There's not much that can be said for this chapter. You'll just have to read it.
Ruby, Weiss, and Blake returned to their cell after an uneventful but enlightening trip to the yard. "Hey, Ruby. What were you and Penny talking about back there?" Weiss asked. She was pleased to see that her friend got along with her cellmate. Though she had seen Penny break character briefly during the conversation, something which even she had rarely seen in all of the years she had known Penny.
Ruby smiled slightly. She was pleased with the new information she had obtained from Penny and was happy to share it with Weiss. Especially since Weiss had opened up to her before and because Penny was Weiss' friend. "We got to know each other better and she gave me some information about the man who framed me." She answered.
"Oh, and what did she tell you? If you don't mind me asking." Weiss wanted to know more. But she wasn't going to push for answers if Ruby was unwilling to give them. She may have had a reputation as a cold person. But when it came to people she actually liked. She could be very considerate and understanding. Not that she wanted people to know about that side of her, she needed to act tough in order to survive in her world.
"I don't see why I wouldn't tell you. Penny told me that the guy's name is Roman Torchwick and that an associate of his is somewhere in this prison." Ruby explained.
"That name sounds familiar but I couldn't tell you anything about him. But what's this about an associate?" Weiss had definitely heard that name somewhere before, but that was all it was to her, a name. She had encountered so many shady people in her short life, that she could have met the man and forgotten about it. The part about Ruby's explanation that intrigued Weiss the most was the associate and what exactly Ruby would do about that person.
"All I know is that her name is Neopolitan, and she was probably moved to the asylum section. I was kind of hoping that I could somehow meet with her. Maybe get more information on Torchwick, information which could help me prove my innocence." Ruby replied. She was hopeful though she understood that even if she was somehow able to meet Neopolitan, there was a high chance that she either wouldn't be willing to talk or wouldn't have anything helpful to say.
"Not that I think it's a bad idea or anything. But how exactly do you intend on meeting that woman?" Weiss didn't want to shoot down Ruby's hopes. But she couldn't see how a meeting between the 2 would ever take place. Given that they were in completely different parts of the prison.
"Well, I was kind of hoping that Yang's agreement with Officer Nikos. Would allow me to ask Officer Nikos to help me meet or at least communicate with Neopolitan. I guess it's kind of a long-shot. But it's the best idea I can come up with." Ruby explained. Her voice made it clear that she didn't have much confidence in her own plan. That was probably smart since they knew very little about the deal between Yang and Officer Nikos, and because they basically knew nothing about Neopolitan.
"You're probably right about that being a long-shot. But if there's any way of actually doing it. That's probably the way to go about it. Maybe you could bring it up with Officer Nikos next time we see her. The worst that could happen would be her saying no, so I say go for it and I'll support you in any way I can." Weiss responded. She was actually surprised to hear that Ruby even had a plan. Let alone one that had the potential to work.
"Thanks, Weiss. I'll do that. But enough about me. How are you doing with that dilemma of yours?" Ruby changed the subject. Not only because she had nothing else to say about her own situation. But also because she was genuinely interested in Weiss' life, after hearing about how bad her father was.
Weiss sighed. She was fairly certain that leaving would be the best thing for her. However, she was still apprehensive to make such a big change to her life. She meant what she said to her friends about her family not being much of a family. But they had kept her fed and clothed since birth, so she had to give them some credit. She wouldn't have lived so long without them, so leaving wouldn't exactly be an easy thing to deal with. "Honestly, I'm torn. I want to break free from them and start living my own life. But it'll make the world more dangerous for me, and as much as I hate to admit it. I would feel bad about leaving my family behind."
Ruby nodded in understanding "I can see how that's a hard decision to make. But if you're dad's as big of a dick as you make him out to be. Then I'd definitely leave if I were you. That's just what I would do though, it probably doesn't mean much but I'll be here for you whatever you decide. Not just in the cell with you, but I'll actually be here to support you." She sighed "I'm not good at being supportive. But I'll give it a shot."
Giving Ruby a reassuring smile. Weiss said "Thank you, Ruby. You've already helped me more than you know. As someone who is also bad at being supportive, you're doing a great job." Ruby really had helped Weiss more than she knew. Among a few others, Ruby helped cement the idea that friends and even acquaintances were more kind and supportive to Weiss than her own family was. Ruby was making a hard decision seem simple to Weiss, so of course, she was grateful.
"You know. As stupid as it sounds, I might owe Roman Torchwick a thank you. I still hate him and want him to pay for what he did to me. But I wouldn't have met Yang or you if he hadn't framed me." Ruby said. Although nothing would make her feel better about actually being in prison. Finding her sister and making friends, had made her social life and family life much better than it had been on the outside. So, she probably wasn't going to insane just yet.
"That's certainly an interesting way to think about your predicament. Though I think thanking the man who put you here is a bit of a stretch." Weiss responded. She would never forgive let alone thank someone for wronging her like Torchwick wronger Ruby. She hadn't expected Ruby to even entertain the idea of displaying anything other than hostility to the man. Although that wasn't the main things she had in mind after Ruby's last statement. Ruby was thankful for meeting her. With a few obvious exceptions. Nobody had ever been thankful for meeting her.
"I guess you're right about thanking him. But still, I'm glad I got to meet you, Yang, Blake and your friends." Ruby said.
"Sorry to interrupt, but why are you glad to have met me?" Blake asked. A look of genuine confusion on her face. She didn't consider herself a likeable person. Especially not someone you'd be glad to meet.
"We may have had a slight disagreement. But you aren't a bad person, and generally, you've been nice to me. That's enough for me. I'm not used to having friends or having people outside of my family being nice to me. Trust me, Blake, I'm being completely honest when I say I'm glad to have met you." Ruby explained with a smile. She felt that she needed to be very clear with Blake. The girl had only just dragged herself out of a pit of self-hate. So, she needed to understand that there were actually people who wanted to be around her. Blake was not the terrible person she made herself out to be, and Ruby was going to help her realize that.
Before Blake could respond Weiss added her own attempt at friendliness. "You are worth knowing Blake. You're a much better person than you give yourself credit for, and though we haven't known each other for very long. I've got a good feeling about you, and that's something I can't say about many people." It was clear to everyone that Weiss was inept at giving compliments. But the sentiment was still there.
Blake gave the best smile she could. "I don't agree with you, I may be able to at some point but not right now. I do however appreciate the sentiment. You two are the ones really worth knowing, and I'm glad I met you too. I would still be in that much darker place without you." Ruby and Weiss couldn't expect much more from Blake. She was doing better than when they first met, but still had a long way to go.
"Thanks, Blake," Ruby said. Followed by Weiss saying "Thank you, Blake." Blake nodded in return but ended the conversation there.
"So, what do we do now? Are we really just meant to sit here?" Ruby asked. Even with friends, Ruby would go insane if this was all there was to life now. The desks in the cell hinted otherwise, but they were bare at the moment. Surely the prison must provide some kind of entertainment or recreational activities to the inmates.
"For now I don't think we have a choice. I'm sure the staff will provide us with something to do, in the near future though. I hope." Weiss replied. Like Ruby, she too would go insane from lack of stimulation. At that moment, she resented Yang. Other than the Ilia incident, nothing seemed to bother Yang.
"We should ask Officer Nikos about it next time we see her. Along with that Neopolitan stuff." Ruby suggested. "There must be some advantages to working with her, I'm sure we'll find out when Yang comes back," she added hopefully. If that were true then she had to remember to thank Yang whenever she returned.
"Indeed." Weiss agreed. "In the meantime, we have to find a way to entertain ourselves," she stated. Hoping that Ruby would have thought up a way to deal with the tedium. There were very few things she could come up with herself, there was very little that could be done given the lack of resources available. Most of the things she came up with were wholly inappropriate and unsuitable given her conservative nature. She hadn't dared explore herself while alone and she most certainly wouldn't do it with Ruby and Blake present. That seemed more like something Yang would do in this situation.
"I know what I usually did when I got bored at home, but we can't do it here. How about we play a game?" Ruby blushed slightly at her first thought but it faded once she suggested playing a game. Thanks to the way her life had been up until that point, she wasn't used to playing games with people. So she hoped Weiss would be able to help in that respect.
"That sounds good. I hope you have some suggestions though." Weiss didn't play games. Her father wouldn't allow it, as with most things that normal children did. Even on the rare occasions when she was alone with friends, they only ever talked.
"Damn it. This is going to be a long 25 years." Ruby said when she realized that neither she or Weiss had any idea how to pass the time, Blake had too much going on to be bothered, and Yang wasn't around.
"Hello!" The three girls jumped at the shout from the guard. The girl was grinning widely at them from the other side of the bars. "I'm Officer Valkyrie." she happily announced.
"Hello, Officer Valkyrie. May I ask what you are here for?" Weiss asked. Not sure what to make of the clearly excitable guard.
"Oh right. I meant to offer you books to read." Officer Valkyrie said as she stepped to the side and pulled a cart full of books into view. "You should've got these yesterday but that whole lockdown thing happened."
All three inmates were excited at the prospect of having a book to read. Ruby read to make life more bearable. Weiss read because it was one of the few things she was allowed to do by her father. Blake read because that was the only form of entertainment she had growing up in Menagerie and while she was in the White Fang.
Officer Valkyrie showed them what she had and they each made a selection. The cell was silent for the next few hours, as the three girls escaped their grim realities. For the first time in a long time. All of their worries and problems melted away into insignificance. Maybe things would be so bad after all.
The time came for their second and final meal of the day. Two meals a day was all the prison offered, the aggression of many inmates meant that the prison had to keep energy levels low. Though they didn't want to starve the inmates, so they provided food that was filling. Even if it wasn't too pleasant to look at or taste.
The three girls had reluctantly put their books down and made their way to the canteen. They took up their decided formation in the line with Ruby at the back, to prevent Weiss or Blake being stabbed in the back. Once again they collected their food and joined Weiss' friends. Other than the compulsory stares from their assorted enemies, things were uneventful up until that point.
"Hey Weissy, you made your mind up yet?" Coco asked as they sat down. Weiss was feeling less stressed than usual and she wasn't bothered by Coco's use of the usually infuriating name. Talking to Ruby and finally having some means of escapism made her feel much better.
"Hello again. In answer to your question. I haven't made my mind up yet, though it has become increasingly clear to me. That leaving wouldn't be nearly as bad as I initially feared." Weiss said. At that point, she was fairly certain that she would leave. She was just psyching herself up to actually do it.
"In other words. You have made your mind up you just won't let yourself admit it yet. Just do it, Weiss, Jacques won't even find out about it if you don't want him to. Unless you tell him yourself, he'll just assume that you're still loyal. So just relax and get on with it." Coco advised. She knew exactly what Weiss was thinking and exactly the right thing to say.
Of course, her father wouldn't find out is she didn't want him to, even if someone else told him. He wouldn't believe it. Basically Weiss could spend the next thirty years living her own life, and if he was still alive when she got out. Then she could either tell him about it, deny it to avoid his wrath, or conceal the truth until he was gone. With that now in her mind, Weiss' decision was made.
"You know what Coco. I'm done with being a slave to that bastard. I'm not his daughter I'm just a fucking asset to him. So, fuck him, and fuck the family. I'm my own person now, I'm not just another Schnee." Weiss announced. Jacques Schnee was dead to her. She felt a huge weight leave her body.
"That's my girl," Coco said with a satisfied grin on her face.
"We're here for you Weiss," Penny added.
"I respect your decision Weiss." was Ciel's response.
"Hell yeah, Weiss," Ruby said. She was fully behind Weiss decision. Jacques Schnee was clearly a terrible man and Weiss had clearly suffered a lot, thanks to him. She knew how hard it was for Weiss to make her decision, and she was proud of her.
Blake smiled at Weiss but remained silent. She didn't feel like it was her place to comment. But she felt happy for her, she was reminded of herself leaving the White Fang. It wasn't violent for the Weiss, but it would be just as hard.
"I just want to thank you all. I probably wouldn't have done it without you. Now, I don't know about you but I'm starving." Weiss said as she dug into her food.
I don't know when the next chapter will be coming. I fell like I'm dying and I'll have a lot going on between now and mid-December. Anyway, the pace is about to really pick up. I consider this to be the penultimate chapter of setup before the real fun begins.