Chapter 3 Flores Sectantes
‘Luckily Ruby is wearing her hood.’ It made tracking her from the air much easier, especially since a lot of Atlesians preferred muted, less vibrant colors. When Ruby finally tucked into shop going to speak with her seemed the best thing to do, ‘but what do I say?’
She smiled when she landed in front of the shop. It was a weapons shop of course, but it had only one entrance to the street and no access to the alleyway behind it. As she pushed open the door she couldn’t help but smile at the charming old fashioned bell that rang out. “Well, this is a red letter day,” the distinguished looking man behind the counter said.
“Why is that?” Ruby said somewhere out of sight.
“Two lovely young Huntresses coming into my tiny shop at the same time. Might start to feel crowded any second now.” Ruby’s curiosity got the better of her and she looked around the corner, then grinned weakly at her friend as she walked over.
“Hi, Penny. I’m sorry I ran off.”
“I can’t grasp it! Jaune! Cheating on Weiss with Ciel? He was so goo-goo for Weiss back in Beacon!” Ruby exclaimed as she started resorting the small parts on one shelf.
“Friends Jaune and Ciel began dating shortly after the General gave you all your licenses. Friend Weiss has not entered into a permanent relationship with anyone in that time.” At least that’s what the file the Atlas military had said.
“But I’ve smelled him on her. That flowery body wash he’s been using? It… it smells like something Ciel uses, doesn’t it?” Ruby asked, obviously putting some pieces together. “But why is Weiss smelling like it sometimes?”
“I do not know.” Oh YES! She didn’t hiccup.
“Why the pause?” “No reason.” “Uh-huh,” the last bit was quite sarcastic.
“I thought perhaps you were in love with friend Jaune,” she admitted with a bit of embarrassment.
“Whaaaaaat?” Ruby said adorably.
“Ruby, I did not have your input or olfactory clues to explain why friends Jaune and Ciel’s relationship would cause you despair.”
“So your conclusion was that I was jealous? Of Ciel, who you have noted I’m shy around anyway.”
“Jaune was my partner for some time, and my first friend at Beacon. If, and it’s a big if, I was looking to date a guy Jaune would probably be my choice.”
“A big if? Is it because of his penis?” I wasn’t sure why her saying that had made me happy, but I hoped to find out. The man behind the counter started coughing, perhaps he needed a lozenge.
“I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’ve had the occasional thought about him. But have you seen women?” My happy feeling had suddenly gone away.
“Women? Plural?” Why plural?
“I mean, yeah. They’re prettier than guys. Dontcha’ think?”
“It had occurred to me, yes. In one specific instance.”
“You should ask her out, Penny. If she likes girls she’s bound to say yes. Then you can go on double dates with Jaune and Ciel!” Ruby was excited about her deductions.
“That had been the hope, yes.”
Ruby started pushing me out the door, “go ask now!”
“You can still salvage the day!”
“But Ruby?” The silver eyed girl finished pushing her out the door and slammed it practically in her face. Then she flipped the old fashioned sign to closed and waved goodbye.
Deciding I needed advice, I headed back the way I came.
Ciel and I watched Penny fly away with a confused look on her face. I looked back at my girlfriend who shrugged and pointed at the shop door. We started walking over, and I heard Ruby crying before we reached the locked door. I may have overreacted as I ran through the simple wooden thing.
“My door!” I didn’t know the guy but he was well away from Ruby, so he wasn’t to blame. I found her curled into a ball, and she wasn’t crying, she was wailing! I felt myself tear up just at the sound.
I scooped Ruby off the floor, holding her against me. “Ruby, talk to me. What’s wrong?”
“PENNY DOESN’T WANT TO BE MY FRIEND ANYMORE!” Even through her hood and her face pressed to his shoulder her cries were extremely loud.
“Jaune, take her to the bench outside. Sir,” Ciel addressed the shopkeeper as she gave him her contact info, “my family will pay for the door’s replacement. I will also have a crew here to put in a strong temporary replacement while we find a matching wooden one.”
Once I knew the police weren’t on the way I sat with Ruby outside. “Ruby, you’re wrong. Shhh. Penny adores you.”
“She,” sniff, “she called you friend Jaune, and Weiss was friend Weiss!” Ruby got out between hiccups and sobs.
“Yeah, turning human didn’t stop her little idiosyncrasies,” I was trying to grasp at straws.
“SHE JUST CALLED ME RUBY!” The wailing started again. Ruby was heartbroken and I couldn’t seem to help.
“Weiss was right about you, Ruby Rose. You are a complete dolt.” Ciel was obviously not good at this either. As an only child she had an excuse though. I shot her an annoyed look. “A wonderful, adorable dolt who deserves all the great things this world has to offer.”
sniff, sniff “When did Weiss say that?”
“Shortly after the three of us had sex together.” Ciel , somehow, deadpanned. Ruby’s head shot up so quick that she’s head smacked into my chin.
“Ciel? The Rules?” I asked in awe. The sky was blue, the grass was green, and Ciel Soliel followed The Rules!
“If Weiss chooses to take me to task for THIS? I will accept the consequences.” Ciel took Ruby’s chin in her hand and made her hold her gaze, “now Ruby, you’ve had a hard day but I must ask, what are your intentions towards my best friend?”
“You say that like we’re dating?” Ciel continued to hold Ruby’s gaze. “Jaune, why is your girlfriend talking about Penny and I like we’re dating?”
“Penny and me,” Ciel corrected unconsciously.
“Jaune,” Ruby said again. “Why is your girlfriend talking like Weiss?”
“You are what you eat.” Ciel deadpanned again and I was sure she was trying to kill me. However Ruby.exe just stopped working altogether. She had completely locked up, too shocked by the revelation to even move. Then Ruby jiggled. Then she started shaking a little, but not from crying this time.
“What’s so funny?” I asked dumbly.
“Ciel, not that you need it but, you have my blessing to date Jaune.”
“Thank you, Ruby Rose. That actually means a lot to me.”
“Jaune?” “Yes, Rubes?” “You can let me go now. I need to go find Penny.” “Why is that Crater-face?”
“I think she’s confused, and I certainly didn’t help just now.” I let her go before giving her one more hug.
“Go get her, bestie.” As she Petal Burst away I felt Ciel’s hand slip into mine. “So, how do you think Weiss is gonna punish you?”
She showed me the messages on her scroll and I let out a low whistle. “Oh, damn.”
