A/N: Another 1000-words-per-chapter challenge? Maybe. This is extremely rambling, I'm fully aware. My brain's a little fried, so I'm dumping that weariness into this. Let me know what you think, and if you want to read more!

blue and red and grey duvets

It was at that party that Pyrrha first saw him. At least, she assumed that she had first seen him at that party.

She couldn't remember anything.

But with the sunlight spilling onto unfamiliar bedsheets, her head pounding, and shaggy blond hair poking up from underneath the same duvet as her just a few inches away from her nose, it was clear that something had gone awry at some point during the night.

How could this have happened?!

She hadn't wanted to go, but Ruby had been bugging her about it for so long. "You promised, Pyrrha!" the younger insisted. "You've gotta come along."

And Pyrrha had sighed, all biology-honour-student-wholesome-individual that she was, uncomfortable with the idea that she'd ever actually listen. Parties weren't for her. She liked spending her Fridays in, after all- she always had assignments due at midnight because her professors were sadists. She didn't want to risk losing marks by heading out to some frat house late at night, and not making it back home in time to submit her reflection on the day's discussion.

But she loved Ruby Rose. Ruby was like the little sister she'd always wanted. Ruby had those giant silvery eyes, all watery and innocent and pleading. And, when combined with a wobbling lip- plus some reinforcement from Nora (because of course Nora would endorse going- she always wanted Pyrrha to go out and experience the 'real uni life', although the girl never even went to parties herself unless there was something big going on)- Pyrrha had eventually found herself wearing a pair of heels that were a little too high and a dress that felt a little too short, standing inside the foyer of Weiss Schnee's house party, which she truly felt like she had no business to be at.

But that was then, and this was now. Pyrrha groaned, lifting herself up from the lumpy mattress. Other than one sleeve hanging low off her shoulder, she was still fully dressed, her legs itchy after wearing nylons all night. Absentmindedly, she squeezed her eyes shut, thinking back to the blond hair yet again. That's strange, she thought, reaching over with eyes closed to tap the shape under the blanket. When did I get a blue bedspread?

But when she felt a firm shape groan under her touch, a body shifting and rolling over, she finally realized it. She didn't own a blue duvet- hers was red and white.

Oh no.

The party had almost been too much for her from the get-go. Although she had been content to hide in a corner all night, Ruby had seen her, waving her over to where she and her sister Yang were perched around a pool table. The latter had posed over the table's lip confidently, much to the joy of the men- and a few ladies- watching the match between her and Neptune. "Oh, you made it!" Ruby had squealed, giving her a hug. The girl struggled to balance on her heels- "Stupid lady stilts," the younger kept bitterly groaning every time she lost balance- but other than that, she seemed to be having a great time.

And Pyrrha had giggled and smiled back, praying that her grin was convincing enough, and that Ruby would be appeased by seeing her present. Maybe I can slip away was the furtive thought repeating in her mind as Blake, Yang's roommate, passed by on her way to sit with Ilia and the others, handing Pyrrha a can of something she wasn't familiar with.

It's not like Ruby would notice, right? Not with the air all hazy with smoke, filled with the raucous cheers and cries of movie-watchers and karaoke and the distant shouts of tired college students plunging into the backyard pool in a desperate attempt to forget that they all probably had papers due that upcoming week. She had glanced around, realizing just how in their own worlds everyone was. Yeah, no one will notice.

But with the drink in hand, she had thought it wouldn't hurt to stay for a little while longer.

It had just been some weird cider, an odd aftertaste of plum lingering in the back of her throat no matter how much caramel popcorn she squirreled away from a communal bowl on a nearby table. Still, she finished it, almost relieved when the can tipped back all the way and no more alcohol came out.

I'm free. I can go home.

Clearly, she hadn't.

Now that the understanding that this definitely wasn't her home had set in, Pyrrha slipped clumsily out from under the duvet. She cursed internally as she stubbed her toe on the bedside table, and then aloud when she hit her toe a second time on an open guitar case. The resounding thud was muffled by a room filled with piles of clothes strewn about, walls covered with posters of comic book heroes, and unwashed dishes on every flat surface imaginable.

She almost gagged. How had she ended up here?

As she tugged on her shoes lying haphazardly by the doorframe, she glanced around frantically for her purse. It was thankfully nearby, lying underneath a jacket she had never seen before.

At least, she thought she hadn't seen it.

The last thing she could remember was checking her phone. The clock onscreen had read 11PM, and she had grinned. At that time, the buses would still be working for a while yet- and, by then, she had seen and smiled at many of the other people she knew who lived on campus, so everyone knew she had been there. Her job was done.

But as she was leaving, Ruby had handed her another glass. "It's really good!" the girl had insisted brightly, encouraging Pyrrha to try some. And she had been right- the drink had been delicious. Pyrrha couldn't remember what it was. She couldn't remember anything else.

It didn't matter now, though. Clearly, mistakes had been made. And, while she thankfully hadn't done anything unsavoury, she still just needed to get out of there, ASAP.

Her heart froze. Nora's probably worried sick…

Just as she was tugging on her jacket and reaching for the front doorknob, an amused voice called from a second bedroom, "Well, well, well… I was wondering who he brought over. He managed to nab the Pyrrha Nikos?"

She spun around, humiliation dying her cheeks as red as her tousled hair. Her words dried up in her throat, though, as she saw a familiar, sneering face, framed by messy, slate-grey hair. She knew that face.

"…Mercury?"

He smiled. Her stomach twisted. She never liked seeing his face- if she could, she wouldn't see it ever again. Unfortunately, that wasn't really an option. She was going to have to see that face bright and early on Monday morning, waiting for her at the lab station across from hers.

His grin was absolutely feral now. Innocently, he offered, "Would you like some coffee?"

She left without a word. Monday's lab was not going to go well.

…and she still didn't know who she had met at the party.