#team rc

[cardinalcry]

Cardin: So, you and Blake?

Yang: Yup.

Cardin: Is that new thing, or…?

Yang: Pretty new, but we kinda had feels ever since Beacon.

Cardin: Cool, cool.

Yang: Nothing to say, Winchester?

Cardin: Uh, congratulations? I’m happy for you?

Yang: Wow, you really have changed.

Cardin: I was mildly racist back at Beacon, Yang, not a homophobe.

Cardin: …Besides, if you’re dating Blake, then we can use Menagerie as a wedding venue.

Yang: Yeah, exac-

Yang: Wait, ‘we’?

Cardin: Uhhhhhh…

Yang: Are you… going to ask Ruby…?

Cardin: YOU WILL SAY NOTHING.

[cardinalcry]

*Explaining the plot of Ice Queendom*

Ruby: This is crazy, it reminds me of the time that I jumped into Weiss’ mind, dressed up as snowboarders and JRPG characters to fight an evil version of Weiss’ subconscious who was dressed as a dominatrix dictator.

Cardin, who likely will have no role in IQ, and likely never heard of any of this craziness before now: ??????

[cardinalcry]

'Pet Names'

Ruby: *shouting* Cardin, can you come help me with the camper? I can't reach the roof-rack!

Cardin: Sure, I'm coming hone-

Cardin: *stops what he glances at Blake, Weiss, Yang, Nora, Penny, Oscar, and Emerald all looking at him expectantly*

Cardin:

Cardin: I was going to say 'I'm coming, hold on.'

Blake: Uh-huh.

Cardin: That's it.

Weiss: Naturally.

Cardin: I wouldn't need to say anything else, and you know it.

Yang: Of course, now go help her.

Cardin: Alright, sure.

Cardin:

Ruby: *shouting* HONEY-BUNCHES, where are you?!

Cardin: *facepalms as everyone bursts-out laughing*

[cardinalcry]

I got some art commissioned! 😁 Many thanks to @princewarmachine!

Here’s Ruby and Cardin, set in Volume 4, checking-out some sweeping landscape or sunset vista together through their binoculars. Cardin’s saying something profound for a change, and Ruby’s totally not beginning to form a crush on the big-guy.

[cardinalcry]

Cardin, Ruby, how did your first kiss go? Was Cardin the one who initiated it or was it Ruby?

*V8, Episode 10 - Reunion Scene*

Ruby opens the door of Schnee Manor, Weiss and Blake at her side. Yang, Oscar, and Ren are seen standing. Ruby jumps into Yang's arms as they happily hug each other. Ruby began crying tears of joy as she looks at her sister, who smiled back at her.

Yang: ...I missed you too.

Yang hugs Weiss as Ruby goes to greet Oscar and Ren. Yang then spots Blake, standing with her cat ears lowered. Yang holds the side of Blake's face, blushing, before the two touch foreheads. Ren looks around for Nora, but Weiss smiles, and points upstairs. Ren runs in the direction she indicated, heading to his partner's bedside.

Ruby: Wait... where's Cardin?

Oscar moves aside, and shows Cardin on the same hover-stretcher the team borrowed from the Atlesian refugees hiding in the tunnels underneath Mantle, still being pushed by Emerald. Ruby gasps in horror, and pushes everyone aside.

Ruby: (panicking) Cardin?! Cardin?!

Emerald: Salem... hurt him. Badly. He's-

Ruby: (angry, shoving Emerald away) -GET AWAY FROM HIM! Cardin?! Cardin?! Can you hear-?

Cardin: (groaning weakly) -Yes, I can hear you, can you please stop shouting? Ugh, I forgot how loud your voice can be...

Ruby's face explodes in relief, and grips his hand in hers as everyone looks-on. Cardin offers a tiny smile, as he tries to sit-up on the stretcher (with some difficulty). Oscar smiles, and looks over to Emerald, who offers a small shrug- clearly, she didn't know their history .

Cardin: Sorry I didn't 'bite it, Rose. You're gunna have to enjoy this ugly mug for a little-while-longer.

Ruby: (wiping her tears away with her other-hand with a smile) It's... not that ugly...

Cardin: It's not? But Yang said-

Ruby suddenly lunges forward, kissing Cardin clumsily on the lips. Time seems to stop for a moment, as Ruby's free hand 'holds his cheek, as if the universe itself was circling around these two individuals, in this moment. It's simple, sweet, honest and true- a tiny ray of sunshine, to 'cap-off this reunion between the two groups.

Ruby: (smiling) ...I don't care what Yang said...

As Cardin and Ruby share their tender moment, the camera cuts to a bemused Weiss, a shocked Blake, and a horrified Yang.

[cardinalcry]

Jaune: You let me die. After I saved you.

Cardin: No…

Jaune: I sacrificed myself- for Pyrrha, for Beacon, for the people… and for YOU.

Cardin: You aren’t real!

Jaune: I’m real enough. I saved your cowardly, disposable, repulsive from from the Ursa. And you didn’t even have the decency to die in my place!

Jaune: *draws Crocea Mors, and stabs at Cardin*

Cardin: *waking up from the nightmare, screaming* NO-!

Cardin: *breathing heavily, caked in sweat*

Cardin: *slowly tries to go back to sleep*

Ruby: …

Ruby: *under her breath* Glad I’m not the only one…

[cardinalcry]

Wait a minute ruby what do you mean keeps bringing up jaune?

Is he comparing himself to him or some else?

It is kind of odd since him and jaune were not…friends to say at least.

"He keeps saying stuff like 'Jaune would know what to do', or 'Jaune should be here for this', or 'I bet Jaune would have some dumb plan for this'.

True, he never knew Jaune very-well or on a personal basis, but I think something changed in him after Jaune's death. To Cardin, I think he now has this idealised version of Jaune in his head, and what he being doing on this quest of ours, and he just can't measure-up. Not that Jaune is physically stronger, or a better fighter, but because Cardin sees Jaune as 'good-er' and smarter than himself..."

- Ruby

[cardinalcry]

Ruby did you check on Cardin? Because I am worried that the situation in altas is getting to him.

I wouldn’t blame him considering everything is going to heck.

"I've tried, but he's less talkative than before. When we were in the camper going to Haven Academy, and then heading towards Argus with Maria, he was never afraid to raise his concerns, or curse, or just talk to me. But now? He's quieter now, more reserved, less open... and he keeps bringing-up Jaune, where he didn't used to before.

Honestly? It's starting to scare me. Just when I thought I knew him, truly knew him... he retreated into himself, and won't let me in..."

- Ruby