Just Like the Movies - Chapter 3

Ruby’s brow remained furrowed as she stared at the young woman’s features frozen on the screen.  “I didn’t feel it,” she decided before turning to the quiet, discerning young woman beside her.  “Did you?”

“She has a nice voice…but I don’t think she’s right for the part.”

“You have something good to say about everyone,” Ruby mused while motioning for the casting assistant to move to the next recording.  She and Velvet, a soft-spoken young woman with long brown hair and striking turquoise eyes, watched as another audition tape began.  

A gorgeous redhead with mesmerizing emerald eyes popped onto the screen, provided her identifying information, and then read the same scene that Ruby and Velvet had listened to dozens of times already.

“We can’t break now,” the young woman spoke to the camera, her tone strong yet pleading.  “If we break, then who stands up for the universe?  Who protects the innocent?  Who speaks out for peace?”  

Ruby leaned forward as the speech continued and, out of the corner of her eye, noticed Velvet do the same.  Unlike the previous actresses, this particular young lady grabbed Ruby’s attention and didn’t let go.  If anything, by the time she gave the concluding line of, “Let us show the universe what courage and valor look like,” Ruby was ready to jump out of her seat and do just that.

The recording ended, and a brief, poignant silence settled over the room.

“That’s it!” Ruby exclaimed as Velvet nodded.  “That’s the feeling.  Right?  That’s exactly what I was talking about.  She makes you feel like…”

“Like you’re ready to go to war.”

“Exactly!”  Too excited to stay seated, Ruby popped up and paced in front of the desk that she and Velvet had spent the last few hours at.  “She’s inspiring.  The others look to her for inspiration.  To push them into battle when they’re scared.  They respect and admire her, yet she’s the most humble person who’s ever saved the universe.”  

Ruby paused and turned to Velvet.

“What do you think?”

“I think she’s perfect.”

Ruby clapped her hands together and then picked up the sheet of paper that had come with the audition tapes.

“‘Pyrrha Nikos,’” she read aloud before smiling.  “Or, should I say, our new Phoenix.”  

Velvet motioned for the casting assistant to replay the video, which Ruby watched while standing, her smile growing and her nods continuing for the length of it.

“Lovely,” Velvet added at the end, jotting down more notes while Ruby shook the casting assistant’s hand.

“Great job.  Great job.  She’s exactly how I imagined her.”  He beamed at the praise as Ruby took another look at the screen and sighed in relief.  That was one huge question answered.

Before she could fully bask in their success, however, Ciel poked her head into the room.

“Your sister’s here to see you.”

“Yang??”  

Once Ciel nodded, Ruby glanced at Velvet.

“I can wrap this up,” Velvet offered, so Ruby thanked her for the time before following Ciel into the hall.

“Did she say what she needs?” Ruby asked as they headed to her office.

“She only wanted to drop something off, but I insisted that she wait as you requested.”

“Great.  So you locked her in my office, right?”

Ciel’s step faltered as she cast Ruby an uncertain glance.

“I…didn’t lock the door, but I can do that next time.”

“I’m joking, Ciel.  Please don’t lock my sister anywhere.”  Ciel vaguely relaxed as they entered the elevator, but Ruby grinned and nudged her elbow.  “Good to know you’re willing to do that for me though!”

“Of course.  My job is making your life easier.  If locking someone in your office accomplishes that, then I’ll do it.”

“Just like you bit the bullet rescheduling the Executive Board for me,” Ruby commented before glancing at the young woman out of the corner of her eye.  “Thanks for that, by the way.”

“No need to thank me.  I’m sure your plans are more important than whatever the Board has to say.”

Ruby considered her plans more important than meeting with the stuffy board, but she wondered what Ciel would think.  As Ciel strode off the elevator and the Hero Hub fell into respectful silence, Ruby imagined that Ciel might disapprove but would still do as requested.

“Don’t forget you have location scouting in ten,” she reminded Ruby while opening the door to Ruby’s office, nodding to Yang, and walking away without another word.  Ruby chuckled at the unceremonious exit before hugging her sister, who squeezed her tightly before stepping back and nodding after Ciel.

“Is she getting more intense or what?”  When Ruby laughed, Yang grabbed a plastic container from Ruby’s desk.  “I told her I didn’t want to bother you, but she said I had to stay.”  Yang huffed at Ciel’s command - probably bemused that she hadn’t felt capable of disobeying it - and handed the container to Ruby.  “Blake made these for you.  Said they had to be dropped off today since, obviously.”

Yang gestured to the container, which Ruby opened and then promptly squealed.

“Oh my god, I love her.”  Yang grinned while Ruby grabbed one of the chocolate chip cookies, held it up to her nose, and breathed in the sugary aroma.  “These are the best,” she added before taking a huge bite.  

“They’re pretty good, right?”  Yang leaned against the desk while Ruby finished the first cookie.  “She let me have one.  Said they’re only for you.  Pretty sure that means she used extra sugar.”

Ruby hummed and debated whether or not to immediately eat a second one.  “Tell her she’s the best sister I could’ve asked for,” she teased while deciding that more was better than less.  Yang’s eyes sparkled as the second cookie disappeared, but she hardly let Ruby swallow before patting Ruby’s shoulder and heading toward the door.

“Alright, I don’t want to distract you -”

“Hold on!”  Ruby quickly set the box on her desk, brushed off her hands, and beat Yang to the door.  “You aren’t distracting me.”

The desk phone chose that exact moment to ring.  Yang glanced at it before raising one brow at Ruby, who grimaced but managed to ignore it.  The second ring sounded louder than the first, but she shuffled her feet and stayed put. 

Yang broke first, returning to Ruby’s desk and pushing the speakerphone button.

“Ruby’s office.  This is Yang.”

“Hello, Yang.  This is Penny Polendina calling for Ruby.”

“Oh, hey, Penny!  How’re you doing?”

Yang grinned as a long silence stretched on the other side of the line.

“I’m…well.  Have we met before?”

“Penny, it’s Yang!” Yang repeated, grinning at Penny’s confusion.  “Ruby’s sister?  You came to our place for the holidays last year.”

“Oh.  Ruby’s sister, Yang.”  

Yang laughed at the clarification while Ruby shook her head and asked, “What’s up, Penny?”

“Hello, Ruby.  I was wondering if you’re ready to leave?”

“Uh -”  Ruby glanced at Yang, who was already preparing to go.  “Almost.  Give me three minutes?”

“Sure.  I’ll notify the driver.”

“Thanks.”  Ruby hung up the call and jogged to cut Yang off at the door.  “Where do you think you’re going??”

“I’m letting you get back to work.”

“I have time, seriously.”  Despite Yang’s dubious expression, Ruby gently turned her around and pushed her back to the desk.  “How am I ever supposed to thank Blake for these?”  Ruby patted the top of the cookie container.  “Oh!  I got it.  I heard people talking about a new seafood place by the harbor.  Have you been?”

“Saltwater Grill?”  Once Ruby nodded, Yang shook her head.  “It’s supposedly impossible to get in right now.”

“Oh.”  Ruby bit her lip but then brightened when a brilliant idea popped into her mind.  “Isn’t your anniversary coming up?”

Yang squinted at Ruby but still said, “Yes…”

“How about I get you two a reservation for your anniversary?  That’d be a good gift, right?” 

“How will you do that?”

“Don’t worry.  I have ways.”  

Ruby waggled her brow, but Yang crossed her arms as a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

“Shouldn’t you be using those ‘ways’ to score dinner for you and Weiss?”

Ruby blinked at Weiss’ name.  Yang’s smile widened at the blush that followed.

“We’ll, uh, just go later.”  As Yang’s delight doubled, Ruby waved both hands in front of her.  “It’s no big deal, really.  I want to do this for you and Blake.  Don’t worry about me and Weiss.”

For a second, Yang looked like she would worry plenty.  Instead, she ensnared Ruby in one of those ‘big sister’ gazes.

“How’re things going with her now?  You know, after she survived the meet-the-sister gauntlet?”

“‘Gauntlet?’”  Ruby scoffed.  “Please.  You were practically trying to give me away.”

“I was not!”  With Ruby emphatically nodding, Yang puffed out her cheeks.  “I was just…caught off guard.  After all that time waiting to meet her, thinking she might not even exist, then bam!  She’s right in front of me, and oh, by the way, she’s pretty, seems super into you, and is one of the richest people in Vale.  You can’t blame me for being a little surprised.”

Ruby could never blame Yang for being surprised when she was still just as surprised by the situation.

“Well, things are fine.  She didn’t ghost me after the ‘gauntlet’ if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Good.  Great, actually!” 

The way Yang beamed and rolled forward on the balls of her feet, looking too delighted for her own good, forced Ruby’s gaze away.

“We’re, uh, seeing each other tonight actually.”  Ruby risked a glance at Yang and, seeing as how Yang’s eyes were positively sparkling, shook her head and said, “Don’t make it a big deal!”

Before Yang absolutely made it a big deal, Penny knocked on the door.

“Penny!  You have great timing.”

“You told me to arrive now,” Penny pointed out while Ruby grabbed her jacket from the back of her chair.

“Want to come with?” Ruby asked Yang before she made another escape attempt.  “We’re checking out a location for the green-sun planet, Worstol.”

“Am I supposed to know what that means…?”

“Nope!  New place.”  Yang hesitated, so Ruby grabbed her elbow and guided her out of the office.  “It’ll be fun!  Besides, it’s better to have more eyes on a new location.”  Penny tilted her head at the comment, but Ruby caught her attention and quickly shook her own head.  

While waiting for the elevator, however, Ruby said, “Be right back,” and hurried back to the middle of the assistants’ desks.  When she gestured for their attention, they all leaned closer.

“Whoever scores me a reservation for two at Saltwater Grill gets next Friday off,” she whispered.  They all lit up at the challenge, with the more ambitious already grabbing their phones, while Ruby rejoined Penny and Yang.  Yang had already pulled Penny into conversation, which Ruby added to in bits and pieces as they clambered into the car waiting to drive them across Vale.

Ruby hadn’t forgotten how warm and friendly Yang could be, yet her heart still felt immeasurably full watching Yang and Penny converse like old friends.  Penny’s slight oddities didn’t even prompt reactions - not even when they pulled up to a large, glass-domed structure that Penny described as a ‘giant bubble filled with plant friends.’  Yang just chuckled at the description as they filed into the building.

“Definitely getting the ‘green-sun’ vibe,” Yang commented, nudging Ruby’s elbow as they soaked in the lush greenery.  The air smelled heavily of flowers and soil.  Plants and trees in all shapes, sizes, and colors provided a visual utopia, while the gentle trickle of an indoor stream and various waterfalls added to the tranquility.

“Alright, Penny.”  Ruby gently clapped her hands together and smiled at Penny.  “Take us on a tour of this strange new planet.”

Lightly bouncing on her toes, Penny led them to the reservation counter and then on a tour of the greater botanical gardens.  She pointed out plant species by their scientific names but focused most on various areas that could be modified to meet their needs.  Some scaffolding here, some additional greenery there, some trapeze wire there.

Ruby and Yang shared several impressed glances but, for the most part, Yang stayed quiet and Ruby absorbed as much of Penny’s analysis as possible.  By the time they completed a full circuit of the enormous space, she could envision a different environment on a different world.

“It’ll be hard to keep some of this stuff out of frame…” she mused, tapping one of the many handrails. 

“I already ran that past editing.  They said they can remove most of it, and the rest can be camouflaged by other plants and scenery.”

“Good.  You thought of everything.”  Ruby smiled at Penny before turning towards the wall of trees and dangling vines behind her, closing her eyes, and taking a deep breath.  When she opened her eyes, she grinned at Yang.  

“Imagine this.”  She turned Yang toward the view.  “You’ve crash-landed on an unknown planet after getting your butt kicked by The Sovereign.  You’re injured, demoralized, and need a way to communicate with the rest of your team if you ever hope to make it out of here.  That’s when you meet them.”

“‘Them?’”

“The Jungle Guardians,” Ruby proclaimed, waving a hand across the space in front of them.

“Verdatians, technically,” Penny added.

“They live in the trees,” Ruby explained, looking up at the large glass-paneled dome before glancing at Penny.  “Did we get permission to put people in the trees?”

“Yes.  With some weight restrictions, of course.”

Ruby nodded and searched out more landmarks for the scene playing in her mind.  “Some of them will go their entire lives without ever touching the ground,” she told Yang.  “So imagine their surprise when you come stumbling through, all clumsy and tail-less.”  

Resting her arms on the railing beside Ruby, Yang chuckled and shook her head.

“I don’t know how you do it.  Creating these worlds in your head and then bringing them to life.”

“They haven’t come to life yet.”  Ruby spun in a slow circle and vaguely frowned.  “We’re not even sure what they look like yet beyond lean with big eyes, long fingers, and long tails.”  Ruby nudged Yang’s arm and nodded to the trees.  “What kind of clothes would they wear?”

“Well…”  Yang’s lilac eyes flitted from plant to plant before settling upon a group of enormous ferns.  “You could use lightweight fabrics embroidered with vine patterns.  That’d create a garden-goddess type look.”  Yang pursed her lips and searched out more plants.  “Or you go sleek and streamlined.  Modern silhouettes with organic textures and subtle floral themes.  Little splashes of color, or even some iridescence, or metallic accents if you’re hoping for a more futuristic vibe.”

Ruby glanced at Penny, whose brow had risen, before grinning at Yang.

“You should really consider a career in costume.  You’d win awards for your design.”

“You do seem to have a natural talent for it,” Penny remarked.  Ruby extended both arms toward Penny as if to say, ‘See?’ but Yang just chuckled and wandered further down the path.

“You should at least try it,” Ruby pressed.  “I can find a small project for you.  You wouldn't even have to leave your job.”

“I don’t know, Ruby…this is your thing.”

“But it’d be awesome if we got to work together!”

“...really?”

“Uh, yeah.”  When Yang hesitated, Ruby continued.  “You said we don’t see each other enough anymore, right?  Well, this is a way for us to see each other all the time, and it’s something you’re already great at, and it’ll pay more.”

This was a no-brainer for Ruby, but Yang mulled it over before bobbing her head.

“Alright, I’ll talk to Blake about it.”

“Perfect!”  Ruby beamed and clapped her hands together.  “Talk to Blake, who’ll think it’s a great idea, then let me know and I’ll find something for you.”

“Coco might still be looking for designers for Starforce,” Penny offered.

“See?  It’s already coming together.”

“Wait, Coco as in…Coco Adel?”  Yang glanced between Ruby and Penny before emphatically shaking her head.  “You aren’t going to get me a job with Coco Adel, right?  Start me off with someone who isn’t a fashion icon!  And on a movie you don’t care about.”

“Sorry, Yang.”  Ruby clapped a hand down on Yang’s shoulder and mustered a serious expression.  “I care about all of them.”

When Yang looked like she’d just been told she had to do an impromptu presentation for the Queen of Fashion, Ruby giggled and let Yang toward the exit.  “Don’t worry,” Ruby assured her.  “Coco’s cool.  A little intense, but still cool.”

The reassurance didn’t seem to help, but Yang didn’t dismiss the idea outright, and she remained in thoughtful silence on their drive back to Crescent Productions.  Penny and Ruby did most of the talking about their newest environment until it was time to go their separate ways.  Penny returned to the office to finish up some reports, but Ruby followed Yang to her car.

“Thanks for hanging out,” Ruby said as Yang opened the driver’s door.  

“It was fun.  And I love seeing you at work, all official and in charge.”  Ruby rolled her eyes but returned Yang’s quick hug.  “Don’t be a stranger, alright?” Yang added before slyly smiling.  “And tell Weiss I said, ‘hi.’”

Ruby rolled her eyes again, but this time chuckled and waved as Yang drove off.  Only then did Ruby check the time and hurry back to her office to collect her things, including the box of cookies made specially for her.  Another one disappeared between the door and her car, but she was smiling to herself on her way to the boardwalk before long.

Working with Yang would be awesome, just like spending a couple of hours with Yang at the end of Friday was awesome.  Ruby could already envision Yang showing up at her office at random points during the day or bumping into Yang during set visits…that was a future worth working towards.

As the streets grew clogged with traffic, her excitement and anticipation for her more immediate present took off.  If she credited her renewed closeness with Yang to that ill-advised ‘girlfriend’ story, then she had to credit her Friday night plans to the same thing.  

Apparently, the rest of Vale agreed that a Friday night at the boardwalk sounded like a great idea.  Finding parking was a monumental quest but, after snagging a space practically in the next galaxy, she checked her reflection - jeans and a jacket seemed like appropriate Friday night fare - and speedwalked to the boardwalk’s entrance.

Ruby was right on time, but Weiss had beaten her.  The white-haired beauty waited near a small taco shop advertising two-for-one deals and bottomless beverages, a sharp contrast to her aura of wealth and sophistication.  Her phone currently held her gaze, presenting Ruby with the opportunity to observe the should-be model in uninterrupted detail.  

Weiss wore another white blouse with a soft gray jacket over top, black pants, and sleek black heels.  A silver pendant necklace, silver earrings, and matching silver bracelets finished off the elegant yet stunning ensemble.  She had overdressed for the colorful banners and carnival games in the background, yet the disparity was narrower than business attire at a miniature golf course.

Ruby’s gaze roamed until, as if sensing the attention, Weiss looked up and spotted her.  Caught her was more accurate, as she was still in the midst of blatantly checking Weiss out and didn’t look away fast enough.  With anyone else, Ruby would be mortally embarrassed, but a pleased smile tilted Weiss’ lips as she kissed Ruby’s cheek in greeting.

“Looking perfect is just your thing, huh,” Ruby remarked, blushing already.

“It’s nice to look nice, especially when you have important company.”

Before Ruby could question who that ‘important company’ might be, Weiss stepped back and let her gaze roam over Ruby’s outfit in a way that made Ruby’s cheeks burn.

“I, uh, need to step up my game, I guess.”

“Not at all.  You look…”  Ruby’s heart seized when Weiss wet her lips before meeting Ruby’s gaze.  “Is ‘ravishing’ too much?”

“Oh.  Uh, no.  I don’t think so.”

“Then you look ravishing.”  Weiss’ eyes glinted before sweeping over Ruby’s outfit a second time.  Ruby’s body warmed in spite of the cool air, so she blew a breath through her lips and gestured to the boardwalk to move the attention away from herself.

“Want to walk around?”  

Another pleased smile slipped onto Weiss’ lips as she nodded and walked beside Ruby, who took shorter steps so that Weiss could mind the gaps between large wooden boards in her heels.  The breeze picked up as they left the parking lots and sand behind, but the drop in temperature hardly dampened the lively, joyful atmosphere.  

Soft, orange lights lined the pathways and heaters warmed restaurant patios stuffed to the brim with customers sharing food and conversation.  In the distance, the ferris wheel lit up the night sky and various other rides provided a whirlwind of activity along with excited shrieks and yells.

“This didn’t mess up your day, did it?” Ruby asked, glancing to the side as they joined the fray.

“Not at all.  I’ll just have a busy Monday, but that’s a problem for Monday.”  Weiss glanced at Ruby.  “You look like you had a busy day.”

“Do I?”  Weiss nodded, so Ruby rubbed her eyes and said, “I ran around a lot, but that’s nothing new.  Oh, and my sister stopped by - she says ‘hi.’”

“It’s nice that you see her often.”

“I actually don’t.  At least, not recently.  I got too sucked into work, but I’m trying to change that.”  Ruby mulled over her plans to get Yang more involved in her life before grinning at Weiss.  “But enough about that.  Tonight’s about us, right?”

“‘Us’ as in…our relationship.”  Weiss stated the term with a sly playfulness suggesting that she knew Ruby’s heart would come to a full stop upon hearing it.  Then she carried on as if saying they were in a relationship was the most commonplace thing in the world.  “I haven’t been here since I was in high school,” she admitted, so Ruby shook herself out of her stupor.

“Well, no better time to re-experience it than the present.”  Ruby gestured to the bright lights ahead of them.  “And, as your story master, I’m going to make this the romance of your dreams.  We’ll win awards for how movie-worthy tonight is - or was, I mean.”  With Weiss faintly chuckling, Ruby pursed her lips and searched the array of activities.  “How about the ferris wheel?  That’s essential romance material.”

Weiss stared up at the giant metal wheel spinning slowly in the night, adorned by thousands of lights flickering on and off as it went.

“I’ve never been on a ferris wheel.”

“All the more reason to go, right?”

Weiss contemplated the ride for another moment before slowly nodding and saying, “Sure.”

Beaming, Ruby grabbed Weiss’ hand and led them to the ferris wheel’s line.  She let go as soon as Weiss glanced down and shoved her hands deep into her pockets as they shuffled forward.  She made light conversation about the weather and the atmosphere until their turn to pay arrived, at which point she lost the battle to produce her credit card before Weiss.  The failed attempt earned Weiss’ bemused smile, but that smile gave way to tepid curiosity as the attendant gestured them aboard.

“Not quite a spaceship, but enjoy the ride,” he said, winking at Ruby before patting the gondola’s side and moving to the next group.  

“Did he just…wink at you?  And why a spaceship?”

“Uh, no idea.”  Ruby chuckled and shrugged off the moment.  Weiss snapped her mouth shut when the gondola lurched into motion.  “Here we go!” 

Ruby hung onto the railing as the gondola swung wildly before settling into a gentle lean as it moved higher into the air.  “It’s been forever since I’ve been on one of these,” she commented, tapping her fingers on her leg and glancing over when Weiss remained silent.  “Yang says that if the workers think you’re hot, they’ll pretend the ride’s broken when you’re at the top.”

“Why would they do that…?”

“So you have more time.  You know, since a lot of couples ride the ferris wheel to…”  A blush rushed onto Ruby’s cheeks before she finished the sentence.  “Not that that’s what I was thinking!” she hurriedly added.  “We’re just here for the experience.”

“Right.”  Weiss looked out over the ocean and then straight ahead, too distracted by the views to poke at Ruby’s unintended implication.  Brushing off that near embarrassment, Ruby leaned against Weiss’ shoulder and pointed off in the distance.

“Downtown looks pretty from here, don’t you think?”

Weiss glanced in that direction before nodding once.  Her fingers curled into her pants and she blew a slow, steady breath through her lips as the ride crept ever higher.  Ruby considered pointing out how surreal the ocean looked in the fading light or how the people below them had shrunk in size but tilted her head instead.

“You alright?”

“Sure.  I’m -”

Weiss’ response ended when the gondola suddenly lurched to a stop.  Curious, Ruby glanced over the edge and chuckled when the attendant waved up at her.

“Don’t tell me…” Weiss groaned.

“It’s kind of flattering, but also a little squicky, right?”  Ruby leaned back and looked at Weiss, who, rather than respond, closed her eyes and swallowed.  The reaction had Ruby sitting straight up in no time, her full attention zeroing in on the girl beside her.

“Are you ok?  What’s wrong?”

“I’m fine.”  Weiss shook her head, peeked her eyes open, then sighed.  “But I guess now’s when I should mention that I’m not a fan of heights.”

“You aren’t?  But…why didn’t you say something??”

“Because I thought it’d be a quick spin around the death wheel, not a portal to high school so some teenager can fantasize about us making out.”  Weiss took another deep breath and added, “Which is kind of flattering but probably has more to do with you since he couldn't keep his eyes off your ass, which looks incredible in those jeans by the way.  Not that I was staring, but I definitely noticed and - I don’t know why I’m telling you this.”

Ruby glanced down at her jeans before looking at Weiss, who squeezed her eyes shut and gripped the railing as if it owed her money.  She could celebrate her jeans selection later though.  Right now, she needed to help but, outside of finding some spare parachutes stashed in the cabin, found no way out other than waiting for the ride to end.

“Ok, that’s fine,” she replied in her most reassuring tone, scooting over until their knees knocked together in the small bucket.  “You can just keep your eyes closed until we get back to the ground.”

“I can still feel that we’re a thousand feet up…”

“More like a few hundred but -”  Ruby stopped herself and scrambled for something more comforting.  “Oh, I got it.”  She picked up both of Weiss’ hands in hers, earning a wide-eyed look of surprise.  “We aren’t a thousand feet up; we’re a thousand miles up.”

“That’s supposed to make me feel better…how?”

“Because we aren’t on a ferris wheel anymore.  We’re on a ship zooming across the planet, uh…Celestia Prime.  You’re flying - no, I’m flying and you’re my trusty navigator!  We’re searching for a safe place to land so we can set up base camp for the rest of our squadron.  See anywhere that looks good?”

Weiss’ blue eyes, falling somewhere between disbelief and uncertainty, scanned Ruby’s.

“You can close your eyes and pretend to look,” Ruby nudged.  Weiss stared for another second before closing her eyes.  Her brow furrowed, and her hands tightened around Ruby’s when the ferris wheel lurched back into motion.

“Um…no.  I don’t…see anything.”

Weiss took a shallower breath, making Ruby wish for a real ship to whisk them away.  Absent that, she glanced over the bucket’s edge as the next set of riders climbed aboard.

“Ok, I’m taking us in closer.  Hang on.”  Ruby counted to three and then squeezed Weiss’ hands when the ferris wheel moved down another level  “How’s that?  See anything now?”

“No.  There are too many…trees.”

“What kind of trees?  Green?  Blue?  Rainbow-striped?”

Finally, the edge of Weiss’ mouth curled up.

“‘Rainbow-striped?’  Ruby, when’s the last time we saw rainbow-striped trees?”

“Probably back on…uh, Lumeria.”  Ruby cringed at the familiar name.  Fortunately, it prompted zero reaction.  “Hold up,” she added, glancing over the edge again.  “Let’s get a little closer.  There has to be a safe place somewhere.  No big deal - only our entire civilization depends on it.”

“Our entire civilization?  You said it was only our squadron.”

“Right!  Our squadron…and then our civilization behind them.”

Weiss’ soft laugh was music to Ruby’s ears, encouraging her to continue the impromptu story.  As the ride progressed, they zipped through trees, dodged an unexpected geyser, then got hit by a small, localized meteor shower that sparked a tiny fire in their right engine.  Eventually, much to the relief of everyone on board, they landed at the perfectly sun-drenched clearing bordered by a pristine river that Weiss ‘found.’  Or, in reality, the boardwalk.

“And…we made it.”

Weiss opened her eyes as their turn to disembark arrived.  She accepted Ruby’s hand and carefully stepped out of the cabin, letting Ruby support her as those heels returned to uneven ground.  Ruby kept a firm grasp of her hand even after she’d steadied herself, earning a grateful smile before that blue gaze drifted over Ruby’s shoulder.  

“Hope you had a great time,” the ride attendant said, his grin outmatched only by the sheer range of emotions flashing through Weiss’ eyes.  

Somehow, she still managed a perfect, beautiful smile as she said, “We did.  Thank you.”  

His grin widened, but Ruby ushered Weiss away before he said something even more unfortunate.  Once they returned to the general crowds moseying along the boardwalk, however, she looked at Weiss and they both started laughing.

“I can’t believe he said that,” Ruby groaned while Weiss wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.

“Of course he did.  That’s exactly what an unwitting side character would do.”

That only renewed Ruby’s laughter.  The two of them probably looked like idiots as they giggled to the point of tears for no apparent reason.  Once the spike of joy began to fade, however, regret took its place.

“I’m so sorry.  If I knew you were scared of heights, I never would’ve suggested the ferris wheel.”

“I’m not scared of heights.  I just…dislike them.”

“Oh, is that what we’re calling it?”  Ruby leveled Weiss with a disbelieving look, then smiled at Weiss’ playfully nonchalant shrug.  “Then I’m sorry I put you through something you ‘dislike’ so much.”

“It’s not your fault.  I should have said something.”  Before Ruby could argue for more blame, Weiss squeezed her elbow and gave her a reassuring smile.  That smile then grew sly as she added, “I guess you could consider that our first ‘crisis’ weathered as a couple.”

“Me valiantly saving you from certain death?”

“Yes.”  Weiss’ dead-serious expression lasted only as long as it took for Ruby to laugh.  Weiss relaxed then, and they fell back into step with each other to explore more of the boardwalk.  “I hope whoever plays me in the movie can really sell my fear…” she mused.  Ruby burst out laughing but bobbed her head.

“Maybe she’ll even scream when it stops at the top.”

“Fantastic.  That’s just…fantastic.”  Weiss eased into a smile when Ruby teasingly nudged her elbow.  “You’re very creative,” she commented, her hand grazing Ruby’s as they scooted closer to avoid passersby.

“Thanks.  That’s kind of what I do.”

“You must be very good at what you do.”

“Eh.”  Ruby shrugged off the compliment and glanced around them, then back at the ferris wheel illuminating the night sky.  “Well, note to future selves: stay away from movie tropes when phobias are involved.”

“I still had some amount of fun.”

“Yeah?  Want to go again?”  As soon as Ruby stopped and turned around, Weiss grabbed her hand.

“Maybe not tonight.  I just found us this perfect new home, didn’t I?  We should explore on foot.”  

“You’re right.”  Ruby planted her hands on her hips, surveyed the surroundings, and gave a pleased nod.  “Great job, Navigator Schnee.  I’ll make sure the High Matriarch hears about your hard work.”

“Why, thank you.”  Weiss curtsied as Ruby rejoined her, and then bumped Ruby’s elbow.  “You can also tell her I deserve a raise.  And I want my new…campsite or whatever…next to yours.”

“‘Campsite or whatever?’  You mean interstellar outpost!”

“Of course.  How could I forget.”  Weiss briefly leaned her shoulder into Ruby’s before motioning to the various stalls selling food.  “We should probably get something to eat after that epic adventure.” 

“You’re right - I’m starving.  How’d you know?”

“Your sister made it sound like you eat every few hours, so…call it an educated guess.”

“She’s not wrong,” Ruby muttered before sniffing the air.  “How about a funnel cake?”

Weiss’ gaze slid from the fortune teller to the carnival games to an ice cream parlor before her brow furrowed.

“I don’t see any funnel cakes.”

“Me neither, but I smell them.  They’re here somewhere…” 

With Weiss serving as a willing, if not a little amused, companion, Ruby led them throughout most of the boardwalk before extending both arms towards their prize: a pop-up vendor selling all manner of desserts.

“You didn’t tell me you’re part bloodhound,” Weiss commented, another smile tilting her lips as she joined Ruby in line.

“One of my many desirable traits.”  Ruby waited for Weiss’ smile - she was quickly becoming addicted to that smile - before gesturing to the menu.  “Want something?”

Weiss considered it but, ultimately, shook her head.

“That all looks too sweet for me.”

“How about we share then?”  

Ruby found her answer in a smile that Weiss didn’t even try to hide.  Buoyed by the response, she ordered a funnel cake with powdered sugar but without the typical ice cream sundae piled on top.  The two of them continued their stroll once Ruby was armed with food, which she held out to Weiss at sporadic intervals so that Weiss could tear off pieces for herself.

“I should know your favorite food,” Weiss commented as they walked.

“Chocolate chip cookies.”

“But…that’s not food.  That’s dessert.”

“Isn’t food anything you can eat?”  Weiss stared at Ruby for several seconds, mulling over the argument, before offering an amused nod.  “What’s yours?” Ruby asked in return.

“I don’t know…seafood pasta, maybe?”

“Have you tried that new place?  Saltwater Grill?”

“Not yet.”  Weiss paused for a half second before glancing at Ruby.  “Do you want to go?  I can get a reservation.”

“I want to go if you want to go.”  Ruby grinned at Weiss’ surprised blink then offered the rapidly disappearing funnel cake to her.  As Weiss plucked off another piece - she had more of a sweet tooth than she admitted - Ruby’s grin widened.  “I was just thinking about it since I told Yang I’d get her a reservation for her anniversary,” she explained.  “But don’t worry,” she added before Weiss made the inevitable offer to help.  “I already put the heroes on it.”

“The ‘heroes’…?”

“Oh.  That’s what I call the assistants since, you know, nothing would get done without them.”

“I see.”  They made it several more steps before Weiss spoke again.  “Spaceships, High Matriarchs, heroes…I’m sensing a theme.”

“General nerdiness?”  Ruby chuckled but, when Weiss peered thoughtfully at her, quickly searched for a distraction.  “How about the teacups?”

Ruby pointed at the ride - a mess of teacups large enough to hold two people, both spinning the center wheel to send them spinning around the enclosure - but Weiss took one look at it and laughed.

“I don’t want to see that funnel cake again so soon.”

“True…”  Ruby tossed the empty paper plate into the nearest trash can and searched for another distraction.  Finding one, she beamed and said, “I have a better idea.” 

Before Weiss could ask, Ruby grabbed both of her hands and pulled her over to the photobooth tucked beside a ring-toss game.  “You aren’t claustrophobic, are you?” she asked while holding back the black fabric screen.  

Weiss peered inside as if there was more to be concerned about than just the lack of space and offered a cautious, “No…”

“Good!”  

Ruby motioned Weiss inside.  Weiss looked at her once before taking a deep breath and sitting on the small bench.  The cramped space became all the more intimate once Ruby joined, but she focused on showing Weiss the ropes rather than the new experiences jockeying for attention, like how good Weiss smelled and how the subtle heat from her side warmed far more than Ruby’s skin.

“Just make a face when it tells you,” Ruby instructed after paying.

“‘Make a face?’”

With little time to explain, Ruby resorted to calling out directions as the screen counted down.  ‘Smile!’  ‘Funny face!’  ‘Surprise!’  Disgusted face!’  ‘Creepy face!’  Weiss played along with every random emotion until they both ended up laughing too much to do much more than attempt expressions tinged with laughter.  By the time they exited, strips of photos in hand, Ruby felt giddy from laughter.

“Now we have proof!” she proclaimed, holding up her copy before looking through them another time.  Weiss looked gorgeous in all of them, of course, but especially in the photographs where she was near tears from laughter.  Feeling Weiss’ presence near her shoulder, Ruby tore her gaze away from the photos to appreciate that beauty in its purest form.

“You look pretty in all of these.”  Ruby waved the strips in the air, but Weiss glanced over them before storing her set securely in her bag.  

“Those are all blackmail material, so I’m trusting you with them.”

“I’ll take them to my grave.  Literally.  I’ll ask to be buried with them.”  

“That seems appropriate.”  Weiss’ pursed lips and resolute nod prompted Ruby’s laugh, then those light blue eyes, framed by those perfect lashes, met Ruby’s.  “We should hold hands, don’t you think?”

Ruby’s heart jumped so high that she clamped her mouth shut to keep it from escaping her entirely.

“Uh, yeah!  Totally.”

“If that’s something you’d do on a second date,” Weiss quickly added.  “Don’t let me move too fast.”

“What?  No.”  Ruby puffed a falsely confident breath through her lips.  “That’s not too fast.  That’s, like, super slow.”

Weiss arched her brow but, before Ruby said something even more embarrassing, threaded her fingers with Ruby’s and carried on as if it was the simplest thing in the world.  Ruby, meanwhile, turned to the side trying to hide a blush as bright as the carnival lights.   

“So…”  Ruby rubbed the back of her neck with her free hand and tried now to dwell on how Weiss’ soft, warm hand fit hers like two puzzle pieces locking together.  “Don’t you worry about twisting an ankle in those things?”  

Ruby pointed at Weiss’ heels, so Weiss glanced down and shrugged.

“Not really.  I’m pretty adept in them by now.”

“Ah.”  If this was what it felt like to have her brain fried, Ruby couldn't say that she disliked it.  “Plus, that’s what you have me for.  I’ll keep you steady.”  Weiss’ genuine smile struck so deep in Ruby’s heart that she actually rubbed at it before spitting out the next thing that came to mind.  “This has been fun though.  I have plenty to tell Yang if she starts poking around.”

“Do you really think she’ll suspect something?”

“No, but Blake might.”

“Her partner?”  When Ruby nodded, Weiss lightly pursed her lips.  “What does she do?”

“She’s a literary agent.  She reads insanely fast, and tons of books, so she usually picks up stuff faster than Yang.”

“So she’s the one we’re most worried about.”  Ruby shrugged - a newly pleasant experience with their intertwined hands.  Weiss, however, mulled over the ‘issue’ before nodding once.  “Then we should know more about each other’s…histories.”

“Like, our life stories?”  Weiss nodded again, so Ruby beamed and said, “Ok, the most beautiful lady should go first.”

Ruby motioned to Weiss, who considered arguing but, ultimately, acquiesced.

“Where should I begin?”

“Where do you think?  The beginning.”

Weiss smiled and, much to Ruby’s delight, started at the very beginning.

For the longest time, Ruby just listened, sneaking glances every few seconds to watch Weiss’ eyes light up during a fond memory or the subtle furrow of her brow when discussing something more serious.  Ruby asked questions whenever they popped into her head, and Weiss answered all of them.  Their hands remained linked - everyone who saw them probably thought that they were a couple - as they walked up and down the boardwalk with no destination in mind.

As it turned out, a life story took more than a few hours to tell.  By the time the crowds thinned, stars took over the sky, and the businesses began to close, Ruby knew more about Weiss yet still yearned to learn everything.  Just like the backstories of every character she’d ever worked with, there was so much more to Weiss than met the eye.  Ruby wanted all of the details now but, when Weiss noticed the yawn that slipped out, conceded that the rest would have to come later.

Their hands remained linked even as they meandered back to the parking lot.  While Ruby silently debated the ‘right’ time to let go, Weiss looked up at the clouds and sighed.

“I can’t remember the last time I went this long without thinking about work.”  Ruby glanced over but remained quiet, so Weiss continued.  “It makes me remember that there are nicer things than sitting in meetings and answering emails all day.”

“Maybe you should talk to your dad about it.”  Weiss scoffed, so Ruby gently squeezed her hand.  “Just be honest with him, right?  That’s what you told me to do with Yang.”

“And now I’m your fake girlfriend, so you don't actually have to come clean.”

“...right.  So you shouldn’t tell him.  You should find someone willing to do your job, and that person is me.”  Weiss laughed as she stopped beside a car which, from its luxurious outward appearances, could only be hers.  “Seriously, though,” Ruby offered more encouragingly.  “He might surprise you.  Or maybe he’ll be impressed by you standing up for yourself.”

“For a change,” Weiss huffed before mulling over the suggestion.  “I’ll consider it,” she concluded.  Ruby smiled and released Weiss’ hand so that Weiss could search through her purse for her keys.  The sudden loss of Weiss’ warmth only amplified the night’s chill, so Ruby shoved her hands into her pockets and scuffed her shoe across the ground.

“So…I had a great time,” she admitted.  As soon as Weiss looked at her, keys in hand, Ruby shrugged a shoulder towards the boardwalk, where the ferris wheel had stopped turning but still lit up the night sky.  

Those sparkling lights, however, were no match for the delight in Weiss’ eyes as she said, “I did, too.”

“You did?”  Once Weiss nodded, Ruby blew a breath through her lips.  “I was a little worried after the ferris wheel incident.”

“I think we should call it ‘the ferris wheel adventure.’  It sounds…friendlier.”

“‘The ferris wheel adventure,’” Ruby repeated before lightly laughing.  “One of the defining moments of our early relationship.”

“I learned a lot about you because of it.”  Weiss’ small, sincere smile suggested the comment wasn’t all for show - yet another piece of evidence that Ruby had somehow stumbled across a young woman keen to surprise.  That became all the more apparent when Weiss’ gaze slid to her car, her keys still gently clasped in one hand, before returning to Ruby.

“So…on our second date…did we kiss?”

Ruby’s cheeks couldn't have flushed any faster.  ‘Yes,’ almost jumped from her lips, followed almost as quickly by, ‘No.’  A strange, strangled sound resulted - no doubt amusing to Weiss yet mortally embarrassing to its creator.  

“Good question,” Ruby eventually managed to say.  She then rubbed the back of her neck, wondering if she could even imagine kissing Weiss without bursting into the gayest little flames.  “I chickened out,” she admitted.

“I kissed your cheek instead,” Weiss smoothly replied.  “But I would have kissed you.”

“You…would have?  Even though I’m weird and nerdy and drag you into scary ferris wheel adventures?”

“Apparently, that’s my type.”

Weiss winked, but Ruby stared, desperately wanting to know if Weiss meant that Ruby was her type in their hypothetical world or in this very real one.  Finding no clear answers, Ruby glanced down at her feet before returning Weiss’ gaze.

“I wanted to ask you out again but blanked on what we could do.”

“All the talk about kissing scrambled your brain?”  When Ruby covered her burning cheeks with her hands, Weiss faintly laughed.  “I was happy you wanted to see me again at all, so I told you to message me when you come up with something.”

“I promised to figure it out right away.  Probably too eagerly, but I really, really wanted to see you again.”

“Which was exactly what I’d hoped for.”  Weiss gave Ruby another gorgeous smile, then kissed her cheek and finally backed away.  “I’ll see you soon,” she added before slipping into her car, leaving Ruby dumbstruck and tingling from the cheek down.  Only the sound of the engine convinced Ruby to move, but only off to the side so that she could wave as Weiss drove away.  

A million questions overtook Ruby’s mind once Weiss’ car disappeared into the night.  What, why, how, and many, many other iterations of the same overwhelming disbelief.  Did she really just have the most incredible night with the most incredible girl she had ever met?  Yes, she did.  Did Weiss really play along with all of Ruby’s silly stories without batting an eye?  Yes, that also happened.  Did it seem like they genuinely hit it off despite the strange circumstances that brought them together?  Yes, it really did.

Maybe Ruby’s mind was playing tricks on her; she was prone to overimagination in just about every situation.  But, as she hurried back to her car, skipping along as if she had mini trampolines tied to her feet, she didn’t care if it was real or fake or some elaborate script they were reading.  She cared that Weiss had agreed to go out again.  All she had to do was come up with the perfect date for a cinema-worthy romance.

Magically, she was more than cut out for the task.  Some might even say that her entire career had prepared her for this moment.  No way was she wasting it.