A/N: I missed the first day, cuz I wasn't paying attention to the rwby tag on tumblr and wasn't really on tumblr much anyways, so pleh. I might do an extra at the end to make up for it, but we'll see. I have a theme sorta set up for this week's drabbles, I hope you find it neat.

Edit 1/21/16 [ALL]: Grammar fixes and minor tweaks.

Tarantism - The urge to overcome melancholy by dancing.

A sigh, a glance. This night wasn't exactly how she wished it could be.

Standing a ways from the crowd of dancing students, Emerald absentmindedly swirled the punch she had gotten in the cheap plastic cup she held. She hadn't taken a single sip from it, her thoughts already too distracted by more immediate things.

Her gaze zeroed in on two particular figures among the throng of students; her annoying partner in crime and her illustrious leader. Another sigh escaped her lips while she watched longingly as the two glided across the floor.

Emerald absolutely despised the sight, but she couldn't bring herself to look away. She was quite envious of Mercury, being able to hold Cinder so close without anyone thinking anything more of it.

If it were the other way around- if she were to be dancing with Cinder in that way- they would certainly draw some unwanted attention, and Cinder would not have appreciated that, as it could potentially expose them.

Emerald nearly crushed the cup in her hand at the unfairness of it all, but a voice brought her out of her musings.

She blinked several times and finally focused on the person in front of her. It was a blonde haired boy with bright blue eyes, which were looking into her own with concern.

She recognized him straight away; the leader of team JNPR, which Pyrrha Nikos was a part of. Jaune Arc wasn't it? She had to ponder for a few seconds over his name, his unimportance to their motives made him quite forgettable.

Emerald soon found herself no longer caring about keeping up her facade to be nice, and was about to say something vindictive just to get him to go away, but then she noticed his attire and had to stifle a laugh instead.

Jaune looked worriedly at the dark-skinned girl, a fierce disposition alighting in her crimson eyes before a very unlady-like snort sounded.

His expression became quizzical as he tilted his head to one side, watching her as she was trying to cover her mouth with her free hand.

"What are you wearing?" Emerald managed to say after calming down.

Jaune smiled good naturedly, glad to see that the girl was not in some sort of distress.

"I made a promise to someone." He said with a shrug.

Emerald had returned to her previous countenance, looking at him with disinterest, but Jaune could still see a hint of a smile in her eyes.

"So what did you want?"

"Well I was asking you if you were alright, and it seems you are though I feel that's not entirely true."

Emerald regarded the blonde boy thoughtfully, for someone who didn't look like it he sure was insightful.

His statement had drudged up her earlier thoughts, eliciting a glare past the boy's shoulder towards Mercury still dancing with Cinder. Jaune noticed this and followed her gaze, some understanding dawning on him when he realized what she was looking at.

"Ah, so you wanted to dance with him but she got to him first?"

Emerald's harsh glare then turned on him, making Jaune flinch just from the intensity of it.

"Was I right?" He said tentatively.

Emerald released a frustrated sigh, rolling her eyes at his question. "You've got it wrong. It's not him I want to dance with."

Why did she go and say what she was thinking? Next thing she knows she'll be blabbing their whole plan.

She expected Jaune to bail then, the revelation probably too odd for him. However he didn't budge, instead he seemed to be thinking hard about something until a look of sudden clarity showed on his face.

"Oh, I see, so you wanted to dance with that girl." Emerald shook her head in irritation at how the once seemingly intuitive boy suddenly became a complete idiot. "Have you asked her to a dance yet?"

Emerald was growing weary of Jaune's badgering. "No, I haven't. She probably wouldn't like the idea of two girls dancing. Probably not her kind of thing." Emerald said with some spite.

Emerald then deflated a little at the truth of her words. Jaune noticed her snarky attitude turn melancholy and had an idea, hoping it would cheer the girl up.

"Well, if it's not too much to ask, would you like to dance with me?" Emerald looked at him appraisingly and scoffed. She was about to decline his offer, but Jaune cut her off before she could start. "Hear me out before you say no." He looked at her pleadingly and Emerald caved, deciding to entertain him for a while longer before she throttle him.

"I was thinking that since I'm wearing a dress it'd be like you're dancing with a girl, and maybe we can get that other girl's attention, and maybe make her want to dance with us after seeing how much fun we're having."

Emerald almost wanted to laugh in his face about how futile his plan was. Cinder was not the type to be so easily swayed by emotions, so there was absolutely no way she would ever join in a dance with them just because it "looked fun".

However the idea of dancing and just letting loose seemed more appealing than stewing in a corner for the rest of the night.

"You know what, why not. Let's go weirdo." Emerald said as she strode past him.

Jaune was delighted that she accepted his offer, glad to get her to stop moping and hopefully have some fun.

Emerald found herself dancing with the other members of team JNPR and had to admit, even though she was technically fooling around among the enemy, she was really enjoying the moment. She didn't have to worry about what Cinder thought, and she could relax and not always feel threatened by everything and everyone around her.

Needless to say it was a great night, and in the end she found herself grateful for Jaune's meddling.