Everyone had a lot of time to think in the interval of waiting for morning.

Oscar pondered what had happened some more--he told Pyrrha about it, she seemed so understanding.

And it was sort of nice to tell someone who was just there to listen, not to instruct, though he appreciated that also.

"That's...very wondrous," were Pyrrha's words. "To think it's been going on for so many days, I never would have guessed."

"I just feel like I have to figure it out," Oscar said. "And I don't know how to. And I can't let the curse get the drop on me, but even thinking about it, I think it might make it worse, because it weighs on Ozpin too...so what do I do?"

"Hmm," Pyrrha mused a bit wistfully, laying on her stomach on one of the beds. "You sound just how I felt when I thought about the Maiden powers. I wish I had listened to my friends back then...or asked them at all. But Oscar, it seems to me you know the right thing to do, when you need to do it. Maybe worrying about it isn't necessary."

"I don't know if I can help it," Oscar said.

"I suppose," Pyrrha allowed. "I'm happy to listen, but would it help more to get your mind off it?"

"Maybe it would," Oscar said. "Maybe I've been thinking about it too long to think clearly. It's just...hard."

"I know it's hard...but how about you tell me something else about yourself?" Pyrrha suggested. "Where are you from?"

"Oh... Anima," Oscar said. "A small farm, tiny really."

"And you live with your Aunt right?"

"Yeah."

"No Uncle?"

"Well, my aunt had a brother," Oscar said. "But he moved to Vacuo I think...or was it Vale? One of those. I forget. She never married though, my mom was their younger sister."

"Oh I see," Pyrrha said.

It was easy once he got started, Oscar hadn't had anyone ask that much about himself, except for Emerald a little bit.

They also talked a bit about books. Pyrrha proved to have a very detailed memory of many old stories just like Oscar did.

She was right, he began to feel a little bit better once his mind was on something else.

Blake even joined them at one point, since she could hear them talking.

* * *

Shine got up again right at daybreak, and watched the sun come up, the heat wasn't quite with it yet.

"Another day, another challenge," she mused. "Still, rejoice... I  guess that's not so easy these days."

The breeze was nice though it was still cool from the night air.

https://youtu.be/OZz4hhetH4I

[I Wanna Get Better by Bleachers-- Heard this song and immediately thought it fit Qrow, heck even my Mom did.]

After a few minutes she said "What do you want Qrow?"

A bird flew over and poofed into Qrow.

"How did you know I was there?" He was put off a little.

"It's taken a while, but I think at this point even your magic is something I can sense," Shine said. "At least when Ozpin or one of the Maidens isn't around to drown it out. And ever just have the feeling you're not alone?"

Qrow shrugged.

"So did you want something?" Shine asked.

Qrow stared at the horizon not really seeing it.

"Do you think Yang will be all right, really?" he asked.

"I do not think Yang is the one I'm worried about," Shine said. "Nothing about that account made it sound like this woman is one to just torture kids. But I am worried about Raven."

"You really don't act worried," Qrow said.

"Maybe you don't know how I act when I'm worried," Shine replied flatly.

Qrow shrugged. "Eh, I'll give you that. Don't know you that much at all...didn't know about your life."

Shine shrugged in her turn.

"You could have said something," Qrow said.

"Why?" Shine said.

"Because maybe then I wouldn't have spouted off like that last night, or in the tent," Qrow said.

"You remember that?" Shine said.

"Of course I remember that, you hit me in the face," Qrow said.

"I said I was sorry," Shine said. "I haven't done it since, it was a not a good moment for me."

"That's not the point," Qrow said. "You let me make an ass of myself without setting me straight. Why would you do that?"

"Don't put that on me," Shine said firmly. "I didn't make you say anything. You assumed that I had no experience, because I was too young, and I'm guessing, too cocky, to have loss. I didn't set you straight then because it was no time to go into my history just to get pity. I don't like to buy people's sympathy like that, if you want to treat me like that, then it's your choice. I could guilt you into laying off perhaps, but it's not like it would change anything. Respect is a choice."

"That right there, that I don't understand," Qrow said. "Someone might respect you more if they thought you knew what you were talking about."

"With all due respect Qrow, my grasp of the situation will speak for itself if you have any ear to hear it," Shine said. "If I knew what I was talking about, it wouldn't matter whether I had experience or not. That's not the requirement for knowing what is right. But if you will not listen to anyone who is not exactly like you, that is your problem. You must accept me the way I am, or not at all. Just because I have had losses, does not make me just like you."

"I didn't say it did, but I wouldn't have gone off like that if I knew it, I'm not that cruel," Qrow said crossly. "Just an idiot."

"Perhaps..." Shine allowed. "Perhaps in that way, I see your point. But I didn't really hold that against you when you didn't know better. I just thought you were an ass for not asking first. I would have told you."

"So why not just tell it, why make it so difficult?" Qrow said. "Women..."

"Men," Shine imitated his tone. "Why not just ask before jumping on someone? Your actions are less rational than mine. Technically, I didn't need to explain. We weren't talking about me."

"Do you ever do anything but think?" Qrow said. "Some things just feel wrong. You know you remind me of the Ice Queen sometimes. All up here." He pointed to his head.

"I suppose I do that," Shine laughed finally. "As a way to defend myself from people who will take emotions as a sign of weakness."

"And that's me?" 

"No," Shine said. "But permit me to be a little too blunt here, and say that I was not sure you could handle any more problems at the time."

"Well, don't be so considerate, you'll strain yourself," Qrow said. "Not like you owe me any favors to begin with."

"The words 'I'm sorry' are really not that hard to say, Qrow, if you choke them out," Shine said.

"Getting a little annoying," Qrow said.

"Did you come over here to apologize or not?" Shine asked.

"I..." Qrow paused. "Look, I can't pretend to understand you or your boyfriend, but all this butting heads needs to stop. Can't we just make some kind of understanding."

"Do you really want to understand me?" Shine asked.

"I'm asking aren't I?" Qrow was terse.

Shine laughed again, lightly.

"That's so funny?" Qrow said.

"No, I've just not had that many people say that, " Shine said. "But if you really want to know: Don't make personal jabs at me. I hate that. Don't throw blame at me for things that you know are not my fault, I hate that more. And there is no need to be so down on yourself once I already said it was all right. It just makes me feel like you're not taking it seriously when I say that. That would be a nice start. And then perhaps if you just would give us a chance to be friends, you'd find we don't get along so badly. I'm sure you don't actually dislike us deep down, so why all the hostility?"

"You're so sure of that, eh?" 

"I've caught you smirking," Shine said. "It's like Winter, it's all for show, all that dislike."

"That's a little presumptuous, right there," Qrow said.

"She's not here, you don't have to lie to me," Shine said.

"Do you think that's cute?" Qrow said.

"No," Shine said. "But if you did, I'm flattered; however, back off."

"Not in your dreams, kid," Qrow said.

"Not a kid," Shine said. "And I wouldn't dream that, I assure you, but I digress. I know I can be...difficult to get along with sometimes. And I could have made it easier than I did. My nature is to be snarky and aggressively stubborn when I'm in a difficult situation. Something I think we have in common, actually. I can't blame you entirely for the many disagreements. So if you'll let it go, I will too."

"I think you're letting me off a little too easily," Qrow said. "I know no one thinks this, but I do have a conscience. I don't set out to hurt anybody's feelings or anything, I just..." he looked at his hands.

"Don't know what else to do?" Shine suggested.

"Yeah sure..." Qrow muttered.

"I'd really love it much more ii you just let me help you," Shine said. "That's why I'm here. I don't need apologies--except maybe a little bit here and there."

"Don't worry about your job effecting me," Qrow said. "I'm not really trying to get in your way. I just don't like this plan--still there's not much else to do...But about Salem--"

"I won't answer any questions about that right now," Shine cut him off. "One thing at a time. Why don't you tell me what you're dealing with instead?"

"Why would I do that?" Qrow said.

"You should tell someone," Shine said. "And while we're not exactly tight, as the kids say, it doesn't matter. I can be a better listener than you think. And I won't judge."

"Sure you would," Qrow said.

"No," Shine said. "I evaluate people for how much we can trust them, but that's it. Except perhaps with those who've gone too far already to reverse the damage, in all likelihood."

"Then I have a feeling you're wasting your time asking me," Qrow said.

"Don't be stupid," Shine said very bluntly. "Just tell me what's eating you. Why did you go out drinking yesterday?"

"So we're coming to that," Qrow said.

"Oh please, Qrow, it's not a bad word," Shine said. "I only asked why."

"You think the same as everyone else," Qrow said. "Not that you're wrong, but don't pretend like you don't."

"Does it follow that thinking that means I think any the less of you for having difficulties?"

"You'd be a fool not to."

"Hmm. I suppose if you think so nothing I can say will change your mind. Why do I bother asking right?" She raised an eyebrow. "It would be so terrible to just open up a tiny bit about all this? You kind of owe me don't you?"

"You've got a funny way of cashing in."

"Not really, you made me have to talk about what has bothered me," Shine said. "I think it's fair that you say something. Even the score."

"Some things you don't want to know," Qrow said.

"Qrow, short of murder, I'm pretty sure nothing you could tell me would shock me," Shine said. "What can't I understand? My father has struggled with addiction his whole life. I've had my bouts with it. Let me tell you, you scare me way less."

"Seriously?" Qrow wasn't prepared for that remark.

"I mean you have a problem but you're not violent," Shine said. Looking somber. "He is, actually not just over that, but he's tossed me around a few times over it, yelled at me, that type of thing. And he'd quit, and go back, and quit, and go back. It got better for while, if he's stayed off it, I'm not sure. The problem is, I didn't like him the rest of the time either. I can't say that about you. So you can't do worse than that, and that's why there's no reason not to just talk about it. I'm not scared of the truth."

"First of all, I think you're nutty," Qrow said. "Because there's no reason for you to like me at all. Unless you like abuse."

"I know that was a joke, but please don't say that, he is abusive. I know the difference, Qrow. You've got some issues, but I've never caught you being truly cruel to someone. I don't say that lightly. I think it would shock you to know some of the stuff I've been through, but I don't need to go into it. You do not make me uncomfortable."

"Weird," Qrow said. 

He was quiet for a while...but then again...the whole thing was getting hard for him to stand--and since Shine wasn't one of his nieces, there was far less pressure to put on a brave face.

"I didn't always have such a problem with this," he finally said. "Once...but after...the team broke up and other stuff happened, it got worse. Didn't think that much of it, till Ruby started acting upset. I mean its not that unusual for a bandit to...I don't know now. Nothing really helps, but drinking makes it all a little...less sharp."

"Hmm," Shine seemed to understand this. "Addiction is most common in people who have no other way to deal with things. But those of us who don't turn to substances tend to become hooked on other activities. We withdraw into ourselves. That was me once. Got tired of always being in trouble whenever I spoke, so I went silent. As you can see, since then, I've overcome because it's nice to be able to do as I wish. I'm guessing in your case, no one has ever taught anything that was useful to deal with the troubles of life."

"That's your first guess?" Qrow said.

"You have 'lost' written all over you," Shine said. "Raven has told me only small bits of the past, but I gathered that both of you never really knew your parents or where you came from. The tribe was not the nicest place to grow up in. Ozpin must have looked pretty good in comparison to that."

"Which turned out great," Qrow said bitterly. "I should have known though."

"Because nothing ever goes well for you?"

"Yeah," Qrow said. "Some people are just born unlucky."

"Qrow, luck isn't real," Shine said. "It's just a name for everything that we perceive as either favorable or unfavorable. And we don't know everything. I know that won't make the pain go away to say that, but it would really help you immensely to stop thinking of everything in those terms. You can't struggle against fate, but evil things are not always fate. They come about by choices."

"So then I just made bad choices? Thanks."

"It's easier to blame luck than to take responsibility."

"Responsibility, there it is again," Qrow said. "If I wanted a lecture on that, I could ask the 🧊 Ice Queen."

"Why do you think she is like that?" Shine oddly changed the subject.

"I...don't know," Qrow said.

"Try again," Shine said. "I'm sure you're smarter than that."

"You can be real--" Qrow cut off. "Do you have to push it?"

"Just try," Shine said, a bit gentler.

Qrow sighed like this was asking so much. "I guess Atlas beats it into people."

"Winter was like that long before Atlas," Shine said. "You're right in one way, she is like me. Both of us have had to step up a lot to deal with situations in our family that were less than ideal. I think we understand each other in a way because of that...the point is, Winter had responsibility whether she liked it or not, so she learned to deal. In her mind, that's all that there is to go by. Living by random chance is not something she can possibly comprehend. But I'm a little more adjusted to it. Some things do feel beyond our control. Atlas tried to control too much--and yet if your life feels like it's out of your control, due to someone else's hand on the wheel, that reasoning sort of makes sense. Just as your life having an utter lack of any guidance in it outside of Ozpin's, means that you will feel out of control and try to gain it back by whatever works for you. One is more socially acceptable but they aren't that different at heart. That is why I think little of judging between the two. And why I think you're kind of alike, despite your polar opposite personalities."

"That's fascinating and all," Qrow said. "I'm not sure how it helps. Unless you knew about that fight."

"What fight?" Shine asked.

Crap.

"Nevermind," Qrow said.

"So that's what started this?" Shine said. "I knew there was something off earlier. What happened?"

"Do you really need to know that?"

"I'll just ask her then," Shine said.

Winter would probably tell her, Qrow thought. She was becoming entirely too reliant on Shine's judgment these days.

"It was a bit of a disagreement about Ironwood," he said sullenly. "That's all. Possibly some other things were said that I doubt you'd care for."

"Qrow, what did you do?"

"What didn't I do?" Qrow said.

"I can tell by your face you did something," Shine said. "Did you blow up about him again?"

"You know it might be easier for you to deal with the things he's done," Qrow got defensive at once. "But some of us have a hard time with it. He turned on his own friends--"

"Qrow, you're doing it again," Shine interrupted. "What makes you think this is easy for me? I have a harder time trusting anyone's intentions than I do believing that they could turn on me at any moment. But that said, I try to control that in myself. I still feel it, but I try not to act on it. Winter is the same as me. I know how you feel about Ironwood, and sure, you have some reason to. But attacking her because she is attempting to be a bit more balanced is not fair. If you cannot find it in you to wish that, that does not make it okay to attack other people over it. I'm sure you know that, that's probably why you went on that binge."

"Okay, now you're really getting a little personal," Qrow said.

"This was already personal," Shine said. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to lecture exactly--just that I feel bad for Winter. She been under immense pressure ever since we got here, with very little help, and it's not as if she'll ever ask for it. But I try to at least not add to it if I can help it. Your personal struggles are not something I see any reason to be angry about, but if you fight with each other, I'm kind of involved aren't I? This gets exhausting, you know, you're all adults, and yet you can't exert any self control to be kind to each other? Haven't we all suffered enough already?"

"That's all nice to say," Qrow said. "But in the moment, it's not that easy to control yourself."

"I know," Shine said. "But you have to try."

She was firm.

She was right too, he knew that deep down.

"I don't think I'm the one you need to apologize to," Shine added.

"That's not happening," Qrow said

"Qrow," Shine said. "Come on, is pride seriously worth hurting someone over?"

"It's not just pride," Qrow said. "If  you haven't noticed, we're not on the best of terms on a good day. A few words about it wouldn't change a thing, probably would just make it worse."

"Well Qrow, I suppose not talking is the best way to solve everything," Shine said. "Getting drunk is so much better."

"Hey," Qrow said sharply.

"Look, relapses are normal," Shine said, less sternly. "That's one thing, it's a small thing really. But you do realize that quitting is not going to stick unless you start doing something different the rest of the time also? That's what I mean. Don't just leave it at not drinking. Learn to deal with this stuff another way. Talking about it would help. Getting support would help also...believe it or not, your family might be more willing to do that than you think. If you'd stop being embarrassed about it. And anyone who makes fun of you should just shove it up theirs, because it's pathetic to make fun of someone else's problems when you haven't resolved your own, but that's another story. I'm trying to help here. I'm sorry if it's not as gentle as you'd like, I'm not that good at that. I'm working on it. But even so, what I'm saying would help. Trust me on that."

"Why?" Qrow said. "Why would it help?"

"You would feel better about it," Shine said simply. "Isn't that what this is all about? Improving?"

"Yeah, but maybe that's not possible," Qrow said, she was getting to him now, you could tell. "Maybe people don't really change. Oz..."

"Is cursed," Shine said. "Not the same thing."

"So am I," Qrow said.

Shine tilted her head. Then she glanced at the horizon.

"We're all cursed," she said. "Hardship is the curse of humanity, because of our shortcomings. We all know it. But the thing is, God made a way to free us from that. That's not just for the kids either, it's for you too, Qrow. For all of you. Being a little older doesn't make you any less able. Maybe a little more even. And don't you worry about us being affected by your semblance, it can't affect us, luck doesn't control my life, God does...and luck doesn't effect Him either. If the trouble is that everyone you get close to will be effected by your curse, then don't worry about it with us. And anyone else who comes under our authority for a time. I doubt you're strong enough to beat that, especially on accident."

"I don't know, so far I've been doing a pretty good job," Qrow said.

"That's ridiculous," Shine said. "All the bad things here have been the results of our own choices. I think we've actually been rather lucky, if I bought into that. You've not even been around when a lot of the stuff happened--so that proves it's not you. I guess it's hard to believe that, after all this time, but you need to at least try to. It's more painful to watch you blame yourself for all this than it is to deal with the obstacles themselves. I'm sure Ruby would agree with me on that."

Qrow felt a bit more strongly than he thought he would, hearing that. She was stomping on some nerves.

Still...

"I'm not sure you can really speak for my entire life," he said. "I've seen my semblance work."

"It's possible it's not what you think it is," Shine said. "I mean who named it, the bandits? They seem like realistic judges of circumstances. But it doesn't matter, nothing is too hard for God. If you need help, ask Him...if you believed in him the way we did, you'd know that he could cover any bad luck, easily. But I'm just saying, dead people have come back to life--is it really that far fetched?"

Qrow frowned. "I don't know about that."

"You mean that you're afraid to buy it," Shine said. "I know... believe it or not, I've kind of been there. I still am sometimes. But I have moved forward. That's why I know you can also, if you really want to. Nothing can stop someone from making progress who really wants to. Perhaps in fact, the reason it has been so hard is because the darkness in your life is getting a little worried that you would actually consider abandoning it. Things tend to heat up just when we're at a crossroads, Qrow. You have a choice...you can keep trying to get better, and see what happens, or you can accept defeat. It's possible we can win this without you--but I don't want to try. And neither do the others. And even winning had nothing to do with it, I think we'd all wish you'd be happy instead of miserable."

"Don't worry about me," Qrow said. "You have bigger problems."

"I disagree," Shine said quite calmly and firmly.

Qrow had no come back for that--how did you argue with that anyway?

"This is my business Qrow," Shine explained after a moment. "People's souls. The other stuff is just secondary to it. Like a game we play around it to give us all something to work with, but it's what's inside that really matters. You know, the world will go on, probably, without us here, but our lives are all we have. It's okay to think of it sometimes."

She glanced downward." I suppose I'd better go get on with the plan..."

She walked toward the door but glanced back and added, "If it matters at all, I don't think you're a failure. A lesser man would have ditched this team ages ago. And the others don't think that either. They're upset for the reasons that you are, but under it they know that all of us are in this together. Just don't make any excuses and they'll forgive you. Depend on it."

She shut the door.

https://youtu.be/7egYKkIKqDs

[Light--Sleeping At Last. This song is kind of like the other one, but softer, I'd like to think it's more for Shine's perspective if the other one was from Qrow's. Again Sleeping at Last is so good.]