Day 10/30

Cinder opened her eyes immediately at the sound of her morning alarm. It was rare that she enjoyed waking up so early, but today was special.

Today, she would get to gloat in Ozpin's face. And there would be nothing he could do to stop her.

As she brushed her teeth after her shower, she couldn't help but keep a little grin on her face as she thought of the ways she could belittle the incompetent man. She'd start with the cameras of course. Emerald had gotten to point them out last time Ozpin stepped into the home, but now she was going to take it even further. Cinder had seen his set-up in that beaten up white van, and there were just so many pedophile themed jabs she could make at him.

Yes, it was petty. But Cinder wouldn't get many chances to do this, especially to his face. It would be wrong not to take advantage of it.

Cinder took a seat in the lounge that gave her the best possible view of the front door. Ozpin was supposed to show up at 10 AM sharp, as per her demand. She was going to be the one to open that door for him and greet him with the best smug smile of all time. It was going to be perfect.

Tapping her fingers anxiously on her leg, Cinder nodded to Emerald as she joined her on the couch. "You're up early, ma'am. You really want to lay it into that creep, don't you?"

"You have no idea, Emerald," Cinder said proudly, closing her eyes, "She will be so pleased with me for knocking him off his throne, even if it is just for this. Consider it a teaser for what we do to him and his allies after this is all said and done."

"Still down for tearing Beacon Academy down, aren't you?"

"Of course. Aren't you?"

"Well," Emerald looked away, rubbing the back of her head, "I mean, if you are still going for it then I'll follow you anywhere. But if this prize money turns out to be pretty big in zeroes…"

Cinder gave her most loyal servant a stern look. "How can you be so easily swayed by such a meaningless thing as money?"

"I'm a thief, ma'am. It's kind of the main thing I need in life."

"Who needs money when you can have power?"

Before Emerald could respond, there was a knock at the door. Cinder's eyes lit up (not literally, for once) and she sprinted over to the door. Fixing her hair so she could look as superior as possible, she cleared her throat as she pulled the door handle.

"Why, good morning Ozpin! Won't you…"

She stopped, looking the person over twice just to make sure she wasn't seeing things. She glanced back at the clock hanging in the lounge: it was 10 AM sharp. She narrowed her eyes at the stranger, gritting her teeth. Ozpin was one crafty bastard.

"…Who the hell are you?"

"Oh boy," the scruffy man scratched at his facial hair after taking a swig from his flask. This wasn't going to be fun. "Let's get this over with."

10 Minutes Ago:

"So, what's you're excuse gonna be, Oz?" Qrow asked. He was leaning against the interior of the van, his arms folded as he stared at the Headmaster. Ozpin's had shut down the camera feed in preparation for the meeting with the housemates; the audience didn't need to see any behind-the-scenes footage just yet.

Ozpin spun his chair around, handing Qrow a sticky note filled to the corners with words. "It is all on this. I suggest reading it over a couple times so you can recite it from memory."

"Why should I have to memorize this?" Qrow said, trying his best to read the miniscule cursive writing.

"What are you talking about? You're going to the house, remember?"

Qrow raised an eyebrow at Ozpin. "No I'm not. You are."

"Do you not remember what I told you before?" Ozpin replied, raising one finger, "I am only permitted one interference during this wager. I already made mine when I negotiated with the authorities-

"Bribed the authorities."

"Qrow, please. What did I say about using such negative terminology?"

"Oh whatever," Branwen rolled his eyes, "Just get to your point."

"Quite. As I was saying, I am only allowed to interfere once in their activities. From now on, you will act as my substitute when a problem arises that requires outside negotiation."

"…No."

"Yes."

"Shit…" Qrow groaned, pinching his brow. He was beginning to feel sorry for Glynda right now in having to work with this guy every day. "Are you really that afraid of these kids?"

"Not afraid, Qrow. I am only being an honorable man and sticking to my part of the wager. Plus, it will also give you the chance to see your nieces again. Wouldn't you like that oppurtunity?"

Dammit. He was playing the family card. Ozpin knew Qrow could never refuse a chance to see Ruby and Yang. Clever bastard.

"You owe me one then," Qrow sighed, reading the note again. He began to realize that most of the things written on this note didn't have anything to do with his excuse at all. "What the hell do you have written on here?"

"What do you mean?"

"Right here. You wrote, 'That squirrel is looking at me again from outside. Ask the drunk if he has any knives on him. Do not specify the reason.' Seriously Oz? It's just a goddamn squirrel!"

"What? I have reason to believe it may be rabid. I would prefer not to get bitten."

"You only go outside the van to use the bathroom! And that's only once every two days!"

"That reminds me, don't open that drawer over there," Ozpin said, pointing to a little door with a couple flies hovering outside of it, "I have yet to empty my bucket since the thunderstorm yesterday night."

"…Did you really shit in a bucket when I wasn't looking?"

"When you were asleep, to be exact. Now, I would get moving if I were you. The housemates are waiting."

You couldn't have made Qrow dash out of that van any faster than he had.

Seriously, he had to have ran at Mach 10 for at least a few seconds.

Cinder and Emerald sat across from Branwen as he took another big chug from his flask, giving him looks of disgust. The dusty man shrugged at them like nothing was wrong. "What? It's just soda in here. If I had any alcohol, I'd sure as hell be drinking it right now."

"You still haven't answered my question," Cinder said, "Who are you?"

"Really? Thought I had."

"You look familiar, though," Emerald squinted, trying to recognize where she had seen this guy before, "Have we met before?"

"Don't think so," Qrow said, "Might've been a passing glance or something. I know a lot of people. Name's Qrow Branwen. And I'm-

"UNLCE QROW!"

Apparently Qrow said his name loud enough for a bed-ridden Ruby to hear. The young girl's cold was seemingly cured by his gravelly voice, and she had shot down the stairs in a blur of black and white, still clad in her pajamas. Ruby tackled her uncle full force, knocking him to the floor and embracing him in a tight bear hug.

"Uncle Qrow! I missed you so much! Did you miss me? Did ya!?"

"Nope," Qrow smiled, rustling the girl's hair as he looked back up at Cinder and Emerald, "I've got some blood living here, if you couldn't tell."

"Ruby!" Yang came rushing down the stairs in her own sleepwear after her sister, "You're sick! Get back in- Uncle!"

As the blonde ran over to hug Qrow, Cinder and Emerald shared a disgusted grimace. This was way too sappy a scene for them to tolerate.

"What are you doing here?" Ruby asked, 'Oh! Did you come to live with us?!"

"Not exactly, kid," Qrow said, "I've been here for a while though keepin' Ozpin company out there in his van."

"You were out there the whole time? Why didn't you tell us?"

"Yeah," Yang said, "If I had known you were trapped out there yesterday, I would've come to help!"

"Had to stay on the down-low for a bit," Qrow said, "Heck, I probably shouldn't even be here right now. But a man's gotta do his job, y'know?"

"What's all the commotion?" Blake descended from the staircase, yawning and rubbing her eyes. The entirety of the house was following behind her, all still in their pajamas and groggy. Soon enough, they were all gathered around the lounge, staring at Qrow.

"So, uh," Torchwick yawned, looking around, "Where's overlord Ozpin at?"

Ruby and Yang turned to their uncle, waiting for an answer. The man groaned; this was the part he was resenting the most. "Ozpin… Can't be here right now."

"Of course he couldn't be," Cinder rolled her eyes, "What was his excuse?"

"A squirrel."

Dead silence.

"You're joking, right?" Weiss replied, hand on her hip, "You have to be joking."

"I wish I was, little lady," Qrow sighed, "I wish I was."

"Is it a giant mutant squirrel?" Nora asked, clenching her fists in excitement, "If it is, I call dibs on fighting it!"

"He claims it was rabid."

"Even better!"

"I wouldn't mess with rabid animals," the Lieutenant chimed in, "Those things will tear you a new asshole. And believe me, I've had my butt take that sort of punishment more than a few times."

"Just had to say it like that, didn't you?" Mercury replied with a deadpan stare.

Prying Ruby off of his torso, Qrow stood up and clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. "Look, everyone. It doesn't matter if Oz is here or not. I can explain everything just as well as he could. Probably even better, now that I think about it. Now, if everyone would just take a seat-

"Wait!" Pyrrha raised her hand up, putting a finger to her lips, "Do you hear that?"

"What are you talking abo-

Qrow was interrupted mid-sentence at the sudden roar of metal blades cutting through air just outside of the house, followed by the ground shaking as something landed outside. Every member of the house was frozen still as they heard the hissing of a cockpit door opening, and the sound of footsteps walking up to the front door. Not even a second later was the front door kicked in as a tall, imposing figure barged inside.

"Ozpin!" James Ironwood bellowed, cocking his revolver with intent to fire, "Where the hell are you hiding?! Come out here so I can teach you some respect!"

Qrow's jaw dropped upon seeing James, and he looked down to his flask. Maybe if he stared at it long enough, the soda inside would magically convert to whiskey.

Because if there was ever a time he needed alcohol, it would be right fucking now.