"You know, I forget how upscale Vale can be sometimes." Weiss said, surveying their surroundings. "It's not Atlas levels of stuffy, but it's got its own style."

Yang nodded, motioning to a store across the street. "Me, Dad, and Rubes went there a few times on our birthdays for dinner. It was nice, really… fancy, I guess." She stretched lightly as they continued forward. "We don't spend a lot of time in this part of town, but they've got some nice shops. And probably the only stylist I'll let mess with my hair besides me."

"High praise." Weiss nodded, before looking down at her scroll. It'd taken some time for them to walk from the bookstore to this district. If they kept this pace, it was unlikely they'd hit everywhere they'd been planning to before everyone regrouped. "… I still feel as though we should've brought Neptune with us tonight. He could've helped."

"Probably." Yang said, smirking. "I'm sure it doesn't help he's easy on the eyes either."

Weiss scowled and rolled her eyes. "He's capable enough. We involved Sun, so there's no reason we couldn't have."

"Uh huh." Yang nodded, not losing the smirk on her face. "Never said he wasn't, snowflake."

"Don't call me that!" Weiss snapped, blushing slightly. It was bad enough that the Courier had taken to unknowingly using the pet name Klein had given her. She didn't need her other teammates to start using it as well.

Though her outburst earned another chuckle from Yang. "Hey, if it fits, right?"

"Hmph." Weiss huffed, trying her best to focus on the task at hand. "…So this next place we're going, have you been there before?"

Yang nodded, stretching her shoulders "Once, a couple months ago. Heard there was a bunch of shady things going on, figured it would be a good place to look into. There wasn't much… Well, they were hiding a gang in the backroom, but they were human, and not what I was looking for. The bartender gave me crap for knocking over the pinball machine too."

"…Well, if you already knocked the rest of the place over, why not give the machine a tilt?" Weiss offered, giving Yang a conspiratorial smirk.

"No." Yang said, shaking her head.

"But… But I worked on it." Weiss pouted.

"I'm not mad at the effort, it just wasn't good." Yang said.

"Yes, because the puns you and Six regale us with are all pure gold." Weiss retorted.

"Oh no, most of them aren't even bronze." Yang said. "You haven't seen my silver or gold material."

"I can hardly imagine." Weiss said dryly. "With how often you make them, they must be quite precious for you to not use them."

"… Still a no, Weiss." Yang smirked.

"Drat."

The two continued down the street for a short distance. All around them the light was shifting into the twilight of early evening. Another hour or so, dusk would be upon them. If any of the Courier's previous nights were an indicator, things had the chance to get quite wild indeed. Weiss was almost assured of trouble, given she'd been partnered with Yang of all people. She'd grown quite fond of her teammates, truly, even if she wasn't sure about how to express it most of the time. They could be infuriating and, at times, quite uncouth. But she found the camaraderie they shared in the short months they'd been together to be exhilarating. So similar to the bond she'd shared with her sister. That did not change, however, that Yang and Ruby's brash and brazen antics could be most aggrieving. Then there was Blake, whose 'private' reading material she'd stumbled onto more than once and chose to ignore. Though it filled her with morbid curiosity what her obsession was with cephalopods. Then there was the Courier…

She didn't even know where to begin with him.

But their shortcomings didn't diminish them, and she knew she was far from faultless herself. They were certainly leagues better than some of the vapid socialites she'd been made to rub elbows with. She couldn't help but silently wonder what that said about her. That she'd rather be creeping through nightly alleys and chasing criminals than being pampered and living in luxury. She knew why she was doing it, but couldn't help but wonder what it said about her all the same. This sort of life, being a Huntress, was something all of her teammates had spent their whole lives striving towards. Weiss had grown up with the stories her grandfather had told her of his early days, building the SDC with her grandmother. But it hadn't been until she'd grown to see the state of her family's legacy that she'd considered the path for herself. She'd worked hard to put herself where she was. Yet it didn't feel real to her. More like she was watching through someone else's eyes.

The others didn't share her background. Had her teammates always seen themselves doing this?

Of them, she knew of two who could remotely compare to her background. But Blake vehemently denied her status as being princess. She'd also spent much of her life training to be part of the White Fang, clearly.

The Courier on the other hand, was Nouveau Riche. He didn't seem to realize he was as rich as he was. She'd also checked the price of gold recently. It'd gone up another five-hundred lien per ounce since they'd last spoken.

"Seriously, who walks around carrying gold coins?" Weiss muttered to herself.

"What was that?" Yang asked.

"Nothing. Just… thinking." Weiss huffed, before pausing for a moment, pondering. "… Do you think he ever planned on any of this?"

Yang looked at Weiss, confused. "Who?"

"Six." Weiss answered, pursing her lips, thoughtfully. "In some way, I guess we all planned to do something like this. Being Huntsmen, Huntresses. Apparently, back where he's from. The wasteland, the Mojave, whatever he wants to call it, maybe what he did wasn't so different either…" She shrugged. "I never saw myself being a Huntress when I was a child, I wanted to follow in my sister's footsteps. Make my family's legacy worth something… But what about him? Do you think he just woke up one day and chose to do… whatever he's done?"

Yang didn't answer for a moment. Weiss watched as her blonde teammate really considered the question, clearly thinking hard on it. After a few moments, the crowds passing around them, Yang merely shrugged. "Dunno." She said, giving Weiss a lopsided look "I wanted to be a huntress because Uncle Qrow and Dad would tell stories about it. How fun, exciting, and free it was… I mean, who wouldn't want that, right?"

"…"

Weiss felt a warmth in her, as a smile crept onto her face. Perhaps her reasons weren't so weak after all.

Yang returned the smile with a grin. "Aw, you can smile after all."

"Oh, hush." Weiss said, trying and failing to wipe the smile off.

Yang let out a smooth breath, and after a moment added: "Maybe you should ask him sometime… I do have another reason why I want to be a Huntress. But I know it's not something I can rush. Like how you want to bring honor back to your family. It's… something I need to work on."

Weiss, her confidence restoring itself, nodded. "Hm. Well, if there's anything I can do to help, all you need to do is say the word." She reached a hand to the mask at her hip and held it. They weren't so far from their destination now. "Whether it's you, or him, it wouldn't reflect well on me to ignore you would it?"

Yang returned the smile. "What is it with the two of you giving me a pep talk? Do I look sad or something?"

"He gave you a pep talk?" Weiss asked.

"… Kinda." Yang said, smile growing ever so slightly warmer.

"…" Weiss shook her head as she slipped her mask on. She wasn't much a fan of the pomp and circumstance that came with high society and its gatherings. However, anyone who said she didn't have a sense of class was clearly blind. A masquerade required little more than a simple masque over the eyes and brow. Snow white and accented by ice blue, to match her preferred palette.

Yang's idea of a masque, however, culminated in little more than an amber colored bandana. Stretched over her mouth and nose. Weiss was fairly certain it was a part of her normal outfit. Normally wrapped and draped about her knee.

Though, as they approached their destination, Weiss noted further that Yang made no motion to conceal herself. Instead leaving the cloth stashed in her pocket. She clearly sensed Weiss's confusion however, and gave a simple explanation: "I've already been here, doesn't make much sense covering my face now."

The two turned down an alleyway, leaving behind the polish and gilt of the wealthier portion of town. The deeper they went, the more it felt they were stepping into a time capsule of what Vale might have been decades ago. The smooth stone and mortar of recent works grew cracked and worn. Sleek metal and fresh paint grew tarnished, rusted, and chipped, in desperate need of renovation. Were she not walking it herself, Weiss would never have believed they were walking through the same city. Or, at least, the same part of town.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

At the far end of the alley, sat an old wood framed building, the walls a mix between cobble and poured concrete. Weiss herself was unfamiliar with the name of the style, stucco perhaps. Wood beams crossed over each panel of stone for added support, swatches of old cloth for splashes of color. It sat two stories tall, the second floor stepping inward, set smaller. Bands of bare-bulb lights strung from the eaves, casting pale amber light over the old stone and wood. An awning opened out over the main entrance, double wooden doors set between a pair of windows. The only ones she could see on the building. Over the awning, and thus the entrance, sat a painted wooden sign, fading with age and paint chipping.

'7th Heaven'

Confusingly, the seven was stylized as some sort of dolphin.

"Just let me lead." Yang said. "I know the lady behind the bar, she's a fighter."

"Why am I not surprised?" Weiss asked drolly.

The pair approached the entrance and stepped through the wooden doors. Beyond them was a dive bar that one might've expected from a roadside tavern somewhere in the wilderness. All wood décor and neon signage. A small bar to the immediate left of the entrance, seating to the right and jukebox in the far corner. Next to a door labeled as the restroom. Weiss also noted a broken pinball machine straight ahead of them. The air smelled of smoke, and the uncomfortably familiar smell of liquor. The cheap kind, even.

The barroom was mostly empty, despite being something of a mess. Weiss counted a total of three people, outside herself and Yang. Two men, and a woman behind the bar, as Yang had said she'd be. One of the men leaned against the wall, beside the jukebox. A lanky blonde that reminded Weiss of Jaune, if he'd spent more time working out… Then again, she'd seen Jaune without a shirt on, and he wasn't exactly hard on the eyes either. But, the blonde before her was older, with something graceful about his face, lean and angular. He was dressed in a sleeveless, dark blue jumpsuit, with a massive sword on his back. Bigger than the one she'd had to contend with when sparring with Yatsuhashi.

As for the other man, he was darker in his complexion, Vacuo descent if his clothes were an indicator. A brown vest and green cargo pants. Black pouches strapped about him, and one of his arms was replaced with a prosthetic. Its darker color and bulkier build is clearly not Atlesian, but no less functional as she saw the finger twitch. He was far taller and broader than the blonde, despite being seated at one of the tables. The muscles in one of his arms was nearly triple the size of one of the Blonde's. His features were hard, blunt. The arc of his brow gave him an aggressive, angry look. Like he was insulted the two of them had walked inside.

Behind the bar however, the woman clearly wasn't happy that they had. She was about Yang's height, perhaps a few hairs taller, with dark brown, shoulder length hair. She was dressed in less than modest clothing, a top that was cropped just below her, annoyingly bountiful, chest. Paired with a short black skirt, held in place by both a belt, and a pair of suspenders that looped back up to her shoulders. Red bracers running from her elbows down to gloved hands. She scowled with red eyes at both Weiss and Yang, as they stepped further into the bar.

For reasons Weiss hoped were completely unrelated, the woman also had a thick brace around her neck.

"Heya, T~" Yang greeted in a singsong tone, approaching the bar.

"Xiao Long." The woman, T, answered. Voice stiff, gruff, and a bit deep.

"How's the neck?" Yang asked chipperly. "Heard you had an accident."

"Healing." T bit back. "How's the bike? Heard you wrecked it."

"All in one piece." Yang answered, smirking. "Funny, the only part I found broken was the brake cable."

"Hm." T answered, eyes flicking to one of the men across the room, then back to the two of them. She exhaled through her nose, then asked, "What do you want?"

"What, a girl can't come by for a visit?" Yang asked.

"We're not friends, and you're not welcome here after what you did." T answered.

"Are you still mad about the pinball machine?" Yang asked, voice getting a slight edge "I told you that thing was rigged."

"You still broke it." T retorted.

"You never told me what I wanted to know." Yang countered, then appeared to ponder that statement for a moment, and continued. "Guess that's why I'm back here though. Kinda funny."

"Don't know who you're looking for, brat." T said. "Even if I didn't, I don't feel inclined to help."

"Oh no, I'm here for different information this time." Yang said. "You help me, I promise to leave quietly this time."

T nodded as though she was listening. But Weiss was watching her eyes still. She saw the brief flick they did, again, towards the back of the room. They then settled back on the two of them, before twitching to Weiss. "Who's your friend?"

"Just a friend from school." Yang answered."She's helping me with a project."

Weiss could hear the creak of wood, across the bar behind her.

"Yang." Weiss cautioned.

"Why would I want to help you?" T asked.

"… Well-" Yang said, flexing her fist. "I could leave anyway. It just might not be so quiet."

T scoffed. "Right, do you think I'm stupid? I heard about what you and your boyfriend did to Junior."

The bright air Yang had been keeping faltered. Had Weiss been paying it more attention, she might've been willing to question it herself. "Heard wha-"

There was a rush of sound behind them, and Weiss spun, hand falling to Myrtenaster. As she gripped the hilt of her weapon, the Vacuan man leapt up from his seat, pointing his prosthetic towards them. She saw the metal plates over the forearm of it begin to shift and slide backward, the hand splitting apart. Quickly forming into whatever weapon he intended to use against them. From his spot next to the jukebox, the blonde did the same, pulling the slab of metal from his back.

Although unladylike, Weiss pointed her finger at the Vacuan man with her off hand. Her dominant hand worked the hammer of her undrawn sword. She heard the cylinder whine as she drew power from the Dust.

A black glyph appeared beside the man in a flash. Right as his arm finished changing into some form of rotary-gun. He had a brief moment to look down at the glyph.

Then the effects of Weiss's semblance took effect, and he rocketed sideways across the room. Colliding with the blonde like a cannonball before he'd had time to react. The two cratered deeply against the wall, before sliding limply to the floor. Only after they had, did Weiss draw Myrtenaster from her side, whipping back around the bar. The tip of her blade coming to head height.

The tip stopped just short of T's throat, right beneath her chin. The woman had begun to take a stance, as Weiss was moving. But having seen the two people who were clearly her compatriots flattened against the wall, she'd faltered part way into the motion. Instead, only looking bewildered by how seemingly effortless it had been for Weiss to remove them both from play.

It hadn't been effortless, using that type of Glyph further out from herself was actually quite strenuous. Especially with the amount of force required.

"… Wow, T." Yang said, smiling. "Gotta hand it to you, wasn't expecting you to keep hired thugs around. Thought we were closer than that."

"They're not hired thugs, they're my friends." T bit back, voice a venom laced growl. "Who do you think I am?"

"Dunno, depends on the day." Yang answered, before a much more serious look settled onto her face. "Now, what was that you were saying about-"

There was another rush of sound, towards the back of the bar. The squeak of oiled hinges, as a door opened. Both Yang and Weiss turned to face it, as footsteps briefly tromped onto the barroom floor. Seeing who it was that'd joined them now.

It'd been a few weeks, since Yang had last seen him, and the memory didn't match the image in front of her. Last she'd seen him, he'd been dressed for business. A white button up, crimson tie, black vest and slacks, hair slicked back and beard groomed. But looking at him now, all she could see was a mess. His shirt was heavy with creases and wrinkles. His tie was undone, hanging limp under his vest, now heavily stained. His pants were tattered, shoes scuffed, and his hair was disheveled. He looked as though he hadn't slept in days. Most tellingly of all though, was his jaw. While thick, it was no longer square. It hung crooked at the bottom of his head. Like it'd been broken and poorly set.

Despite her surprise though, Yang still recognized him, and it brought a smile to her face. He would be a far better lead than T was proving to be.

He looked briefly around the bar, before locking eyes with Yang. A look of fear, like a recalled nightmare, swept over his face.

"Heya Junior~" Yang said sweetly