Fandom Distorted Mirror [IC]

[MyrtenRose]

This was a bandit camp, a wretched hive for thieves and killers to congregate and live under one banner. Not a one of them was to be trusted beyond how far Cinder could throw them. Any would likely stick a knife into her back when she wasn't looking if they thought they could gain something out of it. And their leader, Qrow...so far he had revealed himself to be a slippery drunkard throughout the entire conversation so far...though if the skill that his sister possessed in spades was any indication, he was somebody who shouldn't be crossed.

It was with that knowledge that Cinder cautiously poked her head out of the tent, took a look around before she threw caution to the wind and hurriedly speed walked after the king of the bandits to go meet the spring maiden with barely contained enthusiasm. Bandit of questionable trustworthiness aside, if she was a maiden then...she was one of the very very few who could possibly train her in any meaningful way.

"Hey are you really the Spring Maiden?!!"​

 

[Schnee Corp Lawyer]

"...I want to believe that." Ilia admitted, sounding hopeful and desperate all at once. Her voice hardened as she added: "But I'm sitting here, still cuffed and treated like a prisoner after everything back there. It's kind of difficult to believe you." Ilia sighed, still not bringing herself to look up over at Blake. "You said you're doing this for the faunus, that you want for our kind to dominate. But...here you are, doing whatever that..." She hesitated, unsure of how to even describe him. "...whatever he tells you to do, even harming fellow faunus. You kneel before him, call him your lord..." Ilia shook her head, like she still couldn't believe it even though she had been an eyewitness to the whole thing.

"Who are you really fighting for? Who really will be the dominant one in the end? The faunus? Or him?"​

"...hm.”

There was a small huff of amusement from Blake behind the mask as she leaned against the back of the carrier and picked up one knee to hug against herself, still not looking up to Ilia. the noise was a sharp contrast to the painful emotions the double of her favorite faunus was outputting.

“...gave up on playing the knight to my damsel pretty quick after all, huh?”

There wasn’t any accusation or bitterness in her tone, just an affirmation of the expected. She supposed it shouldn’t surprise her that an Ilia figured her out so much quicker; that she had no interest in being ‘saved’. Her gaze finally tilted back up to Ilia, and the softness in voice faded.

“Ozpin isn’t human. Whatever he was before, he’s the enemy of humanity now. He wants the same thing the Shadow Fang wants; for the kingdoms to fall. Things will never permanently improve for the faunus in the current system, and if the only way for it to change is to burn it all away, then so be it. When everything is said and done, we’ll build a world where the humans won’t ever dare to hurt a faunus again. And Ozpin-!”

There was a fire creeping into her voice by the end of it, and she caught herself with a sigh.

“...but I’m guessing none of that’s the sort of talk that's going to convince you. So you’re gonna have to deal with Sienna instead.” she said, breaking her gaze and lapsing into silence

--------------------------------------------------------------

*Some time later that's probably after all these Bandit Camp shenanigans*

It was a long flight, but at the end of it, Ilia had traded one shadowy fortress for another. Yet where Ozpin’s citadel was an affront to nature, this one was carved into it. It jutted from the side of a mountaintop deep in Mistral’s ranges, nestled between two larger peaks that kept it in the shade of all but one hour of the day. Historians spoke of an ancient castle that was used by a kingdom of bird faunus, unreachable by anyone but them in their time. They were known as the Tengu, and they waged war on surrounding kingdoms with impunity until a plague wiped them out. Humans had never found the place despite their books, and Sienna felt it a fitting location for the rise of a new faunus power. A true one, rather than the simpering, peace seeking fools who willingly locked themselves away in menagerie.

The throne room, likewise, did not carry the energy that Ozpin’s had. It was a sweeping, grand hall, with pillars that swept up high enough to disappear in the shadows above, leaving no hints to what could be lurking in them. The massive doors at one end had groaned with their weight as two hulking faunus, in a more ceremonial version of the garb the faunus that Ilia had scene in the attack on beacon, pushed them open. Torches led up to a throne that had four faunus on either side armed with massive spears, and seated in the throne… was a very familiar face.

Sienna Khan sat up and her lips quirked into a slight frown as Blake pushed Ilia forward and knelt with her head bowed.

“High leader. As I said in my mes-”

“Why is she restrained?”

Blake stuttered to a halt. “...This isn’t our Ilia. She's one of them. One of the doppelgangers from another timeline, and one who directly opposes Lord Ozpin's-”

"-‘Lord’ Ozpin is not your high leader-” Sienna cut off with an imperious frown and a raised handle to signal Blake’s silence “-and I won’t let a faunus walk these halls in chains. Release her. Immediately.”

Blake gave a curt nod and stood as she produced the key from her sleeves, and moments later the cuffs fell off of Ilia’s hands as her aura was allowed to flow once more. Blake immediately returned to kneeling, an action that brought an eye roll to Sienna’s face. But she had more pressing concerns, and her eyes settled on Ilia's as her frown shifted to thoughtful.

“...Thank you. Now, Ilia… is your last name still Amitola?” the high leader asked as she sunk more comfortably into her throne. “Your existence is… concerning.”

 

[MidwayLives]

It was with that knowledge that Cinder cautiously poked her head out of the tent, took a look around before she threw caution to the wind and hurriedly speed walked after the king of the bandits to go meet the spring maiden with barely contained enthusiasm. Bandit of questionable trustworthiness aside, if she was a maiden then...she was one of the very very few who could possibly train her in any meaningful way.

"...Hey, so is it ok if we get outta this tent now..?"

Roman asked while walking towards the tentrance.​

 

[MidwayLives]

Tyrian shoved Roman out of the way, accidentally of course, after seeing Qrow and Cinder both rushing out of here.

"SO glad to be out of there! The stench of alcohol was driving me crazy!"

Watching as Tyrian made his way off to join Cinder, Roman huffed and brushed himself off. " 'Excuse me, Roman.' 'Oh I'm sorry, Tyrian. How rude of me to be in your way. Let me just step to the left' 'Why thank you, Roman. You're ever so kind.' " He grumbled as he pushed open the tent flaps and made his way out, opening up his jacket to grab a cigar out.

Bit early he supposed. But if things somehow went south and this chick really was a maiden...

Well, Roman wanted to enjoy the finer things in life one more time.

"**Cough cough**"​

 

[MyrtenRose]

"...hm.”

There was a small huff of amusement from Blake behind the mask as she leaned against the back of the carrier and picked up one knee to hug against herself, still not looking up to Ilia. the noise was a sharp contrast to the painful emotions the double of her favorite faunus was outputting.

“...gave up on playing the knight to my damsel pretty quick after all, huh?”

"...No." She lifted her head to finally look at Blake. "I still see the face of a friend staring back at me. A friend I made a promise to. I haven't forgotten it, and I'll never give up on that. I'll never give up on you, Blake. Any Blake. Maybe that makes me a fool, but I don't care. I'm going to help you, even if you don't want it." She left it at that, lowering her gaze back to the floor. The rest of Blake's speech just brought about a sad frown.​

Sienna Khan sat up and her lips quirked into a slight frown as Blake pushed Ilia forward and knelt with her head bowed.

“High leader. As I said in my mes-”

“Why is she restrained?”

Blake stuttered to a halt. “...This isn’t our Ilia. She's one of them. One of the doppelgangers from another timeline, and one who directly opposes Lord Ozpin's-”

"-‘Lord’ Ozpin is not your high leader-” Sienna cut off with an imperious frown and a raised handle to signal Blake’s silence “-and I won’t let a faunus walk these halls in chains. Release her. Immediately.”

Blake gave a curt nod and stood as she produced the key from her sleeves, and moments later the cuffs fell off of Ilia’s hands as her aura was allowed to flow once more. Blake immediately returned to kneeling, an action that brought an eye roll to Sienna’s face. But she had more pressing concerns, and her eyes settled on Ilia's with a thoughtful frown.

“...Thank you. Now, Ilia… is your last name still Amitola?” the high leader asked as she sunk more comfortably into her throne. “Your existence is… concerning.”

"......" Not as concerning as yours. She could hardly believe it. Sienna Khan was still...well, that was just further proof of the fact that this wasn't her world. She put that aside for now. "High leader, I...I don't mean to change the topic from my last name or the nature of my existence, but I must say something. I'm hoping I can get through to you. I don't know what compelled you to ally with Ozpin, but I'm asking you for the good of not just the faunus but for the sake of everyone living to reconsider that allegiance. I have seen him. It is not a sight I will soon forget." Ilia stepped closer, cautiously, not looking to provoke any of the guards.

"Blake thinks that serving him is the best way to ensure faunus never suffer under someone else's rule again, but I think she's wrong. He's not out for the betterment of the faunus. He doesn't care about the faunus beyond how they may serve him. And I have proof." She stepped closer still but kept a respectable distance, holding her arm up into the air and displaying the scar running across it. "When he ordered her to sever one of my hands, she did so without hesitation. All for him to make certain of her loyalty. That's all he really cares about. Not you, not me, not any of us."​

 

[Schnee Corp Lawyer]

"...No." She lifted her head to finally look at Blake. "I still see the face of a friend staring back at me. A friend I made a promise to. I haven't forgotten it, and I'll never give up on that. I'll never give up on you, Blake. Any Blake. Maybe that makes me a fool, but I don't care. I'm going to help you, even if you don't want it." She left it at that, lowering her gaze back to the floor. The rest of Blake's speech just brought about a sad frown.



"......" Not as concerning as yours. She could hardly believe it. Sienna Khan was still...well, that was just further proof of the fact that this wasn't her world. She put that aside for now. "High leader, I...I don't mean to change the topic from my last name or the nature of my existence, but I must say something. I'm hoping I can get through to you. I don't know what compelled you to ally with Ozpin, but I'm asking you for the good of not just the faunus but for the sake of everyone living to reconsider that allegiance. I have seen him. It is not a sight I will soon forget." Ilia stepped closer, cautiously, not looking to provoke any of the guards.

"Blake thinks that serving him is the best way to ensure faunus never suffer under someone else's rule again, but I think she's wrong. He's not out for the betterment of the faunus. He doesn't care about the faunus beyond how they may serve him. And I have proof." She stepped closer still but kept a respectable distance, holding her arm up into the air and displaying the scar running across it. "When he ordered her to sever one of my hands, she did so without hesitation. All for him to make certain of her loyalty. That's all he really cares about. Not you, not me, not any of us."​

"...hm"

it was almost eerie how similar the short laugh Sienna made was to the one Blake had made on the airship ride over, and her face shifted into an amused smirk as she let her chin rest on her fist.

"...Blake."

"Yes, High Leader?"

"...leave us."

For a moment it looked as if even Blake's breathing had stilled "But-"

"Consider it an order. Whatever you have to discuss can wait till after I finish here."

One could almost hear Blake's teeth grinding underneath her mask as she flicked her gaze up to Sienna, but eventually she gave a curt nod. "Of course." She stood, bowed, and turned to stride out. Sienna watched her go, and it wasn't until the massive doors ground back closed that she finally returned her eyes to Ilia.

"...So. You think I'm a fool to trust Ozpin, yes? Tell me; was there anyone else you recognized in his high tower?"

 

[MyrtenRose]

"...…." She was no less confused by this turn of events, as one Qrow just shifted into a bird before her eyes right as another Qrow stepped up. And before she could even begin to wrap her mind around that, some kid strode into sight. No, almost ran into the tent more like. She was so obviously enthusiastic as she asked that, the girl was actually bouncing in place. Vernal had her weapons out in an instant, one pointed at either of them. "The hell's going on here? Who's this? And why are there two of you, boss?!"

Qrow just snickered, looking over his shoulder where many of the bandits were acting in a similar manner to Vernal, with the sudden appearance of strangers that they could not recall letting into their camp. His throat cleared, and then...

"EVERYONE! STAND DOWN!"

Despite his drunken state, his shout carried the unmistakable sense of authority that showcased exactly why he was in charge of this rabble. That and he was by far the most skilled among them. The strongest rules, that was just the way nature goes. "These our my guests, and you better show them the same respect you would show me. Trust me when I say you don't want to provoke them. My sister is among them, and I'm sure you are all well aware of how easily she could thrash almost the whole pack of you by herself." He turned back to Vernal.

"It's me, Vernal. Lower. your. weapons." She complied with his demand, trusting that this was the Qrow she knew. "You can tell her as well." He thumbed over to Cinder. "They have need of you, and as it happens, our self-interest happens to coincide with their interests."

"...If you say so." She sounded skeptical, but if he wished it... "Yes, girl. I am the Spring Maiden. What exactly is it you want?"

"TO TRAIN ME!"

"...Come again?"

"Oh, right. Yeah...um...I'm the Fall Maiden."

Her eyes widened momentarily, but they soon shifted back into a doubting look. "Prove it." Cinder was quick to oblige, focusing. She knew how to do that much at least, and within a second, a fiery glow shot out of the edges of her eyes. "...Huh. Okay then." Vernal conceded that this girl wasn't lying. A moment later, that same glow emanated from her own eyes, except blue in color. The bandit maiden looked away, towards several others that she assumed were with the girl.

"Is that really all you want here? To help this scrub out? No wait, before you answer that...how the fuck did you manage to find me?"​

 

[MyrtenRose]

Sienna watched her go, and it wasn't until the massive doors ground back closed that she finally returned her eyes to Ilia.

"...So. You think I'm a fool to trust Ozpin, yes? Tell me; was there anyone else you recognized in his high tower?"

"I hope you never actually trusted him in the first place, but yes. From what I saw, from what he did to me...the look in those eyes...I think assisting him is a mistake. A big mistake. And yes, I did recognize others present...but they were not as I knew them. Why?" ​

 

[MidwayLives]

Her eyes widened momentarily, but they soon shifted back into a doubting look. "Prove it." Cinder was quick to oblige, focusing. She knew how to do that much at least, and within a second, a fiery glow shot out of the edges of her eyes. "...Huh. Okay then." Vernal conceded that this girl wasn't lying. A moment later, that same glow emanated from her own eyes, except blue in color. The bandit maiden looked away, towards several others that she assumed were with the girl.

"Is that really all you want here? To help this scrub out? No wait, before you answer that...how the fuck did you manage to find me?"

"I'll leave THAT answer up to my other comrades."

He gestured to Ruby and Yang.

"...NOW, if it's not too much to ask..." Tyrian uncoiled his tail.

"...Could I train with you as well? The one you speak to is Cinder and she's a trusted friend of mine! But I'd like to train with someone who has just as much power as her and see how I-"

"EHH, news flash, Tyrian. We're here to pick up the Maiden. Not get our asses kicked by her."

Tyrian huffed. "Are you speaking from experience, Roman?"

Roman thought back to the first time he'd sparred with Cinder.

"Yeah, pretty much."
​

"EVERYONE! STAND DOWN!"

Tyrian smiled.

For what he'd thought to be a drunken oaf was still clearly the leader of this tribe and how!


​

 

[Schnee Corp Lawyer]

"I hope you never actually trusted him in the first place, but yes. From what I saw, from what he did to me...the look in those eyes...I think assisting him is a mistake. A big mistake. And yes, I did recognize others present...but they were not as I knew them. Why?" ​

"There's only one person on that council of jackals that really concerns me, outside the man himself; Weiss. Fucking. Schnee."

the name was spoken like a calamity. Like even putting it on her tongue brought Sienna pain. she leaned forward on her throne to rest her elbows on her knees with her hands clasped together.

"She was already a part of his cadre of enforcers when we were approached, and her so called 'reforms' had begun in earnest at that point. Mines were becoming safer, faunus pay increasing to past half of human rates for the first time in ages. I'm sure Blake painted a more noble picture of it, but what we were given was an ultimatum. We could side with Ozpin, against the humans who enslave us, with his word of an equal place at the table when the ashes are carved up... or we would dash all those changes against the rocks. Schnee doesn't just own the biggest dust company in Remnant; she sits on Atlas' council. She could devastate the lives of every faunus in that kingdom with a wave of her hand, and we would find ourselves at war on two fronts."

She growled and sat back as she crossed one leg over the other as she stared off past Ilia, at the door Blake had exited from.

"It wasn't much of a choice to make."

She turned her gaze back to Ilia with an imperious smile. "Which brings us back to you. You seem to think we've made the wrong choice. Tell me, Ilia, were you a member of the Shadow Fang in your world? The White Fang? You certainly seem to know Blake, or at least a Blake. Is there something in this world of yours that makes this the wrong decision? Something different, something that doesn't end in disaster for the faunus if we choose the other side?"

 

[Schnee Corp Lawyer]

"...…." She was no less confused by this turn of events, as one Qrow just shifted into a bird before her eyes right as another Qrow stepped up. And before she could even begin to wrap her mind around that, some kid strode into sight. No, almost ran into the tent more like. She was so obviously enthusiastic as she asked that, the girl was actually bouncing in place. Vernal had her weapons out in an instant, one pointed at either of them. "The hell's going on here? Who's this? And why are there two of you, boss?!"

Qrow just snickered, looking over his shoulder where many of the bandits were acting in a similar manner to Vernal, with the sudden appearance of strangers that they could not recall letting into their camp. His throat cleared, and then...

"EVERYONE! STAND DOWN!"

Despite his drunken state, his shout carried the unmistakable sense of authority that showcased exactly why he was in charge of this rabble. That and he was by far the most skilled among them. The strongest rules, that was just the way nature goes. "These our my guests, and you better show them the same respect you would show me. Trust me when I say you don't want to provoke them. My sister is among them, and I'm sure you are all well aware of how easily she could thrash almost the whole pack of you by herself." He turned back to Vernal.

"It's me, Vernal. Lower. your. weapons." She complied with his demand, trusting that this was the Qrow she knew. "You can tell her as well." He thumbed over to Cinder. "They have need of you, and as it happens, our self-interest happens to coincide with their interests."

"...If you say so." She sounded skeptical, but if he wished it... "Yes, girl. I am the Spring Maiden. What exactly is it you want?"

"TO TRAIN ME!"

"...Come again?"

"Oh, right. Yeah...um...I'm the Fall Maiden."

Her eyes widened momentarily, but they soon shifted back into a doubting look. "Prove it." Cinder was quick to oblige, focusing. She knew how to do that much at least, and within a second, a fiery glow shot out of the edges of her eyes. "...Huh. Okay then." Vernal conceded that this girl wasn't lying. A moment later, that same glow emanated from her own eyes, except blue in color. The bandit maiden looked away, towards several others that she assumed were with the girl.

"Is that really all you want here? To help this scrub out? No wait, before you answer that...how the fuck did you manage to find me?"​

The full weight of the travesty that was these doubles being in the wrong world hadn't quite hit Watts until he was forced to witness that entire rigamarole. Seeing two Neos was disconcerting enough, but there was a very important difference between them and the other doubles; Neopolitan didn't talk.

By the gods did he wish that was the same for all of them, after being stuck in that back and forth for what felt like an age and a half. He sighed as the hornet's nest that was the bandit camp started buzzing, his hand slowly drifting towards his weapon, but Qrow diffused the situation before it became a problem. He sniffed and listened to the back and forth between his partner, Vernal, and Tyrian.

"...Cinder, while I'm ever so happy you've found someone like you, complete with your social skills, and while I'm glad Tyrian can add another name to the list of people to exercise his masochism with, we did come here for a reason more important than practice for you two." He turned to Vernal with a short bow. "No, that is not the reason we're here. We require you to open the vault in haven. I'm unsure if you know what that is, but in short its tied to your power; a powerful evil also wants it, and until the item inside is removed, it will hunt you to the ends of the earth. And kill you. Or enslave you. Perhaps both, who knows? But it seems to be generally agreed upon that it won't be pleasant. As for how we found you-"

"-That'd be us!" Yang cut in, throwing a congenial arm around Vernal and grinned. "Sup. Do you remember me? Apparently, I grew up here!"

And turned into a monster who served the king of the grimm! Family reunions were great : )

 

[MidwayLives]

while I'm glad Tyrian can add another name to the list of people to exercise his masochism with, we did come here for a reason more important than practice for you two."

Tyrian's tail smacked against the ground and he hopped from one foot to the other.

"Hah! What you call masochism, I call a challenge in the wings!"

It wasn't as often as he'd have liked but when he found people who caught his eye? The scars lining his body ached. Almost as if his body was egging him on to go out and seek a challenger wherever it may seek. But while he thought the world of Cinder, teasing aside, she didn't yet have a full grasp of the powers at her disposal. But if this one did then the fight he'd have with her would be absolutely incredible!
​

No, that is not the reason we're here. We require you to open the vault in haven. I'm unsure if you know what that is, but in short its tied to your power; a powerful evil also wants it, and until the item inside is removed, it will hunt you to the ends of the earth. And kill you. Or enslave you. Perhaps both, who knows? But it seems to be generally agreed upon that it won't be pleasant. As for how we found you-"

Tyrian closed his eyes and thrust a fist up into the air.

Even now that they'd found the Maiden, there were still many challenges lurking ahead of them.

...And he couldn't wait to fight them!​

 

[MyrtenRose]

"There's only one person on that council of jackals that really concerns me, outside the man himself; Weiss. Fucking. Schnee."

the name was spoken like a calamity. Like even putting it on her tongue brought Sienna pain. she leaned forward on her throne to rest her elbows on her knees with her hands clasped together.

"She was already a part of his cadre of enforcers when we were approached, and her so called 'reforms' had begun in earnest at that point. Mines were becoming safer, faunus pay increasing to past half of human rates for the first time in ages. I'm sure Blake painted a more noble picture of it, but what we were given was an ultimatum. We could side with Ozpin, against the humans who enslave us, with his word of an equal place at the table when the ashes are carved up... or we would dash all those changes against the rocks. Schnee doesn't just own the biggest dust company in Remnant; she sits on Atlas' council. She could devastate the lives of every faunus in that kingdom with a wave of her hand, and we would find ourselves at war on two fronts."

She growled and sat back as she crossed one leg over the other as she stared off past Ilia, at the door Blake had exited from.

"It wasn't much of a choice to make."

She turned her gaze back to Ilia with an imperious smile. "Which brings us back to you. You seem to think we've made the wrong choice. Tell me, Ilia, were you a member of the Shadow Fang in your world? The White Fang? You certainly seem to know Blake, or at least a Blake. Is there something in this world of yours that makes this the wrong decision? Something different, something that doesn't end in disaster for the faunus if we choose the other side?"

"I..." She lowered her head and stared at the ground in response to that information. She hadn't known that, and the last thing she wanted was to ever make any faunus's life worse. "I...understand. You were stuck between a rock and a hard place. You made the choice that you thought would be less devastating to the faunus. I can't, and I won't hold that against you. I can't say that disasters won't come for the faunus if you do renounce this alliance. From what I saw of this Ozpin...yeah, I don't think he would take kindly to that. But...back home...yes, I was with the White Fang, and we had forces that assaulted Beacon. Except there, it was Taurus who participated in it, not Blake." Ilia lifted her head up to look Sienna in her eyes.

"After that? One of the humans that served the same force behind the attack, he and Taurus met with you, Sienna. A meeting that ended...…." Ilia hesitated. "...with your death, and Taurus rising to claim your throne as High Leader. A murder orchestrated because the dark master of these events had concerns about your willingness to cooperate, and because it was believed you would only hold the faunus back. They got rid of you in favor of a leader who would be more loyal to their cause, because like I said, that's all they really want from you. Loyalty." Ilia shook her head in regret that she had ever thought that was a necessary sacrifice.

"I can't promise to be able to stop them from making our lives difficult if you break off your agreement with them. There would be consequences, probably ugly ones. Painful ones. But if we stay the course, help them lay waste to the human kingdoms and burn them away as Blake wants...if the humans are dethroned, I don't think Ozpin will keep to his word. He'd turn on the faunus next, I really believe that. And with the human kingdoms reduced to ash and no one left for us to turn to...that's when the true disaster starts." ​

 

[MyrtenRose]

"...Could I train with you as well? The one you speak to is Cinder and she's a trusted friend of mine! But I'd like to train with someone who has just as much power as her and see how I-"

"What. Kid, I don't know who you think I am but if you want some training, why don't you turn your tail around and go find a gym somewhere."​

"...Cinder, while I'm ever so happy you've found someone like you, complete with your social skills-

"Excuse me?" Both maidens exclaimed in unison, rounding on Watts after he had said that. Cinder had no patience for Arthur's particular brand of sarcasm right now, and Vernal seemed insulted by the very notion, grumbling something about "I'll show you social skills." Having two maidens staring you down with intense, flaring eyes...

Ruby had to admit that even standing off to the side as she was, it was really intimidating.
​

we did come here for a reason more important than practice for you two." He turned to Vernal with a short bow. "No, that is not the reason we're here. We require you to open the vault in haven. I'm unsure if you know what that is, but in short its tied to your power; a powerful evil also wants it, and until the item inside is removed, it will hunt you to the ends of the earth. And kill you. Or enslave you. Perhaps both, who knows? But it seems to be generally agreed upon that it won't be pleasant."

"..." Vernal tore her gaze away from this twig kid to glance over at Qrow, who nodded slowly. "You mean Ozpin. That's what you're getting at, right?" Despite herself, she grinned. "Look at you. Using your words to outline how bad Oz would hunt me down, try to subtly manipulate the conversation by pointing out all the bad things that'll follow if I don't help, just so I'm particularly encouraged to lend a hand. Smart, kid. I'm impressed. You could--"​

"-That'd be us!" Yang cut in, throwing a congenial arm around Vernal and grinned. "Sup. Do you remember me? Apparently, I grew up here!"

"Nani?!"

"..........Yang?" Vernal couldn't believe her eyes. "Why would--" Blue eyes roved downwards towards that arm. "...hell happened there?"​

 

[Gus Gungus]

Just select your preferred Weiss song



Going from Ozpin's dominion back to her own was as jarring a tonal shift as Weiss could ever recall undergoing. Had she not handpicked her personal airship staff and paid them such unfathomable, absurd rates to secure their undying loyalty, she was sure the mere aura of the jagged, brutal kingdom of Grimm would have her turnover rate spinning like a top, something if which were to occur would've meant she could kiss the dual purpose she worked so hard to precariously maintain goodbye. Thankfully, every soul among that crew loved money. The guards were all former mercenaries, disgraced huntsmen and the like. The pilots were mostly disenfranchised military. And the engineers, well, they were just among the shadiest of characters already under her employ, and frankly they were shadier than the other two subcategories combined.

Thankfully, she was pretty much the richest person any of them ever had a shot at meeting. Their golden ticket, as it were. This ensured that even when their duties began veering into the strange, such as being required to leave an airship behind and return to Atlas via a small fleet of escape shuttles, then lie about it to corroborate a lie of her own that she'd practically forced them to rehearse, the thought of jeopardizing the excellent, financially secure lifestyles they were currently leading was genuinely one that didn't even occur to a soul among them. That was Atlas for you; the worst fate one could suffer wasn't death, it was ending up having to live in Mantle.

So that was all there was to it. They arrived back, Ironwood questioned a dozen or so more of her people than he had to before he was satisfied that the account she gave was accurate, his people's instruments presumably confirmed that the ship's tracking beacon was currently in the middle of the ocean, and that was that. Ironwood clearly still felt something was off about the situation, but the fact the council were beginning to view him as a paranoid, out-of-touch oaf while she was still the darling responsible for much of the city's economic growth over the last decade was all that amounted to. If anything, the general's growing suspicion of her was actually making him look worse. He really was a sharp man, just lacking in tact and the special attention she paid to cultivating her public image; A small part of her regretted what was happening to him. Had this all played out differently, he would've made for a very worthy ally in the days to come. It was unfortunate that they could never see eye-to-eye on her intentions for Atlas, for the kingdoms as a whole—not if it meant working with Ozpin. A master in the fine art of persuasion she may have been, but some minds couldn't be changed, and no matter how much she admired either of them both Ironwood and Salem were people she had to consider obstacles now. Not enemies, but certainly obstacles. And she'd do what she always did to overcome obstacles: what she had to.

She was long past the point of wavering, of compromising in her resolve. One day, the kingdoms would be better off for what she was doing, and the blood that had to spill to facilitate it would be immortalized as a noble, necessary sacrifice. There was every chance the world of Remnant in ten years might not look on her name with kindness, but somebody, somewhere, would recognize that the way things were before simply wasn't sustainable, and that person? They were going to thank Weiss Schnee for everything she did. She could wait for that day. Right now she just had to do it.

She didn't hire live-in staff for the manor anymore, instead allowing their maids and butlers live out of other accommodation on-site. It was a matter of privacy, but it made the endless halls and foyers she'd roamed since she was a girl seem even vaster and more hollow than when she was little, even if the smiles it had been filled with back then were all false ones. She was beginning to learn that solitude and isolation could be two very different things, and she wasn't sure which of them she liked less. The rap she gave the pristine oak door in front of her with her knuckle was as rapid as it was gentle, the family head almost eager in the way she strained to listen through the descending silence as a vague shuffling came from within. The door cracked open, just enough for a pair of tired, unfocused eyes that matched the shade of her own to blink out at her in a daze, as if not used to the light.

"...oh... I didn't know you were back."

Weiss nodded patiently. "Hello, mother. I arrived some time ago. Apologies for not calling sooner, I didn't want to wake you."

"...mhmm..." For all Weiss tried to understand her mother's issues, to help with them, the one thing she could never understand was why the woman had such a difficult time meeting her eyes. Hers had already drifted downwards, like they'd rather be looking anywhere else than into her own daughter's. "Is Whitley...?"

"I think he's in his room."

Willow just nodded, like she didn't know what else to say.

"..." Weiss stood up on tiptoes a bit to politely try and peer into the room. She sniffed the air, not that this room's aroma ever changed. "Are you having a drink? You could join me for one downstairs, if you like."

The gap the elder Schnee was peering through grew a bit narrower. The woman shifted her posture, clearly uncomfortable, but it wasn't fear that brought on this behavior anymore, of that much Weiss was certain. It was shame. "Ah... n-no, Weiss. I'm sorry, I don't... I'm not feeling very well."

Weiss nodded with a hum, having long since drawn her own conclusions to explain her mother's behavior. Her father had taken his toll on them all, she supposed. She knew it wasn't anything personal, it could never be. She knew she still loved her, because unlike Jacques there had definitely been a time where she had, so... A parent couldn't just fall out of love with a child. That was absolutely ridiculous, especially when she'd excelled so much. If Weiss realized Willow was trying to bring the conversation to a close, she didn't let it show. "Can I bring you anything? I had the chefs prepare that venison dish you love so much."

"Thank you, Weiss, I might get some later. I'm... going to lie down now."

She managed to reestablish eye contact with her daughter for a brief moment, but didn't smile as she stepped to the side and pushed the door shut all the way. After a moment, Weiss heard a click as the key in the lock turned.

"...Okay. I hope you feel better, mother." She eventually said to the door quietly, nothing strange about the way she delivered it save for the extra moment or two it took to get it out. She turned, head held just a centimeter or two higher as she walked back towards the staircase landing, certainly not trying to compensate for anything she felt inside. She didn't bother trying Whitley's door as she swept past it, knowing it was locked and very unlikely to open for her.

---

It was much later that evening that saw Weiss seated at the grand piano in their second main foyer, having decided to follow through for herself on that threat of a drink. Or two. Or five. Frankly her body had long since learned to metabolize alcohol with an efficiency that bordered on impossible considering her build, and she was certain enough she never ended up in a state where she let it compromise her thinking—but she supposed she was prone to getting a bit sentimental. Her fingers graced over the ivory keys with practiced familiarity, plinking out a soft melody as she recalled a song she'd written back when she still wrote her own music. It was a performance she recalled very well, if not quite as well as the vicious argument that had preceded it, given it its meaning.

"...Mir-ror... Tell me some-thing..."

She lost track of how long she sat there after the piece finished. How long before a voice made itself known from the room's entrance, every bit as even-toned and officious in bearing as Weiss's could be even on her best day.

"I remember when you sang that. It was... I was very proud to be your sister that day."

"Winter."

She supposed it might've been ironic that, when faced with a voice so eloquently composed and similar to her own, the single word Weiss met it with was wrapped in a layer of ice and venom.

Might have been ironic, if it hadn't been fully deliberate. It made for a quaint distraction, all this reminiscing, but there was still much to be done, and even slightly inebriated Weiss knew exactly what her first steps were going to be. Her eldest sister coughed, and Weiss could see she was a bit nervous as she approached the piano, even for as brilliant as she was at concealing it. Much of her own frosty, self-serious public demeanor had drawn inspiration from her, after all. Certainly she had a way of commanding respect and obedience from men that Weiss had channeled plenty when crafting her public image. There had been a time when she idolized Winter. Wanted to be exactly like her.

And then she had left her here. With him.

"I was... very surprised to hear from you," she continued, clearing her throat with authority. Weiss almost had to smirk. There it was. "It had been so long, I thought I'd have to start making peace with the fact you never wanted to speak to me personally again. I wasn't sure I'd be able to do that."

Now, all these years later, even though they hardly ever spoke on a non-professional basis the cracks she could see were disappointingly glaring. Sentiment. Emotion. All weaknesses Weiss had worked very hard to tame, to virtually rid herself of, weaknesses that Winter had never quite been able to shake. It was evident in all the efforts her older sister made to reconnect with her over the years, to apologize for not considering how her chosen escape was going to affect her, the next in line. Outwardly, she'd always taken Weiss's rejections gracefully, on the chin, but you couldn't kid a kidder. Weiss knew her absence in Winter's life was devastating to the older woman.

She could use that.

"Winter, I..."

This was exactly what she was talking about. Sentiment could be weaponized; your emotions, turned against you. And it all started with this. With the song that she knew evoked such strong feelings of pride and affection in the sister who missed her so dearly, who harbored so much inner guilt for the way her past actions had molded Weiss's future. With Weiss calling her here, a bit shaken sounding over the phone, and Winter arriving to find her looking so cripplingly lonely, drinking the way mother used to drink around the house, obviously distressed about something, like she was in over her head and had no idea who to turn to. All things she was faking, obviously. The genuine sparks of all those things she felt deep in her chest only served to make her performance all the more convincing, provided she kept those feelings buried long-term.

In that moment, though, she let it all out. All the sadness and frustration she felt at having a public who revered her and a personal life full of people who seemed to hate her, when it wasn't just completely barren. How afraid she was of Ozpin, the Shadow Fang, of all of them. All the negative emotional sparks Weiss had compressed into a tiny, inert ball of dark matter and hidden away behind the layers of stone over her heart were, for that moment, extracted and fanned, and the councilwoman started sobbing pretty much instantly, completely unable to control her breathing even if she tried as she buried her face in her hands.

"I—I don't k-know what to do-!"

"...Weiss!" Winter's eyes widened, gripped by genuine shock. Years of military service and a resolve made of pure steel didn't matter in that moment. An involuntary chemical reaction in her brain decided her response, and the instant she saw Weiss break down that way, she ceased to be a soldier or an ice queen. She was just a sister. Though a little uncertain in the motions, she stepped forward determinedly and pulled Weiss into a hug, her grip tight but gentle as she tried to help Weiss get her heaving breaths under control, something she was genuinely having to fight to do. "What is it? Tell me what's bothering you."

This was a kindness, really. Even if Winter hadn't been dead to her from the moment she decided to abandon her, Weiss would've considered this a gift, not an act of manipulative cruelty. She was giving the woman what she wanted after all these years. Giving her the chance to be a sister again.

The strings of warmth currently tugging at her own heart were a bit of a nuisance, but she'd just shove those back in the closet with all the others when the time came. For now, she let her head rest willingly on her sister's shoulder, voice a quiet croak when she finally did manage to compose herself enough to speak again, out of breath and nervous. Like she was afraid of being overheard.

"H-How... How much do you trust General Ironwood?"

Phase one initiated.​

 

[Gus Gungus]

"-That'd be us!" Yang cut in, throwing a congenial arm around Vernal and grinned. "Sup. Do you remember me? Apparently, I grew up here!"

"Nani?!"

"..........Yang?" Vernal couldn't believe her eyes. "Why would--" Blue eyes roved downwards towards that arm. "...hell happened there?"

"I happened."

The way Eve uttered those words was so flagrant, unabashed and apathetic that it was pretty appallingly disrespectful to everything Yang had went through, not that she really knew anything about it. She felt a bit more outside the loop than everyone else here on the two timelines issue, and what she did know had been reluctantly offered up by Qrow as a bargaining chip, finally giving her some answers to some of the questions born the night Beacon was assaulted. Basic ones.

"Which should tell you everything you need to know about how serious this is. Ozpin will be dead soon, so you won't have to worry about any of what the kid said. So long as you help us."

A leader known for her savage cunning and skill, most definitely; For tact and charisma, absolutely not.​

 

[Schnee Corp Lawyer]

"I happened."

The way Eve uttered those words was so flagrant, unabashed and apathetic that it was pretty appallingly disrespectful to everything Yang had went through, not that she really knew anything about it. She felt a bit more outside the loop than everyone else here on the two timelines issue, and what she did know had been reluctantly offered up by Qrow as a bargaining chip, finally giving her some answers to some of the questions born the night Beacon was assaulted. Basic ones.

"Which should tell you everything you need to know about how serious this is. Ozpin will be dead soon, so you won't have to worry about any of what the kid said. So long as you help us."

A leader known for her savage cunning and skill, most definitely; For tact and charisma, absolutely not.​

"...Yea. You did."

Yang's semi faux cheer drifted off as she glared at Eve, her arm still around Vernal. She liked to think she was exhibiting a saintly amount of patience around the faunus in this very brief partnership; outside her last shot in Salem's office, she'd kept her distance from the faunus and let her say her own piece in various conversations, not so much content as forcing herself to just ignore her presence and focus on the job at hand. But no way was she gonna ignore that, no matter how much 'better nature' this version of Taurus was showing, and her response was laced with an uncomfortable level of venom for anyone who even vaguely knew this Yang.

"Keep pushing your luck and its gonna end the same way."

...

The her mouth flicked into a grin and she rolled her eyes. "Plus, you like, didn't answer her question at all." She said as she wheeled Vernal around and just started walking away from Eve, again.

"So, auntie vernal, do I call you that? I'm gonna. You know how you just saw two Qrows?"

 

[Gus Gungus]

"...Yea. You did."

Yang's semi faux cheer drifted off as she glared at Eve, her arm still around Vernal. She liked to think she was exhibiting a saintly amount of patience around the faunus in this very brief partnership; outside her last shot in Salem's office, she'd kept her distance from the faunus and let her say her own piece in various conversations, not so much content as forcing herself to just ignore her presence and focus on the job at hand. But no way was she gonna ignore that, no matter how much 'better nature' this version of Taurus was showing, and her response was laced with an uncomfortable level of venom for anyone who even vaguely knew this Yang.

"Keep pushing your luck and its gonna end the same way."

...

The her mouth flicked into a grin and she rolled her eyes. "Plus, you like, didn't answer her question at all." She said as she wheeled Vernal around and just started walking away from Eve, again.

"So, auntie vernal, do I call you that? I'm gonna. You know how you just saw two Qrows?"

"I'm not here to answer questions. This sunny airhead act fools nobody." She shot back with a dark, broiling glower, voice low and menacing as her instincts very much picked up on what tone implied was a threat, even if it sent her eyes into a suspicious squint. What was she talking about? What way?

Maybe it was a desire to have those questions met with answers that had her stalking forward step for step as soon as Yang started walking away. Thankfully she recognized it wasn't the time, and ended up just silently pacing along on Vernal's other side with a hand ominously on her blade and a grim scowl like that of a caged animal on her face as she stared at them, basically creating the polar opposite atmosphere to what Yang was trying to do.​

 

[Schnee Corp Lawyer]

"I..." She lowered her head and stared at the ground in response to that information. She hadn't known that, and the last thing she wanted was to ever make any faunus's life worse. "I...understand. You were stuck between a rock and a hard place. You made the choice that you thought would be less devastating to the faunus. I can't, and I won't hold that against you. I can't say that disasters won't come for the faunus if you do renounce this alliance. From what I saw of this Ozpin...yeah, I don't think he would take kindly to that. But...back home...yes, I was with the White Fang, and we had forces that assaulted Beacon. Except there, it was Taurus who participated in it, not Blake." Ilia lifted her head up to look Sienna in her eyes.

"After that? One of the humans that served the same force behind the attack, he and Taurus met with you, Sienna. A meeting that ended...…." Ilia hesitated. "...with your death, and Taurus rising to claim your throne as High Leader. A murder orchestrated because the dark master of these events had concerns about your willingness to cooperate, and because it was believed you would only hold the faunus back. They got rid of you in favor of a leader who would be more loyal to their cause, because like I said, that's all they really want from you. Loyalty." Ilia shook her head in regret that she had ever thought that was a necessary sacrifice.

"I can't promise to be able to stop them from making our lives difficult if you break off your agreement with them. There would be consequences, probably ugly ones. Painful ones. But if we stay the course, help them lay waste to the human kingdoms and burn them away as Blake wants...if the humans are dethroned, I don't think Ozpin will keep to his word. He'd turn on the faunus next, I really believe that. And with the human kingdoms reduced to ash and no one left for us to turn to...that's when the true disaster starts." ​

Sienna's eyes slowly widened as Ilia made her way through her brief retelling, and when the other faunus was finished, she was initially met with silence as Sienna bit her thumb with a thoughtful frown, processing the information Ilia had given her.

"...Heh. It sounds as if you're telling me that the most important thing I should do now... is kill Blake, before she does the same to me?"

Whatever rebuttal, if any, Ilia had to that was met with a laugh and a wave, a wry spark in Sienna's eyes and grin as she shook her head. "I'm kidding. While I can say its surprising that there's an Eve who had a stomach for this work, I can't be at all surprised that things would end like that between us. She's always been..." a bit of anger started to break through her tone.

"...Stubborn."

It was gone with another wave of her hand, as if she was shooing whatever thoughts she had on that subject away. "But I don't think our prospects are as grim as you think, Amitola. I'm no fool. I know Ozpin is a monster who thrives on domination. But he has yet to break his word with us. The Shadow Fang has been bolstered by funds and technology that put us on par with even the armies of the kingdoms, if not the sheer manpower. As long as he sees himself as sitting on top of the pile, and as long as his hatred for Salem is sated, I don't think he gives a single fuck about who actually ends up seated beneath him in this 'new world order' of his."

She sighed and slowly shook her head, her amusement fading into a stern, queenly frown. "You'd have us turn away from admittedly dangerous allies to fight alongside the human kingdoms who despise us. And that was before the debacle that Beacon was. No, Amitola, I'm sorry. Blake isn't Eve. She's loyal to me before she is Ozpin, and she's loyal to the cause before even me. The only people who she is a danger to are the ones who stand in the way of the Faunus' rise. Which brings us... back to you."

She raised an eyebrow, drumming one hand's fingers on the throne's left arm. "Do you have any suggestions on what we do with you?"

 

[MyrtenRose]

"I happened."

The way Eve uttered those words was so flagrant, unabashed and apathetic that it was pretty appallingly disrespectful to everything Yang had went through, not that she really knew anything about it. She felt a bit more outside the loop than everyone else here on the two timelines issue, and what she did know had been reluctantly offered up by Qrow as a bargaining chip, finally giving her some answers to some of the questions born the night Beacon was assaulted. Basic ones.

"Which should tell you everything you need to know about how serious this is. Ozpin will be dead soon, so you won't have to worry about any of what the kid said. So long as you help us."

"Careful."

The warning came out in a harsh growl, Vernal's blue eyes giving Eve a icy cold glare that was a match for any Schnee. "Yang may have left us, but she's still one of ours." For all their many faults, the bandits here did at least have a strong bond with each other. And the warning may not have been needed, given how boldly Yang responded on her own(which earned the blonde a strangely proud grin) but it never hurt to have a maiden give your words a little more extra oomph when talking to some punk.​

"So, auntie vernal, do I call you that? I'm gonna. You know how you just saw two Qrows?"

"...How about you don't." She replied. That bond only went so far, apparently. "And yeah, that was gonna be my next question. It better be one hell of a good explanation."​

Maybe it was a desire to have those questions met with answers that had her stalking forward step for step as soon as Yang started walking away. Thankfully she recognized it wasn't the time, and ended up just silently pacing along on Vernal's other side with a hand ominously on her blade and a grim scowl like that of a caged animal on her face as she stared at them, basically creating the polar opposite atmosphere to what Yang was trying to do.

"Oh now that, that is just precious." If that display was meant to inspire anything other than amusement, it completely failed.​

 

[Gus Gungus]

"Oh now that, that is just precious." If that display was meant to inspire anything other than amusement, it completely failed.

"Oh, did you think I was threatening you? No. You'd know. This is just humans bringing out the best in me." She growled back with an edge as cutting as Wilt, more or less hardwired not to give an inch in her own right.​

 

[Schnee Corp Lawyer]

"Careful."

The warning came out in a harsh growl, Vernal's blue eyes giving Eve a icy cold glare that was a match for any Schnee. "Yang may have left us, but she's still one of ours." For all their many faults, the bandits here did at least have a strong bond with each other. And the warning may not have been needed, given how boldly Yang responded on her own(which earned the blonde a strangely proud grin) but it never hurt to have a maiden give your words a little more extra oomph when talking to some punk.



"...How about you don't." She replied. That bond only went so far, apparently. "And yeah, that was gonna be my next question. It better be one hell of a good explanation."

"Oh now that, that is just precious." If that display was meant to inspire anything other than amusement, it completely failed.​

This was... also weirdly uncomfortable, actually. Yang couldn't say she'd gotten to know Vernal well, but she had been her mom's right hand woman, fought against them at Haven, and had presumably been lockstep with all of her mom's other terrible life choices if the fact that she died to act on them was any indication.

That said, she hadn't cut off her arm, impaled her partner, and stalked them to the ends of Mistral, so it wasn't necessarily a surprise when she lost that battle of wills inside herself and stuck a tongue out at Eve "Yea, precious." : |

She cleared her throat and focused back on vernal "Just ignore her or we're never gonna get through this. and its a lot, trust me. There's two Qrows, because...and again this is a lot but just, y'know, bear with me and try to remember we live in a world where fairy tales are true and a crazy old man is secretly in charge of all the grimm-"

"-Please for the love of the twins get on with it-"

"-because he and a few of us are from the future of a different timeline and so we knew you'd be the maiden and we had to come get you before you died like you did in our timeline because ozpin wants the relic and needs you to get it and rush me again and I'm going to punt you through the moon" She cut, ending it with an accusatory finger whirled towards Watts.

 

[MidwayLives]

"Oh, did you think I was threatening you? No. You'd know. This is just humans bringing out the best in me." She growled back with an edge as cutting as Wilt, more or less hardwired not to give an inch in her own right.

"Hey, hey! Relaaaax!~"

Roman suggested as he tried to place a hand on Eve's shoulder.

"Just let the two of them work this out and you can stand here and look angry!"

...Man, she was a lot more intimidating up close.​

 

[Gus Gungus]

This was... also weirdly uncomfortable, actually. Yang couldn't say she'd gotten to know Vernal well, but she had been her mom's right hand woman, fought against them at Haven, and had presumably been lockstep with all of her mom's other terrible life choices if the fact that she died to act on them was any indication.

That said, she hadn't cut off her arm, impaled her partner, and stalked them to the ends of Mistral, so it wasn't necessarily a surprise when she lost that battle of wills inside herself and stuck a tongue out at Eve "Yea, precious." : |

She cleared her throat and focused back on vernal "Just ignore her or we're never gonna get through this. and its a lot, trust me. There's two Qrows, because...and again this is a lot but just, y'know, bear with me and try to remember we live in a world where fairy tales are true and a crazy old man is secretly in charge of all the grimm-"

"-Please for the love of the twins get on with it-"

"-because he and a few of us are from the future of a different timeline and so we knew you'd be the maiden and we had to come get you before you died like you did in our timeline because ozpin wants the relic and needs you to get it and rush me again and I'm going to punt you through the moon" She cut, ending it with an accusatory finger whirled towards Watts.

"He's right. These aren't people of words." Came her blunt criticism, though it was a little milder than anything that came before it as she finally turned her gaze away with a huff of obvious frustration. Her ego was simply far too big and stubborn to accept being brushed off so casually when she'd been trying to cut to the chase with these thugs from the start, to demonstrate the severity of the situation that two people with such a grudge could be convinced to put it aside for the fate of the world.

She guessed everyone just thought she was here to start fights. These humans really were judgmental morons.
​

"Hey, hey! Relaaaax!~"

Roman suggested as he tried to place a hand on Eve's shoulder.

"Just let the two of them work this out and you can stand here and look angry!"

...Man, she was a lot more intimidating up close.​

The irony wasn't exactly lost on her as Eve turned and full on backhanded Roman to the floor when the human dared put his hand on her, to step into her personal space from an angle she couldn't see. The rage she exploded with was strange, less hateful and more verging on a panicked reflex response as she whirled on him with the wrath of a bull, eyes flared wide under her mask and chest heaving in breaths that were short and erratic. "Don't you ever—!"

...Her brain finally admitted to itself that her presence in this scenario wasn't helping anything, and she stomped off without another word to remove herself from this group of people.​

 

[MyrtenRose]

Sienna's eyes slowly widened as Ilia made her way through her brief retelling, and when the other faunus was finished, she was initially met with silence as Sienna bit her thumb with a thoughtful frown, processing the information Ilia had given her.

"...Heh. It sounds as if you're telling me that the most important thing I should do now... is kill Blake, before she does the same to me?"

Whatever rebuttal, if any, Ilia had to that was met with a laugh and a wave, a wry spark in Sienna's eyes and grin as she shook her head. "I'm kidding. While I can say its surprising that there's an Eve who had a stomach for this work, I can't be at all surprised that things would end like that between us. She's always been..." a bit of anger started to break through her tone.

"...Stubborn."

It was gone with another wave of her hand, as if she was shooing whatever thoughts she had on that subject away. "But I don't think our prospects are as grim as you think, Amitola. I'm no fool. I know Ozpin is a monster who thrives on domination. But he has yet to break his word with us. The Shadow Fang has been bolstered by funds and technology that put us on par with even the armies of the kingdoms, if not the sheer manpower. As long as he sees himself as sitting on top of the pile, and as long as his hatred for Salem is sated, I don't think he gives a single fuck about who actually ends up seated beneath him in this 'new world order' of his."

She sighed and slowly shook her head, her amusement fading into a stern, queenly frown. "You'd have us turn away from admittedly dangerous allies to fight alongside the human kingdoms who despise us. And that was before the debacle that Beacon was. No, Amitola, I'm sorry. Blake isn't Eve. She's loyal to me before she is Ozpin, and she's loyal to the cause before even me. The only people who she is a danger to are the ones who stand in the way of the Faunus' rise. Which brings us... back to you."

She raised an eyebrow, drumming one hand's fingers on the throne's left arm. "Do you have any suggestions on what we do with you?"

"...." Ilia let out a heavy sigh about halfway through Sienna's speech, already able to guess exactly where it was going. She had so desperately hoped that convincing Sienna was possible, that making her end the alliance between them would be enough to help pull Blake away from the path she was so committed to walking. The aid that Ozpin had given to the Shadow Fang and whatever promises he made clearly outweighed her own words. "I'm sorry to hear you say that." The chameleon meant it, genuinely. Sienna, her Sienna, had been a great leader for a long time. Extreme methods, maybe, but her heart had always been unquestionably with the cause of improving the lives of all faunus.

And it wasn't hard to read into what Sienna was saying towards the end. Ilia's eyes flitted around from guard to guard in quick succession as the High Leader asked that final question. "Hmm. Suggestions..." The words had barely come out of her mouth before she had leapt back a considerable distance, turning around into a sprint for the giant door. This idea hadn't panned out great, but...if she could just make it to where the shuttle was, fly it out of here...

This Blake had mentioned there were others out there like her, not the ones that grew up in this world. They were out there, somewhere. She just had to find them and hope they would be willing to help. Of course, the more immediate issue was that she had to get out of here...and past Blake who was probably standing just on the other side of those doors. Or Sienna too, for that matter, if the high leader gave chase. Another sigh escaped her right before she shoved them open and sped through as fast as she could.​