The Sanity of Life
Scene 1:
Crust
A/n:
Suprise
Or not, I mentioned I would do this last time, didn't I?
Anyways, not the point. I don't have a proper Madness Chapter, so this'll be a kind of substitute chapter.
The downside, not a real chapter, upside, different shit is happening and it's a long as fuck Dreamstate.
Not even a real dreamstate, more like a sidestory.
It's actually TouhouIsLife's review reward chapter. Who basically gave me this challenge to write:
"The opposite of The Madness of Death. The Sanity of Life. Instead of Lilith, Ruby's name could be Hannah or Mary. She goes around preaching love and nonviolence and redeems everyone she meets like the White Fang and Grim. In the name of The Holy Trinity. Because no one in Remnant knows about God, Ruby forms the basis of Christianity. Because of this racism decreases and so those the population of Grim. Ruby basically becomes Jesus."
So I've sort of done that.
Anyways, passed 300 review mark and maybe something else.
But otherwise, on with the (new) show.
In a certain Dust shop in a certain corner of a certain town in a certain kingdom, a certain man approached a certain girl.
The shop wasn't particularly special. It was well reputed, but it was simply one in dozens of similar shops in the Kingdom of Vale. It's only real claim to fame was its somewhat clever name, From Dust 'till Dawn.
That, and one particular client.
On this particular night, however, all did not go as planned.
It was a cool night out. Fall was coming into the temperate region of Vale's coastal area. The Winds pushed out the heavy clouds far to the east, leaving the shattered silver moon free to hang high in the black sky, shining down upon the city with its cool gaze.
The bell of the store rung for the second time that night, announcing the entrance of new customers. The owner looked up, his old eyes looking over the gentlemen who just walked in.
"Why hello, what can I help you with?" He asked in his raspy voice, his voice welcoming and kind, but tinged with his age.
"I have a wide variety of dust to choose from at a reasonable price-"
BANG
Suddenly the back wall of the shop changed from a clean alabaster white to a bloody crimson.
"Thanks…" A man in a white coat with a black hat and cane drawled, "But I'd prefer a five finger discount."
He turned to his associates, men dressed in black suits with red sunglasses and weapons.
"Grab the Dust" He order, "And no witnesses."
And with a silent nod, they ran through the store like a plague of well-organized locusts.
As his colleges picked the shelves clean, one man, in particular, found something of particular note.
A girl.
Just a girl.
She was a small thing, barely came up to his chest. Despite the cool air she still wore a bright red sundress, leaving plenty of her pale skin exposed to the open air. Far from being scandalous, it somehow matched her crimson-black hair perfectly, complementing the red highlight. Her back was to him, but even still he could guess that she was barely 13, if that. She was small, young, cute, and disarming.
She was wearing big, heavy, headphones over her ears, blocking all sound from entering her ears. She was browsing through a magazine, one that appeared to be on Dust, oblivious to the world around her.
He knew in his soul, she was absolutely no threat to him.
BANG
Too bad for her He thought, suppressing a sigh.
Killing a child in cold blood wasn't the worse thing he'd done in his career, but it was definitely up there. Fortunately, he was one of the veterans. He'd long since hardened his heart, leaving himself dull and empty when he was on the job. Still, the act caused him to sigh and turn away.
Just because he was used to it didn't mean it wasn't a damn tragedy.
Clack
Hearing the sound of the headphones clattering to the ground, he turned back to corpse of the gi-
SILVERSILVERSILVERSILVER
He recoiled, suddenly, pulling the trigger with another resounding BANG
The sound of the empty shell casing clattering to the ground was the only sound that punctuated the deafening silence that lasted for but a moment.
"…Did…you shoot me?"
The girl just looked up at him with wide innocent silver eyes.
He had.
He knew he had.
The first time, maybe he missed.
Maybe.
But just now?
He shot her right between the eyes.
The used round lying crumpled in her cupped hand before her was more than enough proof of that.
He couldn't help himself after that.
He screamed.
He screamed and he fired his gun, again and again, and again and again. Over and over, until the magazine ran dry.
And yet…
Still she stared.
He was far from super human. He knew his limits. He had aura, but it was nothing special. It'd let him take a couple bullets and live, but that's about it. His marksmanship, likewise, was nothing of particular note. He could hit the broadside of a barn, and he could most certainly hit a girl standing not 5 feet from him.
So WHY is she still alive?! He panicked.
Those silver eyes looked up at him with no anger, no malice, not even fear. There was a different emotion swimming in there, a different feeling rolling off her form in waves.
And despite it all, it terrified him. Crumpled bullets lay on the ground her, and yet she gave no sign of anything even resembling pain.
She took a step forward and he moved.
He dropped out the useless gun in his hands and whipped out his red cleaver in a flash. Lunging forward and putting his entire weight behind the blow, he swung it with all his might. The sharpened blade came at her like the executioner's axe, flying straight towards her neck. In what felt like both an eternity and an instant, it kissed her pale skin.
And Shattered
The blade all but exploded, the metal breaking and twisting into a shredded rod of red steel. His swing continued for a moment, the hunk of ruined metal flying past her even as the shards of its former glory flew hovered around her.
And then she moved
Dammit, I thought we'd have more time
Roman stiffened as another scream echoed through the building. Gunshots thundered in the store, each one silenced one after another. The sound of metal being torn asunder, ripped and shredded as it mixed with the last strangled cry at the end of his rope.
How the hell did a huntress get here so fast? He cursed, hastily making his way out the store, doing his best to retain some measure of dignity.
As he stepped out of the door, he felt the world shudder, the earth tremble beneath his very feet as a sudden wave of air passed him by with a disquieting and heavy WMPH. Managing to stay on his feet , he spun around several yards from the store's front window. Looking back inside, he found no comfort.
The lights in the store had gone out, bathing the interior in darkness his eyes couldn't penetrate. It was here he heard something.
Or rather, didn't
It was silent. Deathly silent. From the sounds of a war zone to being quiet as a grave in an instant.
Roman grit his teeth, his mind racing with all the signs of what this could mean.
Maybe they decided to stop playing around? Got them all in one go? He considered, sweat dripping down his back as he measured his choices.
...Looks like I got no choice He finally decided, raising his dear companion, Melodic Cudgel, but I ain't going to jail.
And with that, he flipped the tip, and pulled the trigger, sending a flare of explosive Dust flying straight at the building filled to the brim with highly refined and concentrated Dust.
BA-BOOM!
The building erupted in a massive column of lightning covered flame. Plasma exploded out of the windows, forcing Roman to clench his eyes tight and shield himself with his arms. Even still, he felt the effects scorch his flesh, the bright light like needles trying to pierce his eyes. The force of blast pushed him back, all but sending him flying. The smell of smoke and ozone filled the air, choking his throat and watering his eyes.
Even still, he survived.
As he finally opened his eyes, he saw the building was now little more than a burning husk of a ruin. Dark flames clogged every potential exit. The asphalt in front of the store was warped and melted, in some places the stone still ran like liquid.
All told, anything inside the store was gone now.
"Damn," He cursed out loud, "Was really hoping to get more of a score out of this place."
"I don't think I'll break even with this little." he commented, looking at his poor plunder morosely.
He looked back to the fire for a moment, hearing the sounds of sirens in the distance, before shrugging. "Oh well, what can you do?"
"Sorry, Hunter," He said with a smirk, tipping his hat toward the building in a mocking form of respect,
"Looks like it just wasn't your day." He added, picking up his dropped cases of Dust.
Cre~ak
Glancing up at the odd sound he managed to pick out from the roar of the flames, he glanced up. The sight he saw froze his blood to the bone.
A silhouette, wreathed in the black shadows from the howling fire behind her. Her, for it could only be a girl. Her dress flapping willingly in the fierce draft from the hungry flames. She seemed to swallow the light itself as she stood there, not even noticing the inferno burning hot enough to melt stone, as if it was nothing but a light breeze to her. Held in her hands was what looked like a large staff, taller than her own short form, and ended in what could have been a hook or Scythe.
And all this paled in comparison to the Silver eyes that gleamed back at him like white marble.
Despite her diminutive appearance, he wouldn't have been more scared if she was death herself.
He wouldn't have been surprised if she was.
She stepped out of the fire, her foot touching upon the concrete and immediately eliciting a loud hiss as the stone beneath her warped and melted under the sheer heat rolling off her. The remnants of the wooden door creaked behind her, before finally giving in and falling in the flames.
With each step she took, more steam rose off the ground, molten footprints left in her wake. Her steps were casual, methodic, with no sense of speed or urgency in them. She acted as if she had all the time in the world, like nothing Roman could do would change a thing.
Like he couldn't even hope to escape.
Panicking, Roman pursued the wisest option, and ran. The girl was able to withstand the explosion of an entire Dust store going up in flames when she was inside it. Aura or no, that wasn't something a normal person just walked away from. And there wasn't a damn thing he had that could even hope to compare with that level of power or force. The only option he had was running.
Too bad that was taken from his too.
He had only just begun to turn and run, when pain exploded in his foot and his balance was disrupted, sending him tumbling to the ground. Looking behind him, he saw a curious protrusion coming out of the ground, looking like a piece of debris that had melted and become one with the ground after the explosion. And he had all but kicked the thing with all his might, injuring his foot.
He lay on the ground, scrambling to get up as he ignored the pain, all of his instincts screaming at him to run. He tried to get up again, but just as he got his feet under him, something slammed into his throat, wrenching him back.
He coughed violently, his throat bruised by the assault and his lungs burning for breath. Every part of his body either ached or burned. His mind dazed and confused, knocked so off balance he didn't know what to do for the first time in far too long.
Finally, he opened his eyes and looked up.
He found himself coming face to face with a girl no older than 12 with porcelain pale and perfect skin, crimson black hair, wearing a red sundress. There wasn't a mark on her, not even on her clothes, at worst there was what looked like some soot or dirt covering her, but there didn't look to be a single scratch on her actual person. Glancing down at her feet, he saw that she was barefoot, of all things. Her immaculate skin meeting the ground and making it sizzle with its mere presence.
Then he looked up to meet those eyes of hers. Here, up close and personal, he could see that he hadn't done them justice. To call them silver marble balls would be to insult them. They held the perfect, fractal, beauty of a thousand diamonds mixed with an ocean of purest silver of incredible depth. But more than that, he...empathy. Sadness. Compassion. And...forgiveness.
"Roman," She said with a solemn smile, her voice carrying a weight that it's high and childish pitch had no right to wield, "It looks like you've gone down such a terrible path in life."
She loomed over him, looking down upon him like some disappointed mother.
"Yo-" he tried to say, opening his mouth to utter an instinctual rebbutle.
Before he could say a single word, her finger was on his lips, her smoldering skin feeling...warm, comforting even.
"It's ok," She smiled, her eyes sad, but compassionate, "I forgive you, Roman."
"The Maker forgives you too."
He gulped, his eyes going wide as it truly sunk in how far out of his league he was.
"She still loves you, no matter what you've done in your life," She continued, drawing closer, "and it's all ok."
"Because, you see Roman," She said, cupping her hands around Roman's face, her palms on his cheeks, her thumbs on either side of his nose, and her fingers gripping the back and side of his jaw in a firm, yet soft, grip. "She still has a plan for you."
And then, as the panic truly sunk into his bones, she beamed,
"And it's your duty to accept your Maker."
Then he screamed.
When the veteran Huntress Glynda Goodwitch, headmistress of Beacon Academy, renown Dust Mage of almost unparalleled skill, and survivor of the Yellowstone Massacre, known throughout the world as "The North Wind", arrived at the scene...she didn't know how to react.
Before her was a set the that seemed like a dream or a nightmare.
The reason she was here, the store From Dust 'Till Dawn, was nothing more than a burning husk of bright technicolor born from an explosion of the contents of the store. In that vein, she had failed, unable to save it nor anyone inside. But this was not what perplexed her. No, it was the sight of Roman Torchwick.
Or rather, his onyx statue kneeling on the ground, his face a frozen rictus of pain and horror.
On the other side of the street, sitting on the curb, was a girl in a red sundress with bare feet, staring at the fire.
She's probably in shock Glynda thought, wondering how a girl of all things managed to survive all this, and where the person that did all this had gotten to.
She looked around, searching for any signs of the one who had killed Roman, or whatever had happened to him. There was a suspicious lack of the signs of a fight. Roman wasn't the type to just give up, and while the store was probably his work, she couldn't see it being his only effort to escape.
For the other Hunter to have incapacitated him without much of a fight, the difference in strength between them must have been...enormous.
"Hello"
She started, pulling her crop out and brandishing it in the direction the voice came from, her instincts already on edge.
She all but deflated when she saw it was merely from the child.
Lowering her hand, she straightened up and began to move toward them. "Hello," She greeted back, trying to keep herself from being too frightening. She knew she could be a bit...intense in situations like this.
She stopped for a moment when she met the child's eyes. Her bright silver eyes.
She shook her head, pushing those thoughts out of her mind, and continued on.
"Did you see who did this?" She asked pleasantly, trying not to push the no doubt traumatized child.
Imagine her response when the girl chirped back at her happily, "Yep!"
"I...you did?" She questioned, taken off guard by the girl's enthusiastic response.
She hummed in affirmation, nodding her head.
Glynda had to suppress a grin, Got you now
"Who did you see?" she said, leaning down to look the girl in the eye, placing her hands on her knees for balance. "Who did this?"
The girl just looked up at her with a beaming and innocent smile.
"Me"
...what
"I did this."
"You…" Glynda trailed off, her brain short-circuiting as it tried to resolve the facts. She almost considered the idea that the girl was lying, but when she glanced down she noticed that the girl was sitting upon what looked like a shepherd's crook with an enlarged "hook" at the end. The whole thing was fashioned from a dark and sturdy wood, with a large crystal embedded in two knots of wood. One at the base of the shaft, making something of a jeweled pommel, the other where the sharp tip of the hook would normally be.
While some might see a fancy stick, Glynda saw the tool of a powerful Dust Mage.
"...I see." She swallowed, realizing that this girl might be more than her appearance let on.
Still, she thought, adjusting her glasses as she took a moment to reassess her position, powerful or not, she is only a child. Giving her special treatment just because she has talent and luck would be mere sycophancy and ineptitude.
"Is Roman Torchwick dead?" She asked, getting back on task.
The girl actually recoiled in shock, as if she had not only been offended but physically hurt by the accusation.
"Dead?" She gasped, "Do you think I killed him?"
She'd think it was all theatrics if it were not for the fact that the girl looked so genuine.
"It looks like you turned him into a statue." She pointed out, "That looks rather lethal to me."
"I-I…" She stammered for a moment, "No!I would never kill someone!"
She took a breath before she looked at me again with those silver eyes, eyes that seemed to hold a depth that a girl her age had no right to hold.
"Killing someone is...is...it's a horrible sin, it's a stain on your soul. Every death is a tragedy, a waste of the potential and sacred essence of a human soul." She resolutely declared, as if speaking of one of the closest tenants of held by her very soul, "I would rather sacrifice my own life than succumb to weakness and violate the sacred covenant of Life."
Glynda's eyes widened at the sheer intensity and passion of her words, before softening at their content.
Well, She smiled, at least she's got her heart in the right place.
"That is a very good code," Glynda said, ruffling the girl's crimson black locks, "I hope you'll be able to keep it."
"I'll never break it," She nodded seriously, leaning into her hand, "I swore it upon my mother's grave and the Maker's throne!"
Glynda paused for a moment, taking in those words.
I see she thought sadly, it's a shame such a bright girl like this had to suffer such a tragedy.
But, the world just isn't fair She all but sighed.
"...What's your name?" She asked, looking back up at her.
"I'm Ruby Rose!" She chirped again with a blinding smile.
It suits her She smiled, looking at the girl's red dress and hair.
"What did you do to Roman, Ruby?" She asked instead, "You said you'd never kill, so…?"
"Oh, he's just in stasis." She answered casually.
"Stasis?" Glynda asked, perplexed.
"Yup! I wanted to make sure he'd be here, safe and sound, while I waited for the authorities to arrive." She explained, walking up to the statue.
"See?" She said, tapping the onyx form with her crook.
Rather than bounce off the hardened rock, the gem in the front of the crook began to glow with an emerald shine, and upon contact the surface of the rock cracked and caved in. The cracks expanded to encompass his entire form, and with one great Crack, it all fell to pieces.
In it's wake, the shell, Glynda realized, left one Roman Torchwick in the same position as the statue. As he collapsed to the ground in a boneless heap, Glynda realised he was unconscious.
"Is he going to be alright?" Glynda asked, somewhat concerned.
"Putting someone in stasis is completely safe. When they're in stasis it's...like they're locked in time." She explained, idly poking the remains of the shell. Remains that were quickly disintegrating into dust.
Then she looked up, staring at the burning shop before them.
"I did it to all the men in the shop, but…" Then she sighed, almost mournfully, "I wasn't able to save the shopkeeper before Roman killed him."
"The men…" Glynda trailed off,
"You mean there's people inside there? Alive?" She said incredulously
"That's right," She nodded, "I didn't know that he was going to blow up the shop, but they should have been safe in stasis."
"I see," Glynda murmured, frowning in thought.
"...Ruby?" She began.
"Yes?" She perked up, looking at the older woman inquisitively and patiently.
"Would you like to meet a friend of mine?"
"Hello, Ms. Rose."
"Hello, Professor Ozpin." Ruby greeted back.
"So you know who I am?" He said with a quirked brow, taking a moment to sip from his mug.
"My Uncle Qrow has told me a lot about you." She responded.
"Oh?" He chuckled, "Well, I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage then. He hasn't told me much about you at all."
"I'm glad." She smiled easily.
Ozpin hid a frown easily, hiding the momentary twitch of his lips behind his mug as he took another sip.
The two of them were sitting in a coffee and tea shop he had...acquired. Thanks to his influence, the shop was empty, leaving the three of them, Glynda, Ozpin, and the child in question, all by themselves.
The two of them sat across from each other at a simple wooden table in the middle of the floor. While it was simple, it was sturdy. Fashioned from old and hardy wood, and well built by a skilled local craftsman. It was old and worn, with many nicks and scars across it's surface, but rather than mar its appearance, it only added to it's character, just like the shop around it.
The lights were dimmed down, and the moon was still out. The only lights on the store where from those above the coffee bar against which Glynda was leaning. She looked between the two of them casually, one hand drumming tightly , whilst her other tapped against her riding crop, ready to draw it to bare at a moment's notice.
Not that she thought she'd need it.
"Why would you be glad?" He finally asked her.
"Because I just wanted to enjoy life." She answered. "I didn't want to be bothered yet. I just wanted to spend time with my family. I'm happy Qrow respected that."
Ozpin hummed in thought as he drummed his fingers against the outside of his mug, considering her words.
"I suppose that's why you haven't attended Signal?" he supplied, hoping to get an answer through her reaction.
Instead, she simply smiled.
After a moment, he realized he wouldn't get an answer, so he switched tactics.
"You said you didn't want to be bothered yet." He began, trying to ease his way onto the issue. "But what about now?"
Now it was her turn to hum in thought. She tapped out a simple beat on the table with her finger idly, her eyes wandering through the store as she held Ozpin's attention.
Finally, they flitted back to his own. "I think it might be time."
"I see." He nodded, suppressing a grin and forcing his body to display nothing but a calm and cool air. It was something he'd been doing for years, decades even. It was second nature by now.
Ruby Rose was a born huntress, of that he was sure. Hunting was in her blood, literally. The proof was staring right back at him with those silver eyes, that in just the right light, seemed to glow. Beyond her mythical predilection for the hunting of Grimm, there was the simple fact of her legacy. Both her parents were renowned hunters of incredible skill.
And she's obviously skilled already He thought, smiling on the inside, She took down Roman and his men all by herself, without even a scratch.
And that's all without any formal training
His lips twitched again
Imagine what she could do with a proper education.
Instead, he adjusted himself. He placed his mug down on the table and crossed one leg over the other. Propping his interlocked hands upon his raised knee, he looked at her confidently and invitingly. Not too much, he didn't want to appear arrogant, but instead self assured and mysterious. An image he had worked hard to craft, one that precious few people ever saw through.
"Well Ms Rose," He smiled giving her the hook, "How would you like to follow in your mother's footsteps?"
"How would you like to become a Huntress?"
And there it is He thought smugly, She'll take the bait, no doubt idolizing her lost mother, and wanting to do anything to follow in the footsteps of her family.
It's all coming together marvelo-
"No thank you."
...what
It took every ounce of effort in his body and mind to keep from saying that outloud. Even still, he was unable to keep the shock from knocking him off balance. He blinked, his mind recomposing itself. Glynda was just as shocked herself, her eyes wide and jaw loosened.
"..Pardon?" He finally said, collecting his thoughts.
Ruby opened her mouth to respond, when she was stopped by a shrill whistle.
"Oh, it sounds like my water is ready." She noted, looking to the steaming kettle on the coffee bar.
She turned back toward Ozpin, giving him an apologetic smile that he knew was genuine, but he couldn't help but feel like was mocking, "I'm sorry, I'll just be a moment."
And with that, she got up and made her way to the kettle.
While her back was turned, Ozpin took the opportunity to close his eyes and take a deep breath, recomposing himself.
Alright...this has not gone according to plan He admitted
But I can still work with this.
"Could you clarify, Ms Rose?" He asked, turning to her.
As she pulled the kettle off the burner, she looked at him apologetically again, "I'm sorry Professor Ozpin, but this will really just be a moment."
"Oh?" he inquired with a quirked brow as he saw her place the kettle to the side and pull out a teacup, one with a personal touch of a red rose.
"Mhm, I need to focus if I want to make it properly." She cheerfully answered.
He could understand that, he supposed. He didn't really deal with that himself, preferring to drink coffee in copious amounts. Not nearly as much as Oobleck, the insane man, but enough to keep him running at peak capacity.
And no matter what Glynda said, he did not have an addiction.
He could stop whenever he wanted to.
He just...didn't.
"So it takes a lot of effort to make tea?" He asked, not knowing himself. He was also probing her for information. At present, he knew almost nothing about her. In fact, one could even say he felt that he knew less now than he did when they walked in. He was flying blind, and any hints to her deeper personality would be invaluable in discerning her true nature.
"It depends." She answered evenly, setting out an array of ingredients on the table. "But, as with many such pursuits, it requires three things."
She poured the hot water into a large pot already filled with a frothy mixture of boiling water mixed with an array of ingredient, the pot nearly empty from the time spent on the burner.
"Patience." she began
Earlier he had seen her fill the pot of boiling water with various herbs and spices, including thick shavings of cinnamon, a star shaped plant, and even a touch of some kind of white powder. Now, as she added back more boiling water, the mixture seemed to swell back into life.
"Preparation."
After stirring the mixture with a spoon, she poured in a portion of milk, causing the boiling broth to immediately thicken, cool, and blossom with a light tan color.
"And Passion."
To finish it all off, she added a dash of sugar.
"Do these things, and you will be richly rewarded for your efforts." She smiled.
"I see…" He said noncommittally.
While he understood what she meant, and even agreed with it, he wasn't quite sure she understood such things herself. Afterall, she was only a young girl of 15 years, an age ripe with impulsive choices and hormone fueled decisions.
"Tea?" She offered
"No thank you," He dismissed politely.
If she wanted to take away his coffee she'd have to pry from his cold dead hands.
Rather than be annoyed at her spurned offering, she simply smiled again, and turned toward his partner.
"Ms. Goodwitch?" She offered
"I…" The woman began, another refusal immediately on her tongue.
And yet…
"...Sure" She finally said.
As Ruby simply nodded with that pleasant smile of hers and turned back to the pot, Glynda had to wonder why she did that, why she accepted the girls offering. In the end, she shrugged it off. The girl had her peculiarities, but that was no reason to be rude.
"Here you go." Ruby said.
Before she knew it, Glynda found the girl holding a dark blue mug of steaming tea out to her. Over time, the tea had gone from a simply light tan color becoming slightly pinkish. She could see the herbs floating in the broth plainly, but strangely didn't find them as repulsive as she might otherwise.
"Bakarkhani?" Ruby said.
Glynda blinked, "Um...pardon?"
"Bakarkhani." Ruby repeated, presenting a flat disc like object with the same general shape as a cookie, but with a construction that more closely resembled a biscuit.
"Um…" Glynda began, directing a befuddled glance towards Ozpin. "...sure."
"Wonderful." Ruby beamed, handing Glynda a small plate with five of them arranged in a pyramid shape. "I always find that Kashmiri Tea is best with Bakarkhani."
"But that might just be because I have a sweet tooth." She giggled, picking up her own plate and cup.
Ozpin chuckled along, finding comfort in finally discovering something that seemed to fit her appearance.
"Well, Ms. Rose, I believe you owe me an answer?" He supplied, taking a measured sip of his coffee.
Ruby responded with a delicate sip from her own cup, a mix of obsidian black with a lavender sheen with a silver outline. Across the cup was the design of vines, carefully sculpted onto the cup. It was a vibrant emerald color and wreathed in vines that were flush with the face of the cup. The vines lead into the cup itself, were Ozpin had earlier seen a scarlet rose embedded at the bottom of the cup.
It was a very beautiful and very well made cup. One that was from Ruby's personal collection, and that she seemed to pull out of nowhere.
But he could also tell that it was a gift.
The way she handled it spoke of someone who revered it, not simply as a delicate object, but as some sacred piece, something held a lot of weight in her soul.
Ozpin supposed that she could have made it herself, and was just very proud of it, but he doubt it. There wasn't merely pride in those eyes, there was reverence.
"I suppose I do." She responded calmly, humor dancing in her eyes as she put the cup down on the table, opposite the plate of pastries.
"...wow." Glynda whispered, grabbing their attention.
She was holding one of the pastries, a noticable bite take out of it, with a look of surprise and unexpected pleasure dancing upon her face.
"Is it good?" Ruby asked, though the knowing smile told him all he needed to know.
"Yes...it...it is. I just...I didn't expect it to taste like this." Glynda explained.
"Oh?" Ruby said with an arched brow and the ghost of a smirk across her lips.
"Yes, it has a very….exotic flavor, I suppose you could say." She explained, "and I wasn't expecting it to be so...rich, and flavorful-"
"And good?" Ruby supplied with an interjection.
"Er, yes." Glynda blushed, "And good."
"I'm glad you like my cooking." Ruby beamed, "I take great pride in my work."
"Still, Professor Ozpin asked a question," She began, turning back tto him, "And I shall endeavor to answer it."
Finally he thought, keeping his annoyance from showing.
"You asked for an explanation for why I declined?" She began
"Yes," He nodded,
"Simple," She stated, taking another sip.
"It is not my path."
The only sign of irritation that Ozpin allowed to show was the slow blinking of his eyes.
"I'm...not sure I understand." He said, suppressing his outward emotions with a sip from his mug.
Ruby hummed in thought, looking up to the ceiling as she patiently sipped her tea and thought up a response, straining Ozpin's patience all the while.
"Being a Huntress isn't for me." She finally said, "It is not my purpose, nor is it my desire."
"I beg to differ," Ozpin argued, displaying nothing but a casual and calm air, "The entirety of your family made their lives being Hunters. It's literally in your blood."
"Combine that with what you did with Roman Torchwick earlier, and I feel that being a Huntress if your calling."
She smiled.
"Perhaps it was once upon a time, but no longer."
He was beginning to hate that smile.
"You could do a lot of good as a Huntress, there's a lot of people out there who could use a hero. A hero like the one I know you could become." Ozpin added, trying not to put too much pressure on her, but unwilling to even think of the idea of backing down and letting this jewel slip out of his grasp.
"That may be true, but I'm afraid I shall be making my efforts through other means." She answered.
"You did a very good thing today, Ruby." Glynda said, putting in her own efforts, "I know you could make a difference out there."
"You might be right." She said with a patient nod, "But there is one particular reason among many as to why I do not want to become a Huntress."
"I am a pacifist."
Ozpin and Glynda blinked in surprise, the both of them nearly dropping their mugs. "You're a what?" They said incredulously.
"I am a pacifist." Ruby reaffirmed, "I do not believe in seeking violent answers for life's problems, in fact I abhor such methods."
"But-" Ozpin began, only for Ruby to stop him with a raised hand.
"Do not get me wrong. I understand that for many people, such things may be necessary or basic." She explained, "But while I can understand and forgive it, I shall not participate in it myself."
"But...Roman…" Glynda began.
"I did not fight him or his men." Ruby answered.
"I merely Stopped them." She smiled.
It was here that Professor Ozpin began to feel that the smile of this girl was not merely pleasant or calm, oh no. It wasn't annoying or irritating. It wasn't even aggravating or teasing.
It was here that Professor Ozpin began to find that smile unnerving.
That wasn't simply the smile of an ignorant and innocent child. That was a smile with weight and power behind it. That was a smile given by a girl who knew exactly who she was, exactly what she was capable of, and exactly what she was going to do.
"I see…" He murmured, re-assessing his position.
"You do realize that Huntsmen were created to protect humanity and fight Grimm, right?" Glynda asked. "We aren't here to fight people."
"Please, Ms. Goodwitch," Ruby scoffed, "Do not insult my intelligence. Hunters are warriors. They fight both man and beast alike."
Glynda scowled, offended by Ruby's comments. She opened her mouth to speak, but Ruby stopped her.
"I mean no offense, it is a noble task in its own right, and it is a job that needs to doing." She conceded
Then Ruby gave her that calming smile, "But it is not my role to perform."
"Miss Rose," Ozpin began, trying to work a different angle, "I strongly suggest you reconsider. The fight against Grimm is a fierce one, and humanity is on the edge of extinction."
"Your talents are invaluable, and I know someone like you could make an immeasurable difference out there." He said, trying to appeal to her sense of mercy and humanity, "If you have the power to save lives, is it not your duty to act?"
She gave him a measured and patient look. Like a mother dealing with a child she knew didn't understand, and was patient enough to deal with them.
"There are many ways to act, Professor. Not all of them need involve spilling blood."
Ozpin repressed a sigh. It was hard, in a way, dealing with this girl.
Is this how people feel when they talk to me?
"What about your sister?"
"My sister has chosen her own path, and I support her fully in her endeavors." She smiled happily, a touch of pride shining through.
"But it is not my path to take."
Ozpin was unable to suppress the faint twitch of his eyebrow as she repeated that line again.
"But," She stopped them, "You are in luck."
He almost snorted.
"Luck?"
"Yes," She nodded sagely, "Earlier I said that my time had come, correct?"
"...Yes?" Glynda agreed cautiously.
"Well," She smiled, something Ozpin could have sworn was a cunning, mischievous, edge growing in it's shadow. "In service to my path, I shall be accompanying her to Beacon."
"Then what is your path, miss Rose?" He finally asked, suppressing his exasperation.
And at this, she positively beamed.
"Spreading hope, Light, and the betterment of mankind through the Word of the Maker."
Ozpin blinked.
For the first time in far too long, Ozpin was taken well and fully off guard.
"The Church!?"
A/n:
Hello
Yes, I know, this isn't an actual official Madness chapter.
Don't worry, that's in the works. It's about, eh...33% done?
Ish
And I don't have that for you because I have had a lot of stuff to do recently. I've been writing, like, five different things and I had to move. AndAnyways, I just wanted to finally get TohouIsLife's dreamstate chapter out of the way.
Then I took the concept that they gave me, an inverted Madness, and fucking ran with it
Holy shit
I could make a whole other goddamn fic outta this. I mean, I won't You guys would kill me.
But, this is going to probably be a multi-part dreamstate series. Which are also called Omakes, apparently? Did not know that.
Not the point, I'm getting off topic.
Anyways, in here, well, shit be different. As said before, Tohou gave me the challenge of writing inverted Madness, of making the Sanity of Life. And I did.
Sorta
Turns out, when I tried to flip to the opposite of Madness, shit's still pretty crazy.
I'd list out more things about how different everything was, but that has a fair chance of giving away spoilers for both timelines, so I won't. Though, if you want to ask me a question, by all means, throw me a PM or contact me on Discord.
So, yeah, I'll get back to the normal chapter schedule in the next proper chapter. When I do post it, I'll probably delete this chapter form here and throw it on the Dreamstate list. Or I just might make it a new story.
That's actually not a terrible idea, all things considered.
Also, since the last review reward has been clear, I'm open to taking the one for the 300 mark reward. That one will be coming up late, in the next proper chapter, despite the fact it's already been passed.
Next time I'll have an actual Madness chapter for you and it is going to be Awesome. We're gonna have Ruby talking to...like, all the "bad" guys. Pyrrha creeping Blake the fuck out. Yang losing her goddamn mind. Aveline doing detective things(I don't actually know if you guys like her). Ymir doing shit, and much more.
Probably why it's taking so long.
But for now, I bid you adieu.