This is great. I've been looking for development of Ironwood's character for awhile. I feel sorry for him after watching season three; it seems like the world would probably hate him for all that happened in Vale, and the hacked broadcast probably wrecked his reputation abroad. After all, he was Head of Security that night.
-WP

This was an amazing oneshot I loved the metaphors and I feel like itoneood is instinct and on a funnier note like his name suggests he's the dick(in more ways than one) of the body the part that's headstrong and
to back down when it's important

This was lovely! I adore this metaphor and your exploration of not only which of the inner circle make up which body parts but also which could be lost without the whole thing falling apart - spot on. It really fits the somewhat dark tone we've gotten since Vol. 3 where some people are just more 'important' in the war than others and there will always be sacrifices. You also did a great job of making me feel for Ironwood here. He's stubborn and perhaps misguided, but his reflections on whether or not he can love are pretty heart-rending.

Thanks so much for writing! 3

James Ironwood is, exactly as he put it, the voice of reason. No, not that he is correct, he is often not, but he puts up an opinion for Ozpin to review. He is the instinct, like Ozpin is the head, and both sides may see what the other does not, and both works together with the rest ensure the survival of the entire body. There are times when one screw up tho, and sometimes even both. But the body can heal. The head can heal, replaced even, with Oscar. The eyes, ears, hands the same, Qrow Branwen. An infection may occur, like with the leg, Leo, and needs to be lopped off.

If only he can see it. But neither does Jaune.

Generational Xerox, anyone?

Oh, and a wonder why he doesn't put the STR crew into it. In my opinion, Tai was a hand. Raven was the eyes and ears before Qrow had to pull triple-duty.

And Summer?

The Soul.

Want to know what I see James as? Amygdala. It's a part of brain (of 'head', per se) that mainly deals with fear and anxiety above other sort of emotions, by deriving either instinctual stimuli or convoluted path of calculated information processing. It's also play significant part to set your mind for anticipation of any threats (but not necessarily 'fight or flight' response, imho).

And the funny thing is, you can live on well without your Amygdala-just that your life will be literally 'fearless'. You won't be able to perceive fear.

Somehow it fit Ironwood in your interpretation here. Fear, for many people, become an opposition and/or obstacle when someone have to take actions, or someone's conclusion. Fear, anxiety and cautiousness often ridiculed as someone's cowardice. As Ozpin is the majority of the brain/head, 'the action and conclusion', Ironwood 'the fear and cautiousness'-the amygdala.

Granted, Ironwood wasn't out of blame for what happened during Vytal festival incident (how easily his security plan is hacked by Cinder & co was his biggest sin), but to see Ozpin looked like almost ignoring his view completely really piss me off. That, or it's just Ozpin's character being butchered by CRWBY's sub-par writing at that time (yisss I'm talking to ya Miles and Kerry).

k lol