Holidays are crazy! This will very likely be the final update of the year, although chapter 68 is more or less ready to be pushed out too. We'll see how much I get done between now and the weekend though.

Since I definitely won't be putting out another chapter before Christmas, Happy Holidays everyone! Whatever you celebrate and whoever you celebrate with I hope it's a lovely time, whether you're unwrapping gifts or just unwinding from this zany year.

Weiss had been in a hurry to leave the elven home but not so much to return to the dredges below. There amidst the piss-stained tenements, passing through streets crowded with sweaty, unwashed bodies and eyes wide and darting, leering at her, her weapon and other people, she wondered why she had bothered to come back down at all.

If not for her friends' lives being on the line, she would have left Roman and Neo on the doorstep with little more than a curt farewell and left Liar's Bay. But she hadn't and now, still waist deep in her investigation, she had two companions to keep an eye on as well.

Although Weiss doubted anyone would care whether the dynamic duo left the city, she needed help. Where she stumbled through the streets blind as a beggar Roman redirected them. Sure, each street seemed just as rife with cutthroats and disease as the last but there had to be some rhyme or reason to it. By the time they had left the lifts well behind and returned to the eternal dusk of the bay she had allowed Roman to take the lead, albeit with some gentle directions from herself.

Gangreen Getaway was not the sort of place she saw herself frequenting but it was one of a handful of locales Weiss knew. Assuming she had not been duped Hannah would still be there and with any luck so too would more information. By now she assumed Feldgrau's death had reached Miss Malachite; Weiss did not look forward to delivering that news if the information broker somehow had missed that. They would need to find the place first and Roman knew where it was. Theoretically. Try as she might to memorize the route in case, she needed to return a third time Weiss found it impossible to do so, and not just because every street looked the same.

Neo stumbled when Weiss pulled her arm, narrowing blue eyes at the mismatched illusionist. "Stop that!" she hissed, reaching for Neo's hand and growling. "What did you steal now?!"

Proudly flashing a handful of Lien, Neo stuck out her tongue and pocketed it, slipping free and skipping ahead to walk alongside Roman. Watching the short woman make strides twice her usual gait to keep pace with the man was funny, or might have been if Weiss wasn't furious with her.

"I was told to keep a low profile here!" She stormed up to the pair, folding her arms and glaring past Roman at Neo. "You. Are. Not. Helping."

"You strutting around with that rapier isn't exactly inconspicuous either, Schnee," Roman hummed, puffing his cigar and exhaling a cloud of grey smoke. "And I've heard you've been freezing people? That's really indiscreet."

Weiss' cheeks flushed and she stumbled, failing to stomp on Roman's foot. "You're much bolder now that we're outside."

"Eh, you need me. There's a certain degree of freedom that comes with being needed." He grinned when Weiss growled. "Oh don't be like that! You missed us, be honest. Why, with how much time we've spent together now I dare say this is the beginning of a partnership!"

"I'm not opposed to freezing you to a wall and leaving you there."

"And the ice queen returns!"

Neo's eyes flashed blue and she made a strangling motion, covering her mouth and giggling at Weiss. She could not decide which of the pair was more infuriating to deal with; the one who spoke too much or not at all.

Through twisting streets packed so close to make the clingiest lovers jealous they walked, taking side streets and alleyways to expedite the process wherever they could. While it had to be nearing late afternoon the lighting had changed little and the sun remained blotted out by swirling clouds above. Stones and wood stood among long shadows, dyed orange by low-burning oil lanterns and lamp posts. When they passed along a derelict street harboring more beggars than people with coins Weiss began to recognize her surroundings. Then came the stalls selling whatever they could find discarded on the streets, the occasional storefront open for business crowded by people looking to buy or steal the wares within. The narrow street opened, continuing uphill a ways and disappearing around a bend in the buildings. They stopped long before that and Weiss smiled tightly at the same four bouncers who had barred her entry just that morning.

"Gods, was it just this morning?" she groaned, flashing her token and indicating Roman and Neo were with her. "This day is never going to end."

When no other resistance was given Weiss hurried inside, leaving Roman and Neo to follow as she searched the busy tavern for Hannah. A few familiar patrons, the same bartender, but no sign of her informant from before. None of the other staff bothered to welcome them as they entered and no table looked open for them to take.

What she did see was a lone minstrel tuning his lyre at the back of the crowded room, engrossed in his work and wholly oblivious to her arrival. Hannah might not be present but there was someone who knew a thing or two; he had known she was a Hunter, or had an inkling of it.

"Wait here," Weiss ordered, glancing at Roman and Neo impassively. "Get a drink or something. I'll be right back."

"Don't have to tell us twice! Come on, Neo. It's on me!"

With any luck Weiss would not be dragging the pair out. Not that she planned to take too long with this. Carving a path between tables and standing patrons she wound her way to the rear and approached the minstrel with a patient smile, fingers curling around the grip of her rapier. His smile turned lukewarm seeing the latter and he sat a bit taller, laying his lyre across his lap and tilting back his wide-brimmed cap.

"Well well, look who it is. Did I earn myself another fan?"

"Something like that." She reached out and raised an eyebrow when he flinched back, putting a finger on the lyre. "This is a rather fine instrument. It must have cost a good deal."

"It did!" the minstrel grinned as he nodded. "Brought it with me to Vale."

"So, you're not from the kingdom then?"

"What gave it away? My devilishly good looks?" He laughed. "You're not from here either though, isn't that right? Weiss Schnee in the flesh."

"Charmed." Weiss drew her hand back and smiled as the minstrel glanced down to find his lyre frozen to his lap. Her fingers tingled and she blew on them to chase the chill away. "So you do know me. Do I have the pleasure of knowing your name, or do I need to figure that out for myself?"

The minstrel took another glance at his lyre and winced, pulling and bringing part of his trousers up with it. "Flynt Coal. Finest bard this side of Vale City, at your service." Flynt leaned in and smiled. "I'm probably not the only person to have figured it out, you know."

Rather than look back like she wanted to Weiss crossed her arms. "Explain."

"You look like a Hunter. No change of clothes or scarf on your neck changes what you are." Flynt grinned. "You walk too rigid, you speak too stiff, and you carry yourself with an air of arrogance. In that much you're a lot like your family -"

"I can make that ice spread to your delicates, you know."

"Alright, alright. My point stands though; people can figure it out without me making it obvious with a song." Flynt held his hands up and nodded to the crowd. "Not that I expect anyone here to. Most come in faced and leave in a complete daze. I'm just saying, that's all."

"And why then did you feel the need to point it out? Just to oust me?"

Flynt conceded with a shrug. "I figured it was fine. Besides, Melody thought it would be funny, so I figured why not?"

"Melody?"

"Ah, my partner. Or my temporary partner." Flynt tugged on his lyre again and clicked his tongue when it refused to give. Weiss melted her ice, nodding for him to go on. "The woman I was with before, she plays here. Helped me get my first gig when I showed up in town and we've been playing together since."

Fascinating, and wholly useless information. Finally withdrawing her hand from her weapon Weiss glanced back, searched the crowd for Roman, and found the carrot-haired swindler sat at the bar with Neo. Judging by how raucously he was chatting up other patrons she figured she didn't have long until he was thrown out or dragged into a brawl. Probably both.

With that in mind Weiss figured she should cut to the chase. "The murders that have been happening in the city recently, do you know anything about them?"

Flynt snorted. "This is Liar's Bay, Schnee. You're going to have to be a lot more specific than that."

"The upper families say they've had members of their families killed off. One was found earlier today down at the docks." Weiss took the nod as confirmation and continued. "So, do you know anything about them?"

"Only what everyone else does; the families are at each other's throats and fighting over turf. Though judging by your being here I'm guessing there's more to it than that?"

"Would I be speaking to you otherwise?"

Flynt laughed, shaking his lyre off and flinging water droplets on the floor. That did nothing to help the now suspicious wet stain soiling his crotch. "Who knows? I like to think my devilishly good charm is what brought you here."

Weiss rolled her eyes, tapping her foot on the hardwood floor. "You don't know anything else about the murders then?"

"Can't say I do, Schnee. That doesn't mean I can't help you though." Weiss' eyebrows rose and Flynt grinned, tipping his hat again with a wink. "Of course nothing in this city comes for free. Business is business."

"You're right, I could not burn your lyre in exchange for information," Weiss said curtly.

"Easy! I'm not asking for much in return!" Flynt raised a hand slowly and reached into his quilted purple vest, drawing a piece of paper and offering it to Weiss. "I need a ship to leave but I'm short on Lien. Owed money from another tavern and they're not paying up; get me my Lien and I'll help you out."

Weiss took one look at the folded parchment and handed it right back. "I'll get you Lien as soon as you tell me what I want to know."

"That's not the deal, Schnee. I know you're probably used to having it your way but here -"

"Three-thousand Lien. More than enough to secure yourself a spot on a nice ship, bound for whatever kingdom you want." Now it was her turn to grin as she watched Flynt's jaw drop, brown eyes bulging. Weiss smirked, pointing with a thumb over her shoulder. "The man in the white coat is a friend of mine. Speak to him about it and he'll settle the agreement with you. Assuming you actually have something for me?"

"Of course! Shoot, girl, I'll give you that and more for that much coin!"

"Just information about the murders, or whatever will help," Weiss said. "Assuming it's actually useful, that is. Give me something useless and I won't pay a single Lien for it."

Flynt removed his cap, twirled it with a flourish, then held it to his chest with a bow of his head. "A minstrel has nothing but his word and I'm going to stand by mine. I'm positive what I've got will help you."

Weiss still did not trust Flynt as far as she could throw him. Which if she used magic might be a considerable distance actually. She shook her head, gesturing for Flynt to go on. "Well?"

"I might not know anything but I'm sure Melody does. Unlike me she's actually from here. And, unlike me, she knows where all the really seedy parts of the city are." Weiss raised her eyebrows incredulously. Seedy? As if somehow the streets paved with refuse and swarming with unwashed masses weren't seedy? "I know, I know, but you've got to admit that this tavern isn't so bad; I could picture this one in any other city in the kingdom. These are the sort I keep to." Flynt shook his head. "Melody though? She goes wherever the coin is. She's sure to have picked up a few things. People tend to let their lips loosen after a few drinks, especially around a minstrel."

"And where can I find Melody?"

Flynt pointed to the ceiling. "Upstairs in our room. And wipe that look of your face, we're not like that. Saves Lien though, bunking together like that. Third room on the right should be unlocked. Just knock before you go in. People tend to be quick to stab around here when you surprise them."

Glasses smashed and Weiss turned, blanching watching a man topple over one of the tables, playing cards flying up in the air. Another man shouted obscenities and swayed on his feet, batting aside someone who tried drawing him off. Two of the bouncers from outside came charging in and within seconds had the offender off his feet, dragging him to the door and hurling him out like a sack of flour.

"And Schnee?" Flynt smirked and strummed his lyre. "For a Hunter you're alright. No hard feelings?"

"Not a Hunter. Not anymore at least." She left Flynt with the look of surprise plastered on his face, circling wide from the broken table and busy barmaids working to clean up the mess.

Stairs rose up to the left of the bar, cutting into the wall and doubling back, disappearing into the second floor above. They weren't terribly wide and Weiss hugged the wall as soon as she reached the landing to allow a burly Faunus to pass, huffing when his tail smacked against her side. After making sure no one else was coming down she hurried up the steps and into the hallway above. Eight rooms in all, four to each side, with the din light from the outside and the waning candles within leaving it dismal, just barely bright enough to see a would-be attacker coming. Hopefully Melody could see her at the door then.

"Third room on the right…" Weiss knocked and stepped back, making certain to keep her hands well off her weapon. She waited, counted, inspecting the hallway while standing idle. Wilting dandelions in vases offered a paltry splash of color to the otherwise washed out brown floors and walls, the air itself oversaturated with the smell of soap.

Weiss knocked again, pursing her lips when she didn't hear anything on the other side of the door. To be sure she pressed her ear to it and listened, then grabbed the handle and gave it a jostle. When no one shouted at her she eased it open, drawing her rapier and pausing. On the count of three she threw it open and stepped back, weapon raised at the ready.

When no one came rushing out she inched inside, pushing the door until it met the wall and looking around. Neatly made beds, chair pushed into the desk, no signs of any kind of conflict. Hells, no signs of the space having been used recently whatsoever.

That rotten liar! Weiss slammed the door shut with a scowl and started back downstairs. For his sake he had better be gone already!

Fortunately for her and unfortunately for Flynt he was still present, busy arguing with a confused Roman over the matter of Lien.

The minstrel yelped as Weiss grabbed his shoulder and spun him around, holding her rapier near his chest and narrowing her eyes.

"Weiss! So good of you to join us," Roman said, leaning in and pointing at Flynt. "This cheat is trying to get three-thousand Lien out of me! Saying you told him -"

"The room was empty," Weiss growled. "No one was inside."

"Wh-what? She was just up there!" Flynt stammered.

"It doesn't even look like anyone was using the room! Third on the left?" Flynt nodded hastily. "Empty. Beds are made, no bags anywhere."

"No bags? You didn't see a green one on the bed?"

"No…?"

Flynt groaned, tossing his head back and catching his cap before it fell off. "You've got to be kidding me! That witch!"

Weiss pressed the tip of her rapier into Flynt's vest. Harmless considering it was padded but it got the point across. "You tried to cheat me."

"I didn't! She was just up there, I swear!" The bartender came over to see what the fuss was and Flynt pointed to Weiss. "Cass, tell her that Melody was just here! You know she was!"

The old man squinted then nodded once. "Last I saw she was up in her room. She went up maybe an hour ago, said she was tired."

"Third on the left?" Weiss asked.

"Aye, what of it? You looking for her, girl?"

Weiss lowered her weapon and ran a hand over her face. Either Flynt had tried to dupe her and had the tavern owner in on it, which was possible, or he had been cheated. Either was just as likely. Groaning, Weiss looked past the flustered musician and narrowed her eyes. "Roman, we're leaving. We have someone we need to find."

"What? But we just got new drinks!"

"Neo, can you grab your boss and drag him outside?" The mute stuck out her tongue again and Weiss snarled. "We don't have time for this. Go outside, please. And you!" She grabbed Flynt's vest and pulled him, barely making him budge. Nonetheless he yelped and held his hands up in surrender. "You're going to help us find Melody."

Two of the bouncers had come in by now and the patrons had stopped their own business to watch the scene unfolding at the bar. One of the bouncers sniffed, then cleared his throat when Weiss wouldn't look his way. "There a problem here, miss?"

"None, we're on our way out." Weiss shoved Flynt towards the door. When Roman and Neo lingered at the bar she huffed, pointing towards the exit with her rapier impatiently. "I'll tell Raven that you attacked Yang next time I see her if you're not outside in five seconds."

The duo looked at each other, swallowed another mouthful of ale, and were outside in a blur of orange and pink. Weiss dug into her clothes and scrounged what little Lien she had in her pockets, tossed it onto the bar, and stormed out before the bartender had a chance to check if it was enough.

/+/+/+/+/+/

"It's not much farther. Just down this road and to the left. No wait, the second left."

Weiss groaned and not for the first time put her head in her hands. "You're certain this time?"

"Positive. Besides, how many roads can there be that look exactly like this one?"

Rather than respond to Roman's idiocy, Weiss clicked her tongue and tried to pick out anything helpful around them. Buildings formed solid barriers between them and adjacent roads, placed together so tightly that no alleyways existed between them. To travel up another street one needed to follow a road to an intersection and hope to gods it looped back onto a parallel road. They had done just that since leaving Gangreen Getaway. Six. Times.

On the bright side of things Weiss had become accustomed to the wretched smell of the city. That, or her sense of smell had committed suicide to save itself from further torment.

As it happened the sixth street held the venue, they had been searching for over the last half hour. Unsteady, blisteringly loud music exploded from within, windows cast open to allow plumes of grey smoke to billow out of shuttered openings. Weiss pursed her lips and stopped in the middle of the road upon seeing the building, throat clogged as a scream of frustration and groan of misery battled for release.

"See? I told you I knew where it was!" Roman smiled a bit too proudly, twirling his cane with a flourish and spinning on his heel. Neo fell in beside him and gestured to the building. "I present the one, the only, Mare's Ass!"

The same hovel that Qrow had suggested Weiss begin her search at. Well, mission accomplished in that regard, she had found her starting point. Spotted walls and a slightly caving roof held the answers she sought. Probably a few diseases too. Weiss considered briefly whether or not she could send someone inside in her stead. Roman was a known quantity in the city and would be recognized, plus he was a moron. Neo could disguise herself but couldn't talk.

"See? This is why I never come to this place." Flynt blanched and pinched his nose. "Somehow they managed to make things smell even worse here."

Flynt looked to be two seconds from passing out. Sighing, Weiss brushed back her hair and adjusted her tunic; she wanted to look half decent even if the city itself couldn't be bothered. "Wait for me out here. If fighting starts…" She looked between her company and smiled slightly. "Neo, can I count on you to assist?"

Neo nodded emphatically, eyes twinkling at the promise of combat.

"No killing anyone," Weiss reprimanded, cutting off any ideas before they could start. "We already needed to bail you out of a pinch once and I sincerely doubt we'll succeed again. The last thing we need you to do is stab the head of a family."

Not that she expected anyone so self-important to be seen in a place like this. The only greenery on this side of Liar's Bay were the weeds sprouting out of the ground and the vomit on the roadsides. The food, paltry as it was, would never fill a table for four much less a table twenty feet in length. It was too modest, too simple, and thus far below anyone in the manors.

No bouncers moved to intercept her outside the Mare's Ass, although Weiss did move aside to allow a drunken pair of workers to stumble out. In the doorway the pungent smell of sour apples and burning meat slapped her in the face. Heat spilled from an oven to her right and a fireplace on her left, the temperature difference making her break into an immediate sweat. She plucked at her shirt and pulled up her scarf, scouring for any signs of Melody. Brilliant red hair ought to stand out and yet she could not find any trace of the woman.

A group of red-scaled Dimurans sat closest to the fireplace and had removed the screen to set their feet in the flames themselves. Towards the center of the room a group of Varuna huddled together, chugging water through their masks as much as they were dousing themselves with it, much to the chagrin of anyone nearby. A rowdy assortment of workers danced and sang along to a trio of bards playing a tune, each instrument woefully out of tune with the other and the musicians likely just as tanked as the patrons.

If Melody was there, then she would be up upon the stage playing and not among the crowd: Weiss found her in neither. She wove her way to the bar and pushed aside a stool, leaning against the counter and rasping her knuckles against it. A spindly elf greeted her a moment later with a half-grin, half-sneer, one hand shoved into a cracked pewter mug.

"Eh? What're you having then?"

"I'm looking for someone," Weiss said. Her eyebrow twitched as the music picked up. "Her name is Melody; she's a bard. I'm told she plays here!" she shouted over the music.

The elf appraised Weiss briefly before snorting and shaking his head. "She owe you money too? If I knew where she was I'd tell you but she never showed up." He nodded towards the cacophony on stage. "She was supposed to be here an hour ago but never showed. Had to settle for those fools instead."

"She never arrived?"

"What did I just say? No, she isn't here. If you do happen to find her though tell her Gill wants his Lien yesterday!"

Weiss scowled and pushed herself from the counter. She wasn't there, why would she be? Why would anything about this asinine investigation be easy?

"I will." Weiss had no intentions of doing that. She had enough of people dumping their errands on her shoulders for one day.

"Thank you for your help. Enjoy your music," she sighed, stepping back and doubling back out of the tavern. Surprisingly, Roman and the others remained fixed where they were when she had left; five minutes at most had passed so she certainly hoped they would be. Her expression said it all and Roman's mouth opened and closed, thinking better of whatever 'witty' remark he had in mind. "You're certain Melody comes here?" Weiss asked, folding her arms as she accosted Flynt.

"Why would I lie? I don't exactly want to be bled on the street," the minstrel answered, raising his hands as Weiss narrowed her eyes. "She does come here, I swear! If I'm lying then take my lute!"

For Flynt's sake Weiss hoped he was being honest with her. If she was being honest with herself she was just about through playing games. It had only been a day since she had woken and already the investigation had tried the last of her patience. They had only just rescued Ruby and Yang only to fall victim to Grimm and trade one captor for another. Make no mistake, that was exactly what Lady Malachite was. She might hold to her promise of healing Ruby and Blake if Weiss cooperated but that was pittance; her friends were suffering while Weiss was forced to run around Liar's Bay on the woman's behalf.

Weiss chewed on one knuckle and began to walk back uproad. Healing Blake would be easy enough - any apothecary in the city would do - but Ruby complicated things. Miasma poisoning required intimate knowledge of the body's systems, expert skill in concocting potions, and a lot of luck. The longer miasma remained in the body the greater the risk of permanent damage; even a single day could cause irreparable changes.

This isn't working. None of this is working! Weiss cursed, glaring at the filthy street as if it was somehow at fault for any of it. This is their problem, not mine. What's keeping them from hiring mercenaries or Magi to settle this?

Frugality. Greed. Idiocy. Any one of the three or a combination would do.

It's the people in power they're after! It must be. That's why they're hesitant to bring in outsiders.

It was all that made sense to Weiss. Sure, they had their old guards, the people who had been in service to families for a time now, but anyone else was an unknown quantity. The only reason Weiss assumed she had been conscripted - which she had been - was because they had some idea of who she really was and leverage over her. Cooperation for assistance.

The people committing these murders were not after the workers or even foremen who ran the warehouses. Losing a worker was inconvenient from a business standpoint but they were replaceable. Lose the head of a family though? The entire operation would crumble. It would destabilize the household and, in turn, the entire balance of power within Liar's Bay.

That had to be the end goal. It was the only thing that made even remote sense to Weiss. Even the 'why' of it mattered little to her; the reasons were for the people in charge to worry about. All she needed to do was foil the plans to see them executed. Find some way to prevent the criminals from killing, well, criminals.

They are after the people in power. But they don't go up to their level, why? Is it too dangerous? Too many guards? Weiss craned her neck and peered through the clouds, staring at the obscured manors looming above. There is next to no order on these streets so this seems like the obvious choice. What do they hope to achieve by killing subordinates though? Do they think someone will eventually come down to see what is happening?

They wouldn't. Lady Malachite would never leave the safety of her manor no matter how many of her workers were slain. Weiss knew that… But did the killers?

Weiss stopped mid stride and turned around abruptly, nearly colliding with Flynt and pushing him aside. She grabbed Neo by the shoulders and shook her once, a smile slowly appearing. "Neo, you remember that necklace you made for me before? The one in Galloway?" Neo nodded, wide-eyed and confused. "Good, I'm going to need another one. And Roman?"

"You've got a plan, Ice Queen?" Roman grinned.

"Don't call me that, but yes, I do. Have Neo make me another enchanted necklace. Roman, you need to get me some clothes. And you." Weiss grabbed Flynt's collar and dragged the wandering minstrel back towards her, smiling at his worried expression. "How do you feel about putting on a show for one of the families?"

"... Huh?"

/+/+/+/+/+/

There were a lot of things that were bullshit in the world. The way the Church treated its own Hunters, the way it lied to everyone. The Grimm, the White Fang, and the way hay always seemed to find a way under your fingernails when you slept in a loft. Bullshit big and small turned the world a stinky, nauseating shade of brown, and if not for a few sparks of promise among the ocean of filth Yang might have given up on Remnant years ago.

Two of those sparks laid before her now, one barely away but in the throes of agony and the other still out cold, glistening in sweat, chest rising and falling with weak breaths. Blake had spoken sparingly since waking an hour ago but Yang bid her friend to rest instead, dutifully patting her face with a damp cloth and doing the same for Ruby too.

When it became apparent no one was going to bring them medicine Yang stopped allowing anyone else inside the room. She chased butlers and maids off with the threat of bruised bones and spat at the guards who tried to reason with her. If no one was going to provide actual relief to her sister and friend then they didn't need to come anywhere near them. With Weiss out looking for a solution according to Qrow all she could do in the meantime was play nurse and keep Blake and Ruby as comfortable as possible.

Dabbing their foreheads and whispering platitudes felt like a waste of time. Yang felt like she was doing nothing of substance and it drove her insane, stuck here like they were. She had heard the city had Magi employed to keep away Grimm but they clearly sucked at their jobs. They slew a massive Grimm for the people here and how did they repay them? By locking them up and keeping their lives in limbo.

After wiping away beads of sweat from Ruby's brow she watched her sister's face twitch, lips work out a single soundless word before her face settled back into a blank slate. Tears stung at Yang's eyes and she inhaled, cracking the bedpost in one hand as the other brushed Ruby's bangs back delicately.

They couldn't just leave. Moving Blake in her current state risked reopening the wound and having her bleed out. Ruby's condition bordered on terminal and she was kept going by the bare minimum care. Even if they found a healer in the city, even if it only took half a day, the damage done to Ruby could be severe.

They were stuck then. Stuck waiting on Weiss' return. It was complete and utter bullshit.

Her stomach growled and the gnawing pangs of hunger returned. An untouch bowl of soup long since gone cold beckoned to her, potato and beef floating in a thick, milky broth. Despite how dry her throat felt Yang felt herself salivate at the sight, yet she tore her eyes away and instead went about inspecting Blake's bandages. Not much blood, that was good. The crude stitching job had sealed the wound partially but little else had been done for it. Pus formed along the gash on her side, scabs breaking with every breath. Yang's fingers delicately slid along the skin above it and Blake tensed, hissing and drawing away from her.

"Sorry," Yang whispered, patting Blake's hand and waiting for her to settle. When the Faunus nodded Yang allowed herself to exhale, smiling tiredly and slouching into her seat between the beds. "Hang in there, 'kay? Weiss will be back before long, then you two will be okay!"

Weiss had to be. There was no way she would abandon them and despite how tiny she was, and her proclivity for ice, Yang knew there was a fire in the girl. If there was a solution to their problem, then Weiss would find it. Sure, it was taking a while, a lot longer than Yang would like, but she had to be patient.

It seemed idiotic really. Use her little sister as a hostage to ensure they helped out? Sure, while Ruby and Blake were alive they made great bargaining chips but what if the worst came to pass? Yang had mulled it over more than she liked to admit and came to the same conclusion every time. One person might not be able to burn an entire city to the ground, but she'd damn well try it.

Yang glared when a knock at the door caused Blake to stir and groan. She rubbed her friend's arm, snarling when another knock interrupted their silence.

"Go away!" A third knock almost pulled her out of her chair but she remained put, letting go of Blake's arm before she squeezed it too tightly. "I said go away!"

"It's me, kiddo. Can I come in?"

Yang flushed and sank back into her chair again, running a hand through her hair. "Yeah, yeah. Come in, Qrow."

Her uncle looked to be doing just as well as she was. Bags under his eyes, clothes a total mess, and his jaw setting into a stony scowl when he saw the state Ruby was in. Yang slid her chair closer to Blake and frowned as Qrow leaned over Ruby, checking her over as delicately as he could.

Hunters had basic medical training, as without it you would never survive in the wilderness. A small cut could become infected and lead to sickness, and sickness in the middle of nowhere meant death. They learned to make salves, basic potions, and to dress wounds and set broken bones. Yang had missed most of that instruction, or all of it, but even if she had gotten it all there would be nothing, she could do to help her sister's condition. Even if Qrow had extra medical training he looked to be in no better shape than she was, hands trembling as they worked over Ruby's sallow skin, fingers peeling open her eyelids and checking a pulse.

Yang licked her lips and coughed, throat scratching. Part of her hadn't wanted to ask but when Qrow mistook her cough for attention-grabbing she met his eyes with a nervous smile. "How, uh… How bad?"

As if she needed to ask. Sunken eyes, paler than usual skin, and breathing so shallow one would think Ruby had ran halfway across Vale and back. Qrow's coarse chuckle and shake of the head was all the information Yang needed. She grabbed the bed post again and grabbed hold, gritting her teeth as she felt the wood implode in her grasp.

"They're holding out on us…"

"Yeah."

"They probably have the medicine we need," Yang mumbled.

"Probably do."

"And you're just letting them do this to us!" Yang's shout made Blake wince and try to roll in bed, her wound preventing her. Yang stomped a foot on the carpeted floor and hissed. "Go take the medicine!"

Qrow sighed, sitting on the edge of Ruby's bed and slouching forward. "It ain't that easy, firecracker."

"Why not? You're Qrow Branwen! Which one of these chumps is gonna stop you, huh?"

"No one. You're Yang Xiao-Long. What's stopping you?" Yang's eyes settled on Ruby, then on Blake, shoulders rising and falling. "Exactly. We can't risk their health by doing somethin' stupid, Yang."

"We've gotta do something! All this sitting around, doing nothing…" Yang gestured to no one and nothing. "I hate this."

"I do too, kiddo, but we've gotta play by their games. I don't have connections in this city; most folks here would sooner stab me in the back than offer a helping hand. Even if we did find a healer we don't have the Lien for the medicine, do we? And they won't help outta the goodness of their hearts. Not here."

"Then we take it!"

"And have the whole city come down on us? They don't have a lot of rules here but you can't go messing around with each other's business. There's honor even among thieves."

Yang huffed out hot air and stomped her foot, slouching down and folding her arms. Pain shot up one shoulder and she ignored it, growling as she drove her heel into the floor. "Fuck their honor."

"Rather not fuck anything here if it's the same to you. Bound to catch something," Qrow chuckled. "Look. Your friend's on the case, right? She'll handle it. Right now, we just gotta do what we can."

Sharing a look between Blake and Ruby, Yang shrugged. "And what's that? Sit here and wait?"

Maybe it was a problem with her? Most issues she had in the past she had resolved by using her fists, threatening to use her fists, or throwing another part of herself at the problem. Fire helped too. Yet what was she going to do now? Threaten the people who held Ruby's life on a razor's edge? She might want to call the Malachite bitch every curse under the sun but they would come no closer to curing Ruby or Blake for it.

Qrow smiled and nodded towards one of the windows. "Open it up."

Confused but compliant Yang stood from her chair with a groan, knees and back popping audibly. With the carpet between her toes she walked to the wide window and drew back cream colored curtains, squinting against harsh sunlight that poured inside. When Qrow nodded she unlatched the panes and pushed them open.

The fresh air felt nice and might even do Ruby and Blake some good. "You think a little air's gonna help 'em?"

"Nah, but I've got an idea what might." Qrow joined her by the window and leaned out, extending a hand, palm flat and facing up. Yang's eyes went wide as magic swirled in it, coalescing into a faint black shape.

A second later a black bird cawed, shimmering wings stretching as its beady, red-dyed eyes sparked to life in the sunshine.

"I thought you didn't have magic…?"

"I don't. Rae does though," Qrow explained, smiling as he held the bird out. Yang was surprised by how real it felt, watching the bristles in the feathers part beneath her fingertips, pressing down and yelping as the bird snapped its beak at her. "Easy, kiddo. Probably don't want it biting you."

Yang leaned against the window frame and folded her arms, tucking her hands beneath her biceps and not at all to protect her fingers from dangerous feathery things. "Okay, so you've got one of mom's birds. Now what?"

"Well, Rae's birds are pretty good messengers. You know how they are; they show up and start repeating some crap over and over until you send it away."

"Or kill it." Yang rolled her eyes and smiled slightly. "Yeah, I getcha. But how's this gonna help us?"

Qrow held his hand out the window again and closed his eyes. Yang watched as his lips twitched, the bird squawked and shifted in his palm, and its black wings shimmered before resuming their dull black hue. Qrow lifted his hand higher and the bird took off, racing away and becoming a black speck against the slow-changing sky in seconds.

"They're also useful for reconnaissance. Rae explained it before we left, but if you give it some of your magic you make a sort of… Bond with it. Lets you see what they see."

"Wait, really? They can do that?"

"Hm. I don't get exactly how it works - I haven't tried it yet, but this oughta help us. I'll have it find Weiss," Qrow explained as she drew the window closed again, brushing back his unkempt hair with a sigh. "And I'll let her know where she can go for some help."

"I thought you said you didn't have friends here?"

"I don't." Qrow grinned, circling back around to Ruby's bed and easing onto it. She stirred, briefly, and he reached out to brush her matted hair back. "But I know plenty of folks down there who aren't a fan of these people. I can get us help."

That was great news. Fantastic news. Yang raised an eyebrow and tilted her head. "Uh-huh. And you waited until just now to do this… Why?"

"I had hoped we could save that bird for something important." Before Yang could balk at that Qrow held a hand up. "This is important, real important. I wanted to let your little friend handle things but it's becoming pretty apparent it's gonna take too long. That bird'll find him and we'll get what we need."

"Great! Awesome!" Yang stood at the foot of the bed and set her hands on her hips. "And how're we getting the medicine inside this place? We don't have anyone…" She paused, gears turning, then blinked and grinned. "It's a messenger…"

"Technically we do have a friend out there. All it's gotta do is find Weiss and tell her where to get the medicine. She'll have to come up with a way to pay for it." Qrow shrugged. "But that shouldn't be too hard. Steal somethin' and pawn it off, whatever she's gotta do. Then she can come back in here and hand it off to us."

"And we can treat them."

"Someone's gonna have to make the medicine for Ruby but yeah, that's the idea. Weiss just has to play along until they're good enough to move, then we grab a ship and sail outta here."

Okay, that was a solid plan. As far as still being stuck sitting around with their thumbs up their butts that was about as much as they could hope to do. Considering how persistent those stupid flying rats were Yang had every confidence it would find Weiss and Qrow's not-friend. Then it would just be a matter of waiting on Weiss to come back with the medicine. Sure, they still needed to sit around but not nearly as long now. And sure, they wouldn't have solved the problem they'd been brought in to fix but Yang didn't give two shits about how some crime lords were doing.

"We ought to get ready for that too. Don't have much stuff to bring with us and probably won't be able to get much before we go either. Especially if we ditch this place," Qrow went on, folding one leg over the other. "Maybe try seeing what you can snag from their kitchens? Food, fruit; anything that'll keep for a few days. After that…"

Yang heard the footsteps too and turned to the still open door, shooting Qrow a glare. He hadn't thought to close it when he came in? Really? Expecting one of the servants to be trying to 'help out' again who they saw was infinitely worse, and at once Yang felt the strangest urge to let her fists flatten the round face of Lady Malachite.

To her credit the "friendly" lady of the house must have picked up on her not-so-kind intentions, policing a surprised look before smiling in an obnoxious, overly friendly manner. "My, it is so nice to see the two of you up and about. Feeling well, I hope?"

"Great. Fantastic even. We'll feel even better when you finally give us the medicine we need."

Lady Malachite tutted, shaking her head. "You know our deal, Miss Xiao-Long. You help me with a little favor, and I help you. After all, medicine is expensive and I can't very well just give it away, now can I?"

"You seem to be fine giving us a bunch of shit for free," Yang drawled, scowling.

"My, such a foul mouth on you! A shame too. You're beautiful but I don't think most men would put up with a girl like you."

"Most men couldn't handle a girl like her," Qrow butted in, frowning as he stood with Yang. "Unless you've got medicine to give us, I suggest you keep on walkin'. We don't wanna chat with you, got it?"

Lady Malachite sighed and cupped one of her cheeks. "So hostile. I liked to think I was being hospitable to you too. Fine, I have business with my neighbors anyways. Your darling is taking much too long to settle things and now it falls to us."

Yang rolled her eyes. "Boo-hoo."

"You'll still have your medicine. Oh, don't give me that look, Yang, I'm not that heartless." Malachite chuckled, pulling a folding fan from her sleeve and cooling herself. "I'll be back before long, do try to behave while I'm gone? Eat some of your food for goodness sake, my cooks work hard to create those meals."

Dry potato and more gristle than beef? Yang somehow doubted that. She scoffed, staring down the woman until she left them be, a pair of nervous-looking servants hot on her heels. If Blake's oversensitive ears hadn't been present Yang might have slammed the door shut hard enough to break the hinges. It still shook and Yang noticed it split along the hinges, huffing and stepping back.

"What a bitch…"