Just Like the Movies - Chapter 4

Ruby leaned back in her chair, chin resting on the back of her hand and eyes slightly narrowed, while Penny added notes to the whiteboard.  Those notes were then connected to previous nodes by lines - some straight and some zig-zagging amongst events like a starship zipping through the stars.  

“That’s good,” Ruby commented once Penny returned the marker to its tray.  “But what’s next?”  Ruby went to the other end of the whiteboard, grabbed the marker, and circled the glaring white space at the end of their storyline.  

“We haven’t decided what comes after Phoenix.”

“That’s the problem…” Ruby sighed, dropping the marker back in its tray and moving to the exciting, bursting-with-notes portion of the board.  “We’re driving a semi at a hundred miles an hour with no idea where we’re going.  We know The Sovereign's after the relics.  We know he gets them, but do we have the right heroes to stop him?”

“You think we need another hero?” Penny asked.  

“I think we might.”  Ruby set her hands on her hips and peered over their ongoing notes.  “Another hero, another relic.  It’d build up the suspense, add another dimension to the team…”

“And give us more flexibility once they all come together.”

“Exactly.”  Ruby grabbed the pen and wrote ‘Hero X?’ in the blank space.  That small act alone eased some of her anxiety around the matter.  She returned to her seat, pressed her hands together, and waited for a spark of inspiration.  Her brain had other plans.  

Penny pored over the whiteboards, searching for tweaks or flaws in their timeline, while Ruby’s mind returned to the scribbles in the margins of her notebook.  

Picnic in the park.

Hot air balloon ride.

Stargazing.

Rooftop dinner and carriage ride.

All quintessential romance activities.  All unrelated to work yet somehow much more pressing than figuring out the end of a multi-year, multi-film, multi-billion dollar saga.

Skyfall could carry on without her, like a truck coasting downhill.  But this…thing…with Weiss felt fleeting.  Like a shooting star - Ruby either caught it or she didn’t.  Over the past few years, she missed those moments because she was too busy dragging Skyfall up a mountain.  Now…

The perfect time, the perfect moment…the perfect girl?

Rooftop dinner and a carriage ride was the answer.  Because, at this point in a relationship…feeling the way that she did…she would pull out all the stops.  She needed the prettiest horses and carriage in Vale.  She needed the rooftop with the best view.  She needed a renowned chef, servers, and live music.  She needed intimate decorations and a romantic atmosphere.

Her phone lit up on the table beside her.  The name on the screen prompted butterflies.

“I need to take this,” she told Penny, who nodded and kept working.  Ruby accepted the call and spun her chair around, beaming already.

“You have great timing.  I just figured out what we did next.”

“Before you tell me, I have…a bit of a curveball.”  

Ruby swallowed the impassioned rant that she was about to embark upon.  “Ok…?” she prodded, swiveling in her chair while waiting for Weiss’ response.  Weiss sighed first.

“So…you know my sister works with me, so she has access to my calendar.  For scheduling meetings and such.”

“Uh huh…”

“Well, apparently, she was snooping around and saw our meeting at the miniature golf course.  She asked me about it, so I told her what we came up with.”

“Did it work?”

“It did.  Too well…”

“I see that curveball whizzing at me,” Ruby joked, grinning when it earned Weiss’ short laugh.

“She told my family, and now they’re all insisting on meeting you.”  Weiss paused to let that sink in before taking a deep breath.  “So…I was wondering if you’d like to come over for dinner.  And to meet my family.”  Ruby’s chair stilled.  “It’s a chance to test everything we’ve done so far,” Weiss added.

“Right,” Ruby squeezed out.  “Yeah, of course!  I mean, that’s the least I can do after what you did for me.”

“You don’t owe me anything.  I helped of my own accord and I’m glad that I did.”

Ruby’s smile returned as she swiveled her chair faster than before.

“Then this is also of my own accord.  And it’s actually perfect.  What’s more movie-like than a sudden family obligation?”

“I’m not sure this is the plot twist I was hoping for, but…thank you.”

“Don’t mention it!  Anything for you.”  Ruby chuckled nervously, glancing at Penny before adding, “So when’s dinner?”

“Any chance you’re free tonight?”

“I’ll make time.”  Ruby cringed when her mind belatedly reminded her of the budget meeting that she had agreed to sit in on.  “Send me the details and I’ll see you tonight?”

“Of course.”  Weiss paused for a moment.  “And…I’m looking forward to seeing you, regardless of the circumstances.”

If Penny had been paying attention, she would have asked why Ruby’s heart suddenly extended from her chest like a cartoon.  “Yeah, me too,” Ruby mustered before the call ended, leaving her staring at the screen until a message arrived containing an address and time.  After confirming receipt, she set her phone down and ran her fingers vertically through her hair.

“Hey, Penny?  What should I bring to dinner at my - at a special friend’s house?”

“Well, I always bring you cookies.  Because you’re my special friend, and you love cookies.”

“And that’s why you’re the best,” Ruby replied.  “So, basically, I should bring something she likes.”

Penny nodded and then left Ruby to ponder in silence - another reason why Penny was the best.  Ruby, meanwhile, mulled over everything Weiss liked.  She didn’t like heights, so she must love solid ground.  She didn’t like golf, yet she was a miniature golf prodigy.  She didn’t like sweets yet had no issue sharing a funnel cake.  She also seemed to like it whenever Ruby made a fool of herself.

Not many of those could be wrapped and presented as a dinner gift.  At least, not an appropriate gift since Ruby wrapping herself up would be horribly misconstrued.

“I should probably check on things upstairs,” she told Penny, suddenly having much to prepare for.  “We’ll pick this up next week?”

Once Penny nodded, Ruby gathered her notebook and hurried out.  She hardly made it to the elevator before bumping into Jaune on his way to The Forge.

“Just the person I was looking for!  What do you bring to an impromptu dinner at a friend’s house?”

“Uh…wine?”

Ruby snapped her fingers.  “Genius, Jaune.  Genius.”  She shot him a set of finger guns on her way onto the elevator, leaving him baffled in her wake.  On any other day, she would have explained the situation, but she needed to move around her schedule to make time for Weiss.  

As soon as she made it to the floor of her office, she searched for Ciel.

“Ciel?” she called out, gathering the assistants’ attention but not spotting a blue beret anywhere.  “Do any of you know -?”

“Do you need me?”

Ruby yelped and jumped so far to the side that she slammed into a desk.

“Jesus, Ciel.”  Ruby pressed a hand to her chest to make sure her heart hadn’t escaped.  “Did you portal here or something??”

“I was right there.”  Ciel pointed at one of the cubicles where Ruby had definitely looked and not seen her just seconds prior.  Rather than question the girl’s ability to teleport on command, Ruby shook her head and motioned into her office.

“I need a couple of things,” Ruby explained while dropping off her notebook on her desk.  “First, can you go to the budget meeting this evening for me?  Something came up.”

“Absolutely.  I’ll take rigorous notes for you.”

“You know you don’t have to do that, right?  They’ll email out the info right after, so…”  Ciel’s expression remained unchanged, so Ruby waved a hand and said, “Do whatever makes you comfortable.”

The Head of Accounting was going to have so much fun with Ciel there, but he should be grateful that Ruby wasn’t asking Penny instead.  Penny could spot a math error from a mile away in the middle of a snowstorm.

“Second thing,” Ruby continued.  “Do we have any wine around here?”  She realized how it sounded when Ciel’s brow subtly rose.  “Not for me!  Well, kind of for me.  It’s a gift for a dinner party.”

“We keep several bottles for board members or important guests.”

“Is it good though?  Like, not cheap?”

“From my understanding, they’re very nice bottles of wine.  Very expensive.”

“Perfect.  Can you grab me one of those?”  

Ciel jotted another note on her clipboard and then looked at Ruby expectantly. 

“Anything else?”

“Nope.  Oh!  One more thing.”  Ciel paused, her pen poised to write down whatever came out of Ruby’s mouth.  “I just want to say you’re the best,” Ruby added, smiling when Ciel’s pen didn’t move.  “You keep everything running smoothly around here and I’m super grateful for that.”

Ruby could never tell if Ciel believed the compliments since she merely dipped her chin and carried on as if Ruby just told her the weather.  She did write something though - something quick and small, probably along the lines of ‘Ruby being too sentimental again.’  She hugged the clipboard to her chest so that Ruby couldn't catch a glimpse then said, “I’ll be back with the wine,” and went on her merry way.

Chuckling to herself, Ruby accomplished as much as possible before the day ended.  She made several phone calls, wrote several emails, and profusely thanked Ciel for the fancy bottle of wine delivered to her office before heading home.  Her work clothes had pulled double duty for their first two ‘dates,’ but dinner with Weiss’ family - the Schnees - called for something fancier.  Nothing too fancy, but a nice jacket and a pair of dark jeans seemed appropriate. 

Realistically, Weiss would still outdress her.  That fact made Ruby smile while she drove to an unfamiliar address in Vale’s wealthiest suburb.  The bottle of wine sat in the passenger seat, but it seemed woefully inadequate as soon as she saw the gargantuan estate matching the address that Weiss had provided.

Ruby knew that Weiss and her family were rich, but the sprawling manor prompted her to double-check the address before pulling up to the front gate.  There, she hesitated again before pressing the ‘call’ button on an intercom system.

“Please state your name and reason for visiting,” an unknown voice requested.

“Hi.  This is Ruby?  Uh, Weiss invited me for dinner - am I in the right place?”  

“Please park at the top of the drive.”

A faint buzz preceded the metal gate sliding open, leaving Ruby to wonder what she got herself into as she did what the voice instructed: park at the top of the driveway.  Her unknown guide could have also said, ‘In the shadow of the colosseum,’ and she also would’ve found it with equal ease.

The impressive, intimidating house surely scared off weaker men, but Ruby clutched the wine bottle like a life vest, took one last look at herself in the side mirror, and walked to the front door.  Honestly, the house could be even bigger and she still would have rang the doorbell with only a slight hesitation.  Weiss’ family might lie on the other side of the door, but Weiss was also here - and Ruby couldn't wait to see her.  

Weiss didn’t answer the door though.  A middle-aged man in a dapper black vest with a full brown mustache did.

“Good evening and welcome.”  

He bowed Ruby into the immaculate entryway with crystal chandeliers, marble floors, silver sconces, original artworks…everything expected from a top-tier mansion.  Yet it all paled in comparison to the vision she had hoped to see: Weiss, dressed casually in a lightweight, white jacket with flowing tan pants, and heels.  The house had been impeccably built, yet Weiss was the most flawless thing that Ruby saw.

“Thank you, Klein.”  Weiss briefly rested a hand on his shoulder before smiling at Ruby.  “Thank you for coming.”  As Klein flitted away, Weiss hugged Ruby and whispered, “I’m so sorry for dragging you into this.”

“I jumped in willingly.”  Ruby pulled away but gave Weiss’ arms a reassuring squeeze.  “And this will be great.  Promise.”

“Meeting someone’s family on the third date isn’t exactly conventional…”

“Pretending to be someone’s girlfriend five minutes after meeting them also isn’t conventional,” Ruby pointed out.  Weiss scrunched up her nose as if she might argue but, ultimately, let a small smile slip.

“Fine.  But let the record show that I am - and was - mortified about pulling you into this.”

“The record has been thusly updated,” Ruby teased.  “But I added a note that I don’t - and didn’t - mind.  It’ll be an adventure.”  Ruby waited for Weiss’ smile before holding out the wine.  “I even brought this.  Nothing says ‘adventure’ like wine, right?”

“Oh…”  Weiss accepted the bottle, spun it in her hands, then glanced to the side and leaned closer.  “I’m sorry.  My mom’s a recovering alcoholic, so…”

“So I literally brought the worst possible gift.”  

When Ruby rubbed her warming cheeks with both hands, Weiss shook her head.

“I appreciate it, really.  I just hope you don’t mind if I put it away for now?”

“By all means.”  Ruby gestured with both hands, so Weiss stuck the bottle in the bottom of the hall closet.  “You could also just smash it over my head or something.  Put me out of my misery.”  

Rather than take Ruby up on the suggestion, Weiss came over and kissed her cheek.  Then Weiss lingered, waiting for Ruby’s gaze to return to hers before saying, “You cared enough to bring a gift to the impromptu dinner I dragged you into.  Why would I think that’s anything but incredibly sweet?”

Whether due to the tender response or the warmth blossoming on her cheeks or Weiss’ continued proximity, Ruby sputtered before, ultimately, returning Weiss’ smile.  They stood practically toe-to-toe now, yet Ruby felt drawn in like she was trapped in a planet’s orbit.  She tentatively touched Weiss’ elbow and, when Weiss moved closer, curled her fingers around Weiss’ arm.

“So…” 

“Is she here??” someone shouted from upstairs, jolting Ruby with surprise.  Weiss rolled her eyes and scooted away as a young man with short white hair appeared on the upstairs landing. 

“This is my brother, Whitley,” she explained as a young man trotted down to them.

“I can’t wait to meet the sucker who agreed to date Weiss.”  

Whitley nudged Weiss’ side, earning an eyeroll, before smiling at Ruby.  Then his smile fell, his eyes squinted ever so slightly, and Ruby knew what was about to happen.  Unfortunately, she could do nothing to stop his eyes from boggling and his jaw from nearly hitting the floor.

“Holy shit!  You’re Ruby Rose!”

Ruby grimaced and rubbed the back of her neck while Weiss looked between them, her brow furrowed.

“You…know her?” 

“‘Know her,’” he repeated before gesturing a thumb Ruby’s way.  “Everyone knows Ruby Rose!  She’s the mastermind behind the best movie franchise ever.”

“I don’t know if I’d say it’s the ‘best ever…’” 

“I would!”  Whitley grabbed Ruby’s hand and emphatically shook it up and down.  “I’m a huge fan.  Like, huge.  I’ve watched all of your movies at least a million times.”

“That’s more than even me.”  

A nervous laugh slipped through Ruby’s lips as she glanced at Weiss out of the corner of her eye, trying to read Weiss’ reaction.  The only emotion Ruby could pick out was surprise, and even that disappeared behind an impressively impassive mask as soon as Whitley turned towards her.

“Why didn’t you say you’re dating Ruby Rose??” 

“Because I’m not dating her for her job,” Weiss answered without hesitation.  Ruby’s heart swooned since that was, very literally, true.  Whitley, however, narrowed his eyes.

“Don’t tell me this is a joke.”  He looked between them, realization dawning in his eyes.  “You’re punking me, right?  Because no way the coolest person in Vale is dating you.”

“Nice, Whitley.”

“I’m just saying.  You’re awesome, Weiss, but you’re just…you know, by the book.  This is Ruby Rose!  She’s come up with more ways to destroy and save the universe than just about anyone.  Ruby Rose!”

“Stop saying her name like that,” Weiss snapped.  “She’s a person and she’s our guest.  Show some manners.”

“Sorry.”  Whitley raised his hands in defeat and then grimaced at Ruby.  “Sorry, I’m just excited.  Not every day you find out your sister’s dating one of your idols.”

“It’s fine, really,” Ruby assured him before they both turned to Weiss, who gradually unruffled and tugged at her jacket.

“Are Mom and Winter ready?”

“Yeah.  They said they’d meet us in the dining room.”

Weiss took a deep breath before turning to Ruby, expression steeped in a combination of nerves and apology.  “I can give you a tour after dinner?”  Ruby hastily nodded, so Weiss took another short breath before guiding her to one of the large hallways branching off of the foyer.  

Despite so much luxury to look at, Ruby’s gaze hardly left Weiss.  An enormous elephant might as well be following them…though he wasn’t an elephant more so than a lean young man trailing right behind them.  Whitley’s presence, however, meant that Ruby couldn't explain herself.

“I’m sorry…” was all she felt comfortable whispering, but Weiss whispered, “Don’t be,” and then squeezed Ruby’s elbow.

Any hope for further discussion disappeared when they entered the largest, most exquisite dining room Ruby had ever seen.  Were it not for the two women standing beside the long, immaculate table, she would have stopped and marveled at every detail, from the polished dining table to the pristine fabric-covered chairs to the vases filled with beautiful white lilies.  Instead, she swallowed her nerves when the two women, who were nearly as gorgeous as Weiss, turned towards her.

The younger woman, who must be Weiss’ sister, regarded Ruby through slightly narrowed, very discerning eyes.  Weiss’ mother, thankfully, was quick to smile - and Ruby learned who Weiss had inherited her gorgeous smile from.

“Finally,” the woman said, briefly hugging Weiss before turning that multi-million-dollar smile upon Ruby.  “You must be Ruby.”

“Ruby Rose.”

Weiss silenced her brother with a glare before smiling at her mother.

“Yes, this is Ruby.  She’s the one I told you about.”

“‘Told us about.’”  The woman playfully huffed before leveling Ruby with a crystal blue gaze.  “If Winter hadn’t spotted it on the calendar, I’m sure my daughter would’ve kept you a secret for years.”

“Or longer…” Winter muttered under her breath.  Ruby lightly chuckled and rubbed the back of her neck.

“Sorry for that, Mrs. Schnee -”

“Please call me Willow.”

“Willow.  Right.”  Ruby had never met a partner’s parents before, so being on a first-name basis seemed strange to her.  “I’m sorry about that,” she repeated.  “We were trying to be discreet because - my job -”

“She’s the producer for the Skyfall Saga!” Whitley burst in as if he couldn't keep the information to himself anymore.  Weiss sighed heavily, but Winter squinted at him before studying Ruby.

“A producer, hm?” she mused before politely shaking Ruby’s hand.  “Winter Schnee,” she added and then said nothing more, leaving Ruby gulping under the scrutinizing look.  Whitley had been won over before she walked through the door, but Winter was intimidating.

“Well, now that we’re all here, let’s eat.”

Willow smiled while graciously directing Ruby to one of the chairs.  A tuxedoed man appeared from nowhere to pull out the seat, earning her thanks as the rest of Weiss’ family sat in similar fashion.  Weiss sat beside Ruby, but not without first tenderly brushing her fingers across Ruby’s shoulders.  Winter sat across from Weiss, her blue eyes catching every moment.  Whitley sat across from Ruby, beaming at her and practically bouncing out of his seat.  Their mom sat at the head of the table, where she smiled at her assembled guests before motioning to the waitstaff.

Dinner service at the Schnee’s was a well-timed spectacle.  Smartly dressed waiters deposited small, intricately arranged salads in unison and then offered freshly cracked salt and pepper before flitting away.  Ruby selected the salad fork from the abundance of silverware, noting Weiss’ sideways glance checking if she chose correctly, and then reminded herself to eat at half of her normal speed.

The inevitable questions would come.  She could see them rocketing around Whitley’s mind as the meal began.

“How’d you even meet?” he shot out before anyone else spoke.  Ruby speared several leaves of lettuce and glanced at Weiss.

“I accidentally launched a golf ball into her soup and made a mess of her jacket.  I apologized so much that she decided to keep talking to me.”

They shared a smile, reminiscing about that moment at the miniature golf course when they came to that wacky conclusion.

“You actually have things to talk about?”  Whitley’s question provoked Weiss’ sigh.  “What?”  He raised his hands when Weiss sent him a pointed look.  “It just doesn’t seem like you’d have anything in common.  You’re, you know, straight-laced?  And she’s, like, awesome?”

“I think Weiss is pretty awesome,” Ruby interjected.  “Way more awesome than me.  I love hearing her talk about work and her life and everything.  I don’t think we’ll ever run out of things to talk about.”

Ruby smiled at Weiss, who stared at her like a deer in headlights before Whitley scoffed and mumbled something along the lines of, “I can talk about work, too…”

“Where do you work?” Ruby asked, hoping to keep the conversation moving - especially since Winter’s astute gaze had yet to leave her.

“I, uh, I’m actually more of an ‘apprentice’ right now…”

“He just started at the family business,” his mom answered proudly. 

“He’s going through the training program,” Winter elaborated, finally turning away from Ruby in order to size up her younger brother.  “He has promise but still lacks rather basic knowledge.”

A small laugh came from beside Ruby, where Weiss tried to mask a smile at the blunt assessment.  Whitley, on the other hand, flustered for a moment before slouching in his chair.

“Yeah, well, it’s not easy when your sisters are already all-stars.  Everyone expects me to be, like, a magician or something.”

“The curse of having awesome older sisters.”  Ruby winked at Whitley and added, “I know how that feels.”

“It is a curse.  Not the worst one though, I guess.”  Whitley glanced at his sisters before regaining that endearingly boyish grin.  “But I’m the only one who knows anything about pop culture.  Pretty sure they don’t even watch TV anymore.”  As soon as Winter opened her mouth, he said, “The news doesn’t count!”

Winter closed her mouth, much to Weiss’ delight, while Ruby chuckled and snuck several more bites of salad before the waiters replaced the salad bowls with their main course.  Ruby didn’t even want to know how expensive the steak on her plate was, but she would admit that it was the juiciest, most tender thing she had ever eaten.  She didn’t even need a knife - but she still used a knife because otherwise she would look like a heathen.

The soft clink of silverware against fine china wasn’t meant to last though.  This time, the opening salvo came from Winter.

“How much do producers make these days?”  

“Winter.”  Weiss shook her head when her sister offered an innocent, “Genuine curiosity.”  Weiss scoffed and turned to Ruby, her blue eyes flitting to Winter with no small amount of irritation.  

“Don’t answer that.  She’s just being nosy.”

“I know how much the last movie made!” Whitley piped in.  “Does that help?”

“Do you know what percent of revenue the producer earns?”  As soon as Whitley’s brow furrowed, Winter patted his shoulder and said, “Thank you, but I don’t think that’ll help.”

When Ruby risked a glance at Willow, silently wondering when Weiss’ mom might join the fray, she discovered the woman smiling softly while observing the interaction.  Catching Ruby’s gaze, she picked up her sparkling water and winked at Ruby before taking a sip.  Ruby, having no idea if that was a good or bad sign, looked at Weiss with slightly wide eyes before focusing on her plate.

“I already got my tickets to Quantum Knights 2,” Whitley announced.  “Midnight showing.  I’m going as Astral Archer.”

“It’s releasing soon,” Ruby explained in response to the question in Weiss’ eyes.  “The team’s really excited about it.  Quant-Knights launches us into Skyfall’s next phase.”

“It’s a huge deal,” Whitley added, but Weiss made a face at him before picking at her food.  Her slight frown and subtly furrowed brow were so cute that Ruby wanted to tease or console her but, in present company, decided that the best she could do was reach over and gently squeeze Weiss’ knee.  When Weiss’ gaze returned to hers, she smiled - and a smile returned to Weiss’ lips, too.

“So, Ruby…”  Winter dragged Ruby’s attention away from Weiss, but Ruby knew that chaos was afoot as soon as she noticed Winter’s serious yet seriously inquisitive gaze.  “What recreational drugs do you use?”

Weiss’ fork clattered to her plate.  

“Winter!  Why would you ask that??”

Winter’s nonchalant shrug suggested that Weiss’ reaction was an overreaction.

“I heard it’s ‘all the rage’ in the movie industry.”

“And thought it was appropriate to ask about over dinner?” Weiss pointedly asked.  Winter again shrugged and turned to Ruby, expecting an answer.  “You don’t -” Weiss began again, but Ruby motioned that everything was fine before meeting Winter’s gaze head-on.

“Sorry to disappoint, but I’m not into that stuff.  I know the actors get into crazy things sometimes, but they pretty much live on their own planet.”  

When Ruby chuckled, Winter nodded and said, “Ah…I see,” before sending Weiss an innocent shrug and finishing her dinner as if discussing drug use was the most normal thing in the world.  Ruby glanced at Weiss, who mouthed, ‘I’m so sorry,’ before sending a sly grin across the table.

“Gambling’s a different issue though.”

Weiss choked back a laugh when Winter’s gaze snapped to Ruby faster than a bullet leaving a gun.  That blue gaze then slid from Ruby’s glass of water to Weiss, who covered her mouth with her napkin to muffle her laughter.  Whitley, and even Willow, soon joined in with laughs of their own.

Winter’s fleeting smile suggested that she was conceding the battle but certainly not the war.  Weiss patted Ruby’s wrist as her laughter morphed into giggles, and anything other than the adorable sound faded from Ruby’s mind.  She beamed at Weiss instead, feeling like she just accomplished a miracle.

Staring was rude, but Weiss didn’t seem to mind.  Upon composing herself, she smiled at Ruby as if thrilled that they were here together.  She wasn’t the only one who felt that way.

“Have you told her about the launch?” Winter eventually asked.  As soon as Weiss’ smile fell, Ruby glanced between Weiss and Winter before settling on Weiss.

“What ‘launch?’”

“You didn’t tell her?”

Winter’s brow rose - even Whitley looked intrigued - so Weiss sighed. 

“It’s no big deal.  The company is launching a new product in a few days, that’s all.”

“It is a big deal.”

“Thank you, Winter.”  Weiss glared at her sister before turning toward Ruby.  “It’s a big event in certain circles, but I don’t think it’s quite up your alley.”  

“Oh, just invite her, sweetie,” Willow teased.  “She’s your girlfriend, isn’t she?  I’m sure she wants to go.”

Ruby bit back a smile as a blush rushed onto Weiss’ cheeks.  Weiss’ hands curled into the napkin laid across her lap, but she took a deep breath before swiveling towards Ruby, effectively erasing her family from her line of sight.

“It’s next Monday, but you can do literally anything else and I won’t hold it against you.”

“Except I can’t imagine anything else I’d rather do,” Ruby replied, smiling at the confused little furrow in Weiss’ brow.  “Really,” she insisted.  “I’ll be there.”

A smile slipped onto Weiss’ lips, brightening her expression like a sunrise.  As soon as she noticed that she was smiling - and that she had her family’s rapt attention - she turned away and gently cleared her throat.

“Great.  I’ll…I’ll send you the details.”

Ruby beamed at Weiss’ endearing bashfulness until sensing Winter’s studious gaze.  A blush rushed onto her cheeks as she found renewed interest in her dinner.  Fortunately, conversation turned to other topics now that she’d passed the initial onslaught.  Whitley excused himself as soon as the dinner plates were cleared away, missing the delivery of a decadent cake covered in chocolate swirls.

“This is the closest thing to chocolate chip cookies my mom would approve,” Weiss whispered to Ruby, who took one bite and stifled a moan.  Weiss caught a smidgen of the sound and a little smirk tugged at her lips.  “I guess it’s good,” she lightly teased, raising her hand for a waiter’s attention and then pointing to Ruby’s plate.  Another piece appeared as if by magic, doubling the chocolate goodness and Ruby’s delight.  If dinner was delicious, Ruby needed a new term to describe dessert.

“I’ll have the kitchen pack up some for you to take home,” Willow remarked after Ruby finished the first piece before anyone else made even a dent in theirs.  Ruby’s cheeks flushed at the amused sparkle in Willow’s eyes, which reminded her of the similar looks she’d received from Weiss.  Before she could explain herself - a severe sugar deficiency, maybe? - Whitley hurried back into the dining room.

His armful of boxed action figures, rolled up posters, and weapon replicas would have raised eyebrows on a normal night.  Tonight, his skin-tight blue costume interspersed with silver, shimmering ‘metal’ and bright orange lines drawn like constellations stole the show.

“Whitley…what are you wearing??” Weiss asked.

“I’m Astral Archer!”  He dropped the odds and ends on the table so that he could hold up a large, blue bow, notch a silver arrow, and draw it back in a heroic pose.  “I’m the arrow of justice, flying truer than fate itself.”

Ruby laughed and lightly clapped at the display, but Weiss stared at him before slowly rubbing her eyes.

“Is that some sort of…child’s costume?” Winter asked.

“‘Child’s costume?’  It’s Celestial Alloy!  This is how I protect the astral realm from certain annihilation!”

Winter pursed her lips, studying her brother with just as much intensity as she had studied Ruby moments prior.  “It looks like a child’s costume,” she concluded, leaving him floundering before he shooed her comment away.

“This is why you need to watch more movies.  Then you’d know I’m actually the founding member of the Quant-Knights!”  

He beamed at Ruby, who winked at his use of the internal nickname.

“And you’re wearing this now…why?” Weiss prodded.

“So Ruby can see it!”  Weiss sighed, having expected that response, but Whitley gathered up the other items and set them in front of Ruby.  “I know this isn’t, like, cool or anything, but I don’t know how long you’ll date Weiss so…”  

“Whitley,” Weiss warned as soon as he pulled out a marker.

“Oh, come on,” he whined.  “You don’t even know her movies.  How serious can it be?”

“That’s my fault,” Ruby jumped in.  “I intentionally didn’t tell her.  It was nice being around someone who didn’t want me to introduce them to an actress or something.”

Ruby chuckled at what had, unfortunately, become a rather frequent occurrence in her life.  Weiss’ brow furrowed, but she watched, eyes narrowed, as Whitley tentatively offered Ruby the pen.

“Can you sign some stuff for me?  Please?”

Whitley’s pleading blue eyes made Ruby think one thing: if Weiss had equally potent puppy dog eyes, she could get literally anything she wanted.

“Of course.  I’d love to.”  Ruby glanced at Weiss, who was still attempting to freeze her brother via death glare, before grabbing the pen and scrawling her signature across an action figure box, then another action figure, and several more, before moving to posters and collectible movie cases.  “Is that…?” she asked when he set a large, orange hammer in front of her.

“It’s the original Valkyrie’s hammer,” he proclaimed.

“Wow.”  Ruby turned the weapon over to confirm that it was, in fact, the original movie prop.  “We looked for this forever.  Figured Nora just lost it.”

Regret instantly filled Whitley’s eyes.

“Oh.  Uh, I bought it online.  Do you…want it back?”

“No, no.”  Ruby waved off the suggestion and scrawled her name across the handle.  “I’m glad to know it’s in great hands.”

“I built a pedestal for it just like in the movie!  Want to see?”

“Maybe some other time, Whitley,” Weiss interrupted.

“Now we know where all your money goes…” Winter muttered, giving the pile of collectibles a disapproving look.

“Just like you and Weiss spend all your money on clothes,” he ribbed back.  “Weiss literally bought an outfit just for tonight.”

Ruby’s gaze flew to Weiss, who lightly touched one of the earrings dangling from her ears before offering an embarrassed smile.

“You look great, honey.”  Willow patted Weiss’ hand, deepening Weiss’ blush, before playing right into Whitley’s hands by asking him to explain his collection of movie props.

As it turned out, he knew his Skyfall lore, and Ruby had little to offer outside of anecdotes and insider knowledge on how certain scenes or characters came to be.  Whitley absorbed those tidbits like a sponge set on droplets of water, but Weiss was equally intent on following the conversation to the extent of her knowledge.  The topic seemed to bore Winter, yet she hung around to mentally deconstruct everything Ruby said.

By the time dinner ended, Whitley had regaled his family with Skyfall’s plot as well as theories about what would happen next, which Ruby zipped her lips on.  Once the plates were cleared and Ruby profusely thanked Mrs. Schnee for the wonderful dinner, Willow absconded like a gracious host only after blessing Ruby with a hug.  Winter followed quickly after her mother, likely to debrief her thoughts on Ruby.

Left with Weiss and Whitley, Ruby swung her arms and smiled at the siblings who were probably more alike than they believed.

“Do you need to go?” Weiss asked.  “Or would you like a tour?”

“A tour would be awesome if you have time.”

“Of course I do.”

“Can I come??”

“No,” Weiss said flatly, sending her brother a pointed look.  He deflated, holding the comically large hammer in one hand and his dark-blue bow in the other.  “Why don’t you change back into normal clothes?” Weiss asked in a gentler tone, patting his shoulder and subtly trying to turn him away.

“Fine…”  Before acquiescing to Weiss’ unspoken request, however, he looked straight at Ruby with more sincerity and seriousness than he’d displayed all night.  “This isn’t some joke, right?  You really like Weiss?”

“You don’t have to answer that,” Weiss quickly said, but Ruby swallowed a small prick of guilt in favor of answering from her heart.

“I like her a lot.”

Whitley measured the response before beaming and heading out of the room.

“Don’t you dare tell all your friends,” Weiss called after him.  He briefly pouted before saying, “Fine,” and leaving them alone.  

“You didn’t have to lie to him,” Weiss said once he was gone.

“I didn’t.”

Ruby softly smiled, unsure if that was admitting too much or not, but Weiss searched her eyes before smiling right back.

“Well, now that we’re alone, I can show you around.”

“The fabled Schnee mansion,” Ruby remarked, raising her hands toward the high ceilings and following Weiss out of the dining room.

“It’s just a house.  A big house, but still a house.”  

‘A big house’ proved to be an understatement as Weiss led Ruby through hallway after hallway, each leading to more massive rooms.  The ground floor had two living rooms and family rooms alone, which Ruby could hardly distinguish between and that Weiss also didn’t know the clear separation of.  Then there was a study and office - again, rather indistinguishable from each other.  A massive library, the kitchen - where a kind lady presented Ruby with a box of cake - a surprisingly spotless yet enormous garage, and a multitude of other rooms that Ruby couldn't keep track of.  

“Do you have any maps?” Ruby asked as they trekked through another beautiful corridor.  “Or maybe an app or something?”

Weiss chuckled at the question, but the ensuing silence told Ruby that the moment had finally arrived.  The elephant would finally be addressed in this distant, quiet portion of Schnee manor.

“So…apparently, you’re a big deal.”  

Weiss paused outside of another living room, her soft tone and questioning gaze suggesting that this was a sensitive subject.  But Ruby had no reason to hide anymore - she had never really had one.  Just like the lie she told Yang…this was an omission that probably should have been avoided.

“In certain circles, I guess.”

“‘Certain circles?’”  Weiss shook her head.  “I’ve never seen the movies, but I know what they are, and I know they are a big deal.”

“I was lucky.  The right story at the right time found the right audience, and I’ve been pretty lucky ever since.”

Brow furrowed and bottom lip trapped between her teeth, Weiss mulled over the response before sighing.

“I’m sorry…I should’ve asked more about your work.  I just thought you didn’t want to talk about it or, I don’t know, had confidentiality agreements to worry about.”  

“Please don’t be sorry.  I’m the one who avoided bringing it up.  That’s on me.”

“Were you worried that I’d want you to introduce me to famous people or something?”

“No way!”  Ruby waved both hands in front of her and shook her head at the same time.  “I was going to tell you, I swear, but I dragged my feet because…I just…it was nice being anonymous for a change.  Like…you were spending time with me because I’m enjoyable to be around.”

“You are enjoyable to be around.”  Weiss glanced at Ruby again and then visibly relaxed.  “I get it.  It’s not a great feeling for people to like you because of your name.”

“Exactly.”

A more comfortable silence settled over them then.  Ruby refused to interrupt, waiting instead for Weiss to process the explanation.

“You didn’t know who I was.”  When Ruby’s brow rose, Weiss motioned with one hand and added, “In the bathroom.  You didn’t know who I was.”

“Besides a beautiful girl with a great sense of humor who was going along with my nonsense?  Nope, I didn’t.”  Ruby blushed when her words registered in her own mind.  Weiss glanced away, tapping her finger on her leg as she nibbled on her lip again.

“There’s more to you than those movies,” she concluded.  Her blue eyes insisted that she was correct and that Ruby would be a fool to argue.  Ruby smiled instead and, in a moment that ushered the elephant completely out of the room, Weiss smiled immediately after.

“Well,” she added, moving along the corridor again.  “Since I didn’t know, I couldn't stop my mortifying little brother from embarrassing the entire Schnee line.  My grandfather probably turned in his grave.”

“He’s cute though.  And I love meeting fans.  It makes me excited to create more.”

“Some fans are more embarrassing than others…” Weiss muttered under her breath as they returned to the foyer.  Once there, Ruby glanced at the gleaming staircase leading to the second level and had an idea.

“This is where you grew up.”

“Yes.  I know it’s…gaudy.”

“Can’t help where you grew up,” Ruby replied before sneaking a grin Weiss’ way.  “But that means your childhood bedroom’s around here somewhere.”

Weiss briefly froze then, without argument, stifled a smile and headed upstairs.  Ruby practically bounced up the steps beside her, excited to see where Weiss grew up.  The rest of the immense house was so tidy that it seemed unused, but Weiss’ room would surely offer more insights into her childhood.

As soon as Weiss opened a set of double doors at the end of another grand hallway, Ruby was proven right.

“Here it is…” Weiss said as Ruby entered the room, eyes wide and a smile growing.  “I didn’t get to pick the color,” Weiss added when Ruby started giggling, but Ruby held both arms out towards the indescribable bedroom and pointed out the obvious.

“It’s pink.”  When Weiss sighed, Ruby nudged her shoulder.  “It’s so cute!  It’s a princess’ room.”

“Are you calling me a princess?”

“Oh, no, I’d never.  But I’d treat you like a princess if you let me.”

Ruby’s chuckle abruptly cut off, and a blush flared onto her cheeks as Weiss’ eyes danced with amusement.

“You can treat me like a princess…”  Weiss leaned closer and lowered her voice.  “If I can treat you like my queen.”

Ruby’s soul left her body, opting to live in Weiss’ room instead.

“Deal?” she somehow replied, extending her hand.  Weiss shook it and then laughed so delightedly that Ruby couldn't help but join in.  Once Weiss composed herself, she motioned that Ruby could look around the rest of the room - an offer that Ruby gladly accepted.

Ruby browsed the treasure trove while Weiss trailed close to her side, offering explanations and childhood memories.  In those few minutes, Ruby learned so much about the beautiful girl who’d come to her rescue.  Like that Weiss loved horses as a child, and that she was a middle school math champion - the photo going along with the prize was adorably nerdy.  The books neatly arranged on the shelves read like an editor’s ‘top picks’ list, prompting Ruby to tease Weiss for the ‘secret stash.’  It existed.  The non-award-winning books were hidden in a cabinet behind spare linens, a revelation so endearing that Ruby gushed about it far more than she teased.

Weiss’ cheeks had reached critical redness by the time they exited the room.  She blew a breath through her lips once the door shut and rubbed her cheeks as if that would erase the blush.

“That was amazing.”  Ruby grinned at Weiss as they ambled back downstairs.  “Thank you for showing me.”

“Sure.  It was only mildly mortifying.”  Weiss snuck a look Ruby’s way and relaxed into a smile when Ruby laughed.  “If we’re ever near your childhood home, I expect the same courtesy.”

“Oh, of course.  I’ll show you all the good stuff.”  Ruby chuckled at the thought as they reached the entryway, where the darkness beyond the windows surprised her.  “It’s that late already?”  She checked the time and then grimaced.  “Sorry, I should get out of your hair.”  Ruby’s gaze drifted up to the landing, and she smiled when Whitley poked his head around the corner to check on them.  “And your family probably wants to catch up,” she added as Weiss turned around and spotted her brother just before he dashed away.

“I swear…” Weiss mumbled before sending Ruby a disbelieving smile.  As soon as Ruby laughed, Weiss shook her head and motioned them outside.  The temperature had dropped, but the chill was the last thing on Ruby’s mind as Weiss walked her to her car.

“So…I guess that’s how I learned your secret identity,” Weiss commented as they stopped beside the driver’s door.

“Foiled by the little brother.”

Ruby’s chuckle trailed off when Weiss’ intent gaze met hers.

“I want to see them.  Your movies.  But I want to watch them with you.”

“Deal.”

Ruby extended her hand for another handshake, this time holding onto Weiss’ hand rather than let go.

“But I’ll be a bit slammed until after the launch…”

“Then we’ll do it after.”  Humor sparked back into Weiss’ eyes, sending a blush onto Ruby’s cheeks to combat the cold.  “Watch the movies,” Ruby clarified.  “Not - you know.”

Weiss’ laughter drew Ruby closer, smiling at their plans.  “But promise you won’t watch them without me,” she added, squeezing Weiss’ hand.

“Of course not.  I’m waiting for you no matter what.”  With that promise, Weiss glanced back at the house and then scooted so close that their toes touched.  From this distance, Ruby could get lost in Weiss’ clear blue eyes, sparkling as they were from the nearby lanterns and rising moon.

“After our third date…” Weiss began softly.  “I was so grateful that you tolerated my poorly behaved siblings that I kissed you.”

Ruby swallowed.

“I was glad you did,” she whispered back.  “Because if you hadn’t, I was going to.”

A smile sprang onto Weiss’ lips as she leaned in and captured Ruby’s with her own.  Her lips were soft and her touch tender, yet electricity tingled through Ruby’s veins like a static charge.  By the time Weiss pulled away, the most beautiful smile in place, Ruby wouldn't be surprised if her hair was standing on end.  Her cheeks definitely burned with a blush.

“Um, yeah.”  Weiss’ smile brightened at the scrambled response, so Ruby cleared her throat and tried again.  “I told you how nosy my sister is, right?” she found herself saying.  “She’ll definitely want details and, you know, I think I need a redo so I can really…cement it in my brain.”

“Oh, absolutely.  That makes total sense.”  

Weiss mustered a serious nod before kissing Ruby again.  This time, there were fireworks when their lips touched.  Weiss seemed to feel it, too.  One of her hands rested on Ruby’s cheek, gently drawing her in, while the other lighted upon Ruby’s elbow.  Ruby’s own hands found Weiss’ sides, her fingers pulling Weiss against her.

Before that ‘first’ kiss became many more than that, Weiss gently broke away, staring into Ruby’s eyes as they remained in each other’s arms.  “Think you can remember that?” she asked quietly.  Ruby grinned like the universe’s biggest idiot.

“Oh, yeah.  I’ll never forget that.”

“Good.  Neither will I.”  A little smirk flitted across Weiss’ lips as she finally pulled away.  She then flipped her hair over her shoulder and leveled Ruby with a gorgeous smile.  “I’ll see you soon?”

“Definitely.”

For a split second, Ruby considered kissing Weiss again.  She even leaned in, her heart racing at the idea, but the moment was already too perfect to waste.  Besides, they would see each other soon - Ruby was more certain of that now than ever.  So, with a small amount of regret, she fished her keys from her pocket and got into the car.  Weiss stepped aside but immediately didn’t return to the house.  She waited for Ruby’s wave, and for Ruby to be partially down the drive, before finally disappearing inside.

No amount of money could get Ruby to stop smiling as she drove home, thoughts of Weiss on her mind.  Any inkling of working tonight had been blown out the window by an incredible evening capped with two incredible kisses.  She would think about Weiss instead, and she was completely fine with that.