Next week will have no update for this as it is my event on the 28th and I'll be speaking to a large crowd and handing out some awards. And herding idiotic businessmen and businesswomen into position, etc. Updates will resume from the week onward, which means after this chapter the next update won't be for two weeks.

Cover Art: Jack Wayne

Chapter 4

"You will not cause a scene."

"Yes, father."

"You will not act out. You will not avoid your social responsibilities and I will not be hearing of your childish temper. Am I understood?"

"You are, father," Weiss said, eyes staring calmly into his.

Deep inside, she was anything but calm, but her father didn't need to know that. Her mother had once said that silence was a woman's best garment, and while Willow Schnee had taken that too far, becoming a shell of the woman she once was, Weiss had adapted it. Silence was a shield. You could hold on to it temporarily to defend yourself, but it was pointless without the sword poised behind ready to strike.

Let her father think he had her cowed, think he had her defeated and eager to answer his every whim. She would hold her tongue for now and let him have this small victory just so long as she could win the war. The sword would drop sooner or later.

"I understand my responsibilities, father. I will not let you down."

Jacques Schnee nodded. "Very well. The guests will be arriving in a little over an hour and you shall be performing. Have you tested the acoustics?"

"I have. And performed several sound tests and rehearsals."

"Hm." He looked her up and down, desperate to find something to criticise her over, but Weiss had taken meticulous care to appear perfect in every regard. From her hair to her dress, to the songs she would be singing tonight, everything would be to the best of her ability. "Hm." Jacques said again. "Good. As the heiress to the SDC you will be expected to excel in all things."

"Of course, father. This night will show the kindness and generosity of the Schnee family. I would never interfere with that."

"Yes. With Beacon in disrepair someone has to step in to fill the gap. It will eat into our profits this year, but the long-term benefits should suffice."

"I could not agree more, father. Charitable actions aside, this should convince Vale by association to look to us for their dust needs. Have you sent invitations to any of Vale's councillors?"

He snorted. "I was not born yesterday, daughter, and it would be too late to make changes if I had not!" His tone softened, almost regretfully. "But it is intelligent of you to notice the opportunity, even if I had already. You show your acumen."

"I did not spend my time at Beacon idle, father. I am ready to serve the family."

"General Ironwood says it differently…"

Weiss paused, caught off-guard, though only for a second. "I said I was ready to serve the family, father. Not General Ironwood. He thinks me a prisoner and keeps me from visiting Atlas at my leisure. This sends an ill message to other students that implies the Schnee family is somehow not respectable or is of some suspicion."

The imprisonment, if one wanted to call it that, had actually not been on Jacques' orders. Weiss knew this because her father was arrogant enough to think his claiming her from Beacon a `rescue` and not an abduction. It wouldn't even cross his mind that Weiss would defy him and make her way back to Beacon, an academy that had been reduced to a shell of its former self.

Ironwood and Winter knew better. They knew she had to be watched.

"Do they now?" Jacques asked, eyes narrowing. "This is no exaggeration?"

"None, father. What General Ironwood sees as a surly lack of co-operation is in fact me retiring to my rooms so as not to advertise the unusual circumstances in a more public fashion. Alas, that has not stopped some rumours spreading."

She needn't have said what rumours those were. Jacques Schnee hated rumours, mostly because when it came to him, they were about his mistreatment of his workers, and were in fact completely true.

"I will have words with the General tonight."

"Thank you, father." Weiss bowed respectfully. "I apologise for having to bring this to your attention on so important a night, but Ironwood's control over me extends to the point of being able to send a message back to you earlier."

"You did well in bringing this to my attention then. Focus tonight on your duties and I shall speak with Ironwood. He oversteps his bounds." Jacques voice lowered to an angry mutter as he dove into his conspiracy theories, "No doubt this is more attempts from him to protest the increase in dust costs. Increases that would not even be required if he would do something to stop the White Fang attacking our convoys! Does he not understand the global supply of dust is dwindling? Of course the price would increase!"

"I do not believe he sees the big picture as you do, father," Weiss said, hiding her smile and almost too happy to throw Ironwood under the raging Goliath her father could be. "But if you will excuse me, I shall prepare for my debut."

Slipping away before he could go on any further, Weiss passed by Whitley, who shot her a smile about as fake as the one she offered in return. They walked on by without a word, her smile falling the moment he was gone and his likely doing the same.

This wasn't home, the SDC mansion. Beacon was home. Beacon and Vale. Pushing into her rooms, Weiss breathed a sigh of relief when she found that the only one waiting for her there was Klein, one of the few in Atlas she both trusted and respected enough to be herself about.

Without needing to be asked, Klein offered her a glass of water. "Tiring day?"

"And the main event hasn't even begun," Weiss said, flopping angrily onto the end of her bed. "I'll be stuck talking with aggravating diplomats and rich fools trying to curry favour with my father, and by extension me. I swear, Klein, if I get one more person introduce their young son of marriageable age to me…"

"At least you shall have a chance to see some familiar faces from Beacon, no? I understand the teachers have been asked to bring a team as guests."

"No chance they'll bring mine," Weiss snorted. "Not unless Professor Arc has completely lost his marbles." She sighed and let her face fall onto her hands. "I miss Beacon, Klein. I miss Zwei…"

"And your teammates?"

"Huh? Oh right, sure. But Zwei. Oh, I hope he's okay…"

/-/

"This won't be a complete disaster. This won't be a complete disaster."

"Keep telling yourself that," Roman said, puffing away. "You might even start to believe it."

"I'm trying to keep a positive outlook."

"Why bother?" Glynda asked. "For once I agree with the knave. This is going to be an unmitigated disaster." Her eyes snapped over to Team RWBY, who stiffened in their seats on the opposite side of the Bullhead. "What do you do if you see Miss Schnee?" Glynda barked.

Ruby winced. "N-Not run over to her and shout her name…?"

"Is that a question, Miss Rose?"

"No, Miss Goodwitch! I don't run over and shout her name!"

"Correct. You do not. What do you do if someone speaks to you, Miss Xiao-Long?"

"I reply back politely."

"And what do you not do?"

"I don't slouch, complain, whine about the music, drink too much, make suggestive comments about Professor Arc, cause any trouble, start a fight if someone makes suggestive comments about me, go anywhere near General Ironwood or go on the dance floor."

The list was a long one. Glynda nodded slowly. "You may dance, Miss Xiao-Long. Just… not your interpretive version of it."

Yang sighed.

"And you, Miss Belladonna?"

"Is this really necessary?" Blake asked. "I'm not going to do any of the things you mentioned, and I think making me say them is-"

"Ahem!"

"I'm not to go near Jacques Schnee. I'm not to usurp the stage to hold a civil rights protest. I'm not to see the White Fang in every corner and go looking for them. I'm not to run off even if there are White Fang here. I'm not to let Torchwick out my sight and I'm not to let Torchwick bribe me into letting him out of my sight even if he offers me information on the White Fang." Blake glared at her teammates as they sniggered. "And I'm not that bad. I ran off after them once. It's not like I'm going to drop everything and chase them every single time."

"You kinda do…"

"I wouldn't put it past you."

Blake crossed her arms and scowled.

The three of them were dressed in their prom outfits, albeit freshly cleaned and pressed and with a few new stylish accessories courtesy of Glynda and Tsune's jewellery stashes. He'd received funny looks when he suggested they look over the faunus' ones for traps.

The bigger challenge had been keeping Neo away – and she had not liked the sound of that when he'd put it to her. Him going alone with Glynda to a formal event with dancing? Neo's pout spoke of all the terrible things she wanted to do to him. In the end, he'd had to bribe her not only with promises that he'd somehow circumnavigate the embargo on ice-cream, but that they'd go on a romantic `date` together.

He had a feeling he was going to be murdered when he pointed out they couldn't actually go on said date because of the orders to arrest him if he stepped foot in Vale. Still, the important thing was keeping Neo away from this. Far away. If her multi-coloured hair wasn't enough to set the conservative businessmen off, her attitude and general lack of respect for everything and anything certainly would.

Plus, she'd probably steal something. It was Neo.

"We're coming in to land, sirs and madams," the pilot called over the speaker system. "Please keep your feet, hands and everything else within the vehicle. The time in Atlas is six-fifteen and the weather is horrifying, which is about standard. Cabin crew will not be offering drinks and we will not be taking your baggage off for you."

Glynda rolled her eyes. "We pay these idiots too much."

"I'm not sure how we're even paying them at all," Jaune whispered. "We have no money."

"Not quite correct," Roman said. "We have negative money, which is actually more than nothing because we still have the credit rating to keep taking out loans to cover their wages. We bolstered our coffers a little selling those weapons on the black market, though."

Jaune groaned. "Goodie. And what are the odds those will come back to bite us in the ass?"

"Eh. Fifty-fifty. But think about it like this, if they do come back, then we beat those people up, steal the weapons and sell them again. It's a perfectly renewable source of income. Well, for us anyway. Not so much for them."

Glynda sighed, stood, grabbed Roman, dragged him up and pushed him towards Blake.

"He's all yours, Miss Belladonna. Enjoy your evening."

Roman side-eyed Blake. "Yay," he said unenthusiastically.

"Don't act like this is any easier for me," she hissed back. "I would never date someone like you."

"Kitty-Kat, I think not being your type is a compliment. Didn't you date Adam Taurus?"

"I… That… You…"

"Just saying that you don't exactly have the best taste in men," Roman said, frantically inhaling the last of his cigars. He wouldn't be allowed to light another inside. Looking at it regretfully as he finished, and then the blustery winds outside as the door of the Bullhead slid open, Roman flicked his cigar away and offered his arm. "Right. Let's get this nightmare over with."

Blake slid her hand through his arm like she expected it to be cut off. They stepped off arm in arm, each looking ill at the prospect of the other's company, both moving at different speeds and both keeping as much distance between them as humanly possible.

And they still managed to look less awkward than him and Glynda.

"Um. Shall we?" he asked, offering his arm.

Glynda ignored it and stepped off, making her way to the entrance solo.

"We could…?" Ruby offered, smiling hopefully.

"No. It's fine." He rubbed Ruby's head with a smile. "Thanks for the sympathy, Ruby, but you should have fun with your sister. I'll be okay."

Ruby pouted as Jaune walked away. She then hopped off the Bullhead, stumbled as her heels sunk into snow and would have fallen but for Yang catching her from behind, basically dragging Ruby to the front door of the Schnee mansion.

It was predictably huge with a large round fountain surrounded by a circular driveway which had numerous fancy vehicles parked alongside it. Their own Bullhead stood on the Schnee private landing pad, which sounded ostentatious enough on its own, but became even worse when one considered that there were six private landing pads arrayed next to one another.

Outside, an army of staff awaited them – and it was obvious they were staff because each wore a white waistcoat over a pale blue dress shirt with white ties, straight trousers and the Schnee emblem emblazoned proudly on their breast pockets. The waistcoats really weren't enough for the horrible temperatures outside, but the men and women bore it all with the stoic resolution of servants who had been told to do far worse in the past.

"May we help you, sirs," the one at the front yelled, struggling to be heard over the wind.

"The party from Beacon," Jaune called back, feeling like they were trapped on different sides of a huge building and not right next to one another. "Headmaster Jaune Arc, Deputy Glynda Goodwitch, Financial Director Roman Torchwick and three students, Team RWBY."

"Team Ruby!?" the man shouted.

"RWBY. With a W."

"Where would a W even fit into that!?"

"Ask Ozpin," Jaune snarled back, but relented when the poor man just looked confused. "Look, let me help." Sliding around, he looked down the clipboard with the man, helping to point out where they were on the list of names.

"Why is it spelled RWBY?" the beleaguered man asked. "That doesn't even make sense."

"You should come visit Beacon sometime. Not much about us does make sense."

Leaving the poor man outside, the six of them were admitted into the main Schnee building and given a chance to dry off. A waitress was ready with some drinks and canapes for them, but one aspiring young maid had also decided to come forth with freshly heated towels, which they all took and used to dry their faces.

"There is a changing room over there should you wish to freshen up," the woman said demurely. "Otherwise, I can take any coats, jackets or accessories."

"Is there a seating plan?" Glynda asked, brushing some hair from her eyes.

"Yes. Would you like to see it?"

"We best had." Glynda placed a hand on both Ruby and Yang's shoulders to prevent the two running off. They'd already started toward the entrance where they could hear music coming from, no doubt eager to try and find Weiss. "You'll no doubt be on the head table with Mr Schnee," Glynda said to Jaune. "It would be an insult otherwise and this event is to raise money for Beacon. The SDC would not risk the scandal of maligning you. The girls will no doubt have a different table."

That was probably for the best. Definitely for the best, in fact, because if Blake had a different table, that meant Roman had a different table.

The maid led them to a large board set up on an easel of sorts, displaying a diagram of several round tables on one side, and then a long list on the other. Numbers on the tables corresponded to the list, and one table was obviously the head, sitting pride of place in the centre with all others around it. Thanks to Glynda's warning, he was unsurprised to find his name there.

Luckily, Glynda's was too.

"Hm. I assume my position as Deputy Headmistress earns me a right at the table," she said. "That's good. It looks like you will be split up, Team RWBY. Miss Xiao-Long and Rose will be at a table with younger family members, while Miss Belladonna is going to sit at a different one thanks to Torchwick."

If it were somehow possible, Blake managed to look even more miserable.

"Oh no…"

"What is it?" Jaune asked, looking back to Glynda. "Don't tell me Ironwood is on that same table."

"Worse. He's on ours."

Jaune sucked in a sharp breath. "Ah. That's not good…"

"As is Winter Schnee, likely to honour her name and position. Oh dear. Winter is sat directly next to you on your right."

"Ugh. It's like they want us to come to blows…"

"More that the SDC can't afford to give Ironwood a different place," Glynda said. "In the same way they have to honour us as the ones they are raising money for, they have to honour Ironwood – who is both the General of Atlas and the headmaster of his own academy. It would show favouritism to one academy over the other if he pushed James to a different table."

"And Winter?"

"The Schnee name and she is probably coming as James' date for the evening. In a purely professional manner, I'm sure."

"How can you be so certain?"

"Because Mr Schnee has put Winter next to you, and put me further away, between him and James. You do not do that to two people believed to be coming as a couple. No doubt he wishes to try and tie his eldest daughter to you. Or imply it."

"More competition?" Yang groaned.

"Come on…" Ruby whispered.

They ignored them both. "Jacques Schnee wants me to date his daughter. The daughter who betrayed and threw me into a cell, then tried to take me back to Atlas. That same daughter."

"No one ever accused Mr Schnee of being subtle."

"Any chance I can avoid both?"

"None. The moment we're inside I expect Mr Schnee will `coincidentally` bump into you and quickly monopolise your time, introducing you to various important dignitaries and individuals. You'll be paraded around like a pedigree dog."

"And you'll be expected to like it," Roman added. "Since we need the money he's offering."

Jaune sighed. "Are you whoring me out for money?"

"Yes." Glynda and Roman said in complete unison.

"And before you complain," Glynda added, "You are the one who crashed a battleship into our school. A battleship which has mysteriously vanished from our school if anyone asks. One which no one here has seen."

"I think the White Fang stole it," Yang said.

"Yep!" Ruby agreed immediately. "I saw them drag it away."

Glynda smiled indulgently. "That's the spirit."

"Well, let's get this show on the road," Jaune said, reaching for the double doors – then being beaten to it by the butlers. Naturally, they couldn't be expected to exert themselves to open a door on their own. Such was madness. "But I don't think it'll be as ridiculous as you say, Glynda. I'm sure Mr Schnee is busy and-"

"Jaune Arc, I presume," a pale man with white hair and a moustache said, approaching with a wide and happy smile. "What a coincidence bumping into you here. Jacques Schnee, but please, call me Jacques. I'm so pleased to meet you."

Out of the corner of eye, Jaune glared at a smirking Glynda.

/-/

"He's taunting us, Winter. Walking around with such impunity, flaunting his arrest warrant."

"We knew he would be here, sir," Winter said, sipping on her white wine. Although she had been officially disinherited from the SDC, that did not mean she wasn't a part of the Schnee family, and as such expected to both take parts in events like this and look the part.

Her dress reflected that, a combination of both a formal gown and military regalia that managed to look both elegant and professional. It had been custom designed by her mother's dressmaker, who, Winter would freely admit, knew her craft.

Such events were not her idea of a good time, however.

Still, it had to be done.

"Knowing and seeing are two different things," Ironwood growled, watching as Jaune Arc shook hands with two wealthy businessmen that Winter recognised as supplying processing machinery for the SDC dust refinement centres. "Look at him. He moves as if he doesn't have a care in the world, so certain that we cannot do a thing to impede him."

"We can't, sir."

"Not now, Winter. Not here. But his time will come."

"Of course." He was, as Ironwood said, a criminal, and Winter would see him arrested as such if she had the chance. Sadly, neither of them did here. "Father wants me to sit by him today, sir. Should I attempt to press him for information?"

"No. I appreciate the offer, Winter, but now is not the time. This is a charitable event, and whatever I might feel of him, Beacon was my old friend's proud work. I won't see efforts to have it rebuilt damaged." Ironwood looked away and downed his drink. "What's more, we'll only look worse if we cause a scene here. As much as I despise it, this is a public relations mission and we're here to be seen taking part. We shall have to be on our best behaviour."

"They've brought Torchwick," Winter pointed out.

"Then more fool them. If they want to cause problems, let them. We shall rise above it and show the best face that Atlas can. That means best behaviour, Winter," Ironwood said. "Remember that. We must show our best face."

"Yes, sir."

Winter personally thought his warning would have been better aimed at himself but didn't say that. While it was regrettable to have him here and be unable to capture him at last, she could be patient for now. They both could be.

General Ironwood showed it when her father approached with Jaune Arc in tow, smiling and stepping forward. "Jacques. So good to see you. As busy as ever, I see."

"Indeed. You've met General Ironwood of course," he said, gesturing for Jaune. "And my lovely daughter, Winter."

Jaune's smile was as thin as plastic. "I have."

Winter's was no better. "We have had the pleasure of conversation."

Ironwood extended his hand.

Jaune stared at it, then extended his other, not willing to shake the General's cybernetic. Probably a wise choice, though Winter suspected it wouldn't stop the General squeezing the man's hand as hard as he could.

Such was proven when the two men shook hands harshly, smiling happily despite the whiteness of their knuckles. "I hear you've misplaced our battleship," Ironwood said with a chuckle. "How clumsy! I hope you can find it again."

"So do I." Jaune said, smiling happily back. "And I hope you can find all the other weapons of mass destruction you've left hanging around in other Kingdom's schools. You lost the Paladin in Vale too, didn't you? How did that go?"

"Oh, you would know since it was your guest who stole it."

"Yes. And he also helped turn off the virus taking over all your murder robots trying to kill my students. You're welcome for that by the way."

"Ha ha ha ha ha."

"Ha ha ha ha ha."

Never had Winter heard such brittle laughter from two grown men.

"It's good to see the two of you getting along," Jacques said, sounding oblivious but being anything but. He knew full well how awkward this was and likely enjoyed it. "Our academies should all join forces against the threat of the Grimm, something the Schnee family and the SDC are only too happy to support."

Polite applause from those nearby. Jacques had raised his voice for his `spontaneous` little speech.

"Your support is greatly appreciated, Mr Schnee," Glynda Goodwitch said, having stood aside during her superior's display with Winter's own. "Beacon stands as proof of the strong bonds between all the Kingdoms, and important people such as yourself."

"I am glad to hear it, Miss Goodwitch. Or, may I call you Glynda? Please, call me Jacques in return."

"Of course, Jacques."

Winter rolled her eyes. Politics. She was glad to be free of it.

Or as free as I can be, she thought miserably, watching Jaune Arc and General Ironwood stare into one another's eyes, laughing and smiling the whole time and yet somehow still managing to look positively murderous.

As if to make matters worse, Weiss stood upon the stage and tapped the microphone once, reminding Winter of yet another way in which the status quo had been so painfully upset. Why, oh why, could her sister not understand that what she did, she did for the better of them all? It was her job to uphold the law. Jaune Arc was a criminal.

Winter sighed.

Life sure had gotten a whole lot more complicated.

/-/

"Smile, kitty-kay."

"Drop dead, Torchwick."

"That's Professor Torchwick to you." Roman reached for a cigar, only to remember he couldn't. He masked the action as a cough instead. This really wasn't his kind of do. Or rather, it was, but he would have normally been swinging his cane and demanding everyone hand over their valuables. Actually being here out in the open and seen? It was different.

Not the good kind of different.

"You know, you could just go off and hang out with your idiot friends."

"And let Miss Goodwitch find out I took my eyes off you? No thanks. I'd rather not have detention until the day I die."

"So, you like me more than you like detention?"

"On second thoughts, maybe I should leave you." Despite the threat, she made no move to. The fear of Miss Goodwitch was too strong in her.

Their argument – or really, just him teasing her as much as he could – came to an abrupt end when the missing brat, the Schnee, began to sing up on the stage, spotlighted against the classical orchestra arranged behind her.

It was an upbeat song in tune and rhythm, but the lyrics were sad and mournful, speaking of the girl's deep pain at the lack of control she had over her own life. It enraptured the audience, and his reluctant date.

"Eh. I give it a five out of ten. Too pretentious."

That got a reaction out of the cat, who glared back at him. "That's my teammate you're insulting."

"Oh. Good point. Four out of ten. She loses a point just for choosing to associate with you."

"Your ignorance is showing," Blake spat. "This is a message. A message to anyone willing to listen that not all is-"

"As good as it seems and how she's actually lonely and trapped looking into a mirror – bla bla bla." Roman rolled his eyes. "Seriously, it's not fucking code. She just sang about being the loneliest of all. Anyone with a pair of ears and a functioning brain can hear it. She's not even being subtle."

"Her father hasn't noti…"

"Oh, he has. He just doesn't care. Nor, I imagine, do ninety-nine per cent of the people here. Your friend can show her protest all she wants, just like you guys protesting for faunus equality, but the simple fact is that those who are happy with the status quo have a wonderful ability to ignore that which is inconvenient for them."

As if to prove his words, the moment her sorrowful song ended, the audience burst into polite applause, literally celebrating her sense of captivity. Roman didn't clap, nor did Blake, and neither – he noticed – did Jaune or Glynda.

His date was grinding her teeth together furiously.

"This is how life is. The rich and wealthy stay that way off the backs of poorer folk and the oppressed become more oppressed because they don't fight back. It's like the old saying about ignoring a bully and he'll go away." Roman scoffed. "Nonsense. That's like saying ignore a murderer and he'll never want to kill anyone again. All you're doing is letting them get away with it."

"You think the White Fang were right to become violent?"

"Maybe." He shrugged. "Maybe not. I think they were all screwed from the start. Not every choice in life has a right or wrong answer, you know. Let the humans walk over them to keep the peace or become violent extremists and be put down like animals. Neither gets them anywhere and neither helps put the faunus in a better spot, but then, neither did peaceful protest."

"That's life," he said with a little shrug. "Sometimes you get to pick between two shitty options and neither of them fixes anything. You're just choosing what hill you want to die on. I learned that a long time ago."

"It shouldn't be like that…" Blake hissed, hands clenched into fists.

Sheesh. What a naïve brat. Roman rolled his eyes.

"Look! White Fang!"

Blake gasped and whirled around, following his pointing finger.

To a potted plant in the corner of the ballroom.

It took her a second to realise she'd been had, and only because Roman sniggered. "That was not funny!"

"Eh. I thought it was hilarious. Come on, Kitty-Kat. Let's dance." He tugged her toward the dance floor.

Blake tugged him back. "No. No way! I agreed to chaperone you. Not to dance with you."

"Well, it's either dance with me or chat with Jacques Schnee, who is literally walking up to us right now. You know, the one responsible for oppressing so many faunus, and the one person Miss Goodbitch doesn't want me anywhere nea-" Roman was cut off as Blake yanked him away.

"On second thoughts, a dance sounds great, even with you."

/-/

"It's Weiss!"

Yang caught Ruby by the arm before she could rush over, not only throwing away everything Miss Goodwitch had said not to do, but also any chance of them approaching Weiss later. "Sis, no. Calm. Stay calm."

"I… but…" Ruby took a deep breath and stepped back. "Y-You're right. Sorry…"

"I know how it is, Rubes. I want to run up and talk to her too." Yang watched their missing teammate sing. "She's got a nice voice. Shame she never sang back in Beacon." Given the melancholy tone to it, Yang could only assume it wasn't a skill Weiss enjoyed using. "She looks okay. Not happy, but safe. Well."

"Yeah. But lonely."

"I know, Ruby. I know. We need to play it cool though. People are watching now. We should wait until after dinner when everyone is full and distracted, then when people are dancing, we can find a time to sneak up and talk to her."

"Do you think Jaune and Miss Goodwitch will be angry if we do?"

"Nah. Only if we make a scene about it." Yang laughed and nudged her sister's arm. "Remember, all those rules Miss Goodwitch said were about not running up to Weiss or causing trouble. She never said we couldn't sneak up and talk to her."

Ruby shot her a nervous look. "You sure it wasn't implied?"

"I don't think Miss Goodwitch would trust us to know the difference. If she had to order me not to punch people, I think she'd have covered every base possible. Besides, everyone knows we're her teammates. It would look even weirder if we didn't talk to her."

"Right." Ruby smiled, happy to have a plan, especially if it promised Weiss at the end of it. "But we won't be able to take her back with us."

"Not this time, but small steps. Besides, we'll see if Weiss has any ideas. She knows her situation better than we do." Looking across the dance floor, Yang sniggered and leaned down. "Hey, look over there. Looks like someone is having fun."

Ruby followed her gaze and sighed. "Yeah, Torchwick. He likes baiting Blake…"

"Blake baiting? Heh. To be fair, she makes it way too easy." Yang watched as Blake purposefully stomped her heels down onto Roman's foot with every step of the dance, smiling up so innocently at him and macerating his toes.

Unfortunately for her, Torchwick had his aura.

"Should we save her?"

"How? If we try and take her away from him, that means one of us will have to take over. You willing to make that sacrifice?"

Ruby winced. "Does it make me a bad team leader if I say no?"

"Nah. Makes you a sensible one."

"Greetings," a soft and cultured voice said speaking from behind them. Yang and Ruby turned to find a short boy – or short by Yang's standards – standing behind them. He had the same distinctive white hair and pale complexion Weiss did, but a far wider smile. "I couldn't help but notice you two lovely ladies enjoying my sister's performance all alone and thought I would come over to introduce myself."

Bowing low, he took Yang's hand and laid a kiss upon her knuckles. "Whitley Schnee, at your service."

Yang would give him credit for trying, but his eyes lingered just a second too long on her tits.

Do not punch. Do not insult. Do not go to detention for rest of natural life.

"Yang Xiao-Long. And this is my sister, Ruby Rose."

"Charmed." He took Ruby's hand and kissed it, too, albeit a much more chaste and polite one. For that, he got to live. "I believe I've heard your names. You're either international criminals of some renown or my sister's previous teammates."

"Maybe it's the criminals."

"Then should I fear for my life!?" He let loose a laugh that could have been manufactured in a faunus sweat-stop, so perfect in pitch and performance was it. "But I have heard about you. Especially you, Ruby Rose. You were my sister's team leader, weren't you? Father was furious when he learned Weiss hadn't been made leader of her team."

Ruby shrunk back a little. "I'm sorry."

"Oh no, don't be, please. I'm sure if you were made leader then you deserved it – and I do believe Weiss has said as much." He smiled winningly. "Perhaps my sister simply wasn't the best choice for the position. There's no shame in being a follower rather than a leader."

Yang wasn't sure Weiss – or Weiss' father – would have agreed.

"But I'll admit to a little bit of an ulterior motive in coming to speak with you." Other than to try and impress her, Yang had to assume. "Father informed me that the team from Beacon would be dining at my table, and I would hate to leave you adrift in a sea of adults talking about their boring business deals and the latest political decisions. This event is all about celebrating Beacon and raising money for it, after all. In a way, you're the stars of the show."

"I think our teachers would prefer it if we kept a bit more of a background role," Yang said politely.

"Then I can certainly help with that. How about I introduce you to a few of the others at our table? It'll help you escape the media at any rate." Whitley said `media` with so much exasperated derision that had one been nearby, they might have melted into a pile of goo.

"That doesn't sound like a bad idea…" Ruby said.

It wasn't, sort of. There was bound to be some media presence here considering this was supposed to be a big public event that would be seen by everyone, and Whitley was right when he implied the prof and Miss G would be happier if they stayed away from any journalists. Especially those from Atlas, who might ask some rather difficult questions.

Whitley might have been trying to impress her, but she had a feeling his dad had also put him up to this. It would be bad for the Schnee family too if their guests of honour were implicated or insulted by journalists they had invited to attend.

But the people he wanted to introduce them to. Ugh. Yang knew exactly what kind of people they would be. And I thought I'd finally been able to leave the clique high-school gossip lifestyle behind when I came to Beacon. Lame…

"Fine." Yang gave in with a sigh.

"There." Ruby smiled happily, either a far better actor than Yang pegged her for, or genuinely thinking Whitley was a nice guy. "Thanks for the help, Whitley."

"Ah." He appeared surprised at the familiar address. "N-No, that is no problem at all." His smile grew. "Come then, Ruby, Yang – if I may call you that – let me give you the grand tour. And perhaps I could steal a dance later."

"Don't push it," Yang mumbled.

"I might be able to convince my sister to speak with you."

"She'll do it," Ruby said happily. "Yang loves dancing and would love to dance with you."

Yang rolled her eyes. "Gee. Thanks, Ruby. I'm glad I have you here to answer for me…" Still, for the chance to have a moment with Weiss one-on-one? "Sure. But I warn you, my dance moves aren't exactly the finest in the land."

"Unlike you," Whitley said with a flirtatious wink.

Ugh. This was why she liked older men. Or at least mature ones.

"I do have to ask, however. Wasn't there a third member of your team?"

"Yeah. Blake. She…" Yang looked back to the dance floor, where Roman had now given up all attempts of acting aloof and Blake had given up all efforts of subtlety. They were intentionally stamping on one another's feet and several other dancers were moving away as the `romantic` fight quickly upped its ante.

Off to the side, Miss Goodwitch was marching toward the dance floor, glasses hanging down her nose and hands clenched into fists.

"She's got things handled on her end," Yang said, sending a silent prayer for her partner. "So, how about that tour? I have a sudden desire to be anywhere but by the dance floor right about now and I'm sure my sister agrees."

"Yep." Ruby's face was pale. "Definitely yep."

Yep. The Schnee event is going to be split over multiple chapters. It's got more importance in this story than it has in canon. Anyway, before the omake, just a reminder that I'll not have any uploads next week because of my work event.

Frankly, I can't wait for it to be over. I've already had someone today call me to ask if I can arrange ten hotels rooms for them! I mean… what? You're the ones choosing to come to our event. Why the hell would I be responsible for finding you hotel rooms? And why would you leave it to literally one week before the actual date of it to start looking!?

Ugh. Idiots, I swear!

Also, I'm the main speaker, but we have a guest speaker, who has literally emailed me to ask for material for his speech. Why should I be designing your speech as well as mine? Wtf!? The worst thing is that HE is an expert in his field, while I'm an MD of a magazine group; an Editor and a journalist! I report on his industry, but I don't know it as intimately as someone who works in it ought to. Sheesh!

Omake:

Nora slammed her hands down on the desk. "I've lost Zwei."

Velvet's book fell from her fingers. "W-What? But you only took him out for five minutes. How did you lose him!?"

"Nora." Ren looked up from his homework. "You lost the dog we promised to look after for a single night? Do you have any idea what Team RWBY will do if they find out?"

"Cry, hate me and declare me their best friend."

Ruby, Yang and then Blake in that order obviously.

"I know this is bad; that's why I came to ask for your help!"

"We'll help," Pyrrha said, making the decision for all of them despite Ren's exasperated roll of the eyes. "He can't have gotten far. He's just a dog. Where did you last have him?"

"I was walking him in the corridors. He stopped to take a poo in the bathroom."

"Did you clean it up?"

"No. He flushed the chain, though."

Ren, Velvet and Pyrrha looked at one another. The dog flushed the chain?

"Anyway, we went past their dorm and he smelt something."

"Ruby or Yang's scent?"

"I thought that, but he ran to the door next to theirs and started to sniff at the base of it, then he got this really serious expression-"

"This is a dog, Nora," Ren reminded. "A dog."

"Look, I'm just telling you what I saw. He got this really serious expression on hi face and then darted off. I tried to catch him, and I got his leash!" Nora held it up for good measure, showing the black leash with a red collar on the end. "But he undid the collar and escaped."

"The dog undid the collar…"

"What!? Do you think I did it!?" Nora stomped one foot. "I know what I saw, Ren."

"Alright, alright. I'm sorry. This is fine. He can't have gotten far. All we need to do is split up and look around for him. Velvet, can you call Cardin and ask his team for help? Tell them I'll make pancakes for them as well if they do."

"On it." Velvet already had her scroll out. "Coco?"

"If you want."

"No, I mean do you want Coco to help."

"Oh." Ren thought on it, then shrugged. "If you want."

"I hope we find him," Nora said, biting her fingers. "I don't want to imagine him all on his own, scared and cold and alone, not knowing how to get back. W-What if something happens to him? What if he gets in trouble?"

Pyrrha came over to wrap an arm around her shoulder. "I'm sure he's fine, Nora. He's just a little corgi. What could he possibly get up to?"

/-/

"Targeting computer engaged."

The chair moved automatically to the side, swivelling along with the huge metallic canon. On the screen, a red icon narrowed in on a dormitory window, the one beside Team RWBY's. Tactical data popped up on the console screen.

"Hah-Hah-Hah…" Zwei panted, tail wagging in the seat.

"Target acquired."

Zwei's tail wagged faster.

"Safety disengaged. Weapons are live."

With a happy bark, Zwei leapt up and placed his forepaws on the console.

THOOM!

The entire battleship shook, the chair Zwei was on thrown back suddenly and launching the corgi up over the top. Like the cat he wasn't, he landed on his side, bounced with a muffled bark and rolled onto his back.

His tail kept wagging.

Scrambling up, the corgi looked up out the window to see the smoking hole where the room had once been, and the room beside it, Team RWBY's dorm, completely unharmed. Suddenly, there was a loud scuffle from the corridor off to the side, followed by footsteps coming to investigate. The door slammed open and the large and hulking figure of Peter Port came barrelling in.

"What was that!? Goodness!"

Angrily, Zwei barked at the open window nearby, snarling and baring his teeth.

"What's this? Team RWBY's pet?" The man hurried over, noticed the weapon system and then the hole in the school. "Oh, Glynda is going to have my ass for this one…" Pausing, he looked back to Zwei, who continued to snap and growl at the window. "I say, did you catch the perpetrator and scare them away?"

Zwei barked at the window again, snapping at the air.

"What a brave pup! Come on, I think I have some bacon in my room and you, brave warrior, deserve a reward."

Tail wagging furiously, Zwei let the large food-giver carry him away.

/-/

Neo stood before a burned out door, umbrella in one hand, pillow in the other. It was smouldering slightly, but she let it fall to the floor, along with her knees a second later. A hand shakily made its way forward, brushing away the ash and debris over a small plastic object. As the ash was pushed back, the words "Mint Choc-Chip" could just be made out.

Of the carton it had once been attached to, however, there was nothing but charred remains.

Neo threw back her head and screamed silently.

"Hey. Have you seen a-"

Ren placed a hand over Nora's, pushing it down. "I think we should leave her alone, Nora. I doubt Zwei could have done this." With one last look to the strange girl silently pantomiming her descent into grief-induced insanity, Ren and Nora crept away to continue their search.

Neo's fists slammed down as she knelt there on all fours, teeth clenched and eyes watering. For this, there could be no mercy. No respite. A battle line had been drawn and the first blood, mint-flavoured, had been spilt.

Someone was going to pay…

I dunno. I could imagine Zwei and Neo both being silent and looking at one another, and absolutely being able to communicate.

Next Chapter: 4th April (TWO WEEKS)

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur