Anywhere

Winter settled down on the couch, blinking when the avatar popped up on her TV screen. “You’re really having a rough time with this, aren’t you?” She pulled her knees to her chest, scratching Kiyay’s head. Did she reallyneed an answer? She was falling apart at the seams. The general had been gone only a week and a half. “Do you know about my conversation with the older version of you?” The files could sync across the versions but would such a quick one have been possible? Qrow had been in the house for a few minutes at most… The avatar nodded as it pulled out a chair from behind its cloak, settling down. Just how many custom animations did this thing have? And who had done them all? Seriously, this thing was terrifying. “Yeah, I managed to get some base file in those couple of minutes. Enough to understand the situation. I can indeed confirm that’s accurate, but you probably would be better off talking to him about it like you suggested. “He’s just going to tell me what I want to hear.” Loyal to Summer or not, no man was truly honest, not even the general. All they cared about were their own ends. The general just had many secrets to protect with his position. That was enough to accept and understand. Anybody else, though? They’d only ever use her for something. Qrow had some sort of game. She just had to figure it out… The AI just let out a sigh and the webcam started to rotate. Of course it’d do that. “Hey, could you open the laptop? It’ll take a while to sync everything, but I want to see what all files Rae gave you access to. As long as the file structure is intact, I can get an idea pretty easily.” Winter gave a faint nod before opening and booting it up. The AI’s brow creased, a small loading circle coming up on the screen. “…Looks like most of the original files are relatively intact. Just certain ones have been excluded.” Well, she certainly couldn’t blame them. They were personal files and the fact she even had access to such a large amount. …Wait. “Does that mean I can see a lot of the private moments between Summer, Qrow, and the others now?” That…was unnerving if true…which the AI only confirmed with a nod. Her blood flowed into the permafrost of her heart. She had so much power over him, depending on which videos were included…and that was a lot if the sheer folder structure was to be believed. “How much of the original file structure do you think is in place?” “I’m having to rebuild the directories to a degree, but I have a feeling I know exactly whatRae left ou. So I’d say you have access to about seventy percent of the original files. It’s all related to the classified information that’s taken the general into the field for now. Granted, I’m programmed to not give it out anyway…” The AI rubbed the back of its neck and Winter shrugged. No matter. Her own work had plenty of classified missions. Although… “Do you think you could answer one thing? It wouldn’t give anything away, I think. It’s just yes or no.” And with as robust as this thing’s coding was, it probably wouldn’t trip any security…or at least so she she hoped. “Go ahead and shoot. Won’t promise anything though.” Fair enough. “Is it related to why Qrow can turn into a bird? Even though that breaks every known natural law.” She didn’t want to give that up. It made nosense. People shouldn’t be able to do that. Yet he had. Silence greeted her for several moments as the AI played with its long bangs, giving a slow nod. “Yeah; it’s related to that, but that’s all I can say. Not unless you can pass the security prompts.” “That’s all I wanted to know.” She settled against the couch and Kiyay climbed into her lap. He chittered softly and she shook her head. “Stupid fluffball; I can’t understand you,” she muttered. It was nice to have non-judgmental companionship for once… If only she weren’t so busy all the time…

α

A movement in her arms accompanied by excited chittering jerked her out of her light doze. What— The shifting to sitting up swiftly answered that, her blood chilled. Who— No that was a stupid question. Her striking resemblance to Raven meant one thing. Dove Branwen. The birds’ owner. Qrow’s mother. What was Raven thinking?! A shudder went through her and the woman held up her hands. “It’s okay, apohotonoge. My daughter didn’t bring me here to harm you; I only wish to speak to you about my son.” Valian? At least they’d be able to communicate, though; she couldn’t imagine the woman would be able to speak Atlassian. Her voice was rather heavily accented, but still understandable. Actually in the same way Qrow’s was when speaking Atlassian. It made sense, she supposed. “O-kay? Can I offer you anything…” How was she supposed to refer to the woman? Mrs. Branwen? Dove? Some tribal title she was unfamiliar with??? Creating a faux paux wasn’t something she wanted to do…especially when she owed Raven so much. “Oh no; I’m fine. I can’t eat or drink anything highly… Um…” “Processed might be the word you’re looking for.” The AI grinned and Winter sighed. There would be some communication problems apparently. The woman at least spoke well enough. “Thank you, Summer. You may be right. Anything that isn’t pulled from a wholly natural environment makes me quite ill. May I sit down?” The woman motioned to the other end of the couch. Winter bit her lip. She seemed gentle but she was stilla Branwen. Their best were said to be worth three or more of the best Hunters… But it was cruel to force her to stand. “…The chair.” Just like Qrow had done. Perfect compromise. Though the woman would easily be able to close the gap if she wanted. Hopefully it wouldn’t come to that, though. Qrow would be able to do the same if he wanted… Dove settled down and offered a small smile. “I do apologise for intruding in your home. But my daughter scares you so this unfortunately seemed the easiest way.” Winter wished she could say it was fine, but it wasn’t. Her apartment, the general’s, and his own personal home in Theia were her only safe spaces. And the sanctity of her own personal area had been violated multiple times… “Perhaps it would be best for you to say what you came so far to. I do have a meeting soon.” A few hours may not be ‘soon’ for a lot of people, but it was too close for her. Four men in her apartment that weren’tthe general, none of which she could trust… It was far too soon. Nothing would ever prepare her for something like that. “Of course, apoho.” Seriously, what did that mean? Then again, Branwen language wasn’t her business now, was it? “I’m normally one to try to be gentle and sensitive, but it’s clear that won’t work well here. So, to be straight, you have nothing to fear from my son. He was one of the most gentle members of the Chiri-poho—” “The tribe’s name for themselves.” “—while he was growing up. Combat came naturally to him, but it was never something he took pride in. Especially in the shadow of the father that beat him mercilessly for being so kind and gentle natured.” Winter could only tense at that. An abusive father? That… A lie, right? But what conceivable reason would Dove have for anyof this? There…was no visible gain for her in talking about this. What did she stand to benefit from speaking to her in the first place? They’d almost certainly never meet again after this. Raven, on the other hand… That’s probably would would gain from this. Yes, that had to be it. She’d gain something— “Winter, tonoge .” Dove spoke gently but it was enough to make her look up, eyes wide. Everyone wanted something— “No, they don’t. Some people canoffer words or actions without personal gain. I know, in your life, that isn’t true, but has anybody done anything without personal benefit to you? Or perhaps you’ve done for them?” That sounded preposterous on knee-jerk reaction but…the general had done so much for her that made no logical sense. And she personally did everything possible for Weiss. Nothing else mattered in the end but saving her sister. And James’ own behaviors toward her were less than logical. He’d let her stay with him for several months before entering boot, just to adjust to the outside world. More than one night had been sleepless toward the beginning. She’d just been soafraid that early on. Not that things were any better right now. But those were exceptions. People were inherently selfish. Altruism was false. It simply didn’t exist on the scale Dove suggested. “…Those are rare exceptions. To expect kindness from others is foolhardy and opens one to certain ruin and abuse.” Nobody in the whole of Atlas was like that. People were just cruel, selfish, and evil. People like her own sire. There was almost no such thing as unconditional kindness. She heard Dove let out a sigh but no insight offered. “But yes… My husband was a cruel man in certain ways. He was loving and caring toward me and seemed so toward our children as well, but nothing could have been further from the truth. I didn’t know until just before they left for Beacon. “I just knew that my former husband and son were never close. They mostly avoided each other. But it had to have been bad with as cruel as he was elsewhere.” “…And you didn’t pick up on it with aura sensing?” Normally she wasn’t one to poke her nose into family affairs, but in this case, the question felt legitimate. Qrow and now his mother were reading her like an open book. Surely she would have noticed. She was a complete stranger, yet they could read her as easily as she read Weiss… Dove sighed and looked down, running a hand through her hair. “Unfortunately, the feelings my children had weren’t uncommon at the time. My former husband was cruel and strict. Children in general face tough training at young ages to prepare them for raids. Yes, we do that, but it’s rarely in the way of actually destroying villages for ourselves. We mostly find villages shortly after they’ve been destroyed. Then we take what we need and care for survivors. Only once in a great while we’ll do that, but generally after it’s been a particularly harsh winter. “Not…him, though. It was all about taking what was needed by force than our usual trade. So it wasn’t uncommon for children to be uncomfortable, angry, or outright afraid of him.” And yet she’d married him… She was obviously an intelligent woman, given her fluid command over Valian in lieu of living so far from Vale. Yet she’d willing married and stood by a cruel man. She couldn’t really understand why such an intelligent woman would sit by while such atrocities played out. How could somebody dothat? At least Willow had been broken quickly so that was excusable… “I see.” She really didn’t, but she was too polite to say it. Though she did see the woman shift a bit which made her blanch. Damn it, she’d felt all of that, hadn’t she…? “But yes, my chirpo… He was the sweetest child. He rarely strayed from my side to play with others his age. He was mostly making sure Raven didn’t get into trouble.” Dove chuckled softly and the AI groaned, dragging its hands down its face. The facial features stretched out in a slightly exaggerated manner. Seriously, just how many unique animations did it have? Wasn’t such fluid animation expensive? “You have no idea how bad it was. Qrow and I were a hundred eighty percent of her impulse control and it was neverenough. Both of us got so annoyed. I still remember those two bickering to no end.” Winter tensed at that. He was argumentative and quick to anger? That…didn’t seem to line up with what she’d seen so far but— “Winter, tonoge.” Dove’s gentle voice drew her attention again and the older woman shook her head. “I don’t think talking is doing any good… How about I show you instead? I’ll have to come near as we’ll need to make physical contact for it. It doesn’t have to be much, but we’ll have to do so. Can I sit near you?” A shiver went up Winter’s spine as she held Kiyay closer. Why did she need physical contact? Couldn’t she just show her videos? Then again, what good would they do? She knew better than most just how fragmentary they could be. Coco could make a case for Jacques’ abuse, but she had thousands of clips from CCTV security cameras. It was clear that it wasn’t staged. But somebody taking video knowingly… Any of that could be faked… She’d seen her men screwing around like that and— Soft chittering made her look down and a wing came up to her face. He bumped his head under her chin. If only she could understand what he was saying fully. But he was clearly at least trying to calm her. Maybe reassure her it was okay? She really didn’t know. But she at least did feel a little soothed. She scratched his head, the most fragile smile ghosting over her lips. Why did she find so much comfort in him? They hadn’t even known each other for that long… But at least she did have him… “Hey Winter.” She glanced up at the AI after it spoke and saw it shifting uncomfortably. “I can tell you what Dove’s planning either in part or in full. Not to say she’s incapable, but with being technical into esoterics, trying to translate that may be difficult to her. But at the same time, I have a feeling the full details will just make your anxiety go higher.” That…was a good point and probably true. Her anxiety was already so high and driving it further wouldn’t do any good. But knowing the specifics of what would happen to her was always important… “…What is the point of all of this in the first place?” She…still wasn’t sure. Yes, she wanted information on Qrow, but why bring his elderly mother here? Raven hadn’t exactly explained that. And if this AI understood Raven half as well as it did Qrow, surely it’d known her reasoning. There was the fact Dove had no real investment in this, but at the same time… How did all of this tie together again? She was suddenly very tired… “Dove can provide information about Qrow to you via opening her memories. It’s as she remembers things. It’s through advanced aura, hence the need for physical contact. At base, it’s Grade Three with some higher ones mixed in. That’s the bare bones of what hopefully won’t worsen your anxiety. Do you want more or should I keep it there?” That…was a good question. She really didn’t trust the woman but she did need the information on Qrow without him getting angry. Then again, how was this any different than going through the AI…? The only slight one was the method and person. But she did need to know if he would fly off the handle or not. People could and did grow a lot from being children… Was this even truly reliable? Plus, there was still the fact Raven could and probably would benefit from it somehow. “Winter, truly, what do I personally have to gain from this? My daughter has nothing to do with it.” But she did. People could still benefit through such a system. She’d seen such systems play out before. They were too common. “Hey Wint, remember the cookie from earlier?” Winter’s head snapped to her best friend who grinned at her. Her brows furrowed. What did that have to do with— Oh. She’d taken a hell of a leap of faith with it. Trusting someone enough to take food from them. Something so unhealthy, no less. And it’d ended up being one of the most delicious things she could remember ever eating… Maybe… Maybe she should do it here… Persia hadn’t poisoned her… It might not end horribly again. Plus she was Major Schnee. She could defend herself from anything. Taking in a breath, she nodded slowly. “Very well.” If this did end badly, Coco wasn’t her friend any longer. She was responsible for this push. She’d done everything she could protect herself. It’d all be Coco’s fault if her very soulgot damaged…