Author's Note: Some new and canonical characters arrive. Also news at the end in my final notes.

Anyway enjoy.

The Fairy Queen and The Pauper

We will meet again.

Chapter Four: The Old Friend

Town Square

For Penelope, one of the most enjoyable activities was watching the town on the move. The adults strolling by; busy or otherwise taking a break from it. The children of all sizes merrily played in-between the pedestrian blocks with anything they could find. Including a few dogs who were just as joyful.

It has been a full week since she arrived with her grandfather and his entourage. The drastic change from living comfortably-if not too plush-in a huge and populated modern city to a hands-on living in a quaint looking town of six-hundred. But unlike others who hail of similar status she quickly grew comfortable here; like she's been here all her life. Even at a young age she been noted to be keen and observant. A trait said to be inherited by her father who was a skilled Hunter in his heyday. The girl was sometimes starry eyed, but she learn to see past that and the real world for what it is.

Via was not a picturesque town that bordered on folksy. And like everything in the real world it had its lion's share of problems.

But deep down she knew they wanted to be happy, they wanted to have their neighbors be happy. From her great-grandfather to her great-great-grandfather, All the Victors in her family had said nothing but good for this town; so it was possible again for this town to live prosperously. It had genuine capacity for it, something that the Kingdom couldn't be bothered to see. However, it was in the first day that had really cemented her views on Via.

Exploring unattended around the slanting rows of grayish white buildings built on ancient battle mounts, she saw droves of people going about their business. It looked so overwhelming yet sadly familiar. That is, until she saw a pauper looking girl around her age walking a fix route on the thoroughfare; seemingly living a banal life among the crowds. There was no real reason why, but Penelope was compelled beyond her own reasons to observe her.

A severed leaf slowly landed on her brunette head. The crispy edges tingled at her forehead, and it brought Penelope back from her memories. She smiled, hugging her knees closer. Penelope was tired still; the Aura was only doing so much for the pains. But the coming spring afternoon in the small square park under a lone oak did helped.

She sighed peacefully, closing her eyes. All of the sounds were registered unconsciously; they were all around her, in their own routine. Then she pick up the continuous sound of scurrying motion heading directly to her.

The footsteps stopped a short distance. "Penelope." the voice was inflicted with raspy tiredness. She open her eyes to see Cinder breathing hard with an open smile. "Taking it easy?...do I expected that now on from my boss?" it was a playful tease, one that brought delight to Penelope once her mind processed it.

Penelope inhaled. "You mean," she sprung up. "You really mean it?"

"Yes, I'm afraid Penelope when you hand out an offer like that, it is too good to pass up to a sharp mind." There was an inspired confidence in Cinder. Ever since leaving the farm and never looking back she held her chin up high.

Penelope didn't mind it; she feared the poor girl would fall back to her old routine after the bear attack. Some people would do just that. After a dramatic event they would run to a place that is known to them, even if it's a place that brought them pain; she it knew full well. It's been some time since she last saw her father.

But now, she was relief to see Cinder take a tenacious hold on her future. She will change for the better. The fairy girl took a page from her friend's latest personality. "Well maybe I am a future good businesswoman, maybe that was part of the plan along."

Cinder crossed her arms, still smiling. "I see. A mutual benefit. It's a great business model."

"Speaking of business, how about I give you the grand tour now?" Penelope directed her hand to the mayor's residence before them. It's been quite busy since yesterday; fresh civic faces were coming in and out of the official building. Cinder's expression became befuddled then pained like an old wound opening. "uh." she inattentively muttered.

"Cinder!"

Like a large impact crashing down, the familiar voice-that brought out thoughts of dread-boomed more than any voice should. Both girls jerk their heads towards the woman across the edge of the park. The woman that now Penelope had mild loathing for. Which was remarkable to achieve; even more so in such a short time.

Anastasia was calmer than yesterday. Everyday, after leaving her stepdaughter she goes to work at the local inn. There she works as co-manager and sometimes cook. Only a staff of five work and manage the inn. Thanks to the Atlas soldiers making their stay, almost every person looking for a job and with considerable skills has been taken in; making her almost dispensable. With hours cut she left early. She looked fatigue; slumping almost.

Unlike their usual stare downs, Cinder looked quite unfazed by her. Anastasia then turn to Penelope, and recognized her not as a blurry memory of yesterday, but of who she really was as the granddaughter of the new mayor. A lot was heard about her: that she's kind, a bit ditsy, but well mannered and meaning. Here Penelope looked nothing but scorn. She hovered next to Cinder, very protective like.

Anastasia was plentifully aware of what kinda woman she became over the near decade. After the pain that has been done in her life without her having a say; she felt like she deserved to spend the rest of her life in however recklessly she wanted it. But right now it became clear: She was no longer a mother of any kind to her daughter. Cinder was now guarded by a stranger whom came from the far off Kingdom that Anastasia hasn't even been introduced to.

In way in pained Anastasia; to have lost touch to a daughter she promised to safeguard. But she knew first hand that there was a whole advance range of danger that she couldn't fathom, much less protect her stepdaughter.

Regardless, she wanted now to have some sense of familiarity with Cinder. "You're out here. Didn't even see you leave Cinder." she said distant and coy. "I thought you would be working the fields on the Farm. Becloud should have a week left of harvesting."

"I have job." Cinder said to Penelope, and not her stepmother. "It was offered, I considered it, and I took it." she said to Anastasia.

This time Anastasia's interest perked up. "Really?" she said very surprise, then mellowed bitterly. "Don't suppose you trapped yourself in a too good to be true 'hocus-pocus' deal?"

This was one of the reasons Cinder seldom talked to her. It was always a battle between them whenever one tried to pulled their weight in their own self worth. In a way, they were both the same with their insecurities. But Cinder had the upper hand now; Cinder was about to boast her given employment when Penelope stepped in.

"Actually I gave her the job." Penelope's content smile was more subtle than Cinder's, but it was there.

She was scrutinized by Anastasia. "So you're the new mayor's granddaughter." she said.

Penelope nodded. "Yes. And whom might you be?"

The woman was still wary of her emotions to keep them in check; still, she couldn't help but scoff under breath. "Anastasia Poppy." she said. "I am," she pointed at Cinder, her finger flicked twice. "Her stepmother."

Everything about the fairy girl's body-language; the small smile on the bobbing head, the wide eyes being relentlessly stubborn on never losing the stepmother's eyesight, her brown boots firmly planted still while her knees gyrated. She looked like an animal ready to pounce. And that's when it occurred to Cinder how mad her friend was. Then came the shock that someone was actually mad in her behalf.

"So you say Miss Poppy." Penelope said. "Well then you should not have to worry about Cinder's claim. Despite my age, I am quite resourceful with my connections, and I will assure you without a doubt that Cinder will be paid, educated, and treated well under me and my grandfather. With me, she will have a chance at a future."

Cinder thought to herself, that even in her most fervid bouts of anger she never spoken words that stung so deeply. Fearing the unpredictability of her stepmother Cinder decided to step in. A physical pulse swept up from Anastasia's hand to her face. She looked down to see Cinder's little fingers firmly gripping her own. It felt like a cold pinch which turn heated as Cinder tighten the grip.

The girl had a bizarre and awkward attempt of a stumbling smile. "Since you are out early. Shouldn't you come home? at least for me? Mom." Cinder tried very hard to not strained it out the last word.

Her effort was convincing; Anastasia's icy blue eyes temporally shined. Breathing in quickly, she turn back towards Penelope. "I'll give you the benefit of the doubt." her head cocked to Cinder. "At the very least to her late father and mother's sake." tugging at Cinder fingers, she hastily steered her step-daughter to leave.

The poor girl lingered as much as she could-not breaking eye sight with Penelope. Cinder faintly waved; she wanted to say a proper goodbye, but part of her was afraid to display it front of Anastasia. It sadden her that she couldn't muster a goodbye to her friend.

"Farewell!" Penelope shouted.

Cinder had trouble not erupting in a wide smile. Although her efforts in suppressing it, made it look like she was confused. And which Penelope sought to remedy it in her usual style.

"It means bye! um...goodbye, cheerio! No? um, Adios? see you tomorrow!"

"I know what it means!" Cinder irritatingly shouted, light anger that was set away as it tumbled into her giggling. "Goodbye Penelope!"

Home; The next day.

'Mother...'

A series of knocks on the door rattled the basement. Droll covered lips parted and smacked against each other, opening her amber eyes she stubbornly closed them again, Cinder abysmally moaned as her body tossed and turn on her sleeping mat.

"Cinder, Wake up." Anastasia on the other side hit the door louder. Her voice grown more frustrated, but she restrain from yelling. "Wake up, Cinder." she said.

Cinder meanwhile moaned again, annoyed; she curled into a ball, knees as close to her stomach, hands covering her face as the fatigue swept her. As she became aware of the world and as her conscious mind started stirring up, and so did her thoughts. The first of which were the accounts of yesterday: Sadness, happiness, anger, dread, assurance with a hint of confusion. Gathering her thoughts together, the rattling from her stepmother started again.

"Wake up...So is this the kinda worked ethic you developed now? If so-" the voiced halted, another softer voice was heard uttering a long string of sentences to her. Anastasia sighed very loudly. "Cinder, your new boss is here. She brought you breakfast. I suggest you managed your work ethic by meeting her bright and early." she sighed again. "Also Penelope says 'salutations', and good morn."

Upon hearing that Cinder slipped away from the covers in her red one-piece pajamas, she rapidly went up stairs with the steps rhythmically creaking deeply. Opening door instantly she was met with Anastasia's absurdly wide eyes. Bemused, Cinder then shifted down the hallway where Penelope caught her sight; her face became alight, and she waved to Cinder while mouthing "Salutations." And showcasing homemade bento that she brought for her.

They all ate breakfast at the slightly slump round table in the kitchen. The early morning light coming from the living room made everything orange cascading into a brighter shade of yellow. An arbitrary spring draft would come in from the open windows, carrying a mildew smell that was noticeable.

Cinder felt embarrassed. It has been a long time that she shown any shame and misfortune in owning her homely life. She grew up in a simple but manageable life; most of the townspeople lived the same way. But after the death of her father, simple became vital and hard to come by. It was no longer a luxury but a necessity.

She ate her food quietly. Focusing on the bento, munching on the zesty rice-based breakfast that reminded her lot of her mother's cooking. Yes, she focusing on eating. Next to her was Penelope prim and proper; The poor girl couldn't bear to acknowledge her presence in her hovel of a home. It was like bringing the stock of the world in her home to judge it and with it her own being. Cinder had grown to share her stepmother's apathy for what the outside thought of them, but now she felt abashed due to Penelope, her first and only friend.

And her first friend did not care one bit. Not an ounce. Penelope was respectable of Cinder's household like she would any other. If not more so. Her courteous customs was inferred to Cinder's insecurities as pity. Thus, any vain attempt of a conversation by the fairy girl turn into small-talk between muffled bites. Anastasia was well aware of her stepdaughter's distress; and it started to tick her off.

"Cinder." she simultaneously cleared her throat before speaking; it came out hoarse and demanding. It got both girls attention, Cinder looked spooked. The stepmother realized her mistake but spoke anyway. "You overslept yesterday. Penelope here tells me you were keen on going to the town meeting last night."

Cinder took a moment to become aware. Then awareness compounded into shock; she looked like someone who just had ice cold water poured down their back. Cinder snappily turn to her friend. "Awah! Penelope I missed it!" her little voice shouted.

The Melancholy around the poor girl bloom into droll sadness and disappointment. Penelope tried to calm her down while holding back a smile; knowing full well that her answer her will delight her. "Don't worry Cinder. You're an employee and apprentice of mine, remember? That means everything you would have heard in that meeting will be divulged by me and my grandpa in a more extensive manner."

Again took a moment to groggy comprehend before Cinder beamed at the news. "I'm relieved to hear that." she said.

"Aye, But I hope for Cinder's sake, you are more confident in your teaching skills than you are inculcating youse and grandfather's agenda. Because it seems I already painted you complacent." Anastasia stirred around the chunks of oat cereal, bitter sweet as her mood.

Her step-daughter flinched. She feared her disdain and pettiness might drive Penelope away. Cinder turn to the girl; Penelope glowered briefly, she then composed herself, her mood changed again to a happier tone as she caught Cinder's worry stare.

Giving her a quick and heartening wink she then spoke to Anastasia. "Well sorry you feel that way. I guess it is to be expected since it is an introduction and the bumpy discourse on topic is reasonable, but still, by all means critical feedback is very welcomed." She continued her thin-rebuke, still holding a smile. "Though I must say, you would have a stronger case if you've stayed longer. With all due respect your presence was comparable to that of a ghost."

The woman's eyes bugged out, they became thin with scorn. "I," her chance to speak a counter-rebuke was quieten down by Cinder coughing, her worried darken red face wanted to put a pause to the whole thing. But Penelope took the pause as her own chance to rebuttal the rebuke.

"I'm sure Cinder can take care of herself. She is in her dwelling after all, master of it and entitled to the safety that comes with it." easily guessing and shooting down Anastasia's argument was satisfying. The woman shown great displeasure as she growled and drowned that growl with viscous cereal.

After a clam thought Anastasia figured she warranted. Deep down Anastasia really did care about Cinder; her husband's daughter, her friend's cherished child, the hard life piling just made harder to expressed that. Trying to stir the bowl for more edible chunks and stir the conversation away from her.

"Well let just hope the home stays like a castle." she told Penelope. "Before I left the meeting, (the very good reason I left), the fear of the Grimm agitated the townspeople, making them like a bunch of braying sheep." she complained, rubbing her scalp. "Had the good sense of leaving that headache."

"Grimm?" Cinder selected that word to repeat. Silently to herself, enough that the others didn't noticed.

Penelope went on. "Well my grandfather and his good friend Colonel Ironwood, has said they will hire Hunters to take care of them. That notion sure to have brighten the people of Via."

"Hunters?" Again and silently to herself, Cinder repeated.

"Hunters." This time Anastasia repeated to herself. She averted her eyes away to both the conversation and the word. The profession was venerated in a world where uncertainty had a monstrous form. But for her, her old profession brought to mind it that it was much more of a complicated matter of champion versus monsters.

Anastasia clenched her hand into a fist, eyes still adverted and filled with doubt.

"We'll wait and see if they will accomplish anything." she said.

Countryside

And as it turned out; the call for Hunters has been posted weeks earlier.

The Atlas council and the military cabinet were in agreement with Dr. Victor that the presence should be minimal to prevent any incidents, and to not give any wrong impressions to the people in Via; or any other neighboring municipal bodies who are wary of martial faculty or adventurism. As well they realized that any threat of Grimm, the small company of troops were not equip to deal with them, and any larger force would set off a chain reaction of fear and destruction that would fuel more Grimm until the battle and Via itself would be lost to them.

For decades the town has escaped-by sheer luck and/or well hidden natural barriers-many large wandering groups of Grimm. But as well meant that they were being cut off from the outside for many months or even a whole year at a time. Even when they sought Hunters to dispatch those close encounters, their urgent letters for help were either possibly ignored or lost mysteriously on the way.

Hearing this from the municipality Dr. Victor immediately sought out advisers and sources; he regretted immediately. Due to personal history, he mostly saw Hunters as apathetic guardsmen, and couldn't trust bureaucrats to find Hunters who were compassionate for the task. And so he entrusted Colonel Ironwood-who served a Huntsmen in the past, if only to bolster his military career-to find suitable candidates.

Ironwood did have a candidate in mind: a young man who likes to crow about his time in the former elite academy of Beacon. He was hard press to get in contact with him; having to have couriers going in a frenzy in all the Kingdoms. Eventually he was found with his two sisters in the hinterlands south of Vale's borders. Hesitant, declining at first, Qrow Branwen eventually replied with a simple letter filled with melancholic awkwardness. It took nearly two weeks of traveling from trains, horseback, and boat before even making it to continent of Mantle and the port of Atlas. Even then they had a day to travel the empty country between the Kingdom and the town.

Though, everyone knows that empty country isn't entirely devoid of danger.

A brief metallic sound clumped against white bony armor and it showed short-lived resistance before the scythe blade sliced the fury black flesh. The decapitated Beowolf body fell and rested next to a pair of out of place, worn black dress shoes that belong to a very annoyed man. He rolled his dark eyes as he zipped up his pants. "Can I take a restroom break out in the freakin' boonies without being attack?!"

Qrow vented out by kicking the rolling monstrous wolf head away. Flicking his wrist the scythe compressed: it was black scythes with two inverse curved blades on the bottom and at the top of a shaft that compacted into a rounded shield. He dubbed it Full Moon; and he was quick to make a ribald joke about it whenever the opportunity presented itself.

He came out of the grooves fuming still, to the point of tripping and fluttering around his neat and pressed red-cape on his way to the main road where the others awaited on their riding horses. The woman turn back from the snorting animal to see her little brother causing commotion as he approach them. Raven Branwen the eldest sister: her calm nature reflected on her red wrapped kimono-like blouse and black miniskirt with black leggings, her wavy brunette hair aggressively shorn just above her shoulders.

Shaking his head Qrow complained, "Damn Beowolf nearly made me wet myself when nature was calling." he walked past Raven to his horse waiting on him.

"You seem to be more like yourself these days little brother." Raven's usual flat tone was define with a hint of content.

Settling on his horse and whipped the reins. "I wish I could say fully, but at least its getting easier." he glance back to the other brunette woman, his little sister, occupying the back, looking permanently dejected. 'At least we could say for some.'

Qrow train his thoughts away from the bleak personal burden to the task at hand. One of things he learned during his years in training was to collect and trust a number of people that range from simple acquaintances to friends that you're willing to stick out your neck for. The young cadet that gave him trouble for supposedly seducing a gal friend of his during a stint in Mistral and subsequently saving from a Goliath stomp was kept in the 'I regrettably owe you one' page.

James Ironwood was a pain in the ass, but his words were true. Honing in his senses he could easily feel the malevolent presence everywhere in the distance. Flanking and watching, the elder Grimm bidding for something. It reminded him of something similar that happen in the unfortunate mission four years ago. His greatest failure. It unnerved him, so much that his body shook, and with it the horse became upset.

Raven seeing Qrow distraught made her horse trot over to him. "Qrow...calm down." she said. "Can the negativity."

"Don't use that saying." he grimace, then sighed. "Anyway, I'm alright. But you could tell the Grimm here are abnormal, right?"

She was easily sensing their patterns; the Grimm were following, weaker ones going on for the attack while the stronger stayed and watched, it was almost like they were testing the Hunters. Raven nodded. "Don't mind them for now. Keep going."

Twenty minutes later in a serene, and unnervingly so, excursion they arrived near the town border which was placid and occupied freely with people. They acted like your usual everyday folk. Busy and sometimes jovially chatting up with their neighbors, overall it was a normal atmosphere. Anybody on the outside will tell them they were wasting their time here on the account of being misinformed or chalk it up as overreacting. After all, the Grimm will always be there, but the threat seemed non-existent.

But the Hunters knew better, and it had them worried.

They minded their way into the thoroughfare and into the hub crossroads. Noticing on they way a stark difference of people reacting to them. Some of them minded as well, others pass them by like they were any other, but the weary-eye folk were the ones to acknowledge them as who they are. For that Qrow fixed a wryly smile as they literally tip their hats.

Raven motion Qrow to stop. "I'm going to see my old partner while we're here." she dropped off from the horse, grabbing a duffel bag and carrying it with a noticeable metallic clang. "I assume you'll find us a place after you brief the mayor and the Colonel."

"Yeah," he responded inattentively, then his mind caught up. "Wait, you're not coming with?"

"It's your mission, Qrow. We're just here purely by coincidence." Raven tried to smirk. "You have the reins on this," she handed her horse's reins to him. "And the ones here too. Find them a good place, they are expensive you know." the knowing smirk was obvious.

Qrow shrugged before leaving and leading the horses away from thoroughfare and further into the town, briefly glancing at his other sister who had her back to him-silently gazing the crowds passing by. Raven took a moment to compose herself before walking over to her little sister. To have Morgan Branwen talk even a complete sentence nowadays was truly a miracle. Born of particularly aggressive Aura that transmuted into a Semblance that demanded an awful tribute of blood-thirst. She led a life of hoping for normalcy and motherhood only for the hope that she gathered to be clashed over her. And for years it left her a broken woman.

A broken woman that Raven tried desperately to piece back together from the same tragedy that broke her and Qrow as well. They'd combated any chance of the adversity festering Morgan, in prospect of salvaging any normalcy.

"huh?" Morgan let out a soft yelp.

Raven tapped her shoulder, Morgan turn to her with confusion expression. "I like you to accompany me to my old teammate's (Anastasia) home." Raven tried to smile, but still after all the years as being a known stoic, it just came out awkward and crooked. "Come on Morgan, I-"

"Don't." she wistfully drew her lilac orbs away. "I like nothing better. Just lead."

"Are you finished with your meal, Cinder?"

The girl in question jolted herself alert. She was dazedly playing around her utensils, fumbling around the one of the few pieces of rice grain. Penelope stood next to her, awaiting a response while silently gesturing to pick up her bento box. "oh." she hastily gave it to her. Pink flush crept her cheeks as Penelope's smile welcomed her.

Penelope then offered the same to Anastasia while trying her best to keep a neutral and polite face. The fairy girl being the bigger person caught her off guard, Anastasia just played coy and thanked her without any more words. It left her with irked words; words that she vented to her own step-daughter.

Anastasia leaned in, looking disapprovingly at Cinder. "You could learn a thing or two from your boss."

It was a reminder that was not needed. A taunt from an insecure grown woman; another unprovoked berating of her own kin. And Cinder knew this. And she faulted unlike so many times where even she would silently sneered at her stepmother. Catching her on the hours she felt most vulnerable was cruelly unpleasant.

The fairy girl was happily minding herself on cleaning the plastic containers, and ceramic dish. And out of the corner of her eye she glanced at Cinder looking doleful; like heavy weights was upon her shoulders. It didn't take much for Penelope to figure it out. The soapy water squirted out the yellow sponge by her tight fist. A scowl was deterred before it could fully develop; instead she sighed, counting down to an imaginary number, before smiling smugly.

"You know, even at a young age my parents have taught me to be proper and independent. Not because they wanted to do away their responsibilities to me or that didn't love me, but the exact opposite. They prepared me for life: those skills and guidance don't go away." Penelope settled the containers and dish, and she spun around with her famous-and never tiring-smile. Making sure Cinder was seeing her. "So you better believe it when I say: Cinder has nothing to learn from me when it comes to taking care of herself."

It was the kind of bubbly and encouraging and spearheading speech that Penelope would become to known for. Enough to brittle away the dark cloud over Cinder; sheepishly smiling and slightly looking away. The shy smile only grew larger-and Anastasia's scowl blacker-as Penelope was not yet finished.

"Therefor, I must believe that Cinder's parents have loved her very much." Penelope turned a more somber expression, "I hope you continue their tradition to their daughter." she said it with all sincerity that the implications could hold.

The frail table shook with a hammer-like thump from the irate destitute woman. It jolted her stepdaughter and unnerved the other girl from her aplomb stance. "You don't know anything stranger." her knuckle grinding the wood, her teeth gritted. "You don't know what I suffe-"

An arbitrary rattle on the door blew away any wind in the sail. Another hard knock brought everything to a grounded reality. It gave the woman a chance to quell her mind; although she felt she had every right to be wrathful, she didn't want to unload on some little girl she hardly knew.

"The conversation is over." Anastasia said. She then stomp forward, her upper-body temporary hunched over like she was about to tackle someone, as she made it towards the door. Standing straight while she awaited another knock at the door.

And with it came, she peered her eye on the roughly and amateurishly installed brass peephole, on the other side she saw red-eyes behind brunette bangs looking unaware. Anastasia's gridded her upper molars on her bottom lip, "Crap." she cringed, eye still peering.

Her hand hovered over the doorknob, contemplating before turning to the kids who were glancing at her from the kitchen at the end of the short hallway. "Youse girls best head over to the basement." she anxiously urged them.

Cinder and Penelope shared a bewildered look.

Qrow has just sat down after being led by a nameless Atlas soldier in yellow highlights through the furnished corridor to an inconspicuous room, trivia as the rest, but with a dull gold plating on the dark oak door that was inscribe with 'mayor's office.' But inside he didn't expect to see a familiar face; judging by the mayor's long and shock face, the feeling was mutual.

Dr. Victor managed to tell Qrow to have seat in a quiet and stumbling voice. Being awkward and troubled by a current tribulation that they shared with the same person, Qrow followed the mousy order and sat on the lone humble wooden crafted chair in the room.

"Comfy seat." Qrow said just as mousy.

The mayor was staring off glassy eyed, acting obtuse, and all and all not there. "Yes, it was a gift from one of the townspeople, a Miss. Monarch who works as a clock repairer and woodworker, one of many of talented and thoughtful people in Via." he paused, trying to think. "I'm-I feel warmly welcomed here already." he quickly and awkwardly interjected.

Pitifully smiling, Qrow nodded painfully slow. Then silenced filled in. In an attempt to dispel that, he interjected something observant. "Small world, huh?" After the mayor shared the same gauche face, Qrow looked around the room listlessly. It was a modestly pieced room: Evergreen color carpet, white colored walls, a bay window facing the mayor's dark oak desk let the morning sun shine through, Qrow noticed the bookcases and their books behind were seldom touched.

"So you say." the mayor rubbed against the bridged of his nose, flicking his glasses up. "When I tasked Ironwood of fetching a suitable and attentive Hunter, I didn't expect to see you here." almost immediately he bit his tongue, unintentionally phrasing it wrong. "What-What I meant was that I didn't expect you to be an acquaintance of the good Colonel."

Qrow chuckled under his breath. "Well, being a Huntsmen means traveling to places, killing Grimm, and meeting nice and interesting people. And me, I traveled to a salty air Mistrallian port-town and met an idiot that wanted to pick a fight with me."

"Well forgive me if got this wrong, but the stories of you being an exceptional but frivolously student back you in your academy days…" he trailed off, hanging on to another, and personal, thought.

"So I'm a bad boy, what of it?" he said jokingly. Qrow smirked, leaning back against the chair.

"I know all too well the...lifestyle of people in your profession." said in a solemn tone. Qrow caught it, he expressed a stoic face himself. "Tell me, it's been awhile since we last talk. How is…"

A loud couple of knocks rattled the door, and before they could react it swung open. Ironwood wearing his stern face entered with business-like bravado, his eyes immediately caught the sight of Qrow.

"You're here." Ironwood said to him.

Qrow causally shrugged, "So it seems. And I doubt there is another handsome devil for you to beckon." he smirked. "So how's Glynda?"

The Colonel was steaming and almost whistling like a teakettle. He was about to have his growling say before the mayor spoke. "James, I prefer you not barge in during business hours, it's not polite to the office or our guest."

Ironwood dampened the growl away. "Forgive me Victor, I didn't expect Qrow would arrive today." he tried to paste the blame back.

Dr. Victor wasn't impressed; and for the first time showed outwardly annoyance. "Well he is. James do you have some urgent business to explain your lack of foresight?"

"Yes." he said, his expression changed slightly more cheerful. "HQ has accepted my request to enlist an old friend of mine towards your project. He is here right now."

"Oh," Dr. Victor said impressed. "Well that is wonderful news, James." he scratched his head, slightly tilting. "um, aren't you going to the introduce the man that your obscuring?"

"James?" a voice spoke behind the Colonel.

He sheepishly stepped back to introduce a shaved hair dark-skin man dressed in a clean grey shirt and pants, holding a laminated id on his right breast pocket.

He smile warmly. "Good belated morning Dr. Victor. My name is Dr. Rick D. Carnelian, water resources Engineer of the Atlas military defense, And I can't wait to work with you, sir."

Author's final Note: Qrow and Raven arrive as hired Hunters; and they also brought along their sister, bet you can't guess who is she related to. Unless you read my other story.

Anyway as for the news. I'm adamant on keeping this story only 15 chapters, but it let to a problem: I want to write more stuff. To fix this while keeping the 15 chapter cap I am making Omake (side story) chapters for fun or to flesh out some details. Not very plot heavy side stories. They will be sprinkled between chapters, the timeline in which they take place will be stamped on the top of the Omake chapter.

Do you have any request? could use some ideas for fun Omakes. Post in the reviews.

Anyway read and review if you please.