"Have you lost your mind?!"

Qrow looked up from his coffee, amused and intrigued in equal measure. It wasn't often that he was visited by "The Wicked Witch", as he liked to call her, and it was even rarer that she made the trek from Beacon to Signal. When she did, it was normally to chew him out, which even Qrow had to admit, he normally deserved. This time, however, he couldn't recall doing anything to piss of Goodwitch.

"So do we just not do 'hello' anymore?" Qrow sipped his coffee, gesturing to the seat across his desk. "Have a seat, Wicked Witch. Want some coffee?"

"I want an explanation," said Goodwitch curtly. She stepped into Qrow's office, swinging the door shut behind her. "I've been looking for you all week."

"I've been here all week."

"Yes, because you're well known for being where you're supposed to be." Goodwitch rolled her eyes, taking the seat across from Qrow. Although Glynda Goodwitch was a notoriously sharp, irate huntresses, with one of the most fiery and intense furies in all of Vale, Qrow didn't seem particularly interested in staying on her good side. He just shrugged his shoulders, then went about fixing his unexpected guest a coffee.

"Cream and sugar?" offered Qrow.

"I thought you resigned from Signal," said Goodwitch, entirely ignoring him.

"I reconsidered. Realized I'm getting old. May as well relax, teach some young bloods how to survive, and enjoy living from paycheck to paycheck, like any good teacher should." Qrow added two sugars and a bit of cream (plain, not his special stash from Mistral) and slid the coffee over. "Y'know, if you needed to speak to me so bad, you coulda called. You do still have my Scroll number, don't you?"

"Would you have answered?"

"Well, probably not, but you could've at least tried," said Qrow with a smirk. When Goodwitch returned with nothing but raw, almost tangible annoyance, Qrow finally decided to stop antagonizing her. "So? What exactly did you come here for?"

"As I said, an explanation. I want to know why I'm suddenly hearing rumors that you are shacking up with Ironwood's right hand man."

"Eh, you know how people like to talk. Anything to make life interesting."

"Tell me it's not true, Qrow. Tell me you're not sleeping with Winter Schnee," said Goodwitch. Qrow averted his gaze, suddenly very focused on taking a loud, messy sip of his coffee. "Damn it, Qrow! This isn't a game! Winter Schnee is not just some random woman you can pick up at a bar and toss out when you're done with her!"

"Trust me, I don't intend on 'tossing her out'. And, side question, why the hell do you care?" asked Qrow. Goodwitch cocked her brow, surprised by Qrow's sharp, perhaps even testy reply. "You made it abundantly clear that you wanted nothing to do with me, and my romantic life is kinda none of your business anymore. Remember? When you called me… How exactly did you phrase it, again? A drunk, reckless…"

"Selfish, misogynist, hedonistic, disgusting, rat-bastard, chauvinist pig son of a bitch," droned Goodwitch.

"You said you wouldn't piss on me if I was on fire."

"Yes, I may have said that. But that was years ago."

"Yet you remember your wording exactly. Sounds to me like you're still holding a grudge."

"You tried to sleep with my sister!"

"In my defense… you two look just alike," said Qrow with a shrug. "I was drunk, saw a blonde from across the room, and made a bad guess. Coulda happened to anyone." He shook his head, trying to free himself from the hazy memories. "Regardless, that doesn't change the fact that you've said you don't care who I'm with as long as it isn't you or someone we work with. So why do you suddenly care about me and Schnee?"

"Because, you dunce, this could impact a lot of things on our end," said Goodwitch. "When you're done toying with this girl and leave her out to dry, she's not going to sit home and cry into a tub of ice cream like a normal girl. Winter Schnee will be coming for you. She will do everything in her power to make your life hell, and—"

"Jesus, you sound like her sister. Will you quit it, already? Give me more credit than none, I don't just 'toy' with chicks. I'm not gonna let anyone think there's something where there isn't." Qrow was a bit annoyed that Goodwitch thought so little of him, although he couldn't really blame her. He did have a bit of a reputation. "Look, Goodwitch, I appreciate the… concern? Ass-chewing? Whatever you wanna call this."

"I simply want to—"

"But here's the low-down, okay? You're wrong, for once. Don't get me wrong, you're normally on the money, especially with me and my… antics, for want of a better word, but… You're off this time." Qrow pulled his Scroll from his pocket, sliding it across the table. Glynda picked it up, curiously viewing it. The wallpaper displayed Qrow, laying in bed with Winter, holding her in his arms. "Schnee is different. It's not like me and some barmaid, or me and some waitress. It's not even like me and you, no offense. I haven't felt like this in a long time. Not since… Well. You get the idea."

Glynda looked at the picture for a moment, considering the scene before her. Qrow was smiling. Not smirking cockily or grinning in self-satisfaction. He was just laying there, enjoying the moment, enjoying the presence of his woman. There was a light to him, an energy he didn't often possess. Glynda sighed, returning Qrow's Scroll and, finally, taking a sip of her coffee.

"You could've avoided a lot of this if you would've just been upfront and open. I don't like that I have to hear about you and Winter from student gossip," complained Goodwitch. "I do like to consider us friends, at least most of the time."

"We are, and I'm sorry, honest." Qrow flashed a smirk. "I'll be sure to keep you in the loop from… Wait a sec, did you say student gossip? Who the hell knows about me and Schnee?"

"Your niece is very excited about the whole situation," said Goodwitch, her lips spreading onto a tiny smile. "You know who she reminds me of, don't you?"

"Yeah… Just like her mom, right?" Qrow sighed, shaking his head. "For better or worse… Anyway, are we done here? I'm expecting a call soon, and I'd rather not have to entertain guests while I handle important business."

"Fine. I trust that you know what you're doing, and I wish you the best of luck." Goodwitch stood up, and Qrow rose to match her. "But, for all this trouble, you and Miss Schnee are going to sit down with me so we can meet properly."

"What happened to not caring about my romantic life?"

"That was before you had a romantic life. We're friends, right? Friends introduce each other to people they're dating. Or so I'm told."

"Yeah, but…"

"No buts. You, me, Schnee. Dinner and drinks, as soon as she has a free day. Understand?" Goodwitch peered at Qrow, her smirk growing to match his. The Wicked Witch wasn't typically known for her humor, but for a friend like Qrow, she liked to make a rare exception.

"Yes, ma'am. See you Friday."


"Have you lost your mind?"

Winter froze, her back turned and her attention formerly grasped by the report she was writing. At some point, the conference room had emptied, something she surely noticed but didn't deem especially important at the time. She was too busy to make note of the teachers and soldiers who were making their way in and out of the room.

That was, of course, until The General himself entered.

"General Ironwood!" Winter scrambled in surprise, saluting her commander with a blend of awe, respect, and fear that was unique to Ironwood.

"I always thought you were a rational woman, Specialist, but what I've been hearing seems to be calling that into question." Ironwood slowly stepped forward, peering at Winter curiously. Though most people would see his expression as curious, concerned perhaps, Winter tended to think "worst case scenarios" regarding the General. "So I hope you have a good explanation?"

"Explanation? For what, sir?" asked Winter nervously.

"You're really gonna make me say it?" Winter remained silent, earning a sigh from her superior. "I know about you and Qrow."

"Ah. Yes. That." Winter's brain had essentially shut off by that point. The very last thing she had been prepared to do today was discuss her love life with her boss. When she finally did her mental reboot, air raid sirens went off in her head, her brain conjuring images of being disciplined, or worse, for something her boyfriend had done. "Er…"

"Honestly, Winter… I understand your right to privacy, especially where relationships are concerned…" sighed Ironwood. "But, when you're becoming involved with a… Let's call him a person of interest, it makes me nervous when you hide important factors like this from me."

"You see, General, the Qrow situation is… ongoing. I thought it best to play it by ear until…"

"You didn't think I'd ever find out."

"That is correct, sir." Winter sighed, finally breaking her salute. "Permission to speak freely, General?"

"Granted." Ironwood spoke slowly, his concern growing. Winter was acting rather oddly, both now and in her previous, shady actions, not to mention her involvement with Qrow to begin with.

"Well, to be perfectly honest, sir, nothing about this Qrow situation makes any sense," admitted Winter. "It was very spur of the moment, and I'm still coming to grips with all of the ramifications of my… current relationship."

"That much is obvious." Ironwood crossed the conference room, to the table in the center that Winter was working at. He placed his palm against the surface, causing a panel in the surface to glow before splitting open to reveal a small bar set that rose from its depths. Ironwood briskly fixed himself a neat whiskey, preparing a second glass before he remembered who he was talking to. "Right, you don't drink."

"Actually… I'll take it on the rocks." Ironwood cocked a brow at his right hand man before making her a drink and sliding it across the table. "I won't deny that my decision to associate myself with Qrow may have been ill-advised—"

"Quite the understatement. Do you know how much property damage he's caused us?" asked Ironwood. Winter took in a tiny breath before doing a quick bout of calculations in her head.

"According to my math, it's getting close to ten million Lien, counting all the new AK model prototypes he helped to… Well, he insists we use the phrase 'stress test'."

"And that's only the things on the record." Ironwood took a seat across from Winter, watching curiously as she sipped her drink. He hadn't known Winter to drink more than a glass of wine at certain functions, so to see her comfortably enjoying a whiskey like this… It seemed Qrow was already getting to her. "Qrow has no love for Atlas, especially not its army. So how can you possibly see anything in him?"

"I will be the first to admit that he is… difficult. But I will just as readily admit that I misjudged him. In fact, General, you're guilty of much the same," said Winter.

"I beg your pardon?"

"What do you really know about Qrow Branwen, General? Aside from meetings with Professor Ozpin in which you were both in attendance, how much have you actually spoken to Qrow?" Ironwood didn't answer, which essentially proved Winter's point. "I was in a very similar position. I didn't know as much about him as I originally believed, and certainly not enough to be a good judge of his character. And, though it may have not been my most rational, safe choice, I stand by my decision to give him a chance. I ask you, as my employer and, if I may be so bold, my friend, to do the same."

Ironwood scratched his chin as he drank, inspecting Winter for a flash of doubt or regret. Unsurprisingly, he found none. Winter had always posessed incredible instinct and intuition, so, if she believed she was doing the right thing, Ironwood was inclined to believe her. And, while he and Qrow definitely had their colorful history, the General would be hard-pressed to actually call Qrow a bad person. The General sighed, pouring Winter and himself one last drink before sending the bar set back into the table.

"Very well. I'll give Qrow the benefit of the doubt," said Ironwood slowly, carefully, as if just barely deciding to agree to this madness. His expression softened slightly when he saw Winter's smile, and he allowed himself to match her expression. "You know, Winter, when I sent you to Vale to 'bring Qrow home', this isn't exactly what I had in mind."

"I assure you, going home with Qrow was not my original plan," said Winter with a chuckle. "To my surprise… He's quite the gentleman."

"I presume your father has yet to meet your 'gentleman'?" Winter choked on her drink, the thought of her father and Qrow in the same room stopping her heart in her chest. She looked the General in the eye, her gaze conveying a sort of horror and disdain that was unique to situations involving her father.

"My father is not currently aware of my relationship status," said Winter carefully. "And I would prefer it to stay that way, if you don't mind."

"Hm. I don't make a habit of lying to Jacques, Winter." Ironwood stood up and headed for the door, stopping to pat Winter gently on the shoulder. "But… You know, I'm a busy man. I can't possibly remember every conversation I have with one of my soldiers." Ironwood waved over his shoulder as he exited the room, leaving Winter with a quiet farewell. Winter smiled, touched by the General's concern for her, even if he had his own way of displaying it. Though she absolutely didn't need Ironwood's permission, it was a load off of her shoulders to know that he would give Qrow a shot.

Winter pulled her Scroll from her pocket, checking the time. It was about time to break for lunch (although Winter very rarely made it through her meal without doing some sort of work), which meant she had some time for her call. She swiped through her contacts, coming down and clicking on a name closer to the bottom. The line buzzed as her call went through, and she barely had time to put the Scroll to her ear before the lines connected.

"Hello," said Winter.

"I just had the weirdest conversation with Goodwitch," said Qrow. "More of a stern talking-to, really. She lectured me about treating you well, not like I don't already. I guess she's still salty about how we split…" Qrow chuckled slightly to himself. "Long story short, we've got a date with her next time you're in Vale."

"I've worked with Glynda in the past, but I've never had the privilege of meeting her in a personal setting. I'd be delighted to meet her properly." Winter smirked at the mental image of a fiery Glynda Goodwitch scolding Qrow as if he were one of her students. "Funnily enough, I had a similar conversation with the General. He was concerned about our relationship."

"Yeah, I'm not sitting down to meet Jimmy over dinner."

"Of course not. General Ironwood has simply agreed to give you a chance before counting you out," said Winter. Her grin shifted to become significantly more sinister. "But, since we're on the subject of meeting over dinner… What would you say if I asked you to meet my father?"

"Damn, here I was thinking things were going well," groaned Qrow. "If you're gonna dump me, just get it over with. I'd rather not go missing and wake up in an alley someplace in Vacuo because I annoyed your dad."

"My father isn't that bad. Close, but…" The two shared a laugh, Winter's slightly more bittersweet in nature. "In any case, I mean it. He's going to hear about us eventually. I'd prefer if we were to get out in front of this before he hears about it from, say, an innocent worker who heard some juicy gossip through the grapevine."

"Yeah, fair enough. How's the 30th?"

"I'll let him know as soon as I can be certain that he won't pitch a fit," promised Winter. "So, aside from being interrogated by Goodwitch, how have you been?"

"Well… I was thinking about that talk we had a couple of weeks ago, about me working at Signal," said Qrow. "And I decided that you're probably right. I could do more good there than I can out in the field, at least right now. So… I decided not to quit after all."

"That's excellent news, Qrow! Very glad to hear it."

"Excuse me, Ms. Schnee, that would be Professor Branwen to you." Qrow spoke with an almost tangible amount of smug satisfaction, which made Winter want to smirk and roll her eyes in equal measure.

"We'll see about that."