Blake's call came from out of nowhere. It was unexpected to say the least, and the thought of her team brought back the stress of loss in her life. Being on team RWBY was the first time Weiss had ever emotionally invested in others to such an extent, and now that'd been ripped away all too soon. She felt as if a bandage had been torn off before anything had time to heal; she wasn't ready to face them again. How would they see her after this? It wouldn't hard to believe that she had ran from everything, escaped to the safety and comfort of home while the others were left to manage their own tragedies.

That couldn't be farther from the truth! Weiss pleaded with her own image of her team's disappointed, frowning faces. If only they would listen to her. The choice to return home wasn't hers. She would've stayed. She would've helped. She'd cry with them, and laugh together with them too, at all the small things they met as they rebuilt the comfort of friendship and the safety it held before everything went downhill. No longer was she the ice princess who held others below her.

These were words she waited to explain to her team, or anyone who would listen. The call from Blake was an opportunity to use them. But she never got her chance. Instead, the topic stayed on Yang, Ironwood, and everything going on between the two. More stress to be piled onto the fact that Ruby is missing and the rest of the team parted. She tried to encourage Blake, even though none of her words would mean much. Knowing Blake and her tendencies to over-exert herself, she needed someone to stop her from killing herself from lack of the basic necessities of life.

"Don't worry! I'm sure everything will work out somehow," Weiss waited for a moment's opening to instill some form of optimism in her. But all too soon, Blake cut away. It was little compensation knowing that Weiss gave her some solution to work upon. Though, perhaps it was for the best that Weiss couldn't speak her line. It would be hard to convince her anything if Weiss didn't even believe it herself. Optimism wasn't her strong suit. She'd always held realism and rationality at a higher priority.

She needed a change of scenery, a change of pace maybe. Talking could only get someone so far, and without being there in person, the problem felt so distant. And the 'safety' she was guaranteed in her home seemed more like imprisonment. It only helped to make the rest of the world and the people there seem that much further away. Anywhere off the property was off-limits for her. 'We can't ensure your safety if you go out' was the message she got every time she tried to leave. She was lucky if she could even get out the door to get some fresh air in the garden. Whoever ordered them to guard the estate may as well have been convinced the whole world was out to get her, or vice-versa. So again, she'll be cooped up in the spacious - empty - house.

Weiss felt alone in that place. It was supposed to be home, but it felt as homey as a hotel. Good enough in looks to pass off as a cozy place, but nothing sentimental there. She felt more at home at Beacon, but… Again, she was stuck on the thought of her team and the fun they had together. Her memories retold peaceful times, with proms and classes. They were vivid, colorful, and instilled hope, happiness, and warmth. Reality hits as it usually does, though, with a train crashing full of problems and regret. But now that only made her want to make everything go back to how it was.

She got to wandering about the halls and rooms with her absence of purpose. It never felt right to just sit around idly while something could be done. For Weiss, it was just a matter of figuring out what she could do. She thought and thought, but the only things that came to mind were sneaking out to meet with the others, or stay here with the wild-goose-chase of asking 'have you seen this' or 'tell me what you know about this'. Neither seemed promising, she thought more and wandered more though the dim halls of the building.

A shred of light caught her eye from a door she never dared to intrude upon uninvited: the study. That room more or less belonged to Winter, whenever she was home. She held that attitude of 'business only' even at home as well and worked all the same. The study might as well have been another office for her. As such, the door was usually closed or locked, Winter or no Winter. Weiss never saw it left open, not even a sliver as it is now. She reached to open the door and prepared a sisterly greeting. She caught her words before they left her lips, though, when she heard Winter speaking already to someone else. Curious, Weiss peeked inside.

"It would do you well to stop acting like a child already!" Weiss heard her sister say. She was convinced, for a second, that Winter was talking to her. Again, readying to speak, she heard another annoyingly familiar voice chime in.

"Well, 'scuse me! I just wanted to make a point of how great it was that your entire air fleet just so happened to in the area before all this happened!" There was heavy sarcasm in his voice.

"Isn't it also quite the coincidence that you're also in town the day troubles started," another man's voice rose with equal biting sarcasm.

Weiss opened the door further, just enough that she could see inside. She wasn't spying on her sister, was she? No, this was just... concern for her family. Weiss wouldn't get into any trouble for that, now, would she? Across the room from the door, she saw Winter at her desk and terminal, her usual position. There were three other screens up, most likely she was talking to three others in some meeting. Weiss could just make out two of them, the ones who were talking before: the general, Ironwood, and that psycho, Qrow. Just like that, their reasons behind their tones became obvious.

"Who wouldn't go watch the Vytal Festival if their kids were in it?" Qrow spoke back to Ironwood.

"Yes, it sure must have been important for you to watch. Especially Yang's match..." it was obvious the general was hinting at something.

"What are you trying to say!?" Qrow continued to argue with him.

"He's not trying to say anything! Right... General?" Finally Winter spoke up to mediate. She was always level-headed… usually… sometimes.

"Yeah, right! Oh, Jimmy, please, do stop fighting! Ha!" Weiss was almost as mad as Winter when she heard Qrow's mocking imitation her sister.

A loud gulp came from one of the screens. Winter frowned in disgust as Qrow downed his usual take of alcohol. She could never accept how he was allowed to get so drunk while on duty. He was a disgrace and a likely turncoat all the same. No one in Atlas would be like him, and for good reason. Even though she's managed around him before, Winter still can't hold her contempt at how he looks, smells, and talks like a bum every waking moment.

"Oh, of course he's drinking again!" she exclaimed.

"Well, he must have it hard since his niece is one of the most wanted criminals right about now," Ironwood explained this to Winter as though Qrow weren't there. In response, he slammed his glass on his table and let out a heavy sigh.

"Jeez! Is that the only thing you got going on, oh general? Don't you have better things pop a vein over like, I dunno, Atlas' security? No? How 'bout your 'public enemy #1' - oh, excuse me, #2 now? Or, hey, why not just throw a parade with your army of paper planes and toy soldiers? Still seems better than chasing a 17 year old girl for whatever reason you may have!" Qrow raised his voice, ranting to the general. The sound of him pouring himself a glass comes through under his rage, "'Cuz obviously lookin' for a missing 15 year old is beyond you!"

"Are you finished, Qrow…?" The general was livid.

"Whatever," Qrow emptied his glass again and clicked his tongue, "You've been quiet this whole time, Ozpin. Care to add anything?"

Ozpin must be the other person in the meeting, as Qrow wouldn't be with him and there was still one person unaccounted for. It would make sense for him to be included in this meeting, too, given who else was there. As if to announce his presence, he audibly sipped his coffee. He was about as fanatic about coffee as Qrow was about alcohol.

"Oh, my apologies. I was just concerned it might rain soon," he sounded calm, ignorant of the tension the other three had between them, "I'm a bit worried about the weather, given the draft getting in…"

"Do you have any thoughts on the matter," Ironwood asked after clearing his throat.

"Don't you know, general, that a cornered mouse bites back, regardless of whether it's chased by a cat or a dog?" Ozpin asked rhetorically.

"I'm afraid I don't get your analogy," Ironwood stated plainly.

"It matters not. If you'll excuse me, I have some maintenance to attend to," he held some bitterness in his words, "Oh, and if I could make a request. Go easy on the students if you can. I'm sure you can understand, things are quite difficult right now for them. Especially teams RWBY and JNPR."

With that, one screen faded from Winter's terminal. From what Weiss could guess, Ozpin must have left. Though something seemed off about him. Sure, he was cryptic as usual, but some part of him felt different than when she saw him at Beacon.

"Ah, great idea, Oz. I'm outa here, too," he said, faintly with his drunken slur. His screen faded away as well, leaving Winter with Ironwood in their transmission. She began to lean back in her chair after Qrow left. Without him and his incessant immaturity, Winter could relax a bit.

"That reminds me," suddenly Ironwood spoke up, "How's your sister, Weiss doing?"

"She's… I believe she's well. I haven't had a chance to talk with her yet," Winter said.

Weiss was a little disappointed at the fact that she prioritized Atlas over her. But what was she expecting? Winter is an Atlas specialist, and she was merely a student at Beacon. Weiss already got used to the fact that her older sister lived practically in another world. Knocking her back to the matter at hand, her scroll came alive, nearly giving her away with it's notification sounding. It was a message from Blake, again, unexpected.

'I need to come see you, it's urgent!' the message read. For now, Weiss ignored it and looked back into the study.

"I see…" he trailed off and looked away as though he was focused on something else. Perhaps he had several screens up on his terminal.

"Why do you ask?" she wondered why he would need to bring her up at all.

"It must be hard for her, what with her team as it is," he sounded concerned for her.

"Yes. And as much as I'm against it, I do have personnel on constant guard. Weiss will probably hate me for it, but at least we'll know if and when she comes," she reported.

"You should try convincing her to join Atlas. She could be a valuable asset. She is your sister after all!"

"Believe me, I've tried. But for some reason she's adamant about becoming a huntress," she sighed.

"A pity. Anyways, why don't you take a break and spend some time with her. I'm sure everyone involved will benefit from it," Ironwood offered.

Weiss was interrupted from her eavesdropping by her scroll again. But it didn't matter, the meeting was just about over. She hurried away, back to her bedroom where she would be comfortable talking to Blake again. It was a bit odd how she wanted to come here, Weiss thought. Whatever happened, it must be of utmost importance. She wanted to respond in a way that matched Blake's seriousness.

Weiss? -B

Don't worry. -W

I'll leave a window open for you -W

Okay. I'll be there soon. -B

I'll get some milk ready, then. -W

What? -B

…

Weiss? -B

…