Ruby Rose
"See ya Weiss!"
"Goodbye Friend!"
"I'll call ahead before dropping in next time." With a wave, Weiss had left. Thank God.
Ruby let out a sigh as she dropped the act, her smile turned to a frown and she slumped against the bench and groaned, to which Penny simply put a hand on her shoulder in comfort.
"You ok?"
"I thought it would get easier..."
Ruby has a problem... a big problem. See, Ruby wasn't stupid... well... she wasn't all stupid. But even she could recognise Weiss's... well...
"How do you say 'massive crush' in a nice way...?"
Penny had pointed it out to her only a few days ago... and from there Ruby began to panic. She didn't believe her at first... Weiss? A crush on Ruby? How ridiculous is that??
But... after having it pointed out to her... she could see it. She could see all of the signs. Penny had only been trying to help but she had made things ten times worse on accident.
Weiss has a massive crush on Ruby... and Ruby has a massive crush on Weiss...
She let out another groan. In any other situation this would make things incredibly easy... Ruby could just ask her... or confess herself and then... boom. Relationship... or at least she hoped.
But this wasn't a normal situation. Ruby was under Weiss's employ, and even more importantly, Weiss was a princess. Ruby was lucky Weiss was even her friend, Ruby had no special blood that she knew of, no magic, no titles, and no wealth to speak of. Even if they talked about it... it could only end one way...
Weiss was a princess... and Ruby was a commonor...
And Ruby would do anything to avoid that conversation. To avoid that terrible talk... the one they would confess there feelings, only to have it thrown in there faces that it could never work...
So... Ruby had to make Weiss think she wasn't interested... or better yet... make Weiss not interested. Penny called it a 'dumb idea' because she was too pure to call it stupid, but... what else could Ruby do?
"It will get easier with time friend. Weiss will surely understand... perhaps if you confronted her directly about her feelings..."
"That would just hurt her... I don't want to hurt her... and I..."
"I don't want to get hurt either..."
Penny shook her head solemnly and moved to the kitchen, she had learnt very early on that cookies were one of the best things to cheer Ruby up with.
"Oh, what is it you wanted to tell me before Weiss arrived?" Penny raising her voice was always so strange. The girl would never yell, but she always found a perfect volume to be heard.
"Right... i think I figured out a new idea for speeding up the Test Phrase collection... see... I noticed with the first three Phrases something interesting... there all words related in some way to a Dragon... loosely... but that can narrow my search. By quite a bit."
"What do you mean?"
"Well-" Ruby snorted. "I doubt the magic word for 'butter' is going to be part of the Dragon Formula." Ruby and Penny both laughed and Ruby slyly added butyrum to her list of test Phraeses... just in case.
"Well... that definitly could speed things up. Though, you still haven't told me much about how you actually go about finding these test Phrases." Penny set down a plate of cookies and Ruby quickly joined her at a table with a big grin.
"Well, you see-" Ruby took a deep breath. "Magic holds a lot of different forms and fluctuations. Intention based magic is one of the more powerful kinds as it needs to be semi aware. Mana that can think, at least a little bit. But mana dosent have a brain! So... how does it think? That I have no clue about... but it knows things about itself that we can't possibly know. So, I use an intention based Ritual to scan different magical words, it requires a lot of concentration, too much for me to just scan the word for every possible Phrase at a time, so i have to rescan every word for each new Phrase i start. Anyway- certain words will hold a kind of... pull. Like... the mana is looking at the empty spot in the puzzle your trying to make, and the word, and it thinks it might fit. So, when I feel that pull, I write that word down as a test Phrase. The actual ritual to test the Phrases is a lot of the same. I use a bit of dust as a catalyst to check each word more. If a word fits, the dust should be consumed completely as the mana floods to the word. I use different projection runes to make the word and circle change colours when it's correct so I can tell easier. Basically... the mana does a lot of the work for me! Pretty cool huh??" Ruby finished her rant with an even bigger grin and stared straight at Penny.
Penny held a soft smile and nodded, she had been nodding along the whole time. Her expression was patient, kind... comforting...
"Don't look at me like that... not the way everyone else does... look at me like she does!"
"Thats really interesting Ruby!" Penny couldn't lie... or rather.. she couldn't bring herself to lie. Ruby knew her words were true... she knew that Penny was interested...
It wasn't Penny's fault that her words and expression matched the way all those liers responded to her talking about magic!
Ruby's face fell. Why had she shut Weiss out earlier? She had wanted to talk to her... she had wanted to see her face again... to answer her questions... Weiss always had questions... she always listened...
"Ruby? Are you ok?" Penny was worried about her, and with good reason. Ruby hadn't felt ok in a long time... and when Weiss had come into her life, she had briefly given her that feeling.
Now Weiss was another form of torment... a perfect girl Ruby couldn't be with...
She turned to the magic circles.
"Yeah... I'm gonna get some work done..."
"Yeah... wasn't too confident in that one anyway..."
Ruby crossed the magic word for 'duck' off of her list, then went to check the next one.
"Friend Ruby!"
"Gah!" Ruby jumped out of her skin as Penny suddenly yelled in her ear.
"I apologise for frightening you, but you werent hearing me call you." Penny held a patient smile and Ruby held a light blush of embarrassment as she nodded.
"R-right... what's up?"
"I wanted to inform you that you have received a letter." Penny held the sealed envelope out to her and Ruby tilted her head. She very cautiously took the letter and eyed the front. She never got mail...
The wax seal was strange... it depicted... gears? Like in a clock? Weird.
Ruby flipped it open and it appeared to be some kind of invitation.
"What does it say?"
"Something, something... -"you are invited to the next Hunters exam on the fifth of the- w-what??" Ruby nearly fell over as she reared back in shock. Hunters exam? This letter was from Beacon?? What??
She quickly read through the letter, scanning all the details she could... and then she saw it.
"My recommender...? 'Blake Xiao Long'..." She growled as she stood and marched over to her bench that held her new and fancy big home Scrying Orb.
"Blake Xiao Long." She nearly spat the words out as she touched the top of it. The orb cleared after a few seconds and Blake smiled through.
"Ruby? So nice to see you. What can I help you-" Ruby held up the letter.
"What the hell Blake??"
"Not the reaction I was expecting but ok."
"Blake? Who is it?" Yangs voice in the background.
"Ruby's calling!" After Blake responded, Ruby heard a scuffle of some kind.
"What was-" Yangs bellowing laughter cut her off as Blake moved out of frame for a moment.
"That did not just happen!! Weiss Schnee, Princess of Vale... fell out of her chair!?" Yang barely finished her sentence she was laughing so hard.
"Silence yourself you brute!!" Weiss's voice was mixed with embarrassment and anger.
Ruby winced as she heard the voice, she could only imagine what Weiss had in store for Yang as revenge.
Blake returned with a cheeky smile.
"Sorry Ruby, something funny just happened-"
"I heard that!!"
"Weiss don't screech." Ruby chuckled a little at Blake's sass.
"Is she ok?"
"She's fine, now, you were getting angry at me over a letter?" Ruby blinked... then remembered why she called.
"Oh... yeah! Why'd you recommend me for Hunter try-outs!?"
"It's an exam Ruby."
"I don't really care what its called Blake!"
"Ruby, its an exam that tests your intelligence and skill. Power and magic are moot points in the first stage of the exam."
"And??"
"And, the second part of the exam is held much later. Nearly a year from now."
"And I'm sure my lack of magic will kind of matter then Blake!"
"Ruby. I don't think you understand-"
"Understand what??" Ruby was really frustrated... and evidently so was Blake now.
"I believe in you... and I know you will have magic by then. I know a year might seem pretty soon for you... but I know with all my heart that by then, you'll be finished with that Formula." Blake's frustration had melted away... she was sporting a light blush though.
"Blake I-"
"No Ruby... let me finish... please..." She nodded in response.
"I... i know i haven't always been the most supportive... I know that I've doubted you in the past but... I do believe in you, Ruby. Nothing can stop you, and you'll stop at nothing. I also know you haven't thought much about what you'll do after your finished with this so... I wanted you to at least think about that." Blake held a soft smile and Ruby couldn't help but return it.
"Trying to make me think about the future huh?"
"Of course! You've been quite lax in that regard young lady." Ruby laughed a bit.
"Thanks mum..."
She couldn't say that out loud... she would never say that out loud. She didn't know if Yang or Blake felt the same way but... Ruby had always felt she had four parents growing up... well, three... her father tried his best...
It didn't help that Yang and Blake looked the same age as Summer when Ruby was young.
"Blake?"
"Yes Ruby?"
"Can... can you put Weiss on? I... I want to-" Blake had already moved away from the Scrying orb.
"Ruby?-" Her voice was filled with worry... Ruby wished she could hug her. "You wanted to speak to me? Is everything all right?"
"What? Oh umm... yeah... everything's great... I just... I wanted to talk to you." She took a deep breath in.
"Well... I'm all ears. What did you want to talk about Ruby?" As patient with her as always...
"Well... I was taking to Penny about something but... I... I w-wasnt sure if she really understood so... I wanted to get a second opinion..." Weiss nodded cautiously.
"You can tell me anything Ruby." The redhead couldn't stop her smile...
She took a deep breath, and went on her magic rant. She re-explained all the things she had just told Penny, her process, how the test Phrases worked... all of it.
And that expression? God... that expression. She had that look again. Weiss always had that look. She didn't have to say it was interesting... just one look at her and it was obvious that she genuinely enjoyed hearing her speak. Ruby couldn't help it... she loved this.
Ruby hadn't changed her mind... she knew they couldn't be together. That was just a fact... but... this one part of there bond? This one piece that felt... intimate? Ruby could let just this little bit slip through.
She wasn't perfect after all.
"Not like Weiss..."
"So, how's it going friend?" Penny really was nice to have around while working. Even ignoring all the obvious things she did, making sure Ruby had food and water, reminding her to sleep... stuff like that, Penny seemed to just have a sense for when Ruby needed a break, but she wouldn't just come out and say it. She'd always find a way to give Ruby a break dynamical.
"Well... there's good news, and there's bad news."
"Bad news first so you can end on a good note!"
"Reading a dictionary has to be one of the most boring things ever..." Yes, the idea to look for test Phrases in Dragon related words would save time and Dust... but... That meant Ruby had to literally look for every word that could somehow relate to a Dragon...
"And the good news?"
"I'm cutting the list of words I have to test by... a lot." Boring but effective... Though this did add an extra step to this round of research, for the next Phrases she could just reuse this list, and that would save even more time.
"How broad are you going exactly?" Penny had joined Ruby now. She had been sitting on the floor with the book open on the ground in front of her, Penny had sat nearby and brought a plate with some sandwiches on it.
Ruby happily took one and started munching away at it.
"Well, it's difficult. Think of the features Dragons have... there physical attributes and magical ones. Naturally you think of stuff like claws and wings and scales... but also fire. But you can't just stop there, you have to then think of other words relating to 'fire'. Flame, flare, ash... but Dragons can be all different kinds of elements, which just opens up a whole other rabbit hole. Ice, snow, water, lightning, thunder, earth, rock, dirt-" Ruby took a bite to cut herself off.
Penny giggled at the sudden sandwich in Ruby's face, Penny didn't have to eat, but she always joined Ruby for meals. Apparently company made food taste better?
"And that's not even scratching the surface."
"I don't think 'dirt' would be a Phrase of the Dragon Formula."
"Do you think 'Dragon' would be?" Penny's mouth opened to respond, but it quickly closed as she thought.
"I'm... not sure."
"Same... so, better safe then sorry." Ruby grinned and finished the second half of her sandwich in three more bites. "Alright... i need to concentrate."
Penny nodded politely and stood, Ruby wasn't normally aware of Penny's movements and what she was doing while she was researching... it was odd. The world sort of just faded away besides what she was doing... but while she was doing this? This felt more... normal? She could still feel the room around her, she was still aware of sounds and movements nearby... maybe it was just boring.
Shelving that topic, she forced ok a face of determination and prepared herself for some serious dictionary reading-
A knock... of course. Well, multiple knocks. No even beat or rhythm either. Seriously, complelty random timing- who does that?? For once, Ruby couldn't concentrate on her research. Usually people had to resort to physically getting her attention and even that sometimes didn't work...
Penny had rushed over to the door when the knocking picked up, the lack of a steady rhythm to the knocking was getting on Ruby's nerves even more!
"Seriously how can someone do that?? Are they drunk??"
The realisation smacked her in the face.
"Salutations! My name is Penny, may I ask how I can help you?" Penny's voice was as friendly as always. Ruby was already rushing to the door.
"Penny? Swear I've heard that name before... is there a Ruby here? Pretty sure this is where Oz said she is..." His voice sounded like sandpaper, the damage it was doing to his throat - or the damage that had been done to his throat to produce such a noise - must have been awful. Maybe that was a little rude, but Ruby was allowed to think that way, after all, this was her-
"Uncle Qrow!!" Nearly knocking over poor Penny, she leaped into the man and it was like leaping into a steel wall, the man didnt budge a single bit as she collided with him and hugged him tight... well, as tight as she could. "Hi." She smiled up at him and he let out a low chuckle.
"So... how much did that hurt?" His smirk was punchable, at least that's what Yang always said.
"Not that much!" She was lying, but this reunion would not be ruined by her weakness.
"Ruby? This is your uncle?" Ruby turned and excitedly nod at the girl, Penny simply smiled and approached, holding out a hand to shake. "It's an honor to meet you!"
Qrow raised an eyebrow and met her hand in a shake, he was quiet for a moment and Ruby was a little confused. His eyebrow dropped and he stayed smiling but remained quiet, though, Ruby noted how his arm tensed.
"If you would be so kind, could you please stop squeezing my hand?" Penny's voice held no malice or pain, Ruby hadn't even been able to tell Qrow had been gauging her strength.
"Your strong." He said it more as an observation then anything else, but let her hand go without complaint. "Ruby I approve of your girlfriend." Ruby's quickly shook her head.
"No, me and Penny aren't like that. She's my best friend and protecter! She also kinda... looks after me." Ruby said that part a bit sheepishly as it was... kinda... embarrassing. She looked to Penny ready to ask for her support...
Penny was... blushing?
"Did she not know shes my best friend?"
Ruby frowned at that, she had failed as a bestie if Penny hadnt realised that's what they were. Well, she was determined to prove it to Penny after this! Speaking of-
"So what are you doing here Uncle Qrow?"
"Oh. Just here to check up on ya. Also needed to give you this-" He had joined them inside by now, Penny had gone to get drinks but Ruby knew Qrow would decline... he had his flask.
He handed her an envelope and Ruby lit up with excitement. Two letters in one day? She never got letters! Looks like she couldn't say that any more though.
She quickly opened it up and what fell out was...
"It's official... I hate getting letters..."
"He really wants ya there this time."
"Why... I'm not one of them." She threw the card onto a nearby bench and turned away with crossed arms.
"That's not really fair kiddo."
"Why not... it's what they all think."
"Ruby, it was your choice to not become a Hellhound. Just like it was-" He coughed into his hand to cut himself off... he had definitly been drinking if he was about to mention Summer.
"Look. I don't fit in with the pack, it's not a big deal."
"It is to him."
"And how many kids does dad have? I don't get why he'll miss if I'm not there..."
"Ruby he has a focus on you because first off you don't live in Patch like nearly all of his other family, and second off your human. He dosent get as much time with you as he does all his other kids." Ruby sighed and her shoulders slumped. Sure her father had upwards of like... fifteen kids by now, but that wasn't a bad thing. Hellhound culture - along with most other canine cultures - didn't view lots of kids with differing parents as a bad thing... especially not when the father was like five hundred years old.
"... Is Yang going?"
"I stopped by here first-" He waved Penny off politely when she offered some water. "Figured I should check with the familes resident loner first."
"Well that's rude."
"Please kid, even you cant deny that." Ruby giggled a little and shrugged.
"Yeah... I guess..." She thought for a moment before grinning. "Ok... how about this. Tell me one of your Hunter stories!"
He was about to open his mouth but Ruby cut him off again.
"Wait! It has to be new! I can't have heard it before! And if it's good enough, I'll talk to Yang about going."
"Can't believe I have to bargain with you to make you spend a holiday with your family." He chuckled and rubbed the back of his head. "Jeez kid... I already told you all the good ones across three centuries, I haven't gotten any new ones since the last time I saw ya. Hmm... guess I did see this chick with Gold eyes the other night, that was a rare find." Ruby tilted her head.
"Gold eyes? You mean Yellow?" Qrow shook his head.
"Nope, Gold. You know, one of the big four affinities. Platinum, Gold, Bronze, Sil-" The door suddenly flew open and a very... very angry looking Weiss was standing in the doorway.
But Weiss had grown! She was at least a foot taller! And her chest was way bigg- oh it was Winter.
"Qrow... Branwen..." Her voice was practically a growl as ice started forming on the door frame that she was gripping... well, crushing at this point.
"Heeeey! If it isn't the Ice Quee-" The next... four seconds... of Rubys life was difficult to explain. Her best summary of the events that transpired was... lots of ice, lots of yelling, and a green barrier was now covering the entire entrance to her workshop.
Ruby blinked carefully, trying to make sense of what she had just witnessed. Penny was looking stressed as she maintained such a powerful barrier from... When did Penny get right next to her?? Qrow and Winter were inside... it was sort of difficult to tell at first, but she could barely make out the two figures between the layers of frost that covered the inside of the barrier.
Penny sighed and the barrier dropped after ten seconds, revealing a very smug Qrow, and a very embarrassed Winter. The elder Schnee stood up straight quickly and cleared her throat with a light blush.
"Ruby. I apologise for that sudden... event... I trust we can come to an agreement that would result in you not sharing what you just witnessed?" Qrow was trying not to laugh and Ruby awkwardly rubbed the back of her head.
"I mean... if your offering Winter... I wouldn't mind if you cleaned up all this ice..." The front of her workshop looked like a snow globe... at least none of her research was caught in it.
Winter looked around and nodded.
"A fair punishment..."
"I wonder if she's ever cleaned a room before..."
She hadnt.
After an hour of all of them watching her try to clean the room, Penny fixed it in about ten seconds.