[Action - Return of Winter]

[specialist_snowflake]

[Employment Office]

[This isn't Winter's favorite place to be. Somehow she looks even more uptight than she usually does as she stares down her nose at the multiple brochures and career suggestions.]

'Knock 'Em Dead (But Not Literally!): A Beginner's Guide to Bounty Hunting'
'Lawyers and Judges and Bailiffs, Oh My! Welcome to Court!'
'So You've Just Been Kidnapped to a Strange Alien World: Is Fast Food Right For You?'

[A small, almost inaudible sigh escapes Winter as her hands unclasp from behind her back and she takes the bounty hunting brochure. It's not ideal, and hardly a reliable source of income. But if nothing else, it's something she can do well. It's added to her small stack that includes greenhouse attendant, fencing instructor, and food critic.]

[She's on the fence about that last one; a lot of restaurant owners might get reduced to tears in the wake of Winter's ridiculously high standards.]

[Passing over most of the other brochures, her gaze travels to the bulleting board where a variety of colored flyers are posted with 'help wanted' emblazoned on almost every single one. But there's one flyer in particular that arrests Winter's attention.]

'Classical pianist wanted for upscale restaurant and lounge. Competitive pay plus tips.'

[One of the phone number tabs is caught between her thumb and forefinger, and she nearly tears the slip of paper loose. However...]

[...however...]

[She lets it go and closes her eyes with a small shake of her head. It's been several years since she last touched the beautiful grand piano in the Schnee family home. She would need an instrument to practice and shake off the proverbial dust, and that's not something she can afford to do right now. Besides, she's well aware that entertainers make very little to start, and if she doesn't want to find herself in this kind of penniless position again, unable to properly provide for the people who need her, she'll have to seek out a job with higher wages.]

[Perhaps 'health inspector' would be a better fit. It would still make restaurant owners cry, though.]

[OOC: It's possible to offer Winter a job if your character is hiring. If it works out ICly, she might actually take it!]

* * * * *

[Shopping/Hotel]

[Little girls need a lot of things. Even though Winter estimates that the de-aging isn't likely to last more than two weeks, she would rather overstock than find herself coming up short when it comes to meeting the needs of Weiss and (possibly) Adela. They can eat at restaurants, but they still need nutritious food on hand for snacks. And clothes...so many clothes...it's a wonder Winter can carry all of those bags!]

[Which is why she doesn't intend to carry it herself. She can summon an Ursa to assist, since it's tame and well-mannered.]

[So while Winter isn't likely to be encountered away from her charge (or charges), it's still possible to run into her when she's buying necessities. As for where she's staying? She found the nicest hotel money can get, took out a loan, and moved themselves in.]

[Good little sisters deserve nice things.]

Comments

action, Employment Center

[bornunlucky]

[ Qrow Branwen may have been somewhat of a recurring guest in the Employment Center lately, that still doesn't mean he comes here for fun. Except, you know, when desperate times call for desperate measures.

Such as people who won't let him have a single drink because this isn't his body. Thank you, Lie Ren, for that public name and shame video. Way to make Qrow's week even worse, now he has to evade the straight edge brigade.

He pretends to keep himself busy studying some brochures, only to bump right into Winter. He narrows his - Ren's - eyes at her and turns away, seemingly disinterested. Maybe she won't pay attention to him.

Looks like he doesn't need his semblance to have bad luck. ]

[specialist_snowflake]

[It doesn't seem like she's noticed him. She's reading over a flyer that's looking for a waitress, HOT GIRLZ ONLY. No. She takes a slow side step to move to the next, and all is well.]

You won't find any alcohol in this place.

[Winter hasn't even turned her head in his direction. How did she see him? (By the use of reflective surfaces, combined with recognition of his face from the Vytal Tournament, matched with Lie Ren's video mentioning the swap of bodies.)]

[So she's 99% certain she knows exactly who's skulking around behind her. His slouch is fairly distinctive, after all.]

So why are you here, I wonder.

[bornunlucky]

[ Because going to a bar means Nora will have him tracked down in no time. But not like he can say that.

He shoots Winter a disgruntled look and shoves his hands into his pockets. It ends up looking a lot sulkier than intended in his younger body. ]

No reason. Can't a man go job hunting?

[specialist_snowflake]

You're a huntsman. Your job is to hunt.

[Now she turns her head to look at him with her usual frosty regard. His answer clearly didn't satisfy her.]

I assumed you'd signed up with Sun Wukong's bounty hunting agency. Is this not the case?

[bornunlucky]

I'm actually working at Pan's Grocery.

[ The deadpan remark might have passed as Ren's, except then he falls back into his own lazy slouch. ]

I'm trying different jobs. [ More like, he got fired from his bodyguarding job. Details, details. ]

[specialist_snowflake]

...You. Working as a grocer.

[She stares at him in wintery silence for a long, long moment.]

[Then, the corners of her eyes crinkle as a smirk creeps onto her face. She'd pay to see that.]

It seems we share similar circumstances, then.

[She starts to turn back, but pauses, and looks him up and down.]

...More or less. Did you contact the boy who owns that body?

[bornunlucky]

[ He narrows Ren's eyes at Winter suspiciously. Is she another one who has been sent to watch out for him? He wouldn't put it past her to be involved. ]

Not directly. But I'm sure you have seen his network post. Plenty of people seem to have seen it.

[ And now he's getting cut off in various bars. Damn it. ]

[specialist_snowflake]

The boy displayed wisdom.

[She's gone back to finger-walking through the brochures, searching for anything that seems promising.]

Something you seem to be lacking, if you haven't at least allowed him to see that his body is in good health and undamaged in the hands of a stranger.

[Winter is, after all, unaware of the cooperation the two of them shared on their journey through Mistral.]

I should have thought you would be happier about the situation, brief as it may be, given your...sentiments...regarding your semblance.

[bornunlucky]

[ He looks away, pretending to study one of the brochures again. He even picks it up, not even noticing that it is about teaching kindergarten. ]

It's gone. But I've lost my own body. I knew the dangers of my semblance. [ A moment of pause. ] The boy doesn't. You think I'm content giving that curse to someone else?

[specialist_snowflake]

Does he know?

[She holds the brochures behind her back, lightly clasping her wrist as she glances at Qrow. Kindergarten teacher...? Please don't teach five-year-olds to play with scythes, Qrow.]

Have you informed him of the dangers, and how it works?

[bornunlucky]

[ Oh damn it. He grows more somber, a look which suits the face he wears well. ]

Not yet. I... should. [ Even if he sounds hesitant. Even if he isn't keen to talk about it. It's never been anyone else's business. Except now it is.]

[Shopping]

[mother_of_monsters]

[Dray, now not bigger than a 2-month kitten, is wandering around the cities mostly unnoticed. He's careful to avoid being stepped on but he's getting hungry.

His mom is nowhere in sight and he's feeling pretty miserable at the moment, so he tries to distract himself looking at the strange furless people that are everywhere, carrying colorful bags. When Winter walks by, Dray gets the feeling that the pretty lady looks familiar, so he starts following her.]

[specialist_snowflake]

[While Winter is generally aware of people and dangerous monsters that might be tailing her, little fuzzy kittens don't generally fall into the category that pings her instinctive alertness. He's able to follow her for a good couple of blocks before a chance turn of direction causes her to spot him out of the corner of her eye.]

[And she's fairly certain she recognizes his fur patterns, but...]

[Her brow furrows before she gives her head a faint shake. She's not sure if she disbelieves it because it doesn't seem possible, or if she simply doesn't want to imagine a certain acquaintance being afflicted by this strange child syndrome that's already affected so many others. Winter continues to walk, but after a few more blocks, she glances back to see if the kitten remains tenacious.]

[mother_of_monsters]

[Yep, the kitten is still following her. Maybe that lady is friends with his mama, who knows. Dray only stops moving every time she turns around, making terrible attempts at hidding when that happens.

Since it's kind of a lost cause now, he looks up at winter with big eyes and mewls softly.]

[specialist_snowflake]

...

[Damn it. That has to be Dray. Even if it's just a coincidence and this is merely a cat with a similar appearance, Winter isn't so heartless to leave a kitten abandoned on the street. She exhales, then reaches down to pluck up the tiny cat by the scruff of the neck, examining it closely.]

You should take greater care. You're liable to be stepped on.

[And that's the only reason she escorts the kitten onto her shoulder to let him make himself comfortable up there before she continues along. At least Weiss will be delighted if nothing else.]

[mother_of_monsters]

[A small mewl escapes Dray when Winter picks him up but he doesn't struggle. In fact, he wags his tail. When he's placed on her shoulder, Dray is careful to get a good grip but to not hurt her with his claws. Then he rubs his head against her neck.]

Thank you, miss. I tried to be careful but everyone is so tall...

[specialist_snowflake]

Yes, I suppose they would be to one such as you.

[She brushes a finger over his furry cheek. It's affectionate.]

[...]

[Yeah, Winter likes kittens, sue her.]

What do you regularly eat?

[mother_of_monsters]

[ Everyone should love kittens, there's nothing to regret here. Dray is making a small, purring sounds and only stops to give her an answers. ]

I like fruit! And...fishies.

[specialist_snowflake]

Cooked, or raw?

[She's heading for the supermarket now. Fruit... That's unexpected. Now she's curious to see what his teeth look like to see if he can handle firm fruit or if he needs something softer, like bananas and berries.]

[mother_of_monsters]

I like both but Masha says cooked fish is healthier, it tastes better too. [ Dray reaches out with a paws, playing with one of Winter's locks of hair. ]

But you don't have to cook, I don't want to cause trouble.