Never make a bet with Yang Xiao Long. No matter how easy it may seem, do not do it. No matter how much the odds may seem to be in your favour, resist the urge. No matter how much you wish to get her back for a previous wrong doing, cut your losses.
You will lose and the consequences will be severe. It was a lesson that all friends of the blonde had learned. Be it through making the mistake themselves or by witnessing the cruel fate befall another. It was just something that everyone at Beacon was aware of. Under no circumstances should you ever make a bet with Yang Xiao Long.
Unfortunately for Weiss Schnee, no one had told her that.
"And here is your coffee, no milk two sugars and your minerals water," Weiss said, shooting the customer a dazzling smile. "That will be 6 Lien."
The young man grinned handing her a note.
"Keep the change."
"Oh thank you so much," she gushed. "I hope you come back soon."
"As long as you're working here, why would I go anywhere else."
Weiss giggled as he turned away. She waited until he was out the door before letting her fake smile drop. Rolling her eyes, Weiss turned to find Nora watching her.
"Well that was just creepy."
"I know right," she said. "Some of these people are just so-"
"Actually I kinda meant you."
Weiss blinked in shock. What had she done?
"Excuse me?"
"You know the way you can go from so nice and warm to... well, Weiss in half a heartbeat. It's like there is two people in your head." Nora paused for a second, staring suspiciously at Weiss. "Are you two people Weiss?"
With Nora, Weiss still couldn't tell if this was a real question. Better safe than sorry.
"No."
"Are you sure?"
Oh for the love of Dust.
"Pretty sure."
"We could call you Nice Weiss and Ice Weiss."
Annoyed, Weiss let out a huff. Turning back to the till, she picked up one of the squirt bottles and started to clean the bunker.
"It's just a customer voice," she muttered. "Everyone has one."
"Yeah but yours is different."
"It's the same as yours."
"In the same way a mansion and a caravan are both homes."
"You mean mine is cultured and refined while yours is cheap and tacky?"
Nora nodded as those contemplating the comparison. Weiss was slightly disappointed. She had thought it was quite witty to be honest.
"Right," she said. "One holds great family experience and the other is strange, creepy and results in abnormal children."
Weiss scowled at the girl's grin. Unable to think of a smart retort, she simply elected to raise the squirt bottle threateningly. Nora just narrowed her eyes, practically daring Weiss to fire. Two souls engaged in a battle of wills.
It was at that point Yang walked back in from the kitchen. The two girls froze as their unofficial boss noticed them. Then Yang sighed.
"Guys I know Thursday isn't our busiest day," she said. "But some semblance of professionalism would be nice."
"Sorry boss," Nora replied with a smart salute. "I was just telling Weiss about her creepy customer act."
"I do not have a creepy customer act."
Yang smiled sympathetically placing her hand on Weiss shoulder.
"Weiss I'll tell you this as a friend," the blonde said. "You have a creepy customer act."
Scowling at her co-worker's laughter, Weiss folded her arms.
"You're just jealous that I get more tips than you do."
"All the tips get divided equally, why would I be jealous?" Yang paused. "And I could totally kick your ass if I wanted to."
"Oh really?" Weiss said, not backing down. "You wanna bet?"
Nora's eyes widened as she opened her mouth to stop Weiss making a huge mistake. But too late as Yang quickly raised her hand to silence her. Almost casually, she leaned back on the bunker and grinned at Weiss.
"You sure you wanna do this Ice Queen?"
Any reservations or doubt that Weiss might have had vanished under the usage of the nickname she so despised. Staring coolly at the blonde, she replied without question.
"Winner is one who gets the most tips in an hour."
"And the loser?" Yang said. "What's the forfeit?"
"Depends what you want to be doing, Xiao Long."
Weiss smirked at the blonde pause, not realising that what she thought was hesitance was in fact contemplation. For a few seconds, Yang said nothing as she thought of the perfect penance to punish Weiss with. Then she smiled.
"Loser gets a tattoo."
Weiss froze, her confident smirk vanishing at the thought of her perfect pale skin being blemished by black ink. Winter would actually kill her.
"What?"
"Winner gets to choose what it is." Yang smiled. "And where it goes."
She should back out now. Make an excuse about how it was immature and beneath her. Sure Yang would tease her in the moment and the rest of this shift would be unbearable as a result. But if it meant she could avoid getting a tattoo she could never rid herself of, it would be worth the hit to her ego.
Then again, being able to watch the look on Yang's face as she was subjected to that humiliation... The potential benefits of what she could do to the cocky blonde who surely expected her to back down. How could she resist?
Arrogant blue eyes met smirking lilac.
"You're on."
They made Nora the referee. They told her it was because she was impartial but truth be told, it was mostly because she was there. Not that Nora cared about that, committing herself to the role with gusto.
"All right I want a nice clean game."
"How would we play dirty in this situation?"
Nora ignored them, picking up the tip jar and emptying its current contents into a bag. Now they had a level playing field to start with.
"Weiss will go first and she has an hour to cheat, swindle and flirt to make as much money from tips as possible."
The heiress glared at the words while beside her Yang snorted. So much for an impartial judge.
"After her hour has elapsed, Yang will take to the stage. I will be keeping a vigilant eye out for excessive flashing-"
"What the hell Nora?" Yang said indignantly. "You're supposed to be on my side."
"I didn't choose the judge life. The judge life chose me."
Well it seemed the crazy ginger was impartial. She was just insulting them both. It was good enough for her. Weiss shot Yang a sweet smile as the blonde grumbled about unfair stereotypes.
"After her sinful hour of debauchery has elapsed," Nora continued. "I shall count both earnings separately and determine a winner."
"And then after our shift has finished," Weiss said smartly. "Yang can go get her new art piece."
"You wish."
"I might sign my name on you." Weiss lifted her finger and pointedly daintily to Yang's forehead. "Right here."
"Keep talking. You are just giving me ideas princess."
Weiss smirked as she headed to the till and prepared herself. All the training she had received in order to properly host and greet her father's business associates was all about to pay off. The young heiress knew how to flatter, flirt and fib her way to victory.
Yang didn't stand a chance.
Weiss stared down at the two piles of tips that lay in front of them in utter disbelief. The piles that she had just had Nora recount for the third time. The two piles each had a sticky note with the names and total written on each.
Weiss Schnee - 64.76
Yang Xiao Long - 68.05
"But that can't be..." Weiss began before the words died in her throat. "There must be some mistake..."
On her left, Nora was giving her a look a sympathy as she tried to console the white haired loser.
"I'm sorry it had to end this way Weiss."
On her right, Yang was looking less sympathetic. In fact, her grin was biggest that Weiss had ever seen it. Slapping Weiss heartily on the back, Yang sighed in contentment.
"Well it was a close one," she said dramatically. "I admit, in the last ten minutes when I wasn't getting any more customers, I was starting to sweat a little."
Weiss let out a whine that the blonde ignored as she continued her speech.
"But thanks to the noble efforts of that lone parched shopkeeper looking for one final cup of coffee, balance was restored. Truly, victory is in the simple things we have long forgotten. Things that required an awesome, more badass soul."
A hand was waved in front of her face but Weiss didn't even flinch. The hand moved closer, then snapped the fingers a few times trying to get her attention. Weiss didn't move not even when she heard Nora sigh.
"I think you broke her."
"Well that's what she gets for being so cocky. That'll teach her to tug on Superman's cape," Yang grinned. "See if you can reboot her Nora. I'm going to go book an appointment. Maybe look up some designs. Practise my signature. I actually liked that idea."
Not noticing (or possibly not caring) how pale Weiss had gotten, Yang walked towards the back office whistling as she did so. Once she was out of earshot, Nora once again tried to get her to react. Without warning, Weiss grabbed Nora by the dress, a mad look in her eye.
"She's just kidding right Nora? Yang isn't really expecting me to get a tattoo. That would be utterly ridiculous."
Nora's eyes were wide as Weiss continued to babble incoherently. For once in her life, the red head couldn't get a word in edgewise. She was being utterly steamrolled by Weiss's frantic fear.
"No. No. This is just a joke right? Right Nora? Yang just wants to make me sweat and then she'll let me go. Tell me that's going to happen Nora. Nora! Why aren't you answering me when I talk with my mouth?"
The red head sighed pushing Weiss off her.
"Look Weiss, this happens to everyone. You shouldn't make bets with Yang, it never ends well. I tried to warn you."
"What do you mean this happens to everyone?"
Nora didn't answer. Instead she just took out her scroll and flicked through it. Weiss wanted to knock the stupid thing out of her hands and make her focus on what was happening right now. Before she could though, Nora turned around showing the heiress a video.
The video showed a bath with Ruby sitting in it. She was dressed in what looked like her gym clothes and looked thoroughly miserable, with her face buried in her hands. Yang stepped into frame holding a large bucket and grinning broadly.
"So Ruby here was convinced that she had better stamina than me. Ain't that right Rubes?"
Ruby let out a small moan of the affirmative.
"So I challenged her to a run off. We would take a treadmill each and see who lasts the longest before needing to stop. The winner gets to fill a bucket with whatever they want and pour it on the loser."
Yang leaned forward, holding up the bucket for the camera to see. Weiss almost gagged as stared through the screen at the thick putrid looking yellow liquid. She couldn't even imagine what it had smelt like. Poor Ruby, it would have ruined her beautiful hair.
Back in the video, Yang continued talking.
"So we went to the gym today to complete our little wager. Do you want to tell them who won sis?"
There was a muffled replied from Ruby's hands, but Yang just let out a tisk of disapproval.
"I can't quite hear you."
Letting out a dejected sigh, Ruby raised her face from her hands and Weiss noticed for the first time that she was wearing goggles.
"You won Yang. Please just get this over with."
Eager to oblige, Yang raised the bucket and slowly poured over her sister's head. Ruby managed to last about a second before letting out a squeal of disgust, clearly audible even over Yang's laughter. And then the video ended.
"It's not the same," Weiss said quickly. "Ruby's is her sister and that forfeit was over after one shower."
Nora didn't reply instead going back to her scroll. A few seconds later a second video was up. This time the camera was focused on Blake, sitting at a table with a bowl in front of her. Whatever was in it, must be the cause of her slightly green face.
"You know this could be considered racist?"
From behind the camera, Yang's smug voice replied.
"You aren't getting out of this Belladonna, so don't even try that card."
Letting out a growl of frustration, Blake stared back at the bowl in front of her. Despite her own current misfortune, Weiss was curious about what Blake would be eating. They were on better terms now but she still remembered the milkshake incident.
"Do you want explain what's going on?"
The question was so innocent sounding, that Weiss couldn't help but smirk. Blake had shot a glare just above the camera before starting to speak.
"So Yang and I got into an argument about what year the Beauty and the Beast came out and unfortunately I got my dates a little muddled. As 'punishment' Yang is making me eat a pouch of dog food."
Yang must have picked up the camera as the screen suddenly repositioned to give a view of the bowl and the chunks of meat and jelly inside. Weiss gagged again. There had to be something wrong with Yang that she could think of these forfeits. this was family and friends, not a torture camp.
Gingerly, Blake picked up the spoon. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath she quickly shoved it in her mouth. The effect was instantaneous with the Faunus girl dropping the spoon and covering her mouth in an effort not to throw it up.
"Oh Dust that's disgusting."
"It's beef flavour if that helps."
"It really doesn't."
Grimacing, Blake reached to take another spoonful.
"Okay yes that's pretty bad too," Weiss said after the video ended. "But it was a private affair so-"
Nora didn't give her a chance to finish. Already she had brought up another video. How many of these things were there? This time when the screen started it was Jaune face on screen.
"Ready Jaune?"
"I can't believe you are making me do this."
There was a snort of derision.
"The agreement was that the loser had to spend a night out wearing whatever the winner chose. Personally I think you look great."
Staring at the screen, Weiss felt her jaw drop as the camera panned out to reveal Jaune wearing a white dress. He was looking rather sheepish about the whole thing unable to look fully at the camera.
"This is far worse than anything I would have made you wear."
"Jaune I'm pretty sure one of things you said before losing the bet was that I would be wearing nothing at all."
"Obviously a joke."
"And the French Maid?"
"Dammit Neptune."
The video ended and Nora finally put away her scroll. It seemed she was finally out of videos of Yang's past victories. Not that made Weiss feel any better though. If anything, the series had only made her more nervous. Yang really wasn't going to let her out of this.
"But it's a tattoo," she said pleadingly. "Yang wouldn't make me get something I can't get rid of. It will be there forever."
Wordlessly, Nora glanced around, making sure that no more customers had entered the shop. Confirming they were alone, the red head lifted up the hem of her skirt revealing her hip to Weiss.
Etched into the skin was a pink love heart with a Norse hammer symbol breaking through it. Written in bold were the words 'Chat Shit, Get Yanged'.
"Turns out I can't bench more than Yang."
Weiss let out a whimper.
The final few hours of work were long and torturous. Just when Weiss thought she was safe, Yang would reappear with another crudely drawn design in hand. From Bumblebees to a monochrome chess set. A wolf to a bear. The designs were getting more elaborate and more outlandish.
"Okay Weiss how about a simple White Rose?"
She bit her lip considering the offer. A singular flower wouldn't be too bad. Depending in the quality of the artist it might even be considered elegant. Wait why was Yang still grinning.
"Where would you want me to put it?"
Yang raised her eyebrows innocently.
"Roses grow in bushes so I suppose it would have to go right on your pu-"
She was interrupted by an ice cream scoop flying through the air and Yang barely managed to duck in time. Weiss seethed as Yang sheepishly poked her head up from behind the bunker.
"Finish that sentence and I swear to god, no one will ever find your body."
"So that's a no?"
Clang
"I just wanted to be sure."
Nora had bought her ice cream after the shift ended. That's how bad she had gotten that Nora had stopped teasing her. Depressed about the utter ruination that was about to occur on her body, Weiss had accepted without protest. Why should she even bother looking after her figure now anyway? She was going to be looking like a tramp by the end of the day.
An hour ago, Yang had gleefully informed them that, luckily, May had one free opening for the day. Once she had finished up in the office, they could head over and Weiss could face the results of her hubris.
Dejected, Weiss sat licking her bubble-gum ice cream while Nora tried to console her.
"It's not going to be that bad Weiss."
"Humph"
"Yang isn't going to make you get anything that you would really hate," Nora said reassuringly. "I actually quite like mine once I got used to it."
"Sure."
"Yup, I think it's hot. Ren likes it too."
Wait what?
Before Weiss could follow up on how Nora's roommate, who she wasn't dating apparently, liked the tattoo that Nora had on her ass, Yang burst out of the door. Locking it behind her, she practically skipped towards them as Weiss cast her eyes downwards.
"Still here Weiss?" she asked smugly. "I thought you would have bolted by now."
"I'm a Schnee. We keep our promises." She took a breath. "No matter what."
"Well isn't that dramatic," Yang said with a smirk. "Come on then. Let's go."
The three girls began their walk along the pier. Internally, Weiss was wondering if she had abandoned her family name when she had run from home. If that were the case, then she wasn't really a Schnee anymore so maybe she could break this promise.
The tattoo place did not inspire confidence in Weiss. It was a small hole in the wall type shop with dark tinted windows. Various designs and pictures of their clients, presumably, were showcased on the glass and above the door was a bright neon sign declaring the store was open.
Well she was here. No way that Yang would let her back out now, but maybe... Nervously she turned to the blonde and shot her a hopeful smile. Yang just smiled back, taking Weiss by the arm and dragging her inside with Nora following reluctantly after.
The door opened with a beep and Weiss was met with the distinct smell of ink and disinfectant. At least she wasn't going to get a disease from this place. The reception area was empty but Weiss could already hear someone moving around the back.
"Welcome to Grimm Creations," a girl wearing a beanie said, as she walked in. " How can- Oh hey Yang..." There was a pause. "Valkyrie."
"Zedong," Nora said icily.
Well that was strange. Looking to Yang for some explanation, Weiss just found her rolling her eyes.
"Play nice Nora," she muttered before turning to the artist. "Hey May, how's it's going?"
"Not bad. Long day of mostly touch ups." The girl grinned. "But if Valkyrie is the one who lost your bet again, my day just got a whole lot better. You said you'd let me pick this one."
"Heh heh heh, I never said that..." Yang grinned at the glaring Nora. "But it's not Nora anyway. She isn't stupid enough to make a bet with me twice."
Seemingly desperate to defuse the tension between Nora and May, Yang pulled Weiss forward obscuring them from each other's view.
"This is Weiss our newest member," Yang explained. "She's a tattoo virgin so you get to be her first."
"Nice, what are you getting?"
"I... don't know," Weiss said with a grimace. "Yang still hasn't told me."
Her face flushed pink, as May let out a laugh.
"Sounds like Yang. Come on them. Let's put you out of your misery."
Jerking her thumb behind her, May led the three of them to the back room. Weiss was sat down on a stool, while the other three conferred over Yang's design. Her stomach was full of butterfly's as she tried to pick up any information on what she would be receiving. No such luck though.
After a few minutes, May and Yang seemed to come to an agreement. May left to go get her supplies whole Yang took a seat in front of Weiss. She managed a few seconds of confident silence before nerves overwhelmed her.
"Well," she snapped. "What is it? What are you going to do to me?"
Yang just smiled.
"You'll see when it's done," she said simply. "Though to save some time, you should probably take your jeans off now."
So it was on her ass like Nora's then. At least it would be hidden. Letting out another whine of despair, Weiss resigned herself to her fate. She got halfway through unbuttoning before Nora spoke up.
"Yang, as much as I know you like seeing girls naked, I don't think it's necessary for a back tattoo."
Weiss glared at the blonde but Yang just shrugged innocently.
"Can't blame a girl for trying."
With great effort, Weiss managed to remain calm. Rebuttoning her jeans, Weiss crossed her arms and waited for the artist to return. It didn't take long and soon May was walking back in, a tattoo gun in hand.
"I assume you are cool with them here?"
"Yeah it's fine," she muttered. "Let's just this over with."
"You can't rush art." Weiss could almost hear the smirk in Mays voice. "This might hurt a little."
Before Weiss could retort the soft buzzing of the tattoo gun filled the room and she realised this was actually happening. She was actually getting a tattoo and she had no idea what it was. If her father could see her now, he would probably disown her.
May asked her to lean forward before pulling up her shirt over her shoulder on her left side. Then she felt a soft burning sensation as the gun was pressed into her lower shoulder. That was a small mercy, it seemed she would at least be able to cover it with most shirts. She could just never go swimming with Winter.
The entire process took about an hour. For most of it, Weiss didn't say anything as she tried to focus on the gun and maybe work out what it was. No such luck though. Trying to figure it out just based on where she was being marked was pretty much impossible.
Yang and May were talking casually throughout while Nora sat in a sullen silence. It seemed very out of character for the normally cheerful girl. Weiss couldn't help but wonder what the reason was for the tension. That worked as a welcome distraction. Maybe they were exes. It seemed unlikely since she was pretty sure Nora was straight. Still is passed the time and was fairly entertaining to think about.
And then, it was over.
"Alright Weiss," May said. "That's a wrap."
Weiss sat up, dreading what she was about to see. With a shaky breath, she looked into the mirror that would reflect her back. But instead of something vile and humiliating she was instead met with something else.
A single black snowflake sitting in the middle of two circles. Tracing her fingers over the tender skin, Weiss felt her breath catch in her throat. She didn't even hear Yang's chuckle.
"I thought it was fitting for the Ice Queen."
Still not quite able to believe it, Weiss still said nothing. On one hand, it could have been a hell of a lot worse and she doubted that if she had won the bet, Yang would have gotten away with something so simple. On the other hand, Yang had given her a tattoo for life.
Then she noticed it.
"What's that bit in the middle?"
What Weiss had thought to just be the centre line of the snow flake was in fact writing. A neat cursive print that clearly read 'Yang Xiao Long'.
Slowly the heiress turned to face her, a look of utter disbelief on her face. Yang didn't even have the decency to hide her grin. Even Nora and May were both trying to suppress smiles.
"Look at it this way," Yang said. "You're always carrying me with you now. It's kinda beautiful if you think about it."
"Do you remember when I told you that Schnees always keep their promises," Weiss said coldly. "I promise you, Yang Xiao Long, that you will pay for this."
Yang just let out a short laugh.
"I look forward to it."
Ren - "I can't believe you let this happen"
Nora - "Let what happen?"
Nora - "Oh you mean Weiss and Yang?"
Ren - "Yes"
Nora - "In my defence it was really funny."
Nora - "And it's not that bad a tattoo"
Ren - "That's not the point"
Ren - "You hated yours at first"
Nora - "It grew on me and her will grow on Weiss"
Ren - "Sigh"
Ren - "How was May?"
Nora - "Fine"
Nora - "She got fat though"
Ren - "Really?"
Nora - "And she smells bad"
Nora - "Probably hasn't showered in weeks"
Nora - "That would explain the spots as well..."
Ren - "You do remember she broke up with me right?"
Ren - "You don't have to be jealous"
Nora - "Why would I be jealous of a fat smelly girl with spots?"
Ren - "Never mind."
Nora - "Are we still having dinner tonight?"
Ren - "Yes but we are going to have to tell the others eventually"
Nora - "Boop"
