Ruby stood outside the back entrance of the Gele Gloxinia at 11:25 sharp, her breath cold. At attention, knife bag under her arm, dressed in her uniform for service. Chef was expecting her today, but for what she didn't know. The Gele was closed two days out of the week, and today was one of those days.
Ruby figured there's two possibilities. One, Chef is testing her skills, one on one. Which Ruby would love, a good moment to shove her competence in Chef's face. Two, Chef was going to kill her and rule it a workplace accident. Ruby's family would be notified, there would be flowers, and she'd be buried on that cliff in Patch to watch the sunrise.
Ruby hoped it was option one.
Ruby heard the scraping of tires on ice in the parking lot. Ruby stepped away from the back entrance, craning her head around the corner. Chef was parking her car. White with anodized blue accents. Same as her coat, her nail knife bag and her hair. Ruby rolled her eyes. Did Chef own anything that wasn't blue or white?
Apparently not. Chef stepped out of the car, holding three grocery bags. She wore a thigh high white skirt, blue stilettos, and sapphire blue sunglasses. Ruby noted the jacket, of all things, had a small red accent along the inside of the collar. That was new.
Ruby shrugged. She could judge her Chef's wardrobe, but that wouldn't get the job done. Ruby adjusted her hat and checked her uniform for anything out of place. Satisfied, she stood and waited, watching her chef approach, boots crunching the snow.
Chef came to a stop, keys in hand, grocery bags slipped around her elbow. She reached up with her other hand and pulled her sunglasses to the tip of her nose. Her brilliant blue eyes pierced Ruby.
Ruby gave Chef an exuberant salute. "Good morning Chef!" She greeted.
Chef winced, pushing her glasses back up her face. "I said noon sharp." She grumbled.
Ruby nodded. "You also said you expect your sous to be at least thirty minutes early." Ruby spread her arms, taking care to keep hold of her knife bag. "And here I am." She said. She couldn't help the smirk tugging at her lips.
Chef scowled. She pressed past Ruby and opened the door to the Gele Gloxinia. Ruby followed Chef in.
Chef flicked the lights on. She went straight to the prep table and set down her bags. "Don't touch anything until I say so." She commanded. Ruby nodded, waiting by the prep table.
Chef went straight to the server's area and grabbed an empty glass. She moved to the prep sink, filled the glass with water, and started to drink. She didn't let up until the glass was empty. Then she filled it again, and put it on the shelf above the prep table.
Chef pulled off her sunglasses and pulled a scrunchy from her wrist. "You drink coffee, I presume?" She asked, gathering her hair in her fingers.
Ruby nodded. "I do."
Chef tied her hair in an off-center ponytail. "How do you take it?" She asked.
"Cream and five sugars." Ruby answered immediately.
Chef scowled again. Man she did that a lot. "Would you prefer a cup of straight sugar instead?" She asked.
Ruby shook her head. "Nah, it doesn't go down as easy."
Chef rolled her eyes. "I'll be right back." Chef pursed her lips. "Fire the oven, the flat top, and get a pot of water going. And get everything you need to cook and clean. Sanny buckets, towels, oil, seasoning. Set up your station on Saute." Chef ordered, and walked off to the bar.
Ruby nodded, looking at saute. A six burner range with an oven and small overhead shelf filled with non-stick pans. Just beyond that, a three-flame flat-top. Standard fare, Ruby'd seen this in every kitchen she'd set foot in.
Ruby rolled up her sleeves. She turned the oven to 350. The flat-top she turned one burner on 375, and left the other two completely off. Satisfied, Ruby set her mise. Salt and pepper on the left, spatula and oil on the right. A stack of towels on the shelf above, and a bucket of sanny water down below. She put a large pot of water on the range and set the flame to high.
Ruby frowned. She knew there would probably be prep involved, so she grabbed a cutting board and set it on a damp towel right next to the grocery bags on prep. She unrolled her knife bag and grabbed her favorites. One, a large cleaver she only knew as Crescent. The other, a rocking santoku. Her cherished Rose. The one she could always count on, no matter what.
As Ruby set up, her ears picked up Chef's activity at the bar. Running water, a coffee grinder going, the clink of mugs.
But what was she going to cook?
Chef returned, french press in one hand and two mugs in the other, a spoon jutting from each mug. She set them down and grabbed a timer from the shelf above, setting it for four minutes. She set the timer aside.
Chef looked at Ruby's station. She narrowed her eyes, and turned to Ruby. "Against my better judgement, my dishwasher and sous chef believe I need to give you a chance. So, let me make this perfectly simple." Chef said. Her tone reminded Ruby of her highschool teachers. The ones who loved teaching but hated kids. They always had this restrained, seething rage just under the surface.
Chef gestured to the bags on the prep table. "You are to cook me breakfast. My favorite breakfast in fact. I will observe your technique, your mise, your organization, your speed, your cleanliness, and your moves."
"I expect the best out of my sous chef. And in every kitchen we must learn on the job, it's part of kitchen work. But if you are going to be sous, you must be the teacher. The leader. You would be co-pilot. So!" Chef clapped her hands together. "Let's see if you can cook. Because if you can't," Chef leveled her gaze at Ruby, "You are fired."
Ruby gulped.
Chef started pulling ingredients out of the grocery bags. Ruby tallied them, and her mouth quirked. She knew what chef wanted. "A salmon benedict?" Ruby asked.
Chef regarded Ruby. "Yes." She said slowly. "A salmon benedict, with yukon home fries, a side of mushrooms, and a blueberry parfait." Chef finished laying the ingredients out. Inventory also included red onion, capers, spinach, and a granola mix. Chef stood back, snapping her fingers. "And a fresh hollandaise, of course."
The coffee timer went off.
Chef killed the timer and grabbed the french press. She pushed the plunger down. Not too fast, not too slow, otherwise the oils wouldn't emulsify. She poured the brew into each mug. Ruby looked over their lips. Chef had added the cream and sugar at the bar. Ruby nodded. Smart.
Chef handed Ruby her cup. Ruby gave it a stir and blew on the beverage. She then took a small sip.
"Sweet enough for you?" Chef asked.
Ruby nodded. "Just about." It was perfect. Ruby nodded at Chef's cup. "How do you take yours?" Ruby asked. Good to know for the future.
Chef sipped her own mug. "Cream, just a splash to give it color." She looked Ruby straight in the eye. "Do you have any real questions?" She asked.
No idle chit chat to be found here. "How long do I have?" Ruby asked, time being the second most important ingredient in cooking.
"You have forty minutes to prep. Then you will immediately cook the dish, and I will time you on that, as well as note any mistakes and refires you need to do." Weiss said simply.
Ruby's eyes widened. Forty minutes. That was cutting several things close. Prep all the ingredients for the benny, plus blanching spuds, and making holly. Not to mention keeping a perfectly clean station, perfect technique, and deliver an amazing dish at the end.
Ruby nodded. "Okay, you're on." She looked at the mug in her hand. "Can I finish my coffee first?"
Chef nodded her assent, sipping her own brew. "If you wasted a cup of coffee I made for you, I would rip your tongue out and staple it to my fucking shoe." She responded, her cadence casual.
Harsh. "Heard that Chef. . ." Ruby said, sipping her coffee faster.
They stood in silence, both enjoying their respective brew. It felt surreal. Yesterday Ruby got nothing but the cold shoulder. Now she was receiving attention from Chef. But with her attention came her ire. Her standards. Her insanity.
Ruby finished her coffee. She set her mug down and took a deep breath. She shifted her perspective. This wasn't a test. Her job wasn't on the line. She wasn't being judged or appraised.
She was cooking breakfast for someone that needed to eat. Ruby would not let them down.
Ruby let her breath out. Her body relaxed. She found the spring in her step, bouncing on the balls of her feet. She shook her arms out, and opened her eyes. Steeled silver met the burning blue. "I'm ready." Ruby said.
Chef nodded. "Good." She grabbed the timer from the prep shelf and set it for forty minutes. "Begin." Chef said, and pushed start.
Ruby moved, her mind an empty vessel, with only enough room to account for the food in front of her. Her first step was potatoes. Wash, dice. Throw into water- stop. The water was hot, and enough for blanching potatoes and poaching eggs. Solution. Pour some hot water into separate pot before contaminating with starch. Done. Throw diced potatoes into one pot, and hefty pinches of salt into both. Water boiling. Time left, thirty-six minutes.
Hollandaise needs clarified butter. Oh, Chef thought she'd crack here. Ruby smirked. Toss the butter in a bowl, put it on the cold side of the flat top. Leave alone for twenty minutes.
Next, egg yolks. Grab three delis. Separate over one, toss yolk in the other, dump white in the third. Repeat, repeat, repeat. A cup of yolks should work.
Ruby looked around. The food processor was on the shelf. She grabbed it, set it on a clear space and plugged it in. She poured the egg yolks in. Lemon juice. No lemon juice. No problem. The dry storage shelf had sherry and champagne vinegar. Sherry would taste better. Grab that, the cayenne, and a cup of sugar. Splash some of the vinegar into the poaching water and set aside.
Next, the salmon. A half pan on top of a half pan of ice. Sanitize the cutting board, open the package. Give it a sniff, smells like nothing. Ruby smiled. This was excellent salmon. Nice fatty rings and beautiful pink color. She portioned out the thickest cut into two portions, then one vertical slice across the top of each portion, slightly butterflying the salmon. A couple pinches of salt and some plastic wrap and the salmon was prepped.
Twenty-nine minutes left.
Check the potatoes. They stuck to her thermometer, and took a good shake to slide them off. A few more minutes. Sanitize the cutting board and prep onion, check after. Ruby threw two pans onto the range and poured oil into each. Medium heat on one, low heat on the other.
Red onion. What a beautiful veggie. Deep purple flesh flecked with white. Ruby smiled, peeling the excess skin from the outside. She cut it in half, cut the tip off both halves and the root off one. She brunoised the rooted half and tossed the tiny cubes into the hot pan. They made this delightful sizzle, and a shiver ran through Ruby. She tossed the onion and added a dash of sugar. Turn the heat to medium-low, leave it to caramelize.
The potatoes were done. Ruby grabbed a strainer and used a dry towel to pour the hot pan-water into the sink. She washed the spuds under cold water and threw one into her mouth. Perfect, tender to the tooth. Put em in a bowl and tossed them with oil, salt, pepper, and a bit of tumeric from the dry shelf. She threw the potatoes on the hot part of the flat and listened to them sizzle.
Mushrooms. Portabellas had a nice, meaty texture to them. A quick wash and quicker slice, and she had her mushrooms in a nine-pan ready to go.
Ruby checked the butter on the flat. The milk solids had separated, leaving a clear golden layer of drawn butter on top. Ruby ladled the butterfat into a bowl, and ran to the food processor. She tossed in the egg yolks, salt, a few pinches of cayenne, and turned it on. The blades whipped the egg about, and she poured in the warm butterhe tossed in the egg yolks, salt, a few pinches of cayenne, and some sherry vinegar. She turned the processor on, blades whipping through the egg, making loud slappin noises. She poured in butter until the slapping gently fell to a soft hum. The sound was music to her ears.
The alarm went off. Ruby snatched the alarm from its shelf and killed it. She turned to Chef. "Good morning Chef!" She greeted her 'customer'. "What will you have today?" She asked, smirking.
Chef's eye twitched. "I told you already." She said, her voice curt.
Ruby shrugged. "You did. But play along for a second, would you?" Ruby begged, her eyes wide. "It's a part of service to take the guest's order, isn't it?" Ruby pointed out.
Chef sighed. She held her hands in front of her, pantomiming an open menu. "I would like your salmon Benedict with a side of mushrooms and a blueberry parfait." Said Chef. "Please."
Ruby clapped her hands together. "One Upriver Special, coming right up!" Ruby declared.
Ruby turned, her mind and body buzzing. She fired her salmon, presentation side first. Mushrooms joined the caramelized onion, along with a bit of oil, slowing their cook. The english muffin landed in its own pan, toasting in butter.
Ruby danced on the line, her arms and legs shifting to the beat of fire and food. Her hands shifted pans, scooped yogurt and sprinkled berries. Her eyes shifted up and down the line, taking in the color of the potatoes, the browning on the mushrooms, the soft gold of caramelized sugar. Her nose was filled with the fresh flavor of salmon.
She turned the fish onto its skin and lowered the heat. She cracked two eggs and broke them at the surface of simmering water, wafting with sherry vinegar. The eggs clouded white as they hit the bottom, and Ruby gently worked them with a spoon to keep them from sticking.
She sighed. Everything was perfect. She grabbed a plate and scooped a portion of potatoes onto the plate, dusting them with a bit of parsley. She grabbed her muffin and set a portion of spinach on each muffin. She topped the spinach with the two lengths of salmon. She tossed the mushrooms and poured them onto the remaining third of the plate. Oum they smelled amazing.
The eggs. Ruby gently pulled one out and poked it. The white was set. She spooned both eggs into the slits she cut in the salmon earlier. She poured the golden-red hollandaise onto each egg, then topped them both with dry capers and red onion. She finished with a few pinches of parsley and dash of sherry vinegar on the mushrooms.
She slid the plate to Chef. "Bon appetit!" Ruby declared.
Chef looked at the clock. "Eight minute pick up." She said simply. She grabbed her knife and fork and cut into the benedict. Bright yolk poured forth like a river of gold. Chef got every component of the benedict on her fork and took a bite. She chewed, silent.
Ruby waited. She studied Chef's expression, hoping for any sign of pleasure, of satisfaction. She was confident in her benedict, but it wasn't her eating it. Did she add too much salt, too much cayenne? Ruby liked it when you could taste the heat, and it helped refresh the palate so-
A single tear ran down Chef's face. She quietly and quickly dug in, her fork and knife scraping against the plate. She eviscerated the rest of her benedict and mushrooms. Her throat let out soft mews of satisfaction when she tasted her potatoes, and gave a quiet nod to her parfait.
Ruby smiled. She left Chef to her breakfast.
Ruby gathered her left overs and started packing them up in delis. She threw her dishes into the busbin and took them to the back, washing and cleaning everything up. She filled a bucket with detergent and grabbed a metal scrubby. Returning to the line, she shut everything down and scrubbed the line free of her mess. A final rub with a sanny rag and then a dry cloth, and the line was clean and tidy.
The last dishes she grabbed was Chef's plate and parfait glass. Both were completely cleaned out. Ruby nodded, smiling. She took the plate to the back and ran it through the dishwasher. She grabbed the dishes she'd left to dry and put them away.
Chef stood at the end of the line. Silent and watchful, her gaze stoic, her eyes shimmering.
Ruby finished the last of the close. She stood and saluted Chef. "All done!" Ruby declared, a smile on her lips.
Chef nodded, her lips drawn tight. "Good." She said. "Very good." Chef grabbed her sunglasses and purse. "You are free to take the leftovers home." Chef said, her voice soft. "I want you to meet me for drinks later. Do you have the time?" She asked.
Ruby shrugged. "Sure thing Chef." She said.
Chef nodded. "Good." She said, almost to herself. "Good. Look up the Carousing Cane. I have some things I need to do. Meet me there at six?" She asked. "I'll buy the first round."
Ruby nodded. Drinks! With the Chef! "Okie dokie!" She said, flashing a toothy grin.
Chef pursed her lips. "Go on out, I'll shut down the rest." Ruby nodded. She turned on her heel. "And Ruby," Chef called out. "That. . . You did good." Chef said.
Ruby smiled, her heart floating out of her chest straight to the sky. "Thank you Chef!" She said. She gathered her food and equipment and skipped out of the Gele Gloxinia.
She didn't want to get ahead of herself, but the clean plate and the singular praise was strong evidence. Ruby looked around. No one was watching. She indulged in one victorious fist-pump, her grin wide. She freaking killed it!
Now, to meet Chef for drinks. Ruby looked at the clear blue sky. This day was only going up and up.
~0~
Ruby stopped just outside the Carousing Cane, taking in the wooden sign swinging above the door. It depicted a long, thin cane embraced by musical notes, leaning against a barrel overflowing with beer. Ruby smiled. This looked like her kinda place. She pushed the heavy door open.
One step inside, and Ruby felt instantly at home. The shelves of liquor had books propped between them. Some of them from her childhood, like "The Nook of Nevermore" and "Little Red Hunting Hood".
The lights in the bar were a comforting orange. Some flickered gently, as if they held fire in their wire. These bulbs hung from naked cords that ran into the bare rafters of the ceiling. The rafters were stuffed with christmas lights and memorabilia. A bar glass glued sideways, a painting of hops hung from string, a stuffed cat hung by its tail in the corner.
Ruby breathed in deep. The bar was suffused with freshly baked bread and the heady scent of hops. Her ears picked up a fryer in the back, sizzling with a fresh drop. The ring of spatulas and kitchen chatter wafted her way, though she could hardly make out the words.
And there, at the end of the long bar, was Chef. Two empty shot glasses in front of her, and a glass of something blue and cloudy in her hand. Ruby frowned. Seemed a little early to jump into shots, but it's not like anything needed to be done.
Ruby pulled out the barstool next to Chef and caught the eye of the bartender. He walked over. "Greetings." He said. "I am Ozpin. You must be the new sous chef at Gele Gloxinia."
Ruby nodded. She fished out her wallet and handed Ozpin her ID card. "So I'm told." She said, glancing at Chef out the corner of her eye.
Ozpin checked her card. "Just turned twenty-one?" He asked.
Ruby nodded. "A few months ago."
Ozpin smiled. "Well, welcome to the Carousing Cane. Is there anything I can get you?" Ozpin asked.
Ruby took her card back. "I'm not sure. Can I have a moment to think?" She asked.
Ozpin placed his hands on the bar. "I'll do you one better." He said. "To celebrate your new job and welcome you to my establishment, let me recommend a drink on the house." Ozpin smiled. "I promise you'll love it."
Ruby smiled back. "I'll take you up on that." She said.
Ozpin rubbed his hands together. "Good! I shall return momentarily." He said, and walked off.
Ruby looked over to her Chef, who had been quietly nursing her drink this whole time. Ruby offered a small wave. "Heya Chef." She said.
Chef looked over at Ruby. "Hello Ruby." She greeted. "I need to know something." She said.
Ruby twisted in her barstool. "Okay." She said, uncertain. "What about?"
Chef took another sip of her blue drink. "Why the fuck didn't you mention your uncle owns The Lucky Crow?" She asked.
Ruby stiffened. "How did you find that?" She asked, her voice low.
Chef twisted in her stool. "I searched the net. It's all right there."
Ruby clenched her fist. "No, it is not right there. I made sure of that. Took down every connection I had with Uncle Qrow precisely so no one would find it!" Ruby spat. "The only thing I couldn't take down was the obituary, and I'm willing to bet that's what you found, huh?" Ruby leveled her gaze.
"Voila!" Ozpin swooped in, holding a tumbler. He took a breath, prepared to announce his drink. Then he saw Ruby. Fists clenched, face drawn with anger. He gently set the glass down on the bar, and nodded at the cooks. "I'll leave you to it." He said, and walked off.
Ruby held up her hand. "No, wait. I want to know what you made me." She asked, her voice softening. "Please."
Ozpin nodded. "It is a specialty of mine. It's called The Medley. I experimented with drying herbs a while back, and discovered that dried herbs muddled with mild olives created a pleasing, savory drink." Ozpin rubbed the back of his head. "It's also why its on the house, as I haven't put it on the menu." He admitted. "But it pleases me, and I hope you can appreciate what I see in it." He said.
Ruby lifted her glass, and tasted her drink. Strong notes of rosemary, sage, and majorham swirled with the tang of kalamata olive. The herbs were soaked in the bright waters of gin. It reminded Ruby of summer, roasts with hunks of potato, and the fermented fruits of winter on chatecurie.
Ruby offered Ozpin an appreciative smile. "Thank you." She said. "It's delicious. The olive is inspired." She said. "Though I never met anyone who considered kalamata a mild olive." She shook her glass back and forth, gently sloshing the mix.
Ozpin bowed. "Thank you for trying my Medley." He said, smiling. He looked between the cooks. "I will attend to the bar. There is much to do." He said, gesturing to the near-empty building.
Ruby nodded goodbye. She lazily traced a finger around the rim of her glass. "So." She said. "You were telling me about digging deep into my online history."
Chef nodded, slowly. "I'm sorry. About your mother." She said softly.
Ruby scowled. "Don't bring her up." She took a long draw from her drink. Damn it, she couldn't even appreciate the drink right now. She wiped her mouth. "I deleted everything I could so that I could prove myself, Chef. If I wanted to, I could walk into The Pendragon Steak and tell them I worked in The Lucky Crow's kitchen since I was thirteen and they'd make one phone call and hire me on the spot." Ruby said through clenched teeth. "If I can go anywhere using my Uncle's name, what good is my own?" Ruby stood, her drink half finished. "If you're only hiring me because of my Uncle, then I don't need this job. Goodbye."
Ruby turned to leave. A soft hand wrapped around her wrist, jerking her to a stop. "I'm not hiring you because of your Uncle." Chef whispered. "Please, stay."
Ruby jerked her hand out of Chef's. She crossed her arms tight across her chest. "Well?" Ruby prompted.
Chef motioned for Ruby to sit. Ruby stayed on her feet, looking down at Chef. Chef sighed. "When you were cooking today, you did everything right. Your oil didn't smoke, your fish was cooked perfectly, and the slit in the top was fucking genius. Your station was clean, you organized your prep properly. And the touch with the onion in the mushroom?" Chef closed her eyes. "Brunoised and caramelized. Perfectly seasoned." She whispered, closing her eyes, biting her lower lip. "Fuck me Ruby, that was amazing." Chef opened her eyes, staring straight into Ruby's silver. "The moment I ate that benny, you were hired."
Ruby blinked, taken aback. "Then, why wait to tell me? Why do a search on me?"
Chef gestured to Ruby. "You're kidding, right?" Chef asked. "You're barely twenty-one, and you have the balls to tell me a breakfast place and steakhouse can teach you to cook like that in three years?" Chef shook her head. "No, it didn't sit right with me because it is fucking impossible for someone to jump into food at eighteen and do what you do now." Chef sipped her drink. "So I satisfied my curiosity." Chef looked in her glass, swirling the contents. "And, I eliminated my fear."
Ruby frowned. "What?"
Chef exhaled. "My father and I, we don't exactly have a relationship built on trust. Everyone he's hired in the past has thrown a wrench in my operation." Chef lifted her glass to Ruby. "I thought you were sent in as a favor to one of my father's partners. Or to just fuck up my kitchen. Then, when I saw your skill, I thought he might have sent you in to finally replace me." Chef sipped her drink. She set it on the bar. "But I don't think you're here to do that. I think you're here because you're a real fucking cook." Chef looked Ruby in the eye. "Am I right?"
Ruby nodded. "Yeah. I am." She said. Ruby took her seat at the bar.
Chef picked up her glass and downed the rest of her drink. She set it back on the bar. "Well, you're hired. I want you to work for me. And as your chef, I owe you this: I won't blame you if you walk out within the month." She said.
Ruby blinked. "Huh?" She asked.
Chef closed her eyes tight. Her body was riddled with tension. "This kitchen would be better with you Ruby, and I can assure you that you will be better without the Gele Gloxinia." Chef leaned against the bar, sighing deeply. "The menu is a disaster. Staff changes every few months, either because they suck or because they're fired for no fucking reason. We can't hold people.
"We have no freedom. The kitchen never runs specials. Our food takes beautiful ingredients and disrespects them. Turns art into overpriced, heartless bullshit. All at the whim of my father." Chef scowled.
Ruby wrung her hands together. "If it's so bad, why stay?" Ruby asked.
Chef laughed. "Ruby, if your uncle's name gets you anywhere, my father's does the opposite." Chef's elbow slipped, knocking her glass onto its side. It rolled across the bar and slipped off, crashing on the other side.
Ozpin was there in a second, broom and dustpan in hand. "Are you well, Weiss?" Ozpin asked, sweeping up the glass.
Chef shook her head. "No, but it will pass." She stacked her shot glasses and pushed them towards Ozpin. "A round of Sandfire for me and my sous, please."
Ozpin nodded, and tossed the broken glass into a bucket. He reached up and grabbed a red and gold bottle from the shelf. He popped the cork and poured the spirit into two fresh glasses. It reminded Ruby of sunshine.
Ozpin slid the shots into reach of Chef, who passed one to Ruby. Chef clinked her glass against Ruby's, and downed her shot. Ruby waited.
Chef set her glass on the bar. "After I went to school, and was tutored by some of the best chefs in the world, I tried to find my own way. But every place, even if they said they wanted me, eventually turned me down. Then lo and behold, my father opens up a restaurant. Asks me to run it."
Chef scowled. "I suspect my father had a hand in my bad luck. And there's nothing I'd love more than to leave and find a kitchen with some heart in it." Chef looked at her hand, tracing the callous that ran up the meat of her thumb. "But at the Gele, I have a kitchen. I have a crew. I hold a restaurant together." Chef closed her hand into a fist. "It's what I've got."
Ruby looked away, her shot of Sandfire cradled in her hands. "Well," Ruby started. "If it's all the same to you, I'll stay." She said. Chef turned to look at Ruby. Ruby held up one hand in surrender. "Don't get me wrong, I hear you. The Gele sucks. And. . . I'd like to face it."
Chef shot Ruby a raised brow. "Really?" Chef asked. "Maybe I didn't sell it hard enough." She quipped.
Ruby shook her head. "No, no, you did. It's just. . ." Ruby shifted in her seat. "I haven't worked in a place that's really run me down yet, you know? And everyone I meet has horror stories. Food three months out of date, dishwashers stabbing the prep cooks, losing hands in the stand mixers, lines of coke right off the cutting board." Ruby lifted her shot of Sandfire. "I think I'd like a few stories of my own."
Chef narrowed her eyes. "You want to work for me because the job is so bad?" She asked.
Ruby nodded. "Yup!" She replied cheerily, still holding her drink.
"Flattery will get you nowhere." Chef deadpanned.
Ruby giggled. "Well, I want to be strong. No one gets strong by staying in their lane, right Chef?" Ruby asked.
Chef smirked. "True." She turned and faced the bar. "When we're out of the kitchen, you call me Weiss." She said simply.
Ruby smiled wide. She nodded. "Heard that, Weiss." She said, and knocked back her Sandfire.
Moments later, she was red-faced and coughing. Weiss pounding her back. "What the hell is that!?" Ruby asked between coughs.
Weiss laughed. "Vodka infused with coriander, cinnamon, and habanero."
Ruby lifted her hand up. "Water. Milk. Please." She begged. Ozpin obliged, setting both directly in front of Ruby with a smile. She'd coughed some of the fire directly into her nose, and after swishing her mouth with milk, brought the glass to her nose and inhaled, praying for relief.
Weiss was cracking up.
Ruby set the milk aside. Her lips twisted into a pout. "What's the big idea?" She asked, smacking Weiss' shoulder.
Weiss stifled her laughs, breaking out only in occasional giggles. "Hazing. Dolt." She said, hiding her smile.
Ruby placed her fists on her waist, indignant. "Dolt!?" She said, milk running down her face. She grabbed her water glass, and proceeded to rant at Weiss about the ethical evil of infusing alcohol, which burns, with capsaicin, which also burns.
As Weiss launched into her own reply, Ruby could feel her smile widen. Here she was, chef and sous-chef, getting drinks and arguing with smiles on their faces. Ruby propped her elbow on the bar, cradling her head with one hand, as she took in Weiss. Her hair in that off-center ponytail, resting on the crook of her neck. Her blue eyes, red cheeks. The graceful cross of her legs. She wasn't so scary here, at the bar. Ruby found herself relaxing with every passing minute in Weiss' company.
Ruby and Weiss continued to talk, exchanging stories and past mistakes. They continued talking, until-
"Weiss!" A blue haired man burst in, wrapping his arm around Weiss' shoulders. "I didn't expect you here tonight!" He said, his cheek nuzzling Weiss'. "What brings you her-" He stopped as he caught sight of Ruby. He looked between the pair. "Don't tell me you finally found a date?" He asked.
Ruby felt her cheeks heat up instantly.
Weiss pushed the stranger away. "In your dirty-ass dreams, Neptune." Weiss gestured to Ruby. "Meet the new sous. Ruby Rose."
Neptune smiled. "So you're my replacement!" He sized Ruby up. "You're a bit skinny for a pro." He jabbed.
Ruby rolled her eyes. It was the same in every kitchen. Rag on the newbie until they rag back. Ruby rolled her neck. She had a few drinks in her, and all those years with Qrow were good for something. "I prefer streamlined." Ruby shot back. "What about you?" She gestured to his hair. "Too pretty for the back?" She asked.
Neptune nodded, taking the jab in stride. "It's why Weiss fired me." He held his hand up against his mouth. "She's a jealous one." He stage-whispered.
Weiss grabbed Neptune's ear, pulling it hard. "Don't misrepresent me, Neptune. I never fired you."
Neptune whined. "Weeeeiiissss! That hurts!"
Weiss shrugged, looking between the pair. "Serves you right. Have you no sense of propriety?" She asked, shaking Neptune's head back and forth.
Ruby shrugged, leaning back against the bar. "Propriety, shmiety. This guy doesn't care I got his job. He cares if I can take a little heat." Ruby leveled her gaze at Neptune. "Right, stranger?" She asked.
Neptune, ear still in Weiss' possession, stroked his chin. "Hm. Yes to the second. But I won't forgive you for stealing my place!" He said cheerily.
Ruby deflated. "Oh come on!" She said, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "It's not even my fault!" She said, her words slurring slightly.
Neptune grinned. "I'll tell you what. Buy me your favorite drink and I'll call it even." He said, snapping his fingers.
What an easy solution! Ruby slapped her lien on the bar, waving at Ozpin. The bartender came over. "Hey Ozpin, I'd like to open a tab. Can you make a Mistrali Trainwreck?" Ruby asked.
Ozpin sighed. "I've made more mistakes than any man, woman, or child on this planet, Miss Rose. And half of them began with a Mistrali Trainwreck." He said, his voice hollow.
Ruby grinned. "Then I'll take two please!" She said, bouncing in her seat.
Ozpin sighed, grabbing her lien. "I hope I will not regret this." Ozpin said, his face grim.
Ruby jabbed her thumb to her breast. "Don't sweat Ozpin! I'm a pro!" She declared.
Weiss released Neptune's ear. "What the fuck is a Mistrali Trainwreck?" Weiss asked.
Neptune rubbed his ear. "I'm curious myself." He admitted.
Ruby gawked. "You've never had one?" She asked.
Neptune and Weiss shook their heads no. "Never. What's in it?" Weiss asked.
Ruby cupped her face with her hands. "Oh, it's great! First, you start with a looooot of vodka, and mix it with cinnamon, sugar syrup, and allspice. It gets all blended up and you pour it into a wide and deep stout glass, about halfway full. Then you take hot heavy cream and vanilla paste, or vanilla extract if you're cheap, and pour it into a four ounce skinny tumbler. Bomb that into the vodka and you chug it down!" Ruby slammed her fist on the bar, stars in her eyes. "It tastes like snickerdoodle and bad decisions." She said wistfully.
Weiss' face grew steadily more horrified as Ruby rambled. When Ruby finally stopped talking, Weiss looked to Ozpin. "You're not seriously making that for them, are you?"
Ozpin, holding a half gallon of heavy cream and a saucepan, looked sadly at Weiss. "I'll be right back. I need to heat up the cream." He said, and walked to the kitchen.
Neptune clapped his hands together. "Man, I haven't seen Ozpin look that sad since Weiss went on a bender six months back!" He said, laughing. He slapped Weiss' back. "I'm gonna set up the karaoke machine. The rest of the crew should be here soon."
Weiss cocked an eyebrow. "Karaoke? Hmph." She said, sniffing. "You're gonna embarrass yourselves."
Neptune shrugged. "Maybe we will, Weiss." He said, looking off in the distance, a smile on his face. "But we'll definitely have some fun." He said cryptically.
Ruby watched him go. "So he was your sous chef?" She asked.
Weiss nodded. "And my best friend. He keeps me sane." Weiss frowned. "Or, he did at least."
Ruby turned to the bar. So those were her shoes to fill… She frowned. What did Neptune do to keep things running smoothly? Ruby pondered, until the answer came to her in the form of two Mistrali Trainwrecks set before her.
Ruby slapped the bar and stood up. "I'll be right back!" Ruby declared. She dropped the cream into her Trainwreck and drained the glass. Then she picked up the other drink, and left a horrified Weiss at the bar. Ruby went straight to Neptune, who was setting up the karaoke machine in the corner. "Hey, you." She greeted, handing him his Mistrali Train wreck.
Neptune smiled. "Thanks!" Neptune looked at Ruby's hands. "Where's your drink?" He asked.
Ruby hiccuped. "Slammed it." She said. "Hard to carry four glasses." She said, holding up three fingers.
Neptune blinked. "Wow." He said, a trace of awe in his voice. "You didn't need to bring it over, I'm almost done setting up." He said, gesturing to the karaoke machine.
Ruby waved her hands back and forth. "No, no, you miss me. I want to talk, just real quick."
Neptune nodded, looking at his drink. "And this was your excuse?" He asked.
Ruby shrugged. "And it's best fresh." She said, looking at the Mistrali Trainwreck.
Neptune nodded. "Okay, okay." He dropped the hot cream into the stein. "Talk." He said, and began chugging.
Ruby pushed her fingers together. "Um, I'm a new sous. I've never done it before. And I don't know the first thing about helping a chef, much less helping Weiss." Ruby crossed her arms. "I need help."
Neptune finished his drink, and wiped his mouth. "Holy fucking shit!" He exclaimed, looking at the stein in his hand. "That was delicious, how have I not had this!?"
Ruby smiled. "You like it?" She asked.
Neptune nodded. "I love it!" He smiled wide, patting Ruby's shoulder. "Listen up squirt." He said, pulling Ruby in. He lowered his voice. "Weiss is wound tighter than a ukulele in the hands of a desperate teenager. She's like a rope bridge in the middle of the jungle, frayed at both ends and has a few planks missing. If something walks on her wrong, she'll snap." Neptune looked over at Weiss, making sure they weren't seen whispering.
Ruby frowned. "So, she's stressed out all the time?"
Neptune nodded, turning back to Ruby. "Yes. She likes to be in control, as much as she can. So let her deal with the nitty gritty of the restaurant. You take care of the people. Train as much as you can, enforce standards, and keep the mood light." Neptune smiled. "Piece of cake."
Ruby felt her spirit crack. That was NOT a piece of cake. "You did that?" She asked.
Neptune nodded. "Fuck yes I did. And you will too." He said, jabbing Ruby's shoulder.
Ruby felt her shoulders sink. "I'm not so sure."
Neptune waved his hand. "That's the Trainwreck talking. Which. . ." Neptune burped. "Is hitting me so hard right now." Neptune looked at Ruby, a full head shorter than him and at least forty pounds lighter. "How are you standing?" He asked.
Ruby shrugged. "My uncle's a drunk." She said simply.
Neptune shook his head. "All right, you'll explain that later." He said as if Ruby had already agreed to do so. "Look, you earned Sun's respect in one day. One. And he's the best dishwasher I know. If you can earn the respect of everyone else in that kitchen, and own it, you'll be the best thing to happen to Weiss since me."
Ruby nodded. "Okay." She wrapped her arm around Neptune's shoulder and squeezed. "Thank you. That helped a lot." She said.
Neptune released Ruby from his grip. "No sweat." He clapped his hands together. "Though, there's a price to be paid."
Ruby raised a quizzical brow. "What's that?" She asked.
Neptune glanced at the machine. "You'll find out." He said with a grin. He pushed her towards Weiss. "Get back to the bar and enjoy the night. I'll call you up when it's time." He said.
Ruby stumbled towards her seat and sat down. Weiss gave her a suspicious look. "What took you so long?" Weiss asked.
Ruby pursed her lips. "Neptune, uh, really liked the drink. We talked about it."
Weiss narrowed her eyes. "Okay then. . ." She waved down Ozpin. "Hey Oz! Can I have an Ursa on the rocks?" She asked.
Ozpin complied, and the minutes ticked by. Ruby sipped on a glass of water, watching the door for the crew. Sun came in first, greeting Weiss and Ruby with his usual exuberance. He didn't stay long, taking Neptune aside for a quick game of pool. The winner would choose a song for the loser to sing, and Ruby doubted it would be a dignified song.
Ruby watched as, one by one, the crew of the Gele Gloxinia came in. All of them acknowledged Weiss, but otherwise didn't approach her for conversation. Ruby looked at Weiss. The laughter and relaxed energy she felt earlier was gone. Weiss' face was stone cold, her eyes as sharp and empty as glass.
Ruby sipped her water, and remained silent.
A howl erupted from the pool table. "Who's the fucking champion!?" Sun screamed, holding his cue over his head in victory. "Who is it!?"
The crew started chanting. "SUN, SUN, SUN, SUN!"
Sun held one hand up, and the chanting ceased. He leveled his pool cue at his opponent. "You know what I want." Sun said, gesturing to the karaoke machine.
Neptune sighed, his shoulders sagging. "As you wish." He said. Neptune walked over to the machine and thumbed the laptop nearby. He typed out a title and pressed play.
The speakers started low, a throng of bass, a teasing guitar line. Neptune grabbed the mic, and took a deep breath. He waited, watching the screen, as the music got louder, and louder, and -
"IF I NEVER LOVED AGAIN IT WOULD BE TOOOOO SOOOOOOON!" Neptune belted. "THE STARS IN YOUR EYES SHINED BRIGHTER THAN THE MOOOOOOOON!"
Ruby started laughing, as did the crew. Sun was breaking down, his entire body convulsing with laughter.
"AND ALL THE FIRES IN THE WORLD COULDN'T BURN ME DOOOOWN!" Neptune continued. "BUT YOUR LOVE WAS A WAVE, IT MADE ME DROOOOOWN!"
Neptune tore through the terrible pop song like it was the greatest performance he would ever give. He pointed at individuals in the crowd, as if they were the love in his song. He got on one knee in front of Sun and crooned the slow verses, his hand almost wandering too close before Sun slapped it away, laughing all the while.
Ruby stole a glance at Weiss. There. The ghost of a smile tugging at her mouth. Ruby smiled, and turned back to the spectacle before her.
Neptune, for the final verse, held the mic close to his mouth. "If I never loved again, it was better, yeah, it was better to have loved you~" And he struck a dramatic pose, the final notes ringing out in the bar.
The crew broke out in applause. "Brava! Brava!" "You owned it Nep!" Some wiped dramatic tears from their eyes.
Neptune bowed, again and again. "Thank you, thank you." He said, speaking into the mic. "Sun, I'm gonna fucking kill you." He promised. Sun wolf-whistled in response. "Okay crew, let's take a second." Neptune said, quieting the crowd. "Tonight, we say goodbye to the greatest sous chef the Gele Gloxinia ever saw." He said, holding his hands out wide. Applause. He brought the mic back to his mouth. "And tonight, to celebrate, we're gonna have rare event indeed! Two sous' enter, one sous leaves! A battle of song between the former sous, and the new sous!" Neptune said, pointing straight at Ruby.
Ruby choked on her water.
"Get up here, Ruby Rose!" Neptune yelled. The crew hooted and howled, excitement pouring through them.
Ruby set her glass on the bar, and looked to Weiss. She smirked. "I admit, I'm terrible at karaoke." She said with a shrug.
Weiss clapped Ruby on the shoulder, and pushed her off her seat. "Good! Show them how bad you are!" She said, her words slurring slightly.
Ruby went forward. She pulled her shoulders back and held her head high. This was the first impression the crew got. Best make it a good one.
The crew watched her step on stage. Neptune handed her a mic. "Surprised?" Neptune whispered.
"Not as much as you're gonna be." Ruby whispered back. "Are you getting them to like me?"
Neptune laughed. "People love a boss they can relate to." He answered. He pulled away, facing the crowd. "All right! You know the rules! Most entertaining performance wins! Now we need two songs! Any suggestions?" Neptune asked, holding a hand to his ear.
The crew started calling out. "Two-Timing Turner!" "Buckin' Boarbatusk!" "Lovin' You Nevermore!".
Neptune held up his hand. "I've never heard it, so I'll take Buckin' Boarbatusk!" Neptune gestured to Ruby. "What will our new sous sing tonight?" He called to the crowd.
"Thorny and Horny!" A soft voice called out.
The crew whirled around. Weiss flashed a red-faced grin, raising an empty beer stein high above her head.
Ruby smirked. She recalled a drunken night in a japanese karaoke bar off 95th. Yang picked her set, and burst out laughing when Thorny and Horny showed up. Ruby had forgotten to write it down. Blake was a lifesaver then, her detective skills piercing the fog of liquor and wrenching the song from memory.
Ruby snapped out of her memory, and did a double-take. The glass in Weiss' hand, there was no mistaking it. The remains of a Mistrali Trainwreck. When did she even order that? That explained Weiss' bold call.
Neptune, to his credit, took it in stride. "Oh! I've never heard that one before!" Neptune said, and nudged Ruby with his elbow. "We'll both go in blind. That'll even the playing field."
Ruby shook her head. "I already know it." She declared, her face bright red.
Neptune turned to the crew, his eyebrows waggling. "Ooooh, is that so?" Neptune shrugged dramatically. "I suppose you'll need all the help you can get." He teased. He pointed at Sun. "Let's get started! Hit it!"
Sun obliged.
~0~
Weiss cackled, the sweet aftertaste of Mistrali Trainwreck dancing on her tongue. Everything felt warm and sweet. She sat back against the bar and watched her ex-sous smooth his hair, while her new sous stood red as a tomato.
Neptune, the gracious host, and attention whore, went first. Buckin' Boarbatusk thrummed with strong guitar solos and raspy flutes. The lyrics painted a lone ranch hand who was king in the rodeo, and longed for a deeper challenge than that of horses. So he went out into woods and rode a Boarbatusk, until it flung him from its back and eventually killed him. Despite the grim lyrics, the song was played as a tall tale, and had everyone in the bar clapping and smiling when Neptune finished with a flourish.
The crowd was primed, and Neptune was sweating. "Thank you, fuck ons and fuck offs!" He crowed. "But now for the next event! The new, the now, Ruuuuuuby Rose sings Thorny and Horny!" He gestured to Ruby, who stepped on stage proper. A few words whispered in her ear, and Neptune exited stage left.
Weiss shook her head. Thorny and Horny was a song she heard from the first chef that tutored her. He was a fan of raunchy music with heavy notes of jazz and blues. Weiss appreciated the style the more she'd learned from him. Thorny and Horny had been her tutors favorite, and it quickly became hers too.
The song itself was sung from the perspective of a woman speaking with a fling. A one-sided apology that wasn't really an apology. Throughout the song, she acknowledged her prickly, aggressive behavior. Then she excused it, because 'a lady's got her needs and they ain't being met~'
Not only would this be incredibly humiliating for Ruby, it would be immensely entertaining to Weiss. The brat might have it in her to cook, but singing a sultry number? Please, Ruby was all excitement and energy. Not a seductive bone in her body.
Weiss leaned against the bar and prepared to enjoy herself.
The song started. It had a warbling horn, calling forth the feel of smoking jackets and femme fatales with crimson lipstick. A black and white street clacking with heels and a loaded six shooter glinting in a beam of light. Long lines of smoke dangling from the tips of dark cigars.
Then the drums kicked in at half measures, the perfect pace to sway your hips and roll your shoulders. Cymbals danced quietly underneath. A lone bass line struck out, tying together the ensemble with a few plucks of string.
As the energy picked up, Weiss stared right at Ruby. She seemed slightly nervous, pawing at the hem of her shirt and shifting back and forth on her feet. But her eyes, they were focused. Not on the screen of lyrics, not on the crowd, but on the mic in her hands.
The music picked up in energy, climbing to a peak. Then it crescendoed into silence. Ruby took a deep breath. Her whole body relaxed, and she sang out.
"Baby I know I ain't treatin' you right~, I snap at you as long as there's light~. But baby when the night is set!" A jut of the hip. "I got needs, and they ain't bein' met!"
The horn warbled a descending scale, Ruby moving her body to its cries. "A girl's got despair when her perfect hair, goes to bed unmessed~." The bass line crept back in. "What does it take to watch your hands shake, if you get me undressed?" A crash of cymbals, a bat of Ruby's lashes, and a twist of sass in that last line.
Weiss was dumbfounded. Ruby's singing wasn't perfect, not by a long shot. Her pitch was slightly off and her voice slipped in the scales. Yet she was having fun, staring down the crowd with lidded eyes and sashaying across the stage like she owned the place and everyone in it. The crowd only encouraged this act, hooting and hollering like a bunch of drunk miscreants.
Weiss couldn't take her eyes off of Ruby. It was like a spirit had possessed her sous. She sang her heart out, growling the chorus and flipping her short hair in wild abandon.
And then, right before the song came to a close, Ruby's eyes met Weiss' head on. She held the mic with both her hands, and crooned the last few lines. "Yeah Baby, I hurt you bad, it's true. And I know just how to make you blue. But I don't wanna apologize, I don't want more lies. I just want to work up a sweat."
A lone drum kick sounded. Ruby flicked her hair, staring deep into Weiss. "'Cause Baby I got needs, and they ain't bein', met~" The last syllable dragged out like caramel across a chocolate truffle. The music built to a final crash, and Ruby struck a pose.
Silence in the bar. Then the crew burst out in applause. Weiss clapped her hands together slowly. She felt hot all over. She turned around. "Oz, can I have a water?"
Ozpin stopped his own applause and obliged. "That was an interesting performance." He remarked. "She's full of surprises."
Weiss grabbed the glass. "Tell me about it." She said, and started gulping the sweet water. She drained the glass and set the cup down. No. She still felt hot. She adjusted her collar. Why was she so hot?
Neptune called from the stage. "Wow! A bombshell performance from our new sous! Let's give Ruby another hand, holy shit!" Neptune started clapping, and the rest of the crew joined in. The spirit seemed to leave Ruby, and awkwardly bowed, almost crashing to the floor in her speed. Her cheeks were beet red and she stammered out a few thank yous.
Neptune ushered Ruby off stage, and held a hand out to quiet the crew. "Now, now for the main event." Neptune drawled. "Because tonight I have a treat for you!" He pointed straight at Weiss. "Blackmail!" He yelled.
Weiss quirked her brow. Then a thunk sounded just behind her. She turned around. Ozpin had hefted a large bucket of water onto the bar. His eyes met Weiss'. "I do apologize Weiss." Ozpin shrugged. "But a humble barkeep must pay the bills."
Weiss whipped around, facing Neptune. "What is this Nep?" She slurred.
Neptune chuckled. "Weiss, Weiss, I told you I'd get you back." He swept his hand across the crowd. "Tonight, for one night only, Weiss Schnee will sing us a song!"
Weiss shook her head back and forth. Bad idea, the room was spinning enough. "You are a cocky fuck if you think I'm singing for you!" She yelled.
"Oh?" Neptune nodded. "Okay. Then for one night only, we witness Chef get soaked by a bucket of water!" Neptune shook his fist to the sky. "For I will have my vengeance!"
Weiss blinked. Fuck it. She'd take the water. There was no way in hell she'd sing again. Especially under threat. Schnees do not negotiate, they annihilate, they circumvent, they-
Her eye caught Ruby, bouncing on her toes, a huge smile on her face. She looked like she was a kid being handed the whole cookie jar.
Weiss narrowed her eyes at Neptune. Damn him. "I don't want this shirt shrinking." Weiss said, tugging her sleeve. She stood up. "I suppose I have no choice." She pointed a finger straight at Neptune. "But one condition!" She declared.
Neptune held a hand to his ear. "I'm listening Ice-Queen." He sang.
Weiss' eye twitched. He was pushing his luck. "I get to pick the song." She demanded.
Neptune held out the mic. "As you wish." He answered.
Weiss strode up to the stage, snatched the mic, and turned to the laptop. She squinted her eyes. Shit. "Sun! Help me!" She ordered.
Sun was at the laptop in seconds. "What's your poison Chef?" He asked.
Weiss straightened her back. "The Rose 'Tween My Teeth." She answered.
Sun's brow shot up.
Weiss cocked her head. "What, do you not have it?"
Sun shook his head. "No! No, we have it." He looked over his shoulder, at someone in the crew, then back at Weiss.
Weiss folded her arms. "So what's the problem?" She asked.
Sun jolted. "Nothing!" He said, his fingers leaping to the keys. A few seconds later, and the song was pulled up.
Weiss held up a hand. "Wait for my signal." She said, and took the stage. She drew in a breath, and warmed her voice, slipping up the scales until the cords in her throat protested. She still couldn't push past middle C.
Whatever. She wasn't singing for her father. This wasn't a tour, or another day of training. She was in her favorite bar, with her best friends, her crew, and her new sous.
Weiss rolled her neck. Time to impress. Weiss nodded at Sun, and the song began. A soft, morose violin painted the scene. Soon joined by the gentle rings of a xylophone and the whine of a trombone. Weiss closed her eyes and took a breath.
In the wake of celebration
And standing ovations
You led me away with a rose
The torchlight flickered
As our paces grew quicker
To a place only we know
I remember dancing in the halls
Away from those stuffy balls
My corset loose 'round my waist
You saw in me that night
Me, a wretch, with inner light
So much more than just my place
Your hand was warm on my cheek
Your bright smile left me weak
And I thought I could be free
You led me through the forest
The breeze a distant chorus
To the heaven only we could see
They found us laughing in the leaves
Empty bottles, minds at ease
They tore you away
You would hang at dawn
I could only watch on
And mourn the break of day
They buried you beneath
All I have of you is stone
And this rose 'tween my teeth
Weiss finished. She opened her eyes and took in her crew. They stood quiet, cheeks shimmering. Weiss scanned the crew, and found Ruby, right near the front.
Ruby offered a sad smile. "Weiss. That was beautiful." She said, her voice loud in the silence of the bar.
Ruby's compliment sparked the rest of the crew, and they burst into applause.
Weiss bowed her head, taking in the sound like an old friend. She breathed deep, and sighed. She stepped off stage and fished her pockets for her cigarettes, batting away her crew with a smile.
Behind her, Neptune took the stage. "Let's hear it one more time for Weiss Schnee!" He said, and the crew obliged. "For biggest downer in the whole act!" Neptune yelled, sending a wave of laughter through the crew.
Weiss smirked. She put a cigarette in her mouth and stepped through the door. She could hear Neptune pull someone from the crew, and moments later a new song started. Upbeat, energetic, and immensely colorful.
Weiss lit her cigarette. She took a deep drag, and let the smoke billow in the streetlight.
When was the last time she sang? Six years ago? Or was it seven? Yes, seven years ago. But when she stopped, she hated singing. When was the last time she sang for fun? For pleasure?
Weiss remembered her mother bouncing a little Weiss on her knee. Her mother started singing something. A nursery rhyme, or children's song. And Weiss joined her.
Weiss shook her head. A long, long time ago.
The door of the bar banged open. Ruby stepped out, looking left, then right. She spotted Weiss. "Weiss!" She called out. "Weiss!"
Weiss cocked her head. "Ruby?" She asked.
Ruby bounced up to Weiss. "Ohmygosh you were so cool!" She squealed. "I didn't know you could sing like that, did you know you could sing like that?" She asked, bouncing on her toes.
Weiss smiled. "Yes Ruby, I did know I could sing like that." She twisted her cigarette in her fingers. "You weren't half bad yourself." She said quietly.
Ruby waved her hand dismissively. "Pshaw, I was having fun! But you, you were all rockstar!" Ruby, in her excitement, stepped close. Weiss could feel Ruby's breath on her cheek. Ruby smiled, eyes wide in admiration. "You're beautiful." She said.
Weiss blinked. She put her hand on Ruby's face and pushed her back. "And you've had a lot to drink." She said.
Ruby nodded into Weiss' hand. "Yup!" She said, pulling Weiss' hand from her face. "And I'm a truthy drunk!" She declared.
"Truthy isn't even a word." Weiss said. Ruby hadn't let go of her hand. She felt idle fingers massage her palm.
Ruby shrugged. "I'm making it up." She said.
Weiss looked Ruby in the eye. "You liked it?" She asked.
Ruby nodded. "Loved it." She answered.
The two stood in silence, their breath stark in the cold. Nothing around them but the distant roll of tires and thrum of music from the crew inside.
Ruby looked down, and suddenly released Weiss' hand. Weiss looked at it for a moment, then at Ruby, who was blushing hard.
Ruby pointed at the bar. "I-I-I better get inside. You wanna come in?" She stammered out.
Weiss shook her head, offering a small smile. "No, I need to sleep." She stepped back. "See you in the kitchen?" She asked.
Ruby nodded. "See you there." She promised.
Weiss smiled. "Good, good. Goodnight." She said, and twirled on her heel, setting a path for her apartment.
"Goodnight Weiss!" Ruby called out. Weiss heard the bar door open, spilling music out onto the street, before shutting it off once more.
Weiss looked at her hand. She squeezed it shut, trying to capture the warmth that was there only moments before. Then she walked away.
Her boots made soft crunches in the snow. Her breath was cold in the streetlight. Her belly was warm like a furnace, coal shoveled in with every breath. Weiss turned the day in her head. A new drink, a new sous, and an amazing breakfast.
Weiss' face broke out in a grin. That was a gorgeous salmon benedict.