Chapter 20
"Which character should I be?" Summer asked, sitting in Qrow's lap. The video game controller seemed comically oversized in her hands.
"Hmm...how about this one?" Qrow pointed her in the direction of a fluffy pink blob. They would be fighting as a team against Yang and Winter. It was the same game in which Winter's victories had so raised Nora's ire all those years ago.
"Okay, but I don't really like pink." Summer complained.
"If you push that button you can change the color." Qrow explained, giving the button a press himself to demonstrate.
Summer finally settled on a red version of the smiling blob. Yang selected a boxer and Winter a regal swordsman. Qrow picked a slender character that specialized in teleporting and counters. "You're going down old man!" Yang boasted.
"I think my partner and I have the measure of you two." Qrow smirked.
"What do the buttons do?" Summer asked. Winter and Yang sniggered. It would pretty much be two on one. Easy.
Qrow held his controller in front of Summer, pointing to the buttons as he went. "Light attacks, special attacks, jump, dodge." He instructed. "Just try to keep your character on the level."
"I'll try." Summer nodded.
After a brief delay the level loaded up. The one Qrow had selected was large, with many obstructions and places a character could hide. "Why don't we let Summer hang out over to the side, let her get her bearings." He suggested.
"She has until we beat you to figure it out." Yang taunted.
"Don't worry kiddo, I'll beat both your mommies all by myself if I have to." Qrow encouraged Summer.
While Summer tried out the various buttons off to the side, her character bobbing up and down, making adorable high-pitched squeaks, Qrow charged straight for Yang and Winter. Winter swiped at him with a sword. Teleport, miss. He appeared behind her character, grabbed it, and tossed it into Yang's, knocking both down. He rushed in and landed a few blows before they could recover, then leapt back. Yang charged, launching a powerful punch. Counter. The attack was reflected back into Yang and her character went sailing past the edge of the ground. Teleport. Qrow's character appeared above Yang's, and with a downward kick, sent it screaming into the abyss below. One life down, two to go.
As Yang respawned, Winter attacked, attempting to prevent Qrow's character from returning to the safety of the ground. Teleport, miss. Now behind Winter's character, Qrow's kicked hers off the edge. Teleport, downward kick. One life down, two to go. All the while Summer's character happily bounced around in the corner, occasionally eliciting giggles from the girl. There was a flurry as Winter and Yang attacked Qrow at the same time. It had the same result, and though they had landed a few blows, each lost a life, down to their last.
Winter and Yang managed to finish off the wounded Qrow, but that only took away his first of three lives, and left them as beat up as he had been. Moments after respawning, he eliminated Winter from the game. Then, he teleported and leapt his way over to Summer's character. He bent down and whispered something in her ear. She smiled and nodded. Yang rushed her character over. She did not want to hit Summer's, but she was not going to let Qrow just use her as a shield. She attacked Qrow and he stood there at the edge. With one powerful punch, he went sailing off the level and too his doom.
"One on one now!" Yang cheered. Summer's character waddled up behind her. "Huh?" Summer's character opened its mouth, sucking Yang's character into its gaping maw. "Oh crap." Summer directed her character off the edge. It fell, taking Yang's with it, both falling to their deaths.
"You did it Summer, you won." Qrow chuckled, hugging the little girl nestled in his lap.
"I did it!" She exclaimed.
"Wow, you're here for like a day and you're already teaching her to troll." Yang huffed.
"If she's having fun, how can you complain?" Qrow shrugged.
"I guess." Yang sighed. "How are you so good at this game?"
"Are you cheating?" Winter accused. "I'm a master at this, just ask Nora."
"For those years in my awful apartment, I had three possessions that had nothing to do with work." Qrow explained. "One was my bed, one was a television, and the last was a video game console with this game. I didn't have cable or anything, so if I wanted to have fun, this was basically it."
"You need more hobbies." Yang noted. "Drinking, sleeping around and playing one five year old video game isn't great."
"The first two are pretty great." Qrow grinned.
"Alright, rematch." Winter declared. "Your win was a fluke. We're taking you down."
"We've got 'em, right Sum?" Qrow asked.
"Yeah!" Summer giggled. Qrow's victory had not been a fluke. No matter what Yang and Winter tried, no matter what characters they played or which Qrow chose, no matter the level, Qrow always won.
Ghira pulled up in front of Solstice Modeling headquarters, Kali in the passenger's seat beside him. The building was simple yet elegant, with beige rendered walls illuminated by floodlights which shone from behind the neat hedge that ringed the studio. Solstice was emblazoned high up, in a curvy but legible font, the logo cut from brushed steel and anchored into the concrete above the entrance. Ghira could not help but be impressed by the presentation. Day or night, Solstice would shine bright.
"Our little girl had really made it." Kali smiled dreamily at the sight.
"Definitely." Ghira agreed. "Whoever was in charge of the aesthetic needs a raise."
"We should get a hedge." Kali declared.
"And a brand." Ghira added.
"Belladonna...uh…" Kali struggled.
"Booties?" Ghira suggested.
"I guess it does have a ring to it." Kali chuckled.
"Agreed, makes a lovely sound too." Ghira pantomimed a spank. Kali blushed, slapping him lightly as he laughed. Ghira got out and walked around the car to help Kali from her seat. The bulky cast on her ankle made movement awkward and difficult. After taking her crutch out of the back seat, Ghira grinned and scooped Kali up into his arms, eliciting a yelp of surprise. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he carried her up the stairs to the entrance. They pushed through the door and were met by a smiling Velvet.
Kali reached out to pull Velvet into a hug. "Hey sweetie." She greeted.
"Hey mum, dad." Velvet responded. "Drive safe?"
"Too safe." Kali complained. "He drove like a snail."
"You're in no position to critique my driving." Ghira teased.
"Oh shush." Kali huffed.
Velvet chuckled, leading the pair further inside. "Blake got roped into painting Nora." She said.
"Painting?" Ghira asked.
Velvet smirked, patting her stomach. "Nora saw this article on an artist who paints pregnant women." She explained. "She wanted to have a watermelon."
Kali stifled a giggle as the image of Nora cradling a watermelon like an infant popped into her mind. "Interesting." She managed before turning to Ghira. "Honey, you know I can walk."
"I know." Ghira nodded, not putting her down.
"Let me take the crutch at least." Velvet offered, not waiting for an answer before doing so.
"Thank you." Ghira said.
Velvet led Ghira and Kali on a tour. The first area was the obviously the lobby. There was no receptionist, as Winter and Velvet handled all inquiries. All guests were either expected, and could visit Winter directly, or would be met by one of the staff. Velvet pointed out Winter's office, which was securely locked, as it always was when she was not inside. Next was the costume wardrobe. Ghira finally put Kali down, allowing her to wander around the rows of garments, admiring the various styles and accessories. They had gathered quite a surplus over the years, most of which tended to just gather dust. Winter implemented a rule: if something was not needed for two months, someone could take it. Yang usually pilfered the leather jackets, Blake shared Yang's love of boots, Nora took the attention-grabbing and colorful articles, while Velvet and Pyrrha preferred dresses and foreign attire.
"Honey, look, a pirate's hat!" Kali called. She hobbled out from a row with a dark, wide brimmed hat with several large, frilly blue feathers as decoration.
"I thought pirates wore tricorns." Ghira raised his brow.
"That's just a stereotype." Kali noted. "This is a real pirate's hat, a captain's hat. Get down here." Kali hobbled over as Ghira bent down, allowing her to perch the hat upon his head, at a respectable tilt. Kali stepped back to admire him as Ghira struck a proud pose. "There's the man I married, Captain Ghira of Menagerie!"
"I've always wanted a boat." Ghira declared.
"Ship." Velvet corrected.
"I wouldn't mind sailing again." Kali declared.
"Maybe we could go sometime." Ghira suggested.
"Ugh, pass." Velvet groaned. "I get seasick, really seasick."
"Well darn." Kali sighed.
After a bit more cosplay, Ghira scooped up Kali again and the tour continued. Velvet pointed out the bathrooms, the fire escape - just in case - and finally the makeup and dressing room, also known as Blake's studio. As they entered Blake's back was turned to them as she knelt in front of Summer, obscuring her from view. Nora, wearing a black sports bra to reveal her freshly painted watermelon belly, sat on a nearby chair, arms held behind her by a tall, blonde man wearing an unbuttoned dress shirt.
He reacted first. "Hey." Sun waved.
"Hey mum." Blake said without looking up from her work.
"Hello!" Kali cheered.
"Look at that booty!" Nora exclaimed. Kali rolled her eyes. Her kimono already hugged her form as it was, but with Ghira carrying her bridal style, it pulled even tighter against her rear, which Nora leered at.
"Oi, I'm right here!" Sun complained. He let go of Nora's hands to cover her eyes.
In response Nora reached back and squeezed his ass. "Hell yeah you are!" She cheered.
"Children are present." Blake deadpanned, still not taking her eyes off Summer as she applied careful brush strokes.
"My child is a watermelon, your argument is invalid." Nora declared.
"Done." Blake said, pulling back from Summer a bit to take in her work. "Now don't take off the hairband for ten minutes, okay?"
"Okay, thank you Aunty Blake!" Summer smiled.
"You're welcome Sum, no go say hi to grandma and grandpa." Blake suggested.
"Grandma, grandpa, I'm a kitty!" Summer giggled. A cat nose and whiskers were painted on her smiling face.
"Aw, you're so adorable!" Kali squealed.
Meanwhile, Blake stood and approached Nora, bending down to check over her stomach. "Alright, it's dry, but don't rub it." Blake warned. "And don't let anyone else rub it."
"Aw, darn." Nora sighed.
Blake smirked and ruffled Nora's hair. "Chin up, go show your girl." She instructed before turning to approach her parents. "Hey, drive safe? How's the leg?"
"Overly safe." Kali rolled her eyes at Ghira. "The leg's fine. Ghira is just being supportive."
"I've been lax on my workout." Ghira grinned.
"Are you calling me fat?" Kali asked with faux indignation.
Ghira chuckled. "There is nothing wrong with your body Kali." He declared.
"Have you shown 'em around yet?" Nora asked.
"Just the lobby and the wardrobe." Velvet replied. "Why don't you take over?"
Nora grinned maniacally, jumping up and borderline bouncing toward the door. "Oh, I'll show you the Boop Box!" She exclaimed.
"The what?" Kali asked.
"Come on!" Nora encouraged. She grabbed Sun by the hand and dragged him along.
"Go on, we'll be out in a minute." Blake waved. "Gotta' pack this away." She indicated the supplies strewn about the nearby dresser table.
"Pray for us?" Ghira asked.
"The Maidens can't help you." Blake smirked.
"Oh boy." Ghira sighed. He carried Kali along, following Sun and Nora, who turned and smiled as the pair approached.
"I'm Sun by the way." He introduced himself. "I'd shake your hand, but, you know."
"You're Nora and Pyrrha's partner?" Kali asked.
"Yeah, kinda'." Sun shrugged. "I don't think there's a word for what I am."
"Borrowed equipment!" Nora teased.
"Pfft, you plannin' on returning me Valkyrie?" Sun scoffed.
"Nope, called dibs Wukong." Nora countered.
"Are you planning to marry?" Ghira asked.
"Eh, dunno' yet." Nora shrugged. "Not even sure if it's legal. If we can't all be married on paper I don't see the point."
"There is a rather progressive temple in Porto Menagerie." Ghira noted. "They were the first to allow same sex marriage. I could make a call or two."
"Aw, that'd be awesome Papa Bell." Nora cheered. "You're definitely invited, even if we just get rings made and dress Yang as a nun."
"Okay, we need to do that." Sun declared.
"Oh, we could have a costume afterparty!" Nora exclaimed.
"I can go as Spruce Lee again." Sun thought aloud.
"And I can dress Pyrrha like an Amazon!" Nora added.
"Oh, we can be pirates!" Kali suggested. "You looked so nice in that hat. Maybe Winter will let us borrow it."
"Hmm, I would ne-" Ghira started.
"Here we are!" Nora announced. Ghira stopped to behold Nora, presenting a white door, entirely plain and ordinary except for the word 'BOOP' stenciled on it in pink.
"Boop?" Kali asked.
"Exactly." Nora nodded. "This was just an empty closet when Solstice got started, so I banged Pyrrha in it. Then we got caught for the fourth time by Yang and Winter because it wasn't exactly soundproof, and if I angle my fingers just right Pyrrha gets really loud."
"Yang thought it was hilarious." Sun noted. "Winter was less impressed."
"But Yang, you know, convinced her it'd be a good idea to invest in." Nora continued. She knocked twice, pausing before opening the door. Flicking a switch illuminated the room in a soft, amber light. It looked like a recording studio, minus any furniture, with sound-absorbing panels on the walls. Nora stepped in. "It's a tad warm, great for winter, not so much for summer. Plus you can sing really loud! HAVE I LOST MY MIN-"
Sun slammed the door shut, cutting off Nora almost completely. The group outside could just hear some very muffled singing. "It's not the comfiest place, but that doesn't stop anyone." He declared.
"A modeling company, with a dedicated sex closet?" Ghira asked.
"Boop Box, Lewd Room, Sexbox Three-Sixty, and Route Sixty-Nine are some of the popular names." Sun smirked. He opened the door.
"THIS IS HAPPENING!" Nora's singing now came through loud and clear.
"Later Nora, we're missing out on the catering." Sun interrupted her singing.
"Oh, I saw nuggets!" Nora cheered. "Gotta' get some before they're gone! Anyway, room's free to use if you get randy. We have it professionally cleaned like the rest of the place, but still, be considerate and all, and play safe! I dunno' if Blakey wants a sibling...she's gonna' have lotsa' kids on her hands soon, hehe."
Nora wandered off, leaving Ghira and Kali to look at each other, and Sun. "Babies on the mind, ya'know?" Sun shrugged before following.
Kali and Ghira remained there in silence for a moment. "You can't have kids anymore, right?" Ghira asked.
Kali chuckled. "That ship sailed years ago."
Qrow had never been a fan of crowded places. Loud and claustrophobic was a bad combination for a military vet with PTSD. So when Yang talked about the party being thrown at Solstice, he was not exactly thrilled. But apparently there would be free drinks, and catering, not to mention all the hot chicks. How could he say no to that?
The party was less a party and more a family gathering. Winter was already there when Yang, Qrow and Summer arrived, having overseen the preparations personally. Pop music played at a reasonable volume through surround speakers, there was indeed professional catering - so Yang did not have to cook anything - and Nora quickly attracted Summer's attention, scooping the girl up and carting her away to babble with. With no need to worry over anything, Qrow and Yang grabbed some drinks and sought out Winter. They found her in conversation with a short, gothic-looking woman who sported a perpetually bored expression. The expression only broke for a moment, for a brief smile when Yang pulled her into a hug.
"Hey Mel, glad you came." Yang greeted her.
"The drinks are free here." Melanie shrugged, her indifference already returning.
Yang chuckled, pulling away to cup her face. "You doing okay?" Yang asked. "Any problems?"
"I'm fine Yang, I told you." Melanie sighed, rolling her eyes. "I've been taking it easy, talking to Glynda, talking to dad."
"Good, but talk to me more often, yeah?" Yang requested.
"Yes mom." Melanie huffed. "Who's the old man?"
Qrow chuckled, eyeing the woman as she eyed him. He should have been insulted by the label. He was not old. At the age of forty-four he could still keep up with his niece. Just because he had left the military did not mean he had skimped on his fitness regimen. Sure, he had an alcohol problem, but he was cutting down, a little. But back to the point at hand, Qrow was not bothered, not when this chick was smirking at him like that. God damnit, he loved eyeshadow.
"Oh, this thing?" Yang asked, pointing to him. "Just a dusty old Qrow."
"Hey." Qrow raised his beer in greeting.
"Hey." Melanie responded. "Well you two be all lovey dovey and stuff, I'm gonna' grab something to eat." She strolled off, brushing past Qrow as she did. He glanced over his shoulder in time to see her looking forward. God damnit, he loved snarky ones.
"A peach that one." Qrow joked.
"Mel's alright, just bitchy and goth." Yang chuckled.
"And good company." Winter added. "You could learn something from her."
"I maintain you looked hot in that bikini." Qrow insisted.
"I knew I forgot to block you." Winter sighed into her hand.
"Go socialize Qrow." Yang raised her fist in threat. "Make some friends, or enemies, something. Glynda and Raven should be around her somewhere."