Couldn't Stand Another Minute

[in4apounding]

Who: Penny Polendina in4apounding, Ruby Rose rosetotheoccasion, Weiss Schnee usedglaciate, and Yang Xiao Long yanginthere
Where: Violet City
When: Sunday 2/7, Evening
and Tuesday 2/9, Afternoon
Summary: A reunion of canonmates and discussion of some terrible things to come.
Rating: PG
Log:

[Penny bounced up and down on the balls of her feet, waiting outside the Violet City Pokémon Center, her Vulpix anxiously threading his way around her ankles. She hadn't realized quite how long three months without seeing anyone from home could be, but now Ruby and Weiss had both arrived at once. She almost felt guilty being as happy as she was, it sounded like they had been taken from some serious trouble.]

[But, they were both here now. And as long as no one knew how to get back, there was no harm in trying to make the best of things, right?]

Comments

[yanginthere]

[ From one shoulder to another, Yang staggers back slightly from the weight. Though it's not unwelcome; it just makes it hard to get both hands on her sister for a hug. ] H-hey!

Yeah. You were right. [ With her free hand she reached back to check her hair for what was probably the fifth time since the teleport in. Then she gives Weiss a smile. ]

I'm all here, far as I can tell.

[ And then she looks past the others to Penny and she's... well, still smiling. Penny might have always struck her as a quirky girl but that was just because she didn't know her too well. This would be a good chance to catch up and maybe get a handle on why Ruby was so attached to her. (Or was it the other way around?)

This was the face and attitude of someone that had 100% no idea what news awaited her. ] Oh, hey Penny! Glad you could make it, too. Looks like the gang's all here.

[rosetotheoccasion]

... Almost.

[Sorry, Yang. Even as Ruby's smile fades a bit, she refuses to let go.]

We're still missing Blake. But... I don't think she's even here. She would've said something by now, right?

[usedglaciate]

I don't think she's here, either. She would have answered at least one of the messages the three of us sent out if she were.

[In a way, that's almost better, but she's not going to be the one to say that out loud first.]

...I didn't ask this over the network, and don't love the idea of bringing it up now, but better not to put it off. We should get up to speed on what our last memories are.

[in4apounding]

[Penny shuffled her feet a bit as the topic turned to their other, slightly-more-pressing reason for being there.]

["Congratulations on your win!"
"She would never hit someone when they're down-"]

[How much had Weiss and Ruby already told her? She'd been so caught up in welcoming Yang to Johto the thought of their futures had almost entirely slipped her mind.]

Like I said earlier, it was a few weeks before the Tournament for me, even though I've been here for months. But. Um. A lot happened after that I didn't know about, apparently.

[Another slightly uncomfortable shuffle.]

...I'm sorry for not mentioning it. I thought Ruby and Weiss would like to tell you themselves.

[yanginthere]

[ At the mention of Blake, Yang nodded in agreement with Weiss. She had complete confidence that for as sneaky as her partner could be, she would have reached out to one of them by now. ] Mm. Right!

[ When Weiss put forth her suggestion, she could tell there was a shift in the mood of the others. Yang was still bouncing back from her initial feelings of disorientation and frustration with their fates, having talked to others and found some more reasons to hope that things will work out.

What really throws her off is Penny, though. That girl has been nothing but pure concentrated vim and vigor since the moment they (literally) ran into her. What could have all of them so nervous...? ]

Hmm, it's no big deal, Penny. I mean, like you and others have said, time seems to work different here. It's a solid plan. [ Then her eyes light up with excitement. ] Ahh, it's too bad you haven't seen the Tournament yet. You kicked some serious butt out there. We all did!

[ She turned her head to Weiss, grinning knowingly as she thought back to their doubles match. Yang thought teasing Weiss a bit would bring some levity to the discussion. ] Though some of us were better about using "proper form" than others.

[rosetotheoccasion]

[In contrast to her excitement Yang might notice that Ruby doesn't look excited at all. In fact, it... almost looks like she's gunna be sick. Because she doesn't want to talk about this again. She can't keep talking about it, it's too much...

But. But Yang deserves to know.]

Yang... y'know how I said what you remember last wasn't what I remember last? What I remember... [Her grip on her sister's arm tightens, a desperate attempt to find some sort of anchor so she doesn't start tearing up again.] Everything... it all got messed up...

[usedglaciate]

[It's better to rip the bandage off, Weiss knows this, even if it's harder in the moment. That doesn't make it any easier in the short term.]

Proper form was the last thing I was worried about in that fight, but that's neither here nor there. It's what happened after that when things went from good to absolutely horrible.

The last thing you remember is that doubles match, right, Yang?

[Deep breath, and...]

You fought Mercury, but you remember his doubles partner, Emerald, right? Well...the theory Ruby and I are working from is that Emerald may have used her Semblance to make you see something that wasn't there. Because of that, it looked like you broke Mercury's leg when he was down. That got you disqualified.

...and that's the tip of the iceberg. After that, there was -

[Weiss looks at Penny, and tries to keep herself calm.]

- are you okay if I tell this next part, Penny?

[in4apounding]

[She wants to say no, let one more person go on believing that she was always human. But if what Weiss and Ruby told her was true -and why wouldn't it be?- everyone would know sooner or later. Better to get it over with.]

[She just wished that knowing that made it easier.]

[She gives Weiss a small nod, taking a deep breath.]

[yanginthere]

[ The nosedive Ruby's demeanor took was Yang's first clue. The carefree smile of hers was frozen on her face as she turned her head from her sister's face to watch Weiss begin to explain the situation.

Her gaze doesn't shift over to Penny as easily, for she is still caught on what Weiss had said. There is the urge to interject. To blurt out about a dozen different questions, but she clenches her jaw tight.

They wouldn't lie to her. There would not only be no reason for it, but they were her trusted partners. She had no idea how Penny could be involved in all this, especially since she just said herself she would not have any such knowledge, but Weiss seemed to think it was something so important — or terrible — that it was worth stopping to ask permission first.

Yang's hands were already tightening into fists, and her expression evened out. It's obvious that she's bracing herself, waiting for the other shoe to drop. But there's also anger there; she had been upset about the inconvenience of not being allowed to enjoy her moment in the spotlight after the conclusion of her tournament match, but it sounded like that would have been the wrong kind of attention anyway.

She could have laughed it off. But it's really not funny. ]

Keep going.

[rosetotheoccasion]

[It's at this point that Ruby finally lets go of Yang. She's still close enough to be a solid support to her sister, pressing against her side in an offer of comfort, but she turns towards Penny now, holding her hands out to her.

It just... it's awful, seeing Penny like this. Seeing Penny sad just makes something sharp and stinging twist painfully in Ruby's chest.]

Penny... c'mere.

[Should she approach, Ruby will pull her into a tight hug, as warm and comforting as she can make it. It can't be easy, hearing people talk about your death over and over, and Ruby wants to do what she can to ease that, even by a little bit.]

[usedglaciate]

All right.

[It's not all right, not in the slightest, but Weiss nods, taking a moment to compose her thoughts before continuing.]

In the singles round, Penny was paired with Pyrrha, whose Semblance is polarity - magnetism. I don't think any of us would have thought twice, but during the fight, something spooked Pyrrha. I don't know what, because I wasn't in the stadium when it happened.

When Pyrrha got spooked, she used her Semblance. That would have been one thing against a human opponent, but it was something else entirely because she was fighting an android opponent. I think you can guess what the result was.

[She's not going to tell all the gory details in front of Penny.]

After that, a woman hijacked the PA system and the broadcast, saying that it wasn't an accident, that the military and the schools are corrupt, that the Hunters and Huntresses couldn't be trusted.

The Grimm started attacking after that. The last thing I remember is Blake and I splitting up so that we could cover more ground trying to clear them out of the school grounds.

[in4apounding]

[Penny quietly moves to accept Ruby's hug. Hearing about her own death isn't as bad the second time around, if only because it's no longer a surprise. The pain and fear is still there, but already duller.]

[The look of pain on Ruby's face, though? That's plenty fresh.]

They used us. Both of us. And Pyrrha.

[yanginthere]

[ It doesn't feel real to Yang to hear and know of these events, but who can blame her? She wasn't there — not yet, anyway. For an instant she questioned the rationale in telling her. After all if she hadn't seen it yet, there would have been nothing to lead her on about why everyone else was on edge. She would probably probably pried eventually but after giving the others time to cope with whatever it was that happened.

The same held true for Penny. Yang cannot imagine what it would have been like to see or experience that, much less to hear someone else talking about your death like it was such a sure thing. An inevitability? Her heart really went out to Penny in that moment.

First things first, Yang mentally smacked some sense into herself for her doubts. They are a TEAM. They are FRIENDS. Of COURSE they ought to bear such a burden together. Even if Yang wasn't there to see any of this unfold, even if she cannot fully wrap her head around the machinations and the planning that had to go into some kind of insane scheme like this, it doesn't mean she won't try her best to be there for the others.

Even if, in the moment, all she can do is walk away.

Not far — no, just a few steps before she turned back to the group, eyes closed. She was quiet, with her head raised. She was trying to put herself in her last moment in the arena before waking up in this strange new world. Hearing her words echoing across the platform — "Better luck next time!" — hearing the crowd going ballistic. For her. She won. Fair and square, she won but...

Mercury said something, didn't he? The words are muffled. Yang felt that he quipped something but for the life of her, she couldn't piece together the actual words or their meaning.

It's there that Yang snapped out of her recollection, and pounded her gloved fists together in trademark fashion.

No fire.
Not a single spark.
Her eyes don't even change color.
But it's still plenty obvious that she's well and truly mad. ] She used us. She... played us ... who is she?!

[rosetotheoccasion]

I don't know. But we'll find out. We'll find her.

[Ruby's voice isn't cold. Her voice is never cold. But there's a grim sort of determination in it, as sharp as a blade.]

And we'll definitely stop her. Her, and Mercury, Emerald... anyone else that's with her.

[Almost unconsciously, her grip on Penny tightens, just a little.]

She hurt my sister. She hurt some of my best friends. She's hurting so many innocently people...

I won't let her do anything worse.

[usedglaciate]

[That note of determination, in that tone, should have come from her, Weiss thinks. She shakes her head slightly.]

We won't let her do anything worse. Don't think for a second that you're alone in this fight.

I have faith in us. We're stronger than whatever they can throw our way, and I know we can stop this, one way or another.

[When had they switched roles, Ruby with the grimness - almost ice - in her voice, and Weiss with the confidence? She's not sure, and it feels a little strange.]

We'll do it for everyone's sake.

[in4apounding]

I don't know if I'll be able to-

[She stops, not wanting to say the obvious despite Weiss' faith that they could all return,
as they were.]

I know you all can stop them. We can. If- once my father fixes things.

[The tiniest, half choked-off hiccup.]

I won't let them hurt you any more.

[They made her friend cry. They must pay.]

[yanginthere]

[ While Yang might not be in much of a position to give her own motivational speech of sorts, she can certainly get into the mood along with the others. She paced anxiously as they all spoke, repeatedly swinging her fists together, knocking the soft flesh of her palm to her knuckles, or just flat-out smacking the bones together like she was trying to strike a fire with two rocks.

Nothing is reacting as it should, but there's all this sudden violent energy nonetheless. How Yang was going to get by here without her usual tricks is something on her mind, too, but there's no time to worry about it. ]

Yeah.

Yeah!

YEAH!!

[ She stopped then, hands up in front of her like she was ready to challenge someone. ] We'll get back. We'll save everyone. Then we'll kick some major butt, just like we always do!

[ Once more, smacking her right fist hard into her left palm, with a grin. ] And I really will break his legs. [ Down, Nora. ]