Public service announcement

I know that the chapters are short, and the story is going slow, but keep one thing in mind - you are getting a chapter every three days, not every week, two, a month, or whenever-the-fuck-the-author-decides-to-update.

Chapter 4 – Sham Crock Shenanigans

"Tooooshiroooooo… Have mercy…" Adolfine sniffled with only her panties on, looking at Toshiro in his usual short-sleeved uniform.

He threw her back her bra, which she hastily pulled on.

"Toshiro, how the hell are you so good at poker?! Damn it, you lost one hand out of fifty! Good that you gave me back my money every time I went low…"

"Microexpressions, Adolfine. You involuntary tell me everything with your whole face and body…"

"And you're able to see that? Ugh… Why didn't you tell me in the first place?!"

"A poker player telling his secrets? Never! Oh, and I can see the cards reflected in your eyeballs."

"Seriously?"

"Nah, I'm kidding. I can't zoom my vision in by such a big degree."

"But you could give me back my uniform now, I'm a tad uncomfortable…"

"No wonder. A grown woman with such an athletic body…"

"Could you stop already? Really, Toshiro… You complimented my body already so much as if it's the only thing important about me… What about the rest, huh?"

"What about it? You're really nice to me, you're intelligent, you can take a laugh and you're the best link between me and the upper echelons. Anything more?"

"No, thanks... That would be about enough… Nice to know you're appreciating me for everything I do for you…" Adolfine said with a small voice.

"No worries, Adolfine. You've been always caring for me since the day we met. Maybe I really should call you Auntie, huh?"

"I told you that I hate it when YOU call me that. I feel old… And calling me auntie would work only if you were a kid and I were a stranger to you…"

"Ah, yes, I heard it's customary to Karlslandians… But you let Francesca call you that, and you're at least friends, if not good friends."

"Well, I like the little brat…" Adolfine pouted. "Despite her being a bit too grabby…"

"Did I tell you about what happened at Lynne's birthday?" Toshiro said suddenly.

"You told me what happened AFTER, but not about the birthday itself…"

"So, we were doing a toast…"

Toshiro told Adolfine about what happened later with all the details. She made a disgusted expression and held her 'valuables' with her arms.

"And all of that after she had a shot of vodka? Either the Orussians make some nice alcohol, or the poor Francesca has zero alcohol tolerance."

"Probably the latter…" Toshiro sighed. "But she is only fourteen… And rather small… And a girl…"

"Are you perhaps implying girls can drink less?"

"Girls – yes, women – I would probably argue."

"Ah, okay. I thought you were being sexist or something…"

"Adolfine, please… I was brought up by my mother, how can I be sexist…?"

"You could be. You could resent your mother for something…"

"Oh what, are you my shrink, Adolfine? I don't have anything to hold a grudge against… Maybe only the fact that she sacrificed herself without my consent… But beside that – nothing. My mother was like a goddess to me."

"So that's why you're not a sexist or misogynist… You were brought up in a good way... So simple…"

"So simple, Adolfine. What about you? I feel a slight hint of misandry in you, Adi."

"Do… not… call… me… Adi…" She said slowly with a cold voice. "Of all the people, not you…"

"Tell me why and I'll stop."

"Because… oh fuck you, I don't have to tell you shit."

"But you should… We are FRIENDS after all."

"Maybe one day, but not today."

Toshiro sighed and said, "You're stockpiling a lot of secrets, Adolfine… You'd better start taking stuff from it, or you might find it difficult to start at all after some time…"

"It's not like you have some secrets you won't tell me, right?"

"I have. And the fact I literally can't talk about it is driving me nuts sometimes… That's my allegorical cross to bear I think…"

"You 'literally' can't?"

"Yup. If I were to start talking about it, my throat would tie in a knot until I start thinking about doing something else."

"Is that the doing of your goddess or something?"

"Yes. I have knowledge of things that any mortal shouldn't know for their own good. And sorry, Adolfine, but I can't even tell all of this to my uncle…"

"I see… You're really a multi-layer personality, Toshiro… I'm afraid to peel away more…" Adolfine said with a little fear in her eyes.

"Nothing to fear, Adolfine. For my friends I can be like a fluffy kitten – soft, cuddly and cute. But if you get on the very narrow enemy side… Well, I hope you've made your amends and wrote a will…"

"Any particular entries on that side, if I may ask?"

"The Neuroi are a first – underlined, bolded, cursive and hundred cicero font. If I would get my hands on Maloney, I would probably snap his neck like a wishbone. You could say I'm a bit pissed off at the people trying to weaponize Neuroi cores, but their eyes will open up on their own one day… That would be it."

Adolfine pondered a few seconds and asked, "Toshiro, if I'd say I'm the head supervisor of a research team wanting to make a bomb out of a Neuroi core what would you say?"

"I'd punch you so hard your soul would leave your body. Then I'd catch your soul, stuff in your soulless body, and start beating sense into you." Toshiro answered without thinking. "I really do hope you're just saying this to tick me off, because if it was true…"

"I'm joking, I'm joking, calm down… From what Ursula and the other researchers told me, something like that was never going on under Karlslander jurisdiction, nor will it be."

"Are you telling the truth?"

"Yes, Toshiro."

"Okay, nothing happened." Toshiro said with a wide grin. "But seriously, Adolfine. If you ever get the chance to get involved in something like that, either profusely decline or try to sabotage it. The Neuroi are uncontrollable monsters, and trying to make them your slaves is like using a wild gorilla as your pet monkey."

"The Warlock and the Yamato had shown me it just too clearly…"

"Frau Generalmajor, Los Angeles is awaiting." Udo said through the intercom.

"Oh, good, I'll be able to do some shopping!" Adolfine cheered.

"Whatcha buying?"

"Secret!"

"As usual…"

When they landed, Adolfine said, "We'll be meeting again here in two hours, don't run away too far."

"I'll go get a beer or two at my favorite pub here…"

"What's it named? Maybe I'll join you, huh?"

"You? In this getup? Maybe if you get dressed in your normal uniform, then maaaaaybe… But this short sleeve uniform is already too revealing…"

"You're being too protective…" Adolfine pouted. "Come on, tell me! I'll change right away!"

"The Sham Crock, two blocks away straight from here."

"Okay!" Adolfine cheered and ran back into the plane.

After a few minutes she emerged in her usual uniform, but without her pilot jacket.

"I'll be going my way, and you can already reserve a seat for me?"

"Drinking a beer with you? I believe we haven't yet…"

"That's why I want to do it. Bye!" Adolfine shouted and ran away.

"Bye…" Toshiro muttered and went towards the pub.

He entered the building, and was immediately attacked by a cloud of cigarette smoke. The patrons looked at him for a few seconds and returned to their usual jobs – namely drinking, playing cards, swearing, laughing, burping etc.

Toshiro approached the counter, at which the same bartender as six months ago wiped a mug clean with a rag. The man noticed him and said, "Six months is all it takes to jump from Major to Colonel? I'm impressed… A pint?"

"Yeah. Do you have a table free somewhere?"

The bartender looked around and said, "Yeah, by the window on your right. A small table, for two people at most."

"Two places is all I need…"

"Oh, you have company?"

"My boss. She's out shopping, but she'll join me soon."

"Well, well… I hope you're not double timing on your… Yoshika or what's she called, huh?"

"Gods forbid. Adolfine's my friend and boss, but that's it. Gimme that pint, and I'll leave your sight."

"Yeah, yeah…" He grumbled and filled a mug with beer. "Here ya go."

"Not asking for a payment up front?"

"I know who you fucking are, I can bill the damn Wehrmacht if you ditch me, ha!"

"Interesting view…" Toshiro left.

He scanned the surroundings, trying to fish out the table from the smoke to which he could pound a nail. After spotting it, he sat there and opened the window slightly.

Toshiro looked at the foam atop of his beer. It disappeared very slowly, but he decided to help it a bit and he started drinking. He was surprised.

"Hey, Red, nice beer!"

"I won't give you the piss water I usually give these lousy sobs here, oh no! I figured you deserved it!"

"What if they complain?"

"If they do... hell I don't give a shit. Just make sure you take 'em outside. I'd like my pub to stay in one piece."

"Hahaha!"

Toshiro slowly sipped his bear, waiting for Adolfine. Half an hour passed, and two pints were drunk.

Then she finally came in. She had a paper bag with a Chanel logo on it, and she was looking around for Toshiro, amidst the carnivorous looks of the patrons.

"Ah, Toshiro! There you are!" She shouted with hand raised and ran to Toshiro.

In the meantime, he made a gesture, and the bartender started pouring bear after giving a nod.

"Adolfine, good that you're with me, or these drunkards would probably rape you with their eyes…" Toshiro said silently.

"They are doing it anyway…" Adolfine mumbled.

"So, what did you buy?"

"Secret…" She said with an alluring voice.

Red approached and placed the beer before Adolfine.

"A beer for you, ma'am."

"Ah, thank you." She said and sipped some beer. "Unexpectedly good… I would think we would get watered down horse piss in a place like this…" She whispered.

"He said he's giving us the good stuff."

"Aaaaaah… So, maybe a drinking contest, huh?"

"You want to get us both drunk around all these lardbuckets and blockheads? Nobody will touch me, but…"

"I'll take the risk. So, are you in?"

"What are we putting as wager?"

"A fifty."

"Okay."

"Bartender, it's your lucky day!" Adolfine shouted. "The two of us are going to drink until one of us falls!"

"Aye! A great day it is!" The bartender shouted back and stared filling mugs frantically.

With five in his hand he approached the table.

"Five?" Adolfine asked.

"The Colonel had two before."

"Ah, okay. This would be a handicap." Adolfine said and chugged down one mug in one go, making the whole bar go silent. "Now, Toshiro. Let's go."

"Impressive…" He said and raised his mug. "Let the better one win!"

The mugs clanged and the drinking started. The whole bar watched them in silence as pint after pint was guzzled down their throats.

It was now the 20th round. Adolfine raised her mug, and with a swaying hand she said, "Dhhoown thhe hhaaa…"

Her head fell down on the table and she passed out drunk as a skunk. The drunkards suddenly started clapping, which in turn turned into a standing ovation.

"What the…" Toshiro asked tried to maintain his sobriety.

"Your boss is the first woman to drink so much in this pub. Let's say they appreciate it…" Red answered.

"Heh… How much?"

The bartender tallied everything up and gave him the total. Toshiro paid him the sum with an appropriate tip and took Adolfine and her bag on a piggyback ride.

"Holy shit… You can still stand straight after twenty-two pints?" The bartender asked surprised. "You might rival even me, son. Make sure you come back for match with the champ someday, ya hear?"

"I'm a wizard… It's all about willpower… Goodbye, Red. And I might take up on your challenge…"

"That willpower… Take it easy, Son."

I'm not your son, bub…

Toshiro waltzed out of the pub and slowly but steady made his way to the docks. He took a blanket he found and placed it on the bench, and Adolfine on top of it. Then he approached the intercom and said, "Udo, we're starting now."

"I'm sorry, Herr Oberst, but I can only obey such and order if given by the Generalmajor."

"She's a bit… unresponsive now…"

"Unresponsive… Can I look?"

"Sure, bitte sehr."

Udo came into the back of the plane and just before he stopped aside of Adolfine he said, "Ugh… You two smell like a bierhalle… Okay, I'm starting the plane…"

"Thanks, Udo."

Udo closed the door behind him, and in a minute the engines were rumbling, readying themselves for another jump – to Acapulco.

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