A Beacon of Hope in a Castle of Ice.

When mice are away

POV: YANG XIAO LONG

"Ugh, I fucking hate this bullshit. Last time I ever go to one of those plannings without Weiss around. Why the hell did she need to go to the town with Ruby anyway? She thinks just 'cause she's so rich that she can disappear with my sister to go clothes shopping. Couldn't she just hire someone and tell them to drop off the most expensive dress in town or something like that? UGH! Damn Coco and Fox, both of them need to go against every little suggestion I make. Then Velvet and that other guy Yatsa-whatever just sit there all quiet and don't even help out!"

Needless to say the planning did not go too well without Weiss there. She has a knack for commanding a group of people and being extremely organized. One of the few times I will ever give the Ice Queen a compliment. It's been hell for me today and it's not even noon. On top of worrying about the preparations for the party on Sunday, I also make sure I am never away from Blake too long. Even though she's already walking normally again I worry and have done my best to make sure she hasn't had to move too much. After all, it was my kick-check that hurt her ankle in the first place.
It's been a long and tiring day, and it is barely past noon for Remnant's sake. The walk back to the dorm room is feeling much longer than it already is.

On my walk back I try my best to relax and observe everything around me to hopefully shorten the trip. The crimson carpeting and the smokey-colored textures of the wall is complemented by having a small portion on the bottom painted a grey color. I never really thought red and grey look okay together, but Beacon has made it work somehow. I wonder if grey works with Yellow.

"Wait, why am I thinking of the color grey?"

Y'know what? Doesn't matter I'm here.
I reach into my pocket and pull out my scroll, opening the door and going inside to see Blake on my bed and in her pajamas – A beautiful black yukata with white linings. The outfit stops halfway down her thighs, but leaving enough for me to imagine what could be underneath. I give my head a quick shake, breaking my daydream before Blake catches me staring and finds another comment to make about 'what I am always after'.

"Enjoyed the sight, Yang?" She says while lowering her book and gazing at me with her firm amber eyes.

"Wait, how did you-?"

"I didn't . . . you just admitted it."
Ugh! I need to stop falling for that!

"You know when Ruby and Weiss will be back?" I ask while walking over to our bunk beds and sitting in Blake's.

"That's new. You're usually up here resting on my lap or bombarding me about how my ankle feels . . . I thought you cared." Blake says with a mock sadness in her tone. "But seriously, what's up? And I think they'll be back around six."

"Ugh, without Weiss helping with the preparations it was really hectic. I'm just a bit stressed and annoyed." I kick off my shoes and lay down on Blake's bed, closing my eyes and taking long, deep breaths as I try to forget about the tough morning I've been through.

"I see, well at least you're back and don't have anything to do from Port's class." I open my eyes when I hear a small thud, looking over to see Blake has hopped down from my bed.
"Ow . . . that hurt a bit. Need to remember that." She must be talking about her ankle.

"Everything okay?"

"Yup, just need to remember not to land too hard until my ankle's completely better. Oh, could you get me a cup of milk?" She says to me while sitting at the foot of the bed, waiting for me to get up.

"Ugh, do I have to?"

"Not my fault you forfeited our match."

"I am nice one time!" I pout, and stand up from the bed, going over to Blake's mini-fridge and opening it up. I grab one of the cups she keeps on the door, and open the gallon of milk sitting right in the middle of the fridge, pouring the cup up close to the top and setting it down on top of the little refrigerator while I close the gallon of the Udder Satisfaction brand milk. When I finish and close the fridge, I look over my shoulder to see Blake sitting in the same spot, waiting patiently for her milk. I grab the cup I just filled and walk over to her, holding it out until she takes a firm grip of it and pulls it from my grasp.