Blake's time at home was spent doing one of two things. The first was spending time with her family. Her mother Kali had decided to smother her little 21-year-old girl constantly. A hug in the morning. A thousand questions during lunch. An offer to do her hair before bed.

College life had taken Blake away from her parents. So the image of this woman who used to bump into the walls because her eyes were focused on a book now grown up had Kali overflowing with pride.

Ghira Belladonna was slightly more spacious. He gave her a bone-crushing hug at the airport a week and a half ago, but that was the height of their physical contact. He mostly listened to Blake gush and rant about college life. The inconvenience of going to a different building for washing clothes was her biggest complaint. Her girlfriend Ruby being silly was her biggest praise. Ghira just loved hearing his daughter's voice.

When not with her family, Blake was on her phone. She had enough control not to pull it out when out to dinner or anything of the sort. However, when alone in her old room with the black wallpaper, bat-themed curtains, and a massive collection of gothic and romantic novels, she would see her friends' latest social media post.

Yang bragged about how much she could drink. Weiss posted a picture of whatever she was about to eat. Nora danced in a video with Ren as the cameraman. Jaune mentioned that his podcast was on hiatus until he got back. Which was quite a surprise since he never mentioned it before. Pyrrha had never brought it up either. Thus, Blake's week-long mission was to listen to every episode of 'The Character Arc'.

The sound quality wasn't phenomenal, but Jaune did at least sound like someone trying to be professional. He wasn't recording his voice over his phone like a newbie. That being said, the first episode was trash and Blake's entire enjoyment came from Jaune mumbling and stumbling over his points. Not to mention, he was recording his voice over his phone. It would only be three more episodes before he bought an actual microphone.

Blake had reached episode 54 out of 114. His one-year anniversary podcast featured a 'very special guest'.

"Hello. I'm Pyrrha."

Blake smiled hearing the woman sheepishly introduce herself. It was similar to how Jaune sounded during the first dozen podcasts.

"So," Jaune confidently started, "Today's topic is 'Sympathy for the devil'. It's a trope that I'm not a huge fan of. Pyrrha, what're your initial thoughts?"

There was a long pause before something was said at a low volume.

"-alk to you or the mic?"

"The mic please," Jaune answered.

"Sorry, sweetie." Pyrrha said, "So uh. I think it's a nice idea that often gets botched." She cleared her throat and exhaled. "It often gets, uh, botched when the idea is to make the villain...justifiable when they're killing people. Am I saying that right?"

Clarifying, "It doesn't feel earned when the character is harming innocent people. How they should be treated in the story comes down to their narrative intent." Again, there was a moment of dead air. One of the biggest issues with leaving podcasts unedited was rearing its ugly head. "Pyrrha?" he asked.

"Sorry," she replied. Blake couldn't see it, but the woman had to be blushing. "You just started holding my hand and I froze."

"You're doing fine honey," Jaune promised.

Suddenly, Blake's ringtone went off pausing the on-air flirting. It was her own 'puppy', Ruby. Not texting like she had done since spring break started, but calling.

"Hi, Ruby." Blake greeted.

"Kitty!" Ruby screeched into her phone.

With one working eardrum, Blake looked at the time on her phone. It read 7:26 pm. Ruby, Yang, and everyone else were on the American east coast whereas Blake was resting in the west. Aside from why Ruby was using that specific pet name, she had an important question.

"Isn't it like midnight for you?"

"That's the name of the wine I had! Ha-Ha! Are you psychic?"

Blake's heart sank. Every possible negative that could be born from this was already playing in her mind. The men preying on Ruby. The unfocused drivers colliding with a drunk jaywalker. The lack of fight Ruby would be able to put up if someone tried to harm her. Getting separated and losing the phone. Maybe even..him.

She spoke quickly and coldly, "...Put your sister on the phone. Now."

"I'm not naked! You can't tell me what to do!"

"Ruby," Blake did not want to play Ruby's game, "Who's with you?"

"Uh...a cute redhead."

"Put Pyrrha on the phone," Blake demanded.

There was the sound of music in the background. Other people's voices could be heard, but they were inaudible. Anyone of these people could take advantage of Blake's sweet girl. Her heart was racing faster than the techno beat. If anything happened to Ruby, Blake would...she wouldn't know what to do.

"Salutations!" a voice said.

"Penny?" Blake asked. "You're with Ruby?" While she was thankful, this just raised more questions.

"I am. Do you know what hotel Ruby is staying in?"

"Yes, I do. It's the Jabroni hotel on Johnson drive. Why're you with my girlfriend?"

"I was opening act at a beach concert earlier the day. Ruby and I have been hanging out ever since. However, she managed to hold some alcohol and I am struggling now to get her back to hotel room."

Blake wanted to flip a coin. She could focus on Penny's sudden broken English. Or pursue the reason why Ruby was drunk calling her.

"Why not call Yang? Or Weiss? Are they with you?"

Penny didn't respond immediately. She was too busy dealing with the rambunctious rose.

"Ruby! Stand here and hold my hand please!"

"No!" Ruby protested before admitting, "Aw, your hand's soft."

"Hold on minute," Penny said to Blake. She struggled to speak coherently, "I...sorry. English is my second language and Ruby is being...difficu-Stop touching my butt, please!"

Blake blinked, processing the information. It wasn't a surprise, but it also wasn't something she wondered about. Yes, Penny's speech pattern was noticeable from up a mile away. But she carried no distinguishable accent.

"It's okay," Blake said. "You're doing fine. Try taking Ruby outside."

Penny's attitude had significantly gone up when she spoke as clearly as the night sky.

"It is already done!" To Ruby, "Why did you call Blake when I asked you to call your sister Yang?"

Blake could hear the drunken woman blurt out, "Yang's been kissing Weiss the whole trip! I wanna kiss my Blakey!"

"Please stop yelling."

Exasperated, Blake pushed, "Put me on speaker." Penny did as asked and Belladonna asked, "Ruby? Are you going to be a good girl and call your sister?"

"Yes."

"Ruby, are you lying?" Penny questioned.

With the same tone of voice, "Yes. Ha-ha!"

Penny liked to think that she was a patient person. However, as her hand moved from a grasp on Ruby's hand to a claw hold on her shoulder, her tolerance was wearing thin.

Polendina spoke softly. Her smiling face was but a mask. Her rage could only be seen in her wide-open eyes.

"It would be in your best interest not to lie to me again, bitch."

"PENNY!" Blake shouted.

"I am sorry!" she cried, "But she is acting like one! She licked my neck earlier and grabbed my butt. And I was not trying to mention this but her hand is on my head and it is weird!"

"Soft~." Ruby let out.

"Ugh!" Blake groaned. "Okay. Change of plans. You two stay where you are. I'll call Yang and tell her to come and get you." Belladonna then paused. She was about to ask what club they were outside of. However, an obvious solution to the problem was revealed.

"Penny?" Blake asked.

Almost sobbing, "Yes?"

"Why can't you call Yang on your phone?"

She could hear Penny wince. It was a quick little inhale and what followed was definitely sad. However, Penny's high-pitched voice on top of a surfaced accent made it unintentionally hilarious.

The little Italian screamed, "Questa lesbica coi capelli tinti ha rotto il mio dannato telefono!"

Having very little knowledge of Italian herself, Blake managed to translate only a few words.

"I'll...ask a friend to buy you a new..."

"Phone!" Polendina sadly finished.

"Phone," Belladonna sadly replied.

"Phone," Rose repeated because she wanted to.

END