The Moonlit Dew was a small cafe on the outskirts of downtown Atlas, flanked on one side by inner-city suburb and gentrified shops on the other. While it had its own air of flair and class, it clearly had stood in this spot for far more years than the essential oil and fine wine shops off its flank.
Ruby looked up at the sign. A crescent moon with a single teardrop hanging off the top sharp tip. Though slightly worn from years of battling snow and pollution, it still shimmered. Ruby felt comforted by the sign, and by the parchment colored brick on the outside, dressed with mahogany accents.
Ruby smoothed down her skirt. Today she wore her favorite. Knee-length skirt with black, laced combat boots, and sheer black pantyhose. She wore a white arm-length blouse as a top, sheathed in a black and red corset that laced up her back, red ribbon tied in a neat bow at the base. She wore her hair messy, not really bothering with product or a fancy style. Her makeup was light and basic. Foundation, black eyeliner, just a touch of blush on her cheeks. Her sister had tried to get her into make up when she was small, but Ruby couldn't justify the cost when there were knives to sharpen and weed to smoke.
Ruby pulled the pendant wrapped around her neck and popped it open. She glanced at her mom, then Penny. She sighed, and brought it close to smell the lock of orange hair within.
"Ruby?" A nervous voice called.
Ruby snapped the pendant shut. She checked to make sure none of the hair got stuck in the hinge, then turned.
"Hey there Weiss." Ruby greeted, waving. Her eyes widened.
Weiss was dressed in an outfit much like Ruby's. White skirt, pantyhose, and blouse. Her shoes were more delicate, comfortable heels. She had a crimson scarf wrapped around her neck. Her hair was done in its signature off-side ponytail, locks stretching past her waist.
She was beautiful.
Weiss blushed, looking to the side, holding her handbag with both hands in front of her.
"Hi." Weiss greeted.
"H-hey." Ruby stuttered, her face hot.
"So. Um. You look nice." Weiss said. "I like your corset."
"Oh. Thanks." Ruby pointed between them, wagging her finger back and forth. "We're kinda matching. Skirt buds."
"Yeah. . ." Weiss laughed nervously.
Ruby wanted to slap her face. Skirt buds? Really?
"S-shall we?" Weiss asked, walking to the door. She opened it up, a small bell jingling at the top. She gestured inside.
"Oh! Yes!" Ruby said. "Thank you." She walked in. Weiss followed.
Ruby looked around. The parchment brick was as naked inside as it was out, holding small murals painted in blue watercolor against itself. Blue steel beams stretched across the ceiling, with naked wired lamps encased in soft eggshell spheres hanging above iron-wrought tables with mahogany flats. The lights had tiny glass beads threaded around and down from the lamps. Sparkling. Old, flowered armchairs flanked the tables in the room, each with deep dips in their cushions. Well worn.
Ruby approached the counter. Another modern jut of blue steel, the menu written above in bright chalks on a hanging black square. To the left, a clear pastry case, stocked with iron baskets brimming with-
"Cookies!" Ruby yelped, pressing her face to the glass, eyes darting around. Chocolate chip, double chocolate, peppermint macadamia, anise cranberry, green tea, lavender lemon, marshmal - MARSHMALLOW LIME!?
"Hello!" A voice said. "How can I help you?"
Ruby looked up from the case, and her breath left her.
Before her stood a pale girl with freckles, mouth wide with a shining smile, orange hair bobbed in a short pixie cut. She wore a simple green blouse with a white apron over its front, a small black nametag pinned to her front. Clementine. Her green eyes shimmered with amusement.
Ruby stood, and coughed, looking to the side.
"Hello." Ruby greeted sheepishly.
"Hello." Clementine replied, leaning forward on her elbows. "Do you see something you like?" She asked.
"Uh. . ." Ruby blushed. "Oh! The cookies!"
"What else?" Clementine giggled.
"Um. . . They all look really good." Ruby turned to face Weiss. "Have you had them before?"
"Yes." Weiss said stiffly. She approached the counter. "Hello Clementine."
"Weiss!" Clementine greeted excitedly. "I haven't seen you in like, a week!" She clasped her hands together. "How are you?"
"I am well." Weiss answered, shoulders relaxing. She offered a soft smile. "The restaurant has been incredibly busy, and my old sous chef was fired."
"Oh no!" Clementine gasped. "What happened?"
"Nothing that he did. Merely a disagreement with. . . Management." Weiss rolled her eyes. "I've spent the last week training Ruby."
"Ruby?" Clementine asked, curiosity piqued.
"Present." Ruby said, shyly raising her hand.
"Oh!" Clementine looked Ruby up and down, a small smirk tugging at her lip. "You mean this tall drink of water?" She asked coyly.
"Yes." Weiss answered, a frown tugging at her lip.
"Pleased to meet you." Ruby offered a small curtsy.
"The pleasure's all mine." Clementine said. She glanced at Weiss out the corner of her eye, folding her arms. "Are you two here on business? Or. . ." She trailed off.
I want to grind on your fist.
"Friendly!" Ruby blurted out, blushing. "W-we hardly know each other."
"That's right." Weiss said, one hand rubbing her arm, blushing furiously. "Not a lot of time to talk in a kitchen."
"You understand, I'm sure." Ruby laughed nervously, rubbing the back of her neck.
Clementine looked from one, to the other, to one again. She smirked.
"I think I understand perfectly." Clementine said. Before either could reply, she clapped her hands together. "You came to the right place. If our cookies can't spark brilliant conversation, I'm afraid you're too far gone to help." Clementine smiled cheekily.
"Heh." Ruby peered into the case, noticing the imprint of her nose. "Sorry for smudging the glass."
"Easy to fix." Clementine shrugged it off. "What can I get started for you?"
"Uuummmm." Ruby looked at the cookies in the display. "They all look so good." She said.
Chocolate chip was a classic, of course. But she'd never had anise cranberry. Or lavender lemon. Or marshmallow lime. She wanted to eat all of them!
Ruby pinched her chin, her brain revving in thought. This may be the hardest choice she'd ever make.
"Are you still serving the sample platter?" Weiss asked, clearing her throat.
"Yes!" Clementine answered.
"Sample platter?" Ruby perked up.
"We keep balls of dough frozen in the back." Clementine answered. "We'll bake off one ounce portions fresh, and give you two of each flavor, and a glass of milk."
"SOLD." Ruby bounced on her feet, eyes glittering.
"Okay cutie." Clementine giggled.
"Heh." Ruby blushed, running a hand through her hair.
Weiss fumed.
Clementine rang the food in. "Anything else?" She asked.
"Oh, um. . . That's it for me." Ruby pulled her skirt up. She didn't like carrying purses or handbags, instead opting for a small wallet strapped to her thigh. She slipped her card out and handed it to Clementine. "And anything Weiss wants." Ruby said.
"T-t-that's fine!" Weiss refused, blushing. "I'll pay for my order." She insisted.
"You bought drinks." Ruby said simply. "So I'm getting breakfast."
"But-"
"This makes us even." Ruby said firmly, narrowing her eyes at Weiss. "Got it?"
Weiss pressed her lips in a thin line. She nodded.
"Good." Ruby turned to Clementine, who was watching with keen interest. "I'd like an extra glass of milk please." She glanced at Weiss. "You'll be getting a coffee, right?"
". . . Right." Weiss faced Clementine. "I would like my usual latte, and a pomegranate scone please."
"No problem." Clementine rang it in, swiping Ruby's card. She waited for the receipt to print, and handed it and the card to Ruby. "Would you sign here please?"
Ruby signed, and Clementine took the paper back.
"We'll have that out soon." Clementine gestured to the room. "Have a seat anywhere you like, and I'll bring you your food."
"Thank you." Ruby put her card away and smoothed down her skirt. "Where do you want to sit?" She asked Weiss.
"Well," Weiss coughed, face red. "There's a lovely nook just over there." Weiss gestured to a small booth in the wall, with books climbing up the brick.
"Perfect." Ruby said, and immediately went to sit down.
After a moment, Weiss joined her. Together, they sat in silence.
Ruby didn't know how to start. She wanted to confront Weiss, ask her why she was so cold and mean after being so. . . Warm. Hot. But the words weren't quite reaching her throat.
Then, Weiss pulled her scarf from her neck, revealing a simple ruby necklace, the jut of her collar, the smooth slope of her neck. Ruby's eyes widened. Then, embarrassed, she quickly looked away, pretending to scan the books on the shelf.
"Do you read?" Weiss asked, voice strained.
". . . Yes." Ruby answered after a moment, clearing her head.
"Have you read any of these?" Weiss asked, gesturing to the shelf. She seemed almost relieved. Something to break the ice.
"Yeah. Mostly the kid stuff." Ruby said, pulling one from the shelf. The Knight and Nevermore. "This one was one of my favorites. I liked to pretend I was the knight, killing the Nevermore and saving the princess." Ruby flipped it open, taking in the comforting nostalgia. She snapped it shut, placing it back on the shelf. "The rest of these I've only heard about from a friend."
"Oh." Weiss put her hands together on the table, thumbs rubbing together. "Does your friend recommend any particular series?"
"You haven't read them?" Ruby asked, cocking her head.
"I've read a few, but I don't have the time to really sit down and take them in." Weiss said softly. Her fingers grazed the spines of the books. "I come in here and I read a few chapters once a week." She pulled a tattered copy from the shelf. "It's been about eight months, and I'm halfway through this one."
"The Gentle Death." Ruby read. "Blake really likes that one."
"Blake?" Weiss asked, setting the book down.
"My sister's girlfriend." Ruby answered. "She's a bookworm. Once she gets started, there's no stopping her."
"She doesn't get up to eat? Or drink?" Weiss prodded.
"If she does, no one's caught her." Ruby shrugged. "She's like a ninja."
Weiss giggled, holding her hand to her mouth, and Ruby felt her belly warm at the sound.
"Hey there master cooks." Clementine greeted, holding a tray. "Here's your latte and scone." She placed Weiss' food in front of her. "And here's your cookies and milk." She placed Ruby's food in front of her, and folded the tray against her body. "Just come up to the counter when you want a refill on that milk cutie."
"O-okay." Ruby answered.
"Thank you Clementine." Weiss said, teeth grit together.
Clementine, eyes twinkling with amusement, twisted on her heel and went back to the counter. Weiss glared at her the whole way back.
Ruby frowned. Then, the smell of fresh-baked cookies hit her nose, and her attention was immediately drawn to the plate before her.
All seven cookies from the display case were laid before Ruby, in the exact same order as well. She picked up the chocolate chip, and examined it. Still warm, but cool enough to have set properly, the chocolate glistened in the light. She opened her mouth and took a bite.
Tender. Crisp. Perfectly browned and balanced. There was a hint of salt in the chunks of chocolate, keeping the sugar from overwhelming the palate. The edge of the cookie had a firm bite, but the center - oh fuck, the center was nothing but warm comfort and chewy beauty.
"Mmmmmmmm!" Ruby moaned. She dunked the cookie in her milk and swallowed the lot. The cool drink set the cookie even further, making that warm center more chewy, letting her teeth really feel the structure of the treat. It was heaven.
"Amazing, right?" Weiss asked. Ruby couldn't peg it, but there was almost a. . . Resignation? Defeat in her voice?
"Yes!" Ruby answered, swallowing. "It's incredible!" She looked at Weiss. "Did you work here for a bit?"
"No. Why?" Weiss asked.
"Because these cookies are suspiciously as good as yours." Ruby narrowed her eyes.
"I did not." Weiss answered, blushing. "I came in over and over for weeks though, trying to reverse-engineer the process." She hovered her hand over the lavender lemon cookie. "May I?"
Ruby frowned. She loathed to give up one of her cookies. But, in the name of diplomacy -
"Yes. But don't get greedy." Ruby relented, gesturing to the plate.
"Hm." Weiss snorted, gently plucking the lavender lemon cookie from the platter. She held it up. "Clementine bakes all of these, you know."
"She's the baker?" Ruby asked, her brow shooting up.
"She owns the place." Weiss said softly, biting the cookie. She took a sip of her latte. "She's quite accomplished." Weiss said casually, finishing the cookie off.
"Yeah." Ruby looked over her shoulder. More customers had come in, and Clementine greeted them with open arms. She seemed so. . . Happy.
It was a stark contrast to Weiss, who seemed to regard her customers with disdain, if not outright hate them.
"Did you always want to be in fine dining?" Ruby asked.
". . . No." Weiss answered. "But it is the most prestigious form of cooking. A natural fit for a Schnee." Father's words echoed in her skull, tasting like bile.
"Is that what it means to be a Schnee?" Ruby asked, frowning. "Prestige?"
"Prestige, and profit." Weiss said, pressing her lips together.
"Huh." Ruby leaned on her hand, staring at Weiss. "What's it mean to be a Weiss?"
Weiss flinched. Her lips parted, but no words escaped.
"Did you want to be a cook?" Ruby asked, leaning forward, arms crossed on the table.
"Yes. Of course I did." Weiss answered. "I love cooking." She went silent.
"That's good. What do you love about it?" Ruby asked earnestly, leaning closer.
". . ." Weiss swallowed, wide eyed and red faced. "I'm good at it." She said, arms crossed. "I want to be the best."
"Aren't you?"
"No."
"Number seven isn't among the best?" Ruby asked.
"The best is number one." Weiss declared.
"Sounds like a lot of pressure." Ruby leaned back against her seat.
"It is." Weiss quirked her lip. "But it's worth it."
"It makes you happy?" Ruby asked.
"Ha! Hahahahahaha!" Weiss laughed earnestly. "Since when does being happy matter?"
"Every day I'm alive." Ruby replied, steel in her throat.
The mirth left Weiss' face, replaced by a distant sorrow.
"Every day?" Weiss asked.
"Every day." Ruby insisted.
"What is happiness for you, Ruby Rose?" Weiss leaned forward, elbows on the table.
". . ."
"No answer?" Weiss asked.
"No. I want to give a good answer." Ruby declared. "Or would you rather I give you something half-assed?"
"No." Weiss folded her arms, leaning back. "No, I don't think I would like that."
Ruby bit her lip. Happiness. Cookies. Sex. The rush. Food. Running. Family. Friends. Love.
Penny.
"I think there's a difference between happiness and joy." Ruby said finally.
Weiss took a sip of her latte, her eyes trained on Ruby's. She remained silent.
"Joy is what most people mean when they say they're happy. But I think that is short. It's not here all the time. It doesn't take work, it just happens." Ruby grabbed another cookie from the plate. Marshmallow lime. "Happiness. . . Is like a shadow of joy."
"A shadow?" Weiss asked.
"Kinda?" Ruby eyed the cookie, twisting it around to see every marshmallow, every hint of zest. "It's reaching a point where I accept what's in my world. And if I can accept it, then the world is working for me. That is my happiness."
"What if you don't accept something?" Weiss asked, a hard knot in her throat.
"Then I change it. Immediately." Ruby bit into the cookie. Soft, chew mallow and sharp, bitter lime danced on her tongue. "Mmmm. So good." She purred.
"What if you can't change it?" Weiss asked, arms crossed hard across her chest. "What if its impossible?"
"There's always death." Ruby answered mildly, finishing the cookie, taking a swig of milk.
"That's grim."
"No, like-" Ruby huffed, running her hand through her hair. "I can change myself, right? I have power over me. My reactions, my choices. I have power from my friends, my family. So I can make choices that hurt me now, but help me long term. Because I can rely on them." Ruby looked at the platter. "And if I can't change something, I accept I can't change it, and I know it'll end someday."
I love you Ruby. More than anyone.
"So your big idea of life is just accept it?" Weiss asked.
"Yeah." Ruby said simply.
"That's ridiculous." Weiss spat.
"Well what else can you do?" Ruby shot back. "If you can't accept something, you do something about it. If you can't do something about it, then you gotta accept that too. Otherwise, you're just in pain."
"Are you lecturing me?" Weiss snapped.
"I dunno, do you need one?" Ruby retorted.
"No! And if I did, it wouldn't be from you." Weiss hissed. "You're deluding yourself."
"I'm thriving." Ruby declared. "Nothing can touch me."
"Nothing?" Weiss rolled her eyes. "Are you happy working for me?"
"I am happy at work." Ruby laid both palms on the table. "But I am not happy with us."
"So when were you going to change that?" Weiss challenged, staring Ruby down.
"Here! Today!" Ruby gestured to the restaurant. "I'm angry with you. You apologized, so I thought you'd be open to sharing."
"Sharing what?" Weiss spat.
"Why you -" Ruby took a breath, calming down. "Why you were so mean to me. Why you're being so mean now." She said softly.
Weiss said nothing.
"I liked it." Ruby continued, staring at her hands. Remembering Weiss' quiet mews of pleasure, her clit thrumming over her fist. "I really, really liked it. So when you said it was a mistake, it hurt. But it was okay. You have a right to your body, to your boundaries. It hurt." She glanced at Weiss, blue eyes watering. "But that's okay. What wasn't okay, was how hard you made it to enjoy the work."
Weiss looked at the floor.
"You say you're sorry, but are you really?" Ruby pressed. "Or did Neptune guilt you into it?"
"Tch. He guilted me all right." Weiss admitted. "But I meant it."
Ruby folded her arms, eyes drilling into Weiss. Waiting.
Weiss sat silent. Her eyes fell to the table, staring into her untouched Her fists bunched up her skirt. Her mind was racing, buzzing, going numb. Her mouth opened.
"I'm sorry." Weiss said quietly. "It's my fault. It's my responsibility. Because I liked it. And I'm not supposed to."
"What?" Ruby cocked her head, eyes wide. "What are you talking about?"
"Father doesn't want me being like that."
"Wait, what?" Ruby said, flabbergasted. "You care?"
"No." Weiss shook her head. "But without him, I don't have a place to live."
"Come on. You're a head chef. You make more than-"
"I don't make anything." Weiss snapped. "All the money I make goes to him."
"Whoa." Ruby leaned back in her chair, eyes wide. "That's fucking illegal."
"He doesn't fucking care." Weiss shrugged. "I tried. I tried to get away. But I can't."
Ruby sat back, running her hand through her hair.
"Whoa."
"Yeah, no shit whoa. And in one moment of weakness, I fuck you and -" Weiss closed her eyes, swallowing. She exhaled. "It's the best sex I've ever had. I liked it. I liked it too much. If we continued, we'd get caught, and that. Can't. Happen." Weiss crossed her arms. "So I said it was a mistake. And then we get to work, and you're so - " Weiss pulled at her hair. "So fucking aloof! Like it didn't mean shit to you! When it's all I can think about! When I can't sleep because my body is begging for you inside me." Weiss put her face in her palms. "I couldn't sleep. I still can't." She admitted quietly. "You fucking broke me and I hate it."
Ruby said nothing, staring at Weiss. Slowly, she reached her hand out, almost touching Weiss. Then Weiss shifted, wiping her eyes, and Ruby pulled back.
"I'm sorry. Normally I'm not so pathetic. But, you asked." Weiss said bitterly.
"I did." Ruby answered.
"I wanted to forget it." Weiss said. Softly. "But I don't know if -" She swallowed, her eyes growing wet. "I - I need to go." Weiss grabbed her bag and stood up.
"But - " Ruby scrambled. "Wait, what about your food?" She gestured to the latte and scone, but Weiss was already out the door, the bell jingling behind her.
Ruby sat down, staring at the cookies, her mind racing.
"Everything okay?" Someone asked.
Ruby looked up. For a moment, the flash of orange hair, the green shirt, and she saw Penny leaning over the table, eyes welled with concern.
Then she blinked, and it was just Clementine.
"Fine." Ruby lied. "It's fine. Um. . ." She gestured to the cookies, the untouched scone. "Do you have a box?"
"Of course sweetie." Clementine said gently. "I'll be right back."
Ruby nodded. She leaned on her hand, looking out the window. She met the eyes of her reflection, and sighed.