Chapter 19

Blake was in a better mood than usual. Closing time eventually came, the majority of the drunks were evicted, and security helped collect the remaining glasses left lying around. That left Blake free to wipe down the bar, pack the dishwasher and tend to her own. Carmine and Ruby had barely moved all night, talking animatedly until Ruby eventually fell asleep. Weiss then found herself trapped by the clingy girl, who had wrapped around her arm.

Blake had not made up her mind as far as Weiss was concerned. On the one hand, it was ballsy, incredibly foolish, and dangerous for the Schnee scion to be alone in public, even were it not in a dingy Faunus nightclub. Disguise or no, Blake had picked her out the instant she had seen Weiss' eyes. Granted Blake had experience in remembering faces, and Weiss had a distinct look - sharp jawline, narrow nose, thin, sculpted brows, and her eyes were a very vibrant shade of icy blue. Weiss' eyes made her look melancholic. It angered Blake, but that sadness mellowed the burn. On the other hand, Blake was impressed. Impressed that Weiss Schnee, CEO of the SDC, supposed champion of Faunus rights, was dancing in the muck with the animals her father so despised. Good riddance to that tyrannic filth. Still, Blake wondered how the Fang felt about the SDC's change in leadership. How Adam felt.

Suppressing a shudder, Blake exited the bar. Sun had finished wiping down the tables and was now conversing with Weiss, who gently jostled Ruby with her shoulder. "Ruby...Ruby?" Weiss whispered.

"Tickle her belly button." Sun suggested.

"I'm not going to tickle her belly button." Weiss huffed. "That's obscene!"

"We used to do it to each other all the time." Sun shrugged. "She won't mind." Weiss leveled a blank stare at the Faunus, before looking to Blake.

"She's not bringing home another stray." Blake stated. "The last one still hasn't crawled back."

"Oh, I wonder why!" Sun snarked, moving to slide into the booth beside Ruby. "Ruby, come on, bedtime." He murmured, slipping his arm around Ruby and gently pulling her away.

Ruby groaned in protest. "Nnnn don't wanna'..." She complained in her daze.

"I know, I know, but you've got a bed waiting for you." Sun soothed. "You don't have to walk, I'll carry you."

"Yaaaaay..." Ruby slurred, barely noticing as Carmine slipped from her grip, leaving the booth.

"Is she always that clingy?" Weiss asked.

"Only if you let her." Blake answered. "Did you drive here?"

"No, I was going to catch a taxi." Weiss replied.

Blake nodded, smiling to herself. Perfect. "Sun, take a Ryde home, I don't trust this one." She ordered, holding out her hand. "Keys."

"I can make my way home just fine thank you." Weiss commented as Sun dug into his pocket.

"You're barely standing, and I still have your ID." Blake countered, taking the keys as Sun offered them.

Weiss huffed, frowning. She was not barely standing. At worst her head was fuzzy, which was a good thing. It meant she did not have to focus on anything so much - not life, not work, not the present situation, her alter ego's identification card in the clutches of an intimidating Faunus whose only interaction had been a heated discussion with her close friend. This was not why she went out, but now she had to deal with it. "Fine." Weiss grumbled, walking past Blake.

Blake smugly smirked. Sun raised a brow, quirking his head as he watched her leave. "Uh...was that-"

"Shush, mind your own, I'll mind her." Blake ordered.

"What do you mean mind?" Sun groaned. "Is this more of that trust me I won't kill someone coy crap?"

"No, it's a trust me I might not kill someone coy crap." Blake shot. "I'll see you later Sun." She turned to leave.

"You're terrible!" Sun complained.

"I'm sorry." Ruby slurred.

"No not…" Sun sighed. "Gods help me."

Blake's car had a unique smell, as did all Faunus, or so Velvet taught. It was one of the more interesting and important lessons Weiss had learned over the years. Scent was a core pillar of Faunus culture. Everyone had a unique scent, just like a fingerprint. But unlike a fingerprint, scents evolved over time, changed by factors like environment, lifestyle and emotional state. Faunus could find an old friend almost a stranger, barely a passing sense of familiarity remaining to remind them of who they once were.

Weiss remembered the look of melancholy Velvet had worn upon that statement. It made her heart ache. Velvet's family were not all accepting of her place, let alone humanity as a whole. The Fang stole many hearts and minds, and left many families divided in the process. Regardless, Velvet placed herself directly in the crossfire, without hesitation, and with complete conviction. It never ceased to terrify Weiss.

"It was your eyes that gave it away." Blake suddenly spoke up.

Weiss jolted, turning her head to face the Faunus. Blake's golden eyes remained fixed on the road, a subtle smirk still gracing her features. "What?" Weiss questioned.

"Your eyes, unmistakable, wide, bright baby blue." Blake explained. "That was your first mistake."

Weiss gaped soundlessly. Looking up at the sun visor and flipping it down, sure enough there was a mirror on its backside. Her eyes flashed blue in the night lights. "Damnit." She hissed. "Wrong contacts."

"You can't afford to make these mistakes." Blake lectured. "Still, the rest of your disguise is admirable, and the ID is a perfect forgery."

"Technically it isn't a forgery." Weiss corrected.

Blake quirked a brow. "Oh?"

"I'm not an idiot Blake." Weiss defended. "I didn't decide to do this on a whim one day. I prepared carefully and extensively."

"It's genuine then?" Blake questioned.

"It is." Weiss confirmed. "Why do you care?"

"I'm curious." Blake replied.

"You're talkative." Weiss grimaced. "You didn't address me at all before."

"I had nothing to say to you." Blake shrugged.

"You had plenty to say to Velvet." Weiss noted.

"And what did you dear friend tell you, hmm?" Blake pressed.

"I dislike what you're implying." Weiss grumbled.

Blake scoffed, chuckling deeply. She pulled to a stop at a red light. "There are only three types of humans who come to a Faunus nightclub Weiss. The first are the friends. They came because their Faunus companion finds it more comfortable. They hide away in a corner, sipping their drink, hoping no one targets her for being different. I like them, they don't cause trouble." The light turned green and Blake accelerated once more. "The second are tourists, spoiled rich kids and soccer moms who want to mix it up with the filth, gawk at the freaks, the pretty feathers, the flowing tails and flicking ears. They glean excitement from the danger, from the taboo. They find us a novel, exotic entertainment, something colorful and dirty to brighten their pathetic, hollow lives." Blake spat those final words through her teeth, malice glinting in her golden eyes. "But the final type…" Blake grimaced. "...fetishize us."

Weiss felt a sense of dread at the coming conversation. The subject was always at the back of her mind when Faunus rights were the subject. Velvet herself described several more serious cases of objectification she had handled. She would never forget the rage she felt. Nor the guilt pooling in her stomach.

"You wouldn't believe the gall of humans who view us as...sexual conquests, objects to be used, pretty women with adorable ears to scratch and tails to stroke, pets to be bought, collared and owned." Blake continued. "And that's just the men. The women?" She let loose a laugh that could easily be mistaken for a snarl. "They think it's just so fucking erotic, big lion man with big muscles pounding them into the bed. No one stops to consider that perhaps lion man would like to settle down. No, he's just an animal cock on legs. It's fun to fuck an animal once in a while, really spices up the boring life of being a superior race. Wouldn't you agree?"

Momentarily stunned, Weiss huffed. "No, I wouldn't agree. Is there a point to this tirade, or am I supposed to tell you I came to Sunrise to get pounded into the bed by a lion man?" Blake tilted her head in a shrug, and Weiss felt her ire turn to anger. "I'll be perfectly honest Blake, I have my preferences, and several of them do include Faunus, but I also happen to have respect for others, Faunus and Human." She glared. "Now I don't know what I did to offend you personally, if this is just run of the mill racism or my father did something that hurt you or someone you cared for, I am sorry Blake, I cannot state that enough to the entirety of your kind, but I am not my father. I have done nothing to you, and I do not appreciate being held hostage and needled. Where are we even going?"

"A White Fang rally." Blake replied.

"Wha-you'd better be joking!" Weiss shouted.

"I might be." Blake shrugged. "You don't know that. Perhaps I'm an assassin, or maybe I really am just a bartender. Food for thought."

"I preferred you silent and brooding." Weiss complained.

"Times change." Blake said.

"Yes, they do." Weiss grumbled. "What do you want?"

"For you to drop the phoney politeness." Blake answered. "I can't stand political bullshit. You're not sucking up to me, so speak clearly."

"Fine, am I going to survive the night?" Weiss asked.

"Barring a sudden automotive collision?" Blake shrugged. "Most likely."

"Ugh." Weiss managed.

"Relax Schnee, if I showed up at a rally it'd be both our heads." Blake rolled her eyes.

"So what, you're a traitor?" Weiss inquired.

"In a manner of speaking." Blake responded.

"Why don't you speak clearly?" Weiss challenged.

"Now where's the fun in that?" Blake shot back.

Weiss groaned, thumping her head against the cold window. "Where are we going?"

"Home." Blake replied. "You do still live in the Schnee Towers, correct?"

"I do, but don't drop me off at the front door." Weiss requested.

"I wasn't planning to." Blake indicated.

"Good, I don't let people know Carmine lives here." Weiss explained.

"Smart." Blake admired.

"It'd be a bloody waste of an education if I wasn't." Weiss noted.

"And who else knows of Carmine?" Blake asked.

"Very few, trusted friends." Weiss replied.

"Hmm, it seems we skipped a few steps." Blake observed.

"Yes, it does." Weiss agreed.

"Then we should make up for it." Blake suggested. "Pad in the glovebox, write your scroll number, your personal one."

"Why, so we can have a deep conversation about drink mixing?" Weiss' voice dripped with sarcasm as she opened the compartment, pulling free the notepad and fumbling for a pen.

"No." Blake denied, pulling over. She shifted into park as Weiss scribbled down her number. "But I have a world to catch up on, and I want to hear it from you."

"You speak as if you just awoke from a coma." Weiss teased.

Blake shrugged. "In a manner of speaking."

"Fine, whatever, just don't give this out." Weiss groaned, handing the pad to Blake. "I get enough texts from Coco when she's drunk."

"Maybe I'll give it to Ruby, tell her it's Carmine's." Blake smirked. "She seemed so happy to have a new friend."

"Please refrain." Weiss requested.

"Why, afraid to make a new friend?" Blake joked.

"The more friends I make, the more people I put in danger." Weiss explained. "Ruby will be better off remaining impartial."

"Ruby doesn't know how to remain impartial, and she's lonely." Blake noted. "So treat her well."

"I treat her better than most." Weiss sighed.

"And she comes home exhausted and aching, and I have to deal with it." Blake complained.

"What, does she complain?" Weiss asked.

"No, she drinks." Blake corrected.

"Oh." Weiss managed.

"And you see what she's like drunk." Blake continued.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it." Weiss grumbled, opening the door. "Thank you for not kidnapping me."

"Hmm...Schnee." Blake called.

"Blake?" Weiss turned back.

Blake tapped the steering wheel, biting her bottom lip before turning, meeting Weiss' gaze. "I'm sorry, about Winter."

Weiss' lips drew into a line, then she sighed. "Thank you...good night." She bid before closing the door and walking away. Blake lingered, watching the woman make her way to a set of stairs behind the tower. She paused, looking back at Blake's car before making her way down below street level. Tension ruled her posture all the while.

Blake sighed, loosening her grip on the wheel to shift back into gear. "Idiot." She growled to herself, pulling back onto the road. She did not expect the night to go anything like this, not in any sense. But at least now she had something to work with. It was a start - and unpleasant, irritating one, but a start nonetheless.

It had surprised Ruby how pliant Blake was to the invitation. She had expected some hesitation, some suspicion, any sort of resistance to the idea. Blake had simply asked when and where. Sun's agreement was no surprise however - free food was free food, and if Coco was any indication of the friends Ruby was making, he had no issue visiting more. There were some difficulties though.

Ruby found it hard to convince Sun to dress appropriately. She was not going to let him leave the house without a shirt, one that had a collar, and covered his arms. He needed to wear long pants too, and not ripped jeans, nice ones. Eventually a combination of nagging and a weaponized puppy dog face got the job done. Blake needed no such prodding. She put on skinny jeans and a tank top, with a jacket to go over it. Ruby wore a similar top and cardigan with a knee-length skirt. They were not the most dressed up, but it would be enough for a nice dinner at a friend's house.

Ruby had harbored some worries about the dinner with Ren and Pyrrha. She had never before gone to such a friendly get-together as an adult, let alone one with her future boss. The last thing she wanted to do was make some error that would make them think less of her. It was easy enough to dress up, even if getting Sun to do so was torturous. Ruby was relieved she had not been asked to bring any food. Her cooking was pretty good, but what if her new friends did not like it? Ren's suggestion that she bring a bottle of white wine helped, but there were so many types and brands. Blake and Sun could offer no help, both preferring other liquors, and she had no wine expertise. After sifting through some conflicting reviews online, she had finally been able to select a bottle. Hopefully it would be acceptable.

Though they lived in completely different parts of the city, the ride to Ren and Pyrrha's apartment was not a long one. Ruby found the glass-sided apartment building to be stylish and architecturally interesting, but her companions had nothing to say about the matter. After being buzzed in they headed up to the appropriate floor and with a quick knock, the door soon opened.

"Good evening everyone, please come in." Pyrrha warmly greeted, standing aside.

"Hey Pyrrha, hope we got here on time." Ruby replied, slipping past.

"You're a little early in fact, but it's no trouble." Pyrrha deflected, smiling at Blake and Sun before closing the door. She turned to her guests, extending a hand. "Pyrrha Nikos, it is a pleasure to meet you."

Blake took her hand first. "Blake, Morelle." She answered with a smile. "Thank you for inviting us into your home."

"The pleasure is mine." Pyrrha bowed her head, releasing the handshake to offer one to Sun.

"Sun Wukong, it's uh, nice place you have here, really high up." He observed.

Pyrrha chuckled. "Thank you. It was an engagement gift from our dear friend Weiss."

Letting go, Pyrrha gestured to a row of hooks on the wall. "Please feel free to hang your coats."

"Oh, we brought wine!" Ruby piped up, pulling a bottle from her purse to offer.

"Thank you." Pyrrha smiled warmer still as she accepted it. "Ah, you have good taste. The Violettas produce lovely vintages."

"I'm rather partial to the Ferossi myself." Blake interjected, hanging her jacket and Sun's. "Violettas were my mother's forte."

"A tad bitter yes, but what's life without a little contrast?" Pyrrha mused.

"A fair point." Blake allowed.

"Please, follow me to the lounge." Pyrrha invited. "Dinner is still being prepared and we have more guests coming."

The apartment was very different from Blake's. The rooms were big, with relatively tall ceilings and many large windows. The interior walls were painted a warm shade of red, and covered with various paintings. Four depicted the Maidens in a classic Mistrali style. Another was a painting of some ancient battle, and another a beautiful seaside landscape. The furniture was all black and modern, except for a blue armchair in an older style by the faux fireplace. Overhead lamps provided the room with a gentle amber glow. The gigantic flat screen television seemed almost brutal and out of place compared to its surroundings.

The kitchen, dining room and living room were attached, with just a waist-high wall separating the kitchen from the rest. There Ren carefully put the finishing touches on homemade sushi as Pyrrha placed the wine into the fridge, pecking her fiance along the way before turning to apply garnishes, practically dancing as she hummed a tune. The scene was so sweet, the very picture of domestic bliss.

"Good evening, welcome to our home." Ren greeted as they entered his line of sight. "I am Lie Ren. I'd shake your hand, but…" He held them in the air, wiggling his fingers.

Sun waved, Blake smiled and bowed her head. "Sun." He introduced.

"Blake." She did likewise. "Thank you for having us. The food smells delicious already." She could smell familiar scents in the air - the salt specifically, she kept a jar of it at home. It was rarely used, but always effectively.

"I've tried my hand at Menagerian sushi." Ren explained. "The recipe is not too different from Mistrali...but I hope I handled it well."

"I'm sure you will come close, thank you for your consideration." Blake bowed once more before turning away, directing her attention back to Ruby and Sun.

The pair had returned to examining the art, one shelf in particular for Ruby. A series of seemingly random sculptures in different materials and designs, some modern, some aged, filled the shelf. Most were typical artsy pieces that were in vogue, but one stood out to Ruby. Rough, clearly made by hand, depicting an abstract, rotund woman with gigantic exposed breasts. It was perplexing, seemingly erotic in nature, yet she doubted anyone could glean sexual pleasure from its appearance.

Before Ruby could spend much time thinking about the strange figurine, there was a knock at the door. Pyrrha danced out of the kitchen to open it. "Good evening!" Came her exclamation, followed by laughter. She soon exited the hall, two others attached to her hand. One was a blonde man, just taller than Pyrrha, the other a ginger, notably shorter. "Blake, Sun, Ruby, meet my dear friends Nora and Jaune." Pyrrha introduced the guests. "Nora and Jaune, Blake, Ruby, Sun." She gestured between them all in turn before slipping free of the ginger's grip.

"Heya!" Nora cheered with a wave.

"Hi uh...nice to meet you." Jaune politely nodded.

Nora walked over and flopped down on an unoccupied loveseat. Jaune followed, sitting beside her. He looked familiar. "Hey, have we met before?" Ruby asked. "You look familiar."

"Maybe?" Jaune shrugged, looking at her.

"Do you work at the SDC?" Ruby inquired.

"Yeah, I fill in with security sometimes." Jaune replied. "I start full time next week."

"Oh, so that's where I've seen you before." Ruby nodded. "Cool, cool, congrats on the job!"

"That's kinda' why we're here." Nora chirped. "He only just got the call a few days ago."

"They're adding security because of the Winter thing." Jaune spoke softly. "But I'm sure it's a touchy subject with Ren and Pyrrha, so we probably shouldn't talk about it."

"They're really close to Weiss, aren't they?" Ruby asked.

"Dinner's ready!" Pyrrha singsonged, interrupting the conversation. "Come and get it!"

The guests gathered around the table, taking their seats. The food was already laid out, a mixture of types and courses. Dumplings, rice, salad, sushi and a few cooked fish dishes made up the offerings. "Please enjoy." Ren offered, inciting the others to gather various dishes onto their plates. Clearly eating would come first, conversing afterward. A few wine bottles - including Ruby's - were laid out along with several soft drink options. Ruby noticed that Pyrrha chose seltzer instead of trying her wine. Perhaps she had chosen wrong after all.

The feast was consumed quickly. Ruby was surprised by just how much and how quickly Nora ate. She was so petite, yet she ate like a ravenous beast. Everyone found something to enjoy, and Blake even made an effort to eat something other than seafood, though upon biting into the sushi for the first time she had frozen.

"Is it to your liking?" Ren asked.

Blake stared at her plate for several moments before responding, eyes distant. "It's perfect." She replied in a small voice, smiling briefly and taking another bite.

When it seemed the meal had reached its end, Pyrrha headed to the kitchen, returning with a selection of ice creams and yogurts for desert. Nora's sweet tooth became evident alongside Ruby's, and soon desert was consumed as well. All that remained was some polite after-dinner conversation. Ruby just had to avoid putting her foot in her mouth, and the night would be a success.

"So how did you guys meet Ren and Pyr?" Nora asked, eating another spoonful of ice cream.

"She's gonna' be my boss when our project starts." Ruby replied. "Blake and Sun are my roommates."

"Ooh, gotta' little three way thing going?" Nora teased.

Ruby blushed. "No, nope, they're dating, I'm just a friend."

"Aw, that's a shame...you got anyone special?" Nora asked. Ruby shook her head. "Gotta' fix that, but I'm sure you'll find someone."

"Are you two a couple?" Ruby observed. Nora grinned at the blonde beside her, reaching over to lay a hand upon his shoulder.

"Yep, we just moved in together." Jaune replied, laying his own hand atop Nora's.

"We met at the restaurant where we worked and, well, one thing just kind of led to another." Nora chuckled.

Ruby smiled, but could not help but feel very much like a third...er...seventh wheel. "How did you guys meet Ren and Pyrrha?"

"I tried to pick up Ren in a bar." Nora laughed. "But he was there with Pyrrha. Me and Pyrrha had some history, it's a whole thing, yaknow' secrets and all." She winked. Ruby looked to the others, but they seemed unwilling to pick up where Nora left off.

"I noticed you admiring the decor, what do you guys think?" Pyrrha inquired.

"It's really nice." Ruby replied.

"Slick and artsy, bet Blake's jealous." Sun laughed. "The blue chair kinda' sticks out though."

"Ah yes." Pyrrha smiled. "That's Weiss' chair." She explained. "We replaced all the furniture after moving in, but Weiss really liked that chair, so we decided to hold onto it."

"I take it she visits a lot?" Blake guessed.

"Not so much lately, she's been very busy." Ren answered. "But our door is always open to her."

Ruby had become distracted by the figurine again. Pyrrha followed her gaze. "Curious, Ruby?"

"Oh...uh yeah." Ruby admitted, slightly flustered. "It seems kinda' outta' place compared to everything else. What is it?"

"It's a Mistrali fertility idol." Pyrrha explained. "Mother gifted it to us when we got engaged."

"Oh yeah, you're tryin' to have a kid." Ruby remembered. "Wouldn't it make more sense if it was in the bedroom though?"

"Knowin' those two?" Nora grinned. "Probably want 'em all over the place."

Ruby - and Jaune for that matter - turned bright red. "Well uh...I…" She fumbled.

"Oh come now, there's no need to be embarrassed." Pyrrha assured. "Sex is a beautiful thing, not something to be ashamed of. Ren and I have our fun wherever and whenever the mood takes us." Ren smiled, nodding as he grabbed Pyrrha's hand and gave it a squeeze.

Nora almost immediately moved onto another topic of conversation, but Ruby was left behind. If Pyrrha and Ren were willing to be that up front about their sexuality with her, they were either extremely open people, or they already considered Ruby a close friend, a possibility that made her quite happy. On the other hand, it once again drove home the point that she was surrounded by couples without a partner of her own. All her life she had never had so many friends, but she felt so painfully alone.

Author's Note: RealTerminal and I are considering starting a [patronage thing that this website automatically deletes if you write the actual name]. Lately I've run into financial difficulties, and to me that seems a logical way to take some of the pressure off. The situation as it exists threatens to limit my writing, as individuals counting on my income know I write and do not approve as it take a sizable chunk of time and effort, and does not pay. I haven't decided on specifics or anything, but I was thinking of offering rewards like early access to new chapters, exclusive one-shots and add-on chapters (scenes that are interesting or fun but don't fit into the flow of the story), and a few other perks. As for price, I haven't decided on that either, but $5 per month seems about right to me (feel free to convince me otherwise). I appreciate those who take the time to read these stories, and your comments mean a great deal, so I don't want to just spring this on you. Let me know if you'd be interested, along with your suggestions, concerns, or anything else that comes to mind. Thank you for your support.