A/N: Welcome back! This Act will see some new perspectives and characters, so please look forward to it.
Also, happy new year! Let's have a great one together.
X
-Weiss-
Together with Yang Xiao Long, Weiss Schnee watched Jaune Arc disappear around the street corner. The boy had stated that he was simply going on a walk, but there was no doubt in her mind, and likely Yang's as well, that he was going to speak with Pyrrha. The two left behind didn't discuss this with each other, as there was no need to; Jaune would do what he thought was right. He always would.
Once he was gone, Weiss stepped away from the railing and sighed. "I suppose that's our cue to be on our way."
"Probably," agreed Yang solemnly as she rose from her seat on the stairs. "Do you have everything you need? I really don't wanna have to double-back because you forgot something."
"Just a moment." She re-entered the house and retrieved her handbag, which contained her ID, credit cards, some writing tools, and her phone. As Weiss set the bag over her shoulder, she glimpsed at the desk-mirror and took in her own appearance. The last time she wore this business wear, she'd been left a physical and emotional wreck by her father, Jacques; this time, she was determined to walk away with her head held high, regardless of what answers her questions received or how her supposed family treated her.
As she began to walk towards the entryway, Sapphire happened to catch her eye from her seat on the sofa and gestured for her to wait. Giving a nod towards Olive, who was quite clearly nervous about the job interview she would be undergoing that morning, Sapphire stood up and made her way over to Weiss. "Are you planning on coming back, Weiss?"
"It would depend on how things proceed today. If my father can offer a satisfactory explanation for his actions and assure me that it won't happen again, I will probably return to the Schnee estate for good; however, it is far more likely that he and I will be unable to come to a mutual understanding. If that comes to pass..." She trailed off before shaking her head. Thanks to his self-serving nature, Jacques was in many ways unpredictable yet very predictable. "No, when that comes to pass, I'm afraid that I'll have no choice but to find a new, permanent residence."
"Your dad sounds like quite the character," Sapphire grumbled with a frown. That frown quickly flipped into a soft smile as the Arc spread her arms out a little, clearly in preparation of a hug. "Just remember that you have a home here, Weiss. If you need us, just knock on that front door."
She couldn't help but return the smile and walk into the hug, returning the gesture with equal force. "I know, Sapphire; you all have been so wonderful to me. Thank you."
"Hey, what are friends for?" They stayed like that for just a brief moment before separating, but the warmth remained within Weiss just the same. In just the span of a few days the list of individuals she considered her true family, Klein and Winter, had somehow expanded to include the entire Arc family. Maybe they just had that effect on people. "Now go on! Yell and scream at your dad a bit, then come back to congratulate Olive on her new job."
"That sounds like a wonderful plan; I think I'll do just that." She couldn't help but laugh as she walked out the front door. Yang raised an eyebrow at her sudden, jovial attitude, but Weiss just waved her off and put on the bike helmet for the trip. As she situated herself behind the blonde driver, she made a mental note to grab a pair of long pants for the return trip, as the wind would likely be hell on her legs due to the business skirt.
And once they hit the road going full speed, she immediately determined that to be correct.
Having been informed of what was to transpire that day, Klein was waiting for them at the main entrance of the estate. Once the motorcycle was safely parked and Yang given some treats in the dining room to pass the time with, Weiss and Klein made the oh-so-short trip to her father's office. How many times had she walked this very path? How often had she received orders from her father and blindly gone along with them, keeping her worries and frustrations bottled inside until she nearly imploded from the pressure? How much longer would she allow herself to be controlled by a man that saw only a legacy of his own to maintain?
Too many.
Too often.
And never again.
When they reached his office door, neither felt any rush to knock on it; instead, Klein turned to Weiss and said, "Is there anything I can do to help, Miss Schnee?"
She reached her left hand out and gently grabbed his right. "Klein, you've been doing it my whole life by making this place into something I could call home. After Winter left, you were the only resident that helped me feel sane at times. So, no matter what happens, know that you've made my life bearable here."
"Oh, my little snowflake." They embraced, an action that belied their many years of familial love for each other. They needed no further words, and when they separated at last Klein gave her one final smile before leaving to attend to Yang. Weiss pulled out a notepad from her bag and glanced at the brief list of questions she'd written for herself, although it was for all intents and purposes an unnecessary act; she had long memorized everything that she wanted out of this meeting.
The potential ramifications of her actions were not lost on her. Not only would she likely be alienating herself from the Schnee estate, she also still planned on divulging the unfortunate truths surrounding her actions to Jaune; meaning, by the end of the day, it was entirely possible that she would be in search of a new home. Fortunately, she at least had a way to ensure that she wasn't completely destitute; however, the method involved made her a little too similar to her father for her liking.
Taking a deep breath, she gave the door three firm knocks. "Enter," came the frigid response, so she did. Jacques Schnee sat behind his desk as usual, his hands clasped together in front of his face as he regarded her with ice in his eyes. "So, you've finally returned home, Weiss. I hope you're prepared to explain yourself, young lady."
She met his gaze without backing down an inch. "The same could be said of you, Father."
His eyes hardened even further. "Excuse you?"
"You heard me perfectly well, Father." How little that word actually meant now. "I've run the scenario through my mind time and time again, and I must confess that I'm baffled that you believed that I would simply go along with your scheme to manipulate the White Fang's impression of you. Did you not think for a moment that I would react negatively, especially when I had no prior knowledge of what you'd told them of my supposed intentions?"
"I believed that you were more intelligent than you've proven yourself to be, young lady; because if you were, then you would have understood that any financial support I would be giving you in the future relied on your cooperation. Sienna Khan wields immeasurable influence over the other animals out there, and your little stunt has put the company in a bad light."
"My little stunt? I do believe that this entire event is your own doing, Jacques." His eyes widened at the flippant use of his name, but he didn't comment on it. The time for pretending they were a family had passed. Weiss took a moment to loudly sigh. "It's almost funny. I had a laundry list of questions to ask you, but now I don't even feel like running through them. To do so would be a waste of time for both of us."
"I'm inclined to agree." He finally moved his hands from in front of his face as he leaned back into his chair. "Consider yourself grounded-"
"That won't be necessary," she interjected. "I'll be moving out within the week."
"Oh?" This seemed to intrigue him. "And just where do you plan on going, little girl?"
She was not about to give him a target to take his frustrations out on. "Does it even matter to you? You were never planning on letting me take over the company, so I see no need to give you unnecessary information. All you need to know is that I'll have all of my belongings out soon enough."
Jacques scoffed. "And what about money? I certainly hope you don't think that I'll fund a little runaway."
Weiss then did something he likely never expected: she smiled, ever so sweetly. "Actually, I think you will. Because I know that the number one thing you're afraid of is a scandal, and I have plenty of ammunition."
He frowned, but quickly returned his face to stone. "I highly doubt that."
"Truly?" Oh, she was going to enjoy this part. "Do remember that whatever your intentions were for me, I was still brought up as the heiress to the Schnee Electric Company. I understand every trick that you've done to circumvent federal and international regulations, and I know exactly who to report each transgression to. General James Ironwood would so love to hear about the insider trading that occurred just before you announced the company's move from Atlas to Vale."
In shock, Jacques Schnee quickly rose from his chair, but she continued speaking despite his clear intent to cut her off. "And none of that takes into account that I am friends with the daughter of Ghira Belladonna, who witnessed your snake-like ways with his own eyes. Imagine the damage that could be done if he cooperated with me to smear your oh-so-good name."
His anger began to visibly boil, and he was no longer making attempts to hide it. "If you think that I'll allow you to blackmail me for the rest of my life, then you're sorely mistaken. I will personally squash any of your attempts to destroy my company!"
"You will try, but no armor can protect you from the metaphorical armory I have at my disposal." This was the crucial moment; she really had to sell this next point. "To make both of our lives easier, how about we cut a formal deal?"
Jacques remained standing, but settled himself down just enough to hear her out. "Explain."
"You need a way to legally ensure my silence, and I need the funds required to live in this world. What I propose is that you and your admittedly vast legal team draw up a contract. My terms are that I receive a lump sum payment equal to five years of one of your executive officers wages; in exchange, I'll sign a non-disclosure agreement that will prevent me from releasing any information that relates to the SEC as it was at any point before my 'retirement.'"
She paused just a moment to allow her words to sink in. "For good measure, you can add a clause that says that I officially forfeit any and all succession rights to company. Whitley will be the true-and-proper heir with no additional fuss from me."
Jacques sat back down and wordlessly began typing into his computer, no doubt doing a quick review of the SEC's employee salaries to figure out how to minimize the damage she would make in the budget. He didn't want to take the deal, as few sane men would, but the fact of the matter was that she could potentially bankrupt him with what she knew; even in the best case scenario, he'd be tied up in court for years dealing with what she would release to the public. She had him at gunpoint, but they would both have an easier time if he played along.
After many minutes of him silently reading through documents, he closed out of his pages and turned back to her. "Two years worth of pay. Your belongings are out by next Sunday, and you're out tonight."
"Three years. I'll have counsel of my own review the contract you e-mail me."
"You'll change your last name."
Her nails began to dig into her palm as her hand turned into a light fist. "Denied. You're the one the married into the company and changed your name to Schnee. I'm more of a Schnee than you are, Jacques."
He glared at her; she glared right back. "Fine, the paperwork for that would likely be more effort than it's worth. You'll have the contract in your inbox within a couple of days, so get the hell out of my house."
It was done; Jacques was pitiful snake of a man, but he wasn't stupid enough to risk her spilling company secrets. With the verbal pact sealed, Weiss spun on her heel as she obeyed his final directive. The hallway was devoid of people besides herself, leaving her time aplenty to wade through her own thoughts.
She, Weiss Schnee, just willingly cast away all of the significance attached to her last name. As she passed a portrait of her long-deceased grandfather, she paused long enough to bow her head. A sense of guilt pervaded her psyche, insisting that she had failed to uphold a great man's legacy. Weiss tried to wave it away; she had done one of the few things available to her in order to survive, physically and emotionally.
One day in the future, she might start her own business to try and honor her namesake. Maybe then her ancestor would be proud, because she had no desire to let his name turn to dust.
Stopping by her now-former bedroom to don a pair of dress pants, she quickly made her way to the dining room, where Yang and Klein were waiting for the news. Weiss greeted them smiling, if only to settle any unease they felt as she detailed her official withdrawal from the Schnee estate. Klein was both sad and happy for the change of state, saying that he was proud of her for managing to look out for herself, even if it meant that they could no longer meet on a regular basis.
Yang seemed proud, oddly enough, smiling as she gave Weiss a hearty pat on the shoulder. She didn't say a word (making it doubly odd) but Weiss appreciated the sentiment just the same.
Of course, Yang was also likely waiting for the true test to occur. It was just approaching lunchtime now, meaning that Weiss would have just enough time to talk to Jaune before he went into work. May the gods grant them all strength...
--
He was bored; so very, very bored.
Sharp, yellow eyes pierced the ceiling of his cell as he tried to will his boredom away. How many times had he counted the exact number of miniscule indentations in the paint? By the Goddess, he wished they hadn't transferred him from his previous cell block. Just because he liked to know the other inmates, the guards accused him of deliberately trying their patience and had him moved from his favorite neighbors.
He felt an itch on his tail bone, as was the norm with his unique shackles these days. He tried to ignore it, knowing that scratching it would do little to alleviate his real issue.
Bzzzzt!
The doors to every cell in his block opened simultaneously, beckoning them to go to lunch. As he left the confines of his "home", armed guards eyed the line of inmates with all due caution. As the lunch line shuffled awkwardly to the cafeteria, the man deliberately, albeit very cautiously, had the other inmates pass him by so he could meet up with one of his new favorite neighbors. That darling head of red haired belied the young boy's very temperamental nature, and the man couldn't help but feel hope that something... interesting would be happening soon.
After all, four years of monotony was quite too long for him to accept peacefully.
Breaching the threshold of the cafeteria as he reached his intended place in line, the man did his best to restrain a giggle. "Why, hello there, Adam! Have you considered my little proposal?"
Adam Taurus (such a fitting name for a bull!) snorted, but didn't refute the question. "You better have a plan for this. Remember: once we're free, you're helping me find my darling first."
"But of course! That was the deal, after all." How lovely! Things would definitely be getting interesting soon. "I may be an... eccentric man, Taurus, but I keep my word. Your kitten shall see the results of her betrayal."
"Good." Adam stayed silent for a moment due to an passing guard. Once the nameless goon passed, Taurus leaned his head back towards him. "You never told me who it was that you'll be meeting with when we rightfully depart."
"I didn't? How strange of me. It is the family of police officer-"
Beat. "Well, former officer Nicholas Arc."
X
But who is it!?
I hope you enjoyed it. Please consider leaving a review, and have a nice day/night!
Spoilers for Volume 5 below. Continue at your own risk.
No, really.
Readers of my story "Jaune, the Charismatic Gamer" might recall that I gave Jaune the 'cure' spell instead of the many other skills he might have gotten from the Final Fantasy series. The response to this was generally positive, but I also received a decent amount of flak for it.
Well, as of the end of Episode eleven in Volume five, Weiss has been impaled with extreme prejudice by our lady and savior Cinder Fall. I am extremely doubtful that they would kill a title character at this point in the series, so consider this right here as my official "called it":
Jaune's Semblance will, somehow, wind up healing Weiss. If/when that happens, I am going to laugh. And laugh. And laugh.
And if it doesn't happen, well, you can all hold it over me for years to come. Maybe come up with some type of shame fic for me to write lol.