Weiss awakes. She must have drifted asleep.

Right now, she is blindfolded. And tied to a chair, apparently. Oh yeah.

"Almost ready," Velvet says, from somewhere. Then Weiss hears approaching footsteps. "Now, Weiss," the faunus says, low and sultry, "What's the safeword?

"'Photoplasty'."

"Good." There is some rustling. "I'm going to gag you now, and I want to hear how the safeword sounds."

And Velvet does. The gag tastes sterilized, which was probably a normal thing?

Weiss manages to enunciate through the gag (theater skills), but the long 'oo' sounds sounded fine without much effort. Maybe that was a deliberate consideration?

"So again, any time you want to stop, don't even worry about it. I might end up saying things that would influence you to keep going, like, 'I'm looking forward to this', or 'thanks for indulging me', but ignore those, if you want to stop. Please don't let me guilt you into doing something you're uncomfortable with. Cognitively, I know to stop, and my urges don't matter more than your comfort."

Weiss shrugs.

"Okay. I'm going to be in character, now. Again, safeword if anything happens that you're not comfortable with."

And Velvet pulls off Weiss's blindfold.

It's bright. Weiss blinks a couple times. She growls through the gag and pretends to struggle against the bonds.

When her eyes adjust, Weiss sees that the chair she's tied to is in the middle of a white floor, ahead of a white wall, with two sets of lighting poles on opposite sides of the area. When her eyes adjust more, Weiss sees that this professional photography studio is set up in a corner of team CFVY's dorm.

There is a click as Velvet snaps a picture. As Weiss's eyes adjust more, she sees that Velvet is blushing madly, shaking slightly.

"Welcome to my studio," Velvet gestures around. "It's nothing special, except for the work I do here." She smirks. "It's very special to me, you see."

Weiss shakes again, crying into the gag. The chair clacks against the ground, but Weiss tries not to tip it over with her theatrical struggles. Turns out, the chair was designed to not be able to do that, so she didn't need to worry.

"Go ahead and scream, as much as you want." Velvet shoots Weiss a wicked smirk. "I'll wait until you've calmed down, as long as it takes. It's not like anybody's going to save you."

Velvet stands up straighter and her face and voice soften. "Out of character for a moment; please don't actually scream that much. I don't know how well the room is sound insulated, and we have neighbors."

Weiss nods. Then Velvet gets back into character, and Weiss does as well.

"They say," Velvet looks through her camera, "That I could put anyone in a dark corner, and capture them in a moment of desperation. But this is a school for those who hunt monsters. There is no place for fear here. There is no naivety in the hearts of the students that attend Beacon."

Velvet snaps another photo. "That's why you're special, Weiss," Velvet says, her voice seemingly saccharine, caring, "Your innocence. It's just so ...photogenic."

Weiss softly screams into her gag. Inwardly, she's proud that her smiles are so convincing. Or maybe that's just the narrative of this scene?

"The purity of the Schnee Heiress, what a prize-" Velvet breaths, "What a prize indeed. I wonder what your family would think if they saw you now? What's become of their innocent little baby."

Weiss freezes. She makes herself tear up (theater skills).

Velvet straightens up again and looks up from her camera. "Is that okay? I forgot to ask about family stuff when we discussed what was cool. I don't want to bring up bad memories; my bad."

Weiss shrugs.

Velvet smirks back into character. "That's my quest, you know? To capture the moment when innocence evolves into corruption..."

Weiss suppresses a chuckle. Innocence isn't lost in a moment. Weiss remembers all the little parts of her life where the light of her Aura blackened (figuratively, she meant)- when the door closed for Weiss's hope of reconciliation with her mother, when Weiss closed the door on every path her life could take except being a huntress, when Weiss realized her father was just a human, cruel and cowardly as any other, when Blake first broke her heart-

But hey, Weiss can channel those emotions. It's method acting (theater skills).

Weiss looks up, the tears in her eyes refreshed. Weiss's eyes are open, wide, and teary, and she stares Velvet down. Slowly, she grits her teeth, she channels her memories, and she tries to shoot the photographer a withering, murderous glare.

The redness in Velvet's cheeks blossoms across her entire face. The older woman shudders, her nose twitches, and she gasps, sharply. There is a stream of camera clicks. Velvet moves around, frantically, taking the shot from as many angles as she can.

"These are some spectacular shots, Weiss," Velvet moans. Then her breathing calms, slightly.

Velvet slowly walks towards where Weiss is tied up. Weiss shirks back as much as she is able.

Velvet smirks madly as she undoes Weiss's gag. Before the photographer can say anything, Weiss does.

"You're a psychopath," Weiss spits.

Velvet suppresses a moan. Then she chuckles, coldly, "You know what they say about those who hunt monsters, huh?" Velvet moves to stroke Weiss's face, but Weiss recoils. Velvet doesn't pursue.

"So you've had your sick photo-op," Weiss says, "What's going to happen to me?" Weiss says.

"Well, I already have the shot." Velvet taps her camera.

"But perhaps I can use a model of your," Velvet runs her tongue over her lips, "Disposition, for other things." Velvet walks her fingers along Weiss's shoulders.

Weiss tries to show some fear in her eyes, as she shirks away. Apparently her acting is effective. Velvet takes one more snapshot and she moans again.

Then Velvet puts her camera down and exhales, and she snaps her fingers- which triggers the room lights to go on- and she clutches her face. "Holy- holy Frith, Weiss. Holy- Wow. Just, Frith-."

Velvet shakily unties Weiss and leads the human to her living room couch. The upperclassmen recieved really spacious dorms, it seemed.

"Are you alright?" Velvet fumbles with her aftercare kit.

"Yeah," Weiss says. Velvet rubs some vitamin E cream on Weiss's wrists and gives the human a chocolate bar.

"Let- " Velvet breaths, "Let me just- get these developing, real quick-"

Velvet then darts into her dark room. It's a modified closet.

Weiss eats only a little bit of the chocolate. She's since outgrown the desire to eat such sweet things.

Although, Velvet was offering. So maybe...

Weiss takes a large bite and examines the dorm room. It's pretty well decorated; there's some trophies of different missions, there's a shrine that presumably is part of Yatsuhashi's part of the room, there's a few external closets in what's presumably Coco's part of the room.

And, Weiss notes, the soundproofing in the dorm walls here isn't exactly perfect. She ignores the sounds of Velvet's ... photography development.

Velvet returns a little later, a little more composed, a little more smelling like chemicals, and a little sweatier. She sits down on the couch next to Weiss, withing touching distance, but Velvet opts to lean back and throw her arm on the back of the seat, behind Weiss.

"And again," Velvet pontificates, "There will never be any digital copies of those pictures, and I keep them locked in the most secure place I own. I'll burn them after a week, just in case. I know the Schnee Heiress probably doesn't want any incriminating photos of her out there."

"Oh," Weiss says. She probably should care about the blackmail potential, but she finds she doesn't. She thanks Velvet for her discretion, anyway.

Velvet smirks again. "But thank you, again. Those were some," Velvet blushes slightly and subconsciously licks her lips. "Some great shots there. So I want to return the favor. I'm open to most things- body fluids are a little iffy for me, but I'm down for any sort of role-play, I'm reasonably good at not leaving marks during impact-play, and I promise I won't judge, whatever fetish you have. I'm in no position to kinkshame."

Weiss ponders for a moment. "That's okay. I'm just glad I got to help you out."

"Did-" Velvet backs off. "Did that freak you out? Ruin your appetite for things? I can take a rain check, once the mental scars fade."

Weiss blinks. "Oh. No. I mean, it wasn't that weird, really, and it didn't put me off or anything."

Velvet frowns, facetiously. "You're going to hurt a poor rabbit's feelings, telling her she's 'not that weird', like that. But I supposed I'm glad I didn't ruin the image of the suave, cool upperclasswoman you had in your mind when you first saw me."

Weiss chuckles. Velvet smiles.

"But seriously. You don't have any weird, sick fantasy you'd like to indulge? Not even your racial fetish?"

Weiss blushes. "First of all, I'm not going to confirm or deny anything about my faunus ear fetish-" Weiss waves her hand. She finds she's actually fine just sitting there on the couch, trying not to think about Blake. "I mean, I don't mean to offend you or anything, but I really mean that I'm just happy that I was a good model for you."

"I mean, okay, if you're sure." Velvet shifts her position, on the couch, so she can lie back a bit more. She does so. "If you wanna rock your martyr complex, hey, I'm in no position to kinkshame. But I gotta repay the favor. If something comes up, let me know."

"Okay," Weiss says. She eats some more chocolate. Velvet pulls out her scroll and taps at it, but keeps looking over to Weiss, occasionally, expectantly.

Weiss clears her throat. "So do you do this a lot?"

Velvet sits up and puts her scroll away. "Sometimes. Yatsuroo- Yatsuhashi, I mean- was always very nice to indulge me. Coco's sat in that chair too- this is actually her studio, and she does her own modeling here. Some of it's not even porn. We've actually played a different sort of photography game here, too- stripteases and stuff, lecherous photographer roleplay..." Velvet trails off.

Weiss takes another bite of chocolate.

"Fox is blind, though, so it's sort of like," Velvet scrunches her mouth and shrugs, "I think he didn't really understand the fetish? He seemed sort of bemused the whole time."

Weiss laughs, just a bit, and then she feels bad about it. Velvet laughs too.

"So you're fine with doing this with anyone?"

Velvet looks at the wall. "I mean, I wasn't lying when I said you were a great model. Most of my team can't get the innocent look down, and the other freshmen who modeled for me managed to outcreep me. So again, thank you. I'm going to hope that it's just because you're a good actress, and if its not, well, Prof. Goodwich holds counseling hours most weekdays, if you've got something you need to work out."

Weiss is flattered, a little. But then she realizes something.

"Wait," Weiss says, "Did- did you do this with Ruby Rose?"

Velvet blinks. "Oh, yeah. Ruby and I did a little jam session the last time Yatsuroo and I were on a break. She's into some wieeeerdd shizz though. I mean, I'm in no position to kinkshame, but sweet Frith." Velver blinks into the distance, a little lost. Then she comes to. "My weapon's pretty intricate, so I spend a fair amount of time in the forge. That's where I met Ruby. She likes to sharpen her scythe there. One day, she made a BDSM joke, and, well, we talked about our fetishes, and the rest is history."

Weiss scrunches her mouth. It's nice to know she's superior to Ruby in another way, but she can't exactly brag to her teammate about how she's better at pretending to be a serial killer victim.

Weiss remembers what her train of thought was. "I was getting at with my first question- you don't feel the need to only be intimate with someone you care for?"

"I mean," Velvet says, "I'd like to see a world where just acting out your kinks is a normal version of fun. You can, say, go bowling or go weapon crafting with someone without having to be in love with them. And, like, if you like someone, you'll want to share the things you like with them, but I don't think you need to only do a specific activity with them."

Velvet turns to Weiss. "I mean, aren't you and Yang an item? I thought you were of the same mind; you came here with her blessing- I saw her wink at you when we left the cafeteria."

Weiss scrunches her mouth. "We're buds, but we're not, like, romantically or sexually involved. She wanted me to try to date someone, because she can't fulfill that need for me, and I didn't want to pressure her to do something she didn't want."

Velvet nods in comprehension. "Okay, cool." Velvet thinks for a moment more. "Anyway, I think I'm getting that you'd like to have a more emotional connection with someone before you're sexually intimate with them.

Weiss blinks a couple times. "I hadn't thought of it like that, but that sounds right, actually."

"Okay, cool. We can talk a bit, then," Velvet says. "You want to talk about your feelings for Blake?"

"I-" Weiss frowns. "I was sort of hoping to come here to forget them, actually."

"Oh. Sorry-"

"It's okay. I meant-" Weiss rubs her head. "if I could start feeling this longing for someone else, instead, that'd resolve this whole thing. I'm afraid it didn't happen when I was tied to that chair."

"Well, I should warn you, I'm not really the dating type. Feel free to stop by sometimes if you're feeling a little, ah, photogenic, but I can't really offer any kind of commitment."

"Not to anyone? What about your big teammate?"

"Oh, Yatsuroo?" Velvet lays back on the couch and holds her palm toward the ceiling. "I don't' even know what that's even about. I mean, like, part of the time, I just want to be a normal couple with him. Start being slightly more monogamous, going on dates, you know. Traditional romance stuff."

"And sometimes it's just sort of a dull ache, like I've felt for old lovers or for missed opportunities; nothing major- I don't even know if that's a romantic longing; maybe I just miss being friends. Sometimes I don't feel anything at all, and I'm cool with being broken up with."

"And sometimes," Velvet grits her teeth and grabs the air in front of her, "I just want to beat his stupid, pious face in to the ground-"

Velvet turns to Weiss. "Sorry, I'm here talking about my issues. What can I do for you?"

"I- It's cool. I think it helps put mine into perspective."

Velvet sits back up. "I mean, I guess I could talk to you about this some more. But maybe you'd be better off seeing a professional counselor. I hear Goodwitch's pretty good, but I also hear she'll steal your teeth if she gets the chance. So 'buyer beware', right?" Velvet made spooky motions with her hands.

"Heheh," Weiss says. She remembers where those rumors come from, "But that's a good idea. Thanks."

Velvet smiles and taps her camera. "No, thank you, Miss Schnee. Seriously, I owe you one. Don't let me go around with that favor unfulfilled."

Before Weiss can say anything, Velvet's eyes widen and she waves the air, frantically. "I mean- I didn't mean that to sound like I'm pressuring you into sex or anything. But like, if you ever need to dispose a body or something, give me a call."

Weiss laughs, a little. "Oh, thanks, but I've got that covered, actually."

Velvet sweats. "I mean, because rabbits dig holes. That's why I know that."

Weiss tries to smile a reassuring smile. "Yeah, got it."


- PRESENT DAY -


Snuggly Cuddly Blakey~ so cute and snug-gle-y~ Blakey is a Blakey and this Blakey is for me~,

Weiss drifted out of her dream into wakedness. She rubbed her face in Blake's hair and mumbled and then-

Weiss realized that the thing in her arms was much colder and much less fluffy than her Blakey-

Because it wasn't Blake. It was one of those creepy life sized dolls that her family was supposed to use to fake their own deaths if they needed to. Ugh.

Weiss hugged it one more time, before she decided she needed the real thing. Blake was just so warm and fluffy and cute and nice, and this thing was a poor substitute-

"Blake?" Weiss called out, "Blake where'd you go~"

Weiss looked all over the bed. She looked in the bathroom, and under the tables, and in all the flowerpots. Blake wasn't anywhere there.

But then Weiss realized that there was only one place Blake could be. Well, one place besides the bathroom, but she'd already checked all the ones in the house, and she had been not looking for long enough that Blake should have gotten back by now. So Weiss fixed her medical eyepatch real quick before heading out.

Weiss threw open the doors to the guest room. Specifically, the guest room that Winter was holed up in.

Winter kept her blinds closed, so her room was dark- dark like her stupid soul. Winter was there, doing whatever, but the important thing was Blake was there, looking really sad- oh no!"

"Hey," stupid Winter said, stupidly.

"Give me Blake!" Weiss challenged, heroically. "She's my kitty and my best friend and you're a big dumb misfit-head so give her back!"

Winter smiled evilly, flashing her gross teeth. "Oh, no; didn't you know? Blake likes me now. By extension, this means she doesn't like you."

Winter turned back to Blake, and Weiss felt her blood pressure rise. Weiss balled her fists, but she remembered how to maintain her composure.

Winter made shooing gestures. "So go do your thing. I don't care."

Weiss reached out, her arms trembling- "But- Blakey~"

Blake looked at Weiss, and she cried, "Please, leave us, Weiss. I am bound against my will, and I can do naught against the grip of Winter."

Well, okay, maybe Blake actually only said the first four words, without the 'us', so it was just three words, and she didn't cry. Blake kept all her sadness inside of her, but Weiss supported her unconditionally.

But Weiss knew what Blake meant; she saw it- the tremble in Blake's lip, the hesitance in her voice, the way she glanced at the floor before she blinked- Blake didn't want to be here. Blake was suffering

But- what could Weiss do against her sister?

Weiss had meant that rhetorically, but it also turned out that, literally, Winter could get up and physically push Weiss out of the room. Weiss heard the click that meant the door was locked- that her heart was locked away as well.

Weiss walked away from the guest room, slowly. All her sadness made her feet hard to move.


Weiss had experience with coping with sadness. Winter was only here for three more days, so Weiss could just wait it out, and she'd be back with her Blakey.

Weiss wandered to the dining room alone. She sat down She went to breakfast alone.

"Is Blake not with you?" asked the chef.

Weiss sighed. "No."

The chef paused, for a moment. "I'll leave her food here, then."

"Okay."

Weiss took some of the food off Blake's plate, just for old times sake.

Weiss wrapped some of the meat and stuffed it in her pocket, though she didn't really expect ot have the opportunity to give it to Blake.


Weiss wandered through the halls. There were 126 hallways, stairwells, and empty rooms that it took 4 hours to wander, if she walked slow, so if she did that circuit three times, it'd be time for bed again.

At some point, someone decided to bother her. "Well, you're not just going to leave it like that, are you?" said someone.

Weiss immediately flinched. She instinctively reached for Blake, to hide behind, but she couldn't do that right now-

Those four scary weekend maids were here to tease her again. There was the creepy one, who had just spoken, and the gross one, and the rude one, and the one with the inconsistent accent. It maid sense they'd be here; it was the weekend again, and they probably used up all their vacation days to avoid Winter last week.

Weiss took a breath and stood up tall; Blake would want her to be strong.

"What?" Weiss said. She looked the maid in the eyes, but Weiss had to take another breath afterwards.

"Yer jus' gonna give up?" said the maid with the inconsistent accent.

The gross maid examined the label on some cleaning fluid. "You're not worried Winter's going to eat your prize first? You've been fattening Blake up for so long."

Weiss suddenly grabbed her face. "You- you don't think Winter's actually going to eat Blake? I thought Winter was just exaggerating."

The other maids shared worried, ponderous glances, with accompanying shrugs. It wasn't exactly reassuring.

The rude maid smirked, like she knew something Weiss didn't. "We've heard some things about your sister's, heh, appetite- oof!"

The creepy maid kneed the rude maid in the gut, and then turned to Weiss. "So what lengths are you willing to go, for your princess?"


- A POSSIBLE FUTURE -


The door is locked, but there's a 'In session' sign on the door, so it makes sense that it'd be locked.

Weiss waits. She sits down in the hallway, wondering if she should reconsider.

Eventually, the door opens-

And Ruby exits, holding her scythe and rubbing the back of her head with the other hand. She's smiling, stupidly.

Ruby blinks, at Weiss, and then smiles. "[II:117]: A fairer person lost not Heav'n; she seemd For dignity compos'd and high exploit:"

"Ruby," Weiss manages to keep most of the distaste out of her voice. "it's good to see you too."

Ruby waves Weiss farewell, and she skips down the halls. After the last of her mad ramblings fade from earshot, Weiss walks up to the office door.

The door is open, so Weiss knocks on the door and sticks her head in. "Um, hello?"

Professor Goodwitch is sitting at her desk, cleaning her glasses. "Oh, hello Weiss. How are your teeth?"

Weiss nods. "Pretty good." That's not a lie. Weiss scrunches her mouth to the side, because this is the last chance to reconsidering telling an adult about her problems.

Weiss decides to be strong. "I was wondering, if you're doing sessions, now? I have, uh, something I need to work out."

Goodwitch blinks, looking up from her desk, and her glasses. "Oh. Oh, yes, of course."

"If you're not busy," Weiss says.

"No, no, I love doing this. It's fine."

Goodwitch waves her riding crop wand and the door magically closes. She blasts the door with a translucent missile, and a rune of silence appears on the door.

"The door's soundproof, and I'll keep completely tight-lipped about it, so anything you say or do here will remain completely confidential. Don't worry."

The teacher then flicks her wand, and her glasses come flying off her desk into her hand. She catches them and, in the same motion, places them on her face. It's really cool.

"I'm capable of not leaving marks, and I also have a closet full of costumes, if anything strikes your fancy. I try to accommodate my client's various, ah, proclivities."

Weiss tilts her head. "Costumes for counseling sessions?" Weiss asks.

"For- OH! Oh, you- you meant counseling sessions- Ok, yeah. Ok." The teacher stifles a blush and fidgets, slightly. "Yeah, that's what I'm doing. Yes. The costumes are for, like, phobia treatment. Yes."

After a few more coughs, Professor Goodwitch summons a pen and pad and sits on her desk. She adjusts her glasses one more time. "So what brings you here for counseling?"

Weiss figures she'd best be honest. Teachers were confidential. "I'm in love with my best friend."

Goodwitch nods. "So, the goal of therapy is to get you to a place where you are comfortable. So, in regards to your feelings towards Blake, it could mean that you could move on entirely, or it it could mean that you acknowledge that she'll always be in your heart, but you get to a point where it doesn't negatively affect your life, or it could mean finding other parts of your life you care about that they can compensate for your unrequited love. Other avenues would require bringing Blake in here, for a session or two."

"I- we're on speaking terms, but only for things that aren't, you know," Weiss pontificates, "About 'us'."

Goodwitch shoots Weiss a sympathetic frown. "Then maybe you'll need to bring her in for a talk or two, unless you want to move on entirely."

Weiss nods. "Honestly, I have a hard time seeing how I'm going to move on entirely, but I'd like to work on- on my own feelings, as much as possible. "

"So do you want to analyze your feelings to see if that's true?"

They talk a bit more. They conclude that Weiss would have a hard time moving on entirely.

"Well," Weiss says, at some point, "I think a big part of the problem is, I've recently become aware that some of my feelings towards Blake may have come from a sort of destructive place."

Goodwitch scrunches her mouth. "Well, the first step to fixing that is recognizing it, so good start so far."

They talk a bit more. Weiss somewhat forgives herself for how she's treated Blake.

"Something that might help," Goodwitch says, "Is telling yourself that your own feelings are enough, without Blake's reciprocation. It might prevent you from trying to act on them in ways that would negatively affect your relationship with her."

Weiss nods. They talk a bit more.

At the end of the hour, Weiss has a few small, tangible steps that she actually believes might help her feelings.

And, as Weiss packs her things and prepares to leave, Goodwitch procures a small rectangle of paper. An envelop. "And, since I'm also in charge of the mail, here- you have a letter. I'm going to make delivery rounds right now." She pats a bag full of letters.


After Weiss is alone, she opens her letter.

-Dear Weiss,

-I'm sorry to hear about you and Blake. I know how much you care for her, and I know it must be hard. I offer my sympathy, except, in a way that doesn't sound fake like 'I offer my sympathy."

-I'm reminded of a few quotes of encouragement. An old general once said, "If you're going through Hell, keep going." This suggests that effort on your part will help the situation. You are the strongest person I know, Weiss, and I have full confidence that you can find a way to overcome. Not to invalidate Blake's part in this affair, or to suggest that you're wrong to grieve in lieu of 'action', but I just wanted to wish you well in moving on. If that's helpful.

- Our ships navigator likes to say, "no matter how dark it is, Remnant keeps on turning, towards the sun." This implies that things will get better on thier own, and I don't mean to imply that there's nothing you can do, or that there's nothing you should do, in your situation. It also implies that good events and bad events are cyclical in nature, so perhaps its not as comforting as I thought it was.

- Sorry if that's all a little impersonal; I don't know what to say here except, I still care for you, and I'm sorry about Blake. Sorry if that makes this about me.

- A bond like the one you had with Blake doesn't disappear, just like that. It may weaken, it might look different, it might only exist at a deeper level, but I know that, even during the parts of my life when I thought I hated you, I still would have had your back if it came to it. We were still connected, regardless of my feelings. So I think Blake still cares for you, on some level, even if it might hurt for her to be with you, on a number of levels.

- You suggested that you'd like to hear about my life, in general, and specifically and recently, to distract you, so I will continue to do so.

- We arrived in Vacuo this week. It's warm, and we've got different camouflage. I'm afraid I haven't been here long enough to have any souvenirs to send, but look for one in the next letter.

- I did end up talking to that cute bartender back at base. It was a complete disaster. At first, they waved at me, and I waved back. Then it turned out they were waving to someone behind me, so I pretended I was dancing. Then I realized I couldn't dance, so I pretended that I was having a stroke. My squadmates helped maintain the illusion.

- Afterwards, the bartender came by to check my vitals, and I managed to convince them I was fine. I ended up talking about my military career, and my squad, and since they recognized me for a Schnee, I talked a bit about my family. You were the most positive thing in regards to that which I could think of, so I hope you don't mind that I told some random stranger a few stories about you.

- Anyway, hang in there.

- Love,

- Winter

Weiss smiles. She clutches the "Thank you, Winter. That's just what I needed."


- PRESENT DAY -


"WIIINNTTERR!" Blake heard Weiss yell. "YOU HAVE SOMETHING I NEED!"

Because, suddenly, the window exploded. Weiss came crashing through the new whole in the window.

Blake had managed to retreat into her psyche. She was happy she was still able to do that trick. It seemed like something a super cool ninja would be able to do. The downside, was, it took Blake a moment to react to Weiss's entrance.

Winter had been in the middle of putting different hats on Blake, so Blake had also got to practice not making eye contact some more. Sister Schnee looked up, not shielding herself quite in time, and definitely not being prepared for Weiss to kick her with both feet at the end of her swing.

Winter went rolling back. The stocky maid jumped down the hole in the wall, after Weiss, and quietly walked to the door. After the door became unlocked, the tall maid and the young maid walked in, carrying a replacement window, with the gaunt maid carrying the carpentry tools. They started sweeping the broken glass and stone and they placed a ladder below the hole in the wall.

Blake blinked.

"Blaaake!" Weiss ran up to Blake and pulled Blake's hat off of her, throwing it to the ground. "Blake are you okay?"

Blake cleared her throat. "weiss, you idiot," Blake managed to say, "i was doing this to protect you. to keep winter away."

Weiss rubbed her cheek no Blake's head. "Oh Blake, you silly kitty," Weiss released the hug, and looked Blake in the eyes. "How could I be at peace knowing that Winter had you in her clutches?"

"it actually wasn't that bad-"

"And how could I truly be happy without you by my side?" Weiss smiled, and the corners of her eyes teared up. Blake felt a lump in her throat.

Weiss pulled Blake's head in for a hug. "I love you, Blakey."

Blake blinked.

Weiss held up out something wrapped in napkins.

Blake took it and unwrapped it, though she already knew what it was by the smell- it was breakfast meat.

Blake tried not to cry. She returned the hug.

Weiss held her for a while, before Winter picked herself up, like a marionette. She was cackling madly.

"Ahahahahaha," cackled Winter, madly. She turned to Weiss. Weiss instinctively, protectively stepped in front of Blake.

"You drew your sword," Winter said. She fumbled through her pockets. "You attacked me. in front of a witness," Winter pointed to Blake.

The maids paused repairing the window.

Weiss stepped back, one step. Winter pulled out a document, faded and folded with age.

"I challenge you," Winter said, for the position of Heiress to the Schnee Family Name."

Weiss winked. She titled her head. "What?"

Winter deflated, somewhat. "You don't know how nobility works?" She frowned. "Figures."


A POSSIBLE OMAKE:

Weiss lead Blake through the snow. She dragged a sleigh by a string with her right hand.

It was kind of hard to walk, but Weiss tried her hardest to make sure Blake didn't fall down.

Besides, it wouldn't do to show weakness in front of her human. Blake

"Are you warm enough, Blakey?" Weiss said.

Blake nodded. She wondered how much it was visible

"Are you excited for your first sleigh ride, Blakey?"

Blake didn't nod, that time. But maybe to an observer, it looked the same.

They trudged up a hill, in large park at the edge of town, since the Schnee's had removed all semblance of hills in their manor's garden. The weather malfunction reached this far,

"Having a sleigh ride in the snow with your feline friend is very traditional, you know!" Weiss said. She giggled.

When they got to the top of the hill, Weiss placed the sleigh down, and she helped Blake sit down on the sleigh. Weiss positioned Blake at the front, even though Blake didn't know how to steer a sleigh.

Weiss wrapped her arms around Blake's waist, as best she could with all the layers.

"And the best part is, that sleigh rides are a metaphor for life!"

The sleigh started. Blake didn't flinch at all. Weiss giggled.

"See, life is an experience, though which you're propelled by forces beyond your control! (in the sleigh's case, it's gravity.)"

They wooshed past a tree. The hill got less steep, and then more steep, and their speed changed appropriately.

"And sometimes it goes fast, and sometimes it goes slow-"

They approached a tree. They were on course to hit it.

"And sometimes, you can see a fork in the road ahead coming up, and you have the chance to pick each direction, even if you can't see what's going to happen after either choice-"

Weiss pulled Blake's body to the left- they narrowly missed the tree.

"But regardless of what what you do, the most important thing is to have someone to share it with! As long as life is shared, any experience can be fun!"

They approached a cluster of trees. Blake cleared her throat. "even crashes?"

"Especially crashes!" Weiss manged to say, right before impact.

Blake went flying. So did Weiss, but she didn't seem fazed at all. She said something in mid-air, but Blake wasn't paying attention.

Blake landed bad on one of the thermal heating rods taped to her back. She let out an 'urk'.

Weiss flopped belly first into the snow. She wasn't wearing nearly as many layers as Blake but she seemed to be perfectly fine.

"And the weirdest part is, as it goes by, there's no time to think- most of life is experienced in retrospect- and you can always wonder what could have happened if you had done something differently."

That- was actually something Blake thought about.

"And you can either sit around wondering what happened, or, with the benefit of past experiences, you can do it again! So let's do that again, Blakey!"

Blake smushed her lips together