genessia | 5th Aura

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[Anonymous text.]

Weapons experts.

Kind of without a weapon right now and not even sure if I should get it out of the stupid rock.

[His poor family heirloom. Even if it's probably safer in there than in his hands.]

I'm looking to build my own. It's a tradition where I'm from. I'm also wondering what made you choose yours? If it works for you, there must be a reason.

[Maybe not one of the more hopeful reasons he would have believed in the past. He's done with that. But one that makes sense.]

Stay on topic.

[Private text to Weiss, not anonymous.]

My answer is yes.

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Nora do you know what happens when you die here?

[He didn't want to say it. There's no point when everyone knows what happened. But he's alone and his rage and constant anxiety and helplessness just keeps piling up. The dam has to burst sooner or later.]

You have to sacrifice something in order to come back. And I don't even know what that is. I don't get to remember what I had to sacrifice. But I get to remember everything else. All I know is, when I came back, I didn't even consider using another weapon until Weiss gave me a reason to and when I hold any stupid sword in my hands my mind blanks out and I can't control my own body and I've already lost enough so if that sword I didn't even earn is safer in the rock in my hands, let it stay there.

That wasn't in the brochure.

[What?! Why didn't they list that super important fact?!]

I'm sorry, Jaune. I didn't know, I swear!

Forgetting how to fight just to come back is...not the worst trade off. You can learn again, and probably be better than before. You'll have lots of people here to help you, especially me.

By the way, are you coming back? It's weird not having seen you in this long.

[Their team is falling apart, and Nora keeps trying to use syrup to keep them together.]

They probably don't want to freak new people out.

[Which he can understand.

He feels bad. Nora's always been around and he's come to rely on, trust and accept her jokes at his expense like he would with one of his sisters. She's the last person he wants to see him acting like this. The only good thing is by texting, he can kind of convey what he means. It's not as confusing as talking face to face probably would be.]

No. I know you didn't know.

I'm sorry.

Nora. Thank you... You don't mind? I know you have a job at the gym. I can take your classes if it helps. I still remember how you fight.

I don't know. Probably not for a while. I don't think I can see everyone at once. But I can tell you where I am.

Jaune, people have a right to know what they're getting into while in this world. It isn't fair for new people to be kept in the dark about something like that! Yeah, it'll freak people out, but at least they know before they're all told "surprise! you lost something important because you DIED!!" when they come back!

[Yeah, Nora is U P S E T about this! And isn't Weiss responsible for those brochures? Why is everything coming back to Weiss...]

Of course I don't mind! If I did, I wouldn't offer! I'll help get you back into shape in no time!

Good, because I'm tired of getting yelled at for breaking doors.

Don't you think I know that? Not everyone dies here. It's not like it's a thing that happens every day. I'll see if there's something I can do.

[Do you want Jaune to try and design his own brochures about death do you Nora because they're going to be a disaster and now he might do that.]

All right. Let's do this.

...

What did you do.

[Better him than Weiss, apparently! Maybe she can help!]

It may not happen everyday, but it happens. And lately, too often. Let me know how it goes.

I went looking for you! But now that you'll just tell me where you are, then...everyone will be happy!

[Are you sure about that.

He might embellish it with bunnies.]

Sure. [If he doesn't overwork himself and pass out on them.]

I'm at Amagi Inn.

Edited 2016-07-27 04:50 (UTC)

[...what's wrong with bunnies? They'll help soften the blow of learning about death.]

Thanks! So....when can I come over?!

[This is true. But maybe Nora should be in charge of it. Jaune can give her the information and then she can design it and make it sound less terrible.]

I'm here now.

[Nora isn't even going to reply. She just cuts off communication and begins to run on over to the inn. No matter how far it may be!

After about ten minutes, she busts through the door, but it's still on its hinges, luckily. Hopefully that door wasn't locked....]

JAUNE!! [POINTING A FINGER AT HIM!!]

[He doesn't have time to think about his choices and instead tries to mentally prepare himself for Nora. He knows he shouldn't relax--he couldn't, even if he wanted to--but despite steeling himself, he still literally flies off the bed, wild-eyed, as he stares up at Nora.

The room is a mess. His dog, Snow barks once and runs up to greet Nora. Jaune's no longer wearing his armor, but a plain hooded sweatshirt and jeans, his hair unkempt and unwashed. He hasn't shaved or showered in a while so he's definitely not at his best.

It's just Nora.]

...Did you break it.

[The finger isn't so pointed anymore at the question, and Nora turns to examine the door. Testing it out by swinging it a little before fully closing it. Yep. The lock on the knob is broken.]

It still closes.

[She looks down at the dog before picking it up and petting it behind the ear.] Who's dog is this? Such a cutie!

[But more importantly!! Nora points to Jaune, but not so dramatically.]

You haven't been taking care of yourself! [Who cares about a messy room!]

...Okay. [He doesn't care about the door. A locked door won't keep Battler out.]

That's Snow. [Snow wags his tail.]

[While Nora's distracted, Jaune stands up. He's still trying to become accustomed to being around someone he's normally comfortable with when he's anything but comfortable with himself. He freezes when she points at him again.

Quick, think of an excuse.]

Nora, I'm fine.

[Quickly replies:]

No, you're not.

[She puts down Snow before going over to him.]

You disappear, and then reappear, but still not anywhere to be found, you're hiding out in some inn with a dog I've never even met, and you look terrible. [Crosses her arms in front of her.] You're not okay, Jaune. And...

[Sighs]

It's okay to not be okay, but you need to take care of yourself, too. Otherwise...what's the point in being back?

[What would have been then point of losing his ability to fight if he wasn't even taking care of himself? Seems like a wasted trade off.]

To be fair, I've had Snow for a while now. I didn't introduce you. [It's not the best response, and he knows that. But he's been failing at conversations lately.]

[Take a deep breath, Jaune.] I still don't know what the point is. [Or if there is one. He keeps that thought to himself.]

I don't know what to do anymore, Nora. I've tried to sleep, and take care of myself, but-- [It feels less painful to avoid it. He'd rather be numb than continue to feel what he has been.]

I never liked myself, but at least I knew who I was. Now everything that defined me is gone. Like it was just as pointless as my being at Beacon. [He doesn't sound upset. His inflection and expression hardly changes at all.]

Well....[Nora went to sit next to him on the bed with the dog on her lap.] What do you think defines you?

[She's honestly curious. A lot of people have ideas about Jaune, but no one has ever bothered to ask him.]

I don't know. Failure? [He'd failed to get into Beacon by legitimate means. He failed to become strong enough. He failed his team. He failed Pyrrha. The only reason he was alive here was because he had chosen to make a sacrifice for something else. If anything defines him, it's probably that.

Weiss' tiny teacup Maltese, Frost, finally catches his attention and he holds him.]

Everyone's a failure at some point, until they're not. Do you really think Professor Ozpin would have chosen you as the team leader if you were made up of fail?

[C'mon, Jaune. Don't lame! No one can be comprised entirely of failure!]

You know what I think makes you, you? You never give up. Even when a lot of things are stacked against you. You never run away from a fight, except that time we ran from that team in the Vytal Festival but that was just to regroup, so technically we didn't run away, I guess. [Lifts up a finger for emphasis.] And, you never break a promise.

[Swings her feet a bit from her seat.]

You can argue with me all you want, but I'm not gonna change my mind. You, sir, [Yes, the "you" she's point a finger at!!] are not defined by failure!

Ozpin also made someone like Cardin team leader. [And his actions at least helped result in Pyrrha being murdered, even if that wasn't his goal.] I don't know why he did anything.

[Finally meeting her eyes, he just stares at her completely awestruck. There's a flash of something--pain, guilt, anger mostly aimed at himself. How can she possible believe in him after everything? His expression dulls after a moment, and arms too tense and hands trembling, pulls up his hoodie and pretends to find the bed fascinating again. He wants to give up now. He's always struggled, but now things that used to be normal seem impossible and pointless to do. Nora's worried and counting on him. It might be kinder to stop lying and avoiding it than to give her any false hope.]

I'm tired. I think I'm going to lie down.

Edited 2016-08-27 19:26 (UTC)

[Not even a retort.

Not even an argument back.

Jaune really has given up...and that hurts.

Quietly, Nora looks to him for a moment before simply standing up. She doesn't think he's all that tired. Just tired of their conversation. She doesn't know how to make things easier for him, or anyone else affected by that psychopath.

Nora turns and walks to the door. Before she opens it, she leaves with one more statement.]

If you ever...just want to talk, I'll be around.

[The door opens, and she steps through, making sure to close it gently behind her.]

[Remaining still, Nora can't see how his expression shifts from numbness to something more hurt, or the tears that threaten to fall. He doesn't move or breathe until he hears the door shut, and when he does he just collapses on the bed with Frost still on top of him. It's not Nora's fault or something he wants her to fix, but they had been through so much together and the guilt he feels for hurting her still stings like a slap to the face. Everything hurts, both physically and emotionally. He had considered not coming back at all and now that he was back what was the point? Her words replay in his mind and he just scrubs at his eyes with a quaking breath, trying not to break down over it.

Nora is right; she can't help. He doesn't think anyone is equipped to help with what had happened to everyone.]

Edited 2016-08-28 17:13 (UTC)

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