October 3rd

City Of Atlas

United Kingdom Of Atlas

Downtown

5:37 PM

Emmett sent his thirteen-year-old niece a sharp look and she hung her head in shame, picking at her fingernails in the passenger seat beside him. There had been an unspoken tension between them since he had picked her just twenty minutes before, and he hadn't seemed in any particular rush to get her home. So far as she could tell, all he had done was inform her mother what had happened and left it at that. Not a word had been spoken since he had hung up the call with Willow, and Winter felt sickened by everything around her. She hated herself, she hated her surroundings, and she hated the damn car. The only person she wasn't angry with, at that moment, was Emmett and, from what she could tell, the sentiment was not shared. It was unusual for him to be silent with her, and she knew he was waiting for what he decided was the right time to say something. Her cousin, little year-old Samara, was sleeping calmly in her car seat behind her. She reminded the young girl of Weiss, and the thought of her sister, in this moment, only served to upset her more as she continued to fight back tears.

"Alright, Winter," Emmett finally said, his voice surprisingly calm. "What the hell were you thinking?"

She bit her lip. "I couldn't take being at home any longer! I couldn't…I couldn't handle everything being so…so fucking perfect all the time when it never has been! Do you –"

"I know what you mean," He said shortly. "But that isn't what I meant. I meant: what the hell made you think that committing grand theft auto was a good idea?"

Winter swallowed hard. "I just needed a moment to myself, to think. And it wasn't grand theft auto. It was my father's car."

Emmett sent her a pointed look. "Which is the only reason you're not going to end up with a criminal record, Winter. Honestly, what you did was stupid at best."

She fell silent again but glanced back to him after a moment.

"Thank you for bailing me out," She mumbled. "I don't think I could have handled those…those delinquents."

Emmett raised an eyebrow. "I doubt most of them have ever stolen a car. For God's sake, Winter, you are thirteen. You've got at least two years before you can be permitted, let alone get a license."

"I know that," She snapped. "I made a mistake, alright? I'm just glad you helped me out of it."

Emmett stared at her for the few seconds they were stopped and then shook his head ruefully.

"I never could have imagined you doing something like this," He finally said. "I'm disappointed in you, Winter, I really am. If you were struggling, then why didn't you talk to your mother? Hell, even your father or Klein for that matter?"

"You act as if I would have known what to say," She said weakly, rubbing her arm. "I still don't know how I feel."

Emmett sighed. "Winter, I get that things are hard for you, okay, I really do, and I know being thirteen isn't making it easier but you can't...you have to learn to live with it, not run away from what's bothering you and do something stupid like stealing a car."

His words reverberated in her head for a minute, and, to her, they seemed to be getting louder and louder. She knew she had made a mistake, and she was embarrassed and angry with herself and the world. What had broken her was hearing her parents start to argue and, while she had grown accustomed to it over the years, it scared her. The few friends she had all insisted that her parents were going to get divorced, and, even if she and her father were often at odds, even though he had hit her more than once in anger, she hated the thought. She hated change. Right now, she knew what to predict and she could control her life to an extent. If anything else changed, she would lose that. She was worried for herself, for her mother, and her little sister but, most of all, she was scared for what she might become. Was she simply trapped in a terrible environment, or was she really destined for a life of crime, not a life as a huntress?

"I'm not going to make you tell me what provoked you, not beyond what you're willing to say," Emmett added, and she was pulled from her thoughts. "You've been through enough, and I'm sure you're going to be in enough trouble when you get home."

Winter bit her lip. "Why don't you just take me there and get it over with?"

Emmett glanced to her in confusion. "Are you out of your mind?"

She blinked. "What?"

"I can come up with a bullshit excuse for why it took me so long to get you home, and some of it will even be true, and it doesn't matter how angry your parents get with me," Emmett told her, pausing for a moment to adjust his glasses. "I'm trying to - mainly because of your father - protect you by giving them time to be pissed as all hell so it's less when it gets to you."

Winter swallowed hard. "Thanks…"

Emmett reached over and patted her shoulder comfortingly for a moment.

"Look, Winter, I'm about to be completely honest with you," He said, sighing heavily. "My father was better, in many, many ways, than the mother I never knew but her death completely destroyed him. He eventually got to the point, especially after the mesothelioma set in, where he was set off by basically everything."

"Oh," Winter said, staring at her hands again in dejection. "I had no…"

"It's okay, I can't blame your mother for not telling you," Emmett shook his head. "It wasn't a pretty scene in our home. He beat Willow and Cristal on multiple occasions and, to be honest, I am grateful to your father for getting Willow out of that situation before it got too rough for her. I was the only one that came out mostly unscated, but he verbally and emotionally abused me too towards the end. Cristal got the worst of it, I think, but that doesn't mean I don't understand."

"Emmett, I'm sorry -" Winter started, beginning to cry despite herself.

"Winter," Emmett said gently, handing her a tissue from the cupholder. "Do you want me to finish or no? If it's too much -"

"How does this relate to me?" She choked out. "Do you…"

Emmett sighed heavily again. "As much as I think Jacques could end up with a temper as short as my father's, he isn't there yet and, honestly, he's improved a lot since Willow found out she was pregnant with Weiss," Emmett paused for a moment but then went on. "You've done a stupid thing here, and I know they'll be pissed, but I also think they'll have some understanding. They just need to have some time so they can be rational."

Winter brushed the tears away from her eyes and fought back the ones that still wanted to fall.

"You have so many talents and strengths, Winter, and I honestly think you could be a great huntress if that's really what you want to become," Emmett said gently. "Just promise me you won't throw away your shot."

Winter nodded weakly. "I won't."

"Good," Emmett said, forcing a small smile. "Now, for the sake of all of us, don't ever do something like this again. I'm still in my twenties, I don't need a heart attack."

Sensing his joke, Winter laughed a little and thought, for just a second, that things would be alright.

November 3rd

Government Offices Of The Atlesian Council

Department Of Justice

City Of Atlas

United Kingdom Of Atlas

Security Level: Maximum

Necessary Security Clearance: Maximum

Downtown

5:59 PM

"Senator Ciel," Blake Adel, the director of the department of justice said with no shortness of venom. "How good of you to join us."

Ronnie didn't even have to look at him to know he was in hot water. It was clear from the way the man spoke so deliberately. He could see, from the corner of his eye, the sharp look Elizabeth Morell was giving him as well, and there were a few other ranking DOJ officials in the room as well. The first few things that started swirling in his head were swears, and he cursed himself for being such an idiot. He could get himself out of whatever he was in, he was certain, but that didn't mean it wouldn't be messy or that it wouldn't hurt his wife. Rosella was worried enough, now that she knew everything, and it wasn't just because of his recklessness. It was because she had fallen in love with him, as he had her, and their daughter was now her first concern.

This could fuck over everything that had changed in his life for the better and he knew it better than anyone else. The people in the room could never understand.

He briefly made eye contact with Elizabeth, and fear suddenly surged through him like ice-cold water. She was a woman of black and white principle, he knew, and she always had been. There were no hard feelings between them, not now, but there was no sympathy either. She had been given a second chance after what happened, and she was viewed more favorably since then and it seemed her reputation was on the rise. She would not tolerate anything that came in the way of that. Elizabeth had always been ambitious - not ruthless - but she also saw the world harshly and he had a feeling what she had been through only solidified that. He could not, and would not, let this become too messy but he worried about what they might be about to ask him. Did they know about the bribes he had made to control some legislation, or did they know about some of his questionable finances?

"An unusual allegation has been made against you, Senator Ciel," Blake Adel finally said, and Ronnie looked up to meet his harrowing gaze. "A member of the senate intelligence committee claims that you may have been bribing the former prime minister of Vacuo, and, while there is no evidence to support his claim, it is concerning enough to warrant sworn discussion of the matter."

Ronnie said nothing and looked perfectly confused by what was being said even though all he wanted to do was swear.

"I have no connections in Vacuo," He smoothly replied. "Especially now, considering how contrary their interests are to our own."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "Explain."

"If you are referring to my travel to Vacuo over the last few years, that has been entirely for vacation," Ronnie said, and her eyes narrowed but he did not flinch. "Not that I would risk such now, all things considered."

Blake glanced to his colleagues but then shook his head. "Thank you, Senator Ciel, but know that we will be investigating this matter thoroughly. Is there anything else you wish to add?"

"No," He said calmly. "All I have said is true and complete."

He was suddenly more proud of himself than ever for being able to leave a false trail, though he did not let it show, and he could not believe, by the time he got home, how easy it had been to handle the situation without any consequences.

November 13th

City Of Vale

Vale

Downtown

11:23 PM

"Glynda…" James said, wrapping his arms around her waist and catching her by surprise before gently kissing her. "I missed you while I was in Vacuo."

Glynda laughed and leaned into him, resting her forehead against his. "I missed you too."

"I'm going to be able to be home for the next few months," James told her, an arm still wrapped around her waist as they walked upstairs to their room. "Primarily because of the council but also because things are hazy at best right now. Either way, I'm going to be here with you and the girls."

"Good. I assume you heard about what happened? There was that scare the other week when there was that council member who had turned out to be working for Cinder and tried to shoot Rose." Glynda sighed as she closed their door behind them and locked it. "Obviously, she was fine but the fact that Cinder apparently has spies is concerning."

"What I want to know," James said as they sat down on their bed. "Is how Cinder is still manipulating people from nowhere. She's been untraceable for months and yet she's still getting things done. No wonder Sassler has been aggravated with the situation and unable to think of a response."

Glynda snorted. "Beyond consolidating power, that is."

James sighed. "She's been considering acting on more of it but she hasn't made any formal declarations that would provoke more war or more suggestions that she resign. I won't be terribly surprised if she eventually does though, to be honest, given how many people have been calling for her resignation since she declared martial law last month."

"I still find that concerning," Glynda remarked dryly, not particularly comforted by knowing that, too, the Atlesian council was often more divided than it was not. "Didn't Emmeline say something about how the majority of the people in the DFAMA, the DLNLE, and the DOJ have been opposed to it?"

James nodded. "Yes and I have to agree with them, considering that Sassler has been more and more aggressive as time has gone on. Of course, if she does resign…"

"I don't really see much of an argument the other way," Glynda said, remembering the incredibly awkward interview that Sassler had the other day about dealing with Cinder's associates that were still out there. "Unless of course she comes up with a brilliant plan that solves all of the problems that exist within the kingdom of Atlas and rescinds her declaration of martial law, which won't happen because the former of which would require the Schnee Dust Company getting even harsher limits placed on it in regards to trade and business practices."

"The majority of people on the council agree that the SDC, and mainly Jacques, needs to be limited further," James admitted, annoyed that Jacques had once again tried to convince the world that he wanted the sanctions lifted for the good of the entire kingdom. "And it would do Jacques some good if he learned how to practice his deception better because he's almost completely transparent. It seems like he's got a few people's careers in his pocket."

"Because that's not alarming at all," Glynda commented bitterly. "I never liked the man."

"You sound like Emmett. I'm not denying that Jacques is a complete dick, but he knows how to survive better than most in business." James sighed. "Something tells me that he's going to continue to get his way."

"So long as he's got lien, that is," Glynda pointed out, falling backwards and groaning in exasperation. "Why is everything in this world so complicated?"

"I don't know, Glyns," James said, brushing his fingers over her forehead. "I don't know."

"And it's true that things are getting worse out there, even if I think Sassler is going too far," Glynda shifted onto her side to look at him . "I just…I don't know if I want to know what it's doing to us. I feel like I've been more and more on edge lately and it scares me."

"You have every reason to be scared," James assured her. "You're not crazy, I see it too."

"Are you worried about something happening to us? Or to the girls?" Glynda asked him quietly and he shook his head.

"No," James told her, pulling her into him tightly. "And I'm right here and I'm not leaving. It's all going to be alright, at least for us. And Glynda," James said, tilting her head slightly and kissing her. "I love you."

Leaning into him, Glynda smiled softly. "I love you too."

Closing her eyes as she fell asleep, Glynda felt James gently unclasping her cape and loosening her blouse while she drifted off. The sensations that she felt were gentle and her thoughts slowly blurred together, her pain, her anger, her discontent, and even the emotions she kept under the wraps blended together in a haze that took over her mind as she fell deeper and deeper into sleep. The last thing that she remembered before falling asleep was James's hands carefully undoing her bun before cupping her face in his hands, kissing her forehead, and gently removing her glasses from her face. No dreams, nightmares, or pleasant fantasies came over her that night. It all simply came in went as a darkened haze from which she woke late in the afternoon the next day, relieved that she no longer felt the semi long term effects of sleep deprivation. James was pacing across their room and talking to someone on his scroll, voice low, and the girls were playing on the floor near him. Pushing herself up and reaching over to take her glasses into her hands and then clear her vision, Glynda sighed heavily and ran her fingers through her tangled platinum blonde waves.

Ugh, I can't believe I slept as late as I did...I suppose that says a lot about my current sleep cycle.