[center][h2]The Best Bad Decisions[/h2][/center] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/wGxefio.jpg[/img] [/center] Part 2 of a JP/Collab from [@Xandrya], [@Gunther], [@wanderingwolf], and [@sail3695] Lights along the path were few and far between, but some cautious navigating eventually landed the party at the foot of a venerable oak tree. Above them, held as a babe in arms by the tree’s muscular limbs, hung a ramshackle wooden structure. The numerous tiers and open air decks had been built with an eye toward respecting the ancient tree who lifted the entire contraption aloft. Colored lanterns were strung from overhead branches, casting a carnival sense of festivity upon the bars and tables beneath. Another sign greeted their arrival. [center][i][b]WELCOME TO BUNGALOW BILL’s! House Rules: Shoes and shirts are optional. Pants ain’t. Nancy boys use the steps. Bwanas use the knotted rope. Drink up. Laugh. Don’t be a Yīnjīng. Pumas get them first.[/b][/i][/center] When Joe saw the word, [i]Yinjing[/i] on the sign, he bent over laughing. He laughed so hard he thought he would split his side. That was one word he’d heard before. “Mebee there be some young ladies named Puma inside?” Joe laughed at his own attempt at humor. “Ain’t touchin’ that,” Abby smirked. “No…really. Ain’t touchin’ it.” Yuri conjured pulling off his boots, but changed his mind at the thought of what might be waiting inside one upon his return. Done up in a cast as he was, he felt surely that if he chose to climb the ‘Townie’ steps, none inside would hold it against him, least of all, Dr. Lysanger. But there was the old adage ‘When in ([u]insert location here[/u])’ to be observed. With a devilish grin and a flex of his good arm, the mechanic advanced toward the rope. “Abby, spot me, would you?” “Aw, c’mon, Yuri,” the girl protested. “Yah jest got tha gig. Don’t go breakin’ somethin’ else!” "I think not." Alana walked up beside Yuri, giving him that look which warned him not to follow through with what he had in mind. Scolding her patients publicly was always a more effective way of getting her point across, and this time was no exception. "I'd rather not have to haul you off to the infirmary before the night even starts...up the steps you go." The mischief in Yuri’s eyes gave way to a good natured chuckle. “Yes, Doctor,” he replied, his steps taking him obediently up the rough wooden staircase. No sooner had the crew of China Doll lost sight of their newest member than an eruption of shouts came from the bar above. “Nancy! We got a Nancy boy here!” Abby’s face lifted towards tha upstairs racket. “Well that tears it,” she looked ‘round tha group. “I’ma try this rope.” She put ‘er foot on tha bottom knot tah anchor it. “Anybody else? I’ll spot yah if yah show me how I’m sposed tah climb it.” “That-a-girl,” came Captain Strand’s boisterous baritone. “Now, Doc, don’t get in a huff; you ought to scramble up, too. I conjure you can be a mite graceful, when the mood strikes.” Cal moseyed up to the knotted rope, placing one hand eye-level. “You hold it here, see, and just above. Then, tighten your grip, pinch your heels together and wedge in over the next knot. Lift yourself up again, with your legs, but don’t grab the knots with your hands, just the bare rope. See? You got it.” Cal patted the girl on the shoulder, tipping his hat back. “I’ll spot you from here, just try not to fall on account of I got a feelin’ the Doc might order you under permanent bedrest.” [i]What she lacks in experience you sure make up for it in age...[/i] Alana would have loved to follow up with the thought up response, but she held her tongue instead. “Shiny.” She worked ‘er bootheels round a knot as her arms pulled ‘er up. Weren’t so big a test, long as Cap’n kept his foot down to hold the rope taut. Climbin’ this rope made Abby think of inchworms as she scooched her way to tha top. She watched Abby as she climbed farther off the ground. The girl made it look easy, though Alana was certain it was more of a struggle than it let on. “Got us a girl Bwana!” a voice cried out. Afore she could say ‘boo,” a glass ‘o’ somethin’ kinda thick an’ creamy white was shoved inta her hands by a man all done up in khaki. “What is it?” she eyed the drink all suspicious like. "Please, will you be so kind as to spot me as well? Can't afford me getting injured and all..." Alana then leaned a little closer to Cal so whatever was said was only heard by them two. "Someone has to be there to listen to you go on about whatever." An unavoidable smile later, Alana turned to the rope and test pulled it--more so out of habit than a safety measure--once Abby had cleared free. Being only a quick climb away from a night of drinking and whatever else they were met with, Alana began her ascent to the ruckus above. Joe climbed up the rope in the same manner as the Captain and Miss Abby. He had no significant difficulties. He understood the new guy not wanting to climb the rope with the doc here and all. It seemed natural. Upon landing at the opening in the club, someone handed him a drink of some sort, which he tossed back and swallowed immediately. He didn’t even ask what it was. He didn’t care. He was going to have fun. [hider=See How I Miss You] [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl8vJtb-GQQ[/youtube][/hider] “Soursop juice and rum…on the house. Welcome to Bungalow Bill’s!” The treehouse bar looked to be several different tiers, all connected by ladders and steps. The main floor held the bar itself, plus a broad open space most fit for either dancin’ or whatever sport folk might get up to. This was surrounded by a bunch of little platforms for tables and chairs. The entire place was open to the night sky, but each spot lay under its own thatch roof, with strands of brightly colored lanterns strung between. The more experienced members of China Doll’s crew conjured it for the tourist trap it was…but the eighteen year old was knocked right off her pins. “Ain’t never seen tha like,” Abby’s eyes was all a-wonder as she downed tha drink. “Like a whole village up in here!” They’s a band playin a song she ain’t never heard, but tha rum hittin’ ‘er all of a sudden made her hips wanna move. “Another girl bwana!” the host shouted as Alana emerged from the rope well. “Don’t know what you’re doin’, but way it looks it’s the womenfolk who’re wearin’ the pants in your group! He cast a glance toward Yuri, forced to drink a triple serving of the concoction for his stair climb. “Y’all ladies think you can carry that one home?" "It's quite some baggage but we've dealt with worse." Alana smiled, knowing the double meaning would be lost on him. However, having just caught a glance at what Yuri would have to drink, he'd surely need the help unless his sailor ways held strong. The triple high soursop rum was already bludgeoning it’s way into the mechanic’s bloodstream before he’d managed to chug halfway down. As the glass tilted slowly upward, Yuri gauged reactions from patrons and crew alike. The teenager was already buzzed; he’d keep watch to steer her from trouble. The doctor had just been handed her single. From the corner of his eye he noticed three guys huddled at the bar, a growing pile of coin before them. As he drank, they watched, mumbled among themselves, and slapped more cash into the kitty. Abby’d caught on. She fixed him with a lopsided grin. He responded with a wink, tilted his head back as the glass completely inverted, and then slapped it down on the host’s serving table. “That was shiny!” he exclaimed. “Can I have another?” After welcoming Hook with a single, the greeter laughed at Yuri. “Is there a doctor in the house?” The shot had gone down smooth, and that was a problem because now she was wantin' more. "No, there isn't a doctor here," Alana shook her head in a slightly exaggerated manner as if he'd posed a ridiculous question, though the smirk gave her away. Excusing herself, Alana went to fetch some of what Yuri was having and then a little something more. Abby nudged Hook. “I conjure our new gearhead’s lookin’ tah run a con, or you an’ me’s gonna end up carryin’ his drunk [i]pi gu[/i] back t’tha boat.” Joe chuckled, “you’s proly right, Miss Abby. I dunno if he kin keep up. That shot went down smooth. It was jus what the doctor ordered. I might need another one ah them.” Yuri smiled as his good elbow landed on the table. “One throw,” he challenged the greeter. “Loser drinks the triple.” “Son, I don’t wanna break the other arm.” “That’s fair,” the mechanic countered. “How about this? Set up two glasses, one near my arm, one near yours. First one touches has to drink the triple.” The big man thought on that as he poured for the captain. “So you got a doctor. You look like a wrench turner. Y’all some kinda boat crew?” The mechanic was finding his way with the crew. Joe liked the trip out to the club. This is just right. He went to the bar and ordered another shot of rum and a local brew to chase it down with. He flipped the coin to the barkeep, tossed the shot glass back and began sipping the beer. He then returned to the crew. Alana fell in beside Hook who'd just made his way back moments before. She'd downed two shots before returning with some fruity little gem since she was looking to pace herself at that point. Might be a tad late for that, might not. She figured she would talk to Cal later, maybe when everyone was doing their own thing for the night. The greeter met Yuri’s challenge with a wolfish grin. “Yeah…yeah. Tell you what, kid. Your captain there gives the nod, I’ll take you up.” As all eyes landed upon him, Cal answered with a casual shrug. “Long’s my mechanic’s on the job come first light, I got no qualms on how he gets his giggles off the clock.” “Shiny.” The big man smiled as he moved to pour two of the ‘Nancy Boy’ triples. “It’s a slow night. Let’s do this.” - to be continued -