Vampires must step lightly and be ever mindful of the Masquerade; were the human race as a whole ever to turn its attention to the Kindred, the Children of Caine would be quickly wiped out. Superstition is the vampires' best weapon. By enforcing mortals' disbelief, by cultivating a smug belief in reason, by dismissing vampires' presence as the fancies of children and lunatics, the Kindred allow the mass of kine to do the work of shielding them from the few mortals who do know that vampires walk the night.

Blood of The Rose

Chapter 40: Restraint

Downtown LA

Skyeline Apartments

Weiss' eyes fluttered open as the sun sank below the horizon. She slowly turned her head to the side, allowing a smile to grow on her face at the silver pools of enthusiasm belonging to the brunette Kindred lying there.

"Good evening, partner," Ruby snarked quietly.

Weiss huffed out a small laugh. "Good evening, yourself." The slender vampire sat up and stretched before looking around the bedroom. "Er… where is Neo?"

"Huh." The brunette sat up as well, blowing her red-tipped bangs out of her face. "Um, I dunno. She was here when we went to sleep."

"Hmm." Weiss tapped her fingers on the bed sheets thoughtfully. "I knew she was older, and certainly of an older Generation that either of us, so I suppose that merely reinforces that assumption…"

"Are you talking about the… creepy little vampire?" a voice spoke up from the entrance to the room.

Ruby gave a start, peering around the partially-closed door. "Heather, how long have you been standing there?"

"About a half hour," the redheaded ghoul responded meekly, stepping into the room. "Or so. I wasn't sure when you'd wake up."

"Okay, first off… that's just wrong, please don't lurk anymore," Ruby replied, obviously doing her best to tamp down on her rising ire. Why do I get the feeling she was watching her sleep, as well? Weiss thought bemusedly as she gracefully slid out of bed. "Secondly, you don't need to, like, wait on me to wake up, okay? Just… um… go about your business and I'll see you when I do wake."

"Oh. I see, very well, Ma-" Heather swallowed the word she'd been about to utter, recognizing the dangerous gleam in Ruby's eyes. "That is, yes, ma'am."

"Just… Just Ruby is fine, really." The diminutive fledgling swung her legs around to place her feet on the floor. "And then, yeah, we're talking about the small vampire who was here last night. D'you know where she went?"

"She left already, shortly before you all woke up." Ruby's ghoul twisted her hands together at her waist nervously. "I was thinking about… stopping her, to ask her to wait until you woke up… but she just stared at me, and I… I got really weirded out… I thought… I thought I could hear whispers from all around and it was like the walls were closing in on me and... and I let her leave." Bespectacled green eyes looked down at the floor, downcast. "I'm sorry."

"No, no, don't worry about it!" Ruby waved her hands about in consternation. "Really, she's not… Look, don't ever try to interfere with Neo, alright? She's kinda… dangerous, even if she seems to like me, and I don't want you to get hurt on my account. Okay?"

"Okay!" Heather replied, far more cheerfully and with a sort of semi-curtsy. "Thank you for… caring about my well-being, Ma- ...um, Ruby." With that, the redhead turned and headed back down the steps into the living room.

The brunette groaned as she flung herself back onto the bed, draping an arm across her eyes. "Just stake me now, Weiss."

The other Ventrue fledgling laughed lightly from the bathroom where she'd already changed and was now brushing out her long tresses. "I think you're doing just fine with her, Ruby."

"But I don't… Argh!" Jumping to her feet, her friend quickly closed the bedroom door before speaking again in a harsh whisper. "Weiss, I'm trying, I'm really trying to do right by her 'cause I know she didn't ask for any of this but…" Ruby clutched at her hair, tugging at the roots. "I just don't feel anything for her, y'know? I mean, I can sense her now, and that kinda freaks me out when she's close, but it's just like, 'oh, there she is again', but I just can't make myself… care about her." She dropped her hands to look at her partner imploringly. "Shouldn't I be able to if she's my ghoul? I mean, there should be something there, right, just besides the… the blood bond?"

"Ruby…" Sighing softly, she sat her hairbrush down, took ahold of the brunette's hand, and led the two of them back to the bed to perch on the edge. "There's not an… exact science to creating ghouls. Many Kindred react differently to the bond, and as I understand it, it can even vary by Bloodline… I can't possibly empathize with how you feel as I've never bonded a ghoul, myself, but…" Weiss regarded the other fledgling pensively. "Most Kindred, when they bind a ghoul, already feel something for them, amity or friendship or otherwise… They do so by choice on both sides. In your precise circumstance, however…"

"Yeah," Ruby mumbled, staring at their clasped hands. "If there wasn't anything there before… Since I basically did this to a stranger, no reason I'd feel anything for her now, huh? Even if… Well, I guess it's one-sided since she kinda… y'know… worships me, now."

"That's a fair description."

"So I'm just stuck with her? Unless I deliberately hurt her by cutting her loose?"

"I'm not convinced those are your only two palatable options, but…" Weiss shook her head slowly, giving the brunette's hand a squeeze. "I don't see any other alternatives at the moment. You will have to supply her with your blood again, but not for another month, so we have some time to figure this out. I will let you know if anything else comes to me, but in the meantime, you know I am here for you."

"Yeah. Thanks, partner." Ruby grinned as she pulled the smaller vampire into a hug. "You're awesome."

"What did I say about hugs?" Weiss squawked irritably.

"That you loved getting them from your bestie?"

"I said no such thing."

"It was implied."

"It was most certainly not."

"Yeppers, I read in between the lines."

Weiss let out a huff as she pushed her friend away, though she couldn't keep the edges of her mouth from curling up slightly. "You are such a dolt."

"Guilty as charged!" Ruby replied cheerfully. "I'm gonna go get changed now, okay?"

"You do that. Then we can proceed downstairs to plan out the evening with the others."

The brunette hummed to herself as Weiss turned her attention to her cell phone. She could tell that the brunette was taking a moment to unpack her bags and place some of her clothes into the bottom drawer of the dresser. Reading through official Camarilla missives and reports from her accountant was not exactly an absorbing enterprise.

"What to wear, what to wear… Oh!" Weiss glanced up to see the other fledgling grinning, her new red cloak in her hands. "Perfect!"

A few minutes later saw her Weiss following the bouncing brunette at a more sedate pace down the steps. They'd made a brief detour to check emails on Ruby's laptop, now set up on the desk in the loft area, only to determine there were as of yet no instructions from the Prince. While Ruby was clad tonight in the adventurous outfit Nebula had assembled for her, she'd opted to retain her white peacoat dress. The younger girl's sister, sprawled on the couch, looked up and let out an amused chuckle.

"What the fuck, Rubes?" Yang snickered. "You look like you're all ready for one of those geeky anime conventions!"

"Hey!" the brunette retorted irritably, pausing at the bottom step with her arms crossed. "I like those cons! And this is better than any cosplay I could ever come up with!"

Perched on the edge of her chair, Blake offered Ruby a slight smile. "I think it looks very nice. Quite dashing."

"Why thank you, Blakey!" Ruby beamed before sticking her tongue out at her sister.

"Children, please," Weiss intoned humorously as she slipped past to sit demurely on the end of the unoccupied couch. "May we discuss this evening, now?"

"You betcha, partner!" Ruby launched herself over the back of the furniture, plopping inelegantly next to the platinum-haired Kindred. "Fire away!"

"Well, we've got our evening planned already, yeah?" Yang remarked as she sat up. "Rubbles and I got a date with a bitch who needs to go down, hard."

"Oh, right!" Ruby smacked her head in consternation. "I almost forgot about that Jezebel woman!"

"You almost forgot?" the blonde repeated incredulously.

"Well, yeah, I mean…" The brunette chuckled weakly, touching the tips of her fingers together. "Lotta stuff on my mind, y'know?"

Yang shook her head and sighed dramatically before turning to Weiss. "How have you managed to put up with her?"

"The patience of a saint, believe me," Weiss replied, straightlaced.

"Hey!"

"In any case," the Ventrue continued primly. "I need to check in with my Sire, but I do not have anything else planned."

"Would you… like some company?" Blake spoke up hesitatingly. "And… perhaps you would like to come with me to see Beckett back in Santa Monica afterward?"

"Of course," Weiss replied with a smile. She was certainly becoming more used to the Gangrel woman and was actually looking forward to getting to know her a bit more. Likely the only one of my Kindred peers who won't call me Ice Queen, in any case. "I would welcome your companionship."

"Oh! Oh!" Ruby bounced in her seat excitedly. "Hey, if you're going to Santa Monica, couldja look into the whole Thin Bloods thingie?"

"Er… Thin Bloods?" Blake repeated before her amber eyes were cleared of confusion. "Oh, I remember, now… This is to help your friend, E?"

"Yes, and locate his sire, Lily," Weiss murmured. "I believe we can look into this for you, Ruby. She stated in her diary that she would try going to the blood bank, correct?"

"Yup! So if you could look there for clues, that'd be awesome!"

"Very well, then." Weiss and Blake shared a nod. "We will take care of this."

"Sweetness!" The brunette jumped up and bounced over to Blake, giving the startled Gangrel a quick hug. "Weiss already got her hug today, so this is yours. Thanks for helping, Blakey!"

"O-Of course," the raven-haired Kindred stammered with a slightly stunned expression on her face from the physical contact. Weiss smirked slightly, a small part of her happy that someone else could be the focus of the hyperactive brunette's attention.

"Whelp, then we'd better get going, huh, Yang?"

"Ready when you are, sis," the blonde replied, hefting her duffle bag. "Did you want to bring anything?"

"Oh! My sword!" With that, Ruby was off, dashing back upstairs.

"Please, if you can possibly help it," Weiss sighed indulgently. "Try to keep her from lopping her own limbs off."

Yang chuckled as she got to her feet and slowly made her way to the front door. "I make no promises, Ice Queen."

"I have so got to give her lessons soon…"

Within a few seconds more, Ruby and Yang were out the door, cheerful farewells said to both Weiss and Blake and a more subdued one to Heather who seemed to be puttering about in the kitchen. While Blake headed back upstairs to brush her hair out, the Ventrue fledgling hesitatingly approached the kitchen island.

"Heather? Do you need anything while we are out?"

"Oh, no, ma'am," the redhead replied eagerly. "I have some of my college money saved up, still, I was going to use that to purchase some food… well, for me, anyway… and some cleaning products, you know…"

"Hmm." Weiss reached into the folds of her skirt and pulled out a few twenty-dollar bills from the concealed pocket there. "Here, use this. Ruby would not want you dipping into your college money."

"Thank you, ma'am," Heather replied politely as she accepted the cash. "It's not a problem though, truly, I mean… it's not like I'm going back…"

Sighing, Weiss turned away with the realization that her partner had a lot more to consider when it came to her erstwhile ghoul. Before she could ponder any further, however, her Gangrel companion glided down the stairs on noiseless feet, offering the platinum-haired woman a tentative smile. "I am ready if you are."

"Are you sure you're up for this?" Weiss inquired. "It's not far, only a couple of blocks, but this is still inside the city…"

"I… I believe so." Blake drew herself upright, hands clenched at her side. "I have been… preparing myself, mentally."

"Very well. Er, are you hungry? That might help some if you were to feed beforehand."

The Gangrel blinked her eyes, determination fading away in the face of uncertainty. "I… Well, yes, perhaps a bit hungry."

"There's a club right around the corner from here, it's not Kindred-friendly per se, but it should suffice." Weiss strode towards the door, the other Kindred on her heels. "Just follow my lead, alright?"

"I shall try," Blake whispered.

Confession

The walk from the apartment building to the club was rather uneventful, though Weiss suspected if she'd paused in her steps the Gangrel vampire would have trod on her heels. Soon enough, though, they were at the outer gates of a renovated church. The gothic architecture was predominant, though stained-glass windows had been replaced with casements the color of red, and the thudding bass was quite unlike any normal holy choir.

"This… is a club?" Blake murmured incredulously.

"Mmhmm. I find it… amusing, in a way." Weiss smirked at the other Kindred. "It's silly, perhaps, but the notion of a vampire soliciting a dance club built upon the foundation of a church entertains me to no end."

The raven-haired woman let out a startled giggle. "I see what you mean."

The pair pushed past those loitering outside, either chatting on cell phones or smoking, while some participated in more illicit activities in the shadows of the churchyard. The old wooden doors opened with a groan of metal hinges that was quickly swallowed by the music inside, a heavy industrial beat that neither woman recognized offhand.

Wordlessly, Weiss reached back and grabbed Blake's hand, steering them off to the right against the wall. Across from them was the bar, behind which was a busty woman in heavy mascara and a revealing black outfit. Her hair was the color of midnight, almost unnaturally so, suggesting it was a dye job, but her skill at handling the drinks and clientele was immediately obvious. The walls were lined with red leather booths, both in the antechamber where they stood and in the cross-section of the church interior. Perhaps half of those were empty as the vast majority of the crowd were indulging themselves on the dance floor. Wrought-iron catwalks ran overhead, linking suspended cages built from the minds of dungeon porn writers which held scantily-clad dancers.

The Ventrue gave her raven-haired friend a little tug to bring her down to her level. "Do you have any preference?" she asked just loud enough to be heard by another Kindred.

Blake shook her head. "No, not really… it's, um, been awhile for me, though."

At the other vampire's incredulous look, the Gangrel was quick to clarify.

"Mostly out in the countryside I hunt… wild animals, you know?" Blake ducked her head sheepishly. "I enjoy the chase. I do prefer kine blood, but it's merely been some time for me."

"Very well." Her pale blue gaze roamed about the room, settling on a couple sitting nearby who was gazing over at them with some interest. Excellent, they have the look of a pair of swingers hunting for some fun. "I think we have some likely candidates."

Still holding Blake's hand, the Ventrue fledgling led them over to the booth, smiling at the pair who'd sat upright at their approach. "Hello there, would you mind if my girlfriend and I join you?"

She ignored Blake's startled squeak of surprise at the label, instead pushing the raven-haired woman into the side of the booth next to the male. He was of Asian descent with messy locks of hair, a black polo, and jeans. Weiss sidled up next to the woman, dark-skinned with hair closer to her color, though more blonde.

The woman smiled broadly as she licked her lips. "My name's Arslan," she stated huskily. "This is my boyfriend, Bolin. What are your names?"

The Ventrue let her smile turn mysterious. "Well, now, that's not something we can just blurt out… Why don't you bend down so I can whisper it in your ear?"

Arslan laughed lightly but bent over readily enough as she was willing to play along. As soon as she was at her level, Weiss sank her fangs into the pulsing artery. The woman now in her arms trembled and moaned as the hot liquid slid down the vampire's throat, earning a contented hum.

She didn't take much, licking the wound closed soon enough and gently pushing Arslan upright. When she glanced over at her Gangrel companion, however, her pale blue eyes shot open wide.

"Blake!" she hissed loudly. "What are you doing?"

In retrospect it should have been obvious enough that the fellow Kindred was no longer in control of herself as she was firmly latched to the man's neck, unabashedly and greedily sucking down as much of the precious vitae as she could. It took perhaps a single second for Weiss to take the situation in, jump across the table, and clamp her hand firmly around the Gangrel's jaw, trying to break the suction.

"Blake, get ahold of yourself! You're going to kill him!"

The pressure on her jaw finally pried the vampire off of her prey, and Blake sat back dazedly, blood running down her chin like thick, viscous wine. "Weiss…?" she murmured in confusion.

Moving quickly, Weiss whipped out a handkerchief and thrust it at Blake's face before lunging forward. A hurried lick closed the wound up on Bolin's neck, though it was jagged enough to leave an eventual scar. She wedged herself in between Blake and the semiconscious man, rapidly running her tongue along the kine's jawline to clean him off. A quick adjustment of his black collar to hide the worst and she was able to lean the couple together. Arslan peered around blearily as Weiss jumped up, grabbed hold of the Gangrel's hand, and sped out of the club.

"W-Weiss, wait, what… what happened?" The raven-haired Kindred stumbled as they exited the renovated church, but Weiss gave her no reprieve, steering them around the corner and along the iron-wrought fence to find some seclusion.

"You lost control," she stated flatly, pulling them to a halt against the stone wall of the club. She plucked the kerchief out of Blake's hands and began to clean her up, enhanced vision easily noting the flecks of blood.

They were silent for a few moments before Blake broke it.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Well," Weiss huffed in return. "You did warn me it'd been awhile."

"It's not just that…" As the Ventrue finished up, Blake hung her head in shame. "I do tend to… overfeed accidentally. With kine."

"I see." Weiss carefully folded the handkerchief up, keeping the stained portions on the inside, before she slipped it back inside her skirt pocket and offered her friend a slight smile. "While you should have mentioned that up front… We shall just have to work on that, then, won't we?"

"Mmm." Blake returned the smile hesitatingly. "You're… not mad, are you?"

"Of course not. He should be fine and I am fairly certain nobody else noticed." The platinum-haired woman shrugged as she led them back through the churchyard again. "It is an existential hazard for Kindred, we toe the line of violating the Masquerade every time we hunt in public. So long as we are careful…"

"I will try to be more careful," Blake assured her softly, giving the other vampire's hand a squeeze. "And I thank you for your faith in me."

"Yes, well…" Weiss eyed her associate out of the corner of her eye. "Ruby saw something in you right away, and I've come to realize that, as naive as she may seem at first, she's a rather excellent judge of character." A smirk. "Just don't tell her I said that."

"My lips are sealed." Blake murmured with a small smile. It faded as she took in her surroundings, the buildings looming high overhead as they headed down the sidewalk.

"Don't look up," the Ventrue suggested. "Just keep your focus on the street-level, it might not seem as… overwhelming."

"Mmm." Her Gangrel companion nodded slightly, though her shoulders were still tense. She jumped a little bit when Weiss linked their arms together.

"If you like, you can close your eyes and I will steer us."

"No… No, this is something I must… I have to deal with this eventually. Especially if I am to… spend any amount of time with you… and Ruby, and Yang…"

"Is that so important to you, then?" she inquired curiously.

"It is." Blake nodded decisively. "I have not had many… well, friends, to be certain, but any Kindred at all that I could enjoy their company. I can… actually feel something when I am with you, even when just by your side, Weiss." The raven-haired vampire smiled somewhat wistfully. "It is a bit… confusing, and unsettling, even, but not… unwelcome."

"Why Blake, I do believe that is the most words I have heard you string together this evening," Weiss snarked.

"Oh, do hush."

"Yes, dear."

They shared a grin before coming to a halt, the Gangrel looking about in confusion. "Are we here already?"

"We are indeed. It goes by faster if you are distracted, does it not?"

"It does indeed, thank you, Weiss."

"Of course, Blake."

After another shared grin the pair headed into the lobby of the La Croix building. They passed the corpulent guard at the front desk, Weiss not even sparing him a glance. He didn't try to stop the pair other than to flop his mouth open and shut.

"My master does not reside here," Weiss murmured as they rode the elevator up towards the floor just below the penthouse. "He can usually be found in his office, however. As the Ventrue Primogen, he keeps busy with the dealings of the Camarilla."

"We won't be disturbing him, will we?"

"Unlikely. But if we are, then we will wait upon his pleasure." Weiss cleared her throat. "Er, if that is acceptable, of course…"

"Oh, I am just accompanying you, I wouldn't presume to dictate otherwise."

The platinum-haired Kindred flashed a smile. "I must say, it is a delight to converse with someone who can actually use proper grammar."

Blake laughed lightly in response. "I blame all of the reading I did rather than socialize with other Kindred. Beckett maintains rather extensive libraries in the Havens he has established across the country."

Soon enough, the elevator doors opened onto a hallway. It was similar to those found at any large corporation, with offices lining the walls and secretaries and messengers bustling about.

The fact that many of these occupants were either Kindred or ghouls could easily be overlooked.

Weiss led her vampiric friend down the hallway to the end, opening the door to reveal a stately antechamber with several comfortable chairs, a plush couch, several bookshelves, and a single receptionist's desk. Seated behind the latter and typing away on a laptop was a blonde woman with her hair pulled into a tight bun and wearing a white blouse and spectacles, though she always believed those to likely be just an affection.

"Good evening, Miss Goodwitch," Weiss murmured respectfully, inclining her head.

"And good evening to you, Miss Schnee." Glynda looked up briefly from her laptop. "Hmm, and I see you have… Miss Belladonna accompanying you tonight, is that correct?"

"Er, yes, ma'am," Blake replied with an awkward curtsy.

"I must confess, I am surprised you have not brought young Miss Rose with you," the blonde Kindred continued with a hint of reproach in her voice.

"She had other plans this evening," Weiss stated calmly. While Glynda was technically her superior, they were of an equal Generation. Still, the Kindred woman had several centuries on her.

"I see. Well, Ozpin should be available, if you would like me to announce you."

"Yes, please."

With a nod, Glynda reached forward and pressed the button on an old-fashioned intercom system, incongruous with the ultralight and modern laptop that she was utilising. "Sir, your childe is here."

"Send her in, if you would," the scratchy voice came back.

Weiss led the way once again into the back office, opening the door there to reveal decor that would not be out of place at any university for a tenured professor. Numerous bookshelves lined the walls adorned with massive tomes, piles of papers, and curiosities of all kinds. The platinum-haired vampire smiled at the wide-eyed expression on Blake's face and allowed her to wander in on her own accord.

"Sire," she intoned with a respectful curtsy.

"Weiss, so good to see you," the grey-haired elder vampire stated warmly from behind the massive oaken desk. "Please, have a seat and tell me what you've been up to."

She proceeded to do so, leaving nothing out as was only proper. She did, perhaps, gloss over some of her early failings in attempting to instruct Ruby in the ways of the Ventrue bloodline, and there were a few of the more… colorful interactions between the fledglings that she toned down a bit, but her master was adept at reading in between the lines.

When it came to their meeting with Nines Rodriguez and the other Anarchs, however, she was very precise in relaying the specifics of the conversation, though her face remained impassive.

Once she finished, Ozpin sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers thoughtfully. He glanced briefly over at the young Gangrel who was currently enraptured by a small display of intricately carved chess pieces.

"Weiss… I can tell that your encounter with the Anarchs has left you… unsettled. Would you like to discuss this?"

"I… Sire, I'm not sure." The fledgling looked down at her hands pensively. "I've not made any secret of my… disdain for some of the particulars that the Camarilla Kindred elders cling to…"

"Elder Kindred such as myself?" he interjected humorously.

"No, of course not, Sire… You were the one to encourage me to think for myself, to question things and come to my own conclusions…" Weiss clenched her hands together in her lap. "I am doing that now with the information I received… and I find myself agreeing with some of what was said. Much of it, actually."

"Hmm." Ozpin regarded his childe fondly. "And, as always, I will continue to encourage you to do so. Just… be aware that others within our organization will not take as kindly to you not 'toeing the line', so to speak."

Weiss nodded, allowing a quick scowl to flit across her face. "I am well aware of that."

"Just… please do keep in mind, the next time you subject Mr. Winchester to an object lesson, that he is the Prince's childe."

"If he were a better duellist, he would not have lost as badly as he did." She shrugged without concern. "Cardin and his cronies are the least of my concerns. I've… been seeing a lot of Miss Fall around the Prince."

"Yes…" The elder Ventrue let out a soft sigh. "She has certainly managed to worm her way into a position where she has exclusive access to the Prince… So long as it is for the good of the Camarilla, as we Ventrue all strive towards, all will be well in the end. The Greater Los Angeles area will soon be consolidated under our control, and if the Prince sees this… Ankaran Sarcophagus as a threat to the Camarilla, then so be it."

"Of course, Sire."

"Was there anything else?"

"No, Sire." Weiss froze at the sound of a clatter behind her. She heard Blake let out a startled squawk as she tried to rectify the situation, only to be followed by more and louder clattering. With a sigh, she closed her eyes briefly. "Did you need me for anything this evening?"

"Hmm… there are a few projects I have which could use your particular attention to detail…" Ozpin peered at her intently. "These would require you to leave your current assignment, however. Do you feel Miss Rose has sufficiently learned the ways of being a Kindred, a Ventrue, so that she would no longer require your presence?"

"Sire…" She glanced aside as Blake hurriedly sat down in the chair next to her. In fact, she was sitting on her hands as if that would prevent her from touching anything else in the office. A quick smile flashed across her features at the chagrined Gangrel, but then she grew serious once more. "I do not believe that to be the case, Sire. Ruby Rose still requires further instruction, in particular with regards to the proper decorum required as a Ventrue."

"Of course." Ozpin gave her a knowing smirk. "It is perfectly fine to admit that you have befriended the young fledgling, Weiss. You are my childe, and I am proud of you and all that you have accomplished, but at times your… humanity has been a bit… hidden. At least, it was." Glancing between the two vampires, he let his smile grow into genuine happiness. "I daresay this assignment has been just as beneficial to you as it has been to Miss Rose."

"I… Perhaps you are correct, Sire. We've certainly… bonded, beyond what might be considered customary as fellow fledglings..."

"Actually…" The Ventrue Primogen graced his childe with a wink. "I'd say you were far past that stage by now, wouldn't you… neonate?"

"O-Of course, Sire… Er, that is… thank you." Weiss dipped her head in a polite and proper bow, admirably hiding the excited grin that threatened to spill forth at the elevation within Kindred and Camarilla society, as minuscule as it was.

She took her leave of the Ventrue Primogen, then, pulling Blake along before she could get herself into any more trouble. Once in the elevator, the shorter woman gave the Gangrel a bemused glare.

"I'm sorry," Blake squeaked out. "Sometimes I just can't help myself."

"Mmhmm. I shall try to remember not to use a laser pointer around you."

"That… might be advisable."

A cab was waiting on the curb right outside the building, fortunately, so the pair of Kindred quickly slipped inside, giving the address for Mercurio's. As they headed out from Downtown, Blake gave an audible sigh of relief.

"Glad to get out of the city?" Weiss asked perceptively.

The raven-haired Kindred gave a reluctant grin. "Perhaps just a bit."

"You're getting better, though, certainly a far cry from when you first came into the city with us."

"It's taking some getting used to… but I appreciate your patience, Weiss. And your friendship."

"Of course, Blake." Weiss smiled softly before glancing out the window at the cars whizzing by in the other lane.

Perhaps my Master was correct in this, that my friendship with Ruby and Blake… and, yes, even that blonde brute, has helped me regain some of my humanity.

But if this only a temporary assignment… Her reflection frowned back at her in the window. What will I do when our time together is up?

A/N: Whew, longer one this time! How about a little platonic Monochrome to go with the sisters' antics? This is the first chapter from Weiss' perspective, I'm not sure if I will stick with her when they wrap up the Thin Bloods questline or if I might switch to Blake again… And, of course, Cardin is brought in as La Croix's childe, they deserve each other.

So, a little bit of a hiatus as I work on the next chapters, perhaps only a couple of weeks or so… We'll catch up with the sisters next chapter as they kick some plaguebearer butt and then the following chapter will bring us back to Monochrome again.

Mad props to my very patient Beta and collaborator, SilvanaCrowe, and hugs to you wonderful readers and reviewers! Sani2341, noone297, Phoenix Commander, Knight of Everwatch, Blacsparrow, Serpent King, 00Mogar372, Erenor, kinigget, speaker of babbel, Nicodemus Cain, TacoKing23, and a Guest, I'm so glad the chapter from Reese's perspective was well-received!

Stay shiny!