Qrow Branwen

I bring misfortune.  And liquor.

[drunkscythmaster]

Day 8: Dusk

STRQ crouched in the growing shadows, watching passers by. Their mission involved finding a few individuals known to lure Grimm into villages. Raven and Qrow had a… unique expertise on the subject, gowing up in the Branwen tribe. "Shouldn't we wait until nightfall?" Tai wondered, looking around. "You expect the monsters in the night," Raven replied in a dark tone. "Dusk is better, everyone is focused on getting to a safe place before nightfall, they're paying less attention to what's going on around them. Clever monsters use that to their advantage." "Okay… do you need a hug?" "Therapy," Qrow replied.

[drunkscythmaster]

Day 7: Epiphany

Summer backed away from the corner where she'd been spying on Raven and Tai, making sure they didn't screw up their first date royally. She'd spent way too long getting them together. But there was still something missing, it had been bugging her for weeks, and just now, watching them smile shyly at one another, she figured out what it was. She was in love. With both of them. She pressed her hands against her suddenly very warm cheeks. How had that happened? How could she keep it secret? It could never work with three of them… Or could it?

[drunkscythmaster]

Day 6: Chill

Raven shivered in the cold dawn air. She took a sip of tea to try to warm herself up, but refused to go back for a coat or blanket. "Its freezing." Raven looked over as Summer approached. "I'm fine." Her girlfriend rolled her eyes and draped a blanket over Raven's shoulders. It was warm enough that it had to have been near the fire. "I said I was fine." She left the blanket where it was. "I know." Summer sat down and leaned against her. Raven drapped the blanket over both of them as the sun rose in the distance.

[drunkscythmaster]

Day 5: Overgrown

Qrow ran a hand along his jaw, grimacing. His roguish stubble was practically a full beard. It matched the rumpled clothing and two weeks of jumping into various frigid streams to get clean. He was sure he looked as rough as he felt. At least the mission was over.

His scroll started ringing, startling him.

“Hey, Summer.” He sounded tired to his own ears. “I’m heading home soon.”

His best friend and leader frowned. “Good, you look like a scrawny lumberjack. It doesn’t suit you.”

“I’m hiding your cloak when I get home.”

She gasped. “You wouldn’t dare!”

“Watch me.”

[drunkscythmaster]

Day 4: Leaves

Tai paused to take a deep breath of crisp fall air and look around. Fall was one of the prettiest seasons on Patch, even if it involved the most yard work. Finally, he set aside the rake and looked over at his daughters, who were practically vibrating with pent up excitement and energy.

“Get a good running start,” was all he said before moving out of their way. He’d have to rake the entire yard again by the time they were done, but it’d be worth it. Their smiles and laughter were a reminder of the good in the world.

[drunkscythmaster]

Day 3: Fate

Sometimes Raven let herself imagine that destiny was real, just for a moment. The idea that there was a set path they followed held a strange comfort, because it meant the path was known. The unknown was always worse, no matter how terrifying knowledge could be.

But… if everything was fated, then it meant it was outside of her control, that all of the hardships, the suffering, they were determined by a force that was not her will.

She wasn’t sure which was worse: the idea that she controlled nothing in her life or the idea that she controlled everything.

[drunkscythmaster]

Day 2: Old Memories

It was an old photo, the four of them together and smiling. Summer had made four copies, so they could stay together even when they were apart, and remind them of better times in the darkness of the work they did for Ozpin. Tai traced his fingers over the faces of his teammates, his family. It had taken everything he and Summer had in them to get the twins to smile, only for Summer to hide in her cloak.

He missed those days, when they were invincible, before darkness and doubt set in and taught them that they were not.

[drunkscythmaster]

Day 1 - New Beginnings

Qrow took a deep breath and looked around the room. Compared to the tents he and Raven had been living in for as long as they could remember, it was luxurious, even if it would be shared with two strangers. He knew their mission, their purpose for going to Beacon, but he couldn’t that he was looking forward to getting the hell away from the tribe. He looked over at Raven. He was likely the only one who could see the apprehension under her cold façade. She wanted to be strong, powerful. He wanted to survive the next four years.

[drunkscythmaster]

Thank you for doing the STRQ days. YOU MADE IT!! It was so very enjoyable reading them and you're a fantastic writer with the ability to make little shorts so engaging and diverse.

Thank you! It was a fun challenge to take on, and I really got to stretch some creative muscles.

[drunkscythmaster]

Year of STRQ: Era

STRQ stood together after graduation, looking at their new licenses. “Well… this is it.” Summer said. “We’re huntsmen.” “Now we just have to keep surviving for the rest of our lives,” Qrow said. Raven rolled her eyes. “Like It’s hard.” Tai laughed. “STRQ, might I have a word?” Ozpin asked.

[drunkscythmaster]

Year of STRQ: Storm

“Is it just me or does this feel like a set up?” Qrow wondered. “That there was only one room left during a bad snowstorm or that there’s one bed?” Tai wondered. “Both.” He shrugged. “You’re the expert on trashy romance.” “Works of literary art!” “Whatever, don’t hog the blankets.”

[drunkscythmaster]

Year of STRQ: Second

Qrow hauled Yang and Ruby against his chest, breathing hard from terror more than exertion. Both girls were crying as the beowolf corpses dissolved around them. One second longer, one second slower, and he wouldn't have made it.

Yang and Ruby could have died.

Two more graves on the cliff.

[drunkscythmaster]

Year of STRQ: Shower

Raven had never had a shower before Beacon. She'd bathed, of course, in streams and waterfalls, occasional hot springs, makeshift showers. But nothing like this, with constant hot water. And the door locked, so she didn't have to remain vigilant like she did back home.

Maybe Beacon wasn't so bad.

[drunkscythmaster]

Year of STRQ: Grave

Qrow didn't know what to do. He knew the risks of their work, but he never imagined Summer would be the one who never came home.

He could only watch with damp eyes as Tai mourned another lost love, the girls lost a mother, and no one knew what happened.

[drunkscythmaster]

Year of STRQ: Rest

Raven staggered, exhausted. Summer knew that nightmares kept her awake. But she also knew Raven wouldn't do anything that could make her look weak. "There's nothing wrong with needing a break," She said in a gentle tone. "Fuck off," Raven growled. Summer sighed, wondering if Raven would ever trust her.

[drunkscythmaster]

Year of STRQ: If

Tai often wondered what would have happened if things had gone differently. If Summer hadn't died, or Raven hadn't run. If there were no Salem, relics, or maidens. If Ozpin were just a man.

Maybe they wouldn't have fallen apart.

Maybe they would have been happy.

He would never know.

[drunkscythmaster]

Year of STRQ: Recovery

While Summer was a better patient than either Raven or Qrow, she still hated to lie around. It felt like she should be doing something, no matter how many times the rest of her team told her she wasn't being lazy. She always felt like she should be doing more.