A chill ran through Weiss' form as she stands with her back turned to the door. Behind it was Klein, patiently waiting to escort her back to her room after helping her make her way to the study her father spent most of his days working in. Her father didn't approve her use of Myrtenaster as a replacement walking stick, leaving her isolated in the cool room facing the back of the navy leather office chair. The musty stench lingers on her nose from the files and reports that lined the shelves of the room, hardly ever being opened since the day they were first placed there.
He refuses to turn in his chair, staring at a portrait of his early self with a narrowed gaze that could pierce the strongest of armor. Confirmation of his daughter's wellbeing and status steals his attention, though he kept his bent-over-lap posture, elbows to the arms of his chair and fingers intertwining together. "I heard of your outing the other day with Miss Belladonna and Miss Nikos," he had stated many times in past of his sour fondness towards the former's behavior and business, but chooses to remain quiet for the gain of his reputation, "and while I am disappointed you chose to waste time elsewhere in a time you could spend working, I am hoping that you'll be able to work more efficiently on the reports I have given to you." He slowly lowers his head, unlocking his fingers and letting the fingertips rest against each other. "Correct?"
"Yes, father," Weiss replies rather impartially, holding a hand over her own, fearing to take any steps forward. "I'll begin work on them as soon as possible." She nods, her hand traveled up her arm to the elbow. Assuming the end of the discussion, she twists her hip to turn around, making her way to leave before she hears the squeak of the office chair swivel around to face her. Immediately turning back to him, she repositions herself to her original manner.
"I have discussed your condition to James Ironwood again, and he's making a prototype walking stick for you. There will be many features such as a sensory laser to detect surrounding objects as well as an input device to help you read. That way you'll be able to complete reports more efficiently." Prior to this, Weiss had gotten Klein to recite reports word for word, and while this device may be able to help her advance in her life independently, a part of her felt she wasn't ready. She didn't deserve said technology with how lucky she had been. A pair of goggles had been brought to her attention of claiming to cure her sight, but after a trial with disappointment, it was realized that her issue laid beneath her eyes. A neurological disorder, and while research is being held on how to manipulate the brain to fix such things all Weiss can do is manage her disability.
The only interest her father had was to resolve her problems as soon as possible, get her working as efficiently as possible. Mental state and other wishes were out of the question, as he had once stated in his words "This isn't about what you want, it's about the Schnee family name, and our business as a whole. I will not let you and your dastardly needs try to tarnish our reputation." Behind his back, she would scoff at the thought of her reputation being at risk. Under her disobedience was a pain that she, for the life and will of herself, couldn't control. Her smiled tenses under the pressure of her thoughts, unsure whether her true feelings were obvious or not. She barely managed to mutter out, "I... see."
A silence lingers in the air, but even then, Weiss could sense her fathers want to speak. He recreates a pout, "Before I forget, the Schnee Dust Company will be hosting a charity in the interest of the massacre that took place all those months ago. We all are suffering a great loss because of it." His brows raise as he lowers his gaze, imitating grief without any real endeavor to the action. It made her sick that her father would even think to have been affected for any particular reason. As if he could compare to the sleepless nights, soaked pillowcases or panicked mornings. Her suffocated breaths to muffle her cries, the paths that grew as the tears ran down her face. The weakness in her limbs, barely holding her up in her own room, experiencing everything over and over, again and again. The steps that told her she wouldn't amount to anything, the sounds that reminded her that she was helpless. She lived her day, every day, in a loop that was never-ending.
Weiss holds back the disgust that attempts to make it's way to her face and instead gives a smile to the idea, tilting her head back, "Sounds wonderful. I'm sure many people will appreciate the event." Sadness crept into her heart, knowing that the true end goal was for selfish gain and had nothing to do with sympathy for the many victims and families that had lost more than Weiss could possibly even bear to imagine. Being a victim herself, she knew that there was no compassion for them in his mind.
Yet he continued in his monologue, "Indeed. It would be just as wonderful if you performed for everyone." His matter-of-factly tone left no room for argument to his request if one could even call it that. His smirk complementing the glint in his eye proved his determination to get his daughter to sing.
Weiss stood still processing what she was being told, contemplating whether it was an order or not. "Excuse me?" Her father stands from his seat, hands behind him as he walked towards the girl.
"We have to remind everyone that my daughter, a Schnee, no less, was also at the base of the attack and is still standing strong after losing her sight." Reminding the girl of her worth, or the benefit he gains from her talents, he saddens his voice for effect. His brows are raised to add emotion to his otherwise apathetic motive while knowing she has no say on the matter.
Weiss blinks, silent and at a loss for words, wondering if her ears were deceiving her. More hoping than anything. 'Standing strong.' If she had the energy to laugh, she would. She was hardly strong after every restless night following said attack. "I have to?" She asks though she meant it more as a statement. Singing for her father's contribution to the aftermath, or lack thereof, was pitiful. She wanted no part in his attempts to catch the publics' eye, and yet here she was with no other choice but obey.
Her father kept smiling. "Many people will be very pleased with the gesture of a Schnee supporting those who are suffering their loses." She felt sick. A pit growing in her stomach that just grew bigger. Insensitive to her and her feelings, he kept his bravado. She knew he didn't care, and her feelings were the last thing on his mind, but she wanted to scream. Cry out in anger, sadness, anything to relieve her of whatever was plaguing her attention, her mind, her soul. The cool air only got colder by every passing second, and she wanted out. To run out far away from the study of files, her father much more unpleasant than the room itself. Hide behind the door of her room where at the darkest hour she would cling to her pillow and bawl. She wanted to scream all her problems away as she had attempted at the dead of night, starting with her father and ending at the terrible people who generate fear in massacres.
But she was stuck standing it the room with a cold chill down her spine, forced to stand and smile at the idea. Weiss sighed, giving up any possible power she might have to get her out of the situation. "I'll start preparing as soon as possible." Dread settled in at the thought of hours scheduled to rehearsing and the added pressure of disability that will soon start to dig deep into her core.
Her father's face grows content at the submission oblivious without care to her discomfort, stating a simple, "Very good," before making his way back to his desk. No other words were exchanged as he pondered his next steps in growing the company and his name.
( )
Outside was Klein, an arm behind his back and the other bent in front of his stomach, stationed just to the side of the door like promised as the heiress spoke to her father. "Miss Schnee." He greets once again with his trademark smile.
Weiss sighs in response, "It really doesn't matter how old I am to him, he always orders me around." She reaches a hand forward, to which her butler links his elbow to. As the two start to walk, Weiss continues in her rant, "Whether I'm nine, sixteen, or twenty-three, my only asset to him is my voice." Her grip on Klein's elbow tightens, "Not even being blind will stop him." Thoughts of her worth had returned to her mind juggling if she didn't have the voice she was given, what use she would be to her father. The voice she had, the talent she possessed, gained attention from her father as a young girl in which she had been given high praise.
The shorter man twitches his mustache in thought seeing the heiress' emotions wavering, clearing his throat for attention. "Miss Schnee, if anything, I'd suggest that-" he pauses, his gold eyes trailing the walls until they shined crimson red and sharply inhaled before his voice turns to a scratchy, mocking tone, "if he were the one on stage, the audience's ears would bleed out." Weiss widens her eyes whispering his name, fearing the distance between them and her father's study was unsavory for such a cruel joke. Despite this, a small smile crept onto her face, enjoying the disobedience the butler had against his employer.
He smirks at the sight but continues on cackling, "Maybe then, he wouldn't have any customers left." Snapping, his eyes were blue and his tone was softer, more apologetic, "Oh, madam, my apologies." He sneezes once or twice, further adding to Weiss' joy and laughter. Little moments such as these between the two had always lifted her spirits when growing up in a detached environment. She could always rely on Klein to look out for her in her down times. "There she is, my happy little snowflake." He pats his chest with his free hand.
Weiss's smile continues to grow, enjoying the nickname no matter how childish she found it. "Thank you, Klein." She tilts her head to the side, a habit the butler had noticed since early childhood defining genuine feelings behind her words. Although her disability did mean his tasks had started to pile, he was still eager to stand by the heiress' side, as he had started 4 months prior. His motivation grew more over time as he slowly saw the Weiss he once knew seep into the new shell that was Weiss' current form. Granted, the change had been significantly minor and had only sprouted 3 months into the recovery, there was still enough progress for Klein to be proud of how strong his snowflake is.
Walking past a sculpture of King Taijitu, a large two-headed snake grimm which Pyrrha had told tales of a friend having defeated single-handedly, another pair of feet clicked against the tiled floors towards them. Weiss urges Klein to slow their pace. "Good afternoon, sister. How was the talk with father?"
She sighs hearing her brother's voice, his smile audible. "It was fine." Whitley nods his head in glee to the response, quietly stating a 'Good' under his breath. Weiss furrows her brows at the interaction, letting the "What do you want?" slip from her thoughts.
Her younger brother scoffs at the question, bending toward his older sister, "Just checking up on my dear sister, of course. Months ago you barely even left your room, and now you're traveling off the property with friends." He leans back in his stance, a teasing grin hidden from Weiss' knowledge. "I was wondering whether someone had swooped you off your feet to save your life."
Time seemed to stop. Her blood ran cold, maybe even dry. The ring of the halls evermore noticeable to her ears. She wasn't sure whether she was breathing, nor did she want to in this state. Energy to snap back was long gone, lost in whatever she left with her vision. The words sunk deep into her heart, twisting around and making itself at home in it. She scrunched her features, shaking her head and silently commanding Klein to continue in their gait back to her room. Whitley chuckles, amused by her character, "You've come to be more tempting to tease as of recently." He finally straightens his stance, hands clasped behind his back and start to walk off behind the two. With no twisting around or reduce in pace, he simply states, "Best of luck to your recovery." His pitch rising being unbearable to Weiss.
Despite this, she did her best to control herself and her frustration. More or less to be revealed in tears. She wanted to hear nothing about her growth in sensitivity, her heightened anxiety, her chaotic thoughts, and her unnecessary ideologies. Four, almost five months, she thought, seemed like nothing. It was almost as if it had all just happened yesterday. She could only describe her brother's words, along with others who followed suit, as cruel. Her father's ignorance of her struggle salted her pain, whether he cared or not. Even her older sister, Blake's quiet nature and their fear had damaged her. She couldn't help but feel like a burden on the people around her no matter what they told her. Wanting help was one thing, which Weiss understood well enough, though actually finding that same assistance would also be a challenge. As far as she was concerned, she couldn't think of any reason for someone to willingly help-
"Madam," her family butler notices her face grow darker. She realizes they had stopped in a room that felt more spacious, considering the echo of their footsteps. Knowing she wasn't at her room from not walking up any flights of stairs, she attempted to gather as much information about her surroundings as possible. The crisp air tickled her nose, reminding her of their front door to the manor. A conversation catches her ear past the door, Klein interrupting her ability to identify the voices, "Your friends seemed to have invited themselves over."
Loud, resounding knocks against the large doors which shook the floor beneath followed. A voice calls from behind, "It's Blake Belladonna, my friends and I are here for Weiss Schnee." The girl addressed smiled, pondering over the time that had passed while in the study.
"Well, Miss Schnee?" Awaiting her orders, Klein begins to unravel his arm away from Weiss. She lets her hand travel over her elbow. "Shall I allow them in or send them on their way?"
She shakes her head further adding to his confusion at her calm reaction to the visitors, explained once she said "No need to send them off. They came upon my request, after all." A half-truth, as the faunus' friends were unexpected to her. Klein's face grows soft, joyful over the steps taken in expanding her opportunities. "Let them in. We will move to the living quarters." Her butler nods and proceeds to walk towards the door. Weiss takes slow, steady steps in the same direction as to get in a better position to greet her friends, whoever the others may be.
The creek of the heavy doors can be heard deep into the mansion, though the well-built walls kept sound confined into their respective rooms. The suns rays shined brightly against the heiress' pale skin, her eyes straining from the bright light that peaked through the door. She blocked the light with her hand as her eyes adjusted when her friends entered the building as the room fell to the usual darkness she was accustomed to.
Heavy heeled boots clicked on the tiled floor which the heiress imagine being Blake's jet black combat boots that rose an inch or two below her knees. She had put together a casual look of black skinny jeans and a pricey, designer white loose shirt with written print boldly presenting 'Adel' over the right side of her chest in a stylish yet simple font. It was similarly found across the back of the shirt in larger size but was covered over in a clean leather jacket. Her outfit is completed with her trademark bow that hides her appendages. "Hey, Weiss. I've brought what you asked for." The faunus lifts her hand holding a rod folded into a convenient size as she shifts under the arm wrapped around her shoulder that had made its way there mere moments earlier.
It turns further inward with the hand sporting a black fingerless glove as the fingers twirling raven hair that flowed freely. "Hey, Ice Queen," The fireball holds her metallic hand in the air to wave, "hope you don't mind Rubes and I tagging along." She gives an animated smile as she leans further into her friend. She had quickly thrown on black fitted pants that she somehow made work with an orange shirt and a letterman jacket of similar color. Her hair had been tied back into a ponytail that accentuated how thick her golden hair was and her feet were given simple sneakers that had managed to stay in fashion for years on end. The quality of her clothing was nowhere near being as pristine as Blake's, yet she still looked as stylish as the other and made it work.
Weiss shakes her head, relieved at the extra company. "It's fine, really. The more the merrier, right?" Her lips curl upward at the character that she'd otherwise disapprove of but seeing as her thoughts weren't merciful in any way she'd accept the excitable girl and her just as enthusiastic sister over her self own self-doubt. "I certainly didn't expect it though."
Blake rolls her eyes with the slightest hint of a grin forming on her face, arms intertwined across her chest as she straightens her posture. "Neither did I, really. We met up again and she's been on my tail since." She flashes a smirk to her friend, the cheeky glint in her eyes matching what her companion would typically wear.
Yang pulls her closer to her side, her smile somehow growing wider in spite of the look she was given. It almost felt like they could communicate with their faces alone and needed no words at all. This caused confusion to Weiss at certain moments, yet this wasn't one of them. "Aww, c'mon Blakey. It's been ages since we last talked to each other." She pouts playfully, their teasing bringing in memories of their years as teenagers.
Weiss giggles at the interaction she was hearing. The visual memory in her mind had completely vanished and was replaced with darkness, but just hearing the conversation lifted her spirits. The soles of her feet had started to burn from the wear of her heeled boots. "Let's move to the living room, I'll get Klein to bring some afternoon tea."
The butler, who had hardly moved from the door, bows in respect to the heiress with an, "As you wish." before making his way out of the room. The faunus trapped in her old friend's embrace manages to pry herself away, earning a moan in disapproval before Yang turns to her sister who was hiding behind the brawler's figure, more fearful than their previous encounter. She fiddles with the cuff of her woolen sweater which was accompanied by shorts, leggings, and vans. A hand is tugging on the hood of her crimson cloak that she pulled over her head as she stares down to the clean tiles that reflected her face.
Yang's guilt from the ruthless confession she made rendered her with no motivation to attempt to force her younger sister to do anything, virtually ignoring the fear while simultaneously feeling a deep concern for it. She had apologized on her knees practically begging for forgiveness, to which she was granted such though she wasn't satisfied according to the face she was given that held too much sadness, embarrassment, whatever it was that clouded her little sister's mind.
Blake offered her elbow to Weiss to guide her to the living room. After double checking that the siblings were set to trail her, she started her stride around the manor after having memorized the whole mansion from room to room. She had always wondered whether she'd ever be able to and there are still rooms she has yet to see with her own eyes, but she has a basic idea around the place and knows where all the main rooms are. Comparing it to her grand home in Menagerie made her house not so grand anymore, the building was more like a labyrinth than an actual home.
The journey solely consisted of Yang and Ruby scanning the walls, doors, and artifacts they passed, the former testing Weiss' knowledge on its history and purpose out of pure interest; Another trait the faunus had mentally added to her list of mysteries in her high school best friend. In times such as these, the fireball lost her impulsive nature and settled down out of pure interest, focusing on the heiress teachings and the little odd facts she was able to provide, inquiry whatever came to mind and smiling when her confusion was answered to. Blake and Ruby simply witnessed the exchange, the latter gawking at the knowledge the pale girl seemed to possess more than anything else. The faunus personally found the event odd yet said nothing on the matter and let the two personalities that would normally not mix well together collide to bring whatever ever entertainment they had unintentional brought in their travels.
Though the moment was short-lived, it was certainly one that the two had appreciated. Reaching their destination, Blake guides Weiss to a white clean sofa. The siblings stayed standing, unsure of what to do but took their seat in a sofa facing the heiress. The faunus took a seat beside her. Silence had filled the room, neither awkward nor inviting. For Weiss and Blake, it was peaceful, though, for Yang and Ruby, it was chilling. The usually vibrant characters were confined to the silence of the room, the pale walls enticing their attention while waiting for some other sort of entertainment.
Blake noticed the distress in the two and started to ease their tension with small talk, despite her distaste for the action. After having known her for years, Yang understands this grudge and redirects the conversation to tales of her life after graduation. While their bond was strong they had lost their touch in the coming years when the newly employed businesswoman had traveled over all of Remnant. Their time spent together brought them to a level which left their reunions a time of relief, no awkward catchups or time needed to get used to the other. The conversation filling the room consisted of those two primarily, Weiss cutting in for clarifications or whatever comments had come to mind, Ruby doing so even less with her natural socially awkward nature and desire to not annoy the two in the banter.
( )
After some time, Yang had the need to use the bathroom. She and Blake took their leave to the bathroom in the maze of a house, unintentionally leaving the two to quietly manage their time together on their own accord. Ruby had feared whether this moment would come after the disaster she caused previously though Weiss hadn't seen this problem as she had, admittedly, forgotten Ruby was there from the discussion mainly consisting of the other's voices. It wasn't that she had forgotten the childish girl existed in her presence, but more that she had to be reminded from the shifting in position she made that she wasn't alone in the room. It was especially odd to her as their last encounter gave her the assumption that Ruby had an excitable personality and, if given a voice, would be the center of attention. Her current self had proven that either the girl she met was merely a side of her personality that had passed or something was truly amiss.
Weiss didn't know her well enough to be able to tell which one it was, and though she didn't mind the silence that hung in the air, she felt that the other may think otherwise. She treads her words carefully as to not lace malicious intent into her tone like she usually did, intentional or not. "Hey, Ruby, I was wondering how long you've been mute for? Were you born with it or did it come later in life?" It settled in her brain too late that the response would be lackluster for her. "Actually, don't worry about it. I doubt you would be able to reply anyway." She sighs at the supposed failed conversation which was once again one-sided.
Ruby whimpers, wanting to answer but not knowing how to without recreating the drama from the other day. Her impulsive character is being tested from holding back the urge to jump on her and guide her hands. She wasn't sure what she would make them do. She just wanted to be able to communicate with the girl she found she had started to develop feelings for. Said feelings were shallow and solely based on the way the heiress had presented herself, Ruby knew that much, though it didn't eradicate any yearning to learn more about the girl across from her. Her resolve seemed odd, considering that their communication was limited, yet she was still determined to form a kinship.
Looking around, there weren't any papers or stationery to write with to even communicate with Blake. She turns back to the pale girl that traced patterns with her thumb against the skin of her hand. Ruby's silver eyes gleamed, inspired with an idea that could solve the issue that had previously clouded her mind. She jumps to her feet excitably towards Weiss as she was startled by the sudden shuffling that she heard. Memories of their past encounter flooded her thoughts making her brace herself for whatever impact was to come. Her eyelids fold down, the muscles straining from the unnecessary pressure. She opens one eye letting whatever minimal light could enter her vision filtered through her corrupted lenses.
Her palms that lay against her lap were pulled up with a force that she hadn't been expecting. She gasped with open features, and the hands that held hers twitched in response. The hooded girl cupped the heiress' hands for a moment longer before she laid them back in her lap and crouched by her side, her own hands still hovering over the other's. Weiss could only compare the childish girl's hands to a blanket keeping them warm against the cool air of the room. With the panic of unwanted contact no longer filling her mind, she noticed that Ruby's hand were soft, almost fragile, yet she felt comfort under them. The moment was short lived as Ruby carefully wedged her fingers through the gap between Weiss two hands. She continued to cup Weiss' hand, palm open for the mute girl to slowly rub her thumb over, back and forth. Weiss' fingertips curled inward, reacting to the rather odd intimacy but felt no reason to oblige.
She trusted Ruby. There was no fear nor tensity in her to a certain extent, as the unknown had always frightened her. As she saw the action the tenderness and care Ruby had was genuine, almost trained as if she's done something similar for someone. Weiss could only assume who this someone was, though at this moment it didn't matter to her. While she wouldn't go as far as to say she was eternally grateful to her, certainly not on the level she held for her sister and longtime friends, but she felt as if she must owe something in return for her kindness. Thoughts such as these seemed irrational and she would never imagine to mention them to anyone, yet the part of her heart that felt most neglected throughout her life was gaining its attention through these rare moments. The heiress couldn't pin what the emotion was and suspected that the one maintaining such emotion might have an idea but she kept quiet, focusing on whatever would keep her out of her own head.
The bubbly girl repositions her left hand for the thumb to reach over the span of the pale hand in contrast to her southern tanned tone. Her finger tickling Weiss' hand caused it to curl for a split second. She didn't mind the touch no matter how odd it may have been, though she was curious as to what her plan was. Her focus was directed towards the patterns drawn across her palm.
Two lines. Three lines. Two lines. Four lines. Three lines, one of them curved.
Weiss gave a slight smile, unsure of what the girl was doing. It was a great distraction, thankfully. There was an uncertain air, most probably from the lack of communication as the grip cupping her hand indicated that Ruby wasn't entirely satisfied with the response. She repeated the pattern, and as the heiress focused further on the pattern there was more appreciation for the strokes.
One line downward, another protruding out to the side. Two lines joined at one end and connected by another mid-way from each line. Two perpendicular lines. One line with three lines poking out one of the sides. One line downward, the top half having an extra curved line while the bottom half had a line angled from the corner of where those two lines meet.
Confusion settled into her mind when that dissatisfaction in the other girl remained and was again unsure of what she was trying to achieve. She focuses her attention onto the strokes against her palm once again as they had repeated their pattern. Her visual memory was fading as she could barely connect what the girl was doing to the intention.
Two lines, L. Three lines, A. Two lines, T. Four lines, E. Three lines, one of them curved, R.
L.A.T.E.R.
Piecing the brushes against her palm to a word made her eyes widen, lips parting. Once her initial perplexion had disappeared, her smile returned wider than it had been earlier. "You weren't born with it either," said more as a whisper, she was returned with a giggle. Pride, if she had interpreted it correctly, that the two had managed to communicate with each other. Once again, Ruby strokes Weiss' palm a number of times hoping to continue the conversation.
Two lines that formed an arrow facing downward and a line protruding at the tip. One round line joining into a circle. One arched line. One rounded line that fell straight and a soft tap under it.
Making out letters with simple unseen strokes was more of a struggle than she'd admit but now that she knew what she was identifying, she needed the tickle of her palm to repeat fewer times than earlier. Ruby patiently did as expected of her, softly stroking her fingertip against the pale hand.
Y. O. U. One rounded line that fell straight and a soft tap under it.
Although she couldn't make out the last letter, she got the idea. She smiled at the success in communication as they were both proud. She playfully scoffed, "I thought you went to Blake's party. I was there too."
Shamefully, Ruby let an "Ah" escape her mouth upon the memory of their first encounter. Her standoffish personality at the time had lost her hope in communication and gave her no motivation to attempt conversation to the seemingly cold heart girl. Looking back, her desire to talk to the heiress at the cafe seemed like a regretful idea at the time had she not been blind and remained suspicious of strangers that lurked in her personal space, though she still felt the same and dealt with it in a more accepting way. Ruby saw their current circumstances as an opportunity to learn more about the girl in front of her. With this conviction, she attempts to restate her question.
Four lines in a zig-zag form horizontally. Two parallel lines with a line connect the two against the middle. One line with three lines poking out one of the sides. Two parallel lines with a line connecting adjacent ends.
She had started to get used to the gentle finger that slides over her palm with care but needed the repetition to fuller understand the word.
W. H. E. N
She struggled with a letter or two but was able to narrow down the possibilities for the word. "Four months ago, almost five," she had been counting the days as they passed, "I guess it's been a while. Almost half a year, huh?". A certain sadness was held under her words as the lost hours cooped up were crashing from the back of her mind.
Ruby's hands tightened around the pale girl's own, recognizing the behavior as similar to her sister's. She didn't want to repeat what had happened, as she realized too late and is still recovering from the mess. A hug normally helped, but the heiress didn't seem like the type to willing to give a hug to someone. Her mind could only settle on what they were doing at the moment, holding her hands in a blanket of protection as she rubbed a thumb over them with affection despite the lack of connection they had as of yet. Ruby wanted to change that, no matter what it takes.
Weiss questioned her gestures, as comforting as they were. How could it be that this rambunctious girl was so tender toward her, more than she had received from others who had surely cared more deeply for her? She couldn't understand it, or the motive behind it. Did someone even need a motive to do such things?
Yang's laughter rang through the halls outside the room, notifying the two of their approach. Her little sister momentarily curled her fingers over Weiss', not wanting to let go but inevitably needing to. Taking her seat, she let out a giggle that the heiress could only imagine was accompanied with the brightest of smiles. Ironic, considering the window was placed behind her, making the silhouette she created glow. Weiss her lips curled against her will.
Yang bounced through the frame connecting the room to the hall, unaware of her intrusion with news that delighted the young girl. "The butler is here with snacks!" Standing somewhat behind her is Klein and Blake, both smiling contently at her personality. Ruby raised her hands open in the air and cheered. "Sorry to leave you two. It wasn't awkward, was it?" Her face represented her guilt once again, though not as prominent as she had been the other day. If anything, it was more of a knowing look.
"Not at all, we managed the silence." Weiss shook her head, smiling, oblivious to the all-knowing look. Hearing the presence of her family butler steals her attention with a soft, "Klein?"
He presented himself forward with a silver tray in hand, weighted by a variety of beverages and snacks that appealed to the girls' appetites. "Coffee, Miss Schnee?" He shifted the tray to one hand as the other picked her cup to hand over to her open hands awaiting the morning brew.
"Thank you, Klein."
"Ooh, I spot some cookies~" Yang coos, more towards her sister who couldn't contain her glee in her seat. Klein notices her excitement and chuckles, leaning the tray towards her for her to swipe the plate of a dozen cookies, homemade, off the silver platter in a matter of seconds. She quietly starts to nibble on the snack out of respect, desperately fighting against the urge to shove the rest of the treat into her mouth.
The brawler scans the silver tray for anything of interest or that catches her eye and settles on the cheesecake freshly chilled to accompany her coffee. The faunus takes her preferred tea made to her liking as Klein had done so from memory with a biscuit from the dozen off the plate, also homemade as expected of the Schnee family. Once they took their respective seats Klein formally lays the rest of the food he had prepared onto a nearby glass coffee table which was pale as the sofas.
He stood with a certain elegance the sisters weren't used to. "I'll inform your father of the guests." With a nod from the heiress, he walks out the room lost in the maze of the mansion with his hands clasped behind his back.
When his footsteps were out of earshot, Yang shifted her attention to the girls they had left behind, eager to inform them of the discussion between her and her old friend. Unsure of where to start, she turned to the faunus, a silent understanding of what the other thought only known between the two. Still, she began with a "So," when Weiss' content, bordering happy, expression caught her eye, "what did you two do while we were gone?"
She questioned who would do the talking. Ruby was certainly more talkative than the heiress through her gestures, though it would be more probable that Weiss would do the talking with her having a voice. The hooded girl was caught with a mouthful of sugar with her toothy grin. Thinking over the question, she presses her lips together, holding a finger above them despite still holding a cookie carved in with a bite mark.
Her big sister returned her smile with a smirk of her own. "Keeping secrets from your big sis now, are we?" She exaggerated a scoff before continuing in an offended tone, "I guess I'll have to keep mine, now." Mainly referring to her time spent with Blake, she narrowed her eyes. Blake, in turn, rolled them, knowing that their conversation had no value to cause an uproar or gasps in shock.
"Don't mind her. We were just talking about our future plans seeing as you two are in Atlas," she interrupted the girl's parade, sipping her tea with her eyelids closing over her view. Yang pouted at her. "and seeing as you two are having a hard time under your current roof, I can offer a bed at the place I'm staying in." Blake, originating from Menagerie, had bought a relatively small property to reside in during her stay to visit Weiss. Many hear this and question how the two had gotten so close with the distance between their homes.
As for the sisters' living circumstances, as explained to the faunus and repeated for the heiress, "We were cheated. A quick deal sold to us since we had limited time to thoroughly read the fine print. Rent is cheap, and it seemed too good to be true when we were offered the deal. Of course, it was. No right-minded person would offer rent for such a low price. Ugh. The water, electricity, all of that costs double what we paid when we lived back in Vale. We're hardly even at home using the damn things. Of course, when we saw our first bill last month I immediately had a chat with the landlord, but they pull some bull' out their asses and were adamant on us deserving of the bill. Believe me, I tried bringing it up to officials but no matter what I said their only excuse was "It was in the contract."
What's worse? Neither of us has jobs. Ruby's pretty much a freelancer providing quick repairs on whoever is broken down on the side of the road and knows her. As for me, I haven't seen many gyms around the place, let alone near our apartment. Everyone here seems so business savvy and has no interest in fitness.
On top of that, I still have to pay insurance for my bike and this arm. If this continues, we'll soon be in debt. Very soon. It's no lock-in contract, so we can bail whenever. I'd rather live on the streets than live in that sorry excuse of affordable housing but this is Atlas. There's no way I'm letting us spend a night in the streets of Atlas of all places." After a few calming focused breaths, Yang's cheerful face returned. "But it's nothing the two of us can't handle." She broadens her posture appearing confident, a strong fist pointing a thumb towards her. Her sister repeats the attitude with her own smile but her wavering confidence is more evident to the faunus sitting across from the two.
Despite having heard the full story, Blake sighs, briefly pinching the bridge of her nose before her concerns fall out her mind, "And again, Yang, I understand how determined you are and your knack for independence but-" She pauses, processing all the possible options Yang had in her position. She ran every law and trick through her mind, and not one would give a benefit to the sisters. "You two, with how things are going at this rate, you are going to be in big trouble." The fireball rubs the back of her neck, cocking her head to the side sheepishly. The faunus' feline ears stood on end before falling forward against the fabric hiding them. "We need to get you two out of there as soon as possible."
Yang's eyes widen at the idea and waves her hands as if to scare off the thought. Her pitch raises, "No, no, no, no, we're fine. We got into this mess. We will get out of it."
"You're insane for thinking so, Yang. I'm surprised you lasted so long, honestly." The faunus sighed at her persistence. "Look, I'll take one of you back to my place since all I can fit is an extra mouth to feed and person to rest. As for the other, I don-"
"I'll house them." Weiss interrupts the rant knowing where her friend had been meaning to go. Blake nods at her, partly forgetting her blindness. "You guys are real idiots to think you can get out of a situation like that."
The fireball sighs, reluctant to admit defeat, and puts on her best smile against her want to trouble the two. "Thank you. It would really help us out a lot." She shares a quick glance with her sister sharing the same gratitude. "We appreciate it."