Chapter 29

Velvet followed Weiss into her office. The CEO sat in one of the chairs in front of her desk rather than at it, allowing Velvet to sit beside her. She looked troubled. Velvet had been hoping she just wanted to know about the work she had missed on Thursday and Friday, but that was clearly not the case. "What's wrong?"

"I made a few inquiries with retailers about carrying Coco's new line." Weiss stated.

"No interest?" Velvet guessed.

"Exactly the opposite." Weiss corrected. "I didn't have any difficulty convincing anyone to sell her products."

"And?" Velvet inquired. "That's good."

"It is...but something feels wrong." Weiss explained. "Just a few weeks ago, these same retailers were treating her like a leper. Now they can't wait to have her products and have nothing but praise for her work. It doesn't make sense."

"Maybe they just want to please you." Velvet suggested. "The SDC probably manufactures most of what they sell. Refusing to carry a line, one you specifically offered, might be seen as biting the hand that feeds."

"I thought that might be it, but I didn't find that explanation entirely satisfying." Weiss grimaced. "Then as soon as I asked about the discrepancy, I couldn't get a straight answer about anything. I couldn't even get a reason anyone stopped carrying Coco's line in the first place."

"That does seem odd." Velvet agreed. "What do you think is going on?"

"I have no idea." Weiss admitted. "But it's suspicious, very suspicious. They wouldn't even give me bullshit stock answers. I've never encountered anything like this before."

"I'll look into it." Velvet volunteered. "I'll contact all the participating retailers, see if I can pry any information from them."

"After the gala I'll join you." Weiss nodded. "And please, until we know something concrete, don't tell Coco. I don't want her to worry."

"Alright, I'll keep it under wraps." Velvet declared. "She's going to be very busy for a while anyway."

"I have a bad feeling about this." Weiss sighed. "But enough bad news. How was your weekend?"

Ruby had been experiencing a fairly uneventful day of running minor errands, brewing coffee and ignoring the irritating drone of pain in her leg. She watched the time steadily tick toward her lunch break, minute by boring, draining minute. Apart from discussing the...revelation of Weiss' true relationship with Pyrrha and Ren, Jaune had little else to talk about that day, as their weekends had been fairly uneventful. Penny had been only a little talkative, leaving Ruby with nothing more than to wait for Weiss' next request. Sure she could probably text Yang, but she could never remember exactly when she was working and how it would intersect with her own time. Still, she did not want to annoy her sister, or start talking only to find herself in the middle of more errands.

"Excuse me, Coco is incoming." Penny's voice startled both Ruby and Jaune from their meandering thoughts.

Jaune looked at the elevator display to see Coco was indeed on her way, and looking awful antsy. "She seems excited."

"Maybe she's taking Weiss to lunch?" Ruby suggested.

"Or she's heard about...you know." Jaune suggested.

"The polyamory?" Ruby responded.

"Isn't it polygamy?" Jaune asked.

"No, that's when you have multiple wives...or husbands too I think." Ruby corrected. "I don't think Weiss is engaged."

"Maybe they're swingers?" Jaune mused.

"It feels really weird talking about th-" Ruby was cut off by the elevator's ding. From within strode Coco Adel, a million dollar smile gracing her lips.

"Ruby Rose!" Coco greeted bombastically. "Noodle boy!"

"Hey Coco." Ruby managed.

"Hi Coco, how's Velvet?" Jaune inquired.

"Oh, running amok." Coco grinned. "Got a taste of true power and can't stop laughing maniacally, you know her. But anyway, Ruby! I need to borrow you for a bit."

"Uh…" Ruby looked at the time - 12:25. It was close enough to her lunch break. "Sure? What can I help you with?"

"I need your body Ruby, I can't stop thinking about it!" Coco exclaimed. "Also I've got this cute little getup I need to get you sized for. You know, for the gala?"

"You got me a dress?" Ruby blinked. She had a dress or two at home, nothing fancy, just a little red getup for when she wanted to feel attractive and one she had never gotten around to wearing...since the accident she had never been one for showing leg, and certainly not for wearing heels.

"It has a skirt yeah, but that's not what's important." Coco waved off, leaning down on Ruby's desk with a smirk. "Weissy'll kill me if her lovely assistant doesn't get the best treatment, and boy do I think you'll love what I've cooked up."

"I can't wear heels anymore!" Ruby blurted.

"You're not a heel gal Red, come on trust me, and hurry up before my models kill each other." Coco slapped the desktop twice, turning to face Jaune. "Now you, you've got a tux right?"

"Yeah, it fits a little snug but-" Jaune started.

"Bring it in tomorrow and i can have it adjusted." Coco ordered. "Penny, tell Weiss Ruby died in a tragic bobby pin accident. Ruby, mush!" With that Coco spun on her heel, striding back toward the elevator.

Ruby stayed frozen in place in a short daze, meeting Jaune's equally dumbstruck gaze before hurrying to follow. "Uh, seeya' Jaune!" She called as she rushed to join Coco.

"Rest in peace?" Jaune returned as the elevator door closed, consigning Ruby to whatever cruel fate Coco had in store.

"A bobby pin accident seems improbable." Penny commented.

"Maybe she speaks from experience?" Jaune suggested.

Penny paused for a moment. "I sure hope not."

Ruby had never really tried to take notice before, but Coco was...really good looking. It was not that she was trans that made Ruby think of it, just...if anything that probably contributed. Coco was taller than average, slightly broader, but slim and just a little curvy. She had to be as tall as Pyrrha, but Ruby had never taken note of them standing close together. Still, Pyrrha had notably thicker...assets. Pyrrha definitely worked out, but Coco was slim, soft and far more...bombastic in her confidence. Coco's sheer assumption that the world would bend to her will would baffle and browbeat anyone in her path. Pyrrha meanwhile seemed to have two modes - either her jubilance and cheerful aura forced you to respect her, or she strode through the world like a ship cutting through the waves. Ruby had never seen Pyrrha so serious as that day - it was intimidating, and just a tiny bit arousing, but she would take that secret to the grave. Well, she might tell Blake if she asked, or Yang...or Pyrrha if she stared her down long enough.

"Hey limping beauty." Coco suddenly spoke...from behind her. Ruby spun around to find Coco standing beside a door with a star sharpied onto its surface. "Got somethin' on your mind huh?"

"Oh, just got my head in the clouds and stuff...nice door." Ruby gestured to the art.

Coco snickered. "I like the aesthetic. Everything here is so orderly and perfect, and there's just this pentagram on a door. Sometimes I watch the camera to see if people stop to stare. Anyway, your leg okay?"

"Yeah, it's fine!" Ruby insisted. "Just hit it on a table yesterday, and it's been a bit achey. I'm fine. Uh...you said models were here?"

"Well, two of three yeah." Coco nodded. "The third I'm keeping under wraps for a sec. You'll love her, great gal, smack her butt and watch it jiggle for daaaaays." Tapping the door twice, Coco opened it, gesturing for Ruby to enter first.

Obeying, Ruby found herself in what must have once been a conference room...or a very large supply closet. Curtains had been hung all around the walls, the floor space taken up by numerous tables covered in clothes and several racks with yet more clothes hanging up. One corner contained a full workstation surrounded by documents, cloth swatches and the remains of several takeout lunches. But the details were not important. What was important were the models, one of which was entirely nude, stick thin with long black hair and perfectly pale, unblemished skin. The other was her twin, only dressed in an impractical red dress and heals. They barely turned to stared tiredly toward the newcomers. The third model was far more recognizable however.

"Ruby!" Nora cried, also very naked. "My distant friend I met once!"

Suddenly Ruby found herself buried in warm breasts. "Nrrah!" She squealed in surprise. Thankfully Nora was not entirely nude, wearing a pair of banana yellow panties. Jaune was a lucky guy.

"Oh lovely, there's two of them." One of the models rolled her eyes.

"Don't worry, I think the new one is about to pass out." The other quipped.

"Ruby, meet Melanie and Miltia Malachite, the two bitchiest models in all of Atlas." Coco teased. "Mil, get that scrawny ass into something sexy. Mel, oogle your sister. Nora, Ruby's got clothes to model."

"Oh, I can't wait to see what you've got hidden." Nora cheered, allowing Ruby some breathing room. "These chicks are skin and bone, blegh."

"Says the balloon animal." Melanie shot back.

"I'm sorry, what was that, all I heard was rattle rattle!" Nora countered.

"I said you forgot to order more food." Melanie glared. "I think your ass keeps begging for more."

"The only thing my ass is begging for is a nice spanking and some extra breathing room." Nora laughed. Quick as a flash, she deprived her lower half of its meager coverings and flocked her panties toward the twins, who scowled at the discarded garment.

"Is this a declaration of war?" Miltia asked.

"If she sat on us we'd lose." Melanie warned.

"Girls, calm it." Coco cut in firmly, pinching her brow. "Ruby, you gotta' lose the clothes."

"Uh…" Ruby choked, feeling a twinge in her leg.

Coco leaned against the edge of her desk, pulling off her glasses and setting them aside. She had lovely eyes, big, brown and alluring. They fixed Ruby with an appraising look that made her feel very...bare, even with all her clothes on...for now. "You can keep the panties on, and the bra for now, if you're not comfortable."

"You don't have a changing room?" Ruby pressed.

"Oh sweetie, ain't nothin' you've got we haven't seen a thousand times over." Miltia scoffed, now clad in lacey black lingerie.

Her opposite knelt before her, lacing up long red leather boots. "Unless you have some hideous deformity, like a third leg...although I suppose Adel counts."

"Adel Junior is a beautiful third leg thank you very much." Coco huffed. "Don't worry about them. Ruby, focus on Nora, look at her go."

Nora ceased wiggling her body in the mirror to grin over at them. "Come on Ruby! Help fight back against the stick figure sisters. I see those curves hiding away, let them be free!"

Ruby smiled tightly, taking a deep breath before beginning to unbutton her top. She felt the weight of eyes upon her, like being in front of class giving a presentation. In a way she was doing exactly that - every movement, every shuffle, awkward shifts in posture, were just words shakily read from a paper. Nora seemed really at ease in the nude, and light hearted. That did help a little, but the twins intimidated her. They were full fledged models, supposedly perfect, but biting in tone. Nora's build was not much thicker than Ruby's own, and if healthy they would have been easily comparable. She missed her pre-injury body, missed liking what she saw in the mirror, but there was just so much to do and so little free time in which to do it. Or maybe she just lacked the motivation, it was hard to tell anymore.

"Ooh Ruby, are you okay?" Nora asked with concern as Ruby shimmied off her pants, revealing the...slightly better but still ugly bruising and her surgery scars.

"I'm fine Nora, just hit my leg over the weekend." Ruby assured her.

"With a sledgehammer, evidently." Miltia jabbed.

"Hmph, no saving that disaster." Melanie insulted.

"Someone apparently tried." Miltia observed.

"I hope those stockings are dark, Adel." Melanie added.

"Girls-" Coco started to intervene, only to be cut off.

"I'd like to see you strut down the runway with a reconstructed femur." Ruby huffed, kicking her jeans off to the side and turning to face the others.

"Oh I wouldn't bother, my modelling career would be over." Miltia rolled her eyes. "Besides, why waste time on my legs when my back is more convenient."

Nora snickered then burst into laughter. "Oh man, I'd love to see you try. Little twig like you wouldn't last a month. Don't worry Ruby, scars build character, just look at me." Nora raised her arms and slowly turned around. "These were from some kitty claws, lemme' tell ya', that was a fun night...this one not so much though…" She trailed off, pointing at several lines on her rear and thighs. Ruby had been attempting to not stare and now failed entirely.

"When you're done ogling, I'd like to get a better look at you." Coco interjected.

Ruby blushed, but reached up to unclip her bra, pulling it away to toss onto the rest of her pile. Heaving a breath, she turned to face Coco fully, hands fidgeting by her sides. "I used to be thicker…"

"Oh trust me, you're fine Red." Coco admired. "In fact it doesn't really matter if you're thick or thin." She stepped closer. It occurred to Ruby that this was the closest she had been to another while nude...or nearly nude, since Neon. "Besides, the outfit I've got for you is very adjustable, but damn, you're bigger than I guessed, and perfectly symmetrical. Look at those nips." Coco snapped her fingers over Ruby's left nipple. Ruby flinched, flushing a deeper shade of red.

Nora stepped over for a better look of her own. "Mnhmn, it's like lookin' at a younger me. I bet Jaune's been taking a few peeks."

"Uh...I don't think so-Coco!" Ruby yelped as Coco knelt down, taking a look at her bruised leg.

"Ruby, how did you hit this?" Coco asked. "It's not a small bruise."

"It was just the edge of a table, I'm fine, it's happened before." Ruby insisted. It was a lie, she had never hit her leg like this.

"This isn't normal Ruby, you should get it checked out." Coco advised.

"I know, I know." Ruby sighed. "I'm gonna' make an appointment. And I'm pretty sure Jaune hasn't been checking me out. At least I hope not. I don't wanna' be a homewrecker or anything. I've got enough to deal with." She rambled.

Nora merely smiled. "Then he's being sneaky about it, just like I taught him." She winked, reaching forward to lightly poke Ruby's nipple with her finger. "Boop."

Ruby covered her bright red face in shame, from her physical state, and the fact that being touched sent a spike of something through her system that she had absolutely no business feeling at a time like this. "Can I put on some clothes now?"

"Aw." Nora deflated.

"Just a second." Coco stood, running her hands up Ruby's hands to pry them away, clasping them in her own. "Remember, you're beautiful, gorgeous. Flaws only ever serve to propel that into contrast. I could dress you in a brown paper bag and you'd still turn heads. Even Mil's jealous of your butt."

"Fuck off Adel." Miltia flipped her off.

"Chin up, I'll make you see what I see in no time." Coco grinned, letting go to head over to her table, leaving Ruby in a daze.

Nora latched onto Ruby from behind, breath hot upon her ear. "Heya', are you doin' anything this weekend?"

"I-I don't think so?" Ruby's breath hitched as Nora's fingers gently rubbed her hips, the warmth down below uncomfortably increasing. "Why?"

"Well, Coco said she wanted to set you up with a nice guy." Nora replied.

"Uh-" Ruby uttered.

"I've got a nice guy too." Nora continued. "You're a nice girl. I think we could all have a nice time together." Ruby could not even form a response to that. Her vision blurred and a shudder shot through her form. "Unless you've got your eye on someone else…"

Ruby might have laughed under any other circumstances...the situation was so bizarre and sudden...but Nora was beautiful, and her fingers were gentle, and her chest was hot against her back, and Jaune was attractive and had not tried to hit on her past a single awkward time they both agreed they were good looking...and it had been so long since she had been with a guy. "Can I think about it?" Ruby managed, weakly.

"You can think all you want Ruby." Nora allowed. "We aren't going anywhere."

"Thank...you…" Ruby spoke.

Coco turned around, a large white box in hand, and froze, brows raised. "You know there's a bathroom you guys can lock, right?"

"Oh I'm classier than that." Nora huffed. "Now at least. Oh, it's the-"

"Shush, here you go Red, happy birthday, or Solstice, whichever comes next." Coco held out the box.

Nora pulled away as Ruby accepted the package, holding it with one arm and lifting the top with the other. "Ooh!" She cooed, running her hands across the shiny leather surface of brand new combat boots, chromed buckles gleaming in the light. "Ohmygods they're beautiful!" She gushed, pulling them free to examine in detail. "These...cost a lot, don't they?"

"Well, in materials they cost almost nothing, but the company that makes them loves to charge out the ass, as Velv would say." Coco shrugged. "Just pretend they're about a hundred lien. They're good quality, you'll get a lot of use out of them."

"Thank you!" Ruby cheered. "Now I need actual socks…"

"Stockings, here." Coco held out a bundle of folded cloth. "These are actually cheap, which is a rarity in this industry." The stockings were mostly opaque, rolling halfway up Ruby's thighs. The light pressure made her bruise ache a little, but her mood was too elated from the fading arousal and excitement. The boots were a little stiff when put on, but that was perfectly understandable, leather needed to be worn in. "Weiss couldn't care less what you wear as long as you don't look homeless." Coco explained, pulling what looked like a white button-up off a hanger. "Besides, she'll never admit it, but she's always wanted a cute spunky receptionist, like in the anime."

"Weiss likes anime?" Ruby piped up, holding out her arms for Coco to slip on the garment.

"Oh she loves it." Coco confirmed. "It's probably her only hobby, but again, she'll never admit it because it's unprofessional." She scoffed. Nora began buttoning up the shirt, keeping silent for the time being, but the little glances and smirks spoke louder than was needed...the little brushes of her fingers too. "Because apparently it's unprofessional to like one of the most popular media formats out there."

"She probably just doesn't want people thinking she's too into it." Ruby speculated as Nora finished, the top buttons clasped around her throat in a final caress. She stepped aside to allow Ruby to see her reflection, her blushing form clad in a strange top. It was as if someone had taken a normal button-up and cut out almost all of the material above the breasts, but left the sleeves and shoulders attached. It was snug around her neck, and just sheer enough to show a little too much of her bust, but it looked great. Whatever Coco had planned was interesting thus far.

"People think crazy shit all the time, like that article about her supposed weight gain last month." Coco complained. "It was one picture of Weiss Schnee, the CEO of the SDC eating a big, juicy burger, and rumors are flying around. The picture was hilarious though, it was the size of her head!"

"Pfft, as if Weiss'll ever let herself get out of the ratio." Nora scoffed.

"Oh, her famous ratio...ugh...what I wouldn't give to see some jiggle on that bod." Coco lamented.

"What ratio?" Ruby asked.

"Pretty much body mass index." Miltia explained. "Height, build and weight."

"Yeah, don't try to figure it out." Coco suggested. "For a smart girl Weiss can be pretty dumb." She returned her attention to the assembling outfit. "Now, cover up that butt, before Weiss feels second hand jealousy, or Mil takes a bite of it."

"Eat my ass Adel." Miltia grumbled.

"Sorry to disappoint, but the whole bleaching thing weirds me out." Coco shot back.

"I know right?" Melanie agreed.

"Oh fuck you both." Miltia pouted.

"Come on, leg up." Nora snatched the next garment from Ruby's hands, bending over to hold the skirt for Ruby to step into before pulling it up around her waist. "And now for the-no don't look yet!" Nora spun Ruby away from the mirror. "Now's when it all comes together."

"Literally, in a way." Coco joked, holding up a black leather corset with red lining.

"Oh gods yes." Ruby whispered, running her eyes across the leather with a hungry grin.

"Arms up, you know the drill." Coco instructed, wrapping the garment around Ruby's chest. "How long has it been since you had one of these on?"

"Like...eight or nine years?" Ruby answered. "And it wasn't as nice as this one...none of it was…"

"It's not how nice it was that matters." Coco encouraged, pulling the corset taught. "It's that you liked how you looked in it." Tying up the lace, she ran a hand through Ruby's ponytail. "You'd look lovely with your hair down."

"I look like my mom...I used to cut it shorter but the last year has just been so busy it stopped mattering." Ruby explained.

"You know I could kidnap you for the day, pamper you." Coco offered. "Weiss wouldn't mind."

"It's fine, I think I'm just gonna' get used to it." Ruby declined. "My sister always hated how short I cut it."

"I like it either way honestly." Coco noted. "Long hair is a pain to deal with, though you can do so much with it...but nothing ever beats just letting it flow." Coco gently pried the tie from Ruby's hair, flicking it evenly over her shoulders.

"Hello there Ms. Rose." Nora bit her lip, looking Ruby up and down. Ruby had to admit, it felt good to be admired like that, a beautiful girl with lidded eyes, just like Neon had. Only this time there was no alcohol to cloud her senses, and a clear line of consideration drawn in the sand. "I think we're almost done."

"Just one...final...touch." Coco reached across her desk for a tube of lipstick. Ruby had stopped wearing lipstick at some point. No one commented on it, and it was one less thing to worry about in the morning, but she was not averse to some being applied. Coco had a very steady hand. "There, perfection. Take a look."

Ruby spun around to her reflection and froze, for the girl standing before her...the woman standing before her just seemed so...awesome. She recalled looking herself in the mirror as a teenager and feeling empowered, if only for a brief period. That same feeling was creeping back, followed by a widening grin, matched only by the triumphant expression of Coco and Nora's still appraising eyes. She felt...she looked beautiful, taller, stronger, sexy even. The thin line of thigh between her stockings and skirt shined in the pale light, cleavage shown off by her shirt, long hair framing her beaming face. She swished her skirt around, running her hands over the outfit's curves, her curves. She could only imagine how it would look once she filled out again.

"Well, how do you feel?" Coco asked.

"Amazing, it's great, I love it, I look great!" Ruby stammered, turning to the sides to admire the extent of her outfit.

"Damn right you do!" Nora cheered. "You look better than I do. I could never pull off boots like that."

"I could probably squeeze you into a corset." Coco offered.

"Maybe if she lost a few pounds." Miltia could not help but comment.

"Hmm, I think I'll keep 'em on." Nora mused. "Jauney loves my jiggle wiggle. You okay Ruby?" Nora worried as Ruby rubbed at her eye, the other notably glistening.

"Yeah I'm fine it's just...I look great." Ruby whispered. "I haven't looked great in...thank you Coco."

Coco rubbed Ruby's shoulder with a firm hand. "You always looked great Red. Told ya', I just had to show you what I saw."

"There's no way I looked this good…" Ruby insisted.

"Nora, back me up." Coco requested.

"I wanna' eat you." Nora blurted.

"That explains a lot." Miltia rolled her eyes.

"You're next candy cane." Nora threatened.

"Bring it flapjack." Miltia challenged.

"Can't we all just get along?" Ruby asked.

"Nope." Nora shook her head.

"No." Coco agreed.

"Never." Miltia joined.

Melanie sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "I don't care."