Ruby is reminded of her first few months under Neo and Roman's tutelage as her legs give out from exhaustion and she slides back down the wall. Cinder is pushing her past her limits, just as those two did when they first collected her. They are halfway through the first month of the trial period, and already Ruby knows she will do anything to continue.
Her new mentor stalks forward, bow broken down into the twin swords. She raises them along with one brow, standing over Ruby in silent question. Is that all you've got?
Ruby grits her teeth and tries to pull herself up again. She fails. Cinder frowns faintly in disappointment and begins to swing.
Ruby will never be able to articulate how exactly she does it that first time, but as the blades close in to break her Aura, she becomes… weightless. Or at least, that's how it feels to her. Cinder tells her later that she burst into rose petals which scattered and reformed across the room from Cinder.
Cinder had given her a package of really good cookies for that. Ruby is still savoring them, as hard as that is to believe.
She stows them in her bag as she bounds into the house. Uncle Qrow! Uncle Qrow!
Qrow pokes his head over the back of the couch, one arm coming up to rest there. His fingers are stained with grease. He must be servicing Harbinger. What is it, Rubes?
Ruby leaps up over the couch and into Qrow's lap. He barely hides a wince as her booted foot comes down in a less than ideal spot. She doesn't notice, too excited. I finally accessed my Semblance today!
Qrow gapes at her for a moment before it turns into a grin. Well that's great! He leaps up off the couch, one hand already out to catch Ruby as she tumbles from the sudden movement. He heads for the kitchen, says over his shoulder, This calls for a celebration. I'll go get… chocolate ice cream and you see if you can get your dad up.
Ruby is too elated to protest this arrangement, calling back an affirmative as she starts up the stairs. Daddy! she yells as she bangs through his door. I accessed my Semblance today!
The blankets rustle as her father slowly unearths himself to blink blearily at his daughter. Wha? he asks, voice thick with sleep.
Ruby bounces up to the bed, blinking on the light as she does and ignoring Tai's hiss at the sudden change in lighting. I accessed my Semblance today. Qrow's getting ice cream and we're gonna celebrate.
Tha's great, swee'heart, he mumbles, smiling at bit at her hyperactive cheer. She's just like her mother when she does that. How'd it happ'n?
I was sparring with my… friend and right before she knocked me out, I turned into rose petals and got away! It was so cool! Ruby enthuses, tugging at her father's arm in an attempt to get him up. She makes more headway than one would expect from such a small girl and it makes Taiyang grunt in surprise.
Oof, you've gotten strong.
Ruby nods, chirruping, Yup! I'm going to be a Huntress like you and Mommy and Uncle Qrow.
Taiyang tenses. Are sure you want to do that, Ruby? It's a dangerous profession.
Ruby's face becomes serious and she looks him square in the eyes as he sits up, saying, I know. That's why I want to be a Huntress. With every person who becomes a Huntsman, the world's a little bit safer, 'cause then there's more people out there fighting to protect what matters. And besides, she says, smiling shyly at him as she starts trying to tug him to his feet. If I'm a Huntress, you won't have to worry about me so much because you'll know I can take care of myself.
Tai smiles at her then and ruffles her hair as he stands, prompting a sputtering protest as she tries to smack him away. I'll always worry, rosebud. I love you.
His daughter beams then and throws herself into his arms, burying her face in his… stomach, really. I love you too, Daddy. She pulls back, drawing a grand air about her. Now c'mon! We must celebrate this momentous occasion!
Taiyang chuckles and follows her down the stairs, privately wondering when his rosebud began to grow up so much.
