Second Petal [video]

[rosetotheoccasion]

[Well this is... new. For those who know Ruby, they're probably used to see her as a bouncing ball of energy and excitement. Which isn't a bad thing - Ruby's a pretty upbeat kid who just wants to keep making sure her friends always feel that way too!

But now... now she looks a bit withdrawn. Not outright upset, but she most certainly has the look of someone that's really being bugged by something.]

... Hey, guys.

[Geez, even the way she talks is a bit deflated.]

I kinda have a question. People have been talking about their friends disappearing, and it kinda got me wondering...

When someone returns home, what if they... knew things. About stuff that happened that they didn't experience yet, 'cause someone knows what happened to them in the future, and told them about it.

[... Ah. The picture is becoming clearer now...]

Do you think... could what happened to them later on change, then?

Comments

quick switch to action;

[usedglaciate]

[There isn't a reply, until Ruby gets a knock at her door.]

Hey, it's me. Can I come in?

[rosetotheoccasion]

[Oh! Well. She wasn't expecting it that soon. Ruby scrambles off her bed to the door, nearly bonking herself in the face as she swings it open.]

Ow--hey! Uh, come on in!

[usedglaciate]

Are you going to be okay?

[She isn't going to mention the yelling match, though Ruby could have easily overheard it.]

[rosetotheoccasion]

[Ruby was... trying to focus on other things, but yeah. It was kind of impossible to not hear what went on. Part of Ruby is shocked that they haven't been kicked out of the inn, but another part of her just feels guilty that she was the one that cause this whole mess.]

I should be asking you that. That whole mess sounded really bad...

[usedglaciate]

It was bad. You're seeing me after I -

[Weiss laughs, but it's bitter.]

- after I got so mad I cried. I said a lot of things I shouldn't have, I know that, but...

[But nothing. Everything that comes to mind rings hollow in her ears.]

[rosetotheoccasion]

[But Weiss did it for Ruby. Sure, Ruby may not really appreciate all the yelling, and there were probably better ways to do that, but Weiss just wanted to protect Ruby. She can't really fault her partner for that now, can she?

So she'll just. Hold her arms out. As much as she wants to squeeze Weiss up in a big hug, Ruby has gotten better at respecting her personal space, and in the aftermath of such a heated argument, she's not sure if Weiss would want a hug, but... the offer is there.]

It's okay. It happens to everyone.

[usedglaciate]

[It's the fact that there were definitely better ways to go about it that's getting to Weiss. She's reminded, for a moment, of the conversation she, Blake, and Yang had at Mountain Glenn - the one where they talked about how maybe they don't need to shelter Ruby as much as they would all like.

That hug is definitely appreciated, though, and Weiss is going to take it.]

I know, but I went too far trying to do what I thought was right.

[rosetotheoccasion]

[And boy is this hug tight. Maybe it's a little selfish, but Ruby needs this hug as much as Weiss does right now.]

Maybe we all messed up. I kept on pushing it even after he told me all he knew, after all.

[usedglaciate]

You never would have intentionally pressed on any sore spots. You didn't know.

[Weiss hums a bit, pulling back a little.]

...but I think we all messed up, one way or another. I don't think the damage is irreparable, though.

[rosetotheoccasion]

I hope not. I mean... he's harsh, and he yells a lot, but Karkat is Dave and Jade's friend. I wanna like him, even if we can't be friends.

[oh ruby...]

[usedglaciate]

...yeah, I know what you mean. He's not a bad guy, I just don't think he always thinks before he speaks.

Then again, I'm also guilty of that.

[rosetotheoccasion]

... Maybe that's a good sign. I mean, we got off to a pretty rough start, and look at us now.