Chapter 4: Playwright(ing)

Hello there! It's The Draigg! If you're reading this story, you already know about that last chapter's romance bomb. Let's see how we can ride that shockwave. Just a reminder, RWBY is owned by Monty Oum, and any other media (songs, movies, etc.) belongs to their respective owners.

Working on a story was nothing really new to Blake. With all that fan-fiction she wrote, she was bound to have at least SOME experience. So, writing a play should be no problem. Well, it might be tricky for her to not add in her usual trademarks of magic romance powers and harems, but Blake felt she could get around that issue. And plus, without Weiss around to blow up at every single thing her teammates did, she was able to work without much distraction.

Or, that was her plan, at least. When they finished breakfast and went back to the dorm room, Yang wasn't really being much of an editor as much as a walking bundle of puns and innuendos. Normally, Blake wouldn't mind that much (The innuendos. Puns could go die in a fire.), but she was starting to get invested in this musical. So, when Yang distracted her with another of her (lame) jokes, her patience was waning.

"Hey Blake! What do you say about a sexy bowl of fruit?".

Blake rolled her eyes. Of course this had to be a sexual joke. When innuendos and puns mixed, it rarely came out good. Blake decided wisely not to guess.

"They have a really nice PEAR! Hahahaha!". Yang literally slapped her knee in mirth. Blake couldn't help but wonder what she even saw in Yang. And of course, she HAD to top it off with a squeeze of her chest. Blake was glad Ruby wasn't here to hear and see this. She was still pestering Pyrrha to include her goofy hat with the costumes. Luckily, she had a way to deal with Yang. She walked over to her and whispered into her ear:

"I guess that makes you my fruit. Man, I'd just LOVE to take a bite out of you right now.", Blake purred. Yang stopped in her tracks and gulped.

"R-really? Right now? Ruby might walk in on us!".

"That makes it more exciting…", Blake said in her best seductive voice. She then quickly licked Yang's ear. Yang immediately froze up, a bright red blush across her face. Blake chuckled, and walked back over to her laptop.

"You know, for all your bravado, you're STILL too easy.". Blake clearly had some fun messing with Yang.

Yang couldn't help but be stunned for a minute. Then she huffed under her breath, "It isn't fun when you do it…". "You like it, though.", noted Blake. Yang couldn't argue with that notion. She liked it when kitty used her claws. Damn that cat and her wiles! Yang pulled up a chair next to where Blake was working and looked at the script. Scanning over it, she asked:

"So, what's the basic story here? Any good stuff?".

"Well, literature is ALWAYS good. You should know that by now, Yang.". Blake wasn't kidding. She learned things she never knew she could do from those ninja books. Yang never complained about those moves, as far she knew.

Blake continued, " And what I'm writing is a romance story. It's about this florist new to Vale, who falls in love with a street performer who plays music across from her shop. But, since she has to take care of her sick dad, she doesn't know if she can pursue a romance. Something among those lines.".

Yang nodded as she listened to Blake's explanation. Then, something clicked:

"Hey, aren't the leads Ruby and Weiss? What make you think they'll be up to acting this out?".

"Why do you think I'm writing this?", said Blake, "It's pretty clear that Ruby feels something for Weiss. We can make this work for them.".

Yang couldn't help but laugh at that idea. Seriously? Ice Princess? Why her? She knew they DID spend a lot of time together. Sparing, shopping, doing homework, going to the lockers together, looking into each others—

Oh. Now it made plenty of sense. How hadn't Yang seen it before? And why didn't Ruby tell her?! And WHY Weiss?! She wasn't good enough for her sister!

Blake watched at Yang's face transform from laughter, to shock, then to anger. Growling, Yang stood up and cocked Ember Celica.

"I'm gonna MELT that Ice Princess.", she declared before being stopped by Blake's grip on her shoulder.

"Not now, we still need her for this play.", was Blake's plea.

"But… my SISTER? Why? If she hurts her, I'll personally commit regicide on her!". Trying to rein in Yang's currently murderous intent, Blake tried to put her charm on again.

"I LOVE it when you get so angry. You're so hot. And it makes me the same way.". Blake ran a finger along Yang's now shaking chin. "In fact, it's TOO hot in her. How about we… cool down?". Blake gestured to her bed.

Fighting inwardly with herself, Yang gave into temptation. She collapsed Ember Celica into it's bracelet form and leapt onto the bed. Blake pinned her down. All was going well so far. Or it was, until Blake pointed at her face and started to lecture her:

"Now, before you say anything, let me say this: You will NOT kill Weiss. I know you love your little sister, but it'll break her heart if you make Weiss' skin into a new jacket. So, we'll keep this civil and try to make this work out for the both of them. Got it?". Blake then crawled off of Yang and went back to work on her script.

Yang felt rather dazed. She could use a cigarette (or ten), even though she never smoked in her life. This teasing just kept making her bothered. Huffing, she sat up.

"You just like teasing me, don't you?"

Blake didn't look over her shoulder as she gave her reply: "That's why I chose you, Yang.".

It was a well-known fact in nature that cats like to play with their prey before moving in for the kill. Blake was good at letting nature run it's course.

Meanwhile, just across the hallway, a pleading Ruby kept on clawing at Team JNPR's door.

"Pleassssseeeeeee….! I can really pull it off!"

"I'm sorry, Ruby,", came Pyrrha's muffled voice, "but that hat won't work in ANY way! You can't have a hat!".

Ruby briefly looked at the purple sequin trilby with a long red feather. She didn't really see what the problem is. It was spry! It was fashionable! It really could work! She continued her assault:

"Come on! Hey, Jaune! Do you think this hat looks cool?".

Jaune's barely heard reply was: "Ruby, I think a flat-cap would work better, honestly.".

Now THAT was an idea. Thanking Jaune, she ran off to the theater storage. Maybe they had one there! Ruby could hear Pyrrha as she ran off.

"Why did you tell her she could have a hat?".

Ruby tried to not damage the door as she crashed through it. If she kept on doing that, Beacon would start to fine her. Team CRDL was up to their proverbial assholes in repair fees. School supplies were expensive enough without people stealing them or making them unusable. However, it was clear barely anybody used these supplies. Most were covered in a heavy layer of dust. Except for that snake costume in the corner, weirdly enough.

As Ruby wandered around looking for a flat-cap, she faintly heard breathing. Curious, she looked under the costume racks. She saw a familiar white dress sitting down. Weiss? She walked up to Weiss.

"Hey Weiss… what are you doing here?". Weiss looked up at her with bloodshot eyes. Clearly, she was rather upset at something. Ruby began to feel worried. "Are you okay? Is something wrong?".

Weiss put her head down. "Just go away.", she ordered.

Ruby kneeled down next to her. Why did she want her to leave? All she wanted to do is help.

"I said, go away.", she ordered again. Ruby tried to put her arm around Weiss. But before she could hug her, she was shoved away.

"Don't touch me! Just go away! Please!". Ruby stood back up, hurt that Weiss didn't want to see her. She squeaked out:

"O-okay… I don't know what you're feeling, but just remember. I'm always here for you.". With her head held a little low, Ruby walked out of the room and slowly shut the door. The search for a hat would have to wait. Weiss was left alone with her thoughts.

"It's you, Ruby. It's always been about you…", she mumbled to herself. A few tears ran down her cheeks. "Always you…".

Loneliness. That's all Weiss knew. That's all she was used to. Everyone left her. Her father and mother were never there when she needed them. Her grandparents died a while ago. Her family was being picked off one by one by the White Fang. They were long gone. And everybody around her kept their distance. All of those maids and butlers seemed afraid to get closer to her. Weiss had no doubt that it was her father's doing.

But when she got to Beacon, she met Ruby. She was the first person Weiss met who never judged her for her name or wealth. She wore her heart on her sleeve, and tried no matter what to be friends with Weiss. Weiss admired that strength, to allow yourself to be open with others. She wished that she could do that. Openness was never easy to her. It just hurt too much to say what she felt.

"I'm such a coward.", thought Weiss. Coward! COWARD! That's all she was, pushing away who she loved more than anything. COWARD! She was just a child, who never cared how much she hurt others when pushing them away. CHILDISH COWARD! Her fate was to die alone, unhappy at her life. She was destined to hate herself, her weakness, and it was all her fault. COWARD!

COWARD!

COWARD!

COWARD!

Weiss clutched her head and rocked back and forth. She suppressed a wail in her throat. Loneliness was unbearable. She wanted to crawl away and die. But then she would never see Ruby again. She would just let her down again. It felt like the universe hated her. The universe was a sadistic monster. It wanted to whip her with her own sorrow, to punish her for her weakness. She wasn't perfect. She was garbage.

Garbage! Dolt! Klutz! Dunce! MORON! Every insult she hurled at Ruby floated around in her head.

Weiss reveled in her self-inflicted punishment with masochistic determination. It's all her fault. How could she fix anything? Could she? If all she could do is hurt herself and others, how could she fix that problem? Loneliness. She was poison to others. By sealing herself away, maybe she could save Ruby from all the pain that comes from being near her.

"Just grant me despair.", Weiss whispered, voicing her thoughts.

The storage room filled with the fear of loneliness.

"But Rennnn…. I'm just saying this will be perfect!".

Ren shook his head. Nora had somehow had gotten into her head that the play needed a person dressed as a tree. Ever since Nora had gotten the role as a tree in an elementary school play, she would always look for the tree people whenever she saw a stage show.

"Nora, I doubt that the play either needs, or is set in a world where ents exist.", was Ren's dry reply.

"You can't say that for certain! Right, Jaune?".

"I guess you're right.", answered Jaune.

This all started when Ren stepped out with Pyrrha for 10 minutes to get some snacks for the work group. When he came back, Nora had somehow constructed a tree costume out of cardboard for Jaune, which he was currently wearing. Ren immediately disagreed with the costume.

Pyrrha felt a little worried for Jaune when she saw the costume. Only the gods could help him when it comes to what Nora might have done to him. Jaune saying that he got in it voluntarily did little to lessen her worry.

"Are you're sure you're okay in there?", she asked.

"Oh, I feel pretty good. But it's getting a little warm in this tree.", replied Jaune. Truth to be told, it was hard getting into that costume. He had to take off most of his armor and clothes in order to fit in it. And, despite Nora's belief, just because refrigerators came in cardboard boxes doesn't mean it's cool in there. Jaune was covered in a fine layer of sweat under the costume. "I think I'll just take it off now. Nora?". Nora started to lift the tree off of his frame.

As much as Pyrrha wouldn't admit it, she was attracted to certain… things. Different things. She didn't know why, but she just couldn't stop staring when it came to people covered in sweat. It was so natural, so rugged. So, when Jaune was stripped down to his underwear, glistening with sweat as he tried to climb out of the tree costume, she couldn't help but have her eyes glaze over at the view.

"Pyrrha, you're drooling.", droned Ren.

That stopped Pyrrha from starting. However, that didn't stop her from taking mental photographs. For… reasons. Quickly wiping off the drool from her chin, she moved over to help Jaune get the tree over his head.

"Typical Pyrrha.", thought Ren. Even though Pyrrha was often held up to high standards, being around her reminded Ren that she too was a teenager. A hormonal one, at that. Ever since Jaune recalled to him that their training sessions had started to get more "hands-on", he had figured that Pyrrha really need a release. At least he never had that problem. That was one of the benefits of being friends with Nora. Sure, they weren't officially together, but they weren't NOT together. As if that makes any sense.

As soon as Jaune was freed from his tree prison, he started to put his clothes back on. Pyrrha couldn't help but pout a little in protest. Wait! She had some of his sweat on her hand! Ohh… that felt nice.

Trying not to be grossed the hell out, Ren acted quickly. He pulled out a small bottle, saying, "Who wants some hand sanitizer?". Jaune and Pyrrha agreed. Pyrrha was a little reluctant, but also put some on her hands. Inwardly, Ren sighed.

It really did feel like that he was a babysitter sometimes.

Man, you can't stop this relationship train! Remember, you can tell me how much my writing may or may not suck in the reviews! This is The Draigg, signing off!