IT'S ABOUT TIME!
I really cannot juggle uni, writing, and managing my sanity all that well. Why do I even try?
Well, I could drop the sanity management. I mean, it's not like I have any to begin with...
But enough of that! LET'S GET ON WITH IT!
Chapter 35: Last-Minute Plans
Early mornings were never fun. With Ruby still sleeping, Weiss and Yang doing some last-minute plans for the dance tonight, and Blake finally catching some much-needed z's, all I could do was just lie in my hammock, and try to coerce myself back to sleep. But with the sunrise in my eyes, it made it hard to do so. Giving up, I just hopped down to the carpet, and rummaged through my rucksack. Pulling out my Scroll, I saw that I had two messages. Opening it up, I glanced over the first message, seeing that it was from Yang.
"Hey, handsome. If ur still looking 4 a date, u know where 2 find me. X"
Well, there was the guilt-slinging for the day. Quickly swiping the message away, I looked to the new message. It was from Cinder.
"Darrel, you are risking much by contacting me. Meet me by the entrance to the ballroom. "
There was my cue. Now I could play delivery boy, and break it off with Emerald. Slipping into the bathroom, and dressing in my usual gear, making sure to do so silently. Scrabbling on the shelves for the crystal vial, I gripped it in my hands, and shoved it into a nondescript pocket in the back of my pants. Given the saliva's corrosiveness and toxicity, it was basically the equivalent to contraband. If I was caught, and this was found, I would be in a heap of trouble.
Going through the plan in my head, I reassured myself. First, tell Cinder I had the saliva. Second, bargain with Emerald to break off our arrangement in exchange for the vial. Third, head to the ballroom, and ask Yang for the dance. It couldn't be simpler.
Arriving at the door, I knocked on the wood, once, then twice in succession. Once more, then two, followed by a pause, and one final knock. Morse code for my initials. The door opened, revealing Mercury.
"Hey, Conway. What's up?" He asked. I raised my hand, the one with the vial in it, and shook it up and down, causing the black fluid to bubble within. Mercury nodded, then looked back into the room.
"Cinder, it's for you!" He yelled. Then walking away, his form was swiftly replaced by the black-haired Cinder, who was wearing a sparkly black dress.
"Darrel, please come in. I've been expecting you." She purred softly, edging the door open for me to walk in. I smiled, and walked into the room, sitting on one of the beds. As she shut the door, I heard a lock click, and she turned back into the room.
"I take it you've brought what I requested?" She asked. I pulled out the vial, and held it between finger and thumb, showing her the contents bubbling angrily within. She smiled.
"Good. Now I assume you'll be wanting some kind of reward for your work. Unfortunately, I don't have any Lien for you, so we'll have to organize-"
"We don't go together."
Cinder stared at me, unblinking.
"I'm afraid I don't understand, Darrel." She asked, tilting her head to one side. I stood up, being sure to keep a tight grip on the vial, and remaining aware of my surroundings. I was deep in enemy territory, and I needed an escape plan handy, just in case of a double-cross.
"Emerald was teaching me how to dance, and for some reason, I asked her to the dance. Call it off, and you'll get the vial. Otherwise, well… sizzling bedsheets is not something you'll want to hear." I explained. Cinder sighed.
"I was afraid of this. Am I right in assuming that these terms are non-negotiable?" She asked. I said nothing, only nodded.
"Very well. I will inform her of the deal. In the meantime, I'll assume you are going to ask Yang to the dance?" She asked. I nodded again, feeling no need to speak.
"Good. Now, I will let you go. But first, the vial." She stated, holding her hand out. I looked at it, before placing the bargaining chip into her palm. As I did so, she put her other hand atop of mine, and looked into my eyes.
"Darrel… you may not realise it, but you are doing a very good deed." She stated, her eyes… glowing? Did I see that right? But I never got a chance to inquire further, as her hands released mine, and she turned away, stowing the vial of liquid somewhere secure and hidden. I sighed, and turned to the door, trying to figure out a beautiful gesture to ask Yang to the dance. As I clicked the lock open, I opened the door, to see a glowering Mercury. I barely had time to react, before he raised his boot, and kicked me in the face, a loud explosion ringing in my ears as he did so. I backflipped from the force of the impact, landing on my stomach, my sight swimming with a multitude of colours and blurs. But the technicolour overlay was quickly replaced with darkness, as Mercury launched his boot at my nose. I didn't even feel the impact, only saw his foot wind up, and let fly.
My head was swimming, as my eyes opened, and saw that I was in a dark room. I groaned painfully, trying to shake off the dizziness in such a way that didn't make me want to vomit. A million miles away was a bubbling sound, and a vile smell clouded my nose, only adding to my nausea. Scrabbling for some kind of handhold, I gripped a rod, and hoisted myself to my feet. But quickly losing my balance, I crumpled to the cold hard ground, lurching and choking, feeling my stomach churn violently.
"Awake already? You must be confused. Wondering where in the world you are. Would I be correct?"
A voice sounded, neither male, nor female. I looked around, desperate for some sort of clue, something that told me where I was. But nothing stood out. All I heard was the bubbling, and the horrific stench that filled the air. Instinctively, I retched, trying very hard to keep my lunch down.
"Oh, if you wish to empty your stomach, do it in the container, please. I don't have time to clean up such disgusting messes." The voice sounded again, a hint of joviality apparent in its noise. I glanced around, and saw a small, brightly coloured bowl, about the size of a chamber pot. I scrabbled for it, feeling my fingertips brush against its rim. I kept scrabbling, feeling my stomach retch even more violently. As I gripped the pot, I barely had time to bring it in front of my mouth, before a stream of pale fluid forcibly exploded from my mouth, splashing into the pot. A few seconds of clearing my mouth of the foul taste, a strong hand gripped my wrist, and forcibly pulled me to my feet. Before I could get my balance, a muscular arm slammed against my throat, lifting me from the ground. I thrashed my arms at the one holding me up against the wall, trying desperately to free myself.
"Don't panic, I just want to give you a drink." The distorted voice stated calmly, like whoever it was was trying to soothe me. It wasn't working. Every bit of my body was scrunched in terror. What was this person going to do to me?
He raised his other hand, this one holding some kind of container, which held some sort of smoking liquid. Panicking even further, I continued to struggle, trying to keep my mouth glued shut. But this person was just too strong. With one deft movement, he had forced my mouth open, and forced the liquid down my throat. The taste was unpleasantly vile, to say the least, and once it hit my stomach, I immediately felt like I had swallowed a whole packet of cigarettes. The figure released me, and I fell to the ground, choking and heaving.
"So sorry to put you through this unpleasantness, my friend, truly I am. But the master has deemed it necessary. For both of us." The person sneered, the sarcastic words indicating otherwise. I just collapsed to the ground, my strength quickly sapping away. Not content to let this person have all the power, I looked up, and prepared to unleash a parting profane insult, when I saw something under the person's hood.
A pair of violet eyes, glittering like a pair of amethysts. The image burned into my brain as I lost consciousness once again.
"…akey-wakey!"
My head was splitting, and the perky voice helped in no way, its tone grating on my eardrums. As my eyes wrenched open, I was met with a brown-haired, well-built male, who was wearing a brown leather jacket, and a white undershirt, which appeared to have metal plating lined within the fabric. Holstered on his waist was what appeared to be a long, thin metal block, most likely his weapon.
"Dude, you okay? You've been muttering in your sleep for who knows how long." The male asked. Rubbing my head, I leaned forward, and tried to get my bearings. I appeared to be in a hallway, in an unfamiliar building.
"Uh, what's happening?" I asked blearily, still trying to wake up. The man who had woken me knelt down, so that he was eye level with me.
"You're in the guest dorms. I was going to the ballroom, and I ended up tripping over your leg. You didn't respond, so I decided to wake you." He explained, putting a rough hand on my shoulder. I looked into his eyes, and tried to take in everything.
"Uhh… you were headed for the ballroom?" I asked, thinking that there was something I had to do there.
"Yeah. The girls setting up the dance got me and a friend to DJ the dance tonight. What were their names…? Weiss and Yang?" He responded.
Yang…
Yang…
YANG!
"Hey, how long until the dance?!" I shot to my feet, and gripped the guy's jacket by the lapel, suddenly remembering what I was supposed to be doing. He looked to me in surprise, clearly wondering how I could switch from groggy and tired to panicky and desperate in such a short time.
"Uh, its 5 o'clock now, the dance starts at 8:30, but the girls wanted me there by 7 to help set up. Why?" He blabbered, but I barely heard him, as I sprinted off to the ballroom. Time was running out to ask Yang.
"Hey, wait up, kid!"
I stopped in my tracks, and looked back to the student.
"Don't I at least get a name?" He asked, seemingly insulted. I sighed.
"Darrel Conway."
"Oh, you're the kid who blew up the Wahtani! I gotta get an autograph from you later. Could you make it out to 'Aliqki Caleum'?" He asked. I just nodded, and took off.
"Don't forget!"
I sprinted down the hallways, dodging students and teachers, yelling out apologies as I dashed past them. The ballroom was nearby, only around the corner just ahead. Grabbing a flower from a vase, I rounded the corner, to see Yang…
and Mercury.
The silver haired male was looking deep into her eyes, before he clasped her hand, and brought it to his lips, giving her a gentlemanly kiss. I felt my heart sink, as I threw the flower down, and slinked away.
I was too late.
Adjusting the tie in the mirror, I looked over my appearance. The tuxedo looked good on me, yes, but no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't smile. This was meant to be a happy occasion. A dance, like a debutante ball back home. A night every teenager looked forward to, a night where they would enter as boys and girls and leave as men and women.
But, as I had feared for the longest time, I would be going stag. Damn Mercury. If I saw him again… I played through several scenarios of the mutilation of the silver-haired punk in my mind, all of them bringing me some form of catharsis. But it mattered little now. All there was to do was go to the dance, and spend the night by the punch bowl. So much for a good night…
Spritzing some cologne Ruby had lent me, which belonged to her father, I sighed, and emerged from the bathroom. The only one in the room was Ruby, who was sitting patiently on Weiss's bed, dressed in a flattering dark red sleeveless dress. She looked to me, and stood unsteadily on her heels. Clearly, she was not used to wearing such apparel.
"You ready?" She asked, wobbling her arms around in a desperate attempt to stay balanced. I just nodded with a sigh.
"Still upset over Yang?" She questioned, as she stumbled over to me. I just looked to her, with a sad expression.
"I wasted too much time trying to learn how to dance. I guess this is just the price I have to pay." I said. Ruby just offered a small smile, and an arm.
"Well, you're not the only one going stag. I heard Jaune didn't ask a girl in time, and CRDL have to spend time in detention." She explained with a shrug. I smiled. CRDL in detention… it was a small mercy, but at least Cardin wouldn't be around to hassle me.
"Heh, right where those assholes belong. Anyway, should I accompany you?" I offered, taking her arm in my hand. Ruby grinned.
"Yeah, but we'll have to go in separate. If Yang sees you holding my arm, she'll kill you."
"Eh, you know me. I live dangerously, Rubes." I smiled back, before letting Ruby use me as a support for her ungainly steps in her black pumps.
Pulling up to the door, I let Ruby go in first, as I had heard that Yang would be looking over the guest list, right by the front door. I just sat on a small upturned planter, repurposed to be used as a stool. I just hung my head in my hands, trying to smile. But it was fruitless. Every moment in this three-piece suit was just another reminder of my broken promise to ask Yang. I was seriously considering just going back to the dorm, removing this outfit, and spending the rest of the night sobbing into my pillow.
"Rough week, huh?"
Looking up, I saw Emerald and Mercury, both dressed in their dance outfits, the same green cocktail dress and a black tuxedo with a golden lining. I just sneered at them.
"Come to gloat, Merc? Point and laugh at the guy who can't dance, and can't even ask his partner to the dance? Go ahead." I spat. Mercury just looked to me in confusion.
"What…? What are you talking about, Darrel?" He asked, scratching his head. I just stood, and folded my arms.
"I'm in no mood for games, so just go in and have the time of your life with my girl. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to-"
Mercury burst out laughing.
"Yang? I was asking her for details on the appetizers, you moron! I'm allergic to sesame seeds, I just wanted to know what she was gonna serve!"
I stopped dead. I had been angsting over Yang and Mercury… talking about FOOD ALLERGIES?!
"Wha- but- I saw- you we-"
"Yeah, I kissed her hand. Is that such a wrong gesture? It's called being a gentleman. You'd do well to remember it." He winked, before taking Emerald by the arm, and marching into the ballroom. I just stood rooted to the spot, unable to comprehend this info. It took a few minutes before I racked up the courage to go in and ask my girl for a dance.
Throwing the doors open, Yang looked up from the guest book, and I shuffled up to her, trying my damndest not to crack. God, in that white dress, she was beautiful, and I was having a hard time trying to stay focused.
"Uh, Yang, would you, uh, dare to cance? I-I mean, care to dance? I, uh, I would have aksed you earlier, but um, I didn't realise that you, er-" I gibbered, before her finger planted itself on my lips, as she smiled.
"Shh. You're cute when you're nervous." She smiled. She took my hand, intertwining our fingers together, and she pulled me to the dance floor. Raising our locked fingers, she spun me around, and pulled me in close.
"You know, Mercury told me his girlfriend was teaching you how to dance. You wanna show me your moves?" Yang purred. My brain clicked, and I smiled, finally feeling confident in myself.
"Let's dance." I drawled in a French accent, trying to be suave. Yang giggled, and as the music spun up, for the first time since our fight with Torchwick, I began to enjoy myself.
"Is the drug ready?"
"Affirmative. The Wahtani saliva is ready to be activated at your discretion."
"Good. Let him have some fun first. He's earned that much, at least."
"Understood, m'lady. Your knight is ready to charge on your command. May the Founders safeguard us on the path to enlightenment."
Well, I hope you enjoyed this after such a long period. And for those who felt short-changed at it's brevity, then relax, for the next chapter is already complete, and will be uploaded soon!...ish.