AN: I'm not dead! Just been really busy this summer. Though I haven't exactly been idle either. I had planned on having one more scene in this chapter but decided to leave it for the next chapter. I'll let you guess what it will entail. As for my next RWBY chapter it'll either be a Glyph Runner update or Sealing Fates.
Besides the four other fanfiction chapters I'm working on I have also started writing on FictionPress again. The story is called, Will of the River. A high fantasy story focused on a Succubus, an Elven Sorcerer, and a Fire Elemental. With a lot of inspiration from DnD, Christianity, and a lot of various folklore and legends. Such as the Wendigo from the Native American Indians, to werewolves and undead, to the Old English folktales of the mischievous faerie folk, and everything in between. With that out of the way, enjoy the journey, keep moving forward, and don't feed the guard dogs! - Phoenix Commander signing off!
Chapter Three: Talks
Klein had just finished preparing breakfast for Weiss and Sun when he heard the door to their bedroom open. "Almost nine, eh? Letting them sleep in an extra hour was for the best." He chuckled to himself as he picked up the breakfast platter, carrying it to the dining room.
"Morning, Klein, sleep well?" Sun asked, still wiping the last vestiges of sleep from his eyes as the butler walked in with the platter. Both he and Weiss were still foggy with sleep, neither had had the presence of mind to change from their sleepwear.
"Well enough Mr. Wukong. And thank you, both of you, for your gift." Klein replied with a small nod, and a bright smile, as he set the platter between Weiss and Sun.
"It was one of the only ways we could think of to thank you. But we are glad you enjoyed the pie, Sun's family could probably grow wealthy as bakers with that recipe." Weiss said returning the smile, while trying to stifle a yawn.
"That they could, now I thought I'd keep it simple today. Bacon, moderately crispy, pancakes, orange and apple juice, and a pot of medium roast coffee." Klein agreed, before bringing the platter to their attention and removing the lid. "Something light for the morning as you do still have your luncheon with your father and sister today."
"Thanks Klein, it looks great as always." Weiss said, reaching for a mug on the platter and pouring herself a cup of coffee.
"I do my best, Snowflake." The butler said, with a small nod. "Before I forget there is one matter that you both do need to be aware of."
"Something happen after we left?" Sun asked sharing a look with Weiss, waking up slightly at Klein's words, his knife hovering over a pair of pancakes.
Klein waved a hand to dismiss the concerned look starting to creep into the eyes of the publisher and editor. "No, no. At least nothing troubling. We may have found some potential people to fill the void left by Ms Fall and Mr. Torchwick is all."
"Oh? That quickly? Have you had a look over their résumés yet?" Weiss asked, taking a sip of her coffee. The warm liquid helping to rouse her further.
"Résumé, Snowflake, a joint résumé. And yes, I have. What I found well, I think you will be pleasantly surprised as they also sent along a portfolio. But it can wait until after breakfast." He replied, thinking about the photos he had looked over when the portfolio had been delivered to Weiss' desk. The last time I saw a model and photographer connected on that level was Mr. and Mrs. Schnee when they were first starting the SCC.
"Something on your mind, Klein?" Sun asked after a few moments as he set his mostly empty coffee cup down, noticing the thoughtful look that had crept into the butler's eyes.
"Hmm…? Oh, sorry, Mr. Wukong. I was just reminded of the past is all." The butler replied, topping off the monkey Faunus' mug. "Perhaps you should at least look through a bit of the portfolio before we return to the office. Give me just a moment to retrieve it."
As Klein left to retrieve the packet of photos and other documents Weiss couldn't help but remark on what the butler had told them, "Cinder and Roman had a joint résumé as well. Let's hope this doesn't mean history will repeat itself."
"Whoever it is that Klein has picked out could be decent people though. Won't know until they're sitting in front of us during an interview." Sun replied as he reached across the table and squeezed Weiss' hand reassuringly.
"Hmm...true, it's not fair of me to judge prospective employees based on an experience with a few bad apples." She said, giving him a small smile before reaching for her coffee again.
After a few minutes Klein returned to the dining room, a thick manila envelope in his hands. "The photographer and model in question are a Ms. Velvet Scarlatina and Ms. Yang Xiao Long." He said as he carefully cleared a space on the table between the Glisten's publisher and editor, before removing a few of the photos from the portfolio and spread them out on the table.
Klein had selected six photos of various summer wear from the collection that had been sent for review, along with what first looked to Weiss and Sun to be duplicates. Until they looked closer and noticed that out of the twelve photographs in total, six of them showed the model, whom they assumed to be Yang, with her freckles edited out.
Sun's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked the photos over, "Well I can safely say that the photographer takes her work to heart. Obviously the photos with the model's freckles are the originals but if I had only seen the edited ones I'd say they were instead."
"Only other person we have with that kind of talent is Blake." Weiss said, nodding in agreement as she finished the last of her breakfast. Her blue eyes scanning the photos from behind her glasses, if not as intently as Sun's were at that moment. "Even so, she's still better suited to dealing with our freelancers. Hmm…you said their names were Velvet Scarlatina and Yang Xiao Long, correct, Klein?"
"That is correct, yes." The butler informed her, gesturing at the coffee pot. "Another mug?"
"Yes, please. Sun, can you see anything in those photos that stands out about the model?" Weiss asked, pulling his eyes away from the photos.
"A lot actually." He replied with an approving, if somewhat surprised, nod. "She's incredibly relaxed, there is nothing stiff about her posture. And her smile is probably the most genuine one I've seen from a model." Sun handed her the photo, "Look at her eyes, she's not looking at the camera. She's looking behind the camera. I'd say she was doing her best to make this as fun for her photographer as it was for her."
"I'm glad you noticed that, Mr. Wukong. It was one of the reasons I wanted to bring them to your attention." Klein interjected, as he refilled Weiss' coffee.
"If they work so well together then that would be a bonus. It means the photos would be more natural from the start. Less of a need for re-shoots, which would save time in the long run." Weiss mused between sips of her coffee. Her brow furrowed ever so slightly she scrutinized the photograph. But then again Cinder and Roman were also the same…
Klein cleared his throat a little to catch her attention before speaking. "I know that look, Snowflake. Give them a chance, at least a probationary period. That would be the normal thing to do anyway."
"If they don't work out we're not out anything." Sun nodded in agreement with Klein's suggestion. "Hell, if they do work out we'll have some of the best work out of a paired photographer and model I've seen."
With both Klein and Sun in agreement about at least giving the prospective employees a chance Weiss found herself outnumbered. With a sigh she rubbed the bridge of her nose as she relented. "Alright, alright, you win. If you both want me to give them a chance then that is what we'll do."
"I'll get with HR to set up an interview date when we get to the office." Sun said as he carefully picked up the photos and handed them back to Klein, before standing from the table. "Speaking of the office, we should get moving. I don't think we want to hear a rant from Coco about not being there to look over the new designs with her."
"Oh, don't bring that evil upon us here." Weiss said with a feigned groan. The clothing designer could be over enthusiastic at times but she meant well. "I need more than just two cups of coffee to deal with an angry Coco Adel."
"I'll have a car waiting for both when you're ready." Klein said failing to suppress a chuckle, as the publisher and editor started for their bedroom to get ready for the day.
"You're looking better today, Sun." Blake called out as she glimpsed the monkey Faunus walking passed her office door, her eyes barely left the monitor at her desk as she continued proofreading the article from the previous day.
"What can I say? You and Klein ended up being right." Sun said with a shrug as he stopped and leaned against the door frame. "Thanks for that by the way. Weiss and I did need it."
"No problem. I take it Klein already told you both about that résumé?" She asked, her eyes finally leaving her work.
"Yeah, we saw some photos from the portfolio too. If it really does pan out we might have some real talent to work with again." Sun answered, nodding a little thoughtfully.
"And what am I, chopped liver?" The feline Faunus asked with an arched eyebrow.
"Of course not, Blake." The Editor-in-Chief said, chuckling in reply. "Make any headway on that article yesterday?"
"Actually, I was just finishing it up. Want to double proof it?"
"Sure, send it to my inbox and I'll give it a look." Sun replied, starting to make his way to his own office before pausing, "Oh, if Coco comes looking for me tell her I stepped out."
"She's going overboard on designs again, isn't she?" Blake asked with a chuckle as she forwarded the magazine article to Sun's work email.
"Yeah, she caught me and Weiss in the elevator on the way in. Not the best way to actually start the work day." He said with a sigh, his tail twitching in annoyance.
"True. Is there anything urgent you need me to stay after for?" The feline Faunus asked, her ears flattening slightly as she started to read over the drafts that the Glisten's freelance writers had sent her.
"Not that I know of, something come up?" Sun asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Just a date." Blake replied, her ears perking slightly as her cheeks reddened at her own words. After being burned one time too many, the Glisten's head journalist had sworn off dating for the last few years. God, I'm starting to blush like a schoolgirl just thinking about it. Am I really this rusty? Deep breaths, Blake.
"Congrats, it's about time you're getting back out there." The Editor-in-Chief said, disturbing his assistant's thoughts. "Does he know what you do or did you just tell him journalism?"
"Journalism, figured I'd tell him I work for a slave driver of a magazine after the date." Blake jokingly replied as she focused her thoughts on the screen in front of her. "Don't want to scare him off...or have him trying to get into my pants just for the money."
"Not the worst plan, but don't keep him in the dark too long." The monkey Faunus replied before stepping into the hall to start his own work for the day.
"No worries on that. Just yell if you need me, I'll be working on these rough drafts a few of our freelancers sent in." Blake called after him, the annoyance in her voice now undisguised as she continued reading the drafts. The journalist's exasperated shout soon followed Sun as it echoed in the empty hall. "Did half of these morons even finish middle school?!" A few doors creaked slowly open as the more inquisitive photographers and journalists carefully looked toward the amber eyed woman's ajar office door. Sun motioned for them to get back to their work as he passed, trying to suppress a chuckle.
"So, heard back from Glisten yet?" Nora asked, as she tossed Yang a water bottle from a small cooler. The fitness instructor and model were the park near Yang and Velvet's apartment, just finishing the blonde's late morning regimen.
"Velvet only sent the portfolio and resume in yesterday. I doubt we'll hear back from them today or this week. Two weeks if we're lucky." The lilac eyed woman said, as she opened the bottle.
"I dunno about that." Nora replied before opening her own bottle and taking a sip. "They had that scandal a while back with...who was it? Romeo and Ember?"
"Roman and Cinder. But yeah, your point, Nora?"
"They've got holes to fill. You might hear back faster than you think."
Yang blinked in surprise, "I...I actually hadn't thought of that."
"Good thing I did, ha!" The fitness instructor chuckled, "So do you want to call it for the morning?"
Yang glanced at her phone, "Almost eleven, might as well. Did Ruby have another case today?"
"Nope, and as a bonus, it'll be a bit quieter around the house tonight. Ren won't be typing on that machine gun he calls a keyboard." The orange haired woman replied, the beginnings of a small smile creeping across her face.
"What's happening to get him away from working on his novel?" The be-freckled model asked, as she sat back against a tree. A small sigh at the touch of the cool shade escaped her lips.
"He's got a date." Nora replied as she joined the blonde in the shade, her limbs splayed out. As turquoise eyed woman lay there up-ended her water bottle, drenching herself in the cool liquid.
"Heh, think you make the shot back into the cooler laying down?" Yang asked a smirk, nodding toward the still open cooler.
Nora tilted her head just enough to see the small cooler. Her smile turned into a grin at the challenge. "Just watch me!" Her hand moved just enough to let the bottle go, as she flung one arm into the air. The empty water bottle flipped end for end before striking the lid of the cooler and falling to the ground. "Crap, I thought I had that one." A small pout formed on Nora's lips as she stood and put the bottle in the cooler, closing the lid with a snap.
"Better luck next time. Huh, I guess the stars aligned just right." The model nodded approvingly, taking another sip from her bottle. "Finding someone that got him even a little interested was starting to grate on me."
"Can't fault him for looking at both their personality and interests over looks." Nora said, sprawling once more in the shade. "Though you're not wrong, the number of book lovers we introduced him to that were shot down was a lot higher than I would have thought."
"Agreed, Sis." Yang replied, sighing slightly as she savored the cool breeze that was starting to blow off of the park's lake. "Do we at least have a name for the woman who managed to get Ren's attention?"
"S-Sorry what?" The fitness instructor asked, sitting up sharply.
The lilac eyed woman stared, a little confused, "I asked if he'd given y-"
"Not that." Nora exclaimed, her hands waving emphatically. "The other thing!"
"What are you...oh. What, too soon?" Yang asked, her head titling questioningly as her eyes bore into her future in-law. She could hear it, a slight hesitance in Nora's voice. The model could tell that the orange haired woman's rigid posture had not softened, as if she were ready to run. Not like you at all, Nora. Better to get this out in the open now. I'm not having awkward family gatherings if I can help it.
"No, no. Just surprised me, that's all." Nora replied, fixing her eyes on the lake. Unable to look her friend in the eye at that moment. I never even thought to ask her too. Why the Hell did I not even think of that?!
Yang slid over to the fretting woman, gently wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Nora, what's on your mind?"
"It's just...I talked to Tai and Summer before I proposed to Ruby. I got their blessing, but I just sprung it up on you out of nowhere in the middle of the restaurant." She said, finally taking her eyes off the lake. "Looking back I...I never even thought to ask you. Fuck...there I was pulling out the ring, proposing to my best friend's sister and I hadn't even thought to ask for her blessing!"
Yang could feel Nora's shoulders start to shake as she pulled her into a hug. "Hey, don't go crying on me now or I may just start myself." She chuckled lightly, before looking the smaller woman in the eyes. "Nora, you have never needed my blessing. And do you know why? I wasn't blind to what was going on. I could see how you both looked at each other and I can hear it in your voice even now whenever you're thinking about her. You've always had my blessing, even without asking."
"T-Thanks, Yang." Nora said, hiccuping a little as her voice hitched, and wrapping Yang in a tight hug again. "Y-You know it's the same with you and Velvet, right?"
"An overpowering wellspring of joy at just the thought of her. Yeah, I know." Freckled woman acknowledged with a smile.
"Good, cause none of us are blind to it either." Nora laughed as she climbed to her feet, and picked up the cooler. "Should probably start heading back to the apartment, want to at least squeeze lunch out of Ren before he leaves for his date."
"Leave it to Valkyrie to go looking for a post workout meal." Yang joked, her smile still wide on her features.
"Damn right. Though it'll be more of a snack. I'm thinking on making some seared scallops for dinner with Ruby." She mused, as they walked to the park entrance. "Won't take long I know, but I do want it to be perfect so I'll need to have something to tide me over."
"Make sure you go with a white wine…actually hold up in my lobby for a second, will you?" The model asked, jerking a thumb at the door to her complex. "I'm pretty sure I've got a spare white wine from Mistral."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. It'll pair great and it's not like I can't find another bottle." She nodded enthusiastically, as she started up the front steps of her building. It didn't take her long to get the bottle and meet Nora back in the lobby, though she did pause when she saw Velvet on her phone beaming from ear to ear. "Found it! Now I should probably hurry back, Velvet looked like she was going to explode."
"Good news or bad?" Nora asked, placing the bottle carefully in the cooler.
Yang shrugged, starting back for the elevator. "Well she was smiling so, probably good news."
"Well, don't keep her waiting," Nora said, motioning for Yang to get back to Velvet. As the blonde stepped into the elevator she remembered what the model had asked her. "Oh and her name is Blake, apparently she's a journalist. Didn't say who she worked for, so I'm guessing freelance."
"Good to know." The freckled woman replied hitting the button for her floor, "I'll let you know how this turns out."
As she stepped off the elevator once more, a voice reached her ears. Muffled at first but it quickly grew, "Yang, Yang, Yang, Yang!" It was Yang's only warning before she felt the wind leave her lungs as a pair of slender arms wrapped tight around her in a flying tackle. She had to brace herself to keep from falling back into the elevator with Velvet atop her.
"So I guess it was good news after all then?" The woman asked, chuckling as she settled her arms around the rabbit Faunus' waist.
Velvet answered the laugh by pinning her girlfriend against the now closed elevator doors with a kiss. She could feel Yang's arms tighten around her, trying to deepen the sudden contact, but as soon as she'd kissed the model, Velvet stopped. She leaned back just enough to give her the news. "We've got an interview with Glisten in two days!"
"How should we celebrate?" Yang grinned as she returned the photographer's kiss with her own, before letting Velvet lead her back to their apartment.
"Oh, I think you know. But first, Dear, you need a bath." The rabbit Faunus chuckled, which soon changed to a mirthful laugh as the model scooped her up into her arms and started carrying her to their door.
"Only if you're joining me." She replied with a salacious gleam in her crimson-flecked lilac eyes, as she carried Velvet across the threshold of their apartment. It might be too early for the couple to celebrate, but just hearing back about an interview with the magazine company alone was something the photographer and her muse hadn't thought they would get.