[ It's not like he gets any enjoyment out of this hunt, so want is probably not the right word for it. ]
But I'm not just gonna sit back and let everyone else do the fighting.
[ Ruby and the others will go with or without him. He was already denied the chance to fight with his teammate, but he's way past the point of bearing any resentment towards Pyrrha's choice. He knows why she did it. Now? Pyrrha's courage has inspired him, for better or worse. He can only hope that she can understand and respect his convictions, too, reckless as they may seem. ]
It doesn't matter anyway. She's gone now. [ And if he hasn't made it clear enough-- ] I want this to be my life! You and me! Nora! Ren... you guys are my world.
[ Nora, Ren. Them. Pyrrha agrees wholeheartedly with what he says. Her world has narrowed considerably. He fills the crux of it, the first place her eyes go; the place her heart threatens to leap to every time it reverberates against her chest. ]
I - I believe you, Jaune.
[ That is to say, she's choosing to believe him. Ignis had told her as much: have more faith in the one she's chosen to share her life with.
In a slightly invigorated tone, she continues. ]
I want to hear about everything you've been doing back home.
[ Including what he had alluded to mere moments ago. Cinder's alleged demise doesn't feel like she thought it would. It doesn't unclench her shoulders or remove any weights from the pit of her stomach. ]
[ Truth be told, Cinder's demise doesn't feel like closure for Jaune either, but he's not sure if he wants to admit that right now. ]
I... want to tell you, but are you sure?
[ He knows that hearing about all the things he had experienced without her, both the good and the bad stories, would be difficult for her to hear. He's happy to just focus on their life here, if she would rather do that. Anything he says about Remnant will probably not make her smile, and it pains him to be cause of her pain.
Still, he will respect her choice either way, as long as she's certain. ]
[ It's his life. It's not irrelevant. More than that, though - his life is part of her life. That's the choice they made. Besides, Pyrrha tells herself. If it hurts - and it will, she's sure - at least she still has Jaune to help her through it.
[ She's sure. Good. He doesn't like the idea of keeping anything from her - it goes against the promise that they made each other. ]
Right. Well... the lot of us made it to Haven, as you could guess. We found Ozpin, who now shares his soul with that Oscar boy... [ let's assume ozpin/oscar explained this to everyone here, it's been a month ]
--anyway, there wasn't a lot of time to prepare for the upcoming attack, so he trained us as much as he could. A month later... she arrived.
[ This is where it gets good. ... He'll pause to let her absorb all this so far. ]
[ The window on the far wall cracks. Deflated by the mere sound of the woman's name, Pyrrha shrinks into herself. She ends up leaning against him in the process, forcing him to absorb her dead, slack weight. Her expression grows a touch savage, but it's not aimed at Jaune. If anything, his presence helps keep her grounded. The emotional feedback ends at a cracked window. ]
[ The more context he provides for this encounter, his muscles tense up. Nothing about his posture looks relaxed at all. ]
Qrow had a list of Huntsmen and Huntresses he was gathering at the time, hoping they could help us in our upcoming battle. ... He couldn't get a hold of a single one.
Turns out, the headmaster of Haven wasn't on our side, and he gave up Qrow's list to Cinder. ... She and her group slaughtered them all in secret. All good people, who died not even knowing why... all while she laughed and bragged about it.
I... couldn't stop thinking about what she did to you, so... I lost control and attacked her.
[ Through the power of hindsight, he realizes that he broke formation and did not stick to Qrow's plan. Truth be told, he must have known even then, and simply chose not to trust the adults who failed him before. ]
[ Well, now she's certainly relieved she didn't go to Haven, even though it was significantly closer than Beacon. Knowing that the Headmaster turned, assisting Cinder in such an egregious manner, it's hard to feel sympathy for the man. He might have been scared. Pyrrha had been scared, too. Right up until the end.
More than ever, Pyrrha feels like she failed for not trying to step into Amber's role sooner. It isn't a problem now, but Cinder should never have had access to that full breadth of power in the first place.
With her free hand, she rubs soothing circles into Jaune's back, just below his armor. (So, basically, her hand is close to his butt. It's a coincidence.) ]
What happened next?
[ It's gently asked. She isn't passing judgment. ]
[ Although his salty face doesn't express it as much, having Pyrrha next to him makes all the difference. Whether she knows it or not, she's helping. ]
There were others who joined her in the fight, making sure to keep us all divided. [ Such an obvious strategy now, in hindsight, and he's disappointed in himself for not keeping it together long enough to see it at the time. ]
She toyed with me, Pyrrha. Every word she said just made me hate her more and more-- [ another crack in the poor window glass ]
Then, in a moment of distraction, I... tried to end her.
[ It's a startling thing to hear that your boyfriend has tried to take a human life. Even if he views it as justice, or vengeance, Pyrrha is left wondering - surprised, stunned even, and barely hiding it - if she would have done the same thing. Remembering her disjointed encounter with Emerald some weeks ago, she finds that she doesn't have a real answer.
It doesn't matter so much right now. Jaune is the important thing. She doesn't intend to judge him. She's simply listening, doing her best to lend him her support. ]
No... She wouldn't.
[ It isn't as if Cinder understands the value of mercy.
A bit frightened for him now, Pyrrha shifts even closer. She'd like to pull him into her arms but refrains. It can wait until he's done. ]
[ If he weren't so ashamed of his actions, from his failure to win or to act in any rational way, he would just play her the full memory. It's still fresh and vivid in his mind, and will be for some time.
For now, though, it's best not to put Pyrrha in that world. He can tell she's worried for him, and he's just as worried for her. ]
Yeah. ...I could see it in her eye, in that one moment I almost got her... she was scared. [ And honestly? That felt good, despite his failure to finish the job. ] After that, she was livid and put me to the ground pretty quick, then threatened me.
Only I wasn't scared. I'd never give her the satisfaction...
[ The things she said about him were more hurtful than anything she could ever do to him. ]
That's when she knew how she'd get back at me. ... She made me watch, while she kills another one of us.
That's all it takes for Pyrrha to grow stricken, colour dissipating from her complexion, leaving her cheeks pale and hectic. Hanging off those words, she's not thinking that if another of their own had actually perished, Jaune's greeting would have been a lot different. He certainly wouldn't have allowed her flight of fancy. He probably wouldn't have smiled to see her or made jokes about intimate roleplay.
Instead, her thoughts whirl out of control. She tries to tightly squeeze the panic into a strangle, but it's of little use. She's thinking Ren. She's thinking Nora. If is is the latter, she knows she'll never stop feeling guilty for leaving her behind in the house while she fled the city in a moody fit.
Her one hand tightens in Jaune's. The other grows slack on his back. Driven by the sheer drop before painful news, she rests her chin on his shoulder, letting her face disappear into his neck. They don't need to see each other to find the other.
Pyrrha doesn't say anything. Not this time. His story will out regardless. ]
[ It's at this point that Jaune wants to bring this already horrific story to a somewhat happy conclusion. As Pyrrha buries her face in his neck, he doesn't pause to comfort her, nor does he want her to absorb this particular moment of despair for too long. It was fleeting, after all, even if it felt like weeks at the time... ]
It was Weiss. Cinder threw a pole arm at her from behind. [ Like a coward. ] It was bad, Pyrrha. Ren and I tried to save her while the others fought, but there was nothing we could do.
...
Then, something happened.
[ Gently, he tries to let go of her hand grip, because we would like to demonstrate this part. When he nudges her to break away for a moment so she can look at his hands, she'll notice a faint glow in them. Nothing spectacular just yet, but it's about to get even brighter in a few moments.
[ Feeling Jaune inch his way out of her embrace, Pyrrha leans back, allowing him his space. The comfort had been as much for him as for her, after all. The glow breaks through her eyelids before she can even open her eyes again and her gaze is drawn down as a result. Shimmering white light weaves around his hands, faint but pretty.
She figures out what it is pretty much immediately, of course. But a glow is hardly tell-tale. ]
Jaune...
[ There's awe in her voice. They've been working for so long, after all.
As for the happy ending? She won't be quite sure. The edges of jealousy and the blunted regret that this all happened in a world that she barred herself from are there, or will be. It's a hypocritical thing. She preserved his life so he could live it, now she dares to be distraught that he's doing so without her.
That doesn't mean she isn't happy for him, of course, or relieved that no one actually died that day. It's simply complicated, an ugly knot of both gladness and sorrow that is - frankly - quite tiring and she'd like to do without.
[ He knows this isn't easy for her to hear, nor is it the way he ever wanted to discover his Semblance. It should have been with her. It could have been on the tower...
But wishes don't always come true. Maybe not in Remnant, at least, but here? They have to make the best of it. It's their only chance at the happiness they want for themselves. No more dwelling on what happened or what could have been. At least, it's that way for him.
Her quiet encouragement helps, and his hands start to glow properly now, his Semblance fully at play. ]
Remember that time you said I have a lot of Aura? I finally understand what you meant.
[ His eyes, once fixed on his hands, now turn to look at the one who unlocked his Aura in the first place. ]
Make no mistake, Pyrrha. All of this is because of you. It started with you, when you took a chance on a nobody like me...
[ Sitting so close to him, she can feel the glow's warmth in addition to seeing its brightness. It's pleasantly searing, causing her eyes to sting a bit - but at the moment, there's no better or more welcome sensation. Without hesitatingly, she slides her hands under his, and then through. As his Semblance emanates, she involves herself in the moment, fingers slipping through his and lacing neatly.
A muscle twitches in her throat. ]
You were never a nobody. [ And then, just in case it isn't clear... ] I'm so proud of you.
[ With a small laugh, he quickly shakes his head, a weird way of stopping himself from crying. ]
I hoped you would be.
[ Now, focusing back on his hands... ]
...I'm still not quite sure about all the things it can do. Weiss healed herself when I amplified her Aura... but I think I can beef up Semblances, too.
Do you... wanna help me test it sometime? Partner?
[ Maybe she can lift a whole cargo ship with her polarity! ]
[ She already can do that! Pyrrha would be more interested in trying to affect the world’s magnetic properties, honestly. Regardless; there’s only one answer to his question. ]
I’d love to.
[ Shifting her legs, Pyrrha seizes his lap for her own. Still holding his glowing hands in her own, she raises them, kisses his knuckles.
Something familiar and heavy rises in her gaze as she regards him. For her, it had only been a few days, and she had missed him terribly; for him, it had likely been significantly longer, and he hasn’t even tried to kiss her yet.
Pyrrha is trying to tell him, through incredibly subtle body language, that she’s open to it. ]
[ He had been waiting for her signal. As much as he wanted to kiss her as soon as he saw her, he knew it wasn't the right time for it. Besides, they've had enough kisses associated with sadness and loss, he prefers it much better when they're smiling. After all they've been through, they have earned this moment for themselves.
He squirms a little under her weight, but his crooked smile is hardly forced. She's right, of course, and it occurs to him as well that it's been a while. He's nervous all over again... ]
... Experiment Number One.
[ His Aura-Amplifying hands settle on her waist, and he moves in for a kiss. The first of many, tonight! ]
[ Hands delicately cupping his face, Pyrrha tips her head down to meet him halfway. Something as simple as a kiss and she feels better than she has in days. Brought back to life like some fairytale heroine. It's hard to describe how light would feel against flesh if it were made solid, tangible - but she feels that, too. The pulsing glow of his activated Semblance (she still can scarcely believe it, after so long of her encouragement and his dwindling hopes--) fills her, like something extra, slipping between bone and vein as if it belongs there.
For a little while, Pyrrha feels like the person she was before Cinder.
The kiss goes deeper and deeper. She doesn't let up. She doesn't allow either to breathe. With his Semblance seeping into her skin, it barely feels like it matters. Already, the bed shudders underneath them, wood groaning and compromised not by their physical weight but their emotional feedback. Already, her heart is racing. She wants to assauge his nervousness, she wants to remind him why she's the only lock that fits his key. With a noise made into his mouth, one that she can't quite control, Pyrrha pushes them both down onto the bed.
Some minutes letter, she looks at him, simultaneously indulgent and abashed. Actually, there's a lot of words for what she's feeling. Pleased. Disappointed. Bewildered. Amused.
??? ← That's an emotion too.
Pyrrha gently brushes some hair out of his eyes. Their state of undress is about halfway. ]
It's okay, you know. [ She'll add, after a thought-- ] I do have this room for the whole night.
[ In her opinion, he has nothing to be embarrassed of. Sometimes bodies simply act independently of the will. Pyrrha humours his theorising regardless. Once again, she brings his hands up, holding them in her own. Even if the glow has subsided. One of his hands to cling tight to, letting it rest against her cheek - and then lowering her lips to kiss the inside of his wrist, right where his pulse leaps. ]
... We'll go back tomorrow morning, okay?
[ Like the week Ozpin showed up, she needs Jaune and Jaune alone. No one else. ]
[ Nora is still away for now, and he trusts the other team to look after themselves for a day. Staying here isn't only for Pyrrha, but it's something he needs for himself, too. And honestly? Who would be in any hurry to abandon this right now, not when the prettiest girl he's ever known is... doing that... ]
Y'know, I haven't forgotten what I learned that night at Selenium...
[ It's an incredibly selfless option, seeing as it does nothing for him. Not for the first time, Pyrrha is struck with the knowledge that she chose the sweetest, most wonderful man she's ever known, and how much worse it was that she almost lost him. She brushes a tear away from her eyelid. It's not necessarily an indication of sadness; it's more a combination of things, all heady and all effective. ]
I'd like that.
[ Impulsively, she kisses him again. It's softer than before, and taking its time. ]
... I love you.
[ Saying it twice in one thread day might be a record for her. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ It's not like he gets any enjoyment out of this hunt, so want is probably not the right word for it. ]
But I'm not just gonna sit back and let everyone else do the fighting.
[ Ruby and the others will go with or without him. He was already denied the chance to fight with his teammate, but he's way past the point of bearing any resentment towards Pyrrha's choice. He knows why she did it. Now? Pyrrha's courage has inspired him, for better or worse. He can only hope that she can understand and respect his convictions, too, reckless as they may seem. ]
It doesn't matter anyway. She's gone now. [ And if he hasn't made it clear enough-- ] I want this to be my life! You and me! Nora! Ren... you guys are my world.
no subject
I - I believe you, Jaune.
[ That is to say, she's choosing to believe him. Ignis had told her as much: have more faith in the one she's chosen to share her life with.
In a slightly invigorated tone, she continues. ]
I want to hear about everything you've been doing back home.
[ Including what he had alluded to mere moments ago. Cinder's alleged demise doesn't feel like she thought it would. It doesn't unclench her shoulders or remove any weights from the pit of her stomach. ]
no subject
I... want to tell you, but are you sure?
[ He knows that hearing about all the things he had experienced without her, both the good and the bad stories, would be difficult for her to hear. He's happy to just focus on their life here, if she would rather do that. Anything he says about Remnant will probably not make her smile, and it pains him to be cause of her pain.
Still, he will respect her choice either way, as long as she's certain. ]
no subject
I'm sure. I want to know.
[ It's his life. It's not irrelevant. More than that, though - his life is part of her life. That's the choice they made. Besides, Pyrrha tells herself. If it hurts - and it will, she's sure - at least she still has Jaune to help her through it.
To her, it's that simple. ]
no subject
Right. Well... the lot of us made it to Haven, as you could guess. We found Ozpin, who now shares his soul with that Oscar boy... [ let's assume ozpin/oscar explained this to everyone here, it's been a month ]
--anyway, there wasn't a lot of time to prepare for the upcoming attack, so he trained us as much as he could. A month later... she arrived.
[ This is where it gets good. ... He'll pause to let her absorb all this so far. ]
no subject
[ The window on the far wall cracks. Deflated by the mere sound of the woman's name, Pyrrha shrinks into herself. She ends up leaning against him in the process, forcing him to absorb her dead, slack weight. Her expression grows a touch savage, but it's not aimed at Jaune. If anything, his presence helps keep her grounded. The emotional feedback ends at a cracked window. ]
Please, go on.
[ She can handle it. (Probably.) ]
no subject
Qrow had a list of Huntsmen and Huntresses he was gathering at the time, hoping they could help us in our upcoming battle. ... He couldn't get a hold of a single one.
Turns out, the headmaster of Haven wasn't on our side, and he gave up Qrow's list to Cinder. ... She and her group slaughtered them all in secret. All good people, who died not even knowing why... all while she laughed and bragged about it.
I... couldn't stop thinking about what she did to you, so... I lost control and attacked her.
[ Through the power of hindsight, he realizes that he broke formation and did not stick to Qrow's plan. Truth be told, he must have known even then, and simply chose not to trust the adults who failed him before. ]
What else was I supposed to do? She was there...
no subject
More than ever, Pyrrha feels like she failed for not trying to step into Amber's role sooner. It isn't a problem now, but Cinder should never have had access to that full breadth of power in the first place.
With her free hand, she rubs soothing circles into Jaune's back, just below his armor. (So, basically, her hand is close to his butt. It's a coincidence.) ]
What happened next?
[ It's gently asked. She isn't passing judgment. ]
no subject
There were others who joined her in the fight, making sure to keep us all divided. [ Such an obvious strategy now, in hindsight, and he's disappointed in himself for not keeping it together long enough to see it at the time. ]
She toyed with me, Pyrrha. Every word she said just made me hate her more and more-- [ another crack in the poor window glass ]
Then, in a moment of distraction, I... tried to end her.
[ kill ]
...She didn't like that.
no subject
It doesn't matter so much right now. Jaune is the important thing. She doesn't intend to judge him. She's simply listening, doing her best to lend him her support. ]
No... She wouldn't.
[ It isn't as if Cinder understands the value of mercy.
A bit frightened for him now, Pyrrha shifts even closer. She'd like to pull him into her arms but refrains. It can wait until he's done. ]
no subject
For now, though, it's best not to put Pyrrha in that world. He can tell she's worried for him, and he's just as worried for her. ]
Yeah. ...I could see it in her eye, in that one moment I almost got her... she was scared. [ And honestly? That felt good, despite his failure to finish the job. ] After that, she was livid and put me to the ground pretty quick, then threatened me.
Only I wasn't scared. I'd never give her the satisfaction...
[ The things she said about him were more hurtful than anything she could ever do to him. ]
That's when she knew how she'd get back at me. ... She made me watch, while she kills another one of us.
no subject
That's all it takes for Pyrrha to grow stricken, colour dissipating from her complexion, leaving her cheeks pale and hectic. Hanging off those words, she's not thinking that if another of their own had actually perished, Jaune's greeting would have been a lot different. He certainly wouldn't have allowed her flight of fancy. He probably wouldn't have smiled to see her or made jokes about intimate roleplay.
Instead, her thoughts whirl out of control. She tries to tightly squeeze the panic into a strangle, but it's of little use. She's thinking Ren. She's thinking Nora. If is is the latter, she knows she'll never stop feeling guilty for leaving her behind in the house while she fled the city in a moody fit.
Her one hand tightens in Jaune's. The other grows slack on his back. Driven by the sheer drop before painful news, she rests her chin on his shoulder, letting her face disappear into his neck. They don't need to see each other to find the other.
Pyrrha doesn't say anything. Not this time. His story will out regardless. ]
no subject
It was Weiss. Cinder threw a pole arm at her from behind. [ Like a coward. ] It was bad, Pyrrha. Ren and I tried to save her while the others fought, but there was nothing we could do.
...
Then, something happened.
[ Gently, he tries to let go of her hand grip, because we would like to demonstrate this part. When he nudges her to break away for a moment so she can look at his hands, she'll notice a faint glow in them. Nothing spectacular just yet, but it's about to get even brighter in a few moments.
He waits for her to react again. ]
no subject
She figures out what it is pretty much immediately, of course. But a glow is hardly tell-tale. ]
Jaune...
[ There's awe in her voice. They've been working for so long, after all.
As for the happy ending? She won't be quite sure. The edges of jealousy and the blunted regret that this all happened in a world that she barred herself from are there, or will be. It's a hypocritical thing. She preserved his life so he could live it, now she dares to be distraught that he's doing so without her.
That doesn't mean she isn't happy for him, of course, or relieved that no one actually died that day. It's simply complicated, an ugly knot of both gladness and sorrow that is - frankly - quite tiring and she'd like to do without.
His semblance, though.
Of course, it's beautiful.
Encouragingly, she gives his arm a squeeze. ]
no subject
But wishes don't always come true. Maybe not in Remnant, at least, but here? They have to make the best of it. It's their only chance at the happiness they want for themselves. No more dwelling on what happened or what could have been. At least, it's that way for him.
Her quiet encouragement helps, and his hands start to glow properly now, his Semblance fully at play. ]
Remember that time you said I have a lot of Aura? I finally understand what you meant.
[ His eyes, once fixed on his hands, now turn to look at the one who unlocked his Aura in the first place. ]
Make no mistake, Pyrrha. All of this is because of you. It started with you, when you took a chance on a nobody like me...
no subject
A muscle twitches in her throat. ]
You were never a nobody. [ And then, just in case it isn't clear... ] I'm so proud of you.
no subject
I hoped you would be.
[ Now, focusing back on his hands... ]
...I'm still not quite sure about all the things it can do. Weiss healed herself when I amplified her Aura... but I think I can beef up Semblances, too.
Do you... wanna help me test it sometime? Partner?
[ Maybe she can lift a whole cargo ship with her polarity! ]
no subject
I’d love to.
[ Shifting her legs, Pyrrha seizes his lap for her own. Still holding his glowing hands in her own, she raises them, kisses his knuckles.
Something familiar and heavy rises in her gaze as she regards him. For her, it had only been a few days, and she had missed him terribly; for him, it had likely been significantly longer, and he hasn’t even tried to kiss her yet.
Pyrrha is trying to tell him, through incredibly subtle body language, that she’s open to it. ]
no subject
He squirms a little under her weight, but his crooked smile is hardly forced. She's right, of course, and it occurs to him as well that it's been a while. He's nervous all over again... ]
... Experiment Number One.
[ His Aura-Amplifying hands settle on her waist, and he moves in for a kiss. The first of many, tonight! ]
no subject
For a little while, Pyrrha feels like the person she was before Cinder.
The kiss goes deeper and deeper. She doesn't let up. She doesn't allow either to breathe. With his Semblance seeping into her skin, it barely feels like it matters. Already, the bed shudders underneath them, wood groaning and compromised not by their physical weight but their emotional feedback. Already, her heart is racing. She wants to assauge his nervousness, she wants to remind him why she's the only lock that fits his key. With a noise made into his mouth, one that she can't quite control, Pyrrha pushes them both down onto the bed.
Some minutes letter, she looks at him, simultaneously indulgent and abashed. Actually, there's a lot of words for what she's feeling. Pleased. Disappointed. Bewildered. Amused.
??? ← That's an emotion too.
Pyrrha gently brushes some hair out of his eyes. Their state of undress is about halfway. ]
It's okay, you know. [ She'll add, after a thought-- ] I do have this room for the whole night.
no subject
She's so understanding, and he loves her for it, and yet... he feels so embarrassed. ]
I-- I'm not sure how that happened. Maybe it's dangerous to do it with the Semblance active...
[ yeah. yeah, that's it. he was losing too much aura. yup!! ]
no subject
[ In her opinion, he has nothing to be embarrassed of. Sometimes bodies simply act independently of the will. Pyrrha humours his theorising regardless. Once again, she brings his hands up, holding them in her own. Even if the glow has subsided. One of his hands to cling tight to, letting it rest against her cheek - and then lowering her lips to kiss the inside of his wrist, right where his pulse leaps. ]
... We'll go back tomorrow morning, okay?
[ Like the week Ozpin showed up, she needs Jaune and Jaune alone. No one else. ]
no subject
[ Nora is still away for now, and he trusts the other team to look after themselves for a day. Staying here isn't only for Pyrrha, but it's something he needs for himself, too. And honestly? Who would be in any hurry to abandon this right now, not when the prettiest girl he's ever known is... doing that... ]
Y'know, I haven't forgotten what I learned that night at Selenium...
[ Juuust saying it's an option. ]
no subject
I'd like that.
[ Impulsively, she kisses him again. It's softer than before, and taking its time. ]
... I love you.
[ Saying it twice in one
threadday might be a record for her. ]