[She means it. Between home and Deerington, she never wants to end up in such a dark place again. She's never wanted to hurt anyone.]
You really were both in the right place at the right time. You and Oscar both. I owe you two big time.
[Mostly Oscar. She absolutely would have responded to Qrow far more violently if Oscar hadn't been there. But Qrow had helped as well, and she has to give them both credit for keeping Ford safe.]
We met back in December. When those zombies were around. I got into kind of a bad spot - there was pretty much a horde of them. You've already seen I know magic, but it doesn't always really work right here. If Ozpin hadn't shown up when he did... well. It wouldn't have been good.
We ended up hiding out at his place to get away from them until they wandered off, got to talking, and I've been hanging around with him pretty much since.
[What self-respecting monster doesn't have the decency to die when you shoot it in the face???]
It's a good thing he found you. He's one of the most powerful people in my world, so you're in safe hands if you ever have to call for help again.
[That wording is Very Specific, despite the casual phrasing. She will likely need to call. Lightning is not likely to strike twice, otherwise. He shrugs, then.]
You don't owe me anything, though. I was just doing my job. Besides, it would've hurt Oz if anything happened to Ford. Even if he wasn't coming back, I couldn't let that happen.
Yeah, they were definitely one of my least favourite Deerington variety monsters. So far anyway. We've got things like that in my world too, but they're usually a little easier to get rid of.
[Well, really, the zombies were just a one off, but at least they stayed dead when you killed them the second time around at home.]
It was definitely lucky for me Ozpin came along when he did. Usually I can hold my own pretty okay with my magic myself, but Deerington being what it is and all...
[Willow shrugs; it was difficult at first, but she's mostly adjusted to her spells backfiring with startling regularity. She doesn't admit it, but she's one of the most powerful witches in her world right now too. Most of her experience lies more in a support role, but this isn't the first time where she's been in a position where she's had to use magic offensively.]
It's good to know there's people around I can call on for help, though.
Even if protecting people's your job, I'm still grateful. I'd regret what happened a lot more if anyone here actually got hurt because of me. Or, you know, worse.
[Sorry, did you say several things worth responding to in there? There's only one that Qrow laser-focused on. If the feed weren't audio, Willow might have seen his gaze visibly sharpen.]
You have magic?
[There's an odd weight to that word as he says it, even though he saw her create a fireball in her hand. That kind of thing is not entirely uncommon as far as Semblances go, after all.]
That explains why Oz took an interest in you. It's very rare in our world--he's one of the only sources left.
[Ozpin NoMiddleorLastname, you WILL tell your friends things, even if he has to throw you under the bus to every single one of them make you do it.]
[Oh. It didn't really occur to her that Qrow would have considered her display at Bone Fortress anything other than magic.]
Yeah. I recognized what he could do as magic right away - it was pretty easy to tell honestly. I mean, it doesn't really work the same way in your world as in mine -
[She pauses, smiling.]
- it was pretty impressive.
[Willow's attitude towards magic has changed somewhat since her return home. She holds far more respect for her power and she's a lot more cautious about it, but sorry, Qrow. You've got her onto a topic she loves a lot. You're going to get a story.]
Magic isn't as rare where I'm from. Almost anyone can learn to cast simple spells if you've got the right books and ingredients. Just most people don't know about it. If you've got a natural inclination for it, you'll go further faster.
I was seventeen when I first started. It was a really intense spell - hadn't been cast in, like, a hundred years. After that, I started with the basic stuff. I taught myself, so it was a little scary at first. I knocked out the power to my whole neighborhood once. But here we are.
[A hundred years, huh....that's probably nothing to Oz, but it's still a difficult stretch of time to picture as a Huntsman. Even 40 years is a long time to live, for someone like them. Maiden abilities often pass on even sooner than that, with how their power is coveted among those who know of their existence.]
...Yeah, it's not something you can learn, in Remnant. Humans used to be born with it, but--
[...mmm. That's a long story, and he doesn't know how much he can trust her yet, for as much as her apology sounded sincere.]
--Well. They're not anymore. Haven't been in a long time.
[At least one piece of the puzzle suddenly falls into place - Ozpin's immortality explains why he can do magic when it's exceedingly rare in his world. He must have been born before humanity in Remnant lost the ability.
It's a disturbing prospect, though. Willow's spells backfiring in Deerington, and how much the use of them taxed her took something of an adjustment when she first arrived. She can't imagine a whole population trying to figure out how to get by without any magic at all.]
Huh... So what changed? Do you know?
gently makes this vague to avoid breaking timelines lmao
[Ah. There's the rub. He knows, of course, but...not yet. He doesn't lie, but the answer glosses over...a significant amount of the details.]
Yeah. It was pretty much a temper tantrum from the Gods. Like flipping over a game board and starting over because you didn't like how the game was going.
[Huh. That... sounds like the making of an interesting story. She doesn't press for more details, though. Instead, she remembers how she had wished her own magic could be removed, until being reminded that it isn't possible without potentially killing her, and is grateful that's not a risk from the gods of her own world.]
That sounds, uh, pretty wild. Even for my world. There's gods and stuff I can call on at home for spells, but for the most part, most of them won't interfere otherwise. We did have a hell god once, though, who was trapped in our dimension and tried to break down the barriers between worlds to get home. That was, um. Well, it was pretty bad. But we stopped her.
[Stopping the gods. That sounds nice, Qrow thinks, in that way people think "winning the lottery would be nice". Knowing the truth about what will happen when the Relics are brought together terrifies him down to his bones. Qrow doubts there will even be a planet left to save if Salem manages to summon the gods back to it for her revenge or whatever the hell it is she wants with them.]
Ours destroyed our moon and abandoned the planet. Supposedly, if they ever come back? They'll judge whether humanity's worthy of continuing to exist and if they don't think we are, they'll destroy the rest of the planet once and for all.
[Willow's eyes widen and she's silent for a long moment as she takes in Qrow's words about the Sword of Damocles hanging over the head of all those back in Remnant.]
They destroyed the moon? That sounds honestly pretty frightening. I'm sorry to hear it.
[She smiles a little.]
The people from your world, though, from what I've seen? They're pretty brave. And stubborn. I bet if it comes down to it, you'll figure out a way to stop the world from being destroyed.
[Qrow's still terrible at taking compliments, even generic ones directed at his whole planet, so he mostly just grunts vaguely at it, the verbal equivalent of a shrug.]
Mm, well. Here's hoping we never find out if we can or not.
I hope not too. If it's any consolation, they kind of get easier to stop after the first one?
[Or at least after the first one, you're not shocked by the concept and the weight of the world trying to end and it gets easier to focus on finding the solution.]
I guess technically there might be a spell that would let us do that. It would probably be hard to pull off, though. Besides if we left, who's gonna save the world?
I guess it's possible. That would be a pretty complicated and intense spell, though. I don't think I'd be able to do it by myself even if I wanted to. Even just teleporting one person a little ways is really draining.
[She shrugs.]
It might just be easier to keep stopping apocalypses. Besides, like I said - after the first couple, you kinda get the hang of it.
...It doesn't freak you out? The responsibility of all of it.
[The weight of trying to persist in their unwinnable war has felt near to crushing ever since he found out the truth. In Deerington, he's dreaded the thought of having to go back to it.]
Sometimes. My best friend died - twice - preventing them.
[She follows it up quickly so not to worry him.]
It's okay, she got better both times. And the one that was starting when I got back, it's, um. I dunno if we can beat it. We're facing the entity that's the source of all evil in the world. It's supposed to be unkillable. So I dunno what we're gonna do there. But if we don't do it, who will?
Qrow feels vaguely sick upon hearing that, and it's an effort not to let the spike of anxiety show. She's dealing with the same thing that they are, then. Or maybe a more literal version. He's not comfortable talking about Salem with her just yet, but the gutpunch of her words nonetheless kicks up his respect for her several notches.
All the same, the last part of what she says troubles him.]
Someone will step up. There's always someone like that. [Like you goes unspoken.] Why does it have to be you and your friends specifically? What if your friend doesn't...[his mouth twists in something akin to distaste as he repeats it] get better, next time? What about the people she'd be leaving behind?
...At least the transportation spell would be possible.
[He is maybe dealing with Some Stuff here, possibly, just a little bit,]
[At home, there's no one she can talk to about these things outside her immediate circle. Buffy's identity as the Slayer is not something that gets shared to keep them all from becoming a target. There doesn't seem much harm in talking about it here. Buffy is home, there's no one else here from her world, and Willow has given up on on the idea that that will change.]
It has to be us. Our friend - the one who died? She's destined to fight evil - she's chosen. She's my best friend, because it has to be her, it has to be us too. I don't think - even if we could make a spell like that work - I don't think we'd ever convince her to leave. It never even really occurred to us to think about it before.
It's probably kind of a unique situation. You know, all things considered.
[Chosen. Just like Oscar, like each of Ozpin's new reincarnations. Just like those born with silver eyes. He'd like to say it's not as unique as you think, but he's not prepared to get into it. And yet, it hurts. I don't think we'd ever convince her to leave. He doesn't think he could ever convince Ruby and Yang not to go home, either, if he were ever to try.
He wonders what it means that she died twice and someone else wasn't chosen. Is the role stuck with her until she is truly dead and gone? Is it a reincarnation situation, like Ozpin's? If she were to leave...would that mean there would never be another chosen? He can't help but think of how Oz can only die if it means surrendering to Salem and letting the rest of the world die with him. There is a deep cruelty to this idea of chosen ones, he thinks.]
We have something like that, in Remnant. Those born with silver eyes are said to be fated to lead a warrior's life. My niece has them. Her mom did, too.
But having it be just one person....can't imagine having it all on your shoulders like that. It's hard enough to keep the people around you safe, let alone....the entire world.
[It's technically a true statement. He can't really imagine what it's like to be Oscar or Ozpin, or how much heavier the weight of going back is when you have to bear it for the rest of eternity. He can't imagine how this friend feels, either. But it seems so terribly unfair--not just to her, but her loved ones as well. The inevitability of having to bear that grief, because she happened to be chosen.]
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[She means it. Between home and Deerington, she never wants to end up in such a dark place again. She's never wanted to hurt anyone.]
You really were both in the right place at the right time. You and Oscar both. I owe you two big time.
[Mostly Oscar. She absolutely would have responded to Qrow far more violently if Oscar hadn't been there. But Qrow had helped as well, and she has to give them both credit for keeping Ford safe.]
We met back in December. When those zombies were around. I got into kind of a bad spot - there was pretty much a horde of them. You've already seen I know magic, but it doesn't always really work right here. If Ozpin hadn't shown up when he did... well. It wouldn't have been good.
We ended up hiding out at his place to get away from them until they wandered off, got to talking, and I've been hanging around with him pretty much since.
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[What self-respecting monster doesn't have the decency to die when you shoot it in the face???]
It's a good thing he found you. He's one of the most powerful people in my world, so you're in safe hands if you ever have to call for help again.
[That wording is Very Specific, despite the casual phrasing. She will likely need to call. Lightning is not likely to strike twice, otherwise. He shrugs, then.]
You don't owe me anything, though. I was just doing my job. Besides, it would've hurt Oz if anything happened to Ford. Even if he wasn't coming back, I couldn't let that happen.
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[Well, really, the zombies were just a one off, but at least they stayed dead when you killed them the second time around at home.]
It was definitely lucky for me Ozpin came along when he did. Usually I can hold my own pretty okay with my magic myself, but Deerington being what it is and all...
[Willow shrugs; it was difficult at first, but she's mostly adjusted to her spells backfiring with startling regularity. She doesn't admit it, but she's one of the most powerful witches in her world right now too. Most of her experience lies more in a support role, but this isn't the first time where she's been in a position where she's had to use magic offensively.]
It's good to know there's people around I can call on for help, though.
Even if protecting people's your job, I'm still grateful. I'd regret what happened a lot more if anyone here actually got hurt because of me. Or, you know, worse.
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You have magic?
[There's an odd weight to that word as he says it, even though he saw her create a fireball in her hand. That kind of thing is not entirely uncommon as far as Semblances go, after all.]
That explains why Oz took an interest in you. It's very rare in our world--he's one of the only sources left.
[Ozpin NoMiddleorLastname, you WILL tell your friends things, even if he has to throw you under the bus to every single one of them make you do it.]
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Yeah. I recognized what he could do as magic right away - it was pretty easy to tell honestly. I mean, it doesn't really work the same way in your world as in mine -
[She pauses, smiling.]
- it was pretty impressive.
[Willow's attitude towards magic has changed somewhat since her return home. She holds far more respect for her power and she's a lot more cautious about it, but sorry, Qrow. You've got her onto a topic she loves a lot. You're going to get a story.]
Magic isn't as rare where I'm from. Almost anyone can learn to cast simple spells if you've got the right books and ingredients. Just most people don't know about it. If you've got a natural inclination for it, you'll go further faster.
I was seventeen when I first started. It was a really intense spell - hadn't been cast in, like, a hundred years. After that, I started with the basic stuff. I taught myself, so it was a little scary at first. I knocked out the power to my whole neighborhood once. But here we are.
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...Yeah, it's not something you can learn, in Remnant. Humans used to be born with it, but--
[...mmm. That's a long story, and he doesn't know how much he can trust her yet, for as much as her apology sounded sincere.]
--Well. They're not anymore. Haven't been in a long time.
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It's a disturbing prospect, though. Willow's spells backfiring in Deerington, and how much the use of them taxed her took something of an adjustment when she first arrived. She can't imagine a whole population trying to figure out how to get by without any magic at all.]
Huh... So what changed? Do you know?
gently makes this vague to avoid breaking timelines lmao
Yeah. It was pretty much a temper tantrum from the Gods. Like flipping over a game board and starting over because you didn't like how the game was going.
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That sounds, uh, pretty wild. Even for my world. There's gods and stuff I can call on at home for spells, but for the most part, most of them won't interfere otherwise. We did have a hell god once, though, who was trapped in our dimension and tried to break down the barriers between worlds to get home. That was, um. Well, it was pretty bad. But we stopped her.
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Ours destroyed our moon and abandoned the planet. Supposedly, if they ever come back? They'll judge whether humanity's worthy of continuing to exist and if they don't think we are, they'll destroy the rest of the planet once and for all.
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They destroyed the moon? That sounds honestly pretty frightening. I'm sorry to hear it.
[She smiles a little.]
The people from your world, though, from what I've seen? They're pretty brave. And stubborn. I bet if it comes down to it, you'll figure out a way to stop the world from being destroyed.
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Mm, well. Here's hoping we never find out if we can or not.
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[Or at least after the first one, you're not shocked by the concept and the weight of the world trying to end and it gets easier to focus on finding the solution.]
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Brothers. If we somehow stop this one I hope I'm long dead before another one comes up.
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[Yes. She has to pause and think about that.]
Seven, I think?
1/2
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...You couldn't take everyone else with you? Magic is weird.
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I guess it's possible. That would be a pretty complicated and intense spell, though. I don't think I'd be able to do it by myself even if I wanted to. Even just teleporting one person a little ways is really draining.
[She shrugs.]
It might just be easier to keep stopping apocalypses. Besides, like I said - after the first couple, you kinda get the hang of it.
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[The weight of trying to persist in their unwinnable war has felt near to crushing ever since he found out the truth. In Deerington, he's dreaded the thought of having to go back to it.]
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[She follows it up quickly so not to worry him.]
It's okay, she got better both times. And the one that was starting when I got back, it's, um. I dunno if we can beat it. We're facing the entity that's the source of all evil in the world. It's supposed to be unkillable. So I dunno what we're gonna do there. But if we don't do it, who will?
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Qrow feels vaguely sick upon hearing that, and it's an effort not to let the spike of anxiety show. She's dealing with the same thing that they are, then. Or maybe a more literal version. He's not comfortable talking about Salem with her just yet, but the gutpunch of her words nonetheless kicks up his respect for her several notches.
All the same, the last part of what she says troubles him.]
Someone will step up. There's always someone like that. [Like you goes unspoken.] Why does it have to be you and your friends specifically? What if your friend doesn't...[his mouth twists in something akin to distaste as he repeats it] get better, next time? What about the people she'd be leaving behind?
...At least the transportation spell would be possible.
[He is maybe dealing with Some Stuff here, possibly, just a little bit,]
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It has to be us. Our friend - the one who died? She's destined to fight evil - she's chosen. She's my best friend, because it has to be her, it has to be us too. I don't think - even if we could make a spell like that work - I don't think we'd ever convince her to leave. It never even really occurred to us to think about it before.
It's probably kind of a unique situation. You know, all things considered.
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He wonders what it means that she died twice and someone else wasn't chosen. Is the role stuck with her until she is truly dead and gone? Is it a reincarnation situation, like Ozpin's? If she were to leave...would that mean there would never be another chosen? He can't help but think of how Oz can only die if it means surrendering to Salem and letting the rest of the world die with him. There is a deep cruelty to this idea of chosen ones, he thinks.]
We have something like that, in Remnant. Those born with silver eyes are said to be fated to lead a warrior's life. My niece has them. Her mom did, too.
But having it be just one person....can't imagine having it all on your shoulders like that. It's hard enough to keep the people around you safe, let alone....the entire world.
[It's technically a true statement. He can't really imagine what it's like to be Oscar or Ozpin, or how much heavier the weight of going back is when you have to bear it for the rest of eternity. He can't imagine how this friend feels, either. But it seems so terribly unfair--not just to her, but her loved ones as well. The inevitability of having to bear that grief, because she happened to be chosen.]
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