Diva - Chapter 18

“‘Morning, Oscar!” Ruby called out after entering the studio.  

“‘Morning, Ruby!”  He leapt to his feet and bounded over to greet her.  “You’re in a good mood.”

“Who wouldn't be?”  When his nose scrunched, she laughed and dropped her bag underneath the PA table.  “We have another exciting day ahead,” she added while clipping a battery onto her belt and fitting an earpiece in her ear.  “Anything could happen.”

“Like those little smoke bombs working?”

“Yes, exactly like that.”  While he beamed, radiating her good mood right back at her, the front door opened and the morning deliveryman pushed a stack of boxes inside.  

“And breakfast’s already here,” she added before meeting the man near the breakfast table and helping him slide the boxes off the handcart.  “Thank you!” she said, earning a nod before he hurried off.  Oscar immediately appeared beside her, opening the first box and grabbing the large serving trays from within.

“Think they got us anything special today?” she asked while carrying the first trays to the table.  Oscar looked at the lid, which read ‘eggs’ in black marker, and shook his head.

“Looks like the usual…”

“Ah, well.”  She shrugged and opened the dish of scrambled eggs, leaving the lid mostly on so they stayed warm.  “Can’t argue with free food, right?”

“That’s true.”  Oscar followed her back to the boxes for another set of trays - the standard bacon and sausage.  “Hey, have you heard about that new pizza place downtown?” he asked while arranging those trays on the table.  “Apparently, they cook the pizzas in this giant fire oven where everyone can watch.”

“It isn’t called wood-fired pizza, is it?”

“It is!”  

He beamed and nodded even as she chuckled at his enthusiasm.  She opened the second box and pulled out her favorite part of breakfast - two trays of assorted pastries - while he hovered near her elbow and grabbed a large carton of orange juice.

“Uh, so I was thinking…”  He stuck near her side as they returned to the nearly finished breakfast table.  “If you wanted to try it sometime…maybe we could check it out?”

“Sure, I’d go.  You know I love food.”  She nodded to the pastry tray, where a particularly delicious-looking chocolate chip muffin called her name, so he beamed.

“Cool.  Then maybe -” he began, but she raised a hand and said, “Hold that thought,” when Weiss strode into the studio.

Weiss still exuded that ever-present air of superiority and untouchable glamor, yet name and presence no longer intimidated Ruby into submission.  Her feet guided her to Weiss as if they had a mind of their own, but her mind readily agreed with their decision when Weiss scanned the studio and locked onto her. 

Weiss was an exceptional actress.  If she wanted to hide an emotion, no one would ever know it existed.  So when her eyes brightened and a slight smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, Ruby’s heart soared.  Despite every desire to race over and spew every detail of the gallery meeting, Ruby somehow remembered her manners.  She grabbed Weiss’ coffee first and then approached at a forcefully reserved pace.

“Good morning!” she greeted Weiss with a big smile.

“Good morning.”  Weiss’ smile landed in ‘muted’ territory as she accepted the coffee.  After taking a sip, she motioned the cup toward the set.  “They don’t look ready.”

“That’s because they aren’t.”  Ruby chuckled at Weiss’ predictable sigh and eyeroll.  “But,” she added.  “Breakfast is here!”

With as much flourish as she could muster, Ruby presented the table laden with breakfast foods ranging from scrambled eggs to an assortment of fresh fruit.  Weiss’ gaze flitted over the selection before a soft scoff slipped through her lips.

“And that’s supposed to make me feel better…how?”

“Because it’s food?  And food’s always good.”

This time, Weiss’ eyeroll seemed more entertained than irritated.  She then opened her mouth to say something but paused when she noticed Oscar casting glances their way.  “Grab something and meet me in my room,” she instructed before walking away, leaving Ruby smiling in her wake.  

Feeding Weiss - or witnessing her eat at all - had become something of an obsession for Ruby.  She jumped at any chance to bring Weiss food, hoping that even the opportunity to eat would encourage Weiss to nibble on something.  

Of course, Weiss didn’t say what she wanted.  Ruby’s job was figuring out what would make her happiest this morning - like a game with many possible solutions and potentially negative reactions, but any good game needed stakes.

“She wants breakfast,” Ruby explained to Oscar before looking over the options.

Even though Weiss would hardly touch any of it, Ruby chose the route of overabundance.  On one plate, she piled eggs, bacon, sausage, and hash browns.  On a second plate, she arranged the nicest-looking pieces of fruit around a blueberry muffin.  Satisfied with the result, she carried both plates to Weiss’ room.

With her hands full, she awkwardly tried to knock with her elbow before giving up and saying, “Hey Weiss?” instead.  Seconds later, Weiss opened the door and stepped aside to let Ruby in.

“Thanks.”  After setting both plates on the table, Ruby stood back and announced, “Breakfast is served!”

Ruby grinned at her completed task, but Weiss arched one perfectly shaped brow at the mountain of food.

“You don’t have to eat all of it,” Ruby added.  “I’ll help if you can’t finish.”

“There’s physically no way I can eat all of this.”  

Weiss pushed the plate of eggs and other greasy goodness towards Ruby, so Ruby shrugged and sat across from her.

“Suit yourself,” she teased before grabbing a fork.  While she shoveled scrambled eggs into her mouth, Weiss plucked one grape from the plate of fruit.

“Didn’t you already eat breakfast?” Weiss asked before popping the grape into her mouth.

“Sure did.  At home and before you got here.”  Both of Weiss’ brows rose this time, so Ruby laughed and asked, “How was your night?”  Weiss glanced at her out of the corner of one eye before shrugging a shoulder.

“Fine, I suppose.  How was yours?”

“Pretty great!”

Ruby beamed when Weiss glanced at her again, hoping that Weiss asked why it was so great, but Weiss’ attention returned to pushing pieces of fruit around her plate.

“That’s…great to hear.”

Holding her breath, Ruby waited for Weiss to ask how the meeting with Winter went; Weiss stuck another grape in her mouth instead.  Her slightly furrowed brow suggested something was on her mind, so Ruby remained quiet until it became apparent that Weiss wouldn't voice those thoughts.

“You feeling alright?”  Weiss finally looked at her, blue eyes sharp yet confused, so Ruby added, “Just looks like you could use a pick-me-up…”

“That’s what this is for.”

Weiss picked up her cup of coffee and gently shook it before taking a sip.  Ruby, meanwhile, shook her head.

“No, no.  That’s just coffee.  You need a real pick-me-up.”

“What’s a ‘real’ pick-me-up?”

After pursing her lips, Ruby snapped her fingers with an idea.  Dropping her fork onto her plate, she stood up and held out both arms.  Weiss looked at her and scoffed.

“Why am I not surprised…”

“Come on,” Ruby teased.  “You know you want to try.”

Weiss rolled her eyes but, after several moments of deliberation, sighed and stood up.  Ruby grinned when Weiss flopped her arms at her sides rather than make it easy, but Ruby wouldn't expect it any other way.

“This is guaranteed to get you through the day,” Ruby bragged before hugging Weiss.  

Shockingly, Weiss didn’t instantly pull away.  Her arms wrapped around Ruby’s waist instead, her cheek pressed against Ruby’s shoulder - she even sighed while vaguely melting into the embrace.

Ruby’s heart, meanwhile, came alive in a way it never had before, thundering in her chest as she experienced a strange mixture of adoration and desire to protect Weiss from everything outside of this room.  Weiss’ petite stature fit perfectly in Ruby’s arms.  Her hair smelled incredible, like a field of wildflowers in full bloom.  And, despite her frosty demeanor, she was soft and warm when pressed against Ruby like this.

So Ruby clung to the moment until Weiss stirred.  Only then did she let go, but she stared while Weiss stepped back and turned away.

“That was pretty good,” Weiss directed to the wall before tucking a stray wisp of hair behind her ear.  “I don’t know if it’ll last the entire day though.”

“Good thing I’ll be around for a refresher.”

Ruby’s heart thumped when Weiss finally turned back to her and nearly smiled.  That fleeting moment soon grew a bit more demure, as Weiss glanced away before asking, “So…how’d the meeting go?”

“Thank god you finally asked,” Ruby sighed, her energy returning full force while Weiss’ brow knit.  “It was awesome.  But first - you didn’t tell me that Winter was your sister!”

“I didn’t?”  When Ruby shook her head, Weiss shrugged.  “Must’ve slipped my mind…”

“And I thought you lost touch?” 

“We did.  But this gave me a reason to reach out, so…I did.”  Weiss made it sound like no big deal, but then she smiled and said, “You were right.  Family is family, no matter how much time has passed.”

Ruby’s heart warmed at the response, and that Weiss had listened to her advice.  Making the result even sweeter was that two sisters were back in contact after who-knew-how-long apart.

“Well, don’t keep me in suspense,” Weiss added, lightly slapping the back of her hand across Ruby’s shoulder.  “What’d she say?”

“You have really good timing.”  Weiss’ brow arched, so Ruby elaborated before making Weiss ask for an explanation.  “Someone’s moving their art in a few weeks, so she wants me to take their spot!”

“That’s good news.  Right?  That’s what you wanted?”

“Are you kidding me?”  Ruby laughed at the suggestion that she wasn’t over-the-moon happy right now.  “It’s every painter’s dream!  And it’s been my dream since I was, like, five.  I literally couldn't sleep last night - and it’s all thanks to you.  I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you.”

“You don’t have to thank me.  You did the hard work; I just got you in touch with the right person.”

Again, Ruby laughed - this time because Weiss made it sound so easy.

“Do you know how many times I’ve tried getting my work into a gallery and been rejected?  There aren’t many spaces available and there are a lot of great painters out there.”

“You’re a great painter, too.”  

Ruby shook her head at the compliment but didn’t argue.  She was too ecstatic about the situation to argue.  She beamed at Weiss instead, and Weiss eventually relaxed into a small smile of her own.

“I’m happy for you,” Weiss added, her tone and expression so earnest that she must be intentionally trying to make Ruby’s heart explode.  Whether or not that was true, Ruby’s heart swelled with unmistakable gratitude.

“I wanted to tell you last night, but I figured you were busy and…well, I don’t really have a way to.”

“You mean you didn’t have time for a summoning circle?” Weiss asked so seriously that Ruby nearly snorted with laughter.

“I’m a bit out of practice, so I wasn’t sure if I’d get you or something from the underworld.”

“Those are the same thing, aren’t they?”

The self-tease briefly caught Ruby off guard, but then she broke into giggles.  “I wasn’t going to say that,” she joked while Weiss let a hint of a smile appear.

Honestly, Ruby had considered going through Velvet, who could reach Pyrrha, who could deliver a message to Weiss, but ultimately decided against it.  She didn’t want to come across as desperate for Weiss’ attention, though Weiss’ current demeanor suggested that she shouldn’t have worried.  Her giggles trailed off, however, when Weiss bit her bottom lip.  

“Well...” Weiss began before taking a deep breath and adding, “Maybe next time you could just text me.”

“I could do that.”  Ruby nodded despite the growing warmth in her cheeks.  “I’d just…need your number…”

“Then I need your phone.”  Weiss held out her hand and motioned for Ruby to hand over her phone, which she quickly did.  Then she watched with increasing giddiness as Weiss entered her number and returned it.  “Don’t lose it,” she said while Ruby saved it as a new contact.  “And…please don’t share it.”

“Pretty sure that’s grounds for immediate termination,” Ruby joked before staring at her phone, silently marveling at having Weiss’ number in her hands.  Before second-guessing herself, she decided to reach for the stars and see if one more monumental occasion was within reach.  “Uh, if you’re bored or something, you could check out the gallery once my stuff’s up?  There’s plenty of other work there too, so it’s not like you’ll only have to look at mine.”

“Sure.”

“Seriously?”  Weiss’ nod filled Ruby with so much surprise that she started bouncing on her toes.  “Ok, then…I’ll text you when I know what day that is.”

“Please do.”  Weiss paused and thought about something before adding, “And if there’s ever anything else you’d like to say when we’re not at work…feel free to message me.  I don’t mind.”

“Really?”  This time, Ruby chuckled at Weiss’ nod.  “You realize you just agreed to hearing all my horrible jokes and getting pictures of random things?”

“That sounds nice.”  The candid response sent Ruby’s heart into another stratosphere of joy, but then Weiss’ glanced at the door and sighed.  “I suppose we should get to work now…those scenes won’t shoot themselves.”

“Imagine if they could though.”  After taking stock of how much Weiss ate - not much but hopefully enough to make it to lunch - Ruby grabbed both plates and followed her out the door.  “Or maybe just Cardin’s parts,” she added.

Her heart soared when Weiss laughed - a real, honest-to-goodness laugh.  The uncommon-yet-beautiful sound drew curious gazes from everyone close enough to hear, but Weiss didn’t pay the attention any mind as she made her way to the wardrobe department.

Ruby stared after her but, when some of that curiosity drifted her way, returned to the meal area with the plates.  She consolidated everything and set it aside for later - she hated wasting food if she could help it - then went to see where she was needed.  Cinder had been remarkably silent the entire morning…likely since they were returning to yesterday’s scene.

The props team huddled near the edge of the stage, poring over the small, black devices that drew Weiss’ ire.  Today, there were six of them, which was either a promising sign that the scene would get done or a worrisome clue that they were due for more frustration.

“They work today?” Ruby asked, earning nods all around.  “And they won’t blow up in Weiss’ hand, right?”

“We tested all night,” one of the young men replied, the dark circles under his eyes confirming his claim.  “Didn’t stop until they worked every time.”

“Awesome.  Can’t wait to see them.”

Ruby smiled, hoping to lift the somber mood around the table, before finding Oscar and Velvet at the front of the stage.

“Think Weiss will storm out again?” Oscar asked as the same extras wearing the same clothes took the same spots in the fake office.  Cardin joined them soon after, looking groggy and ill-prepared to act without the usual warm-up rehearsals, but he had no choice.  As soon as Weiss stepped onto the stage, Ozpin motioned everyone into position and Cinder demanded silence over the radio waves.

Just like that, filming began.

Cardin came out flat.  First, by flubbing his lines, then by lacking any dynamism to make the scene compelling.  Weiss quickly lost patience, but she held her tongue and let Ozpin reinforce yesterday’s instructions.  Even then, it took several more takes and a wake-up call from Cinder before they made it to the scene’s end.

If Ruby held her breath, the props team must have been on the edge of their seats when Weiss pulled out the small device and threw it onto the floor.  It hissed and immediately spewed smoke into the room - more than enough to obscure Weiss as she slipped out undetected.

Ozpin was unsatisfied with the first attempt, but the crew relaxed now that the devices worked.  The next few takes ran like clockwork with only slight variations in timing and Cardin’s delivery differentiating them.  Weiss’ acting hardly changed - an impressive display of consistency that must make it more frustrating to wait for Cardin to get his role right.  In the midst of marveling at Weiss’ acting ability, Ruby noticed the front door open and waved as Pyrrha walked in.  Pyrrha smiled and joined them at the PA’s table.

“How’s it going?” she whispered while Ozpin watched the most recent take.  

“Good, I think.  Everything’s working today.”

“That’s good.  I heard Weiss let them have it yesterday.”

“She didn’t not let them have it…” Ruby hedged, but smiled at Pyrrha’s knowing look.  “Ok, she left in a huff, but props needed more time to get everything working, so she probably saved us from working all night.”

“Plus, it worked out well for you - right, Ruby?” Velvet pointed out from beside her.  “You made it to your appointment on time.”

“I did!  So I guess I’m grateful those little smoke things didn’t work.”

Being grateful for Weiss’ demanding, uncompromising mood would have sounded impossible not long ago, yet here Ruby was.  Even Pyrrha seemed intrigued by the change, as her thoughtful gaze suggested.

“Did Weiss know you had somewhere to be?” Pyrrha asked, then smiled when Ruby nodded.  “I see,” she added before turning toward the stage.  “Sounds like I missed an eventful day.”

Ruby’s brow furrowed at the response, but the next take started before she could ask Pyrrha for an explanation.  She shot a glance at Velvet first, earning a knowing look from her too, before turning toward the stage.  Out of the corner of her eye, however, she noticed that Pyrrha’s attention stopped just shy of the scene, landing on a certain blonde cameraman instead.

Jaune, noticing Pyrrha within seconds of her looking at him, responded with a goofy smile and wave before focusing on the camera.  A soft sigh slipped through Pyrrha’s lips as the scene began, but only Ruby and Velvet caught the sound.  They shared an amused glance before shaking their heads and watching the action yet again.

Fortunately, Ozpin only needed two more attempts before nodding at the result.  His approval set off a flurry of motion as the crew revved back into high gear.  They were behind, after all - they were already supposed to be working on the scene Pyrrha had arrived for.

“PAs, focus on the set,” Cinder ordered over the microphone before discussing the next scene with Ozpin.  With those marching orders, Ruby hurried onto the stage and started boxing up smaller knick-knacks and decorations.  If she had time, she would neatly pack them into the boxes.  Given the speed at which the rest of the crew rushed around, neatness was optional.

It still amazed her how fast the stage could be transformed from one environment to another, and some of the tricks used to speed up the process.  Re-dressing the same walls and floor was a common tactic, as was rotating pieces of furniture or covering tables with cloths.

This switch wasn’t as simple as throwing down a rug and hanging a few pictures, but they still finished in incredible time.  New walls were moved into place - these ones looking like large blocks of stone that were actually made of cheap plastic.  A tall archway weighing no more than a few pounds of foam and paint was moved to the center of the stage.  The heaviest items were rows of blue plastic seats mounted four in a line on a metal bar.  Those were securely fastened to the floor before the smaller effects were brought in - industrial, green garbage cans, newspaper boxes, and a giant clock delicately hung on the foam archway.

The only thing missing from the subway or bus station were riders, but a glance at wardrobe confirmed that several extras had arrived to play the part.  Coco already had them dressed and ready to go, but they were waiting for the rest of the preparations first.

The prolonged, strenuous effort left Ruby wiping an arm across her perspiring brow and breathing a little laboriously, but their catered lunch arrived before she imagined sitting down.  She helped Velvet unbox while the crew none-too-subtly lined up behind them.

“Make sure you eat something,” Velvet advised once the crew started going through the line.  “Pyrrha said this scene might be difficult and I don’t think they planned dinner.”

“So much for an early start to the weekend…” Ruby muttered but heeded the advice and hurried through the line as soon as the crew had their food.  A chicken sandwich, scoops of pasta and potato salad, and a chocolate chip cookie should hold her over to dinner and potentially after, though eating her food at lightning speed might leave her feeling more sluggish than fueled for a long afternoon.

While dropping her plate in the garbage can, she noticed Weiss and Pyrrha speaking outside of their rooms.  Their impeccable outfits, hair, and makeup proved that they were dressed and ready to go.  While speaking to Pyrrha, however, Weiss caught Ruby’s gaze and, after a brief hesitation, beckoned Ruby over.

Ruby glanced around first and, spotting no one else nearby, confirmed that Weiss had actually motioned to her.  That became abundantly clear when Weiss rolled her eyes and mouthed, ‘Yes, you,’ before waving her over again.

“Uh, Velvet?” she asked first, holding up one finger before turning to Velvet.  “Is it ok if I -?” 

“Go see what she needs?” Velvet finished, nodding all the while.  “Of course.  Oscar and I can handle it.  Right, Oscar?”  

Oscar’s brow furrowed as he looked between Ruby and Weiss and back again, but he jolted and threw on a smile when Velvet nudged his elbow.  “Sure,” he replied on autopilot.  “Got it handled.  Right.”

“Thanks, guys.”  Ruby flashed a smile before hurrying over to Weiss.  Pyrrha had disappeared by the time she arrived, leaving just Weiss waiting outside of her room.

“You rang?  Or, summoned, I guess?”

“Yes.  Come here.”

Weiss walked into her room without another word, leaving Ruby to blindly follow.  Once inside, she shut the door and waited for further instructions.

“First,” Weiss began, stopping in front of the coffee table, turning around, and motioning Ruby closer.  Ruby took one step forward and paused, unsure of what she was supposed to do but knowing better than to invade Weiss’ personal space without permission.

“Cardin erased my good mood already,” Weiss elaborated.  Ruby instantly grinned.  

“That fast, huh?” she asked while edging closer, watching Weiss nod and blow an irritated breath through her lips.  “Guess I have to give you an extra strength pick-me-up this time.”

Weiss opened her mouth - probably to ask what Ruby meant by ‘extra strength’ - but Ruby had already pulled her into another hug.  Ruby’s heart melted the instant Weiss folded into her like the warmest, cutest diva there ever was.

This hug felt lighter.  Easier.  Weiss even sighed - the tension releasing from her shoulders - and burrowed her face closer to Ruby’s neck.  Her soft breaths against Ruby’s neck sent an enormously pleasant tingle racing down Ruby’s spine, but she took a deep breath and tried to push those impulses away.

“Cardin might’ve been a pain, but you did a great job,” she said, holding Weiss close and smiling when Weiss mumbled something into her shirt.  “What was that?” she asked, so Weiss sighed and pulled away.  

“I have to do a great job.  Otherwise, nothing gets done.”

“The entire film rests on your shoulders,” Ruby teased while setting her hands on Weiss’ thin shoulders.  Weiss rolled her eyes but didn’t shy away from the contact, nor did she shy away from meeting Ruby’s gaze at such an intimate distance.

“Mine and Pyrrha’s,” she corrected.

“Right.  Can’t forget Pyrrha.”

“It would be a crime to,” Weiss agreed, then shocked Ruby into paralysis by casually reaching up and running her fingers through the back of Ruby’s hair.  

Ruby’s heart found a new speed as her breathing suddenly stopped.  The gesture felt incredibly soothing and intimate, like it might precede something she had never considered before but suddenly wanted.  Weiss’ gaze might be unfocused, staring somewhere near Ruby’s left ear while deep in thought, but Ruby was spellbound.  

“What shampoo do you use?”

“Huh?”  Ruby blinked before crashing back to reality.  “Oh, uh, I don’t know.  Whatever my sister gets - she’s a bit of a freak about her hair.”

Humming thoughtfully, Weiss ran her fingers through Ruby’s hair again.  She focused on her hand, watching the strands fall over and around it, while Ruby watched her eyes.  

Ruby remembered how captivated she’d been by Weiss’ eyes the first time they met.  That shade of sky blue was her favorite color now - she had tried mixing it as paint but could never get it exactly right.  She never would have imagined being this close - feeling this close - to Weiss, especially considering their first few weeks together.

“You’ll have to tell me what it is.”

“What what is?” Ruby replied, her voice coming out as a whisper.

“The shampoo,” Weiss elaborated, finally meeting Ruby’s gaze with a curious yet borderline amused one of her own.  

“Oh, right.  That.  Sure, I’ll get the name for you as soon as I get home.”

“Thank you.”

The ensuing silence felt charged in a strange, intoxicating way.  It left Ruby searching for something to say - because if no one said anything and Weiss’ fingers kept sifting through her hair then she might act on an incredibly ill-advised impulse.

“I doubt there’s any liquid gold in it though,” she added.  “So it’s probably not good enough to touch your hair.”

“You’re probably right,” Weiss replied without hesitation.  “But I should at least do my due diligence.”

Weiss’ faint smirk had Ruby laughing in no time.  And when she laughed, a true smile slipped onto Weiss’ lips, almost as if Weiss enjoyed making her laugh.  The stunning thought hardly crossed Ruby’s mind before Cinder’s voice thoroughly ruined the moment, especially because Weiss withdrew her hand as soon as she heard the radio buzz to life in Ruby’s ear.

“Everyone, back to the stage.  We start in five.”

Weiss’ brow rose at Ruby’s responding sigh, but Ruby quickly masked her disappointment with a smile.

“They’re ready in five,” she explained.  Weiss nodded and clasped her hands in front of her, drawing Ruby’s gaze to them before Weiss gently cleared her throat.

“We should head back then.”

“Yeah…I guess we should.”

Weiss seemed reluctant to leave - if what Velvet said was true, then they had a long afternoon ahead of them - but eventually nodded and headed to the door.  Ruby followed and walked beside Weiss as they headed to the stage.  

Just before Ruby split off for the front of the studio, however, Weiss looped an arm through hers, tugged her close, and whispered, “Can you let Camera Boy know that Pyrrha’s going to the Vale Charity Ball tomorrow night and needs a date?  She definitely wouldn't mind his company - he just needs to rent a tux.”

“Are you…meddling?” Ruby asked in disbelief.

“I’m nudging,” Weiss corrected, but smiled when Ruby laughed and nodded.

“I can do that.”

“But be subtle,” Weiss added before Ruby pulled away, so Ruby feigned a hurt look.

“I can be subtle!”

Weiss’ eyes sparkled at the response, but she still rolled them before releasing Ruby and heading to the soundstage.  Ruby watched her go, the silly little smile lingering on her lips, before ambling over to Jaune.

“Hey Jaune,” she said, drawing his attention away from the many dials on his camera.  “Need help?”

“Thanks, but I’m all set.”

“Awesome.”  Ruby glanced at Weiss, who remained impressively impassive while observing from afar, before grinning.  “Have any plans tomorrow night?”

“No…why?”

“Oh, no reason.  I just heard Pyrrha talking about some charity event she’s going to.  I guess she doesn’t want to go alone but doesn’t have anyone to go with…”  

Ruby trailed off, but Jaune’s attention had already drifted to Pyrrha.  “Really?” he asked, though clearly not focused on Ruby anymore.

“Yeah, so I was just thinking…maybe it’d be nice if you offered to go with her?  I’m sure those events are super boring to go to alone.  She’d probably love to have company.”

“You think so?” he mused, finally tearing his gaze away from Pyrrha and searching Ruby’s eyes for reassurance.

“I do!”  She emphatically nodded but didn’t launch into the many obvious reasons leading her to that conclusion.  She let the idea soak in for several seconds before adding, “So…will you?”

His brow furrowed as he mulled over the question, caught between wanting to be helpful but also not believing that Pyrrha truly wanted his company.  “I guess it wouldn't hurt to offer…” he eventually said, so Ruby lit up and patted his shoulder.

“Exactly!  Just offer and see what she says.  But I’m positive she’ll be happy.”  Jaune nodded along now, convincing Ruby that he believed her enough to at least try.  “Oh,” she added before leaving, “And you’ll need a tux.”

“A tux?”

“It’s called a charity ‘ball,’ Jaune,” she teased.  “Not a charity ‘wear sweatpants.’  Just rent one if you need to - you’ll look great!”

Ruby playfully patted his arm but, after spotting Cinder stomping past, quickly vacated the area.  Sensing an attentive gaze upon her, she waited until she was a decent distance away before flashing Weiss a thumbs-up.  Despite suppressing a smile, Weiss still looked pretty damn pleased with herself.

Pyrrha noticed the reaction, as she so often did, but Ozpin joined them before she could pry Weiss for an explanation.  While the actors started rehearsal, Ruby took her typical seat to watch and wait for any tasks to come her way.  Velvet and Oscar joined her before long and, surprisingly, Coco left her world of fashion in favor of watching with Velvet.

Ruby stifled a laugh at Velvet’s persistent blush before focusing on the scene, which required perfect choreography to pull off correctly.  Her thoughts drifted though, especially whenever she caught one of the glances Pyrrha sent Jaune or that Jaune sent Pyrrha.  Then there was Weiss…presiding over the set like some sort of evil mastermind.

Weiss could be curt, demanding, difficult, irritable, and impatient but also surprisingly sweet, considerate, and…tender.

Those thoughts lingered with Ruby through the rest of the day, claiming the forefront of her mind at every pause in the action.  Even after they completed the scene - a culmination of Weiss and Pyrrha’s exceptional work - Ruby daydreamed about that moment in Weiss’ room, with Weiss’ fingers trailing through her hair.  

She mustered a semblance of conversation with Oscar on the tram ride out of the production lot, but the quiet bus ride home offered plenty of time to dwell.  So dwell she did - all the way to her apartment, then up the stairs, and finally into the living room.

After dropping her bag by the door, she glanced around the empty living room and listened for her roommates.  Hearing nothing, she headed to the kitchen for dinner only to pause midway there.  Hand tapping her phone in her pocket, she headed down the hall to the bathroom instead.  There, she grabbed the shampoo bottle from the shower, snapped a photo of it, and sent it to the newest contact in her phone along with a caption, “Per your request.”  

She hardly returned the bottle to the shower before her phone buzzed in her hand.  Glancing at the screen, she grinned and immediately opened the incoming message.

‘What are the ingredients?’

Having never once stopped and considered the ingredients in shampoo, Ruby took a photo of the back of the bottle before skimming the list of foreign substances.

‘Sorry, no gold,’ she sent along with the photo.

A response took a little longer this time, but her heart skipped a beat when it arrived.

‘This is actually very high quality.  No wonder your hair’s so soft.’

Blowing a big breath through her lips, she was suddenly grateful that Weiss couldn't see her.  Her cheeks felt uncomfortably warm at the memory of Weiss’ fingers moving through her hair, but that blush didn’t stop her from responding.

‘Guess I can’t make fun of my sister for spending an hour in the hair care aisle anymore.’

‘She’s saving you the effort.’

An idea popped into Ruby’s head then, so she hurried to Yang and Blake’s bathroom next.  Blake’s side of the sink was always neat and tidy, yet Yang’s overflowed with bottles of all shapes, sizes, and colors.  Those earned another photo, which Ruby sent to Weiss while saying, ‘Isn’t this excessive though?’

Waiting for a response, Ruby went to her studio, perched on her stool, and slowly spun in a circle.  

‘Long, blonde, and wavy?’ Weiss eventually responded.  ‘Are you sure you’re related?’

‘How did you know that??’

‘I can read.’

Ruby laughed at the sardonic response and gave the last photograph a closer look.  Sure enough, the various bottles listed specialities matching Yang’s hair.

‘Ok, fair,’ Ruby replied.  ‘And we’re half-sisters,’ she explained.  ‘Same dad, different moms.’

‘It’s great that you two are close.’

For some reason, that seemed like such a Weiss response.  If the situation were reversed, Ruby would have a million questions about how that happened.  Was Weiss uninterested in learning about Ruby’s life or was she just being respectful?

‘Is your father blonde or brunette then?’ 

The follow-up question had Ruby beaming in no time, and it was all the prompting she needed to answer all of Weiss’ unasked questions.  She sent a photo of her dad standing in front of a grill, holding a pair of metal tongs and wearing a bright pink apron reading ‘my daughters love me’ before glossing over their moms and launching into childhood tales.  In the midst of recounting the time they exploded a bag of flour all over the kitchen, a knock nearly caused her to topple off the stool in surprise.

“Woah there,” Yang said, holding up her hand and laughing at the reaction.  “What’re you doing holed up in here?”

“Oh.”  Ruby had been so lost in conversation that she hadn’t even heard the front door open, let alone realized that she’d been sitting in her studio the entire time.  “Just texting someone,” she explained, holding up her phone.  

“Did you eat?”

Ruby started nodding but then stopped and frowned.  “Not yet,” she answered before glancing at the time.  “Wow, it’s that late already?”

“Lost in your own world again,” Yang teased while shoving away from the door.  “We have leftovers with your name on them.”

“Thank you!” Ruby called out as Yang waved and headed down the hall.  As soon as Yang was out of view, Ruby’s attention returned to her phone.  

‘Whoops.  Forgot to eat dinner.’

‘You must be wasting away.’

‘I’ll be skeletal remains by the morning,’ she typed back before relocating to the kitchen.  After putting the leftovers in the microwave, she claimed a seat at the island and kept messaging while waiting for her food.

‘Did you eat anything yet?’

Ruby expected a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no.’  Instead, she received a photo of a restaurant-worthy meal of fish, rice, and asparagus.

‘That looks delicious.  Did you eat all of it?”

‘I ate plenty of it.’

Chuckling at the noncommittal response, she claimed her food from the microwave and sat at the island.  

‘Did you make it yourself?’

‘I hire someone…but I can cook if I feel like it.’

‘Do you ever feel like it?’

‘Rarely.’

‘What if you had to cook for someone else?’

‘Like for a dog?’

Ruby nearly choked at the response but quickly dissolved into laughter.  In person, she might be able to tell if Weiss was serious or not.  In text, it was just as easy to believe that Weiss actually meant cooking for a dog - because what celebrity didn’t cook five-course meals for their pampered pooches? - as she was poking fun at the notion that she would ever do such a thing.

‘Sure,’ Ruby replied, beaming like a fool at her phone.  ‘Or, like, a significant other?’

Abruptly, Ruby realized that she was the one asking questions rather than the other way around, but Weiss would stop responding if she didn’t want to answer.  Or if she was busy.  Or if Ruby annoyed her.  Until then, Ruby would enjoy the conversation and try not to choke on her food at Weiss’ whip-smart remarks.

She failed that second objective the moment she read Weiss’ next response - a playfully sarcastic or gravely serious, ‘They can make their own food.’