Diva - Chapter 14

After spending most of the previous night drawing anything that struck her fancy, Ruby still had her sketchbook on her lap, fighting bumps and lurches while riding the bus to the other side of town.  She didn’t mind the small jitters - those added a strange sense of personality to the image - but each pothole threatened to send a sharp mistake through the heart of her work.

If Weiss liked puppies, she must like kittens too, right?  

Ruby thought so, which was why a small grey kitten stared up at her.  His glistening, innocent eyes were almost comically large in a way that made her want to pick him up and rub her face against his.  

The bus paused at another stop, so she glanced out the window before flipping to a blank page.  With plenty of time to spare, she started a new sketch from scratch.  She shook her hand first, hoping to ease the vague ache from drawing too much, before setting her pen to the page and briefly considering what to draw next.

The pen started moving before she fully settled on a destination, but she embraced the new muse as an outline quickly appeared.  Moving from animals to people was a jarring change, but she fell into a groove before long.  The stops presented the best opportunity to draw as many lines as possible without having her arm bumped out of place while she used the rough sections of road to plan little changes or alterations.  The on and off process worked remarkably well, both in passing the time and unveiling the image in her mind.

Weiss, it turned out, was incredibly easy to draw from memory.  It helped that Ruby was already familiar with Weiss’ movies and various advertisements, but working together provided more than enough imagery to work from.  Her long, white hair held up in that iconic high ponytail.  Her small, adorable button nose and soft cheeks.  Her perfect lips, which so often scowled or frowned when something didn’t go her way.

Ruby focused on the other moments though.  Rare moments of happiness where Weiss’ gorgeous blue eyes lit up, yet she refused to smile.  The smile was still there, slightly tilting her lips, but her eyes revealed the depths of her joy better than the rest of her expression. 

Just over halfway done with the drawing, Ruby glanced out the window and flipped the sketchbook closed.  She then grabbed her bag and stood up while the bus slowed for the next stop at an intersection with plenty of shopping, dining, and offices scattered around.  What made this intersection different, which she noticed as soon as she hopped off the bus, was that one street had been blocked off and swarmed by a caravan of trucks and trailers bearing the Crescent Productions name and logo.

Everyone stared at the commotion even though not much could be seen with a large trailer blocking most of the street from view.  Despite the blockade, Ruby walked right past and ducked into the coffee shop next door.  Only after collecting a mandatory cup of jet black coffee did she pull out her badge for the young man guarding the entrance to the street.

“Busy today, isn’t it?” she said while handing him her ID.

“Only getting started, too.”  

After poring over her ID and checking it against a printed list, he returned her badge and motioned her past.  She used the sidewalk to slip around the giant truck serving as both a barricade and storage facility.  Only once on the other side did she grasp the extent of the task ahead of them.

Vehicles took up one side of the street; people and equipment occupied the other.  Trailers for the actors and producers were parked in one line immediately in front of her, with more storage trucks being unloaded just behind those.  A large tent had been erected in the middle of the street - a paper sign reading “Extras” had been taped to a cone in front of it.  

Coco and her cast of makeup artists and hairdressers were already hard at work wheeling racks of clothing over to a trailer labeled “Wardrobe” and setting up boxes of makeup on a portable counter that had been set up in the shade cast by the buildings.  Large mirrors and lights were ready to see their first guests in the high stools.  

Other crew members pushed, dragged, or carried everything from cameras and microphones to rolled-up banners into the old bank branch on the other side of the street.  The bank must have moved to another location since its name had been removed from the building, but the viewers at home would be none the wiser once the props were in place.

“Ruby,” Velvet called out as soon as she spotted her.  “Walkies are over there,” she said, pointing at a nondescript folding table under a small tent.  “Can you help me with these?”

Velvet held up the box in her hands, so Ruby nodded and rushed over to collect her radio.  She set the coffee on the table, dropped her bag on the ground, then hurried to meet Velvet near the doors.

“Where’s Oscar?” she asked as they entered the bank, which came complete with teller stations and office furniture stuck in cubicles.  Velvet nodded off to their left, where Oscar helped one of the sound guys attach a microphone to the end of a very long pole, before handing Ruby several rolls of fabric.

“These go behind each station,” Velvet explained, nodding at the teller counters.  Ruby unraveled the first roll of fabric and discovered that it was a generic advertisement for a savings account - not exactly exciting, but it would add realism.

“We couldn't just rent a bank?” she joked while grabbing a step ladder and following Velvet to the counters.  Oscar nearly dropped the microphone trying to wave, earning a startled yelp from the sound crew while she grimaced and motioned for him to pay attention to his task.  

“He’s a bit…overenthusiastic…” Velvet mused.

Chuckling to herself, Ruby heeded her own advice and focused on the task at hand.  Using the step ladder and a roll of double-sided tape, they hung an advertisement on the wall behind where each teller would stand.  Next, they set small, unobtrusive placards in every other teller window.  Then they formed a queue by setting out a series of gold poles strung along a thick, red velvet rope. 

While they worked, the bank steadily filled with cameras, lights, sound equipment, and people.  Besides the regular crew, a trickle of strangers were quickly directed either to the teller counters, the cubicles, or the general lobby area.  Cinder swept from group to group issuing orders, which seemed to be along the lines of ‘stay here or else’ based on their reactions.

“You two.”  Cinder snapped her fingers at Velvet and Ruby before pointing at the door.  “See who needs help outside.”

So accustomed to the blunt orders, Ruby thought nothing of heading outside with Velvet on her heels.  If the building seemed crowded, the street had shrunk in size due to the volume of equipment, vehicles, and people rushing about.  

“Coco could probably use your help.”  Ruby nudged Velvet’s elbow and nodded to the wardrobe department, which had been overrun by extras.  Easily towering over most of the new recruits, Coco regarded every outfit from behind her sunglasses then made a remark to the assistant beside her.  The assistant made hasty notes on a small notepad, then handed the note to the person before hurrying on.

“I’m sure she has it under control…” Velvet mused, though her gaze lingered on Coco with an intentness that made Ruby nudge her forward. 

“Bet she’d appreciate your help anyway.”

Velvet contemplated the suggestion before ultimately smiling to herself.  She hardly took a step in that direction, however, before sending Ruby a questioning gaze.

“Don’t worry about me,” Ruby added, waving her hands in front of her.  “I’ll find something to do.”

Finally, Velvet nodded and went over to offer Coco help.  As expected, Coco lit up at the opportunity.  What Ruby hadn’t expected, however, was for Coco to kiss Velvet’s cheek before lightly setting a hand on Velvet’s waist and leading her to the group of extras.  Ruby chuckled at Velvet’s rampant blush and tickled expression before feeling her own heart jump when a flash of white caught her eye.

Weiss didn’t catch only Ruby’s attention; everyone new to the set stared as she passed.  Her appearance alone set her apart from the rest of them - otherworldly beauty many of them wished for but that she possessed with ease.  Unlike Pyrrha’s overwhelming friendliness, however, Weiss’ aura convinced others to observe from a distance.

Ruby’s job was to ignore that ‘stay away’ attitude.  And, surprisingly, mustering the courage to approach took less effort than it once had.  Even when Weiss’ gaze locked onto her, watching her grow nearer as if searching for the reason behind the intended intrusion, her steps never faltered.

“Good morning,” she greeted Weiss instead.  “Or good mid-morning, I guess,” she corrected with a smile that Weiss didn’t share.

“Is it though…?” Weiss muttered while taking in the chaotic scene surrounding them.

“It will be once I get your coffee, right?”  Weiss’ brow furrowed at the suggestion, but Ruby backed away and held out one hand.  “I’ll be right back,” she said, noticing Weiss’ brow furrow further before hurrying over to the PA table and grabbing the cup of coffee.  

While turning around, she caught sight of her bag and hesitated.  She glanced behind her and saw that Weiss had made her way over to have her makeup done, so she set the coffee down, grabbed her sketchbook, and carefully tore out the drawing of the kitten.  She then tossed the sketchbook on top of the table, folded the piece of paper into a small square, and slipped it into the sleeve of the coffee cup.

“Good morning, Ruby,” Pyrrha greeted her just as she prepared to leave.

“Oh, hey Pyrrha!”

Pyrrha smiled and gestured to the cup in Ruby’s hand.  “Is that for Weiss?” she asked and, when Ruby nodded, held out a hand for it.  “I’ll take it to her if you’d like.”

Ruby looked at the cup, with the slip of paper peeking out from the sleeve, before handing it to Pyrrha and saying, “That’d be great, thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”  

With a parting smile, Pyrrha headed over to the costume department and warmly greeted Weiss.  After passing over the coffee, she took the chair beside Weiss so that a hairdresser could begin working on her hair.  Ruby, meanwhile, pretended to search through the nearby equipment boxes while sneaking glances Weiss’ way.  

While a hairdresser buzzed around her, Weiss took one sip before pulling the cup away to look at.  She frowned at the paper hidden within the sleeve, but she pulled it out and unfolded it to see what it was.  

Her frown morphed into a smile as she immediately searched for Ruby.  When their gazes met, she didn’t do anything to mask her joy.  She just smiled at Ruby for a moment before turning back around in the chair.  She sipped her coffee and looked at the drawing while the hairdresser worked on her long, already-perfect white hair.

Pyrrha soon pulled Weiss into conversation, so Ruby turned away and smiled to herself.  She couldn't remember the last time a simple sketch made her feel so accomplished, but she also couldn't think of a feat more impossible than making Weiss smile.  Earning two smiles in two days should qualify her for some sort of award.

Bright green hair drew her away from the rumination.  She raised her hand for the owner’s attention before he flew past.

“Oob!  Hold on a second?”  When he nearly crashed to a halt, she pulled out her phone and hurried over to him.  “I finished two of the paintings.  Want to see?”

She offered him her phone so that he could look at the photos.  He resituated his glasses before squinting at the screen.

“I see, I see…” he mused while poring over the images.  Before Ruby figured out if that was a favorable response or not, he said, “Excellent!  Exactly what we need.”

“Really?”  For some reason, she had expected disappointment, so she beamed at his emphatic nod.  “Awesome!  I just have the centerpiece left then, but that shouldn’t take more than a few days.”

“Bring them to the studio once you’re done.  We’ll make the shooting date after all!  Glynda will be quite pleased.”

Still musing over his success, Oob hurried away.  Ruby smiled after him before glancing to the side and blushing when she noticed both Pyrrha and Weiss watching her.  Neither of them made any hurried attempt to look away, so she awkwardly waved.  Pyrrha smiled at the response and said something to Weiss, but Weiss rolled her eyes and shook her head.  She smiled though, and responded with a few words that made Pyrrha laugh.

“Ruby?  Can you help me carry this?”

As Jaune patted the top of a camera case that needed two people to unload from the back of the truck, Ruby tore her gaze away from the actresses and said, “Sure.”  She glanced over her shoulder once, just in time to spot Weiss’ smug smile as she turned back to Pyrrha.  

Despite wanting to know what they were talking about, Ruby focused on lifting one end of the heavy, expensive camera case and lugging it down the ramp.  

“Don’t these things have wheels?” she asked only after they set the case down on the sidewalk.

“Broke off ages ago.”  

He tapped the corner of the box, where a small divot had once housed a wheel, before reaching down to pick it up again.  Following suit, she helped him carry it to the bank.  Fortunately, one of the extras held the door for them.  From there, they hoofed it all the way to the far side of the building before finally setting it down for good.

“Perfect,” Jaune said, dusting off his hands before undoing the latches.

“You’re not set up yet?” Cinder asked, marching over to confirm that the camera was, in fact, still in the case.  “Get that set up,” she ordered.  “We’re starting in ten minutes.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Jaune muttered as Cinder stomped away.  “Ruby,” she added with an impatient gesture to two members of the lighting team struggling with a reflecting screen.  Ruby shared a knowing glance with Jaune before hurrying to help.

Ten minutes passed in the blink of an eye when there were a hundred tasks left to do.  The bank wasn’t that big, yet Ruby dashed across it so many times in that ten minutes that she might as well have been racing around a track.  Wrangling the extras proved to be an additional challenge, as she either had to corral them where Cinder wanted them to go or dodge around them when they inevitably got in the way.

Thankfully, the extras fell into a hushed, stupefied trance as soon as Pyrrha and Weiss walked through the doors.  They were much easier to manage in that zombified state, as they moved around less and spoke in quieter voices amongst themselves.  Cardin and Ozpin joined the leading ladies before long, and rehearsals began shortly after.

Working at the studio with limited extras paled in comparison to working on location with scores of extra bodies around.  Cinder’s heightened exasperation and foul mood confirmed that Ruby wasn’t the only one suffering through the difference.  But, as with everything else, they endured.

If the general chaos bothered Ruby, then Weiss must be practically boiling.  But Weiss remained professional, letting a scowl show but not snapping nearly as often.  Grin and bear it - that was Ruby’s motto as she raced in and out of the bank like a robber emptying the vault one bag of cash at a time.

Ironically, emptying the vault seemed to be Parker’s intention for the scene, albeit on a much smaller scale.  First, the cameras recorded the bank operating as normal - several of the extras chatted with the tellers while others waited in line.  Weiss entered the bank next and glanced around the lobby before joining the line.  After patiently waiting her turn, she spoke to one of the tellers - a camera right in her face as she did so - before being escorted to the safety deposit boxes.  There, she emptied one of the boxes into her bag and left the bank without incident.  

As soon as Ozpin deemed her scene complete, she disappeared without a word, likely retreating to her trailer for some peace and quiet.  Pyrrha and Cardin entered the building next, though they skipped the line courtesy of Pyrrha’s badge and went straight to the ‘manager.’  He led them to the safety deposit boxes, where they checked the one that Weiss had just emptied.

Grace and Chase’s scene was more complicated, with more dialogue - and Cardin - so the rehearsals lasted past lunchtime.  But, maybe due to the extras’ presence, or just feeling extra generous today, Ozpin announced a break before they switched from rehearsal to filming.  The extras returned to their designated area on the street, where they could use the portable bathrooms or eat the food they’d brought with them.  Ruby, meanwhile, helped set up lunch - hamburgers and sandwiches catered by a nearby restaurant - for the rest of the crew

The closed street filled with people and voices in no time.  Everyone milled in every direction, seeming to fill every inch of available space.  The weather cooperated with their outdoor adventure - not too hot or too cold - and the energy remained upbeat despite the long morning.  Ruby watched the crew move through the lunch line, her stomach growling in anticipation of a hamburger, until Weiss caught her eye.

Weiss was eye-catching in every circumstance but spotting her outside of her trailer during meal time was like spotting a unicorn at a flea market.  Ruby instantly stood at attention, figuring something must be wrong, as Weiss approached.  The instant that Weiss held up Ruby’s sketchbook, Ruby’s stomach clenched.

“You should keep this somewhere Cardin can’t get his paws on it,” Weiss explained, handing over the sketchbook while Ruby glanced at the PA’s table.  Sure enough, Cardin had chosen that spot as his hangout for the day.  He sat right where Ruby had left the sketchbook earlier, swinging his legs and making jokes with an uncertain Oscar.

“Right.”  Ruby took the book and smiled at Weiss.  “Thank you.”  

“You’re welcome.”  Ruby expected Weiss to leave, but she clasped her hands in front of her and said, “I didn’t look in it.”

“I know.”  Ruby offered a reassuring smile before glancing down at the book.  After running her fingers across the cover, she opened it and showed Weiss the first page.  “They’re just doodles.  I draw when I’m bored.  Nothing spectacular.”

The doodle of an old man playing guitar at the park didn’t seem like much to Ruby, but Weiss stared at it so intently that Ruby shuffled her feet.

“Except they’re very good,” Weiss remarked before holding out her hand and looking at Ruby.  “May I?”

The noncombative expression made it clear that Ruby could decline without repercussion, yet Ruby found herself nodding and handing over the open book instead.  Weiss’ responding smile made the decision worth it, though unmistakable butterflies fluttered through her chest as Weiss flipped the page.

“They’re incredible…” Weiss mused, dedicating full minutes to each unpolished drawing before moving on.

“They need a lot of work.  My lines suck and I need to figure out my style.”

“Who said that?”

Ruby rubbed the back of her neck when Weiss glanced up at her.

“Just…some feedback I got.”

“Well, they’re wrong.  You’re very talented.”

“You’re just saying that to be nice,” Ruby replied, but Weiss let out a dry, derisive laugh that ended shortly after it started.  

“I’ve never said anything just to be nice.”

Weiss briefly held Ruby’s gaze after that statement, as if willing Ruby to believe her, before returning to the drawings.  She devoted time and attention to each one, even the unfinished or abandoned ones, while Ruby stared at the calm, intent beauty in front of her.  Blue eyes that could be so sharp and cold scanned every line with no hint of ridicule.  Gorgeous lips that so often found themselves in a frown or scowl remained neutral, with teeth lightly biting her bottom lip in concentration.

As soon as Weiss turned another page and froze, Ruby glanced at the drawing and blushed.

“Oh, yeah, I like to, uh - draw people,” she stammered while Weiss stared at the unfinished image of herself.  “You should see how many Pyrrhas I’ve got floating around.”

Ruby chuckled and rubbed the back of her neck while her cheeks warmed to an uncomfortable degree.  Weiss ghosted her fingers over the page before closing the book and returning it to Ruby without making eye contact.

“Pyrrha is exceptionally photogenic…”

“Yeah!  Definitely.”

Several seconds of awkward silence enveloped them, and only them, before Weiss cleared her throat and clasped her hands in front of her.

“If you’re not too busy, could you grab me something for lunch?”

Ruby’s jaw threatened to drop at the request rather than order, but she quickly shook her head and said, “I’m not.  Too busy, I mean.  What can I get you?”

“There’s a great little place called Dusty’s just around the block.  They make a wonderful seafood pasta - do you like seafood?”

“I love it,” Ruby answered while tucking her sketchbook under one arm.  “You want that?”

Once Weiss nodded, Ruby set off on her task but hardly made it a step before Weiss said, “Wait.”  The word accompanied a soft touch on Ruby’s elbow, which Ruby glanced at and Weiss quickly withdrew.  “You should take my card,” she added before heading to her trailer.

“They gave me a card,” Ruby explained, but Weiss had already disappeared inside.  She emerged with her expensive handbag moments later, fishing through it before extending a credit card.  At first, Ruby just looked at it, but she took it when Weiss waved it impatiently.  It was heavy, made of metal, and felt more out of her league than anything she had ever handled.

“Are you sure?” she asked, holding the card by the edges as if she might accidentally break it, but Weiss nodded.

“Yes.  And order one of the desserts too, please.”

“Dessert?”  Ruby couldn't imagine Weiss eating a full meal, let alone a meal plus dessert, but she added, “Which one?”

“Surprise me,” Weiss replied, a small smile picking up her lips as she returned to her trailer.  

The phrase once filled Ruby with dread.  Today, she beamed at Weiss’ door before rushing off to do as asked.  “Getting food for Weiss!” she told Cinder on the way.  Cinder grumbled something under her breath - she probably hated when the assistants left on tasks that she hadn’t issued - but made no attempt to divert Ruby’s efforts.  After dropping off her sketchbook - this time making sure to put it in her bag - she headed to the end of the street.

“Hey, Ruby,” Jaune said while she hurried past.  He glanced at her empty hands and then at the lunch tent.  “Aren’t you hungry?”

“Always.  But Weiss asked me to get her something first.”

“Huh.  Don’t think I’ve ever seen her eat…”  

He ruminated on that while his gaze drifted across the street, and Ruby didn’t even need to turn around to know that he’d spotted Pyrrha.  She looked anyway, out of curiosity, and found Pyrrha speaking to Ozpin.  After several moments, however, Ozpin walked away, leaving her to clasp her hands in front of her and glance around.  Her gaze quickly found Jaune, but she even more quickly looked away.  Ruby, however, spotted an opportunity.

“Ask her to eat with you,” she said, nudging Jaune’s side to break him out of his trance.

“What?”  He blinked before shaking his head.  “She doesn’t want to do that…”

“You mean eat?  She’s not a robot.  Besides, don’t you think she’d at least want to sit down?  She’s been on her feet all day.”

The argument wore Jaune’s flimsy defense down, leaving him nodding before long.  “I guess she should probably sit down…” he mumbled to himself, so Ruby decided to help him out a little further by waving Pyrrha over.  Pyrrha lit up and moved their way, so Ruby patted Jaune’s shoulder before heading off.

“Ruby!” Oscar called out as she rushed by.  “Want to eat with me?”

“Oh, sorry, Oscar.  Have to pick up food for Weiss.”  His expression fell, but she smiled and added, “Next time though!”

With lunch already underway, she didn’t have much time to find Dusty’s, order food, and get back.  Fortunately, Dusty’s was easy to find - it was nearly right across from the blocked-off entrance to the street, just like Weiss said.  

The valet outside offered a clue as to the type of restaurant Dusty’s was, and the upscale interior confirmed it.  Feeling a bit out of place in her work outfit - the servers were wearing suits, after all - she bit back her lack of decorum and approached the host.  His gaze swept over her, likely wondering if she was lost, but he smiled regardless.

“How may I help you?”

“I’d like to place an order to go.”  When he nodded, she continued.  “One order of the seafood pasta, and can I see a dessert menu?”

He nodded again and pulled out a small, separate menu tucked into a fancy black holder.  As soon as he set it on the counter, she understood why Weiss wanted to use her own card - the eye-watering prices might be too high even for the studio to fathom paying.  Regardless, she scanned the choices before adding, “And a slice of cheesecake.”

“Excellent choice.”  He rang up the order and took Weiss’ card.  After processing the charge, he returned the credit card with a receipt and said, “It’ll be just a few minutes.”  Ruby glanced at the receipt, blew out a breath at the total, and waited off to the side.  

Several minutes later, one of the servers brought a bag to the front of the restaurant, and the host looked over the containers before motioning her over.  “Have a great day,” he said while handing over the bag.

“You, too!” she said before hurrying back to the set.  An entire order of pasta plus a slice of cheesecake seemed like too much for Weiss to eat, but maybe she would take it home.  Or nibble at it throughout the day.  Whatever the timeline ended up being, Ruby was just glad that Weiss would eat something.

Lunch was still underway when she made it back to the set, though almost everyone had finished eating and were just chatting at the tables or already heading back to work.  She went directly to Weiss’ trailer, knocked on the door, and said, “It’s me.  Uh, Ruby.”

Weiss opened the door moments later, a bemused smile on her lips.

“Who else would it be?” she asked while letting Ruby inside.

“I don’t know…lots of people want your attention and -”  Ruby gave up the explanation when Weiss swept around her, smelling like flowers drifting on the wind.  “Sorry it took so long,” she said instead.  “I convinced Jaune to eat with Pyrrha before I left.”

“Did you?”  Weiss’ smirk grew when Ruby nodded.  “A worthy use of your time.  I approve.”

“Thank you.”  Ruby bowed and then chuckled.  “Something will click for them eventually, right?”

“We can only hope.  Or meddle.”

Noticing Weiss’ sly smile, Ruby grinned while setting the bag on the table and removing the containers from inside.

“Velvet and I are already trying,” she admitted, returning the credit card and receipt to Weiss next.

“Thank you.”  Weiss slid her credit card to the side of the table before looking at Ruby’s dessert selection.  “Cheesecake?” she asked, arching a brow at Ruby.  “Do you like cheesecake?”

“I like anything with sugar in it.”

“Then it’s for you,” Weiss said while pushing the container across the table.

“You don’t like cheesecake?” Ruby asked, but Weiss shook her head.

“It’s one of the few desserts I like, but I won’t even finish all of this.”

Weiss motioned to the container stuffed with pasta and seafood before sliding Ruby a fork and waiting for Ruby to start eating.  The cheesecake looked spectacular, with a perfect puff of whipped cream piled on one end.  Ruby’s mouth watered just looking at it so, even though she hadn’t had a real lunch yet, she took a bite.

Rich and creamy yet light and fluffy.  The perfect balance of sweet yet not too sweet.

“Ok,” Ruby said, savoring that first bite.  “This is the best thing I’ve ever had.”

When Ruby pointed her fork at the dessert more befitting of a god than a lowly production assistant, Weiss hummed and picked at her pasta.  She ate a bite though, Ruby happily noted while taking another bite and groaning at how good it was.  It wasn’t the most refined response, but Weiss seemed to appreciate it.

“You haven’t eaten lunch yet, have you?” 

“This is lunch,” Ruby said while going in for another piece.  Before her fork reached the cheesecake, however, the container disappeared from her hand.

“You should have real food,” Weiss remarked, pushing her pasta in front of Ruby and moving the cheesecake to the side of the table.  “Then you can finish this.”

“I could easily run on sugar for the rest of the day.”  Ruby grinned at the claim but caved when Weiss didn’t relent.  “Fine…” she sighed before spearing several pieces of pasta.

She didn’t know what she expected, but the pasta was just as heavenly as the dessert.  “Oh my god.”  She took another bite, confirmed it was just as good as the first, and looked at Weiss in disbelief.  “You eat like this every day?”

“Not every day.”  Weiss hid a smile when Ruby went back for more.  “Better than diner food, isn’t it?”

“Diners are great if you want good, cheap food.  This is like…empty-your-bank-account, last-meal good.”

“I see…”  Weiss tapped her manicured nails on the table, letting Ruby eat several more bites before adding, “So you and Velvet are trying to get Pyrrha and Jaune together?”

“Emphasis on ‘trying.’”  Thinking about the two star-crossed lovebirds, Ruby shook her head.  “I can’t imagine how you must feel after watching them do this for years.  I haven’t known them that long, so I guess I’m not tired of it yet.”

“And you have patience.  An admirable trait.”

“It is, isn’t it?  You should give it a try sometime.”

The joke slipped out.  As soon as Weiss’ brow rose, Ruby opened her mouth to apologize.  But then Weiss laughed - a delighted sound that lifted Ruby’s spirits in turn.

“Maybe I should,” Weiss agreed once her laughter faded.  “I think I used to be more patient,” she added thoughtfully.  “But this industry just…wears on you.”

When Weiss’ gaze dropped to the table, Ruby lightly cleared her throat, drawing blue eyes back to hers so that she could offer a consolatory smile.

“I can’t imagine dealing with the things you have to deal with.  The security, paparazzi, scrutiny -”

“The fakes, phonies, and hangers-on.”

“Those, too…so, I guess, I understand why you don’t have much patience anymore.”  As Ruby said the words, she realized that she did understand in a way she never had before.  “Puppies though…” she added, so Weiss laughed.

“Dogs are angels.  I’ve saved my patience for them.”

“Good call.”

Ruby grinned at Weiss, who looked much lighter now - relieved, even.  Weiss even returned the smile before sliding the cheesecake across the table.

“I’ll stop making you suffer,” she said while pulling the pasta away. 

“That pasta is in no way suffering,” Ruby replied, though she had no qualms about finishing the rest of the cheesecake.  She noticed Weiss’ glances.  She noticed even more the small bites Weiss infrequently took - petite, dainty, refined, like a princess.

“You know, this movie is, in a way, like creating a work of art.”  When Ruby looked up, Weiss waved a perfectly manicured hand through the air.  “Not a great one, I’ll admit, but it takes a good deal of effort to bring everything together.  The writers, cameramen, lighting - all pieces that have to fall perfectly into place.  Once it’s done, we’ll have created something special together.”

Taken aback by the pleasant remark, Ruby stared for a moment before laughing.  “Look at you being a team player,” she teased while Weiss scoffed and rolled her eyes.

“I have my moments.”  When Ruby chuckled some more, Weiss pursed her lips.  “Obviously, as one of the stars, I’m a little more important than everyone else.”

“Obviously,” Ruby repeated before another smile snuck onto her lips.  Weiss’ humorless tone, expression, and gestures suggested hubris, but Ruby knew otherwise.  Somehow, that made it even funnier - that she knew the truth when so many others would assume that Weiss had an inflated ego.

As they drifted into silence, however, she snuck glances Weiss’ way and kept smiling.  Weiss nibbled at her food - at least eating, even if it wasn’t much - while Ruby polished off the cheesecake without issue.

“Ruby?” Velvet’s voice interrupted over the radio before long.  “Are you with Weiss?  We’re ready for her now.”

Weiss had overheard the question and watched impassively as Ruby tapped her radio and said, “Be right there.”  Ruby then began collecting the garbage, prompting Weiss to flip the lid closed on the rest of the pasta and stand.

“Thanks for lunch,” Ruby said before Weiss left.  “Pretty sure I never have to eat again.”

“If that were true, it would be my greatest accomplishment.”

Ruby laughed again, and Weiss smiled again, but that smile disappeared as soon as Ruby opened the door.  The crowded street served as an impressive shock after the privacy of Weiss’ trailer, but Weiss simply sighed and dove into the fray.  Ruby followed her as far as the sidewalk in front of the bank, but that was where Cinder grabbed her attention with a head jerk toward her next task: something to do with the lights, it appeared.

Ruby opened her mouth to say some sort of farewell, but Weiss had carried on as if Ruby had never been beside her.  She spoke to Ozpin now, and listened to his instructions with quiet certainty.  Ruby, meanwhile, blew a breath through her lips and hurried away.

Figuring out how Weiss worked seemed like a foolish endeavor, yet Ruby still tried to do it while also focusing on work.  Filming had moved outside the bank now that the light had reached the desired time of day.  First, they filmed several shots of Weiss entering the bank, her strides long and determined.  Next, she exited the bank clutching her bag, which held whatever she had acquired from the deposit box.

The scenes were simple for her.  After only a few takes of each, her parts were done and she left for the day.  She glanced at Ruby while walking away from the set and raised one hand in an almost wave before disappearing like a fresh breeze.

Ruby’s thoughts went with Weiss even though her body remained to help with the last scenes - Pyrrha and Cardin having a conversation out front with extras expertly passing around them.  Cardin delivered his lines surprisingly well and, before Ruby knew it, the day ended.  The extras headed home; Cardin and Pyrrha whisked off to whatever engagements they had planned; she helped Velvet and Oscar clean up before heading to the bus stop with her bag slung over her shoulder and a fair amount of cheer in her step.

On the ride home, she flipped through her sketchbook one page at a time.  Her heart warmed from the memory of Weiss doing the same thing, regarding each insubstantial doodle as if it were something remarkable.  Ruby saw the mistakes, but Weiss - the most difficult person in the world to please - deemed them incredible.

By the time Ruby arrived home, she decided that was nothing short of a miracle.  After dropping her sketchbook onto the desk, she stared at the collection of notes on the wall in front of her.  All helpful hints.  Words of wisdom.  Altruistic advice.

She tugged the first one off of the wall, then the one beside it.  The third one came down too, and she kept going until the only one remaining was Yang’s: “Your color choices are amazing.”  After balling the rest up and tossing them into the trash, she set a blank canvas on the easel, stepped back, and took a deep breath.

What did she like painting?  She liked bright colors.  She liked long brush strokes.  She liked realism with some whimsical thrown in.

If the curators she had spoken to were right, then she must not know much about art.  But she had a pretty good idea of what Weiss did and didn’t like.  Well, she knew a lot of things that Weiss didn’t like.  From there, she could make a reasonable guess about what Weiss did like.  

It didn’t have to be perfect.  It only needed to be something that Weiss would deem worthy of stealing on her global heist.  It only needed to be something that Weiss deemed…incredible.

Surprisingly, Ruby felt like she had a good chance to deliver just that.