Despite the constant threat of rain in the distance, the skies over Beacon Academy stayed mercifully clear. The hours of time spent prepping her hair and makeup weren’t going to waste this night, it would appear. But the lightning popping just outside the campus made her move with alacrity from cover to cover towards the main hall.
Slipping into the front door, she breathed a sigh of relief. All the rest of her teammates had already arrived to the dance, but she had insisted upon finishing up her last few pieces of class work.
That’s what leaders are supposed to do, right? she reasoned, it wasn’t like I had a date. Not like the rest of them.
The main hall had been transformed. It was awash with the glitter of a thousand crystals. In the intended darkness and gloom of the dance floor, the flashing of the not so distant lightning caught the facets of the crystals spread about the room. For a moment no one noticed her arrival, and she allowed herself to be overwhelmed. Team CRLN had done a beautiful job.
In her solace, she watched her teammates flutter about the room.
Tai and Raven were the couple to be, in sweeping colors, light and dark, yin and yang across the floor. Ever the debonair, Tai twirled his striking woman, instilling envy in all the other men and women present. Eyes sparkling, Raven was a glorious sight to see.
Qrow… was Qrow. A beautiful lady in arm, one she recognized by face, not name, was different than the one she had met last week. Blushing away as he whispered something most likely scandalous in her ear, it was obvious that she was under the slight haze of alcohol, no doubt supplied by her partner.
Elsewhere about the room, the crowd undulated and swarmed, colors and sparkles of every kind hypntoizing to the beat. The sensation was beginning to overwhelm the petite young woman, pressing, pushing. A clear voice broke through the static, pushing back on the masses.
“Slightly overwhelming, is it not, Miss Rose?”
Shaking her head to clear it, she took a moment to respond to the speaker.
“Yes, Professor Ozpin, it can be.”
“It’s quite obvious to see the Atlesean influence in CRLN’s design, wouldn’t you agree?”
Nodding, she reveled in the peace and quiet that proximity to the headmaster seemed to invoke.
An eyebrow raised, the Professor was the first to break the silence.
“I’m glad you took this time to come. I was concerned when your teammates arrived without you.”
“Well, they had reasons to be here.”
“Oh?”
The young woman raised an arm to the dance floor, gesturing to her teammates and their dates, preoccupied.
“Ah. I see.” Clearing his throat, the professor shuffled slightly, as if nervous. “Well, Miss Rose, I would warn you to not diminish your worth as to a companion. Or the worth of a gathering of this sort without said companion.”
A slight smile tugged at her lips. “I’m here, aren’t I?”
“Indeed, you are. I am still surprised that you had none ask you…”
“I never said that I wasn’t asked, Professor.”
Finally turning to actually face the young woman, the older man’s brow shot up, an unspoken question across his eyes.
She sighed, considering how best to explain her thoughts. Settling in to an answer that both answered and was polite enough, she continued.
“There was none that I wanted to be here with.”
It was the headmaster’s turn to offer up a slight smile.
“I see.”
“Professor… I’ve seen when two people aren’t picky on who they choose. I am intimately familiar. I have no desire to live like that.”
“And why waste time when you don’t see any potential to begin with?”
A slight blush creeped up to the woman’s cheeks.
“That makes it sound so very callous…”
A thoughtful look crossed his face.
“Not callous. Merely… far-seeing. Not a bad trait.”
“I just…” The redheaded woman, at loss for words, glanced out into the dance floor, where an inebriated young woman giggled uncontrollably as she stepped on her partner’s toes. Qrow was beginning to show signs of frustration. It dawned on Summer what she was trying to define.
“I don’t want to be like Qrow.”
For the first time in her life, she heard the headmaster laugh.
“Miss Rose, I don’t think you would ever be viewed like Qrow.”
She puffed out a breath, frustrated. “I don’t want to just take what’s offered by any and everyone. Qrow jumps from one girl to the next. I don’t even know the name of this most current girl, and I doubt she’s going to last the night… That’s what I mean by not being like Qrow.”
“Quite honestly, I don’t think Qrow wants to be like Qrow.”
“What do you me–”
“As for you, Miss Rose, it’s a good way to be. And I am certain you will find someone that you will wish to spend this time with you, and vice versa. Someone you will not ‘settle’ with, but rather choose.”
Turning distinctly away, he signified the end of their conversation.
“In the meantime, I hope you do get at least a single dance. Grace in battle is often a sign of grace in dance, wouldnt you agree?”
“I’ll try my best, Professor.”
—
Qrow heaved out a deep sigh as he stepped out of the door and on to the balcony. Glancing down at the scuffed toes of his shoes, he looked angrily back to the ballroom where his inebriated date was loudly searching for him. He shut the door behind him.
Pulling his flask from it’s hidden pouch in his jacket, he swirled it, contented to find it mostly full still.
What a freakin’ lightweight. She had one, maybe two shots, and she’s sloshed.
Taking a swig, he glanced down the length of the balcony. He noticed a student - a young woman - at the far end. Her face turned away, her slight form was draped with a deep red, flowing gown, gathered at her neck, elbow and wrist, but hugged at all the right spots. Hair tucked up into intricate pulls and tacks, the bandit found himself wondering why he had missed this beauty inside.
Tucking his flask away again, his lopsided smirk fell into it’s usual place, and he began his walk towards the young woman.
“Hey the–” she turned at his voice, and he knew instantly why he hadn’t seen her. “–re, Sum.”
He quickly shifted gears. “What are you doing out here?”
She raised a brow. “I could ask you the same.”
“She was a lightweight. You?”
Shrugging, she turned back to gaze out into the horizon where the storm was still raging. He joined her in leaning against the balcony edge.
“Your date?”
She scoffed. “What date?”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Somebody had to have asked?”
“Oh they asked. I just…” She seemed nervous to confess whatever was in her mind. “I didn’t want to come with any of them.”
Not sure how to respond, Qrow joined her in watching the storm for a moment. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his flask.
“Nip?”
He was surprised to have their team leader wrench his flask away so quickly.
“Hell yes.”
—
The empty flask laid on it’s side between them on the stone barrier.
“What is that stuff, Qrow??” Summer chuckled contentedly, her face awash in an alcohol induced blush.
“Just a little something from back home.” Flushed himself, he was smiling genuinely at the young woman. “I can’t believe we just finished that flask and you’re still standing. It’s like 150 proof…”
She waved a careless hand. “Eh, reminded me of home.”
His eyes glinted mischeviously. “If that’s how your home is, I think I’d like it there.”
“You would.”
From the inside ballroom, a loud clear voice called out last song. Furrowing his brow, the lanky young man turned to his teammate.
“Did you dance at all?”
The young woman shook her head.
“Did you want to?”
She shrugged, trying too hard to seem uninterested in the conversation. Setting his jaw, he grabbed her hand, pulling her away from the edge of the balcony and into his arms.
“Qrow, what are –?”
“It’s a dance, isn’t it?”
“… Yes…”
“And you’d like to dance, right?”
“I guess, yeah…”
“Then let’s dance.”
“But-”
“Will you stop talking about this and just dance with me, Rose?”
Her face pulled into a look of false offense, before morphing into a smile.
“Yessir.”
Pulling her gently closer, the soft music wafted out on to their private balcony, twisting and wrapping about them on the increasing wind. Slowly, the stiffness in her shoulders eased and she began to melt into his touch.
There was something intoxicating about his touch on her, she found, as he moved them across their private dance floor. Maybe, she thought, just maybe she was finding who she wanted to be around. To be held by. To…
No.
She willed that thought away, firmly forcing her mind into enjoying a moment. A comfortable, inebriated moment. Summer dropped her head to his chest, watching with detached contentedness as the distant storm neared.
Still, when he continued to hold her even after the song’s last few notes had died off, swaying to the completed melody, she didn’t want him to stop. And when he did stop, she didn’t want him to let her go.
Raising her head finally, she found him gazing down at her, her own expression mirrored. Silver met garnet and she was lost.
His hands on her bare arms, gently gently on her shoulders. They were calloused. She didn’t realize how calloused they were before. But the touch- so gentle, so kind. Cupping her jaw, thumbs brushing her cheeks. The haze…
So softly his lips on hers. Patient, inviting, tender. Her body no longer wanted her weight, so she leaned into him. A turn, and the kiss started to deepen and–
Krak-thoom!
The nearby lightning strike jolted her out of her stupor. Both shared a glance, and before either could speak, the clouds opened up on them.
A blush burst forth on Summer Rose’s cheeks as they both laughed, soaked already in the sudden downpour.
“Cold shower, got it!” Qrow yelled out at the heavens.
Summer smiled back at him, but stepped away.
“We should go inside…”
“Yeah,” Raven called as she opened the balcony door to them. “that might be smart if you prefer to be alive.”
Summer was the first in, Qrow on her heels, pausing first to snatch up his empty flask.
Raven gripped a soggy lapel of his, turning him to her as she closed the door behind him.
“Strings…”
Qrow rolled his eyes.
“Says the girl who’s screwing over who again…?”
“Strings don’t tangle me up like they always have you… Don’t forget your mission.”
Both of his hands shot up.
“Listen, sis, it was just a kiss. Nothing more.”
She eyed him suspiciously.
“Trust me, once the liqour is out of her system, she’d rather have kissed Port.”
His sister’s nose crinkled.
—
The clock on the wall beat out every second like a drum. Summer Rose laid awake in her bed, fully aware of every moment passing. It was twelve past three in the morning. She had counted every second. The liquor had long dissipated, but she was certain of the migraine in the morning.
Her silver eyes pierced the darkness, accustomed to the gloom. He slept soundly across from her, his head turned towards her.
She knew it was passing.
She knew it was the liquor.
She knew he wasn’t really interested.
She knew it was all a game for him.
But in that one evening, she knew she had found who she wanted to be with. Who she was having a hard time imaging not being around.
So when Qrow first swore revenge against Ironwood way back in V7(?) I didn’t get what made him make that leap of logic. Other than being super emotional and guilty in the moment because of everything that went down. But now I’m looking at it (more) critically and I realized something. Ironwood and Qrow are PEERS. They were both part of Ozpin’s inner circle and familiar enough that they were on first name terms. Familiar enough that Qrow explicitly said what boils down to “you always try to do the right thing so I don’t believe you would be behind this” at the Fall of Beacon. A thing I have a tendency to forget especially in the FNDM is that Qrow is incredibly intelligent, not just in the technical way. For all of his self hate and bad coping mechanisms he does show a good understanding of the things that make people tick, even if its just to know what buttons to push to get what he wants. (Provoking Winter in ‘It’s a Brawl in the Family’) Him immediately getting the implications of Ironwood’s fleet back at the Vytal Festival and what it would mean in regards of public emotion is a good example of him being an sharp and strategic thinker. (He does not spell this out, but he is also steel burning angry at Ironwood for bringing the fleet, and jumped to the conclusion that James was turning his back on Ozpin, because he assumed that James understood exactly what bringing the fleet would mean.)
Emotion can get the best of anyone, but I don’t think his vendetta against Ironwood is entirely from his own emotional turmoil. This heads into supposition territory, but bear with me here.
I think Qrow saw the flaws in Ironwood’s treatment of Mantle. After all a big thing in fortifying and protecting in a war is to ‘get your house in order’. I think he threw his support behind Ruby and her distrust of James, not just because he promised to follow her but also because he saw the wisdom of withholding when he saw how bad it was. But he also saw the wisdom in the Amity Plan from a broad standpoint, the communications tower would go a long way into shoring up their battle against Salem. In this case(currently going through withdrawal and having faced one of the worst revelations of his life only a few days/weeks ago) he decided to trust in Ironwood’s competence and stay passive in his role. Falling back on his work as a Huntsman to feel useful. His job after all was primarily as a free agent/spy/outside advisor before the Fall.
This all turned to shit when he gets a call from RWBY, saying that James plans to abandon Mantle. He is initially calm and willing to go talk it out with Ironwood. This is a clear indication in his confidence in Ironwood, but it also shows that, unlike most of James’ subordinates, he knows that Ironwood can make mistakes. But he also has to take into account the fact that if Clover cuffs him and James turns out to be unreasonable he’s a sitting duck(crow). It doesn’t help that the kids he’s caring for and his family have been but of an Atlas wanted list. When Robyn fires that first shot he realizes that neither of them are going to get out of the situation unrestrained. This is where I don’t understand the whole ‘they were all out of character thing’. Robyn does not trust Ironwood, she has been actively fighting the harsh policies that have been causing suffering in Mantle. Ironwood is the direct cause of those orders. It doesn’t matter if she’s not on the bulletin Ironwood is going to abandon Mantle and she won’t take that lying down. As far as she’s concerned, she’s and enemy of the state alongside Qrow and keeping him free is keeping another ally free to fight against Ironwood. Robyn drew her battle lines and was ready to back them up, which did not include being flown straight into an Atlas military hangar with her only ally restrained and martial law dooming the very city she rose to council seat to represent.
Qrow still trusts the thought that Ironwood still has the greater good at heart, even if he’s making the wrongchoice at the moment.(Like bringing the fleet to Beacon). But when Clover, who has never given any indication that he isn’t a good soldier boy, refuses to work with Qrow to take down Tyrian he’s faced with a terrible choice. It doesn’t escape my notice that in the fight Qrow does take opportunistic potshots at Tyrian even after they’ve ‘teamed up’. Then the whole bloody shebang ends and Qrow is left with a dead body someone he cared for.
He looks back on the whole thing, emotional as he is and traces the blame tree to what he believes is the source: James Ironwood.
Afterall, James was the one who gave the order to make him and the crew public enemies for protesting his abandonment of Mantle. Qrow doesn’t know details, but from his perspective James decided to finally cut off the city that has become what he perceives to be a liability and has decided to make Qrow and his people public enemies when they tried to go against him/get the word out. In Qrow’s mind Clover is not entirely blameless “Why couldn’t you do what was right instead of what you were told?”
However, the crux of this entire matter and the lead up to Clover’s death all happened because of Ironwood’s, unreasonable from Qrow’s view, order. So Clover’s death, in Qrow’s mind, can be laid at Ironwood’s feet along with the abandonment of Mantle and the current persecution of his nieces and their friends. In V8 Qrow is still gunning for the man, even as he tries to deal with his own guilt and his part in the conflict on the transport. Because, everyone(except for the pilot bless his soul) in that transport has a part of the blame for the situation happening. And now that I’ve thought about it, even if his anger over Clover’s death is the initial motivation I don’t think its the only one.
tl:dr So anyway I just realized from an emotional and also context of the show and situation Qrow’s desire to punish(kill) Ironwood makes a lot of sense. Ironwood is off the deep end in Qrow’s view and has become an active threat to the party in a bad way.
Qrow wouldn’t be Ozpin’s principle man in the field unless he was spectacular at reading people.
So Winter ran away from home and found herself a “new” dad who was just as bad as Jacques, just better at hiding it, and now the man who reminds her of her mother and the woman who is everything she wanted ironwood to be (just, fair, a good person, etc etc) are coming to where she is with ironwood.
im like 99% certain that when qrow (and Robyn?) show up to kick ironwood’s ass, winter’s big choice will be choosing between the cycle she’s been stuck in or breaking free with qrow and Robyn, just like how they did - qrow with his alcoholism and Robyn with atlas’s oppression of mantle.
Made this Fairgame comic a few days ago and never posted it, but I feel like the Fairgame part of the fandom could use something to help cope with today’s episode
I tried mocking up their masquerade outfits from Chapter 12 of With Friends Like These with my limited Photoshop skills. They look something like this…
I was channeling Sleepy Hollow vibes for Roman, circus vibes for Neo, and I guess Hot Topic vibes for Qrow XD
