“Fewer strokes…” Ruby mumbled with her paintbrush hovering over the canvas, poised to layer on a dash of red once she figured out how and where to put it.
Deciding that some color would liven up the prison zebras had been easy; figuring out what that color should look like was much less so. She wanted to cover the whole thing in red paint and start over, but she had spent too much time on it not to finish it, or at least turn it into something she could add to her portfolio.
Before reaching a decision, she went over to her ‘wall of wisdom’ as she’d started calling it and skimmed the notes. They were all pretty much etched into her brain by now, which was why her gaze slid over and then snapped back to a note she hadn’t seen before. A smile sprang onto her lips as she lightly touched the new slip of paper.
‘Your color choices are amazing!’ it read in Yang’s swirling handwriting.
Realistically, Yang had minimal knowledge of color palettes. She also didn’t know much about painting, in general, but she always spoke from the heart. She believed that Ruby’s color choices were amazing, so she left the praise where she knew that Ruby would find it.
Without Yang’s support, Ruby wouldn't have made it this far. She probably wouldn't have pursued art at all, knowing how hard it was to make a career of it. Now here she was, trying to make a career of it yet second-guessing every choice in front of her.
Returning to the canvas, she pursed her lips and stared at the image taking shape. She had decided to lean into the zebras because that was what Yang saw. Now, she just needed to add some color.
With her paintbrush ready to make a mark, her phone rang. A cheerful photo of Penny popped up on the screen, so she answered.
“Hey, Penny!” Her gaze slid over one of the zebra's prominent, knobby legs. “What’s up?”
“Hi, Ruby. I was wondering if you’re still interested in another job?”
“Penny,” Ruby giggled. “We literally just talked about this last night! Yes, I’m still interested. Especially after this morning.”
Ruby playfully gagged at a memory that she wouldn't wish on her worst enemy. Thankfully, Penny didn’t ask for details. “Fantastic,” she said instead. “I spoke to my boss, and he said The Thief’s producer would like to meet you today at 4:30.”
“Are you serious?” Ruby immediately dropped her paintbrush into a jar and wiped her hand on a paint-smeared towel. “Penny, you’re the best friend in the entire world.”
“I don’t know if we can accurately say in the ‘entire’ world…”
“No, you are,” Ruby insisted. “Literally. How can I ever repay you?”
“You don’t need to repay me. Helping you on your new quest is more than enough of a reward!”
Chuckling at the typical response, Ruby said, “I’ll think of something,” while checking the clock. “You said 4:30?” she asked upon confirming that it was already past three.
“Yes. They didn’t give you much time, but apparently she has a very busy day.”
“That’s fine. I can make it. Where do I meet her?”
“The Crescent Productions lot. Where I work, near the lake?”
“Oh yeah, yeah. The giant place you showed me around that one time.”
“That’s it. When you get there, ask for Glynda Goodwitch. She’s the producer.”
“Got it. Crescent Productions, 4:30, Glynda Goodwitch.” After committing those details to memory, Ruby took a deep breath and let it out with a smile. “Thank you, Penny! I’ll let you know how it goes.”
“Good luck!”
As soon as the call ended, Ruby set her phone on the desk and wiped her hands on the front of her jeans. The dried paint under her fingernails remained, so she hurried to the bathroom and washed her hands a half dozen times before they looked presentable. Some flecks of black refused to leave, but they were small enough that no one should notice.
Next, she ran her fingers through her hair and watched the short, brown strands fall right back into place. The ruffled look worked at home, but a hairbrush tamed some of the ‘wasn’t prepared to leave the house’ vibe.
She hadn’t been prepared to leave the house, but she wouldn't waste a great opportunity. Besides, Penny had gone out of the way to do this for her, and the last thing she wanted to do was make Penny look bad. That pressure, combined with the personal pressure she’d heaped on herself on Yang’s behalf, made her heart beat faster as she pushed open her closet and looked over her clothes.
“Ok,” she mumbled while browsing through the rack. “What to wear, what to wear…”
She mentally vetoed most of her closet before her eyes landed on a maroon collared shirt and black slacks that hadn’t seen the sun in years. “Gotcha.” She pulled them out and tried them on. Fortunately, they still fit. Even more fortunately, she still owned a pair of matching black boots.
After straightening one of her sleeves, she studied her reflection in the bathroom mirror. While nowhere near as comfortable as her usual garb, the outfit looked pretty good. Besides, she would gladly sacrifice a few hours of comfort in order to make a good first impression. So, after shooting a pair of finger guns at her reflection, she collected her keys and wallet and raced out the door.
Penny had mentioned that this particular team might be in a hurry, but Ruby hadn’t expected them to be in such a hurry that they would schedule an interview within a few hours. Hopefully, that boded well for her. Of course, if she stopped to think about it, she might wonder what the hell she was signing herself up for - so she didn’t stop to think about it, she just hurried out of the building and waited for the next bus.
Riding the bus meant that she didn’t have to pay for parking, gas, insurance, or any of the other costs associated with owning a car. At times like this, however, running on someone else’s schedule proved mightily inconvenient. She checked her watch at least a dozen times, shifting between her feet all the while, before the lumbering vehicle appeared down the road. It then proceeded to stop multiple times within view, once to let on a cyclist who took his sweet time setting his bike in the rack, before reaching her.
The evening commute hadn’t started yet, so it only took a few seconds for her to hurry aboard, pay the fare, and find a seat. The bus pulled away from the curb before her butt even touched the hard plastic chair, but she checked her watch and settled in for the ride.
Rationally, she didn’t need this job, but she also kind of did. The prison zebras were starting to get to her, and she needed a break from the words of wisdom stuck to her studio wall. Something new might inject some much-needed life into her day. Most importantly, she really wanted to do this for Yang. It might not work out exactly like she imagined - things rarely did - but she could at least try to do this for Yang’s sake.
And for her own sake, a little bit. She knew that Yang and Blake were in love, and she understood that people who were in love did…certain things. She also knew that they tried to be as respectful and private as possible, but the walls were only so thick. So, in actuality, this could be a great change for everyone.
She kept that in mind as the bus left residential neighborhoods in favor of Vale’s touristy center. The lake, in particular, served as one of Vale’s top attractions no matter the time of day or year. Even now, sailboats and kayaks were scattered across smooth, golden-hued water reflecting the setting sun. Even more boats, ranging from small outriggers to giant yachts, packed the nearby docks. The restaurants on the pier were already busy as people tried to get a table with sunset views.
Hotels and various tourist attractions surrounded the lake, making it a one-stop destination for travelers and well-heeled residents alike. This part of town always made her feel…well, poor. The gaudy storefronts sold high-end clothing and had names like Diamond Boutique or Stillwater Vintage. Expensive cars with hardly a speck of dust on them rolled along the wide streets or parked in front of the glitzy stores. Even the landscaping - tall, evenly spaced palm trees and immaculately trimmed hedges - implied that this was another world.
Several bus stops away from the bustling lake, Vale’s booming entertainment industry staked its claim to huge tracts of land. Miniscule boutiques selling thousand-dollar hats gave way to production studios with entrances spanning several blocks. It was here that she hopped off the bus and jogged to the nearest intersection so that she could cross the street.
Crescent Productions was impossible to miss. Not only did it have an enormous, sprawling campus extending further than she could see, but the name and logo - a red crescent moon instantly recognizable from many of the most popular films - could be found everywhere. Various large domes loomed in the distance, as did what looked like a miniature city skyline and rows of thatched-roof bungalows. It looked like helicopters and a tank sat even further away, but the main building took up most of her view as she followed extra-wide sidewalks onto the production lot.
The main building was actually several buildings, each several stories tall and connected by enclosed bridges or covered walkways on the ground floor. The center building appeared to be the main entrance based on its almost entirely glass outer wall providing a glimpse inside.
Considering Ruby spent most of her time cooped up in an art studio staring at canvases, stepping into the lobby was like stepping into another world. The white tile floor gleamed under the bright lights and the late afternoon sun streaming through the front windows. A large tour group stood just inside the entryway, forcing her to walk around as they listened to a guide explaining the studio’s history. Beyond the visitors, employees rushed across the lobby and let themselves further into the building using keycards.
Her nerves chose that moment to appear, but she swallowed and walked over to the long reception desk in the center of the lobby. The white marble desk almost blended in with the floor, but red lamps and black computer monitors offered stark bits of color to the otherwise clean, modern atmosphere. Three beautiful young women, each better dressed than Ruby, sat at the desk. Two of them were currently speaking into the thin black headsets they wore, so Ruby approached the one who was typing away at the computer.
“Uh, excuse me?” she said when the young lady didn’t immediately acknowledge her presence.
The young lady’s eyes found Ruby, but she kept typing while asking, “Can I help you?”
“I think so. I’m here to see Glynda Goodwitch? I was told to -”
“Name, please.”
“Uh, Ruby. Ruby Rose.”
The girl nodded and searched for something on her computer. After finding whatever it was, she keyed several numbers into her phone and held up a finger for Ruby to wait. “Your 4:30’s here,” she said, and then listened to the response before adding, “Of course,” and returning her attention to Ruby.
“You can wait right over there,” she directed, plastering on a fake smile while extending an arm toward the collection of sofas and chairs on the leftmost side of the room. She nodded when Ruby instinctively pointed that way.
“Thank you,” Ruby replied, but the girl had already returned to her work. Undeterred, Ruby went to wait in the seating area as instructed.
She chose one of the white armchairs and, even though she sat on the edge so that she wouldn't look too comfortable, sank into the ultra-plush cushion. While she deliberated whether standing or trying the sofa was a better choice, a young man with sandy blonde hair and a sharp nose approached her.
“Are you Ruby Rose?” he asked, so she popped to her feet.
“I am! Are you…Glynda?”
“I’m Miss Goodwitch’s senior executive assistant,” he replied without missing a beat. “Please follow me.”
He returned to the door leading away from the lobby and only made sure Ruby was following when he reached it. Then he pulled a keycard from his pocket, where it was attached by a retractable cord, scanned it, and let it snap back into place while simultaneously opening the door. The hallway beyond was just as white and immaculate as the lobby, but this time with other doors and hallways interspersed with movie posters.
“So…‘senior’ personal assistant?” Ruby asked, using long strides to keep up with his pace. “Does that mean she has more than one?”
“Miss Goodwitch has three executive assistants,” he replied without looking at her. “Of which, I’m the most senior.”
“Wow, three assistants…she must have a lot of work.”
“Miss Goodwitch is an extremely busy woman.”
The clipped response convinced Ruby out of asking more questions, so she silently followed him into an empty elevator and watched him press the button for the top floor. One short, uncomfortable elevator ride later, the doors opened into another lobby. This one, however, was much smaller and cozier than the first. The carpeted floors absorbed her footsteps and dampened the voices of various employees working at small desks in the center of the room. Around the perimeter of the floor, glass walls provided views into large executive offices and to Vale beyond.
The young man led Ruby to one of the corner offices, where a middle-aged woman with oval glasses and light-blonde hair tied up into a bun read something from the paper in her hand. Once he lightly knocked on the door, she looked over, set the page down, and waved them inside.
“Good luck,” he said while opening the door and motioning Ruby through. His tone sounded apathetic at best, but Ruby chose to smile and whisper, “Thank you,” before walking into the office.
The woman stood and met Ruby halfway across the room. Her black pencil skirt and heels put Ruby’s interview attire to shame. Her white, long-sleeved shirt had a cutout on her chest where a teal pendant hung from her collar. The color matched her earrings and her eyes, which swept over Ruby before a polite smile appeared.
“Good afternoon.” She extended a hand, which Ruby hastily shook. “Glynda Goodwich, but you may call me Glynda.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Glynda. I’m Ruby Rose. But you can call me Ruby, I guess.”
A nervous chuckle slipped through Ruby’s lips while Glynda inspected her from head to toe. Eventually, she nodded and returned to her desk. Her subtle wave to one of the chairs in front of it instructed Ruby to sit down.
“You’re the one Pietro told me about?”
“I believe so. I’m friends with Penny Polendina - she’s an editor? She mentioned you might need some help, so…here I am.”
Ruby raised her hands before letting them fall into her lap. The gesture garnered another thorough look that made her shift in her seat.
“Tell me a little about yourself.”
Glynda lightly waved for Ruby to speak, so Ruby took a deep breath before launching into her spiel.
“Well, I grew up in Patch and moved to Vale for school. I’m an artist - painting, mostly - but have been looking for new ways to…broaden my horizons, I guess. When Penny mentioned that you might have an opening, I knew I should give it a go. Her job always sounds interesting, so who knows - maybe I have another career in the making.”
“Editing is very different from production assistant,” Glynda replied, so Ruby quickly nodded.
“Right, I know. I just mean - the whole process is interesting. I’m excited to learn more about how movies are made.”
“You have no experience in this industry then?”
“Honestly, no, but I’m a fast learner and willing to do anything. Whatever you need.”
Glynda studied Ruby for several seconds, her brow slightly furrowed and lips slightly pursed, before nodding.
“It’s a difficult role. You’ll wear a lot of hats.”
“That’s perfect. I’ve been told my head’s the perfect shape for a lot of hats.”
The joke slipped out, and Ruby cringed when Glynda just stared at her before continuing as if she hadn’t spoken at all.
“It’ll be mostly entry-level tasks, like setting up the set, preparing food for the crew, cleaning up, and anything else you’re asked to do. But this particular role comes with an important responsibility: taking care of one of our lead actresses. You’ll make sure she has everything she wants, when she wants it.”
“Got it.” Ruby nodded once to show that she did, in fact, understand, and then smiled. “That sounds simple enough.”
Her grin must have come across as too confident because Glynda vaguely frowned.
“I should warn you that the talent can be…difficult. If you can’t handle criticism, this isn’t a good position for you.”
“I’m an artist in my spare time,” Ruby replied with a light laugh. “Criticism kind of comes with the territory.”
Again, Glynda studied Ruby closely, sizing her as if deciding whether she was up to the challenge or not. Eventually, she nodded.
“Production starts Monday,” she said while Ruby internally breathed a sigh of relief. “Here’s the starting salary,” she added, sliding Ruby a piece of paper with a number on it. “Is it acceptable?”
Ruby’s eyes widened, but she quickly nodded and pretended that it wasn’t more than she’d ever consistently made in her life.
“Good. Arrive by eight. Your schedule will vary based on the scenes being filmed, but the AD will give you an outline each week. Most importantly, keep Weiss happy so everything runs smoothly.”
In the midst of nodding, Ruby froze.
“Wait. ‘Weiss?’” she repeated once the name registered in her mind. “You mean Weiss Schnee?”
“Yes. That’s who you’ll be in charge of assisting.”
“Oh, wow. That’s -” When Glynda’s brow rose, Ruby paused and cleared her throat. “I’ve seen a lot of her movies,” she concluded in as neutral a tone as she could muster. It didn’t seem to work on Glynda, but Glynda straightened the papers in front of her and stood up.
“It’s settled then,” she said while Ruby shot to her feet. “Stop by reception on the way out to get your badge. They’ll give you details on how to get to the set, too. I suggest arriving early.”
“I can do that. Thank you so much!”
Ruby hastily shook Glynda’s hand and then bowed, for whatever reason, before scurrying out of the office before Glynda changed her mind. The young man who led her up there hopped to his feet as soon as she closed the door and motioned for her to follow him back to the lobby. She practically skipped into the elevator, bursting at the seams as he pushed the button for the ground floor and stood silently beside her.
“It went well,” she told him when she couldn't hold it in any longer. “I guess your luck worked!”
“Congratulations,” he replied before resuming his silence. She opened her mouth to say more - maybe ask for his name - but he stepped off the elevator as soon as the doors opened. He then set a pace that she nearly had to jog to keep up with, returning them to the lobby in no time.
“Have a good day.”
He shut the door before Ruby could even respond. Unperturbed by his brusque demeanor, she walked to the reception desk with wings on her feet.
“Hi,” she greeted the same girl whom she had spoken to before. “Glynda told me to -”
“Sign this,” the girl interrupted, setting several sheets of paper on the desk between them. Although initially caught off guard, Ruby grabbed a pen from the mug filled with them while the girl pulled a keycard from a drawer and slid it into a machine on the desk. The document looked like a standard employment agreement combined with a lot of disclosures, so Ruby wasted no time signing where specified. She hardly lifted the pen before the girl whisked the papers away and dropped a keycard in their place.
“You’ll be at Studio 18,” she explained at the same time she fed the signed pages into a copier. “You’ll need that card to get in, so don’t lose it. Here’s a map of the lot.” She set a single-page map on the counter and grabbed a pen. “We’re here,” she explained while circling the main building. “And here’s the tram stop that’ll take you right to Studio 18.” As she spoke, she circled a small square, drew a line through the map, and finally circled a much larger square. “Any questions?”
“Uh, no, think I got it.”
“We’re here if you need anything,” she said before handing Ruby copies of the signed forms, offering a parting smile, and promptly returning to work. It didn’t feel like she wanted or expected any gratitude, but Ruby said, “Thank you,” before collecting her new items and heading outside.
Only once standing in front of Crescent Productions did she wait for her mind to catch up. She looked at the papers in her hand, where the salary was one of the few items typed in bold, before glancing over her shoulder into the lobby. She then did a happy little jig while spinning in a circle but quickly stopped and waved to the man who’d just stepped outside. Her cheeks warmed when he gave her a curious look but, thankfully, he hurried off and she stopped making a fool of herself.
Instead, she pulled out her phone and typed a message to Penny - a simple “I got the job!” followed by an excessive amount of exclamation points. After following up with some quick details about her start date, she put her phone away and practically skipped back to the bus stop. The next bus arrived several minutes later, and soon she was on her way home.
Her knee bounced as the bus crawled through traffic, but the sluggish pace couldn't dent her mood or her racing thoughts about the future. What first seemed like a random musing had turned into a reality thanks to Penny’s help. Well, Penny’s help and a stroke of luck that a production team needed someone right away. Now, she couldn't wait to tell anyone who would listen, starting with Yang and Blake.
Knowing that they should be home from work, she practically flew off the bus as soon as it stopped. Two flights of stairs disappeared under her feet, her keys magically appeared in her hand, and she barged into the apartment so fast that they hardly had time to startle apart. Ignoring their compromising position - Blake was literally sitting on Yang’s lap and Yang’s hands were in Blake’s back pockets - Ruby bounded in front of them and held out both hands.
“Big news! I just got a job!”
She held up the crumpled employment agreement, but Blake’s brow rose and Yang’s furrowed.
“I thought you had a job,” Yang remarked while Blake subtly slipped off of her lap.
“I got a paying job,” Ruby clarified. When they glanced at each other, she dropped the document on the coffee table for them to read. “Penny got me an interview at her studio,” she explained while Yang picked it up. “One of the teams needs help, so I start Monday!”
Ruby beamed at the news, but Yang skimmed the paper before lowering it and shaking her head.
“I don’t get it. Why do you need a ‘paying’ job?”
“So I can save up money and get a place of my own.”
“You’re moving out??”
Ruby shook her head at Yang’s shock.
“Not right away. But, you know, I was thinking it’d be nice for you and Blake to have the apartment to yourselves.”
With her plan out in the open, Ruby expected smiles or celebration. Instead, Blake and Yang exchanged a glance before Yang sighed and set the copies back on the coffee table.
“Ruby…you know you don’t have to leave, right?”
“Yeah, we love having you here,” Blake added while slipping one hand into Yang’s.
“I know,” Ruby quickly said. “And I love living with you, too. It’s just…this is a new chapter, right?”
When Ruby motioned to the ring on Blake’s hand, Blake looked down at it and Yang reached over to touch it with her other hand.
“Besides,” she added. “Now I can live somewhere that’s not haunted.”
Yang burst out laughing and wrapped an arm around Blake’s shoulders when Blake covered her face with both hands. “Yeah, those ghosts get pretty loud sometimes,” Yang teased, nuzzling Blake’s hair while Blake muttered something under her breath. Once Blake recovered enough to lower her hands and shake her head, her cheeks adorably pink, Yang kissed her cheek and looked up at Ruby.
“Then that’s great, Ruby.” Finally, she smiled. “What’s the job?”
“It sounds really cool, actually. I’ll be a production assistant, which sounds like it’s basically just cleaning up and doing whatever people ask me to do. But! The extra cool part is that I’ll be the assistant for Weiss Schnee!”
“No way,” Yang said while Ruby proudly nodded. “Weiss Schnee? As in world-famous actress Weiss Schnee?”
“She’s so pretty,” Blake commented before pausing, turning to the side, and gently tucking a strand of Yang’s hair behind her ear. “Not as pretty as you though...”
“You know, you’ve been awfully flattering ever since you got that ring. I kinda like it.”
Ruby rolled her eyes and waited for them to finish the inevitable kiss before waving her hands for their attention.
“Yes, that Weiss Schnee. I’m in charge of getting her whatever she needs. Sounds easy, right?”
“So you’ll be, like, rubbing elbows with superstars. Seeing how the other half lives.”
“They’re just people, Yang,” she playfully scolded her sister, who chuckled and nodded.
“Oh, I know. Just very pretty, very rich people.”
While Yang laughed, Ruby turned to Blake and jerked a thumb toward her sister. Blake, meanwhile, smiled and leaned into Yang’s side.
“It’ll be interesting,” she surmised. “But I’m sure you’ll do great, and everyone will like you.”
“Everyone loves Ruby,” Yang piped in. “It’s impossible not to. Just look at how cute she is!”
Yang held both arms out toward Ruby, who rolled her eyes again - this time more from embarrassment. Blake, meanwhile, patted Yang’s leg and stood up.
“I’m going to make something for dinner. Anything you’re craving?”
“Well…” Yang began but laughed when Blake slapped the back of one hand across her shoulder. “I’m fine with whatever,” she concluded before winking at Ruby.
Ruby wrinkled her nose, shook her head, and said, “See, this is the kind of stuff that you can do when I’m not here. Emphasis on the ‘not here’ part.”
“I can imagine it now…”
When Yang’s gaze unfocused and she, consciously or not, bit her lower lip, Ruby grabbed the pages off the coffee table.
“While you do that, I’ll be in my room listening to some really loud music.”
Yang snapped out of that daydream when Ruby started walking away. “Wait up,” she said, hopping to her feet and wrapping an arm around Ruby’s shoulders while they headed to Ruby’s studio. “You know you don’t have to move out, right?” she asked quietly. “We didn’t mean to make you feel unwelcome or something because that’s really not the case -”
“Yang.”
Before Yang apologized for something that needed no apology, Ruby ducked out from underneath her arm, set both hands on her shoulders, and lightly shook her. “I don’t feel rushed,” Ruby stated plainly. “I want to do this. For you, but also for me.”
When Yang’s lilac eyes filled with concern, Ruby did the one thing guaranteed to make someone feel better: she hugged her.
“It’s fine,” Ruby said before pulling away and smiling. “Really!”
“But what about your art…?”
“I can still do my art stuff on the side,” Ruby assured her. “It’s not like I’ve given up on that. Besides, I could use a break right now; it feels like the zebras aren’t the only ones in prison.” When Yang finally cracked a small smile, Ruby tapped her shoulder. “Just consider this your wedding gift! Seriously though, because I’m not getting you anything else.”
Ruby grinned when Yang finally laughed.
“Alright, fine. But there’s no rush, got it? You can stay as long as you want.”
“I know.”
Yang searched Ruby’s eyes for confirmation before giving her a quick hug.
“Good,” she said before letting Ruby go and grinning. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a ravishingly hot fiancée waiting for me to devour her cooking in the kitchen.”
“Ew, seriously?” Ruby whined while Yang laughed and walked away. “I’m not going to miss that!” she called after her sister before shaking her head, glancing at the door to her studio, and ducking into her bedroom instead.
She was too excited to even think about painting right now. She dropped the employment agreement and keycard on her desk and opened her closet instead. She managed to find one good outfit for the interview; now, she needed to find every other piece of professional-looking attire she owned - the stuff she typically avoided so that she didn’t get paint all over it.
While pulling shirts and pants out of the back of her closet, she let her mind scatter with other thoughts. She could still paint in her spare time, so this wasn’t a step back. If anything, this might be just what she needed. A break from overthinking everything she created. Something interesting and new with the potential to make life better for Yang. Honestly, she couldn't think of any drawbacks to giving this her best shot.
Now, she just needed the perfect outfit for Monday. She had no idea who else she would be working with, so she wanted to make the best first impression possible. She might not have any experience, but she could make up for it with enthusiasm and eagerness to learn. Those were desirable skills at a regular job, weren’t they?
She honestly didn’t know, but she was about to find out.