Mid-afternoon light shone orange through short windows mounted high in a room whose stone walls' texture was visible through thick but chipping white paint. This room, decorated only with its practical functions, contained a yellow-tinted refrigerator, an old gas range with an off-white stovetop spotted with red and brown stains, and other out-dated and ill-cared-for instruments of food preparation. The faded green countertop, nearly white, was dusted with upset flour from a large purple mixing bowl beside another metal one. Two wooden spoons, one licked clean, laid beside the bowls, they too mismatched and part of the kitchen's own collection.

Chocolate and sugar were just now beginning to overtake the smell of burnt cheese and bread, crumbs from previous use that would soon be forever affixed to the bottom of the oven. The light was on, and a face held close to the small oven window attached to a body wiggling in anticipation. This body groaned, not looking away from the glow and radiating warmth.

"Why must it always take so long? Hasn't someone found a faster method yet?" she complained but in good nature. "And before you ask, no, making it hotter doesn't help. I tried that once." said the young woman, answering an unspoken question, with a shudder as she stood up. "They came out burnt AND undercooked! Not that cookies are not better a little raw, those are the best, but I think burnt and gooey is best for marshmallows, and even those can't just be burnt, if they don't have enough time the inside is cold and not at all messy."

Nora had turned to her companion amidst her rant, lips pouted and nose crinkled. Her companion shifted feet, her arms held behind her, and her face clean in contrast to the streak of flower across Nora's forehead and the dot of chocolate beside her mouth.

Nora's disgust was short lived, her excitement unable to let her smile hide for long. "I am SOOOO glad you thought of making two batches! I'm not sure how I could have survived." she said with a giggle. "I probably would have eaten all the ones we planned for and ruined everything."

Penny did not return the smile, but not for lack of effort. "Nora, I am still not sure about this plan. I do not see how this is nice or good."

Nora took a step toward Penny and placed a hand on her shoulder with a smile as she spoke her assurances to her accomplice. "Penny, I told you, it's a prank. No one will get hurt, not really, we get the fun of planning it, and she gets the fun of planning a revenge."

Penny was not convinced, despite having come so far in the plan, voiced her concerns. "Revenge is for anger. How is that something to desire? We made untainted ones for our team because the others would not be pleasant to consume. Ruby is our friend, why would we act to have something unpleasant happen to her?" she asked.

Each thought of her plan fueling her mounting anticipation, Nora replied by first correcting her team mate. "Not the team, just us, silly. But why prank her? Because it's bad. It's different, against the rules, unexpected - it gives a rush of adrenaline all without anyone being hurt. Even better, then we get to be scared, just a little, at what she might plan against us. Don't you feel a little excitement? It is like a game, we take turns each attempting to out-do the other and be more creative."

"Trepidation is the word I would choose." said Penny. "Rules have a purpose."

Nora interrupted Penny, "But tell me, what are rules for, all rules in general?"

"Well, they are to keep us safe, are they not? To allow trust between strangers, to protect everyone, to ensure a civil society of collaboration?" Penny's uncertainty in what the correct answer would be was apparent in her questioning tone.

"EXACTLY!" exclaimed Nora a bit too loudly causing Penny to hop backwards. "To protect people. Is anyone being hurt? Seriously hurt? No! It's just a little fun, like a board game where everyone has to learn to lose occasionally or it's no fun for everyone else."

"Would this not be a game of losing with no goal, end, nor win condition?"

Nora shrugged at Penny's definition of the game she was playing. "I suppose, but then that makes it a game of equal points and fair turns, doesn't it?"

Penny sighed, far too deep in this undertaking to back out anyway no matter her hesitations. "I hope you are correct. I do not wish to find myself facing punishment for my participation."

Nora laughed, "You won't get in trouble, although Ruby might include you in her retribution, it would be in good fun. Besides, people eat peppers like this all the time, although I don't know why, so it isn't like it's harmful, just a surprise. Surprises are fun."

Penny shook her head.

Not soon after, no more than an hour, the two conspirators stood before a door. Nora held the plate of cookies wrapped in plastic, while Penny carried the bag of their supplies and the safe cookies that remained. Nora motioned for Penny to open the door, who instead took a step back and looked down the hall to their own door. With a roll of her eyes, Nora used the toe of her boot to bang against the door in an erratic rhythm highly dependent upon the momentary status of her balance.

Mostly without pause, the knocking was met with grumbles before rousing Ruby who opened the door with a welcoming smile mixed with curiosity. "Hello?"

"Hello!~" came Nora's enthusiastic greeting with a hint of melodic quality. "I brought you some cookies! Me and Penny were making some for us, and our team I guess, and she had the idea -"

Penny bumped into Nora.

Okay, well we-"

Penny tapped Nora with her bag once more.

"I realized that cookies are just too good to not share, and we had the bowls out, and spoons, and the oven going anyway, so we made a batch for you too." finished Nora, her enthusiasm having lessened with each bump.

Ruby swung the door open with a grin. "What? Awesome! You guys are the best!" She turned her head over her shoulder to her three busy team mates, "Guys! They made us cookies!"

This announcement drew distracted noises of acknowledgment from the three. Ruby slid her hands under the plate with a shrug, "Don't worry, if they don't agree to thank you later I just won't share with them."

Penny was moving subtly to the side, eager to leave.

Nora noticed and gave Ruby a similar shrug. "I suppose I should leave you guys to your studying, I think we should get the remainder of ours back to our team while they are still warm." said Nora, in an attempt to excuse Penny's behavior.

Ruby replied with a nod, "Yeah, these guys are not fun at all today, but made some not-at-all subtle threats about me leaving. They won't even play study games!" she lamented. "Anyway, before my imprisonment is extended I should probably get back."

"Yeah, me too." spoke Nora. Penny gave no indication of an intention to speak herself. "Bye, see you later!"

Ruby backed away from the door. "Bye, and thanks again!"

The door closed, and Penny sighed. Nora spun to glare at Penny, but it did not last long as a malicious grin spread over her lips.

The two waited, Penny unsure what to do next but leaning in the direction of their own dorm, while Nora stood firm to the spot. Minutes passed and Penny began to fidget, uncertain as to Nora's delay.

Breaking the silence was a shout, "HAWT!" that struck through the door they stood before. A chair scraped harshly over the floor before landing with a dull thump on a rug, accompanied by shoes racing for the bathroom.

Nora tilted her head, looking at Penny, and mouthed "Weiss?" with an air of confusion. It had not come to mind that anyone but Ruby would be the first to have one of the treats. In fact, she had not considered anyone else on the team even tasting one. Her eyes widened, but still her feet remained in place.

"Hot? I held the bottom of the plate, they weren't that bad."

A pause with only the sound of running water.

"Yeah, they're nearly cold."

A muffled voice came from the source of the water as it was shut off.

Another pause.

A shout, even louder. "How dare they taint the purity of cookies!" screamed a voice, unobstructed from a swallowed bite, full of indignation.

A soft laugh could be heard within and a separate creaking of bed springs. Penny took a step away, and Nora twisted but her curiosity held her planted.

A different laugh, louder, came from Yang as indicated by the voice that overtook it. "Oh Ruby, you really should have known better, at least a little."

A cry of frustration fueled by the laughter of now two students met the traitors waiting in the hall.

Nora looked to the door, then Penny, before suppressing laughter enough for her whispered command, "Run."

And that was exactly what Penny and Nora did, without a glance behind them, without any heed to the door that probably opened or the ensuing shout, with only the one goal of retreating to the shelter of their room. Nora had her scroll out long before they reached the door. When it closed behind them they slid down it to the floor, breathing hard. Nora turned to Penny, sporting a large grin, the silent look lasting mere seconds before the instigator exploded in laughter.