Oh hey, chapter 69. Heh.
Anyways moving on. Just so folks are aware, not that it concerns anyone who's been reading just yet, but I'm going to be uploading chapters to AO3 now starting this weekend. That means I'm uploading there AS WELL though, not exclusively there. With how finnicky FFN has been as of late I want to be sure they're still somewhere accessible and AO3 seems to be stable.
If you've been reading along, which considering the chapter this is in I'm assuming you have been, there's nothing you need to worry about. At most I might go back and clean up a little wordiness but none of the story beats will change whatsoever. It'll be the same story that's posted here.
"Hey, wait a second!"
"You need to announce yourself first!"
And so, Weiss did.
A quick sinking hole sucked one of the Malachite guards into the ground while the other had somehow ended up dangling from a nearby tree. The gale that had conveniently flung the guard aside had also opened the gate, near wrenching it off its hinges, and toppled several potted plants in the process.
Her patience fled along with the servants from the garden.. One man with a sword half drawn from his scabbard caught her ireful glare and he stepped back, released his weapon and held up his hands. Weiss did not bat an eyelid when Neo smacked him upside the head for no other reason than she could. At the front door to the estate a butler opened the door, saw Weiss and company storming towards him, and hastily shut it. Hannah did the courtesy of opening it by rending the thick wood into splinters.
"As pissed as we both are, let's try not assaulting everyone." Hannah pried her axes from the broken door. "I'd rather not have the other families coming down on us."
Let them. Anything less than giving each so-called noble of the city a piece of her mind would be unsatisfactory. Weiss stepped over the broken doors and looked around, scowled, and stomped her foot. It might have seemed a petulant display if not for the debris behind her and the manhandled guards outside.
"Lady Malachite! Where is she?" Her voice echoed across the foyer, eyes glancing over petrified faces. "Lady Malachite!"
One serving girl who hadn't soiled herself yet managed to point to the stairs, barely getting the word 'study' out before Weiss made a jaunt, taking the steps two at a time. Hannah hurried after her, and Weiss stopped at the first landing. "Roman, you and Neo keep anyone from coming in after us."
Neo looked disappointed at being made to miss whatever chaos was to come, not to mention being left to babysit Melody. Roman almost split his face with a relieved grin, nodding and tipping his cap. "Can do, Weiss! No one will get past us!" Gustav's face went pale and he pushed the conman aside, covering his mouth as he barged past servants and into a hallway. "Er… One person got past us!"
Weiss had no clue where the study actually was and left navigation to Hannah. By now the manor had become abuzz with activity as servants scrambled to steer clear of their warpath. Neither Weiss nor Hannah wasted any time in trying to negotiate with the guards who got in their way; they were not killed, Weiss was not that far gone, but a quick spell or a not-so-slight concussion courtesy of an axe handle did wonders to discourage interference.
Even if Weiss didn't know where the study was at first it became obvious the moment they encountered a squad of guards. Two of them she recognized as May and Brawnz, the duo looking more ready to run than offer any serious resistance. Even still Brawnz took a step forward, lifting his hands and brandishing a set of steel claws.
"You're not going any further!" he declared, voice raised so high he might as well be hitting a second puberty. May nodded behind him, her barbed spear swaying in unsteady hands. "Lay down your weapons!"
Weiss huffed, wove a rune, and a moment later stepped over a guard half encased in ice, covering his still exposed head. Brawnz whined, dangling from the ceiling, and May's one eye widened when Weiss approached her, leaning away even as her body remained immobile in ice.
"Is she in the study?"
"Y-Yes!"
"Fantastic." Weiss smiled, patted May's cheek, then stepped over another guard and tested the door handles. "Locked," she grumbled, stepping back and gesturing to Hannah. "Care to do the honors?"
Hannah smiled and twirled her twin-axes, lifting both and carving a chunk of wood in one sweeping motion. Another cut and the doors crumbled. With a creak they swung open and Weiss stepped inside, raising an eyebrow upon entry.
Lady Malachite sat in waiting, in one hand an empty glass, in the other a bottle one-third gone. The place looked conspicuously dry; Malachite's face appeared rosier than usual and yet paler at the same time. Weiss saw no guards lying in wait and sheathed her rapier, rubbing her chilled hands together as she entered the room. Mistaking the gesture for something more than it was, Malachite leaned back in her chair, managing a smile to hide whatever turmoil was going on within.
"My, quite the entrance, ladies. You could have knocked, you know."
Weiss let her hands curl into fists at her sides, frowning as she circled around a low table.
"My staff would have let you inside without a fuss," Malachite went on, trying to pour herself a glass of wine. The bottle rattled and she spilled more on her hand than she got in the glass. "Damned thing!"
The now half empty bottle hurtled past Weiss' head by a mile and shattered against a bookshelf. Within arm's reach now Weiss stopped, putting a hand on her hip just above her rapier's hilt. This time she meant it and Malachite pressed harder into the back of her chair, dropping all pretenses and holding her hands up.
"You want the medicine? Fine, fine! We'll give you it!"
"After having me run around all day chasing ghosts now you're just going to give it to us?" Weiss asked, incredulous.
"Why not? I've heard that you captured the killer! You've upheld your end of the bargain!"
"Bargain." Weiss exhaled, then smiled tightly. No, she was not considering drawing her weapon on the frightful woman before her, but the idea of drenching her in ice cold water crossed her mind. "You found us injured and took advantage of that, forced me to play along with your city's inane problems -"
"We were being hunted!" Malachite whined.
"That you couldn't solve yourself," Weiss went on without missing a beat. "I'll take that medicine and we'll leave this place as soon as we're able. Before I do though…"
Hannah shouldered past Weiss and slammed her hands on the arms of the chair. The feet skid back and Malachite let out a meeker whine, sinking down in her seat and covering her head.
"What is this damned city?" Hannah slammed a hand on the chair and sent it skidding back. "When I agreed to this job, Lil' Miss, I was told all I needed to do was keep an eye on people. But right from the start I knew something didn't feel right."
"What do you mean?" Malachite stammered.
"Don't play stupid! The fog, the people in this city!" Hannah smacked the chair again. "What's going on? Why is the city in ruins, and why are ghosts in the streets?"
Weiss had wanted to ask the questions, but she supposed who it came from didn't matter. Folding her arms, she circled around the chair, standing at the wide window behind Malachite. Outside she saw the gardens stretching to the sheer face of the cliff, devoid of but a handful of servants, all of whom now stared up at her. Tapping a finger on her arm impatiently she closed her eyes and exhaled.
"It's a barrier, isn't it? I know I saw runes in the fog. It makes sense now; fog doesn't act like that." Weiss clicked her tongue and turned back, frowning. "What is the barrier for? Why lie to us?"
"I wasn't lying! Someone is in the city trying to kill us!" Lil Miss shook her head. "Larkspur, you understand, don't you? You saw the murders!"
Hannah's face flashed anger before she replaced it with a condescending sneer. "I saw a city full of people too but that was a lie, wasn't it? What did you have me here for then, huh? Six. Months. I've spent six months playing as your eyes and ears, and for what?"
"They were real! The murders, I mean!"
"And all the people?" Weiss asked, standing beside Hannah, or Larkspur now, easing her back with a gentle touch. "The city is an illusion, isn't it?"
Lady Malachite exhaled, smoothing her hair as she tried to regain some composure. The wine stain down the front of her shirt didn't help with that.
"Most of the city is an illusion, yes. B-But your investigation -"
"You can take your investigation and cram it up your ass, you scheming bitch." Larkspur's cursed. Her hands went for the axes and Weiss caught her wrists. "And what are you doing?"
"What is killing her going to solve?"
"Did you not hear me? I've spent the better part of half a year in this shithole for a complete lie!"
"It's not a lie!" Lil Miss insisted again. "Please, why would I be lying to you now? Do you think I want you to kill me?"
Whether Lady Malachite wanted it or not remained irrelevant. If Larkspur went ahead and drew her weapons Weiss would have no choice but to do the same. The woman was a wretch for using her friends as leverage, a snake for hiding the city's reality from her, and her only surefire way of getting Ruby and Blake the help they needed.
"Let me talk to her, please. I'll get us the answers we both want."
Larkspur scoffed. "Answers? I want her head."
"And you'll bring down every other family on ours if you kill her now." If they weren't already sending Magi and guards to them. Weiss shook her head and eased Larkspur back. "Let me talk. We both want to know what's happening here."
Or she did anyway. A long few moments passed where no one said anything, the only sounds in the study were the labored breath of Larkspur and the panicked, shallow gasps of Lil Miss. Weiss had just begun to give up on the idea of settling things peacefully when Larkspur growled, stepping away and holding her hands up. "Fine, fine. But I'm not waiting forever; either she talks or I'll take her head. I'm satisfied either way."
"I liked you better when you were a coy barmaid," Weiss said.
"Yeah? You try playing nice when surrounded by idiots, see how long you last."
She had tried that for all of a day and grown sick of it. It wasn't that Weiss couldn't understand where Larkspur was coming from; the woman dedicated a not insignificant amount of time to what might be a farce. Weiss herself had too, albeit she'd spent several years for the Church, not a few measly months. Nonetheless, when Larkspur stormed forward suddenly and toppled Lil Miss over in her chair, she did not lift so much of a finger to help the woman, watching as the lady of the house scrambled to stand.
"Five minutes," Larkspur purred, smiling and stepping towards the shattered doors. "I'll wait right here until then."
It may have been doused in oil and saturated with snake venom, but Weiss took the olive branch, nodding appreciatively. Mustering up courtesy she did not feel she fixed the chair and gestured for Lil Miss to take her seat, stepping back when she did. Gods knew it would be a nightmare trying to coerce any answers out of the woman if she was too busy pleading for her life. Or dead.
Maybe Weiss should have asked Larkspur to leave the room altogether.
"Let's start simple: do you have the medicine to help my friends? Yes or no?" When Malachite recoiled as Weiss lifted her hand Weiss let out a sigh, raising the other while smoothing her hair.
"Yes! Yes, we do. We have everything you would need for miasma poisoning, and a healer to help mend wounds!"
"Have you had them this entire time?"
Rather than answer outright Lil Miss cleared her throat, shifted in her seat and mirrored Weiss by tidying up her razzled appearance. That was answer enough and Weiss felt a surge of anger nearly explode outward, releasing it in an exasperated sigh rather than a flurry of fists.
"These murders, they've been genuinely happening. Melody seems to have confessed to them, but that's hardly the most confusing part of all this. What is this fog, exactly?" Weiss pointed to the nearest window; sky clear as the sprawling ocean. "When I parted the fog everything around us changed. We saw Grimm that weren't there, buildings became ruins, and people vanished. Then it rolled back in and everything looked normal."
Or as normal as a falsehood could.
Lil Miss drew a deep breath and nodded to herself. "It's an illusion. Most of it: there are people down there. There is a city there."
"But most of it is in ruins?"
"Some of it is. Has been for years." Lady Malachite's smile was waning, her hands trembling as she rubbed them together. "It's more than just your typical illusion though. The fog is a barrier too. It traps things inside of it. Memories, events, people…" She shook her head. "I have never pretended to understand how it works or why, only that it does. Magic," she scoffed, "Has always been a headache. I wish it would disappear from Remnant altogether."
"An illusion? I've never heard of magic doing that!" Larkspur spat.
"Neither have I but she's not lying. I saw the runes in the fog; I didn't recognize them but they're there. It's the same way the Church protects settlements, although I've never seen them use fog before."
Usually the barrier itself was invisible, tied to keystones along a city's perimeter and bound by runes. The only time they should appear to the naked eye was when struck and the magic would flare up to rebound an attacker. Not unlike a spell Jaune might cast but on a much grander scale.
"I can accept that there's an illusion even if it's nothing like I've seen before." She was not an authority on the spellcraft; Weiss did not know everything about her own class of spells. "The question then is why maintain it? What do you have to gain from perpetuating a lie like this?"
"You're a Hunter, aren't you, Weiss?"
"Was. What of it?"
"The Church provides Magi a place to practice their craft and train, everyone knows that. You must also know too what they do to rogue Magi." Lady Malachite smiled bitterly. "Any Hunter who breaks the laws which bind them are hunted down and executed. No trial, no second chance. I'm sure you know that, yes?"
"Naturally," Weiss said.
"My husband was a Hunter. No one of significance," Lil Miss explained, sinking back into her chair. She rubbed at her face and let out a long sigh, shoulders slumping. "But important enough that they felt the need to make an example of him. They learned he had been taking jobs, taking gifts, exploiting his status as a Hunter to make Lien."
Not the worst thing in the world, really.
"The first Hunter they sent to bring him in was killed." Oh, that was worse. "After that they sent Wardens and they slew him right in our home. Our girls were there at the time too, you know. Melanie and Miltia, only six years old, forced to watch as their father was dragged into the yard and bled like a pig." Lil Miss chuckled wearily. "They kill the family of the rogue as well; did you know that?"
Weiss' eyebrows rose hearing that. Was that true? It couldn't have been, otherwise Ruby and her father would have been slain. Except Yang had never been designated as rogue, had she? Yang was dead, at least officially, and Raven was, well, Raven. The bureaucracy of the Church had never been something Weiss involved herself in, so it was difficult to say whether Lady Malachite was telling lies. Except she had no reason to lie now; a lie might save her from punishment but only if they bought it. Better to tell the truth then, right?
Maybe that was naive and optimistic of Weiss to believe but she chose to stand by it.
"If my girls hadn't shown a talent for magic, they would have killed them too. Instead they offered me a deal. If I moved here, helped to keep the city hidden away, then they would spare my girls. Take them away and train them, sure, and brainwash them no doubt, but at least they would be alive."
"Heartbreaking story, ma'am, but I'm finding it difficult to care." Larkspur folded her arms and scowled. "Say we believe you; what's in this city that they're trying to hide? Why go through all of this trouble to make people think Liar's Bay is still in one piece?"
"Do you think I know the answer? They don't tell us anything!" Lady Malachite shouted back. "I was given this home, as were all the families here, and I was told to make sure people never discovered what was in the city. We keep people busy or drive them away, whatever it takes to keep those curious enough to keep digging." She shook her head. "Why do you think the city's one rule is not to pry? It's not because we don't want someone breaking laws, everyone in this city is committing crime."
Their job to perpetuate a lie and protect something they had no knowledge of. It felt absurd but then that was often the case with the truth, wasn't it?
"There's something you need to know too, Weiss."
"Okay?" Weiss nodded, waiting patiently for whatever needed to be said. Lady Malachite worked her mouth to try and explain, clamping it shut and shaking her head repeated.
"I may have sent word of your arrival here. I thought…" The lady of the house shook her head and swallowed. "Maybe if I returned you all then they would let me have my girls back. You're on the run, aren't you?"
"Wait, you told them we're here? Ozpin?"
"I have no idea if my letter ever arrived!" Lady Malachite squeaked. "There are Grimm outside the city, you've seen them. My messengers are good, but most aren't Magi or even trained to fight; a single Creep could kill them!"
"They're that sorry? Then why send one?" Larkspur asked. "If you're so desperate then why not send someone else?"
The answer for that might have something to do with the person pointing a rapier at Lady Malachite.
"Please!" Lil Miss held her hands up. "I'll give you your medicine and get you a ship to anywhere you want to go. I'll even provide supplies if you need them." The rapier's tip eased back and she exhaled slowly. "I just want to see Melanie and Miltia again."
That wasn't something Weiss could grant the woman even if she wanted to. She sympathized, sure, but having her friends held hostage and then learning they were risking being captured by Ozpin made it easy to overlook her sympathy.
"Call your healer and have them bring the medicine to my friends. And have a ship ready for us by morning."
"Of course! I'll send for them now."
"Good." Weiss clipped her weapon back in place, stealing a look at Lady Malachite before shaking her head.
"Wait, you can't leave! I need your help saving my girls!"
Weiss stopped, pursing her lips and clenching her fists. She should try to help even if the woman had crossed them not once but twice now. Morally, it was the right thing to do. Even as Wardens may be on their way to the city to apprehend her and her friends, or just kill them all, it was the just thing to do; helping reunite a mother with her daughters.
Except Lady Malachite hadn't just burned the bridge, she'd gathered the rubble and thrown it into the sea.
"Please! I'll pay you whatever you want! I have Lien!"
"Speaking of which," Larkspur smiled, cracking her knuckles. "You and I are going to have a chat about that, miss." Weiss caught her arm and Larkspur frowned. "What do you think you're doing?"
"If Ozpin received her letter then someone will be coming here soon. You might be able to fight one Hunter, but they rarely send just one. And when they find that her so-called prisoners aren't in the city anymore?"
No excuse or platitude would relieve Lady Malachite of their ire. Before, Weiss would have thought Ozpin would wave it off, allowing a mistake, especially from a civilian. Now, and considering Lady Malachite's standing was already tenuous at best?
"I'm not completely heartless," Weiss continued, glancing back once more. "Treat my friends and let us leave. In exchange I'll dispel the barrier around the city. Tell them we overpowered you, tell them I specifically sabotaged it." She shrugged. "I don't care which. You can even tell them we're going to Mistral if you want, I don't care. Whatever helps you." Weiss paused, releasing Larkspur and letting out a sigh. "Look for a man named Taiyang on Patch. You can trust him, and he can help you find your daughters."
Assuming they were not lost already. For all they knew both girls had died to Grimm years ago, or sent off to another kingdom. It could be a wild goose chase. But then Lady Malachite wouldn't be the only one on such a search, would she? Weiss left the room first, lingering briefly to make sure Larkspur followed. She did, although not before securing a not insignificant sum of Lien for her troubles. Judging by how angry she looked, the money was not the compensation Larkspur had hoped for, and when she passed Weiss she made a point to shoulder her aside.
"I'm going to find Gustav," she explained at the top of the stairs. "He's an idiot but I'll need help figuring out what comes next."
Weiss smiled slightly. "I know a pair who wouldn't mind an extra set of hands."
Roman and Neo, the former mostly, were locked in a heated debate with Melody over methods of restraint. There were preferences evidently, not that Weiss thought any were pleasant, and the discussion raged on even as Larkspur stomped down the steps. The offer went untaken and the woman grabbed the nearest servant instead, pulling them in and demanding they help her. The startled serving girl, pale as the apron around her waist, could only nod and stumble as she was dragged unwillingly along.
Which left what, exactly? Melody remained in custody. Weiss still did not know what her motive was, nor her co-conspirators, nor could she find it within herself to care. She had done enough, the so-called families could handle the rest.
She left the dynamic duo to hand Melody off to Lady Malachite. Whatever came of that Weiss didn't care. She had, provided Lady Malachite was not keen on arousing her anger further, gotten the medicine they needed and even a means of leaving the kingdom. All Weiss cared for now involved the people waiting for her in one of the bedrooms. The healer would arrive as promised, administer treatments, and then they would find themselves a ship with or without Lady Malachite's help. Vale and the entire sordid ordeal of this city would be a distant memory in a day's time.
Weiss would hold herself true and dispel the barrier though. Like Melody and the fate of the city she had no concern what that might do; the fallout of her decision could be handled by Ozpin. It was a mess of his own design anyways.
/+/+/+/+/+/
Now, Yang had never considered herself an expert of what people would call the "high life". Her experiences of being in manors and estates consisted of being kidnapped, freeing someone else from being kidnapped, and razing one to the ground. There had been a brief stint too as a bard to make some Lien that ended in disaster when she failed to perform the most basic of bard-ly duties; play an instrument. She could sing though, at least she thought she could, but the jackass who had hired her said otherwise.
Despite her unfamiliarity with the lives of the wealthy she was certain that the commotion outside of their room was not normal. Servants ran across the door in a frenzy, shouting about, as one woman put it, "a wraith from Lummaire herself." Yang would have welcomed the Ice Goddess if it meant she'd have something to do.
Could you fight a god? Yang figured she'd give it a shot.
But there were no gods to fight and no one came inside to check on them either. Whatever had the manor in a frenzy did not concern them it seemed. Blowing air through her lips she rocked in her seat, slapped her hands on her knees and stood. Her back popped and she let out a groan, arching backwards and twisting her hips.
"All this sittin' around sucks."
Qrow's bird was dead after choking on the fog in the city. Weiss was doing… Weiss stuff, whatever that was exactly. With Ruby still unresponsive and Blake in and out of a haze there wasn't anyone really to converse with either. Qrow had his post outside but refused to leave it. Except for just a moment ago when he loudly, and crudely, declared that nature had called.
"You know," Yang mused to no one in particular. "I bet I could bust us outta here. I mean how bad can their goons be, right?" She raised her arms over her head and interlocked her fingers, grunting as she leaned side to side. "Most of 'em probably aren't even Magi. Just gotta give them a quick little bap," she explained, throwing a few punches with meaty sound effects for good measure. She spun on a heel and struck a pose, then blew out air again. "But noooo, Qrow says we shouldn't risk anything. And he's right, but it's so damned boring! Right, Blake?"
The Faunus groaned and shifted in bed, eyelids fluttering before disappearing beneath her arm.
Yang decided to take that as a yes.
"I've been thinking… We're going to Mistral, right? I've never been there, don't know much about it really if I'm honest. What about you?" Another groan, or maybe that was Blake's bed creaking under her. "Good point," Yang agreed. "Not knowing is half the fun. I bet they have some awesome food there, stuff you can't find here. I mean sure," Yang waved a hand as she paced. "They say the stuff here is authentic, but half the shit they serve is all knock-off, I'm sure of it."
Yang, swear jar! Ruby's voice rang in her head and she chuckled, making a mental note to add to her growing debt later.
There would be a later, naturally. Yang would turn the entirety of Liar's Bay upside down if that's what it took to get the medicine they needed. Returning to Ruby's bedside she knelt and took her hand. Sweaty, limp, weak. Equally fitting description for her sister's hand and wet pasta.
And jokes were just making her feel worse. Yang's smile wavered and she laid her head on the bed, closing her eyes and closing her fingers around Ruby's hand. By some grace of the gods her sister hadn't succumbed to the poisoning, although the miasma was doing its damnedest to change that. Skin pale as bleached cloth, bags beneath her eyes, lips turned purple and her body sheen in a cold sweat. That was just the outside too; miasma played havoc with organs. Rotting tissue, causing cardiac arrest, killing pretty much everything it touched. Whatever the bastards had been giving Ruby thus far wouldn't cure her and only served as a stopgap.
Yang looked at her sister's still face and gripped the bedsheets in her free hand, wrenching them and gritting her teeth. If Ruby suffered long term complications for this or, gods forbid, died, then she'd make Lady Malachite regret ever being born.
When someone knocked on the door and pulled her out of her less than friendly thoughts Yang expected Qrow. Then a woman's voice called which meant it probably wasn't her uncle. Unless Qrow had become a Faunus with short horns and pine green hair this lady definitely wasn't her uncle.
Which meant Yang wanted nothing to do with her.
Even if you were not a fan of doctors it was bad manners to toss them out a third-story window or threaten them with fire. Plus, Yang had no aversion to medicine or its practitioners herself, and it wasn't for her anyways. With the woman looking meek enough that a dust mote would send her into a tizzy Yang stood up, smiling as she cocked her head.
"You the healer?" she asked, watching as the woman slung a leather bag off her shoulder. No, genius, she's a mason come to fix the chimney.
The woman nodded, shuffling in place at the door's threshold. Too nervous to enter until Yang flagged her in and even then, she made a slow pace, looking between Blake and Ruby uncertainly.
"Poison," Yang offered, thumbing towards her baby sister. "And a nasty wound on the side," she added referring to Blake. On cue the Faunus shifted, and what Yang hoped was a sign of acknowledgement turned out to be releasing a bit of gas.
Ew. She was not letting Blake live that one down.
"Th-thank you…"
Yang supposed she should be thanking the woman for coming to help. After all, it wasn't her fault that her boss was a rotten bitch who had denied them medicine for days. Nor was it her fault that those Grimm had been out in the forests. Yang swallowed the furious retort and her creative suggestion for what could be done with vials and nodded instead, stepping aside to let the healer get to work.
As far as medical training went Yang had… Some. More than the average Hunter to be sure; traveling alone for so long meant you had no one to rely on other than yourself. Even still she was shit at stitching wounds closed, worse still at mixing potions, and had a better chance of bleaching her skin raw than cleaning some wounds properly. Ironically the Grimm stowed inside of her had helped more with keeping her alive than actual medicine which typically went the other way around.
So, she had some vague idea of what was happening when the woman lifted Blake's blanket and shirt, her fingers gingerly nudging the wound along her side. Blake hissed and tensed, hands blindly grabbing at the offender until the woman whispered some consoling words to soothe her.
"So… You're a healer, huh? That's cool, that's cool." Yang rocked on her heels and clicked her tongue. Whatever had upset the manor looked to be calming down already and the estate had become woefully quiet once more. "I met a healer once in Halifax. Crazy old broad who tried to get me all hopped up on some kinda weed, said it'd help take the edge off," Yang chuckled. "'Except I saw some guys take it before and they just, like, sat in a corner and rocked themselves. I'm not touching that shit. And neither are they."
The woman nodded absently, digging through her bag and applying a salve along the wound. At least Yang assumed it was a salve, it looked like runny green gelatin.
"Met another in Selby that swore up and down you could eat an apple and be fine. You know how it is." Yang had begun to pace again, swinging her arms idly as she stared at the ceiling. "An apple a day keeps the apothecary at bay. Except they were infusing their apples with magic so no shit they were working. Magic apples, can you believe it?"
"M-Miss, please, I need to focus."
"Oh, right. My bad!"
The healer shook her head and the limp fennec fox ears flopped. "This is your sister?" she asked, gesturing to Ruby.
"Miasma poisoning," Yang said with a nod. "You do have what she needs, yeah?"
"I d-do!"
"Sweet!" Yang grinned. "Thanks a bunch. I wanna punch you way less than the bitch in charge here."
Since poisoning superseded an already closed wound the healer went to Ruby's bedside instead and began digging through her bag. Finding the entire thing about as exciting as watching grass grow Yang sauntered over to watch, leaning in and recoiling when a vial was thrust in her face.
"S-Sorry, but can you get some w-w-water," the healer stammered. "I need it to mix the potion."
"Sure, no problem!" Yang snatched the empty container and tossed it once, bobbled it, and managed to catch it. The woman narrowed her eyes and she could only manage a sheepish grin. "I'm on it, relax. Anything else you need?"
"Quiet, if that's o-okay." The healer produced a few more vials of leaves, what looked a lot like nutmeg, and a lizard's tail. "And the water, please."
Yang nodded dutifully and tossed the vial once more for good measure before hurrying to the nearest washroom. Nothing attached to the bedroom which was annoying but there was one right across the hall. Unused too which was odd since she figured Qrow would still be perched atop his throne. One whiff confirmed he had been in there, someone had been, and Yang wrinkled her nose before going about her duty.
Doing my doodie, heh. Yang snickered despite herself before gagging, covering her nose in the crook of one arm. The vial spilled over and she shook some water free before corking it. She came back twirling the container in one hand, humming to herself.
"Hey, I've always wanted to ask, do you know anything that helps a rash? Asking for a friend."
She froze on the spot, and glass bit into her palm and fingers. Either water or blood ran down them as she came face to face with the "healer" leaning against Ruby's headboard, a knife held less than an inch to her sister's throat. Shards fell soundless against the carpet and she took two steps forward only to stop abruptly as the knife eased itself down, a small trickle of blood pooling at the surface of Ruby's neck.
"The funny thing about healers is most people don't question them." The woman's voice had lost its tremor, a sardonic smile plastered on her face. Green eyes twinkled and she kicked her feet, giggling. "They can just waltz into a house and do as they please. Because they trust us. Because they need us!" The woman laughed, bouncing on the bed but somehow keeping the knife steady. "I never get tired of seeing the reactions! Although you look a lot angrier than most."
Well this had taken a turn.
"Hurt her," Yang growled. "And there won't be enough of you left to bury."
"I doubt it!" The woman smiled broadly. "Ah, the sheer rage on your face! You don't trust easily, do you? I can tell! But when I came in with the promise of salvation for your dear sister," she leaned down and nuzzled her cheek against Ruby's hair.
"I will kill you," Yang hissed, her entire body trembling now.
"You let me in! You wanted me here!" She laughed. "Oh, isn't it ironic? To die from the very person meant to save your life?"
Ten feet. Ten feet between her and the bastard toying with her. Yang felt confident she could rip her skull out and beat her with it, less so about doing it before Ruby came to harm. Raising her hands, she showed her palms, lips curling back as she remained where she was.
"What do you want?"
"Entertainment, mostly! Oh, and this is certainly entertaining, isn't it?" The knife tickled Ruby's throat and more droplets of blood trickled down. "But I'm here on business as well, and I think we could go on a venture together, my dear! Yes, how does that sound?" The woman's neck cracked as she tossed her head to one side, grinning wildly. "Tit-for-tat? You scratch my back -"
"I'll break your back," Yang growled.
"Uh-uh, that's not how it goes! But fine, I see you're not in a mood for levity so I'll say it plain: kill the lady of this house and I'll leave you be. I have no qualms with you, and as delightful as this is already, I have other business to attend to!"
"Or, and here's a suggestion," Yang drawled, taking another step forward and stopping as a thin red line formed on Ruby's neck.
"Kill Lady Malachite and your precious sister is free to go." The woman wiggled on the spot and rubbed her thighs together. "Or I can repaint this bed! I'm fine with either, although I would prefer to be paid."
I'd prefer to throw you off a mountain. Yang ground her teeth, watching as Ruby remained unresponsive to her life being in danger. "Fine," she spat, taking a step back. "If you harm her -"
"Perish the thought, my dear! This is merely the finale of our act here! You, the faithful elder sister protecting her kin and me, the villain, forcing you into an ultimatum! Ugh, it's so predictable, and yet…" She squirmed and her face became flushed. "Oh how I've been waiting for some excitement like this!"
Yang would make sure the woman got plenty of excitement. Do I try to attack? Get Qrow? Qrow had fucked off to gods knew where and attacking was out of the option. Was Yang really going to kill Lady Malachite then? Seeing Ruby in her current state was all the answer she needed.
The not-healer giggled, kicking her legs again and nodding for Yang to leave the room. As if she could trust the woman not to do anything. With no choice but to do just that Yang took another step back, lowering her hands as she made to turn away.
Then the healer went hurtling through the air, shadows from the bed turned to solid spires. They shifted again and wrapped around Ruby, covering her and blocking any path of attack.
Blake wheezed in her bed, one unsteady hand outstretched, face already soaked with sweat and blood seeping through her newly reopened wound. "Don't… Touch… Her…"
Which now meant Ruby was off limits. The healer was not. Yang shot across the room and her fist made a satisfying cracking sound as it connected with the woman's jaw, sending her sprawling across the floor in a heap.
Most people stayed down after she clocked them. Most people didn't get up laughing, shaking with glee. The woman swayed briefly before wiping blood from her mouth, jumping in place and clapping her hands.
"Oh, I've changed my mind! This is very exciting now!" Yang's fist caught air as she barreled over the woman, catching a glimpse of them bending completely backwards. A foot caught her shoulder and she stumbled, which ironically saved her from a knife that sailed just shy of her neck and buried itself in the wall.
"Yes, I think this will do nicely! Why sit by idly when I too can play a part in the finale?"
"I'm giving you one chance to leave before I break you," Yang snarled, flames licking at her skin.
Again, most people tended to react poorly to that. The woman giggled instead, then tutted and wagged her finger. "Careful! Some of the vials I have contain gas; a spark might set them off!" All of which were right beside Ruby.
Blake groaned and coughed, covering her mouth and shuddering. Her spell waned and she clenched her eyes shut. "Oh dear, and her wound has reopened too! Strange, I was so certain my medicine would help!"
Except medicine didn't jiggle like gelatin, glisten like gelatin, and was in fact not gelatin. Of all the things to be right about.
"Now come along, Yang!" The woman flicked her wrists and a pair of knives slid from her sleeves. "The show must go on! Let's make a wonderful symphony together!"
Yang's fist crashed into an armoire and the wood exploded on impact. Her knee left a crater in the wall, her foot smashed through floorboards. Her opponent zipped around the room and made use of the limited space, lashing out with knives and scoring easy cuts along Yang's body. Black smoke spilled from fresh wounds and Yang's eyes, already having gone red, followed every movement.
Dry wall and planks tore away when Yang raked her fist through it, missing the woman's head by a breadth. A chair shattered without ever getting to seat another ass again. Yang chased and threw every punch and kick with the intent not to just kill but spatter the woman across the room. Sensing that perhaps or just enjoying the thrill the healer seemed to always just linger within her grasp only to dance out of the way at the last possible moment, knives biting into flesh before drawing away.
A knife sliced her cheek open, another bit into her shoulder. Just because her wounds healed did not mean they didn't hurt.
If anyone had ever been stabbed before they could attest to it. A sudden cold followed by a searing heat, except when the blade was sharp enough to make a clean cut. These knives weren't and Yang, in the midst of breaking yet another length of wall, figured that was by design. Serrated edges raked across her forearm and she sneered, batting at the woman and missing yet again.
"Closer that time! My, you're quite the durable one, aren't you?"
"Shut up!"
"What's your secret? How do you heal so quickly?" The woman examined her blades, then brought one to her mouth. A long tongue lapped the blood off, and she hummed thoughtfully. "You don't taste any different. Strange." She bent backwards again, twisting and avoiding Yang's leg as it swung wide.
"Oh, so close that time!" The woman giggled and lunged, driving a knife right into Yang's chest.
Except it stopped just short, piercing her right palm instead. Yang caught the grip on her hand and sneered through the pain, threw her left arm around the woman, and roared as she drove them across the room. The second knife bit into her back and she screamed louder, lowering her head and closing her eyes.
The wall exploded outward sending dust, bits of wood, and two bodies tumbling through it. Yang felt the first knife pull free and winced as they struck the floor, the second driving deeper. She lost her grip but managed to grab the woman's ankle, pulling her down and sending her rolling across the floor with a jab. Pouncing like a wild cat she lunged for the woman again and bat aside the knife hand, grabbed it, then lifted, swinging the woman like an axe overhead and slamming her into the floor. The breath left her in a pained wheeze and Yang snarled, lifting her up and kicking her down the hall.
Through either sheer stupidity or, no, it was definitely stupidity, the woman got up laughing. Sputtering a bit and bloodied where nails had caught her in the wall but still laughing.
"Goodness me! Why, there's a fighter in you yet!" she cheered, beaming as Yang pulled the knife from her back and lobbed it. It clattered harmlessly against the wall and the woman shook her head. "Not much of a knife thrower, are you?"
Yang spat blood and dust out, rolling her shoulders and wincing as she felt the wounds closing. Healing, sure, but still hurting like hell.
Then she charged. The woman danced back from a wild swing but caught Yang's leg against her thigh, collapsing sideways and stopping when Yang caught her hair. Blood seeped from her nose as Yang's forehead smashed against it, the air leaving her in a wheeze when a fist lifted her off her feet. A knife cut across Yang's clavicle and tore into her tunic. Yang would have strangled the woman if she didn't manage to vault herself over her somehow.
"My my, you're rather bullheaded, aren't you?" The woman cackled. "And that's saying something! Why, there's a lad I know who fancies himself -"
"Shut up! Shut up shut up!" Yang charged in again, ducking beneath a knife swing.
Her hands shot up on pure instinct and she stared at the tip of a stinger dripping with venom. It twitched and tried to catch her eye but she leaned back, grunting as a knee struck her in the ribs. She stumbled back, grabbing a small table and throwing it to keep the woman back.
"Well isn't that unfortunate!" The scorpion's tail snapped behind her before coiling around her waist. With the knife twirling in her hand the woman looked at herself, dusted down her soiled robe and giggled. "There goes my trump card. Ah well…"
"Hey!"
Both turned to see Qrow charging down the hallway unarmed. Weiss wasn't though and already had several runes hovering overhead ready to use.
"Ah, it appears we have company! Alas, this also means an end for our play!"
The woman cackled and charged Yang, catching her fist and rolling over her. Yang swung back wildly and was rewarded with a knife in her bicep, the woman leaving it there as she bolted back into the room. Ignoring shouts to stop and the pain radiating through her Yang gave chase, knocking off dangling drywall as the woman rushed for the window.
No way would she jump out. They were three stories up and there was nothing below to catch her; Yang had checked.
Glass shattered and the woman's delighted, manic laughter slowly dimmed as she plummeted downward. Yang rushed to the window and looked out just in time to see the woman land with the grace of a cat, roll and look back up.
"Next time, I promise!" she called, blowing a kiss and swaying her hips. "And do say hello to your uncle for me!"
Yang had half a mind to jump out until the knife in her arm reminded her of what a stupid idea that was. Oh, and that she had been stabbed. Again. Stumbling back from the window she tore it free and cast the bloody instrument aside, panting raggedly as her wound began to sizzle closed.
The estate was back in a frenzy and at least this time Yang knew why. Coughing out plaster and a bit of blood. Wiping off her mouth on a filthy sleeve she turned and leaned against the wall, managing a haggard grin when Qrow and Weiss burst into the room.
Ruby remained unresponsive. Blake shuddered in bed, lucid but very clearly in discomfort. All Yang could do was chuckle as her mind swirled with emotion and her body screamed at her to take a seat or lay down.
"Well," she panted. "That was a thing."
/+/+/+/+/+/
The following morning became something of a merciful blur. Blake and Ruby were finally seen by a proper healer, one which Yang and Qrow both shook down twice before allowing them in the room. With the pair treated their group had been left alone for the evening, for which Weiss was grateful. So tired and thoroughly done with the day's events that even the gaping hole in their wall and lack of privacy could not keep her eyelids from closing. No sooner had she sat herself on a sparsely padded chair did her chin meet her chest, out like a snuffed torch.
The morning came and went. Weiss woke after everyone besides Ruby and deigned to remain in the room for breakfast, eating only once Yang returned with a meal for her and Blake both. By the time Ruby finally stirred each of them had bathed, found a change of clothes, and were all but ready to depart.
Yang descended on her sister first in a mixture of exaltation and maternal worry, fretting over the younger girl until Qrow had to pry her away. Then the rusty drunkard did much the same. Only Ruby's hoarse insistence she was in fact alive and not a product of necromancy managed to keep either of them from fawning over her further. Turning the tables too helped; Ruby noticed the score of new bandages Yang sported. Most wounds suffered from her fight the night before had healed but Ruby remained concerned.
"You should see the other girl," Yang joked, which went over as well as an ice block in a forge.
Though keen to be rid of Liar's Bay - and that was before Weiss shared they were being hunted - they had to spend that morning in preparation. Though Blake's wounds had been cleaned and mended by magic she remained sore. Muscle took time to recover whether spells or traditional means soothed them and being bedridden for even three days had left her weaker. Her first two attempts to rise from bed resulted in her falling right back into it, cursing in what Weiss thought were creative ways until Ruby reminded her of the infamous swear jar.
Which even after all these years has never materialized, Weiss thought, cracking a smile while she watched Yang pin Blake to the bed to keep her rested. Either Ruby has savant levels memory, or it doesn't exist.
Despite smiles and a semblance of her usual jittery self it had been clear from the moment Ruby woke that she was in no state to move either. Although treatment had been administered her skin remained sallow, breaths still coming in wheezy rasps, and her strength failed to the point that Weiss had to lift a spoon to feed her soup.
And even now the miasma remained in her body. The healer, an elderly Faunus missing one half of a fin and with gills down his neck had done all he could to help Ruby. Considering she had been at death's door just half a day ago and now could sit up and talk, it showed he knew his craft well but even the best healers could not undo miasma poisoning. The foul magic clung to Ruby's body, littering her being with virulent sores and withering aches that wracked her with painful coughing fits. But she was alive, and however much a silver lining that might be Weiss and the others felt grateful. Ruby smiled even when given her prognosis, warned that strenuous activity could worsen her symptoms, and all but hugged the healer for his help before he departed.
The morning rolled on.
Melody had been given a pauper's trial and found guilty of attempted, and probably successful murder. With her accomplice having fled her and left her to die, and no doubt frustrated by only having half their culprits, Lady Malachite ordered Melody to be dragged to the dungeons to await punishment. Their hostess did not elaborate on what that might be and Weiss did not pry.
Some light had been shone on yesterday's events as well. Larkspur returned to the city that evening and came back with news that Gustav, the actual Gustav, had been found down below. Alive by some miracle and simply passed out in an alleyway after one too many drinks. That much explained how Melody knew where they might go, how to know where to set up a trap; Weiss felt fortunate she had kept the plan of using herself as bait a secret from everyone but Roman and Neo.
Speaking of the dynamic duo of dunderheads she had been stunned to see them still around that morning, sat at one of the dining room tables and engorging themselves on a veritable feast. Playing some part in the capture of her would-be murderers had earned Lady Malachite's good graces and, more importantly for Roman and Neo, a stay of execution for whatever misdeeds they had doubtless committed. They may have not been responsible for the killings but Weiss suspected plenty of other charges could be leveled against them.
As the sun climbed higher in the sky and the day wore on they made real progress towards leaving Liar's Bay. A ship was chartered, the crew more than amicable in making a journey across the ocean thanks to a not-so-modest sum of Lien. They would be ready to leave that evening which gave them ample time to prepare.
For Weiss specifically that left her plenty of time to disable the city's fog. What it concealed remained a mystery to everyone and after Qrow signed off on the idea, figuring whatever came to be would not be their problem once they set sail, Weiss began her preparations. A still cross Brawnz and May led a group to the lower levels to help record what they saw and return later with scrawlings for Weiss to interpret.
Given their lack of familiarity with runes Weiss felt certain she would have to double and triple check every rune before proceeding to unravel it.
Which led to her current situation. Inscribing the runes would take time and Weiss had little else to do until the group returned. Qrow had gone to the docks below to inspect their ship and crew, waving off any concerns that it might be dangerous. Weiss had thought to argue until Ruby and Yang both wished him good luck and dragged a promise not to cause trouble or drink out of the man. Seeing as his own nieces were not concerned Weiss let her worries lie.
Yang, to her credit and Blake's detriment, could be incredibly convincing when she wanted to be. Failing words to rouse Blake from bed the blonde settled on lifting her bridal style, enduring a barrage of half-hearted, embarrassed blows as Yang carried her from the room.
"We're gonna go find some new clothes!" Yang shouted from the hall, her laughter booming as Blake shouted incoherent, flustered retorts. "Be back in a bit!"
Weiss had already received a new wardrobe courtesy of, of all people, Tamarind. Owing to an apology and gratitude both the elf sent her a new outfit more suited to the constant wear and tear of their lives. A gown that fell to her knee and fanned open at the waist came first along with a blue-dyed leather chestplate for modest protection. Accompanying that: a single leather shoulder-guard and vambrace, knee-high boots, a proper belt to clip her rapier to, and a new pack to attach to said belt along her back. All things considered it provided a great deal more protection than anything she had worn previously and fit surprisingly well.
When she learned Roman had a hand in picking out the pieces she begrudgingly thanked the man for his input, then promptly crushed his toes underfoot when he made a passing comment about her chest.
Weiss' fingers ran along the gown's raised collar with a smile, admiring the soft, velvety red that lined the interior. Breathable, easy to move in and, most important of all, free. Whether the outfit lasted any decent period of time remained to be seen but she appreciated it nonetheless. Her bell sleeves, pinched against one arm by the bracer, meant the gown was plenty comfortable, if a slight bit showy for combat purposes.
"I think I like it." Weiss smiled at her reflection and did a once over, turning to inspect from every angle. "Maybe I'll have to thank that boob again for his help. Although… Ruby?"
She turned and found Ruby staring at her own hands, a frown marring her face. Weiss approached the bed, boots muffled against the carpet, and tilted her head inquisitively. "Ruby? What's wrong?"
When she reached out and touched Ruby's shoulder her friend jumped, gasping and drawing away. "W-Weiss, you startled me!"
How? Weiss smiled apologetically and leaned over, taking one of Ruby's clammy hands and squeezing it. "I'm sorry, I just want to make sure you're okay. You seem upset?"
A smile appeared for a brief instant before it vanished, Ruby's lips trembling as she tried to speak before settling for an unsteady nod. Her fingers clenched around Weiss' and she sniffled, silver eyes beginning to shimmer. At once Weiss sat in bed and pulled Ruby in for a ginger hug, rubbing her back and studying her partner.
"What is it? Should I get the healer?"
Ruby shook her head and rubbed her eyes furiously with the heels of her hands. "No, I… Weiss, I don't…" She sniffed, wiped her nose on her sleeve, and looked up at Weiss utterly broken.
"Can you use y-your magic?"
"Of course I can," Weiss answered, furrowing her brow. "Why?"
Ruby held her hands up and stared at them, blinking rapidly as tears threatened. She whimpered, closed her fists and buried herself against Weiss.
"It's gone…" she whispered, grabbing onto Weiss as though she too might vanish. "My magic is gone."
Maybe we should do a Go Fund Me for Ruby and get her a magic hat? Sure, pulling rabbits out of a hat isn't quite as neat as super speed but beggars can't be choosers. And at least they would never go hungry!
On a story related note I had, perhaps unsuccessfully, tried to drop hints along the way that the city wasn't quite what it seemed. If they were too subtle, which I'm thinking they are now, and this seems out of left field then I apologize. In trying to be clever I was, much like a triangle that ate too much at a buffet, obtuse and unclear.