Jaune the Imperishable or how Settra got his Golden Body (RWBY/Warhammer Fantasy) ch.18

+++

Weiss struggled.

A cold hall. Even colder eyes bore down upon her. Frost and snow blanketed everything. Once, this place had been warmer, filled with light that twinkled in the eyes of those around her. But that warmth was gone now, replaced by a presence that commanded fear and submission. An icy logic that understood nothing but numbers and profit.

Before her stood a giant statue, carved in the image of greatness but utterly devoid of life. It loomed over her, imposing and hollow. And then, a voice.

She woke up with a gasp, her fingers clutching the sheets of her bed. Her chest heaved as she glanced around, taking in the familiar surroundings. Slowly, she calmed. She was in Beacon. She was far from home.

Here, she was safe.

She was alone, yes. But safe.

Weiss let out a sigh and fell back onto her bed. The dorm was quiet, save for the faint sounds of her teammates. Ruby shifted and giggled to herself in her sleep, still dreaming on the top bunk. Pyrrha lay silent, serene. And Jaune snored. Loudly. Clicking her tongue, Weiss rolled her eyes before turning on her side, reaching for her scroll.

The dim light of the screen flickered to life. Weiss closed her eyes briefly, letting the glow settle before she opened them again. Five in the morning. The others would be up soon. She should use the bathroom before anyone else di-

Her thoughts were interrupted as her gaze fell on the notifications lighting up her scroll.

She blinked.

Frowning, she pressed one, scanning the message.

Her expression darkened.

+++

Jaune yawned, climbing down his bunk. He had a most wonderful dream. The dream any normal teenager would have. A lifetime pass to the comics shop. He had the rarest opportunity to se-

​"Wake up!" Weiss Schnee demanded. 

Jaune yelped, loudly, as Weiss impatiently tapped her foot against the floor, arms crossed, face set in most anxious waiting. She raised her scroll, turning it over for him to see. "We got a problem." 

Calming down, Jaune leaned in, reading what was on it. "...We would be happy to accommodate your request but due to supply chain issues, we are unable to deliver at this time. Domestic troubles has rendered transport of dust a security risk, and we have determined that our other customers have a higher priority at the current moment." 

Huh. 

"So what does this mean?" Jaune asked, turning back to Weiss. 

"It means until Vale solves its faunus issue, the dust you asked for will be delayed," Weiss said, pulling back her scroll, tapping into it before stowing it away. 

"Why? Are the faunus angry?" Jaune asked again. 

Weiss stared at him. "I...are you legitimately daft, Arc?" 

"He is," Settra quietly spoke in his mind.

"I just don't follow politics," Jaune admitted. Why should he? He was a normal kid, not some hot-shot college scholar. 

​Weiss sighed. "The White Fang have been ramping up their attacks against the SDC. Normally, my request for extra dust would be accomodated but our forces are stretched thin protecting our existing supply lines. Between me and the city which relies on our dust, Corporate has deemed my request secondary." 

"Buhhhh," Ruby groaned from uptop. "Can you guys keep it down? I am trying to sleep." 

"We have classes today, Ruby," Jaune called, to Ruby's groaning. 

"It's a Saturday actually," Weiss interrupted.

"Oh yeah?" Jaune blinked. That was great news! He could go and relax, and no-

"Do not be foolish," Settra growled. "We must have this Dust. The favour of the Gods is great but it runs out, eventually." 

Jaune frowned. When the hell can he have a break? 

"You can rest when you are dead," Settra reminded him. "Whilst you still live, you must toil." 

​Fine. 

"We need that dust," Jaune explained. 

Weiss felt a pang of anxiety creep up her stomach. She did not look at this from a Schnee's greed, no she saw this as a matter of pride. Her family had always been guaranteed to deliver to their customers what they needed, anywhere and anytime. Not just because they made money, but because Dust was quite literally a matter of life and death on Remnant. Dust warmed the house, it was their ammunition against the Grimm, it cooked their foods, and powered their homes. To fail on that promise, let alone to Pyrrha and by a lesser extent, Jaune, poked at Weiss's sensibilities. 

"We'll find a way," Weiss assured him. "The SDC always delivers." 

​She had a most determined look on her face. Now, Jaune wasn't the type to be demanding. In fact, he would rather do things himself. In a family of extremely domineering women, he had been babied by his sisters. Seeing the determination on Weiss's face made him feel inadequate, and not a little bit ashamed. "You don't have to go the extra mile, you know," Jaune reassured her. "If it's really problematic, then we can go wait." 

"No, no, you are getting your dust, and that is final," Weiss decided, putting her foot down. 

​Jaune put his foot down as well. "No, no, we cant wait!"

"No, we cannot wait," Settra growled inside his head. "The Gods must have their due, boy," 

Yes, I get that, but they got supply problems, Settra, Jaune pointed out. 

"In Nehekhara, we would never have issues with logistics," Settra snorted. "Every campaign would have been meticulously planned down to the smallest detail. My soldiers would never have to fear hunger or thirst. If these Faunus are such an issue, then we simply must have to remove them." 

...What are you suggesting? Jaune asked carefully. 

"The complete eradication of these Faunus, of course," Settra suggested, his tone similar to that of a man deciding he wanted to get out for a walk. 

No! We are not doing that! What is wrong with you? Jaune yelled in his mind, utter horror at the thought. 

"You asked," Settra snorted. "Problems go away when they stop being problems." 

How about something less extreme? Like getting the dust ourselves? Jaune yelled again. He-

​"...Are you alright, Arc?" Weiss suddenly asked, bringing Jaune back to the ground. "You've been spacing out a little." 

"Hm? Huh, what?" Jaune blinked. A nervous laugh escaped his lips. "Sorry, I was, uh, thinking." 

​"Uh huh," Weiss repeated, unconvinced. 

"Yeah..." Jaune laughed. "Um, how about getting the dust ourselves? Would that be a problem?" 

Weiss thought about it. "That wouldn't exactly be a problem, I think." 

Weiss nodded. "I will ask if we can do that. If it is not a problem, we can pick it up ourselves." 

She turned, hand reaching for her scroll again. 

​+++

​Before they left Beacon however, they had to eat breakfast. It did not do for Jaune to enter Beacon and not avail on his free meals voucher. And thus, here he was, eyeing the buffet tables. The workout Gawain had given him last night was trying and he wanted nothing more but to fill the engine with fuel. Behind him, his team walked. Pyrrha still looked half-asleep, and Ruby was holding her hand, still fully asleep, and Weiss's heels clacked against tiles, her fingers busy typing down onto her scroll. 

Bacon. Eggs. Pancakes. Honey! Jaune's stomach growled, ready to feast upo-

"What is this?" Settra asked.

Uh...Breakfast?, Jaune said. 

"Put it back," Settra ordered.

Jaune blinked. What? Why? His insides twisted with disappointment, a pang of hunger gnawing at him.

"Because it is garbage," Settra declared. "Do not think to cheat on the demands of your body. Do you wish to become a bloated pig, wallowing in useless fat? This is not fuel for a warrior!"

It's fuel for me! Jaune argued silently, glancing longingly at the syrup-coated stack of pancakes. I need energy! I worked out last night, remember? Gawain practically killed me!

"You wish for energy?" Settra growled. "Then you will eat what builds warriors, not what fattens sloths. Bread for energy. Beans for endurance. Vegetables for vitality. And meat for strength!"

Jaune grimaced. Can I at least have the bacon?

"Bacon is salt and grease! It will do nothing but slow you down!" Settra interrupted. "Steak. Or the breast of chicken. Not this indulgence."

Jaune sighed heavily, setting his plate back down on the buffet table. He swore he could feel Settra's satisfaction radiating through his mind. His stomach growled again, louder this time, and Jaune grumbled under his breath, scanning the options for something more "Settra-approved." When he had sat back down, his tray was an assortment of choices. A bean dish from Vacuo, Valean pan-fried steak, chili-oil eggs from Mistral, and Solitan Rye Bread, and a glass of orange juice. Despite himself, Jaune had to admit that his choices looked neat. He felt Settra's approval radiate. 

"This is how you must eat from now on," Settra rumbled. "What you eat powers you. You eat trash, you feel like trash. You eat properly, you will feel proper. Do you understand me, boy?" 

Jaune grunted as he took the bread, and dipped it into the beans. Hesitating, he brought it to his mouth and chewed. 

It was wonderful. He chewed again, and again. He dipped his bread, and ate it with the eggs and the steak. Oh he was missing out!

"I told you so," Settra snorted. 

​Jaune swallowed. It's not everyday I get to eat like this, you know? I told you, I was supporting myself, alone. I couldn't get things like this. 

"Now you can," Settra said magnanimously. "You may thank me, boy. I know your body will as time marches." 

Before Jaune could say anything, Weiss cleared her throat loudly, drawing everyone's attention. She stood at the end of the table, her scroll in hand, radiating her usual air of authority.

"Corporate has approved the request," Weiss announced, her tone brisk and businesslike. "We're allowed to pick up the Dust ourselves, but we need to get there by mid-day. That means we'll need to leave Beacon soon after breakfast."

Ruby, still clutching her plate of waffles and syrup in one hand and rubbing her eyes with the other, perked up. "What are we picking up?" she asked, her voice groggy but curious.

"Dust," Pyrrha answered simply, taking a sip of her tea. Despite her half-asleep state, she managed to look elegant as always.

Ruby's eyes widened, her grogginess evaporating instantly. "Dust?! What for? Is it for explosions? Are we making fireworks? Or weapons?" she asked, bouncing slightly in her seat.

Uh…it's going to be a surprise," Jaune said awkwardly, glancing between his teammates.

"A surprise?" Weiss repeated, her brow furrowing. She clearly wasn't satisfied with the answer but didn't press further.

Ruby, however, was undeterred. "Ooooh, I love surprises! Is it boomy? Please tell me it's boomy!" Her hands clutched her fork and knife tightly, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Ruby, can you focus on your breakfast?" Weiss snapped. "We don't have time for your nonsense. If we're going to make it to the pickup point, we need to be ready to leave on time."

Ruby pouted but obediently returned to her waffles, though she kept sneaking glances at Jaune with barely contained curiosity. Pyrrha, meanwhile, gave him a small smile, as if to say she trusted his judgment. 

This better be worth all the trouble, Settra, Jaune whispered. 

"Oh, believe me, it will, Jaune of Arc." Settra laughed. 

+++

The streets of Vale bloomed with vibrant greens and yellows. Workers in orange vests and helmets shouted back and forth as they hoisted banners, strung up flags, and placed decorations that swayed gently in the breeze. Ruby walked ahead of the group, her eyes darting around as she took in the sights: the bustling cafés, the throngs of people passing by, the unique fashions they wore. "Ruby, wait up!" Pyrrha called .

Ruby had stopped, transfixed by a bakery window. Her hands pressed against the glass, she stared in wonder at the rows of golden breads, delicate pastries, and colorful treats inside. She barely seemed to hear Pyrrha's voice.

"But we're in Vale!" Ruby said excitedly, her words muffled slightly as her breath fogged the glass. Her silver eyes sparkled with awe. "Do you know how long I've waited for this? I've spent my entire life on Patch! This is Vale! The Vale! It's like…the center of the universe!"

Pyrrha approached her, a gentle smile on her face. "I know," she said softly, placing a hand on Ruby's shoulder. "It's exciting, but try not to wander off too much, alright? You could get lost."

Ruby turned to her with a confident grin, brushing off the concern. "Pfft. I won't get lost. My sense of direction is impeccable."

Pyrrha raised an amused eyebrow. "Impeccable?"

Behind them, Weiss sighed, catching up with a brisk pace. "Ruby, impeccable is not the word I'd use to describe you. And we're on a schedule. So could you please stop drooling over baked goods and get moving?"

"But Weiss," Ruby whined, pointing dramatically at the window. "Look at those croissants! They're so…flaky! And golden! They're calling to me!"

Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose. "Ruby, first off, you ate enough to feed a small village. Secondly, we're not here to browse bakeries. We have a job to do, remember? Dust. Pickup. Mid-day. Ring any bells?"

Ruby stuck out her tongue but reluctantly stepped away from the window, her head swiveling to take in as much of the street as she could as they walked.

Pyrrha chuckled, falling into step beside Weiss. "She's just excited. Let her enjoy herself a little."

Weiss huffed, adjusting her scroll in her hand. "She can enjoy herself after we've handled the important things. We're not here on vacation."

Jaune trailed behind the group, his hands stuffed into his pockets as he watched the workers string up another line of flags overhead. He might not be the smartest fella in the room, but even he knew the significance of that. 

"Man, I need to make plans for Vytal soon," Jaune murmured. 

​"What is this Vytal?" Settra asked. 

Uh, it's a peace celebration, Jaune racked up his memory. The Kingdoms of Remnant fought each other a long time ago, and ended it. People usually celebrate this time with tournaments and festivals.

Settra remembered. He had seen that phrase in his reading through this world's histories. 

"A celebration of peace," Settra's voice mused. 

Jaune rubbed the back of his neck, keeping a casual pace so the others wouldn't notice his distraction. Well, yeah, I guess that's sort of the point of Vytal. It's about reminding people that peace is worth holding onto. You know, so we don't forget how bad things used to be.

"And yet, there is a tournament." Settra said, his tone edged with skepticism, "Does it not serve to sharpen the swords of your warriors? To remind them of the glory of combat?"

Jaune frowned, glancing at the banners overhead as they fluttered in the breeze. The tournament's about unity. The best fighters from every kingdom come together to compete, sure, but it's not about killing or conquering. It's about showing how strong we can be when we're at our best.

"Hmph," Settra rumbled. "Perhaps. But strength in my experience rarely exists without a purpose. Tell me, boy, do you truly believe this unity of yours is unshakable? That your kingdoms will never again turn their swords upon one another?"

I don't know, he admitted. Maybe things won't stay peaceful forever. But that's why stuff like Vytal is so important. It's a reminder that we can work together, even if things aren't perfect.

For a moment, Settra was silent, as if considering Jaune's words. Then, he spoke, "In my homeland, we celebrated a day much like your Vytal. The Great Vitae River flooded for the first time in generations. Famine and disease were swept away, and the harvests that followed were bountiful. That day, my people rejoiced."

Jaune's eyes widened slightly. He remembered Settra's stories of the drought that had gripped Nehekhara when he had risen to rule. "Was that the greatest day of your life?" 

There was a pause, and Jaune could almost feel the weight of Settra's thoughts pressing against his own. At last, the ancient king replied, his voice quieter, yet no less commanding. "Yes. Because that was the day I brought hope back to my people. And a people who have hope for the future can achieve anything."

"Hope, huh?" Jaune murmured, almost to himself. 

Up ahead, Ruby's excited voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "Jaune! Hurry up! You're gonna miss all the cool stuff!"

And so he ran. It did not take long for them to meet familiar faces. 

"Hey, look who it is!" Yang called out. "Fancy running into you guys here. Small world, huh?"

There they were, Team YBRN, the sun shining on their faces, and Ren carrying bags by his lonesome. Shopping, clearly. Jaune exchanged a sympathetic look with his fellow man. 

"What are you guys doing here?" Ruby asked, looking over the extensive bags. 

"Shopping, and chilling," Yang explained. "Nora wanted to find this specialty shop that made special pillows." 

Blake rolled her eyes but said nothing, her attention briefly flicking to Weiss, who stood a few steps back with her arms crossed. The moment their gazes met, the temperature seemed to drop a few degrees. Weiss's icy glare met Blake's calm but sharp stare.

Ren stepped forward between them with a polite smile, a bastion of potato chips and fluffy pillows. "It's good to see you all again," he said, inclining his head slightly. "Is everything going well on your end?"

"Of course it is," Weiss said, lifting her chin. "Why wouldn't it be?"

Ren nodded, unfazed by her tone. "Good to hear. The preparations for the festival seem to be keeping everyone busy."

The two teams exchanged a few more pleasantries, Ruby and Yang catching up while Nora enthusiastically showed off the rest of her purchases. Just as they were about to say their goodbyes and head their separate ways when a door loudly opened, and a cry rose. A rabbit Faunus woman stood at the entrance with her young daughter, her ears twitching in frustration as she argued with the shopkeeper. The man, a stout human with a red face, barred the doorway with his arms crossed, shaking his head firmly.

"I told you, you're not welcome here!" the shopkeeper barked. "Take your business somewhere else!"

The Faunus woman's voice rose, quivering with anger. "We're customers, just like anyone else! You can't just turn us away!"

"I can, and I will!" the shopkeeper snapped. "I don't want your kind in my shop, scaring off my regulars. Now move along!"

The young girl clutched her mother's hand tightly, her wide eyes darting between the shopkeeper and the gathering crowd. Tears welled in the child's eyes as her mother's grip tightened protectively.

The woman glared at the shopkeeper, her face a mask of fury and defiance. But after a tense moment, she exhaled sharply and turned away, pulling her daughter along with her. "Come on, sweetheart," she said, her voice trembling as she tried to sound strong. "We don't need anything from him."

As they walked away, the woman's eyes swept over the gathered onlookers. She paused when her gaze landed on Weiss, her expression hardening instantly. Without a word, she spat at the heiress's feet, her contempt unmistakable. Then, with her daughter in tow, she disappeared into the crowd

Jaune blinked. 

Weiss stared at the spot where the Faunus woman had disappeared, her face frozen in shock. Her pristine white boots were now sullied by the spittle, and for a moment, she couldn't even move. Her lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out.

Blake's voice, low and sharp, broke the quiet. "That was well deserved."

Weiss's head snapped toward Blake, her expression aghast. "Well deserved? What did I do to deserve that?"

Blake met her gaze with an intensity that could cut steel. "Nothing," she said coldly. "You did nothing, which is exactly why you deserved it."

Weiss blinked, staggered by the venom. "What are you talking about?" she demanded, her voice rising. "I don't even know her!"

Blake stepped forward, her fists clenched at her sides. "Exactly! You don't know her. You don't know the thousands of people who toil and work for your family! You stand there, with your perfect life and your Schnee name, pretending like you're better than everyone else, like nothing touches you!" 

"Enough!" Yang's voice cut through the tension like a whip. She stepped between them, holding her arms out to keep them apart. "Both of you, calm down!"

But Blake wasn't done. She took another step forward, her amber eyes blazing. "No, Yang. She doesn't get to walk away from this. She needs to hear it. She deserves far more than a little spit on her shoes!"

Weiss's face twisted in anger and hurt. "How dare you!" she shouted.

The shouting escalated, and the crowd around them began to murmur uneasily. Nora and Ren quickly moved to Yang's side, helping her physically separate the two before things got out of hand. Weiss and Blake struggled against the restraint, glaring daggers at each other.

"Blake, that's enough!" Ren said firmly, his voice calm but authoritative. He glanced at Weiss, who looked on the verge of tears, and then back at Blake. "Let it go. Please."

Blake's chest heaved, her fists trembling at her sides. For a moment, it seemed like she might lunge forward again, but then she exhaled sharply and turned away. "Fine," she muttered. "Let's go."

Yang grabbed Blake by the arm, giving her a pointed look. "We're leaving. Now." She glanced over her shoulder at Weiss, her expression unreadable. "Stay safe, alright?"

Ren bowed slightly, his expression apologetic. "I'm sorry about this. Have a good day." With that, he, Nora, and Yang dragged Blake away, their voices low as they tried to calm her down. The tension lingered even after they disappeared into the crowd. Ruby and Pyrrha immediately moved to Weiss's side, their expressions full of concern. 

Weiss didn't answer at first. She stood there, her arms wrapped around herself, her head bowed. When she finally looked up, her blue eyes shimmered with tears. "I didn't…I didn't do anything wrong," she whispered, her voice breaking.

"Jaune of Arc, explain," Settra demanded. "In Nehekhara, such an insult would be met with swift and brutal retribution. Their tongues would be cut from their mouths, and their backs whipped a thousand times for daring to slander their betters!"

Jaune however was just as lost as anyone else. 

"What the hell was that?" Jaune asked, his stomach a symphony of emotions. Rage, for once. But also confusion. What the hell did Weiss and her family do to deserve such venom? 

​"Yeah, that Blake girl's been a meanie to you since we met her," Ruby agreed. "What's her problem?" 

Weiss blinked at Ruby and Jaune's confusion, her lips trembling as she processed their words. Then, unexpectedly, she let out a soft, bitter laugh. It wasn't filled with joy, but rather the kind of laugh someone gives when they can't believe how little the others around them understand.

Ruby tilted her head. "What's so funny?"

"Funny?" Weiss repeated, shaking her head gently. "Oh no, Ruby, nothing about this is funny. It's just…you two really don't know, do you?"

Jaune scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Know what? I mean, I know Blake's got something against your family, but-"

Weiss interrupted him. "I'll tell you. But not here. Let's go somewhere quieter."

+++

They sat on a bench, ice cream cones in hand. Weiss sat primly on the bench, her ice cream untouched. Ruby was beside her, eagerly licking hers, while Jaune sat awkwardly on the other side, unsure what to do with his cone. Pyrrha stood nearby, a comforting presence as always, though her emerald eyes were focused on Weiss, quietly encouraging her to speak.

Weiss finally broke the silence. "Do you know what it means to be a Schnee?" she asked.

"You're rich?" Ruby offered.

"That's cute," Weiss offered, a rare blink of softness in her eyes, but something far more ruthless quickly replaced it. "I know exactly why that girl hates me and my family. It..."

"It's what?" Pyrrha asked softly. 

"I am the daughter of one of Remnant's most evil men," Weiss confessed, her eyes low, her shoulders fallen. 

Ruby paused mid-lick of her ice cream, her silver eyes blinking in surprise. "Evil? That's, um…a bit dramatic, don't you think?"

Weiss turned her head sharply, her eyes narrowing. "No, Ruby. It's not. My father is a monster. And everything he's built, everything he's done in the name of the Schnee Dust Company, has come at the expense of others. Faunus, humans, it doesn't matter."

Ruby's mouth opened, but no words came out. Pyrrha, ever calm, knelt slightly to be closer to Weiss's level. "Weiss," she said gently, "you're not your father."

Weiss let out a bitter laugh. "Aren't I? I wear the Schnee name, don't I? I've benefited from his power, his wealth. Every luxury I've ever had has been paid for in blood and suffering. How is that any different?"

"You're not the one causing the suffering," Pyrrha countered softly. Weiss however ignored it. 

"You don't know the evil he has done!" Weiss hissed. She stood up. "Do you know what Nicolasburg is? Aurora?" 

The three glanced at each other, and shook their heads. Weiss closed her eyes. "Nicolasburg was a mining town, deep in the North of Atlas. The workers there, they protested for better conditions. They...they had the bare minimum. I mean that in the worst possible way. And my father..." 

The implication was hung in the air. 

Pyrrha's eyes widened. Ruby felt small. Jaune...

"Oh," Jaune said simply. 

Jaune was a simple boy. He came from a messy and chaotic family, true. But they were always honest with each other. Whatever problems came, it was easy, solvable. His life was basic, his biggest struggles had been about fitting in, about proving himself. But this? This was far beyond anything he could comprehend. 

Settra's voice grumbled in Jaune's mind, his tone laced with disdain and curiosity. "Boy, this girl speaks of her father as if he holds dominion over life and death, yet she does nothing to challenge him. She bemoans her inheritance, yet wears it like a shroud. Does she not understand that power, no matter how tainted, is still power?"

Jaune frowned, his hands tightening around his untouched ice cream cone. It's not that simple, Settra. She's...she's scared. She's trying to figure things out. You can't just throw away everything you were born into overnight.

Everything clicked into Jaune's mind. Weiss could easily shine in her country. But that meant being close to her father. This is why she was in Beacon instead. To Escape. 

"I will talk to this girl," Settra said simply. 

Jaune panicked. No, no, no, no! But Settra ignored him, and manifested. 

Settra, the King of Kings, towered. His eyes burned gold, and his presence radiated authority so absolute it demanded submission.

Weiss stumbled back off the bench, her ice cream slipping from her hand and splattering onto the ground. Ruby's jaw dropped, her cone forgotten as it tumbled onto her lap. Settra's burning gaze locked onto Weiss, who could barely breathe under the weight of his presence. His voice, deep and resonant, echoed as if spoken from the depths of eternity itself.

"Weiss of Schnee," Settra intoned, his tone both regal and scornful. "You cower beneath the shadow of your father's sins, yet you do nothing to defy his tyranny. You would flee from its weight instead of bending it to your will. Do you not know that power, no matter how tainted, can still be a tool? Do you not see that you, with all your privilege and station, hold the means to shape the future of this world?"

Weiss's lips trembled as she tried to speak, but no sound came out. Her mind raced, but the sheer pressure of Settra's presence left her paralyzed. The God-King continued, eyes narrowed. "You speak of guilt and shame, yet you do nothing to atone for the sins of your lineage. A ruler who abandons their people, who forsakes their responsibilities out of cowardice, is no ruler at all. You will either rise above your father's shadow or be consumed by it."

He leaned in. "But you are no shadow yet, Weiss of Schnee. Take up the sword. Raise an army. Call upon the strength of the people your father has oppressed. Overthrow him, and make a new order rise, this kingdom of...ES DEE CEE." 

He nodded, ancient wisdom in full display. 

Ruby blinked. Then she and Weiss turned to face each other, their expressions wide-eyed, slack-jawed, and utterly overwhelmed.

Settra nodded again, expecting adoration and praise. 

Instead, in perfect unison, they screamed.

+++

A/N: Someone make a meme. 

Virgin Comprimiser: Works with a monopoly that will betray it at first opportunity, gets concessions that barely do anything, relies on the good-will of someone that has none

​Vs

Chad Settra, Khemrikhara: "Just fucking destroy them, lmao" "Dont be a pussy, fuck them up"