[ 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.
[ 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? ]
[ 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. ]
[ 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. ]
[ 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.
[ 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?
[ 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. ]
[ 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. ]
[ 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.
[ 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.
[ 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?
What happened between you and Pyrrha was awful... neither of you deserved that.
[ He means the way they were set up by Emerald, although the sentiment can be applied to the fact that Pyrrha also got murdered on the same day. Penny likely doesn't know about that, but that's a story best left for Pyrrha to tell (if she chooses). ]
I think you should talk to her, Penny. It's the only way to move forward, and leave the past where it should be.
[ Or, for a more simple answer, he smiles at her: ]
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after the thing
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.
no subject
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.
no subject
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. ]
no subject
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?
no subject
[ 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.
no subject
[ 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?
no subject
[ 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?
no subject
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. ]
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And Ruby?
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[ 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.
no subject
[ 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?
no subject
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?
no subject
[ He means the way they were set up by Emerald, although the sentiment can be applied to the fact that Pyrrha also got murdered on the same day. Penny likely doesn't know about that, but that's a story best left for Pyrrha to tell (if she chooses). ]
I think you should talk to her, Penny. It's the only way to move forward, and leave the past where it should be.
[ Or, for a more simple answer, he smiles at her: ]
...Yeah - I believe you two can still be friends.