January 3rd
City Of Atlas; Atlas
Uptown

Numb. All he could he feel, everything about him. It was all numb. He was on his second or third round of shots and, as he looked around the bar, all he could do was frown. After he had dropped off Winter Schnee at her apartment complex back on the thirtieth, he was overcome with a sense of missing something as he drove away. At first he had written it off to missing his nieces, after all, he wasn't quite sure what was going on with them. That sense quickly morphed into anger, and he wrote that off to his earlier conversation with James and Glynda. As it got later though, and as the alcohol from the day had started to wear off, he found himself fantasizing what it would be like snog Winter. In spite of all of his affairs with countless women, Winter stood out in his mind as the kind of woman who would be difficult for him to deal with but one that he could have something real with.

Not that he was expecting that to happen.

"So, the dusty old crow ends up in a bar once again," The all-too familiar voice said as she sat down next to him. "Well, I'll have you know that I wouldn't mind a shot or two right now."

Qrow pushed one over to her and she took it down surprisingly well. "What are you doing here?"

"General Ironwood sent me to find you and -"

"Well tell Jimmy that I ain't doing anything -"

"Can you shut up and listen? He and Glynda need to talk to you about something to do with Ozpin."

"I'm shocked he hasn't told you what it is himself. He already turned his back on -"

Winter downed another several set of shots. "Qrow -"

"Seriously, James is a -"

Taking another one, Winter felt her voice raise in spite of herself. "Qrow Branwen!"

Qrow put his hands up in mock defeat. "All right, all right. I'll shut up. I'll go, but only because Glynda -"

A combination of disgust and irrational jealousy came through her. "If you make one sexual comment -"

"I'm not at all attracted to her, gross. Glynda terrifies me, if I'm being honest. Look, Ice Queen, you may accuse me of having a dirty mind, but believe me when I say that I have never wanted to be involved with Glynda Goodwitch." Qrow took down another shot before sighing. "Come on."

"Well then who are you attracted to?" Winter asked, genuine curiosity laced in her voice.

Qrow laughed before he looked at her seriously. "You really want to know the answer to that?"

Winter raised an eyebrow before laughing herself. "Do you honestly think that I'd ask that question if I didn't want to know the answer?"

"Of course you wouldn't but it makes sense with someone… well with someone like you to ask." Qrow shook his head as she got up with him. "I've liked a lot of women, I've been with a lot of women… but there is only one woman that I actually am attracted to."

"And who is that?" Winter asked as she opened the door to the car on her side while Qrow got in on his own.

"I don't think you'll like it…" He said as the car started but he leaned back and turned to look at her regardless. "I may not always find you to be easy to deal with, Ice Queen, but I am attracted to you."

With a sharp intake of breath, Winter was silent for several minutes before she cut the ignition in front of the government offices of the Atlesian council. "Are you joking?"

"Of course not," Qrow said, disappointed that she didn't believe him. "I -"

Impulsively and, likely in part due to the alcohol, Winter leaned over and kissed him. It was quick; Only a few seconds of their lips just more than brushing. Her blue eyes went wider than he could have thought possible as she pulled back and confliction crossed her face; Questions in regards to what she was doing written all across it. Confusion swept across his own as he tried to comprehend what they had both just did. Attempting to remind himself that it was little more than a brush, he tried to shake off the lingering feeling of energy on his lips that was slowly spreading all through him. Briskly opening the door and swinging her legs onto the pavement, Winter tried to neutralize herself but was struggling even as they walked into the meeting room where Glynda and James were waiting.

"Qrow," Glynda narrowed her eyes at his appearance. Turning to Winter, she sighed and crossed her arms with her crop still in hand. "Where did you find him?"
Winter hesitated before a serious look from both Glynda and General Ironwood prompted her to go ahead. "He was at a bar; I'm not sure how long he -"

"I was there for a few hours at least," Qrow shrugged in spite of the glares he was getting from both the General and Glynda. "What? Neither of you should be surprised."

"Why is it that you can't take anything seriously for more than a few minutes?" Glynda snapped at him, her patience breaking though it wasn't as if she had much to begin with. "It's almost as if -"

"Glynda, calm down." Qrow put his hands up before looking briefly at Winter. "Just be glad that she dragged me out of there."

Looking over to Winter before she turned back to Qrow, Glynda took in the younger woman's appearance. "Qrow, listen to me. You know full well that now that Oz is -"

"You seem to be forgetting that Oz can -"

"If Oz reincarnated, don't you think we'd know about it by now?"

"Oh come on. Glynda, Oz is smart. He wouldn't tell anyone that he was back unless he -"

"Glynda's right, Qrow. If Oz was back he would have found a way to let us know by now." Ironwood sighed as he looked to Winter. "Dismissed, Schnee."

As Winter left, she had more questions than answers. Ozpin reincarnates? Not only that, but what had she done. And why did she want to kiss Qrow again?