I have my planned dates for the Christmas period finalised now, so there'll be no updates for them. My last update of the year will be Thursday 19th, and I shall return Saturday 4th January. I will be sure to mark dates accurately on the bottom of the last chapters.

Cover Art: Kirire

Chapter 127

"More."

The cashier leaned back from the possessed woman, sensing that there was something off about the person. He might have thought she was on drugs for all Yang knew. A few people were looking their way.

"More!"

"Ma'am," said the cashier. "What do you want more of…?"

"I requirest all of it!"

That was her cue to step in. "We'll have a small slice of every cake on display," she said, handing over the card Jaune had given her. "Call it a sample platter. Just make sure it has a bit of everything."

Yang dragged the upset girl back to their table; it had taken her exactly one cream pastry and one slice of chocolate cake to decide it was worth causing a scene. That didn't bode well for the rest of their day.

"Thou art not to interfere—"

"Human bodies become sick if they eat too much. I'm saving you from losing your whole day to stomach cramps." That shut her up. "But if you want to eat yourself into a coma, be my guest."

"Hm. Thy words ring true."

"Is that a thing you can do? Sense the truth?"

"A simple expression of mine power. Wouldst thou wish to experience it?"

"No. I've a feeling that'd require a deal."

"Of course. Naught in life is free. As mine host understands."

"Speaking of your host, is she… safe…?"

"Of course. A contract was signed to not harm one another, thus I have not. She is my host, my wielder."

"Then she's… what, advantageous to you? A good thing?"

"Tis a positive in one manner. Mine corporeal form would be vulnerable to the company mine host keeps and the lords she serves were it not protected. In a sense, our arrangement provides me security."

"ARC Corp, right?"

"As thou know them, yes."

"What does that mean?"

"T'was not always as you know them. History changes, is forgotten, is rewritten." Blake's face pulled off a very attractive smirk, smug and superior. It fit her, despite that Yang had never seen the real woman smile like that. Blake was usually morose. "Such knowledge carries a price thou would be unwilling to pay. Only know that I am not defenceless even shouldst mine host perish."

"Then your arrangement isn't solely for protection. You get something out of this."

"But of course. If naught else, the chance to sample these divine treats." She leaned back as the cashier came with a huge platter – pretty much a tray – piled high with sugared goods. Yang could feel her arteries clotting just looking at them.

And now I'm beginning to wonder if Blake wouldn't be happier with me throwing her into a ten-man gangbang. This is going to pack the pounds on her.

And, of course, that was something the anomaly wouldn't have to deal with, so it dug right in. Blake's hands shovelled food into her mouth and she hummed and moaned with such bliss that every man in the store was staring, and a few women too – those with anger.

"Could you not sound like you're having an orgasm?"

"Tis the first time I hath tasted food on my tongue," mumbled the anomaly, around a mouth full of crumbs. "What you call taste buds are not a part of mine physiology. Answer me, how dost thou not gorge thineselves to death on such fine meals!?"

It took Yang a second to piece her odd language together. "Some people do," she admitted. "Weight control is a big problem nowadays, at least among civilian populations. Huntresses and huntsmen burn too many calories, but there are people who can't keep their weight under control and then some who are literally hospitalised because of it. Some even die."

"Tis understandable if thine food tastes so good," she groaned. "Thou hide narcotics and stimulants in them and – umph – expect it not to alter thy minds. I can feel it. Oh, I can feel how they toy with her neurons. The very chemistry of her brain altered by the acids and proteins and sugars. Tis no exaggeration to call it a form of mind control, for it awakens addiction and forms behaviour."

Yang grimaced and swore off so many treats in her mind. While her fitness regime would allow for it, she didn't like the idea of it doing so much. Sugar was a drug and everyone out of school knew that, but to hear it said so casually – as it was happening in real time – really drove home how nasty it was.

"And you're okay with that?"

"Tis not mine body that will suffer; and tis a novel experience to have another seek to control me."

"Didn't the contract say not to harm Blake's body?"

"Within reason. Tis your culture and your world that makes the poisoning of food for profit acceptable. Blame not me for being a victim of such sweet temptation."

Victim. Right. Yang couldn't help but think the cakes were victims at the rate she was devouring them. Blake's body could really pack the food away! The moment she was done, she sat back and let out such a loud belch that every person in the café flinched. Manners, apparently, were also something the anomaly didn't grasp, which was little surprise since she wouldn't have had anyone to be polite to.

"I really think we should leave," Yang said. Preferably before they were asked to leave. "There are other things you can try that are just as good as this."

That caught her – its – attention. "Truly?"

"Yes. Ice-cream, candy, uh…" Hard drugs would probably excite her, but Yang really didn't want to have to tell Blake that she'd let her get hooked on cocaine. The anomaly could tell if she was lying but hopefully not if she omitted information. "—and stuff like that. There's a sweet shop for kids in the mall. We could swing by there; just please don't say anything to any children you see."

"Why? Are they dangerous?"

"I'm really more worried about people deciding you are dangerous. And you should be too!" she added, since the anomaly looked intrigued. "Even if the contact allows for self-defence, you won't be able to have much fun if we have to spend the day running away from the police!"

"Ah, thou speakest true. T'would be exciting, I expect, but not a prime use of such limited time. Very well. Deliver me unto this store of sweet treats and finery, so that I might sample them all."

Right. Sure. Hopefully, this wouldn't be a disaster.

The candy store was filled with children and their parents, the latter looking exasperated as kids tried to spend too much on sweets. Yang felt a little bad at how the parents had to say no, then looked cruel when Blake swept by and picked up everything. It made the kids look back to their parents as if to ask why they couldn't have it if this person could. A few of the adults shot them dark looks for it.

Thankfully, the anomaly was too curious to care for the people. The store had been a huge success, partly because of the manipulative marketing of sweets. They were made to be bright and eye-catching, with fanciful packaging and cute gimmicks, the better to ensnare the eyes and minds of young children.

And while the anomaly was no child, it might as well have been in the sense of understanding food and such. It flitted about with wide eyes, darting from rack to shelf to display cabinet. Her basket was filled, and Yang's basket – and then a third which Yang had been forced to carry in her other hand. The woman running the store had been suspicious at first, until Yang handed over the card and told her to just take whatever the person bought out of it.

"It's for a charity," she lied.

The woman calmed down after that and left them to it. Blake's expensive suit probably helped, even if the anomaly wore it loose and untucked, the top two buttons open. Yang didn't like feeling enclosed by a suit either, and couldn't fault the anomaly not wanting its first ever time in the open air to be buttoned up to the collar.

Blake is going to have to see a doctor after this much sugar, though. I don't envy her waking up tomorrow after this binge.

In the end they left with four bags of sweets – not the little bags most kids left with, but huge shopping bags. The kinds that could have carried four two-litre bottles of soda without breaking. There had to be eight kilograms of sugar at the very least, and Blake reached into it, took out a handful, and shoved it all in her mouth. Her yellow eyes widened, pupils dilating, as the sugar hit – a combination of sweet, sour and tangy all at once.

This is what I imagine someone on crack looks like, Yang thought.

And much like someone on drugs, she went back in for seconds and thirds, eating by the handful. "Good!" she mumbled. "Tis good! How…? Thy people – hmm – shouldst be dead – mph, mph – to have such at their – ulp! – perusal."

"Yeah, well, most people are limited by finances. We just spent more on candy than I spend on clothes in a year…"

"Tis a worthwhile sacrifice!"

Yang wasn't sure Blake would agree when she next visited a dentist, but that was a problem for future Blake – and hopefully for future Yang as well. Dragging the gorging girl away from the store, and the jealous children, Yang planned out their next trip. The more she could keep the anomaly hooked on food, the less time she'd have for things much more damaging.

"Yang?"

Oh, crap. It was her teammates.

"Yang!"

Nora had spotted them and had come with Ren by the looks of it. He had the look of the damned around him; of someone who really didn't want to be out so early but had no choice because Nora had forced the issue. Weiss just looked as irritated as she always did, though thankfully that wasn't at her. The prissy girl was one of the few who hadn't taken issue with her suspension, mostly because she knew about the anomalous shit.

"What are you doing here?" asked Nora. "Don't tell me you're hiding in Vale to avoid your dad."

"That's not—"

"This one speaks the truth," the anomaly said, grinding Yang's gears. "Tis cowardice that has her resting at mine apartment."

"Tis not cowardice!" Yang spat, accidentally mirroring the accent. "It's giving my dad a chance to cool down!"

Nora snorted. "Yeah, sure. Ooh, candy. Can I have some?"

"If thou wisheth to make a deal—"

"No!" Yang threw herself between them. "No. Nora, no. This is… Blake is… It's not a good idea. Trust me, the last thing you need is sugar."

"Agreed," Ren and Weiss said at the same time.

But while Ren sounded amused and exasperated, Weiss' voice had a brittle note to it as she stared at Blake. The two had met, and from what Yang remembered there was no love lost between them, and yet Blake hadn't shot a scathing remark. Weiss was quick enough to realise something was up.

And when her eyes met Yang's, Yang made a throat-slitting motion and nodded at the possessed girl. Weiss' eyes widened.

"We should go!" said Weiss, urgently. "We've limited time and I need to stock up at the dust store."

"What? But you didn't say—" Nora tried.

"My plans changed! Don't you want to try on a dress? I'll pay."

Nora gasped. "You will!?"

Good old Weiss. Yang shot her a grateful look. The bribery had Ren and Nora looking away from Blake, who shrugged and shovelled food into her mouth. Weiss hurried them up, making excuses about how she would only buy Nora a new dress if she went there right away.

"Yes! Okay, um, sorry we can't hang!" Nora said. "Got to go. Good luck with your dad, Yang."

"Yeah. Thanks. I'll see you guys in two weeks."

"Unless you punch another old man…"

"He had it coming."

The trio were quickly ushered away by Weiss, much to Yang's relief.

"The stench of unrequited love clings heavily to that one," Blake commented. "T'would be interesting to see how much she would give to win his affections."

"Interesting for you, maybe, not for me," Yang growled. "Let's move on."

"I wonder what the Schnee would say if she knew I – both mineself and mine host – were the ones to slay her sister."

Yang pulled her away. "We're not about to find out."

/-/

There was only so much she could do to entertain the anomaly with food. Eventually, Blake's body rebelled, and the anomaly announced that she could eat no more. Her appetite had vanished.

Yang's efforts to keep her entertained involved an arcade, go karting, laser quest and more – but those things were transient entertainment. The movie lasted even less, the anomaly talking loudly during it about how stupid the characters were acting until they were asked – politely instructed – to leave.

It was the first time Yang had ever been thrown out a cinema and it was humiliating.

As the afternoon ticked on by to the evening, the anomaly in Blake's body kept coming back to the same thing. "I wish to see these clubs that have been spoken of."

"It's loud music and booze – is it really that big a deal?"

"Thou art withholding information from me. I sense it."

"It's more that I'm not sure how safe it'll be," Yang half-lied. The anomaly didn't seem to catch it. "Drunk people make stupid decisions and making a bad decision on you could cost them their life. You have to agree to not make any deals."

"Why must I? Tis not your place to decide such."

"Because I'm the guide. I can still decide to up and leave you to wander Vale alone."

"But thou will not."

"I could."

"Then let us make a deal—"

"No. Your deals are off the table. I've been warned enough times by Jaune—"

"By one who holds bias against such as I," the anomaly countered. "Deals are not inherently treacherous if the terms are laid out clearly ahead of time." Blake danced in front of her, hands behind her back. "Thou and I could make a deal with terms both clear and immediate."

Yang grunted. "I don't want to be involved in this anomaly stuff."

"And thou needst not be. If thou wisheth me to agree to make no deals tonight, thou must offer something of equal value. This needst not me your soul, sister or thou firstborn son. Thy virginity would suffice."

"No."

"So sudden an answer? Is this form not pleasing to thine eyes?" The anomaly tugged at Blake's collar, showing a generous amount of skin.

"That form," Yang mimicked, "belongs to someone I know, and I'm not telling them I had sex with their unresponsive body. Also, I'm not gay."

"Thy pheromones suggest otherwise."

Yang snorted. "Humans don't have those."

"Not that thy noses can detect but I can smell your interest, faint as it may be."

Yang blushed. Interest suggested she was thinking about it, which she wasn't, but she was still a human, and it wasn't like she wouldn't notice when someone flashed her like that. Yang scoffed and looked away. "No sex. I'm not doing that."

"Then wouldst thou agree to a kiss?"

"…" Yang tried not to show any embarrassment. "How much of one?"

"Tongue, intent, pleasure – not a chaste touch."

Of course it wouldn't be. A part of her knew it wasn't a bad deal, and that even Blake wouldn't mind it. A kiss on the lips, even if it was to make out with someone, was a small price to pay to ensure this anomaly wouldn't start making deals with drunk people and eating their souls. And it wasn't like Yang hadn't kissed people before, so she wasn't giving anything up. Blake had too from what she knew. This wouldn't be a first for either of them.

"Say I agree to make out with you," Yang mumbled. "What then?"

"I agree not to form deals for the duration of this night."

"And if events transpire to make it so we can't complete our contract; is my soul forfeit?"

"Not as such. Should events outside our control force it, thou and I shalt complete it another day. You may request mine host surrender control for the space of a few minutes." Blake chuckled. "Tis a small price, no?"

"Why…?"

"Why you? Why do I want this?"

"Either."

"Tis convenience and little more. I am curious and wish to test it, to see if your lips feel different to his—" Yang didn't know who the he was. Jaune, maybe? Or her ex. "T'was my intent to seek out a partner tonight and test, but such would take time, and thou would… what is the term? Cockblock?"

"Yeah…"

"Hm. Thou wouldst cockblock me. Easier, then, to have thou be the one to show me what it is like. No…?"

Annoyingly, it made a lot of sense, and Yang absolutely had been planning to cockblock the daylights out of her if she tried to seduce some random people. It'd be easier for them both to work together and be on the same page.

"You swear there's no trap to this deal?"

"None but mine tongue," not-Blake replied, with a coy smile. "Deals are made of equal value. For mine host, I offered immense power to defeat an enemy that would have killed her. Such a boon comes with a great cost. You would give me what I want in order to not harm those I have little interest in. Tis a small boon and thus carries a small price."

"…" Yang looked away. "Will Blake know or feel it?"

"Do you wish it?"

"No."

"Then she will not. T'will be our moment."

"Don't say it like that. This is just so you can feel things. Fine. I'll agree."

"Then our deal is struck."

/-/

Blake frowned at the line outside the club. "Why must we wait?"

"It's the rules," Yang grumbled. They hadn't changed so Blake was still in her dishevelled suit and Yang her usual outfit. Hopefully, Blake wouldn't mind a few stains. "And before you suggest we push our way to the front; keep in mind we'd be told to leave. If you want in, you've got to wait."

"Such unusual cruelty your kind heaps upon one another."

"Yeah, tell me about it."

Half an hour of asinine questions later, they were in. Taking her to Junior's club was a risk but Yang wasn't about to get barred from the places she actually liked to frequent. The bouncers didn't recognise her anyway; the whole issue had been months ago.

Inside, loud music and strobe lighting soon turned everything into a neon rave, and Yang was amused at the annoyed look on the anomaly's face. Whatever it had imagined, this apparently wasn't it. Yang could relate. While she enjoyed a good night out, the enjoyment only ever really came after a few drinks. A club sober was an awful experience.

And it wasn't like Yang was going to let herself get drunk tonight either.

The only thing worse than clubbing sober is clubbing sober while looking after a drunk person. That's my life tonight.

"Let's get some drinks," she grunted, drawing the anomaly to the bar. "Be careful of anyone spiking your drink."

"Spiking?"

"Attempting to drug you. Guys… No, not guys. Scum sometimes do it because they want to get in a girl's pants. Ninety-nine percent of men won't but it only takes one asshole to ruin your night, so keep any drink you order in sight."

"Oh. Is such danger part of the allure? Excitement over risk?"

"No. It's just an unfortunate reality."

"Odd. If they wisheth carnal relations, why not simply ask?"

"Because girls will say no."

"Then pay for it."

That was a blunt response, but also rather accurate. It wasn't like you couldn't find some "massage parlours" in Vale that did such a service. In the end, she shrugged, not wanting to have to explain why spiking happened. It'd be a long conversation that wouldn't go anywhere. Besides, they'd just reached the front of the bar.

Junior was there. "You…"

"Peace, peace. I'm here to make amends." Yang slipped Jaune's card over the counter. "Charge me for all the damage I caused you the last time."

"That totalled almost a quarter of a million lien!"

"Then charge me that." Yang smiled cheekily.

"Tch. I'll do it just to imagine the look on your face when the bank freezes your card," he said, obviously not expecting the transaction to go through. "You better not be here to cause more trou—" The machine rang out happily. "What…? The hell!?"

"We all good, Junior…? Are we even?"

"…" Junior scoffed. "You've paid off the damage you caused but we are not good." He tossed her the card back. "But I'll let that shit go as long as you don't start anything again. My insurance premiums are through the roof because of you."

Yang was tempted to tell him to charge another quarter of a million but thought better of it. Jaune and Blake owed her for today, but she didn't want to take the piss. "In my defence, some of that was self-defence." He made to snarl. "But I apologise! I was wrong. Can I get a drink? Water for me and a cocktail for my friend here."

"Water, this early?"

"I figure you'd feel less worried if I stuck to it."

"Hmph. You're not wrong." He turned and started mixing. The anomaly watched, curious as to the process. "I won't complain if you're staying sober. I doubt your friend is more destructive than you."

I wouldn't be so sure about that, Junior.

"I'll keep her out of trouble," Yang promised. "Your… uh… Those girls won't be an issue, will they? My friend is pretty twitchy and likely to respond to violence with extreme and immediate force."

"Wonderful." Junior slid the bright blue drink over and drawled his response out. "Just what I needed to hear. I'll talk to them and let them know you're good to stay. They won't cause any issues. That'll be three hundred lien."

Yang winced. "Expensive drink."

"You didn't set a limit, so I used the premium shut," he said, smirking. "You've got the cash now, blondie."

"I wish I did," she said, handing it over. "But this is someone else's card I have with permission for the night. Would be nice to have money to throw around like this normally."

"Must be a well-paying job."

"Tell me about it. My little sister raked in a cool million in her first month."

Junior fumbled the card. "The fuck!?" he rasped. "Where is this job and how do I apply?"

"Trust me, you don't want it."

Bored of their conversation, the anomaly drank – and coughed.

"Tis poison."

Junior stiffened. "Now, you listen here—"

"No, no. It's meant to be poison!" Yang rushed out, coming between them. "Alcohol is technically poison but it's… uh… recreational poison."

Junior raised an eyebrow but, after Yang waved him back, he went off to serve someone else.

"Thy people willingly imbibe poison to lessen their mental faculties?" asked the anomaly, in a tone of voice that made it clear she thought she'd caught Yang in a lie. "Is that what thou are telling me?"

"Yes. Yes, it is."

Her eyes widened. "Thou speakest the truth. What mental ills ail thy kind that thou would do this!?"

"That's a loaded question. Right, so, it's about letting go and lowering inhibitions. We drug our own minds because sometimes we can't let go of stress normally, and this is chemical assistance. When we can't think straight, we tend to have more fun."

"I can feel it shorting mine host's lifespan."

Yang paused. "Significantly…?"

"It damages thy mind; parts of mine host's body are dying. Tis a wonder the contract I signed has not punished me for such," she added, staring down at the drink. "Tis the truth that this is acceptable. How passing strange your kind are."

"Yeah, we are. I think dad once said it's when people feel safest that they start seeking out danger like this to make their lives more fun." Yang wasn't sure how accurate that was since booze and cigarettes existed everywher. "There's worse than this. Some people inject themselves with drugs that could easily kill them, and which leave them sick and hallucinating."

"Why?"

"Well, to escape reality I think. I don't know since I've never done them knowingly."

"Knowingly…?"

"There was a party," she admitted, glancing aside. "Some idiots spiked the punch. It didn't feel good, and I was sick as a dog the next morning. Didn't even get the high or whatever it's meant to be."

Probably because it was diluted in the punch. Yang recalled there'd been arrests made a few weeks after, though it only really ended in community service because no one had too adverse a reaction. Yang had been put through anti-drug talks at school, which was total BS because it wasn't like she'd wanted to take drugs in the first place.

"Thy kind poisons themselves to escape reality. Is it so cruel?"

"To some people, I guess. Others do it to be cool and then get addicted. This is safer." Yang nodded to the cocktail. "Not clean, but safer. As long as you don't overdo it and get sick."

"Where would I find these substances?"

"They're illegal."

"Ah." The anomaly clicked her tongue but didn't argue. Breaking the law would break the contract. "Then thou shall provide me more of this controlled poison and show what it is thy kind does here."

"Dance and have fun, mostly."

"Thou shall show me this fun." The anomaly smiled cunningly. "Or shall I seeketh mine own pleasure? I hath spied many young human men who hath been admiring mine host's form. Deals are off the table due to our own, but no rule prevents me seeking their companionship."

Growling, Yang pulled the girl up. "Fine. Let's dance."

Next Chapter: 6th January

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