A/N: I have a poll up on my profile. If you filled that out, that'd be swell. I'm going to have a lot more free time over the next two weeks, so I want to supplement that with more writing, but I need some direction. Fill out the poll to get me to write what you want to see most!

Also, about this chapter- I have some friends who are literally this type of lightweight and it drives me up the wall.

Leave a review, let me know what you think!

Of Complacency and Conspiracies

Day 11: Stars

Trivia night at Crow Bar was an absolute mess, as always.

People sat on every available surface, servers carrying tray after tray of drinks out to the eager, awaiting crowd. The dimly lit room boomed with life as people chatted and got to know one another, clinking glasses together to celebrate the end of another long workday.

Pyrrha ushered Jaune inside, grabbing a pen and an answer sheet from by the door. Settling them into a seat, she waved towards Velvet, one of the usual servers. "Pyrrha! The usual?" the chirpy brunette asked.

Pyrrha nodded, and gestured towards Jaune. "What would you like?"

The blond pointed at the first drink on the menu without even looking at it. It was certainly odd, but Pyrrha didn't ask. "By the way, have you seen Nora and Ren? They should be here."

Velvet shook her head. "They haven't come in yet. We still have some time, though!"

Soon, they had their drinks, and Coco, the proprietress, was dimming the lights and putting the trivia questions onscreen. People instantly began to shout and cheer. Pyrrha laughed and clapped her hands delightedly along with the music as the questions began. As she sipped her drink, she glanced around, noticing two distinctly concerning things:

1. Everyone on their team was present, but Nora and Ren were nowhere to be seen.

2. Jaune was having a staring contest with his drink, and somehow appeared to be losing?

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. "Rehearsal's running late, and Ren's with his parents tonight. Can't make it, sorry," she read aloud, heart sinking.

Jaune gawped at her, blinking slowly. Suddenly, he leaned back, chugging his entire drink as the first question popped up onscreen. "Well, our mission's busted," he groaned, collapsing onto table.

She frowned, looking plaintively up at Ruby, who winked at her. Sending Nora's update to the chat, she sighed, staring up at the screen. The question was asking about Mountain Glenn's founding, and she could hear the angry scribbling of pens to paper all around her. "Jaune, do you know-"

Even in the darkened room, she could see his face was beet-red. It had barely been three minutes, and already, his eyes were a little glazed over. "Jaune," she asked gingerly, "are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"…Are you not good with liquor, Jaune?"

The man flushed an even darker red, if that were humanly possible. "I- I- no," he pouted dejectedly.

"But you were totally fine in the aquarium!"

"That's because it was only little bits at a time!" he protested.

"Then why did you chug it-"

"I panicked!" He sighed. "I- I don't know what I was thinking." He stood up suddenly, then careened around, struggling to regain his balance.

Instantly, bills were paid, and Pyrrha wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "Let's sober you up, okay?" she said kindly, steering him towards the door.

Soon, they were outside. She murmured, "Let's get you to the station. You have your pass?" The train station that would take him home was at the very end of the street, along with a bus stop to bring Pyrrha home.

Woozily, the man raised his wallet. "Didn't lose it!"

She giggled, guiding him down the sidewalk. They had left at an odd time- it was too late for ordinary workers to be out and about, and all the night owls were still in the bars and pubs, so they were able to enjoy the journey in silence. Suddenly, Jaune paused, halting Pyrrha as well. She frowned. "What's wrong?" His eyes were aimed upwards, though, and so she glanced up, following his gaze.

The moon wasn't out, but it was a clear night- clear enough to spot stars amidst the blare of streetlights and shining storefronts. She let out a slow, even breath, taking in the tiny twinkling lights sparkling in the distance. At her side, Jaune pulled away from her, zipping up his jacket higher against the evening's chill. Pyrrha only dragged her eyes away from the sky when she felt his hands pull at her own jacket- her eyes immediately flashed over to him, but she held still in surprise as he quietly buttoned up her pea coat higher. His fingers moved deftly, clearly having sobered up from the walk.

He was still a little red, though. She didn't point it out, but the rest of their journey to the station was spent with a few inches between them, the space between electrified.