While Yang is still on her own and Blake plots. Ruby and Weiss think about their lives, their problems, and their futures. They aren't as mentally or emotionally damaged as their cellmates, but they certainly aren't in good places.
It was yard time once again. However, the three girls were sticking together on this occasion. They were meeting up with the four girls they had eaten with that morning. Blake wasn't in a very talkative mood, as she was busy developing a plan for helping Ilia and fighting back against the White Fang. But still, she decided to stick with Weiss and Ruby for safety.
"Hey, Weiss?" Ruby asked. Out of the three girls, she shared a cell with. Ruby knew the least about Weiss, and she wanted to get to know her better.
"Yes, Ruby." Weiss acknowledged. She was busy thinking about her future and the best cause of action to take. But talking to Ruby would be a nice distraction from the fear of how her father would react if she turned her back on him.
"Do you mind telling me how you got that scar?" Ruby asked. She figured that there must be an interesting story behind the scar over Weiss' eye. It would probably reveal a lot about Weiss, as long as she was actually willing to talk about it. For all Ruby knew, talking about it could bring back traumatic memories for Weiss.
Weiss sighed. She hated her scar. Partially because she received it on the day of her greatest failure, and partially because she already hated her appearance and the scar just made her feel worse about herself. However, it was going to come up in conversation sooner or later. So she decided to tell Ruby the story, as much as thinking about the scar upset and annoyed her. "I got this on the day I was arrested. My father sent me to deal with a man who was trying to break into one of our buildings. We got into a knife fight and he gave me this before the police arrived."
The part about Weiss' father annoyed Ruby. Her father may have been a useless alcoholic for most of her life. But he still loved her and would never send her to fight someone. What kind of monster sends their own child into a situation that was potentially life-threatening. "What the hell is wrong with your dad?" she asked.
Weiss had not expected that to be what Ruby focused on. It seemed like Ruby could read her mind. Earlier that day she had given Blake the same response that Weiss would have done herself, and now she was bringing up her father at the same time Weiss was thinking about him. Weiss was starting to resent her father. He had been controlling her for her entire life. He risked her life for his own gain. He left her to fend for herself when she needed help the most. Klein would still be alive and she wouldn't have a scar or be in prison. If he had just been a loving and caring father. "He doesn't care about me. He only cares about wealth, power and reputation."
Although she had never met the man. Ruby started to hate Weiss' father. All she needed to know in order to hate him, was hear how bad of a father her was to Weiss. She wondered if Weiss harboured similar feelings about him. The way she spoke about him certainly suggested that she did. "If that's how you feel, then why haven't you left him behind?"
Weiss sighed "I was raised to be loyal to my family above all else. Though I am now considering turning my back on him. He's ruined my life and didn't even try to help me when I was arrested. I just don't know how to go about it or what I would do once I left."
After Weiss gave her answer. The trio met up with Ciel, Penny, Coco and Velvet. Blake took a seat next to Velvet, neither could think of anything to say after there emotional reunion. So they sat quietly beside each other.
"Hello again, Weissy." Coco greeted. Weiss scowled "Please just call me Weiss. Penny manages it, Weissy is worse than when Ciel calls me Mistress Schnee." she said. Weiss wasn't in a particularly good mood. As usual, her father managed to bring her down. He didn't even need to be present to make her feel bad.
"Are you okay Weiss?" Penny asked. Penny was one of the few people that Weiss considered to be a friend. She had always expressed more concern for her than anyone else. Maybe with the exception of her sister, Winter.
"Not really Penny. I've been thinking about things, but if I'm going to tell you. Then You, Ciel and Coco have to swear that it stays between us for the time being." Weiss said. She hadn't made her mind up about leaving yet. So she would try to keep it hidden from her family until she made her mind up. Though she felt she could trust Penny and the other two. They still had connections to her family and may pass the information on if she didn't ask them specifically not to.
The three girls nodded in silent agreement. So Weiss felt confident enough to reveal her thought to them. "I've been thinking a lot about my father and my family lately. I've realized just how much they have been controlling me and how hard they have made my life. So, I am very much considering turning my back on them. I need some more time to way up my options. But I will soon be making a decision which may very well result in me leaving that life behind."
Penny and Ciel were surprised by the revelation. Due to their close connection to her family, she had previously kept them in the dark. About her grievances against her family and her father in particular. She felt bad for doing it but it seemed necessary to protect herself.
Coco was less surprised. Due to the fact that she was only the daughter of an associated family, rather than someone directly connected to her own family. Weiss had entrusted Coco with more information than the other two. It helped that Coco seemed to care little about her own family. She had always been more free-spirited than Weiss and saw no reason to pass on the things that Weiss told her. She cared about Weiss and saw no reason to pass the things she was told, on to anyone. "It really took you that long to come to that conclusion. Seriously, Weiss, you've resented Jacques for a long time. Just go ahead and leave him behind. He'll be pissed but at the end of the day. You're just a tool to him, and those can be easily replaced."
Penny looked worried "What would you do if you left? It wouldn't be like leaving a job, you'd lose your family." she said. She would probably stick with Weiss no matter what she decided. But Penny would always try to give advice, even when she didn't really know what she was talking about. In this case, Penny hit the nail on the head, but Weiss already understood the gravity of her situation.
"I know Penny. But it's not much of a family in anything other than name. Winter's the only one I would really miss, and I'm sure she'd understand my actions. Even if I can never see Winter again. It seems that the people I already have around me, care more for me than my family ever did." Weiss stated. She would miss Winter, but it had been years since they had last seen each other anyway. Winter had moved to Atlas a few years ago, and Weiss hadn't heard from her since.
"Mistress… I mean Weiss. I was unaware that you held your own family in such contempt. I cannot deny the fact that the prospect of you leaving them is alarming. However, you have been very kind to me over the years we have known each other. So, I will happily stay by your side, no matter what you decide." Ciel said. Weiss had only known Ciel for a few years, as somewhat of a child prodigy. Ciel had been hired by Weiss father to tutor her on various subjects. Jacques Schnee's high expectations meant that Weiss education was highly intensive. With Ciel's help and her father's money. Weiss was able to attend college 2 years early, earning herself a businesses degree that would help her run the family business. Weiss and Ciel spent so much time together that they had developed a close relationship.
"Thank you, Ciel. Clearly you care about me more than my father." Weiss responded. Giving a rare Weiss Schnee smile. She then turned to Penny "I don't expect you to stay by my side through this. But I want you to know that I am grateful to you for the years of friendship you have given me."
Penny smiled at Weiss. It was rare for her to hand out compliments or thanks. It was rare for any of the Schnees to do so. "I'm not going anywhere, Weiss. I care about you a great deal, and I also greatly appreciate our friendship," she said reassuringly.
"Thank you, Penny. With friends like you, I really don't need my family." Weiss replied. The right choice was becoming clearer and cleared in her mind. In the last few moments, Ciel and Penny had been more supportive and affectionate to Weiss, than her father had been in her entire life. There was no doubt that Coco would support her, and her cellmates didn't seem to care who she was or what she did. The decision wasn't completely made but it had become much simpler for her.
Ruby had been awkwardly standing around while Weiss was talking to her friends. She didn't know Weiss or the others well enough to join in the conversation. So she just stood there, occasionally scanning the yard for potential threats. Uncle Qrow taught her to always be wary of her surroundings and the people around her. That was something she failed to do on the night of the dust store robbery and she wasn't going to fail at it again.
Unexpectedly, Penny started talking to her. "Salutations Ruby Rose," she said happily. Ruby almost jumped in shock. Why would Penny want to talk to her?
"Salutations Penny. To what do I owe the pleasure." That was something Ruby never imagined herself saying. Mainly because she didn't really understand what she was saying. Talking and meeting people wasn't something she found pleasurable. It was just something she heard people say on TV and in movies.
"I was just curious about you. Weiss said yesterday, that you were framed and shouldn't really be in here. I've been meaning to talk to you all day. But breakfast got kind of dramatic." Penny explained.
Ruby sighed. She was a little reluctant to explain her situation once again. But Penny had been polite so she would oblige. "Yeah I tried to stop a robbery and this guy in a bowler hat killed a guy. I got blamed for it, and nobody wants to listen to me. So here I am."
Penny perked up at the mention of the man in a bowler hat. She must have known something that Ruby didn't. Ruby had to find out what that was, it could help her prove her innocence. "You know something about the guy in the hat?" She asked. Her desperation for answers was clear in the way she asked the question.
Penny nodded and started to explain immediately. "There's only one man I know of who commits crimes while wearing a bowler hat. If this man was a redhead with a cocky attitude. Then his name's Roman Torchwick."
Ruby gasped. That had to be the man who framed her, how many cocky redheads in bowler hats were actively committing crimes in Vale. "It has to have been him. Thanks, Penny." She wasn't exactly sure what she could do now that she knew the man's name. It already seemed like he had paid off everyone he needed to in order for her to take the fall. Roman Torchwick was definitely evil. Clearly he could have just paid the police to look the other way. But no, he had to get Ruby imprisoned.
"Roman Torchwick is a very dangerous man Ruby. You're lucky to have survived an encounter with him. Especially if you killed one of his people like Weiss said you did." Penny added. Ruby wasn't sure how to take that. She didn't think she was lucky. If she'd survived and been able to walk away. Them she would be lucky. But no, she was in prison for 25 years thanks to her encounter with that man. Though she wouldn't have met Yang if things hadn't gone the way they did.
"Is there anything else you can tell me about him?" Ruby asked. Once again, she didn't know what she would do with the information. But it couldn't hurt to know about Roman.
"He's a crime lord that uses violence to steal dust. That's about all I know. I think there's someone who works for him in here. Her name is Neopolitan. I believe they moved her into the asylum part of the prison." Penny explained.
"Thanks again, Penny. I'm sure that will come in handy at some point." Ruby responded. The additional information was probably more useful than Penny could imagine. If Ruby could find Neopolitan. Maybe she could find out more about Roman. Maybe Yang's agreement with Officer Nikos could give her access to Neopolitan and the information she would likely have.
"I wish you good luck in your endeavour. It's so awful that you've ended up here." Penny said.
"How did someone as nice as you, end up in a place like this?" Ruby asked. She was genuinely confused by Penny's presence. She didn't seem to have a malicious or violent bone in her body. Yet she was in a maximum-security prison.
"I get that a lot. I don't look like it, but I was actually a hired killer for the Schnee Family. My appearance and personality made it easy to stay out of trouble. But eventually, the police caught on. So here I am." Penny explained. Her kind demeanour not dropping as she revealed the dark truth.
"I didn't see that coming. But that actually seems like a good idea, I'd never have guessed what you did if you hadn't told me." Ruby responded. Although she didn't like the idea of killing for money. She had to admit that it was a brilliant tactic, being so disarmingly nice. She also started to understand why people wouldn't automatically assume she was innocent. That was how Penny evaded punishment for so long, so of course, people would be more careful with Ruby. Especially because she was more bitter and cynical than Penny, so she would give off the impression of a less deceptive version of Penny.
"If I wasn't convinced that Roman Torchwick would do what he did to you. Then I would have assumed you were like me. I'd advise you to avoid being like me, bearing the weight of the lives you have taken isn't good for you. I'm good at hiding it, but I'm still haunted by each one of my victims." Penny said as she became more serious for a moment. But then she smiled and she was back to being sweet innocent Penny.
Ruby smiled back at Penny. Taking the advice to heart she said "I don't know what the future has in store for me. But I'll do my best to avoid killing unnecessarily. I've seen what it can do to people."
There you go, conclusive proof that even being a crime lord can't make Jacques Schnee that much worse than he already is.