Chapter 28
With a mechanical sound the ramp lowered, ending its descent with a heavy thud as the silver car began reversing towards the newly opened exit. With a slight bump its wheels moved onto the ramp shortly before coming upon hard concrete. Winter reversed the vehicle into an intersection before halting and then accelerating forward as she turned right, the view of the bright city of Atlas entering their sight. Blake and Yang were both sat in the back of the vehicle seeing as now Winter did not need Blake's eyes in the front. Both of them looked in awe at the sight of the gleaming metropolis as the vehicle approached it.
"It's so... bright" commented Yang as her lilac eyes stared upon the city. They entered the streets proper as they joined the other vehicles that drove along the roads. The blonde looked through her window to see people busying around the pavement. From groups of friends laughing and passing by to business men in suits with a cup of coffee in one hand and a suitcase in the other. Even this late it seemed so lively.
Blake looked through her own window at the sights, "I've never seen so many people on the pavement like this" she spoke as her golden eyes attempted to scan each person that walked by. Colourful advertisements upon the walls of the buildings coloured the street in hues of variety, some even playing sound or music as the car entered into slow moving traffic.
"I'd hate to see the energy bill on this place" said Yang as her eyes gleamed at the sights.
"Thanks to the SDC it is actually quite low... or at least it would be in comparison to other kingdoms if they chose to use as much as Atlas does" replied Winter as the vehicle came to a halt, waiting for the traffic to continue forward.
"Could do with more roads I guess" said Yang as she looked ahead, only able to see the rear of another car in front of them.
Winter left one hand upon the steering wheel as she leaned her elbow against the shelf of the door's window on her left, resting her head upon her hand. "It is not so bad, you get to look at other cars" replied Winter.
"Exciting" spoke Blake in a flat tone, vehicles never did interest her that much.
Yang smirked at Blake before speaking to Winter once again, "So where are we going first?" she asked.
The car accelerated as the traffic progressed. "Seeing as it is late, likely a hotel. In the morning we will make for my father's mansion immediately" answered Winter.
"Can't we get something to eat first? I'm really hungry" suggested Yang. The traffic came to a halt once more as the car did the same.
Winter took this chance to glance towards Neo and Blake, "Are you two?" she asked. Neo gave her a single nod in response.
"Yeah, I could do with something" agreed Blake.
"Very well" nodded Winter as she looked forward once more, the traffic resuming as the vehicle came upon an intersection. She indicated before turning a corner that led deeper into the city. "I know a place we can stop by and fret not, I will be covering the bill. Just... do not go overboard, understood?" she asked.
"Loud and clear" answered Yang with a grin.
The road they had pulled out into contained far less traffic than the main one they had been on just before. Slowly they passed a variety of places and plazas containing many different stores, restaurants and diners. Above them were a number of walkways that seemed to extend from building to building, the large skyscrapers apparently being host to even more stores and so on. Like spires of activity that rose up higher than Yang could see from her window. The vehicle moved to a slow as it veered off to the right and into a large open entrance that led into the base of one such tower. The lower part of the tower formed a parking complex, filled almost to the brim with other cars.
Winding its way up the circular road inside the complex they eventually found an empty parking space, the car slotting into it and coming to a halt. Before anyone got out of the car Winter looked back to the others. "When we get inside stick together. Atlas is very busy compared to Vale and should someone become lost it... well, it is just hard to find them again and I would rather not be wasting any more time" she answered to which the other three nodded in agreement. With that all four doors opened as the ramshackle group that was Team BWNY exited the vehicle, closing the doors shut after as Winter locked the car. She glanced around as she gathered her bearings before gesturing that the group follow her. "This way then" she spoke.
Their footsteps echoed through the parking lot, the interior a bright white as lights shined down from the ceiling. For even their parking lots to look impressive... Atlas sure was gaudy. They were approaching a glass door that didn't seem to lead anywhere on the other side. Though after entering it became obvious that it was an elevator. Winter punched in a few buttons before steadily the group felt themselves begin to ascend, the view of the parking lot vanishing from their sight.
"Nobody here is afraid of heights, right?" asked Winter as she turned to view the others. Neo shook her head as Yang and Blake both answered with a no. "Good" nodded Winter as the darkness within the elevator was suddenly replaced with bright lights, the back window now revealing to them in full the sight of the city as they continued to ascend.
Yang moved up to the window, placing her hand against it as she looked out to the city, "Woah..." she spoke as Blake joined her at her side, smiling as she also looked out upon the view. Neo herself tried not to look so interested, but her eyes were undeniably peering upon the sights of the city. Winter folded her arms, taking a subtle step back from the window and glancing elsewhere in a feigned uncaring manner. In fact if the others had saw her, she'd have looked slightly uncomfortable.
"Does Atlas ever have a problem with Grimm?" asked Blake as she continued looking out from the window, the elevator now having ascended almost half way up the spire. The one opposite them across the street growing thinner as it reached its peak.
"Next to none. Not only are the people in Atlas content with their lives but the military is always on high alert, the borders are well maintained and even if there was a full attack we are more than capable of meeting it head on" answered Winter, now having turned completely with her back to the window.
Yang finally took a step away from the window as she kept watching through it. "At this rate I might as well just live here, it sounds almost too good" she said before looking to Blake, "What about it Blakey? Wanna move in with me?" she chuckled. Blake looked to Yang from the corner of her eye as she smirked in silence at the thought. From behind Yang was the ever present stare of a jealousy-ridden Neo.
The elevator slowly came to a halt before the doors in front of Winter opened wide to reveal a mall-like plaza. She folded her arms behind her back as she stepped out from the elevator, the other three following after her as usual. "This place we're going... It's not too fancy right? I'd feel under-dressed..." spoke Blake as she glanced around at her surroundings. The floor was a reflective marble theme while the walls and the ceilings were stark white. Stores and small seating areas were seen all around as well as more flashy advertisements on large screens. The echo of people and footsteps all around them as they soon found themselves amidst a crowd. They kept close together as they moved through it.
"Not too fancy at all" commented Winter in response to Blake who had reached back to take a hold of Yang's hand as to not be separated amidst the crowd.
Yang could feel something grab at the back of her jacket, upon peering over her shoulder she could see that it was Neo, her right hand holding onto her. She was short enough that getting lost in the crowd proved to be a real threat to her and so she allowed her to hold onto the back of the jacket. Neo herself of course kept her eyes away from Yang's as the group pressed on.
"Just over here" spoke Winter as the group re-emerged from the mass of people, stopping in front of a restaurant entrance. Upon entering they were met with a warm atmosphere. They were standing upon a slightly higher platform as down below them were an assortment of chairs and tables, it appeared to be rather busy. The carpet was a dark brown and the walls a deep shade of red. On some walls there were even open fireplaces that warmed the room and where they couldn't reach there were simply chandeliers hung over-head burning with candle-light. Blake had wondered what exactly fancy meant in Atlas, because this was the fanciest restaurant she had laid eyes upon.
The back and right wall of the room were made of glass and curved into one another, noting that they must be at an edge of the spire itself. The view looked out over the lights of the city below. "Can I help you-" began a man in a dark red and ornate vest jacket with a white shirt beneath. His eyes looked upon Winter. "Ah, miss Schnee!" he exclaimed in surprise, "What can I do for you today?" he asked.
Winter smiled politely at the man and nodded, "Carmine, how are the kids? And just a table for four tonight" she answered.
The man named Carmine smirked, "Growing up fast. And of course Miss Schnee, away from the window as usual?" he asked.
The woman seemed to pause as her polite smile wavered in the presence of her company. "Ah- Just... wherever there is space" she smiled awkwardly at the man who nodded in response before leading the four down the three steps and onto the main floor. There appeared to only be one table for four spare, and much to Winter's disappointment it was right besides one of the windows.
The seats around the table had already been pulled out as the waiter gestured to them. "Please take a seat, we will be with you shortly" he answered. Winter extended her hand out towards the man as she offered to him a hefty tip. It seemed to be a regular thing as the man graciously accepted with a smile before thanking Winter and retreating away from the table.
The four took their seats. Yang sat with her back to the window, Blake upon her left and Neo on her right. And ahead, as far away as she could get from the window, was Winter. "So uh... what happened to not too fancy?" asked Yang with a smirk as she leaned back in her chair, already swinging on it.
The mere sight terrified Winter, what if she fell back and the window gave in? She did her best to contain her worries. "Fancy? This is hardly fancy. We aren't even on the highest floor" she answered, reaching for a glass jug of water at the centre of the table as she grabbed one of the four glasses, pouring herself a glass of water. "Anyone else?" she asked as silently three more glasses were pushed along the table towards her direction. She sighed softly to herself as she began pouring water into all three before placing the jug down back in the centre of the table.
Yang took a gulp from her water before placing it down as she picked up the menu, opening it with one hand as lilac eyes started scanning through it. Blake and Neo did the same yet Winter remained seated, she already knew what she wanted after all. "Lots of choice..." muttered Yang to herself. Blake's eyes seemed to widen at the menu, though she remained silent. "Some of this stuff is pretty expensive, you sure Winter?" asked the blonde as she looked up to her.
"She is" nodded Blake twice with determination.
Winter raised a brow at the Faunus, softly smiling to herself before looking back to Yang. "I am sure" she confirmed. After a few more moments she asked, "So what are you all having?"
The first to respond was Yang who slammed her menu down against the table. "I'll have a bowl of noodles" she answered. To this Winter seemed slightly confused.
Blake was the second as she looked over to Winter, gently folding her menu back up and placing it down. "Tuna sandwich" she answered. Winter's look of confusion only increasing as she turned to Neo. Upon noticing she wasn't going to receive a reply she narrowed her eyes as the small girl showed her the menu, finger pointing to one of the many deserts.
"Neapolitan ice cream..." muttered Winter as Neo nodded at her. She gave out a drawn sigh as she closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose with finger and thumb. "I take you all out to this lovely restaurant and you order noodles... a sandwich... and some ice cream..." she spoke, clearly seeming disappointed in their choice of food. Just then a waitress approached them to take their orders, marking down that of Neo's, Blake's and Yang's. When looking to Winter the woman simply responded with "The usual" to which the waitress nodded and walked off. Additionally Neo had pointed at tea on the menu once having gotten the waitress' attention before she left.
"I didn't know what half of the stuff on the menu was" stated Yang, Blake nodding in agreement to her words.
"Wait, what did you order?" asked Blake as her golden eyes narrowed at Winter in suspicion. The woman merely smiled at Blake and folded her arms. "Okay, keep your secrets" said Blake before taking a gulp of water from her glass.
Neo looked to the window on her left, her eyes seemed distracted by all of the lights and the activity. This earned her a rather amused glance from Winter. And oddly enough also from Yang, though it was safe to assume she was more laughing at her in her mind, not with her. In some ways Neo often acted like a child but Winter knew that was never a good sign in, apparently, an adult. Perhaps it was likely Neo never had such a good upbringing which was something she could relate to. Maybe that was more cause for them to be friends.
Before long and the waitress had returned, balancing a variety of plates in both her hands and along her right arm. Behind her a second waitress carrying a small metallic tea set. The plates and bowl were placed upon the table. In front of Winter was placed a simple plate of pasta. It seemed nothing special, just pasta covered in a sauce. She received judging stares from her friends to which she replied, "What? It is a really good pasta" she answered before taking her fork in hand and deftly spearing her food before moving some of it to her mouth. Neo had immediately set into her ice-cream while Blake took large bites from one of her two sandwiches (She really likes tuna). Yang was also making good progress on her own meal of noodles.
After having travelled so far a decent meal was really what they needed and they savoured every bite. "So what hotel are we going to?" spoke Yang after swallowing a mouthful, Blake subtly nodded in approval towards her as she managed to talk without food in her mouth this time.
Winter paused eating as she tapped a napkin against her lips. "It is actually in the same building, a few floors higher however. As a practical celebrity in these parts... acquiring a room or two should not prove difficult" she answered before resuming her meal.
"So that's gonna be what... one room with a double bed, another with two singles?" asked Yang.
Winter's blue eyes glanced up at Yang as she continued to eat her food, not offering a response for now. She glanced to Neo and could once more see her glare, though this time it faded quickly as she seemingly brought her mind back to her ice-cream.
"Anyone have the salt?" asked Blake.
"Why do you want salt on your sandwich?" replied Yang as she raised a brow at her. She took a moment to check the table, the salt had gone missing. She was sure that it was here earlier
"Because I want salt" responded Blake as she returned the glance to Yang.
Yang shrugged her shoulders, "I... can't see it. Wasn't it just here?" she asked.
Winter paused to also glance around the table, each one had salt upon it but for some reason it was now vacant upon their own table. "Huh... Odd" she spoke.
With a sigh Yang leaned back in her chair, "Actually I think I want some too" she spoke casually. Suddenly Neo had outstretched an arm towards her, her hand holding the missing salt. Neo was smiling casually at her as she peered to the smaller girl suspiciously. "Did you...?" she began.
"Just... take the salt" sighed Winter, she knew full well what had happened now. Though she couldn't fault Neo for trying at least.
Yang took the salt with a slight nod of thanks towards Neo who smiled brightly in return before moving back to her meal. She had poured herself a cup of tea and began the long process of adding multiple spoonfuls of sugar to it.
It was at this moment that Winter realised this was the strangest table she had sat herself at.
