GXY-2013:Will JNPR and RWBY train under Lord Saladin, and will they go to Earth?
Diluation:No, and no to JNPR going to Earth. However, we are debating getting RWBY to Earth.
I'm not going to reply to Omnigawker, as I already given him a boot to the head via a PM. One doesn't need two boots to get the point across.
We will state again, however, that we think that ships are unnecessary to the universe as is, and would rather stick to writing it without complicating the story with such a sub-plot of that size(I'm looking at you, suddenly dropping in ex of Blake. Aren't you supposed to just be a teacher?). This doesn't mean we'll ignore the possibility of such happening, however. There are some situations in storytelling that certain ships would just be too good to not add, albeit rarer than that Vex Mythoclast we all want.
Edit:Also, that being said, I hate things like Enabler with a burning passion. So if anyone suggests something like that, I will give them an honorary boot to the head.
Diluation:Oh, one last thing before we start.
*pulls a cord that causes a trebucket to fling hundreds of boots at Rockman1159, covering him in a mountain of boots*
Diluation:Retaliation at it's best… now we can read.
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After much heated debate, Summer stood at the Remnant portal to Earth. Like Cayde said, it looked like it was Vex but also Human influenced. She looked behind her and saw her two old friends of a previous life. Taiyang was wearing the "Risen" Titan armor while Qrow wore the "Risen" Hunter armor. Not exactly the most reliable or protective gear but they would function for now. Summer made a mental note to get the two better gear when they got to earth. She sighs as she looked forward to the portal and looked back to her friends once again.
"Are you two sure about this?" Summer asked.
"Summer we told you before, we're a team, we'd follow you to hell and back." Qrow stated, as he put on a hunter helmet.
"Qrow's right Summer. We're the only other available help there is. Huntsman have been MIA and KIA in Mistral faster then anyone can explain. They're in desperate need of manpower over there. Atlas would just make a mess of things, Vacuo is… well, Vacuo, and Vale needs all the Huntsman they got. We're quite literally all there's left that's available." Tai replied as well.
"Ok. And thanks guys. For coming with me." Summer stated, both thankful and worried for them pitching in. I just hope Ruby and her friends don't get into trouble while we're gone. She thought as the Guardian and her former teammates went through the portal.
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Ruby was on her bed hugging her pillow. She was saddened at the fact her mother was called away. Various parts and a weapon frame was in her desk. A mother daughter project that she and Summer where doing together to pass the time and be together for some time. But if anything she just wanted her mother's company again. With her being redeployed to Earth with her father and Drunkle Qrow. She only had her friends and sister. She really shouldn't complain but it felt like she was missing something a part of her again. She hoped that her mother would return soon.
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Summer held her breath as she was once again in front of her daughter's dorm room. She wanted to stay for quite a while but unfortunately duty calls. And with the threat of SIVA. She didn't want to imagine what the Fallen would do if they managed to get SIVA on Remnant to take it over. So with a heavy heart. She decided to tell her kids. Knocking on the door, Weiss was the one who answered, in her pajamas and visibly a little irritated that someone was calling this late.
"Oh. Its you." Weiss deadpans. She looked off to her left.
"Ruby it's your mom, she looks like she has something to say." Weiss said from the door
"But it's like two in the morning." Ruby whined.
"Your mother is out here, talk to her." Weiss said with a bit of authority.
"Fine I'm coming." Ruby grumbled getting out of her top bunk.
Ruby walked up to the door rubbing away the tiredness in her eyes. She opened up her eye linds to see her mom in full battle regalia.
"Mom is everything alright?" Ruby asked
"Can you get Yang too, Ruby?" Summer asked.
"Sure… ok." Ruby replied.
It took a few minutes but eventually Ruby got Yang out of her bed. She groggily came to the door, her hair a flyaway mess.
"Mom is everything ok?" Yang asked.
"Girls, I have something I need to tell both of you." Summer sighed and paused before continuing. "I have to go back to Earth." Both girls widened their eyes in surprise, with Ruby looking like her whole world just got shattered
"Mom please tell me your joking." Ruby whispered as if she was holding back her pleading heart from escaping.
"Something has happened on Earth, and it may end up endangering Remnant if left unchecked. It must be stopped. The Vanguard needs me again. I can't ignore my duty." Summer gently said to Ruby. Ruby started to tear up.
"But….but I just got you back... after so many years! Isn't there any other Guardians that can help?" Ruby tried reasoning.
"The Guardians here on Remnant are helping clear out the Grimm and Bandit tribes. Huntsman are stretched thin in Mistral and they need all the help they can get." Summer softly replied.
"Why can't you stay!? It's not fair!" Ruby started to sob.
Summer placed a hand on Ruby's shoulder.
"I'll be back Ruby. Don't worry I'll be fine. Your dad and uncle will be going with me and they'll have my back like I do theirs." Summer said.
Ruby just sobbed into her mother's shoulder.
"The last time you left, we thought you died. I don't want that to become a reality this time." Ruby mumbled into Summer's shoulder.
Summer hugged Ruby back and rubbed her head and back.
"I know it feels unfair. But that's just life. I know you worry about whether or not i will return. But I will. This isn't a goodbye. This is a see you later, so don't say goodbye. You know I hate goodbyes." Summer said soothingly to the crying Ruby.
Yang had a blank face, but she to felt equally uncomfortable wanting her supermom to leave. It was great having her back. To Yang it felt like she was abandoning them. Like Raven did to her and Tai before. But as one person has said before in a book she read. "Grief is great." Ruby was then lead back to her bed and Yang got into hers. But before Summer could leave. Ruby asked a question.
"Mom. Can you….sing something to me…..please?"
Summer thought for a moment before smiling and nodding. Walking over to Ruby's bed she thought of multiple songs she could possibly sing until she finally got one. It was one she heard. Friend of hers sang to his Grandchild one night when she was being fussy when it was her bed time. So she figured it would be a good one to help Ruby if Ruby listened in between the lines.
("Not Alone" belongs to the band "Red")
"Slowly fading away, lost and so afraid. Where is the hope, in a world so cold. Looking for a distant light. Someone who can save a life. Living in fear. When no one will hear your cries. Can you save me now? I am with you I will carry you through it all. I won't leave you I will catch you. When you feel like letting go~. Cause your not, your Not Alone."
"Your heart is full of broken dreams. Just a fading memory. And everything's gone. But the pain carries on. Lost in the rain again. When will this ever end. The Arms of Relief. Seems so out of reach but I. I am here. I am with you. I will carry you through it all. I won't leave you I will catch you. When you feel like letting go~. Cause your not. Your not alone."
"And I will be your hope. When you feel like it's over. And I will pick you up. When the whole world shatters. And when your finally in my arms. So please look up and see that Love as a Face. I am with you. I will carry you through it all. I won't leave you I will catch you. When you feel like letting go. Cause your not. Your not alone."
"And I will be your hope. Not alone~. And I will pick you up. And I will be your hope. And I will be your hope. Slowly fading away. Lost and so afraid. Where is the hope. In a world so cold."
And with that Summer kissed Ruby's forehead as the 'minime' fell into a deep sleep. Yang watched Summer head to the door. Wondering if Summer will return soon. Just thinking about it made her heart ache more. The pain of losing her was still there when she died ten years ago. Maybe that wound will heal. But as wounds heal, scars remain. And one of them knew this well.
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"Welcome to the Cosmodrome! I don't remember it being this snowy last time I was here." Summer said as she and her two past-life teammates walked through the snow covered landscape towards their destination. They would've gotten there faster if not for two things.
The first being that she only had one Sparrow on her at the time, and didn't have anymore to spare for her teammates, so that was out of the question. The second being that after stepping through the portal that led to Remnant, they took the ground teleporter to their destination, only for it to malfunction and send them outside the wall a mile away from the Cosmodrome. And to make things worse, the nearest Guardian on call, a man named Frederick, who was a little closer than the original teleporter, was too busy fighting off SIVA to pick them up, forcing them to make their way on foot. After Qrow emptied his stomach and Taiyang managed stopped shaking from teleporter nausea, they followed the Wall to where they needed to go meet Frederick. To make the journey go by quicker, Drei answered as many questions about the Cosmodrome that were pitched to him by both Qrow and Tai.
"The Cosmodrome was both a shipyard and launching station during the days of the Golden Age. Almost every other week, ships went up into space with supplies and passengers to their new homes." Drei said.
"I can see that." Qrow said as they walked past a vast valley containing the skeletal remains of colony ships, some still pointing into the air awaiting their launch and others that fell and littered the ground, spilling their cargo and remains. Throughout his whole Huntsman career, he's seen devastated landscapes, abandoned cities and other places that were described as graveyards. Compared to this place, Remnant seemed like a paradise. But now he felt a little bit guilty comparing his world to this one, remembering that Earth had it alot worse compared to home. On Remnant, they had four kingdoms and a few small cities/ villages, while on Earth, there was only had one. They followed the wall until they came to a stretch of highway that led to what Summer described as the Gateway. When Tai asked her what was so important about reaching this location, she replied,
"Two things: the first being that this spot is the closest to where we are meeting a friend of mine that's waiting for us on the other side."
"And the second?"
"It's also the place where I first became a Guardian." she said as Tai froze for a moment and contemplated the importance to Summer.
They went over a large hill and saw their destination: The Gateway. It was just like Summer remembered it from a long time ago. Rusted cars crammed onto a road leading to the checkpoints deep within the Wall filled with the skeletons of innocent souls that never made it to safety. What she didn't remember from back then was the giant flaming hole in the wall and the gigantic Fallen Ketch parked near the road.
"I take it that's not supposed to be there?" Qrow said sarcastically, gesturing to the alien ship that would give an Atlesian battleship a run for its Lien as he readied his weapon.
"Nope." She said as she upholstered an assault rifle from her back and went into serious mode. "Get your weapons ready, no telling what we're going to face." Tai and Qrow loaded their weapons and kept their eyes open. They followed Summers lead as they made their way through the car wrecks and alien vehicles that were covered in tarps.
Drei scanned one of the vehicles. "This is definitely Fallen. Specifically, House of Devils. Why they're all covered I'll never know…" Drei stopped as he sensed something. Summer turned to her little light.
"Drei…?"
"I'm picking up Fallen chatter on a lot of frequencies along with movement all around us, but I can't seem to get a read on it." He said as he went back into her head out of sight. Summer scanned all around her, watching to see if there were any invisible Fallen around her.
"Uh Summer?" Tai said with a bit of worry in his voice. She turned and saw that Tai was standing perfectly still as several blue-red dots blinked to life all over his chest and head. Tracing back the dots, Summer turned to where they were coming from…the bow of the Ketch nearby. She spied several dozen Vandals all with Wire Rifles pointed in their direction. Immediately, her Icebreaker came out but she was distracted by a whine that sounded around them. Turning around, Summer saw twenty Captains decloak around them, scorch cannons leveled and aimed at their position. This complicated things. Summer knew that any move she made would pretty much guarantee her and her teammates death, and unlike her, there won't be any Ghost to revive them. So she lowered the sniper rifle and waited, watching as Dregs and other Vandals came out of small caves and from behind rusted cars and join their comrades, encircling Summer and her team in a progressively growing group.
Then, a Vandal came out of a nearby van and walked leisurely towards Summer. As he passed several Dregs and other Vandals, they all crouched low and bowed their heads in respect. This Vandal had bullet wounds and slashes all across his chest with a big scar going across his face. Summer smiled knowingly, because she was the one who gave him those scars.
"Hello Randal." She greeted, a slight smirk on her face.
"Guardian Rose," The now identified Randal said in english. "It's been a while."
"Friend of yours Summer?" Qrow said as he was held off by a few Dregs that had their pistols trained on him
"This is Rahndel the Vandal!" one of the Captains said in garbled english. "Leader of the True Devils, the one who fought the Guardian Rose and lived!" it said in a proud voice.
"Wait, I'm confused." Tai said. "Summer called you Randal, but this one," He gestured to the Captain that just spoke. "He called you Rahndel."
"I couldn't pronounce his Eliksni name, so I called him Randal, which is as close to his real name as anyone can get, and as I recall, when we fought, you lost!" Summer said smugly, thinking of many ways they can get out of this situation and recalling the battle they fought long ago.
"You didn't beat me. It was a draw." Randal said.
"Was not."
"Was too."
"Was not."
"Was too."
Summer growled "Anyway, what do you want? Oh let me guess… you try to kill me and my friends, emphasis on try, so you can become Kell of the Devils and use whatever you found in the Cosmodrome to conquer all, am I right?" Thinking that she guessed his master plan. What she didn't count on was him laughing at her face.
"Kill you?" He said. He made a hand gesture to his fellow Fallen and they all lowered their weapons. "As much as I would love to, we actually have common course."
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Randal led the trio through the walkways that laced throughout the wall. Summer walked behind him followed by a reluctant Taiyang and Qrow followed by at least four of the Scorch cannon wielding Captains and a small handful of Dregs. Qrow was trying to shoo the Dregs away from him, but according to them, "He smells like a bird." and they stuck to him like glue. Qrow silently cursed his semblance and his magical ability.
"So explain to me, again, why you're helping us?" Drei said as he materialised in front of Randal. He growled and repeated himself.
"The Devils are more divided than ever before. The only reason we held on together as long as we did was due to my legendary status among my House. Some even wanted me to become Kell."
"Why didn't you?" Summer asked.
He growled in a laughing matter. "Rahndel the Kell, doesn't have the same ring to it as Rahndel the Vandal." He continued "But, a disgraced Archon Priest by the name of Aksis returned and claimed leadership of the House. He and those closest to him found something called 'The Machine Gift', your SIVA, and used it to achieve apotheosis. They have become more machine than Fallen and are now distributing this "gift" throughout the House, starting with our Splicers."
Summer didn't know what Splicers are, but didn't like the sound of them at all.
"After the Splicers were completely changed, they began changing the other members of our House, to become closer to the Machine God than ever before but some, along with myself resisted. We've seen what this SIVA can do, and rejected it outright. Now the House is split in two. On one side, a small minority are against it led by me. And the majority all follow Aksis and his faction."
"Wait, you are leading them?" Summer said.
"Just how many is your minority?" Tai asked.
"My minority, as you call it, is in the low millions, while the majority is in the tens of millions. And as to your question, it helps when my, as you call, street cred is substantial, even the Barons and Captains listen and follow me." He gazed at Summer. "Are you saying that the great God-slayer, Guardian Rose never used her many accomplishments/titles to get her way?"
Summer was about to deny that, but remembered all those times she used her titles and accomplishments to get more cookies, ice cream or that Exotic Weapon before anyone else did.
"As you can see by my Ketch back there," he gestured to the way they came. "I've tasked myself to find every single member of my House not infected and leave."
"Wait, you're leaving the Cosmodrome?!" Summer said, quickly taking a mental note to tell Zavala.
"For now." He said. "The Splicers have every Fallen in the Cosmodrome on edge. Rumors say that even the Kings have been driven off by them."
Summers eyes widened in shock at this revelation, with Drei seemingly to also be surprised by this news.
"Yo, Summer, just who are these Kings anyway?" Qrow asked smacking away Dreg that was sniffing his flask.
"The Eliksni, or the Fallen, as these are called are divided into numerous Houses, each with their own customs and motives. Though they may be the same species, they don't get along with each other, except in the most dire of situations. The House of Kings are the most mysterious house known to us." Drei explained. "In all the years of fighting, we've only took out about four of their high-ranking members. And each house is composed of tens of millions of individuals. If these Splicers have managed to drive them all off when several hundred years worth of Guardians couldn't, it means that the situation is more dire than any of us had predicted.
Qrow and Tai paled at the thought of what these Splicers were capable of. Qrow took a swig from his flask and afterwards, shrugged and gave some to the Dreg that was sniffing for it. It took a sip and began to hack and cough. The rest of the group continued without paying attention to it, letting the sole Dreg suffer on its own.
The unusual group of Fallen and Humans exited the Wall and headed straight to a snow covered tank. "This is as far as we'll go. Destroy Aksis before he causes more damage." Summer turned to follow her teammates. She stopped when Randal called to her.
"Guardian Rose…" She turned to address the true leader of House Devils.
"Have you ever wondered, in this short amount of time, why I'm helping you? Despite my kinds overzealous hatred for you and our fight with each other?"
"It's crossed my mind."
"Do you remember the last time you encountered my House? The day you and your friend found a caravan containing many Eliksni children?" Summer went silent, remembering that day so long ago. Having to fight her dearest friend protecting the children of her enemy.
"One of them was my son, Baohb". Her eyes widened.
"You saved my child and that many others. By our traditions we, how do you humans say, owed you one. Consider my debt repaid. The next time we meet, it will be again as foes." He then brought out his blades in both hands and made a gesture with them. Two blades pointed downward crossed with the remaining two pointed to the right and then bowed his head. He along with his followers cloaked back into invisibility, and the team watched as their footprints headed away in the snow.
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While the three waited for their ride, Tai was wondering why Summer was smiling after having just received a call from Frederick who eventually found there FOF(Friend or Foe) tags. He sighs as he looks up to the sky, but then something caught his eye.
"You ok Sum?" Tai asked
" I just remembered, there's something I'm pretty sure a old friend of mine is gonna say." Summer replied.
"What might that be." Qrow asked
"Well…" Summer Was cut off as a loud engine cut her off.
The three looked up to see a odd ship coming in, though the black and red color instantly made Summer smile. The ship came in for a landing, the back hatch opening as it did and a black and red titan stepping out. Pouches littered the titan's chest plate and a large kukri knife was sheathed on his left shoulder plate. The blood red visor of his helmet gave off the impression that it was frowning. His titan mark fluttered in the breeze as he stepped off the ship, the crossed rifles and lions head over a shield billowed over a canvas of red. He had a black bullpup rifle on his back and a magazine fed pistol strapped to a drop holster on his thigh. What caught almost everyone's eye though, was the sword this Titan carried with him. The handle was wrapped in red leather, with a carved roaring lion's head at the crossguard. The blade itself was a good four maybe five feet long. Inscriptions of an unknown language were etched down its length, but the aura they radiated made the hairs on Tai's neck stand on end.
The titan walked of the landing ramp and took a good look at the three of them. His silence was seething like he was out there for blood. For a moment, the tension in the air was palpable, which immediately broke down once Summer sprinted at him, a smile on her face as she latched onto his rather bulky arm.
"FREDDIE!" She shouted as he lifted his arm up like what Qrow did when he saw Ruby at Beacon do. "So big bro did ya miss me!? Did ya!?" And to the Huntsmen's shock. The intimidating posture of the Titan went away instantly with one soft answer.
"Nope." He replied with a joking attitude.
Summer got off his arm. But his visors gaze went to her arm. He saw the four hive runes glowing and held a particular malice against him. They all heard him sigh as he then looked back at the two Huntsman.
"I didn't know we had new bloods joining us. They're not gonna last like this." Frederick noted while observing Qrow and Tais gear.
"Excuse me, but who are you?" Tai questioned. "I've heard Summer call Cayde her uncle, but never heard of you."
"Names Frederick Mendez. A old friend of Summers. But we can waste time talking later. Lord Saladin is waiting for us." Frederick said as he turned around and walked up the ramp. "Oh you two newbies get on the side turrets."
As the other three entered the rather roomy ship. Frederick pointed to the turret controls on the sides of the bulkheads. Summer was about to get into the light artillery gun when Frederick tapped her shoulder, and tilted his head to the cockpit. She stepped down from the ladder, and followed him unto the cockpit. He sat in the pilot seat and rotated the seat to face Summer. He looked at her arm with the hive runes again the back to Summer who was looking at him oddly.
"You used it didn't you?" Frederick said.
Summer, knowing what he meant, and just sighs as her gauntlet and part of her body glove transmatted away to expose her forearm and the glowing hive runes. Whispers seemed to have echoed malice. Frederick narrowed his eyes at the runes. Almost instantly when he narrowed his own eyes with equal malice towards the runes did the glow go away. As if the runes had a soul of their own, and cowered at his intense stare. The only evidence that it was there was how they looked like they were ingrained into her skin.
"So you know anything that can get rid of it?" Summer asked.
"No. I can't. Even if I used my "serum", they would still remain. You invited the powers into your soul. You would have to want it out of you. So it's really up to you to keep using Thorn's powers, or you forsake it that power you wanted. Darkness is still Darkness. No matter how you use its magics." Frederick replied. "That's all I can say."
Summer looked away in shame. As her armor reappeared. Frederick sighs and got up out of his seat as the ship launched to go to Felwinter Peak. He put a reassuring hand in her shoulder.
"That doesn't mean I've forsakened you as my friend." Frederick said.
She smiled under her helmet and nodded.
"Now then, there was a autocannon you wanted to get onto?" He said with a rather playful tone.
"I've just got a question first." She said, her silver eyes glowing a bit in mischief. "I heard your friend Moses makes this amazing coffee. How does he make it?"
Frederick narrowed his eyes. "Please don't-"
"Hebrews it!" She says with glee, before quickly retreating to the autocannon. Frederick sighs in slight annoyance and a bit of mirth, just standing there and watching.
"Looks like she's feeling better." His Ghost said.
"Anything for a friend Naomi… though I wish she would stop that." Frederick replied as he sat back down.
He then pushed the throttle to accelerate his speed. Soon the mountains of Felwinter Peak came into view.
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The "Beauty for Ashes" hovered over the courtyard of the Iron Temple. The landing ramp opened up so that Tai and Qrow could jump out as did Summer and Frederick. Shiro-4 stood outside near the pillars of the Iron temple. Looking on. He saw the four approach.
"Frederick, you're back. With company I see. Though why are newbies here?" Shiro stated.
"They're not Guardians. Just a couple of Huntsmen from Remnant." Frederick replied
"Then they're not gonna last long out there. Not with that gear." Shiro said.
"I'll hook them up with uncommons later. Is Saladin inside?" Frederick asked.
"Yeah. He also has a new mission for you lot. Looks like your wife's gonna be pissed, you're not gonna be back soon." Shiro replied.
"Yeah… this is gonna suck." Frederick mutters as he walks past the doors.
The other three walked by Shiro. Summer waved hi to him, and he smiled and waved back. However, he gave a seething glare at Tai, who in turn felt the malice coming from the veteran Hunter and was somewhat scared a bit. The Hunter relaxed, as the three went through the large doorway.
What set them in awe as they walked inside was the grand architecture. Pillars and stone art was along the ceiling, as wood burned in heat hops along the halls and corridors providing warmth and light, while illuminating great statues of the Risen, the guardians of old. The fires also illuminated a figure in the middle of the room who turned and faced them at their approach.
"Welcome, Hunter Rose." the man spoke.
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Dustiniz117: And that's it for now! Hope you all enjoy and remember to like and review.
In regards to several of our readers asking about Red War, Curse of Osiris, Warmind, Forsaken and the Seasons... Yes we will be doing those, just not anytime soon. First we're going to finish the SIVA Crisis ARC than the Shadows of Yor ARC of Remnant of an Iron Rose. On the subject of D2 and their expansions, we'll be dividing each one of them between the authors, myself included, that compose FireteamNero which would be posted on their own pages, but we haven't decided who gets what yet so please be patient.
For more information regarding the fight between Randal and Summer, see my Remnant of an Iron Rose Shorts: "The Vandal, the Rose and the Hive"(coming soon)
Diluation:Thanks Dustin, this actually gives me the chance to talk about something I've been wanting to address.
So some of you who do write, or at least the people who come to this category often wonder, are there tie-in stories to something as big as Ptabs's work?
Yes, actually, and all of them are considered canon. We've mostly left that untouched. I say mostly, because for you extremely observant folk(Looking at you OPP), I have something to announce regarding a specific one of them, and a writer I'm sure you're noticing is missing their A/N here.
Yep, we're talking about Animeak116 and his story Lonesome Wolf. As he is a part of our group, we have taken the time to read each other's tie-ins to the Remnant-verse(before you ask, no, my story is in no way connected to Ptabs's world, and it will never be.), and needless to say, everything was fine up to him.
I strongly suggest you don't go and read it right now, as we're currently in the process of editing his work, fixing grammar and continuity issues within his story. This is also to cause some delays for upcoming chapters, so you'll have to wait a little longer to get into the next chapter unfortunately.
This long ass AN all said and done, and my super secret statement of saying that I secretly fap to Ruby X Qrow, this is Diluation and Dustin from Fireteam Nero, and we hope you have a good day.
Diluation Edit:That was meant to be a joke of mine. I don't actually like the idea of shipping the two, something I thought was clear when I said I hated Enabler.
Apparently somebody must've accidentally deleted that when we covered ships, or didn't get through the copy paste for some obscure reason. Apologies for having offended anyone.