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The Vale Section 7 helipads are currently closed due to a public emergency, any students who wish to descend into the southern residential district of Vale, please connect through pads four or eleven, thank you.
The mechanisms of beacon all run clockwork.
Make it simpler.
The mechanisms of beacon all run off intertwined gear; ticking, ticking, ticking, even without a face. The people who live there just call it clock work, because they’ve seen enough around for that; ticking, ticking, ticking, a sound always reminiscent of its most common use.
Time is always moving forward, and each step through a hall is a second you won’t get back. Your time here, is short. They won’t be students forever.
And when wind sneaks into the framework of mechanisms that run these buildings. They whistle through tight clicking holes, instead of bellowing off pipes and wires. Tight and quiet, and maybe that’s why she feels this way.
The door opens, it’s annoying even to have to see, tiring to showcase emotions that flicker unwillingly across her previously blank face. Ruby hadn’t expected anyone else to be here, few are allowed towards their destination, she thought it was only leaders. Leaders, and it seems, those chosen.
The door counts close.
Don’t let her see how tired you are, don’t let her see how upset. Brave, angry, joyfull, as a good leader should be in times like this. She wasn’t even at the fight until the end. What does she know? Don’t let her think for a second, you aren’t cut out for this. Don’t let her see how-
Tick, tick, tick. The grooves of an extruding gear count the floors, up, and up.
Pyrrha stands perfect and proud at the front of the door, and you make your way towards the back. What you have been forced to bear here hasn’t affected you, she must believe. You’re still young and impatient. Lean against the wall, cross your arms, press your legs into it, don’t look at her. She, is someone that’s hard to lie too. Let Jaune deal with that.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
The wind whistles your heart tight, and when it quiets it drops. When it picks up again there’s a bounce back like vertigo. This, is the definition of silence.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Silent as anything can be.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
There’s always the sound of empty air, and the death throes of time.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Make it simpler.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
Ambiance.
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
She doesn’t even look at you when you speak.
“Ruby, if you don’t open your heart to your team, The four of you won’t function as well as you all need to.”
It wouldn’t be right, to not look at her when she speaks at you. It’s not what you’d do. Though, all she let’s you manage is the back of her head. A red ponytail, the back of golden armor, bright like sun.
“You think I’m closing myself off? That I’m, what, distant from them?”
“Yes, a team is a singular organism. They have a heart. If there’s something off with a single member, they can tell. If…. If there’s a heart that beats one way, but they act the other, they can tell.”
“I’m not like you Pyrrha, none of us are. If there’s something about us that… that’s not quite right, it’s not because of something we chose to do. We just… we make mistakes Pyrrha. But we try, we try and try again. Mountain Glenn was our fault, not yours, not the cities, not the schools. We did the best with what we are, and all we can do is be better the next, and the next, and the next, until we’re all out of time. They believe me when I say that we will, that I’m trying, because I am.”
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
“Ruby… deep down… You know what I’m saying. I know what you’re doing, and I know what you told Jaune. I appreciate it. But when confronted with the past, we must be honest. If not to them, than to ourselves.”
“Pfffffft, naaaaaah” You wave your arms, childish and free, like how you talk to Weiss, still to Pyrrhas back. “Pyrrha, me and you are like. Wooooooosh ” You whistle something deep to illustrate your point. “Ya know?” and you know she does. Even if she doesn’t agree with it. She doesn’t have to agree with you. People like her never will. “I…. I have everything to learn from you. If there’s something that applies to you… well, it applying to me as well is as likely as Ozpins clocks running out of time.”
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
She doesn’t even sigh, but you can’t afford to let her think she hasn’t cut into you. You don’t know if the tightening thump in your heart is your case for her, or her case for you.
“Besides, what are you even saying? That, I’m what? Lying to my team about something? Im a simple girl Pyrrha, normal as can be. Especially when it comes to all the amazing people here. There’s nothing for me to lie about? I’m just happy I get to be a part of this all, ya know. It’s… it’s what I always wanted to be. To do.”
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
“Do you think I’m not happy I got to be leader? Ozpin was right, none of the others wanted the role, not really. None of us needed it either. I’m just filling a role that has to be filled. Does, does my team not being in the same place as yours make you happy? Do you think I’m not? Do you think I’m, throwing my team off with something only you believe?”
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
“I don’t want to say this Pyrrha, because for huntresses, the instinct is prudent. But you worry too much. My team functions as best as we currently can. And it’s because of how we talk to each other. Maybe I could be better, but maybe I couldn’t either. That sort of change comes slow. I can’t rush it. And if we aren’t good enough one day, you, beacons best, can help us. And if you ever need help from us, in anyway, we can help you. That’s what being a team is about Pyrrha. Not a single organism, individuals trying their best for each other.”
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
“You’re right, I’m the weak link of RWBY. Just like Jaune is for you. But with friends like ours, we don’t even have to lift a finger to clear a city block. You saw it.”
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
“Heh, I’m contradicting myself. I know. I know I’m younger than all of you. I know I haven’t had as much time. But they made me and Jaune leaders for a reason, we have our own paths to follow. We don’t need the same help you do. The way I saw you fighting out there today, you don’t need much at all.”
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
“You know its funny, all year I’ve been telling myself that next time we got to go on a real hunt. I would show our teams that I’m someone that can be trusted like that ya know. I… I’m not sure if I’ve lost some of my edge, or if the gap between you and the huntresses on Patch is really that great. You really are as good as everyone says you are Pyrrha.”
“I’m not.”
“Psssssh, No p e. Like hell you are. We all saw it. Late to the fight and you took down more Grimm than RWBY and CFVY combined. You know it’s true Pyrrha. If you didn’t think so, you wouldn’t be here right now. You follow Ozpins orders for a reason. I don’t know what special stuff he has you doing, but you’re the only person he lets up here without a reason. You’re a huntress through and through, it’s enviable, no matter what he asked of you, you’d do it. If we are the same in any ways, it’s knowing the importance of being trusted in a moment like that.”
“That’s true.”
The gears tock one floor below Ozpins. You know what that means, you know the other leaders will be waiting for you to debrief Glynda, and you know, that Pyrrha will wait one more stop, until her and Ozpin are lone.
Not a petal drops, as you grab Pyrrhas shoulder pad a bit tighter than you expected, and bit faster than she thought you could. As you walk out of the elevator, you meet her face for the first time. Her face is as set, as you tried to make yours. She’s not surprised, and a simmering of frustration fuels your choice.
You shove off her, and she doesn’t react. The elevator opens and you’re in the open again, for everyone to watch. You say louder than is appropriate, but just as loud as the people here know you to be. A pitch above collected, as is expected for someone so young and stary eyed to be after their first real mission.
“You do beacon credit Pyrrha. You’ve done it credit since the first day you chose Jaune in the runes. Thank you, for trusting me like you do. Thank you for your advice. Thank you for thinking of me like that. I know everyone here, is just looking out for me.”
The door closes.