No Patrol Today [Rukia, Shiro]

"That's pretty optimistic of you. But I agree. It doesn't do anyone any good if I just keep thinking about the past. Least of all me, right?"

Giving him something of a sad smile, Rukia simply took a drink of water this time, not wanting to get herself plastered just because she felt a little bit sad. But, hey, she didn't mind this talk. Though he was certainly being a little forward, wasn't he? Telling her to just come find him whenever she felt down... She couldn't help but admire that, though.

"What sort of contest you have in mind? Just because we're having a nice dinner, don't think I'll go easy on you."

Her smug grin makes a return, though perhaps not to the same degree as usual. She's still down, of course, and she won't make any attempt to lie about that. But, even so, she did want to keep this a nice enjoyable evening.

Listening to Shiro speak on this topic made Rukia almost want to laugh aloud. Well, actually, there was no almost about it-- she did laugh, if only from how genuinely amusing it was. She didn't mind the idea, if she was being honest. Cutting loose seemed alright.

"Fine, but don't think just because you're taller than I am that this'll be easy."

Finishing off her glass of sake, Rukia's gaze was challenging, firm, and very decidedly already under the influence of the drinks she'd already had. Did she know that? Sort of, yes. Did she care? Also sort of, yes. But there was undoubtedly a lot of her that just wanted to enjoy this, that wanted to take the challenge just because it'd been presented.

You know, like the good old days.

"One thing for each person, huh? I was right, you are bold."

"When you win? Let's not get too carried away now, we just started."

Slamming down another glass of her sake, Rukia ate one of the ribs herself, though her eyes lit up a bit more than she'd normally have allowed at the sight of the cucumbers arriving, and she ate one or two of those as well before returning her attentions to the sake.

"Well, I think it's your turn now, Shiro. I hope you're not quitting already."

Oh, she's definitely feeling the drinks already, but she won't let that show to him. It's a matter of pride, after all. And, besides, it's part of the game, isn't it?

"Small and bad, huh? Well, I hope you're willing to defend yourself to everyone when you get out-drank by Miss Small and Bad."

Rukia is getting every bit as competitive, if not even moreso, and while she knows that's probably not good, it's far too late for her to back down now. She's not only matching every drink he takes, but making sure that she's one ahead of him, still smug even as she snacked on a rib or a cucumber here and there. After all, keeping food in you made it easier to stomach all the alcohol.

"But what's the fun in drinking if we can't have a little chat along with it, huh?"

"Hey, moron, that's cheating! Now there's no more sake, what am I supposed to drink now?"

Rukia wasn't actually necessarily angry, of course, but the alcohol in her system, combined with the competitive atmosphere, had certainly roused a certain side of her that hadn't really been let free in quite a long time. So, if only out of sheer spite, she ordered another bottle, grinning with a degree of confidence that almost bordered on spite.

"If you want to make this a real competition, so be it."

Downing the whole bottle, Rukia offered a stifled 'heh' in defiance, if only because she wasn't actually capable of saying much else after that much alcohol in one go.