♫ 17 (backdated to early morning of the 18th)

[both_neither]

[There is the sound of music over the journal suddenly - the unmistakable blare of 80s music and off-key singing - though somewhat in the background and mixed with the clink of bottles and laughter.

Some of that laughter is much closer. A deep, wavering chuckle of someone who is probably less than sober.]

I can't believe I've never done this before. It's fun. Even if you can't sing. Especially if you can't sing...

Hey Vicious...Vicious...

They're closing up. You should...you should come and get me. Do you know they have special hotels down here? [He giggles more] Maybe there's one with a space theme...

Comments

[Filtered to Gren]

[nothingtobelieve]

[It's a good thing the journals don't do video, because the look on Vicious' face when he hears this could kill. This is definitely not how he wanted to end his evening.]

I'm sure there is.

[Said with absolutely no enthusiasm for the idea]

Where are you?

[So much for letting Gren out of his sight...]

[silentrunning]

[Scrawled in his journal...]

Gren! What ... are you doing? It sounds amazing.

dictated;

[gottaknockhard]

[Well, this is more than a little disturbing to overhear. He had his suspicions, but he kind of liked it better when they kept whatever the hell is going on private.]

Having fun?

[both_neither]

I'm...uh...I have no idea. [He doesn't sound that worried]

Wait a sec, I'll ask. [There is a pause as Gren flags down the bartender] Hey where'm I at?

[Another pause as the bartender, after some confusion, relays the name of the bar and the street name, most of which is in Japanese, but those two thing are more or less discernible. That should be good enough, right?]

[both_neither]

Karaoke.

dictated;

[both_neither]

[He would have thought of that if he were sober. As it is he doesn't quite register why this might be a bad thing. Yet, anyway]

I usually am. It wouldn't hurt for you to relax a little a bit, Spike.

[nothingtobelieve]

[Oh, very helpful. Japanese was not the Asian language he was familiar with. But it was enough to get directions with, even if he was loath to have to ask someone how to get there.]

Stay where you are. I'll be there shortly.

[silentrunning]

What's karaoke?

dictated;

[gottaknockhard]

['I usually am', ugh. The face he's making right now.]

It might.

dictated;

[both_neither]

There's a lot of 'might' in the world. Anything can happen. 'Specially here.

[both_neither]

Singing! They play music and show the words and you get to sing along.

[both_neither]

Not gonna get far otherwise...

[That's either because he's too drunk or he has too little money. He also seems to have forgotten where the hotel is that the castle stuck them.]

dictated;

[gottaknockhard]

[Just add this to the things he doesn't like about Earth.]

Right. It's an exciting time to live in.

[Action]

[nothingtobelieve]

[It takes a train ride and some guesswork, but Vicious eventually finds the bar, walking in with a rather displeased look on his face.]

[silentrunning]

THAT sounds FUN!

[both_neither]

It is. Even if...I'm not very good. Guess that's...why I decided to play instruments instead. So much for that, though...

[action forever]

[both_neither]

[By the time Vicious gets there Gren is mildly more sober, and is slumped forward onto the bar. He sleepily waves a hand at the approaching shock of silver hair]

dictated;

[both_neither]

Any amount of living is more exciting than being dead.

[nothingtobelieve]

[It isn't hard to make his way over to Gren. The scowl on his face seems to be doing a very good job of clearing a path to the bar. He stops just short of where Gren is slumped over]

Get up.

dictated;

[gottaknockhard]

So you might as well drink away your regrets?

[silentrunning]

[She's being charitable.]

You don't sound bad.

[both_neither]

[And even drunk, he knows that. He chuckles]

Well thanks.

[both_neither]

[It takes him a moment to push away from the bar and too his feet. He's smiling, as if he doesn't register the displeasure on his comrade's face]

Was starting to wonder if you got lost.

[nothingtobelieve]

I had to take the train.

[At which point he clamps one hand on Gren's arm in a not terribly friendly fashion as he prepares to steer him out of the bar]

[both_neither]

Ow...hey...

[He doesn't really resist beyond looking a bit bewildered, his beatific expression finally faltering]