A/N - Hello again, I'm back! Been busy with some other stuff but here we are. Next chapter will have tanks in I swear! Thanks to everyone who's dropped a review and favourite, means a lot!
The clashing of steel echoing around the St Gloriana parade ground in the early hours of the morning was not what the girls expected to be hearing when they arrived for training on one Saturday. Henry stood by the flag pole, supporting himself with a wooden cane, far more dignified than crutches, surrounded by the other crew members. At his feet was a neat pile of red jackets. On the Parade ground itself, the commanders, plus Arthur who was filling in for Henry, had paired off facing each other with training sabres. Designed the same way as their ceremonial weapons, just blunted metal instead of sharp.
Henry was flicking through a rule book as the Commanders hacked and slashed at each other. There were specific hit zones, effectively a t-shirt and short area and avoiding the head, anything above the joints was a hit. The various crews yelled shouts of encouragement at their commanders and friendly abuse at their opponents. Tim handed Henry a mug of tea from which steam billowed into the crisp autumn air. Taking a pensive sip in case he burnt his tongue on the freshly made beverage, he chuckled as the taste hit him.
"Really Tim? Out of all the teas you choose this one?"
"Well I thought it was apt, given the situation." Tim replied straight faced
Henry rolled his eyes and chuckled, taking another sip from the tea. Arthur was paired off against Russel Graham, a tall lad with blonde hair and blue eyes, one of the Valentine commanders. The pair were circling each other, Arthur preferring a more aggressive stance, with his right foot forward and his sabre held out in front of him, this confidence had made Russel uncertain, considering the fact that neither of the two men had much experience in sword fighting.
"You're a cheeky sod you know that Tim? Makes me wonder why I keep you around." Henry took a large gulp from the tea.
"Because Pekoe would murder you if you got rid of me?"
Henry grunted, "She is ridiculously strong for her size."
"Well you know Sir, loader."
"True, true." Henry chuckled.
"Gossiping about my crew members now?" Darjeeling materialised at Henry's left shoulder causing him to jump like a racoon caught in headlights.
"Christ Darling, you scared the living daylights out of me."
"That was the plan." She squeezed his arm, "What have you got your boys doing?"
"Eh get's the blood going in the early hours, plus gives the crews something to watch whilst we wait."
"Duelling though?"
"Well we carry around sabres, plus apparently the team used to it way back when, so I just pitched it to the board as a revival of tradition and they were all over it."
"You really have them wrapped around your little finger don't you?" Darjeeling stole his mug from him and took a sip, laughing as she tasted the tea, "Though clearly not as badly as I have you wrapped around mine."
"I am not wrapped around your little finger!"
Darjeeling just winked at him and kissed his cheek. A loud shout drew their attention back to the combat that was going on, Arthur had launched a heavy attack upon Russel, drawing shouts of encouragement from Russel's crew.
"Go on Sir!"
"Take down that upstart!"
"Clearly some of the crews aren't happy you put Arthur in." Darjeeling lent on his arm and whispered quietly to him
"Mhm, well social hierarchy and all that, but someone had to do it to even the fights out."
"Being pragmatic and breaking tradition? How unlike you."
"Oh, shush and give me my tea back."
Henry knew that duelling was a tradition generally reserved for the Officers, or rather in this case, the Commanders, but Arthur was eager to give it a shot and it's not like he could very well participate, -yet-, Arthur feinted to the right and then swiftly flicked a shot around to the left, past Russel's guard and striking him on the chest, ending the fight.
"Don't look now, but I believe one of the commanders has her eye on our dear loader." Richard muttered to Henry and the rest of the crew. Scanning the crowd, Henry's eyes landed on a brown, doe eyed girl with a long braid.
"Oh, dear Rukuriri, how interesting." Darjeeling's eyes lit up.
"I don't like it when you get that look in your eyes, what are you scheming now?"
"Nothing, nothing…now where is Assam…" was Darjeeling's absentminded reply as she wandered off in search of her gunner.
"Well, off she goes to plot again." Henry sighed, "Let's wrap this up chaps, our tanks aren't going to maintain themselves you know!"
"Easy for you to say, you don't do any of the work." Richard muttered, Henry just winked at him.
Later that day
Henry's Office
The door burst wide open with a crack as it slammed into the wall signalling the entrance of Darjeeling and crew. Henry jumped in his chair and quickly hid the files he was perusing through under a few of his books and held his hands in the air.
"Whatever it is, I am completely, one hundred percent, innocent."
Darjeeling strode up to his desk and put her hands down on it and leant over him,
"We're going out tonight."
Henry blinked, "We…are?"
"Yes, make sure Arthur comes."
"Just Arthur?" Henry was still confused.
"No bring the others as well of course you imbecile, but make sure Arthur especially turns up."
"Ok then, I guess we are going out tonight then. You are aware of course that I cannot dance?"
"Well makes no difference to when you have both legs in working order really."
"That was low."
"But true."
Henry scowled up at Darjeeling's innocent looking face, "You're a minx."
Stifled giggles came from the rest of the girls as Henry huffed,
"Fine, if we are going out tonight we're going to the Queens head."
"Spoons? Ooo that is a good idea." Rosehip bounced around excitedly, "They have those delicious pitchers."
Assam groaned, "She's going to be even more unbearable than usual tonight."
Pekoe just hid her smile behind her Palm at her comrade's dismay.
Darjeeling smirked, "You tell the others then, we'll leave you alone now." She leant down an pecked him on the lips before walking off, hips swaying as his eyes followed her out.
Shaking his head Henry pulled his phone out of his desk's draw, flipping the leather case open he keyed in his password and opened up whatsapp, moving to the group chat that he and the others had shaking his head at what Arthur had named it this time.
Comet club, no Cromwells allowed
The Boss: Heads up chaps, I've received orders that we're going out tonight.
The Sullen one: We are?
The Batman: Oh no.
The Idiot: Woooooooo
The Sullen one: Oh God, Arthur and alcohol.
Assam's whipped one: Where we going Boss?
The Boss: Queen's head.
The Batman: Oh that's not so bad then.
The Idiot: Hey Tim, I'll go 2 for 1 pitchers with you.
The Batman: Sure, but you can pick up my remains and tell Pekoe afterwards.
The Idiot: Not a problem.
Assam's whipped one: You say that now, but she gets bloody well protective of lil Timmy here when she's had a few.
The Boss: Yeah they are all coming out as well, who do you think gave me the marching orders.
The Idiot: Wait wait, are you whipped as well now? ALAS MY FRIENDS ARE LEAVING ME, I SHALL HAVE TO HOLD FUNERALS SOON.
The Idiot has changed the nickname of Henry Fordwaith to Darjeeling's Boy toy
Darjeeling's Boy Toy: Oh har har, Arthur.
The Sullen One: Hey, at least we can all keep the interest of a female for longer than…oh what's the record…two days?
The Idiot: I hate you.
The Batman: Yeah like that girl from Oorai, that didn't go anywhere.
The Idiot: Stop.
Darjeeling's boy toy: You brought this on yourself Arthur.
Assam's whipped one: So what time tonight boss?
Darjeeling's boy toy: Oh, I'd say we have a few at ours around 8ish, then meet the girls at Spoons around 9:30 – 10?
The Sullen one: Sounds good, I'll get some drinks.
The Batman: Think we have some left over from last time, but no harm in stocking up right?
Darjeeling's boy toy: Timothy you are a man after my own heart.
The idiot: Well clearly, as you both have a thing for girls with French braids.
Darjeeling's boy toy: Shut up Arthur.
The Batman: Shut up Arthur.
Assam's whipped one: Sike.
Henry's house – 8pm
"Port? Nice choice boss." Richard took a sip from the bottle of Port he had just opened
"I've even got some decent cheese somewhere in the fridge." Henry began searching through the various foodstuffs in the shared fridge.
"Oh…about that."
"What did you do Richie?"
"Wasn't me, it was Rosie…"
"Rosie? You call Rosehip Rosie now?" Arthur burst out laughing from his seat on the sofa.
"I hear jealousy literally seeping from your voice Arthur."
Henry rolled his eyes "That's alright Richie, just get your insane girlfriend to give me some cheese at some point."
Tim piped up from his chair, "You know I don't now how well Port will go down with Pitchers later…."
"Tactical vomiting dear Timothy." Arthur replied, taking a rather large swig from his bottle as Henry hobbled over with the assistance of his walking cane and swiped it from him.
Henry took a swig of the sweet drink, savouring the taste. "Ah that hit the spot.", Arthur snatched the bottle back.
"Get your own you freeloader."
"That -is- mine you sod." Henry retorted, whacking Arthur on the shin with his stick "Back in my day we didn't steal drinks from other people I'll have you know! Youth's these days."
The rest of the group burst into laughter at Henry's act as Richard pulled a bottle of Absinthe out of his cupboard.
"Brother you have been holding out on me." Arthur stared at the bottle in awe
"Now if you looked at a girl with the same eyes you'd have no problem whatsoever." Tim quipped.
"Nah I dunno, would that wipe out his personality?" Richie threw into the mix
Arthur glowered, "Clearly it's a bully Arthur day today."
"Well, it's not like you don't bring it on yourself old boy." Henry chuckled, "Now, pour us some shots Dick, let's get plastered."
"Just make sure you don't break your plaster boss." Richard nodded at his leg.
"Yes, Yes. Well I almost died once in the last month, I don't think Darling can top a tank basically crushing me."
"Ooof, too soon." Arthur winced.
"Sorry, sorry."
Richard rolled his eyes, and pulled five clean glass shot glasses, each engraved with the St Gloriana logo, from the cupboard. Pouring the emerald liquid into glasses, he handed them around the room.
"Alright, cheers then lads." The men all clinked their glasses together and threw their heads back and downed the obscenely strong drink in one gulp, to various results.
Tim started coughing, Henry and Richie just braved the burn and grimaced, Arthur chuckled, and Richard reached for the bottle to refill the glasses.
A few more shots later, and when some bottles of port which had been completely consumed by the insatiable thirst of the Comet crew, they decided that it was time to make their way to the pub.
Henry pulled out his phone with his left hand, quickly firing off a message to Darjeeling to let her know they were on their way, it buzzed almost immediately after with a reply. He smirked at the response and pocketed his phone. The Queen's head wasn't far away from where the lad's lived. As they approached the Victorian era style building, Henry was pleased to see the battle flag of St Gloriana flying from a flag post just above the main door, the wind picking up just a tad so the Union Flag in the corner was visible.
Arthur led the way, partially stumbling over the raised door frame as he pushed the door open. The crew made their way inside, greeted by the smell of beer and the noise of many happy St Gloriana students nattering away at respective tables. The Queen's head was deceptively small from the outside, it was two floors high, with tables aplenty, the upstairs part even had its own, smaller, bar as well.
"So where are the girls boss?" Richard asked, as he took his wallet out of his jeans pocket.
"Darjeeling said they had a booth upstairs, obviously trying to make life as difficult for me as possible." Henry chuckled, "Come on then, Tim give me a hand getting up there." The others made their way up the, not particularly stable, stairs as Tim helped Henry hobble up slowly. Reaching the top of the stairs, Henry rubbed his bad leg "God I can't wait to get back to normal."
"Missing the tanks Sir?"
"Funnily enough, yes."
The first floor of the Queen's head was half a pub drinking area, and half a dance floor with booths scattered along the wall and a DJ on the back wall. Henry performed a quick scan of the room, before locating the bright conglomerate of hair that was the girls. Leading his merry band of misfits over to them, he could pick out who was who in the semi darkness that lit the dance floor. Darjeeling peered at him over her shoulder and winked, taking a sip for her azure coloured drink, the liquid matching her eyes. She was wearing a plain white shirt, with two buttons undone and a bright crimson skirt which stood out amongst the otherwise fairly dark booth. Shuffling over, she patted the seat next to her as he carefully slid into the booth, leaning his walking cane against the wooden side.
Leaning over he greeted her with a quick peck on the lips, "You had to make it difficult for me didn't you?"
"Well hard work doesn't go unrewarded." She grinned at him, leaning in for another kiss.
The others slowly filtered into the booth as Henry pulled back from Darjeeling, he glanced around at the girls sitting around them, frowning slightly then flicking his eyes back to Darjeeling, who's eyes were filled with mirth.
"Oh I see what you're trying to do here" He whispered to her as he stole a sip from her drink 'Hmm, Blue lagoon, nice choice Darling' he thought absently.
"I have no idea what you're talking about Hal, it's just a happy coincidence."
Sitting around the table was Pekoe, Assam, Rosehip and, the one that made him frown, Rukuriri who was fiddling with the end of her long braid awkwardly, occasionally throwing timid glances at Arthur who was chatting away happily with his brother and Assam. A disco ball above the dance floor reflected the flickering lights from the DJ booth, casting flashing light across the booth. Rosehip was eagerly downing another cup of her pitcher, whilst Riche looked fairly alarmed at the speed at which she was guzzling her drink.
Henry leaned over, "Oi Rosie!" Causing Rosehip to splutter and cough, while Richie patted her on the back.
"Sir Henry?!" Rosehip replied once she'd recovered from her comical choking.
"You owe me some cheese." He winked at her, as she awkwardly rubbed the back of her head with her free hand.
"Errr yes, sorry about that!" In her haste to respond she waved her arms around in such a fashion that could only be described as Rosehip and caught her boyfriend square in the nose, causing him to flinch backwards with an "Oooof." As his hand flew to his face in reaction.
Rosehip let out a squeak and turned to Richie, allowing Henry to snaffle the cup from her hand.
"Consider that payment for the cheese." He grinned at her, causing Pekoe to burst into uncontrollable giggles, and even Rukuriri laughed, easing some her original awkwardness.
Darjeeling leant into his side, snuggling up against him.
"Nicely done."
Henry just peered down at her innocently "Nothing to do with me."