Remnant DxD

by Dessel Ordo

When an 11 year old Jaune Arc wandered out into Forever Fall hoping to become Remnants youngest huntsman, that should have been it for the foolish kid. Luckily a passing devil saw potential in him and re-incarnated him. Now, 6 years later House Bael has sent him to attend Beacon Academy to learn more about his homeworld, and establish his own peerage. What could possibly go wrong?

43. Tournament Daze IV: Assesing Strategies

A/N: Woof, sorry about the wait folks, life happens and all that. Also, titles. Titles suck, especially when you've been spoiling yourself with loads of interactions between peers where they can just drop all that crap. But here we are, and, like usual, I'm not earning shit from this aside from the warm fuzzies all your feedback gives me, and don't Own RWBY or Highschool DxD.

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They hadn't exactly worked up a sweat, but Team JNPR all took showers anyway.

Quick rub-downs with the 'don't get a skin condition' all-in-one cleaners that you can apparently find in gang-showers everywhere; but the effort to be more 'fresh' than 'ripe' is made. A quick once-over of their combat outfits for smudges, rips, cuts or tears is made. Armor is wiped clean and given a (very quick) buff and polish.

Plenty of frays, scuffs, tears and smudges remain, of course, but it's better than nothing.

Rushed as it is, the effort to make themselves more than just 'presentable' should be enough to keep them alive when the ramifications of this meeting hit. "Could someone remind me why the heck we're doing all this?" Nora gripes as she smooths her skirt down and shifts her armor harness to a more comfortable position. "We literally just finished a fight. Aren't we allowed to look like it?"

Jaune resists the urge to sigh. "Professor Goodwitch mentioned that we're Devils right before telling us about this meeting. That wasn't exactly subtle."

"And?" The ginger girl presses, frowning down at Leg-Breaker before–once again–moving the leather strap it's hanging by to a different spot on her hip, and nearly braining Pyrrha with Magnhild's shaft when she bends over to fuss with the smaller hammer.

"The number of Devils that are important enough to warrant an official visit to a Headmaster's Skybox during a Vytal Tournament is very small, the number of them who are affiliated with us–technically or otherwise–who'd be doing that with good intentions is even smaller. And most of them we need to make sure to at least make a good impression with if we can't secure their support or outright approval. That includes showing the proper amount of propriety when we meet up with them." Jaune replies as he pushes the door leading back to the coliseum's skunk-works open for his team.

Pyrrha looks over her shoulder at him, and is nearly plowed into by Nora. "Haven't you been saying that the Underworld's leadership are decent people, if a bit lax, since you told us that you're a Devil?"

Nora lifts her weapon from where she'd left it leaned against a wall and shoulders it before tacking on "Rune and Ruse were nice enough. They work for two of the Devil Kings, right?"

Jaune nods stiffly. "They are, they can be and they do. I wasn't lying about any of that. It's not them I'm worried about, and they aren't the ones with easy and direct access to Remnant right now."

"Right…" Nora drawls, glancing from Jaune to Ren, then back to him. "So, you think it's Big Boss Sai's dad, or his people we're about to meet with?"

He nods, expression darkening. "Could be either. And let's just say Lord Bael makes Weiss' dad look pretty damn tolerant and reasonable on a good day. Not that he has many of them."

The girls both wince, while Ren goes unnaturally still, the situation seeming to finally sink in. Jaune had tried to be comforting when he explained the temperament of the current head–both the actual and official ones–of the Bael clan. None of his teammates had been particularly impressed then, and now it looked like he'd have to start pulling band-aids if they are going to make it through what's coming intact.

"Perhaps he sent some subordinates of his to the tournament instead of attending himself? It does sound rather... plebeian, on paper. At least as far as the head of a Devil Clan would be concerned." Ren offers to Jaune as much as he does the rest of the Team.

Jaune lets out a mirthless laugh at that. "Yeah, you're right. Old Man Zekram might be who we're on our way to deal with." He runs a barely steady hand through his hair. "In which case, I have no idea what we're about to walk into. With him, this could go either way..."

Ren, Pyrrha and Nora all share a grimace. Information on what the founder of Clan Bael has done and is capable of isn't exactly easy to come by for the Underworld's lower and middle classes. But what little is well known and readily accessible doesn't exactly paint a reassuring picture. The typically taciturn teen looks down at StormFlowers, "That's why you have us all still wearing our weapons, I assume?"

Jaune nods. "Show of strength and all that. Not that I don't think Zekram will be able to turn that around on us if this is a worst case scenario and it is him we're about to be dealing with. Between the long run playing court politics as Clan Head he has under his belt and keeping up with every legal advancement and technique people have been coming up with as a hobby after stepping down… He's basically the chessmaster of the Underworld." Jaune is trying to sound calm and confident. He really is, but he must not be doing that good of a job if Nora's unnerved expression and the calming hand Pyrrha just rested on on his shoulder are anything to go by. He lets the gentle contact ground him back in reality, and takes a deep breath. "Sorry, it's just meeting with that guy, hell, just the idea of meeting with that guy never fails to get me worked up."

"We couldn't tell…" Nora dryly quips with a completely forced chuckle, her grin a bit more forced than usual, but the offer of normality is a gesture Jaune can appreciate.

Pyrrha takes a step closer to him, the hand on his shoulder reaching across his neck as she leans her head in towards his, doing nothing to mask the concerned expression on her face. "Is he really that bad?"

Jaune leans into Pyrrha's half-embrace to mask his hesitation, before straightening back up, adjusting his sword-belt and scabbard before unsealing Crocea Mors. He gives a so-so hand gesture as he answers, "He's.… a man who hedges his bets, likes to play the long game. He's the head of the Great King Faction, even if Sairaorg's father is the 'official' leader of that crowd. Man behind the curtain and all that. There's no denying that he wants what's best for Devilkind, what exactly that is though…" Jaune shudders a bit as he trails off. "Not many reincarnated Devils like us like the guy, but all of us are glad that he agrees with the Devil Kings that the Old Satan Faction isn't what's best for our race. Was one of the first to go after them during the Civil War, even. He doesn't really consider me a 'true' Devil and won't until I've got more notches on my belt; accomplished more that he can respect. Same as any other reincarnated Devil, and he isn't shy about it." Jaune pauses to both catch his breath and pick his words. He doesn't want his team going in antagonistic, but they can't be timid or already cowed either. "He's reasonable… For an Elder Devil at least. He'll support us, but we have to really earn it. Zekram's humoring Sairaorg and me for now, but that will change if we falter for even a second."

Jaune pauses, mind flashing back to that terrifying first meeting with the Bael Progenitor mere days after he'd been reincarnated. Of words tumbling out of his mouth about everything he knew about his homeworld for nearly an hour before the ancient and powerful being had offered him a ghost of a nod, before having him removed from the study that isn't a throne room by his servants with a wave.

"So…" Nora hedges, bringing her leader back to the present, "Still kind of an asshole but smart about it, and if we don't mess this up he'll be our asshole."

Jaune snorts out a laugh at his Rook's less than respectful summation of one of the most powerful and influential men in the Underworld. "Yeah, Nora, that about sums him up…" Jaune sighs before looking to his Bishop. "Think you can manage an illusion to stop us from getting stopped for going against the coliseums weapons check?" Ren nods, a quick shimmer marks his illusions start, and Jaune motions for his Team to leave the locker room.

The walk through the stadium is pretty standard as far as sporting events go.

There are more people sporting Valean and Vacuan colors than there are Atlesians or Mistrali, so the match following his teams probably hasn't started quite yet. They have to wait at the entrance to the stairs leading up to skybox levels as the event staff check their ID's and with the Headmaster about their supposed appointment before they are let through.

Sure, him or Pyrrha could have made it past that checkpoint with a namedrop and a smile, but abuses like that tend to pile up until they bite you at the worst possible time.

The crowd is thinner in the private section, and the concession stands are charging more, but the feel isn't that much different. A few people are wearing their weapons, but Ren keeps their illusion up. Contestants are held to a stricter standard during the Tournament. The walk through the lower levels of the Coliseums' more exclusive floors is familiar.

Friends and supporters of his dad offering him congratulations on his win, teasing him about the recent tabloid attention he'd gotten or making playful snipes about how he'd done in the first round are new to him, but expected after having seen two sisters compete in the same tournament as he grew up.

Pyrrha's polite acceptance of well-wishes, politely apologetic denial of requests for autographs and teasing of the people griping at her about how well their bets on her had turned out is newer, but more-or-less normal for him at this point.

All of that fades away as they reach the top level of the Skybox section.

Security is far more thorough about checking them before letting them mount the steps to the level than it had been for access to the less exclusive, more affordable skyboxes they'd just walked past to get here.

One of the guards even goes so far as to compliment Ren's illusion as they pass. That sets his teammate smiling for a moment, before he remembers that a noticed illusion is a useless one with a twitch and a sullen glare directed at the grinning guard. Nora is still doing her best to cheer her scowling partner back up when they reach the next hallway.

It'd have been funny if Jaune weren't so on edge.

The hallway past the door is, of course, empty. Save for a more regular-sized, sharply-dressed Rune waiting at the final barrier who offers them a friendly wave, cheering, "Team JNPR joins the party!"

Nora throws her entire body into returning the wave as she crows "Heya, Rune!"

"Hello again!" Pyrrha adds, in equally good spirits, despite their nerves over the impending meeting. It hadn't been a long meeting, but Rune had made a good impression on Jaune and his Peerage when they'd last crossed paths.

"Congrats on your win!" Rune adds, offering a quick round of reserved but earnest applause and earning a grateful responses from Ren and Nora as Pyrrha demures with some line about tournament seeding and it only being the first round as Rune very blatantly sends something on her Scroll.

Jaune's Scroll almost immediately buzzes in his pocket. He half-fishes it out, and is greeted by a text from Rune indicating that none of the higher-up Baels are present. Jaune sags, anxiety leaving his chest like the air from a balloon with a hole in it. He shoots Rune a grateful smile, and pats his pants pocket to let her know he got the message as they approach. The towering blonde gives him a merry smile and wink in turn as she offers a 'follow me' gesture, before flowing into an about face leading Team JNPR through the doorway with a cheerful hum and a swing of her wide hips.

From the low, almost inaudible whistle and equally soft admonishing of 'Nora' as well as a small nudge from a slightly red Pyrrha, he isn't the only one to note the Phenex-Focalor scion's remarkable curvature–Even among Devils she's quite the sight–further emphasized by her form hugging outfit.

From the professors to his classmates to hopefuls from different combat schools taking tours of the campus Jaune is constantly surrounded by beauties. That Rune's softer curves seem exotic enough to be distracting compared to the warrior women - in the making, active or semi-retired and teaching - he is usually surrounded by, is telling. He shakes his head, bumping his shoulder back into Pyrrha's to distract himself from the admittedly alluring sight to focus back on the here and now.

Jaune glances about at his Peerage as they follow the buxom blonde through the door into the otherwise empty front hall of the suite. "Good news, people, no Zekram or Bael Clan representatives." Before brushing his hand against Crocea Mors, returning it to a plain arming sword.

Most of the tension drains from the other teens sedately following after him at that announcement. Nora glances over at Jaune, a questioning look on her face. "Hey, boss, I umm, I just had a thought." She pauses, pretty clearly considering her words for once. "From how you tell it, boss Sai's dad and his ancestor are old school, blood purity, aristocrat types, right?"

Jaune nods, "A bit of an understatement, but yeah."

Nora continues trying to parse through the veritable truckload of information that Jaune's been dumping on his Peerage for the last few months, "So… I get why they'd have it out for you–well, us–with them being part of the Snotty King Faction–" That earns her some chuckles from the rest of the Team, and one barely audible giggle from Rune ahead of them. "-But Big Boss Sai is a pureblood Devil…" She trails off.

Jaune flatly puts out, "Without any Demonic Power or access to the Power of Destruction. His father… Wasn't pleased." He pauses for a moment trying to come up with the best way to explain things to his peerage in the very limited amount of time before they are officially at whatever meeting it is the Headmaster had set up. "It took a while, but Sairaorg eventually managed to force his hand to become the Heir. As for me, I was a way to leverage a favor out of one of the Devil Kings, with a stronger asset to burn if his scheme worked."

Pyrrha looks over to him, clearly concerned, "Didn't you save Lord Bael's wife's life before?"

Jaune shrugs, a bitter smile on his face. "The same wife who gave him a quote-unquote useless heir? A part of me is still wondering if Lord Bael didn't arrange for the incident with the poison…" Jaune pauses for a moment to actually think about what he'd just said, then shakes his head to try to rattle the paranoia loose. "Forget I said that. Lord Bael isn't that stupid or obvious–" Rune drops the pretense of privacy to glance back at him, her expression so incredulous that he can't help but raise his hands in a placatory gesture and amends, "-Okay okay, fine, Zekram wouldn't let him be that stupid or obvious." Rune nods sagely and turns back to her clipboard while Nora and Pyrrha share a giggle at the byplay. "Yeah, and something like that would be a one-way ticket to experiencing Lady Venelana's ire. One of the stipulations for her to back off from helping Lady Misla and Sairaorg herself was that they were treated properly after all." Jaune rambles, as much to explain more of the political scene his Team is being brought into as to keep his mind busy and nerves in check.

His teammates share unhappy expressions, and fall silent as they walk into the Skybox's main antechamber. Again it's empty, so they carry on past it to the double doors leading to the observation deck.

Rune prepares to push the doors open, pretty clearly in her 'at work' mindset, but pauses just before she actually does to offer Jaune a teasing smirk, "You may want to brace yourselves."

Jaune and his team tense right back up at that, "You said the Baels weren't here." he prompts, eyes boring into the grinning Phenix.

Rune titters at that, the hand not on the door splayed out and 'covering' her grin as she corrects him, "I said no such thing, I texted you." Ren quietly sighs as Nora barks out an explosive 'Ha!' that's as much mirth as it is nerves at that, meanwhile Pyrrha pouts pointedly up at the taller, smirking Devil. Rune playfully sticks her tongue out at them, and Jaune just rolls his eyes. Rune's teasing expression quickly drops, giving him a serious look that sends a shiver up his spine. "The Baels aren't the only powerful people that have been keeping tabs on your career, Jaune."

With that cryptic statement, the Phenex turns back to the doors, and a Phenex Clan crested magic circle expands over them with a wave of her hand, flashes brightly once then dissipates as she mimics pushing them open before clasping her hands behind her back. The doors slowly start moving apart, clearly being manipulated by either a spell or skillful application of the Phenex Clan's affinity for wind magic.

Now to see who… Gah!

From where he is standing directly behind the giant blonde, and considering and how tall and wide Rune's frame is, combined with her ringlet mane framing her wide shoulders, Jaune isn't going to be able to see into the room past her before entering it himself without looking stupid. Hell, if he didn't know any better he'd accuse the size-shifting blonde of blocking his view on purpose.

When the doors finally stop moving, Rune leads his group forward and announces, "Headmaster Ozpin, Lord Lucifer. Your guests have arrived."

That sends Jaune into a stumbling, shocked stop. "L-Lord Lucifer?" He manages after catching himself, the tall Phenex in front of him finally deigning to step slightly to the side.

His eyes immediately lock onto the blood red hair of one of the most widely respected men in the Underworld. No pressure at all, just the bulk of the people Jaune has looked up to since his childhood from outside his family–from both Remnant and Earth–all gathered in one room.

To talk to him.

Jaune quickly sketches a bow when the gathered Underworld executives and his Headmaster's staff and allies turn to face them. Pyrrha and Ren are quick to follow his lead.

Nora tries.

"At ease, Mr. Arc." Sirzechs Lucifer's voice cuts through the short silence. "This is an informal meeting, after all." Jaune stiffly rights himself, and the rest of his team follow suit as he takes in the other occupants of the room.

Lady Grayfia is–as usual–half a step behind her King, stoic expression giving nothing away. Headmaster Ozpin and Lady Serafall Leviathan are across from General Ironwood. The only person he doesn't immediately recognize is the curvacious woman standing next to the Atlesian Headmaster, arms folded behind her back and maybe standing half a head above Lady Leviathan with her silver-blue hair styled into gigantic ringlets. After a few seconds, her face starts to remind him of Rune, and it clicks. General Regina Phenex. Professor Goodwitch–standing behind Ozpin in the same position Lady Grayfia is–cuts a glare in his team's direction while Ozpin smirks at them, and Rune snickers as she moves off to the side of the room to collect a tray of refreshments. Lady Leviathan has already shifted her attention back to the Scroll in her hands by the time his team right themselves after offering them a cheerful welcome. Jaune absently notices that General Phenex, General Ironwood and Professor Goodwitch all have clipboards either in their free hands, or within arm's reach.

Ozpin's smirk lessens into one of his soft, almost grandfatherly smiles. "If the four of you need a moment to compose yourselves for a more civil conversation..." He gestures towards a door to one of the Skybox's side rooms.

Jaune glances back at his Peerage. Both Ren and Pyrrha shake their heads, and Nora looks more-or-less fine already. "No, sir, just… a bit of tonal whiplash is all. We'll be fine."

"Then let us get down to it, as the saying goes." Lord Lucifer nods. "You and your Peerage probably have a good idea of why we're all here, Mr. Arc, but as a little test, what do you think the reason is?"

A test?

Jaune and his team share a quick flurry of concerned glances amongst themselves.

"Don't be shy now!" Lady Leviathan chirps in her typical sunny affect. An affect that Jaune can't help but wonder if Rune has been either unconsciously or purposefully adopting herself. Whether or not that's a good thing is up to her relatives to decide. he supposes. "Like 'Zechs said, this is all informal, no need to stand on ceremony."

Despite the somewhat pained look on Professor Goodwitch's face and the visible twitch from Lady Grayfia, neither move to correct the Devil King who runs the Underworld's Foreign Affairs office. They aren't just teasing then, this really is a legitimate informal meeting. Huh.

The Huntsmen-in-Training help themselves to glasses of punch and water from the tray offered to them by Rune. Jaune clears his throat after taking a drink, "Changes to how Remnant is going to be divided between the Devil Clans?"

"It's either that or the Headmaster's got some other crazy, 'earth-shattering' revelation to hit us with." Nora quips. Everyone else in the room turns to stare at her while Ren sighs. Nora's… Noraness has sort of been getting out of control lately but this… Unperturbed, Nora just shrugs. "What? He does the whole 'mysterious old man' thing waaay too well to not have a few more of those in his back pocket."

Despite Jaune's expectations, the General–General Ironwood, that is–lets out a hearty chuckle. "She has you there, Oz."

"Oh do pipe down, James." The Headmaster playfully snipes back.

That… Isn't a no. There's more to Professor Ozpin besides being the Infinite Man and working behind the scenes with Fallen Angels against another group of Fallen Angels trying to weaponize the Grimm? Jaune–barely–suppresses the urge to groan and writes his finding out that factoid as karma for dumping everything on RWBY at once. For now, he pushes it to the back of his mind for later-Jaune to have a breakdown over.

After sparing an amused glance at the humans, General Phenex nods as she steps forward. "Which Pillars will be allotted territory in which regions of this world is the main reason we have all gathered for. Ah, but where are my manners? I imagine you know everyone else present, but I do try to avoid the spotlight. I am General Regina Phenex." Thought so. Ravel having mentioned the most famous of her nieces a few times certainly helped, if he's being honest with himself. "I was deployed by Lord Asmodeus to act as his representative on Remnant, as well as to support General Ironwood and the Weary's security measures for the remainder of the Festival and the coinciding negotiations. Moving forward, I am to be stationed on Vytal Island as leader of the defense forces we hope to be cleared to provide to bolster Remnant's defenders from the shadows."

General Phenex pauses to pluck a carafe of what smells like an Atlesian Red and a wine glass from the table, pour herself a drink and take a sip to give her words time to sink in. Having a Satan-class Devil nearby is certainly going to force the Myriad to think twice before they try anything in the future. It's also something of a double-edged sword, considering the amount of collateral damage you'd expect when one of them takes the field, and the Myriad–along with any other potential enemies that may come up–feeling forced to respond in kind. Either way, her presence isn't something to be taken lightly. "The rumors are spreading faster by the day, and all of the remaining Devil Houses are sure to be incredibly eager to establish holdings of their own once the rumors have been confirmed. Lord Bael's original plan was, well..."

"To make it my problem and sweep the whole affair under the rug he'd be rolling my corpse up in if I messed it up?" Jaune interrupts, caught somewhere between bitter at how monumental of a task he'd had dumped on his shoulders, and relieved that the burden has been lifted.

General Phenex arches an eyebrow at Jaune causing him to flush and start to stammer out an apology, remembering who he is speaking to before she offers him a wry smirk. "Officially, I was going to say untenable, but that is accurate as well. Unofficially." She stresses the last word, and Jaune nods vigorously at that.

"And the argument can be made that it was never going to work, considering two of your closest friends outside of Sairaorg's Peerage are my baby sister and–" Lord Lucifer casts a glance over at the Phenex scion closest to him, "the current fourth in line to be the next Head of the House of Phenex."

Jaune immediately has, and then clamps down on several incredibly rude-at-best responses to that statement. General Ironwood, thankfully, is the first to reply after pointedly glancing at his fellow general. "I've read the brief on what members of House Phenex are all capable of. What's publicly available, at least. You can't seriously be implying that you expect any of your uncles or your father to not be able to inherit."

General Phenex glances back steadily. "It isn't an incorrect statement, James. Until my father is Clan Head, Ravel's political importance will remain elevated. Even after Father takes up the reins, she will still be a person of interest. Should the worst come to pass, Royce has shown no political inclinations and Riser is unlikely to recover from his recent blunders for several decades at the very least. I would then precede her with Ruse and Rune following me assuming neither Royce, Riser or Ravel have not had any children of their own by then."

Pyrrha boggles at the elder Devil. "Should the worst–? You mean–"

Jaune rests a hand on her shoulder. "Pyrrha, we are very small fish in a very big ocean right now. Just because we can live for thousands of years, is no guarantee that we will. Things that can take down a Phenex do exist, and not all of them are threats that can be neutralized by paying them off, or hiring them and keeping them content."

"Or Grandfather simply retires and abdicates the position." Rune pipes up as she returns from a side room and sets a larger tray of hors'd'vors, punch, water and empty glasses on the table between them before helping herself to one of the snacks and punch glass before moving to her boss' side.

"Yeah, or that." Jaune acknowledges rather lamely… Rune raises an eyebrow at Jaune with a dry smile as she takes a sip from her glass.

General Phenex nods in agreement, a calm smile on her face. "Well spoken, Mr. Arc. But that is tangential to why we are here right now at best–You brought two incredibly important and well connected young ladies to your homeworld, and now that their powerful older relatives have found out, the proverbial big dogs want their slices of the pie." Having made her way over to the large tray, she loads a smaller plate up with what look to be slices of pickle, ham and cream cheese rolled up and skewered with tooth-picks and returns to the Headmasters' side. "The Bael Clan had clearly been hoping to use this world as its own untapped resource pool but that is no longer a viable outcome, nor would it have been desirable in the long term; we've reached an accord in exchange for certain considerations. Being the Bael Clan's representative, Mr. Arc, you still control the main point of access... provided your Mad Monk does his job."

"He's a necromancer, ma'am." Jaune respectfully corrects the representative of the Armies of the Underworld.

The blue-haired woman only chuckles wryly at his assertion. "Oh I know. In fact, half the Underworld knows at this point, and as much trouble as they can cause, names and titles matter. He's the Mad Monk's descendant, thus he's the new Mad Monk."

"Indeed." Lord Lucifer taps his fingers against the champagne flute in his grip. "Once the other Clans start moving in and setting up shop, it will be on you to tell Regina who will tell me if any of them take anything other than what they've been allotted, or start stepping out of line."

Lady Leviathan looks to her aide. "Runey?"

The younger Phenex nods and presses her hands together to gather and focus magical energy. After a few moments she throws her hands forward, and an elaborate magical construct depicting a map of Remnant flares to life in front of the group.

Nora quietly 'ahhs' at the sight, Jaune and the rest of his Team managing to keep their reactions more subdued. His opinion that you don't just buy your way into a job as one of the Devil King's aides is reaffirmed.

Lady Leviathan offers her aide a quick nod of approval before continuing in Lord Lucifer's stead, "With this being an entirely new world, some new methods are going to be explored." Lady Leviathan smoothly continues, stepping forward with a smile on her face as Oobleck and Port start hyping the crowd up for a match between some Atlesian and Vacuan teams Jaune doesn't recognize. "So! Keep in mind that any sharing among our people will be because Remnant's inhabitants are either living in incredibly densely packed pockets or fairly sparse villages in very, very tenuous situations. Plus, this world is also just a teensy bit on the small side on top of that, no offense." She offers apologetically to the Remnantians in the room.

Jaune blinks dumbly, barely managing to keep his mouth from gaping as his brain scrambles to catch up with what Lady Leviathan had just said. Devils sharing territory? That's a… bold proposition. Rias and Sona are something of an oddity on Earth, and even then, Kuoh Town is officially Rias' territory, and she is simply hosting a friend. Either a new golden age of inter-clan cooperation is about to start, or there will be another Underworld Civil War in a few years, depending on how this venture goes.

And his home world will be at ground zero for it either way. Great.

Rune, Lady Leviathan, Lord Lucifer and General Phenex share varying sounds of amusement before Rune asserts, "As Lady Sera said: New world, new rules. If Devilkind wishes to have a true foothold here, we will have to adapt."

Ozpin nods at the Devil leadership standing with him. "Hopefully, with our new allies we will finally begin to meaningfully push out the boundaries of civilization again." He pauses to take a sip from his own mug. "However, that will not be possible until knowledge of Devils has begun to be disseminated to the wider population."

"But before we continue onward, I believe it is time for an administrative exercise for Mr. Arc." General Phenex declares boldly as her pale red, nearly pink eyes assess him.

Jaune blinks at the woman, utterly perplexed. "An… Administrative exercise?"

Lord Lucifer chuckles at his confusion. "Mr. Arc, all of us at the top know what your plans are. In fact we're aware of what all the kids in your generation with their heads on straight plan on doing with your lives."We can't afford not to if we wish to ensure the continued survival of our people in the aftermath of the pair of wars that rocked the foundation of our society and nearly drove our race to extinction. We have done our best to see to our race's betterment, but we can only do so much ourselves." Lord Lucifer somberly intones, eyes falling on each of the teenage Devils in the room in turn. Jaune notes a small, unhappy flash pass over the Devil King's visage before it passes. "The Evil Pieces and the Rating Games were… a good start. But at some point the younger generation will need to step up" Jaune might be imagining things but he could swear that an unpleasant look had flashed over the Devil King's face at that. "And a system to eventually refill the thirty-odd empty spots in our seventy two pillars? Crafting an Underworld where you rise or fall on your own merit, not bloodline? Officially, we can't openly promote such things, not yet, maybe never. But unofficially? Those are changes we in this room most definitely would like to see happen."

General Phenex nods in agreement, her otherwise beautiful face set in a stern mask. "And all of you looking to do something worth supporting can't afford to be mediocre if you want to have a real shot at pulling off your plans." After that proclamation, her face smoothes back over to a more pleasant expression as she claps her hands together before gesturing towards the magical map. "So! An administrative exercise, Mr. Arc. You and the rest of your Peerage are welcome to express your opinions on the Clans we've paired with the territories that are available once you know what those are. What we'd like is to see if you will come to the same conclusions we did, and for another opinion from a local."

General Ironwood, still waiting at parade rest, picks up the thread, experimentally pointing up at the magical projection, specifically at Solitas which–to the general's evident, but not displeased surprise–then becomes emphasized by an elaborate array of spinning arrows. Nice touch, Rune. "Let's start in the north and work south. Atlas and Mantle."

Starting with the City in the Sky, okay then. No pressure.

Rune quickly takes a few steps forward to interject, "Oh, one more thing!" She takes the clipboard–previously obscured by her considerable bust–from underneath her arm and flips through the stacked papers, documents and folders before pulling out four decent sized stacks, each held together with a handful of paper-clips, before pinning the clipboard back to her side with her left arm and walking over to distribute them to Team JNPR. "These are the names of the different Pillar families who made the shortlist of first picks the Devil Kings were working from. From there, the names of the members of those families we believed would be most open to establishing a new territory on a new world instead of maintaining what they currently hold, or staying comfortably at home in the Underworld. They've been arranged by skillset and disposition rather than how our leaders decided."

"Rune worked so hard to make those. I have the best. Assistant. Ever~!" Lady Leviathan loudly gushes as the Phenex in question blushes as she falls back to her boss' side, her older sister smiling proudly as everyone else in the room politely ignores the exchange.

Jaune and the rest of his Peerage flip through their packets quickly taking in each potential Devil to assign some territory to, they are rather neatly organized. After a few moments he sets his packet down to eye the magical construct representing Solitas. He mentally goes over the names and the skills of the Devils in question searching for the best fit. "Umm… maybe Atlas could be split up between the Rookies Four?" He pauses to think over his knee-jerk reaction, and shakes his head. "But Sona and Rias already have pretty stable territories set up on Earth, so... Oh! The Agares. That makes sense." They already take care of Agreas, AND Rias had mentioned that Seekvaira loves mechas a few times. Hardworking, no-nonsense, and a personal interest in some of the floating city's core industries? She'd be as close to a perfect fit as they could hope to find. "Mantle…Yeah, that's been a mess ever since Atlas went up, and the Sitri are kinda famous for business and healthcare, long term projects... that sort of thing. So someone from their Clan could probably help build Mantle back up?"

"You're half right, Mr. Arc." General Phenex replies when it becomes clear he's said his piece on that part of his homeworld; a slight smile on her face at how close to the mark Jaune had been for his first attempt. "The Rookies Four have each been subtly approached, vetted and have agreed to take that region. Once Rias and Sona's Peerages finish their primary education, they will join Sairaorg and Seekvaira."

Lord Lucifer nods in agreement, "Kuoh Town should be a nice, safe place for younger, less experienced Devils to cut their teeth in by then, and some of the more world shaking revelations and the resultant fallout here on Remnant should have been taken care of as well."

Lady Leviathan glances at her assistant as Rune summarizes. "We'll have a Sitri to rebuild Mantle on the wings of a military reform. An Agares to streamline the floating city's supply chain and make some targeted investments in the automaton and cybernetics industries, as well as a Bael and a Gremory to crack corrupt skulls and deal with all the… backroom chats. But largely, the plan is to leave it up to them. Impressive academic feats and exceptional-looking Peerages aren't exactly real-world experience, after all." The Devil King cooes and tugs the large blonde's arm to her chest with pride, and Rune perks up ever so slightly at her boss's approval. Apparently he isn't the only one being tested.

"I'm sorry, a military reformation? In Atlas?" Pyrrha asks, visibly confused and more than a little concerned. Jaune can't help but share her trepidation. Atlas' reputation is… well, it's one they have for a reason.

Grinning despite Lady Leviathan commandeering her arm, Rune gestures to her sister's Remnantian counterpart, "You're looking at Remnant's next visionary genius."

General Phenex glances dryly back at Rune, while General Ironwood pinches the bridge of his nose. Jaune looks a bit closer at the General, and realizes that the bags under the older man's eyes are far deeper than someone who recently received a considerable amount of additional aid for what would otherwise be a very stressful task should be. "All for the low, low cost of studying the entire military history of a world that's had at least one major conflict raging between nations at any given time since before recorded history."

"Defense in Depth is a rather resource intensive tactic." Rune agrees sensibly, "And that is just the start of what Earth's history can teach you about how to better defend your people and Remnant." Earth's history or General Regina Phenex? Going by the unamused expression on General Ironwood's face, Jaune is pretty sure he's asking himself the same question. "And it helps that resource intensive endeavors drive industry." Rune caps off more soberly as she looks at her map with the eyes of someone who actively enjoys planning.

Clearly this girl had put a lot of thought into this. Now that he thinks about it, he's heard similar breakdowns before, specifically, from the towering blonde's aunt. If either one of them hadn't taught the other, or they aren't study-partners, he'll take a bite out of his shield. And judging by the wryly amused looks shared between General Phenex and Lady Leviathan, this isn't something new either. Jaune and the rest of his Team share a glance but make understanding or agreeing noises all the same.

"It is good to see you striving to reach your full potential, James." Ozpin quips, a slight tug at the corner of his mouth and twinkle in his eye hinting that he is enjoying the other man's displeasure a bit more than is proper.

"I'm glad you have someone else to share your workload with, at the very least." Glynda adds, pointedly pressing up on the rim of her glasses. General Ironwood smiles thinly as he returns his focus to the map, his ungloved hand absently plucking a half-finished glass of wine from the table, then taking a long drink from it as he does so.

"Now, moving southeast, we have Mistral." Lord Lucifer continues on with a slight gesture at the map. The arrows fluttering away from Solitas to point out a few places on Anima.

Jaune shuffles through his packet, as much to remove the Rookies Four's clans from it as to refresh his memory and buy time. He almost scoffs at one of the names, an especially obvious choice. "Sure, just throw the Phenexes at the corrupt, crime-run mess and be done with it. They'd be like sharks in a fish-tank with how they handle the entertainment businesses that serious crime thrives on." He pauses, and barely bites back a curse. "Wait, no nevermind, you're already earmarked for Vacuo he corrects himself, shooting an apologetic look at the two members of that family he's in the room with. Ravel seemed pretty excited about it the last time that came up."

As her elder sister smirks with a small 'hmph!' and an amiable shrug, Rune playfully pouts at Jaune, mockingly indignant as she retorts, "We aren't that bad. There are more technicalities and sophisticated consideration for the placement of people than just the political doublespeak and shadow games everyone assumes it is. There's paperwork involved." Lady Leviathan and Rune share a disgusted, exaggerated groan turning to look at each other as they both lean against each other, taking part in the younger Devil's semi-serious joke. Jaune notices there's no shortage of sympathetic looks, shudders and winces from human and Devil alike being shared between the adults in the room. Barring Lady Grayfia and Professor Goodwitch, that is. Rune returns her gaze back to the map, specifically at the aforementioned territory. "And for the record, it's just the family's problem-child getting sent off to Vacuo."

"The character building hardships of becoming a self-made-man should do wonders for the brat." General Phenex agrees. As everyone else present agrees with the sentiment, a dark look overtakes her otherwise flawless visage and an evil smile splits her face with a rather terrifying glint in her eyes. Rune, General Ironwood, and even Lady Leviathan and Professor Goodwitch lean away from her. "That is, after I'm done with him, of course." For the first time since being reincarnated Jaune isn't jealous of the Phenex family's regenerative powers.

Going by the look of serene nonchalance on Lady Grayfia's face, and barely disguised vindictive approval in Lord Lucifer's eyes, both of them still clearly remember some of the… less than prudent declarations and threats Riser had made earlier in the year.

Lady Leviathan nods, helping herself to a few shrimp and some scampi sauce. "So, yup, House Phenex can have all the showbiz, resorts, casinos and the backroom deals and irrefusable offers that they could ever want in Mistral proper... but Anima's a big place, Mr. Arc." She gestures in a 'go on' motion with one hand, the other plopping one of the snacks into her mouth.

Jaune scratches at the back of his head, as he shuffles all of the members of house Phenex to the bottom of his packet, and still finds himself hard pressed to sort through all the choices with all the names left. "Well… crap, this is one of those places where we're gonna have to make concessions, isn't it? Ren, Nora?" He prompts his teammates, looking for advice as much as to see how much of what he's been telling them about the Underworld's politics has been sinking in.

Ren's face pulls into a grimace as he looks over his home continent, Nora taking the lead as she shrugs, "Eh… One or two of the Devil Clans can either run a bunch of the outlying settlements, and play 'who's the bigger bastard' with all the Bandit clans and raiders. There's really not a whole lot to work with once you get away from the capital or Argus." She glances apologetically at Ren who concedes the point with a nod. "As for which one, er, you got me, 'cause I just dunno." Nora trails off with a shrug.

Lord Lucifer nods again as Lady Grayfia steps forward to start loading a plate for her husband and herself from the larger tray. "Glasya-Labolas and Astaroth, to be specific. Zephyrdor, Illyuka, Latia and Diodora will certainly bring an… eclectic blend of ideas and styles of leadership for the villages, outposts and camps that will be split between them. It's a gamble, especially given Zephydor's… unseemly reputation, but if we want to expand here without fighting another civil war because we're only giving our favorites and allies on the new frontier..."

Rune intertwines her fingers behind her back, a faux innocent smile splitting her face, "And if two of those Clan scions happen to be on good terms and amenable to our way of thinking, well… That's just good fortune."

"Um…" All eyes are drawn to Pyrrha who flushes at the attention, before squeaking out a reflexive 'Sorry,' clearing her throat and asking, "What about Argus?"

Rune cups her chin with her right hand, and with a slight wave of her left the entire swarm of arrows move to surround Argus. "Well, it is a trading hub between Atlas and Mistral and a general symbol of cooperation between the two. On paper at least." General Ironwood hums in agreement.

Jaune nods, pretty sure he knows where Rune is going with that line of thought. "Makes it a perfect place for joint Phenex and Agares operations, or even just a convenient point of contact between the Rookies Four and the rest of Remnant."

General Phenex smiles approvingly at the younger Devils as they start more actively spitballing ideas between themselves. "Something you can work out between yourselves, I'm sure."

"Oh hey! There's also that floating island chain up in northern Mistral!" Nora interjects, an eager grin on her face. "The Ageera will want in on that too, won't they?"

"Agares." Ren absentmindedly corrects her before crossing his arms, tentatively hopeful, "There are also places like Oniyuri that could potentially be invested in and and re-established."

Lady Leviathan smiles warmly at him. "To be honest, once people start pushing out from the Kingdoms' central cities again, that is a place we're fully expecting to see the Agares heavily petition to have control of." She pauses for a beat, considering Jaune's teammate, before adding, "The floating islands, that is. Remnant's lost settlements would be best reclaimed by local Devils once they have the power-base to do so."

"Don't forget everyone who'll want to start up their own settlements, the planet might be small, but the continents have no shortage of free space." Rune interjects, eyeing the map she'd created greedily.

"Exactly, Runey!" Lady Leviathan exclaims, giving the towering Phenex a half-hug around her middle before pulling away and popping another shrimp into her mouth, humming in delight as she chews. As much as Jaune wouldn't mind hanging out with Sona, he's pretty sure the Devil King's younger sister would be happier not visiting for the Festival with her older sister having her physically affectionate tendencies getting so regularly indulged by her assistant. "In fact, if things go well enough, expansions like that could be a golden opportunity for a branch family to split off into a Pillar of their own if a certain someone's plan works out as well as we're all hoping." Lady Leviathan gives him a cheeky smile before turning back to the map and pointing toward the west. "And across the straight, Mr. Arc?"

Jaune shuffles through his packet again, shuffling the Clans that now have territory allotted to them to the front and skimming them over again. After taking a moment to think, he blinks a few times and lets out a low chuckle as the answer comes to him. "So… I'll be sharing territory with Milicas?" Not nearly as bad as the prospects for neighbors he'd been looking at under Lord Bael's plan. Not many Devils were willing to jump at the vague implications he'd been able to offer, and most of them that also fit his and Sairaorg's criteria had been desperate at best, so the prospect of having Lord Lucifer and Lady Grayfia's near-prodigy of a son, and the generally pleasant and forward-minded Gremory family in general as neighbors is a welcome one.

If he's being totally honest with himself, he's already starting to look forward to it.

"When he's old enough and some of the family's internal snarls have been ironed out at least." Lord Lucifer answers calmly, grinning unrepentantly as he takes a sip from his glass of wine. "Little Millicas probably won't have all that much riding on his shoulders to worry about by the time he's looking at leaving the nest, should things go the way I'm hoping they do."

Jaune just nods, an easy grin on his face. Hopefully he'll be more of a peer than a rival's vassal by the time he actually has Devils from outside his Peerage to share the kingdom with. Plus, the opportunity to act as one of Millicas' mentors is one he'd have to be a complete moron to pass up on.

"I'll try to have the rougher neighborhoods cleaned up as well as they can be by the time they're ready, sir." He pauses, and reaches out to pour himself a glass of water. Honestly, who thought to keep the heat on in this place so high? It isn't that late into fall yet. "If you don't mind me making a suggestion, maybe you could start Milicas on Patch? Signal would be a great place for him to start a Peerage, and the island is about as secure as places get on Remnant."

"Appreciated and noted." Sirzechs replies smoothly with a gracious nod.

"You mentioned that Vytal Island would be a military base earlier?" Pyrrha queries as the conversation trails off, looking between the map and the politicians, military officers and educators gathered in the room.

"Not simply an extension of the Underworld's armies, but a potential joint operation between us and our other allies as well." General Phenex responds, before taking another sip from her glass. "That is, of course, assuming that negotiations here, and some others that may be forthcoming but are well above anything you kids are able to influence or need to worry about right now go the way we're hoping." Pyrrha nods and looks back up to the map. "Now, about the desert to the west… The cover stories you, Lady Rias and Ravel were using gave us some… inspiration."

"If Riser works out, the Phenexes are going to have a piece, obviously." Jaune drones as he shuffles through his packet again.

Nora snorts at the spectacle before glancing down to the papers in her hand. "He's gettin' an oasis, bare-bones stipend and nothing else, isn't he?"

General Phenex nods, "As a start. It will be up to him to determine how to expand the family interests beyond that; but if he wishes to at least partly redeem himself he will act as if his very station depends on it." Considering the fierce scowl on General Phenex's face as well as the sharp smile on Rune's as she giggles almost sadistically, General Phenex isn't exaggerating.

Jaune almost feels sorry for the guy, he chuckles to himself as he shuffles through the packet again. Who else is going to… Jaune blinks dumbly down at the Clan that had wound up on the top of the packet once he stops. "Oh." Probably should have seen that name coming a lot sooner.

Clan Bael.

While Jaune is trying to put his thoughts together about that potential mess, Pyrrha peeks over his shoulder, makes an understanding noise before interjecting "Clan Bael's preference for shows of force and more direct courses of action make them the best candidates." The entire room pauses to look at her. The Invincible Girl almost stutters out another apology, before straightening to press on, "If they're all how Jaune described the Clan to us, they should fit right in there."

Jaune shrugs in agreement, backing up his girlfriend. "Hey, Sairaorg's a pretty inspirational guy. Doesn't mean that Lord Bael won't just try to muscle in though." He pauses for a moment before realization hits and Jaune groans. "You wanna send Magdaran over there; see if he can green the desert." The silence holds, and it's deafening.

Rune smirks, "That's the idea. And the resources that the House of Phenex could add to that effort, provided Riser does his job, are fairly extensive. A few years of hard work and patience are nothing compared to the potential returns if the project is even marginally successful."

Nora interjects, raising her hand, "Sorry, who's Madragon?"

Jaune blinks. Didn't he tell them? Shrugging and doing his best to not worry too much about the looks he's getting, he explains things for his Rook. "Magdaran is Sairaorg's younger half brother on their father's side. Things got… complicated after Sairaorg and Lady Misla's exile. When Sairaorg beat him in a duel to determine who'll be the next in line to head the Bael clan their relationship got… extra complicated. " Jaune is absently aware of Lord Lucifer whispering something about understatements to his wife and maid. "He inherited the Power of Destruction like his father was hoping but his control with that is, well… He took to being a botanist instead of focussing on that a while back. And he's a really good one. Botanist, that is. Getting the chance to turn a desert green seems like a logical next step for him, and a pretty big opportunity."

General Phenex voices her agreement, "It's as good a goal as any for a Devil with his drive and skillset, and will handilly get him clear of his father's influence. Vacuo was supposedly a paradise once upon a time. We'll see if those boys can't turn it into one again."

Lady Leviathan pops another sauce-coated shrimp into her mouth, basking in the taste with a gleeful hum before announcing, "Last stop, Menagerie."

As the cluster of arrows dart across the map one last time, Jaune sets most of his packet down on the table, only keeping the Clans that havent been allotted anything in his hands. When he actually looks at them, his eyes bug out. "The Belial and Belphegor Clans!?" Jaune looks almost wildly at the Devil Kings present. "As in Diehauser Belial and Roygun Belphegor? The top two contenders in the Rating Game!?"

Ozpin nods, a certain amount of gratified satisfaction on his face, "Ideally, with such influential backers that olive branch will not only help Menagerie become a Kingdom in their own right, but to found and maintain an Academy of their own. If two of the most influential Clans in the Underworld just so happen to be focussed on that rather than politics back home as a side effect…"

Jaune nods uncertainly, understanding what the Headmasters getting at, but… "Well, yes… But.." There's favoritism and then there's this.

General Phenex' expression darkens, though thankfully none of the malice seems directed at anyone in the room as she grinds her teeth. If her anger with her Uncle had been a bonfire, this is closer to a raging inferno. "It was decided that Roygun needs to make a new name for herself after she retired from the Rating Games." Both Lord Lucifer and Lady Leviathan share a grimace while Lady Grayfia looks like she'd just been force-fed a lemon.

The crimson haired Devil King continues in the stead of his general. "As for the Belials, it was decided the Bael Clan would repay a debt owed to Diehauser's cousin." Lord Lucifer soberly proclaims.

Jaune blankly stares back at the Underworld leaders, not sure what to do with those less than helpful answers. All he can offer his confused looking Peerage is an uncertain shrug before looking to the adults from Remnant. Unfortunately, they, along with Rune, seem to be just as in the dark about whatever the elder Devils in the room are referring to as he is.

The lull is thankfully broken before the uncomfortable silence goes for too long. Lady Grayfia stepping in to take over for General Phenex in leading the 'administrative exercise'. They go through Peerages, political connections, personal skillsets and every other minute facet of why the Devil Kings had selected the Houses they did for each region of Remnant currently on offer. It doesn't take long, but Ironwood regularly shooting the Headmaster the same sort of look Nora gives him when she wants to 'solve' a problem for their team with Magnhild certainly makes it awkward.

Ironwood returns to the conversation towards the end of that to announce that further logistical concerns, potential contributions and coordination between Devilkind, the Kingdoms and Remnant as a whole can and will be discussed and expanded further in the future.

Lord Lucifer offers a smile, "Congratulations, Jaune, Team Juniper, you have taken the first real steps towards coming into your own today."

"Thank you, sir!" Jaune straightens and offers the Devil King his gratitude along with his Team. From the way things like this normally go, he expects maybe a half an hour or so of mingling before they're dismissed.

Unless he's forgetting something that is…

The gathered adults in the Skybox share, well a series of looks really, between themselves before Headmaster Ozpin steps forward. "Now then, it's time for us to move on to the second bit of business. You four should probably sit down."

After the four share a look, Nora shrugs, and takes a seat on one of the four conveniently placed chairs that are facing Ozpin, Lord Lucifer and their gathered staff, subordinates and allies rather than the coliseum.

Jaune, Ren and Pyrrha all look to their seated teammate, each other, and then follow suit. "I will begin by reminding the four of you that this information is strictly confidential. Either myself, Glynda, General Ironwood, one of the Great Satans, or their direct subordinates will inform each of you every time that the list of individuals privy to this knowledge has been expanded. The only additions you will be making will be through additions to Mr. Arc's peerage." The headmaster takes a moment to make direct eye contact with each of them. "Until events near the beginning of this school year, I had kept the circle of individuals I trusted with even the barest portion of these secrets to an absolutely bare minimum."

"Riiiiight. Because that's not ominous at all."

"Nora!" Ren quietly interjects, lightly elbowing his girlfriend's side.

Ozpin smiles and presses onwards. "That said, this may seem redundant for some of you, but in light of the many revelations that all present have gone through, I feel it would be simplest to start from the beginning, and keep to the relevant facts. But first, a question." He sets his cane down and leans forward.

"How familiar are you four with the stories of the Infinite Man and the Girl in the Tower?"

_-*R-DxD*-_

"Father must be in a fine mood." Winter playfully prompts over the remains of their late lunch, her cup of tea steaming in her hands and almost hiding the smirk on her face. Elbows planted to either side of her empty plate, a clear look of pride on her face.

Weiss shrugs, channeling her inner Yang as best she can. "I have no idea what you are talking about, Winter."

The elder Schnee nudges Weiss' foot with her own. "Father has been... particular, about what you do with what you learned from the vocal coaches he hired for you. Your performance Sunday night was..."

"Exhilarating? Iconic? Exactly what our family and company needed?" Weiss replies, grinning as she dabs away the last of lunch's sauce from the corner of her mouth.

Winter sets her cup down and rests her hand on Weiss. "Something he would punish you for."

Weiss shrugs, "Not that it matters anymore, but he did briefly restrict my access to the family accounts. A misstep I can forgive him for, seeing as he hadn't had the opportunity to see the media's reaction to my part in the Festival and related charitable donations when he made that decision."

Winter lets out a mildly surprised hum. "So you did speak with him, I had expected to find you dodging calls and entirely cut off by now." Weiss scowls at her sister, but the elder Schnee ignores her pique. "You did choose your words carefully when you spoke, yes?" Unable to hold her sister's gaze when she arches an eyebrow in judgment, Weiss looks across the pathway to the private gazebo opposite theirs. After nearly a minute of silence Winter folds her hands in her lap with a sigh. "While I am glad to see how much you've grown since coming to Vale, the life of an Idol Huntress will be just as difficult as military service."

She huffs at her older sister. "I still fully intend to take control of the Company from Father and repair the damage he has done."

Winter gives Weiss a sobering look, "If you continue to openly defy him as you have been he won't hesitate for even a moment to designate Whitley as the heir."

This time, Weiss is the one who sighs, "How is using the skill he went out of his way to see me attain before I reached my legal majority to secure my own fiscal independence as well as that of my team defiance?"

"A legal majority you attained a year earlier than he had intended by enrolling in a Huntsman Academy."

"I exceeded his expectations in every test he demanded of me to do so." Weiss counters, reassuring herself that the flash of rage on her sister's face as her gaze falls on Weiss' scar is not directed at her.

Winter calms her features and slides her plate to the side so that the wait staff will be able to clear their table without interrupting the conversation. "The Board of Directors will hardly interpret your actions as such either. That you aren't the Leader of your Team will be another point against you."

"Ruby is the better tactician. I am smart enough to delegate tasks to individuals more qualified than myself." She counters primly, falling back on logic as much as she is defending her best friend. "It's not as if people expect Father to lead the company's security forces, public relations department or human resources."

"Hmmm…Go on." Winter prompts, conceding the first point.

Nodding, Weiss does so, "I will be handling Team finances as Blake conflates acting miserly with frugality, Yang can barely keep on top of the loan payments for her bike with her father's help and Ruby is as fiscally impulsive as she is in every other manner outside of combat and the workshop."

Winter finishes her tea and sets the cup on top of her empty plate. "I imagine finance is not the only leadership role you four plan on spreading out across the Team?"

Weiss nods. "Blake will be handling most of the field-craft related tasks and preparatory work, while Yang will handle our team's social media profile and public relations once we are well known enough to require those."

"Did the trainers Father hired for you not properly educate you on how to plan for and survive during extended trips through the wilderness?" Winter prompts, not crossly, merely probing and seeking clarity.

"Winter, I know that General Ironwood debriefs you regularly, and that he was one of the individuals that debriefed Blake after we convinced her to do the right thing. She has years of real world experience that some lessons from a retired Huntsman–no matter how skilled–and four years of schooling could never hope to match in that regard."

Also, she was the only person on the team both willing to and capable of convincing Yang that her exhaustive hair-care routine is not a practical thing to bring with her into the wilderness. Ruby had even started eulogizing for the Faunus girl when she'd started that conversation with her partner, but after nearly an hour of back-and-forth they'd left for the bullhead docks for Mt. Glenn without Yang's over-sized second toiletry bag.

Weiss' older sister nods, accepting her explanation at face value. "And what of all the effort into teaching you to manage a personal image Father gave you?"

The younger Schnee–barely–suppresses a shudder. The less her sister knows about some of the utterly mortifying gaffes she has made over the course of the year, the better. Weiss is careful to use her words clearly and concisely, "It… has been made abundantly clear to me that some of the words and turns of phrase our family, and those in similar social circles consider commonplace are rather easy for those of… lower social standing to… misunderstand or twist about into a double-entendre. We would rather not–seriously or in jest–become known as a team of shameless and insatiable harlots."

Winter snickers–snickers!–before catching Weiss further off guard. "A creative way to admit to father's methods for raising you when compared to me left you incredibly sheltered, and rather clueless about some things."

Weiss' face heats up, "I... what... how could you possibly–?"

"Weiss, I am a soldier. The things I saw and heard of barracks bunnies doing both in basic training and before I became a commissioned officer would probably leave you comatose from the shock at best. Add to that the less perverse sort of foolishness soldiers get up to when bored or left to their own devices for too long, and, well, I may still choose to carry myself in a mean that is befitting of a Schnee, but I am nowhere near as innocent or sheltered as yourself. Or Whitley, for that matter." She tacks on as an afterthought

Weiss really, really doesn't know what to do with that, so she settles for finishing her tea as well, silently wishing that she had something a bit harder, considering how this conversation had turned on her.

At that thought she immediately curses her degenerate friends for corrupting her and stubbornly refuses to look too closely at the other reason she is already craving a glass of wine at noon.

Deigning to have mercy on her, Winter thankfully moves on, smile still in place, "As glad as I am to hear that your studies are going well, and even more pleased with how much you have been able and are continuing to grow as a person, I am also curious as to how your martial training has progressed. The lopsided match-up your Team had in the first round was not nearly enough to satisfy my curiosity in that regard."

And her lighthearted feelings have gone out like a candle in a blizzard.

"Well, not everything has been smooth sailing and happy times socially." Weiss hedges as she and Winter rise from their table. Her elder sister strides over to the weapons rack on the far side of the plaza their private gazebo is built in.

Winter draws her blade and looks back at Weiss over her shoulder. "I trust you are able to speak while we spar?"

Months of simmering frustration over cultural differences–some of which had been exasperated by those differences being foolishly hidden–her recent isolation from a Team that was on the verge of collapse, stress over the Supernatural in general as well as Blake and Yang's utter hypocrisy on that same topic.

With her team, she needs to be polite, to work to repair damaged bridges and bonds as well as continue to forge new ones and strengthen those that had not been damaged.

There is a certain amount of give and take with Team JNPR now that all of the cards on the table she needs to be mindful of.

With the Heroes, she must appear strong, to maintain the appearance of a peer, keep the lines of communication and access to their resources open as much as to prove to herself that she is worthy of inheriting Nicholas Schnee's spirit and will as they all do for their famous ancestors.

Most of them are her friends as well, but…

With Winter, more than any other living person, if her mask slips or cracks, Weiss feels she is still safe. "Yes, I believe I can." Weiss agrees before making her way over to the stand her rocket locker had touched down in when she and Winter had arrived on time for their reservation.

With a quick tap on her Scroll, the locker opens, and with another, their reservation's privacy screens slide up.

"You mentioned having something new to show me?" Winter prompts as she flourishes Crystalline Duty and turns to face Weiss.

When she turns around she can feel her sister's gaze fall on the collapsed targe on her right arm. "As you said, my Team's opponents in the first round were not enough to truly press me. While I have the utmost confidence that my fellow competitors won't try anything untoward to gain an advantage over me, their friends, families and classmates..."

Winter nods in approval at her pragmatism in the same breath that she asks. "And what did Father have to say about that?"

Weiss stiffly shrugs, and with a flex of her right arm expands Crystal Blutte. "The topic never came up when he last called."

The sisters both walk to the center of the open space outside the gazebo they had just finished eating in. "I'm certain it will the next time he does."

"He can worry about appearances and perception as much as he would like. I need to focus on ensuring my own survival and that of my team."

A short staredown follows Weiss' blunt statement before–

Winter lunges towards her, an opening that, three months ago, would already be a point in her favor. Weiss catches the strike on her targe's spike, forces her sister back with a burst of fire from the shields integral machine-pistols and counters with a lunge of her own.

Winter nods, a slight smirk on her face. "I see you have expanded beyond the fencing lessons Father insisted on, but that much was plain to see in your first match."

"I have had many opportunities to learn from other swordsmen since coming to Vale, as well as several... extra-curricular learning opportunities." Weiss replies evenly. She doesn't want to break Jaune or Cao Cao's trust, but at the same time she doesn't want to keep any secrets from her sister...

Secrets, have been tearing her apart at the seams recently.

Winter darts in, and angles a trio of rapid slashes at Weiss left side. "That business with the White Fang in Mountain Glenn?" She blocks each of them, actually holding her ground instead of being pushed back as she always had been when Winter tried the same the last time they had been able to spar. It's not unlike facing down Jeanne.

Weiss pushes Myrtenaster forward until its guard is pressed into Crystalline Duty's and the blades are bound, before leveling a shield punch at her sister's head. Winter leans away from the blow with a smirk. "No, some friends of mine opened my eyes to the more hidden facets of the world that most would write off as superstition at best."

"I see." Winter's expression goes pensive for a flash, before a purple Glyph forms in her free hand and Weiss is sent skidding back. "Arc told your Team about Devils and the Supernatural world I presume?"

Weiss stumbles for a moment, more than a little shocked at her sister's blunt admission. "What? How do you–" Winter takes the opportunity to dart in and slap the flat of her blade against Weiss' thigh.

"Stay focused, sister. First blood goes to me." Winter admonishes, and Weiss is–barely–able to collect herself enough to turn to face Winter and catch her follow-up blow on Crystal Blutte. "General Ironwood and I have at least one debriefing a day. He knows, and now so do I. I can't say I'm happy about you being exposed to such danger but it is better for you to know all of what is out there." Weiss sends her sister stumbling back with a gravity Glyph of her own, buying herself enough time to re-center her stance.

Winter pops the smaller blade out of Crystalline Duty's spine, and Weiss feels a rush of elation as a knot forms in her stomach. This is the first time Winter has used both blades against her in a spar. "How are you so calm about all of that?"

Winter shrugs, then rushes towards her again. "Your partner's Uncle and I sparred to work through the stress and other emotions that came with those revelations."

Weiss is–barely–able to ward off the flurry of blows that Winter rains down on her. "Spar?! The two of you destroyed one of the Academy's training rooms!"

Still calm as ever, Winter attempts to hook her ankle around Weiss's own for a takedown.. "Of course we showed some restraint, this is civilization not the wilderness after all." Weiss dances away from Winter's maneuver. "What of your teammates? How have they handled learning some of the wider worlds more hidden truths?"

She just had to ask.

With a snarl, Weiss hurls herself at Winter, and the lamentations of the utterly horrible month she has just went through and all of its drama and heartache spill from her lips as Winter lets her go on the offensive.

Concern as evident on her controlled expression as pride is to Weiss' eyes as she manages to put her on the backfoot. "And what's worse is that even while they were ostracizing me from the team, Blake and Yang still had the audacity to go behind our backs!" Winter blocks Weiss' repeated hammer-blows, backpedaling without leaving the space they had reserved for lunch.

She knows that she's getting sloppy. That her emotions are more in control than her mind right now. That anyone else in her family would tear into her for this childish outburst.

But right now she just. Doesn't. Care.

Weiss had planned to talk herself up before showing Winter this. To fish for praise and compliments before asking help with getting the real family Semblance under her control. Now though? While she's being humored as she throws what must seem like a temper-tantrum to her sister? "And I can't even say that I'm better than them!"

With a flash and a gust of wind Arma Weiss springs into existence, her torso is encased in spectral whitish-blue armor, then her legs in greaves and forearms in gauntlets as the stylish, angular form of an Amra Gigas shrunken down to fit her frame continues to form about her. Pointed and angular pauldrons jut out past her shoulders as a massive, weightless claymore forms over Myrtenaster, and a circle-shield that makes the one Jaune's father typically has hanging off his back outside of the weapon-restricted areas look small over Crystal Blutte. "I'd have died during the CCT incident back during the Vytal Ball if a scout for one of the human factions in the Supernatural world hadn't intervened on my behalf! And Ruby's!"

Winter flinches at that–General Ironwood had probably informed her, when it really should have been Weiss now that she thinks of it–before barely catching Weiss' wild swing on her larger blade, before stepping back and away from Weiss' attempted follow-up strike. Winter pivots on her back foot, rotates to build up momentum then brings both of her swords down on Weiss spectral pauldron, shattering it, and sending her stumbling again. "Humans? From Earth?" She hides it well but it's an obvious way of redirecting the topic away from Weiss' near-death experience.

Weiss rights herself and grunts out, "From Earth. They're mostly of age with me, call themselves Heroes, and claim to be carrying on their ancestor's will and legacy. They're focused on striking back at the more abusive races and individuals hiding in the shadows and dark corners of the wider worlds." She swipes twice, and Winter dodges both attacks before Weiss adds "And compared to the rest of my friends, they have been the most forthcoming! Told us exactly who they were when we first met. Were perfectly clear and direct on what they can or cannot do or say with us so long as we are just friends of their leadership, not official members of their group." she growls out, throwing a lunge, slash or thrust at her sister with each word.

Winter avoids every strike up to the last, flicking both her summoned blade and Myrtenaster out of her hand with a twist of her wrist and blade. Another step inside Weiss' guard and her smaller sword is able to shatter the gauntlet guarding Weiss' right hand, then crash into her now unprotected wrists underside and force her hand to spasm and drop her targe, causing the spectral shield to dissipate as well.

Winter's attempt at hooking her lead foot around Weiss' ankle succeeds this time, and delivers a brutal pommel-strike to her sternum, shattering her summoned armor and sending Weiss to the ground.

Weiss's cheeks are wet. Her spine and brow are sweaty. Her entire body is sore, and Winter doesn't even need to use one of her weapons or a foot to make it clear that the spar is clearly over and Weiss had lost. The sheathes her blade, takes a few steps forward, and sits down on the concrete next to Weiss, wrapping her arms around her knees as she does so.

Winter looks closely at her sister. "These people are the ones who helped you make the progress you have with the family Semblance?" Weiss nods numbly, emotionally spent after getting months of hurt and suppressed rage off her chest. "Your improved bladework as well?"

She nods again. "Yes. I consider most of them friends or at least close acquaintances. They're… Overager and a touch zealous, but they don't strike me as any more harmful than Yang or Ruby most of the time. And now that Jaune is being totally honest and upfront with us now… I'm so worried that Ruby, myself and the rest of our team may wind up getting caught in the middle if Devils and the Hero Faction end up trading blows."

Winter rests a reassuring hand on Weiss' shoulder. "I'm certain you'll be fine. We are Schnees after all, that we get what we want and is best for us and ours is only a matter of time and effort. Keep your blade handy, wits about you and mind sharp, Snowflake." The warm smile is contagious, and Weiss can feel the last of the bad seeping away as a matching smile slowly crosses her face as well. "Now, would you rather move on to a less heavy topic, or receive some pointers from your big sister on how to get your Semblance to interact with things that aren't also touching your body?"

"I... I could summon one of my Devil friends and the three of us could talk about it together?" Winter nods in agreement, and Weiss considers summoning Rias, before deciding to pull out one of her Phenex fliers instead.

_-*R-DxD*-_

The corridor leading from the locker room Sun's Team had been assigned is almost as abandoned and quiet as the one Blake had needed to cross to make it to their first round match.

The sound of the highlight reels from Vytal Tournaments past playing on the jumbotron just barely overpowering the din of the crowd this far down the hallway and into Amity's skunkworks.

The pair of Huntsmen standing at a respectful distance watching her is different, but not unexpected really.

Besides, one of them is clearly drunk, a novelty holster with a half-finished beer on the hip opposite his weapon, and the other has been chatting with his wife and kids on his Scroll most of the time they'd been waiting.

Family, friends and significant others being allowed to wish their competitors off and well personally isn't a Tournament tradition any Kingdom is going to break, after all.

That said, between Blau Sultan overdosing on Aura Amps in the semi-finals and nearly killing his competitors during the resultant mental break, Coral Kerrigan getting her leg blown off on the way to the finals and half a dozen other different cheating scandals that had happened specifically because of that tradition, no sane set of Tournament staff are going to let those interactions go unsupervised either.

The door to the locker room slides open and Sun's team all amble out. Sage and Scarlet both offer her a polite nod before ambling towards the gate leading up into the arena proper, while Neptune chuckles and shoves Sun at her before waving and following his teammates. "So, umm... hey." Sun offers as he rights himself, rubbing at the back of his head and pretty clearly stuck in his 'trying to look cool' mindset.

"Hey yourself." She replies, stepping forward to give him a quick hug before trying to straighten out the ridiculous getup he usually goes out in.

He takes a step back and grabs a quick glance over to his team, checking how close to the arena's entrance they are. "Look, Blake I'm really sorry about–"

She shushes him and puts a finger to his lips. "My mom, Yang and Ruby's dad, and a video call from Weiss' butler while we were still in the locker room. Don't worry about it, we had plenty of well-wishers before our first round." She pauses, to shoot a mischievous grin at Sun. "But if you were just trying to dodge having to meet Mom, it's only gonna be worse if you have to deal with her and Dad at the same time. And you never know when Cheshire will drop in for a visit, she might be there too."

Sun's face faults at that. "Umm... maybe the three of us could get together some time tomorrow?"

"Sounds great." Blake chirps back at him. She pauses to consider him, her thoughts going a mile a minute before–seemingly acting on their own–her hands reach up to untie her bow.

"Blake, what are you–?"

"It's a bit old-school, but I want you to wear this out there."

"But, your ears... your bow–"

"This is the last one." She presses on, grabbing his hands and pressing the strip of fabric into it.

Sun blinks down at the accessory in his hands. "If you go out into the stands without this though..."

"Sun, I'm done running. From my past, the consequences of my actions, from stupid insecurities over what I imagine other people might think about me. All of it." Blake pauses to take a deep breath, recalling her talk with Cheshire–Kuroka, Brothers, that's going to take a while to get used to. "Gonna... gonna try to focus on what I have here and now. On my future, and I'm pretty sure that even if I was being stupid and trying to push you away still, you'd still be part of that. So I can't think of a better person to give this to."

Sun blinks a few times, staring gobsmacked at her, then looking down at the ribbon before a goofy grin (finally) crosses his face again. Then he takes the ribbon and ties it in a big bow around the tip of his tail, which to be honest just looks stupid.

Frowning, he undoes it and cinches it in a tighter bow around the base of his tail. He spends a few seconds turning around trying to get a better look at that like a goofy, overgrown puppy. When he finally unties it and starts moving to put it around his neck, Blake snatches the ribbon out of his hands and ties it off in a simple knot around his bicep just below where he has his sleeves rolled up to. "Go knock 'em dead, Dork." She orders him after planting a peck on his cheek, before giving him a slap on the ass to get him moving towards the arena.

"As you command, Drama-Queen." He calls back with a wave and a grin.

She admires the view for a moment, before shaking her head and jogging off in the other direction. She'll really need to hustle to get back to her seat in time for the match.

---

A/N: So, yea, some eagle eye'd readers with more DxD lore knowledge may have notice a pretty notable butterfly that flapped its wings during the main exchange of this chapter. Yes, MP, Hybrid and myself know what we were doing when we made that decision, and it's not a small thing thats gonna get rolled over, trust us.

So, loved it? Hated it? Just got both of your thumbs stolen by a drunken garden gnome? Drop a review! That shits what I live for!

Beta'd by MasterPrince713 and Hybrid Theory

Cover art by Icario