Blake kept her cool during tea in the same manner as always. Being completely silent unless spoken to. It wasn't hard, being that her usual role was to be seen and not heard. Having to deviate from the norm was particularly unsettling. What was worse, was having to admit that this was her intended place, and that she should want to speak outwardly.

Making a spectacle of herself never came easy...not after leaving the White Fang.

Yet, speak she did. About anything and everything. She chatted about the company, bantered witty rhetoric, and indulge the stuffy upper-class. The only saving grace to any of it was that Ruby was even more uncomfortable. Looking over her shoulder briefly, Blake watched the youngest among them fidget in earnest. A deep masculine sigh drew Blake's attention back to the matter at hand.

"I do not think it wise to forget your station, Weiss." The eldest of the Schnee family began slowly after hearing the many proposals offered from other board executives. "Remember, that SDC is still in a state of anarchy. You've only yourself to blame for it. All of these new policies upheave decades of tradition, and that is not to be taken lightly."

"Change, is inevitable." Weiss said, brushing away the lecture.

"So is the eventual collapse of a good thing." The man pressed with an authoritative edge. The same one that had made him the ruling power in the past. It struck fear into many, but not Weiss. "You'll lead this company to ruin yet. You cannot keep up this line of action."

His tone merely annoyed her, and she sighed at length. "Ordinarily, I would demand we take this conversation into another room. Alas, as it stands, the paperwork has yet to be signed." She flicked her eyes over to her wife. "This is one endeavor in which both you and Blake see eye-to-eye on. Your reasons may differ, but you both foresee the same outcome."

"And that would be?" He asked Blake darkly.

To her credit, she didn't even flinch. "A shift in the company that will not be recuperated."

"Is that so?" The man lifted his tea to his lips. "That comes as a surprise, considering…" He need not finish that sentence. His point was well made. Wilson Schnee, son of William Schnee, eyed the Faunus in front of him. He found he had little to recommend of the woman, Faunus or not. That her cat ears sat on display only reminded him of the rebellious attitude his daughter carried at the forefront of every tiny action.

"If I could have signed the papers on good faith alone, I would have." Blake voiced quietly. "The people, and to lesser extent the government, cannot be trusted. That's the only reason I haven't."

"At least you know enough not to drag our name further through the mud." He replied simply, lacking acid in his tone, even if not in his words.

"Father…"

"It's a compliment to her rationality."

"It's an insult to my own personal feelings on the matter." Weiss replied coolly. "I try to accommodate your feelings on these subjects when and where I can, I implore that you do the same for me."

Wilson withheld his ire. It was true, Blake Belladonna never had partaken the Schnee family name. It was his desire that she didn't, and the one affordance that the two women made to his displeasure about the wedding. Often times it still didn't feel like enough. "Yes…" He finally sighed, biting his tongue. "Of course Weiss."

"Now, now…" Pyrrha laughed, though how she was able to do that under pressure was a mystery to everyone in the room. "This is a tea party, is it not? We're among friends here. It's hardly the time to be worried about a few clerical oversights."

"Ah, yes you would be correct, Mrs. Nikos." Wilson agreed, setting the matter aside. "Perhaps you might like to regale us about your latest conquests in the ring. I hear the latest set of matches were of particular interest."

"It's always an interest when it's one of my former classmates." Pyrrha nodded with a small smile. "The battle itself was rather swift, but, that's to be expected given how early we are in the bracket." That she took a particular amount of pleasure to wipe the floor with Cardin Winchester was not something she mentioned.

Wilson nodded pleasantly at that. "He's a fine lad, that one."

"Cardin never stood a chance." Coco grinned, arms splayed out wide on the sofa, as if she owned the space around her. Fox on one side, and her eldest daughter on the other quietly observing the teatime for what it was. Velvet never attended these teatime gatherings, because frankly, Coco didn't want her there. Not in front of the bigots. "The man never could hold his own against any of us. Pyrrha has always come out on top."

"You judge too harshly, Mrs. Adel." Wilson muttered. "A trait you've always shared with your father. It might be prudent if I remind you that he was meant to be groomed for the army, not the arena."

"Either way, Cardin is an exemplary opponent." Pyrrha hedged, not liking where Coco was carrying the conversation. She diverted it quickly. "He's merely better suited to Grimm extermination. An honorable choice, truly."

"That, I will not argue." Wilson said, appeased once more. "It's still a shame though, that he didn't enlist like so many before him. Ah, but boys shall be boys, I suppose. If only he would settle down. There are many women of noble stock who've yet to find a proper young man. He would make a fine husband, and a wonderful father."

Pyrrha shared the man's laughter, agreeing with him once again. "You would first have to convince him not to go trudging through the thick forests, however…and he is quite the huntsman. You'll find it won't be easy."

"Too true, my dear…too true."

Several eyes shot Pyrrha incredulous glances. The boldfaced lie was done almost perfectly, but green eyes closed, merrily ignoring the gawking going on from all sides. It had appeased the elder Schnee, which had been her only goal. Even she found Cardin Winchester deplorable, and although she would never say it out loud, she would always take pleasure in beating him senseless. Payback, for all of his rude tendencies.

Still, she knew a man who favored the masculine ideal when she saw one…and Wilson Schnee was as old-fashioned as they came. Weiss's rebellion sparked fury. Cardin, and any other young man for that matter, sparked amusement and talks of adventuresome youth. Wilson Schnee was a man's man…and so, unfortunately, was Cardin Winchester.

Having had quite enough of the idiocy going on over tea, Blake gently excused herself. "As amusing as it is to play matchmaker for Cardin, someone really should see to the kitchen staff." It was yet another excuse to keep Wilson's spirits high, but it was a small price to pay to keep the peace. "If you'll excuse me."

"Yes…of course." Weiss stood, kissing her wife's hand. "Take all the time you need." The coy excuse not to come back if Blake didn't want to was freely given, a subtle squeeze of her fingers solidifying the fact that Weiss was actually worried.

Blake and Ruby no sooner walked back to the master bedroom that the younger woman was struggling with her neck tie. Truth be told, the kitchen staff didn't need any help, but Ruby and Blake both needed a breather before they throttled someone. Blake entered the walk-in closet to get ready for the evenings affairs. She could have had maids to help her, but Blake, as always, refused the offer. Still, to keep Weiss from worrying about all of the board members roaming around, she kept Ruby close by.

"Ugh…how do you stand this deathtrap!?" Ruby hacked, tightening the tie instead of loosening it.

"You get used to it."

"How?! It's choking me!"

"Well it shouldn't be doing that." Hearing the strangled mutterings for help, Blake peaked out from the closet clad in only a bra and panties. "Ruby! How in the world did you manage to do that?" Blake asked as she came to save her friend from properly strangling herself.

"I pulled on this thingy…"

"Well, that would be your problem." Blake sighed, though a soft smile graced her face. "Taking your time helps. Also, not listening to Yang probably comes as a close second." She said, undoing the fabric carefully. "I'll help you put it back on after I finish redressing for the ball."

"You looked good before, so I don't understand why we came back here."

Blake took some time before answering, partaking the ensemble that Weiss had chosen for her. "There are tea dresses for the afternoon, but ball gowns for are different. The upper class knows this. I don't want there to be any more rucks over this evening as we both already know there's going to be." The dress was simple and elegant, perfect for the affair. It didn't take much time for Blake to get ready, attire and make-up were simple things to her.

"Wow…"

"Thank you, Ruby." Blake said, as she took in the sight of herself in the mirror. "Now, stay still and don't fidget around so much." She began fixing Ruby back up into some sort of respectability. Tying her necktie, and fixing her collar so that it rested properly. "How did you manage to get it folded up into several different directions?"

"Don't ask me...I didn't design it."

Blake made a soft noise before finishing her inspection. "There, now don't fuss with it, and it should be just fine."

"Stupid uppity upper-class…" Ruby muttered, looking at herself in the mirror. "If I have to wear this stupid thing…you can't wear that stupid thing." Ruby complained unhappily, pointing to the matching ribbon tied round Blake's head. "No fair Blake, you know it's just going to make Weiss mad."

"…I don't like it when he looks at me."

"I don't like it when her dad looks at me either, but you don't see me putting a bag over my head."

"The circumstances are different…"

"It really kind of isn't." Ruby said with a shake of her head. "He hates me just as much as he hates you…probably more, after I ended up running into him on accident that one time."

"A commonalty among many in our social group, Ruby." Blake laughed, but it was forced at best. "Remember Nora…"

"Okay, so get rid of the bow…Weiss is going to flip…"

"She'll tolerate it because she loves me…"

"And she'll bite my head off for letting you do this to yourself…even I'm going to bite my own head off if you walk out that door looking like…Arg!" Ruby cut herself off, grumbling. "You're being stupid, and you know it. Don't make me call Yang, cause I will…and then she'll tattle on the both of us…annnd….okay maybe I won't call Yang…but I'll call Nora or something. I know how much you hate that!"

"I know you're right, Ruby…" Blake said softly as she took a breath. "But, that doesn't exactly make it easier."

"What's he going to do, Blake, really? Get an even bigger stick stuffed up his butt?" Ruby asked, adopting a stance that was far too much like her older sister. Over time, the busty blonde had learned what it meant to maintain proper decorum. Ruby had not. In fact, the way Ruby was scratching at the back of her neck only proved just how used to the wilds she truly was. "Please don't go out there like that…"

"Fine…fine…" Blake sighed at length, undoing the bow and folding it back up. "I can't believe I'm doing this…"

Sitting down on the bed, she opened the bedside drawer, where several other ribbons rested. Neatly categorized by length, shape, and color. Every time Blake managed to get a new outfit, Weiss was sure to buy a bow in the same material to go with it. It was one of the few impossibly expensive purchases that Blake tolerated without complaint. It was also impossibly cold in Atlas, so the bows, though marginally uncomfortable, were still warmer than walking around in the chill with nothing atop her head.

Plus, Blake had never been one for hats. Still, as much as Blake wore bows out of the house in the sub-zero weather, she rarely, if ever, wore them in the house anymore. There was just no fathomable excuse…but whenever she did, it was because someone was making her feel distinctly uncomfortable. "There, are you happy now?"

"No." Ruby lamented. "Because I'm still in this stupid thing…but we both know it makes Weiss happy…so…"

"Speaking of, you never did tell me what she bribed you with." Blake said with a small little smirk as they exited her bedroom, trekking back towards the common areas of the house. "It had to have been something big. You're wearing the SDC security uniform."

Ruby formed a little bit of a blush as she gave Blake a sideways look. "Promise not to tell Yang?"

"Now I'm curious…"

"I mean it..."

"I highly doubt anything you've asked Weiss for merits me telling Yang." Blake replied, trying to ease the somewhat distant tension that crept up in Ruby's voice.

"I don't know about that…I asked…well, for a visitor."

"Oh?"

"And this is what you don't tell Yang." Ruby murmured, her voice becoming much softer. "It's Sun…"

"Sun comes by all the time, I don't see why you would want…me to…Ruby…?"

"Uh, yeah?"

"Erm…when you mean visit…I don't suppose you mean a visit to the mansion, now do you?"

"No, I don't. I mean a nearby hotel. That's why you're not going to say a word of this to my sister." Ruby explained. "Look, it's complicated, okay...I mean, it's new. Like, really, really new."

"Um…"

"No, really…don't tell her. You know how Yang is about my personal life…and she'll make it even harder."

Blake took a sly little sniff of the air, but nothing indicated that Sun had placed any sort of hand on Ruby. At least, not anytime recently. "I suspect this has to do with the Grimm infestation you found down in one of the mineshafts…"

"Well, that's what started it." Ruby murmured uneasily, eyes wandering as they walked along. "I normally call Sun for that kind of thing, and I suppose I did then too. We got to talking, and you know, trips like that, they weigh a lot on the mind…especially his mind, him being a dad and all."

"A widower besides." Blake murmured. "Ruby, you do realize what you're getting into, right?"

"The same thing every huntress gets into when…" She swallowed hard. It felt so odd to say it. "…when she takes one of her best friends to bed." Ruby shrugged, trying to explain away the sudden awkwardness she felt. "We didn't exactly plan it this way…I mean me, with Sun, go figure, right?"

"Weiss knows…" Blake surmised.

At this Ruby offered a smile. "She's my best friend…and…my partner…she knows everything. Besides, I felt like I had to tell someone…I couldn't just…not."

Unknowingly, they'd stopped walking, paces halted between the both of them. "So, how did it happen?" Blake asked gently, her words delicate in way no one else from team RWBY could ever attain.

"I don't really know, that's the thing." Ruby pulled her lip between her teeth. Even at twenty, she was still so quick to slouch under the right sort of gaze. As if, someone she cared about might actually think less of her. "Those mines are so cold, and he's so warm, and just…just there…" The hint of a smile tugged at her lips, shyly and slowly. "What Sun and I have isn't set in stone, but it's something, and I want whatever it is."

Blake only shook her head at Ruby's silliness. "You're an adult, Ruby. It's no one's place to be meddling in your personal life. If you don't want me to tell Yang, then I won't…but if you feel that strongly about it, maybe you should."

"I would…" Ruby said then. "If doing that wouldn't make her worry so much. Thing is, we both know she's only going to worry more."

"Ruby, listen, you had one bad relationship."

"Abusive..." Ruby muttered.

"I know..." At this she pulled Ruby into a hug to soften her next words. "Join the club." Blake told her. "You got passed it. You're fine. If Yang can't see that, then she's babying you too much."

"But, you know, how she thinks." Ruby whispered. "She'll think it's warranted...and besides...I..." Her arms wrapped around Blake and she closed her eyes. "I'm not ready to make it public, and neither is Sun."

Blake nodded, as they finally pulled away. "All in good time, then. Sun's a wonderful man when it comes down to it." Blake knew that first hand. "Weiss clearly knows, and she's not threatening Sun within an inch of his life, so everything must be okay…if she's not worried about it, I won't be…and if you do decide to tell Yang, I'll most certainly talk her down if I have to."

"That's what Weiss said..." Ruby smiled at this. "You're going to be late, you know…"

"Not hardly." Blake rolled her eyes. "Alright then, let's go torture ourselves, and with any luck the prudes will all be drunk before midnight."

AYangThang: So yeah, this fiction isn't all sunshine and rainbows, but I promise it won't get too dark either...that'll be saved for the prequel I'm working on alongside this fiction. The reason I haven't started posting that up yet is because I like to get all of the planning done before writing out my chapters. In any case, this is a double post day, so keep an eye out. Chapter 11 will be up within the next several hours. Hope you all have a pleasant evening!