A/N: Chapter 56 of REKT. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or teams of RWBY, they belong to Rooster Teeth and Monty Oum. What I do own are the characters and teams of my OCs: REKT, GTSY, KACE and DAZE. I also claim Ingrid, Teo, Reina's parents and aunt as well.

Special thanks to the reviewers and to the readers who Fav/Alert this story, I really appreciate it.


Chapter 56: Bitter Sweet

Somewhere in icy Atlas...

Weiss felt her stomach do flips and twists the moment she stepped foot back on home soil, her eyes betraying her true emotion. Her family mansion, standing unperturbed, royal and gallant, is exactly how she remembered it to be. The entire trip through the skies did nothing to quell her nerves, especially when she casually peeked at her father during the whole duration. She swore she saw his mustache twitch numerous times, a reaction Jacques hardly ever does and it could only spell trouble.

"Welcome home, sir." A male with a slightly bald head and a large brown mustache spoke up. He wore a simple suit, the long-sleeved high-collared white dress shirt tucked neatly underneath the belt buckle. A large, tuxedo-like vest and matching colored pants makes up the rest of his attire, a teal colored tie nestled around his neck. Behind him stood the other servants who stood at attention, ready for their orders. "I presume your trip has been successful?"

"Take my daughter's belongings to her room, Klein." Jacques ordered gruffly without acknowledging the question, putting a hand on Weiss' shoulder and jolting her out of her daze. "The rest of you go back to your duties. I need to have a few words with her."

"...As you wish." The family butler responded while the others dipped their heads in understanding, giving Weiss a knowing look. He had practically been with the heiress since her youth, and he knew just how hard her father's been. The head of the Schnee household did his best to mold Weiss into the perfect product, someone whose ideals and beliefs were structured for the wealth and goodness of the family business. Since Winter left home to join the military in Atlas, the patriarch had no other choice but to push the second oldest child past her limits.

However, that came to pass as the heiress was sent to Beacon to continue her studies. Jacques made sure to implement the idea that a Schnee should be way above the average; he basically gave Weiss a horrible childhood, pushing onto her the responsibilities she would have to overcome when she takes over the Schnee Dust Company. To make matters even worse, his feud with the White Fang increased. So, on top of trying to impress her father with everything from proper etiquette to maintaining poise as heiress, Weiss was no stranger when it comes to disliking and distrusting the White Fang; by hating a group of radicals, she began to assume the worse out of any faunus she laid eyes upon, thereby giving them unnecessary hatred.

But that viewpoint gradually changed through her interactions with Blake, Kairos, Sun, and perhaps even Velvet whom she came to sympathize from Cardin's bullying antics. Hanging out with the faunus and learning more about them, she felt she could be a little more honest with herself. Sure they've had their spats and fights, but throughout it all she can proudly say that they were her friends.

"Come." Without needing anymore coaxing, Weiss forced her legs to obey and took her steps across the fair grounds. Tentatively stepping through the grandiose double doors, she kept her gaze straight and forward instead of on her father's broad back. The clicks of her heels against the floor muffled by his thicker steps. Once upon a time she wanted to be just like her father, strong and confident with the world of Remnant at her fingertips. Now, she didn't want to be known for her ignorance and self-arrogance.

I'm more than just my family name. That feeling will never change, I can prove to Father I am more than capable of handling anything. She told herself over and over, not bothering to look at the tapestry covering the walls. Heads of make-shift boarbatusks hung on the walls, their socket-less eyes seemingly watching their every move. However, I cannot forgive him for whisking me away from everyone I deeply care about. With the towers out of commission...everyone's status remains in the dark for me. Ruby, Blake, and Yang...I miss them terribly.

"Weiss." Jacques frowned from where he stood in front of his office.

"Sorry." She apologized quickly and followed him inside, pushing her thoughts back into her mind. Seeing her father's office brought back memories she really didn't want to relive. The giant portrait of Jacques in his younger days – all regal, poise, and unafraid. His eyes were sparkling, challenging any who dares to cross his path. – still hung on the far wall.

"I can't say I'm particularly thrilled with your performance." Jacques started off, taking a seat in the leather rolling chair. Mounds of paperwork had been pushed to the side in his haste, leaving his workspace very limiting. "I watched your fight in the tournament. You and your...team did not reach up to my standards."

"And what's wrong with my team, Father?" Weiss scowls with how her father drawled out the word. It was like her father truly disliked her teammates. "I think they're just fine the way they are! Your standards are too high, as a matter of fact!"

"My standards haven't changed, and don't you dare feign stupidity with me. One's basically a child, the other is a larger child with a massive temper tantrum. The last one...is whom I presume to be a filthy animal. I can't even believe you were placed on the same team as it." The heiress curled her fingers tightly till she swore her skin broke, but she kept her emotions in check. Her father glared and added, "You weren't even chosen as leader. That's laughable and frankly, a slap in the face."

"I had no choice in the matter! And Blake isn't a filthy animal! She's my friend!"

"You dare utter her name like she has earned that kind of privilege from you! I couldn't have cared less what it's called! In fact, you said that other disgusting animal was your friend too." Jacques leaned back in his chair, hand pressed against his forehead with disbelief. "You could have at least done a better job displaying your prowess as a Schnee! What is it about the girl in red that screams 'leader'? She's such a bumbling fool, anyone can see what an amateur she is as well as her naivety! What was Ozpin thinking?!"

"...you don't know her like I do...you don't know any of them like I do."

"You're right, I don't and I don't plan to. You should have been much more qualified for the leader position...but instead, you are nothing more than a side-kick! What am I going to do with you, Weiss? I didn't send you half-way across the continent so you can just...mess things up and discard your training! How disappointing. You should be ashamed of yourself!"

"Father, you're being unfair! If you would just–"

"No I've heard enough. You are to stop your tomfoolery this instant!" Jacques all but slammed a fist down on his desk, effectively shutting his daughter's protest. "From this moment forward, you are not allowed to train and I forbid any more discussions about being a huntress. I also don't want to hear about this conversation ever again. Am I clear?"

"B-But..."

"Am. I. Clear. Weiss?"

"...yes, Father." She said in defeat, casting her gaze downward. Once Jacques made up his mind about something, nothing could derail him. That's just how stubborn he is, and she began to wonder who had that quality the worse: her father or Yang. Well unlike him, Yang's stubborn because she actually cares about those who matter. My father doesn't. I wonder if he even has a soul inside that body.

"...I just don't want you to die in such meaningless battles. Much like those who came before you...those imbeciles and their fantasy dreams of playing the hero. Pah! What they need is a dose of reality!" He held out a hand towards her, stating coldly, "Now then if you would please, I would like Myrtenaster."

"Y-Y-You're taking away my weapon?" She asked in shock, her eyes almost pleading. "You can't..."

"I won't repeat myself." Weiss bit her lower lip and lightly brushed her fingers over the familiar hilt. Holding back the tears, she unclasped the rapier from her side, gazing at it in longing.

"...here..." She begrudgingly handed it over, angry that Jacques had his hands all over it.

"Such a pity, and a very delicate weapon forged by Atlas' finest creators. This will be in my room for the time being. I doubt you'll have any use for it anymore or until further notice." He leaned the weapon against his desk, tip end down. "Now then, I'm sure I've held you up long enough and you would like to go back to your room to think about what you've done. Why don't you go and see your mother before then? She's been...lacking someone's presence as of late. And I'm sure you'll find it in your heart to keep her company."

"My...mother?" Now this perked her interest because, for one, her father rarely talks about her and two, he actually is giving her permission to go to the garden. Weiss hasn't been in there except when she was very young.

"She's in her usual spot, no doubt doing what she's actually good at for once. Go on then, I have some serious work that I had to...unfortunately put on hold because of your nonsense."

"You make it sound like kidnapping me back is a chore!" Weiss felt her blood boil under her skin like hot lava. Her head felt like it wanted to explode due to the pressure.

"A Schnee must know when to speak and when the tongue much be held!" Jacques spat indignantly, his rising anger rivaling that of his daughter's. "Your time at Beacon has softened you up it seems. You're lacking discipline and you have the nerve to talk back! I'll have you straightened out in no time! Unless...you don't want to go through those painful training lessons I grilled you through when you were little."

"...no, sir." Weiss raised a hand, running her fingertips over the scar on her left eye in remembrance. Never again...I promised myself I wouldn't go through it again. That's why I pushed myself to the limit, in hopes of pleasing Father and make him see that I'm worthy enough. I won't allow him to do as he please, I'll show him I'm not the pitiful snowflake he thinks I am.

"Good. If you behave yourself during your stay...I'll see to lessening your punishment." A sickening sneer appeared underneath his mustache and he waved an arm. "Now scat."

"...y-yes Father..." Weiss all but curtsied, turning on her heels and walked towards the door. She felt incredibly sick, like she couldn't fathom being in the same room as Jacques. Her mind was in turmoil, and for a split second she wished it was all a dream.

"Oh, and before you greet your mother," The heiress glanced over her shoulder at her father with a curious expression. "Fix that absurd ponytail of yours. I don't remember it being sideways." Without another word, she left the room.


Inside a warehouse...

So this is what part of the Schnee Dust Company is all about...huh, consider me impressed. Timber thought, popping up from behind some dust crates. He managed to sneak his way onto the bullhead, avoid being detected by the soldiers and hunkered down for the duration of the trip. Not wanting to push his luck, he got underneath some tarp covering and sandwiched himself between some crates. While hidden, he picked up conversation between the henchmen assigned to loading and unloading cargo.

"Heard the princess has come back home. Her father has never expressed such relief since the day he sent her away to that school for warriors." A gruff voice spoke annoyingly, clearly aggravated by the situation. The crates the boy had sandwiched in-between rumbled and shook, indicating they were being carted away somewhere. "Seriously, I feel like hell froze over the moment I noticed that ugly smirk."

"He's such a pain in the ass, overworking us and punishing us when he can't punish her." Another worker says in agreement. "I feel sorry for her, she had worked so hard to win his approval."

"He's treated her like a tool all her childhood life. Had he never forced her into that training regiment...she wouldn't have gotten her scar."

"While I must agree with you, you must hold your tongue least you want him to overhear. Then you'll be truly sorry when he fires you for your words."

"...yeah yeah...harvesting all these Dust crystals is the only job I got that pays very well..." The first voice said tiredly and the cart came to a halt, signifying that the destination has been reached. "No one here ever wished to raise their hands against his authority. Do you remember Larry? He messed up the man's favorite dish one night and got released immediately, heard he was thrown out into one of our blizzard months. He and his family had high-tailed it out of Atlas in a heartbeat, never seen nor heard of again."

"Quite a shame really. I actually liked Larry. He always saved up some of the scraps for the rest of us."

Is that really the nature of Weiss' father? Sounds to me he's just a money-hungry power house who doesn't take care of his servants.Timber wondered to himself once he finished replaying what he learned, leaning back against the metal casing. He stayed hidden within the shadows and out of sight, listening to the marching of footsteps coming and going within the giant warehouse.

Well then...I assume Weiss isn't going anywhere for awhile. Good, I could use the opportunity to take a small trip around town. Doesn't hurt to navigate my way around and get familiar with everything. Sneaking out and keeping note of possible entryways, Timber waited for his chance to jump aboard a passing truck near a paved path leaving the estate. The road was built really well, and the huntsman soon found himself sailing smoothly into town without any disturbance.

The sun was sinking off towards the east, the streets bustling with last minute shoppers and students either heading home or finding places to eat. Jumping off the ride, Timber strolled along with his hands stuffed in his pockets as the temperatures began to drop. Neon colored signs above various stores flickered to life and lit his way. Soft murmurs and muttering reached his ears, and he was acutely aware that most of them were about him. Picking up the pace, he did twists and turns, the sounds of the voices soon disappearing into the distance.

Coming to a stop, he caught his breath and looked around to get his bearings. He seemed to have ran deeper into the heart of town, and there were more students loitering around than there were regular civilians. A large statute of who he assumed to be James Ironwood was standing in the middle of a square, facing towards Beacon; he soon realized that he was standing outside Atlas Academy, which explains the higher presence of students. Doing his best to avoid some curious gazes the huntsman managed to find himself on the quieter side of town and enjoyed some window shopping.

Shit, I stand out much like a rabid Ursa in a bush. This can't be good. The boy frowned after awhile, taking a good hard look at himself reflected through a glass window. The locals obviously knew I wasn't from around here based on my clothing...and I kinda rushed off without checking to see if I had enough lien. Maaaan, what a screw up!

"Yo! Here's a face I didn't know would pop up in this town!" The bow user glanced over to see Flynt walking up to him, an arm raised in greeting. He wasn't wearing his normal battle attire hence the missing hat, but he was dressed in his student attire. Deep down, Timber was extremely grateful to recognize at least someone in a sea of strange faces. "Surprise, surprise. What exactly happened to Beacon after we left?"

"We?" Timber looked both ways and even behind the jazz player before frowning. "What do you mean by 'we'?"

"Oh shoot, did that girl go off on her own again? I swear she does this whenever I'm not looking. Neon!" Flynt looks around, his eyes sparkling behind his glasses. He knew well enough his partner would come running at the sound of her name. "Girl, where did you run off too? C'mon, don't be playing these games with me."

"Flynt, you'll never believe what I just saw!" The chipper voice replied and Neon rolled in, a smirk on her face. She too donned her student attire instead of her combat clothes. Coming to a halt, she explained herself, her tail swishing back and forth with excitement. "Sale! Half-off prices! You know items here in Atlas are really really expensive! It's a rare opportunity!"

"That's nice, but look who I ran into."

"Heeeeey! It's that guy...errrr...the T in REKT!" Neon scratched her head, trying to remember before she grinned smugly. "Twigs!"

"...it's Timber actually..." Wow, she was way off on the name there...

"Right, sorry about that. My bad!" She said apologetically before asking, "What are you doing here? Not that we mind, right Flynt? We were just talking about how it would be great if we invited our friends over!"

"I took a ride here on a bullhead."

"And it's not just any bullhead, but one belonging to the Schnee family." Flynt informed her, watching as her eyes sparkled with surprise. "Not the one with the streamers, that's Winter's personal ride."

"Get out of here! No way! You rode here on their private bullhead?! It's by far the largest!" Neon all but gasped with disbelief, gripping her teammate's arm for support. The male didn't show his discomfort and merely sighed in response, totally normalized by the girl's exuberance and actions. "No one's ever been able to do that! You'd be instantly discombobulated if you were caught!"

"Let's go somewhere to chat, standing around on our feet gets pretty tiring. Seems to me we have some things to catch up on." Flynt offered, guiding them to one of his favorite diners. The owner was a family friend of the jazz player, and he appreciated whenever the boy stopped by to do live performances, so he was more than happy to accommodate his patrons as he led them to a secluded area.

"Huh...this place..." Timber looked around the roomy establishment, thrown off by the lack of propaganda. It had a homey feel to it, almost like opening its arms to welcome anyone who walked through its doors. "It's different from the rest I've seen..."

"Well duh! It's the reason why Flynt and I come here often. All those Atlas military posters and such makes my skin crawl." Neon shuddered as she thought about it, rubbing her hands along to keep warm. "Honestly, it's like they're constantly yelling at you and pressuring you into joining. Sheesh, let individuals think for themselves without the stress beating down their necks. It would save us a lot of eye rolls and exhausting sighs."

"Never mind that, Neon. Tonight we won't talk about politics, we probably have enough time to do so." Flynt stated, holding the door open as the owner allowed them to sit at one of the outside tables underneath a parasol. Once they had been seated, given ample time to look over the menu, the three of them ordered their food. The owner waltzed back inside before coming back out with three glasses of water, stating that their food would be right with them.

"I really want to take this time to thank you two, for taking me out to eat." Timber spoke gratefully as he looked at both his hosts. "Wouldn't know what I'd do on my own, but I know for sure I'd be totally lost. I'm in your debt."

"We should look after our fellow huntsmen and huntresses, regardless of where they come from. It's like greeting ambassadors from faraway nations; we want to showcase the best of the best so tourist would want to come back." replied Flynt, waving a hand dismissively. "Don't worry about paying us back, it's just hospitality."

"B-But I can't just not give you two anything in return."

"Hmmm...How about this? Next time you and your team come back, have a sparring match with us~" Neon suggested with excitement. "Sure, Flynt and I are really anxious to have a rematch with Weiss and Yang, but we'd love to fight against the other participants."

"That sounds wonderful! I'm sure the others would agree."

"But I'm not done yet! When we come back to visit Beacon once it rises to its feet, why don't you show us around? With the tournament going on, we didn't have much time to go around site seeing~"

"You got yourself a deal."

"Well, there you go. And what great timing too!" Flynt smiled as their food came steaming hot and fresh out of the kitchen. He got himself a bowl of soup and rice while Neon ordered herself a smoked salmon fillet with a side of butter biscuits. For Timber, he got a steak salad drizzled in ranch along with a side dish of mash potatoes and sausage. "Now then, tell us the situation that has you all the way over here in Atlas."

Timber took a minute to take the first bite, chewed and swallowed before explaining what he knew. Flynt and Neon either nodded or ate while he talked, not interrupting his story. There were parts for gasps and groans, but both Atlas students had a good idea of the concept. A couple of times, the soft arctic breeze from Atlas' weather made the boy shiver. He could never have guessed the cold temperature, but as he ate, the warmth of his food heated his body from the inside.

"So that's how I ended up here, with no way of knowing how the others are doing. Weiss seemed to be locked inside the giant mansion of sorts for now; I'm almost fairly certain she won't be allowed out any time soon." The huntsman finishes his story, keeping eye contact with his listeners. Dinner was simply divine – Timber's first time trying food that was outside of his culture. He made a mental note to come back with his team so they could try it out too – and the boy took a deep breath, saying, "I...didn't get a chance to say goodbye to Kairos or Reina, I hope they will understand why."

"I'm sure they will...At least, that what I think." Neon commented, about to spoon in another bite of her meal into her mouth. "I mean...if I had the opportunity to follow a fellow friend, I'd take it. Sure I would've left some sort of note behind to not make them lose their minds, but...sometimes that window of action is quite a split second decision."

"Are you saying it was right of me to go after a friend rather than hang back to make sure my actual teammates were okay?"

"What Neon's trying to say is that she's actually quite impressed you took initiative into your own hands." Flynt told him as the faunus proceeded to eat, making noises akin to that of perfect bliss. "I myself wouldn't have thought to sneak aboard an Atlas-bound bullhead, leaving behind my teammates in their time of need. That takes a lot of guts."

"...I made a mistake then...I shouldn't be here..."

"No no, you didn't make a mistake. Listen, you had a difficult choice presented to you. If you were everyone else, you'd stay behind to take care of my mates. But you aren't everybody else, you chose to make sure another fellow friend was doing okay when her teammates couldn't be there for her. From what you told us, both your team and team RWBY had taken a hard hit out of the fight. I get it. Everyone else had things taken away from the battle too." Flynt assured him, the corner of his mouth turned upward in a smirk. "Don't feel down, the past has already passed. Since you're here, be lively, learn about the culture. Neon and I are positive you'll reunite with your team somehow."

"You really think so?"

"With a bond such as yours with your teammates, there's nothing you won't do until you're back at their side."

"Yeah...thanks, I really needed that. How are things here in Atlas?" Timber asked them, changing the subject and taking Flynt's advice. He wouldn't be able to do anything back at Beacon, but for now he vowed to learn everything he could about Atlas. The other two students shared a knowing look with each other, almost silently talking to one another before looking at the boy.

"After the fall of Beacon, General Ironwood had all the students go back to Atlas. Not only that, but he had the walls closed off. No one can come in...and no one can go out. He believes that by sealing off any kind of communications with the other kingdoms...he can protect his citizens." Flynt said, folding his hands above the table. "The huntsmen and huntresses in the Academy are terrified about what had happened, bits and pieces of theories floating around in the air."

"With the towers out, no one outside of Vale knows exactly what went down, so I can't say I'm surprised." Neon picked up the conversation, frowning with sadness. "Of course, neither Flynt nor I could go around re-accounting the details without getting blamed for 'ludicrous imagination'. There were others who saw the events, but they're...too scared to voice their opinions. So, for now it's the two of us against the rumors. Not a likely scenario to be in."

"Not only that, but...Neon's the one who takes the brunt of the really nasty comments." Flynt sighed with underlying anger, rubbing his temples with his fingers. "Most of the folks here believe that the White Fang were behind the entire assault on Beacon. As you can imagine, that leaves a bad impression for the faunus living around here."

"Flynt, I keep telling you that I'm going to be all right."

"Doesn't mean I will stand by and let those comments and judgments be said." The jazz player said pointedly, drumming his fingers together. "We have to look out for each other, when the authorities have failed us."

"The sun's slowly setting, I better get back to the mansion." Timber noted, the sky becoming painted a red hue and dusk purple. Nodding their heads in agreement, Flynt went to pay for the meal and the three of them left.

"We need a strategy to meet up if something were to happen. Or you know, if you need to hang out and whatever." Flynt was saying, accompanying Timber back to the Schnee estate. Neon had bid them farewell about half-way through the walk, saying something about curfew and not wanting to scare her parents into calling the Atlasian fleet for a search and rescue. "Unfortunately, Atlas Academy is still in session. Headmaster Ironwood made sure of it and took drastic measures to increase security. He's always got Atlas' finest working around the clock to boost technology."

"Wasn't his reputation undermined during the tournament?"

"I mean, you can say it that way. Frankly I'm astounded that the person behind the microphone knew secrets of our headmaster. Some of the students are skeptical of his political agenda, others naive and claim that there's no way our headmaster could turn his back on the nation. But those of us who were present for it have been keeping a close eye on him, so far it's been hush-hush."

"...you don't think something bad is about to happen?"

"In this world and after what just happened, no one really knows what is going to happen." Flynt replied as the Schnee mansion rose over the distance. Once they were close enough, he said, "Hmmm...well you gotta hand it to Weiss, her house is decked out with all those soldiers. Comes with that territory of being filthy rich, I suppose. The Schnee family contributes the most when funding the military is brought up in discussions."

"I'm guessing that aspect never gets brought up huh." Timber commented, leading his friend to one of the unguarded openings he spotted between the junction of iron railings and a rock wall. They both knew that their cover could be blown so they tried to keep their discussions as short as possible. "No one likes talking about their families financial status."

"That is true. Oh, hang on a sec. I think I have a little thing just for you to make things easier. Hand me your scroll for a minute." Rummaging around his own pockets, he pulled out a small microchip and smiled. "This is a little communication device the students were given on our first day back. Easy to download on scrolls and has a very friendly interface."

"Does it have some kind of tracking system installed?" asked Timber, handing his scroll over once it had been unlocked and watched the other male work his magic.

"Surprisingly it doesn't, some designers Atlas has am I right." Flynt chuckled, his fingers glossing over the screen as he tapped in his number. "So this can work well in our favor. The communication can be either spotty or not at all, but we'll be able to message when signal is obtained."

"Thanks so much, Flynt. I really appreciate it." Timber said, tucking his scroll away in his pocket once everything was in order.

"Like I said, we have to look after one another. Tomorrow, we should probably get you a change of clothes and perhaps a job; Neon wasn't the only one who saw some sales around town and I know a few places who needs some extra hands. Stay in touch!" The jazz player spoke, turning on his heels and waved a hand goodbye. Smirking in response, Timber sneaked back in and went about scouting a place to rest for the evening.


Within the family garden...

If there was one place out of the entirety of the mansion that Weiss absolutely loved, it would have to be the family garden. Multiple species of flowers blooming during the springtime paves way for a very surreal fantasy, something young Weiss loved to submerge herself within. However, since it is always cold, most of the flowers died right away while others more suited to the climate managed to survive.

"Mother...?" She asks softly almost to herself, spotting a figure lounging in the distance and walked forward for a closer look. Willow Schnee, matriarch of the Schnee family, was a very regal woman: Fierce, smart, and extremely dangerous. She was the deadliest piece on a board game, and most if not all of her opponents took incentive to back out before the first move could be executed.

However, after the strain relationship with Jacques, she decided to seclude herself to the garden where her only friend were the plethora of glass bottles of wine littered across the ground. Her white-hair looks like a bird's nest, held up in a messy bun much like Winter's – except Winter's was neat and tidy. Her expensive clothing weren't faring as better, stains of liquid could be seen here and there. The only article of clothing that didn't have stains were the ever present white gloves.

"I-It's been awhile...since we last saw each other." Weiss says hesitantly, watching the red wine slosh around the glass held within delicate fingers. Forcing herself to tear her eyes away, she focused on her mother's face. Still stoic with unblemished skin, but the eyes were incredibly hazed with the amount of alcoholic she had consumed. There was no response.

"I...errr...I've come back, on Father's orders if you must know. Rather...he forced me home. I protested on the matter but, well, you know how he is. Were you aware of the event that happened at my school? I'm sure Klein came to keep you up to date, assuming you didn't send him away to fetch another bottle from the cellar." Weiss waited for her mother to respond, crossing her arms over her chest. What she got in return was a slow eye blink, followed by the sound of wine going down the hatch.

"Mother...it pains me seeing you like this. It really does..." You and Father have both skipped out of my song concerts, birthday parties, even family dinners. All you've done was make like the wine bottle and drank yourself into a problem. "Just for once I wanted to see you as you were...back when you were a strong individual. But I guess after Father said those words to you on my tenth birthday... you just fell on hard times."

Clink. Clink. Clink. Clink.

Weiss lifted her eyes at the noise, first noticing the empty glass followed by the empty wine bottle being tapped against it. Willow gazed at her daughter with no sign of recognition of who she was. All she cared about was that her drink was empty and needed a refill as soon as possible. Hurt crossed Weiss' eyes and she swallowed the lump of emotions back down along with her pride; she wasn't about to cry in front of her mother.

"...of course...I'll let Klein know to...to get you a new bottle. It was...it was nice seeing you again." Bowing stiffly, she turned on her heels and made her way back to the mansion. She didn't even bother looking at a small bush of frozen white roses near the entrance, the first ever to have been planted in the garden. Much like the frozen dead plants, my mother really let herself go.