Arcturus' presence looming over the long table was enough to get the remaining businessmen in the room to fall silent. The look on his face was less that of a calculating negotiator and closer to a disappointed instructor telling his class exactly how things were going to be run from that point forward. Arthur Watts looked absolutely furious, though his mustache somewhat obscured the depth of his scowl. Nero Torchwick had raised a brow, more amused than anything as he leaned back in his seat and folded his arms behind his head to reveal a pair of sweat stains upon his armpits through his mint-green dress shirt. Robin Winchester was the first to speak, his tone that of a spoiled child who had just been told off by their parent.

"…since when does what Willow wants matter?" the redheaded Winchester asked. "She double-crossed you, didn't she? The opportunity for growth right now is too good to take her into consideration. If she's upset about the realities of business, you can placate her later. She shouldn't be that hard to shut up over time."

"An interesting viewpoint from one so invested in knocking her up to force a future connection between our companies," Camilla spat as she stood up next to Arcturus. "You've been less than subtle about your intentions, according to my daughter. We do talk, from time to time, and you're in no position to bargain with the Schnee family, even disregarding your lecherous tendencies. Remain seated, and for the sake of your company and its continued opportunity to receive dust from our stores- keep your mouth shut. I've heard enough."

Nero's subdued laughter sounded almost more like choking as his disappointed sneer turned into a self-assured smirk.

"Well, well. Someone's been trying to dip their pen in the dust company's ink? Not exactly a smart move."

"Do you take us for fools?" Camilla asked, her icy blues shifting to pierce through Nero. "Arcturus and I are aware of Roman's attempts, as well."

Finally, Nero did almost choke as he leaned forward, his pasty face losing what little color it had left. As he spoke again, his voice came out in a more serious, measured tone.

"…Roman won't be a problem for either of you for much longer. I'm in the process of cutting him off. Severing ties completely. By the time he returns from Vacuo, he'll no longer legally be my son. You won't have to worry about his misguided attempts at wooing your daughter interfe-"

"Reverse that decision," Arcturus interrupted. "Immediately. Camilla and I know that he has no interest at all in Willow beyond maintaining their friendship, and that any supposed desire he has for her was brought about by orders from you. He has been a reliable and important friend to Willow, and your misguided attempts at punishing him for such a thing will only hurt you and your company moving forward."

Nero had nothing more to say as he sat up straight in his chair. The portly little man just gave a fevered nod and took out his scroll, tapping furiously at the screen.

"…I can't speak for Nero," Jay cut in, keeping his tone entirely neutral. "But the future of Winchester Military Technologies is not going to hinge upon cheap tactics or political marriage. I've told my father more than once that such a move isn't something I'm interested in. I would rather grow the company legitimately than keep trying these underhanded tactics."

"And who are you to make such a declaration?" Camilla asked, her attention whipping to the boy. "So far as I can tell, you are not in control, nor are you second-in-command. You're not even equal partners with your brother any longer."

"I'm not," Jay admitted as he raised his hands slightly over the table in a gesture of surrender. "Specifically because I've made such statements and stood between him and what my father wants."

"A bold move," Camilla praised, though her voice sounded more accusatory than anything. "And given that your father isn't here, it seems to me that he is in no position to negotiate the new terms Arcturus and I will be laying out going forward. Robin Winchester- you are dismissed. Weiland? Escort him into the hall, out of earshot, where he may wait for this meeting to conclude. Jay will be handling W.M.T. negotiations from this point forward."

The butler standing by the sole doorway to the room offered his mistress a quick nod before stepping to the side and holding his hand out toward the door in a gesture of welcoming. Robin looked at the man for a moment before he balked and made a sputtering noise.

"B-… you can't j-"

"She can, and she has," Arcturus denied. "Leave us, and consider yourself lucky that your brother is here to keep your company in this meeting."

"…Roman's situation has been taken care of," Nero said sullenly as Robin stood from the table and stomped toward the door. "Everything that was in motion has been reversed. I had no idea that he was already in good graces with your family."

"Likely because you never talk to your own son," Camilla jabbed. "He is not a company asset, and neither is Willow. Neither of them will be discussed as such from this point moving forward, or else you, too, will be removed."

"If I may…" Arthur began, steepling his fingers as he leaned his elbows atop the table.

"You may not," Camilla replied immediately. "Be silent. You are the least influential person at this table, and the odds of such a thing changing over the course of this meeting are smaller than the moon coming back together tonight. Enough."

Again, there was silence as Arthur lowered his face behind his fingers to hide his facial expression. Despite his efforts, the tension in his shoulders was obvious to everyone in the room.

"…good," Arcturus said forcefully. "Now, allow us to explain our path forward, as well as the commitment I have made to Willow."

"I have grown tired of the snake pit that is the business world on this floating rock," Camilla said, her weariness with the situation creeping into her voice as she sat back down. "Arcturus and I have won the numbers game several times over, and while there are opportunities for profit afoot with dubious ethical implications, none of that matters as much to us as our daughter's future. She is the one who will inherit the company, and we will be here to guide her around financial pitfalls for some time in the future. We're done trading souls, ours or otherwise, for profit. We are no longer interested in doing business with others who conflict with that ideal."

"To that end, we will be restructuring our current dealings with Winchester Military Technologies," Arcturus added as he joined his wife in sitting. "There will be an initial hit to your income from the S.D.C., but in time, our renewed plans will foster new opportunities from which you may profit. This is a binary offer- take it or leave it."

"We'll take it," Jay said immediately. "And I'll continue to be a barrier between Willow and Robin at Beacon, while explaining to our father that all of this is necessary. I'm sure we'll still be making more partnering with you at a loss compared to yesterday than we would be dissolving the partnership and linking up with anyone else. It may be a loss, but we're still ahead of everyone else."

"Smart move," Camilla agreed. "As for the Torchwick family… your share of profits and position in our future projects is uncertain. We'll be commission you for artwork for the mansion and company logo work, but beyond that, we'll have to wait and see. You'll likely be doing graphic design for the W.M.T. focused products we decide to greenlight and fund moving forward. There is no timeframe, but I'm sure you'll be just fine waiting."

"…I'll live," Nero said, his teeth clenched. "And I'll wait. For the same reasons he just said."

"Good," Arcturus acknowledged. "Arthur Watts, we plan to continue to utilize your technology and experience to bolster the security systems upon the grounds of our mansion. In the future, we will provide dust to you directly at lowered costs if you agree to partner with us and the W.M.T. in designing equipment to benefit the defense of Atlas and Mantle. Additionally… your racket with the faunus in the lower city must end. We will fund you enough to keep you on your feet in the face of the hit you'll be taking financially, but again- my promise to Willow isn't one that I'm willing to break. She wants a future where the faunus are treated equally in both cities. I intend to make that happen."

Arthur Watts slowly lowered his hands and folded them atop the table.

"…very well. Jay's logic is sound, and I am the least experienced in the field of business. I'll accept your terms and toe the line. I only hope that the future you envision does allow for growth. I hardly aim to remain a little fish in the grand scheme of things. The others here are secure in their footholds. I am not."

"Play along, and you'll find security," Arcturus reassured. "Now… I think that's enough for today. To be honest, we expected at least one of you to bow out, and so, a concrete plan moving forward is not currently in place. Go home, discuss the meeting with whoever you must, and prepare for a shift in thinking. Camilla and I practically run Atlas, outside of the Academy. We'll ensure that the three of you are taken care of."

The scraping of chairs signaled the formal end of the meeting as each of the invited rose. Arthur was the first to exit the room, moving rather quickly. Nero was next, his pace far less consistent and urgent. Finally, Jay began to make his way toward the door, only for Camilla to stand up once again.

"Jay."

He turned, giving the woman his full attention.

"…you seem to have a decent head on your shoulders, though you're yet unproven. Talk is cheap, as they say. Do not disappoint me. The glitter of dust is only attractive for so long before even its sparkle grows mundane. Stay in contact should your father resist our intentions."

"…yes ma'am," Jay replied before making his way back out into the hall.

Robin, Arthur, and Nero had remained near the door, though Weiland had retreated to elsewhere within the mansion. None of the three men looked particularly happy, though Arthur's grimace was by far the most sour.

"Self-absorbed assholes," Nero muttered as he began to walk, leading the pack. "Family over profit. And what happens when their precious little Willow decides she isn't interested in profit any longer? We're just supposed to watch our own finances tank?"

"We can deal with that when we get to that point," Robin replied. "Right now? I'm just tired of being insulted, personally and professionally."

"You deserve it," Jay countered.

Robin's forearm was pressed into his chest before Jay could react, and he found himself slammed up against the wall. The back of his head impacted a rounded column jutting out from the flat section of wall, and for a moment, he saw stars. After a pained hiss, his eyes refocused, and he found Robin staring up at him with murderous intent.

"For someone so concerned about Schnee views on family, you don't seem to give a shit about your own. Since when did STRQ, OKRA, and Willow start mattering more than your own damned brother? You want to know why I act the way I do? Maybe that's your answer. You say you don't want anything to do with Willow, so where the fuck is your loyalty? To some stupid, shitty moral compass you decided to build over the past year? I suggest you think about it real hard before we get home."

Jay let out a huff of protest as he was released from his brother's hold. He cracked his neck and remained otherwise silent as he moved to catch up to the group, his mind swimming with thoughts.

"Cute," Arthur commented. "I have no interest in family feuds in any direction. Though I may be new in the economic arena, I do know one thing- mixing morals and money doesn't end well. One way or another, the Schnee family is going to get what they deserve, and when they do, perhaps the three of us can strike a new deal over their ashes."

"I like the sound of that," Nero agreed. "Guess we'll just have to play the waiting game until then. Sounds like there isn't much any of us can really do to speed up the process."

"Perhaps," Arthur considered. "Perhaps not…"

Author's Note:

I think this might be the first chapter with none of STRQ or OKRA, but I'm not sure. Either way- the implications are big…

-RD