December 13th
City of Atlas
Atlas
Downtown
11:23 AM

"So now you and Weiss both know."

"Yeah," Winter said, if somewhat tiredly. "But thanks for reminding me of the shit you told me about two years ago. I had finally just put it out of my mind."

"Well, I wouldn't quite say that's my fault."

Winter scowled at her aunt, a petite woman paler than nearly everyone else in the Schnee family and with the characteristic smugness to her eyes behind her glasses. It wasn't the first time she had been completely and shamelessly without tact (which was most of the time), but it was the last thing her niece needed at the moment. Winter let out a tired sigh and sipped her coffee, glancing around at all of the people around them, chattering and looking through their scrolls. Even her aunt was looking through her messages on her scroll. The only redeeming part of the noise (something her aunt, who typically hated all high-sensory experiences, decided to put up with) drowning out their conversation. Still, it was hard not to worry that somebody - anybody - would hear and share. That would be the end. The family she had known for years was a goddamn mess would completely fall apart.

Scandal . That's exactly how her father - no, Jacques - would view it.

"But, to be fair to my sister," Her aunt went on, glancing around nervously. Her high pitched voice - usually loud - was oddly quiet. "I can't say I blame her for being a bit of a slut back in the day. Jacques is horrible. I'd be whoring around if my spouse was as much of a cunt as he is."

Winter grimaced. "CJ," She started, trying to hide the disgust in her voice. "Do you have to call everyone you hate a cunt?"

She shrugged. "Yes. I don't have much hate in my heart, but the ones I do hate I can name on my hands. My first girlfriend from when I was 13 isn't on that list, interestingly enough, but -"

"For God's sake, she was 26 and an alcoholic, I really don't understand how you can't -" Winter started.

"- former President Gregory is on the list, though that's not a surprise since he was just one of the worst leaders this country has ever had," CJ rolled her eyes. "And then there's the guy who tried to kill me, though that's an obvious one, and then that gaslighting bitch and her little group who are part of the reason I hate my so-called friends. I mean -"

"- you honestly cannot stop holding grudges, and you're way too willing to go off about them," Winter shook her head. "You have no filter. And you like to remind people of your 'enemies list.'"

Her aunt scoffed. "I do not have an enemies list," She scowled. "That would be psychotic. Also, to be clear and to finish off, Jacques is among the people I hate. But everyone's known that for years so it's not even worth mentioning half the time. Though it was pretty funny watching Emmett and him fight last year."

Winter laughed a bit behind her hand. "Emmett started the fight, and his wife finished it."

"Emmeline has more problems than I do," CJ replied with a small smirk. "Then again, she's a general and a Ciel. She probably hasn't ever had a problem going after anyone, let alone Jacques. And, to be clear, I don't even celebrate Christmas and I think that might have been the funniest Christmas ever. Though Glynda made me promise I wouldn't start inviting Jacques to celebrate Hanukkah. She seemed afraid that I'd let Essie, Emmett or Cristal go at him."

Winter shuddered at the thought. "Cristal doesn't need an excuse to go at him. She and Ozpin have nearly as much money as he does and Cristal can't get fired by Jacques as COO. That was an amazing clause in grandfather's will."

"It was," CJ said, falling silent for a minute. "But you're distracting me again. You and I both know what we need to discuss."

Winter looked down at her hands. "I'd suspected I wasn't his child for years," She said, lowering her voice considerably and sliding over the booth to be closer to her aunt. "So finding out General Ironwood is my father wasn't…..too much of an icy shock, once I got over having been under his command for awhile, though coming to terms with it was no thanks to you and your manners of being sensitive. It's uncomfortable every damn day to think about….though I have no idea if he knows about it. Probably doesn't matter, at the end of the day, so far as I'm concerned. But as for Weiss…."

"She looks even more like Willow than you do," CJ finished, taking a long sip of her tea. "And, for what it's worth, I don't think Jacques ever suspected Qrow until he found out about her being….his child a few days ago. But he won't ever let it get out. He's far too proud for that. But I am concerned - and I know you are too - that he's going to find out…..more details about the affair, less so for your sake and Weiss' but for Willow's. He already knows what went on between Willow and James to have you, but he always assumed it was a one night stand. But as for Weiss….well I know he assumed she was James' too, once he found out that had been an affair."

"I'm sure he did," Winter said bitterly. "I hate to ask it, but is my mother the only one who's cheated on their spouse?"

CJ raised an eyebrow. "Are you saying the rest of us have?"

"I'm not saying it," Winter snapped, lowering her voice again and looking around. No one was bothering or listening to them. "It just seemed a fair question to ask."

"Well, Stephanie and I have been together for fifteen years, and we've never cheated on each other. As for Cristal, I don't think she and Ozpin have ever had much of an interest in sex besides with each other," CJ said, sipping her tea again. "Given the things we've seen Emmett and Emmeline do….I think that's pretty self explanatory. And Esseca is repulsed by the idea of sex, so them and their partner are strictly asexual."

Winter buried her face in her hands. "Don't disgust me just because you think you can as the youngest child, and especially not where aunt Emmeline and uncle Emmett are concerned."

CJ giggled. "I'm not going to deny that I like to say whatever comes to mind. But, regardless, I like to joke about it. Really that's the only way I can handle having seen some of the shit I have. They're worse than the Adels."

Winter shook her head. "You can stop now, you've made your point."

"Hey," Her aunt said, softening her tone and gently setting a hand to her shoulder. "I know it's all pretty shitty, but just remember that Jacques is obsessed with preserving the family's status. For all of his faults, he has been completely sexually faithful to your mother, and he has no interest in any woman, including her. Infidelity is not an issue with him."

Winter considered that. "I know that much," She said. "But -"

"Let me finish," CJ cut in, tapping her left hand against the table. "Jacques' physical, emotional, and verbal abuse is the true issue. If they simply were staying in the marriage for ideological reasons and kept a colder, respectful distance from each other, that would be one thing. But he's broken her down so much that she doesn't want to leave anymore. Steph thinks it's Stockholm Syndrome. I think she's just afraid of him….and, whether or not she will admit it, she always has been."

"That I don't doubt," Winter replied, briefly closing her eyes. "I just can't help but wonder why she married him in the first place."

"Honestly?" CJ shook her head. "I'm not convinced she even knows why she did it. But I know daddy had been fond of Jacques when he started working for the company, and that could have been part of it. Then again, him and mommy were both taken aback and freaked out when Willow married him at nineteen, which was completely fair considering, you know, that he's twenty years older than her."

Winter glanced at her. "It's still hard to believe she's the eldest of the lot of you."

"It's even more hard to believe that you're only ten years younger than me," Her aunt replied. "But c'est la vie."

Winter rolled her eyes. "Just do me a favour and try to be helpful through all of this. I don't want anyone but you and Emmett to know about my…..biological father."

"You have nothing to worry about," CJ said, awkwardly hugging her. "I'll see you later. Steph and I are having lunch with Ozpin and Chrissy soon. Don't get arrested until after then."

Winter managed to laugh. "You've always been dry, but, for once, it honestly makes me feel better."

CJ winked. "Good."

"G'day," Qrow sauntered into the third floor teacher's lounge in Atlas Academy. "I see you all are still getting your money's worth out of that pool table."

"They didn't spend any money on it," James said, taking a look at the clock. "They dragged it up here from off the streets."

Qrow snorted. "Yeah, I still don't believe it," He looked at the two other men in the room, who were (very badly) playing pool while one of their female colleagues was throwing darts. "Emmett and Spencer are both scrawny and Emmett's short and afraid of everything. I'm still suspicious that he managed to become a licensed huntsman."

Emmett held up his pool cue like a sword, his real sword on the couch nearby. "Just because I screamed the first time I saw a grimm doesn't mean I'm a pussy," He said, pushing the pool cue as close to Qrow's face as he could. "And I'm 5'9". That's perfectly average, thank you very much."

"Right, right," Qrow said, stretching out his arms and sauntering around the pool table. "But I should enjoy it. Not a damn person in your family is particularly tall. Willow is the tallest, isn't she?"

"You should know," Spencer snickered, pushing a hand through his hair. "Given the time you've spent with her over the years."

"Don't try me Ciel -" Qrow started, a growl to his voice.

"He's right," The woman said, throwing the last dart in her hand. "You ought to know. It's a miracle that you've never gotten her pregnant."

"How do you know that?" Qrow angrily sassed.

"Well, I don't for sure," She replied with a smirk. "But I think it's a safe bet. She'd be smart enough to get an abortion to keep it from Jacques. He wouldn't even know she had gotten the abortion in the first place."

"Shut up Rosella," Qrow snapped.

"Bold words for you to say to the president's wife," She said with a joking smile. "Ronnie already doesn't like you, I wouldn't push your luck."

Qrow let out an irritated sigh. "I hate your family and all of the Schnees bar Willow," He muttered, looking at Emmett and Spencer. "Correction: I can tolerate Emmett but not his wife, and I don't hate Spencer but am afraid of him."

"You kept flirting with my wife even after she told you she was uncomfortable!" Spencer exclaimed in disbelief. "'Rissa even went so far as to tell you that no woman is ever going to flirt with you back because you're -"

"Always drunk," Rosella chirped.

"A dick," Emmett said, tossing back his long, white wavy hair with one hand while adjusting his small, rectangular glasses with the other. "You're just a dick."

"And you only seem to ever be interested in married women."

All of them turned towards the door, where a rather amused Glynda Goodwitch was hovering. She crossed her arms and closed the door with her foot, walking towards her husband. James chastely kissed her and Qrow groaned, feeling somewhat defeated.

"I am not interested in you ," Qrow told her.

"Not anymore," Glynda said with a frown. "But you did try it in the first few months after the fall of Beacon last year. I haven't forgotten."

"I thought I had," Qrow swore under his breath. "You know, if you people want to come at me, you better be coming at Tai too. He whored around until he met his current wife, who somehow makes me miss the days when he was married to my sister."

"Elizabeth is not that bad," Spencer said, rolling his eyes. "She and 'Rissa have worked together for years. Hell, she was even 'Rissa's boss in the mid 20s. Believe me, if she were that bad, 'Rissa would hate her."

"Yeah, but Karissa doesn't have to live with her," Qrow irritably replied. "Not a day goes by where I find Elizabeth Morell to be growing on me."

"Awe, you have a crush," Rosella teased, her pink tail waving happily and her cat ears perking up. "I have to say, I'm happy for you, even if she's married to your brother-in-law."

"Don't encourage him," Spencer, Emmett, and Glynda told her at the same time.

"She'll skin you alive," Emmett warned with a bit too much laughter.

"Please just stay away from dating all together," Glynda said, adjusting her riding crop in her hand.

"Just hire a hooker if you're hard up," Spencer said with a shrug.

James and Rosella glanced to him, sharing an uncomfortable look with Glynda.

"Bold of you to assume he doesn't do that on a regular basis," Glynda said darkly. "I've heard enough stories from him over the years. He's lecherous enough, don't make him worse by encouraging him."

"Agreed," Rosella said, fidgeting. "I don't want to think too hard about any of that."

"And it's compromised your work before," James coldly reminded him, much to Qrow's irritation. "All of us are tired of you getting into trouble because of your shit. You nearly compromised the Vytal Festival, too, and -"

"The Vytal Festival was compromised by your and Emmeline's machines, and don't go giving me that speech about how you and Emmeline are only two of the many admirals and generals," Qrow cut in, putting up his hands to quiet them. "So don't you go blaming that on me when it was just a miracle that Glynda was able to take on the maiden powers."

They all fell silent. Glynda narrowed her eyes at him behind her glasses, her fingers curling tighter still around her crop. Spencer leaned against the pool table, closing his eyes in thought. Rosella stared at him, her eyes as unwavering and observant as ever, taking in nearly every aspect of her environment. James was watching him, too, though far less calmly than Rosella. Though there wasn't anger there, it was more than clear he was on thin ice, his temper growing thin. It wasn't the first time that the General had watched him that way, and, as always, it didn't bother him. There had always been some level of animosity between them, for what friendship, respect, and trust they had. Then there was Emmett, who merely looked bored, though his fingers were curling into fists, his wedding ring catching the light. Emmeline was his weakness, a fact they had all known, and Qrow knew full well that he had plucked a nerve. He didn't care.

"Things are still in disarray, and you could do more to actually try to help," Spencer finally shot back. "I don't think you've done a damn thing other than try and coach your nieces' team."

"It's fucking important now those kids know what they're really up against -" Qrow started, finally moving towards them.

"It's also illegally distributing and revealing classified information," Spencer smoothly cut in. "I teach history and law, and nearly all my family has worked in the government. Hell, my father was president in 2001 when I was six…." He trailed off, sighing. The worst day of the year has already passed, and no one has to remind you of his assassination now but you. Stop thinking about September 11th, 2001. You weren't even old enough to really comprehend what had happened. None of us were. Not even Ronnie or Emmeline, and she was ten and he was thirteen. "And, of course," He eventually said, though his voice was significantly quieter. "Ronnie's president now. So keep in mind that you're only getting leniency because certain people know who you are and trust you because you just so happen to be part of Ozpin's inner circle."

Qrow took in a sharp breath. "That isn't a coincidence," He hissed. "So don't try and use that against me, Ciel."

The two men glowered at each other, neither speaking much more but there was still a more than evident resentment between them.

"By default, Qrow's wrong," Emmett said, picking up his raccoon trapper-style hat and throwing it at Qrow's head. It missed. "So he shouldn't push his luck."

"Don't push your luck either," Qrow snapped at him. "You and I both know how that's gone before."

Willow Schnee hadn't been close with her siblings for years, much to their mother's dismay. You were all so close when you were kids. Emmett, Cristal, Esseca, and CJ still are. I just wish the five of you could be friends again. She tried to put the thought out of her mind. Kamryn Schnee had always been a good mother, close with all of her children and one hundred percent a practitioner of authoritative, attachment parenting. Why she kept trying with her eldest child, however, was a mystery to Willow herself. They barely spoke half the time, and Willow preferred it that way. It was easier. Kamryn, like nearly everyone else in the family, had never been too fond of Jacques, something which had only been exacerbated over the years. So, seeing all four of her siblings and (for three of them) their spouses in the lounge of the manor, waiting for her, was a shock. Then again, Jacques was out of town, and they all must have known it. Cristal in particular.

"Want some wine?" CJ offered, holding up a wine bottle. "I've already had one bottle, but I can give you another one. It's a white, though."

"Of course it is," Stephanie squeezed her wife's hand. "You only like deep reds."

"I feel sick enough," Willow said, tiredly probing her forehead and sitting down on one of the chairs across from them. "I don't want anymore alcohol right now."

"Oh, Willow," Emmeline reached over to sympathetically press a reassuring hand to her back. "If you need time to step away, or leave -"

"No," Willow said shortly. "I'm not leaving just because he and I have issues in our marriage. I'm sure CJ, Emmett, and Cristal have that with their spouses too."

"But what happens between them is not at all like you and Jacques' do," Esseca gently countered. "All couples have disagreements and difficulties. What Jacques does to you…..isn't that. It's disgusting, and it's wrong. You always express concern for you children, and concern that you're a bad mother. I would argue staying with him is probably hurting your children - but your son in particular too - more."

"You did say that you think Whitley's hatred towards Weiss and Winter is because they left him here with you and Jacques," Emmett paused in consideration. "But I get why you want to stay. I can see how you two….would want to avoid causing a legal battle over Whitley."

"It would hurt him even more," Willow swallowed hard, chewing at her cheek. "Whitley's just a boy. He needs both parents in his life."

Cristal shook her head. "You truly believe in that, and I know it. Jacques, however, is only still invested in this for appearances and his own twisted morals. Marriage isn't worth it if you're abusing your spouse, and he is, even if he's physically and emotionally faithful to you. He acts so damn proud of himself, and that's in the company too. With minimal exceptions, he always has the last word as the president and CEO. And the other members of the board - well, apart from Blake Adel, of course, God bless his soul and teaming up with me as COO and CFO - are afraid of him."

"As they should be," Willow said quietly. "But I think one of my biggest fears in leaving Jacques is not just what he could do to me or Whitley…..but how he could…..use his…..friends in high places. Not to say that all of us fall into that category, of course."

"Don't take this the wrong way, but, like it or not, unlike the rest of us, you and Jacques are highly public and wealthy figures," CJ said, taking a long sip of her wine. "To quote The Bombpops: 'John F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe; Andy Warhol had his Brigitte Bardot. Right here, right now, everything to me. Flash in a pan, making history with romance. Unhappily ever after: I'll hold my peace, hold my peace forever."

"I don't think that's helpful," Ozpin said calmly. "She's been through enough without us….underscoring the fact."

Willow gestured towards him. "Thank you for being the singular sane person in this room."

"She's not wrong, though," Esseca put in, albeit watching their sister closely, trying not to upset her too much. "You two have been through and done a lot. I'm not saying you're fully in the right, but you're definitely living an 'unhappily ever after' with the way things have been between you two. That's why I'm worried about things getting worse. The last thing I want to see - the last thing any of us want to see - is for you to get hurt more. Alright?"

Willow shook her head. "It's not a lack of awareness," She said, closing her eyes. "It's a lack of will to fight back. I'm protecting my son and daughters the best I can. They're, though Whitley in particular, the reason I stay."

"He's not good for Whitley either, though," CJ said, pouring herself another glass of wine. "Whitley and I talk often enough, and he's scared every time the two of you fight. He's scared of Jacques, he worries about you, and he's scared to speak half the time in his own fucking house. Don't you…...at least think that it would be better for him to be removed from this?"

"CJ -" Ozpin started, hoping to curb some of his sister-in-law's lack of filter.

"For you to get out with him? There's no point in staying with a twat like Jacques," CJ seemingly didn't hear Oz, or, more likely, ignored him and instead pressed on. "Willow, you have all of those cameras, all of that information to keep your kids safe from Jacques should something bad happen. Things are bad enough already, and I doubt he's ever going to be any better. Can't you submit the tapes to the police, use them to get sole custody of your son and have your marriage annulled?"

"It's not that easy," Willow finally said, leaning defeatedly back against the chair. "Unlike you, I'm not one with my demons. You say there's two sides to everyone, but that's just how you see the world because you've had rapid cycling bipolar since you were a teenager."

CJ fell silent, starting to shake. Stephanie wrapped an arm around her wife, and Esseca reached over to hug their sister.

"If we're going to start throwing low blows, then keep in mind that you're complicit in the abuse of your children," Emmeline said coldly. "Which is also true."

"I have never hurt my -" Willow exclaimed, her eyes starting well with tears and her voice breaking.

"Complacency is just as horrible as engaging in the act itself," Emmeline cut in without a shred of regret. "And you should know that better than anyone."

"Alright, that's enough," Cristal said, standing up and stepping between all of them, stepping up onto the coffee table. "This family is hanging by threads as it is. Let's not tempt fate."

"Yeah," Stephanie said quietly. "I suppose that's fair."

"And," Cristal said, pulling off her glasses and rubbing her eyes. "I think it's what daddy would have wanted."

CJ suddenly stood up and all but ran out of the room. Stephanie quickly followed after her wife, seeing that she'd been starting to cry, and the rest of them fell silent. There was an awful silence among them, as if they were all, in some way, misguided ghosts.

"We're all doing the best we can," Willow said, her voice almost inaudible. "We just need to let it go."

"You're acting as if you're playing politics," Emmeline remarked.

"It's also pretty similar to Ronnie's philosophy," Emmett added. "That compromise is all about holding your nose and closing your eyes while we demand our leaders to save the day despite having no say in the shit they give away on our behalf."

"That's nothing like this," Willow said, putting up a hand in surrender. "This is far more complicated than that, and why none of you can understand that is a mystery to me."

"Well, you're not exactly the most transparent person," Emmeline said.

"Emmeline," Ozpin said calmly, giving her a pointed look. "Let her speak."

"I don't want to speak," Willow replied, burying her face in her hands. "That's never gotten me anywhere good….and neither has doing what I want to either. This is all I have, at least for stabiliy's sake, and…..right now that's what I need most."