the Aftermath
Lisa: "Scarlet Menace!" Boy was I wrong. News broadcast all over are labeling me a murderer, and Oscar and Velvet my accomplices. Governments around the world are launching investigations into the murderer known as Scarlet Spider, a.k.a. Ruby Rose, a.k.a. little red war criminal, who for years has been terrorizing the decent citizens of Vale. Well now, this city and the world see her for what she truly is." To add insult to injury, they showed a social media video someone shared showing a Mysteria fan throwing pink paint all on me in my spider suit while screaming 'Murderer! Mysteria forever!'
Reporter: "New details from last week's devastating attack in Mistral have emerged. For more, we go now to Joint Intelligence Headquarters, who released just a short while ago confirms, that the deadly drones used in the Mistral attack, were designed by the Schnee Dust Company." The video shows several of the damaged drones in marked spots of a lot used for investigating and piecing together damaged evidence. Yang and I are in our apartment. Me now wearing a white T-shirt and dark red skirt over black stockings, watching these broadcast when we hear a heavy knock on the door and hear a man's voice.
Agent: "Federal Agents! Open up!"
Yang: "Crap, the feds. I'll handle this!" She heads out to answer the door. She met with two guys in cop uniforms one with blue hair, one with red hair, accompanied by a small group of other officers. The blue hair man shows his badge and introduces himself and his partner.
Cloud: "Agent Cloud of Damage Control, and this is my partner Arad. We have a warrant for the arrest of Ruby Rose."
Yang: "Well then, I guess you won't mind me reminding you of the 4th amendment since this would fall under unreasonable search and seizure."
Arad: "Get in here, guys. Let's go!" They just ignore her and come in anyway to arrest me and investigate the apartment. Taking photos of anything worth of note like my workbench where I make my gear and web fluid, and the WILLOW glasses that I had. Afterwards they take us to the police station for interrogation. I'm by myself in a room with one hand cuffed to the table I'm sitting at being questioned by Cloud.
Ruby: "I know what it looks, but please just trust me, ok? I didn't kill Neo Politan, the drones did."
Cloud: "The drones that are yours." Ouch. But kinda true, and this hard to argue against. And I don't exactly have the proof to say that she stole them and wasn't even a hero from another dimension but rather a former Schnee employee to begin with. But maybe I can use him.
Ruby: "No-I mean! Look. James Ironwood was there the whole time so just ask him and he can explain everything."
Cloud: "Nice try, but Mr. Ironwood has been off planet for the last year."
Ruby: "Wait... What?" But that can't be right! I know he was there, and there's no way it was Neo's illusions the whole time. That's when I notice that Velvet and Oscar, wearing his green and red short sleeved jacket over a long sleeved dress shirt with black pants and brown school shoes, being escorted through the halls along with Yang, now wearing her light grey jacket over her top, a purple scarf around her neck and her white shoes. Yang getting involved was inevitable, she is my legal guardian right now, but the others shouldn't have to suffer for my problems.
Velvet: "Ruby!"
Ruby: "Velvet!? Hey, hold on! They nothing to do with this!" Obviously they think I might make it worse so both Velvet and Sis warn me before they disappear.
Yang and Velvet: "Don't say anything without a lawyer!" I can't believe they got dragged into this! I just wonder how their questioning will go. Velvet is up first under Arad's interrogation.
Velvet: "I want a lawyer."
Arad: "Ms. Scarlatina-"
Velvet: "Velvet, I don't like formalities." His face shows slight annoyance and recognition for her attitude.
Arad: "Ms. Velvet. Why do you want a lawyer if-?"
Velvet: "If I have nothing to hide?"
Arad: "Exactly. Unless-"
Velvet: "I'm actually guilty of something. I'm well aware of your methods and my rights." She says that like she's got experience... It almost kind of concerns me a little.
Arad: "Just answer my questions. I've seen your file. You're a smart young woman with a bright future ahead of her, even despite any possible discrimination from your Faunus heritage. Why would you risk it all by getting involved with a vigilante like Ruby Rose?" She doesn't respond, only keeping a smirk on her face when we cut to Oscar's turn. By himself in the room until, once again, Arad enters with another guard behind him. "So sorry to keep you waiting." He faces the other cop. "Can we get Oscar a snack, please? He's been waiting." The cop leaves before Arad turns his attention back to Oscar. "Dude, I'm so sorry about that."
Oscar: "I'm not supposed to say anything to you." At least he gets it.
Arad: "No, of course not."
Oscar: "I'm staying silent."
Arad: "I just have one question. When Velvet told you that Ruby was Scarlet Spider-"
Oscar: "Wait, hold on. Whoa, whoa, whoa..." Uh oh.
Arad: "What's up?" I think I know where this is going.
Oscar: "I knew way before Velvet did. I was Ruby's 'guy in the chair'." Oscar you idiot!
Arad: "I know about guys in the chair. Half our guys are guys in the chair." Ugh, he's totally buttering him up.
Oscar: "Exactly. I mean, I literally helped her find the Nevermore." Dude, shut up!
Arad: "I didn't know that." You can tell in his voice he's enjoying himself with this.
Oscar: "Yeah, and I helped her hack a suit once, and kinda helped her get to space." Kinda nothing, you only got the other students attention for the to join the fight, you had nothing to do with me following the enemy into space... Wait, what am I saying!
Arad: "So, in Scarlet Spiders illegal vigilantism, you were her main accomplice." ...Dang it. Oscar just stays silent for a brief few seconds out of realization that he got played.
Oscar: "...I would like for my words to be stricken from the record." Like that'll help at this point. Moving on to Cloud handling Yang's interrogation.
Yang: "With all due respect, and by that I mean not at all, I am aware of my rights and unless we're facing some real specific charges, then I'm afraid you can't hold us here."
Cloud: "If you were aware of your rights then you should've lawyered up a long time ago."
Yang: "Excuse me?"
Cloud: "Child endangerment is quite a nasty rap among parent figures. I've obviously read your file and found the circumstances behind your custody of her, with the deaths of your parents, the death of your uncle and your mother's abandonment. With all of this, you were all that's left to raise her and as her legal guardian, essentially her mother, you not only allowed her to endanger herself, but you actually encouraged it. Who does that?"
Yang: "I realize it doesn't excuse it, but I let it go when I knew she had the SDC supervising her."
Cloud: "Your right. It's not a valid excuse. And while I appreciate your honesty, I'm afraid the fact the police are aware of your relation to the infamous Queenpin, Raven Branwen, doesn't help your case, even if they can't connect to her crime circle."
Yang: "First off, leave Raven out of this. She may have brought me in this world, but she is not my mother. And second, I happen to know a good lawyer, so if you don't mind, I'd like to see Ruby and call them. Right now." The news broadcasts continue to pick up more to talk about regarding this incident.
Reporter: "The SDC was caught in the web of the Scarlet Spider/Mysteria controversy today, when federal agents opened an investigation into missing Schnee technology. The agents wanna know exactly what was taken..." The broadcast on TV shows a picture of Klein subtitled 'No comment at this time'. Yang and I are in our apartment with Klein watching this and Klein seems a little... conflicted.
Klein: "Perhaps I should've been specific." I'm more concerned about my own circumstances to be honest.
Ruby: "Why is this happening...?" We can hear the thud of a cane before a woman sits down in a teal dress, a dark blue suit jacket over that, dark brown stockings and black heels, blue tinted glasses, and a skull pendant necklace. She has tan skin, short black hair, silver eyes like me. Her cane is a brown stick with a blue skull shaped handle. Maria Calavera, the blind yet brilliant attorney at law. She's just wrapping up a phone.
Maria: "Yes, I understand. ...Perfect. Thank you." She hangs up. "Congratulations, Ruby. I'm certain that the charges against you won't stick."
Ruby: "Wait, seriously?" I'm actually surprised, given the circumstances, I seriously thought we were done for.
Yang: "Ha! I knew it!"
Ruby: "Thank you so much, Ms. Calavera."
Yang: "Thanks a lot, Maria."
Maria: "Well, you are Qrow's nieces so, to me, you are also cherished friends. Besides, I owed him one a long time ago. It's the least I could do."
Klein: "Excellent."
Maria: "Er, however. Mr. Sieben?"
Klein: "Yes?"
Maria: "I have to warn you that the feds will continue investigating that missing technology. I understand you're loyalty to Ms. Schnee and her legacy, but if you were somehow involved then I'd advise securing a lawyer. A really good one, mind you."
Klein: "I understand. I will also be sure to consult Mr. Vasilias regarding these controversies to prepare for any upcoming legal troubles."
Maria: "Yes, of course." Then she returns her attention to me again. "And as for you Ruby. Don't think for a second this means your life is normal again. All we've managed to do here was avoid your legal troubles, but we do still have to consider the court of public opinion... and the whole of the masses aren't as easy to convince." Right then a brick came in flying through the window behind Maria and she caught it without even flinching. All three of us are in shock of this as she hands me the brick.
Ruby: "How did just do that...?"
Maria: "I'm a really good lawyer." Somehow I don't buy that excuse but I choose not to press it and just look to see a piece of newspaper taped to the brick with red marker writing saying 'WE BELIEVE MYSTERIA'.
Ruby: "Well this is unsettling."
Yang: "I say we find a safer place to live but I'm not even sure where to start..." We all think for a second before Klein speaks up.
Klein: "I think I can help with that." Afterwards, we pack up our stuff and Klein brings us to a condo building where he owns a penthouse condo with a view of the ocean that he really only used as a vacation home with his wife while his real home in closer to SDC headquarters. Despite some resistance from us not wanting to impose, he insisted, saying he couldn't really stand to keep using it now that his wife is gone, and still going on that he meant what he said about helping us whenever we needed it. We make it to the condo, me now wearing my red shoes, red hoodie and black jacket over that, over my previously mentioned clothes. Its a pretty nice place with an open floor for the second floor. The kitchen and living room are next to each other in an open space and a cleaning room behind the kitchen. The three of us enter carrying our share of luggage. "Welcome to your new home. If you have any questions don't hesitate to call and ask, but I should warn you now that there is only one bedroom up on the second floor. I'll let you decide among yourselves who gets it while I fetch your remaining bags." He leaves us alone. I insist Yang takes it and I take the couch on account of her being older but she insists I take it on account that I've been through enough as it is and believes I deserve it more than she does. Usually when we can't agree on things like this with words, we always decide it in a different way... with a round of matches between us on our favorite fighting game since we were kids: Kung Fu Ninja Ultimate Slayer Death Battle 2! So we immediately break out the our game console, put in cartridge and start battling. In a strange reverse sense, the loser gets the room, but thats just how it is with us. But after a while...
Game: "SOARING NINJA WINS! TOTAL ANNIHILATION!" Yang wins best two out of three. Just my luck. Later that night after we've unpacked all our stuff and settle in, I work in the back room trying to clean the paint out of my suit but ultimately fail. The nearest thing to wipe myself off is a sheet covering a large crate. After I pull it off I notice that it's a piece of tech labeled with the SDC logo. Must've been something she had Klein hold on to. After cleaning myself off, I decide to turn in for the night and am now in my new bed wearing my black tank top and white pajama pants with pink rose patterns video chatting with Velvet.
Velvet: "Have you sent in your applications yet?"
Ruby: "I literally just finished my Beacon submission." From tomorrow onwards is our senior year so it's about time we sent in our college applications. Us and Oscar all hope to get into Beacon Academy in Forever Falls, it's especially a big deal for me since that's where Ms. Schnee got all her degrees back then. "What about you?"
Velvet: "Same deal. And Oscar too."
Ruby: "Cool. And just imagine if we all got in."
Velvet: "Yeah, but... we have to take scholarships so that can actually happen."
Ruby: "Well I wouldn't really worry about that. You've got the scores, you've got the grades-"
Velvet: "You know I can tell you think I'm being too pragmatic, right?"
Ruby: "Yeah I can but it's not that... Well... Kinda. But it's fine cause it's one my favorite things about you."
Velvet: "Really?"
Ruby: "Yeah."
Velvet: "And what about your other favorite things?"
Ruby: "Well, first off, your relentless optimism."
Velvet: "I just don't see the point in being too overly pessimistic."
Ruby: "Your being a people person, both human and Faunus."
Velvet: "Human. Faunus. Who cares? We're all still people who live on this planet, right?"
Ruby: "Your a sports fan."
Velvet: "I think our school might get creamed this year."
Ruby: "And then there's your blunt honesty. Your just not afraid to speak your mind, no matter who you're talking to." Velvet shifts to lay on her side.
Velvet: "Speaking of... Do you mind if I ask a bit of a... weird and maybe kinda personal question?" Personal? I know she's trying to spare my feelings, but... I don't really care what I share with her.
Ruby: "Go for it."
Velvet: "...Does any part of you feel relieved about all of this?" That... is actually a tough one to answer. Of course I was never to coy about having people know my identity, even if there were people I wanted to know. But if I'm being honest...
Ruby: "...Ever since that spider bit me... I've felt like only one week of my life has felt even the slightest bit normal... which was when you found, because by then everyone I actually wanted to know, knew. But now everyone know. And given the circumstances behind it, I may now be the most famous person in the whole world... despite still being broke." I feel like that was the kind of joke Dad would've made if he were still here. As bad as it was, it still managed to get a chuckle out of her.
Velvet: "Well... We should probably get some rest. I'm sure we're going to have a lot to deal with tomorrow onward."
Ruby: "No doubt. ...I love you."
Velvet: "I love you too. Good night."
Ruby: "Good night." The conversation ends there as we hang up and I plug my phone up to charge as I finally head to bed... despite the fact that, because of everything that's happened, I doubt I'll be getting much sleep for a while.