Cassiel POV
Ruby, Weiss, and Yang are planning the party, Blake on the other hand needs help sooner rather than later. The former have tried to convince me to go, but I haven't exactly been a fan of parties for years. I told them I would think about it, but no promises beyond putting on some real music. What I would like to know on that topic is how they got my measurements? I can't seem to find any holes in the bathrooms (thank Raven for the SR) nor can I find any cameras. I don't remember any physical contact outside of hugs and Yang on the first night. Whatever... Finding Blake in the library at one of the computers, I walked out of the SR to greet her, keeping the SR open.
"Blake, we need to talk." I started.
"Not now, Cassiel." She refused.
"That's not an option. We're going to have a chat once we reach our destination." She looked up from the computer, her tired eyes expressing her displeasure clearly.
"Fine." She conceded. I pulled her into the SR, surprising her. "So this is how the world looks in here?" She asked.
"Very convenient if you can navigate through it. Being as closely tied to the Darkness as I am, I have no trouble, though someone else might be at risk. Now hold on, you're about to experience something new." I told her.
"What?" I flew us both out, she's clearly never flown like this before, and phasing through solid objects scared her awake. Landing in our empty room, I let us out into the real world. "Never! Do that! Again!" She shouted.
"I'll warn you if there is a next time. Now, we need to have a chat about how you've been the past few days."
"If you're going to tell me to stop, you may as well just save your breath."
"Nothing of the sort, just that you need to slow down."
"We don't have that luxury!"
"Your grades are your business, but your 'need' to stop Torchwick and the White Fang is anything but good for you, physically and mentally. You need to slow dow, or you'll burn yourself out, and you'll be lucky if that's all that happens."
"The necessity is stopping them."
"Blake, I once asked someone two very important questions, and I will ask you one more: What good is a hero who accidentally hurts more people than he helps intentionally? What good is a hero if he's never there when he's needed? The question I will ask you is this: What good is a hero who can barely defend herself?" I faked punching her in the gut, she didn't react for a little over a second.
"You don't understand! I'm the only one who can do this!"
"It's you who doesn't understand, Blake! 'You're the only one who can do this'? Have you forgotten you have a team willing to help you??!! The more you do this to yourself, the less you'll be able to do when the time comes, and that means we'll have to make up for your inability to fight! No good is coming from you depriving yourself of sleep! Even less from all the food you're not eating! You're in no condition to fight even a Beowolf! What makes you think you'd stand a chance against Torchwick when it took over a second for you to realize I almost punched you?"
"I can stop them!"
"You couldn't even dodge or block me! God forbid if Neo is with him!" I pushed her back lightly and she fell backward. "Case in point." I pulled her back up and for the first time in years, I initiated a hug. "You're one very few people I actually care about, my heart only started learning to feel again not even half a year ago, and it hurts seeing you do this to yourself." I continued speaking softly. "No one is telling you to stop, I however am asking you to get some rest. The others want us both at the dance tomorrow. I'm not a fan of parties, but I'll go if you do. Still don't know how they got my measurements." I said the last part to myself before letting go of her. "I make no promises about knowing where my feet are if you decide you're up for it. Well, you know the places you can find me. Later!"
Tomorrow night
I was in the library continuing my research on the White Fang, all I'm really getting is news articles and baseless accusations against them. Well there was one thing actually, Blake's father was the leader of the White Fang until he stepped down and let Sienna Khan take over. Not much beyond that, sounds like a decent man though.
"Are you coming?" I heard a voice ask. I turned around and saw Blake in a dress.
"What do you think?" She asked.
"I think Yang will kill me in my sleep if I don't go, hehe. Seriously though, you look great." I logged off and walked past her.
"You weren't expecting to go, were you?" She followed.
"Not really. I would prefer to wear my usual clothes, but after that night with Torchwick, I learned don't piss her off. She's probably the only person in this school I fear being being hit by."
"*giggle* I didn't think anyone here did that to you."
"Not until then, no."
We continued to our room, I remember Weiss saying she put it in the bottom drawer of the dresser. She didn't trust Ruby or Yang with it, probably for good reason. I mean, look at how unpacking and decorating went, not like she was much better though.
(Bloodborne Knight's Garb)
So... I'm not even going to ask... I have no words to describe this because I can't find the right words to describe how I'm feeling. Blake waited for me outside our room as I got changed, as I was about to close the drawer, I saw a note and a box. Sorry Weiss, but you're supposed to put the box on top in this case.
Cassiel,
We decided to throw in one last thing with your outfit. Inside, you'll find two masks similar to the one in "The Phantom of the Opera",
Wait, they have that here?
but more revealing of your face, these should only go over your cheeks to help with covering up the bleeding eyes you wear your other mask for.
RWY
Stepping out of the room after putting the masks(?) on, Blake's thoughts were the same as mine.
"What are you wearing?"
"I have no fucking idea! And truth be told, I don't think I want to know the answer nor who thought this up and paid for it." She hooked her arm around mine as we made our way to the party. "I hope she realizes I'm not paying her back for this."
"It was probably Yang or Weiss. I know Yang picked mine out, probably Ruby's too."
"Well she did a better job for you than me. 17th or 18th century noble clothes or whatever."
Arriving at the party, a certain blonde was the first to greet us.
"Blake? Cassiel? You two look great! And so cute together!" Yang said. Also, I don't know how to respond to her pairing us together. Blake had a reasonable response.
"He offered to go if I did, promised a dance too." Blake said. Wait... Did I... Oh... I guess I did.
"Putting the moves on her, Cassiel?" For the first time in my life, I need someone to tell me what to think, and how to respond.
"First, I'm changing the music." I unhooked myself from Blake and hooked up my scroll to the speakers, apparently the scrolls can record audio so I took advantage of that a while ago.
(Ozzy Osbourne, Dreamer)
I walked back to Blake, she looked at me with surprise, like she didn't expect me to listen to this kind of music. I took her hand in mine and let her guide us to the dance floor.
"Again, I make no promises about knowing where my feet are." I told her.
"Then just follow my lead." She smiled. She placed one of my hands on her hip, one of hers on my shoulder, extended our other arms to the side a little, and made us do short steps to the side.
(simultaneous, I will admit to copying and pasting the lyrics from one of the comments in the video.)
Gazing through the window at the world outside
Wondering will Mother Earth survive
Hoping that mankind will stop abusing her, sometime
After all there's only just the two of us
And here we are still fighting for our lives
Watching all of history repeat itself, time after time
I'm just a dreamer, I dream my life away
I'm just a dreamer, who dreams of better days
*sniffle*
"Are you alright?" Blake asked, concerned.
"Just remembering times long passed." I answered.
"Do you need a moment?"
"I'm fine. Just feeling emotions I've forgotten how to deal with after years of almost exclusively feeling 3." I reassured her.
I watch the sun go down like everyone of us
I'm hoping that the dawn will bring a sign
A better place for those who will come after us, this time
"Three?"
"Very limited emotional spectrum, you know the gist of it. After a while, you forget other emotions for one reason or another. What they are, how to deal with them, etc." I clarified.
"Help is available whenever you need it." She reminded me.
"Hehehe, define 'help'? Don't worry about it. Just give me time."
I'm just a dreamer, I dream my life away oh yeah
I'm just a dreamer, who dreams of better days
Your higher power maybe God or Jesus Christ
It doesn't really matter much to me
Without each others help there ain't no hope for us
I'm living in a dream of fantasy, oh yeah yeah yeah!
If only we could all just find serenity
It would be nice if we could live as one
When will all this anger, hate and bigotry be gone?
"Who is this? The singer?"
"The self proclaimed 'Prince of Darkness' from back home, Ozzy Osbourne. Pretty ironic he of all would write a song like this though, especially since the music he did was deemed 'the Devil's music'."
I'm just a dreamer, I dream my life away (today)
I'm just a dreamer, who dreams of better days (okay)
I'm just a dreamer, who's searching for the way (today)
I'm just a dreamer, dreaming my life away (oh yeah yeah yeah)
"Cassiel?"
"Hm?"
"I know I have no right to say this, but when it's just our team around, could you not hide your face?" This caught me off guard.
"What brought this on?" She placed a hand on my cheek.
"It's not something to be ashamed of, you know we won't judge you over something like this, right?"
"I feel like our roles on topics like this have reversed." I pointed out.
"Will you?" She asked again.
"You know, I would said 'no' in the rudest, probably most insensitive way possible maybe half a year ago(?). Now? I suppose I can do that when it's just the five of us, on the condition you don't hide those at the same time." She smiled.
"Fair enough." She agreed. With the song ending, she hugged me. "You look better without the mask anyway."
"Until you have to clean up the mess th-" I heard laughter and looked around for what everyone was looking at. "Is that Jaune? Wearing a dress?" I asked. Blaked turned and saw it too before she started laughing hard enough she needed to lean on me to keep standing. With that said, I'd like to know where Cardin is, he'd have a field day with this I'm sure. I also noticed Ruby leaving not long after, at that time, I thought I saw something running on the roofs across from us, something Ruby looks like she wanted to investigate as well.
"I'll be back, there's something I need go look into." I told Blake.
"Be back soon, alright?"
"I don't make promises." I entered the SR and followed Ruby.
Cinder POV
"It appears all the dancers have partners." Emerald informed me over the comms.
"How long do I have?" I asked.
"We should probably be home by midnight, to be safe." Mercury said.
"I'll keep my eye on the clock."
Getting into Beacon tower was no trouble. The guards were child's play at best, and the ones in the elevator had all the passwords I needed so getting into the system, downloading the files, and leaving a "gift" was that much easier.
"A party guest is leaving." Emerald warned me.
"*sigh* Which one?"
"Ironwood."
"I guess the General's had enough fun for one night." Mercury commented. "Should we intervene?"
"No. We're done here." As I was about to leave, I heard the elevator arriving and hid behind the desk.
"Hello? Is anyone there? Hello?" A voice called out. Smiling, I stood up to greet her, Ruby I think her name was. "Excuse me. You know, it's not a masquerade party, so why don't you take off that-" I interrupted her by firing my dust enhanced glass at her which she blocked. She returned fire, but couldn't penetrate my guard and launched herself at me with a downward strike after I produced two swords. Before she could land a strike, I dodged backward into the air and turned the swords into a bow. Just before my arrows could make contact though, a black mass appeared next to her.
"Barrier!" A voice shouted before stepping out of whatever that mass was. "Ruby, stay out of this, I have a score to settle with her." Another student said. So this is Cassiel under the mask I realized after seeing his weapon. "I know it's you, I still owe you for that shard of glass in my shoulder you fucking bitch!" He was using a scythe and that strange sword of his. He quickly closed the gap and launch me backward, he's faster than before.
"Barrier!" I slammed into something and fell over, angered, I struck back, but he kept parrying with his sword. I moved backward and ducked under his scythe.
"Fira!" His sword was replaced with a scythe and an explosion happened where it hit the floor, this kid is really getting on my nerves! We heard the elevator open, it distracted them long enough for me to escape and hide among the party guests.
He's going to be trouble if he can push me back like this even with me holding back as much as I am.