genessia | 5th Aura

[He isn't really shocked by how tense she looks. Battler had made it so the people who should have been able to support eachother were too broken to, but Weiss had been the one who it had been most for. She didn't get a choice about whose murder she witnessed. It's so messed up, and there isn't anything he can do about it. Looking back at her, he still looks like he wants to cry. It's the first emotion he's really displayed other than when he snapped at Blake. He tears his gaze away, trying to focus on something else. Snow is jealous and wants attention too, so he pets him, both to distract himself and to placate him. He slows down when Weiss stares counting. He has no idea what she's doing, but hearing her voice and seeing that she's able to talk, even if it's only a whisper, helps distance himself a little from the memories. Weiss is breathing, she's in control of what she's doing. Whatever she's doing is kind of weird, but also peaceful. It clashes with how tense she is.

At least he doesn't look like he's going to break down any second when he looks at her anymore. When he speaks, it's quiet, as if he's afraid to ruin the calm, as fragile as it is. It's pretty rare for things to be calm at all now. Snow jumps on the bed and he continues to pet him.]

It's-- I... Thanks for coming.

Thanks for letting me. You didn't have to.

[ Which meant he was at least willing to consider trying. Weiss had almost considered just disappearing and living some quiet life on the outskirts of Everglade or some other place no one would look for her. There was so much anger and hatred and pain that it felt like she was drowning and honestly? It was still tempting. But Sun told her she didn't have to be alone. Even if it seemed easier, safer. If he hadn't come over and made sure that she didn't close herself off, she probably would have.

What had happened with Blake.. she didn't want to ruin things for Jaune again. She'd selfishly made it about her, thinking she could rely on Blake when Blake was just as broken as she was in a different way. It hadn't gone well. It hadn't fixed anything, it might've made it worse. It made her feel worse- Blake had told her that the way she was feeling wasn't valid, just like Weiss had practically told her she was lucky that she couldn't feel what Weiss could. They were both very, very wrong. She didn't know if she'd be able to apologize to Blake or come back from their argument.

She can find some other way to deal with her feelings. If the friend she trusted as someone who she could talk about things with wasn't able to deal with her feelings because of what she went through, Jaune wouldn't be able to either. This.. she just needed to make sure that he knew he had support. Shut up and keep to the person who had offered to be there for her. ]

Do you want to ask anything?

I wanted to.

[He doesn't know if he did, or why he chose to tell her where he was. But part of him probably did want to see Weiss, moving and breathing and not like she had been. He had been so stupid. While Weiss was someone who could take care of herself...except when she couldn't, he had still hoped to get stronger, impress her, maybe even fight by her side. Like a knight.

He had been naive. And Weiss, him and too many others had gotten hurt. Had been forced to lose part of themselves if they wanted to come back to life. No matter what Weiss, or anyone else said, he wouldn't stop sharing some of the blame for that. But he knew not to talk about it with Weiss, seeing as it would either upset her, hurt her, or both--him, too. Blake had been right about one thing: they had been hurt more than enough. It wasn't even his intention to bring it up with Blake, he had just sort of snapped, reacted to her anger with his own. It was the only excuse he needed.

He looked down and didn't immediately answer. He was putting some thought into his questions, for once.]

Do you...can I do anything?

[ That was a difficult question to answer. If Weiss knew what either of them could do to make anything better, she would've done it a while ago. He'd agreed to help with her deputy project already, even if he was having his own difficulties. That was the most Weiss felt like she could ask from him, but at the same time she understood why he asked. He cared about her. Even if it could get awkward between them or he'd tried way too hard in the past, he did care about her. Weiss thought of him as a friend now, someone she would fight beside and fight for, and now they were close in a way that most people never would be. She'd watched him die, it was a bond that she hadn't wanted or expected, but it existed. Which is why she knew that telling him no, there was nothing he could do, would just make him feel more helpless. THat's how she felt, after all.

A few moments of silence passed while Weiss tried to think of something to say, and her mind came back to something that Blake had said. Most of what they'd said- a lot of it was just from a place of pain and not something either of them should take personally, but Blake had been right about one thing. ]

I don't want to go home. I don't think you do either. Blake said we should move. I think she's right.

[ It wasn't exactly something Jaune could specifically do, but he had to agree. She wasn't going to rip him away from that house if he had attachment to it. They'd lost enough, but if he wanted it too.. with Ruby gone, that would put all three of them in agreement. Everyone else who was a victim didn't live with them, but they could commit to this. ]

I haven't talked to anyone else about it yet, but if you want to do something, you can tell me what you want to do about that.

[He still felt helpless, but he could guess why Weiss had asked him to be a deputy. Everything had changed and now he didn't think he could ever fully trust anyone other than a handful of people. It was easier to trust an incompetent idiot than a complete stranger. He didn't know if he should feel grateful. It was more like it was something to focus on, so he wouldn't lose himself, similar to looking after Snow and Frost.

Returning to that house felt wrong. The room he shared didn't feel like it was his anymore. It reflected what he had lost, not who he was now. He didn't feel safe there anymore. He was pretty sure Weiss probably felt even less so. So it wasn't as difficult a decision to make as it probably should have been.]

Do you have anywhere in mind?

[He could agree and follow, but taking any sort of lead left him feeling stuck. It was selfish, and it wasn't fair to Weiss, but it sounded like she had already made a decision. Supporting her and helping out? That was something he thought he could try to do.]

Okay.

Probably still Nova City. You, Nora, and I are still working in Nova City. Yang too, I think, for some club.

[ She feels bad that Sun and Blake still have to commute but.. ]

Other than that, I don't know. Anywhere. Somewhere smaller. I can use the extra rent money to help pay for deputies.

[ If there was anywhere she'd feel safe ever again, it'd be hidden away somewhere surrounded by people she knew could help them. ]

I want to plant trees around it. Or maybe somewhere near the water. I don't think there's anywhere really quiet in Nova City.

We don't need that much space anymore. That sounds...better. [Good wasn't the right word. But somewhere more secluded and blocked off would be quieter.]

I think since it's Nova City we should...install some form of security too. Maybe specific to our sc--phones, or something else.

We all still have our scrolls, don't we? That might not be a bad idea. Anyone who isn't within range of one can face turrets or lasers or something that will obliterate on sight just in case someone teleports on grounds.

[ He corrected it to phones, but if it's scrolls, it's not something anyone can replicate, is it? That's what Weiss is thinking anyway. If anyone wants to visit they can call ahead for all she cares. ]

I think so. If we could use our scrolls instead of our phones, that would make it harder to get through. [He didn't say scrolls because he didn't think it would work. But if Weiss thinks it does, maybe he had a not-terrible idea.]

We should ask everyone first. Just to make sure.

You mean make sure we're not being paranoid trauma victims who have minor panic attacks when the AC kicks up so setting something to obliterate anything that isn't us is probably a bad idea?

[ Nah. ]

It.. may be a good idea to get a more reasonable opinion first.

...Actually I meant make sure we all still have our scrolls. So no one from our world has to worry about lasers. As much.

But sure we can go with that. [Does Weiss need a blanket.]

No, yours makes more sense.

[ Weiss slumps down just slightly in her chair, holding Frost a little closer. ]

..If you want to take a shower, I can clean up out here.

Does it? Yours sounded more reasonable.

No I'm okay. [It's a little abrupt. He pets Snow and then starts picking up cans.] Sorry for the mess.

I don't know.

[ As if Weiss trusts her own judgment anymore. She thought Jaune was the worst, Neptune was dreamy, Battler was great, that she could survive on her own without her family, and that as long as she kept trying things would have to work out eventually. She doesn't trust her own judgment right now, at all. ]

Jaune, I meant that more as "go take a shower and shave your face" than a suggestion.

...Yeah me neither. [He wishes he did and could offer some direction. It would help him feel less helpless and maybe give Weiss a small break.] But I'd rather have the lasers. If we change our minds, we could always disable them.

[Pause. He feels his face and looks confused.] Oh. That's...awkward. [He doesn't even ask if it makes him more rugged.] I forgot to bring a razor.

I want security cameras on the outside too.

[ Maybe it's too much to try to check to make sure that no one's snooping around at night, staking them out.. but it'll make her feel better for every night she doesn't see Battler on them. ]

Just go shower. The welcome center's just across the street, I'll see if we have any of the basic goody bags for newcomers left, there should be one in those.

[ If she was in and out quickly enough she probably wouldn't get caught up. And focusing on getting Jaune to not look like the world's blondest caveman was something to focus on more than any of the thoughts she didn't want to get to her. Keeping busy helped. ]

Security cameras in hd.

[It's something they can work on. Maybe they're enabling each other but it's worth it if it makes her feel better.]

Weiss-- I can help plant the trees. [Good distraction changing the subject.]

It's Nova City, nothing comes in less than HD. I wouldn't be surprised if we could get 3-D.

[ She takes the hint, at least, though it's obvious she's considering insisting again for a brief moment before giving up. 'Feel better' is a questionable assumption. Temporarily distract from feeling is more like it. ]

They have to be fruit trees. I want to be able to yell at Sun for picking all the ones outside of my window.

I want 3-D cameras that sounds really cool.

[Some of the fear leaves his eyes and he doesn't exactly relax but he's less on edge.]

You'd yell anyway. But fruit trees are certainly better.

We can.. [ Aster Technologies has so many issues with cyborgs right now. She's not sure she wants to deal with that. ] There's a new company called Stark I've been meaning to check out. I'll see what they have.

[ She wants to avoid conflict at any cost right now. Probably not good for a Guardian. ]

I don't yell that much, do I?

Did you want me to look into it too? [He has no idea about technology he'd probably just mess with everything.]

You yell a little. That's amplified when you're around Sun. [His expression hasn't changed much, his eyes are still dull, but he might be picking on her.]

No, I can do that. My family's company helps develop Atlas's weapons systems, so I at least know the basics even if I don't know how to engineer those sorts of things myself. I may not be a terrible judge of peoples' character, but it's hard to hide shoddy craftsmanship from someone who's been around good work most of their lives.

[ Is that a little pout? Yep. ] Well if I do it's because he did something to earn it.

Okay. But if they have giant fighting robots you need to take advantage of that.

[he doesn't look convinced.] Did he?

Of course I will. I'm from Atlas, where do you think those come from?

[ Wow Jaune, gosh. ] When I'm going to make blueberry froyo and he steals my blueberries, yes. Or when he just pops up in the window no matter what story I'm on, yes. Or if he's refusing to close his shirt at a black tie event, that's also plenty of reason. I don't yell at him most of the time though. I think I yell at you more.

I knew those came from Atlas. I...actually paid attention to that.

How often does he just pop into your window? You probably do yell at me more but out of both of us I'm less likely to pick fruit from the trees outside your window.

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