Limit
Ruby nearly jumped out of her skin when her alarm screeched at her. A throaty groan nearly left her before she decided against it. Instead, she shot her hand out toward her phone to shut the racket off before forcing her eyes open. It was still dark out… why – oh right, Weiss! Ruby beamed as she threw her covers off. A quick glance confirmed that Yang and Blake were still asleep. Probably. Sleepy grumbles from Blake confirmed her suspicions as the Faunus rolled over in her bed, and was silent once more.
Thank goodness for that! She'd been worried that a noise like that would be enough to wake at least Blake up. It felt like anything was enough to wake her friend up. It probably had something to do with the time she'd spent with the White Fang. Would it be insensitive to ask about that? Probably. Why was she awake?
Right, Weiss.
She was going to finally catch the elusive heiress and talk some sense into her. Just like Yang had done last night.
Ruby tossed the scroll on her pillow and stretched her arms up to the ceiling with a groan before letting them flop back down to the mattress. She muffled a large yawn and quietly hopped down from her bunk. She turned to Weiss' bed the moment her feet hit the ground, only to frown. It was neatly made up… and empty…
No way. There was no way Weiss had managed to wake up before her. She could clearly remember her partner arriving at the dorm looking more exhausted than Yang after a really long workout. She'd walked in behind her sister, totally wiped. She'd even just collapsed into her bed - face first, even - without even taking her jacket off. She never went to bed with her jacket on! It'd actually been kinda funny, thinking about it.
Had she been dreaming? It wouldn't have been the first time something like that had happened. Lapses in memory, things getting jumbled, her brain making up things that never actually happened.
Closing her eyes, Ruby tried her best to recall the events of the previous evening.
She and Blake had been lounging in the room when Yang had walked in. Her hands clasped behind her head as she made a beeline to Blake. Almost too casually striking up a conversation with her. They'd talked about… something for a bit. Yang had gotten annoyed pretty quick. Blake didn't look happy about what she said either. She'd looked past Yang at the door just as the door opened again-
That was definitely when Weiss had walked in. She'd looked absolutely exhausted and really nervous just standing by the doorway. Blake had almost instantly locked eyes with her, which had been super awkward until Blake looked back at Yang. She'd given her a quick, angry nod before climbing into her bed, flipping away from the rest of the room. Yang had been annoyed at that, but didn't say anything. She just gave Weiss a nod and… everyone just kinda went to bed without saying anything else after that.
Ruby reopened her eyes, letting out a heavy breath. No, she hadn't been dreaming. Weiss had been there. She had all but collapsed from exhaustion. Yang had kept her and Blake from fighting.
Yang. Not her.
She allowed herself a quiet, frustrated sigh as she glanced at her sister's bunk, before quietly slapping her palms to her cheeks. Nothing she could do about it right now. She'd just have to do better in the future! Ruby's gaze returned to her partner's empty bunk. Yeah, she'd definitely have to do better – wait… Ruby looked closer at the bunk, toward the middle. There, barely visible in the early morning light, was a small square paper and a folded sheet. Ruby snatched the papers up and dashed to the bathroom as quickly as she could without waking up the rest of her team.
Once she was inside, she flicked the lights on and looked them over. One of the items turned out to be a business card of some sorts. Pale blue and white gradient that led her eye directly to the nicely pressed white logo in the top left. At the top of the card, next to the logo, was the name for a business that Ruby couldn't pronounce if her life depended on it. Based on the logo and what little she could make out from the details on the card and its name though, it seemed like it was for a boutique or something. It looked expensive…
She wouldn't be able to figure anything else out from the business card, so she turned her attention to the folded paper. Unfolding it revealed a note that had definitely been written by Weiss thanks to the neat, fancy-looking handwriting.
To RBY.
To RBY. Not RWBY. Apparently, Weiss still didn't think she was part of the team… Or maybe it was just because it'd be weird to write a note like this to herself? Ruby shook her head and continued to read.
Due to unforeseen circumstances I will be unable to attend tonight's dance and, as such, must relinquish my position as hostess.
Glynda will be contacting you later today, so that she might request at least one of you replace me. Please, consider accepting this responsibility for me.
I am aware I have done nothing to warrant such a request, so, to that end, I have arranged for a dress fitting at Argent Chique Boutique for each of you. The fitting is at three-thirty this afternoon. Do not be late Ruby. Please, inform Blake that her heritage will not be an issue, though I suspect that it will not pose an issue if she finds herself uncomfortable revealing herself for this.
This dance was intended to give you all a glimpse of my life as an Atlesean elite. I hope that, even if you should refuse the offered position, you at least attend and enjoy this small taste of Atlas.
Thank you for your kindness.
Weiss Schnee
Ruby dropped the card and message on the counter and gripped the edges of the sink to steady herself as she processed the contents of the note. That was… That was a lot to unpack.
It was barely past 6 in the morning and she already felt overwhelmed with questions twice over. It was too early for this.
Ruby snatched up the papers and made her way back to the actual dorm. She dropped them on Weiss' bed for the others to find when they woke up, rummaged through her clothes for an outfit and quickly got ready for the day. She could deal with this when she was a bit more… Something. Less this. More awake.
Maybe she could go for a run. It always helped when the world began to feel a bit too… big. Cleared her head, got her mind off of whatever stupid little thing had her down in the dumps.
Once she was dressed, she dashed for the front door of the dorms. She took a deep breath of the cool morning air before bolting forward in an explosion of rose petals. Maybe she would even be able to find Weiss while she was-
Ruby let out the beginning of a scream before barely managing to throw her arms out to stop herself falling into the grass of Beacon's courtyard. With a pained groan, she flipped onto her back.
Ok. Semblance bad. Too distracted. Normal running it was.
With a groan, Ruby got to her feet and dusted herself off. Well, it'd been a while since she had just gone on a run without her semblance anyway. Just normal running was kinda nice in its own way. Still slow though, so she definitely wouldn't find Weiss.
Ruby sighed in frustration as she slowly worked herself into a jog. She didn't really pay much attention to where she was going once she started though. She just focused on the feeling of her feet hitting the ground, on the feeling of the air pumping in and out of her lungs. She could feel that satisfying ache that came with physically exerting herself building in her legs as she moved through the campus, until she reached the outskirts of the airship docks, pausing mid stride as an idea hit her.
It wasn't exactly the greatest view, but it was still nice! Especially in the morning. A small break wouldn't hurt, plus it was still super early... Her mind made up, Ruby turned and made her way to the nearby outlook. It was definitely safer than just hanging out on the actual landing pad…
Ruby shook her head as she walked past the lookout bench. She wasn't even at the railing yet and the sound of the waves far below already had her convinced that stopping here was a good idea. On the horizon, the sun was beginning to peak over the mountains. She could even see some little delivery shuttles heading towards the school.
She all but collapsed onto the railing with an overly drawn out sigh, letting the sounds of crashing water and howling wind wash over her. Yah, this had been a good idea-
"Ah! Good morning, Miss Rose!"
"AH!" Ruby practically jumped out of her skin at the sudden greeting. Before her mind could catch up with what was going on, the ground began rushing to meet her. With another screech, she threw her hands out to catch herself, grabbing the railing just before she hit the ground.
"Uh… Good morning-" Ruby groaned as she untangled herself from the railing and turned to see who had scared her so badly.
Doctor Oobleck, steaming thermos in hand, sat comfortably on the bench she could have sworn was empty when she'd arrived barely a moment ago.
"Doctor…" Ruby finished. She should probably stand up. She quickly shot to her feet, her cheeks red with embarrassment.
Oobleck took a sip from his thermos before raising it in greeting with a smile. "I dare say, my dear, you look positively out of sorts."
"Heh. Well you did just scare the living daylights out of me."
"True. Though I would hazard a guess that nearly anything would have come as a shock, given how preoccupied you seemed to be," Oobleck said with a chuckle. He gestured to her with his thermos. "Coffee?"
The small whiffs of caffeine smelled like heaven as Ruby quickly zipped to the bench and took a seat next to the Doctor.
"You got any Sugar?"
"Plenty. How many?"
"...Five please…"
Oobleck's warm smile flattened until his lips practically disappeared.
"What?"
"Hm? Oh, it's nothing, Miss Rose," Oobleck said, quickly handed her a steaming thermos lid over. The warmth of the cup alone helped cut through the morning chill. "Here you are."
"Thank you." Ruby smiled, taking a long sip from the makeshift cup. A deep, contented sigh escaped her as the coffee's rich flavors cut through the intoxicating amount of sugar she normally had to use to make the cafeteria coffee even palatable.
How Weiss managed to drink that stuff black was a mystery to her.
"Miss Rose, while I primarily consider myself to be something of an academic, I feel I would be remiss if I did not at least offer what help I can. To that end, would you care to tell me what has made you so distraught?"
"Oh, it's nothing. Just my teammates," Ruby quickly replied, sipping the beverage as her legs aimlessly kicked the air in front of her.
"If it was nothing, I dare say you wouldn't be quite so distracted."
Ruby let out a deep sigh, slumping back on the bench. "I guess… I mean, it's been months now, but it feels like we're still not really a team. We used to get along ok, but lately, things have just gotten… worse. Weiss has been avoiding us for a while now, and Blake's been in a really bad mood too. I've been trying to get them to talk, but it's just not working."
"There is a reason Beacon invested in sound dampening for the first year dorms, Miss Rose. Historically inter-team relationships are the most common issue amongst first year teams. Clashing egos, incompatible personalities, and even intimate relations within the team can all play a role in hindering team dynamics. Believe me when I say that each and every one of your peers are likely going through similar issues as your team behind closed doors."
"I know, it's just… I mean, lately it's starting to feel like I'm part of the problem. Ozpin said he believes in me, but it still feels like I'm not cut out to be RWBY's leader."
"Hm. Yes. Pushed ahead two years, saddled with the stress of being named team leader, and placed on the same team as your older sister. It is no doubt an immense burden to carry, even without the additional classes and training you will be given next semester."
A frown formed as Ruby took a moment to polish off the beverage, wiping the small bit of residue from the corners of her mouth as she glanced up to Oobleck.
"I sense that is not the answer you were looking for." He frowned, glancing down at his own thermos. "Very well. Would you like to tell me what specifically you are concerned about?"
Ruby slumped back into the bench with a groan. "I'm the team's leader. I'm supposed to be the one that people go to for help, but they always run away or talk to somebody else when something happens. I want to help my team when they need it, but I never get the chance."
"Mmmm. And tell me, how does the fact you're not the one they go to make you feel?" Oobleck took her empty cup and began to refill it.
"Annoyed. Frustrated." Ruby let her eyes roam the sky above her. "Jealous. I've tried everything, but Weiss refuses to tell me anything, Blake has half her foot out the door, and Yang seems like she's losing it trying to keep Weiss and Blake from killing each other whenever they're in the same room. The whole team feels like it's just… falling apart."
"And you feel as if this is all somehow your fault. Like you haven't been doing enough."
"No – I mean, I just – I guess so, yeah…" Ruby gestured vaguely towards her head, sitting back up on the bench. "It gets all jumbled up here, and then I just start to feel super overwhelmed and I end up running away from it all."
Oobleck smiled, handing back the refilled cup. "If I had a Lien for every time a leader in history had similar thoughts or feelings, I would be a very rich man. Tell me, Miss Rose. Who is the leader you wish you could be?"
"What?" Ruby glanced up with a raised eyebrow.
"You clearly have an image of an ideal leader in your mind, someone you strive to emulate. I am curious who that is."
"Oh… Well it's, uh… Team CVFY. Coco."
"Ah. And what is it about her that you admire?"
"She's just…" Ruby placed the cup carefully in her lap, letting the warmth spread through her hands. "I don't know how to explain it. The first time she walked into the cafeteria, I was just like, 'wow'. She was amazing."
"You admire her strength?"
"No, it's not that. I mean, I do, but that's not why I think she's a great leader… It's not like Pyrrah or Cardin where you can feel their strength in every move. It's more, you feel like you could lean on her? Like she would be there for you no matter what? Gah, that just sounds weird."
"Not at all. Coco is an exceptional individual. Far and away the most notable second year team leader. But tell me Miss Rose, are you Coco Adel?"
"...No?"
"Correct. You are Ruby Rose."
"Uh… Yah?"
Doctor Oobleck nodded at "Now hypothetically, if you were Coco, would all of your team's issues be fixed?"
Ruby paused for a moment to sip her drink.
"Probably not. She's kind of intense, which is fine for Yang, but she would probably be way too in your face for Blake. And Weiss would probably just argue- Oh."
"Indeed."
Ruby took a long drink from her cup, finishing her second cup, as she mulled over Oobleck's words and the events of the last few months. Wordlessly, she handed the lid back to Oobleck and turned to face him. "Doctor Oobleck? What should I do? I don't want my team to fall apart."
The morning sun bathed the both of them in a warm glow as Oobleck sighed deeply. His eyes softened as he looked at Ruby with an expression that made him seem so much older than the eccentric professor Ruby was so used to listening to.
"Miss Rose, over the many years that I've spent as an instructor at this school, I have seen many teams rise and many teams fall. History has a funny way of repeating itself despite all our efforts to prevent it. However, amidst all of the mistakes made and the lessons learned, there is one thing I can say for certain. So long as you have faith in your teammates, you will be rewarded."
Ruby knew there was no real answer in his words, yet the conviction in his voice alone was enough to grab some measure of hope as he quietly twisted the lid back onto his thermos.
"It's really hard to keep hoping, Doctor…"
"Nothing worth fighting for is ever easy, Miss Rose. Speaking of fighting, I do believe you have class soon. Glynda would not be pleased if you were to arrive late."
Ruby paled for a brief moment before bolting back towards the school, leaving a flurry of petals and echoing words in her wake. "Thank you, Doctor Oobleck!"
"Absolutely not. I'm not doing her any favors after everything she's done to us," Blake said in an even tone as she snatched a book from her shelf.
Right. She probably should've expected that after everything. Ruby turned to where Yang had collapsed in her bed, her limbs splayed out in every direction. "What about you Yang? Up for being the hostess?"
"I mean, I kinda just wanted to hang out and have fun at the dance, y'know? Maybe if I'd been planning to help out from the start, I'd have been up for it, but now…? Eh," Yang said with a lazy wave of her arm.
Ruby sighed. Okay, so maybe she could have timed this a bit better but come on! She could understand Blake's frustration given the situation with Weiss, but it wasn't that unreasonable of a request. According to Glynda, Hostess was about as simple of a role as it came. You greeted people, answered questions about the food and drink, pretended to be all fancy, stuff like that.
"Honestly, I'm kinda surprised Weiss even needs us to do this." Yang said after a brief but awkward silence. "She's been working on this dance every day for like a month now. You'd think she'd want to be front-and-… Oh."
"Oh?" Blake glanced up from her book.
Ruby glanced up at her sister. "Is something wrong, Yang?"
"Yah, it's just… Something Weiss said last night just clicked. Sorry."
Blake hummed in response and slowly closed her book. "Right... And what exactly did you two talk about last night again?"
"Other than what I told you last night? Nothing. Because I promised Weiss I wouldn't say anything," Yang said, sighing deeply. "I'm guessing that you're probably not gonna take that though... So you guys need to stay quiet about what I'm about to say, got it?"
"Got it!" Ruby replied with an emphatic nod, glancing at Blake as she narrowed her eyes at the top bunk.
"Fine," she said, crossing her arms.
"Okay." Yang nodded, flipping over in her bunk to prop herself up on her arm and look at the two of them. "I can't tell you much, but the gist of it is that she's not a total bitch. She just wants to take over the SDC so she can do some good, but there's some things going on that are kinda forcing her hand on certain things…"
"Right," Blake scoffed. "She's a saint and this whole thing has just been an elaborate ruse…"
Ruby let out a deep sigh as she ran a hand through her hair. "Okay… Any idea what kind of certain things?"
The silence stretched on until Ruby finally glanced up at Yang, only to find her biting her lip as she struggled to put her thoughts to words.
"Yang, if you can't say anything, it's okay."
"No, I know. It's just…" Yang paused before letting out a deep breath. "I think there is a lot more going on with her dad than we realize."
"Obviously," Blake said, rolling her eyes as she gestured towards Weiss' bed. "Her father is Jacques Schnee, the CEO of the Schnee Dust Company. He's as close to openly abhorring the Faunus as you can get. Where do you think she got all her beliefs from?"
"No, not like that. It's more like…" Yang scratched at her head as she paused. "Just the way she talked about him. She almost seems, I don't know… Scared? Like, everything she said always seemed to revolve around his approval."
"Of course she wants to please him," Blake said. "Ultimately, he's the one who appoints his successor. He could take away Weiss' status as heiress whenever he wants."
"Yah but…" Yang flipped onto her back with a frustrated growl."There's so many things she said last night that are just… wrong! I'm sorry you guys, I really am. I want to tell you more, but… I promised Weiss. Can you both just trust me on this? Please? I'll talk some sense into her, I swear."
Right… Trust Yang.
They could trust her…
Ruby did trust her, they were sisters after all. She just also wished that she had been the one to find her last night…
She wasn't though. Yang was. So they'd have to make the best of the situation.
Ruby nodded, exchanging a glance with Blake. "Okay. We'll trust you Yang."
"Of course we will." Blake nodded firmly. "That's not the problem. The problem is, can we really trust Weiss? She's lied so many times before this... What's one more to add to the pile?"
"I know, I know." Yang messaged her scalp. "Like, I get it. The academic leader thing, not telling her dad about you and all-"
Ruby's hands shot up to cut off Yang. "Waitwaitwait. What do you mean, she didn't tell her dad about Blake?"
"I mean she didn't. She lied about it. Used it to rile Blake up for some reason."
Ruby shared a glance with Blake before glancing back up at her sister.
"And you didn't think to tell us this until now becaaaaaause…?"
"I thought I did last night?"
"No, you said that I didn't need to worry about leaving. That Weiss needed rest, and that we could deal with her tomorrow." Blake frowned, ticking the items off her hand, glancing at Ruby as she digested the information.
"Oh. I mean that was kinda close, right?" Yang said, scratching her head. Ruby could practically hear the apology in her tone. "I did mean to tell you."
Ruby let out a tired sigh, fidgeting with her uniform skirt as she tried to think. "So… Weiss never told her dad, she just told us that so Blake would get mad. But… Why did she even want Blake to get mad?"
"You're both assuming she's telling the truth," Blake said, crossing her arms. "I don't get it. How can you two just believe her? She's been nothing but dishonest with us up to now!"
"I mean, it's Weiss. Sure, she's a bit grumpy, but she's still a good person deep down. We were friends for a little while there, so I think we should at least give her a chance. She must have her reasons," Ruby said, shrugging as she picked up the letter off her bedside table. "Plus sheis trusting us to handle the dance. She's never trusted us with something like this before, so that's gotta count for something, right?"
The silence that filled the room was an answer all on its own. Broken only when Yang let out a deep sigh.
"I'm not gonna lie Rubes, a lot of what she said last night has me really worried about her and where her head's at. So I don't know if I totally trust her, but she definitely seemed genuine enough that I'm willing to at least give her a chance... Like she really did sound serious about wanting to change the way the SDC does things."
"Except that we don't know how she wants to change things, Yang!" Blake threw up her arms as she collapsed back onto her bed. "She still hasn't even apologized to any of us! She wasn't even here when we woke up!"
"It hasn't even been a day, Blake. Just give her a bit of time."
"Yah," Ruby said. "Besides, she said she paid for… dresses… for us. She even found a place that was totally okay with Faunus in case your bow got in the way. That's gotta mean something right?"
"Ruby, she's the heiress to a multi-billion Lien Dust company," Blake growled as flexed her hands. "She's probably just trying to buy our forgiveness-"
"No, that's not her style," Yang interjected as she glanced towards the bathroom. "Besides, if she were just trying to buy us off, she wouldn't have been thoughtful enough to find a place that was cool with Faunus."
Blake frowned before rolling to turn her back to the room.
Ruby bit her lip as she fidgeted with her hands. "Right… So… Yang! About being hostess for the dance?"
Yang glanced over the edge of her bunk towards Blake before shrugging. "Sorry Rubes, I think you're on your own there."
"Uuuugh, fine," Ruby growled, throwing her hands into the air and glaring at Yang. "But if I have to do this, you're helping me with the whole dress thing…"
"Awww, my baby sister's all grown up," Yang said with a chuckle, jumping off her bunk. "I wouldn't miss this for the world. Besides, the card says she got all of us a dress. No way am I missing out on that."
"Thanks, Yang…" Ruby grumbled before turning to Blake again. "What about you Blake? Are you gonna come with us?"
Blake said with her back still turned. "I don't see why I should…"
Yang shrugged, letting her arms drop by her side. "I mean, the letter says the dress is already paid for. It wouldn't make sense to let it just go to waste, right?"
The silence in the room was almost deafening as Ruby and Yang waited for a response. Finally after a few moments, Blake turned to look at them again, her eyes dangerously narrowed. "You two are really going to do this? After everything she's put us through?"
Slowly, Ruby walked to the Weiss' desk and retrieved the letter she'd left for them before turning to Blake.
"Blake, Weiss' letter said that this dance was supposed to 'give us a glimpse of life as an Atlesian elite. Well, I don't think that's what she actually meant. I think she's actually trying to share her life before Beacon with us. And I don't think she'd want to share something personal like that if she didn't care about us. And, even if she is lying, it's still the right thing to do. So yah, I'm gonna do this, even if I don't want to."
Ruby could feel both Yang and Blakes eyes on her as she gripped the letter tightly in her hands. The long silence growing more and more unbearable, she began to hope that someone, anyone would break the silence that seemed to stretched on and on and-
"Ok."
Her eyes leapt to meet Blake's. All of the tension in Ruby's body rushed out of her as Blake stood from her bed and nodded firmly at her.
"But this doesn't mean I forgive-"
Before she could stop herself Ruby had her arms wrapped around Blake.
"Her…"
"Thank you."
"Right," Blake said, her arms awkwardly held to the sides until Ruby immediately let go.
"Eh. I doubt she expected that anyways." Yang smiled, before reaching out and grabbing one of Blake's outstretched hands. "Now come on. I've wanted to see Ruby in a proper dress for years!"
"Right there, please," Weiss said, wiping her brow as the ox Faunus slid the final banner into place. "Excellent. Thank you."
"Of course, Miss," he said with a nod before quickly climbing down from the ladder.
Weiss allowed herself a small, satisfied smile as the banner came to rest perfectly in line with the other three, right in between the numerous chandeliers the ballroom already held. She nodded to herself before turning to the Faunus, pulling out the last notice and handing it to him.
"Your invoice, paid in full. Once again, I do appreciate the rush job."
"Ah, it's no skin off my back. Just happy to help." The horned Faunus laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head as he took the invoice and opened it.
"Regardless, I do appreciate it."
There was a moment of silence as the man's eyes quickly shot back up the paper. He glanced between the paper and Weiss a couple times, his brow slowly rising. "Uh… This is a bit more than the agreed amount, Miss Schnee…"
Weiss nodded with a smile. "Consider it a tip."
"Hell of a tip…" the Faunus said, letting out a low sigh before shrugging. "Well you certainly won't hear any complaints from me. If you need anything else though, don't hesitate to call."
"Of course," Weiss said before returning to the center of the ballroom, glancing around the space a final time to admire her work. It wasn't the most stunning and intricate dance she had even been a part of, let alone organized, but it was without question the nicest this school would ever see.
The ballroom had been the perfect template to work with. The tall, coffered ceiling with the enormous arched windows had guaranteed that the area would feel open no matter where its occupants were, which had allowed her to focus entirely on the atmosphere without worries. Soft light lined the edges of the room, just bright enough for jewelry and dresses to shine and sparkle as you moved through the room. A series of large tables sat at the back, ready for the high class catering and drinks that Weiss had scheduled to be brought out once the students began arriving. While a few dozen standing tables circled the edges of the room, all covered with matching tablecloths, doilies, and even matching floral displays. The doors at the back of the room were wide open to allow the students to roam should they need a break from the crowd, or the upper balcony proved too warm. A series of four long white fabric banners criss-crossed between the chandeliers, hiding speakers that were all hung amongst the banner and positioned so the music would be heard loudest at the center of the space. It was, in a word, perfect.
It wasn't too ostentatious, but it still held that regal feeling that accompanied the many balls and galas she'd attended growing up among the Atlesian elite. It was exactly the feeling that she had hoped to share-
"I must say Miss Schnee, this is quite impressive."
The familiar voice of Ozpin had Weiss spinning on her heels as she curtsied. Her head may be a bit foggy but her body knew how to act.
"Thank you, headmaster." She quickly straightened herself, watching as Ozpin slowly walked towards her, taking in the space. "I hope it will be something memorable."
"Well I can certainly say I will remember this evening, at the very least," He said, resting his hands atop his cane as he stopped beside Weiss. "I understand now what you meant when you were first describing your idea to Glynda. What was it again? A taste of nobility?"
"Yes." Weiss nodded, clasping her hands in front of her. "I learned not long ago that many of the students here have not had a chance to experience that which I considered normal. I hope this dance helps bridge that gap even just a little."
Ozpin glanced over to her. "I believe it will, Miss Schnee. Though it is a shame you will not be present to see them experience it. Your sister mentioned her disappointment that she would be unable to attend this event as well before she left."
At the mention of her sister, Weiss clenched her teeth. "It certainly isn't the first time she's been occupied with her work. Specialist Schnee has many responsibilities that are more important than attending events like this."
"I see." Ozpin sighed, adjusting his own glasses. "I suppose a little trust that she wouldn't have gone unless strictly necessary is a lot to ask for."
"Yes, trust is certainly difficult to come by."
"It certainly can be. Particularly when the one asking for it has already betrayed that trust." Ozpin nodded. "I have found that a simple apology rarely suffices to earn that trust back as well."
"Of course. Things are rarely that simple."
Ozpin gave her a knowing smile. "I'm sure you heard the announcement at the start of the week, but the CCT tower has been temporarily closed to the public for maintenance. What you may not have heard however, is that General Ironwood also spoke to me about lending Vale a few of his men to act as extra guards during the proceedings. He even mentioned plans to bring more here over winter break. At this rate, the Vytal Festival will be the most secure place on Remnant."
Weiss frowned. "I must have missed that announcement. I had been planning on calling my brother tonight. However if the CCT tower is closed to the public it will have to wait."
"Mmm that is a shame," Ozpin said with a knowing smile. Without waiting for a response, he pulled his scroll out and tapped a few icons on it. "Well, I suppose there's no problem with bending the rules a little after all of your hard work."
A small buzz from Weiss' own scroll piqued her curiosity. Snatching the device from her pocket, she was confused to see a permissions notification being displayed.
Weiss glanced over to the headmaster. "I appreciate the gesture Headmaster, though I question the wisdom of such an action. Why would you trust me with this?"
Ozpin gazed wistfully around the room, looking as if his mind was somewhere far away. "Why indeed Miss Schnee. Why indeed."
There was no single word Weiss could use to describe the feeling she got when Ozpin began acting this way. He gave off the air of somebody far older than she could possibly ever comprehend, almost as if he were being crushed by the full weight of the world around him.
Then, as if his attention had never wavered, he glanced at Weiss with a small smile. "I'm afraid I must take my leave now, Miss Schnee. I do hope you have a pleasant evening, no matter where you may find yourself."
Weiss nodded at the man. "Of course. Have a good night, Headmaster."
"Thank you, Miss Schnee." With a smile and a tip of the head, he turned to meander his way to the front entrance, leaving Weiss alone once more.
Interactions with the Headmaster always felt simultaneously strange and familiar in the most confusing way. Even after all the time she'd spent learning from her father and her experiences with Atlesian society, she still struggled to fully comprehend the man's motives most of the time.
Well, dwelling on the matter wouldn't help any. Weiss shook her head to clear her thoughts, before making her way out through the back of the building, avoiding the hired help as she went. Before long, she was opening the back door of the building, allowing the fresh night air to wash over her. She took a brief moment to appreciate it before making her way through Beacon's courtyard to a small, out of the way gazebo. One she knew provided a clear view of the ballroom's interior.
With a heavy sigh, Weiss settled into the thin chair, immediately grateful for the blanket she had left there this morning. The fact that the thick cotton also happened to provide enough padding that her wings almost felt comfortable as she leaned back was certainly an unforeseen benefit.
When was the last time she had been able to let go and relax like this? Certainly not since she'd arrived at Beacon…
It wasn't long before she saw Ruby arrive through the lens of the ballroom's large, arched windows. So then she had accepted her request. That was good, even if she hadn't been expecting Ruby of all people to be the one to take her place. She was certain her partner would do just fine with the job, even if she was quite clumsy at times. And if there were any confusion, then Ruby would always be able to reference the list of duties she'd left Ms Goodwitch. Even more surprising though was her gorgeous dress. It was a surprisingly mature choice from her younger peer. The long, red a-line dress seemed to have a lovely black lace trim, though she couldn't quite make out all the details given the distance. Weiss had to restrain a small laugh when Ruby almost stumbled in her heels as she slowly wandered through the ballroom, her head snapping in every direction. Weiss could only guess at the wonder in her eyes as she went about finalizing the preparations.
It didn't take long for the first handful of students to arrive after that. Even from afar, many of their reactions were, admittedly, quite amusing. One pair of students that had arrived recently - she believed they were from Mistral - were particularly amusing. The blond haired boy practically leapt into the air before gesturing wildly to his blue-haired teammate, practically knocking him over in the process.
A forlorn sense of pride welled up within her as more and more students and professors entered the ballroom. It didn't take long for the muted sounds of excited conversation to reach her, bringing a smile to her face.
The approval was moving, and it was becoming increasingly hard to keep a smile off her face as she sat silently in the dark until finally, amidst the crowded hall, she finally caught a glimpse of the rest of her team.
Weiss felt the smile slowly wane, emotions balling themselves in her throat as she took the other two girls in.
They looked absolutely stunning. It was almost impossible they wouldn't, given the money she had thrown at Argent. However, knowing that hadn't prepared her for seeing the truth of the matter with her own eyes, even if she couldn't make out every detail.
Yang would frankly have looked good in anything, but she seemed determined to draw as many eyes as possible. The tight strapless number she wore wrapped around her in a way that accentuated her form perfectly. The vibrant sunset orange was eye-catching, demanding the attention of anybody who looked her way, and the way it slowly faded to a bright white at the hem drew the eye downward, where Weiss could occasionally make out a flash of movement that suggested a long slit running up the leg.
Far more shocking, however, was Blake. The simple fact that she had even taken Weiss' offer was one matter. Seeing the simple black sheath dress she wore, the way the fabric clung perfectly to her form, with folds to draw people's eyes to the bow that wrapped artfully around her waist, was another matter entirely. Never before had Weiss even dreamed of seeing Blake in a place like this, let alone dressed in such a manner. It almost felt like it contradicted everything Weiss knew of her…
However, none of their attire compared to seeing their expressions. Seeing Blakes usual annoyance being completely washed away and Yang's beaming smile as Ruby excitedly greeted them… It hurt to see the approval etched on their faces in a way that she never could have expected. To know that for all her mistakes, she hadn't messed this up.
It didn't stop at just her team though.
Team CVFY's arrival was just as bombastic as Coco herself. The woman had, of course, ensured that her team was utterly breath-taking, with outfits that had clearly been coordinated by the fashionista to not only work together, but to enhance one another when viewed as a group. Even the way that Velvet shrank away as the growing crowd seemed to simultaneously stop to look at them managed to only add to, rather than detract from, how good the team looked.
The arrival of most of Team JNPR had Ruby tripping over herself to greet them, leaving petals in her wake as she flitted between the three of them. She always had been particularly close with them. The fact that their leader wasn't with them was quite confusing though. He seemed like the type to cling to them for an event like this…
Soon even the elation and excitement that came from teams Weiss had no familiarity with began to sting. While most of the first- and second-year teams were almost entirely dressed in various kinds of formal wear, many of the older teams seemed to be lacking in it entirely. In all likelihood, they had simply not had the time to order something after their most recent missions. And yet, despite that, everybody seemed to be enjoying everything she had put so much painstaking effort into. And, somehow, that stung just as much as seeing her team had.
Over time, many of the professors, including the ones that taught classes taken exclusively by her upperclassmen, made sporadic appearances as well. A particular highlight of the night was when Glynda elegantly strode through the room, only to be stopped by the sight of General Ironwood holding a hand out to her in a clear invitation to dance.
Even hearing the raucous laughter and cheers of the crowd when Jaune showed up late in a plain white sundress paired with sneakers of all things managed to sting despite the absurdity of it. And yet… And yet, Pyrrha looked over the moon as she locked arms with him.
Weiss bit her lip as she felt a familiar hollow ache.
The Lien, the time spent agonizing over forms and designs… It had all been worth it to see this moment of absolute bliss etched on everyone's faces. To see her teammates smiling and laughing amongst themselves. To see Blake's surprise as she selected drinks and food normally only found in Atlas. To see Ruby attempting to flee from her sister's teasing, only for her to stumble in the most adorably awkward ways as her clear lack of heel experience came into play.
Weiss clenched her hands tightly in her lap.
It was selfish to want more than this. To wish for anything more than to see her peers' appreciation in person, and yet…
More than anything else at that moment, she wanted to be in that room with them.
Dust be damned, she would give almost anything to be able to walk into that room right at that moment.
Anything but the one thing she had strove for her entire life.
Weiss shot to her feet and turned away from the dance as anger coursed through her in a violent surge. She could have been there if it weren't for the disgusting things attached to her back. If she'd never been burdened with their existence, her father never would have forbidden her from attending the dance. She never would have had to worry that a single mistake or slip might destroy her family reputation faster than the company's "controversial workforce".
She couldn't do this anymore.
She needed to get away from it. From the lights. The music. The warmth… It didn't matter where. She just needed to be alone.
Weiss fled from the gazebo, choking back a cry of frustration. One winding turn followed another followed another as Weiss strode through the large, pitch-colored trees, far from the campus proper. She was distantly aware of the wind nipping at her limbs, but that didn't matter…
She'd done it again. Craved things she could never have. Selfishly wished for more.
Again and again, she continued to make the same stupid mistakes. Just how many times did her father need to remind her before she finally learned her lesson?
She let out a deep sigh, and tried to slow her fevered pace.
Well. It wouldn't matter for much longer. Soon enough, she would have the freedom she'd craved for so long. Then she could finally be the person that her… that she wanted to be. The person she needed to be-
Weiss nearly stumbled as she rounded a copse of trees. She had been caught up in her own head, that she had nearly stumbled into a small, secluded clearing-
Her thoughts ground to a halt as she noticed two girls laying side by side in the soft grass, illuminated by the moonlight. For a moment, she questioned who would possibly be this far from the dance, but a pair of rabbit ears and a beret that had been discarded on the ground beside them quickly answered that question.
Coco and Velvet?
Weiss froze in her tracks, brow furrowing as she took in the scene. What were they doing here? The dance was still on, so why were they not-
Velvet let out a soft laugh, flipping onto her side and facing Coco as she perched up on her elbow. The Faunus very deliberately leaned forwards before poking Coco on the cheek, waiting patiently as Coco's head turned to her with a curious expression.
Their lips met for a brief second.
Weiss' mind went blank. She was distantly aware that she shouldn't be watching this, but she just couldn't tear her eyes from the scene playing out before her even as Velvet pulled away just as quickly, only for Coco to immediately reach out and pull her back in by the back of the head with a quiet eep. Weiss could feel her shallow breaths quickening as Coco and Velvet sank into one another.
Never before had Weiss wished so desperately to be human. To not be cursed with eyes that allowed her to see every miniscule detail of what was unfolding in front of her. How their bodies pressed together. How Coco's fingers tangled their way through Velvet's hair while her other arm wrapped protectively around the Faunus' waist, pulling her closer.
Weiss turned with a choked sob, fleeing before she was forced to see another second of this.
"Weiss?"
She'd heard. Of course she'd heard. Weiss' run turned into a mad dash to get away before they could possibly confront her. She needed to be somewhere, anywhere else. Anywhere but there.
"Weiss!"
She pointedly ignored the calls from behind her, boots hammering the ground as she sprinted away faster and faster. Her body screamed as she crashed through one of the school's many side doors before sprinting down the hallways. Despite the pain, Weiss refused to stop. She couldn't stop. Not until she was safe. Not until she was sure they wouldn't find her. Eventually, she collapsed to the floor, unable to push herself any more. Her chest seized against the bindings and her heartbeat thundered in her ears as she desperately pulled herself to the hallway wall.
The scene she'd just borne witness to playing over and over in her mind. The way Velvet had smiled as she pulled away. How they had both practically melted into one another. Coco's hand drawing Velvet in, holding her so gently with her hand on her back, pressing her tight against her.
Moments at the dance slowly seeped in alongside the fresh memories. Ruby's joy as she greeted her friends. Glynda's small smile as she accepted General Ironwood's hand. Blake's fascination as she slowly wandered the hall. Yang's exuberance as she dragged her sister to the dance floor despite her clear protests.
Weiss let out another choked sob, unable to stop the ragged cries as a tight ball of emotions lodged itself in her throat. Her back twinged in pain as she curled up into a tight ball.
She was an idiot. A wishful, greedy, pathetic idiot and now she was paying the price.
Weiss collapsed in on herself as the weight of everything she'd held back finally became too much to bear. A long, hoarse cry spilled from her mouth as she buried her face in her arms, soaking her sleeves, but for the first time in her life she could do nothing to stop them.
It wasn't fair.
She didn't want much. She just wanted to be a part of something.
She wanted to be in the ballroom with her team. She wanted to be there to tease Ruby with Yang, to groan alongside Blake when Yang made her awful jokes, to help Ruby convince Blake that it was ok to simply enjoy herself. She wanted to be with them as they experienced a small part of her own life.
But that was impossible. Her father had forbidden it, and he would continue to forbid it until her birthday.
Until she was "human".
"Verdammt Velvet… Verdammt nochmal…"
The words twisted up inside her, bitter and grasping and terribly familiar. It was her first week all over again. Hating something beautiful because she couldn't have it. Because she had to hide herself, while Velvet could be who she wanted to be. Velvet had people who cared about her. Velvet could go to the dance. Velvet wasn't forbidden from attending the dance at the last minute by a paranoid father.
Her father…
Her father… who had given her this golden opportunity to attend this school. Pushed her to excel, to set her sights on perfection and accept nothing less.
Her father… who had stolen her chance to grow closer to others. Who had destroyed the one chance she had at mending things with her team.
Her father…
Weiss crumpled against the wall once again. Was it too much to ask that he just give her one thing?
No.
Slowly, Weiss grit her teeth and forced herself back to her feet. A jolt of pain shot through her shoulder, but it was meaningless in the face of what she had just gone through.
This was ridiculous. She was being ridiculous. Giving into a momentary lapse in judgment. A childish dream that she did not need. Happiness would not change the world. She knew that better than anyone. It would pass. Just as all things did. She simply needed to last for a few short months.
Just a few months…
She had only been here for a few months, and yet it felt like a lifetime-
The buzzing of her scroll had Weiss immediately pulling it out of her pocket, half expecting her father to be calling about her most recent failure. Instead, there was simply a small notification reminding her of Ozpin's favor blinked at her, along with a message from Ruby.
Right. Whitley.
Weiss let out a deep sigh. Well, it wasn't too late, and Whitley would almost certainly be wrapping up his personal studies about now. A call on the day of was always more meaningful than the day after as well…
Her shoulders slumped as she began to plan what she would even say after not speaking with him for so long.
She was about to slip her scroll back into her pocket when Ruby's small portrait caught her eye. It was probably just another attempt to bother her. But then… Ruby had also taken on the job as hostess. Perhaps she was having some issues? Had the list of duties she'd left not been enough? Well, if it was just another attempt to try and talk to her, she always had the option to simply ignore it.
With a few quick strokes of the finger, she opened the message, only for her breath to hitch at the sight of her team tightly clustered together to fit into the small area provided by the scroll's camera. Ruby and Yang were beaming at her and waving, while Blake looked like she desperately wished she were somewhere else, or at least not quite as close to the overly excitable sisters. A surprisingly long message, considering who had sent it, accompanied the small picture.
Hey, Weiss! I know you were really looking forward to this dance, so I'm really sorry you can't be here. I know you were trying to share something with us, so I thought, well… We could do the same for you. You might not really be here with us, but I thought that if I shared how things are going, then at least you could be here in spirit, y'know? Anyway, you did an amazing job with everything! It's all so awesome! Yang keeps dragging people out to the dance floor - she even got me a couple times! And Blake's gone back to the buffet like three times now! I think she really likes those little tuna bite things you got. And that list you left me has been a life saver! I probably would have forgotten a lot without it. Seriously, this dance has been absolutely incredible! You're incredible. I hope that, wherever you are, you're having a lot of fun too. Oh! And I have a ton of other pictures too! I don't want to just send them all to you though, because I know you might think it's annoying. Let me know if you want them!
Weiss couldn't help but smile softly as she read through Ruby's heartfelt message. It seemed that, for all her failures tonight, she had at least done one thing right. She quickly saved the picture and slipped her scroll back into her pocket.
Well, at least it seemed Ruby didn't need any further assistance. She would have hated to have been interrupted during her call…
Weiss rolled her eyes as she began the long trek to the CCT tower.
German:
"Verdammt Velvet… Verdammt nochmal…" - Damn you Velvet. Damn you.
Alucard: You cant really "damn" someone like that in German, so just saying Damn Velvet is basically the same in German. Its not something you can perfectly translate.
Author Notes:
Gooooooooooooooooooood Evening! Did yah miss us!? Did yah!? GOOD! Cause we missed you all!
Welcome back to Clipped Wings. The fic that gives you all a nice ol' dose of ANGST, while simultaneously giving US, a massive case of anxiety because HOW THE HELL DID THIS GET POPULAR?! WHICH ONE OF YOU IS RESPONSIBLE?!
In my defense, seeing this fic pass over 300 combined bookmarks and subscriptions, 430 kudos, 450+ comments, AND 2000 plus hits?! In ONE chapter?! It is a bit of a shock. I still see the numbers and double take sometimes.
Honestly I have no idea what we did to deserve this, but thank you. Thank you for coming back time and time again, and thank you for supporting us all along the way. We hope this fic delivers on everything you hope for, and much much more.
So. This chapter. Mmmm. Let me tell yah, I thought it was gonna be easier to write and edit when compared to the last chapter. Yah know just some light Ruby stuff, the dance…
HAHAHAHA FUNNY JOKE RIGHT?!
God damn it, I love and hate how we can take a simple chapter like this, and turn into an emotional roller coaster that had Sorc and I legitimately tearing up at points. More on that in a second.
Ok starting from the top. Ruby and Oobleck. Underrated as hell. Oobleck in general was one of the shining moments of Season 2, and frankly after rewriting this scene using Glynda, Ozpin and even trying Port, Oobleck absolutely worked the best. Side note, this scene is absolutely Sorc's favorite for a reason. It's fun, it gives a MUCH needed look at how Ruby is doing and is a nice break from the unrelenting shit show that is Weiss.
Dorm room scene. Honestly a nice little catch up with the three. Weiss took a bit of a back seat during the early stages of this chapter for a few reasons and one of them is that while this fic is Weiss centric, the rest of RBY is just as important. We need to keep pace with them and not lose track of who knows what and how everyone is feeling. Honestly, while it may not be the most important part of this whole chapter, I think it set up for the dance and everything after in a way that we would never have been able to do after this point. Also Ruby and Yang being sisters. Nuff said.
Now. Onto the dance…
DO NOT ASK HOW MUCH TIME WE SPENT WORKING ON DRESS DESCRIPTIONS. The answer is too much.
So the dance. It's been built up. It's been teased. I still have NO idea why it was held at the time it was during Canon RWBY. And now it's here, and holy SHIT was this one of the longest editing streaks we have pulled. One section took us like 6 days, and frankly I think it was 100% worth it.
This was by far the most emotional I have gotten when writing a chapter. Having to put myself in Weiss' shoes while initially writing it, then editing with Sorc… There was a LOT of emotion that went into this part of the chapter. So much so we are gonna take a small break between chapters because WE need the time to decompress.
Writing Weiss finally breaking down. 16 chapters of build up finally coming to a head. The Coco Velvet scene. Ruby's message to Weiss. Everything was not just a lot for Weiss, but for us as well. And to that end, I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as we enjoyed writing it.
ShinraSorceress Notes: I hope you all really enjoyed this chapter, but I'm sorry. I need a fuckin' break after working on a monster of a chapter right after a monster of a chapter. XD Super glad we got to throw in the first tiny hint of White Rose though. Anywho, without further ado... collapses into bed to decompress
Of course, we would love to hear what your favorite part of this chapter was. All your thoughts, theories, guesses, questions, and all the edits we missed XD! Rest assured we will continue to respond. Yes even to your "good chapters" XD
As always, a huge shout out to the TWO beta readers working on this fic. That's right TWO. Shikotan (ShinraSorceress on AO3) who helps with all the technical edits, and Alucard45 who handles all the continuity editing/tracking and German. Both are amazing, talented and just all around awesome. Please check out their shit, like comment, subscribe, you get the idea.
Fly high and fly far,
Quinn, signing off.