Chapter 7: The Melancholy of Blake Belladonna
Or: The Plight of the Faunus.
A/N: *repeatedly bangs head against the wall* Sorry this took so long… but I promised 20k words and I needed to murder a plot bunny of mine. Good writing takes time and I hope I did well enough. This will be the first half of what I have written and the next 10k will be post in about two weeks. Yeah, sorry, but I need time to finalize some shit… Hope this chapter goes over well and will be a good replacement for Chapter 6. Overall the arc will be longer which means more writing… *sighs* And I was hoping I could get this shit done in 300k…
Shout out to Authors:
l OmegaInfinity l, Peroth, and especially Coeur Al'Aran.
Been reading these guy's works and they are LONG but have some very good shit in them. If you are a fan of RWBY check em out.
DISCLAIMER PLEASE READ!
This is a LONG ASS CHAPTER. Seriously, I think it might be my longest on this story.
I ADDED A BUNCH OF CONTROVERSIAL SHIT ABOUT FAUNUS. Once again, please read and then PM me or Review so I can help any misconceptions/questions you might have. I kinda had to figure some shit out but the results are final. I hate racism personally but love it as a subplot for stories… It will be a major part of the story, but not some much that the story becomes totally centered around that… As for the actual changes while it shouldn't effect too many characters it is still controversial to say the least.
Um… Blake's backstory is also different… Like way different. I hope I didn't make her too OOC, but my main goal was to her have some actual reasoning behind her being in the White Fang and then leaving. Cannon didn't make sense, so I had to adlib… Sorry…
Other Disclaimer shit:
I made some pretty clear references to some cards from the Yu-gi-oh franchise, one or two references from Final Fantasy and others… Just kinda thought some of the tech and shit would work in the RWBY world so I added it.
Let's see… Some racism, some bad/hard to understand accents, and some plain goofiness garnished with just a little bit of Yuri.
…
But honestly what do you expect from a RWBY Fanfiction?
Disclaimer: I own none of this. I couldn't get paid for this shit if I tried and I am sorry if ya think I am making a copy-right violation. Tell me where it is and I'll try ta fix it.
Blake was currently sitting across from Sun at a book café.
The joint was called 'Jitters'. It was a bright and colorful book shop with less of an emphasis on selection but more of a fun and playful atmosphere where 'anyone can stop by for a book and a cup of Joe.'
Sun had picked it and Blake only agreed because it reminded her of a certain red-hood wearing team captain. Blake felt a bit of a sting. Ruby looked as alarmed at her little 'revelation' as Yang and Weiss had. They had gone to town today because Ruby was in need of cheering up with the bullying thing going on.
Blake took a sip of her coffee, a milk-free, black as hell, bitter blend with only a touch of mocha… The brew was bitter enough to make her lips pucker but the hot fluid running down her throat and the promise of a caffeine buzz was enough to keep her drinking.
"So…" Sun said holding his cup aloft with his tail. This wasn't too impressive though, Monkey Faunus had incredibly strong prehensile tails. Much more useful that being a four-eared freak… "My name is Sun Wukong, I like fruits, sweet potatoes, my team, and my secret ambition is to find a date to the Vytal Festival Dance."
Blake smirked. He really was pretty cute… Brilliant smile, baby blue eyes, and an abdominal wall that many Huntsmen would kill for… He could be the main love interest in one of her… ahem… more adult novels…
"Blake Belladona, I like to read, I love sea food, and I…" Used to be part of the White Fang. "was interested in politics…" Blake finished lamely.
Sun perked up at that. "So I take it you are interested in the Gaia Mine?"
Blake frowned. "I've… been away from the news recently. I try not to get involved with the whole Human-Faunus thing…"
"You're kidding…" Sun said in disbelief. "You'd have to be living under a rock not to hear about the Gaia Mine or the Great Robber."
"I read a lot and have been busy with my studies." Blake said tersely. Great Robber… Adam would have eaten that up… She knew they had been assigned to blow up a Dust train but… Great Robber? She remembered the time the 'Great Robber' wore a flower crown on his horns when she made him one and was deathly afraid of bees until well into his teens…
Blake must have shown some kind of emotion because Sun looked at her strangely.
"Well, I'm not much of a reader." Sun admitted sheepishly. "Kinda gotta keep in shape. Never know when I might get the chance to play again."
"Play?" Blake asked raising an eyebrow.
"Well, I'm Sun Wukong. Former star player of the Vacuo Kappas?" Sun asked posing slightly and deflating a bit when he saw Blake's flat look. "Blitzball! Have ya heard of Blitzball?"
"Huh?" Blake responded dubiously. "Is that a… sport?"
Sun's face didn't know if he should be excited or disappointed.
"Yeah… it's a sport…" Sun said in disbelief. "I used to play and was really damn good at it but… well… this little bastard named Whitely Schnee bought up all the arenas."
"I know of the family." Blake said glaring slightly. She wasn't that out of touch.
"Well… what a lot of people don't remember was that Nicholas Schnee, was a toy maker before he made the lucrative swap over to Dust mining equipment. When the company got richer he reinstated the Game and Entertainment department. Blitzball is played in this huge globe of water and well… it takes a lot of Dust, special equipment… the works. You can play it in the ocean or something but that costs paying Huntsmen to keep the water clear of Grimm, and then there is the fact it's played in Vacuo the most so ya kinda need some water to even play. The arenas are kinda essential. When Whitley became head of the department he bought them and upgraded them… but I wasn't allowed to play anymore… But I have hope I'll play again! The little bastard can't keep me out forever!"
Blake glared at her coffee. Before she would rage and snarl at her fellow brother's hurt, but now…
Blake took a sip.
"That must be terrible. I take it that was the reason you threw a banana peel at his sister's face." Blake said smirking. "She was pretty mad."
"Yeah... but if she has you on her team then she probably won't mind a bit of 'monkeying around'…" Sun's expression fell when he saw Blake look away. "Something happen?"
Blake sighed. "She kinda found out I was a Faunus… She didn't take it well…"
Sun nearly dropped his cup. "What? You mean- You didn't like- You know? She didn't know?"
"No…" Blake said slowly. "I was hiding it…"
"Why?" Sun asked incredulously. "I mean no offence, but you are gorgeous." Sun flushed. "I mean, it would be plain stupid to hide it! You are easily one of the prettiest girls I have ever seen…"
Blake smiled awkwardly at the praise. It had been awhile since someone called her… pretty. Not since…
Brown hair in a pool of blood.
Blake tried everything to get the bleeding to stop… She was drowning…
No last words… no last smile… not even a goodbye…
She just looked so scared…
"I… lost someone." Blake said softly, her face falling as tears welled up in her eyes from the memory. Sun became somber as she struggled to speak. "To Humans… I just… I didn't want to be next; you know? I was really active in politics and then… I just want nothing to do with it now… Thanks for the coffee… but I think I need to go…"
Blake started to get up when Sun stood and offered a hand. Blake stared at it then up to Sun with that stupid, dazzling smile. As if he could make everything better…
"It's pretty late out." Sun said. "Mind if I walk you home?"
Blake looked away. Sun put two and two together.
"Right… I take it you don't really want to head back to your team dorm?" Sun asked. Blake's silence was telling. Sun looked down as his mind seemed to race and then he looked up and grinned. "I have an idea! I just need to make a call… I think I can get you a place to stay."
Blake blinked, in awe of his kindness. Blake knew it was partly because he saw her as attractive, but he was also very… earnest. Awkwardly, almost uncomfortably so, but to Blake, used to hiding and secreting about… It was refreshing to say the least.
"Hey! Neptune! How's it going bud- Okay, okay! Yeah… that was my bad… Hey! That wasn't my fault okay! I got lost after chasing someone who flipped out after finding out we were going by boat! Yeah, yeah… I get it. Tell Sage I'm sorry and that I'll pay him back… yeah… Okay, so… I met a girl and she needs a place to stay… No! I'm not bringing her over! Look… just… No! Just… can you get Ella on the phone? Yeah, her! Get off the phone! I'm sick of ya! … I swear if he wasn't my partner… Y'ello? Hey Ella! Um… I got a favor to ask. Can Barry stay with my team tonight? See, I found somebody that needs a place to stay… just for tonight! I… Yeah, she's a Beacon student, but she had a fight with her team… She's like Roxie… Really?! Alright! I'll ask her!"
Sun walked over to her awkwardly.
"Ikindafoundyouaplacetostayifyouwantbutonlyifyouwantokay?" Sun said red faced and looking very interested in his shoes.
Blake stared at him.
"Err.. I know it's weird but um… Team EMBR is mostly a girl team. Barry, the 'B', is willing to stay at our place with the rest of the guys tonight so you can stay with the girls. I know it's not perfect and you'd still be with strangers but hey, I thought that if they're Huntresses then they have to be trustworthy and they're from Vacuo, so you don't have to worry about the whole discrimination thing too much. We are pretty chill over there… except the desert tribes but they came from the City so… Oh! You'll love Roxie! She is a Faunus like us, and Ella is super nice. Mint can be kind of a bitch of you piss her off, but she is like, super quiet so you don't have to- and it's only if you want to 'cause I totally don't want to creep you out or anything since I just met you and I'llshutupnow!" Sun said nervously waving his hands through his explanation.
Blake, however, just gave him a gentle smile.
"Thank you. I'd like that, if they really don't mind…" Blake said nervously.
Sun turned bright red from the show of affection from the previously withdrawn girl.
"Yeah…" Suddenly he got super serious. "Yeah! I'm on it!"
Blake couldn't help but grin as she watched him call back Neptune and arrange her a place to stay.
Blake felt a pang of sadness thinking about her team. They had been kind to her too… but maybe she could trust Sun…
And if she couldn't… well… it wasn't like she wasn't used this kind of situation anyways.
Blake nervously tried to ignore the starting of a certain 'Roxie Rhode', a pint sized lizard Faunus who was also apparently mute. She was tiny… smaller than even Weiss and had dark brown eyes and lighter brown hair with little white pom-poms on either side of her head that reminded Blake of marshmallows. Blake was trying to figure out if that was intentional or not. The word that first came to mind for Roxie was… 'Minx'… she seemed like the trouble maker of the group.
"She's judging you..." Mint said offhandedly, never looking up from her scroll. Mint was a dark skinned woman with mint green hair and red eyes. She was currently in Blake's social favorite position of reading a book but also vaguely paying attention to the events in the room. Not enough to join in but enough to comment. Mint's comment snapped Blake out her thought process.
"Um…" Blake said nervously.
"Mint…Roxie…" Ella said gently rebuking her teammates as she strutted into the room like a supermodel. "You are welcome to stay as long as you wish."
Ella Sparks was… beautiful. She had long dark hair and a certain… Blake wanted to call it a 'swagger', that made everything she said sound… sensual. Seductive even. Her long dark hair, cream colored skin, and golden eyes that shown with a certain… alluring danger to them that spoke of… ahem… various night time activities…
A true 'Femme Fatale'.
Blake was suddenly wondering if Sun didn't just place her with his ex for the night… although having a feel for Sun's general demeanor, Blake figured she was probably safe on that front.
'Sultry' was definitely the best word for Ella, Blake thought.
"But not too long." Barry Silver, the only male in the group, said packing up his bag. "I can only handle Neptune's tales of his 'conquests' and Scarlet checking out my ass for a couple days at most."
As the only male of the group, Barry stood out in more ways than one. He had grey hair which was possibly genetic given his surname of 'Silver'. He was also very… odd… like she could hear odd clicks when he walked, and his presence just felt kinda… off. Not in a bad way, just he seemed to be one that didn't think along conventional societal norms. Human or Faunus. Barry's word… Blake didn't know. She'd have to get to know him a bit better.
"Such a sacrifice…" Mint drawled sarcastically. Barry shot her a playful scowl.
"Careful with that one. She's a raging lesbian." Barry said. Mint, not looking up from her scroll, flipped him off. "See? Total man-hater, otherwise, she'd be all over this."
"Go away Barry." Mint groaned. Barry chuckled and headed out.
Mint made a put-upon sigh. "So we gonna do get to know you shit or are we gonna just crash for the night? I am a fan of the latter…"
Ella turned to Blake and Blake swore Ella gave her a once over. Was she checking her out? Blake's cheeks pinked. She had her ears out, but Ella didn't seem to mind… Maybe Blake was misreading the look…
"No… Let's just get to sleep. Though… Are you expecting to be with us long dear?" Ella asked. Blake looked down, ears drooping.
"I don't really want to impose… You've already been super accommodating…" Blake said awkwardly. "I know it's kinda weird…"
It was not lost on her how strange the situation was. Meet a random Faunus off the street and let her stay the night? Yeah… It was weird. But Blake slept near strangers all the time in the White Fang, but back then she still had…
Adam's face twisted up in rage as they engaged in screaming matches. Neither could come to terms with what happened.
Months of watching as he slowly became the very monster that had killed their friend. He was… dark… no longer the man she had once loved. The worst part was that there was nothing that she could say or do to stop it. She understood the pain he was feeling all too well, but wasn't able to convey her worry for him.
She tried for months to get him to see reason, but he was too hurt… to broken and too angry to listen.
His surprised face quickly shrinking as Blake cut the terminal and watch as he disappeared from sight.
He couldn't comprehend why she was leaving. Why she would choose not to fight with him anymore.
Lifeless blue eyes stared back at her.
It was Blake's fault she died...
Blake looked away. "I'm sorry…just… this is crazy… thanks but I can just-"
"Nonsense." Ella said, her tone losing it's sultry and seductive edge. She sounded… so sincere… "As they say in Vacuo, 'Mi casa es tu casa'. All of us also know what it is like to have nowhere to go…"
Roxie and Mint seemed to either look down or look away. Ella smiled at her. Not a sultry smirk or a smug grin, but a smile that spoke volumes of pain, loss, and helplessness, but also of hope, determination, and kindness.
Blake would later swear that if she hadn't been straight, she would have fallen for Ella right there.
"We all know what it is like to have nowhere to belong. So… stay as long as you need." Ella's eyes then light up with a mischievous light. "Besides I have been trying to hook up Barry with Scarlet for a long time now…"
Blake's cheeks flushed at the implication having read more than one 'novel' about that sort of plot… Roxie's eyes lit up in interest and she began to mash buttons furiously on her scroll before holding it up for Blake and Ella to read.
Do U think Scarlet is a top or bottom? Roxie texted, smirking impishly at Blake's red face and Ella's chuckles.
Mint sighed holding up her scroll. "I'm never going to finish this am I?"
"Get out of here you animals!"
"Freaks!"
"Go back to Menagerie!"
Fourteen year old Black clutched her arm as she walked side by side with Adam. They had been discovered and it was her fault. She had just been trying to wash her hair and… some boys had snuck up on her when she had been bathing in the river. Adam… well… he reacted the way you would expect.
She was his 'little sister' after all…
Adam was taking the abuse surprisingly well this time. Perhaps he was trying to put on a brave face for Blake. He was only sixteen and while he was nearly the age of a Huntsman academy student, he was not ready to face down an entire village of adults and even a team of actual Huntsmen.
Trash and the occasional cow pie was thrown at them. Blake winced as she watched as a man took one look at Adam's horns and grinned.
"Look-y here fellas! I think I can com-yoo-nee-cate wif em! Lemme see… MOOO!" He said with a cross-eyed, slack jawed, look of pure idiocy. It might have even been funny if Blake wasn't worried that Adam was going to snap and attack back. To the surprise of everyone the eyepatch wearing teen just stared at the man and then walked away.
"Hey! I was tryin' ta talk to you!" The man said trying to grab him, but flinched back when Adam's perfectly calm blue eye glowed red like a demon signaling his Semblance was about to activate. Pure hatred pieced the man to his very soul. The man, for all his idiocy had some sense of self-preservation instinct, and went very pale as he stared into the eye of utter malice.
Blake grabbed his hand and gave it a light squeeze, but he didn't seem to notice.
"D-devil! It's one o' dem Devils! Calla Huntsman!" the man and his buddies yelped running back to the town.
Once out of the way of the outpost town Adam slowly began to growl, his hair and Aura glowing red with a fury that Blake knew all too well.
"I-I'm sorry…" Blake said. She was fourteen, a Faunus, and scared for him. Adam saw her face and his eye stopped glowing red, becoming the soft, gentle, and rather passive blue eyes once more.
"Sorry Blake. It's not your fault those boys were being pervs. I shouldn't have overreacted..." Adam said softly. Despite growing up around them, his voice had little to nothing of the Anima slang that the country was known for. He refused to even sound like those… monsters. His voice was soft, kind, and gentle… This was the Adam she loved…
"I thought you were going to snap at the last guy." Blake said with a wry smile. Adam glared but said nothing. "I do have a surprise though…"
Adam looked up from his pouting, 'brooding' he insisted... Out of Blake's bag was a full head of cabbage. Adam perked up.
"Where did you get that?" Adam said with a wicked smile. Blake's heart nearly stopped seeing it. She had been around him since he had rescued her, but she couldn't help but blush… he may have lost an eye but to her he was the handsomest…
'No! Bad Blake!' Blake thought nervously. 'He doesn't see you like that… he… he found you two years ago in the woods, feral and with no memories… of course he isn't going to see you like that… and it isn't right to like him! Even if he has a great smile… and abs… and-Stop it!'
Blake tried to focus on the conversation at hand… And tried not to blush as heat rose to her cheeks or let her stomach do flips every time she saw that grin on him…
"Stole it…" Blake said sheepishly through her embarrassment. She wasn't proud of her talent, but it had helped them stay fed despite their… allergies.
Adam… well… it obviously to a Faunus, but not so obviously to a Human. Adam had a natural aversion to eating beef, milk, and well as most other meats. He couldn't digest them thanks to his herbivorous heritage. Blake herself was extremely lactose intolerant. No milk. Ever. She had learned that the hard way when she had tried to steal some ice cream and… well… Blake's stomach had bloated, and she couldn't eat anything for three days because she would throw it up. Violently. It wasn't pretty. But Adam had been there for her through all of that… and even afterwards.
"And there's more where that came from!" A girl said dropping down from the trees with an arm full of groceries. Blake felt a little put out that she could only steal a cabbage, but Illia grabbed several bags of food…
Illia was a strange case. She could pass as human, and honestly was the only reason they were able to get things like books and occasionally medicine when one of them got sick. Illia however hated passing as human.
Seeing Blake beginning to pout Illia smiled at her softly. Illia wrapped an arm around her shoulder and Blake fought back a smile. She was pouting dammit! But Illia loved making her smile and knew the best way to coax it out of her.
"Hey, did you get that from the guy screaming about a cow-demon?" Illia asked. Blake nodded. "Good job! You are one hell of a thief Blake! You making me look like a poor Dust miner…"
Blake broke out a full cat-like grin. Illia's eyes widened slightly for some reason and she looked away, her freckles turning pink. Blake was about to ask about it when Adam's hand made a vain swipe at the cabbage Blake held.
"Food..." Adam groaned interrupting them as he reached again for the cabbage Blake brought. Blake giggled as Adam kept slowly reaching for the cabbage acting like a zombie and Blake would run away squealing. Illia's smile grew sad but was still there. Blake didn't understand at the time. How could she?
They were all best friends.
All of them from different walks of life, orphans that needed to rely on each other. Illia was orphaned when her parents died in a riot during the war. Adam never talked about his father… and Blake… Blake barely remembered anything from her childhood, but she did have one memory…
"Sweetie I need you to hide." Her mother said in a voice that tried to hide her panic and put on a brave face for her daughter. Soft amber eyes widened in panic as she heard gunshots. Blake was scared. She didn't know where her daddy was. "Never mind! Run-away Blake! Back door, out the farm, and follow the river!"
The last thing she remembered hearing was her mother's face turning feral and hissing at the mob coming to 'purify' their town.
Blake had run for days.
She never looked back.
Blake woke up the next morning feeling more refreshed but still the feeling of melancholy was something that she would just have to learn how to live with…
Blake checked the clock. Geez… did she really sleep till noon? Blake peeked around and saw the girls were already gone but Roxie had left a note for her.
'Dear Blake,
We went to the cafeteria! See ya soon!
XOXO
Roxie and Co.'
Blake smiled at the note. Last night was a wild night… The girls had stayed up talking and while Blake didn't share much she felt… comfortable. It was strange but she had actually enjoyed herself.
Roxie, despite her size, was actually a year older than her, and a total pervert having not only read but adored 'Ninja's of Love' and the rest of the series. Ella was a sweetheart despite the femme fatale thing she had going on and her light teasing. Blake could also relate to Mint's woes of having a team that seemed to have more energy than her. Oh the pains of the introvert!
Blake flipped the note over and wrote down her scroll number and thanked the profusely before leaving. She explained that if she wasn't there when she got back she would be grabbing some fresh clothing.
She had made some new friends, but she really needed a shower…
Sneaking off to her dorm she took a deep breath and hoped that Ruby or Weiss didn't come back early from lunch. Opening the door she found the dorm empty.
Blake immediately felt bad. They were gone and she was left in the dorm by herself. Blake idly recalled that there was a field trip today. They must have left without her. Not that she wanted to return to Forever Falls after the robbery, but the trees were rather beautiful there…
Blake made her way over to her bunk, finding her scroll charger and plugging it in. She made a mental note to make sure to carry a spare with her next time she needed to run off. It had died the night before when she had been running around town like a crazy person. She shook her head. What was she thinking?
She remembered feeling cornered and letting out some hurt feelings, but she had hissed and snarled like a cornered cat… like a cornered animal… Maybe if she had kept her cool she wouldn't be in this mess… maybe if she had acted more human… Blake shook her head.
Granted, if it had been Adam they would probably be in the hospital… Blake frowned as she made her way to the shower and just thought about life.
Soon hot water poured on her and she just let herself go under the steady stream of heat.
Blake felt… tired. Not physically, just emotionally and mentally. All the while trying to find a way to tell her team about her… situation.
'Sorry Weiss. I was a member of the terrorist organization that you hate, but I've changed now so we're good right?' or 'Sorry Ruby and Yang, your teammate/partner is an ex-criminal. I hope this doesn't put a damper on our relationship!' or better yet 'Sorry guys, you see I have amnesia and don't really remember anything before I was twelve. The group that found me were the only family I had ever known so I kinda followed them and helped them do stuff, but I didn't like- I just-'
Blake banged her head against the side of the shower.
She hated this.
This anxiety of waiting…
She tried thinking of any solution that didn't involve telling the truth and she couldn't think of anything.
She had decided to become a huntress because they were neutral. No 'Human' or 'Faunus'. Just Grimm and Huntsmen. She could put her skills to use helping people instead of hurting them. She could make a difference in this cruel yet beautiful world that didn't involve killing innocents.
Blake turned off the water and toweled herself off shaking off the memories along with the water.
But being on a team was both a blessing and a curse, she thought as she dried her ears. She had hidden what she was because she didn't want to be discriminated right off the bat, but she had been planning to tell them at some point. After she felt the waters some, she would have given Weiss the opportunity to prove she wasn't like her sister… eventually…
Winter Schnee, or rather her whole family, were known for her prejudice against the Faunus, but even she had not been as bad as her father, Jacques Schnee. He had been a tyrant, but softened supposedly after the death of his wife.
Blake winced. Yet another reason why Weiss would probably never accept her. In Weiss' mind the Faunus had basically killed her mother…
Blake was at a loss. What was she supposed to do? 'Sorry about your mom Weiss. I also know how it feels like to lose someone to this stupid war'?
Despite everything Blake still couldn't muster up the hatred to do anything. She had been burnt out a while ago. She was tired of the hate. Tired of the discrimination. Tired of trying to make things 'fair', 'even'. Blake could kill all the Schnee's but that wouldn't bring back those she lost.
Brown hair covered in blood.
Blake trying everything, anything to stop the bleeding.
No tearful goodbye, no last words, or even one last smile…
She just looked so scared…
Blake took a deep breath and let it go.
It wasn't worth it.
Nothing would bring Illia back and nothing would replace this gnawing feeling that she had died for nothing.
Nothing would save her best friend from his hatred…
Her anger wouldn't do anything… Her indignation was impotent… Would getting upset at Weiss over some petty name calling really be enough to bring back Illia? Would going after the White Fang and proving she wasn't a terrorist help bring Adam out of his depression and hatred?
No… it was best to let go…
'The old man likes giving out second chances.' The drunken Huntsman explained, deep magenta eyes staring down at his drink after hearing her story and looking over her transcripts. 'If he can forgive my sorry-ass, then he can give you as second chance. And ta be honest? You aren't the worst person I've sponsored. I'll sign. Jes promise me you'll let this shit be in the past. Let it go. That or kick back a bottle and do yer best ta forget. I don't care which…'
Blake's scroll dinged with a dozen messages, finally being charged up. Most of them was from Yang but a few were from Ruby.
None from Weiss.
All Blake could do was wait, and let the chips fall where they may.
Weiss stared out the window as she waited for Ruby to awaken. She was doing a pretty good job drooling all over her jacket. While Weiss was squeamish around bodily fluids she was not going to fault the girl for being tired. She had just taken a massive hit to the chest…
Outside the train car was the Forever Falls Forest. A fitting backdrop to her indecisiveness.
She had no idea what to do with Blake's little 'revelation' and it was eating her from the inside out. Blake could have killed her so many times but the only time she ever even got upset at her was when they first met and then when she had been… Weiss sighed. She had been a bitch.
'Frigid Bitch of the North' they had called her in prep-school. She had been too afraid of getting close to people. Why would she try making friends when they would just die or be targeted for being close to her? But now… Weiss had 'friends'. And one of them happened to be a Faunus… Weiss groaned. There was one question continuously replaying in her mind since the day before.
How could she not have known?!
That was what bugged her the most. She had been told all her life that the Faunus were basically just animals. They had instincts, were feral, and stupid. Obviously they were not totally brainless animals if they could actually break into their mansion and try to kill them, but that was what she would constantly hear at parties… That was just the general consensus.
Fact: Faunus are dim witted and weak creatures that hated humans.
That was just a fact of life.
But then Blake comes in, and Weiss didn't even notice that she wasn't Human.
She didn't even notice.
Weiss would have preferred her company to many of her own species… Everything she had been told about Faunus was destroyed when Weiss learned what Blake was… They were supposed to be these inhuman, animalistic, savages that wanted only to kill them! Monsters! They were supposed be the Boogeymen that hurt her and her family. Velvet's kind being the exception because she was a submissive, non-threatening… and just…
Weiss resisted the urge to scream. This was tearing her apart as she bitterly tried to reconcile these two ideas in her head and the only answer her mind gave to her was 'perhaps the world wasn't all black and white' which roughly translated to 'you know nothing' and it wasn't sitting well with her.
At all.
"Oh… um… hello?" A lightly accented voice said outside the compartment door. Speak of the devil…
"Um…" Velvet continued nervously peeking into their compartment. The train had private compartments for teams. Simple four seaters, but with an enclosed area that allowed for 'greater team bonding'. "I came to check on Ruby, she seemed hurt during training period… but um… I can come back later…"
"Wait." Weiss said. Well… commanded. Weiss bit back a wince as the Rabbit Faunus actually flinched. "I-I… May I speak with you?"
Velvet stared briefly like a deer caught in head lights.
"Oh! Um… ah… sure?" Velvet said softly. She gently entered the compartment and sat across from Weiss. She took a deep shuddering breath, like she was steeling herself, and let it go. "What would you like to talk about?"
Weiss looked down. What was she supposed to say?
"I… have some questions about An-Faunus culture and…" Weiss trailed off as Velvet became increasingly nervous. "I just thought to ask an actual… Faunus about it."
"Um… I don't know everything, but I'll answer to the best of my knowledge…" Velvet promised. "Faunus Culture is rather broad… um… did you have a specific Faunus Kingdom in mind?"
"Faunus Kingdom?" Weiss echoed. She had never heard this before…
"Um…" Velvet looked nervous but ready to give an explanation. "Well… Some Faunus are okay being grouped together as a united whole… others… prefer to identify themselves by certain Kingdoms. For example, Mammalian Faunus Culture is rather different compared to Insectoid Faunus Culture. There is some carry over but… they are honestly very different."
Weiss blinked. That made sense, but it did little to dampen the feeling that she had just stumbled upon a new world, something as awful as it was awe inspiring… Weiss coughed politely into her fist.
"Um… Let's start with the Mammalian one." Weiss offered. Velvet nodded.
"Among Mammalian Faunus there is a greater emphasis between Carnivorous and Herbivorous… Um… Food is a big part of their culture and some Faunus cannot process certain foods so… they tend to… um… group together with the ones that can eat the food they can eat." Velvet explained. "Reptilian Faunus tend to be Carnivorous as well as Amphibian and Sea Faunus."
"Sea Faunus…" Weiss echoed hollowly.
"Um… those with attributes of aquatic animals... fish… um… sharks too… sometimes whales are included but not always…" Velvet said nervously. "Oh! Um… after that is of course whether they feel more comfortable in groups or on their own… Many tend to get uncomfortable if confined with people they don't know while several species can get along with just about anyone."
"So, like people…" Weiss said trying to understand. "Humans, I mean…"
Velvet looked impassive for a moment before continuing.
"Mammalian Carnivores tend to be leaders while Mammalian Herbivores tend to be followers." Velvet said. "Hunter/Prey, Alpha and Beta, Pack mentality is usually a good rule of thumb. If they would be dominant in their animal counterparts they will tend to be dominant in their social structure. There are some born leaders among them but that is the exception rather than the rule."
"So, again… like Humans." Weiss muttered. "Are there… ways to tell a Faunus from a Human apart besides their Animal parts?"
Velvet winced. "Well… I like to focus on what is the same… but I guess the major difference is that Faunus tend not to have a Semblance."
"They don't?" Weiss asked curiosity peaked. This was something she had noticed, but it was never really answered before. So many White Fang members yet all they use is Dust or their Animal attributes. Perhaps she could get an adequate explanation for it from Velvet. She had just thought they had been incompetent or lacked suitable training before but now she wasn't so sure. Winter tended to shield her from this sort of thing. It was part of the reason she had left in the first place. She wanted to know first hand and now she was speaking to a Faunus.
This is what she wanted… now let's hope the answer was something worthwhile…
"Um… you know how it is theorized we evolved from Humans? Well… many Faunus no longer have the trait that allows them to have a Semblance…" Velvet said hugging her arms nervously and looking away. "Faunus don't like to talk about it because it has been used as 'proof' that we 'don't have souls' or are 'just animals'."
Weiss frowned. But Blake… had a Semblance. She had seen her use it.
"Is it possible for a Faunus to gain a Semblance?" Weiss asked. This was unknown, shaky ground… if the White Fang grunts could gain a Semblance… Steal one… it would be bad… it would be very bad…
Velvet looked uncomfortable but nodded, making Weiss' sweat run cold.
"Faunus like… like myself… um… well…a pycdyntc-" Velvet pronouncing the strange, guttural word brought home that Weiss was definitely not speaking in Human terms... "I mean… half-breeds… can sometimes end up with one." Velvet said squirming in her seat. "But w-we… tend to be looked down on… in certain societies…"
"So, the Faunus believe Semblances are a uniquely Human trait…" Weiss mused. The fact some could use Semblances, and some could not meant Blake still wasn't out of the water yet. If she could use a Semblance and was a Faunus, the White Fang would be more than willing to use her as a weapon.
"But the Faunus can use Dust and Aura just fine. Otherwise they would have fallen to the Grimm long ago…" Weiss continued. "I guess they make do without. It must be difficult."
"Not exactly…" Velvet explained nervously. "Faunus for some reason tend not to attract Grimm all that well… The Grimm will still attack us on sight, but unlike Humans the Grimm cannot feel our emotions from far away and be drawn in… well… unless they are a half-breed like me… and then there is the Instinct."
"Which is?" Weiss asked patiently. Honestly, she was getting rather irritated. How was this supposed to tell her if Blake was a threat? How was this supposed to help her reach a decision? Velvet looked so befuddled she was honestly curious how the girl hadn't spontaneously combusted from sheer nervous energy alone.
"An… um…" Velvet winced. "H-how much do you know of Faunus religion?"
Weiss gave her a flat look. Velvet winced again.
"Um… okay… um… I'll just explain it how I learned…" Velvet said taking a deep breath. "Um… We have a few deities actually, but Mammalians believe in the Goddess Lupa, the Earth Mother. She gives the Instinct to her champions… but… um… more scientifically, Faunus learned how to use Aura in ways akin to a Semblance using their animal traits… For example a Chameleon Faunus might have the power to turn invisible or a Dog Faunus might be able to smell vast distances or even smell things like Aura… Stuff like that… but um… they are dypuu- um… sacred… um more like forbidden? Forbidden but still sacred… They are the Earth Mother's gift to protect her children… but um… they also can be mistaken for Semblances… and if they are used for evil…"
Velvet shuddered. "But they are extremely rare… even amongst Faunus who still practice the old ways… there is one exception however."
"And what would that be?" Weiss asked.
"A… um…sometimes a… pycdyntc can gain one without… um… well… 'permission'… or rather without training as an acolyte… if-if… someone like… if a pycdyntc gained both a Semblance and an Instinct… they are called a Lresany… a demon? More like a demigod… but darker? The word is hard to describe, but it means 'a creature made of two parts'… but the social connotations can be a bit confusing… But… um… depending on the culture some would herald them a savior… um… no offence but… um… some Faunus believe that a Lresany will be born and… um… bring down the Schnee Dust Company…" Velvet grimaced. "But I think even more believe that a Lresany are vemdr- unclean, unholy, dirty… Many wouldn't like it because it would mean that a pycdyntc is more worthy of the Earth Mother's blessing then her faithful… and that would be… it would be a very bad sign."
"So… half-breeds can have Semblances and can infiltrate Human settlements. That must be useful… " Weiss stated evenly, changing the subject away from the uncomfortable topic of religion. It was… disturbing… it meant Blake was either one of these half-breeds or worse a religious fanatic that somehow actually gained special powers…
Velvet looked down.
"Actually… it is usually very hard for half-breeds like me…" Velvet said quietly. "We are neither excepted by Faunus or Humans… We attract Grimm so we cannot live in Faunus settlements outside the Kingdoms… and Humans fear us in their great Cities because they are afraid we will develop a Semblance and not be sympathetic to their cause… Humans would rather us not have their abilities on top of the natural gifts of the Faunus…"
Weiss might have accused her of being haughty if it wasn't for the fact she was the meekest person Weiss knew. However this didn't paint a very comfortable picture for Weiss.
"So what?" Weiss asked unable to understand. "You are telling me that Faunus are discriminatory against other Faunus?"
Velvet nodded. "Very much so. Racism is a big problem for Faunus everywhere, not just among Humans. It is bad… really bad… but even more so for half-breeds. Especially those that have Semblances… Cardin was pulling my ears because he thought that I 'wasn't a real Faunus'. The thing is, I can think of several kinds of Faunus that would do similar… " Velvet said darkly. "Then there are the different kingdoms. Reptilian Faunus hate being mistaken together with Sea or Amphibian Faunus and or being lumped together with Mammalian and Insectoid Faunus. Insectoid Faunus are generally feared and discriminated against even by other Faunus for their oddities and practices. And the Insectoids hate that the rest of the world's Faunus are forgetting the old ways and not seeking their Deities for Instincts… They tend to be religious Zealots… The list goes on… There is a reason terms like 'Animals' offend Faunus in general. It would be like mistaking a Human from Argus to be from Vacuo. Same species, but vastly different cultures, customs, and even beliefs. To some being lumped together with other Faunus is the highest insult."
"Then how does a group like the White Fang function?" Weiss asked sharply. She had known some of this already, but of the different races of Faunus? How was she supposed to tell the difference? She was barely aware of her own racism toward Faunus, how was she supposed to know that these half-breeds were discriminated against?
Velvet gulped. "I-I wouldn't know as I am not a member but… um… Most of them are Mammalian… there are also different factions and faction leaders I believe… I woulnd't know for sure but I believe they must have some sort of truce or common goal… in this case perhaps the eradication of Humans, or perhaps just to get some free medical care… I don't know because I am not one of them…"
"Could a half-breed join? Do you think they have agents that pass as Human?" Weiss asked. Of course she had know they had some agent that could pass as Human but there was perhaps one with a Semblance sleeping next to her every night! She needed answers.
It became very quiet in the compartment. A look of understanding crossed Velvet's features and her nervousness left her.
"Miss Schnee…" Velvet said softly. "I am not a member of the White Fang… but I think that isn't your question… is it?"
Weiss blinked and slowly tears of frustration began pooling around her eyes.
"How did you know that?" Weiss asked accusingly. "Are you one of those Leresanny?"
"Lresany." Velvet corrected mildly. The word seemed to roll off her tongue as easy as the common tongue. At that moment Weiss felt like perhaps this strange guttural tongue, might be her first language. "Miss Schnee, I have the ability to copy people's movements. I can mimic the way you sit, the way you stand, the way you arch your back when stretching. With that I have a small bit of insight on how people are feeling… I can basically read your body language…"
Weiss became very quiet and more importantly, still.
Velvet gave a tight smile.
"I know my presence upsets you so I will leave you with this… It's okay to hate an organization but not the person." Velvet said quietly. "It is okay to see the person and not the organization they may or not be part of and accept them. Perhaps you cannot accept the actions of those who harmed you, but please understand that the individual is different than the group they belong to."
"How can you know that?" Weiss demanded. Not out of angry, but of desperate need. She needed to know. She needed to know if she could accept this part of herself. This part that still wanted to be friends with Blake even if she was part of the White Fang…
"Miss Schnee, I personally hate the SDC." Velvet stated bitterly. "I hate the way your father and your sister ran and still run things. I hate that my family has been discriminated against by both Radical Faunus and Radical Humans for being a mixed marriage. I hate that my family had to move from Atlas for their choice to have me. I hate that people lump me together with the likes of the White Fang without even trying to know me. I hate that sometimes I wish I was never born this way… and I hate that sometimes I am jealous of people who were born one way or the other. At least their role in society makes sense."
Then Velvet nodded towards Weiss. "But you… I don't hate you… You came to me with an agenda yes, but it was also to learn. You sat patiently and asked me questions. Me. A vemdr pycdyntc… a dirty half-breed… You asked about my culture and listened to my struggles and heard the plight of my people. I may be a half-breed, but I am still a Faunus. And you listened. For that I can say that I know that whatever your question is, you already know the answer. I know you will do the right thing. Just follow your heart. Even if it's stitched up and broken inside…"
With that Velvet left.
Weiss felt exhausted, her mind whirling as to what to do.
On one hand she could accept that Blake wasn't a terrorist. That she was a Faunus yes, and even one of these half-breed things capable of Human Semblances that honestly scared the shit out of her if for no reason but for the implications.
Or on the other she could stay the same. She could ignore what she just learned and never change. She could go on pretending that she didn't feel a lot of respect for the half-breed Faunus girl…
Weiss looked out the window and scowled as Ruby Rose snored gently on her shoulder, completely oblivious to the emotional turmoil her partner was feeling.
Dammit…
"I play 'Flaming Swordsman' in attack mode." Jaune said playing down his monster card. The game Ren brought with him was really helping him keep his mind off the nausea. It was kinda complicated, but he was getting the hang of it. Nora was asleep on Pyrrha's lap and Pyrrha surprisingly was busy reading comics. The new 'Wonder Amazon' title if he was being exact.
"That's a Fusion monster." Ren said patiently.
"Fusion monster?" Jaune asked in confusion.
"A monster made up of two monsters." Ren said off hand staring at his hand and preparing his next move. "In this game there are basically two kinds. 'Fusion' and 'Synchro' monsters. 'Fusions' require a fusion card like 'Polymerization' while 'Synchro' monsters have to have a card called a 'Tuner' and they can basically fuse with whatever to make new combos of monsters."
Ren indicated the stack of monster cards to the side of Jaune's deck. "These can be really handy and changed the meta a few times since you can get a strong card of relatively weak monsters… for example… you could use this 'Red Stone of Legend' to bring back your 'Red-Eyes Black Dragon' and then use this other card's effect to bring a 'Polymerization' and that card if you read the fine print means you can fuse something that is in your hand with something on the field and… there…" Ren said rearranging Jaune's cards for him.
To Jaune's surprise he now had a 'Red-Eyes Black Skull Dragon'.
"Woah… this one kinda looks like a Grimm Dragon…" Jaune said examining the card. Ren shrugged.
"It's pretty strong but… are you going to attack?" Ren asked with a strange glint in his eyes. Jaune, however, was totally lost as to what to do, so he just decided to go straight into the trap.
"Okay… I use 'Red-Eyes Black Skull Dragon' to attack the face down card." Jaune said blithely.
"Annnnd 'Sangan'!" Ren said smiling revealing the card. "This monster's effect is that I can add a monster card with less than 1500 ATK to my hand from my deck and…"
Ren pulled a single card from his deck and smiled. "I win."
Placing them in a star-shape on the seat was a set of five cards.
Jaune grimaced. Even a total noob like recognized this card.
"Exodia…" Jaune sighed. "You were waiting for that…"
"You know that is actually the first time I actually managed to win that way..." Ren said picking up the cards. "Normally I just hammer them with my 'Dark Magician' set… it was kinda nice using that strategy for a change."
"Last game you used that 'Dark Magician' and 'Jinzo' guy to win…" Jaune pouted. "You keep picking the good decks…"
"Actually you had the better deck in this case…" Ren pointed out. "See that 'Red-Eyes Skull Dragon' thing's effect? It basically means you toss the cards you used for the fusion at me and deal 2400 damage points to me and then shuffle that back into the deck. I managed to survive this time because I had the Life Points to tank it but that is still a good bit of damage that I can't really block. The rest of the deck allows you to play Warrior types and their effects give each other buffs like adding ATK points or resistance to Trap cards. It's one of my favorites actually…"
"Your deck allows you to pull out 'Exodia' and those!" Jaune accused pointing at the array of spell and trap cards on Ren's side of the field. On Jaune's side of the field the spell and trap area was barren.
Ren looked at the cards and frowned. "Touche… Play again?"
Jaune sighed. Honestly he had a better handle on his motion sickness when playing…
"Fine…" Jaune grumbled. "But I'm gonna play that 'March of the Monarchs' deck next."
Ren simply smiled. "As you wish…"
Blake had ended up leaving the dorm and wandering the City of Vale. Despite her earlier attempts of running away and running around town like a crazy person, she realized nobody would have seen her as a criminal or anything, so… Blake had taken a leisurely stroll through the town.
With the wig on of course.
Despite revealing herself to Sun and Team EMBR she still trusted Vacuo's hospitality to Vale's. Right now she was looking for information on more recent events, so newspapers and stray bits of gossip to overhear. It did no good to integrate into Human culture and not stay 'with it'. Blake had learned how far behind in the news last night when she realized that Team EMBR knew more of what was going on than she did.
She had purposefully stayed away from anything concerning Adam or the White Fang by just not staying up to date on things. She knew she had a bit of a complex concerning her old family and was trying desperately not to be pulled back into that life. However, perhaps not staying up to date was a mistake… It limited her information and-
Blake stopped on the street trying to get the White Fang programming out of her head.
'I am not doing that anymore.' Blake thought forcefully. 'I don't gather information. I don't steal things. I am no longer that person.'
When Blake was sure she had gotten out all the bad thoughts she continued walking. This was honestly most of her day since 'going clean' and the reason for it was quite simple. As Sun pointed out on their way back to Beacon, the White Fang was basically a cult.
They drew in young, angry, and desperate Faunus. They gave them things like medical or financial aid, or even just friends in a world where nobody accepted you.
Then they started asking for things. Little things like news or information. Then they started asking for bigger things. Money, tools, medicine, ammo… if you couldn't provide them things then you weren't a 'friend'.
If you proved 'loyal' you were offered a place in their 'family'. If you didn't this would be about time to change cities.
Once in you would be a 'brother' or 'sister' rather than just 'friend'. You would feel the comradery and rousing speeches of hope against their oppressors.
Then, slowly, the indoctrination would happen.
It had been happening the entire time but now was when those 'loyal' to the 'family' would be expected and peer pressured to listen. Then you were given a 'test' where you would set fire to a shop that offended the 'family' and then you would be forever marked a criminal.
Then… you were just another face in the White Fang. Another mask.
Good Faunus, good people, had been sucked into this trap for the last few years. The radicals were slowly pushing out the older generation who had stayed out of loyalty. They had to either conform to the new dogma or end up strung up on a lamp post and pointed at as a martyr for the cause. Their death bringing in new angry and hateful members to the 'family'. Those who didn't rebel usually stayed out of pure indoctrination or fear.
Blake remembered a time when she would have done anything for her 'family'. How she would have stolen and done just about anything short of killing to provide and be a good 'friend', a good 'sister'.
It had taken losing Illia to snap her out of it. To start looking at everything with new eyes and she was horrified with what she saw…
She, Adam, and Illia had been rescued by the White Fang from a pack of Grimm just outside of the Minstral City border and inducted into the 'family'. They had been apprehensive at first but… warm food, the lack of discrimination, and the promise of a family… a home… Adam, their protector, had been all on board, but Illia, the 'mom' of the group, was very wary.
Blake shook her head. Illia was right all along. Blake… when she was younger she had initially joined because she wanted to help the Faunus. She saw how Illia and Adam had been treated and… she just wanted to do something, anything, to help these two who took her in. To make a difference somehow. She read all the books she could find about Faunus oppression and surprise! They were all written by the White Fang.
She had found the memoirs of their previous leader, Ghira Hozuki, to be a calm, careful, but bold and unyielding plight for Faunus rights. The newer books were all about the 'wrongs' of the Humans and how they were destroying Faunus culture and the 'slavery' of their ancestors along with a good measure of calls to action against them.
It had been one of the first red flags when they had burnt all her Ghira Hozuki books.
Ghira has stepped down. It would bring down morale in the Family if his books were still among them.
Sorry about your books Blake. Maybe you would like the new book Sienna Khan issued, it talks all about the-
Next time don't bring the words of that Traitor among us. He settled for Manageire! I will settle for my brother's freedom across Remnant!
Then Illia… Blake stopped at the shop in front of her. 'Tuckson's Book Shop: Everything under the sun!' the sign happily declared.
To any Human it looked like a regular book shop. To a Faunus however…
Three 'claw' marks on the electrical post outside meant that this was a front for the White Fang.
Blake hesitated.
This was… too close. Too close to her old home… Too close to her old life…
Blake looked away from the shop.
She had gotten out.
She had made sure she would be alone with just Adam. The one person who would never hurt her… and left. She let go. It had broken her heart to realize the man she once loved was too indoctrinated and hurt by what happened to Illia to leave the White Fang. When she left… Adam had been so angry... Did he really not understand?
Blake's ears twitched under her wig. She could hear someone coming up behind her. Ducking around a corner she peered back to hear the conversation before she could mentally stop herself. Spying was still a bad habit she was trying to break…
"So… we just gotta whack a cat?" said a man in a black suit… well black everything except his tie and shades. Those were red.
"Yeah… Boss said just do whatever we're told, and da Schmuck told us ta whack a cat." He fellow said. "Honestly, I don't know why da Boss is even botherin' wiff dat Torchwick guy…"
"Not so loud Biggs!" the first said. "You never know which a' these Animals has supa hearin'."
"Yer right Wedge… sorry…" Biggs said. "So… once da job's over…"
"We gotta take a dump run." Wedge said flatly. "We ain't got time ta see yer lady friend."
"Aww…" Biggs said. "Well… we here…"
Blake's eyes widened as she heard the door of Tuckson's swing open causing a little bell to ring, then shut behind them.
Torchwick… that was the name of the guy Ruby stopped… a mobster. They were going to kill someone in the White Fang…
Blake tried to keep walking.
It was a White Fang store front… she shouldn't get involved…
If the store owner was part of the Fang he had to be strong….
Brown hair in a pool of blood…
It was still just a front and there might be innocents…
Blake turned and ran towards the shop.
"Dammit!"
A/N: Follow, Favorite, and Review. I answer PMs so if you have any questions let me know.