Hello everyone once again, and thanks for enjoying the previous chapter, at least that's what it looked like it. An update on my situation; it's feelin pretty good honestly. I'm getting what I need to get done, and a good hour or two to put into writing, that's all really. This chapter is going to be slightly different from the rest, it being a deeper input into the other appearances and their connections to Remnant from Rapture. This'll probably be the longest chapter out of them all since I don't want to split them up because I'm lazy and will take more time than I want to on them all and keep you waiting. Not much else to say, I hope you enjoy.
A winter's howl has always been known to chill anyone's heart, and only the heart with the greatest fire can melt away the cold to warm ones spirit, lighting the way to their future. One's choice can lead to greatness, and with it, unlimited potential. These words can only be heard by those who truly wish to live their life, and with it, a chance to be free from those above.
A cold breath of air escaped the lips of Winter Schnee as she stood outside the gates of a large manor sitting on the edge of a frozen lake. Her stance stood straight and tall, her white hair blowing in the winter wind, but the cold can reach even the deepest parts of ones spirit, causing them to falter. This however was not the case for Winter, she was someone of a proud status, and with it a confidence to melt any feeling that would come her way with her own freezing grasp. Though at this very moment, the cold she was feeling was not from the surrounding Atlas winds or anything of the sort; it instead was the feeling of the sight that stood directly in front of her.
Beyond the gates in front of her was a plenty of green, the plateau of land full of life as it was as the world around it left it alone to its own expenses. The entire area inside the property was alive when compared to the life outside of it, the color also being a main part of its life. It almost looked as if it would've been impossible to even suggest this possibility, yet, here it was in front of her eyes.
As she continued to glance at the beauty that stood beyond the gate, a voice came from her left, causing her to almost jump from her surprise.
"It's even better inside Ms. Schnee."
She quickly turned to her left, and standing right in front of her was an young woman, one that only looked slightly older than herself. She stood only slightly taller than her, with curled brunette colored hair and brown eyes. Sitting on her nose where a pair of large, rounded glasses.
"Excuse me?" She asked in a questioning manner while turning her attention to the woman.
"The Gardens Ms. Schnee. There's nothing like it on Remnant, and I'd challenge anyone to try and reproduce it." The woman said in confidence.
Winter stared at the woman with a confused glance. The main reason being that some woman walked up to her and started talking about the scenery that sat directly in front of her, talking about how there's nothing like it in its entirety, and while she's never seen anything like it before, there's no way one can say that-
Her thoughts were cut off when the woman started to talk again. "Mass Arcadia is a place like no other in Atlas, but it's something even greater than before."
Winter was more confused by this point, the woman was practically speaking to the wind as anything that she had said to this point had flown through one ear and directly out the other. Not out of disrespect, but because it sounded like some madwoman just speaking whatever she wanted to speak. "Excuse me ma'am, but who might you be exactly?"
She stared at Winter for a second before pushing her glasses up higher onto her nose. "Forgive my sudden outburst," She held out her hand towards Winter. "My name is Doctor Julie Langford, the Botanist or Groundkeeper for this manor. Anything that you see outside is my work, and If you hadn't seen by this point, I take great pride in my creations."
Winter nodded her head slowly as she looked at the woman with curiosity. She was still confused slightly on why she would randomly walk up to a random individual and-
Winter caught onto a major part she missed. The woman knew who she was. She started to open her mouth but was stopped by the woman once again.
"Mr. Ry- I mean Mr. Osley's," She slightly coughed while covering her hand before speaking again. "His intercom doesn't work anymore as well as that guests are very rare out here as you can see." She walked over to the side of the gate, pressing a few buttons on the side before the gates began to part, or rather sink into the ground, disappearing into the snow. "Follow me please. He's been expecting you since the General's last message about sending someone to speak." Langford started to walk into the area now known as Mass Arcadia. The name itself was a mystery, and even more was the experience she was having right now.
Behind her she left behind the cold winter and was now walking through a perfectly tempered plateau of wild plants and more. There were flowers of every color imaginable along with trees that she'd never seen before. Some held sharp needles while others had soft, and an even large arrangement of plant life. As her eyes continued to trail around the area, Langford's voice appeared again to brake the silence.
"This entire manor and its grounds acts entirely different from Atlas's weathers patterns, effectively creating its own atmosphere inside a globed area. Because of this, I was able to create a tempered zone throughout each individual area around here, and allowing any sort of life to grow because of it."
Winter started to open her mouth but was cut off once again. "Don't bother asking how, and not because it's a secret, but rather you're simple mindedness wouldn't be able to comprehend what I'm speaking about. " They stopped next to a tree, and Langford walked over to it, placing her hand upon it. "This is the Salix babylonica, Also known as the Weeping Willow, a fine specimen if I must say so myself. Even though a subspecies of it, this one I chose specifically, a perfect tree to match the feeling of Atlas and it's icy nature. Tell me Ms. Schnee, why do you think that the name Weeping Willow fits it so well?
Winter only slightly opened her mouth but was stopped by the woman, again.
"Because of it's appearance Ms. Schnee. The name itself suits the appearance quite naturally If I may say so myself. Even though it looks as if its hanging down long strains of leaves, in all actuality the greenish white leaves of this species sit attached to a long drooping twig." She reached into the tree and grabbed ahold of said twig, pulling it only so slightly before letting it fall back into the blanket of leaves. "And before you try to associate any sort of meaning to this tree, I should tell you there is none. These plants are life, and with it, should be treated with more care than any other."
Langford lifted her arm and pointed down the flower riddled road. "Follow this path and you'll arrive in front of the main door. Be wary, Ry- Mr. Osley takes pride in anything that he has, and with it the wildlife that roams his land. Good day to you Ms. Schnee, and goodbye." With that, she disappeared behind the Weeping Willow, and was gone, leaving Winter alone in an unfamiliar area, and left with only a single direction to follow.
At this point, Winter was confused with what, and who she was dealing with. It was clear that Ms. Langford was hiding something about Mr. Osley, or from what she was practically implying, if that was even his name. She pushed her current thoughts and started to follow down the path she was pointed towards, and while she was unsure to trust such a suspicious woman, it was the only direction she was given after entering this unfamiliar territory.
She continued to walk down the path before catching something in the corner of her eye. A black shadow passed around a corner of a nearby building while following another shadowed figure. Winter started to quickly pace towards the direction of the mysterious figures but was halted when a voice came over an intercom nearby, of which she could not see.
"Ms. Schnee. Please continue on your previous path, wanderers are not welcome in this property." Winter stood still for a second before taking a few steps back onto the path, the voice speaking once more. "Good. Continue forward, I'll be there to meet you shortly."
Winter stood still for a second, her attention still towards where the figures were spotted. While she was most certainly curious about what she saw, she was here for a reason and needed to accomplish it.
Placing one foot in front of the other, she pressed onward towards her objective. In front of her now stood a large house with various windows unlit and many more covered by the drapes from the inside. The color of the house was a deep sea blue, one that stood out very differently from the Atlas white. What the strangest sight to her right now was the fact that the door to the large manor was sitting open for anyone to walk in, or rather, open for her to walk into. The voice on the intercom was true to their words when they said that they'd be waiting for her or be there waiting for her. The interior of the door was well lit as well, a long hallway could be seen even from where she was standing.
Moving forward, each step carrying her closer to the open door and to meeting Mr. Osley who she guessed to be speaking to her through the intercom. When she finally stood in front of the doorway, she waited to be invited into the house, only to hear the collection of tapping moving towards her direction. What was strange about the sound, was the fact that it was coming from behind her instead of in front.
She quickly turned around and spotted a sight she found rather unusual, and alarming. A man was walking towards her, a golf club putter that appeared to being used as a cane of sorts. A hat sat on the mans head, covering most of his face from the distance he was at, his brown suit standing in color of the surrounding trees.
What stood out most to her was what was walking, or to be more exact; prowling next to the man. Everything about it screamed out danger towards her, yet at the same time it eluded a presence of a calming nature, alarming Winter even more. It's body was littered with an elusive grey color, and its eyes stared at her with a deep, yet sickening emerald green. Even at this distance, she knew what she was staring at. Winter started to reach towards her waist, but was stopped by the man's voice.
"Cease if you would, there's no need for such violence." The man tapped the putter on the ground, and like dust, the Grimm almost instantaneously fell to dust, it's body flowing into the cracks of the stone instead of it normally floating into the air. He began forward and passed Winter, walking into the house before turning around and speaking again.
"Come. This is business is it not?" With that, he turned around and began walking down the long hallway at a slow pace, waiting for her to follow.
Winter waited for a second before taking a step forward onto the entry stepping stone, and letting herself inside. The door behind her closed ever so slowly as she continued her way into the manner, all before closing completely, a series of locks clicking on it.
She let her eyes wander as she walked through the large hallway, and to her surprise, the number of arts she saw upon the wall were so different in variety, she wondered how one could match them together so well in a single area. Curiosity struck her cord, and she opened her mouth.
"Mr. Osley. If you don't mind me asking, where did you acquire such pieces? Many of this I've never seen around Atlas before…"
The man in front of her continued to walk down the hall, each step being the same as the next, even though he walked with cane of sorts, and she wasn't even sure he needed it because of his movement. "They're works of my own Ms. Schnee. Each and every one I've painted, and to be honest, they deserve to be nowhere else."
Winter was stunned as they continued to walk. Whether she believed him or not, the fact that he implied that every work of art within this single hall, and maybe even throughout the manor, was made by his own hand. The thought of it was wild, mostly because each style of the paintings, while there were some that matched the styles of others, there were the ones that were completely abstract from one another.
Paintings continued to line the walls, each one having a name plaque underneath it. Names of what she guessed to be the individuals in the paintings sat on the plaques, and the sceneries she saw throughout them looked almost surreal, as even in her mind the things she saw she could have never imagined to be real. Osley came to a stop and stood in front of a large painting on the wall, and this one stood out especially to Winter, mostly for what it displayed.
The painting itself looked like it was depicting an afternoon landscape of a park with numerous picnickers, of which were wearing extremely strange clothing at that, and appeared to be watching sailboats on the clear, reflective water. The painting looked almost deliberately mundane, yet at the same time it exuded a feeling of harmony through not only through the colors , but also the scene itself.
"A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte; in case you were curious. Two years and a plenty of mistakes lead to this masterpiece, yet I can hardly say that I did it myself… Please, were almost there." He took a right at the hallway split, and with it lead to a room instead of another hallway that lead the other direction. Winter turned her attention back to the painting once again before falling back into the direction of following Osley. Two large oak doors invited her into a dark lit office, brown leather chairs sat in front of a dark brown colored desk, on which sat a few figures of various creations. One sat a tall tower, one that she'd never seen before, a pattern she'd seen throughout this entire visit. The other figures followed suit, from the very models of the ships, and other vehicles.
A large painting sat above the fireplace that was behind Osley's chair, the massive piece containing a portrait of a man. He was wearing a simple set of clothing, one very different from the atmosphere this place gave off. He had a mostly receding russet colored hair while a brown mustache curled upwards on his face. His almost blank expression was taken away by the slight smile he was given. Even though she was a distance away from the name plate beneath it, she saw that it read "Bill McDonagh- A father, A Genius, A Friend, but most importantly, A Great Man"
She continued to stare at the various things throughout the room, until Osley spoke her name. "Ms. Schnee. When I hear of someone being part of a Specialist Unit, I would expect one to follow the example of one." She quickly turned her attention to him, and with it, stood at attention, her hands behind her back.
"My apologies Mr. Osley. This is quite a new sight for me."
There wasn't a response for a second, but that was quickly cut short by his voice again. "Sit down Ms. Schnee. I would expect this from you while I was younger, now it's but a friendly chat between two who will soon conduct business." He gestured out to one of the chairs. "Please, take a seat."
Winter hesitated for a second, before walking herself around and sitting herself in the chair noticing its rather comfortableness, and feeling despite it looking to be older leather.
"Tell me Ms. Schnee, what might you know of me? I always wonder what those outside of my time look at me as."
She waited for a second before speaking. "From what I understand Mr. Osley is that you were a main contributor to building Atlas, and Schnee industries along with many other business across Remnant."
He nodded his head for a moment before speaking up again. "Correct. I suppose I should tell you a little tale first, then a story, and lastly a memory. All of which I'd suggest you pay close attention to Ms. Schnee, a thing might happen and be a total lie; another thing may not happen and be truer than the truth. So tell me, which one would you believe to be absolute?"
The man cupped his hands and leaned forward, his blue eyes looking into hers. At this moment, Winter then noticed that his hat was sitting on a hat stand across the room in a place that she would've seen him move to if he indeed do so.
Winter swallowed before speaking. "Does not ones view on history itself depict what could or could not be viewed as a truth and or a lie? Could we even trust our own eyes at that point?" She held her breath as she waited for an answer.
Osley uncapped his hands and leaned back in his chair, his expression still unchanging. "I can't tell you if you're right or wrong. Our opinion drives our lives and with it, the ability to distinguish truths from lies. I can say that through my life, I've come to understand that while you may be able to do the impossible, there's always the point where you will revert to what you once hopped to stop…"
She let out her breath, thankful to the answer while not the straightest or best explained, but at least there wasn't a negative to it.
"I suppose I should begin with the tale, a short one at that. It's about a man, one born into a world where life was grandiose and rewarded him with his efforts throughout it, only to be tarnished by the very philosophy he believed he could follow. He sought to escape these tarnishing's, or parasites and with it, create something that would allow those, like himself, to follow their dreams without those very limits that was placed on them." He stood up, and while Winter started to as well; he kept his hand out and gestured her to stay sitting. "That very creation, was Rapture. A utopia for those who desired a life without censor, where the scientist would not be bound by petty mortality, and where the great would not be constrained by the small. This was that very area, and while for a time it experienced the perfect vision that he envisioned, it fell to the very thing that he wished to escape, and it was brought on only by himself; slowly leading to the eventual crumble of his greatest dream, and accomplishment…"
Osley was pouring himself a glass of brown, clear liquid into a small glass, all before glancing into it, and staring at what Winter could only guess to be his reflection. He lifted it to his lips and drank it all, placing it slowly back onto the counter before pouring another glass and turning around.
"That, was the tale Ms. Schnee. Next one would be the story, one that is connected to your very family, and unlike the tale, much shorter. You see, your grandfather is a man that I respect in both his standing as a man and a business partner. Sadly, the same cannot be said for the choices he's made towards his family. I'll be blunt Ms. Schnee, your father is not capable of continuing what Nicholas and I started, especially the purpose it was built upon."
Instead, he sipped the liquid slightly before setting it down again. "I told him over and over again that his health would continue to fall if he didn't stop his rapid expansion, and his apparent need to visit physically everywhere he went. I knew that I couldn't take his business, and that my position would have to stay that of a benefactor, and the next course of action wasn't the best if his health did fail him. This of course didn't stop him, as my words never did, and here we are. You're family business is in a darker place than it should have ever been, and the profits it makes are nothing less than the dust under my boot. I left years ago Ms. Schnee, I'd suspect you to remember this as well, though you were much younger than you were now."
He finished his drink and set it down, placing the bottle of liquid away in its icy compartment, and the glass along with it. "Which leads me to the last bit, you see I'd been much closer to your family than you'd think, almost like an uncle to your father, one that I'd wish I'd never have to be." A sigh escaped his lips as he walked over to his chair, and sat down, the fireplace behind him still burning. "It was a night much colder than today, yet the passion that burns within you Schnee's always seem to stop the freezing cold that plagues these lands. That night I saw something that burned brighter than even yourself; a sense of passion to do what is right. I have an eye for talent you see, even now I want to meet them again, to tell them more than I ever could have before. That night… That was the night, of my retirement."
….
The air outside was freezing, yet the inside of the palace sized building was as warm as a loving hold. There was one thing that stood out the most, and it was that Weiss hated parties, or to be more exact, the type of people she met there, and the attitude that they practically bled. She met most of these individuals at the parties who were partners of her father that were held to her family business name, Schnee Industries. Most of the partners were big aristocratic, those who saw themselves higher than others around them.
Even though her father pushed those vary ideologies upon her, there was a part she couldn't accept of it. Yet because of her position, opposing those teachings were hardly an option.
Unlike many of the other parties she was forced to attend too, this one was different from the rest. This wasn't for Schnee Industries or for any successful deal made, it was something that she knew nothing about, only that she was told that it was for a friend of her grandfather. That and there was a much greater amount of people attending this party than any other she's attended before. The building she was in was much different as well; rather than it being in a regular dining hall of sorts of in a room in their estate, this was something much more. It was a modern mastery of architecture, like a castle made for the modern industry. It was a sight to behold for anyone that saw it.
As Weiss continued to look around, she began to notice that many of those that were here, was a plenty that she'd never seen before at any of the other parties she'd been at. It was practically implied by this setting, that whoever this friend of her grandfathers was someone that stood higher than her father in many aspects.
After glancing around for bit longer, Weiss noticed a certain predicament to her situation. Her sister Winter was nowhere to be seen. Just minutes before, she was greeting guests with her older sister since the beginning of the night, a regular thing to do in her case, and now she was gone.
Her eyes darted around quickly, left to right; then back behind her only to spin back to the front. Nothing- nothing but taller persons than herself, some even adding to the effect of mystery by wearing masquerade masks. She started to wander, the want to quickly find her sister rising ever so quickly. The chattering of voices continued to rise, foreign sounds and words jumping out at her, then it his Weiss. A voice, "To those out there that think there's not a chance for you to believe, just know you're never too young." Then a song she's never heard before, yet the very words it sang to her changed the situation she was in from that of being panicked, to being calm.
Too Young By Nat Cole King
They try- to tell us we're to young-
Too young- to really be in love-
They say that's a loves a word
A word we've only heard
But can't begin to know the meaning of-
And yet we're not too young to know-
This love will last though years may go-
And then- someday they may recall-
We were not too young- at all-
The band came to life, the various instruments creating a blend of beauty and creativity that she'd thought she wouldn't have ever heard. The danced through the air, and into the her ears, sparking a feeling to move inside her. A swift movement of her feet, then she was moving. Slight steps here and there, and Weiss was moving across the floor ever so gracefully, all while keeping her eyes shut for a reason she didn't even understand. It was as if she could feel the song when she did such a thing.
And yet we're not too young to know-
This love- will last though years may go-
And then- someday they may recall-
We were not- too young- at- all-
A twirl continued into another, and with her final spin with her eyes still shut, a unknown 'wall' stopped her motions, and made her stumble back ever so slightly. The moment Weiss opened her eyes and saw the 'wall' she ran into was not a wall at all, but rather a person surround by others that were currently staring at her.
Weiss's face immediately changed from one of joy to that of worry as her loose posture turned into that of a tense one as she apologized to the man. "I-I'm sincerely sorry sir I wasn't paying attention."
As she bowed her head ever so slightly, she could hear the whispering of those surrounding the man, and while she couldn't hear their words, she most certainly knew that it was about her. Before he could imagine on what the man would say to her, he suddenly spoke up. "Could you leave us for a moment gentlemen?"
The whispers were cut off almost immediately after the man spoke. Rather quickly, another man spoke up. "Of course Mr. Osley. We'll await your speech later on."
With that, she saw the feet of the other men walk off leaving only Weiss and the man now known as Mr. Osley, or what one could consider alone when surrounded by hundreds of other people in the same room.
The man spoke again, this time much clearer than it was before, his voice cutting through every other around them, and was made directly towards her. "Lift your head child." Weiss hesitated for a second before doing what she was told. She glanced upwards and first saw a caramel colored suit, then a pair of blue eyes staring into her own. He spoke up again, causing her to flinch slightly. "Tell me your name child, as well as who you came her with?"
Weiss stayed quiet for a moment before speaking. Her stance changing as she bobbed a curtsy to the man in front of her.
"My name is Weiss Schnee. My father is Jacques Schnee, president of-"
She was quickly cut off by the man's voice. "Ahhh, You're a Schnee I see. I should've picked that out with… all the white. You Schnee's always did seem to fancy that color." He paused for a second before reaching into his suit pocket. After pulling his hands out, in his fingers a golden coin. "I can see on your face that you're confused about who I am exactly. To be blunt, your grandfather and I go far back to when we were younger."
Weiss pondered to herself. 'Of course you are 'good friends' with my grandfather. Just as there are many 'friends' of my Fathers. It honestly was beginning to annoy her on how many people tried to make their just by placing themselves next to those higher up, and Osley was-
"You've probably heard that phrase a plenty of times before. I must reassure you Ms. Schnee, those parasites are nothing but those who seek to use your Father for their own gains." A ringing came from the inside of his suit, and after reaching in he pulled out a scroll, folding it out and reading what was on the screen. Osley closed the scroll and placed it back into his suit. He leaned down and grabbed ahold of Weiss's hand, placing the golden coin into it and wrapping her hand around it. "Let me tell you something Weiss. I don't fancy these parties of celebration, they're simply a meeting of naysayers; and that's something I saw when I first saw you. I can tell that you are the same." Another ring came from his suit, his smile changing into that of a frown. "We're not finished her Weiss Schnee." He stood back up and padded his suit down. His slick black hair the same as when he started and his blue eyes staring off towards the large stage at the one end of the room. Osley took a step forward and began his saunter in that direction, leaving Weiss with a golden coin in her hand, and once again, alone surrounded by hundreds of people.
She was confused more than anything at the current moment. A gold coin was just placed in her hand by a man claiming to be close to her grandfather, of who she was hardly even close to being familiar with. Her grip on the coin tightened.
Who was he to suddenly 'explain' himself to her as if to try and prove something to her? Or was he even doing that? This 'Mr. Osley, a friend of her grandfather' clearly had some sort of intention to settle with her, but what it was exactly was what confused her. What could there even be discussed between the two of them? While she was being taught in the many aspects of the family business, there was nothing that she could do about it.
Weiss was wandering at this point, and with it attracting some attention from those around her. She noticed this and began to shuffle her way to the closest open door near her. Thankfully there was a large pair of double doors that was slightly cracked, the red carpet on the other side leading to what she hoped to be a place of temporary tranquility.
Just after she slipped through the crack of the large door, the speakers in the other room came to life, and a voice that Weiss would've heard came over them, her father's.
"Greetings everyone, and welcome to a time of celebration, and one of farewells as well. First things first, I'd like to thank everyone for attending this event, it means as much to me, as the one we're celebrating for. As you know, the SDC is a business that drives Remnant and it's people, and that without it, we'd be in a much darker place than before. Thankfully, the man who founded Schnee Industries wasn't alone, a great few walked beside him, and with their help, we are who we are today. That said, today we're losing yet another member of Schnee industries, one that has been here as long as the one who created this company with his bare hands. That man is, Jefferey Osley." A large sound applauding erupted from the other room, causing Weiss to turn around slightly. Through she didn't know why they were clapping, she didn't care either, and continued her way down the red carpeted hallway.
…...
After minutes of walking, Weiss at this point determined that she was indeed lost. While she wasn't exactly sure of where she was heading when she first left the room, she at least thought of returning to the room, and now she couldn't even do that. The main reason to her forgetfulness in this situation would have to be the fact that she was heavily distracted by everything she was surrounded by, all of which was a complete foreign sight to her.
Every turn introduced either a new sculpture or painting to her sights, and with it, a new way to lose herself in the newly found artistic masterpieces.
Another step forward led her somewhere much different from the rest this time, and it was all in the same attempt to return to the large room where the many people still ought to remain.
This wasn't a hallway like the rest, rather it was room instead. A room that was extremely dark, any sort of lights that would normally be present wasn't except for a single point in the room, that being in the center. Sitting in the center of the room was what looked to be a model of what looked to be a city of sorts.
Hesitating for a second, Weiss stepped forward into the room and onto the deep blue colored marble that sounded throughout the room with each step forward. Yet with each step closer to the model, her curiosity grew ever more until she stood directly in front of it.
Various tall buildings sat close together, each one have green colored windows and small tunnels connecting to each building next to one another. While some stood taller than others, a single building stood out the most to her, and atop of it sat a small sign lit up by neon lights.
"Ryan Industries…"
A small sound appeared from behind her, and caused her to spin around quickly. Weiss's eyes darted around the doorway she came from, and when she was sure that she was alone, she turned back around.
Sitting right next to the sign was a green button with a wire leading down to a small plaque on the other side of the model. Weiss glanced the model city over once more before letting curiosity get the better of her once again, and allowing herself to push the green button, then came nothing. She pressed the button once again, and yet nothing came once more. Feeling slightly agitated from the recent development of the non-working button, she began to look around the model even more, hoping to spot what might be the cause of the contraption not working. Thankfully to her attempts at searching, she was rewarded with a small circular slot in the very center of the model. Running her hand across it, she tried to think about what exactly would go in that spot.
'The coin!' Weiss thought to herself. Reaching into the small purse she had on her, and pulling out the small golden coin that after inspecting it, had the face of Mr. Osley upon it. Reaching down and successfully setting the coin into the slot, she went back and stood in front of the button.
Placing her finger upon the button, earning a clicking sound instead of nothing, then sudden trail of lights following the small line, lighting it up along with the wire connected to the plaque which was too lit up by a small light at the bottom of it. She walked around the model and stood in front of the plaque, and before she could read it aloud like the sign before, a familiar voice came from all around her.
"I am Andrew Ryan, and I'm here to ask you a question. Is a man not entitled to the sweat of his brow? 'No!' says the man in Washington, 'It belongs to the poor.' 'No!' says the man in the Vatican, 'It belongs to God.' 'No!' says the man in Moscow, 'It belongs to everyone.' I rejected those answers; instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose... Rapture, a city where the artist would not fear the censor, where the scientist would not be bound by petty morality, Where the great would not be constrained by the small! And with the sweat of your brow-
Rapture can become your city as well."
The entire room lit up around Weiss, a flurry of colors crowded her vision as she spun around quickly as she tried to comprehend what was happening. Another song came on, this one much different from the one she heard before, yet it had the same feeling of familiarity to it.
Let's Fly Away By Lee Wiley
Weiss was taken aback from the sudden appearance that appeared around her. Stretching from one side of the room to the other in a arc wrapping in front of her. Objects sat on mounts like those she saw in museums. What stood out about these objects was that she'd never seen anything like it before, even in books that she'd read whenever she had the chance.
Machines that had the size of fire hydrants with propellers attached to the top and what looked to have large guns attached to the bottom of them sat dormant on the pedestals, and right next to it was another machine, this one looking like a turret instead.
More models like that of the city sat upon the pedestals, these appearing to be mechanical figures of large diving suits that used to be seen long ago as part of the Schnee industries diving section, of which was soon removed since it proved too dangerous to continue. Those models looked exactly like those diving suits, except there was another one attached to it directly next to it. It appeared to be small child wearing a pink dress, and in her hand an even smaller object. The whole thing sent a shuddering feeling down her back.
Weiss pushed herself past the next few objects, stopping upon the center pedestal that sat between each side. This one stood out much more to her than the others, and the reason for this was the fact that it was sitting behind a red curtain. Unlike the other displays, this one was also the only one that had a plaque sitting directly in front of it, and another button sitting next to it.
"ADAM and EVE, the scientific paints to create the canvas of human genetic modification."
Another ping of curiosity got the better of Weiss, and she once again pressed the button next to it. The curtains began to part, and sitting atop of the pedestal was a thick container, with a syringe connected to the end of it. She focused her attention on the container then back to the plaque. She knew something was off from that moment.
'It's speaking about two different things, but… but there's only one-'
She felt a grip on her shoulder and was quickly turned around. A familiar sight of a tail and a mask appeared directly in front of Weiss. A white mask adorned with red lines, and a sickly smile right below it stared down at her and sitting in the man's other hand was what she guessed to be the other syringe, this one holding a deep red liquid instead.
"Time to get fulfill your role little princess. DIE!"
Her eyes widened at what was about to happen to her. Everything slowed down as the syringe started to come down upon her making her shut her eyes in fear of what was going to happen next. She regretted coming into this room, and letting her curiosity get the best of her, now she was going to die because of it…
Except it never came. Weiss opened her eyes and saw the White Fang Faunus struggling to smash the syringe down upon her, but was unable to because of a wire wrapped around his wrist. His grip lessened and she was able to pull herself out and get away from the Faunus who was now turning around to look at who was stopping him from finishing his job. Weiss also glanced to the doorway to see who was her savior from her inevitable end.
Standing in the doorway was a man wearing a caramel colored double breasted suit, oiled back black hair and a pair of blue eyes staring intensely at the Faunus in the room. In his outstretched arm was a golf club with its golf head missing and in it's place was a straight line stretching to where the Faunus was at.
"Ah, Ms. Schnee. I see you've found your way into my Salle de souvenirs. A place I take pride in. One that I was hoping anyone wouldn't purposefully grab ahold of priceless memories." Mr. Osley pressed a button on the golf club and the White Fang activist started to get pulled towards them, his feet sliding across the floor. Weiss quickly glanced back at Mr. Osley and saw his face staying the same as when she first saw him, stern and unchanging.
"You see, I have a great disliking towards certain individuals and groups along with their ideals." As he spoke, the White Fang member continued to be slowly dragged towards him not matter the struggle that he attempted. "At first there were the Unions and their charities. Then there was the religious types, always believing that if it belonged to their God, it didn't belong to the man that built it." He brought his arm down, throwing the White Fang to the floor and making him slide towards him on his stomach. "And while with time, experience, and mistakes, I came to deal with those types of groups… But there was still one problem lying within."
At this point, the White Fang member was almost at his feet, still struggling, now on his knees as he tried to take the wire from around his wrist. "That would be those who cause terror to only do that. To be a nuisance to not only the ones who created them, but to those around them who were innocent from the very beginning; innocent bystanders that wanted no part in your war; the epitome of parasites-"
Osley let go of the button and flicked a switch causing the wire to unravel itself and release the White Fang member who quickly stood up, still holding the syringe in his hand and ready to attack Osley. "You're-!"
Before he could say anymore, the end of a golf club came from the end of a wire and smacked into his chin, launching him off his feet and a few feet into the air before falling onto the ground unconscious. "And the most I hate is those who interrupt a wonderful experience." He reached placed the golf club under his arm and grabbed ahold of the White Fang Faunus, tossing him over his shoulder before turning to Weiss. "Apologies Ms. Schnee. I figured that as a child, you would eventually wonder off into this place. While I didn't expect our guest here, that doesn't mean we can't continue where we left off."
Weiss simply stared at the man in front of her speechless. There was nothing she could think to say to Osley, who just saved her life as if it was nothing. She didn't know what to think right now, but if anything was concurrent this night, it was her curiosity and how it continually got the better of her.
She nodded her head in response to his offer, earning a smile from the older man.
"Great. I've already called for one of my guards-" A single man appeared in the door. A large bull Faunus with one of his horns broken in half and two large scars on his head, one on his neck, and the other his across his neck. "Ah, Ivan. Please take him to the authorities outside." The man known as Ivan stared at him for a second before nodding his head and taking the man off of Osley's shoulder and walking in the opposite hall direction as them.
"Mr. Osley, if you mind telling me what were you talking about when you said that you and I were the same?" Weiss asked. She was truly curious on what this man saw from her and made the connection of the two of them being the same.
He spoke. "Tell me Weiss. Do you want to grow up to be someone who only listens to what their told, or do you want to choose your own path?" He turned his head and smiled softly towards her, one that he'd never shown to very few from her best guess. "Myself; I'd choose not to go to these parties anymore."
….
Winter didn't know what to say after the story she was just told. Supposedly Mr. Osley had met her younger sister Weiss that night of his retirement party, before and after saving her life and an assassination attempt. He'd told her that he wished to have had more time to chat with Weiss, but her father came looking for Osley and got rather upset at Weiss for talking with him, why he was mad; even he wasn't sure of her father's anger.
"I'm a changed man Ms. Schnee, one that has seen many things and learned more than I ever thought I could've because of it. So when I say this, you must understand that I'll have to say no."
Winter responded rather quickly. "What do you mean Mr. Osley?"
The man turned around in his chair and inclined it slightly. "War is, and will always be the last thing I support as long as I live." A puff of smoke came from the front of the chair. "Thank you for listening Winter. Not many listen to an old man such as myself."
Winter was, well, she didn't know how she felt in this situation. Not even having a chance to talk about the deal Ironwood tasked her with, and after what felt like an hour or even longer of listening to an old man's story, she was unsuccessful in it entirely. She started to open her mouth, but stopped herself. She knew that she wasn't going even speak to him about the deal.
"I understand Mr. Osley. Please take care of your health as time goes on, smoking has shown to have bad issues retaining to ones health." She turned around and began to walk out before hearing a small chuckle come from the man in the chair.
"Send James when you get the chance. I need to see if he's grown up enough to drink with the older men now."
Winter smiled. "Of course Mr. Osley. I'm sure he'll be delighted to do so." With that, she exited the room and made her way down the art lined hallway.
…..
The next day the man known as Jeffery Osley was no more. He was found dead in his bed that morning, presumed to die of old age in his sleep.
Thank you all for reading all of this, and ever so more for anything you've done to this point, cause I'm not close to being done yet. The next three chapters to come will come to cover the connections that the team of RWBY and possibly later on the other character connections to certain characters of Rapture and Columbia in some way. After those, the storyline can continue forward and we can actually get onto the main course of this story. If you dislike this, well, deal with it. I'm a man of lore and backstory, and without it, I feel empty when writing certain things, sorry.
If you have any concerns, likes, dislikes, funnies, not funnies or anything of that sort, speak your mind.