Catch-all for July and August | Closed

[justoscar]

Who: Oscar Pine + Close CR
What: Oscar's Body Hopping Misadventures + Plot Wrap Up -- Closed Prompts to be added throughout month
When: Throughout July and August
Where: Throughout Trench

Content Warning: character death references, body hopping, more to be added as needed

Comments

[justoscar]

He was sixteen— almost an adult, or even 'adult enough' by certain standards. Age and the well of experience that he hadn't lived had not prepared him for the volleying back and forth between Paul and Mariana's sea that he had endured for the last month. Time with Paul was a unique experience... But, the lost time he could do without.

He was just glad to be back.

"I know," he commented, recollecting the weeks Ozpin had spent buried away in their collective, depression and fear overriding his everything in a single moment where all of his multitude of layers were torn away.

"And we keep doing it, no matter how often we need to do it."

He sighed.

"It's just tiring, Pyrrha. And, I don't want to be away from home for so long again."

[martyrofduty]

Much as Pyrrha appreciated having someone who understood her experiences to some extent, as much as it had led them to bond, Pyrrha wished Oscar didn't have to go through it. Wishes didn't control what happened. That left supporting him and being there for him. Besides Ozpin, she was perhaps the best person at understanding what that was like.

"I know," Pyrrha said softly. She understood more than it was safe to recognize aloud. An issue, she knew. It wouldn't last forever, and she hoped it came from her lips, not anyone else's. "He can help with that." He would.

One deep breath then another. They had a lot of catching up to do. Mostly, it could happen another time, in another location. "You should know," Pyrrha said, in that parental tone that something serious and possibly not entirely to a kid's liking was coming, "I've made a bond with John. It was the right call for us, for him and me."

1/2

[justoscar]

He had been prepared for anything-- but that.

Oscar looked up as her, not sure if even wanted to think about, comprehend, believe—

Like Ozpin, Pyrrha would make her own choices. But, still...

2/2

[justoscar]

"Pyrrha, he's the grossest old man in town and completely sucks."

What was worse: he couldn't fault her for doing it. Wasn't that effectively what he had tried to do with Ironwood before Atlas fell?

[martyrofduty]

Pyrrha knew how everyone saw John. She understood why they did. She didn't fault them. He could become everything everyone feared, as badly as they thought he was. It wasn't the only place he could go. If worst came to pass, Pyrrha would handle it.

It was hell of a lot less likely with people, without complete isolation, with being held responsible. With everything they had promised. "You should have seen the way he fought The Reckoning to try to save me," Pyrrha said warmly. It wasn't often John was the underdog. It hadn't changed her fate, but it meant the world to her that he had done it anyway. Regardless.

[justoscar]

Oscar listened, and thought about this. The Reckoning— the same being the had transfigured the woman called Anna Amarande, or even sometimes the Dread Pirate Amaranthe, into a vengeful beast of destruction— was by every means an impossible for to defeat. It was astounding that a figure powerful enough to rend worlds could even face her for long. This was enough for Oscar to relent, even if he didn't like it.

"He's still gross," he muttered, pouting. "I'm still gonna kick him off my door if he comes to see anyone in my house again."

... When it gets rebuilt, of course.

[martyrofduty]

Pyrrha laughed and ruffled Oscar's hair. The acceptance was still there, amid the insult and the threat. All very childish. Familial. That was right.

"You do that, kiddo," Pyrrha said. It was good, family knowing about each other. She cut off a corner piece of brownie and held it in one hand. "You ready to see him?"

[justoscar]

He took a brownie as well, to fortify himself for the headache that was bound to come. Reaching out to hold Pyrrha's hand for reassurance, Oscar nodded.

"As ready as I can be. Let's go."

[martyrofduty]

Pyrrha squeezed Oscar's hand and led the way to John.