[ That's... not the reaction Penny is expecting, and she fumbles to respond. ]
Oh-- no, Ruby, I am not mad! I just... I am worried about you.
[ Which probably tells Ruby plenty about what she heard, but she may as well continue. Her voice drops from the distress of a moment ago, growing morose and somber instead. ]
She said that we all made it to the central location, but that she and Cinder were there as well. She tried to attack you and hit Yang instead, then kept attacking you until you both fell into the darkness.
Penny goes still, the sort of unnatural stillness that only a machine can really manage. She can't see the future but she knows what that must mean. She knows the virus is trying to make her self-destruct. She knows that their plan with the Staff might not work. She knows that Cinder has been trying to kill her and steal the Maiden's power.
She knows Ruby wouldn't want to tell her that. She knows that Ruby would be more upset than anyone save her own father. And she knows that Ruby wouldn't want to tell her that for the sake of both of them.
But she feels like she needs to know. So, voice quiet and tone gentle, she asks: ]
[Ruby watches as her friend goes still and it feels like a weight has suddenly formed in the pit of her stomach and that starts to twist it uncomfortably. She knew Penny knew the risks that they face better than anyone. She had already lost her life in their fight once before.]
Of course I will. It was never my intention to hide or keep it from you. I just-
We get to the vault. We save you from the virus. We create the central location and the gateway to Vacuo. But... After I fall. You get hurt fighting Cinder. And to prevent her from getting the maiden powers. ...You sacrifice yourself and give them Winter.
Ruby says it plainly, and it's about what Penny was expecting. She already knows Cinder was there, she already knows that a fight broke out, she already knows that Cinder wanted the Maiden powers more than anything, and she already knows that she's already tried to sacrifice herself to pass on the powers to a suitable candidate once already.
And yet she feels frozen in place, like if she moves again everything will fall apart. She had been frightened when she 'died' the first time - terrified, even - in the seconds before her weapons ripped her apart too thoroughly for her to feel anything at all. But there'd been a chance of recovery back then. But if they saved her from the virus that means she was human, and if she was human then it means that this time it was permanent. And...
Penny twists her fingers together, her gaze cast down. ]
My father-- he wasn't there, was he? He doesn't know?
[It... It's not easy for her to say this. After all they had been through together back in Remnant. Having watched Penny die once and knowing she couldn't save her a second time around. She did her best not to dwell on the life she had left behind in favor of being in Trench but it still ripped away at her knowing in the end she couldn't do anything for her friends.
She feels a few tears well up in her good eye.]
I- I didn't see him when I was still there.
I'm not sure.
I... I don't know.
I'm- I'm so sorry I left you, Penny. That I couldn't do anything to stop this.
[ Oh... oh no. She made Ruby cry. That's not what she meant to do. Penny reaches out, though she stops short of actually touching her. ]
No-- Ruby. It is not your fault. I...
[ Well. There's really only one person they can blame in this situation, isn't there? One person that's actually responsible for everything that happened, and most of the things leading up to it. ]
[Ruby let's that sit briefly. She had been left with a lot of guilt and regret to what happened in Remnant. She had come to terms with the fact that there was no way she could have controlled the situation to make it turn out any better, but she knew there were spots she was responsible for making things worse in one way or another. She just wished she could have done more for her team.
She feels the tears flow down her cheeks and the way Penny approaches but doesn't quite make the full move in. Ruby slides in and let's her arms wrap around her friend gently.]
Yeah... You're not wrong.
I just wish-
I just wish she'd stop getting away with taking the things precious to us.
[ Oh, good. Ruby steps forward for a hug and Penny reciprocates. It's much gentler and less enthusiastic than most hugs she's given, one hand on Ruby's back and the other resting on her hair, and hardly being given for a very uplifting reason. Still, something about it makes her feel better. ]
I know... it isn't fair that she's done so much to hurt us.
[ Penny knows her wording is childish but... well, sometimes childishly is the best way to say something. Cinder killed her and Ruby and Ruby's friends, and for what? To what end? ]
But... we're here now, right? Both of us. She can't take that away from us.
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no subject
Oh-- no, Ruby, I am not mad! I just... I am worried about you.
[ Which probably tells Ruby plenty about what she heard, but she may as well continue. Her voice drops from the distress of a moment ago, growing morose and somber instead. ]
She said that we all made it to the central location, but that she and Cinder were there as well. She tried to attack you and hit Yang instead, then kept attacking you until you both fell into the darkness.
no subject
She feels bad for reacting as quickly as she did but she calms down a little when Penny explains her concerns.]
I- Oh... Yeah.
[She gives a half hearted shrug and nods.]
Those are my last memories of home- I remember falling but not what happens after that if there's anything.
But- That's not all I know about from at home. Jaune was here briefly before the dream collapsed and we ended up here.
I- I know what happens to you, Penny.
no subject
Penny goes still, the sort of unnatural stillness that only a machine can really manage. She can't see the future but she knows what that must mean. She knows the virus is trying to make her self-destruct. She knows that their plan with the Staff might not work. She knows that Cinder has been trying to kill her and steal the Maiden's power.
She knows Ruby wouldn't want to tell her that. She knows that Ruby would be more upset than anyone save her own father. And she knows that Ruby wouldn't want to tell her that for the sake of both of them.
But she feels like she needs to know. So, voice quiet and tone gentle, she asks: ]
Will you tell me?
no subject
Of course I will.
It was never my intention to hide or keep it from you.
I just-
We get to the vault.
We save you from the virus.
We create the central location and the gateway to Vacuo.
But...
After I fall.
You get hurt fighting Cinder.
And to prevent her from getting the maiden powers.
...You sacrifice yourself and give them Winter.
no subject
Ruby says it plainly, and it's about what Penny was expecting. She already knows Cinder was there, she already knows that a fight broke out, she already knows that Cinder wanted the Maiden powers more than anything, and she already knows that she's already tried to sacrifice herself to pass on the powers to a suitable candidate once already.
And yet she feels frozen in place, like if she moves again everything will fall apart. She had been frightened when she 'died' the first time - terrified, even - in the seconds before her weapons ripped her apart too thoroughly for her to feel anything at all. But there'd been a chance of recovery back then. But if they saved her from the virus that means she was human, and if she was human then it means that this time it was permanent. And...
Penny twists her fingers together, her gaze cast down. ]
My father-- he wasn't there, was he? He doesn't know?
no subject
She feels a few tears well up in her good eye.]
I- I didn't see him when I was still there.
I'm not sure.
I... I don't know.
I'm- I'm so sorry I left you, Penny. That I couldn't do anything to stop this.
no subject
No-- Ruby. It is not your fault. I...
[ Well. There's really only one person they can blame in this situation, isn't there? One person that's actually responsible for everything that happened, and most of the things leading up to it. ]
... We both know that this was because of Cinder.
no subject
She feels the tears flow down her cheeks and the way Penny approaches but doesn't quite make the full move in. Ruby slides in and let's her arms wrap around her friend gently.]
Yeah... You're not wrong.
I just wish-
I just wish she'd stop getting away with taking the things precious to us.
You-
You had so much to live for. So much to do.
no subject
I know... it isn't fair that she's done so much to hurt us.
[ Penny knows her wording is childish but... well, sometimes childishly is the best way to say something. Cinder killed her and Ruby and Ruby's friends, and for what? To what end? ]
But... we're here now, right? Both of us. She can't take that away from us.
[ Especially if she's not even here. ]