Jaune and the Real Girl.

Penny knocked on the Ironwood's new door. After the attempt on the General's life his entire office was refurbished to its former glory though it had seemed little had changed to her, she wondered if perhaps the General simply liked his workspace to stay a certain way or if this was his way of showing stoicism in the face of danger as if to say the attempt on his life was only an inconvenience.

"Come in," the intercom outside sounded with Ironwood's voice.

Penny opened the heavy doors with ease and stolled in. He was sitting at his desk with Winter by his side conversing with him. She looked at her and smiled in polite greeting. "Hello Penny," she said.

"Salutations Winter, General Ironwood," she said addressing the both of them.

"Penny," Ironwood greeted giving her a nod from behind his desk folding his hands on the surface, "How are you today?"

"Oh just wonderful," she answered him, unable to hide the excitement that colored her features, "I am here to request tomorrow night off between the hours of six in the evening and four in the morning."

"Time off?" Ironwood asked her.

"Yes," Penny explained to him, "I would like to clear my duties for recreational purposes," she explained.

"Really?" Winter inquired, "You have never requested time off before."

"I know, and because of that I have accrued a substantial amount of off time I would now like to begin making use of," she explained to them.

"Why do you want to suddenly use your time off Penny?" Ironwood asked.

Penny averted her eyes awkwardly. "Well you see General, I would like to go out on a date tomorrow night."

"A date!" Winter inquired a bit louder that she would usually expect from the rather stoic woman.

Penny nodded watching Winter's face betray surprise at the very idea that she was going on an actual date. Ironwood showed less surprise but his brow furrowed at her answer.

He stood up hands clasped behind his back, "Penny... we are currently in a state of emergency," he explained, "we are still investigating who is responsible for the recent bombings and as you know a very capible assassin is still alive and he just hospitalized my best operatives."

Penny listened and bit back her desire to ask why the General hadn't told her or Jaune that Vasily was in fact still alive. She still hadn't told Jaune the news herself, demanding to know why General Ironwood had left her in the dark when she herself hadn't told Jaune seemed hypocritical.

"Penny your services are invaluable," Ironwood explained to her, "you provide the citizens of Mantle with a symbol of security and hope and right now they need that more than ever."

"I understand that General," Penny told him.

"Yet you are requesting a night off when I might need your services now more than ever," Ironwood said stepping around his desk, "I am sure you can understand why I am hesitant to grant your request."

"It is just one night," Penny said, trying to reason with him.

"These bombings happened over the course of one night," Ironwood explained to her.

"Sir," Winter cut in, "Miss Polendina has indeed accumulated many hours of off time and she is entitled to its use the same as anyone."

"I am aware of this Specialis Schnee," Ironwood replied, "But I am sure you can understand that right now we are in a dangerous time, we are under attack by an unknown enemy and I need all hands on deck for when our enemies strike again."