Reviews
MarauderPrime12: Yes. Thank you.
Azure Sky Dance: (Stares at you with a blank expression.) . . . Raped.
Essitter1987: I figured the clarification was needed for beginner RWBY fans.
Krieger Techpreist: You're right. Most wouldn't. But there are probably some that won't care.
This Disquieting One: Okay, not what I was expecting. But thanks.
Chapter 6: The Continental
"Of course he did," was Viggo's response to Avi's report that his hit squad was all killed by Qrow Branwen. The man was a legendary assassin for a reason, retired or not, and it went without saying that he was going to be ready for the assassins.
Avi stands in front of his boss who after a moment of thought, speaks. "Put a contract on Qrow Branwen."
"How much?" Avi asked.
Viggo thinks it over. "Two million." then he mutters in Animan, "Lure the WOLF with the hen."
"Viggo, English, please." Avi requested sheepishly.
Viggo looks up at him before remembering that Avi is American. "Put Iosef in The Red Circle and wait."
"For what?" Avi asked.
"For Qrow Branwen, of course." Viggo replied as if it was obvious.
A bag hanging from his shoulders, Qrow walks into his garage dressed in his suit and puts the black bag in the trunk of the car he was borrowing before it closed. He gets into the driver seat and briefly, he hesitates. Is he really going to The Continental? If he does, it give the impression that he is out of retirement and back into the fold.
But on the other hand, if he tries it the Huntsman way, it would take longer to find the results he needs.
Sighing, Qrow started up the car and then drove out of his garage.
Meanwhile, in Vale, Jackson stood in his kitchen, cutting up vegetables and putting them into a blender to make vegetable juice. And then his doorbell rings. After letting Viggo in, he sits at his table as Jackson pushes his window curtains open, shining some light into the room. He walks over and offers the older man a cup of the vegetable juice.
"Thank you," Viggo said, but he pauses upon smelling the juice and puts it down.
"To what do I owe this visit?" Jackson asked.
"I have a job for you," Viggo replied.
"And I have a Scroll," Jackson pointed out in half annoyance.
"I want to offer this face to face, seeing as you might find it personal," Viggo explained vaguely as he smokes a cigarette. At E. Aster's curious look, the Russian mafia boss asked bluntly, "Would you kill Jack Frost for $2 million? After all, you were close."
Jackson takes a drink before he looked down before looking up with a raised eyebrow. "Is the contract exclusive?" he asked.
Viggo shakes his head. "No, it's open." he replied. "It's a timely matter that has to be handled quickly."
". . . Consider it done," Jackson said after a moment with a heavy sigh.
Viggo nods, looking a bit relieved. "Thank you, Jackson." he said. "I know I can trust you." He stood up as he left. "Thanks for the drink," he added, even though he didn't touch his glass.
Jackson watches the Animan mafia boss leave his house and walks across his street from his window before walking over to a cupboard under the stairs. He opens it up and sees the weapons stored inside. He grabs a towel and sets it on the top of his grand piano. He then begins to assemble his sniper rifle and work on the accessory modifications.
Qrow once again, takes the ferry to Vale. He drives through the streets of Vale before he arrives at his destination, a tall hotel building, parks in front of the building and gets out. Qrow grabs his bag from the trunk and walks up the front steps to the entrance.
Unbeknownst to him, Jackson was standing across the street, his back to Qrow Branwen before turning his head slightly after ordering a coffee.
Qrow walks through the front door, walking past the guests that were sitting in the chairs to the front desk receptionist that was waiting with a woman with black hair and a fur coat in standby. Qrow watches as the receptionist gives the key card to the woman in the front.
"Room 918," Charon stated in a formal tone. "Do enjoy your stay."
"Thanks." the woman said briefly glancing at Qrow with a raised eyebrow before taking the key card and then turning around, pausing to speak to Qrow. "Good seeing you again, Qrow."
"Cassandra," Qrow muttered in greeting before walking up to the desk. "Charon," he nodded.
Charon nodded, glancing at his computer. "I have you for two nights, yes?"
"Yeah," Qrow replied before adding. "Depending on business, it may be longer."
"Of course, sir." Charon nodded his head dutifully.
"When did the place get a face lift?" Qrow asked, referring to the hotel.
"Around four years ago," Charon answered. "But she hasn't changed that much."
"Same owner?" Qrow asked. The receptionist nodded. "Same owner." Then he slides a key card. "Room 818."
Nodding, Qrow slides a gold coin on the desk and takes the key card.
"And as always, it is a pleasure having you with us again, Mr. Branwen." Charon called. Qrow stopped and turned to glance back at the receptionist before turning forward and kept on walking.
Around 4:30, Qrow sits on his bed in his hotel room, hearing the voice of Lydia from the video on his Scroll. "What are you doing, Qrow?" she asked with a giggle.
"Looking at you," Qrow's voice replied in the video. Lydia giggled even more. "Come here."
Just then, the video stopped and Qrow received a message from Glynda.
Your younger niece had a nightmare about her. . . experience.
Qrow narrowed his eyes slightly before replying.
How is she now?
Still shaken up, seems reluctant to sleep.
And Yang?
Shaken, but seems to give into anger. She wanted to start training.
I'd say that's fine, but I should talk to Tai about that. Be seeing you later, Glynda.
With that, Qrow turned off his Scroll. He glances up with slightly narrowed eyes. He then leaves his room, putting on his jacket and goes to the elevator and takes it down to the main floor. After that, he walks down some stairs, past the laundry and mechanical rooms before he stops in front of a particular door. He inserts a gold coin into the coin slot.
The slide window opens and a man on the other side looks at Qrow before opening the heavy duty door.
Qrow walks past the man and into a cuisine bar with music playing, people enjoying their drinks and meals as the band plays. As Qrow walks around, he glances at Cassandra holding a drink and cigarette in hand and briefly glancing at him.
Qrow glances ahead as he walks to a corner table. There sat an older man with dark graying black hair with dark clothes, wearing glasses while holding a pen, looking at the notebook with a glass beside him.
Qrow stopped in front of the man before speaking. "Hello Winston."
Winston glanced up, his eyes widen in surprise. "Qrow," he replied in a greeting tone. He gestures for Qrow to sit down across from him. After a moment, the older man furrows his brows, pondering something. "Now, as I recall, weren't you the one tasked to dole out the beatings, not receive them?"
"Rusty, I guess," was Qrow's reply.
Winston gives a small smile. "So, what do we owe this pleasure?" he asked.
"Iosef Tarasov," Qrow replied sternly.
"What about him?"
"I'd like to talk with him," Qrow replied in a vague tone.
"A talk, you say?" Winston replied skeptically. "Qrow, I'm familiar with this sort of parlance. I want to ask you this, have you returned to the fold?"
". . . Just visiting," Qrow replied.
Winston hums in response before leaning forward and asking firmly. "Let me ask you this. Have you thought this through? I mean, chewed down to the bone?" At Qrow's silent response Winston continues speaking. "You got out once. You dip so much as a pinky back into this pond, you may as well find something that reaches out to drag you back into its depths."
Uncertainty flashes in Qrow's eyes before he ignores it. "Where do I find him?" he asked.
Winston looks at him, a bit disappointed.
Then the scene changed to show Viggo in the backseat of his car while Avi is heard saying, "Hey, Branwen is at The Continental."
Viggo glanced at him before turning to the window on his left. "Welcome home, Qrow." he muttered as if the man was next to him.
"And we got a contact there who's willing to take him out for us," Avi went on.
"How brazen," Viggo muttered with a scoff. He looks ahead to Avi. "If they're willing to break the rules of The Continental, double the bounty."
Back to The Continental's bar with Qrow and Winston. "Sorry, Qrow, I am aware of Iosef's actions to your family but you know the rules." the latter replied regretfully. "No business, whether you're one of us or a Huntsman, can be conducted on these premises, lest you'd be incurring heavy penalties."
Qrow's expression slightly shifted upon hearing that. "For now, relax, have a drink." Winston went on, going for his own drink.
Qrow stares at the older man before moving to stand up. "It's personal," he said gruffly before he left.
Qrow then makes his way to the bar where he's greeted by the bar tender. "Holy shit! Qrow Branwen!" the woman exclaimed upon seeing him.
"Hey, Abby," Qrow replied politely.
"My gods," Abby said in surprise before pulling him close to kiss him on the cheek. "How long has it been? Four years?"
"Five and change," Qrow replied stiffly.
Abby nods before giving him a wide smile. "So, how was life on the other side?"
"It was good," Qrow replied with a nod of his head with a distant expression. "More than I deserved."
Abby then forms a sympathetic expression. "Listen, I'm sorry about-" she tries to say before Qrow interrupts her. "It's okay, thanks."
Abby stares at him before tilting her head. "I've never seen you like this," she muttered.
Qrow looks at her with a furrowed brow. "Like what?"
"Vulnerable," Abby replied bluntly.
Qrow shifts in his spot before murmuring, "I'm retired."
Abby shakes her head. "Not if you're drinking here, you're not." She then gestures to the shelf behind her. "The usual?" she asked, getting a nod in response. She left to get Qrow's usual drink.
The 'retired' hit man turned Huntsman looks around his surroundings and spots Cassandra looking at her Scroll before looking up to him. Her lips curl upward and she raises her drink to him in a toast. Then Abby returns and puts his drink on the counter. "Valean Whiskey. Compliments on the house," she said, sliding a napkin over to him.
Qrow looks over to Winston to see the man lifting his glass in a toast to his direction with a raised eyebrow and slight smirk. Furrowing his brow, he looks back to the napkin and noticed something. Next to the lipstick kiss mark was three words written on the napkin.
The Red Circle.
Yeah, this fanfic is back.
Back again.
Long story short, life, school and moving plus the other fanfics I've been publishing and updating got in the top of the list of things.