(Checkmate)

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-Weiss-

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It's bothering her...

Looking down at the chess pieces before her, the heiress found her attention divided between her next move(s) and her opponent, who was silently contemplating her own countermove(s). It wasn't the silence itself, not even close. Both she and Blake was the quietist of the team (with Yang and Ruby being the opposite, for obvious reasons), which often gave out an aura of intellectual due to their quiet and/or dignified demeanors. Not to say that the sisters were stupid, not in the least (Their games with them certainly attest to that, not to mention, it was Yang's chess table).

It was unusual for her to be irritated by something from or about Blake (Yang, occasionally; Ruby, almost constantly; Blake, rarely), aside from their disagreement regarding the White Fang, which ironically enough is part of her current irritation. Right now, she was currently being distracted by one simple, albeit silly, thing from her opponent.

Her bow...

"Take it off already."

Blake blinked out of her attention on the game and looked up at her. "Huh?

"It's not like anyone would really care that you're a faunus or not" she shortly explained. "So just take it off."

It took a moment for Blake to understand what she was talking about, and after that realization, her eyes lowered back to the table and moved her next piece.

"You'd be surprised how much some people would care."

At that comment, she began to feel a little unsettled. After all, not too long ago, she was one of such people. It took for Blake to be missing for her to realize that, at least in part. But it was that realization that prompted her to wonder more about Blake's reasons for the bow aside from her former occupation as well as preconception. Surely, something as simple as a bow wouldn't disguise that.

"Perhaps. But that doesn't explain why you would care."

"It's not like that. It's just..." Blake's amber eyes closed shut. "It's just better this way."

Pressing on, she moved her next piece on the table. "Better for whom?"

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-Blake-

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'Where is she going with this? For that matter, how did we even get into this conversation?' She supposed it couldn't be helped. After all, she and Weiss could be seen as the odd ones of the team. Between Ruby's awkward, yet kind manner (someone coined the term adorkable to her; she doesn't remember who though) and Yang's laidback and confident sense of self, they were people who could relativity be easy to get along with.

Weiss was, well...Weiss.

"Perhaps the question is...why do you care so much?"

Weiss seemed a bit aback by her words, almost as much as she was as surprised at saying it. It wasn't like her to be antagonistic, even if Weiss is currently provoking her into it. She was even a moment away from apologizing, but paused. Perhaps this needed to be said. Their relationship was always one on tensions, both because of their personalities and their status' prior to Beacon. If nothing else, perhaps this moment will smooth it out…

Besides, knowing Weiss, she probably wouldn't accept an apology anyway.

"Because, we're teammates" Weiss replied. "And friends…right?"

Her bow perked, hearing the slight hesitation she heard from Weiss. A hint of honest uncertainty, perhaps? There were moments when Weiss dropped the cool attitude and let her true feelings came out. In truth, it was the same with her. And like Weiss, there was only so much about her that she was willing to reveal to others. To reveal too much would put her teammates in danger.

…Would put her friends in danger.

Returning her mind back to Weiss and noticing the slight (very slight) discomfort creasing on her brow. Perhaps their friendship ment more to Weiss then she thought. With a small smile, she simply answered.

"Beat me within five moves and I'll remove it completely."

Weiss blinked at the odd change in conversation, but continued on. "And if I can't?"

"Then you have to tell me why you style your hair that way."

Clearly, Weiss was stumped by the unusual request and unconsciously reached back to touch the tied braid.

"Why?"

"Honestly...it distracts me sometimes."

She was quite surprised by the sudden sharp (and rare) chuckle that came from her opponent, teammate…and friend.

"Deal."