how did you love?

❅ : the head she carried was certainly a sight. what to do about the girl carrying it, though... she was staring back at weiss, who quickly looked away out of embarrassment. curiosity was no excuse for rude behavior, but who could blame anyone for staring at one of the denizens of the island when they were all so different?

❅ : what exactly are you supposed to feel when face-to-face with a sworn enemy that has lost their reason to live? weiss tries to remember all their encounters with neo, and the memories are all colored with a calmed fury, the fire cooled by the passing of time. now, looking at this girl, she only feels pity... pity, and uncertainty. what will she do? there is no tree here to remake herself within, and this world as she remembers it is harsh and unforgiving all the same.

At first, she found the girl’s embarrassment to be rather cute. However, as she continued her apologies, it seemed that she was more distressed than curious. Leaving McQueen at least a little worried about her.

“You don’t need to apologize. I would probably do the same if I happened to see a girl who looked a bit like me.” Gesturing towards her ears and waving her tail into view. “You wouldn’t have gotten your answer if you never asked me. It’s better than never knowing right?” Trying to change the tone of the atmosphere at least a little bit.

Bringing her arms behind her back, she would lean in a bit to match her at eye level. “I don’t think it’s so bad that I should pretend this never happened. It’s nice to meet you Weiss, my name is McQueen. And just like that, we’re all caught up.” Standing back upright and bringing her hands together.

“I’m an Uma Musume, and I assume that you’re a… human?” It felt weird to make the distinction but given all the types of people in this city, it felt somewhat required. “I take it you are looking for a friend who’s a Faunus?”

❅ : though she’s still embarrassed, the intensity of the emotion has lessened enough that weiss feels well enough to behave normally (does she have a normal, anymore?) now that this awkwardness is mostly behind them. key word being mostly, given that she’s bound to remember that moment for the next two weeks at a minimum.

everything is turning around! ...she hopes.

‘i appreciate your understanding.’ the tail and ears are striking on this girl, yet she’s still probably the most normal person weiss has met in this place so far. forgiving, too, if she’s being generous with her first time character assessments.

‘i’ve never heard of an uma musume, but...’ she has a fair number of questions she’d like to ask, but first things first. ‘yes, i am looking for a friend who’s a faunus. i don’t think she’s here, though... i guess i’d been - ’ blake falling into the dark below with ruby is an image emblazoned in her brain, the afterimage burned into her eyelids when she closes her eyes. ‘a bit too hopeful.’

@einsamkalte​ liked for a starter

An especially striking young lady with snow white hair and icy blue eyes approaches the counter of your run of the mill coffee shop. 

“Why, good morrow, ma’am, and I bid you welcome to Bean There Done That! How may I help you? Oh! And ere you begin your order, might I point you to the new items on the menu just waiting to be tried.” Fandaniel, sporting an apron with a nametag that reads [Hello, my name is Ted], gestures to the board behind him with a flourish before leaning in to say in a lower voice, “Twixt you and I, however, I highly recommend the Honey Javalava.”

No, he neither works here nor knows what the Honey Javalava actually tastes like. He simply noticed that the youth working behind the counter was nowhere to be seen (Mayhap he fell asleep in the bathroom? Who could say) and took it upon himself to slip into the spotlight. Already The Ascian has served four customers and, because the fool left the key to the register behind, he has experienced no problems whatsoever accepting pay and giving change. 

Now what will this dazzling snow angel order? More importantly, will she be the one to finally realize that he has no idea how to make anything on this menu?

❅ : weiss had stopped in for a pick-me-up in her current favorite coffee shop to carry on with her day and get some errands done - not to be regaled by the very recent winner of the “most suspicious man she’s met today” award. still, whatever’s wrong with him is not her problem, and all she wants for right now is a coffee and some peace. she’s not at her best - by no means even close to such - and too much forced interaction with others has proven disastrous on a good day.

‘i think i’ll just stick with my usual, thanks.’ come to think of it, she’s never seen this man working here before. of course, the logical explanation is just that he’s a new hire. ‘...which i realize you wouldn’t know.  one tall cup of darkest night, no sugar please.’ she pauses, then adds, perhaps out of a sense of pity, ‘and a tall honey javalava. since you recommended it.’

@einsamkalte​

🌹 A lot had changed back in Remnant since the last time Ruby had been here. A lot had changed with Ruby. The last thing she could remember was falling into the depths with Blake, after her sister with Weiss’ status unknown. She didn’t know if she had died or what, but she had woken up in this city again in a familiar location outside of the whole.

During the days that followed, she had done everything she could to keep it together. Constantly on the move, always investigating things. It looked like Ruby was just always energetic, but she was really just trying to avoid thinking about the thoughts that were gnawing away at the back of her mind.

All of her attempts to keep things bottled up came undone the second she bumped into a familiar face though. Was it just a coincidence? Or had Weiss come looking for her? Either way, despite the fact that they were in public Ruby immediately began to cry.

Part of her wanted to lunge for her friend and hug her, but another part of her hesitated. After all, she had broken a promise in a sense. “Weiss… I’m sorry… I told you that I’d be there for you… but I left you behind.” Of all the things she could have been crying about, it was that. After all Weiss had been through, as her partner she had sworn never to abandon her like she had when she had fallen.

❅ : there’s so much to say and not enough time to say it all. instead weiss just lets herself feel the tears running hot down her cheeks as the friend she watched fall into the abyss last looks at her with hurt in her eyes and writ large across her face.

‘ruby! it’s not... it’s not like you chose to fall. it just happened, and then - and then - ’ and then i was alone again. that makes the tears run faster and harder, as the thought comes unbidden, swelling up from within her chest. ‘you were gone. but you’re here now. that’s what’s important, right?’

never mind what she saw. never mind what she felt. never mind it all for now. ruby was here now, and while the gaping hole that was the absence of team rwby had only begun to knit itself back together a fraction, weiss was beginning to feel less like a hollow shell and more like a person. nothing could ever truly be fixed - and she didn’t want to think about how she could leave again - but she could at least rejoice in their reunion. for now.

‘i thought you were dead. i still think - ’ no, she can’t put those thoughts into words. if she says anything about what happened to yang or blake, she thinks she might snap herself into two entirely. ‘actually, no. i don’t want to think about any of that. right now, i just want to make sure you’re real.’

it’s then she goes in for the hug, all-consuming as she wraps her warms around her teammate and squeezes so tightly that the other girl might never be able to escape. she’s warm, and if this a delusion then it’s a very realistic one. it doesn’t matter either way right now. she just wants to cry into ruby’s arms, if she’ll let her.

$$$ Nami could have gotten herself involved directly, but she opted to observe an altercation between a young woman with white hair and a man who appeared to be bothering her. Eventually she sent him packing, and he crossed paths with the pirate herself. Once he was clear, though, Nami waved from the wall she was leaning against before revealing a wallet with her other hand.

“Hey! Want his wallet? I wonder how much Dust he was carrying in his card?” This was justice as Nami saw it.

@einsamkalte

❅ : she’d wanted to put her rusted combat skills to the test but not like this. weiss was ever-reluctant to draw a weapon on someone who was only verbally harassing her - even if he did seem to entirely deserve whatever downturn of fate befell him - and thankfully someone else had arrived to take care of the unwanted attention with a certain mix of charm, negotiation and perhaps more than a hint of intimidation. weiss more than readily welcomes the sight, though it is peculiar to be rescued in such a manner as this by a stranger.

‘thank you for that. really. and - no, actually, but you’re more than welcome to whatever he had in there.’ once upon a time she might have disapproved of such an act, but now it seems a fitting retribution, and she can’t help but giggle at the entire situation, even if she attempts to suppress it by covering her mouth with a hand.

Back home, she was used to the extra attention she got when she was walking around town. Winning multiple G1 races made her a bit of a celebrity, and it wasn’t uncommon for her to sign some autographs or take pictures with some fans. Needless to say, McQueen was able to take notice whenever she caught someone’s attention. Not that she minded, but it was strange given that she hasn’t done anything to make a name for herself in this city.

Her onlookers would also eventually approach her. This one however seemed to keep her distance. Deciding to break the ice herself, she would turn and confront her. “You weren’t spying on me were you?” Said with a slight grin on her face.

“Faunus? I can’t say I’ve heard the term before so I don’t believe I am. Why do you ask?”

❅ :  perhaps she shouldn’t have been staring. today is a crash course in not acting upon whims and impulses, it seems. clearly weiss is out of practice at this sort of refined mannerisms of late.

‘i... alright, i might have been. i promise i didn’t start out with the intention of - ’ the ears really do make her think of blake first, even if they’re very clearly of a different sort entirely. ‘but i suppose that doesn’t excuse the act itself. my apologies.’ she restrains the long-ingrained urge to offer a curtsy along with said apology.

her stomach drops a bit at the realization that this girl is not, in fact, from remnant, has never even heard of a faunus, but she does try terribly hard to keep such from showing upon her face - even if the smile that follows is a tad fragile, a tad forced.

‘then i should be apologizing further for just approaching a stranger like this to ask intrusive questions.’ she hadn’t even bothered to trade names, first! even by her recently-diminished standards, that was a major etiquette breach. ‘i only asked simply because i come from... a place where there are others with animal traits like yours. i should have explained beforehand. or asked your name first.’ really, anything probably would have been better than whatever this was.

Bad habits are hard to kick. Was taking photos like this exactly a bad habit? He wasn’t sure, didn’t seem like any harm was done beside some the small dent in his wallet. Then again, it wasn’t exactly that bad. Regardless he’s got the perfect shots and should be able to have a mini-stock pile for a while now.

However, he’ll lift his head from the screen and offer a friendly grin to the girl who’s decided to grace him with her presence. He can’t help but get a familiar feeling when she speaks. A certain House Warden to be exact. 

 “ I just wanted to take a few pictures first~ Doesn’t it look nice? Like on the front of a magazine kind of plating.” Or perfect for his Stargram feed. “ They take some time to make it look photogenetic so why not preserve it? ” He’ll wave a hand, and gesture to the slice of cheese cake sitting beautifully on the plate.

“ I’m gonna eat it after I’m done. Unless you’ve been eyeing it and want to steal a bite? ”

❅ : maybe she should be a bit less intrusive. maybe she could at least be nicer about it when butting into other people’s business. weiss knows these are lessons for another day, and perhaps for a future-her that might be concerned with these social nuances. for now, however, she discontentedly stares down the young man at the table. she could still lay off, but... well, this does seem silly. for one of them, at least.

‘what kind of magazine is going to be taking culinary art pictures with a scroll?’ cell-phone, she means cellphone, and barely manages to correct herself on that detail. ‘honestly...’

While there’s a vague familiarity surrounding them because of being roommates, Eula can’t help but feel the need to be at least somewhat formal in her mannerisms. This was much different than being with Amber and she’s not quite confident that she won’t do or say something that’ll completely ruin the lighthearted mood. Still, she’s trying her best and that’s all anyone can ask for, right? The first step to becoming comfortably familiar with people was getting to know them and she doesn’t plan on making a mess of that.

“Very well, then.” It’s not often that she’s tasked with choosing something delicious for someone else, but she’s determined to make sure that Weiss enjoys herself. Eula picks up her own menu, eyes diligently surveying the various pastries that she personally enjoyed before deciding on a particular dish. If this was to be a test of Eula’s own good taste, then she certainly wouldn’t be letting Weiss down with what it is she’s chosen for her. Or at least, she hopes so.

“I used to travel often, my work as a knight took me across the wards. Helping people, taking care of various tasks, some mundane while others not so much,” She starts, still eyeing the menu trying to find her own pick of the day as she carries on the conversation with Weiss. “One day, I was feeling particularly in the mood for sweets and one of the locals I had helped pointed me in the direction of this establishment. I enjoyed the atmosphere and they treated me kindly enough. It soon became one of my favorites, which is an incredible feat considering my tastes are very particular.” No sooner after she finishes her explanation, a hostess comes to write down their order.

“Two cups of white tea, one blueberry galette, and a slice of icebox cake for myself, if you’d please.” A simple enough order sent back to the kitchen. “White tea goes well with pastries, I’m sure you’ll find it most agreeable to your palate along with the galette.”

❅ : perhaps there’s still quite a large gap between them, an interpersonal chasm that could be lessened over time. weiss isn’t quite sure why she craves companionship - to fill a void? - when it feels as if she will never truly be done mourning. the past may be the past, but she’s still here, in the present. moving on seems...

‘i wish i could have traveled like that when i was - ’ younger isn’t the right word to use. she’s still young, right? they’re both young. that’s an obvious statement of fact. ‘ - able to.’ that’s not the right phrasing to use either, but she can’t think of the right words, and so she lets that line of thought rest. ‘thank you again for inviting me, miss eula.’ she’s not sure she would have gotten out of the house otherwise, really.

‘you know, i didn’t always have a taste for sweets, but these days...’

‘well, it all sounds delicious.’ she may have ruby to blame for her more-recently found sweet tooth (she shoves down that can of worms into the back of her brain; she really wants to have a good time for eula’s and her own sake), but these sweet treats sound heavenly compared to how she has been eating recently. ‘i’m hoping we can make this something more... regular, actually. even if we end up simply trying out new places from time to time...’ it’s only a suggestion, to find a way to spend more time with a potential comrade-in-the-works. ‘i mean, if this works out, of course.’ she doesn’t want to be too imposing in her desire for companionship, does she?

silence hangs in the air for a moment as she tries to figure out how to continue the conversation that she may have inadvertently stalled as they wait for their order.

❅ : she’s been testing out what little access she has to her semblance on the daily, and weiss is not entirely pleased with the results. already she’s felt fragile and weak and wildly out of practice; trying to get back to the roots of her swordplay has been difficult, to boot. the least these awful people in charge could have done is give her a little more of her power back! even so, she knows she’s stuck with what she’s been given. maybe, in more time, she’ll have more, but... this is it, for now. it stings.

with that bitter taste on her tongue, she leaps forward off of a glyph platform floating mid-air - and is promptly knocked to the ground by some flying foreign object. a person, actually: a young man on a broom, of all things. of course, now she’s on all fours and winded from the fall, however relatively close to the ground she had been. though perhaps some ten feet higher might have caused some damage - but no, her aura is still surprisingly intact.

the same cannot be said for her mood.

‘can you please look where you’re going? what if i’d broken something!’ like herself, as the implication happens to be.

❅ : she’s got to stop people-watching around here. everyone on this island has their quirks, and somehow weiss occasionally bears witness to the odd little private moments strangers have. it’s not voyeuristic per se, but there is a certain discomfort in just... seeing people do certain things.

not in this case, though. she’s fairly certain he’s just taking pictures of his food at the café, and here she is watching him like a complete and utter fool, not that he’s (thankfully) paying any attention to her staring. after a moment, as he continues to arrange and rearrange the items on his plate, she marches on up. the curiosity may yet eat her alive.

‘you know, there are other things you can do with your food.’ that comes out rude, but tone is the least of her concerns right now. she knows she’s a complete stranger invading his space and she’s beyond caring about that. no one on this island knows a thing about privacy anyway - she may as well embrace it herself. ‘like eat it.’

❅ : she’s... pretty, that’s for certain. there’s an elegance to her clothes and the way she carries herself, and while weiss knows she shouldn’t be spying on strangers, she’s admittedly a bit stuck on one particular feature on this girl: her ears. the second pair of ears, to be exact. there is something equal parts heartbreaking and hope-inducing to see someone here who might be from remnant. that’s a rather large might, given the multitude of worlds that seem to exist outside this place, but there is always that small bit in her heart that continues to hope.

and now she’s been spotted. very subtle, schnee.

‘i wasn’t spying on you, i promise.’ partly the truth. ‘i was just wondering...’

❅ : weiss stops and stares the other down in the middle of the cobbled path they’re both on. alone, of course, because that would be the only manner befitting such a meeting in a place like this. perhaps it’s better that they’ve been deserted by society at large, because she still wants to talk to this girl, after that chance meeting the other day. the rains had come and they’d both scattered in their wake for shelter. regardless, she doesn’t want any eavesdroppers - at this point in her life, she values her privacy as one of the few possessions she has left.

‘you’re that girl who was lying face-down upon the grass the other day.’ she takes a few steps forward.

❅ : what weiss wants is to eventually venture out into the outer areas - the “branches,” as she’s both seen and heard them referred to - in order to thoroughly search the island and maybe, just maybe, find something she’s been missing in regards to the secrets of the island. the hope she holds is small, and the chance of finding anything unknown (much less useful) even smaller, but at this point she has no other goals than to be prepared for whatever trouble may come.

it keeps her mind off of her friends, at least. there’s also the matter of sharpening her combat skills - which is her current focus, here on the beach. the sky is clear, the sun is shining, and she has some usage of her abilities. weiss raises myrtenaster skyward, and it gleams in the light as she summons a glyph beneath her feet and one some distance away in the air where her rapier points. then: she leaps into the air, repelled by the glyph beneath her feet, and lands with some grace upon the one that is airborne.

‘a little rusty... but not too bad.’ then she notices the figure below, watching.

They had been co-workers once upon a time, and often spoke to one another during their shifts. Akira remembers those days, fleeting as they were. How they had once been comfortable making subtle jokes and the way Sandalphon would chide them in getting back to work. They’re fond memories, but memories are all they are. It has, after all, been a long while since he’s seen her and even longer since he noticed her name disappear from his contacts.

So when he sees her, he can’t help but feel a smile tug at him. And judging by her reaction, she remembered him, thank goodness. “Been awhile.” He says, shifting to open the plastic bag he’d been carrying at his side. She looks like there’s something on her mind that she’d rather not talk about but it’s clear that she’s genuine in what she says. “About a year, I think. But who’s counting?” he snorts after saying so, it really isn’t a big deal.

After shuffling around the contents of said bag, he finally fishes something out and hands it to her. It’s nothing too grand, just a danish he’d originally gotten for himself but Weiss definitely looks like she needs it more in the moment and he’d had plenty of them already. “You look like you’re having a hard time. Mind if I poorly attempt to make you feel better by providing you with a snack?” Things like this always made him feel better, after all. “There’s plenty more if you’re not a fan of that.”

❅ : she wishes she had found one of her friends - to, at least, know that one of them was still alive somewhere out there in the universe. instead, weiss had found akira, who admittedly was a sight for sore eyes, but still. still. it was so terribly difficult to try and block out the images of her friends falling into that darkened abyss; the memories had seared themselves onto her eyelids so that she relived them even with her eyes closed to the world. there was no blocking them out, not yet.

he is as calm and collected as she remembers him to be. akira was a reliable coworker, though it had been quite some time since they had worked together at the shop. perhaps they would have had more time to talk, had the circumstances been right... now she felt a little foolish for simply approaching him when they’d only conversed at work. on the other hand, it wasn’t as if she had many options at this point - or any friends left, for that matter.

‘it really has been that long then?’ she swallows a giant gulp of air and continues to speak, a little less empty-sounding than before. ‘a lot has happened since then, i guess.’

when he offers, she manages a little smile: this one is genuine, if not much to look at.