It seemed like an eternity had passed before the grandfather clock rang out, signaling that it was time for the women to take their leave and prepare one final time for the night ahead. Women young and old excused themselves to go dress into their ball gowns. For some, it would be a rather lengthy process, and a few of the men murmured as much around the table in good humor.

Team RWBY walked together to go get ready, the four of them were already mentally exhausted. Blake and Yang seemed to be holding up better than the youngest member of the group, though.

"Remind me again why rich people think this is fun?" Ruby asked sourly, dragging her feet as she walked.

"They're idiots." Weiss deadpanned under her breath.

"Come on, sis." Yang said, hanging back a little and slinging her arm around Ruby's shoulder. "Just a little while longer. Hold out until then, and when we get back to the cabin tonight I'll let you help me give Ember Celica a good clean-up. I'll need it in top condition in case I have to nail a few of jerks in the face."

Realizing that was likely not the best way to leave the sentiment, Weiss offered Ruby a smile. "A lot of these people are friends, or at the very least acquaintances. Business partners, high ranking members of Atlas elite, and those of prestige in the military tend to run in families. Atlas Academy prides itself of grabbing up young teenagers to train to become huntsmen. Moreover though, they work very closely with the actual military. In fact, as adults, many choose to enlist right out of graduation. So in short, many of the people here do, in fact find this fun."

"Good thing I chose to go to Beacon…" Yang deadpanned. "I was looking into Atlas too, but the rule in the student guide book were way too strict for me."

"Dad twisted your arm about it too." Ruby added.

"That too, not to mention, if these are the kind of people that go to Atlas Academy, then fuck em'." When the blonde passed one of the decorative hallways mirrors, Yang realized just how red her eyes were. Then she glanced around, the repressed emotion seemed to be shared by everyone. Her entire team was agitated, Ruby included. "Never mind me, I'm just in a bad mood." Yang said, one hand raising to rub the redness away as beast as she could. Not an easy feat when her temper was boiling her blood. "Why are we still kissing CDRL's ass? We should be wiping the floor with them after that dinner."

"Because my father wished it, arranged it, and in spite of knowing my intentions, desires that we do so." Weiss said, leading them to her room and ushering them inside. "It's that simple."

"Yeah, well he's being a king jack-off right now."

Weiss ignored Yang's terrible mood. Instead she took the gowns from the closets, carefully laying them down upon the bed neatly. "Loathe though I am to admit this, we shouldn't waste too much time."

"This sucks." The youngest among them pointed out, not even trying to soften her own opinion on the matter as she began shedding her clothes.

"And swallows. Here, turn around Ruby, I'll tie your corset." Yang agreed, earning a somewhat disgusted look from Weiss.

"There are not enough invectives to adequately describe this situation." Weiss protested as she tied Blake's. Her fingers moved swiftly in a way that outmatched Yang, and the blonde was an expert in the matter. "Just try to maintain your dignity you two, that's all I ask."

"Easy for you to do." Blake said, biting her lip from her girlfriend's slightly rough handling. Though, from the look of it, Yang was tying Ruby's with just as much force. Rolling her eyes she ignored the discomfort of the matter. "After this afternoon, I really don't want to wear something like this. Not after hearing Russel muttering about his erection under his breath." When the entire room looked at her she felt a blush burn her cheeks. "I have sensitive hearing!"

"That, and he's a pervert." Weiss sighed, giving Blake a long, appreciative glance once her work was complete. "We'll maim them right after we get back to Beacon, and Goodwitch can observe the match."

"Speaking of perverts, that reminds me…" Yang trailed off going off to rummage around in her purse pulling out four condoms. "Not that I want to use these at all, but, we are going to be dealing with dudes and booze. Better safe than sorry."

"Not me, I'm not drinking…" Ruby said, admittedly refusing to take one of the sealed little squares. "And I'm not doing that either."

"Just take one anyway, Ruby." Yang protested, handing the girl the sealed packet anyway. "I've been looking for a good excuse to give you one, and now is the perfect time." She pressed it into her palm, and wouldn't allow her sister to give it back. "You're getting to that age, sis. No always mean no, but you need to be ready for whenever you do say yes. Just have one with you all the time." Then she pointed to the numbers across the package. "Oh, and mind the expiration date."

"This is so stupid." Ruby protested.

"As much as I hate to admit this, she's right, Ruby." Weiss sighed.

"If Cardin even thinks about it, he'll be in the medical ward as soon as we go back to Beacon." Blake growled.

"He's a trashy guy, Blake." Yang shot back. "Trust me, he's thinking about it."

"Believe it or not, women of my standing rarely carry protection of this kind. Knowing the woman has one can be quite the intimidation to a young man. Especially when we're taught to save ourselves for betrothal." Weiss sighed, unhappily plucking one of the offered prophylactics. She watched as Blake took the last one without complaint, not even batting an eye at the situation. "What not even a comment?"

"They have their uses." Blake shrugged, even if it's not for sex.

"Some quick augmentation, and you've got yourself a dental dam on the fly. Not the best idea, but good in a pinch. Better than nothing." Yang said only to earn a round of stares of her own. "What? Those stupid things are hard to find. Not condoms though, every store has those. Just saying, where's the love for the ladies?"

"Not with you, apparently…" Blake deadpanned.

"Gross!" Ruby protested. "Yang, please shut up. There are some things that I just don't want to know about my sister."

"Back to more reasonable topics at hand, our gowns are all very modest." Weiss replied. "Even if we do attract attention, I doubt it will be the lewd sort. The boys would have to be trying to look, to get a glimpse of anything."

"Yeah, except for the boob busters. Why do we have to wear these things anyway?" Yang said wincing as her sister began lacing hers together roughly, a sort of silent revenge for the disgusting information Ruby had just been listening to. "There isn't anything that'll hold mine in place, they'll be spilling out of the top. Ruby, damn it, not so tight."

"It's only that way because you never wear bras." Ruby retorted, another firm tug forcing her older sister to flinch. "They're supposed to be worn this way, and I promise you, it's not too tight."

Yang merely sent a somewhat annoyed glare over her shoulder. "Tell my tits that. The girls are getting smooshed over here."

"This is why Coco made you get something with a high neckline." Weiss shot back. As she took a breath. "It's the prudish Atlas style. Just put up with it. Blake do you know how to fasten a corset properly, or should I wait for Yang or Ruby?"

The cat Faunus sighed. She had absolutely no experience in them, and shook her head. "I've never fastened one, but, I can brush your hair out."

"That'll do." Weiss agreed. "I can step into my dress unzipped so you can get started if you'd like."

The speed at which Blake retrieved the hairbrush was almost comical, but Weiss allowed Blake the simple joy in the matter. "I'd like a loose braid if you can manage it, if not, I'll leave it down for the remainder of the night."

Blake seemed to think about this, fingers weaving into the silky strands in front of her as she gently tugged at them and gathered them together. "Well, as impractical as it is for day to day life, I think you look much more beautiful with your hair down." Then she smirked as she leaned down, to murmur into her girlfriend's ear. "Then again, the braid would show off the nape of your neck, and we discussed what that does to me."

Weiss blushed deeply at this. "Down it is…"

The Adel Shipping Company had offices scattered all across Remnant, and although it was a calculated risk, Coco had left the SDC grounds to visit one of her offices under the guise of giving a few of her friends a tour. In truth, it was hardly a social matter, or even one of business. This was something more personal. Only one friend followed her, and it was the only one she had ever intended to bring. Still, they couldn't stay away from the SDC for very long. Coco eyed the clock, trying to rush the document downloading onto her scroll.

"Did Glynda give you the information we need?" Coco asked, pulling off her shades to clean them with a microfiber cloth.

"I have it with me." Pyrrha said, still in awe of the building, and Coco's personal office. Pyrrha could tell it didn't get much use, but the deep umber and rich burgundy of the room gave it a comfortable appeal. It was unlike the offices Pyrrha had visited in the past. "I'm not sure what's on it, but Glynda assured me that you would know exactly what to do with it."

"That's right. I have operations like these down to a science. Not that it's very hard, or very risky. For people in my position, documents like these are passed around every day. This was your first time smuggling though, wasn't it?" Coco asked as she took the thin disk that Pyrrha handed her.

"It was…" Pyrrha said with a nod. "I found the entire matter very unsettling."

"Get used to it. You're a good gopher to use, Pyrrha. No one would ever think you capable of looking for this sort of trouble. Even with your affiliations, I'm sure you'd be bypassed for suspicion. Given who your father is, it's almost a guarantee." Coco said. "So, is everyone in place?"

At this, Pyrrha nodded again nervously. "Everyone within our power…"

"And those that aren't?" Coco pressed again.

"Will not be made aware of our affiliations, our cause, or what we happen to be doing." Pyrrha looked away unsure of everything she knew would come to pass, and swallowed hard. "Are we doing the right thing?"

Coco had wondered about that herself on occasion, licking her dry lips, she fought with herself over the magnitude of the event. Although nothing would be seen on the surface, waves were about to be made. "That's hard to say…" Coco murmured more to herself than the woman in front of her. "Regardless of whether or not Weiss participates in in Black Jack in the future, doesn't matter. Her father is an enemy to our cause, and he has enough power to start throwing his weight around."

"Glynda seems uncertain about if this is the right move or not. Even if we must follow through, I don't like seeing hesitation in a person of her usual convictions…"

"We're all uncertain." Coco forced through her teeth. She gave Pyrrha a hard look. "Could you justify one of his temper tantrums ripping through entire kingdoms though?" Coco pressed. "What about his grip on the dust company. Dust, as in our very livelihood? Could you safely continue to do battle against Grimm without it?" Coco looked back down at the disk in her hand, before sliding it into her scroll to download the information Glynda had collected. "Corporate warfare is what we do, Pyrrha, and until Weiss gains control of the SDC, we can't take risks…"

Pyrrha sighed at this. "Our leader's gone dark, and that concerns me too."

"Considering who's involved, she doesn't have a choice." Coco replied. "Pyrrha, no one's forcing you to be part of this group, you could walk away at any time."

"Yet I would regret doing so." Pyrrha stated. "Coco, I hold no illusions to the fact that the White Fang have destroyed everything that they have tried to build. I know Faunus will never gain their rights that way."

"So what the hell's your hang-up?"

"I just wonder if what we're doing is right." Pyrrha shrugged, gaze averting to the pictures on the walls. Everything was covered in them, some were paintings, but many of them had to have come from a camera. Likely Velvet's handiwork. "Sometimes…" She trailed off, looking at one of the larger pictures. The inscription on the bottom stated it was their first year of Beacon. "Sometimes, I believe it would be better for the people to come to conclusions about reform themselves, without being pressured into it."

"The people at large aren't the problem, it's the people that hold onto that power." Coco sat down on one of the swanky leather chairs and waited, inviting Pyrrha to do the same. "I didn't bring you here simply to trade the disk. We both know there's nothing too detrimental on here that Weiss hasn't already told us." Instead she produced her own disk, this one containing very sensitive information. "I want you to slip this to Weiss."

"What's on it?"

Coco bit her lip. She wanted to tell the younger woman, but doubted it would be a good idea. Then again, if she couldn't trust Pyrrha, then she couldn't trust anyone. That was a somewhat disturbing thought. "It's a list of instructions..." Coco said, contemplating her own words as they came out of her mouth. Processing the very implication behind them. "Our leader wants to meet Weiss, face to face. In order for that to happen though, Weiss will need to pick up a few items waiting back at Beacon. The location is detailed there. At that point, it's up to Weiss."

"What about the other records you promised her?"

"It's all here, which is why I can't carry it." Coco said as she pulled it out of the computer. "If anyone found out I was passing around this kind of information to others, I'd be under fire. I would really piss off my parents too, but, that's beside the point. No one suspects you, though. No one would ever think you'd keep this kind of thing on you, you'd have no reason to. They might be private records, but, they'd hardly do you any good."

"What are they?" Pyrrha asked.

At this, Coco smirked. "A list of contracts and contact information for every slave owned, traded, or released, by Adel Shipping Company in recorded history. It dates back just as far, if not farther than SDC's own records. Plus, there's some extra collateral I promised Weiss. Now come on, we need to get back, and get dressed. We can only be late so long before people start to raise eyebrows.

The ballroom was decorated magnificently, Ruby could see the white marbled floor, royal blues, glittering silver, and brilliant gold from her place at the top of the stairs. The floral arrangements by each pillar offered a vast array of floral specimens. Some, Ruby knew, were not native to Atlas, or even to Vale. Tables were lined with elegant finger foods. Staff were dressed to impress, and the military might of the kingdom offered added security.

Just like every event hosted at the SDC, a silent auction was being held in the far corners, where the sitting rooms had been lavishly decorated to host a quitter place to enjoy the event. Both fireplaces were lit, and outdoor dining was made possible by the warmth of several brightly burning braziers. The smell of wood burning wafted faintly from the far windows.

A few of the guests were already inside the ballroom. Chatter raising just above the soft ambiance of music being played. At the foot of the steps, several young men awaited their escorts for the evening, Fox and Ren stood among the group, obviously waiting for their dates for the night. Near the front, the well-dressed young men of team CRDL looked up at them expectantly, even they had put in their best efforts.

"Let's get this over with." Weiss said, beginning down the stairs. Yang and Blake confidently flanking both sides just a step behind her. Ruby, absolutely hating her attire, stuck to the back, feeling as though she was gathering far too much attention.

"Ladies." Cardin bowed to Weiss. "You look lovely this evening." He then produced a corsage from the florist. The arrangement comprised of a few sprigs of evergreen leaves native to Atlas, and a winter snow flower in the middle. "If I may be so bold…"

Weiss inwardly cringed at this, but, it was the polite thing to do. "You may." She said in front of the many party guests. "You don't do look so bad yourself, Cardin. For a hunter at Beacon, you clean up well." She said aloud, and to this, it rang true. His black tuxedo had been finely tailored to his form, the typical black and white ensemble covering Cardin in all of the ways befitting a gentleman of his family history. If only he wasn't such an unlikeable person when left to his own devices, she might have found him to be a tolerable acquaintance.

As it was, she had to withhold herself from backhanding him as he pinned the floral arrangement to her dress.

"You do not wear such dark colors often, but the royal blue suits you." He replied as he worked.

"So you say." Weiss was unsure how to take his compliment, only distantly accepting it. A quick glance over to her teammates proved that they were undergoing the same ordeal. Sky was offering a similar flower arrangement to Ruby, but Yang nabbed him none too gently first.

"Remember," Weiss heard Yang say to Sky slowly. Her tone was more or less friendly, though there was a dark implication buried deeply beneath her smile. "I've got my eye on you." A closer glance told Weiss that Yang was likely squeezing the boy's bicep with more force than she probably needed to get her point across.

"Shall we?" And just like that, her attention was dragged back to the gentleman in front of her. Cardin presented his arm, offering for her to take it. It was a simple gesture, but it was something well to do parents instilled in all boys as a means to teach them to become proper men. It seemed as though not all of his father's careful tutelage had been lost on him.

"We shall." So, as the heiress she was, she took his arm as he wanted, and the two of them made for the ballroom. "I hope you're ready, Cardin. Since this ball is hosted by my family, I have quite a bit of entertaining to do. This won't be like the dances back at Beacon, or even the formal parties held at your father's estate. As my escort, you'll have to project your position, and be ready for the scrutiny that comes from being the person at my side."

His smile was far too confidant for her liking. She could see the glint in his eyes, and that made her sick.

"I think I'll be fine." He said.

"I wouldn't be so sure. It's no easy thing." Weiss warned him as they reached the door. "All of those people in there tonight will be looking at you. You'll be the envy of several young heirs who'll want nothing more than to see your reputation ruined. The parents of those boys will look at you and wonder why my father's so interested in your family line. I hope you can handle the immense pressure handed down to you, it won't be an easy burden. I speak from experience."

"And so do I." Cardin said, his lip still quirked in a roughish manner. Cocky, and belligerent. "I've been groomed for this my whole life."

"Please don't smirk like that." Weiss chastised. "When Yang does that, it's harmless and endearing. When you do it, it seems as though you have an agenda."

"Oh, but I do." Cardin said easily. "I'm going to make this your night, Weiss. You'll see the kind of man I am, and I promise, you'll never go back to anything else."

Blake bit the inside of her cheek. Weiss looked as annoyed and Blake knew she personally felt, but there was nothing to be done about the matter. She was about to move to action when she saw Ren ask Weiss to dance, it was her sixth one of the evening, and finally, he had moved to sweep her up from the likes of Cardin, who had been far too friendly with her girlfriend, in Blake's personal opinion.

Cardin danced with Pyrrha, and Blake hoped that at least for a short time, Weiss would be free from the man's clutches.

"So, wanna dance?"

"No."

"Thirsty?"

"Not right now."

"There's a buffet table over-"

"I'm not hungry."

"How about we-"

"Russel, shut up." Blake snarled lowly in her throat.

Russel sighed as he scratched the back of his head. He had been having no luck entertaining Blake. "Well, then, what do you want to do?"

"I would like to stay here, and keep an eye on my teammates." Blake told him unhappily. "I agreed to come to this ball with you, we're here now, and I've done exactly what was asked of me. Now, I'm doing what I do best. Standing in the corner, and keeping away from the crowd."

"Not much of a social butterfly, gotcha." He huffed, hands crammed into his pockets. "Fun night..."

"You noticed..." Blake told him with a glare, her eyes drifting back to Weiss, and then to Ruby. She spared only a passing thought for Yang, knowing the blonde could easily handle herself against the likes of Dove.

"Look I hate these hoity-toity gatherings as much as you do." Russel spoke again. "But since we have to be here, and kiss ass all night, we might as well try to pass the time. It's got to be better than being over here in the corner."

"There is no possible way that's true." Blake said, crossing her arms and looking at him. "I'm not welcome at all out there, but you? You're different. You're human, male, and you've got that 'bad boy' swagger that a lot of girls in our age range like. You're training to become a hunter, too, and that's something well respected in Atlas from what I can figure out." She smirked darkly at him then. "Don't you get it? You fit right in here, you're not like me."

"My mom waits on tables, and my dad drives a garbage truck." He muttered only loud enough for Blake to hear. His pinky finger digging into his ear to scratch an itch. "I grew up on the south side of the Vale, by the docks. Nothing but flea-bitten animals live there, or the people who can't affirmed to live in the nice parts of town. It's not the kind of thing you can talk about. Not around these kinds of people."

"That's a Faunus district, but, not a good kind of Faunus district." Blake said, eyeing him out of the corner of her eye. More importantly, though she would never say it out loud, it was covered in the unsavory sort of White Fang activists that she needed to stop. "That area is covered in poverty."

"Well it's all we had, so it's all I know. Animals, all of em'. Nothing but street fights, and people complaining about who laid hands on whose girl." He said with a shrug. "I bet you'd know all about that, though, wouldn't you?"

"For the record, Faunus aren't actually animals, and we don't like being treated like one."

At this, he laughed. "I call it like I see it." Russel shot back uncaringly. "Ever wonder what it feels like to get picked on as a kid? When the bullies have claws and sharp teeth. you can't fight back. It sucks."

"Serves you right for living in the slums." Blake shot back. "You could have gotten out of there, maybe your family should have. The southwest quadrant of Vale's city has affordable housing that's in a better area. Patch and the area around Signal academy too, all of it is much more family oriented."

"Bullcrap."

"It's true." Blake protested. "The Faunus there aren't like the ones in downtown Vale. I'm not like that, Velvet's not either. It doesn't matter though. We still get looked down on by humans like you."

"Couldn't afford to move." Russel he said offhandedly, almost as if he didn't particularly care one way or the other. "Not if I wanted to get into a good school. Considering I was an accident made on a night my old man was drunk, I'd say things evened out just fine. We got by, I didn't starve. They got me into Beacon, can't complain. Then again, fighting is about all I can do."

"It sounds like you got complacent to me."

"Oh yeah, that really what you think?" Russel asked as he stared her down. "Let me give you a piece of advice. Being happy with what you got is way better than bitching and moaning about what you can't have. Maybe if you Faunus learned that, you wouldn't have sticks up your asses the whole time."

Blake said nothing at first as she wondered where such advice came from.

Finally, after a long while, she nodded. "You're right, there might be some merit in that way of thinking. There are certainly limits. The reality is, it's just not enough. Thinking that way as a hunter, you won't last a day out of Beacon. You'll be sullying your own hands for a cause, and eventually, you'll get invested. You have to hope that what you do is good enough, but, there will come a time that you know that it isn't…and then you'll understand."

"Geeze, moody much?"

"The world is full of monsters. Humans, Faunus, and Grimm." Blake replied quietly. "Learn to survive, or end up in a body bag. Those are your options. As for me? I'll always choose survival. If that's the case, call me greedy, but I want more in my life. I think every Faunus does, even the ones that don't say anything about it."