2nd adventure: Proxy War

Zelk takes the glass and drinks from it. "No, no. It's just..." She hesitates yet again, but this time, she keeps talking. "After a mission like this one, a squad would usually get some time off. I imagine your adjunct will too. I just thought..." She sighs, irritated. "Listen to me, I can't even get the freaking words out."

She brings the bowl to her lips, and finishes her supper with a few gulps. There's still some soup left on her chin, and she cleans it off with her sleeve, and then puts the bowl down on the floor.

"I just thought we could go somewhere."

Once he figures out what is happening a huge grin plants itself on Steve's face. He laughs and asks, "And if I were to say yes, where would you take me?"

Zelk rolls her eyes. "Oh, I hate it when you do... that." Steve is still smiling. "Yeah, right there, that smile. So happy with yourself."

She looks away, uncomfortable. "...I just thought we could rent a room, and visit Highwind together. Go for walks, play some cards, maybe go to a puppet show. Whatever people do for fun."

He reaches out and gently pulls her head back to look at him. The smile is gone. "Zelk you had me at 'time off.' But thanks for saying it. I know it's not easy."

Zelk's whole body relaxes. She doesn't seem embarrassed anymore when she looks back into Steve's eyes; just as there is no more of the usual exasperation he's gotten so used to. She turns her head away, and a smile slowly creeps up on her face.

"Is there anything else I can get you? Some more soup or water?"

Just as Zelk was going to answer, someone knocks on the door. The young woman gives an apologizing look at Steve, and tells whoever is at the door, "Come in."

_____________

Mihai returns to the monastery with Avalon a few minutes after he left. The other monks are clearly pleased to see their master join them, and make some place for him. Breeze is playing a simple word game with the children, while the squad members are talking in low voice, but as for Konrad, he's not there anymore. Fedler gives Mihai a discreet smile when he sits down besides her.

"That was fast," she says, a little surprised.

He returns the smile "No kidding, i thought i was gonna have to work a lot harder for it."

He tries the soup - "Good, it's still hot."

"So..." begins Fredrick, his eyes fixated on the power couple, "How long have the two of you been together?"

He's smirking. Adam and Naomi, who are the closest to Fedler and Mihai, can't help but glance at them. The others at the table are talking among themselves.

"I am curious about that myself," adds Naomi.

Fedler is taken aback by this question, but calmly turns to Mihai to see how he responds.

Mihai looks between the three of them - "What, we're making up for the lack of bonding from these past few days?" - he retorts, but there's no animosity behind it.

"A dime and a nickel. Details are classified." - he finishes with a short lopsided smirk.

Konrad enters with a playful flourish. He has a book in his hand. "It's me, team leader of Coins Adjunct 113."

He look around and sees Steve kneeling by the bed, handholding with his former classmate.

"Heard you were finally awake. I wanted you to know I appreciated your help in the fight. Since you and Steve are old friends, that makes you my friend too. So I brought you something to read while you're awake, before you're well enough to get up and walk around."

"Oh, come on," protests Fredrick. "Miss Melan, you're not going to leave us hanging, right?"

"I have to admit," interjects Adam, "even I am a bit curious."

"At least a hint?" suggest Naomi.

"Fine, fine," concedes Fedler. "Three months. Happy now?"

"Well, mate, you were busy," says Fredrick with a wink for Mihai.

________________

"A book?" inquires Zelk, caught off-guard. "Sure, thank you."

She takes the book and opens it at a random page. For a few seconds, she's undoubtedly confused, until she realizes what she is saying.

 "I thought you would appreciate some informational reading material," says Konrad in a casual and smarmy tone. "In fact, I believe there's a page in there somewhere that outlines the steps involved in removing an object that has become stuck inside one's rectum."

Zelk laughs out loud, in the most casual manner the red mage has ever heard her be.

"Steve, look at this," she says while handing him the book.

Mihai shrugs - "You guys always this curious?"

His curiosity peaked, Steve takes the book and begins reading the page. He quickly erupts into a fit of giggles. "Nice! Where did you get a copy of 69 Positions of Power from Konrad? I haven't seen a copy of this book  in like six years. Man that brings back memories. Me and Zelk must have passed that thing back and forth at least six times."

"Nine times," specifies Zelk, still chuckling. "We did it nine times."

______________

"Only when the couple in question kiss each other in front of the whole ship," replies Fredrick.

"Planning on doing it again?" teases Naomi.

Fedler blushes.

"Of course we are, but you'll just have to guess as to when it'll happen." - Mihai offers back, with a near deadpan expression, and a tone that isn't quite clear on whether it's serious or joking.

Now it's Konrad's turn to laugh. "I found it on one of the dead bastards, and I said to myself, 'HA, he won't be needing that anymore!' Heh, because he's dead! And here I thought I was being cheeky. Everything 'by-the-book' with you, eh? Well, by all means, study up, write a summary, get a 'peer review'!"

Diplomacy
Aside from the fact that the Lorinthian guard/pirate had been carrying it around with him in the first place, you notice that the fact that their enemy is dead is legitimately funny to Konrad, but he attempts to fast-talk right past it...

Mihai's answer puts a smile on the squad members' faces, even Adam.

"I'm just going to... make a tactical retreat," states Fedler.

She picks up the empty bowls on the table from the ones who have finished eating, and brings them into the kitchen.

"What about you Conan?" asks Naomi. The man in rags lifts his head from his soup. "Do you have any sweetheart waiting for you back home?"

"If you don't mind sharing, of course," adds Fredrick, full of curiosity.

Conan isn't fazed at all, and casually answers, "I do not, no."

________________________

Zelk almost raises an eyebrow at Konrad's dark sense of humor, but she doesn't press on it. She takes the book back from Steve. "You're not keeping it. It's just going to give you a lot of ideas I don't need in your head right now."

Mihai gulps down the rest of his soup in a hurry - "Just remember it'll happen when you least expect it, so don't ever leave that deck or you'll miss it. Also, don't fall asleep up there. The morning chill is murder." - and goes for the kitchen.

Fredrick waves at Mihai as he leaves, which Naomi quickly prompts him to stop with a slap on the wrist. Once Mihai has entered the kitchen, he sees that Fedler has just started cleaning the bowls.

He approaches, embarrassed - "Sssorry... that kinda backfired."

The redheaded hunter turns around, and recognizes who it is.

"Backfired? What did?" she asks.

"Uh, back there. I just thought they'd back off, not get excited."

Fedler doesn't seem to understand where Mihai is going with this, until she finally realizes.

"Oh no, that's not it," she explains. "It's just..." She pauses to choose her words. "It didn't feel right to be happy in front of the monks."

Mihai takes a breath, and glances off somberly - "Yeah, i know what you mean." - then realizes what she also just said and wipes the gloom off his face - "Anyway, can i help?"