The set lights went on. The audience was quietly shushed by the staff. The producer held three fingers. Two. One. Cameras blinked red. A bright and busty intro theme played. The set lights went on. Onstage, a desk and couch, both filled.
At the desk, a man with blond combed hair, strong jaw, wearing a pressed lavender suit and honeybee yellow tie. He brushed some imaginary dust from his desk, looked at the camera. He smiled, his mouth stuffed with gleaming pearls of teeth.
"Welcome back to Remnant Review. I'm your host Perry Winkle, and with me is Jacques Schnee, CEO of Schnee Dust Company. Not to be confused with the cleaning company, Scrub, Dust n' Clean." Perry said with a wide, bright smile and sparkling blue eyes.
Seated on the couch, across from Perry, a man dressed in a pearl white suit, with a snow-white mustache and slicked back white hair, smiled. His eyes, a sharp blue, stared through Perry as if he was a window. As if he was nothing.
"Certainly not." Jacques answered, laughing. His eyes didn't wrinkle, having never known the joy of a vulnerable smile. "They specialize in removing filth. We specialize in unearthing treasures."
"Gold coins, or-" Laughter from the crowd.
Jacques waited, a twitch of disgust disturbing his lip.
"Minerals. For use in everything from circuits to ovens." Jacques adjusted his tie. A clip on, but he'd never admit it. "We give the world its toys."
"So it's you I have to thank for my scroll." Perry said, clapping his hands together. "I am not worthy, Mr. Schnee."
"No, you are not." Jacques bowed his head, a small smile on his face.
"And I see your daughter is with you!" Perry gestured, his smile a little more strained. "Weiss Schnee! It has been too long!"
The camera switched, revealing the enigmatic Weiss Schnee. Her gaze leveled at Perry Winkle, her eyes sharp, dusted with blue shadow, a faint scar crossing down her left eye. Her lips, painted a soft blue, pursed slightly, highlighting her sharp cheeks. She was dressed in a white camisole that cut at the elbow, with two dangling white bracelets at her wrists. She wore a white knee-high skirt, white tights. White stilettos clad her toes. No, not entirely white. As she crossed one leg over the other, it revealed red rubber soles at the bottoms of her shoes. Basted in blood.
"Good to be back Perry." Weiss said, her voice low and smoky, inviting him to sit by the embers.
"And what a pleasure it is!" He clapped his hands together. "So, I've heard some rumors in the last few months. Construction on the mountainside of a new building? Hiring sommeliers and wait staff? What's going on?" He gestured to the audience. "We're dying to find out what's going on."
The audience agreed, clapping and cheering.
"Well, let us put those rumors to rest." Weiss faced the camera. "We're here to announce the grand opening of the - the Gele Gloxinia. Right here in Atlas!"
"That's wonderful! Wonderful!" Perry smiled. "Now, we all remember the nastiness that happened a few years back. Clearly, you rose to the challenge life gave you." Perry leaned in. "What made you pursue the culinary field?"
"Well, after my voice was damaged - beyond repair - I set my sights on new horizons. Singing is an incredibly demanding profession, and when I was no longer able to reach the standards I'd set before, I felt empty. Cooking filled that void."
"That's beautiful. Isn't that beautiful folks?" Applause from the audience.
"That's my girl." Jacques said warmly, throwing his arm over Weiss' shoulder and squeezing. "Showing the world the strength of Schnee!"
"Indeed! Indeed." Perry humored Jacques. Then, he fully faced Weiss. "But, you used to tour around the world, and somehow someone got close enough to destroy your life." Perry leaned forward, hands laced. "Has your safety been on your mind?"
"True." Weiss' mouth twitched, the ghost of a frown. "We haven't found the culprit, but - Father."
"Hm?"
"You're hurting me."
"Oh!" Jacques released Weiss' shoulder. "My apologies." He leaned over to Perry. "Forgive me. When I remember that day, sometimes I forget myself." Jacques' eyes narrowed. "I think I might forget who I am before I forget that day." He said, tongue sharp with venom.
The air hung thick.
"It might be the only place I can eat." Weiss answered, laughing, one hand massaging her shoulder. "If anyone tries to poison the food, they'll have to get past me first."
The tension popped, and the room was cluttered with chuckles. Perry smacked his desk a few times.
Even Jacques chuckled, his face making the motions, the rest of his body still as stone, eyes scanning the crowd.
"You're no stranger to a knife, are you Weiss?" Perry asked, wiping an imaginary tear.
"I've butchered every animal on the market." Weiss answered confidently, folding her hands on her knee. "And pigs are heavier than most people."
The audience 'ooooohed.'
"That's good to hear." Perry said, putting on a nervous air, finger wrenching the collar of his jacket. "Speaking of pig, is it on the menu?""No, it is not on my menu." Weiss answered.
Jacques' lip twitched.
"Well, don't leave us hanging!" Perry said, gesturing to the audience.
"Words in your ears will never match food in your mouth." Weiss answered.
"Fine, keep your secrets." Perry said, holding his hands up.
"Curiosity entices." Weiss purred. "It's that simple. But. . ." She leaned back, shoulders falling in mock defeat. "I suppose I can tell you this. We've imported fish from Tokyo, oils and cheeses from the various regions of France, rice from Sicily, liquor from America, and A5 wagyu from Australia." She held her hand aloft. "With these, we will present thirteen dishes to our guests, to please and satisfy."
"That sounds incredible. When can we eat there?" Perry asked, eyes wide with excitement.
"The restaurant will be open in Central Atlas in two months time." Jacques answered. "And we're already booking reservations."
"Hold on a second." Perry grabbed his scroll and put it to his ear. Then he pulled it back. "What's the number?" He said, eliciting laughter from the audience.
"It can be found on our website." Jacques said, chuckling. "But we've already book your reservation Perry, for you and the whole family, as a little thanks."
"I can't wait!" Perry exclaimed, patting his belly. "I might just eat everything in the building!" He paused. "And, what are you calling it?" He asked Weiss.
Weiss went silent. Her eyes flicked from one side of the room to the other, her hands quietly gripping her skirt.
"The Gele Gloxinia." Jacques answered.
"Beautiful." Perry waved his hand in front of his face. "I know you don't have much time, so I'll say now, thank you for coming on the Review."
"Thank you for having us." Jacques smoothed his jacket down. "We'll be seeing you in a few months time."
"Oh, I cannot wait to treat the family." Perry faced the camera. "We'll be taking a quick break. When we come back, we'll meet with a Mistral man who's home was burned down by the Faunus Freedom Fighters. This is the Remnant Review."
"Ninety seconds, let's roll!" The producer yelled. The camera lights blinked off. Overhead lights came on. The producer began barking orders, checking boxes on her clipboard.
"Thanks for having us, Perry." Jacques said warmly.
"Nonsense, you know I'll have time for you Jacques." Perry answered, holding his hand out.
Jacques shook Perry's hand, then released.
"You'll be sure to cut our bill. As thanks for getting you here on short notice." Perry said quietly, holding fast to Jacques hand.
"Of course." Jacques smiled, teeth flashing behind thin lips.
"Wonderful." Perry released, his face all cheer and hospitality. "Thank you for coming down! We'll see you in a few months!" He turned to his stylist. "How's my hair?" He asked, completely forgetting Jacques and Weiss.
"Mr. Schnee, your limo is outside." Klein Sieben said.
"Good. Come Weiss." Jacques stood, adjusting his coat. He strode out of the studio, Weiss following just behind, Klein trailing, trying to keep his weight off his injured foot.
As they reached the limo, Klein moved ahead, opening the door so Jacques could slide in. Klein attempted to limp to the other side.
"I'm fine Klein. Go sit." Weiss said quietly, opening her own door and sliding in.
Klein nodded, turning and taking his place with the driver.
"Tch." Jacques face twitched with disgust. "Klein better heal fast. His foot is costing me a driver's salary."
"Then why not fire him, Father?" Weiss said. Spare Klein the misery of you.
"He gives his all, Weiss. Even now, as pathetic as he is, he still serves me with everything he has." Jacques leveled his gaze at Weiss' throat. "Unlike you."
Weiss caressed her throat. Remembering the burn. The slight hiss screaming in her ears.
"It is fortunate you come from good stock." Jacques said, puffing his chest. "If you'd only been good at singing, you'd have been an embarrassment forever. But now? Now you can stop dragging my name down with your. . . Inadequacy."
"Yes Father." Weiss said, her throat full of gravel.
Jacques sniffed, resting his hands on the folding armrests of the limo, ignoring Weiss.
Weiss looked out the window. It was a cloudy day in Atlas, and the snow was fluttering gently down. She took a breath, blinking away the wet in her eyes.
Across Remnant, on the island of Patch, a young woman with tousled red hair sat cross-legged in front of the tv. Dressed in a black tank top, black pajamas, surrounded by empty soda cans, candy bar wrappers, and tissues, she stared at the tv, bringing spoonfuls of cookie-inspired cereal to her mouth, crunching loudly.
The last few seconds of the Remnant Review reflected into her wide, silver eyes.
"Thank you for having us, Perry." Jacques Schnee said, his daughter quiet right next to him. "We'll be seeing you in a few months time."
"Oh, I cannot wait to treat the family." Perry said, turning back to the camera. "We'll be taking a quick break. When we come back, we'll meet with a Mistral man who's home was burned down by the Faunus Freedom Fighters. This is the Remnant Re-"
The tv was shut off. The woman stood, eating her cereal as she made her way to her computer. She sat down and pulled up a search engine. A few key strokes, and she found the website. The Gele Gloxinia. She scrolled to the bio, and up popped a long column of pictures. At the top, the owner, Jacques Schnee.
Just below him stood Weiss Schnee. Chef Schnee. She looked so much different from her appearance on the Review. Her off-set pony tail was instead in a tight, off-set bun. Her flashy fashion was muted with a sharp coat and pearl white pants. Her arms were crossed.
But her eyes. Steel blue. They were the same. Hard, uncompromising.
Empty.
Ruby got up from the computer. She approached a picture hanging on the wall. An orange haired girl in a green dress, smiling wide, saluting the camera. She pressed her fingertips to the girl's cheek.
"I'm not ready yet." Ruby whispered, caressing the picture. "But, when I am, do you think I should try to work there? It could be fun."
The picture held no answer.
*0*
The rewrite stands unfinished at 48,000 words and about 21 chapters. It is faster paced and I think a bit better written.
Sorry life has been so hard! I didn't mean to take this away before a major pandemic and the crazy insanity of the last while. I just wanted to do my best.
This ain't it, but it's my growth, and I'm happy with it.
Bon Appetit