Disclaimer: Own nothing. Getting towards the end.
Blake moved carefully as she descended the darkened stairs, every step echoing up and down the stone passageway leading to the catacombs. She'd stopped by a few times since bringing Weiss down to the depths of Halloween Town, though she didn't stay long enough to start dancing with the skeletons without the Snow Spirit in tow. Her main priority typically revolved around some scare for Ozpin or input on an old trick that could use an update and she was far more attentive to keeping her schedule now than she used to be. Unlike those who walked the land above, the skeletons' existence resembled the bats and the spiders; they grew in number but rarely diminished, never retiring old, weary bones so new ones might take the place left open. As such, they safeguarded knowledge from times before, though even they couldn't recall the beginning, and their insight helped reshape age old tricks, keeping alive at least a part so it could be traced back. The evolution of terror was theirs to chart and track, which they did with fervor whenever they weren't whiling away the time with dancing and music.
This trip, however, had nothing to do with them and everything to do with Gambol Shroud, who was leading the way, a bright purple splotch in the otherwise oppressive darkness. It wasn't often that Blake was awoken by her predecessor and entreated to follow- she could count on one hand the times it had happened over the course of five centuries- so she wasn't inclined to ignore the spectral projection, even if it did set her back on everything else she'd planned to do that day.
Weiss had just left to go back to Christmas Town that morning, explaining that the peak of the Holiday Season was only two weeks away and her entire family was even more uptight than usual; apparently, it had come to Old King Cold's attention that his daughter's snow wasn't just a flight of fancy for the mortals and actually held significant importance for their plane. The Snow Spirit didn't have the opportunity to gloat, as behind as she was in her duties thanks to her father's interference, but she'd devoted every spare moment to visiting Blake. At least, initially; the Black Cat quickly realized she was working herself too hard trying to accomplish that and made the woman promise to limit her visits until she could get the appropriate amount of rest. The whole night before, they had lingered in her labyrinth's center, relaxing in the gazebo. Weiss had spent most of the night resting, looking serene and peaceful, and the Queen of Halloween alternated between dozing and watching over her companion. The Snow Spirit could've gone without the rest but Blake had insisted, worried about the woman's strength. Her white hair was getting long, nearly dragging on the floor as she walked, and that should've indicated a rise in her power, the same sort of boost that all of the Halloween Town denizens experienced during their one night in the mortal realm, but the amount of energy she was putting into catching up was taking all that away.
The next time Blake was presented with the opportunity to address Old King Cold, she was definitely going to bring that up. She'd remained quiet out of respect for the plane that wasn't hers but this crossed a line she wasn't willing to ignore.
"You're getting angry again."
"Of course I am; it isn't right that-" The Black Cat blinked, coming to a stop as they reached the bottom of the stairs and looking around. The voice wasn't one she could name, yet she recognized it... it almost sounded like hers, honestly. She was about to call out for whoever it was to appear, suspecting that perhaps Pyrrha was lying in wait to try and scare her, but stopped when she noticed how Gambol Shroud was looking at her. "Was that you?"
"Yes."
"I... didn't think you could speak." Blake furrowed her brows, trying to recall any other time her predecessor had addressed her. Aside from vague feelings that she could translate intrinsically, none came to mind.
"I have always been able to speak," Gambol Shroud replied, its tail flicking and curling around its paws as it sat on its haunches. "You, on the other hand, just started listening." Her ears flicked back, partially out of embarrassment, but the spectral projection continued, sounding amused with her reaction. "If it's any consolation, this wasn't something my predecessor learned was possible during her reign. Now, come. There's something I want to show you."
The cat turned, padding silently deeper into the catacombs, though it strayed from paths lined with light to tread into the darkness. Blake followed quickly, relieved that she hadn't seemed to disappoint her predecessor, and came to one of the many unexplored offshoots that existed. No flames cast light into its depths, the darkness nearly impenetrable even with her impressive vision, and there wasn't a hint of any creature walking the corridor in centuries, not even a spiderweb to be found. When Gambol entered, the Black Cat was a step behind, relying on the dim glow from her predecessor to make out the cracked walls around her and the broken stone beneath her feet. It was treacherous for the first hundred yards or so before it veered off to the right. The spectral projection didn't go that way, though, instead padding over to a wall, where there was just enough of a gap for Blake to slip through- something she would've missed without her guide to show point it out.
When they emerged on the other side, the darkness was even more oppressive than before, and the Black Cat herself could almost be unnerved by the pressure being exerted against her form by ancient things she couldn't identify. Even her predecessor dimmed, its spectral light much weaker and unable to press back the darkness. However, a flick of her ears and the threat of a snarl pushed them back, for even these entities respected her crown. "Charming friends you have here."
"Their assistance wasn't enlisted for their social skills and they've been here before I assumed the crown." As the cat spoke, purple flames burst into life, leading deeper into the depths of the catacombs. "They've done well to keep this hidden, even from the likes of us."
Surprised and curious, Blake took the lead, now more than able to see clearly with the long lost flames restored. It took at least an hour of steep down slopes and twisting cutbacks before they reached the end, a massive, heavily barred door set deep under Halloween Town and guarded by intangible creatures the likes of which the Black Cat could hardly understand. They were the things mortals feared deep within, ideals that never took physical form because they, like Adam, were far more potent as shades that preyed on the mind and soul. Despite the excitement at finding the lost passage, Blake would be hard pressed to return to this place unless she had a very good reason to do so, if she were being brutally honest. It definitely wasn't the sort of place she wanted to show Weiss on her next visit, at any rate.
Without waiting for a prompt, the Queen of Halloween stepped forward and put her hands on the heavy beams blocking access to the door, a brief moment passing before they slid away, disappearing into the wall. The door swung open then, admitting her to the small, round room beyond.
"What... is all this?" Golden eyes scanned over the trinkets spread out on low shelves, some sat on the floor while others hung on the walls. It was a strange mishmash of things she'd never before seen. It somewhat reminded her of the first time she arrived in Christmas Town.
"Didn't you ever wonder how I knew where the portals stood?" Gambol followed her in, pass through objects as she investigated each one. "I think all of us have left during our reign, seeking adventure elsewhere. What we found, we brought here, when our time was done."
Blake moved further into the room, examining the strange artifacts. It seemed each was separated into segments, likely each grouping belonging to a single Black Cat that preceded her. "Which are yours?"
"Here." Gambol jumped, settling itself in the air above a pile dominated by green trinkets, clovers with four leaves, and...
"Really?" Her lips curled into a frown as she picked up a bottle that was quite familiar. She'd seen it countless times in the mortal realm, sure, but it was also one of the things Qrow liked to steal from their plane whenever the opportunity presented itself.
The cat lowered its ears and twitched its whiskers to display its annoyance. "I don't pass judgment on your choice."
"Fair enough." The Black Cat scrutinized the marking on the bottle for a moment longer before it all clicked. "These came from the portal you lead me to originally."
"Yes." Gambol Shroud turned its head, examining the room. "I was aware of this place, so I chose differently than those who came before me. Just as you did, albeit unknowingly."
Blake walked to the next assortment- eggs of various sizes and colors, some arranged in baskets while others sat on the shelves. There was also a small group of... chocolate... rabbits? How odd. "Why couldn't I hear you back then?"
"Not every Black Cat fully embraces the role. Enthusiasm for it- what you felt at the beginning- is not the same; once that has passed, it takes maturity to truly become the Queen of Halloween. Being handed the crown and owning it as yours are two very different things."
The specter appeared at her shoulder as they both moved on to the next pile, which is the only way to describe the odd things haphazardly stacked on top of one another. They looked like sticks, some wrapped in read while others were brightly colored, but she couldn't even begin to guess what the purpose of anything was.
"Whatever you do, don't expose those to fire." Gambol said, shaking its head. "That was the only thing my predecessor said regarding the stuff."
"I see." Blake nodded to herself, mulling over the explanation. While she couldn't fault her predecessor for the assessment, it did suddenly strike her that if that if she hadn't met Weiss when she did, she likely would've given up her crown within the next few decades for lack of rekindling her passion for the role. Still, what would be the purpose of showing her this if her time weren't drawing near? "Why show me this now?"
"I met many beings during my own visits... but none I brought back." She could see enough of a tilt to those feline features to indicate she was being teased, so the Black Cat opted to ignore it and move on the to final arrangement. Unlike the others, this one seemed much more carefully thought out, each piece set with care before being abandoned. There were carefully crafted utensils hanging in rows, various bits of jewelry shining in the low light, stacks of strange shapes reaching as tall as her waist, and what looked like books with thick pages sitting on the shelves. "My time was spent enjoying the festivities of the plane I chose. You are different. I find nothing wrong in that, and I think this may help."
"What is it?" Puzzled, she reached out, picking up one of the items stacked one upon another, each the same size and shape, red as blood with flowery script all across the top that she read aloud in confusion. "'For my... Valentine'?"
"It's from one of the other planes, a mortal construct that I think you may find interesting to visit with company." Gambol moved forward, setting a translucent paw on the item she'd picked up. "Exchanging the tomes is all well and good, but try giving her this."
Blake fought the impulse to wince, having been caught in the act. She didn't think her predecessor would begrudge her taking the extra books from the personal library to give to Weiss but neither did she think the spectral projection would take it upon itself to offer a suggestion. "Do you think she'll understand what it is?"
"I suspect she will. Moreso than you or I, at any rate."
"Why are you offering me this?" Suspicion was not something the Queen of Halloween often indulged in but the peculiar circumstances demanded it. It went without saying at this point that she tended to be... protective of her companion, and the last thing she'd want would be to expose the Snow Spirit to any unwanted tricks. "Shouldn't these things be left here? They were collected by the first of us..."
"Millennia ago- and they serve no purpose now." There was a moment when it seemed as if Gambol would continue but it stopped short, seeming to shrink back.
Before she could question her predecessor further, one of the ancient presences asserted itself drastically, making the fur of her ears stand on end as every sense sharpened. Whatever this thing was, it would bow to her as everything else did, but it would not back down easily. It demanded her respect in a way nothing else in Halloween Town could.
Turning slowly, Blake watched as a corner of the room became darker, much deeper than anything she'd encountered before, overcoming even the Shade's greatest attempt at pitch black. A set of eyes slowly formed, first tinged as purple as Gambol Shroud before a familiar hint of gold split the iris, the entity's gaze centering on the Black Cat. The rest of the thing formed slowly, roused from deepest Slumber to take a somewhat physical form. Easily four times the size of the spectral projection, it crawled forth, clawed paws scraping against the stone floor without touching it. Eventually, she recognized the body of it- one of the forms she'd learned centuries ago, a deadly panther- but it took a moment longer to realize that this was, in fact, the very first Queen of Halloween. It stalked towards her slowly, the shadows rippling along its body nothing like the spectral form maintained by Gambol Shroud, until finally it stopped its methodical approach, gathering its hind quarters beneath it.
Although she was perfectly within her right as the reigning Queen to send the creature before her back to the not-quite-dead, it was rare for one of the ancients to rouse themselves like this, and even more so to take physical form. Considering that this was the first of her kind, perhaps the first of Halloween Town itself, Blake bowed respectfully, taking care not to drop or damage the strange package she still held. What title or address she could use was beyond her and Gambol wasn't being especially helpful in that moment either, remaining behind the Black Cat as their progenitor slowly nodded its head in acknowledgement. When she straightened, it looked at her with those ageless eyes, peering into her in a way that should've felt incredibly invasive were it any other entity attempting such. It felt like some sort of judgment was being passed, some test she couldn't begin to understand and when it stretched on for a tad too long, Blake frowned, gaze hardening as her ears canted forward- a challenge, but one made with care. She wouldn't disrespect the being before her but neither would she be cowed.
Apparently, that was the signal it was waiting for, lazily blinking up at her before a voice like rocks being ground together echoed in the small room. It would've struck a new level of terror into the other denizens of Halloween Town but Blake withstood every syllable through sheer force of will, matching the ancient bit by bit.
"These particular relics I did not collect... they were entrusted to my care... by a being of great importance to me... yet... I can spare one to give it renewed meaning." Its ethereal gaze fell to the container she held. "But choose another... the larger one... so you can share."
"Share?" Blake set the package back on the stack of like sized ones, finding the bigger version set about a foot to the left. It had the same flowery script, the same color, but there was a fringe to the top- a bit of white lace that traced the edges. Turning it enough to examine the sides, the Black Cat caught sight of the separation hinting that the thing could be opened, which meant- "It's a box."
"Your companion will understand... provided you want her as a companion still." Its form began to lose shape, vapors eating away at the formerly solid outline, but it met her eyes with no concern for its dwindling physical appearance. Around them, the other ancient presences pushed closer, their long lost voices unable to put to words the emotions she could feel them howling in that language that the not-quite-dead eventually fell to using. "Take heed... the Shades of old are restless... a crossroads lies ahead of you... chose your path well."
With that, the ancient one fell away completely, chasing away the other presences that swirled around the room. Blake felt lighter than she had since arriving in the odd, secret place, but worry caused her brow to crease. "The Shades of old... I thought banishing the Shade meant they were not longer... free, the way the others are?"
"They are and they are not." Gambol Shroud started padding for the door, looking at her over its shoulder. "They remained bound to the mansion the Shades have always claimed."
As they stepped out of the room, the door swung shut of its own accord and the heavy bars moving back into their standard position. The ancient presences returned slowly, reclaiming the posts they've held for millennia inch by inch. As Blake ascended the path, the purple flames casting shallow shadows all around them, she mentally acknowledged that she needed to thank Weiss during their next meeting. Apparently, disturbing the resting places of her predecessors was a bad idea. As they neared the main passageways of the catacombs, Gambol Shroud returned to its usual, bright form, slipping through the crack with the same ease as the Black Cat, neither speaking until they'd reached the bottom of the stairs once more. It would be a few more days before Blake could return to Christmas Town and deliver the strange present and her appreciation but, in the meantime, she had plenty to consider.
Despite her continued reluctance, there was now even more pressure to deal with Adam. The Shade had remained quiet in recent weeks, almost disturbingly so, but she'd accepted the peace as a sign he was willing to curb his behavior for the sake of the town, if not their broken friendship. With the First's warning weighing on her mind, though, it was harder to imagine that was the case.
"When you banished Adam's predecessor... how did you do it?" Blake looked at the spectral projection, hoping for some sign of how it should be done. Possessing the ability was one thing but the Black Cat had never tried using the power before and wasn't sure if it would simply require her will or some other, undefinable thing that she'd yet to master. Standing there in the catacombs, she could tell that there was something different about her- about the authority she'd always held, the aura she projected, something indescribable yet concrete- but being aware of the difference didn't help her make use of it.
Gambol Shroud tilted its head to the side, floating up to reach eye level before responding. "It is not something that's easy to explain... but it is your power to wield. When you are ready, there will be no doubt how it must be done."
Her ears laid back. "That's not helpful in the slightest."
"That's what I said," the cat replied, turning to disappear into the nearest wall. "But it will make sense to you in time, as it did to me."
With a sigh, Blake made no move to prevent her predecessor's departure, instead heading up the stairs to return home and stash the strange container somewhere safe until the next visit. There was no point dwelling on Adam's future now, not when the best advice she could get was 'wait and see', and there was so much else to consider. Most of it was curiosity regarding the other portals and the planes beyond. She'd become so focused on resuming her duties and exploring Christmas Town alongside her companion, the other doors never appealed to her. Perhaps, when the Holiday Season passed and they both had some time, they could see what surprises lay beyond the other portals.
As she stepped out into the moonlight, she was pulled from her thoughts by the high pitched scream in the distance- her ears twitched, catching the echo as it bounced across town. The raucous laughter that followed most certainly belonged to Yang, meaning that the blonde had briefly gotten the better of Pyrrha and was about to regret that very dearly, as the Poltergeist always had a quick scare in reserve for retribution. The bats overhead were already seeking out landing spots along the roofs, apparently delighting in seeing the Clown- who so often found herself in the tar pits one way or another- appropriately scared. There was a howl across town- Mercury, greeting the moon- while still elsewhere she could make out the distant cawing of the Crow and the Raven as they danced on the night winds.
Blake's lips curled into a soft smile. The nights in Halloween Town hadn't been this active in many years and she itched to join in, slinking through the shadows until she could find Yang or Ruby or the others and go for a night of crawling through the swamp. She had a meeting with Ozpin to go over their progress thus far and a few more issues she wanted to follow up on here and there. The few spiders she brought back from Christmas Town had started spinning snowflake replicas, teaching the others to the point that the whole hollow looked like a shrine to the perfection of a snowflake, and the Black Cat wanted to ensure they would be willing to let Weiss come and see it. Plus, she still had to put away the First's present for the Snow Spirit.
However, she could always see if Ozpin would be willing to join her in a few fun scares around town to test out some of the things they'd discussed in recent weeks.
That would be a suitable method to make the most of her time.
Adam gnashed his teeth as he slipped from the tavern after yet another uneventful meeting with the other monsters. With every passing night that they remained holed up in the decrepit building, he lost just a fraction more of his patience with the lot of them. Cinder kept feeding them excuse after excuse, as if there was a proper time for this whole thing to occur, but he was rather fed up with such idle prattle by now. The first time he'd pressed the woman for more information, she'd conceded to him the full extent of her plan and a larger role in it to placate him. But that wasn't enough anymore.
So he'd delivered his ultimatum: either the Flame got her act together and decided on a specific time for their little plan to be put into motion or he would take matters into his own claws.
Finally, a night was chosen- seven from right then- and that gave him the advantage. As the Shade slithered his way back to the comfort of his mansion, he could take comfort from being able to count down the hours until his righteous revenge was at hand. The Black Cat would never know what hit her until it was too late, until she was under his thrall completely. He'd show her the error of her ways... and he'd remove the obstacle in his way with the same stroke.
A sinister smile curled his lips as he glided over the broken floorboards and through the darkened halls. With Blake respecting his power and the Snow Spirit out of the way, Halloween Town could reach the pinnacle it truly deserved to be.
And there was nothing that could stop him.
The wind lightly blew through the trees, a few leaves scattering across the path as they left the spiders' hollow. Although the arachnids were graciously welcoming, Blake thought it best to cut the visit short after a few too many of the smaller ones took an interest in the Snow Spirit. She normally wouldn't mind them crawling on her skin but Weiss was a different story- and she was surprisingly ticklish, which was a pleasant thing to learn. Their time in Christmas Town the night before was mostly spent observing the hustle and bustle of the elves as they readied themselves for the peak of the season, filling bags with toys and candy and cards. Apparently, Old King Cold would cross into the mortal realm during one of the nights and pass out the items in the bags, leaving them with the mortals. It was the duty of another creature, one Weiss had only met once or twice, but he had run off at the last minute and the duty fell to the King as a result.
At some point in the intervening days, her father had finally acquiesced the point to the Snow Spirit. Whatever was happening in the mortal realm, it was bad enough that not even he could deny the need for joy and holiday cheer, entreating his daughter to make up for lost time under the condition that he wouldn't begrudge her time spent with the Black Cat. Blake was only somewhat mollified; she would've preferred having a word with the man herself but, admittedly, it wasn't her place to do so.
"Sorry I had to cut that short," she said, her ears drooping a little with the apology. "I didn't expect them to take such an interest in you."
"It's fine, Blake, and not entirely their fault." The Snow Spirit chuckled, gesturing at herself. "In my plane, I would use my flurries to play with them. I don't think they anticipated my form to be this solid."
"Still, I'll talk to them." The Black Cat stopped as they reached the head of the path leading back to Halloween Town, the moon still high overhead. "Is there anything you'd like to do? Anyone you want to visit?"
Weiss hummed thoughtfully, scanning the town and smiling a little wider at the distant sounds of denizens up to their usual tricks. "Actually, seeing those silk snowflakes reminds me of a mortal method for making paper ones. Would you like to learn it?"
Without hesitation, Blake wrapped her companion up in an embrace, already calling forth their combined shadow to transport them. "Like you need to ask."
The fell back into the welcoming darkness, surfacing a moment later in the Queen of Halloween's study. On the desk were stacks and stacks of parchment with ideas jotted down, some with notes that Ozpin had compiled while others remained untested, just waiting for the next time she was free to address them. At the rate they were going, there wouldn't be enough time between now and the next crossing into the mortals' realm for all of them to be tried, which had the Mayor rather chipper and the majority of town excited to start practicing their parts for each of the new tricks.
Quickly collecting up a few pieces of parchment and a pair of scissors at the woman's behest, Blake brought the supplies over to a couch tucked up against the wall, in perfect view of the moonlit town beyond. Golden eyes paid rapt attention to the instructions as the parchment was folded several times, the Snow Spirit making exacting cuts in her own before turning over the scissors to the Black Cat, who did her best to replicate the example.
"Perfect. Now, unfold it." Weiss directed.
Excited to see how her parchment snowflake had turned out, Blake opened it up, her shoulders dropping subtly as the design revealed itself to be a spider amid a hexagonal web. At the very least, she could take comfort in the fact that it was a very nice spider, even if her companion's laughter wasn't entirely appreciated.
"Did... I do something wrong?" She frowned at her creation, looking to Weiss in askance as she grabbed her own. "Or did you trick me?"
"No, Blake. Here, look at mine." The Snow Spirit unfolded the parchment, amusement sliding into befuddlement in the blink of an eye. "What?"
The Black Cat couldn't help but laugh at the perplexed look on Weiss' face as she gaped at the parchment, cut into the shape of a cat not unlike the necklace she wore. It was set in the midst of an octagon- which prompted an even more confused question of 'how' to stumble past pale lips- and actually looked rather flattering, if she was being honest.
"I suppose some things just aren't possible while in this plane." She made a mental note to apologize to Yang for the blonde's inability to comprehend a simple box devoid of scary connotations; apparently, it was a little more difficult to create such things within the boundaries of the town than she'd originally imagined. "Maybe we can try again in Christmas Town?"
Although still bemused by both attempts, the woman nodded, a smile curling her lips. "They are rather lovely, though, aren't they?"
"Yeah." Blake set them aside for the moment, brushing the cut away pieces of parchment to the floor to be dealt with later. "Although I'm afraid that does put a damper in our plans for the evening."
"Does it though? Mine haven't changed." Blue eyes sparkled, catching the light of the moon as it lit up the side of her face. "I only planned to spend time with you, after all."
Her smile grew wider before she leaned forward, pressing her lips against the Snow Spirit's, letting out a little purr of pleasure as the kiss was returned, arms wrapping around her shoulders as Weiss leaned back. They end up lying on the couch, the Black Cat careful that her weight wouldn't cause her companion to become uncomfortable, and exchanging kisses for a while until suddenly Blake felt two hands pressing at her shoulders. She immediately eased up, hovering over the woman and waiting for some sign of what was wrong.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Weiss chuckled, though her expression quickly slid to something less amused, gaze drifting away for a moment.
"You don't seem fine." Using one hand to support her weight along with her knees, the Black Cat lifted the other to gently cup the woman's cheek, tracing her thumb over smooth skin. "Is something troubling you?"
Slowly, blue met gold, and for a moment it seemed as if she would get nothing more than a denial. But then the woman's expression softened as she leaned into Blake's hand, her voice soft. "It may be a while before we can see one another again."
She worked to keep her expression neutral, though her feline ears twitched. "Is that so?"
"Yes. I... I'm afraid catching up considering all I've already missed is a bit more difficult than I thought it would be. I'm not sure if I'll be prepared in time for the peak of the season and-"
"Weiss," she said, her voice firm but gentle to stem the tide of apologies she could hear building up steam. "I understand. We both have duties we must attend to, remember?" She smirked, glad she could turn the woman's words around on her, thought the rolled eyes hinted that it wasn't entirely appreciated. "I'll still be here whenever your Holiday Season has passed." Suddenly, her expression brightened, easing off the couch. "Wait here; I have something."
Despite the Snow Spirit's expression falling slightly, she sat up and waited patiently while Blake went to retrieve the First's present. She walked, not wanting to risk damaging the artifact by traveling through the shadows or landing in the snow. There was a part of her that pointed it out the thing had to get to Halloween Town somehow but she wasn't ready to risk so precious a gift, even if she possessed the secret of acquiring more. The container was next to her bed and carefully guarded by Cecil, who took flight and landed on her shoulder the moment she picked it up; he understood who the box was intended for and was just as eager to see the reaction.
Pausing outside of the study looked down at the present- which she'd left unwrapped, not out of laziness but because she wanted to be sure Weiss had the time to process it before accepting it. Whatever it was, it apparently held some significant weight within the mortal realm and, given the First's cryptic advice about 'sharing' it, she didn't want to surprise the woman with something she didn't want, even if the very thought of such a rejection made her chest tighten uncomfortably.
Steadying herself, Blake returned to the study, finding that Weiss had gotten up to look through the window at the festivities below. Someone had decided to turn the main thoroughfare into a party and everyone was coming out to attend, the noise steadily rising beyond the pane. It almost obscured the sound of the Black Cat's approach, so she intentionally made her footfalls heavy and loud to draw the woman's attention.
The Snow Spirit turned, a pleasant smile on her lips that quickly fell away as her mouth popped open, eyes widening as her gaze landed on the thing in Blake's hands. "Is... that..."
"I... I actually don't know what it is, exactly." Her ears fell slightly while admitting the truth, though she marshaled her features into something more confident as she crossed the room. "But, from what I understand, it's meant to be given to someone very important to me- a companion I wish to keep." She stopped a few feet away, presenting the box. "And you definitely qualify."
Weiss stared at it for a moment, shaking her head to clear the shock from her expression. "After Father revealed he knew of Halloween Town long before I even existed, I searched his collection of books and found a few detailing the various mortal traditions, ones that likely founded the planes beyond the other doors. This is one of them, shaped after a romanticized version of the human heart. It's called Valentine's Day, roughly."
"Did the book mention what a Valentine is?" She was beginning to worry if whatever she was presenting might've offended the Snow Spirit, hoping her curiosity would come off as innocent and not a stalling tactic.
"For mortals, a Valentine is typically a... paramour, someone held in high regard in a romantic sense. Someone they care for deeply."
"Someone they love?" Blake offered, receiving a nod in response. She felt a strange smile appear on her lips, excited and happy and strangely terrified? It wasn't the sort of fear she felt when she thought the woman had left her at the corn maze, or the type she inspired in mortals the world over, not even the sort she could pull out of the denizens of Halloween Town, no, this was a different kind- a vulnerability, intangible and delicate, something that could break her if left exposed for too long. Offering the box up once more, she dropped her gaze for a second to beat the newfound fear into submission before meeting her companion's eyes. "Then, yes. This is meant for you."
She always thought that Weiss' eyes sparkled like gemstones but it wasn't until that moment that she realized every time before was just a fraction of how beautifully they could shine, her entire countenance lighting up like a roaring fire. Happiness rolled off her so strongly that Blake could feel her own mood drastically shift course as a response, elation suffusing every fiber as her companion accepted the Valentine box. Wherever her predecessors were, she hoped they were aware of how well the present had gone over, because she suddenly felt the urge to talk to someone about it, to go down and tell everyone in town. It was the sort of joy that she was beginning to reclaim in regards to her role as the Queen of Halloween, but somehow more personal and stronger.
No wonder mortals were so keen to spread this feeling to others. Now, she truly understood the sort of magic that resided in the woman before her, if this was the sort of thing she could inspire in the human world.
"Where did you even get this?" Weiss traced the flowery script with a finger, still marveling at the gift.
"Apparently, I'm not the only Black Cat to stray from home." That earned her the Snow Spirit's attention, surprise written plain on her face. "This was one of the things the First, uh, acquired during its time. It agreed to part with it, so I could give it to you."
"It agreed- you spoke to it?" She furrowed her brows. "But-"
"It's a long story." Blake chuckled, promising to tell it in full another time and skipping to the point for the moment. "I've learned many things since I met you, Weiss. With your help, I hope to learn many more, so long as you'll have me as a companion."
"Paramour." She was gently corrected, a shy sort of smile coming to the woman's lips. "I think, at this point, that is the more appropriate term, seeing as the feeling is mutual."
With a wide smile, the Black Cat hurriedly agreed, leaning in for a kiss and surprised that this one felt somehow more right than the ones before, as if this agreement had to be reached for the full effect to be reached. It was amazing, and she could feel herself become even more dedicated to making the next Halloween even more fantastic than the last, to ensure she retained her post for many centuries to come. As long as she had Weiss at her side, even if they couldn't be together all the time, every night would be worth it.
With a careful tug, the Snow Spirit opened the box, revealing a plethora of candies within, chocolates drizzled with various designs and some filled with fruit. They each took pieces, savoring the taste while turning their attention to the festivities far below. Blake had served as the Queen of Halloween for many years but had never felt the same sort of pride that rose within her at that moment. It was as if all existed as it was meant to be- her plane was at its perfect balance, her role something she embraced enthusiastically instead of cursed or ignored, and beside her was a being she would wait for until the end of time. This incredible sensation was what eluded her all those centuries and she swore to do whatever she could to preserved it.
Though it was never spoken aloud, when blue eyes turned to meet her gaze, Blake could see the same promise reflected back at her. It may take a few more years before Old King Cold truly understood how precious his daughter was, but the Black Cat would make up for it in the meantime and look forward to the day they could stand side-by-side and bask in the feeling together.
A/N: D'aww. Also, over 1 million words logged on this site. And every one of them ridiculous. Woo! After tomorrow's chapter, there'll be a short break before the story wraps up. Happy Holidays and thanks for reading!