Velvet felt much more rested by the time the doors dinged open, announcing their arrival at the top floor of the CCT. She hung off Coco's arm, dotingly supporting the girl that had admitted her balance was a little off during the walk to the tower. Velvet had suspected something was amiss, once she realized Coco had lacked her usual confident swagger.

There were no chairs, less time having passed between giving Ozpin notice and their actual arrival. He sat behind his desk in the early morning, drinking from his usual mug. His glasses were slightly askew and his outfit wrinkled, a pair of tired eyes squinting at the screen in front of him. If Velvet didn't know any better, she would have guessed he'd stayed up all night and hadn't left the office since the last time they were there.

'Even the Headmaster has to sleep sometimes,' Velvet grinned, pushing the notion from her mind. He just needed to spend longer in front of a mirror.

"Ah, welcome!" Ozpin smiled widely, taking stock of Coco and Fox's conditions. "You both seem to have pulled through all right. No maladies to speak of, I hope?"

"None," Coco spoke up before Velvet could, refusing to use her for support as she had on the way there. Velvet only scoffed quietly to herself, knowing that Coco's image was important to her. Better to not ruin it by making a scene in front of the Headmaster.

"And you're looking far more rested this morning, Miss Scarlatina. Glad to see you've recovered after yesterday's events."

"Oh, o-of course!" Velvet smiled, raising a hand to rub against the back of her head. "I have Olivia to thank for that. She watched over Coco and Fox so that I could get my rest. I…" She froze, hand stopping in its motions while heat slowly built in her cheeks. 'I wouldn't have been able to sleep without knowing Coco was safe' was what she would have said, if it wasn't so embarrassing to admit to the Headmaster of all people. Her hand resumed, "Well, a-anyway. I'm good now."

Ozpin didn't really appear to have noticed her flustered speech. His eyes had gone vacant, a worried frown tugging at the corner of his lips. Once the silence began to draw out however, he seemed to come back to himself with a small shake, "Glad to hear it, dear."

"So, are we not supposed to talk about the woman we ran into?" Coco asked curiously, stepping in as the conversation trailed off once more.

"Ah, yes. That is indeed the case. Some agents of mine are looking into the issue quietly. Until we understand the how and why, we'd rather avoid giving any incomplete information out to the public, or even your fellow students. Nothing will be gained by causing panic, after all," Ozpin's eyes grew sharp. "I trust you didn't tell Miss Mandevilla any of the details?"

"Only about the Grimm, but from the way she asked her question it sounded as if Velvet had told her as much already," Coco confirmed offhandedly, waving away the Headmaster's concerns. "I didn't spill the beans on the crazy woman."

Ozpin breathed a quiet sigh of relief and took another sip of his coffee. He set it down and took a moment to readjust his glasses, fixing the slight skew they had acquired, "I'm glad to hear it. You all did as well as you could, considering the unfavorable conditions you found yourselves in. You may consider this a positive mark towards your Hunter Ranking once you graduate. Continue to improve, and I'll look forward to sending all of you into your bright futures with the highest marks that Beacon can bestow."

Velvet beamed, but the other members of her team didn't seem to take the news as they should. Coco crossed her arms and struck a pose, hip jutting out to the side in defiance. Yatsuhashi clutched his hands into tight fists, and Fox bowed his head, looking dejectedly off to the side.

"Our failures shouldn't be celebrated, Headmaster. It's true that we repelled the Grimm attack as well as we could, but when it came to that woman… we didn't stand a chance," Coco shook her head in frustration, biting her lip momentarily at the request she was about to make. "As much as I enjoy the prestige that comes with being one of Beacon's best teams, it means nothing if it wasn't earned. If you don't mind… I'd like you to tell the truth to the rest of the student body. We held up as well as we could, but it was team Carmine that pulled through when things got rough. They're the ones that should be praised, not us."

Velvet shrank, a worried frown on her face. She didn't completely agree with what the rest of her team seemed to believe. It appeared that the Headmaster didn't either, judging by the expression he leveled at them all. 'We did our best…'

Ozpin smiled dotingly, "I'm sorry you feel that way, Miss Adel. Any other team would have crumbled far sooner under the pressure you all were put under. It was by no means an easy feat to last as long as you did, regardless of the end results. You saved an entire town before your final confrontation, and for that, you will receive your reward. Many families are still intact, their loved ones saved, because of your efforts."

"Still-"

"If you believe yourself unworthy of the praise, then there is one simple solution," Ozpin grinned at the scowl on Coco's face. "Would you like to hear what that is?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Become worthy," Ozpin waited for the two words to settle into their minds before continuing, the doting smile returning to his face. "Live up to your own laurels, instead of resting on them. You and I are both aware that your team will do nothing if not grow in due time. I don't believe that you will take the peoples' trust lightly, will you, Miss Adel?"

Coco sighed, "No, Sir."

"That's more like it. I'll hear no more about your team being undeserving of the praise you've received," he raised an eyebrow, "If there is nothing further, then you may return to classes, as usual. Do try to get your rest, though. A mission like that doesn't come around very often, but I know well enough the fatigue that can follow after."

Coco smirked, draping an arm around Velvet's shoulder and causing her cheeks to light up, "Oh, we'll get our rest. Just as soon as we've thanked team Carmine properly. Party down in Vale if you wanna come, Headmaster~"

"I doubt a man of his station has time for such frivolous things," Yatsuhashi scoffed, sparing an eye down to his widely grinning teammate.

Ozpin smiled, "Indeed. It is the privilege of youth that they have such boundless energy. You said Carmine is attending? Be sure to pass along my thanks as well."

"We'll pass around more than that~" Coco smirked. "Olivia's already suggested body shots," she turned to Velvet with a cheshire grin, brightening even further upon seeing the red hot boiling point her cheeks had reached, "Think you'll keep up, Bun?"

"Cocoooo…" Velvet replied weakly, voice barely coming out above a whisper. 'Y-you can't say that in front of a teacher!' And Ozpin, no less! It was enough to make her ears wilt and eyes become permanently affixed to the marble floor.

Coco laughed, using an arm around her shoulder to rock Velvet back and forth while the faunus put her hands over her face, "Alright, Bun~ I'll save it for tonight~"

Ozpin's response was measured, his voice sounding tight in his chest, "I'm afraid I must decline. Thank you for the offer, and thank you in advance for keeping our secrets intact. Remember… tell no one, no matter how close or trustworthy you might believe them to be." It was a clear warning, the importance of their silence worth reiterating. Velvet raised her eyes to nod her acceptance, only then noticing that he appeared paler than the last time she'd looked to him.

'He probably doesn't appreciate Coco's jokes either,' Velvet took a moment to thank him for his time along with the rest of their team, then fell into step with Coco as they all retreated to the elevator.

Ozpin had already weaved his fingers together, head tilted down to stare at his desk with a troubled frown by the time the doors dinged shut. He disappeared from view entirely, leaving their team alone with each other once more. Velvet immediately took the opportunity to smack Coco on the shoulder, though it lacked any real force.

Coco smirked and wrapped Velvet in a brief hug, sighing affectionately, "Sorry, Bun. I couldn't resist."

Velvet narrowed her eyes, the initial embarrassment having passed enough for it to be playful, rather than indignant, "Next time you say something like that in front of a teacher you're losing cuddle rights for a week."

Coco paled, eyes growing wide while she raised her hands to gesture for Velvet to calm down, "L-Let's not get hasty now, Vel. I'll reel the teasing back a bit, I promise."

Velvet grinned, enjoying her brief revenge before pecking Coco on the cheek, "And don't you forget it~"

Fox made a retching sound before dropping his head into a hand, shaking it back and forth. His thoughts came out in clear exasperation, "I need a drink."

"Later, Fox~ I'll be sure to buy the first round."

Ozpin's hands travelled across his keyboard rapidly, fingers inputting his password to access the campus cameras. The image flickered from scene to scene until he finally found the one he'd been searching for, the camera that oversaw the infirmary hallway where Coco and Fox had been resting. Ozpin stopped the footage and reversed it, going back to the beginning of the previous night in order to see what exactly the Black Lotus had been busy doing while 'guarding' the members of team Coffee.

'If she's taken a sudden interest in their team…'

Ozpin's foot tapped incessantly beneath the table while his eyes stared at the screen. No one would be safe if the Maiden powers fell into the hands of an assassin of her caliber. The Black Lotus's kill count already numbered in the hundreds, if his contact was to be believed.

A flicker of white came on screen, and Ozpin slowed the footage back down in order to see more clearly. Miss Schnee had apparently visited her teammate during her silent vigil. The two of them were sitting on the bench together. The footage continued to play, until...-

'Wait…'

'Is she…?'

Ozpin took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes roughly, trying to work out the blurriness that had set in after working all night. His tired mind had to be playing tricks on him. However, no matter how hard he scrubbed, the images on screen remained the same. Surely it had to be a mistake, but if not…

Was the Black Lotus actually crying in the arms of a Schnee?

Ozpin reversed the footage to the moment of Weiss's arrival, turned up the audio and, after a few moments' hesitation, hit play.

The scene that unravelled before his eyes was one that he never would have expected, even with all of his machinations at work to help Olivia turn over a new leaf. He had hoped for grudging tolerance from the faunus at best, given four years to grow accustomed to her unwanted teammate before allowing them to go their separate ways.

But this… the clear affection being displayed between the two? The trust that Olivia had shown, tearing down her own walls to reveal the pain that still lingered? Showing her own weaknesses to someone who, by her own admission, should have been considered an enemy of all faunus?

Ozpin sat back tiredly, rewinding the footage to listen and watch closely once again. Even after replaying it several times over…

He wasn't sure what to believe anymore.

"Shit. I thought you were smart, Princess!?" Olivia chastised, both of them rushing through the halls back to their dorm after spending far too long training in the arena. Olivia's breaths came out in short pants, the efforts of avoiding the heiress's attacks having done a number on her, especially after not sleeping the night previously.

"Sorry… that I just... spent… the last couple hours… messing with my own sense of time!" Weiss struggled out, panting far more heavily than Olivia even was. Sweat decorated her forehead and stained her back, the less physically fit of the pair that had been training for the last two hours straight.

"Time really flies when you're flying through time~"

Weiss let out a strangled huff, "That was… just bad… I know you... can do better…"

Olivia shook her head, "Too tired. Best I've got."

Weiss sighed and dropped the conversation, choosing to focus on breathing evenly instead. They were drawing closer to their dorm now, the two of them making surprisingly good time despite their combined fatigue. Their footsteps echoed through the mostly empty halls, the occasional student stopping to stare at them as they tore past.

They climbed the stairs three at a time and turned the final corner to see Ruby standing in the hall, nervously waiting with her fingers poking against each other. Olivia felt a flash of regret, knowing that the younger girl had likely been looking forward to going out even more than her older peers. Olivia wished she'd spent more time with her before the actual event, helping her to get ready for her first real night on the town.

"There you two are! What kept you so long!?" Ruby spoke tightly, stepping aside to let them hustle past into the room. Blake looked up from her top bunk, the comic book in her hands forgotten momentarily while she spared them a raised eyebrow, taking note of the state they were both in.

Weiss cleared her throat with a grumble, coughing into her hand, "We just got caught up in training. I was trying my best to get a handle on a new glyph, then Olivia suggested some other things we could try..."

Olivia winked at Weiss with a mischievous grin, "Hey now, don't kiss and tell~" She held a hand up when Weiss grew flustered, opening her mouth as if to stammer out a response. "You want to keep it a surprise, right? Don't give up the ace in your sleeve before you've had a chance to use it."

Weiss glowered, eventually nodding her agreement. She walked to her dresser and started pulling out a change of clothes, along with a towel. Her eyes flashed between the bathroom and Olivia, a small grin twisting her features as she thought of a way to get revenge for the faunus's comment, "I might take a while. I suppose if you want to clean yourself up before the party then you'll need to find alternate accommodations."

"What, not enough room for two~?" Olivia laughed at the heat blooming on Weiss's cheeks, and the way her attitude shriveled in the face of the faunus's teasing. She waved a hand for her to go on ahead. "I'm sure Lion won't mind if I borrow theirs. Take your time, Princess."

Weiss spun on her heel and stepped into the bathroom without another word, crimson still decorating her cheeks. Olivia let out a final few giggles and began grabbing some clothes for herself, choosing out a tight purple sweater that she'd worn plenty of times before.

Blake surprised Olivia by giving her a disapproving frown, "You shouldn't tease Weiss so much. She might get the wrong idea…"

"Hmm?" Olivia raised an eyebrow, in the process of deciding which pair of pants to wear. She spared a glance to Blake, gesturing with her hand as if to wave away the girl's concerns. "What kind of idea? She should already know by now that I'd never go out with a Schnee." Olivia shrugged, "It's not as if Weiss plays for the same team as me anyway, if you catch my drift."

Ruby shot them both a confused glance, "Aren't we all on the same team?"

Olivia snorted, gathering up the items she'd picked out and stuffing them in a bundle, "That would certainly make our name more fitting~"

"Rainbow?" Ruby's confusion only grew, looking between the two while knowing that she was in the dark completely. She pouted, crossing her arms with a cute little huff and narrowing her eyes at Olivia. "What are you two not telling me?"

Olivia looked to Blake, only to see the faunus staunchly refusing to reciprocate the glance. She'd buried her nose in a comic book once more, allowing Olivia to choose what was revealed. Judging by the slight shake to her shoulders, she could only guess that Blake was also busy hiding her laughter within the colorful pages.

Olivia sighed, scrunching the clothes she'd grabbed beneath one arm in order to step next to Ruby and place her free hand on the younger girl's shoulder. Ruby's hopes grew at the consoling smile that Olivia leveled at her, only for those hopes to be dashed when it turned into a cheshire grin.

"When you're older, kid."

Ruby glared, stomping her foot and throwing both arms down straight in a gesture of frustration, "As team leader, I order you to tell me!"

"Oh~?" Olivia smirked, "It seems as if my hands are tied, then." She leaned forward, cupping a hand around her mouth in order to whisper into Ruby's ear. She explained what 'playing for the other team' meant, then chuckled while pointing out how Ruby's own words could be taken as meaning they were all involved in that way with each other.

'Orders are orders, right~?'

Ruby's cheeks grew heated, and she backpedaled away from Olivia a single step while raising a hand to cover her mouth, "O-Oh, I see… I didn't mean..."

"Of course you didn't, kid. You're too pure for your own good~" Olivia chastised, moving away to place a hand on the door. "Have I fulfilled my duty, dear leader? I still need to see if Lion will let me use their shower."

"Y-you've fulfilled your duties admirably," Ruby confirmed, legs giving out to sit heavily on a nearby chair.

Olivia smirked, deciding to throw in one last parting tease, "If you do end up playing for my team, I'll be sure to show you the ropes~ It's not as if Qrow will be much use when it comes to helping you snag the ladies. He strikes out more than anyone I've ever seen." She laughed once, "Though I'll feel bad for the unlucky girl that catches your eye. She'll have a lot to prove if she expects Yang or me to allow it~"

Olivia left at that, flashing Ruby a parting wink before crossing the hall to knock on team Lion's door. She felt Yang approaching a few moments later, the other members of her team situated on their various beds while waiting for the night to begin.

"Oh, hey Olivia!" Yang greeted her, opening the door to find her standing there with an armload of clothes. Olivia had done her best to hide her undergarments at least, wrapping them into the center of the bundle she held.

"Hey, Yang. Is it alright if I borrow your team's shower? Weiss and I got back a little late so there's not really time for both of us to use ours," Olivia rubbed the back of her head, smiling with only a touch of embarrassment.

"Sure!" Yang backed away to let her in, then closed the door behind her. "No one has a problem with that, right?"

"By all means."

"Of course!"

"I won't be needing it."

Olivia smiled her thanks, "I shouldn't be too long. Be back out in a few!" She rushed into the bathroom offered and got to business, intending to spend only long enough to wash the day's sweat from her body and pay extra attention to her hair. She'd showered already earlier that morning, realizing she hadn't had the chance after her time spent with Melanie. Olivia was thankful the heiress wasn't a faunus herself, otherwise she may not have stuck around long enough for the confession to take place.

Olivia paused in thought, soapy hands coming to a rest in her hair, the water from the showerhead hitting her back and cascading down smooth skin. The fact that Weiss had been so understanding, so compassionate… It still left Olivia speechless at times, whenever her mind wandered back to replay the night's events.

As vehement as Olivia had been against Widow's beliefs, she hadn't been able to stop her heart from echoing the older woman's sentiments. To be forgiven was a fantasy that had very little hope of becoming true. Olivia hadn't even trusted her two oldest friends with the truth, both Nora and Ren still in the dark about what she'd done to those that killed her parents.

They both knew that her family was dead, of course. Meeting them while she'd been a fellow orphan on the streets had been an easy enough clue to that. Olivia had also exchanged several stories with them during the month they'd spent together before Beacon, revealing some details about those she met within the White Fang, under the pretense that they'd been hunters.

Her fellow Mistralians knew what life was like on the streets. Unlike the heiress, they weren't pampered elites used to living in the clouds, well away from the chaos and turmoil of the world beneath. They'd seen the death and sickness that those in the slums were forced to deal with. The crime and poverty that created a futile desperation within the populace. Olivia was a product of that very world, twisted into something unrecognizable from her former self. And yet, even knowing that her friends would have better insight into why she'd done all those things, Olivia still couldn't trust them with the truth.

To have Weiss surprise her like that…?

It meant more to Olivia than she'd realized, even at the time. She'd become far closer to the heiress in a single night than all of the previous weeks combined, revealing a secret that she hadn't even told those she trusted most. A nervous excitement surrounded Olivia's interactions with Weiss now, each moment drawing her closer to another reveal, and the comfort of acceptance she hoped would follow.

It had been so long since she'd found a good person that wouldn't look down on her. Not since… 'Since Jace…' Her second brother had known all about her deeds at the time, and yet still cared for her. Trained her to make sure she stayed safe, despite the lives she'd taken.

In comparison, Ren and Nora were too precious to risk with the truth. In an odd way, Weiss was the easiest confidant to turn to. If Olivia's secrets proved to be too much, and the heiress turned her back on her, then was she really losing anything aside from her own foolish dreams? Getting along with the Schnee had been a long shot in the first place.

Olivia's hands slowed as they moved across the smooth skin of her shoulder, thinking back to how Weiss had rested her head there the night before, how Olivia had felt some small desire to do the same in return. It had been so precious a moment, so pure… Her time spent with Melanie outside the other girl's bed paled in comparison.

Olivia frowned, unsure why the other girl in particular came to mind... It wasn't as if she and Ruby had done anything of note either.

She shrugged. It just went to show how little there really was between them. If Melanie continued to grow too attached, then Olivia would need to cut ties. She was too far across the line, too close to the old life that Olivia had sworn to leave behind. Falling back in with a crowd like that... she'd already provided back up for Junior's men while they robbed a Dust store. Who was to say how far she'd go if she actually fell for his bodyguard?

Olivia couldn't take that risk.

Body now thoroughly cleaned, Olivia sighed in contentment as she turned the shower off and stepped out. She spent a few minutes standing in front of the mirror, drying off her body while thinking about the night ahead. Thankfully, her black hair wasn't nearly as long as Weiss's or Yang's, allowing her to finish up more quickly than she might have otherwise.

Olivia slipped on her clothes, undergarments followed by her tightly knit purple sweater and the pants from her combat outfit. Since going to see Madam Myrtle and having the outfit slimmed down further, it had become the most provocative piece of clothing she possessed. Olivia was feeling adventurous, ready to cast aside her troubles with Melanie and have a fun night out where the future was anyone's guess. She planned on drinking to her heart's content, and likely regretting it the next morning.

The members of team Lion were all still gathered in their dorm. Olivia could feel them all moving about, most displaying some amount of excited energy for the night ahead. Olivia used her towel to wrap up the clothes she'd changed out of and stepped out, grinning as she threw the door open to stand in a provocative pose. It was only slightly ruined by the bundle of towel and clothes under one arm.

Pyrrha indulged her with an appreciative smile while Nora flashed a thumbs up, grinning widely. Olivia bowed as Yang wolf whistled, blowing air through two fingers as she'd seen it done in the movies. "Thanks, Yang. You're not looking half bad yourself, ya know~"

Yang brought a hand up to her hair, flinging it back across her shoulder, "Oh, I know~ How did Rubes look?"

"Adorable, as always," Olivia assured, thinking back to what she'd seen the younger girl wearing. "Nothing too risque, if that's what you mean."

Yang held her hands up, "She can wear whatever she wants. Just means I'll have my work cut out for me if she draws too much attention."

"Work cut out for us~" Olivia grinned. She raised a fist to accept the one that Yang offered, bumping them together in a sign of mutual agreement. 'Nobody gets to touch a hair on that kid's head unless she wants them to.' Even then, Olivia would be keeping her senses finely tuned throughout the night, a metaphorical eye on her team leader.

"Are we ready then?" Nora piped up excitedly, looking to the rest of her team and Olivia while her hand rested on the doorknob that led out into the hall.

"Almost," Olivia replied. She could still only feel Blake and Ruby in the dorm itself across from them. Weiss could be dimly felt as well, still in the bathroom preparing for the night ahead. With a few minutes to spare in preparation, Olivia took the chance to dip a hand into her pocket and walk over to Nora.

Nora eyed her curiously, then recoiled in mild surprise when Olivia wrapped her in a one armed hug. She reciprocated immediately, throwing both of her own around Olivia despite not knowing the occasion. Her confusion was answered a moment later, as she felt the lien that Olivia snuck from her own pocket into her friend's.

"You two have fun~" Olivia whispered quietly, moving her second hand up to hug Nora properly before pulling away.

Now that it was no longer teasing, Nora's cheeks had adopted a minor tinge of red, a mere dusting compared to the crimson Ren had sported earlier. She nodded her thanks and pushed the lien deeper into her pocket before flashing a bright smile in the boy's direction. Ren could only raise an eyebrow in reply, confused as to what had transpired between the two.

"Alright, I'm going to check on my team. I'll let you know when we're ready," Olivia saluted her departure with two fingers, crossing the hall to her own dorm.

Ruby jumped up from her chair as the door opened. Olivia spared her a critical eye, truly taking a moment to appreciate the outfit the younger girl had chosen. Ruby had opted to go for a more casual look than her typical combat outfit, instead wearing a thin, loose red t-shirt and black running shorts that didn't do much to cover her legs. A pair of cute black sneakers decorated each foot, red ankle socks barely visible past the sides.

"Looking good, kid," Olivia praised, much to Ruby's delight. The girl clasped her hands together and rocked side to side, mildly bashful but ultimately pleased that Olivia had taken the time to notice what she was wearing.

"I didn't think my combat outfit would really fit in," Ruby replied tentatively. She looked down at herself, "You don't think it's too much?"

Olivia glanced down at how much of the girl's legs were exposed, "You mean if it's not enough?" She grinned at Ruby's nod and shook her own head, "You're fine. Just don't drink too much and keep your head on straight. Nothing to worry about."

"You really think they're going to let her drink?" Blake asked in surprise, raising her eyes from the comic in her hands. "No offense Ruby, but you don't look seventeen…"

Olivia waved away her concerns, "She'll just have to show her Beacon ID. You have to be seventeen to apply, right? Even bouncers and bartenders won't disagree with that, especially with us vouching for her."

Blake narrowed her eyes, then sent Ruby a cautioning glance, "Just don't get over your head, Ruby… I'm not the partying type, so I'll help keep an eye on you. God knows what Olivia might try and get you to drink."

"Hey now, I take offense to that!" Olivia said with a small smile, hoping to show that she wasn't too offended. Ruby was an exception, after all. Anyone else was fair game in her book. "I'd never risk our leader's safety for my own amusement."

Blake looked her over for a few moments, then finally nodded acceptance, "Sorry, I didn't mean-"

Olivia shook her head, "It's fine. If it had been anyone else then you would've been right to worry~" She grinned up at her fellow faunus, a twinkle of mischief in her eye, "And what do you mean you 'don't like to party'? No partner of mine is going to be a wallflower!"

Blake shrunk into her mattress, then stared at her comic and straightened it out while her hackles figuratively raised, "I've changed my mind. I'm not going."

Olivia laughed, "As if you could stop me from dragging you down there."

Blake's eyes narrowed, "Are you forgetting my semblance?"

Olivia grinned, "Are you forgetting my overwhelming tenacity?"

"Fancy way of calling yourself stubborn."

Olivia opened her mouth for a retort, but it died on her lips as the bathroom door opened. The light scent of vanilla followed in its wake, wafting free as Weiss stepped out and into the room with them. Olivia froze, staring at the outfit the heiress had chosen to wear for their party down into Vale.

Weiss wore a small, sky blue coat overtop a short white dress, the rippling hem reaching only far enough down to cover the barest parts of her thighs. Intricately designed white tights covered her legs, a snowflake pattern set into a floral arrangement that weaved its way from beneath blue heels, up her legs until finally disappearing past the hem of her dress. With each tantalizing step, Olivia felt as if the swish of her clothes would reveal more than either of them bargained for.

It took Olivia more effort than she would have admitted to tear her eyes away, back up to the heiress's own. Weiss watched her with a tentative smile, appearing to be waiting for Olivia to comment on the outfit she'd chosen. A few long moments passed in silence before Weiss tilted her head, her smile growing more confident in the wake of Olivia's continued silence. It appeared to be all the praise she needed.

"Wow! You look great, Weiss!" Ruby beamed from behind, its suddenness serving to jar Olivia loose from her breathless stare.

Weiss spared a smile past Olivia to the younger girl, "Thank you, Ruby. I thought I'd dress nice for the occasion. It's not often that I attend a party such as this one. The events in Atlas were more along the lines of art galas or charity drives. They weren't typically very entertaining, truth be told."

Olivia raised a hand to scratch her chin and avert her gaze, "I didn't think you even owned clothes like that." She'd still been staring despite Ruby's interruption, and didn't want Weiss to get the wrong impression. Now was not the time to admit just how fantastic she looked, considering the progress they'd made so recently. Teammates weren't supposed to find each other attractive.

Especially not when one of them was a Schnee.

'Maybe we should have had the party at Junior's…' Olivia thought glumly, feeling as if a brief visit with Melanie would do her a world of good right about then. She sighed, shaking her head and stepping over to the door, 'Easy enough to ignore once we're down in Vale with Coffee, Lion, and Carmine.'

"Everyone ready?"

Ruby clasped her hands behind her back and beamed, waiting for Blake to join her as the older girl hopped down off her bunk. The two exited ahead of Weiss and Olivia, the former moving over to her dresser momentarily to grab a petite brown purse. She pulled it over her shoulders, the long, thin leather strap hanging down between her breasts so that the purse itself rested on her hip.

"Ready," Weiss smiled as she stepped out, giving a brief nod of thanks in passing. Olivia stared a moment longer as she walked away, eyes drawn to swaying hips before she could shake herself out of it once more.

"Guys! We're ready!" Olivia called out towards the Lion dorm, allowing the door she'd held to close behind her.

Nora was quick to charge out with Ren in hand, Yang and Pyrrha following soon after. There were smiles and excited small talk all around as their group began the trek down to the Bullheads. Yang and Nora teased Ruby, Pyrrha and Ren chatted loudly, and Blake took the lead, speaking in hushed tones with Weiss by her side.

Olivia walked at the center of it all, taking in the atmosphere as her own excitement built to even greater heights. These people… after so long, she'd finally done it. Gone were the lonely days and blood soaked nights, of coming home from a mission, tired, with only Widow to greet her return. Now… she had real friends.

Olivia couldn't tell them just how happy she was to have them all with her.

Bit more build up leading into the party itself. Seems as if Weiss has finally managed to properly catch Olivia's eye, even though the faunus refuses to admit it. Fun times should be ahead, but Olivia also can't forget the deal she's made. How much will Cinder reveal, and what plans does she have in store for the Black Lotus?

What is Ozpin planning to do? Does he still consider Olivia a threat to his new maiden, or was her nighttime confession to Weiss a turning point in his own views? Has she earned his trust without knowing it?

Thanks for reading,

- Sybaen