[ a few hours after ozpin's broadcast, penny has yet to make a reply of her own. she keeps going over all of the information, taking in its details. it's a lot more than ruby or anyone else had been able to communicate to her, but the more she ponders on it, the more the things that her father and general ironwood had told her make sense.
she feels like she has to talk to him one-on-one, with no holds barred. ]
Professor Ozpin... This is Penny. Could I talk to you?
voice; listen. penny can show up whenever she wants.
[ ozpin is still getting used to this whole . . . telepathy thing, and he still isn't sure he likes or approves of it. but it is what it is, he supposes, and he soon responds: ]
Miss Polendina. You can speak to me whenever you wish -- what can I do to help?
It was about that message you sent out - the one from earlier today.
[ she pauses - if she had the capacity to breathe, she'd probably be taking a deep one right now. ]
I very much appreciate all of the information that you explained. There were some things that I knew, but a lot of things that I didn't... And I just want you to know that you don't have to hide anything from me.
I know... [ another pause. ] I know what happens to me after the Vytal Festival.
[ there's a silence, for half a moment, as ozpin lets that hang in the air, before he speaks. ]
Pyrrha Nikos is one of my best students, and I would be a poor Headmaster if I was to skip out on any of my student's contests, but particularly hers. I watched the match from my office.
[ he pauses. ]
I am sorry, Penny. I did not mean to make you feel uncomfortable, or that I was avoiding a topic. I simply did not want to add more to all of your shoulders, when you all collectively have enough. But if you require anything of me -- whether it be answers, or someone to speak with -- I am here.
[ and before she knew what happened at the match's end, she had wanted to face her in a rematch. now... she isn't so sure. ]
It's okay. I just wanted to make sure you knew that I knew... I talked about it with Pyrrha and Ruby a while ago. [ and it was incredibly upsetting. ] I don't want there to be secrets between us.
[ even when they're away from the dangers of the grimm, cinder, or that "salem" person that ozpin had mentioned, honesty is very important to penny. she wants to get along with everyone - to be friends. ]
And... You're all right with me? Even though I'm not... "like" everyone else?
[ honestly, penny feels like she'll have to do the same. she hadn't questioned it when her father and general ironwood sent her to vale to compete in the festival, nor when the general had expressed concern about the longevity of peace in remnant. now she wants to know everything.
though it can't be seen, her tone of voice is reflective of her small smile. ]
I guess it would... I just didn't know what everyone would think. General Ironwood didn't want me to tell anyone.
[ of course he didn't, because penny is a powerful weapon. and ozpin tries not to think of penny that way, but ozpin knows atlas, and he knows the culture of atlas. that is, likely, precisely what penny initially was. until she became more than that.
this poor child should have never been involved in the festival to begin with. ]
It can be terrifying, sharing something like that about yourself. Sometimes, difference is met with fear, or misunderstanding. I am not like everyone else, either -- conquering that fear is difficult.
However, I have great belief in the ability of people -- all people, whether it be humans, or Faunus, or individuals such as yourself -- to find commonalities with one another, rather than focus on the differences. And I have yet to be proven wrong, with my friends, and my students. We all work together, for the greater good, because of our differences, not despite them.
That is why everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from, is given the opportunity to study at Beacon.
[ she almost asks him if he's a robot too, but doesn't - he's far too fleshy, and she would know. but what he says intrigues her all the same, so she has to voice some sort of inquiry.
she listens patiently to the rest of what he has to say, and it resonates with her. the more she hears about beacon, the greater it sounds... and the more she laments that she'll never have the opportunity to be one of its students. ]
Being in Vale for the Festival was so much fun... I really wanted to stay at Beacon and get to know everyone. That's why I'm so happy to be here.
[ it's a second chance at life that she never thought she'd need. ]
No, I'm not. I have something of an extraordinary gift [ a curse. it's a curse. ] that grants me abilities that make me different. The story puts quite a few people off, when I tell it, but I've found a group of friends that are more than willing to care for me despite my oddities.
[ even if it takes some ... repetition to really get the point across, and to get people to believe him, and to screen people, and see if they're trustworthy. so on, and so forth.
-- that part makes his heart hurt, slightly, and there's a pause -- weighing out what he wants to say, before: ]
I would have been more than happy to offer you a position, at Beacon Academy, should you have requested it. You would have been a brilliant addition to our community and our home.
I think I get it. [ she really doesn't, but at least the sentiment is familiar to her. ] I'm glad that you've found people that you can trust.
[ she'd like to think that she's found her own group of friends in teams RWBY and JNPR, along with all of the other friends she's made here. it's already incredible in itself that she isn't the only robot here - it makes her feel accepted.
ozpin's offer makes her feel accepted as well, and there's a palpable warmth that spreads through their link. ]
I have! Now that everything is out in the open, I'm really getting friendly with everyone. I would speak highly of them, too!
[ it's been nice, living with everyone. even if she doesn't function like a human does, living an everyday life and being welcomed in as a friend is something very important to her. ]
And... I've met other people here, too. People that weren't born, but made... Just like me.
[ omg. let her tell you about her robot squad, ozpin. there's a palpable excitement over their link now! ]
Well, there's Soundwave, who can transform into a truck. He doesn't always look like a human, but Silke does - she's about as human-looking as they come! If she didn't call me out, I sure would have been fooled.
[ team ESSP? PESS? EPSS? SSEP? the permutations are endless, and equally as nonsensical. she hadn't thought of them as teammates, though... ]
I guess I do, don't I? Maybe I should bring it up.
[ she's kidding, but the idea is actually kind of fun to think about. any of her friends would make a much friendlier partner than ciel, in any case. ]
I'm certain RWBY and JNPR would jump at the opportunity to have another group of individuals to spar with in the future.
[ though a handful of them seem intent on taking advantage of the fact that he's here to keep them busy, but. you know. whatever. maybe now ozpin will actually earn his salary. ]
But I'm glad, Penny, that you've found people like you. As much as I value difference, and find strength in how unique we all are, there is much to be said to have solidarity and sameness, the knowledge that you are not alone. That is a powerful resource; utilize it and hold it close.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
voice; 10/16, god i'm so late
she feels like she has to talk to him one-on-one, with no holds barred. ]
Professor Ozpin... This is Penny. Could I talk to you?
voice; listen. penny can show up whenever she wants.
Miss Polendina. You can speak to me whenever you wish -- what can I do to help?
voice;
[ she pauses - if she had the capacity to breathe, she'd probably be taking a deep one right now. ]
I very much appreciate all of the information that you explained. There were some things that I knew, but a lot of things that I didn't... And I just want you to know that you don't have to hide anything from me.
I know... [ another pause. ] I know what happens to me after the Vytal Festival.
voice;
Pyrrha Nikos is one of my best students, and I would be a poor Headmaster if I was to skip out on any of my student's contests, but particularly hers. I watched the match from my office.
[ he pauses. ]
I am sorry, Penny. I did not mean to make you feel uncomfortable, or that I was avoiding a topic. I simply did not want to add more to all of your shoulders, when you all collectively have enough. But if you require anything of me -- whether it be answers, or someone to speak with -- I am here.
voice;
[ and before she knew what happened at the match's end, she had wanted to face her in a rematch. now... she isn't so sure. ]
It's okay. I just wanted to make sure you knew that I knew... I talked about it with Pyrrha and Ruby a while ago. [ and it was incredibly upsetting. ] I don't want there to be secrets between us.
[ even when they're away from the dangers of the grimm, cinder, or that "salem" person that ozpin had mentioned, honesty is very important to penny. she wants to get along with everyone - to be friends. ]
And... You're all right with me? Even though I'm not... "like" everyone else?
voice;
I think being different is one of the most important and valuable things someone can be.
Our world would be boring if everyone was precisely the same, wouldn't you agree?
voice;
though it can't be seen, her tone of voice is reflective of her small smile. ]
I guess it would... I just didn't know what everyone would think. General Ironwood didn't want me to tell anyone.
voice;
this poor child should have never been involved in the festival to begin with. ]
It can be terrifying, sharing something like that about yourself. Sometimes, difference is met with fear, or misunderstanding. I am not like everyone else, either -- conquering that fear is difficult.
However, I have great belief in the ability of people -- all people, whether it be humans, or Faunus, or individuals such as yourself -- to find commonalities with one another, rather than focus on the differences. And I have yet to be proven wrong, with my friends, and my students. We all work together, for the greater good, because of our differences, not despite them.
That is why everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from, is given the opportunity to study at Beacon.
voice;
[ she almost asks him if he's a robot too, but doesn't - he's far too fleshy, and she would know. but what he says intrigues her all the same, so she has to voice some sort of inquiry.
she listens patiently to the rest of what he has to say, and it resonates with her. the more she hears about beacon, the greater it sounds... and the more she laments that she'll never have the opportunity to be one of its students. ]
Being in Vale for the Festival was so much fun... I really wanted to stay at Beacon and get to know everyone. That's why I'm so happy to be here.
[ it's a second chance at life that she never thought she'd need. ]
voice;
[ even if it takes some ... repetition to really get the point across, and to get people to believe him, and to screen people, and see if they're trustworthy. so on, and so forth.
-- that part makes his heart hurt, slightly, and there's a pause -- weighing out what he wants to say, before: ]
I would have been more than happy to offer you a position, at Beacon Academy, should you have requested it. You would have been a brilliant addition to our community and our home.
voice;
[ she'd like to think that she's found her own group of friends in teams RWBY and JNPR, along with all of the other friends she's made here. it's already incredible in itself that she isn't the only robot here - it makes her feel accepted.
ozpin's offer makes her feel accepted as well, and there's a palpable warmth that spreads through their link. ]
...That means a lot to me, Professor. Thank you.
voice;
[ penny is welcome, always, within their circles. and, thinking on that: ]
It seems you've also found people you can trust, have you not? Ruby, and her friends, all speak highly of you.
voice;
[ it's been nice, living with everyone. even if she doesn't function like a human does, living an everyday life and being welcomed in as a friend is something very important to her. ]
And... I've met other people here, too. People that weren't born, but made... Just like me.
voice;
But tell me -- who else have you met, that are like you?
voice;
Well, there's Soundwave, who can transform into a truck. He doesn't always look like a human, but Silke does - she's about as human-looking as they come! If she didn't call me out, I sure would have been fooled.
voice;
How interesting. I believe I've spoken to one of them before, but I confess I had no idea either of them weren't human.
You almost have enough for a team.
[ TEAM ESSP ]
voice;
I guess I do, don't I? Maybe I should bring it up.
[ she's kidding, but the idea is actually kind of fun to think about. any of her friends would make a much friendlier partner than ciel, in any case. ]
voice;
[ though a handful of them seem intent on taking advantage of the fact that he's here to keep them busy, but. you know. whatever. maybe now ozpin will actually earn his salary. ]
But I'm glad, Penny, that you've found people like you. As much as I value difference, and find strength in how unique we all are, there is much to be said to have solidarity and sameness, the knowledge that you are not alone. That is a powerful resource; utilize it and hold it close.