It's Thursday. It's nearly December. I've done no Christmas shopping.
Hell yeah!
Beta: College Fool
Cover Art: Kegi Springfield
Chapter 94
Ruby pouted.
"The Ambassador to the Grimmlands does not pout."
"The Ambassador to the Grimmlands absolutely does pout," Ruby said. "She also greatly regrets ever agreeing to this or bringing you along."
Pyrrha smiled. "Does the Ambassador to the Grimmlands intend to keep referring to herself in the third person?"
"The Ambassador does!" Ruby intoned. Her face fell a second later. "I'm doomed. What am I going to do? I can't handle a press conference. I can't even handle talking to normal people my own age."
"You were always fine with Jaune."
"I said normal people, Pyrrha. Besides, one person is a little different from ten or twenty."
Pyrrha winced.
Ruby noticed.
"It's not going to be ten or twenty, is it?"
"That's why Miss Goodwitch offered to impose limits on the format, but you told her it wouldn't be necessary…"
"Was that a bad idea?"
Pyrrha cringed. "Weeeeelll…."
"Pyrrha, you can be honest. I need honesty right now."
Her partner sighed. "Yes. Yes, it was a bad idea."
Oh…
Wow.
Honesty didn't feel as good as she'd imagined it to. Ruby swayed, and might have fallen if not for Miss Goodwitch stepping out from behind the curtain separating them from the auditorium and nearly colliding with her.
"Miss Rose. The conference is about to begin, and the media are awaiting you. I've taken the liberty of already introducing you, so you can skip directly to the question and answer phase."
Ruby's relief was palpable. Any and all memories of Miss Goodwitch were washed away by the desire to give the frightening woman a hug. She'd basically saved her from having to do a big speech, and now all she had to do was field questions. Sadly, the Ambassador to the Grimmlands – and she was starting to hate that title – probably wasn't supposed to randomly hug people from other Kingdoms.
"Thank you, Miss Goodwitch," Ruby said, wishing her voice was a little deeper, a little less childlike.
"Good luck, Miss Rose."
With a nod and a smile she didn't really feel, Ruby pushed through the curtains and out onto the stage. Light washed over her face from spotlights above the auditorium's platform and she had to squint her eyes to see through it. When she did, she froze.
Ten or twenty people…
There were not ten or twenty people. There were ten sets of ten or twenty people, that was to say there was around a hundred to two hundred, more likely toward the upper end of the scale. Sat on chairs that were crammed into the hall and then with more standing behind, jostling for space and holding fluffy microphones in the air. At least thirty different camera crews were recording, and while it was fortunately silent in the hall, that only served to drive home how real it was.
Ruby whimpered.
Pyrrha walked by, gently touched Ruby's hips and steered her into a chair, sitting beside her. Her partner – her wonderful partner – pushed Ruby's seat under the table and poured each of them a drink of water from a flask on the table. Pyrrha bought them a few seconds while the cameras zoomed in and people looked for the best shot of the Ambassador they could get.
Miss Goodwitch was equally calm and posed, coming in to sit on Ruby's left. She shuffled some papers on the table and placed both hands atop it, calm and unmoving in the face of so many people watching her.
Ruby was not quite as composed.
I'm dead. I'm actually dead. I must have died ages ago and this is my punishment for all the cookies I stole when I was younger. I'm sorry, mom! I didn't listen!
"Thank you all for coming," Pyrrha said suddenly, making Ruby flinch. "And thank you for your patience. The Ambassador-" Oh Gods, that was her, "-has agreed to come today to answer some of your questions prior to meeting with the Council of Vale later this afternoon." Pyrrha spared one final look for Ruby, one that said there was no more time she could stall for. "The Ambassador will field questions now, though we naturally ask you politely wait for each to be answered before asking more. Who would like to begin?"
M-Maybe no one would. Maybe it would be like class when a teacher asked for a volunteer and no one wanted to be the first. Ruby held on that hope.
Two hundred hands went up.
Crud.
"Ambassador," a man said as Ruby hesitantly pointed to him. He stood, letting others see him. Ruby hoped he'd ask a long question, if only so she'd have more time to mentally prepare. "What are your goals for the Council meeting later today?"
Ruby waited for the silver lining to appear and disrupt the conference. A White Fang attack would have done. When nothing happened, she swallowed and tried to speak, only for the words to catch in her throat. She thumped a hand against her chest and coughed.
The sound echoed ominously.
"Just talk," Pyrrha whispered, hiding her mouth behind one hand. "Just say something. Anything."
That was so easy for her to say!
Ruby took a deep breath, mentally shut her brain down and answered. "My goals are to meet with the Council and talk about the issues between our Kingdoms. My hope is that we will come to an understanding, maybe even peace."
There. That wasn't a bad answer. Could she go now? That's all, folks.
"What of the recent attacks on both Haven and Beacon?" another asked, standing. "Grimm were sighted at both locations. Does this not run counter to the idea of peace?"
"Hey, we protected Haven," Ruby said crossly. It slipped out before she could help herself. "A-Ahem. I mean, the Grimm didn't actually attack any students at Haven and mostly fought the attacking White Fang. It was the same at Beacon. The Dragon attacked and killed Adam Taurus, who led the White Fang attack on Beacon."
"Causing heavy collateral damage in the process."
Miss Goodwitch quickly pulled a microphone closer to her mouth, "Of which Beacon holds no ill-will. We are, in fact, grateful for the aid in removing a dangerous terrorist from our presence and facilitating the surrender of the White Fang." Her words cowed the woman who had piped up. Miss Goodwitch had that effect. "The damage caused to Beacon was relatively minor and would have been much worse if not for their support. Beacon will not accept it any other way."
"U-Understood," the journalist said.
"Thank you," Ruby whispered. Miss Goodwitch nodded once but didn't reply. "Um. Next question? You." She pointed to a woman in a suit.
"You are human yourself and yet working alongside the Grimm," the woman said, "What do you have to say to those who consider you a traitor to our species?"
The question hurt. Ruby leaned back, shocked at the vehement tone of the woman's voice. Beside her, Pyrrha frowned, and even Miss Goodwitch looked ready to snap back a response. Was this really how some people looked at them?
Ruby smiled sadly. It was probably naïve to think anything else.
"If I were really a traitor, I'd let the Grimm destroy everyone," she answered. The hall became silent. "But I won't because I don't think like that. I came from Patch and I studied at Beacon. Vale is my home. I think the fact I'm here trying to work out peace between humans and Grimm is a sign I'm not betraying my species."
A few murmurs spread from the crowd. The woman who had asked the question didn't look pleased or satisfied, but she sat down nonetheless. It was hard to judge if her words had gone over well or not.
In a strange way, Ruby's nerves… they didn't calm down. It felt more like she was panicking so much that she'd transcended beyond the feeling. She wasn't calm by any means, but she'd become so nervous she'd stopped being nervous.
"Next question?"
"The Grimm have been killing people for hundreds of years. Why do they suddenly want to stop now?"
"I… I've not been alive for hundreds of years, so I wouldn't know," Ruby admitted. She knew they didn't like the answer because they began to murmur. "But I think it's because people change. Jaune, the Crown Prince, I mean, has only recently become what he is. It's Jaune who wants peace, so I guess it would be down to a change in leadership."
It seemed to satisfy the one who'd asked. He nodded and sat.
Another rose without giving her any chance to catch a breath, "Why should the Kingdoms be expected to change in the face of what is clearly a threat? The Crown Prince speaks of peace but has threatened to attack Atlas. Isn't that essentially an act of aggression?"
You attacked us first, she felt like saying. And kidnapped my sister!
Seriously, it was like they didn't want peace. Jaune and Weiss had told her everyone was likely just nervous and not sure if they could trust the Grimmlands, but it didn't feel like that. It felt like people were being deliberately stupid. The question felt even more so.
"The Grimm have attacked people for hundreds of years," Ruby said, voice a little tighter. "Jaune chose to respond to Atlas attacking us with words. He chose to go in person and talk with them after they attacked him and kidnapped his fiancée. If you want to call that an act of aggression, that's fine, but it would be Atlas who are the aggressors."
"Atlas was just defending itself-"
"Atlas sent a warship into the Grimmlands," Ruby snapped, cutting the journalist off. "It wasn't in its territory, it wasn't under attack and there was no one from Atlas in danger. I'd like to ask you how that is defending anything."
The man's mouth opened and closed. It did so for a good ten seconds.
Ruby frowned at him. "Nothing? Next question."
"You admit that the Grimm have attacked people, in your own words `for hundreds of years`, " the woman waited, as if she were expecting Ruby to take that back. When Ruby didn't, she continued, "Do you not think it unfair for people to be expected to accept the idea of peace so easily?"
Ruby's anger melted a little. The question, while still a little provocative, wasn't quite as bad as the ones before. "I think that's fine – and Jaune does, too. We know it's going to be hard to convince people to trust us, but that's something we're willing to work on. That's why I'm here talking to you and meeting with the Council."
The woman nodded. A man stood. "But do you really expect people to accept this?"
What are they, a hive mind? It's like they're all working together or something.
"I don't know what to expect of people. Everyone has a choice. They can either accept this and have peace, or they can reject it and not have peace."
"Is that a threat, Ambassador?"
"No. It's me pointing out what should be completely obvious." Ruby's frank statement shocked the audience. "Wait, you're actually confused?" she asked. "Jaune – we – are offering an olive branch. We're offering peace. We're not demanding it and it's your choice on whether to say yes or no. If you say yes, you get peace. If you say no, you don't. That's not our fault. It's your choice."
"Isn't it a little rich to ask that when the Grimm are at the gates of Atlas?"
"The Grimm have forever been at the gates of Atlas," Miss Goodwitch interrupted, silencing them once more. "The Grimm have forever been at the gates of Vale, of Mistral, or Vacuo. Nothing has changed, except that this time the Grimm have chosen to talk with us before attacking."
One of the journalists scowled. "You sound remarkably biased in this, Headmistress."
"I am a huntress before I am headmistress of Beacon. I have faced the Grimm for years and, if this peace fails, I will continue to do so. Asking me to be unbiased in a matter which affects not only me, but all my students, is ridiculous. My very job description demands I work in the interests of my students, regardless of what that entails."
"Don't you think the people of Vale deserve a say?"
Miss Goodwitch raised an eyebrow. "Does the average person in Vale have expertise in matters of the Grimm?"
The journalist's silence was telling.
"I thought not. I would not seek medical advice from random people on the street. I will not seek diplomatic advice from them, either."
Okay, Miss Goodwitch was way beyond cool. Ruby's eyes shone with newfound appreciation. Uncle Qrow? Who cared about him? Miss Goodwitch was now her inspiration.
"A question for the Ambassador," someone said, obviously deciding that Ruby was the easier target at the table. At least compared to Miss Goodwitch. "Although Miss Goodwitch has made her thoughts clear, do you agree that the people should not have their say? There are those who have lost loved ones to the Grimm."
Ruby's eyes closed. Her heart ached. "There are. Those are tragedies, but they also happened in the past. We can't bring those people back, but we can try and stop more happening."
"Do you think that's enough?" someone called without standing.
"It's the best we can offer. We can't bring back the dead."
"Then who will pay for those who died?"
"No one-"
"No one," a woman shouted, standing. "No one will pay. So many people have suffered because of the Grimm and you expect them to accept that no one is going to face justice for this? How is that fair?"
"It's not fair," Ruby admitted, eyes watering under the scrutiny, "It's not perfect. But there is no perfect peace. There is no perfect option." Salem would never stand trial for what she'd done and Jaune wouldn't accept her doing so. Ruby gripped the table's edge so hard her knuckles turned white. "But we can offer peace. We can make sure this doesn't happen again. Isn't that good enough? Isn't that worth aiming for?"
"That's easy for you to say. You've never lost anyone to the Grimm! You're one of the-"
Ruby's chair clattered to the ground. The sound cut the woman off and echoed through the room. She stood, hands clenched, eyes closed, teeth gritted. Her shoulders shook. Pyrrha's hand touched her thigh under the table, but Ruby ignored it.
The cameras all focused on her. She ignored those, too.
"Have you?" she seethed, tears visible in her eyes. She glared at the smug-looking woman. "Have you lost anyone to the Grimm?"
The woman faltered. Her smile didn't fall, but she looked uncomfortable. "Not personally, but-"
"I have," Ruby snapped. The crowd hushed. "I've lost someone. I was six when m-my mom was taken. When she was killed." Her voice trembled. "I was six when she kissed my forehead, promised to come back and walked out the door." She took a deep breath. "Mom didn't come back. I was six years old. Six! Dad broke down, lost it." Ruby took a deep breath and forced her eyes open, regardless of the tears. She looked at the woman. "Have you ever faced the Grimm?"
"N-No…"
"I have. I was six when I saw my first Grimm." Ruby's smile was bitter. "Six when it tried to kill me in a forest. I only lived because of my Uncle, a huntsman. Since then, I've faced them again and again. I've faced them over a hundred times. I've killed over a hundred Grimm. I know what it's like to be out there, I know what it's like to face them, I know what it's like to lose someone you love to them. But I also know what it's like to know it can't continue," she screamed, slamming a hand on the table. Everyone in the audience flinched. "I know what it's like to realise there are too many, an endless flood, a never-ending tide. Have you been outside the walls? Have any of you!?"
The smug journalist quailed under her teenage gaze. "No."
No one else dared answer.
"You've not lost anyone. You've not seen what we've seen." Ruby gestured to herself and Miss Goodwitch, who had remained silent even through her outburst. To Ruby it was as close to support as she knew she'd get. "You've not seen how doomed everyone is. And telling me I don't know what it's like? It's easy to get angry, easy to pick sides, when you have no idea what it's like to be out there."
"My mom is dead," she said, making many in the audience look away. "She went out and died. She died because she wanted to protect me, my sister, Dad, my Uncle and everyone else she loved. She didn't do it for pride, money or because she hated the Grimm. She did it for us." Ruby's chest rose and fell as she sought to control her breathing. "And I won't spit on her memory by throwing away a chance to make her dream a reality. One where my family – mom's family – can live without having to fear the Grimm."
Pyrrha's hand moved away. Her partner laid it atop the table and closed her eyes. She wore a small, proud smile. The audience were still shocked, however, staring at her. Ruby quailed a little and tried to sit down. It was awkward since she forgot her chair was missing. She stumbled, probably looked an idiot, but stooped to right it and sit down.
She was still shaking.
"Maybe it's not in the way mom imagined," she finished, "But I think she'd approve of me trying. I…" Her voice cracked. "I think she'd be proud of me."
Ruby's head fell, breaking eye contact with the crowd. Her heart was beating wildly, and her skin was flushed. She was angry. She'd lashed out. Ruby clenched her eyes shut and bit her lip. She'd messed this up massively. Weiss was going to kill her. Jaune was going to be so disappointed. And the people of Vale? They'd never believed her now.
They'd never believe some emotional child.
I knew I wasn't right for this. I-I'm sorry, guys…
Someone began to clap.
It was slow at first, but it sped up. Became louder. Ruby dared to look up, spotting a woman in a pale grey suit, purple hair falling either side of a pale face. She had stood and was now applauding.
Someone else, further down the line, rows behind, a man, stood and did the same.
Ruby looked over them, lost and confused.
A third began. A fourth. A fifth. It spread like wildfire, people standing, others remaining seated. Soon, it became as close to unanimous as it could. The angry woman, the one who had challenged her, looked furious. She sat and made a point of crossing her arms, but it didn't matter. More were clapping than not.
Her eyes watered even more. She sniffed and wiped an arm over her eyes, breaking out in a relieved, almost desperate laugh. Ugh. Now she was looking like an even worse child, blubbering on stage like a baby.
"I think we will have to call it there for now," Miss Goodwitch said. She was smiling as she looked down on Ruby, a smile that let her know in no uncertain terms that she'd done well. Somehow. "We could all use a rest I'm sure, and there is still the Council meeting this afternoon. Thank you all for coming and thank you to Miss Rose as well for answering the questions."
Pyrrha helped Ruby up and away as the crowd clapped.
"I messed up," Ruby whispered once they were free.
"No." Pyrrha said. "You were perfect."
/-/
Mercury Black, former criminal, former subordinate of Cinder Fall and former prisoner leant against the wall, arms crossed, watching the two from the Grimmlands sit at a lonely table in the cafeteria. He recognised them both of course but made no attempt to approach.
"Interesting speech, huh?" he asked.
"That's one way to put it," Velvet replied. "You don't want to go talk to them? They're on the same side as your previous employer."
"Cinder didn't really employ me, and I'm not sure it'd be good for my parole to be seen with them. Probably not good for their side, either."
"Hm, maybe not. You are still a criminal."
Mercury rolled his eyes, doubly so when Velvet shot him a teasing grin. "I'm not a criminal anymore, babe. I'm a student of Beacon."
She poked his side. "My name isn't `babe`."
"But you are one."
"Cute." It was Velvet's turn to roll her eyes, though she didn't complain when he hooked an arm around her waist. "Don't think this will get you out of your next session with Doctor Oobleck, though. If you skip, people will start to think you're going back to being a bad guy."
"But I thought you liked bad guys. You were crushing on the Crown Prince of the Grimm before you settled for a dangerous terrorist."
Velvet smiled. "Maybe I should have pushed a little harder. I could have been a princess by now."
Mercury laughed and drew her in for a quick kiss. "Sorry, you'll have to settle for me."
"Huh. I guess I will." She sighed. "I'll survive." The cheeky smile disappeared as she looked back to the two eating. "Do you think it'll work out, though? What they're looking for, I mean. Not everyone is going to accept co-existence with the Grimm."
"Not everyone accepts co-existence with the faunus."
Mercury frowned. "Those people can fuck off."
His girlfriend smiled up at him and gave him a small peck on the underside of his chin. To Mercury's horror, he actually blushed a little.
"It was never going to be perfect. I think it's the best deal we'll get, though. People will complain, but those that actually know what it's like will see it the same way we do. You've seen what it's really like out there. We all have."
"We're losing," Mercury confirmed. You didn't have to be a genius to see it. It was part of the reason why he'd been willing to work with Cinder and Emerald, because they offered him a future that wasn't quite so screwed.
"We're surviving," Velvet countered, "But yes, it's getting worse. Beacon being attacked, and then Haven. It's like people don't realise what effect that's going to have. We lost people. Mistral's huntsman population has been devastated by that traitor. There are going to be less huntsmen than ever in the future."
"People can't see what's past their own noses, Vel. That's life. They want someone to pay, someone to be punished. They'd drag us into a war we can't win just to justify their own morals."
"That's dumb."
"People are dumb."
She sighed. "Do you think it'll come to that?"
Mercury frowned. It was hard to say, it really was. That Jaune was trying showed promise, and he knew the guy wouldn't give up so easily. Little setbacks like this? He'd push on through. As the two of them stood in companionable silence, they watched as more students came into the cafeteria and saw the two. Ruby and Pyrrha sat alone, their uniforms – and their association to the Grimm – hardly helped matters.
But someone walked forward. Coco Adel grabbed her tray, click-clacked her heels across the tiled floor and sat down next to Ruby, nudging the younger girl's hips with her own. The rest of her team, Yatsuhashi and Fox, followed, sitting down opposite the two with friendly smiles.
It broke the moment, the silence. Huntsmen and huntresses in training moved, sat down at the tables and began to talk. Questions flew, and some towards Ruby Rose, Ambassador to the Grimmlands.
Judging by the surprised but pleased smile on her face, they were not condemnations.
"Guess it's up to the younger generation to show those old folks how it's done," he said, grinning.
Velvet nodded, smiling as she watched her team break the ice.
"I guess you're right."
/-/
"What are the Grimmlands like?"
"What are the Grimm like?"
"What is there to eat?"
"Do you have pictures?"
"Can I take a selfie with you?"
"What's it like to ride a dragon."
Pyrrha smiled as Ruby was borne down by the questions. Normally, she'd have stepped in, but her partner was doing an excellent job as it was. Besides, if Ruby could handle antagonistic journalists, she could handle curious students her own age.
"Um. It's dark. They're not as bad as you'd think. The food is actually normal– steak and vegetables and stuff. I didn't think to take any pictures. Sure, and it's awesome! Nevermore are less awesome. They move around too much, so you feel sick."
If Ruby thought answering would bring an end to the questions, she was grossly mistaken. More came, some personal, others not so much, but all a lot more relaxed than what she'd faced before. That was typical, Pyrrha supposed. To people who had never faced the Grimm before, they were monstrous and demonic things. Nightmare fuel was a term she'd heard before. They could be just as frightening to huntsmen, but familiarity bred… not contempt, but certainly a little less awe and fear.
People could be just as dangerous, even more so. You dealt with what was before you and kept going as best you could. Losing people was hard, but huntsmen knew better than to get wrapped up in vengeance. If you lost a mother, sister or friend, then what good did getting yourself killed hunting Grimm down really do?
Kill it if it was in front of you, sure, but it was folly to seek out one's death.
Sometimes, she had to wonder if the average person understood that or not. Some equated them to soldiers, others said they were mercenaries, more claimed they were heroes. In the end, they were just people. They bled and suffered like any other, but if you wanted to find someone who knew how the Grimm worked, you went to a huntsman.
Pyrrha spared another glance to make sure Ruby was okay – she was busy chatting with three older students, none of which looked at her like she was younger or less important than they – and checked her own scroll. Connecting to the local news channels was easy, and true to form Ruby's face was everywhere.
Oh dear…
Ruby's face was the main story on just about every news site, which was to be expected, but Pyrrha didn't think her partner would appreciate the shot that had been taken. Whatever Ruby thought about her ability, she'd handled herself mostly well. For a good portion of the conference she'd been mildly nervous, but mostly calm. An expected level of nerves.
Sadly, her outburst had led to her mask cracking for a moment. The Ruby Rose on every news channel ever was a girl standing with her hands on the table, face red and with tear tracks down her face. She was angry, hurt, but also passionate in a way few politicians ever were.
The word `passion` seemed to repeat in a lot of the headlines and subtitles.
Even those who slandered her, who painted her out as evil, did so by calling her `passionate and misguided` rather than outright wrong. No one wanted to be seen as the news group to insult someone who could pull a face like that.
This will work in our favour, Pyrrha thought. But I'd best keep it from Ruby. She'll die of embarrassment if she realises THIS is the face everyone sees her as.
Pyrrha had a feeling that had been Weiss' plan all along. A cold, calculated and calm representative talking about how the Grimm had slaughtered thousands would have sent the wrong message, that no one cared. Ruby's face, although embarrassing for her, was one that oozed sympathy.
Sadly, the online world wasn't always so disciplined… Ruby's face had started to spread, often accompanied by captions.
"I'm a Grimm. Hear me roar!"
"Beowolf. Ursa. Nevermore. Waifumore."
"When your favourite TV series is cancelled."
"When your mom says it's bedtime, but it's only 9:59."
"Tentacle Grimm? SIGN ME UP!"
"Huh, is something wrong?" Ruby asked, finally noticing that Pyrrha wasn't paying attention. She leaned over, but Pyrrha quickly hid her scroll, and the incriminating images.
"Nothing," she said, smiling brightly.
She didn't have the heart to tell Ruby she'd become a meme.
/-/
Winter Schnee stood at attention, flanked by fifty of her most trusted officers and colleagues, Specialists all, aligned in two columns, creating a corridor of bodies, their weapons held at their sides, ready but also in ceremonial position. She stood at the end beside Ironwood, in charge of all fifty but also adjunct to the General himself.
Such a display might normally have been reserved only for the arrival of a truly auspicious individual and would have been ceremonial at best – a way to show respect. Here, it was more literal than ever, and incredibly serious. Winter doubted she was the only one ready to not just jump at a shadow but murder it and its family.
If Jaune Salem Arc, Crown Prince of the Grimm, died on Atlas territory…
It didn't bear thinking about.
Winter did anyway, because her imagination was like that and there was nothing else to think of. She could imagine Atlas in ruins, everyone dead or dying, the entire world doomed to follow. You know, everyday Thursday things.
God, Winter despised Thursdays…
"Are the snipers in position?" Ironwood asked.
"Yes, sir."
"Support teams?"
"All prepped to move at a moment's notice."
"Media?"
"I leaked information that this meeting would happen on the plateau again. It'll take them hours to realise they've been duped."
Ironwood smiled. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Winter."
"Thank you, sir." Winter didn't begrudge Ironwood asking her the same questions three times over. He wanted to double and triple check everything, and quite frankly she'd gone and quintuple-checked everything beforehand as well. This was the kind of event that warranted it.
As for the media, well, it was a little undemocratic perhaps, but Winter would prefer to deal with the fallout from that, rather than the fallout from one of them insulting Jaune Arc and the Grimmlands. She had already taken the time to watch the interview with his dignitary to Vale earlier in the morning, along with Ironwood and the Council of Atlas. Once or twice, she could have sworn Ironwood was about to get up, swim to Vale and punch one of those journalists in the face.
The questions were honest and warranted, yes, but did they not realise what the impact of pushing the Grimmlands away from the table was? Yes, bad things had happened. Yes, they didn't trust them implicitly, but no, it was not a good idea to send the message that peaceful diplomacy was the wrong way for the Grimmlands to handle this.
"We're fortunate the Rose girl was so empathic," Ironwood said, "She lost her cool, but that saved the conference. It could have been much worse."
"Weiss would not have been so kind to them," Winter said.
She knew her sister well.
"Likely why she was not sent," Ironwood contemplated. "Sadly, I expect she will come here, which means we won't have the same safety net." He tapped his arm. "Are the snipers-?"
"They are in position."
"And if the order is given to fire on Jaune Arc?"
"They will ignore it," Winter said, "Knowing that it is a false order and that under no circumstances would you sign Atlas' death warrant in such a way."
Ironwood nodded. "Good, good. If there are any traitors in our midst, it would be an easy trick to pull."
"Sir, I would dive in front of the bullet myself if it means this day ends well."
"You'd have to beat me to it, Specialist."
Their smiles were wiped away as a dark shadow flew over the horizon. They knew it was no vehicle for how it moved, too low and too quickly. The soldiers readied themselves, but not for war. They prepared themselves to sell their lives in defence of this Grimm if they had to. Hopefully, it would not come to that.
It would not come to that. Winter would strangle anyone who so much as looked at this the wrong way.
As for the Council. Well…
Winter would leave that in Ironwood's hands.
And pray.
There would be much praying.
It was not the first time she had seen the dragon, but time had a way of playing tricks on the mind. It was not quite as large as she recalled, though that was likely because it was in the air and not next to any buildings to better judge its height by. Also, it had appeared at Haven by literally storming out of the trees and roaring at them. Winter would dare anyone to objectively view such a beast at a moment like that.
It landed with surprising grace – which was to say not much at all. The pad shook violently, and metal creaked and groaned. It was still surprising, because the thing looked like it might have been able to knock the school down by brushing up against it.
"I've a feeling the media will have by now realised their error," Ironwood whisper.
Winter did not snort, but rather smiled demurely.
More fool them.
A military photographer took pictures and video from behind them, ensuring that both she and Ironwood were in the shots. These would later be disseminated to the various news outlets of the Kingdom. No lies, no trickery, but angles designed to portray a meeting between equals. The photographer would also not shout out asinine questions that deserved a slap around the back of the head.
Jaune Arc had brought Weiss with him. He descended easily, stepping off the dragon's neck as it brought its head low. He then turned and offered a hand to Weiss, who took it with elegant poise and stepped onto a glyph that shimmered to life before her. One step became two and then three, as Weiss daintily stepped through the air itself.
Good poise, excellent control and a firm expression. Ten out of ten, sister.
Weiss then turned and patted the dragon's neck, saying something to it. The beast gurgled happily and sat back up, at Weiss' command, not Jaune Arc's.
Eleven out of ten, Weiss. Well done.
No wait, she was supposed to be on Atlas' side. Hm, but they did look good beside one another. Had they not had confirmation of Arc's marital status, she might have thought Weiss his spouse. At the very least, she was his equal. A respected advisor. The Winter to her own Ironwood.
Winter would admit to being proud of her sister.
General Ironwood moved forward, Winter moving alongside but a step back. They travelled through the column formed by the soldiers and toward the dragon. Toward the Crown Prince and his advisor who had, against all odds, come along to meet with Atlas' council.
From anyone else, Winter might have called it arrogance.
Here, it was probably overkill.
"Jaune Arc," Ironwood said, extending a hand. "Atlas welcomes you."
"General Ironwood." Jaune took the other man's, sending a ripple of relief through those watching. "I thank you for arranging this on such short notice. You know my advisor, Weiss Schnee, of course."
Weiss stepped forward and curtsied. "General. It is good to see you again."
"You as well, Miss Schnee. You have done well for yourself. Certainly better than you were when we last met here."
"I did tell you I had plans, General."
"You did," Ironwood admitted. "I ought to have asked what those were. More fool me for remaining silent."
To be fair, Weiss was a Schnee. Even if Winter was removed from the family, she still had a little of that Schnee determination in herself as well. When a Schnee wanted something, they would give everything they had to achieve it.
"You aided me at a time when I needed it, General. I won't forget that."
"Thank you." Ironwood looked to Jaune Arc and nodded. "If you would both follow me." With a turn, he led them down the column, who each stood at attention even if Winter saw them take sly peeks towards the future King of the Grimm. It was not everyday such a figure walked by you. "The Council's reaction to your decision to speak to them has been… mixed, to say the least. The overall sentiment is good. It proves that dialogue is something you seek. This has helped calm some of the more hot-headed individuals."
"But…?" Weiss asked.
"But," Ironwood admitted, "It has left some with an… arrogant state of mind."
Jaune caught on. "They think I'm showing desperation in coming to them."
"Yes." Ironwood cringed, and Winter did the same. It was absolute madness, but then people could be that stupid. Especially those who had never really set food outside of the city. It was easy to believe in the martial superiority of Atlas. The parades, shows and nationalism helped keep people calm, and when Grimm responded to negativity, that was a good thing. "Not many are like this, but there are some. I'd ask for your patience with them…"
Jaune smiled. "Believe me, General. I'm used to dealing with arrogant people. My mother and my sisters are… not always the humblest of people."
Weiss snorted, though she hid it in coughing into her fist.
"I think I'll be able to handle a few arrogant politicians."
"Without murder?" Ironwood requested.
"Without murder." Both Jaune and Weiss rolled their eyes at that. "I've come to talk peace and save my fiancée. I don't intend to leave without both."
"One way or the other," Weiss grumbled.
If Ironwood was concerned, he hid it with expert grace. "The meeting will likely be broadcast across all of Atlas, perhaps even all of Remnant. While they're normally held in private, this is a little too… high profile to hope for the same. I doubt anyone missed your arrival."
Jaune Arc kept his eyes firmly ahead.
"I hope you're ready to present your case before all of Remnant."
His eyes closed.
He chuckled.
"Well, I'd better be, hadn't I?"
A focus on Ruby kicking butt in Vale, before switching to Atlas.
No Ozpin or Ozma this chapter.
Not much to say here as I'm still trying to finish up all our business work before the Christmas break-up period. It's amazing how much disruption two weeks off work provides, especially when you're trying to organise an event because your assistant quit in panic without doing any of it, despite claiming she was ahead of schedule.
Yay!
Next Chapter: 6th December
P a treon . com (slash) Coeur