So I've been thinking, I think I like Thursday's for updates instead of Saturday's. Let me know what you think on that regard if you have a preference. Anyway, here's chapter 3, as promised. I do hope you all enjoy. Please leave a review, favorite and follow! Also if you want some other cool things like reliable news updates, early updates, suggesting one-shots, and more, follow me on p-a-t-r-e-o-n at p-a-t-r-e-o-n dot c-o-m /Nordik.
The rest of the day passed rather uneventfully. Weiss took time to mull over what her father had suggested about running the various parts of the company. It seemed to be a rather good idea. It would definitely teach her the ways the company runs. The real concern though is how much of her father's influence would seep into her education. Well worst case, she tries it and finds it doesn't work. Only one way to see how it's going to play out.
Today however, was the day of the SDC party. Weiss was getting ready for said event that was set to start in a couple hours. She had a received a confirmation from General Ironwood a few hours prior that the emissaries would be there. She still had to hear back from Team FNKI, however. This made her nervous. But there was really nothing more she could do. Pestering them for an answer may only annoy them and push them away instead.
Weiss stepped out of the shower and was looking at some potential outfits for the evening. She decided to go with something simple, but still nice. The outfit was composed of a white skirt with light blue snowflakes around the ends. She wore a blue long sleeve shirt under a white and black jacket. She dried and brushed her hair before putting it in her signature offset ponytail.
Once she was satisfied with her appearance, she went to leave her room when her scroll started ringing. She pulled it out and checked the caller ID. It was Kiera, of Team FNKI. "Hello?"
"Hello, Weiss?" Kiera asked.
"Hello, Kiera. I take it you have news about tonight?" Her tone was professional, attempting to hide her anxiety about the events she set in motion.
"Jumping straight to the point, I see." Kiera said with a laugh, causing Weiss to smile in return. "No 'how are you?' or 'what's up?' huh?" Keira said with yet another laugh, getting Weiss to laugh with her.
"Sorry, I'm just a bit nervous." Weiss started to explain, her smile being heard over the line. "General Ironwood has set the emissaries to arrive and if your team doesn't show up, it would be a little awkward to have just me explain things. One voice is not nearly as powerful as many."
"I see where you're coming from Weiss. Good news is we'll be there. Though Flynt isn't happy about it. At all."
"I didn't really expect him to be." Weiss thought for a moment before an idea popped into her head. "Though I do have an idea. But it won't be something I'll be able to do for a little while. I'll talk to him about it at the party."
"Sound's good. Anyway, we'll see you there Weiss."
"Perfect, until then." Weiss hung up the phone. She decided she may as well tell her father that everything is set up for her plan. She started making her way towards her father's study. She as walking down one of the many halls when a door to her right opened as her little brother Whitley walked out.
"Ah, good afternoon dear sister. How are you?" he asked, getting her attention.
The relationship between Weiss and Whitley was strained at best. Their father had Whitley wrapped around his finger like a glove. Because he obeyed so obediently, he was seen as the good child. Before now, Weiss had no doubt in her mind that their father would rather have him as the heir to company. But now, with Jacques changed demeanor, she wasn't so sure.
"Hello, Whitley. I'm doing fine." Weiss' response was cold. They never really got along, even before he started becoming the little clone of Jacques he was now.
"I'm happy to hear that." He said with smile. Though it faltered a little, as if something was tugging at his mind.
Weiss noticed this and thought about it for a moment. She was probably going to regret her next choice. "Is something the matter, Whitley?"
"Kind of? Do you have a moment?" Whitley looked nervous. It was odd for him to come to Weiss for, well anything. But currently she was the only person in the manor who he could talk to about what was bothering him.
Weiss mentally sighed. She was already regretting caring. "Very well."
The two of them went back into Whitley's room. Whitley took a seat at his deck and Weiss remained standing. "What's on your mind, little brother?"
Whitley was looking down at his hands in his lap. It took him a moment to speak, as if he was debating on if he should actually tell his sister what was on his mind. "It's father. I'm worried." Weiss had to resist the urge to smile. She knew exactly what was on his mind.
"What has you worried?" She asked, feigning the curiosity that fit the situation.
Whitley looked up to meet his sisters gaze. "He seems… Different. Very much not himself. Have you noticed?"
Weiss was curious, not as to why this bothered Whitley, she couldn't care less about that. More as to what differences Whitley had actually noticed. "Would you care to elaborate on these supposed changes?" To say Weiss wasn't now enjoying this conversation, would be a lie.
"It's kind of hard to explain. He seems less, I don't know, sure of what he's doing I suppose. Usually everything he does, he does with a clear purpose. That, and his attitude has changed. He seems more open and welcoming. It's a little off putting."
Weiss chucked a little. "Being cold and distant is off putting to most people. Father is a smart man, I'll give him that. He still does everything with a clear purpose. The changes you've noticed, they will be explained in time. But it is up to father to decide when to tell you. It's not my place."
"You already know why?" Whitley asked, his voice raising quite a bit, almost as if his question were more of an accusation."
"I do. I'll leave you with something to think about regarding the matter however." Whitley said nothing but nodded for her to go on. "What if the person you knew as father, was just a mask? What if that's not the real person that is our father?" With that Weiss made her way to door and opened it. Before stepping out she looked back to her little brother. "He will tell you in time, Whitley."
Whitley said nothing as he seemed lost in the thoughts that Weiss had provoked. Weiss left the room, closing the door behind her. She realized there was a call she forgot to make so she made her way back to the room where she had called Team FNKI and General Ironwood from the previous day. 'May as well dub this the calling room' she mused with a smile. The heiress pulled out her scroll and dialed the number of one of her favorite people.
"Hello?" A woman's voice answered.
"Hello, Winter." Weiss responded with a large smile. The last time she spoke with her sister was quite some time ago when she visited Beacon for some work-related function.
"Ah, Weiss. How are you?" There was a warmth from the voice on the line. A warmth Weiss had only ever received from her sister, until recently anyway.
"I'm doing rather well actually. How about yourself?" The smile on Weiss' face could be heard clear as day over the line, causing Winter to smile in turn.
"I'm doing well, though busy as usual."
"Was now a bad time to call?" Weiss asked, worried that she was disrupting her sister from whatever work she was doing.
"No, you're fine sister." Weiss' worry was quickly lifted at the statement. "Though I must ask, is there a reason you're calling? Not that I don't enjoy social calls, but they are rather uncommon for you."
Weiss chuckled a little. Her sister was right. It wasn't very often at all that Weiss called her without an actual reason to do so. "It's a bit of both actually. I have been wanting to talk to you, and I do have something to tell you as well."
"What's on your mind, Weiss?"
"It's father." Weiss was a little nervous. She knew her sister's opinion of the man wasn't the best either. He did in a sense push her away and into the military. But she always seemed to act professional when it came to him. More so than Weiss was ever able to do.
"What about him?" The heiress heard her sister sigh as she asked the question. It was a common thing for Weiss to go to Winter with concerns for their father as the oldest sister had a lot more experience dealing with the man.
"Yesterday he invited me to join him for breakfast. Initially I was rather worried that I was going to receive some more life alter news that would work against everything that I want. But I didn't. We just… talked." Weiss could tell her sister was becoming interested in this event. Normally Winter would interrupt an explanation when there was something Weiss overlooked or needed to realize, but this time she didn't.
"He was acting different, Winter. He was, and I still have a hard time actually believing that these words apply, but he was being nice. He actually listened to what I had to say."
"Bullshit." Winters tone was flat. Weiss kind of expected this. The story was rather far fetched for those who knew Jacques as well as the two sisters did.
"What reason would I have to make that up Winter? You know I wouldn't lie to you." Weiss was almost a little hurt that she didn't believe her, but it was understandable.
Winter let out another audible sigh. "You wouldn't. That's just an extremely difficult thing to even process as a possibility."
"I know. I was there to experience it first hand and I still have a hard time wrapping my head around it. But… He also explained why. I think you would be interested in seeing the reason for yourself." This grabbed Winters attention fully.
"What do you mean?"
"He… found something that I think you should see. He showed it to me as well and it sort of explained why he was acting the way he was."
"Very well. I'll have to see when I can come by." Weiss grew a large smile. She would get to see her sister again soon. Maybe after, if Winter had some extra time, they could get lunch of something. It would be nice to spend some actual time with her sister while she wasn't working.
Weiss heard someone clear his throat from behind her and she turned to see who it was. 'Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Or something like that, I think.' "I have to go. Let me know when you find a time that works."
"Very well. I'll talk to you soon." With that Winter hung up the line leaving Weiss with her father.
"It's time to get going." He said before turning to head towards the front door.
Weiss left the Manor with her father. There was a car at the end of the walkway waiting for them with Klein standing by the door to let them inside. The car itself was an immaculate black limousine with heavily tinted windows all around, except for the driver and front passenger windows. Once the two Schnee's reached the car Klein opened the door for them. They both thanked him as they entered the expensive vehicle.
The inside of the vehicle spoke volumes about how much it must've cost to obtain. The seats were lined with extremely comfortable black leather. There was even a mini bar set against the windowed wall that separated the back of the vehicle from the driver. Though to Weiss, it seemed this extravagant vehicle was too much for the two of them. But appearances were everything, especially in Atlas.
As they settled in, the vehicle started moving forward. Weiss looked out the window and watched the beautiful scenery of Atlas pass by. As the heiress was starting to get lost in her thoughts Jacques placed a hand on his daughters' shoulder getting her attention.
"Did you hear what I said?" He asked, a small smile gracing his lips.
"Sorry, father. I did not. What did you say?" Weiss was little worried that her father would reprimand her for the lack of attention she was paying.
Jacques could guess what his daughter was thinking based on the slight look of worry that took over her face as she looked at him. He chuckled a little, hoping it would lessen the feeling of worry. "I have tonight's itinerary prepared. Would you like to see it?"
"I would indeed, father." Jacques took a folded piece of paper out of his suit jacket and handed it to Weiss. The paper's contents listed the events of the evening and the order in which they would take place.
The first thing that was set to happen was an introduction by Jacques. After that there would be a bit of a pause before any set event happened. The next event would be the speeches by Weiss, Team FNKI, and potentially General Ironwood. A short while after that would be something listed as a 'Charity Art Auction.' The rest of the evening would have no real events, but time to mingle and partake in a buffet that was being provided by the company.
"Father?" Weiss asked, looking up at the man with confusion in her eyes. Jacques looked back at his daughter, his eyes telling her to proceed with her question. "What's this art auction on here? You haven't mentioned it to me before."
"That, dear daughter, is going to be a bit of a surprise." He said with grin that slightly unnerved his daughter.
Weiss sighed internally, she knew that prodding more into it would yield nothing more as it seemed her father was planning something. But the real question on her mind was whether it would be something she liked or not. Nothing to do but wait and see. The rest of the car ride to the event was spent in silence, with Weiss returning to look out the window at the scenery and Jacques on his scroll.
Once they arrived at the place, and exited the car, Weiss looked over the venue. She was slightly off put at the selected location. It was rather nice, but not as large or immaculate as she had anticipated. It was one of Atlas' nicer concert venues. In the past, events like this were held at locations usually owned by the SDC and were equivalent to a top tier ballroom.
"Is this the right place?" Weiss asked her father, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Indeed, it is. You see, the trade embargo placed on Atlas after the attack on Vale has hit the company rather viciously. I selected a place that would cost the company far less to use than what we normally use so that our money could be used for other ventures."
"I see. That does make sense. Shall we go then?"
"Indeed" The two Schnee's made their way inside the venue. Upon entering the building and laying eyes upon the actual décor, Weiss was a bit surprised. Despite the look of the building outside, though still nice, it did not prepare her for what she was greeted with inside.
The open room was cleaned to perfection with tables set along outsides of the room. On the far wall there was a stage with a glass podium set up. Just before the stage were two very long tables set up with food and drink covering them. The tables were all covered with white table cloths and set with dinnerware. The walls that made up the venue were filled with coved pieces of hanging art, most likely the art that was going to be auctioned off later in the evening. Currently the only other people present were staff to help run the event.
"Weiss, dear. There are a couple things I must take care of before the event gets underway. Would you mind greeting guests as they arrive?" Weiss nodded in agreement and the elder Schnee took his leave.
Weiss walked over to the front door and exited the building. As she turned around from closing the door behind her a vehicle pulled up to the venue. From the vehicle, a guest which Weiss did not recognize exited. The man was immaculately dressed in a black suit, with a green tie. On the collar of his suit jacket was a pin with the emblem of Vale on it.
The man, who Weiss guessed was the Valian emissary, approached the young woman with a smile on his face. Upon reaching the heiress he offered his hand, "You must be Weiss Schnee. It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Marcus Holloway and I'm the emissary from Vale that General Ironwood requested. It seems I'll get to hear quite the interesting tale tonight regarding the attack."
Weiss shook the offered hand with a smile. "It's nice to meet you as well, Mr. Holloway. You will indeed get to hear about the events that transpired that day. You are the first to arrive, but I'm sure others will be here soon."
"Very good. I look forward to what you will have to say." With that the man went inside leaving Weiss to greet more guests as they arrived.
Weiss did such for roughly half an hour, with most of the guests arriving in that time. The most recent to exit a vehicle, a taxi at that, was Team FNKI. Weiss smiled brightly at the Atlesian team as they approached her. "Flynt, Neon, Keira, and Marshall. I'm very happy you made it."
Keira was the first to speak up. "It's good to see you again, Weiss. I must say, this is not the venue I expected a Schnee event to be held at."
"Yes, me neither. But it is what it is, I suppose." Most of Team FNKI gave a bit of a chuckle at the statement. All except for Flynt Coal. "Flynt, do you have a moment? There's something I wish to speak to you about."
Flynt nodded in agreement while the rest of his team entered the building. Once they were alone Weiss faced him and looked him in the eye. "I'm sorry, Flynt."
Flynt was truly caught off guard by this. He chuckled a little. "What on Remnant do you have to be sorry for?"
"For asking you to come here. I wouldn't have done so if I didn't need your help. That, and for everything that's happened to your family. Everything my father, and this company, have done."
"Weiss." He cut her off before she could come up with more things to apologize for. "I understand why you asked me to come here. I do fully support what it is you're trying to accomplish. I just wish it didn't have to involve the SDC. And everything else, none of that is your fault, nor your place to apologize for. Look, what happened, happened. There's no changing that. All I ask, is that you do better than those before you."
Weiss smiled, a true, genuine smile. One that she hadn't used much. She was rather relieved that Flynt didn't hold her father's doings on her. "Thank you, Flynt. That means more than you know to me. I will be better than my father."
"Well he set a pretty low bar, so it shouldn't be that hard." Flynt said with a hearty laugh.
Weiss laughed along with him. "You are not wrong there. Let's go. I'd like to catch up with you all a bit before things get underway."
The two friends entered the venue chatting happily about things that have happened since they met at the Vytal Festival a few months prior. They met up with the rest of Team FNKI at a table and continued talking until Jacques took up the stage.
Once all eyes were on him, and the room silent, he begun his speech. "Greeting everyone, thank you for coming out tonight. Originally when I planned this event, I had no real goal to achieve with it. Its purpose was that of a simple social gathering. However, a few days ago, my daughter, Weiss, proposed an idea to make something more of the evening. Later tonight you will hear of hers, along with a few others, account of the attack on Beacon Academy. The reason for this is to create a new light on the perceived Atlesian involvement of the attack. After that, we will be holding an art auction. The proceeds from which will go towards something to directly help the world, rather than to further the success and deepen the wallets of the Schnee Dust Company. In the meantime, please mingle amongst yourselves and enjoy the wonderful food we have prepared for you."
With that said and done Jacques left the stage and began to do as he had suggested of everyone else. "Well that was… different… from how I imagined it." Keira spoke to the group of friends at the table.
Weiss laughed a little. "I did warn you that he had changed from the last time he said anything publicly. Though I don't know how deep that change runs. Only time will tell."
"If that was anything to go by, then maybe there is just a little hope." Flynt said with a small smile.
A short while had passed since Jacques speech. Team FNKI and Weiss had been catching up the whole time, along with sharing stories from before they all met. This was interrupted when General Ironwood approached their table. "Excuse me. Weiss, may I borrow you for a moment?"
Weiss nodded and stood up to follow the general to a less crowded area of the venue. "What is it, General?"
James looked her over, it was the first time he had seen Weiss look genuinely happy. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news and potentially dash your seemingly rather good mood, but I won't be able to join you and Team FNKI in speaking tonight. My doing so would not look good politically for Atlas. I am sorry."
Weiss smile faltered a little. "I understand, General. The whole point of this endeavor is to help the political standing of Atlas. However, if you were to speak as well and introduce a chance for this plan to fail, then all of it could have been for nothing."
"I'm glad you see it as I do. Thank you for understanding." James gave the heiress a small, but somewhat sad smile. She could tell that he wanted to speak as well, though she wasn't sure why.
The general nodded at the heiress and took his leave while Weiss made her way back to the table that sat Team FNKI.
"What was that about?" Marshall asked as Weiss took her seat.
"Well… The general won't be joining us in our recount of the attack. There's too many political ramifications if he does."
"I see… I hope our accounts alone will be enough to convince everyone of Atlas' innocence on the matter." Neon sad, her face filled with concern.
"I think we'll be fine." Flynt reassured her, placing his hand on her shoulder.
Seeing the closeness of their team tugged at one of the heiress's heartstrings. It made her realize just how much she was missing her team. She wished she had a way to contact them, but with the CCTS towers down, there wasn't any. The thought of sending a letter had occurred to her, but she didn't really have a place to send it. Hopefully, soon she would be able to find a way to see them. Hopefully.
"Hey, Weiss, care to come get some food with me?" Kiera asked, garnering the heiress's attention and flashing her a knowing smile.
Weiss looked up at the huntress in training and smiled a little in return. "Sure, does anyone else want anything?" The rest of Team FNKI all shook their heads.
The two girls got up and headed towards the buffet table. Once they were far enough away from the rest of Kiera's team, a question was asked. "Are you doing alright, Weiss? You seem a bit… I dunno… down, I guess?"
"I'm okay. Just feeling a bit nostalgic is all. Seeing you all together having a good time reminds me of my team. I do miss them." Even though Weiss wore a slight smile, Kiera could see the sadness and dare she say loneliness, in the heiress's eyes. It was a tough emotion to deal with when the subject that was causing those particular feelings was not something either of them could just make appear.
"I understand. I don't know what I would do without those three. They've really become a family for me, ya know?" The two girls stopped before they got to the buffet table and turned to one another.
"Weiss, if you ever need a friend, someone to just spend time with, I'm here. And so is my team for that matter. I know what it is to be alone." Kiera gave Weiss the best comforting smile she could, her eyes almost pleading with the white-haired girl to take her up on the offer.
"You know what it's like?" Weiss asked, her eyes an enigma of emotions looking back into Keira's.
"I do, indeed. You see, I grew up in a tribe outside of the kingdom, though still on the continent of Mantle. Our tribe built a settlement called Twilight many years ago. Some time ago, both of my parents died out in the field. In Twilight we didn't have huntsmen or huntresses, so the tribe trained their own version of them, we called them watchmen. My parents both held that position and fell one night protecting the village."
Kiera's tone turned somber. The heiress could tell this was difficult for her to talk about. "I'm sorry to hear that. My… mother also passed while I was young. I never really got to know her." Weiss figured it was only fair that she shared something of importance in return. "You don't have to tell me about this if you don't want to, Kiera."
"No, it's alright. I do wish to tell you." Weiss nodded to her, silently asking her to continue her tale. While Keira spoke of the next part Weiss decided to lead them to a vacant table so they wouldn't be in the way of anyone wishing to get their own food.
"Maybe a year after my parents died, I think I was sixteen at the time, I decided to leave the tribe. Before that however, I was trained to become a part of the watchmen as well. But I couldn't do it. It was hard enough being around the surroundings that did nothing but bring up memories of my parents, and then add in taking the job they once held… I just couldn't do it. So, I left. I ended up wandering around the untamed parts of Mantle for a few months, honing the skills I had against the Grimm. Eventually, I decided that I wanted to get even better. So, I came to Atlas."
"Is that when you joined the academy?" Wiess asked, her icy colored eyes holding none of the nature of their hue.
"It is. I passed the entrance exams for students who hadn't had prior schooling with ease and was placed in Team FNKI. Those three really have become my family now. I wouldn't give them up for anything."
Wiess laughed a little. She knew exactly where the girl before her was coming from. While her team had a bit of a rocky start, she did come to truly cherish them. "So, it seems you truly do understand where I'm coming from."
"I do, Weiss. That's why I want to, you know, actually be your friend. It seems like you could really use one right now. But, don't get me wrong, my offer isn't out of pity. I do actually want to be your friend."
The smile on Weiss' face only grew. The girl before her had a good heart, she could tell. "Very well, Kiera. I'd love nothing more."
Keira returned the smile. "So, shall we get some food and return to my teammates?"
The heiress nodded at her new friend. "Yes, I'd like that."