To bastardize the great literatures of old; to speak, or not to speak? Not only was it a question, it was a greatly debated conflict.
It was more than just a point of contention between many Faunus and humans. For some, it was a war that was fought over hundreds of years. Blustered about in skirmishes, and murmured about in the streets. It was now, unfortunately a battle being waged over the breakfast table. Blake watched with interest, wondering how it might play out. She had always wondered what Yang in Weiss would do in the face of a Faunus who refused human speech.
It seemed that Zhu proved an interesting debate. Then again, humans and their stance on the subject, was always interesting to Blake as well.
Blake decided to remain a neutral third party…even if she held her own rather pointed opinion on the matter. She'd pipe up later, but here at her table sat Velvet, a woman who believed strongly in her heritage. On the other side of the coin sat two humans, one with slightly more conservative ideals, and one with distinctly liberal ideals. However, at the end of the day, they were still human.
And that was perhaps the greatest equalizer that determined the stance one took on this subject.
"Well, all I'm saying is that if he can talk, he should. I don't claim to understand all of the noises he makes. I can try to figure it out, but let's face it, talking is just easier." Yang said, as they continued to try and get Zhu to use spoken word. "It's important that he's able to speak to all of us…not just other Faunus."
"Oh please…" Velvet rolled her eyes at the typical response. All Faunus heard it at one point or another. Yang probably wasn't aware of just how discriminatory she was being, but Velvet was going to put a stop to it. Her own morals clouded her words. "As if humans don't choose to exclude one another all the time."
"What do you mean?" Weiss asked.
"Even you have different methods you use to speak." Velvet replied. "For example, sign language should be universal. However, I don't see either of you two twiddling your fingers to get the point across."
"We're also not trying to talk to deaf people." Yang refuted.
"That's a defensive semantic at best." Velvet sighed. "Bigoted to those unable to hear at worst…and don't even get me started on the mute population. No matter how you look at it, that's just plain discriminatory."
"I still don't see what on Remnant being deaf has to do with Zhu." Yang stated.
"Humans intuitively use about eighty percent body language for communication. Faunus can use a full one-hundred percent of their body for communication, and we are also completely sensory as well. Vocalization for us, anyway, follows only as luxury only. We could be mute and still communicate fully with another Faunus."
"The kid's completely fine!" Yang blustered. "What the hell are you even on about?"
"She's arguing linguistics, trying to make a point. While I do see where she's getting it from, I still find the matter redundant." Weiss said to Yang offhandedly before turning back to Velvet. "In any case, the reason we don't use sign language, is because it's not something we need to use."
"But," Velvet interjected carefully, "Do you know how to use it?"
Yang and Weiss both confirmed, they didn't. They never needed to learn.
"There, see, that's the problem. If you ever did come across a person unable to hear, you would expect that person to read your lips." Velvet replied rather pointedly. "You expect them to understand your way of communicating."
"Woah, hey now..." Yang denied, "I never said that."
"You implied it with your simple laziness. It's your lack of education that would ultimately lead to your ignorance. That's the entirety of my point. It's that kind of self-righteous exclusionary type of attitude that you're now forcing onto Zhu."
"We aren't Faunus." Yang said.
"It's still your mentality that's wrong. So what if you're not a Faunus?" Velvet continued. "That goes right back to my previous argument. You're not deaf either, but you don't even know your own human body language to accommodate that. You're thinking backwards…if you can't learn his vocal and visual cues, that's not his fault. He's speaking his native tongue. Interacting with the world the way he understands it. Just as you're speaking and interacting with the world the way you understand it."
"And he understands human speech, as well…" Weiss said. "If he can understand it, surely he can speak it."
"Simply because I know a word, doesn't mean I care to use it. The same applies for him. Would you rather he start shouting curse words?" Velvet remarked heatedly. "Under technicality, that's human speech too, you know."
"It's not the same thing!" Yang raged.
Since things were starting to get heated, Blake dived in. "Isn't it though?" Blake asked, aiming to widen Yang's understanding on the matter.
"Oh, not you too." Yang shook her head. "You can't seriously believe this, Blake."
"Actually, I do." The cat Faunus said slowly. "I agree that Zhu should speak human tongue. I just don't agree with your reasoning." She then gestured to Velvet, and by extension, Bruno. "Neither one of us are saying he shouldn't speak your language, Yang. All that we're saying is that you need to see it from his perspective. You say you're not a Faunus, but that's just it. He's not human. The argument for that goes both ways."
"I still don't get it...there's no perspective to get."
Weiss winced, that was the wrong thing to say if ever there was one. "Yang…shut up…"
"No, I gotta hear this." The blonde said. "I don't friggin' get how they just don't care...Zhu's practically my nephew, and I can't even talk to the little squirt. Don't you realize how much that sucks? And what about Ruby?" Yang shook her head. "How's he going to talk to her, huh?"
"The same way he always has, if it comes down to it. However, for the sake of your argument, then let's change the example." Blake began slowly. "Humans can't smell the way Faunus can."
"So?" Yang said cocking her head to the side.
"And here we go…" Weiss murmured dryly as she rubbed her eyes.
"Yang, that's part of our communication." Blake began. "Most Faunus are kind enough not to try to rub your faces in our scent. We find ways of working around your impairment. And make no mistake about it. To us, that's what your lack of a smell is…an impairment. You are what we call scent-impaired, or nose-blind. We have to accommodate you, knowing you'll never understand the sorts of calling cards we leave around..."
"Never really thought it was that big a deal…" Yang said with a shrug.
"You're kidding, right? Yang, it's a huge deal. We can communicate with scent and body language alone. Even now, I smell the frustration in your scent, the aggravation there. I can smell how much his lack of human speech bothers you…and deep down it really does. You want to be able to talk to him. You want that connection with him. It bothers you that you can't have it." Blake said, cocking her head to the side. "I know all of that based on the smell you're giving off. It's thick, and to me, it's obvious."
To Yang's credit, she lifted her armpit and sniffed it with due agitation. "Yeah, well I smell sports deodorant."
"Yang, please for the love of my sanity, never do that in my presence again..." Weiss muttered under her breath. How this degenerated so far was beyond her comprehension.
"Do you want to know what I smell on you, Yang?" Blake asked her.
"Go ahead, do your worst."
"I doubt you want me to go quite that far..." Blake trailed off.
"She's right…" Velvet said. "Don't tempt her…"
"Why not?" Yang asked. "I got nothing to hide…"
Blake sighed at this. Yang was really underestimating her sense of smell. "You asked for this, but alright. You had a workout this morning, and took a shower after. And you've got a borderline bad attitude because you're in the middle of heat."
"I'm what?" Yang half groused.
Blake gave her a look as if she were stupid. "You're in the most fertile part of your monthly cycle. When your libido spikes slightly, and you're more likely to conceive. That's heat for a human female. You're in the middle of yours. Not only that, but, I know you masturbated within the last few hours too. I know you didn't have sex with anyone. The only pheromone on your body, is yours. I also know you used your left hand, because even with the smell of soap, the pheromone lingers strongest there…and, well, below the belt so to speak…"
"Okay, okay!" Yang blushed. "I get it…holy crap that's a little personal there, don't you think?"
"I have one more tidbit for you..." Blake said with a nod. "Silicone toy…"
"Lucky guess…" Yang said. "No way you smell that..."
"Either way, that's too much information." Weiss lifted a palm to her now blushing face.
"Don't believe me?" Blake said with a small grin. "Ask Velvet. She'll tell you the same thing."
To Yang's credit, she looked duly embarrassed. "And with that, I'm going to go train." Yang stood as she waved every one off.
Weiss only shook her head, still in disbelief that she learned more about Yang's day than she had ever wanted to. "I keep warning her not to provoke you unnecessarily." Yet even as she said this, she mentally reminded herself she wasn't safe from scrutiny either. If Blake could smell all of that on Yang, then Velvet probably had a very good indication of what the married couple had done earlier that day as well.
"I think..." Weiss said then, trying to cool her own crimson cheeks. "I think I'm going to go join Yang..."
In truth, training was also something Weiss planned to do as well, but it wasn't her own that she was concerned about. She had pupils now, two young girls who could become champions. If given just a little bit of time, and plenty of encouragement, the sky was the limit.
"Very good, Astrid." Weiss praised, the elder of the two twin girls accepting it with grace. "Now, as we practiced, poise yourself to strike." She stepped away from the child, watching to see if she could get herself back into a battle ready position on her own.
"Like this?"
"Exactly like that." Weiss nodded. "Face forward, and strike when you're ready."
Of the two girls, Astrid was the prodigy. She had inherited Pyrrha's knack for quick wit and sharp senses. A true arena fighter in the making. Even with her small training sword, Weiss saw great potential. The sort that separated the hobbyists from the award winning finalists. Unfortunately, the same skillset could not be said for Robin, the slightly younger girl.
Robin was the equivocal dark horse. Weiss could tell she had a clear passion for learning. The small precision errors that she committed time and time again were thwarted by pure exuberance. Her stance was always just a little off, her footing always in need of correction, but she was undaunted by Weiss. Even with her new tutor's keen eye for error and constantly high expectations, Robin met her training head on.
Robin's honest desire to become better was like steel in the face of admonishment.
It reminded Weiss of the old days. Winter would spend hours upon hours in the training room. Perfecting every single flaw Weiss had, molding her into a proper Beacon student years before Weiss had even considered such a thing. Those hard days of training were reflected now in Weiss. She desired to pass on such careful and constructive tutelage, just as her sister had once done for her.
Weiss observed as Robin lost the match with her sister, but once again took to the failure with as little mind as possible. Her focused gaze was back on her opponent, and Weiss schooled the girl's form into position once more. It was too early to tell which of the siblings would become the better fencer, however, Weiss had decided already that Robin would likely be the one to take to a harder training regime.
She stood side by side with Yang. "I want you to bulk her up." Weiss said quietly, so as not to be heard. "If we can get some muscle into those limbs of hers, she'll become a worthy opponent."
"Body building…in a kid her age?"
"No, more like sculpting her into a routine." Weiss corrected. "Early bet says, she's the huntress material. I think you'd make a good role model for her."
"You don't want me to get Astrid on a workout routine?" Yang asked, just to make sure.
Weiss shook her head. "Astrid will do better if she keeps her form long and slender like mine. She's fit for precision fighting, being light on her toes. She'll last longer in a match, no doubt. Robin's slower, and her forward thrust is a little heavy. Reminds me more of the way a man might handle the sword. She's fit for quick decisive battles. If I can get some focused power into her swing, she'll get her opponent backpedaling. Not the most graceful swordplay, but unquestionably effective."
"I'll get her started next week." Yang promised.
"Good...that'll give me time to re-drill the basics into them."
That night was a quiet one, spent in the luxury of silent togetherness.
As much as Blake played with around with Yang, taking her friend's distinctly human views with good humor…there was something to be said about the differences in rearing offspring.
Growing up an orphan for most of her life, Blake's greatest fear was her own mortality. She didn't want to die, leaving her children behind to navigate this confusing world on their own. Having a human parent wouldn't serve her cubs well with age. They'd be filled with questions that only another Faunus could answer correctly. Though, she would always trust Weiss to do her best, Blake thought it best to compile a set of memoirs that covered a great many topics.
Unbeknownst to Weiss, she had actually started the pen scratches back in Vale.
When her heat kept her up at night, and her mate was gone, Blake would write. It started with basic rules, guidelines, and rants on puberty. It went so far as to include heat cycles and mating…then it grew into so much more. It flourished into a means of preserving her most precious thoughts for the future. The things she wanted to instill to her children, and her grandchildren down the line.
Her thoughts, her whims…anything, everything.
You are loved. You will always be loved, I never want you to doubt. I never want you to question this, because the hearts and minds of the people around you are so diverse, so deep. You will never be without love…but, expect to be misunderstood. Expect that you will also misunderstand. There is a difference between humans and Faunus. I believe it's important to make that distinction.
When I was young, I didn't, but, now I see how blind I was.
Faunus aren't human. We will never be human…and we should never want to be human. Being mated to a human has forced me to understand the subtle aspects of Faunus nature. Aspects that we as Faunus don't care to notice. Things that we should. Take pride in your differences, believe in who you are…no matter what…
You see, Faunus rights activists often like to claim that we should stand on the same stage as humans. I believe that it's a matter of degree. To some extent, we should. Then again, to some extent, we should not. The view that our societies should mesh together seamlessly is idealistic at best…the sort of idealism that starts wars and gets people killed.
No, rather, Faunus and humans should seek less to define exactly what we are, and rather, define personhood in its entirety. This is the question I pose. What makes a person, a person?
I realize many of our brethren would scoff at this. However, we now live in an age where a metallic body can be entirely synthetic. Entirely inhuman, and still harbor a soul. It can be fully metal, completely made from the parts that would label such a thing a machine…and yet, it is living enough to maintain an aura. If that is what once defined humanity, then isn't it the selfsame for Faunus and androids alike?
As a collective people, we must find these answers. To exclude any sentience a chance at personhood, is to accept that there is a superior race in the first place. That sort of mindset cannot stand. If freedom is to be maintained and honored, then it must be so for all peoples of Remnant. Equality must be universal, in spite of the obvious differences that cannot be selfsame across all of Remnant's races.
This is how I choose to think now, even if the view remains unpopular...even if it no longer purely defends the rights of Faunus.
She sighed, placing her pen down and shaking her head. She would edit her ramblings later, but for now, she merely wanted her thoughts on the page before she forgot…
"Hey, Weiss…" Blake said slowly. "What do you want them to call you?"
Weiss looked up from the book she had been reading. "What do you mean?"
"Well, I hardly think you want them calling you dad, or something of the like." Blake explained with a hint of amusement.
"No, absolutely not." Weiss replied, knowing that there were already plenty of ways to confuse the hell out of her children. Besides that, she hated the masculine pronoun.
"Well, in our language, they'll have a distinctive call for each of us. It's a high pitched mew. The sound for mine will be slightly higher than yours will be, but it's ear-piercing enough to get attention, trust me." Blake said scratching the back of her neck idly. "The calls stand for sire and dam in our language…or daddy and mommy in human language, but I highly doubt you want that to be directly translated as they get older."
Weiss thought on this. "There is no other sound…in your language?"
"No. The calls are all based off of scent. They'll imprint you as their sire naturally...which, frankly, you are."
"Well then, when they get older, they'll need something more suitable." Weiss decided then. " They'll call me Mutti." She said softly, going back to her book. "It's what I used to call my mother."
AYangThang: The other half of today's post. Yeah, it was a big one. By the way, Mutti roughly means mom in German.