Qrow shared a hesitant, disbelieving glance with Taiyang. Sure, they had seen and heard some weird things during their life as Hunters (apart from the various forms of Grimm), were privy to a number of rather interesting bits of information courtesy of Ozpin, and they knew about some powers that could easily be called supernatural, but Grace with her nonchalant claim was probably taking the cake. Seriously, who in her right mind would say something like that, with a straight face? Was she just winding them up?
"Let me get this straight, sweetheart." Qrow's voice was somewhat shaky, in the murky territory between hilarity and fury at being pranked. "You claim to be a hell-spawned demon out to steal souls, kill guys like us" Taiyang waved frantically in the background for him to shut up, but Qrow was too much into the tirade "during literally mindblowing sex. Is that really what you are saying? Are you sure your parents did not drop you on your head a few times too many?"
Grace sighed, her whole presence exuding such a world-weariness and long-suffering patience that both men had to struggle hard not to bow and profusely apologize for disturbing such a lovely creature.
"Just because almost all of my sisters are like that, does not mean that I'm the same as them." She quirked an eyebrow at them, a rather intriguing smile on her lips. "After all, it is also said that all men are base creatures only ruled by their instincts - and whatever they may or may not have in their pants." Qrow chuckled and Tai sputtered. Grace's posture shifted somehow, and she was once again just like the proverbial girl next door. "Yet you two seem not so afflicted, so there seem to be obvious exceptions to stereotypes."
Tai barked a short laughter, and even Qrow had to struggle to keep a straight face.
"So what, Grace? You are the black sheep of your family?"
"I suppose you could say that." There was an undertone in her voice that affected both men, their thoughts going towards family and friends, both alive and departed.
Qrow closed his eyes for a moment, sighed deeply.
"Sorry about that, sweetheart, did not mean to tear up old wounds related to family." Fury flashed across his mind, and he quickly downed another drink. "We know how it feels when a family member leaves you deep in shit."
The back of the chair groaned under Taiyang's fingers, and Grace tilted her head to the side for a moment, considering.
"If my presence causes such distress, I'd perhaps better leave, instead of taking you up on your kind offer." A small, sad smile played on her lips. "It would not be polite to repay your kindness with causing you distress."
Taiyang huffed, and shook his head decisively.
"Don't worry about that. It's in the past, and we should not let that hang over us constantly." Qrow nodded, and the blond Hunter went on, a grin on his face. "Besides, my daughters might not forgive me for letting you go before they had a chance to thank you … and probably try and mess with your wings, come to think of it."
The answering warm smile was more than enough to make Taiyang rather uncomfortable for … reasons. He could barely hear the muted chuckling of Qrow, as his blood drummed in his ear, and his whole head felt hot.
"Sorry, sweetheart, one more thing." The dark-haired Hunter leaned back casually. "Not to call you a liar or a nutjob outright, but I'm sure you'd agree that it's kind of hard to believe that you are a mythical being in the flesh." His eyes lingered on the woman's form, and she rolled her eyes, a small smirk at her lips.
"Well, I suppose I do have a way of showing it to you - if you are willing to risk a rather novel experience?" With an eyebrow raised, a smug little grin on her lips and sparks in her eyes, Grace was the picture of mischievousness.
Qrow took another swig, allowed his eyes to dwell on her form very attentively - not that the woman's clothing left much to the imagination, even though it technically covered her rather well.
"What did you have in mind, sweetheart? Because as alluring as you are, I am not sure I'd risk a quick fling with you..."
Taiyang groaned, a hand over his face. Grace shook her head with a sigh and an exasperated smile, her face radiating fondness and sadness in equal measure.
"Simple minds, simple pleasures..." She pulled out a small, scintillating crystal from somewhere, and held it out for Qrow.
The two men shared a glance, Taiyang shrugged, before Qrow downed his drink, and stepped to Grace, his hand closing on the small crystal, before his eyes rolled up, and he would have fallen if not for the woman steadying him.
Taiyang shared a glance with Grace, as the two of them lowered Qrow into a chair.
"What happened to him, Grace? What was in that crystal?"
"He experienced a part of my life." She sighed wistfully. "A rather turbulent one, I'm afraid. Still, it should not cause him any permanent harm, unless his will is extremely weak and has trouble differentiating dreams from reality."
"Well, you can say many things about him, but weak-willed he is not." Taiyang scratched his head. "Still, was there no other way of convincing him?"
"Perhaps there was." Her voice was dispassionate, measured, her face and posture alike to a marble statue. "Yet this was the most direct and quickest solution." Her lips then parted in a small smile, and she was radiating warmth and mirth once again. "Plus, he did get to become rather close to me, in a way..."
Northwest of them, on a distant continent cloaked in darkness, hatred, crystals, and Grimm spawning pools, a pale figure glided silently towards her abode, after viewing the images sent by a torn, badly-scorched Grimm that barely managed to make its Queen aware of its predicament. As she pondered the vision, a pair of batlike wings unfolded from her back, and her lips peeled back in an eager, predatory grin.