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“Yang, turn around.” Ruby said, voice coming to her as if a frantic wad of gum had caught in her throat—pressing herself further into the car’s passenger seat—silver eyes focussed on her entwined hands. “Turn around right now.”
“Why?” One hand on the wheel while the other rested on her door, resting her mop of blonde hair against her offhand. “We’re already a bit behind, did you forget something?” Lilac eyes motioned from the road ahead of them to Ruby in one flick, moving back and forth when she received no answer.
“N-no.” She could feel gurgling building in her stomach, she was not even standing and Ruby just knew her knees were abandoning her, a sweat building on her brow. “No I just think I, uh, have something I should be doing instead of this.”
In quick response a short and focussed snicker bled from Yang. “You serious? Rubes, I did not spend all morning with you picking out a killer outfit for you to have something better to do.” Shaking her head, the blonde’s hands shifted positions as the car slowed at a set of lights, allowing the older sister to reach over to Ruby.
“Look, you’ve got your toque, you’re jewellery,” Yang emphasised with a slight flash of a rock-on gesture, to be fair most of what she called such were pieces she found from alternative style stores. “You look great, sis.” It seemed something clicked in Yang then though, glancing over again as she saw Ruby for the first time properly since they started driving.
“Oh, you look wicked nervous, Rubes.” A sour sort of laugh dropped from her as she shook her head. Moving her hand back from her sister as the light turned green and they were on the move again.
“How could I not be?!” Ruby’s hands flexed as some vigour finally returned to her body, jumping up and against her seat belt with a ravenous motion. “I have a date! A date with freaking Weiss!”
Silver eyes stared at her sister for a moment, shoulders bobbing up and down as a surprised rampancy for breath took to Ruby.
Shrugging in response, Yang could only offer a slight chuckle. “Yeah, I’m proud, and you barely needed to ask which is a great thing.”
Wobbling back and forth as she shifted in her seat, Ruby continued to use her rebound motivation. “What if she decides not to be there then?” Her tone becoming increasingly reflected in her breath, “I mean maybe she agreed so fast because she had no interest in actually showing up?”
“Dude, she could have just said no then?” Yang’s fingers flexed on the wheel as she briefly shook her head. “And besides haven’t you two like just been doing this will you won’t you thing forever?”
“What?” Ruby sounded like she had just been ripped from one of those old horror films, eyes wide and hands pushing into the seat to lift her upward. “We have not!”
“Totally you have been, look she may be Blake’s friend which loosely connects their friendship to me.” Yang motioned to herself with her thumb. “But when Weiss calls you directly to ask if you want to hang out.” Forcing pronunciation in her wording before making a smaller gesture, “Kinda sounds like she’s actually into hanging out with you more than just group sesh stuff.”
The strength Ruby had in her arms and hands to lift her however many inches off of the seat was lost to her. Dropping down against it with a subtle clap of leather, staring wide eyed at her sister all the while. “Wait so you think she is actually into me?”
Yang felt her jaw open, but no sound came out—already rare enough—as she glanced back and forth from the road to her sister. “Yes, dork.” Aghast in her tone, motioning with her hand again. “But knowing Weiss, she’s probably not even thinking about this as some huge thing, I bet you she shows up at this spot and is as cool about it as ever.”
Weiss was not being cool about it as ever, in fact she was far from cool.
“You’re lucky I even had one of those.” Winter laughed from the driver’s seat, watching out of the corner of her eye as Weiss was heaving back and forth into a brown paper bag. “Take it easy, just keep doing that.”
The older Schnee had a loose smile on her as she shook her head, listening as the veracity of her little sister’s breathing gradually slowed. When the thing slipped from Weiss’ face, she allowed her a moment to breath properly before her hand tapped on her thigh.
“Feeling better?”
“I think I got sick a little.” Weiss replied, “I still cannot believe she asked me, I thought I was going to have to wait years to build up the courage to make a move.” The bag found a spot in the back seat, twisting over herself to place it down back there and then back to the front.
“I don’t understand how you can be you and also so impossibly terrible at being asked on a date.” Winter said, raising her arm for the imminent battering from her sister.
One light smack from Weiss met Winter’s forearm before her hands crossed over one another in a pointedly rough manner. “I was not expecting it, alright?” She spat, eyes flicking down to what she was wearing then. “And she did it in such a thoughtful way, a flower and a simple question.” Somehow managing to even sound upset about how chivalrous Ruby had been as she aggressively fixed her clothing.
“Is my hair ruined?” Weiss asked, sending a momentary glare to her sister.
“Is it ever not?”
“You could try to be helpful?” Bitterness maring Weiss’ tone, flicking down the visor and swinging the mirror open. Looking to fix whatever new flick of white had come out of place.
Winter scoffed, “I’m driving you to and from aren’t I?” Rolling her eyes, “And as long as I’m doing that please try and be civil, this is your first date and I don’t want to be a chauffeur.”
“Winter, oh my god!” Weiss snapped, “It’s just lunch and a walk in the park! Goodness, you make me sound like some loser.” Shutting the visor with an exaggerated amount of force.
“Says the girl who spent the whole drive here almost having an asthma attack.” The firmness in Winter’s quieted tone was not lost on Weiss, making the younger of the pair nod and fall backward into her seat. “Just…” Winter sighed, her hands flexing on the wheel. “Try and have fun, don’t overthink everything. This is not Father playing company matchmaker, it’s a girl who asked you out.”
A forcible clear rummaged through Weiss’ throat, seeing their stop approaching in the distance. “A girl I really want to like me like how I like her.”
“Exactly.” Quickly making the effort to parallel park, nailing it with ease, before stopping the car in full and turning to her sister. “We’re perfectly on time, no panicking.” Her hands clasped together, making Weiss look at her with a gentle lean. “Be yourself, have fun, and clearly she’ll buy into you; for some reason.”
“So helpful.” Weiss responded with some initial bitterness, but as her sister continued to look at her and smile, she found herself doing the same. “Alright, well..” Clicking the seat belt loose and adjusting how she sat. “Wish me luck.”
“And text me when and where to get you, I have nothing but the play by play of this to look forward to today.” Winter called out with some volume as Weiss stepped out of the car, the younger smiling at her still as she stepped away with a raised finger to the Schnee.
“Okay.” Weiss huffed, nodding again as she watched Winter’s car move along. Taking in the surroundings of her destination.
The older part of the city, closer to the waterfront and equally built as such, tight two lane streets presented buildings probably still standing since the city’s founding. It was brutally picturesque, as if someone had ripped it out of a postcard and thrown it into reality. It was a warmer day, though the cold of Autumn was right around the corner, still Weiss opted for something for the colder climate than the former.
A brief blue button jacket laid open on her, showing off a light white undershirt and matched with simple dark jeans and heeled boots. Far from something a Schnee would be caught wearing but something about it yelled Ruby more to her than otherwise.
A slight spring her step brought her across the road, making sure to keep and eye out for other pedestrians and cars, in doing so catching the gold yellow paint job of the beater she knew too well.
Ruby watched in abject horror as she saw Weiss approach the corner of the street, a positively radiant smile on her as she raised her hand and waved at their car.
“Oh my gosh she is gorgeous.” Ruby deadpanned as Yang snickered, pulling them right up alongside the waiting girl.
Using the driver’s side control, Yang rolled the window on Ruby’s side down—leaning across the centre console in the process—as she smiled. “Hey there, girly.”
“Yang.” Weiss offered a small nod of her head, “You, for once, have perfect timing.” The notable snide tone was apparent, though Weiss retained her eager smile.
“Oh, well in that case.” Laughing to herself as she clapped her right hand on Ruby’s lap. “I bet we can take another lap around the block and get acquainted on Rube’s game plan then, she’s real excited for-.”
“Yang!” It seemed like a flash of red took Ruby from the car and out besides Weiss, the Schnee blanching slightly at how quick they were side by side, while Yang continued on to laugh. ”Thank you for the ride, I will see you later, bye now!” The wording of her sentence came out at a slurred speed.
Giving the air a moment, Yang flicked her eyes between the still composing Weiss and the agitated look of her sister. Waiting until Ruby realised that in her speed she had practically thrown herself hip to hip with the white-haired girl, flashing a raised brow before clicking her tongue.
“Alrighty you love birds.” Yang laughed to herself, “Schnee, you treat my sister with respect.” Pointing with half effort through the window as Weiss threw her vision to the blonde. “I don’t wanna hear about any funny business at your little luncheon, be respect-.”
“Yang!” The pair of them blurted in union, Weiss stomping a foot as Ruby almost growled at her sister. The noise of the car’s engine revving conjoined with that of Yang’s hollering laughter.
“Text me!” Rang out one more time before the vehicle took to life, rolling away down the road and leaving the pair of Ruby and Weiss now closer together. The former taking the initiative to block any would be dust from ruining the latter, Ruby stepping up close to Weiss with her arms sort of blocking her from the road.
“Jeez.” Ruby lurked her words, “Such a bozo.” Still staring after her sister’s car for a moment more.
“You could say that again.” Weiss sighed, the pair of them resting for a moment there before blinking and turning to look at one another properly. Eyes flashing wide in both respects as the pair took a step backward from one another.
“S-sorry.” Ruby coughed, “Uh, wow.” Though the distance now allowed her a far better view, looking over Weiss’ outfit now and more aptly focussing on the brief points of makeup she had worn.
“Wow yourself, you look handsome.” Weiss said, not even thinking, “Still the same shoes as usual, though, huh?” Pointing down with a huffed laugh.
Blushing a little, Ruby turned her leg and sort of raised her foot onto her toe. “Oh come on, skater shoes, they’re good for everything.” Laughing the comment off before she made an equal gesture to Weiss. “But I do like the casual formal, heeled boots, that intimidated by my two inch lead?”
“It’s more like one inch, I’ll have you know.” Weiss scoffed, her hands folding in front of her with a brief flexion. “And thank you, though I suppose I may have gone a little too far on the formal side, we do look rather the opposite don’t we.” A momentary drawl of her hair waved a piece of her hair behind her ear.
“I don’t know, I do rather like it.” Ruby made a subtle motion first, her hands rising to Weiss’ front. “Though if I may, your collar did get a touch messed up here.”
Wow she was warm, Weiss could feel Ruby’s hands through her coat and collar, practically grazing her cheek as she fixed the offending discrepancy.
“There.” Ruby beamed, that smile always so infectious. “Perfection.”
Weiss found herself swaying slightly, taking a step along the sidewalk then. “Well, if I look so perfect then I suppose my handsome date looks equal parts, are you hungry?”
Blue eyes flashing over her shoulder reminded Ruby of their purpose here, all of a sudden becoming too knowledgeable about where her hands were and what they were doing.
“Oh, yeah, of course!” Taking a step to come in line with the Schnee, leaving some generous space between them just to be sure. “I, uh, I gotta admit I was too nervous to eat anything this morning.” Her hand went for her neck, rummaging against it in a brief fervour.
“Grand,” Weiss nodded with a short laugh, her hand going to her stomach. “I did the same thing. I am very excited, don’t get me wrong-.”
“But it feels different right?” Ruby said, her smile continuing to hold sway over her expression while her eyes drew themselves longingly over Weiss.
A weight looked to relinquish itself from Weiss’ form, “Yes, a good different though, not to set a standard but it feels like something we have done before.” Weiss turning a gentle sort of pink as they walked.
“Sure. I can see that.” Feeling a little bit of a shake to her wrist as she spoke, Ruby dropped her hand from her neck. “Then would you mind if I…?” She offered her open hand to Weiss, “If you think that’s alright, I mean?”
“Of course.” Weiss said with just a bit too much speed, nodding as she took Ruby’s hand in her own. It took her a moment to process the calloused and toughened skin touching hers, warm and firm, she felt safe in it.
All the while Weiss’ skin on Ruby’s was so odd to her, she knew that Weiss had this list of ointments, conditioners, and whatever have you. Her hair literally looked like silk a shocking amount of the time but she had never considered really if that were to extend to any other part of her. The only callous skin she even perhaps had was where her hand would hold a pen, beyond that it was as if she were holding powdered snow.
“That is a lot better.” Sighing, Ruby’s shoulders hunched slightly as her other hand tucked into her pocket. Red face beaming as she took a short laugh. “Been wanting to do that for a while.”
Weiss just watched for a moment, the restaurant they were making for was quickly approaching, so she slowed them a touch. Rubbing her thumb along the outside of Ruby’s hand for a small spell of time as she looked down at their interlocked hold. “I’m happy you finally asked.” She said, moving her eyes to Ruby’s and doing her best to offer a smile even close to Ruby’s.
She could see the quiet meaning in Weiss’ eyes, the way the sun caught in those blue saucers. “Well, it was a little difficult to ask when you were a little miserable every day.” Smiling though as she said it with a gentle knock to their hold. “Lucky you have the ever persistent Dolt.”
“Oh hush.” Weiss hummed, her hand going for the door to this place and opening it, holding it for Ruby for a moment. “You are lucky I brought my wallet, you’re actually going to get a meal this time, not just an appetiser, you are not paying.”
“I asked you out!” Ruby exclaimed, entering the building with a turn to her step. Pulling Weiss softly along with her. “I get the honour of paying!”
“Well I would have asked you out first eventually so it doesn’t matter.” Weiss replied curtly, shaking her head with that same proud smile which made Ruby grin without fail every time.