"Penny, do you think I look good in this dress?" Weiss asks as she steps out of the dressing room, a hand tugging at the right shoulder idly, "I'm not sure about the shoulders." Penny's gaze falls onto her partner as she inspects the dress, the dark blue off shoulder garment boasting a wavy, knee length skirt, frills around the bust, and arm length gloves to match.
"Hmm... I think it suits you Weiss!" Penny flashes Weiss a thumbs up as she speaks, presently dressed in her own fanciful outfit, a knee length dark green dress with white lace trim, puffed out sleeves, and a flowy skirt, complete with stockings and inch heels. Weiss turns towards the nearby mirror before looking herself over in it, again tugging at the shoulder before releasing it.
"If you're sure, then I'll get it." With Penny's approval in hand, Weiss changes back into her prior outfit while Penny does the same, the two taking their selected attire and paying before departing the store. Earlier that day, the two were asked to help give Whitley a party in celebration of his birthday. Only after confirmation that it was just a party for Whitley, and not her included given their shared birthday, she agreed to help, wanting to give her younger sibling the first good birthday she's sure he's had in a long time.
With their outfits in tow, the two begin to wander through the mall seeking out a store to get Whitley gifts from. Penny makes a suggestion every so often only to be shot down by Weiss, at least until they come upon a toy store, Weiss glancing towards Penny with a quirked eyebrow. Penny giggles a little as she catches Weiss's expression, then takes her hand and drags her inside, Weiss not protesting and following close behind.
"So, what are we looking for in here, Penny? Whitley isn't exactly the type to play with toys. At least... Not that I can recall, but then again..." Weiss quietly sighs as she trails off, thoughts wandering towards her brother more than she'd like. I really don't know what Whitley would like... All those years, I... Never paid him any attention... Would he like toys?
"Stuffed animals, Weiss!" Pausing to gauge Weiss's reaction, the brace face brightening slightly as she processes the suggestion, Penny pulls her towards the section with the stuffed animals and begins to sift through the many options. "You have Muffin and Nickel when you don't have any of us around, but your brother doesn't have anyone, let's get him some friends!"
"... Penny, you're a genius, that's a wonderful idea!" Weiss manages to keep herself from facepalming as she realizes just how much Whitley could benefit from some friends, even if they are of the non-living variety. With Penny eagerly looking through the various plush animals beside her she follows suit, taking time to select the perfect companion. No, too small... I don't think he likes tigers... Why do they even have Grimm plushes? No... No... Aha! A soft gasp echoes out as she pulls a large brown bunny off the shelf, Penny looking over with her own selection in hand.
"Oh my, Weiss, that's so cute!" Penny cheerfully voices her approval of the plush before holding out her choice, a turquoise furred Labrador plush, Weiss regarding the plush with a smile and a nod before stepping towards her.
"Whitley is gonna love them. We should get some accessories for them, maybe some ribbons?" She suggests, Penny nodding in agreement before moving to the section of the aisle with various accessories for stuffed animals, the two picking out a selection of ribbons to compliment the plushes. "I'll ask Klein if he can make some outfits for these two, Whitley might like to have his new companions looking as nice as he does."
Weiss checks the time on her scroll once they've paid and left the store, Penny humming softly while looking around at the people passing by in waiting. "Mmm... We've got some time before we should get back to the academy, anywhere you want to go first?" She asks while looking around herself, Penny shaking her head with a slight in place bounce.
"We can head back early, get the gifts ready for the party how we'd like!" Penny's suggestion is met with a slight grin from Weiss who steals a kiss from her before taking her hand, both shows of affection being reciprocated before the two begin the trek back to the academy in high spirits.
---
"Mother, why must I wait in my room? Are you... Planning something?" Whitley questions, almost immediately being waved off by Willow who simply just smiles and giggles softly.
"Me? Planning something? Whatever could you mean, dearest. Please just remain here, I'll let you know when you can come out." Willow's response is met with a huffy sigh and a nod from the youngest Schnee, Whitley settling onto his bed and fetching his scroll while Willow departs from the room. Once the door is closed she looks down the hall in both directions before approaching the nearby Klein, smile widening as she gives him a simple nod.
"It's time. Whitley is going to be very surprised, wouldn't you agree?" Klein chuckles softly before nodding, the two slipping down the hall to the dining room where preparations are fast underway. Weiss, her teammates and friends, Penny, and even Qrow are hard at work setting up decorations, everyone having agreed to help Whitley celebrate his birthday, Weiss having asked for her friends assistance having been roped into the event herself. Watching everyone busily making the dining area look more festive, Willow thinking back to the day prior when she had been contacted by Ruby and Jaune regarding this day in particular and what they talked about.
"Ah, hello there Miss Rose and Mr. Arc, come in, come in." Willow says as she motions Ruby and Jaune inside, the two entering before following her along into the dining area, where Klein had set out tea and snacks. "I was quite surprised to hear you wished to speak to me of all people, how may I be of service?"
"We wanted to ask you about Weiss's birthday." Ruby begins explaining, accepting a cup of tea before continuing, "Back when we were at Beacon Academy, after much pushing she finally told us when her birthday is, but that she doesn't celebrate it, and... Well, she never told us why, exactly, she doesn't celebrate. We were hoping you could tell us, it hurts seeing her so unhappy on that day in particular." Willow grants Ruby a curt nod before sipping at her tea momentarily, then glances down at the table before looking between the two.
"What I tell you, you must not let Weiss know I've said this." Once Ruby and Jaune nod, she continues, a muted sigh escaping beforehand. "Her father, Jacques, he was obsessed with many things, most of which centered around the Schnee Dust Company, his reputation, and his heir. Before her tenth birthday, she quite liked celebrating, Jacques wasn't as hard on her as he came to be, so she spent the first part of her life a happy little girl, and then... Her tenth birthday came around."
Ruby and Jaune quickly grow disgusted and angered over hearing how Jacques refused to go to Weiss's party, that he finally admitted he only married Willow for the Schnee name, and the increase in abuse directed towards his middle child all in the name of shaping her into the person he wanted her to be. "While her birthday used to be something she enjoyed, ever since her tenth, I suspect she treats her birthday as a reminder of what happened, how her father treats her, and just how little he actually cares about any of us." Willow grits her teeth as she falls silent, a hand coming to rest against her forehead for a few moments, this drawing out worried expressions from the two huntresses.
"Don't worry you two, this is just... Withdrawal. I don't ever want to go back to drinking, hurting my children like I did..." Sighing softly, she sips at her tea again, gaze sinking back to the table. "My son, her brother, Whitley, he share his birthday with Weiss. I'm sad to say he doesn't have any positive memories of it either, with me closing myself off and drinking, Jacques being despicable, and Weiss being... Well, Weiss, I fear Whitley's had it as bad as his sister, if not worse."
