A Door that Opens Part 21

Four bottles of rum, and ten bottles of beer later, Rinji raised up his shotglass, slowly and tapped glasses with a wheelchair-ridden Chio. They sat in their own, private quarters of the castle. The White Queen allowed them all of the access they wished, and Rinji was able to locate a totally stocked liquor cabinet. They drank, their speech was already slurred, and their cheeks were already red, but they still guzzled it down. They talked about nothing much at all, and they laughed at jokes that were not funny at all, but they still enjoyed it.

Chio: So, okay, why purple... and white of all colors?

Rinji: Oh, please. Do you really think I had a choice? This devilfruit doesn't exactly let you choose. The fruit itself was purple and pink, and so was my reflection when I came into this world. [They shared a small laugh at that as Rinji poured them two more shots.] So I kind of lucked out on that one.

Chio: And you can't grow giant in the real world? [Tapped glasses, and drank]

Rinji: [Cringed some at the burning] No, with what the little old ghost thing told me, my powers here are far greater than they will be on the outside world, which is a real drag. I liked being a giant, but who knows what I can do with this fruit down the line.

Chio: Man, that is so weird. You, of all people.... or... whatever you are [Shared a laugh again] with a fricken devil fruit! And such a rare one at that. Now, is it true what they say about the taste?

Rinji: That it tastes like an unripe banana that's already past its prime? If so, then yes. It was awful. [Opening a beer for them both, and handing one to Chio] Man, this was a hard one. You were in such bad shape two days ago, I thought we wouldn't be able to do this.

Chio: 'Ey... We've done this way too many times to stop now, I think I dreamed about this while I was knocked unconsious. [Guzzled down his beer bottle] So how long do you think that gold will last us?

Rinji: Mewhahaha[hic]! If we keep drinking like this, maybe a month.

Chio: Damn! How much did you get?

Rinji: By Ricky's estimate, around 100.5 million belli.

Chio: Wow, it's weird to think that's higher than my bounty. Hell, that's half your bounty.

Rinji: Yeah, mewhaha, probably not for long, though. With what we did to Vice Admiral Rise and her crew, I'd imagine our bounty is going to skyrocket.

Chio's face went a little down, he had completely forgotten about his encounter with Rise, so he stopped Rinji from talking and explained to him about meeting her on top of a giant staircase, and how the White Queen banished her with a thought.

Rinji: Oh... [drinking another shot of sake, adding that to the mix.] Well then, I suppose she could still be a threat.

Chio: [Nodded, and drank one as well.] You said we leave in the morning?

Rinji: Mewhahahaha! Hell no, with this much liquor in my system, don't expect me anytime before noon.

They shared more laughs, and tapped their glasses together, sharing in a grand old time with the liquor bottles piling higher into the night. They even acted like they had their own little tea party, with Chio putting on a top hat, and Rinji singing a jolly old tune. That was, however, when a mouse popped out of a bottle of red rum. That was when they decided to put down the bottle and go to bed.

-

Usagi: It's your decision, Alice, none of us can make that choice for you, and none of us will tell you to go one way or the other. If you wish, I'm sure Captain Rinji will be more than willing to bring you onboard the ship with us. It would make us all very happy.

Alice nodded, and sipped her tea.

Nikk sat in the corner of the big pink and white room while the two of them sat on the gigantic bed with all of the stuffed animals on it. She did not like this room one bit. It was too bright and perky for her taste, and it made her want to puke. Still, it was where they put them, and at least it had a lot of space for her to write in peace, but also listen to Alice and Usagi talk about her future with or without the Tiger-Stripes.

Usagi: You are the Blue Queen of Wonderland, afterall, that's something to consider. I'm not entirely sure what all that entails for you, but it sounds like it has a lot of responsibility to keep in mind.

Alice nodded, and poured herself another cup, as well as refilling Usagi's, who nodded her thanks.