The Lanterns
Sapporo, Japan. City Center
Hal and Sinestro had gone to the city center. Hal had been to Japan on a few assignments in the past, but never really learned the language, so mostly stuck to the places near the US bases where most of the locals spoke enough English for him to get by, but it was a completely new experience when he actually was able to communicate with them in their language. And it had been with that full understanding that a pair of "Gaijin" had come to be accepted at a small bar.
"KAMPAI!"
A cheer went out as Hal, Sinestro and 4 of the locals raised their glasses in a toast. So far, they had drank several bottles of a local beer and were now helping the 4 locals finish their second bottle of Sake. Sinestro let out a wheeze, not particularly used to his alcohols being served hot.
"See, i told you we needed a night off." Hal coughed after his 4th glass of the hot booze.
"The disunity of humanity is most perplexing to me." Sinestro said
"Out in the cosmos, most civilizations that have gotten to your point in development have either fully or a least MOSTLY unified, maybe 4 or 5 factions AT MOST and yet there are 195 factions, 237 if you don't count factions that are ruled by other factions and too many religious orders to count, some of which are quite literally a joke to make fun of the other factions. Although i'm surprised about those of you who worship Shuma-Gorath as some kind of joke." Sinestro then raised his cup
"Kampai""KAMPAI!"
Another inebriated cheer went around the bar as Sinestro drank another glass. Hal finished his cup as one of the other patrons cracked another bottle that had been left on the radiator and began pouring it around.
"Who the heck is Shuma-Gorath?" Hal asked. Sinestro looked into his cup and swirled the sake around a little
"A weird flying tentacle monster me and Abin once found a bunch of cultists on Koord worshipping. Ooh boy, they gave us some trouble, but." He made finger guns and playfully shot at Hal a few times.
"Oh dear, someone can't handle their Earth Booze." Hal laughed. At that point the door to the bar opened and people looked around to see Agent May walk in.
"Ohayo gozaimasu fellow Gaijin!" Hal laughed at her.
"There you are." May frowned.
"Here we are!" Hal giggled.
"Got us!""And you're drunk." She sighed. Hal and Sinestro looked at each other, shocked at the accusation.
"No you're drunk!" Hal said, spilling some of his drink.
"OH NO, I AM SO SORRY!" He yelled, licking the table. The other patrons laughing as he did so.
"Are you sure you should be talking about..." She made a vague guesture towards Sinestro, who was continuing to stare into the glass
"Going to be honest, Agent May, i doubt i'm going to remember this tomorrow, let alone this lot." He groaned. He then looked up at her, his eyes drifting across her.
"You know, Agent May, you remind me a lot of Ar..." He then stopped himself as he trailed off, before looking at her knuckles.
"What happened to your hand? Looks like you punched someone SUPER hard." He then lapped his tongue a little.
"Punched... Punshed... Punched... That's a really weird word. Rhymes with table..."What? No it doesn't. Not even close." Hal laughed.
"Does in my language." Sinestro sneered back sarcastically.
"Turns out Morita's dad didn't appreciate my questions or his sons actions and had some strong feelings on the matter. I convinced him not to act on his strong feelings again." She said, flexing her knuckles.
"You need to be cut off. Agent May, take his keys." Hal ordered. He then quickly patted himself over before pulling the keys from his pocket.
"Oh wait... Hey, Sinestro..." He jingled them, before May grabbed them from him with one swift swipe of her hand. Hal looked forlornly into his empty hand
"My keys..." He moaned quietly. He then grabbed another glass.
"Kampai?""KAMPAI!"
Came the response as everyone drank their glasses. May then sat down with them and grabbed a glass.
"Kampai!" She sighed, resigning herself to joining in on tomorrows hangovers. Just as she was about to bring the drink to her lips, she suddenly heard something outside. Screaming, mass screaming, something was coming. Then she heard the tell-tale sound of a weapon revving up, jumping across the table, she grabbed Hal, just as the wall behind her exploded. As she dived she saw Sinestro instantly stand up and form a golden barrier around everyone in the bar. As the smoke cleared, a tall, physically intimidating man stood in silhouette as the smoke whisped around his cloak. A very large gun in one hand and his other hand seemed to be a... Well, a Mace. Metal from head to toe, a large red cape, blue and yellow robes around his torso and very large, metal teeth protruding from an underbite jaw that looked like it could bike straight through a battleship hull.
"You value your lives and those around you?" It said in a loud, booming, gutteral voice.
"Then hand over your rings and maybe you and them stay healthy, yes?" The intimidating man said, lowering the gun to point at Hal and Sinestro.
Little Bird
ErsatzEmpress
Eviledd1984
Guardian Angel Haruki
rush99999
Voltus_Ventus
Hillan
Lunamaria Hawke
Half Pint
Duthguy