Synthetic Soul (Nuts & Dolts)

Chapter 2: More than Machine

Locked in absolute concentration, a bead of sweat rolled down the side of her face, a minute adjustment, then another, too much!

Yang overbalanced and with a flailing of arms fell backwards out of her chair, the grape she had been balancing on her nose bounced away as she hit the ground with a thud.

Ruby laughed putting her head down and thumping her fist on the table, Blake chuckled trying hard not to laugh out loud.

Weiss let out an exasperated sigh. "Oaf."

Penny smiled.

They were in Vale having just finished lunch at a small outdoor café and were now sitting around wondering what to do next when Yang had started her balancing act.

Yang righted her chair and sat back down while rubbing the back of her head. "Owwwww."

Weiss frowned at the brawler before sighing. "Well what should we do? Or is Yang our entertainment for the evening?" Weiss added the second part with a derisive glance to the brawler who in turn stuck her tongue out.

"What do you normally do on the weekends?" Penny asked.

"Well Saturday is always team day, we do something together, Sunday we all do whatever we want together or separate." Ruby explained wiping a tear from her eye after laughing. "And I think we're the only ones without plans for tomorrow, right?"

"Blake and I are going to see an orchestra tomorrow." Weiss confirmed as the faunus in question nodded.

"Snooooore." Yang teased.

Weiss opened her mouth about to retort when Blake put a hand on her shoulder with a placating look on her face, Weiss just sighed rolling her eyes.

"What are you doing Yang?" Ruby asked trying to change the subject.

"I'm going to see if Junior has any job openings." The brawler replied leaning back and putting her feet on the table as she placed her hands behind her head.

"At his club? Are you sure Yang? Didn't you like beat up him and his men?" Ruby questioned a very confused twist on her face.

Yang shrugged. "If he's got an opening he's got an opening, if he doesn't he doesn't, just figured I'd ask because I could use the money."

"Whatever you say Yang, anyway what should we do tomorrow Penny?" The red girl asked a small smile on her face as she looked to the robotic girl.

"Well gosh I don't know I've never had time to just go out and do things." She thought for a few more moments. "I guess I'll just do whatever you want to do."

"I hope you know what you're getting yourself into Penny." Yang warned a smirk on her face.

Ruby just pouted indignantly.

A soft bell chimed signaling their entrance to the weapon shop.

"I didn't say they were wrong, I just said it wasn't the only thing I wanted to do." Ruby defended as she entered the store with Penny in tow.

"Well I don't mind, I like weapons and mechanical things too." Penny replied with half a smile.

"Which is why I was excited because no one else ever wants to go with me!" The scythe wielder replied happily.

They began walking through the store examining the wide array of weapons, ammunition, parts, and tools.

Ruby picked up a brush for cleaning rifle bores. "So Penny how exactly does your weapon work?"

"The Pale Marionetta?" Penny asked turning to Ruby.

"That's what you named them? Cool, but yeah, is it your semblance that lets you control them?"