The bright neon lights of the New Vegas Strip illuminated the orange sky, making it seem as if the sun was not setting on Sin City. Tourists flocked from one casino to the next, seeking their promises of wealth. Street vendors yelled out their 'bloody good prices' and 'premium food discounts' from the curbs, calling out to any and all unfortunate souls who passed too close to them.

Veronica and Ruby waltzed down the 4-mile-long strip of road where the Strip made its home. They'd been at it for around 2 whole hours, exploring all corners of the lit-up road. Veronica happily chewed on a 'Variety Skewer', the street vendor she bought it from called it on a 'seasonal promotion'. Was that complete bullshit? Probably. But you weren't having the true Vegas experience without being scammed once or twice. The dress Six had gifted her fit to a tee, accentuating all her natural curves. Feeling that the dress by its lonesome was not enough, Veronica had decided to throw her own little additions to the look, like a pair of fishnets, red satin gloves, a rose hair clip and, to top it all off, a white bonnet with a black ribbon and a red fur coat she had luckily found in the Lucky 38.

Ruby, on the other hand, wasn't as happy as the Brotherhood scribe. Not because she wasn't enjoying her time, because she was- as well as a 13 year old could in this scenario. The problem was, well, she freaking hates dresses! They're so tight and so impractical for combat and way too fancy for her, and she couldn't even carry her weapons with her! Plus a myriad of other things she couldn't think of right now. At least her dress wasn't an overly fancy one like Veronica's. Her outfit consisted of only 2 pieces, a dark gray with a black gradient velvet cold shoulder top and a black and red satin banded skirt. It was a rather conservative -and kind of comfortable- dress Veronica was able to scrounge up from the many wardrobes from across all rooms in the Lucky 38, yet the fact that a dress that fit her 5-foot build was a tad bit disconcerting to the young teen.

"So Rubes!" Veronica called out to her as she finished the last of her skewer. "Whatcha wanna do now?"

"Hmmm…" Ruby rubbed her chin. She couldn't go to the casinos. I mean, technically she could, but why would she? There wasn't much else to do other than walk around and go to the fair-like stalls scattered around. Six did mention there were a couple of old museums but she didn't want to be bored to death. Her eyes scanned her surroundings, trying to find something interesting to do until they landed on a particular structure that excitedly made Ruby's eyes widen. "Can we go on the ferris wheel?" She excitedly asked.

"The what?" Veronica tilted her head.

"The ferris wheel!" She once again exclaimed like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Veronica simply stared at her, more confused. Ruby groaned and pointed at the absolutely massive metal wheel with cables and support beams off in the distance. "That thing."

"Ooooooooohhh. Thaaaaaat… You're supposed to ride those?" Veronica asked with a tinge of fear laced in her voice.

"Well yeah! You enter a cabin, and it goes around the wheel!"

"Like, all the way to the top?"

"Yeah. That's what's fun about it! You get to see an amazing view!"

Veronica let out a few nervous chuckles. "Yeeeeaaah, nope. Nope nope nope nope nope. Nuh-uh. Not happening." She shook her head multiple times.

"Why?" Ruby asked in the most dejected of tones.

"Do you see how tall that is? What if it breaks and we fall to our deaths!"

"They're made to last, Veronica! Pleeeeease?" Ruby used her secret weapon on the scribe, puppy dog eyes. To give the huntress-in-training credit, it was working. Veronica was slowly cracking at the sheer cuteness of the kid. Yet, a wrench would be thrown in Ruby's plans as a simple, yet effective few words were uttered.

"It's not operational," Cass said calmly. Her attire had not changed since the Lucky 38, being the same leather jacket and checkered shirt and unlike Ruby and Veronica, she was openly carrying her weapons.

The huntress-in-training looked at the 3rd member of their little outing with dismay. She couldn't even go on the ferris wheel? She slumped down, puffing her cheeks slightly - she totally wasn't pouting! - Veronica on the other hand looked at her friend with the most thankful of faces. "No one asked your opinion." Ruby quietly grumbled. "You aren't even enjoying this with us! No one asked you to come, y'know?"

"Six did. She wanted me to make sure both of you didn't fuuu-...cause any trouble. And going to a non-operational ferris wheel, most definitely counts as getting in trouble." Ruby now was definitely pouting.

Cass leaned in next to Veronica as both followed the grumbling teen down the road. "How long do I have to keep doing this shit?" She whispered

"As long as we have to." She whispered back.

"What the fuck does that even mean?"

"It means we do it until she's comfortable with everything around us. Like we are." Veronica's smile faded slightly, and her eyes softened as she looked at the teen walking in front of them. "She's gone through so much in so little time. She's had her whole world turned upside down and, well, I think doing these little things for her could help, y'know?"

"You sound like you talk from experience."

"Sort of." She shrugged. "Unlike her, I was born in this world, both you and I grew up learning the same things like survival and what places and people to avoid. But…for most of my life, I lived in a bunker. The first time I ever saw the surface was when my chapter was sent here seven years ago. The adjustment was…hard." Her eyebrows dropped.

Cass looked at her companion with a soft smile and sighed. She wrapped an arm around the scribe's shoulder and pulled her closer. "Don't get all mushy on me. You'll ruin your make-up. I'll do a favor or two for Little Red Riding Hood there."

"Thanks, Cass." Veronica's smile returned

"Wanna stop by a casino and gamble our lives away while piss-ass drunk?"

"I don't think that's a good idea." She chuckled. "Besides, we shouldn't introduce Ruby to gambling. I feel like Six would kill us."

"I'm pretty sure if we give her a bouncing ball and a soda she'd keep herself entertained–aaaaaaand she's talking to a stranger."

"Mister, are you alright? You don't seem so good." Ruby asked the older gentleman with a black cowboy hat, a thin mustache, and an old pair of glasses sitting on a bench by the monorail station.

"Oh, howdy young lady. It's nothing really, just the heat here's worse than in the middle of a brahmin herd at noon."

Ruby shot him an inquisitive look. "You look more than just too hot. Are you sure you're okay?"

"Sharp eyes on you alright." He chuckled. "The name's Walter Phebus. We've gone through a heap of trouble to get to this town. Ethel says I just need to wet my throat. A drink?" He scoffs. "Nonsense! What I need to do is settle a score. We didn't come a long ways just to stroll our best clothes around."

"What do you mean by settling a score?"

Walter frowned. "There's a long list of grievances that Heck Gunderson's got to answer for, kid. I'm here to make sure that 'rancher' stops stealing our lands. If he ain't chiseling behind your back, he'll send his men, ready for a fight. Then you either 'sell' your ranch for a penny, or you're dead." His voice seeped with anger. Ruby didn't know who this Heck Gunderson guy was, but whoever he was, he sounded nothing more than a bully. "I'm tired of being trampled over, kid. And I got a good mind to stop Heck once and for all."

"Uhhhhh Heck who?" Ruby tilts her head.

His brow furrows even deeper. "Heck Gunderson's a slithering snake. One of the biggest landowners this side of the Colorado and it's all stolen, all stolen I tell you. All that money buys him any NCR senators he wants -scoundrels, like Heck, the lot of them. And he used those bought-up senators to impeach bills that help us farmers." He sighs, deflating slightly. "There's just no way for us small folks to get by, much less prosper, kid."

Ruby sat on the bench next to the older man. "I'm sorry to hear that, Mr. Phebus." Ruby did feel truly sorry for the man. Being bullied by those with more power or status or money and then forced to give your things? That… That hit a sore spot for her. Her life at Signal was okay, but far from perfect.

"What do you plan to do about him then?"

The man sighed and took his glasses off to clean them. "I have no illusions that'll ever stop his plundering. So I'm just going to make him suffer. That's what I'm going to do." He spoke with a low growl. "Here, in town, he's got himself surrounded by a couple of armed men for protection. I just got to find out what's he up to, and then I'll know where to hit him hard."

Ruby opened her mouth to speak, but before being able to do so, the familiar voice of Veronica interrupted her. "Ruby, what are you doing?!" The scribe stomped her way towards her, with Cass close behind. "Don't just sneak off from us like that!"

"But–"

"She's right kid. Even if you didn't wander off far, something could've happened. Mkay?" Cass reprimanded her in a stern tone. Ruby dejectedly nodded in response. "I hope she didn't bother you, mister."

"Oh, nonsense. This young lady here was just lending an ear to this grumpy rancher while I wait for my wife." Mr. Phebus said with a small smile.

"Mr. Phebus says he's searching for Heck Gunderson. He said this Heck guy forced him to sell his land."

"Heck Gunderson?" Cass raised an eyebrow. "As the rich rancher who has all the senators from Sac-City all the way to Eureka in his pocket?" Ruby tentatively nodded - not knowing exactly where those places Cass just mentioned were - but Mr. Phebus' quiet angry grumbles all but confirmed it. "Well, I'm sorry to hear that Mr. Phebus. Snakes like that are the worst." She then turned back to Ruby. "C'mon let's go."

"Well hum, y-you see Cass." Ruby nervously chuckled.

Cass pinched the bridge of her nose and took a deep breath. "You wanna help him, don't you." Ruby nodded. "I'm supposed to keep you out of trouble."

"I don't think it's that troublesome to do a good deed, Cass." Veronica chimed in.

Cass sighed deeply, obviously annoyed. But she didn't say no.

"Then it's decided!" Ruby said, jumping off the bench and facing Mr. Phebus. "Mr. Phebus, we'll help you figure out what that Henderson guy is up to in the Strip!"

The man smiled. "Where I come from, we appreciate good intentions. Tell you what, that chiseler's blowing hot air over there at that fancy casino - The Ultra-Luxe. I'd be most grateful if you could find out what he's up to there. I'll throw in a nice little something for you too."

Quest Started: Pheeble Will

The huntress-in-training nodded enthusiastically and turned to her companions. "Alright gang, we have a mission! Go to the Ultra-Luxe and find out what Heck Gunderson is doing there! Mr. Phebus, meet us outside the casino in like an hour or two and we'll tell you what we learned." She threw her fist in the air and started marching forward, determined for her first ever alone mission. Alright, she might not be alone right now but Six wasn't there, and she was the one that got it all for herself!

Then she suddenly stopped and slowly turned around to face Cass and Veronica. "Humm…which one's the Ultra Luxe?"

"Whoa…" Ruby gawked at the pristine, damage-free, circular grand main hall of the Ultra-Luxe. This place didn't look like it was 200 years old at all! The white wallpaper that adorned the walls didn't appear worn down at all, the floor tiles looked new, and on top of that, it had one of those giant fancy chandeliers you only saw in movies!

"Beg your pardon, but could I trouble you to hand over your weapons?" A male voice snapped her from her gawking. She turned to the man in question and Brothers, did he look creepy. Like, his suit was fine, but his mask was just- there was something about it that left Ruby completely unnerved. She stepped back, instinctively getting closer to her companions.

The man's gaze didn't bore down on her, though -much to Ruby's relief. Looking instead at Cass, probably because she was the only one of the 3 who was actually carrying weapons. "Listen man, I'm supposed to be looking after these two, so–"

"I can assure you the staff here is more than capable of providing security for our patrons." He said in a disturbingly polite tone. "And like all casinos here in the Strip, it is required for patrons to relinquish their weapons."

"And if'n I don't?"

"Then I'll have to ask you to leave the premises of our establishment."

"Cass…" Ruby whispered

The merchant sighed. "Fine." She unslung her shotgun and combat knife and handed them over to the greeter.

"My deepest apologies for the slightest inconvenience. You have my assurance that everything will be returned upon your departure. But we simply can't have anyone waving their weapons around in the hotel. It's not the atmosphere we wish to cultivate." He took the weapons Cass handed over and slightly bowed to the group. "Please enjoy your stay." And he walked off.

"Talk about creepy." Veronica shivered, and the other two nodded in agreement.

"Alright so," Ruby began, "we need to find Gunderson and since this place is huge I suggest that we– "

"He's over there." Cass pointed at a man with a black cowboy hat sitting in the bar in the center of the room, surrounded by two men with their guns drawn.

"Well…that was anticlimactic." Veronica deadpanned.

"W-Well, how do you know he's him?"

"Do I need to point out the bodyguards?"

"They could belong to anyone." Cass stared at Ruby. "I-Uh-Well-..." Her head dejectedly slumped down. "Let's go talk to him."

"And how exactly are we gonna do that?" Cass raised an eyebrow. "Do you really just intend to go ask a rich and powerful man you've never met before, what his business is in Vegas?"

"Uhhhhhhh…"

"This oughta be good." Cass rolled her eyes but did not protest.

"Don't worry Ruby, we got this." Veronica flashed her a thumbs up.

Veronica's reassurance helped somewhat. "Yeah! We got this!" She declared to her friend before walking over to the bar in the center of the room. Ruby took the empty seat next to Gunderson, with her companions following suit after her. Cass wasted no time in ordering a drink for herself -whiskey of course- and even Veronica ordered a cocktail for herself.

Talking to this Gunderson guy shouldn't be an issue, right? She literally just had to open her mouth and talk to him. Easy-peasy. No difficulty there. She sneaked a glance at the man, by his looks he appeared to be only slightly older than Mr. Phebus…oh man, he looked really angry. What was this weird feeling in her chest? C'mon Ruby, pull yourself together! It's not like you have to talk to a complete stranger you've never met, that might be a really bad guy and has the means to do whatever the heck he wants.

You talked to Mr. Phebus, right? And he was a complete stranger.

Yeah, but he looked like he needed help. This is different!

How so? You just have to open your mouth and say words.

But what words? What if I say something wrong and I doom my first mission?

Huh, good point.

What?! I thought my inner voice was supposed to lift me up!

Dude, you're literally talking to yourself in your own head.

Ruby hit her head on the counter and quietly groaned. Her socially awkward self once again strikes again at the most inopportune of times.

Veronica put a hand on her shoulder, whispering to inquire about her wellness, to which Ruby replied with a meek nod. "Miss, are you going to order anything?" The bartender asked in the same polite tone as the greeter.

Ruby raised her head to look at the bartender. She wore a white and golden mask just like the greeter. In fact, it looked like all the staff wore masks.

Great, creepy just got dialed up even more.

"A Nuka Cola please. Put it on my friend's tab." She pointed with her thumb to Cass who was already well on her way to drinking her bottle.

"Certainly." The bartender reached under the counter and handed a cold bottle of Nuka-Cola and a glass. The teen elected to forgo the glass and drink straight from the bottle.

"Beg your pardon, little miss." A voice came from her right. Turning, she saw Heck Gunderson was looking at her. Wait…did he just talk to me? As in, started a conversation? Crap crap crap, uhhhh, what do I say. No, this is great! My chance! "You look like you're going through, uh, something, but I'm looking for someone. You ain't seen a young man with dark brown hair and white hat perchance, have you?"

That caught Ruby off guard. "No, I haven't. Mister…?"

The rancher sighed and rubbed his wrinkled temples. "Gunderson." Yup, that's him. "Ain't no one got a darned piece of news about my boy? Not one lousy speck of information? Ain't gotten one brahmin unaccounted for across a dozen ranches, but I'm here for an hour and my own son just-up and disappears on me." He said with a slight slur in his voice. Evident by the half-empty bottle of whisky, he'd been drinking.

"I'm sorry to hear that, sir. I-I'm sure someone will find your son eventually."

"Don't even." He dismissively waved her off, turning back to the counter. "I've been hearing the same darned thing for hours now. Yet, no soul in this darned hotel knows a single thing about my boy." He brought both hands to his face. "Oh, Ted. He was right here. I didn't leave him but for a minute. I told him to stay put while I talked some things over with the White Gloves folk. But he was never one to stay tied down to a spot. Takes after his mother too darn much." He brought the bottle to his mouth. "Already got most of my people looking after him, and now I can do nothing more but wait for him to maybe show up here. At least I'm hopin' so."

Wow, he looks…pretty miserable. Was this really the same guy Mr. Phebus was talking about?

"I swear to the Lord Almighty, when he shows up back here, I'll whup him so hard his skinny hide will turn to leather for making me go through this. Course, that don't mean I wouldn't be grateful he was back to me."

Ruby's expression softened. This man here was just trying to find his son…but Mr. Phebus described him as such a bad guy. She sneaked a glance to Veronica, but she bore the same expression as she did.

Maybe I can help them both? Like help him find his son and also help Mr Phebus?

Well, it's possible I think…maybe.

Doesn't hurt to try, right? Besides, a huntress always helps people in their hour of need!

"I hum, I-I could help you look for your son if you want."

The ranched looked her up and down. "Hum, no offense little miss but, well, I don't hire children."

"I'm not a child." She retorted almost instantly. "The more people you have helping you, the quicker you'll have your son back right? Besides, I have my friends to help me." she gestured to Cass and Veronica, the latter awkwardly waving at him.

The rancher sighed. "Alright little miss. At this point, I'll hire anyone with a pair of legs and at least one good eye. If you get him back to me safely, I promise you there'd be a lot of money in for you. But if you can't, you bet I'll pay for the names of the sons of bitches responsible."

Quest Started: Beyond the Beef

"Oookay. I'll just hum, work out a plan and everything with my friends here, and uh we'll be right on top of the case, Mr. Gunderson." Ruby got up and excused herself, leaving the half-empty Nuka Cola on the counter, with Cass and Veronica close behind.

"Gotta admit, I was not expecting that." Cass leaned onto the wall, finishing the last few drops of whiskey in her bottle. "Seems like ruthless brahmin barons do have hearts."

"I mean can you blame the guy?" Veronica asked. "I'm pretty sure if my son just disappeared for hours I'd be freaking out too."

"Yeah!" Ruby chirped in. "We couldn't just not help him."

"What about Phebus though? I don't particularly think helping Gunderson out would make that vengeful farmer happy."

The other two became silent. Cass did make a point, but it was wrong to not do anything! Ruby could help Mr. Gunderson and help Mr. Phebus. That's what Mom would do! At least she thought she would. "We still have a couple hours before we have to meet back with Mr. Phebus so I say we start investigating the disappearance."

"Alright. If you say so."

"But where though? The hotel is huge. Looking around without a plan is like looking for a needle in a haystack" Veronica took a sip from her drink.

"...Any ideas Cass?"

"Man I dunno? Maybe the receptionist?" Cass shrugged. "Aren't those the ones that know everything in places like these?"

Veronica and Ruby looked at each other and shrugged. "Guess that's as good as any."

After asking for directions from a passing White Gloves staff member, the three headed to the main lobby area. It was a grand hall, brightly decorated with tones of white, gold and dark greens. From the entrance, a dark green carpet adorned with crowns led to the reception proper, where a man wearing a tophat and no mask stood behind it.

"How may I be of service madams?" Much like all other White Gloves, the man was well spoken and chic, evident by his well trimmed mustache way of carrying himself. Though, he only seemed to be addressing Veronica and Cass, completely forgoing -or simply ignoring- the teenager next to them.

"Right so." Ruby began." We are searching for a missing person and–"

"You are? I hope it's nothing too serious, Little One. It is not uncommon to have a person or two get lost in our great halls."

"Riiiight we were hoping if you heard anything about these disappearances that could help us."

The receptionist stroked his carefully trimmed mustache with his fingers. "Hmmm…I'm afraid I don't have anything useful to tell you. However I do hope your investigation bears fruit. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"Weellll" Veronica began "I am curious about one thing. What exactly are the White Gloves all about?"

He let out a curt chuckle. "My, such a popular question. I suppose it is only natural to see us and wonder what makes us so special. The White Glove Society only recently made itself known to the public, of course, our pedigree was established over generations. Were we always so refined?" He pursed his lips. "I'd be lying if I said yes. But myself and Miss Marjorie always felt we were destined for a place atop modern society. and now here we are. Not everyone can wear the finest clothes, or eat the finest foods, obviously." His eyes momentarily shifted to Cass before looking back at Veronica. "That's just the reality we live in." He shrugged. "But surely we can agree that the most tasteful, sophisticated people are the most deserving. That's what the White Glove Society is all about."

A lightbulb lit up in Ruby's head. "Who is this Miss Marjorie you mentioned?"

"Well, she's our founder and caretaker of the hotel of course."

"And where could we find Miss Marjorie? Y'know, to learn more about the White Glove Society. Who better to teach than the founder right?" Ruby smiled, trying to push her nervousness down.

The receptionist raised an eyebrow at her, staying silent for a handful of seconds. "Miss Marjorie is our hostess at the Gourmand. That'd be our restaurant. First door on the left." Ruby thanked him with a nod and all three made their way to the restaurant.

"Good quick thinking of you Ruby."

"Yeah kid, not bad."

Ruby turned her head away from them, trying to hide the small blush on her cheeks. "Y-Yeah, thanks." She wasn't used to receiving a lot of compliments from people that weren't her family. It felt weird. Which was weird, feeling weird right? But…it also felt nice. Really nice.

"This again?" Marjorie, the owner and caretaker of the Ultra Luxe, rubbed her temples. "I thought this was all settled. I answered every one of that investigator's questions to his satisfaction and gave all the help I could. I know our reputation hasn't been spotless, but that's all in the past now. How some people can't get over it is beyond me. For the last time, the White Glove Society has never and will never consume human flesh for any reason. It's written in the charter."

Veronica, Cass and Ruby stared at the lady behind the desk, their mouths agape and stunned at what she had just said.

"I-I-I'm sorry but, did you just say–" Veronica began before being interrupted by Ruby.

"The White Glove Society used to eat human flesh?!"

She sighed. "Now, didn't I tell you that we don't do that sort of thing? We do not engage in cannibalism here under any circumstances. Though we haven't always been the White glove Glove Society. There was another time, a dark time, when we went by a different name. But that is all behind us now. We've…evolved past those barbaric impulses since settling into our new home. I made sure we do not go back to the old ways."

"Anyhow, who was this other disappearance you talked about?" Cass asked.

"There was an investigator who came through here last week. He'd been hired by a young man whose bride-to-be went missing during their stay here. You can guess what happened can't you? The bride got cold feet and simply ran away. And that young groom just didn't have a clue, poor dear."

"We're investigating the disappearance of another person. A man. He just recently went missing." Ruby added.

Her eyes widened slightly. "A man? W-Well this simply can't be, Two disappearances in my hotel? Oh my gosh what will people say? I'll need to talk to my staff about our security on the premises. Regardless of whether these people are found or not, our patrons need to feel safe in their rooms."

"Is there any way we could speak to that investigator you mention?" Cass took the lead once again.

"Why yes, I think so. If he hasn't checked out already, that is. I had our maitre d', Mortimer, offer him a complimentary room for as long as it took him to be satisfied. You see the White Glove Society remains the–"

"Yeah yeah yeah, so we just need to ask the receptionist, thanks." Cass waved the owner off before walking to the door with her friends closely behind a frowning Marjorie behind.

The trio made their way back to the lobby and the receptionist they now knew to be named Mortimer. "You're back again. How goes your investigation, Madams?"

"Oh thank you for asking. We're actually–"

"Marjorie said you gave a free room to a private investigator?" Cass cut off Ruby before she could finish her sentence.

"Private investigator? Hm….Yes I do think I remember the gentleman. About the missing bride correct? Such an awful thing. I do hope he finds her whereabouts. If I might pry, have you found something for his investigation?"

"We just wanted to talk to him. Compare notes and such." Veronica gave him a polite smile.

"I see. Normally we wouldn't divulge guest information, but I think he'll want to speak with you. Let's see…" He checked his ledger. "It seems he hasn't checked out yet. If you head to the hotel, he's on the floor directly above the one after you exit the lobby. Room eighty-two." He handed Cass the key to the room, who then handed it to Ruby.

"Thank you Mortimer. You know that would've been helped a lot half an hour ago when we first asked you for help." Cass narrowed her eyes.

"Huh, I suppose so. It must have escaped me at the time." He smiled politely. Veronica joined Cass in her distrustful staring at the receptionist. But that was cut short when Ruby grabbed both of them by their arms and started dragging them to the staircase leading to the hotel rooms.

After going up another set of stairs, they finally arrived at the floor where the investigator's room was located. Ruby happily led from the front, as she looked for the correct door number with the key in hand. with the other two right behind her.

"I'm not the only one that thought Mortimer sounded super suspicious right?" Veronica whispered to Cass.

"No. I really don't like this. Something's not right."

"You think he's the one behind it?"

"Maybe. But we can't exactly jump the gun without evidence."

"Oh, are you telling me Rose of Sharon Cassidy isn't going to charge head first into the problem?" The scribe smirked to the very little amusement of Cass. Though before Cass could respond with one of her many colorful words, Ruby called out to them as they had arrived at the door.

Turning the knob and entering the hotel room, Ruby gasped as the three were met with a less than ideal scene. The corpse of a well dressed man -presumably the investigator- laid splattered on the floor in a pool of his own blood. Ruby was the first to approach the corpse. She still wasn't all that familiar with how people reacted to different types of damage, but the bruises and cuts on his skin showed that he'd been beaten and stabbed to death. She winced at the thought.

One of the many lessons Six had taught Ruby was to always search the corpses of people she came across. As quote 'You'll never know what you'll find. Sometimes, it might be just what you need.' still, the thought of desecrating a corpse just for loot felt innately wrong to her. Luckily -or unluckily- she didn't have to dwell on the matter for long as she barely had time to roll to the side to prevent the handle of a cane from hitting her head.

Two men dressed in the same attire of the White Glove Society stormed the hotel room and without warning they had begun attacking Ruby and her two companions with their canes and brass knuckles.

Unfortunately for them, one was an experienced hand-to-hand combatant and the other had been in more bar fights than she could count. Veronica struck her adversary with a quick sequence of punches, ending it with a right hook to his mask, shattering it in the process. Cass went for a less choreographed approach. Treating it as it was yet another bar fight, with a couple wild swings to the face and ending it with a kick to his manhood.

"Fucking Mortimer. He set us up!" Cass gritted her teeth.

"What now?" Veronica checked the pulse of the White Glove member she sucker punched in the mask.

Cass turned to Ruby who was already searching the corpse of the instructor. She bore the expression of someone who was clearly bothered by her actions. She probably isn't used to that either. "Find anything?"

"Not really? Just his wallet, a pack of cigarettes and a matchbook. Wait…" She turned the matchbook around. "There's something scribbled here. Steam Room. 4PM."

Cass immediately checked her wrist watch. "It's nearly four."

"Also nearly time to meet up with Phebus." Veronica added.

Ruby brought a hand to her chin. "Okay, you go talk to Mr. Phebus and I'll go to this meeting."

"What? No!" Both said in unison.

"We're not leaving you alone here." Veronica worriedly looked at the youngest of the three.

"If anything, you're the one who's going to talk to Phebus." Cass added.

"Think about it! All this time Mortimer and pretty much everyone in the White Gloves has barely acknowledged me. A kid going to the pool at an odd hour? Not weird at all. Two ladies known to be investigating missing people? Kinda suspicious." She shrugged.

"Still, let one of us go with you. It could be dangerous and–"

"I'm not a baby Veronica! I'm a child that needs to be sheltered from everything! Throughout all of our investigation you two have been cutting me off and trying to take the reins of everything!" Her head tilted down slightly. "I'm not from here, I get it. I'm sheltered, I know. But before this, I was literally training to fight monsters that kill people. But I'm sick and tired of people I care about getting hurt because I need to be protected!" She yelled out with tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

Veronica's face softened. She got on one knee to be face to face with Ruby and place a hand on her shoulder. "This is about Six isn't it?" Ruby didn't answer, but her facial expressions answered for her. "Listen Rubes, Six is…complicated. Not even we know what her deal is. But I think she didn't risk her life for you because she thought you were a baby."

"Well, it sure seems that way." She all but whispered. "She's just so angry all the time. And I feel like I make her angry."

"That ain't your fault kid. Six's just like that. Some people are just mad at the world." She shrugged.

"But it can't be just that!"

"Probably, but Six doesn't talk to us about her problems."

"And we do ask, she just blows us off and tells us it's none of our business." Veronica added. "Some people don't want to change or be helped. Trust me on that." Veronica's smile faded slightly.

"Then I'll help her! Even if she doesn't want to. But I need to prove I can handle myself."

Veronica and Cass looked at Ruby in surprise, then at each other and smiled. "Wouldn't that be something?" Cass ruffled her hair. "Alright, go to that meet-up. Me and Veronica will handle Phebus. Just make sure you catch the perp."

Ruby wiped the tears off her eyes and nodded, looking at her friends with newfound determination. She stood up and walked out of the room, heading to the steam room, where she, hopefully would get the answers to these disappearances.

Veronica and Cass were left in the room, searching the bodies of the White Gloves for anything remotely useful -or valuable. The scribe sighed as she finished searching the man she knocked "You think it was a good idea to let her go alone?"

"Well, if anyone's gonna make that cranky bitch change, it's probably her. And if she thinks she needs to prove herself, let her. I trust her to not fuck this up."

"Who knew you could be such a softie Cass?" The scribe smirked at the cowgirl.

"Veronica, I will shove this cane up your ass."

The two silently stared at each other before breaking into laughter. They were both worried about Ruby, yeah. But the kid was also within her right to want to do this alone. Besides, it's not like they were dealing with the Legion, what's the worst that could happen?

That...took a lot longer than I anticipated. Jesus yeah so, originally the White Gloves thing was going to be just a single chapter, but then it was getting too big so I cut it in half. At least I'm done with my exams and on break so hopefully I'll manage to get more things out without having to wait a month :D.

As always, shoutout to my beta-readers and all feedback is appreciated.