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The Menagerie Fleet had its own 'capital', it turned out, which was also dubbed 'The Menagerie'. Whether it had been named for the fleet, or vice versa, Weiss couldn't be sure. But she knew they were old, from Uplift itself, and they showed it as her smaller ship passed along its side. It's hull towered maybe ten or fifteen decks tall, and was covered in mismatched patches of metal and wood, with sections that had clearly been damaged and left open, the space repurposed into smaller docks where tiny sloops and cargo shippers worked from. The bottom of the ship was nearly perfectly flat, completely lacking any attempt at aerodynamic designs, and covered in massive, powerful turbolift fans similar to the ones that held Atlas aloft. Massive solar wings, like Weiss' own ship's wing-sails but nearly twice the size of her entire ship, rested just below the top deck, carefully adjusting themselves to maximised power intake and minimize the effect on the ship's movements in a careful dance played out to avoid crushing the hundreds of smaller ships around it.

Above the top-deck, on what would have been the great barge's storage yard, was an eclectic mix of cargo containers, old trailers, long-since disabled and incorporated ships, and hand-built roofed footpaths between them covered by thick wooden and metal panels. There were about four more 'decks' of this, although they weren't perfectly broken up like that with plenty of what Weiss assumed to be homes or business - in that they were solid structures, unbroken, that took up the space - that stretched up above the deck. There were long scrawls of paint along the outsides, where walkways had been built over time and people had occupied the space with graffiti, and thin streamers and banners hung carefully where they wouldn't obstruct the wing-sails. The extra 'decks' tapers up and back, toward the massive engineering segment where twelve F-Class thrusters each as tall as two decks propelled the ship lazily along, packed in together.

They came down above it, landing at one of dozens of cleared out landing sites along the ship's top. From above, Weiss could see open-air markets, of all things, enclosed by the piecemeal construction and partially covered by cloth roofs, tarps, and even glass.

"Impressed, are we?" Blake spoke, standing beside her in a set of formal-looking dark robes that ran down to her elbows and knees, cinched by leather just above the joints. Stockings lead to boots, and fingerless gloves covered her hands.

"It's… Impressive." She admitted quietly, straightening her far more modest-feeling creme dress and black pants. "I never knew the Faunus built their ships to be so… Complex."

"We have built everything we need over the years, the same as Atlas." Blake explained quietly, "More of this is… Storage, and machinery to keep the rest working, than you might expect. But it is ours, and we are free."

"I see…"

"Stay close, this is not Atlas." Blake warned her after a moment's silence, when the young woman - Ilia, Weiss thought - joined them in her own set of robes. Unlike Blake's, hers hung loose down to her ankles and cut off, unornamented, at her shoulders. Quietly, Blake added, "Our freedom does not mean your security. And everyone knows the rumors abounding around you and the General."

"Rumors…?" Weiss asked, brows furrowing as she followed the Faunus. "And what of my people?"

"They'll be kept here, safe from anyone with bad intentions while you are, technically, unprotected." Ilia answered for her apparent commander, falling in on Weiss' other side protectively as they crossed Weiss' ship. "And you can't not know the rumors…"

"I can, in fact, not know," Weiss sighed, "and I don't. Please, do enlighten me though."

"Well…"

"Ilia." Blake growled warningly, "Do not antagonize her just because she's a Schnee."

"Fine, fine…"

"No, I need to know." Weiss argued quietly, wary as they descended the gangway down onto the open landing pad, where half a dozen Faunus were idling about. These weren't guards, though. Instead they looked like workers, dressed in dark trousers and thick coats against the wind. Quietly, Weiss added, "It could affect my profession, depending on what it is."

"There are two main rumors." Blake sighed after a moment, "The first, that he's your father."

"He most certainly is not!" Weiss scoffed, ducking her head when her too-loud voice echoed in the empty hall they stepped into. Shaking her head, she sighed, "General Ironwood is not my father."

"The second," Ilia chuckled, "is that he's taken you to his bed, once or thrice."

"H-He's what?!" She squawked, heat shooting up her neck as Blake tried and failed to hush the both of them. Shaking her head, Weiss stammered, "H-He has not! Who would even- Where did you hear this? I'll have their hides!"

"You'll have to skin a third of Menagerie, then." The Faunus drawled, cocking her head and giving Weiss a toothy smile. "What do you think yours odds are, hm?"

"I…"

"They are just rumors." Blake cut in, laying a hand on her shoulder and flicking Ilia a look. "One no one smart puts any real stock in."

Ilia just shrugged and sighed, "She wanted to know-"

"And you instigated her asking by laying the bait, and the implication." Blake countered dryly, "I know your training, Ilia. Behave."

"Fine, fine…"

"Now, come." Blake ordered the both of them. "My mother awaits."

Weiss wanted to argue, face still burning from Ilia's suggestion, but… Blake was in charge, now, as much as it galled the Schnee pride in her. She'd have to get used to it. And, honestly, if it saved her crew and her ship, she wouldn't complain.

Much…

Inside, the halls of Menagerie were as eclectic as the outside had been. Some passages were narrow and weathered, and some were side and well-lit, with the widest thoroughfares full of many people coming and going. Many, but less than Weiss had expected, for a ship of such size, but Weiss held her tongue on that. Regardless, from the signs she saw, the Menagerie was far more organized than it might have appeared. The decks were labeled, obviously, but also sectioned out by some organizing scheme Weiss wasn't sure about just yet - they were passing along Deck A, through Section One. And they passed more than one security office, ranging from an entire building for the purpose to what amounted to stalls installed with armored men and women wearing short swords and carrying shortened, U-shaped spears that would be perfect for deck fighting or carefully policing people, if needed.

Atlas preferred stun batons, but Weiss wasn't sure which would actually work better.

Eventually, they stepped into a final more crowded thoroughfare, framed by old looking wooden construction - proper store fronts, with overhanging roofs and paper lanterns like she'd seen in history books - and Weiss couldn't help but stare. The windows were fine, steel-framed like spiderwebs, with mismatched stained glass in shapes and patterns. The bottoms of the buildings were mostly open, with stores and eateries inside and stalls in front of them selling a variety of things. Above them, Weiss could see children peering out of windows pushed open, or standing on thin balconies, and assumed those were the homes of the people working in the stores below.

Finally, they reached one of the squares Weiss had seen at a distance, where she couldn't make out more than the faintest details. This one had thick steel frames spider-webbing overhead with stained glass patterned like a rounded, purple flower. Smaller black circles with stems like berries ringed the edges of the glass. Beneath it, the room was darker than could have been expected, and ringed by three rows of desks, with guards at checkpoints at each of the four doors. At its heart sat a raised plinth with a shaded sort of pagoda, with a more ornate desk set in its center covered in paperwork and three computer terminals.

A woman sat at it, working away with thick glasses on and a face and shape that looked almost exactly like Blake's, only… More weathered. Or mature, Weiss supposed.

Weiss didn't need to hear Blake bow her head and say, "Hello, Mother."

It was obvious…

"Daughter!" The woman smiled, finishing signing something, smoothing her own black and white robes and standing to step around the desk and accept the hug her daughter offered. When they parted, she gave Weiss an appraising look, hummed, and returned to her desk. Picking up a document and reading, she asked, "This is the Schnee?"

"It is, Mother."

"She doesn't look like much…"

"She's-"

"Frugal." Weiss cut in gently, smiling apologetically when Blake's eyes narrowed and her mother looked up, her own gaze flat and unreadable in a familiar way. "I prioritize my crew and my ship, and their health. Several crew have cybernetics, myself included, and between caring for those and trying to improve our ship, I lack a lot in terms of spare funds for nicer clothes."

"Or a bath…"

"Yes, well…" Weiss smiled as warmly as she could, "Until last night, I was a prisoner. Of your daughter's. After your people attacked and took my ship."

"My, my, Schnee…" The older woman hummed, setting her pen aside and leaning back in her thick wooden chair so slowly it creaked. "Are you accusing my daughter of piracy?"

"Actually, she saved us, and treated us rather well." Weiss shrugged, "I am accusing one of her unders of piracy though. And her, technically, of kidnapping."

"Kidnapping is better, then?"

"Legally? A bit." Weiss smiled just a bit more thinly, hoping against hope she was reading amusement from the woman - and that it was a good thing - and continuing to play into it. "But what's a little kidnapping in business, hm?"

"My, daughter, she is a quick one, isn't she?" The woman laughed, bright and loud enough that some of the clerks nearby, but just out of apparent earshot, flicked her looks before returning to work. Shaking her head, she sighed, "I never thought I would enjoy a Schnee's introduction at all. Yet, here you are."

"Here I am," Weiss nodded, "and there you are, smiling."

"Indeed…" The woman hummed, "My name is Kali, Schnee. What is yours?"

"Weiss, Ma'am." She bowed her head, "A pleasure, in spite of the… Everything that brought me here."

"I am pleased to hear it." Kali nodded, gesturing at her daughter and waving Weiss forward towards the simple stool across from her with her other hand. "My daughter sent word of the gist of your proposal ahead of your arrival. But, if a deal awaits its making, I wish to hear our words myself."

"Of course, that's only understandable." Weiss nodded, "But, if I may make… Something of an observation first?"

"By all means."

"You need people."

"Of course." The Faunus chuckled, nose wrinkling curiously. "Why else would we be, ahem, hiring?"

"You misunderstand, I do not mean you need ships and you need crew." Weiss corrected her, watching Blake stiffen as she, apparently, processed where Weiss was going and frowned. "You need people. On the way here, I noticed how empty everything felt. Halls that, on Atlas, would be crowded are barely half full. Storefronts that should be thronged are meandered by handfuls of people. Even when we landed, I saw few manning my ship, as if Blake didn't have enough manpower for all the ships, even though, as far as I know, they came intending to take them."

"Your point being…?"

"That you need more than just our skills and my ship." Weiss pressed, "You need us. You need to compete with Atlas. I've seen many Faunus living there, and many Humans who would gladly leave for a better life if they could. But something is stopping you from reaching out to them…"

"Insightful, too." Kali hummed, sounding… Somehow pleased and annoyed at the same time. Like she was glad Weiss was able to catch on to so much, but offended by it at the same time for a reason Weiss could only guess at. "Our people are spread dreadfully thin, yes. More are used to crew our ships and for administration than Atlas has ever done. As such, we are hard pressed simply to keep everything running."

"Mother, you can't just-"

"I am the Captain and Commander here, Blake." Kali cut her daughter off, smiling warmly before she turned back to Weiss, "We lack their advanced robotics and administrative systems. By design. Atlas largely refuses to sell any to us."

"Why not?" Weiss asked, adding as a polite after-thought, "If you don't mind telling me, of course."

"Old rivalries, mainly." The woman shrugged, "The old Kingdoms were not overly fond of the Faunus. Less so when we acquired our airships during the Cataclysm."

"You stole these…?"

"History is long and full of conflict." Kali answered simply, "Little was saved beyond the knowledge that we and the Kingdoms were in something approaching a war, back then. And that this was a part of that, before the Cataclysm more or less put overt warfare to bed. Regardless, old rivalries and feuds simply never died, and Atlas is nothing if not staunchly traditional. Those born to such rivalries simply keep them."

"But… That's so foolish." Weiss muttered, shaking her head at the lunacy of the idea. "Every weakness we foster is one the Grimm find advantage in. Why would they-"

"Mankind is not always rational, young lady." Kali cut her off, "But… I am pleased to see you agree with my daughter. She was always rather passionate about the idea as well, my little firebrand."

"Mother, please…"

"Oh, hush, it's my job as a mother to embarrass you." Weiss snorted and tried, vainly, to curb the pang of longing that flared to life in her heart. Kali saw through her, though, and offered a quiet, "I'm sorry for your loss, you know."

"Should you be?" Weiss sighed, "From what I have learned, my family was… Dreadful, to you and your people."

"Perhaps that is true." The woman nodded, folding her hands on her desk and frowning deeply, "Your father particularly used to be an incredible thorn, and I know many who buried many thanks to him. But… We are each entitled to our own sorrow. And all of it is irreplaceable."

"I…" Weiss blinked, eye aching, and sighed. "Thank you, Ma'am."

"Now," Kali sighed, "I know you have come with a proper offer. So let us hear it."

"Well, for your part, I can provide not only access to Atlas, but to General Ironwood himself. To an extent, at least, and only if I am careful." Knowing the rumors flying about the two of them was embarrassing but, here and now, they were at least useful. She didn't think that the Commander of the Menagerie would be the type to truly buy into rumors - but everyone knew that, behind a rumor, there was something. And her tenuous connection to the General was that thing, and something she might be able to turn to use. "The Schnee Reclamation Corporation is a known entity in the Kingdom, and between that and my connections, I might just be able to help remedy some of the issues you mentioned."

"How so?"

"By laundering money through us, for instance, you could steadily purchase menial droids for crewing on my ships." Weiss smiled, "No one looks twice when a handful of those are lost on missions."

"A drip feed will hardly solve our problems…"

"True. You'd need engineers to study them, and apply what they learn to your own manufacturing. Or," Weiss smiled, "to simply hire more Humans, slowly over time, to crew more ships that would need more droids. Steadily increasing the income of menial droids incrementally over time, slowly freeing up your own workers for more and more-"

"And allowing the process to become a cycle. Droids enable more ships and crews and engineers to study and gather them, which leads to more of the lot of it, feeding into itself." Kali hummed, "And, I presume, these Humans would need a company to work for…"

"They would, yes." She smiled, "And the SRC is more than willing to offer that employment. There are plenty of the desperate in the Kingdom that would benefit from this…"

"Yourself included."

"But of course." Weiss chuckled quietly, "Business is business, after all."

"Now you sound more like a Schnee." Blake muttered darkly, shaking her head and turning to regard her mother. "It isn't a terrible plan."

"But?"

"But," Blake sighed, "there are many that would despise us working with a Schnee. And worse if we put Faunus in their crews."

"Old rivalries die hard…"

"The SRC could stand to have a second ship." Weiss cut in to offer quickly, before the hole could sink her plans. Kali raised an eyebrow, and she said, "One of your sloops, captained by your own, chosen captain, would make an excellent co-chair for my company."

"And how would you comport this with your Atlesian friends…?"

"I have few of those left." They'd mostly run out in lock step as her family's Lien had, in recent years. "As for Ironwood… Well. He's nothing if not pragmatic. So long as we aren't being pirates, or having raiders in our crews, or hurting Atlas directly, he will listen when I argue that I am simply expanding my business as I see opportunities. Which is not untrue, to be fair."

"Indeed…" Kali hummed, "Blake, what do you think?"

"I think…" She sighed, "I think it's a good offer, with good logic, and minimal risks. All things considered, at least."

"You support this then?"

"I volunteer personally, mother." Kali's brows rose and Blake turned to defend herself, "I have no real record beyond rumors, due to my blood. Rumors an alliance with a Schnee would harm. I can also keep a direct eye on her, and ensure her loyalty," and Weiss heard the threat there, "as well as our profit. Finally, I already have a close-knit group that can head a ship who aren't on Atlas' radar."

"Then put together a crew." Kali nodded, turning to Weiss, "We will give this idea it's chance."

"Thank you." She smiled, "You won't regret this."

"Oh, you should hope not." Kali smiled, all teeth and hard eyes, "Because the next person to regret it after me will be you."

"U-Understood…" She nodded.

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Word reached her ship before Weiss or Blake did, and Weiss smiled when she saw Ruby leaning over the railing of their ship, waving excitedly. Her sister was standing behind her, glowering thinly at a uniformed Faunus who seemed more than a little unhappy with the whole affair. A few other Faunus workers, dressed in padded shirts and trousers, were repairing a few bits of damage along the hull while others checked over the engines. Pyrrha, she figured, was still resting and healing. Her wound had been deep, after all, and while Aura was a wonder for any wound, that still took time.

"Captain Schnee!" A voice called out from behind her. Weiss turned and smiled as Archibald came to meet her, looking far worse for wear with his uniform spotted by burns and an arm in a sling, but smiling in spite of it. He took her hand as he reached her and laughed quietly, "I hear I have you to thank for extricating my crew and I from our, ah, situation."

"You do…?"

"It was explained that you made a deal of some manner." He nodded, smile weakening just a bit, "And the same was offered to me. Evidently, they're in dire need of food and drink, and basic materials, and some rather unscrupulous persons have taken it on themselves to take from others."

"The nerve." Weiss chuckled, aware of Blake staring pointedly off at nothing beside her. "What of your crew, though? I'm sure you suffered losses…"

"We did, but…" He sighed, "We were offered lucrative deals if we'd let the Faunus handle things internally and not, er, spread the story around, as it were. Including a known scavenging site far to the north."

"The North?"

"And east." He nodded, "An old settlement, a military one, that a Faunus crew recently found records of between old Mantle and the eastern continent. You'll, ah, forgive me not over-sharing…"

"Of course, of course." Lucrative salvaging sights, while not so rare as to be unknown, were still incredibly worthwhile gains, particularly for military targets. Designs for droid units, munitions, ship and civil systems, and a whole host of other things could be gleaned from these kinds of sights. Not to mention the chance of finding data leading to more. Half his crew could have been murdered in front of the rest and they still likely would have agreed to the exchange. "Perhaps in the future we might… Work together on such a venture?"

"Perhaps." He smiled, "Time will tell. But for now, I only came to thank you, and say goodbye."

"For now, at least."

"One can hope." He nodded, turning to leave, "Best of luck, Captain."

She nodded, watched him leave, and turned to Blake, "So… Unscrupulous individuals?"

"Shut up." She snapped, waving her away, "We leave in two days, once my crew is ready. Be ready."

"Very well." Weiss nodded, "I will be."

"Weiss!" Ruby chirped excitedly when she joined them on the deck, flitting forward to hug her while the blonde behind her glowered warningly. Weiss chuckled and gave the smaller girl a pat on the shoulder, and she leaned back, "You're okay! I mean, we are! How did you even do that?"

"Negotiation is a talent I have long trained, Ruby." Weiss sighed, shaking her head and turning to business. "Yang. How is your arm? Can you fight soon?"

"I can." She nodded, dropping her voice and rolling her shoulder, "Why? What are we expecting?"

"Work, in a few days' time." Weiss explained, waving them towards the steerage in an order to follow her. "We're going to return to Atlas, to recieve payment for our work in the joint-effort and report in, so they don't expect we were taken by pirates or any such nonsense."

"But we were…?"

"Not officially, Ruby." Weiss countered, giving her a look as they climbed towards the top of the stairs. "Officially, some rather unscrupulous individuals acted on their own, and Menagerie assisted us. Then, with their aid, we returned. We're going to stop to gather lumber and forage on the way, as an excuse for the time."

"Time…?"

"We leave in a couple of days." Weiss nodded, taking the steerage in hand and sighing. It felt good to hold it again, to be in control of her ship. It was on safety, so she was safe to spin it and enjoy the weight without the engines flaring, and did just that while she went on. "Menagerie, the fleet and the ship alike, are in need. And I convinced the commander of the ship to partner one of them with us, to business ends."

"And working the forest will be a good test of that." Yang hummed, crossing her arms, "And if it goes poorly…"

"You need to be ready to fight." Weiss nodded, "In either case. Terrestrial Grimm are doubtless going to be in our way."

"Air, too…" Ruby murmured, "Are we getting more ammunition? Our guns need it."

"I'll ask." Weiss nodded, "For now, oversee repairs. And Yang, keep an eye on Pyrrha and our droids. I want to be certain we are ready, and unhindered, when we leave."

"You're worried about sabotage…"

"Among other things, yes." It would be foolish to entirely trust the Faunus, after all, their piracy aside. She didn't know enough about the politics at hand to know what to expect from any of them, from any of the potential factions she didn't know about or the people in them. "We have to be careful, as we move forward. If this works, it's our key to success. If it doesn't…"

"We lose a lot?"

"Yes, Ruby." Weiss sighed, "We lose a lot. So…"

"I'll recheck the parts they're giving us. Take apart what I can, make sure everything is, ya know… Working?"

"Do what you can." She nodded, giving Yang a look. "Both of you."

"Got it, Cap'n."

"Yep!"

Weiss watched them go and turned as Ilia slipped up the stairs past them and came to meet her. Weiss nodded in greeting, and the Faunus said, "Hello, Captain. Blake sent me along to ask if there was anything you needed."

"A time machine?" She chirped, "A way to erase the Grimm?"

"That we can provide, Schnee." The woman sighed, rolling her eyes and, apparently, ignoring her joke. Which Weiss took as a lesson not to bother with humor with the woman. Friendliness, it seemed, wasn't her style. At least with her. "I meant in terms of provisions."

"We have enough to get to the forest, and will take on water and forage there."

"You're going to work the land?"

"On the way back, yes." Weiss nodded, "To excuse our absence and pad our coffers. I'd planned to do so after the joint-operation regardless."

"I see…"

"Plus," Weiss smiled, folding her hands behind her waist comfortably and formally, "if we find a source of hardwood or medicinal plants, or a grazing pasture, we could mark them. They might be unclaimed, and Menagerie would benefit from them."

"If we had the manpower-"

"Which I intend to offer by 'losing'," she stressed the word, "a handful of droids if we do find something worthwhile. They can wait and serve as workers to assist whoever the Commander sends."

"Fine." She sighed, "I'll order your hold a fifth full on provisions and leave it in your hands."

"Very well."

"I am also to stay aboard." Weiss' eyes narrowed and she smiled toothily, taking evident amusement in Weiss' discomfort. "As a liaison for Blake. She will also stay aboard, on occasion. When she does, I won't. This way you always have a reliable and trustworthy contact if you need to reach out. You do have the extra room, after all."

"I suppose so…" And while she wasn't enthused by who would be using it, in either case, she could already imagine the advantages. And pressed one now, adding, "I will expect you to work, however. You are a capable spy, and I presume fighter as well?"

"Of course."

"Good. Join Yang on scouting work when we reach the forest." Weiss ordered, taking no small pleasure in the way the Faunus scowled, scales along her cheek glinting the faintest red in irritation. "Pyrrha will join you on scouting work after she's recovered from the attack. More hands make light work, as they say. And more eyes survey more land."

"You don't get to-"

"So long as I breathe, those on my ship will follow my orders." Weiss cut her off, "On your ships, you have command, and I value your input. But on mine, I have the final say."

"...Fine…" She growled, turning to leave, "I'll settle in, then."

"You do that." She smiled, watching the Faunus leave. She really shouldn't antagonize her, she knew, but…

Well, she needed the small victories.

The next few days passed in relative peace and quiet, bar taking in reports. Ilia insisted on Weiss being forced to sign off on every piece of furniture, equipment, provisions or parts brought aboard. A part of Weiss' 'duties as captain' she said, though Weiss had a feeling it was more to do with Weiss forcing her to obey orders. It was annoying, of course, but at least the Faunus had decided that the best payback was to just comply maliciously. Or at least, Weiss hoped it ended there…

And that the three broken parts Ruby had found had not been the small woman's actual payback.

She was overseeing her droids' final preparations on the top deck when, on the final day of their stay, she felt someone join her and turned to smile. She still looked worn, but she had on her armor. Or at least, what was left of it - the chest piece had been ruined, and she wore a simple black blouse there in its place. "Pyrrha. You're up and about?"

"I am better, yes." She nodded, flicking Weiss a look and adding, quietly. "Even better, now…"

"S-Stop." Weiss ducked her head, forcing herself to ignore the heat creeping up her neck and pay more attention to the droids on deck. It didn't stop her from hearing Pyrrha's little laugh, though. And, pursing her lips, Weiss grumbled, "All this time, and the first thing you do when we're back together is bully me? How utterly cruel."

"I would not call this bullying, per se…" Weiss rolled her eyes, but flinched when a hand gently rested on the small of her back. When she turned, Pyrrha looked rather like a child caught with the forbidden cookie in hand. She didn't withdraw, but she didn't press on either, instead asking, "Are you alright? I do not wish to push you."

"I'm… Fine." She lied. It was a lie. She was nervous and terrified, and unsure of what to do - but that was not due to Pyrrha. Quietly, she said, "Schnee are not… Affectionate, generally, a-and so it was a surprise."

"A bad one…?"

"No." She murmured, "Just… A surprising one."

"A surprising surprise, then?" Pyrrha chuckled, letting her hand slip further around to rest on Weiss' waist, where she tried to pretend it didn't feel like it weighed more than Myrtenaster ever had. "I should think that something of a tautology…"

"S-Shush."

"Ah." Pyrrha hummed, standing close to her side, "You're flustered. My apologies."

"You're a fiend…" She hissed quietly, rolling her eyes. "And I thought you wanted a d-date when we got to Atlas?"

"Hmmm, I believe I said 'after', presuming we survived…" Pyrrha pointed out, "And survive we did."

"Uh huh…" She sighed, rolling her eyes.

"Unless we didn't…" The redhead hummed, leaning closer to add, "But you're a bit overdressed for me to be in heaven."

It took a moment for Weiss to catch her meaning, but when she did she flushed scarlet and turned to glare up at the tall woman. Pyrrha backed away, laughing quietly and holding her hands up in surrender while Weiss muttered swears, threats and insults as quick as they came. And smacked her arm. But, when she relented, she didn't resist letting Pyrrha hesitantly lay her arm back around her waist.

"You know…" She hummed, "I'm certain Menagerie has places to eat."

"It does…" Weiss nodded, "I've seen them."

"And I'm sure your new friends wouldn't mind us going to one…"

"Perhaps, perhaps not."

"Weiss, please." Pyrrha chuckled, "I'm asking you out to dinner."

"Lunch." She corrected her, cocking her head and smiling ruefully, "And are you? I couldn't tell, as you hadn't asked yet…"

"Oh, you're bullying me now, are you?"

"Well." Weiss hummed, "You did suggest wanting to see me unclothed, Pyrrha…"

"Oh, as if you don't reciprocate." Weiss scowled darkly at her and Pyrrha laughed brightly, slipping around her and offering Weiss her hand. "Come on, then. Would you get dinner with me, oh Lady Schnee?"

"That," she smiled and offered her hand, "is better."

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