[ON HOLD] Shadows of the Blessed | #Countryhumans AUOriginals

03: Treachery Over the Steppes [Pt. 3]

Previously...

And China, likewise.

——————

The first thing Fujian did once they all entered camp— and after China changed out of her peasant clothing— was take the latter to the bar. Or rather, a makeshift liquor stand set into the poorly-built extension of a low building used for preparing food.

Just outside that building was a disorderly array of barrels and kegs set up as tables and chairs. Drunk delinquents swigged bowl after bowl of cheap rice wine, slurring petty insults and stupid jokes at one another. Their guffaws and alcohol-tainted breath filled the air.

Some were playing cards, slamming their sets and rage quitting when it seemed certain they would lose. Some sparred in the dusty open, lunging at one another with edged weapons, hissing taunts, while the audience— either gathered around in a ring around the open area or sitting some distance away on the kegs— would roar in enthusiasm. Others, like China's table, were gambling— betting on who would win in the next fight.

When one is drunk, words carry on fast and pivot even faster.

"China and India?" Myanmar inquired, downing her shot. "That's hard."

Fujian giggled, her head down on the barrel, hiccuping from time to time. She had really gone overboard on the drinks; China needed to keep an eye on her. The latter said nothing in response to Myanmar's question.

India was amused. "No, no," he refused. "Chill—"

Kashmir almost lept out of his seat. "India."

"Listen," Singapore added, "India is older and more experienced than anybody here, but China is one of the elites. She has been here the longest too. If we do a three-to-three tomorrow, more people are gonna want to side with her, right?"

"Yeah, China's great and all," Vietnam commented, "but there's one thing."

Everyone's attention turned to the male; he shifted his sitting position on his keg. "The ones who went with her. Yunnan?"

"Xinjiang? Xizang?"

"They never came back," Vietnam pointed out in an angry slur. "Where are they? Where is your team, China?"

He didn't bother to specify what exactly he was talking about, but everyone knew. Everyone knew what he meant.

Fujian yelled drunkenly, "Shut your ass, Vietnam!"

Vietnam, without any sign of being provoked, sipped from his bowl of rice wine. "Am not I right?"

Fujian lashed out, knocking over clay dishes and other things, lunging to throw a punch.

"福建！"
(Fujian!)

A firm hand latched onto the dazed woman's lunging arm. China had gotten up and was right next to her.

"坐下，" she ordered, her unrelenting stare boring into her face.
(Sit down.)

Fujian hesitated, unable to find her words for a retort. She sat back down, her head lolling to the side, dizzy.

Myanmar laughed uneasily, "Well, that was unexpected—"

"You never said if you'll fight India," Vietnam interrupted, his question directed at the scarlet-toned girl across from him. "Like, for-real fight."