You were in no particular hurry as Sergeant Schneider reported to you that he had made contact with a Westbuchtr garrison unit’s radioman on the open channels, and had been directed where to go and whom to submit to. All was fine and dandy, and you were ready to engage in plenty of not-being-shot-at while everybody else took care of things. The mission would be punctuated by a peaceful evening drive on the road, with Winnifred, who you had retrieved from the truck before moving again, sitting in your lap. Normally she’d be sitting on the edge of the turret door, but given what had occurred in the past couple days and that she claimed you would be permanently separated after she left…maybe you were a softy, but you preferred her to ride more intimately if you wouldn’t see her again.

“So, what’re your plans, after this?” you asked, one hand wrapped tightly around Winnifred’s narrow waist and another in the crook of her knees, steadying her against any unexpected bumps. “You get to stay at home a while, or does the spook house just send you right back out again?”

“I may be put back out on another long term assignment. I may not.” Winnifred said simply, a verbal shrug. “If I knew, then I would not share with you anyways, for reasons you presumably understand.”

>Well, if you aren’t out, how would you like it if, I dunno, I came over? We went out, got some coffee? Maybe have a few other fun things?
>Nod, claim to understand. When she said she would be gone, there was no reason for her not to mean it.
>Aren’t you friends? She could surely share where she expects to go. You didn’t believe that she wouldn’t know, and you’d never speak a whisper of it- though she’d need to say it in your ear, no offense to the crew.
>Other?
Also
>Hide the book in the engine- it’s covered with a cloak, it should survive some grease and oil.
>Stuff the book in the ammunition stowage, and count on any inspectors being too lazy to unload shells.
>Store the book in the toolbox on the rear exterior of the turret; obvious, but sometimes, such is the best place to hide something, no?
>Other?

>Past Threads Archive Pastebin (Luftpanzer is at the top): https://pastebin.com/UagT0hnh
>twitter is @scheissfunker for updates and announcements.

Sorry it's so late!...it's still technically "tommorow" here, for another...ten minutes. Oof.
Also this is most certainly the final Luftpanzer thread. There'll be a few choices before epilogue reel of everybody and their status, then you get to screw around back in the Reich for a bit. It'll be after a solid time skip, of course- Reinhold needs to be in a proper mood for this.
Maybe we can peek a little into Panzer Commander at the end, who knows.

>>3296686
>Nod, claim to understand. When she said she would be gone, there was no reason for her not to mean it.
>Hide the book in the engine- it’s covered with a cloak, it should survive some grease and oil.

>>3296706
Supporting

>>3296686
>>Nod, claim to understand. When she said she would be gone, there was no reason for her not to mean it.
>>Hide the book in the engine- it’s covered with a cloak, it should survive some grease and oil.

>>3296686
>>Nod, claim to understand. When she said she would be gone, there was no reason for her not to mean it.
>>Hide the book in the engine- it’s covered with a cloak, it should survive some grease and oil.

>>3296686
>Well, if you aren’t out, how would you like it if, I dunno, I came over? We went out, got some coffee? Maybe have a few other fun things?
Then when turned down inevitably
>Nod, claim to understand. When she said she would be gone, there was no reason for her not to mean it.

>Hide the book in the engine- it’s covered with a cloak, it should survive some grease and oil.

There was a thought given to asking Winnifred about her circumstances if she turned out to not be heading anywhere, but the words died in your throat before they could escape your skull. She wouldn’t have been amenable to whatever you would think of on the spot that would be alternative to whatever her job entailed, anyways, so you just nodded- implied you understood, even if you actually knew nothing. When Winnifred said she’d be gone from your life, after all, there was no reason she wouldn’t mean it.

“You do understand, of course.” Winnifred insisted.

“Yeah. ‘course.” You echoed. “Guess you’ve been doing things like this for a while, then.”

“Mm. When I managed to pull myself up from the hardest times of my life, there was a time where my options had suddenly vanished, besides that of returning. I would not tolerate that. So I went into the hands of those who are always searching for…people such as I.”

“Cute girls?” you teased, with a smirk slipping into your mouth.

“Hah. No. More ones tha-mmmmrfff.” Winnifred was cut off by you kissing her on the lips, though she broke off after a second. “It is rude to interrupt somebody while they are explaining themselves.” She said coolly.

“I thought you implied you didn’t mind kissing,” you poked her nose after taking your hand out from her knees, “Have you had a change of heart?”

Winnifred thought for a moment, searching for something in your eyes. “You seem set on making our separation more painful than necessary.”

“I have that effect on people.”

“Not painful for me,” Winnifred added. “But for you.”

“Ouch.”

“Accepting reality should hardly sting.”

“I mean, yeah?” You said, messing with Winnifred’s dark wavy locks of hair, “But nah, I’m not forgetting what you’ve said or anything. I just want to enjoy what we’ve got left. That all right?”
“So long as we have no audience.” Winnifred looked over to your loader.

“Yeah, you’re right.” You touched your throat microphone to speak over the intercom, “Hey, Zolldom. You don’t mind keeping an eye out up top, do you?”

“I was already gonna,” your loader shot back grumpily, “Judge above, I didn’t expect the talk about you to be that dead on. You’re as bad as the LT. If you get too disgusting I’m bailing the hell out.”

“Appreciated.” You slipped your headset off and pulled Winnifred towards you, touching your lips to hers. As she wrapped her arms around you and shifted her legs to straddle each side of yours, you slipped your hand into her trousers and sought out the warmth in her nethers.

-----

“Captain, our Westbuchtr escort’s ahead,” you heard the intercom crackle. “I dunno what you’re doing and I don't wanna know, but it’s time to stop.”

“Yeah, yeah,” you said, “…Driver, slow down some.” Your hand was on Winnifred’s head as it bobbed back and forth between your legs. She was…quite good at what she was doing, as you’d found out over the past several minutes. “We’re not in any hurr…hrk. Mmmrrggh.” You took your finger off your microphone and pushed your hand against the edge of the turret, your other hand pushing Winnifred’s head into your groin forcefully as your eyes rolled back on their own, electricity sparking down your legs and up your back. “…Phoo. Damn.” Back on the intercom. “Belay that. Maintain speed.”

“Captain, did you just nut over the interrrrcom?” your driver Suszter said, his accent lapsing into a deep Dhegyar accent and rolling the rs. "Ah huh huh huh harrr..."

“…Maybe.” You admitted as Winnifred tucked your manhood back into your pants and began the complex movements required to get back on your lap in the tiny Luftpanzer.

“Yeah, he did,” your loader said with annoyance, “Thanks for that ear massage, Cap. Really needed that to cap off this op.”

“Sorry,” you said, “Business and business managed to intersect for a second.”

“At least it wasn’t overrrr the platoon. Or the open net, aye?” Suszter continued his mockery.

“Speakin’ of,” Zolldom had a tone in his voice that spoke of conspiracy, “What’re you gonna do to keep us from yapping about this? You get your kicks, we better get ours.”

>Uh…drinks? Damn, though, Dhegyars were known to have iron livers, they’d really run you down…
>Let them talk. Hell, you’d brag about it before they got the chance, most likely.
>Threaten to beat them up if they try. It would besmirch the lady’s reputation, after all, not yours! (Dhegyars are known for being rowdy and rough- as a note.)
>Other?

>>3297282
>>Uh…drinks? Damn, though, Dhegyars were known to have iron livers, they’d really run you down…
Sounds like a good time

>>3297282
>Uh…drinks? Damn, though, Dhegyars were known to have iron livers, they’d really run you down…

>>3297282
>>Uh…drinks? Damn, though, Dhegyars were known to have iron livers, they’d really run you down…

>>3297282
>Uh…drinks? Damn, though, Dhegyars were known to have iron livers, they’d really run you down…

>>3297282
>“Captain, did you just nut over the interrrrcom?”
That got a good laugh out of me.

>Uh…drinks? Damn, though, Dhegyars were known to have iron livers, they’d really run you down…

>>3297295
>>3297297
>>3297325
>>3297405
>>3297466
I'm not an alcoholic! But let's go get wasted.

Writing.

“Uh…” you said, your head still floaty, “…How about I buy you drinks? Whole night’s on me.” It was what came readily to mind, but you were already wincing inside after you proposed it. Drinking was in Dhegyar blood, and their resistance to alcohol was well known. They’d likely drain your wallet in no time at all…

“Oh ho, threaten us with a good time, will you?” Zolldom laughed, as did the other crewman. “You’re on. Don’t think we’ll forget it, either. We’ll drink up your monthly salary in a night!”

You laughed along with them, though you had the sinking feeling that he wasn’t exaggerating. You took your headset off and stopped distracting yourself from Winnifred.

“Your approval is flattering,” Winnifred said as you hooked your hand under her legs again, “I wonder if your forcefulness is oft approved of, however.”

“Oh. Sorry, honey.”

Winnifred looked down her nose at you. “You are forgiven.”

“You know,” you leaned back and fixed your eyes to the roof of the cupola, moonlight shining slightly through its viewports, “In spite of us both knowing you’re heading out right after, you’re doing your best to stay on my mind, aren’t you?”

“It is like you said. This is the moment. Should you think of this for longer,” Winnifred stroked her bangs back again, as her hair had fallen forward earlier. “Then you won’t be happy.” She looked to her chest, your jacket still on her. “I suppose I should return this before we part.”

“Nah.” You brushed your hand across her shoulder and toyed with the fleece lined collar. “I want you to keep it. Consider it a souvenir. I wouldn’t want you to be cold, after all.”

“Hm.” Winnifred frowned, “Fine, then. I suppose I should dress for the weather.”

“You know I wouldn’t complain if you dressed for the beach.” The tank began to slow, and you put your headset back on. “I’ll be needed soon, seems. I can’t let Schneider do all the talking tonight, though. Gonna have to get up now.” You lifted Winnifred to the turret hatch after opening it and let her sit there as you rose out of the cupola to speak with your escorts.

-----

Few words were exchanged before you were on your way again- most of the vital communications had been had with your Sergeant, it seemed, and all there was to do was to confirm who you were, and that you were complying with demands. The escort was a full tank platoon, as could be expected- a quintet of Leichterpanzer 24s. It was funny seeing them here in Reich colors, after your last encounter with that tank type had them in Halmeggian green with the red and yellow of the revolution decorating their turrets. Their commander seemed a nice enough fellow, though it was hard to feel the insecurity which made one testy when there was clear fire superiority. The drive, as you’d been informed, would be a short one, so nothing was done during it save for quiet contemplation.

Contemplation for things such as whether the engine’s heat and oil would muck up the Grimoire too much, as you’d stuffed it into the flank of the space, if the cloak it was wrapped in would protect it. Whether that would really matter anyways considering you had no intent of preserving it at all, or doing anything besides hiding it as requested. Were there any archaeologists or historians that knew what you were doing they’d crucify you, you bet. Good thing this bit of history was forgotten and would remain so, if things went your way.

As soon as you arrived, the platoon commander of your escorts pointed you towards the officers’ tents; all others were to remain here, he said, until after. There was little effort to hide what the intent of the Westbuchtr soldiers was after you’d had your little chat, and you respected such. Winnifred, in the meantime, said something to the officer under her breath, and to your surprise…she was allowed to go. In a different direction, of course.

You couldn’t quite let her vanish just like that though, could you?

>This was how she did things; she’d already said farewell in her own way, best leave it at that.
>Stop her and say something. (What?)
>Stop her and do something. (Also, What?)
>Other?

>>3297536
>This was how she did things; she’d already said farewell in her own way, best leave it at that.

>>3297536
>>Stop her and say something. (What?)
"Stay safe and all the best."

>>3297536
>Stop her and say something. (What?)
"Hey before you go..."
>Stop her and do something. (Also, What?)
Mess up her hair again so both eyes are showing.

"That's better. Eye catching as always. You told me that the girl that would've had her hair like this is long dead and I don't have any reason to doubt that, but I think, and I know how hypocritical it sounds coming from me, that you're worth a hell of a lot more than you give yourself credit for. More than just the intelligence agent part. Take care of yourself Winnifred and stay safe."

>>3297568
+1

>>3297536
>>This was how she did things; she’d already said farewell in her own way, best leave it at that.

>>3297536
>>This was how she did things; she’d already said farewell in her own way, best leave it at that.

>>3297568
Supporting this

>>3297536
>>This was how she did things; she’d already said farewell in her own way, best leave it at that.

>>3297568
Supporting, maybe not all of that paragraph but definitely mess up her hsir

>>3297542
>>3297667
>>3297764
>>3297872
She said nothing to you; she expects nothing back, and wouldn't want otherwise.

>>3297546
>>3297568
>>3297659
>>3297828
>>3298062
But you have a different opinion on how this should go.

Close. Technically tied for particular actions, but...I'd say the intent is the important part.

Getting to it.

File: lpq_scene31.png (504 KB, 900x675)

504 KB PNG

Nah.

With a snatching claw of your hand, you grabbed Winnifred by her arm and spun her about to see you. “Hey, hey,” you said, cheery, “You didn’t expect to just take off, did you?” You tipped your cap up, “Figure we ought to at least say goodbye to each other.”

Winnifred searched your eyes. “You’ve the look of somebody with more to say.”

“Yeah.” You put your hand over her head and mussed her hair up, ruffling her bangs into her face. “Dang, strange how that keeps happening. One second.” You adjusted her hair again to be out of her face, pushing her bangs back again so that both her vividly pigmented eyes showed. “That’s better. Eye catching as always.”

Winnifred simply blinked at you, her mouth its usual downward tilt. She expected you to continue beyond casual flirting, presumably- her reaction to such was as muted as usual, but you wanted to think it made her happy.

“You told me the girl that would’ve had her hair like this was dead, and I don’t have any reason to doubt that…well, I mean, metaphorically. You’re not quite that pale. Anyways, I think that just because you’ve been through a lot, doesn’t mean you can’t be precious to somebody. I think you’re more than a spook, is what I mean. So…well, stay safe, and all the best.”

“Reinhold,” Winnifred looked into your eyes, a pitying dull to them, “I knew the sort of man you were when I shared a bed with you. I should hope you knew the same of me. It’s sweet of you to say what you did, but I am alright. My current path in life is what I have chosen. Perhaps we will meet once more, but you should not count upon it. You’ve too many bright new futures to chase, it’d be silly to wait for an old flame.” She raised her hand to adjust her hair…but stopped. “Live your life well. Goodbye.”

“Take care of yourself.” You sighed.

Winnifred Von Lowenkreuz walked away, and as far as you knew, out of your life. Hated to see her leave, you thought as your eyes descended, loved to watch her go. Though…even with what she said…you sighed to yourself once more. Bright new futures, sure. Though you also didn’t think the past needed to go and stay gone.

-----

The tent you were escorted to shone with yellow lamplight from within; a small field headquarters was set up inside, though an extremely diminutive and presumably limited one. It was incredibly sparsely manned, with but a few aides and an extremely sleeping looking officer standing at something approaching attention, his hand behind his back, squinting through half-awake eyes. You noted his marks of rank indicated that he was a Major, but he was rather young; possibly only in his early thirties.

“Name and rank,” he requested with a yawn.

“Captain Reinhold Roth-Vogel of the Kaiser’s Luftwaffe. First company of panzers in the Luftpanzer Battalion.”

“Zeissenburg’s troops, huh.” The major yawned again, “I’m Major Gottwen, and I’m second in command for this section of the border garrison. So uh, you’re not supposed to be here. We’ll have to get you back to the Reich.”

“That would be appreciated.”

“But we’ll have to keep you in custody ‘til we clear things up and somebody comes to get you, you see?” The major lazily went on like he didn’t hear you, “If you have a problem with that…well, I guess you’ll have to be arrested, but that would make things hard on everybody, wouldn’t it?”

>What if I gave you a bunch of gold and jewels? Could I just pay a fine and be on my way? Jail’s cramped and uncomfortable and doesn’t have chicks and booze.
>I’ve got no objections. Just as long as your holding pens have a cot or something to lie down on.
>Don’t I get some leniency for not making things hard on you? I certainly could, at least on the paperwork side of things.
>Other?

>>3298799
>>What if I gave you a bunch of gold and jewels? Could I just pay a fine and be on my way? Jail’s cramped and uncomfortable and doesn’t have chicks and booze.
May as well try.

>>3298799
>>Don’t I get some leniency for not making things hard on you? I certainly could, at least on the paperwork side of things.

>>3298799
>>What if I gave you a bunch of gold and jewels? Could I just pay a fine and be on my way? Jail’s cramped and uncomfortable and doesn’t have chicks and booze.

While he might just take them anyway, worth a shot. Besides I doubt we'd ever be able to keep the jewelry of Halmeggian Royalty. If only there was a case of Strossvald gold bars out there...

>>3298799
>>What if I gave you a bunch of gold and jewels? Could I just pay a fine and be on my way? Jail’s cramped and uncomfortable and doesn’t have chicks and booze.

>>3298796
Hey look, a tank! :^D
>>3298799
>>What if I gave you a bunch of gold and jewels? Could I just pay a fine and be on my way? Jail’s cramped and uncomfortable and doesn’t have chicks and booze.

Morning.

>>3298808
>>3298918
>>3299076
>>3299158
Bribery!

>>3298814
Pleading!

Edelina can consider it a payment of debts, I suppose.

Writing.

“What if I gave you a bunch of gold and jewels?” you said lowly, bending forward and closer to the Major. “Call it a fine. Can I pay that and be on my way? Jail’s cramped and uncomfortable, and doesn’t have chicks and booze.”

The Major blinked at you, the promise of wealth not seeming to quite wake him fully. “Depends. Are these gold and jewels theoretical, or do you have them right now?”

“They’re pretty real,” you said, digging around in your pockets, and pulling out Edelina’s golden bracelets. You spun them around on a finger, tempting the eye. “Interested yet?”

“Is that all you have?”

A frown crossed your face as you stopped spinning the bracelets. “Boy, you’re a haggler, huh?”

The major shrugged casually. “The way I see it, were I to not help you out, this jewelry would be found in a search and confiscated anyways. Aren’t I doing enough of a favor that I deserve all you’ve got on you? Or should I have the men search you and just take it?”

“A compelling point,” you admitted, and you began to divest yourself of the rest of Edelina’s jewelry; as well as going back to the tank to get the rest of it. “That’s all of it. How do you feel about making a deal now?” A white lie- Edelina’s ruby pendant had been wrapped up and stuffed into the medical kit.

“Hm,” the Major surveyed all that had been collected, and laid out upon a table. “Alright. I’ll have my men take you to a place where you’ll be able to get out quicker. Has a train station and everything.”

“I was hoping we could just make the trip on our own.”

“Oh, no, please,” the Major insisted, “Let us share our hospitality. You must have had an awful time; don’t you deserve a vacation?”

You weren’t going to get anywhere protesting, you already knew, so you sullenly accepted transport for you and the rest of your men.

-----

It turns out that the special place with the train station, you learned quickly after arriving, was a prison camp. As expected. Great. Well, the Major had been right; that stuff would have been picked off you in a search anyways. Hopefully the things you’d actually hidden wouldn’t be found.

Not that you had experienced with prison camps, but this one didn’t seem all that bad. Certainly, the blocky grey brick buildings were ugly to look at and draining to even walk near and there were high fences capped by razor wire and guard towers, but aside from security measures the interior had a sort of simple comfort to it. Or maybe that was just based on what conditions you’d been through in the past, on the front lines. There were individual rooms with toilets and cots, and a table and desk, a recreational space, and the guards were relaxed and, if anything, seemed more interested in chatting than being stern watchmen. The reputation of the Fallschirmjäger likely helped with that.

After a day inside, you had been delivered a few cases of pale, locally brewed from the label beer in brown glass. Whether this was because of what you’d given the major or a random gift, you were never told.

Naturally, these were shared with the men. Near a dozen Fallschirmjäger went through a mere few cases quite quickly, but it was still refreshing. The day you partook was a light drizzle, and you had decided to hang out with Sergeant Schneider, under a covered space with a bench by the wall of the recreational court. Most had retired to their rooms after receiving their share of alcohol, but not you two. The rain was a pleasant break from the sounds of war, which were now entirely absent, as you had been driven a fair way into Westbuchtr to be processed. Frankly, that in itself was a reward.

“So, Sergeant,” you swirled your beer around in its bottle, already halfway gone. “What do you think? Of how this whole thing went down.”

Sergeant Schneider pondered that question, twiddling his thumbs. He had hardly touched his beer. “Guess all I can think of is, that we couldn’t have really done better than we did, considering all that happened.” He looked to you, then out again. “Besides that initial battle to get to the Aristocratic Union, I don’t think we lost a single person. We had a couple wounded.”

“It was just a scratch.” You smirked, though you really would have rather not gotten your old driver Lawrence as badly wounded as he’d been.

“But, yeah, besides that, I suppose. And your plane being shot down.”

“Yeah,” you sighed and stretched your legs out, staring up at the dusty slanted wood bars that sheltered you both from the rain, “That would have been a good place to not go wrong.”

“Lieutenant Bartholomeu was really out of it all during that first fight,” Sergeant Schneider said, “Though, I know why. He shared it with us. Staff Sergeant Dolcherr was killed, and he…couldn’t hold it together.”

“Yeah. Losing one of your best friends of near two decades’ll do that to you.” You continued to bore holes in the roof with your eyes, “I suppose I shouldn’t have told him, if it screwed him up that much. Folks from your platoon died because of that.”

“No,” Schneider objected firmly, “He had a right to know. I’m sure if you asked the people who were wounded, they would have said the mistakes were their own, not yours.”

“…If you say so.” You accepted that. It had been days ago, now, and everything had already scarred over. The two of you just sat for a moment, listening to the rain. You drank another quarter of the beer. “So you gonna drink that or what?” you looked over at Schneider’s bottle and pointed, “Drinking alone’s depressing, you know.”

“Oh.” Schneider frowned at the bottle, “I don’t like beer much. Bitterness and all.”

“Judge above,” you leaned all the way back and splayed yourself in as many directions as possible, “And you’re the sort who really needs to drink the most. Not saying you need to get blasted or nothing, but god damn.”

“Maybe.” He took a swig, made a face, and put the bottle back down. “Blegh. No, you can have it.”

“Well I don’t want it now,” you acted cross, “I like drinking beer, not virgin spit.”

“Heh. Fine.” Schneider pushed his bottle further away from him and crossed his legs. “…To be honest, I’m a bit disappointed with how this all ended.”

“Oh?”

“Well, this’ll sound a bit dumb, but,” Schneider leaned forward again, warring his thumbs against one another. “I sort of expected us to have a bit more…I dunno. More of an adventure? Holding out? Not saying your friend flying in out of nowhere and picking up the Princess was nothing, but-“

“And the Prince.”

“And the Prince.” Schneider corrected himself, “As I was saying though, I mean, it’s a mission complete and that’s what really matters, but I guess I had it in my head that it’d be a bit more…climactic?”

You couldn’t help but smirk, really. “Nah, you just wanted to spend more time with Princess Edelina, didn’t you?”

“Psh.” Schneider frowned deeper. “Sure.” He admitted. “She was very pleasant to talk to. Kind of heart, and considerate.”

“And possessing of a fat rack.”

“I did not consider such.” Schneider retorted.

“Bull fucking shit you didn’t.”

Schneider rolled his eyes. “Anyways. She was courteous, and never unwilling to talk, or share her feelings, but she always seemed so very sad.” He leaned forward, resting his chin on the back of a hand. “I would just have liked to have been able to do something to cheer her up. Such a sweet young woman shouldn’t be so unhappy.”

The smirk dropped from your face, as you wondered if Schneider would feel that way if he knew Edelina’s dark secret; the reason, most likely, that she was so unhappy. That on top of her family having been killed, they had been so because of her mistake. Yet, no, that would ever remain a secret between the two of you.

“So you gonna try and see her again?” you asked. “I’m sure she’s out. I know Linda, and she’s the finest damn pilot I know next to her father. I’m certain she managed to get herself and the Royals out just fine.”

“No, that’s not happening.” Schneider sighed, watching the drip of water running off the roof in front. “I’m just an NCO. I’ve got no reason to be allowed to get any closer. Just another missed opportunity, I guess.”

>Giving up a bit early there, aren’t you? I’m sure there’s some way you can hang out some more. (How?)
>Probably for the better. It’s not good to get mixed up in people with politics around them. Normal life is already a huge pain in the ass.
>Nah, you two weren’t right for each other, anyways. Nothing wrong with staying pure, man. Something’ll come around.
>Other?

>>3300275
>Giving up a bit early there, aren’t you? I’m sure there’s some way you can hang out some more. (How?)
She's going to need to protection detail isn't she? A competent Fallschirmjäger who helped rescue her could fit the bill. See if we can pull some strings when we get back.

>>3300275
>>Nah, you two weren’t right for each other, anyways. Nothing wrong with staying pure, man. Something’ll come around.

>>3300275
>>Nah, you two weren’t right for each other, anyways. Nothing wrong with staying pure, man. Something’ll come around.

>>3300275
>Probably for the better. It’s not good to get mixed up in people with politics around them. Normal life is already a huge pain in the ass.

>>3300275
>Giving up a bit early there, aren’t you? I’m sure there’s some way you can hang out some more. (How?)
>>3300301
Backing this.

>>3300275
>Probably for the better. It’s not good to get mixed up in people with politics around them. Normal life is already a huge pain in the ass.

>>3300301
>>3300275
Seconded

>>3300301
>>3300359
>>3300382
Become protecc

>>3300339
>>3300351
Incompatibility is a bitch

>>3300355
>>3300361
Royalty is political; never go political

Guess you want to keep that pendant, huh? Or expect it to go missing.

Writing.

>>3300419
Oh shit I forgot about that even though you just referenced it. Could send that with him.

>>3300419
I'd support sending that pendant with Schneider. Lord knows both of them need some happiness.

Shes still MY best WAIFU though.

>>3300419
Yeah. Give him the pendant.

Big chunky update soon. Sorry for the wait.

“Giving up a bit early there, aren’t you?” you prodded Schneider. “I’m sure there’s some way you can hang out more. Platonically, of course. She’s still royalty- she’ll need a protection detail, yeah? Maybe a Fallschirmjäger who already has experience doing so, a trusted face? I’ve got a few strings I can tug on.”

“Captain,” Schneider was unenthusiastic, “I don’t need-“

“Not your decision anymore, you already gave me the idea. Hope you like being reassigned.” More seriously, you leaned over closer and said quietly, “I’ve managed to hide away her pendant; the one with the big ruby in it. I’m sure she’d appreciate having it returned, you know? I mean, if not, I was just thinking of keeping it and pawning it…”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Not if you take it upon yourself to give it back.”

Schneider was quiet. Then he sighed, and got up. “I’ll think about it.”

Another mission accomplished, you thought to yourself. Of course, Schneider would have plenty of time to think about it, and it wouldn’t be the first time the topic would be brought up, since you’d be stuck in that god damn jail for another two and a half weeks.

-----

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUEIGUAWj4U

Linda Falkenstein, ferrying Princess Edelina and Prince Alexander Von Halm-Auric, would land in the Dhegyar Protectorate of the Grossreich of Czeiss shortly after arriving in Halmeggia and picking of Captain Reinhold Roth-Vogel’s charges. She would be escorted by Dhegyar fighters to a military airfield, and immediately ferried back home. However, the Princess and Prince would be guests for rather longer- the Dhegyar people finding it quite humorous to be sheltering the royal family that in times past was their enemy. While such annoyed the government of the Reich, as the Dhegyars were loyal to Kaiser before Protectorate squabbling, the Halmeggian Royalty was in no real danger. In exchange for their “favor”, however, the Dhegyar Protectorate would be allowed a significant hand in the planned occupation of Halmeggia, which had otherwise not been planned for.

Halmeggia would be consumed by war for another harrowing week and five days after Captain Reinhold Roth-Vogel departed, before the Reich Protectorate of Westbuchtr was convinced by Imperial diplomats to not only allow the Kaiser’s military to intervene, but to move in their own troops as well to force a ceasefire. Due to owing favors to the Dhegyar Protectorate government for harboring the Royal Family, Dhegyar troops also played a large role in occupation, with Halmeggia being broken up into three separate administrative zones controlled by Westbuchtr, the Reich, and Dhegyar; this occupation would continue long after the reinstallation of the monarchy and reconstruction of the government and military. Early estimates placed those dead at the time of the ceasefire at twenty thousand, though a few investigators were skeptical and place estimates closer to nine thousand. Others put numbers even higher. The conflict was short, but the effects of it would scar the country for decades.

The Reich’s interest in trapping a large portion of the Revolutionary Army of Greater Vitelia within Halmeggia’s borders would be for naught, as very few ended up caught in the net. The commanders of the Grossreich’s occupation troops from the Reich Proper suspected Westbuchtr of allowing the Revolutionaries passage back to Vitelia, but little proof of this was uncovered. With no scandal or tragedy to place pressure on the western protectorate, at least not one that could be declared their responsibility, no formal investigations could be justified, much less any actions that would infringe upon the protectorate’s sovereignty.

The Aristocratic Union, led by the Duke Di Vitelstadt, was unable to procure even a single surviving member of the royal family. They maintained for a short time by bluffing, and claiming that they were in the custody of the AUSC, however, when news rapidly spread of the Prince and Crown Princess being sheltered under the Kaiser, morale plummeted and trust began to dissipate. The ultimate effect was a break off of the AUSC’s lofty plans, and the retreat of their forces to defend their own holdings. The AUSC ceased to be an offensive and decisive force shortly after the beginning of the Halmeggian Civil War; the opportunity for them to restructure the country in their favor was lost, though such did not sabotage their personal holdings greatly.

In spite of their success in eliminating much of the Royal Family and the Parliament, the Revolutionary Army of Greater Vitelia was unable to succeed in its goal of making Halmeggia the newest state in so-called Greater Vitelia. Their early losses in battles with the Aristocratic Union combined with their inability to subjugate vital independent cities and towns slowed their momentum, and decisive attacks from the Luftpanzer Battalion and Wolfe’s militants dealt irreparable damage to Revolutionary cohesion and mobile units. However, the RAGV contingent, while bloodied, was far from destroyed. Upon the start of the ceasefire agreement’s enforcement, RAGV units were able to move out of Halmeggia, taking with them a huge quantity of valuable war materiel and newly drafted manpower to support their battles back in war torn Vitelia. This bittersweet victory, however, proved to lack political weight, and the Revolution’s factions dissolved into squabbling amongst themselves; the future of their utopian dream draws further away with each passing day, though volunteers from all over the west still find and hold faith in the dawn of The Class.

Major “Gunmetal” Wolfe’s militarists, dubbed the Guardians of Halmeggia, were able to exploit the arrival of the Luftpanzer Battalion to great effect, and their early sweeping victories drew many to their ranks. Towns once considering themselves independent heard of both the already popular Wolfe and that his tanks thundered across Halmeggia bringing ruin to foreign subversive Revolutionaries and scheming arrogant Aristocrat alike, and quickly found themselves flying the colors of the Guardians of Halmeggia. Near ninety percent of the capital city of Halmez was in militarist hands when the ceasefire was declared- the militarists, though showing signs of exhaustion, were most certainly the most influential faction in Halmeggia, and remained so in the occupation days.

Major Wolfe was a favorite in attempts at new appointments of authority by the military to form a new government. Some speculate that this was to prevent his daughter from becoming a political target- however, soon after the ceasefire began, he had said daughter, Eidan Wolfe, transported to the Grossreich on her request. Though Gunmetal would have happily stayed out of politics, he never got such a wish, and would be pestered by all sorts for long after he got sick of their attention.

Halmeggia may have once been a constitutional monarchy, but after the war, with most of the territory of the country being held by the Militarists, a junta replaced the monarchy and parliament in government. While they could not hold sway over the Aristocracy-held lands, said territories existing alongside the “official” state as part of the ceasefire, they would quickly solidify their control over the entire country. In spite of Gunmetal Wolfe being unwilling to step up to the role of dictator, there were plenty of other ambitious officers who would, and one did, after much deliberation of the militarist cabal. General and High Defender Tito Friechs would become a known name; and feared too, as resentment against the Revolutionary sympathies became the main drive for new policy.

Princess Edelina Von Halm-Auric would be crowned Queen of Halmeggia one week after the ceasefire. However, in the formation of the new government, she would cede even more of the monarchy’s powers. Besides obligatory possessions in terms of hereditary land and investments, the throne of Halmeggia would have little place in its new government. Some nodded their heads and moved on; many others murmured that the war had shown that a strong hand would be needed, else history would soon repeat itself, especially considering the most influential faction in Halmeggia as of current. More importantly, the new Queen would not be permitted to return to her country by the Reich, for her safety. In spite of her attempts to make peace, it seemed that she was unable to escape the spite for her wrought by her bloodline. While in the Reich, she would remain mostly reclusive at first, but after near three weeks, she would be seen in public; with a bodyguard, but rumors naturally flew that they were closer than that. The Princess would not address such gossip.

Prince Alexander Von Halm-Auric made no attempt to fight for the throne after his sister’s coronation, though his disapproval was made clear to any who asked. He did not return to his home country, and instead went on a journey into the mountain ranges in the Reich with but a few of his former guardsmen- they have yet to return. A few who had spoken to him before he embarked upon this quest would remark that he seemed more driven by a new purpose, than becoming the King of what he referred to as a “stain upon the name of his ancestors.”

The Luftpanzer Project’s rapid deployment upon this mission was an event observed with both curious glances and hopeful restless stares alike. While the operation was nominally a success, with little in the way of loss of life or materiel, critics were eager to point out how the Luftpanzer Battalion had still not been quick enough, and went so far as to suggest that deployment of the tanks had adversely affected the operation by placing the bulk of troops far away. In light of the failures, Colonel Talmeier, commander of the Luftpanzer Battalion, would attempt to resign, but no blame was placed upon his shoulders. A committee would ultimately find there to be no negligence in the operation, nor find the Luftpanzer Project a frivolous expense, but it would be deemed that the outrageous costs of the program were far too much. The Luftpanzer Battalion’s expansion would be delayed significantly, and as time goes on, it seems as though its completion may never arrive, as the project heads struggle to procure funds to produce the remainder of the expensive specialist tanks. One definite victory was the proof of concept of combat drops- testing for ADR deployment of various cargoes would be eagerly investigated by the Luftwaffe and Army alike.

For his part in commanding the Luftpanzer Battalion’s armored company and his protection of the Halmeggian Royal Family, Captain Reinhold Roth-Vogel would receive a Silver Crest (as well as a Wound Badge), for merit in combat and valor in the field, as would several others nominated in the Luftpanzer Battalion. Staff Sergeant Douran Dolcherr would be nominated for and awarded posthumously the Magnolia Seal, the highest award for valor and sacrifice in the Reich’s armed forces. The official ceremony, it was decided, would take place at his funeral- though Captain Reinhold Roth-Vogel would be forced to miss the ceremony and funeral both.

While the newspapers would lament the death of the Halmeggian Royal Family and the tragedy of the civil war, the mystique of flying tanks and paratroopers, the latter already famed from past campaigns, would draw the admiration of the public. Before the Halmeggian Civil War, none would have ever heard of a Luftpanzer nor had special respect for a commander of one. Such would change very quickly in a short amount of time.

The Reich’s foremost objective in preserving peace in Halmeggia, however, in preserving the country’s food production, turned out to be unattainable. Halmeggia’s food stores had been stolen away, appropriated, or destroyed, with near forty five per cent of its fields damaged to a point where next season’s harvests would be severely impacted. With reserves in the Reich reaching a point of great concern, in order to maintain the disguise that hid the impact of the famine, the Reich would have to purchase large quantities of food from shipments across the sea, from the confederation of Caelus. The deals were struck eagerly, and with a generous deal…hinting at future agreements to repay such kindness.

-----

The Kaiser’s Secret Services have conducted an investigation of the catastrophe concerning their field operations in Halmeggia. Owl 1 having become a fatality and Owl 2 and 3 claiming ignorance of any conspiracy, the only clues were in mysterious notes that implied Owl 1 having sympathy for Revolutionaries. An odd change in beliefs, considering what his assignment was, but what little clues were found indicated a conversion of sorts, and it was concluded that with little other smoke to follow, there had to be the fire there.

Operative Owl 3, real name Winnifred Von Löwenkreuz, has been withdrawn from field operations after it was discovered that she had become pregnant. Termination of pregnancy was advised, but refused. The KSS will deliver a strongly worded reprimand to Miss Von Löwenkreuz to not fraternize unnecessarily in a reckless manner, however, release from employment will not be considered as Miss Von Löwenkreuz has a special agreement with the KSS, in light of her lineage and history.

-----

It had been good to finally come “home;” Herr Falkenstein had insisted you see your actual family first, but the meeting had been awkward- it wasn’t that you weren’t glad to see one another, but nobody was particularly distraught by you leaving once again. That had been your first few days after being released from Westbuchtr, the westerners not able to find any excuse to keep you for longer. Thankfully, they hadn’t found either of the things you had been smuggling inside the Luftpanzer, as those had been returned, as well. The Grimoire was now safely entombed in Von Falkenstein’s attic, and Edelina’s pendant given to Schneider with a pat on the shoulder and mocking advice to check if the golden eyes really worked the way they were purported to.

Your usual morning ritual, once you had gone back to where the Falkensteins as well as the Luftpanzer Project lived, was to visit the graveyard where Dolcherr had been buried. Apparently it had been heavily decorated with flowers for a week straight, but now there was but a dusty vase; the flowers in it were still fresh, though. Linda, probably. She hadn’t been demanding that you come with her for whenever she wandered over here, and you hadn’t requested she come with you here, either. The distance between you was maintained…and you were sure Dolcherr wouldn’t have liked that, but that was how it was. You’d have taken Bartholomeu, but the unlucky sap was still recuperating. He was, at least, much better than when you had last seen him.

“Sorry pal,” you said to the gravestone, a plain one with but a name and the dates of his birth and death- he’d not have wanted anything fancy. “I’ll try it someday. I won’t leave Linda an old maid, at least. Maybe I think she ought to have different tastes, but that doesn’t mean I’ll skimp on taking care of her. I’m not fooling around as much, at least. Or drinking so heavily. Turns out a few weeks in prison is great therapy for that.” A breeze ruffled your coat; December was on the approach, and it’d probably be snowing soon. “You know they gave me a medal? Not as shiny and fancy as the one they gave you, of course. Wound badge, too. I’m being turned into a Langenachtfest tree. Still no promotion, but I never considered myself a career officer anyways, y’know?”

That had been yesterday. Colonel Talmeier had called you in- for once, not to tear you to pieces. He hadn’t looked any worse for wear, though that was probably because it had almost been a month since the mission to Halmeggia. Bartholomeu was still stuck in the hospital, but apparently he had managed to seduce Talmeier’s daughter, so that was probably the reason for the extra wrinkle in his forehead. He’d presented you with your awards, expressed his thanks for your service and patience; apparently he’d managed to ride hard enough on Westbuchtr to make sure your possessions weren’t messed with. Maybe then, that was why you could still walk out with the Grimoire and the pendant.

When you asked him about the mission and the project, he had waved it off, said the project wasn’t doing great and had funding issues, but it wasn’t even close to being called off; just cut in priorities. The mission, likewise, had gone about as well as could be expected. It had been an operational success, but a political failure. Nothing that concerned you, he had insisted. You’d done perfectly. Even if the Kaiser himself had been annoyed that the Halmeggian Royals had ended up in the Dhegyar Protectorate…not that you had anything to do with that.

Kind of the Colonel to pretend to assume that. Kinder still that he had covered your ass in front of the Kaiser. He still told you to never show up drunk again, or he’d see to it that you and Lieutenant Bartholomeu had plenty of time to socialize.

This was, of course, all relayed to the gravestone. Though this time you heard a voice in response, from behind.

“Who are you even talking to?”

File: lpq_scene32.png (343 KB, 524x900)

343 KB PNG

It was familiar, though the usual effort to disguise its more feminine tones was gone. You turned your head to see Eidan Wolfe- her hair had grown out some, and instead of her uniform she wore a dark blue coat, a golden hued scarf, and tights that clung close to her legs- suffice it to say, she looked much more girlish, though her hairpin was still in its usual place. It also helped that she wasn’t wearing a binder or whatever, as was apparent by her actually having a chest.

“Huh.” You remarked, taken off guard. “I didn’t expect you to find me.”

“It was a real pain in the ass,” Eidan ducked her head into her scarf and muttered, muffled. “Especially since I somehow got here before you did.”

“There was a problem with my papers,” you said, “Got caught in between for a bit, bit of a stint in prison. Turns out the way back’s a lot longer than going out.”

“Well,” Eidan walked up beside you, “As long as you’re alright.” She looked at the headstone. “Douran Dolcherr. He was a friend?” She looked at it a bit more. “…Ah. He died that night. Twenty four years old.”

“Would have been twenty five in a few days.”

“I’m sorry.” Eidan said, flatly.

“He was my best friend, but, well,” you shrugged, “He wouldn’t want me moping for too long, was just how he was.”

Eidan was quiet, then she sniffed loudly, and held her hand up to her eyes. “..Sorry. Just…remembering.” She took a deep breath, and let her hand down, putting it in her pocket again. “…So you’re about the same age?”

“Yep.”

“You don’t look twenty four.”

You made a funny face at that. “Is that a good or bad thing? Am I younger or older looking?” Eidan was nineteen years old, you remembered. A year younger than Linda.

“Well, older, but, that’s not a bad thing, is it?” Eidan was suddenly defensive. “So what? Anyways,” she hooked her arm through yours, “I’ve been waiting a long time. Where are you going to take me today?”
“I’m doing what now?”

“We’re dating,” Wolfe sounded indignant, “You’re my boyfriend. That means we go on dates, like the one you’re taking me on right now.”

“Yeah, I’m aware,” you grumbled. “Sure then, yeah. We’re uh…” you usually had a bit more time to think and prepare on these sorts of things. “We’re going…”

>…to the café. Why not? It was early, and you hadn’t eaten or had coffee yet. After that you could just walk around town.
>…to the trolley park. It was quaint, cozy, full of cruddy fried food and other amusement park stuff. A small Riesenrad with cars to make out in, the works.
>How about to the airfield? You could introduce her to the star pilot Linda Falkenstein, maybe?
>…nowhere. I don’t recall being your boyfriend. I was thinking more like a one night stand. Still up for that?
>Other ideas?

File: shrugguy.jpg (104 KB, 449x642)

104 KB JPG

>>3303470
>…to the café. Why not? It was early, and you hadn’t eaten or had coffee yet. After that you could just walk around town.

>>3303470
>…to the café. Why not? It was early, and you hadn’t eaten or had coffee yet. After that you could just walk around town.

>>3303470
>…to the trolley park. It was quaint, cozy, full of cruddy fried food and other amusement park stuff. A small Riesenrad with cars to make out in, the works.
This is always the cutest kind of date.

>>3303470
No more weird dreamscape cafe antics please
>…to the trolley park. It was quaint, cozy, full of cruddy fried food and other amusement park stuff. A small Riesenrad with cars to make out in, the works.

>>3303470
>>…to the café. Why not? It was early, and you hadn’t eaten or had coffee yet. After that you could just walk around town.

>>3303470
>…nowhere. I don’t recall being your boyfriend. I was thinking more like a one night stand. Still up for that?

We can help pay her cab fare if she wants.

>>3303470
>>…to the café. Why not? It was early, and you hadn’t eaten or had coffee yet. After that you could just walk around town.

>>3303470
>…to the café. Why not? It was early, and you hadn’t eaten or had coffee yet. After that you could just walk around town.

Undead.

>>3303529
>>3303550
>>3303634
>>3304153
Coffee and biscuits

>>3303582
>>3303616
Ferris Wheels and Funnel Cakes

>>3303748
International Travel for Booty Call

Writing, then.

“…to the café,” you decided, “It’s only, what, eight? Have you eaten yet? Had coffee? Had more coffee?” You would have been alright with the trolley park down the line, too, but that was practically an all day expedition- if Eidan was the sort of girl that didn’t like amusement parks, then you’d be shit out of luck. Coffee and a walk was at least reliable and flexible.

Eidan blinked at you, like she was expecting something different. “Oh. Sure, that sounds good.”

“You’ve been here a bit, yeah?” you asked, leading her out of the graveyard, her arm still wrapped around yours, “Any place catch you?”

“Hmm.” Eidan thought aloud, “Yeah. But I want to know where you go. I’m find being by myself, but I don’t like going out alone to places, if you get what I mean. Makes me feel even lonelier if I have to tell every place that I’m not waiting for somebody.”

“Hey, you were waiting for somebody, weren’t you?” you teased.

Eidan snorted. “Well, duh, but there’s no place that lets you hang out for days.”

“So you’ve been staying in a hotel, I presume?”

“Yeah.” Eidan pointed to the north, “About six or seven blocks that way.”

“What are the chances we go back there tonight?”

“Mmf.” Eidan drove her fist into your side, prompting a cough from you, “Jerk.”

“I was kidding, honey,” you reached a hand over and stroked her head, “I’m not a guy who nags about it if the babe don’t want it.”

“Fine.” Eidan grouched. “…Sorry I hit you.”

“No big deal. I’ll just say something to make up for it.” You reached over, turning some, and lifted part of Eidan’s jacket covering her shoulders and chest. “You’re bustier than I thought you’d be.”

Wolfe glanced down at your hand, frowning slightly. “That’s good, right?”

“I’m not too picky. It’s the difference between cuts of steak, really. They’re all good. Not really a unique opinion, either. Have you gone out with anybody besides…you know, him?”

Wolfe shook her head.

“I see. Look, just don’t worry about it, alright?” You pinched her cheek, “You’re cute. You don’t have to try too hard.”

“I know I’m cute.” Wolfe muttered.

“That’s the spirit.”

-----

Wolfe had been interested in where you normally went, so you took her; it was in a place you went to during daytime, of course, and especially in the mornings. The Hot Pot was like the sea; it rose and fell in bustling, and depending on what you were in the mood for, you had to get there at specific times. The reason for this was twofold; it opened a lot earlier than other shops like it, but its opening hours weren’t when the bakers actually began producing for the day. That was later, actually a decent bit after the other places had opened, but Madam Hot Pot’s recipes made people save room nevertheless, and once it was the general time for the baked goods to be ready, that was when the flood started.

“You decide ahead of time what you’re going there for. It’s all good, but if you’re not arriving at the right time,” you explained to Wolfe, “It’s not gonna happen.” You looked at your wristwatch. “It’ll be a bit. Sitting around in there’s not so bad, they’ll put the radio to whatever you want if there’s not too many people in.” You pointed it out as you approached. “See that place stuck in the wall, coffee pot sign?”

“Oh, I tried going there a couple days ago.” Wolfe said, “It was too crowded and the wait was too long, so I left.”

“The timing’s all important. Most people keep it secret so that things stay the same. Lucky you’re here with me, huh? Oh, yeah, how much money do you have on you?”
Wolfe furrowed her brow. “Enough. Why?”

“Because this place isn’t cheap, and I am. You’ll treat me, right?”

Wolfe glowered at you. “Sure. I will.”

“I was kidding, again.”

“Well I wasn’t.” Wolfe said testily as she stepped forward and dragged you along, though you caught pace with her again quickly. You hadn’t even had to peer pressure her into it; they usually caved when you said other girls had bought food for you, but Wolfe was taking the initiative here. Good for you, especially since your pockets would be light after buying drinks for Dhegyars anyways.

The Hot Pot was a new establishment, with trendy décor that some would call kitschy instead, but that was hardly anything you knew enough about to say whether it was really one way or the other. The radio played smooth, snappy jazz, the sort where only the instruments sang. You thought it was alright; apparently it was inspired from genres across the sea, with the tunes brought over by sailors, and then given its own local spin. You’d heard some of the original stuff; it was a bit more morose and sad than what was on right now. Apparently the musicians of the Reich preferred a more upbeat tune. So did you.

The barista immediately greeted you as you walked in, from behind the counter bar. “Good morning, mister Roth-Vogel!” Your scar made you recognizable- apparently, you’d heard, you’d gotten some fame from the Halmeggia operation, but the people around here knew you from before that. You didn’t know this guy’s name, but then, he’d never introduced himself, either. He just knew you. “New girl?” he looked from you to Wolfe, “Careful, you’ll want to dig your claws in. He’s been in here with more different gals than I care to count.” To you, once more. “The usual?”

“Yeah, yeah,” you said, then thought a second, “Actually, a sec. Get me the other usual, too.”

“Oh, ‘course.” The barista’s expression was a bit solemn for that, but he smiled again as he looked to Wolfe. “What about you, then? Just ask, I’ll say if we have something like it.”

Eiden sprang to attention. “Oh. Do you have crepes, then?”

“Strawberry, Bluebe-“

“Strawberry.” Eidan interrupted.

“With cream?”

Did Eidan just glance to her waist? “…No. A cappuccino, too.”

“Got it.”

“The hell’s a cappucino?” you asked.

“Espresso with steamed cream.” Eidan answered.

“Oh, cream, not milk.” The barista corrected his writing quickly. He rattled off the list of items you’d ordered, then your total. You gestured to Eidan, who grumbled as she dug out her wallet and counted out Reichsmarks.

“This place really does have upscale prices,” Eidan grouched after she paid, “The food around here’s more expensive as is.”

“It is?” you asked, “I guess it would be cheaper in Halmeggia, with it being grown there.”

“Yeah, but the prince increases just feel weird.”

You shrugged. “Never felt like a problem, haven’t heard like from anybody I’ve known, even if they weren’t well to do. Guess we get paid more, too. Government aid, too.”

The radio had moved on to another song with an abundance of brass, as you guided Eidan to a proper place. “You want to be at the bar, not in a booth,” you said, “You can get their attention better if you don’t like the song.”

“But I like this song.” Eidan said.

“Maybe not the next one,” you mumbled. “’sides, this is cozier than a booth. Closer, instead of being separated by a table.”

>You’re at the café with Eidan Wolfe. What do you want to talk with her about? Or plan to do later?
>Other things always an option.

>>3305997
>What do you want to talk with her about?
What she did for fun before this whole war broke out.

>Or plan to do later?
Based on what we learn above we can do something related to it.

>>3305997
Let's go with this >>3306074

>>3306074
+1

>>3305997
Is she ok with the way Halmeggia is turning out in the wake of the war or does she think it's going down a bad path?

>>3305997
What was the rest of the war like for her, how's Gunmetal holding up, is she wearing panties at the moment, her hobbies. Usual gentlemanly small talk.
As for things to do, maybe go to the hospital and see how Bart is doing?

Slowest boy update speeds.

>>3306074
>>3306254
>>3306361
What did you do for fun? Let's do that later.

>>3306614
Word of home

>>3306703
What did you you do, how's the family, are you wearing underwear(?).

Writin then

“So what did you do for fun? Hobbies and the like. Before you were cross dressing, I mean.” You asked Eidan.

“Cross dressing.” Eidan rolled her eyes. “Well, I mean, I was in the army. I’m not anymore, I don’t…have any reason to, anymore, and the jig is up anyways. Can’t fudge being a man any longer with current papers and info. But, I liked…shooting, I guess. Even way back, I liked hitting things with a slingshot. The bane of pigeons and squirrels. Then I grew up and got familiar with guns. I also like swimming, running, lifting weights…I had to build up strength to even try to pass off being a guy, and it turns out, I liked doing that. Made things easy. I’ve sort of fallen off of that, though…other things were occupying me and all that.”

The Westbuchtr prison had had a few amenities to keep in shape; Fallschirmjäger had stricter physical requirements, though, so you weren’t allowed to fall off. At least not for long. Right now you were taking notes internally; not many women you ever knew when to the gym, it didn’t really seem like a place you should take Eidan later, anyways.

“You shot animals with slingshots?” you followed on that, “You were quite a delinquent, huh.”

“Well, I stopped after…well, I met Aidan.” Eidan said defensively, “I got into trouble a lot, yeah. Especially after my mom and dad broke up, it helped me feel better, and I never got punished for it as much as I should have. There’s just a sort of good feeling that comes from breaking things. It didn’t last though, especially in the army. Didn’t want to draw attention to myself.”

“Then you did the right rascally thing and joined a rebellious movement against the state.”

“…Yeah, guess I did.” Eidan admitted, grimacing.

“So you like running and swimming?” you asked further, “Sort of outdoors-y, then?”

Eidan nodded. “I do like being outside. I like looking at places. I know that seems a bit dumb, but I like seeing places and thinking about the different ways they’re all, I don’t know, pretty? Exploring and all that. I’d have liked to be a photographer, but I don’t have a camera. Looking through binoculars is nice. I’d like to go to some mountains someday and just look out over everything.”

“That sounds like it’d be quite a time.” You agreed. “You don’t have a camera, though? Your father never bought one for you?” you asked. Personal cameras weren’t cheap, but neither were cars, after all. They were certainly much cheaper than you heard they once were. “Seems like something he’d do.”

Eidan hesitated. “…He did. I had one…but I got mad, and I broke it. I never asked for another one.” She stared morosely at the counter. “I didn’t want to ask dad to replace something that I busted.”

“I see.” Personal misfortune aside, it was coming together. Scenery, not even a particular sort; maybe the park? A museum with landscapes? She liked the majestic. “Any particularly nice looking spots back in Halmeggia?”

“Yeah. The Delamil Castle was really beautiful, but now…well, you know. It’s the same way for a lot of places that used to be pretty. The grass is growing over, but the trees are still broken, the land is still scarred from shell holes, there are still ruined homes and buildings, empty villages…” Eidan seated her head in her hands and her shoulders sagged. “Thinking about it makes me not want to go home. So much has been…ruined. It won’t be the same again.”

It was tempting to ask her how the rest of the war went for her, but you doubted that Gunmetal Wolfe would have let her into the front again. Eidan didn’t seem to find it a pleasant subject at all either, understandably, so you held off on that, and instead asked about her father. “So how’s pop doing? I heard in the news that your people wanted him to be the dictator, and he turned down the job.”

“Yeah.” Wolfe confirmed, lifting her head from her hands again and resting them on the counter. “The Defense Council wanted him at the top, because of how popular he is. Then they wanted him as Marshall of the Armed Forces. He kept saying no, but they won’t stop bothering him. I think the war just made him really tired. I don’t know if he was able to be a good father growing up, since mom left him over being too focused on the army, but I know he was really devoted to keeping the people of Halmeggia safe. So having to kill so many of them…I think it just took it out of him, but that isn’t any good for the Defense Council.”

The Defense Council, of course, was the name of Halmeggia’s current ruling body. Edelina, now Queen, was officially the monarch after her coronation, but she remained in the Reich. Meanwhile the Grossreich’s occupational forces that maintained order held sway over the country alongside the militarists’ Defense Council, with the Aristocratic Union knitted into the state by way of interactions with the Reich occupation. It was honestly a mess just from the sound of it- and you wanted Wolfe’s opinion on that too.

“Are you alright with how your country’s turning out?” you asked, “In the wake of the war? Or do you think it’s going a bad way?”

Wolfe sighed, and blew a breath up her face in an exasperated sputter. “I suppose I can’t complain too much. The side I joined won, after all. But there’s no more democracy, no more vote, I don’t know much about politics but I don’t think it’s good that the Defense Council isn’t planning on putting things back the way they were. It’s like what the AUSC planned on doing, except instead of Aristocracy it’s members of the military.”

“They’ve accepted the coronation of Queen Edelina.” As you said that, your food and drink came; you thanked the barista as he swept over, gave you your things, then moved on to help prepare for the flood of customers that you knew would be arriving soon.

“Yeah, well,” Eidan seemed very dismissive of such, “She’s not much a queen if she’d not even reigning in our country, is she? She agreed to hand over so much to the Council that she may as well be a figurehead. If I were her I’d have at least used the Kaiser to put pressure on them. Prince Alexander would have done that. My dad should have stepped up, but he was afraid of making me a target. Should have done it anyways.” Eidan shook her head. “At least the fighting’s over and the Revolutionaries are gone, even if ex-Revolutionaries and people suspected of sympathizing with them are being thrown in jail. People they call that, at least. It’s pretty obvious that a lot of people that’s being done to aren’t Revolutionaries at all; they’re just guilty of not having the right attitude about how the new rulers are doing their job.” She picked up her cappuccino and sipped at it.

“Hm.” You nodded steadily. “Interesting.” You gave a cheeky smirk for your next query. “So, are you wearing panties?”

Wolfe choked on her drink, coughed roughly, spluttered, and then look up and blinked at you. “What.” She turned towards you, “The hell sort of question is that?”

“A perfectly valid one.”

Wolfe’s eyes went to the ceiling. “Anyways. I want to know what you think.”

“About whether you’re wearing panties or not?”

“No. About Halmeggia’s political thingamajig.” She looked sideways. “Also about the other thing. I’m trying to figure out what you even mean.”

>I’m a military man. Sometimes I think we’d do better than the Parliament, sure, but then, the Kaiser was an army man too so I can’t complain. Maybe it’s what Halmeggia needs.
>Can’t help but feel that, as much as I’m sure we both hate the Revolutionaries, what they were fighting against ended up happening, and that’s not a good thing. Though I guess that’s their fault.
>The country’s under occupation. The petty politics by whoever hardly matter, I think; I’m thinking Halmeggia’s just going to become another protectorate the way things are going.
>Other?
Also
>You didn’t wear them in the army, right? I thought maybe you’d gotten so used to briefs that you still have them now.
>I know those sorts of tights. You wear normal underwear and you’re going to be showing some serious panty lines. Thought you should be aware.
>It’d be pretty sexy if you weren’t, is all. So are you, you vixen?
>Other?

>>3307667
>The country’s under occupation. The petty politics by whoever hardly matter, I think; I’m thinking Halmeggia’s just going to become another protectorate the way things are.
>You didn’t wear them in the army, right? I thought maybe you’d gotten so used to briefs that you still have them now.going.

>>3307667
Backing this >>3307677

>>3307667
>It’d be pretty sexy if you weren’t, is all. So are you, you vixen?
>The country’s under occupation. The petty politics by whoever hardly matter, I think; I’m thinking Halmeggia’s just going to become another protectorate the way things are going.

>>3307677
+1
By the way what happened to our good friend Alterwald/Von Neubaum?

>>3307733
+1

>>3307677
>>3307727
>>3307883
Hidden crossdressing

>>3307733
>>3307884
Going commando

Vote all around for Halmeggia is theorizing that it'll just end up a protectorate, meanwhile.

>>3307883
>By the way what happened to our good friend Alterwald/Von Neubaum?

Reinhold has as much interest in finding out as he has knowledge of such. However, I can add a section for him if wanted. He's alive.

>>3308420
Sure thing Tanq.

The funnier question had to be answered first. It’d be pretty sexy if you weren’t wearing any panties was what you briefly thought about saying, but your original point was an actual question, if one that could be humorously taken several ways…maybe you shouldn’t have distracted yourself by thinking about Eidan not wearing any bottoms, because the lack of haste in your answer was clearly making your date suspicious.

“Nobody wears panties in the army.” Not on the front, anyways. “I figured maybe you’d gotten so used to briefs from however long you were disguising yourself that you kept on with that.”

“I mean, that wasn’t so bad,” she looked down at her thighs and leaned back, “…I mean, I’m more than happy to go back to dressing like a woman, under and over. It’s such a relief to not have to bind my chest anymore.” She pushed her hands on her breasts to illustrate, “Month after month of getting smashed down, barely a break for them…I’m glad they’re as tough as the rest of me. They get sore.”

“You’re better now, right?” Only an idiot would go for the unintended bait there.

Wolfe nodded, but her eyes were still on her chest, like she had to be sure of something. “Yeah. It’s been a few weeks, after all. I could take the binding off after being stuffed in a bunker.” The way Wolfe was going on about her tits couldn’t help but provoke curiosity; but you were enough a gentleman to actually address her other question.

“As for Halmeggia, I dunno if the petty politics between whoever really matters. The country’s under occupation. I’m thinking the way things are going Halmeggia’s going to just become another protectorate.”

Not that that would mean much with the current state of the protectorates, but there was precedent for such to be reversed; for the Reich to recentralize, in which case Halmeggia would be gobbled up in the process. Though that wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing, you thought to yourself…

“Are you sure?” Wolfe almost sounded hurt. Though as she went on, you realized it was actually concern. Wariness. “The Guardians of Halmeggia place self-determination above all else, and drive for what will help that. Self-sufficiency, independence, even from the Reich…”

“No offense,” you felt the need to point out, “But even Halmeggia before couldn’t fight the Reich. They’d have to be silly to intend on that. Their own country nearly ripped itself apart, and the damage is fresh.”

“I heard some people mouthing off that that might be an option,” Wolfe was resigned, “But I hear your Protectorates don’t like the Kaiser much. I’m just afraid that if people are trying to push things in the way you say, it’ll end up awful for everyone. Again. Except even more people are hurt for it.”

You shrugged. “I suppose we’ll have to trust the Kaiser to handle it. Not much we can do about it. There’s a reason everybody thinks his majesty Henrik’s incredible, after all. He and his guys pulled the Reich back from the brink, made it fearsome, rich again. Had to knock some guys over to do it, I hear, but maybe that’ll turn out to have been worth it.” You couldn’t help but still feel some sympathy for the raven haired noble that you had met that distant month ago. “Faelinn and Felbach were retaken. Halmeggia’s been wrecked, but it’s still in the control of Halmeggians, at least, and not a bunch of dirty stinking Vitelians. We’ve not been given a reason to believe the Kaiser and his cabal can’t handle this.”

Eidan stared at the counter, and touched a finger to her lip. “I hope for all of us that you’re right.” She looked over to you next, “Maybe the Kaiser’s pretty great, but I think you shouldn’t discount his famous troops.” She stroked a hand across your shoulder, “Don’t think I’ve forgotten that you saved my life. More than once. Done so many favors for me.” She sat back and let her arm back on the counter, exuding determination. “I’ll pay it all back and more.”

“You can start by eating that before it gets cold,” you pointed to Eidan’s crepes, “I mean, unless you don’t want ‘em.”

“Oh! Crud, yeah,” Eidan started stabbing at the crepe, but after she’d taken but two bites of it, she frowned, and then her eyes went dull. “…You know, for all my talk, for all I’ve done, what I want to do…I’ve changed from who I was already, and I don’t know if I can go back. If this new Eidan can do what I’ve said I wanted to. I’ve killed people in cold blood, Reinhold.” She twisted her fork in the crepe, and strawberry syrup seeped out; she stabbed idly at the pastry, biting the side of her lip as each thrust punctuated a set of words. “I wonder if I’m a monster, because I want to forget, or because I can’t.”

“Well, if you’re a monster,” you pet Eidan’s head, “I dunno what the hell I am.”

“…That’s a good point, actually,” Eidan got some energy back, and looked at you again, “You’ve been in…how many wars? I read a newspaper article saying you were in two before. This can’t be new to you. How should I deal with this? It’s been a month, and sure, it’s better, but…” She looked sideways and leaned on her hand, sinking and slumping. “What’s left there, it feels like it’ll stay…forever.”

>A month’s not necessarily long enough. Maybe it won’t ever go away, like you said, but you can have enough good times to make that dark spot get more and more tiny. All you need is time.
>It’s fine that you’re freaked out, but if this thing turns you into a wreck, that’s another body on the pile. I’m sure we can agree there’s already too many of those, yeah?
>I can’t tell you how to deal with these sorts of things, honey. Our brains work different. Either you figure it out or you don’t, but I do know a few things that help block it from the mind. Alcohol and dancing, which you clearly need plenty of.
>Other?
Also-
>Suggest things to do for midday. Your evening is occupied by having to go and buy a couple of descendants of nomadic tribal conquerors drinks. Whether or not you bring Wolfe to this is up to you.

-----
“Lieutenant Edwin Von Newbaum. Your report, if you will.”

“What is there to report? I lacked the resources to make a difference as it turns out. Not for lack of trying. Perhaps basing your expectations off of Von Tracht and Mittelsosalia was what they call less than intelligent.”

“Daring of you to say that to myself. However, it was a calculated move. Certainly, you had less resources available. You are more talented than your former commander.”

“I’m so incredibly glad that the sliver of difference between our talents was noticeable.”

“Your sarcastic humility has no place. You consistently scored much higher marks both in exercises and in testing. Yet you failed in the objectives presented to you.”

“I’m not about to bear that responsibility solely upon my shoulders. That would be dumb. I have done my best to surround myself with more useful people than he has, but I suppose my circles alone were not enough. For that I lost a pleasurable pet. I will admit my huntress may have, in the end, been inferior to his. Perhaps I can borrow his; I have lost mine. She may be uglier, but it’s not like she’s lost her youth.”

“…”

“Hey. Don’t glower at a Von Neubaum such as you do now. Unless you’re trying to act as unbecoming as you look. I will not judge.”

“The mission, Lieutenant. An aside about whom next to draw into your scandalous harem was not requested.”

“I will own up to my failures where they are present, but I am no dog. I did not have elite troops. I did not have a friend in the ruler, and I did not have Loch. The Aristocratic Union is far from destroyed; the Reich’s elite have departed. I may be able to yet cause some trouble.”

“No. You will return to Strossvald; if you would like to redeem yourself, we will have another assignment for you. Your compatriot Von Walen requires assistance. Your group will join his in Plisseau.”

“Now that is embarrassing. Not that Von Walen requires assistance. That is expected. But that I’m being relegated to his backup. What a pain.”

“Would you rather be instructing Netillian conscripts with Von Tracht and Von Metzeler?”

“That sounds like the most fun I’ll ever have. Yes, please, send me off so I can hang around with drunken Twaryians as well.

“…”

“Maybe I was unclear. My answer. Certainly not. I have some measure of pride. Eclipsing Von Walen will be simple enough, so long as I receive support at least half proportionate to the mission’s importance. Hm. Could it be arranged for me to receive the m/32 tank that Von Tracht was using? He is not currently using it, I hear.”

“That is impossible, I am afraid. It is being personally held under the authority of the Von Blum family. We cannot demand it nor seize it.”

“Bugger. I suppose what’s best on offer will have to do. I can’t wait to have best pick of a lemon lot.”
-----

>>3309258
>>A month’s not necessarily long enough. Maybe it won’t ever go away, like you said, but you can have enough good times to make that dark spot get more and more tiny. All you need is time.
>Alcohol and dancing help too.

Well she likes majestic vistas right? You know what has great views? Riding inside a plane. Let's go meet with Linda and introduce her to Eidan. Mostly cause I'm a shit that wants to see the fallout.

But if people aren't into that we could take her gliding? It is pretty cold looking though.

>>3309258
>>A month’s not necessarily long enough. Maybe it won’t ever go away, like you said, but you can have enough good times to make that dark spot get more and more tiny. All you need is time.
>Suggest things to do for midday.
Is there some sort of beautiful historic building we can take her to see? Maybe one with a high tower or roof that provides a view of the city?

>>3309377
Although I agree that would be entertaining to see I think it's in Reinhold's best interest that we avoid the TomboyBowl at all costs.

>>3309258
>>A month’s not necessarily long enough. Maybe it won’t ever go away, like you said, but you can have enough good times to make that dark spot get more and more tiny. All you need is time.
>>It’s fine that you’re freaked out, but if this thing turns you into a wreck, that’s another body on the pile. I’m sure we can agree there’s already too many of those, yeah?
>>3309377
Yikes. Knowing both of them I'm I wouldn't be surprised if they got into a fight...

>>3309324
Also nice to see the IO being dicks as usual. Though honestly the way things went it's not like things went particularly badly from a Strossvalder PoV since the Reich ultimately couldn't achieve its main objective plus now they're having to spend resources occupying the damn place.

>>3309258
>A month’s not necessarily long enough. Maybe it won’t ever go away, like you said, but you can have enough good times to make that dark spot get more and more tiny. All you need is time.

>>3309258
>A month’s not necessarily long enough. Maybe it won’t ever go away, like you said, but you can have enough good times to make that dark spot get more and more tiny. All you need is time.

>Suggest things to do for midday. Your evening is occupied by having to go and buy a couple of descendants of nomadic tribal conquerors drinks. Whether or not you bring Wolfe to this is up to you.

We know any good hiking trails with great views?

I'm up, but I won't be writing for a bit, so voting's still open in case anybody wants to and hasn't.

>>3309377
Reinhold does know that it wouldn't be a good idea to show Eidan to Linda; whether he does so anyways is up for debate, though. While he can probably get a flight up (he actually can fly a plane, even if he's quite out of practice and not physically qualified for fighters) as a favor, getting a military glider off the ground for this sort of thing isn't really something he can ask for- there's a limit to how much even somebody who's gotten some fame can screw around with Colonel Talmeier's gear.

>>3309681
>Is there some sort of beautiful historic building we can take her to see? Maybe one with a high tower or roof that provides a view of the city?

There are a few. The city isn't Zeissenburg (its name hasn't been particularly relevant thus far, but it's Marnental) but it is decently aged and cultured. Though some of the new construction is higher. If this line of thinking is supported then I can give a list of locations. Or really, just give that along with the other things too.

>>3309751
>Though honestly the way things went it's not like things went particularly badly from a Strossvalder PoV since the Reich ultimately couldn't achieve its main objective plus now they're having to spend resources occupying the damn place.

This is true! Of course, presumably, the IO would have preferred that the dominant faction were the Aristocracy rather than the Militarists, but they'll have to take what they can get. Considering what was invested, they really should have seen this as a satisfactory result, but one would suppose they tried to be both greedy and stingy at the same time...

>>3310358
>We know any good hiking trails with great views?

The city and its surrounding areas are pretty flat. Maybe a ways out you could find woods, but not much in the way of elevated scenery. You'd have to take a train/plane elsewhere.

You put your hand on Wolfe’s head and rubbed it, stroking your fingers on her. “Easy there, honey. Even a month’s not necessarily long enough. Maybe it won’t ever go away, like you said, but you can have enough good times to make that dark spot get more and more tiny. All you need is time. Until then,” you grabbed her around her waist and pulled her near off her seat, “Drinking and dancing help some.”

“…You’ll stick with me, then?” Wolfe asked.

Well, that was…an interesting inference. “Aren’t I starting things off right away? What reason would I have to drop you? I might be bad but I’m not that nasty.” Of course, while you said this, you couldn’t help what Linda had said that month ago back in Halmeggia, after you had struck her…then kissed her after. “Rein. I…I’ll never stop waiting, but…after this…I’d like to not wait much longer.” How long, you wondered, would you keep her waiting?...Would Eidan still be around when Linda tired of waiting? Or would she heal and part ways?

…Best to just get back to that at a later point.

Wolfe, for her part, had put her eyes to the floor and pursed her lips. “…It’s so strange feeling. I thought that I’d be with Aiden for…well, the rest of my life. Now I’m here. I’ve never thought this could happen, yet here I am.” She shifted against you, dropping her head on your shoulder, “But what else can I do? It’s either this, or be alone. And I don’t want to be by myself.”

“I’m sure he wouldn’t want that either.” You said. You touched one of your fingers to Eidan’s hairpin. “Did he give you this?”

“Mhm.” Eidan’s eyes flicked up to your hand, “It’s not really fancy or anything, but it was a nice gift. He said that I looked cute with it.”

“He was right.” You poked Eidan on her forehead, then her nose. “C’mon. Your crepes. If you don’t eat then your boobs shrink.”

“No they don’t.” Eidan said crossly, “Anyways, you haven’t started yours either.”

“I lose my appetite if I see a lady starving.”

“Fine,” Eidan scooted back onto her chair and started poking at her breakfast again, “You’d better start soon, though. You’ve ordered for two, it looks like.”

“I did order for two.” You said, “See how it’s in a box and paper cup? Anyhow, I don’t like to finish before ladies often, but I can out-eat any dainty little woman any day of the week. Hurry up or I’m stealing that right off your plate.”

“You don’t like to finish before ladies..?” Eidan squinted at you.

“You’ll find out later.” How much later was up for debate.

-----

“We’re going back to the graveyard?” Eidan noticed the direction you were heading, holding your hand as you walked. She carried your paper coffee cup for you, as you carried the food baggy in your other hand. “…an offering?”

“Yeah.” You said, carrying the extra breakfast and coffee. “I dunno if it works the same way in Halmeggia…you know about the Cathedra? How big is it in Halmeggia?”
“That’s more a Vitelian thing,” Wolfe said, “Plenty follow the Cathedra still, mostly if they’ve got Vitelian ancestry, but it’s definitely not a big thing. Why?”

“Well, you know how it is,” you explained to Wolfe as you passed by more than a few on their way to line up at The Hot Pot; you knew the look of those on their way there even if you were a few blocks away. “Kaiser Alexander uprooted the Church of the Judge wherever he went, so all its shit reformed the Cathedra back west. Before that, the church usually handled graveyards. That building by the graveyard? A steeple. It’s not handled by the state, so it’s seen better days, but some traditions have kept around. They house homeless, and offerings to the dead are donated to these people. Dolcherr told me about this once; apparently he was told that by a guy who used to be homeless, liked the idea. So I leave this at his grave, his spirit’s satisfied, then some lucky hobo gets to eat something nicer than swill.”

“That is pretty nice.” Eidan said. “Speaking of churches…have you heard of something called the Executioner Cult?”

That made you scrunch up your face involuntarily. “The hell is that? Sounds creepy.”

“There were a few influential people in the Militarists who spoke of it,” Eidan told you, “Apparently it’s based off some old writings, that the Cathedra declared out of canon a long time ago. The Judge determines our fates, weighs our sins, calls those whom we have wronged, and if we’re particularly bad, according to this cult, this opposite yet equal entity to the Judge called the Executioner…some call it Death, or something similar, but whatever its name, it takes you away.”

“To where?”

Eidan shrugged. “Depends on who you ask. Anyways, it was getting some traction, because, I guess, a lot of people are resentful.” She looked on ahead, “I was getting resentful too, I guess.”

“Oh dear. Are you a convert?” you teased.

“I did ask about it. But I didn’t even know who I’d be angry with. I didn’t see who did it; it could have been anybody. Am I really going to try and have death take everybody because I’m unhappy?” Eidan said, “That and…I’ve certainly wronged many people. People who didn’t deserve what I brought down on them, maybe. I’m sort of glad I never found out some things.” You felt Eidan shiver. “Sorry. It feels good to just let all this spill out.”

“It’s alright,” you smiled at Eidan; you were glad to see her charmed, as her cheeks turned rosier and she smiled back. “Remember, we’ve still got plenty to do today alone.”

“Ah.” Eidan nodded to herself, then looked back to you. “Where are we going next, then?”

You had a few ideas. Talking with Eidan revealed that she liked scenic views, high places, pretty landscapes. You knew of a few places that fit the bill. It was a clear day, too; good for flying, but…you wouldn’t dare bring Eidan before Linda, would you? Especially not to ask her to fly the both of you around.

So that probably wasn’t an option. However, there was…

>…a quick train ride over to the hillocks at the outskirts of the city, where the vast “gardens” of a noble had once been groomed. It was away from most of civilization, but the trails were clear and the air clean and sweet. Maybe not that high, but it was picturesque. Also, the isolation meant that perhaps you could get up to a few naughty distractions.
>…The top of the Pillars Building, a new construction, and certainly the highest building in the city. The roof was open; though it didn’t have much for distactions.
>…the airfield. You didn’t have to demand that Linda do this, did you? Surely you could tug on some strings to get a few favors, to get to fly up with Eidan…
>Other ideas?
Also, since it wasn’t really answered;
>Take Eidan drinking in the evening
>Leave Eidan in her hotel room

Sorry for the lack of updates today, my prime time was cut into by a favor. There'll be a favor tomorrow(today, really, but...) too, but hopefully I'll have more out then than Saturday.

>>3313621
>>…The top of the Pillars Building, a new construction, and certainly the highest building in the city. The roof was open; though it didn’t have much for distractions.
>Leave Eidan in her hotel room

>>3313621
>…a quick train ride over to the hillocks at the outskirts of the city, where the vast “gardens” of a noble had once been groomed. It was away from most of civilization, but the trails were clear and the air clean and sweet. Maybe not that high, but it was picturesque. Also, the isolation meant that perhaps you could get up to a few naughty distractions.
>Take Eidan drinking in the evening

>>3313621
>>>…The top of the Pillars Building, a new construction, and certainly the highest building in the city. The roof was open; though it didn’t have much for distractions.
>>Leave Eidan in her hotel room

>>3313621
>>…a quick train ride over to the hillocks at the outskirts of the city, where the vast “gardens” of a noble had once been groomed. It was away from most of civilization, but the trails were clear and the air clean and sweet. Maybe not that high, but it was picturesque. Also, the isolation meant that perhaps you could get up to a few naughty distractions.
>Take Eidan drinking in the evening

>>3313621
>…a quick train ride over to the hillocks at the outskirts of the city, where the vast “gardens” of a noble had once been groomed. It was away from most of civilization, but the trails were clear and the air clean and sweet. Maybe not that high, but it was picturesque. Also, the isolation meant that perhaps you could get up to a few naughty distractions.
I think a pretty view of the countryside is better than just the cityscape and surrounding land.
>Leave Eidan in her hotel room

Why even have Linda as an option? You NTRhound.

>>3313621
>>…The top of the Pillars Building, a new construction, and certainly the highest building in the city. The roof was open; though it didn’t have much for distactions.
>>Leave Eidan in her hotel room

>>3313621
>>…The top of the Pillars Building, a new construction, and certainly the highest building in the city. The roof was open; though it didn’t have much for distactions.
>Take Eidan drinking in the evening

If I don't get this done by the time I need to head out (very likely) I'll have this going in the evening. Not ideal I know but it is what it is.

>>3313646
>>3313667
>>3314558
>>3315076
The tallest building!

>>3313657
>>3313747
>>3314347
Countryside!

>>3313646
>>3313667
>>3314347
>>3314558
You're not old enough to drink! Maybe? (No.)

>>3313657
>>3313747
>>3315076
Get this girl some sauce.

Writing then.

>>3314347
It was to avoid Linda. Which maybe wouldn't have been possible, to be fair.

“I’ll tell you where we’re going once we leave the offering,” you told Eidan, though you were pretty sure of where you’d go already. There was the hillocks off to the northeast, which were picturesque, pretty, and isolated; the latter which was good in case you wanted to do more than walk around. However, that required taking a train ride, and maybe you were being cheap, but there was also time to consider. If you went out into the countryside, you bet that you wouldn’t be able to spend too much time out there if you were going to get back in time to go and drink with the Dhegyars like you arranged so long ago. Hopefully Wolfe wouldn’t mind, considering she had just shown up. Unless…you were to take her with you, but something about getting Eidan wasted on your first date with her was sketchy. There was a solid difference between a fling and a date after all. She’d come this far for more, and perhaps, you were willing to indulge that, even if things had never quite worked out like that before.

Dolcherr was left his morning victuals, soon to be passed on to the needy. A graveyard wasn’t necessarily gloomy when one got used to it, but lingering unnecessarily was improper. The dead didn’t want you wasting too much of your time with them, as you saw it. By then, you had decided where you were going.

“See that real tall building there?” you pointed it out to Eidan as you went out the iron graveyard gates, “The one a few stories higher than the others near it? That’s the Pillars building. I hear it was finally finished a few years ago. Some banking magnate built it for their business, but the first few floors are open to the public, as are the highest floors and the roof. It’s sort of like a big market, has an arcade, with coin games and that sort of thing. The roof’s open, and even though it’s a bit empty up there,” A mistake, in your opinion, but plenty a boon since it meant it wasn’t hard to be up there in relative solitude, “It’s got a view f the whole city, even beyond it. Are you interested?”

“I am,” Eidan was certainly pleased with the prospect; “It’s hard not to see it, but I didn’t know it had all that other stuff in there. You said it was only built a few years ago? Has all that stuff been up there that long too?”

“Nah, nah,” you waved a hand, “The business that owns the place opened up a lot of space for people to rent out and do their own business in. It gives them a pretty pfenning, I hear.” You’d taken girls there before. This was not mentioned to Wolfe. “My friends and I went there plenty. It’d be a cinch to show you around.”

“Then what are we waiting for?” Wolfe’s volume increased, and she started tugging you forward, “Hurry up, it’s right there, we both know where it is, what’s the hold-up?”

-----

The Pillars Building had a name with two meanings; the conglomerate itself was called the Pillars, but the design of the place also had its corners encased in segmented columns that stretched ever upwards, mighty as tree trunks for the first few floors then steadily narrowing and braiding as they went up; the stone of the building was speckled pink granite, giving it a gaudy appearance indeed. You hadn’t been to any of Halmeggia’s cities while you were there, but from what you saw of Reichsport at least it didn’t have any buildings as large as the Pillars; she was certainly impressed with the towering structure when you arrived at the bottom of it, as she craned her neck to gawk at how it scraped the sky.

She was tilting backwards, so you pushed on her shoulder, and as she spat and sputtered tipping uncontrollably backwards, you caught her again. “C’mon.” You chortled, “The fun part’s inside. Don’t trip up outside the door.”

The interior of the place was lit up brightly with pale yellow lights, and the first few floors formed rings around a vast space in the center, making the interior seem even larger than the outside. The floors were zig zags of pale and dark wood, while the rest of the interior was a dark stained wood whose varnish sparkled where the light struck it directly. It wasn’t particularly striking décor, but it was much better than a few other places you’d been where the scenery was eye-searingly garish.

Wolfe looked around, clinging to you, like the whole place was looming in ready to eat her. Maybe she just didn’t know where to start; thankfully, you did. With a visit to the local luck measuring device- or, as it was actually advertised, the Lovers Tester. It inhabited the first floor arcade, and a coin in the slot would make the machine start, as soon as two people wrapped their hands around a pair of grips. You were supposed to hold hands with your other hands, and the machine’s description said it measured the “circuit’s” “energy.” That seemed extremely doubtful, but it was all just fun anyways. At least, that’s what you said whenever the piece of crap gave you and a date a shitty result.

When you dragged Eidan over to see it, and gave a brief explanation of it, though, you noticed that she suddenly got real nervous.

“This is a necessity on a first date,” you told her, turning a pfenning over between your fingers, “I don’t know how this thing measures compatibility, but I do know that it’s never steered me wrong.” It had never steered you anywhere, but where was the fun in saying that? “You’re looking pale. What’re you afraid of?”

“Do we have to do this?” Eidan was uneasy as she stared at the gaudy parlor game ringed with colored lightbulbs with various levels of love levels on its backboard.

“It’ll mess up the results if you’re not confident, you know,” you scolded in a mocking manner, as you bent down to feed a coin into the thing, “Here. Squeeze that when I say, and hold my hand like so.”

Eidan followed your directions, but she kept her eyes fixed on the Lovers Tester, staring it down like it was a gallows waiting for her. Maybe she was taking this too seriously…

>Roll three sets of 1d100- then a d3 to pick which one you get.
>After you get the final result…write in your reaction to it. Depending on what it is, Wolfe might need some reassurance. Or a distraction. Maybe boasting will be appropriate.

Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>3317071

As a note, higher is better for this.

Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>3317071

Rolled 22 (1d100)

>>3317071

Rolled 2 (1d3)

>>3317071

>>3317101
>>3317121
Congratulations, it's...okay!
>67

>>3317126
>Response:
"See, it went pretty decently, didn't it?"

>>3317126
"Not a bust, not a fire, but something...normal. Just the two of us, together."

>>3317126
>Response:
"Damn. Only 2 away."

Bout done writing. Update soon.

The little light column went up to just below the big, bright red number seventy out of the one hundred total, signifying that the pairing was ”Spicy,” if you rounded up. It was three below- sixty seven. Eidan was…relieved, certainly, but it was rather clear she was hoping for a nine or a ten from how she didn’t say anything right away. So you broke the quiet instead.

“Damn. Only two off,” you didn’t miss the opportunity for a crude implication.

“Two off?” Eidan asked, sounding concerned.

Never mind that then. “See, it went pretty decently, didn’t it?” you moved along, tapping the back of your finger on the glass screen, “Not a bust, not a fire, but something…normal.”

Eidan still looked at the Lovers Tester with half closed eyes and a small frown. It was almost a cute little pout. “Is normal good?”

“Isn’t it, after what we’ve been through?” You stuck your finger out and poked one of Eidan’s breasts, “A bit more normalcy suits you a lot better at least.”

“Mmf.” Eidan bopped you on the head lightly in response. “It wasn’t that weird. Is there anything here besides this machine that tells you that you’re normal?”

“Oh, sure,” you led her over to another section, “You like pinball? You’ll like pinball.”

-----

“You know,” Eidan said as she yanked on the spring launcher and sent a metal ball shooting around the top loop on what must have been her tenth play, little bells ringing as the ball bounced about obstacles. “I don’t think I’ve asked you what you like to do.”

“We’re doing it right now.” You shrugged. “I’m not picky with how I spend time, though I think I prefer not getting shot at.”

“You have to prefer something.” Eidan’s tone grew a bit more annoyed when the steel ball sank into a low scoring hole.

You tapped your finger on your chin thoughtfully. “I like chatting a lot, I guess. Physical stuff. Flying.”

“You fly?” Eidan’s interest was piqued, “I thought you were a tank commander, not a pilot.”

“Before I was a tank commander, I was a glider pilot. I know how to fly planes too, but my eyes go a bit weak when I’m looking at something far off.” You pointed to your eyes and winked, “So I can’t be a fighter pilot. Went into the glider corps and the paratroopers for what I figured was second best. Aerial assault is almost as dashing as dogfighting.”

“Oh.” Eidan said, shifting her weight and peering at your face, “Your vision is weak? I’ve never seen you wearing glasses. Do you wear them?”

“Nah.” You shook your head, “They don’t suit me. Haven’t worn them regularly in years; I don’t even know where the ones I had went.”

“Do you think…I could see you wear some?”

“Why?”

“Well,” Eidan stuck her pinky out and touched it to her lip, “Glasses on a man might…turn me on.”

You smirked. “I’ll see what I can do, then. Hey, finish up your game. If you’re going to ogle me instead of shooting balls I’m gonna play myself a few, and beat the hell out of your scores.”

Eidan gave a nonchalant last shot that still managed to go into a hole that celebrated the ball’s entry with a ring of flashing lights around it, after which you assumed her position before the machine. “Where’d you get that scar?” Eidan asked as you tested out the spring launcher before putting in another pfenning. “Is it from a knife or something?”

“A saber,” you corrected Eidan, “It’s a dueling scar. Sort of. Most people give them to each other on purpose so they look fancy. I want to drop by the hospital later, you’ll see a similar sort of thing on my friend Roland.”

“Yours is different?” Eidan walked over to the side of the machine and leaned slightly over to keep peering at your scar, “Did you not want it?”

“Sorta.” You launched a ball, “I’m plenty proud of it.”

“How did you get it, then?”

“I was defending the honor of a lady.” You said brightly, not going into detail. “Some guy was messing with her, bad, so we had a duel with swords in the middle of the night. He cut my face, I cut open his guts. We called it a win on my part.” You glanced up at Eidan, “Oh, I didn’t kill him. He ended up recovering, though I’m sure it hurt like hell at the time.” The ball went into a low pointer, and you clicked your tongue.

Eidan reached out and drew her finger down the scar on your face. “The lady whose honor you were defending, or whatever. Did she appreciate it?” Her eyes flicked down to your leg, “I know that I thought it was really cool, that you got hurt for my sake.” She caught herself, “Not that you were hurt, I mean, but, that you were fine with it. If your face got scarred…I’d hope that the girl felt the right way about it.”

You felt your lips curve down a bit. Going further meant you’d be telling Eidan about Linda; something you hadn’t done yet. She had no inkling of the complex relationship you and the young Falkenstein shared. You figured she wouldn’t need to know- and Linda wouldn’t need to know about Eidan either. Was that the best idea anymore, though?

>Tell Eidan about Linda.
>Keep your childhood friend out of this. You could lie that the “lady” in question flew the coop.
>Dodge the question with something of your own (What?)
>Other?

>>3317934
>>Tell Eidan about Linda.

>>3317934
>>Tell Eidan about Linda.

>>3317934
>>Tell Eidan about Linda.
Old history staying old.

>>3317934
>>Tell Eidan about Linda.

Back.

>>3317973
>>3318108
>>3318292
>>3318310

Linda's just a friend after all. A desperate, persistent, and stubborn friend. Right?

Writing.

>>3318776
>Right?
Hah no. Reinhold better brace himself cause he's going to get hit by Eidan in just a minute.

>>3318783
I mean it's pretty stupid that he's willing to date Wolfe but not Linda especially when she's the younger one.

>>3318816
You can chalk it up to childhood friend/little sister if Reinhold goes through some mental gymnastics.

There wasn’t much point in hiding it, you supposed. “She felt the right way about it, yeah,” you nodded, and let your head hang off to the side after, “For better or worse. She was Linda Falkenstein, this girl I’ve known since she was real little. Four years younger than me.” You peered at Eidan, “One year older than you. She was fourteen at the time, and I was eighteen.”

Eidan tensed up, but loosened up to the point where she was moreso than before hearing about Linda. “You still hang around each other?”

“She lives here,” you told Eidan, “We lived in the same house even, til after the Fealinn War where I bought my own place.” It wasn’t the biggest place, since it was just an apartment for two at most, but it served for most of your needs. You couldn’t bring broads back to Falkenstein, after all, for more than a few reasons. “We’re…friends.”

“You know what I meant by appreciating, right?” Eidan followed up quickly.

“Yeah. I do.”

“So you’ve dated, right?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

You breathed a long, heavy sigh and turned your eyes upward. “That’s a question with a real complicated answer, and not necessarily a good one.”

Eidan’s lips turned down, but her brow did not sink with anger like you had anticipated. “I really want to be frustrated with that, you know. See, Aiden was somebody like that, to me. Somebody I knew for a really long time, who I trusted, who made sacrifices for me, who I’d do anything for back…” She paced up the pinball machine, then back down it. “I know who Linda Falkenstein is, actually. Saw her name crop up a lot, even outside the papers where it was mentioned. It said she flew the Prince and Princess of Halmeggia out of the country, yeah?”

“Yeah, she did that.”

“Because you told her to, I bet.”

“That’s right.”

“You know she came all that way for you. Right?” Eidan was zeroing in.

“Of course I do.”

“She’s never dated anybody else?” she continued, “Or has she?”

“I’d have heard if she did,” you said, “And, well, no.”

“God.” Eidan shook her head, and leaned on the pinball machine. She was lucky this one didn’t have a tilt detector. “She’s hopelessly in love.” She closed her eyes, “Like I was.” Her eyes flicked open again, “I don’t know why you’re not with her…can I ask?”

“Well,” you leaned on the pinball table as well, “…actually, let’s head someplace else. I don’t want to talk over all this crap.”

-----

The arcade was abandoned, and you both took the elevator up to the highest floors; from there, the roof could be accessed by stairs. As you made your way over to said stairs, you continued your conversation from the arcade.

“Four years isn’t that much when you’re my age, really,” you explained, “but when I was, say, ten? Linda was such a tiny girl. My friends and I were basically taking care of her, I took care of her. Protected her. I can understand why she feels the way she does, but, it doesn’t feel right. She first confessed when she was twelve.” you gave a short laugh to accentuate that, “I mean, what’s a sixteen year old to say to that? Heh…” You scratched your nose awkwardly, stepping along with Eidan. “I always considered her like a sister, you see. A friend. So when this popped up, I thought it was just a temporary thing. It wasn’t.”

“Of course it wasn’t,” Eidan’s voice grew heated, “That scar on your face. Every time she looks at you, I bet, she thinks about how it got there…” she gripped her scarf and wrung it in one hand, “…And she falls in love all over again.”

You didn’t really have much to say to that, but Eidan didn’t really let you respond to it, either.

“Look.” She said, the anger in her tone vanishing, “I’m not saying that you have to be with her. I’m sure you have your reasons. If you don’t want to, then it’s your right to not do it. I’m just worried,” Eidan looped her finger into her scarf and tugged at it, “If…well, if I’m stealing you from somebody. We met by chance. I forced my way into your life as it is now. I like you- I want to get to know you better, I want to see if this turns into…well, something as deep as I had before, but…” she pulled on her scarf harder, “I’m saying, if I have to fight over your heart, I’ll fight it. I want you, and I think you want me. But if I’m just bumping in and setting you off another way, down another trail that you weren’t thinking of going down…” Eidan pulled firmly one last time and looked sternly into your eyes, “Tell me.”

>It’s fine. We can keep doing this- it doesn’t have to be forever. Linda’s told me she can wait.
>I don’t know if I can think of Linda differently, even with what you’re saying, and what I already know. Eventually she’ll see different- and we can stay as friends, but also not be alone either.
>Sorry. I can’t tell you, because I don’t even know myself.
>Other?

>>3318900
>>I don’t know if I can think of Linda differently, even with what you’re saying, and what I already know. Eventually she’ll see different- and we can stay as friends, but also not be alone either.

I may be interpreting this one wrong, but Linda will find somebody else.

>>3318900
>I don’t know if I can think of Linda differently, even with what you’re saying, and what I already know. Eventually she’ll see different- and we can stay as friends, but also not be alone either.

>>3318900
>>Sorry. I can’t tell you, because I don’t even know myself.

>>3318900
>>Sorry. I can’t tell you, because I don’t even know myself.

>>3318900
>Sorry. I can’t tell you, because I don’t even know myself.

>>3318900
>>I don’t know if I can think of Linda differently, even with what you’re saying, and what I already know. Eventually she’ll see different- and we can stay as friends, but also not be alone either.

>>3318900
>>Sorry. I can’t tell you, because I don’t even know myself.

>>3318900
>I don’t know if I can think of Linda differently, even with what you’re saying, and what I already know. Eventually she’ll see different- and we can stay as friends, but also not be alone either.

Not a fan of half measures personally.

>>3318900
>>Sorry. I can’t tell you, because I don’t even know myself.

>>Sorry. I can’t tell you, because I don’t even know myself.
Linda is a good girl

>>3318900
>>Sorry. I can’t tell you, because I don’t even know myself.

>>3318900
>Sorry. I can’t tell you, because I don’t even know myself.

Dead.

>>3318950
>>3318977
>>3319602
>>3319651
Linda is my friend.

>>3318984
>>3319439
>>3319599
>>3319631
>>3319961
>>3320036
>>3320116
>>3320351
After all this time, the only thing I can be certain of is that I still don't know.

Writing, then.

>>3320400
Gotta love indecisiveness in the damn epilogue

>>3320410
Feels like we're back in Panzer Commander already.

>>3320413
Why did you vote for the dumbass option anyways?

Like 1 option is clearly for Linda and the other Wolfe.

I just don't understand why people would pick the third option unless they deliberately wanted to go out on a shittier note.

>>3320425
Didn't look like the Linda option could possibly win.

>>3320438
Ah so the scorched earth policy. My way or the highway. Fuck character arcs if my girl can't win.

You looked back into Eidan’s eyes; in spite of being a rather dusty brown hue, there was energy in them as she tried to stare lightning into your head. “Sorry.” You told her, “I can’t tell you the answer to that, because I don’t even know myself. I’m not really on any trail here, I just bumble around and make my way as I go along. Eventually I’ll end up somewhere, but I forgot my map too far back to go and get it now, if you know what I mean.”

Wolfe frowned, then looked back down and across, stopping in her tracks. “I suppose I can’t say I don’t do the same thing.” She started walking again, “But. I’m not sure if it’s good to wander like that without…a guide, I guess.” She gripped her hand tightly on yours, “…I can be that person. I have somewhere I’ve decided I want to go. Someplace I want to be, that I’ll take you to, if you’ll let me, but I don’t know if I want to be pulling on your ankles while somebody else is trying to pull you by your shoulders…”

“Just saying that I can’t see the future,” you hurriedly elaborated, “If I could then I wouldn’t have to act like I know it all. You’re the one here with me, after all. Is there really anything to be concerned about?”

“I’m not concerned about myself with this.” Wolfe muffled herself in her scarf, “I’m worried about you and her. It hurt more than anything I could imagine when I lost Aiden. I don’t want to give anybody a similar sort of feeling, if I can help it. That’s not to say I don’t want this. That I don’t need this. I just think, after I’ve hurt people by doing things I didn’t bother thinking about, the least I can do is try to make things better.”

“Well, we’re only at the beginning of this metaphorical road, right?” you strode ahead of Wolfe and, stepping backwards, made a mock of a bow and a scrape, “Do let me try my best to please you, my lady.” You cut out the faux flamboyance. “I hate to ask for a bit of patience, but I’m a bit a pain in the ass, if you couldn’t tell. Ha ha.”

“You’re odd,” Wolfe said, “But so am I, I guess. So…I’ll make this work. I’ll force you.”

“Oh, my,” you held your hands up like you were signing for no trouble, please, “Don’t think you’ll have to, honey. I dragged you here, didn’t I? Speaking of.” You reached the stairs to the roof, finally. “C’mon. It’s not misty, so you should see real far.”

-----

The top of the Pillars building was ringed by a wrought iron fence, to prevent both those who wanted to jump off and those stupid enough to tumble off from ruining the pavement nearby. The bars were still plenty wide enough to get a good look through, though besides the view, there were a few benches, a place for smokers to put their ashes and cigarette butts by each one, and a few plant pots whose skinny evergreen bushes had huddled in on themselves in the chill. A few well-dressed men were hanging around up here, chatting about the weather while holding smoldering cigarettes between their fingers. There were usually a few people up here, but it was easy enough to have personal space.

The sky was grey in the way that coming winter tended to make it, but the lack of direct sunlight made this height rather pleasant. The whole city stretched out beneath, and the far off countryside could be made out one way, the airfield and Luftwaffe base in another. A morning train lay at the bottom of a pillar of steam, chuffing its way south and steadily trailing into the distance, a load of passenger cars snaking behind as it went from the city, outwards, itself merely a toy at this distance but its long skyward trail still putting it on a visual map.
Wolfe was transfixed, as the wind ruffled her scarf about, and blew her hair back in wispy strands.

“Do you like it?” you asked.

“I like it a lot.” Wolfe said distantly. “I’ve never been on a plane. Is flying like this? I imagine that if you get too high, you can’t see as much, though.”

“You see more. You can see less too, if you look at it that way. On a day like this, you can fly above the clouds, and once you push through them, it’s like you’ve gone to another world.”

“I’m having trouble even thinking about that. It sounds incredible.” Wolfe looked down at the streets. “Even here is something else. All the people are so small. Everything looks tiny from up here. From down there, everything’s so huge. Maybe this is a more true view of it all, maybe not. It’s scary, but it’s wonderful at the same time.”

Wolfe paused, then began to unwind the scarf from around her neck. “Reinhold? I think…we’re both broken. Something’s happened where we don’t move right anymore, our parts are worn out, bent, rusty, but…” She took her scarf off and held an end in each hand, “I think that’s why…we can make something new together. From the pieces of each of us. That’s what I want to do.” She looped the scarf about your neck, but rather high up, so it was against the back of your head. “You’re not perfect, I’m not either. But together…maybe…”

Wolfe closed her eyes, stood on her toes, and kissed you, pulling the scarf up to the sides of her head. Oh, you understood as her lips touched yours, she was using it to hide what was happening from the potential audience nearby. How modest. How cute. She got in a quick kiss, then drew back a bit, to go in for another at a better angle, yanking you into her, pulling you in with her scarf.

>Return the kiss politely
>Pull Eidan in closer for a proper make out
>Cop a feel
>Other?

>>3320501
>>Pull Eidan in closer for a proper make out

>>3320501
>Pull Eidan in closer for a proper make out
Slobber her knobber

>>3320501
>Pull Eidan in closer for a proper make out

>>3320501
>Return the kiss politely

Frankly, you thought Eidan wasn’t going in deep enough. You wrapped your arms taut around the tomboy and hugged her close to you, practically lifting her off the ground as you placed your hand in the small of her back and pressed her into you.

“Mmm.” Eidan cooed as you wrapped your lips about hers. You elected to pick her up fully, and she surprised you by lifting her now free floating legs up around your torso and wrapping them around your body, crossing them behind your back and holding on to you with her thighs as she dispensed with the scarf modesty and put her arms over your shoulders, as you continued to kiss with increasingly feral abandon, Eidan’s legs holding tighter, and her fingers squeezing into your coat, your hot breath mixing. When you parted, Eidan’s cheeks were bright crimson, her breath was short, and her eyes were heavy with desire; she ran her tongue over her lips, then leaned in and gave your chin a little lick, before biting softly on your lower lip. She then stuck her tongue in your mouth- the tart. She wanted to move on to soul kissing so quickly, huh? Not that you minded surprises like that.

The conversation behind the two of you had stopped. You heard a grumpy voice comment, “Kids these days…”

Wolfe was too distracted trying to twist her tongue around yours to care much. You both spent several minutes wrestling over who got to invade whose mouth before Wolfe surrendered her ground and pulled back, her eyebrows tilted inwards, an half-pleading, expectant expression shadowing her face. It only took a moment for you to parse what she wanted, and rather than her kissing you, you dove in for her lips. You’d have liked to have tilted her backwards, but she wouldn’t unwrap her legs from around your torso.

You spent a good ten minutes macking on each other and over the course of it thoroughly drove the rest of the rooftop loungers away and back down into the Pillars through your energetic indecency. Even when Eidan tilted her chin down, rubbing her nose against yours as you both accepted that you’d had enough, she kept her lower half wrapped around you, her boots still grazing against you.

“Mmmm...er, I’m sorry, if I’m moving too fast for you,” Eidan muttered, embarrassed, “I just…there’s a crater in my heart, and it just feels…so good, to have it weather and grow smaller…but, just tell me if you want to slow down.” Eidan glanced up into your eyes, her brows rising and her wet lips in a pout, “I don’t want to turn this into something worse, just because I’m impatient, because I see a mountain and want to climb it as quick as I can…I've been so used to standing atop the world, that every minute being on the beach is...I don't know.”

>There’s nothing wrong with getting excited, but maybe cool down there a bit. Some things are better savored for longer.
>It’s unseemly to move so quickly, you know. I’d hate for you to seem disreputable because of me…even if it’s all your fault, really. Heh.
>Woah, hold on, honey. Hit the brakes, you’re being weird. I’m no gentleman, but I’m not *that* much a stranger to decency.
>We can go back to my place, if you want. Or yours. No need to worry about going too fast, it’s only one of many stops on a long line, don’t you think?
>You think I’m patient? I’m afraid not. We’re alone up here. Nothing to stop us from going further. Remember when I asked if you were wearing panties? How about we make the answer to that a definite *no* up here..?

>>3320801
>There’s nothing wrong with getting excited, but maybe cool down there a bit. Some things are better savored for longer.

>>3320801
I forgot to write an "Other" in but it's always an option.
>Other

>>3320801
>>You think I’m patient? I’m afraid not. We’re alone up here. Nothing to stop us from going further. Remember when I asked if you were wearing panties? How about we make the answer to that a definite *no* up here..?

>>3320801
>>There’s nothing wrong with getting excited, but maybe cool down there a bit. Some things are better savored for longer.

>>3320801
>You think I’m patient? I’m afraid not. We’re alone up here. Nothing to stop us from going further. Remember when I asked if you were wearing panties? How about we make the answer to that a definite *no* up here..?

>>3320801
>>There’s nothing wrong with getting excited, but maybe cool down there a bit. Some things are better savored for longer.

>>3320801
>>You think I’m patient? I’m afraid not. We’re alone up here. Nothing to stop us from going further. Remember when I asked if you were wearing panties? How about we make the answer to that a definite *no* up here..?

>>3320801
>>We can go back to my place, if you want. Or yours. No need to worry about going too fast, it’s only one of many stops on a long line, don’t you think?

>There’s nothing wrong with getting excited, but maybe cool down there a bit. Some things are better savored for longer.
Lads

>>3320801
>>There’s nothing wrong with getting excited, but maybe cool down there a bit. Some things are better savored for longer.

I'll call the vote here, though I won't be writing for a bit longer due to a game going on.

>>3320808
>>3320838
>>3320954
>>3321237
>>3321295
Calm your tits, lady.

>>3320833
>>3320895
>>3320964
Living dangerously.

>>3321183
This is no place for such business.

Cool-headedness has won out. Desperation is a turn off, don't you know.

A thousand years later, I am writing. Update soon.

“Hey,” you stroked Eidan’s cheek, “There’s nothing wrong with getting excited, but maybe cool down there a bit. Some things are better savored for longer, you know? We just started. Don’t need to rush this like the train is late.”

“Yeah, but,” Eidan pursed her lips, “…Yeah.” She unwrapped her legs from around you and let herself down. “Sorry if I made you uncomfortable.” Her scarf fluttered off of her, but you caught it.

“You’d have to do a bit better than that.” Maybe a few would think somebody who’d killed people would be out of place acting so coquettishly yet nervous; then again, you supposed you and Eidan were similar breeds of stark raving mad. “Here, we can just sit over there and soak in the scenery. Get a few doughnuts on the way down. We take a look round, then I want to show you off to my friend Lieutenant Roland Bartholomeu at the hospital. He got roughed up in that drop about a month ago, but he should finally be out next week.”

“Show me off?” Eidan asked, cocking an eyebrow.

“Sure.” You began winding her scarf back around her neck, “I’m allowed to brag, aren’t I?”

“Hmm.” She made a noise of noncommittal agreement as she sat down, you sitting next to her after.

Once you’d put Eidan’s scarf back on her, she tucked her chin into it again and leaned against your shoulder. No words were shared; sometimes, just quiet was good. Well, quiet as one could get in a city. Far below, there were still motors, car horns, a train whistle from far away, but it was all far below. The only sounds around you were the wind and the chirping of small, round birds that danced around the edges of the building. You checked if Eidan might have dozed off after ten minutes, but she was still watching off in the distance. An airplane passed overhead; a plain twin engine flight, it was likely a mail plane or the like. You found yourself looking towards that instead of the horizon, even if you couldn’t see it through the clouds.

When you checked your wristwatch again, half an hour had passed. “Hey,” you prodded Eidan, who jumped a little, like you’d crept up behind her instead of having her leaning on you. “I’m peckish. Let’s get something fried in fat and covered in powdered sugar.”

“Oh, I’m fine,” Eidan sad, “I don’t need any.”

“I don’t think you understand how this works.” You tapped your watch, “It’s been a while. Aren’t you hungry?”

“I had a lot of sugar earlier.” Eidan started to go on the defensive.

You reached over and pinched her side. “Huh, not seeing where those crepes went.” Wolfe was rather athletic, after all; it happened when you were in the military, even Halmeggia’s. You stood up and took Eidan with you and when you were both on your feet you clapped your hand to her butt, under her coat. “Ah, here they went.”

Eidan drove her heel into your shin as a response. Your reply was to grab the waistband of her panties and yank it upwards. The escalation stopped after she socked you right in the mouth and split your lip.

-----
“One for me and one for the lady,” you requested of the cheap pastry stand as you dabbed at your bloody lip with Eidan’s handkerchief.

“Hey, I know you,” the doughnut man pointed at the scar running down your face, “You were in the news for a while! Cap’n Roth-Vogel, and don’t tell me you aren’t!”

“Now why would I do that?” you grinned at the vendor, “That’s me, alright.”

“I have a few friends in the battalion. Doughnuts are free for Fallschirmjäger.” He glanced to Eidan. “And company. To a point.”

“Kickass,” you said appreciatively.

“You his girlfriend?” the stand owner asked Eidan. She nodded. “Nice catch.”

“She throws a mean right hook too.” You added.

“He deserved it,” Eidan muttered sorely.

“She busted your lip?” the vendor almost laughed, “She’s got some serious edge if she’s got the stuff to deck a paratrooper.” He said this as he dusted a pair of hot doughnuts with a blizzard of powdered sugar, having finished filling each with what looked like cream cheese. They were promptly pushed towards you after being put in wax paper and napkins. “Don’t let them get cold now, you hear?”

“That’d be the worst,” you said, and even though the pastries were what was being referred to, you squeezed Eidan around her middle, and walked away with her; these were free, after all, and you weren’t going to ask again for a second opinion.

Eidan wasn’t digging in immediately; though the transaction that had occurred earlier on the roof meant that she was going to have to at some point, She peered at it uncomfortably, as though trying to count the calories by squinting at each granule of sugar, every rise in fried dough.

You on the other hand blew on your doughnut to cool it slightly, then devoured half of it in one massive chomp. “Damn, can’t go wrong with fried dough and sugar. You good with cream cheese? I can’t imagine how you couldn’t be, but if I messed up I’ll eat my mistake. I’m a big boy, I can pile on the chow.”

“No, it’s,” Eidan looked at your lip, “I didn’t mean to hit you that hard.”

“I’m fine, honey.”

“It’s just, that I flare up and when I feel something strongly, I just do things without thinking,” Eidan pulled on something under her scarf, “It’s only recently been really getting me into trouble.” She put her finger on the cut in your lip, “…Really, it’s gotten you into trouble the most, in particular, and when I think about how many more times I’ve hurt you than helped you,” Eidan hunched over and shoved her hands in her pockets, “I feel a bit miserable.
”
“Well, that’s no good,” you put your arm on Eidan’s shoulder and stroked her hair, “If you’re unhappy that means I’m doing a bad job.”

“Heh. No, you’re not,” Eidan said softly, “But…I thought about what that guy said. Like it was good that I hit you. I’ve never been that girly, but,” Eidan ducked into her scarf again, muffling her words as her eyes went down and away. “Is it? A good thing, I mean. Do you like me…this way?”

>Girlier is better, yeah. But you have plenty of time to work on that.
>Of course I do. A woman who has the steel to sock me one gets raised a few points up the scale for that alone. Keep on not hesitating, it’s not a flaw in my eyes.
>I think you’ve got a flawed picture of yourself. You’re like this doughnut; hard and crispy on the outside, but you’re soft and sweet inside with just a bit of effort to uncover it. You’re delicious, and you bet I’m going to eat you up.
>I think you shouldn’t be so nervous about all this and trying to appeal to me. If you weren’t fine the way you are we wouldn’t be here, would we?
>Other?

-----
These mountaintops were a sacred place; the places where the primordial souls of earth and light intersected, and where the Nief’yem made their homes, away from humanity at large. These particular misty peaks were ever further apart from the world; presence spilled forth from deep below, and spirits floated upwards and out in flocks of tiny beings no larger than a fingernail, which shimmered with light as they flew out, dispersed, and vanished shortly after leaving the sacred grounds, the birth and death of millions of miniscule stars passing by every hour. Few knew how to come to this place, and fewer could safely tread these strange lands, but those that could…they were quite powerful indeed.

One such powerful being fluttered down from the sky, dressed in robes as were the custom of his ancient people, followed by what most would conclude was a young, pretty thing with long green hair, a large pack upon her back. Across from them, standing near the precipice of this mountain, whose top had been flattened as though carved away with a knife, stood another powerful being; this one even more terrifying than the one who had arrived. They were covered by loose, hanging rags, but beneath these rags flashed gilded steel like would have been worn in times of chivalry. Their helmet’s long plume looked more like a ragged head of hair than a noble decoration, its bushy strands spilling to the shoulders all around save for the face, which itself was covered by a cloth. Across his back was a mighty greatsword, which appeared to float against him of its own accord. Its white steel was lined with peculiar indentations, and its back end an ostentatious long handle wrapped with blue dyed sharkskin binding, the pommel a large bulb shape like that of a tulip that wrapped about itself. On occasion, the small lines would separate into gaps, before the steel segments pulled together again.

“Alkes, known as the Nightleer,” the armored being spoke; in spite of its ancient appearance, its voice was that of a middle aged man, one who had weathered life well. “Your golem’s form is as foul as ever.”

Alkes couldn’t do much other than smile and bow. He would have a few words with anybody else about such a comment, but there was a reason Gyalzhahar covered himself, besides natural inscrutability. Powerful soulbinders were said to steadily grow less and less human; many embraced their new identity as monsters. Alkes was plenty human still, thankfully, but he guessed that he would have hated to peer under Gyalzhahar’s gilded facemask. “I see that my presence is as unwelcome as ever, dear mentor. I was surprised to hear of you being near here, rather than further to the east.”

“The decree of the Mountain Lords is law, even if my wish is to cleave the dogs of the Oblitares in twain,” Gyalzhahar lamented sorely, “I was told that you have the eyes. Bestow them upon me.”

The pack upon Alkes’ companion appeared to float off of her, and in front of the armored man, who opened it with a gauntleted hand wrapped in rags, and pulled out a small glass case. “What beautiful things, these, macabre as they are,” he inspected the vial, within which was suspended a human eye, whose iris shimmered like gold. “Yet with this success, which is of the acolytes and not your own,” Gyalzhahar’s tone turned disdainful, “You fail to present the Mountain Lords with that which they sought most of all.”

Alkes shrugged innocently. “The Grimoire evaded me, yes. It has remained hidden for centuries. I can hardly be blamed for being one of a long list who have also failed to find it.” He had been unable to find it in Halmeggia, nor among the escaped Princess’s possessions in her shelter in the Grossreich- the latter being truly a pain to investigate due to insistence upon extreme subtlety of action by Alkes’s betters.

“The state of Halmeggia was ideal for overturning its earth and discovering its secrets.”

“So you would think, hm,” Alkes said back, “Yet in its most desperate hour, the royal family did not call upon the might of their sorceress ancestor, her destructive powers said to be recalled at but a touch to her ancient tome. Either they lost it, or, the tales are indeed tall as these mountains.”

“The Mountain Lords would not waste time with a fairy tale. Their knowledge is as venerable as the ground you tread. Watch that your tongue does not besmirch them.” The armored figure warned. “Do not think yourself Poltergeist, or others who all but outright disrespect the ancient authorities. You know that you are not near mighty enough for such arrogance, Nightleer.”

Alkes just smiled.

“One of your acolytes was a husker, I was told.” The armored sorcerer continued, “I and the mountain lords would be curious to hear of the performance of this innovation.”

“It did quite well surviving the punishments modern warfare could attempt to inflict upon it. My man Isos’s skill may have been the more significant factor.”

“Good. The Mountain Lords will be pleased. The war against the Oblitares Cults is not going near as well as it should. Our mighty must spread themselves thin, and they have dealt us blows we cannot recover from in a timely manner. The Mountain Lords recognize the dangers of recruiting and training new Soulbinders as warriors; thus the heaviest burdens must fall to mere humans. That weapons to level the odds are found, you see, are of critical importance.” Gyalzhahar turned back into being cross, “The Grimoire’s absence will be sore news to those who must combat the Oblitares and their bootlickers with but weapons of mundane steel and gunpowder. The death and destruction in Ellowie has made it a nascent well of immense spiritual power; the artifacts that may be birthed on their own because of such mean that we cannot surrender it to the Oblitares.”

“If the Mountain Lords wish to even the odds, then they could send you…or perhaps myself. I would not object. Guile and deception are much more potent weapons than steel and gunpowder. Perhaps moreso than any secrets ancient or modern either.”

“You speak of underhanded trickery.”

“You disapprove? Very well then.” Alkes turned his back upon the other soulbinder, “But know that mere underhanded trickery caused so much damage to Halmeggia that it was thought that the Royal Family would be forced to use that book the Mountain Lords place so much importance upon in order to even begin to reverse the damage wrought.”
-----

>>3324067
>I think you’ve got a flawed picture of yourself. You’re like this doughnut; hard and crispy on the outside, but you’re soft and sweet inside with just a bit of effort to uncover it. You’re delicious, and you bet I’m going to eat you up.

>>3324067
>I think you’ve got a flawed picture of yourself. You’re like this doughnut; hard and crispy on the outside, but you’re soft and sweet inside with just a bit of effort to uncover it. You’re delicious, and you bet I’m going to eat you up.

>>3324067
>>I think you shouldn’t be so nervous about all this and trying to appeal to me. If you weren’t fine the way you are we wouldn’t be here, would we?

>>3324067
>>I think you shouldn’t be so nervous about all this and trying to appeal to me. If you weren’t fine the way you are we wouldn’t be here, would we?

>>3324067
>I think you’ve got a flawed picture of yourself. You’re like this doughnut; hard and crispy on the outside, but you’re soft and sweet inside with just a bit of effort to uncover it. You’re delicious, and you bet I’m going to eat you up.

Reinhold to a T
also WIZARD BULLSHIT

Time for write.

>>3324496
>>3324507
Bee yourself

>>3324154
>>3324161
>>3324561
I dub thee Doughnut Girl.

Writing.

>>3324067
>>I think you’ve got a flawed picture of yourself. You’re like this doughnut; hard and crispy on the outside, but you’re soft and sweet inside with just a bit of effort to uncover it. You’re delicious, and you bet I’m going to eat you up

“I think, that you’ve got a flawed picture of yourself,” you said to Eidan, reducing your doughnut by half again. “Yorfmf ah…ahem. You’re like this doughtnut, here. Crispy on the outside, but there’s only that thin shell before you’re soft and sweet on the inside. All one needs to do to see that is to sink their teeth in.” You bent down next to her head and swept her hair behind her round ear, “You’re delicious, and you’d better bet that I’m gonna eat you up.” With that you bit on her ear and tugged on it lightly.

“Mmhehehe,” Eidan laughed, “You’re way too sweet. You’ll spoil your fearsome reputation.”

“Only sweet enough to be appropriate for who I’m talking about.”

“Although,” Eidan’s tone turned wary, “Should I be happy about being compared to a doughnut..? They’re junk food, after all.”

“Comfort food, honeybun.”

“I like honeybun better than doughnut.”

You grinned an evil smile. “Well now you’re definitely going to be Doughnut from now on.”

“Okay, stop.” Doughnut protested. “I’ve only heard it once and it’s already the most embarrassing name I’ve ever been called.”

“Too late. I’ll never call you anything else now.”

“Noooo…” Eidan yanked her scarf up to her eyes.

“I happen to think it’s a cute nickname, but annoying you with it is even cuter,” you poked Eidan’s cheek, “Anywhere you want to visit, Doughnut? Places in mind? When we’re done here we’ll go see my friend. Don’t worry, he doesn’t look nearly as grody as he did when he was freshly wounded. Oh, and eat your doughnut. It’s probably at perfect temperature. The cheese inside should still be cold and the pastry still hot but not mouth burning.”

Eidan, thankfully, finally started eating, though she got distracted by that; apparently, she found it more than satisfactory to be compared to, based on her expression.
-----

You ended up caving and buying Eidan a barrette from a jewelry store you both went into. It wasn’t an expensive one or anything, but Eidan had tried a few on, and so you went for the one you thought looked nicest on her. It adorned the back of her head, a silver abstract bird motif atop the combs. You wouldn’t have dreamed that it would replace the pin on her front, of course, though the back seemed a bit questionable. On your way out of the Pillars you took it in and out of her chestnut hair, sticking it on the side, using it to tuck her hair behind an ear, even pulling her other pin out and parting her hair differently, but the way her hair was it tried to fall back the same way each time, so your barrette was eventually put back on the rear of her head, though higher up than before.

The hospital was a fair bit further into the city, so you rode the trolley with Eidan to it. The place was tall and grey and depressing; though the doctors were good, Bartholomeu had related to you plenty that his stay had been boring as all hell. At least he had visitors to look forward to; not everybody did, as he had told you seriously yesterday.

You arranged a meeting at the reception desk, and you were debating with yourself whether or not to introduce Eidan to Bartholomeu by the pet name you’d come up with for her, when you passed by the open door of the ward…and immediately stepped back.

“What’s wrong?” Eidan asked, her hand in yours.

“Hold on a minute,” you lied, peering over the edge of the door, “Might have to reschedule things, is all.”

“Why?”

You didn’t answer Eidan. There by Bartholomeu’s bed stood Linda Falkenstein, though you could tell she hadn’t been planning to meet you from the way she was dressed. Her flight jacket was still on her, but you could tell from the baggy trousers covering her legs and work boots that she was wearing a coverall suit like she usually did for working on her planes’ engines, keeping them in tip top shape. She never would have worn such if she expected to meet you, you knew.

>Leave Eidan behind. You and Linda could meet Bartholomeu together, but with your new girlfriend? That wouldn’t end well…
>This was going to happen at some point. Bite the bullet and lead Eidan in.
>Leave, perhaps come back later. Linda would need her own day; she’d be upset at being met by accident and only for a short time. And she might ask something of you that you certainly couldn’t do now.
>Other?

>>3324825
>>Leave Eidan behind. You and Linda could meet Bartholomeu together, but with your new girlfriend? That wouldn’t end well…
Ask her if she doesn't mind going off first.

>>3324825
>This was going to happen at some point. Bite the bullet and lead Eidan in.

>>3324825
>This was going to happen at some point. Bite the bullet and lead Eidan in.

THUNDERDOME! THUNDERDOME!

>>3324825
>Leave, perhaps come back later. Linda would need her own day; she’d be upset at being met by accident and only for a short time. And she might ask something of you that you certainly couldn’t do now.
We'll introduce the girls soon, just not here in front of a captive Bartholomeu and a surprised Linda in her dirty work clobber.
Unless this really REALLY is the last chance to introduce them (gonna need your call on that, boss), in which case make my vote a reluctant
>This was going to happen at some point. Bite the bullet and lead Eidan in.
at your convenience

>>3325044
> We'll introduce the girls soon, just not here in front of a captive Bartholomeu and a surprised Linda in her dirty work clobber.
>Unless this really REALLY is the last chance to introduce them (gonna need your call on that, boss)

The things I particularly planned on after this happening are basically just going to the bar in the evening and getting trashed. If anything wants to be done after that though, this is the wrapup thread so feel free to propose it if you want it and we'll go through with it unless there's objection to doing it.

>>3325151
Yeah, we're repaying those Dhegyars tonight, aren't we. Assuming we bring Wolfe along tonight, Linda's probably gotten her fair share of worthless drunken introductions to unfamiliar women from us over the years, best not to wait until then and sell Eidan as what she might see as just another one-nighter. So I'll keep my vote to hold off for another time when we're all sober and Linda's free, ASAP though. Really I just want poor Luftpanzer Quest to die on time in this thread with it's dignity intact and not stopping suddenly, half way into another because I voted to add another day to the epilogue

>>3324825
>Leave, perhaps come back later. Linda would need her own day; she’d be upset at being met by accident and only for a short time. And she might ask something of you that you certainly couldn’t do now.

>>3324825
>>Leave, perhaps come back later. Linda would need her own day; she’d be upset at being met by accident and only for a short time. And she might ask something of you that you certainly couldn’t do now.

>>3324825
>>Leave, perhaps come back later. Linda would need her own day; she’d be upset at being met by accident and only for a short time. And she might ask something of you that you certainly couldn’t do now.

>>3324825
>>Leave, perhaps come back later. Linda would need her own day; she’d be upset at being met by accident and only for a short time. And she might ask something of you that you certainly couldn’t do now.

Readied.

>>3324829
Make Eidan wait outside

>>3324882
>>3324887
Into the breach

>>3325044
>>3325241
>>3325273
>>3325311
>>3325997
Abort, abort!

>>3325213
>Yeah, we're repaying those Dhegyars tonight, aren't we. Assuming we bring Wolfe along tonight, Linda's probably gotten her fair share of worthless drunken introductions to unfamiliar women from us over the years, best not to wait until then and sell Eidan as what she might see as just another one-nighter.

Reinhold has actually done a decent job of not having his girlfriends around Linda in the past; though she usually finds out about them anyways. In any case, it was voted to not bring Wolfe to the bar, anyways.

>Really I just want poor Luftpanzer Quest to die on time in this thread with it's dignity intact and not stopping suddenly, half way into another because I voted to add another day to the epilogue

Normal plans should be wrapping up well before this falls off the board, anyhow, but we'll see I guess.

Writing.

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>>3326101
>Normal plans should be wrapping up well before this falls off the board
Well you know what they say about even the best laid plans...

“We’ll come back a bit later,” you sad quietly to Eidan, leading her the other way again. “Now’s not a good time.”

“But why?” Eidan insisted.

“Linda’s here, and, er, she shouldn’t meet you right now.”

“Why not? She’ll find out eventually, won’t she?” Eidan squinted at you, “No way that you’re expecting to hide me.”

“No, no, it’s not that,” you told Eidan as you led her back down the hall, “It’s more that this was unplanned. She’s in her work clothes right now.”

“So?”

“She’s never in her work clothes if she thinks I’m going to be around,” You elaborated, “If she sees you and figures out we’re well acquainted, she’ll feel bad because she thinks she looks like crap.” You didn’t think that, of course, but you knew that was how she felt about it. If you were both somewhere, she was in something tight fitting and low cut, otherwise she fretted over being dressed in baggy coveralls or a jumpsuit.

“Seems like something she shouldn’t be bothered by.” Eidan said.

“Around most people she isn’t. It’s just not a good time for you two to meet, ‘kay? We only have to loiter a little bit longer. I know her schedule, and she shouldn’t be staying for much more time.”

-----

You crept about the outside of the hospital until you figured Linda would have gone back to the airfield; it was made easy by encountering yet another admirer of your exploits and answering small questions. A compliment to Eidan as expected; you wouldn’t be surprised if her ego would a little inflated from the random people calling her cute, but hey; she was, wasn’t she?
Soon enough, at about two o’clock, you felt it was safe to visit Roland Bartholomeu. The same path was taken, the same people talked to, but this time, there was no Linda Falkenstein waiting to ambush you. Bartholomeu was, of course, rooted in place, and he grinned as he saw you approach.

“Yo, Reinhold!” he said cheerily, “Bit earlier and you would have found Linda. Sweet as ever, she is. You’ve been bullying her; she was upset that you hadn’t come to visit her in a while. What’re you doin’, man,” His gaze wandered to Eidan. “This cutie the latest to get caught in your net?”

“Hmph,” Eidan turned her nose up, “Excuse you, I caught him.”

“If you say so,” Bartholomeu gave a look of humored disbelief, “She’s pretty butch for you, isn’t she? C’mon, you’re a bit boyish, don’t give me that look. What’s her name, then?”

“Doughnut.”

“No it’s not!” Eidan protested.

“Well, fair Doughnut,” Bartholomeu made a motion to tip an imaginary cap, “I’m Lieutenant Roland Bartholomeu, of the prestigious Luftpanzer Battalion. My reputation might have preceded me. I’ve been the Captain’s friend for near a decade and a half, but he’s a whole rank higher than me. Just because I haven’t really tried, that’s all.”

“You were there that night?” Eidan asked. “…Sorry, I must not have seen you.”

Bartholomeu cocked an eyebrow, looked to you. “You met your latest arm candy in Halmeggia? Yeesh, you got busy that night.” He looked back to Eidan. “I got ripped to shreds early on, before we linked up with the Aristocratic Union. If you were around them, I wouldn’t have seen you. I fucked up and traded fire. Luftpanzers are pretty nice, but one thing they aren’t is durable, you know.” He stretched and winced, “Only another week or so til I’m done with therapy and they let me out of this dump, though. Anyway, Doughnut, what’s your real name?”

“Oh. It’s Eidan. Eidan Wolfe.”

Bartholomeu screwed up his face. “What kind of name for a girl is Eidan? I like Doughnut better. Wolfe, though…like Major Wolfe? The guy they call the hero of Halmeggia?”

Eidan frowned slightly. “He is my father.”

Roland smirked at you. “Damn, nice catch. You gonna keep her?”

“You’d better not get any ideas,” you threatened mockingly, “I’ve heard you’re already tied down. The Colonel’ll be wary enough that you’re corrupting his daughter, if he hears you playing around with anybody behind her back, you’re a dead man.”

“Oh, no chance of that. I like my hide where it is, and she’s a nice girl.” He gave a toothy grin and pointed at Eidan, “Better than yours, I bet.”

“We’ll see about that.”

>Chat with Bartholomeu about anything?
>Ask if he wants to sneak out of the place for later? Or take anybody else to the bar with you other than/besides him?
Also
>Introduce Eidan to Linda later
>Linda will find out on her own. No need to shove Eidan in her face
>Other?

I got distracted, sorry.

>>3327165
>>Ask if he wants to sneak out of the place for later.
>Linda will find out on her own. No need to shove Eidan in her face

>>3327165
>>Ask if he wants to sneak out of the place for later
>>Linda will find out on her own. No need to shove Eidan in her face

>>3327165
>Chat with Bartholomeu about anything?

How much has he heard about the rest of the operation?
Does he feel like it was a success? That it was worth what it cost?
Would he have done anything differently?
also
>Ask if he wants to sneak out of the place for later?

>Introduce Eidan to Linda later
Need some goddamn closure for both of them.

>>3327165
I don't really like the idea of dumping any tough life-and-death questions on a guy who's been in hospital and therapy for a month, but these questions are still better than any smalltalk I could come up with, so seconding this >>3327307

>>3327165
>Ask if he wants to sneak out of the place for later?
>Introduce Eidan to Linda later

Starting early for once.

>>3327178
>>3327241
Linda and Eidan don't need a get together.

>>3327307
>>3327321
>>3327736
Smash these tomboys against each other until they like it.

Generally agreed upon to ask him if he wants to besmirch his caretakers to go get drunk. Also written in questions.

Writing now.

“Anyways,” you elected to talk with Bartholomeu about the op, since Halmeggia had come up. “How much have you heard about how the rest of the mission went? You got knocked out pretty early, after all.”

“Pretty much all of it, for better or worse. Had to read Covacs’s shitty writing to get back up to speed. Better than having to read anything by Fischer at least. Read your report when you gave it the other day. Been doing a lot of reading in general, here. Not like me, huh?”

“Well, if you’re read up on it all,” your tone shifted for the serious, “Do you feel like it was a success?” More darkly, “Did it turn out to be worth it, you think?”

Bartholomeu gave a long sigh and sagged back into his pillow. “Man, that’s a hard one to answer, and a lot to think about. Was it a success? I dunno. I guess at the end of the day, there’s a queen of Halmeggia instead of a king, but at least there’s something at all. At the end of the day, Reich troops are squatting in Halmeggia, it’s not overrun by Revolutionaries, there’s still a king sorta deal even if they’re sitting in Dhegyar lands instead of in their own country…I just don’t know, man. The whole deal wasn’t like in Fealinn or Felbach where we win, we’re back in charge sort of, and we have a victory parade, we don’t have the homecoming celebration for the Northern Fleet after like two decades of having to sit in Naukland harbors paying rent, it’s just sort of a mess. Not as big a shitshow as it could be, but one even so.”

“If it helps,” Eidan said, “…I certainly appreciate what you did. I think you succeeded in keeping Halmeggia intact.”

“Well, there we go, then. Your girlfriend’s happy, isn’t that all one can ask for? Ha ha.” Bartholomeu tried to smile, “As for if it was worth it..? I just got the feeling after this, that our luck’s finally run out. When I got blasted in Felbach, I thought, oh, that wasn’t too lucky, right? Just after Agh fuck I’ve been shot, I mean. Then Grabb died. He was a weird fucker but he was our friend. Then this op comes up. Your plane gets blown out of the sky, Dolcherr bites the dust, I get ripped apart, you even got shot, I hear. Just feel that our group lost its invincibility that we thought we had. Can’t help but feel, the next shit we get in, we’re all dead men. I dunno if you believe in luck or anything, but losing that, on top of losing Dolcherr? It’s not like I didn’t have friends in my platoon, but after Grabb, any new friends I made in the Luftwaffe, I sort of held at an arm’s reach, cause I knew they could end up dead. Not so with you and Dolcherr. So that hit me hard, like…you know, man. I’m sure Halmeggia appreciates it, that the Kaiser appreciates our fighting, but if it was worth it for me?”

Bartholomeu pursed his lips and put his hands over each other on his lap. “Nah. It wasn’t. This wasn’t the sort of fight I wanted us to run out of luck for. Maybe if it was the big one, but not this.”

“The big one?” Eidan asked, “What’s that?”

“…Yeah, never heard you talk about anything like that,” you said, “What do you mean by that?”

“Oh. Well, I didn’t think about it before, but when you’re stuck in the hospital and trying to do what reading you can, you get into new things, you know?” Bartholomeu started waving his hands about in explaining his next piece. “The next war’s not gonna be some dinky little war we win inside of a month, where it’s not really a contest, and we just bowl over whatever stands in our way. It’s gonna be a big one. You know the rest of the world’s afraid of us, right? Since all the way back when Kaiser Alexander nearly took over the whole continent. Shit’s changing way too fast, man. You know back east, Ellowie just folded? How many years they’ve held out, then the Netillians and Caelussians…well, the Twaryians, but those fuckers are Caelussian at heart, they whomp them and now they’re their subjects. That alone’s upsetting the balance real bad in Sosalia, I read. Then there’s the stuff with Faelinn and Felbach. With those, we’ve gotten back our pre-Emrean war territory…except for Emre. The Emreans haven’t wanted a war, that’s why they let us take back those lands without much a fight save for token volunteer forces. They lost way too many of their people in the Emrean War even though they got their independence for it, but now? They’re smelling that the Reich is getting strong again. The next we get into some shit, it’ll kick off the Big One. The war where the Reich either lives or dies, maybe even more than that. The one where the whole world order gets tossed up and something new comes. We won’t see that world, I bet, not with how things are going for us luck wise. That won’t be a war you or me’ll survive, man. We’re toast.” He pointed at Eidan. “But it’s the world she’ll have to live in. The world Linda’ll live in. So we don’t got any choice but to fight it anyways, when it comes.”

“…Man, you’ve been reading some pretty dreary work.” Was all you could say in response to that weight, “They don’t let you have any girly mags in here?”

“Of course not. Judge above, if I could get one snuck in here,” he winked at you, “Though I don’t think the new missy’d appreciate it, and I’m doing my best not to piss her off too soon. And the Colonel.”

“Anyways.” You took hold of the subject again, “You’re saying it was all luck and all, but, say it wasn’t. Say we have a chance, from doing things smarter or better instead of luckier or not. That last op. What would you have done different? Both for you, and for me.”

“Well, I’d start out with me not fucking up, that’d be a good one.” Bartholomeu said testily, but he cooled down. “Sorry. I’ve had a while to think about it, but it still pisses me the hell off. Don’t have anybody to blame but myself. For you, though..? I mean, I’ve seen our casualties. After I got whacked and you went off…you didn’t lose a single guy. Not one. Wouldn’t you say that’s about as good as you can do? Least, that’s what I think. What do you think of how you did?”

>I suppose you’re right. With how screwy it all got, getting as many people out in one piece as I could was about the best I could do.
>I’d have liked to have had a flawless victory. Not gotten Dolcherr killed, rescued the whole royal family, all that. Maybe that’s reaching too far, but it’s what I’d have wanted.
>I’d have liked to stick it to the Revolutionaries more. We made our best effort to get there as fast as we could, but we couldn’t have gotten there in time anyways, with what happened. Maybe if we eradicated more of our enemies, Halmeggia’d be in a better spot, at least.
>We should have gone faster, I think. Maybe by not going to the AUSC first. Maybe we would have made it in time, maybe not, but in hindsight we should have gone straight to the castle. That was our one mistake.
>Other?

>We should have gone faster, I think. Maybe by not going to the AUSC first. Maybe we would have made it in time, maybe not, but in hindsight we should have gone straight to the castle. That was our one mistake.

>>3328526
>We should have gone faster, I think. Maybe by not going to the AUSC first. Maybe we would have made it in time, maybe not, but in hindsight we should have gone straight to the castle. That was our one mistake.

>>3328526
>>I suppose you’re right. With how screwy it all got, getting as many people out in one piece as I could was about the best I could do.

>>3328526
>Maybe I just used up all our luck that night. Sorry about that.

>>3328526
>>We should have gone faster, I think. Maybe by not going to the AUSC first. Maybe we would have made it in time, maybe not, but in hindsight we should have gone straight to the castle. That was our one mistake.

Here.

>>3328576
>>3328595
>>3329153
Needed more boost power

>>3328694
At least we're all alive

>>3329126
I came back with a gf, while you came back as a hamburger. Clearly one of us has stolen the other's luck.

Writing.

“We should have gone faster, I think,” you said, “For the operation’s sake, at least. If we didn’t go to the AUSC first, maybe we would have made it in time, before the Revolutionaries got to the Royal Family. Maybe we wouldn’t have made it in time either, but in hindsight, our big mistake was not going straight to the castle.”

“Especially,” Wolfe added, “Since they betrayed you.”

“…That wasn’t part of the report,” Bartholomeu said in slight surprise, “That they had proven themselves suspect, yeah, but did they actually attack you?”

“Yeah. Disabled my tank and wounded my driver in the process. I killed their assassin, though, and had their men pay the blood price by having them attack the castle. Maybe if we were to look at it that way, we needed the AUSC to reduce our own casualties, but maybe if we hadn’t gone for them, we wouldn’t have needed to attack the castle in the first place…ah, well.” You wrapped your hands about Eidan’s waist and squeezer her middle, “If we hadn’t gone over to talk to them, I wouldn’t have found this delicious Doughnut here, would I?”

Eidan giggled, though that seemed more because she was ticklish than out of humor.

“Anyways, you want to sneak out of the hospital and get something to drink this evening? I’ll bet you haven’t had the chance to get sauced in too long. I’ll be leaving Doughnut in her hotel room so we can go as wild as we want.”

“What?” Eidan whined. You hadn’t told her of this plan to leave her behind. “I want to go get drunk too!”

“I’m going with a couple of Dhegyars. Things might…will get belligerent.”

“Even better!” Eidan was getting excited, “Come on, can’t I go to? After all, if you get me liquored up,” she pushed herself into you, “We might go back to my hotel room, and stay a while…” She edged off. “…Maybe. I mean, I’m just saying.”

“Normally, yeah, I would,” Bartholomeu said when he could get a word in, “But Shelly likes to visit in the evenings, and if she found out I had snuck out, her father’ll find out, and I’ll have defied orders from the Colonel to recover, and…” he moved his hand in a circular motion, “So on and so forth.”

“Since when do you care about pissing off the Colonel?” you asked.

“I like Shelly’s company. She’s nice.” Bartholomeu waved you off, “Look, just go. I’ll be fine. We can go get wasted after I get out officially, yeah?”

“And we,” Eidan pulled on your arm and looked up into your face, “Can get wasted tonight.”

>No, you can’t. Legal age of drinking in the Reich is 20, and you’re 19. (This is a lie; the drinking age is 18 for public establishments)
>Fine, fine. But don’t complain to me when you get a black eye.
>I’m going with rough company, and I don’t want you getting hurt. Just stay in your room, alright? Today was fun. We can see each other more tomorrow.
>Other?

>>3329627
>>I’m going with rough company, and I don’t want you getting hurt. Just stay in your room, alright? Today was fun. We can see each other more tomorrow.

>>3329627
>>I’m going with rough company, and I don’t want you getting hurt. Just stay in your room, alright? Today was fun. We can see each other more tomorrow.

>>3329627
>Fine, fine. But don’t complain to me when you get a black eye.

>>3329627
>I’m going with rough company, and I don’t want you getting hurt. Just stay in your room, alright? Today was fun. We can see each other more tomorrow.

>>3329627
>>Fine, fine. But don’t complain to me when you get a black eye.

>>3329627
>>I’m going with rough company, and I don’t want you getting hurt. Just stay in your room, alright? Today was fun. We can see each other more tomorrow.
Didnt we have this vote already?

>>3330207
You voted on the initial decision to bring her along or not.

Eidan found out and disagreed. This vote is to hold firm or not or to try and fool her, or otherwise dissuade her. In short, it's to maybe try and change her mind, rather than whether or not to take her.

>>3330221
In any case I'll be occupied for a bit so the vote'll be open til then, I'll call it later tonight and write it out.

>>3329621
>>I’m going with rough company, and I don’t want you getting hurt. Just stay in your room, alright? Today was fun. We can see each other more tomorrow.

>>3329627
>>I’m going with rough company, and I don’t want you getting hurt. Just stay in your room, alright? Today was fun. We can see each other more tomorrow.

Why is the captcha always parking meters

>>3329627
>>Fine, fine. But don’t complain to me when you get a black eye.

Update time

>>3329948
>>3330073
>>3330107
>>3330207
>>3330589
>>3330752
These aren't social drinkers, dear- not in the way most would consider polite, at least.

>>3330106
>>3330144
>>3331170
Thunderdome training for meeting with Linda later.

Writing; here's hoping the board won't explode tomorrow and cut me off early with so little left to go...if it does, we can just have a teeny thread and spend the rest of it goofing around with q/a and shit.

Rolled 77 (1d100)

“I’m going with rough company,” you told Eidan, “I don’t want you getting hurt. Just stay back in your room and get a good night’s sleep tonight, alright? Today was fun. We can see each other more tomorrow.”

Eidan opened her mouth to protest, then an idea seemed to occur to her, and she shut her mouth. “Alright, fine.” She said, curtly, “I’ll go right back then.”
“Sorry,” you apologized, “If I weren’t going with Dhegyars then it’d be a different story. This is sure to be a rowdy night; I don’t want a black eye messing up your pretty face. Or two black eyes, even.”

“I was in the army, you know,” Eidan reminded you, “I can handle a fight.”

“I’m sure you can, honey, but I don’t want you to have to, alright?” You stroked Eidan’s bangs, “I can escort you back, too. You don’t have to go back by yourself.”

“I’ll be fine,” Eidan sniffed defiantly at you. “Have fun at whichever watering hole you’ll be off to.”

“…Guess I’ll be seeing you, then,” you said to Bartholomeu as Eidan turned around and started walking, “I can’t let her wander out of here alone, can I?”

“Yeah, yeah, get out of here,” Bartholomeu excitedly swept an arm at you, then winced. “Agh. Not quite limber yet. But yeah, git! Have a few drinks in my place!”
-----

Eidan had decided to ditch you before you had planned; you hoped she wasn’t actually offended that you weren’t taking her along. That wouldn’t have been a good note to end a first date on; though hardly the worst you’d ever done. Evening came, and you whistled while you walked; though you weren’t in uniform (normally you’d wear your Luftpanzer jacket, but…well, suffice it to say, it had been replaced with your off duty-dress coat) your scar made you recognizable on sight to many; it felt pretty good to be famous, but were it that such fame could be shared with your friends…to be alone in glory, Herr Falkenstein had told you, was the most bafflingly wretched of lonesomeness. He of all the people you knew could claim that, his very nomme de guerre, Gold Vengeance, was a moniker he earned because of his loss.

You wondered, sadly, what tragic nickname you might be called that would be a glorification of an unpleasant memory, or if you would have to do as Falkenstein did, and claim it as your identity to inspire those who followed. As Herr Falkenstein had inspired you.

All of a sudden you got the feeling somebody was stalking you. You froze, and took a look around.

>Opposing DC roll; opponent must roll below a 40

You turned around, and Eidan Wolfe was just a bit too close for you to fail to notice her. Her eyes widened, and you saw her mouth form a swear as she turned and fled to the side, down another street. You couldn’t help but smile to yourself, and shake your head. Sorry, Doughnut, but you had to get better at tailing before you could sneak to the bar.

Of course, now that you knew you were being pursued, it was child’s play to lose her. After a good half an hour weaving and backtracking through the streets that you knew far better than Eidan, no matter how used to the city she thought she was, you knew for sure you’d lost her, and you could continue on to the bar.

The place you’d arranged to meet the Dhegyar crewmen Suszter and Zolldom at was a place that was known to all military men, and more Dhegyars, the Horse Lord’s Hearth. Owned by a Dhegyar, recalling the history of the Dhegyars as semi-nomadic conquerors, and practically the only establishment in town where brawling and fighting was encouraged rather than a reason to be thrown out, it was understandably a favorite among the more warlike peoples. You’d gone a couple of times; and managed to avoid becoming part of the show. If Suszter and Zolldom got their way, though, the third time wouldn’t be a repeat of the last peaceful visits.