Save the world? Fuck that, I want to make money! (RWBY SI) ch 80

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Weiss blinked, watching her sister.

Winter was still herself—sophisticated and ladylike. But something was off. Sensing her sister's gaze, Winter paused just as she was about to sip from her teacup.

"Is something wrong, Weiss?" Winter asked.

Weiss's lips thinned. "Noooo," she drawled, holding her teacup tightly. "Nothing at all."

Winter had unexpectedly messaged her that she would be late to their luncheon and would arrive just in time for tea. Apparently, something important had come up. Weiss had felt a little disappointed at first, but she wasn't going to give her sister grief over it. After all, Winter was a Specialist now, rising rapidly through the ranks. Her appointment as liaison for Vale and Solitas was proof of that.

But as her sister joined her now for tea—glowing, smiling, and smirking—Weiss had a sinking suspicion about what her older sister had been doing.

"You haven't touched your scones, sister. Try them. They're good," Weiss motioned. "Or perhaps the strudels? Beacon doesn't make them as well as they do at home, but they're respectable, at least."

Winter sipped from her porcelain cup first, then lowered it back to the table. "Perhaps a bite or two. I'm not feeling too snackish since I ate."

It took far too much willpower for Weiss not to roll her eyes. "Of course you did," Weiss couldn't help but comment, a hint of sarcasm slipping through. "Filling, was it?"

Winter raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Not quite. It was a simple sandwich."

"But filled with protein?" Weiss asked gently.

"Weiss, it's not like you to ask such strange questions." Winter narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

Drats, Weiss thought. There goes her moment to have fun at her sister's expense.

"Anyway," Weiss cleared her throat. "I must know—how long will you be staying in Vale?"

Winter's eyes remained narrowed at Weiss for a few more seconds before she finally leaned back, crossing her arms and huffing. "As I said, I'll be here until the Vytal Festival is over, then some more. If all goes well, as General Ironwood hopes, I'll be afforded some time to enjoy the city."

"We'll have time to hobnob, then?" Weiss asked, hiding her excitement behind an air of indifference.

"Hobnob?" Winter tilted her head in amusement before nodding. "We do have time to 'hobnob,' as you say. And speaking of that, Ale..." Winter paused, clearing her throat. Weiss shot her a knowing smile as her sister's face flushed. "Mister Wayland invites you and your team to dinner at Le Meurice. Please, be presentable."

Le Meurice—one of the oldest hotels in Vale—was an establishment that epitomized Valean culture and cuisine. Weiss hadn't been there, but she'd heard plenty about it. It would certainly be a treat for her team.

"I shall be," Weiss promised. "I worry that my team won't have the proper outfits, though. They are... well... you know."

"Mister Wayland has seen fit to address that," Winter smiled. Weiss raised an eyebrow just as her scroll rang.

"Excuse me, sister," Weiss apologized. Winter gestured for her to continue. With her approval, Weiss raised her scroll to her ear and frowned, determined not to let anything interrupt her time with her sister.

"Ruby, I'm busy. What is it?" Weiss hissed. Her ears threatened to burst as a high-pitched squeal came through.

"WEEISSSSS, IGOTAPACKAGEANDIT'SADRESSFROMROYALANDIMPERIALIM-"

Weiss clicked her scroll off.

"What was that?" she blinked.

"Of course, you and your team must wear something appropriate for tonight. Le Meurice is rather... strict on attire," Winter laughed.

"I see," Weiss mouthed. She then paused. "Is Emerald and her team coming along?"

Winter nodded. "Of course they are. Alex is not going to let his dear cousin stew on her lonesome."

"This shall be an enlightening dinner, then." Weiss leaned back.

"How are your classes going, Weiss?" Winter asked, getting back into their conversation. 

"Well, as I said," Weiss revealed. "Professor Port makes me want to tear my hair out. Professor Oobleck...I am quite sure he injects hyper-active drugs into his coffee, and Professor Goodwitch scares me. Not as much as Professor Peach, however." 

​"What is wrong with Professor Peach?" Winter blinked, confused. 

Images of a fox-tailed woman went into Weiss's mind, laughing manically, a syringe in one hand and a bonesaw in the other, and a pale-faced screaming student strapped to a bed.  

"Nothing too serious. She's just passionate about her profession," Weiss assured Winter. Despite her...unorthodox methods, she was an expert on aura and aura manipulation. 

"That is good. I have never doubted Beacon's ability to educate the next generation," Winter smiled, praising Beacon. "Remnant will have fine huntresses later on. Keep up the good work, Weiss, and you shall be a huntress in no time." 

"I do not seriously intend to pursue that profession, sister. I still have to inherit the Schnee Dust Company after all," Weiss pointed out. "I only really came here to earn something for myself, not get it handed to me in Solitas." 

​Despite the meritocratic nature of the new kingdom, some things still were unchanging. 

"A huntress-CEO is still formidable," Winter pointed out. 

"Of course. The Grimm will find out if ever they will attempt to invade our mines," scoffed Weiss. "I will be waiting, Myrtenaster in hand." 

Not that it would get to that considering their mines had been stronger and better since Courrieres. But if it came to that and the local security forces needed reinforcements, she would head out and be there. A leader must lead, at the front.

"Grandfather would be proud," Winter said, wistfully. "I still remember when he would go out into the tundra in our family armour and come back in time for tea." 

Weiss nodded, listening. Between her and her siblings, Winter got to spend the most time with the man that started it all, being the eldest. Weiss did meet him, albeit she was a baby and Whitley wasn't even born yet. 

"Speaking of our Company, mother has told me that Project Der Reise is nearing completion. Has she told you?" 

"The Giant," Winter crossed her arms. "No, she has not. What is it? It sounds ominous," she joked. 

Weiss smiled knowingly. "Royal and Imperial has Titans, correct? It would be poor form for us to be without Giants of our own." 

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Weiss would return to the dorm to find it in chaos of sorts. They spoke of other matters, banal ones, before Winter had to leave. She had to go perform her duties as a liaison after all. 

Opening the door, Ruby's excited chattering hit her senses. Four heavy boxes bearing the Imperial eagle sat around, opened except for hers and Blake's. Ruby, gone was her blouse. No, she was in a dark red and black dress that maintained the gothic style her usual outfit had. She swirled around, showing off the black halter top, a corset bodice, and a layered red skirt with lace and frills. She raised her hands, gloved with crisscrossing designs.

Hearing the door open, Ruby turned, her face bright and smiling. "Weiss!" she squealed. "Look!"

"Yes, Ruby. I am looking," Weiss clicked her tongue.

"The packages came in a few minutes ago," Blake dutifully informed her, sitting by her seat. "I thought they were for you, but then we saw the names."

"I feel like a princess!" Ruby bubbled. She turned to Blake. "Blake, is this how you feel every day?"

"...Yes," Blake deadpanned with obvious sarcasm, but Ruby either didn't notice or chose not to, going back to admiring herself in front of the mirror. Weiss shrugged, walking up to one of the boxes bearing a paper with her name on it. She reached down to open it. Inside lay a strapless, gradient black-and-white dress that seemed to sparkle like stars. Gingerly, she reached down and held it up. Glancing at the bottom, there was a white silk shawl, as well as stockings, heels, and glittering jewels.

It was then that Weiss thought about what had delayed her sister and realized that the busy thing her sister had been doing was likely shopping for her and the others. Weiss's chest burned with shame. How could she think her sister was a strumpet when she was so elegant and classical? She wouldn't be so crass as to consummate her love before marriage.

Weiss nodded, carefully setting the dress back inside the box.

"Where's Yang?" Weiss asked, raising an eyebrow.

Blake lazily held out a thumb toward the bathroom when it slammed open, revealing the girl in question.

She didn't walk, no, she strutted, wide hips swaying, lilac eyes set with slightly smirking lips. The dress she wore clung to her and shimmered, a dazzling masterpiece of golden radiance. The asymmetrical design teased Weiss's eye—one side was sleeveless, the other adorned with a sheer, billowing bell sleeve that swayed with every confident movement. The shimmering golden fabric, streaked with subtle tiger-stripe patterns, caught the light in all the right ways, ensuring that every turn of her hips and flick of her wrist left an impression.

Yang Xiao Long knew she looked good. A single sleek black choker drew attention to the elegant curve of her neck, while golden strappy heels laced up her legs, elongating her stance like a goddess who owned the room. A small black bag rested effortlessly in her grip.

"I don't know you, girls," Yang continued to smirk. "But I make this look good."

"How are you going to do your hair?" Weiss asked, ignoring the fact that Yang did indeed look good. If she refused to acknowledge the blonde bombshell's dress, it wouldn't feed Xiao Long's ego.

"I think I'm going to do a high ponytail," Yang hummed, looking at her hair.

"I can't do a ponytail," Ruby frowned, glancing at her own dress and feeling inadequate. Who wouldn't when Yang was there?

"You don't have to, Ruby," Weiss shook her head. "You can't compete with that."

"Sorry, sis," Yang apologized cheekily. She then glanced at herself in the mirror. "I was going to rent a dress for the dance, but you know what? I think I'm going to keep this." She then did a double-take. "Can we keep this?" 

Ignoring Yang, Blake spoke up. "Yang wants to go for hot. You go for cute," she offered.

Yang did another twirl around. "Damn straight I'm hot!"

"But I want to be mature!" Ruby whined.

"You will be when you reach that age," Weiss said, cradling the box in her hand. "In the meantime, your strongest asset is being cute and cuddly. Lean into that."

Ruby pouted. She couldn't stand it. She wanted to be mature, elegant, sexy, and beautiful. Why didn't mom and dad make her a little sooner? She was sick of being treated like a girl. She wanted to be a woman, damn it!

"These dresses are nice and all, but what are they for?" Yang asked, finally getting to the crux of the matter. It was weird that they all got nice clothes with their exact measurements. She didn't want to think that some creep was following them around, which would be a damn shame. These dresses looked expensive.

"For later, Xiao Long. My sister and her fiancé, Alexander Wayland, are inviting us to Le Meurice," Weiss revealed.

Silence descended in the room. Stunned, muted silence. Yang and Ruby stared at her. Blake, on the other hand... yawned.

"LE MEURICE?" Yang gasped.

"HE'S ENGAGED?" Ruby howled, in despair.

Weiss and Blake stared at the two, mostly at Ruby, who refused to meet their gazes.

"Why so surprised?" Blake asked, the question aimed at them both.

"Blakey, Le Meurice is crazy expensive. Like, a hundred thousand lien expensive!" Yang said, holding up her hands in exasperation. Her lips quivered as she glanced down at her clothes. "I guess I can see why we were given these..." Yang deflated. She was a prideful girl. She was strong, beautiful, and the life of the party, but she never imagined getting close to Le Meurice of all places. Now, she felt out of her depth. All her attributes were nothing compared to lien.

Ruby, for her part, huffed. "I do not have to answer to you," she declared, inwardly doing everything to not break down at this revelation. Alexander Wayland was the firearms god. And she'd met him before, and he called her designs brilliant and...

Oh, what was she thinking?

It was over.

She wasn't going to cry. No. She wanted to be mature? Well, she was going to be mature. She was going to go to that restaurant and show that she had grown. Yes. When she met Alexander Wayland, she was a little girl. But now, she was going to show him how much she had grown.

Maybe she should bring Crescent Rose along. She had manufactured specialized rounds for it, after all. That wasn't stepping on any boundaries, right? Would Weiss's sister not approve of that? Ruby thought that would be unfair. She had already stolen Alex from her. Would she be so cruel as to deny two engineers a chance to admire each other's work?

"Right..." Blake blinked, then shook her head. "Just be on your best behavior and you'll be alright. Just stick to Weiss and me."

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A/N: Something nice and fun. Writing Weiss's dialogue is a treat. We stan the young mean sarcastic queen.