Cinder wanted to throw up. Pass out. Die.

ANYTHING.

"Winter is going to kill me. Weiss is going to kill me… Their father- I guess- He doesn't matter. He's a dick if I heard correctly."

She mulls over in her room how she's going to tell Winter she's gonna have to meet everyone properly.

Sitting cross legged and knee bouncing with phone in hand. She glares at the screen, wanting to combust instead of confront Winter. That she'd lost the bet.

"Okay… This is gonna happen eventually. Let's do it now…"

The phone rang a few times before Winter answers, "Cinder? Is everything alright?" She stifles a yawn.

"Everything's okay! Were you asleep? I'll call back later-"

"It's fine. I have a day off tomorrow and can stay up for awhile."

Cinder heard shuffling and grins, knowing she must have readjusted to talk properly. Always a stickler for posture. "W-well. I- Everything is alright but I have bad news."

"Hmmm?" She answers, clearly still sleepy but trying to be attentive.

"Ah- Uhm… Maybe over the phone isn't the best," Cinder cursed herself for backing down.

"Must be serious… I can ask for a momentary leave for next week…" Winter answers, sounding cautious. "Would you like to talk then?"

"That'd be good. I'm sorry." Deflating and feeling exhausted for their not conversation. "Sleep well."

"You as well."


'Kill me now.' Cinder taps her fingers on the table. The cafe was scarce of customers right now, too early for any rush for another hour. She couldn't help but fidget as she waits. The day has finally arrived for Winter to come into town.

She felt gross and sweaty, nerves getting the better of her a few times that resulted in her leaving to go to the restroom. If only to just get up and walk to try and ease this energy she has inside of her. A tension held tight and stress making her chest feel heavy.

When she sat down again, she saw a tall woman at the window. Strutting with the same nervous energy and Cinder blinks. 'Winter? Is she nervous too? Why?' Now deranged thoughts are buzzing in her head from how her girlfriend was acting. The bell over the front door chimes merrily compared to the storm of a mood Winter was in.

"Winter~" she calls out, trying to sound calm and she didn't miss the flinch the other woman almost hid. Their relationship has lasted long enough that Winter had very small tells and Cinder could read her like a book.

The taller woman glides over time Cider, looking poised and cut off. No subtle flirting. No small smile… What's even worse is, she didn't even get a once over. Cinder grumbles in her mind, along the lines of 'I don't look that bad…'

"Good day, Cinder." She moves to sit, keeping a distance between them.

"Morning… Winter, are you okay?" She knows beating around the bush only made Winter cringe and get snippy.

"I'm fine as of right now." She straightens a wrinkle from the fabric napkin in front of her.

Cinder narrows her eyes, "Right now? Is something going to happen?"

"Nothing has happened…. Yet." Winter mutters as she gets more fidgety.

"Yet? What do you expect to happen? Did something happen at work?"

"Work is the least of my problems for once." Winter's cold bite was coming out. Snippy.

Cinder's eyebrows slowly raise, "Does this sour mood have to do with me?"

"For God's sake." Winter glares are Cinder, one that's more hurt than anger, "The way you've been acting- Now you're being coy." She almost stood up but that went against all of her beaten into her Schnee and military training, "Just- Break up with me!"

Cinder was flabbergasted, "Wha- Break up? I wasn't going to do that!" Damn, what the hell is this crazy lady thinking!?

"The phone call, the awkward clipped texts… I know signs… Just because I'm in the service…" she mutters and trails off, the bitterness setting in.

"Winter. I didn't call you here for that. I was acting weird cause…. Well…" she grabs her own napkin and sighs, "I lost the bet."

"Bet?"

"The one with Weiss…"

It clicked and Winter almost turned as pale as snow itself, "Oh."

"Yeah.., I hope you're ready to officially meet my roommate…" she jests and when Winter doesn't respond, she looks to her.

Frozen and looking mortified, Winter was a statue of shock.

"Yeah… We're gonna die."


Weiss was still fussing with her hair, wanting to make a good impression on this girlfriend Cinder somehow snagged. All sorts of people crossed her mind when thinking about her roommate. Maybe tall and full of tattoos? Short? Stout? Older than time? The usual. She honestly didn't know Cinder's type… Other than they're able to tolerate her.

Ruben was in her room, tucking his shirt in and smoothing down wrinkles. Humming some poppy song as he gets his outfit sorted out. Weiss grins as she watches him.

No matter how annoying and frustrating Cinder is towards her, she hopes she has someone as horribly nice as Ruben.


"Should we be the first to arrive or last?"

"Winter, no matter what we do, Weiss is going to flip." Cinder sounded exasperated. Standing in front of Winter's hotel bathroom mirror, her makeup was being done. She was going to look drop dead if she dies by Weiss's hands tonight.

"Maybe we arrive at different times? Maybe I should show up a little bit later than yourself?" She wonders allowed, ironing out her best dress shirt and the rest of her outfit hanging off to the side, wrinkle free.

"Might be better. This way I can, possibly, get a drink in her so she's not as snippy."

"Cinder…"

"What? She's nicer when she's drunk."

"I'd rather my sister be lucid than drunk for this." Sighing heavily, she finally seems content with her shirt and moves to put it on. Tucked into her pants and assembling her tie, she huffs slightly, "I'm sure we're blowing it out of proportion."

"Maybe." She finishes up and gives a hum of approval, "But, we've also been seeing each other for months. In secret, behind her back and have done poorly to even attempt to tell her."

Wincing, the taller woman finishes getting ready, "Truth be told…" she eyes the woman who was fixing her hair, "It started as a...Fling."

"Mmmm. I remember that night."

"As do I."

"We should totally do it again before we die."

Winter groans, "As much as that sounds wonderful-" she straightens her tie, "It's never once between us."

Cinder laughs, "True. Very true."

"Ready?"

"Nope but I'm gorgeous."

"Then let's… Get this funeral march over with."

"After you, babe."