Eventually...

The universe found ways to punish Blake and Nora beyond the kitchen duty they were assigned to for 30 days.

Every day, news reports of the White Fang making aggressive movements across Remnant plaster the news. Roman was still on the loose (likely the brains behind some of their more recent operations in Vale). An old friend of Blake's called Tukson was murdered inside his own bookstore (probable motive: deserting of the White Fang). Blake's paranoia that local huntsmen and the police would not be enough to handle the White Fang stirred constantly.

Meanwhile, Nora would find ways to make progress in developing a relationship with Ren daily. She could not bear the thought of being without him! Nora had to prove that her situation wasn't the same as Blake's former relationship! Unfortunately, Ren would never bite. She suggested going to the movies, shopping, trying a new restaurant, clubbing and much more.

Even something as simple as talking about their future plans seemed like a burden to Ren. As if Nora was a burden to him... He always talked about how tired he was from washing the dishes.

A small reprieve comes to Blake on the final day of her punishment. Blake abruptly left the library while her team was in the middle of playing a card game. She did not feel comfortable with Jaune mentioning she was a Faunus out loud carelessly when he approached their table. Team RWBY confronts Blake about her being distant in their dorm. Blake confesses her anxiety about Roman and the White Fang planning something big in Vale. Team RWBY agrees that they need to be stopped by taking action into their own hands. Their enemies were not going to wait for them to graduate!

Blake apologises for her shifty behaviour then asks what happened in the library after she left. Ruby summarises that Blake missed a lot of juicy conversations!

Neptune was informed that Weiss prefers girls when he tried flirting with her! After that, Pyrrha and Jaune were invited to play Remnant: The Game. Ruby tagged out for Pyrrha to play and Jaune took Blake's spot. Yang played wingman to Weiss while she broke the ice with Pyrrha. Weiss and Yang tag teamed against Jaune to bully him off the table, joking that whoever loses gets topped! Ruby revealed that her team were all futanari when Jaune left the table, making Yang's outrageous trash talking even more hilarious in retrospect!

Ruby tells Blake that Nora was asking about her. She invited herself over to play cards after Jaune got whipped. Yang is curious as to whether something was going on between Blake and Nora. Blake clarifies that they have been talking a lot more since they started kitchen duty but they were not "together".

Team RWBY was unaware that Nora approached their table to get away from Ren. Her unfulfilled need for Ren's affection turned into bitterness. Ren was no fun to be around. Why should Nora mope around reading books, hoping that Ren would eventually pay attention to her?

Paradoxically, the sunken cost fallacy restrained Nora moving on from Ren. She had invested so much into building a life with Ren that finding another lover felt like a betrayal to herself. Yet, the temptation grew stronger in the days that followed the end of her kitchen duty.

All the things Nora wanted to do with Ren she ended up asking Team RWBY to do with her instead. They caught a fantasy romance novel adaptation, a crime drama action blockbuster, a musical and a superhero flick within two weeks! Nora went with Team RWBY to pick out new outfits. Dessert stores, bakeries and buffets spoiled her taste buds! Nora engaged in a night of drunken revelry like she never had before!

Nora's hangover the following day came at a convenient time. Team RWBY planned their multi-layered investigation into the criminal underground this night. Following the trend set by Yang, they decided to name their new outfits which they would wear tonight. Ruby's was called Slayer, Weiss' was called Snowpea and Blake's was called Intruder.

Yang's Hunter outfit was not successful in pulling any girls yet. But she was feeling lucky tonight! Her assignment was to shake down Junior for intel on Roman Torchwick. Her side objective was hooking up with some girls at Junior's club! Neptune decided to help after overhearing Team RWBY talking about their investigation. His focus is mainly on the hook up side objective however!

Ruby and Weiss were tasked with obtaining SDC records from the CCT tower. On the way there, they discuss the apparent love triangle between Weiss, Pyrrha and Jaune. Pyrrha prioritises late night sparring with Jaune rather than enjoying nights out with Team RWBY. Weiss wonders if she has already lost her shot at Pyrrha. Ruby reminds Weiss that win or lose, there are more fish in the sea.

Blake's assignment was attending a White Fang rally taking place inside a warehouse with the aid of Sun Wukong. Blake is worried about Nora after having to carry them back to their dorm last night. Blake pays Nora's dorm a visit in the morning. Blake reached Team JNPR's dorm just as Ren was walking out. She asked if it was okay for her to check on Nora. Ren nods, turning to walk away in silence. The hardened look on Ren's face indicated they must have been in a foul mood.

Blake walks into JNPR's dorm towards Nora's bed tepidly. Their head is buried beneath pillows to block out sunlight.

"Nora, how are you feeling?" Blake says softly.

"Awful..." Nora groans.

"Headache or heartache?" Blake asks.

"Both... how did you know my heart is breaking?" Nora replies.

"Ren looked aggravated. I assume you two had an argument?" Blake says.

"How are you able to understand what I am feeling while Ren sees me everyday and can't?! Do you want to know the first thing Ren said to me when I woke up this morning? 'I told you to watch your drink!' Not 'good morning' or 'how I am doing this morning' or 'can I get you something'. I get a telling-off for being too much by someone who won't give me enough!" Nora shouts into pillows.

"...can I get you something?" Blake jokes to cut the tension.

Blake's deadpan delivery makes Nora laugh through her pain. Her whimpers and tears are interspersed with chuckling. Nora's emotionally damaged state is uncomfortable to witness. Blake puts a hand on her shoulder as she sits at her bedside.

"I'm happier without him... The closer I try to get, the more Ren pushes me away. Is this all love is? To want and never be satisfied? Are we all doomed to starve?" Nora laments.

"Despite everything I have been through, I still trust love. I still believe in love. That it has the power to heal. That love can fulfil our emptiness. I still want love..." Blake comments comfortingly.

"I guess we are both hopeless romantics," Nora remarks.

"We're not hopeless... just unlucky," Blake replies.

Time and chance are appointed onto all. Rich, poor, weak, strong, the righteous and the wicked. There is no avoiding the dice roll. However, the hand you have been dealt is not as important as how you play the game. Finding an opportunity can be as simple as believing it is there. Fortune favours the bold.

Blake cut to the heart of Nora's internal dilemma. Nora was born misfortunate. Did this make her hopeless? No. Nora's love for Ren shone through her dire circumstances- a living testament to love's power. Befriending Ren was the best thing to ever happen to Nora. This truth is a double edged sword.

Nora never had the chance to define her life beyond the man fate had presented to her. Ren was her ace. The only good card available to her throughout the majority of her life. Or at least, that is how Nora perceived things to be. Nora had been placing all her eggs in one basket.

The world had many alternatives for Nora if she were willing to take the risk. She had the power to make her own luck. Through perseverance, Nora managed to make it into Beacon academy. The world was now at her fingertips. The only thing stopping Nora from grabbing hold of it was herself.

Nora takes the pillows away from her face. Sitting upright, she looks Blake in the eyes. There is a shared understanding between them which didn't need to be communicated through words. Neither knew the full extent of the other's hardship, and they didn't need to. The track of their tears, fresh and old, scarred their souls. Within the wounds that haunted them laid a burning desire for love.

However, Nora's eyes clung to Blake. Could she be the one to quench her thirst? She would take anyone to douse the flames of youthful lust! As a futanari, Blake had all the tools Nora needed... If Ren was not going to give the affection Nora craved, perhaps it was time to venture uncharted waters.

Nora wipes away her tears, sniffling as she tries to collect her thoughts. She twiddles her thumbs as Blake retracts their hand from Nora's shoulder. Nora holds Blake's hand before she can fully withdraw it.

"Blake, next time you wanna go out, can it be just you and me? No one else has to know..." Nora says suggestively.

Blake's reaction is one bewilderment, followed by fascination. With the skirt chasing mission in mind, Nora's offer is too enticing to resist.

"I would love to..." Blake answers, breathing heavily.

A spark flickers between Nora and Blake as their gaze meets once more. Nora turns on her side, tucking herself into bed to sleep off her hangover. When and where they will meet is left up in the air before Blake leaves JNPR's dorm. Right now, Nora needs some beauty sleep.