A/N Drachen's Castle Part 4
Alt title: Elvis Has Left The Building!
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Emp781: Yeah, the only thing the FFN app is good for, is uploading my chapters.
And even then.
Samejake: You're welcome!
FinalKingdomHearts: Next chapter is here!
GideonBlackthorn: I'm thinking about compiling all the Remnant Culture and Remnant History segments into their own sections.
The Lich King Toby: no, Shay D. Mann and Shay DiGae are two different people.
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Honestly, I've managed to expand the world of RWBY in my head so much, I might just give this fic the Cult Of Ainz: God Rising treatment and make several smaller fics explaining what's going on around the world.
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-Date, Time-
'Thoughts'
"Speech"
(Text)
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-Wood's Island, Drachen's Castle, North Eastern Vale, 11/25, 4:40am-
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Emerald Sustrai POV
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"Oh, um, hi there!" I stutter out while giving a small wave, quickly calming myself down. "You must be one of the guests for the Sun's Rise Soiree, I'm sorry but the-"
"Yeah, nice try." She cuts me off as she forces her way into the room. Pointing a finger at me as she glares. "I saw what you did there."
'Of fucking course you did.' I groan to myself as I curse my luck.
I cannot get caught here. Father will kill me! And I don't think an 'I'm sowwry daddy, I was just messing around.' Will save me this time.
If it does, Valentia will kill me twice.
"What do you mean?" I ask with an innocent smile as I think of something.
"Crud!" I hear the high pitched voice of one of the twins in the air vent.
I nearly have a heart attack as the silver eyed faunus looks up towards the vent.
'Son of a Tarakian whore!' I curse myself. If Sapphire and Pearl get caught, I'll be triple dead! Twice over!
'Do something bitch!' I yell at myself.
"You know." I grab her cheek and make her look to me, away from the vent. "You're rather cute~"
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You know what? If it works it works. I just hope she doesn't reciprocate.
"I be by you, I w-whah?" She starts stuttering as her face matches the red of her dress.
"What can I say?" I lower my voice as I trap her against the door.
'Quick! Flattery. Think of something! Anything!' I panic at myself.
"I have a thing for black haired faunus." I give her my best seduction eyes.
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'Wow! Mira would slap me for that one. I like black haired faunus.' I hide my cringe. 'That's the best I could come up with?'
"I, well, that's very flattering but I'm uh, I have a boyfriend." She squeaks out as she presses herself against the door. Giving me an awkward smile as she stutters. "I-I won't, um, this isn't, I mean if you, I have a friend you, no she's only into faunus, um. I do not consent?" Her voice cracks as she keeps looking down to my cleavage while shrinking in on herself.
'Fuck!' I hold in a sigh of relief to keep myself from giving it away. 'Thanks for the out.'
"Are you sure?" I flutter my eyes as I quickly look around while she seems distracted. "He doesn't have to know."
'The fuck is wrong with you!? That was your out!' I think to myself, hoping I didn't just shoot myself in the foot by pushing this too far by trying to sell it.
I look around the room, looking for anything. And it's just a goddamn sitting room! There's nothing! Nothing but a dust powered fireplace, a couple of seats, a coffee table with a blue and red crystal center piece. And that's it.
'Okay, I'm not fucked yet.' I tell myself. 'She just has to-'
"I said no!" The shorter girl says with more force as she pushes me back.
'That works!' I think to myself as I stumble at bit. Now fully expecting her to take off in embarrassment.
Hey, explaining that I made a guest uncomfortable by coming on too strong beats explaining I got caught pickpocketing a few snobs just for the kicks.
"And don't distract me!" She points angrily. "I saw you pickpocket those people! You need to return those wallets and scrolls right now."
'Yeah, but I only stole from the assholes.' I think to myself as I curse the fact that she's still on this. Because nothing is just that easy.
"I should hope you have proof of this accusation." I tell her in a measured tone. Switching tactics on her. "Otherwise I'll be sorely offended."
"I watched you!" She glares at me.
"So all you have is your word?" I smile at her. "And how does that prove anything?"
She goes to say something, but is interrupted by the door opening and pushing her forward into me, where we fall over.
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Cyril Leon POV.
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I open the next door as Blake opens the door on the other side of the hall. I wanted to call out for Ruby, but Blake informed me that would just draw attention to us. And if one of the staff had asked us what we were doing, we'd be hard pressed to explain that one of ours sort of just, wandered off.
I open the door, and realize I may have done so a bit too forcefully. Seeing as someone was behind it, but I just knocked whoever it was, right over.
I'm frustrated and upset, sue me.
"Crap, I'm-" I stop as I notice the girl I knocked over is in fact the girl I'm looking for. Currently tangled up on top of a darker skinned girl with green hair in a soft green dress.
"Ow." Ruby gets up, and notices, I don't want to say Emerald, I want to be wrong. Anyway, she notices the girl under her, and shoots up. "Nope! Nu-uh!"
She shakes her head and steps away. Holding her hands up in mock surrender. She looks over to me, and then down to the girl, then to me.
"Cyril I swear, whatever you thought was happening did not happen!" She spouts off. Her silver eyes going wide in near panic.
"I-" I start to say.
"She came onto me and I was just confronting her over how I saw her pickpocket a bunch of people in the group when a few fell over and I was going to make her give the stuff back and then she called me cute and there was this whole thing and I didn't do anything I swear!" Ruby rambles off at a mile a minute.
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I am not unpacking this right now. And certainly not with potentially Emerald right here.
"Ruby, I don't even." I sigh as I pinch the bridge of my nose. "We need to get back to the group now."
"But she, she just, thief!" Ruby points to her dramatically. "She's a thiever!"
And I have no interest in sticking my nose in other people's business when I have enough on my plate.
"I'll have you know that I am no such thing, and would-" She starts going off.
"Yeah, I'm not dealing with this." I walk into the room and head for Ruby, and begin pushing her out of the room.
"What, hey! Cyril stop!" Ruby fumbles as I push her out of the room.
"Ruby." I whisper quietly. "I'm going to say this for your benefit, but you cannot leave our group while we're here."
"But-" She starts.
"Ruby." I cut her off as I close the door behind us. "If what you said is true, then your best bet here is to tell someone of authority, and let them handle it."
"But I'm a huntress in training." Ruby whines as her ears splay to the sides. "It's my job to uphold the law and protect people."
If only all things were as black and white as that.
"Ruby that may be." Blake says as she walks over to us from the other end of the hall. Having come out of a room she was just searching. "But here? That doesn't mean anything. All it would take is for someone to accuse you of smashing a vase, and you're charged with vandalism."
With her brow creasing up in distress, Ruby has a look of concern as Blake explains this to her. Looking between me and Blake as she digests the information.
'Fuck.' I think to myself as I realize something. 'We're in the one place that reaffirms Blake's human beliefs… great.'
This better not reignite her more, problematic issues.
"That's not right though." Ruby let's put a sad whine and starts to say more, but just sighs as her shoulders go slack. Shaking her head in defeat as her ears fall lazily to the side. "Fine. Let's go back to the group so we can watch a stupid sunrise and go home."
She starts trudging along, moving between us as she takes the initiative in going back. As slow and unenthusiastic an initiative it is.
"Personally, I say we just skip to the going home part." Blake says as she crosses her arms and follows Ruby's lead.
"Agreed." I say as I turn and start heading back with the two. "But, I doubt the bullheads are running right now so we'll just have to bare with it."
Honestly? At this point I'm ready to just wait in the courtyard for an hour. At least that'd be less irritating.
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Emerald Sustrai POV
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'Saved by the damn bell.' I think to myself, letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding in as I wait. After what I think is enough time for them to have left, I make my way out.
I open the door and get ready to head back to my room, only to freeze as I see the sickly sweet smile of the head butler. Eyes creased up as his smile reaches that wide. Promising a host of trouble.
"Miss Sustrai." He says with a sickly sweet tone. "I believe your father would like a word with you, yes?"
"M-Mr. Mosaic." I say as I close the door behind me. "D-did he call for me?"
"No." He says as he clasps his hand in front of himself and leans forward slightly. "But I believe we both can agree that showing initiative in this regard, may go a long ways in reducing whatever punishment he may deem fit."
"Punishment for what-" I start to say before I see Pearl and Sapphire lean out from behind Mr. Mosaic, both mouthing a silent apology. "Shit."
"You've appeared to have stepped in it, yes." Mr. Mosaic says sweetly.
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Cyril Leon POV
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Walking into the room from the side. I take in the scenery before me. White brick floor with a red carpet over the rectangular room. The longer, outer wall being glass and leading to a balcony, as well as the roof being a glass dome all facing east. The bars holding the glass in place being coated in gold. Various red velvet chairs and couches lining the walls with about six servers, all holding up platters with either glasses or finger food, lining the walls between the furniture.
"I'll be back." Ruby says and heads off into the crowd of people.
"Spirits above." Blake lets put a sigh through her nose as she starts following after Ruby. "I'll, you just find Weiss."
I take a deep breath. Wondering how in any world Ruby would become leader. Or at least, this Ruby.
'Actually, no.' I think as I recall canon. 'Even in canon, Ruby had a tendency to run off on her own without telling others. That is absolutely something we'll have to work on.'
I scan the room, looking for perhaps the only other faunus here. Before spotting her by the window, wine glass in hand as she discusses something with another man with long, slicked back white hair in a black suit with bright purple embroidery.
Another bachelor, likely hitting on Weiss. Or talking business.
Maybe both. With how the people here talk, it's hard to tell if they're trying get in bed with you, or get you in their bed.
Making my way over, I refuse an offer of wine and snacks from the servers I pass. The man Weiss is talking to looks up, sees me approaching, and that prompts Weiss to look behind herself and see me. Her eyes softening slightly before she turns back to address the man.
"… discuss the matter at a later time perhaps? My teammate here and I have a few things we must converse on." Weiss says with a dismissive nod.
"Of course, Mr. Layon was it?" the sharp faced man asks.
"Leon." I correct him, but don't comment further. Making a slight, awkward silence. The man then gives a derisive scoff and heads off.
"Until next time, Lady Schnee." He nods as he turns and leaves.
I wait for the man to leave before turning to the exhausted looking girl. Her earlier pride and professionalism having been chipped away by the crowd gathered here.
"Are you alright?" I ask Weiss as the sun begins to crest over the horizon.
"I'm, fine. It's nothing you need to worry about." Weiss utters with a sigh and a strained smile.
That line had so much bullshit it's like Adam had taco bell.
I put a hand on her arm and turn her away from the crowd. Much to her visible confusion as she furrows her brow in worry.
"What happened?" I ask softly, and see Ruby out the corner of my eye talking to the green haired woman who led us here. "Before you say anything, I can tell you're upset."
Weiss opens her mouth, then closes it again. Glancing over to the side in thought, before looking back to me again.
"I just, I don't miss these events." She mutters softly. "I'd like to leave it at that."
"Do you want to leave?" I ask.
"We can't Cyril, you know that." She fixes a glare on me. One lacking any real strength behind it.
"Do I?" I challenge her. "Weiss, name one thing that is stopping either of us from leaving right now."
"Well, it's just that, this event is supposed to be-" She starts to say.
"Supposed to be one thing, turns out to be another." I cut her off. "Weiss, you're stressed and unhappy. I'm stressed and unhappy. Blake got framed for an incident in an attempt to get her kicked out. Ruby got hit on by someone she caught pickpocketing."
"I beg your pardon?" Weiss asks skeptically.
"You'll have to ask Ruby for the full details." I say quickly. "Point is, we're all stressed and miserable here. Why should we stay?"
"Well I-"
"Excuse me, if I may cut in here." A random blonde haired girl says as she steps in from the side. Wearing a muted brown gown with intricate purple embroidered swirls on the chest, her dress pushing her chest up. "I just, thought I'd like to introduce myself." She smiles sweetly as she pushes herself into the conversation.
'Does no one respect boundaries here?' I think as I bite my tongue, regarding to the blue eyed woman.
"Ah, my apologies, but me and my teammate here were just in the middle of a private conversation." I smile at her, hoping she gets the hint.
"I promise I'll only take as long as needed." She gives a curtsy. "My name is Dyra Holz, you may have spoken to my mother earlier. We're currently in the midst of an, inquiry you could say. One I intend to get to the bottom of."
"Miss Holz, I would ask that you respect our sensibilities in this regard and allow us to finish our discussion." Weiss states with a glare.
"Miss Schnee, I would appreciate you not interrupt me." She says with a sham of a smile. "Whatever discussion you may have had can surely wait as I have a more pressing concern on my mind that I wish to see settled." She looks to me with a smile.
"And just what might that be?" I ask, earning her attention as I see Ruby and Blake walking back together. The green haired woman pulling out a scroll and calling someone as she turns towards the door and leaves.
"Well it is just that my mother, as sweet and trusting as she is, seems to be under the impression that you are… ineligible." She says with slight blush.
I literally have to activate my semblance to think of why or what she's even talking about. And then it finally hits me. Holz, that's the same name as that older lady who tried to hit on me. The one I implied I was gay to.
"Before I answer, might I ask of what concern it is to you?" I ask with a raised brow, one she returns with a devious smile.
"Well, the answer may determine whether I'd like to discuss business of a more private matter of course." She says suggestively.
"Well in that case, I don't believe the answer is of any consequence." I say with a smile. "Seeing as you'll never have the privilege of discovering it."
Her face freezes stone cold as I finish speaking. And I merely offer a placating smile to her.
"Uh, I can't, I don't believe I heard you quite right." She huffs out.
"I believe I said-" I start to say before Weiss pulls on my arm.
"Cyril if I may have a word with you in private." Weiss announces as she pulls me along through the small gathering of nobles towards the exit on the other end of the room. Abandoning the woman behind us.
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Ruby Rose POV
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'Well that was weird.' I think to myself as I watch Weiss drag Cyril away.
Looking back to the pretty blonde girl who was just talking to them. I feel a little bad, knowing how it feels to be blown off mid conversation.
"If it makes you feel-" I start to say, hoping to keep her company.
"Piss off mutt." She spits out, stunning me into silence as she walks away without another word.
I look to Blake, who just stares back with a similarly wide eyed expression. Before I look back to the retreating form of the blonde haired girl.
"Dude." I mutter under my breath.
"Let's just go find Weiss and Cyril." Blake says with a sigh. "I don't want to be near these people any longer than I need to be."
"Yeah." I sigh.
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Cyril Leon POV
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"Alright Weiss." I sigh as she ushers me into a side room some distance from the sunroom. "What is this about?"
I turn around as soon as I hear the door lock with a soft click. Weiss having locked the door behind her after she closed it to give us a measure of secure privacy.
"I just, thought you could use a moment to relax." Weiss says as she looks back to me. "I know this has been… less than ideal for you."
"Less than ideal?" I scoff as I bring a hand up and run it through my hair. "That's a rather tame way of putting it."
"I-It could be worse." Weiss mutters defensively as she looks down to the floor. "I can imagine worse things than having a plethora of suitors throwing themselves at me."
"If I was some hormonal, lust filled sleaze. Then sure." I give a sarcastic smile as I cross my arms. "But I'm not. I'm not some… ugh I have a headache." I pinch the bridge of my nose. "I mean, just the way these people talk is ear grating."
"Hey!" Weiss takes offense to my statement.
"You don't count." I glare at her. "With you, it's cute. With them? It's condescending."
"I-I appreciate the compliment." She says with a blush as her ears twitch while folded down. "But I still believe you are being rather harsh in regards to my peers."
"Weiss, I love you." I say as I walk up to her and place my hands on her shoulders. "But no. I am so at my limit with these people, that I don't have the words to express it."
"W-well, you, you're." Weiss gulps as she starts breathing heavy. "I-It's not their fault you're, you're."
"Weiss, are you alright?" I ask as I put my lips to her forehead. Feeling her temp and ruling out a fever. "Have you taken anything?" I ask as I pull back and see her now even redder face.
Yes I'm still paranoid over the possibility of poison. These fuckers are all about court politics and backroom dealings.
"W-Why are you, you just." She stutters out as she shivers.
Weiss moves her gaze from my eyes to my chest as she puts her hand on my jacket.
"Weiss, what are you-mrph!" She cuts me off by smashing our lips together as she grabs my jacket by the lapels and pulls me down to meet her as she stretches up.
'Or she's horny and stepping to her after calling her cute just triggered her.' I think as I kick myself for forgetting who this is.
"Mwah!" She pants as she pushes off of me and drops to her knees. Unzipping my pants with a desperate, almost angry motivation.
"Weiss, what's gotten into you?" I ask, completely stunned by her forwardness.
We are at a party. Not at Beacon, in our dorm. And this is admittedly a rather, rapid progression.
"Soon it'll be you." She growls as she pulls my cock out and starts furiously pumping. Rapidly getting it erect as she looks up to me with a blushing glare. "I am sick of sitting on the side listening to these girls fawn over you. Forced to listen to their schemes to seduce you as I play ignorant."
"Is this really the place?" I ask as she licks the underside. "Oh fuck."
"Cyril, I need this or I'm going to slap the next woman that mentions your name." She says as she stands up. "And I will hold you responsible for it."
"That doesn't explain why, why." I'm cut off as she lifts her dress by the split that runs up the side of her leg, pushing her already damp panties aside as she guides my tip to her lower lips. "Oh, fuck it." I groan as my hands find purchase on her sides.
"Don't, mrm! Call me an it." Weiss moans as she wraps her arms around my shoulders and starts grinding, forcing me into her as my hands slide down to her hips. "A-and be careful, with my dress."
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Blake Belladonna POV
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"I swear I saw them go into that room." Ruby points out as we walk down the hall towards the fifth room on the right.
Walking up to the room, I go to open the door. Pushing, then pulling… nothing.
"Well this one is locked." I say as I turn to her and point to the door twenty feet to the left. "You check that one, I'll-"
"Oh fuck!" We both freeze as we hear the sound.
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"D-did you just hear?" Ruby asks softly as her face grows red.
"Maybe?" I say uncertainly.
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We both press our ears to the door and listen in.
"Oh, ah, I needed this." I hear what is definitively Weiss's voice amongst the sound of ruffling clothes. "Fuck!" I flinch at the sound as me and Ruby stare at each other.
We step away as soon as we hear another moan. Ruby redder than her namesake as she stands there and stares off into the distance.
I don't fucking believe this.
"Oh, oh fuck me!" I hear Weiss moan as the door suffers a harsh bang.
"This, by everything holy." I pace as I put my hands on the side of my head.
"This is, this, why?" Ruby hisses as she covers her red face. "This is, hrrmmmm! We're in someone else's house! This is so wrong!"
Yeah, among other issues. What if they get caught? What if Lord Brand takes issue to his guests using one of his rooms for a quickie.
"Ha-harder!" I hear Weiss whine. "Please! Just, just oh furrmmmmm!"
'Holy shit she does beg.' I think as I mentally check off that little curiosity.
"Pretend you hear nothing!" Ruby whispers while pointing at me.
"Yeah, sure, I'll pretend that two of my teammates aren't currently fucking in the guest room of some noble's castle." I hiss at Ruby as I, really try to ignore them.
"Y-you planned this, didn't you?" I hear Weiss moan as I look to the door. "With, this morning, when we woke aaah!"
"Stop it." Ruby steps in front of me and waves her arms out. "Go! Back to the party, we can wait at the, uh oh." Ruby's eyes go wide as she looks behind me.
Turning around, I see the girl, Platina from earlier walking down the hall with an annoyed look on her face. Arm under her chest as her other hand is busy holding up a wine glass. She looks up and spots us, replacing her look of annoyance with one of gleeful condescension.
"Ruby!" She says as she picks up her pace.
"Oh no." Ruby steps next to me with a forced smile. "Platina! What are, um, what brings you here?"
"Boredom mostly." She scoffs. "But also my pompous flop of a father. Can't stand it when he gets political." She takes a sip of her wine. "But that's alright, it's just how he is." She looks off to the side, sounding like a middle aged housewife as opposed to the teen she is.
"You talk like you're in your forties." Ruby just says it out loud.
"I feel like I'm in my forties." She scoffs and rolls her eyes. "But enough of me for tonight, what's up with you two? Someone say something or, something?" She double speaks.
"We were just um, talking." I say before Ruby can say something dumb.
"Oh yeah?" She leans to one side with a raised brow. "What about?"
I am, desperately trying to ignore the sounds coming from the room behind me. Luckily it sounds like Weiss is almost done. And from Platina's lack of reaction, it seems they're being quiet enough for humans to not hear. So, thank the spirits for that.
"Forging techniques." Ruby blurts out.
"Forging techniques?" Platina raises a brow in disbelief. "Like uh, fraud and tax evasion?"
"N-not my ears! C-Cyril!" I feel my own ears reflexively fold back as I hear her desperate whine. Not needing to imagine just what he's doing.
"Noooo!" Ruby huffs loudly before I can say anything. Crossing her arms as she glares at the girl. "Smithing, blacksmith, weaponsmithing, gunsmithing."
"Uh huh, so that's just something you casually talk about?" Platina asks, clearly not believing her. When the truth is, anyone who knows Ruby would accept that excuse with no explanation.
"For her it is." I mutter under my breath.
"Hey, I listen to you when you go on about how to make marmalade or different wood carving techniques." Ruby defends herself.
"And I listen to you discussing the history of automatic weapons and how the first one was invented by a doctor." I counter.
"Hmm." Platina hums, and the door behind us opens. Making us freeze in place as we hear Cyril and Weiss step out, with Weiss having a certain shake in her legs as she walks. And Platina hums with a satisfied grin. "Now that's what I thought was happening." She grins.
"P-Platina, Ruby, Blake." Weiss says as she looks between all of us. And Cyril looks away with a slight blush. "What, um, may I ask brings you here?"
"Oh nothing." Platina gives a devious smirk. "Just looking to blow off some steam and get away from the stiffs in the sunroom. Though, it seems like you found a stiff of your own to blow off steam with."
"I-I don't-" Weiss goes to say, but Platina just laughs.
"Oh my god, Weiss." She laughs. "Relax~, I won't say anything."
"Y-you won't?" Weiss asks.
"Why would I?" She scoffs. "Not like I get anything out of revealing the fact you're sucking face with the boy you brought."
I don't believe that. She's likely holding on to it as blackmail.
"I mean, if I can squeeze in my own-" She leans forward and licks her lips as she eyes Cyril up and down.
"No." Ruby steps to the side and blocks her view. Glaring at the horny girl.
"Oh right, you're still here." Platina says with a minor sneer as she regards Ruby. "What, is there a line or something? Do I need to, wait my turn or, something?"
Her attention is all over the place. And barely there as is. Which is, weird.
"No!" Ruby squeaks. "It's just, you, you can't just, this is ahh! I don't even know anymore!"
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Cyril Leon POV
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"I think, Ruby just broke." I say as the girl cries out. Said girl rhen softly walks over to the wall, and rests her forehead against it.
"Right." The new girl says, looking to me with a bored expression. And then sighing. "So, are we good for a-"
"No." I cut her off before she can finish that sentence and trigger Ruby.
"So much for that." She keeps walking and just, walks around us. Leaving us behind as she keeps going and turns down another hallway.
"What in Oblivion was that about?" I ask Weiss.
"She's drunk." Weiss says. "I ran into her a bit ago and she was on her sixth glass."
"And how many have you had?" Blake asks with a flat stare.
That's a very good question.
"I'll have you know I've only had three the entire night." Weiss defends herself. Though her voice lacks the notable bite it would normally have. "Now then, come along. We have an hour left and I'd rather see this night over with." She locks her arm in mine to keep her gait steady as she starts guiding me along.
We get a few paces before I stop and look back. Blake is still rubbing her temples. And Ruby is silently crying as she rests her head on the wall.
"Cyril, what is…" She looks back at the two and sighs. "What are you two doing?"
"Coming up with a way I can justify looking you two in the eyes ever again." Blake declares as she keeps a hand over her eyes.
"Why are Atlesians all perverts?" Ruby whines.
…
Good question. Because between Weiss, that mother, her daughter and Platin I think her name was? I have no words.
"Let's just go." Blake says as she walks past us and down the hall ahead of us. Quickly followed by Ruby.
"I just, why?" Ruby groans with her hands over her red face as she walks past us. And turns to face us with an expression somewhere between anger and second hand embarrassment. "What if you got caught, what then?" She asks with a crack in her voice.
Weiss doesn't say anything in response. Whether it's because she's ashamed, or can't come up with anything.
I, on the other hand.
"In my defense." I raise a hand. "By the time I thought of that, I was already in too deep to quit."
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Drachen Brand POV
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"I just don't get it Emerald." I chastise my eldest, technically only, as I sit across from her. "Have I not given you everything you asked for? Do you not want for nothing? Have I not paid you enough attention, is that it?"
"No you, you've done nothing wrong." She says as she rubs her arms and stares at the floor in shame.
"Look at me when I'm talking to you, Emerald." I tell her, earning her scared gaze that hurts me more than a dagger could. "Or is it that I've given you too much? Have I spoiled you to the point that you feel entitled to more than what's yours?"
She looks away and mumbles something under her breath as an answer.
"Speak clearly." I command her.
She doesn't say anything. Causing me to sigh as I look out to the window at the rising sun. I'm supposed to be giving an address at the sunroom, but as a parent I have my priorities. So instead, Valentia is covering for me in my absence.
Anyone who takes issue with that, can address their concerns to me.
"It's one thing to be doing this of your own accord." I look back to her as I lean my head on my fist. "But you dragged Pearl and Sapphire into your schemes. If they were caught by anyone other than the staff, do you know what would happen, Emerald."
She doesn't say anything. And I feel my chest heat in anger. At her for her recklessness, and me for not doing better.
"Do you?" I question my daughter with a stern glare.
"They'd…" She mutters the rest.
"Look at me and speak clearly." I demand in a harsher tone.
"I-I don't know." She chokes out.
"I'd be pressed to kick them out or prosecute Mira in their stead. That's what." I say as I stand up and walk to stand in front of her. "I love you Emerald, you're my treasure." I hold her chin and force her to look me in the eyes. "But you pull another stunt like this? And I'll do as your mother suggested I do long ago and send you to a combat school."
"B-but I'm seventeen!" She defends. "And I don't have any training, or even have my aura unlocked!"
"Neither did Alexander when he set out into the world at sixteen. And he became a legend." I let go and head back to my chair. Sitting down with a groan as I passively listen to Emerald's protests. "Stop."
She stops talking, tears in her eyes and I feel my heart ache at being so harsh to my little girl.
"You crossed a line Emerald." I glare at her. "Playing pranks and tormenting the staff is one thing, but I can't let this slide." I take a breath and shake my head. "Go to your room, I need to calm down before I decide what to do with you."
She wastes no time in heading out. Hurrying as she closes the door behind her. And not a moment later, Maritia Mosaic comes in.
As poised and disciplined as ever. You'd never assume he'd just been rummaging through the vents looking for the twins with how clean he is.
"Well, I assume the talk went well?" The Northern Vacuoan man asks.
He's actually a cousin of Mint's. He was a caravan leader before he barely survived an ambush by the Tarakian Warband. Mint pressured me to offer him a job, and I've never regretted it.
"I just don't know what I'm going to do with her." I shake my head with a sigh.
"Personally I suggest capital punishment." He says. "But I know you'd never confer that."
"I'm considering it." I mumble under my breath."
"Oh good!" He says in a falsely chipper tone. "Shall I fetch the sharks, or the anacondas? I would recommend the crocodiles, but I understand she's your daughter."
I give a soft snort at his absurdist sense of humor. Shaking my head to dismiss the thought.
"No, I think some honest hard work will do her good." I sigh as I look to him. "Put her to work in the kitchens."
"You intend to punish her by punishing me?" He raises a brow. "Give me the twins while you're at it."
"Wonderful idea. You can have them tend to the gardens." I smile to the sarcastic man.
"Well at least that'll keep them out of the vents." He scoffs while rolling his eyes. "Will that be all?"
"No, I want you to fetch the guests of interest for me." I tell the man.
"At once." He bows.
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Cyril Leon POV
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"And now, may the start of the longest day reflect a bright beginning to the year and a long future full of advancement." Valentia raises her glass and everyone cheers as the room is filled with sunlight.
Everyone raises their glasses and knocks them back. While I pour mine out in the nearby fern. Earning an elbow nudge and a dirty look from Weiss to my left.
"I don't drink." I shrug.
"Then you shouldn't have taken a glass." Weiss chastises quietly.
"You're the one who told me to." I defend.
"I didn't think you'd dump it." She says with an annoyed tone.
"That's what you get for thinking." I smirk, earning a scoff from her, but nothing else aside from a few mutterings.
"You're so feisty." I mutter in her ear, causing her to shiver as she tenses against my arm.
"Y-you're just irritating." Weiss defends herself.
"No." Ruby says from my right as she shifts her weight from one foot to the other. "Cyril's right. You get very feisty."
"Ruby." Weiss hisses at the girl.
"What?" Ruby shrugs with a an admonished look. "I was just saying."
"Uh." Weiss scoffs and rolls her eyes.
"Is there anything here other than white wine?" Blake asks from beside Ruby. "Like, anything at all?"
"If there is, I haven't seen it." I answer her.
"For all the riches in the world, they can't afford juice." Ruby bemoans Atlas's economic disparity with a shake of her head. "Not even milk. Truly, rich in money, poor in culture."
"Hey!" Weiss exclaims as she leans forward to glare at Ruby.
"I mean, Atlas is pretty culturally barren." Blake shrugs.
"How can you say that when you're at an Atlesian party?" Weiss asks.
"I think it's being at an Atlesian party that gives us the authority to make that call." I say.
"And what were events like back, um, well." Weiss starts to say, but cuts herself off. "N-Nevermind."
"No it's, it's fine." I say as I look up to the glass ceiling and the sky above. Wondering how I should answer that. Whether I should keep up the Skyrim BS, or keep faithful to my home.
I think, the less I think of home, the better.
"Well, there's the Heart's Day celebration." I answer, recalling the Skyrim equivalent of Valentine's day. "It's a romantic holiday overseen by Dibella. Any and all who marry on the day is said to be blessed with long and fruitful marriage."
"What do you do on the day?" Ruby asks with a blush. "I mean, isn't Dibella the uh, intimate one? How do you, celebrate that holiday?"
"Exactly how you'd think." I answer her with a smirk, causing her to blush and look to the ground while giving a small eep.
"Not in public." Ruby mutters at a barely perceivable volume.
"I hardly feel that a day dedicated to debauchery is what I would call culturally rich." Weiss says with a judgmental tone.
"Oh, that's just for those, inclined to that kind of celebration." I chuckle. "For the unmarried or lonely, it's a day to seek companionship in more platonic and wholesome ways. With feasts and music and dancing abound. Though, that was probably due to how popular it was to marry on that day."
"That sounds nice actually." Ruby says. "I don't think Vale has a holiday like that."
"We have a similar holiday where I'm from." Blake says. "Though we call it the Yearly Celebration of Oaths. It's the day you get married on and the day you reaffirm marriage vows."
"What's that like?" Ruby asks.
Before she can answer however.
"Miss Schnee." We hear a man call out. Looking up, we see a man with long, slicked back brown hair, a fully trimmed beard and in a dull brown suit with dark blue swirls embroidered on the sleeves. "Fancy seeing you here."
"Mr. Holz, I was unaware your entire family was attending this event." Weiss turns to the new man.
Does Weiss actually know all these people? Like, genuinely. I want to know the trick here. Because I can barely recall the names of our entire class.
I've actually mixed Dove and Sky up.
"Well, not everyone." The man says with, I want to say an apologetic smile. But there's something off about it. "Braun is back at Atlas for the time being."
'Braun, Braun, Braun. Why is that name familiar?' I ask myself. 'Oh wait!'
"The party at the penthouse." I say softly.
"Ah, you recall." Mr. Holz says with a nod. "Yes, an unfortunate and unbecoming affair that was. I assure you Sir Cyril, Braun was out of line and extends his sincerest apologies for any disrespect placed upon you."
'I highly doubt.' I think to myself. 'Also, I had that pricks mother and sister hitting on me!?'
There's a motherfucker joke in there. And I am almost disappointed that I can't make it.
"Just make sure he's aware of the company he's keeping next time." I say with a sarcastic smile.
"I certainly intend to." He says with a smile. "Though… I'd advise you to do the same." He turns a wary eye over to Ruby and Blake.
"Excuse you?" I give a nervous laugh.
"Oh my apologies, I meant nothing by it." He waves off my concern. "Just a slip of the tongue."
…
Yeah fuck this.
"Well I can forgive that." I say, and I can feel my team's attention on me. "I've come to understand that a lack of oral prowess is to be expected of the Holz family."
"Cyril." Weiss hisses behind me as she tugs the back of my sleeve.
"I'm sorry?" He scoffs at me, blinking as though he can't believe what he's seeing.
"Well it just occurred to me that if you had more control of your tongue that your wife wouldn't so desperately seek the comfort and skill of another's." I manage to say with a straight face. Enjoying the way his burns.
"Why, I never would-" He starts.
"Never!?" I cut him off with an exaggerated look of shock on my face as I put a hand to my chest. "Well it's a wonder you don't have more children seeing as you only seem to prefer the one motion."
Eh, I can do better than that.
"Cyril knock it off!" Weiss hisses behind me.
I turn to her and smile. Noticing the crowd that had gathered to gossip on the current spectacle.
"Only for you." I whisper softly. Earning a blush as she maintains her glare. Though that might be her getting genuinely angry at me.
I turn back to the apoplectic looking man. His red face contrasting with the blue of his eyes something funny.
"I'm sorry Mr. Holz." I give an exaggerated bow. "I spoke out of line."
"You believe a simple apology will be enough after the disrespect you just blatantly threw at me!?" He puffs his chest out.
"It better be." I drop my smile.
"I have never, in my life been shown such blatant disregard for decorum." He huffs as he sneers at me and adjusts his lapels. Before dropping his sneer and looking to Weiss. "I thought better of you Miss Schnee, than to keep the company of such, undesirables. And I do mean more than the orphan boy before me."
"Mr. Holz!" Weiss steps up. "That is entirely uncalled for!"
"I believe that line was crossed when this no account pedestrian brought question to the sanctity and fidelity of my marriage!" He raises his voice. "It is an insult I simply cannot stand!"
"Then sit down and watch." I shrug easily as I hold up my empty wine glass in a mocking cheer. "I imagine you're used to that."
By this time the group of nobles is getting rather loud. Snickering and gossiping as they observe.
Holz for that matter?
Oh he's ready to burst a blood vessel! Literally almost. I can see the veins in his forehead bulging.
"Miss Schnee!" He turns to Weiss and yells. "I suggest you get your guest under control! And I assure you, your father will be hearing words from me!"
"Please don't." I sigh with a roll of my eyes.
"I you didn't want to suffer the ramifications then you should've thought of that before." He looks to me with a sneer.
"Oh I don't care about any ramifications." I say. "I just wouldn't wish the indignity of listening to you whine upon my worst enemy. Your voice is a war crime."
It's at this time that the doors to the far end of the sunroom, the set of doors we entered in from the ballroom, open wide.
"What is all this racket about?" A shorter, darker skinned server asks as he walks into the room.
We both turn our heads to regard the man that walks in. Standing at about Blake's height and having a white splotch of skin going across his face. Bald and with dark brown eyes.
His suit is a little different from the servers. In that he has no domino mask, and has a red tie on with a red button up underneath.
"Ah, am I to presume you are the head butler of this estate?" Holz asks impudently.
"That would be I, yes." He hops on his heels once and nods.
"Perfect!" He grins and then gestures to me and my team. "I demand that these disrespectful vagrants be removed from the premise! They've been nothing but a disruption and have no right to be here!"
'Oh, oh you want escalation?' I think to myself as I look to the head butler and give a soft smile as he looks to me. My mind racing with ideas.
"Ah, uh, yes." He says and looks between me and the prick. "Well I'm certain whatever the dispute is, perhaps a separation is merely what's needed to allow cooler heads to prevail." He claps his hands together.
"I refuse to stand aside and abide in letting this disrespectful child to remain." He glares at me.
"Fine by me." I shrug and turn to Weiss, Ruby and Blake. "C'mon, let's go."
"G-go?" Weiss says in a worried tone.
"Yeah, I've had enough here." Say as I start walking for the door.
"Cyril!" I hear the hurried clicks of her heels as she catches up and walks beside me. "Cyril please think about this."
"I must concur." The head butler says hurriedly as he steps ahead of me. "As I said before, if we all just allow ourselves a chance to calm down here-"
"Oh I'm calm." I say as I reach the doors and he steps to the side, not daring to stay in my way. "This is me calmly leaving."
"Mister Leon, sir please just wait but a minute." The man says. "The Lord of the estate would actually like to have a word with you in private."
I activate my semblance as I process exactly what he said. My mind running a mile a minute as I decide to play some, earthly political tactics.
Otherwise known as being a petty bitch.
Cutting off my semblance, I go to speak.
"Cyril please, you're being unreasonable." Weiss says from my left as she grabs my hand and keeps me from opening the door. Then speaks in a softer tone. "Sometimes you just need to accede to keep things from escalating. You're upset and that's understandable. But think about this, Holz is an influential man. He can-"
"I don't care what he can do." I look to Weiss. "I won't apologize to an unapologetic man."
"Weiss." Ruby speaks up, earning our attention as we look back to her. Blake right behind her. "I'm with Cyril, let's just go."
"If we don't leave, I'll just wait in the courtyard for you guys." Blake says as she pushes past us and leaves.
"I'll, um, I'll just, yeah." Ruby tucks her head down and mouths an apology as she pushes past and follows Blake.
Watching the two leave. I turn my attention back to Weiss and give her a judgmental glare. One she returns, before breaking eye contact and looking to where Ruby and Blake fled.
Time to be petty.
"I apologize for the, disruption." I say, turning to the concerned butler. "But at this point, if Lord Brand wants to speak to me so badly then he knows where to find me. As it stands, I refuse to stay in the presence of such inhospitable company such as I've had the displeasure of encountering tonight. After seeking mere conversation I have been accosted by a number of individuals, had a ploy to see my teammate thrown out, and had to endure the brunt of backhanded remarks to my friends and team. I'm done here."
I then head out after Ruby and Blake.
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Weiss Schnee POV
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When did this all go so wrong?
"Miss Schnee." Brau Holz says as he walks up to me. "While I regret how our discussion ended, please know that I wish you no ill will. And while I cannot comment on your team as I am aware you have no say in their placement. I do recommend you refrain from inviting them to such events in the future if you wish to maintain your current social standing."
I feel a pit grow in my chest as he talks. While out of the corner of my eye, I see the head butler hurry off.
"Honestly, I can only imagine the indignity you must endure while having those individuals forced upon you." He continues and scoffs. "But no matter, at the very least we may be able to return to a more civilized setting."
The pit in my chest burns as I turn on my heel and, perhaps recklessly, speak.
"My apologies Lord Holz." I give a bow. "But you see, I must be going as well. Seeing as my invite has just decided to depart, I am no longer welcome by his extension."
The plan was to let people assume that I was invited, and that Cyril was my extended invite. That way, no one would ask questions as to why Cyril was invited. It would be assumed I was invited on prestige and connections.
But, I want these people to understand just how their short sighted behavior has poisoned them. Even if they may not understand the depths of their blunder. They will eventually when the SDC has a monopoly on dustless energy.
I rise from my bow, and allow myself a moment to enjoy the look on Brau's face before I turn on my heel and head out. Closing the door behind me.
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-20 minutes ago, Drachen's Study-
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Drachen Brand POV
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I stare out the window at the horizon as I swirl my drink in hand. Ruminating on the various happenings on my plate. Trying to distract myself with the ambience of my study. But I can only think about how it's time to remodel it. The dark mahogany and red carpeting is becoming a bit antiquated in my eyes.
The stone fire place is still nice. One of the few wood burning fireplaces left in the castle since the modernization remodeling eight years ago. But, the mention of years in my mind, only brings me back to ruminate on the issues I can't solve.
How I'm running out of time and have yet to achieve what I truly desire. I have ten, maybe twenty years at best before questions are asked.
Twenty years before-
Knock knock knock
I turn to the door and smile. Knowing the man that lies beyond it.
"Enter." I call out. And the door opens to an invaluable asset to my plans. A man who I hope shares in my desires for a better world.
"Councilor Fola!" I give the blonde Valean councilman a warm smile. His strong yet soft features stretch to mirror my expression in return.
"Drachen, my friend." The tall, blue eyed man says warmly. "Please, it's just us, call me Azure."
"Only if you take a seat." I gesture to the chairs sat before the fireplace.
"Of course." He nods and does so as I join him. Setting my glass down on the end table between us. Both of us enjoying the warmth and heat of the fire as we begin our discussions.
"So, you wanted to speak with me?" I ask Azure.
"I did, but why rush into the heavy topics. How have you been my friend?" He asks as he leans back in his chair.
"I've seen worse days, I've seen better." I sigh as I lean back. A groan forcing its way out of my throat as I feel the soreness in my back settle. "Emerald is acting up again."
"The problem child." Azure shakes his head with a smile and a chuckle. "What is it this time? Last I heard, she had insulted Lady Meer on her dress and called out her affairs."
"Please don't remind me." I rub my face over the stress my daughter has caused me. "It's gotten better as she grows older. But I fear she may never rid herself of certain habits."
"The woes of fatherhood." He nods.
Azure is one of the few who openly know of my true relation to Emerald. I can't publicly claim her as my daughter, because that would call my marriage with Valentia into scrutiny. No matter how common or consensual the matter is.
"Says the man with no children." I accuse.
"And you understand why." He chuckles.
"In a way." I nod as I lean forward and crack my neck. "Now then, let us be done with the pleasantries Azure. I have an engagement with a rather interesting individual soon. So I fear we may not have time for our talks."
"Very well." He concedes, his shoulders stiffening as he leans forward as well. "As you well know, elections are coming up. Just after the Vytal festival."
"And you want my support behind your campaign once more?" I surmise. "Brand health industries, affordable healthcare for all for another six years?"
"No, actually." He smiles. "I want you to back another councilman."
I furrow my brows in thought as I look to the fire. Considering just what his aim might be. The BHI has backed his campaigns for nearly eighteen years now. Three whole terms. In exchange, relations between Atlas and Vale have improved with the easy access to medical technologies, and food production as a result of a healthier and safer Valean populace has gone up and lowered food prices in Atlas and Vacuo.
"Are you retiring from politics?" I ask the man as I scan him for any signs of distress. Thinking he may be blackmailed into this.
"Far from it." He assuages my concerns easily. "Though, I will be stepping down for the next term in lieu of certain, controversies."
"What controversies?" I inquire the man with a serious look.
"Well, if I win the next election, I'll hold record for most consecutive terms held on a single seat." He laughs derisively. "Whispers amongst the other councilors say I'm building too big of a power base."
"You're the minister of foreign diplomacy." I say with a low tone. "Of what matter is it that you serve for eighteen, twenty four, the three hells sixty years, if you're competent and good at your job?"
"That's my thoughts exactly." He sighs with a despondent expression. "But, as it stands, councilor Winchester is after my seat and this is the only card he has."
"The chief of public security?" I scoff. "That would give him two seats at the table. And they're concerned about you building a larger powerbase."
"Rather asinine I know." He clicks his tongue. "But, such is the way of politics. I can't even endorse a candidate of my own for fear of talks that they'll be a puppet."
And they would be. Anyone he would propose as his replacement would only be accused of taking orders from him. A ruling by proxy, a scandal that could follow both individuals and harshen their efforts in the future.
"I see, so, you want me to put my backing behind Winchester." I surmise. "You want me to use my influence to hold him accountable for his job."
"Exactly." Azure smiles. "I can't be there to make sure he doesn't start a trade war or cut ties to Atlas or Oz forbid try to annex Menagerie."
"Bit extreme there, don't you think?" I remark dryly.
"Perhaps, but my point is made." Azure says seriously as he sits up straight. "I can't trust Winchester to have the best interest of the people, and maintain his roles competently. So I ask, will you do this for me?"
I look back to the fire as I think on it.
A change in leadership is always bound to bring uncertainty. And Azure is my primary tie-in to the Valean government. If he loses his position, which he will by the sounds of it, I lose a large portion of my influence in Vale. Not all, but enough to no longer justify the losses I've taken in various insurance cases to keep Vale's hospitals up to date and on par with Atlas.
I turn to Azure to answer.
Knock knock knock
"That must be my guest of interest." I say as I stand up and grab my glass. "My apologies, Azure. But I'm afraid I can't definitively answer you at this time."
"I understand." He nods and stands up with me. "Though perhaps you could introduce me to this guest of yours before I leave? If you're so eager to meet with them then they must be someone truly exceptional."
"I see no issue with such an arrangement." I smile as I open the door to…
Greet Mr. Mosaic, on his own. And nervously looking up to me with an apologetic smile.
"Mr. Mosaic, I believe I asked to meet with Sir Cyril." I say calmly. "Is there, something wrong perhaps?"
"Um, yes well you see." Mr. Mosaic smacks his lips nervously. "Mister Leon and his company have, had a few altercations with the other guests tonight. And, it would seem he has chosen it upon himself to, well, leave early."
I feel my heart slow in my chest as it thumps harder and harder. Slow, hard, rhythmic thumps that vibrate into my ears as my chest grows tight with a need to scream.
"Let me get this straight." I say slowly. "Of the few guests I personally invited, the one I was most interested in meeting, left?"
"Yes sir." Mr. Mosaic nods with a deep bow. My hand clenches and I shatter my glass in my hand.
"Explain."
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Bonus
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Remnant History, Rise of the Atlesian Nobility, Part 3: Mistralian Trade Disaster
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King Alamet had refused to hear any talks of trading slave labor. Mostly due to concerns over repeating the Seclus Fallout (Seclus was still a kingdom at this time and would take another sixteen years to officially be declared fallen.) And wanting Mistral as a strong ally.
However, this upset his court. Mantle had a very centralized government. And as such, prime authority was handed to the King, and passed to various lords to delegate and maintain his authority. Whereas Mistral was very decentralized. Everyone followed the rule of the monarch, but the court families ruled their territories autonomously with little regard to the monarch's authority, just a loose loyalty and adherence.
For example, if a Mantilian Noble wanted to expand their lands. They would request the authorization to procure forces and labor to do so.
If a Mistralian Patrigon (Their term for Noble) wanted to expand their territory. They would check any laws or edicts that might say they can't. And if none existed, they'd muster forces and do so. Informing the monarch, after the fact.
This difference is governing, caused a bit of tension. A Mantilian noble would receive an offer of trading slaves from a Mantilian Patrigon, or a Mistralian Merchant, and he would send that offer up the chain of command to the King's court. The King would then send a missive of refusal to the Queen of Mistral, as opposed to the Patrigon or Merchant.
This, heavily slowed the lines of communication which already were not the most efficient. Queen Procura would receive the missive of refusal, and be unaware of why it was sent. And this lead to mass confusion. As Procura would have to track down the Patrigon who sent the offer, and then extend the message. A process that was not her duty. More often than not, the missives of refusal were lost, or thrown away.
The Patrigons, would just assume the Nobles were delaying as a negotiation tactic, or that the offer was lost along courier routes. And would send more offers, sometimes making the offers even better as a way to encourage a faster response.
As offers kept passing the desks of lower nobles on the edges of the kingdom, offers that kept getting better and better. Some started taking it upon themselves to, show initiative. Accepting the offers of trade, and keeping it secret from King Alamet. Creating a black market for slaves. Between two nations where slavery was legal.
By this time, Vale's Farman's Rights were already in place and had been for a decade. But, whereas Vale and Seclus resided on the same continent, Vale and Mistral were separated by the Misthurmoz Sea. And Mantle was seperated from Vale by the North Sea, the island of Vytal, and the Rhino's Sea. This divide meant that word did not reach the main populace for some time. So the slave trade went unimpeded.
As more and more Nobles succumbed to the lavish influence of the Mistralian Patrigon, so too did the King start taking notice.
It was on a trip to the port city of Ostaven, the port city directly across from Argus, that he took notice.
King Alamet was a picture of Mantilian values, his uniform was clean and functional. His hair held back in a low ponytail. His beard neatly trimmed, and not an ounce of fat on him.
What he saw in Ostaven, appalled him. The noble he met with was fat, and adorned in garish colors of vibrant red and yellow.
He also saw slaves, foreign slaves from the northern coast of Anima. Notably the Franz.
Unfortunately, King Alamet's journal does not go into detail onto what lead him to notice the slaves were Franz. Robbing us, once more, of a look into the Franz tribe's culture.
King Alamet ordered his retinue to commit an audit on the spot. And when he found evidence of his lesser Noble's corruption. He was outraged.
He seized the Noble's assests, shut down the port of Ostaven and imprisoned the noble and his family. He was then brought up on charges of flagrant spending and wasteful uses of government resources.
When it was revealed that while frowned upon, there were no actual laws when it came to spending. King Alamet put them to paper, and enforced strict budgets and stricter auditing. As for the noble, Alamet knew that charging him based on crimes he committed while the crimes were legal, would set a bad precedence. And so, he charged him with disobedience to the crown. For blatantly disregarding his prohibition on foreign slave trade.
By this time, Alamet was regretting opening trade with Mistral. And threatened to close off borders. Something his court once again, hated the idea of. But they still did little in the way of combating their ruler's decision.
Then, Alexander Arc started making a name for himself.
While all of this was going on at the upper level. A no name peasant boy from a farm in the western lowlands decided to travel the world. And was quickly making a name for himself, freeing slaves and fending off Grimm.
While Mantle's government was straining itself in contempt and disagreement, Mistral was busy dealing with the tumultuous rise in slave rebellions and sympathizers. Alexander is a controversial figure in the eyes of the Mistralian and Atlesian governments.
While Kindra Farman sought to end slavery through peaceful politics, Alexander sought it through brute force. But since Alexander never killed anyone who didn't fight back, it was difficult to get the people on the government's side. So Alexander's opposition and undermining of the Mistralian government went, practically unopposed by the common man.
This, gave the Mantilian nobles ideas. If a single man can get away with undermining the government by being popular and having the people's support, why can't they?
Alexander, unintentionally, encouraged the nobles of Mantle to disregard their king's more unpopular orders.
How this happened was that King Alamet was gradually becoming more and more unpopular and tyrannical. His father had opened trade to Seclus two years before Alamet took the throne. And Alamet handled the trade in such a way, that the loss of machines was blamed on him. So, in order to make up for the loss, he opened trade with Mistral. But Mistral outright refused to rent machines. They wanted to own them. Fearing an arms war with Vale and Seclus now that they had the technology that was lost and stolen, he agreed to the trade offer. Hoping to build up and tie an ally to Mantle. What ended up happening was an increase in Mistralian influence on Mantle. Something King Alamet tried to stamp out. Which the people hated because they had fallen in love with Mistral's rich culture. Combined with refusing trade on slaves and putting in laws that restricted what people were allowed to buy. Alamet had upset more people than he could deal with.
Then, Alamet cut ties. He cut off trade to Mistral, and the people were furious. His own court demanded he stepped down.
It was the quickest and most nonviolent coup in history. Because Alamet, had died. Just like that, at age fifty three, Alamet stood up to address his court, and had a heart attack.
The council was stunned. Their king had died as soon as they demanded he step down. They had planned to make his first born daughter queen, but she refused. Stating "I've seen the stress of my father in dealing with the lessers of the court, and I would very much like to maintain my happiness."
The second child was missing, and Alamet's third child also refused the throne.
So, the fourth child, a twelve year old boy, became the king. And he was the exact opposite of his father. Shevet, was irresponsible and capricious. Often making laws on mere whims and hosting a harem in council room. Whereas Alamet shunned hedonism, Shevet relished in it. And would become so unpopular, that he would be deposed by the court after demanding court advisor Shrad Brand's ten year old daughter to his bed.
Lord Brand backhanded the then fourteen year old boy so hard that he lost a tooth. Then, picked up the boy and threw him out of the council chambers. Turned to his fellow court nobles and said, "Lords and Ladies, we have been without kind for two years now. I believe we accept reality and fate for what they are, and begin a reconstruction of our collapsing court."
Over the course of the next year, Mantle would restructure itself a total of seven times. All the while the now decentralized government stayed strong in the face of the changing times. Inheritance in politics was done away with entirely, and the council was established. To be determined by merit and popular vote. However, due to various economic factors, the only ones educated enough to have a place in politics, where the nobles.
And thus, though the inheritance of political positions was no longer practiced. Children still inherited wealth, and since the only individuals with an education where the who could afford it, the only ones educated in ways of commerce and politics, were the nobles.
The nation's name was changed to Atlas, to reflect rising above archaic standards.
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Ironic.
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A/N
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Weiss went to bed horny, woke up horny, got clam jammed. Then had to listen as people propositioned Cyril and try to plant various schemes involving him.
She eventually snapped.
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I thought about making it a sec scene and then ending it with Weiss and Cyril stepping out to see Ruby and Blake trying to shoo away a noble.
But then figured that I had enough sex scenes so all you guys needed to see is that Weiss is so down bad, she is 109% willing to fuck someone in someone else's house, depending on how stressed she is.
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Mistral is kinda like Ancient Rome Ancient Greece Ancient China Japan
Basically Mediterranean mixed with Oriental.
Patrigon is
Eupatridae: Greek for Well Born or Well Fathered
Gong: Chinese for Lord.
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More comments! I want them all! Every one of them! Especially speculation, I love speculative comments.
Fuel me my NOOBIANS!
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Find me in my channel, newb's-grotto, on the discord.
Link to the discord: discord .gg/DarkWolfShiro