A/N (20230211): Hi everyone, um, a bit of news.
I did say this would be the final chapter, but after finishing and writing over 20000+ words, I decided that this would be a great chance to test out something. For the final chapter of this arc, chapter 12, I will split it into about 7 mini-chapter parts, uploaded in sections over the next 3 weeks. However, I will be doing a bi-weekly upload schedule!
Sunday & Wednesday will be the two upload days!
Great Advisor & Beta: Pathalen
/-A Requiem for a Gamer-/
Weiss woke up with a jolt.
Almost tipping over backwards, she hurriedly threw herself forward and her hands slammed against the hardwood table, somehow missing all her books. Pain flashed up her arms and she winced, but rather than making any further sudden movements, she forced herself to calm down. Her hands, at their own pace, slowly came to a crossed, dainty position in her lap.
Carina and Ruby, who were sitting to her left and right, both stared at her. Jaune was still asleep across from her.
Her hands throbbed.
She took a moment to resituate herself.
Jaune stirred. Unlike Weiss, he yawned, and leisurely pushed himself to a sitting position. A bit of a stretch there and here, before he opened his eyes. His gaze met Weiss', and their eyes remained locked for a few seconds, before he seemed to notice their other team members.
Weiss jumped at the chance, before he could divert attention. "That dream right now… You said you would explain once we were out." She paid no attention to the others.
For a moment, his expression was blank. But when the smile appeared on his face, she knew she was in for disappointment - the smile did not reach his eyes. There was tension, and his eyes drifted from hers with almost nervous energy.
"I'm afraid I don't know what you are talking about."
I knew this was going to happen. Weiss would have growled to herself if she wasn't in polite company. Did he change his mind? Or was he never going to tell me?
"Good morning!" He said to the others. "You could have woken us up."
Weiss let him change the topic, taking a moment to consider her next move. …That dream was quite peculiar. She thought. As they exchanged pleasantries, Weiss flipped through her textbooks, a water bottle, and other personal items. I've never had such vivid memories. The length of the dream was also of note. There's no way I can believe it wasn't anything out of the ordinary.
"Don't worry! We didn't wait long. Sorry, we both arrived an hour late." Ruby said, adjusting her distastefully frilly, black skirt, visible even from above the table due to its poofy nature. "You wouldn't believe what happened to me…" She provided a nervous chuckle.
Weiss turned her gaze to her.
Today, Weiss had not come with her makeup for one obvious reason: a night of careful consideration had made her reconsider her actions as way too impulsive. It had been years since they had met, and Weiss had also bleached her hair. The chances she could recognize her were small, and should Ruby even have suspicions, Weiss could easily just deny them and feign ignorance, much alike Jaune recently did.
Not to mention… Weiss took a second look at Ruby's attire and scoffed quietly to herself.
Still, despite all that reasoning, a deep, uncomfortable feeling toiled at the bottom of her stomach.
There's no way she will recognize me like this. There has to be.
Pushing it to the back of her mind, Weiss moved on. She took her wallet from her purse, flipping through every single one of her cards and dollar bills carefully.
"Oh, do tell?" Jaune said.
"You honestly wouldn't believe me." Ruby paused. "...At least… Please don't laugh."
"I won't laugh." Jaune easily promised. He sandwiched his cheeks in between his palms with a slap. "Go on!"
She blinked at his antics, but did tell her tale. "You see, after I left my condo to walk to uni, I came across an old lady who needed help crossing the road."
Weiss' fingers stopped in the midst of counting bills. Condo?
"...Are you serious?" Jaune's words were distorted by the fish lips he was making, still sandwiched. "Ignoring how cliché it is, that wouldn't take any time at all."
"No, you see, the old lady needed help because she was carrying her groceries in addition to a stray kitten, left outside in a box, that she wanted to adopt."
"Nobody does that around here!"
"But it did happen - "
"Okay… Let's say that by chance someone watched too much anime…" Jaune looked as incredulous as Weiss. A condo within walking distance to the university?! How much would that cost?! She thought. "It's still a high risk to pick up just any random stray, especially for older people with compromised immune systems. If she didn't want to go to a pet shop, shouldn't she go to a shelter?"
Ruby couldn't help but shrug. "It seemed like she fell in love at first sight… The kitten had a tiny, black bow on its head, matching with its fur, it was pretty cute." She gestured using her hands, making two ears using her index and middle finger atop her head. "But that's not even close to the end."
"Oh?" Jaune said. Weiss was barely listening.
"You see we were halfway across the street when we were intercepted by a dragon."
And now she's being absurd. Weiss sighed. However, Jaune had a sudden serious expression.
"Was it yellow, asian, and majestic? And full of itself?" He asked.
"What? No? That's oddly specific and oddly general at the same time… Yes, it was yellow, and I guess it was in that, you know, the kind you'd see in Chinatown."
Jaune relaxed. "Ah, the costumed dance, right?"
"...What did you think I was talking about?"
He laughed, waving his hand. "A misunderstanding! Go on!"
"Right, so…"
As Ruby's tale went on, Weiss started becoming impressed by her ability to make things up on the spot. Supposedly, after the arrival of the yellow dragon dance group, a wild bull was then loosened on the streets after escaping its trailer. Then, after the bull was rounded up, a second dragon dance group, this time themed around black and red, actually came in and got into a fight with the first group. It was chaos, it was inane, and Weiss was not going to believe any of it. All she could do was roll her eyes. However, she noticed that Jaune didn't express amusement in any way to Ruby's absolutely crazy story. Instead, he looked rather contemplative.
"And Carina, did something similar happen to you?" He asked.
Carina jumped. Her phone slipped out of her hands, clattering to the ground. "S-sorry." Weiss watched her bend down beneath the table with movements so stiff and robotic she thought that the other woman might be made of cement.
The three watched her fumble about before she got back up.
"Y-you see…" Stop stammering, it's annoying. Her voice had a soft quality to it and also sounded like her throat was way too tight. "I was there too."
Weiss pinched the rim of her nose. "You are saying you both have the same story? You're not joking?"
"It seemed like she had been mistaken as one of the members of the dance groups, and was forcibly pulled in… It's true, I swear on my rifl - honor!"
"Y-yes…"
Weiss noticed Jaune exit from his deep reflection after their story and finally act. He took out his phone and started typing something.
This series of events, should they not be lying, does seem quite coincidental with my dream. If he also seems suspicious, then it lends credibility to the theory that something strange is going on. She sighed to herself. If I knew I was in a movie, then having someone invade your dreams and constructing a game inside would be natural - or even expected. But since I know I'm not, it's difficult to see this as nothing but a coincidence.
I need to find a chance to isolate him and wring the answers out.
"White?" Ruby's words broke her from her contemplation. Weiss relaxed her grip on the table as soon as she realized she was holding onto it quite tightly.
"Yes, what is it?" Weiss was thankful that she had the foresight to also make a new Facebook account under her fake name. I should move to a different social media platform in case they verify the name, but it's not like it's easy for them to make that check.
"I was just wondering about what major you all were in! I know Jaune's in English lit."
That's strange, is it just me, or is your voice even higher pitched than it was when we were younger? "I study biochem. You?" Weiss said.
"Political science." Ruby replied with a smile. "Biochem, that's fun! You get to make diseases and stuff, right?"
Weiss harrumphed. "As if. I study biological processes - making diseases would be for the biochemical engineers." She turned to Carina. "How about you?"
"I - I'm an engineer."
"Oh? A biochemical engineer?" Ruby asked with polite interest. "Then, you get to make the diseases? Zombie plagues?"
"Even if she was, I don't think they would allow an undergraduate to work with such samples." Weiss stated.
"That's not as fun to imagine, is it?"
Jaune said nothing, focused on whatever he was doing on his phone.
"Topics like these, once you are professionally involved and have studied in depth, usually aren't. Interesting perhaps, but I wouldn't say fun."
"Say you. Why don't we ask Carina? I'm sure she'll tell us about all the interesting bio-weapon tidbits - "
Carina said something, making Weiss, and Ruby's attention turn to her. However, to Weiss' surprise, her expression was especially tight. A little stressed, even. Weiss was perplexed as the other woman fidgeted with a pen on her lap, clearly struggling.
"I…" She said, before she suddenly became silent.
"Carina, is everything alright?" Weiss asked.
"Are you sick?" Ruby asked. "Maybe White can diagnose you?"
"That's not my field of study." Weiss had an inkling of what was going on. "I think we've spent enough time on introductions. We should get on with the topic of today's meeting, as we have already wasted enough time."
"Wait!" Carina suddenly called.
Weiss sighed. "Yes?"
"I - I study…" To Weiss, it sounded like Carina's words were like trying to squeeze blood from stone. "Civil engineering."
There was a sudden break in the conversation as the flow was interrupted. For brief pause, no one knew what to follow it up with, minds still on the previous topic.
Jaune suddenly stood up, just as abrupt as Carina's comment. "Sorry, I think I need to go to the bathroom." He was eying something on his phone.
This is my chance. "I do too." Weiss stood up immediately, her chair scraping the floor as it slid back.
Jaune swiftly sat back down. "Ladies first, then. I think there's only one unisex one nearby."
"You would be incorrect. The bathrooms here are decently sized, and split between the sexes. After all, it is quite the large gathering space," She gestured around them. " - it would be illogical for the architects to not have expected demand for washrooms to scale alongside the number of people that would frequent here."
"Not unlikely for them to make a mistake." Jaune gave her a smile. "Note these spaces between the tables, and these cracks in between the edges of the floor and the walls. If the architect had foresight, he would not have made a mistake like that and caused the buildup of grime and garbage."
Absent-mindedly, Weiss noticed Ruby being a little bewildered at their argument. Carina, on the other hand, seemed to shrink into herself.
"Then how about we go together to check?" Weiss offered.
"Ehhh… I'm too lazy. If there's no space, then I would have gone for nothing."
You'd petulantly declare that too?! Have you no shame? Weiss pinched the rim of her nose, looking around for something to help her. Her eyes locked onto her water bottle. It was a plastic, transparent one with a small, screwed-on lid, filled halfway through. She grabbed it. A quick look around told her that she had no other small containers, but she didn't really need one.
She took little sips from it, tipping her head back. Then, as she controlled the angle of the water bottle in order to restrict the flow to a small stream, she lifted the water bottle away from her face, but kept the stream of water centered into her open mouth. She tilted her head in order to make direct eye contact with Jaune.
As long as I make sure the water flowing into my mouth is as little as possible, I will be fine. There is of course the chance that he doesn't need to go at all, but all that would mean is that I drank a bit of water. The risks are minimal and the payout substantial, just how I like it.
Direct. Eye. Contact. Running water.
Ruby looked just so very confused. "Erm… so, civil engineering, Carina. How is that?"
"I-It's… good."
It became silent between them, except for the sound of Weiss drinking water in the most inconspicuous of ways.
Ruby's expression morphed into one of distress.
It would be a testament of Weiss' skill that she did not spill any. On the other hand, it was a testament of Jaune's patience when he stood up once more despite not even fifteen seconds passing. He then slipped his phone into his pocket.
"I brought my Switch, by the way, so if you want to use it as an ice breaker, feel free!" He shot before beelining for the washroom around the corner, outside of the atrium they were in. Perhaps it was an attempt at a diversion, but she wouldn't be so easily distracted.
Victory, Weiss would have thought, if it wasn't for one caveat. She now suddenly also needed to relieve herself. Still, it suited her purposes for now, so she put down her water bottle, stood up and followed after Jaune.
"Why are you running?"
"I am not." His jog slowed down.
"Why are you running?!"
"I am not!" He said. He was walking as fast he could, speed walking if Weiss had to say. Because of the length of his stride, Weiss had to run a little to catch up.
"It's quite impolite to rush like this indoors. What if you run into someone around the corner?"
"I just really need to take a piss, thanks to someone."
How crass. "I am - " As the distance between them and the bathroom shrank, Weiss realized her time was running out. "Wait!" Jaune did not wait, turning on his heel around the corner and then immediately sprinting towards the bathrooms. Weiss muttered underneath her breath and chased.
Jaune had to slow down in front of the door to the men's bathroom and it was there that Weiss caught his hand, stopping him.
"What aren't you telling me about?!" She said loudly.
"I'm! - " He started just as loudly, but noticed some passersby turn their heads towards them. "I just don't feel like it!" He tried to pull his hand away, but did not do so with enough gusto to hurt her, and thus failed to break free.
She held it tighter. "Just tell me what's going on! You never tell me anything!" She looked backwards, also noting the people staring. "Tell me about her! Tell me about what was happening with Maria!"
There were murmurs behind them.
Jaune's eyes met hers. He was pissed, but Weiss did not care. She continued. "You know, by the end, she was aware of her situation. Don't you feel bad for her? And what about me?" She put a hand over her chest, giving her best performance - though it wasn't all fake. "Don't you think I deserve answers?"
"I said no." He dropped his voice down to a whisper. "Stop looking into it, Weiss. I don't care if you're Weiss Schnee and all that, this is far beyond you."
"...I never told you my old last name was Schnee." She whispered.
Jaune flinched. His eyes widened in panic. It was not what Weiss expected. If her cover had been blown because he recognized her, would he really be panicked to reveal that he knew who she was? Did it deserve such a reaction?
The clues just kept on piling up.
If she kept pressing, it looked like Jaune would just keep making mistakes.
He swore, putting a hand over his face. "No. Please, stop." The anger faded, and his brows loosened from their furrowed state. As his hand fell back down, he revealed his tired eyes. "I know you want to know. It's also hard for me to stop you. But… I can't. I told you I can't get you involved… I know I had changed my mind, but I changed my mind once more. The situation has evolved and I understand more of what's going on." He had stopped struggling long before now, facing her. His hand in her grip loosened. Instead, he walked up to her, bridging the gap.
She looked up at him, almost straining due to their height difference. At this range, he looked imposing, his almost-handsome face staring down with surprising intensity. She instinctively took a step back, the change in him surprising her. But he took a step forward, too, keeping the closeness.
"Weiss, please. I beg you." His other hand took her free hand gently, as if cradling something precious and brittle like glass.
W- Wait!
"You know I do it because I care about you." His smell enveloped her, and suddenly, she was lost in a sea of warmth and spice. The fragrance opened with a strangely inviting combination of tobacco leaves and sweet rum, and led onwards to hints of vanilla. It was mature, bold, and masculine, much that Weiss knew Jaune was not. Despite that, her eyelids dipped, softening her gaze, and her grip on his hand, the one she had first grabbed to stop him from leaving, changed as he became the one holding her hands instead. "I can't let you come to harm because of my mistakes." His voice was thick with emotion, making her feel in odd ways that made her strength leave her. Thick enough, that even through the haze that clouded her… she knew she was being played.
He dropped her loosened hands instantly and sprinted into the men's bathroom.
Weiss sighed, putting her arms around herself once more. What am I doing? She took a few uneasy steps the other way. With each step, her walk became firmer, and she entered the women's bathroom.
/-A Requiem for a Gamer-/
Next Part: February 14th, 2024.