[RWBY] RWBY Shorts

[AndrewJTalon]

An old but fun idea of mine: Roman helping Jaune get into Beacon is a popular trope. So he now cashes in the favor:

Roman: "Listen kid. This crazy redhead with a scythe and this nutty catgirl in black keep attacking my deals. They're your classmates. Any way you could, ya know, get them to stop being vigilantes?"

Jaune: "Have you thought about not committing crimes on a level that get them to notice you?"

Roman: "Assume that isn't an option."

Jaune: "Aw geez, Roman. I don't wanna hurt them, they're my friends."

Roman: "Hurt-!?! For Pete's sake, boy! Did the theatres and arcades stop working when I wasn't looking? Take them out for freaking dinner or something when they look like they're bored so they stop looking for crime to stop!"

Roman trains Jaune how to sweep the girls off their feet so he can do crime in peace.

 

[RustedSands]

Spoiler: Roman teaching Jaune

 

[TheFabulousCustodes]

Roman trains Jaune how to sweep the girls off their feet so he can do crime in peace.

Click to shrink...

Neo gets used as a female stand in for Team RWBY to train Jaune, and decides that she's going to get Jaune and not those goody two shoes. Cue Neo interrupting Jaune's dates with wilder, and wilder antics to snag her man!

 

[trashtaker]

Spoiler: Roman teaching Jaune

Click to shrink...

This might awaken something in Neo.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

• Technical Profile: AV-88 Dragonet
  • Type: Heavy-Lift Transport Airship
  • Manufacturer: Wayland Air Motors
  • Origin: Vale
  • Role: Heavy cargo and troop transport, disaster response, anti-Grimm operations, power projection
  • First Deployment: Year 72 Post-Great War
  • Cost: Moderate (uses off-the-shelf components and modular design for cost efficiency)
  • Dimensions:
    • Length: 30.5 meters
    • Width: 23.3 meters (including stub wings for stability)
    • Height: 10 meters (approximately 33 feet), or 10.5 meters with landing gear extended)
    • Weight: 50,000 kg (unladen); 95,000 kg (max takeoff)
  • Crew: 8 (2 pilots, 2 navigators, 2 gunners, 2 technicians); up to 40 passengers (Huntsmen, VDF troops, or support personnel)
  • Cargo: 45,000 kg (99,208 pounds; capable of transporting 1 M-77 Chimera tank or equivalent heavy equipment)
  • Powerplant: Four Brigid Electric DPS-33 Dust Reactor Thrusters (primary lift and stability, augmented with Combustion Dust for thrust)
  • Performance:
    • Top Speed: 200 mph (322 km/h)
    • Service Ceiling: 18,000 feet
    • Range: 800 miles (extendable to 1100 miles with external Dust pods)
  • Armament:
    • 1 x Winchester M-79 25mm Dust-Accelerated Autocannon (retractable, ventral turret, Fire and Lightning Dust rounds, 650 rounds/min)
    • 6 x External Hardpoints (10,000 lb total capacity: Fire Dust missiles, Ice Dust cluster bombs, Blast Dust guided rockets)
    • 4 x Side-Mounted Machine Guns (14.5mm, Gravity Dust-enhanced, 2,000 rounds each, crew or remote operated)
    • 1 x Anti-Grimm Sonic Disruptor Array (100-meter radius, disorients lesser Grimm)
  • Defenses:
    • Reinforced composite hull (titanium-steel with Ceramic Dust plating, resistant to 20mm rounds and Grimm claws)
    • Anti-Grimm Sonic Field (continuous low-frequency pulse, 150-meter radius, deters smaller Grimm)
    • Flare, Chaff and Dust Munition Launchers (Fire Dust for IR seeking missiles, Ice Dust-based for concealment)
  • Avionics:
    • Orb-33 Sensor Suite (thermal, Radar, Dust-signature, and motion detection; tracks up to 30 targets)
    • AI-Assisted Navigation System (optimizes for Vale's terrain and Grimm threats)
    • Secure Comms Array (encrypted links to VDF command, Huntsmen teams, and air support)
    • Terrain Mapping System (real-time analysis for Vale's mountains and forests)
  • Special Features:
    • Heavy-Lift Capability: Sling-load system for 1 M-77 Chimera tank (40,000 kg) or equivalent cargo (e.g., vehicles, Dust containers)
    • Modular Cargo Bay: Configurable for troop transport, medical evacuation, or mobile command post
    • Dust Refueling Probe: Mid-air Dust canister swaps for extended range
    • Amphibious Sealing: Gaps in superstructure allow water landings and limited buoyancy
    • Four Landing Thrusters: Enhanced stability for precise landings in rough terrain
      

      ---

• Background and Development
• Wayland Air Motors, a leading Valean manufacturer, has a storied history of producing versatile aircraft and vehicles for the VDF and civilian markets, competing with Atlas' high-cost manufacturers like Nachfolger Industries. Following the success of the AV-47 Tigertail, Wayland was commissioned to develop a heavy-lift airship to address the VDF's need for transporting heavy assets like the M-77 Chimera tank across Vale's mountainous terrain, supporting disaster response, and bolstering anti-Grimm operations. The AV-88 Dragonet, named for a small dragonfly, was designed to embody the Tigertail's cost-effective, modular philosophy while scaling up for heavy-lift capabilities.
• Developed in three years, the Dragonet leveraged off-the-shelf avionics and Dust systems from the Tigertail, ensuring affordability and rapid production. Its four Gravity Dust reactors and robust thrusters were optimized for lifting 45,000 kg, enabling transport of a Chimera tank or equivalent cargo. Testing in Vale's Forever Fall and border highlands proved its ability to navigate rugged landscapes and deliver payloads under Grimm attack. The airship's modular design made it a favorite for VDF logistics, disaster relief, and even civilian applications (e.g., construction or resource transport), though its combat capabilities ensure it remains a battlefield asset.
• Despite its success, the Dragonet faces challenges from Atlas' advanced airships, which boast superior armor and tech but at a higher cost. The Dragonet's balance of speed, capacity, and affordability keeps it competitive, reflecting Vale's scrappy resilience.

---

• Capabilities in Remnant's Context
  • Heavy-Lift Transport: The Dragonet's 45,000 kg capacity allows it to sling-load an M-77 Chimera tank or heavy equipment, supporting rapid deployment in Vale's remote regions. Its cargo bay accommodates 40 Huntsmen or modular command units, ideal for disaster response or troop insertions.
  • Anti-Grimm Operations: The 25mm autocannon and hardpoint munitions provide defensive firepower against aerial Grimm like Nevermores, while sonic arrays scatter lesser hordes. The side-mounted machine guns allow passengers to engage threats during landings.
  • Terrain Adaptability: Four landing thrusters and a robust stabilization system ensure stable landings in Vale's mountains and forests. Amphibious sealing supports water landings, critical for coastal or riverine missions.
  • Survivability: The composite hull and Aura shielding withstand moderate Grimm attacks, though less durable than Atlasian designs. Countermeasure drones and Ice Dust smoke enhance evasion, ensuring cargo delivery in hostile zones.

I realized I didn't have a vehicle that could transport the Chimera-tank around Remnant, which is a big selling point. So I made one, which fulfills a similar role as heavy lift helicopters in today's militaries. Basically imagine a version of the AV-47 Tigertail that's bigger with four engine pods, and that's a Dragonet. It can also be used as a gunship.

 

[Sir Borks-a-Lot]

Roman trains Jaune how to sweep the girls off their feet so he can do crime in peace.

Click to shrink...

Years later, Roman is wondering why is he invited to a dual wedding when all he wanted was to do crimes in peace... And the he is wondering why is he considered one of the honorary uncles of the dozens of brats the blonde brat made.

What he knows for certain though is that he'll be the best funcle ever.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

For worldbuilding I have an idea for a sub-kingdom on the continent of Solitas. This is a government and military that a buddy and I fleshed out for a SWN game that didn't go anywhere and adapted to Remnant, removing anything space-based and replacing psions with Hunters.

Balto: Originally established by exiled remnants of Mantle's army following the Great War, Balto is located to the South-East of Mantle/Atlas, along the coast.

Despite militaristic origins, the government of Balto is split in two between civilian and military leadership.

Civilian government is inspired by an idealized United States comprised of a Senate, Council of Judges, and President. All elected by popular vote for 10 year terms, with a hard single-term limit.

Military government follows a similar model to Atlas with a council, only all members are Commanders and Generals. The military council elects a representative every 5 years to act as "Grand Commander" and interface with the civilian ggovernment. Due to a smaller pool of candidates they do allow re-elections, just not more than 2 terms, and no consecutive terms.

Balto does not emphasize hunters nearly as much as other nations, instead they operate similarly to Atlas with a relatively small but well-trained and well-equipped military. Though hunters do operate in and around Balto, they are treated more like mercenaries.

The Balto Armed Forces (BAF) consist of 6 armies, each specialized for specific tasks.

1st Army: Logistics - These are the pencil-pushers, mechanics, transport, and all other rear-echelon staff that keep a military moving. Still trained and armed to fight.

2nd Army: Medical - Doctors, nurses, psychiatrist, therapists, ect... The medical corps. can fix every ailment short of death. More of a "Do no harm, but take no shit." approach to the hippocratic oath.

3rd Army: Scouts - Land/Air/Sea recon. Snipers. Cartographers and Outriders. These men and women push the boundaries of settled land to track Grimm and other threats.

4th Army: Regular Ground Forces - Infantry, Mechanized Infantry, Armored Cav, Artillery. If a target needs to be softened or captured, the Fighting 4th has what you need.

5th Army: Air Force - Close Air Support, Air-to-Air Combat (dogfighters), Air-Navy. Used primarily for clearing out aerial Grimm and force-projection should Atlas, or anyone else, cast a jealous gaze on Balto.

6th Army: Naval Forces - Patrolling trade routes, culling seafaring Grimm, and fending off more traditional pirates are the norm for these folks.

7th Army: Officially does not exist. This is where the soldiers with aptitude for counter-terrorism, black operations, and all other things best not bragged about, go. Unlike the other armies, these men and women have their Aura awakened as a requirement to join, and they are not trained with Grimm in mind.

Click to shrink...

A did have some ideas for a few more sub-kingdoms that made up Altas/Mantle. In addition to the Republic of Balto:

Rana Niejta: Named for the Sami Goddess of Spring, this nation is Finnish in character with a large native Solitas population that converted to the Tablebreaker religion and formed a constitutional monarchy that joined into the larger kingdom of Mantle.

Midgard: A Germanic/Norse culture with some influence from Mistralian immigrants, it is technically a democracy but has heavy corporate influence at its head. Functionally ruled by its electric company. Uses the name of Earth in Norse mythology and the city from Final Fantasy VII.

Sedna: Based on some aspects of Inuit culture, this former Valean/Mistralian colony became a regional naval power with influence from the Hellenic Confederacy. They were a commonwealth that voted on their kings and command most of the fishing and sea industries around Solitas. Named for an Inuit Goddess.

Hyperborea: A Vacuoan and Valean colony that became a very rough republic with a culture similar to Colonial Spain and Rome. A republic that elected dictators in times of crisis and required all members of the government to be capable of fighting. Some influence from Conan the Barbarian's Cimmerian culture and named for both the land of Conan and the Greek word for a land of "Utter north".

Indrik: The oldest and most advanced civilization on Solitas when it began to be colonized, which is believed to have been a Mistralian/Hellenic colony that interbred with the natives. While it took many wars, it was eventually respected as a fellow power. It advanced into a great monarchy and became a major power. It has however suffered many violent revolutions but it pulled itself back together and became a backbone of Mantle/Atlas, showing incredible resilience against cold, the Grimm, humans and Faunus. Heavily based on Russian culture with the name being of the Russian mythical "King of Beasts" Indrik.

Any thoughts?

 

[etabb6]

Midgard: A Germanic/Norse culture with some influence from Mistralian immigrants, it is technically a democracy but has heavy corporate influence at its head. Functionally ruled by its electric company. Uses the name of Earth in Norse mythology and the city from Final Fantasy VII.

Click to shrink...

I am assuming that at least one of Nora's parents would be from here?

 

[AndrewJTalon]

I am assuming that at least one of Nora's parents would be from here?

Click to shrink...

Yes. The native population was Norse and Rus influenced.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune Arc froze in the bustling courtyard of Beacon Academy, his eyes locked on a peculiar sight bouncing towards him and Ren.

"...Is that Lisa Lavender in a school uniform?" he muttered, disbelief coloring his voice.

Ren, ever composed, glanced over with a slight nod. "Looks like."

Jaune's brow furrowed as the woman strutted toward them, her Beacon uniform improbably snug and her lavender hair barely contained under a beret.

"And… no one's stopping her?"

"Looks like," Ren repeated dryly.

Lisa Lavender, Vale's most relentless reporter, closed the distance with a dazzling smile, her notepad clutched like Ruby clutched Crescent Rose.

"Hello, fellow students! Are you Jaune Arc and Lie Ren?"

Jaune exchanged a wary glance with Ren. Ren gave the barest shrug possible before Jaune answered.

"...We are."

"Can I have a moment of your time?" Lisa chirped, her voice syrupy sweet. "Just to confirm some rumors? Since I'm a transfer student I wanna stay on top of the social sea!"

Jaune sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "We know it's you, Ms. Lavender."

Lisa's jaw dropped, her composure crumbling.

"Wha—But—My disguise is perfect!"

"I mean, it's very…" Jaune hesitated, his face flushing, "um, sexy, but that's also the problem since you're clearly not a teenager."

Somewhere, Cinder Fall sneezed, her own undercover schemes momentarily disrupted.

Lisa's confidence faltered, but she rallied with a desperate edge.

"Oh, come on! Look, I need a case. A story. I'm desperate here!" She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

"I'll even let you touch my boobs?"

Jaune's eyes widened, his hands flailing in panic.

"N-No thanks! I mean, it's—Uh, no!"

Lisa tilted her head, batting her lashes.

"Oh? Are you sure~?"

"Very sure! I-Ren?" Jaune turned, only to find empty air where his teammate had stood moments ago. "Traitor," he grumbled under his breath.

Lisa, undeterred, whipped out her recorder, her reporter's instincts kicking into overdrive.

"Sooo… You're the leader of Team JNPR, with Pyrrha Nikos on it. How's that going for you?"

Jaune shifted uncomfortably.

"Fine, thank you."

"Are you and Pyrrha romantically involved?" Lisa pressed, her pen poised like a dagger.

"Wha—No!" Jaune sputtered, his cheeks flaming. "Of course not! We're just friends!"

Lisa held up a stack of grainy photos, her grin wicked. "Are you sure? She's definitely hugging on you a lot in some of these!"

"She's holding me up after training!" Jaune protested, his voice cracking.

Lisa's eyes gleamed as she pivoted.

"All right, what about you and local bad girl, Yang Xiao-Long?"

"Also friends!" Jaune said, his patience fraying.

"Her little sister, Ruby Rose?"

"FRIENDS!" he shouted, his voice echoing across the courtyard.

The interrogation dragged on, Lisa firing names like bullets—Blake, Weiss, Nora, even Velvet. Jaune's responses grew increasingly frantic, each denial more emphatic than the last. Finally, she threw a curveball.

"And your father and Isabel Arc?"

Jaune blinked, utterly baffled. "Happily married!"

Lisa snapped her notepad shut with a triumphant flourish.

"Okay, that's all I need! Thanks, Jaune! See you again soon~!"

"Haha, yeah, I don't think so," Jaune said with a forced smile, waving back at her nervous.

He sagged with relief, wiping sweat from his brow as she disappeared behind a pillar.

"Phew… Finally. It's all over," he muttered. He had been as boring as possible, and truthful. What would she possibly make out of that?

That evening, Teams JNPR and RWBY sprawled across the common room, laughter and chatter filling the air as they unwound. Jaune was on the couch, reading through the latest issue of X-Ray and Vav. Ruby collapsed next to him, sighing in exhaustion.

"Scoot over, gimme," she mumbled, scooting up against him to read the comic over his shoulder. Jaune chuckled and patted her shoulder.

"What a week, huh?" Jaune asked. Ruby groaned.

"Ugh… Tests are evil. Pure evil."

"Tell me about it," Jaune chuckled. Pyrrha was trying to play a video game with Yang, and losing. Pyrrha's eyebrow twitched even as her smile remained.

"One more round," Pyrrha stated.

Yang looked over at her.

"Uh, Cereal Girl, you all right there-?"

"One. More. Round," Pyrrha said tightly, her smile downright terrifying. Yang coughed.

"S-Sure! Sure!"

Jaune winced.

"It's amazing that Yang can bring out her competitive side," he muttered.

"She can bring all sorts of things out of other people," Ruby giggled.

Weiss was eating some candy while reading a book. Blake was reading across from her. Weiss sighed and finally looked up at Blake.

"I will admit the prose is… Good. The narrative is well constructed and the characters are well defined… But…" She blushed deeply. "Is… Is all the smut necessary?"

"Erotica," Blake said flatly, "And while I admit I can appreciate the classics, is The White Whale really something you need to read three times over? It feels rather dated in many ways."

Weiss sniffed.

"Oh, a story about the dangers of obsession. I can see why you would miss the point."

Blake and Weiss began to argue again. Ruby giggled.

"Like clockwork," she murmured.

"Yeah," Jaune sighed. Ren and Nora were cooking. Well, Ren was cooking. Nora was hovering around, eagerly awaiting his latest pancake-based creation.

Jaune smiled and leaned back. This? This was what it was all about. These happy moments at peace with all his friends.

The holoscreen, which was showing the end of some trashy TV show that was serving as background noise, switched to Vale National News, and Lisa Lavender's polished voice cut through the room like a siren.

"Lisa Lavender of VNN! Our top story: Is Beacon Academy a hotspot of teenaged debauchery?" Several images of various students with their eyes and faces blurred appeared, including Jaune, Weiss, Pyrrha, Yang, Blake, Ruby, and Ren.

"Excerpts from a student reveal he is in a polyamorous relationship with his team, another team, and a boy on his own team! In this newscast, we will explore the spicy and steamy underbelly of Vale's elite Hunter training school!"

"Oh… Shit," Jaune muttered.

His eyes widened and his face paled as his friends' heads all swiveled toward him. Pyrrha's game controller clattered to the floor. Yang choked on her soda. Weiss's face paled in unfathomable rage as Blake's jaw dropped. Nora cackled uncontrollably, while Ren, the traitor, merely raised an eyebrow.

Jaune slowly looked to Ruby, hoping for some kind of help. No such luck: She was staring intently at him, her face caught between confused and appalled.

"Jaune? What did you do?"

"...Fuuuuuuuuuck!" Jaune groaned, burying his face in his hands as the common room erupted into chaos, Lisa's broadcast blaring on, oblivious to the storm she'd unleashed.

 

[Balorak146]

Lisa Lavender, Vale's most relentless reporter

Click to shrink...

Anyone got a transfiguration Semblance and a glass jar?

 

[Frakir's brother]

Isn't that something Pyrrha's PR team would skin LL alive over?

 

[ryuan]

Isn't that something Pyrrha's PR team would skin LL alive over?

Click to shrink...

Pyrha, Weiss, hell, even the White Fang and Menagerie would knock on her door.

Of course, in universe Jaune would get the bulk of the blame and the trouble, because that's how the story rolls.

 

[SharkCultist]

Goodwitch is not having a good time.

Fucking Ozpin has decided that instead of doing his paperwork and taking care of all his other responsibilities he should instead spend all his time ( and a sizable portion of the budget) simping over a new Vtuber.

Goodwitch doesn't know who PaleMagic is but she hates her.

---

Meanwhile Salems goons (not those kinds of goons.) aren't having a good time either.

The queen of darkness has sequestered herself away and isn't giving them instructions anymore. She also hasn't been reminding the Grimm that they are allies so they have to either fight for their lives to go anywhere or just stay in the castle.

At least she's got a new stream of money coming in (quite a bit). It's at least letting them pay off the surprisingly competent delivery people who are keeping them from starving to death.

---

Salem is quite enjoying this streaming thing. She can interact with people without actually having to be around them, and they keep suggesting new things for her to try out.

And one of her fans is both surprisingly generous and charming.

Perhaps one day she'll meet TimeKnightO in person.

 

[Bommel]

Idea:
The reason that Blake has a NTR fetish is actually rooted onto a custom from traditional Faunus/Menagerie culture.

See, in Faunus/Menagerie culture it's traditional that when a couple gets engaged, the groom-to-be "sneaks" into the bride-to-be's house, steals the bride to be out of her house and proposes on the steps of some religiously significant or romantic location.
This stealing is than repeated on the wedding day where the groom steals the bride and takes her to the locarion of the wedding ceremony, where they then both put on their fancy wedding clothes.

This custom originates from a time where most Faunus were enslaved, and where heroic men would sneak into the estates of rich slaveowners and "steal" the slaves away, freeing them, and often one of the women (or multiple) they saved would fall in love with them and end up marring them.
Note: not all the rich slaveowners during that time were human, some were Faunus who bought, enslaved and exploited (in all kind of messed up ways) their fellow Faunus, and they're universaly regarded with absolute distane.

This is also where the basic premise for Ninja's of Love come from, as wel as several other cultural references, customs, and some philosophical consepts.
This is why Blake insists that it's erotica instead of smut, as it does have genuinely deep cultural substance and discussion about it, but all of will go completely over the heads of anyone not familiar with those Faunus/Menagerie wedding customs and culture.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Lilac Arc and the Bull

---

The White Fang's operations often involved taking hostages, and this time, Adam Taurus himself led the mission. He seized a woman from Radian, bringing her to their hidden headquarters with a clear purpose.

"Her mother is holding three of our agents in her hospital after they were captured," he told his guards right outside the cell in the abandoned building, his voice cold and commanding. "We use her to compel their release. Keep an eye on her, but do not harm her."

"Sir!" the guards responded in unison.

Adam departed for another mission, leaving the guards with Lilac Arc, who sat calmly in her cell, her demeanor surprisingly serene for a hostage.

One of the guards coughed harshly, the sound grating in the dim corridor. Lilac tilted her head, her expression softening with concern. "That sounds bad," she said gently. "I know a remedy for it, if you have a kitchen."

The second guard snorted, his eyes narrowing. "Ha! Nice try! What's the remedy, rat poison?"

"No, of course not," Lilac replied, unfazed. "It's too salty."

The first guard coughed again, wincing. "Ugh…"

"You can keep suffering, or you can feel better," Lilac said, her tone earnest. "I much prefer people to feel better. Besides, I would never poison someone."

The second guard's scowl deepened, but the first guard's pitiful coughing grew worse. With a heavy sigh, the second guard relented. "Fine…"

They escorted Lilac to the kitchen, where she gathered local herbs with practiced ease and brewed a fragrant tea. As she worked, she glanced at their meager supplies. "Hmmm… You all look like you could use a good meal," she mused, her face brightening. "Do you have any venison? I can make a great stew!"

The second guard scoffed. "Oh, please, like we're going to fall for that!"

The first guard, however, took a cautious sip of the tea. His eyes widened as he inhaled deeply. "Wow! It… I can breathe! Cough's gone! And… And it tastes great! Try it!"

"Oh, come on, you can't be serious!" the second guard snapped.

"Serious as a heart attack," the first guard insisted. "Besides, she's one woman without her Aura activated. What could she do even if she poisoned it?"

Grudgingly, the second guard sipped the tea. His skeptical expression melted into disbelief. "It… It's amazing!"

Lilac smiled warmly. "Old family recipe! Like this stew!" She was already stirring a pot, the rich aroma filling the kitchen. Other White Fang members drifted in, drawn by the scent.

"Oh! Hello!" Lilac greeted them cheerfully. "Grab a bowl, it should be done soon!"

The first guard hesitated. "Hey, hang on a second, even if it smells good, we should test it!"

"Come on," Lilac said, her voice light but firm. "I would never poison food! Then you wouldn't get to enjoy it."

The second guard's eyes narrowed. "You… Do realize you're our hostage, right? If you don't cooperate, we'll kill you."

"I am cooperating," Lilac replied simply.

The first guard nodded slowly. "She's got a point."

"Wonderful!" Lilac beamed.

When Adam returned, he found his guards noticeably relaxed, their usual tension replaced by an odd ease. "Sitrep?" he demanded.

"Oh! Lord Adam!" the second guard said, straightening. "Uh, everything's fine, sir! The hostage is safe and compliant."

"Good," Adam said, his tone clipped. "Her mother is proving difficult. We'll need to make a video to show how serious we are."

"Errr… I see, Lord Adam," the first guard mumbled, exchanging a glance with his partner.

Lilac approached, her demeanor as warm as ever. "Hello, Lord Adam! Let me take your coat. It's freezing out there, hm? Here, have some hot tea!"

Adam accepted the cup absentmindedly. "Ah, thank you." He took a sip, then froze, spitting it out. "Wha—Why are you out of your cell?!"

"Well, I couldn't finish my knitting in there, My Lord," Lilac said, presenting him with a red scarf. "Here you are! Goes with your hair."

The first guard let out an involuntary "Aw…"

Lilac turned to him with a playful wink. "I didn't forget you, sweetie!" She handed him a green scarf. "Goes with your scales!"

"Oh, sweet!" the guard said, catching Adam's furious glare. "I-I mean, um… Thank you, you pathetic human!"

"You're welcome!" Lilac said brightly.

---

A day later, Adam found Lilac in the kitchen again, cooking for the entire camp. She hummed a soft lullaby under her breath, unaware of his approach until he stood beside her, alone. "Oh. Hello, Lord Adam," she said, pausing. "Is there something you wish of me?"

He studied her for a long moment. "If they refuse to pay the ransom, your life is forfeit."

"I know, Lord Adam," she replied calmly.

"You aren't afraid of that?" he pressed.

She shrugged, her eyes steady. "I am."

"Yet you still persist like this."

"Yes, Lord Adam."

"Why?" he demanded, his voice tinged with irritation.

"Your men needed good food," she said simply. "Your men need kindness. Everyone does."

"We are holding you hostage," he snapped.

"Yes."

"We are criminals by your estimation."

"Yes."

"We are Faunus, and our goal is to overthrow your oppression and tyranny."

"Have I oppressed you, Lord Adam?" she asked softly.

He faltered, then glared. "You annoy me."

"I'm sorry, Lord Adam."

His patience snapped. He seized her long hair, forcing her to her knees with a yelp. Drawing Wilt, he pressed the blade to her throat. "I could end your life in an instant."

"Yes, Lord Adam… I-I know," she whispered, trembling.

"So drop the act," he snarled. "You're just trying to manipulate us with lies and deceit!"

"No, Lord Adam! I-I assure you, I am not—!" she pleaded.

"Then why this?!" he roared, the blade digging into her skin. "Why all of this?! You're trying to make us drop our guard! Allow you to escape!"

Lilac winced, her voice strained. "Even if I tried… I know I'm too far away from anywhere civilized to escape. I'd be killed by Grimm or brought back."

"Then why?!" he shouted. "WHY ACT LIKE THIS?!"

She closed her eyes, taking a shuddering breath. "Because it's the right thing to do!"

Adam froze. "What?"

"I firmly believe…" she said, her voice steadying, "that people in pain need help and kindness. That it's the right thing to do to help others, even if they want to—to kill me or hurt me. To try, at least."

"What makes you think I'm in pain?!" he growled.

"You are," she said softly. "We all are… It is why the Tablebreaker came, is it not? To heal the hurt of the world—?"

"That religion is nonsense!" Adam spat. "Just a means of control of the masses! It turns a Faunus into a martyr, just to try and pretend to be fair! All the while the church and governments oppress Faunus!"

"No… No, it isn't," Lilac countered. "Corrupt priests and churches can do bad things in the name of the Emperor Above, but it doesn't change the good at its core!"

Adam's voice dripped with venom. "And so you would do this? Be kind, even to your captors? Even if it meant your death?! All because of your belief?"

Lilac, shaking, met his gaze. "Y-Yes… Yes, I would."

Silence hung between them. Adam's grip slackened, and he pulled the blade away, stepping back. "You're confined to your cell," he said, his voice low. "You will not do anything else but sit and be silent."

"As you wish, Lord Adam," she replied, rising slowly.

---

Days later, Adam summoned her from her cell. Three Faunus escorted her to a small chamber where a camera waited. "On your knees," he ordered.

Lilac complied without protest. Adam turned to his guards. "The negotiators are trying to buy time. We need to send a stronger message. We have other hostages… We'll kill her to show we mean business."

The first guard hesitated. "S-Sir… Um, she is the most prominent. Maybe we need to—"

"Those are my orders," Adam snapped. "Set up the camera."

Reluctantly, the guards began preparing. Adam waited until the camera was ready, then spoke, his voice cold. "You have ignored our demands. This is the price you will pay."

Lilac's voice broke the tension, soft but steady. "Lord Adam… May I have a request, please? W-Well… Two requests?"

He glared at her. "What?"

She reached into her dress pocket, producing a small photo. Adam snatched it, his eyes widening behind his mask as he saw it. "You—!"

"My fiancé… Mercer," Lilac said, her voice trembling. "He… If you could return that to him…"

"You… You're engaged?! To a Faunus?!" Adam demanded.

"Yes, Lord Adam…" she said, wincing.

He glared, his jaw tight. "And the other?"

"May I please pray?" she asked. "Before you… You execute me?"

Adam gritted his teeth but stepped back. Lilac bowed her head, folding her hands. "Tablebreaker, merciful Lord… Please… Forgive them. They know not what they do… And… And please look after my family. I… I won't be there for them anymore…"

The room fell silent. One of the guards sucked in a breath. "Sir… Lord Adam, please," he said. "We-We don't need to kill her."

"Are you questioning my orders?!" Adam roared.

Another guard spoke up, voice shaking. "Sir, she—Please! Yes, humans are our enemy, but—Please, maybe she's one of the good ones—!"

"There are no good ones!" Adam snarled. "It's a trick! A deception! She's still trying to manipulate you for her life! SHE'S THE ENEMY!"

Lilac continued praying, her body trembling but her voice steady. A third guard stepped forward. "Sir, please! Look… I've known many a bad human, but she's done nothing!"

"Humans have done plenty to us!" Adam shouted. "Especially when we did 'nothing'! YOU THINK SHE ACTUALLY CARES?! YOU THINK THIS IS REAL?!" He struck Lilac, sending her sprawling to the floor. "SHE'S A LIAR! A TRICKSTER!"

He seized her by the collar, lifting her off the ground as she choked. "You're just manipulating us! You don't believe we're good! You don't believe a word! Say it! SAY IT!"

"N-No!" Lilac gasped. "I won't! And I won't stop!"

Adam's grip tightened, but he sensed the growing unrest among his men. They were on the verge of turning against him. After a tense moment, he dropped her to the floor. "Take her back to her cell," he ordered, his voice low.

"Yes, sir…" the first guard said, helping Lilac to her feet.

---

The next day, Lilac awoke in a forest clearing, the air cool and quiet. Adam stood nearby, his expression unreadable. He tossed a canteen at her feet. "You're a day's walk from Matron Village. There are no Grimm around. They'll get you home."

Lilac blinked, stunned. "… You're letting me go?"

"You're too disruptive as a hostage," Adam said coldly. "My men are threatening to mutiny. Your manipulations are too strong… You're too dangerous to keep. So… Go."

Lilac smiled softly. "Thank you, Lord Adam—"

"Stop that," he snapped. "I don't believe you for a second. This was all an act to get me to release you… And you won."

"No… No," she said, her voice gentle. "I mean… I'm glad to be free… But you're still in pain. And still lost."

Adam scoffed. "I don't need you to save me."

"We all need someone to save us," she replied. "We're all in this together, human and Faunus."

He stared at her, silent for a long moment.

"If more humans thought as you do…" he said finally, his voice quieter, "… maybe I wouldn't have to do what I do."

Lilac nodded. "I know."

Without another word, Adam turned and vanished into the woods, leaving her alone in the clearing.