Yea what was meant to be like a short story or whatever I had originally planned is turning into a thing…oops. My b.
Hashtag Sorry not Sorry.
Oh well…here we go!
Breaking Point
The point at which something loses force or validity
The point at which a situation becomes critical
The point at which a person gives way under stress
They were in Winter's office after dropping Oscar and Ruby off at the hospital wing. Oscar once more recounting his fight with Ruby. The aforementioned cloaked leader was still unconscious, but the nurse evaluated her and assured them that there was no lasting harm that Blake had done to knock the young woman out was serious. It was merely more emotional and physical exhaustion that kept Ruby out like a light. The nurse had eventually kicked them out with the assurance they could come back later.
"A therapist? Seriously?" Yang asked grudgingly as she stares at the man before them.
"As rare as this is," Weiss drawled out eyeing the man in front of them arms crossed, "I agree with Yang. Are you seriously saying we need a therapist?"
The man had on small rectangular glasses that seemed to enhance his molten amber eye color giving the feeling that he could see through anyone's personality, "Ms. Xiao-Long, Ms. Schnee; it has come to my attention that after the recent events of Ms. Rose's…meltdown…" he said delicately, "it is best we clear the air now so as to prevent further…outbursts." The tone the man used reminded them of a wise old owl. His brown hair sticking up in places that reminded them of a Great Horned Owl's feather tuffs.
"Look we have our issues yes;" Jaune said gently holding up a hand to prevent anyone from retorting back, "however I think…today's events aside…we've done rather well managing them."
"Regardless." Winter said hands behind her back, standing behind her large desk, "I'd feel better that as licensed huntsmen and huntresses if you spoke to a professional about any repressed feelings you may have regarding past traumas."
"So you want us to spill our feelings…feelings we may have already dealt with on our own time…to some complete and total stranger?" Blake asked skeptically.
Qrow sighs and comments before anyone else could, "Look kids, there are a lot of things that have happened, and no real time to process anything. I agree with Ice Queen-" he was shot a look for this nickname, "something could trigger anything that you think you have dealt with when you are out there. Who knows? Ruby could unknowingly be a catalyst for any of you." He looked down and away at this comment, her words about his drinking still eating at him.
"Do not blame Ruby for this." Nora said in a low tone stepping towards Winter's desk.
"She is right. Ruby-" Ren started to defend the red cloaked leader.
"We are not trying to blame Ms. Rose." Dr. Stevens says gently, his tone diffusing what is appearing to be a volatile situation, "As it stands however, Ms. Rose's selflessness also means she is not dealing with her own issues."
They all went silent at this, not knowing what to say. Winter looks at the young people in front of them before resting on her sister, "Tell me sister," Weiss looked at her, "Ms. Rose has helped all of you in some way correct?"
"Of course she has!" Weiss replied harsher than she intended.
Winter took no notice of the tone, "She has helped you deal with the trauma that you all have endured. Been a shoulder for all of your burdens?"
They became uncomfortable now, as if somehow feeling it was their fault, "We are not saying this to blame you all." Dr. Stevens said reading the situation now, "Ms. Rose has long been compartmentalizing and internalizing her grief, which unfortunately has led to this moment in time. If this is not dealt with, then her grief will eventually destroy her." Dr. Stevens warns slowly and calmly.
Jaune looks at them and sighs, "So we are doing this more so for Ruby. So she will be more willing to open up and get her feelings out in the open…as much as it is for us."
"Precisely." Winter said nodding as she looked at Qrow.
"We are not punishing you." Qrow said, "We are trying to help you all. Besides this might benefit all parties."
When no one had any objections the good doctor smiled, "Well then I will see you all tomorrow and we shall begin." Taking this as a dismissal they left the room.
"Thank you Doctor Stevens." Winter said taking her seat.
He held up a hand, "No thank you for bringing this to my attention. Too many huntsmen and huntresses opt to not seek the help they need until it is too late." He then motioned to the seat opposite her desk and she nodded. Taking the seat he leans forward, hands clasped, "Now then where shall we begin?"
This brought the two adults up short, "I'm sorry?" Winter asked as Qrow shrugged.
"Did you want to go first Specialist Schnee or…Mr. Branwen was it? How about you? I'm sure that episode with your niece cannot have bode well with your recent sobriety if you do not mind my say so."
Qrow and Winter looked at each other. Qrow held up a fist, "Rock, paper, scissor? Loser goes first?"
"That's so juvenile." Winter huffed. She then smirked and pulled out her saber, "Best two out of three? Loser goes first?" Qrow smirked and they took off to the training room. Dr. Stevens sighed and stood up, grabbing his files. He exits the office with the sense of a lot of work ahead of him.
-SNOOPYKID-
"My sister is just looking out for our wellbeing." Weiss said slowly and deliberately glaring at Yang.
"Oh yea sure. This coming from the resident emotionally stunted ex-heiress." Yang counters, lavender eyes flickering red for a moment.
Weiss narrowed her eyes, "I'm sorry but you calling me 'emotionally stunted'? That is laughable. If I am emotionally stunted then you have the emotional range of a teaspoon."
"Guys." Jaune called out trying to get their attention.
"Frigid bitch."
"Brute." The two got into each other's faces and growled at one another.
This argument started when they had gotten back to the common room rather than breaking up into their own rooms. The discussion had turned from Ruby to the idea of talking with a therapist. Yang adamantly stating they didn't need one and that this was a team matter that should have been handled by the team, and Weiss stating that perhaps someone to help wouldn't be as bad as they were thinking.
"Ok that is quite enough." Blake said braving the two stubborn women and pushing them apart to stand between them, "Yang go to that corner, Weiss go to the other corner." The two glared at one another, not moving, "Now." Blake stated firmly glaring between her two teammates.
Grumbling they did as they were told, "Now then. I agree that this should have been settled as a team, however think rationally for a moment." Blake started to say to the group, "Why did it take for Ruby to nearly killing Yang in the room for us to realize that something was wrong?"
They were silent for a long moment, "She just hid it well." Nora said slowly, "Now looking on it, she always insisted on taking last watch."
Ren nodded, "The quiet moments she'd get this look to her. I just assumed she was missing you three."
Jaune sighed and rubbed his face with both his hands, "I asked you to help Pyrrha. I had her go up to that tower."
"Ok no more blame game here. You didn't make Ruby do anything. She did what she thought was the right thing to do." Yang stated firmly, "Blake is right. There were so many opportunities to make Ruby talk to us and confront her." She looked at Weiss, "I'm sorry, but I do not handle heavy emotion very well. I tend to brush things off with a joke or really react with anger when really stressed…I suppose is it any wonder why Ruby 'compartmentalizes and internalizes' emotions that are her own?"
Weiss sighs, "I am her partner. I promised I would be the best she'd ever have. I guess she had us focused on the mission, she never gave us any time for us to truly see her." Looking at the blonde she says, "I'm sorry too. My family is not really good with handling emotions either, I am learning though. Trying hard to not come off as a 'frigid bitch'."
"You aren't." Yang says coming closer to the middle near Blake.
Weiss approaches as well, "Then you are not a complete brute."
"Ok so apology session is over." Nora says standing up and crossing her arms, "How do we feel about this 'therapy' session?"
"It cannot hurt that much can it?" Ren asks, "I mean there are some things that are still holding us back. Like they said, Ruby acting out could cause a catalyst for us in some cases; so do we really want to take that chance?"
Blake has her own arms crossed. Recalling the events of Beacon and then with Adam in both case. Hearing Ruby's cries echoing in her head with the events at Brunswick Farms. She feels a cool metal hand around her own, "Hey, its ok." She looks to see Yang smiling at her, "We are here right? That's what matters yes?"
Blake smiles, "Yes." Then she frowns uneasily, "However there is one other thing we are forgetting about."
"What's that?" Jaune asked.
"How are we going to tell Ruby about this?" Blake questioned.