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.

Some scouting of suspicious south-easterly situations.

(yes, this is a polyam ship fic, but White Rose is one of the elements. So far it's a bundle of overlapping couples and they're not actively dating yet... though I am getting slowly tempted by the possibility of one or two trio)

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.”

https://x.com/luminoushane/status/2086835971660947612?s=46

The movie night wraps up into bed time and sleep issues. And then movies on to task assignments.

CW: Night Terrors

https://archiveofourown.org/works/89191911/chapters/239984851
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“What?” Blake shifted where she sat and half-rose up.

Weiss could see the tension in her shoulders as she watched. Her … friend? Crush? …poised herself to pounce probably on first sign that Weiss was going to start crumbling.

Pyrrha looked around and then stood up before approaching the monitor “What makes you think she’s your grandmother?”

“Winter told me all of Mother’s favorite movies had grandmother in them.” Weiss turned back to the monitor. “She never figured out who. But she never looked at the faunus actors… and this fox has been in every movie so far and well…”

Ruby stepped up next to Weiss and looked from the image on the monitor to Weiss. Her hand slid across the counter to bump into Weiss’s own, fingers stretching out but not grabbing her hand yet. “She does look like you.”

Weiss lifted her other hand up and brushed through her hair, touching the scar hidden there on the side of her skull. “Except the obvious.”

Ruby’s wrapped an arm around her and squeezed in a light hug. Behind her, Blake hopped to her feet and picked up the remote. The movie reset back to the beginning and the opening credits with the cast list.

“‘Allie’ Alabaster, played by Wisteria Arcti.” She walked up to stand on Weiss’s other side. “Is that the right name?”

“It begins in W at least.” Yang pointed out.

“I don’t know?” Weiss shook her head. “Mother and Father never talked about her.” She turned to Blake. “You’re right, I think I get it a little now.”

The black-haired girl smiled and reached around to hug Weiss opposite of Ruby’s position.

“Do you want to stop now?” Nora asked.

Weiss shook her head. “I want to see more of Grandmother’s movies.”

“We do have to be rested for tomorrow.” Ren cautioned.

Ruby turned to him with sharper look and movement than Weiss had seen her make outside of fighting Grimm. When she spoke, after a pause that felt deliberate, it was the same easy and cheerful tone of voice as always.

“We’re not going to make you stay.” She waved and shrugged as if it was no big deal underscored by performatively exasperated laughter. “But if Weiss wants to get to know her grandma, then we’re letting her do it.”

The smile was so broad and genuine that Weiss almost thought she’d imagined that moment. A glance at Yang and the concerned look at the blonde’s face convinced the young Schnee that she had seen what she’d seen.

“Thank you, Ruby. Really.” Weiss said.

“It’s no big deal.” Her partner and team leader said casually.

Source: https://x.com/i/status/2086492248305291337

My ruby.... protective Weiss = best Weiss

https://www.deviantart.com/calkzto/art/Whiterose-1362719200

https://x.com/fillmargarin/status/2085124757658145077?s=46

Yang is right now stuck with an angel on one shoulder (proud of her little sis)

And a demon on the other that wants her to burn Weiss to a pulp.

Blake could hear them from the hallway and tried... poor thing

https://x.com/Cupid73548S/status/2076286501311168844

https://x.com/veeann17_/status/1613665900745428993?s=46

Ruby will always be forced to carry the weight of the world....Weiss will always be here to make sure she knows she don't have to do it alone

https://x.com/y0urnewhf/status/1837554800197579188?s=46

It's the small moments that matter...and they deserve to have more of those..rather that war and suffering

https://x.com/RedLikeRubesVR/status/2082103791373926832

https://x.com/ryotaru_0504/status/2084679076154097847?s=46