Chapter 40 – Lists

In which Weiss Schnee meets up with old friends and family, some slightly colder than others.

Weiss let Blake run into the arms of her father and pull him into a deep hug first. After all, as his daughter, it was only right that she got to be the one to greet him. Of course, that didn't stop her from immediately repeating the gesture the very second he beckoned to her with just as tight a squeeze.

"I'm so glad you're here."

"Officially, I'm a diplomat from Menagerie. Under the table, I'm some extra security for our people's team. And so deep beneath the table you'd need a shovel to find it, I'm here to see my girls."

"Yippee!" cried Ruby, running headfirst into his arms the second he and Weiss let go. "My turn for a hug with the bear Faunus!"

"Bear Faunus?" Blake asked incredulously. "He's clearly a panther."

"Nope," Ruby declared, eyes closed as she snuggling in further as Ghira patted her with the patience of the saint he was. "He's a fuzzy, snuggly honey bear."

"And he's happily married," Weiss interjected. "I know you have a thing for older men, so don't go getting any ideas, Rose."

"Too fuzzy to care."

"Alright, sis." Yang pried her sibling away from Weiss' surrogate father by the arm, making use of her far greater grip strength than Ruby's. "It's time to let go of the astoundingly large and noticeably fuzzy bear dude. You've been hugging him for, like, 30 seconds, and treating an actual person as a living teddy bear is kinda demeaning."

"It's very nice to meet your teammates," Ghira said, not at all bothered by Ruby's 'demeaning' behavior (he'd always been able to separate the truly hurtful people from the harmless at a moment's glance). "And, Weiss, I wanted to say that I am so, so sorry about your brother."

Weiss swallowed and forced herself to nod. The pain of Whitley's death was dulling as time passed, which was exactly the opposite of what Weiss wanted. That pain was what had set her straight when it came to family, and it was what she would need went another important person in Weiss' life came to visit soon.

"I…ahem. Thank you, Ghira. But I hear that you are not the only added security being summoned to the Amity Colosseum."

Ghira nodded. "Winter will be coming. We can keep her away from you if you –"

"No!" Weiss exhaled and collected herself. "No. I intend to reconcile with her."

"Because of…ah. In that case, shall I inform them you wish for a meeting?"

Weiss shook her head. "I'd rather meet with her naturally."

That was to say, when Winter sought her out with the annual recruiting pitch for Atlas' specialist program, an opportunity that Weiss was simply too brilliant and talented to turn down if she knew what was good for her. Because, apparently, Winter did know what was good for her.

But that was enough griping about that. Ghira was here, and he was happy to see Weiss because he loved her, and she needed to respect that love by giving him her undivided attention.

"You've met Ruby the hard way, but I don't believe you're properly acquainted with my partner." Blake nodded her head in Yang's direction. "This is Yang Xiao-Long. The two of them are sisters."

Yang reached out a hand to Ghira. "Pleasure, Mister."

He accepted it and tilted forward in surprise when they shook. "You have a surprisingly strong grip for such a small girl."

"Oh, puh-lease. I bet everyone is small compared to you."

"Either way, it's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Yang. And you as well, Ruby."

"HUG!"

Ruby threw herself onto Ghira again, this time latched to the side of his body like a barnacle Faunus. Her face was only high enough to collide with his bicep, and he, unsure of how to respond, patted her gently on the back.

"She's certainly an affectionate girl."

"It's because she's only ten-years-old," said Yang.

"Nuh-uh!" Ruby stuck her tongue out at her sister. "I'm actually fifteen! So suck it!"

"And, uh, while Weiss' partner is tied around your chest in a nonconsensual hug, I suppose now's as good a time as any to tell you." Blake looked to Weiss, her golden eyes desperate for something that Weiss couldn't – oh!

She wants to tell him. About…About us.

Weiss bit back her fear and gave Blake the nod that she was seeking.

"Weiss and I are dating," Blake said.

Ghira blinked down at his daughter and his daughter-in-law for a few seconds as Ruby nuzzled her face into his chest hair.

"You weren't before?" he asked.

"Whuh – dad!"

He raised his hands in protest. "Hey, go easy on your old man! I didn't spend as much time in Atlas as your mother did, Blake. I only get bits and pieces, and context clues from my visits suggested that you were both already a couple!"

"DAD! OH MY GODS!"

Ghira's face paled in dismay as his daughter's grew redder. "You looked at each other like Kali and I did, or like Jacques and a lien chip did! Don't blame me! And besides, I was apparently right about it, just off on the timing!"

"Sweet, sweet vindication from the fluffy, fluffy bear," Ruby cooed. Looking up, she smiled at Ghira. "I also guessed it before either of them did."

Yang stepped forward, chest puffed out. "And I too was aware of their secret romance long before –"

"Fu– screw off, Yang." Blake caught herself in the last moment before cursing in front of her soft-mannered father. "You weren't even there."

"I was a little preoccupied."

"Preoccupied?" Ghira among the girls with some confusion on his face. "Was your team split up for some reason? Is everything okay?"

Yang nodded. "S'all fine; I just had to step out during the first week of classes."

"Why were you gone?" Ghira asked innocently.

It was in that moment that Weiss recalled how Kali when everything about Yang's early unpleasant behavior, and that while she certainly had the temper to be afraid of, Ghira was the one with the actual claws and muscles to back it up.

So, Weiss covered for Yang.

"She was…practicing witchcraft."

Today was also the day of the trial run for the Vytal Festival Opening ceremony. The actual festival began tomorrow, but because it was a large body of young children, the organizing professors and staff felt the need to rehearse the ceremony, lest some unprepared child put a foot out of place and ruin the whole thing.

Thus, all thirty-two participating hunter teams were called up to the Amity Arena and told to stand at the center and face the podium. They were prepped by their headmasters on where to stand, as demarcated by colored and numbered stickers on the floor.

"Remember your positions," said General Ironwood. "The stickers will not be present tomorrow, so please be sure to devise some way to know exactly where you are standing. And do not simply recall the team you are next to, as you cannot be sure they won't be doing the same thing."

It was so weird, to see the man who had coldly accused her of murder now addressing a batch of students like a stern teacher preparing for a school play. It made sense logically – he was only rendered a lunatic by his obsession with crucifying her family – but the sheer contrast of Ironwood's demeanor was startling to say the least.

It's not like he's perpetually hunting seventeen-year-olds for crimes they don't commit. He's probably a normal person most of the time…when he's around other 'normal' people.

"You'll all enter as you did, which was perfectly executed, by the way," added Ozpin. "As for exiting, it will only be after the speeches have been performed, the opening video has played to completion, the fireworks show is completed, and you have been verbally excused. The phrase 'Let the twenty-first Vytal Festival Tournament officially begin' is your excusal."

"Sir!" shouted one of the Atlesian cadets, stepping forward slightly. "To what degree is our attentional presence? Sir!"

Ozpin frowned at the phrase, with his forehead creasing, but Ironwood stepped forward.

"This is a Valean ceremony, so you will not be expected to adhere to Atlesian standards. You are not required to salute during any speech, though it is optional when an Atlesian representative is speaking. Furthermore, any dress code is acceptable. Class A, Class C, or even personal clothes."

"Sir." The student nodded, saluted, and stepped back onto his sticker.

It was getting increasingly difficult for Weiss to not feel worried slightly about her home kingdom. She got that militaries ran on discipline, but Atlas was starting to act like they were already at war. Huntsmen and huntresses fought Grimm; soldiers fought people.

"So we're supposed to just stand there for two hours?" called out one of the other students – a Mistrilian, Weiss guessed, for how they were dressed. "Without moving?"

"Yes," said Ironwood. "And it's only one hour and forty-five minutes."

"Oh, much better then, because it was the last fifteen minutes that I was really concerned about."

The Atlesian students looked like they were about to go for their nonexistent firearms a second time, but Headmaster Ozpin stepped in before any further incidents could erupt. "Yes, you will be expected to stand on ceremony, but this has been the standard procedure for every Vytal Tournament back to its inception. The principal purpose of this tournament is to foster a sense of international community, but it is twofold in truth. Your time is better spent here, motivating the populace to feel positive emotions and not attract Grimm, or we'd have lawsuits over misuse of huntsmen resources. Our insistence upon formalities is based solely on the fact that our greatest impact here is in putting on the best show we can. You standing still for one hour and forty-seven minutes can quite literally save lives. Do you understand?"

All students, not just the one who'd brought it up, nodded. Weiss herself was among them.

Ozpin's hands clasped together. "Excellent. Then, let us begin with our mock ceremony."

One hour and fifty-seven minutes later (Port fumbled over his words and had to restart thrice because he was Port), Weiss was finally approached by the one speech-giver she'd been expecting.

"Winter."

Weiss curtsied.

"Sister."

A nod was given back.

They were alone, with Weiss having intentionally lingered as the other students left in hopes that she might be able to 'bump into' her sister.

"Your address was excellent," Weiss complemented, hoping to put forth her best in order to bridge the gap between them.

"I'm surprised you don't have some criticism. You normally oppose patriotism at every turn."

Winter wasn't usually this confrontational, but Weiss had gone into this knowing that anything could happen, and she wasn't surprised by the snappy remark. Winter speech hadn't actually been excellent, and it was as authoritarian as Weiss had been expecting, but it wasn't as though calling Winter out on it would have any tangible benefit for the world or their relationship, so she'd held her tongue.

"I've no opposition to patriotism, as long as it doesn't devolve into –"

"Into what, Weiss?" Winter asked, her face tight.

"Into…Into jingoism," Weiss answered, trying to control her own temper. "Sister, is something the matter?"

"Something may be the matter, Weiss. You are currently being investigated for murder, and now you're going about committing assault and battery alongside armed Faunus men. I had hoped Menagerie wouldn't be a negative influence on you, but I'm beginning to wonder if Vale is truly the location to be worried about."

"Vale has nothing to do with this, I suspect." Weiss raised an eyebrow. "I'm going to guess that you've exclusively heard about my turn for the worse from a single source?"

Winter bristled at being seen through. "The fact that a headmaster of the greatest kingdom is personally affected by your rampant disloyalty is not a point in your favor, Weiss."

"How about the fact that I'm not being investigated for murder, nor did I assault any Atlesian students as you seem to think I did? Is that a…" Weiss bit down on her own tongue. Perhaps it would be a point in her favor, but points tended to earn victories, and Weiss wasn't seeking a victory here. She was seeking a reconciliation.

This might be tougher than with Mother. She was eager to reconcile, but Winter might not be receptive.

"There were four witnesses who attested to the fact that you raised your weapon first and attempted to attack them, forcing them to defend themselves."

"And how many witness in my favor have come forward?"

"None," Winter said succinctly. "Because the general was magnanimous enough to let this go."

"Ah. So he interviewed a single team covering their own posteriors, and then declared a guilty verdict that he was kind enough to waive, thus removing any need for the six witnesses who'd attest to my innocence to testify."

Winter placed a hand on Weiss' shoulder and gripped her tightly. "Weiss, having Adam Taurus, a known insurrectionist against Atlas, testify on your behalf, would only destroy you. I'm trying to help you here."

If she was looking for approval at the announcement of sisterly concern, none came. Weiss could only stare down at the hand that was touching her without her consent. Her sister sucked in her lips and removed the offending limb.

"Thank you."

Winter shook her head, never having truly accepted the need for personal space that Weiss had grown up with. "I sometimes barely understand you, Weiss."

Well, that sounded like a chance. "Perhaps we should get to know one another better, then. It seems like we barely interact anymore, but with you in Vale for the foreseeable future, we have the perfect opportunity to rectify that. Would you be averse to joining me for afternoon tea one of these days?"

The question was answered by an uncomfortable frown.

"You…won't?"

Winter averted her eyes. "I'm very busy, you see, and I –"

"Winter."

"Would that I could, sister, but alas, not every –"

"Winter."

She still couldn't meet Weiss' eyes. "You're on lists, Weiss. Lists that Adam Taurus, Ghira Belladonna, and Sienna Khan are on."

"Ah." Weiss nodded in understanding. "And you can't associate with people on these lists."

"No personal associations. But in my capacity as a Specialist and yours as a participating tournamenteer, we can freely speak to one another."

"I see," Weiss said, drawing back

Whitley. Whitley. He died telling you how little you'd tried, Weiss. He begged you to listen.

"Then perhaps I shall seek you out when next I have the chance? I really would enjoy speaking with you."

Winter still wasn't looking happy about it. "It would probably be best if we maintained a professional distance for the duration of the tournament, sister. I'm…I'm sorry."

At this point, Weiss didn't know what else she could really do. She'd tried everything to offer Winter every possible olive branch, but if she were more concerned with lists than her own sister, then perhaps it was beyond Weiss' control at his point.

"There are ways…" Winter's voice cracked. "Th-There are ways, of course, to…" Her voice cracked again. "…to remove one's name from such lists."

Well, that sounded positively ethical. Weiss was sure her sister wasn't about to suggest she do something horrible.

"Winter, I'm not sure I like what you're suggesting."

"If you were to publicly release a statement disavowing –"

Whitley's dying message may have meant a lot to Weiss, but she wasn't about to ruin the work her and Blake's parents had put into the Faunus rights movement to live by it. "I think I'll pass, thank you very much."

"Answering a few questions about the Belladonnas would also go a long way. Just a few questions Weiss."

It hurt to hear Winter plead like this, both because it was killing the last shred of respect Weiss held for her sister and because it was just so, so unrealistic to truly suspect Weiss would turn on the people who'd cared for her all these years.

"You want me to rat out my girlfriend and her parents?" Weiss asked, a little too self-satisfied about being able to drive in the knife to truly still call this an attempt at reconciliation.

"Girl–! Weiss, you can't!"

"Why not? Is there something wrong with Blake?"

"She's a Faunus!"

Weiss said nothing in response.

To her credit, Winter at least seemed to realize the mistake. "Not that! She's…other Faunus, those from outside the four kingdoms and within, Weiss, they don't have your values. So many of them proved themselves disloyal to the kingdom when push came to shove. They allowed soldiers to die over sports, Weiss."

Ironwood had refused to budge until he was forced to, and he'd been at fault just as much as the SDC – more, even, because Menagerie participating in the Vytal Festival Tournament meant so little to him that he could have granted it without a care in the world if he'd been willing to put aside his stubbornness.

"So all Faunus are terrorists, then, because we refuse to back down and accept our second place to humans?"

"There is no second place, Weiss!" Winter practically screamed. "The White Fang are making you delusional! Faunus are treated equally."

"I just don't get you, Winter. You, with the backing of the most powerful military in the world, claim Faunus are all dangerous terrorists – oh, all except me, pardon – but then you go and say that discrimination isn't real or institutionalized."

"They are! And it isn't! No law allows for mistreatment, and segregated housing ended nearly sixty years ago, before Father or the General were even born!"

"Then why must Atlas drag their feet on every law that would ban mistreatment?"

So much for reconciliation. They'd gotten into another disagreement over politics, just like always. Perhaps this time, they'd reach the conclusion of their argument rather than sweep it under the rug, and maybe that would be enough for them to move forward. Either way, Weiss had no intention of backing down this time.

"Because there is no mistreatment! There is no inequality in the greatest kingdom."

"Then there's no risk of criminalizing it."

"Doing so would be an avenue to allow foreign agents and enemies of the state into positions of power, Weiss. It could jeopardize the security of the kingdom as a whole. 85% of all Faunus in Remnant are Menagerian or have ties to Menagerie."

"And Menagerie is an enemy of Atlas…how, exactly?"

Winter sighed. "Weiss, if I even need to explain how to you, it's proof that you're looking at the world through rose colored glasses. I know Father took you to their beaches where you could marvel at the gulls and play with the other children, but you don't know what actually happens behind closed doors when the Faunus government meets."

"Pray tell, what happens? I'm quite interested, being on first name bases with most active members of the 'Faunus government.'" Weiss made finger quotes for the last part.

Winter looked both ways, as though worried someone might overheard them at the entrance. They were entirely alone, with all other speakers or students having long since left Amity following the conclusion of the rehearsal.

"They're planning a second Faunus war, Weiss."

"Are they, now?" The thought of Ghira prying an eager hug from Ruby off only to immediately begin fomenting revolution came to the forefront of her mind, and she nearly failed at stifling her own laughter. "Your…Y-Your proof?"

"The White Fang has no reason to exist otherwise, Weiss. They claim to devote their efforts towards combatting anti-Faunus discrimination when it's all but extinct."

"So it's logically the only conclusion. And Atlas, being the stalwart guardians of human peace, shall use this knowledge as proof that they need to begin preparing for war."

"Weiss…"

"With the only proof being the fact that they're sure." Weiss tossed her ponytail over her shoulder. "That does sound like James – he tried to arrest me for murder on the ground that he was sure."

"The general's logic is sound, and only a foolish kingdom waits for the war to reach their doorstep before preparing for it."

Weiss nodded. "I'm sure. And when they tell you that Atlas' only way to defend itself is to launch a pre-emptive strike, I'm sure it will be just as justified."

"Weiss, please. Take this seriously."

"I am, Winter. You're talking about the extermination of the Faunus race. It's hard not to take it seriously."

Winter was taken aback at that. "Are the Faunus planning on…on exterminating all of humanity?"

"What? No!"

"Then why would you bring up –"

"Because Atlas has enough weaponry to level Menagerie, and the only reason they're making more is because they've managed to convince themselves that they're perfect, so anyone criticizing them has to be evil. Law and order have gone out the window in favor of paranoia and fearmongering, and no attempted genocide in history has ever claimed the former two or lacked the latter two."

Winter again placed a hand on Weiss, this time with more force and onto her wings. "Weiss, if you know something about Menagerie's plans to attack Atlas, you have to tell me."

"When they come for me, Winter, will you tell them I'm the only good Faunus?"

"Please, Weiss, don't do this." The wing was pinched tightly, and Winter pulled her sister closer to her. "Innocent men and women could be killed if we allow Menagerie to attack us first without setting up a suitable defense."

Weiss placed a finger to her lips in mock pondering. "Or will you just make note of the fact that my name is on a list and allow it to happen?"

Flapping her wings to break free, Weiss took a step back from her sister, who was now in the process of frantically pulling out her scroll and turning away. She could hear Winter greet the general and mention the words 'planning to invade,' but the rest of the conversation was lost to her.

As soon as Winter had run out of earshot, she threw up. There was a nearby trash can, but Weiss wasn't able to make it there and ended up hurling on the floor.

Winter, her own sister, was seriously contemplating the genocide of an entire race. It hurt to think it even within the privacy of her own head, and if Weiss tried to say it out loud, she'd probably pass out.

But someone needed to hear this. Ghira, Father, Kali, even fucking Adam – this message needed to be passed along, up the chain of command of the White Fang and SDC, along with the fact that Weiss herself may have exacerbated the situation. It was difficult to feel guilt over the fact that Winter had heard Weiss fear for the Faunus' safety and somehow interpreted that as a threat, but the truth was that Winter had come to that conclusion.

The adults needed to know this. They would take care of this, they would fix it, they would…they would…

Father would…

Torchwick…

And then…

But if Weiss didn't, if Weiss just let this slide, the outcome would be far worse! Atlas would attack Menagerie, thinking itself in danger, and there would be no survivors on the innocent side.

Unless this is all a way for Ironwood to funnel false information to the White Fang. Winter does his bidding, that's for sure, and if he wants to provoke the Belladonnas into reacting so that he can use it to justify his own plans, I'd be aiding him.

It was just like the beginning of the year with Yang. Weiss had the responsibilities of the world on her shoulder, and she had no idea what the right path forward was.

There one a marked difference between then and now, though. This time, Weiss didn't need to carry this burden on her own.

"She…WHAT?!"

Blake was easily the most surprised, having known Winter from the longest and never having expected this kind of behavior from her, but also the most alarmed, since she knew what Atlas was capable of from having lived there.

"That's the thing, Blake – I'm not sure if she's trying to play me here. I tell the White Fang, they start to prepare, and Atlas finally has its justification to invade…"

"…but if you don't and it is real, you guys are done for," Yang finished, garnering a nod from Weiss in agreement.

"Once you tell my parents, you can't go back," Blake said. "As chieftain of Menagerie and leaders of the White Fang, they'll be obligated to…may I?" At Weiss' nod, she put both hands on her girlfriend's shoulders and gripped her. "Okay. Did Winter seem serious about it? Was she genuine?"

Weiss shook her head, but not as a 'no.' At this point in her life, she no longer trusted the scant few years she'd spent alongside her sister before Ironwood stole her away to give her a good sense of what Winter was emoting. If she truly tried, it was highly likely she could fool Weiss.

"She's your sister," Ruby said, hugging her scythe to her chest on her bunk above Weiss'. "She wouldn't use you like that, would she?"

"If it's not a ruse to get me to incite a second Faunus war, then she was genuine, which means she was also genuine about asking me to sell out the Faunus to get my name of Atlas' blacklists. I can't trust Winter either way, at this point. The only question is if I can anticipate her."

"We could all explain to her that you didn't mean –"

"She's beyond logic," Weiss said. "Almost everyone from Atlas seems to be."

Yang nodded at that, having seen firsthand just how dangerous the northernmost kingdom's mentality could be for impressionable minds. It was so easy to assume that Winter had bought into Ironwood and the war propaganda machine's bullshit, but the right way was rarely the easy way.

"Is there any way to tell Mr. and Mrs. Bear without them going to war?" asked Ruby.

Blake shook her head. "It's not like we can verify Atlas' intentions, and actionable intelligence suggesting an intended attack has to be acted upon. Diplomatic relations between Atlas and Menagerie are all but nonexistent, meaning there's no chance of finding out just how serious they are other than meeting them on the battlefield."

"You'd lose on the battlefield, though, right?" asked Yang. "Either way…"

"We might be able to evacuate civilians if the White Fang's combat units can hold off Atlas for long enough." Blake frowned. "But yes. The war would definitively end in a loss. And it wouldn't even matter – Atlas could see fishing boats lining up on radar and call that an invasion force."

Well, there was one other option that Weiss had left. One desperate gamble that could turn a sure loss into a 50-50 shot at survival. The only problem was that it would require Weiss to sell her soul.

"I could talk to my father," Weiss mentioned.

"A Dust embargo won't work," Blake said. "Ironwood's prepared to use force this time, and he'll seize the mines and have his soldiers work them."

"Not an embargo. Father could…"

Even saying it aloud was a point of no return. People said often said that sticks and stones break bones, but words could easily be just as damaging in the real world.

"Father could…"

He could send his little assassin. If they could get to Torchwick, they could get to Ironwood and kill him in Vale. It would be untraceable to Menagerie, and it would be enough to stop Atlas in its track. Without their leader, any invasion plans they had would inevitably stall.

The only problem was that it would require Weiss to order an assassination of a (at the moment) peaceful party. Instead of letting Atlas land the first strike, they would be doing it, and to overwhelming effect.

"Weiss?"

It was the look in Ruby's eyes that stopped her. Not her morals, not her conscience, not the sacred love of all living beings that the Belladonnas had taught her, but the shame of having to admit it to Ruby.

Because Weiss knew that if she said it aloud, she would do it. And she didn't want to do it.

Instead, Weiss just shook her head and offered some excuse about Father and sabotaging the mining equipment or something – complete nonsense, but workable enough for Blake to not realize it was a distraction.

If the Faunus were eliminated off the face of Remnant, Weiss would forever have to remember this as the moment she chose the life of one hateful human over an entire species.

But if I went to Father and had his hitman slay Ironwood, Atlas might somehow (correctly) determine that this is an attempt to stall them. Any choice I make could be the wrong one.

The problem was that every choice felt so final. Telling the Belladonnas, telling Father – it was always committing to that avenue.

"Maybe we should try to reason with Winter," Weiss admitted. "Even if it's a waste of time, we can at least try it and alleviate that burden from our souls."

"Worth a shot," said Yang. "You want me and Rubes to come along, or is this a Checkmate thing?"

"We'll take any help we can get," Weiss said.

"How do we find her?" asked Ruby.

"I…I don't know," Weiss admitted. "I could give her a call, but I've no clue if she's silenced her scroll or even blocked me."

Yang shrugged. "Again, worth a shot."

Weiss took out her scroll, opened up the contacts menu, scrolled down to Winter's number, and hit 'Call.'

Next Chapter: To the Sound of Thunderous Applause

In which Weiss Schnee must do her best to slow down a war she may have accelerated.

Author's Notes

Wow, that joyous family reunion immediately went south. Hopefully Weiss can undo the accidental damage that she maybe caused.

Ghira will be a continuing presence for the remainder of the fic, though his appearances will be only sporadic.

Happy rats, and don't do crime!