Snowflake in the Sand

Chapter 19

Grand displays of influence and wealth was one of the very first things Winter had beaten into her head to know how to operate, her mother taught her how to act graceful but coldly so that no one would approach her. While her father was more interested in her being the center of attention so that he could talk to potential business partners. Winter had hated the latter one, she was not gifted like Weiss in singing but her father still tried to get her to be something she was not, piano lessons and dancing classes flashed before her eyes as she was patted down as she entered the Ultra Lux, her sword making the mask man pause in confusion.

Winter unclipped it from her belt and handed him her most treasured position in this world "Take good care of it"

"Of course my lady, please enjoy your stay at the Ultra Lux" the bouncer said as he moved to the side and gestured in a grandiose manner towards the bar and the gambling tables, Winter walked gracefully towards the bar and placed the order for wine, red one. It was her preferred drink when she really needed to blend in, but to her coffee was her soulmate. But she certainly didn't mind the tea that winter made for her from time to time, it was too sweet and too cold but she never had the heart to tell her any of that. Because no matter what everyone thought of her or how cold she could be, Winter loved her family Weiss, Whitley, her mother and… even her father to some extent.

But now they were so far away, but she would not let it get to her because it was no longer an impossibility to reach them. The Mojave wasteland had the answers she needed, but House needed to keep the Strip safe and she needed House to cooperate so for now her mission was trying to see threats on the Ultra Luxe.

"Wine, preferably red" Winter said as the bartender nodded as he poured her drink, old habits kicked in as she made it looks as if she was staring at the drink rather than those around her, old dresses and worn out tuxedos moved around the gambling tables. The ravages of nuclear annihilation ignored by them as the mascaraed of class became their personality.

She quietly sipped her drink as the powerful taste hit her taste buds, was the wine before the war too? Or had they simply mastered the art of replicating old world drinks, Winter had found it funny at first but the more tsh thought of it the more depressed it made her.

This world was stuck in the past and the future could never compare to the glory of days of old, so all these people could do was mascaraed or accept the harsh reality of the world.

A small sigh escaped her lips as she reminded herself that there was a way, House said he wanted more for the people and she believed him if only because it made him more powerful and wealthier. Money, it all came back to money.

She was sure that if Grimm where smart enough to have greed humanity would have managed to find a way to bribe and twist the arms of those greedier with a bunch of shiny coins. A shotgun racked a shell and everyone turned to see the commotion not so far from Winter's table a large bodyguard glared down at a drunk patron who apologized profusely to a man with a large hat who simply snorted and went back to his drink.

"Who let him use a gun inside?" Winter wondered as she finished her drink and placing the exact amount that was asked without a second of hesitation, it helped to make it clear that she was at their level. Winter felt the bodyguard turn to her with a tired expression "Look, if you are here to try to get money from Mr. Gunderson you can beat"

Winter shook her head "Just wanted to check if everything was in order"

The bodyguard raised an eyebrow "Where is your mask then, you look White Glove but they don't take off their stupid masks"

Winter gave a nod "I know, I work for the strip in general not any casino in general"

The bodyguard lowered his weapon for a brief moment "Huh, then you are a godsend, Mr. Gunderson is having… let's say a problem and needs help, it would be best if he explains it to you" the guard said as he let her pass, and the man was already staring at her with a small smile.

"Howdy young lady, name's Heck Gunderson. Don't suppose you have seen a boy dressed like a cowboy around this casino, have you?" the man said, Winter shook her head and the man let out a loud sigh "I know, no one has seen head or tails of my boy. But darn it I know he is around here, he went missing in this Casino and he is here. I don't care what the freaks in masks says, my boy is here"

"Have you asked the management" Winter asked softly, Heck shook his head "I can't make heads or tails of this stupid place and no one guides me to where I need to go the assholes. So here I am dying of worry while my boy is out there… I just hope he is ok"

Winter gave a nod "Don't move Mr. Gunderson, I will see what I can find" the old man gave her relieved look and promised her a reward but Winter tuned out part of that, some of the White gloves where giving her looks. Seems like some of them where in on a dirty secret, not that it mattered to Winter for now, suspicious but nothing that needed an interrogation or hostility from her part.

But maybe that would change when she found who ran this casino, so with that in mind she quietly made her way towards to the cashier of the casino. The soft neon lights illuminated her face as she gently tapped on the counter.

"Ah Miss. Schnee I assume, Courier Six said you would come"

Winter felt a smile form on her face "Oh did he now?"

"indeed, he made a habit of gambling in our prestigious tables. Earned quite a mean winning streak too if I say so myself, some wanted him banned but he stopped cashed his earnings and requested half of it to be given to you when you arrived"

Winter raised an eyebrow "How considerate of him"

"He said that our casino would be more of you scene and you would come, I hope that you have found everything to your standards" the cashier said as he handed her a small bag of caps and NCR dollars, Winter made a mental note to thank Six, but now she had a mission to do.

"I have a small message from Mr. House to however runs this Casino, could you point me towards the correct direction"

"Certainly, Marjorie right now is running the Gourmand but I do believe Mortimer, the manager, is on the front desk of the hotel" the cashier said as he gestured with his hand towards the rooms, with a nod and a thank you she made her way towards the manager. There was a man with a top hat running the front desk, but there where too many people, too many ears. Winter did a quick turn and entered the Gourmand and a delicious smell hit her nose, the greatest delicacies in the Strip she recalled some say and with that smell it almost stunned her in place.

People moved from the desk and the woman she assumed was Marjorie stared at her expectantly "Hello, how might I help you today"

"Good morning, I come with a message from Mr. House" Winter commented as she adopted a relaxed stance, the smallest turn in facial expression could mean the world, a relaxed stance and a welcoming smile could do wonders. Or so the trainer her father had hired a long time ago. A small part of her wished she could simply order her but there was no need for that, yet.

"Oh, so you are the mysterious representative that we have heard so much about. Your other half wandered around inside a couple of days ago, sadly he didn't stay with us for dinner"

Winter gave a light smile "Six always has something going on, don't take it personal. But as for the message, Mr. House just wanted to thank you for your contribution and to keep up the work you have been doing" a white lie, but there was no need for her to know that.

"Oh I see. Then please let Mr. House know that we thank him" Marjorie said with a strained smile, Winter noticed this but gave a nod and turned to look at the Gourmand "The smell I simply delicious, I might stay for a bite"

Marjorie perked up at that "Oh please do, our chef Phillipe is simply the greatest, the greatest in the entire world I say if you do not mind my bragging"

"I don't understand why Six dindnt join for a bite"

"Oh no no, we didn't invite him to the Gourmand. You see we have a little bit of a club you could say and sometimes we can induct some people from outside as honorary members"

Winter brought a hand to her chin "And who would qualify as an honorary member?"

"Well not many but someone like you would certainly fit the type of person we are looking for, I can sense that you just simpy ooze class my dear"

Winter gave a perfectly practiced smile "While thank you, I actually would take you up on that offer it would be an honor to be part of such an esteemed club" Marjorie clapped and motioned to one of her waiters to come forward "Fetch me a club membership dear, I will sponsor someone into our club"

The waiter gave a nod a disappeared for a few minutes while Marjorie spoke of the benefits while Winter hummed in understanding at some of them, it seemed like the elite society of Atlas. Just because they said it was important it had importance, other than dining on the luxurious place there was not much. The free room was nice Winter consoled herself mentally.

"Madam" the waiter said as he returned and handed her a silver key with a small piece of leather connected to it. Winter placed it on her belt and smiled at both Marjorie and made a turn as if to leave "I'm glad that everything is running as smoothly as it does in the Ultra Lux, I can see why they say you live in luxury"

Marjorie looked a little too proud of herself but her smile slowly faded as Winter continued "I must admit I was a little worried when I entered, the rumors about someone missing here and all that"

"Those cretins, just because the White Gloves had a reputation before does not mean we are the same crude cannibals, the girl that went missing here simply abandoned the groom. She got cold feet, or she was running from that awful man"

Winter gave a raised eyebrow "But I was under the impression that the person that was kidnapped was the son of the rancher, Mr. Gunderson" Winter said as Marjorie paled a little.

"Well that just won't do, two people missing that is horrible for our reputation" Marjorie mumbled and Winter knew she was in "I could help you, it would be a shame if the Ultra Lux closed even for a day, the strip can't allow that"

Marjorie let out a shaky breath "Good, then you should talk to Mortimer. There was an investigator not too long ago you might still catch him in his room, Mortimer knows where his room his"

Winter left, a nagging feeling on the back of her head. Something was wrong she could feel it, maybe should have taken a different approach but now all she could do was track down Mortimer who was easy enough to find. His top hat made him easy to single out, but he did not seem like he was shocked when she cut in line and knocked on his desk "How might I be of service?"

"Mortimer I presume; Marjorie sent me, an investigator stayed in one of your rooms, I need to talk to him if you would you kindly tell me where he is" Winter said, formal speak seemed to make Mortimer smile. Winter felt his eyes study her for a second but then his façade was back on once more "Of course, Marjorie sent someone already to let me know. I will give you the spare key to his room, it should not be too hard to spot but please be discreet there is no need to spook the other guests" the manager said as he handed her the key.

A small number could be seen in the key, Winter gave the manger a nod "Thank you, I will be back shortly" the practiced smile and the nod he gave her made Winter narrow her eyes. How funny that one of the few of the people in the White Gloves that did not use a mask was the one that used a metaphorical mask the most.

A small part of her was secretly excited about this entire ordeal, it reminded her of some of the old books she read when her parents where not looking, there was always something she had loved about the mysterious detective solving mysteries in the foggy streets of Atlas. Winter smiled fondly at the memory that she had forgotten all about, but quickly shifted back into focus when she reached the rooms of the Hotel.

People didn't turn to look at her for even a second too preoccupied with enjoying the pleasures that the hotel provided, with that in mind Winter quickly started to track down the room and sure enough. Just next to the stairs the room gave a negative aura to Winter, but like always she powered through it.

A soft knock on the wood echoed in the empty hallway, Winter frowned and knocked harder but still no answer. The specialist quickly realized that there was something wrong and a feeling that she was being watched set in. Winter used the key and opened the door quickly and when she was inside she was met with a boody image.

The investigator was crumpled in a corner bludgeoned to death, his corpse looking still fresh. Winter gasped and was about to turn but she was smacked on the back of the head with enough strength to make her aura flare.

Hissing she jumped to the side and launched ice at the door locking it in place, two white gloves bouncers armed with canes that looked metallic "How foolish you just trapped yourself here with us"

"The only one that is trapped is you" Winter said coldly and summoned glhyps to pin down one while she focused on the other but to her surprise the ice construct was shattered by the sharply dressed man. But she had no time to lament this a Winter landed a powerful kick to the ribs of the first goon while she braced herself for the attack of the other.

Her attacker landed another blow to her head, this time almost shattering her aura and before she could retaliate another blow landed on her stomach fully shattering her aura. The bright flash spooked the white gloves long enough for Winter to recover but not enough to fight back powerfull blows landed on her skin making her hiss in pain.

"Enough" Winter mumbled as she summoned to bigger glyphs and smashed the two against the roof of the room and let them down with even more strength, Winter glared down as she delivered a powerful knee to the head of the closest goon while she reached for his cane.

"Stay away from me you mutant" the other said as he tried to crawl away, Winter for her part didn't listen and started to wail at him hitting his legs and arms to not kill him but enough to make him stop moving.

"Who sent you?" the specialist started to interrogate but no sound came, the white glove shivered in pain but managed a glare "Someone who doesn't concern you"

Winter frowned and smacked the cane against his head making him pass out, when it was done she allowed herself to let out a shaky breath "Carelles, I keep forgetting that these people are stronger" Winter said to herself as she promised to push herself harder. As she investigated the room she found a small note on the dead detective "Meet me at four in the steam room" she read softly.

With a nod to herself she planned her next steps, if her new PipBoy did not lie to her it still was kinf od early for that but there was no way in hell that she was going to trust anyone now, so for her part all she needed to do was play the part and disappear.

More specifically into the steam room.

Finding it was not hard, but she was slightly pained that she had to buy a swimsuit. It was not her idea of a good purchase as it clung to her body a little to tightly but at the very least she was glad that it was not a bikini. Leaving her clothes in a locker and making her way inside the steam quickly hit her body and Winter felt a pleasant smell reach her.

The pool was fine but this was simply divine sitting down she was pleased to see that there were very few people inside and all of them turned away from her. Maybe it was because of the bruises in her arms and a nasty purple mark on her leg. Her aura would take care of it soon enough but for now all she could do was wait, as she closed her eyes she heard some murmurs directed at her person.

She resisted the urge to frown, seems like some people were enjoying the view a little too much.

"Hey! Can I sit down next to you?" a peppy voice made her open her eyes, a girl older than she with blonde hair and green eyes. Winter gave a nod as the girl happily sat down "Thank you so much, us galls have to stick together mostly because I lost my friends. They are married you see and with two kids they don't really have time for little old me"

Winter hummed in acknowledgment "I understand the feeling" was all she said as she tried to close her eyes. But the girl next to her seemed to be in a talkative mood "That's a nasty bump you got there" the noisy woman said as she pointed at Winter's leg. Winter looked down and shrugged "I've had worse, a lucky… erm… yeah a Big Horner got me"

"Oh so you are girl danger huh? But sadly sister my scar has got yours beat"

Winter let out a soft whistle as the girl showed her a red mark that went down from her shoulder to the rest of her back, Winter was grateful that the bathing suits in this world where kind of conservative she really did not wish to see more of that scar.

"You got attacked by a deathclaw or something?" Winter said even if she really had never met the creature that Six and other people from the wastes murmured in horror and fear, she hoped she didn't run into any of them… or the cazadores that seemed to be even more disliked.

"No, it was… a super mutant. You see back home in, well I guess you could call it New California, the NCR did not have a strong enough grasp of the region and some raiders and tribals walked, this area was unexplored for a reason. The super mutants were up to something but I never fully understood what… I guess it hardly mattered because he stopped them"

"He? As in the person your friend married?" Winter asked as her curiosity peaked, the blonde girl shook her head and a sad look of longing replaced her previous smile "No, all of us where just following him. He was… well he was more than my friend I would say, special in his silly way; good with guns and talking. He always knew how to make laugh, maybe it was because we grew up together in the vault I… look I don't know why I am telling you this, sorry… I just"

Winter placed a hand on the shoulder of the girl "It's ok, I understand. I'm sorry for your loss, I'm sure he died gracefully doing what he loved and fighting what he believed" she said as she tried to console the woman next to her but it didn't seem to work.

"No, he lived through all of it. We were very young and it was a big adventure for all us, our first time on the wasted… but then he just to disappeared into the wind, not even saying goodbye but I know he would not do that the NCR made him leave. And then years later I hear that he is alive and I run here thinking that there was hope but no, only a crater of nothing but red dust… but I guess that's closure for me, thank you but I think I should search for my friends. After all this trip was not cheap, the least I can do is enjoy it with some good booze… see ya" and with that she was off, leaving Winter to look at her with a sad face.

So much was taken from everyone in this world; war never seemed to truly go away even if the bombs seemed to wipe the slate clean, putting herself in the shoes of the girl she would have been devastated to find that her past lover was nothing more than… a crater of red dust.

Winter jumped alarmed and almost slapped herself in the head "Shit, the divide!" she said as she exited the steam area and tried to look for the girl, but she had disappeared. She thought she saw a glimpse of blonde hair but before she could move a drunk man bumped into her pushing her into the pool, annoyed Winter quickly resurfaced but her trace was gone and all that was left was the cold feeling of failure.

It was almost four she could not leave; not when it was her priority to solve the issues with the casinos. But she almost had more clues into the mystery that was Courier Six and there was someone who knew him probably, maybe even dated him. Winter wanted to kick herself; she did not even ask her name.

Reentering the steam room, she was surprised to see that there was no one there but the maintenance door was slightly opened and Winter knew that she would have to drop all her theories and refocus on what was happening now. With that in mind she opened the door and glared down at the White Glove who was sitting there hidden, he jumped up when she saw her but Winter placed a finger on her lips and extended the paper that she had found on the investigator.

"What… what happened to him?" the white glove asked in a hushed whisper, Winter narrowed her eyes "He was killed in his room, I was also attacked and I want to know why. What is going on in this casino?"

"Oh my goodness me, he got to him. Mortimer got to him!" the man said alarmed as Winter mentally patted herself on the back for noticing he was the problem.

"Don't worry I was not followed, what is Mortimer doing and why target the son of the rancher?" Winter questioned as the white glove shook his head "Mortimer is cannibal plain and simple, he and his posse want to reintroduce this honored tradition, as he calls it, back into practice… but messed up with the kid, he didn't know he was the son of a big shot so now he has him stashed in the kitchen. He has to be fast because if I remember correctly he needs to kill him today so he can be ready for the nights main banquet and that's not so far away"

"Shit and how do I get to the kitchen?" Winter said as she felt some vile rise in her throat. Cannibals, actual honest to God cannibals. Those where just a myth back home, an act so deprived and horrid that only existed in the work of fiction and yet here she was, about to rescue a kid from them.

"The easiest way to do it would be through the kitchen, but there is a more direct way. Through the VIP section but you would have to be a member for…" the white glove never finished his sentence as his brain splattered the other side of the room Winter cursed as a bullet grazed her skin and she saw the assassin reloading his silent pistol, Winter froze his feet to the ground and tried to wrestle the weapon out of his hands but the assassin would not budge trying to point the weapon at her.

Winter made the ice disappear making the man stumble and she managed to take the weapon, she saw him reach for a grenade but she took the shot first, making sure that the bullet would hit his skull. A little revenge for the man he had just killed, but now came the dilemma on how to sneak into the kitchen. With her new weapons it would be easy enough.

With a sigh she pushed the silenced pistol and the grenade down her cleavage, she needed to get out of here fast if she did not want to get caught. With a hurried step she made her way to the exit just in time to avoid the other white glove members, now out of the swimsuit Winter felt that the time had come to end this little diversion.

She made her way to the VIP section and with a polite wave and a flick of her membership she was let in with no problem, now came the tricky part she would have to sneak into the kitchen, luckily there was a wine area near the door that said staff only. So all she needed to do was wait, a slip up was all she needed and soon enough it happened a waiter left the door open on accident as they hurriedly prepared for the main event of the evening.

Seems like Mortimer really wanted everyone in the White Gloves to be there, so it made sense that his little cabal of cannibals would be doing the heavy lifting this night and that made them vulnerable. Winter quickly made her way inside and started to look around for the main kitchen area, she followed her nose as the succulent smell of beef reached her. She really hoped it was beef.

The dark hallways had guards but they seemed to be more concerned in guarding the doors of the Gourmand, seems like they had been expecting someone but they really needed to balance better their team.

The kitchen was easy enough to find, but what surprised her was that there was only one man running around doing everything as he yelled at everything in the kitchen, a clear maniac but a maniac that was sharpening a butcherers knife. Winter walked inside and to her surprise the man inmidietly did a spin and stared at her coldly in the eyes.

"Who are you and why are you in my kitchen?" the man said not taking his eyes of her as he sharpened the knife, he was close to a panel that read alert. Winter needed to play it cool.

"I… was sent here to check something, who are you?"

There was a silence as the man dropped the knife to the floor and glared "Who am I? WHO AM I? I am Phillipe the greatest chef the world has ever seen, do you like food? Fuck you then, because thanks to me you get to eat, hell I invented food I MADE IT EDIBLE!" Phillipe screamed at her as his bloodshot eyes and shivering frame refused to move, Winter felt a stupid idea come up on her head.

Taking an inquisitive stance she looked him up and down "Lashing out at strangers, erratic movement and a clear dependence on work. Seems to me like you had a rough childhood"

"What in the ever living FUCK did you just say to me, do you think I am the way I am because my dad ran out on us, because my mom didn't love or because my siblings would lock me in a cage and… oh they really did that didn't they… I can't… I need to leave, I can't do this anymore" the chef said as a panic attack set in.

"What about the banquet?" Winter asked, but all she got in response was a small book being thrown her way "I don't care, do whatever you want my recipes are right there" Phillip said as he ran into the wine closet and slammed the door shot.

Winter relaxed as she turned to look around and noticed that a terminal was near the freezer, she swallowed hard as she realized that there was a possibility that the poor boy had been chopped in pieces and then placed inside.

But she needed to know, so Winter used her abilities to hack the computer and open the door, every piece of meat seemed to be there and Winter wondered if she wanted to venture deeper, as she opened a door she was met by a badly beaten young man who glared up at her.

"My daddy is going to kill all of you bastards when he hears of this" he said as blood poured from his broken nose, Winter gave a nod and moved to untie him "Ted Gunderson I presume, your father hired me to look for you"

This made the boy relax a little but his glare remained "Then why the hell did you not come sooner, took you sweet time. What where this freaks trying to do anyways"

Winter let him stand up and stared at him coldly "They wanted to eat you"

Ted paled and had to sit back down, Winter gave him a moment as she planned on the next course of action. Looking at the recipe book an idea came to her and a mischevious smile that creeped Ted out.

"What the hell are you smiling for"-"Tell me Ted can you cook Brahmin?"

This confused the boy but then he gave a slow nod "Yeah, me and my old man do it all the time"

Winter gave a nod "Good, then tonight we cook like your life depends on it... because it does"

Mortimer smiled as he watched everyone enjoy their meal, he had just finished his speech, his hand gripping the podium, he could have finished his meal as he gave the speech but really he had just wanted to soak in the vista. This was a new age for the White Glove society he could feel it. They would finally be free of all the things that they did not need.

Some members of his tribe where too stunned to speak but he didn't care, for all that a gracious host could say after serving the best meal of their lives was

"Bon appetite" Mortimer said with a bow, but his grandiose exit was interrupted by the cold lady who slammed the door of the kitchen opened and next to her…

"Impossible!" Mortimer yelled as Winter glared at him.

"What you have eaten tonight, was not human flesh. It was just Brahmin meat, Mortimer tried to trick you all into becoming monsters and eat this poor boy but he did not succeed" Winter said as Mortimer could only look in shock as many of the White Gloves let out a sigh of relief and Marjorie glared at him from her seat. He was done for, he had no other choice. Mortimer threw the podium at Winter and made a run for the exit but no matter what he threw at her the demon would not let him go.

He made it to the exit of the casino, the night on the strip busy as ever and he knew that he just needed to blend into the crowd, Winter yelled at him to stop but it fell on deaf ears. Mortimer laughed as he ran away the crowd blocking Winter. But his laughter died when his leg was blown off.

"No… someone help!" Mortimer cried as the masked Courier Six reloaded his shotgun "Look at that here I was taking a stroll and what do I see? Some crook being chased by my friend and using the civilians as shield that just wont do around here boy" Six said as he stepped on Mortimer's hand.

Winter let out a sigh of relief as she cached up to Mortimer "Thanks Six, this cannibal will hurt no one else" Winter said as she glared down at Mortimer who was a mess of tears and blood. Six shuddered as the word cannibal slipped her lips.

"Geez how many people did he eat?" Six asked not really all that curious but the look on Winter's face told him the entire story "As far as I know, only one confirmed victim a young girl that he kidnapped, but he there is no way that he has not done this before" Winter replied as Six changed weapons. Maria shone bright as midnight hit New Vegas.

"Then I would say, he is a monster that doesn't deserve jail" Six said as Winter placed a hand on his shoulder "I agree but I think that killing him here would not be the best idea"

Six nodded and dragged the crying Mortimer back to the lucky thirty-eight "I was going to change the world; you can't deny what is dormant in you! YOU ARE ALL MONSTERS LIKE ME!" Mortimer cried as the doors of the ancient casino closed followed by the sound of a bullet.

A/N: With the strip secured, operation help the NCR is on the go. I did not forget about Sarah but I think it would be best to save her interacting with Winter for the next chapter. Thank you all very much for reading and reviewing, see you soon!