Here we go.

Cover Art: Solace O' Autumn

Chapter 13

The Schnee family were arranged tastefully to greet him and seated on a selection of long chairs. The three women sat on an elegant sofa with Willow Schnee in the centre, while Jacques and his son took two flanking seats in what could only have been an intentional decision. It looked like a photographer had set them up for the "perfect family shot" except that the photographer would have had his work cut out for him because the only one who looked even marginally like she wanted to be there was Willow. Jacques wore a polite smile, and Whitley one of feigned interest, but it was clear no one other than Willow wanted to hear him play.

Klein brought him up and introduced him, and then none-too-subtly suggested with a nod that he play right then and there and not waste anyone's time. Least of all Mr Schnee's. The message was clear. Don't mess this up.

With that much pressure, Jaune didn't hesitate to activate his Bardic Skills as he played. It had tended to get him in trouble in the past but that was around large crowds of people. There were only six here including Klein, so it was probably safe. Safer than doing a bad job and losing out on his place to stay before his time in Atlas had even begun.

His music provoked an immediate response from the family. Willow beamed and sat straighter, looking for all the world like she was basking in the song. Her husband's eyes sharpened, but only in the sense that he started actually paying attention and not faking it. The next eldest, Winter, scowled no matter how well he played, and seemed to dislike him more for actually being good at it. Weiss closed her eyes and nodded her head along to the music, quietly enjoying it, while Whitley glanced at is father first, and then allowed himself to enjoy the music once it was clear he should. Klein just looked relieved he wouldn't have to escort Jaune out the building for failing to live up to the expectation.

There were no extra points in Charisma by the time he was done but that was honestly a relief. Jaune held his guitar to the side and bowed as polite applause rippled out from everyone but Winter.

"See?" said Willow, looking to her husband. "Didn't I say he would be perfect for the gala?"

"You did. And you were right." Jacques appeared to be pleased with the both of them, which made more sense with Jaune than it did his own wife. "That was quite the display. Sadly, I must be off to do some work but thank you for the tune, Mr Arc. It was a pleasure."

"You're welcome, sir. Thank you for allowing me into your home."

The man nodded once and stood, leaving with a steady gait. His exit could have been called rude, but Klein had warned him the man was focused on his work. Jaune just supposed some people saw their work as their life and blocked out everything else. He was much more worried about Winter Schnee anyway, because the woman in uniform had not enjoyed his music.

And at Lvl. 48 she was the strongest person in the room.

"Are we done here?" she asked, standing and dusting her uniform down. "I came and I listened as per your request, mother. I believe that was all?"

Willow didn't look upset or surprised. "Don't you have any thoughts on it, daughter?"

"It was passing, I suppose." Winter sniffed. "If you'll excuse me, I have my duty to attend to." The woman stormed past Jaune, only pausing at the door to nod and say, much more politely, "Good day to you, Klein."

"To you as well, Winter," he replied. "Come back safe from your mission."

"I'll do my best."

The door closed behind her. Jaune could feel the awkwardness dripping off every piece of furniture, and yet no one else here acted like they could. If this was a common occurrence then they'd probably gotten used to it, but that didn't mean anyone else had.

"The music was good," said Weiss, standing as well. At least she addressed him head on. "I didn't fully believe my mother when she said she'd met a skilled guitarist at a random event in Argus but even a broken clock can be right twice a day." Willow didn't react to that. "I'm Weiss Schnee. Nice to meet you."

"Jaune Arc," he replied, offering his hand and refraining from doing anything but shaking hers. She was a very pretty girl, but the tense atmosphere had him much too afraid to try and flirt. "And thank you for the kind words. I've been practicing hard."

"It was very good, yes!" The youngest jumped up, eager to outdo his sister and quickly took Jaune's hand. "I'm sure the guests at the gala will love to hear your music. I am Whitley Schnee, and it is a pleasure. Has Klein shown you to your quarters yet?"

"I think that was to come after—"

"Then allow me to give you the grand tour of the manor!"

"After, Whitley." Willow interrupted and rose, taller than both her children and somehow seeming so apart from them at the same time. "I invited Jaune here as my guest and would like to talk with him for a while."

Whitley looked annoyed. Weiss just looked like she wanted to be somewhere else. Remembering Klein's words about Whitley, Jaune cut in. "It's good of you to offer to show me around, though. Maybe you can follow up on that once Willow is done with me."

The smile returned. "I'd be happy to. It's a host's duty after all."

Whitley wasn't his host, and everyone knew that, but the boy was determined to fulfil the role, perhaps to feel important or to outdo his sisters. The way Weiss rolled her eyes suggested she knew, and it wasn't like she cared either. There'd been no such offer from her, and she was quick to excuse herself saying she needed to meet with a tutor for some one-on-one training. Once she was gone, Whitley followed, saying they would meet up again later. He came off a little forward, but with Klein's advance information he could tell it wasn't meant to be that way.

Soon, it was just he and Willow, with Klein bowing and stepping out, closing the door behind him. It felt strange to be at the service of this woman, but it was just first-time jitters. Aside from a paper round and some chores, this was the first time he'd ever been employed by someone, and he didn't want to stick his foot in his mouth and ruin it.

"Come. Sit." Willow took her seat once more and patted the spot beside her where Weiss had been seated before. Unsure what to do with his guitar, he brought it along and rested it up against his leg. The sofa was comfortable, but it all looked so expensive for him and his shredded jeans. "How did you find the journey over?" she asked. "Atlas isn't too cold for you, is it?"

"A little," he admitted. "But that's my fault for not putting on something a little warmer than this."

"Those trousers of yours can't be helping." Willow glanced down at some of the tears. "Forgive me if this is insulting but did the Nikos family not pay well enough for their event that you could afford whole jeans?"

Did she think these were ripped because they were threadbare? Jaune wasn't confident enough to tell her it was a fashion choice. "I did that as a favour for free. And I guess it was a bit of self-promotion. Getting me in front of people who could pay for my services."

"It certainly worked at that." Willow placed a hand on his knee in what he was sure was a friendly gesture, but which made him gulp a little. She was an attractive older woman, after all. Jaune locked his eyes ahead before he could misread something and really shove his foot in his mouth. "We shall go shopping later today and get you a proper wardrobe. I'll hear no excuses. You'll need a uniform to perform at the gala as it is, and I shall be providing it and all else. Consider it an extension of what I'll be paying you for your time."

"That's—" He was about to say not necessary when her eyes locked onto his, "—really generous of you, ma'am."

Her smile grew. "Please, call me Willow. Ma'am makes me feel old. And you needn't be so nervous. I'm not that scary, am I?"

"N—No." His stammer gave it away and he noticed her face fall. "It's not you, ma— Willow. This is just my first ever job and I'm scared of messing it up."

"Ah." She relaxed and laughed. It was an odd sound from her, refreshing and happy but also confused, like she hadn't let out sounds like that in a long while and had forgotten how. "That explains it. It must be daunting having your first job be to the SDC as well, but don't worry so much. You won't be worked to the bone and all I'll ask is you play music for me every now and then. I find it… relaxing. Invigorating, even. You have such a rare talent."

She didn't know the half of it. His Semblance was doing the heavy lifting and was responsible for the feelings she mentioned. Was that bad? Was that mind control? He didn't think so, because if she was feeling happier and less stressed then it was more therapeutic than controlling. The definition of Bardic Skills didn't imply any degree of control or suggestibility.

"I'll do my best. When is the gala if I might ask? I need to learn some more songs."

"It's two weeks away, so have plenty of time to practice. There is a certain degree of guest attending so you may want to avoid any songs considered too modern. We normally have classical music at these events, but I convinced Jacques to make this one a little bolder and he's been rather happy to leave it to me. After today, I doubt he'll protest at all, but I'll suggest you run any new songs by me. I'll be happy to listen to you practice as well."

"Uh. Sure. But I should warn you I won't sound a hundredth as good when I'm learning a song from scratch."

Her hand pressed down on his knee, and she leaned in. "I don't think anyone expects a confident performance from a man on his first try, Jaune. Don't worry. I can be patient be with you." A little blood crept up his neck and he looked away. Willow laughed, delighted. "Oh, you're very nervous, aren't you? You looked so confident up on that stage."

"S—Sorry to disappoint you. I get in the zone when I play."

"No, no. This is endearing, believe me." The hand finally removed itself and rose to his shoulder. "But I'm sure you'll become more comfortable around me in time. Can you play another quick song for me? I know it's selfish of me but—"

"Of course!" Jaune drew his guitar into his lap. "And it's not selfish at all when you're paying me."

Willow smiled and brought her hand back, placing both in her lap and facing him. He didn't usually perform for people sitting so close, but it wasn't so bad. The way she stared at him put him a little on the spot, but it was no different from when he performed for Pyrrha in his room. Very similar, in fact. Willow had the same kind of smile on her face.

That smile faded a little when he started playing without Bardic Skills. Her eyes faded, a veil of apathy falling over her, and she looked, for a brief moment, like she was bored of him. Jaune panicked and activated Bardic Skills mid-song, and the sudden look was blown away from her. Willow blinked and focused on him again, her lips curving up into a wide and beautiful smile.

By the end of it, she was clapping him. "Bravo Jaune! Bravo!"

"Thanks. And I'm sorry it was a bit bad at first. I'm still learning that one." A white lie. It was obvious he was only playing good music to her with his skill activated. "I need more practice on it."

"That would explain it. The song felt… I don't know, less sure of itself at first." Willow waved it off with a satisfied smile. "But you got into it so quickly. Watching you play is… well, it's almost inspiring. Were I younger, I'd feel driven to pick up the guitar myself!"

That was honestly a nice compliment – nicer, even, than having his music praised. To think you'd inspired someone to pick up an art and try it themselves was kind of crazy. Jaune laughed and scratched the back of his head, feeling put on the spot once more. "T—Thanks. I mean, I'd be happy to teach you a few chords if you ever want."

"Perhaps I'll take you up on it, but I don't want to keep you when you haven't had a chance to sit down and rest. I'll have Klein show you to your room and I'm sure Whitley will come along for his promised tour at some point. Oh, and I should apologise for my children earlier. Winter, particularly. My eldest daughter is in a foul mood at the moment. Please don't take anything she said or says too seriously."

"That's fine. I got the feeling she wasn't angry at my specifically."

Willow sighed. "That doesn't make it any better. Upset or not, she should not have been rude to you." Shaking her head, she said, "That girl. I'd ask who raised her like that, but I've a feeling it's my fault. If you think having a job for the first time is stressful, you should try having a child."

"I'm hoping that's a while off."

"Hmm. I'd agree with you on that." Willow chuckled, then said, "I'll have Klein show you to your room. One moment." Willow raised her voice. "Klein, can you come back in?"

The door opened. The man bowed. "Madam Schnee."

"Klein, can you be a dear and show Jaune to his quarters? Answer any questions he has as you do."

"Of course, ma'am. If you would, sir?"

Jaune stood, then bowed to Willow. "Thank you again for this opportunity, Willow." He waited for her smile before heading to Klein, his guitar in one hand. "You can just call me Jaune by the way."

"I will normally," said the butler as he led him away. "But, when you're in front of the Schnee family or guests, I'm required to refer to you more formally. It's just one of many rules when dealing with certain people."

"Oh. Sorry. I didn't realise."

"You'll pick it up." Klein chuckled. He was a friendly man as far as Jaune could tell. "You also won't have to worry about it for the most part. It's the jobs of those serving to be more respectful. All you need do is remember to call Jacques Mr Schnee and you'll be fine. With anyone else, it's best to be safe with sir or madam unless they give you permission otherwise. Whitley prefers his first name; Weiss will answer to either; Winter… Winter is probably best avoided."

Klein didn't give him the full tour, leaving that for Whitley later, but he did fill him in on many little details. Things he needed to know such as what not to do, and how to handle basic things like food needs. The Schnee family ate at very specific times, and he may or may not be invited to eat with them, and what he should do if he wasn't. He also covered the basics of the staff in the manor.

"Your room will be cleaned and freshened for you, but we'll still ask you not to create too much work for the staff. You're welcome to talk to and get to know us but remember two things. Firstly, that we are doing our jobs, so we don't have unlimited time and secondly, we are to be polite and busy around the Schnee family. Don't be surprised if we will chat with you when we're alone but stay silent when Willow is around. We're not being rude to you or to her. We're simply doing our jobs."

"Also, don't get the wrong idea by how we act. Work at the manor is well paying and prestigious and the SDC even provide us medical care and a generous pension once we retire. Most of us are happy to be working here, but it's our job to be seen and not to be heard, so don't think us staying silent or not meeting anyone's eyes is a measure of fear. It's the way we're meant to act. We're a perfectly rambunctious and friendly lot if you ever come down to the servant's wing after hours."

"Got it. Anything else?"

"Yes. Faunus." Klein sighed. "The Schnee family has a reputation for being anti-faunus and you're bound to run into it in Atlas. I'd rather you know ahead of time. It's, to a degree, nonsense."

Jaune didn't miss that. "To a degree…?"

"Half the servant staff here are faunus and they're perfectly happy working here. The problem is that when it comes to SDC mines, it's closer to 95% faunus. The mines are low pay, high risk, low skill jobs – and many accuse the SDC of profiting off faunus suffering which, in a sense, they have done. But that's not the family's intent."

"Oh?"

"The SDC offers low-skilled jobs at low pay and with few questions asked. The positions aren't advertised to faunus – they're just open jobs for anyone who needs it. The fact that faunus are more commonly unemployed and forced into taking it is not the SDC's fault. If humans are receiving favouritism elsewhere, that's not something the SDC can control. Do they benefit from it? Yes, but they'd benefit just as well from cheap human labour. If you want to blame anyone for it, blame society and the laws of the kingdoms for allowing prejudice such as what puts faunus in the position where the SDC's work is all that's available."

So, basically, the SDC had crappy jobs and used cheap labour to make a lot of money. That much made sense. Klein made a point about them not putting the faunus in bad spots. If the positions were filling with faunus, that surely meant other people were refusing them for work.

"The SDC doesn't choose to hire faunus. It hires literally anyone who wants a job. I'll admit conditions could be better, but I don't have a say over that, and those conditions would be just as bad for human miners as faunus. The SDC can be accused of poor conditions, true, but to call them racially motivated is nonsense. I just want you aware because you'll no doubt hear people call them it in Atlas."

"I understand. Is it really that bad, though?"

"There are regular faunus protests and the SDC often take the brunt of that despite the fact we do accept faunus labour. It's easy to hate a figure like Jacques than some friendly-looking hotelier who subtly refuses to hire faunus, however. Jacques is a public figure. Then it gets worse when galas and events are held and only human guests arrive but, again, that's not by design. We send invites out to all wealthy business owners in Atlas…"

"And almost all of them are human," Jaune finished.

"Exactly. Again, I don't doubt society is biased against faunus. That much is certainly true in Atlas. There are wealthy faunus but even they prefer to stay hidden and not draw attention lest they be seen as traitors by the White Fang. It's all a mess and I'd just focus on your music and on Willow." Klein brightened. "And I must say you've made an impression on her. I've not seen her so alert and motivated in years!"

Finally, a safe topic.

"I'm glad I could help. She seems nice to me, though."

"Willow is not cruel, but she has been… apathetic for a long time." The way Klein hesitated over the word made it seem like he wanted to say something else in its place. "I could not dare comment on why, but it may be a case of the woman who has everything not having anything to aspire to. Mr Schnee focuses on his business, Weiss on her training, Winter on her duty and Whitley on finding his own place. They all have goals and ambitions, whereas Willow has been content to drift aimlessly." He shrugged. "Or that is how I have seen it. To see her so lively is novel and I think even her children were a little surprised."

It was good to know he was helping, then. Maybe he could leave Atlas having changed Willow for the better, or at least having soothed a few ruffled feathers among the family. Given she was paying him and even buying him a full wardrobe, he more than owed her the effort.

Klein eventually brought him to a guest room that was larger than the Arc family home's living room and kitchen combined. There was a huge bed in the centre, a desk, several chairs, mini-fridge and an en-suite bathroom with a huge, oval bath stood freely in the centre of a tiled room looking out of floor-to-ceiling size windows. Anyone outside would see him bathing, but given they were on the third floor and the angle from below, no one would be able to look in. Jaune still had a feeling he'd be closing the blinds when he used it. There was so much gold, too. Gold taps, gold ornaments, gold lights, even gold doorknobs.

"You'll have to forgive the ostentatious nature of the room," said Klein, smiling at Jaune's shock. He was smiling sardonically. "The Schnee family is expected to make an impact on every guest. When you're the richest family on Remnant, everyone is looking for an excuse to mock and deride you, and it's better to stun with gaudy opulence than it is to be the butt of jokes for failing to live up to the expectation."

"You make being rich sound really complicated, Klein."

"As a man who has grown up serving the Schnee family, I've come to realise just how complicated it is. I won't lie and say it's harder than being poor. They have just as many problems, however. Those problems would just seem bizarre to us. You did not grow up being hated by 99% of the world for being this wealthy. The Schnee children have had to deal with the naked assumption that they are spoilt and favoured in all ways of life."

"It's part of what drove Winter to throw away her position and enrol at the bottom end of the military." He sighed. "Even then, when she impressed her superiors and earned promotions through hard work, there were people whispering that she only won them because of her father's wealth. Nothing she can ever achieve will be truly believed to have been achieved through her own merit, not as long as her family remains as rich as it is."

Jaune frowned. "That's sad."

"Indeed. However, it's not as sad as one born an orphan or those who have lost their homes to Grimm. Don't take my words as saying they require sympathy and pity. I just want you aware of some of the drama that goes on, so you won't react with too much shock when you overhear someone at the gala whispering scandalous untruths."

"Got it. I'll do my best to judge Willow on how she acts. Which has, so far, been amazing. She's even offered to buy me new clothes since my… uh… jeans are old and ripped." Klein looked down, snorted, and concealed a smirk. "Don't tell her they're meant to be that way."

"I won't," he said, eyes twinkling. "But I'll have some food brought for you before you and Willow head out.

/-/

Jaune had expected, perhaps naively, that it'd just be him and Willow going out in a limousine to a clothes store. Idiotic in hindsight. This was Willow Schnee, famous and important, so when they went out it was with six members of staff – three bodyguards, two maids and a man who Willow introduced as her best stylist.

And as for visiting a clothes store, they'd bought it out. The store was literally closed off to the public and taken over by them, and the cashier looked absolutely thrilled by the fact. Even more so when Willow handed over a card and told her to just open up a tab. While there was theoretically a limit on it, Jaune still got the feeling they could have bought the entire shop three times over without ever getting near it.

"Good body, firm and fit." The stylist had Jaune T-posing while he went over him with a tape measure. "Blonde hair and blue eyes is very attractive in Atlas. And you have a good physique. Do you work out?"

"Uh. A little."

"Do more. The Schnee manor has its own gymnasium. Fully stocked. It's open to all staff, yourself included." The man tugged at Jaune's hoodie. "Get rid of this. Hands up." Without any care for the many women in the store, the man dragged Jaune's top off. The cashier giggled awkwardly. "Hmmm. Slightest definition of abs, broad shoulders. What are you doing hiding all that under a hoodie? Good lord. You need a shirt – top two buttons open. No, you need several shits, and some tighter vests. These jeans? They need to go."

"Please not right here," he whispered, grasping his waistband. "I'm practically naked here!"

"You're topless. Have you never been to a public pool before?" The man sighed and rolled his eyes. "You will look fabulous once I am done with you, young man, but this." He waved his hands at Jaune's body. "This needs to go. All of it! You're giving me a complex just looking at you. I look at you and I see handsome young beggar. You need a makeover – and a haircut."

"I thought we were just buying clothes—"

"No, no, no!" The man gasped and reeled back. "We don't buy clothes, darling. We buy outfits. We buy looks. We buy first impressions. And I'll tell you what my expression will be if you mix and match what I pick out for you." He winked. "It'll be murderous. As in, I'll commit a murder, and not even a fashion murder. It'll be a fashion mercy killing. Because that's what your current look is doing to me. It's waging war on my senses." Without pause, the man grabbed Jaune's arm, dragged it to his nose and sniffed.

"Um."

"What cologne do you use?"

"I… don't…"

The man swayed. "Catch me."

One of the bodyguards did indeed catch the designer when he fell back so hard he absolutely would have cracked his head open.

"Willow, darling!" he cried. "Where did you find this man? In a dumpster!?"

"He's a work in progress," said Willow, smiling and hiding her lips with one hand. "But you needn't be so hard on him, Pierre. He comes from a small village and I'm not sure they had many stores there to buy clothes from. Or cologne."

"Good lord." He rose out the bodyguard's arms and fanned his face. "When I am done with you, young man, you are going to look a million lien – even if that's only because I force you into an outfit costing it."

"That seems like such a waste. There's a bargain section right there and—"

"Oooohhh—"

The bodyguard caught the stylist again.

"I'm not the one being unreasonable here!" Jaune yelled. "A hoodie and jeans are perfectly fine!"

In the end, he let the man force him into too many outfits over too many hours. A shopping trip to him took thirty minutes. They were there for four hours. He must have tried on two hundred different outfits at least before the man found a winning set of combinations. Some were simply black trousers with white shirts tucked in – for the gala, he'd been told. Others were more casual, with tight jeans and even tighter vests with a black jacket thrown over the top.

When he complained about things being tight, he got a lecture on how so many men wore baggy stuff that made them look awful because they didn't understand what it meant to wear "fitting" clothes. Apparently, what he'd been wearing before prioritised comfort over looks, and when Jaune said that was the way things should be, the man had fainted a third time. Despite all that, Jaune had to admit he did look good.

And not just because his Charisma was fudging things, either. The clothes hugged his body and showed off his physique. It wasn't muscles and fitness, but a lithe frame that at least looked healthy. Perfectly suitable for a guitarist.

There were no ripped jeans or hoodies allowed, however. Nothing baggy, either. He got long coats and scarves for the cold weather, and thick boots for snow, and each and every one was branded with names he'd never heard of, but which he was informed were the best on the market. When he glimpsed a price tag it was his moment to almost faint.

"This is 25,000 lien!" he cried, suddenly feeling out of place in so expensive a coat. "Willow, this is too much—"

"Nonsense." The woman placed a finger against his lips. "You look so very handsome in it, Jaune, and you're representing me at the gala just as much as you are the SDC. I want people to see you and be amazed. I want them to see you as I see you." Her finger dragged down to his lower lip. Jaune froze, heart racing. "And you and I will be travelling to visit some of these tourist destinations together. You don't want to look out of place beside me when I'm wearing my finery, do you?"

Together? He'd assumed she'd be sending him off to see them maybe with a tour guide, but it sounded like Willow intended to show him around Atlas personally. That was nice of her, though he had to wonder if people wouldn't think it weird to see her travelling alone with someone his age. He'd need to be on his best behaviour.

"I… I guess not. Is this really okay, though? You're spending so much on me."

Her blue eyes became lidded. "Then you'll just need to pay me back, won't you? Don't worry. I'm sure we can find some way for you to compensate me." With a low laugh, she slid her finger down his neck to his chest and gave him a little push. "Keep the coat on, Jaune. It looks good on you. And you're worth every lien."

He had no answer for that.

Even if he got the feeling his mom would be very upset at that moment for some reason.

Ah, the perils of ranking up Charisma but not intelligence.

Next Chapter: 3rd March

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