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[It's entirely possible to miss Winter Schnee's return. She doesn't make any video calls, but her name does reappear on the directory, so if you happen to check it regularly, you might notice her unannounced presence.]

[As for her entrance, there are no trumpets to announce her, no flashes of grandeur to herald her return. When she wakes up in the Bay, there's a moment of disorientation, followed quickly by a sharp sense of dread. She wasn't sure when she ever left this place, or that she even did until she just now opened her eyes, which prompts her to sit up and plunge her hand into the box of 'gifts' that was sitting in her lap, digging out the communicator and quickly studying the date, then the directory.]

[Weiss isn't here. Neither is her father. Cassian, Spock, Johnny, Qrow, all gone...Adela is the only name she recognizes with any emotional resonance, and that emotion happens to be guilt. Quietly she slips the communicator into the inner pocket of her jacket. She has no calls to make. She definitely has no desire to contact Ted.]

[Her boots splash into the shallow waters of the Bay as she wades toward shore, intentionally avoiding the hologram of her little sister. She's been here before, she doesn't need the introduction to this dreadful place.]

[Claiming only the necessary items and discarding the box, maps, and pamphlets in the proper nearby receptacle, she makes a beeline for the gate of Fayren. When she finds a town guard, she demands a status report of the king and queen. As she feared, there is still no sign of them, even after a year and a half has gone by. There must be someplace she hasn't searched. She's scoured the forest and the mountains, the crystal caves of the Maw, and even ingested water-breathing potions so she could explore the lakes.]

[She's never found a single clue, but that's no reason to stop. She should give up, but she simply cannot 'let it go.']

[With a fresh supply of red bills to purchase equipment and food for exploring the wilderness, Winter takes her leave of the polite societies of the world of Genessia, and once again, seeks hermitdom.]

* * * * *

[A few days later, Winter can be found lingering around the docks of Fayren, arguing with various captains to take her out to sea. All of them refuse, citing that the waters are currently cursed, and they have no desire to wind up like that pioneer outpost that vanished. They'll go out far enough to catch fish, but they're not leaving sight of the shoreline.]

[Cowards.]

[This brings her to eyeing a small schooner thoughtfully. She has no nautical skills of which to speak, but she could learn. If experienced captains are afraid to set sail, she doubts she could hire a crew of her own to serve given her amateur status. That outpost, though... If others are going missing, might there be some correlation? It's worth investigating at the very least, and even if the royal family remains mysteriously absent, there are others in need of rescue or discovery. She can't afford diversions of indulgence, but this...she can make an exception for this.]

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[Well it might be pretty obvious if she's staring that there's someone currently occupying the schooner- a robust Fishman, sawing logs in a hammock strung up between two masts. She might recognize him from the network- though he's not the only one, creatures with colorful grey-blue skin are few and far between. If she has something to say or to ask, there's an opportunity. Does she dare to take it, is the question.]

[Unfortunate. Not because there's a giant shark person sleeping up there, but because that likely means the schooner isn't for sale. Then again, he might be up for negotiations. She does have a significant stack of money, possibly it will pass for a fair price or at least a down payment. She can pick up bounty requests in the meantime if more is required.]

[She tips her head back, weighing her options carefully, then decides to board. She'd call for permission first, but she doesn't want to scream into the void if he happens to be a heavy sleeper. Besides, she's fairly sure his face is a familiar one from the networks, though he never caused enough trouble for her to pay much attention to him.]

[Finding the gangplank, she doesn't try to soften her heavy staccato steps as she ascends to the deck, and announces herself by getting straight down to business.]

Your ship. I wish to purchase it.

[He peeks one eye open for a second, then takes a deep breath, yawns and stretches, and rolls over.]

That so? How much?

I'm willing to offer the sum of my starting salary.

[She wasn't planning to take up a permanent residence anyway until she completed her mission. Hiring a crew will be difficult, but at least she's found a captain in Kazuya.]

If this is unacceptable, then you may state your price.

[Namur rolls back towards her, resting his head on his arm.]

Ain't y' that bitchy Ice Queen what froze the whole damn city that one time? The hell y' gonna do with a boat?

[She's not going to bother addressing that first question until he deigns to show basic manners. Her eyes narrow faintly in displeasure. But the second question, she can answer that.]

I intend to continue my search for the missing royal family. I have scoured the mainland, but not those lands upon the sea. My mission is one of exploration.

[He sits up and stretches a little.]

Well, pretty sure my ship ain't gonna do y' much good then, berthed up at the bottom a the sea all shot full a holes an' burned as it is. But if y' wanna piece a this ship I can hook y' up with the bloke what owns it an' rents it out.

[Namur grins at her.]

[There was a man out observing the docks himself, other sailors on the dock seeming to give him a wide berth, likely thanks to his attire. He thinks nothing of it as his attention appeared elsewhere until he heard the woman bickering with the other captains. The excuses he heard were weak at best. Those men had the nerve of call themselves captains?

He glances over his shoulder with his one visible eye to speak out to Winter.]

I've sailed cursed waters and I assure you, these aren't it.

[Winter's head turns, her cool gaze regarding the man from head to toe (while the captain she was upbraiding takes advantage of the distraction to escape the stern woman). He certainly looks the part of a nautical expert, but an eyepatch does not a competent sailor make. So she turns to face him more fully, clasping her hands behind her back as she approaches with slow, measured steps.]

Are you making an offer, or merely boasting?

[It had better be the former, or else he'll be the next victim of her sharp tongue and haughty judgment.]

Boasting does little for anyone. It's not in my nature.

[He turned around to face her properly once he had her attention. This woman was probably spooking half of the dock, but Kazuya at least didn't bat an eye.]

If you can procure the use of a ship, then you may consider it an offer. I've spent my whole life on the sea serving as captain, lest you be concerned about my qualification.

If I might inquire, what is it you seek out there? I'd only overheard that captain's cowardice.

[Her gaze rests noticeably on his pendant as she weighs her answer carefully. So far, he seems helpful, but she doesn't yet know what serves as his primary motivation. Money might make him prone to take the risks these other sailors won't, but it might also turn him against her once he learns how much the people she seeks are worth.]

...A family of four. I should state the odds of success are slim, as I have no clues to act upon as to their location. The islands of the sea have not yet been searched, so I wish to turn my attentions there.

[Winter looks out to the ocean, and for a moment there's a visible crease of concern that mars her brow. Then it's gone.]

Should I find them, the ship will be yours for the keeping. I will have no further need of it.

Ah, the missing settlers that were mentioned in the papers?

[His brow lifted in mild surprise at her offer. An offer that would certainly benefit him, and it would save him the trouble of immediately becoming a wanted man for wanting to take one of those boats. It would be silly to not take her up on it, but it helps to play humble first.]

That's quite the generous offer. Are you quite certain?

["Should I find them" are the keywords here, of course. He's well aware. But if whoever she's searching for yet lives, then the chances of them evading him he's confident are slim.]

Very well, I will be glad to aid you. [He bows his head.] Kazuya, former captain of the Howling Serpent, at your service.

[Qubine's taking one of his routine flights around Fayren. He's keeping lower to the ground than usual, keeping his eyes out for any unusual heat signatures. As he approaches the docks, he notes the heat signatures of the humans lingering there...one of which is familiar. Is that who he thinks it is? He has to take a closer look.]

[So he lands a good fifty feet away as softly as he could, but there's still a dull, heavy thud as his feet touch down into the sand. He approaches both casually and cautiously and stare down at the damned familiar human. Questions fill his mind. Does she remember her previous time here? If she does, has she uncovered anything about the Royal Family? He regards her coolly, keeping his voice carefully neutral. Just before her departure, he had come to the dreadful conclusion that they would have to cooperate, as their desire to locate the Royal Family was perhaps the one thing they had in common.]

...You're back.

[He'll leave it at that for the moment, to gauge her on whether she remembers.]

[At the first glimpse of that familiar dark shadow in the sky, Winter internally bristles, but ignores him. She has work to do, and certainly there are better things with which to occupy his attentions.]

[But that shadow grows larger as Qubine draws nearer, and her shoulders stiffen. She supposes the meeting was inevitable, much as she wishes it could be delayed further. At least she has time to fortify herself and put up her usual facade of cool indifference.]

[She turns smoothly to regard him as several sailors shift uncertainly. Qubine is far enough away not to risk collapsing the docks with his weight, but dragons aren't exactly friendly around these parts. At least they know he's not one of the native dragons, so no weapons or spells are brought to arms.]

As you see.

[What does he want? To resume fighting? If so, she won't have any part of it, but she'll wait to see what he does first.]

[There's no sign of confusion in her expression, so Qubine makes his conclusion.]

So you do remember.

[He has no more interest in a tongue war than she does, but he has the feeling it would be inevitable. But for now, down to business.]

Are you resuming your search for the Royal Family?

Edited (Wording, ahh...) 2019-06-14 04:38 (UTC)

I am.

[She arches a brow.]

Of what concern is their status to you?

[Boredom, perhaps. He wasn't listed as a current guardian or deputy from what she saw.]

[He tilts his head, fixing her with a narrow glare. Really?]

Because, whether you're aware or not, I was part of the mission to end the tyrannical "Ice Queen's" reign. But as long as the Royal Family is still missing, the mission is still incomplete. And of all the cities in this world, Fayren is closest to home for me, and the Royal Family are the pillars that keep it standing. Their disappearance has been a concern for all of us.

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