snarfblatplayer:

   “Hey, Ping.”

   The other said it really, really quickly – something that allowed
  Eric to pause in his words for a moment and stare, a bit confused –
  but ultimately, he let it go. Why wouldn’t he? He didn’t really know
  this guy, after all.

   The jest was one that he was used to, having sailed so far with
  so many men, but Eric didn’t often drink – he didn’t like the sting
  of alcohol. Still, he realized Ping’s attempt at a joke and grinned back.

   “Ha – yeah, yeah. I’m sorry.” Internally, he made a note not to make
  too many questions – but he was in a strange land, in a strange
  place, with a stranger.

   “I’m… supposed to meet up with my crew, at some point, I’m sure.”
  The back of his neck began to burn red in embarrassment – he’d
  completely forgot to ask them where they were going to go eat, or
  trying to establish a meeting place, or even lodgings. What a
  careless prince he was…

   “But lodgings – yeah, that’s good. I’ll need to find that anyway.”
  And then if he could find his way back to his crew…

   The fact that he’d allowed sorrow to cloud his mind to the point of
  potentially losing his crew forced an unusual mixture of apology
  and self-loathing to bite into his body, but he attempted not to
  portray that as his light, happy eyes found Ping again.

   “So, uh – I hope I don’t sound stupid, or anything – but – where’d
  we end up?” 

    —花木蘭—Before she knew it, Mulan was smiling. The way
    the stranger said her name, you’d have thought they were close
    friends, only, not in a bad way. Not the way men lurched drunk-
    enly into the path of a woman traveling alone, breathing fumes
    like a dragon and slurring off propositions. No, not at all like that,
    not when Mulan was (well) Ping for the day, just one of the guys.
    This foreigner seemed kind enough, and it was difficult for any
    man to keep face when he was lost–let alone admit he was lost
    in the first place. Mulan was inclined to like him.

    Too bad she’d be on her way again by dawn.

    “Eh, you don’t have to apologize!” she cut in, voice ringing out
    halfway between Ping’s bravado and the real Mulan. “One of the
    first things I learned in the army? Don’t ask too many questions.”
    A lie, of course–she’d hated to draw attention of any sort in Wu
    Zhong, though this goal often eluded her. Mulan looked pointedly
    at the sailor. “Especially not before you’ve introduced yourself.”

    When the young woman realized what he was asking, however,
    the smile seemed to slip from her face at the edges. “‘We’? You
    mean…” Her brow furrowed in concern. “You mean your men
    landed here by accident?”