[voice]

[youhearthebells]

[after talking to Motochika, Gan Ning has become homesick. Also, sleep-deprived. And, well, drunk. All perfectly good reasons not to make any sense whatsoever. His accent is probably thicker, to, sorry.]

Y'know what it's like to like...never see yer own people? It's been for...fif...almost sixteen months since I been 'round my guys. My countrymen. My lords. Shit. Now I know I told stories 'bout Orochi before so 'm not gonna bore ya with that again. Just. Damn, I ain't seen Ling Tong in that long. Never thought I'd miss his sassy mouth so damn much. Never even thought I'd miss the old man, but I do.

An' yanno, there been nobody here from my world. Nobody! Xun Yu don't count, she was a he where I come from and I ain't friends with anybody in Wei anyway. Wei. Anyway. Hah! [a few minutes of absurd laughter at his rhyming]

...right, where was I?

I love you guys but I gotta go back. My guys from Wu been in that world more'n sixteen months, more'n two years even. We gotta get them home too. We all gotta go home. There's somethin' about home that this place can't touch. I love bein' a captain again but Lord Sun Jian needs me just as much as my Hazmats do. Hey! Hey crew! We oughta do somethin' to leave our mark on this place. Somethin' where they won't ever forget we were here! They'll tell stories about that time them Hazardy Mats did the thing and their brave an' crazy captain Gan Xingba led the charge and yeah!! Like that! Know what I mean?

...'cuz that's, yeah. Just in case Davy Jones is gettin' fit to send the rest of us away before we can rise up against him. Betcha he's behind the undead. Tryin' ta take us out without liftin' a finger himself. Right bastard.

[he'd keep going if he didn't take one more sip and pass out. He'll get back to the journal when he wakes up]

Comments

[song_princess]

.......

I know that I have enjoyed hearing your stories, my lord even if I never spoken with my lord.

[A forced chuckle.] So it seems like my lord enjoys his stories and to be in them as well.

[youhearthebells]

[he may have briefly passed out there, but he wakes up no less drunk than when he started. Oh it's a lovely lady voice BONUS]

Whoa, been a long time since anybody called me 'my lord.' It's like old times. Yer right, sweet cheeks, I do like bein' in stories.

[song_princess]

[Okay, she couldn't help but to laugh even more.]

I apologize if calling that offends you. My name is Leanne, my lord. If I may be so bold to say but if you tickle my ears a bit, I can make sure that your satory can be told at least in songs.

[youhearthebells]

Now that's right up my alley! What warrior doesn't want his life to make the best songs after he's gone?

[Leanne, hmm...he has actually heard of her before, come to think of it. Through the haze, he's remembering a bit. She sounds sweet, though, a fine flower...he shouldn't be too crass.]

What story ya wanna hear? I got a bunch.

[song_princess]

Well, my people are known for keeping stories and history be remembered through our songs. Hopefully I won't disappoint my lord with how I spread his story.

[She ponders a bit but then lets out a small sigh.]

Tell me whatever you wish to be remembered for.

[youhearthebells]

That sounds just about right, li'l lady Leanne. [snort! he made another word funny!]

Let's see now...that's a tall order. I done some amazing things back home...and then I had some adventures in the demon realm...and then I was here and even though the Navy never valued me much, I did a lot. Did lots for my crew, mostly...savin' their lives and stealin' 'em a ship and...

[and he will ramble all day as he remembers their adventures]

[song_princess]

[Okay, she is gonna make a small fake pouting noise.] I am not little.

You fought in a demon realm? Does such realms exist?

[But then she quiet down, listening to his rambling. She cannot help but to start hum a small tune as the song to sing about him was starting to form inside her mind.]

[youhearthebells]

[her question distracts him from babbling about Hazmat adventures and changes his attention back to Orochi]

Yeah, see...this powerful demon broke loose from Heaven and decided to come down to challenge the most powerful warriors on the earth. But he couldn't just do it, heaven's forces woulda caught him easy, so he tore up our lands and pulled 'em into his own realm. That way he could fight us all he wanted an' nobody could interfere. Made us fight him ourselves, humans against demons. It was tougher than any war I ever been in...

[song_princess]

And your goddess couldn't come to your aid? How did you guys defeated him? Beorcs would normally be much weaker than a demon...

[She will bring him back to the Hazmat adventures in due time but for now... This was quite interesting.]

[youhearthebells]

Nah, the gods were stuck, they couldn't get in. Well, later they did, and let me tell ya, it's pretty cool gettin' to hang around and have a drink with the creator of the human race! But. That first time...it took all of us. Everybody puttin' aside kingdoms and workin' together. We mustered a massive army and took him on all at once, an' that did it. Don't even know who actually landed the killin' blow, but somebody sure did.

[song_princess]

Did you try and have a drinking contest with him? That sounds incredible I bet you never felt so strong as you did then. Does it really matter who laid the killing blow? I am pretty sure that with all of your strengths combined not one person did it on their own.

[youhearthebells]

Probably something like that, yeah. [it's hard to remember the little details when you're as drunk as he is]

[song_princess]

[She giggles and shakes her head even if he cannot see it.]

How much did you drink? [She giggles some more.] A song is already forming in my mind for you.

[youhearthebells]

Uh. A lot. [he lost track] Sorry.

Already? I wanna hear it!

[song_princess]

Why are you apologizing, my brothers also like to drink a lot.

It is still a work in progress but here, I shall pray that you like it.

[She goes to take a deep breath before singing at first slow before it gets more and more upbeat with each line. She stops after a couple verses.]

How is it?

[youhearthebells]

[completely captivated. It's mostly her voice that does it]

...that's so nice. So pretty.

[song_princess]

Is there anything I should change for your song, my lord?

[youhearthebells]

Mmm...just make sure you use 'Gan Ning of the Bells' at least once. That's how I'm famous.

[if she sings it again he might just be lulled to another nap on deck]

[song_princess]

I shall make sure to use that title when referring to you in the song. Is there anything you can think of fixing?

[youhearthebells]

[dreamily:] Nah, 's good. 'S perfect.

[song_princess]

I am pleased that you think so, my lord Gan Ning.

[willwork4sugar]

....

[He's just gonna...try dragging you to your bed, cap'n.]

[youhearthebells]

[what is this tugging who is it what]

Huh?

[willwork4sugar]

Heya Jingles. Kinda found you on the floor- I was going to take you to the room.

[youhearthebells]

I'll get there. [no he won't. He is plastered.]

Yer a good guy, Gaius. I ever tell ya that?

[willwork4sugar]

Yeah, I know you will.

[He tries to help Gan Ning get an arm over his shoulders so he can support him easier.]

Yep. Think you have. I'm glad you stuck around with this crew, captain.

[youhearthebells]

[whoa, being vertical sucks right now. He makes sure to grab his book as he gets the other arm over Gaius.]

I wouldn't let ya guys down. No way. Yer all good...except Cyn, she was gonna take my wine away.

[naw but he does love everybody in this bar, really]

[willwork4sugar]

[Eaaasy there captain. Gaius waits to make sure that Gan Ning is ready before he'll start forward.

He can't help but smirk a little.]

Heh, that right? Good luck to her in that.

[He doubts that would be an easy feat.]

[youhearthebells]

Damn right. [blergh. Is the ship being sucked down a whirlpool? Because it sure is spinning] She. She don't even know where I keep it. Not that there's a lot left now 'cause I figured it was safer in my belly than in its hiding place...

[willwork4sugar]

One step at a time, Captain. Just lean on me.

[That gets a laugh.]

Oh, is that what happened...

[youhearthebells]

Uh huh. [left...right...left...right...]

M'mean...she ain't got nothin' on me. No 'fense if ya like her or somethin', but she's evil.

[willwork4sugar]

Heh! Oh, no offense- I know she can be.

[youhearthebells]

Wassup with that anyway? [trying to peer at him from where he's being held up] You get anywhere with her?

[willwork4sugar]

I don't know. She's just concerned about us in her own way.

[Gaius smiles crookedly as he continues to try walking them to the cabin. Door's not too far, but distracted drunk Gan Ning proves more difficult to get walking in the right direction.]

Not really. She can be pretty stubborn, Jingles. Better be careful- if she catches you like this, that'll just make here all the more insistent on keeping you away from liquor.

[youhearthebells]

....oh hell. [he leans more heavily on Gaius] Hurry up and get to the cabin! I don't wanna let her catch me!

[willwork4sugar]

[He tries not to lose his balance as Gan Ning's weight shifts.]

Whoa- careful there, Jingles. Don't worry, we're almost there.

[youhearthebells]

Thank heaven. You're too good to me, Gaius.

[willwork4sugar]

[Gaius grins.]

Hey, we all gotta look out for each other, right?

[youhearthebells]

[bros 4 lyfe]

I owe ya bigtime after this. Ain't lettin' no one and nothin' get me, thanks to you...

[ah but there's his bed and that's a nice sight. Maybe a little nap will do after all]

[willwork4sugar]

[Aw yeah.]

Not on my watch.

Aaand here we go.

[Just going to make sure Gan Ning settles on the bed and not, you know, miss it and land on the floor.]

[youhearthebells]

[very wise, Gaius, because he almost does. Doesn't even take off his shoes or his armor or even his damnable bells before flopping onto his back on his bunk]

Ahhh there we go. That's much better'n the deck. Deck is hard.

[willwork4sugar]

[Yeaaah it doesn't look like he's going to be moving again any time soon, so Gaius just leaves him be.]

Yeah, not the greatest place for a nap. I'll leave you to it then, Jingles.

[youhearthebells]

Yeah okay. I swear I'll sober up by nightfall.

[not that he wants to, but this here is no drunken kung fu master. He'll be ready to go.]

[willwork4sugar]

Heh. Rest up, captain.

[At least it won't be strange for him to be sleeping at this time of the day that Cynthia should be suspicious, right?

...just to be safe, Gaius is going to go see if he's got any bottles to clean up.]