Has still done no Christmas shopping. Panic time?
As noted in other fics, I'll be having a week off at Christmas. This story will update on the 13th and 20th, but not on the 27th. It will continue normally from the 3rd January onwards. If in doubt, always refer to date at bottom of chapter.
Troll still in reviews impersonating people. Ignore.
Beta: College Fool
Cover Art: Kegi Springfield
Chapter 95
"This is Lisa Lavender-"
"Political correspondents from across Remnant are tuned into-"
"Here with our resident expert to talk about-"
"-all watching the Atlas Council meeting with bated breath."
"News just in that the Crown Prince of the Grimm has arrived."
"But will it be peace, or empty words?"
"Bringing you up-to-date news-"
"Commenting live, as it happens-"
"But first, a message from our sponsors."
/-/
The Atlas Council chambers seemed designed in such a way as to intimidate anyone speaking in the centre. Rather than an open room with people at as equals, it more resembled a gladiatorial arena, circular in nature with numerous booths of varied height, an individual – sometimes two – sat in each.
The ground floor was reserved for what seemed to be an equal mix of the media and Atlas soldiers, most of which stood at attention, backs against the wall. There was a small cordoned off area that news crews stood behind, filming silently. No reporters this time, likely to prevent their voices or questions speaking over the Council.
Of the Council itself, all were in attendance. There was a mixture of figures from the military, business and other backgrounds. Jaune wasn't sure which ones had voting power or how many – most had to be advisors – but there was certainly a lot of faces watching him from every conceivable angle. More than a few glared. He wasn't human to these people. Never human.
A part of him regretted coming but he steeled himself. Atlas would never make a decision otherwise, and the longer that happened without him carrying through on his threat, the more people would realise he wasn't about to attack. A bluff only worked so long as it wasn't called.
Dealing with their hate would just have to be another part of that.
"Miss Schnee will have to stay here," Ironwood said once they were inside the council chambers. "She can watch and wait from the side, but if you want to address the council, then it has to be you doing so. The media… we couldn't hope to keep them out indefinitely. Better to have them here on their best behaviour. It would be worse otherwise."
"I'll be fine," Jaune lied. He shot Weiss a pleading look but there was nothing she could do. She nodded briefly back – a sign of belief, trust or just confirmation that he was totally screwed. It was hard to tell.
Mom never really prepared me for public speaking, he thought, looking out over those watching him. Conquest, parenthood, production of grandchildren, those things she put effort into, but the closest he'd ever had to formal speaking training was his dad's advice that all one needed was confidence. He couldn't tell if that fit here, but lacking anything else, he figured he could at least pretend he was confident.
This was probably karma for dumping Ruby in front of everyone in Vale.
"Ahem," someone – a tall and wiry man in a fanciful uniform – coughed loudly, "Might the esteemed members of the Council of Atlas return to their seats as the session continues." He held a firm pose as the noise died down, Ironwood being the only one who had to return to his seat. Once the General was down, the man continued, "The Council of Atlas is now in session. The Council recognises Jaune Salem Arc," the man paused to wince, but through sheer force of effort managed to say, "The Crown Prince of the Grimm."
The title earned some noise, which was a little odd. Had they really not realised who he was? Jaune had assumed his face had been splashed across Remnant by now but judging from the surprise of some of the councillors, and the fear, such wasn't the case.
"General ironwood," one called, "What possessed you to bring a monster into our august council chambers?"
"Diplomacy, Councillor." Ironwood's voice was stern and uncompromising.
"And since when do we negotiate with terrorists and Grimm?" The man, an overweight and red-faced figure with balding hair, slammed his fist down on the armrest of his chair. "We, the proud Kingdom of Atlas, who has stood at the forefront of the battle against the Grimm since history began, will not lower ourselves to speak to such a person as though we were equals. It is an affront against our nation, our people, our-"
"Atlas hasn't stood that long," Jaune interrupted.
The man froze. "What!? How dare you!"
"It's the truth. Atlas, if you include when you were Mantle, has only stood for a couple of hundred years. Around six or seven, I think." World history had been one of the few topics his mom taught him personally, mostly because she was old enough to remember it all. "Before then, you were called something else, and there have been loads of Kingdoms before you, so it's not `since history began` but more for a while."
The Councillor who had spoken spluttered angrily, growing even redder in the face. He looked like he might explode from fury alone, but another interrupted in a calmer voice. The thin man's smile was neutral, his eyes lazy and his face long, like a Nucklelavee's.
"While that may technically be true, I think it misses the point of the Councillor's question. The `why` we should speak to you remains. Leaving aside the fact you are Grimm, you are also, I believe, only the Prince of your so-called Kingdom."
"So-called?"
"It has hardly been officiated. The Grimmlands are considered wasteland. There is nothing of value there, let alone-"
"Actually," a new voice interrupted, "There is quite a bit of value there."
The man paused. "Jacques Schnee. You are not, I believe, a member of this Council."
"No. But Councillor Simmens asked me to stand in for him. As a good friend, I found the time to attend."
Jaune doubted very much it was a request from this Simmens person so much as one by Jacques himself, and he was sure everyone else was thinking the same. Ironwood rolled his eyes and a few others mumbled under their breath.
"Either way," Jacques continued, "The Grimmlands boasts some of the largest dust reserves in Remnant, and the SDC has already formed an agreement to help the Grimmlands mine it. As such, I'd say the Grimmlands holds much value."
"There are more important things than profit, Schnee."
"Not just profit, Councillor. You are, of course, aware that dust supplies are running out globally. It is becoming more and more difficult to extend further into territory ruled by the Grimm, and the populations of the Kingdoms are at breaking point. Dust prices have skyrocketed, and the White Fang's actions hardly helped. This is not as good for us as it sounds," Jacques explained, "After all, expensive dust is unaffordable dust."
"Agreeing to work with the Grimm," the large Councillor from before growled. "Have you no pride? Where is your patriotism? You're playing a dangerous game here, Jacques Schnee."
"I believe I will be fine, Councillor. After all, I am not the one insulting the Crown Prince of the Grimm." To Jaune's surprise, Jacques nodded down towards him. "I have had the pleasure of speaking to your Uncle. Watts, I believe. An intelligent man. I believe he and I shall be working together to build a facility to mine and refine dust in your Kingdom."
No doubt thanks to Weiss. Jaune nodded back but said nothing.
"You over-extend, Mr Schnee," someone yelled, standing. "Making deals with rogue nations and unsanctioned bodies, let alone ones that threaten Atlas. That's treason!"
"My legal teams assure me it is not. If you would care to test them, however, then by all means, do so."
"This is a diversion from the main point of this meeting," the thin Councillor from before said, bringing things back in line. "We are not here to discuss the SDC's latest business dealings, whomever they might be with. We are here to discuss the aggression shown by the Grimm and how we might deal with it. And, of course, why the Council should consider giving in to the frankly threatening demands of this individual."
"Threatening?" Jaune asked.
"You have threatened to attack us, young man," he said condescendingly. The Councillor smiled towards the cameras, which were still running. "What would you call it?"
He was playing it up, Jaune realised. The news teams were broadcasting this all over Remnant, which meant how he acted was just as important as anything he said or did. His first instinct was to shout at how unfair the Council was being, how immature after they had attacked first.
But if he did, he'd look like a child.
That had to be what Weiss' stern expression was saying. Remember what I've taught you. Be calm. Be in control. You are not Jaune Arc, student of Beacon. You are Jaune Arc, Crown Prince of the Grimm.
"I would call my response a measured and diplomatic one," Jaune said, with a calmness he didn't feel.
The Council laughed.
"Is that so?" the larger one said. "Oh my, how reasoned. Sending the Grimm, threatening us, making demands. Your words are nice and soft, but they ring hollow. You are nothing more than a bully and a brute using his strength to demand obedience. Atlas has stood against your kind since its inception. It will continue to do so."
There was a spattering of applause for the impassioned words. Jaune waited for it to die down, knowing that to try and speak now would just mean he'd be clapped over. He'd look like an idiot out of his depth.
Which he was, but still…
Once the applause was over, Jaune spoke, "I would still say that my actions were measured and diplomatic. However, that's more in context. My actions are reactions, after all. Reactions to your aggressive attack on our home."
"That is not what is being discussed here," the wiry Councillor began.
"I think it is," Jaune interrupted. "You can't talk about our actions without talking about what prompted them." He kept one eye on the Councillor, the other on the newscasters, trying to judge their reactions. The cameras were all focused on him now. "We wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for Atlas sending an unmanned battleship to our home. If you hadn't attacked us, attempted to kill us, and kidnapped one of our own as a result. One that you continue to keep here as your prisoner."
The lead Councillor tugged at his collar and ran a hand over his brow. There wasn't much in the way of denying it, not without people asking just how they'd come to have Yang as a prisoner if he tried.
"I think that if one Kingdom invaded another and kidnapped a family member from its leader, that the first Kingdom would go to war to win them back. I've come with words, though." Jaune let his hands fall to his side, showing that they were empty. No hidden weapons. "I think that speaks for my measured response. It's more than your own."
He doubted they'd accept that, of course. But Weiss had already told him that he didn't need to win over the council members. In fact, he probably couldn't. The trick was winning over the people watching this, who would then through weight of numbers force the hands of the Council itself. These were, for the most part, elected officials.
"We cannot have taken aggressive actions against you have, by your own admission, stayed hidden until now." The Councillor smiled cockily. "If we had known there were sentient individuals there, we would have naturally not taken such a course of action."
Sure. And the armada of AI-controlled killer robots had been a coincidence.
"Does that mean Atlas regrets the attack?" Jaune asked.
It was a challenge. If they said yes, it would imply weakness in Atlas, that they were as capable of mistakes as everyone else. On the other hand, if they said no then they'd come across as being unrepentant warmongers. The very thing they were trying to paint him as.
After some near-silent deliberation, the man who Jaune had come to assume was the spokesperson for the Council answered. "The motivations for certain actions ought to be weighed on the basis of what knowledge was available. It's unfair to suggest Atlas regret the decision, when it was made – at worst – with innocence, and at best with respect and regard for all sentient life."
"But hindsight is twenty-twenty. You can comment on it now."
The man scowled, but quickly replied, "Had we known what we do now then, we would not have sanctioned the operation. I believe that is a fair and just answer."
A fair and just dodging of the question.
That was fine.
"In that case, you should be happy to release Yang Xiao-Long to me."
The man paused. "Excuse me?"
"You've said that the same decision wouldn't be made if you had the knowledge you do now, so that means that even if you don't regret it, you recognise that it was a course of action Atlas did not want to take. That's good news. It means you didn't intentionally declare war on us."
"There has been no formal declaration of war. That is true. Such an eventuality is one best avoided."
"I couldn't agree more," Jaune said. "Hence why I'm here. But now that you've basically established that this is all a huge misunderstanding, you can prove it by releasing the girl that you accidentally kidnapped."
"Ah." The Councillor froze, realising how he'd been trapped.
Jaune grinned viciously. That was their mistake, really. They'd probably thought he'd come here with huge aims, big dreams and all sorts of ridiculous concessions to try and force down their mouths. As such, they'd prepared for that. They'd worked to make Atlas look like the victim here, the victim of a misunderstanding, a simple mistake.
Well, that worked both ways.
"I'll be happy to call of the Grimm threatening Atlas if you do," Jaune went on breezily, talking more to the cameras and the public of Atlas than the Council. "An attack on us marks clear aggression, but I'm prepared to believe the Council if they say it was an error based on limited information. Perhaps we're even to blame for staying hidden for so long. If so, I'll accept the fault for that as well. You can just hand over my wife and I'll return home. We can discuss other matters at a future date, but we can put all the current nastiness behind us."
Essentially, give him Yang and save everyone.
The Councillors would come out looking like heroes, the people would love them, Atlas would rest easy knowing that it was no longer under proverbial siege, and not a single shot would be fired.
All they had to do was give up their bargaining chip and prove to the world at large that the Crown Prince of the Grimm was a reasonable man who could be negotiated with, and who would always honour his promises.
Win-win for both sides. As long as the Council was being honest, which, obviously, they weren't.
"That is not a matter so easily covered-" the Councillor tried.
"I think it is," he interrupted, smiling pleasantly. "I mean, you just admitted that you didn't think there was any sentient life in the Grimmlands, which means you coming back with someone who is sentient was a complete accident. A fluke. An unexpected result."
"Yes, but-"
"But what?" Jaune asked, feigning curiosity. "Is there a reason you want to keep one of our citizens, my wife, prisoner? She's not one, is she? It would be very strange to accidentally find a person in an area you bombed and throw them in a cell. That would be… well, I'm not sure it would fit the rule of law."
"It would not," Jacques said softly. "I do not think I need to contact my solicitors to ask that."
"Mr Schnee, please be silent," the Councillor snapped. "Mr Arc, it is not quite that simple. The speci- Yang Xiao-Long is being kept not as a prisoner, but for her own protection. It is not quite as simple a matter as releasing her immediately."
"Oh?" Jaune let his left hand fall to his side, brushing away his frankly cumbersome royal cloak to reveal his sword. "And why is that? I'd have thought you'd be eager to let an innocent woman return to her family."
"That is… It is…" The man swallowed, eyes flicking between the cameras and his scroll. It seemed he was keeping up with the live news, and it presumably was turning against him. "I believe we should adjourn briefly to discuss the matter."
Jaune crossed his arms. "I don't think we should. I came here to get a decision. No more delays."
The man saw a chance to push the blame back onto him. "Is that a threat?"
"No. It's a promise. If you say my wife isn't a prisoner, then I want to see her. Now."
"That isn't-"
"If you say that isn't possible or a simple affair, I'll not be happy," Jaune said. "It's as simple as escorting her from wherever she is kept to here. We're already talking about her. I'm sure the Council – and the rest of Remnant – would like to hear her words as well." He grinned and let his cloak fall back over his sword. "If you'd say no, I'd ask a specific reason why you can't. If I knew she was coming, though, I'd be happy to have a break until she's here. I won't make you all sit here while she's being escorted all this way, after all."
Time they'd use to scheme and try to find a way to turn this on him, but that was fine. Right now, he just wanted to make sure Yang was okay. Once he had her in front of him, he could try and push for more. Whatever happened, he wasn't leaving alone.
"I believe she can be brought here to speak," the Councillor finally surrendered, glowering at the thought of being made to give anything away. "General Ironwood, would you care to handle this? The Council will adjourn until she has arrived."
Ironwood nodded. He wore a small smile. "Of course, Councillor. I shall be back within the hour."
"Ahem." The one who had started it all, the crier who had remained silent, coughed once more. "By the instruction of the Council, this session is to be adjourned. Conference rooms shall be provided for those who desire them. Thank you."
Jaune nodded and stepped back towards Weiss, savouring the slow nod she gave him. He'd done well.
He knew it from how furious the Councillors were.
/-/
"Hey!"
She kept her eyes on the screen.
"Hey!"
Her teeth clenched together.
"Hey Cinder!"
Deep breaths. Deep breaths.
"Hey! Hey Cinder! Cinder, hey! Hey!"
Her patience snapped like an elastic band stretched several miles too far. Cinder whirled, eyes quite literally aflame, and her fist on fire as well. "What, Tyrian?" she hissed. Seethed. "What could possibly be bothering you so much that you must pester me so!?"
Tyrian paused. He didn't flinch. The idiot wouldn't flinch if a Bullhead crashed into him.
Instead, he slowly tilted his head to the side. "Really? Well, I'm not sure I want to tell you if you're going to be this snappy."
"Snappy!?"
"Snappy, angry, pissy." Tyrian picked at his chin. "Take your pick."
Cinder drew in a deep breath in an effort to calm herself. It didn't do much of that. She let it go, deflating, cringing as Nicholas and Ozma – bloody Ozma himself – looked their way. She ducked her head behind the couch, trying to avoid notice.
It was a little strange being in the same house as a guy whose school you'd attacked.
Oh, and she'd murdered him.
Talk about awkward.
"Tyrian, you leapt out of a Bullhead that you were piloting, crashing it into the forest outside of Haven, robbing us of our only method of getting back to the Grimmlands," she hissed, keeping her voice low, "You left us with no way of getting back to society, seeing as we could hardly stay in Haven or go to Mistral after what happened with Lionheart!"
She fixed him with a piercing glare.
"As a result, we were forced to traipse through the wilderness for what felt like weeks, cut off from hot food, running water, electricity and even Salem!"
"I am never cut off from my Goddess," Tyrian said, making a strange sign against his chest. "She is with me always."
"Well, wonderful for you!" she growled. "But that doesn't do much to forgive you for forcing me to go without hot water, proper food and electricity for a week and a half! And now you pester me? What do you have to say for yourself?"
Tyrian considered the question carefully.
"Is it your time of the month?"
"RARGHHHH!"
Tyrian dodged the fireball that would have killed him. It hit a potted plant instead, setting the shrub on fire.
"Cindy!" Nicholas rebuked. "Put that fire out right now, young girl."
Cinder cringed and did as asked. "My apologies."
"My apologies, what?" Nicholas prompted.
"My apologies, Nicholas."
A sigh. "You can call me father, you know. Or Dad."
No. No, she could not. Not and maintain any vestige of her pride. Tyrian, the unrepentant bastard, was grinning at her, clearly pleased to have landed her in trouble. He'd pay for that later, preferably when Nicholas wasn't looking.
"They're good kids, but so wild," he said.
"I'm not sure I would refer to them as children," Ozma said.
"It's all relative."
It really wasn't, but already being in the doghouse, Cinder wasn't about to argue.
Tyrian giggled. "I'll take that as a yes on the time of the month."
"You gods-damned idiot!" Cinder hissed. "And yes, sanitary tools were just one of the many luxuries I've had to go without thanks to your bumbling lunacy. You jumped out of a Bullhead you were piloting!"
"To be fair, you did that first," he pointed out.
"I WAS NOT THE PILOT!" Cinder winced again when Nicholas coughed. "Sorry, Nicholas."
"It's alright, sweetie."
Brr. Cinder shivered.
"And worse still, you cut me off from Salem and Jaune at a time when they needed me most," she whispered. "Now look what's happening!" She gestured to the screen. "World peace. World bloody peace. This is a travesty."
"It is," Tyrian agreed, "They should be bowing down in subservience, not thinking themselves equal."
"Not to mention I've half the maiden's powers and no idea what to do with them."
"Eh, I was never sure what we were doing with them anyway."
"W-What?" Cinder stared at him, open mouthed. "We were after the Relics, obviously!"
"Yeah, but… why? Our Goddess is already immortal. There was no one that could stop her. Literally the only thing that could go wrong would be the four Relics being brought together, and only because those Gods would have come back and killed everyone." Tyrian rolled his eyes at what he considered `lesser gods` to his beloved Queen. "So, if that's the only thing that could stop her, why did we want to gather them? We could have just left them where they were."
Cinder opened her mouth to immediately answer, and then closed it a second later.
"That's… well… it was more of a preventative measure," she said. "After all, we'd have been in trouble if Ozma or the humans gathered them."
"Yeah, but that would have still destroyed the world. I don't think they could call that a win. Besides, we literally only need one maiden to stop that, yet you wanted go after the Spring Maiden, too. Not to mention probably the Summer and Winter ones after."
"Yes, and I'd have gotten her too if it wasn't for-" Cinder cut off quickly.
Tyrian had no mercy. "That meddling Jaune and his pet dragon?"
"I did not say that."
"You were about to."
"I can and will immolate you." She summoned a tiny flame to prove the threat, but snuffed it out when Tyrian opened his mouth, obviously about to tattle on her. "You're so immature," she hissed. "I shouldn't be here. I should be there, with him, or with Salem. I should be hunting down the maidens – and I don't care for how little that makes sense, damn it. Maybe I just want power. Maybe Salem just hates the word `maiden` and wants them all scrubbed out. Who even knows why Ozma made them in the first place. It's all nonsense!"
"I heard that," Ozma spoke up. "And I've made many mistakes." He coughed in embarrassment. "Not all were of the deep and meaningful kind. Some were just… well, mistakes…"
"You thought giving superhuman powers to four girls with the proviso that it would randomly pass on to the last person they were thinking of when they died, was a good idea?" Nicholas asked. "And you put an age limit in of thirty for some reason?"
"It made sense at the time."
"How?"
Ozma waved his hand evasively. "You really had to be there to understand."
"And what is he doing here at all?" Cinder yelled, losing her patience once more. This time when Nicholas frowned at her, she shook her head. "No, I'm not being dramatic. He is the literal enemy. He shouldn't be playing chess with the Queen of the Grimm's husband."
"Cinder, my son is making steps towards peace. Shouldn't we do the same?"
"NO!" She stomped a foot down. "W-What am I supposed to do? I can't just stop doing what I've been doing. What would be the point of it?"
Nicholas thought for a moment. "You could become a musician?"
Cinder almost pulled her hair out in frustration.
This was a travesty. A tragedy. Their plans, her plans, Salem's plans, they were all… Jaune was killing them all. And here she was, stuck in Ansel, hundreds of miles away, unable to do a damn thing about it other than watch it on the television, pout and try to find creative ways to murder Tyrian without getting in trouble for it.
After that? She wasn't even sure. If Salem had her way, she'd no doubt be married with children before the decade was out.
Was it too late to get lost in the wilderness again?
/-/
"Be honest," Jaune requested.
"It was okay," Weiss said, being as brutal as requested. "You did come across a little forward at times, and your language definitely didn't hold up to theirs, but maybe that would work in your favour. You sounded more common."
"Not fancy enough?"
"Essentially. However, that may endear you to the masses. It's hard to say. I believe you managed to get the crux of our point across, that their incarceration of Yang is unlawful. You managed to force their hand as well, which is an overall net positive."
Jaune reclined in the seat provided and sighed. "I'm sensing a but here."
"But," Weiss confirmed, "You need to be aware that this isn't over by any means. Even if they free Yang, we're still trapped in the middle of Atlas. If they decide we are war criminals, they can act to have us arrested or, if we resist, gunned down."
He gripped the armrest. "They can try…"
"They can, and they might. And we might escape, and they might suffer great losses, but all of that is going to work against you in the long run, even if none of us are killed. Murdering one's way out of a Kingdom does not a family-friendly image present."
Ugh. Right. Jaune groaned and took his hand off his sword. Really, it felt like ages since he'd been able to swing it around. There was a subtle irony in him being one of the most physically powerful people around, but constantly being trapped in situations where brute strength or tentacles wouldn't fix anything.
"The public opinion so far seems to be mixed – which I realise I've said a lot, but mixed is good, especially considering that the knee-jerk reaction was fear, hatred and anger. There are a lot of people who still don't know whether they can trust you or not, but the comments here are… I suppose you'd say, sympathetic. Even if they don't necessarily like you, they're asking why Atlas thought it was a good idea to poke the rapier wasp's nest and draw your ire. There's also a lot of relief going on, which ought to put some pressure on the Council to play ball with Yang's freedom."
It all sounded good, but Jaune listened and didn't interrupt. Weiss was giving him the good as well as the bad, and she knew a lot more about politics than he did.
"Good is not perfect, however, and the Council is going to try and work it around. Change it to their favour. Your main goal should be to avoid them finding a case to present you as the villain, in simple terms. Continue to portray yourself – and Yang – as wholesome individuals, and they'll struggle to paint you as the bad guys."
"Even though most people hate the Grimm?"
"Neither you nor Yang have much in the way of characteristics that make you look like Grimm. If you have in with your transformed state, I imagine it would be bad. But the average person hasn't seen this, and all they can see is a young man who looks a little stupid, but nice enough, who is trying to rescue his girlfriend."
"Stupid but nice enough?"
Weiss shrugged. "You asked me to be brutally honest."
"About my speaking, Weiss. Not my face…"
"My apologies." She didn't sound sincere. "Either way, Yang is going to be an issue there. Her arm-"
"Our son."
"Your son," she amended, "Is not… subtle…"
"And Yang is?"
"No. Neither of them are. That is my concern. Well, it's not one we can plan for since they won't let us see her before she arrives. Just be prepared to step in to make sure she doesn't get angry, say anything she shouldn't or… well, act like herself."
"You're acting like she's a ticking time bomb."
Weiss raised an eyebrow.
"Okay. Point taken."
A knock on the door interrupted them. It opened a moment later, presenting a face Jaune had neither expected nor really wanted to see. Weiss neither, judging from her quickly-concealed frown.
"May I?" Jacques Schnee asked, not even waiting for a response before he let himself in and moved for a chair.
"Sure," Jaune said, equally needless. He didn't know the man but knew enough about him from Weiss. Little good. Then again, he had been a help. "Thank you for your words in the council chamber," he said. Gratitude where it was due. "I didn't expect you to be there."
"You're not the only one," Jacques said with a chuckle. "I had to call in a favour to attend, and quite a costly one. Still, I would not miss this for all the dust in the Kingdom. This is a pivotal moment in Remnant's history, a defining instance. It is important we all play a part."
"To ensure the SDC and the Schnee family comes out on the right side of this moment," Weiss drawled.
"Indeed." Jacques showed no shame at being called out for such self-serving aims. Perhaps he felt it was not something to be ashamed of. "We are not followers, Weiss. You know this. You were the leader of your team, and now an advisor to the young prince here, as is Winter to General Ironwood. Even away from the family, a Schnee is still a Schnee."
Weiss hummed something that could have, if one were being generous, been taken as agreement. Jacques certainly took it as that, though that might have been his own particular brand of narcissism. If he truly believed he could do no wrong, then Weiss disagreeing with him must surely be a fallacy.
"Weiss has been a great aid," Jaune said diplomatically. "I wouldn't be where I am now without her."
"Good. I'm pleased you know where praise is due. It does no good to rule over those beneath you with too hard an iron fist. Sometimes, the carrot is needed as much as the stick."
Jaune grimaced. "Yeah…"
"That said, I think my daughter has a lot more to offer."
Jaune paused. "She does?"
Weiss' eyes narrowed. "I do?"
"A wise leader often needs a tempering hand to stop them, someone to offer advice and caution, to help tame reckless decisions."
"That's what Weiss does already."
"I was thinking something of a more personal nature," Jacques said.
Weiss appeared to choke on her breath.
Jaune was puzzled. "I'm not sure what you mean."
"May I speak frankly?" Jacques asked.
"N-No," Weiss wheezed.
"Sure," Jaune said.
"I am suggesting a marriage proposal."
Weiss gurgled.
Ah. Jaune had been accused of being an idiot on more than one occasion – and would admit to most of those cases – but he was fairly sure he had Weiss' thoughts on that proposal right. Which was to say that if he did anything other than turn it down, he'd have his spinal column replaced with a dust rapier.
"Mr Schnee, I'm already married." Or not, really, but it was something he'd considered, and he and Yang were dating. "I'm committed," he amended. "Weiss is a lovely woman. She's beautiful, graceful and-"
Weiss' expression said that if he didn't dial back the compliments, she would eviscerate him.
"-but I'm taken. I'm happy with Yang."
"Yes," Weiss said, coughing. She was a little red in the face, though the smart man's lien would have been on it being anger over embarrassment. "There you have it, father. It simply wouldn't work out. A Schnee is not a homewrecker."
"Weiss need not be," Jacques said, ignoring his daughter altogether. "It's not unusual for a King to take multiple wives, or concubines. A ruler needs a wise hand at his side. Weiss can be all that and more."
"Since when is it not unusual to take more wives?" Jaune asked hysterically. "Where in Remnant is that a thing?"
"Menagerie."
"That's… not entirely accurate." And Blake would have clawed the man's face off for suggesting such an ignorant thing.
"It's not something unseen in history and, as you said, the Grimmlands is a very old Kingdom. No one could argue if you had certain customs that you follow, even if those may appear unusual to other people."
"I'm sorry, sir. I'm not making up a law to marry your daughter."
"Think it over," Jacques said with a little smile. "Talk about it. I'm sure Weiss will win you over in time." He let out a breath and placed his hands on the armrest. "Until then, I really must go. Know that the Schnee family supports your endeavours and will aid you as we can. In turn…"
"The Grimm will avoid your mining operations," Jaune promised.
"Thank you. It's a pleasure to do business with you."
Jacques let himself out with just a little too smug of a smile. No doubt he would boast later of how he single-handedly protected the SDC and all its assets from not only the White Fang, but the Grimm as well. The worst part was that it wouldn't necessarily be an incorrect statement, even if it was more Weiss' achievement than his.
Speaking of Weiss…
"So…"
"No," Weiss growled. "We will not speak of this."
He swallowed. "Understood."
"I will not be winning you over, and you will not make mention of this to Yang, Ruby or Blake." Weiss eyes narrowed, and she rounded on him. "And certainly not your mother! If she hears, she'll have the law set in place before the night is out!"
"I won't tell anyone. Promise!"
Weiss fixed him with a deadly stare to test if he'd waver. Whatever she saw in his eyes, she accepted with a grunt. "Good. Bad enough I had to pretend to be your girlfriend. I will not become your wife. Not after what it's gotten Yang."
"Hey, that's unfai-"
Another knock on the door.
"Oh, for crying out loud," Jaune groaned. "I swear, this better not be someone else trying to convince me to marry their daughter."
When the door cracked open, Jaune's heart froze. "Not quite," an ominous voice said, "Though it's funny you should mention marriage and daughters. So funny. HA. HA!" Taiyang Xiao-Long spoke the words. He did not laugh them. "Marriage, daughters and pregnancy. Very interesting. Very."
At Taiyang's feet, a tiny bundle of grey fur growled threateningly.
Weiss stood. "I believe I need to use the restroom. Don't let me keep the two of you."
"Weiss, no!" he hissed. "Teams stick together!"
"When nature calls, Jaune, it calls." Weiss glanced at the furious huntsman and winced. "Right now, it's calling."
She fled.
Jaune winced.
"Fuck me…"
So, I'm not expecting this to end before Christmas anymore. I am expecting it to end in January, so not much further on. Just me realising that there's only a few weeks left and a few threads to iron out. Still not prepared. Panic now? I think so, yes.
Next Chapter: 13th December
P a treon . com (slash) Coeur