Another chapter for your enjoyment this fine Monday morning! I'm trying to type an intro as fast as I can because my next class starts in about five minutes. I'm a bit screwed, but eh.

Song is "Landfill" by Daughter. I suggest listening to this song once Blake's inner monologue begins. It'll definitely set the mood.

Beta: Maxaro. Don't knock it til you try it! Also, the movie's not that great.

Enjoy!

Chapter 5: Landfill

For the most part, the subway station was fairly empty, save for a few shady characters and those unfortunate enough to not have any friends or enough money for a taxi. It was almost midnight on a Saturday, after all, and typically that meant most people were either comfortably at home with their loved ones or partying their asses off. Of course, with enough people partying as hard as they did, it wasn't uncommon for some of those unruly people to get completely and utterly lost, wander around in circles among the same few blocks, sit down among homeless people for a moment to question life and the existence of a god, accidentally steal food from a vendor, get into a yelling match about the legitimacy of stealing hot dogs, punch the food cart into oblivion. threaten the vendor's manhood and subsequently escaping the authorities because of the ruckus they were creating before finally ending up shambling through one of these otherwise empty subway stations, still completely and utterly lost and perhaps a little bit drunk.

Take Yang, for example.

At the very least, she had finished the hot dog, and that was about as good as that whole situation was going to get.

Somehow, she had made it down those damn stairs (those damn, unmoving, completely unremarkable stairs) before making it onto the platform below. A subway sat on one side of the platform, and without a second thought Yang walked through the open door of one of its cars. It had one singular passenger – a blonde faunus boy with a long monkey tail. If he had heard her walking up to the subway car, he made no sign of acknowledgment. Instead, his attention was focused solely on the peanut butter and banana sandwich that he was chowing heartily on.

Yang grinned and strutted (well, it was more like a cross between a strut and a lurch) towards the occupied bench.

When she got close enough, the faunus looked up indifferently before scooting to the side of the bench to make room for Yang, who, regardless of the kind gesture, sat as close to the boy as she possibly could and occupied little of the space that he had provided for her, much to the boy's apparent discomfort.

"Hey there!" said Yang loudly, despite the fact that there was no one else around and that she was inches away from the boy's face.

He blinked. "Uh… hi?"

"I'm looking for some friends. Have you seen two girls and a guy?"

The faunus's eyes darted for any possible escape routes, but his heart sank as the car door slid shut.

As the subway shuddered into motion, he attempted to lean away from the overbearing girl. "N-no. Only thing I've seen all night is this sandwich," he muttered, and continued eating.

"Okaaaaaaay." Yang nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "How about two girls and a guy who looks like he could be a girl?"

"Umm… why would that make a difference? I told you, I haven't seen anyone. Except for this delicious sandwich. Which I'm going to finish. Hopefully." The faunus tried to hunch over and continue his eating in peace.

The movement was futile as Yang unwittingly pushed closer. "Well, the guy didn't really look too much like a girl – he just wears his hair in a ponytail and he's got this pink streak in it – or was it purple?"

The boy sighed and swallowed the wad of food in his mouth. "Look, I don't think you heard me. I haven't really seen anyone. The only person who's come down since I got here is you. So, I'm sorry, but noooo, I haven't seen them."

Alas, the boy's words fell on deaf ears as Yang prattled on. "And there was a girl with red hair who was really polite – almost sickening polite, actually – and then there was that girl, Nora, who seemed like she snorted blow…" Yang turned her back towards the boy and leaned against him, to his irritation.

"Don't you have a phone or something?" grumbled the faunus. "Have you thought about using that? You can't be drunk enough – and I'm assuming you're drunk and not a ditz – to not be able to use your phone. Right?"

As if on cue, a phone rang.

"Hah. Talk of the devil." Yang winked at the boy. "Are you a magician? Because I find magic pretty… sexy."

"L-listen," stammered the blonde boy. "I bet you're a really nice person, not to mention really hot, actually, and normally I suppose I wouldn't mind talking to someone with your gorgeous… uh… talents, but why don't you focus on answering your phone? It could be one of those friends you're looking for."

Yang hummed. "I'll keep that in mind, magician boy." She pulled out her still ringing phone. "Blake? I wonder what she wants?" she mused before answering.

"YANG, YOU ABSOLUTE DRUNK IDIOT!"

Yang and the faunus flinched at the livid voice screeching from the phone.

"Geez, kitty-cat, what's got your tail in a knot?" mumbled Yang.

"I resent that," muttered the faunus.

"I've called your phone FIVE FUCKING TIMES and now you think you can be all cheeky with me!? Your drunk ass has given us more grief than I could ever care to have in my life!"

"Just the one or all nine?"

"… I am going to murder you."

"Oh, you love me."

"Yang." The voice on the other end of the conversation grew increasingly impatient. "Just tell me where the fuck you are."

"Right! Where I am, where I am, where I am… where am I?"

Blake's very audible groan emitted from Yang's phone.

"Let's see here… I'm on a subway, for one…"

"YOU'RE ON A SUBWAY!? WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU ON A SUBWAY!?"

"Well, I was just trying to find you guys! I did have some help from my new friend… uh… what's your name?" Yang leaned over the faunus boy, providing him with a million-dollar view of her ample bosom.

The boy's eye flickered down, then back up hastily. He gulped in an attempt to wet his parched throat. "Sun."

"Sigh… you just made friends with some random stranger on a subway train?"

"That's about the gist of it!" Yang chirped happily.

Sun rolled his eyes. "Not in the slightest."

"Okay. I'm not even going to ask for details. You STILL haven't answered me on WHERE THE FUCK YOU'RE GOING!"

"Call me crazy but that's a different question... I think... where are we going?"

Sun sighed. "We're heading to the North Vale Station. I'm supposed to meet up with some friends at this club where Casey and the Red Rosies are supposed to be playing."

Silence fell over the subway car.

"You're going to see Casey?"

"Did I stutter?" muttered Sun peevishly.

Blake's voice grew eager in cadence. "… Okay. That's good, that's very good! Yang, stay with this guy. We'll meet up with you fairly soon, okay? Try not to do anything… stupider than you've already managed to do. Please."

"I can't make any promises, kitty-cat."

"YANG."

Yang sulked. "Fiiiiiiiiine…"

"Oh, and Sun, was it? I'd appreciate you hanging on to her just a bit longer, if you don't mind."

Blake's voice suddenly became sinister. "Also, if I find out that you've taken advantage of her in her drunkenness and somehow not gotten every bone in your body shattered… I will cut you balls off and feed them to you. Are we clear?"

Sun winced. "Crystal."

"Good. Oh, and thanks." CLICK.

Yang grinned happily at the faunus boy. "Looks like you're stuck with me for a while!" She leant on him seductively, with his shoulder fitting perfectly in her cleavage. "How much do you think we can get done between here and North Vale Station?" she crooned.

Sun blanched. "No. Nonononono. I actually want to live a little longer, dammit."

"That idiot…"

Blake sighed in part relief and part annoyance as she hung up her phone. Facing her, as they now sat on opposite sides of the back of the Juniperberries' van, was Jaune, who eyed her with some concern.

"Well?" he inquired.

Lifting her gaze from the floor, Blake responded. "Well, we know where she's going, so that's a good thing. I think."

Jaune's eyes narrowed. "Uh, 'I think?'"

Blake growled at him in annoyance. "Listen, you, I don't need you to psychoanalyze every little word that comes out of my mouth, okay? I've got enough to worry about without you going all Freudian on me."

Jaune seemed taken aback. Seeing the look in his eyes, Blake almost apologized for being harsh to him, but before she could speak, Jaune responded.

"Okay, take it easy. I would've just been more comfortable with our wild goose chase if my source knew what she was doing," he retorted spitefully.

Blake stiffened. "This coming from the guy who can't decide if he's over his whore of a girlfriend? Oh, that's rich."

That particular statement incensed Jaune.

"Who the fuck asked you? Nobody asked you shit, and I've had enough of getting shoved into other people's troubles for one night. Go find your friend by yourself."

"Oh, I will! I don't need you, asshole!"

"Hey, you two." The pair angrily turned to the front, where Nora looked amusedly upon them. "While I hate to break up the arguing married couple here, we need a location, y'know."

"The White Whale," answered Blake shortly.

Nora's face scrunched up. "The White… Whale… I think I know where that is…"

Pyrrha turned from her own seat to face the brooding pair in the back. "Are… you guys okay?" she asked nervously.

Blake remained silent. Their little quarrel had brought her social anxiety to an all-time high for that night, and she wanted nothing more than to be gone.

Jaune, however, had other ideas. "I'm just as bewildered as you. I get dragged along to, quote unquote, "have fun" and here I am getting yelled at like I did something wrong. Figures that when all I wanted was some peace and quiet life would stick me with someone who loves drama."

"Loves drama!?" Blake straightened up and glared at the blonde. "How dare you! I'm trying to find my best friend who I've trusted in the hands of some random-ass guy called Sun, she probably has no idea what's going on at all, I'm worrying to death about her, and you're calling me someone who loves drama? How dare you! How fucking dare you!"

"Well, I don't know what I did that made you so fucking mad at me!"

Blake scoffed. "M-mad? Why the hell would I be mad!?"

"YOU TELL ME!"

The van suddenly screeched to a halt. Blake and Jaune, who weren't particularly restrained, were sent flying into the back of the seats in front of them. Pyrrha and Nora also appeared rattled by the sudden deceleration.

The dazed pair on the floor of the van clumsily climbed back up to a sitting position and glanced confusedly towards the front, wondering what had triggered the sudden stop.

"Sorry," replied Ren from the driver's seat, his tone completely unapologetic. "I just really wanted you two to shut up."

As the van began to move again, both Blake and Jaune, mentally slapped by Ren's response, stared uncertainly at each other – then with a stroke of realization immediately averted their eyes.

Silence befell the two for what seemed like the hundredth time that night.

And in that silence, Blake's thoughts ran amok.

Mad? She wondered. Yes, of course I'm mad at him. Mad at him and his big, dumb, idiot face. Mad at him for saying that I love drama. How dare he? I'm the farthest fucking thing from a drama queen at all! All I'm trying to do is find my friend, and here he is running his mouth about how he was dragged along and forced to be stuck with me, oh, poor baby! Goddamn, I am mad at him. I thought we could actually be friends, but fuck, was I ever so wrong. Why? Why is he so eager to throw me away for someone who doesn't care about him at all? Why is his stupid head so obsessed with Weiss when I could be the person who… whoa there, Blake, what are you doing? Stop thinking like that. You're just friends with the guy, he's nothing spectacular. Wait, no, fuck him. You're not friends at all, why do you care? You're just… not…

Blake sighed tiredly. Her conviction just didn't seem to be holding up.

She sneaked a peek at the boy that faced her. His gaze was drawn to the floor, and he still seemed pissed, but his facial expression seemed to tell Blake that he might be wrestling with some other feelings.

What I'd give to know what he's thinking.

Up near the front of the van, Nora whispered, "Psst. Hey Pyrrha."

The redhead became attentive and leaned forward in her seat. "Yes, Nora?" she whispered back.

"See that jacket Blake's wearing?"

Pyrrha turned slightly to look while avoiding the attention of the fuming boy and the distracted girl. "Yes?"

"That's Jaune's jacket."

"Oh."

"Not only that, but they argue like they need a marriage counselor. How much do you think we missed while they were out?"

To this, Pyrrha could only shrug in response.

"Are you sure that's where Casey's gonna be playing?"

"Yes. Of course I'm sure. What kind of stupid question is that."

A different car drove in and out of the city traffic, consisting of a blue-haired gentleman driver and his white-haired passenger and navigator.

"Okay," murmured Neptune. "I'm just saying, all the clues point to The White Whale as the venue."

Weiss scoffed. "Only a fool would fall for that. Anyone who's done their research would know that Casey often uses the bait-and-switch technique."

"Alright, alright," Neptune waved his free hand in defeat. "I trust you on this."

"Good."

Weiss remained poised as she read the directions off of her phone. It was all too easy – the band's habits, although seemingly deceptive to most casual fans, contained very simple patterns under closer scrutiny. It was so easy, a monkey could figure it out – a monkey with a lobotomy.

With most of the deciphering out of the way, Weiss glanced around the vehicle to examine their current location...

...and spotted a very familiar looking van.

She peered closely as the van crossed in front of them and made a turn. Through the windows, she make out the shapes of Nora, Ren, and that redheaded girl.

But she also recognized two other outlines nearer to the back of the van. One was that of a boy messy blonde hair and one was of a girl with a bow.

Weiss's eyes trailed the van for a moment.

"Change of plans, Neptune. We're following that van."

Neptune did a double-take. "What? Why?"

"Because I said so." Whatever complaints Neptune had were drowned out as Weiss's attention focused on the occupants of the van before them.

"They're up to something."

Oh, all the angst!

Blake's trying to deny everything she's feeling at this point, and Jaune's still beating himself up over Weiss. What's new?

Okay, but seriously, class starts in, like, two minutes. I gotta go.

Until next time!