On the Other Side of the Tracks [Sun Ren, Shu]

[Zhang Fei]

This siege had been going on for what felt like years. Patience had ran out in this tent in particular, a shower of broken pottery jumped from the ground in impact into a man's face, he yelped and recoiled as a tide of wine soaked his legs. "Bloody good wine too, you see how much you fucking distress me?!" The general roared at the man - a captain. "I don't fucking care what Prime Minister Zhuge says, I want you to fucking start the attack now! I'm not waiting 'til dawn." The soldier bowed meekly, accepting the order. "Seven hells. Bring me another drink..." A servant brought out another cask of wine and poured it into his goblet, no it was a bowl.

It was around midnight, and the camp was deathly silent but for the night noises, well, for a second or so more. Then the numerous units encamped around the city kicked into action. Torches were lit, spears raised and within moments assaults were being led on the city. Or so it sounded from inside his tent...

Fuck, I forgot we had a battering ram. The sounds of ground shaking thuds could be heard beyond, as the main gates of Chengdu were rattled. Zhang Fei would of led the attack himself, if he could be bothered. Kongming can handle the command...Once he sees the attack begin, he'll join in and win. "Drink!" Yide yelled, and his bowl was fileld again, and drained instantly. Believe it or not, he was trying to cut back...to no effect.

"Shouldn't you be donning your armour, m'lord?" His servant asked. "Piss on that, I'm having a drink man," was his simple vulgar reply. The light of the candles illuminating the tent flickered, flashing shadows this way and that as cries of war raged beyond, yet Zhang Fei was completely composed. Zhuge Liang will win. Prime Minister Zhuge Liang was encamped on the north gate, with Liu Bei on the east and himself on the west. Only the south gate remained free, it was way of giving Liu Zhang that little hope of deployment so they could whittle at his numbers, as well as what morale remained to him. Zhuge Liang's idea, the smartass. Despite his thoughts, Yide did admire the strategic mind of his lord brother's prime minister, maybe it was the drink talking. Nah, it isn't, I've only had four bowls.

The battle cries outside, and the distant ringing of steel. The steady thump of the battery against the iron gates of the capital of Yizhou filled the tents. Seemingly forcing air presure in and out, moving the curtains that marked the entrance to the tent. "Bloody Liu Zhang and his resistance." Half of him wished he actually was leading the attack. Oh, what the hell! He pushed himself to his feet, "My armour! My spear! Oh, and throw in my sword as well!" His servants scurried this way and that assembling the collection of items before him, they looked at him. Worthless. "Well? They're not gonna put themselves on boys..." They prepared to set about armouring him up when a women entered the tent.

[Sun Ren]

Husband. Give me the Strength I need to full-fill your wish

Sun Ren
~~ Lady Ren ~~
~~ Shu Queen ~~

One! One chance with life is all you get,
two! so pick your sides and place your bet,
three! cause you know we’ve been here before,
four! won every time but who’s keeping score?

Lady Ren was no stranger to war, but this was the first time she was fighting under the flags of the Shu army. As everyone knew or knows, she used to be princess of Wu a till she married Lord Liu Bei of course, then she became a Queen of Shu and she has never looked back or ever regretted her choice. Her life is now tied to Liu Bei and the fate of Shu.

Her Dearly beloved Husband was presently absent from the main camp of the Shu army, to secure more land and cities for the Shu Empire. She hated the fact that her Husband was absent from her, but she would have to entrust his life to the generals and troops that he had took with him.

But, she knew she had the company as her dear brother-in-law Lord Zhang Fei. Ren could always tell when Fei was present due to the constant smell of wine roast chicken, and god knows what else. She was leading the assault on Yizhou in her husbands place; being he was engaged in his own assault for the glory of Shu.

Ren had decided that she would visit her brother-in-law's tent, to see if he was sober enough to fight the coming battle. For he was the spear that would cut though the hordes of soldiers and generals that littered the battlefield. She started to make her way across the camp heading towards her brother-in-law's tent, the night was silent beside the constant clanking of armor and the sounds of swords and spears clashing in the moonlight or so she thought at least.

“Mi Lady” One of Rens attendees spoke “You should not be out at such a late hour, you need your rest for the battles ahead of you. Ren carried on walking as she drew closer to her brother-in-law's tent as she gracefully moved as she did saying “Don’t worry so much, I might be a Queen but I refuse to live a pampered life in the castle when my family is out fighting for the good of its people

“Understood Mi Lady. Do you wish for us to remain at your side” The Attendee spoke again lowering her head as she did. “ No I will speak to my brother-in-law alone I want you to make preparations for the battle.”After a few more moments Ren would reach the tent of her brother-in-law and the first thing she would hear would be.

“My armour! My spear! Oh, and throw in my sword as well.”Ren giggled a tiny bit her brother-in-law was one of a kind, but she still loved him as a sister should love a brother. She walked into his tent and lightly smiled as she addressed her brother-in-law “Dear brother you know our lords wishes, he wishes for us to wait. I don’t like the fact we have to wait but his orders our are orders, and by the looks of it you been at the wine store again.” She giggles and she takes a seat across from her brother-in-law.

Tags:Zhang Fei/Shu
Words: 500+
Lyrics : Bring 'Em Down @ Lostprophets
Outfit: Battle attire
Misc: Hope is good for you <3

[/center]

[Zhang Fei]

Zhang Fei's servants were affixing his breastplate when he growled, "Get on with it then." The servents seemingly struggled a moment before hesitantly saying, "It won't fit." "Bullshit, I just wore it earlier today." Too fat for my fucking armour, there's motivation enough to stop this habit...

He sucked in his plump stomach and they locked the armour in place, releasing his gut he promptly filled the space within, but he was in. Haha, game set and matched, Zhang Fei! He flexed in the armour, adjusting to it, as his men affixed a plate of iron to his left shoulder. He was grinning, proud of his accomplishment when he noticed a newcomer to the tent.

What's she doing here? Why's she not with big brother? Happily, he called, "Sister-in-law." He broke off from his retinue, and moved towards the Queen of Shu, in an open court he would be obliged by law to address her professionally, but as far he was concerned, he was the king in this tent. He engulfed her with one arm in a brotherly hug. Zhang Fei was not distrustful of her like his brother Guan, or Zhao Yun, he was at first, like anyone, but that motion had passed for him a couple of years ago.

He released his embrace, the smell of wine fresh on his breath. "You're beginning to sound like big brother," he remarked, "Nothing wrong with a bit of wine." He patted her on the back, "You wanna drink?" He moved over to seat at the back of the camp, his servants dispersing across the tent, out of his way, "I was gonna go out and join the fight and hit a few of Liu Zhang's men. I love hitting things, clears my head."

"If I hadn't started this attack, brother and Kongming would have talked it over for another month, sat considering that discussion for another month, in which time Liu Zhang and Zhang Ren would be hugging each other in reunion and throwing our asses - which are running out of food now, back to Jing. That is, if they didn't kill capture and kill us, which is what I'd do in there place."

"Nothing like the smell of an enemy's blood. Especially followed by a warm cup of vintage." He lifted his bowl full of liqour and drained it in a few gulps, wetting his thoat. "Did you say you wanted a drink sister?" He called for a goblet, and refilled his own bowl. "What brings you to my humble tent? You scared my brother soft again? Is he cowering under Fa Zheng's skirts from those guards of yours?"

[Sun Ren]

Husband. Give me the Strength I need to fullfill your wish

Sun Ren
~~ Lady Ren ~~
~~ Shu Queen ~~

five! stil kicking, still alive,
six! we built this to survive,
seven! every day is a blessing,
eight, nine, ten! Here we go again

The Tent its self reminded Ren of a shady group of people, who use to use a local inn to cater to men’s darker-side. You would expect Fei's tent to look like a total mess, but it was well presented unlike her brother who sort of stands out in a crowd so to speak. “Bullshit, I just wore it earlier today.” Ren giggled, but before she could speak she instantly felt her brother embrace her in a hug; you would expect her to be use to it but her brother all-ways catches her off guard.

She returned the hug and smiled towards her brother as he spoke again saying to Ren.” You're beginning to sound like big brother.” It was true Rens ability to care for the ones she loved, has always been present when she’s away from home. “Nothing wrong with a bit of wine.” Ren smiled again and began to address her brother saying. “That is true brother. But on the Eve of battle you need a clear mind and not be under the affects of wine. I would love to have some, but none of that stuff you drink, I took the liberty of taking some of my Husbands wine; before we left the capital.

Ren would only drink the wine that Liu Bei would keep stored within there quarters it was not as strong as the over types. Truth be told She was afraid to touch the stuff that her brothers drink; being a queen should not be drunk or hungover. The sounds of the army outside still playing on her nerves, she may be there queen but she wouldn’t ask anyone to give there life for her own. This was something her brother would often do.

"If I hadn't started this attack, brother and Kongming would have talked it over for another month, sat considering that discussion for another month, in which time Liu Zhang and Zhang Ren would be hugging each other in reunion and throwing our asses - which are running out of food now, back to Jing. That is, if they didn't kill capture and kill us, which is what I'd do in there place."

“Sometimes brother talking about it can stop things being taken out of context, a sword cant fix all of the worlds troubles it takes a swift and keen mind to achieve that. That is one of reasons I married Lord Bei, my father would have been proud of the choices I have made. When this war is at its end I hope to return to my fathers tomb and thank him for raising me to be the wife and the step mother I have become today.”

Ren lightly took out her hair pin and allowed her hair to flow down to its proper length as she did she responded to her brother saying. “To be Honest my husband has been gone for about four days now, and the Royal tent gets a little lonely being just me and my guards present. So I thought I would come talk to you brother I’m worried about him he has not returned yet, and I fear he may let his vision of united china cloud his judgement. If I lose him I don’t know what I would do.

Tags:Zhang Fei/Shu
Words: 400+
Lyrics : Bring 'Em Down @ Lostprophets
Outfit: Battle attire
Misc: Hope is good for you <3

[/center]

[Zhang Fei]

Yide shook his large hard, "Bah, don't be like that siss, a little wine in the belly settles my stomach before a battle. I don't wanna let those excited little butterflies in there get too excited. I've always said that to big brother but he just won't accept it as an excuse." Zhang Fei tended to get a little too amped up when it came to fighting, he was generally happy, but when a fight broke out he was at his most joyful. A good shot of wine going into a fight helped calm him somewhat.

Denied the sharing of wine, Yide accepted it, "Suit yourself, more for me then, heh, I just wasted a pot of the stuff, accidentally." A false truth, he hurled it in his stress at one of his soldiers in all honesty, a saddening loss that pot of wine. He could still smell it's sweet smell on the ground, fool.

The battle outside was still raging the storm of swords and gravitational screams becoming rather irritating to Yide. Ladders are bloody useless sometimes, whoever invented that form of attack was obviously assaulting an empty castle. The ram seemed to be doing rather well, it had kept up it's staggering knocks on the west gate all this time, though the thumps were more far apart now. They're either getting tired or dying. Either way, progress is progress.

A soldier burst into the tent, "General, some of our ladders have gained the wall!" Zhang nodded and waved his hand dismissing him, "Good. Now gain the gate, once that opens let me know." The man withdrew, and Yide's mood heightened, he smiled and sat down, beckoning Queen Sun to a seat also, "See, I know what I'm doing."

"What am I if not swift?" Yide joked, "I'm attacking this city rather quickly tonight." He took another sip of wine, wetting his lips witht he stuff, "Swords might not be good for everything, but they are well-suited to what I need to do. My job is to besiege and win Chengdu, which is what I plan to do. My sword inparticular is quite sharp."

He stirred his bowl of wine with the motions of his arm, "I'm not as stupid as everybody thinks. I'm no Zhuge or Fa Zheng, or even Pang Tong bless him, but I know how to play at war. I've done it my whole life, I know nothing else."

The last words of Shangxiang came as a shock to Yide. Brother is gone? The Queen had let her hair out of it's setting and fall down past her shoulders, "If I lose him I don't know what I would do." "Sister, if I was any deeper into this wine, I would be wondering if you were making the moves on me," Yide laughed as he slurped down another shot of wine. Returning to some seriousness he followed up, "I'd be lost without big brother too." He let the thought take him for a moment. He'll be fine. Wherever he is.

"What of Fa Zheng? Did he not stay in the camp with you? Do you have any idea where they went? Four days is a while, and I received no news of this." Stealing away from camp when we're in middle of an important siege...wait, yeah... He blurted out, "Is it Zhang Ren? Has he attacked?" He ran over a series of events in his head, Liu Bei marching to fight Zhang Ren and getting caught in an ambush liek Pang Tong did. Oh, hell no! "Where's my spear?! I'll save him!" He quickly poured himself another bowl of wine, spilling the majority of his wine dispensed from the pot over his table setting. Setting the pot aside he took up the bowl and set about draining it in anxiety.

[Sun Ren]

Husband. Give me the Strength I need to fullfill your wish

Sun Ren
~~ Lady Ren ~~
~~ Shu Queen ~~

Oh kid I've heard this all before,
Don't waste your time, don't be so sure,
I've seen them come, I've seen them go.
Wont be the last to say goodbye,
Through all these tears I still believe,
We're bringing all our enemies

Her brother seemed to be unaware that they where in fact the only offices in the entire camp, the overs had followed Liu Bei on one of his midnight tasks as he would so often put it. "Bah, do not be like that siss, a little wine in the belly settles my stomach before a battle. “ For once Ren agreed to her brother, she would not know what to say if he was sober all the time.


“Well you remind me of someone who served my father when he was alive, Gan Ning. He used to love a drink after battles. Last time I saw him was when I departed the capital of Wu to join my Husband in Ba Shu .After Ren was done talking to her brother a soldier would bust into the tent from the looks of him he had been in the worst of the fighting, she loved how he did not even know the Queen of Shu was sat across from him. The soldier spoke saying. “General, some of our ladders have gained the wall.”

Ren smiled as she heard the news, Shu's brave soldiers where giving there life’s for the good of the kingdom what more could a Queens ask of her subjects. “Well brother at this rate we should have the city within the day, remind me to give the men a speech when the castle is under are banners.”

Granted some officers did not trust Ren, but she was a hero and was well known among her people, that alone would be worth fighting for and even dieting for. "What am I if not swift?" “Well dear brother I must admit rushing may have worked in this battle, but do you ever think about the men under your command. They have wife’s, sons daughters. Its all well and good rushing but to preserve the men under your command is one of the most challenging things a commander should overcome Liu Bei my husband has learned this lesson.

Sister, if I was any deeper into this wine, I would be wondering if you were making the moves on me," Ren let out a small giggle and just smiled in her own unique way, “Don’t flatter your self brother my heart belongs with Liu Bei, but you have a place within it as you have treated me like Liu Bei has; I know some officers look on me with mixed views but you accepted me and for that I am great full.

What of Fa Zheng? Did he not stay in the camp with you? Do you have any idea where they went? Four days are a while, and I received no news of this." Brother. Have you not been outside as of late, you and me are the only officers left in the camp the rest along with Fa Zheng left with my Husband. If we were attacked it would end with our backs to the wall, I have sent scouts out and none have returned.

Ren walked over to her brother and embraced him in a long hug before pulling away and saying. “My Husband knows when he is out numbered, and I swear if the officers with him let any harm befalls him; I will have them arrested and stripped of there ranks that's a promise a promise and one I plan to hold everyone two


Tags:Zhang Fei/Shu
Words: 400+
Lyrics : Bring 'Em Down@ Lostprophets
Outfit: Battle attire
Misc: Hope is good for you <3

[/center]

[Zhang Fei]

Zhang Fei's men were mounting the walls of Chengdu steadily and in number, but gaining no advantage significant enough to speak of, against the units under Guozhi Heng on the wall. The ram was still thundering into the night, that gate had to give at some point.

Zhang Fei's heart was not in the siege anymore, knowing that his brother, Liu Bei was not actually present at the east gate sucked the eagerness away from him. The east gate was without a commander now that the Queen had made her way here. Zhuge Liang could no doubt hold the north gate, but the east was in the control of the King and Queen's underlings; and knowing Liu Zhang's recent level of dedication to holding out, only concentrated two-sided wouldn't crack Chengdu. I should call off the attack...

"You," the guard he singled out looked at him, "Yes you, go and order the men to pull back to their camps. Give Liu Zhang a taste of success. This attack is pointless now." The guard ran off to transmit the order. Yide turned to Shangxiang, "Sorry to disappoint your hopes of victory there sister, maybe you'll win glory in the next assault. When my lord brother feels it right to make himself present for it. My heart is not in it when brother is not here." He sighed, and was about to pour himself another bowl of wine, when he had a change of heart, he left the bowl empty. I've just sent a load of men to their deaths for sod all.

"I haven't heard anything of my brother moving out anywhere, I guess it's because I'm on the opposite side of the castle, and expected to hold my position. Nobody tells me anything anyway, unless they need someone slapped down." Yide hated being left in the dark, it made him feel worthless.

Sun Xiangxiang moved over and gave him a hug, now it was him who was surprised, but this particular kind of figurative 'cockblock' stopped him from acquiring his spear and thus charging out of the tent. Lady Sun was a small being compared to Zhang Fei massive physique, she hugged his tree trunk like body and released, moving back to her seat. It sufficed to calm Yide down enough to abandon the thought of stampeding over to the other side of Chengdu to find his elder brother.

"I bloody well hope they know what they're doing, it's not like big brother to be spontaneous and just waltz off with all our officers on a wild goose chase. I'd go and help him, were it not as you say. Someone has to stay and watch these walls, lest Liu Zhang amass some bravery and launch an attack."

[Sun Ren]

Husband. Give me the Strength I need to fullfill your wish

Sun Ren
~~ Lady Ren ~~
~~ Shu Queen ~~

Sing it out, woah Bring it down, woah
Sing it out my friend bring it down again
Sing it out woah, Bring it down woah,
Sing it out my friend, bring it down again,

Now. No one said being a Queen would be a cakewalk hell even being a princess had its challenges, but being a Queen of an empire that was as big and Shu was; Ren was still adapting to the whole life of a Queen and the duties that in details. Her brother said something that even surprised her again.

“Yes you, go to order the men to pull back to there camps. Give Liu Zhang a taste of success. This attack is pointless now.” Ren smiled again seeing a part of her husband within her brother made her smile brightly.

“Well done brother. You are more like my husband then you care to admit. You called of the attack and in doing so saved many life’s and trust me your men wont soon forget that fact. Ren watched as the solider ran out of the tent before watching her brother turn to her again

.” Sorry to disappoint your hopes of victory their sister, maybe you will win glory in the next assault. When my lord brother feels it right to make himself present for it. My heart is not in it when brother is not here."

"I bloody well hope they know what they're doing, it's not like big brother to be spontaneous and just waltz off with all our officers on a wild goose chase. I'd go and help him, were it not as you say. Someone has to stay and watch these walls, lest Liu Zhang amass some bravery and launch an attack."

“ Do not worry brother he knows the risks he is taking; and if you where go to chasing after him and I god forbid got taken prisoner. What position would that put us in, i need your support your last line of defence between them and us.” And do not worry Liu Zhang would not be that much of a fool, if anything he will believe he has won and will lower his defences. Which inturn will make it easer for us storm the walls when our lord returnes.

It is not wrong to allow your brothers absence to make you uneasy, how do thing I feel when he goes away for days on end; knowing the next time I see him he could be dead. It does not wish thinking about does it. And the only reason i found out was he had told me but i did not expect him to leave without telling his brother.”

Ren then called one of her own attendees in and spoke to her saying. “Go to help my men at the east gate the officer I left In charge has a habit of breaking under pressure and being we have stopped are attack things are going to get very tough for him.

Yes Mi Lady at once” Ren then stood for a moment and looked to her brother before saying. “Come dear brother lets catch some fresh air you are starting to look a little cranky.”She was not being rude to her brother or anything, but being cooped up in his tent with the smell of wine and food would drive anyone insane it would only be a matter of time.

Ren made her way outside the tent and began to walk towards the edge of the encampment; the guards all bowing to her as she Passed them one by one. She looked towards the moon and began to pray and hope her husband will come back unharmed and alive.

Tags:Zhang Fei/Shu
Words: 300+
Lyrics : Bring 'Em Down@ Lostprophets
Outfit: Battle attire
Misc: Ba..

[/center]