What am I going to do? What am I going to DO?
Blake was pacing the dorm furiously. Her bow was off, as she was currently winding and unwinding it about her hand in vexation. Ruby and Yang were still having lunch, though Blake herself had skipped it – she didn't have the time to waste- and the dorm was presently empty save for the frustrated and slightly panicky Faunus. It was Saturday… and she had nothing…
She'd spent most of the week wracking her brain for ideas, but had come up empty. She needed something- anything- to plan for her date with Mina, but she'd promised it first, and only later realized that she had no idea what to do. It was not that she didn't know what couples usually did on a date, no, that was obvious enough; it was just that she couldn't do any of those things with Mina. Dinner was out right away, as Mina could stomach little and enjoyed less, and movies? Blake wanted to slap herself for even thinking of it. Shopping might have worked, but Weiss, having heard about the date, proclaimed her intention to ensure that Mina got a new, proper outfit for the occasion, and had thus dragged Mina out to Vale for the day. On the one hand, this allowed Blake time to pace furiously as she tried to actually come up with something, but on the other… shopping was also out…
"Gaaaaah! What am I supposed to do?" She demanded of no one in particular.
Let's see… Dancing? No… Poetry Slam? I'd love that but… I don't think that's her thing… Wait! Maybe-!
Before she could finish the thought though, she stopped dead as the door flung open and her train of thought was interrupted by Yang and Ruby's return, "… And all I'm sayin' is that she could have said that she'd gotten a boyfriend and that would've been the end of it!"
Blake blinked a few times, unable to resist the urge to wonder what the conversation had been about before the sisters walked in.
"Yang…" Ruby attempted weakly, but didn't push it.
"I mean, would it have killed her to just say that she was straight?" Yang continued to fume, "At the very least, it would've saved me getting' slapped a couple of times…"
Ah…
"To be honest Yang…" Ruby said hesitantly, "I don't think staring, slack-jawed, at her new boyfriend while you asked her out was particularly helpful…"
"I appreciate hotness!" Yang asserted indignantly, "Whatever it's form, and-, oh, hey Blake,"
"Hi…"
Ruby blinked as her attention shifted from her sister to Blake, "Whatcha doin?"
"Um…"
"Yeah…" Yang nodded slowly as she realized something, "You never came to lunch… What have you been up to?"
"Well, I-,"
"Oooh! What are you gonna do for your big date tomorrow?" Yang asked, eyes alight and utterly heedless of her own jerky change of subject.
"And is it really your first actual date?" Ruby asked, more hesitantly, scuffing her boot bashfully on the floor as she did so.
"Um…" Blake stalled, "Yeah… In the White Fang we had… other priorities… so this is our first… date…"
"Okay," Yang nodded excitedly, the lust for gossip plain as day in her lavender eyes, "but what are you going to do?"
"I… I… I…" Blake stammered, before slumping down onto her bed, giving up the charade, "I have no idea…"
Ruby gaped, "Wha-?"
"Hang on there, Rubes, I got this," Yang held up a hand to stay her little sister's astonishment before turning back to her partner, "You've seriously got… nothing?"
Blake shook her head without a word, staring at the floor.
"Awww, but Mina will be so-,"
Yang shook her head sagely, interrupting her sister again, "Nah, she won't, but that'll be even worse, won't it Blake?"
Blake nodded.
Yang looked back to her sister, a Cheshire grin on her face, "Hey Ruby, I know what we're gonna do today…"
"So are you ready for this?" Weiss asked, politely turning around as Mina walked out f of their dorm's bathroom in her towel.
"Absolutely," Mina replied in the affirmative, "And I cannot thank you enough for your help, Weiss,"
"It was nothing Mina," Weiss demurred, "What are friends for?"
"Still…" Mina paused for thought, "While I appreciate your help, you needn't have paid for the dress as well… I could have afforded it…"
Weiss waved a hand dismissively, "Please, if you're going to trust my judgment about how your new outfit looks for your big date, well, it'd be rather cowardly not to put my money where my mouth is,"
"Will you not let me compensate you-,"
"Apupup!" Weiss interrupted, turning around and waving a finger to emphasize her position in gesture, only to blush and turn right back around in an instant because Mina was still topless, "I'll tell you what: you can pay me back if – and only if- your date goes absolutely perfectly, deal?"
Mina sighed, "Very well… Oh, and you may turn around Mi-Weiss; I am 'decent,' as you say,"
It was a breath of relief that Weiss let out this time as she turned around, grabbing the bag from the boutique she'd taken Mina to the previous afternoon, pulling out the items which had been purchased for this occasion one by one, and handing Mina the first, "Good; now we make you suitably presentable for the occasion,"
It was Sunday evening, five o'clock to be specific, one hour before Blake was to come and take Mina out on the town. Much to Weiss' surprise, Blake had apparently managed to secure two tickets to the performance of renowned pianist Ludwig Sebastian Liszt at Vale concert Hall, scheduled to begin at seven, and thus they were to take the six o-clock airship into the city so as to be there in plenty of time. Granted, Blake hadn't gotten box seats, but Weiss was impressed nonetheless; tickets to Liszt's performances were difficult to afford for most people, and harder still to get one's hands on, price aside, as Weiss was very much aware, but it was the perfect choice for them. Blake had an appreciation for high culture, Weiss knew, even if she did read novels of… questionable repute from time to time, and music was something that Mina could appreciate as well, provided that it never got too loud, and that would not be an issue with a solo classical pianist in a large concert hall. Weiss couldn't but smile; it ought to be perfect.
"Could you pass me the shoes Weiss?" Mina asked, rousing her from her reveries.
"Oh, right…" Weiss reached into the bag and produced the fashionable open-toed shoes that they'd selected, "Here,"
As Mina accepted the shoes and borrowed her bed for a seat to put them on, Weiss just took the moment to appreciate the results. Even not being herself so inclined, Weiss could definitely see why Blake – or anyone, for that matter- would fall for Mina; yes, she was quite physically attractive, but that was only part of it. There was something about that faint suggestion of a smile that had been more and more in evidence on her lips lately, even when she wore a neutral expression… In the last few weeks , and especially the last few days, Mina just seemed to exude a contentment that had a quality of innocence to it. It was as though she finally felt guiltless in her affection, Weiss thought, the undertones of anxiety gone from her bearing.
Where the outfit was concerned, it was of the finest quality, Weiss had made certain of that, and elegant in its simplicity. It was tasteful without being dour, and while light, it had definite substance. All that silk hadn't come cheap, but nor had it been obscenely expensive, and as Weiss observed, she judged that it had been worth the investment; the dress was beautiful in its own right, but more importantly, it highlighted Mina's own beauty without superimposing itself.
Having finished putting on the shoes, selected to match the dress, Mina stood, spread her arms and asked, "Well?"
Weiss nodded, her smile of approval plain, "You look wonderful,"
"You are sure about this dress?"
"You've got nothing to worry about Mina," Weiss assured, "I'd certainly wear it… well… if I could fill it out…"
Mina chuckled, "Come now Weiss; we've discussed this…"
Weiss' smile returned, "Yeah, what am I worried about? Now come here and let me do your hair for you,"
"Come on Blake, this ain't the time to ply coy!" Yang asserted, impatiently tapping her foot as she waited for her partner to come out of Team NJPR's bathroom, "You've got less than an hour till you gotta be at airship!"
After some explaining, Yang had been able to persuade their friends to lend their dorm room, the Princess having already laid claim to RWBY's own to help Mina get ready. Weiss had been very insistent that Blake was absolutely not to see Mina until she was ready, and thus had she banished the R, B, and Y from their dorm. The Princess had obviously had something big planned, and Yang was not going to let that challenge go unanswered, and she was all the more determined to make sure that Blake knocked Mina off her feet.
"Yang, just pass me the clothes!" Blake called back irritably through the bathroom door, just slightly cracked open.
Yang winked at her sister, and jerked a thumb at the door, "You heard the lady sis…"
"I'm on it!" Ruby nodded gleefully, zipping into the bathroom with the bundle of clothes and slamming the door shut behind her again.
"Ruby, what are you-? Wha-? LET GO OF ME!"
Yang chuckled to herself, Silly Blake… I know you wouldn't choose the right outfit…So Rubes is just gonna help you put the right one on…Whether you like it or not…
While things clamored and toppled on the other side of the bathroom door, yang took stock of her plan; it was all coming together now… Tickets? Check- she'd had two of them before she knew that she was going to do this. Schedule? Check, as long as Blake didn't make too much of a fuss. Binoculars? Chick… but Blake didn't need to know about those…
Yang's amused contemplation was cut short as the bathroom door burst open again and Ruby shoved Blake back out into the room, somewhat flustered, but dressed, a satisfied smirk on her own face, "Job's done sis!"
"I could have dressed myself…" Blake muttered indignantly.
"Yeah…" Yang conceded, "But you probably wouldn't have put the outfit on as is… Aaaanyway…. What do you think?"
"I feel violated…"
"Yeah, yeah, but what about the outfit?" Yang utterly dismissed Blake's bitter remark.
Yang had procured, on her partner's behalf, of course, a fine white button-up shirt, a black bow tie, matching dress shoes, and a very nice tuxedo. It was perfect…
"It's… nice… But isn't this men's wear? And why, exactly, can't I wear a bra?"
Yang put her hands on Blake's shoulders, leaning in to speak in the most serious voice she could muster, "Because, Blake, Weiss is getting Mina ready,"
"So?"
"So…" Yang continued impatiently, "We all know that the Princess is a perfectionist,"
"Yeah…"
"And maybe she's a bit squeamish, so sexy probably wouldn't be the word for whatever she's got planned for Mina…" Yang continued, "But you can be damn sure it's gonna be pretty…"
"Okay, but that still doesn't explain why I can't-,"
"Pretty things are nice to look at, right?" Yang interrupted.
"Well yes, but I don't see-,"
"And you like lookin' at her, right?"
"You've got to be-,"
"Answer the question," Yang commanded.
"…Yes…"
Yang nodded approvingly before she continued, "So that works for you, but what's the problem then?" she prodded.
"Um…" Blake's eyes darted back and forth nervously, then she mouthed a silent 'oh…' "She's blind…"
Yang nodded, "And that, partner, means that, no matter how much you pretty yourself up, it ain't gonna do much for her…"
"So…" Blake's indignation had been replaced with uncertainty.
So," Yang repeated, "I ain't quite sure who wears the pants in your relationship, but tonight, you sure's hell ain't wearin' the bra! Ya know… in case she decides to get… What's that word she uses?"
"Tactile?" Ruby offered.
"Right! That's the one!" Yang acknowledged, one fist falling into the opposite palm.
"Look…" Blake said carefully, "I know you mean well…in your own… very special way… But the concert hall isn't exactly a private setting…"
"You never know~," Yang replied in a singsong tone, "And besides, it's the thought that counts, or somethin' like that… And besides, we didn't bring one in here with us, and the Princess ain't gonna let any of us back in our dorm,"
"Fine…" Blake gave up with an exasperated sigh.
Yang's smile took on a more sincere quality now, "Relax Blake; we're just trying to help you. You can do this. Kay?"
"Y-yeah… I can do this…"
"Atta girl! That's the spirit!" Yang patted her on the back, "Now go get her,"
Blake took a deep breath as she tried to calm her nerves as she waited for Mina to arrive at Beacon's airship station, Easy Blake… It's only 5:50…
So much was racing through her head at once though. The outfit Yang had provided, while not uncomfortable, was unfamiliar, and her particular insistence on the absence of a certain article wasn't helping. She couldn't help but feeling that, grossly overdressed as she was for her present setting, she was sticking out like a sore thumb, and drawing stares and whispers from any of her peers who happened to pass by or be waiting for the ship as well. Nonetheless, she fought to keep herself from squirming uncomfortably, instead settling for fidgeting with her sleeves and bow-tie. When the whispering started to intensify though, Blake got fed up with it and turn back to give the gawkers a piece of her mind, only to have the words catch in her throat. The subject of the whispers wasn't her anymore; Mina had arrived, and it was no wonder that she'd grabbed everyone's attention.
Mina wore an evening dress of white silk with a tailored bodice. It didn't have sleeves as such, instead leaving her arms and shoulders bare, and the garment flowed smoothly with the curves of her body until it fell to just below her knees in ripples of the fine material. The open-toed shoes she wore matched the dress, and in place of her usual string of red rosary beads, Mina wore a silver necklace sporting a semi-precious stone that matched her eyes. Finally, as a nice counterpoint of familiarity, Mina had retained her usual short ponytail with the stray lock of ebony hair to frame either side of her face. All told, she was breathtaking.
"M-Mina… Wow…"
"I take it that you like what you see?"
"Yeah…" Understatement of the year…
Mina smiled, "Then it would seem that I owe Weiss a fair bit indeed,"
Not knowing what Mina was actually talking about, Blake nonetheless couldn't help herself from speaking, "Me too…"
Mina chuckled, resting her arms on Blake's shoulders to weave her fingers together behind her and pulled her into a quick kiss, regardless of whoever was watching, "I'm glad that I could please you,"
Blake closed her eyes and just let herself enjoy the moment as Mina pressed herself close and rested her head on her shoulder, and, equally indifferent to whoever might care to observe, Blake wrapped her own arms around Mina, hands coming to rest at the small of her back, the thin whisper of silk smooth beneath her fingers, "You don't have to try so hard to impress me, Mina,"
She could feel Mina's smile broaden against her shoulder, "Yes, yes, I know that now, but… I wanted to…"
Author's Note: Sorry to pull the whole 'To Be Continued' thing again so soon, but the actual date and such will probably fit an average-sized chapter rather snugly all on its own, so for now, I hope that you enjoyed prep-work/meddlesome antics (depending on your point of view) and look forward to the next one. As always, I'd love for you to leave your thoughts if you are so incline, and have a good morning/day/evening (delete where appropriate).