[ Penny is, as she promised, at home, tending to the mushroom garden she's been cultivating on the top floor of she and Murderbot's half-ruined house. When she thinks it's getting close to Ruby's arrival, however, she abandons that task to stand at the edge of the top floor, and she lifts her hand in a wave when she finally spots her friend. ]
[Ruby steps back when she hears Penny's voice. Her good eye peers up and catches sigh of her from the top floor. She raises an arm and waves. There's a brief respite from the pain and worry that she feels in her gut. Honestly she was glad Penny was getting along well enough here.]
Hey! I'll be up in a second!
[And true to word she activates her semblance and scales her way up to Penny's side before forming.]
Thanks Penny, I appreciate being able to come to you about this.
[ Penny is used to the chaotic whirlwind of Ruby's Semblance, and in response she... doesn't step back at all. Ruby knows what she's doing.
And she knows how to give a compliment. Penny lights up. ]
I am glad you like it! I have not ever lived somewhere that lets me grow my own plants.
[ And even though Ruby came here to talk, if she wants the distraction of looking at Penny's tiny mushroom garden instead then Penny isn't going to deny her that. ]
[That brought a little bit of a smile to Ruby's face too. She was glad Penny was getting along well here. It wasn't exactly the easiest place to live but at least Penny had the chance to do what she wanted to here.]
Yeah. I guess Atlas and the place you were in before here weren't exactly good for that, huh?
[She does take the moment to enjoy the mushrooms before she glances back Penny's way.]
So... I'm not exactly sure where to begin with what's going on. It's kind of complicated.
But back in her own world Ange lost her family when she was young. It turns out the person who orchestrated that to happen is in Trench. She showed up a little before you did. And she had been staying at the house with us.
[ 'Complicated' is a pretty common descriptor, and Penny is expecting something dramatic, but not necessarily alarming.
What Ruby tells her definitely falls into the category of 'alarming'. That... sounds kind of like if no one had realized Cinder was responsible for the Fall of Beacon, only to have her turn up and move into the guest bedroom. ]
That's.... she must have been very frightened when she realized.
[This whole ordeal was certainly reminding her of the fall of Beacon. How Emerald, Cinder, and Mercury had deceived them and turned their lives upside down. How she had lost Penny for the time throughout all of this. It was difficult to separate the two incidents when she knew how much Ange had lost because of this.]
To put it lightly. She's been devastated.
She was always kind of driven and focused to find out what had happened to her family when we first met. She didn't put a lot of thought into much else.
At first it was kind of inspiring but it took awhile to realize how lonely she was.
...And now it's like that again but he same drive isn't there. It's like she's given up a litle.
[ Ah. Ruby wants advice on a subject that Penny doesn't feel fully qualified to give advice on. She's never had to comfort a friend over something like this before.
But... she has been the one being comforted before, and over something pretty serious as well. So can't she try to help from that angle? Penny is silent for a long moment before she speaks. ]
... When I was struggling with the virus it was scary, and difficult, and I was struggling so much. So I eventually started to think that there was no point in continuing to try. The virus was so strong, and I had already made so many mistakes, and I thought... if I'm having so much trouble resisting, if I barely even know who I am, if I couldn't even handle this as the Winter Maiden then... there must be someone else better suited it it.
[ Ruby, she had thought at the time, but no need to repeat it. Ruby was there. ]
But... you and Nora helped me remember that there was a reason to keep fighting - that's more to me than just the parts that are machine. And... that I had people that still cared about me, no matter what. I realized there's still more for me to do.
[ Penny reaches out, rests a hand on Ruby's shoulder. ]
Ange might feel like she wants to give up for a while. Maybe even for a long time. I don't think you can make her feel better. But if she knows that you're still there for, and that you still see a reason for her to be around even when she can't... then I think she can eventually start to feel that there's a reason for her to keep going, too.
[Ruby was aware that what she was doing wasn't exactly fair to Penny. That it might not be fair to ask for advice or get some of this pressure off her shoulders when Penny had barely had the chance to experience so much of life on her own. The Leader part of her felt like this was wrong and she should try to shoulder it and figure out something on her own. But Penny was one of her best friends and she trusted her and wanted to be as open with her life as she could.
And honestly she's taken a little off guard at Penny's words and the hand on her shoulder. It felt so long ago since she had been on Remnant and dealing with the problems of that world. But she remembers how afraid she had been when Penny had been dealing with the virus like it was just yesterday- And it inspires her a little to know that her and Nora's words had meant so much to her friend. ]
That... That must have been so painful. To deal with that virus on top of everything that else we were dealing with.
Penny- I think anyone else might have crumbled throughout all of that. But you were so strong and I'm so glad we could help you pull through all of that.
[There's a pang in her heart when she remembers what Jaune told her about what happened after.
...She pauses briefly and- Selfishly she promises herself she will bring that up to Penny another day.]
But you're right. I shouldn't expect her to just be okay right away. Maybe the best I can do is remind her of how much there is beyond the pain she's feeling right now.
[ Oh... it's just like Ruby to still want to comfort her, even though Ruby is the one who came to her for help. Penny smiles, warm and affectionate, and makes no effort to stop her. She doesn't want to distract her, but she thinks that reassuring other people is the sort of thing that reassures Ruby. ]
I do not know her very well, but... I think Ange is similar to Winter.
[ Maybe a little less collected in combat situations than Winter, but Ange is a little younger and, as far as Penny can tell, not from a monster-infested madhouse of a world. So the differences make sense. ]
Winter never wanted help, and she never wanted to admit she needed help. But if you were someone she trusted she would open up eventually.
[ So hopefully it's the same with Ange: just a matter of waiting. ]
[If there is one thing Ruby Rose will do without a doubt, it's make time to worry and care for all of her friends despite what's going on.
Ruby listens what Penny has to say and gives a light nod. She- Honestly could see exactly where Penny would get that comparison. From what she knew of Ange and her family it seemed like the Schnees and Ushiromiya's had a lot in common. In family dynamic and reputation.]
I think you might be onto something there, Penny. Honestly. It did take Ange a long time to open up to me originally. Nearly eight months actually. From there it came by fairly naturally.
...Maybe I do have to just give her a chance to get back on her feet and she'll by naturally.
[ Not only is the compliment... well, a compliment, but it also means that she managed to give Ruby some good advice. Her expression relaxes and melts into a smile. ]
It must be because I had an excellent teacher.
[ The whole time she basically just thought about what Ruby might have told her and simply said that, and apparently it worked. ]
[It felt like a weight was being lifted off her shoulders with the new found advice she had under belt. And seeing how much Penny had grown helped made her feel pretty warm too.]
Is that so? They sound pretty wise. You're going to have to introduce me sometime.
[ Ohoho, Penny knows what this is! She's seen this before! She maintains her outward composure, but inwardly she's excited to get to engage with this particular social game. ]
I think you would like her. She's friendly and optimistic, and the kindest person I know.
[Ruby doesn't want to toot her own horn or anything but it is absolutely sweet to hear Penny say that to her.]
I can't imagine you making friends with anyone who wasn't like that, Penny. You're such a warm, bright and earnest friend that you just draw those sorts of people to you.
[ In turn, Ruby's words to Penny have something bright and affectionate blossom inside her. She's still figuring out this physical affection thing, but even so she leans in just enough to rest her shoulder against Ruby's. ]
Thank you, Ruby. That means a lot, coming from you.
[It meant that world to Ruby that Penny was here and she was able to confide in her. It made this place feel a little more like home and she wanted Penny to know she belonged here and was loved just as much as she was back in Remnant. ...Even if Remnant had a difficult way of showing that sometimes.]
Well all I'm doing is saying the honest truth. You're the best friend anyone could ask for.
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I'll be over in a little then.
...I... It's complicated. I'm not sure. She's physically okay I guess. But it's been a very long time since I've seen her so hurt and distant.
[It doesn't take her too long to get over to Penny's. She'll hear a knock at the door.]
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[ Penny is, as she promised, at home, tending to the mushroom garden she's been cultivating on the top floor of she and Murderbot's half-ruined house. When she thinks it's getting close to Ruby's arrival, however, she abandons that task to stand at the edge of the top floor, and she lifts her hand in a wave when she finally spots her friend. ]
Ruby! Over here!
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Hey! I'll be up in a second!
[And true to word she activates her semblance and scales her way up to Penny's side before forming.]
Thanks Penny, I appreciate being able to come to you about this.
...But I do have to say nice place you have here.
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And she knows how to give a compliment. Penny lights up. ]
I am glad you like it! I have not ever lived somewhere that lets me grow my own plants.
[ And even though Ruby came here to talk, if she wants the distraction of looking at Penny's tiny mushroom garden instead then Penny isn't going to deny her that. ]
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Yeah. I guess Atlas and the place you were in before here weren't exactly good for that, huh?
[She does take the moment to enjoy the mushrooms before she glances back Penny's way.]
So... I'm not exactly sure where to begin with what's going on. It's kind of complicated.
But back in her own world Ange lost her family when she was young. It turns out the person who orchestrated that to happen is in Trench. She showed up a little before you did. And she had been staying at the house with us.
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What Ruby tells her definitely falls into the category of 'alarming'. That... sounds kind of like if no one had realized Cinder was responsible for the Fall of Beacon, only to have her turn up and move into the guest bedroom. ]
That's.... she must have been very frightened when she realized.
[ A pause, and then: ]
And angry...
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To put it lightly. She's been devastated.
She was always kind of driven and focused to find out what had happened to her family when we first met. She didn't put a lot of thought into much else.
At first it was kind of inspiring but it took awhile to realize how lonely she was.
...And now it's like that again but he same drive isn't there. It's like she's given up a litle.
And I'm not sure exactly what to do.
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But... she has been the one being comforted before, and over something pretty serious as well. So can't she try to help from that angle? Penny is silent for a long moment before she speaks. ]
... When I was struggling with the virus it was scary, and difficult, and I was struggling so much. So I eventually started to think that there was no point in continuing to try. The virus was so strong, and I had already made so many mistakes, and I thought... if I'm having so much trouble resisting, if I barely even know who I am, if I couldn't even handle this as the Winter Maiden then... there must be someone else better suited it it.
[ Ruby, she had thought at the time, but no need to repeat it. Ruby was there. ]
But... you and Nora helped me remember that there was a reason to keep fighting - that's more to me than just the parts that are machine. And... that I had people that still cared about me, no matter what. I realized there's still more for me to do.
[ Penny reaches out, rests a hand on Ruby's shoulder. ]
Ange might feel like she wants to give up for a while. Maybe even for a long time. I don't think you can make her feel better. But if she knows that you're still there for, and that you still see a reason for her to be around even when she can't... then I think she can eventually start to feel that there's a reason for her to keep going, too.
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And honestly she's taken a little off guard at Penny's words and the hand on her shoulder. It felt so long ago since she had been on Remnant and dealing with the problems of that world. But she remembers how afraid she had been when Penny had been dealing with the virus like it was just yesterday- And it inspires her a little to know that her and Nora's words had meant so much to her friend. ]
That... That must have been so painful. To deal with that virus on top of everything that else we were dealing with.
Penny- I think anyone else might have crumbled throughout all of that. But you were so strong and I'm so glad we could help you pull through all of that.
[There's a pang in her heart when she remembers what Jaune told her about what happened after.
...She pauses briefly and- Selfishly she promises herself she will bring that up to Penny another day.]
But you're right. I shouldn't expect her to just be okay right away. Maybe the best I can do is remind her of how much there is beyond the pain she's feeling right now.
It's just hard seeing her so hurt.
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I do not know her very well, but... I think Ange is similar to Winter.
[ Maybe a little less collected in combat situations than Winter, but Ange is a little younger and, as far as Penny can tell, not from a monster-infested madhouse of a world. So the differences make sense. ]
Winter never wanted help, and she never wanted to admit she needed help. But if you were someone she trusted she would open up eventually.
[ So hopefully it's the same with Ange: just a matter of waiting. ]
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Ruby listens what Penny has to say and gives a light nod. She- Honestly could see exactly where Penny would get that comparison. From what she knew of Ange and her family it seemed like the Schnees and Ushiromiya's had a lot in common. In family dynamic and reputation.]
I think you might be onto something there, Penny. Honestly. It did take Ange a long time to open up to me originally. Nearly eight months actually. From there it came by fairly naturally.
...Maybe I do have to just give her a chance to get back on her feet and she'll by naturally.
You know. You're actually pretty great at this.
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It must be because I had an excellent teacher.
[ The whole time she basically just thought about what Ruby might have told her and simply said that, and apparently it worked. ]
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Is that so? They sound pretty wise. You're going to have to introduce me sometime.
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I think you would like her. She's friendly and optimistic, and the kindest person I know.
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I can't imagine you making friends with anyone who wasn't like that, Penny. You're such a warm, bright and earnest friend that you just draw those sorts of people to you.
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Thank you, Ruby. That means a lot, coming from you.
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Well all I'm doing is saying the honest truth. You're the best friend anyone could ask for.