Hi friends!

Welcome back to RWBY: The Selection!

Isn't Penny adorable? I love her so much. Today we've got some equally adorable Ruby and Weiss :D

Just some reminders to pull y'all back in:

1. Qrow is missing. He's disappeared while on a mission in Vacuo and has had his scroll disabled.

2. Weiss is best girl. That is all :)

Thank you to everyone who reviewed!

To RavellAqim, thank you! I love your thoughts sparking off! Watts' and Tyrian's work relationship in Volume 7 is *chef's kiss* and I love it so much. My little brother's absolute favorite character is Watts (we fight with Watts v. Ironwood Miis on Super Smash Bros all the time) and Tyrian is always a joy to write. I really love RWBY's villains (and their heroes). Cinder needs a little work (but hopefully we'll get some BACKSTORY as Volume 8 continues), but Watts, Tyrian, Hazel, Salem, Emerald, Neo, and Torchwick all are really fascinating to me (Mercury's kind of annoying sometimes not going to lie but I still like him and Emerald's relationship). Your point on Ace-Ops fighting skills being consistent with canon is... sad but true. I love the Ace-Ops, but they are far from the Ace-OPs (if you catch my pun). I am similarly glad that Marrow survived because he is just so good. As far as Ironwood flouting the caste system... listen, the man declared martial law in the last volume. He doesn't listen to authorities if they go against what he believes is right XD. And my heart breaks for Penny in this situation (and in Volume 8 right now, y'all. Like, I'm not going to include any Volume 8 spoilers in this fic because the volume isn't fully out yet, but AGH THE FEELS). Salem's genuine emotional state! :D And yeah, Watts and Cinder having no concern for those below them is... also consistent with canon XD Thank you again for all of your excellent thoughts and the reviews!

To HelpingHand, absolutely no worries about not PMing! I'm so glad you're back and reading the story :D And yes, Nora got/will get her pancakes, and Jaune got his hug! :D Thank you for your reviews! YOU'RE great :)

To LuckyPickl3, thank you for the reviews! It's great to see stuff on older chapters, I love it :D and ARKOS! The ship of all ships. I cannot handle Arkos y'all. It's so slow-burn in this fic but Arkos is just *so good*

Once again, please review with any thoughts/comments/questions/concerns/anything else that strikes your fancy!

Without further ado, enjoy!

Chapter 57: Weiss

"This is so unfair," Weiss whined. "Twice in a row, I'm not chosen for the first date. Am I just supposed to stew in anticipation until my name is on a date card? What is this game of emotions we play?"

"It's called 'the Selection,'" Yang said, shoving some pretzels into her mouth, "and I suggest you get over it,"

Weiss pouted. Thursday nights always put her in a bad mood. Every week, she got all prepped: clothes changed, hair styled, makeup done, just in case it was her name on that date card, and every week, without fail, Jaune picked someone else. The one-on-one dates were the worst. Even though the Women's Room was a place of party and camaraderie during those one-on-ones, Weiss couldn't help but wonder what Jaune was up to with the other girl. Were they making a deep connection? Would he be enticed to pick her over Weiss?

"I have an idea to help us 'get over it'," Coco said, a sly smile crossing her face. She finished the rest of her soda and sat the bottle on the floor. "How about some spin-the-bottle?"

"We're all girls," Weiss pointed out.

Yang, Ilia, Reese, and Coco all looked at her. "Yes, and?"

"And we're all here for Prince Jaune," Blake reminded, setting down her book. "Professor Goodwitch said anyone caught in a relationship with someone other than the Prince will face the penalty of death. No offense, but I'm not willing to die for a game of spin-the-bottle."

"Thank you," said Weiss. "In fact, I think I'm going to bed."

"Aw, c'mon Weiss," Yang protested. Coco shook her head in disappointment as Weiss stood up to leave, but Weiss didn't care. How could these girls sit here so casually with each other, knowing that they were all vying for the heart of the same man?

She told herself she should go straight to bed, lest her name be on the date card tomorrow morning, but, at the last second, turned away from her door and knocked on Ruby's instead.

Ruby answered the door. There was a smile on her face, but her eyes were worried, and her scroll was in her hand. "Oh, hi Weiss,"

"Hello, Ruby," she said. She suddenly felt very awkward, the idea of spin-the-bottle still fresh in her mind, and it took a second for her to remember how to use her mouth. "You weren't in the Women's Room after the date card announcement. I was worried."

Ruby smiled. "Sorry, I think I was just tired." Her face lit up. "Do you want a cookie?"

Weiss wrinkled her nose. "You shouldn't have food in your room, Ruby. It could attract rodents and insects,"

Ruby raised her eyebrow. "Is that a yes?"

Weiss sighed. "Oh, alright,"

She followed Ruby into her room and resisted the urge to organize everything. Weiss Schnee excelled at putting everything into its place. Her room was pristine, organized, perfect. Ruby's was… not. She had muddy boots by the door, all of her schoolbooks were in a messy pile beside her bed, and several posters of weapons had been taped to the walls.

Ruby raced to her dresser and pulled open the top drawer to reveal a horde of cookies. "Chocolate chip?" she asked with a grin.

"Swedish creme," Weiss corrected.

Ruby rolled her eyes, but she extracted the requested cookie from her drawer. "So, what'd I miss in the Women's Room?"

Weiss reddened, and Ruby's eyes widened.

"Was it something big? Did someone come with a huge weapon? Did a fight break out? Oh, I can't believe I missed it!"

"No, it was nothing like that," Weiss said quickly. Ruby looked put out. "Coco just suggested a game of spin-the-bottle, and I decided I was far too mature for that,"

"Spin-the-bottle?" Ruby raised an eyebrow.

Weiss gaped at her. "Have you never played that?" Ruby shook her head. "But- but- Yang is your sister!"

"Yeah, but her parties run past my bedtime," Ruby explained, "I normally go upstairs to read my comics. Is it a fun game? How do you play?"

Weiss's eye twitched. "I'm not going to explain this to Ruby," she thought firmly, and yet, she found her lips betraying her. "Well, it's a game -a stupid one, really- where a bunch of people sit around in a circle, and one person spins the bottle, and whoever the bottle lands on, they have to kiss,"

Ruby's jaw dropped. "Kiss?"

"Like I said. It's immature and stupid."

Ruby was silent for a second, and Weiss was scared she was contemplating running to the Women's Room to see this game in action. "Have you ever played spin-the-bottle?" Ruby asked.

"No!" Weiss snapped. "I've never had any interest in that sort of stuff."

Ruby nodded, and the two sat in silence for a bit, before she spoke. "I've never kissed anyone,"

Weiss bit her lip. "I haven't kissed anyone either," she admitted. It was true. Most of the boys who attempted to court her were only interested in her title or her money. No one cared to know the real her, all they really cared about was the Schnee name, and she didn't see the point in wasting a kiss on someone like that.

"Do you think Jaune will be your first kiss?"

"That would be appropriate," Weiss sighed. Somehow, the prospect didn't excite her as much as she had hoped. "Do you?"

They locked eyes, and, for over a minute, Weiss found herself unable to look away.

"I don't know," Ruby shrugged, finally turning away to break their eye contact.

Weiss blinked. Had she been in some sort of trance? What had just happened?

"Do you want another cookie?" Ruby said. Her cheeks were pink, but her grin was back to normal.

Weiss straightened. If Ruby could be back to normal after that conversation, so could she. "No, thank you. I think I'm going to get some rest,"

"Okay," Ruby said, put out. When Weiss opened the door, head spinning, blood pounding, heart aching, Ruby called out, "I hope you have a good first kiss with Prince Jaune!"

Her eyes were hopeful and her smile was genuine, and still, it made Weiss confused. "Good night, Ruby."

Weiss couldn't keep Ruby out of her head as she showered, changed into pajamas, and laid down to go to sleep. "That was weird," she thought, "I think I'm just stressed. Yes. Yes, just the stress of the competition. After a good night's sleep, tomorrow will be back to normal. Tomorrow will be less confusing."