The dormitories in Beacon were separated into four different buildings. Alpha, Epsilon, Sigma, and Delta. Two of them, Sigma and Delta were planted near the school perimeters. Both were most recently renovated, the entire akin to apartments dormitories. First years were all relegated to Sigma and Delta, with all upperclassmen squads were housed in Alpha and Epsilon.

Alpha and Epsilon were the oldest dorms, having been here since the creation of the academy. Even so it was up to modern standards, having internet port accessibility and key card access into the building and rooms. The exclusivity of Beacon is of no surprise to anyone, former headmasters took a liberty with that prestige. The current one however took exception to such former practices.

That is to say that the many enemies of Ozpin in the Vale National Assembly and other government structures held a bitter grudge for not accepting their sons or daughters. And so when the daughter of the Schnee family got into Vale Academy there was a suspense created around her. Rumors here and there of how she got accepted and why.

"The fact remains that she was given a fair assessment in the application process. We have no reason to believe she had any additional support to become accepted here. She surpassed our expectations during her first couple weeks. There is no doubt she is more than qualified to be here. She also seems to have fit in nicely with her peers." Glynda stared down at the monitor meeting the gaze on the screen.

"Well I understand that now." Ironwood seemed to fidget before returning to his strict posture. Lectures by Goodwitch were far down on the list of things an early morning needed, right below an anal cavity search.

Ozpin removed his spectacle and leaned back in his chair. The stiff uniform prevented him from stretching his arms back to relax.

"I see, well then Ironwood, tell her parents that she seems perfectly happy here and that whatever misgivings they have is misplaced. And ask them kindly to contact me first when another problem occurs with her situation."

Two textbooks were open on the dining table with various dishes cluttered around them. Yang had decided to crash study for her finals. She yawned, stretching her arms before returning back to finish her bowl of cereal. The stove was littered with pans, filled with scrambled eggs and bacon. Ruby opened a carton of milk and set it on the table in front of Weiss before giving her a kiss on the forehead.

Weiss and Blake were opposite of Yang, sitting together and whispering about the haircut.

"Is something wrong?" Weiss stirred some milk into her coffee.

Yang had venom in her voice. "Yeah something will be if you both don't stop staring at me."

Nora and Ren had decided to join them. Ren had devoured his third plate of only eggs. Blake held her eyes onto him, holding a suspicion that Ren had smoked pot before he arrived but she couldn't tell if it was true. She sniffed a faint smell but couldn't tell if it was cheap cologne or marijuana. Maybe he just really didn't talk that much and just really loved food.

Nora scrolled through her emails on her phone. "Apparently following the first week of winter, we're going to join the other academies for a training service."

"The Vytal Joint Summit. All the major military academies join together to show solidarity after the Great War. Vale is hosting it this year." The early morning had left Weiss with a low hoarse tone. Her eyelids were still heavy from the short amount of sleep she received. Weiss covered her mouth as a weak yawn escaped from her.

"Wow and you sure seem excited, almost too excited." Ruby turned on the sink and began soaking the used pans.

"It's going to be at Mount Glenn during winter time. It'll be the coldest nights you guys have ever felt." She slumped down and rested her head in her arms.

Blake took a bite of bacon, chewing hungrily. "You're from Atlas I thought you liked the cold?"

"Not as much as you'd think." Weiss grumbled.

"Look at how buff my Weiss is!" Ruby stood above Weiss and raised her arm in front of Nora, asking her to flex.

"Shut up, it's only been a couple of weeks since I started working out with you."

"Seriously though you should see her abs." Ruby wrapped her arms around Weiss placing her chin on the top of her head.

"I don't have abs." Weiss retorted.

"She could kick my ass."

"I can't kick her ass."

Ren took three large spoonful of the refreshed plate of scrambled eggs. Nora took a couple swipes at his food while chatting up Blake

Yang spent a minute reading the same paragraph the tenth time in a row until it was apparent that nothing was being accomplished. The blonde got up from her chair and walked over to the small counter.

After adjusting the coffee machine, Yang placed her head on the wood counter to watch as the dark liquid started dripping down. She needed the caffeine to push through the three hours of reading for her classes.

Yang mumbled to herself as she watched the pot fill up. "Neo-Classical Vacuo flourished due to..."

Ruby took Yang's empty seat and began pouring milk onto cereal. Nora began playing rhyming games with Ren and Blake, who sat amused with how Nora never skipped a beat on anything. She had a knack for keeping a conversation alive even with Blake and Ren.

Weiss forked the remaining morsels in her plate and rose to soak them in the sink. She took the hair band in her arm to place her hair in a bun. She hated having bedhead in the morning and Ruby had pulled her out before she could take a shower. Ruby was walking back into her room and Weiss followed.

"What's wrong with her?" Yang finally put the book down, spooning her scrambled eggs.

"Hold on let me get my list." Blake opened her bag for a notebook.

Ruby's bedroom had gotten progressively more clustered as time went on. Several articles of clothing scattered on the lower mattress. Ruby neatly piled yesterday's clothes into her hamper while Weiss grew disgusted with the old coffee cups on her desk.

Yang's desk was far cleaner than she gave her credit for. A couple picture of her and Blake were taped to the wall above it and only a few pens littered across.

Weiss scanned the walls, taking in the plain colors. "You should really decorate your room."

"I was planning on getting a world map but I was just lazy. I also thought about having those stupid little lanterns strung on the wall but I don't feel hipster enough for that."

Weiss thought back to her own room in Atlas. "That is not hipster. It's just decorative. It's welcoming."

Ruby shrugged and "Maybe but I haven't been to a shop in so long, normally I put it on a list and Yang goes out and buys it."

Weiss chirped back. "Are you even an adult?"

Ruby shook her head. "Says the girl who has a billion stuffed animals in her bed."

Weiss questioned Ruby, asking something that was bothering her. "Are you ever going to ask Ozpin about that? Why he let you in?"

"Yup. What did he say again?" Ruby looked up trying to remember. "He kinda dodged the question. He's a vague guy. Kinda weird to talk to."

Weiss took a seat leaned against the door and gave a slow roll of her eyes. "I mean he wears tinted glasses and has a green pimp cane, yeah he's weird."

Ruby asked. "What about you? Why are you so grumpy today?"

Weiss deflected. "I'm not grumpy I'm just tired that's it."

Ruby sat on her bed, pouting as she looked at Weiss. "Weiss, I don't know what to do right now, you shut me out whenever you want and you don't seem to realize how much that sucks."

After some time and deliberation, Weiss faced Ruby. "My father called me, he wants me to represent him and the company during the Vale region trustee meeting."

"And that's bad?" Ruby quietly dropped her disposable trash into her bin, each one hitting with a solid ring against the metal.

Weiss' voice seemed thin. "It means that I have to go into business politics, which is what I didn't want to do in the first place."

Ruby gave a small hug, placing a kiss on Weiss' forehead. She let her lips linger for a second longer. "I'm sorry. That sucks."

Weiss sat next to her and rested her forehead on Ruby's shoulder. "I don't have time for this. I never did."

Tension filled Weiss' shoulders, she gripped onto Ruby's shirt suffocating in her scent and locking her teeth, hoping her sobs wouldn't voice out. Her whole body began trembling as wet sounds escaped her, a mixture of a cough and cry.

Ruby placed a hand on Weiss' neck and lower back, steadying her small frame. "If you want, I'll go with you to the meeting. I'll give you all the moral support you need."

Weiss paused, terrified of having Ruby enter her personal life. The chasm between the two never felt larger. Fear twisted her tongue. Weiss tried to figure out what to say, quickly running out of time. She would never be able to face Ruby again if she saw Weiss' whole family. Weiss gave herself a mental slap and spoke, her voice imitating an unconvincing steadiness.

"Can you?"

Ruby beamed with a smile. The light from the window catching in her silver eyes. "Of course, I'll be with you."