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Ruby - 1

Ruby Rose gave a heartfelt sigh as she glowered at her sister across the tavern table. "Mind telling me what it is that I'm doing here?" she asked, her hand making sure that Crescent Rose was within reach. Her repair kit was on her toolbelt, exactly where it should be, with every piece catalogued carefully and meaningfully. The chance of being robbed was fairly low in any place, and in a tavern like this, even lower. On Patch? Close to zero. And with Yang Xiao Long as her sister, grinning at her as if she was the butt of some darn joke, the chances were lower than even that. She put up her boots on the table, letting them crash down on the solid wooden table.

"You mean what are you doing here, in front of me right now, or what it is that I brought you here, in this bar for?" Yang smirked. Ruby stared at the ceiling for a moment, asking the gods to let her keep her patience. She took a chance to stare at the bartender, a tall black haired man in a formal shirt glaring at her sister.

"I don't think the bartender likes your boots on the table," Ruby noted.

"Eh, Junior knows he can't do anything about it," Yang said, flippantly waving her bloodied hands around. They weren't bloody now, of course, but there was definitely old blood on her hand wraps. "Are you really curious or are you just trying to buy time to figure out a way to get out of here?" she asked.

"Mostly the second," Ruby admitted. "I'm still of the opinion we don't need more hands for this. We got you and me! And they're just small monsters."

"But with monsters come treasures!" Yang grinned, putting her boots on the floor. To the bartender's continued exasperation she slammed her fist down on the table. "And it's not like we have a big cart. More people, the more loot we can carry back!"

"I didn't install those extra holding chambers in Crescent Rose just so you can fill it with loot," Ruby rolled her eyes. "And what're the chances we're going to find someone decent in a tavern of all places?"

"At this point, I'm just looking for someone that won't run off with all our stuff like the last two tried. By the way, you did grab more healing potions right?" Yang asked. Ruby rolled her eyes, quickly palming them out of her pack to show the two small vials, filled to the brim with a glowing green liquid. "And those aren't bombs?" she asked.

"The shopkeeper said they were healing potions. I keep telling you that you should just trust me and the elixirs I make."

"Yeah but that takes time, and that's what we don't have," Yang murmured, staring at the job board towards the front of the bar. A small old man was at it, putting up a new piece of paper. Ruby's eyebrows rose in a confused look. The last she'd heard, their finances weren't...the best...but they had enough to get through the next month or two, if they were frugal.

"Don't tell me we were robbed again while you were out training," Ruby put the pieces together. Yang immediately hopped up and went to see the new paper. "Yang!" Ruby shouted, standing up to make sure her voice carried far before she sat down. "I suppose that's what we get for trying to be well-known..." she murmured.

The blond haired bruiser came back with the paper in tow. "I think we got our next big hit!" Yang was grinning, slamming the paper down on the table. Ruby saw Junior grimace behind the bar, trying to distract himself from the slamming of his tables. "Antlions, down on the farm!"

"And how much does this one pay, now that I quickly found out we have no money?" Ruby asked, putting her elbow on the table, and resting her head on her hand.

"Eh...ten silver?" Yang said, looking down at the paper. Ruby glanced at it, seeing the bad imitation drawing of what she guessed was supposed to be an antlion. Although what those were, she wasn't sure. It looked like just a bigger ant. "Come on, it's the best we're gonna get if we're not going down to the mines."

Ruby shuddered. "Yeah, let's not go down there again..." she murmured. The last time they'd gone down, it hadn't been the kobolds on the top area that had been the trouble. It had been the Grimm on the third floor. Yang still had a massive scar down her sternum because of it, and Ruby had more than a few scars on her torso and legs from the thing.

They hadn't even managed to actually kill it, either. They ended up running at the last second, and it was only because of a lucky rock in the way that they got away. She could still remember the sounds the bony plates made as Crescent Rose scraped against it, unable to actually do anything against it.

"Ten silver though? Seems kind of...low," Ruby commented. "For a job like this I'd be expecting at least double that, for antlions."

"Eh, I know what they are. They're giant lizards, only called antlions because they're like lions on ants. They have giant claws that they can use to rend into the dirt. You'll see," Yang nodded.

"That sounds more like anteaters than anything, but those aren't lizards..." Ruby advised, before she forced herself up with a small groan. "Alright though. It's not that far out of the way. Maybe this way we can get enough money to get off Patch." Her hand tugged on Crescent Rose's strap, hurling it onto her back. Within another minute, her backpack filled with everything else she'd ever need, like soap or a flint and steel.

"Hopefully without having to sell that scythe of yours," Yang grinned. "Thanks Junior!" she yelled out. The bartender gave a heartless growl that sounded ominously like 'get out'. "You'd think some people would know better at this point."

"Didn't you blow up his last place?" Ruby asked as Yang slipped on her own backpack. They were traveling light, as they almost always were. Yang shrugged.

"Not my fault that some loser was trying to fight me next to the fireplace."

"You'd think they'd have learned after Master Sal taught you," Ruby muttered under her breath. "Which farm exactly, did it say?" she asked.

"Paper didn't say, but I'm guessing just on the outskirts. No chance of Grimm this time!" Yang cheered. Ruby followed her, her eyes on the last workshop that she was allowed at. It had almost everything she needed as an inventor, to try to make Crescent Rose better than it was.

The town of Patch was more of an island, if anything. Off the coast of the capital of Vale, the only way in or out was by boat, which only left once each day. If anyone had mail for Vale or anywhere else in the world, it would take much longer to get to and from Patch than anywhere else. It was heavily forested in most areas, with the largest segment hollowed out for the fishermen and the farmers.

It wasn't much, but it was her home. Somewhat. Ruby didn't remember the exact specifics, only that she and Yang had found themselves there when she was young, almost too young to remember anywhere else. She remembered their father, but no mother, and Yang remembered only a bit more. She remembered their dad telling them a specific name; Branwen, although Ruby had no recollection of that. They had no one to care for them, so they jumped around a lot as kids between either the farms, the fishermen, or even the main street of Patch. Most people took pity on them, handing them small pieces of fish or bread, or letting them come in out of the cold.

The farms were spread out far from each other, massive fields that contained anything and everything in between, but it was easy to see which one was affected by the antlions. A field had been left by itself, a single large ant-like creature in the middle of it, chewing on some of the carrots or wheat that had once been planted around it. The field now was basically bare, the only thing between them and it being a shoddy old fence.

"You did remember to keep that paper?" Ruby asked as she stared at the ant. "Because that's farmer Daffy's land."

"Shoot. I didn't think of that," Yang said as she glanced down at it. "Oh yeah, Farmer Daffy's the one who put in for it. Nothing for it?" Yang grinned, the look in her eyes that said she knew she messed up. Ruby took a deep breath, before she nodded.

"Only one thing for it," Ruby said, unfurling Crescent Rose, and pulling it out of its compact form. In her hands the large metal scythe appeared, filled to the brim with bits and levers that only she knew how to operate. If anyone else tried to use it they'd find themselves up a creek without a paddle. She hit one bit on the side, grinning as the weapon started to vibrate ominously.

"Aww yeah!" Yang shouted as she hopped the fence in one smooth movement. Her pack had been slammed into the ground, and Ruby's joined it a moment later. It was harder to climb over than it was for Yang, but she was small enough that she could fit in between the posts. She gripped Crescent Rose tighter, feeling it's hum as it purred into her bones.

As fast as Yang was, the ant seemed to look up and see them, getting ready for its attackers. How it got here, Ruby didn't know, but she knew what they were going to have to do about it. She rushed in first, trying to get the first hit off. Maybe they could end it so fast that they wouldn't need to use those healing potions-

The ant was swift, and ducked under her swing. How something with six or eight legs could move so quick Ruby wasn't sure. Even as she tried to swing again downwards, the ant only moved slightly to the left, before it came in and butted her with its mandibles.

The first one barely missed her cloak, threatening to pull it off, before the second assault came home. The harsh and pointed mandibles bit into her torso, and she let out a groan. Another attack like that and she'd be dead.

"No one messes with my sister!" Yang yelled, coming from the other side. Her fists were on fire, and something in the ants eyes realized that it should be paying more attention to Yang than it should her. It didn't tighten its jaws, instead trying to turn around, only to get one fist to the side of its head and the other right in the eye itself.

Yang moved faster than lightning, two swift strikes in less than half as many seconds. Each one burned with the fury of Yang's anger, and the ant recoiled from the quick strikes. Two more punches missed, hitting the dirt each as she tried to corner the thing.

Ruby spotted her opening. Working through the pain in her torso, she swung Crescent Rose as hard as she could into the final part of it. The thorax, she wasn't sure if that's what it's name was. She winced as the sound of the steel sliding off of the hard carapace filled the air, before she pushed herself that much harder, and swung upwards with it.

The ant didn't get another chance, having been bisected cleanly by the power of her scythe. It left off the ground for just a second, before the two halves fell a moment later.

"Ruby, are you alright?" Yang said as the fires stopped from her fists, immediately rushing over to her younger sister. "I wasn't expecting you to run in from the front!"

What else was she going to do? Yang had already chosen to flank, but flanking only helped if someone was actually there to flank with. Attacking from two sides was simply the most prudent option. She gripped one hand to her stomach, feeling the light liquid as it poured out of her. It wasn't bad, per se, but if she'd taken another hit like that she probably would have been.

"You need help from the front, and Crescent Rose was here to keep me safe, mostly. And my armor," Ruby tried to keep a positive outlook. She didn't want Yang to have to worry about her. There was a twitch from her ribs, and she stifled the gasp that wanted to emanate. She was not in good health.

"Oi! That you adventurer's out here...oh. It's you two," Ruby heard a voice call out from the other side of the farm. A tall man, toned with muscle from use on the farm, with the salt and pepper hair that was common for people his age. He had no laugh lines, instead a harsh face that glowered at everyone. Especially Ruby and Yang.

Farmer Daffy. He gave a low growl as he came up to them. "And what do you two...oh," he said, stopping as he saw the corpse of the giant ant. "So that's what's been plaguing my plants."

"Yeah, job done. Now can we get paid?" Yang asked, making sure that Ruby was stable before she marched up to him.

"I promised to pay, but not to you two. Always asking for handouts-"

"We killed it!"

"And do you have proof of that?" Daffy asked, his voice dark and growling. "All I see is two wanna-be's who don't know when they're outmatched. Come on, who did you steal the credit from? The town guard?"

"No, we killed it ourselves! It almost got Ruby! It's blood is still dripping off her scythe!" Ruby glanced up to see that there was in fact small amounts of blue blood coming from her scythe.

Farmer Daffy scowled as he leaned over to see Ruby, who was still holding her side. She saw him lean over, and realize he was staring at her, before she tried to push her back up to look like she hadn't just had a bite taken out of her. She gave a soft squeak as pain flood her stomach and torso again.

"Eh. Not my problem you two almost got yourselves killed," Daffy said. He reached behind him for a small burlap sack, and slowly counted out eight silver coins. "Fine. Payment. Eight silver."

"The flyer said ten!"

"Then minus two because it was you two!" Daffy answered, roaring back just as loud as Yang was yelling. "Get off my land, and stay off my land!"

Yang rolled her eyes as she accepted the eight silver anyways, putting it in her own burlap sack next to her waist. Ruby had always said that it was a silly place to put a coinpurse. She preferred hers, worn as a necklace that hid it out of view in her clothes.

Much less likely to get it taken by a cut purse.

Ruby's legs were still working, fortunately, and she noticed with gratefulness that Yang was walking deliberately slow. The gates were open, and Ruby noticed that Daffy was slowly looking over the slayed giant ant.

"Can't believe he ripped us off like that! Can you believe that, Ruby!?" Yang was shouting as she walked down the road. Ruby tried to hide her winces.

"Yeah, actually," Ruby admitted. "The last time we were there we did accidentally burn four fields of his. Almost got his house, too," she said.

It had been a pure accident, and it hadn't even technically been their fault either. They had been chasing after a thief that stole some wedding ring, along with a bit of other jewelry. As soon as he hopped the fence onto Farmer Daffy's land, he started creating small sparks, making the rest of the wheat and corn and veggies start to go up in flames.

They had caught the thief, but the reward was a paltry fifteen silver, and it had to go all the way back straight to Farmer Daffy in recompense for getting his fields burned.

He hadn't liked them ever since. When they'd first landed on Patch, he'd actually been one of the kinder ones.

"That wasn't our fault! How were we supposed to know the guy had a spark?"

To be fair, they wouldn't have known. It wasn't secret, truthfully, but everyone who had the spark wanted to learn how to use it.

After all, magic was so much more effective than basic weapons. Neither Ruby nor Yang had the spark in them, and it was only around a one in ten chance of anyone being born with it. "Hey," Yang said after a moment as they got closer to the main drag of town. "Just remember what you always say, yeah?" she asked.

"Whatever comes our way," Ruby answered with a smile, hiding the pain that she felt. Walking sucked, but they needed to keep those health potions safe until they could either make more, which she did know how to do but even that cost money, or simply buy them.

It was one of the only things she remembered from her dad. Yang remembered more of him, a strong blonde haired man who sacrificed himself to get his two daughters to safety. It was a phrase he used, all the time. They walked passed the job board, empty again as it usually was on Patch. "I'm heading to the inn," Ruby said quietly. "I'll get some rest and see if I can't tune up Crescent Rose a bit," she finished.

Yang nodded. "Alright. I'm gonna check the docks, and the other job boards. There's gotta be at least one in the darn town. We're paid up for another two nights."

That was good, in Ruby's mind. It would take her at least that long to heal up, if not more.

The inn was tiny, just a few spare rooms on the second floor of a wooden house. There was no kitchen or food served, it was solely a place to eat. Ruby only had a few rations left, as much as she hated them, but they'd give her the energy that she'd use to heal up.

The instant she walked through the door, she noticed that Yang had started walking at her normal walking speed. Again, she felt a pang run through her. Yang would be better off sometimes if she wasn't there, but at the same time...Yang really did need her help.

"Ruby," the innkeeper said as she walked in. It was a short woman on the other side of a chair. She was reading some kind of book, gently rocking. "Are you hurt?" she asked.

"I'm fine, Mrs. Appleton," Ruby answered, her voice steeled. "I'm just gonna rest for a bit."

"Alright. You're paid up for a few more days. If you need some water pulled up, let me know. A bath is two silver extra," Mrs. Appleton said, her voice kind and congenial, before she turned back to her book.

The stairs were a pain, and Ruby winced with every step. She didn't have to hide it now, and as soon as she got to her and Yang's shared room she peeled off her 'armor'. It was nothing more than a simple leather cloak, dyed red, but it did the job she needed it to most of the time.

Her shirt came next, and she winced as she looked down at it. The ant had got her good. One pincer had almost dug into the muscle on her stomach, and the other had almost snapped it in half. She'd been only six or ten seconds away from certain death if she hadn't cut the ant when she had.

The room had no conjoining washroom, and the only one was down the hall. She forced herself to grab a new clean shirt, as much as she'd bug herself for adding to the laundry before it was ready, as she stumbled out the door to it.

The washroom was a small addition, at the end of the hallway of the three rooms. It was nothing more than a pail of water, mostly clean, and a bench with a hole in it. It was rank, and stank horrendously, but Ruby knew it was the only way to actually wash the wound off.

"This would be so much easier if I had the spark..." Ruby muttered as she cupped the water gently, before she splashed directly on it. She was fortunate that it didn't get her legs, because that would be even more painful. She hissed as the cold water infected it, but after a moment the pain slowly went away.

If she had the spark, or anything related to magic really, they would have it made. Anyone who had the spark was almost always in high demand, and they could charge whatever prices they wanted. She washed her hands through, making sure that the blood was off of her hands and that she wasn't bleeding anymore. It was still sensitive, but she'd be fine after a while.

The walk back to the room seemed even longer now, as sleep threatened to pull her back from the land of the living. In return she looked around for anything but that. There were four statues along the hallway, although only one had any real color or effort put into it. Ruby wasn't a believer in the deities, but she knew that many others did.

The Light, the Dark, Salem, and Ozma. The Light was supposedly all about goodness and justice, and was by far the most worshiped deity on Remnant. That was the one that was colored in on the wall of the hallway, a curving line that formed a circle with an open dragon's mouth focusing upwards.

The Dark was more about the opposite, but not in a bad way. It was about necessary evils, and taking what is theirs by right. Taking justice into their own hands, rather than waiting for it to happen by someone's else's. The totem for that one was a harsh curving line, unlike the Light's soft curves, that ended with an open dragon's mouth pointing downwards.

Ozma was the deity of reincarnation. Doing the same thing, every day, would eventually make it so they did better things. Hard work, essentially.

Salem was the opposite of all of them. Selfishness and want. She was also the god of magic, and of the creatures of Grimm. People prayed to her especially in the hopes of keeping the Grimm away.

Ruby opened the door to their room again, and sighed as she sat down on the bed, staring out the window. Eight silver. Most boat rides to Vale required at least thirty or forty, if not more.

And that was for one ticket. For two of them, as they would need...that would be almost sixty silver, depending on the captain.

"Ruby!" Yang shouted as she came in through the door. "We found it, we got our way out!" she said, her hand holding onto another piece of vellum.

Ruby had heard that before, but she gave Yang her full attention. "Seventy silver for this job!" she said quietly, holding the scrap for her to read.

One of the richest people on Patch wanted someone to go into a mine, not the one with Grimm in it fortunately, and search for the remains of their mining crew, as they hadn't come back in several days. Payment on receipt of verifiable news, such as the helmet or pickaxe of the lead miner.

"Yang..." Ruby said as she looked at the bottom of the scrap. "This also says that the mine they were in was the old prison."

Yang froze. "I...well, zombies means no Grimm right?" she grinned nervously.

Ruby took the moment to sigh. "This is probably going to kill us," she murmured. "But it's the best bet we got. When do we leave?" she asked.

"I took the only one on the job board, but the runner probably posted it in other places. I say we go now. We still have most of the afternoon!" Yang smirked.

Ruby nodded, before she looked down to her pack. She hated that she cleaned the wound before she took the healing vial. But the needs of their purses was strong.