genessia | 19th Aura

[Jaune seems to have exhaled a deep breath just prior to beginning the video. For once, he's not in the Guardian Skyrise, but his apartment. He doesn't know or particularly care what happened to his office, seeing as he quit with no notice. Biting his lip and twisting his hands nervously, it's clearly awkward for him, but he looks cleaner than he did. Healthier.]

I heard the world exploded or something again while I was gone. And Emerald's famous now, making the world exploding less of a shock. So I guess I'm just going to ask if I missed anything important and say hi to all the new arrivals.

Hi all the new arrivals. I'm Jaune.

[A forced shrug of his shoulders, he leans back a little as if to get away from the camera.]

I found another job, one I think that's going to work out. But there are some obstacles-- like officially learning how to drive. [Look he can drive/fly just fine but he's put off taking any tests so he's been driving without a license when he's needed to.]

I don't know as much stuff as some people who've been in Genessia, but I've been here a while and I've read everything the GSRF has about what they've found out. I don't necessarily understand everything, I'm not a scientist, but if you ever have any questions, I'll try to answer them as best as I can in...less scienc-y terms.

[He ends the feed.]

[Video | Private to Weiss]
[After agonizing whether to visit or message Weiss, seeming to come to a decision before retracting it just as quickly, he decides messaging her is the best and least intrusive option. He's a lot quieter in this video, considering their last conversation. But there's still some anxious warmth in his voice, like he's trying to make this as normal as possible but he knows he can't.]

Hey so I heard you're public enemy number one now.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Jaune actually IS worried about her. That's sweet of him.]

Hey, I can't let the trail get cold! He already knows I'm after him, so the longer I wait the harder it'll be to find the creep again. Just recharging my Aura for now. Thanks for the luck!

[She tosses a playful two-fingered salute before signing off. It isn't too much longer when a ping goes off on his communicator to show him where she's at in Genessia City, just chilling on the front porch of the home she never got to buy or live in.]

[Look he's just saying he knows someone who's actively avoiding any real breathers by trying to stay busy when he sees her!]

Which--

[Oh, well, he guesses he'll ask her about the bounty later when he reaches the house. The Waypoint makes traveling faster, but it still takes some time for him to reach Yang's future house. When he sees her he waves, running the rest of the way.]

Nice place. Is it all yours?

For now, I guess. If Blake or Ruby come back, I'm sure Weiss will offer to let them stay in their old rooms.

[Now that Yang was there, Weiss might even rent out the place to some other people. Why not? They'd made the investment and paid it off, they could rake in a decent profit if they wanted it.]

[She juts her thumb over her shoulder and grins.]

The side door into the garage isn't locked, we can use that one. How have you been anyway?

People here do have a tendency to come back at once.

[It's weird for him to think about, but he tries not to dwell on it. Hearing Yang talk about Ruby and Blake that way is kind of a relief. He doesn't know specifically how she dealt with what happened, but last time he remembers being at the Dream Docks, according to Ruby, Yang hadn't been ready to leave. He's glad she's not trying to isolate herself.]

[He looks a little disappointed.] Or we could have parkour'd into a window, but I guess that works. I've been okay. It's been over a year since I got here, this is going to be my second one once January hits. Lately I've just been taking a step back while trying to figure some things out. How about you?

[Yang thought he was kidding the first time. He really wants to practice his adventuring skills, doesn't he? ...No, she can't resist, she really wants to see Jaune's parkour skills. It might be worth a broken window.]

Well, if you really want to go for it, no one's looking.

[She grins, giving him a light jab in the arm with her elbow. Do it. Show your moves!]

Sounds like you've got some staying power! Definitely good to hear. What about back home? What's the last thing you remember happening there?

[Yang, do you know what you've just done? When it comes to combat, Jaune has improved significantly. His swordplay and technique are much more controlled and stronger, and he's even learning to use raw water Dust in a much more advanced form than he could a year ago. However, parkour has never been one of the skills he's been very good at. He's still determined to try, thanks to reading too many comics, and when Yang approves his whole face brightens.]

Okay, let's do this. [He starts stretching a little before he does anything, still talking to Yang.] Yeah, I guess. But I'm not the only one with staying power if you're here. We'd just fought this really terrifying grimm before we got rescued. Then we took an airship to Mistral. Everyone was safe. [There are times he envies his other self. It would be easier, if that was all he remembered.] How about you?

I was headed that way too, actually. I got an upgrade.

[She gives a little wave with the robo-hand. There's only the faintest touch of self-consciousness; but she's still grinning from ear to ear, and her pride glows bright. She regrets that it took her so long to get to this point, but she's here now, and she's stopped stagnating in bed.]

[She still has some growing to do, but don't they all?]

Ruby's okay, right? She's still with you guys?

[Yang positions herself close to the window, cupping her hands together to offer him a boost up should he need it.]

Whoa! [He looks at her robo-hand in admiration. Look just because he doesn't know weapons as extensively as everyone else doesn't mean he can't be a nerd sometimes.] You're all bright and sunny. [She did a good job. It couldn't have been easy, but he's proud of his friend. And he holds his hand out for a fist-bump...a high-five...anything, Yang. Give him something.]

She's with us and safe. So is your uncle. Your sister's really strong, Yang. She's a lot like you.

[Part of him is nervous he'll kick her in the face in his efforts, but whatever. She can take it. Using her foot as a platform, he shouts "ARCOUR!" and jumps on the ledge of the window, feet precariously balanced, before tilting over and falling through the window.

Maybe he should have opened it first. Sorry Yang.]

She's probably even stronger.

[That's not something Yang would say about just anyone, and it's not just sisterly bias. Ruby's grown a lot, and it's pretty obvious that Yang couldn't be happier for her little sister. Jaune can have a robo-fistbump, since she's glad he's looking at the arm with fascination and not pity.]

Whew, thanks! That's one less worry on my mind, then.

[And up he goes! And...down he goes, with a tinkle of broken glass. Yeah, she kinda expected something like that would happen. So while she rolls her eyes, she's grinning, and opens the side door to poke her head in.]

You okay in here?

[Probably not. She flips on the light, and the bulb sputters before shedding some light on the fallen warrior. Yang offers him a hand up.]

Let's work on your landing next time.

[He won't argue about it. They're both strong in different ways. Maybe Ruby was the one who had the courage to help JNR move forward, but he's certain Yang had played a part in that growing up. He has siblings. And he's seen Ruby falter, so even if she is one of the strongest people he knows, she's just like the rest of them in that she can do it alone.]

I'm fine!

[Sprawled on the ground, he takes Yang's offered hand and bounces back, brushing himself off.] Landing strategies just aren't something I've ever mastered.

If it's something you want to master, I could probably throw you around until you get the hang of landing on your feet.

[She's kidding.]

[Half-kidding.]

[Once she's satisfied that he's okay, she gets her first good look at the garage's interior. It's dusty, and there are a lot of knick-knacks and empty boxes stacked haphazardly throughout, but her eyes land on the familiar shape of her bike hiding under a blue vinyl tarp. Tugging back the corner unveils a little motorcycle, Japanese in design, that she fixed up in Dean's old junkhard. The front is smashed up but the rest of it isn't in terrible shape. Yang smiles, tracing her fingers over the frame before giving the seat a light pat.]

There she is...this brings back a lot of memories. I spent hours trying to get this baby to run.

[She squats on her heels to examine her project, her expression warm with nostalgia. It was no Bumblebee, but it was still hers, something she'd pieced together with her boss's help.]

I guess I know what I'll be working on in between bounties! Too bad it's not really fit to run or I'd take you out for a spin right now.

19th Aura | Video

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