In Atlas, sunshine and clear skies didn't necessarily mean a warm day. Cold air nipped at Weiss' nose and cheeks as she shoved her hands deeper in her pockets, silently scolding herself for forgoing gloves. She didn't own a pair that went with the jacket she wanted to wear, so she mistakenly chose style over function. Fortunately, she'd reached her destination - a cute little café bustling with early-morning activity.

After crossing the empty outdoor patio, she reached for the door only to step back when a young couple walked through. Lost in conversation, they didn't so much as glance at her yet were polite enough to hold the door as she ducked inside.

Warm air offered welcome relief from the cold, and the busy atmosphere erased the remainder of her morning doldrums. Coffee grinders, whistling espresso machines, baristas calling out names, and customers placing orders reached her ears at the same time. Taking a deep breath of caffeine-infused air, she walked over to a small, round table occupied by the person she woke up early to meet.

"You're here early," she said while setting her bag on the table. The words drew sharp amber eyes away from an open novel, and a lithe finger stuck between the pages to mark her place.

"Or are you late?"

"Please," Weiss scoffed, flipping her braid over her shoulder. "I'm never late."

"What about that time -?"

"If I can help it," Weiss added before Blake proved otherwise. Blake hummed at the response while slipping a bookmark into the book and sliding it into her bag. Her long, dark hair fell over her shoulders as she did so, but she casually swept it back into place while slinging her bag over one arm.

"Ready to order?"

"Yes, please. You won't want to spend another minute with me otherwise."

"One of those days?" Blake asked as they joined the line.

"It was a long night…" Weiss muttered, shifting her bag on her shoulder while watching the cashier hand change to one of the customers in front of them.

"Excited for the long weekend then?"

"I wish, but long weekends don't exist in the service industry. They're actually worse because it's so busy."

"Ah." Blake's gaze flitted to the person in front of them, who'd just ordered a monstrously sweet beverage, before returning to Weiss. "Let me buy this morning?"

"Absolutely not."

Before Blake complained, Weiss pulled out her wallet and stepped forward.

"Good morning!" the cashier greeted her with a pretend smile that she understood on a fundamental level. "What can I get you?"

"The dark roast - a large one, please," she said before looking at Blake. "And you?"

The cashier's expectant gaze worked wonders in erasing Blake's hesitancy. "A vanilla latte," she sighed, shaking her head while Weiss handed her credit card to the cashier. "Thank you," Blake added as they moved aside to wait for their drinks.

"You're welcome."

Before Blake made a big deal of the gesture, Weiss busied herself putting her credit card and wallet away. Next, she took another deep breath and savored the coffee-filled atmosphere. The quick, efficient baristas added to the infectious energy, as did the impatient or overly caffeinated customers rushing about. She might not have her coffee yet, but her brain felt like it worked faster just standing here.

"Good choice," she eventually sighed.

"I know coffee's the only way to get you out this early." As two customers walked in front of them to pick up their orders, Blake glanced at Weiss. "How's work?"

"God. Let's not talk about that hellhole."

"That bad?" At Weiss' emphatic nod, Blake pursed her lips. "My work might have an opening soon if you're interested."

"Who would I have to sell my soul to?"

"The literary gods and an egotistical editor."

"That actually sounds like a step up," Weiss mused. "The hours though -"

"Should be flexible, so you can still work on your family stuff." Knowing that alleviated Weiss' biggest concern, Blake smiled. "I'll let you know when I hear more. In the meantime, I think I have something that'll cheer you up."

"A million dollars and a bottomless cup of coffee?"

While Blake chuckled at the joke, one of the baristas called out, "Large dark roast and a vanilla latte?" and set two cups on the counter. After picking up her drink, Weiss took a deep breath of the delicious aroma and exhaled with a sigh. Taking a sip right now was asking for a burned tongue, but her gloveless hands rejoiced the warm cup clutched in her grasp as she and Blake returned to Atlas' midmorning chill.

"Or one of those romance novels you love so much?" she teased as they left the coffeeshop behind.

"That's actually close." Weiss' brow rose at that response, so Blake motioned down the street and said, "Follow me."

Content now that she was seconds away from fueling her system with a good cup of coffee, Weiss willingly walked with Blake towards the heart of downtown. Regardless of the cold weekend morning, a surprising number of people were out. Unlike the usual businessmen and businesswomen scurrying around in their suits, however, the current crowd seemed loath to change out of hoodies and jeans.

"What're all these people here for?" she eventually asked, noticing everyone heading in the same direction Blake was leading her.

"Did you hear about the convention this weekend? It's for...some nerdy thing."

"Do you know me at all?"

"Right. Too cool for nerds."

"Not true -"

Weiss had a convincing argument planned, but one of the aforementioned 'nerds' ran into her at precisely that moment. He jostled her so hard that her coffee splashed out of her cup and would have spilled all over her jacket had she not reacted fast enough; it spilled all over her hand instead.

"Sorry! So sorry!" he said, though he wasn't apologetic enough to stick around. He waved and hurried off, leaving her to scoff and shake coffee off of her hand.

"You ok?" Blake asked.

"Sure." Weiss glared after the boy before taking a deep breath and forcing a smile. "Why would I care about a nerd convention? Besides worrying about them spilling coffee all over me."

When Weiss motioned at her outfit, which she actually spent time coordinating that morning unlike the people around her, Blake nodded down the street.

"You'll see."

Having lost some willingness to participate in this adventure, Weiss took a sip of her remaining coffee before following. Fortunately, it still tasted wonderful, and she hung on to that solitary win while trailing Blake towards their destination - the convention center.

If the general downtown streets were busy, the convention center was swamped. People streamed into the large, open courtyard from every direction. Many carried backpacks, some held homemade signs, and some were even dressed up as characters Weiss didn't recognize. Small groups congregated around every conceivable resting place - the benches, flower pots, and even the ground making a handy spot for someone to sit. Weiss wrinkled her nose at the pandemonium but forgot all about it the instant she saw the gigantic billboard towering above them.

"Care about the nerd convention now?" Blake teased while Weiss stared.

The larger-than-life image of a silver-eyed brunette grinning down at them made Weiss want to run in the other direction and smile at the same time. She did neither. She stood there like a statue instead, staring at the person who graced her thoughts more often than she'd ever admit.

"She finally came back."

"I'm sure she's been back a bunch of times. We just never knew."

"Right…" Weiss' eyes swept over every inch of the image, picking out every shred of familiarity, before shaking her head and turning away. "You dragged me here just to see this?"

"No, I dragged you here to do a little snooping with me."

When Blake held up two slips of paper that looked suspiciously similar to the ones hanging around the necks of everyone nearby, Weiss narrowed her eyes.

"What're those?"

"Passes. This one's yours." Before Weiss protested, Blake pressed one of the slips of paper into her free hand. "Now we can see Ruby."

"Are you kidding?" Blake walked towards the entrance rather than respond, forcing Weiss to catch up. "I'm not going in there."

"Why not?"

"'Why not?' Because she doesn't need us bothering her."

"We're not bothering her - we're just going to see her. Besides, don't you want to know what she's like now?"

"We already know what she's like. We see her everywhere."

Weiss gestured at the billboard with her coffee cup, narrowly avoiding a passerby in the process.

"That's not what she's actually like." Blake nudged Weiss' elbow and added, "Come on, Weiss. Aren't you curious? That amount of fame can really change someone."

'Curious' didn't begin to describe Weiss' obsession with that question. By now, she'd wondered it so many times that she'd do just about anything for the answer. Seeing Ruby, however, was the one way she didn't want to find out.

"Why do you care?" she tried instead, her gaze darting to the rapidly approaching front entrance. "You never even talked to her."

"Doesn't mean I didn't know her."

Finally, Weiss' feet rooted themselves to the ground, so Blake sighed and walked back to her.

"I don't want to go alone, so at least come with me for a few minutes. Please?"

Before Weiss responded to the plea, her eyes flitted across the long row of double doors admitting throngs of people into the convention center. She hadn't been around such a crowd for a while, but the masses were the least of her concern right now. Her gaze returned to the billboard, where Ruby still smiled down at them, before licking her suddenly dry lips and opening her mouth. When an argument failed to materialize, she scoffed and shook her head.

"Fine," she grumbled. "But I'm not talking to her," she added upon seeing Blake's quick smile.

"Deal."

Even though she'd agreed, Weiss still sighed as Blake led her to the mass of people squeezing through the front entrance. After ducking through the door Blake held open for her, she looked around the packed atrium and tried to quell her burgeoning nerves.

The ceiling towered several stories above them, but even that much space couldn't lessen the volume of many voices speaking over one another. Cold air blasted from vents near the entrance, encouraging Weiss further into the madness in search of a neutral temperature. The energetic atmosphere promised excitement just beyond the security checkpoints, but her heart suffered a premature jolt when she saw the enormous banner hanging across the main entrance.

Ruby had been caught mid-laugh in this image, her eyes sparkling and her lips curled in that almost-crooked way they always had. The photo itself would have been enough to draw crowds, but the banner also featured a prominent crescent moon logo along with a list of dates and times.

"She's not even on a panel until tomorrow," Weiss pointed out.

"She could still be here. She's one of the main attractions, after all."

Weiss frowned at the banner as they passed underneath but said nothing while she and Blake joined one of the many lines snaking through security. Fortunately, the line was moving quickly, admitting a steady stream of spectators into the main convention hall.

"Didn't you two have a huge thing in high school?" Blake asked as they neared the front.

"We were friends."

"But you were always together. There must've been something there."

"There wasn't." Blake's brow furrowed at the curt response, so Weiss shrugged and turned away. "High school was a long time ago," she muttered. "We've all changed."

Thinking about Ruby, who'd lived on the fringes of her thoughts for too long now, Weiss pursed her lips but hid her unease behind her cup of coffee. Ruby was easier to avoid thinking about when she enjoyed her new life in Vale. Knowing that she was in Atlas, possibly nearby, brought up too many memories that Weiss would rather not think about.

"Besides, she's probably dating some supermodel now," she added with a flippant wave of one hand.

"Why don't we find out?"

"Don't look it up," Weiss said before sighing when Blake pulled out her phone and typed in the search. "Blake! I don't want to know."

"Oh, interesting."

After reading something on the screen, Blake put her phone away and smiled. Weiss, meanwhile, ground her teeth together before sighing again.

"What did it say?"

"You didn't want to know." When Weiss glared at the incessant teasing, Blake laughed. "She's not seeing anyone. Does that make you happy or sad?"

"That doesn't make me anything," Weiss mumbled as their turn to pass through security arrived. One of the employees scanned her ticket while another motioned her through a metal detector. Moments later, the flow of traffic guided her into the giant convention hall.

Massive, colorful banners hung from the ceiling. Neon signs offered directions and advertisements alike. Lights flashed. The steady drone of voices hung over the warmth from thousands of bodies squeezed into the same space. Some booths played music. Some had employees shouting through megaphones. The larger exhibitors had stages dedicated to their products, where enthusiastic hype men and women bantered into microphones.

Spectators swarmed every booth like ants on free food, and Weiss' eyes darted from one to the next searching for vibrant silver eyes or that messy-yet-stylish brunette hair. The more people she didn't recognize, the more her heart slowed and her shoulders relaxed.

"Wow. It's busy."

Blake's gaze swept the scene in front of them before repeating the process a second time, taking in and cataloging the new sights, smells, and sounds.

"What'd you expect?"

"I don't know. Fewer people?"

Weiss scoffed at the response, but Blake nudged her elbow and motioned further into the commotion. "You're lucky we're friends..." she grumbled, earning a soft laugh as they squeezed their way through the crowd.

Several booths in the first aisle caught Weiss' attention - not because of how outlandishly nerdy they were, but because she actually recognized the companies. Several others showcased products she was actually somewhat interested in, which she begrudgingly admitted to Blake before moving on. Every glimpse of short, messy brunette hair drew her swift attention, but every time it turned out to be just another attendee.

At the end of the first aisle, a large, open space filled with seats lay between them and several restaurants with long lines. Noticing the longest line at the off-brand coffeeshop, Weiss slipped her much better, though slightly cold, cup of coffee while she and Blake made their way to the next aisle.

Their exploratory walk continued for quite some time - long enough that Weiss remarked on the impressive collection of companies and nearly forgot their purpose for being there. The far end of the convention hall, however, dropped a reminder in the form of another giant image of Ruby - this time excitedly motioning people towards her. A nearby sign bearing the name "Crescent Productions" directed people up the bank of escalators.

"Looks like this is the way to go," Blake said before tugging Weiss towards the closest escalator. Weiss' feet dragged across the smooth linoleum floor, but the moving steps ferried her to the upper level regardless of her sudden stiffness. There, another convention hall greeted them - this one slightly smaller than the one downstairs but still housing a wide array of booths.

A massive exhibit drew Weiss' attention to the center of the room, where barriers formed a long queue snaking up to the raised stage featuring two white sofas and a small table. Attendees had already filled the line, many of them passing the time watching the enormous video screen playing an instantly recognizable movie. Red-and-white crescent moon logos were everywhere, and a giant "Crescent Productions" sign hung above it all.

"Oh my god..." Blake suddenly breathed out. "Yang's here."

Weiss hardly turned in the direction Blake was staring before spotting Yang, who was just as tall, blonde, and beautiful as she remembered. Years may have passed, but Yang's hair still flowed in long, gorgeous waves down her back, and her affable smile made her look like everyone's best friend. Fortunately, Yang was across the room from where they currently stood, and her attention appeared solely devoted to the middle-aged blonde woman speaking to her.

"Not surprised." Rather than stare, Weiss turned her back to Yang and pulled her jacket a little tighter around her. "They've always been attached at the hip."

"I heard she's Ruby's manager now. Or bodyguard. Or...something."

"Beating people away from Ruby must be her dream job," Weiss replied, chuckling softly before sipping her coffee. "Can we leave now?" she added. "We looked around. Seems like we can call it a day."

"We can't leave now..." Blake said, her gaze still trained over Weiss' shoulder. "Shouldn't we say 'hi' or something? We did go to school together...and she's...Yang..."

While Blake cast more looks Yang's way, Weiss risked a glance over her shoulder and frowned at Blake's insistence. Then the puzzle pieces fell into place.

"Wait. Is Yang why you dragged me here?" Blake's gaze snapped away, her cheeks already reddening, as Weiss laughed. "Seriously? You have a thing for Yang Xiao Long?"

"Shh!" Blake glanced to either side of them before ducking her head and lowering her voice. "Say it louder, will you?"

"I can't believe it," Weiss continued in a regular volume, unable to keep a delighted smile off her lips. "We've been friends for how long and you never mentioned you have a crush on Yang?"

"Because you two are friends -"

"Were friends," Weiss corrected. "Just like Ruby and I were friends."

"Still. I didn't want to make things weird. Besides, it's not like she lives here. Or knows who I am. Or would be interested. It's just...a silly high school thing."

Momentarily at a loss for words, Weiss watched Blake send several more blushing glances Yang's way before chuckling and shaking her head.

"Honestly, I think she'll surprise you. You should talk to her."

Blake opened her mouth to disagree only to shake her head and mumble, "I can't do that…" Another furtive glance followed, so Weiss gently prodded her in Yang's direction.

"You're an adult now. You can talk to a hot girl."

"But she's the hot girl," Blake sighed. After briefly biting her bottom lip, she brightened. "Come with me," she said, grabbing Weiss' arm and tugging her forward. When Weiss immediately dug in her heels and shook her head, Blake added, "Please? You were actually friends with her!"

"And if she knows I'm here, she'll tell Ruby! And we're not telling Ruby." When Blake's expression filled with realization before falling, Weiss gently freed her arm and nudged Blake's elbow. "She's really friendly - that's why she was so popular, remember? Just say 'hi' and see what happens. It's not like you have anything to lose."

Blake's reticence faded bit-by-bit, until she eventually stood a little taller and nodded.

"You're right. I'll just...say 'hi.' Ask what she's been up to."

"Exactly."

After one more nudge, Blake took a deep breath and walked over on her own. Weiss, meanwhile, watched the interaction from across the room with people constantly passing through her field of view. Blake politely waited for the conversation to end before approaching Yang, whose jaw nearly unhinged and dropped to the floor the moment she saw Blake. A radiant smile instantly followed, and Yang raised her arms as if she might go in for a hug only to motion at Blake's appearance instead.

Not wanting to stare, Weiss glanced towards the escalators before fishing her phone out of her bag, only to drop it back in without turning it on. Before she decided whether to wait or continue exploring, the excitement of the people waiting in line started to rise, drawing her gaze back to the stage.

The beautiful brunette standing there, smiling and waving both hands to her crowd of admirers, made Weiss' heart stop. Those closest to the stage reached towards her, clamoring for the high-fives she willingly gave. She then knelt down behind another group, who were all smiles as they took photos with her in the background. She signed something for another fan, chatting with them all the while, and Weiss unwittingly inched closer.

Ruby looked just like Weiss remembered. At the same time, she was different. Brighter, somehow. Blazing with energy. Soaking in the excitement directed towards her and reflecting it twofold. But she hadn't lost her adorable mannerisms over time. The frequent hand gestures, the subtle bounce on her toes as if she might break into a jog at any second, and that trademark quirky smile.

Weiss slowly walked around the line, staying out of sight while creeping closer to the stage. Her mind told her to retreat, that this was exactly what she didn't want, but her heart stubbornly pressed on. For just a few seconds, she wanted to revel in Ruby's joyful energy like everyone else. Then the booth right behind her started playing a recent pop song at an exceedingly loud volume, the unexpected disturbance drawing attention from everywhere - including from Ruby.

Ruby's eyes passed over Weiss before snapping back and widening. Weiss froze under that silver gaze, briefly hoping that Ruby wouldn't recognize her. Then Ruby said her name.

Music and distance drowned out Ruby's voice, but Weiss could practically hear it - light, high, always tinged with a laugh. The instant Ruby stepped forward though, her gaze unwavering, Weiss spun around and hurried towards the elevators.

"Weiss, wait!"

Ruby's voice made it above the crowd that time, spurring Weiss faster. Running wasn't an option in high heels, but she muttered frequent "excuse me"s while jostling through the crowd. She didn't have a destination other than 'away,' and she didn't have a reason other than her racing heart and thoughts.

She'd nearly made it to the escalators when Ruby raced in front of her and skidded to a stop. At least, Ruby tried to stop, but instead slid on the freshly cleaned tiles, yelped when she crashed into the sign offering directions, and tumbled onto the floor. Weiss' hands flew to her mouth as everyone else paused to figure out what just happened. When Ruby hopped to her feet and grinned, their excitement amplified - some even cheered or clapped.

"Thanks," Ruby said, offering a playful bow before picking up the toppled sign and setting it back in place. "Make sure to check out the Crescent Productions booth! Plenty of signs for me to knock over there too," she added before chuckling softly with the audience. As everyone else's attention moved away, however, her attention returned to Weiss.

Weiss vividly remembered the last time they'd been this close, and the years of separation weighed on her heart just as much as memories of the years they'd spent together lifted her spirit. The awkward silence that followed, however, stained those positive memories with regret.

"Are you alright?" she eventually asked, nodding to the sign. The question snapped Ruby out of whatever daze she'd been in, and she wasted no time walking over.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Ruby waved off the concern, her silver gaze never straying. "Weiss...is it really you? I'd say pinch me, but the floor just woke me up pretty quick. So either that questionable burrito was a really bad decision, or you're actually here. And if you're actually here, I...I don't know what to do."

Cheeks warming, Weiss clasped and unclasped her hands before offering a small smile and short, "It's good to see you, Ruby."

For a second, Ruby just stared, her mouth hanging open as emotions flashed through her eyes. Then she beamed and swept Weiss into a hug.

"I can't believe it!" Even when Ruby released Weiss from the hug, her hands lingered on Weiss' waist. "What're you doing here? You hate places like this!"

"Oh, I - my friend asked me to come with her."

"Did you know I'd be here?" Excited now, Ruby hopped between her feet and motioned at the glass walls of the convention center. "Did you see that big banner outside?"

"I - saw the banner, yes. It said you wouldn't be here until tomorrow."

"That's just the panel thing, but they scheduled all these other events, too! Meeting fans and stuff." Ruby waved off those details before smiling. "I can't believe it's you. It's been...how long has it been? Four years?"

Weiss nodded, her heart clenching at the length of time, but Ruby ran a hand through her short hair before shaking the strands back into place. Her gaze then swept over Weiss - from her jacket all the way to her heels and back again.

"Wow, you look incredible. I mean, you've always been gorgeous, but now..."

When Ruby trailed off and her cheeks reddened, Weiss cleared her throat and lowered her gaze.

"I overdressed," she mumbled, pulling at her sleeve before glancing at Ruby. "You look great, too."

"Oh, uh, thanks." Ruby rubbed the back of her neck and offered a bashful smile. "They told me to dress nice."

Even though Weiss nodded, she knew that the fashionable outfit was only partially responsible for Ruby's transformation from cute to beautiful. Her childlike enthusiasm remained, but maturity and wisdom hid behind those pretty silver eyes. She might be the goofball everyone watched in movies, but her serious side had blossomed as well.

"Ruby?"

Standing several feet away, the official-looking blonde woman offered Weiss a polite smile before tapping her watch.

"Oh, crud..." Ruby sighed. "Sorry, I have this meet-and-greet thing...but can we grab dinner or something? Anywhere you want! And anytime. I'm here for the next two weeks."

"Doesn't the convention end in a few days?" Weiss asked, glancing at the woman waiting for their conversation to end.

"Yeah, but my agent booked a bunch of other stuff for while I'm here. A few random shoots and interviews, but I'll have a ton of free time! So if you want to catch up, we totally can. Just give me a time and place, and I'm there. You still have my number, right?"

Ruby was talking so fast that Weiss could barely keep up with her words and hand gestures at the same time. The last comment, however, stuck out.

"Your number's the same?"

"...you didn't know that?"

"I just…thought since you're…you know." The gawkers should have made it obvious, but Weiss still motioned at Ruby. "I figured you would've changed it for...privacy."

"Oh." For a split second, Ruby frowned. A smile reappeared almost as quickly though. "Nope! Still the same. So you'll call me?"

"Sure. I can do that."

"Great." Noticing the blonde woman subtly tapping her foot now, Ruby finally backed away. "I'm looking forward to it," she added, still grinning as she hurried to fulfill her obligations.

Dumbstruck by the turn of events, Weiss watched Ruby walk away and blushed when Ruby glanced over her shoulder. Ruby's cute little wave warmed Weiss' cheeks even further, but then Ruby disappeared through a cleverly concealed door on the stage, and Weiss was left to deal with her racing heart and thoughts on her own.

"Was that Ruby?"

Startled out of her thoughts, Weiss glanced at Blake and nodded.

"What's she like? What'd she say?"

Looking in the direction Ruby just went, Weiss sighed and said, "She hasn't changed a bit."

"That's good, right?"

"Of course."

Weiss mustered a smile, but it faded the moment Blake turned away. Fortunately, Blake looked around the increasingly busy convention hall before gesturing towards the exit.

"Want to grab lunch? I have to tell you what Yang said, and you can tell me all about Ruby."

"There's not much to tell..."

"But I have a lot to tell you." Looping an arm through Weiss', Blake tugged her towards the escalators. "Most importantly - she asked me out."

"Did she?"

"Well, kind of. I think that's what she wanted to do? But then she made it sound friendly...it was a little unclear, so I need your opinion."

As long as the dilemma distracted Blake, Weiss would willingly participate, just like she willingly walked out of the second-floor convention hall. Still, even though she told herself not to, she glanced over her shoulder before they joined the crowd boarding the escalators, hoping for one last glimpse of messy, ruffled brunette hair that wasn't there.

She hadn't wanted to run into Ruby, but now that she had...she didn't know how she felt. She had more questions now. More regrets. And more feelings than she wanted to deal with.