Though the other man was holding himself up against the alley wall, it didn't look like he was entirely able to stand on his own-- so without a second thought, Jaune ran to his side, gently bracing him so he wouldn't fall. The Huntsman did a quick lookover of the other, a worried frown soon rising to his features.
"You look really pale.. have you eaten anything lately? Here-- there's a bench by that restaurant, I can take you there to sit down."
".. well, I wanted to do some training, but.." sheepishly, Jaune gestured to the wooden sword in his hand; passing a somewhat embarrassed smile to the woman who had found him in the woods. "It's.. been a while since I've used something like this, so I was sort of figuring out how I wanted to go about it-- almost makes me feel like a kid again, heh. But, ah, if this is your usual spot, I can go somewhere else."
This is an event rerun. For more information on how to participate, please check our EVENT RERUN GUIDE! If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask!
(full size comic image can be found here!)
☆ ☆ ☆
“And… that should do it.” Caelum sighed, punctuating his words with a few taps of the keyboard and putting his drink back down on the desk.
“Look this over for me?”
“Do I look like Bellatrix to you? You think I can just read code with my own eyeballs and say whether this should work or not?”
“I wouldn’t sell yourself short.” He answered with a wry smile. A nice way of saying Aspidiske wasn’t getting out of this one, she regrettably realized. Moving from her spot with a groan, she propped her elbows against the back of the old man’s desk chair with a bored expression.
“Yeah yeah, looks great--Hold it. This isn’t even the same thing you were typing twenty minutes ago.”
“Ah, very good! See, I knew you were capable of reading it with your eyeballs, as you said.”
“You think you’re funny don’t you, Grandpa.”
Gritting her teeth to block out the sound of a hearty laugh, she scrolled through each line, reaching a couple times to tap something on the keyboard in front of him.
“...What’s that line there.”
“A choice bank.”
“What for?”
“I thought it might be courteous to allow them to decide where they want to go.”
“Why.”
“Well, if people choose an environment they like, they’re more apt to explore it, yes? Why choose someone who isn’t equipped to handle it?”
“Because it’s fun watching them squirm, that’s why. I’m changing this.”
“Hey--”
“Oh nooo, I’m gonna hit Run! Ohhh nooo!”
“Now see here, I--”
The next sequence of events all passed within seconds. Caelum’s fingers hit ‘undo’, Aspidiske moved to push his hand away with her own and deployed the RUN button with the other. Both collided with the glass on the table, knocking its mostly full contents onto the desk. A mixture of ice and sweet liquid flooded between the keys and into the cracks of the dashboard as Aspidiske pulled her companion backward sharply, saving him the sting of electric shock. The monitor split into several bright, jarring colors before attempting to pull itself back together, and numbers and symbols jumped from place to place before everything went blank for a few agonizing seconds. Both exhaled when the monitor whirred back to life, with the following prompt flickering and glitching across the screen.
[ OPERATION S.H.O.R.E ]
[ STATUS: ACTIVE]
Not too long after that ordeal, the click of the intercom and a long, disappointed sigh cut the silence. The deadly even voice of Pleiades spoke into the room.
“You two. In my office. Now.”
☆ ☆ ☆
Your phones switch on by themselves; the cafe televisions turn on, the daily news changes, your phone calls all display the same message over any visual media they can. But the person who appears in the broadcast is an elderly man, sitting at a table in a semi-professional manner, and a smaller woman behind him cackling.
“Hello! Hello, good evening, everyone. This is the first time we’ve met like this, ah? It’s good to see you on a personal level--”
“As personal as a giant broadcast can be.”
“...Ahem. You can call me Dr. Caelum. Behind me is Aspidiske.”
“Don’t drag me into this, old man.”
“I’m here to report that there are several islands off the coast of Spirale that have recently cleared from the mist. Given what happened a couple months ago when a mysterious object appeared, we’re unsure if the GPU has a hand in this or not. I’ll be frank with you, my friends, there aren’t enough of us to explore the islands ourselves. That’s where you all come in, I hope!”
“Not like you all have that much of a choice, after all. Cooperation is key, or something, something...”
“On your devices, I’ve sent something of a ticket for your island excursions. There are four that we’ve monitored in total, so you have the option of being transported to any one of those. Once we’ve collected enough information on the islands, we’ll bring you right back, safe and sound. We’ll be here, monitoring your progress as--”
From off-camera, something seems to spark and pop menacingly, along with a hissing noise that makes the old man lose a bit of color.
“...Well, I trust you’ll do fine! If you’ll excuse me.”
He grabs his cane, and with a bit of effort, Caelum rises from his chair. Aspidiske takes the seat in front of the camera.
“Uh, guess that’s one way to get the job don-”
The monitors cut the broadcast abruptly, and on your devices, a prompt appears.
[ Welcome to Operation SHORE: Surviving Hazards Of Relaxing Escapes! Please choose your island destination: ]
Haugst Isle
Resources: Plentiful (manufactured)
Shelter: Provided
Danger rating: High
Tags: Monsters, Prison, Laboratory
Nommin Isle
Resources: Plentiful (natural)
Shelter: None
Danger rating: Low
Tags: Tropical, Deserted, Beautiful
Foss Isle
Resources: Plentiful (natural)
Shelter: Minimal (caves)
Danger rating: Moderate
Tags: Volcano, Dinosaurs, Jungle
Volaat Isle
Resources: Moderate-Low (luxury)
Shelter: Moderate (abandoned ships)
Danger rating: Low
Tags: Sunken ships, Storms, Small
(Detailed descriptions of each island can be found Here!)
Upon choosing your destination, your phone screen will glitch out for a few seconds, and you’ll suddenly and instantly vanish from your place in Spirale. As soon as you disappear, you reappear on the island you chose (or perhaps a different island than what you picked altogether) with your island-issued cell phone as your only belonging.
☆ ☆ ☆
So, what’s happened?
Your characters have suddenly appeared on one of the mystery islands outside of Spirale, and must survive and thrive on the island they’ve chosen/landed on. This includes things like finding food and water, making shelter, and fending off the elements and creatures that you encounter during your extended stays.
Am I limited to one island?
Nope! Due to the system shorting and glitching out on occasion, it’s entirely possible for your character to wind up on a completely different island in the blink of an eye. It’s also possible to build some kind of raft or ship and sail to one of the other islands! (If you know how to sail and the weather is kind to you…)
You can also use means like flying, freezing a bridge, riding a dolphin, or whatever your powers would allow you to do to get from one island to the other.
HOWEVER if you sail too far away from the islands, you’ll run into the mists that usually surround Spirale, and you’ll succumb to the safe effects they have under normal circumstances and sail right into Davy Jones’ Locker…
(...and die.)
How do I get back to Spirale?
It’s impossible to get from the islands to Spirale by any means of transport (sailing, flying, teleporting, etc.)
However, if you’ve met a grisly end and died on one of the islands, you’ll respawn in Spirale, and won’t be able to return to the islands.
Do our phones work?
They sure do! You can even still use the internet on them, if you’ve met the rank requirement to get it. They charge with solar power and are waterproof, but they won’t survive being smashed or broken, so don’t do anything reckless with them!
Do I have to go to an island to participate in the event?
Not necessarily. As long as you have a thread or drabble that’s related to the event, that will count toward participation. (For example, if your character in Spirale City were to make a phone call to another character stuck on one of the islands, that would count.)
Do I have to explore and survive and put my muse in danger?
Not at all! This event is designed to be versatile; you can take the opportunity to build from the ground up and bond with your friends (and enemies?) and have a laid-back vibe if you want. You can have a dangerous expedition to find resources and shelter with peril at every corner, too. You can even ignore the survival aspect and finally have that cool one-on-one duel with your rival atop a rocky cliff during a lightning storm where no one will interfere!
You can help or hinder anyone who arrives on the island and make new friends or enemies. You can learn to fish, hunt or forage for food. You can play in the ocean or run for your life. It’s up to how you want to play the event!
Do drabbles count?
Yup! A drabble of 500+ words will get you credit for this event.
Is there an event reward for this one?
The reward is the friendships you made along the way… and maybe a cool sea shell.
How long will the event run?
This event will run until Friday, June 9th, at 11:59:59 pm EST!
" jaune...? " approach is quiet, steps made intentionally with a brief pause of caution. he feels out of place, ( out of character ) to make such an unsolicited gesture... but it feels right. only for the briefest moment does he set magenta eyes upon the strange sky, filled with stars and unfamiliar shapes along the horizon, before reaching his destination at his teammate's side. " is there... something on your mind? " @aurachevalier .
Whatever thought was clouding Jaune's mind in that moment instantly dispersed when a voice called out his name; so gentle, so familiar, that his heart skipped a beat at its mere sound. Though he remained almost frozen in place; uncertain, hesitant, as if afraid to turn around and find that it was only his mind playing tricks on him again. What would he do if the person speaking to him wasn't there? Just like the one who had been haunting him every day, ever since he..
But the moment their eyes met, Jaune acted on instinct-- reaching forward and pulling Ren into his arms. His hand cradled the back of the other's head, dipping his own downwards as tears pricked the corners of his eyes.
"R.. Ren, I--" he could barely form a response, words trapped in his throat as he felt his chest quietly heave; sighing between parted lips. "That doesn't matter. Not right now. I'm just.. I'm so happy to see you."
".. everyone looks like they're having a good time.." good. That was one last thing he needed to worry about, at least. After everything that just happened.. all Jaune wanted was to make sure his friends were safe.
Now, he could go back home. He really wasn't in the mood for dancing, anyway.
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT THIS WARMTH, spread from the simple act of a hand upon her cheek, that makes her feel at ease. were one to ask her to explain it, no words would be able to quite explain it, only a familiarity that transcends beyond her knowing. still, she can't help but feel a little surprised at the sudden motion, eyes widening briefly as a thumb swipes away the remnants of left behind tears. and despite how everything feels, naught remains but a sense of almost ease...
every word he speaks is a reassurance, something rooted in confidence, that it makes it difficult to believe it may be anything else. he understands, even if she may not remember, in how it is she sees that word. not only that, but he finds a truth in it, too, that he may follow in those steps that lead him to where he wishes to be.
so, her hand lifts, placing itself over his own, as if in silently telling him some unspoken appreciation. ❝ I know there's more to it than just that. Not every decision is the easiest one, but... ❞ she pauses, brows furrowing a little as she contemplates the words, uncertainty still laced in every inkling that trickles through her mind. ❝ I would like to think that if I had such wonderful people surrounding me in support, then there's no doubt that path will lead to happiness, just as yours will one day, ❞ she continues, fingers squeezing gently, like she were solidifying the resolve in her heart, too.
her hand lingers over his, as if lost in some beautiful dream she cannot remember, before realizing it all too soon. ❝ Oh! I'm sorry! ❞ and much like dreams themselves, their touch remains fleeting, her fingers removing themselves as she steps back with a nigh sheepish glance, tucking a single strand of crimson hair behind her ear as she takes a small, step backward.
❝ We only just got a chance to speak and, well, here I am, doing all... this, ❞ she manages to, awkwardly, get out, not having meant to lay so many burdens upon him to bear, whether or not they would do so together. she can't help but tuck her arms behind her back a little, this time accompanied with a smile, like she can discern more of him than meets the eye. ❝ I'm going to assume you're a new arrival here, judging by your weaponry. I know we all have our beginnings from somewhere once we arrive, so... ❞ trailing off, her expression only serves as something quizzical, a tell of what her next question may be.
❝ Perhaps I can show you around the city. If... you'd be interested, that is? ❞
He wondered, briefly, if all of this was some sort of dream. If the way Pyrrha was looking at him now, the greens of her eyes glimmering with surprise, with belief in the person who stood before her now, was just some sort of trick his mind was playing on him. Even if the warmth of her cheek had tried to tell him otherwise, finally bridging the gap between them to solidify that she was there, she was real.. he couldn't ignore the nagging feeling in the back of his head. A quiet voice, whispering to him, repeating the same thing over, and over again.
You don't deserve this.
And he knew why it was there-- Jaune had held blame for himself over Pyrrha's death for so long.. even if he had grown, even if he was doing his best to heal, there were still times where those feelings would try to get the best of him again; their long, dark claws threatening to pull him back down into the darkness he fought so hard to escape from.
But then her hand grazed against his-- not daring to pull away from his touch as her fingers held onto his own, and those thoughts were silenced all at once.
It didn't matter that it was fleeting. That she pulled away from him as soon as she realized what she'd done, fluster alight on her features as she put distance between them again. For as his own eyes had grown wide, not tearing his gaze away from her for a second.. knowing that part of her was still reaching for him, despite no longer remembering what their relationship used to be was enough to prove him otherwise.
Even if she didn't understand why, a piece of her was still reaching back for him, still offering Jaune a place by her side-- and it was so unabashedly Pyrrha that it managed to put a smile on his face almost instantly. He even managed to laugh a little, allowing the sound to escape his lips without feeling as though he should keep it inside.
It'd be doing her a disservice to even think for a moment that this wasn't real, just because of the way Jaune felt about himself. Pyrrha was here, and no matter what had changed between them.. that was all that mattered.
"It.. it's okay. Really." It's not like I'd ever mind. But that, Jaune would keep to himself; the tiny thought causing his cheeks to redden ever so slightly. "Besides, I'm the one who, uh-- did it first, right? I'm just.."
".. I think you're right. No-- I know you are. Things might be strange right now, but that doesn't mean I won't have your back here-- and.. something tells me you'll have mine, too. So let's take the paths that'll make us both happy."
No matter what, that's all I want for you. To just.. be happy.
I won't let anyone take that away from you ever again.
"I.. guess that's pretty obvious, huh? Ahah.." mirroring Pyrrha's own sheepishness, Jaune raised a hand to rub the back of his head; though his smile remained bright, his heart filled to the brim with boundless hope. "If you're up for it, I'd.. really like that, Pyrrha. I think it'd be a lot nicer not to have to wander around this place by myself, so.. thank you."
The sound of his voice was the first thing he remembered, calling out the name of a friend in complete and utter desperation.
"Just-- h-hold on! My semblance--"
There was blood all over her. Staining her clothes, pooling around her form-- as his hands desperately hovered above her in golden light, before one of her own gently pushed them away.
"No. There's not enough time to heal me. She can't get the staff.. and the power. But there is something.. you can do."
"Let me choose.. this one thing.. trust me..!"
And then.. all he saw was red.
Everything hit Jaune all at once-- Cinder's attack, Penny's words, her hand gently tracing his sword in a gesture meant to ask him something she couldn't ask anyone else. Only him.
He was the only one who could do it. Who, in her time of need, could plunge the blade into her chest and end her life before Cinder did; giving her a choice of who to give her Maiden powers to. So that he and the others-- all of their friends, their families, the entirety of Remnant-- had some shred of hope to keep themselves going. Even if one life was lost, her sacrifice had undoubtedly saved many.. but..
But he.. was the one who killed her. Jaune was the one who took Penny's life. Not Cinder. Not Salem.
It was all his fault.
Not again. He couldn't save someone so important to him.. again. He couldn't save Pyrrha, he couldn't protect Penny before it was too late-- there had to have been something else he could have done, anything, so why.. why did he..
Why couldn't he protect anyone? No matter how hard he tried?
Why was nothing he ever did enough?
His throat had run raw by this point, sobs and bile slipping through his fingers as his other hand scraped at the wall of his bedroom; having collapsed to his knees as the memory replayed in his head over, and over again. Her gentle smile, the pain in her eyes, the reflection of his own, horrified in the gleam of his blade--
Her blood at his feet. His scream that echoed through the emptiness.
And this place had ripped it all away from him. Allowed him to live in temporary peace that he didn't deserve. The relief he felt to see his friends, the pure joy at seeing someone he never thought he would again--
Jaune deserved none of it.
He let.. all of them down. Everyone. There was nothing he could do to mend what he had broken, no amount of Aura that could put the pieces of his broken heart back together; curling into himself as the tears continued to fall from his eyes, over, and over, and over.
Very few of these memories Neo had found meant anything to her. She'd grab one, see a quick flash of a world she didn't know, feel the owner's happiness or heartbreak, and then toss it aside, not caring at all to find their home. She wanted her memory. She wanted to know what this burning inside whenever she saw Ruby Rose was, why she'd needed to attack Cinder before, why her desire to find and free Roman made her heart feel so heavy...!
It was in this search for her lost memory that something quite interesting caught her eye...or rather, someone. She'd been made aware of Jaune's presence in the city before. He had never been a target of much intrigue for herself- everything about him was much less flashy than his friends. She knew she could win a fight if it came to it, even IF he were fully equipped- which he didn't appear to be. The trouble was...well, she remembered Qrow's words. Words that would surely be backed up by Ruby and Blake and any one of their allies who decided to show up here. He was untouchable. ...But that didn't mean she couldn't menace him a bit.
At least that was her intention. However, as she slipped through the shadows toward him, the apparent trance he was in broke and he nearly collapsed from nothing. What happened? She drew closer, mismatched eyes studying him closely, and as they met her own, she took notice of the source of light that illuminated her hiding place...as well as the aghast, enraged look in his eyes. Why would those be so prevalent over surprise unless...
Hm.
The hand which currently held her regrettably ordinary parasol snapped up from her side, pointing the accessory at the fist with light peeking from between the fingers. Her eyes shifted from the hand to his own gaze, locked with stone-cold resolve. She couldn't know for sure it was her memory even if he told her.
Before the light could escape his grasp, Jaune took hold of it once again; bringing it close to his side as he instinctively went to grab the hilt of his sword with his free hand. Only.. it wasn't Crocea Mors. The wooden blade wasn't going to get him very far at all, especially with someone like Neo-- but if his weapons and abilities had been taken from him.. some of hers must've too, right?
He could only hope, at least. Getting into a fight with her right now wasn't a good idea in the least-- and he planned on avoiding it at all costs.. but.. she must've been watching him for a while if she was pointing out the fragment between his fingers. Did she see his reaction? Is that why she wanted to know what it was..?
.. the fingers lingering around the wooden sword fell to his side, gripping into a tight fist. It.. was her memory. Even if he didn't like Neo, even if she was more trouble than she was worth.. keeping something like this from her didn't feel right. The despair she felt, the utter heartache she experienced once she realized Roman was gone-- those were feelings Jaune knew all too well, and if he was in her position.. as painful as it would be to know, he'd want those memories back.
To not forget the person he lost. To not forget the one who took her away.
But that broadcast that played earlier-- he couldn't help but be.. worried. Was he affected by this strange phenomenon as well, even though he'd only just gotten here? If Neo had lost something this important, then.. what could have been taken from him?
".. this belongs to you," he spoke after a moment, giving himself time to finally stop the heaving in his chest; the shaking of his shoulders. "But before I give it back, you're going to do me a favour."
"Help me find my missing memory. I don't know where I'm going-- I don't even know what it is I've lost.. but if finding out what this is means enough to you, then give me a hand. It's a fair enough trade after everything you've done."
Besides, if he could silence her hatred for Ruby, even for just a little longer, then it was worth taking the risk.
to say Blake was relieved would be an understatement. worry for those left fighting after she fell had been running rampant. were they okay? had Salem gotten to them? what happened to Atlas and the Relic? too many questions and no way to get any answers. but Jaune is here and he is okay and so, she lets herself smile, using that hand against her shoulder as an opportunity to envelope her friend in a tight hug. but as much as she would like this to be a happy reunion.....fate isn't so kind.
if Jaune fell, then....what happened to the others? she wants to ask but what Jaune says next causes the faunus to hesitate. he fell...and he thinks this is a result of that. that Spirale was where they all ended up after falling. that couldn't be farther from the truth. it would be a much kinder truth.
"......Jaune." she hates it. he has always been so optimistic, offering it in the face of doubt to keep his friends going. Blake does not want to crush that simple want to go home from this place but.... " We can't go back from here. I mean-- not willingly. This isn't the first time I've been to this city or, well, have been taken here. "
His reaction was instant when Blake pulled him in for a hug, returning the gesture with one of his own as his arms enveloped her. It seemed like there was always something happening to their group-- in the last few years, they'd hardly had any chances to slow down, to let themselves rest.. but the comfort they could find in one another was always strong enough to keep Jaune going. Especially now, in a world away from his own.
.. but it wasn't quite what he thought it to be, and his friend's words suddenly caused his smile to drop; his mouth opening slightly in surprise as confusion quickly surfaced in the blues of his eyes.
"We.. can't?" he repeated the words back, as if to try and understand them better-- parting away from the Faunus just slightly to see the expression on her face. "Wait, you've been here before, too?! How does this place even work..?!"
"I thought.. this is where we ended up after we all fell, but.." the reality of that truth was truly hitting Jaune in that moment; lifting a hand to scrub through his hair. "If you and Ruby have been here before, that means leaving isn't impossible, right? We have to find a way! Cinder, she--.. she has the relics, Blake. She has both of them."
THAT LAUGH TICKLES HER MIND, as if it's reaching out for some far flung memory that she should not 一 could not 一 recall. the way it trails off, a small tonal change upon dissipating into what may have been a sigh, like it was something she was meant to cherish once upon a time. no, that wasn't quite right; it was like she still did, remembered as a thing the heart could so rarely forget. so she doesn't question it, how it feels sitting in each, soft beat of her life, another belief she would keep held tight until it all came to make sense.
emeralds soon drift from where they once lingered, finding a place upon the ground to drill into, switching between the toes of her boots to the sparse flora that guide their way. he was glad to just see her again, sentiments which spark a gentle warmth alight throughout her, the kindling of a happiness that disperses a shadow of loneliness with but a mere touch.
❝ Well, you can thank the Stars for that. ❞ pyrrha's lips are touched with the briefest smile, one that falters as swiftly as it glimmered into existence.
it twinkles out slowly, fading into nothing, far too much like a star that has been long since gone, with nobody to notice until this moment. his words are heavy -- some burden he chooses not to lay down 一 in an unseen feeling she cannot quite place. to her, it feels almost as if he speaks as if he were there, that same person who carries a lifetime of regrets for that single, ephemeral moment. and before she can part her lips to speak, so that she may reassure him, pyrrha can't help but feel a prickle of heat at the corner of her eyes, overpowering all she tries to say.
they sting, what pristine vision she had before now blurs, as her words fail her. hands are swift to hide her face away, buried from the world, from jaune, before tears threaten to water the flowers where she stands. shoulders slump as she takes what little of their time together she can to collect herself, that the trickling tears might cease and allow her voice to return. seconds come to pass, greeted with a breath, and soon followed by the smallest sniffle. ❝ ... thank you. For saying that, ❞ she manages to say at long last amidst another, calming snivel to ensue thereafter. for everything, the words remain silent, no matter the intricacies that have been lost to her, let alone the quieting reassurance that hush what has worried her mind he has gifted her alone.
her hands fall to reveal her face once more, eyes moist with a few, straggling tears, as questions swirl in her mind. there was so much she feels there needs to be said 一 things that rest at the tip of her tongue, with no way to form. but one lingers there, echoing louder with every moment of silence she chooses to amplify after he's gone quiet.
so, she simply asks with a resolve that has always been her own, even until the end.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀❝ Do you believe in destiny? ❞
again there is silence, allowing what she seeks to sink in for the other. maybe he didn't understand it like she did, despite her asking. but she wanted to try, just as he had prior. ❝ I don't mean like some inescapable fate that you cannot choose, ❞ she continues, her gaze turning to glance out toward the cliff, where savior's are sung to have found their rest. ❝ I'm not quite sure how to explain it, but standing here, in this moment? I feel like this is one of the many paths I should take in order to achieve where I want... where I wanted to reach. ❞ her words remain a steady vigilance, even with the difficulties of describing so much.
the turn of her head allows for her eyes to find his expression once more, searching for something within it, some little form of hope that he might understand for but a fraction of a second. and like a dream, she faces back out, taking in the view once more.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀like maybe they would've been meant to meet at that final place, together.
Jaune drinks in that brief, fleeting moment of seeing Pyrrha's smile again; bathed its warm, golden light that spreads across his chest, making his heart feel weightless against the emotion that threatened to swallow him whole. Yet it remained just that-- fleeting. Unable to stand against time as it eventually faded, disappearing like the leaves on the trees at the first sign of fall.
And his heart-- it ached, knowing that it was gone because of his words. The emotion that overcame Pyrrha in that moment, the way she dropped her face into her palms, hiding it away from him with the best of her ability-- it only served to pull Jaune in further, every instinct begging to him to give into his desires, to pull her close, to never let her go. To apologize for what he'd said, for making her cry again.. but her words swiftly paused his own, causing his eyes to slowly widen.
Thank you. She was.. thanking him for his words, for the sentiments he wished could have reached her long before she'd left their world-- causing his step to falter, especially when her tearful visage finally resurfaced.
Thank you. And they meant something to her-- meant enough to cause her those tears, even when she.. didn't remember him. Was it the sight of her own, or that thought that caused more to well up in his eyes? That after all this time.. she could finally hear the things he'd always wanted to tell her?
But Jaune remained silent, letting Pyrrha continue as she asked him a question she once had in the past-- though unlike then, he now had a better understanding of the meaning behind it, feeling the pace of his heart quicken at the implications of her words. Even if Pyrrha was missing pieces of her memory, there still remained in her feelings from the past-- so strong that they refused to be taken, too. She felt like this was the path she wanted to take back then.. before her grasp fell out of reach.
Jaune decided to finally act, then. To take that final step which brought him closer to her side. Lifting his hand, caressing her cheek even as her gaze casted towards the canyon-- catching her remaining tears with his thumb, and wiping them away with one gentle motion.
".. I don't know if I did, before I met you. But when I think about it that way.. that it's a choice I can make, to take myself where I feel like I'm meant to be.. then I know, deep down in my heart that I do." And there he was, at the path he'd always dreamed of, with the person he wanted to walk it with-- the warmth of her skin against his palm restoring a piece of himself he once wasn't sure he'd ever get back again. "If it's what you want to do, Pyrrha.. then follow that feeling. I know that you've struggled in the past with what you think you should do, and with what's expected of you.."
"But you deserve to go down the path that will make you happy-- the one that'll lead you to that final goal. Wherever that might end up being.. I'll be there to support you along the way. Always."
When the vision finally ends, Jaune stumbles backwards with his breath caught in his throat; grasping at the nearest surface to save himself from collapsing to the ground. His chest heaves, eyes wide as he can feel his knees buckling beneath his weight-- letting his head hang heavy as the images play in his memory over, and over again.
What.. was that? Was that actually real? When he saw those drifting lights hanging in the air, he thought.. he never thought they'd contain something like this. He was reminded, at first, of the liminal space where he and the others had fell-- illuminated by remnants of magic, watching them slip between his fingers as he plummeted through nothingness.
But these.. weren't the same. Not at all. They held something that Jaune was physically able to feel as one fell into his palms this time-- the hurt, the anger, the unbridled rage of the person it belonged to still pulsating in his veins. Though he was too disoriented at first to realize what he was witnessing-- once more in Vale, fighting for his life to keep his friends and Beacon safe-- the hat that appeared in his hands gave away the identity of who he was supposed to be, finally lifting his head to find her visage watching him from the shadows; revealed by the light that escaped his grasp.
And the sight of her-- it made Jaune sick. Wrought with disgust not only over the misplaced hatred she had of someone he cared for so dearly.. but over the fact that her feelings over Cinder almost mirrored his own.
JNPR. THE SHORT-HAND IS SPOKEN, causing a flicker of surprise to spark within emerald eyes. not in any sense of pure recognition, as if she could be capable of doing so as she is, but due to the confidence he wields its name, like a sword which cuts through the very silence itself. he speaks of being lousy, that it was the team which he saw as heroes — not him, but them. the way he speaks holds a truth to it, and yet... it only serves to make a sorrow bloom in her chest, that he might truly think that way of himself.
still, she listens on, not once attempting to interrupt him. how could she do something as that when he speaks so openly, even when she has denied anything he said only moments prior? her arms loosen their hold upon her body, fingers but a ghost to the touch, as she never looks away from him.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀" i'm not going to leave you alone. "
something touches her that she can't quite place, some notion that threatens to prickle tears to her the emeralds of her gaze. he finally finishes, quieting with only a humble question, she allows herself a moment. ❝ Jaune, I... don't think I understand, ❞ she speaks at long last, voice as soft as an autumn breeze, before she takes a single step forward.
❝ But... I can tell what you are saying aren't lies. ❞ even if she may never once come to know the reason why she could.
and no matter what her own memories may tell her, she would choose to trust in him, no matter what. it only felt right — like it was what she was meant to do. ❝ I know I may have doubted you before. But right now, I believe everything you say. I just wish I could remember it all, like you do. ❞ so that he, too, no longer has to feel so lonely, just as he appears to her in this very moment. fingers curl to her chest, covering the softest ache where a wound should rightfully be, returning back to the question he asked of her. after all, it was the least she can do, to answer.
❝ As for what I recall before my arrival here, well... I had sent someone away before making my way up to the top of Beacon tower. Where that woman awaited me, ❞ she begins, recounting that final that had all went so wrong. the way the weight of the world felt upon her shoulders, in that very moment, as everything they knew fell to ruin. ❝ I think a part of me knew... I never really stood a chance. That even if I went after her, I may never come back. But, if there was the smallest hope that I could do something, that I could help, then I knew there was really no decision to make. ❞
He can feel her eyes on him for the entire time he speaks, but Jaune doesn't allow himself to waver, doesn't hold himself back from speaking of the memories they once shared together-- it only scratched the surface of what they'd endured, of what even Pyrrha meant to him, but he could still tell that it was overwhelming. That's why he was giving her a choice-- to decide if she even believed him, if this was too much to bare.. because the last thing he wanted was to push her away. To have her leave, and not be able to reach out and stop her again.
He refused to let her believe that she had no one. That the fleeting memories she had, the faces she couldn't remember-- that they weren't people who would do anything to see her happy. If he could at least get that point across to her, then for now.. nothing else mattered. Nothing was as important.
And to his surprise, Pyrrha seemed to be accepting what he said; causing the blues of his eyes to widen slightly, a sliver of hope shining in them as he stared at her. She didn't think he was lying. Even if she didn't understand, she wanted to believe in him.. and the sheer relief from that alone immediately lifted a crushing weight from his shoulders, releasing the quietest of laughs that could have almost been mistaken for a sigh.
"To be honest.. I don't think I really do, either," all of this was so confusing-- the fact that they were even here, everything that was missing in between them.. and yet Jaune was so grateful for this chance, anyway. To be here before her. To have Pyrrha within arm's reach again. Thinking of that, looking into her eyes caused a gentle smile to finally ease into his features. "But.. it's okay that you don't right now. What matters is that you believe me-- everything else can come later. Besides, I.."
".. I'm just.. so glad to see you. I never thought I'd get to ever again."
Yet that relief would only be temporary, as Pyrrha eventually spoke of the last thing she remembered from Remnant-- and at first, Jaune's first reaction was anger. Anger that she was left with no memories of her friends, yet had to remember dying by herself-- how lonely must she have been? How long had she been fighting with the thought that no one cared enough to stay with her, that no one even knew what she was about to do?
But that single trace-- the memory of someone being there, until she chose to send them away.. that stopped those sickening feelings from writhing in his gut. Even if she didn't know who it was, some part of Jaune had still been able to reach her.. and that revelation, paired with the words she uttered so gently, yet fiercely all the same-- a sentiment he believed in, something he once spoke himself, near word for word--, rendered him speechless once more.
His throat had closed; tight, and suffocating. His vision grew blurry, threatening to take Pyrrha from his sights.
".. it.. was probably really difficult, for that person to watch you go.. but what you endured-- that's something I don't think I can ever wrap my head around." And yet he pressed on. Despite the shaking in his voice, the bare tremble of his lips. Choosing not to admit that he knew who it was, what exactly they had shared in that moment-- because as selfish as Jaune wanted to be, as badly as he wanted to take Pyrrha into his arms and never let her go.. it would still be too much for her, wouldn't it? "I'm sorry we weren't there with you. I'm sorry you had to face her alone.. but.. I want you to know something."
His hand gripped at the sash resting at his hip; careful, yet desperate all the same.
"What you did-- no one's forgotten it. Everyone who was there, even the people who weren't.. they remember you as a true Huntress. You gave the world hope that we could keep on fighting.. and.. and I--" his breath hitched in his throat, almost giving away to the sob that begged to be free from the confines of his chest-- but Jaune ducked his head down, out of her sights, before she could spot the tears trickling from his eyes once more. "-- I know there's people out there that try to live like you did. That want to carry on the legacy you left them. You're a hero to all of them, Pyrrha."
AGAIN, HE CALLS HER NAME, only it bears more than just that. like some weight which clings to it, brimming with memories of joy and sorrow, both hand in hand. and still she cannot help but feel something is wrong -- an itch that trickles the back of her mind when he talks to her like this, reaching for her as if she were some fallen star he could only hope to catch before it plummets to the ground. it borders on a discomfort, were she to think on it. not in him doing it, but for herself, that she can't help but struggle to comprehend what it all means. even as he carries on, brows can only furrow in palpable confusion at what he could even mean.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀❝ Team... mates? ❞
the word lingers in the air between them, some question she can't quite find the answer to, not even the more she looks him straight in the eye. no matter how she seeks, everything he says seems genuine, rooted in a true belief, than some fairytale weaved as some prank.
❝ Jaune, I really am sorry. But I regret to say we were never teammates. When I initiated into Beacon, I was placed on a team called一 ❞ called what, the silence nags within her mind to finish, with no words being able to follow. ❝ Called...? ❞ nothing comes to her, plunging her further into an endless void of her mind, merely an ache with every attempt to recall something that feels so important. so, why was it so difficult to remember?
arms move to wrap around her, gaze falling down to look at the hand which still lingers between them. there's a sway of her body that betrays her feelings, some telling of her uncertainty about herself, much like the creeping doubts which once plagued her tirelessly of a decision thrust upon her life. fingers tighten their grip, pinching into skin as she frowns. ❝ Of course, there was someone I assisted in training, I can tell you that much. We would always go up to the dormitory roof after classes. But that was with... ❞ words trail off, hesitant to continue, just as she had been before upon the realization that no name comes to her, no matter how hard she tries.
she moves to take a step back, left only to wallow in more uncertainty of this conversation with each, passing second. but her eyes don't fall far for long, returning to a tear-streaked gaze. seeing him like this sinks a weight into her chest, filled with naught but an ache to support him 一 just as she always...?
❝ ... if I've done something to hurt you, then I cannot apologize enough. Nor am I quite sure what to do to make any of this right. But, if it's any consolation, I'm positive you would have made a wonderful teammate, Jaune. ❞
It's the way she speaks of their bond like a question that finally chips away the last of Jaune's strength, the remaining hope in his heart breaking into a thousand pieces as his outstretched hand fell back to his side in utter defeat. The look across his features is indescribable; shattered, broken, as the weight of his realization finally came to fruition.
Pyrrha had forgotten him. She'd forgotten everything.
Their team. Her friends. The time she'd spent with them all--
The time she'd spent with him.
Why was this happening? Wasn't what she went through already cruel enough? She died for her teammates, for her school, for those precious memories she had made-- she died to keep them all safe, and even if she was here again.. what was she left with? Inklings of ghosts, of people she couldn't even put a name too-- and that thought alone prompted Jaune to finally drop his gaze, gloves tightening against his fingers as he curled them into heavy, trembling fists.
The person he once was would have begged her to remember. He would have continued to cry, saying how this couldn't be possible-- that there had to be some way for Pyrrha to know him, to know any of them. But in that moment, he knew that he wasn't the only one suffering.
It was clear in the language of her body, the way Pyrrha held herself together with her arms-- desperately searching for something, anything that would help Jaune's words make sense. Even if he was in pain, Pyrrha was, too; and it wouldn't be fair to expect something of her that she wasn't able to do right now.
So Jaune steadied himself, to the best of his ability. The silence between them grew stagnant, heavy; almost suffocating him as he stood with his eyes trained to the ground. But as he watched each of his tears continuing to fall, pooling over the flowers that brought them back together again.. he eventually allowed those same lids to close; taking a quiet, steady breath through his nose.
".. JNPR," it took time for him to find the strength to speak again-- swallowing the desperation in his voice and snuffing it out within the depths of his chest. Pyrrha had been strong for him so many times before-- when she was scared, when she was in pain.. and now, Jaune finally had the chance to do the same for her. "We were called team JNPR. I was the leader, but.. a lousy one. Nora, you, and Ren.. you were the heroes I looked up to. You were the strength behind our whole team."
"And it was me that you trained. Up on the roof, where no one could interrupt us. You taught me how to be a better fighter, how to keep myself on my feet-- you even unlocked my aura for me, Pyrrha. You're the reason I figured out how to use it in the first place. I cheated my way into Beacon. I had no idea what it actually took to become a Huntsman-- any other person would've ratted me out to professor Ozpin, but not you. You saw something in me that I couldn't see in myself. You believed in me when nobody else did, and that's something I can't ever forget."
After some time, Jaune was able to lift his head again; searching for her gaze amidst all of her confusion. Even if he didn't have the answers as to why right now, there was one thing he would make certain-- one thing he would hammer in, as many times as he needed to.
"You've never hurt me. Not once-- not even now. Because even if you don't remember any of these things.. I'll just remember them for you. And if you can't believe me yet, if hearing this is too much.. then I'll wait until you're ready. I'm not going to leave you alone."
".. I just need to know one thing. What you remember before coming here. Whatever it is.. do you think you could tell me?"
⠀⠀⠀WHATEVER⠀⠀else she intended to say was utterly derailed, but it didn't really matter. She'd rather be practically crushed by Jaune than stumble her way through something half-decent to say. For a few precious moments, her own turmoil is pretty much tossed and forgotten about; she laughs along with him, just as breathless and just as genuine, and it feels good — lighter in spirit and face muscles. She blows some stray hair he couldn't quite tame out of her eyes, expression softening as she took notice of the way his hands trembled. She thought she'd felt him quivering when he hugged her... It must all still be fresh for him.
⠀⠀⠀❛ ⠀I'm fine— really. And I've found Blake— she'sfinetoo !⠀ ❜ ⠀she adds quickly before he can ask — probably best not to tell him about her... roommate situation yet. But some of his word choice is confusing. It wasn't really all that important if he got to her so long as the evacuation went alright... and why wouldn't she make it here in one piece ?⠀Oh— he's probably... new to this place. That would explain it. And yet even as she thinks it, chalks it up to a lack of perspective, she feels like there's something else in the relief she feels. There's something raw about it— in fact, she feels like if she looked down at her fingers, they'd be just as unsteady... Like somehow, he was the one she should've been worried about. The dread is setting in again, but she closes her eyes for a moment— wills it away with a tight-lipped smile. ⠀❛ ⠀Jaune — you... haven't been here before, have you ?⠀ ❜ ⠀
Honestly, Jaune felt himself inclined to pick her up and spin her around from the sheer relief he was feeling-- but the blonde controlled himself to the best of his ability, feeling the trembling in his shoulders elevate ever so slightly once he heard that Ruby was fine. Thank goodness.. even if he hadn't been there to watch her fall, the events that led to the end of the evacuation had still brought him such distress; letting go of his friend for just a moment to wipe away the beginnings of moisture collecting in the corners of his eyes.
"That's great..! That's really, really great," a rather large sigh left him as he spoke, releasing the breath of air he didn't even realize he'd been holding onto until now. "That just leaves everyone else.. well, if we've found each other, then they're probably not far, right? I bet we can find them in no time-- then we can figure out how to get out of here.."
But the gentle smile on his face was only fleeting, disappearing in a blink of an eye once Ruby spoke again. It was a question he clearly wasn't expecting her to ask-- and one that he.. didn't quite understand.
"Been here before..? Wait, have you?" Jaune's other arm suddenly dropped back to his side, eyebrows furrowing together in confusion. "Ruby, do you actually recognize this place..?! H-how's that even possible?"
