"Now that I have abolished all government of men, I have ascended to heaven to take on the Kingdom of God"
- Technoblade
Percy looked out over Kuo Kuana with a mix of pride and grief. Pride because in the years since he'd thrown his lot in with Menagerie, it had grown greatly. Instead of huts, people lived in homes. Instead of manually rowing their oar-driven boats out to the water to fish, fishers motored out for the day. Instead of torch-lit streets and shops, actual, electric lights now dotted up and down the city. None of them were on now considering the sun had yet to set, but they were there all the same.
That was mostly superficial, but looking out over the coastline he could see clear evidence of genuine progress. Dockyards even now unloaded crates of cargo onto trains to be shipped further inland, either to a warehouse to be distributed between stores or to a manufactury to be made into something a bit more refined. The streets were busy, and where before there had been a nation of people just existing to feed themselves for one more day, there was now a constant and unfaltering march of progress towards a better life.
But there was still the — for lack of a better word — grief behind it all. Because while they hadn't so much as had tractors before, Menagerie had been unique. Waters just off the coast of the center of the city which were actually clean, wide and open beaches with an unspoiled coastline. It was a simple place, with simple people making a simple living. He knew that that place still existed somewhere — a few dozen miles down the coast, maybe — but the idea of an entire nation of people living like that had been… refreshing. Idyllic, almost.
Of course that ignored the bevy of issues that brought with it. Lack of basic access to medicine, having to fish twelve hours a day to get enough for you and your family to eat, abysmal education where any existed at all, and the overall lack of any real choice as to whether they should keep living their life as is or join the rest of the modern world.
He'd given them that choice — forced many into it, he was sure — but it hadn't come without the loss of what had existed here.
Though he was biased, loving the sea so much. He'd done much the same to a hundred settlements on Anima, but since they weren't the idyllic seaside paradises that Menagerie had been he hadn't spared it a moment's thought.
"Perseus?" Percy blinked himself out of his stupor, pulling his eyes from the city and back to what was in front of him. Or rather, who.
Kali Belladonna's brows were furrowed together in concern, and her ears dipped forward on her head in a way he would never admit out loud that he found adorable. Despite the fact they'd only spoken face-to-face a handful of times, she had that motherly concern that reminded him of his own mom. It didn't hurt that she had the same fire that his own did. If he were being completely honest, spending the evening with the Belladonnas had been a not insignificant factor in his decision to come check on Menagerie in person today.
"Sorry, just got distracted with the city. It's changed a lot since the last time I was here." he shot her an apologetic smile.
She gave him an understanding one in turn. "I get that. I've been watching it happen and it's still hard to process sometimes." she looked out over the city with a forlorn smile. "I know that it's a lot of good that's been done, but it still feels like…"
"Like your home is gone?" Percy guessed. "Yeah, I understand that."
She nodded sadly. She didn't need to say anymore, they both understood.
"So," Kali cleared her throat several moments later, "As I was saying, in order to really get the country to contend with the others we need a CCT here. Without the communication the rest of Remnant is capable of, we're very limited in what we can do. Is it possible for your engineers to come and set one up?" she asked him.
Percy grimaced. He'd known this had been what she wanted to talk about when he'd been invited to meet in Menagerie, and knew he couldn't actually set up a CCT here, as much as he might like to.
"Unfortunately not." he vocalized his thoughts. "There's no chance of it whatsoever at the moment. The CCT is a Remnant-wide system, and for a main tower to be added it'd need action in every one of the other towers. Even if my engineers understood it as well as Atlas', it would be genuinely impossible to put one here. I'm sorry."
Kali frowned. "I'd broach the topic of talking to the other kingdoms about allowing it, but with Atlas' invasion a few months ago… It's out of your control, I understand. The other matter, then. We've been looking to build a network here in Menagerie. Not a CCT to connect to the other kingdoms, but just on Kuo Kuana. We figure we probably have access to the materials to do it now, but, well… we don't have anyone who understands it well enough to build it from the ground up. If we bought the materials, could we… hire some scientists from you? To set it up, and maintain it. We'd pay for it well, I promise." she rushed to assure him.
He believed them. The island was coming along well, and even though they weren't exactly rich by his standards they still had enough to actually matter to him if they wanted something enough. Which, in this case, it seemed they did.
But that brought up something else entirely. He couldn't connect them to the CCT, but if he came here and set up a network for them himself, what was stopping him from connecting them to Mistral's network? Or rather, a separate network which all of the Mistrali-connected devices would also be able to access. And on a bit of a less wholesome note, connecting their communication system to Mistral's would let him control their communications from Mistral, and the island with it. Another reassurance that Menagerie would never be used against him.
"Don't worry about a price." He told her. "Menagerie's benefit is mine, and this is something that'll pay back dividends. I'll have some people come by with the parts to set up a network here, and I'll have them connect it to Mistral's network. It's no CCT, but…"
Kali's eyes brightened, she perked up in her seat, and her ears leapt into the air. "No, that's perfect! Thank you!"
She didn't try to convince him to let Menagerie pay, he noticed. He didn't take offense, but that was the sort of thing that Kali would do. They must've really needed the money. He didn't doubt that, considering he had access to the exact details of their financials. He'd offer to help them out a bit, except he needed all the money he could get. Even Menagerie's promising investments took lower priority than preparing for the eventuality of war with Atlas. A few months ago he'd shown his people that they needed an army — now he was building it. He had a bit under a year to build up to face Atlas, who had been building up a military culture for generations. Mistral was stronger than it had been a handful of years ago to be sure, but it was no Atlas.
Their conversation ended when Ghira came out to the balcony they were sitting on with a plate of burgers (a new item on menagerie, courtesy of their new trade agreement), but Percy's thoughts drowned out the conversation the two were having.
He did have one advantage. Almost nobody alive had seen a war on Remnant. Nobody had seen what modern weapons could do in a war, or how to apply them. Percy had. Atlas had a century of military posturing and one guerilla war decades ago to fall back on, while Earth had been at war for as long as civilization had been around. Back on Earth he'd taken for granted the knowledge that you implicitly knew from history, pop culture, and common knowledge. Even things like the uses of machine guns, trenches, and artillery were things nobody on Remnant had any experience with. The assault on Windpath so many years ago and to a lesser extent even the assault on Argus just a few months ago where he'd had to personally order the Atlesian garrison to execute a believable takeover had shown him what intuition wouldn't; A twelve year old on Earth who had never seen a glimpse of war knew more about tactical decision making than an Atlesian officer did here.
And though they weren't fought with airships and bullheads, Percy had seen a couple of wars himself.
"What is it?" Percy tried to keep the annoyance out of his voice. The Malachites wouldn't call him unless it was important.
"The woman you asked us to find, Amber. We've found her. Considering how long it's been I thought I'd do you the courtesy of double checking before passing on the information to the client."
Percy took a second to consider that. Cinder hadn't proven herself very useful yet, but their deal was that he would get her this girl in exchange for her and her allies services. He couldn't blame her for not fulfilling her end of the deal when he hadn't his. Cinder was hardly a powerhouse, but the half a dozen huntsmen-trained individuals she'd promised was a huge boon in a world with so few of them. With the war with Atlas growing ever-closer, he needed all the help he could get. Enough to turn a blind eye to whatever this was, certainly.
"Do it." Percy ordered, "And thank you." Percy clicked his scroll shut and took a breath before he stepped back out onto the balcony.
Jacques nodded his greeting. "Welcome back, excellent timing."
Percy smiled apologetically and took his seat without a word. Jacques understood that some calls were just too important to let go to voicemail, regardless of the occasion.
Percy settled into his seat and directed his attention to the stage where, sure enough, his timing had been good. Jacques' younger daughter and Winter's little sister, Weiss, stepped out onto the stage and calmly strode to the forefront. There was no mass of applause or screaming fans when she revealed herself. Not for a lack of fans, he was sure, but because that's not the kind of event this was. This was a room full of thousands of political and business allies of the Schnee family, here to show their support for the family and rub shoulders with Jacques, Willow, or even one of the children. Polite applause echoed throughout the room, but this was a formal event. The stoically still atmosphere and formal dress of everyone there made that apparent.
But the years had allowed him to get ever so slightly used to these sorts of things (though that didn't mean he loved going to them), so he just settled into his seat and watched the performance.
A performance which was… surprisingly enjoyable. He liked music as much as the next guy, but even the massively overcrowded concerts for pop music or rock he'd been to back on Earth had been pretty low on the list of things he'd like to spend his night doing. For a formal concert or performance like he'd been expecting tonight, it was just about the most boring thing imaginable.
But Weiss had made him throw out that expectation and stomp on it. He was no professional critic but her singing was great — incredible even for someone who was barely seventeen — and the music wasn't an opera or orchestra, but… real music. A bit slow for his taste, but overall he was surprised by how much he genuinely enjoyed it. Maybe it was just that his expectations had been at rock bottom to begin with, but either way he found himself pleasantly surprised.
She sang for what seemed like forever — the songs melded together in a way that made Percy unsure where one ended and another began — and Percy was sure it must have been murdering her throat, but she kept going.
But what was probably the most surprising facet of the performance was the lyrics themselves. She sang about things that were so clearly stilted against her father and the SDC, about wanting freedom from her father and how she was raised, about being her own person, about the isolation she was kept in. She didn't mention anything or anyone by name, but given who was singing it it was clear who the lyrics were about. But through it all, Jacques sat there calmly. Maybe slightly irate, but Percy had found that Jacques looked like that more often than not these days.
"She's incredible, isn't she?"
Percy almost responded on reflex before his instinct ground him to a halt. Jacques was sitting to his left. The voice was from his right. And that wasn't Jacques' voice.
Monty smiled slightly as the last song (or maybe the last part of the one song, Percy had no idea) winded to a close. "She really does have a talent. Makes a part of it come to life."
Percy didn't know how to respond to that, mostly because he couldn't with Jacques sitting inches to his left. He'd look like a crazy person if he replied to Monty, and incredibly rude if he pretended to be on his scroll or something.
After the music finally died and there was a wide cacophony of polite applause (and even a few low cheers) the lights rose and Weiss returned backstage. Monty was gone with her.
"She's great." Percy commented to Jacques, clapping politely with the rest of the large audience as he registered Monty's brief appearance.
"Indeed." Jacques agreed. "In this she has truly excelled. Unfortunately, she takes after her sister more than I'd like in other aspects."
Percy grimaced, recalling something Winter had mentioned and assuming it was what Jacques was talking about. "I'd heard she wanted to be trained as a huntress. I thought you were fine with that. Something change?"
Jacques frowned bitterly. "One of my daughters has already used a huntsman education to shun their responsibility. I do not wish for it to happen again."
"Is that a good idea, to punish Weiss for something she hasn't done?" Percy asked.
Jacques' frown deepened. "And yet it looks like she's already heading that way. She didn't wish to go to Atlas. She requested to study at Beacon this fall."
Percy blinked. That was… surprising. Beacon had the best reputation of the academies, certainly — the one to produce the highest quality huntsmen as shown by the vytal tournament for the last however many decades — but Atlas wasn't far behind, and someone born and bred Atlesian like Weiss…
If Winter was any example, the Schnees were rather patriotic.
"Did she say why?" Percy asked.
Jacques scoffed, "Said she wanted to study with the best. To compete against the best huntsmen possible. She was just telling me what I wanted to hear. Really, it's to get away from Atlas, from her family and her responsibilities."
That was the paranoia coming up, Percy decided. Though, not unfounded if the little he'd heard heard through Winter was anything to go off of. The stress of everything going on with the White Fang and Mistral hadn't put Jacques in the best state mentally, but Winter joining the military and all the drama surrounding it couldn't have helped. Jacques could have handled the situation better, certainly, but Percy had a hard time blaming the man for acting impulsively while under as much stress as he had been, especially since Percy himself was responsible for much of that stress. Not all of it, though. Even though he'd helped Winter, he hadn't influenced her to join the military. That had been her choice and her choice alone.
"I told her she wasn't ready." Jacques continued. "She just rebuked me, said she could prove she was ready to go to an academy. I hired a huntsman, and he gave her a test. One which should have been next to impossible for a girl her age to pass."
"Should have been." Percy mused. So, she'd passed it then. Jacques didn't so much as know Percy had his aura unlocked, so it made sense that he'd go to a huntsman instead of asking Percy. Still, he was curious what the test had been.
"What was the test?" Percy vocalized his thoughts.
Jacques waved a hand dismissively. "Some Grimm she shouldn't have been able to defeat. It took the form of an enormous set of armor. It was far from one-sided, but she defeated it in the end."
Percy thought to what sort of grimm it could have been, but in the end came up blank. He hardly knew every grimm, even if finding ones he hadn't fought before was a rather rare occurrence recently.
"Then be proud of her." Percy said, startling Jacques' gaze from the empty stage to him. "She's accomplished something a huntsman doesn't think someone her age should be capable of. She's well ahead of her peers. She has the makings of someone great, Jacques. That's something to celebrate."
Jacques just scowled. "Dying young and alone to save a village of people idiotic enough to live away from the city is not a skill I consider worthwhile."
"Then don't think about the chance she decides to become a huntress. Think about what was needed for her to reach that level at seventeen." Percy implored. "The focus, the dedication, the discipline. Most girls her age aren't capable of anything close in their chosen field, much less that and music and whatever other classes she's been taking, stacked on her duties as a member of the Schnee household. If she can get into Beacon, it'll just prove that she's one of the most capable handful of people in her generation. Be proud of what she's accomplished, Jacques."
Jacques' expression didn't budge an inch when Percy was done speaking, simply holding Percy's gaze in a manner that Percy couldn't quite read. Percy understood, though. When you didn't know precisely what to say, simply… stay silent. It would unsettle whoever you were talking to, and come off as if you were completely in control of a situation and leaving the other person to scramble and guess your reaction, rather than struggling to sort out your thoughts. Percy couldn't remember whether it was Foley or Jacques that had taught that trick to him, but Percy knew it all the same.
So, he relaxed and let Jacques think.
A few moments later Jacques turned away from him. "I'll consider it." he said softly, to the point Percy strained to hear him over the low din of the crowds leaving the lower level. The small bevy of SDC business associates and family friends sitting around them hadn't moved, likely waiting for a chance to speak to Jacques before they were willing to leave.
Standing suddenly, Jacques adjusted his jacket, buttoning it up and dusting himself off. "The business with Winter is a shame. I know you were close. Regardless, I still believe you would run the SDC well when I am gone. Weiss is heiress now. Four and a half years is not such a large gap with some time." Jacques said in a louder voice, turning to look down at Percy.
Percy was struck silent for a moment at the rapid change of topic, and to something so… blunt, at that. Jacques had alluded to Percy marrying Winter and running the SDC when Jacques was gone often enough, but he'd never said it as such. And certainly not so publicly. And loudly. And… had he just said that he'd let Percy marry his seventeen-year-old daughter now?
"I didn't get along with Winter so that I could inherit the SDC." Percy said, keeping his significantly lower voice level. Rising slowly, Percy calmly buttoned his own suit, keeping his gaze locked with Jacques'. "I'm not here to marry one of your daughters, or because I want your company. I'm here because I'm your friend, Jacques."
A bitter taste danced its way across Percy's tongue as he uttered those words. He liked to think that they could still be true. That in a universe where he was just a Valean businessman (however that had happened) he'd have stuck by Jacques even now.
But it hadn't happened like that.
Jacques remained wordless for another moment as everyone around them began rising, looking at Percy in a new light with what they'd just heard from Jacques. Percy knew none of them, and he didn't intend to get acquainted.
"I know that, Percy." Jacques replied simply, and quietly. Percy wasn't sure what to make of that — Jacques was normally not the most open of books, but tonight he was being particularly cryptic.
An awkward moment later Jacques cleared his throat, gesturing for Percy to walk alongside him as he began ascending the handful of steps up to exit the balcony. "Weiss will be here soon. I'd like for you to speak to her."
Percy blinked, shooting a glance at Jacques "Speak to her? About what?"
"You're close to her in age. You can make her understand. Make her stay." he paused in the middle of his stride, near whispering. "Or at least not leave us. Like Winter. I don't think Willow could take it. And I…"Jacques returned Percy's gaze for a few seconds before quickly looking away, and in those seconds Percy could see the desperation leaking through. A man who so often seemed unbendable, who even in his weakest moments had never shown anything but aggression and dominance to Percy, let a ray of his need shine through.
If this is what Weiss could do to Jacques, Percy dreaded having children of his own. Luckily for Percy, it still wasn't looking too likely for him to live that long.
Willow, Jacques' wife, was less adept at hiding her sorrow. She'd been distant even before Winter had left, less and less sound with each stress piling up on the family. Percy hadn't seen her since Winter had left, but he had heard from some of his agents in the Schnee household.
It wasn't good.
"I'll talk to her." Percy promised. "I'll try to get to her as best I can, but I can't promise anything…"
Jacques resumed the climb up the remaining two steps at a glacial pace, nodding slowly. "I understand. That's all I ask."
Percy followed Jacques out into the hallway, and stood with him just outside it. They awkwardly waited there in silence for a minute or two, the half a dozen-odd people who had been following them out staying just within the balcony and making polite conversation to pretend that they were their own people deciding to wait there and not just following Jacques like lost sheep.
Soon enough from around the corner in front of them Weiss appeared half running down the hallway, her cheeks slightly flushed. When she saw them waiting, she skidded to a normal pace and continued like she'd been walking the whole way there. As she approached, Percy noticed the addition of a large red mark down her face, over her left eye. It looked like a scar but she had aura, so there wasn't really a reason for her to get such a mark. Maybe something had gone wrong in a dust lesson or a house pet had scratched her when she hadn't been expecting it. He'd have to ask later.
"Weiss." Jacques greeted, injecting as much positivity as he could into his voice. As it was, he sounded like he was a waiter finishing out a twelve hour shift who really needed the tip.
"Father." Weiss greeted neutrally, spreading her dress wide and curtsying. Then, surprising Percy, she turned and curtsied towards him. "Mr. Jackson. Thank you for coming. I hope you enjoyed the show."
As someone who didn't even bow anymore when he saw his father, a god, Percy felt he was in a pretty strong position to call it weird that she greeted either of them like that, and on her birthday no less.
Remnant was so weird, sometimes.
"It's been some time since you and Percy have talked." Jacques said, stopping Percy from replying. "I thought you might like to have a breather, before the party. You two can catch up for a few minutes."
Weiss seemed at a loss for words for a moment. Percy couldn't blame her, he'd be a bit confused too. But soon enough, she defaulted to being polite.
"O-of course, it would be a… pleasure?" She responded, phrasing it as though it were a question. Percy didn't take any offense. The two had pretty much never personally interacted outside of the occasional Schnee family dinner Percy had attended, and as far as he could recall had never spent time alone together. He'd say he saw her around the Schnee manor, but he was pretty confident he saw her less often than many of the house staff he recognized, and he didn't even know most of their names.
"Excellent." Jacques plowed on. "We'll be in the banquet hall when you're ready to join us."
Jacques strode off towards… the banquet hall apparently, wherever that was, the people still out on the balcony following after him quickly after.
Soon enough the last of Jacques' herd had exited out the door and Percy and Weiss were no longer separated by a stream of people.
"Wanna head in and take a seat?" Percy broke the ice, jerking his head towards the doorway.
"Sure." Winter's little sister answered simply, nervously clutching at her dress.
Percy shrugged, and strode in. He couldn't manually de-thaw her. The quickest way to get her to relax was to be relaxed himself.
Walking to where he'd just been sitting, Percy unbuttoned his suit and sat himself back down. He waited patiently for Weiss to sit next to him, opposite where her father had been sitting. She clutched her dress to herself and politely sat down, keeping her gaze forward. They both sat there in silence, the theater now completely devoid of human life, everyone having rushed to head to the banquet to rub shoulders with other important people.
She didn't have any 'tells' that he could see — her hands weren't clenched, she wasn't shaking at all, she wasn't biting her lip — but it was obvious she was uncomfortable. She was withdrawn in on herself. Nervous. And her eyes couldn't quite decide where to place themselves, only knowing they had to avoid looking at him, lest she run the chance their eyes meet and she'd have to say something. It reminded Percy of taking Grover to a party, to be honest. Full of nerves and sure they'd screw up. Percy couldn't judge, he knew for a fact he'd been worse as a teenager, though the consistency at which he experienced life-or-death situations had led him to taking this part of life a bit less seriously by her age.
"You ever been up here when it's empty?" Percy asked, keeping his posture relaxed and his voice casual. "I can't say I've ever been somewhere like this without people filling the room."
"Only for recitals." Weiss replied softly. "But never up here, no. It is a… unique perspective?"
Percy shot her a quick grin. "Are you asking me, or telling me?"
She hid a grimace rather poorly. "Um… telling?"
Her gaze flitted over to him for a moment, and he gave her a deadpan look. Apparently she decided to cut her losses, because she didn't speak again.
Percy chuckled. "I'm just messing with you." he assured her. "I know it's weird for you that your father asked you to talk to me alone."
"No, it's not that!" she rushed to assure him, but Percy cut her off before she could make up a reason she was nervous.
"Weiss, it's fine. We barely know each other. I won't be offended if you don't pretend otherwise."
She looked torn between denying that that had been what she was doing and admitting it, so Percy decided to make it easy for her and nuke those thoughts out of her mind.
"Weiss, your father asked me to talk with you to convince you not to go to Beacon." he told her bluntly.
Weiss recoiled as if struck. "What? He can't- I proved I'm ready. He said I can go to Beacon." she objected, her previous shyness forgotten.
"He's not going back on your deal." Percy assured her calmly. "He's not forcing you to stay. He asked me to convince you to."
She calmed down, withdrawing back in on herself ever so slightly. "And how are you planning on doing that?"
Percy shrugged. "Well, I need to know why you want to go first." he said, though he had more than an inkling.
"The numbers are clear, Beacon has the most effective academy. I wish to receive the best education possible, and so-"
Percy snorted a laugh to himself, cutting her off. "That's adorable. You and Winter both have the same tell when you're lying. You start to move your hands behind your back, like you're trying to look the picture of innocence. Doesn't work as well when you're sitting, but it still works."
Weiss stared back at him, mouth agape. She recovered, closing her mouth and repositioning her arms from her sides to her lap.
"I'm not lying!" she objected, looking scandalized at the accusation. "My sister and I are different, you know."
"Weiss, I don't need to read your body language to know you have other reasons you want to leave. I did just sit through your concert — excellent performance, by the way — and I'm not deaf. It sounds like you want to go to Beacon for more than the quality of its faculty."
Weiss huffed and raised her chin. "I'll have you know that I don't write my own songs. They're written by my father's songwriters. I have no say in the lyrics."
Percy didn't say anything. He just shot her a knowing look, and took a quick glance down at her hands which had returned to her sides.
Weiss ripped her hands to her lap once more, and then decided that wasn't aggressive enough and crossed them over her chest, her face glowing a bright crimson. "I don't have the stupid tell!" she objected.
"Weiss, I talk to Winter enough that I know you're less than happy with staying here."
Where before Weiss had been pretending to look scandalized to make him retract what he'd said, now she looked genuinely upset.
"You- she- what?! She told you?!" she hissed, and Percy could see very real betrayal in her gaze.
"Don't blame her." Percy rushed to say. "I barely know you. She's not betraying your trust, she's just… talking about her day to a friend. Telling me about someone I barely know, to get it off her chest. Everyone needs a sounding board to dump things on every now and then."
Percy could see Weiss visibly bite back her anger, though it was far from gone. "Yeah, well now it's being used against me!"
"Weiss, how is anything you've told your sister being used against you?" Percy asked patiently. "I'm just here to talk. If you decide you want to go to Beacon still, that's your choice. Nobody's going to stop you."
"But- you- father-" Weiss seemed to be struggling to put her thoughts into a sentence.
"Hasn't been told a word." Percy promised. As it was he'd not heard much from Winter — Weiss wasn't a super common topic when they did talk. But he had heard enough to know that some of those lyrics reflected Weiss' feelings a bit too well for it to be a coincidence. "And he won't. I promise."
Weiss de-tensed, but seemed far from relaxed. Where a few minutes ago she'd been tense because she was shy, now she was tense because she was angry. Or rather, with the storm of thoughts probably rushing through her head she was emotional in general. It might not seem like it, but that was an improvement over how self conscious and nervous she'd been initially. At least he could hold an honest conversation with her, this way.
"So," Percy returned to the topic at hand. "You don't want to be here. You want to get away from your father, to be your own person."
Weiss shifted uncomfortably. "Well, that's a… crude way of putting it."
Percy nodded, staying silent for a moment and thinking about how to phrase this next part. After a few seconds he decided to wing it and word it as he went, pretty sure there wasn't a way he could phrase what he wanted to say that she'd immediately understand.
"What you want is valid, Weiss, and I won't tell you not to live your own life." he started. "But you need to understand that despite how strict your father is, despite how detached he and your mother may seem at times, they love you, Weiss. You know factually that your parents are people too, capable of making mistakes, but think about what that means. Think about all the things you've tried your hand at and screwed up, all the mistakes you made when you were younger that make you cringe in embarrassment today. All of the stuff you've gotten wrong in your life. Your father… he loves you. He's trying to do what he thinks is best for you. He just got this one wrong."
"You don't know what you're talking about." Weiss refuted immediately, raising her voice. "People think that just because my family has money it magically solves all of my problems. That I should just be grateful that I have parents that aren't there, a father that treats me more like a tool than a person!" she stood. She'd raised her voice now, and Percy could see the faintest traces of a sheen of water over her eyes. "So don't try to come here and tell me about my life. You have no idea what it's like growing up having a father who you only see once a week, who cares more about preserving his legacy than you!"
Percy found it surprisingly easy to remain calm, despite the circumstances. She was a kid, for one, she was clearly not in the best state of mind, and to top it off it was her birthday. Hades, she'd have had a point if she was talking to most anyone else. It was by pure bad luck that she was stuck having this conversation with Percy.
Percy joined her in standing, facing Weiss' angry, tear-filled gaze and replying.
"Your family's wealth doesn't make your problems any less valid, Weiss. I'm not asking you to leap into your father's arms and proclaim your love to him because he has a large pocketbook — I'm not even asking you not to go to Beacon, really. I just want you to understand, Weiss, that your parents do care for you. That they need you right now, as much as you need them. Maybe more. So go to Beacon, be your own person, but give your parents a chance. They need that right now."
"It's not that simple." she replied halfheartedly, poorly hiding a sniffle. "You can't ask me to just forgive them. Not after everything. You don't know what it's like."
Gods, he was getting really annoyed that she kept repeating that.
"How do you know I don't?" he challenged suddenly. "You're not the only person in the world with a shitty dad."
Weiss hesitated. "I know, but… but they didn't even raise me. It's not the same."
"Not the same as what?" Percy retorted. "The way you assume other people grew up? The way you assume I grew up? Because up until a few seconds ago, that wasn't with anything but a perfect household."
Percy didn't let himself take pride in the regret he saw in the girl's eyes. He was debating an emotionally turbulent, probably exhausted seventeen year old girl, and his friend's daughter. There weren't any good feelings that came with pointing out the holes in what she was saying.
"I met my dad for the first time when I was twelve." Percy decided to tell her, if only to get this conversation done quicker and stop her crying. And, he admitted very quietly to himself in the deep recesses of his mind, that he hadn't been able to vent about anything to anyone in almost half a decade.
"Didn't even know his name or if he was alive until then." He continued. "The only reason I learned he existed at all is because he needed something from me. I didn't even meet him for the first time until I'd already done it. For the next five years, I risked life and limb in his name. Lost countless friends for him and our family. Risked my life every day. And you know what? In those five years, I saw him about as many times." Weiss had calmed some now, and was paying attention. That's all he needed. "When I was your age I hadn't seen him for a year, and I haven't seen or heard from him since. I know exactly what it's like, Weiss. More than you can know, I know what it's like to feel like you're just a tool. I know what that looks like, and I have the scars and the graves and the nightmares to prove it. That's not your parents, Weiss. They care for you. So even though we don't know each other very well, if you do a single thing for me in your life, then take the opportunity that I never had. Give your parents the chance to earn your forgiveness. Stay there for them, and let them be there for you."
Weiss swallowed, paused for just a second and then nodded. "Okay. Okay, I'll give him a chance. But I won't let it stop me from going to Beacon."
Percy let a wide grin cross his face "Atta girl. Now, whaddaya say we sit in here until the party's over and pretend that I'm still convincing you not to go to Beacon."
Weiss let loose a short, watery laugh, carefully wiping away her tears. "Sounds like a deal." she said, sniffling. But she was smiling now, and the tears had stopped flowing. Mission accomplished.
Gesturing for her to sit back down, Percy joined her and reclined into the seat. "So," he said, diverting the subject slightly. "I heard you killed a pretty tough grimm to prove you were ready to go to Beacon. What were you up against?" Percy asked, his curiosity from before eating at him.
"An Arma Gigas." Weiss replied, her voice returning to something close to normal as she swiped the last bit of moisture from her eye. Percy tried to recall if he'd ever heard of it before, but to his disappointment the name didn't ring a bell either. "It was the hardest I've ever fought. But I was determined to prove that I'm ready to attend Beacon. It shattered my aura early on, but I managed to beat it." she said, absentmindedly tracing the scar over her left eye.
It took Percy a few seconds to process what he'd just heard, but when he did he genuinely thought he must have misheard.
"Wait, did you say it shattered your aura? And you kept fighting it?"
Weiss huffed and crossed her arms defensively, preparing to justify her actions to yet another overprotective adult. "I had decided I was going to defeat the stupid thing, whatever it took. That I wouldn't give up, no matter what. The punch it landed drew a little blood, but I was fine. I couldn't give up. Not with what was on the line."
The scar had been from that fight? In the same blow that had shattered her aura?
A chill went up Percy's spine, and a sudden spike of adrenaline rushed its way into his system. Even though his body knew there was absolutely no physical danger now, that it had been days ago that she'd fought the thing, his body leaped into top gear.
Jacques… you fucking moron.
"You did fine, Weiss." Percy managed to keep his mind present for another moment. "Stay here, I'll be right back, alright? Promise."
Weiss looked awfully confused as Percy leaped up the shallow staircase three steps at a time and rushed out of the doorway. He wanted to assure her that she hadn't done anything wrong and it wasn't her fault, but his body was already carrying him through the corridors at a near-sprint. Where he didn't know — he'd figure that out. If he covered enough ground, he'd find the banquet hall eventually. There was no logical reason that he was in such a rush, but he couldn't find it in himself to slow down, either.
Following some signs he found a few corners later, Percy made it to one of the entrances to the main party within seconds, slowing to a brisk walk as he entered.
Nobody paid him any attention as he moved his way through the large room, searching the crowds for any sight of Jacques. Luckily he was relatively easy to find, his height and bright white suit distinguishing him from other partygoers and drawing Percy's attention.
Without delay Percy moved towards him, deploying a quick wolf stare to anyone who was in the direct path between him and his mission.
When Percy reached the circle he didn't wait for the lady who was in the middle of her story to finish speaking.
"Jacques." Percy called the moment he was within earshot. "I need to talk."
Some periphery of Percy's awareness noticed the woman begin asking who he thought he was, but none of him that cared noticed anything other than Jacques' eyebrows drawing together in concern, and then the look that he gave the woman lecturing Percy.
Her jaw clicked shut with an audible clack and she only stayed in the circle long enough to mutter an apology, turning a 180 and deciding she'd rather be elsewhere. The rest followed her example, scattering to the four corners of the globe as soon as Jacques made it apparent this was now a private matter.
Instead of saying what he wanted to in the middle of the banquet and causing what he imagined would be a scene, Percy demonstrated an uncharacteristic amount of social awareness and jerked his head towards the nearest exit, beginning to walk there speedily. Jacques followed, despite his confusion.
When they were both through the door and in the hallway Jacques turned to Percy, the concern and confusion evident in his expression. "What happened. Is everything alright? Did Wei-"
The door to the banquet shut closed with a quiet click, and Percy cut his friend off mid-word.
"I get you have a lot to be stressed about, and I get you don't want to lose another daughter, but you need to get it the fuck together, before you really fuck up and lose someone."
Jacques drew back, eyes widening and mouth opening to respond. It was the most off-guard Percy had ever seen him. He didn't care.
"You let — no, made — your daughter fight a grimm that broke her aura in one hit. And then you let her keep fighting."
It was likely only because of how surprised Jacques was that he responded with confusion rather than indignation and anger. "She wants to go to an academy. She fought a grimm — that's what they do at huntsmen academies! Whatever the case, she was certainly capable of defeating it in the end. You knew she fought a grimm — I told you that myself. I don't understand the problem."
Percy's teeth ground against each other. "Jacques, it drew blood."
Jacques stared back blankly.
Hissing, Percy let a modicum of his anger seep away. Jacques was a fucking idiot, that was for certain, but his folly had been trusting some random huntsman with his daughter's life and not knowing better personally. He was a civilian, he didn't know better.
Oh, he should have. He really, really should have before throwing his daughter in an arena with a grimm which, by design, was 'nearly impossible for her to beat'. But he didn't.
"Jacques, aura doesn't protect you half-way. It doesn't work like that. When something hits you, either your aura is there or it's not. Weiss' broke in a single hit from this thing, and then went on to carve a scar. A fraction of a centimeter more, and one of your daughters has one eye for the rest of her life. A couple centimeters past that and she'd be insurmountably lucky to get off with permanent brain damage. If she'd been a fraction of a second slower, or had a tiny bit less aura, or tripped on the stairs on her way to the fight, you'd have one less daughter."
Percy could physically see the blood drain from Jacques' face, turning his pale complexion even whiter. But even as that happened he gave Percy a strange look that he couldn't quite decipher.
"The huntsman, I'll… And I- I should have..."
Seeing his message delivered, Percy clapped Jacques on the upper arm with a plastic sense of cheer. "Enjoy the party, Jacques!"
Turning down the hall, Percy made his way back to the balcony at a much calmer pace than he'd left it. Weiss was waiting for him to return.
"No matter how ridiculous the odds may seem, within us resides the power to overcome these challenges and achieve something beautiful. That one day we look back at where we started, and be amazed by how far we've come."
- Alex