"Hm... that tint of pink is a tad too bright. Can you bring me that red one instead?" Caitlin leaned a hand on her hip as she inspected the long lines of dresses presented to her while the servants in the background busied themselves in adjusting to their master's tastes.

"Why not this one, mother?" Glynda activated her semblance then brought a dark violet dress forward.

"It's nice, but I always see you wearing purple in the World Hunter's Monthly magazine, so why not spice things up a bit?" Caitlin flicked a finger and brought forth a frilly turquoise dress with short sleeves.

The two women mirrors of one another, they adopted similar thinking poses as their bright emerald eyes perused the vast selections. After the fifteenth debate, Caitlin shifted her sights to a dark maroon dress fitted with a thin tan-colored sash.

She brought the dress forward and smiled when Glynda seemed pleased by her mother's choice.

"Say..." Caitlin said slowly as if she was testing for a reaction. "Your father and I have heard some rumors recently about your days in Vale. Tell me, are you seeing anybody?"

Her daughter didn't seem disturbed by the sudden question, nor did she show any real reaction. All Glynda did was give a simple hum and rolled her eyes.

"If you're referring to the members of STQH or any of my teammates, then you have nothing to worry about, mother." The huntress said confidently.

"Glynda," Caitlin's expression and her tone shifted to a more genuine level as she snapped her fingers and ordered her servants to leave the living room immediately.

"Please, sit."

Glynda took stiff steps and occupied a spot on the couch as her mother occupied her leather chair.

"I'm not as oblivious as you think," Caitlin began, "and it hurts me that you assume that."

"I don't think-" Glynda's words were cut short after her mother raised her hand.

"It pains me to pressure you," Caitlin continued, ", especially after all the good you've done outside your home kingdom's borders. But you're already twenty-five and your father and I aren't getting any younger. So it would actually please me to hear that you've been pushing for a significant other."

Caitlin gently rubbed her forehead and sighed deeply. "There are a few men that I'd like to get you acquainted with when we attend tonight's banquet, as I'm sure May has informed you."

"May?" Glynda furrowed her brows.

"Yes, isn't May Marigold your friend? I believe your father and I introduced you to her during your tenth birthday party."

Glynda sighed weakly. While she did recount the memory, she and May rarely spoke to one another after that, and when she encountered the Marigold at Vale all those years ago she didn't seem to hold the witch in high regard.

"May and I aren't really the types who mesh well together," Glynda said.

"Oh..." It took all of Caitlin's willpower to not get frustrated or annoyed; for the Marigolds held quite a large sum of land both within and outside Atlesian territory. Not to mention that they rivaled even the Schnee's in both wealth and influence. To severe, a bond such as that would not bring forth a bountiful future for the Goodwitch household.

"Then perhaps, this man is of noble blood? He certainly appears to carry himself in such a manner."

With a flick of her wrist, a paper was brought over while enveloped in a purple hue. To Caitlin's disappointment, her daughter did react to the photograph, but not in the way that she'd hoped.

Said photograph, was an image that a woman who went by the name 'PeachLover20' had uploaded to her social media page on Scrollpic. There wasn't anything to really take note of on the happy image, as it was simply a gathering in the park with the members of GGPO and STQH. However, Caitlin had gone out of her way to circle a certain stoic figure in red marker.

"I've heard the exploits of the famous members of STRQ, but I don't recall you being very fond of them. In fact, in the few conversations that we've had during your attendance at Beacon, you often complained about their inability to follow orders or perform simple tasks. However, that seems to have changed. Tell me, is it because of this Hawkins fellow?"

Glynda's eyes widened. "You know his name?"

Caitlin rolled her eyes. "Of course, I know his name. All it took was a quick search in the MHA's recruitment files to find some background on him. Though I'm not sure if Hawkins is his surname or his first as it's the only title that he appears to be registered under."

Glynda cursed her luck. She should have known that her pushy mother would be more meticulous about snooping in her daughter's personal life. It was times like these that Glynda really appreciated how her father respected her personal space and affairs.

"Yes, Hawkins was transferred to serve as the replacement for Summer Rose's partner after a complicated falling out," Glynda replied. "Though, I can't really say that Hawkins is worth taking note of. He keeps to himself most of the time and is even reluctant to serve his team leader when he is called upon."

Caitlin appeared to hold the desire to continue this conversation, but a glance at the living room clock denied her wishes.

"We will discuss this matter at a later date. For now, we need to make sure that you're properly dressed for tonight's banquet. I'll have your father send for the limousine that we rented for the day, and I trust that you'll be on your best behavior."

"Yes mother," Glynda stood at the same time as her mother, "of course."

/-/

"Come on, Neo, we're gonna be late if you can't make up your mind." Roman sighed lazily.

Stuck in the room of their rented hotel, Roman stared blankly at the bustling streets where everyone and everything was of the upper class. Even the trashcans had been meticulously designed to look like standing crowns.

"Tug~ Tug~"

The boy turned back and rolled his eyes when he saw his sibling with puffed cheeks. For the past three hours, Neo had been debating between a light blue dress with a crystal pattern knitted on the hems and cuffs and a pink frilly dress with a brown hem.

"If you're looking to be adventurous, why don't you settle with the light blue dress? You don't usually break out from your regular color scheme anyway."

Neo put a finger to her chin and contemplated the idea, but ultimately denied it and tossed the blue dress aside.

Roman sighed in relief. He'd already picked out his outfit a week before tonight's events. He glanced at the smart, maroon-colored, child-sized suit he'd picked out and had swapped out the usual red stripe on his bowler hat for a white one.

"Roman, Neo, are you there?" Daz entered the room. Still adorned in his usual black suit and tie, he crossed his arms at the two tykes as they scrambled to get themselves in order.

"Your father's waiting in the limousine that's parked on the street, there's no real rush, but your dad would prefer a head start so that we avoid most of the snobs at the party."

Roman shrugged and Neo skipped off to her room to change. In a moment's time, the siblings were prepared to take on the world as they exited their lavish hotel and hopped into the slick black limousine their father had rented.

Inside the limousine was quite spacious and padded with leather. In the middle of the long seats, was none other than the owner of the RDI with a cigar between his lips. However, it hadn't been lit and mostly served as something for his teeth to clench on.

He still wore his long green overcoat, but instead of the brown, fur-trimmed collar, it was replaced by a soft cluster of bushy light green feathers. A blue cravat around his strong neck, a yellow checkered, button-up vest over a white long-sleeved shirt. Black slacks that ended in black shoes with gold buckles, the outfit Crocodile wore was reminiscent of when he first joined the seven warlords in his youth.

"Need a light?" Daz asked as Roman and Neo took their seats.

His gray eyes glancing at the kids he decided to adopt, Crocodile simply shook his head in the negative and ordered the driver to start the limousine.

"So," Daz continued, "why are we pinning after the Marigolds anyway?"

Crocodile chuckled as both Roman and Neo turned to their father for answers.

"As it turns out," the warlord hummed, "the Marigolds were looking at the deserted sections of Mantle for a possible outing into the industrial business. So as you can imagine, they weren't all that happy when they heard that I already contracted all those empty streets under my name."

"I don't see why the Marigolds need to concern themselves with industry. Heck, those golden-eyed snobs already own seventy percent of the agriculture that feeds both Mantle and Atlas. I can't imagine that their pockets aren't stuffed." Daz shrugged.

"I didn't think that at first either, but as it turns out there's a new project that the general of Atlas is going to be announcing tonight and everyone with money to spend are hell-bent on investing in it."

"So are you going to offer them any lien, pops?" Roman asked as he cupped his chin.

The hooked man sighed lazily. "If I wanted to offer my services to that military-minded man, I'd have to prove that my company could outweigh the benefits of the SDC. It pains me to admit it, but my influence in Mantle, Atlas, and Vacuo is nowhere near to being as high as that of the Schnee's. Though I'm not really bothered by this if I'm being completely honest."

"Really, why not?" Roman said.

"Because," his father chuckled, "unlike that sleazy Jacques I don't have the banks of the nobility at my disposal. As of right now, the only thing that I've got going for me is the rising complaints of the middle class and the homeless. I guess I could also include the constant strife of the Faunus, but even they don't seem to like the RDI too much."

"Why's that pops? I thought there a lot of Faunus working in the company."

Crocodile showed a smug grin. "Their petty reasoning for disliking me is because I'm seen as a capitalist who's leeching off the hard labor of the less fortunate. Well, at least by the Faunus who isn't working for me. Heck, I've even gone out of my way to give my workers bonus wages during the holidays and benefits to boot. If they're still ungrateful for that there's not much else I can really do to satisfy them is there?"

Roman shrugged. "Why don't you just hit them in the head and set them straight? I've seen the policemen do that back in Mistral and that usually gets all the petty whiners straightened out."

"Don't get your hopes up," Crocodile's eyes narrowed slightly while he leaned in Roman's direction. "There isn't a doubt in my mind that I could slit the throats of everyone who pissed me off, and I usually wouldn't think twice if I were back in the grande line. But things are different here and my aim isn't to slaughter everyone I see. I respect cunning just as much as I do power. Don't forget that, either of you."

The warlord shot a stern look at both his children. Roman seemed to take his father's words to heart, but Neo seemed a tad confused about the matter.

"My words not sinking in, Neo?" Crocodile smirked as his child flinched.

"This world is filled with greedy louts who are all pinning after the bigger dogs so they can reserve a future of good fortune and steady wealth; and if you're smart, it's better to know who you can trust in the long run. That's why you and your brother are joining me at this banquet tonight. I want to see how far your natural instincts can carry you before you end up getting ensnared by a cunning trap."

Neo puffed her cheeks and veered her attention to the floor. She didn't really care about the political scene in regards to her father's business. She just wanted to taste the yummy desserts that were bound to be served in tonight's festivities. Nevertheless, she understood better than anybody that her adoptive father wanted her to learn, and she assumed that this was going to be a lesson she wouldn't be able to weasel out of.

"Alright, looks like you've got the gist of what I wanted to say," Crocodile hummed in amusement.

He'd been talking for quite a while now and tilted his head toward the driver who said that they'd arrived.

"Well, I hope you two got a lot of rest because this is going to be a long night."

As the limousine of the RDI rounded one final corner and entered a long stretch of straight road, the magnificent sight of the Schnee mansion came into view.

/-/

The night sky, clear of any cloud, the stars shined brightly with the shattered moon as the twinkling lights from the street lamps greeted them in bright yellow.

This was the first time that Roman had ever entered a rich estate, as while his house back in Mistral wasn't anything to scoff at, it couldn't quite compare to the multi-storied building that housed the Schnees.

As the limousine slowed to a walking pace, it was slotted among the tens of other limousines and fancy cars that eagerly passed through the tall iron gates. Soon, Roman laid eyes on the three fountain-like statues that were pointed upward and held a 3d version of the SDC logo. He was very impressed, and even Neo decided to join him and pressed her face against the window in an attempt to see better.

Long pillars of white stone lined the outer sections of the manor each carved with intricate designs of large and small snowflakes. The main building was attached to an even larger establishment that served as both the staff's living quarters and library that had long lost popularity since the Schnee household had turned more so in the direction of expanding industry and technology.

"We've arrived, Mr. Crocodylus." The driver announced and the limousine came to a gentle halt.

The driver opened the door, and the moment that Crocodile and his family exited the vehicle, he made sure to shove a generous roll of lien in the driver's hand and told him to remain on call for the entire night.

The driver, surprised at such a large amount, tried to answer to his better instincts and politely reject the bountiful sum but his passengers weren't having any of it.

"Just keep the damn lien and don't make a fuss about it. Unlike most drivers who try and curry favor with me, you actually kept your mouth shut and let me have a decent talk with my kids. Besides, I can tell that you're not used to getting bread crumbs from the upper class, am I right?"

The driver smiled sheepishly and shoved the lien in his pocket. He agreed to return to the Schnee manor at Crocodile's request, then hurried away to move the limousine before it caused a traffic build-up.

"Alright you two," Crocodile took out a lighter now than they were in open space, "you can eat as much as you want and even drink a few liquors if you're sneaky enough about it. But I don't want to have to deal with a noble chewing me out because my brats decided to be stupid, alright?"

Roman and Neo nodded. Out of all the people on Remnant, their pop's wrath was the one thing they wanted to avoid at all costs.

"Looks like you two understand, so come on then, we have a banquet to attend."

Greeted by the smiling servants who took charge of the entryway, Crocodile stepped forward but was beaten to the punch by a rather tall man, his wife, and his only child.

Indigo eyes fitted in a strong square face with dark brown hair that was combed to peak slightly at the front. A golden badge of an open-winged cardinal was pinned on the shoulder of his black suit with golden trims.

Beside him, was his wife who wore a sleek white dress with a pink sash tied around the shoulder and waist. She didn't wear a pin but had her noble family's emblem knitted on her white gloves. She had burnt orange hair pale green eyes that seemed to narrow on the man her husband had impeded.

As for the youngest of the trio, he was a young lad who rivaled Roman in size, but not in age. He too wore a black suit like his father but had brass-colored hems instead of gold.

"Mr. Crocodylus, it's nice to see you again." The man of the trio said kindly.

"Winchester," the warlord seemed indifferent by the man's presence, "I take it that you're family was invited as well?"

"But of course," Mr. Winchester said proudly, "my family owns the Glass Unicorn and are well known for our contributions against the Grimm. I'm very surprised actually, that you decided to actually accept the invitation of your business rival, and with your family no less."

Crocodile gave a careless shrug. "It was bound to happen eventually. Everybody knows that Jacques can't stand the idea of a competent competition. So I decided to entertain the idea and let him think that we're on equal terms."

As the adults conversed while waiting for their turn to enter the manor, Roman felt the curious gaze of the Winchester boy on him.

Indigo pupils meeting the sights of dark olive green, neither boy said anything and seemed content in keeping the silence. Neo seemed to partake in the stare-off as well, but eventually got bored and shifted her sights to another approaching group of rich-looking individuals.

Dressed in bright gold and elegant navy blue, the emblem of the Marigold house, which comprised of a dark yellow marigold was knitted on their clothing with black string to emphasize the image.

Crocodile vaguely recognized the eldest child of the group, as the rumors about the rebellious May Marigold had spread a good deal outside Atlas.

"Well, it looks like we'll have to chat at a later time, perhaps after Jacques has given one of the lengthy speeches that always seems to put him on top?" Mr. Winchester said with a smug grin.

As the Winchesters departed, their son decided to leave with a small wave toward Roman and Neo and the two Crocodylus siblings returned the gesture with a slight nod of acknowledgment.

"Come on you two," the voice of their father broke Roman and Neo out of their internal musings. "We need to get going before the other big shots arrive, otherwise we won't have a spot in the better sections of the manor."