"Weiss thinking."
"Salem thinking."
Darkness. That's all she saw. She was asleep, right? Why did she only see black? Was it a dream? A weird one. Though Weiss didn't normally be this conscious during her dreams. Especially not one full of 'nothing' like this.
"... Weiss..."
That sounded like Ruby's voice.
"Weiss..."
"Herm..." she grumbled, still sleepy.
"... Ruby? What is it? I'm sleeping." Weiss mumbled internally.
"Weiss!"
Her eyes opened up to to faced directly with Ruby's face while they shook her awake.
"Wake up. It's going to be dinner time soon. You wanted us to wake you up, right?"
"Oh, right. I was asleep." Weiss remembered. The previous day's events came flashing back. "Was that all a dream?" She went to rub her head but her arm wouldn't move. "Huh?"
"You have silver eyes."
The words came out of Weiss' mouth, but they weren't hers. In response Weiss gasped internally while her eyes widened. Salem. It was all real!
"W- wait. What?! Hey!" Weiss yelled in her head though it was ignored by Salem as they assessed the situation.
Salem lifted her body up as Ruby leaned away looking confused. "Uhh... Yeah. I do." They said with a confused expression. "... Are you okay, Weiss?"
"This cannot be happening! I've got to be dreaming!"
Salem looked down at herself. Lifting a hand in front of her face, looking at the palm and back of it and smiled deviously. She was controlling Weiss' body perfectly without the girl giving her trouble. She then turned to the silver eyed girl beside her.
"Oh, I'm fine. Just a weird dream is all." she assured the girl.
Ruby seemed to accept that and step away. Though that bewildered look was still on her face. "Well... It's almost dinner time. So we're going to go to the cafeteria. Come whenever you're ready. Yang, Blake, and the others are already there." She said then left the room. It seems she only came to wake her.
Salem turned her body to be sitting at her beds edge, feet touching the ground. It's only been a day, but it feels like it's been a while since she's had a body...
"Hey! Are you listening! Stop whatever it is you're doing!" Weiss screamed in her head angrily.
Finally, Salem answered.
"Yes, yes. I hear you. But I'm not exactly 'doing' anything. This is simply how we woke up." She said and stretched her legs before standing up and examining the rest of her body. She was a bit shorter and smaller in general that her original body. "Not that I'm complaining though..."
She could hear Weiss growl internally.
"We have to figure this out! Do something! Push or... scream. Don't you have magic? Fix this!"
A good point, actually. Salem lifted her hand up and tested to see if her magic still worked. With a flick of her wrist and finger while feeling deep down inside herself for her reserves, this would usually cause a tiny bolt of pure magical energy to be flung.
However nothing happened.
Salem frowned and did it once again. Then again and still nothing.
"What are you doing?" Weiss finally asked.
"Attempting to use my magic. But it doesn't seem to be working..."
A couple theories on why it didn't immediately came to mind. It could be part of their fusions 'growing pains' that they spoke of earlier. Or in the worst case, she no longer had any.
Eventually she stopped her attempts and let out a short sigh.
"Oh, how convenient." Weiss snipped.
Salem rolled her eyes at the insinuation. "What would I gain from hiding anything from you, girl? Not having magic at our disposal is bad for me too."
Weiss just huffed. "Well we have to do something! This is weird! I can only see out of my eyes but I can't move. I feel like I'm just... Stuck."
"Well now you know how I felt." Salem answered and then her eyes gleamed for a moment as she placed a hand on her belly.
"Well the difference is that it's MY body!"
Salem ignored Weiss and stared down at her stomach, feeling surprised.
"... I'm hungry..." Salem said aloud with a bewildered tone.
"What? Well... I guess it is dinner time..."
Salem licked her lips and smiled. "I... I haven't felt hunger in a millennia. How refreshing~"
"Huh? You mean you haven't eaten in a thousand years?"
"Of course I've eaten." Salem told her then straightened up and place her hand on her hip. "But it was never a requirement stay alive... I tried to eat but without the desire to, the taste never had the same... Feeling to it." She then walked over to the closet and opened it up, sifting through the clothes inside.
"Think of it like attempting to eat more food when your hunger is already satisfied. It just feels like your forcing food down your throat than actually eating a meal."
Weiss thought about that for a moment. "I... Suppose I could understand that..." It was rather awful though. She was no glutton but even she wanted to enjoy her meals.
"What are you doing?" Weiss asked as Salem continued to look through the closet's clothing.
"Looking for an outfit to wear to dinner. I am not going into public in the clothes you stayed up in all night and slept in." She said and turned to notice her reflection in the wall. Her hair was a bit of a mess as well.
"Dinner?! You're not going anywhere until we fix this!"
Salem, however looked unphased. "So what? We're to starve? We can consider our options and the situation while getting a bite to eat." She said with a smile while running a hand through her side ponytail.
"You just want to eat!"
"Yes, there's that as well." She thought casually. "Now the sooner I find an outfit to wear the better... Do you have anything that's not so... 'White'?"
Weiss groaned. "Just wear the school uniform... It should be hanging on the door inside the bathroom. The combs are in the first draw to the right as well."
Salem smiled happily. "Why thank you." She said and walked into the bathroom.
Though as she was getting changed she had to deal with Weiss ordering her to close her eyes and such. It seems they were rather self-conscious. Salem of course didn't oblige and simply did as she wanted while ignoring Weiss' outbursts on decency and etiquette. It was especially loud when Salem used the toilet...
She was now fully dressed in the Beacon uniform. The biggest change in appearance being that her hair was down with some of it draped over her shoulders instead of in a side ponytail.
Once they left the bathroom, Salem could feel Weiss' anger and embarrassment.
"Oh, is it really such a big deal? We're sharing a mind and body, you know. This was going to happen regardless even if you were the one in control."
Weiss grumbled. "I- It's just not right! Yo- you were touching- I mean... No one should be dressing me besides me!"
"Well someone needs to loosen up." Salem mocked.
"Excuse me?!"
Salem ignored Weiss once more and left their room, looking left and then right down the hallway.
"Which way is it to the cafeteria?" She asked.
After a moment of frustration, Weiss answered. "... Left. Then take the stairs down to your right and exit the doors to go outside. Then it's the next wing over..."
Salem followed Weiss' instructions and took in the scenery while walking to the cafeteria. It was almost dusk and quite a few students were walking around. She took glances at a few of them as she passed as well as the trees and environment.
"You look like this is your first time seeing civilization." Weiss broke their silence.
"I know a lot about the world due to informants, but I'm not exactly capable of entering society myself without causing an uproar. So yes, I suppose this is the first time I'm able to leisurely walk and take in the sights."
Weiss hummed at that information as they approached their destination.
When Salem walked into the cafeteria, she was bombarded with noise from student chatter. Most of the seats were filled and she glanced around.
"The food is up and too the left." Weiss said and Salem turned to see a short line which led to trays of food being given out.
Salem approached and stood in line for a few moments. When she was up the lady asked what she was having today.
"Hm... What might be on the menu?" Salem asked and the cafeteria lady pointed to the sigh above.
'Chicken Salad'
'Cheeseburger w/ Fries'
"Not many options..." Salem took note of.
"Well they have to serve many students so they make a lot of one or two meals daily. The variety is larger if you consider the whole weak" Weiss explained and it made well enough sense.
"Just get the Salad. I alre-"
"I'll take the Cheeseburger." Salem told the cafeteria lady.
"Hey!"
She was then handed a tray with a hard plastic plate. On it was a cheeseburger with a side of fries. She happily took it and continued on her way.
"Do you know how bad that is for my body? I can't be eating like that everyday."
"Well when you're in control then you can eat however you want."
"That is not how we're handling this!"
Salem looked around the large room, thinking where to sit.
"Weiss! Over here!"
Salem turned after hearing that call out and saw that blonde with the long hair waving their hand. She approached their table and sat down. It was strange eating around all these people For the last millennia she was always alone and even before that she only shared meals with one other person.
"Man, I almost didn't notice you with your hair down like that." the blonde said and Salem used a hand to slide it though some of her hair.
"Oh. I... simply didn't feel like putting it up." She lied. To be honest she found the side pony tail rather silly. This was more her style anyway.
"It looks nice." the black haired girl said. This was beginning to feel awkward as Salem didn't really know who she was speaking to.
"I need to know all their names. It would be strange otherwise." Salem told Weiss.
"Alright, alright. The girl your looking at is Blake Belladonna. She's partners with the blonde, Yang Xiao-Long."
Salem then looked at the girl with Silver Eyes and narrowed her own. "That's my... Partner. Ruby Rose." Weiss sounded like she was biting her own words. "She's also team leader and... Very childish sometimes.
"'Rose' you say?" Salem internal voice asked.
"... Yes? Something wrong with that?"
"... No, well. Nothing that needs to be discussed here and now. I'll tell you later."
Weiss paused for a moment but seemed to accept it for now. "Well... They're my teammates. So try not to do anything too weird around them. I don't want to get a bad reputation."
"Hmm..."
Salem then reached for her plastic fork and poked her cheeseburger's paddy. She then sank the fork in and used the plastic knife to cut it.
"You know, you're supposed to use your hands, Weiss." Yang said while holding a half-eaten burger in her hand. Grease was dripping off her fingers.
"... I'm not so uncultured." She answered swiftly and Yang sighed. Ruby giggled a bit at her sisters expense and took a bite of her own burger.
Salem finished cutting and took a bite. Her eyes widened as the meat hit her taste buds. Once she finished swallowing the bite she smiled. "This is delicious!" She said aloud. "The best food I've ever tasted!"
Humanity truly has advanced in culinary arts!
Blake gave her a confused look. "... You had that last week..."
Salem froze mid chew and quickly swallowed her second bite followed by dabbing her mouth with a napkin. "I- I see well... It was incredible that time as well..."
Yang narrowed her eyes. "You threw it away after one bite saying it was greasy and that you'd never get it again."
"Well... It seems I've changed my mind."
"Why didn't you tell me any of this?!" Salem chastised Weiss for the lack of information.
"I was trying to. You're the one who ordered without letting me say anything." Weiss answered smugly. It seems she was rather pleased with Salem's predicament. A few contradictions won't bring any suspicion so it was entertaining watching the witch squirm a bit.
Salem sighed. "No matter. It tastes good." She said and used her knife to cut herself another bite.
It was then that someone walked up to her as she was eating. It was a blonde boy wearing their school uniform. His hair was a bit unkempt and they seemed to look a bit nervous.
"Ugh. Him again." Weiss scoffed.
"Hi Jaune!" Ruby waved and he did as well.
"'Sup." Yang greeted as well. Though Blake stayed silent and ate her salad.
"Oh, just uh... Here to talk to Weiss about something." He chuckled nervously and looked down to her.
Salem finished swallowing her food and noticed Yang snickering while Ruby gave them an irritated look while whispering for them to stop.
"I... See your hair is down... It looks nice."
Salem turned back to the boy and lifted a thick line of hair off her shoulder, running her hand down it. "Ah, my thanks. You're not the first to comment on it."
"Don't encourage him." Salem heard Weiss say but still kept her focus on the boy, Jaune was it?
"Did you need something?" She asked him.
"Yes!" He answered immediately and reached into his pocket to grab two tickets out of it. "I- uh- Well, I went and got a couple tickets to this carnival out in Vale." He said and handed her a ticket. She took it and looked down at it.
I was- well, wondering if you'd like to... You know... Go with me? It's closed during the fall and winter and it's last day open is tomorrow so..." He scratched the back of his head nervously.
"This pest! Hurry up and send him awa-"
"Very well. I'd be glad to join you tomorrow." She answered aloud and lowered the ticket, giving him a friendly smile.
"WHAT?!" Weiss screamed internally.
She heard what sounded like forks drop behind her and turned to see Weiss's team staring at her in what could only be seen as shock.
"Pyrrha! Your food!"
There was another female voice from the next table over, behind Jaune that was just a few feet away. It showed a red-haired girl who just squeezed her burger so tightly that it turned to slop over their fist.
Odd.
"R- really?"
Salem looked back at Jaune who had a happy smile on his face. She nodded. "Sure. I've never been to a carnival before. It could be fun. What time should I be ready by?"
"No! Stop! Take it all back! What are you doing?!" Salem squinted at Weiss' pestering but tried to focus more on the young man asking her out than the girls outbursts.
They looked a bit surprised still. "U- uhm. How about by three?"
"That time works fine with me. I'll see you then." Salem said, giving him another smile. He returned it with more vigor She then turned back to her meal as Jaune happily walked away from her to sit at the table beside them.
She wanted to go back to eating, however Weiss' team was still staring at her in shock.
Salem cleared her throat. "Ahem... Is something the matter?" She asked.
All three of them flinched and looked away.
"Uhm- No... I uh... Guess not?" The blonde, Yang answered.
Blake settled down as well. "Yeah... Have fun tomorrow."
Salem nodded and looked back to her food, cutting it up before taking a bite. The other girls seemed to do so as well though they began to chatter with one another.
"What did you do all that for?!" Weiss yelled in their head a few moments later. Salem answered while chewing.
"Do what? Accept that young man's invitation?"
"YES!"
"It takes a lot to ask a lady out while she's surrounded by her friends." Salem answered casually while finishing her bite and then taking another. "He seemed nervous, but it's rare for a man to have that kind of positive audacity. So I felt compelled to take him up on his invitation.
"What?! That's absurd! He's asked me out every week since I've entered this academy!"
Salem's eyes widened at that. It did certainly change things.
"I see... I didn't realize you've already gone on an outing with him..."
"Excuse me?! I wouldn't go on a date with him even if he was the last man on Remnant!" Weiss scoffed.
That made Salem's eyes widen. "Hold on a moment. You're telling me you've never accepted his advances?"
"Of course not!"
"And he continues in his attempts?"
"Exactly! He's nothing but a womanizer who-"
"How bold~" Salem thought, her words cutting Weiss off. She swallowed her food then turned her head to give Jaune another look-see while smiling deviously. He was rather tall and his face was handsome enough. His unkempt hair and nervousness wasn't ideal but both can be corrected.
He looked rather well and his determination was something many men were missing. All things considered, he wasn't a bad catch. She was looking forward to tomorrow even more now.
Weiss on the other hand was baffled and disturbed by the flirtatious thoughts going through Salem's, and by extension her own head.
I've been looking forward to writing this chapter since I came up with this idea. Salem's now in control of Weiss' body for better or worse.
Weiss would say it's for worse lol