The coffee in her hands was what was keeping her nerves calm.
Her foot tapped nervously on the floor of the limo that rode through the streets of central Vale. Every five minutes she would look in the mirror that blocked the gap between the driver's seat and the passenger cabin and check to make sure that her hair looked alright and that her makeup was done perfectly.
Her father watched her with a worried and annoyed look. "I don't understand why you're putting yourself through all of this trouble Weiss." Her father told her. "I could easily call a studio and pay them to let you into their company and they'll give you a recording deal and have your first group of songs released in the next month." he tried to reason with her.
Weiss stared at her father with a tired look, as if she had already answered this question dozens of times before. "Because, as I have said, you have always known that I don't like taking the shortcuts that you have always given me. It has always made me feel indifferent to others. Yes, you say that that they get me through the world quicker. But what do I have to show for that? Absolutely nothing!"
"What you have to show is the advantages that you have in this world that others do not. These advantages should always be used to the fullest potential. Potential that you would be wasting by entering this pitiful gauntlet of a game show." Her father lectured her.
Weiss couldn't help but roll her eyes at her father's complaining. "Thank you for having so much confidence in me father." Weiss said bitterly.
"I'm only seeing if I can talk you out of making a potential mistake, Weiss." he explained. "If you mess up a single note of the song while you're giving your sample, it could spell out doom for your reputation in this line of work."
"I know this, of course. Which is why I won't mess up any notes." Weiss said with a smug and cocky smile.
"How do you know that's not the coffee talking? Before you got it your hands couldn't stop shaking and you jumped at every small noise like a scared puppy."
Weiss gave her father a deathly glare and turned away.
"Don't say that I didn't warn you." Mr. Schnee said.
"What, that it's a bad idea to follow my life the way that I want to follow it?" Weiss asked her father accusingly.
"No! That if you fail and your dreams are crushed that there are no redos or second shots in this world!"
"Why would I, Weiss Schnee, fail?" Weiss asked.
"Because, I have seen what happens at these game shows. At the end of the season, there is only one winner with the major grand prize and second place gets a small pity consolation prize. And every one of the other thousands of contestants are forever forgotten, never to be uttered by the judges again. They never get anywhere with their performing dreams."
"Then all I have to do is win the competition." Weiss told her father in the same cocky voice.
Before her father could continue the discussion any further, Weiss rolled down the divider leading to the driver's seat. "How much longer until we arrive at the Stadium?" She asked.
"We will be arriving in about another five minutes, Ma'am." The driver informed her.
"Thank you." She said as she rolled up the divider once again.
Weiss turned her head and stared out the window as she took the final few sips of her coffee.
This competition that she was entering was a national television show known as Vytal Idol. A singing competition that attracted thousands from all over Remnant. There would be three judges that would evaluate her sample performance and they would decide whether she would make it to the next round or not. This was going to be the first audition of the new season of the show. She already knows that there will be well over 500 people there to audition and she had no idea when her audition will be in the day. She hoped that it would be before her coffee wore off.
In order to try and raise her chances of making it to next round of the competition she would have done research on the three judges and would have tried to find their exact favorite type of music so that she would pick out a song that would appeal to the the three of them. Although, the judges change every year and no one knows who they are until they walk into the audition room.
There were many people that Weiss knew in the recording business. Such as many of the presidents and CEO's from the the top recording studios. From what she heard, a girl from the High School that Weiss had graduated from is now one of those said top presidents. She forgot what the girl's name was, but from what she had heard that she had-.
"Weiss." she heard her father call out to her.
"What?" She said, losing her train of thought.
"We're here." he told her as the chauffeur opened the door.
The two of them exited the limo stretched their legs from the journey from the airport. Having living in Atlas, they needed to fly from their home on a private jet to Vale International Airport.
Weiss wore a white blouse and sky blue skirt that reached down to her knees. Her hair was tied back in trademark side ponytail. Her shows were a pair of white heels that didn't give her too much extra height. just an inch or two.
The chauffeur closed the door behind them and faced Mr. Schnee.
"Wait here for us, John. We don't know how long this will take." he told the chauffeur.
"Yes sir, You have the number in case you need me." He said as he opened the driver's side door and sat down.
Weiss began to walk towards the large stadium that sat in front of her. It was large. The largest performance center in all of Vale, maybe even all of Vytal. Today, It was Weiss' testing grounds, as well as many other people.
Dozens and dozens of people were walking towards the main entrance of the stadium. Which is one thing that she had completely expected for this audition had grown greatly popular over the years that it had run.
Although, She couldn't help but notice that there were a number of faunus that were also walking up to the stadium. She hoped that none of them would recognize her father and her. There had been plenty of rumors going around in the news and on the internet that her father's company had been giving it's faunus unfair treatment and low pay. She asked her father if the rumors were true, and her father denied it completely. Trusting her father's word, she believed him.
One thing that Weiss hoped would not happen whilst they were here is become surrounded by paparazzi and be bombarded with questions and photographs. It's happened before, even when Weiss wasn't with her father. Being the daughter of the head of one of the world's lead producers in gasoline is never a quiet life.
Walking up the steps to the stadium she could already feel eyes turning towards her. Their stares made the small hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. She ignored the stares and continued to walk forward, not letting them discourage or make her more nervous.
Wait, nervous? She wasn't nervous, she was Weiss Schnee. Schnee's don't get nervous... is what she wish she could say.
She couldn't feel the effects of her coffee wearing off just yet. Maybe she'll be able to get through this without becoming a nervous wreck.
Just outside the stadium, sat a table with a white cover over it. Attached to the cover was a large banner that said, "Sign Up Here". behind the table sat a large filing cabinet
Weiss came up to the table just as someone went inside with their calling card in hand.
The woman sitting at the table smiled at her. "Hi, do you have the paperwork for your number?" She asked.
Weiss returned the smile. "Yes, I do." She reached around for her purse and pulled out a sheet of paper with a few bits of information and numbers. She handed it to the woman who then took it and looked over all the information to make sure that it was not counterfeit.
"Is this your father?" The woman asked.
"Yes," Weiss replied, "Is there a problem?" she asked in response.
"No. I was wondering if he was another contestant or not is all. Family members and close friends are allowed to wait inside with you until you go into your audition."
"Oh, alright." Weiss responded.
The woman then turned to the filing cabinet and opened one of the drawers and sifted through a dozens of manila folders. She pulled out a single folder and opened it bringing out a laminated card with the numbers 00195 printed on it along with Weiss' name under the numbers.
"Good luck, Mrs. Schnee." Said the woman.
Weiss took the card without her hands shaking, thankfully. "Thank you, I'll need it." she replied.
She strode through the entrance with her father in tow. Inside, there were folding chairs throughout the ticket hall. People made small talk with other contestants while others chose to practice their songs of choice by singing them or looking over the lyrics for the possible thousandth time.
That's when she spotted them. Them being the paparazzi
But when they were in view, none of them pointed their cameras at the white clad father and daughter.
They were close enough to hear a bit of what they were talking about though. Something about a "She" and "Her". And that was it, no name mentioned. Were the two the same person or was it two different people. It could have been the girl that Weiss was trying to remember the name of, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She felt like she knew that name but she couldn't think of it.
Time went by and many contestants went in and out of the audition room. Some of them cheering, others looking content, but then there were the ones who left with brave smiles but tears were in their eyes.
This is entire contest over the many years was a large gamble. Either the judges think you're great and you move on, they think that you're not quite there yet and you should come back another year and try again... or they will completely tear apart you and your singing performance and they make you feel like you're one of the worst singers on the face of the planet.
Finally at one point, Weiss heard something that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
"Number 00195, Weiss Schnee. 00195, Weiss Schnee. Please come up."
Weiss stood and brushed her skirt, getting rid of any wrinkles that had formed. She walked up with her father following close behind.
This was it. The moment of truth, as some would call it. But for Weiss, it was her judgement day.
She had thought about this ever since watching an episode of the show back in high school where she had started singing in the school's chorus.
Now all that had lead up to this. One shot at either going on into the actual competition, or being forced by her father to take up his company when he can no longer perform.
Weiss got up to the entrance of the audition room where a man stood with an earpiece and a clipboard.
"Okay, Miss Schnee. There is another contestant currently in there doing his audition. He will be out in the next few minutes. Until then you can stand here and practice a bit. Ya'know make sure you're all ready to go." The man said.
"Alright," Weiss said, "Thank you."
Weiss took a deep breath and exhaled. Why was she so nervous? She had done things much more than this. She had talked before leaders of multi-million dollar companies for her father and did so without feeling any sort of nervousness. So why was it that now she decided to become extremely nervous.
"Weiss." she heard her father call out. She turned around and saw that the man was giving her a peculiar look.
"I don't want you to think that I am trying to be a bad father by not fully supporting this decision of yours. But I do want you to know that I will support you if this whole ordeal does somehow work out. So in a sense, you have my blessing." he said.
Weiss thought for a moment. "Thank you?"
"You're welcome, dear."
The door to the audition room opened at that time and the man who was in there jumped out with a burst of energy. He jumped around while pumping his fists in the air. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" he shouted. Obviously signifying that he moved onto the main competition.
A man exited the door just behind him with a microphone in his hand while a camera man trailed behind him, keeping the focus on the other two men.
"Johnathon." The man with the microphone said, Weiss knew that he was the host of the show. Leonard Reader. He had been the host ever since it first aired. And now here he was, no more than 5 feet in front of Weiss. "That was a spectacular performance. And now you're moving onto the competition to be held in Atlas. How do you feel?"
"Amazing! I never thought I would have this chance but here I am. Man, there's so many people I have to thank! My Mom, Dad, Brother, Aunt, Un-"
"Yes, yes. I'm sure they're all very proud of you and how far you've come. Thank you and We'll see you in Atlas in a few weeks." Leonard said as the man walked away and out the doors of the stadium.
Leonard turned towards the camera and continued to speak. "And now Johnathon is moving onto the next round. We'll all be happy to see him again later on. But now as we move on, we have a very special contestant. She is the Heiress to the billion dollar company known as Schnee Gas." Did they research her a little bit? "That name is sure to give it away a little bit. The next contestant that we have coming up to the test is nobody other, than Weiss Schnee." He took a step towards Weiss and stood next to her as the camera angled itself to get both of them in the shot. "Weiss why don't you tell me and the people at home a little about yourself."
"It sounds like you've already done quite a bit of your homework." Weiss stated with a smug grin.
"That may be true. But, what is it about you that people should know. Not your lineage."
"Well, for starters, I first began singing in my freshman year of high school, we went to many competitions. We even made it to one of the later rounds of a national tournament. Although we didn't manage to make it to the finals, I still think we should be proud for how far we did make it in the competition. Other than singing though I will be attending college soon and taking business as my major."
"Alright, Miss Schnee. I wish you good luck in there. It's the usual three judges, and then the special guest judge."
"Thank you." Weiss said as she walked through the door. The cameraman then lowered the camera and walked through the door with the host following close behind.
The door shut behind Weiss as she walked down a dimly lit hallway. It was then that she saw the judges table. There were a total of three woman and one man. The first woman at the end of the table was a very famous vocalist named Cinder Fall. She had fiery orange eyes and long black hair that cascaded down her and over her left shoulder onto her chest. A part in her hair at her forehead allowed for her face to be visible but one of the bangs covered over her left eye. She was the head of a vocal school in Mistral. Weiss had the chance to go to the school instead of going to the college that she went to, but the school had limited space per class and Weiss had just missed the deadline. Large amounts of money available or not, rules were rules.
The second person to the left of him was a woman who was currently a hit sensation in the singing world, Emerald Sustrai. She had short green hair with long thin strands at the side of her head that extended down to the length of her stomach. Her hair seemed to clash with her deep red eyes. Her skin was also colored a milk chocolate brown in color. She had won the Vytal Idol competition three years ago and had been hired as a judge in the off time of her tours which seemed to work out perfectly.
The next person down the line was a man named Mercury Black. He had a dark gray hair color that matched his eyes perfectly. Weiss wasn't sure if he had dyed his hair to match his eyes or if that had all been natural. He had been one of the judges on the show since the beginning. Before all of this, he had gone through school with all of his extracurricular credentials going towards anything having to do with music. He had been in multiple magazines, television programs and news articles.
Then, on the far end of the table, was the acclaimed "her".
Her hair was a deep black with red highlights towards the tips, long in length, going down to the center of her back. There were bangs that fell in front of her face without covering her eyes. Her eyes though were a marvel by themselves. They were absolutely beautiful... wait. What was Weiss thinking? Why was she thinking these things.
"Miss Schnee?" Someone asked.
Weiss blinked a few times and realized that the person who had said her name was her. Now what was her name!? "I'm sorry, what?" Weiss asked.
"I asked how were you doing today?" The woman asked with an amused smile.
"Oh... um..." What are you doing, Weiss!? Get your words out! Why are you so nervous!?
She took a deep silent breath and gave a small smile. "I'm fine, thank you." Weiss replied fully at last.
"That's nice." The woman replied with her own bright smile. "It's been awhile, hasn't it?"
"Excuse me?" Weiss asked.
"Come on, Weiss. Surely you could have recognized me, or even heard my name before. We went to the same high school together. Vale High. My name is, Ruby Rose."
That was it!
Ruby Rose.
And it was in an instant that everything seemed to come back to Weiss.
There were talks all around the school when everything had happened. Ruby was a Sophomore when Weiss was a Senior. Ruby was a girl who was highly praised throughout all her classes and was an upcoming star on the girls track team. She was in most of Weiss' AP leveled classes. And while in chorus, Ruby was able to sing like a heavenly angel at points, like she had been singing since a very young age. Which she most likely did, based off of her family.
Because it wasn't just Ruby herself for how she was well known throughout the school. It was Ruby's parents who were also quite well known. Her entire family seemed to be made of music. Starting there was her older sister, Yang Xiao Long, who was in Weiss' class, was in the school band and was able to play drums, guitar and many other instruments. Their father, a man known as Taiyang Xiao Long, the lead guitarist of a now broken apart band known as Stark. Then there was Ruby's mother. Summer Rose. After the breakup of the band Stark, and the passing of Yang's mother, Raven Branwen, Summer and Taiyang got together and had a child, Ruby. Summer was the lead singer of Stark and after the band broke apart Summer went on to make a record company.
Rose Records today still stands, but under new management. Ruby was now the new manager of Rose Records. A company that has now skyrocketed through the charts ever since she has taken over.
But she had taken over it at a young age.
Towards the end Weiss' senior year, Ruby's Sophomore year, Ruby's mom was killed in a car accident.
At the beginning of Rose Records and shortly after Ruby was born, Summer wrote a will that left the company to her flesh and blood daughter. It was stated in the will that it was nothing against Yang that she wasn't the one to inherit the company. Apparently Summer had treated Yang as if she was her own. She just wanted to know that the company would be in the right hands.
After Weiss graduated, she heard that Ruby went to take over the company completely.
And it was one of the best things that had happened to the company.
She made the company take leaps and strides. It began producing more music by signing more singers, musicians and bands.
This was her.
Now with this entire plethora of musical talent sitting before her, Weiss felt intimidated slightly but did not let it show. That would be a sign of weakness. But Weiss at the moment did feel weak in the legs.
"Of course. It's good to see you again, Mrs. Rose." Weiss said.
Ruby let out a small laugh. "Please Weiss, as cheesy as it sounds, Mrs. Rose was my mother. Just call me Ruby."
Weiss now stood before the judges table, waiting for them to give her the go ahead to begin singing the song that she chose.
"Now what song will you be choosing to sing for us today, Miss Schnee?" Mercury asked her.
"I will be singing a song that I wrote myself." Weiss said with a satisfied smile.
"Oh really?" Emerald asked.
"Yes. I guess you could say that this would be a sort of premiere for the song. I haven't shown this song to anyone."
"Have you written any other songs before this one?" Cinder asked next.
"No." Weiss stated. "This is my first song that I have written."
"I hope that it is worth the work that you put into it."
"I'm sure that it is, Cinder." Ruby said.
"You may begin whenever, Miss Schnee." Mercury finally said.
This was it.
Do or die time.
Weiss took a deep breath, closed her eyes and began to sing.
Mirror, tell me something,
Tell me who's the loneliest of all?
Weiss opened one of her eyes and saw that the judges were not reacting in the slightest. Simply taking in the song and appreciating it to their best ability. Closing her eye once again, she went back to the song.
Mirror, tell me something,
Tell me who's the loneliest of all?
Fear of what's inside of me,
Tell me can a heart be turned to stone?
She opened her eye again. Still no reaction. Weiss wasn't sure what this meant, surely they would have made some sort of body language or movement to show their impression on the song. Although she did see Emerald and Mercury whispering to each other about something.
Mirror, mirror, what's behind you?
Save me from the things I see!
I can keep it from the world,
Why won't you let me hide from me?
Something didn't feel right. None of the judges were reacting in the slightest. If they didn't like her singing they would have told Weiss to stop by now and then tell her what she did wrong.
Mirror, mirror, tell me something,
Who's the loneliest of all?
I'm the loneliest of all.
Weiss finished the song and fully opened her eyes. She held her hands behind her back. If she didn't have any control she would be vibrating with anticipation.
"How was that?" Weiss asked.
"Where to begin." Cinder said, her hand cupping the side of her face.
"I'm just going to say this." Emerald said next. "I say no."
'Wh...what?'
"I concur." said Mercury. "It's a no for me as well, sweet cheeks." he said the last part with a cheeky grin.
Weiss felt as if her world was falling apart around her. This was probably her only chance at getting the life that she wanted without pulling the "Schnee Heiress" card on anyone.
"Ruby." Cinder said. "I think that we should let you handle the talking on this one. Surely you can pull something together to describe this travesty of a song."
"Me?" Ruby asked in return.
"Of course. You knew Weiss in school, so I think that this will be the easiest for you."
"Alright then." Ruby said, not sounding to sure for herself.
'Ruby... come on. Give me something good. Even if it's something that will help me in the long run.'
Weiss could feel her legs become weak. She felt that if it got any worse she might collapse on the ground right before the judges.
"Well. The first thing that I can say is that you haven't changed much from our days in high school." Ruby said.
"What do you mean?" Weiss asked, her voice wavering slightly.
"Back then, you always tried to act as if you were the center of attention. You would make yourself that you were one of the sopranos that could only be heard. You would drown out the rest of us. As if having the tenors behind us was bad enough. Most of the times during school concerts none of our section would be heard. They would only hear high male voices and you. Somehow, you have managed to make your voice go even higher. I, of course, have not heard the song that you have performed today before, but in my own opinion, I feel that it should have been performed by someone with a different voice type. It sounds more suited for a regular soprano than someone who is trying to sound like they're in an Oprah. Not to mention that when you were performing, your voice was wavering in all the wrong places. I can tell that you were trying to hide some sort of message or story in your song, but I can't really see it forming together. So there are many things that need to be worked on with you, Weiss. So for me, it is also a no."
Weiss' knees began to wobble. She felt like she wanted to break down and curl into a ball. But she knew that she shouldn't.
She shouldn't show the weakness in her. They have already broken her down so much, she shouldn't give them the pleasure of seeing their job being complete.
Leonard came over and wrapped his arm around Weiss' shoulder, trying to comfort her.
Weiss shrugged his arm of her.
"Thank you." Weiss said to the judges. She bowed her head slightly and walked away from the table.
Weiss reconvened with her father. He didn't say anything to his daughter after she had explained what had happened, not wanting make anything worse. He may have been a hard parent, but he wasn't heartless.
They were exiting the stadium now.
Weiss was walking away from her now collapsed dreams. The rest of the world would see her performance that the judges basically said was one of the worst ones. And Ruby, one of the people that Weiss had known since high school, had said that she someone who had needed work.
Well, Weiss never actually knew Ruby. She had just heard of the drama that followed her graduating from school and that Ruby used to be in some of her classes.
"Weiss!" she heard someone shout behind her.
She turned to see a certain aforementioned brunette rushing towards her. She had a red jacket over a black tank top while she wore light jeans.
'To think that this woman runs a multi-million dollar recording company.' Weiss thought to herself.
"What do you need, Mrs. Rose."
Ruby jogged up to Weiss and her father and stopped a few feet in front of them. "I thought I said that you can call me Ruby." she said.
"I prefer to leave first names to my close friends." Weiss replied.
"Well I already know where I stand." Ruby said, giving a small sigh.
Weiss' father stepped forward. "Mrs. Rose, my daughter has said to me that you have denied her access to the next round of the competition. Seeing as how that there will now be no second chance for her, I do not see any reason as to why you are now here." her father said properly.
Ruby turned towards her father. "You must be the famous Herald Schnee. You must already know, at least slightly, who I am. But that's not what matters. I would like to speak with your daughter, Mr. Schnee."
"And why is that?"
"I can't speak of it out here." Ruby stated. "Do you think we can speak of this anywhere more private?"
"Speak of what?" Weiss asked.
"That's exactly why we need to speak somewhere private." Ruby said.
Weiss and her father exchanged a glance at each other. Both of their faces read that they should hear her out.
"Our limo is just this way." Weiss' father said. He turned and began walking towards the parking lot.
They arrived at the limo and they all climbed inside.
Closing the door behind them, the driver stood outside and watched for anyone that would come near the limo.
"I don't have much time. We basically stopped for lunch." Ruby stated. "But I'm sure that you might have a few questions for me."
"Yes. I do." Weiss replied.
"Fire away."
"A good start would be, why are you here right now?"
"Because I know what I said was completely wrong."
What?
"What?" Weiss asked.
"What I said about your singing. It was all wrong. I thought that your performance was simply amazing. Your song simply captivated me. It was great."
Weiss didn't know what to think. Not even twenty minutes ago, this woman was practically telling Weiss that her song and singing were poorly performed and now she was saying that it was all great.
"I don't-"
"Understand?" Ruby finished her question for her. Weiss gave a brief nod and Ruby continued. "Well. I'm sure you know that the world has turned into a very corrupt place."
Weiss gave a confused look. Not sure as to why she was saying this.
"Well... the show is pretty corrupt." Ruby said bluntly.
"What do you mean?"
"Somehow, word got out that you were going to be on the show and the bigwigs were bribed heavily by an unknown party to make sure that you didn't make it into the competition. Rumor said that they were some group of faunus who were upset at your father for the controversy against the faunus workers of your company. The heads basically told us that we needed to deny you. They found out that I used to go to school with you and they made up a script for me. I will also say that I didn't mean any of those things that I mentioned from high school. I thought that you were a great singer back then, even now you are. Anyway, getting off topic. But I'll just say, it was wrong for them to take the bribe and deny you."
"Then why, pray tell are you supporting this show by being a judge?" Mr. Schnee asked next.
Ruby gazed at him for a few moments before speaking again. "You're a businessman, Mr. Schnee. I can tell you're someone who knows that money can bring many great things. I myself didn't want to be a judge on the show, but my advisers said that it would be a wise decision in regards to Rose Records. And I obliged, seeking to help the company however I can. Of course, it is not the right way, but what will the right way get you sometimes in a world full of wrong?"
"I'm not sure I fully understand." Mr. Schnee replied.
"Really?" Ruby asked. When she was met with a blank stare, she sighed. "What I'm trying to say is that I saw a chance and I took it. Good or bad, you must take chances to improve. Ya'know, gamble."
"So, why do I feel that you're here for another reason, Ruby?" Weiss asked.
"I wanted to give you a chance of your own, Weiss." Ruby informed.
"What do you mean?"
Ruby reached into her back pocket and pulled out a business card. It was pure white with a red rose symbol covering the front with the words Rose Records written in bold black writing. A line down read Ruby's name and a phone number.
"Instead of going through a competition to get a record deal, how about take a private invitation to a recording studio and meeting a few of the people there?"
"You... you can't be serious?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Ruby asked with a big smile.
"Yes actually, just a bit."
Ruby gave off a small laugh. "Well, I'm being completely serious. Come by the studio, it's on Patch. Nice place might I say. Grew up there." Ruby's phone began to go off. She pulled it out of her pocket and looked at the touch screen. Looking a little disappointed, she looked back to Weiss and her father. "Sadly that's it for me. It was very nice to meet you Mr. Schnee." Ruby said as she shook his hand. "And it was good to see you again, Weiss." She said to the white haired girl.
"Thank you for this, Ruby." Weiss responded.
Ruby flashed the girl another smile the limo door was opened by the driver, she stepped out and walked away but looked like she remembered something and turned back.
"Oh and, Weiss." she said.
"Yes?"
"I thought you said you only called your close friends by their first names."
Well... This is a thing now.
I wonder what the response will be.
I hope that you guys like this!
It is, of course, WhiteRose centered and will be a progressive relationship.
I'll see where this story takes me and I hope that you all will enjoy this alongside Life Lessons.
And now, until the next time, I'll see you all, in the next chapter.
