The seating in the combat classroom was similar to that of the huntsmen school down in Vale. With a raised half circle of benches, arced around the edge of an arena, the entire class was able to find seating in order to have a perfect view of the stage. Ren and his team sat along the closest edge, while Olivia, Blake, and Ruby sat directly behind them. Olivia was annoyed to notice that Weiss sat behind her, but chose to ignore the heiress for the time being. Weiss still had her scroll out and was reading through a webpage.

With large stadium lights pointing down towards the arena floor, Professor Goodwitch was front and center, standing in their radiance. Her golden hair shone as she looked out over the gathering class, many filing in during the last minute before the bell would ring. Goodwitch's foot idly tapped against the floor, arms crossed with her riding crop in one hand and what looked like an oversized scroll in the other.

Olivia felt a brief tap on her shoulder before the heiress's scroll was shoved in front of her face. "Read it," Weiss demanded, shaking it slightly to get Olivia to grab it for herself.

Olivia had half a mind to crumple the damn thing and try to crush a few of the princess's fingers along with it, but instead snatched the small device and shot her a glare. The webpage was a news article, featuring a faunus reporter's headshot at the beginning. 'Truth and Lies: What Really Happens in the Mines' was the title. Olivia took one look at the company responsible for publishing the article and laughed.

With a few quick searches of her own, Olivia offhandedly tossed the scroll back over her shoulder without bothering to give the princess a warning, "Take a look, little Schnee. If you think the Atlas News Network is a trustworthy source of information, you're more naive than I realized."

The website that Olivia had navigated to showed a parental tree of businesses that existed in Atlas and Mantle. The ANN was owned by a shell corporation, which in turn was owned by the SDC.

"Try again. This time double check your sources instead of blindly believing whatever you hear like you have been since the day you were born," Olivia's voice took on a threatening tone, "And if you ever shove something in my face again…" Ruby's hand on hers signalled her to try and calm back down. Olivia sighed, "Just don't do it again…"

Ruby gave a small, satisfied nod and turned back to the arena as Goodwitch began to speak, "Welcome to your first Combat Class. I am your instructor, Professor Goodwitch. We will start off the day with everyone being paired against another random student in the class. After today, you will have the opportunity to challenge another specific student if you wish, once per week. Aside from that, I will match you up against those that I believe will be beneficial to your progress."

Goodwitch raised a hand back towards a large display along the wall that lit up, showing the basic silhouettes of a huntsman and a huntress, "Your images and aura levels will be displayed here. You may refer to your aura level during the fight, but it is only to help you get a good grasp on how much damage you can take. Once a student's aura drops into the red, the fight is over. Any attacks made after this point in the spar will earn you a detention, and in severe cases, an expulsion."

'Don't beat up the weaklings too much. Got it,' Olivia leaned forward, placing an elbow against her knee to prop her head up on her palm. With a short scan across the students there, she could tell that only those within team Rainbow and Lion were even worth considering as a threat. Even then… 'I think Pyrrha is my only real competition here. If she's as good as she's rumored to be, then I might have my work cut out for me to keep my real skills hidden.'

Then again, Olivia didn't have to win. She wasn't the ultra competitive type. A loss now could work towards an easier kill later on. People tended to drop their defenses when they thought victory would come easily. 'I might die of embarrassment if I let any of the weaklings take me down, though.'

Glynda called two students to the stage then sent them off to the locker rooms for them to gather their equipment. Olivia half paid attention to their fight, if only to confirm for herself that they were as weak as she thought. Each fought as if they'd only been training for a few months, at most. 'Which might be the case for some that got in without going to school for training…'

After watching a few more fights, some of which involved students that Olivia didn't recognize from remedial classes, her fears were more than confirmed. Even students from the lower tier academies were struggling. Their footwork was basic, fighting styles nonexistent aside from 'hit them with the pointy end', and fought as if their auras were limitless.

'I've killed people in bar fights that would be pissing themselves laughing at these fools…'

Checking on those around herself, Olivia wasn't surprised to find she wasn't the only one concerned with the ineptitude of the rest of their classmates. Pyrrha's foot drummed against the floor, and every time one of the students in the spar made an idiotic mistake, her hand would raise slightly as if to intervene and give advice.

Olivia was about saying something, then thought better of it, 'If Pyrrha is willing to go out of her way and help any of these idiots then that's on her.' Olivia didn't want to damage whatever idea of her that Pyrrha had formed in order to let her stay in their dorm at night. It would certainly be more comfortable than a classroom, and more convenient than Melanie's.

During the next hour, many of the others in their group were selected to fight. The most noteworthy was Ren being paired against Blake. Olivia's loyalties were twisted into a knot, so she cheered for both equally. Blake took the victory in the end after an impressive display of semblance use. While Ren's senses seemed to be better than most humans, he couldn't quite keep up with the cat faunus's speedy vanishing act and reappearances.

Olivia gave her a high five when Blake returned, then gave Ren a friendly ribbing about needing eyes in the back of his head. She glanced over the students and frowned, noticing that all those in sight were dressed in their combat outfits. 'That only leaves…'

Olivia sensed two familiar, entwined souls standing in the doorway to the classroom and glanced over her shoulder to see the Headmaster, right as Miss Goodwitch had finished clearing the stage. The Professor looked down at her overlarge scroll and peered back up to the stands, "Olivia Mandevilla and Weiss Schnee. Please change into your outfits and return to the stage for your spar."

'What's your game, Headmaster?' Olivia kept her expression neutral despite Ozpin's friendly smile. Weiss walked past Olivia down the stairs without a word and headed to the locker rooms, a determination in her step. Olivia's eyes remained on Ozpin for a moment more, 'Thinking I'll work some frustration out of my system by beating on the princess? Or are you hoping it will be the other way around?'

If that was the case, Olivia would be sure to disappoint him.

The rest of the group was giving her uncertain glances. Blake was the most palpable, though she tried to hide it. Olivia could feel the slight twinge in her cat ears, as if they were trying to lay flat against their bindings. Nora shared a hesitant thumbs up, while Pyrrha seemed to be flashing a warning glare, though it lacked any real malice.

Olivia held her hands up defensively, "Don't worry. I don't want any detentions." She left to follow Weiss to the womens' locker room. The heiress was already half dressed into her combat outfit, the dress above her head as she worked it down.

Olivia shook her head, getting a look at the princess's lightly muscle toned body before the dress was finally pulled down, 'Such a nice figure, wasted on a petulant child. Pity.' Olivia set about changing into her own combat outfit, ignoring the glare that Weiss sent her way after noticing that the faunus had been staring. Olivia was more than glad to rid herself of the school uniform and return to her jeans. The feel of the material against her skin was far more comforting than the awkward, open breeziness of the skirt.

Weiss exited the locker room a minute earlier, rapier in hand. Olivia double checked her lightning dust cells and ammunition before clipping Oath to her lower back and following after. The stage was lit as usual, but from down below, it was much more difficult to see out into the crowd. Olivia stepped on to the stage. Aside from her sixth sense, it felt for all the world like she, Goodwitch, and the princess were the only three in existence.

Olivia pulled Oath from her back and extended it out fully, holding her arms wide, "You know, it's never too late to forfeit. You might save yourself some embarrassment that way."

"The match hasn't even started yet," Weiss snipped back in annoyance.

"Never too early, either," Olivia smirked, "Consider this your one and only warning. I'll go easy on Ruby, I'll go easy on Yang or Ren or Nora, even Blake. You, on the other hand?" She shrouded her limbs and held Oath behind herself, shifting it into the sickle form, "Let's just say there's a lot of faunus that wished they could be in the position I am now."

"I am not going to back down," Weiss replied proudly, changing into a fencer's stance, one hand behind her back, the other holding her rapier in front of herself, "Your empty threats won't work on me."

"Empty?" Olivia laughed for a moment, dropping her stance altogether while her shoulders shook in amusement, "Oh, Princess. There's no way this ends in your favor."

"I am not a princess! My name is Weiss, and you will call me as such!"

Olivia flashed a nasty grin, returning to her stance. The crowd was utterly silent as the screen behind them began to count down the seconds until their spar would officially begin. Olivia ignited the lightning dust along Oath's blade, speaking again in the final few moments before the buzzer rang.

"Make me."

A glyph appeared in the air behind Weiss as the timer reached zero. It glowed white, spinning in the air before launching her directly towards Olivia. Arm already extended back to hold Oath for a throw, Olivia instead spun on her heel, swinging the outside edge directly into Weiss's path as it transformed into its full sword length in order to intercept her attack.

Weiss attempted to parry, but couldn't contend with the sheer strength behind Olivia's blow. Her sword was knocked to the side ineffectually as Oath slashed the aura on her chest, launching her back across the arena floor. Olivia didn't wait, and once again changed Oath into a sickle before hurling it after her.

Weiss recovered soon enough to see the electrified sickle streaking towards her, and used another glyph to dodge sideways, out of the weapon's path. Olivia activated the gravity dust in her glove as she closed the distance. Weiss attempted a horizontal slash to force Olivia to keep her distance, but was shocked as the faunus simply ducked beneath it, reading the attack with practiced ease.

Olivia's left arm shot up and grabbed a hold of the front of Weiss's dress. Her other arm reached out and took hold of her left wrist, stopping Weiss from retaliating with her weapon. Olivia effortlessly hefted the heiress off her feet and spun, launching her into the path of the returning sickle. Its electrified blade caught against her midriff, sending a shockwave of light blue aura coursing over her body.

Oath continued past and back into Olivia's hand so that she could fire the shotgun at Weiss. The rapier was incapable of stopping the spread, but after the first couple shots, Weiss created another glyph. This black version stopped the pellets in their tracks, causing them to fall to the ground instead of hitting their mark.

The heiress waved her rapier through the air, sending out four simultaneous bolts of ice dust that seemed to hone in on Olivia. She charged, unshrouding her limbs for a moment to block each dust projectile with her appendages. They exploded less than a foot away, causing minimal damage to her aura. Olivia reshrouded her limbs and used the ones on her legs to launch herself above the black shield, perfectly positioned between herself and the heiress.

Olivia came crashing back down from above with her heel, driving it into the two handed defense that Weiss raised. With her foot positioned above and still in free fall, Olivia brought her other foot beneath the rapier to grasp it tightly with her feet. Using her own momentum while landing, Olivia transitioned into a backflip and used the force to rip the rapier from Weiss's hands, sending it flying across the stage behind herself.

Weiss threw up another black glyph, only a foot now separating the two of them while she was defenseless. 'Might as well test these out, eh?' Olivia combined another appendage with her right arm and struck outward, aiming for Weiss through the glyph. It shattered like glass, though it was much tougher to break. Olivia's hand slammed through and grabbed Weiss by the throat, lifting her up off the ground. The heiress's hands flailed at Olivia's as her fingers clamped down, slowly closing off her windpipe.

"That's enough!"

Olivia dropped Weiss to the ground as Miss Goodwitch called for the spar to end. She pretended to dust herself off and returned Oath to her back, ignoring the heiress as she coughed to clear her throat, "I'm guessing your fancy tutors weren't very accomplished fighters, either?"

When Weiss couldn't breathe well enough to respond, Olivia nodded, "I'll take that as a yes. I'd heard the Schnee's of old were renowned for their fighting abilities. Shame that it wasn't passed down," Olivia shrugged, "That's what happens when you have a disgusting piece of filth for a father, though."

"Miss Mandevilla! That is quite enough!" Goodwitch shouted, crossing her arms and tapping her foot against the ground in apparent anger, "You will help your teammate off the floor, and thank her for the match!"

Olivia snorted in a quick laugh and held her hand out. Weiss batted it away and stood herself while Olivia gave Goodwitch a 'see what good that did me?' look.

Weiss glared, looking as if she still wished her rapier was in her hands, "My father is not filth!"

Olivia shrugged, "Ignore his flaws all you want, Princess. That doesn't change the truth. He's nothing more than a monster in human skin."

Weiss stormed off to grab her rapier and didn't look back, heading straight for the locker room instead of back up into the stands. Olivia didn't bother watching her go, and instead glanced up at the door that led out into the hall. Ozpin has vanished. Olivia returned to her seat next to Ruby, "Sorry, Ruby. Your partner is a dud as a person, and a fighter."

"She's your teammate too, Olivia," Ruby whispered, giving the faunus a pouting stare while her lip trembled, "As your team leader, I… I demand you treat her with a little more respect!"

"I treat people with the respect they deserve," Olivia shot back.

With time passing and no sign of Weiss returning, Miss Goodwitch raised her voice, calling out to Ruby, "Miss Rose, would you please go check on your teammate? Miss Belladonna can fill the both of you in on the closing statements once class has been dismissed."

"Yes, ma'am," Ruby replied with a squeak. She paused to give Olivia one last sad glance before zipping off to the locker room, petals swirling in her wake.

Olivia spared an eye to Blake and saw that she also appeared to disapprove of how the spar had ended. Olivia lowered her voice and raised an eyebrow questioningly, "What? Was anything I said not the truth?"

"You aren't wrong, Olivia… Just…" Blake struggled to find the words she wanted to use and failed, shaking her head instead, "You humiliated her in front of the entire class, then insulted her when she was at your mercy… It won't look good for you, either."

Olivia raised her hands, "It isn't my fault the princess doesn't know how to fight. Everything she tried was so deliberate. She doesn't think on her feet and it makes her slow."

Blake made a gesture as if to bring more attention to what Olivia had just said, "You could have told her that. Don't you want everyone on your team at their best so they can have your back?"

Olivia laughed mirthlessly, "I'd never trust a Schnee to have my back. There'd be a rapier stuck in it faster than you could blink."

"Maybe if you keep antagonizing her like that," Blake whispered in frustration. Goodwitch had begun a closing statement for the class, but neither of them were listening, "Do you think making her hate you is going to help the faunus?"

"So we're nice to her. Then what? In another thirty years when her father retires and she inherits the company, she might make things a little easier on the faunus dying in the mines every day?" Olivia looked towards the floor as she shook her head in exasperation, "No matter what we do, it will barely have an effect. At least this way makes me feel better."

"Does it really? Wouldn't you rather be able to get along with your entire team? Wouldn't you rather sleep in your own dorm room? You'll be happier if you let go of your hate, Olivia…"

"The SDC paid huntsmen to slaughter my entire faction," Olivia snarled low enough that only the cat faunus would be able to hear, "How in the world would I let that go!?"

'Did we not believe Nicholas? They only wanted to capture the White Fang members. Widow was the one that made it a bloodbath…'

'Nicholas was trying to save himself and his son. He would have said anything.'

'Widow didn't deny it...'

Olivia sighed, placing a hand to her face, "I get that Weiss wasn't directly responsible, or hell… even involved in that. It would still be an insult to their memories for me to become friends with her. Just being on the same team…" Olivia shivered, "It makes me think about them more than I have in a long time. Seeing her makes me think about them…"

The gathered students all stood up in unison as Miss Goodwitch finished her speech and the bell rang, signalling the end of classes for the day. The teacher raised a hand and called out overtop the sound of the bustling students ready to leave, "Those of you that still require remedial work need to stay. I have the remainder of your packets in my office."

Olivia sighed, "My day just keeps getting better…" then gave Blake a shrug, "That would be me… Do you want to meet in the library to study? I'll bring Ren and Nora along as well."

"Do they know…?"

"No," Olivia whispered back firmly, "And they aren't going to find out, okay? They're some of the only humans I've ever liked. I don't want to lose what I have with them."

Blake nodded affirmation and glanced to the door then back to Olivia, "See you in the library, then. I wanted to get a head start on Oobleck's assignment. I'll help with your remedial lessons too, if you want."

"That would be nice," Olivia stepped down the first few stairs and gave her a small smile, "See you there, Blake."

Blake paused as she was about to leave, "We'll talk about this more later…" With that, she disappeared into the crowd and out of the room.

Ren and Nora followed along with Olivia as they headed down onto the arena floor. Miss Goodwitch eyed each of them as they were joined by half a dozen other students, all of which Olivia did recognize in passing from the school in Vale.

"Follow me," Miss Goodwitch led them back off the arena floor through a door that connected to the back. It opened out into another hallway. A short walk later, and they were at her office. It was medium sized; fairly barebones aside from the large wooden desk that took up the opposite end of the room from the door. Papers were neatly stacked across the top of it, looking as if they might collapse on themselves at any moment.

Goodwitch grabbed up one of these stacks and turned back around, going down through the packets by name. Each was a different size, depending on how much the student still needed to complete. Olivia was glad to see that hers was only ten packets thick, compared to some that had been many times that.

'Not everyone can be as diligent. Even if I did have Ren and Nora to keep me in line.'

Ren's group of packets was even smaller than Olivia's, with only a few packets remaining, while Nora's was of a similar size. Goodwitch got down to the very final packets and, giving Olivia a disapproving frown, handed it to her as well. It was twice the size of her own. Scribbled in neat handwriting across the top, said 'Ruby Rose'.

"Just because the Headmaster let Miss Rose in two years early doesn't mean she can skip those two years altogether," Miss Goodwitch gazed back across the rest of the students, "Complete these as quickly as you can. I'll expect at least one packet per day, on my desk before four thirty. For those of you with more to do, that includes the weekends." She gave them all a stern eye then nodded towards the door, "You're dismissed."

Olivia pulled out her scroll and sent a quick message to Ruby, letting her know she should meet with them at the library and to ditch the Schnee. Her reply came back a few minutes later, saying she'd be there as soon as she could.

Their small group stepped out into the evening sun, then began to follow the trail to the library. It was an entire building unto itself, something that Olivia was very unfamiliar with seeing. If you wanted a book in Mistral, you bought it from a shop. The library was massive, easily three stories tall with windows lining the exterior on each level. Ren led the way through the double doors into the fully carpeted interior.

Each way Olivia looked, books lined the walls, packed shelves, or sat open on top of round tables, in use by studying students. There was one desk near the front with an older woman behind it. She spared the group an uninterested frown, then returned to the crossword puzzle she was most of the way through.

Olivia spotted Blake waving them over from off to the left, and whispered for the others to follow. The cat faunus led them to a wall full of doors, each leading into their own separate rooms meant for groups to study in. Olivia shot Ruby another text, telling her to meet them in room 3B. There were no windows to look into the rooms, and the door locked from the inside.

A couch rested against one side of the room while a long table sat in the middle, surrounded by chairs on every side. Olivia plopped down on the couch and dug in, getting comfortable. Blake sat down near the end by her feet and Ren and Nora claimed the table.

"So, which packet are you on, Nora?" Olivia asked, comparing their similar stacks.

Nora read over the one on top, "Advanced Dust Techniques', you?"

"Same," Olivia flipped open that packet and pulled out her pen, "What about you, Ren?"

"Vegetation of Vacuo: A Survival Guide to the Desert Tundra."

Olivia and Nora both confirmed that they had the same packet, only later on, "Why don't we skip ahead and work with Ren while he's still on his so that he doesn't have to come back to them later to help us?"

"Oh, good idea," Nora tossed aside the majority of her packets to get down to the one Ren had mentioned.

"What subject did you choose for Oobleck's assignment?" Olivia asked Blake next to her.

Blake's eyes flicked to Ren and Nora before shrugging, "Faunus Oppression during the war. Faunus were kept within their own regiments and barely used for any actual fighting, aside from a few niche circumstances. I'm going to write about the effect they had on the war."

"I'm glad you're taking an interest in the faunus for Olivia's sake," Ren complimented with a small smile, "That's very considerate of you."

Olivia held back her laugh and nodded, sharing a wide smile with Blake, "It is, isn't it? Thanks, Blake. Anything for your new partner, eh?"

Blake shared a secretive smile, "Anything for my partner."

Olivia opened up her history textbook and kept the packet on the side as well. They began to study for a few minutes before Ruby arrived outside their door. Olivia hopped up and opened it before the young reaper had a chance to knock, and frowned at how red-faced she was. Ruby brushed by roughly and Olivia closed the door behind her, locking it again for good measure.

"What's up, Ruby?" Nora asked, noticing the girl's appearance as well.

"Weiss-" Ruby began, fuming, then stopped with a look towards Olivia, "Just… let's study, okay?" She dropped on to the couch, arms crossed and leaned back into the cushions, "I don't wanna talk about it."

Olivia shared a look of concern with Blake before sitting down on Ruby's other side, sandwiching her between the two faunus, "You know we're here for you, Rubes."

"I don't want you here for me! I want you to get along with Weiss!" Ruby exclaimed in annoyance, shifting slightly away from Olivia, "She left through the locker room and went straight back to the dorm. Weiss locked herself in the bathroom and wouldn't come out."

"So? The princess is having a tantrum. You shouldn't worry yourself over it, kid."

"But I am! Headmaster Ozpin made me the team leader, but after the first day we're already falling apart!" Ruby held her face in her hands, a quiver in her shoulders, "I want to be a good leader. My mom was, so I should be too, right? I don't even know how to make my own partner feel better…"

"Ruby…" Blake leaned closer and placed a hand on her shoulder, "No leader is great at it their first day. You have a couple teammates that are very… headstrong, to put it nicely. Olivia and Weiss not getting along isn't a reflection of your abilities as a leader. No one expects you to solve a hatred that deeply seated."

Olivia's heart went out to Ruby as her shoulders began to shake in earnest, silent sobs racking her chest while she continued to hide her face in her hands. Olivia wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her into a hug, "I'm sorry, Ruby. I didn't think about what my fight with Weiss might do to you. For your sake… I'll be nicer from now on. I can't promise to like the princess, but... I'll dial it back, alright?"

"Promise?" Ruby returned the hug in earnest.

"I promise I'll be nicer."

Ruby's shoulders shook less as she pulled back and wiped her sleeve across her face. Olivia scoffed at how poor of a job she'd done and accepted a handkerchief from Ren to help clear Ruby's face, then ruffled her hair, "Chin up, kid. It isn't the end of the world because two people don't get along," she reached out and grabbed the hefty stack of packets that the girl needed to complete, "I won't blame you for being upset about these, though. Presents from Goodwitch."

Ruby's body went slack as she took in the stack with her name on them. Olivia patted her hand, "We'll help. It won't be nearly as bad as you're thinking."

Ruby's gaze went across those in the room, each nodding in turn to offer their support, "Thanks, everybody."

"What else is a team for if not to help their leader?" Blake smiled and scooted closer to the younger huntress, then began thumbing through the stack before ending up at the one they'd been discussing before her arrival, "They're starting here to finish up Ren's, then working their way back. If anything seems confusing, just ask me, alright?"

Ruby nodded her thanks and they all picked up where they'd left off. Blake and Olivia offered up some extra assistance here and there when Ruby wasn't able to follow along any more, but aside from those few times, the kid managed to keep up in their discussions. It was a few hours later, with the rest of Ren's packets having been completed, by the time Olivia felt the first pangs of hunger.

"I think that's enough for one day. Do you guys want to go out to Vale for dinner? My treat."

"Should I invite Yang and Pyrrha as well?" Ren asked, already pulling out his scroll.

Olivia gave Ruby a glance and sighed, "Yeah. I'll go ask the princess if she wants to go, too," at Ruby's accusing stare, Olivia raised her hands, "I'll be… nice about it. If she still doesn't want to go, then that's on her. Deal?"

"Okay, but I'm coming with you to make sure you put your best foot forward!" Ruby half cheered, half warned.

Olivia gave Ren a nervous smile, "Meet you at the bullheads in twenty minutes?"

"Sounds like a plan!" Nora exclaimed, grabbing Ren by the hand, along with their papers, and leading him out.

Olivia helped Ruby gather up her things, then frowned as a thought came to her mind, "Sorry Blake. I forgot to take out those clothes… The dorm probably smells by now."

Blake wrinkled her nose, then gave a warning glance towards Ruby, "I think I can handle it. You should do that before we leave, though, so the room isn't as bad when we get back."

Olivia nodded, "No problem. Let's hurry up then, shall we?"

The three girls exited the library, surprised to find that they were some of the few left still using it. The sun had only just disappeared past the edge of the horizon, a pale red glow lighting the edge of the sky above the mountains in the distance. They made the long trek back to the dorms and up the stairs to the hallway that ended with both team Rainbow's and team Lion's rooms.

Olivia paused after swiping her scroll past the door to unlock it and knocked before she opened it, giving the princess ten seconds to make herself presentable if necessary. The first thing Olivia noticed when she opened the door was the clear lack of the stench of alcohol. In its place was the dull but pleasant scent of berries and vanilla.

The clothes that Olivia had left on her bed that morning were instead cleaned and neatly folded. Weiss looked up from her desk as they entered, pen hovering overtop her homework from Port's class, along with the extensive notes she had taken in her tidy handwriting.

Weiss turned her head back to her paper and spoke in a clipped tone, "Your clothes smelled awful so I had them cleaned. I know faunus have better senses, so I thought it would be… nice… to take care of it for you."

Olivia gave Ruby a suspicious glance, wondering if the young team leader had also pulled a similar scene with the princess. Ruby pretended not to notice and headed over to her dresser instead, pulling out some clothes that would be more fit for downtown Vale, and tried to look for all the world like she was ignoring the conversation completely.

Olivia sighed and rubbed the back of her neck, 'Is that how little sisters get their way?' then coughed once into her hand, "Eh, well… thank you, Prin-... Weiss. We're going down to Vale for dinner with team Lion. Did you want to join us? It probably won't be at some fancy restaurant…"

Weiss looked back up from her homework and gave Olivia a long, considering gaze, "I suppose I could finish this when I get back…"

"With notes like those you probably have the answers already written down," Olivia joked awkwardly, then shrugged, "Up to you."

Weiss pondered it for a few more moments, then nodded with a tiny smile tugging at the corners of her lips, "I'll get ready then." She stood from her desk and went over to her dresser next to Ruby's. After a few moments, another dress was pulled free, topped with a white coat. Weiss stepped into the bathroom to change and closed the door behind herself, leaving the other three girls alone together.

Ruby turned slowly to lean against her dresser, a smug look across her face, "I guess I'm a better leader than I give myself credit for."

Olivia laughed along with Blake and just took it as is. Even if the outcome had been so far in her favor, Ruby's tears had been real. 'I'll do this for you, Ruby. No one else.'

Olivia tucked away her club outfit and pulled out something less risque to wear for the night. Once again, her veins were covered by a dark purple long sleeve sweater that clung tightly to her. Olivia stole a few glances at Blake's figure while she changed, and staunchly avoided looking at Ruby until the younger girl had given the all clear.

They relaxed and spoke for a while, waiting for Weiss to finish dressing. A few minutes later, the heiress exited the bathroom in her odd coat-dress. The white of the dress was capped along the skirt and cuffs with black, along with black buttons on the front and along the edge of its collar. Olivia forced a polite smile and stood, gesturing for the rest to follow along.

"Any recommendations, Ruby? You've lived in Vale the longest."

Ruby frowned, "It depends on what everyone can agree on… Let's see what Lion wants to do, too."

"Fair enough."

Rainbow continued down to the bullhead docks, where the other team could already be seen waiting for their arrival. Nora waved emphatically as they approached and shot Weiss a welcoming smile for good measure, "Where are we headed, Olivia?"

"What's everyone in the mood for?" Olivia glanced around at the assortment of students from various nationalities, "I don't mind as long as it's a place where we can relax," she shot Yang a warning glance at her raised hand, "That means not Junior's."

Yang's hand fell in clear disappointment as she kicked a pebble across the pavement, "Fine. I guess the Lounge would be our best bet with this many people."

"The Lounge?" Olivia repeated back with a frown.

Yang nodded, "It's a bar and buffet. They have tons of different stuff to choose from, along with alcohol if you have an ID."

"Ren and I don't have Vale ID's…" Nora muttered.

"Your Beacon ID is good enough. We can get Ruby in too with it. Just don't try and order any drinks," Yang shot her younger sister a warning glare.

Olivia laughed and nudged Ruby, "Don't worry, kid. I'll let you sip off mine a few times to see if you like it."

Ruby raised her hands in denial, "No, thanks. I tried some of Qrow's one time. Alcohol is disgusting."

"Yeah, but he's probably packing around the hard stuff, Rubes. Not all of it is that bad. You've gotta work your way up to it."

"She isn't working her way up to anything," Yang planted her fists on her hips and stared down Olivia, "No buts!"

"Alright, alright," Olivia conceded, "Lead the way, Yang."

They all boarded the bullhead and were quickly transported down to Vale. Yang did indeed take the lead along with Ruby as the two guided them through the dwindling throngs in the Vale streets. Many people were headed home for dinner, leaving the majority of downtown Vale as free game for club goers. Olivia spotted a few other Beacon teams in casual wear around town. If not for their unlocked auras, she wouldn't have really noticed.

After another ten minutes, the group found themselves entering a decently sized establishment made of stone that had been painted a myriad of colors. A glowing sign out front announced its name, 'The Lounge', along with neon signs depicting food and drinks. Their party of eight entered into the front to be met with a din of noise from other patrons that had beat them there.

The hostess walked out from behind her podium to greet them, "Welcome to the Lounge. There are… eight of you, correct? We should have an opening in a few minutes if you'd like to wait on the bench. Another group is wrapping up their bill and should be headed out soon enough."

Yang flashed a smile, "Fine by me. Come on, guys."

Olivia ended up sitting between Ruby and Blake, with Weiss to Ruby's other side. The atmosphere of the place was nice enough, with the general age of those present being beyond their twenties. Several holographic monitors were placed against the walls, scattered around the interior. Two were situated within the waiting area, both displaying separate news channels.

Their small group talked amongst themselves while they waited, with Olivia being careful to try and avoid insulting Weiss. Some of her remarks were close, but each time Ruby would shoot her a glare, and Olivia would rephrase what she'd said to make it less offensive. It was difficult, but she was managing as best she could.

After a few minutes, Olivia felt a nudge on her leg from Blake's side. The faunus was discreetly getting her attention, eyes wide looking up at the news feed on the wall across from them. Olivia frowned and followed her gaze.

"Beacon Applicant Dies Due to Wounds Sustained During Initiation," the heading read. Lisa Lavender and her co-anchor sat solemnly next to each other, announcing the death of Cardin Winchester at the hands of the grimm, "The seventeen year old student was rushed to the hospital, and all attempts were made to stabilize him. Unfortunately, the aura enhancers were insufficient to the task. Cardin was pronounced dead later that same evening."

The pair launched into a segment looking at the past mortalities that had happened during Beacon's initiation, having to go back nearly a dozen years for the previous death. They promised an interview later as well, with a student that had witnessed Cardin's fight against the grimm in the Emerald Forest.

Olivia paused, uncertain of how exactly to react to the news. It made sense that they would have brought Cardin back to the hospital and covered it up that way. Between Neo and Emerald, Olivia doubted it would have been difficult at all to hide the true cause of death. 'His disappearance would have drawn far more attention…'

Olivia glanced at Blake and sighed, "I… didn't think I hit him that hard in the forest…"

The faunus was staring intently into Olivia's eyes, trying to search out what truth could be found there. Her hand grabbed onto Olivia's own and dragged her up off the couch, glancing past instead to the rest of their teams, "We'll be right back. Save us a couple seats, alright?"

Yang's eyes twinkled as she grinned, "Yeah, yeah. Hurry it up, you two."

Blake looked ready to comment, but thought better of it and pulled Olivia along behind her, back out into the street and to the side of the building in the alleyway. She let go once they were tucked into the shadows of the two buildings and rounded on Olivia.

"Did you kill him on purpose?" her voice was accusatory, eyes narrowed.

"All I did was punch him once. You saw it. I even pulled off his chest piece so that he could breathe better," Olivia rubbed a hand against the back of her head, "Did you think he was going to die from that?"

Blake shifted, using her right hand to hold her opposite forearm. Olivia recognized it as a gesture of closing off. Blake's trust was quickly dwindling, what little of it there had been to begin with.

"He didn't look that bad… What… What is your semblance, exactly?"

Olivia shrouded one arm and held it out for Blake to feel. When her partner continued to stand there in confusion, Olivia grabbed her hand and set it down on top of the hard, invisible carapace that protected it. Blake's hand seemed to stop an inch from Olivia's actual arm. With Olivia letting go, Blake moved her hand up and down the invisible spider armor.

"I can shroud my limbs to protect them. When they're like that, it adds to my strength in that limb as well. Blocking with them doesn't hurt my aura, so I haven't really used a weapon up until now. Ruby and her uncle helped me make Oath a week or so ago."

"It feels…" Blakes brow lowered in confusion, feeling along the invisible ridges and joints.

"They're like spider legs. I've dipped them in paint before to see for myself," Olivia shrugged and dropped her semblance, allowing Blake's hand to fall past and rest on her real arm instead. Olivia grabbed it gently with both hands before she could pull away, "I know my strength, Blake. Maybe in the heat of the moment, I went a little overboard… but I wasn't trying to kill Cardin in the forest. Please, believe me when I say that."

"Would… would you have done it in the past? Before you wanted to be a better person, I mean…?"

Olivia thought about what to say for a few moments, then decided to mix some truth in with her lies, "Yes. If we were still in Mistral… I would have killed both of them without a second thought. Like I said, I'm trying to be better. Will you… will you help me? I don't want to be that person anymore. I want to be a huntress."

"Why? Why do you want to change?"

Olivia smiled slightly, "I've wanted to for a long time. Stuck in Mistral like I was… I didn't think I'd ever be able to leave. Then an old friend pulled through, and I was able to escape that life. I'm here in Vale, now. I thought I could... start fresh… ya know? I guess some habits are hard to quit…"

"And you have no intentions of joining the White Fang again?"

Olivia shook her head firmly, "None."

"I'll…" Blake chewed on her lip, hesitating. She shifted in place, nervously glancing back out of the alleyway.

"Please, Blake. I need your help…"

"... Okay," Blake brought her other hand up to hold it along with Olivia's other two, "I'll help keep you in line. Any time you're feeling angry, or… worse… come to me first. I'll be there for you… You're my partner, after all..."

Olivia pulled her into a hug and smiled, feeling the tension slowly beginning to evaporate as Blake melted into the embrace, "I knew I could count on you. I'm lucky to have met you, Blake."

Blake was the first to pull away, though her hands continued to rest against Olivia's shoulders, "Let's go try and enjoy ourselves, alright? Step one to recovery, focusing on having fun instead of concentrating on whatever's got you down."

"Yes, ma'am," Olivia grinned and pulled Blake along, back towards the entrance, "Step one sounds good to me."

Blake kept an eye on Olivia throughout dinner. The spider faunus had sombered up since her earlier excitement before the news reel announcing what she assumed only the two of them knew; Olivia had killed Cardin Winchester. Blake had a lot of experience dealing with Adam and his lies. Olivia, on the other hand… 'She seems genuine about wanting to change… I hope she can…'

No… 'I'll make sure she does. I failed with Adam because he didn't want to change. I won't fail again."

Blake watched her laughing at one of Yang's jokes between drinks. She was even managing to lay off Weiss and keep it somewhat civil between the two of them.

Blake nodded silently to herself.

'Olivia Mandevilla will be a model huntress by the time I'm done with her…'

Wooh, over 200 follows. Nice. For a minute there, I thought TLG was going to overtake BL. It might still by the time the 300's roll around, if either of them get that many follows.

Thank you to everyone that is subbed to either of them, or both. Knowing that people are enjoying these is one of the main reasons I can keep going with them each week. You all make it worth it.

So, some small portion of the truth has come out between Olivia and Blake. Would Blake still be as accepting or even want to try if she knew the fully story? Probably not, at least for now. It's still pretty early. Team Rainbow definitely has some rough patches ahead. All Olivia can do is hope that none of them get a project that involves looking up the Black Lotus.

How far will Blake be willing to go to 'change' Olivia?

Thanks for reading,

- Sybaen