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[ Pyrrha notices him appraising her drink, wearing the look on his face he so often does when she - or the world - catches him off guard. With nothing to telegraph her intent, Pyrrha reaches over and swaps their drinks deftly. Down the hatch goes his pink monstrosity.

Thirsty, indeed! Rather than seem apologetic, she's wholly pleased by this little bout of theft. It may indicate her comfort in his presence, or maybe she's just too tipsy to know the difference. ]

Oh, this is very good! Jaune, have you tried it?

[ Wait. ]

Well, of course you have.

Edited 2016-10-03 16:44 (UTC)

O...kay.....

[ For their own amusement, Jaune goes along with this and has a sip of Pyrrha's drink of choice. Having been tricked by Hawke into drinking before, he immediately recognizes the traces of alcohol. ]

--gross! [ Then he laughs, when he realizes what's going on. ] P-Pyrrha, I think... I think you might have one too many of these.

[ He wonders why she even kept drinking?! He wonders this as he absentmindedly takes another sip. ]

[ Pyrrha, who doesn't know about all the wild and arguably sensual adventures Jaune was off having with older women during her absence, needs a moment before she can fully understand what he's implying.

Wait for it.

Wait............. ]

Oh!

[ She looks around, as if expecting someone to jump out and arrest them at any moment. It's startlingly inconspicuous. ]

-- Jaune, maybe you shouldn't keep drinking it.

Edited 2016-10-04 12:17 (UTC)

Oh - really? You're gonna be the sensible one now?

[ For all his snark, he tries not to bring up the fact that she already robbed him of his own drink, just after she already had three of the forbidden ones. Besides, he finds this a little amusing, still sipping on the iced tea through a straw. ]

[ As he's talking, she's made aware of the fact that he has no qualms with drinking out of the straw she was sucking on just seconds ago. It's a strange thing to pay attention to, especially as the edges of the room feel a little fuzzy, Pyrrha's eyes bright with the early effects of the alcohol.

This is weird. And fun! Mostly fun. And weird. But fun. Jaune's here. ]

No, it's just...

[ Wait, why is he calling her the sensible one? Is that code for boring? These aren't thoughts she'd think normally, and Pyrrha's about to say something to that regard, but -- oh, wow, Jaune has really nice lips. For a few seconds, she struggles to look serious and not stare at them... and then, abruptly, she turns toward the bar, sits very straight, and tries to think of what to say. ] ...

[ It's not going well!

By now, her pause has reached uncomfortable levels. ]

Edited 2016-10-04 16:38 (UTC)

[ As if Pyrrha doesn't already have a lot on her mind, Jaune breaks the silence with a somewhat late realization. ]

Hey! This... this is it. [ What is??? ]

Our first date! We're dating! [ While Pyrrha faces the bar, Jaune turns the opposite way to shout across the room. ] I'm on a date with her, I'm--

[ He abruptly turns back to face the bar again when nobody seemed to care about his declaration. ]

--ah, m-music's really loud. [ It's not that loud. ]

[ They've already passed several more intimate milestones, but Jaune reacts with such glee to this particular one that Pyrrha - inebriated, it has to be noted, to the point of capriciousness - can't help but join in.

She turns and waves to whoever Jaune was shouting at, and then smiles over at him, ]

You're right. We should celebrate!

[ ??????

What the fuck, Pyrrha. ]

Celebrate that it took us this long? Not to mention we skipped a couple of steps... [ JAUNE NOT SO LOUD ]

--Y-Yeah, I suppose we should. [ He pauses as he's reminded of the iced tea, realizing that they're kind of halfway celebrating anyway. Seems like things aren't Arkos if they're not happening by accident lately.

Back to the topic. ]

...How do we do that?

[ It shouldn't be a difficult question, but Pyrrha needs a moment to ponder it regardless. When an idea blossoms, the look on her face is pretty unmistakeable.

Pulling her CereVice out of her pocket, she leans in and gestures for him to do the same. ]

Let's take a picture.

[ It's called a selfie, Pyrrha.

As she moves, the alcohol she's already drank rushes to her head with startling efficiency. He'll notice it, too; she ends up resting a hand against his arm for support, valiantly fighting to not wobble.

Smile for the camera, Jaune! She sets the timer for three seconds— ]

Agh--

[ This is all too sudden, one second he's concerned for Pyrrha and then he learns that he has two more seconds to pose for the camera. What should their first selfie be? Is it a good idea to smile, or should they do silly faces like some happy couples do? Smile probably makes more sense, right?? It shows confidence! Yeah! Okay, Jaune, smile it is then. But wait!! What kind of smile should it be? Maybe a smirk?? No, that's something Mercury would do. He's a jerk. What about a toothy grin? Maybe a wink-- OH SHIT THE TIMER ]

--hafgh!

[ Jaune panics and plants a kiss on Pyrrha's cheek. Hopefully he timed that right or this is going to be the worst first date selfie in all of Cerealia.

...
Furthermore, hopefully he got the cheek, and not her ear or eye... ]

[ Fortunately, he did get the cheek! Her heart skips a beat in that moment, her smile changing from something less poised to something more bashful and happy. Despite her disequilibrium and his frantic indecision, it makes a pretty picture. Their expressions are clear and happy, the low light of the pub clashing with the bright glow from behind the bar to do them justice.

Pyrrha saves the picture without much difficulty and, still feeling the warmth his lips left on her cheek, turns to answer the kiss with one of her own. ]

Sorry-- [ He's quick to apologize in case the picture didn't turn out anything like she had hoped, but it's interrupted when they turn at the same time, and Pyrrha's lips peck his mid-speech. ]

--whoops! [ This alcohol is making them out-of-sync in a way that's amusing more than a concern to Jaune. ]

Not sorry!

[ All jokes aside for a moment... ] H-How do you feel?

[ A kiss is a kiss, and Pyrrha got two of them in approximately five seconds, so she's pleased. As for his question, well. She's putting considerable effort into appearing steady and able, even as her fingers continue to splay into his arm for support. ]

Oh, I don't think you need to worry about me.

[ Just then, a few tables clear, the crowd thinning out. Instinctively, she slides off her stool to go grab one and - stumbles! Yup.

That likely answers his question. ]

W-Whoa, there!

[ Jaune spills half of his drink as he tries to steady Pyrrha. This is a mess. ]

Who said anything about worried? You totally got this. [ She hasn't got it. In fact, he makes sure they carefully stroll over to the free table. ]

[ He's right, she hasn't got it - but she's quietly cognizant of his particular efforts, and appreciative besides. In fact, it leaves her painfully aware of his mouth again, because Pyrrha can't quite keep her thoughts tidy or in one place, and she does her best to sober her mind in response.

He's such a wonderful partner, even as he finds playful delight in her inebriation. She's so lucky to have him. ← These are the kind of sappy thoughts Pyrrha is having!

Jaune's successful in getting her to the table, even if she can't quite figure out how they got there. ]

I'm sorry about your drink, Jaune.

[ She's over-articulating, eyes still bright. ]

Shall we get you another one? My treat-- [ Pyrrha, no. ]

Edited 2016-10-09 01:23 (UTC)

That's okay! I'm a glass half-full kinda guy. [ He points to what remains in his glass, thinking how clever that was.

Ah, but speaking of sappy thoughts, they really are on a date right now. It's safe to say that neither of them were expecting alcohol to be involved, but here they are now and it doesn't dampen the experience at all. However, Jaune being the more sober one, he tries to remember what sort of questions one should ask on their first date - he read about this stuff in a book! He's been preparing for it his whole life!! ]

So, what do you do for a liv--ugh, that's not... Do you have any br--nope, I know the answer to that, too.

[ This may be their first date but it feels like they've known each other for years. ]

Question - what's your biggest pet peeve? [ There we go! ]

[ Former Huntress (but looking to make a comeback!) and current research assistant; no siblings that she knows of.

Truthfully, Pyrrha isn't sure why he's asking these questions but as long as he's going out on such a limb to treat this like a legitimate first date, she plays along. More correctly, she's too tipsy not to.

Besides... it's a fun game. She has his undivided attention now and is happy for it. ]

People who are rude to customer service employees.

[ It's just shitty! -- Oh no, she's already growing indignant. ]

R-Really? That's your biggest?

[ ... ]

What if it's a robot offering you and your friend a complimentary massage service? [ Just askin'. ]

[ Her mouth opens! ]

Well -

[ With a click, it closes again. ]

That wasn't really an offer. They weren't taking no for an answer. [ Regardless, it's not a comfortable memory. Pyrrha is almost grateful when an alien server slides menu tablets (submit your order straight to the kitchen electronically!) underneath them. ]

I guess you're right.

[ All laughter aside (the memory is more light-hearted now in hindsight)... ]

--you were right about a lot of things. You always are.

[ Part of her - the part of her that's liquor-sopped, and a bit too sharp - briefly considers asking if she was also right about him moving on when they finally go their separate ways. Ultimately, she swallows that notion, chalking it up as a poor (drunken!) idea, why ruin a wonderful evening?

It does bring something to light, though. Pyrrha's impulse control is a bit weak right now, her thoughts scattered. She takes a sip of water, her only drink for the rest of the night.

Shrugging, she wears an easy look. ] I don't think of it as being right or wrong. As far as I've concerned, I've only made one mistake in my life. [ Beat. ] —two. Everything else was just life teaching me what I needed to know though trial and error.

[ If only those two mistakes - Penny, and then herself - hadn't been so dire in consequence. ]

Yeah? Well, I've lost count of the mistakes I've made.

[ But this isn't a conversation about mistakes, and Penny is definitely not Pyrrha's mistake to bear. ]

I was wrong to disagree with you-- w-when we talked about Mosley's plans. I wasn't thinking like a Huntsman... the thoughts I was having were the kind that the Grimm feed on.

Jaune...

[ Dammit, she's not sober enough for this! Pyrrha takes another drink of water, determined not to say something stupid and mess this up. ]

Maybe we should think about— [ wait, no, ] - talk about why you were having those thoughts.

[ Twice now, she's seem him act out something other than dreams or desperation, a stricken malice she hadn't thought he was capable of. First, the robot on the day of her return, and then Mosley's choice. Both times, she realises with some sinking horror, had been after her death, her abrupt resurrection. ]

I think so, too, but... not right now.

[ Not on a date!? He didn't mean for this to turn so serious when he brought it up, but he's not surprised at all by her concern. Jaune leans forward, taking Pyrrha's hand in his. ]

I guess I just wanted to thank you. For being my light.

[ Shit, this is too real. Pyrrha feels like she might end up a puddle on the floor, and she's grateful they're seated - tipsy plus weak-kneed is never a good combination.

She smiles, linking their hands more surely and running her fingers over his.

Part of her wants to tell him she'll always be here for him, but she bites it back - in her state, it takes considerably more effort to not say the thing than it would otherwise - because the last thing she wants is for him to remember her for her mistruths.

She simply says, ] I'd... like to make one more stop after dinner. Is that alright?

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startlingly conspicuous is what I meant! orz...

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