and then rushed across the scene, landing on the car alongside Blake. A series of thrusts and cuts slashed through the small Grimm and removed both the car’s front doors. Below them, a stream of brilliant red petals swept the driver out the side door. Blake and Weiss leaped off the out of control car leaving Yang to slam it off track away from a building into the open space where it harmlessly rolled to a stop.

Weiss looked to where Ruby was depositing the driver and making sure they were okay, and then across to where the rest of their group had reacted to similar situations. Spread out across the square.

“Everyone, please stay inside and lock your doors.” Winter addressed the civilians looking on at their arrival as she walked into the center of the square. She turned to Jaune and Professor Port. “We need to clear the -”

The sound of an explosive firing brought attention to the sight of a rocket twisting wildly through the air towards Winter. Her sister was already forming a barrier glyph in front of her, but didn’t need to worry as the rocket was sent off course by Ilia’s extended lightning lash striking it near the back. It rushed high up into the air and exploded.

Winter turned to the chameleon faunus and nodded.

The raid on Vale is underway.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/89191911/chapters/240765806

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The green flash emerging from a disused and bricked up stairwell was ignored among several other sounds and distractions. A moment later the sound of shattering brick and concrete heralded opened the way up. Weiss followed behind Yang and Nora and stepped aside to make room for others looked across the smoke rising up into the sky through which numerous creatures of Grimm wheeled. Her eyes turned up the cliffs beyond the city now to where Beacon’s tower stood swarming with Grimm. In the distance she could hear the roar of Grimm and the exchange of gunfire.

A massive dragon-like Grimm circled above, surrounded by swarms of other flying Grimm.

A sound of squealing tires drew her attention to a car careening into the scene covered in creeps. She rolled Myrtenaster’s chamber and summoned a spinning clock glyph underneath her and then rushed across the scene, landing on the car alongside Blake. A series of thrusts and cuts slashed through the small Grimm and removed both the car’s front doors. Below them, a stream of brilliant red petals swept the driver out the side door. Blake and Weiss leaped off the out of control car leaving Yang to slam it off track away from a building into the open space where it harmlessly rolled to a stop.

Weiss looked to where Ruby was depositing the driver and making sure they were okay, and then across to where the rest of their group had reacted to similar situations. Spread out across the square.

“Everyone, please stay inside and lock your doors.” Winter addressed the civilians looking on at their arrival as she walked into the center of the square. She turned to Jaune and Professor Port. “We need to clear the -”

The sound of an explosive firing brought attention to the sight of a rocket twisting wildly through the air towards Winter. Her sister was already forming a barrier glyph in front of her, but didn’t need to worry as the rocket was sent off course by Ilia’s extended lightning lash striking it near the back. It rushed high up into the air and exploded.

Winter turned to the chameleon faunus and nodded.

A familiar but different train ride.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/89191911/chapters/240536631

------------------------------------------

The dissipating mist of a Grimm drifted off and was quickly lost into the darkness. The individual packs weren’t difficult, but destroying them quietly without attracting others was time-consuming. But at the moment, that wasn’t what was concerning Weiss.

She looked across to see Ilia finishing off a trio of creeps and then from her to where her sister was cleaning her saber. From there she exchanged a look with her team.

---------

“I have seen Team JNPR around campus while I’ve been here.”

Weiss winced and slowly turned around to look at her sister standing there to the side of this little meeting.

“Which means that you must be one of the agents Sienna Khan sent to this operation.” Winter narrowed her eyes and looked over Ilia and scanned over the four girls. “How do you know my sister?”

Weiss raised a hand and started to open her mouth.

“We used to date.” Ilia glared at her. Winter arched her eyebrow and turned toward her sister. “Until your company dropped a mine on my parents.”

Weiss snapped her mouth closed and furrowed her brow, focusing on Ilia again. “I’m sorry what?”

“You heard me.” Ilia turned to Winter. “Are you planning to arrest me, or should we get on with the mission?”

“Yes, that sounds like a good idea.” Winter agreed.

---------

“So much for keeping you unassociated with the White Fang.” Yang whispered next to Weiss.

“How was I supposed to expect my girlfriend from five years ago would turn up?” The Schnee whispered harshly as she turned to look at the blonde. “And that she’d be in the White Fang?”

“Oh yeah, totally not your fault.” Ruby agreed.

“To be honest, the reasons Ozpin recognized me probably means your sister does too, and just hasn’t said anything yet.” Blake shook her head and looked across to where Winter stood.

“Why is my personal life so tangled? I’m only 17.”

Weiss reached up to pull her fingers and thumb across her forehead and release a breath, calming herself down and reminding herself they were avoiding Grimm still.

“I think tangled social lives is normal for teenagers.” Ruby shrugged as she collapsed Crescent Rose and hooked it along her back.

“There should be a limit.” Blake sighed while they all started walking back toward Winter.

A familiar but different train ride.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/89191911/chapters/240536631

------------------------------------------

The dissipating mist of a Grimm drifted off and was quickly lost into the darkness. The individual packs weren’t difficult, but destroying them quietly without attracting others was time-consuming. But at the moment, that wasn’t what was concerning Weiss.

She looked across to see Ilia finishing off a trio of creeps and then from her to where her sister was cleaning her saber. From there she exchanged a look with her team.

---------

“I have seen Team JNPR around campus while I’ve been here.”

Weiss winced and slowly turned around to look at her sister standing there to the side of this little meeting.

“Which means that you must be one of the agents Sienna Khan sent to this operation.” Winter narrowed her eyes and looked over Ilia and scanned over the four girls. “How do you know my sister?”

Weiss raised a hand and started to open her mouth.

“We used to date.” Ilia glared at her. Winter arched her eyebrow and turned toward her sister. “Until your company dropped a mine on my parents.”

Weiss snapped her mouth closed and furrowed her brow, focusing on Ilia again. “I’m sorry what?”

“You heard me.” Ilia turned to Winter. “Are you planning to arrest me, or should we get on with the mission?”

“Yes, that sounds like a good idea.” Winter agreed.

---------

“So much for keeping you unassociated with the White Fang.” Yang whispered next to Weiss.

“How was I supposed to expect my girlfriend from five years ago would turn up?” The Schnee whispered harshly as she turned to look at the blonde. “And that she’d be in the White Fang?”

“Oh yeah, totally not your fault.” Ruby agreed.

“To be honest, the reasons Ozpin recognized me probably means your sister does too, and just hasn’t said anything yet.” Blake shook her head and looked across to where Winter stood.

“Why is my personal life so tangled? I’m only 17.”

Weiss reached up to pull her fingers and thumb across her forehead and release a breath, calming herself down and reminding herself they were avoiding Grimm still.

“I think tangled social lives is normal for teenagers.” Ruby shrugged as she collapsed Crescent Rose and hooked it along her back.

“There should be a limit.” Blake sighed while they all started walking back toward Winter.

A tale of two followers. (Ilia and Emerald interlude)

cw: torture, abuse

https://archiveofourown.org/works/89191911/chapters/240330601

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“Follow me and you’ll never be hungry.”

So far that had proven true.

With Cinder she wasn’t the one running scared anymore. Other people were scared of them now.

Scared of her.

Her semblance made her an invaluable part of Cinder’s plans. It was her and Cinder, together against everyone else, making sure Cinder’s aims were reached.

Then came Mercury.

“We don’t need him. Everything was going fine.”

That had crossed a boundary and she should have seen that beforehand. She was there to follow Cinder, not supply an opinion.

The slap to the face was perfectly justified. She’d overstepped.

Cinder’s plans were expanding, so she needed to expand her resources. That was perfectly understandable.

Emerald was still her right hand follower.

Torchwick was a pawn. A sneering scoundrel with a henchwoman who could effortlessly weave illusions that everyone saw but who didn’t have the sense to recognize Cinder as the superior leader.

That was fine. Cinder didn’t need Neopolitain. She had Emerald.

Torchwick and Neo were just a layer kept between them and the rest of the world. A sacrificial offering.

And Emerald wouldn’t make the mistake this time of trying to tell Cinder what she didn’t need. Cinder knew that better than she did.

Then there was the White Fang.

A tale of two followers. (Ilia and Emerald interlude)

cw: torture, abuse

https://archiveofourown.org/works/89191911/chapters/240330601

----------------------------------------------------------

“Follow me and you’ll never be hungry.”

So far that had proven true.

With Cinder she wasn’t the one running scared anymore. Other people were scared of them now.

Scared of her.

Her semblance made her an invaluable part of Cinder’s plans. It was her and Cinder, together against everyone else, making sure Cinder’s aims were reached.

Then came Mercury.

“We don’t need him. Everything was going fine.”

That had crossed a boundary and she should have seen that beforehand. She was there to follow Cinder, not supply an opinion.

The slap to the face was perfectly justified. She’d overstepped.

Cinder’s plans were expanding, so she needed to expand her resources. That was perfectly understandable.

Emerald was still her right hand follower.

Torchwick was a pawn. A sneering scoundrel with a henchwoman who could effortlessly weave illusions that everyone saw but who didn’t have the sense to recognize Cinder as the superior leader.

That was fine. Cinder didn’t need Neopolitain. She had Emerald.

Torchwick and Neo were just a layer kept between them and the rest of the world. A sacrificial offering.

And Emerald wouldn’t make the mistake this time of trying to tell Cinder what she didn’t need. Cinder knew that better than she did.

Then there was the White Fang.

A tale of two followers. (Ilia and Emerald interlude)

cw: torture, abuse

https://archiveofourown.org/works/89191911/chapters/240330601

----------------------------------------------------------

“Follow me and you’ll never be hungry.”

So far that had proven true.

With Cinder she wasn’t the one running scared anymore. Other people were scared of them now.

Scared of her.

Her semblance made her an invaluable part of Cinder’s plans. It was her and Cinder, together against everyone else, making sure Cinder’s aims were reached.

Then came Mercury.

“We don’t need him. Everything was going fine.”

That had crossed a boundary and she should have seen that beforehand. She was there to follow Cinder, not supply an opinion.

The slap to the face was perfectly justified. She’d overstepped.

Cinder’s plans were expanding, so she needed to expand her resources. That was perfectly understandable.

Emerald was still her right hand follower.

Torchwick was a pawn. A sneering scoundrel with a henchwoman who could effortlessly weave illusions that everyone saw but who didn’t have the sense to recognize Cinder as the superior leader.

That was fine. Cinder didn’t need Neopolitain. She had Emerald.

Torchwick and Neo were just a layer kept between them and the rest of the world. A sacrificial offering.

And Emerald wouldn’t make the mistake this time of trying to tell Cinder what she didn’t need. Cinder knew that better than she did.

Then there was the White Fang.

Some scouting of suspicious south-easterly situations.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/89191911/chapters/240158616

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“Correct.” Dr. Oobleck nodded. “However, aside from the one pack we were forced to deal with, we’ve several other clusters already. In addition, we’ve seen several elder Grimm beginning to circle around the city.”

“Yeah, there’s a lot of people in the area thinking very bad thoughts. Or at least there were, very, very recently.” Qrow’s raspy voice was layered with dissatisfaction. “Which is why the fact I haven’t found even a secondary camp bothers me.”

“That is quite curious.”

“How thorough are you able to be if you’re also relaying messages between us and JNPR?” Weiss asked.

“More thorough than you think someone could, Snow Princess.” He laughed. “But I definitely could have just been through the wrong places. There’s a lot of space to cover. Otherwise, it’d do a lot more than just bother me.”

“Uncle Qrow!”

The high pitched cry was the first warning they had before Ruby appeared, hugging around her uncles’s arm.

“Hey kiddo.” Qrow lifted his arm and Ruby, reaching out with his other arm to ruffle her hair. “How’s things going?”

“Oh, you know, Grimm, criminals, just hunter stuff.” She giggled and dropped off turning back to look in the direction of the other girl running up along behind her.

“Salutations, Uncle of Ruby and Yang! I am Penny Polendina. I’m pleased to meet you!” She came up to a stop in front of Qrow, holding her hand out with a broad smile.

The same quirk of a smile that Qrow had graced her and yang with returned as he reached out to shake her hand. “Pleased to meet …oof … strong grip. You’re the Atlas kid?”

“Affirmative, I am here representing Atlas Huntsman Academy and I am Combat Ready!” She saluted crisply with a smile.

“You’re a lot more laid back and outgoing than most Atlesians I’ve met.” Qrow shook out his hand.

“Penny’s from Mantle.” Weiss pointed out.

“Ahh, that explains it.”