018: Hallucinations suck

[captain_in_you]

[Voice]
It's over, huh? Good. I need... [He trails off, perhaps unsure what he needs. A drink? A friend? A good night's sleep? A bullet to the head?]

...to forget all that. Somehow.

They always know just what buttons to push, don't they?

[Jack sighs and sets the journal aside, intending to switch it off. Before he does, however, one might hear

Comments

[oda_hates_me]

[mutters] You and everyone else.

[But that sounds a little callous, so he follows up after a moment, wryly]

And you can't ever say they're not good at their jobs.

[captain_in_you]

I know, I know. Didn't expect I was the only one to come out of this with some... bad memories. And yeah, they are good at what they do to us. Probably deserve a raise after this week.

[A pause, then...] Meet me at the bar?

[oda_hates_me]

[Oh yes, that'd be perfect - getting paid for torturing a village full of prisoners. Sanji something growls under his breath.

But... the promise of alcohol.]

Alright. Have your damn hypervodka ready.

[Action]

[captain_in_you]

Will do. See you there.

[Jack will be waiting for him at a table in the bar, a bottle and two small glasses ready.]

[Action]

[oda_hates_me]

[Sanji doesn't take long to get there, and easily spots the other. He lifts a hand in greeting before slipping into his seat, eying the glasses with a small quirk on his mouth]

So. How many shots before it kills our memory?

[Action]

[captain_in_you]

No idea. [Jack pours two shots and pushes one toward Sanji with a small smile.] Care to do some scientific testing?

[Action]

[oda_hates_me]

So long as you don't expect me to walk you home. [He eyes the shot with quiet skepticism - oh, he remembers you, vodka - but picks it up with a brief grin of his own]

Any particular toast you wanna make?

[Action]

[captain_in_you]

I think we'll both be lucky to be walking, if we do this right. [Jack raises his glass and eyes it thoughtfully.]

To memories of lost friends. [He drinks it quickly, trying not to wince at the burn.]

[Action] 1/2

[oda_hates_me]

[He can't argue that. Sanji lifts a brow and nods at the toast, wondering if he wants to make his own.

... Nah.

A second passes, then he slams his, too]

[Action]

[oda_hates_me]

[... And he's as noticeably graceful swallowing it as he was the first time, if that rapid coughing is any indication.]

As anyone ever died off this shit?

[Action]

[captain_in_you]

Quite possibly. I can't die though, so maybe we should test that on me? [He grins and pours another two, but then waves a waitress over and orders a couple beers for them.] I think we might need a chaser. This stuff will burn our throats out if we let it.

[Action]

[oda_hates_me]

I'll pass. Seen enough people dying for the week. [Sanji is going to play it smart and take a swig of that beer first just to sooth his poor throat.]

[Action]

[captain_in_you]

[Smart move, that. Jack will do the same, but he'll reach for the small shot glass soon after. That burning feeling is mellowing into a nice numbness, but it isn't nearly enough, not yet.]

Your turn this time. What're we drinking to?

[Action]

[oda_hates_me]

[His turn, huh?

The Malnosso assholes being strung up by their shitty balls - but how bitter that sounds, even though rightly deserved. He smirks and jumps over the thought]

To my crew. [Bottoms up, Jack. And Sanji slams him down, managing not to choke up half of it this time]

[Action]

[captain_in_you]

[Jack downs the shot, then follows it quickly with a swallow of beer. Ahh, there's that scalding burn, all the way down, spreading quickly through his body.]

I'm gonna have to meet this crew of yours sometime. Some of 'em here?

[Action]

[oda_hates_me]

[Now here's a subject he can get lost in, and he grins through the burn nearly scalding his throat]

Seven out of nine, including myself. I'm surprised you haven't met a few of them by now. We're not really a quiet bunch.