Inactive

This blog has been archived. I no longer have the time or the energy for the online roleplay community and don't see myself coming back anytime soon. It was fun while it lasted. Thanks for everything!

[cryptic-glasses-professor]

Permanent Hiatus

Hello all.

I know I haven’t been around for a while. And honestly, this has been a while coming anyway, but it’s time I come back and finally announce it. 

I am putting this blog on permanent hiatus. 

I no longer have the time or energy to participate in the roleplay community anymore. And given that the FNDM can be how it is I’m just sort of exhausted with it in general. Plus, as much as I love Oz, his character doesn’t seem to have much of a future in the canon aside from being a voice. So, with all these factors combined, I am essentially archiving this blog. Sadly this will affect all my side blogs as well. And I don’t see myself returning to this online rp community anytime soon.

It’s been fun. And if we were friends here I will treasure you always.

If you still want to stay in touch you can catch me on my personal @very-crofty. I’m on there all the time.

Welp. Catch you on the flip side.

Crofty

[bloodofbranwen]

Recovery - Bandit King AU

[[This is a mini AU of the Bandit King AU. There was a year break between Qrow’s five year imprisonment, this is a sub AU where Huntsman found Qrow first instead of the Bandit Tribe. So these events occur 10 years prior to Volume 1 start.]]

[[Reserved for Ozpin, STRQ members, Ruby and Yang RPers]]

Doctor Onyx guided his guests through the intensive care wing of Mistral’s Panacea Hospital. One of the largest and most well equipped hospitals dedicated exclusively to healing and rehabilitating soldiers and Huntsman alike. It functioned as an attache of the Sanctum Academy.

“He was delirious when our Hunting Team found him. Started attacking wildly and our Hunter had to subdue him forcibly. From what we could tell of his physical symptoms; it was either drugs, fever from infection, hunger or some combination of all three.” The Doctor explained gravely, taking a proffered patient’s chart from the nurse’s station.

“About thirty percent of his body is covered in scar tissue. We’re still trying to determine exactly what caused most of his injuries, but Mr Branwen is still very emotionally fragile. He may not respond favourable to you, if he does respond at all.” The Doctor explained, scanning through his charts. “If you’ll follow me.”

The Doctor guided them through the ward, into another until they reached  the arboretum located at the center of the hospital construct, the buildings hugged the gardens like a protective barrier against the outside world.

Few patients convened here this time of day, but over in the shadow of an grand Oak tree was the thin frame of Qrow Branwen. Wearing a fresh grey shirt and pants, he sat in a wheelchair with a throw rug over his lap. While he was clean shaven and his hair appeared freshly cut, his eyes were on the grass, glazed over and unfocused.

[cryptic-glasses-professor]

Ozpin listened attentively to all the doctor had to say, internally preparing to see the dear soul he thought long lost. His gut tied itself in guilty knots, ashamed that they had given up so easily. Which, of course, was why he had arrived ahead of Summer and her daughter. Best to assertain Qrow's condition before Summer arrived.

With the doctor's leave he approached Qrow. His heart ached for how thin and lost he looked. He quietly sat on the nearby bench before venturing to gently say his name.

"Qrow?"

[cryptic-glasses-professor]

(( me: *wants to work on Winter blog* also me: *doesn't wnt to get out laptop* me to me: why are you like this? ))

[cryptic-glasses-professor]

Chances - Bandit King AU

[bloodofbranwen]

The lights in his automated box of a cell were programmed to mimic the cycle of night and day. Slowly, as morning approached, the lights began to rise, warming the cell with a touch of imitation sunshine. Promptly at eight, the programming delivered his meal, a piping hot plate of eggs, bacon, roast potatoes, and toast. A surprisingly decent meal for being produced by machines. Granted, that had more to do with how Ozpin had requested the machine be programmed. The food it produced was reminiscent of Beacon’s student meals. Of course, it was stocked from the same place.

As usual, the meal went completely untouched, wicked away by the machine when it registered as cold and no longer safely edible. Ozpin sighed, lightly tapping the surface of his desk to close the screen displaying the video feed from Qrow’s cell. By far his most difficult trait had remained unchanged. He was still the stubborn, bull headed boy he had ever been. And his refusal to eat was already affecting his health.

Gathering his cane, Ozpin entered the elevator and scanned his Scroll across the sensor. A secret panel opened with a dozen additional buttons. He punched the one leading to level where Qrow was detained. Within minutes he was once again outside the glass walls, staring in at his lethargic detainee.

“You aren’t eating,” he said quietly.

Based on the cycling lights, Qrow guessed he’d been here at least a week if not longer - assuming of course they were properly timed to the day-night cycle and not just a ruse to confuse him.

It wouldn’t matter however if it were days or weeks he’d been trapped in this display case, he still refused to move from his perch in the corner after the first visit. Back against the wall, elbows on raised knees and head resting on his folded arms. Even when food seemed to come like clockwork - three hot meals at breakfast, lunch and dinner, Qrow didn’t even so much as twitch. Simply let them stay untouched until the cell wall swallowed them again.

The smell made him sick. But refusing to eat make him even sicker. Already he was developing gaunt features, his cheeks looked sunk, his arms and legs thinning and his entire being was lethargic. His lips were chapped and dry and his throat felt tight.

Footsteps approached, the echo like a hundred thousand needles boring into his skull. A surge of anger rose in his gut at Ozpin’s tone, but he was struggling to find the energy to stay awake let alone physically stand to express his outrage.

“Your mastery of the obvious is inspiring,” he spat weakly, refusing to look up.

[cryptic-glasses-professor]

Ozpin sighed. Naturally it would be his ire that was the last to burn out. Though, the rest of him was fading quickly. His naturally lean frame had already begun to shrivel. He barely seemed to have the energy to fuel his anger.

"Then let me rephrase," he said, voice just as tired. "Why aren't you eating?"

[scareqrowbranwen-archive]

@cryptic-glasses-professor

Qrow gave an exasperated sigh. “I didn’t even meet you until I was 18! I was an adult! You can’t adopt an adult!”

Can and did, Qrow. Just admit you like it.

[cryptic-glasses-professor]

“To be fair, I met you when you were 17,” Ozpin countered. “And perhaps it never happened on paper, but you can’t deny that it happened. You are and will always be my family. And for your information, you can legally adopt adults.”

[scareqrowbranwen-archive]

“adoption” (this has already happened. you are his son.)

“You can’t adopt me, I’m a 40 year old man.”

Adopt him, please. He needs love.

[cryptic-glasses-professor]

“Too late,” he shrugged. “It’s already done. Happened years ago. Don’t know how you missed it.”

[cryptic-glasses-professor]

Chances - Bandit King AU

[bloodofbranwen]

“For now,” he answered. “It will take time to unlearn the hate they taught you, to let go of the darkness that has taken root in your heart. And I am nothing if not patient. In time you will find other things to live for.”

He lowered the lights over the scythe once more, until it was dim but visible. The tray of photos snapped shut but the wall tile above it hummed to life, rotating through a slideshow of the photos he had seen and more.

“I know you blame me for what happened back then. I understand your reasoning, as I’ve spent much time blaming myself as well. However, it was them who turned you into this, not me. Yes, I scattered that tribe of yours to the wind, destroyed it even, but they destroyed you first. So, I think we’re even.”

He paced along the wall back to the central control panel and began tinkering again. With all it’s features and clearly Atlesian tech, no wonder it had taken so long to construct.

“I’m not going to lie to you Qrow, this process is going to be painful, but there are things you need to know. Words meant for your ears only. So, on that note, I will leave you with a friend.”

The largest panel on the wall facing him flickered to life as outside his cell the lights dimmed once more, giving Ozpin the freedom to exit silently. A moment passed as the screen finished booting up and a video started. At first all he could see was a hand covering the lens, but it soon withdrew revealing a familiar face. Dark hair, fair skin, and tears dotting her silver eyes. Her fingers sat against her mouth a moment before she took a shaky breath and began to speak.

“Hey, Qrow…” her voice broke as she said his name. She shook her head, wiping away another tear as she started again. “I don’t know why I’m doing this, but speaking to a camera somehow seemed better than speaking to that stone we just laid over your empty grave. I… I still can’t believe you’re gone. You were here, with me, just last week, and now you’re… I told you I loved you, right? Before you left? I… I told you, oh Dust, I can’t remember…”

For a moment her tears overtook her again. After a few moments, she settled and raised her reddened eyes back toward the camera.

“Anyway… I supposed I don’t have that much more to tell you today. We’re all still pretty shaken. Rae hasn’t come out of her room since the ceremony. She won’t open the door for anyone, not even Tai. Yang… she doesn’t quite understand. And Tai, well, Tai’s playing strong for now. We all miss you so much,” she sighed. “I haven’t been able to sleep in our bed since we got the news. But the couch isn’t much better. I keep having dreams that you’ve come home and you carry me to bed and then I wake up and- and-” her breath shuddered once more. “Okay. That’s enough sad for one day. I love you and I’ll talk to you soon.”

As she reached up to end the recording the screen flickered out, leaving him in silence once more.

The old fool. Qrow seethed silently from his cot. He truly had no idea. And Qrow was decidedly not going to make this easy. Maybe if he’d dragged this out, the old man would just give up on the pipe dream and kill him.

“Let me clear up one misconception Oz - oh, and pay attention cause this is the only hint I’m giving you,” Qrow cut in, “My tribe - my family had nothing to do with these scars. Since you had me changed I’m not gonna be deluded enough to think you hadn’t seen them or at least had reports. They nursed me to health after I escaped - so by your own logic, you killed them for doing you a favour.“

Qrow turned his back on the man, burning holes in the wall while the old Headmaster went on about something or other regarding the ominous ‘they’. The fact Oz believed it referred to the tribe just fuelled the angry blaze. Behind him, Qrow could hear light beeps and clicks on a control panel, Oz said something about leaving him with a friend. Funny, Qrow thought he had none left.

“Hey Qrow,” the all too familiar voice stopped his bitter thoughts cold. His blood turned to ice. Fear and panic wrapped their icy tendrils around his heart thundering in his chest. And Qrow closed his eyes and ears against the intruding sound curling in on himself. A hurricane of memory burst into the forefront of his mind. Things he’d spent the last decade trying to forget in spite of the legions of reminders crisscrossing his body.

No. No no no. No, this can’t be happening -Not again!

“OZ!” Qrow roared in a fury, whirling around and snapping to his feet with his fist clenched, ready for another futile assault.

But there was no Ozpin, and the voice was very real. 

The lights had dimmed with the recording projected on the wall. With the visage of Summer Rose, red faced and tears dotting her cheeks. In an instant, the anger melted away and it felt like he’d been stabbed in the chest. To stunned to do much else, Qrow watched the recording, barely registering when the tears started trickling down his own cheeks.

When it finished, Qrow collapsed to his knees like a puppet with its strings cut. His eyes glued to the blank wall and he wept.

[cryptic-glasses-professor]

The lights in his automated box of a cell were programmed to mimic the cycle of night and day. Slowly, as morning approached, the lights began to rise, warming the cell with a touch of imitation sunshine. Promptly at eight, the programming delivered his meal, a piping hot plate of eggs, bacon, roast potatoes, and toast. A surprisingly decent meal for being produced by machines. Granted, that had more to do with how Ozpin had requested the machine be programmed. The food it produced was reminiscent of Beacon’s student meals. Of course, it was stocked from the same place.

As usual, the meal went completely untouched, wicked away by the machine when it registered as cold and no longer safely edible. Ozpin sighed, lightly tapping the surface of his desk to close the screen displaying the video feed from Qrow’s cell. By far his most difficult trait had remained unchanged. He was still the stubborn, bull headed boy he had ever been. And his refusal to eat was already affecting his health.

Gathering his cane, Ozpin entered the elevator and scanned his Scroll across the sensor. A secret panel opened with a dozen additional buttons. He punched the one leading to level where Qrow was detained. Within minutes he was once again outside the glass walls, staring in at his lethargic detainee.

“You aren’t eating,” he said quietly.

[cryptic-glasses-professor]

Glynda's arms are wrapped firmly around him and she draws him in close to her chest. "Shhh, it's nothing more than a nightmare Darling. I am right here." She punctuates her words with a kiss to the top of his head, ruffling his hair with her telekinesis. His skin was hot and covered in a thin layer of sweat. She brushes her hand softly along his cheek. "Shhh."

He gasped, lurching into consciousness. His entire body shook in her arms, his skin drenched in cold sweat.

“A… a dream?” his voice was hoarse, wide horrified eyes finding hers. A knot rose in his stomach. “Oh… I think I’m going to be sick.”

[esperhuntress]

The huntress nods her understanding, pulling him off the bed with her. She supports his trembling body with more than just her natural strength. Forcing open the door to their master-bath she helps him sit along the edge of the tub.

“You’re alright my love. Everything is fine.” She says calmly, rinsing a facecloth under cool water and gently dabbing it across his overheated skin. 

[cryptic-glasses-professor]

He felt feverish, everything in a blur. He didn't manage to sit on the tub's edge, instead he collapsed onto the bath mat. Leaning over the bowl, the first heave racked his body. A second round of sweating began, even though he was shivering. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been so ill.

[cryptic-glasses-professor]

A black bird flies in through the window, dropping a one kilo bag of Mistral Coffee beans wrapped with a red bow on the desk before flying out again.

Ozpin smiled, inspecting the bag.

“Yes,” he muttered. “Because Dust forbid you ruin your reputation by giving a gift in human form.”

[cryptic-glasses-professor]

Glynda's arms are wrapped firmly around him and she draws him in close to her chest. "Shhh, it's nothing more than a nightmare Darling. I am right here." She punctuates her words with a kiss to the top of his head, ruffling his hair with her telekinesis. His skin was hot and covered in a thin layer of sweat. She brushes her hand softly along his cheek. "Shhh."

He gasped, lurching into consciousness. His entire body shook in her arms, his skin drenched in cold sweat.

“A... a dream?” his voice was hoarse, wide horrified eyes finding hers. A knot rose in his stomach. “Oh... I think I’m going to be sick.”

[cryptic-glasses-professor]

Is that so? And what if he refuses to see the truth? Are you just going to keep him stuffed in that glass cage for the rest of his life?

A long suffering sigh crosses his lips, “If I must...”

[cryptic-glasses-professor]

Well damn, someone's looking a little tired of losing everything. You're getting kinda..You know...Scary looking. Is calming down not an option?

Another wave of angry green aura rolled off him.

“I have given everything to this world!” he screeched. “And all it has ever done is taken in return. My family, my home, everything that I have every held dear. And I am done being this world’s punching bag.”

[cryptic-glasses-professor]

And for how long do you believe that cage will hold him, dear Ozpin? A boy as battered, broken and insane as he should be put down before he can escape and kill again. What will you do? Break his will again and re-forge the shattered pieces into your brainwashed puppet? What am I saying - that IS what you are doing already.

He won’t escape. That isn’t possible. 

And he has already been broken. Not by me. He need only realize he is not what they did to him, not what they turned him into. Once he understands he is already broken, only then can he begin to heal. 

I’m not brainwashing him. I’m only reminding him of who he was, of what was taken from him. Of what he can someday return to, if he chooses that path. 

These choices are his, not mine. I am simply laying the truth in front of him.

[cryptic-glasses-professor]

"O-Oz? Come on, I know Lia has to be alive! Sh-She can't be gone! A-A-And I'm the one thinkin' rationally here for once! Maybe she hasn't called yet because her scroll broke!"

In a flash of green light he appeared right before Tai, his frightening visage growing ever moreso by the second.

“One way or another, I’m going to find out,” his voice carried an unnatural echo. “They’ve already taken Glynda. They can’t have her!”

[cryptic-glasses-professor]

"IT WASN'T ME! HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!!!! I'M A HERMIT, NOT A BANDIT LEADER!"

He turned his frightening gaze on her, darkness encroaching around the edges of his eyes, “Then stay out of my WAY.”

[cryptic-glasses-professor]

Nothing? Sir, there was a bandit attack in the town she was staying in for a mission! The bandits were merciless! Grimm got rid of any survivors afterwards!

Aura radiated off him in pulses. He slammed his cane down, cracking the marble floor. The veins at his temples only grew.“No,” he growled. “NO! They cannot have her too. And they. will. PAY.”

His whole form began to flicker in and out, steel pillars bending and fracturing around him. In another brilliant flash, he was gone.

[cryptic-glasses-professor]

Oh shit, guess this is a bad time to tell you what happened to little Lia? Poor guy, already got enough heartbreak going on...

He turned to the intruder, eyes wide, livid, and silver. "Nothing!" he roared. "Nothing has happened to Liaden! And if they've dared to touch her then I will reduce them all to ASH!"His eyes were near to glowing, dark veins starting to sprout from his temples.