Flashing Lights - Commentary - Ch 7-8 (Patreon)

Welcome back, friends!  We’re mourning another two weeks that have come and gone in the blink of an eye.  Rest in peace, fourteen days of my life.  

I’ve had this week off from work, meaning I’ve been relaxing and - wait, that doesn’t sound like me.  I’ve been using the time to write and study for that work designation thing I mentioned earlier.  My hands are sore from all the typing, but I’ve made decent progress!

Nine of ten chapters are wrapped up for Just like the Movies.  Only the epilogue stands between me and freedom!  Or between me and another story.  I don’t know what I’m going to write next yet.  I’m trying really hard not to think too much about it before finishing JLTM.  If I do, it’ll be even harder to finish it than it already is!

This story has been difficult in general, probably because this year has been really hard.  I’m probably never going to get back to the mental space I had before, which is sad, but I’m trying to figure out this new normal.  The story isn’t sticking in my head like it used to, if that makes sense.  That makes the writing process feel disjointed even if the chapters are pretty well seamed together.  It’s a bit hard to describe…I just know it’s different.

My two test readers seem to like it so far though, so at least that’s something.  It’s just a funny, fluffy, not-short story.  I remember being so excited about plotting only ten chapters.  Ten chapters!  So short!  That’ll be around 50k words, right??  Easy peasy.

Yeah, ha.  I’m at 75k words right now, so it’ll be close to 80k when done.  Apparently, I can’t not write a whole book for every idea.  Even if I outline fewer chapters, I’ll just beef up those chapters to make up for it.  I’m sure no one is complaining.  It’s just me and my hands suffering over here!

Anyway, since my hands are hurting, I shouldn’t ramble so much here.  Let’s talk about Weiss and Ruby and how adorable they are!

Honestly, I love Flashing Lights so much.  This is one that I would print and read for myself over and over.  Even now as I proofread from week to week, I have to restrain myself from reading the rest of the story.  There’s some sort of emotional rush I get from watching Weiss slowly grow into a better person.  I’d inject that feeling straight into my veins if I could.

Progress is being made though.  Slowly but surely, Weiss is metamorphisizing.  She reminds me of the beginning of that poem, “Love is patient, love is kind.”  In the first few chapters, she was neither patient nor kind.  She was a bit of a brat, actually.  But now…she has seen the light.

Or she’s seen something that convinced her to try new things.  Ruby’s smokin’ hot bod?  Ruby’s propensity to treat others as human beings?  Maybe she just stared at the sun for too long.

I love that being kind and patient is ‘trying something new’ for her.  Like trying on a new outfit.  “Perhaps I’ll try on some kindness today, see how it feels.  If I don’t like it, I’ll ditch it tomorrow.”  She likes any outfit that gets Ruby’s attention, so she’s buying some new clothes.

Would you look at that…she’s literally buying new clothes at the beginning of Chapter 7!  Of course, the style she’s going for is less ‘compassionate’ and more ‘revealing.’  

I wonder how much Weiss understands about Ruby’s job at this point.  She says that Ruby could be saving kids from a burning building instead of texting her, but that’s usually a firefighter’s job?  I suppose anyone can run into a burning building to save kids - whoever gets there first, preferably.  I kept the remark just because I thought it was funny that Weiss doesn’t really get Ruby’s day-to-day.  

“You arrest drug dealers, give people speeding tickets, help old ladies, and fight fires.”

Now, imagine Ruby staring at Weiss, thinking, ‘Wut?  Why do you think I do that?’  It doesn’t matter, Ruby!  Weiss just wants to go on a date with you so badly.  She’s not thinking straight.  She’s thinking very crooked right now, actually.  (‘Crooked’ makes it sound like Weiss is having criminal thoughts, but that’s the opposite of what’s actually going on.)

What I love about Chapter 7 is that it’s the first time we see Weiss make the decision, free of Ruby’s presence, to do something good.  I almost said ‘free of Ruby’s influence,’ but that’s not the case at all, is it?  Ruby’s influence is all over this chapter, but she’s not there to witness what’s happening.  

Weiss could have just walked away from the altercation.  Ruby probably never would have found out.  Even if Ruby did find out, what would she say?  That Weiss should put herself in danger after the whole kidnapping fiasco?  No, Ruby would probably be perfectly fine with Weiss keeping to herself.

The problem is Weiss.  (And she actually sees it as a problem.)  Growing a conscience is a problem for her.  She spent most of her life trying not to have one but now here she is, helping random, smelly strangers for the hell of it.

Not exactly for the hell of it.  She did it so that she wouldn't feel that icky emotion deep in her chest that might make her lose sleep.  She did it so that the next time she sees Ruby, she doesn’t think about how much Ruby loves to help others while she walked away even though she had the means to help.  In other words, her conscience has grown strong enough to alter her behavior.

I, being a benevolent writer, immediately rewarded her for it.  You did such a great job, Weiss!  Here’s your Ruby.

There is a slight chance that Weiss learned the wrong lesson from this.  She might turn into a vigilante prowling the streets for trouble, then stepping in and sticking around until the police arrive.  She’s not calling 9-1-1 anymore - someone else is!  For an actual crime this time!

That would be so funny though…imagine Ruby flying over to a robbery in progress only to find Weiss and her bodyguards there.  The would-be robber is laid out on the pavement courtesy of the goons while Weiss calmly gives her statement to the officer on duty.  She then giddily waits for Ruby to dote all over her.

We all know that Weiss has an attention-seeking personality, but this might be too much work even for her.  Besides, she’s starting to earn Ruby’s attention without the theatrics.

When the pretty girl you aren’t sure you like is almost kidnapped in front of you and then involved in a possible assault, you probably freak out a little.  You probably also wonder why the pretty girl you kind of like is always around so many serious crimes.  As a police officer, this probably concerns you.  

I gave Ruby some great explanations for why she flew to Weiss’ side.  She’s a cop.  She cares about everyone’s well-being and stuff.  (You’re welcome, Ruby.)

I needed Ruby to see what happened firsthand though, so of course she raced over as soon as she heard that Weiss was involved in another crime.  If she didn’t show up, would Weiss have ever told her what happened?  I honestly think that Weiss might never bring it up.  Or, if she did, it would be flippantly added years later when they’re already married or something.  Then she’d act as if Ruby should have already known.  “Don’t you have a list of crimes that you read through every day?”

But would they be together years in the future if Ruby hadn’t witnessed this?  That’s the real question.

The soup kitchen was a good start, but this was a huge step forward.  This was Weiss choosing the light side without Ruby around to prod her.

This isn’t an overnight transformation, of course, which is why I made sure to keep her a bit prissy and standoffish.  Like, for example, the way she doesn’t exactly enjoy the homeless man holding her hand.  She’s in her, “I did something good, but that doesn’t mean I liked it,” phase.  

News flash - she likes anything if Ruby rewards her with a kiss.

I’m sure you’ve noticed by now that Weiss has a thing about opening doors.  Mainly, she expects people to open doors for her.  Why wouldn't she?  That’s probably how she’s been treated for her entire life.  That’s also how her dad is treated.  It’s a sign of respect but also subservience, meaning it’s part of her power.  That’s also why Ruby refuses to do it.  How can they ever be equals if Weiss subjegates her like that?

Weiss still flexes that muscle sometimes though.  Henry hopped to like he couldn't believe he had the opportunity.  He probably thought he was doing a good thing by opening the door but only proved how far away he is from Ruby.  And Jaune, in his defense, had no idea what was going on but defaulted to being chivalrous.  We’ll let that slide.

Henry is the worst offender here.  By doing what Weiss tells him to do in Chapter 8, he actually makes her like him less.  How’s that for a conundrum?  (I can assure you that Weiss doesn’t care how he feels about that.)

Despite Weiss’ many flaws, she does have some good traits as a potential partner!  She’s very attentive, for one.  It helps that Ruby has her undivided attention, but she actively listens to the things Ruby talks about and remembers them.  That’s a great quality in any relationship.  

She’s also protective in a rabid dog type of way, as we see a glimpse of in Chapter 8 when she learns that Chief Fowler forced Ruby to deliver bad news.  She will knock someone’s head off without a second thought.  Did you look at Winter the wrong way?  You’re a goner.  Snickered at Whitley?  Deceased.  Stared at Ruby for too long?  Ha.  Please don’t do this one for your own health.

Ruby, on the other hand…well, she got all the good character traits, obviously, but her best one is probably that she’s willing to give people a chance.  One of my favorite lines in the story is this one:  “And I’m saying…I don’t know who you are, Weiss.  But I want to find out.”

Weiss will scoff at the idea that anyone has the right to give her a chance, but in actuality…how often does this happen?  People assume they know her and write her off.  But here’s Ruby essentially saying, “Alright, you say you’re different.  Let’s see it.”

Sure, Ruby, just let me plan this criminal deal for my dad first.

At least she’s not running the whole deal (yet…), but she helps Winter move things along.  Can you imagine Winter rattling off that tirade on the phone?  lol…I really don’t see her with the same killer instinct that Weiss has.  Weiss goes for the jugular in this one.  Winter’s tiptoeing around trying to keep everyone safe.

Weiss only cares about keeping her dad happy.  Or maybe she’s more concerned about preventing him from getting angry.  Unfortunately, her time ran out on the whole ‘date with Henry’ thing, but she chewed her leg out of that bear trap pretty fast.  (Did she do so smartly might be a question for later.)

Welp, Henry knows that Weiss has something going on with a cop now, but Weiss isn’t concerned because of power dynamics and all that jazz.  Just like she was raised to keep her nose out of other people’s business, Henry was probably raised the same.  Of course, if that information becomes useful…

I should have made Ruby more jealous about finding Weiss at a nice restaurant with Henry.  It’s not like he’s bad looking, either.  Wouldn't she be a little peeved to find her not-girlfriend gallivanting around with some dude?

I’m just on a jealousy kick right now though…that’s another one of the emotions I could read and write over and over.  I especially enjoy it when the character who you wouldn't think would get jealous gets jealous - in this case, Ruby.  But I also like it when the character who seems like they’d be less sought after is the one getting all the attention…ie Ruby.  

I should just make them both jealous.  Is there such a thing as too much jealousy?  If done tastefully, I think that’d be quite swell.

Weiss gets what she wants though (again) and has another unconventional ‘date’ with Ruby.  It always strikes me just how lonely Weiss really is.  Since she’s not in school anymore, doesn’t have a job, and doesn’t need to work, what does she do all day?  She’s just kind of…around, I guess.  So something ‘dull’ like riding around with Ruby is extra nice because…well, she has company.

They have a grand ol’ time, too.  More eye-opening moments for Weiss with the homeless man, then I let her flex a bit with that drug dealer.  She is knowledgeable about certain realms of the world - she should get to use that knowledge every once in a while.  That chem class she took in college was definitely very helpful in that regard.  (Ruby, meanwhile, is wondering if Weiss actually knows how to make drugs.)

She also gets to meet Yang in this chapter!  I’m sure we were all waiting for this, so I hope it didn’t disappoint.  There’s definitely no love lost between the two of them.  It brings me back to the early WDU days when Yang is still super pissed at Weiss.  Weiss in WDU tiptoed around Yang while trying to make things right.  This Weiss…not a chance in hell.

She tries to be civil though.  And she’s right - she didn’t insult Yang.  She just made some very forward and vulgar remarks about Yang’s little sister.  An assault on the ears, one could say.

Yang thinks what everyone who isn’t living in Weiss’ head should think: Weiss is trying to use Ruby.  We know that’s not true because we’re the ones living in her head.  To the outside world…

This story would be fascinating through Ruby’s POV.  Like what is she thinking, really?  How is she so patient?  What is she seeing that makes her decide to put up with Weiss for a little longer?  Does she think Weiss is using her like everyone else does?  Or did she when they first met?

Also, would Weiss’ behavior be as funny from Ruby’s POV?  Would Ruby just stare at her thinking, “Aw, cute, angry baby”?

I kind of want to write this whole story from Ruby’s POV now…the problem with that is that it feels like a waste of effort, for one, but also that all of the main points have already been written.  It would also be annoying to get all of the dialogue to match up…but Ruby’s inner thoughts might be interesting.  Probably not interesting enough for me to go through the effort though…

Weiss’ advances would be extra funny to see through Ruby’s POV.  I imagine that Ruby acts all calm and composed on the outside but inside is a flustered mess.  Weiss is pretty, and touchy, and making her desires very clear.  You’d have to not have a pulse to not react to that.

What if I just did one chapter from Ruby’s POV?  Which chapter should that be though?  That would be a hard decision.  Perhaps I’ll put it to a vote later, then I won’t have to choose!  I’ll just choose my top 5 or something.

I do think Weiss would be annoying to have a serious conversation with because she tends to not take much seriously.  She brushes things aside.  Dismisses worries.  Doesn’t like being told what to do.  Doesn’t like when people check up on her.  Etc, etc, etc.  The list really goes on and on.

The end of this chapter was originally supposed to end with much more action.  And no, not the sexual type of action - the action type of action.  I’m torn about going into details because I don’t want to spoil anything, so…I think I’ll leave it like that.  Let your creative mind fill in the rest!  I’ll explain in more detail later (if I remember XD).  

I decided that now wasn’t the best time to introduce more drama into their relationship.  They’re just starting to see eye to eye.  Instability could crush this fledgling little thing they’re creating together.  So Weiss makes it safely home, but danger lurks on the horizon.  Not to worry though!  Weiss won’t be going anywhere without Ruby for the foreseeable future.  What a drag, right?  No one wants that.

Just kidding.  This is obviously Weiss’ dream come true (not those dreams, of course), and none of us mind it either.

Finally, the universe is in harmony.  For how long though?  Good question!  We’ll have to keep reading and find out.

Until next time, 

Miko