Doctor Oobleck was not best pleased to know someone else had discovered his Semblance, but he also wasn't unreasonably upset about it. "It's a shame," he said, "but it was bound to happen eventually and perhaps it is best it be a stranger. That's less problematic for you than risking an established relationship. Still, you say she threated to kill you...?" His tone darkened. "That is a worrisome reaction."

"I don't know that she meant it seriously."

As threats went "kill" was one thrown around a lot. He'd lost count of the number of times one of his sisters had threatened to kill him, and all it ever meant was that they were angry at him. There had been school bullies who threatened the same and just meant stick his head down a toilet. That girl, Cinder, had been furious and even held a sword as if she were ready to plunge it down, but then Pyrrha had also held a blade out to him with no real intention of murder, as had Weiss, Ruby and even Ren during spars.

It had certainly felt different here; he'd been genuinely afraid for a moment, and rooted to the spot, but Cinder had been afraid and coming off a nightmare and had no idea why he'd been in her head or what he'd been doing. He figured they were both spooked, so her reaction – albeit extreme – was more due to panic than anything. And maybe he'd overread it, too. He'd been afraid of being exposed and that might have made him see genuine murder in her eyes.

"Are you sure?" asked Oobleck, stressing the words. "Anger, I could expect. Fear, I would understand. Murderous rage raises a few flags in me. Who did you say this was again?"

"I didn't."

He sighed. "Jaune..."

"Sir, with all due respect, you told me yourself to keep what I saw private, and I think you're right to say it." Plus, Cinder hadn't told anyone about what he'd done, so he didn't want to betray her like that. "If she really wanted to hurt me then she could have. I think she was just afraid and didn't know what I'd done. Wouldn't you be a little paranoid if I appeared in your head and started looking around your worst memories?"

"I suppose so." Oobleck sighed and sat back. "Very well, Jaune. I'll trust your instincts on this one. It does raise an interesting point, though. We've been so focused on helping you understand and control your semblance that we haven't given much thought to what we shall do if someone discovers you in their dreams. Most, I'm sure, will write it off as they currently have, but there will always be those either more perceptive or just more paranoid." He hummed. "I can think of a few dangerous examples off the top of my head."

Jaune swallowed. "Yeah-?"

"Oh, don't worry. I mostly mean Glynda, Ozpin, and Ironwood." Those names did not calm him down much. "I'll be sure to intervene and explain to them if they do raise concerns or mention any suspicions."

"Maybe we should tell them in advance...?"

Oobleck stilled and looked at him with no small amount of surprise. "You'd be prepared to allow that?"

"I mean, it's not ideal but I'd rather have that than Miss Goodwitch breaking my door down in the middle of the night. And someone already knows. This will go off like a bomb if she or someone else figures it out and reports it to a teacher other than you. They'll think I've been preying on women and come down on me like a Goliath."

"Glynda is more controlled than that," chuckled Oobleck. He then paused. "General Ironwood on the other hand... well, he might just jump straight to believing this espionage against Atlas and send a small army to arrest you for interrogation."

"I would like to avoid that if at all possible."

"Yes, I suspect you would." Oobleck cupped his jaw and stroked it slowly. "With your permission, I'll inform a select few teachers – and Ironwood. I think it's best I handle this to prevent any wild accusations in the heat of the moment. I'll impress upon them the need for secrecy as well."

"Do you think they'll let me stay in Beacon?"

"Undoubtedly. Many students discover their Semblances here and learn to control them in our walls and to kick you out would set a dangerous precedent. I expect they may want to talk to you to give their own advice and warnings, but I will make it abundantly clear you have been on your best behaviour and that you came to me directly. There's no need to worry. You have done everything correctly and by the book, and I will not hear anyone say otherwise."

/-/

Two hours.

That was all it took for him to be summoned to the headmaster's office.

Despite Oobleck all but warning him it would happen, he was still terrified when he took the elevator up. Thoughts of who might be waiting for him there filled his mind and his stomach felt so heavy it was a wonder the elevator didn't stall and come crashing back down. The golden doors swished open at the top. It was only the headmaster. For some reason that didn't make him any less worried. Scratch that. There was a window open, and a bird perched on it, watching him almost as intently as the headmaster was.

"Um." Jaune didn't know what to say or where to start. "You called for me, sir?"

"I did." Ozpin smiled and linked his fingers together. "Take a seat. You're not in any trouble, Mr Arc, so please put that out of your mind. I simply thought it better if one of us spoke to you rather than all of us at once. Please." He gestured to the seat again. "Sit."

Jaune walked over and did so and glanced at the bird again. "Um, sir-?"

"I made the mistake of feeding it some crumbs once and now it won't leave me alone," chuckled the old man. The bird squawked indignantly. "Ignore it. So, Doctor Oobleck came to us today with some interesting information that you've unlocked your semblance."

"Yes sir."

"It was wise of you to seek out assistance from one of us. A semblance is a marvellous thing, but also dangerous – sometimes to others but sometimes also to yourself. I understand yours is of the latter, draining your aura quite substantially. That explains the concerned messages I've received from the Tsune. I want you to understand your situation is not unusual. Many people harm themselves when experimenting with a new semblance. I'm sure all your teammates and friends have anecdotes they could tell you of times gone wrong – be it Miss Rose failing to account for deceleration and slamming into walls, or Miss Valkyrie overestimating the amount of energy she can take via electricity and burning herself. Mistakes are a part of the learning process."

"Glynda also tells me that you came to her first," he continued. "She recalls that and mentioned advising you to speak with Doctor Oobleck, which you obviously did. This has helped alleviate what might otherwise mean a lot of concern as to the... privacy elements of your semblance."

"I've kept everything secret, sir."

"I know. Doctor Oobleck has made me aware of that – up to and including you refusing to tell him of what you have seen. That is good. There's no doubting your ability has great potential to infringe on someone's private thoughts. We're frankly all lucky you can only do this during dreams and with limited control. Otherwise, I dare say many people would be unwilling to be around you. Can you tell me if you have been in my dreams, Mr Arc?"

"No, sir." He paused. "I mean, I would tell you if I had, but I don't think that I have. Or I don't know that I have." The teacher looked confused, so Jaune elaborated. "Sometimes it's obvious like me meeting the dreamer, but there have been cases where I haven't, or where I haven't been able to figure out whose dream it was until much later. I haven't met you in a dream. I don't think I've been in the dreams of any other teachers, either. Doctor Oobleck gave me permission to invade his, but I couldn't control it to make that happen."

"I see. I'll ask that should you ever enter mine, you come and see me afterwards to discuss. You may see things you should not, and I would appreciate the chance to explain those. Nothing bad," he assured. "Simply confusing or things you ought not to know. I'm sure the other members of staff would appreciate the same kindness."

"I'll do that, sir. And... And I guess I'll try not to change anything?"

"You're welcome to experiment in mind should you wish it." The offer was surprising, and his face must have shown it for Ozpin explained. "While there are things private to me, I understand you lack the control to pick and choose who you end up in the dreams of. Helping you to gain control is in everyone's benefit, and should you master this it could be a very valuable skill indeed. Perhaps not against the Grimm, but in other ways."

"Like finding who bombed the CCT."

"You've already thought of that?"

"Doctor Oobleck asked me to," he admitted. Ozpin looked intrigued, but not unhappy. "I've promised not to share secret details, but Oobleck says I shouldn't hold to that if it means covering up a crime."

"He's correct. You can always inform us only of the crime and leave the rest of their secrets safe. I do have to ask, though, and I understand that you will be unwilling to share the answer but – still – I must ask. Can you write me a list of all the people you have used your semblance on? I will not ask for private details, only names."

Jaune hesitated. He didn't want to. It wasn't sharing things best kept private, but it still felt like a betrayal. "I don't know, sir. I don't think they'd want me to say."

"I assure you I mean no harm to your friends, Mr Arc."

"Even so..."

Ozpin closed his eyes and sighed. "Then allow me to rephrase. Have you..." He trailed off, pulled an odd expression, and then asked another question. "Does the name Amber mean anything to you?"

Jaune's eyes widened.

"I see that it does," said Ozpin, releasing a heavy and sorrowful sigh. He stood from his desk. "Come with me. I must show you something." Ozpin moved toward the elevator, leaving Jaune to stumble after him. Once inside, pushed several buttons at once and the carriage began moving downward. "I must stress to you Mr Arc that what you are about to see is not to be shared with anyone. Not your team, not your best friends, not your own family. This is a matter of Beacon security, and I will expect you to keep it. Had you not reacted to her name you would not be here at all."

"I... I understand?"

"You do not, but you soon will."

The elevator kept going. Down, down, down, past what it should have taken to reach the ground floor. Did Beacon have a basement? It wasn't unreasonable since there was a lot of stuff to store and not many storage rooms, but they seemed to go down even further than what a single floor below the school would have implied.

When it eventually came to a stop the doors opened to reveal a gargantuan hall with huge pillars that reminded Jaune of fantasy stories about dwarfs and mountain homes. Ozpin stepped out and moved on with a silent gesture for him to follow. "This is an old part of the school's construction," he explained, "likely designed like castles of old to allow civilians surrounding Beacon to hide here in the case of Grimm while the defenders fought above."

"It's unused now...?"

"There is little use for it with the walls of Vale, but I would still rather it be kept secret. Those pillars keep Beacon up and I would not want them damaged by any students deciding to have a destructive food fight down here."

"Erk. S-Sorry, sir."

"You and your friends would have been much sorrier had Glynda not been able to repair the dame," he said, chuckling. "You'd have found just how great a bull you'd have been landed with for repairs if she hadn't been there."

He stopped to wave open an odd door, and beyond shone some faint green light. There was a low sound too, the whirring of machinery, like a computer left on and clicking occasionally. Jaune let his eyes adjust, roaming over the odd thing with its tubes and glass fronts. Ozpin gestured for him to climb up the steps first and Jaune did so, coming around to have a perfect view on one of the pods. It was lit up and there was something inside. Someone.

Jaune recognised her immediately and rushed forward, hands slapping against the glass.

"Amber!"

"So," said Ozpin. "You were in her dreams. I suspected it might happen. When Doctor Oobleck said you had been sleeping outside of normal hours to avoid dreams, the one person who would always be asleep came to my mind."

Jaune rounded on the headmaster. "What happened to her? What are you doing to her?"

"This machine is keeping her alive, Mr Arc. Please do not think otherwise." He gestured to the various readings being taken and Jaune relented. Amber looked awful, but she was alive, and Ozpin wouldn't have shown him all this if he had bad motives.

"What... What happened to her...?"

"I assume Amber has not told you. Or her dreams have not made it clear. Amber was attacked and nearly killed. Not by Grimm, but by individuals who hunted her down for something she had. One of my huntsmen saved her and brought her here, but by then it was too late. They did something to her. Something we have not been able to reverse despite our best efforts. Mr Arc, I must ask you again – and beg this time – to tell me what you have seen in her dreams. It may well be the difference between her life and her death."

Jaune told him.

There was no reason not to and Amber was clearly in a terrible state. If it could help, then he would break his rule and hope that Amber forgave him. Ozpin listened, his eyes closing as he slowly nodded and waited for Jaune to finish.

"I see. Nothing to explain it yet but... I worry, Mr Arc. To be experiencing her past like that in her dreams it... it sounds uncomfortably like one's life passing before their eyes." Jaune had thought the same, and the comparison distressed him as well. "Amber is not physically dying in this machine, but mentally she may be on the edge of it and reliving her experiences. Not all good. That she has added you to them is... well, I suspect she is rationalising your presence as a part of her life. Adding you in as if you were always there. A companion on her journeys."

"You want me to tell you what happens at the end of them. Don't you?"

"I do. I won't ask you to force the issue but, if she is re-experiencing her life, then it will happen eventually. I want the ones responsible for Amber brought to justice. I want them stopped." Ozpin paused and looked at Jaune. "I hope that you share my feelings in this."

Jaune turned to Amber, trapped in a coma, and then back. "I do, sir."

Ozpin smiled. "Good. Should you wish it, I will grant you access to this facility. I am not sure if it will make a difference, but should it comfort you to visit Amber then I will allow it. Who knows. Perhaps it will be a comfort to her as well."

He wasn't so sure. Amber... Amber didn't know him. She'd never met him, not once, and yet he was forcing his way into her dreams – into the recollection of her life – like he belonged. He was practically rewriting her history. Changing it. That... That felt so much worse than just telling someone's secrets.

"I will leave you with her for now," said Ozpin. "If you need me or have any questions know that my office is open to you. And thank you, Mr Arc. There is nothing I want more than to find the ones who did this to Amber and stop them. I know that avenging her might not be the greatest of comforts, but if we can find what was done to her then we might also be able to help her. As it is, keeping her body alive will mean nothing if her mind and spirit passes on."

Jaune stared at Amber in the machine.

"Sir, can you make an excuse to my team?"

Ozpin paused. "Hm?"

"I want to sleep down here tonight. I think... I don't know but maybe that will help."

"I will make your excuses. And I will bring you a sleeping bag and a portable heater."

"Thank you, sir."

"No, Mr Arc. Thank you."

/-/

The tavern was a rustic old sort the likes of which didn't exist in the big cities anymore. It had wooden flooring and walls, and dark wooden beams across the ceiling hanging low enough that anyone over six and a half feet would have to watch their heads. It was warmly lit by a great fire in the centre that cast comfortable heat outward upon the many merrymakers and drinkers, all of whom chatted away without words. It was a generic mumble of nonsense, even to the point that when he stood right next to one table all he heard was mumbling. That was to be expected since he saw the dreamer off on a table on her own.

Amber saw him too and smiled brightly, raising her pint glass and waving it in the air to catch his attention. Something thick caught in his throat when the glass passed in front of her face and reminded him of her body trapped in a sea of green. It passed with the glass, leaving her smiling and noticeably younger face behind.

This must have been several years before the incident.

The relief was almost painful.

If this was her life passing before her eyes then the end of it would mean... well, the end of her life. Did Ozpin want him to push her toward that to get an answer as soon as possible? He wouldn't. Couldn't. Leaving aside the control he simply didn't have; he just couldn't bring himself to do that to her. Amber was trapped in her dreams, but those dreams were happier.

Even if his presence in them was a lie.

"Jaune, come on!" she called, impatient at his hesitation. "Or do I need to come over there and get you? I will!"

His feet kicked into motion and carried him over. There were already two glasses on the table. Had they always been there or simply willed into existence like his own? He drew a stool back and sat, noting that, for some reason, he could feel the warmth of the fire this time. Dreams usually didn't have that kind of... immersion? That might have been the right word. They usually lacked the realness of normal life, but this one was so realistic that he could feel the roughness of the wooden table under his fingers, and the cool touch of the glass in his hand. He drew it up and realised with wide eyes that he could taste the ale.

"It's good, isn't it?" quipped Amber. "Man, you don't get beer like this in the cities. It's all manufactured to be as cheap as possible. Plus, it's in cans. This stuff is aged in wooden barrels and I'm told that different barrels means a subtly different flavour. This one is cherry wood."

"It doesn't taste like cherries."

Amber laughed. "You doofus. Do you think cherry wood tastes like cherry? That's the fruit!"

"Ha. Yeah." His laughter was subdued. "Fair point."

Amber paused and looked at him, her eyebrows rising. "What's up?"

"Nothing."

"Don't give me that." She leaned over to grasp his wrist and look him in the eye. "I've travelled with you long enough to know when you're being weird."

He smiled. "Have you...?"

"Course I have. It's been... what? Months? Years?" Her face scrunched up. "How long has it been? Huh. I can't remember. Feels like it's been forever."

The details were missing from her memory as well. Most people would never catch onto that because the dream kept things going and your subconscious filled in the blanks. Amber had been ion this dream for a long time though. He didn't know how long because he hadn't thought to ask Ozpin, but his first visit had been a couple of weeks ago so that long at least. Given that most people only dreamed for a couple of hours – or minutes as the psychology studies suggested – it wasn't surprising she was starting to notice holes. Her subconscious couldn't keep up with her.

"Forget that," she said, shaking the worrying thought away. "We've been together forever. You saved me from that place." A smile, filled with gratitude. It hurt. It hurt because he hadn't saved her in real life. That wasn't his fault when he hadn't known she existed, and given her age maybe he'd been a little child at the time.

Had anyone saved her, though? Or had she lost years of her life in that place?

"That," said Amber, leaning in. "That's what I mean. Your face, your expression. You look... I don't know. Anguished." Her eyes became soft. "What's wrong? Talk to me."

None of this is real and you're dying. Your life is passing before your eyes and there's nothing I can do about it.

Did he say it? How could he say it? In what universe could he drop that on her? Not this one. Never. But he needed an excuse. He needed something to answer her, if only to deflect this. If these were her last moments, however long they lasted, then he refused to have dragged them down with his issues.

"We should do something fun."

"Eh?" Amber leaned back, shocked. "What's with that all of a sudden? No, seriously, are you bored? Do you want to split up? I can take it if I'm being too clingy."

"No!" It came out more alarmed than he meant it to. Amber's eyes widened, but then she relaxed and let her fingers loosen around his wrist. "No, that's not it. I don't want that and it's definitely not you. I'm just dealing with some stuff of my own."

"And you want a distraction. I can do that. I was kinda worried myself. Thought I was putting you off or... well, you know." She glanced away, blushing faintly. "It means a lot to me you're here with me and all. N-Not in a weird way. Just that I always wanted to travel, but doing it alone was... well it was fun. I met a lot of people. But it was lonely at times. Sometimes I'd not want to say goodbye to the people I met, or I'd miss them and feel like I was going back to nothing again. It's been a lot easier having someone with, if only to know I'm not giving up everything." She looked back at him, embarrassed, but smiling. "That doesn't sound too weird, does it? I'm being so clingy right now, aren't I? I must sound like an idiot."

Jaune reversed his hand under hers so that he was gripping her hand. Her mouth opened, surprise taking over embarrassment, but he held on tight. This was a woman dying. Amber had been attacked, alone, and nearly killed. She obviously didn't recall it and probably didn't even know Ozpin had rescued her. Had she, in her final waking moments, regretted her lonely life? Had she wished for someone to be there for her? He didn't know. He might be projecting horribly or totally misreading it. Maybe she'd been so high on adrenaline and fear to never even consider it.

Even so, he could at least hold her hand.

What kind of person would he be if he couldn't even spend a little time at the side of someone dying and give them a little company at the end? His hand tightened around hers, making her look down and then up with question marks in her eyes. She squeezed back, no doubt thinking him the one that needed comfort.

Maybe he was.

He'd heard it said that the ones who really suffered when someone died were those left behind. Whether you believed in paradise or not, a person who died was either in a better place or no longer had the capacity to feel pain and loss.

"I'm here," she whispered. "I'm here. It's okay." Fuck. Not the sympathy – not aimed at him. Jaune's eyes watered despite his best efforts, and Amber was immediately on her feet and coming around, bumping her hip against his to force him along so she could share his stool with him. Her arms came around him even as she was wide eyed in shock and worry. "What is it? I can help. We're friends, Jaune. Best friends. You mean the world to me so whatever caused this just tell me and I'll sort it out. That's a promise from a huntress."

"How can I be your best friend?"

She smiled wryly at him. "How can you not be, you idiot?"

Because they'd never met. Because this never happened. Because if she really felt that way, then it meant she'd never had anyone this close in her life, and that was too painful a thing to think of. He wrapped his arms around her, surprising her again even if she leaned into him without question. He prayed her life had been better than what he was seeing, but he just wasn't sure – and the worst part was knowing how it would end.

It was like finding out someone you knew had a terminal disease, except that only he knew. Amber had no idea, and he couldn't tell if withholding that information was cruelty or kindness. If he told her, then what if it made her memory leap to the end and killed her? He couldn't do that. He just couldn't.

"Look at me getting all worried you wanted to ditch me when you're this upset," said Amber, giggling to herself. "I really thought you'd had enough of me."

"I won't leave you." He'd have to when he woke up. And he would, but Amber would keep dreaming about him even if it wasn't him in control. She would dream on as if he was a constant presence in her life. He couldn't control what that dreamed-up version of him did, but maybe he could mould it a little with a suggestion. "I'm not going to get bored of you, Amber, and I'm not going to leave unless you want me to. We're going to explore Remnant, right? We're going to see everything it has to offer."

"Hell yeah! And you know what, I'm kinda tired of Mistral. You wanna go hit up Vacuo? I hear they have the most amazing casinos."

Jaune's laugh was a little choked, but she was kind enough not to comment on it. "Yeah, that sounds good. I've always wanted to gamble away my life and be left destitute."

"That's the spirit! Besides, we're a huntsman and huntress. We can take on some jobs there for cash if we need it. Not like we have any homes or belongings to lose. It'll be fine." She rolled her eyes. "And you'll pull me back if I start getting too addicted. You're always such a worrywart."

That was good to hear. To know the version of him she dreamed of was taking such care with her. "Of course I will," he said. "One of us has to be the sensible one around here."

"I'm fine with that being you if it means I get to just focus on having fun." Her eyes sparkled. "Want to ditch this place right now? If we get on horseback, we can probably reach the port by the end of tomorrow. How good are you on ships?"

"Awful. I'll throw up everywhere."

"Flight?"

"Even worse."

Amber burst out laughing. "You're such a pansy! Guess that's what I love about you, though." She stood and tugged him up. "Come on. Finish your drink and let's hit the road. There's a lot of Remnant left to see and we don't have all the time in the world."

He did, but Amber didn't, and he wasn't sure if she'd ever gotten the chance to see the world in real life. There was a chance that since he hadn't helped her escape Vale, that she'd been kept there longer in the real world. That she started her journey later, with less time, and that she never made it around the four kingdoms.

He downed his drink and stood.

"Yeah. Let's go. Vacuo waits for no man."

"Hell yeah!" Amber laughed and dragged him out. Their horses, two of them this time, were stabled nearby, and she tossed a saddle on the back of hers while he willed an entire set of tack into place when she wasn't looking. He had no idea how to ride a horse, but he didn't need to know. Amber climbed on hers and he did his own, and they nudged them out side by side, Amber staring ahead with a wild grin on her face.

He would make sure her final wish became a reality.

At least...

He could grant her it in her dreams.

/-/

Jaune woke up cold and alone with his cheek against hard stone. Machinery whirred peacefully around him, and Amber lay before him, propped up in a green tube with a frail smile on her face. A bubble ran up past her cheek but she didn't wake, and likely never would. It was morning already. Time to return. Ozpin had fed his team an excuse about a family emergency and him being out in Vale with his parents for the day. He'd received texts of concern but assured his team everything was fine, and he would be back come morning.

He didn't want to leave Amber like this at all but short of having someone put him into a medical coma he couldn't spend all his time with her. He touched the glass instead, in front of her face, and leaned in to press his forehead against it and watch her.

His alarm buzzed that it was time to go.

"Pleasant dreams, Amber. I'll be back. I promise."

The dying woman in the tube offered no response. Soon, she was lost in darkness again, left only to the whirr and click of machines, and the occasional bubble. The lights flicked out and shrouded her in darkness.

Sadge.

So, hey, here's a happier omake:

Jaune blinked as the girl he now knew to be Vanille rushed up to him and pushed a sketchbook into his face. He didn't know how she knew or how she wasn't bothered by knowing, but she seemed content – even thrilled – to accept him in her dreams, and to accept him in real life as her childhood babysitter, even if they both knew that had never happened.

"Is this for me?" asked Jaune, looking. Vanille nodded.

The picture showed a childish scene reminiscent of the one in his dreams, in which Vanille stood between two stick figures that were holding her hands. Her hair denoted who she was, split between pink and brown, while his yellow mop on the stick-figure on the left suggested himself.

On the other wise was another stick figure, this one with scraggly orange hair poking out from what appeared to be a black top hat. That person also had a cigarette sticking out the side of their mouth. Vanille looked happy with the both of them, so Jaune wasn't too worried.

"Is this someone important to you?" asked Jaune. Vanille nodded, but then pointed at him. "I'm important to you too? Aw, thanks Vanille. That's so sweet."

Vanille then took the sketchbook back and furiously drew a picture of a house with her, him, and the orange-haired man smiling through a window. She showed it to him urgently, and Jaune laughed. "Ah, well, I mean, that'd be nice and all but I'm a student here and I don't think your... um... guardian will want me around."

Vanille shook her head and pointed again. Jaune noticed that he and the orange-haired man were holding hands. Vanille seemed very insistent on that for some reason.

"You want us to be friends? That's nice. Maybe I can meet him. No...?"

He added the last because Vanille was shaking her head in frustration. She took the notepad back and scribbled furiously, her tongue poking out the left side of her mouth. Yang, who had been leaning over to watch, coughed and choked a little, looked up at him and then away, covering her mouth. Jaune's eyes narrowed, but he didn't have a chance to ask because Vanille turned the pad around and showed him her latest sketch.

It...

... was a lot more detailed.

A lot.

Where before she'd used stick figures she had now drawn a very accurate drawing the likes of which he'd seen people online do in "certain communities" that he didn't want to mention. Vanille's artistic skills had obviously developed over the years.

That wasn't the only thing that had developed.

Jaune took it. "Why are my eyes crossed like this? Hm? My tongue is sticking out. Are those lines on my cheeks-? Wait, what is the smoking man doing behind me? Is he holding my hair? We're sweating and... Did you forget to draw my clothes?"

Vanille was drooling.

And a little blood was leaking from her nose.

"You didn't forget to draw our clothes, did you?"

Vanille smiled dangerously.

"Meep."

Neo gonna get her daddies whether they like it or not.