Capítulo 129: 31
Chapter 31 – Arcmetheus
"Sooo," Yang looked between the two girls, expression carefully neutral, "what'cha talking about?"
"Nothing." She knew as soon as the words left her mouth, that they were the wrong ones. An automatic response that was enough to confirm guilt where she could have just made something up. Lilac eyes narrowed, the blonde's arms crossing beneath her bountiful breasts.
"Nothing, huh? I heard something about a body and you being in – this isn't another one of your dangerous adventures is it? Because if it is, I'm getting a little annoyed at how I'm never invited."
"It's nothing like that," Blake rolled her eyes at the fact that Yang's frustration stemmed more from not being part of the action than the danger and rule-breaking. Typical Yang… "We were just talking about things, right Penny?"
"Oh – absolutely!" the robotic girl announced, holding one hand before herself. "We were talking about typical things such as painting our nails, going shopping and cute boys!"
"Great choice. Because Blake does any of those things."
"Cute bo-?" Yang's eyes narrowed as one hand came up to rub her chin, "Wait! Don't tell me you know her boyfriend?"
"I don't-" what could she say, that she didn't have one? That was the truth, but she'd also claimed she was bringing a date to the dance – but date didn't equate boyfriend, and now she'd hesitated too long and left Yang to make her own conclusions.
She didn't know whether this was all Jaune or Yang's fault… but she'd settle for blaming blondes everywhere.
"I know the boy she speaks of," Penny said, at least having the presence of mind to not specifically say it was her boyfriend.
Yang's expression was… complicated. It was a mixture of excitement at finding further evidence, disappointment that a stranger knew more about Blake's imaginary beau than she did – and maybe even a bit of surprise mixed in there as well.
Blake didn't even have time to throw up a defence before the dress was pushed into her face.
"How do you know him? Is he good looking – where did you see him?"
"Wait, this dress is black… I thought Yang sai-" Jaune, as ever, was focused on the unimportant details as Blake dragged the offending article of clothing from her face, trying desperately to convey a hurried message of silence to the crazy ginger girl.
"I know him intimately. It would be hard not to, after what we shared."
Before she could say something like that…
"W-What, you…" Yang looked to Blake, no doubt wondering if she was about to be stuck in the middle of a Huntress cat-fight, "you've… been with him?"
"For a while we were joined as one, yes."
"B-Before Blake knew him, right?"
"No – quite recently."
"Oh my god…" Yang's voice came out as a whisper, "should… maybe you shouldn't be mentioning this right in front of Blake? I mean, as her partner I'm already feeling the need to maybe hurt you here."
Penny gasped suddenly, two hands coming up before her lips as she no doubt realised what she was doing wrong. Thank god, Blake sighed to herself. Now the girl could help to clean up this stupid misunderstanding before it got any worse.
"Oh no," Penny shook her head wildly, "please do not misunderstand Yang. Blake knew all about it at the time, it was even done with her permission."
"I-It was…?" Yang choked. Blake's head fell into her hands as Yang turned to look at her, clearly shocked to be learning all these new things about her partner. "She just… let you?"
"She stood nearby and watched."
"Okay, enough of this," Blake sighed as she pushed the blonde girl aside. Yang didn't even fight it, the girl looking like she was about to collapse at any moment.
"Ah, Blake is perhaps right… this is a relatively private affair."
"Sounds like it…" Yang staggered over to the remainder of their team – apparently feeling sanity would be more forthcoming with them. "I feel like I need to sit down so I can process all this…"
"You know, I'm never quite sure if Penny really is this bad at talking… or if it's something she puts on. You think she's still upset over the whole trying to possess her thing?" Blake wasn't sure, and there was no telling from the girl-robot's face, which was even now set in a happy smile. It was almost like Ruby… assuming she had the mentality of a ten-year-old.
And now the memories of a seventeen-year-old…
"Sensational, with my new experiences in conversation to draw on I was able to diffuse that situation without raising suspicion! That is incredible. I have never been able to lie with any real success before!"
"Okay… I'm feeling a little offended that my entire life worth of experience still has her acting like this. I wasn't this bad, was I? I can't have been!"
"Penny, are you still drawing on Jaune's memories?" Blake made sure the others were still talking between themselves.
"To a degree friend Blake, but it is not quite that simple. I still need to draw them out and process those memories, and at the moment they are disjointed and disorganised. I am as likely to pick out a memory of him in the bath as I am one on social norms. I will need some time to go through and organise them all."
"This sucks, why can't I steal people's memories?"
"Probably due to your mind still being limited as a human's," Blake turned back to Penny, "It doesn't matter though – this research that your father wants doing, when am I going to need to meet you, and how are we going to do this?"
"You will need to wait for me to talk to my father. As of yet he is still unaware of the proposal and he will certainly know how to do this in a way that leaves you – and Jaune – safe. Until then, we should trade scroll contacts!"
"Er, sure…" Blake handed hers over as the girl punched some digits in.
"My first friend on the contacts list… what a day this is! I shall be sure to text you every night!"
"Welp, that's going to be fun. Robots don't need to sleep, do they?"
"You don't need to do that," Blake tried to prevent the nightmare. As much as Penny might not need to sleep – she did. "Just draw on Jaune's experience… that should tell you what is normal."
"But I am," Penny argued, "when Jaune first got a girl's scroll number he made sure to send her a message at least once every six hours!"
"Heh," Jaune laughed, scratching the back of his head as he glanced away, "I never claimed to be good with women."
Great… now there's two of them.
"Don't do that, just… keep me in the know when it comes to your father, okay? Let me know what's going on there." Maybe direct commands would be the best way to handle this… things that she couldn't misunderstand or misinterpret.
"Okay – I will, as they say, keep you in the loop."
Close enough. This whole deal felt rotten to her, but maybe that was cynicism talking. She'd gotten so used to getting burned that she found it difficult to trust anymore. It was easy enough with her team… none of them were in any positions of authority, none of them had a reason to harm her. But people like Ozpin, Goodwitch… or worse – General Ironwood!?
The risks were huge.
To counter a small amount of embarrassment at the dance? No… that wasn't the true reason, she could have stomached that easily enough – and would never have risked her life over it. But if this could work in such a way that Jaune got a body once more.
That would be worth the risk.
"Oi Blake, stop wasting time and try that dress on!" Yang yelled across the shop. If she cared the slightest for all the other customers who sent evil looks her way, then she didn't show it. Instead she seemed to bask in the ire of everyone else.
And this is my partner… Blake sighed as she headed over. A far cry from her last to be sure.
But that was a good thing.
"Coming, Yang."
"Oh, I bet you are."
Sometimes it was a good thing…
"All that work, all that hassle," Jaune floated above her bed as she prepared for sleep, "and they got you a black dress anyway? What the hell?"
Her thoughts exactly, but she wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth. Not when commenting on it might have Yang dragging her out yet again. She didn't even see what the problem was. She was willing to bet every lien she owned that Weiss would be going in white and Ruby in red.
Hell, with Weiss' bright white hair and pale skin, white would just end up making her look bleached – yet she would still do it. At least black contrasted with both her skin and eye colour. It also matched her bow, which was important since there was no way she would be taking that off.
"Can't argue with the slit up the thigh though, damn."
She could…
"I don't like this!" Blake and Jaune looked towards the leader of their team, who was staggering around the room in her new heels. Looked like it would take some time for the girl to get used to them, considering how much trouble she was having.
It wasn't made any easier by the dog hopping and snapping round her feet. How had no one heard or reported him yet?
Had Yang threatened them into silence?
"Your scroll." Jaune pointed out as something vibrated on the mattress beside her. Blake snatched it up quickly, looking at the message.
"Hi Blake! Father has returned from work at the labs – Penny. XOX"
"Good, what has he decided about this little problem?" Blake sent the message and made to put the scroll down, only to blink as it vibrated almost instantly. Jaune shrugged.
"Maybe it's hard-wired into her? I mean, why use a scroll if you're already a robot?"
"I have not asked him yet! He has only just arrived and I wish to make sure he is content and happy before bothering him with more work – Penny. XOXO"
Then why did she send a message just to…? Ugh…
"Penny, you don't need to report on every little thing he does."
"I am keeping you in the loop friend-Blake! – Penny, XOXOXOXOX – colon parenthesis."
"Does she mean smiley face?"
"Who are you texting so much?" Yang called from the bunk above her, "Not having any dirty conversations without me, are we?"
"No," Blake sighed, "it's Penny… and trust me, you don't want to be a part of this."
"He has sat down now Blake! I will ask him soon. – Penny, XOXO Less than three."
"Wow," Ruby tilted her head to the side as she looked at Blake, "you gave her your number? That's brave."
"Wow," Jaune repeated in a dull voice, "even Ruby can tell that was a bad idea… that's kinda distressing."
"Tell me about it," Blake said to both questions. "I may have made a mistake there."
"Yeah, I mean she's a good friend," the small girl said as she tripped over her dog, nearly face-planting into the ground were it not for Weiss catching her. "But well… let's just say if she asks if I have a scroll that I'm a luddite. I don't own one."
"You have a scythe that transforms into a sniper rifle," the heiress' voice was thick with sarcasm. "Who is possibly going to believe you are a luddite?"
"Yeah well, I did say she isn't quite right."
"Blake! I have spoken with my father. We discussed what went on today – he had a fine day at work, and even ate a ham sandwich at lunch! – Penny XOXOXO-" the x's and o's carried on for another four or five lines. Blake's face fell into her hands. Around about the same time that Zwei leapt onto Ruby's back, knocking her and Weiss to the floor.
"I hope this turns into another pillow fight!"
Somebody help me…
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