Anywhere

Lamp lights flickered overhead and Qrow shivered as the wind cut through his thin clothes. He really should've thought this one through a little bit more but he was desperate; could anybody blame him? Even in a tribe of major it advanced aura users, only about five to seven people reached Grade Twelve. This was a huge long shot but maybe…just maybe something would work in his favor… He glanced around, hand ready to grab his dagger. Snow crunched nearby and he spun on his heel, a white-haired woman greeting his vision. "Woah, take it easy, buddy. You Qrow? I'm Robyn Hill. Jonas set us up." Well, at least that checked out; not a lot of people had his real name… "Yeah; I'm Qrow Branwen." The woman held her hand out for him to shake and he narrowed his eyes a bit. Why was she gathering aura in her hand like that? It didn't make any sense. "Geeze, you need to relay, you old geezer." He just grunted. "Come on; there's a little cafe over there We can talk at. "This one certainly was flippant, wasn't she? He just nodded and she dropped her hand. Honestly, the warmth of the café was welcome. They each placed their orders and settled in a corner of the room. He took a long drink from the coffee. He hadn't had anything to drink—booze or otherwise—in far too long and the several hours of talking hadn't helped at all. He probably wouldn't get back to sleep either, so might as well get a pick-me-up… "So Jonas said you needed info. I've got basically anything you could need but I don'tgive it away freely. I have people to protect and if I say the wrong thing, they might get hurt somehow. So tell me what you need and I'll see if I can help." Robyn's tone remained even the whole time and Qrow mentally groaned. Why had Jonas hooked him us with such a tight-lipped woman? It was an emergency and this is what he ended up with. Just his fucking luck. But he didn't have much choice, did he? "What I'm gonna say will prolly sound nuts, but I promise it's the truth. I need someone that can use their aura in a way that transcends what normal people can do. Beyond semblance and simple defensive shielding and even offensive aura—I need someone that can manipulate somebody else's soul with theirs.'' And there it was. If she didn't laugh him out of the cafe right then and there— She just held up her hand, aura once again pooling in it. "You're right, it does sound somewhat unbelievable. Mind patting it to the test?" Her tone remained even but there was a warmth to it and he just narrowed his eyes. So that was her game, was it? "You already have the intel I want; you don't need your little parlor trick Semblance to verify my words." So that was what she'd been trying to do earlier… "Wait, what? Did you seriously just—" "I felt your aura flowing to your hand when you tried to shake my hand earlier and it was written all over it you weren't too surprised by what I was asking for. It's common for people with Semblances that read someone else to try to ball something similar to what you are. Lie detection, I'm guessing?" His expression and the flattened. Damn it, people like this woman were nothing but a rain in the ass. Always trying to make sure they were in control of any given situation... What had caused her to be such a control freak? Robyn blinked before smiling and let out a small 'heh.' "I guess you're the world's best Hunter for a reason, Branwen. So I've got what you want. Can you offer something that'll make it worth my while?" Well at least she was dropping the pretenses now… "Not really. I haven't really been out in 'bout two weeks aside from getting more booze. Plus, do you think someone like me would give information to youwhen it's solely beneficial for me to keep it?" Everyone knew he was a lone wolf. Him giving information out to some Huntress he'd probably never cross paths with again? Not that he had anything to give her... "Fair enough so can I at least get a why?" Robyn held her hand out again and he took it. "Can't say much beyond this but it's for the protection of the one I'm currently guarding. No, I'm not telling you who or exactly what I want with an advanced aura user." Far too personal and it might put Winter in danger. Anybody aside from Coco and the Ace Ops knowing about this was just way too dangerous. "Well, your words check out so think you could give me some o-re info on what exactlyadvanced aura is? I've never heard-fit before.” He gave a faint nod, taking a drink of his coffee. "Yeah, that is something I can do no problem. Put simply, it's the esoteric side of aura. It's a way of life you have to commit yourself to. You learn about everything through yourself. You learn how everything is connected and can really recognise how your actions impact others. Doesn't mean you can't act impulsively; my sister was Grade Nine entering Beacon and the team was 280% of her impulse control but it still wasn't enough." A faint smile formed on his lips. Even if the STRQ memories were usually nothing but pain especially in Atlas, Raven shooting off with him and Summer trying to corral her still amused him endlessly. "Grade? What's that all about?" Robyn raised an eyebrow and he sighed. Exposition dumps sure were fun… "I'll explain that then you give me the intel, okay? Also how god are you with Valian? I know the book that's regarded as the handbook for this. It's translated from ancient Qin in central Mistral." Would a Huntress from Atlas know standard Central Mistrali'? Valian was a lot more likely… "Pretty fluent. I can understand a lot of legal-ese, so some esoteric philosophy shouldn't be too bad. But sounds like a deal." Robyn smiled and proposed her chin up on her hand, eyes expectant. This woman really was something else, wasn't she? He'd normally get laughed out for this. "So the short of it is that there are twelve techniques that start from just being able to feel your aura flow to being able to heal someone else's trauma with your own soul." Robyn blinked, her aura churning uncomfortably. "Wait, so you want somebody toking for somebody that can do that to you?" Well, she certainly sooke her mind, didn't she? Not that it wasn't obvious before… But he just ignored it. "You know how I've been reading your unspoken emotions?" "Unfortunately." She sighed, shoulders dropping. Not so used to being on the back foot, eh? "That's Grade Nine: sensing aura blockages. Highest I can go personally. It can get a lot more specific than what I can do though; someone trained enough could read someone's entire history." In theory, that was. He'd at least never met anyone that good. Grade Nine was rare enough; for them to be that trained? Basically impossible. "So I see. Well I have a lot more questions, but I'll leave it there." Robyn leaned forward, holding her hand up to his ear. "I have reliable sources that say Kali Belladonna and Sienna Khan have multiple aura abilities beyond Semblance. Former and current SDC workers have said they felt Kali calm them down even if their aura isn't active." Qrow blinked and stared at Robyn. "As in the founder of the—” The woman parsed her lips and held a finger over them but nodded. Great... Just his fucking luck... That was definitely the description of an extremely high Grade Eleven at least, but still… - Just his fucking luck. "Do you know where she is?" There was no point in having the intel if he couldn't use it… "Vale last I knew, I've heard she's a pretty selfless person but still... Can you really trust her with something as sensitive as a una manipulation?" "I've never known a bad high-Grade advanced aura user, but they c. uld exist in theory.." He leaned back in his chair, hands behind his head. Hopefully this wouldnt be the one time it bit him in the ass but there was a first time for everything… "Anyway, thanks for the Intel, I'll drop the book off to Luc is tomorrow and he can pass it to You. Sound good?" 'Yep. Maybe we'll cross paths again, beardy." she gave him finger guns and he just rolled his eyes. What a strange woman. Not his concern though.. At least he had the intel… With that, he headed outside and the icy wind f. re through his feathers. Raven wasn't going to be too happy to hear from him again later.

α

Winter looked up when she heard the guest room door click and tensed as Qnow walked out. He…looked like he'd been through the grinder. Wasn't he supposed to be asleep? Then again, it'd been a rough night for both of them... Plus it wasn't her mace to poke her nose into it... What good was she when it came to people in the first place? " …Hey Winter, got any tea? If so, mind if I use your kitchen to make some?" "Go ahead. There's some in the cupboard near the sink." "Want any?" And risk poisoning or drugs? "No thank you, sir; I'm fine." "Have you had anything to drink since I went to bed. …Oh. No wonder her throat felt so raw. Water never really crossed her mind at times like this. She shifted to get us from the chair, but Kiyay started chittering softly, moving close to her. "Wait, you unhooded him?" The question made Winter freeze and her blood turned to ice. Oh no. She'd made a horrible mistake in doing that, hadn't she? Summer had guided her through it and said it was okay. but it wasn't her bird. It wasn't even Qrow's, but he knew how to deal with them. What would his retribution be? "Can't say I expected him to take to someone other than my mother so readily. Thought it'd take a fair bit of manning to do that. Glad to see it though." Wait... What...? That…was it? She'd violated some sort of boundary but he was just brushing it off...? How could he be so relaxed about it...? “Y-Yeah... He was putting up a pretty big fuss and wanted to see Mono... I-I'm sorry..." All she could do was apologise... Things had turned out fine but even so... She needed to accept whatever consequences came with her actions... It was only right. Qnow sat a glass of water on her desk and undid the knot binding Kiyay's…leather leg straps. "Nah it's fine, just changes things a little." Huh? What was he planning? Nothing good, nodoubt. "Actually, I was just gonna ask if you wanted to learn to fly the birds… I thought it might be something kind of fun and different for you... Plus, it'd hopefully help you feel more comfortable with them… Seeing them in flight and working with them is a lot different than them just sitting here…" That... did make some level of sense. She'd only ever seen raptors at a distance and now being so close to such large 'n es... It was definitely unnerving though Kiyay sitting here had done nothing but seek comfort. Plus Mono hadn't moved when wanting to earlier… They did seem a lot gentler than they looked. "Okay." Plus... maybe she could learn about Qrow too. Wasn't there some quote about how one treated animals measured the purity of one's soul or something along those lines? Plus, these were aura breeds, highly attuned to people and their moods. They'd obviously been treated well to be so calm in such an alien environment if he did anything against them, they'd let him know. Qrow did stand back up a moment later, though. and she tensed. "Um, this is kind of awkward, but could you put Kiyay down and I hold your hand...? I-It's just so I can get a feel for the size of it and can get a better glove for you..." What... Was she supposed to do? She still didn't want him to touch her but... Dove's glove was uncomfortably tight in areas. "Very well.'' With a breath in, she extended her hand and he surrounded it with both of his. They were warm just like before but now she noticed the rough surfaces. Hard, cracked, and calloused... It spoke to the decades of labor and living in the wilderness. And yet, he barely touched her skin. skin soft, smooth, and unmarred despite her own intense combat training. How fascinating. But it stooped almost as soon as it began and he stepped back. "All right, I got a good feel for the sizing." She got up and retrieved a glass before settling back at her desk. After a moment of consideration, she pulled the glove back on and went back to the couch with Kiyay. Things at least seemed to be winding down for now. For all of about fifteen minutes until Qrow broke the surprisingly comfortable silence. "Winter, I'm not trying to freak you out or anything but I was thinking... maybe I could take over the domestic duties...? Cooking, cleaning, and all that. You have enough stress as it is, so I thought it'd be helpful for you..." He... wanted to handle the food? That'd give him a chance to slip something into it… She just heard him sigh. "Is there anythingI can do to prove to you that you can trust me?" Was there? She chewed the inside of her lip, throat suddenly dry again. There was only one way sheknew of bat to bridge that gap. But then again in a few days… She let Kiyay perch on the back of the couch and removed the glove just to offer her hand to him. "Dance with me." Qrow's eyes widened and she saw the color drain from his face. Okay... That was weird... Most men would jump at the chance to dance with her... "Are you sure, Winter? It's putting you in such a vulnerable position and—" "It's the best way I know to ascertain a person's true heart." As ridiculous as it sounded... Now that she said it out loud... Her hand did shake at the reminder, though. If he was going to take advantage of her it would certainly be now… After a long moment. he stood and put a hand behind his back, bowing slightly at the waist with his right hand extended. "Shall we keep it to the simple box step?" Her nose wrinkled a bit but she nodded. It was the safest and easiest but, by the Holy Father, did she hateit. Stuffy, droll, lacking in any and all passion, a complete disgrace and affront to the art… She glanced at the TV when waltz music started to play. Summer just grinned, flashing a thumbs up. That thing really would drive her to an early grave…and she'd just met it a few hours ago. With a wavering breath, she put her trembling hand in his. Wait. His was shaking too? He did move into place and pulled her into the smoothest glide she'd ever experienced. He was a master of the art. It didn't make any sense for how he was. Justwho was this man? A lone Huntsman with a reputation for drinking and being ruthless yet gentle with children (according to the videos from a few days ago) with a massive memory for poetry and a master of ballroom dance? This made literally no sense. And hewanted to handle the domestic duties? No man in their right mind would— He just defied all logic and sense. And his touch was so very light with holding her… He responded almost instantly to her minute weight shift, going into a full waltz. She just looked up at him, startled. How had he— “Decades of practice and a very unique dance partner.” Damn that thought reading of his. But… She was actually having— No. Winter, that was preposterous. She stepped away once the song ended, not looking up at him. "I suppose I can allow you to cook." As loathe as she was to pass duties to anybody else. Just how weak was she for failing to uphold even a basicduty as cooking for herself? "I should get ready for work." It was at least starting to get close to that time. She didn't give him a chance to respond before she went into her room and locked the door, sliding down it. What was wrong with her? She shouldn't have wanted him to keep holding her hand…and now she'd wanted to keep dancing with him. Just what was her mind doing ? This made nosense. Or…was he doing something to her she didn't even realise? What was wrong with non-Atlassians? Nothing about them made anysense! Even for as much as she cared about Coco, she couldn't understand her… Why was the world outside of Atlas so chaotic? Why couldn't everything be neat and orderly like Atlas? Why? Why did none of this make anysense?