#rwbymarch22

Fallen Character: Penny Polendina

Out of all the things that could’ve happened today, this was not expected. Penny scanned the sidewalk she’d just run onto, trying to look between people’s feet. It had turned the corner just seconds before she did and already it felt like she lost it. Then she caught a flash of green. Immediately she perked up and chased back after it, apologizing as she wove between other pedestrians. As she ran, she saw a girl stumble when the cat ran between her feet and almost fall. The girl caught herself and looked back and forth like she was trying to prove to herself that that really happened.

“Quick, catch that cat!” Penny yelled out to her. Their eyes caught for the briefest moments. Just long enough for Penny to absently catalogue sea green eyes and freckles. “It stole my wallet!” The girl nodded and took off after the cat. Penny pushed herself further to reach them both.

By the time she caught up, the other girl had the cat in her arms and her wallet in hand. Penny took a few seconds to catch her breath and smiled.

“Here you go!” The girl held her wallet out to her.

“Thank you,” Penny said, gratefully taking her wallet back.

“Of course,” the girl said with a laugh in her voice. She readjusted the cat- who seemed perfectly happy, red eyes giving a slow blink- in her arms. “I’m not sure why a cat would want a wallet, though.”

Penny looked awkwardly away, fingering the raised part of the wallet. “I may keep treats in there, in case I run into any potential animal friends.”

“Oh, that’s smart! I should start doing that.” The girl chuckled. The cat purred, a deep, rumbling sound, as she scratched behind her ears rather absentmindedly. “If I remember… I’m not too good at remembering things. Ren always says I should write it down, but I always forget that too.”

Penny nodded understandingly. Her friend Russel wasn’t too good at remembering things, either. “I can give you some of mine.” She opened the wallet to shake some out. The cat looked over, interested.

“Thanks! I’m Nora,” the girl said.

“I’m Penny!” Penny said. “Salutations!” She stuck out the hand that had the treats in it and they both laughed when the cat stuck her nose in Penny’s palm.

FavouriteGood/Bad/Neutral Character: Russel Thrush and Sky Lark

The liquid in the beaker turned a bright blue. A minute after the colour swirled throughout the entire concoction, it started to bubble. Up and up and up the long tube. It was one of the taller beakers the chemistry lab owned. Sky looked at him for only a second, like if he turned away from what they were doing it’d spontaneously combust. Which Russel could admit was fair. The number of things he made explode- both purposely and accidentally- definitely outweighed the portion that didn’t. Though to be fair he knew Sky enjoyed it too.

“So, how likely?” Sky asked.

Russel shrugged and seesawed his hand. “I’m like 75%? This won’t explode on us.” He added another chemical and the colour deepened into a sea green. The beaker bubbled more, the liquid rising ominously. At it, Sky raised an eyebrow. With a sheepish grin Russel amended, “Maybe 65%.”

Sky nodded and reached for the last chemical. “Well, moment of truth for your calculations, then.” He tipped it in and they held their breath as the beaker darkened even more, sea green turning the colour of pine. It bubbled up only a little this time. They both let out a sigh of relief. Russel picked it up to put it in the cooler. The beaker bubbled more suddenly and he paused to give it time to settle again. Though apparently not enough time. When he started to move the beaker bubbled more suddenly than he was prepared for, like a shaken soda, and suddenly exploded. Green covered both of them, the substance thickening just slightly in the air like a gel. Which, hey, it was supposed to do that so bonus!

“Well, it was close,” Russel said, scrubbing a hand down his face.

“Closer than I thought it’d get,” Sky said.

Russel blinked a few times and looked over at Sky. There was green sludge stuck to his skin and clothes and his hair where it was up in a bun. He knew there was no way he looked any better. A laugh bubbled up in his chest. Fuck, they were a mess. After a moment, Sky began to laugh as well. They were still laughing when Cardin walked into the room, no doubt wondering where he was and unsurprised to find him in the chemistry lab- with Sky. The confusion on Cardin’s face just sent them into more hysterics.

“What were you two doing?” Cardin asked, frowning at them.

“Making slime,” Russel said between laughs.

When Cardin sighed and left, closing the door behind him, Sky and Russel stared at each other for a few, sudden, sober moments. Then promptly lost it once again. By the time they could calm enough to clean the room- and get to the bathroom to clean themselves- their sides were in pain.

Underrated Character: Dove and Neptune

Dove rubbed at his knuckles. They weren’t really sore, but there was a light layer of blood on them that smeared. It wasn’t his blood. In front of him, the guy he’d punched glared at him while holding his- most likely broken- nose. He ignored him in favour of Neptune. The other boy stood off to the side behind him, shielded by him, playing with his fingerless gloves with a frown. When he turned to him, making sure to keep the other guy in his peripheral in case he got the bad idea to attack him, Neptune’s eyes snapped to his.

“So why did I have to punch that guy?”

Neptune gaped for only a moment before he protested. “I didn’t ask you to!”

“You didn’t.” Dove shrugged. Of course Neptune didn’t, Neptune didn’t tend to fight unless he absolutely had to. ‘I’m a lover, not a fighter,’ Neptune had once told him. And he figured it translated into others fighting for him. But he’d seen the guy messing with Neptune and stepped in. “So why was he fucking with you?”

“He’s upset over all the female friends I have and won’t believe me that I’m not dating any of them,” Neptune mumbled, no doubt embarrassed. And no doubt unaware his constant flirting might be at least part of why the guy didn’t believe him. A much larger part was definitely the guy being a dick, though.

“He harassed you for something so stupid?” Dove said, letting a touch of anger seep into his monotone as he sent a look toward the guy who flinched. Neptune looked sheepish and Dove had to physically hold himself back from rolling his eyes at it. Someone could literally pour soup in his lap and he’d probably apologize.

“It’s fine,” Neptune said. Though he faltered when Dove turned the look on him. He looked at Neptune hard before he closed his eyes and sighed. Well, it wasn’t exactly how he’d wanted to do it. But it was something he’d wanted to do for a while at least. No matter what he wouldn’t regret his next actions.

“I know how to solve this.”

“You d-” Dove yanked Neptune down to his level using the scarf around his neck, cutting him off, and kissed him soundly. Before Neptune had the chance to do anything but flail he pulled away.

“He’s not dating any of his female *friends*. He’s dating me,” Dove told the guy pointedly, who looked just as confused as he assumed Neptune probably was. “Neptune doesn’t tend to lie.” Which was true, so Dove really hoped Neptune kept his mouth shut and let him handle it.

The guy looked between them, looking angrier that he’d been proven wrong than that Dove had quite possibly broken his nose. Then he huffed and turned away. His tart 'fine’ sounded off.

“You should get the nurse to look at that,” Dove said before the guy could walk very far, both a parting taunt and warning. A reminder that he *did* hurt him and could again. The 'worse’ could hopefully remain unsaid. When he finally turned back to Neptune, his eyes were already on him, wide and blue and bright in their intensity. For a long, almost drawn out moment Neptune just stared.

“Did you just ask me out?”

Dove tilted his head and shrugged after a moment’s thought. He supposed he did. Neptune’s fingers paused where he’d started to play with his gloves again and his mouth twitched a moment before he laughed. *Really* laughed. Sparks of indignation rose in Dove, but it was more mock than anything. He knew Neptune wasn’t laughing at him. Instead, he was likely laughing at the situation more than anything. Like an infectious thing, Dove could feel a few bubbles of humour rising in his chest and popping into laughter as he thought about it himself. Not even once had he considered he’d confess to Neptune and definitely not in such a way. Well, not like he’d take it back. “I did.”

“Oh.” Neptune looked surprised and finally looked away. Though now his eyes were on their shoes. There was a moment where neither of them said anything. He took off his glove to run a fingernail across the lines of his palm. “… yes, then,” Neptune said eventually. It was quiet, though. Too quiet for Dove to hear him.

“What?”

“Yes,” Neptune repeated louder. He looked back up to meet Dove’s eyes. That was one thing Dove really liked about Neptune. Even when he was scared or felt intimidated, he could still push himself to meet that head on. Though he still had trouble when it came to his thalassophobia. But even that, Dove could tell he was trying to face as best he could. “I’ll go out with you.”

“Okay,” Dove said. “Then this Friday night, movie and popcorn. I’ll pay.”

“Alright,” Neptune said and he smiled something small and sincere. Something that actually reached into Dove to make his chest flutter. Gross and gushy. But not so bad with Neptune, he supposed. He grabbed Neptune’s scarf to pull him down again and this time Neptune met him halfway.

Not too bad at all.

Favourite Character: Cardin (and Velvet)

The second Cardin stepped inside his kitchen, he sighed heavily and strongly reconsidered not drinking coffee. Or maybe his distaste for alcohol. Would it be better to be caffeinated or not sober? He shook his head and went for the coffee machine, stepping over a mostly dried puddle. If Velvet was here the chances of coffee already being made was high. Thankfully, there was coffee. Still warm. Cardin poured a cup, added what Velvet would consider was too milk, then sipped it as he leaned back against the counter. The liquid warmed his hands through the mug. One Velvet had gotten for him, with the TARDIS on it, despite her dismay that he only really used it for hot chocolate.

He only drank maybe a third of the cup by the time Velvet returned to the kitchen. There was a dark towel between her hands that she was using to dry them. Without saying a word to him, she stepped over the now fully dried and dark puddle as well and poured herself a cup of coffee. Like an insane person, she drank long from the mug without adding anything to the bitter drink. Cardin grimaced just a little.  At least she didn’t always drink it black. Though compared to the coffee he choked down from time to time, it may as well be. How she managed with so little sugar and cream he had no clue. It kind of scared him.

“Rough night?” Cardin asked. Velvet huffed a laugh into her mug. It was completely undignified and completely her.

“You have no idea,” Velvet groused, hopping up onto his counter and leaning back against the cupboards. She leaned forward so her elbows rested on her legs, drink cradled between her hands in the open space between them. Her black combat boots kicked lightly at the cupboards built under the counter. The dark circles that always seemed to be more at home under his own eyes were getting deeper again, making her look more tired than she ever truly got. She took another long pull from the mug. It made her look a little like an alcoholic drowning their sorrows at the bar.

“Guy give you trouble?” Cardin asked.

“Yep,” Velvet said, glaring at the puddle on the floor like it had personally insulted her. Which Cardin felt was a little uncalled for. After all, this was his kitchen, not hers. Eventually she’d have to clean up her mess. Which she for some reason kept dragging to his place.

There was a lapse of silence, punctuated by the steady rhythm of Velvet’s boots against the wooden door under her. Thump, thump, thump . Cardin’s eyes wandered again to the puddle. “You’re cleaning that up,” he said.

“Yep,” Velvet said, taking a sip of her coffee.

Cardin nodded. Good. At least she would clean up her mess. He took an absentminded sip. “And you need to stop leaving dead bodies in my kitchen.”

Velvet groaned.

“Seriously, Scarlatina.” Cardin turned to her, “What are you, a cat? Why do you have to do this here?”

“It’s easier,” Velvet said.

“How is it easier?” Cardin said.

“You help me hide the body!” Velvet said. “And dig the grave! Do you know how longandboring it would be if I had to dig a hole all by myself?”

“I don’t know,” Cardin said, “I think you’ve dug yourself into enough holes.”

Velvet looked at him flatly. “So have you, so I guess I was looking for an expert.”

They both glared at each other, daring the other to mention any of the ‘holes’ the other had dug themself into through the years. Personally, Cardin knew there were plenty of problems Velvet had caused- and some she made worse- that he could mention. (Of course, she had an equal amount for him, he begrudgingly admitted to himself.) The staring contest broke when Velvet looked away with a sigh.

“Let’s just bury the damn body.”

“Fine. But seriously, Scarlatina. At least leave it in the trunk next time instead of showing it off like a prize.”

“But then how would I teach you to hunt?”

“Why am I still friends with you?”

“Because you know if you killed me I’d only come back to haunt you.”

Semblance/aura: Jaune

When Pyrrha first unlocked his aura, he’d seen the briefest flash of brilliant red. He had absolutely no idea what it was. So he’d assumed it was what usually happened, and moved on without saying anything. After all it was bad- and suspicious - enough that he didn’t really understand aura past the most basic of stuff. It healed and it gave powers. (Jaune would admit– he’d slept through the few times they’d talked about aura in school. It was just so boring. They didn’t do anything practical with it or anything, just droned on for a few minutes.) And that he didn’t have his unlocked. He smiled at her, grateful that she’d nudged it to the surface and unwittingly made it so he didn’t have to reveal he’d snuck his way in.

When Nora woke him up the first day of them being together as a team, there was a flash of pink. It shimmered over her body like excited rays. Jaune blinked hard and it went away. Again he didn’t question it. Obviously he’d imagined it. He didjust wake up, and he was still immensely groggy. It couldn’t be that odd that he was seeing things.

Other flashes came to him at odd moments. Pink from Ren when Nora did something that made him fondly roll his eyes. Dark red from Ruby as she gave him a leader pep talk. Yellow from Yang as she declared war. Black from Blake while she read. Deep green from Russel as he told him about his childhood late at night on Beacon’s roof. Dark red from Cardin when their eyes met across the classroom.

Saving Weiss was the first time he’d ever gotten more than just a few flashes. Pure, glittering silver shattered like a mirror. It was terrifying. He barely even understood it, but it was terrifying. It felt like his body moved toward her without his input. There was a tug insideof him, reaching and reaching until he stretched out his arms and saw gold reach toward silver and silver reach back.

That was the first time he used his semblance and the first time he realized what those flashes were. Aura. He could see others’ aura.

The realization had him staring closer. Finally he noticed the emotions he recognized were being broadcast through those flashes. That he’d been interpreting them subconsciously before he’d even actually known what they were. Now that he did, he would pay more attention.

Along with learning the different ways aura swirled with different emotions, he also learned the different colours of his friends.

Pyrrha took the longest, since all he had to work on was memory. But he was pretty sure he had a good idea of what it had been. Candy red. Bright like candy apples from a fair. Bright like Pyrrha had been and like he knew she could’ve been.

Nora was blush. Soft yet intense.

Ren was magenta. Bold and bright.

Ruby was garnet.

Yang was sunflower yellow. Tall and strong.

When they got to Atlas, he learned the colours of the team he honestly didn’t think he’d ever see again. (He was glad he saw them again. That the four of them were healthy and still together.) He learned Penny’s as well.

Dove’s was bronze and he kind of wanted to laugh- it was fitting with the last name ‘Bronzewing’. The colour was… shinier than he expected.

Penny was inch worm green. It looked like a power button turned ‘on’.

Sky was cobalt.

Russel was japanese laurel. A deep, living green.

Cardin was the easiest. It was blood. Freshly spilt and flickering along his skin like pinpoints of light. Like a hundred thousand wounds from half as many battles, seared into his skin so the world could see if it only cared to look. 

So the world would know what he tried to keep hidden.

Or so Jaune would, at least. The colour was dark like the blood coloured cloth Cardin still wore. The colour was dark and Jaune wasn’t sure it fit Cardin, not like how the others’ aura fit them, but then he’d catch glimpses and wonder and think that maybe it did. Sometimes he thought about how much Cardin clearly cared for the others. Or he saw the way he took care of his team and of Penny and mysteriously one day Nora and Weiss, too. How he kept them alive in even the smallest of ways. About how made sure they ate and slept and he thought it only made sense that his aura was the colour of blood. Was the colour of life.

Soulmates: Icarus (Team CRDL/Team SSSN)

Cardin never had to find his soulmate. He’d just always been there, seemingly from birth, though he knew they’d been five when their parents- also soulmates- had met. And he considered himself lucky. As he got older, he learned just how long some had to wait to meet their soulmate. The years or decades they had to wonder- who would share my semblance? When all he’d had to do was follow his máthair to find his other half.

Going to Shade was strange, in a way. He hadn’t really had the desire to be a huntsman. But Russel had wanted to go, and he had followed. Followed all throughout schooling; through Oscuro into Shade.

There was never a question that Russel Thrush was his soulmate. That he had a bright boy who he sometimes didn’t feel like he deserved, who rambled and smiled and valued other’s happiness above his own. It had just never occurred to Cardin that Russel wasn’t his only soulmate. That the two of them would run into more.

Sky Lark is… fun, in a way. He reminds Cardin of Russel. Smiling and rambling. A class clown in all ways minus funny shoes and red nose. Sometimes he questions Sky being made leader, but then he sees the way Sky’s eyes flick between them and he thinks he understands. It’s Russel who realizes that Sky is their soulmate. He’d come barging into the room, eyes wide and brown swirling almost widely in blue. It was rare for Russel to get too worried. Usually that was Cardin’s job. After all, he’d kept them both from dying throughout their childhood. But Russel didn’t notice the role reversal, just rushed up to Cardin and grabbed onto his forearms. If not for their size difference, Russel would likely be shaking him. The boy certainly gave a valiant try. “Cardin- Sky- I saw- semblance!”

Cardin blinked down at Russel, trying subtly to remove himself from the grip before his brains were scrambled. “You saw Sky’s semblance?” He didn’t understand why that was important.

“Yes!!” Russel said emphatically. His whole face lit up as he smiled, every bit of worry melted into excitement like it hadn’t even been there.

“Okay…?” Cardin said, still not understanding.

“He rewound time,” Russel said, trusting Cardin to understand. And he finally did. It felt like his heart hammered to a sudden stop. He wasn’t sure what emotion he felt at the moment. They had a third soulmate.

Russel had a third soulmate.

Had he not been enough?

In front of him, Russel’s face dropped, and he cursed himself for apparently being too obvious. Being raised together did him no favours with hiding his emotions. Immediately Russel’s hands squished his cheeks and he leaned his forehead down against Cardin’s. “Absolutely not,” Russel said with certainty, with the rare tone that left no room for arguments. The one that was serious and said he was right- The one that Cardin couldn’t help but trust even on his worst days, when his brain really had it out for him, because he used it with Cardin and Cardin alone. Cardin wondered if that would change, now. “You’re always enough. Fate just knew our hearts were big, that they’d have so much room it’d be a shame to share between only two soulmates.”

Cardin snorted despite himself. It was dumb and cheesy. He knew it was almost exactly what he himself would say, in the quiet between the two of them. Especially about Russel. Cardin had never known anyone with a bigger heart. That was one of a hundred different things he loved about Russel. His hands came up to cover Russel’s. “Fate knew we could love multiple people.”

“Exactly.” Russel smiled and kissed him. After they parted, Cardin gently pushed him away.

“Worry and being poetic, you’re taking my jobs today,” Cardin said and crossed his arms. Russel grinned at him.

“I guess this means you have to smile more, then,” Russel said.

Cardin rolled his eyes. “I smile plenty.” Russel took his cheeks again and pushed them upward into a faux smile until the faux faded to real at Russel’s ridiculousness. His soulmate- one of his soulmates? first soulmate? - always had a desire to make everyone happy. Something that seemed to go double for him. He wondered how much a third soulmate would change that.

Not much, turns out. Which Cardin really should have expected. Looking at Russel now, Cardin felt bad for ever doubting Russel. Because Russel was right, despite what his brain wanted to say, they really did work well in a group.

And Fate just seemed to want to keep that going.

Now, if he wanted to, Cardin could deny that Sage Ayana made his mouth go dry. But as stated, that’d be a denial. Sage was tall and seemed to be built like a tree and had neck tattoos and Cardin felt his chest stop and go hot just seeing him, like he was some protagonist in a cheesy romance novel. It was a purely aesthetic attraction, really. Though the way his heart seemed to want to stutter the longer they got to know team SSSN and the longer golden eyes looked at him was scarily reminiscent of the effect Russel had always had on him and Sky had long begun to have. When Cardin saw him use his semblance, it seemed fitting. He’d have to tell Russel their little group got larger.

From the way Russel brightened, he didn’t seem to mind.

Somehow, Cardin managed to find the next one as well. Dove Bronzewing. Somehow it only seemed appropriate their team was seemingly fated to be together. Though Cardin wasn’t sure about the strategic advantage of having a team built up of the same semblance. Dove seemed convinced they could use it, though. And Cardin found he believed him.

Russel did as well. Which Cardin wanted to say was a good sign. But he knew it wasn’t. Ever since they were kids, he saw the good in everybody even to his own endangerment. So Cardin had to make sure he was more wary in his views of those around him. He wasn’t sure if it was the soulmate thing or not, but as he said, he found himself trusting Dove even despite the boy’s prickly nature.

Scarlet David was next, discovered by Russel. Cardin began to wonder what they would do for a bed. Or beds. Multiple would be better- there were some nights he felt sure Russel would feel more comfortable alone. Though the idiot refused to say anything. Too kind for his own good. That was one reason he liked Scarlet. The boy was stubborn and confident in a way even Sky wasn’t. He was good for Russel, even when Cardin worried about his influence on him— because not only was Scarlet confident, he was chaotic in a way that matched Russel perfectly. Something that was beautiful yet terrifying nonetheless.

During a training exercise Russel found Sun Wukong. The boy saved him from what would’ve been a nasty wound by rewinding time a few seconds to provide him with enough to move out of the way. Whether or not the grimm almost got him because he wasn’t paying attention, he wouldn’t answer. (Which was an answer in itself.) Either way, Cardin was eternally grateful to Sun for saving Russel. He was incredibly kind and bright like Russel. But he also had the foulest mouth Cardin had ever heard (and that was saying something) and was a spitfire- though not as much as Scarlet was. Nobody could out spitfire Scarlet. (It was probably a safety measure for the world.)

They figured out Neptune Vasilias together. One semblance tying two complete teams together. Somehow, Cardin knew they were done now. And Russel agreed with the feeling. The boy was quiet and a serial flirt. Especially after the soulmate realization. Cardin personally had been flirted with multiple times and winked at more times then he could count- his face heating treacherously with each. It was unfair that the others didn’t seem particularly prone to blushing except on the rarest occasions.

Injury: Ruby and Russel

It was a clear day. A nice day, cool (though, maybe Russel wasn’t the best judge of ‘cold’, growing up in Vacuo) and sun shining. Because of that, Aang had brought them outside for semblance training. Not that he didn’t usually take them outside, weather permitting. But it was just so nice outside. Russel absolutely could not focus. And it seemed like he wasn’t alone. Ruby- the leader of the team of the same name, he wondered if that ever got confusing for her- also seemed antsy. Weight constantly shifting from foot to foot, hands swinging by her sides. He walked over to her.

“Hey, wanna have a race?” Russel asked. He knew she had a speed semblance- he’d seen her using it to get to class. Everyone else was doing other semblance stuff right then, anyway. She looked at him and she seemed confused. Which was fair. Their teams didn’t exactly interact and her team was friends with Jaune’s.

“What?” She narrowed her eyes at him.

“A race,” Russel said. “We both have speed semblances and there’s a hill over there, wanna see who can reach the bottom first?”

Ruby looked over to the hill and her gaze turned calculating. It was a carpet of dark green with weeds taking up maybe half of it. The trees were a distant thing, leaves green. She turned back and her fidgeting seemed to calm for a moment. “Sure.” 

Russel and Ruby smiled at each other with smiles that promised trouble. While everybody else was focused on doing the breathing exercises Aang had them do to warm up, they snuck further off to the top of the hill. From here he could get a good perspective of the sheer Size of it. It had to be a good few feet, definitely taller than Russel had thought. This would be awesome.

“So, semblance on?” Ruby asked.

“Yeah,” Russel nodded.

They counted to three together, just loud enough for them both to hear. Then they were off. It started out fine. Russel on the left and Ruby on the right. Practically neck to neck. Pushing their semblances to their limit to speed down the hill. Each overtaxing their semblance to come out first. Until they used too much. And then their auras broke.

And their semblances faltered.

Both teens crashed into each other hard. Arms connected and they let out simultaneous pained noises. Their bodies spun, head over heel, done the rest of the hill at speeds that were frankly a little insane. At a speed that almost achieved that move Russel had been working on. And likely would’ve, if he’d had the presence of mind to curl. But right now his mind was on pain . It was like a constant stream of tingles went up his right arm. Like he’d fallen asleep on it. His body came to a stop at the bottom of the hill and let out a groan, Ruby next to him echoing it.

“Owww,” Ruby groaned. Russel let out an agreeing noise.

Russel let out a wordless yell. Ruby- it had to be Ruby, it sounded like her- echoed it.

Panic shot cold through Cardin’s veins and he almost missed it when he bit down, holding it back. There was no reason for panic. Miss Goodwitch was with them. She- probably- wouldn’t let them get hurt. They were huntsmen in training. Russ could handle himself. It was probably just something stupid. Maybe he saw a snake and freaked.

“Merda,” he cursed and ran toward where the shout came from.

As Russel lied there with Ruby in maybe a bit more pain than he could really shove down- it felt like he’d broken something again- Cardin crested the hill. He was upside down, but that was likely more in the way Russel was looking at him. It still caused him to snort. Ruby looked over at him to see what’d caused the humour. He simply pointed upward. The second she noticed Cardin she giggled.

“He’s upside down,” Ruby said.

“Yeah,” Russel agreed.

“Oh he looks annoyed,” Ruby whispered. It didn’t quite sound like a whisper, but they were pretty far away. Though Cardin did turn on his heel pretty soon after she said it. She clicked her tongue. “I think he’s leaving us here.”

“He wouldn’t,” Russel argued, squirming to sit up. A jolt of pain went through his arm and he looked over to see it bent at an angle he was pretty sure arms weren’t generally meant to bend. So yeah, definitely broken. Damn. And it’d been years since he’d last broken something, too.

Ruby waved an arm- oh, her other arm looked to be broken too. “Then where’s he going?”

“To tell Aang?” Russel suggested.

“Oh, I hope not,” Ruby lied back with a sigh. “Yang’s gonna be so angry.”

“Aren’t you team leader?” Russel asked.

“Yeah, but Yang’s my older sister,” Ruby said. Then she mumbled, “I guess even if Cardin didn’t snitch she’d figure out.”

Russel nodded understandingly and took her cue, lying back down. “Yeah, that’s probably why Cardin looked annoyed.”

“What?” Ruby looked over at him. “Cardin’s your older brother?” Russel nodded. She looked back up at the sky. “Huh. I didn’t know that.” He shrugged, though she couldn’t see it.

“Our teams aren’t exactly friends,” Russel said.

“Yeah,” Ruby agreed. “Weiss’ll probably yell at me for ‘fraternizing with the enemy’.” They both laughed at that. When Aang got there, he ran down the hill and fluttered around them like a worried hen before their teams helped them back to Beacon and to the nurse’s office. Where they were both given a cast for their broken arms. Ruby her left and Russel his right. Both their dominant arms. It was unclear who broke who’s. Ruby and Russel privately agreed that the answer was ‘both of them’. Had his dominant hand not been relegated to a cast, Russel would’ve offered to take extra notes for Ruby in the classes he could. But he couldn’t. He apologized to her nonetheless and she laughed it off and assured him that somebody on her team would probably do it.

“But what about you?” Ruby asked.

“Don’t worry,” Russel said. “I’m sure someone on my team will take for me! Plus, I don’t have any leadership classes like you do so I think I’m getting off a little easy.”

Ruby smiled. “Yeah, I guess you are.”

“Well, it was a fun race,” Russel said.

“Yeah.” Ruby snorted. “It really was, even if it ended terribly. We don’t even know who won.”

“Both of us,” Russel said with a firm nod. After all, they landed at likely the same time. It was a little hard to tell given how badly his head was spinning.

“Wedid fall together,” Ruby said. She held out her hand and Russel took it. “Alright, tie.” They shook on it.

It wasn’t hard to get Cardin to take notes for him after the lecture he half tuned out. Really, he had a feeling Cardin would’ve done it whether or not he asked. But it was nice to ask and Russel did. At the end of the day, Russel met back up with Cardin after his leadership class. There were two packets in his hands. A thick one that he handed to Russel and a much thinner one that he handed to Ruby, who’d come out slightly before him. Russel smiled at him. “Thanks, Car!”

“You can thank me by not stupidly breaking your arm again,” Cardin said. An exact repeat of what he’d said when Russel initially asked. When Russel just smiled at him- they both knew he wouldn’t promise anything- he rolled his eyes and walked off. Russel skipped behind him, easily keeping pace.

Ruby flipped through the packet she was handed. Surprised that it was the notes she couldn’t take. By the time she looked up the boys were fully gone.

“Was that Cardin?” Jaune looked away from them, down to her, loose paper in his hands. Probably more notes. She hadn’t even seen him walk up.

“Yeah…” She looked back to the empty hallway. “He took notes for me.”

“He did?” Together, they looked curiously to where Cardin and Russel disappeared behind a corner.

“That’s weird, right?” Ruby asked.

“Definitely,” Jaune said. Neither of them questioned it past that. They weren’t sure how to. For the rest of the time, until Ruby’s arm healed, Cardin took notes for her in their leadership class. Despite Ruby never asking him to. She was thankful since his handwriting was a lot neater and easier to read than Jaune’s. (Though she didn’t tell Jaune that.)

Familial: CRDLPWNS (Cardin, Russel, Dove, Sky, Penny, Weiss, Nora, and Velvet)

CHAOS FAMILY

We’re_Flying’n, We’re_Soar’n, There’s_NotAStar, hereforthememeories, and 4 others

photoqueen: do you guys want to see something?

We’re_Soar’n: Velvet no

photoqueen: velvet yes

photoqueen:so?

Official_TeamMom: I already don’t trust this.

photoqueen: how dare. this is the thanks i get for being your loving older sister?

Official_TeamMom: I definitely don’t trust this. Don’t say yes.

We’re_Flying’n: now im curious

There’s_NotAStar: me too

BLACKMAIL PICTURES ‘JUST INCASE’

Dove, photoqueen

Dove: Velvet Scarlatina don’t you dare

Dove: You know they’re not supposed to see these

Dove: This is a breach of contract

photoqueen: you know i never sign anything baby boy

CHAOS FAMILY

We’re_Flying’n, We’re_Soar’n, There’s_NotAStar, hereforthememeories, and 4 others

We’re_Soar’n: You’re dead to me

photoqueen: such sweet words

photoqueen:[weissiconicclass.jpg]

winterhatsunemiku: EXCUSE ME?!

We’re_Soar’n: I’m disappointed in you

We’re_Flying’n:…

hereforthememeories: how do you even have that?

winterhatsunemiku:Howdare you have that, you’re not even in our class!

winterhatsunemiku: And what I do while we wait for Professor Peach is my own business

There’s_NotAStar: i don’t think we want to know how

Official_TeamMom: Definitely not.

photoqueen: i see all

photoqueen: i know all

photoqueen: you fuckers cant hide shit

We’re_Flying’n: oh fuck

We’re_Flying’n has changed ‘photoqueen’ to ‘psychoqueen’

psychoqueen: hahahahah

Official_TeamMom: You guys never listen to me.

hereforthememeories: we apologize for our transgressions mom

We’re_Flying’n: wait dove seemed to know about this too

We’re_Flying’n has changed We’re_Soar’n to Traitor

There’s_NotAStar: wait but the shared name T.T

We’re_Flying’n has changed Traitor to We’re_Soar’n

There’s_NotAStar: : D

We’re_Flying’n: youre lucky i love that movie

There’s_NotAStar: only the movie? :(

We’re_Flying’n:yes

There’s_NotAStar::(

There’s_NotAStar: but i didnt do anything

Official_TeamMom: I hate you all.

electricslide:Really?

Official_TeamMom: Amended: I hate all of you except Pens.

electricslide:｡^‿^｡

—-

CHAOS FAMILY

We’re_Flying’n, We’re_Soar’n, There’s_NotAStar, hereforthememeories, and 4 others

winterhatsunemiku : i can’t stand him

winterhatsunemiku : he’s like a music man

winterhatsunemiku : and i hate it and that’s coming from me

winterhatsunemiku : miss ‘won a singing award at eleven and hosted multiple concerts before escaping to beacon’

We’re_Flying’n: hes a what? (hes a what?)

Official_TeamMom: He’s a music man and he sells clarinets to the kids in the town with the big trombones

We’re_Flying’n: and the ratta tat drums

Official_TeamMom: And the big brass bass

hereforthememeories: WHAT just happened?

psychoqueen: cardin musical theatre real?

There’s_NotAStar: definitely not, car couldnt sing to save his life

Official_TeamMom: Which is why I do it.

There’s_NotAStar:no!!

psychoqueen:no!!

hereforthememeories: sooooo what happened?

winterhatsunemiku : jaune serenaded me to try to get me to go to the dance with him in the middle of the damn hallway! people saw!!

hereforthememeories:Oof

psychoqueen:f

We’re_Soar’n: If you finally ask out Pyrrha I bet he’d stop

hereforthememeories: we all know thats not gonna happen

winterhatsunemiku: Nora we both know you haven’t asked your crush to the dance yet either

hereforthememeories: rude but true

hereforthememeories: but if i did it will you do it?

winterhatsunemiku: You know what, sure. If you manage to do it, I’ll do it

hereforthememeories: @electricslide go to the dance with me? (edited)

electricslide:Me?

hereforthememeories: yeah. if that’s okay

electricslide: I’d love to, Nora!

hereforthememeories:yeeeeeeeeeees

hereforthememeories: well have the best time ill make sure of it penny!

electricslide: I know you will! I’m excited! o(^▽^)o

hereforthememeories: me too!!!

hereforthememeories: and now its your turn weiss

winterhatsunemiku: Fine. A deal is a deal

winterhatsunemiku: I am happy for you, Nora

hereforthememeories: i know

hereforthememeories: and im always here if you need strength!

electricslide: Me as well! ୧(๑•̀ㅁ•́๑)૭✧

winterhatsunemiku:…

winterhatsunemiku: Thank you, Nora, Penny

winterhatsunemiku:Genuinely

—-

CHAOS FAMILY

We’re_Flying’n, We’re_Soar’n, There’s_NotAStar, hereforthememeories, and 4 others

hereforthememeories: f in the chat for sky’s butterfingers

There’s_NotAStar:f 

hereforthememeories:f

We’re_Soar'n’ : F

electricslide: Oh no, what did he do?

We’re_Flying’n: i didnt do anything!

hereforthememeories: cut his thumb on a knife

hereforthememeories: hes bleeding all over the counter now

Official_TeamMom:What?!

winterhatsunemiku: The summons

We’re_Flying’n: nora sprained her hand last week and never said anything about it and didnt go to the nurse!!

Official_TeamMom: Nora did WHAT?!?

hereforthememeories:BETRAYAL????

psychoqueen: sky prepare yourself he comin

hereforthememeories: oh lordy he comin

winterhatsunemiku: Aren’t you in the kitchens too?

hereforthememeories: ive moved to the corner

There’s_NotAStar: smart but also very very dumb

hereforthememeories:?

We’re_Soar'n’: You are much quicker to forget betrayal than I am

hereforthememeories: OH SHIT

hereforthememeories is offline

There’s_NotAStar: its been pretty quiet for a while now

psychoqueen: no it hasnt 

psychoqueen: i can hear the scolding from here

electricslide: Are they okay?

winterhatsunemiku: Probably not

We’re_Flying’n: IVE ESCAPED

There’s_NotAStar: what happened??

electricslide: Is Nora okay?

We’re_Flying’n: wow yes thanks im fine

winterhatsunemiku: Don’t be rude

We’re_Flying’n: youre being rude by letting your lesbianism blind you to the true worry: me

winterhatsunemiku: EXCUSE ME?

We’re_Flying’n: also i dont think so

electricslide: ＼(º □ º l|l)/

We’re_Flying’n: he brought ren with him

psychoqueen:[youreindanger.jpeg]

We’re_Flying’n: why do you have such a specific one?

psychoqueen:cardin

There’s_NotAStar:cardin

winterhatsunemiku: You realize you’re just delaying your own scolding by running?

We’re_Flying’n: oh i made sure to smile and nod until he was done and turned on nora with ren

winterhatsunemiku: Of course

hereforthememeories: SKY YOU FUCK

hereforthememeories: YOU LEFT ME

hereforthememeories: COME BACK AND FACE YOUR PUNISHMENT

We’re_Flying’n: i did!

We’re_Flying’n: having to listen to him scold me for something dumb is punishment enough

psychoqueen:oooooo

We’re_Flying’n: which reminds me. i have to do something for our mom

We’re_Flying’n is offline

winterhatsunemiku:Hm

Official_TeamMom has added Ren to group chat

Official_TeamMom has named group chat to PARENTS

Ren: why’ve you created a group chat for us?

Official_TeamMom: What? I didn’t do anything.

Official_TeamMom:Wait.

CHAOS FAMILY

We’re_Flying’n, We’re_Soar’n, There’s_NotAStar, hereforthememeories, and 4 others

Official_TeamMom:SKY!

We’re_Soar’n: What did you do?

hereforthememeories:sky

There’s_NotAStar:sky 

psychoqueen:sky

electricslide:Sky.

hereforthememeories: @winterhatunemiku j o i n

winterhatsunemiku: What are we doing?

hereforthememeories: shaming sky 

hereforthememeories: or summoning him back

winterhatsunemiku: … Alright

winterhatsunemiku:Sky

We’re_Flying’n: ive never done anything wrong ever in my life

Official_TeamMom:Bullshit

There’s_NotAScar: oh shit, hes cursed!

psychoqueen: hahaha were terrible influences

winterhatsunemiku: Yes you are

psychoqueen: you curse more than he does

winterhatsunemiku: Yes and I never did before I was put in a group with you rapscallions

winterhatsunemiku: Hence you are a terrible influence

hereforthememeories:rapscallions?

electricslide: It’s an archaic word that means mischievous!

hereforthememeories: thanks pens!

hereforthememeories: also thanks weiss!

winterhatsunemiku: It was not a compliment!

Official_TeamMom: She’s calling you villains and I’m inclined to agree

We’re_Flying’n: old woman weiss strikes again

We’re_Soar’n’: I’ll take it as one

PARENTS

Official_TeamMom, Ren

Official_TeamMom has renamed group chat to ONLY SENSIBLE ONES

—-

CHAOS FAMILY

We’re_Flying’n, We’re_Soar’n, There’s_NotAStar, hereforthememeories, and 4 others

winterhatsunemiku: You guys are terrible influences

There’s_NotAStar: whatd we do?

winterhatsunemiku: I cursed in front of team RWBY

winterhatsunemiku: I think Yang almost had a heart attack

We’re_Flying’n: doesnt yang curse?

winterhatsunemiku: Yes but apparently since I haven’t done it before and am an heiress it’s not expected of me

winterhatsunemiku: Which is fair, I’d never expected myself to use such uncouth language as well

winterhatsunemiku: Then I had to get tricked into being friends with youassholes

hereforthememeories: you love us

winterhatsunemiku: Unfortunately it would appear so

—-

CHAOS FAMILY

We’re_Flying’n, We’re_Soar’n, There’s_NotAStar, hereforthememeories, and 4 others

We’re_Flying’n: so weiss tongue is purple

hereforthememeories: why is her tongue purple?

winterhatsunemiku: Well Pyrrha and I had slushies

winterhatsunemiku: I had a red one

winterhatsunemiku: And Pyrrha had a blue one

hereforthememeories:…

hereforthememeories:OH

electricslide: You drank each other’s slushies?

hereforthememeories: oh honey no

electricslide:No?

electricslide: How else would Weiss’ tongue become purple if they didn’t share?

We’re_Flying’n: oh they shared alright

hereforthememeories has changed electricslide to confused_quarter

We’re_Flying’n: win wink nudge nudge

winterhatsunemiku: Sky I’m not sure I appreciate those… Whatever they are

winterhatsunemiku: Implications, I suppose

We’re_Flying’n: oh you made all the implications yourself

We’re_Flying’n: im just drawing light to them

confused_quarter: I don’t understand

hereforthememeories: pyrrha and weiss drank slushies then made out

confused_quarter:Huh

confused_quarter: Oh! I see

confused_quarter: Congratulations, Weiss!

winterhatsunemiku: Thank you Penny

—-

CHAOS FAMILY

We’re_Flying’n, We’re_Soar’n, There’s_NotAStar, hereforthememeories, and 4 others

We’re_Flying’n:@Official_TeamMomslut

Official_TeamMom:W

Official_TeamMom: What did you just call me?

We’re_Flying’n: oh im sorry you must notve heard me

We’re_Flying’n: S L U T

winterhatsunemiku: Don’t call your team leader that

psychoqueen: yeah dont call your mom that

Official_TeamMom: Thank you!

Official_TeamMom:Velvet.

psychoqueen:cardin

Official_TeamMom: How many times do I have to say: I’m not their mom!

psychoqueen: bold words for someone with that username

Official_TeamMom: Anytime I try to change it it ‘mysteriously’ turns back!

We’re_Flying’n: haha bet

confused_quarter: You’re not?

Official_TeamMom:Uh

We’re_Flying’n: uh oh

Official_TeamMom: Copper and Valkyrie get a pass

hereforthememeories: haha im a chosen!

hereforthememeories changed name to kidone

confused_quarter:｡^‿^｡

psychoqueen: i feel like a kid is missing

winterhatsunemiku: I give my permission

Official_TeamMom: And Schnee.

winterhatsunemiku: So why’d you call him that?

We’re_Soar’n: We passed Jaune in the hallway

winterhatsunemiku:And?

We’re_Soar’n:…

There’s_NotAStar: how long have you been a part of this group?

winterhatsunemiku: A little less time than Nora but I don’t know what that has to do with my question

Official_TeamMom: Nothing and there’s no question.

kidone: ABD YOU HAVENT BOTICED???

winterhatsunemiku: Nora that looks atrocious

winterhatsunemiku: And apparently not

kidone: geez i thought penny was bad with pyrrha and you

Official_TeamMom: You and Pyrrha

winterhatsunemiku: What’s that supposed to mean?!

kidone has changed winterhatsunemiku to confused_snowflake

confused_snowflake: Excuse me??

We’re_Soar'n’: You’re excused, heiress

psychoqueen: cardins liked jaune since he saved his ass in forever fall

There’s_NotAStar: sorry but thats wrong

There’s_NotAStar: cardins liked jaune since teams were made

Official_TeamMom: You’re all dead to me

psychoqueen:all?

Official_TeamMom: Correction: You’re all dead to me except Valkyrie and Copper

We’re_Flying’n:whipped

There’s_NotAStar: blatant favouritism

confused_snowflake: You have a crush on that imbecile?

psychoqueen:yup

confused_snowflake:Why?

Official_TeamMom: I don’t know! Just drop it!

psychoqueen: ‘don’t know?m

psychoqueen: he’s so bright he outshines the stars on the darkest night

There’s_NotAStar: his eyes are like the ocean on a cloudless sunny day

We’re_Soar'n’: They change shades, too, with his emotions. Did you see the other day, while training? The blue darkened like a thunderstorm and lightning zinged through them whenever he did something right 

We’re_Flying’n: outside, when the sun hits it, his hair shines like a halo formed around him

There’s_NotAStar: and have you heard him sing? its like the god apollo blessed his very voice

confused_snowflake:…

confused_snowflake: What was I just forced to read?

Official_TeamMom:Nothing!!

psychoqueen: a portion of what weve been forced to listen to for the past year

kidone: this is great

kidone: im saving all of this

kidone: it is screenshotted now

Official_TeamMom: I change my mind I hate all of you

Official_TeamMom: Except Copper

Official_TeamMom is offline

psychoqueen: running from it doesn’t change it

There’s_NotAStar: nora how did you know if youve never heard any of that?

We’re_Flying’n: and how did you escape hearing it? asking for a friend. the friend is me

kidone: oh ive just seen the way he moons at jaune when jaunes not looking

kidone: its probably cause jaunes my team leader

We’re_Flying’n: is jaune taking in any new team members?

kidone: i dont think thats allowed

kidone: plus jaune looks at him like that too so im not sure its much better

We’re_Flying’n: as long as he doesnt wax poetic i dont care

There’s_NotAStar: wait jaune looks at him too???

kidone: love works in mysterious ways

We’re_Soar'n’: Has been for a few months

There’s_NotAStar: dove!! youve noticed??

We’re_Soar'n’: Hard not to

There’s_NotAStar: and youve never mentioned it??

We’re_Soar'n’: Don’t care enough to

There’s_NotAStar: >: (

confused_snowflake: Surely you all must be exaggerating

psychoqueen: not as much as youd hope

We’re_Flying’n: pray you never have to hear it

There’s_NotAStar: hes not.. thatbad

There’s_NotAStar: and its nice to hear him talk

confused_snowflake:?

There’s_NotAStar: there were a few years he didnt

There’s_NotAStar: he was completely mute when we met

psychoqueen: fuck, sometimes i forget about that

psychoqueen: like hes naturally more quiet then us. but he still talks even if its just to tell us not to do something stupid

There’s_NotAStar:yeah

There’s_NotAStar:@Official_TeamMom come baaaaaack were sorry

psychoqueen:yeah

There’s_NotAStar: or atleast some of us are

kidone:mooooooom

Official_TeamMom: It’s fine, guys.

Official_TeamMom: I’ll try to be less annoying.

There’s_NotAStar:car

kidone:mom

confused_snowflake:mom

confused_quarter:mom

psychoqueen:car

There’s_NotAStar: dont worry about it youre not annoying

psychoqueen: and even when you are it’s not like were much better

psychoqueen: we’re a family. we’re annoying together

Official_TeamMom: How can you guys be so reassuring and exhausting at the same time?

psychoqueen: our special talent

Official_TeamMom:Yeah.

Official_TeamMom: … thank you.

There’s_NotAStar: of course! <3

—-

CHAOS FAMILY

We’re_Flying’n, We’re_Soar’n, There’s_NotAStar, kidone, and 4 others

Official_TeamMom: I am so done today (edited)

We’re_Flying’n:boner

psychoqueen:boner

kidone:boner

confused_snowflake:Boner

We’re_Soar’n:Boner

There’s_NotAStar:boner

confused_quarter: What are you doing?

Official_TeamMom: Annoying me

kidone: making fun of moms typo

Official_TeamMom: Other people in this chat make typos too and you never mock them! Why is it always only me?

We’re_Flying’n: other people arent the mom

psychoqueen: it’s how we show are love

psychoqueen:*our

Official_TeamMom:Are

We’re_Soar’n:Nope

We’re_Soar’n: Not the same

There’s_NotAStar: not the same

There’s_NotAStar:jinx

We’re_Flying’n has renamed group chat to boner

Official_TeamMom: I hate you all

confused_snowflake: Yang’s done this to me before

confused_snowflake: She’s right, it isfun!

confused_quarter:Hm

confused_quarter:Boner

There’s_NotAStar: thats the spirit pens!

confused_quarter: (* ^ ω ^)

—-

boner

We’re_Flying’n, We’re_Soar’n, There’s_NotAStar, kidone, and 4 others

Official_TeamMom: Fine, that’s it, im the mom?

Official_TeamMom: Then the ones in my class, you’re in time out

kidone: GET ON TOP OF THE FRIDGE GET UP THERE

We’re_Flying’n: THIS HOUSE IS A FUCKING NIGHTMARE

psychoqueen:?

psychoqueen: what happened?

confused_snowflake: One of us got Cardin in trouble during class

We’re_Flying’n: ‘one of us’. i saw you shoot a rubber band too miss ‘im so much more mature than you’

confused_snowflake:Iwasn’t the one who got our matriarch in trouble

We’re_Flying’n: youre still included in the time out

There’s_NotAStar: that was me

There’s_NotAStar: sorry about that

Official_TeamMom: Was it? Or are you just saying that so everyone else won’t get in trouble?

We’re_Flying’n: i did!!

Official_TeamMom: You didn’t hit the teacher

We’re_Flying’n: hoe do you know?!

Official_TeamMom: It doesn’t really matter, anyway. None of you should’ve been shooting rubber bands during class

Official_TeamMom: Which one of you idiots even started it?

confused_snowflake:Rude

Official_TeamMom: Actually nevermind, I’m pretty sure I know

Official_TeamMom:Sky.

We’re_Flying’n: why are you pointing fingers at me asshole?!

Official_TeamMom: Because it’s usually you

We’re_Flying’n: ey fuck you!

We’re_Flying’n: its true

We’re_Flying’n: but fuck you!

We’re_Flying’n: and it wasnt me this time

kidone: it was me

Official_TeamMom:Nora

kidone: wait no plaese dont say it

Official_TeamMom: Say what?

kidone: that your disappointed in me

Official_TeamMom: I won’t?

Official_TeamMom: Nora, there are very few things you could do that would disappoint me

kidone: there are?

Official_TeamMom:Yeah

Official_TeamMom: I might be disappointed if you stabbed someone

Official_TeamMom: Especially during class and more if you didn’t stab them properly

kidone:oh

kidone:okay

Official_TeamMom: You good, Nora?

kidone: yeah im good

kidone:genuinely

Official_TeamMom:Good

kidone:good

We’re_Flying’n: does this mean we get out of the timeout?

Official_TeamMom: Absolutely not

We’re_Flying’n:damn

—-

CHAOS FAMILY

We’re_Flying’n, We’re_Soar’n, There’s_NotAStar, kidone, and 4 others

There’s_NotAStar : okay who keeps stealing my cheetos?

There’s_NotAStar: because im usually willing to share but its jusy mean at this point :(

kidone: you had cheetos???

There’s_NotAStar:idid

There’s_NotAStar: a whole brand new bag too

We’re_Flying’n: someone please fess up

We’re_Flying’n: hes pouting and not even kissing is saving it now

confused_snowflake: That’s worrying

We’re_Soar’n: Not really, it’s more worrying when it doesn’t work on Sky

We’re_Flying’n: its still worrying!

We’re_Soar’n:True

There’s_NotAStar: a whole bag

There’s_NotAStar:just

There’s_NotAStar:gone

There’s_NotAStar:woosh

psychoqueen:fuck, i forgot to ask

Official_TeamMom: Smooth, Scarlatina

psychoqueen: dont ‘scarlatina’ me asshole, you were part of this

There’s_NotAStar:betrayed?

There’s_NotAStar: by my own siblings?

psychoqueen: im sorry russ, we’ll buy you more

psychoqueen:right, cardin?

Official_TeamMom:Yeah

Official_TeamMom: We’ll buy you a bag of those spicy ones you like along with the regular

There’s_NotAStar: thank you!!

—-

boner

We’re_Flying’n, We’re_Soar’n, There’s_NotAStar, kidone, and 4 others

kidone has renamed group chat to CLOWN BRIGADE

psychoqueen: not that i dont agree

psychoqueen: but why?

kidone : well i was trying to figure out what out team name would be

kidone:andobviously mom has to be the leader

kidone: because mom

confused_snowflake:Obviously

kidone: so iwrhought itd be easiest to put crdl fiest 

kidone: so crdlpwns

kidone: but autocorrect wanted to change it to clowns and i thought it was fitting!

confused_snowflake: I see

psychoqueen:fitting

Friendship: Russel and Velvet

Okay, so maybe it was, perhaps, not the best idea. And maybe had Velvet thought about it for more than two seconds, she would’ve realized that. Maybe Russel would’ve if he’d bothered to think on it for more than two seconds. But neither of them did. So contemplating the validity of the idea really didn’t do anything for them at this point aside from giving them the very real (and accurate) impression that if Cardin had known about this he’d be telling them both ‘I told you so’ right about now. That or asking them how they possibly thought this was a good idea.

(Answer: They hadn’t really thought at all, duh . Not past 'oh, this’ll be cool.’)

Where were they? Handcuffed together, of course.

“Are you sure you don’t remember where the keys are?” Russel asked.

“I don’t remember what I had for breakfast this morning,” Velvet said. Though now that she said it, she was thinking about it, and after a minute her brain provided her the answer she neither needed nor really wanted. Toast and fruit. (Strawberries and raspberries.) She sighed to herself, ignoring her brain’s sudden desire to be helpful for something that was definitely not what she wanted it to be helpful for, and tried to pick the lock again. “We don’t need it, anyhow. One of us’ll be able to get it.”

They both could pick locks, honestly, it shouldn’t be this hard. Why did Cardin’s shitty house lock have to be easier than these handcuffs?

“Maybe I should try again?” Russel said. Velvet handed over the lock pick and dropped her hand into his lap.

“Good luck,” she said and meant it. Would she prefer to be the one to get them out? Yeah. That was kinda the whole point of this little 'exercise’, after all. A small competition to see who could get them out faster. Except they put them on and that has been an hour ago and here they still were. At this point who won mattered quite a bit less than the getting out. Unless they wanted to spend the rest of their day together. And while she loved her brother, she didn’t treasure the idea of having to follow him to the toilet.

“Hey, if you don’t get it, maybe Scarlet can. I’m sure you’d love to watch him work,” Velvet said, waggling her eyebrows and moving her shoulders. Russel fumbled, almost dropping the lock pick.

“No,” he lied. Poorly. Velvet hummed. Russel repeated it stronger, “ No . I don’t want to see those long fingers anywhere near my wrists or hands, shut up.”

Velvet gasped dramatically. She tried to make it sound as fake as possible, just to drive the point home. And because she knew it messed with him when people were genuinely upset with him, especially when he couldn’t do anything about it. What can she say, she needed him to know she was fucking with him or it just wouldn’t be funny. “How dare you tell me to shut up. Your loving older sister who’s just trying to look out for you and your crush on tall, British, and dumb.”

“Velvet ,” Russel whined.

“Sorry, not dumb, fabulous,” Velvet said with a smirk that perhaps said she’d spent too much time with Cardin since the three of them quite literally ran into eachother in the hallway.

“I will leave you behind,” Russel threatened.

“If you can get out,” Velvet said. Not like he would actually leave her here, anyway.

Russel groaned. Velvet closed her eyes and rested against the wall. She could hear the scrape of the lock pick against the lock. It was clear he still wasn’t having much luck with it. She let him work silently for a few minutes. Though it had been a joke, Velvet did actually consider getting Scarlet. The boy had a weird set of random skills. And lock picking really was one of them. If neither of them got out, he was definitely the last resort.

Finally, a small, metallic click actually resounded in her ears. She was so surprised that she didn’t even really register it until Russel gave a triumphant noise. The cuff around her own wrist jangled as the cuff that’d been attached to Russel’s dropped.

“Fuck yeah!” Russel said and Velvet opened her eyes. He had his cuff off, rubbing his wrist where it’d gotten a bit sore from being held for so long.

“Nice, Russ!” Velvet said. “You won!”

Russel beamed at her. It still took him maybe fifteen more minutes to get hers off.