Disclaimer: This chapter will be a bit of a departure from the rest. We'll see how it goes.

Blake slipped along the pre-dawn streets, amber eyes keen for any sign of being followed. She'd left the speakeasy around four in the morning to make the trek across town in one of the vehicles left at the shop- a light blue Model T that blended in seamlessly with the few vehicles on the road at such an hour. That only got her halfway, though, seeing as she'd parked it near the city center for Yang to find, determining that she'd have an easier time on foot once close enough to the west side. If anyone had followed her from Beacon, she'd already lost them, and anyone who picked up her trail now would have little idea where she'd come from, exactly. Although it could be an inconvenience from time to time, the Faunus kept to the shadows for precisely this reason. Even those patrons who called her by name were unaware of her secondary purpose at Beacon, and it was best for everyone involved if things remained that way.

She checked her watch while leaning against a brick building at the corner of Twenty Fifth and Main, noting she had at least twenty minutes to kill before she could start gathering information. Blake frowned, pulling a newspaper from inside her trench coat to act as a cover while she waited. The whole journey, she'd taken every excuse to keep her mind distracted from the topic that continuously tried to push itself to the forefront, but now that she was forced to be still enough, her mental defenses crumbled. With a sigh, she flipped open yesterday's paper and pretended to become absorbed in the black and white prattle about the newest industrial boom.

Four nights. Four nights since their dance and Weiss hadn't missed one, though the past two she hadn't stayed long. Without prompting, she'd explained her father had tasked her with some social obligation, providing her a double edged blade she wielded mercilessly- she could slip away more often from the Governor's mansion but she also needed to actually meet the requirement, of course. All this information was volunteered, conveyed in a soft voice and delivered into her human ear while the other patrons enjoyed themselves around the two, never once suspecting the gravity of the moment.

At least, it held significant importance to the Faunus. The woman had offered the nuggets with that little smile, eyes sparkling like gemstones, but she'd done nothing to capitalize on the change. No increased indulgences in their special drink, no requests to dance to the flowing music, no invitations to share a private booth- it was almost like they'd gone back a few weeks, all progress forgotten in favor of a return to their easy banter. However... it was the first time Weiss had willingly addressed the topic of her life outside the speakeasy. The information wasn't broadcast for all to hear, either, and the way the woman had done it... Blake's hearing was markedly better in her feline ears, which meant she wouldn't need to be as close to hear a whisper among the chatter of the bar. Yet, Weiss had gently pulled at her tie, drawing her as close as possible with the counter separating them before even beginning to speak. In a word she refused to voice in front of Yang for fear of the unending teasing she'd subject herself to, Blake would describe the whole ordeal as... intimate.

A stray gust of wind crinkled the newspaper, which called her attention to the tiny rips she hadn't even noticed, the results of her hands balling into fists. Come to think of it, her cheeks were a good deal... warmer than they probably should be, and she bit back a curse at how easily she could be distracted while straightening it out, resuming her waiting while covertly scanning around. It was dangerous- for Yang, for Weiss, for herself- but she couldn't seem to stop the woman from entering her mind. She'd seen more sunrises- just like the one due to break in less than an hour- in the past few weeks than she'd like, kept from sleeping by the thoughts swirling around her head. Usually, she just watched the creeping orange paint a mural on the wall of her small room, but the last two nights she'd actually opened the window, allowing the cool breeze to greet her while nursing a tumbler of gin. It was a decidedly pathetic way to spent the morning period that constituted the end of her day, she thought morosely, flipping to another page in the paper and folding it over, ensuring she didn't crinkle the little portion she'd written on before leaving Beacon.

There were enough people out and about on the street- the morning shift for the factories were heading out, grumbling and laughing together as they walked- but the streets themselves weren't Blake's concern. Across the intersection, cattycorner to her little post, sat a quaint little diner that opened like clockwork every day. Some of the men and women bound for the plants stopped in, sitting down for a quick cup of Joe before heading off; the rest of the diner's occupants were white collar, mostly single people who didn't have the time or skill required to prepare their own breakfast. Blake's manner of dress fell somewhere between the two groups; beneath the coat, her collared blue shirt was smudged with ink, just like the cap that sat on her head, covering her ears. To any unobservant passer by, she looked like one of the unfortunate souls charged with keeping the ink press running for the newsies, a perfectly legal occupation. It also, invariably, lead to some snide remark about her not being a real reporter once she started asking questions, but the little bit of misdirection was invaluable.

With that sobering thought, she returned her attention to the task at hand; she had a job to do and thinking of her pseudo-relationship with Weiss wasn't going to help her accomplish any part of it. As far as she was from Beacon, Blake didn't stand a chance at getting any help in the event she ran into more trouble than she could deal with, too, so she shoved everything to the back of her mind and folded up her paper, waiting for a streetcar to pass before crossing the road and ducking into the diner. Without hesitation, she went straight for the counter and claimed a booth for herself near the till, pretending to mull over the specials scrawled on a blackboard along the back. There were waitresses fluttering around, all rueful smiles for their lightly complaining diners, and there were a few chefs in the back yelling at each other, but none of them drew the Faunus' attention. She wasn't there to eat so much as touch base with an old, begrudging friend.

"Well, look who finally comes around to visit her cousin." He grumbled out, shouldering his way out of the kitchen to stand in front of her, hands on his hips and bow tie undone around his neck. "Living in the same city, I'd think you could stop by a little more often."

She gave him an easy smile, sliding out of her jacket and setting it on the empty seat beside her. "I'm sorry, I've been-"

"Slaving away over a printing press, always trying to get the next big scoop out before everyone else." The diner's owner waved at her dismissively, resting his forearms on the counter as he bent over, nearly putting them on eye level. They weren't related in the slightest but, with his eyes a few shades away from her own and dark hair to match, it fooled most humans and Faunus alike. "You should slow down, find someone to settle down with- or at least take on a date."

Blake scoffed, rolling her eyes for good measure while internally expressing her gratitude; their system of coded communication was complex, evolving with every passing year, but it served them well. Even is the most gossipy of circles, none suspected the restaurateur was holding nigh quarterly meetings with a fellow information broker right there in the middle of his establishment in the wee hours of the morning. Honestly, she didn't even know how many he met with aside from herself nor how he kept track of it all. However, the lead in was always the same, to the point that his regular customers began snickering once the topic was broached despite having absolutely no idea what was really being said.

"And I suppose you have some suggestions on that front?" She prodded, accepting a cup of coffee- milk, no sugar, the only way she'd drink the stuff- while raising a brow. "A 'friend of the family' perhaps?"

"Yeah, something like that." There was a twitch in the corner of his mouth, almost like he was trying valiantly to keep from frowning. It took effort on her part not to give away her own displeasure; Yang's tip was dead on the money, at least in regards to there being a new player on the illegal side of Vale. "Bit flashy, and a bit theatrical if we're being honest, but dedicated, serious..." He narrowed his eyes, leaning away slightly. "Don't let the pretentious attitude fool you. He means business."

"Be still, my beating heart," she sarcastically replied to the amused chuckles of the eavesdropping patrons.

"Hmmm, not your style?" He tilted his head to the side. "Because there's more."

"Do tell."

"You keep trying to set her up, Tukson, and she ain't never gonna find a keeper!" Some factory worker yelled out, earning a round of chortles from his table and a few others.

"And if I don't, she'll end up with one of you louts!" He called back with a little smile, a second round of chortles laughter than the first following before everyone settled down. "Case in point- you remember JJ, right?"

"How could I ever forget?" Her tone was light but there was a slight sour taste in her mouth. Of the notable speakeasies in town, Beacon was easily in the top five in terms of size and number of patrons. Most of the smaller ones couldn't get enough booze to keep their seats filled, leaving it up to the bigger bars to satisfy the thirst of Vale's citizens. One of the remaining four who could rival Beacon was not too far from them, even further embedded in the west side of town, and thrived off the air of danger they provided; while Yang and Ruby always welcomed the working class stiffs, Junior's Joint aimed a little higher on the social ladder, with enough hired muscle to give the people who could pay to get in a feeling of security and power while sitting in one of the roughest neighborhoods in the city. Something about the supposed danger appealed to the privileged little fools while Blake had always thought it a particularly underhanded manner of gaining popularity, feeding off misconceptions to line their pockets.

Still, Yang was on... decent terms with Junior, the other speakeasy's owner. There was a history between them- equal parts good-natured rivalry and righteous fury- but the two agreed that their personal disagreements were to stay out of the other's business. That usually went out the window when one or the other was in trouble, though; being on the outside of the law, one needed more friends than enemies when tough times hit.

No wonder the blonde had approached her about looking into the matter.

"See, I don't want you to end up like her." He wagged a finger in her face, sounding just like a chiding older sibling. "Thought she'd teach me a lesson about meddling in her affairs. Well, now she's shackled up with some no good hoodlum, struggling to keep everything from going up in smoke!" The restaurateur shook his head with a heavy sigh. "Tried warning her- don't take these things lightly, I said, but she didn't listen." Tukson's gaze landed heavily on her, a true frown touching his lips. "So now, I'm telling you. You'll work yourself to death at this rate, or end up just as miserable as JJ."

Her eyes narrowed, arms crossing over her chest, too surprised to believe what she was being told and allowing that to translate into petulant offense for the sake of their cover. Junior was one of the first to open a speakeasy in the city once the prohibition was passed and currently held the title for longest running; it would take a significant amount of muscle and more than simple coercion to make him buckle and shell out protection money, but the prospect of being burned down would do the trick. It would also explain why he'd warned Yang, though why the blonde had failed to mention just how bad the situation was escaped the Faunus. Knowing that bear of a man, he'd likely withheld the information to save his wounded pride, which meant the duty of telling Yang now fell to her.

The things she did for the sisters.

"The difference between us, I think, is that I can at least see past the tip of my nose." She took a sip of her coffee. "But, I will take your offer into consideration. If I'm ever bored."

"Workaholic."

"And when was your last day off, exactly?"

"Before you were born," he replied, stepping over to the register as one of the tables came up to pay. Tukson dealt with them a bit slower than he usually would, biding his time, which could only mean one thing: he had something worth sticking around for, something he wanted to speak about a little more plainly than they usually did. Their conversation wasn't over- part of being an information broker meant that, if money didn't trade hands, something of equal value had to, and despite their friendship predating their occupations, they both respected that.

Blake didn't have much to barter with during this round. With so much of her time and energy being consumed by... whatever she was doing with Weiss, she hadn't spent as much time coaxing out the shadows of truth from her patrons. Most of them were too busy teasing her anyway, and she'd let it slide for a while, but now it was going to cost her.

He refilled her coffee and pretended to take her order in between ushering out the factory workers and the desk jockies, leaving the dinner blessedly empty for a solid ten minutes before the next rush hit. The waitresses wisely used the time to gather in a far booth, counting out their tips from the first batch of customers and ignoring everything else outside their playful banter. The older ones- those who had worked at the diner for a few years- were wise enough to keep the others distracted; they didn't know exactly what their boss did on the side and, for everyone's sake, they kept it that way.

"Blake, I mean it; you need to stop being so one dimensional." Tukson leaned against the counter, lowering his voice to that particular baritone that bordered on a growl. Much like herself, he was Faunus, though of a breed that could hide among humans much easier than she could. All it would take was a flex of his hands to bring out razor sharp claws, the kind that could tear into muscle like a butcher's cleaver, and the fact that the tips were already peeking out spoke volumes to his unease. "Balance is a difficult thing to gain much less keep. If you don't start paying that side of things proper mind, everything you've worked for will be for nothing."

This was as blatant a warning as either of them could afford to give. Whoever these upstarts were, they weren't slouches and they wouldn't be going away quietly.

"I appreciate you looking out for me, Tukson," she replied honestly, amber eyes darting away for just a moment. "If there's anything I can do to help out..."

Per their custom, it was the restaurateur's turn to gain some information of his own, and the best she could do was offer him a chance to send her chasing down shadows until she found something good. Hopefully, it wouldn't be anything too inconvenient.

"Come now, cousin; I'll always look out for you." He gave her a smile, chuckling slightly and shaking his head. "Too few of us around nowadays to do otherwise. We won't make it in this world if we don't stick together, right?"

Her expression twitched, genuine surprise registering a moment before she could clamp down on the impulse. This... wasn't how things normally went. A friendly reassurance of their business arrangement wasn't out of place but that last sentence sounded like an offer of alliance, something they might need to survive the family's rise in power. If they'd already gotten Junior under their heel, it would take a very careful network to keep the upstarts contained. "Of course." She forced a smile, finishing off her coffee a moment later. "I'll be in touch more often, you have my word. Things may start getting a bit hectic, but I'll make time."

"I'm sure you will." He narrowed his eyes slightly, scratching at his chin once before making up his mind. "Ya know, now that I really think on it, though, I did hear something of a rumor from a buddy of mine. Maybe you'd be willing to give me your take?"

"Sure." She picked up her jacket, fumbling slightly- enough to cover sliding the day old paper onto the counter, where Tukson quickly scooped it up and stashed it out of sight while sliding a copy of the current day her way. "What did you hear?"

He gave her a toothy grin while raising a brow. "I heard there's this little white dove that likes to sing over in your part of town. Strangest thing, though- people keep saying that the dove only sings whenever this one particular alley cat is nearby. That true?"

Her gaze snapped up to meet his, her movements turning jerky for just a moment. Did he know about Weiss? How much?

"A buddy of yours told you that, huh?"

"Well, he's not the most reliable sort." Tukson shrugged, scratching at the hair covering his cheek. "I mean, doves are a dime a dozen in this city- who's to say it's the same one showing up every time?"

"If it is, though, someone could make some money off it," she said, trying to keep her expression neutral. It was far more difficult than usual, a genuine panic thrumming through her body at the very notion that someone might use Weiss against her, or go after the woman when she was within Beacon's walls. The Governor was not very popular among Faunus; a location where his daughter might be vulnerable... Blake could think of no less than five people who would trade the tattered remains of their soul for such information without a second thought. "Have it sing on command or something."

"Hey." She looked up, meeting his gaze evenly as he leaned against the counter. "What did we just talk about? Life's not always about ways to make money." He pushed off, turning his attention towards the table and waving his staff back into position as the next wave of customers hit the streets outside. "Besides, things like that- the natural things, they should be protected. If I were you, that's what I'd do."

"I... guess you have a point." She turned for the door, not wanting to linger long enough to appear suspicious. "Take care, cousin."

Tukson returned the farewell just before she pushed her way outside, quickly extricating herself from the throng of customers looking for a quick cup of coffee or a bite to eat before heading off to work. The diner was only her first stop- the coffee was as much to give her a plausible reason to sit at the counter as to keep her awake for the next few hours- but now she was even more off balance than before. She didn't doubt his sincerity in the slightest, of course, but it was surreal for him to set aside this one priceless piece of information for the sake of their friendship, or even an alliance.

It also put some things into perspective. Yang was right; it was better to have a gun and not need one than the converse. If Tukson had already ferreted out the information, it was only a matter of time until someone else put the pieces together and they had even more heat creeping at their door. Perhaps the sole benefit of the whole ordeal was Weiss' unpredictable schedule.

Still, it wouldn't feel right keeping the information from her.

Blake looked over her shoulder at the diner and sighed. Perhaps it was better this way; a clean break to whatever was forming between them, prompted by a genuine concern for the singer's safety. Yang might not like it- she'd argue they could protect her- but it wasn't a gamble the Faunus was willing to make.

Tugging on the lapels of her coat, she turned towards the nearest alley and slipped out of sight, heading towards the next stage of her investigation.

The whole expedition was exhausting. Blake had tracked down every location the family had shaken down since they rolled into town; they weren't many, but they were spread out and fairly well protected. Even Junior's Joint, always crawling with men dressed in sharp black suits and red ties, had a secondary line of protection in the form of a few visible hoods lingering on the edges of the property. That group was dressed in black suits as well but with grey undershirts and white hats, a uniform the Faunus instantly recognized. Obviously, Tukson hadn't personally dealt with the lot, or else he would've recognized the telltale colors of the south side's White Fang Gang, Faunus who spent most of their time giving the Governor a headache. They were small and insignificant in her youth- graffiti, loitering, heckling police officers, and petty theft- but they'd grown in number and in scope since then. Sometimes, she thought that if it wasn't for Yang's intervention that one night it felt like a lifetime ago, she probably would've joined up with those hoods.

Things turned out differently- much to her eternal gratitude- but it was troubling all the same to see the White Fang Gang acting as hired muscle now. It would take either an alliance of wills or a considerable sum of money to motivate them to align under another group. Of course, all the other evidence she could find spoke to a somewhat experienced but very young family, likely a disinherited branch looking to set up shop well away from their main body. All the hallmarks were there of a professional organization establishing themselves, but there were a few slip ups: sloppy applications of force, witnesses roaming free, and the locations themselves too scattered, unfocused. Just the right push while their infrastructure was so fragile would send them crumbling to dust. However, Tukson wasn't in the racketeering business, nor anything so physical, so she copied down all the information she gleaned into the crossword section of the paper, using code words so she could decipher them later, and started on the trek back to the heart of the city. Yang would find her there, outside of the movie palace, and the two could return to Beacon just in time for her to catch a quick nap before opening the bar.

The sun was just starting to touch the horizon as she arrived at the corner of the building, amber eyes scanning for any sign of her friend but the blonde was nowhere to be found. Likely held up by a customer, which could delay her by minutes or hours. Pulling out the newspaper and flipping it open, Blake leaned back against the movie palace and waited, pretending to read while she considered the family's operations.

Taking a step back, she could see what the Don- or whoever was running the organization- was attempting to create. Although the locations and variety of their first string of businesses spread their muscle thin at present, with time they would become the hubs from which the lower echelons of the organization could rule with impunity. Perfectly disguised and entrenched- displacing them would be a headache the regular cops simply couldn't tackle on their own. It would take the feds and a fair amount of firepower to flush them out, and even then it would be easy to rebuild and reconnect; they'd effectively threaded new vessels through the west side, and once the blood started pumping, nothing short of cutting out the heart would be able to stop them.

Being in the business of trading secrets and information, however, Blake was two steps ahead of them. She had an associate or two who would want everything she'd found, and she'd be willing to offer a discounted rate if they acted on it. Allowing the family to settle into place would be bad for the whole city, in the end, and enticing a power grab might draw just enough attention for the flatfoots to do something about it.

"Hey." Speaking of flatfoots, the Faunus fought not to frown, looking up from her paper to see two police officers standing in front of her. One looked a bit sheepish, standing back a few paces with his arms crossed over his chest while his partner tried to stare her down, the woman's expression hardened into one that might've been intimidating to someone else. "You hanging around for a reason?"

"Just waiting for a friend," she replied, keeping her face neutral. It wasn't a lie, which helped, but it did nothing to dispel the severe look being leveled her way.

"And when's your friend supposed to get here?"

It was sundown, reds and oranges streaking the sky overhead- far past the time Yang was supposed to pick her up. "Soon. I'm sure she just got held up."

"Dal, maybe we should just-" The other cop started in before being silenced by a look.

"This friend of yours have a name?" Dirt brown eyes tried to bore into her, as if the fierceness of her gaze alone could imitate a boulder's weight pressing down on her. The woman was keeping her stance loose but ready, weight centered on the balls of her feet, as if she expected Blake to be the one to start a fight or run.

The Faunus was confident in her abilities to defend herself but she wasn't stupid; if the cops were this on edge, there had to be a reason, especially considering her Faunus traits were covered up. She might expect a bit of harassment from Humans otherwise but for them to be this pressing towards their own kind usually meant there was a reason beyond racism or a misconception prompting it.

At the same time, she couldn't very well dime Yang out like that. Connections between them had to stay as vague and murky as possible outside the speakeasy; it only made things easier in the long run. Harder to track down ghosts that way and, as far as the law was concerned, Blake Belladonna was dead seven years ago.

Before she could come up with a suitable excuse- a lie, a gambit to buy herself time, an opening to run, she wasn't sure- a voice called out. "Blake! There you are."

The change in the officers was immediate. The woman- Dal, she supposed- relaxed, taking a step back and looking to her partner almost pleadingly, panic showing clear in her expression. The second officer nodded minutely as the Faunus turned, fighting to keep the shock from blowing her cover, because it wasn't Yang walking towards her right then, a small scowl on her face and shining like a newly minted lien.

It was Weiss, wearing something a bit more conservative than Blake was accustomed to seeing her in- the dress had a high collar and reached her ankles, white sequins catching every stray bit of light, and the nonsensical red design flaring out from her right hip accenting her trim waist. It mimicked the one the woman wore during her first performance at Beacon but with a tad more flare, but her style was progressively heading towards the realm of scandalous with every subsequent performance, treading that fine line between tasteful and revealing. She almost looked like an entirely different person, especially with the expression pinching her brows together, the corners of her mouth down turned, nothing at all like the singer whose eyes shined as her voice lifted, trading quiet smiles and flirtatious banter in the low light. Still, when Weiss was within arms' reach, she moved in such a way that the Faunus automatically reacted, a bit surprised herself when the singer smoothly linked their arms while leveling a severe stare at the two cops.

"I do hope you have good reason to hold up my escort for the night, Officers," she said, narrowing her eyes slightly. "While I appreciate the Chief indulging my father's paranoia, I hardly think there's anything suspicious about my chosen company."

"Of course not, Miss Schnee," the second officer replied, suddenly more confident while his partner fidgeted nervously. Now that she wasn't being scrutinized so heavily, Blake could read their badges- his was emblazoned with Forecastle while hers had Semper, just above their badge numbers. The names didn't ring any bells so it was doubtful either of them recognized her from somewhere, but she mentally filed the names away, just in case. It didn't hurt to drop a cop's name in certain situations. "We were given explicit instructions to be mindful of anyone loitering near the movie palace tonight." He spread his hands in a helpless gesture. "We prefer being too thorough rather than careless."

"Admirable traits in Vale's finest, even if you were off the mark this time." The singer nodded dismissively while turning her body slightly to indicate Blake should begin escorting her away. "Carry on, Officers."

"Of course, Ma'am."

They made it a few steps before Weiss discreetly checked over her shoulder. "They've returned to their patrol; they shouldn't bother you again."

"I'm more curious about why they bothered me in the first place." She wanted to ask but refrained for one reason: she wasn't sure why she wanted to know. Was it because she wanted to know more about the singer, some small sign to mark this as a departure from their interactions within the speakeasy's walls? Or was it because there was a new threat in town and she wondered how far up the chain the concern went, or if the two were even related? "But I suppose I don't have the whole story."

"Oh, it's just some rumors that are causing a bit of a ruckus among the social elite and my father overreacting, as usual." The creases around her eyes and mouth smoothed out as she let out a brief chuckle. "A spike in criminal activity means an overabundance of uniformed officers to set people's minds at ease. Nothing new."

Blake frowning slightly. Either Weiss didn't have all the information or no one in the law enforcement community had connected the dots yet. Quite frankly, she wouldn't be surprised by either; without the tipoff from Junior and Tukson, even she might've missed the hallmarks of organized crime evident at the scenes.

"Will this get back to your father?" Her ears were covered, true, but part of their arrangement involved the Governor not suspecting a thing about where his daughter disappeared to some nights, and claiming a stranger's company might attract attention. "I'd rather not cause any problems for you if I can help it."

"It likely will but you don't have to worry. He's got his hands full with this mafia nonsense." The woman puffed out a breath, shaking her head. "My father's up for re-election soon and he's worried the recent mutterings about a criminal organization taking control of the capitol city right beneath his nose will cause the public to lose faith in him." Blue eyes sought her gaze, Weiss' smile widening just a bit. "But it's no cause for concern. The busier he is fighting ghosts, the freer I am to do as I wish. Well, outside certain obligations."

The Faunus' frown deepened. So someone, at least, had figured it out, but the singer's blasé attitude had her divided. Which would be safer: keeping the woman in the dark, free of being pulled into the thick of an criminal coup, or ensuring she was aware of the changing balance of power within the city's limits, so she could be on the lookout of any potential attack? "Weiss..."

A horn honked, causing both of them to look up and see Yang pulling up to the curb in a bright yellow Kissel Model 6-45, dressed in her suit with her hair blowing in the wind. The blonde looked completely at ease in the borrowed car, throwing a smirk over at the duo but wisely remaining silent.

"I believe that's your ride." The woman sounded slightly disappointed before quickly continuing, her voice perfectly smooth once more. "I suppose that's good timing, then. I'm afraid I have a prior engagement I must attend."

Blake nodded stiffly, separating from the singer. "I have to get back anyway..."

"Yes, I suppose your nights are rather busy." Weiss schooled her expression into one of politeness, clasping her hands in front of her and offering a small curtsy. "Until next time, Blake."

The Faunus made to move towards the awaiting car but stopped short, turning back almost immediately. "Wait." Once the woman was looking at her, one eyebrow raised, Blake continued in a soft voice. "Those rumors aren't rumors, Weiss." Her ears weren't visible but they drooped all the same, as they usually did when she was being truly earnest. "Please, be careful."

It was better to have a gun and not need one than the other way around and the same could be said for knowledge. Even if Governor's daughter wasn't a target at present, if the man managed to make things too difficult for the family, they might set their sights on her, and Blake would be damned before she allowed the singer to be caught unawares when she had the information quite literally in her pocket.

The woman watched her for a moment, as if expecting the punchline for a joke. When none was forthcoming, blue eyes widened slightly before she nodded. "I will be... provided you are as well."

Unfortunately, she was always a bit too honest when it came to Weiss. "I'll try."

Blake turned away, heading for the car Yang was driving and reaching for the door handle, valiantly trying to keep herself from going back and dragging Weiss somewhere secluded, where she could explain the situation in full without fear of being overheard. The sooner Yang got her hands on those bean shooters, the easier her nerves might rest and maybe she could talk the woman into hiring a bodyguard, at least temporarily. Until the family was dealt with, at least.

"Oh, there you are Sweetheart!" A voice- too familiar for her not to look- stole Blake's attention at the last moment, amber eyes widening as she saw Coco- the very same woman who so often graced Beacon's stage with her musical talents- striding down the sidewalk in a form fitting dress, the slit in the right side going up to her knee, perfectly matching her hair and eyes with a very splashes of black and gold here and there, long black sleeves blending into the thin cigarette holder twirling between her fingers. "I was worried you weren't coming to the premiere!"

"Of course I was," Weiss replied, causing the Faunus to turn her body even more while still walking forward, momentarily forgetting that her destination was close and rather solid. She ended up walking into the Model 6-45's door with her hip, the metal making her wince and bite back a curse while Yang tried her hardest not to bust out laughing, pulling her hat down to cover her expression.

A blush immediately lit up her cheeks but, now with her attention focused solely on her aching leg and the door that caused it, she ignored the fond greetings being exchanged behind her.

"Wow, Blakey, really?" She eventually regained enough control to move her hat back into place, lilac eyes dancing with mirth as the Faunus jerked the door open and got inside. "There wasn't any glass around for you to break so you thought metal would be just as good?"

"I'm exhausted and I've been walking all day; so what if I'm a little clumsy?" She reached out, adjusting the passenger side mirror to watch as Weiss and Coco strode towards the movie palace's front entrance, smiling and laughing and looking every bit like the young socialites they were. It hurt to see them like that, obviously capable of doing whatever they pleased without earning any unwanted attention, but it soothed her slightly to acknowledge that Weiss hadn't removed her arm once the cops had left them alone. Maybe, were things a little different, that could be them walking into the movie palace. The fact that it was not them wouldn't leave her alone, though. "What's Coco doing here?"

"I dunno; she's some fancy big shot in the real world. Maybe it's one of those exclusive parties for people like that?" The blonde paid no mind to her friend's sour expression, pulling out into the road and heading back towards Beacon. "Look, I'm sorry about being late. We got a new shipment in and I had to do a bit of... bartering."

"Your Uncle, then." Blake sat back in her seat and crossed her arms. "What'd he bring us this time?"

"Some new stuff we gotta try; I've never heard of it before." Yang sighed, waiting until they were well and away from the stoplights that clogged downtown before she continued. "I also, uh, put in an order for some guns. I figure-"

"It's a good move." Setting aside the questions still whirling through her mind about Weiss, the Faunus refocused on why she'd been out in the city in the first place. "There is a family setting up shop, and they've already gotten to Junior."

"Shit." Her friend frowned, beating a closed fist against the steering wheel. "I thought he was pulling my leg. I hoped he was. That moron didn't go down easy, I know it."

"And now he's a trophy to show off their strength," she said, shaking her head even as the wind continued to whip at her. She wanted to pull of her hat, let her ears feel the sensation, but it was too soon. She'd rather wait until she was safely beneath the roof of Beacon before disregarding her disguise. "But I'm going to reach out, make some offers. You might have to cover the bar for a few nights."

"Say the word and I'm there." Lilac eyes hardened, knuckles turning white as she gripped the steering wheel. "As soon as we get back, I'm grabbing Ruby and we're going over this in detail. This is our city, Blakey. We're not giving it up without one helluva fight."

"Agreed." She tapped a finger of her upper arm, contemplating. "Yang... once this whole thing blows over... could you afford to shut down Beacon a night or two?"

"Of course! You know I don't do this for the scratch." The blonde laughed, shrugging her exaggerated shoulders as her severe expression slid away. "I mean, yeah, don't get me wrong, more money never hurts, but a night or ten of lost profits won't sink any boats. You got something in mind?"

Instantly, Blake imagined the speakeasy with its low lights, the band playing softly in the background or maybe just the stereo from the shop, one of the tables with a blanket draped over it, two plates laden with fresh food, and shining blue eyes closing as she leaned in for a kiss. "... maybe."

It was a fantasy at the moment- as long as the family was in town, the bar was a target on their list, no doubt about it- but it was one she quickly set in her back pocket for when the time was right.

Assuming, of course, it was something Weiss wanted, too.

Author's Note: Also, I am literally the last person who should be writing this, guys, I'm so sorry; I just found out that Coco Chanel- the woman who literally served as part of Coco Adel's inspiration- was part of the 1920's culture. I honestly thought she was more recent. *shakes head* wtf am I even doing, I don't even know. Anyway, I hope this was at least interesting, even if Weiss only played a small part. She'll be back soon.