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But... she didn't-
[ no. she's spoken to everyone here from remnant - if something like that happened, someone would have told her. ruby would have told her. she isn't going to believe that she was killed without some sort of proof.
she doesn't want to believe it. ]
I'm very sorry Pyrrha, but I don't believe you.
[ no. she's spoken to everyone here from remnant - if something like that happened, someone would have told her. ruby would have told her. she isn't going to believe that she was killed without some sort of proof.
she doesn't want to believe it. ]
I'm very sorry Pyrrha, but I don't believe you.
[ For a moment, Pyrrha is tempted to leave it there. She had tried to be honest; Penny had chosen not to believe her words. No one could say she hadn't tried, right? ... She might be content with that, pretend it isn't leaving an important truth undiscussed, except Penny deserves better. As does Ruby, Nora, Jaune...
Secrets back home had been damning, and had eventually killed her, and Penny, and Amber.
So, she has to be strong. She has to see this through to the end. It isn't as if she's not sorry, or has no regrets.
Pyrrha gives Penny a clear, open, apologetic look. ]
I can show you, if that would help. However, I think... you would find it disturbing.
Secrets back home had been damning, and had eventually killed her, and Penny, and Amber.
So, she has to be strong. She has to see this through to the end. It isn't as if she's not sorry, or has no regrets.
Pyrrha gives Penny a clear, open, apologetic look. ]
I can show you, if that would help. However, I think... you would find it disturbing.
I want to see, please.
[ it's said immediately and without hesitation. she isn't sure if she can trust pyrrha, but an image is better than word that contradicts what penny believes to be true. she isn't angry at pyrrha, but if she isn't being truthful, she wants to know why. if she is... well, she hasn't prepared for that just yet. ]
[ it's said immediately and without hesitation. she isn't sure if she can trust pyrrha, but an image is better than word that contradicts what penny believes to be true. she isn't angry at pyrrha, but if she isn't being truthful, she wants to know why. if she is... well, she hasn't prepared for that just yet. ]
... if that's what you want.
[ Welp.
Pyrrha will just show Penny the relevant parts of this, then - only it's projected from Pyrrha's eyes, with the misleading illusions in tact in her memory. Every moment is clear and transparent, the emotions vivid, the fear pieced back together. Feeling her weapons get knocked out of her hands, the way her terror had pushed her heart to a merciless stammer... Penny will see all of that, up until the end. Up until metal limbs fold, a torso tearing in half. Legs strewn across the floor, impossibly opposite from Penny's head.
Blank eyes, fading. The end of a smile.
By the time the memory is done playing across their brief telepathic link, now severed, Pyrrha looks a bit paler.
She never wanted to relive that. ]
[ Welp.
Pyrrha will just show Penny the relevant parts of this, then - only it's projected from Pyrrha's eyes, with the misleading illusions in tact in her memory. Every moment is clear and transparent, the emotions vivid, the fear pieced back together. Feeling her weapons get knocked out of her hands, the way her terror had pushed her heart to a merciless stammer... Penny will see all of that, up until the end. Up until metal limbs fold, a torso tearing in half. Legs strewn across the floor, impossibly opposite from Penny's head.
Blank eyes, fading. The end of a smile.
By the time the memory is done playing across their brief telepathic link, now severed, Pyrrha looks a bit paler.
She never wanted to relive that. ]
Edited 2017-09-09 20:09 (UTC)
[ she watches the fight attentively - she remembers the arena and the roar of the crowd, but nothing of the match itself. she feels a mounting anxiety as it goes on, which culminates when she's shown what pyrrha had seen. thousands of her swords... but that was impossible. she knows she only has the capacity for eight at the very most.
but the memory continues on. she gasps and her eyes go wide upon hearing the disturbing crunch of her limbs being crushed, like a human would react to the sound of a neck being snapped. with all of that, how can she deny it now? penny understands now - she's been living here for a month, blissfully unaware that this will be her fate.
she looks horrified, slowly and wordlessly stepping away from pyrrha. ]
but the memory continues on. she gasps and her eyes go wide upon hearing the disturbing crunch of her limbs being crushed, like a human would react to the sound of a neck being snapped. with all of that, how can she deny it now? penny understands now - she's been living here for a month, blissfully unaware that this will be her fate.
she looks horrified, slowly and wordlessly stepping away from pyrrha. ]
[ when penny had asked to see the memory, it was under the assumption that she would have been able to handle what she saw. her assumption was wrong.
she wants to speak to pyrrha, to understand that it wasn't her fault... but when the words try to leave her, nothing comes out. the shock feels like it's paralyzed her to her core, and she doesn't know how to handle it.
so she runs. ]
she wants to speak to pyrrha, to understand that it wasn't her fault... but when the words try to leave her, nothing comes out. the shock feels like it's paralyzed her to her core, and she doesn't know how to handle it.
so she runs. ]
[ Jaune frowns slightly, knowing Penny's true fate in the end. She really deserved so much better. ]
Yeah, well... a lot of good that did you.
[ ... ]
T-To all of us, I mean. [ Look, he's kind of salty about the education system lately. FUCK OZPIN!!! ]
But you're here now! Like... like all of us. I guess I just want you to know that you don't need Vale or Beacon to learn new things. You'll grow up soon enough.
Yeah, well... a lot of good that did you.
[ ... ]
T-To all of us, I mean. [ Look, he's kind of salty about the education system lately. FUCK OZPIN!!! ]
But you're here now! Like... like all of us. I guess I just want you to know that you don't need Vale or Beacon to learn new things. You'll grow up soon enough.
"Working on"? [ wait a sec. that means... ] Oh, so you're his father! You should have started out with that.
[ she's more than a little curious now, so her initial fears have relaxed somewhat. maybe this man was something like her own father! ]
[ she's more than a little curious now, so her initial fears have relaxed somewhat. maybe this man was something like her own father! ]
[ Penny hadn't been home ever since her chat with Pyrrha and Ruby. As the others searched for Penny, Jaune too had plenty of reasons to find the young girl. He wasn't doing this just for Ruby, or a sense of responsibility for Pyrrha's actions... he owes this much for Penny herself. Aside from being an innocent person caught up in everything, she was also there for him not too long ago when he was sleeping outside of the house.
It takes a while of scouting the city, really. Jaune had to ask anybody who might have interacted with her, then followed a bunch of clues through the network, until he finally spots Penny alone at a playground (for maximum depression lol).
He approaches quietly, kind of relieved, but knowing that this thing is far from over. PENNY :'( ]
It's getting a little late to be out here by yourself.
It takes a while of scouting the city, really. Jaune had to ask anybody who might have interacted with her, then followed a bunch of clues through the network, until he finally spots Penny alone at a playground (for maximum depression lol).
He approaches quietly, kind of relieved, but knowing that this thing is far from over. PENNY :'( ]
It's getting a little late to be out here by yourself.
[ though jaune's pessimism isn't very heartening, penny tries to keep a positive attitude through it. she knows that things got rough in vale after the tournament, but the important thing is that everyone here is safe! ]
I think you're right. After all, I've learned lots of new things in my time here, and it's hardly been a month... Can you believe that?
I think you're right. After all, I've learned lots of new things in my time here, and it's hardly been a month... Can you believe that?
[ though it's ruby and pyrrha that penny is connected to most in this situation, she finds herself terrified to speak to anyone else from remnant. weiss, nora, jaune... if they knew that she had been killed, then that also meant that they knew what she was. what did they think of her? what was this going to change?
depression playgrounds are a great place to hide and think, especially at night and on a swing set. she isn't even actively swinging - it's just a nice place to dangle and ponder your own death.
she looks up with a startled expression when she sees jaune, wondering or not if she should run. her hand grips the chain link of the swing... but she decides to stay where she is. what would be the point of running now, anyway? ]
I didn't realize how long I was here.
depression playgrounds are a great place to hide and think, especially at night and on a swing set. she isn't even actively swinging - it's just a nice place to dangle and ponder your own death.
she looks up with a startled expression when she sees jaune, wondering or not if she should run. her hand grips the chain link of the swing... but she decides to stay where she is. what would be the point of running now, anyway? ]
I didn't realize how long I was here.
Oh... I guess it would, wouldn't it?
[ and suddenly, penny feels very sheepish. that definitely isn't something that she's been doing since she left atlas and her... "creator". nope. not at all.
for a moment, she looks a little sad. ]
...I should go. It was nice talking to you both. [ starting to walk away now!!!! ]
[ and suddenly, penny feels very sheepish. that definitely isn't something that she's been doing since she left atlas and her... "creator". nope. not at all.
for a moment, she looks a little sad. ]
...I should go. It was nice talking to you both. [ starting to walk away now!!!! ]
Edited 2017-09-18 23:07 (UTC)
[ He bends down to one knee in front of her, not wanting to look particularly threatening after judging her reaction just now. The last thing he wants is for her to run away again. ]
Sometimes I lose track of time when I go off to think alone.
[ Lord knows how much he broods these days. ]
It's certainly been a day. ...Are you okay?
[ Ugh, he realizes what a stupid question that is in hindsight. Penny shouldn't be okay with any of this. ]
Sometimes I lose track of time when I go off to think alone.
[ Lord knows how much he broods these days. ]
It's certainly been a day. ...Are you okay?
[ Ugh, he realizes what a stupid question that is in hindsight. Penny shouldn't be okay with any of this. ]
[ for a long moment, she's silent as she looks down - not at jaune, but directly at her dangling feet. this is the first conversation she's had with someone from remnant since running away from ruby, and she's been thinking about what she wants to say.
she doesn't quite respond to him, because she doesn't know if she's okay or not. ]
Jaune... You know what I am, right?
she doesn't quite respond to him, because she doesn't know if she's okay or not. ]
Jaune... You know what I am, right?
I... have a good idea, yeah...
[ He can't claim to know exactly what Penny is, but he had seen her metallic insides when Pyrrha cut her in half. Most of the world had, in fact. Still, it feels wrong to call her a machine, because otherwise he wouldn't empathize with her so much. This is someone with feelings as real as his, as far as he can tell. ]
Been that way for a while, actually. I'm sorry, Penny.
[ He can't claim to know exactly what Penny is, but he had seen her metallic insides when Pyrrha cut her in half. Most of the world had, in fact. Still, it feels wrong to call her a machine, because otherwise he wouldn't empathize with her so much. This is someone with feelings as real as his, as far as he can tell. ]
Been that way for a while, actually. I'm sorry, Penny.
And everyone else knows too, don't they?
[ her voice gets a little softer; more afraid. she knew that ruby wouldn't judge her, but these were other people. different people. ]
I'm not... [ a real girl? ruby had told her otherwise, but she's having a hard time believing it now. ] like the rest of you. How does that make you feel?
[ her voice gets a little softer; more afraid. she knew that ruby wouldn't judge her, but these were other people. different people. ]
I'm not... [ a real girl? ruby had told her otherwise, but she's having a hard time believing it now. ] like the rest of you. How does that make you feel?
I'm not sure what you mean.
[ He knows exactly what she means, but he doesn't agree. He stands up again, slowly circling behind her. ]
You remember what you told me about why you wanted to be a Huntress? It's the same reason as mine or Ruby's. It's why all of us met the way we did. We all have dreams, we all have secrets, and... we've all lost things along the way. Even you.
[ Gently, he gives the swing a little push, letting it sway back and forth. ]
But we still keep moving forward together.
[ He nudges again, letting it gain a little more momentum. It's not a full swing by any means. ]
How do you feel about yourself?
[ He knows exactly what she means, but he doesn't agree. He stands up again, slowly circling behind her. ]
You remember what you told me about why you wanted to be a Huntress? It's the same reason as mine or Ruby's. It's why all of us met the way we did. We all have dreams, we all have secrets, and... we've all lost things along the way. Even you.
[ Gently, he gives the swing a little push, letting it sway back and forth. ]
But we still keep moving forward together.
[ He nudges again, letting it gain a little more momentum. It's not a full swing by any means. ]
How do you feel about yourself?
[ it's a little strange to suddenly feel momentum, no matter how finite. but she quickly gets used to it, gently moving her legs along with his nudges. ]
I don't know... I think I'm still trying to figure that out.
[ especially now knowing what her fate is going to be, she's even more uncertain of her place in the world. ]
I don't know... I think I'm still trying to figure that out.
[ especially now knowing what her fate is going to be, she's even more uncertain of her place in the world. ]
Ruby...
[ she's thought about this hard for the past couple of days. there was a point where she wasn't sure how to feel, but she has to give ruby the benefit of the doubt. there's no way her friend would lie to her unless she had to. ]
I think she had a reason for not telling me. I want to talk to her.
[ she's thought about this hard for the past couple of days. there was a point where she wasn't sure how to feel, but she has to give ruby the benefit of the doubt. there's no way her friend would lie to her unless she had to. ]
I think she had a reason for not telling me. I want to talk to her.
I... think that's a good idea.
[ He has more to say on the subject of Ruby, but this seems to be headed in the right direction so far. Once Penny's soft swinging has enough momentum to work on it's own, Jaune occupies the swing next to hers, although his remains static, unmoving.
Well. Now for the big one... ]
...and what about Pyrrha?
[ He has more to say on the subject of Ruby, but this seems to be headed in the right direction so far. Once Penny's soft swinging has enough momentum to work on it's own, Jaune occupies the swing next to hers, although his remains static, unmoving.
Well. Now for the big one... ]
...and what about Pyrrha?
[Yang expected the whole thing between Pyrrha and Penny to be messy in some way. There was no way it couldn't be given the reality of it was...also messy. She'd stayed out of it for the most part though, simply upholding Ruby's not-so-little white lie and everybody's seemingly unanimous decision to let Pyrrha field this one when she was ready and just waited for the inevitable fallout.
She may not have considered herself very close to Penny but she was still a friend, and more importantly she was Ruby's friend. And while Yang usually tended to hang back and let things work themselves out, she still felt compelled to see how Penny was dealing with it.
With a certain corgi trotting happily along at her heels, she approaches the girl with a small smile.]
Hey Penny. I've gotta take Zwei out for some exercise. You wanna come with me? We can walk and talk for a bit.
[She phrases it as an offer but something about her tone suggests she's not going to take "no" for an answer.]
She may not have considered herself very close to Penny but she was still a friend, and more importantly she was Ruby's friend. And while Yang usually tended to hang back and let things work themselves out, she still felt compelled to see how Penny was dealing with it.
With a certain corgi trotting happily along at her heels, she approaches the girl with a small smile.]
Hey Penny. I've gotta take Zwei out for some exercise. You wanna come with me? We can walk and talk for a bit.
[She phrases it as an offer but something about her tone suggests she's not going to take "no" for an answer.]
[ while her verdict about ruby didn't need much thought, pyrrha's name gives her pause. they weren't friends like she and ruby were when this all happened. ]
I'm not mad at her. I know she didn't do it on purpose.
[ it was scary to look at her after she had shown penny what happened, and she'll probably still feel a little scared for the next while. but she doesn't want to let that stop them from getting along. ]
...Do you think the two of us can be friends here?
I'm not mad at her. I know she didn't do it on purpose.
[ it was scary to look at her after she had shown penny what happened, and she'll probably still feel a little scared for the next while. but she doesn't want to let that stop them from getting along. ]
...Do you think the two of us can be friends here?
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