Disclaimer: I make no claims of ownership of anything. Fun fluff ahead. And other things. This chapter is much longer, yes, mainly because there was simply no way to break it up without screwing with the flow of the scenes. *shrug*

When the moon rose again, Blake slipped through the fresh shadows along the street, mind occupied with a dozen things, and not one of them even tangentially related to scaring someone or her lack of desire to do so. Instead, she was focused entirely on avoiding the Mayor at all costs, roping Yang into covering for her imminent departure, and using whatever means necessary to get the twins to put their talents to good use. She couldn't remember the last time she'd asked for a spell to be constructed- and learned that her predecessors were very thorough in their own ways- but that just meant that there was little chance her request would be denied. It was just a matter of appealing to their rather... unique sensibilities, which was where the remainder of her attention was focused.

However, she wasn't so distracted as to miss the heavy breathing of a particularly interesting resident of Halloween Town.

"Hello, Nora," the Black Cat said, turning her head towards a darkened alleyway as the woman stepped out into the moonlight, beaming smile almost bright enough to outshine it. While the majority of the town's denizens were at least somewhat pleasant to be around, Nora was... difficult, through no real fault of her own, really. It was just that she had the tendency to be-

"Blake!" Her hammer resting easily against one shoulder, the Sound stomped over and threw an arm around her shoulders, laughing loudly. "What has you up so early?"

Against her will, her ears laid back flat against her skull, expression nearly twisting into a wince. As her title implied, Nora was loud, the epitome of all the sounds that sent fear pounding through a mortal's very soul like they were being struck by the massive hammer. None of it worked on Blake, of course, but she didn't exactly enjoy loud noises purely for the sake of being able to shatter glass through sound waves alone. Aside from that, the woman's outfit was nearly as garishly loud as the rest of her, and it came within a hair's breadth of putting the Clown's to shame. Pink was not typically a very intimidating color. Typically.

"Just running some errands." She offered a smile, golden eyes catching the slow, plodding pace of the figure behind her. "Ren."

"Blake," he replied, sluggishly following after his best friend. Although one might never think that the Sloth was a thing to fear, it took a very short amount of time for one to realize that the methodical tempo of his movements were through sheer will alone. When eyes weren't on him, he could appear and disappear at will, or move fast enough to appear to do so, and it was that latent ability that terrified mortals. "Don't mind us."

"Aw, but I wanna hear about this Snow Spirit!" The Sound pouted, aquamarine eyes wide in excitement. "Like, when's she coming back? Is she going to stay? How scary is she? Does she scare you, Blake?"

"Scare me?" The Queen of Halloween chuckled, genuinely amused by the idea. "Of course not. However, that doesn't mean I'd press your luck if I were you."

The Sloth tilted his head, blinking slowly. The spiders crawling through his jet black hair seemed uninterested in the current conversation and even further unconcerned about the claw that was raised to scratch at his cheek idly. "Really?"

"See, I knew it!" Nora laughed, clapping her friend on the back. "Our Black Cat's found someone scarier than the Shade."

"Don't say that." Ah, and here would be a difficult game to play, even if Blake wasn't the least bit sorry for how things turned out. "You're too loud and I'll have my hands full enough dealing with Adam once he's done sulking. Salting his wounds prematurely just means a bigger headache later on."

While the woman looked ready to argue- or at least question- the order, the steady pressure of Ren's claws at her back encouraged her to be silent for the moment. "I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you, Ren." She nodded to both of them before continuing on her way, waving to the duo across the street they were obviously looking for but paying Jaune and Pyrrha no mind. Knowing the four, they were off to chase frogs through the swamps again, an idle pastime to make the task of catching leeches all the more enjoyable.

Were it any other day, she might consider joining them, but she had her own tasks to complete, and preferably before the sun came up. Blake was more than ready to return to Christmas Town, even if she could still feel a little lethargy remaining in her limbs, and she wasn't keen on losing any time or energy before she could. All that jumping through shadows for the better part of two nights had really worn on her physical form; she'd likely use more physical means of travel this time around, least of all because of her body's endurance. It wasn't as pressing a concern as it might be for a mortal, true, but she didn't want to cut their next meeting short on account of becoming sleepy. She also didn't want to run the risk of Yang or someone else searching through the other planes for her if she remained away too long. This was her escape from the monotony of duty and responsibility; protecting that was a high priority.

Her pace quickened towards the tavern, boot heels clicking against the cobblestone and warding off anyone thinking of slowing her down. Just the prospect of seeing Weiss again was motivating in a way she'd missed over the past few decades, anticipation settling in the hallow of her chest. She'd rested for a full day and night, lounging through the daylight hours until the moon rose and she could begin her trek across town, reflecting on the strange things that occupied her slumber. Visions of snow covered hills, a cold wind tousling her hair, bright blinking lights everywhere, and her ears filled with the screams of terrified children and Weiss' laughter created a sharp longing within the Black Cat that she'd never known before, even if it was all a conjuring of her sleeping imagination. While she doubted the Snow Spirit would be so keen to indulge in even a few harmless scares around Christmas Town during her next visit, the thought was appealing in a way working with the other denizens of Halloween Town- Adam included- had never been. Then again, she was equally excited to learn more about Christmas Town and their strange practices. Perhaps she'd get a chance to take a closer look with the Snow Spirit at her side.

Regardless, those were thoughts for later; at present, she had a pair of Witches to coerce, not that they'd put up much resistance. The Witches Malachite were fond of their spells, after all, and any excuse to wield them. However, she wouldn't put it past the twins to conjure up something that would go awry, just to try and get her riled up, and she couldn't let that happen given who would ultimately be using the spell.

So, the... gentler approach it was.

"Miltiades? Melanie?" Blake called out the moment she ducked through the tavern's creaking door, scanning the dusty tables and bar top with a small frown when her calls when unanswered.

However, two steps further into the establishment rewarded her with finding the two Witches on the floor, leaning their backs against the bar and sides against each other. It seemed they hadn't bothered retreating to the upstairs room when dawn came, the cauldron they were so often bent over bubbling quietly in the far corner. Creeping over, the Black Cat crouched down in front of the two, bringing out her fangs and claws. If she was going to be rude enough to wake the duo, the least she could do was be kind about it.

A fearsome roar barely a foot from them did the trick, both women attempting to scramble away from her before realizing there was nowhere to run, clinging to the other as they let out twin shrieks. Of course, they immediately regained their composure once she reverted to her usual form, a smirk on her lips. It had been a long while since she'd taken so much amusement from a simple scare.

"Well, good evening to you, too," the white clad sister said with an uneasy smile.

The expression was mirrored, though tinged red. "What brings you here so early?"

"I'm in need of a spell." Blake stood, offering one of her hands to each of the sisters. "I was wondering if that seemed like something you two could assist me with finding."

"Finding, creating, casting-"

"-we can do it all." The twins accepted her assistance, standing up with a few pops and cracks from resting in such an odd position. "But there's a price."

"Which we can't name."

"Until we know the specifics."

"Same as always." She chuckled, turning to follow them towards the cauldron. Inhaling deeply confirmed her initially suspicions; the bubbling purple liquid would likely be doled out to those keen on mastering their fire breathing, should it be a talent they wish to pick up before the next trip into the mortal plane. "I suppose the fact that it's going to be a challenge won't change your mind any-"

"Blake, please, we've been casting spells for centuries," Melanie said, narrowing her eyes as her tone dripped with a hint of defensive malice. "What could you possibly propose that would be a challenge?"

The explanation was detailed and a big long, but only because the Black Cat wanted to be absolutely sure there wouldn't be any misunderstandings. The skepticism that had previously shone defiantly in the twins' eyes ebbed with every word, morphing into surprise and finally glee at the truly unique request laid before them. Two sets of hands flew to the bookcase tucked in the corner, pulling tomes free and riffling through pages before discarding them, the twins in search of a particular spellbook in their collection. When Miltiades finally hit upon it, the two laughed with glee, eyes bright as their cauldron began to bubble more viciously. Some quite mumbling between them negotiated the price before the red clad sister turned towards Blake, a smile on her lips.

"And that's it?" Blake nodded, bracing herself for whatever would be asked of her in return. "It will take a few weeks, at least, but we can do it."

"For...?"

"For a simple price." Her smile turned wicked. "We both want something that's red and white, firm and delicious, and it has to be something we've never seen before."

The Black Cat frowned, brows furrowing slightly. Red and white was easy enough- eyeballs, which she had in ready supply- and firm and delicious was simple as well- a blood soaked bone was easy to find. But something neither twin had seen before? They'd been around at least three centuries; what could there be that eluded them?

Melanie giggled. "If it's too high-"

"No. Of course not." Although it wasn't easy, Blake favored them both with a grin and a nod. "If that's your price, I'll pay it."

"Excellent." Miltades immediately snapped her fingers, red wisps swirling around the cauldron and moving it off to some unseen corner. "We'll begin immediately, then."

"Perfect." Bidding the bustling duo goodbye, the Queen of Halloween gave Junior a polite nod as they passed each other, he returning from somewhere while she tended to her next task. Tracking down Yang would be a trial, especially since the Clown's erratic sleeping often meant she curled up wherever she pleased and rarely could be found in the same place twice in any given year. On the plus side, there was no one who knew the town better than the blonde, and she was eager to pester her friend for some secret she'd left off during Weiss' initial tour.

Also, finding a hiding spot to keep out of the Mayor's sights would help, too.

Lilac eyes glowered at her from atop the mausoleum. "Coming from a Clown, I'm going to level with ya, Blakey. You're not funny."

"I'm also not joking," she replied, leaning against a tombstone, not the least bit intimidated by the height disadvantage but struggling to remain nonchalant. While she'd expected a little resistance to the idea, the Black Cat hadn't counted on her friend being so adverse to keeping the Mayor off her back for a few days. If anything, it presented the perfect excuse for the blonde to pull some of her signature pranks on everyone to keep them distracted. "I don't see what the problem is."

"Oh, you don't? Well, doesn't that make it all better!" A fake smile spread across her features as she threw her arms out wide, rolling on her back to speak to the cloudless night sky. "Good news, everyone, our beloved Queen of Halloween is leaving again and doesn't see what's wrong with that picture!"

"It's just for a night; I'll be back by tomorrow's moon, probably."

"Probably."

"Yang," she said, frustration coloring her tone. "If there's something you want to say, then just say it."

"Has it occurred to you that there's a reason we've never heard of this 'Snow Spirit' of yours?" The Clown frowned at her upside down, brows pinched in annoyance and a twinge of fear. "Like, I'm not saying I know what it is, but it's probably important, and not something you should ignore just because you can. Running off every other day, avoiding the Mayor- these aren't things you can keep doing without consequences." Her expression softened some, the annoyance fading as the concern shined through. "I'm just worried about you, is all. Everyone knows you don't really worry about yourself."

Blake sighed, shaking her head and pushing off from the tombstone. "You're overreacting. I'm not abandoning Halloween Town or my responsibilities, but I want to... just... if you could see Christmas Town for yourself, maybe you'd understand-"

"Nuh uh, no way." She shook her head, rolling over and crossing her arms to act as a pillow for her chin. "I'm happy here, and so is everyone else. I get you want to see new things and all, but I just want you to think about the rest of us, okay? Without you here to keep everyone in line, Adam might-" she cut herself off at the raised brow directed her way "-okay, forget I said that, my point is that, you're here for a reason. She's there for a reason. Maybe messing with that isn't a good idea."

"I'll keep it in mind." A few moments of silence passed before she grumbled, frowning at her friend's continued stare. "And I'll deal with the Mayor myself first thing after I get back. It'll be like I never left."

"I doubt that." The Clown muttered before hopping down from the mausoleum's roof, landing with a heavy thud among the graves. "But, maybe you're right and I am overreacting. If you can figure out a way to balance your time between here and there, you won't hear me complain. And, honestly, I'm glad you found something to give you a bit of your old spark." Her lips twitched into a grin. "I can't remember the last time you scared the Malachites."

"It's been a few decades." She winced. "Maybe a century."

"See? I guess Weiss is good for your motivation." Yang chuckled, though the sound was lacking in mirth. "Just don't forget where you come from while you're knee deep in snow and glittering lights and... what did you say that yellow stuff on the trees is called?"

"Garland?"

"Yeah, that." She heaved a small sigh, glancing up at the moon. "Night's almost halfway done. Might as well go start setting up my bag of tricks. I'll probably need to pull out all the stops to keep Salem busy."

"I'd give Ozpin more credit than that." Blake grinned, accompanying her friend at least to the graveyard's gate.

A laugh answered her. "Yeah, says the one who wasn't actually here when we figured out you were missing." She shrugged. "Anyway, just don't stay gone too long. If I get thrown into the tar pit again, I'm not going to be held responsible for what happens."

The Black Cat glanced at the sky, mentally calculating the time. She lost the remainder of the daylight hours during the first trip to Christmas Town, and they'd missed all of them on the return journey. If she left now, she'd probably find herself in the other plane shortly before nightfall. "I'll be back soon, Yang. I promise."

"I'll hold you to it."

Blake watched for a few minutes while the Clown disappeared back into town, turning over her friend's concerns. Weiss had mentioned responsibilities of her own back in Christmas Town, and it only made sense that they wouldn't be able to see each other every other day, given how much time was lost during the travel itself. Maybe they could work something out, some sort of schedule that would keep their respective duties from suffering while allowing them to explore the other's plane a bit more. There were still over three hundred and sixty days left before she had to truly attend to her duties.

There was time.

The descent into the snow covered hills surrounding Halloween Town was much easier this time, Blake reveling in the odd sensation as she once again found herself buried up to her chest in snow. It was much deeper this time around, and softer too- perhaps that was because the powder was heavily falling from the sky above her, clinging to her ears and hair, sliding across her cheeks as softly as a certain pair of pale lips. Just the memory brought a faint flush to her skin, something she couldn't remember doing for at least a century. Mimicking the physiological reactions of mortals- though vital in some instances to elicit a proper reaction of fear- wasn't something she routinely did anymore, purely from apathy. Now, though, she could find more than enough motivation to express herself in such subtle ways, especially given whose company she was seeking.

"Weiss?" She called out, digging herself out of the snow with some effort, reveling in the air's chill. The sky was filled with heavy grey clouds but she could see well enough to guess that the sun hadn't yet set, meaning she was probably early. The Snow Spirit might still be asleep, not yet ready to start the-

"Good evening, Blake." The words were just a sigh on the wind, caressing her ears from no particular direction, and yet all of them at once.

Her eyes fell shut as a flurry of snowflakes enveloped her, lifting her up off the ground just enough for her to notice being dropped back down. She was in no danger of losing her balance but she instantly became aware of the presence materializing behind her and opted to play along, pretending to stumble enough that she could be caught, opening her eyes to find sparkling blue ones staring down at her.

"Good evening," she replied softly, standing under her own power as a sudden thought struck her. Deciding to act on it, she bent down, brushing her lips against a pale cheek, just like Weiss had done when they last parted. The action caused a jolt to travel through the Snow Spirit, the rosy pink color spreading across her cheeks a bit worrying until Blake caught sight of the small smile threatening to widen. "That was okay?"

"Yes."

"What's it called?" She tilted her head to the side, curious.

"That? It's... called a kiss." Weiss chuckled, though she seemed somewhat disappointed. "Not a custom in Halloween Town, I assume."

"Not exactly." She searched her memory, recalling snatches of things she'd seen among the mortals, passionate embraces that were perfect cover for any monster to get the drop on their targets. "But I like it."

"Well... I guess that's something," the woman replied, though the words were soft enough to imagine Blake wasn't meant to hear them. When she spoke again, her voice was much stronger. "How long can you stay?"

"I should probably leave before daybreak." It wasn't a pleasant thought but the worry in Yang's voice was nagging at her. "I've been avoiding the Mayor ever since you left. I'm pretty sure they'll be quite cross with me when I get back."

"Don't tell me I'm distracting the great Queen of Halloween." Whatever melancholy might've infected the Snow Spirit before was quickly replaced by the teasing lilt of her voice, a smile on her lips. "I think that might actually make me scary among your people."

"I think you already reached that level when you walked through Adam." She chuckled, shaking her head. "He's still sulking about that."

"I have a suspicion I shouldn't apologize."

"You shouldn't." Blake fell silent, mesmerized by how the subdued sunlight made it so easy for Weiss to blend into the snow all around them. It was like whenever a monster materialized from the shadows, except it was quite clear if one were to look the distinction between person and scenery, even without enhanced vision. Still, surrounded by her element, the woman looked so at ease that it was difficult to think, her golden eyes busy tracing over her pale features until she finally realized something. "Your hair looks different today."

The woman in her arms chuckled, reaching up to pull her long ponytail over her shoulder and idly brushing her bangs out of her eyes. "I'm surprised you noticed. It gets longer the closer we get to the peak of the Holiday Season." At the curiosity written across the Black Cat's expression, her companion explained. "Christmas Town also intersects with the mortal plane, but we have more than just a night to cross between them. We call it the 'Holiday Season', when we all work to spread joy to the Humans."

That sounded... odd. "Joy? Not fear?"

"Yes." There was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, though her voice remained steady. "I'm afraid I still don't understand the appeal of scaring people."

"It's important."

"So you keep saying." A single white eyebrow arched. "Without elaboration, I might add."

"I... it's difficult. To explain." The response lacked conviction, something that Weiss must've picked up on easily.

Rather than dwell on her less-than-stellar reply, though, the Snow Spirit merely gave a soft grin. "Speaking of joy, I have something for you. A present." Blake's ears perked up, surprised when a fresh flurry of snowflakes ferried a small box into the woman's hand. It wasn't very large- no bigger than a toad, really- but it was wrapped in black paper with a purple bow on top. "It's... part of the traditions of Christmas Town, to give gifts. Plus, it serves a practical purpose; no one will give you any trouble here as long as you wear it." Her gaze was fixated on the box in her hands, as if she wasn't willing to meet the Black Cat's gaze. "Of course, that doesn't mean you're required to- I just thought this... may make things easier whenever you visit."

Without a word, she slid her arms from around Weiss and took the box into her hands, turning it over once or twice. Eventually, her curiosity bubbled over.

"Why black and purple?" Her golden eyes darted over to the glittering lights she could just make out decorating Christmas Town, series after series of them winking on as the sun began to set.

"Well, I thought they might be your favorite colors." She pointedly glanced at the suit and ascot.

"They are." She smiled, lightly tracing the bow. There was still a lot of confusion regarding the odd practice she was being introduced to, forcing her to eventually admit as much. "But I'm not sure how to wear this."

"Wha- it's not- you don't wear the box, Blake." There was a gentle grumble, something about 'this is ridiculous' before the Snow Spirit finally looked her in the eyes, hands coming to rest briefly over her own. "The box is just a container. Your present is inside it, so you'll need to open it first."

The Black Cat frowned, tilting her head to the side. "Why would you wrap the box if I need to open it? That seems counter productive."

"It's so you can't see what the box is or what's inside of it until it's time to open it. That's the point of a present- it's so you can be surprised by what's inside. Wrapping... well, it is time consuming, but the effort is worth it. Usually." She looked away briefly. "It's... a bit early, by all accounts, but I think we can make an exception. Just this once."

"So... it's okay for me to rip the paper?" She confirmed, receiving a nod in response. Although it still seemed strange to her, Blake set about using a nail that quickly transformed into a claw to rip open the little bit of give beneath the box's top. Carefully tearing the paper away, she was confronted with a plain white box, which wasn't surprising, and- after another encouraging nod from her companion- pulled the lid off without further ado. She wasn't sure what she expected- spiders, newts, a severed head- but the last thing on the list was sitting there, resting on a black velvet cushion, gleaming in the dying light. A cat's eye gemstone, as bright as her own golden eyes, was fixed to an onyx snowflake about the size of Weiss' palm. Upon picking it up, she quickly noticed the pin on the back, and realized it was a broach, lending proper context to the comment about wearing it. It wouldn't spark fear the way a cursed amulet would but it was mesmerizing all the same, complimenting her standard outfit rather nicely. Now that she thought on it, no one had ever given her something that was purely meant to match her in any way. Yang brought her interesting things from time to time- a diseased bat, a vicious cobra, an undead rat the size of her fist- but they were never things she was meant to keep. A warmth suddenly filled her chest, strange and exhilarating all at once. "Weiss... this is beautiful."

"You think so?" Blue eyes lit up, a gentle flurry circling them for a moment as she smiled. "I know this isn't something you're used to but... I thought you'd like it."

"I do, thank you. Will you help me put it on?" She gestured with the box and wrapping paper occupying one hand. "I'm a little short handed."

"You don't keep the paper or the box, by the way." The Snow Spirit chuckled, though she plucked the broach up without complaint and began to affix it to Blake's ascot, where it would stand out. "Those can be thrown away."

"But I'd like to keep them." With both of her hands free, she quickly put the black paper and purple bow into the box, setting the lid back into place. "Is that alright?"

There was a spark of curiosity that flashed across her face but, once the broach was properly set, Weiss nodded. "Of course. But, we'll leave it here for now." A quick flurry of snowflakes arrived, ferrying the box to somewhere unseen. "There's a lot I'd like to show you, and you'll need both hands free."

Excitement once again filled her, lips curling into a smile as a small, pale hand slipped into hers. "Lead the way."

The streets of Christmas Town were even more mesmerizing from the ground level than the rooftops, the glittering lights painting a far more coherent picture when viewed from the proper perspective. Blake led the way with her companion trailing behind, offering the occasional tidbit about whatever happened to catch the Black Cat's eyes while the residents scurried around, watching the two pass with wide eyes. The Queen of Halloween paid them little mind until one- smaller than the others, she noticed- came up to her, offering up a platter filled with curious little sticks that were bent at the top.

"That's called a candy cane." The Snow Spirit supplied, picking one out herself, three thin blue lines twirling around solid white. She popped the longer end into her mouth, gently encouraging Blake to do the same.

She chose a red and green one, surprised at the sweet taste that spread over her tongue when she followed her companion's lead, teeth testing how brittle the confection was. "Do these come in just red and white?"

"Well, yes, it's actually the most common-" Weiss cut off at the sudden crunch that accompanied the Black Cat biting into the stick. "Um, they aren't typically eaten like that."

"They're not?" Golden eyes lit up as she swallowed, certain this would satisfy the twins' demand. "It's like a bone made of marrow. Why wouldn't you bite it?"

Only then did she realize that most of the little creatures had stopped to stare, eyeing her mouth with more than a little apprehension that was palpable to her alone. She'd neglected to notice that she'd opened her mouth a bit wide when she bit down, putting her fangs on display, and while they weren't anywhere near the size she usually used to frighten, they were still very sharp.

"Well, that's a little morbid." Blake glanced at her companion's bemused expression, noting the small smile on her lips. Before she could think to formulate a reply, though, she continued. "But not untrue, I suppose. I guess it's just never occurred to us before. Did you want to try one of the red and white ones as well?"

"... later, please. A few of them?" Her car ears drooped while Weiss conferred with the little creature who, despite being just as apprehensive as the others at first, eagerly ran off once the order was placed with a wide grin on its face. "I... presume I should've worded that better."

"There's nothing wrong with what you said." Blue eyes glanced away briefly, searching for words. "It's... different, yes, but that's no reason to apologize. Trust me, the elves are a skittish bunch but they'll grow used to you the more you come to visit."

Suddenly, a thought struck her, prompting the Queen of Halloween to take a step closer, voice softer than before. "Weiss... were you scared the first time you saw me?"

Scaring mortals and monsters alike was something Blake had done for over five centuries. It was as ingrained in her as the epithet on a headstone, weathered and washed away by disenchantment but still there. Even after losing her passion for her purpose, she'd never once felt regret for causing and embodying fear. Yet, the idea that the Snow Spirit had ever looked upon her with terror bothered her for some reason she couldn't explain. There was no fear now- all the fright she could feel was pulsating from the myriad of creatures watching them, quietly anticipating what would happen next- but that there might have been... she didn't like the thought, liked even less that it could be a reality.

"I wasn't scared of you, no," Weiss replied, taking one of the Black Cat's hands in hers while the other held her candy cane. "But you did give me a fright, appearing like that. I hadn't expected for anyone to come looking for me so soon, but suddenly someone was there, fallen from the sky and playing in the snow." Her lips curled into a small smile, their gazes meeting to convey the sincerity of her words as they started walking again. "It's quite difficult to be afraid of someone who looked so happy doing something so... mundane."

"It's not mundane to me." Blake defended, albeit weakly, feeling relief wash over her now that she had the answer.

"Which is how I could tell you were different. Special." The woman pressed closer to her side under the guise of directing her around a corner but didn't move away once they were on the side streets, snow still crunching underfoot. "You looked so amazed by the snow. It... reminded me that there's still some magic to be found in what I do."

Slowly, she brought them to a halt, gold seeking out blue. There was something about those words that didn't sit right with the Queen of Halloween. "Who you are."

"Excuse you?"

"The magic, it lies in who you are, not what you do." She grinned, tilting her head to the side. "I've seen you in a place without any snow at all, Weiss, and I can assure you that you weren't any less for it. If there's magic in what you do, it's because of who you are."

Struck speechless, the Snow Spirit ducked her hand and pressed firmly into Blake's chest. With a gentle chuckle she wrapped the woman up in her arms as a heavy flurry swirled around them, prompting a few cries of awe from the residents of Christmas Town to bear witness to it. The light jingling of bells caught her attention briefly but she ignored them and everything else for the moment, instead soaking up the warmth from before now surging anew throughout her body. Whatever this sensation was, Blake was slowly growing as comfortable with it as she was with feeling Weiss' slight weight against her.

"You can scare a mortal to death with a single look and you're the kindest being I've ever met." The woman mumbled, the words barely audible over the bustle and chatter surrounding them, the blast of snow subsiding back to its usual soft falling. "Thank you."

While she didn't see the need for gratitude, a series of giggles effectively caught both of their attentions, pulling two gazes to a curious sight- well, for the Black Cat, at least. One of the little creatures was standing a few feet away from them, grinning up at a twig with little green leaves and two red berries suspended above it by a thread attached to one of the many strings of lights crisscrossing over the street.

"That's odd." The Snow Spirit had a soft smile on her lips. "They usually wait a few weeks before they hang the mistletoe."

"Mistletoe?" Stifled giggles drew golden eyes up while her companion continued observing the scene in front of them. "What's the significance?"

"It's a mortal tradition the elves enjoy." Weiss explained, pointing at the one hanging above the creature in question. "Whenever a person passes beneath the mistletoe, that person receives a kiss."

"And if two people pass beneath it?"

"Then they kiss each other, typically." The woman turned her head as if to continue her explanation but stopped short at seeing Blake's gaze directed up. She followed the Black Cat's gaze to the little plant hanging over them, two sets of eyes mischievously glinting from the nearby window. "Of course they would."

Golden eyes dropped, studying her companion's face for a moment before speaking. "Would you rather not? I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable."

There were a few whispers of disappointment that Weiss silenced with a quick glare about them, returning her gaze a moment later to meet shining golden orbs. "I- That is, I'm not against the idea. And it is tradition." Amused but refraining from embarrassing the Snow Spirit any further, Blake began to lean to the side, ready to brush her lips against her companion's pale skin. She was stopped, however, by a cool hand against her cheek. "It's, well, not that kind of kiss."

"There are different kinds?" How peculiar.

"Yes. A kiss to the cheek is a common greeting or farewell, but for mistletoe... a kiss here is more appropriate," she said, brush her thumb lightly against the Black Cat's lips.

Ears perking up in surprise, Blake offered a slight grin. She could feel the subtle pressure of apprehension being exuded by her companion, perhaps anticipating some manner of rejection that wouldn't come. There was simply no end to the unique surprises Christmas Town provided, it seemed. Without a word, she adjusted, allowing the hand on her cheek to guide her down to Weiss' lips. Come to think of it, she had seen this practice a time or two- mortals were, by far, easier to terrify when suitably distracted by something of their own choosing, and often times that something was another mortal- but she hadn't expected it to make her feel anything. Yet, the heat in her chest burned hotter as their lips met, a simple gesture of gentle pressure yielding far more excitement and wonder than it had any right to because, really, who would've ever thought to try something like this? Such a small act of relative insignificance that somehow made her feel like something was missing when her companion pulled away, cheeks a rosy hue.

"We should probably move-"

Blake hummed, lips curling into a calculated smile. "I don't think so; I'm not quite sure I understand this tradition of yours. Perhaps we could try it again?"

There was a moment where it was obvious the woman didn't buy her feigned innocence, but she caved quickly and indulged the Queen of Halloween with a smile of her own. "Well, I suppose it would be quite rude of me not to ensure you get the full experience."

Although there was a moment between the words and the press of lips against hers once more, Blake noticed there wasn't a hint of hesitation on her companion's part, no fear tickling at her senses. It was just a natural pause as they leaned in slowly, savoring the moment beneath the lights. The kiss lasted longer this time, the hand on her cheek slipping around to lightly grasp the back of her neck, pulling them more firmly together than their height differences would allow. Snowflakes swirled around them, dancing on the gentle breeze as they settled into the comfortable embrace like it was second nature. It was strange and new and wonderful and all the things that the Black Cat had believed were beyond her reach a few nights ago, all brought about by the aforementioned magic humming through Weiss' frame. There was no heartbeat to gauge, nothing a mortal would understand as a sign of changing emotions or an altered existence, but the thrumming pulse of energy barely maintaining corporeal form translated just as easily. A soft growl- perhaps a purr, were she a mere, mortal cat- rumbled through her chest as her free hand settled low on Weiss' back, stabilizing her among the furious flurry surrounding them.

A moment later, a freezing blast of wind hit them out of nowhere, sweeping away the snowflakes and splitting the two apart abruptly. The Snow Spirit seemed a trifle apprehensive and more than a little annoyed while Blake frowned, brows pinching in confusion as she followed her companion's gaze to the presumed cause of the disruption.

"Am I interrupting?" The words were clear and biting, despite lacking any trace of malice or ill will. They were simply offered very bluntly by a creature who bore a striking resemblance to Weiss: the same white hair, the same piercing blue eyes, the same pale skin. There were differing aesthetics, sure, with the woman before them keeping her hair bound in a tight bun high on her head except for the bangs obscuring one eye, a formal coat bearing glittering blue trim offsetting the starkness of the white fabric, black boots and gloves covering her extremities, but the similarities were also obvious.

"Winter." The promise of a cutting retort lay trapped within the confines of the Snow Spirit's teeth as she offered a strained smile and a bowed head. "How kind of you to drop by. I thought you were busy helping Father."

A pale eyebrow arched, though the expression was far more accusatory than when Weiss did it. "As you should be doing also, you mean?"

Blake was ready to cut in on the conversation- there were certain things she tolerated from no one, least of all a stranger, and any threat to her companion, no matter how slight, had quickly become one of them- when the hand at the nape of her neck twitched, a silent plea to remain silent. It was difficult but, with the candy cane still in her other hand, she had something to distract herself with, popping the bitten portion into her mouth and trying to work out how to eat the thing without biting down.

"I attended to my duties earlier." She used her own treat to gesture around them. "Two feet of fresh snow. That's at least a headstart on the first frost of the Season."

"Be that as it may, Father-"

"Is perfectly capable of delivering his orders himself," Weiss said, an edge of frustration surfacing in her voice.

"While that is true, I have my own duties to attend to, and tracking down my wayward daughter is typically not one of them." A voice resonated from behind the duo, prompting the apprehension within the Snow Spirit to suddenly spike and morph into actual fear. The taste of it was acrid on the back of the Black Cat's tongue, washing away the sugary sweet in the blink of an eye as she redirected her gaze to the figure standing behind them.

He looked old in a way that mortals would recognize but it seemed entirely out of place for a being as timeless as they were. The grooves of wrinkles carved into his face lent a severity to his blue eyed gaze, white hair touched by grey at the temples, the only bits of color in an otherwise pristine ensemble. Something about him seemed familiar to Blake though she'd never seen him before, a sensation that was beyond her usual senses compelling her to refrain from unleashing her full form as a means of warning. Besides that, Weiss lowered her gaze immediately, out of either respect or fear, and it was a reaction she recognized all too easily. It was the same amount of deference paid to her by the monsters of Halloween Town.

He narrowed his eyes, jaw set like an iron trap as he tried to stare Blake down. She refused to buckle, though, evenly meeting his gaze while holding the candy cane in her mouth using her fangs alone, an aggressive gesture tempered by the brightly colored sweet. Her other hand lingered on her companion's back, moving with the woman as she faced the newest addition to the street.

"Father. I can explain-"

"I hardly think it's necessary." His tone was dismissive, a gloved hand waving off her concerns. "I'm not so ignorant of the planes that I fail to recognize the Queen of Halloween when I see her. Though... I doubt the recognition is repaid in kind."

Switching the candy cane to the other side of her mouth, Blake shrugged, apathetic to how easily she was recognized. Perhaps her reputation preceding her would benefit them both.

"One replies when they are addressed."

"Peace, Winter. That's not the way of a Black Cat," the man said, lips twitching slightly at the corners. "I'm not so old that I remember the first of your kind, but I am aware of some of the others, and I recognize that you are just as vital to your plane as I am to mine." His expression hardened. "However, this is Christmas Town, and you will respect my rule over this place, just as I expect my daughters to do the same. There will be no intentional terrorizing of my people. Am I understood?"

"I'll consider it," she replied coolly, unimpressed with his bravado. While her companion's fear was bitter, the anxiety pouring off the man in front of her and the woman behind were just on the side of palpable, sweet as usual. The little creatures had all retreated, watching the beings in the street with wide eyes, apprehension gripping them. Even if she wasn't in Halloween Town, their reactions were more than enough for her to exude confidence as she tilted her chin up in defiance. "But I won't abide disrespect towards myself or my companion."

He didn't seem to like her response but brushed it off quickly, focusing instead on Weiss. "Attend to your duties. I won't begrudge you this... dalliance, but we've two weeks until the first frost. We can't allow the Holiday Season to suffer thanks to your distraction."

The Snow Spirit opened her mouth, ready to deliver a retort born of frustration, but she clicked her mouth shut, bowing her head. "Yes, Father. I will remain on schedule."

"Very well." The man nodded, turning on heel and fading into nothingness, some of the intense cold departing along with him. A moment later, the howling wind died down as the other woman took a few steps forward.

"You realize he's only doing this-"

"To cause me misery whenever possible? Yes, it's occurred to me." Weiss snapped, dropping her candy cane to the ground in favor of crossing her arms over her chest. "Please, just go. You have more important matters to attend to than reminding me of what I lack."

There was no response, just a strong gust of chilling wind and the woman was gone, leaving the street nearly empty. All the little creatures that bore witness to the spectacle suddenly scurried away, returning to their tasks with heads bent down, resolutely ignoring the two remaining.

Rather than break the silence between them, Blake wrapped her other arm around her companion, resting her chin atop white locks. She patiently waited for the tension to ease from thin shoulders, the Snow Spirit relaxing by degrees until she leaned forward and rested her forehead against the Black Cat's chest.

"I'm sorry you had to see that."

"You don't have to apologize." Her voice was soft as she drew back just enough to look at the Snow Spirit's face, which was still turned from her slightly. "Although, I would appreciate an explanation, if you'd be willing to give it."

Reluctantly, Weiss pulled away, making a motion for the Queen of Halloween to follow her as her form dissolved into a flurry, drifting up and away from the street. It was an easy request to fulfill, Blake launching towards the nearest shadow and emerging on the roof where her companion had regained her form. She eased from the shadow slowly, making a point to tread heavily across the slanted shingles until she could sit beside Weiss, the two staring out over the top of Christmas Town. The Snow Spirit had her legs tucked under her, back and shoulders straight, the entire position looking like it would be too uncomfortable for any mortal to bear.

"That was my father, Old King Cold." She sounded despondent, detached. It would be cold if there wasn't a distinct undercurrent of disappointment present as well. "He's the King of Christmas Town, the avatar of what the Holiday Season means to mortals."

Blake couldn't help herself. "He doesn't exactly scream 'joy' to me."

A bitter chuckle preceded the slumping of her shoulders. "Well, perhaps my previous statement was a bit... skewed."

Reaching over, she set a hand gently over one of the woman's clenched fists that rested atop her knees. "That's alright. If you'd like to start over, you can."

Blue eyes met hers briefly, a sigh passing through her lips before she looked out over the glittering lights once more. "When our plane intersects with that of the mortals', we change their world to be more like ours." She gestured towards the sky, still heavy with thick clouds. "It becomes colder, the land becomes dead, and it clears the way for new growth when we depart. That's my father's work- bringing the cold that will slowly kill the old to make way for the new. My sister, Winter, she's the dark clouds and harsh winds that help spread the cold across the land. For millennia, humans have regarded the Season with apprehension, unsure they would be unable to survive without enough food stored up." Her lips twitched into a small smile. "But then I came to be, and with me came stories that combine us, tales intended to bring joy and laughter to the Humans even as the land dies. Even if I can only exist where my sister and father have wrought their changes, the Humans find me amusing enough to look forward to the Season. Most of the time." Her expression fell, shoulders sagging further. "But I'm not necessary. A fluke, created by the mortals' desire for something positive during such a dreary time of year. The day we met... I was reminded of that. That's why I was away from Christmas Town in the first place. I have no purpose here."

Blake's ears perked, eyes growing wide. This was not a new concept to the Black Cat- more than a few of the creatures prowling Halloween Town were born of the fear Humans possessed within the past five hundred years- but she'd never heard it described so negatively before. A fluke? What ridiculous notion was this?

"Weiss, how could you think that?" She moved closer, pressing shoulder and hip against her smaller companion. "Every one of us is necessary. We wouldn't exist if the mortals didn't need us."

"I may ease their concerns but I am not important, Blake," she replied, refusing to accept the comfort being offered. "I can't clear the fields or weed the weak from the strong. All I do is blanket the world in powder for mortals to play."

"And they play in the snow just like I did, right? When I first came to Christmas Town?" The Black Cat shifted, gently taking hold of Weiss' chin so their eyes could meet. "I needed that; believe me, I did. And it only exists because of you." She smiled. "No matter what your father and sister think, you bring joy to the mortals and to me, in whatever way you can. That is important; you are important."

The Snow Spirit tried to shy away but she held firm, leaning forward slowly to press their lips together once again. She could feel the swirl of emotions, like snowflakes stirred by the wind before settling as the woman relaxed into the kiss.

When they parted, her voice was soft. "There's no mistletoe, you know. Not up here."

"Do we really need it?"

Weiss laughed softly, pressing closer. "No, I suppose not."

"Good." She stole another brief kiss before coaxing the woman to lay down beside her on the rooftop, the two of them gazing up at the bright stars winking at them from beyond the veil of dark clouds, snowflakes still falling gently upon them.

Author's Note: This is turning out to be much longer than I imagined... and it's mostly fluff.