Too long. Far, far too long since the last chapter. I'm really sorry about that, irritatingly, life gets in the way were you don't have enough time for everything.
If I was better at managing a schedule this would have been updated far quicker, as it is, all I can say is that I managed to get this new chapter out now. Hopefully, it is at least up to par with the previous ones, though considering how long the time between this and the last I'm not sure.
Hopefully you'll enjoy it either way.
Again, I'm sorry for the wait.
…
Blake peered out Weiss bedroom window down onto the path leading through the estate. There were lanterns lighting the path, and with her vision she could make out the figures and the telltale signs of what they were.
It looked like the nobility had arrived.
There were…. A lot more than she'd expected. Carriages upon carriages lines with horses and men. Banners above each of them with unique symbols. They were like Weiss' snowflake.
She knew that was supposed to mean something but as for the what and why Blake couldn't be sure.
Still, it looked like a small army had arrived, though each group surrounding the banners had different colours. There were about forty variations from what she could see so far, and well over a thousand soldiers.
She didn't like it. too many humans with weapons.
There was a click behind her and the Faunus turned to see Weiss hurry into the room.
The Schnee saw her by the window and gasped.
"Why aren't you changed yet?" she asked worriedly. "We don't have much time left!"
Weiss didn't stop moving as she said it, practically running (as much as someone could in heels) over to her wardrobe.
Blake blinked. "What are you doing?"
"Getting my dress!"
"But… what about the one you have on?"
"It's hardly party material. It's too plain."
She stared at Weiss' back. Too plain? It was white embodied silk, how was that in any way plain?"
"Well what about that one?" the Faunus asked, pointing to the outfit laid out on the bed. it wasn't exactly a dress but-
"That's yours." The noble told her, still searching the wardrobe.
Blake's eyes widened. Hers? No way, it was far too… much.
It was a coat, a long coat reaching down to her ankles with sleeves concealing her hands. It had a high collar, and leather buckled straps wrapped around the waist.
And it was all white.
It got even worse when she saw the back of it and the massive snowflake branded onto the back of it.
Damn… this thing was… just damn.
At least she'd been given 'riding boots' as Port and called them they were a simple brown colour, and simple enough to be comfortable. That was maybe the only saving grace though. How did anyone think this much white in an outfit was okay?
"Go on," Weiss said. "Hurry up and put in on. Once I'm ready we'll be showing our faces to my guests."
Blake but her lip. Weiss was suggesting what she had for the last few nights. That Blake shouldn't concern herself with disrobing in front on her.
She did of course, even as a slave she had the knowledge to know that the act of seeing someone without clothes on was something not done between strangers.
And especially not the two of them.
Instead Blake went into the smaller room connected to Weiss' bedchamber. It was… what she called a bathing room. Which was amazing to Blake considering that being in a bath was one of the most relaxing things she'd ever done; to think nobles had things like that on a whim!
Anyway, she was going off in a tangent now. She went into the bathroom, closed it behind her and got dressed.
The outfit fit surprisingly well for the first time… had they somehow gotten her measurements?
She shivered. Maybe she shouldn't think about that.
The white cloak went on last, and Blake got a chance to look at her reflection in the wall mirror.
She looked alright she'd admit. It was strange. It had been less than a month, but Blake was sure that if her slave self-right out of the mines could see her now she wasn't sure she'd recognise her.
Still a slave.
Blake reminded herself. Her eyes flicked to the black collar on her neck, still visible unless she made a conscious effort to hide it.
Her fingers glided over the front of it, over the Schnee mark. She was still owned by Weiss.
She scowled at her reflection, annoyed that she'd forgotten that for a moment.
Were clothes and nice food all it took to make her some obedient tool?
No. they weren't.
She scowled again but this time for the opposite reason.
Blake closed her eyes and took a breath. She needed to calm down. There was no sense getting worked up about it now. Especially not now, with all of these nobles here. If she so much as annoyed one of them too much she didn't doubt she'd be punished for it.
Or worse.
With another sigh she turned back to the door and opened it, stepping back into the bedroom.
She stopped when she say the noble girl.
A blue dress that reached all the way down darker at the top and lighter at the bottom, but with an opening at one side.
It… looked good on her Blake realised. It matched her eyes.
The noble noticed her gaze a moment later and turned to her with a nod. "Good, you're ready. Come then, let's not waste any more time."
With that Blake followed quietly behind down the hallway. She wasn't entirely sure what this was supposed to be like. The room hosting it would be the ballroom(for whatever reason there as to have a ballroom) and Blake had only been in there once or twice as she travelled through the mansion.
Eventually though, they came to a door with servants on both sides. they say them coming and opened them.
Blake stared at the scene in front of her:
They were on a balcony with rounding stairs on both sides and a marble railing. Below were the nobility talking and laughing among themselves with drinks already in hand.
Yep, definitely a lot of them, too many for Blake to count right away. Along the sides Weiss' guards stood to attention.
Weiss rested her hands on the railings as Blake stood behind her, just out of their vision. She jumped slightly when the sound of a bell rang out, and all eyes turned to their host.
"Welcome," she greeted in a measured tone. "It is a pleasure to invite you all into my home to convene. Now I am aware that I am perhaps considered an outsider here," she smiled sweetly, and Blake could tell instantly it was more than a little fake. "But I hope you will welcome me all the same. For now, enjoy this gathering, there is much to do."
The Faunus blinked. That had sounded…
"Are you coming Blake?" Weiss asked, already at the foot of the stairs.
She nodded and followed quickly behind.
They made there way down and Blake's eyes flicked back and forth.
Servants moved around quickly, weaving in and out of the crowds of nobles that had formed. They served food and drinks constantly and Blake had to stop herself from drooling at the sights and smells.
That wasn't the only thing that stopped her of course.
Some of them were looking at Weiss, and at her.
She hoods were down and her ears were in clear view. They helped her heard the hushed whispers.
"A Faunus? What is something like that doing here? So close to lady Schnee as well."
She winced, but when she looked at Weiss, all she saw how she held her head high and kept her back straight. She wasn't bothered by it. In fact, she looked like she was delighting in the extra attention
Blake was part of the show now was she?
Whatever. It didn't matter right now. All Blake needed to do was keep quiet and let these humans waste their breaths among themselves and she'd be fine.
Maybe after a while Weiss would let her go off and have some of the food for herself.
She wasn't paying much attention, so when Weiss stopped it was only her reflexes that stopped her from bumping into her.
There was someone in front of her, wearing an ugly smile.
"Lady Schnee," he bowed flamboyantly. "It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Ah, Lord Bronzewing. How are you?"
Blake held herself back from making a face. Bronzewing… seriously?
"Very well, thank you my lady. To be honest, when I was informed on the news that a Schnee would be taking residence in Vale I thought it might be your father, or perhaps your sister. It was a surprise to hear it would be you. This would be your first time away from Atlas would it not?"
"It would," she confirmed. "So far it has been a pleasant experience. Do not worry, if you expected action and competency from my father, you will receive the very same form me."
"Quite." He nodded, before straightening up a little. He made a little motion with his arm off to the left and smiled at Weiss again. "You have not met my son yet. This is Dove. Dove, this is Lady Schnee, the hostess of this lovely gathering."
Blake's eyes roamed up and down the new human, who took Weiss' hand in his own and bowed, kissing her knuckle.
Despite the weird greeting, she couldn't really find anything overly out of place about him. He had hair suiting his name – a bronze colour, and a rather plain looking face. He was dressed up in a puffy suit and tie that most of the men seemed to be wearing. Blake honestly didn't see the appeal.
What was it with nobility? For all their riches they didn't wear particularly practical clothing. Or maybe that was the point? She wasn't sure.
"Lady Schnee," he smiled, it was less ugly than his fathers, airing on the side more of dopey than anything else. "Thank you for inviting my family to this ball."
"Of course," she said. "You are the Scion of the Bronzewing line are you not? It would be remiss of me to not acknowledge you as such."
Oh she was good. Blake definitely wasn't experienced when it came to smooth talk, but even she could tell Weiss was really good at it.
That was proven even more when Dove flushed.
"A-ah! Thank you lady Schnee for your kind words. My family regrettably is not one of the pillars, so it is sometimes difficult to advance stature."
The white-haired girl chuckled lightly. "Well your thanks is appreciated. I see a future with us working closely together heir bronzewing."
He opened to mouth to say more, but his father calls him from the side. He hesitates for a moment before bowing and turning away, leaving Weiss and Blake alone once again.
The Faunus took the liberty to stand beside the Schnee.
"So… Pillars?"
"We really need to start going over what you do and don't know," Weiss sighed. "The Pillars are the titles given to the most powerful noble families. They're usually families with larger influence in the kingdoms, they're usually the oldest of the nobility lineage but there isn't any set limit on how many there can be. The Schnee family is one such line within Atlas."
"So who are the Pillars in Vale?"
"You're about to find out." Weiss muttered, low enough so that only she could hear it, right as a tall figure approached.
They were blonde, and if Blake was honestly, largely unimpressive. They were kind of scraggly and it looked like their hair had been carefully managed for hours only to mess itself up as soon as it was time to be in public.
So… she wasn't really concerned with him being a threat.
Blake allowed herself to doze off a little as he approached Weiss and introduced himself.
"Lady Shncee," he smiled nervously. "Uh, my name is Jaune Arc, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise," she nodded. "But don't worry, you don't need to introduce yourself we've met before."
The blonde blinked in confusion. "We have?"
"Yes, at the Festival of Iron. You were accompanying your oldest sister… you threw up."
The arc flushed with embarrassment and mumbled something about carriages and travel. Weiss' eyes widened and she waved her hands.
"Oh no it's fine, I can understand that some people can have little moments like that. It's nothing to be ashamed of my apologise for bringing it up."
He laughed lightly. "Well, I guess I shouldn't feel too bad, at least you invited me to your party, if I were you I'd be afraid to bring the vomiting noble into my home, especially with so many people around."
The Schnee smiled. "Well keep your stomach and I'll congratulate you on it."
Of course, after such a pleasant exchange someone had to come along and ruin it, this meant talking the form of a larger man, no, a teen. Blake couldn't see any facial hair that hinted at the telltale sign of aged nobility. The oldest he might have been was twenty but she expected it to be lower.
Although, it didn't really matter, because the cocky smirk on his face meant he wasn't in the mood to play nice.
"It's always like that though isn't it?" he laughed as he strode into the conversation. "and making a mess of things is practically commonplace now."
"I'm… sorry?" Weiss blinked.
The taller man shrugged. "You'll find out eventually, but even as a pillar the arcs don't have the sway to be useful."
"That's not the type of thing you say at a place like this." the blonde mumbled, Jaune, Blake would remember, if only to spite this arrogant noble who'd sauntered in. though maybe what she cared about didn't really compare to them at this point.
The taller male shot him a glare that he quickly stepped back from. Weiss was silent through the little exchange.
"Cardin Winchester I presume, my apologies, but we have only met your father once, and I haven't had the chance to meet you personally."
"Hmph, I know. My father told me about your little… display in Atlas."
Winchester's eyes flickered to Blake and he sneered.
"This is it then? It would have made a far better target. Why is it here? shouldn't it be in the stables?"
The Faunus bit the inside of her cheek, if only to prevent the insults she wanted to fire back. Weiss fortunately was there to vouch for her.
"Blake is under my employment. Her talents I thought would be best utilised as my bodyguard, as such that is her position here tonight."
"Bodyguard?"
Blake had had enough, quickly, she stepped closer to Weiss, ignoring the way the two nobles tensed as she did so. She didn't care, instead whispering into her ear:
"May I be excused for a moment. I won't be far, I need to speak to port."
Weiss' eyes flickered to the left, where said man was standing by the table serving wine. She nodded. "Very well, but should I need you, you are to come."
Blake nodded, and making sure to face Jaune more than the Winchester she bowed before turning away and stalking her way over to the other employed individual under Weiss.
She did her best to keep her back straight, though she could feel eyes boring into the back of her head.
"Well lass." Port greeted as she came close. "Seems you're stirring things up."
She blinked, not just at the casual greeting – which made her skin crawl – but his words. "What do you mean?"
He raised an eyebrow. "You can't tell? Come," he motioned for her to stand beside him at the table, and thinking of nothing to argue for, did so. "Look out at these Noble men and Noble ladies and tell me what you see."
She let out an annoyed breath. She wasn't in the mood for his games.s he was never in the mood for his games. She still participated though, if only for curiosities sake. Her eyes roamed over the gathering.
Men and women. Humans. Mingling, dancing, drinking and laughing.
Not actual laughing obviously, not like people should laugh, heartily and full of merry like some had in the mines to lift their -and her- spirits. No, when these humans laughed they were small things, concealed behind hands, or sneers and scoffs. They were this kinds ones, they were faked.
"Well?"
"Wh-huh?" she blinked, before realising she'd gotten distracted. "I um… don't see anything really, people talking, that's about it."
Port chuckled. "You're lucky to have me then, listen closely lass, this is something you'll need to learn for your occupation." Blake grunted, but listened as he nodded to the side. "You see those three? The ones ion the corner with the frilly blue dress shirts? They've been staring at Lady Schnee ever since you arrived with her. Those ones near the stairs whispering in hushed tones, making motions as if referring to animals, or the few that keep glancing at you every o often. You're interesting lass, Most of the nobility haven't ever heard of Faunus acting as anything more than servants, but an actual protector? That's bound to start rumours?"
He took a sip of wine. "That's what Ladt Schnee wants; for your appearance to generate talk. Excitement. It'll make things easier for her, if only because other Nobles will be interested to see if the rumours are true."
Blake's eyes narrowed. "So she's using me then? To get what she wants?"
The man blinked. "Of course she is. What do you expect?"
"I… what?"
"You're in service to Lady Schnee," he went on. "All of your actions should be for her benefit, every time you appear it should be to work in her good name. you have something that makes you interesting to strangers, your situation makes you useful."
Again he chuckled. "But honestly lass that's not what you should be concerning yourself with. It's nice and peaceful the first time around, but it's your job to see and treat everything around Lady Schnee as a threat. Those looks they've been giving you? Those whispers in the corner? You should be suspicious of them, trying to find out if they could harm the lady."
"You… think they would?"
"Of course!" Port laughed, and Blake flinched back at the frankness. "Life at high court is dangerous lass, more dangerous I dare say than even life on the battlefield sometimes. At least in war you can see the enemy in front of you, you know you have to defend yourself, but here?"
He shook his head, leaving the wine table and making his way over to a more secluded part of the room, into an empty hallway. Blake followed.
"Here it could be anything. This life is full of cloaks and daggers, liars and plotters. Any smile could be fake and any word could be a trap. You must be careful of how you act, what you say and when you say it. Every misstep could be perilous, the worst can lead to your downfall or the ruin of entire families."
He raised a glass of wine. "Ah, but for now you can relax I suppose. I've taken care of things on the security end and this is the time for learning." He chuckled. "We've done that, so I think now is the time to relax. Here."
He lifted another glass that she hadn't noticed filled with the same red liquid.
"Try some."
The Faunus blanched. "You want me to drink?"
"It's just wine." He laughed, but paused after a moment. "You do know what wine is don't you?"
"I do," she said. "It's just that it wasn't the kind of thing Faunus got try… I saw a few of the… the masters drink it in their downtime. The smell is a strange one I think."
Port hummed. "The more I hear about the mines lass the more confused I get."
She shot him a look. "What do you mean?"
"It doesn't matter, you're here now, so try it."
Blake hesitated a second longer, but seeing no reason not to she took the glass, tilting the wine into her mouth.
"Agh!"
She was coughing a second later, the drink spilling slightly from her lips. It was a miracle that it landed on the floor and not her clothes, she wasn't sure it would be a good idea to let Weiss see her with red stains on them.
"It burns!" she spluttered, causing Port to burst out laughing. "What is wrong with you nobles?! How can you even drink this?!"
"That's how you know it's good." he says, moustache twitching as he manages to calm himself down a little.
"Insane." Blake muttered, "You're all insane."
"Ah don't fret lass, we'll get you used to the taste some other time, next time you're not slacking off that is."
"Tch, bastard."
Port just laughed at that, and once again Blake shot him a look.
She did everytime he brushed off her words. Blake knew she wasn't an expert of noble etiquette, but even she could tell that if she'd said something like that to another soldier, noble or remnant forbid Wiess; she would be in a lot of trouble.
Port on the other hand acted like it was nothing.
She hadn't realised it the first time, mostly because she was furious at him for bloodying her nose, but no matter what insult or profanity she threw his way he took it in stride and a dash of good humour.
She'd insulted his face, his weight, his age, his lineage and pretty much everything else she could think of and he just continued training her.
Or, beating her down in training.
Maybe that was his payback, but she didn't think so. There was no malice behind it, and every time she managed to block a hit properly or dodge well enough he would compliment her for it.
Yes, she had decided. Port was strange.
That didn't mean she liked him though.
Imagining what it would feel like to stab him in his fat gut was enough to make her smile.
She couldn't wait for weapons training.
Those thoughts would have to wait for a moment though, as port nudged her and gestured back to the gathering.
"The lady is signalling for you." He told her. "Best not delay."
She sighed. Blake could already see Weiss, signalling to her once. The noble was surrounded by four other humans that she didn't recognise. The Jaune boy was still there a little to the side…
Well it wasn't like she had the choice to refuse, so she made her way over and remembered to bow when she got close.
"my lady." She greeted courteously, taking a page out of – bleh – Ports book.
"Oh my!" one of the noble ladies gasped suddenly. Blake's eyes flickered to her, but she didn't have a noteworthy face.
Of course she wore a dress that looked more expensive than any piece of clothing ever should have been, but Blake was starting to realise that was normal around these people.
She went on. "I didn't expect her to be so polite, you must have trained her well Lady Schnee."
Blake felt herself bristle at that. She wasn't a dog.
Weiss cut in before she had the chance to say something stupid.
"Actually my lady, my bodyguard is well equipped to follow instructions without such training. She is very intelligent I can assure you."
Blake managed to mask her surprise with another bow. Weiss thought she was intelligent? Hardly, the Schnee was still teaching her to read for goodness sake.
"I see." Another man said, looking at her with interest. "Lady Schnee, I feel like my curiosity is getting the better of me, but where exactly did you procure someone like this as to make them your personal defender?"
"The Mines."
"Oh!" it was the same woman, Blake was beginning to get annoyed with her now. She was treating the Faunus as if she was entertainment. "The Mines. They are the main contributors to Atlas' economy are they not?"
"They are," Weiss nods. "My father has gone to great lengths to ensure their success. I am quite proud of my family's success."
Again, the man turned to her. "So that would mean Lady Schnee purchased you from the mines correct? Could you tell us what it was like? I'm sure things were interesting."
"Ah!" Weiss blinked, turning to Blake. "I'll admit I was wondering the same. I was always curious how it worked down there myself. Could you tell us?"
Blake… hesitated. "I… don't think you'd want to know."
"Hm? Why not?"
"It's… not the sort of thing to talk about in front of guests my Lady."
Especially since she'd just said she was proud of her father's work.
But Weiss didn't seem to get the hint, flicking her hair back and smiling "Come now, I don't mind sating my curiosity in front of others. Now go on, tell us already."
Blake looked away. They were staring at her expectantly.
Again, like a show animal.
Something cold writhed in her stomach.
Fine, they wanted an answer did they? She'd give them one.
"it was cold." She said, turning back to them with a deadpan tone. "It was dark and it was dirty. Before I got out for good I only saw the sun three times. Faunus were weak, sick and hungry at the lower levels and the new ones were broken down when they arrived. The people in charge made games out of beating us, scaring us or tearing parts of us off if they got drunk enough."
A sneer made its way onto her face.
"People died all the time. My friends, people who looked after me were just a few of them. We were treated like animals and if anyone acted out they were punished like one. But worst of all was the actions. We heard about them; they happened once a month. They'd pick some of us to sell to nobles, usually when we made a mistake or upset them and the horror stories we somehow got back meant that every day we were afraid when the time came around again. It was hell, and I hated it."
She gasped for breath, realising that she'd hissed out every word.
Oh no. She'd said too much, she'd gone too far!
She looked up at them and swallowed.
They looked… shocked. As if they couldn't believe what she'd just told them.
But they didn't look horrified. It was as if they were listening to a story, something that wasn't real. They looked annoyed that she'd ruined a joke, or said something insulting.
The only one that looked horrified was that Jaune boy. In fact he looked rather pale.
Then her gaze turned to Weiss, and she flinched back.
She stared into cold blue, and she was afraid she might freeze.
"Come with me."
It was all Weiss said as she turned and stalked out of the hall. She didn't even excuse herself from her guests. Blake knew she was in trouble.
And she had to follow anyway.
She did so, and not a minute later the two of them were in an empty corridor. Weiss stood there with her arms crossed and stared at Blake.
"What was that."
Blake bit her lip. "I… don't know what you mean."
Weiss' teeth showed as she growled angrily. "Yes you do. What you said back there, those lies."
What?
"What!?" she echoed aloud.
"I said, what were those lies you told in front of my guests."
The feeling returned to her stomach, but this time, instead of cold there was fire.
"I didn't lie. You ordered me to tell them what life was like in the mines, so I did."
"You expect me to believe that?" the noble snarled. "You expect me to stand there while you slander my family name? we own those mines, and you paint us as monsters?"
"You honestly believe you're not?"
"WHAT!?"
Blake knew she should just shut her mouth. No matter what she said she'd just make it worse for herself. If she went too far Weiss might even-
"You stand there and act like you and your family are some great saints when you control the mines! Your family is one every Faunus knows and spits on. You put us down there to die. It's not slander, it's the truth!"
"How dare you!"
"How dare you!" Blake screamed. "How dare you think you have the right to be offended when you ruin peoples lives! You throw my people into holes where we go to work ourselves to the bone, waste away and die!" something burned at her eyes, something wet.
It was tears she realised.
"I was cut, bruised and beaten down there. I worked until my feet bled, until my arms gave out and I could barely stand up straight and at the end of it all I watched people who took care of me waste away. In what world can you possibly think what you're doing to us is right?!"
"We're not doing anything!"
"Yes. You. Are." Blake moved. Weiss actually finches back in surprise as Blake appears just a hairsbreadth away from her face. Faunus move faster than Humans do, she seemed to forget it at that moment.
And that at the moment. They were alone.
"Because of your family, I was thrown into the mines!"
Weiss grit her teeth. "And I got you out again."
"Do you think that matters to me?"
"Shouldn't it?"
"I don't have a family because of you!"
Weiss reared back as if she'd been slapped. Blake's voice had taken on an agonised pitch. "I don't know who my mother was, or my father. I don't know if they're alive or dead I don't even know my last name because your family takes people like me and turns them into slaves! You turned me into a slave!"
"I-"
Weiss is cut off but the door behind her opening and a knight in silver peering through.
"Lady Schnee are you alright? I thought I heard a commotion."
"…It's nothing." She said. "I was just informing my bodyguard that she is relieved from duty for the night."
The Faunus didn't get another word in, as Weiss stormed off, back to her guests to play the proper host.
…
…
Blake slept in the stables that night.
She didn't even want to attempt going anywhere near Weiss, and as it was the sables were a place none of the nobility or the men would be, and when the party ended and they left she decided to stay there.
It wasn't exactly a comfortable sleep, but in her mood Blake didn't think she would have gotten one anyway.
She was angry. She was still angry, and the only thing she had to look forward to was the fact that Port was teaching her how to fight early this morning.
When she heard that a feral grin had spread across her face.
So, when they did get to it, Port was more than a little surprised.
Blake was aggressive.
She was faster than she had been before, the soldier could tell.
She moved almost like a blur, so fast it pushed Port onto the defensive for the first time since they'd started.
He but it was more than that:
Port watched as she crossed the distance faster than a human would have been able to and strike out with a dangerous blow to his head.
He blocked it, only to feel the other fist burring itself into his side. He coughed in surprise, it was a good hit, a painful one. She'd put a lot behind it.
He wasn't just some feeble old man though and he stepped into her guard and delivered a quick punch to her shoulder.
He was surprised again then, when instead of spinning away for flinching back like he'd expected her to, Blake ignored the hit, pushing through it and slamming an elbow into his jaw.
He saw stars for a moment and cried out when something barreled into his stomach, knocking him off balance and sending him to the floor.
He didn't get much time to think as she delivered a strike to his jaw again.
She was hitting him while he was down.
He reached out a moment later, grasping her collar and yanking it to the side, her along with it.
She slammed onto the ground next, and Port pressed her arm behind her back.
She struggled.
"That's enough." He told her. "I've got you in a hold you won't be able to get out of unless you break your arm. That's it."
Blake scowled up at him, but relented as she was told. He got off her a moment later and hummed.
"You seem upset about something lass. What is it?"
The look on her face didn't leave her as she sat up. "It's nothing."
It wasn't. Blake looked away. It wasn't anything he had any business of knowing. He seemed to pick up on that suddenly and shrugged.
"Ah well, if you want to keep it yo your self I can hardly for you."
He could, but she knew what he meant. There would be no point. Her finger traced over the metal collar. It reminded her of a dog.
"Well lass," he said, standing up straight. "I don't think we should go any further right now, not when you're like that. Go one and get some breakfast instead."
Blake didn't say anything, doing as she was told since it meant she could leave the room faster. The air felt stale to her.
It was probably her mood but the excitement of attacking Port some more had left her far too quickly.
It was sticking with her; the casual belief from the nobility that there was nothing wrong with the mines.
She had thought that they had known what was being done was wrong, that even as they did it it was because it was a way for them to ammas power.
But no, Blake realised that these people didn't even think what they were doing was wrong.
Slander was what Weiss had called it.
Slander.
Like she honestly thought Blake would praise her family for who they were.
Did she not remember the state Blake had been in when they first met? Perhaps she didn't care. Perhaps she expected Blake to lie to make her look good in front of her guests, except that would mean she knew the mines were awful places.
No, the fact was Weiss had honestly believed there was nothing wrong with how the Faunus were treated in them.
It wasn't a nice thought.
What was even worse however, was when she entered the dining room.
Weis was there, already at the table, had when she saw her, the noble frowned deeply.
Blake met her eyes for a moment, but she was the first to break away.
No, it probably wasn't a good idea to be in her presence now of all-
"Well?" Weiss asked in a clipped tone. "Are you going to just stand there or sit?"
Blake did her best to hid how she flinched. Weiss radiated a cold aura that sent her senses wild. Like a warning signal.
The collar on her neck felt cold suddenly, so again, she did what she was told, sitting down at the table, though, as far away as she could manage.
If Weiss noticed she didn't comment on it.
Food was already on the table, and Blake was introduced to a new and alien experience.
She wasn't hungry.
She just wasn't hungry. The smell wasn't appetising, and her stomach didn't call out for her to eat. And she realised suddenly that she was picking at the food absentmindedly.
She just wasn't hungry,
It was her mood she knew, ruining her taste, but it was like weights on her arms. She just could h=find the desire to eat.
She didn't like it.
"You caused me some trouble last night." Weiss said suddenly, snapping her out of her thoughts. "I had to convince my guests that you had just been tired. That you hadn't meant what you had said."
Her lips tugged downwards. "And they believed that?"
Cold eyes snapped to hers.
"No, I don't suspect they did, but appearances are everything, so they smiled and nodded. There will be talk from them now though, that I can't control the tounges of those under me."
Blake stayed silent. A morbid thought came to mind,; that id Weiss wanted to control her tongue she might need to cut it off.
She didn't voice it. She didn't want to give her any ideas.
"There is a way I can forgive you though."
The Faunus blinked. Forgive? What was she-
"Apologise to me right now. Admit that what you said was a lie and I will dismiss your mistake "
"…You want me to say I'm sorry."
"Essentially." She confirmed. "It's generous all things considered, but I feel like I should be lenient. It was your first time surrounded by so many nobles, I'm sure you were overwhelmed."
That heat returned. The one from last night.
Blake bowed her head. "I'm sorry" she said. "All that I said last night was a lie. Your family doesn't deserve to have their good name tarnishedby someone like me. For that my lady I apologise."
Weiss' lips pressed into a thin line.
"You don't sound very sincere."
"Oh, my apologies again." Blake hissed out. "I'm still not familiar with how nobility speaks. I'm just a Faunus from the mines after all, I don't have that education."
"You…" Weiss shook with barely suppressed rage.
Blake steeled herself even as her heart beat wildly. She'd crossed the line. She knew that. She'd made Weiss angry. She'd made a Schnee angry.
"You sit there and lie to me without a trace of deception. I think I find that almost more disgusting than the actual lies you're spouting."
"If you think there lies then I doubt there's anything I can do to change your mind." Blake shot back.
"After all, you're the noble part of the family that owns them. I'm just the one who grew up in them. It's not like I know anything."
" Who do you think you're speaking to?"
"…" Blake swallowed. "I do. You're the one that owns the collar around my neck."
Weiss bristled. "If your stories about the mines are so true then I'd have thought you would have been grateful to me then. I took you out of them after all."
"You did." Balke agreed. "You gave me part of my life monumentally better than anything I remember before it which is why if you decide to ever send me back to the mines I've decided I'd rather kill myself."
Weiss gasped as soon as the words left her lips, and Blake… took a moment to realise what she'd just said and she realised…
She was completely serious. She hadn't thought about until right at that moment, and until she'd said it she couldn't have been sure,
But she meant it. She really would rather end it than go back to that place.
She was sure she would do it… but that didn't make it a comforting thought.
Blake realised she as lost in her thoughts, and her eyes suddenly flickered to Weiss.
Her face was paler than usual.
Had… had she hit a nerve?
She must have, because suddenly Weiss stung up, the chair screeching against the floor.
"I have things I must attend to. "She said, already turning to leave the room."
Blake watched her go, unsure of what was going through the girl's mind.
Her head fell into her hands.
She just felt tired.
And she hated it.
...
So... I don't really have much to say for this chapter. It was a set up, one that took longer than it should. hopefully the next will be faster. AS it is, Blake finds her self in a worse position, gaining Weiss ire. We'll just have to see how the noble reacts to it, and what's going to have to be done to get them back to a semi-polite relationship.
Hopefully, you'll find out soon.