Of course Ironwood had no idea Shine and Wally even knew about the Maiden, or he'd never have assigned Winter to check on her while she was watching them.

As it was, Winter didn't realize that they knew where she was, so when she told them to wait by the elevator, she was surprised when Shine said,

"It's right below us, isn't it?"

"What is?" Winter frowned.

"The Vault," Shine said. "Just like Beacon."

"What...? How do you know that?" Winter shot Qrow a look. "Can't you keep anything classified?"

"He didn't say a word," Shine said, before Qrow could answer. "Don't blame him. He's been keeping this a secret for years more than you knew about it. And Ironwood did not get permission to let you in on it from Ozpin. Be grateful that you know at all."

"Who gave you permission?" Winter asked.

"Uh, we know Ozpin," Shine said.

Since Winter had no knowledge of Ozpin's absence from before to prove this wrong, it was a good comeback--and Oscar had okay-ed it anyway--and you could tell it really frosted her that that was a good answer even from a military perspective.

"Well, you should be close-mouthed about it," she huffed.

"I think it's funny that James assumes we don't know," Shine said. "Did he miss the part where we're tight with Oscar?"

"Shut up," Winter said.

"But why is Qrow here?" Wally asked.

[Anyone else find it odd Qrow was never shown the Maiden...? Like, it's his job to protect the Maidens, and Ironwood never bothers to let him know where she is in case he needs to protect her?

He couldn't have thought Qrow would object morally to it since he went along with it in Pyrrha's case, and James did not know he had doubts after hearing about Ozpin's lies, so...it's just a plot hole, right? One of many.]

"Regrettably, he's involved," Winter said with the flattest voice imaginable.

"It's almost weird that it's taken this long for me to find this out," Qrow frowned. "There aren't some trust issues with Jimmy, are there?"

"General," Winter corrected.

"You know, he doesn't care," Shine remarked. "Why do you?"

"It's on principle," Winter said. "Now you two stay put, or I'll kill you when I get back."

"Kill us?" Shine said.

"You wouldn't be planning to sneak off again and fight more Grimm?" Winter said in almost a falsely sweet voice--somehow that was scarier than her usual tone.

"Mommy, I'm scared." Wally made a squeamish face.

"So it's a test," Shine said. "Fine...we'll stay here...unless there's an emergency."

Winter rolled her eyes and opened the elevator, muttering, "If only."

"She sure hates sharing," Wally whispered, making Shine almost burst out laughing.

"You two are asking for it," Qrow said. "You think you'd survive that fight?"

"You did," Shine said.

"I'm a huntsman," Qrow said. "And I was drunk."

"Nevermind about us, Qrow. You really need to do something about this." Shine motioned at the ground pointedly. "Please, we're running out of time, I have a feeling."

"There's nothing I can do," Qrow said.

"You know, you've been saying that a lot since Ozpin," Shine said, losing her patience. "Is that a reality, or is it an excuse? You've done plenty messing things up for him, but you can't do a danged thing to try to fix it because of us or the kids? Think about it."

"Qrow!" Winter snapped. "I'm waiting."

"Oh, don't get a lancer up your skirt," Qrow shot back, but he cast the DJs a baleful glance.

Then the elevator shut.

"So will he?" Wally asked.

"Beats me, but I'm tired of walking." Shine sat against the wall. "Now we wait..."

She closed her eyes.

Even from here, she thought she could sense magic...dormant, deeply buried, but strong enough to be felt even from several floors up.

It wasn't just the Maiden--the Relic too, she thought...but while that wasn't something she'd really recognize from memory, she felt like it was less clear than the Lamp...like it was muted.

Perhaps the Vault shielded it?

She pulled out her Bible and started reading. Wally was bored. 

"Whatcha doing?" he asked.

[Phineas and Ferb reference?]

"Just trying to get revved up," Shine said.

"How about we sing something?" Wally said. "This place totally needs a sound track...something like creepy elevator music."

"Oh, please no," Shine said.

"Do you think the elevator has music?" Wally asked.

"This is Atlas. I doubt it," Shine said.

"Come on, there's gotta be something," Wally said. "I'm bored."

"Oh, fine." Shine pretended to be reluctant. "Let's see...what would fit sitting in this hallway because we're being watched?" She started tapping on the floor in rhythm and humming a tune.

https://youtu.be/0rnV3tsBQMY

"Another couple kids with their heads on top
Just another stranger just another plot
Another track home where the city streets stop
Just another kid with another bored cop. Just another lemon into lemonade job
Just another rust and dust facade
Just another key stuck broken in the lock
Just another scarecrow choking on a cough
Oh come on! 

"(It all feels so typical

"I Guess I'm looking for a miracle
Rise above it, yeah!
Rise above it
Don't care what they're telling me
We can be what we want to be
Rise above it
Rise above it.) Listen up loud, listen up, listen here
Just because you're running
Doesn't mean that you're scared
Just because it's law don't mean it is fair
Never let another tell your soul what to fear. Here we go again, give it one more try
Don't believe the system's on your side
Just another lover turned enemy fight
Just another blood and nicotine sky
Oh come on! (...I get so sick of it
It feels so counterfeit
I rise above it
Rise above it) Hear our voices rise
Hear our battle cry
We've been under the curse
With our arms raised high
Hear us sing tonight
Like the last night on earth
We will rise like the tide
Like dead men
Coming back to life
We are rising

"Turn it up now, listen loud and clear
Just because you're present doesn't mean that you're here."

* * *

Without Shine and Wally there, it turned out, Qrow and Winter had a much harder time not fighting.

The tension was palpable.

It didn't help that Winter couldn't get what Pyrrha and Weiss and Shine had said out of her head.

"So this is where he's keeping her." Qrow eyed the big medical facility. "Makes the other place look like a real dump."

Winter made no comment on that.

Qrow personally felt kind of uncomfortable being here... Sure, it wasn't his first time, but...he hadn't seen Fria in quite a while, and he was stunned to see how much more frail she'd gotten.

"She doesn't have long," he noted.

"No..." Winter said.

It was kind of too somber to make sarcastic cracks now.

"I suppose you've put it together," Winter said coldly.

"Would have been hard to miss," Qrow said. "Not surprised..."

"But..." Winter expected the remark about her being a poor choice to follow here.

"But what?" Qrow said. "We do what we have to do."

Pause.

"I'm a little surprised that's your take on it," Winter said.

"What does it matter?" Qrow turned away. He didn't like looking at Fria anymore knowing what he knew now.

Why Winter wanted to press this she wasn't even sure. She supposed she almost was more unnerved by the lack of a fight about it. Since when did Qrow accept Ironwood's decisions lying down? It was almost suspicious.

"Well, choosing a new Maiden without Ozpin's approval, I thought it would perhaps be a problem," she said vaguely.

"I guess if Oz was here to ask it might." Qrow was so bitter in that remark that Winter even noticed it. Not that she cared...but what was going on?

"Well, perhaps he'll return," she said.

"Maybe." Qrow was unconvinced.

It was stupid to make his disappointment with Oz this obvious, but he was too pissed at him to care enough to be cautious.

Winter didn't miss a thing. Was there more to Ozpin's disappearance than they had been led to believe?

Qrow's conscience pricked him a little though. What Shine said was rankling with him...and the look on Pyrrha's face the night before... What did they expect him to do? He'd never had the slightest bit of effect on Ironwood's decisions, let alone his lackeys. This was Ozpin's job...if he'd do it...not his...

Someone dropped a tray next to him, and Winter jumped. Wow, she was tense.

Qrow was sharp enough to suspect that she probably felt a bit more guilty about this than she was letting on. Well, good...someone had to.

"Well, you seem excited about it," he said sarcastically.

"It's my duty, not a matter to be excited about." Winter was way defensive.

So, their little speech had gotten to her, huh? That was interesting...

"I guess Nikos made her pitch." Qrow couldn't resist the urge to provoke her.

Winter froze, then her gaze hardened. "They spoke to you?"

"Please, who else was there?"

Winter glanced around, then to his shock, she opened a side room door with her scroll and shoved him into it, then she shut the door.

"Uh...What are you doing, Ice Queen?" Qrow said. "You know if something catches us in here, there're going to think--"

"Shut up," Winter cut him off. "I can't risk someone else overhearing this. Now, I want you to tell me--and no games--did you know all of the story behind Miss Niko's sudden appearance in Argus?"

Qrow frowned. "Just what do you mean all of the story?"

Did those fools actually tell her? Ironwood's lap dog? Were they out of their minds?!

"I said not to play games," Winter said.

"And I think you're overstepping your bounds," Qrow said. "Told you it was classified."

"It shouldn't be from me," Winter said. "Or the General... However, I believe I understand why...if it was true."

"I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about," Qrow said flatly.

"Did they bring her back from the dead or not?" Winter said tersely.

Qrow told himself to strangle them later.

"So, that's what they told you," he said.

"Yes or no," Winter said.

"Don't you think that's obvious?" Qrow said.

"I do not think my sister would make that up," Winter said. "And it pains me to say it, but neither would you. You have been with Ozpin... Is this the same thing as him?"

"No, you saw for yourself--she's not reincarnated," Qrow said. "I can't explain it. I didn't see it happen. She was dead. I know that. Ruby saw it happen. Then she showed up in Argus at our doorstep after those two jokers joined us. They didn't offer a word of explanation about how it happened, and they said they won't. That's all I know. Thought she was some kind of illusion at first, but it's been a week and a half almost and she's acted normal...only explanation is that it's her. I have no idea how."

"I heard such things were impossible," Winter forgot to be terse for a moment because she was so shocked.

"I heard a lot of things were impossible," Qrow muttered.

"The General would be interested to know there are such people under our very nose," Winter said.

"Then I have a question for you, Ice Queen: why haven't you filled him in...or did you?" Qrow said warily.

"Do you think he'd have let it slide if I had?" Winter said skeptically. "I wanted to verify the facts before I did anything. He'd never believe me if I told him this...But...what...?" She trailed off. 

"Wouldn't have thought you'd keep a secret like that," Qrow said. "Makes me wonder why..."

"I don't owe you any explanation."

"I think you do actually, because it's our heads too if this comes out at the wrong time."

"And why didn't you report it?" Winter asked.

"I don't know. I was told not to."

"By whom? Those two fools?" Winter said.

"Yeah...you don't think that it might be a good idea to play nice with someone who can raise the dead?" Qrow said. "At least till we get answers. You already figured out that they can leave anytime they want. So what happens if they get pissed? They can dip, and we'll know nothing."

"As opposed to letting them walk free and do as they please," Winter said.

"And what else would you do? Shoot them?" Qrow said.

"Perhaps," Winter said. 

Silence.

"Perhaps, that would be safer," Winter finished. "But...hardly justifiably under the circumstances...if they threatened us...perhaps."

Qrow thought to himself that Jimmy probably would have just said to shoot them anyway...or at least lock them up. Considering how he treated Robyn, a much smaller threat, could they really put it past him?

But that meant Winter was purposely choosing to offer these two protection by keeping her silence on the matter...that was way out of character.

"Oh my gosh, they got to you," he said without thinking,.

"What?" Winter said sharply.

"Let me guess, you got the whole speech about how what we're doing is inhuman and basically murder and it was wrong to push Nikos into it before, and it's wrong now, and you're having second thoughts," Qrow couldn't believe this. "You. Of all people..."

"What is that supposed to mean? I can't think?" Winter said.

"I never saw any sign of it," Qrow said.

He got punched 👊 for that.

He would have dodged that easily if, of course, he hadn't had a tray of supplies blocking him, just his luck.

"Curb your impudence, you buffoon," Winter said, angrily. "And I am not having second thoughts."

"Here's a tip, Ice Queen, you're not a very good liar," Qrow wasn't much angered by being punched, his sister hit harder than Winter did.

Not much harder to be fair...

"Still, all that and you aren't having second thoughts either?" Winter said, sounding more controlled now. "Should I be surprised?"

"If I could go back and tell Nikos not to do it, I would," Qrow said this without thinking of how it would reflect on this conversation overall. "She had no idea what could have happened to her, and neither did we...well some idea...looking back, Oz should have said more about it."

Winter never thought she'd hear this from one of his most faithful servants of all people, and it made her more suspicious than ever that something had gone wrong.

But it also chilled her.

"Still if it was necessary..." she said.

"Necessary, huh," Qrow had forgotten who he was talking to, he was thinking about what had happened when Beacon fell, and right before that. "Who were we to ask her to make that choice? We didn't make it ourselves...not the same way. Would we have? Impossible to say now...Guess only Oz could say it. It's one thing to look back and say there was no knowing better, but if that person comes back and starts walking around and asking you why you weren't more honest with her, it starts to look more shady."

Winter bit her lip.

She might dislike Qrow, but there was no denying he had a point about Pyrrha...who could hate her? Did she really deserve what happened?... But then, that was no way to think. 

"She was serving her country," she said.

"A lie," Qrow said. "We set her up to be a target. And for what?"

"Salem is a bigger threat than any of us," Winter said. "We can't afford to think of ourselves."

"I guess," Qrow said. "But I can't help noticing somehow we're always the ones who don't end up sacrificing something personal in all this."

He said that because he thought of what the girls had said about how he'd feel if it was his nieces... The truth was...the idea that Ozpin might put one of them in this position actually kind of haunted him. What if they tried to take the powers themselves? What would happen?

"I hardly think that's true..." Winter paused to ask herself why she was bothering to say this to him of all people. She straightened. "Well...knowing that, I suppose I have no choice except to believe all this."

"Doesn't change anything."

"No..." Winter said. "But it's good to at least know the full story. To make a responsible choice."

But she didn't know the full story...not yet. They'd kept it back...

Qrow began to feel a little sick... Weren't they doing exactly what they did before?

Still, it was Ruby's decision, and they were following her lead...

Winter checked her scroll suddenly. 

"Blast it, we were supposed to be back 15 minutes ago! I knew those two were horsing around too much."

She opened the door.

An orderly stared at her, then looked at Qrow.

"You saw nothing," Winter said in a tone that would have made some people cry.

"Yes'm," they squeaked.

Qrow winked at them, just to annoy her.

Winter rolled her eyes and stalked away.

I'd better find them up there, she thought to herself.

* * *

https://youtu.be/ptlhb2uNXsI

[Amv to "Finish Line" by Rogue Music]

Winter instead found them singing songs while waiting--

"Ain't about the glamour. Click goes the hammer. Run when you hear that sound"--while they were tapping a rhythm on the floor and their thighs.

At least they were still here...

"And there wasn't any Grimm incident while we were gone?" Qrow said sarcastically.

"The only grim thing about this hallway is how depressingly bland it is," Wally said. "I mean, I'm no fashion designer, but do you guys use any other color than blanc?"

"I taught him that," Shine said.

"Get up, we're late," Winter said.

"Of course that's our fault," Shine said, getting up. "What did you do down there? Run a biopsy?"

"I found out you two idiots ran your mouths about stuff." Qrow shot them a look. "I thought it was a secret."

"It wasn't yours," Shine said. "So, you did discuss it."

She looked so smug, Qrow wished he'd said nothing.

"It's none of your concern what we discuss," Winter said.

"Oh, well, in that case," Wally said in a sly tone. "I get it. It's personal."

"Personal..." Winter seemed to be attempting to figure out why he said it that way. "Whatever, I don't have time for your tomfoolery. I have to go. Qrow, walk them back to their dorms and make sure they don't escape. The party is in just a few hours."

"Why are you going to it at all?" Shine said. "I thought you hated your house."

"It's not my house," Winter said. "And I have no choice."

"But there will be snacks, right?" Wally said.

Winter made a sound of annoyance and stalked away.

"That didn't really answer my question," Wally said.

"I will bring you snacks," Shine said.

"You're the best." Wally kissed her forehead. "But rich people snacks are like this weird game to try to figure out, so I'm still hoping for that."

"The Schnees will go all out," Qrow said. "And I'll probably be stuck watching you all evening, so do yourselves a favor and don't do anything stupid."

"Aw, I also think you're starting to warm up to us," Shine said.

"As if," Qrow scoffed. "I just don't want more work."

"Sure." Wally nodded knowingly. "Hey, we'll be totally normal."

* * *

Actually Qrow should have worried more about the girls. Shine and Wally dressed themselves appropriately for the occasion--at least compared to the others--and seemed disinclined to do anything interesting.

Yang, Ruby, Blake, Weiss, Nora, Ren, and Jaune, on the other hand, they were all set to spy around the Schnee Mansion. Weiss was convinced there had to be a connection between the shady stuff and her father.

Pyrrha wondered how Mantle was doing down there... She could almost see why Robyn was so desperate.

She wasn't much interested in spying, she was too busy gawking. She'd never been to the Schnee Mansion before, though she'd attended a few of their honorary dinner parties at other locations.

The adults were less excited.

The Ace Ops were just nonplussed, but Winter looked like she was going to have a root canal as they all got off the plane.

Ironwood glanced around. "Suppose we should smile for the cameras."

Winter stared dead ahead. "Sir, with all due respect, you'd have to pay me," she said with contempt.

Ironwood smirked slightly.

"Okay, that was actually funny," Wally said.

"Makes me sad," Shine muttered as they got off the plane.

"Why?" Wally said.

"Because even with that actually genuine moment, consider what he's willing to make her do." Shine shook her head. "It scares me to have that kind of compartmentalizing."

"I think you just ruined it for me," Wally said.

"Sorry," Shine said.

"I wish you were wrong," Wally said, then he smiled half-heartedly.

Shine smirked wryly.

"Try to look like you're supposed to be here," Harriet said to them rudely.

"You first," Shine shot back.

"Likstar, West," Ironwood said, motioning them over. "Remember you're here for one reason and one reason only, to put Robyn more at ease. It's my hope a fight will not break out. I want you to greet her, say a few words about how we're here to work this out, and then you'll be helping Qrow and the Ace Ops supervise... You're not authorized to actually fight, but you can keep watch, I suppose."

"And for this great honor are you going to pay us?" Shine asked.

Pause.

"You want a reward for serving the country?" Ironwood said.

"With all due respect, sir, I don't see you cutting your salary," Shine said, in the same tone Winter had.

Ironwood frowned, but then seemed to find this actually less annoying than her usual sass. "Fair enough. I suppose a small reimbursement would be permissible...if you do exactly what I said."

"Aye aye, Captain." Wally saluted.

"General," Ironwood corrected.

"To be fair, I doubt he'd know the difference," Harriet said meanly.

"Sure I do," Wally said. "One starts with a G, and one starts with a C, like that rule about cave formations."

Harriet stared at him in derision.

"A Captain commands a troop. A General commands the actual army," Shine said smoothly. "Though it can vary depending on how many people of that rank there are and how big the army is, also by what country and culture you're in. There are nuances to both ranks, I suppose."

"Surprisingly, a passable definition." Ironwood raised an eyebrow. "Where outside the kingdoms did you study war, Miss Likstar?"

"My people are people of war, General," Shine said. "Our whole system works based on authority and delegation."

"I find that hard to believe, considering your attitude," Harriet said.

"Considering yours, I would say right back at you," Shine replied.

"All right, move it, people," Qrow hustled the DJs. "Just get your job over with so we can start wasting our time."

"Are you positive this is a wise idea?" Winter asked Ironwood.

"It serves two purposes," Ironwood said. "I also wanted to see if Hill would act like she knew them, since they refused to give us more info on their encounter."

"Ah," Winter said knowingly.

Actually the person to let them in the house was none other than Whitley, the younger brother of Weiss and Winter.

"Good evening, everyone," he said in his posh, slightly rude tone.

Winter took no notice of him...and he seemed too scared of her to address her directly.

"Where's Klein?" Weiss asked, tilting her head.

"Ouch," Wally hissed at Shine.

"What an interesting way to say, 'Hello, dear brother. How have you been?'" Whitley gestured upward dramatically. Then he crossed his arms and frowned. "I'm afraid you won't find him here. He was let go. I can't imagine why." With an insolent shrug.

Weiss gasped slightly.

"Poor Klein." Wally vaguely remembered him. He was kind of hard to forget. [Ha, since my siblings forgot he existed, that's ironic.]

"Exactly how large do you think our dining room table is?" Whitley went on, eyeing the huge group.

"I happen to know it's enormous," Ironwood said. "But most of my guests will be on standby in case the Council requests additional eye witnesses. Until then, I'm sure they'll be happily celebrating your father's victory."

Whitley chuckled half scornfully and half nervously and walked away.

"He's, like, 14," Shine spoke.

"And?" Ironwood said.

"Do you think mixing him up in your beef with Jacques is the best idea?" Shine asked.

"If you knew my brother," Weiss said, "you'd know he wants to be mixed up in it."

"I do remember him being a bit of a brat," Shine said. "But then, so were you when you first left home."

Weiss shot her a dirty look but then huffily walked inside where she and her team proceeded to confer amongst themselves.

Shine and Wally were herded away.

Robyn was waiting by a doorway of one room, not engaged in the festivities... She eyed the rich party guests with distaste.

"Do we have to do this like parrots?" Wally said.

"Of course." Shine winked at him.

"What are you two doing here?" Robyn looked up and blinked at them. "I never thought you'd actually be coming in with General Iron-up-his. You weren't kidding about being connected. Were you spying on me?"

"Nope," Wally said. "Honest."

"Shake on it?" Robyn asked, holding out her hand.

"You don't have a joy buzzer in that, do you?" Wally had been pranked one too many times by that.

"Of course not. See?" Robyn showed him her open hand. "Come on, a nice firm handshake goes a long way."

Wally shook her hand, and it lit up with Aura.

"Whoa...what are you doing?" he asked.

"You could let go," Shine suggested.

"So you weren't spies?" Robyn tightened her grip instead of letting go.

"No, also ouch," Wally said.

Robyn glanced at her hand, then pulled it back. "Huh...nothing happened."

"Were you expecting it to fry him if he lied?" Shine pulled Wally back. "Or were you trying to cop a feel?"

"Shine, I would never!" Wally said.

"Not you," Shine said.

"But still," Wally said.

"Relax, Live Wire, he's not my type," Robyn said. "I just wanted to be sure you weren't lying. But...either you don't know, or..."

"Oh...your semblance doesn't work on us, does it?" Shine put a hand to her chin. "I bet it's too similar to magic. Fragments of it, maybe, but still. Oh well, if it helps, we're not liars. We also have a message from Ironwood."

"What is that?" Robyn said.

"He told us to tell you that he wants you to feel safe here and not start a fight," Shine said, with an impish smile. "That they want to work things out. And also to greet you, so hello." She waved.

"Is this some kind of joke?" Robyn asked.

"No, that's just what he said to say," Shine said. "Exactly. So, message delivered. Have a nice evening."

"If he thought that was going to work, he's dumber than I thought," Robyn said.

"In all seriousness, Robyn, you had a narrow escape from being arrested," Shine said. "Maybe don't get cocky up there."

"If you've been paying attention, you should know that I'm not the one who's cocky," Robyn said.

"It is a little cocky," Shine said. "A word of advice about this discussion: Keep your eyes open and your mouth shut. Best diplomatic trick there is. Wait for the right moment to pounce."

"You're helping me now?" Robyn said. "I thought you didn't like me."

"I don't, but I don't like Ironwood either, and even if I have to miss it, I think Winter should get a good show in there," Shine said. "Make it entertaining, will you?"

Robyn smirked. "That I can do."

"Don't mention us though." Wally put hand to his mouth. "Hushity hush. We gotta go now. We have to 'mingle'."

"Gotcha," Robyn said. 

"Live Wire?" Shine asked, walking away.

"You know, that one makes sense," Wally said.

"How am I like Live Wire?" Shine asked.

"You are kind of sassy," Wally said.

She smacked his arm. 

"But not as dumb, definitely," Wally said. "Way smart."

"Come on, Slugger," Shine said dryly, since he'd told her about the part before.

They saw Weiss trying to sneak upstairs--and running into her brother again in the process.

"I guess she's going to investigate," Shine said.

"Pyrrha, quick," Nora nudged her. "Make one of the metal trays fall on him."

"That seems a little mean," Pyrrha said.

"This is no time to be Miss Nice And Kind, Pyrrha. We have a mission to complete!" Nora hissed.

"Just think of it as like the food fight," Ren said. "But more important."

"Glynda would cry," Shine muttered.

"I have to know," Whitley was saying, "why did you go through so much trouble to leave home, only to come crawling back?" He made a walking motion with his fingers.

"Is it just me or is he kind of hilarious?" Wally asked. "I mean, snotty but hilarious." He mimed Whitley's motion. "He's like a British character in a movie."

"You do like almost everyone," Shine shrugged. "Watch though."

Weiss sighed and rolled her eyes, preparing herself.

"This could be a problem," Oscar said in the background with the girls, then he popped an h'ordeuvre into his mouth. [That was one of the best moments of the episode, change my mind. Oscar is best boi.]

"Think we should bail 'em out?" Wally asked Shine.

"Before or after Pyrrha drops that tray on him?" Shine asked.

Pyrrha was hesitating.

"I just can't do it," she said. "I mean, it's one thing as part of fun, but he doesn't seem like someone who'd laugh that off."

"Take one for the blasted team, Pyrrha!" Yang hissed.

Before Pyrrha could either argue or cave, Nora carried the tray a little too close to Whitley and bumped into a plump lady in an evening gown who had wine.

The tray fell all over her, to her dismay, but she tossed her wine on Whitley by accident.

It turned him pink, since he was already so white.

He looked pretty ticked.

"Excuse me," he said to Weiss.

[Yeah, I cut it short... Made more sense that way.]

"Oh, poor Whitley," Shine said.

"Yeah, that suit has to be, like, 2 grand," Wally said.

"I mean that was embarrassing. He's a teenager--there's nothing worse than that," Shine said.

"He didn't seem that embarrassed," Wally said.

"Towel," Shine said.

"Huh?" Wally said.

"Towel." She handed him one.

"Where did you get that?" he said.

"The bathroom at school...the clean ones," she said.

"Right," Wally said.

He went up to Whitley, who was stalking away.

[Why did he head away from the stair when his room would have been upstairs? Show? You don't make any sense to me.]

"Here, little dude," Wally said.

Whitley looked at him with loathing for a moment, but then was in no position to turn down help.

He took it haughtily. "I don't recognize you. Do you work here?"

"We're working here," Shine said, following them.

Weiss took advantage of their distracting her brother to sneak upstairs unnoticed.

Pyrrha moved the fallen trays back onto a table discreetly while no one was looking.

"This place is so fancy," Jaune remarked. "Makes that dance at Beacon look shabby."

"I don't know, I think I prefer the lighthearted air and livelier music to this," Pyrrha said, with a wry smile.

"Remember the dance we did?" Nora said. "Ren made us practice it over and over again."

https://youtu.be/L1oJTSzfhvU

[Skip this video to 1:21 to get joke. I couldn't find an edited down version of it.]

"Hey, Whitley, where's the music coming from?" Shine asked.

"Our DJ is back there." Whitley pointed to where a servant was manning a disc table playing boring classical music.

"Great," Shine said.

She slipped Wally a disc.

"Are we seriously doing this?" Wally said.

"They will seriously thank us," Shine said. "This is the worst party music I've ever heard."

"Gotcha." Wally winked.

"What are you doing?" Whitley asked.

"Never you mind," Shine said. "You need to go rinse that suit out at once, or it'll be permanently stained."

"I have servants for that." Whitley clapped his hands and one came up.

Shine saw another one walk by, heading up the back stairs.

Something about the servant looked odd. Like she shimmered.

Shine's eyes gleamed for a moment.

[Image design by Onerose.]

"Excuse me for a moment, Whitley," she said. "I have to check something."

"In my house?" Whitley said.

"I hear you have some impressive art pieces in here." Shine was slick. "Mind if I take a look? My sisters are into it."

"If you'd wait, I could show you myself." Whitley was clearly desperate to show off.

"How about you meet me upstairs. I'd like to look at the suit of armor first." Shine took off before Whitley could argue with her.