[ OPEN ] I have my own version of vital signs

[usedflareblitz]

Who: Yang Xiao Long & others!
What: largely listless loitering
Where: Goldenrod City
When: prompts start on 6/1, extending into the weekend
Warnings: during the transfer from R29, Yang was given a canon update. she is now a walking spoiler for the end of Volume 3 of RWBY. as a result certain uncomfortable topics that may arise in dealing with her. I have an opt-out post which extends past just replying to this log. I'd appreciate it if you took a look there before replying at least to brace yourself. castmate threads will be especially difficult, so stalk those at your own risk!


(A) 6/1 - Yang's old job
[ This diner in Goldenrod was a unique attraction. Most of its table space was situated outdoors. Service came not just with a smile, but with the added excitement of servers zipping around on skates. Summer was just around the bend, so business was picking up, and the manager was quite pleased to see Yang come in. Having her skates already in-hand, she manager was hopeful that Yang was here to start her lunch shift early. It's too bad the only reason Yang was here was to turn in her skates. As soon as that bad news was delivered, the blonde girl walked right back out without even considering placing an order for her favorite sandwich...

After Yang cleared the front doors her weary eyes scanned her surroundings. Despite the warmer weather, she was in her trainer outfit's red jacket. That wasn't odd compared to what was going on with her right sleeve. Yang's right hand was nowhere to be seen, and the fabric of the coat flapped loosely as she moved, starting at a point above her right elbow.

Yang marched right up to the nearest person and brought up her gloved left hand. In her right grip were the laces from which a pair of purple roller skates dangled. As if it was the catch of the day or something. ]

Hey. Can you take these off my ha—? [ Yang winced and tried that phrasing anew. ] Do you want them...? Or else I'm just going to throw them away.


((OOC: only one person can claim the lone pair of skates; preferably in the subject line if you're reasonably sure it would happen! others can tag in this prompt if they would refuse her offer outright.))


(B) 6/1 - outside and around town
[ With that business out of the way, Yang was free to wander aimlessly. Sometimes she stopped in front of the window of a business to check out the help wanted ads. Most times she would be there for a whole two seconds before turning away, either wearing a frown or outright scowling. One would think there would be something she can still do around here...

Other times, she can be seen walking alongside her tall and fluffy Arcanine. Growly was feeling more protective than usual, even going so far as to intercept anyone she did not recognize the scent of, should they come up to Yang. Or, if Yang was about to run blindly into someone, Growly would step in between so that Yang ended up with a face full of fluff and confusion. ]


(C) 6/3 - a park
[ Despite better judgement, Yang made a halfhearted attempt to play catch with her Pokémon. They were all tired of being cooped up, or so Yang believed, but they were not satisfied with romping about freely in such nice weather. It took some coaxing to get Yang to grab a stick and blindly throw it but... she's not left-handed. She had no way to control where the stick ended up with such lack of attention given to it.

It could end up on someone's picnic basket. Their blanket. The bush behind them. Hitting their Pokémon on their side. Hitting them on the head. No matter the outcome, Yang will jog on after it, looking and sounding thorough apologetic with a hint of underlying anger. ]

Damn, I'm sorry. I ... didn't watch where I threw that.

Are you okay?

Comments

C

[rosetotheoccasion]

[It's like a blanket had been thrown over them all, heavy and smothering. Any joy Ruby might have found during their days on the moon seemed so far away, longer than even the weeks she'd spent at home recovering from the fall of Beacon.

So much had happened. Even now, she was still trying to process it. Her pokemon had been there for her of course, refusing to leave her side fore more than a few moments, and she definitely appreciated that, but right now, she needed her friends. Her family.

So it was a bit less of a coincidence when she tracks down Yang in the park - just as the stick sails right into her head, causing her to yelp.]

Owww... and here I thought sticks weren't considered lethal weapons...

[usedflareblitz]

[ Yang had to tell herself over and over again that she hadn't actually hurt Ruby seriously. The girls were all without their Aura again, but they were tough. Some, more so than others. ]

Ruby... [ She caught herself reaching up toward her sister's head and lowered that hand. Part of her was also still stuck in the distant thoughts of the lonely, left-behind girl that hadn't left her bed for what felt like eons. Even just being up and about now felt exhausting, but she couldn't return to the hotel for several reasons. Facing everyone so close together was just too much.

Yang turned to Growly, who had padded up slowly in order to try and pick the stick up off the ground, probably before being noticed. Kind of difficult, for a full-grown Arcanine. ]

Hey. Go ... find Fluffy, or something.

[ And so the dog Pokémon scampered off, disappointed that playtime was over. ]

[rosetotheoccasion]

[Ruby isn't always a subtle person. She doesn't always like to beat around the bush. She could do it, but when her friends and family are involved, it's hard. And with something like this, with how much pain her dear sister is in... she can't afford to dodge the subject now.]

How're you feeling today, Yang?

[She's not going to ask "are you okay". Because she's not. Anyone who knew Yang for more than five minutes could tell she's not.]

[usedflareblitz]

[ Yang's gaze followed after her Arcanine, but ultimately fell down to the half-chewed stick on the ground where it had ended up. ]

Fine. [ She's not "fine". Yang doesn't understand the concept of "fine" right now, only able to match the memory of "fine" with the notion "hey, at least I'm not"—

Yang cut herself off by pressing her hand to the side of her head. The feeling of pressure and the texture of her hair reminded her that she was still here. That's more than I can say for a few people. ]

Better, before I ... beaned you upside the head, anyway.

[rosetotheoccasion]

Aw, I'm okay. See? [She pokes herself a few times in the spot where the stick hit her, without any kind of flinching.] No harm done!

[She's trying to smile, but... this whole situation is new. Different. And not in a good way. It's weird having to tiptoe around a subject like this. When her mother had died, Ruby was too young to really understand how to navigate tragedy like this. But now...]

Y'know, you didn't have to stop because of me, if you were having fun.

A - she'd take them! PURPLE ROLLER STAKES, HELL YEAH

[veggie_vamp]

[Laura has been in a bad mood - the moon party was great, but she lost her vampire powers again! Boo. Nothing would ever cheer her up, ever ever ever ag - ]

Oh My Ghoul, I can have them? Thank you so much!

[THIS IS THE BEST DAY EVER SHE'S GOING TO HUG YOU]

[usedflareblitz]

[ Yang gave the vibrant girl a flat look to start. She literally would not have made the offer if she did not mean it, but some people just have to question a hand-out. ] ...yeah, sure. It's—

[ Congratulations, Laura! You get a free pair of skates, but it comes with a side order of fresh made personal space issues.

Yang freezes up, her eyes wide as saucers. As soon as she feels the fabric of her sleeve moved by the incoming arms she was already bringing her good arm up to deflect the attempt. If Laura didn't grab them first, Yang would have just dropped the skates in the course of things. ] H-hey!! Don't just — what are you doing?!

[ She puts one step of distance between them. Yang was breathing heavily through her nose, her mind reeling with what just happened. She's more upset than angry, but it's not far off... ]

[veggie_vamp]

[Dude, why. She's blocked off by the arm, and then blinks at the space between them. What just happened here? She blinks rapidly.]

... Um, hugging you? Because you were being so nice to me? ... Do normies not do hugs? Oooh, do you not know what hugs ARE?

[usedflareblitz]

[ Okay that was kind of irritating, actually. ] Of course I know what a hug is. I'm just — not in the mood.

[ The mood for much of anything at all. Did she LOOK happy to be around here, to be giving her skates away? No, she wasn't.

A couple of seconds of thinking about the phrasing though had her wondering where she had heard someone talking like that before. When it finally clicked in her head, there was a look of recognition that masked the unpleasantness. ] Wait ... are you that, uh. Um. [ Oh damn it, what was the word again? ]

Vampire?

[veggie_vamp]

[Whereas Draculaura automatically assumes everyone is happy almost always. She's not entirely sure what she did wrong, or why Yang's so upset.]

Oh, yeah! I mean, I was a vampire before I came here, but this place turns monsters into humans for some reason, but then there was that awesome party, and I was a vampire again, but I just checked when I woke up here and I'm a human again.

[... She's also oblivious that people find her blabbermouth really annoying.]

B

[usedglaciate]

[There had been five minutes after Weiss woke up back in Johto that were spent thanking her lucky stars that she was out of Atlas. Those were the only five minutes she took for herself, though.

After that, it was a matter of figuring out where her teammates were, and giving the apology that she owed them. The fact remained that no matter what the circumstances were, she had left, and it's unforgivable in her own eyes. She fully expects everyone to be angry at her.

When she goes out, she spots the Arcanine before anything else. Weiss almost starts to say something, but the words don't come. She winds up freezing in place, blinking back the tears she had been fighting since she had stepped onto that plane.]

[usedflareblitz]

[ Rowdy didn't understand what was happening, but did understand the way Yang tensed up at the sight of Weiss. She stepped between the two girls, not overtly threatening with her posture but... that's kind of difficult to avoid given the way she towered over the both of them.

Yang was immediately at her side, hand buried in her fur as she nudged her aside. ] Hey, move, you're—

[ That taken care of, Yang got a better look at Weiss, and that's when she saw the look on her friend's face. Logically, Yang knew that Weiss did not mean to go anywhere. That she hadn't gone anywhere. Just a couple of hour ago they were sleeping in rooms on the same floor, along with the others (who she had not yet noticed missing) and things were peachy keen.

But on another level, she had those memories stored from home, whereby she knew that Weiss's father had all but kidnapped her to bring her back home to Atlas. To keep her "safe". She was the second to leave—

Yet she hadn't gone anywhere?

This was fucking confusing. Yang could practically feel the oncoming headache. That wasn't why her eyes stung. ] Weiss...?

[usedglaciate]

I'm sorry.

[The apology is meant for both of them.]

I was home again, then back here, and I...

[She hasn't felt the need to fold her arms over her chest, that instinctive behavior that's both a comfort and a signal to others, in a long time. Now she can't help it.]

I don't even know what to say, other than apologizing. I never - no matter what the cost to me personally - should have gone along with that ba-- my father. I'll never forgive myself for it.

[usedflareblitz]

—wait, wait, slow down. You... [ Yang could have misheard that.

No. She didn't. She scowled. ] It happened to you, too...? [ Okay. you know what? That makes her mad. Mad not at Weiss, and not directly at her father, but mad at whatever stupid forces brought them here in the first place. Give them a few happy days on the Moon, then scramble their brains, and lop off—?

Suddenly, Yang is very much not a fan of being here. ] I can't believe this... [ She didn't want to. ]

[usedglaciate]

[Weiss swallows a lump in her throat, then manages a nod. Those tears she's been fighting well up again, and there's no holding them back this time. She hates crying when she's around other people, thinking it just makes them think she's weak.]

God, I thought things would be okay. I thought that we would do what we always do, follow some wild battle plan of Ruby's. I thought we could save -

[She stops before she finishes her sentence. Save Beacon, save Yang, save Pyrrha, save the world.

The world doesn't let you coast on pure dumb luck forever.]

C

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[So many people are out working, clearing roads, and Ashley's...

Called in sick to her job at the bookstore, sitting on a bench instead. Watching her Phantump rush around in the sunlight, running a hand up and down the fur of her Slyveon, curled up beside her. Looking like she hasn't slept well lately.

Frankly she's also incredibly spacey, not focusing really on what said Phantump's doing- until she lets out a little Phaaaan! gasp, as that is most definitely the target that stick found! Ashley blinks and snaps herself out of whatever daze she's wandered into, slowly standing and remembering she's outside, right.]

Huh? Uh... [It's Yang. She hasn't seen much of anyone the last few days, honestly? Since they all awoke- so she hasn't really seen the RWPY crew around, or taken note of any changes in their demeanor.] It's... It's fine. Samara's...grass, anyway.

[Tump! A slight protest, but it seems all's forgiven. Samara the Phantump attaches herself to Ashley's leg and the girl doesn't even yelp, strangely enough.]

No harm done.

[usedflareblitz]

Mm. Good. [ The guilt is a dull ache, compared to everything else, but it's still there. At least Yang doesn't overreact.

Her Arcanine pads up after her, ducking her head down low to sniff at the stick. Yang crouches and picks it up. Rather than throw it this time, she just turns it toward her huge fire dog who takes it in her maw and pads off.

It leaves Yang crouching there, giving the odd stump-ghost thing an apologetic look. ] ...sorry again.

[ At least it didn't hit her friend. It feels like she hasn't seen Ashley in a long time, even though she knows that isn't true by this world's calendar. She's just ... sort of speechless. ]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

No, it... It's alright. Uh. [It takes Ashley a second longer than it should to realize something's off with Yang; sue her, she's a bit wrapped up in herself right now, admittedly. With a mental click-click-click it all sets in, though.

She'd seen Yang around at prom...she thinks. Everything's a little hazy, besides some key standout moments. But a flash of yellow hair, a smile...she can recall maybe seeing that. This is completely different. Emotionally, and...physically. The way she carries herself, the way...]

...What happened...?

[Her eyes drift to Yang's right arm. What's going on there?]

[usedflareblitz]

[ Yang glanced up at the question. The instant the direction of Ashley's gaze registers to her, Yang's mind begins screaming.

What happened? WHAT HAPPENED?! I'LL TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED!

She clams up tight, her whole body tense. Yang averts her eyes. Hey, the ground looks kind of interesting today. Is that a patch of dirt? Wow. It's a good thing she's at a convenient angle to enjoy the view down here without having to put in much effort. She... probably didn't have to sink to her knees, but you know, it's whatever.

This is fine. ] It— We went home. Somehow. [ It's not fine. The way her voice wavers makes that clear. ]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[To be honest, the fact of what is wrong with Yang's arm hadn't hit Ashley when she asked that. Emotionally, that's what she was trying to get across-- But expressing that accurately right now? Yeah, fat chance.

It's only when Yang sinks to the ground that she realizes...just how much of a mistake she's made, in her question. In her phrasing. In any of this. Her Phantump mumbles in concern as Ashley sinks down to the ground too. Can she touch her? No, that probably wouldn't help. Her hands, therefore, just hang in the air, useless.]

I-it...went really bad... But I just... I saw all of you a few days ago. [Eyes wide. Takes just a night for everything to go wrong, doesn't it?]

C is for Crying

[in4apounding]

[The stick doesn't actually hit Penny or her Pokémon, but Flynn's a pretty skittish little Vulpix. Even a miss is enough to frizz out his tails and send him clawing his way up to Penny's arms.]

Flynn! What- oh. Salutations, Yang.

We're fine, thank you. Are-

[Okay even she knows 'are you okay' is a really dumb question at this point.]

...It's good to see you out. Um. Are you thirsty, or- I've got a couple Lemonades in my bag.

[usedflareblitz]

Penny... [ Penny is witness to an odd look on Yang's fang. The distant gaze of someone who was trying to think of the last time they had lemonade. Or when they last ate in the first place.

Rowdy picks up the stick, giving a quiet little huff in the direction of the tinier Pokémon before offering it the stick. Here, let's go play while the big people talk. ]

Uh sure, yeah. I guess. [ Of every one of them in the group, Penny was the one who had literally done the least wrong. Yang had expressed anger and outrage upon hearing of her passing once before, and having to deal with the actual memories was painful, but at this point she was so deadened by the prospect of it being the truth that, strangely enough, seeing Penny up and about did not cause her to crash head-long into feelings of relief. It was just another strange side effect of all the weird stuff going on in her head.

She was just glad, yes, but. Happy? Who knows what happiness even feels like? Can you eat it? ]

[in4apounding]

[It takes a second, but Flynn jumps out of Penny's arms and sniffs at the offered stick.]

[Penny takes a second to dig out a lemonade, popping the tab on it before passing it to Yang and pulling on out for herself.]

Are you. Doing okay?

[Asked quietly and with much hesitation.]

[usedflareblitz]

[ Yang has to think about that a second. Long enough to take a gulp, cough on it, and realize that she can't pat herself on the chest while she still had the bottle in her hand. Luckily, the attempt does not end up with (too much) drink on her shirt. ] Damn...

[ She shakes her head, tone a bit gruff, but just because she's mad at her own new clumsiness. ] Yeah, fine. Could be worse. [ Could be dead. ]

C is for laaaaate

[charcoalfeather]

[Okay... Rakka was still trying to piece together the events that landed her in Goldenrod City - The party, for one, was still visible in her mind, all the fun they'd had there before it ended. Somehow.

So much had happened. And after a lot of work clearing poison types out of Ilex forest, Rakka just had to take a break. The park was a good place for that, somewhere she could walk around and try to piece together... everything. Kuu could float around with her, Gale could take to the sky above and do whatever he did to relax. She would take a seat on a bench... but Rakka just felt restless.

So it's quite the coincidence that a stick manages to land right in front of her, the suddenness startling her.]

Wha... Ah! [Is... that Yang? It is. She hasn't seen her since the party, and she always wanted to keep in touch with her friends. Maybe... now she finally had her chance?]

Y-yang! It's you. [It's absolutely her. No doubt. Thankfully the most concerning thing about Rakka right now were the grass stains on her shorts. Forest work.]

I-I'm fine, the stick didn't even touch me.

[No matter how high she jumped. Kuu could attest to that fact.]