Love changes
Out of all lessons, this one is the most repeated. Everyone interviewed had all mentioned that love changes, and it can change from romantic to friend, friend to a familial love, from being there to no longer present.
Weiss focused on nails, letting her fingertips of her left hand feel the nail art she applied. She stopped in the middle of the sidewalk as her gaze fell on the rose decal, subconsciously she put on her fourth finger. Her cheeks began to warm up, and in an effort to stop it she nervously tried to scratch off the nail polish.
"Weiss? Is there something- WHOA! What are you doing?!" Neptune frantically asked as he paced back to Weiss and gently grabbed her hand, inspecting to see what had done.
Despite putting a layer of topcoat on it, she started to get one scratch to slash the corner of the art.
"This is so pretty, why are you trying to destroy it?"
"Um…" She looked to the side as she tugged her hand away from his hold, "Nothing to be concerned about…"
Neptune looked down Weiss with concern but shook it off as he placed a hand on her shoulder and pointed at a restaurant on the opposite street of the hustle and bustle of the city.
"Here we are!"
Weiss took a moment to read the name, and a minute to dig her brain for memories, "Oh! Our first date was here! Right?"
Neptune smiled, "Of course, and today I have organised our dinner here!"
"Hm…" Weiss glanced at her watch.
It was four.
"Sure… I guess it's an early dinner today."
Weiss moved the food on her plate, trying to figure out why she was served oysters and salad.
"Hm? What is the problem Weiss?"
She looked up to see Neptune looking at her inquisitively as she munched on his pasta.
"I… um… you said you organised this for us…"
"… Yes?"
"I… is there a meaning behind this dish?"
Neptune swallowed before he talked, "Oh. I thought you liked oysters and salad."
"Oh." Weiss looked down at her plate. "I did… didn't I."
"Wow. You really have changed…" Neptune cleared his throat, "So what would you like instead?"
Weiss eyed his dish, "Actually, I think I want what you are having."
"Huh. That explains it."
"What?"
"You were always stealing my pasta when we had dinner."
"Well I like it." She replied as she called a waitress over.
Neptune looked at her analytically, before his mouth morphed into a smile, "You definitely have changed."
Weiss turned back to him, "Did you say something?"
"Oh, nothing to be concerned about."
"Where are we going now?"
"Oh, you will see."
Weiss raised an eyebrow at Neptune's odd behaviour, "Alright…"
They proceeded to walk in a comfortable silence, Weiss' hand feeling oddly aware and heavy in the palm of Neptune's.
Letting her eyes wonder, they landed upon a claw machine perched perfectly near the corner. Her gaze remained on it, as they walked closer, her head continuing to face it as they continued to walk away.
"Eyes on the road."
Weiss snapped herself out of her stupor, as Neptune pulled her back from the road crossing.
"It has not turned green yet."
"Oh, sorry, that was my bad. I didn't realise we were at a crossing."
"You've been very distracted today… something on your mind? You can tell me."
"It's nothing to worry about." Weiss dodged the question. "Where are we heading to anyways?"
Neptune just smiled at her as they both crossed the road when the little man blinked green.
Weiss looked up curiously before she heard the familiar sound of hooves kicking the ground and soft neighing.
She gasped as she let go of Neptune and ran towards the two horses in front of an open-air carriage. She looked at the gentle beasts with awe as the owner fed the horses hay and water.
"We… we are going horse riding?"
Neptune sauntered up from behind her, hands in his pockets, "Yes. I figured since you've been away from your home for a long time, you must've not have got any horse-riding in."
"Of course! I miss Snowbell dearly. I hope that the stable hands kept their promises and are taking her out every day… Do you think that we can ride on their backs?"
"I wish we could. But I was already asking for a lot when I asked Belinda to let us on the carriage at sunset."
"Huh." Weiss looked towards the sky, the pinks and purples blending into a warm orange, "They do usually stop before the sun sets behind the horizon."
Weiss gazed on the twinkling city lights that surround the park, which was lit warmly by the orange lamp head at each path's corner. The horse peacefully huffed as it trotted on the path, the small bells attached to the reins jingling slightly with the movement.
She looked to her boyfriend who was peacefully enjoying the ambience, "This is lovely and all Neptune but… what is with this extravagant schedule, it's nice but I would be happy with just being at home and baking together."
Neptune nodded, but instead of responding he tapped on Belinda's shoulder, "Just up ahead will be fine."
Weiss tilted her head, "Another stop? This night is already exciting enough. To be honest, I'm starting to get a tad bit tired."
Neptune chuckled, "Already? If I recall correctly, you have the ability to drag me around the shops for hours on end."
With a teasing tone in her voice, she spoke, "If I recall, I haven't been making you suffer through that in a while."
Neptune hummed thoughtfully as he leaned on the armrest carriage, gazing to the trees of the park, "It has… hasn't it."
"Neptune… there is something bothering you, isn't there?"
"Do you remember the times we used to sit by the stable? When Snowbell was let out into the paddock for a midnight stroll?"
"… Yeah?"
"We would always talk about anything and nothing, didn't we?"
"Neptune…"
The carriage came to a slow stop. The driver turned around, with a beaming smile. Her smile however became strained as she tried to not cringe at the tense atmosphere around the couple. "Um… You have reached your destination?"
Neptune shook his head out of his trance, opening the door himself and then offering a hand to help Weiss down.
"Thank you, I'll be sure to give you a good review."
Weiss rubbed her arm as she stood by the window side of the elevator. Neptune was on the other side, gazing upon the cityscape that became more like a twinkling night sky as they were propelled gracefully up to the top of the tower.
She bit her lip nervously. She observed her boyfriend's profile against the glass, as he seemingly was reflecting on something in his mind. The top of her lip quivered as she struggled to ask again what was bothering his mind the entire evening.
It was incredibly awkward.
And she definitely knew that Neptune can tell she was cracking under this invisible pressure.
She refocused on the city lights, as the elevator lurched slowly as it repositioned itself with the floor.
No.
She had to reminder herself. It seemed like Neptune was going to talk about it anyways.
A shadow covered the light that had poured in from the automatic door.
Neptune was standing in between, his silhouette casting over Weiss.
"Are you… going to come out?"
"Oh… Oh of course!"
She recovered from her dazed state of thoughts as she ushered herself out of the elevator and onto the Skydeck of the tower. There were a few couples and families gazing upon the city, to the closest possible point they can get to the edge. Neptune gestured at her to follow him into a glass corner, where people can see them, but further enough from everyone else that they can have a private conversation.
Weiss leaned onto the railing by the window of the tower, despite looking out the window of the elevator, all of it paled in comparison to having the wide expanse of the city, and suburbs further out, just surrounding her. Small water droplets making the city look like an Impressionist painting as it began to drizzle outside.
As she continued to gaze out, she heard the carpeted footsteps of Neptune walking beside her, then the slight creaking of the metal bar as he leaned on to it too.
"I know you are going to tell me something. This entire day hasn't been exactly subtle."
"Do you remember back then?"
"Back then?"
"Back even before we got together. When you were my best friend."
"Were… I know we are together but aren't we still best friends?"
Neptune continued, brushing over his statement.
"Back then, when we always were sneaking behind the maids and butlers' backs. And don't forget the frustration on your parent's face when we were never where they wanted us to be."
Weiss chuckled as she looked straight ahead at her reflection in the window, "Oh I remember those times!"
"Do remember what you always referred me as?"
"… My knight. I used to always say that you are my knight in shining armour."
"Yeah, always… and I remember that I promised to show you the world! That once I saved you, that I'll take to places that you've always wanted and let you live however you want."
Weiss summoned a small smile, "Yeah, you always did say that."
"Weiss…"
"Would… would you want me to be your knight forever?"
"Neptune?" Weiss asked in confusion as she turned to face him.
She gave out a light gasp as he was faced towards her, his right arm was resting on the handrail, his legs staggered as if he were kneeling in the air. His left extended out towards her… showing off a velvet box, closed to hide what was inside.
"Will… will you marry me Weiss?"
Weiss took a step back, "Neptune I… I…"
Weiss' mind started to panic and become confuddled with thoughts, as she begun to overthink. Of course, this is meant to happen. She and Neptune were in a relationship and staying in one just means that inevitably they will get married. But why? Why in the world was she hesitating?
"Weiss."
She felt the velvet box being pushed into her hand. She looked back up into Neptune's eyes.
"Weiss, I'm not asking for an answer now. I know there are things going on, so I want you to figure out how you want to answer. And once you have it all thought out, then you can open the box, okay?"
"Neptune, I…" Weiss started as she began to lift the top of the lid.
"Just," Neptune said as he clasped his hand over the box, preventing her from opening it, "Just… think about it first, okay?"
"Okay…"
Neptune gave her a strained smile, taking a step away from her, "Tell me, when you've made your decision."
He gave a half-hearted wave as he turned his back from her, walking towards the elevator.
Weiss turned back towards the window; her feelings conflicted as she looked at the box.
A buzz came from her pocket.
Neptune: By the way, I called a taxi for you. It's waiting at the front. I'm going to go with a friend.
Weiss grimaced awkwardly as she typed back.
Weiss: Thank you, Neptune.
She sighed, she needed someone to talk to.
As the rain pelted outside, Ruby was playing on her Switch.
Three knocks came from the door.
Closing the cap on the ice cream beside her, she nervously gulped as she paused her game. Only one person would knock precisely like that.
She walked towards her door, checking the mirror beside her to make sure she looked nice. This was going to be awkward.
Ruby slowly opened the door halfway, revealing a troubled Weiss facing down towards the mat.
"Um… hi."
"Uh, hi? Are… are you okay? I thought when you left suddenly, that you didn't want to talk to me anymore."
"It's… it has only been a week."
"A week is kinda long for our friendship Weiss."
"I… just needed someone to talk to… for advice."
Ruby opened the door fully, "Are you okay? You look very, um… Even if we are on odd terms right now, we are best friends."
"I… Neptune… He proposed to me."
"Oh," Ruby looked to her feet as her left hand went back to grip the handle of the door, "I… congratulations Weiss…"
"No! I mean," Weiss brought the box from her dress pocket and began to fumble with it in her hands, "He proposed, but I didn't answer. So, he gave me the ring to hold and some time to figure things out."
"So…?"
"So…"
"… Weiss, why are you telling me this? This is your relationship, not mine."
"It's because you are important to me Ruby! We tell each other everything."
"… You… you shouldn't be saying things like that to me."
"… uh, why? You are my best friend, of course you are important."
"You shouldn't because my heart goes all mushy and loud! And then you hit me with lines like that! And I realise that all of these stupid feelings are just going nowhere!"
Weiss took a step back, "I…"
Ruby stuttered as she realised her outburst, her right hand clutched the end of her shirt, "Did you forget that I confessed to you? And that you just left and said nothing to me for a week." A tear escaped her left eye and she hastily wiped it away. "What do you want from me?"
"I just wanted advice…"
"Really now?" Ruby huffed bitterly as she looked at anything but Weiss. However, she stayed put, allowing Weiss to ask anyways.
Weiss looked at the box in her hand. Her heart hurt; she never had been on this bitter side of Ruby before. She's only ever seen it once when Yang was leaving for New York.
"I… I don't know how to answer… What… what to say to Neptune…"
Ruby sighed, as she wiped her left eye again, "Look Weiss, I absolutely still care about you. But asking me a question like this is gonna get you something biased."
Ruby looked at the box, then sighed, "Weiss… This one is your choice. Not mine. My answer should not matter with this anyways…"
She pulled the door halfway, "Goodnight."
"… Goodnight Ruby."
With a gentle click, the wooden door closed quietly.
Not wanting to linger longer, Weiss began her route towards her house. Her eyes tearing up the first time that night, tears indistinguishable from the rain falling from above. She… needed Ruby, but this is the one time she cannot.
Unbeknownst to her, a brunette had slid down the door towards the floor, her eyes watering up silently as soundless hiccupping racked through her body.