Fanfic / Vale's Underground (rewrite)

Vale's Underground (rewrite) is a RWBY Alternate Universe Fic written by Snarky_SilverHaired_Sociopath. After the original story was canceled, the writer announced that they were going to rewrite the fic. The first chapter was released in February of 2020

SPOILERS FROM BOTH THE STORY AND THE SHOW ARE UNMARKED.

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Tropes:

Adaptation Deviations compared to the original

• Adaptational Badass: Emerald suffered Adaptational Wimp in the original story. Here, she gets back up to the level she was in canon.
• Adaptational Early Appearance: Penny and Salem show up in the second chapter. Penny was introduced in Chapter 5 in the first fic, and Salem didn't show up until Chapter 9.
• Adaptational Job Change:
  • Torchwick was an organ trader in the original fic. Here, he is a human trafficker. As such, several others who are (or were) under his employ have different jobs.
    • Watts was working for Torchwick in his organ-harvesting operation. Here, he's Salem's resident tech expert.
    • Nia was working with Torchwick to get women to harvest organs from. Now, she is actually his enforcer.
    • Tyrian is now Salem's devoted enforcer rather than an organ harvester for Torchwick.
  • Lil' Miss Malachite worked with the Branwens and was more of an informant. Now, she is a drug dealer primarily as well as being an informant.
  • Emerald was simply Cinder's assistant in the original fic. Here, she's Co-Dragons with Mercury.
• Adaptational Villainy:
  • Sienna Khan was a heroic figure and political activist. With Robyn Hill presumably taking over that part considering her role in canon, Sienna went back to being a villain.
  • Emerald seems much more ruthless compared to her meek self in the original fic.
• Adaptation Dye-Job: Rather than being an albino like in the original, Salem has her original canon appearance with blonde hair, blue eyes, and naturally pale skin.
• Adaptation Relationship Overhaul: Roman was in a sexual relationship with Nia in the original, but that does not seem to be the case here since he's having one with Lil' Miss instead.
• Ascended Extra:
  • Weiss' parents were only used as a part of her Coming-Out Story in the original fic. Jacques seems to have a much larger role by involving himself in politics.
  • Salem seems to be more involved in the plot.

Other tropes

• Abled in the Adaptation: Mercury had his legs cut off on the show, but there is no indication that he has lost them here.
• Abusive Parents: The way Salem acts around Cinder implies that she is sexually abusive and has been in the past. One of the tags seems to confirm this.
• Accomplice by Inaction: The reason the Schnee Energy Corporation has such a bad reputation of being an associate with the White Fang is that they threatened to hurt his family if he didn't allow them to operate freely. As such, many people believe that he is actively working with them when he has little interaction with them other than staying out of their way.
• Adaptational Heroism: Jacques Schnee in canon was an Abusive Parent, a Corrupt Corporate Executive, and willing to work with villains to get what he wants. Jacques Schnee here is an Honest Corporate Executive, a genuinely Good Parent, and was forced into acquiescing to the White Fang's demands so they wouldn't hurt his family or business.
• Adaptational Mundanity: Like the original, this is set in a real-world setting. Which means there are no Battle Auras, no Semblances, no Grimm beasts, no Faunus, and no Dust. Because of the last one, the Schnee Dust Corporation becomes the Schnee Energy Corporation. In addition, the White Fang is a mob faction rather than a terrorist organization.
• Adaptation Dye-Job:
  • Nia (Neo) has uniformly brown hair, and while she has heterochromia, she has a blue eye instead of a pink one.
  • Salem brings up the fact that Cinder dyed her hair black when it was originally blonde.
• Adaptation Name Change:
  • "Cinder" and "Salem" are implied to be aliases.
  • Neopolitan changes to Nia Poletti.
  • Vine Zeki becomes Vince Zeki. The author admits that they'd have a tougher time selling the fact that a man is named "Vine" in the real world.
• Antagonistic Offspring: Cinder makes no secret that she loathes Salem. Not that it deters Salem from being affectionate with her, possibly adding more resentment.
  Salem: You really should have kept your hair blonde. I liked it better.
  Cinder: I know you do. That's why I fucking dyed it.
• Chubby Chaser: Lil' Miss calls Roman out for being this when she mentions why he likes her, saying that there's "more to love."
• Disabled in the Adaptation:
  • Torchwick was an experienced fighter in canon. He requires the assistance of a cane to walk here.
  • Whitley was mentioned to be wheelchair-bound thanks to the White Fang. He walks perfectly fine in canon.
• Expy: Salem took cues from Ragyo Kiryuin in the original fic, and this seems to be true here as well. She is an Evil Matriarch who gets incredibly touchy-feely with her daughter, and assists said daughter in her villainous exploits (even though she'd prefer her not to do so).
• Fat Bitch: Lil' Miss is a hefty gangster who is quite known for her weight.
• Funetik Aksent: Lil' Miss' southern accent is written in this way.
• Happily Married: Ruby and Blake have a rather loving relationship.
• Hartman Hips: Ruby lampshades this about Harriet when she mentions that Cardin keeps trying to grab her ass.
  "Well, there is a lot to grab."
• Henpecked Husband: She's not even married to him anymore, but Lil' Miss' dynamic with Junior still carries undertones of this. She likely was the one wearing the pants in the relationship when they were married.
• Kingpin in His Gym: Cinder is seen sparring with Mercury in a gym during Chapter 2. It also doubles as Workout Fanservice since Cinder is only in a sports bra and shorts while Mercury is shirtless.
• Miss Kitty: Yang happens to be the successful owner of her own brothel called the Sun Dragons. Unlike most versions of the trope, she is much younger and still participating in the sex work herself.
• Nightmare Fetishist: Penny is introduced showing an almost child-like glee looking at the aftermath of Tyrian's attack on the White Fang safehouse. She mentions that she has a collection of gruesome crime-scene photos — some of which she keeps on her phone.
• Never My Fault: Cardin refuses to take responsibility for screwing up the drug bust he was working on.
• Pragmatic Villainy: As much as Cinder would love to spill some blood, she intends to work with the White Fang to reach a resolution. One reason why Tyrian's slaughter at their safehouse annoys her, making things difficult to start negotiations.
• The Queenpin: Cinder and Sienna both run organized crime in their cities.
• Reluctant Fanservice Girl: Compared to Yang, Pyrrha is less into her job as a sex worker.
• Sadist: Cinder takes pleasure in torturing others and seems to be an avid Torture Technician.
• Would Hurt a Child: It is implied that the White Fang is not above this. Qrow implies that Whitley was harmed due to Jacques interfering with his business.

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