Learning About The Schnee Matriarch

The sun crept over Beacon Academy’s rooftops, painting the sky in hues of gold and pink. Gray stood on the dorm’s roof, the morning breeze cool against his skin, ruffling his hair as he dialed his parents on his scroll. He waited as the dial tone played out a few times before he heard the call connect.

“Hello?” His mother’s voice crackled through, warm but with that early-morning grogginess.

“Hey, Mom. It’s Gray,” He said, a faint smile tugging his lips as he leaned against the railing.

“Gray! Oh, it’s so good to hear your voice.” Her voice brightened, chasing away the sleep. There was the sound of some shuffling, likely as she tried to get into a better position in bed. “How’s your first week at Beacon been?”

Gray exhaled, the weight of the week, classes, his team of girls, using his powers to make them into his harem, and his run ins with criminals and his own plans to save the world, all that flickered briefly through his mind before he pushed it aside. “It’s been intense, Mom. Classes are tough but good. My team’s pretty cool too."

Then he heard his father’s voice join in, saying, “Glad to hear it, son. What’re you studying? Same classes as what I went through?”

“Same stuff, Dad. Language, Field Studies, Grimm Studies, Dust Studies.” Gray paced the rooftop, some loose gravel crunching under his boots.

His mother’s curiosity bubbled through. “And the professors? Are they as impressive as everyone says?”

Gray chuckled, thinking of Oobleck’s frenetic energy. “Oh, they’re definitely something else. Even on the first day classes they showed me how much I don't know. Like the Dust Studies Professor..." Gray told them a little bit about each professor and what they did in their respective first class of the year. "... oh, I managed to catch Dr. Oobleck and gave him your regards, Dad. He’s still a caffeine-powered blur like you mentioned.”

His father laughed, deep and fond. “Still zipping around, huh? Good man. Keep up with him, Gray.”

“Trying to,” Gray said, grinning. His mind thought back again to the darker things he was dealing with, and even the sexual deviancy he was partaking in. Some guilt welled up in him but he stomped it down. “It’s a lot, but I’m liking it. The team, the challenges… it’s what I signed up for.”

“We’re proud of you, Gray,” his mother said, her voice soft with love. They talked some more, catching him up on life at home for the last week. Eventually he had to let them go.

“Stay safe and call soon, okay?” His mom said with some **** to end the call.

“Will do, Mom. Love you guys. I'll call soon.” Gray ended the call, the sun now higher, warming his face. The conversation had given him some grounding. And he only then just realized how great it was just to hear their voices. Things had been looking... dark, in the last few days and hearing his mom answer her scroll really let him relax in a way he hadn't until now.

He shook his head and looked out at the skyline of pink hues turning to blue.

He lingered a moment, letting the breeze carry away thoughts of Grimm ladies and Cinder and the White Fang, focusing instead on that small moment.

Gray descended the dorm stairs, the echo of his boots soft in the quiet hall. As he made his way back to his dorm room, he passed the first-year common room. The open door let out the low drone of a news broadcast. He glanced inside and saw a handful of students sprawled on couches and chairs, eyes glued to the screen. Gray paused, leaning against the door frame, catching the tail end of the report.

The presenter’s voice was clipped, urgent. “A potential Moonfall event is projected within the next two months. A lunar fragment is on a possible collision course with Remnant. While not catastrophic in size, authorities are preparing for evacuations if needed.”

Gray’s eyes widened. Moonfall events were rare and unpredictable. They were sometimes a minor shower, sometimes a city-leveling disaster. The tidal pull of Remnant’s gravity made trajectories tricky, and the Dust-rich fragments could spark both opportunity and chaos.

The presenter continued, “Experts are still determining the most likely impact sites, but rest assured, the latest technology from Atlas is being prepared to mitigate any potential damage. These particle cannons have proven effective in breaking up smaller fragments, reducing the risk to populated areas. Though experts assure us that things are likely well in hand, they still urge that Kingdoms remain on alert.”

Gray’s mind churned. Moon fragments were rich in Dust, the precious resource that powered so much of their world. Raw, potent, and contested. As the news presenter began to speculate on the possible outcomes, Gray turned away from the common room. There was nothing more to be gained from the broadcast, and he knew that speculation could often lead to unnecessary worry.

Despite that, his mind still raced as he thought of how this might change things for him and his plans. A Moonfall event could mean opportunities for excavation and the discovery of new Dust deposits, but it also carried the risk of devastation. Kingdoms would claim any fragment landing in their borders, but outside territories? That sounded like it might be a mess of whoever gets to it first. Fights would likely occur over it. He knew that as a future Huntsman, he might one day be called upon to aid in such events, to protect the people and secure the valuable resources that could emerge from the impact. That likely wouldn't happen so soon though, since he was only a first year at Beacon.

Gray pushed open the door to his dorm room, the sight of three of his teammates greeting him. Weiss was seated at her portable vanity, her hairbrush moving gracefully through her silvery locks. Blake was stretched out on her bed, engrossed in a book, her eyes scanning the pages intently. Ruby was still nestled under her blankets where he left her, her soft snores filling the room, and the sound of running water from the bathroom indicated that Yang was in the shower.

Gray closed the door gently behind him, not wanting to disturb Ruby's slumber. He turned to Weiss and Blake. "Hey, did either of you hear the news?"

Weiss paused mid-brush, her eyes meeting Gray's in the reflection of her vanity mirror. "News? No, I haven't heard anything. What's going on?"

Blake looked up from her book, her curiosity piqued. "What happened?"

"There's a potential Moonfall event in the next couple of months."

“A Moonfall? That’s… unexpected.” Her tone was sharp, but a flicker of concern crossed her face. “I haven’t heard anything from home. Father would’ve mentioned it, surely.” That last part she muttered more to herself than to the rest of the room.

Gray suppressed a smile, keeping his amusement to himself. It was interesting that Weiss, with her connections to the Schnee Dust Company, hadn't heard the news from her father. He wondered if the information was being kept under wraps for some reason.

"Did the news say where it would hit?" Blake asked.

Gray shrugged. “Still early. They’re figuring out impact zones.” He looked back to Weiss, a question on his mind. "Weiss, do you know what's likely to happen if the fragment falls within a Kingdom's territory?"

Weiss nodded, her expression thoughtful. "If the fragment lands within a Kingdom's borders, that Kingdom has the rights to it. Companies like my father's will try to negotiate deals to assist with the excavation, but ultimately, it's the Kingdom's decision."

Blake chimed in again, her voice filled with curiosity. "And what if it lands outside of Kingdom territory?"

Weiss's expression darkened slightly, a hint of scorn in her voice. "Then it becomes a free-for-all. Kingdoms, companies, bandits... even groups like the White Fang will try to stake their claim. It's a race to see who can get to it first." She resumed brushing, but her movements were stiffer, her mind clearly on her family’s stake in such events.

Gray nodded. It was exactly what he thought. Dust was power, and a Moonfall could shift the board he was playing on. He pushed the thought aside, keeping his expression neutral. “Hopefully, we’ll hear more soon.”

It was then that the shower cut off. Followed by the patter of bare feet on the bathroom floor.

Yang emerged, a towel wrapped loosely around her, water droplets on her bare skin. Her grin was bright, unbothered by her state of dress, as she spotted Gray. “Morning, handsome.”

“Hey, Yang.” Gray returned the greeting, his eyes appreciating the view as Yang casually walked to her dresser. He took a moment to share the news with her. "There's something you should know. There's a potential Moonfall event in the next couple of months."

Yang paused, her expression turning serious as she listened. "A Moonfall event? That sounds intense. Do they know where it's going to hit?"

Gray shook his head. "It's too soon to tell. They're still crunching numbers on that."

Yang considered the information for a moment before shrugging. "Well, if it's too soon to tell, then it's too soon to worry. We'll deal with it when we have more information."

With that, Yang turned her attention back to getting dressed. She pulled out a set of clothes from her dresser and, with a burst of her Semblance, lit up her hair. The heat radiated off her in waves, quickly drying her locks. Gray watched, reminded of the footage he had seen of her fight at the club. He made a mental note to ask her about it later when they had a moment alone.

Yang tossed her towel into the hamper and began to dress, her movements confident and unselfconscious. Gray couldn't help but grin as he watched her slip into her underwear, followed by a pair of shorts and a yellow top.

Yang turned, catching his gaze with a playful wink. “Alright, I've got to wake Ruby up. We're going to call our dad, and I think the roof would be a great spot for some privacy.” She climbed the ladder to Ruby’s bunk, her hips swaying, and Gray couldn’t help but appreciate the view, a smirk tugging his lips.

"Sounds like a plan." He said to himself as he watched her ass. He also had things to do.

Ruby stirred as Yang shook her gently, her silver eyes blinking open. “Mmph… five more minutes,” she mumbled, then yelped as Yang tugged her blanket away. “Okay, okay, I’m up!”

"Go shower. You smell like Gray's spunk." He heard Yang say to her sister. Making him coughed a little in embarrassment.

"Eww. Why did you have to say that?" Ruby whined.

Gray tried holding back a smirk. Also, it was nice confirmation that Yang knew about him banging Ruby and not feeling upset over it. It was good to know his powers worked.

The dorm hummed with morning energy as Ruby stumbled to the bathroom for a quick shower.

When she returned, now fully awake after her shower, she dressed with a touch of haste. Unlike Yang's confident demeanor, Ruby moved with shyness, her cheeks flushed slightly as she dressed in full view of the room. Gray watched, appreciating the sight but also noting her slight self-consciousness. “Ready, Yang,” she said, grabbing her scroll. “Let’s call Dad.”

Yang grinned, slinging an arm around her sister. “Roof’s calling. Catch you guys later!” The two waved, their voices bright with anticipation as they headed out, leaving Gray with Weiss and Blake.

Gray turned his thoughts to their plans for the day. He wondered if they, too, would be calling their parents. He decided to broach the subject carefully, aware that it was probably a touchy subject for the both of them. “You two calling your parents today?”

Weiss, seated at her vanity, paused in her grooming, her reflection showing a flicker of ****. Blake, who had finally put her book down, looked just as ****, though her poker face was better than Weiss's.

"Yeah. I'll go and do that in a moment." The black-haired Faunus in disguise said. She got up and started gathering her things.

Once again Gray wondered if Blake's past involvement with the White Fang had strained her relationship with her parents. Her slight cagey behavior hinted at something, but he wouldn't pry right now.

As Blake got dressed and left the dorm room, Gray turned his attention back to Weiss. He noticed her scowling at her own reflection. He hesitated for a moment before deciding to take the plunge.

"Weiss, do you not want to call your parents?" he asked softly.

Weiss sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly as she turned to face him. "It's complicated, Gray," she admitted, her voice filled with a mix of frustration and sadness. "You know my relationship with my father is strained, but my mother... It... It would be just as difficult to talk with her."

Gray nodded, leaning against the desk. “I get it. If you ever want to talk, I’m here.” His words were genuine, but he held back his Semblance, respecting her space. Though, he couldn't deny the overpowering curiosity.

Weiss offered a small smile, her usual frost thawing slightly. “Thanks, Gray. It’s… nice to know that.”

Things fell silent between them and Gray reflected on things.

But the curiosity became too great.

He had been silently sitting at the desk for a couple minutes. Not knowing what to say as Weiss gathered her hair into her usual ponytail.

His mind was racing with curiosity about Weiss's mother. He knew that pressing the issue directly could sour Weiss's mood for the rest of the day, so he decided to take a different approach. Activating his Semblance, he watched as his presence faded from Weiss's mind, her expression softening into neutrality as she adorned her head with her favorite hair ornament.

“Weiss, what’s your mother like?” He asked softly.

Weiss paused briefly, her hands still working on her hair, before responding in a matter-of-fact tone. "These days she's distant. Getting drunk in the garden when she isn't attending balls and events."

Weiss paused, her hands coming to rest on her vanity in front of her. “But she used to be warm,” she said, her voice even, almost distant. Devoid of the resentment or sadness that had previously colored her words. “Before my tenth birthday, she’d sing to me, tell stories. But that changed after my tenth. My father admitted to her that he had only married her for the Schnee name. The argument that followed ruined the dinner and left a lasting chill between them. She’s been cold ever since, hiding in the garden with her wine or throwing galas to prop up the family image."

Gray listened intently, his expression thoughtful as Weiss continued. "We barely talk now. Winter, my sister, has been my only source of love and support. My little brother, unfortunately, seems to be following in my father's footsteps."

Weiss sighed softly, her gaze distant as she recalled the memories. "My mother spends most of her time avoiding my father now. She either drinks in the garden or organizes events to maintain the Schnee name, trying to counteract my father's questionable business practices."

Gray listened, his expression neutral but his mind sharp. “And your sister? Winter? What is she like?”

Weiss’s lips twitched, a faint smile breaking through. “Winter’s my rock. Strict, but she cares. Disciplined after her time in the military. Unlike my brother, who’s turning into Father’s mirror image. Smug and entitled."

Funnily enough, Gray would have described Weiss much the same way when they first met.

"That's why you're not eager to call home," He said. "It wouldn't be very pleasant."

Weiss only nodded.

Gray sat quietly, his Semblance still active, as he pondered the possibilities. He had the power to influence and shape the world around him, a tool he intended to use to stop criminals and protect Vale from the looming threat of the Grimm Lady. But could he also use this power to help Weiss?

He watched as Weiss applied a touch of makeup, her movements graceful and precise. Curiosity piqued and he wondered if she had plans for the day.

"Are you going somewhere today, Weiss?" He asked.

Weiss paused, considering the question before responding. "I'm not really sure," she admitted. "I might study more or catch up in Metalworking. Maybe even visit the city and go shopping. I haven't decided yet."

He wondered if Weiss was bored, if the pastimes of Vale paled in comparison to the excitement and luxury of Atlas. Though there must be some upper-class places for a high-class lady such as Weiss to enjoy.

His thoughts then turned to Weiss's family, and he wondered if there was a way to influence her parents, to bring about a change that would benefit Weiss. Out of curiosity, he asked, "Weiss, do you have any pictures of your parents?"

Weiss tapped away on her scroll before turning it to face Gray. The screen displayed a family photo, taken a couple of years ago. Weiss looked a bit younger, her expression softer. Her scar didn't seem to be present here. So, that wound must have been fairly recent. Besides her, it was the two women in the picture that caught Gray's attention. Weiss's mother was strikingly beautiful, her features elegant and refined, if a little tired and withdrawn. Beside her stood Winter, Weiss's sister, her beauty equally captivating but tempered with an aura of cold discipline.

Jacques and the younger brother, on the other hand, exuded a smarmy rich person look, their expressions haughty and self-important.

Gray already could feel that his decision-making skills were being set aside in the face of what he is seeing. He heaved a great sigh, knowing how this was going to go down. He could feel it in his loins. His greedy, greedy loins. He stared at the two older Schnee women and felt a new set of plans coalesce.

A/N: It's been another while since I updated this, huh? I have a few chapters that need a proper read through, but hopefully I have more posted in the coming week or so. Famous last words.

I don't mean to yap about whats going on in my life but I made a pretty big change that took a lot of my attention these last two months. Its taken my attention as well as my motivation to write.

I quit my job.

Things got bad and I decided to leave it entirely. So, now I have a lot of time on my hands, which hopefully means I can catch up on my writing. But it also means I might also be busy looking for work. Things might get stressful. I don't really know. I do have a lot of savings to keep me going for a while though, so there's that.

Anyway, obligatory Patreon plug here: patreon.com/CandidBandit

Hopefully the link works now. I'm also hoping to do more for that site too, in this downtime.

Also, thanks for reading up until this point. I appreciate any feedback.