Wandering child of the earth / Do you know just how much you're worth?
You are right where you need to be / Poised to inspire and to succeed
In your eyes there is doubt / As you try to figure it out
Though the world may try to define you / It can't take the light that's inside you / So don't you dare try to hide / Let your fears fade away
Soon you'll finally find your own way
"Man, I'd pay to see the look on Gelé's face when he sees that ." Qrow grinned broadly at Winter who offered a small, uncomfortable smile in return. He really couldn't blame her for it. That had been uncomfortable at best for both of them. But it had been so worth it to rub such a nasty failure in his face. Yes, Winter was obviously still being forced into an unwanted marriage, but at least she'd chosen it for herself…and looked like she'd been having the time of her life. Unfortunately, she had massive challenges ahead of her.
But he'd be there to help her as much as he could.
"As would I." Her tone was quiet and she looked away. Tch, if only he could read her fully… He'd been far too stressed out to get that meditation session in… Maybe tomorrow. He'd be in Vale and closer to nature so that would help.
He stepped a bit further away from Winter to give her some more room, rubbing the back of his neck. "Anyway… I have some calls to make real quick before we head off. Do you mind if I go do that?" He needed to warn everyone what was happening before then… Just dropping Winter on Tai and the girls wouldn't go over well… Neither would him showing up with Persia and Winter in tow would leave Ozpin none too pleased. Eesh, this was going to be a headache with immigraiton paperwork… And she'd need to get on his Hunter's insurance…
There was so much damn paperwork in his future.
"No; go ahead. I need to inform the Ace Ops I won't be in need of their services." Her tone softened further and her shoulders dropped a bit. Poor woman. Even though she'd agreed, it didn't mean losing everything she'd worked for was easy .
He shook the thoughts off and slipped over to his room, looking down at his scroll. The first call he needed to make loomed like a shadow. He really didn't want to make it, but it'd leave him irritated. The last thing Winter needed right now was him in a bad mood. Talking with Taiyang was never the most pleasant thing for him.
It was his fault Summer died in the first place.
Granted, all he could probably do now was leave a voicemail since it was twoish in Vale… Tai would probably be busy with paperwork or class. Couldn't pull him away from the job… If only Winter hadn't quite taken so long with Kiroro…
The phone rang a few times and he prepared for the voicemail, but a short "What do you want now , Qrow?" caught him off guard. His breath left his tightened chest. Damn it, of course Taiyang would be off for some reason. Just his fucking luck. And his Semblance was sealed for certain.
"Uh." He shifted awkwardly before letting out a breath. Best to just get this done quick as possible for everyone's sakes. "I…have a bit of a big ask from you. I know I shouldn't ask anything from you—you've made that abundantly clear in the past—but this isn't about m—"
"Cut to the chase or I'm going to hang up right now." He winced a bit. He wasn't trying to waste Taiyang's time but…
He let out another breath.
"…Okay, fine. I'm getting married today and I need somewhere for her to stay. I'd have her stay with Persia, but we have some of my mother's birds. Keeping two large falcons cooped up in the suburbs isn't a good idea."
A moment passed and he heard a heavy sigh. "What the fuck are you going on about? This sounds like the most hare-brained thing you've ever come up with…even for you ." Yeah, it was. There was absolutely no denying it. But it was the truth. He couldn't just leave Winter with Persia and expect the birds to be okay in the months it'd take them to find and close on a house.
And so he gave a quick synopsis of what had happened the past few days. It felt like far longer than that… Like it'd been well over a year. James was going to have his ass when he got wind of this the following day. But it was this or Winter suffered. She didn't have it in her to deal with those events and neither did he…
All that greeted him were several seconds of silence. He could only imagine what was going through Taiyang's head right now. "You want to foist another child on me to take care of?" He bit back a retort and sighed. He didn't blame him for being combative but…
"Look. I don't really have anywhere else to turn. I can't coop two tribe birds up in Persia's house for several months while I find a house that fits our needs. You won't have to worry about food for them or Winter; she can pay for herself and I'll cover the birds. Please, Tai. I can't just leave her here." Qrow couldn't stop his voice from wavering and he put his hand over his eyes. He couldn't abandon Winter. No, they weren't officially wed yet, but he couldn't leave her after all he'd put her through for the offer. Plus, Yang and Ruby would probably be good for her and them…
"Where would I put her? I don't have any empty rooms here, Qrow." A dumb silence followed as they both knew the answer to that was no avoiding it. There was one empty room in that house.
But would he be willing to let anyone stay in it again?
"We both know the answer to that. And don't pretend like we don't both know it." His tone sharpened a bit but he kept his hand over his eyes. No. Taiyang was so unwilling to let go of the past—not that Qrow was any better—but in this case, he needed to do that. Somebody was suffering and would do well there. It'd only be temporary too—hopefully he could see past it this one time. Winter needed Summer's room badly . Why couldn't he see it this one time?
A heavy sigh came from the other end. "…Fine. But how much shit does she have? I don't want her messing up the room too much and I don't have the space for a mess load of furniture." Qrow let out a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding in. Thank the ancestors he saw reason. Begrudging though it was, this was the first time they'd been able to agree on anything since her death.
She really had been the glue that held the team together…
"My guess is not a lot. This place is pretty barren and the stuff in here is probably provided by the military. It's fairly stock. My guess is her clothes are her only real personal affects." Along with the couple of newspaper clippings used as pictures, but those weren't a huge deal. She probably didn't even have a lot of clothes either… She really was as utilitarian as could be… She seemed to almost be the perfect soldier in that regard…
Another sigh reached his ears and he could practically see the resigned nod. "Fine… I'll clean out Raven's side of the dresser for her. Do you think she'll need closet space?" That…was a good question. Did she own all the dresses she wore to the events? It would make sense; the former SDC heiress renting dresses certainly wouldn't be a good look.
"I'd say let's plan on it." Taiyang groaned and Qrow rubbed the back of his neck. Going through Summer's room wouldn't have ben easy at the best of times. Now he had to do it basically at gun point. At least it twas only Raven's stuff. He wasn't asking him to get rid of any of Summer's. Both of them really did have an unhealthy attachment to the past. But it wasn't like he himself could get any help because of his damn Sem—
…Well, that definitely wasn't an issue now. But he couldn't trust anybody. Too much shit attached to Salem. Wasn't like he could go blabbing ato some shrink about silver eyes, Maidens, and selfless Grimm.
Though there was one stop he'd need to make before returning to Winter after they parted ways.
"I won't be 'round too much, though; I promise you that. I'll be lookin' for and at houses." Patch held too many bad memories and Winter didn't need to see the two of them duking it out verball. Neither did the girls. They knew their father and uncle get along and that was where they'd leave it.
"Fine with me." His hand went to his flask and he shook his head. Yeah, he really needed something in there even if it was only tea. "Need anything else? And when can I expect her?" That…was a good question. But with as efficient as the woman was…
"How about I text you after I ask? Won't expect it to take long, though. Snowy's pretty much got everything down to a science." She probably hadn't planned for this particular contingency, but she'd know the protocols. SHe'd probably helped other female officers through this… The number of them seemed on the up and up…
"That works. I need to get back to the paperwork you so rudely interrupted me from." The call clicked off and he rubbed his forehead while he looked at his scroll. Seriously, what a nightmare.. At one point, they would've done anything for each other. Now it was like this … Tai would rather kick a helpless woman to the curb than allow her to stay with them. Summer would've had his ass on a silver platter. She wouldn't have tolerated that sort of behavior. Where had the man she'd loved since day one at Beacon gone …? The Taiyang he'd once known seemed dead and gone when Summer had died.
He shook the thoughts away before running a hand through his hair. "Well, moonflower, mind helping me make a few more calls?" The AI grinned and offered an okay sign. Time to break the news to Ozpin and Persia…
α
Winter's shoulders raised and she wrapped her arms around herself as they left the office. While it wouldn't be processed in Atlas until the following day and there would still be inquiries for now, it was official… Her life had ended and she was no longer Major Schnee. Her discharge paper loomed heavily in her mind. Everything she'd worked so hard for over the past few years… It was all gone … And she wouldn't even have Kiyay as support…
She wiped away a mist from her eye, only to look up when someone walked up next to her.
Qrow.
"I really am sorry we've had to do this, Winter. I don't want to stop your career. There are boundless job opportunities once you settle in, though. Pers'll be happy to teach you to drive, though public transport is pretty reliable." He smiled down at her but she didn't look up at him. She saw the logic of his arguments, but for once, she couldn't appreciate it. Everything felt like it had ended. Gelé had won. She was still a wife despite her best attempts.
He fell silent though he did make a motion to turn once they reached the school grocery store. "Mind waiting? There are some things in here I think you'll find good resources to dig into before you settle here in Vale. You can wait inside while I grab 'em." The heat was rather oppressive, so she gave a small nod. The air in the store was a godsend as they waited beside the door.
A soft chuckle came from Persia and she blinked as she looked at the woman. "What's so funny?" She really couldn't see anything funny from her view. She'd lost all she'd fought for and entered into a marriage of convenience. Of course, love had always been out of the cards for her. Nobody could love a spinster like her. She was too unruly and hardheaded.
"Oh, just laughing at your inevitable reaction to the books he's grabbing. I remember the first editions and how the Atlassian students always reacted. You'll be in for some shocks to the system." The old woman continued to chuckle. Winter sighed. Adapting to Valian culture was going to be a nightmare… She hadn't really looked too much out the window while traveling but some of the things she'd seen in her periphery… Oh the billboard ads had made her want to melt into the ground. Who thought it was appropriate to plaster almost fully naked individuals for anyone to see?! Let alone children ?! It was so uncouth and disgusting…and she'd have to learn to put up with it!
She groaned and buried her face in her hands. She wasn't a moral alarmist like most Atlassians. But this felt too far. It was advertising ! There were better ways than plastering a half-naked woman all over the signs! What did that do for advertising?! Seriously!
…But she was just going to have to get used to the sight. She was moving here soon enough so it'd be a fact of life for her. This was another culture with another way of seeing things. Just how pliable was each person's reality? If advanced aura users could see emotions as strength while they stood as the ultimate weakness for her…
Just how different could any culture interpret anything?
She sighed as her mind turned over and over on the question. It really was a good one. Reality was appearing more pliable than she'd thought possible… She really wouldn't mind talking to Dove more though the woman's basic questions were infuriating and demeaning. She was knowledgeable and wise and she could learn a lot from her…
She really is something else. The unexpected intrusion in her mind made her jump and she sighed. Summer really couldn't keep her nose out of anything, could she? She really was hopelessly nosy. Nah, just keeping an eye on the situation . She heard the grin in her voice and sighed. What was this woman's deal? Coco was going to think she'd lost it when she told her about this… First advanced aura and now ghosts. She couldn't escape the insanity.
She opted to ignore the woman until Qrow swaggered up with two bags. He handed her the heavier, cheap cloth tote with books to her and she nodded a little. "Thank you. I can pay you—"
He waved his hand and shook his head. "It's a gift, Winter. Plus you are my wife now. You don't gotta pay me back for anything." The statement made her shudder but she nodded again. Give him the benefit of the doubt… He wouldn't use this against her in the future… He wouldn't… He had promised her autonomy and that would have to mean not worrying about the possibility of manipulation.
"Anyway let's blow this popsicle stand." He jabbed his thumb at the door. "There is some stuff I wanna say, but let's wait until we're at the old broad's hou— ow!" The distinct sound of a metal cane hitting the back of Qrow's leg rang out and Winter couldn't help but smile faintly. Frankly, he deserved that one. Insulting someone like Persia was bound to bite him in the ass.
"Now let's head back to my house, shall we?" Persia's tone was too sweet but Winter nodded.
"Let's." Qrow was in for it and they all knew it.
α
Winter followed Qrow into the kitchen where a box of cookies sat on the table. Her mouth watered a bit. They weren't the same out-of-the-oven fresh they'd been before but… Her gaze drifted down a bit as she grabbed the back of Qrow's shirt. "Do you…think she'd mind if I ate one of those?" Stupid, silly little girl… So afraid of repercussions but the woman had shown she wasn't afraid to dispense punishment. She knew Qrow well and had hit him with that cane… She didn't want to upset her at all.
"Hm? Nah. Persia's basically a one-woman bakery. She keeps 'em around for guests so she won't miss a couple. Hell, she'd probably be pushin' 'em down your throat if she was in here. She'll prolly send you home with some if you ask." He shifted and gently took her hand between both of his. Her gaze turned upward, blue eyes locking with his soft red ones. She could read nothing but gentle sincerity in them. She really didn't want to take what wasn't hers, but they'd just been so good before…
She nodded and took her hand back, settling at the table. She took a few of the cookies out of the container before settling her gaze on him. "So what did you want to talk about?" This did seem rather odd but she wouldn't throw a fit about it. The tote bag with the books sat next to the chair on the floor.
Which he then proceeded to point to. "Would you mind handing that to me?" She did so and he pulled out a book— Theory of Mind and Body: GRSM and Science . What an odd title. What did 'GRSM' stand for? She'd never seen the acronym before. Then again, she hadn't had a lot of exposure to much Valian anything before this.
"Before I get into this, I wanted to let you know I'll probably be distant for a little while. While I know you're more than competent with paperwork, there's…a lot to deal with to make sure the marriage goes through fully. Immigration and all that, then I need to do paperwork for the birds. It's all Valian legal-ese and I suspect you don't have much experience with that." That silenced her and she looked down at the cookie she nibbled on. With a resigned sigh, she shook her head.
"No, I don't. I know Atlassian legal language and formal Valian, but not Valian legal language." If she'd have stayed at the SDC, she likely would've been exposed to it by now, but as it stood… She really would be lost if she tried to fill out those forms. James had handled her various passport forms once she'd come of age the previous year. There were just so many forms in languages she couldn't understand and… He knew far better than she did…and she could capitulate the same was true of Qrow here.
"All right. So ya aren't upset I'm doing this for ya? I mean the forms are probably available in Atlassian so you could probably handle them but—"
Winter shook her head. "Not this time. Normally I would be but trying to handle immigration paperwork on top of all of my military stuff right now would be…a lot even for me." Her voice was soft and she looked down. Being vulnerable was so hard, but it was a point she couldn't deny. Trying to rush would probably just result in sloppiness. She had to make sure her discharge papers were flawless. She wanted to keep her focus where it was more important for her.
"If there's anything I need, I'll call, 'kay? I'll handle the visa paperwork. It'll take some time before you can apply for citizen, though I'll see if there are any exceptions for Atlassians. Vale will jump through hoops to help Atlassian citizens in certain dire situations." That made her blink. Really? Why was Vale so keen to help Atlassian citizens? It didn't make sense. Even so, she'd have to start looking into the process herself a bit… She knew how stringent Atlas was with citizenship even for the Euskera. Poor Elm had been through hell from what little bit the Ace Ops had confided in her… Not that it was much though…
"All right but…what am I supposed to do without you to guide me…?" She didn't want to be needy without him, but what was she supposed to do? She needed help navigating Valian culture and understanding it. She could barely accept the fact women were allowed to do things after marriage there… Just how many other clashes with Atlassian culture wold there be?
He did rub the back of his neck at that. "That…is a good question. I know the initial time you're in a new country is pretty vital but paperwork…" He ran his hand down the side of his face. "The best thing I can think of would be to get you a burner and a pair of wireless earbuds so Summer can talk to you." That was probably the best she really could ask for. The AI would have unfettered access on a burner. She did not want that thing seeing all of her personal files. She was at least used to being listened to at all times thanks to Coco… Plus she did have the actual Summer to ask if things got too sticky…
"You can ask my nieces for help on things when they're not in school. Yang's pretty mature for her age and understands things pretty good. I won't ask you to trust Tai since you're obviously barely trusting me…" Winter shuddered at the thought and wrapped her arms around herself. Giving Qrow the benefit of the doubt was bad enough… Trusting another foreign man would be going much too far…
"Though, I do have another idea." Qrow stroked his chin as he looked up at the ceiling and she glanced at him. An idea? She tilted her head to encourage him to speak. "…The woman that sealed my Semblance—"
"What?! You had what done?!" What in the world was he thinking?! To have such an important piece of himself sealed away… How could anybody do that willingly? It made no sense! This man was insane!
He sighed and put a hand over his eyes. "Yeah, I did that so we wouldn't repeat what happened to Summer. I didn't want to kill you like I did her…" His voice cracked. Silence. He'd…done that for her ? Even for as guarded as she was, she could see there was no ulterior motive here… He would've mentioned it if there were. But to keep it silent for so long…
And, for once, she she wanted to reach out to him. That wasn't how those probability Semblances worked… They only did so in the immediate area the person was in, not halfway across the damn world… But he blamed himself… There was no way she'd convince him with as deep as that wound no doubt was…
"I'm sorry for interrupting. Please, continue." Her voice remained soft. She still didn't want to trust anybody, but there wasn't much choice here… The quicker she could learn to navigate Valian culture, the less she'd have to depend on anybody else. Qrow could go back to his job and she'd be self-sufficient. So if she had to trust somebody, it might as well be someone Qrow put his own trust in.
And she couldn't think of anything more delicate to trust another person with than one's own soul.
"Yeah… Kari is a good woman. Grade Twelve user. I'd tell you what that means, but it'd just serve to freak you out." Wise but she could extrapolate to some degree. It at least meant being able to mess with somebody's Semblance. "She seems real maternal and she is quite sweet. A lot like my mother… Almost too much like her if you ask me." He grunted but she nodded softly. Someone like Dove would likely be good for her… She'd ticked a few buttons during their little talk but she'd never outwardly shown it too much…
"I suppose I could meet her, at least." She couldn't promise anything beyond that. She still didn't want to trust. But somebody as sweet and kind as Dove would likely be the best bet.
And a woman.
They could be capable of great ills too, but from her own experiences, they were far less likely to give into that temptation. Atlassian women that had seen past the charade tended to share camaraderie, not be catty. They were all just trying to survive… But this 'Kari' sounded like she wasn't Atlassian so all bets were off… All she could agree to was give her a chance.
"Thanks, snowy; I appreciate it. And you can always call me if you need something, all right?" He held his hand out for her and she hesitated. She was still overwhelmed from the ceremony. She wasn't sure if she trusted herself to not break down but…
That warm look in his eye…
She barely placed her hand on his. He squeezed gently before withdrawing the touch. He really was trying to be as sensitive to her needs as possible.
"Now about that book…" She blinked at the sudden topic change. That…was abrupt but she nodded. What was so important about it? What the hell did GRSM stand for? Was this a textbook? It basically felt like it with how thick it was…
Light reading this was not.
It'd probably keep her busy in what little free time she had this week.
"I saved this for the latter part of the conversation cuz I knew it'd freak you out. Basically, it's important because it'll introduce you to a lot of new concepts that conflict with your worldview… It goes over Valian concepts of gender, romance…and sex." That made her go rigid and she stared at him, wide eyed. S-Sex?
She looked at the book as if it were possessed. W-Why did he want her to read about that— Yes, he'd mentioned some things that confused her, but… She couldn't… Why did he…
"Breathe, Winter. Follow my lead." She barely heard him but her breaths synced with his counting. She eventually slumped against the chair, arms wrapped around herself. She couldn't… Especially not so soon after getting married…
And tonight was the—
Her breath caught in her chest again, tears spilling down her cheeks. Oh Holy Father no . W-Wedding night… No…
A sharp snap brought her back a bit and she looked up at him mechanically. "My aura reading is still on the fritz but it doesn't take a genius to figure out where your mind is. I'm still not gonna lay a hand on you without your permission. I won't even be there tonight. You don't have anything to worry about." He wouldn't…? He was planning on staying in Vale tonight? She wasn't upset but… Damn it… Stupid, silly little girl…
"R-Right…" She forced herself to breathe. It was the hardest thing she'd ever done. Even leaving Weiss wasn't as hard as breathing right now. She wanted to curl up and die. She wouldn't have slept if he were in the apartment that night…
"I just brought that book up because I didn't want it to trigger you when you stumbled onto that section. There's also another book that goes into the female side of things more too. You don't have to read that one, but I'd suggest it. This book is a brief but it does cover some of the science on purity culture, female sexuality, and such. It'll help you make a much more informed decision if you ever decide to accept my offer." She shuddered at the reminder. She never wanted a man's hands on her like that. Nobody would ever lay a hand on her like that. She would remain celibate for her life. She had the choice now, apparently, and that would be her reality. But the Schnee bloodline if she took over…
She shoved the unbidden thought out of her head. No children. No men. None of that ever .
"Though…there is one last thing, unrelated to that." She gave a trse nod. Anything to get away from the worst topic in existence. How anybody liked it was beyond her. "We'll have to move Kiyay and Mono to Patch tomorrow probably. Tonight would be more ideal, but with as upset as you are…"
"I'll be fine!" It came out harsher than intended. She was Major Schnee…or had been, at least. She could survive a few days without a bird she'd just met. Coco would be there soon enough too… She'd be fine.
Of course, Qrow's response was a withering look. She glanced away. "Okay, maybe having him here tonight would be nice…" She didn't want to see him go. He was an amazing, nonjudgmental support. And with her having been so triggered by the previous discussion… She wasn't liable to sleep well if at all that night.
She'd be skipping that particular section of the book for the foreseeable future.
"Won't they need to eat, though?" She didn't know anything about handling the birds. She could hold them and take off a was about as far as her know how went. And she was far too squeamish to try to eviscerate the food like Qrow had done the previous day.
"They're gyrfalcons. Missing a meal for a day won't kill 'em like a kestrel." He shrugged. That…was a relief. She really ought to learn but not right now. Maybe in the near future after the initial bout of paperwork finished… She really didn't like the idea of leaving the pair without food. But if it was only one night… She'd see Qrow tomorrow when it came to that…
"All right." She couldn't stop her voice from wavering. Being without Kiyay didn't feel good. Her apartment would be so quiet and empty without the birds being there… Even Qrow… But she didn't want him to be there tonight either… It would be so hard until Coco arrived.
"Hey, snowy, I know things are hard for you right now, but before you head back home, can I give you a hug?" His voice was soft and she blinked. A hug? Why did he want one? The only people she hugged were Weiss, Coco, and the general… But it would be her last bit of physical contact until Coco got there.
"I suppose." she just… She already didn't like being alone even though she was well used to it by now. He opened his arms and she placed her head against his chest tenderly. The warmth she always got from him while dancing wrapped around her, that intoxicating warmth that made her not want to let go.
And for the first time, she noticed his scent…creepy as it sounded. There was no alcohol to be had; it was the faint scent of cedar forests with a lightly floral undertone. It felt like the forest she'd been in not that long ago… She caught the faintest undertone of woodsmoke too… Why was everything about him so ensnaring to her senses?
He pulled away after a few moments and she internally sighed. She couldn't have him in her apartment tonight but…it would feel so empty without him. "I'll see ya when I return to Vale in a week, I suppose." Her voice was soft as she stood up. She did freeze a bit as his hands moved but he held them up. A few moments later, he took his cape off and offered it to her.
"My aura reading may be on the fritz for now, but I can tell you'll be lonely. I know you're still not fond of me. But I'm not leavin' ya. Hopefully this'll help reassure you I'll just be a call away if you need me." She blinked as he gently pushed the length of cloth into her arms. It…might help. She was tempted to go to the general's quarters that night because it was the last time she'd be there for a long time. She wasn't sure when she'd see him again… It might help her feel less alone too…
"Thank you. Though…" She did pause as something hit her. "…how will Raven get back to my apartment without you or the birds there?" Never dwell on loneliness. Benefit of the doubt or not, it was the easiest thing to manipulate. Weiss still had trouble seeing through Gelé's lies. It made her so easy to manipulate. Qrow could still do something like that to her…
"Would you mind taking care of Iroki for the week? It'll give a positive point she can portal to." The dog, right… She wasn't supposed to have animals in the building, but she was past the point of caring. She at least wouldn't totally be alone until Coco got there… Though she doubted she could get kibble at the store and call it good.
Not that she would want to feed an aura breed something so vile.
"What should I feed her?"
Qrow rubbed the back of his head and sighed. "How about I do some shopping for her tonight then have Raven drop it off? She won't be able to eat anything laden with chemicals since she eats a cooked and partially raw diet." She really needed to remember the fact that these people ate more like she had coming out of Schnee manor. Thankfully she could cook so it was no problem. She'd just have to match ingredients with her own meal.
"All right. I can handle that without a problem. If that's everything, then I ought to go…" She had a lot to get accomplished and a stack of books to start reading. She was dreading the ones he'd pointed out but…she really ought to get more comfortable with the topic… Her plans hadn't derailed. She'd still take over the SDC once Weiss got to Beacon. It'd be a much harder fight, but she wouldn't give up.
"See ya when ya get to Vale, snowy. I'll send you the visa paperwork once it's done. And don't forget I'm only a call or text away." She nodded slightly and headed into the main room where Persia and Raven waited. She would be fine. It'd be a week before she'd see the birds and Qrow again.
At least she didn't have to worry about attending Gelé's events…
α
So what am I, chopped liver? The familiar voice rang out in her head and she sighed. Right, the stupid ghost… Did that really count as company though? She was disembodied aura. She was someone to talk to at least, though…
"Excuse me for not being used to the incorporeal yet." The answer was dry as she settled on the couch and pulled out her scroll. Kiyay climbed up, her heart melting. Well… She knew what her number one concern would be once she was in Vale aside from getting used to the bizarre culture. "Could you tell him what's going to be happening?" She didn't want him blindsided when Qrow took him away the following day.
All she heard in response were two clicks and Kiyay's head turned to the side. She had a call to make…
Three rings later, a slight strained, "Hello? What do you need, Winter?" greeted her. Hopefully that fish tank hadn't flooded the complex…
"Forgive my interruption, Warrant Officer Bree, but I have some…requests for your unit." Normally she'd ask Clover directly, but given his stress, he didn't need to hear this tonight. Harriet could deliver the news tomorrow.
"What is it? Sorry… That was…stressful. Clove's gonna have to get a new tank and fish-in cycle it… All the fish are in the bathtub…" She could practically hear Harriet dragging her hand down her face. Yeah, that would be tough… Some of those fish were massive… Two hundred gallons was nothing to sneeze at. At least Marrow's Semblance had probably helped immensely.
"I see. My condolences." She really did feel bad. That tank could not be cheap and those fish would have to live in the chemical-laced bathtub. Hopefully all of them would survive. Now that she'd been exposed to animals, she understood. Especially since she'd be separated from her own for the next week…
"Anyway, enough of my complaining. What do you need from us? And wouldn't it be better to call Clove…? He is leader after all…"
"Would you rather go through that and have nowhere to put his other fish?" the dry quip came. She could imagine harriet cringing.
"Yeesh, what happened that it'd make his mood drop that much again?" She sighed, running a hand through her hair. This really was a nightmare with no escape. She was a wife now, she couldn't go back to work… She could only imagine the general's response once she called him tomorrow…
"To keep a long story short… I got married and I'll be moving to Vale. I'll need some help with spreading my paperwork out. I have others I'll talk to over the next week, but I'll rest easier knowing you all will handle some of it. We can discuss what parts tomorrow." Silence met her. Not that she could blame Harriet. She was famous for turning down any male advances. And now she was married.
"I… Yeah, you can talk to Clove about it more tomorrow. Evening'll probably be best. I'd ask for what spurred this on but…" She wasn't exactly known for being forthcoming with private information.
And she did not want to talk about this more than necessary. Once it got out who her husband was, even more rumors would fly. Qrow was infamous for his hatred of the general. And she was so close to him that many people believed she slept with him to move up the ranks. She really did not want to think what people would say about all of that.
"Also, Winter, if you'd like, I have some friends in Vale that'll be there for a few more months. They're from Atlas and could help clarify a lot of the weirder parts of Valian culture for you. I could put you in contact with them." That made her eyebrows shoot up. Why would any Atlassian visit Vale willingly? It sounded like some twisted mirror of Atlas. Understanding her new kingdom was going to be a nightmare. But if she could get an Atlassian view on Vale…it'd help immensely. Plus, nobody could gain clout from the disgraced Schnee heiress with her 'conquered,' so to speak. Especially not with her out of the military.
Or, at least, so she hoped. She would still have her connection to the general. People could try to use her for that.
"That…would be appreciated." She really did need all the help she could get. Though… "Who…are the?" That was a good question. If any of them were men, there was no chance she'd be near them. Period. Atlassian men were not to be trusted. Period.S he trusted the general and Clover, Marrow, and Vine were…somewhat safe thanks to their loyalty to him but…
"Some old buddies from our Atlas Academy days. Jo will be…a lot since she's super forward but May is a lot more chill. Wish I could say Robyn would help, but she's been back in Atlas for a while now. May's treatment will be wrapping up in a few months, but that should give you plenty fo time to get a feel for Vale." So they were women… That was good at least. Robyn… Why did that name sound familiar? Oh well, it didn't matter right now. She had three people to lean on over the next few weeks while Qrow dealt with paperwork. That did make life a fair bit easier.
What about me? She glowered at the ghost before ignoring her. How much was this woman going to keep butting into her thoughts? It was so damn unnecessary and demeaning. She was grateful for Summer's help, of course, but she needed more space to think. Her mind was the only place she had any sort of privacy.
"Thank you for your time and assistance, Warrant Officer Bree. I have a lot to do over the next week. I'll leave you to decompress for the night."
"All right. I'll have Clove call you tomorrow." The line beeped and she wrapped her arms around Kiyay. She sunk against the couch, eyes shut. What was she supposed to do for the rest of the night? She wouldn't be sleeping at all . The night would be both eternal yet fleeting. She could already hear James shouting at her, so disappointed for falling to Jacques' tricks. She was just a stupid, silly little girl in the end…and always had been for thinking she could ever be anything but a wife…