A/N: Sorry for late post. I know I had a routine for writing and posting in the morning, but I stayed up all night yesterday trying to enroll into Apple Developers (Apple wouldn't take my card; just take my money dammit!) so I literally fell asleep this morning while writing. Hope you enjoy.

The three of them talked into the wee hours of the morning. They talked about everything, about Jaune, about boys, about clothes. Blake had always known that Sable was a personable personality, but it was amazing just the same to see how she could get people to open up. Blake hadn't seen Neo so delighted and happy ever, even before Mountain Glenn. Blake chuckled as Sable told Neo about how Jaune used to use his sisters like single-use pillows. Every day of the week he'd sleepwalk into a different bed. Sable had been the Saturday girl, she admitted proudly. That meant extra long cuddles since it was a weekend. At that Neo pouted and pointed out she had Jaune every Saturday now, and every other day of the week too. Sable laughed brightly, "I'm happy to hear you and Jaune are on good terms. Sapphire will be ecstatic."

"Oh my, it's morning already. Time sure flies, hm? Why don't you two get cleaned up, while I get ready for the day. You can crash in my room upstairs. Hm? Oh, don't worry about me." She raised an eyebrow at Neo. "I do own a coffee shop, if you had forgotten." Neo pouted, before she huffed good-naturedly and strode upstairs. Blake waited until the door closed before speaking up. "Thank you Sable. For taking us in. And for helping Neo. She hasn't been that happy since what happened."

Sable sent Blake a warm smile. "Of course, Blake. Anything for a friend. And Neo, she's such a sweet girl. It's no wonder Jaune and her get along. And I have to start getting to know my sister-in-law sometime, right? I've got an opportunity and I won't lose to Sapphire." Blake raised an eyebrow at her ulterior reasoning. "Ahem, it's a joke of course. One has to learn how to humor Sapphire. I have to be the adult in the family. Definitely no thoughts of shipping in my head. I mean, shipping? Hah! I don't even like boats, so that automatically clears me…what?" Sable glanced at Blake, whose other eyebrow had joined the first in reaching for her cat ears.

Blake shook her head in amusement. Sable might try to deny being as obsessed with Jaune as her sisters, but it was obvious she cared for him a great deal. It probably pained her to know that he was so close in Beacon but wouldn't come to see her.

"Do you want to come with me and go visit Jaune?"

Sable blinked in surprise. "Where did that come from?" Blake shrugged. "Well I guess it would be nice to see him after all this time, and it is a slow day so…" Blake waited patiently. It was obvious which way this one-sided convincing was going.

"But wait! Aren't you trying to stay out of Beacon right now? How are you going to get me in?" Blake smirked. Oh the naivety of the ignorant. "That's what disguises are for. And you have before you none other than the master of disguise herself!" Blake channeled her inner Nora. Sable did that to her sometimes, made her want to feel silly. And maybe Nora was onto something. It did feel nice to be loud and proud, almost as nice as Blake imagined lifting her bra and letting her puppies run fr-Blake stopped that thought right there. Blake's eyes were shut. It was strangely quiet. Blake lifted one eyelid.

Sable was staring pointedly at Blake's ears-(bow!). "Master of disguise, indeed. And who thought of hiding cat ears under cat-eared-shaped cloth, and not even thinking of changing her name when she shares the surname of the Chieftain of Menagerie?" Blake flushed even as her ears twitched under the attention.

And hey, she'd almost forgotten her dad was such a big deal. He was just an elementary school teacher back home, with a side job as the leader of the faunus kingdom.

Blake sighed. Her emotional high was coming to an end. "Do you want to come or not?"

"Yes! Wait. We need to ask if Neo wants to come. I'm sure she'd appreciate all the people without having to worry about getting arrested."

"You're right." They reached the top of the stairs and peaked into the bedroom. Neo was sprawled out on the bed.

Sable giggled. "Looks like Neo had a long night. Why don't we leave her to rest?", she said as she tucked her in.

The streets were abuzz with activity, even in the early morning. It was the Vytal festival that energized everybody. Reunions were happening, tourists abounded. People were coming in from Mistral, Vacuo, Menagerie, bringing with them all the culture that entailed. Businesses had leaped on the opportunity, running ads on electronic billboards about the Vytal Festival. Shop owners stood out on the streets like hawkers, eager to take advantage of the bustling crowds.
There was street festival a block from where they stood, with indie musicians and dancers performing for the crowds.

"It's a bit much, huh? It's my first time seeing it too. Apparently Vale gets like this every time the Vytal Festival comes around. People don't usually get a chance to let loose like this, so when they get the chance, they take it."

Blake nodded. Menagerie had a more tribal culture and also liked to celebrate whenever they could. Blake remembered being young and encouraged to drink with Father's friends around a bonfire at the beach.

"It's a good thing," Sable remarked as they found a bench under a tree overlooking the festival. "It keeps the Grimm away, it keeps everyone happy. The Vytal Festival is one of the few good things that have come out of the Kingdoms."

Blake thought of Cinder's plan, the one that had and would still take advantage of the Vytal Festival to instill panic and death.

"If, if you knew that something that would hurt a lot of people…" She gestured weakly at the street. "What would you do?"

Sable looked at Blake sharply, before staring back into the city. "My father always told me everyone has a responsibility. We're put in the positions we are for a reason. It's not power that gives us responsibility. We do what we have to do, however little that may be."

Blake sucked in a breath.

"This has something to do with why you're not in school, right?"

Blake's silence was telling.

"Tell me."

"Are you sure? This is dangerous, Sable. And you have your shop, and your family."

"Blake." Sable gave her a look. "I am a grown woman. I can take care of myself. And while I'm not exactly a hunter, I have aura and training, remember?" She shook her head. "That's not what's important. After what you said, how could I not help. You two girls want to stop something terrible. I wouldn't be an Arc if I wanted out."

Blake nodded. She told her everything she knew from Neo and what their plans were to stop it.

And then two became three.