[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! ]

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[heiroglyphs]

[She wishes she could be okay right now. She would like nothing more than to shrug this off and move on, but she can't. She hurt someone over some stupid petty feeling.

Her hands move up Ruby's back and onto her shoulders, slowly pushing the two of them apart.]

I think you know the answer to that.

[undaunts]

[She does, but she's still not happy about it. Ruby's lips turn down into a frown when they're separated like that, but she can't exactly argue it. Weiss allowed the hug for longer than usual--which is how she knows she isn't okay.]

...

[She wants to say "it's okay", but it's not, not really, and they both know it. Instead--]

...What can I do?

[To help. To fix things. To be Weiss' partner, and leader, and a person she can lean on.]

[heiroglyphs]

[She isn't sure what to say. Let her wallow in her sadness, maybe, but she already knows Ruby wouldn't take that as an answer.]

Maybe we should go sit down.

[undaunts]

... Okay.

[It's not like Ruby would ever deny Weiss anything that she needs, honestly--she'll sit, looking at Weiss expectantly.]

[heiroglyphs]

[She leads her partner to the couch before taking her place on it, sitting up straight, hands folded in her lap.]

Yang has the mask now, so we shouldn't have to worry about any more... outbursts.

[Who knows if the masks even work anymore, but she's not about to find out.]

[undaunts]

But Weiss... What happened?

[Outbursts?? The mask??]

Did the mask make you do something?

[heiroglyphs]

[Deep breath. Okay, so from the beginning.]

There was this weird alien guy on a computer terminal that wouldn't talk to anyone unless they were wearing their mask. I thought maybe he'd have some answers about this place and how we can get out of here, so I played along and put mine on. I didn't really learn much, but after that I started feeling... weird, I guess-- sad, angry.

[Still not making eye contact. Her floor looks so clean today, it's lovely.]

I felt so small around everyone else. This person is so much smarter, this person is so much stronger, this person is so much kinder. It made me want to prove that I was just as good as them. I started wearing the mask more and more, and... eventually I started acting on those feelings.

[undaunts]

[It's a lot, really. The mask made Weiss do a lot of bad things, and now she feels sad about it. The mask made Weiss feel.....

Carefully, Ruby reaches out to take Weiss' hand.]

Weiss... you are as good as them! Usually you're better! You're one of the best people I know--at like. Everything! It's a Weiss thing!

[heiroglyphs]

[She hesitates for a moment before allowing Ruby to take her hand.]

Thanks, Ruby. I know I should be proud of where I am now, but... I just can't help but see how far we still have to go.

[undaunts]

We do... have a long way to go. I think we all do.

[Her voice drops to a stage whisper as she says:]

I even think Uncle Qrow has a long ways to go sometimes.

But... that's why we practice! And we get better every day, and I think that...that's good enough for me. What about you?

[heiroglyphs]

[A long way to sobriety, maybe.]

Maybe it is, but I can't stop worrying about it until I know that for sure.

[There will always be that voice in the back of her head telling her that one day they'll face something that she won't be strong enough to handle.]

[undaunts]

[You're not wrong.]

I know it's for sure.

[Ruby, at least, sounds 100% confident.]

We'll do it, Weiss! No matter what comes at us... I know we can do it. We've done some crazy things before, right?

We'll do it as a team.

[heiroglyphs]

[What she wouldn't give for a sliver of your optimism, Ruby.]

You're right. We're unstoppable as long as we're together.

[...]

Which... brings me to my next point. Regarding Hiro. Really hoped we'd never have this talk.

[undaunts]

[... Right. Regarding Hiro. Um.]

I'm not gonna lie, I am still definitely trying to process that you tried to hurt Hiro.

[...]

What about him...? [Oh god, what talk is this, she's not Prepared.]

[heiroglyphs]

[Ugh, she really wanted to have more time to prepare for this. Maybe a day or two to sort out her feelings and find a way to word it eloquently without turning into a sobbing mess. None of this got to happen so...]

The reason I attacked Hiro is... I was worried, somewhere deep down in the back of my head, that um.

[She pauses. This is embarrassing.]

That I was going to be replaced. As... your partner, and your friend.

[She makes a popping noise with her lips, trying to break her own tension. It doesn't work.]

I know that that sounds incredibly petty and dumb, and-- well it is, but I would never have actually acted on those thoughts under normal circumstances I just...

[Ruby, she's stuck in an infinite run-on apology sentence. Please help.]

[undaunts]

[Oh no.... poor Weiss. There's a bit of a pause as Ruby absorbs that, and then--well, then she just holds Weiss' hand tighter, making sure to hold it between both of her own and...bringing it up to press her forehead to it, apologetic.]

I'm sorry, Weiss...! I know it's a lot because you were here and Hiro wasn't here and then you were gone forever and Hiro happened and I didn't tell you immediately and it's a lot to get used to and--

[A deep breath.]

... It's okay. I mean... It'll be okay. [How can she judge Weiss for a feeling like that, when she knows it comes from a place of...well, love? They do love each other as partners and friends and teammates, and she knows it.] I know that Hiro's kinda a change but... I love you guys too, you know? You're my team! You're my partner, Weiss! And I wouldn't want any other partner ever, so nothing's gonna change that.

[And she lifts her head to look Weiss in the eye.]

You're irreplaceable to all of us, but especially to me. [If she's allowed to be that selfish--that's what she's gonna be.]

[heiroglyphs]

[Leave it to Ruby to come up with excuses for her friend. Of course there are a thousand reasons why she tried to murder your boyfriend. This is totally okay and not at all weird in the slightest.

And despite Weiss being the farthest thing from a touchy person, she'll allow Ruby to move her hand. Her skin is letting off a very comforting warmth; something she needs very badly right now.]

Thanks Ruby. I... really needed to hear that right now.

[She gives her hand a squeeze.]

I know I don't say stuff like this nearly as often as I should, but... you're my best friend. I'm really glad you're here.

[undaunts]

[It's a little weird but they're trying, okay.

She just smiles a little lopsidedly at Weiss then, because while it's warming to hear that, things are still a little damaged and a little broken. Not between her and Weiss, but... Weiss and Hiro, and Ruby's worried about it.]

You're my best friend too, you know... so I really want you to be okay.

[Always, she's always worried for Weiss.]

Are you... gonna talk to Hiro?

[heiroglyphs]

He... already texted me, actually. I've just been looking for reasons not to respond.

[And she's running out of distractions.]

[undaunts]

[..............]

Weeeeeeiiiiiiissssssssss.

[heiroglyphs]

Oh fine.

[Here, she'll grab her phone off of the coffee table and text him right now. She'll even show her the message.

"stealin ur girl."

What, that's not what it says? Oh fine, she's mostly just acknowledging she's not dead in a ditch somewhere. Or ignoring him. Except that she was. But now she's not. Because of the power of Protagonist.]

Better?

[undaunts]

[The power of Protagonist is a good start.]

Yeah. Thanks, Weiss.

[Just... have a really relieved smile here. She knows it'll take some time for things to be okay, but having two of her favorite people at odds is hard.]

[heiroglyphs]

It's the least I can do, honestly. Hopefully he heals up quickly.

Then again, if he doesn't, I'll know where to start his Aura training.

[undaunts]

... Thanks for looking out for him too, Weiss.

[It means a lot to her, even if Weiss won't admit that's what she's doing.]

[heiroglyphs]

Someone has to make sure you two dorks are safe.

[It's a partner's job, after all.]

But, um... thanks for checking up on me, Ruby.

Also? Not hating me. [Really appreciate that one.]