high_seas | What happens in Deesuko Ballia...

That's what he gets for being so daft.

[She giggled as he patted her head, even letting it past her that he got some of her beer. She didn't really drink, after all. She was too young for that sort of thing . . . ]

[Though it was indeed a very strange world in which she was too young to drink but old enough to get married.]

Is it really that good?

[Kodachi picked up one of the mugs of beer. It was cold, and the foam on top was quite nice, she had to admit.]

What, beer? It depends on who's brewing it, I suppose! This is no better or worse than most, I think. After a while, you don't really notice the taste as much. Of course, if you're looking to get properly drunk, this isn't going to do you much good.

[It was why he'd never quite understood why everyone was so preoccupied with it in this place. Sure, you could store a lot of it and serve it in great amounts, but it wasn't exactly the best tasting thing you could toss in a mug and shove across a bar, nor was it really that potent.]

I'm sure the barkeep could make you up something a bit more interesting, though the louts wouldn't know how to go about ordering it for you.

[And neither does Motochika, honestly, he's just seen it happen.]

[Kodachi decided to try her first ever sip of beer. It looked quite nice and golden, and well, she was older now, wasn't she? Surely a few sips wouldn't hurt.]

[She tried a dainty sip - almost just a splash - savoring the taste in her mouth. It wasn't one of the best beers in the world, but it was alright. That earthy taste was actually quite nice.]

Why would you want to get properly drunk?

[That was honestly something she was curious about.]

[She also looked to the barkeep, who was watching her with interest.]

Make me something nice.

[He quickly got to it, and a moment later, she had a drink with chocolate in it.]

[Motochika eyed Kodachi's drink with interest. It was probably something the men around here looked down on as a "girly drink," but Motochika was willing to drink just about anything with alcohol in it, regardless of its intended audience.]

Why would you want to get drunk? [He scratched at his chin, pondering that one.] It's a good bit of fun while it's happening, I suppose. Not so much fun afterwards, but you learn to manage that. I've had some of my best ideas while I was drunk.

[Mind you, these were good ideas by Motochika's standards...]

[The men around the bar may have thought of it as a "girly drink", but they were too wary of her clubs to say anything.]

You think it's fun?

[Oh, no. She was getting some bad ideas right here.]

[She took a sip of the chocolate drink and found that she liked it much more than the beer. She'd had rum chocolates before, of course, and this was something like that - just in a beverage!]

Oh, this is nice!

Of course it's fun! The more people around who get in on it, the more fun it is. It does something to the inhibitions, you see, so if I've thought of something particularly good, it's far easier to get everyone else on board with it!

[Motochika, after all, didn't have much by way of inhibitions to start with.]

Not that it helps with everyone, mind you. Ragna's a bit more agreeable for a bit before he gets to starting fights again, for example. Then there are some who fall right asleep and others who get a bit gloomy and keep to themselves. It's a matter of choosing your company, I suppose.

[The thought of Ragna being more agreeable than usual made her laugh, and she took another sip of her drink. She didn't see why people needed to get drunk when she could have as much fun while sober, but she had to admit that the cocktail tasted good.]

I didn't know that.

What about Mitsunari-san?

I can't so much as get him to drink water on the best of days.

[Motochika frowns a little and scratches at his head. Mitsunari seems to be allergic to fun. Well, to anything that might brighten up his day a little. After their argument the day the little metal birds appeared, they've been keeping their distance from each other and Motochika isn't terribly happy about it. He doesn't like problems he can't fix. He doesn't want to admit such a thing exists.]

I can't imagine himself showing his face in a place such as this.

That's true. He doesn't even eat much of what I make.

[She finished off her plate of food and drank a little bit more of her newly discovered beverage.]

Hmm, this feels a little warm . . . Is that supposed to happen?

Aye, that's to be expected! Make sure you don't overdo it, though. Wouldn't want you to make yourself sick.

[Sure, he's encouraging underage drinking, but he's not entirely irresponsible. It's his job to look out for his crew, after all.]

No way to know how much is too much until you go a bit too far, but I wouldn't recommend trying that the first time out.

Oh, I'm certain that my limits aren't that low!

[Said every newbie to drinking ever.]

Don't worry about me, Motochika-san. I just want to enjoy this beverage!

[She gestured over to the bartender.]

Make another one for the good captain!

[The bartender looked momentarily baffled, but served Motochika the same drink he served Kodachi, much to Motochika's amusement. Motochika took the glass and examined it from all angles before taking a drink.]

Not bad! Not bad at all!

[It certainly tasted more interesting than the beer he'd been drinking. It was a bit hard to tell how potent it was, though.]

You'll definitely have to watch yourself with these, though. I bet you could drink quite a few before it really hits you.

[So now Motochika and Kodachi were drinking girly drinks together at the bar. This was something that, no doubt, was inevitable.]

Not that I couldn't carry you back to the ship if worse comes to worse, but I'd rather not have to.

[Chocolate certainly made things much more exciting! Kodachi reached the bottom of her class, fishing out the cherry from underneath and popping it into her mouth.]

Oh, Motochika-san, you're so nice. ♥

[She was feeling nicely warm, and a little giddy. Her head was a little fuzzy too. Were these the effects of wine?]

Bartender, give me something else to try, and give the captain one too! Make it fun!

[And thus she received another drink, this time a fruity concoction with a paper umbrella on it.]

You know, Motochika-san, I'm kind of sad that I'm not doing anything for Valentine's Day . . . [She made an exaggerated sad face. Yes, she was getting a little buzzed.]

[Valentine's Day...that was when the cursed candy had appeared last year. Obviously a dangerous holiday and no doubt that danger would only be made worse if Kodachi was sad about it for some reason. They weren't likely to remember what she did to Eternal Bliss any time soon.]

Er...well...I'm sure we could find something to do...

["We" not referring to anyone in specific. He wasn't sure he wanted to get himself into whatever Kodachi might be planning.]

I hope so . . .

[She took a sip of her drink before eying Motochika's.]

You're not drinking!

[Motochika hastily gulped down more of the chocolate drink. Usually, he'd just shrug it off, but discussions of holidays related to love and romance were dangerous territory. He rather liked this island and having it burnt to the ground would put a damper on future visits.]

I was just taking a little break! Wouldn't want to gulp it all down and not, er, savor it properly!

[Kodachi nodded. That made sense to her, so she didn't question it.]

[She took a sip of her new drink. And more. She was getting a little lightheaded, and she slumped forward on the bar, her chin on the wood.]

What were we talking about again?

Er...you know, I don't quite recall...

[Except he did. He knew exactly what they were talking about and it was for the best of all the island to pretend that he didn't. Really, it would be best if she forgot about the silly holiday entirely, but he had a feeling that that was asking too much.]

So, uh, how's that new drink of yours? It seems, er, interesting...

It's nice, I got you one too, you should taste it, it's right there.

[She was beginning to talk in a sort of cheerful monotone, and she pointed to the glass with the umbrella on top right in front of him.]

Driiiiink.

Yes, ma'am!

[Since when did he start taking orders from Kodachi? Since it seemed like the wisest course of action to keep the island intact, he supposed.]

Er...perhaps you should stop after this one. Too much of a good thing and all that...

[He should probably put his foot down a bit more, but for all that Ragna insisted that Kodachi was a good kid, that didn't mean she was a harmless one.]

You think so?

[She pushed herself up from the bar and ended up leaning against him, giggling to herself as she twirled the paper umbrella in her fingers.]

[Valentine's Day was coming, and she needed to get married . . . Maybe getting drunk would help her get married . . .]

Yes, I believe I do.

[He did his best to steady her, which earned a round of whistles and applause from the assorted riffraff crowding the bar. Motochika wasn't really sure how he should take that. Really, he was more concerned with keeping Kodachi upright and out of trouble that involved burning down important things. Other sorts of trouble were, perhaps, a bit more acceptable.]

After all, you wouldn't want to get yourself too drunk to remember all the fun you're having here, eh?

[Please be having fun.]

Motochika-san . . .

[She barely heard the other people. It seemed that the liquor had gotten to her, and she gave Motochika something of a silly smile. It looked so odd for her to be so . . . inelegant.]

I'd have more fun if you were drinking too.

And if I were married already.

[And she just burst out laughing for no reason.]

[Really, she didn't need to tell twice to get back to drinking. Unfortunately, it only ended up meaning that he had something to choke on when she brought up marriage again. He slammed the glass back down on the counter and coughed until he could breathe properly again. Actually, longer than that because it gave him a chance to avoid addressing the whole marriage thing right away.]

You're that desperate to find a husband, eh?

[Except he went and opened his big, stupid mouth anyway. Good job, Motochika.]

[While she normally might've been offended at such a statement, she just nodded eagerly.]

Yes! My beauty is wasting away! Like a flower slowly losing its petals . . .

[She let out a sad sniff, followed by a hiccup. As a sixteen year old, she sounded like she was turning seventy instead of seventeen.]

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