Send me a ship and I will grade it:
Avros x Briar is a solid A: I love it !
I love their dynamic. Briar and Avros both have their own wounds, and carry themselves in such a way. Like, I'm trying to think of how to describe it because like, Briar grew up with a loving family, 'Pack', and lost it. She knows what she values and what she doesn't, she's loud and proud. Proud of who she is, where she came from, and the thorn symbolism with her tattoos?
Gosh just fucking slay me, because before either me or Ray knew about the tattoos of the other, it clicked. Avros has black rose tattoos, and Briar has thorns. I just. Hnggg. They both, in their creation, mirror each other so well. Briar and Avros are almost literally a mirror effect and I am living for it.
More detailing, Avros thought he had a loving family, didn't see the abuse going on right in front of him. The 'necklace', the lessons so he could be more 'refined', his singing, his dancing, all of which so he would be a display of the wealth the Tians have. But when it all blew up, and he learned the truth?
He went out and found a family. Not intentionally, but, because of this? He isn't abrasive, he isn't snarly ( though he was, just a bit, when he was younger, ) he lost so much that he never really had, and yet still chooses to be kind.
Avros and Briar bring out the best in each other, with Avros willingly pushing through the thorns, because Briar is one of his own now. ( Plus, Silver eyes mirroring Marigold Gold? Please. Please. I just, love there two and that's not even touching what they do on stage. )
Because I know Briar fell hook line and sinker when seeing Avros finally breathe and live, and just be. But for Avros, seeing Briar in everyday life, seeing her perform, he likes it to what he thinks it must be to be in the presence of someone who embodies the joys and open-heartedness of life itself.
These two on their own are just, such a thing I can't even. They match so well, mirror so well, they don't so much complete the other, but work in tandem. One could even say they're a good duet.
HAvros x Qrow is another A: I love it !
Because I'ma be real. I had no intentions of shipping Avros with anyone. I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, I just really liked the aesthetic behind the idea of a silver eyed black swan faunus. It just, sounded so good, so I made it a thing. Avros is hands down a comfort character, and I love him for it.
But that said, that's what makes this ship so damn good. Qrow and Avros were never originally gonna be a thing. I was so excited to be given a chance to have Avros interact with someone who was canon ( because at the time, I didn't have a lot of that. ), because I know, silver eyes can be a huge turn off for people. I get it. I was really hoping for a shot, because Avros is a mentor or ally role that faded in and out, exploring open plot points and lore in rwby was what I wanted with him.
But we got so, so much more. We got Avros awkwardly interacting with Qrow, because he knows he's being hunted, and point black, other people scare Avros. He knows the extent of human cruelty, and rumors about Qrow only made him more anxious with the fact that Qrow knew about his eyes.
Now, that isn't to say Avros feared Qrow, quite the contrary. He respected him. He just didn't trust him, and that went both ways. I remember in a first meeting, Avros was likened to a gargoyle in the midst of rain, which is such a raw image, and I loved it. Qrow and Avros dance around each other ( ha ) for a good bit, learning about each other and opening up and trusting.
Qrow trusts Avros to help his niece with her own silver eyes, ( and while I unfortunately haven't had the chance of rp'ing such a thing with a Ruby yet, it's still so neat! ) and Avros letting down his walls. ( ala, walls falling faster than he cared to catch them. )
But that's not the best part. Qrow is used to people leaving. He's used to being seen for his semblance and abilities first, and himself as a person second, if at all. He gets hurt, because Avros doesn't communicate well, at all sometimes. So it forces Avros to dive, to force his voice to be heard, and to make Qrow listen.
Once he does, and Avros becomes more comfortable speaking? So, so much healing. Trust and comfort. Please. I adore it. Qrow and Avros being soft with one another, trusting because it's a choice they made.
Best ship though? Briar x Avros x Qrow.
Take all of the above, roll it into one, and good gods. This relationship? It's so healthy, so open and raw. It's real, and just. Please, if there were ever something I'd want, I'd want to see these three animated together. Either domestic, facing Grimm, I don't know I don't care, I need it.
That isn't even me touching on Briar and Qrow on their own. So I will. Because Ray did say that Briar was made for Qrow at one point ( of course we have Robyn filling the gaps as well, I can't explain as well as her. ) But like, it's so much more than just an oc made for canon character?
Briar on her own is wild, free spirited and so, so true to herself. I wish I could be more like that, and that's exactly what Briar is about! Not so much people wanting to be her, but her, making you analyze yourself and become stronger for it. We know Qrow utilizes her semblance as a crutch for a bit, until Briar finally tells him what for.
Which um, yeah, it's gonna startle him, even make him feel guilty for treating her more like a tool and less like a person. Being around Briar is easy, he can forget and feel comfortable, even safe.
But the thorns aren't just for a pretty view. You have to push past them to really get to the heart underneath, and eventually, Qrow does.
He acknowledges more about himself than he originally wanted to, and falls for Briar as a person, lets himself stop holding her at arm's length. It's a breath of fresh air, no longer stifling a piece of himself to feel free.
I just. Hng. It's been said before, but Calamitous Harmony as a ship, as a whole, is all about trust, healing and self discovery and self-reliance. All three are their own people, and build themselves and each other up on it.
I'll say it, that right there?
Relationship goals. 10/10