Just Like the Movies - Chapter 6

Ruby stood, fists planted on hips and marker clutched in one hand, in front of a scribble-covered whiteboard.  Her eyes flew from note to note, each nothing more than a fragment but more than enough to spin her mind faster.  A tiny voice reminded her that she should proceed carefully, but the majority of her knew that she wouldn't regret this decision.  The last time such a strong burst of inspiration took hold of her, the Skyfall Saga came into being.

As the whiteboard and loose papers scattered across the table implied, her work was cut out for her.  Having an idea was just the first step.  Now, she needed to mold that idea into something that fit the rest of the puzzle.

A knock drew her away from those thoughts.  The door to The Forge opened and Ciel entered, her beret perched on her head and clipboard tucked in the corner of her elbow.

“Just the person I was looking for.”  Ruby quickly capped the marker and returned it to its tray.  “I need a favor - can you clear my schedule for the next week?  Push anything that’s not absolutely necessary after the premiere.”

Ciel nodded once and made the note on her clipboard.

“Oh, and I’m bringing someone to the premiere.  Can you coordinate a ticket and a car?”

“Absolutely.”  If Ciel noticed Ruby’s blush, she didn’t let on.  She simply made another note and then asked, “Anything else?”

Ruby nearly shook her head but paused and grinned instead.

“I think I found your home planet.”

The tip of Ciel’s pen touched the clipboard before she froze and blinked once.

“I’m sorry…what?”

“Have you ever been to Schnee Industries?  Their assistants remind me of you!  Except they use headsets and phones, which we can totally get for you if you want.  But, yeah, they’re very professional like you.”

“Oh…”  Ciel relaxed, which Ruby hadn’t known was possible until just now.  “The Schnee admin team is intense.”

Ruby waited for Ciel to say that was a joke and half-laughed when she didn’t.

“You think they’re intense?”  Ciel nodded, business as usual, so Ruby chuckled and said, “Well, I don’t know what I’d do without you, Ciel.  I’m glad you’re on my team.”

Ciel weighed the value of Ruby’s words before making another small note on her clipboard and backing toward the door.

“Anything else?”

“Uh, yeah, can you get the rest of the crew in here?  I have something important to discuss with them.”

“I’ll do that right now,” Ciel said before heading out to complete her tasks.  Ruby smiled at the unceremonious exit but, with Ciel in the job, returned to her cluttered work assured that she had time to iron out the wrinkles.

And there were a lot of wrinkles.  Those were still revealing themselves by the handful when the door opened again, this time with Penny, trailed by Jaune and Oscar, entering the room.

“You made it,” Ruby greeted them, hugging Penny while the two young men peered at the board.

“You look tired,” Penny observed.  

Ruby rubbed her eyes but happily admitted, “I am!  Didn’t sleep last night because I had a big idea that I wanted to get you all on board with as soon as possible.”

“What’re we getting on board with?” Jaune asked, settling into his typical seat.  Oscar perched on the edge of the chair next to Jaune, and Ruby waited for Penny to sit before flipping around one of her late-night doodles and sliding it across the table.

“Meet Hero X.” 

As the three of them leaned forward, Ruby bounced on her toes but gave them a few seconds to study her rough sketch.  Only when their gazes returned to her did her excitement bubble over.

“Her name’s Frostfire.  She’s part of a wealthy, influential family but has become disillusioned with their expectations for her.  She wants to break free and forge her own path.”  Ruby’s thoughts flitted to Weiss, who was trying her hardest to appease her father while also becoming her own unique, incredible person, before returning to the hero representing her.

“To outsiders, she might seem unapproachable, but she has a warm heart and is determined to make the world better.  She gets caught up in the Skyfall Saga when The Sovereign takes the battle to earth.  She’s our hero.”

When Ruby paused for feedback, Jaune slapped both palms down on the table and leaned back.

“I’m sold,” he said, grinning while Penny and Oscar remained cautiously curious.

“What’s her superpower?” Oscar asked.

“She doesn’t have one.”  When his brow rose, Ruby continued.  “Not genetically, at least.  But she’s used her family’s company to develop tools that let her manipulate and control ice.”

“Hence the ‘frost’ part of her name?” Jaune asked.  Ruby nodded.

“The ‘fire’ part will come later.  I think.  Not quite sure about that part.”  Ruby turned back to the whiteboard and read through some of her character notes.  Details still eluded her, but that was as exciting as it was daunting.

“How does she ‘fit in?’” Penny eventually asked, gesturing to the idea-covered walls.

“She’s our heart.”  Ruby paused to let that sink in.  “Our other heroes are ageless.  Practically invincible.  Gods.  She’s…human.  She’s not as powerful, but she’s smart and fearless.  She’ll do whatever it takes to save earth and, as her plot progresses, the universe.”

“The token human,” Oscar said before the rest of them laughed.

“I think of it more like the moral compass,” Ruby continued.  “She’s the type of person who would turn her life upside down for a stranger.”  Ruby trailed off, thinking about how Weiss had done exactly that for her, but refocused when she noticed Oscar squinting at her.  “And because of her upbringing, she’s intelligent.  Sophisticated.  Savvy.  If someone doesn’t agree with her, she’ll find a way to convince them.”

The three of them exchanged glances.  As soon as Penny started nodding, Ruby beamed.

“It’s a compelling idea,” Penny concluded.

“I love it,” Oscar added.  His eyes narrowed when Ruby pumped her fist.  “You haven’t been this excited since you came up with Ember Blaze.”

“Because I love when an idea works.”  Ruby went to the board, erased ‘Hero X,’ and wrote ‘Frostfire.’  This particular hero also played a huge role in her personal life, similar to Ember Blaze, but she omitted that detail for now.  Instead, she turned to her audience and held out her arms for their attention.

“We have four days until the Quant-Knights premiere.  Let’s brainstorm as much as we can before then.  Cool?”  

After receiving nods and murmurs of agreement, Ruby dove into the details that she had jotted down after the EcoCell launch.  Once everyone was up to speed, they came up with new ideas.

For the next few days, they practically lived in the Story Forge together.  Long days, long nights, lots of take-out, but also lots of progress.  Through their collective brainstorming, Frostfire was connected to the saga in hundreds of ways both large and small.  Her first run-in with The Sovereign’s minions and her first meeting with Phoenix were some of the largest problems tackled, but they also debated her hobbies and favorite ice cream flavor.

With every passing day and each shred of backstory, Ruby felt more and more connected to Frostfire as an individual rather than as a vague idea.  She became real.  Or, as real as a fictional character could be.  She also became, in many ways, more and less similar to Weiss, yet it was Weiss who rarely left Ruby’s mind.

By the day of the premiere, Frostfire wasn’t merely a possible continuation of the Saga.  She was woven so intricately into the story that they couldn't remove her if they tried.  

“I still think we should at least consider a love interest,” Jaune suggested, immediately met by groans.  “I’m just saying!” he added, raising his hands.  “Even a small romance would add another element to the story.”

Despite Ruby’s inclination to say ‘no,’ she reminded herself that Frostfire wasn’t Weiss.

“Who would you pair her with?” 

Jaune scrunched up his face for a moment before snapping his fingers.

“Phoenix.”  

No one immediately shut him down, so he grinned around the room.  “Right?” he prodded them.  “Wouldn’t that be interesting?”

Ruby took in Penny and Oscar’s reactions before playfully sighing.  “Dammit, Jaune…” she teased while nonetheless writing the suggestion on their growing ‘ideas’ list.  She shook her head at his proud grin but then gasped when she noticed the time.

“Crap.  I need to change!”

Their laughter followed her out of The Forge, but her thoughts lingered on their never-ending ideas all the way to her office.  Her premiere outfit - a red dress and red heels with silver bracelets and a silver necklace - waited for her there.  After changing in record time, she flew out of the office as if her feet weren’t inhibited by stilts and made it to the lobby just as the one and only Coco Adel arrived.

“Hey, Coco!” Ruby said while breezing past, but Coco caught her by the elbow and turned her around.

“Where did you get that dress?”

“Oh.”  Ruby glanced down at the red dress, which was fancier than anything she had ever worn yet still simple enough that she felt comfortable wearing it.  “Someplace downtown.  My sister found it for me.”

“For the premiere?”

Ruby nodded, so Coco tilted her sunglasses down and scanned Ruby’s ensemble twice.

“I have to do your hair.”

“Uh, what?”  Ruby ran her fingers through her hair, but Coco shooed Ruby’s hand away and then guided her back into the elevator.  “But I have like no hair,” Ruby protested as the elevator whisked them higher in the building.

“You have incredible hair.  It just needs a little refresh.”  

A ‘refresh’ could mean any matter of things, most of which Ruby couldn't fathom a guess about.

“I need to leave soon,” Ruby added as Coco ushered her off the elevator.

“The theater’s two minutes away.”

“Yeah, but I’m…I’m picking someone up first.”

Despite Ruby’s best efforts to remain impassive, her cursed cheeks flushed as a smirk slipped onto Coco’s lips.

“Then you really need me to do your hair,” Coco determined before leading Ruby into her office and patting the chair behind her desk.  Ruby glanced at the time but, when Coco clicked her tongue, dove into the seat.

Ruby had planned to use her few extra minutes to freak out about the evening.  Instead, she watched Coco whizz around the office collecting a variety of tools and bottles with mysterious names and purposes. 

“Don’t worry,” Coco said when Ruby’s eyes widened at the pair of scissors.  If Ruby even wanted to worry, there was no time to.  Coco whirled around her like a woman on a mission - a sensation so familiar to shopping with Yang that Ruby relaxed and trusted the expert to do her thing.

Speaking of Yang…

“Hey, Coco?”  Ruby squinted as Coco spritzed one of the bottles onto her hair.  “My sister’s really into fashion - she works for a buyer right now, but I’m trying to get her to try costume work.  Think you’d give her a shot?”

Mid-spritz, Coco paused and peered down at her.

“Does she dress anything like you?”

“No, she dresses way better.”  

Coco grinned and returned to her task.

“Send her my way.”  Coco ran a brush through Ruby’s hair, moving a single strand a millimeter to the side.  “If I can’t get her on Starforce, I bet Velvet will bring her onto Phoenix.”

“She’d be amazing for Phoenix.  That’s just her style.”

Coco hummed and pressed a small mirror into Ruby’s hands.

“Now you can pick up your date.”

When Ruby saw her reflection, her eyes widened.  Her hair looked the same yet somehow way better.  “Huh.”  Ruby looked at the sides and then beamed.  “You’re a magician, Coco.  Why’d you ever leave hair and makeup?”

“Besides the enormous paychecks?”  Coco prodded Ruby to her feet and shooed her out the door.  “I still love it, but now I get to pick everyone’s style instead of creating someone else's.”

“Ah.”  Ruby pondered the change for a moment before glancing at the time.  “Thanks, though!” she added while hurrying to the elevator.  “We’ll catch up on Starforce soon!”

Ruby found time for a quick wave before rushing into the next elevator and returning to the lobby.  This time, no one stopped her as she exited the building.  Fortunately, her ride had waited.

“Miss Rose,” the chauffeur greeted her, half-bowing and opening the passenger door of the long, black limousine.

“You know where we’re going, right?” she asked.

“Miss Soleil instructed me to take you to Schnee Industries, then to the theater.”

“Perfect.  Thank you.”

Ruby carefully bundled herself into the limousine’s backseat, a spacious cabin with gleaming leather seats, a minibar, and a television.  The luxurious vehicle held her attention only as long as it took for it to pull away from the curb, then thoughts of the evening buzzed through her mind.

After spending the past week working on nothing but Frostfire, returning to the real world came as a shock.  Fortunately, disconnecting from her newest hero proved easy.  This evening was about Quantum Knights and, more importantly, Weiss.

Ruby slowly exhaled as Schnee Industries came into view.  No matter how she tried to calm herself, excitement popped up in every nook and cranny of her mind.  That excitement swelled into an inescapable wave as she returned to the spacious atrium where she and Weiss last parted.

Gone were the banners, stage, and pedestals.  Gone were the well-dressed investors and camera-laden photographers.  Tonight, Schnee Industries looked like a typical workplace, and Ruby was the one overdressed.  Regardless of the curious glances, she strode over to the receptionist as Weiss had instructed.

“How can I help you?” the young woman asked once Ruby reached her desk.  

“I’m here to pick up Weiss.  She, uh, should be expecting me.”

“You’re - oh.”  The woman suppressed a smile and picked up the phone.  “Miss Schnee?  Your date has arrived.”

A blush reached Ruby’s cheeks faster than the speed of light.  She flashed a small smile at the young woman before moving away and staring at the elevators.  A minute later, one of the lights illuminated, then the doors slid open, and her heart came to a full stop.

At the EcoCell launch, Weiss had dressed to conquer every corporation in Vale.  This evening, she looked like a princess from a planet of ethereal beauty.  Her long, gorgeous hair had been drawn up in a graceful ponytail, complete with a red-jeweled headpiece that looked like a tiara.  Her silver dress and heels sparkled, and every step drew attention to the alluring slit running up her right thigh.  While Ruby had paired silver jewelry with red attire, Weiss wore ruby earrings and a pendant necklace as the perfect complement.

“Wow…”  Ruby swallowed and blinked, yet Weiss remained breathtaking.  “You look…wow.  Incredible.  I can’t even -”  Ruby paused and tried again.  “Is this why you wanted photos of my outfit?” she asked, gesturing to Weiss’ jewelry.

“A good date coordinates.”

Weiss waved one finger through the air as if spelling out the phrase with a magic wand.  That wand, coincidentally, also made Ruby’s heart flutter.  

“Plus, now I have a picture of you on my phone,” Weiss added.  Her playful grin might as well have reached into Ruby’s chest and snatched her heart away.  Bereft, yet somehow more connected than she’d felt in years, Ruby thought nothing of kissing Weiss’ cheek.  She lingered, feeling the electricity between them and wondering if she could kiss Weiss again.  She glanced to the side, where the receptionist quickly busied herself with her work, and opted against it.

“Well, you look gorgeous.”  Ruby paused for a second and then chuckled.  “The actresses are going to be so jealous.”

“Good thing it’s only your opinion I care about, not theirs.”

“That’ll only make it worse,” Ruby said, outright laughing as she imagined some hypothetical reactions.  As another beautiful smile graced Weiss’ lips, Ruby extended an arm toward the vehicle waiting for them outside.  “Shall we go see just how jealous they’ll be?” she asked while offering her other hand to Weiss.

“We shall.”

Holding hands for the distance between the atrium and the limousine seemed like overkill but also highly necessary.  If anything, Ruby wondered why they didn’t hold hands everywhere.  It was comfortable, reassuring, pleasant, and - considering how Weiss looked tonight - a source of pride.  That subtle delight followed Ruby into the limousine, where Weiss sat beside instead of across from her.

“The limo is a nice touch,” Weiss remarked as the vehicle spurred into motion.

“Yeah, I figured…why not go all out?”  As Weiss’ soft laughter filled the spacious cabin, Ruby rubbed her palms on her dress and then got caught staring at Weiss’ dress.

“Hi,” she said, her cheeks warming as Weiss’ smile brightened.

“Hi,” Weiss replied, playing along like she always did.  Ruby blew a puff of air through her lips and then chuckled.

“I basically haven’t stopped thinking about you since last week.”

“That’s not a bad thing to hear…”  Weiss shifted closer, her leg pressing against Ruby’s, and tapped Ruby’s knee.  “How have you been?  You’ve seemed…busy.”

“So busy,” Ruby admitted.  “Good busy though!  We got a ton of big picture stuff done.  I really want to tell you, but I should probably wait…”

“I understand.  You’re excited about it though.”

“I am!  I really, really am.”

Weiss laughed as if Ruby’s glee had rubbed off on her.

“Well, is there anything you can tell me?  I want to know what’s causing this.”  Weiss leaned back, a whimsical smile still on her lips, and gestured to Ruby’s energy.

“We created a new hero!”  As soon as Weiss’ brow rose, Ruby glanced around and pressed a finger to her lips.  “But it’s a secret, so…”

“I won’t tell a soul.”

Ruby knew that was true, and that filled her with the confidence to keep talking.

“It’s kind of a big deal.  The future of the Saga and all that.  Right now, we’re coming up with backstory, future story, what they’re like, what they’ve been through - everything about them, basically.  It’s the best part about my job.”

“The creative part,” Weiss surmised, adding a dutiful nod.  “I can see that.  You’re good at it.”

“Thanks.”  Ruby curled her fingers into her dress and then reminded herself not to wrinkle it before arriving at the theater.  “There’s still a lot to do, which is exciting, but that means I’ve been spending a lot of time bouncing ideas around.  Sorry, I hope you didn’t think I was ignoring you or anything…”

“Not at all.”  Weiss shook her head for additional reassurance.  “I know what it’s like when you’re working on something exciting that you can’t wait to get done.”

“Yeah!  Yeah, exactly.”  Ruby couldn't begin to describe how much she loved that Weiss got it without explanation.  “How are you though?” Ruby quickly asked.  “How’s everything since the launch?  I’ve seen EcoCell everywhere.”

“Probably not everywhere…”  Weiss glanced at Ruby out of the corner of her eye, almost as if judging Ruby’s interest, before divulging the finer details of the past week.  How work felt the morning after the launch, what tasks were required after such a monumental night, and everything in between.

Ruby soaked up every tidbit like a dry sponge.  For those few moments, nothing existed outside of listening to Weiss’ melodic voice, watching her sparkling eyes, and reading those fleeting smiles for hints about how she truly felt on a topic.  It was only when the limousine slowed down, blocked behind a line of other limousines, that Ruby remembered why they were so dressed up to begin with.

“This is it,” Ruby said when Weiss also noticed the destination.  They could just barely see the crowd of media and photographers waiting at the front of the line of limousines, along with a giant Crescent Productions backdrop and a red carpet leading into the extravagant theater.

“We’re actually walking the red carpet?” Weiss asked as their limousine inched closer.

“Just real quick.  It’s no big deal, I swear.”  Ruby nearly waved it off, but then her eyes widened.  “Oh, shoot - should we not be photographed together?  Because we can get dropped off somewhere else.”  

Ruby was already leaning forward to tell the driver when Weiss gently grasped her arm.

“It’s fine, Ruby.  I just wasn’t expecting an actual red carpet.  Do you think we can get copies of the pictures?  I’d like to have those for my collection.”

Weiss’ smile, radiant as sunshine, eased Ruby back into her seat.

“I’m sure Ciel can get copies.”

When Weiss hummed, Ruby grinned at her before glancing outside and swallowing the nerves bubbling in her stomach.  She didn’t have time to do much more than that before the limousine stopped and one of the attendants opened the passenger door.

There were no flashes - yet.  Those started as soon as Ruby ducked out of the vehicle.  The blinding lights were as disorienting as always, but she ignored them as she turned around and offered a hand to Weiss.  

The flashes quickened as Weiss appeared - hundreds or thousands of images captured in an instant.  Whereas Ruby exited the car like a prisoner making a jailbreak, Weiss slipped out with a queen’s elegance.  She accepted Ruby’s hand as she gained her footing on those sky-high heels, then brushed her ponytail over her shoulder and blessed Ruby with a grateful smile.  

And, yes, Ruby wanted to know whoever captured a photograph of that smile.  She would buy it from them.  She would buy all of the pictures of Weiss gliding to her side, then accompanying her along the red carpet leading inside.

“Ruby!  Over here!” several of the photographers called out while Ruby smiled and waved at as many cameras as she could find.  Weiss followed her lead but probably looked twenty times as graceful and a hundred times as beautiful.

Fortunately, the blitz didn’t last long.  The next limousine pulled forward and the attention shifted to the newest arrivals like a switch being flipped.  Left unharried, Ruby and Weiss entered the theater’s grand foyer moments later.

“That wasn’t so bad, right?”

“Why does it sound like you’re convincing yourself as much as me?” Weiss replied, her gaze flitting around the reception hall before locking onto Ruby.

“Because I am.  I hate the flashes and smiles and photographs…but it actually wasn’t too bad with you here.”  Ruby smiled before adding, “And now we’re red carpet official.”

“I like the sound of that…” Weiss hummed as her attention shifted to the decorations and well-dressed guests mingling outside the theater doors.  Two giant Quantum Knights 2 posters hung nearby.  Smaller versions were placed nearly everywhere else, including miniature versions spread across the table of appetizers like pamphlets.

Ruby took a deep breath and rubbed her hands together.  “We have some time before the movie starts, so you can get a drink or something.”  She motioned to the bartender, but Weiss glanced his way before squinting at Ruby.

“Are you nervous?” 

“A little, yeah,” Ruby admitted.  “But I always get like this before a premiere.  It’s like…showing your baby to the world.  What if the world thinks my baby’s ugly?”

“There’s no way you’d have an ugly baby,” Weiss replied, laughing lightly before growing serious.  “But I understand.  You want everyone to love it as much as you do.”

“Exactly,” Ruby sighed before tapping her fingertips together and glancing at Weiss.  “I want you to love it, too.”  Weiss paused and turned towards Ruby, the surprise in her blue eyes making Ruby’s cheeks burn.  “You don’t have to pretend to like it,” Ruby hurriedly added.

“I promise you’ll get my honest opinion.”  Weiss waited for Ruby’s relieved nod before sneaking a small grin her way and adding, “But you should know that I’m extremely biased towards pretty much everything about you.”

“So even if I made terrible slasher movies -?”

“I’d watch them through my fingers and fight anyone who suggests they’re bad.”

Ruby laughed at the thought of Weiss fighting someone then turned towards the tall young man in a sharp black suit and fedora approaching her.

“Ruby Rose.”  He pulled her into a hug and then landed a quick kiss on her cheek.  “You look sharper than aces.”

“Thanks, Flynt.  You do, too.”

“You know me - always dressing to impress.”  He struck a pose, arm drawn back like he was holding a bow, his tuxedo straining to contain his biceps.  Ruby chuckled at the antics before gesturing to Weiss.

“This is Weiss, by the way.  Her little brother’s a huge Archer fan.”

“Oh, yeah?  Want me to sign something for the little man?”

“Would you?” Ruby answered before Weiss declined.  “His name’s Whitley.”

“Sure thing.”  Flynt pulled a pen from his breast pocket - he always carried a pen with him - and grabbed one of the pamphlets scattered around the table beside them.  He scrawled ‘Fly true, Whitley’ with his signature beneath.  He handed the autograph to Weiss, who accepted it with a “Thank you,” before nodding and raising a hand to someone on the other side of the room.

“I gotta say hello to Neon.”  He patted Ruby’s shoulder and left with a wink and cheerful, “See you in there.”  As he joined one of the actresses, Ruby turned back to Weiss.

“That’s Flynt Coal, by the way.  He plays Astral Archer.”

“I gathered at least that much.”  Weiss looked at the signed image in her hand before meeting Ruby’s gaze.  “This was very sweet of you.”  She waved the autograph before storing it in her purse.  “Whitley might actually die when he gets this.”

“Maybe we can set up a meet-and-greet for his birthday.  I bet Flynt would wear the armor.”

“His birthday isn’t for months,” Weiss replied, tilting her head but smiling softly.

“That’s probably better since Flynt’s schedule can get packed.  He might even bring Neon with him.  She plays Nova.”

“I’ll cement my position as ‘best sister,’” Weiss mused.  “Winter will never stand a chance.”  Once Ruby laughed, Weiss squeezed Ruby’s elbow before glancing around.  “Does your sister not come to these?”

“She used to, but she stopped since she didn’t want to ‘intrude.’”  Ruby frowned but then shook away the feeling.  “She goes to the midnight releases, so I get her tickets for that.”  

Ruby briefly wondered if Yang and Blake went to the same theater as Whitley, which Weiss also seemed to consider before they both wrote it off.  

“She loves the midnight releases,” Ruby added.  “That’s when the biggest fans go, so the atmosphere can be pretty great.  People dress up, know all the lore - in general, they’re just really excited.”

“Huh.”  Weiss glanced around the room as it filled with guests and then right back at Ruby.  “Do you think tickets are still available?”

“Probably…?”  Ruby nudged Weiss’ elbow.  “Maybe Whitley’s got an extra one.”

“God, no.  I’m not going anywhere with him while he’s wearing that costume.”  Weiss paused for a second and then sighed.  “But I would if that’s the only option.”

Before Ruby convinced Weiss that going with Whitley might actually be fun, the lights dimmed and brightened several times in a row.  Anticipation grew amongst the guests, several of whom headed into the theater now.  Weiss, noticing the change, watched the moviegoers before looking at Ruby, who lightly bounced on her toes.

“I think I see something that’ll calm your nerves.”  Weiss nodded to a tray of baked goods that had gone mostly untouched by the other guests. 

“I would, but I don’t want everyone thinking I’m a pig.”

“Ah.”  Weiss arched a brow and then walked over to the tray herself.  There, she loaded a plastic plate with several cookies and brownies before returning to Ruby.  “No one cares what I eat,” she explained.  “And perhaps I’ll share with you.”

When Weiss broke off a piece of chocolate chip cookie and offered it to Ruby, Ruby glanced around before caving and taking it.

“You know me too well,” she said before popping it into her mouth.

“Yet there’s still so much to learn.”  Weiss broke off a smaller piece for herself and peered around the emptying room.  “Are we allowed to take these in with us?”

“Sure.  It’s not like a regular movie.  There aren’t any previews either.”

“In that case…”  Weiss watched several more people pass before looking at Ruby.  She wanted to know when they would head in - Ruby could see the question in her eyes - but she didn’t ask.  “That’s a great color on you,” she said instead, seemingly content to wait as long as Ruby wanted.

“Oh, thanks.”  Ruby looked at her red dress before measuring the steadily emptying room.  She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled before saying, “Alright, we should head in.”

Weiss, with the plate of baked goods in hand, smiled and followed Ruby to the ushers manning the doors.  Once Ruby gave them her name, one of them showed her and Weiss to their seats.

“Hey, Ruby!” one of the production assistants called out as she and Weiss scooted past already-seated guests.  Ruby waved before noticing the assistant director bending a sheet of paper into a makeshift megaphone and holding it up to his mouth.

“Rubyyyy,” he bellowed in a low drone.  She smiled and motioned for him to pipe down before taking refuge in her assigned seat.

“I should’ve figured you’d be popular,” Weiss commented while settling beside her.

“I’m kind of the boss of everyone here,” Ruby whispered back.  “They have to be nice to me.”

“That’s unfairly hot…” Weiss said so softly that Ruby almost missed it.  She didn’t though.  Her cheeks heated up like the sun instead.

Fortunately, the lights dimmed again, providing a last warning as the theater filled.  Not long after, the lights faded to nothing, and the audience applauded as the film began to roll.

There was nothing quite like being launched into a movie of her making…except maybe being launched into that experience with Weiss beside her.  Maybe it was the dark theater, maybe it was their proximity, but they hardly made it through the opening sequence before Ruby was thinking more about wrapping an arm around Weiss’ shoulders than about the film itself.

But her coworkers and colleagues filled the room.  It might be dark, and they might be paying more attention to the screen than to her, but she set her hand on her leg instead.  Hardly two minutes passed before Weiss set her own hand on her leg closest to Ruby and left it there.

With a full-fledged intergalactic battle underway on the screen, all Ruby could think about was how Weiss’ hand was within an inch of hers.  Still, she waited five whole minutes before curling her pinky finger around Weiss’.  When Weiss shifted in her seat but left her hand in place, Ruby wrapped her hand over Weiss’.  Weiss then intertwined their fingers, and Ruby stared at the screen as if looking anywhere else would erase life as they knew it.  

They didn’t have to hold hands - no one outside of their immediate seatmates would even notice - yet it felt exciting and right in a way that Ruby could spend decades trying to describe.  It was more important than the Quantum Knights’ latest adventure, and for years now nothing had been more important than Skyfall.  Skyfall was her baby.  Skyfall was everything.  Until suddenly it wasn’t.

The audience enjoyed the movie.  They laughed and gasped and cheered at all the right moments.  Most importantly, Weiss seemed to enjoy the movie.  Her eyes reflected the screen in the most beautiful way, and her soft laughter or smiles rarely missed Ruby’s notice.  Ruby, on the other hand, spent most of it wondering if her palm normally sweated so much.  But Weiss, bless her, never pulled away.  Instead, she sporadically handed Ruby pieces of cookies or brownies, which somehow tasted even better when parceled out by an elegant beauty.

Near the movie’s climax, Weiss started rubbing the side of Ruby’s hand with her thumb.  The silently reassuring action could be subconscious for all Ruby knew, but it absorbed a majority of her attention all the same.

If Ruby hadn’t already seen the final edit, she would’ve been lost by the time the credits rolled.  The audience applauded.  Someone whooped and others cheered.  The lights came back on, though only bright enough to provide guidance as guests made their way out of the theater.

Unfortunately, Weiss released Ruby’s hand and stood up.  Ruby quickly followed, briefly stretching her back before asking the singular question on her mind.

“So…what’d you think?”

“I loved it.”  

“Even though it’s not your type of movie?” Ruby pressed.  Weiss gave her a bemused smile before linking their arms and trailing the crowd towards the exit.  

“Ruby, your movies are my type of movie.”  When Ruby scrunched up her nose, Weiss continued.  “I didn’t understand most of the backstory, obviously, but it was all very creative and fun.  I loved the characters.  I can see why people love Astral so much - he has a certain magnetic charm about him.”

“Oh, no.  Another Astral fan?”

Ruby’s smile grew when Weiss faintly chuckled and said, “I might be.”

A downpour of questions filled Ruby’s mind.  She wanted to know Weiss’ opinions on every hero and every villain.  What did she like about them?  What were her favorite moments?  Unfortunately, returning to the lobby reminded Ruby that they hadn’t gone to a movie as a date.  This was the culmination of many, many hours of work by hundreds, if not thousands, of dedicated souls.  And the souls here tonight were ready to celebrate their effort. 

“What happens now?” Weiss asked as joyful energy stuffed the room to its bursting point.

“Uh, well, you know how you said that the launch party was a bad date because you had to work?” 

“Yes…”

“Ruby!”  A young woman with bright orange hair bounded over and pressed her cheek to Ruby’s.  “It was great, wasn’t it?  Me and Flynt kicked Void Spawn ass, right?”

“You sure did -” was all Ruby got out before the girl gasped and hurried over to hug someone else.  Ruby chuckled at the characteristic exit and raised a brow at Weiss.

“Ah, I see.”

“The studio rented out the club next door,” Ruby explained.  “Everyone heads over there to celebrate, but you don’t have to stay.  I’m sure you have better things to do.”

“I don’t, actually.  My entire evening’s clear, and I’d like to spend it with you.”

“Really?”  As if Weiss’ words weren’t genuine enough, her smile convinced Ruby to be greedy.  “Great, because I want you to stay.  I just don’t want to, you know, make you feel like you have to.”

“You never make me feel like I have to do anything.”  Weiss waited for the remark to sink in before gesturing to the door and said, “Lead the way.”

Their hands linked together so naturally that Ruby hadn’t even thought about it.  She also didn’t consider letting go as they passed through another gauntlet of photographers before reaching the relative privacy of the aptly named Stardust Lounge.  Much like the theater, the club’s interior was dark and loud.  Unlike the theater, drinks and boisterous conversation were encouraged.

“This is…quite the place.”  Weiss raised her voice to be heard over the bass pouring through the speakers.

“Yeah, it’s not usually my scene.”  Ruby clasped Weiss’ hand tighter - or maybe Weiss clung to her hand a little more - as they surveyed the bustling nightclub.  “Want a drink?”  Ruby gestured to the packed bar, where everyone seemed to be gathered, but Weiss shook her head.

“I’d rather keep my wits about me.”

“But you’re probably a super cute drunk, right?”

Weiss opened her mouth, then paused and lightly laughed.

“Not that I’ve ever been told.”

“Maybe we should get a few drinks in you, then I can tell you.”  Ruby nudged Weiss’ elbow, beaming as Weiss contemplated the suggestion.

“Ruby,” a low, cool voice interrupted.  Weiss and Ruby both turned towards the voice, but Ruby, upon spotting the raven-haired woman approaching, finally released Weiss’ hand.

“Cinder!”  Ruby accepted Cinder’s lightning-brief hug before re-finding Weiss’ hand without looking down.  “You killed it.  Figuratively and literally.  I knew you’d make a great villain.”

“You were right.  I think I’ve finally found my calling.”

Chuckling at the sardonic response, Ruby motioned to Weiss and said, “This is Weiss, by the way.”

The way Cinder studied Weiss confirmed Ruby’s suspicion that Weiss’ beauty would cause envy.  How their resident mean girl would handle that envy became Ruby’s next concern but, fortunately, Cinder was more bark than bite.

“Nice to meet you.”  Cinder’s tone was a little clipped, but she held back any other remarks.  “If you’ll excuse me,” she added, ducking away without offering Weiss more than a second glance.  Weiss watched, her lips pursed and brow furrowed, as Cinder cut her way through the crowd at the bar.

“Is she the one who just caused an uproar by saying she hates poor people?”

“She said she doesn’t understand why poor people exist,” Ruby corrected.  She only mustered a serious expression for half a second before Weiss’ arched brow forced a smile.  “Everyone just interpreted that as her saying she hates poor people.  Rightfully so, but still.”  Ruby shook her head at that PR nightmare before nudging Weiss’ elbow and saying, “I thought you didn’t follow that stuff.”

“I didn’t.  But now…”  Weiss vaguely motioned to Ruby before looking around.  Whatever she saw made her brow furrow.  “How many of these actresses have you dated?”

A laugh slipped through Ruby’s lips but, realizing that it was a genuine inquiry, she said, “Oh, good question,” and started silently counting on her fingers.  The higher Ruby counted, the higher Weiss’ brow rose.  After running out of fingers, Ruby said, “Exactly zero.”

“Zero?  How’s that possible?”

“Easy.  Just be busy.”  

Despite Ruby’s shrug, Weiss’ gaze slid around the room.

“You realize every girl here is making eyes at you.  I’m doing my best not to make a scene.”

“What kind of scene?”

Weiss opened her mouth, but her gaze flashed to the side as a young woman with shoulder-length blonde hair joined them.

“Wow, Ruby…”  Her hand slid across Ruby’s shoulder while her eyes drank in Ruby’s outfit.  “You look ravishing, as usual.”  She leaned closer and lowered her voice.  “And that’s what I’d be doing to you if you want to go somewhere and lose the dress.”

“Uh, thanks, Dew.  But I’ll keep it for now.”  Ruby subtly shimmied out from underneath Dew’s hand and glanced at Weiss, whose brow had very noticeably furrowed.  “This is my - uh -”

“Her girlfriend,” Weiss replied, liquid smooth in the face of this new adversary.  “Weiss Schnee,” she added while extending her hand.

“‘Schnee?’  That sounds familiar…”

“Probably because my family owns Schnee Industries, the largest company in Vale and possibly all of Remnant.” 

Weiss flashed a perfect smile while Dew, momentarily stunned, mentally calculated the gaps in their net worths.  Ruby’s smile felt obnoxiously wide, especially when Weiss’ hand slipped into hers and tugged her closer.

“I didn't realize you were seeing anyone,” Dew finally remarked.

“Yeah, it’s recent but…yeah.  She’s my girlfriend.”  

“So no ravishing tonight, sorry.”  Weiss’ smile was almost convincingly apologetic.  Ruby, on the other hand, beamed like an idiot for calling Weiss her girlfriend out loud.  

“Unfortunate.”  The too-honest response earned a soft ‘tsk’ from Weiss, so Dew corrected with a bright smile.  “For everyone else,” she added.  “But wonderful for you two.  Really.  Congratulations.”  Dew’s sincerity wasn’t nearly as convincing as Weiss’, but Weiss somehow responded as if it was.

“Thank you.  And it’s nice to see you doing well since your character spent much of the movie…distressed.”

“She made one mistake -” Dew launched into before stopping herself.  Her eyes flitted to Ruby, then she plastered on a smile.  “I’m glad my acting was so convincing,” she said before holding up the half-finished drink in her hand and gesturing to the bar.  “I think I need another.”  And, with that, she sashayed over to the crowd, where an impeccably dressed young man quickly sought out her attention.

One glance at Weiss and Ruby giggled.

“You don’t hold back, do you?”

“I thought I held back astonishingly well.”  Weiss tilted her chin up but kept a stubborn hold of Ruby’s hand so that none of the other club-goers could walk between them.  “Does…that…happen often?”

“…kind of?  The actors who already have roles want bigger roles, and the people who don’t have roles want roles.  It gets exhausting.”

“Well, now I know who my least favorite character is…” Weiss muttered under her breath.

“Wait.  Are you jealous?”  As soon as Weiss puffed out her cheeks and turned away, Ruby stepped in front of her to hold her gaze.  “You are!” Ruby gasped.  Weiss scoffed before meeting Ruby’s gaze, her blue eyes fiery.

“Of course I am.  You’re surrounded by gorgeous men and women tripping over themselves for your attention.  Meanwhile, I’m -”

Weiss pursed her lips and stared at the far side of the room, but Ruby gently tilted her chin so that their gazes met.

“You’re amazing.”  As soon as Weiss scoffed, Ruby reached for Weiss’ other hand and gave them both a reassuring squeeze.  “I’m serious.  Sure, I’m surrounded by actors and actresses for work, but you’re the most gorgeous person I’ve ever met.  Plus, you’re smart and funny and when I’m with you -”  Ruby’s heart announced itself then, hammering in her chest like a rogue drum.  “The last few weeks with you have been some of the best I’ve ever had.”

“You don’t think I’m…boring?”

“‘Boring?’”  Attempting to reconcile that word with Weiss made Ruby laugh and shake her head.  “Weiss, you pretended to be my girlfriend when we’d just met.  You work on world-saving batteries and could be a professional mini-golfer and have a really sweet family and always play along with my random stories.  How is that boring?”

Weiss stared at Ruby, digesting the words, and then brushed her fingers across Ruby’s cheek.  Those fingers then wove through Ruby’s hair before curling around Ruby’s ear and, with a featherlight touch, gently pulled Ruby closer.  A second later, their lips met in a soft, adoring kiss.

Ruby had never known what ‘melting into someone’ felt like until now.  There was no other way to put it.  Her body molded into Weiss’ as if Weiss was her other half.  Her hands settled on the small of Weiss’ back and held Weiss as if hoping they could become one.  Even the club music, so loud moments before, made room for Ruby’s heartbeat.

If Weiss hadn’t pulled away first, smiling as she dropped back down to her heels, Ruby might have extended that kiss forever.  Even now, Ruby regretted being so far apart.  She regretted even more that Weiss’ gaze slipped to the side, noticing several bystanders sneaking glances and clearly whispering about them.

“Sorry.”  Weiss stepped out of Ruby’s arms.  “I should’ve asked.”

“Asked what?” 

“If you want to be seen together like that.”  Distracted by her thoughts, Weiss didn’t seem to notice Ruby inching closer, craving her presence.

“Do you not want to be seen together?”

“What?”  Weiss’ brow briefly furrowed, and then she adamantly shook her head.  “No, I do.  But I don’t know if you want that.”

“I do.”

It took Ruby’s smile and hands landing on Weiss’ waist for Weiss to process the situation.  First, she blinked, then she tilted her head, then a little smile slipped onto her lips.

“You do?”

“I do.”  

Ruby clutched Weiss closer, savoring the smooth fabric of Weiss’ dress under her fingertips.  Weiss felt good in her hands, if that was a thing.  Yet it became nothing compared to how it felt when Weiss’ arms wrapped around Ruby’s neck, making it nearly impossible to think.  Weiss’ gaze slipped around the room, where onlookers were surely observing, before returning to Ruby’s eyes.

“Then this is ok?”

Based on how Ruby’s entire body warmed, she could only say, “More than ok,” and hope that Weiss understood the extent of how much she loved this.  But, in case additional clarity was needed, Ruby cleared her throat and said, “Maybe we should make sure it’s convincing?  You know, in case word gets back to Yang.”

“Right,” Weiss laughed, her eyes sparkling in the low club lights.  “We don’t want anyone wondering if it’s real.”

“Definitely not.”

Ruby’s heart raced when Weiss’ arms subtly tightened around her neck, drawing her in.

“Then we should put more into it, shouldn’t we?” Weiss whispered before pulling Ruby into another kiss.  This one was firmer…and hotter.  So hot that Ruby melted faster than butter hit by a blast ray.  It was the type of kiss that could quickly become an indecent kiss, which Ruby felt all too acutely as she restrained herself from groping as much of Weiss as she could get her hands on.  Their soft gasps and moans were, thankfully, drowned out by the music, but Ruby’s tongue had just slipped into Weiss’ mouth when Weiss gently pulled away.

Ruby’s eyes fluttered open, returning her to the busy club but also to Weiss’ beauty.  Weiss’ flushed cheeks and elevated breathing surely matched Ruby’s, but the vaguely smug smile tugging at the corner of her mouth and the humor in her eyes revealed ample satisfaction.

“I think that worked,” Weiss even said, her gaze sliding to the side before returning to Ruby.  “It certainly did for me.”

In an instant, Ruby’s cheeks found new, darker shades of red.  And, rather than a coherent thought, she sputtered out several partial words before the universe showed pity on her.

“Ruby!”

Flynt beckoned her over to the bar, where a group of actors and the producer waited.  Ruby held up a finger signifying that she would be right there before blowing a breath through her lips.

“You’ve got this.”  Weiss leaned into Ruby while snaking a hand down Ruby’s side.  That hand reached Ruby’s and their fingers intertwined.  Weiss then smiled and tugged Ruby over to the conversation taking place.

Premiere parties were usually dreadful because of the sheer volume of social maneuvering, but the night only seemed to get better as it went on.  With Weiss by her side, providing sturdy and endless support, Ruby breezed through every interaction.  She even got so used to introducing Weiss as “My girlfriend,” that she couldn't imagine it any other way.  

By the end of the night, people sought her out just to meet Weiss.  “I have to meet your girlfriend,” the producer’s assistant said.  “You must be the one who stole our fearless leader’s heart,” the director of photography remarked.  Weiss demurred in her gracious, well-mannered way, but Ruby wholeheartedly agreed.

Weiss would never accept the term ‘perfect,’ but Ruby couldn't imagine anyone more perfectly suited for her life.  Weiss knew how to work a room better than Ruby and she wasn’t intimidated or even starstruck by so many famous faces.  In a few short hours, she enhanced Ruby’s reputation and engendered enough goodwill to last for years.

The night ended in a flurry of goodbyes and promises to get in touch over the coming weeks.  Leaving behind the late-night partiers who would be out for hours to come, Ruby and Weiss finally escaped to the waiting limousine, whose silence was a balm to Ruby’s vaguely ringing ears.

“Thank god,” she sighed, kicking off her heels and rubbing her aching feet.  She glanced at Weiss, sitting pristinely beside her as the vehicle pulled away from the curb.  “How are your feet not killing you?”

“I wear heels every day for work.”

“I don’t envy you…”  Leaving the shoes off, Ruby leaned back and was pleasantly surprised when Weiss immediately pulled her hand into her lap.  

“I had a good night,” Weiss said, prompting yet another smile from Ruby.

“I did, too.  Best premiere party I’ve ever been to.”

“They plan these in advance, right?”

“The premieres?  Yeah, usually a few months or so.”

“If you give me the dates, I’ll put them on my calendar.”

Ruby leaned forward and swiveled to look at Weiss.

“Does that mean you want to come with me again?”

“Of course.”  When Ruby lit up, Weiss laughed.  “I don’t know why you’re surprised that I want to spend an evening with my gorgeous girlfriend, dressed up, watching her masterpieces, and batting away overzealous suitors.  That sounds exactly like something I want to do.”

Ruby’s smile couldn't get any wider.  Well, it could, but then her head might fall right off her shoulders.

“Then yeah!  I’ll get you dates as soon as I have them.”

“Thank you.”  Mollified, Weiss glanced out the window and then faintly laughed.  “I can’t believe Flynt tried to do a handstand on the bar.”

“Don’t remind me,” Ruby groaned.  “Nothing like watching one of your leads nearly break his neck.  That’s not great for publicity.  Or maybe it is?  But not great for him.”

Lightly laughing, Weiss resituated on the plush seats but kept Ruby’s hand clasped in her lap.  And that was how they stayed, reminiscing on the night’s events, for the entire drive from the club to Weiss’ building.  

Ruby expected nothing less than the best for Weiss, and that included living in Vale’s most luxurious apartment building.  Even at the late hour, a doorman stood outside and tipped his hat to the chauffeur while opening the passenger door.  Ruby quickly slipped back into her heels and followed Weiss out to the sidewalk.  Without the warmth of a hundred other bodies keeping them warm and still clad in attire not exactly designed for cold-weather excursions, goosebumps immediately rose along Ruby’s arms.

“This was fun.”  Ruby rubbed her arms but then dropped her hands to her sides and forced them to stay.

“It was.”  Weiss glanced at the doorman, patiently waiting for his opportunity to hold the lobby door for her, before looking up at the building and finally meeting Ruby’s gaze.  “I thought about inviting you up but wasn’t sure if you’d accept.”

Ruby’s heart jammed in her throat, making it difficult to swallow and even more difficult to talk.

“O-oh.  Uh, I mean, I already took up so much of your night, so…you know, I should probably let you go.”

“That’s ok.  I can be patient.”  Weiss’ smile, which could only be described as understanding, slipped into a grin as she leaned closer and whispered, “Just don’t make me wait too long.”  

Ruby blushed crimson as Weiss pulled away.  Weiss clasped Ruby’s hand though, as her blue gaze took on a more hopeful hue.

“The moment I saw one of your films, I wanted to see them all.  Every film you ever worked on.  I wanted to learn everything about what you do and what you’re passionate about.”

Ruby’s heart ached at the way Weiss’ sincere eyes never left hers.  She knew what she wanted - no, what she needed to say next.

“So I invited you over to my place,” she said softly.  “I promised to make dinner and watch them with you.”

The sun might have disappeared for the night, but Weiss’ smile was just as bright.  She kissed Ruby - once, lingering, on the lips - before heading inside.  The doorman held the door for her, which she thanked him for before glancing over her shoulder.  She smiled before disappearing into one of the waiting elevators.  

Only once Weiss disappeared did Ruby blink out of her stupor.  Even then, she spun around as if lost in time before regaining her bearings enough to return to the limousine.  The chauffeur closed the door and she collapsed against the seat for the ride home.  Her feet hurt, her head subtly ached, and her throat was hoarse from shouting over the music, yet she had never felt more incredible.

‘This is my girlfriend, Weiss.’

‘This is Weiss, my girlfriend.’

No matter how Ruby phrased it, it sounded right.