The sun was setting over the gorgeous Briss Kingdom, men and women walking the streets whilst marines patrolled the southern half of the Island. To Sergei it was a far better place to be then his previous land of Karate Island, six months prior to which he along with a man by the name of Gideon had taken out a rather large crime family. This gained him just the tiniest bit of leeway to allow his transfer to a slightly more marine friendly area. He made enough to eat and have a place over his head and that was good enough for him for now.

He was doing well for himself, having even started up training in his family martial art once more. He took the afternoon patrols as it left him with the morning for himself, when most others were asleep or out on the morning patrol. His eyes scanned the streets, keeping a lookout for anyone whose head held a bounty. It was a simple job really, keep an eye out and stop any crime currently in progress which when you grow chains and fire them off as he could, wasn't really an issue to do.

To put an end to his shift he stopped by the local tavern, which more often then not garnered him information and leads on where to find certain criminals. Though, the fact that the owner also liked marines and often paid for their drinks on top of the rather beautiful staff didn't hurt either. It was a simple night in that tavern, men were drinking and flirting with the staff and any woman who entered, some tried to start fights only for any marines already there to put them down and overall it was an easy place to focus and get information.

Sergei took his seat at the bar and took his order, which was effectively the bottle of saki and began listening to any information which might help him out.

A yawn. Such a simple reaction to the environment, tells so much about this young man already. Kouhei, a simple Lieutenant, had been awake for about 9 hours (it now being about 8 PM) though still felt a little sleepy. Not tired, just sleepy. He'd tell you it felt like he'd been sleep for 8 or so months, and you know how it is when you oversleep, you wake up and wanna go right back. Still posted near the Briss Kingdom since he took out a bartender stabber, it seems like the man's life has been stagnant lately. Kou was on the fast track to become a Captain in mere months, but his laziness and unmotivated behavior kept him at his mediocre rank. Such things happen though, but it was time to change all of that.

Through the brightly lit streets, the sun had almost been completely obscured, with only that thin layer of red, orange and pink filling the sky. These moments Kou really enjoyed to watch... just looking up at the sky and enjoying his life. It seems so cheesy but sunsets and rises really filled him with emotion. Once the darkness of night fully engulfed the town, he'd rise off the town bench he perched himself on and kept throughout the town, looking for somewhere to rest his bones for a moment before reporting back to the Marine base, ready to take on something major. He wanders for a few minutes before he notices his hunger. "I guess I haven't eaten much today other than that jerky..." he thinks to himself. Food. That's the plan for now.

Eventually he finds a tavern, the same tavern he actually saved the owner from being stabbed to death in. Every time Kou comes in the guy shakes his hand and sets him up with at least one free drink and meal, which the young man took advantage of this time. Most of the men here were just simple townsfolk, and the occasional Marine that Kou might nod or speak to, depending on how interesting they were.

"AH, Kouhei! There you are buddy!" the owner says, seating the man in a booth himself. "The usual? Fried chicken and beer?"

"You know me too well man." Kou says chuckling softly with the slightly older gentleman. A few barmaids wave at Kou, with one of them actually hugging him. Some of the locals raise a glass to the man, nodding in respect. It was as if the man was royalty, he had been so well known to this bar. His booth was about 5 feet to the left of the barstools, the door being directly 8 feet in front of him. Sergei Volkov was noticed, appearing as a simple Marine in garb. Being a brother in arms, Kou buys another bottle of sake for the lad, even though the two had never met each other.

Looking at Kouhei, one would notice he stands out from a normal Marine. He doesn't dress the standard attire, but he wears a marine cap on his head at times... like now. His black sweat pants, and white-sleeveless T-shirt looks so casual, but his expensive looking gym shoes give away that he has some amount of money. Red and messy hair leaks from his hat, but never getting in the way of his eyes. His weapons are always donned, which always gives away that he's an actual Marine if the hat didn't.

It wasn't overtly difficult to capture the attention of Sergei, he was about as observant as your average marine. But when a certain marine had entered, he'd caused quite the commotion what with the owner himself greeting the man and setting him up with a booth, bar maids waving and one even hugging him and the locals raising their glass to him. The man seemed to be a fellow marine, which didn't strike Sergei as odd as a lot of the people took to the marines after they get help from them. Sergei took his bottle into his hand and drew a long drink from it, having acquired a taste after the incident on Karate Island.

He was quite, his face stern and cold as he listened into conversations, many people think that the talking of the bar will drown out their conversation and they aren't wrong, as it does silence most noise. But the stools were close enough to the booths to allow one to eavesdrop on certain conversations which more often then not allowed Sergei to listen in on a conversation and even allowed him to get to a crime in progress and stop it. Sergei was, however, quickly taken out of this mode as a second bottle of saki had found it's way in front of him.

He took a glance towards the bottle then towards the bar keep "I did not order two bottles of Saki." he stated plainly, to which the bar keep replied "It is on the house from Kouhei." gesturing towards the man. Sergei looked back, had he not seen the marine gear he'd had assumed Kouhei some thug looking to put a marine in his pocket. Grabbing the bottles he stood and made his way to the booth Kouhei sat in, taking his seat in front of Kouhei and placing down the full bottle of Saki the man ordered.

Flashing the man that shark toothed grin of his, Sergei spoke "I am Sergei Volkov, if you intend to pay for this the least I can do is drink it with you."

After about a minute or two, a well done burger with cheddar, fried onions, pickles, lettuce, and a tomato, served on top of two sesame seed buns had been delivered to the young Marine. At first, Kou was confused as to why he had been delivered a burger instead of the fried chicken he usually acts for, because the fried chicken here had been like no other in the entire South Blue. Crispy, crunchy, a little spicy and with a splash of lemon pepper to add that extra "BANG!" to your mouth. It wasn't until he remembered that the bartender had actually been an older man around 70, that he put it together. Luckily for him one of the barmaids actually brought over the proper order, and took back the burger. He smiles and thanks her.

"You're getting old, old man!" Kou says jokingly to the owner, with the older bartender laughing with him.

"Yeah you would be too if you were 79!"

Suddenly the pale, slightly average looking Marine sits across from Kou with the bottle of sake. He looks calm, almost too calm. Kinda cold actually. He smiles and begins,

"I am Sergei Volkov, if you intend to pay for this the least I can do is drink it with you."

Kou at this point is interested in conversation. What a cool name. Usually people have like English or Japanese based names (which don't exist in this realm but still), but it's interesting to hear such a Russian based one.

"Sure man, I love a good bottle of sake." Kou says, raising his hand for another cup so he can sip with his brother in arm. A beautiful blonde barmaid, the same one who hugged Kou earlier, comes over to the two men and sets three cups on the table. She then pushes Kou over a little with her bum, and sits next to him. The woman then pours sake in the three cups.

"Hope you guys don't mind if I join in, technically it's my break." She says then winks at Sergei.

"The more the merrier!" Kou says placing his right arm around her shoulder, bringing her in closer to himself. "I'm Kouhei, nice to meet you marine. What rank are you?" He asks, before grabbing the sake with his left hand and downing it. It goes down smooth, the man had been drinking this shit since he was a young-in, the taste doesn't harm him like with some weaker willed men.

A sigh of relief nearly escaped from Sergeis lips, that deathly serious face more often then not put people off. Kou was willing to drink with him, he had thought it a bit forward to simply walk up and offer to drink with what was to him a total stranger though it turned out well for Sergei. Though they weren't alone long as the barmaid had decided to join the fun, which was no issue at all. Sergei flashed that shark toothed grin of his as she asked if she could join, a non verbal welcoming.

Kou had introduced himself as Kouhei and asked Sergei of his rank, the young marine wrapped his right hand around his own cup of saki and downed it "Ah, I am an ensign, what of yourself Kouhei?" Sergei's attention was currently between the conversations in the bar and his conversation with Kouhei. The alcohol wasn't going to help his issue but he didn't have much choice, it was odd to be in a bar and not have a drink or at the very least it was in his mind.

About ten feet away another conversation was being had between two young women, one large and stout almost like a gorilla whilst the other was a fairly plain looking girl. Their conversation didn't seem to hold any relevant information, talking about relationships and the such. "Any special abilities or just plain old good in a fight?"

Edit:

(48 hours, I am now leaving)

Sergei didn't know if it was the alcohol or the long day of patrolling he had, but he suddenly felt incredibly sick. The young marines pale complexion almost turned white as snow as he stood up "Ah, I'm sorry to cut thing so short but I am not feeling one hundred percent right now." he stumbled away from the table slightly, but seemed to catch himself quickly enough. "Please, enjoy yourself and we will catch up again later." he turned and shot his fellow marine a smile.

Assurances he was fine fell upon deaf ears as a barmaiden helped him to the door before a fellow bar patron slugged Sergei's arm around his shoulder and lead the man outside, helping him to current abode.

[exit]