Trigger warning: This chapter of Let Us Drink Their Blood contains what can only be described as an Andrew Tate fan. So... sorry.

Pyrrha tried to breathe. Every step on the soft grass felt like trudging through lava. She passed by tourists like a phantom, trying to keep herself small.

She didn't know why her heart was beating so fast. It was just Bianca. What did she think was going to happen? And yet, thinking about what was going to happen consumed her every thought for the past several hours. It would be just the two of them. What should she say? What should she keep to herself? Most of the latter and nothing of the former, was her instinct. But Bianca would want to talk about it. Right?

Right?

Three years since they last met… almost four since that day.

Pyrrha stopped dead in her tracks, her knees so weak she swayed with the breeze. There, up ahead, was the ramen shop Bianca suggested. There was an old man behind the counter, a couple of menu items posted, and of course, only one customer sitting there. Cape. Platinum hair. Thorn face tattoo. Yep, that was Bianca. The Prodigy.

The first Prodigy.

Pyrrha's head started pounding at her temples. She wanted to scream. Some part of her told her to turn heel and leave. Wasn't there something else she was supposed to be doing?

No, press on.

Face her.

It was just Bianca.

Just Bianca.

Pyrrha steeled herself and walked swiftly toward the ramen shop. The shopkeeper nodded at her, but she said nothing. She pulled up the seat next to Bianca and stared straight ahead. She forgot to say hello. Just an accident. Promise.

Bianca glanced over. She was hunched over the counter, sipping from a soda, her elbows resting on the wood. She seemed weary.

"You made it," she said quietly. "I was getting worried you wouldn't show."

Pyrrha scrunched her nose. Her chest tightened. "S-Sorry. I just… got lost."

She just finished her panic attack fifteen minutes ago.

"Well, I'm glad you're here." Bianca smiled at her. It appeared genuine. "This place has a location in the city. The standard katsu ramen is the best. But get whatever you want. I'll pay."

"You don't have to—"

"I'll pay."

Pyrrha shut her mouth. The shopkeeper walked over to her and took her order: katsu ramen and a glass of ice water. He quickly filled her cup, then retreated to the back of the stand to begin prepping their meals. It left Pyrrha with no recourse. She just sat there, spring breeze brushing against the standing hairs on the back of her neck. Bianca slowly twirled around her straw, as if waiting for Pyrrha to make the first move. By now, she should have known better. Pyrrha Nikos never made the first move.

"I can't get over how much you've grown," Bianca confessed. It was a strange line, but it stood out to her. "I remember when I first laid eyes on you. You were maybe half the size and your armor barely fit you. I remember thinking, there's no way this girl is everything they say she is. But of course, you were. Everything and more…"

"You… you look mostly the same," Pyrrha murmured. "You didn't have the tattoo when we first met."

Bianca snickered to herself. "Yeah. Roane's idea, obviously. Team tattoo. Of course, I had to be the idiot and put it on my face. At least the line work is nice."

"I think it looks good."

"Thanks. You look good, too."

Pyrrha stared at the menu. There were so many options of ramen. Wow. So many options.

Bianca sighed. She forced herself to sit up straight and face Pyrrha. It wasn't like it mattered. The younger wouldn't ever see how much of a wreck she was.

"Hey, I'm really sorry… about those things I said," Bianca said far too quickly. "It was stupid and wrong of me, and it wasn't true. I'm sorry I hurt your feelings."

Pyrrha closed her eyes. She let the moment linger, and then she shrugged. "It's all right."

"It is?"

"Y-Yeah. I don't… I barely even think of that."

Bianca scanned her face, searching for signs of doubt, but she had never been able to read Pyrrha. Not once. Forced to take her at her words, she sighed again and turned back toward the counter.

"Okay. I'm… glad that settles things. I don't want there to be any hard feelings between us."

Pyrrha looked down at her glass. "So, that means you don't hate me anymore?"

Bianca held back a bitter laugh. "What? I never hated you. I have a ton of respect for you."

"But that… that doesn't mean you don't also hate me," Pyrrha said uncomfortably. "I just… I want to hear you say it, if that's all right."

"I don't hate you. You were just… doing what you were supposed to." Bianca turned away. "It was my fault, anyway." Bianca nearly elaborated on the thought, but Pyrrha visibly recoiled and she chose against it. She quickly moved on to something else. "So… Beacon! I never thought you would have chosen to attend Beacon. What's it like?"

"Oh. It's… it's good," Pyrrha said. "Sometimes."

"Doing well in your classes? Well, I mean, obviously, you are. You're the top team of your class."

"Yeah."

"And your teammates are good?"

Pyrrha nodded. She was able to finally smile genuinely. "Yeah, I really like them. They keep me on my toes, but I know they care about me."

"Smooth sailing?"

"Mostly. We've had some disagreements, but they're good. They are really good." Pyrrha tucked her chin and tried to fight back her instincts. She failed. "I'm actually dating one of them."

Bianca let out a surprised laugh. "You're kidding."

Pyrrha shook her head. "Nope."

"I… never thought you would be one for romance."

"Neither did I," Pyrrha said shyly. "But he's… he's really sweet. Not the greatest fighter, but he's so kind to me."

"Sounds like I have to meet him," Bianca said. Pyrrha nodded. God, she wished Jaune was here now. Actually, wait, wasn't there something she was forgetting? Well, before she dwelled on that, she felt compelled to return the favor.

"How's everything with Team BRIR? I heard you are undefeated."

"Yeah. We work well together," Bianca said. She shifted in her seat, looking down at her glass. "You know, if you had asked me before Haven if I would have worked well on a team, I'd have said they would just slow me down. I couldn't be more wrong. We're so much stronger together. I can rely on them and their Semblances without having to think about it, and actually leading others has helped put things in perspective. Helps that we were able to stay so busy."

"Well, that's very good," Pyrrha stated. Yet, she could see the sadness lingering behind Bianca's eyes. She should have kept her mouth shut, but she couldn't help herself. Maybe Bianca wanted her to reach out. Was that not why she was invited here? "I heard about Ricki. I'm so sorry."

Bianca shut her eyes tight.

Pyrrha felt the guilt swell inside of her.

She was never good at reading people either.

"Thanks," Bianca said dully.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have—"

"No, it's fine."

"We don't have to—"

"It's fine," Bianca insisted, her eyes remaining closed. The words came out too harsh, and she immediately recognized it. "It's… it's fine."

Pyrrha said nothing. They both stared straight ahead, wishing nothing had been said.

"The last few months have been pretty hard," Bianca admitted, her voice hoarse. "Roane has managed just fine—she's always finding some way to stay cheerful. I don't know how. But Ivy's been having a rough go of it. I think she's beating herself up for what happened, even though it wasn't her fault. They were… they were really close." Bianca placed her hand over her chest. The silence clogged her thoughts. Pyrrha wished she could disappear. Eventually, Bianca forced through a smile. "But… Ruda is adapting well! I think she really fits in with the team. I just wish she could see that."

Pyrrha nodded slightly. "Sometimes, it takes a while to adjust. I don't think I could handle that kind of pressure."

"I don't know. You usually do well under pressure."

Bianca looked at Pyrrha again, and this time, Pyrrha was finally willing to meet her halfway. Bianca concentrated as if she was looking for something behind Pyrrha's eyes. It was something she needed to see, the same thing that had been her obsession for years. She did not give up her search when she asked her next question.

"Do you ever think about that day often?"

Pyrrha didn't break away. "What day?"

"You know what day," Bianca said forcefully. "Because I think of it."

No, she didn't think of it often. But she could remember it clearly. The sound of a pained gasp as air rushed out of a collapsed lung. The shock and adulation of a crowd witnessing the greatest upset in Mistral Cup history. The moment she dethroned the greatest ever, the moment a rising career was nearly ended prematurely… the moment her legacy began.

"I wish I didn't have to," Pyrrha admitted. "I really wish I didn't."

Pyrrha still didn't know what Bianca was searching for, or if she ever found it. Either way, she seemed satisfied. Bianca pursed her lips.

"Huh."

Pyrrha thought she saw disappointment. Or was that relief?

"I'm trying to move past that side of myself," Pyrrha stated. "A lot has changed these past few months. I wish I could tell you everything, but… it's so complicated."

"Yeah," Bianca said. "Sure."

The shopkeeper suddenly returned, carrying two large bowls of ramen. Pyrrha looked into the bowl. The broth was a deep brown, and the noodles were mostly obscured by toppings of fried pork, soft-boiled egg, and mushrooms. She was hit with a slightly salty, savory aroma. It was a very long time since she had authentic Mistral food. She had forgotten how much she missed home. She thought about her parents and how much she looked forward to seeing them tomorrow. She bet Bianca missed her family too. In this unfamiliar land, in these horrifyingly exciting times, it was nice to rely upon the familiar. Maybe that's why Bianca was so eager to apologize… she was desperate to cling to whatever wouldn't slip out of her fingers.

But what did she know? She was awful at reading people.

Pyrrha picked up the spoon and raised it to her lips when she felt a buzz coming from a pouch on her belt. She pulled out her Scroll, saw the picture of her boyfriend's face, and read the incoming messages.

Hey. Ready for our lunch. Where r u?

Her eyes went wide.

Dammit.

Dammit.

"Oh no, I'm so sorry," Pyrrha said. Bianca was taken aback as Pyrrha stood up. "I promised Jaune I would have lunch with him and I totally forgot!"

"Jaune?"

"My boyfriend. Jaune," Pyrrha explained. "I completely scheduled our lunch on top of his. Oh, I feel so stupid."

Bianca waved away her concerns. "Hey, it's all right. Go to your man."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Let me pay first."

"I'll cover it," Bianca said warmly. "It was nice catching up with you. Maybe we can do it again before the tournament. Just, check your schedule first next time."

Was that a snide comment? No, wait. Bianca was smiling. It was a joke. Yeah, just a joke. Pyrrha breathed a sigh of relief. Bianca wasn't mad at her. Thank god. She couldn't handle that again. She was far too kind of a person. Generous, too. No wonder everyone looked up to her. She said goodbye, took one last nervous gulp of water, and then turned on her heel.

"Oh, and I just want to say…"

Bianca's words caught Pyrrha in a trap. The elder Huntress hesitated but spoke with honesty.

"I hope we meet in the tournament."

Pyrrha stood in silence. The words knocked her into a stupor.

She didn't know how to react.

"I… I hope we don't."

And then, the silence was launched back. Bianca stared at the back of Pyrrha's head. The daggers she could place through it…

Then, Bianca laughed. Darkness lingered behind it. "Yeah. I guess that's fair."

Coco never truly appreciated how intelligent the girls of Team RWBY were until she learned about merchandising.

The Team RWBY Fund did a lot of things. It protected Team RWBY, their families, and their allies from being threatened by Atlas. It provided donations to charitable organizations. However, one of its more interesting functions was to serve as a vessel for Team RWBY's trademark. Coco didn't think that mattered a ton. Always fashion-forward, she found it tacky to walk around with one's own logo plastered to their chest. However, the monetary value of such intellectual property could not be ignored, and it was only right now while shopping in The Official Vytal Shop, did she realize the importance of such compensation.

The Official Vytal Shop was located in southeast Vytal, away from the Fairgrounds and the common activities of the Festival. Yet, due to its size, there was no less of a crowd. It took half an hour just to wait in line—yes, the store had a line, which Coco had never seen before—and once inside, Coco, Ren, and Nora were bombarded with some of the most offensive, in-your-face, unstylish merchandise they had ever seen. Gaudy jerseys, hoodies, hats, mugs, cups, hats with cups in them, backpacks, bobbleheads… pretty much every lame souvenir Coco could imagine was on display, and each one featured some active competitor of the Vytal Festival. All of them. Though there were also offerings of past contestants, the vast majority of merch was dedicated to the sixty-four Huntsmen about to go to war with each other.

She could purchase a t-shirt with a custom Team CFVY logo, and they didn't even have a logo! Some graphic designer she never heard of came up with it, and honestly, it was pretty bad. The font they used was all scribbly and too thin. She could also purchase a plushy of herself, which was incredibly strange. She didn't even realize she had signed away her likeness. But it must have been in that massive contract she signed, because there on the shelf was a ten-inch plushy of her, beret, sunglasses and all. How did they get a photo of her favorite outfit? Why did her minigun briefcase look so accurate? Was she getting paid for this? It was incredibly disturbing. Adorable, but disturbing.

Not as disturbing as the Vivian Jupitarian plushie, which sat directly next to hers, flashing a sinister grin.

But neither of those were top sellers. No, that would be the Team RWBY merchandise, which was so popular that Coco could only find the empty shelves where the micro-Rubies, Weisses, Blakes, and Yangs once sat. This was where the brilliance of Team RWBY came into play; because they were smart enough to both read their contracts in full and have their likenesses already tied down, they could receive a healthy cut of all the profit from RWBY merch sales. It didn't matter too much, since the Schnees were already billionaires. Still, it was a little aggravating how much dough her teammates raked in, and Coco regretted not getting involved when she had the chance.

"Ren, you have to!" Nora pleaded. She held aloft a tiny Ren plushie, squishing it against her cheek. Ren could only sigh.

"Nora, there is no reason to purchase that." He looked over to Coco for support, who was lost in her plushie gaze.

Nora gasped. "Of course, there's a reason! It's a tiny you! And then you can buy a tiny me, and they can hold hands and spend time together in a little, tiny, squishy world."

Coco shook her head. "Look, these things are cute, but let's remember what we are here for. We need to get something for everyone, and well, that's just for you."

"It is for me and I love him," Nora said, hugging the tiny Ren close to her chest. "I can't believe I never thought to make one of these myself."

"Maybe we should focus on the task at hand," said Ren, who tried to keep his concern to a minimum. "What can we get for all of Team NYBF? It should have a consistent theme."

Coco laid her boundary firm. "Well it can't all be matching, because I won't be caught dead wearing the same outfit as eleven other people. If it does match, it has to be something small that people won't notice."

"So what you are saying is… we need matching tattoos?" Nora asked. "Because I don't think Jaune would agree to that level of commitment."

Ren stroked his chin. "What if we all wore a matching piece of jewelry? A bracelet, maybe?"

Nora gasped excitedly. "A friendship bracelet. For Team Not Yet Best Friends! It's perfect!"

Coco mulled the option. Yeah, a friendship bracelet could work. She already wore about thirteen bracelets at once, so one more would easily blend into the crowd. It would be easy to customize, cheap as hell—again, not that Team RWBY had to worry about the cost—and would be better than buying twelve plushies. Coco was implored to agree with Nora's suggestion.

Unfortunately, she wouldn't have the chance to consider it further, as someone rudely tapped her on the shoulder.

"Excuse me, ma'am?" said a deep voice. Coco looked to her right, and came face to face with a plushie of a Huntsman she had never seen before. "I heard you require a gift for your loved ones. Might I suggest… this astonishing plush man?"

Coco was forced to look at the plush. It was of a man was face was remarkably square, so square she could have sworn it was a manufacturing error. Until, she happened to look up at the man holding the plush.

"Or perhaps… you would like… the real thing?"

The plushie was thrown away, and now Coco was face-to-face with a giant man, flexing and posing over her.

He was… square.

Big and square.

Like an apartment complex made of bulging muscle.

He had skin like coffee, eyebrows half an inch thick, and short black hair that ended in a silver whisp. His clothes were two sizes too small, clinging to his skin like damp paper towel. He lifted his arms and posed with both biceps, each of which was thicker than Coco's head. There was nothing natural, attractive, or healthy about it, yet that did not stop the man from bursting out another pose, showing off his spectacular pecs. Coco stood her ground in his shadow.

"Umm… hello?"

The steroid man introduced himself. Sort of. "I know, it's a lot to take in, little lady. You've never been in the presence of a true alpha male before. But you don't have to hide it. I know you love it."

Coco sneered behind her shades. "Ummmm…"

The man grunted as if trying to establish dominance. "The name is Brawnz. Brawnz Ni. 'Stronger than Iron'. I'm sure you've heard of me."

"Nope, never actually."

"Yep, the leader of Team BRNZ, in the flesh," said the man, who Coco guessed was named Brawnz. "I saw you from across the way. I couldn't help but notice how thicc you are, with many, many C's. I thought I would walk over and let you know that the future winner of the Vytal Festival is interested in destroying your world."

Ummmmmmmmm…

"And your friend can come along too if she wants," Brawnz said, winking at Nora. He stuck out his chest as if to seduce her, though Nora simply took a step closer to Ren.

"Not interested. Sorry."

She probably shouldn't have said sorry, since it implied that she was somewhat sympathetic to his cause. He took it as a sign to continue.

"Now, now, there's no reason to hang around that beta when a real man is right here," Brawnz said smugly. Nora, in response, wrapped her arms around Ren tightly. Ren didn't really react to either.

"She's not interested, pal. Neither am I," Coco said bluntly. "You can move along."

Brawnz did not move along. In fact, he took a step closer. Was this… was this seriously happening right now? "You don't mean that."

"No, I definitely mean that."

"You don't. I can see it in your eyes."

"I'm wearing sunglasses, what the fuck are you—"

"You're talking way too much. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you to find a man who would treat you right."

Coco shook her head. "Buddy, since you won't leave otherwise, I'll just spell it out for you. You aren't my type."

Brawnz let out an obnoxiously loud cackle. He crossed his arms over his inflated chest. "Please. I'm everyone's type."

"Not everyone's."

"And what's your type? People like him?" Brawnz motioned toward Ren.

"No… people like her," Coco said, pointing aggressively toward Nora.

Nora blushed, stammering awkwardly. "Coco, I… I had no idea. This is so sudden, I—"

Coco rolled her eyes. "Not you specifically. I was just doing a thing."

Nora paused and then let out a disappointed sigh. "Oh. Nevermind…"

Brawnz looked back and forth between Coco and Nora, his smaller-than-average brain taking a long time to process Coco's meaning. Eventually—eventually—it clicked. Instead of being upset, though, he only seemed to grow more arrogant.

"Oh, so you think you're a dyke?"

Coco's nostrils flared. She thinks she's a dyke?

"I know a lot of man-hating lesbians," Brawnz said matter-of-incorrect-factly. "You probably just have trauma from your daddy or something. But don't worry. One night with me, and we'll get that all straightened out."

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…

"Are you even real?" Coco said in disbelief. "Like, you can't be a real person directly in front of me."

"I know, because it seems like I'm from a dream, right?" Brawnz smirked.

"Look… Bronze, was it?"

"It's spelled B-R-A-W-N-Z. With a Z."

"Okay, both of those are spelled with a Z, but look," said Coco. "You are maybe fifteen seconds away from me breaking every single bone in your body. So why don't you just leave us alone and let us do our shopping?"

Brawnz scoffed. "You break my bones? Lady, do you know who you are talking to?"

"Do you?" Coco said accusingly. She grabbed the plushie version of herself and held it up for Brawnz to see. He stared at it with a blank expression, and after a solid minute, Coco realized she was still going to have to spell it out. "I'm a Huntress in Vytal, you fucking dipshit."

Brawnz had a very muted reaction. He seemed to be considering something, a first for him. Coco waited for her apology, or at least some cowering, though she didn't know why she continued to hold him to a high standard. He flashed a cocky grin and took one more step closer.

"Yeah… we both know it doesn't mean much for you to become a Huntress."

Ummmmmm—

"Wait, what the hell do you mean by that?"

Brawnz huffed. "We all know you're a diversity hire… since women are inherently weaker than men."

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…

Coco turned around and looked at Nora and Ren, who both looked back at her with wide eyes. A million thoughts ran through Coco's brain. She took a deep breath. She wished she had her briefcase on her. Unfortunately, she would have to improvise.

"Okay, yeah," she said plainly. "Screw the countdown. I'm just gonna break every single bone in your body."

Brawnz did not react as Coco winded up her fist. He was fully anticipating tanking the blow with his giant pectorals. He seemingly did not understand that one: averages were not universals, and two: Aura was the greatest fucking equalizer on the planet. He, unfortunately, would not learn that lesson, at least not now. While Coco swung as hard as she could, she was intercepted by Nora and Ren, who dove in to hold her back.

"Easy! Easy!" Nora shouted.

"This is not the time for violence," Ren insisted.

Coco struggled in their hold. "I'll fucking break that stupid square jaw!"

"Ha!" Brawnz laughed. "Good luck doing that with your hollow bones!"

"How do you even exist?"

Nora wrapped her arms under Coco's armpits and successfully captured her. "Coco, leave him be."

"But—"

"If you hurt him now and he can't compete, you'll risk getting disqualified from the tournament," Nora explained. "And besides… he'll get what's coming to him."

Coco stopped struggling. Nora made a rational point, and the fact that it was Nora making that point caused her no unearned surprise. The tournament was bigger than the dumbass, uninformed opinion of any of the participants. Causing a scene—or worse, getting arrested for assault—wasn't going to help them. Nora was also right about the other thing. He would get what was coming to him. While the odds of Coco herself facing this douchebag were slim, more than half of the competitors in the tournament were women. Someone was going to give this loser his comeuppance.

Still though, Coco wondered why Nora was so willing to calm her down. Nora was the smashy one. Getting into unnecessary bouts of violence was, like, her favorite thing, right? If anyone should want to break this dude's bones, it would be her. Coco could see the disdain in Nora's eyes. She wasn't immune to his awfulness. Yet, there was something else there: restraint. A barrier.

Nora was a buff woman herself, bulked with hard-earned muscle and capable of bench-pressing the entire student body at once. She didn't get in that shape without frequenting the gym, or frequenting forums for advice on how to build mass healthily. While Brawnz's attitudes were uncommon for Huntsmen, there were many places where it festered. It never occurred once to Coco, but Nora had probably encountered people like Brawnz Ni before, shunning her, mocking her, dismissing her out of hand. She learned to form an immunity to it long ago or face ostracization. Ren was likely vital to that, too. His influence on her, though seemingly subtle, was probably the reason she had the discipline to be a Huntress in the first place.

Nora Valkyrie: a woman of silent endurance. Who would have thought?

Coco started to relax, though she didn't have to. Another man quickly appeared behind Brawnz, tugging at his arm.

"There you are. Come on, we're checking out."

"Sorry, Nolan. Was busy wasting my time on some women who don't know better."

Coco and Nora scowled. Nolan, apparently, was the other guy's name. Another member of Team BRNZ. He had hair of scarlet and, like his teammate, an unusually shaped jawline, sharp and overly chiseled with gaunt cheeks. Did he share the same horrible views as his team leader? They didn't know and didn't care to find out. Nolan looked at them curiously, and there was a spark of interest behind his eyes.

"Is that so?" he asked with a grin.

"We were just leaving," Coco sneered. "Come on, gang. We have to find those friendship bracelets."

She took a step backward, relaxing her shoulders and shrugging away her friends. However, before she could leave, Nolan suddenly stepped forward, small pink eyes looking at them hungrily.

"Now, hang on a second," Nolan stated. "Before you go, you have to at least give me your number."

"Look, asshole, we already told your friend—"

"Not you," Nolan said with disgust. "You."

Nolan looked past Nora, looked past Coco, and stared directly at Lie Ren. The young Huntsman seemed to shrink under the sudden pressure.

"Excuse me?" he said nervously.

"You have an amazing Aura about you," Nolan said spicily. "I would love to get the chance to explore it. Maybe over lunch tomorrow?"

Coco looked at Ren, stunned. Okay, a gay friend of the misogynist. A twist she didn't expect. Ren didn't really know how to react either.

"I'm not interested. I am sorry."

Ren should not have said sorry. Never say sorry.

"Are you sure? I can make you interested," Nolan persisted. "I know a lot of people who didn't think they'd be down, but we can go as slow as you want. I wouldn't want you to be uncomfortable. Why don't you just give me your number and—"

"The fuck did you just say?"

Nolan was forced into silence the moment he saw Nora's fiery gaze. The color had drained from her face, and she stared at the failed seducer like he had just spit on her mother's grave. The truth was, Nora's hearing had stopped working the second he said the word love. She didn't need to hear anymore.

Coco, still pressed against her, could feel her heart rate accelerating and her muscles tensing, ready to pounce. It boggled her mind even more than it already had been the past five minutes. Being insulted directly with sexist rhetoric? Nothing. Insulting Ren? Nothing. Stealing Ren from her?

The fury of the fucking gods.

"Oh, is she your girlfriend?" Nolan asked, with less a dash of disdain in his voice and more of a full-on sprint. "Don't you think a man of your caliber can do so much bett—"

"Die, you little twerp!"

Nora lunged at Nolan's face, and Coco and Ren desperately grabbed her, holding her back before she could claw him to death.

"Let me go! I'll kill him!"

"Nora! Remember the tournament!" Ren begged.

"You literally just said to be calm!" Coco pleaded.

Nora kicked and screamed with all her might as her two friends dragged her away. "I'll cut your skin off and wear it like a raincoat! I'll make a jump rope with your intestines and defecate on your grave! You hear me! You despicable little—mmmh!"

Coco clasped her hand over Nora's mouth, and the three of them immediately headed to the exit, past the awkward, frightened glares of onlookers. They left Brawnz and Nolan behind, both of whom were now eager to see them leave. All the while, Coco mumbled sweet things in her ear.

"Think of friendship bracelets, Nora. Shush now. Think of the bracelets…"

B: hey Ruby Weiss emergency meeting

R: What's wrong? -Ruby

W: I'm training. Is it really an emergency or like a Blake emergency?

B: what the fuck is a Blake emergency

Y: real emergency

R: Ok can we meet in the dorm? -Ruby

R: Sorry, cabin. I'm going to keep calling it a dorm by accident. -Ruby

Y: yeah we really need to make sure we are prepared

W: What is the emergency?

B: The President of fucking Vale wants to meet us today

W: Are you serious?

B: dead fucking serious

W: Yeah, that qualifies as a real emergency.

Y: lol