#while likely pushing Alyx's paranoia regarding Jaune's behaviour so she would split up the party and get Jaune out of the way

[sir-adamus]

the Cat deliberately lured them to Herb's too - right after poking Ruby's trauma button about the hopelessness of the situation with Salem, stranding them in the forest close enough that the group would stumble on Herb's place

and then waiting for Ruby to be at her lowest in the smoke before interrupting, making it look like they were 'saving' the team from Herb while accusing him of having gone rogue and in need of ascension to cover the deception

really playing the long game throughout here

#RWBY9 #RWBY spoilers #RWBY9 spoilers #there's also a frame in Jaune's recap of what happened with Alyx #where Alyx is standing over him after he's been poisoned #and the Cat's eyes appear #fucking thing absolutely manipulated them to make Alyx look like the bad guy to Jaune - drive him to despair as a potential vessel #while likely pushing Alyx's paranoia regarding Jaune's behaviour so she would split up the party and get Jaune out of the way #layers on layers of manipulation