[X] Gawain. She kinda stuck her foot in her mouth, she should try making a better second impression.
Walking out the front door a moment after the four newcomers, Yang looked over towards Gawain.
She shouldn't have said anything about the tournament. The arena had been destroyed and people had died. She shouldn't have brought it up, even if Gawain hadn't lost a sister there. Yang knew what it was like to have a sister go missing, and at least Ruby hadn't gone missing under circumstances where dozens had been left dead.
Great tact there, Yang.
Walking over towards the boy with the fancy cloak, Yang tried to think of something she could say to open up a conversation and find an opportunity to apologise.
"Hey." She called, as she approached. "Need a hand with your bags?"
Gawain looked back at her, lifting up a steel case in the process.
"Thank you for the offer." Gawain nodded. "But assistance is unneeded. I packed light, and can handle my own luggage."
"I might be able to make it easier, though." Yang pointed out. "Are you sure?"
"I am." The boy nodded. "And in any case, since it is apparent you wanted to talk about something, you could just walk with me and talk."
"Was I that obvious?" Yang asked. "I mean, I didn't just want to look for an excuse, but it seemed kinda rude to just come up to you and talk at you while you were carrying stuff around."
"I appreciate the though." Gawain nodded in confirmation. "And I'd appreciate the company, if you want to walk with me."
"Great." Yang nodded. Then it occurred to her that she really didn't have any good ideas to go with.
Well, she hadn't introduced herself to him just yet, so...
"The name's Yang." The girl greeted. She considered extending a hand, but Gawain looked like he had them full with the steel case in his hands. "Nice to meet you. And see that cloak."
Gawain's hands reached for his cloak for a moment, before he realised he had almost dropped his steel case, and quickly recaught it.
"It is a nice cloak." Gawain nodded.
"Where would one buy a cloak like that anyway? Yang asked, looking it over. "I'm asking for a friend."
"It was homemade." Gawain revealed, crushing Yang's hopes. "And I do feel obligated to point out that my eyes are up here.
"I've made my choice." Yang declared, looking at the feathers circling the cloak, around Gawain's neck.
Gawain sighed. "So be it."
Yang moved ahead to hold the door open again, as Gawain walked through it.
"Thanks." Gawain nodded, as he slipped through.
...Well, Yang wasn't going to get a better time to say it than now.
"Hey." She spoke up. "I was just... I wanted to say sorry. For bringing up the tournament without thinking. I, uh..."
She trailed off, as she realised she didn't know how to finish that thought.
Gawain stopped walking, as he stared ahead, and took a moment to collect his thoughts as well.
"...It's understandable." Gawain decided eventually. "It's been a long time, and you don't come from Mistral. It's understandable that you would have missed the relation."
"It was still kind of a dumb move on my part." Yang continued. "I mean, people died. I don't think you want it thrown into your face."
"You weren't acting out of malice." Gawain replied. "You didn't think something through before you said it. It would hardly be the first time someone has done something like that. I'm not going to hold a grudge over something like that."
"It's still something I should apologise for." Yang replied. "Family's important and all that. I'd be upset if it was my sister missing and someone casually mentioning it."
Gawain looked back at her, and smiled a bit. "And I should thank you for that much, then. You're a good person, you know."
"Thanks for the ego boost there." Yang replied, trying to shift the tone of the conversation. "You're pretty cool yourself. Like me. And good looking, like me."
"Someone has a bit of an ego." Gawain said, as he started walking up the stairs with his weapons.
"Hey, I was comparing myself to you there." Yang replied. "It's not egotistical if more than one person is being complimented."
"I'm not entirely sure that's how it works." Gawain mused.
"'Course it is." Yang replied. "I said it, so it has to be true."
Gawain smiled a bit more on that, before looking ahead again. He sighed, contemplating for a moment, before looking back at Yang.
"You said you had a sister, didn't you?" Gawain asked. "I don't suppose you could provide some perspective on something?"
"Sure." Yang replied. "What about?"
"I have a big family." Gawain began. "And several sisters. And one of them..."
He trailed off, considering where he was going.
"If your sister wanted to do something that could be dangerous, what would you do?"
"Help her." Yang replied, without even thinking about it. "Or, well, it depends on what it is. But Ruby's the kind of person who doesn't really get invested in something unless its worth doing, So if she was doing something dangerous, I wouldn't be able to stop her anyway, and she'd have a good reason. So all I'd be able to do would be to lend a hand."
Gawain considered that for a moment.
"Why do you ask?" Yang asked.
"Don't worry about it." Gawain replied. "I've just been contemplative for a while, is all. You've given me something to think about, is all."
The mood was getting serious again, so Yang moved to correct that immediately. Things had been serious enough recently. Some more jokes was nice. "So, about that cloak..."
Gawain sighed. "That's all anyone sees in me. It's always the cloak. There's a person attached to this, you realise."
"A good looking person at that." Yang agreed. "But that cloak is the most beautiful thing about you."
"I'm good looking, you say?" Gawain asked. "Alright then. Describe my face."
He took a moment to put down the steel case he was carrying, and pulled the cloak over his face.
"Ugh..." Yang looked ahead for a moment, playing dumb. "Well, clearly, your face is more wrinkly than a fifty your old tomato and is about as red, complete with green hair-"
"Very funny." Gawain sighed.
"More seriously, you've got a sort of an androgynous face, a bit." Yang admitted. "Clear, smooth. Unblemished. A nice tan, but not too much of one. Not as much as Absman downstairs, but still noticeable."
"Well, I suppose you were paying some attention." Gawain admitted, lowering his cloak. Yang follow the cloak as it went down, and saw the iron box as Gawain picked it up again.
"So that's your weapon, then?" Yang asked. "I'm pretty sure they showed it on television once, but I don't remember what it was."
"It's nothing complicated." Gawain replied. "I based it off my uncle's sword, and modified it to fit my style better. It's got some explosive elements, can shift into a flamethrower, and can be a sword that sets itself on fire with the flamethrower segments."
"Fancy." Yang noted. "And I can appreciate some fire."
"It's thematic, I feel." Gawain noted. "My Semblance is based on the sun, so fire felt appropriate."
Walking forward again, Yang realised she wasn't entirely sure where to take the conversation from there.
"Well, it was nice talking to you." Yang nodded.
"You as well." Gawain replied. "I'll see you another time, then."
"Yeah, see you around." Yang waved.
It was going to be soon, she mused, that they were called up to the Schnee manor to have their little tour. Yang should make sure she was ready for that, when it came.
LINEBREAK
It didn't take long to get to the manor, once it was time to go. A fancy bus, probably more of a limo with a lot of seats, was organised for everyone to head up to the Schnee home. All the different guests had come along, though it looks like, apart from the winners of the contest, there was just Yang, Ruby and Nora extra. Everyone else had stayed behind.
Actually, was Nora the extra, or was Ren? Yang couldn't really remember. And it didn't matter either way, the two of them were close enough together to be the same person as far as it mattered for this.
Well, Yang had thought that was everyone, at least, until Three got into the vehicle, wandered into the back, and fell asleep lying down on all of the seats in the back. Pretty much everyone involved seemed confused as to who she was.
Still, Penny had woken her up when they got to the Schnee manor, and Three had instantly wandered off to do something or other, so she probably just wanted the free ride to go see Three or something.
As everyone was allowed into the Schnee manor, which Yang noted had absolutely massive doors, as if it was built for giants, Yang briefly wondered what the tour was going to be like.
Everyone stepped in, and there was a light shining from above. Yang looked up towards the sight, and was vaguely surprised at what was standing in the centre of the light.
Visible through the light was two figures standing by the railing of the floor above, of roughly the same height. The light died down after getting everyone's attention, making it easier to identify the two figures standing there. Both were vaguely familiar, though one more than the other.
One and Weiss Schnee looked down at those gathered on the floor below them, and as the light died, One began speaking.
"Ladies and gentlemen." She greeted, looking down. "Welcome to the Schnee Manor. Home of the Schnee family for several generations, and the main base of operations for the Schnee Dust Corporations. This building has a long history, and today, you'll be able to enjoy a taste of this history."
She paced down the floor above, while observing the people below her. "There are many of you gathered here, so for the most part, you will be given free reign to investigate. Employees have been placed around the building to ensure that you don't go anywhere that you're not allowed to go, and other employees will inform you of the history regarding this place."
He took a step away from the railing, One stepped behind Weiss Schnee, who stepped forward herself.
"There is going to be a press briefing in the media hall at three in the afternoon." Weiss Schnee declared. "All of you are permitted to attend and watch from the sidelines. People have already begun gathering there, from weapons dealers to military representatives. The announcement today will be important, and as part of the next generation of Hunters, your attendance is... Recommended."
She stepped back after her soft speech, allowing One to take the centre stage again.
"Feel free to enjoy your stay here." One continued. "If you feel hungry, there are chefs in the kitchen who will prepare food. If you wish to leave, you are welcome to at any point. Beyond that, you are free to explore as you wish. This manor has developed a collection of different areas of note over the years. One of the worlds largest libraries sits on the second floor, there is a yard with a shooting gallery and a hunting range, and there are several statues and heirlooms reflective of hundreds of years of history scattered around the mansion. Enjoy it as you will."
And with that, One turned around, and walked away. A moment later, Weiss Schnee turned as well, and followed One.
"We just get to look around unsupervised?" Periwinkle Flowers asked, near the back of the ground. "I... Suppose that is a lot of trust we are been shown, but that is surprising..."
It was kind of weird, how they were all called together for a tour but then told they had free reign. Some things had been suggested, but the only real recommendation had been to attend the press briefing, which...
...Did One just want people at that press briefing? She had been making waves in the news constantly for a while, so this most recent announcement could be something big. The fact that it was happening while the contest winners were in the Schnee mansion might be a publicity stunt, making a large announcement while there were a bunch of teenagers from different Kingdoms were getting free tours.
Yang wasn't entirely sure about it, but there was an odd feeling about the place...
"So, what does everyone plan on doing?" Nora asked suddenly, walking to the front of the group.
"Well-" Piran began.
"Wrong answer." Nora replied, interrupting him. "The correct answer is food. Onwards, to try rich people meals!"
She strolled forwards, through a door, and started walking in a random direction. Ren followed her silently after a moment, as everyone else looked on.
"...Actually." Sun noted, putting his hands on his abs, or possibly stomach. "I'm hungry too. Sage, you wanna grab a bite?"
"I'd like to have a look at this library, actually." Sage replied. "Go ahead, eat your fill, I'll come down for some food later."
Over in the corner, the two Atlas students were talking. "Friend Ciel, do you think General Ironwood would be in the press briefing room at this present moment?"
"The General has other things to do." Ciel replied. "I expect he has Specialist Schnee waiting in his steed."
"What do you want to do, Yang?" Ruby asked. "I'm a bit curious about the hunting range, myself..."
Looking around, Yang took a moment to decide her answer.
[X] Yeah, she didn't have any better ideas, hunting range with Ruby it was. Maybe they'd have a bonding moment.
[X] Did someone mention Specialist Schnee? As in Winter? It's been a while since Yang met her, they should catch up.
[X] Actually, while she was here, Yang had a few things she wanted to ask One. Things about Five, for instance.
[X] Forget asking One, Yang was getting her information straight from the source. Two would tell her where Five was if asked. It was time to get answers.