Okay, more writing. This is fun, I wonder how and when I'm going to lodge you all in feels town. That is the question, one I know the answer to... and you sadly won't know until we cross that broader.
Guest: I think this counts as more… I'm no geologist so I don't know.
Chapter 4:
"Oh my god Coco! How did you not tell me about this sooner!?" The brunette yelled as she began to walk around in tight circles. She had been freaking out at her oldest friend. She had been slightly offended that she was only finding out after she had found the ring in the dryer.
"Come on Velv, while her dad may have said it is up to her not him, but I still need to ask her sister. The single person that can sink any of her relationships. And from stories her grandparents have told me the only time Ruby has destroyed a relationship was for that Cinder girl I've only heard stories about. And that was only a side effect that opened Yang's eyes." Coco stated as she attempted to take the ring back once more. She was getting annoyed at the girl's antics.
"How long have you been sitting on this beauty? Is it real? Did you do the standard half your paycheck for six months? Are you going cheap on my boss?" Velvet continued putting as much distance between her and her roommate.
"Velv! I swear! Just give it back! So help me I will send Yatsu those pictures of you dressed as a rabbit!"
"Too late. He has been in my parents' house. There isn't a single embarrassing picture you can hold over me. For the record he thought I looked cute and that the only way I could have been cuter is if I was holding my pet bunny in the picture." Velvet continued as the tower that was her boyfriend walked in.
"Yatsu! Can you get me my ring back from her!? I kind of need it back!" Coco yelled causing the other brunette to jump into the tall man's arms.
"So help me Yatsu! She needs to be punished! She had the desire to propose to Yang and kept it secret from me probably until the wedding. She kept this from her best friend. I need to make her suffer!" Velvet yelled as she managed to crawl on top of the tall Asian man's shoulders.
"Velv I was planning to ask Ruby today and I figure the ring will prove to her how serious I am about this!" Coco yelled as Velvet continued to keep the ring just out of reach.
"Velvet, you know she would have told you before she asked Yang. You've always been that safety net for her. If Yang would have said no you would take her out drinking, and then insult Yang all night. And if Yang said yes you would take them both out drinking, along with me and your co-workers." Yatsu informed the girl on his back as she handed him the ring. Her small hands being dwarfed by his own as she placed the small piece of jewellery into it.
"You're right, but it still hurts that she wouldn't tell me sooner. But it is a very nice ring don'tcha think?" Velvet whispered into the tall man's ear. She could see him observing the ring closely. "It is a nice ring Coco. I'm sure she will say yes."
"I'm sorry Velv, but I didn't tell you because if it blew up in my face I could sweep it under the rug." Coco began as he was handed the ring back. "And despite how much I know that is the possibility, that nagging feeling that what if Ruby says I'm no good, or if Yang says no."
"If Ruby does say no, tell me. I'll talk to her. And if Yang says no I'll quit and we can go get shit faced and bad talk her." Velvet continued Yatsu's point as she jumped back into his arms. Enjoying the fact of his strength making her weight seem like nothing.
"Now Yatsu, do you mind letting me down? I just know you want to talk to Coco to reassure her."
"Sorry. Do you mind it?"
"No, that is why I love you so much. Your a gentle giant." Velvet spoke as she leaned up and kissed the man as he gently lowered her. He turned around to see the girl skip up the stairs. He quickly walked back and sat next to Coco.
"Want some milk tea to calm yourself down?" Yatsu asked as he began to rub the girl's back.
"How about camomile? I kinda developed a taste for it." Coco asked as Yatsu smiled, mouthing a simple 'okay'.
Ruby pulled back from her drawing. Smiling at the drawing that she finally finished. 'I still have a day left to colour it.' She was happy, she finally finished the drawing. She felt a tap on her shoulder, as she turned around she could see Tai standing behind her looking at the drawing.
'It looks just like her.' Tai signed as Ruby nodded rubbing her eyes. She had hoped it was accurate enough. But despite the fact she had drawn the bust image dozens of times in the past, the line art always seemed to fail her.
'I still think I didn't draw her right. And I hate that. I messed up her beauty.' Ruby signed, loathing that she knew she was right. She could never capture her mother's beauty. And yet that would never stop her. Everyone close to her always has encouraged her to draw.
'Your mother would be proud of your skills. You know that Ruby.' Tai signed letting a smile grace his lips. The drawing was beautiful, almost like she had taken a picture and produced a copy with nothing but varying degrees of grey.
'It is hard to believe it has been fifteen years tomorrow.' Ruby signed, a few tears slipping past the dam she had built. 'I still miss her.'
'We all do.' Tai signed and quickly hugged his daughter. It was a sight that always hurt him, and he was positive that it may never get easier, but he knew that his daughters hurting always had felt akin to a knife through the heart. After a few minutes with the only audible sound being Tai's hand rubbing Ruby's back, Ruby pulled back.
'Can me, you, Yang, and maybe Coco visit her grave tomorrow?' Ruby signed knowing he wouldn't refuse. It was always the sole thing she ever wanted to do come her birthday, she knew he wouldn't find fault with it. With the exception of asking if there was anything else she wanted to do.
'You are aware that this is the first time you've asked for someone else to come right?' He was shocked. Since Summer's death, it has always been just the three of them. He was glad that she had a trust in someone that may or may not become her sister-in-law and his daughter-in-law.
'Yeah, but I like Coco. She makes Yang happy, and while one day they may break up, or not, Yang has enjoyed their time together. What kind of sister would I be to step between them?' Ruby signed quickly rubbing the left over tears on her face.
'I'm sure both would be glad to hear that.' Tai started, rubbing his hand through Ruby's hair. 'I'm going to make something to eat want something?' he asked already knowing the answer would be her trying to deny it until her stomach spoke up.
'Yeah... Coco texted me not to long ago asking if we can meet up. So I might want to eat something before I go see her. If she is planning to break Yang's heart I can't kill on an empty stomach.' Ruby signed earning a chuckle from Tai.
'Oh I doubt she is trying to hurt her Ruby, don't worry about that. Be more concerned with Yang crushing Coco if she says no.' Tai thought as he began to rummage through the fridge, looking for something to cook for the both of them. He turned around and signed, 'How about grilled cheese?'
Ruby just nodded as she walked back into the living room to clean up the bulk of her mess. Leaving only her sketch pad and some colouring pencils out so she when she could pack her bag and hopefully finish the drawing before tomorrow.
She grabbed her satchel and began to pack in the items she had left out. She grabbed her phone and smiled at the message. 'I'm glad Blake doesn't mind texting me this late, but it is nearly eleven at night there. She needs sleep.'
R~ Blake you need sleep. Aren't you meant to be dealing with some big company tomorrow?
B~ It is the Schnee Electrical Company, and you know I can work just fine with an hour sleep. It is something you pick up will studying law.
R~ No. That is no excuse. You are need eight hours minimum. Go to sleep or I will get on a flight to force you to sleep.
'How in hell's name was this a good idea? Meeting her here? At a cafe? There could have been a dozen better places. I'm only going to ask her if she would be fine with me marrying her sister. This can only backfire!' Coco thought as she nearly threw the menu she had been looking over at the table.
"Calm down Coco. I'm sure whoever you're meeting won't be as wound up nearly as tight as you think he slash she is going to be." A multi colour haired girl spoke placing two pristine white cups down on the table.
"That doesn't really help Neo. I'm kinda going to ask a big question."
"Who is it even your meeting? Is it Yang? Oh are you going to pop the question?" Neo asked as she smacked Coco on the shoulder playfully.
"Actually it is... Ruby... figured I might as well get hers and Tai's approval first. One down now it is just Ruby and then asking." As soon as the name left Coco's mouth she regretted it. She knew Neo had patched some of the bridges between her and Yang, she had even exchanged a few albeit tense conversation with Ruby. But it had always been through texting. They haven't actually seen face to face in a while.
"Why did you choose this place Coco? You knew I was working and knew I still don't feel comfortable being around her!" Neo yelled. A few heads turning at the small girl's yelling. She let out a small sorry before she turned back to the brunette. "Why Coco?" She asked in a more silent tone, but still carrying her intentions behind it.
"I don't know. It was probably because I would like to do it in sign but I only have a year and a half experience. And knowing my luck I would never get the taste of my foot out of my mouth." Coco defended as Neo looked around quickly before delivering a smack to the back of Coco's head.
"One you shouldn't attempt that then. Two if you would have asked me I would have told you how to sign it. And three at this point if I get pulled into an awkward situation because of you I will never forgive you."
To Coco the petite woman seemed far too calm for it to be a good thing, but she couldn't respond to the girl before she quickly dived in through a door she could just assume was a door to a staff only area. Coco looked towards the front door to see the red haired girl they had just been talking about walking through.
Ruby quickly noticed Coco and walked over. Ruby took a seat just across from Coco. 'I bought you some hot cocoa.' Coco signed rather slow as Ruby began to giggle at the choice of beverage. It had long since became the joke name amongst their friends for Coco and Yang.
'I can't place why this place looks familiar but thank you.' Ruby wrote on the notebook she had become accustomed to bringing around with her. 'Why did you want to meet up anyways?' Ruby wrote back, simply not wanting to confuse the brunette.
'I wanted to ask you about the octopus?' Coco signed and by looking at Ruby's face realised she got the complex hand gesture wrong. Ruby quickly wrote on the notebook, 'What? Please tell me you don't actually mean what you just said because if you do I'm going to have questions.'
'Maybe I actually did sign that right.' Coco thought as the seat next to her shifted. She looked over to see Neo sitting down. "You really should have taken the chance to write the question down. You just said you wanted to talk about some octopus." Neo practically hissed in Coco's ear as she turned to Ruby.
'Hi Rubbles. I would have rather not to come out but Coco just shoved her foot into her mouth and I feel like this will be a lot easier.' Neo signed. She could see Ruby start to sulk a little. She wasn't sure if it was from Neo being there or what.
'Can you please not use that name Neo.' Ruby signed as Neo just looked at her 'Is that really what made her mood shift?'
'Sorry. It is a force of habit.' Neo started as she turned to Coco. "I need to get back to work so hurry up and ask the question so I can translate? Or is this really about an octopus?" Neo asked, really just wanting to get away from the table. And while she would enjoy seeing her confident friend messing up, she would never want her chance at happiness ruined from some poor translation.
"You know exactly what I'm going to ask." Coco responded as Neo rolled her eyes towards her.
"I would rather not be that blunt, but if you want me to fine." Neo quickly signed Coco's question. 'She wants to know if you would approve of her asking for your sister's hand.'
As Neo signed this Coco pulled the ring out of her pocket. Ruby's eyes shot between Neo, the ring and Coco. She stared into Coco's eyes. She wanted to know if it was the truth. She would not let Yang get hurt. She loved Coco like a sister, but everyone knew if Coco hurt Yang, she would be put onto a rather restricted list.
'Look me in the eye and tell me you've never had a single doubt about the two of you.' Ruby signed as Neo translated just in case Coco didn't know.
"I've never had a single doubt about being with Yang." Coco spoke carefully to not confuse Ruby while she was reading her lips.
"She says you have her permission provided that you never hurt Yang." Neo spoke, and Coco instantly wrapped Ruby in a hug.
'Easiest parts done. Now I just need to get the courage to ask Yang.'
Author's Note:
Nother chapter down. Time for an edit and onto the next one. and as for the signing mishap with Coco… I just wanted to give the chapter some humor… and didn't want to give Sun more time right now.