008 ~*~ At least she can't drink and fly...

[not_so_great_wall]

[ Action : Olney's Tavern : Open ]
[ If you're a regular at the bar, you might notice a new sigth in one of the stools. A tall red-haired Chinese woman in a plain green dress is making herself right at home, even if the drone workers don't particularly care about serving her anything other than weak, fruity, feminine drinks.

That doesn't mean she hasn't been trying to sweet-talk them into it for the better part of an hour. And by sweet-talk, I mean whining pitifully because she really doesn't want to get thrown out for taking matters into her own hands. ] --c'mo~on. Can't you just pour me something a little stronger? I'm going to need a whole lot more than this. [ She remarks, fingernail grazing the edge of the colorful cocktail glass. ]

---

[ Action : Around Town : Open ]
[ Later, no matter how much she had to work at it, she managed to get herself sufficiently smashed (for a short while, at least)! You can encounter her:

1) Wandering the neighborhood, humming some old tune to herself as she sways.
2) Attempting to enter your home and not realizing why her stupid key isn't working...
3) Napping on your front lawn. ]

Comments

[walking-nuke.livejournal.com]

[Balin, for his part, is oblivious to how the youkai of Gensokyo view humans; his tone of voice definitely conveys that it's a new subject for him.]

Yeah, I guess that's true. They only just recently gave me back my PT gear—[—Indicating the clothes he's wearing right now (http://www.adultimum.net/studio/tabularasa/balin-recruitgear.png), sans the big handgun and its thigh holster—]—but anyway. Sentient beings eatin' sentient beings is, well ... I don't wanna see people gettin' eaten—that don't deserve it, at least. Still, even'a Bane didn't do that to us.

[His gives Meiling a lop-sided, if morbid, grin.]

'Course, in Bootcamp they made a point of makin' us "taste as badly as possible." So that's probably why.

[not_so_great_wall]

[ Now she laughs more freely. ] How'd they manage that?

[walking-nuke.livejournal.com]

Zero fat. Puttin' us through'a same kinda physical trainin' regimen most of'a special forces back home went through. I never wanted to be'a Navy SEAL, but after'a Bane hit, well, I might as well have been one.

Went through'a same kinda "Hell Week" they do. Solid five day an' night physical trainin', only four hours'a sleep in total—toward'a end. They pushed us to'a limits of our mind an' body.

[not_so_great_wall]

Only four hours of sleep?! [ Priorities: Meiling has them. ] That sounds awful! [ Not mentioning that she could do that, easily -- it's just she doesn't want to know what she'd be like at the end. ]

[walking-nuke.livejournal.com]

[He looks a bit solem.]

Yeah, well, Hell Week's a least of'a awful things I've had'a go through back home.

[He manages another lopsided grin.]

'Least now I can run cross-country helluva far, though. Not much mechanized infantry in'a AFS yet.

[not_so_great_wall]

I guess that's one advantage. [ And of course she uses this chance to pitch something. ] Know anything about tai chi?

[walking-nuke.livejournal.com]

Uh ... [Balin rubs the back of his neck in thought.] That's a martial art, right?

They taught me some martial arts in Bootcamp, but one of'a guys there said it's more based on Krav Maga an' MCMAP. I'm not that good at it; I tried some sparrin' sessions in'a CELLAR Arena once an' one of'a "black belts" still kicked my ass. I held out for a while though.

[not_so_great_wall]

Basically... but I plan on teaching a class soon that's going to focus more on centering the mind and body, and less about beating people up. [ And no "drunken style" jokes, please. ]

[walking-nuke.livejournal.com]

[TEE HEE. Balin, however, looks thoughtful.]

Well, trainin'a mind an' spirit is just as important as trainin'a body. Might be worth checkin' out. When an' where'll you be teachin' it?

[not_so_great_wall]

Exactly! [ She points a finger skyward, but then brings it down to scratch at her cheek. ] --I haven't figured that out yet. But before I do, I'll be calling around to see who'll come!

[walking-nuke.livejournal.com]

Maybe try'a Rec Center? One of'a snipers in town built'a firin' range there.

[Balin knows two, so far!]

[not_so_great_wall]

Nah, I was just thinking of hosting it in the park or someplace nice and open. There's no telling how many people will come.

[walking-nuke.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's'a good point. Park would probably be'a best place, then.

[not_so_great_wall]

I thought so! [ Redundant note is redundant, Meiling. ]

--do you have a clock? [ Watch. Something. ]

[walking-nuke.livejournal.com]

Uh—not on me right now, no. One in'a house, though.

... I really oughta buy a watch. Too used to havin'a clock in my heads-up display.

[not_so_great_wall]

[ Waving a hand. ] It's okay! I don't carry a watch either. But I probably shouldn't worry people more. [ She's done enough of that. ]

It was nice meeting you, though!

[walking-nuke.livejournal.com]

Yeah, same here. Good'a know there's more people around here with their heads screwed on straight!

[Then he remembers his original offer.]

You need help gettin' home any?

[Though ... Judging from how she hasn't stumbled or fell over since they started talking, it looks like she's sobering up some. Maybe she'll be alright enough to walk back home.]

[not_so_great_wall]

[ Home? Well, she should get home eventually, but not instantly. Meiling nods and smiles. ] I'll be okay. [ Eventually.

She starts to step back, before turning and waving over her shoulder. ] Take care, Balin!

*needs more userpics XD*

[walking-nuke.livejournal.com]

[Balin waves back!]

Catch ya later, Meiling!

[He's not sure which part of her name is her first name, though he's hoping it's not "Hong."]

[As Meiling leaves, Balin looks around and remembers what he was going to do earlier. So! He sits back in the lawn chair and starts working on cleaning the Colt .45.]