Teaming with Weiss to help Faunus laborers

“Blake, I told you I’ve already done what I can.” Weiss lectured her teammate in a slightly defensive huff, “You do realize I have no actual stake in the company yet, right? My only real option is to contact all of my father’s business associates who are sympathetic to Faunus and try to arrange something under them.”

Blake growled in annoyance at that, “And what use is that?! Do you really think a bunch of fat cats who profited off other people’s pain are going to care to make a difference?”

“Blake,” Weiss restated, visibly grappling for calm, “You have every right to be frustrated, but the simple facts of reality show you can’t make immediate sweeping demands or expect unilateral support. You have to compromise, and wait, and make unpleasant deals, and take what can get until you can try for more later.”

“That’s easy for a Schnee to say from the other side of the table,” Blake snapped, and instantly regretted it. Weiss’ expression frosted over worse than it had when she first started working with Ruby. Ruby herself and Yang, who had been sitting on their beds uneasily watching the heated discussion, glanced at each other appalled.

“How dare you,” Weiss muttered.

“Weiss,” Blake found herself begging, “I’m sorry.”

“After telling you about how my father was trying to control my life-choices, after promising to help you improve the lot in life of the miners, after confiding in you about all the family I have lost.”

“I know, I know Weiss. It was stupid of me to say, I let me desperation turn my thoughts ugly.”

Weissed peered at Blake with narrowed eyes, seeming checking for honest contrition, before scoffing and turning away. “Dealing with Ruby has made me go soft.”

“Hey!”

“Well,” Blake smirked, “I must confess I am grateful for that.”

Weissed turned back with her mouth open, but whatever quip she was going to fire back was interrupted by her scroll pinging.

“Ah, look at that,” the pale heiress chimed with a smile, “Didn’t I tell you that one of them would offer us an avenue for action?”

Blake acknowledged the disproving of her lack of faith with a faint smile, “What’s the offer?”

“Hmm...” the ponytailed rich girl skimmed the contents of the e-mail. “Sent by Mr. Martel Chartreuse of Thranq Industries... He’s willing to set up a fund to raise money and buy out the worker contracts and file lawsuits on behalf of abused Faunus laborers of the SDC... The method he wishes to be used to raise money is...” Suddenly Weiss choked up, developed a luminescent full-face blush, and fumbled her Scroll.

“What?! What happened? Weiss, what did he say?” Blake demanded, afraid this was all a cruel trick after all. “Was he pulling our leg, is it an a fake offer, an impossible price?”

“N-no,” Weiss stuttered, “at least, I’m pretty sure this offer it legitimate, I’ll have to check the legality. The thing is, what he expects us to do for him to secure the donations... it’s-well he wants us-or perhaps just you-he...” Unable to spit it out, Weiss handed her Scroll to Blake, Ruby and Yang strolling around behind her now that their curiosities were piqued.