The day had been horrid. It was cold, wet, and quite possibly set out against a certain sergeant. Though she wasn't sure if it was the day that was against her, but a rather troublesome corporal who seemed to have a knack of causing problems.
At least they had found an inn that hadn't heard of the uproar that the corporal was in no doubt the source of, if only by second hand. Polly would be truly upset if they had to stay out in the tents again, on the outskirts of another village. That would have been the fourth time and they always say the fourth time's a charm. Or was it the third?
A knock on the door. "Sarge..?" It was Mal. Great.
Polly put the best scowl she could muster on and mumbled a 'Come in,' never looking up from some paperwork she had been attempting to complete. Paperwork, dull and boring in its existence, was what Polly decided would save her sour mood by making her dull and bored. It was that or a sharp pointy piece of wood and a few vials of blood. She had weighed the options after hearing of Mal's latest mishap and came to the conclusion paperwork was easier to get a hold of. At least that's what she told herself.
A cup of coffee was unceremoniously placed on her desk. Mal took a sip from her own. "The rupert's all fi-"
"That's four times now Mal."
"Five."
"Five?"
"Five."
Polly tilted her head counting off the times in her head. There was that winter behind the Zlobenian front, there was that time in Plüm a couple of years ago, that general at the horrid ceremony they had to sit through...
"Five?"
"Last spring, involving that lieutenant and a rather burly bloke and a clever placed insult to his mother..." Mal took another sip.
How could Polly forget that! That cost them their last chance at a roof for over two months. "You really got to stop this Mal." She finally had some of her coffee. "You're gonna get us all into a big mess one of these days."
"In my defense I didn't make the rupert drink. He did that on his own."
"Yeah, but I'm sure you're the one who put the drinks in front of him."
"Well when you look at it that way I'm the one that should be upset here." Mal feigned an upset look. "I should be able to put my drinks down wherever I want and not have to worry about someone else drinking them. Even if they are placed in front of said person."
Polly sighed. It was like talking to a five year old. An extremely bright and able to talk himself out of anything five year old. "Mal what in Nuggan's name am I to do with you?"
A smirk. "I can think of a few things, particularly this one thing you're really good at.."
"Oh come on, not now Mal. Can't you see I'm trying stay upset at you?" Polly finished her coffee and started to put her paperwork away. She was going to have to check on the rupert and the lads before heading to bed. "In all seriousness I will have to do something about this one of these days."
"I know, you say that every time." Mal took the empty cup and left the room.
"I mean it every time!" Polly yelled after her.
Later that night, some hours after checking on the rupert (and assuring him that the broken nose made him look more distinguished) and on the lads, Polly was sure that Mal had the smug look of 'I win!' on her face as she slept. A quick shove and Mal was on the floor in a tangle of sheets, a few choice curse words could be heard.
Polly rolled over, enjoying her victory. "S'what you get."