The city air was crisp and cool, with most people who were walking around needing a thick jacket to stop from shivering. All of those people with their thick jackets and hats openly gaped at Winter as she walked around the small apartment buildings in a long sleeve shirt, jeans, and sneakers. It wasn't that she had ice cold blood, like some old bullies at knew once upon a time claimed. No, Winter knew it was cold, but she liked it that way.
Her whole family was like that for some reason, except her father, though he'd never admit it. Schnees simply liked the cold. Some people in Atlas had made up a story about how Schnees were the descendants of Jack Frost and something called Scrooge McDuck. Winter had no idea why they'd say her family was like a duck, but her mother promised her it was a good thing.
The gray clouds in the sky made Winter grin and giddy, a lot like Ruby was about food. Or video games. Or anything for that matter. There was a twenty-five percent chance that it would either snow, rain, or both that night, though it was probably a few kids worst nightmares on this night in particular, it made Winter smile as she pictured Winter nights cooped up inside with Weiss and her mother.
Winter looked up at the apartment building in front of her, it was pure white and about seven stories tall. Instead of it being like her building, where all of the apartments were housed in one closed off building, this building didn't have a main lobby and simply had all of the apartment doors opening up the to elements. This place was also level and didn't look like it had been abandoned, so they each had their high and low points. Not like Winter was jealous or anything.
Winter looked down at her phone, double checking she had the right place. She nodded to herself softly and got a firm grip on the plastic bag in her hands before ascending the stairs that were slightly too close to each other. Winters feet moved quickly, one over the other, trying her best to keep herself from tripping.
By the third level of the building Winter felt her legs burning and her pace slowed down, and she made a mental note to herself to start trying to find a cheap gym somewhere. Because lord knows that not working out for a few months wasn't doing her any favors. Honestly if it wasn't for her fast metabolism, Winter was pretty sure she'd have to start finding bigger clothes at this point.
Agonizingly slowly, Winter crawled up the stairs and made it to the fifth floor. After falling onto the ground in a gasping mess and recharging her batteries, Winter finally found the strength to look out at the view. Another difference between the two buildings was that Winters was still somewhat in the city, albeit the edge of it. This place was more isolated, slightly away from the city. So it was a longer commute to the city, but in exchange Winter was pretty sure the rent would be a little lower.
Winter looked down at the number on her phone and found the power to lift herself up and to carry herself the rest of the way. Winter was also suddenly wishing that she'd walked to work more while the weather was still warm. But she'd made her bed, and now she had to suffer in it.
Soon enough Winter made it to what she hoped was the right apartment and knocked with only mild hesitation. The second her knuckles hit the wood, Winter heard movement from behind the door. At first it was just the sound of footsteps, but then it sounded like someone was throwing something, and finally there was the sharp sound of breaking glass followed by a small yelp. Winter wasn't sure what was going on behind the door, but she was suddenly getting a wee bit scared.
Before she could even consider leaving though, the door flew open, and Winter basked in the warm air that leaked out of the apartment. Standing in front of her, painting worse than Winter, was the bombastic Amy, "Winter! Come on in!" the girl beamed as she grabbed Winters wrist and pulled her into the apartment.
"Hey Amy, how're you?" Winter asked cordially as she was dragged, closing the door behind her before it was out of reach. Amy let her go and almost danced away with a big smile, her positive energy was infectious, but still didn't get rid of Winters nerves.
"I'm doing faaantastic! I finally got you to come over, didn't I?" Amy winked lightheartedly as she walked further into the apartment. Looking around, Winter found herself standing to the right of a tight kitchen, with a door open to the bathroom to her left, and a large living room on the other side of the kitchen. The whole space was very open, and was honestly more like a single big room than a few smaller ones. Someone could be cooking and easily talk with someone sitting on the couch.
"I guess you did" Winter chuckled as she slid off her shoes. The whole apartment was well furnished very simply, with a couch, a small table, a tv that was muted but playing some animated movie with a woman with button eyes. The oddest thing about the apartment was the four coo-coo clocks that were littered all over the place. There were two on the back walls, one by the bathroom, and another other the TV.
"My grandparents love clocks like these, so they always send one over around Christmas time. They're pretty cool honestly, except when they all go off at once. Lucky the landlord hates the neighbors, or they might have gotten me thrown out of here already" Amy explained with a laugh after she'd caught Winters wondering eyes stuck to the clocks.
"Don't they go off every hour?"
"Yup. But hey, it meant a lot to my grandparents to have them up, so it's not that big a deal" Amy shrugged, leaving Winter to wonder how the girl got any sleep in the night, or peace in the day for that matter.
Amy walked into another open door that led into a small bedroom and plopped herself down on the bed, "Alright, go and get changed while I get the makeup ready!" Amy urged as she pointed to a second bathroom that was connected to the bedroom. Winter nodded, gripping the plastic bag in her hands tightly as she walked into the bathroom and closed the door.
"So, are you excited?" Amy asked through the door.
"I mean, yeah. A bit nervous is all" Winter admitted as she started to undress.
"What's there to be nervous about? Aren't you just trick or treating with the girls and your guy friend?" Winter smiled at how Amy talked about Qrow, but it also made her stomach churn in guilty knots.
"Well, I've never exactly gone trick or treating before. My Father always said it was a holiday for kids, and even Schnee children were never kids" Winter sighed at the memory. Her mother had always tried to get them out of the house for Halloween, but something always came up or Father always found out and put a stop to it. But After Winter was too old, she still tried to get her baby sister out of the house and into the streets, but security always caught them.
"Wow, I'll never get over how sheltered you were as a kid. I mean, I know rich people do stuff different, but no Halloween? That's plain cruel" Amy grumbled, "By the way, thanks for telling me about, you know, your past. I had no idea you came from the Schnees! I… I know it must've taken a lot to do that. So thanks for trusting me" Amy told her, sounding a lot more somber than normal.
"Thanks for not judging me or anything, that means a lot to me that you still treat me the same" Winter admitted as she got the last of her costume on. Winter looked at herself in the mirror and couldn't help but grin.
She was dressed in a pair of white and black striped pants where the stripes went all the way up her legs, with a white shirt that was tight at the body but had lots of extra fabric around the arms. She also had on a small overcoat with a coat tail and some odd fabric strap tied over her belly. Oh, she also had on a pair of tall leather boots, that she was eternally grateful she'd been able to take with her from home. The only things she was missing was the matching hat and an old saber which was sitting in her car. Overall, she was dressed as the world's best pirate. Or, that's what she was going for at least.
Winter stepped out of the bathroom with a confident walk, her hands on her hips, and her best pirate grimace on her face. When Amy heard the door open, she turned around and gasped, "Winter, that looks so good! How'd you make something like that?" Amy wondered in awe.
"You know, hard work, dedication, and going to a supermarket to overpay" Winter chuckled as she walked over and sat on Amy's bed.
"Ah, so you went the same route I did then" Amy giggled as she reached under her bed and pulled out a plastic bag that had a picture of a vampire on it.
"Huh, why the vampire?" Winter wondered, but Amy shook her head.
"Almost! I'm going as a sexy vampire!" Amy beamed as she started to take the costume out of the bag.
"But the outfit just says female vampire?"
"I'm gonna be wearing it, which turns it into a sexy vampire. Come on, did you think you were something other than a sexy pirate?" Winter appreciated the flattery, but wasn't sure she'd agree with her friend.
"Let's wait until after the make up to say that" Winter smiled as Amy sat down on the bed next to Winter and picked up some brushes.
"Close your eyes. And I guess that's fair. After all, I'm gonna spook you up good!" Amy chuckled as winter closed her eyes and felt the soft brush touch her skin. "So I don't think you ever told me though, why exactly did you want me to do... this design?"
"Well, Ruby's invitation said that her goal tonight was to make the best pirate crew ever and to go take as much candy as possible before they went to the party. So, dress code is pirate" Winter explained as Amy started to really lather the makeup on her face.
"OK, I get that. But why exactly the makeup?"
"Well, she said we were gonna be more than pirates…" Winter had to keep herself from laughing at the very Ruby idea.
"Wow, that kid really has an imagination" they both laughed for a second before falling into a comfortable silence that wouldn't last long.
"So are you gonna tell him that you remember?" Amy hesitantly asked, trying her best to not push the topic.
"You know I can't. I'd lose my job if anyone found out I was romantic with a clients parent"
"Yeah, that's probably true. But do you really think James would do that to you? I mean, he really cares about you, you know that"
"Of course I do, but he has to do his job like I have to do mine" Winters voice broke while she talked, and had to bite down on her chin and close her eyes tightly to make sure no tears got out. She'd been doing that a lot ever since the concert. Amy's brush stopped moving for a second, like someone on a frozen lake waiting to see if the ice would break down beneath their feet.
"Maybe you should talk to James about it. I mean, I know you like this guy, Winter. He wants you to be happy, just like I do"
"... I'll think about it, ok?" Was all Winter could say.
"Ok, good. Also, your new looks officially complete! And I have to say… I think you're still going as a sexy pirate" Amy giggled as Winter opened her eyes.
Winter made her way back to the bathroom and was shocked at what she saw. Her face was green with rot, with bones sticking out and blood dripping from her eyes and her mouth. She had deep dark bags under her eyes and scars running across her face like she'd been hacked up. In front of her was no longer Winter Schnee. Instead, there was the horrific, zombie pirate Winter!
"This looks amazing, Amy! I look, well, dead!" Winter praised as she looked at every intricate put line on her face.
"I know, I know, I'm amazing, your welcome" Amy smiled and gave Winter a thumbs up in victory.
"Ruby's definitely getting the best zombie pirate crew ever!"
-Authors note-
Hey guys! Ok, so this chapters a little bit shorter than normal because I had a lot of projects and stuff. But I still hope you guys like it, see you next week!