[X] Suggest getting in contact with the SDC and getting confirmation. It'd take a while, and Velvet would have to wait until then, but it'd prove she was telling the truth.
The old lady at the desk wasn't technically breaking and laws, as far as Yang knew, by being difficult with a Faunus customer. Which didn't really mean anything when you considered that most Faunus protest groups claimed that the laws were written in a way that let people get away with discriminatory actions, and in this situation, Yang could kind of see their point.
Sure, if the law got involved in any of this, the old lady would just say she was being cautious of a suspicious character who had managed to somehow get a source of income that wasn't what people would expect of someone like Velvet. Nothing illegal there, but only because nobody could prove that the old lady wouldn't react the same way to a human with a Schnee card, as opposed to a Faunus.
But this was just going to be a headache. Yang didn't know how anti-Faunus this woman was, but she wasn't exactly excited to see. Maybe if Yang tried to pay for Velvet's stuff, the old lady would accuse Yang of being a human accomplice who also got a stolen card to cover for her partner in crime.
No, it'd be a lot easier just to let someone else handle it.
"She said a friend of hers organised for her to get that?" Yang asked. "In that case, isn't it just an issue of calling in to find out of there's any truth to her story, isn't there?"
"I don't have time for that." The old lady complained. "And I doubt anyone working with the Schnee do either."
"Let me make the call, then." Yang replied. "I know people. I don't know if anyone would just be able to drop everything and come work on this, but people would get here eventually if I gave them a call."
The woman frowned. "And what exactly is hoppy here going to do until then? Do you expect me to just let her go and wait for confirmation?"
"Not at all." Yang replied, trying to keep things diplomatic. "Just keep her in a back room somewhere. Hell, I'll stay with her if you're worried about anything. You don't mind, do you?"
Yang turned back to Velvet with that last comment, and the girl nodded, still looking rather sad.
"And I don't mind waiting around." Yang shrugged. "Is that any problem with that?"
The old lady squinted at Yang, and took a moment to think.
"...What's any of this matter to you, then?" The old lady asked. "Why'd you care if some Faunus was being out of line? Why waste your time?"
Yang shrugged. "I'm not sure. Guess I just didn't want to see an incident start without trying to stop it. Besides, better my time than an officer's, right?"
"I guess." The old woman grumbled. "Go stand in the corner with big ears and make the call, then."
She grumbled, and Yang nodded, leading Velvet aside while the woman craned her neck around to see if there were any other customers.
"...Thanks." Velvet muttered, under her breath.
"Hey, no worries." Yang replied, trying to keep quiet so the old lady didn't overhear and jump to the wrong conclusion. "I wasn't just gonna stand there now, was I?"
"You could have." Velvet pointed out. "It'd have been easy."
"I'm starting to think I'm allergic to the easy way out." Yang admitted. "I always seem to focus on whatever's the most difficult solution."
"...I suppose stubbornness is good for some things." Velvet admitted, her ears still drooping slightly.
"Hold on a moment." Yang said, as she pulled out her Scroll. "I'm gonna send the call now."
Dialling up quickly, Yang put the scroll to her ear as she contacted the driver that had taken her into the city. He answered after a moment.
"Hello?" He asked. "Where do you want to be picked up from?"
"I don't." Yang replied. "I need you to pass on a message to the rest of the Schnee Estate. Specifically whoever's in charge of the credit cards."
"...Can I ask why?" The driver asked.
"I ran into Velvet at a clothes store." Yang answered. "She was trying to buy something, but someone accused her of stealing her card. I'm trying to keep everything under control, but I need someone to drop by to confirm Velvet has hers legitimately."
There was silence for a moment.
"...Velvet?"
"The Faunus who came with Five." Yang replied.
"Ah." The driver confirmed, nodding. "Understood. I'll send word."
"Thanks." Yang replied, before hanging up and pocketing her scroll again.
"And now we wait." She continued, turning to Velvet. "Sorry you've had to go through so much hassle."
"I'm use to it." Velvet replied. "But, thanks anyway."
Yang frowned. "You shouldn't be used to it. Having a Schnee card is at least a half believable excuse if you don't think too hard about the context, but how would people justify it before now?"
"It's not like it's hard to justify it." Velvet replied. "The law does saw that stores can refuse service to anyone they think looks suspicious. Whenever there's new of the White Fang in the area or a Faunus is found with connections to criminal gangs, that's usually a week or so of not being able to go to the stores if I'm walking armed, for instance."
"That's messed up." Yang replied, with a frown.
Velvet sighed. "That's just how the world works, Yang. People tend not to think about it until they're exposed to it, if they care at all, so all you can do is get used to it."
"It's not something you should get used to." Yang grumbled.
"Neither are the fact that Grimm exist." Velvet pointed out. "They are. We shouldn't have to accept that, but we do. We're not going to change it. We can try and make things better, but we're only going to do so much."
She paused, and sighed. "I'm being depressing again, aren't I? I'll stop-"
"No, it's fine." Yang replied. "Don't stop talking on my behalf. I don't agree with any of that anyway, so it's not that depressing."
Velvet raised an eyebrow at that.
"There has to be a way for things to get better." Yang replied. "Things will get better. Things are better now than they were ten years ago, and they're only going to keep getting better."
"That hardly helps with 'Now' though." Velvet pointed out.
There was the clinking of boots in the far corner, and Yang looked over to see Coco and Melanie looking towards Yang and Velvet.
"Are you done?" Coco asked, pulling her glasses down to look over them at Velvet. "I think it's time to go eat."
"Hold on." Velvet replied. "There's a... Situation, with the checkout. I need to stay here to sort it ou-"
"Well, don't take long." Coco replied, turning away and leaving, Melanie a moment behind her. Velvet watched after her for a moment, then just sighed, and looked down.
"...Is there a problem?" Yang asked.
"No..." Velvet replied. "It's just... Never mind. It's not important."
Yang almost pushed Velvet for more answers, but looking around, the girl noticed that there was still other people in the store. No point causing a scene here.
"If you say so." Yang replied, frowning.
There was a moment of silence, before Velvet spoke up again.
"You wanted to go to Beacon, then?" Velvet asked.
"Yeah." Yang replied. "I mean, it's the best place in Vale. Arguably the world. And I want to be a Hunter, so the best is what I'm aiming for."
"I see..." Velvet noted. "Just take care. It gets more stressful the further you go in, and the Vytal tournament is next year, so you'll probably be worked harder than most first years to meet expectations."
"Sounds like a challenge." Yang replied, putting on a cocky smirk. "Have I mentioned how stubborn I am recently?"
The edge of Velvet's lips twitched at that, and after a moment, she let herself smile.
"You'll probably want to upgrade your weapon a bit before you go to Beacon, though." Velvet noted, looking at Ember Celica. "I mean, the metal part of the gauntlet doesn't cover your fingers. You'd be able to put more force behind it if there was more metal to hit things with."
"Is everyone a critic now?" Yang asked. "And besides, changing Ember Celica to cover my fingers would be good for striking, but useless for grappling. All that metal making it harder to manouver, and the extra weight would make it more inconvenient."
"...Good point." Velvet noted. "Though perhaps..."
And so time passed, with Velvet suggesting modifications and Yang defending her choice in weapon. Though, admittedly, Velvet did have a few good ideas. Yang was rather interested in the one Velvet suggested implementing once Yang got longer arms, of modifying Ember Celica to store more ammo and setting the rounds to detonate as soon as they are fired to give her better propulsion and manoeuvrability while in the air. As it was, Ember Celica was already up to Yang's elbow and kinda bulky, so making it even bulkier would just start making her arms heavier and she had to wait to get her arms longer.
Before long, Yang looked over to see the opening door to the store, as the tall woman from the Schnee manor stepped in.
"Here's our exit." Yang noted. Velvet looked over at that, as the woman approached Yang and Velvet.
The old lady, standing by a nearby checkout, noticed this and approached as well.
"So you're the apparent Schnee representative?" The old lady asked.
"That I am." The tall butler replied. "I'm Artzin Zwerg, head servant."
She pulled out a business card out of her coat pocket, and offered it to the old lady. The older woman took it, looked at it, and frowned while examining it.
"Miss Scarlatina is indeed receiving hospitality from the Schnee family." Artzin confirmed. "Due to personal reasons, which I am afraid I cannot share."
"I see..." The old woman noted. "I'm sorry to have wasted your time then, Miss Zwerg."
The old lady bowed apologetically towards the tall woman, before reaching behind the checkout and pulling out the plastic bad with whatever Velvet had bought in it.
Velvet stepped forward to take the bag, and a moment later, Yang put her bag on the checkout to purchase her helmet and jacket.
"That'll be fifty." The old woman asked. Yang swiped her card, paid, and turned to leave.
"...I should probably head back now." Yang decided. "Velvet, were you doing anything?"
"...I should meet up with Coco." Velvet decided. "She'd probably be upset if I kept her waiting for too long."
"Well, have fun with that." Yang waved. "I'll see you around."
"Bye..."
"If you are heading home." The tall butler woman spoke up. "Then please, allow me to escort you."
"Sure." Yang nodded. "Thanks. Should I let the driver waiting for me know, or-"
"I will handle it." Artzin confirmed. "Do not worry, Yang Xiao Long."
"Could you just call me Yang, please?" The blond asked, shifting uncomfortably. "You keep using my full name and it's weird."
"My apologies, Yang." She nodded. "I will seek to ensure you feel comfortable. You are an honoured guest of Lady Two specifically, after all."
"Thanks for the effort." Yang nodded. "It's appreciated."
The tall woman smiled, a bit.
"...So what's Weiss like, anyway?" Yang asked, suddenly curious. "I mean, you're important enough to organise meetings with One, at least that one time. So you're at least important enough to know a bit about the Heiress, right?"
"It is not my place to discuss Lady Schnee." Artzin replied. "If you wish to know more about her, wait until she is free for socialisation."
"I can't even ask about her?" Yang asked. Then, she thought better. "...Yeah, fair enough."
The taller woman's shoulders relaxed, as Yang dropped the issue.
"If you really wish to get a chance to know her." She advised. "It is likely that, once Lady One has achieved her victory and has secured her hold over the area, there will be a form of celebration in the Schnee ballroom. You may have your chance then."
"You talk like One's victory is guaranteed." Yang noted. "I mean, considering where she's going, that might not be too mart an assumpti-"
Yang stopped, as Artzin suddenly sped up, stepped sideways, and came to a step in front of Yang, looking at her with burning red eyes.
"Lady One will accomplish anything she declares." She stated, as if it was undeniable fact. "Never doubt that."
Between then and the battle at mount... Something or other, the one One is leading, Yang will celebrate her birthday. It will be a happy day. A fun day. She'll celebrate and get presents and have a chance to interact with, apart from the obvious of her father and sister-
[X] Roman Torchwick
[X] Melanie Malachite
[X] Periwinkle Flowers