Rosy Rooftops

Don't Go With the Flow

The Next Day, Valerian Records Outpost #27, Office #398

Weiss shifted nervously behind the microphone, looking out through the soundproof glass. The walls around her were covered in jagged, black foam, and the floor was a solid yet muted color that Weiss could not quite distinguish. A voice rang in her headphones, coming from across the glass.

"Hello Weiss, I am Ozpin, the CEO of Valerian Records. My son told me you were talented, and he has never been wrong before, so shall we get started?" The man said, a fateful smile playing on his face. Despite his gray hair, his smile showed the world that he was not quite done with this life, as there was still so much happiness to experience.

"Y-Yes sir, I'd be happy to oblige." Weiss waited a few moment before asking, "So how does this work? This is my first time every auditioning for anything outside of a school play."

Ozpin let out a hearty laugh, which Weiss mimicked, albeit nervous. "Dear girl, just sing from your heart! Any song, any genre, whatever you sing best, please allow me to hear!"

"O-Okay, here goes nothing." Weiss drew a deep breath and let it out slowly before pressing her lips close to the microphone.

"You are the ocean's gray waves, destined to seek life beyond the shore, just out of reach." The song flowed from her heart directly to the black-clad microphone, the timbre and pitch feeling nothing short of natural for her. Her mother had used to sing this song to her when she was a child, and the song till reminded her of her mother's long, blue hair, which flowed just like an ocean itself. As she continued to sing, the man held his jaw open in awe.

"Sing me a song of birthrights and love!" Weiss was positively glowing at this point, her body swaying with the rhythm. The man could do nothing, but anyone could easily tell he wanted to dance along. The music felt like a drug to him, and he was surely addicted from his first taste. He thought of nothing but her and her future, all other thoughts of his later meetings and what he was going to have for lunch faded away like a thin mist in the breeze.

As Weiss finished, she opened her eyes, unaware that they had even been closed for the whole song. It was a bad habit she had developed, but Ruby had never minded, so she seldom noticed it. The first thing she noticed was that there were many more people in the recording room than before.

Ozpin stood in the center, surrounded by what were most likely his co-workers. A stout man with a potbelly and an impressive mustache had his jaw propped open. A tall man with spiky green hair had nearly fainted into Ozpin's chair. Countless others were behind him, and soon followed suit after Ozpin began to clap heartily.

"You may just be the most talented woman alive!" Ozpin yelled into the mic, "Your music moves like the ocean in the song, and I can't help but to move with the tide!"

The stout man stole the speaker, "Young lady, I feel more energetic than I have in the past twenty years! I feel invigorated, like I could take on five bears at once! No – make that ten!"

Weiss was speechless, tears streaming down her face. She had only been this happy one other time in her life, back when her mother taught her the same song. It seemed like magic to her back then, but it most definitely seemed like more to the men in front of her.

"You have the job! Pack your bags, we're headed to Atlas!" Ozpin laughed.

Weiss' smile disappeared.

"A-Atlas? Why would we be going there?" Weiss asked, "Couldn't we stay here?"

"You wouldn't be able to live in our mansion when you're here in this town, could you? Living by the poolside, recording music day after day, enjoying life to its fullest with the world's other greatest singers, which you most certainly are one of?" Ozpin eyed the girl anxiously.

"I have a life here, Mr. Ozpin." Weiss wanted to tell the man about Ruby and... when Weiss thought of her life here, nothing else came but Ruby. "Would I be able to bring along a friend?"

"Sorry Weiss, but we only have room in the mansion for one more person, even if you double up in the room. But think about it, you could go from a barmaid to the world's highest rated singer, making millions of dollars per year!" Ozpin continued, "People everywhere will chant your name, your albums will fly off the shelves, you will become a legend!"

Weiss stood for what seemed like an eternity, her mind racing with thoughts. The legend of Downtown Vale meant that Ruby was her soulmate, but could the legend be completely false? Even so, could she just leave Ruby so suddenly? She would be richer than rich, never having to step foot in that filthy bar again. But does she hate the bar? Would she miss this life? With one fell thought, Weiss made up her mind.

"I'm sorry, I cannot accept."