[IC Inbox for Cerealia]

[heiroglyphs]

Thank you for calling.

You have reached the voice mail box of Weiss Schnee. My humblest apologies, but I am presently unavailable.

Please leave a brief message and I will get back to you as soon as-- wait Ruby no!

[ Beep! ]

Comments

[corona]

But -- [ And narrow further. ] That's not why you wanted to be a Huntress. Is it, Weiss. You knew what your family was doing long before you made the decision to leave.

[ Projecting?


Only a tiny bit. ]

What made you leave? You personally? You don't just spend all your time living with something horrible and - and act like nothing happened afterwards. What happened to feeling suffocated at home?

[heiroglyphs]

Don't you think it's a little late to be delving into my family life?

[She leans back against the couch, crossing her arms.]

[corona]

Well. There's never going to be a right time of day for it. [ Automatically looking up for a clock and, finding none immediately, going for the CereVice instead. ] I didn't choose now to have nightmares, after all.

[heiroglyphs]

[Wow, Rapunzel. She just hasn't bought one yet gosh.]

You know, most people would take that as a sign they shouldn't ask.

[Sigh, no getting around it, is there?]

My family is... complicated.

[corona]

[ Cooly, but not cruelly: ] So is mine. I barely even have one. [ Then, relenting some, she adds ] That's... how we got here, remember? Family semblance...

[heiroglyphs]

Yeah, I guess you're right. My family was just... very controlling. They care about me, sure, but there were always expectations I had to meet. Training, studying, meeting people. I'm not even sure I ever really got to be a kid.

[corona]

But that was all... [ choosing her words very carefully here ] to protect people from the Grimm, right? To protect people in general? Or - that's what they told you it was for?

[heiroglyphs]

No, they weren't training me to be a Huntress. They were just training me to be a Schnee.

My family prides itself on being strong, smart... overall better than everyone. I needed to know everything and everyone.

[corona]

But...

[ This seems to be what triggers Rapunzel turning and leaning in so she can reach out, confusion and hurt on Weiss's behalf just slightly screwing up usually smooth features. ]

Why?

[heiroglyphs]

Tradition, pedigree, I don't know.

[She leans away from Rapunzel out of instinct. It's not anything personal, she's just always had an aversion towards people, especially being intimate with people.]

The point is, that's what a Schnee is, so that's what I was raised to be.

[corona]

[ This time only her head turns. ]

I see.

And -- [ The hovering hands drop easily into her lap. What's interesting to her is that this isn't the first time she's seen someone sort of unconsciously drawing away - either in other people or in herself. It's a little embarrassing to see on someone as ordinarily placid as Weiss, like watching a person spill soup on themselves when they think no one's around, and Rapunzel herself instinctively wants to go back in time and stop whomever hurt Weiss from doing it. Just so the contact doesn't have to be so painful. ]

What if you couldn't do it? What if you failed, or... or you decided you didn't want to do it anymore? What would happen if you were to get tired and quit - do something else? [ questioning, but calm ]

...What are the consequences of not being the Schnee you're supposed to be?

[heiroglyphs]

[It would be a long fight against a lot of very dangerous people.]

I don't know. I never allowed myself to fail that way.

[There were days where she would be disappointed in herself, but she never let down her family. Whether that is a testament to her dedication or her father's patience is a question for another time.]

[corona]

I thought you said your family was wrong. That you were trying to undo what they'd done, trying to stop them--

[heiroglyphs]

And I will. One day, I'll inherit the Schnee Dust Company and set everything right.

Until then, it's protecting the people.

[corona]

[ Oh. She

she wants to - ]

Change... things from the inside?

[heiroglyphs]

That's the plan.

[She gives a little smile.]

[corona]

[ .... And now she's narrowing her eyes. ]

What does that have to do with being a huntress? Why do you need to go to monster killing school in order to stop your family?

[heiroglyphs]

[She clicks her tongue.]

To protect people, we've gone over this. I want there to be something good associated with my family name.

I figure, maybe if people know that the Schnees aren't all bad, then maybe things will go smoother when I take over the company one day.

[corona]

No, I - I know, but-- Nng. That's not what I mean. [ By this point she's definitely shaking her head. No doubt an odd display with the animal ears. ]

What I mean is, that has nothing to do with you Weiss. How can your - your dream be all about other people? If you chase something like that, you'll burn out.

[heiroglyphs]

I don't have dreams. I make plans, and like it or not those plans involve lots of other people. A lot of the time I wish it didn't, but...

[corona]

Wish it didn't involve lots of other people or wish you didn't have to stick to those plans at all?

[heiroglyphs]

The people, mostly, I guess.

[She folds her hands into her lap.]

[corona]

Right. [ Excuse her while she scoffs. ] That? Is a lie. And you know how I know? Because that thing you said about not having any dreams is a lie.

Everyone has a dream. Everyone has something inside them that is only theirs. Even if you don't know what it is yet, that potential is there and it is You. Your Soul. Your purpose. Call it what you want but... you have it. And you're just fooling yourself by saying you don't.

[ / s p e e c h e s ]

[heiroglyphs]

Yeah, maybe.

[She rolls her shoulders, finally freeing herself from the back of the couch she had been slowly trying to retreat into.]

Well, it's now 4 in the morning. I wouldn't mind getting some semblance of rest tonight.

[corona]

Weiss - come on. [ But she sounds more fearful than determined or self-righteous now, and her hands fly immediately to her hair. ] I... don't know that I can sleep, remember? I'll just be annoying you with all my sound anyway. Or I'll draw your face while you're asleep, heh.

Please stay up with me. Just a little longer.

[ beat ]

...We can have s'mores!