"It's been fun hanging out today Weiss. Really." Turning her head a bit, she stole a glance through her bangs at the companion she happened upon just a few hours ago. After indulging in two albums (Gear Blues per Weiss' request and Up The Bracket per Ruby's) and engaging in easy, yet meaningful conversation, they now found themselves walking the paths that wound hither and thither through the park.

"I can't say that I've had a bad time either." She brought her attention back forward though the slight, yet ever-present bounce in Ruby's step was still perceptible in her periphery. A contented smile made its home on her features for the second or third time this afternoon. There was something about Ruby, a not quite so concealed jubilance perhaps that emanated from her. Resonated within her? However it presented itself, it made the girl so effortlessly pleasant to be around.

"I'll take it," Ruby chuckled, letting a moment of comfortable brevity pass before she made to speak again. "I'm glad to see you're feeling better." Weiss' attention was caught and her smile faltered a bit as she became aware again of the events of yesterday, became aware of her still bandaged hands as she clenched them beside her. "I was a little worried for you, but then your sister came and somehow I knew you'd be a-ok!"

"I wanted to apologize again for how I behaved yesterday, and for how ghoulish I'm sure I looked." She was struggling a bit, the events of twelve hours past still fresh and unforgotten. How the passage of time was oft her dearest friend during times akin to this. Seemingly.

"It's okay, Weiss. You weren't as 'ghoulish' as you think," Ruby chuckled. "Ghoulish is the drunk kid who came in last month and smacked his head on the counter before throwing up everywhere." Ruby shivered at the memory.

"Seriously?"

"Yes. Remember? I said I've seen actually wretched things before and yesterday didn't hold a candle to some of what I've seen." Ruby laughed and Weiss just continued to walk in pensive silence, unsure if it was alright for her to be absolved of the vague guilt she felt. And if she could be absolved of the particular iteration of guilt, then what of all the other guilt she felt from the numerous times in her life when she nearly tore the threads of all her relationships asunder? Unlike her father and her brother, Ruby hadn't lashed back at her when she was the utmost incorrigible, hadn't perpetuated the cycle of hurt by hurting her back. She was just.. patient and understanding. Like Winter. "You okay, space cadet?"

"Sorry.."

"No need to apologize," Ruby assured. "I'm super guilty of spacing out. You looked a little sad though."

"I'm just trying to wrap my head around you."

"Around me?" Ruby seemed a little mystified by that.

"Yes, you." She tried to gather her thoughts for a moment as Ruby stared inquisitively, but ultimately she was at a loss for the words to truly convey what she wanted. "Just.. thank you. For your kindness."

"Think nothing of it!" Ruby flashed a bright smile at her and Weiss was happy to do just that. Think nothing of her kindness and accept it, accept that she was deserving of it. What odd peace-bringing. Comfortable moments of silence passed as they wound their way back through the park from whence they came.

"Are you a student here as well?"

"I am! I started this past Spring semester."

"What's your major, if you don't mind me asking?"

"I don't mind," Ruby affirmed. "I am, as of yet, undecided. I'm aiming to take care of my core classes and explore career options before I commit to anything. Since I'm bilingual, I want to go with something that has opportunities for me in Japan as well as English speaking countries. I can't sit still so something that has gives me options to travel or be a digital nomad would be good, but I want it to be something I enjoy, y'know? What about you?"

"I'm a double major in Architecture and Business with a minor in Art."

"Woah. That sounds cool! What year are you?" Ruby seemed genuinely impressed and interested.

"This fall semester will be the start of my third year."

"So you're on track for the four year plan, huh?"

"Five to seven depending on whether or not I pursue my Master's degree." They were approaching the entrance to the park they entered from, the sign for Qrow's a familiar landmark in the distance.

"Neat," came Ruby's short reply before she fell to silence beside her. She seemed to be mulling over something, but whatever it was stayed unspoken as they walked the remaining distance back to the park entrance. They were across the street and back in front of Qrow's before Weiss broke the silence.

"I should head home now. I had a decent time though." She smirked. "It's been refreshing meeting someone whose taste in music isn't total shite." Ruby chuckled at that.

"Shite? What are you, British?"

"Yes actually," she laughed. "I am also a dual citizen, though my family has lived stateside for over a decade."

"Neat! We're like two peas in a pod, but with an awesome soundtrack. Two peas in a rad iPod?" Ruby offered. They both laughed at that, though Weiss' laughter was unintentionally made diminutive by Ruby's own honest and full expression. Such inherent jubilance, Weiss thought. How easy it seemed to have joy. What it must feel like. She considered her self far removed from having a joy like that of her own, but since it came around to her in the form of 'a neighborhood stranger', she couldn't help herself from sharing in it.

"You're a little funny you know." Ruby perked up at the praise. "Just a little though. I'll see you later."

"H-hey Weiss?" Ruby's voice caught her just as she was turning to leave. She looked to see Ruby twiddling her fingers, eyes lowered in uncertainty. "Do you want to exchange numbers? I-I mean, that is if you still want to hang out sometime?" Exchange numbers? Her phone, wait.. her phone? She pulled the device out of her satchel. No, not her phone. It was broken. This phone.. Winter's old phone. Made sense, though she hadn't noticed before now that this electronic organ was mysteriously present again. Of course Winter would take the liberty to make sure Weiss had a line of communication to her at all times.

"Of course. Sorry. I almost left without thinking to ask."

"No worries! At least you'd know where to find me," Ruby smiled. Curious, the peculiar comfort she felt hearing Ruby affirm that. It was almost like an innocent invitation to her effortlessly pleasant company and unbridled joy, or a subtle reminder of 'this is where you find me if you need to find me'. Curious. "This is me calling you," Ruby stated after Weiss imparted her number.

"What should I save this as?"

"New best friend! Just kidding. Ruby Rose! And you?"

"Weiss Schnee."

"Got it! Well Weiss, I'll try not to bug you too much, buuut we have a lot of music to talk about."

"I'm sure. I'll see you later." An excited goodbye in return and she was on her way back to her house. One, two, three fence posts on the first block away from the convenience store. It was early evening now. What she intended as a brief trek to the convenience store evolved into an afternoon of such a pleasant nature that, honestly, she hadn't experienced in a long time. As a rule, she had never been one for companions throughout her life, save for what companionship came through family. In addition to that, she could recall most of her adolescent and young adult years being of an arguably neutral disposition. In truth, perhaps the disposition of those years was more vacant and empty, but such a lot didn't leave her yearning for company. That's not to say she was wholly distant and separate. She could get along with just about anyone, but she wasn't keen on or inclined to keep anyone around or maintain any sort of relationship.

Thirteen, fourteen fence posts on the last block before.. ah, she was here. The walk home passed her by as swiftly as the walk to the convenience store. Both times her mind was preoccupied with an amalgam of thoughts, though the ones that presently preoccupied her were of the less distressing kind. Two turns of the locks and she was greeted by a more pleasant cool than out-of-doors had to offer and the subtle sound of music. Clearing the foyer, she entered the living room to see Winter reading on the couch. "I'm back."

"Hello." Winter's eyes moved back and forth mechanically several times over the pages before she marked her spot and closed her book. "Did you have a pleasant afternoon?"

"I did actually. It was.. odd, yet refreshing."

"Odd indeed. I can't recall the last time I've heard of you making a friend." Weiss smiled at Winter's knowing.

"I make friends almost routinely through various educational obligations," she voiced as she sat to remove her shoes. "Maintaining them, however, is something I've never really elected to do."

"How aloof," Winter laughed. "Well, will you elect to maintain this friend? They seemed to have grabbed your attention enough."

"Now who am I to spoil a good plot twist?"

"Oh, now I'm curious." Weiss smiled and shook her head as she came to sit next to her sister, moving to lay her head on Winter's lap after she gestured an invitation for her to do so. She closed her eyes and fixed her mouth into a docile smile as Winter ran her fingers through her hair.

"It was the clerk. From last night."

"The clerk?" Winter inquired.

"Yes." She opened her eyes to stare in remembrance at the ceiling fan as she recalled their interactions from the past twenty or so odd hours. "She was wearing a t-shirt from one of those famously obscure Japanese bands I adore. Turns out she has a quality taste in music."

"Interesting."

"Even more interesting is that she seems to be a quality person as well." Winter offered a hum in response as she continued run her fingers through Weiss' hair, the music on the speaker fading out on the last song of an all too familiar album. "Nick Drake's Five Leaves Left, yes?"

"Yes," Winter confirmed. "I like to read to it."

"One of Mum's favorite artists."

"Yes," Winter confirmed again.

"Do you remember the song Katie Cruel?"

"I do, primarily the Karen Dalton version."

"I used to always ask her to play it or sing it for me," Weiss remembered with a dull, yet manageable pang. "It's really a bit of a somber song, but it's always been soothing to me." Winter offered another gentle hum in response, seemingly content with listening to her talk. The song was suddenly calling to her. She longed to hear it, but decided to satisfy her longing in a different way that would prompt something she also desired.

Drawing a breath, she opened her mouth and sang:

"When I first came to town they called me the roving jewel.

Now they've changed their tune, call me Katie Cruel.

Through the woods I am going, and through the boggy mire.

Straight way down the road 'til I come to my heart's desire."

At a point towards the beginning of the second stanza Winter began to gently keep time with her index finger on the top of Weiss' head. When she started singing the third stanza, Winter began harmonizing with her:

"If I was where I would be, then I'd be where I am not.

Here I am where I must be, where I would be, I can not.

When I first came to town they brought me drinks a-plenty.

Now they change their tune and hand me the bottles empty.

Winter dropped her harmony for the last stanza, leaving Weiss to sing the final verse, more a haunting soliloquy that was personally telling in that moment as she made up her mind to initiate the conversation she was more or less afraid of having:

"If I was where I would be, then I'd be where I am not.

Here I am where I must be, where I would be, I can not."

They shared a silence after the final verse was sung and Winter continued to run her fingers through Weiss' bangs. Understanding. "Winter," she started, afraid and hesitant, "do you.. you said that Mum used to have episodes. What did you mean?" She watched her sister as she thought on the question she was presented before she looked down to meet her gaze.

"There were times when she was.. erratic. Sometimes it manifested itself as her being uncharacteristically irritable and short with us or with father. Sometimes she wouldn't eat or sleep and play piano late into the night and into the morning. And other times she would be in anguish, tearful and unable to get out of bed. Being older, I was more able to witness these erratic patterns. I know she took medication of some sort, off and on.. but I wasn't privy to what was going on fully."

Winter had finished talking for a minute or two but Weiss was silent, gripped with terror at the vague familiarity she found in Winter's divulgence. She could feel the color drain from face throughout her sister's discourse. What was equally as distressing was that she had no recollection of her mother being an 'erratic' individual. It wasn't that she had any disbelief in Winter's words, no. She had only been eight when their mother died, her memories most likely clouded in a youthful, blissful haze, but Winter was eighteen when she passed. She most assuredly remembered more about such things. Had she also been seeing this in her over the years, this erraticism? Oh how this was far too much. Her eyes began to moisten with inevitable tears. "Am I like her?" She choked back a sob. She broke Winter's gaze once concerned eyes shot to hers. "Have you been seeing this all this time?" Bringing her hands up, she covered her face and wept silently into them. What did Winter see when she looked at her?

"I've been seeing you Weiss." Winter spoke softly before she leaned over to place a kiss on her forehead. There was noticeable emotion in Winter's voice now. "And I've seen things in you that remind me of mother that frighten me because.. because I don't want to lose you to." Weiss choked out a pained sob. All of this was growing to be unbearably heavy. Winter was afraid she'd lose her like they lost their mother. How many times had her behavior conjured such a fear in her sister? The most glaring occasion lurched to the forefront of her mind. It was the night her and her father's relationship was damaged beyond repair in that all too familiar hurtful perpetuation.

She had been up for days by that point, the anniversary of Willow Shnee's death. He father had been drinking in his study, and she had been playing the piano well into the night in an attempt to bring her solace and enough fatigue to hopefully bring her sleep. Her father came to her and commanded her to stop playing and go to bed. But she was doing it to remember her mother, to feel a bit of what was taken from her in such a great loss. She remembered her father yelling and then fury erupting inside her.

"You let her die! YOU let her die!"

The next thing she new she was attacking him in a rage, trying to tear him into the pieces that she was in with her meager strength in comparison to his. But he would only let her draw so much blood. Drunk and lacking in better judgement, he pushed her forcefully away and into the piano. Just forceful enough to knock the wind from her and leave a large, dark bruise on her left side. She ran from the house immediately after that and, wrought with guilt, anguish, anger and a mess of other thoughts a emotions, drove her car quite deliberately into a guard rail a couple hours later. The bruise was attributed to the wreck and no one outside of her and her father know of all the events from that night. She left for university six weeks later and they've barely spoken since, though he still supports her financially from afar

"It's okay," came Winter's soft, intermittent mantra as she pressed their foreheads together and continued running her fingers gently through Weiss' hair.

"Am I fucking okay, Winter?" Her inquiry was heaved out. The entire revelation left her alarmed and terrified.

"You are, because I am here with you. And I'll be with you. I promise." She took several moments to dry her eyes as best she could with her hands before sitting up and placing her head in them. Winter began slowly rubbing circles in her back not too long afterward. They sat in silence for a while, Weiss processing a well of information and drying her tears and Winter offering absolute comfort until she had calmed. She wasn't familiar with any facet of mental health professions and didn't know what this entailed for her. She had to bury the words 'damaged' and 'broken' several times as she steadied herself, fearing the slander she'd cast against her mother.

"I'll go." Her voice was shaking. She wiped her eyes one last time, tears temporarily damned and her breathing growing a little more steady.

"You'll go?" Winter inquired, unsure of what Weiss was agreeing to.

"I'll go.. and see a physician, a.. therapist." She took a measured breath and turned to meet her sister's concerned, yet comforting gaze. "I'll go."

"Okay," Winter said simply as she continued rubbing circles in Weiss' back. "I'll be with you every step of the way."

…..

Author's Notes:

Here is chapter four. Decided to get the chapter count up to match with my other story before I resituate myself. I hope you enjoy and please look forward to more, Ivel.