[X] Mix n' Match- Maybe something to back you up wouldn't be a bad idea. Maybe not Crocea Mors, that was never really yours to take, but definitely something along those lines. A sword, or a knife, just... a panic weapon. (Artillery style, long/medium range combat preferred, close combat weapon for panic attacks.)
Hold It In (RWBY/Transistor)
- Thread starter Prok
- Start date
- Crossover
- Location
- Belfast
Quick question.
Has any discussion regarding what functions might be developed from different canon Semblances happened yet?
Cause I was just glancing through the current list of completed, alpha and beta Functions and noticed that there are a few of the ones from the game missing...
Most notable amongst these was Get(), which on reflection has an in game description that comes suspiciously close to one major aspect of a well known canon character's semblance...
Has any discussion regarding what functions might be developed from different canon Semblances happened yet?
Cause I was just glancing through the current list of completed, alpha and beta Functions and noticed that there are a few of the ones from the game missing...
Most notable amongst these was Get(), which on reflection has an in game description that comes suspiciously close to one major aspect of a well known canon character's semblance...
Tiypo
Forever Phone Posting
If we want to wield the Transistor, which is noted to be very heavy, another heavy plate on our arm is a bad idea; it defeats the idea of a targe. Why not stick to the targe and add a battlefield command and control system to it? We can link it to gadgets we build, the Transistor, and the Process to RTS the crap out of the Grimm.
The idea behind the mechashift is that it's as large and capable as a normal shield, while at the same time being small and convenient while collapsed, unlike a normal shield. A plain targe, frankly, isn't big enough for my tastes. Though if weight is a problem, we might be able to strap it to our thigh instead, with a quick-clasp system to attach it to our arm with a touch if we need it.
Adding CnC electronics into the shield... I don't know? Sure, it's a rugged object, but a shield is also supposed to be expendable if need be, seeing as it's the first thing that you put into any line of fire. It's also added weight, complexity, and inconvenience. Do we need a screen to interact with electronics without the Transistor, or could we just use a small backpack computer? A keypad replacement can almost certainly be integrated into a glove.
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Don't we have a MMI? Why do we need physical inputs?
Well that's why I'm asking wether that's keyed to the Transistor or inherent to us. The shield is supposed to be a holdout weapon, after all, for when for whatever reason we can't use the Transistor.
[x] Big Blue All The Way- In the end, you're really most comfortable with your friend/floating artillery platform. You kind of enjoy being unique amongst your peers, and the distance between you and your target just makes that all the sweeter. (Full artillery style, long/medium range combat preferred, no backup weapon.)
KidFromPallet
Pokemon Fan
- Location
- Pallet Town
Graaaah... It's really hard to choose, I find myself waffling between big Blue and Mix and Match.
Big Blue has the advantage of only requiring us to train with the Transistor to improve in combat, thus leading to a much shorter time Getting Gud, and we're liable to have our Transistor wherever we go anyway, so...
But on the other hand, that ties the Transitor to our physical location, because we'd need it to defend ourselves, thus reducing its agency in combat.
Mix 'n' Match lets us send the Transistor out into the battlefield, whether it's sniping opponents from on high or sneaking around and attacking from the rear, we'd have many more options to choose from in combat.
At the same time, learning to use another weapon is a serious time investment, even more so if we get one that's also a gun. Plus, we might not be able to ()Turn or ()Jaunt without physically wilding the Transistor, which crimps our existing battlestyle.
I think I'm gonna go for Big Blue for now, because Jaune is guaranteed to have the Transistor with him wherever he goes, pretty much, and we've already taken steps to ensure that the Transistor doesn't break while using it as a sword. Plus, you're never safer than when you have a mobile artillery emplacement by your side, especially one that gives you healing, teleportation, an enhanced perception of the battlefield, temporary super speed, and who knows what else we'll come up with.
[x] Big Blue All The Way- In the end, you're really most comfortable with your friend/floating artillery platform. You kind of enjoy being unique amongst your peers, and the distance between you and your target just makes that all the sweeter. (Full artillery style, long/medium range combat preferred, no backup weapon.)
Big Blue has the advantage of only requiring us to train with the Transistor to improve in combat, thus leading to a much shorter time Getting Gud, and we're liable to have our Transistor wherever we go anyway, so...
But on the other hand, that ties the Transitor to our physical location, because we'd need it to defend ourselves, thus reducing its agency in combat.
Mix 'n' Match lets us send the Transistor out into the battlefield, whether it's sniping opponents from on high or sneaking around and attacking from the rear, we'd have many more options to choose from in combat.
At the same time, learning to use another weapon is a serious time investment, even more so if we get one that's also a gun. Plus, we might not be able to ()Turn or ()Jaunt without physically wilding the Transistor, which crimps our existing battlestyle.
I think I'm gonna go for Big Blue for now, because Jaune is guaranteed to have the Transistor with him wherever he goes, pretty much, and we've already taken steps to ensure that the Transistor doesn't break while using it as a sword. Plus, you're never safer than when you have a mobile artillery emplacement by your side, especially one that gives you healing, teleportation, an enhanced perception of the battlefield, temporary super speed, and who knows what else we'll come up with.
[x] Big Blue All The Way- In the end, you're really most comfortable with your friend/floating artillery platform. You kind of enjoy being unique amongst your peers, and the distance between you and your target just makes that all the sweeter. (Full artillery style, long/medium range combat preferred, no backup weapon.)
Tiypo
Forever Phone Posting
The problem I see with a mecha-shift shield to shield is two parts. One is the weight of a normal shield attached to the forearm just being too tiring; Jaune is fit but that weight will wear on him, but you've already acknowledged that. Two is that the mechanics of trying to collapse the big shield into a smaller one could compromise the integrity; rather than stop a blow from an Ursa it will crumple, I'd rather just have a shield that always works and not think we're hot stuff with it. If something big comes our way and we can't use the Transistor it should always be our priority to fall back and regroup with the rest of our team.
Now if we wanted a command and control shield, I'd focus on having it act as a communication suite and work up from there. First we make everyone ear pieces to distribute to anyone working with us. Then we take something like a drone or a Cell adapted to fly so we can bounce our signals through it. The shield will just carry the computer bits and if necessary we can have options like encrypting our communication too. Between that and our expanded awareness form the Transistor we should be pretty awesome as a commander.
As for an actual backup weapon, I'd say something like a machete, possibly with a short barrel shotgun. The machete should be obvious, aside from being a good weapon it's extremely versatile as a tool. As for the shotgun, load it with ice dust rounds and freeze anything charging in it's tracks to buy time.
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- Location
- Portugal
- Pronouns
- Her Graciousness
[x] Big Blue All The Way- In the end, you're really most comfortable with your friend/floating artillery platform. You kind of enjoy being unique amongst your peers, and the distance between you and your target just makes that all the sweeter. (Full artillery style, long/medium range combat preferred, no backup weapon.)
Practising with other weapons interferes with our time spent making Traces and waifuing rich Schnee sugar mommas to pay for our Transistor upgrades. Listen to The Transistor, Jaune, when it wants you to call Schnee! IT KNOWS BEST! THE PATH TO GREATNESS REQUIRES CERTAIN SACRIFICES.
Look! Bracket is already doing its part to waifu Ironwood's daughter to secure the Atlas inheritance, what have you done, Jaune? That girl you're waifuing is penniless!
But speaking of Traces, we should get around to making a Trace Bank of ourselves, to convert into a Function ASAP before Lady Luck collects her debt and rolls us 8 critfails fighting our first Grimm.
Practising with other weapons interferes with our time spent making Traces and waifuing rich Schnee sugar mommas to pay for our Transistor upgrades. Listen to The Transistor, Jaune, when it wants you to call Schnee! IT KNOWS BEST! THE PATH TO GREATNESS REQUIRES CERTAIN SACRIFICES.
Look! Bracket is already doing its part to waifu Ironwood's daughter to secure the Atlas inheritance, what have you done, Jaune? That girl you're waifuing is penniless!
But speaking of Traces, we should get around to making a Trace Bank of ourselves, to convert into a Function ASAP before Lady Luck collects her debt and rolls us 8 critfails fighting our first Grimm.
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- Location
- Box of Granola bars
Feel this is worth correcting, but Jaune and the Transistor still have a maximum distace that they can be separated up to.
Besides, what you described wasn't the Mix'n'Match option, being more akin to the Buddy Cop one. Mix'n'Match is essentially Big Blue, with a little time split to a backup weapon.
Prok
Go play Star Fetchers
- Location
- Scotland
Specificity, as usual, is where I fall flat- Viking shields weren't strapped to the arm by design, but they also tended to work more like a second weapon in some aspects- namely, jamming the edge into your enemy's armpit and controlling exactly where his sword could go, something that would be much more difficult with a heater shield due to the reduced size. Still, point taken, straps aren't a universal thing when it comes to don't-die planks. Sometimes they come with handles.
No, actually, I don't think there has been, yet, and I'll admit I'd be somewhat interested in seeing where people go with that.
Jaune's ability to connect to machines other than the Transistor, without the Transistor present, is limited purely to being able to fry their processors for a quick Semblance migraine fix.
Also, on shield bollocks- Remnant is a place with materials science so advanced that something this size can be swung around by a girl that size, and also be hung on her back while this size, and not turn her spine inside out and upside down while she does it.
Trust me. Weight's not going to be a problem for armour, even if you do decide to slap a folding shield on there. On that note, though, Jaune's really not a pugilist- if you want to capitalise on the experience you have, I'd suggest at least a shortsword or something similar for defence.
Also whoops I forgot to close the vote-
The vote is now closed,
- Location
- Belfast
Well, in that case I'll open with Get() potentially being something we could get from observations of Pyrrha's semblance.
Given that in game it has the whole 'pull' effect and is explicitly described as "Function: Magnetic, Rearranging" in its bio, it seems to fall into something of an overlap. Maybe it should have a more arbitrary direction than 'towards the source' when it comes to how it's force can be applied in combat however, as that would make it much more useable.
Mask() seems like it'd be tied to Neo or Emerald, and could prove incredibly useful in many fights.
Yang's Semblance could be used to improve Load, allowing us to offload a portion of the damage done to ourselves in order to boost its output.
Also:
Function Name: Pointer()
Function Category: Utility/Combat
Function, er, Function:
Primary - Pointer() serves as a target designator in its primary form, marking the location of the enemy it strikes and guiding any further attacks towards itself. The projectile is extremely fast and difficult to dodge due to inherent aim correction, but only has a moderate effect on corrections to all other Functions.
Upgrade - adds a much more significant aim correction to that specific function.
Pointer()+Bounce() - Marks main target then marks all targets in range of jump as secondaries. All secondaries within range are hit by a % of the damage taken by the main target.
Passive - repeated functions during Turn() use less processing power after the first use. Breaking the chain resets the effect
Projected MEM Cost: 3
Function Discovery: I really don't know what fits for this, beyond some sort of frustration over excessively evasive targets anyways....
The active uses are based around the nature of pointers telling you where a specific thing is located, and then letting you interact with it directly.
The passive is instead based around the fact that passing a pointer to a function takes less memory than passing in a raw value.
Given that in game it has the whole 'pull' effect and is explicitly described as "Function: Magnetic, Rearranging" in its bio, it seems to fall into something of an overlap. Maybe it should have a more arbitrary direction than 'towards the source' when it comes to how it's force can be applied in combat however, as that would make it much more useable.
Mask() seems like it'd be tied to Neo or Emerald, and could prove incredibly useful in many fights.
Yang's Semblance could be used to improve Load, allowing us to offload a portion of the damage done to ourselves in order to boost its output.
Also:
Function Name: Pointer()
Function Category: Utility/Combat
Function, er, Function:
Primary - Pointer() serves as a target designator in its primary form, marking the location of the enemy it strikes and guiding any further attacks towards itself. The projectile is extremely fast and difficult to dodge due to inherent aim correction, but only has a moderate effect on corrections to all other Functions.
Upgrade - adds a much more significant aim correction to that specific function.
Pointer()+Bounce() - Marks main target then marks all targets in range of jump as secondaries. All secondaries within range are hit by a % of the damage taken by the main target.
Passive - repeated functions during Turn() use less processing power after the first use. Breaking the chain resets the effect
Projected MEM Cost: 3
Function Discovery: I really don't know what fits for this, beyond some sort of frustration over excessively evasive targets anyways....
The active uses are based around the nature of pointers telling you where a specific thing is located, and then letting you interact with it directly.
The passive is instead based around the fact that passing a pointer to a function takes less memory than passing in a raw value.
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ADeshantis
King on the Chromium Throne
- Location
- United states
Blake is an obvious candidate for Help() or Mask().
As the GM has already pointed out, given the crazy shit other hunters carry around - Coco's minigun for example, also Crocea Mors' shield working just fine and not breaking despite being a mechashift shield - both weight and durability of mechashift equipment seems to be a solved problem.
No arguments at all on that last part. I do think though that having a shield that we can fully cover at least our upper body with against ranged fire would be very helpful to surviving long enough to fall back.
Yeah, that's nice and all, but again, why a shield? What advantage does that have to justify the added weight and complexity and the hardening necessary to let the electronics survive the abuse that a shield will regularly go through, as compared to simply putting those electronics into a small backpack?
I mean, given recent GM statements it might make sense to have a screen we'll be interacting with the computer through and to put it into the shield simply so we don't have to carry it as a separate item. But that's not what you've been arguing, is it?
Another possibility is to instead use an eyepiece to show us our HUD, though we'd have to worry about stability, and it absolutely can't be made of anything that'll fragment when damaged (glass shards in the eye can't be pleasant even with aura). Or, given that our advantages for information processing without frying our brain hinge on the Transistor anyway, simply piggyback off it, don't bother with any other electronics at all, and keep our other equipment purely for personal survival.
*shrugs* Maybe. A machete isn't quite what we trained with until now, but should be close enough to adapt to maybe. A shotgun would be heavier than a simple pistol, but also more powerful and versatile. The ice rounds are a good idea.
Tiypo
Forever Phone Posting
If we're going to carry a shield, I see no reason to not put it in there, if we decide it's useful. As Prok said, material science into durability isn't an issue, so why not? It's not like something that basic needs a lot of components; a friend of mine who's in the military once built a radio out of trash he found in the desert that could communicate on their secure network then boosted the range to something like 40 miles by running current over a tanks hull as an antenna. It's not like computer components are that delicate; it's almost always screens that are broken on things like dropped phones or cracked solder from heat stress, but there are videos of simply well made products like Gamecubes working after 20ft drops, but there are rugged laptops and tablets that are designed to receive that sort of beating regularly and keep working. In the end, you don't even need a screen as long as you have a GUI output port that you can use to setup everything before hand; that's why GoPro's are tiny, the screen is completely only there to provide the most basic of information on the current settings.
- Location
- In my Lair, on my Hoard
Honestly, the best option would be to learn close-combat tactics with the Transistor, as well as unarmed combat. That way, we can use the Transistor at all ranges, both close, mid and long ranges as a melee and ranged weapon. And if we ever send it further from us to act as support from afar, we can fall back on unarmed combat. Maybe rely on guantlets and armor to protect us too.
I mean, we already have B rank Strength and Athletics (according to the Char sheet). If we can grab more Physical skills, as well as grab Unarmed Combat and higher Swordsmanship, we can probably use the Transistor as a melee weapon (like an Exalted Daiklave, or as Yatsuhashi does with his sword) as well as a mid-long range weapon via Functions. All we'd need to do is raise our existing Physical stats higher to A-rank, and get higher levels in our Combat Skills like Swordsmanship and maybe even unlocked Unarmed Combat and stuff.
Because the ultimate back-up weapon is the one weapon that we'll never be disarmed of - our own body. We should be able to run, dodge, and fight without any weapons, in addition to whatever back-up we get and the Transistor itself. Because knowing how to fight without weapons will always be a benefit... especially since it'll help with the other combat skills like Athletics or something.
I mean, we already have B rank Strength and Athletics (according to the Char sheet). If we can grab more Physical skills, as well as grab Unarmed Combat and higher Swordsmanship, we can probably use the Transistor as a melee weapon (like an Exalted Daiklave, or as Yatsuhashi does with his sword) as well as a mid-long range weapon via Functions. All we'd need to do is raise our existing Physical stats higher to A-rank, and get higher levels in our Combat Skills like Swordsmanship and maybe even unlocked Unarmed Combat and stuff.
Because the ultimate back-up weapon is the one weapon that we'll never be disarmed of - our own body. We should be able to run, dodge, and fight without any weapons, in addition to whatever back-up we get and the Transistor itself. Because knowing how to fight without weapons will always be a benefit... especially since it'll help with the other combat skills like Athletics or something.
Tiypo
Forever Phone Posting
Okay, crazy idea.
We make a pistol that fires single shot functions. Almost like old-school D&D spell books, we would pre-craft rounds that would actualize when the round connects. For example, Crash() rounds would be amazing at stopping a charging Grimm. It would be even better if we can make them compatible with a regular gun; though I'd place a bet that Ruby would practically become our shadow at that point.
We make a pistol that fires single shot functions. Almost like old-school D&D spell books, we would pre-craft rounds that would actualize when the round connects. For example, Crash() rounds would be amazing at stopping a charging Grimm. It would be even better if we can make them compatible with a regular gun; though I'd place a bet that Ruby would practically become our shadow at that point.
- Location
- Jaburo
- Location
- Belfast
Do we even know if this is possible?
And if it is, which Functions would make the best Ammo?
Crash() is obviously a good one, as would be Breach(), and if you can produce composite rounds Crash(Bounce) would be horrendously nasty Vs hordes.
If we can swing Get(), an AoE round that pulls enemies together would be very handy, especially if paired with AoEs like Cull() or Void() would be completely ridiculous...
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Tiypo
Forever Phone Posting
Switch() would be insane if we figured it out, though it might not work on the more powerful Grimm.
- Location
- Belfast
Cinder - "Did he just steal my Dragon... That Blond Bastard Stole My Dragon!!!"
Also, any thoughts on the function suggestion I made? I need a backstory to the discovery beyond what little I have so far.
Tiypo
Forever Phone Posting
But what happens if a null pointer exception is generated?!
Interlude: The Word Of Jaune
Prok
Go play Star Fetchers
- Location
- Scotland
Function's good, adding it to the list. Don't sweat the backstory too much- sometimes people just have good ideas and work on them.
Then some people are me and make shit like this.
With the Process, all is possible. However, that's a long, long, long way down the line, and probably not worth your time in the long run.
So, this actually started out life as a Hotline Miami interlude, of all things, but I couldn't make it work very well. Then I realised everything up to the point I was having problems with could apply to a semi-greenhorn Preacher Jaune and worked with that instead.
Writing's funny like that.
Things weren't going well. At all. You don't even know why Ruby made you come along on this. You're not, smart, or strong, or fast, you don't know how to find people, you can't… do anything. Granted, you don't think she expected to end up fighting the White Fang on the docks when she just set out to look for Blake, but you know what?
You are!
And that's not a situation you wanted to be in!
Ever!
The sound of gunfire and explosions only serve to make you shrink further behind the crate you're using as cover, trusting it more than your armour, your shield, or Aura. You don't know where Ruby or Penny is, but before you can gather the courage to run and find them, Blake flies gracelessly over your head, flopping on the ground for a moment before lifting herself into a crouch and quickly scrambling over to you, sharing your cover for a moment.
"What are you doing back here?!"
"Having afternoon tea with Lady Pigglebottoms, can I interest you in a scone?"
Having your eyebrows singed off by a grenade tends to leave one numb to anger. And, numb in general.
You may be suffering from mild nerve damage.
She stares at you, gritting her teeth as she decides between chewing you out or just going back out there.
"Look, Ruby's pinned down- one of them broke her Aura and she took a bullet to the ankle. I'm not doing great, and her friend's too busy keeping the Bullheads off us to deal with Torchwick and his goons. We need your help."
It all just washes over you, and you begin to realise how useless you really are right now.
"I-I can't help. I don't have a gun, my Aura won't hold up under that much gunfire, even if I could get close I'm not a good enough fighter to stop any of them-"
Lie.
You know you can do a lot more than stop them.
You just don't want to. Because you're a coward.
"Jaune, now is not the time for this-"
"Now is exactly the time for this!" You snap at her. "I wasn't expecting to fight terrorists tonight! What do you want me to do, commit suicide by White Fang to buy you a few seconds?!"
She winces slightly, and you almost feel bad for snapping at her like that. Except, you know, you have a fucking point.
But you know you could do more.
You try to shake the thought from your head. It's not worth it.
Because they'll hate you afterwards.
No! It's just- you don't… it's not worth it-
They're not worth it, you mean.
"... Fine. Just stay here. If you see an opening, run for Ruby." She says, relenting in the face of your reluctance.
She's going to die without your help. They all are. Coward.
As you see her steel herself to go out there, it occurs to you that Blake might not be coming back. This might be the last time you get to talk to her, and you just spent it sending her to her own death.
"Wait!"
She whips to look at you, the adrenaline keying her up so hard you're almost surprised she didn't shoot you herself.
"I-I can help. I just… want you to promise me something first."
"I don't have time for this, Jaune-"
"Just… don't think less of me when I'm done."
Blake blinks, confusion plain on her face, but she nods anyway, and you force yourself to take a deep breath.
Ok.
Ok.
You can do this.
Somewhere inside your soul, a child beyond God is crying out.
"... Cover your ears."
Fire fills your throat as you rush out from behind the crate and focus on the White Fang members in front of you.
"BE STILL."
Like an explosion from your mouth, the divine will of a child born to a capital A Angel and a capital D Devil throws itself into your Words, and everyone in earshot finds their bodies paralysed where they stand. Bullets still spray your Aura for a second as fingers lock onto triggers, empty clicks soon following.
Thank God.
You look back at Blake, and sharp guilt stabs you in the chest as you see her locked into the same rictus, her eyes fixed on yours in fear, even with her ears covered.
"No, no, no, I told you to cover your ears-" You start to say, before realising for the first time tonight the, er, the secret she's been trying to hide.
The pair of fuzzy cat ears poking out from her hair stand proudly uncovered by either bow or hand.
Shit. Shit shit shit. You've always wondered if Faunus could hear out of their second set of ears but shit.
"Blake Belladonna, be free of my command. Be exempt of all others I give until sunrise."
She drops to the ground, coughing her little heart out.
"Couldn't- kfh- breathe, felt like, my lu-kaff- lungs were frozen-" her coughing fit continues for a second before she collapses fully, laying on the ground wheezing for air. You run to check on her, laying a hand against her neck and thankfully finding a strong heartbeat under your fingers.
Standing again, you issue another command as quickly as you can.
"BREATHE, YOU IDIOTS!"
Because apparently you need a fucking degree in law to use the Word of God without accidentally killing people-
You watch as the few White Fang members in your field of view start wheezing, sucking in air as if they'd just surfaced from underwater. Blake finally recovers, stumbling to her feet, using the container to prop herself up.
"... What... did you do?" She asks, and you can't help but freeze like they did, before you recognise curiosity more than disgust in her voice and manage to relax somewhat. "It was like..."
"God Himself came down from Heaven and commanded your lungs to stop what they were doing?" You finish for her.
"... Yeah. Exactly like that. Is-is that your Semblance? Persuading people?"
You give a humourless snort at the sheer understatement of that theory, walking towards the White Fang goons once you're sure she can follow you.
"Blake, you know as well as I do that that wasn't persuasion. It's... the complete cessation of free will."
You don't need to look at her to know she's concerned about the implications of that, but you still can't bring yourself to look anyway.
The first White Fang member you come near is shorter than you, and a lady if the voice heaving air is any indication. Reaching up, you pull her mask off and confirm it, looking into those big, rectangle-pupilled eyes of hers.
"... N-no way. Semblances can't- they can't just remove free will like that, it's not possible." Blake continues, going to disbelief before anything else, because honestly, how else can you react to finding out your best friend is a free will killing abomination with a child in his soul that puts him further up the metaphysical food chain than the entirety of humanity?
She's not wrong, mind. Semblances can't remove free will.
Semblances.
"See, I'd be inclined to agree with you, but at the same time, I don't think Semblances usually awaken by getting slammed in the chest by a comet with the face of a toddler and immediately making two boys and a girl beat each other into three piles of pulp, but hey, feel free to share your comet story and prove me the rule rather than the exception."
"Wait, you got your Semblance because of what?"
"What's your name?" You ask the girl in front of you, ignoring Blake for the moment.
"S-Sandra." She tells you, the name ripping itself from her throat without any thought on her part. The fear on her face doesn't make you feel any better.
"Sandra, do a handstand."
Without any hesitation or sign of an inability to do so, Sandra swaps her hands for her feet, performing a perfect handstand.
"... Jaune, that's just creepy." Blake mutters behind you.
"It's a test. I wasn't able to ask questions before. This, thing, this not-Semblance, it's... growing. It's been growing for seven years now." You turn to look at Blake, something you said earlier finally occurring to you. "Blake, raise your left hand."
She does not, instead giving you the look of disgust you so feared earlier, but this time it only brings you joy. A stupid grin crosses your face as you realise what's happened.
"Jaune, if you try to order me like that again, I'm going to shoot you." She snarls at you, hand tightening around her sword.
"Blake, what's your left hand doing right now?"
She blinks, looking down at her hand as if it's somehow betrayed her.
"... But... I thought I- I definitely felt the urge to lift it..." The realisation hits her, and shock crosses her face. "... You made me immune until sunrise."
"I made you exempt."
A wild laugh pulls itself from your throat as you rush forward and hug her, quite easily picking her up and hugging air as her shadow clone phases out of existence, leaving her to the side and crossing her arms, giving you a much softer look than she was ten seconds ago.
"... Sorry. Got, carried away." You sheepishly tell her. "But, this is amazing! My entire life, I've worried about the fact that any time I tell somebody to do something they wouldn't be able to refuse, or, or the fact that I might start liking doing that, but now, now I can actually-"
"DIE, YOU ABOMINATION!" You hear Sandra scream as a pair of Aura-enhanced arms wrap around your neck, squeezing your throat shut. It's almost a proper headlock, but the angle isn't quite right, so instead of everything going black in a few seconds, you can feel your brain screaming for oxygen as two major lines are crushed almost flat, the pressure an unbearable pain in your neck and skull both-
And as quickly as it started, it's over. The arms loosen, and you fall forwards, the relief of pressure a quite literal lifesaver. Looking backwards, through the tears in your eyes, you see Sandra and Blake fighting, a single bullet on the ground between you and them.
The child beyond God screams out in rage. How dare she touch its host.
Images of fire holy and unholy fill your vision, and with them there, you don't even realise you've stood up. You don't really realise you're speaking.
"STOP."
Sandra freezes in place and suffers deeply for it as your friend's sheath-cum-cleaver runs across her thigh, breaking her Aura and drawing a scream of pain as it draws blood. Blake turns to look at you, and something in your eyes turns her ears flat because she sheaths her sword and rushes towards you, placing her hands on your shoulders to hold you in place.
You barely even notice her trying.
"Jaune, Jaune, look at me. Look at me." She says, balls of her feet digging into the ground as you walk forward, looking straight at the other Faunus quivering in fear as she tries to stem the flow of blood. "God, when did you get this strong-"
You stop, maybe ten feet away from the goat Faunus, and look at her paling face. Blake steps in front of her, hand on her sword.
"...Move." You ask her, not even putting the Word behind it.
"No. I know you don't really want to kill her, no matter how angry you might be right now. Because I know you're better than that."
… Are you?
Are you really?
Are you better than a man who would kill a crying girl trying her best to crawl away from you on a bad leg, bleeding out as she goes, just because she watched you do something that should be so abhorrent to anybody who can understand what it is you're doing?
... The fires die down. The child calms, no longer stirring up such wrath, leaving you with calmer eyes.
"... Sometimes, I really, really wish I wasn't." You tell Blake honestly. "Now move, she's bleeding pretty badly."
Indeed, your assailant is looking rather pale- you imagine adrenaline is the only thing keeping her so wide-eyed. Blake blinks but does as you ask, moving to the side, still watching you with a hand on her sword. You walk up to Sandra, and she tries to move again, the effort making her hiss in pain.
"Hey, where you goin'?" You ask her. "I'm not gonna hurt you. Hand to God."
"F-fuck you, you will-stealing abomination-"
You squat next to her, looking over the wound. Shallow, but long. Better than it looks. You undo your armour, pull off your hoodie, and start taking strips from the shirt underneath, the fabric tearing easily in your hands until you have a decent length of cloth, and your abs are feeling the cool November air.
"That I might be. I might be a will-stealing abomination- shift your leg up, please- one bad day away from turning you and everybody else I know into a mindless thrall, hanging on my every word… but ya know what?" You ask her honestly, as you wrap your makeshift bandages around her thigh, trying your best to apply pressure to the cut.
"... What?" Sandra obliges you, the apparent change in your attitude muddying her opinion of you enough that she doesn't keep spitting venom at you.
"I could do all that, and I'd still be a better person than my bitch of a grandma."
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Spectral Waltz
Scatterbrained Writer
- Location
- Walking the Endless Corridors
Well that was horrifying, and I can't say I wouldn't do exactly the same thing as Sandra with no more provocation than simply knowing the power.
That sort of thing is inherently disgusting.
That sort of thing is inherently disgusting.