#hopeandharmonizing

Bleak.

The ruptured pavement sings underfoot with acute unease. Salem slows to trace the husk of a gutted aircraft. Her fingertips pulp, streaking darkly down until bone scrapes the frosted metal; and there are bodies in the cockpit, still. A cloying miasma of pain and terror. They had not died quickly.

She lids her eyes, exhaling, and steps away. This part of the city, nestled against the flank of the academy, bore the brunt of her assault on the fleet: shattered battleships lie amid the rubble of buildings crushed by falling debris. Even the school, well-fortified as it is, had not emerged unscathed, although most of the campus is still standing. Her lips purse.

The Atlesian military never did impress; but even judged by its own standard, it had risen to the occasion of defending its city with dire incompetence.

Absently, she sets the wreckage beside her ablaze. For a moment, the only sound is the greedy roar of unnatural fire; Salem watches it burn in unmoving silence, thoughtful.

Life simmers beneath her feet, but nothing stirs on the surface. The stillness—the unrelenting fear is confounding. Her forces are gone: eradicated in an instant by the hand of a child. From a flock of almost a quarter million, less than a thousand remain, and yet…

Gnawing dread still chokes the city.

Bleak. Bleaker, if anything.

Slowly, she turns away from the makeshift pyre, gaze finding the academy once more. Her eyes narrow. The staff is still in the vault, if the unaltered presence of its crisp power in the foundations of Atlas is any indication, which perhaps rules out Cinder as the one responsible; and if not her—

Salem stills, lips parting as she inhales sharply. A breath of change. The thinnest trace of aura limns one of the drafts churned by the fire, clear as new ice in all the smoke and terror. She glances sideways and finds nothing but lifeless rubble. Desolation.

Learn about my muses' physical features! // Accepting

@hopeandharmonizing asked: [legs] Ghira and Yang, [face] Weller, [eyes] Ironwood

[legs]: are they solidly built, short and stubby, or long and graceful, do they have knobbly knees or rounded knees, what’s their gait, etc.

Ghira has very powerful legs, like the rest of him. He can use them, in addition to his claws, to climb surfaces he otherwise wouldn't be capable of. His long legs help contribute to his massive size, both height-wise and just overall presense.

Because he's so tall and very aware of the space he takes up, Ghira is usually pretty careful when he walks. He does his best not to walk into anything, and he naturally walks very quietly.

For such a big man, he's very light on his feet, and that does have to do with the fact that he's a panther faunus. And also the shoes he wears help with the walking softly part.

[legs]: are they solidly built, short and stubby, or long and graceful, do they have knobbly knees or rounded knees, what’s their gait, etc.

Yang has very nice legs, and she's very aware of that fact. They're muscular and toned, and she frequently shows them off in short-shorts or skirts. The skin on her legs is smooth, as well, and she always takes care of them after shaving by making sure to moisturize.

Her knees aren't anything too special; just normal knees. She carries herself with confidence, and her stride is long and proud; she walks into clubs as if she owns the place (especially Junior's), despite being too young to drink.

Even though she fights with her fists most of the time, Yang does not skip leg day, and she could absolutely crush a person with her thighs.

[face]: what is the shape of their face, do they have pronounced cheekbones or a strong jaw, what’s the size and shape of their nose, what’s the size and shape of their ears, do they stick out, are they pointed, etc.

Dr. Weller doesn't quite have a heart-shaped face; he doesn't have the widow's peak for it, but he does have the pointed chin. His cheekbones are very pronounced, and if it wasn't covered with a beard, his jaw would be considered pretty chiseled.

His nose is pretty straight and small, and it has never been broken, as he prefers to talk his way out of any and all situations instead of fighting.

Dr. Weller's ears are nothing out of the ordinary, and if they did stick out, they're covered by his hair. Still, the help hold up his glasses, and that's the point of ears, if you ask him. They are a tiny bit pointed at the top, though again, you can't see that unless he moves his hair.

[eyes]: not just the colour, but the shape, the length of their eyelashes, whether they’re alert or usually half-closed, large or small, sunken into the face, ringed by bags, etc.

James' eyes are narrow and a deep dark blue. He has dark lashes that unfortunately don't distract from the almost perpetual bags under his eyes, though those are definitely more pronounced after the fall of Beacon.

Despite that fact, he is almost always alert, looking out for any threat, the way a good soldier should.

Send me a ship and I will grade it:

Avros x Briar is a solid A: I love it !

I love their dynamic. Briar and Avros both have their own wounds, and carry themselves in such a way. Like, I'm trying to think of how to describe it because like, Briar grew up with a loving family, 'Pack', and lost it. She knows what she values and what she doesn't, she's loud and proud. Proud of who she is, where she came from, and the thorn symbolism with her tattoos?

Gosh just fucking slay me, because before either me or Ray knew about the tattoos of the other, it clicked. Avros has black rose tattoos, and Briar has thorns. I just. Hnggg. They both, in their creation, mirror each other so well. Briar and Avros are almost literally a mirror effect and I am living for it.

More detailing, Avros thought he had a loving family, didn't see the abuse going on right in front of him. The 'necklace', the lessons so he could be more 'refined', his singing, his dancing, all of which so he would be a display of the wealth the Tians have. But when it all blew up, and he learned the truth?

He went out and found a family. Not intentionally, but, because of this? He isn't abrasive, he isn't snarly ( though he was, just a bit, when he was younger, ) he lost so much that he never really had, and yet still chooses to be kind.

Avros and Briar bring out the best in each other, with Avros willingly pushing through the thorns, because Briar is one of his own now. ( Plus, Silver eyes mirroring Marigold Gold? Please. Please. I just, love there two and that's not even touching what they do on stage. )

Because I know Briar fell hook line and sinker when seeing Avros finally breathe and live, and just be. But for Avros, seeing Briar in everyday life, seeing her perform, he likes it to what he thinks it must be to be in the presence of someone who embodies the joys and open-heartedness of life itself.

These two on their own are just, such a thing I can't even. They match so well, mirror so well, they don't so much complete the other, but work in tandem. One could even say they're a good duet.

Moving on

HAvros x Qrow is another A: I love it !

Because I'ma be real. I had no intentions of shipping Avros with anyone. I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times, I just really liked the aesthetic behind the idea of a silver eyed black swan faunus. It just, sounded so good, so I made it a thing. Avros is hands down a comfort character, and I love him for it.

But that said, that's what makes this ship so damn good. Qrow and Avros were never originally gonna be a thing. I was so excited to be given a chance to have Avros interact with someone who was canon ( because at the time, I didn't have a lot of that. ), because I know, silver eyes can be a huge turn off for people. I get it. I was really hoping for a shot, because Avros is a mentor or ally role that faded in and out, exploring open plot points and lore in rwby was what I wanted with him.

But we got so, so much more. We got Avros awkwardly interacting with Qrow, because he knows he's being hunted, and point black, other people scare Avros. He knows the extent of human cruelty, and rumors about Qrow only made him more anxious with the fact that Qrow knew about his eyes.

Now, that isn't to say Avros feared Qrow, quite the contrary. He respected him. He just didn't trust him, and that went both ways. I remember in a first meeting, Avros was likened to a gargoyle in the midst of rain, which is such a raw image, and I loved it. Qrow and Avros dance around each other ( ha ) for a good bit, learning about each other and opening up and trusting.

Qrow trusts Avros to help his niece with her own silver eyes, ( and while I unfortunately haven't had the chance of rp'ing such a thing with a Ruby yet, it's still so neat! ) and Avros letting down his walls. ( ala, walls falling faster than he cared to catch them. )

But that's not the best part. Qrow is used to people leaving. He's used to being seen for his semblance and abilities first, and himself as a person second, if at all. He gets hurt, because Avros doesn't communicate well, at all sometimes. So it forces Avros to dive, to force his voice to be heard, and to make Qrow listen.

Once he does, and Avros becomes more comfortable speaking? So, so much healing. Trust and comfort. Please. I adore it. Qrow and Avros being soft with one another, trusting because it's a choice they made.

Please, end me.

Best ship though? Briar x Avros x Qrow.

A+: OTP

Take all of the above, roll it into one, and good gods. This relationship? It's so healthy, so open and raw. It's real, and just. Please, if there were ever something I'd want, I'd want to see these three animated together. Either domestic, facing Grimm, I don't know I don't care, I need it.

That isn't even me touching on Briar and Qrow on their own. So I will. Because Ray did say that Briar was made for Qrow at one point ( of course we have Robyn filling the gaps as well, I can't explain as well as her. ) But like, it's so much more than just an oc made for canon character?

Briar on her own is wild, free spirited and so, so true to herself. I wish I could be more like that, and that's exactly what Briar is about! Not so much people wanting to be her, but her, making you analyze yourself and become stronger for it. We know Qrow utilizes her semblance as a crutch for a bit, until Briar finally tells him what for.

Which um, yeah, it's gonna startle him, even make him feel guilty for treating her more like a tool and less like a person. Being around Briar is easy, he can forget and feel comfortable, even safe.

But the thorns aren't just for a pretty view. You have to push past them to really get to the heart underneath, and eventually, Qrow does.

He acknowledges more about himself than he originally wanted to, and falls for Briar as a person, lets himself stop holding her at arm's length. It's a breath of fresh air, no longer stifling a piece of himself to feel free.

I just. Hng. It's been said before, but Calamitous Harmony as a ship, as a whole, is all about trust, healing and self discovery and self-reliance. All three are their own people, and build themselves and each other up on it.

I'll say it, that right there?

@hopeandharmonizing asked: [ CROWN ]

[ CROWN ] : your muse kisses the top of my muse's head.

Qrow finally had a day off of his huntsman work, deciding to spend the morning getting some much needed rest. The General had hun running rampant the last several weeks while running on little to no sleep most days. How body had never felt so run dry, he thought.

Curled under the blanket the huntsman snored softly, his dreams bringing a sort of comfort to him. At least this time around. With his semblance they usually brought nightmares or weird ones. But this one? It seemed more calm.

Especially since it had Briar playing some of her songs to him.

After a while his soft smile faded to a more relaxed position, his body beginning to wake up. He grumbled a bit as he tried to keep sleeping. He didn’t want the dream to end just yet.

Suddenly he felt something soft and warm on his head. It lasted all but a second, but he wasn’t sure what it was. Almost like the feeling of a...kiss? He was somewhat sad it didn’t last longer.

He opened his eyes and blinked the last instances of sleep away, trying to find the cause. What he saw was Briar, standing at the bedside looking to him. Those golden eyes stared right into his red ones.

@hopeandharmonizing​ sent:  “You can’t see the stars from here…”

“I’m well aware. Ever think maybe that’s what I wanted?”

Okay, so maybe he was being a bit snarkier than he should be, but then he’d also grown tired of being ‘stared’ at. Not by Briar of course, but by those little points of light in the expanse of emptiness that was the sky.

It was times like these that he cursed the old stories, the ones that the elders would tell by the campfires late at night. Even now those fairy tails stayed with him. Maybe because the more ‘romantic’ stories, like those, were so rare.

He had listened so intently as they’d spoken of those who had passed before them watched over them from those lights. Most of the tribe had thought that notion was ridiculous... but not him. Even now, when he’d been so detached from them for so long, he caught himself looking up and wondering if maybe, just maybe, all of the people that had gone before, the people he’d cared for, loved, looked down and watched him like the stories had said.

That was what honestly had him retreating from their ‘sight’ tonight. He didn’t want to be ‘seen’ at all really. It was bad enough that Briar had found him sitting at the bar of yet another dive bar. 

“Barty, nooooooooooo,” said Briar, half laughing half ready to cry, “you don’t - you don’t have to stir everything with your hands you can use a utensil!”

“But the spatula is for spankings,” he said, far more interested in mixing the cookie dough with his hands. There was something to be said for the way it squished with his fingers. 

“We have a wooden spoon! And you’ll get less flour everywhere!”

He couldn’t help but giggle. “Look, it’s fine,” he said, lifting his hands from the bowl and rubbing his palms together, leaving smears of chocolate chip and butter and brown sugar all along them. “Hardly a mess.”

“Why are you like this, Bartholomew?” Briar covered her face a moment, the shake of her shoulders betraying the laughter but he could hear her pretending to mock cry about it, and it made him grin. 

“To make you giggle,” he said. “Hey. Briar. Hey. Look. Hey.”

Golden eyes peeped out at him with trepidation, her hands folding away from her face like opening a book. He leaned in before she could dart away, pressing a floury kiss to her lips .

“I love you,” he said, once he’d pulled away. 

None of this, to him, was funny. He needed help...and fast... Luckily, that cold rain washed the blood right down to the sewers. There’s no trail leading up to the place he decided to crawl back for. Yet, that never stopped him from turning to look over his shoulder enough times to break his neck.