[Authors note: To avoid confusion, the original Seri will be referred to as the Original Seri. Our Seri will be referred to as either Seri or Leia depending on the context.]

"Haah? Get drunk?! How will that help!?!"

"You may not realize it, but you seem to have inhuman strength when you're drunk. Dante assumed it was because you have a mental block that prevents you from using your strength when you're sober."

My face twitched, "How the hell do you know that?"

She watched me from under her veil, "You seem to forget that I am attached to your- or rather my- body. Everything you feel, I feel. Likewise, I heard Dante mutter it after you attacked him when you were drunk."

I coughed in embarrassment. Gilyn glanced at me, but I only smiled. He looked away once more. I spoke softly, "But if I'm drunk, it's possible I will be too honest. Also, I can't really control myself when I'm like that. What if something happens?"

"Well ever since you died, I found it easier to speak to you. Perhaps you will be able to hear me and follow my instructions. I can be your sober voice of reason. Isn't this better than doing nothing? You said it yourself. You don't have much time. Simon is shortening the deadline and the King wants to move up Dante's execution date. You don't have time to build trust. So just find some courage in the bottom of that glass."

I glanced at the drink in front of me and sighed. Well... What is the worst that can happen?

I lifted it to my lips and started gulping it down. My eyes burned and my throat threatened to close up as the alcohol seemed to travel down my throat setting it on fire. I slammed it down and whimpered, "Holy sh*t. The drinks here are spicy too?! Urk..."

Gilyn glanced at me, "I've never seen a pale skin able to actually swallow a drop of this, yet you drained the entire container."

Oi. Is he saying he expected me to wuss out?

Gilyn motioned to the bartender who brought another drink. Gilyn tossed out coins before I could, "This one is on me."

I gave a nod trying not to act like my stomach felt like acid from the spicy food and the strong alcohol meeting. Does this mean I have impressed him?

I raised my glass, "Thank you. Then, shall we drink together?"

Gilyn raised his glass and clinked mine, "We already are."

I smirked at him, "Well thank you Captain Obvious."

He responded in an even voice, "I am not a captain nor is my name Obvious."

My face twitched, "No… That's just an expression."

"An expression?"

"Yeah, it means someone who is too serious and states the obvious. Hasn't anyone ever told you that you are like that?"

"No one would dare."

I cleared my throat awkwardly, "Well, doesn't matter. Cheers!" We each drained the mug and I winced from the burning feeling in my chest from acid reflux. I exclaimed, "PHEW! That's strong."

He nodded as the waiter brought us another drink, "If it's too strong, then perhaps you should just go home."

I raised an eyebrow, "Good Sir, I am not a quitter. Once someone challenges me- I will always accept."

He gave a nod, "That is commendable of you. Well, I am officially challenging you. If you want to drink with me- you have to keep up."

I raised the glass, "Challenge accepted. Just you wait. You'll see just how formidable I can be."

_____

The Original Seri covered her face in embarrassment as she watched the scene before her. Of course, Seri wasn't able to keep up with a man that was more than double her size and had the tolerance of a seasoned veteran of the Sanki Kingdom. On only the fourth mug, her sanity was already gone.

She slurred as she spoke to Gilyn next to her, "Have you ever thought about why it is so hot here?! Why is everything so hot?"

Gilyn drank next to her looking as if he didn't care. He responded casually, "Because the sun is stronger here."

Seri bobbed her head drunkenly, "Yeah, yeah. The sun. Oh my god… I love the sun. I much prefer this kind of a climate to the bitter freezing cold. Did you know I fell in ice when I was younger?"

"You did?"

The Original Seri picked her head up at this. She rushed to Seri's side, "Wait! Leia you mustn't tell him anything personal. He may figure out it is you!"

Seri looked in her direction, "Huh?" She narrowed her eyes and muttered, "Weird… I thought someone said my name just now…"

The Original Seri panicked, "No! I did! Look in the reflection! The reflection!"

However, Seri had already turned back to Gilyn. She continued, "Have you ever fallen into a lake that was frozen?"

"I have not."

"Well it's not pleasant. You think to yourself: Oh, it must not be so bad. If you fall in, you can just crawl out. Then you'll only have to worry about the hypothermia killing you."

"Mhm?"

Seri spoke animatedly, "However! It turns out that ice is slippery! Did you know that?!"

"Sure."

She shook her head, "You think you can crawl out, but nope! You just slip back into the water from where you came. Like a majestic water fairy."

The Original Seri groaned and held her face. She knew that she told Seri to get drunk, but she did not take into account how stupid Seri could be while she was drunk! Now she is completely off topic and speaking to Gilyn like some old friend from war.

The Original Seri tried to shake her, but her hands only went through Seri's body. She pursed her lips and looked at her hands in disappointment. Seri shivered, "Oh dang. I just got a chill. A ghost must have just walked through me."

Gilyn tilted his head, "A ghost?"

Seri nodded, "That's right. They say if you get sudden chills it means that a ghost just walked through you. It's a proven fact."

"I did not know this."

The Original Seri suddenly perked up from a sudden idea. She whispered into her ear, "That's right! I am a ghost. I am the Original Seri, and you must do what I say or else I will haunt you!"

Seri's body froze. She turned to the empty space and whispered, "I'm sorry for ruining your life. Please don't be angry with me!"

The Original Seri sighed, "No! Just… Ugh! Just shut up and listen to me!" Seeing Seri shut up, she continued, "You can't forget your main objective tonight!"

Seri tapped her chin deep in thought, "My main objective?"

The Original Seri nodded, "That's right! You must convince Gilyn to join the revolution and help you overthrow the King! Remember?"

Seri's hand suddenly shot up as she exclaimed, "AHA! My objective!"

Gilyn continued to watch her expressionlessly, "Your objective?"

Seri spun in her seat to suddenly face him. His expression never changed as her eyes narrowed and looked at him closely. Unexpectedly, she reached out and grabbed his face. The people in the bar went silent as they watched Seri began to squeeze his cheeks and move his face while still looking at him attentively.

The Original Seri saw this and started to panic, "Leia! Stop! What are you doing?!"

Seri spoke to Gilyn, "Do you have face paralysis or something?"

Gilyn: "…"

Seri forced him to smile, "See. This is a smile." She changed his face once more, "This is a frown. There. Now you know how to make facial expressions."

She let go of his face as he continued to watch her expressionlessly, "I know what smiles and frowns are."

"Yet you won't make any. You don't even have micro expressions. A person like you is rare." She smiled in admiration, "A person like you is also capable of anything."

He looked back at her impassively, "And just what am I capable of?"

Seri giggled, but gave nothing away. She spoke in a cryptic voice, "You are certainly capable of hiding your inner thoughts."

"I didn't ascend to my post because I was unable to hide what I thought."

"That kind of skill is very admirable. Just don't use that gift of yours to do bad things."

The Original Seri urged her quickly, "Leia. Figure out what side he is on. Don't you want to save Dante?"

The smile that had been on Seri's face suddenly disappeared. She sighed and leaned back. She gave a carefree shrug, "When in Rome…"

Even though Gilyn had to be confused with Seri's behavior, he certainly did not show it. Instead, he continued to speak calmly, "Rome?"

She turned to him with a mysterious smile, "So? What is the answer little Gil?"

"Little Gil?"

She leaned forward with a smirk, "Are you a wolf or a loyal dog?"

Gilyn leaned back with an unreadable expression, "Why must I be a wolf or a loyal dog? Clearly I am a man."

Seri gave a single nod, "That's true. However, all men have owners. So who is your owner?"