Blake had no idea what to think about Penny Polendina.

On one hand, the girl was nice. Penny noticed how upset she was ("Judging by your accelerated heartbeat and moisture in your eyes, I estimate a 75% that you're upset about something.") and offered to let Blake stay in a hotel she was staying in. Blake didn't really have a place to stay, so she agreed, despite barely knowing Penny. Besides, if worse came to worst, she was pretty confident that she could defend herself if she needed to.

But Penny didn't have any ill intentions. She was true to her word, even offering Blake her bed! Blake still took the couch though. She was already intruding enough as is.

Still, there was still something... off about Penny. Maybe it was the girl's childlike personality, or the fact that she's staying in a hotel with no sign of a guardian, or just how readily she offered Blake a hand...

It was just odd.

Sighing, Blake turned over on the couch she was using as a bed, trying her best to sleep. It didn't matter. She'd just stay here for one night, leave, and-

Figure out what to do from there.

Yang hadn't said anything to Weiss since the day Blake left.

That didn't mean that she was depressed or anything. It was the opposite, actually. Yang was either actively avoiding Weiss or just giving her the cold shoulder. It was pretty obvious she was mad, even if Ruby hadn't been living with Yang for so long.

Weiss on the other hand, was being especially cranky, either ranting about how Blake was a criminal, or ranting at mistakes that Ruby made, or ranting at Yang herself. Ruby still didn't know if her partner's newest tantrums was because of hidden anxiety and guilt for their missing teammate, or worst, annoyance and Weiss genuinely wanting Blake behind bars.

Ruby groaned, looking up at the ceiling of Team LBSR's cramped dorm. For some reason, the bunk beds haven't arrived yet. Maybe it was for the best- Blake was still missing, and the tension with the remaining members of the team were so thick that you could cut it with a knife. Now wasn't the time for bunk beds.

Ruby knows she was being pretty neutral about this whole mess, but she couldn't help it. Yeah, Weiss was being kinda racisty, but Ruby was still her partner and Weiss brought up some good points... but so did Blake. And now it felt like she was trying to keep the peace between her partner and her sister. Ugh, was this how Yang felt when she and Weiss were at each other's throats? Jeez.

Ruby could only sulk. She wanted to fix this, but she had no idea how.

Weiss had no idea how to fix the unbearable tension in the team.

Of course, there was Blake. In truth, Weiss couldn't make up her mind on whether or not the faunus girl (what kind of Faunus, Weiss didn't know. And at this moment? Didn't particularly care.) was some kind of assassin sent from the White Fang or just happened to be part of the White Fang and still genuinely cared about her. And she still didn't know which story Weiss liked better.

Then, there was Yang. They hadn't spoken at all since that night, and she still didn't know- and my, there was a lot of things Weiss didn't know, wasn't there?- if Yang's cold silence was because of her semblance (doubtful, with Yang's eyes still keeping their lilac hue. If only the color of her eyes changed along with other emotions...) or of Yang's own accord. It was still quite obvious Yang was upset at Weiss.

Then, there was her partner. Ruby still tried to still be on Weiss's side, but she can tell the girl was torn between Blake, her sister, and her partner.

It all frustrates Weiss to no end, alongside not knowing for sure if she was on the right. She knew that her frustration was starting to seep into her actions, and starting to affect her teammates, but she couldn't help it.

She just wished everything was back to normal.

Yang was pissed. Pissed at Weiss, pissed at her own inability to stop Blake, pissed at the world in general really.

Of course, Mettle was also there, not exactly keeping her calm but keeping her from lunging at Weiss. Yang knew that her being angry wasn't helping (and she couldn't forget that, with Mettle reminding her of that every five minutes) but what else could she do? Blake was missing, and she couldn't do anything about it. It's been a whole day without a sign of her partner coming back at all, and Yang was planning to look for her in Vale, but where would they even start? Would Weiss even help, or just sell Blake out?

At the reminder of the reason this whole mess happened, Yang frowned. Weiss wasn't exactly helping either, with her ranting about everything from Ruby's grades to Yang 'ignoring the problem'. It was annoying to both the sisters, but Ruby still seemed determined to stay neutral.

Being angry won't he-

Oh shut up Mettle.

Penny knew she was odd to most of the people she meets.

She didn't fault them for thinking she was odd of course! Penny knew that despite her father having done a brilliant job creating her, she knows that she does not have enough data on social interactions to know what it was like being a 'normal girl' to act like a 'normal girl'...

Which was why it was wonderful for Ruby to consider her a friend the first time they met! Of course, the circumstances weren't ideal (after further research on social norms, Penny had found that she was supposed to feel 'embarassed' after knocking into someone, especially in front of three others.) but it was still quite nice to have a new friend!

And then, only three hours, twenty minutes and forty seconds later, she had met Blake again! Again, the circumstances weren't ideal at all, and Blake was quite upset, but she had accepted Penny's offer to stay with her in her hotel, and while Penny would have to explain to her handlers why she brought a girl to her hotel room (General Ironwood's men were always keeping an unseen eye on her. She only hoped they had not told father, or that he did not jump to any conclusions. She did not want to subject Blake with 'The Shovel Talk') she did not regret on helping someone who was obviously in need.

But the reason on why Blake was upset was still a mystery. As Penny lied on her bed (she had no need to sleep, but social norms dictated that being up this late was unacceptable) she wondered why. Was it trouble with her team? It would explain why she wasn't with her team, but Penny doubted Ruby would be so cruel as to kick her teammate to the curb. Perhaps with just one member of her team then?

The easiest way to answer that question was to ask Blake herself, but it was already quite late (and Blake must be asleep, if she abides to societal norm) and if the subject had already caused Blake emotional distress, then Penny had no right to intrude.

Penny closed her eyes, already activating her sleep mode. Yes, even if Blake wasn't her friend (yet), Penny should make her be as comfortable as possible until she is ready to face her team. Maybe they could even bond and-!

Sleep mode activated.