[After getting Emerald pretty fucking drunk late last month and finding a certain something out, it had still taken her the better part of a month to track him down on the network. Qrow wasn't exactly the most ... public of figures, was he? She could appreciate that.
But, one day. He'd get a text message rather out of the blue.]
So, "Tai." Needed to have a little chat. Well, in so far as I ever have a chat with anyone. Got a favor you could do for me, "Tai" and I'm pretty sure you'll say yes.
[By the by, Qrow, you're "Tai" now until you introduce yourself properly, because she can be a snarky one.]
[....well, those quotes pretty much tell him the jig is up. it's unfortunate, but his affiliation with the girls is not a particularly well-kept secret. That's fine, though; hiding his identity served its purpose while he was vulnerable. And even if it's more difficult to keep track of her if she knows, well. He hasn't been a spy for twenty years for nothing.]
that so? maybe you can start with who you think i am, and then we'll see about favors, neopolitan
[She laughed silently to herself, though really she wasn't in that much of a mood to laugh right now. It was kind of a serious situation they were in.]
Emerald told me exactly who you are. In case you weren't aware, we used to be and currently are teammates. But, I like to think that polite introductions are important, don't you? So, until you formally introduce yourself, you're "Tai." That's my tiny little petty vengeance.
But this is about your niece. I need help making sure I stay away from her this month. I don't trust myself to be in my right mind.
knew you were allied with salem, at least just wasn't sure if you were inner circle or rank and file and my aura was broken, so you can see where i wasn't in a great position back then
[The request...catches him off-guard. He squints at his Fluid, a little suspiciously.]
huh you know, honestly i thought you were lying in that post of yours especially when ruby went comatose for a while there
[yes, he backscrolled. no such thing as a spy that isn't paranoid. but yeah, in case neo ever felt like she was being Watched ... well. there you go. there were various attempts. of varying degrees of success.]
but if you're coming to me you must be serious
[Which is ... surprising? Weird. But maybe a good sign, in the end. Less people who want to make themselves trouble for Ruby is less headaches for him.]
so, spill it what are you actually looking for from me pretty sure you didn't track my handle down just to ask me to protect my own niece
First of all, my loyalty is to Roman Torchwick alone. Everything else is secondary. Semantics, yes, but important to me.
We were both lying that day, but no. I wasn't responsible for that one.
[She breathed considering her words carefully.]
I am not sure, "Tai." I don't want to be locked up because I want to believe she and I can avoid each other long enough to decide how to end this on our own terms. After the bear is gone. But you're clearly spying on me, so good. I guess what I'm saying is, if you see me or her getting close to each other, distract one of us to keep us apart.
Your niece is a dumb, lovable hero who thinks she can save everyone, even me. Even Salem. If she sees me, mind-affected by the bear, she's going to try to save me. And I don't know what I'll do, and I don't want the bear to use me as a tool. If I do something to Ruby, if I kill her, if I forgive her, I want it to be ME that does it. I want to be responsible for my own damned choices.
So, if you happen to have the chance to keep us apart this month? Good. I guess this is me warning you, "Tai," that I might be a problem if the Bear gets to me.
When the bear gets to me. I'm self aware enough to know I'm vulnerable right now.
that's a lot of words to ask me for something i would've already been doing
[Though it's...interesting, all of this rambling. It sounds like she's having doubts about whatever grudge she has already. He can respect wanting to be in control of one's own choices, too. Still, it's not enough for Qrow to let this go.]
if you really want me to keep ruby safe from you, why not keep me updated on where you're going whenever you leave your home until this is over? i can't keep tabs on both of you at the same time all month
[Because if she's admitting she's a threat, and she doesn't want to be, then he can run interference easier if he knows where at least one of them will be -- and there's only so much can stalk Ruby without her or Yang noticing, especially now that they know about his bird transformation.]
and for the record, bear or no bear if you hurt her, i'll make you regret it
True, but now I'm on record wanting this too. I'll send you a schedule each day that I'm sane and lucid, including when I'm at Helena and Usagi's shelter. Ruby and I apparently share several acquaintances. It's probably the days that I don't contact you to be worried about.
[And true to her word, in the month of July she would send him quick update texts about 3/4 of the days. Of course, there were days that she missed, and those were the real problem weren't they?]
You're her uncle. I'd be an idiot to think you wouldn't. Just like Ruby knows why there's blood between us. If I go crazy and something happens I'll turn myself into you and Yang.
[He's a little surprised she acquiesces so easily, honestly, but it's nice to see. She really is serious, then.]
if i haven't heard from you by 2 pm on any given day i'll assume i need to find you, then
[A pause follows, as he debates whether or not to acknowledge the second part of the text; he'd not like to make plans in that vein ahead of time. The threat is enough.
Eventually:]
thanks for the heads up here's hoping it wasn't necessary
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Text: UN - IceCream
But, one day. He'd get a text message rather out of the blue.]
So, "Tai." Needed to have a little chat.
Well, in so far as I ever have a chat with anyone.
Got a favor you could do for me, "Tai" and I'm pretty sure you'll say yes.
[By the by, Qrow, you're "Tai" now until you introduce yourself properly, because she can be a snarky one.]
arrives. finally.
that so?
maybe you can start with who you think i am, and then we'll see about favors, neopolitan
Yay! \o/
Emerald told me exactly who you are.
In case you weren't aware, we used to be and currently are teammates.
But, I like to think that polite introductions are important, don't you?
So, until you formally introduce yourself, you're "Tai."
That's my tiny little petty vengeance.
But this is about your niece.
I need help making sure I stay away from her this month.
I don't trust myself to be in my right mind.
no subject
just wasn't sure if you were inner circle or rank and file
and my aura was broken, so you can see where i wasn't in a great position back then
[The request...catches him off-guard. He squints at his Fluid, a little suspiciously.]
huh
you know, honestly i thought you were lying in that post of yours
especially when ruby went comatose for a while there
[yes, he backscrolled. no such thing as a spy that isn't paranoid. but yeah, in case neo ever felt like she was being Watched ... well. there you go. there were various attempts. of varying degrees of success.]
but if you're coming to me you must be serious
[Which is ... surprising? Weird. But maybe a good sign, in the end. Less people who want to make themselves trouble for Ruby is less headaches for him.]
so, spill it
what are you actually looking for from me
pretty sure you didn't track my handle down just to ask me to protect my own niece
no subject
Everything else is secondary.
Semantics, yes, but important to me.
We were both lying that day, but no.
I wasn't responsible for that one.
[She breathed considering her words carefully.]
I am not sure, "Tai."
I don't want to be locked up because I want to believe she and I can avoid each other long enough to decide how to end this on our own terms.
After the bear is gone.
But you're clearly spying on me, so good.
I guess what I'm saying is, if you see me or her getting close to each other, distract one of us to keep us apart.
Your niece is a dumb, lovable hero who thinks she can save everyone, even me.
Even Salem.
If she sees me, mind-affected by the bear, she's going to try to save me.
And I don't know what I'll do, and I don't want the bear to use me as a tool.
If I do something to Ruby, if I kill her, if I forgive her, I want it to be ME that does it.
I want to be responsible for my own damned choices.
So, if you happen to have the chance to keep us apart this month? Good.
I guess this is me warning you, "Tai," that I might be a problem if the Bear gets to me.
When the bear gets to me.
I'm self aware enough to know I'm vulnerable right now.
no subject
[Though it's...interesting, all of this rambling. It sounds like she's having doubts about whatever grudge she has already. He can respect wanting to be in control of one's own choices, too. Still, it's not enough for Qrow to let this go.]
if you really want me to keep ruby safe from you, why not keep me updated on where you're going whenever you leave your home until this is over?
i can't keep tabs on both of you at the same time all month
[Because if she's admitting she's a threat, and she doesn't want to be, then he can run interference easier if he knows where at least one of them will be -- and there's only so much can stalk Ruby without her or Yang noticing, especially now that they know about his bird transformation.]
and for the record, bear or no bear
if you hurt her, i'll make you regret it
no subject
I'll send you a schedule each day that I'm sane and lucid, including when I'm at Helena and Usagi's shelter.
Ruby and I apparently share several acquaintances.
It's probably the days that I don't contact you to be worried about.
[And true to her word, in the month of July she would send him quick update texts about 3/4 of the days. Of course, there were days that she missed, and those were the real problem weren't they?]
You're her uncle.
I'd be an idiot to think you wouldn't.
Just like Ruby knows why there's blood between us.
If I go crazy and something happens I'll turn myself into you and Yang.
no subject
if i haven't heard from you by 2 pm on any given day i'll assume i need to find you, then
[A pause follows, as he debates whether or not to acknowledge the second part of the text; he'd not like to make plans in that vein ahead of time. The threat is enough.
Eventually:]
thanks for the heads up
here's hoping it wasn't necessary