His Majesty's Dragons: The Battle of Britain

[Charon]

The soft footsteps of a dragon approached, and moment later, Æquitas' green and turquoise speckled form appeared out of the darkness. Dwarfing both Jeb and Kunja, the Malachite Reaper did not even bat an eye at seeing Jake outside with his dragon, certainly not after everything that had happened this afternoon.

"Are you both all right?" he asked. Jeb had taken a walloping today, and Kunja had gotten an Aufseher angry enough at him to last a month of Mondays. Both could be forgiven for being a bit shaken up, not that either would likely admit it.

Kunja had been relatively relaxed before. Now that Æquitas was in view the lightweight dragon tensed up and raised his head again. Jake raised a hand from his sitting position against Kunja and placed it on his dragon. Kunja calmed a little bit, but was still obviously agitated. His response was terse. "We'll be fine for the next fight."

[rhoenix]

"Hello, Veritas," said Fulminatus, turning the name over in his mouth like a human tasting a glass of wine. "You've got quite an eye for trouble if you've been assigned here. Did the Russians withdraw their complaint, or are the British desperate enough not to care?"

Veritas stretched himself out in a leonine (or, more appropriately, a draconine) fashion, laying on his stomach with his head raised and alert, in such a fashion as to be able to leap to his feet at a second's notice. His reply was delivered without trace of a smile, given in his typical deadpan fashion. His voice, as always, sounded like a low wind moving through the trees at an inexorable pace, despite his Ulster accent. "More a sense of trouble, truth be told. I'd dealt with a Winchester and his Captain as politely as I could when they purposefully began tilting at the big red scary dragon, but I lost my patience eventually. I think the incident where I notified them that I'd use them both to relieve my hemorrhoids placed Alexander and myself on some shaky ground politically. I was actually the polite one - Alexander was rather more forthright after the first few incidents with them, questioning their ancestry, country of origin and sexual orientation, suggesting they had inter-species sexual preferences with the formerly living, and various other rather inspiring, though loudly put comments."

The great dragon paused for a moment, after which a ghost of a smile appeared on his face. "As for the Russians - well, as long as Britain doesn't begin using me to stud for them, they won't do much apart from the obligatory pithy comment now and then. So, we're here to serve king and country, this country that is, until the Hun is beaten back into their borders and is forced to cry into their ale on a daily basis, a cause I fully support and pledge my activism toward."

After this, he turned his head slightly toward Fulminatus. "After sharing that extra-special glimpse into my life, however, I can't help but suspect that you're dodging the question as to your well-being. Did Hitler's great grumpy beasts give you an unpleasant day, or is that digestion problem of yours rearing its ugly head once again?"

[Dark Silver]

The Longhorn mix was settled down on the side of the covert, and indeed, all the other dragons were too busy to involve themselves directly in its business. But barely a minute had gone by before a most peculiar sound slowly rose from the side of the clearing nearest Hermecritus. It could best be described as that of a bulldozer, but realistically that didn't even cover it. Whatever it was was approaching.

Moments later, the bushes parted and a small lightweight dragon in light combat harness emerged from them, dragging the uneaten carcass of an entire cow along behind it. So consumed with its efforts was the Lightweight that it did not even appear to notice Hermecritus... at least not until it backed into the giant dragon with a thud, and stopped, and turned around, blinking up at the mixed-breed dragon.

For a moment it said nothing, staring up at the Longhorn hybrid, and then suddenly, remembering what it had been doing, it grabbed one leg of the cow and slid the carcass around before it, like an offering.

"Cow?" said Capricorn to Hermecritus in a soft Australian accent, though it wasn't clear if he was offering the cow to the American, or getting its confirmation that the dead animal was, in fact, a cow.

Hermeticus had lifted his head when the sound had started, Thomas was settled by his flank, looking at the stares. Soon enough, both dragon and captain looked up and watched as the lightweight drug in the cow.

As Capricorn put the carcass between himself and the larger dragon, Thomas smiled a lil. The act was so silly, yet so inline with what he knew of the lightweights.

"No thank you," Hermeticus rumbled deeply, shifting the carcass back towards the lightweight with a large paw, "but enjoy yourself."

Thomas stroked the Longhorn Reaper's side comfortingly as he watched the Australian. "Where's your Captain at?" he asked after a few minutes, wondering if he'd have to expect company soon...

[Cynical Cat]

"I'm surprised," said Nathan. "I didn't think we hit it that hard." He shrugged. "Frostfell will take the kill, of course. If you'll excuse me, I have to make sure the liquor keeps running for my men. They have one of their own to mourn."

[General Havoc]

"See if the armorers can't cut it down to size," said Æquitas with a chuckle. "It'll serve as an admirable heavy combat harness for you, unless you prefer it light. I'm not sure how you do those maneuvers of yours, but I can't imagine too much weight would help with them. Either way, if that was your first time in combat, then well done. Both of you."

As was customary in air forces the world over, Æquitas refered to a captain and his dragon as one unit.

Something in Kunja's voice however did not vouch well for his status for the next mission. He decided to test the waters with the Australian.

"Incidentally," said Æquitas to Jake and Kunja, if you like, and it's your decision, you're entitled to take half-credit for the Aufseher. Special Weapons dragons get the lion's share of the kills, but the RAF's policy is that it takes others to get them there. It's your decision, as I said, if you wish to take the credit. No-one could fault you either way."

"It's war, after all, and men and dragons both die in war. You both... you both did as you had to, as we all may have to one day."

*----------------------------------------------------------------*

Fulminatus snorted. "The only thing wrong with my digestive system is the coagulated blood I've stuffed down my gullet." He stamped at the ground with his foreleg, leaving clawmarks in the dirt.

"Your king and country are in a bit of a bad spot," said the American Reaper. "I've no love lost for the Germans, not since 1870, but they've got a force on hand that dwarfs ours. That's hardly new... but there's something else in this one."

Fulminatus stared back out to sea. "I've seen every war on every continent since the Crimea. There's something different about this one. Desperate stands are nothing new, I've seen two dozen that succeeded and three times that that failed. Something else is going on here. I'm just not sure what yet."

He turned away from the coast. "It's a new kind of war. Old warhorses like me don't fit in anymore, but I've been too stupid to die so far, so they stick me here to harass the Jerries until I wise up. Some things never change."

And with his typical brusqueness, Fulminatus walked off towards the covert.

*---------------------------------------------*

"Of course," said Rankin. "Try not to let the kill go too far to Frostfell's head though. I understand there was some... talk earlier among the dragons."

"Good hunting Captain. No doubt we'll need some more in the days to come."

[Cynical Cat]

"Too late for that," said Reynolds. "He already thinks he's the lord slaughterer among dragons."

[rhoenix]

Fulminatus snorted. "The only thing wrong with my digestive system is the coagulated blood I've stuffed down my gullet." He stamped at the ground with his foreleg, leaving clawmarks in the dirt.

"Your king and country are in a bit of a bad spot," said the American Reaper. "I've no love lost for the Germans, not since 1870, but they've got a force on hand that dwarfs ours. That's hardly new... but there's something else in this one."

Fulminatus stared back out to sea. "I've seen every war on every continent since the Crimea. There's something different about this one. Desperate stands are nothing new, I've seen two dozen that succeeded and three times that that failed. Something else is going on here. I'm just not sure what yet."

He turned away from the coast. "It's a new kind of war. Old warhorses like me don't fit in anymore, but I've been too stupid to die so far, so they stick me here to harass the Jerries until I wise up. Some things never change."

And with his typical brusqueness, Fulminatus walked off towards the covert.

Getting up and stretching, Veritas turned around after Fulminatus walked away. "Grumpy, indeed. What we dragons truly need is our own beer, since you could use one, old wardrake."

With that, he walked back to the common area, nodding to Æquitas and the rest as he passed them, wishing them good evening as he walked past, clearly in no hurry. Soon enough, he reached his bookbag, and pulled out another book about the great detective Sherlock Holmes, in hardback. Settling comfortably into resting his belly on the ground, he began to read again, facing the majority of the other dragons if they wished to talk, as well as one of the windows to the mess, which happened to overlook Alexander, from his position. Veritas felt he needed to keep an eye on his human Captain and companion, for multiple reasons.

[LadyTevar]

"See if the armorers can't cut it down to size," said Æquitas with a chuckle. "It'll serve as an admirable heavy combat harness for you, unless you prefer it light. I'm not sure how you do those maneuvers of yours, but I can't imagine too much weight would help with them. Either way, if that was your first time in combat, then well done. Both of you."

" 'Less we kin fix up one o' em bubbles tha' keep Judith from gettin' shot 'gain, Ah'm thinkin' it's a mite too heavy fer me," Jebediah drawled. He shook out his wing, presenting the large bony claw on the alar bend for Æquitas to view. "As fer Reversin', here's th' secret. Hook'em good, an' yer own weight swings ya right 'round."

---
Inside, Judith was enjoying her meal and the company. She was also introduced by Philedelphia Tahalshia to a drink he called 'rum'.

[Charon]

Something in Kunja's voice however did not vouch well for his status for the next mission. He decided to test the waters with the Australian.

"Incidentally," said Æquitas to Jake and Kunja, if you like, and it's your decision, you're entitled to take half-credit for the Aufseher. Special Weapons dragons get the lion's share of the kills, but the RAF's policy is that it takes others to get them there. It's your decision, as I said, if you wish to take the credit. No-one could fault you either way."

"It's war, after all, and men and dragons both die in war. You both... you both did as you had to, as we all may have to one day."

Both dragon and captain fixed Æquitas with a stony glare. Kunja spoke first. "Take the credit elsewhere. We didn't do anything but be stupid and then get lucky." Jake responded after his dragon. "There was nothing as had to be done about killing a dragon captain." And then Kunja spoke again. "Though I'm sure you'd love for us to take credit for killin' one. Let you think you're right that colonials are nothin' but savages."

Both dragon and captain spat at the ground almost in sync before looking away.

[LadyTevar]

Jeb looked down at the ground, then up to Æquitas.

"Ah think Ah'll jis' go check on Judith," the Smoke Devil said, rising to his feet. It was clear he thought this wasn't his business. "Ah'll com' back by dyrektly." He walked away, leaving Kunja and Jake alone with the Malachite.

Oddly, Jeb found Fulminatus pacing in his direction. "Evenin'."

[General Havoc]

"Right," said Æquitas, without skipping a beat, "because when I said a moment ago that it was your decision and that nobody could fault you either way, what I obviously meant was that it wasn't your decision and that everyone would fault you for making a call. That's obviously what I meant because I have a habit of lying to subordinates for no reason whatsoever other than perversity."

Æquitas didn't sound mad, nor even did he sound particularly sarcastic. He sounded tired, and he crouched down a bit, lowering his voice so that it would not be overheard by the others.

"You can hate me, if you wish. You're supposed to hate me to an extent. I'm your flagdragon, not your friend after all, and I've got my own blinders on to the world, and on top of that I'm a Malachite and thus I'm among the most arrogant creatures on four legs except perhaps for the Wendigo and that much unproven, so... think whatever you like, really. But we're in the middle of the greatest war in the history of this world. Fulminatus over there's been in every one for the last century and he'll tell you the same. None of us have ever seen this sort of thing before, not even Semmemnon... and you two are right in the middle of it, and so am I, and if any of us survives this war, it will be largely due to luck. There's no shame in surviving because of it."

Æquitas stretched and continued speaking in a flat, calm, declarative tone that was completely benign and without malice or hostility. "So in the interests of saving us all a little time, I'll just make a few things clear. One, you both did do very well today, whatever you may be thinking about it, and please, if you were considering it, don't bother telling me that what happened with the Aufseher didn't affect you, because it did, all of us, veteran and newcomer alike. Two, I never thought you were a savage colonial, though if you wish to adopt that as some kind of badge of honor to spite me, that's your business. Three, you should, in fact, take the half-kill, not because of what I will think, which is immaterial, but because of what the others will of the fact that it's there, once the means it was acquired is forgotten."

He sighed. "And four, I don't care much if you think me a stuck up British lizard-brain, lord knows I've been guilty of worse, but you should know, if you did that in front of a Kazilik or a Parnassian, you would quite simply be dead. That's not hyperbole. Regardless of cause and right and who said what to whom, the Kazilik would roast you alive on the spot, and the Parnassian would tear you to pieces. I've seen it before in both cases. Now I'm not a Parnassian or a Kazilik, and I'm going to assume it was not your intention to challenge me to a battle to the death, but instead signal that you think me an ass or worse for what I said about that Wendigo. So given that, instead of waiting for you to do something incredibly foolish, forcing me to either fight you or transfer you to Iceland, I'd like to end this before it begins. I don't care if you think me the devil, but I won't have this sitting over Michael's head when he's trying to command the squadron, and I won't lose a proven dragon and captain for petty reasons, not after what I saw from you both today."

"So if I may ask, what is it you want from me, because you obviously want something. Do you believe I should apologize for my barbaric statements? Or is there something else I'm not seeing?"

*-------------------------------------------------*

Fulminatus was watching the Malachite and the Victorian from afar, pacing slowly along the edge of the covert, when he spotted the smaller Smoke Devil approaching. He raised his good eye as the smaller dragon greeted him.

"Evening," said Fulminatus, sitting down and glancing at the wings of the other dragon, and the claws that stuck out prominently from them. As the fancy took him, he asked a question.

"That... trick you did this afternoon, the hook and cycle, I've not seen that for nearly eighty years. Tell me, how does it work? The last Smoke Devil I fought alongside was an ornery bastard who refused to explain it."

*-------------------------------------------------*

Capricorn did not require a second urging, and dove headfirst into the carcass of the cow with a voracious relish, pausing only when the Lognhorn's captain asked him a question. He popped his head up like a jack in the box, and blinked a few times before answering.

"Nick is getting people food," he said, in the manner of one who had just made a wise and profound statement. "He's coming back soon."

Capricorn licked the blood off his forepaw before turning to the captain and sniffing at him for a second.

"Are you an ab'rig'nee?" he asked Thomas, with a puzzled look on his face.

[LadyTevar]

"That... trick you did this afternoon, the hook and cycle, I've not seen that for nearly eighty years. Tell me, how does it work? The last Smoke Devil I fought alongside was an ornery bastard who refused to explain it."

"Most Smoke Devils are orney," Jebediah answered the larger dragon with a chuckle. "But tain't way he din' 'splain. Some cant 'splain wha' jis is." But, as Fulminatus had done, Jeb tilted his head slightly to look at the prominent claw that grew from the end of the alarbone.

"Now... m' first captain... he said twas like th' thumb onna human. Stickin' out like tha' twas why Ah could grab cliffs 'n such fer climbin' an' fer reversin' laik Ah do," Jeb said softly, thinking back to younger days, when Judith's father tried to figure it out his own self. "He though' t'was somethin' we'd all grown jis' cause o' where we lived, inna mountains an' gorges. Havta 'dmit, grabbin' a rock ta stop yerself from hittin' river bottom tis right handy." That had the sound of someone who'd needed that sudden rescue. "As fer the 'Devil's Reverse'? Ya jis' sink yer claw inta som'thin' tha'll hold ya well 'nuff, an' then yer own speed'll whip ya round. Tha's all there is tooit."

[Charon]

Both Kunja and Jake remained silent while Æquitas spoke. Not moving or fidgeting until he mentioned the Aufseher, which elicited a visible shiver from both captain and dragon.

Kunja took a slow steady breath. "I'm sorry, sir. We are both still somewhat, ill at ease, after what we did today." Both dragon and captain conferred quietly for a few moments before the dragon spoke again. "We'll take the half-kill. Though we are still not yet pleased with it."

[Dark Silver]

Thomas had not looked away as the little Australian dragon tore into the cow. He blinked a bit at the sudden question though.

"I'm afraid I don't understand the question.." he admitted after a few minutes. He had honestly never heard the term aboriginy before, "What is a," he paused while trying to resound the word, "a'brig'nee?"

[Cynical Cat]

Frostfell glared at the orderlies as they retreated from the cranky and wounded dragon. A huge bandage covered the work of a team of veterinary surgeons. The big Wendigo had recovered consciousness a half hour ago and pain and grogginess helped bring out the worst in him. Actually, a lot of things brought out the worst in Frostfell.

Nathan walked towards the big dragon. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm wounded and I lost one of mine and I didn't get to kill anyone!" the dragon snarled. "And whatever they gave me makes me nauseous."

"Actually you did make a kill. The Bluejacket crashed in the Channel."

Frostfell's head snapped around. "Really?"

"Really."

"Fool."

"I'll drink to that," said Nathan holding up a bottle.

"Captain should have cut loose the saddle and armour. Swimming the Channel is easy enough, even wounded and towing humans."

"Easier said than done."

"You could have done it."

"Truth," said Nathan, walking none too steadily towards the great wyrm. He took a pull on the bottle. "I would offer you one but . . ."

"Funny. What are you doing here?"

"The base doesn't seem to have any Chinese hookers and there's rules about getting wrecked with substances that aren't alcohol."

"As if that'll stop you."

"It sure as hell didn't. I'm tanked to the gills. Just a bit of booze to help finish me off." He took another pull on the bottle and leaned back into Frostfell's warm bulk.

"Sleep easy," whispered the dragon.

[General Havoc]

The old American Middleweight let out a deep rumble of a laugh. "Is that all there is to it?" he asked. "Just grab and swing? And here I thought you'd surely tear your wings off if you tried a stunt like that, then again I s'pose you don't have as much bulk to haul around as some of us."

The wind picked up suddenly, and Fulminatus tensed up a second, raising his head and sniffing the air, but finding nothing out of place, he looked back down at Jeb.

"Was that your first time in real combat?" he asked the lightweight,
"or were you in the 'Great' war? Not many but newcomers take risks like those."

His voice was plain and declarative, not indicating whether he thought the risks laudable or idiotic.

*--------------------------------------------------------*

"It's all right," said Æquitas evenly, "I wouldn't want to meet the dragon that was pleased with it. Something like what happened today doesn't come easy to anyone. Take what time you need. After the mauling we gave that Jerry squadron, we shouldn't be in action again for a day or so. At least I hope not."

He turned to go. "I'll inform Michael of your decision. Whatever you may think of the kill... it was well done on your part to bring that Aufseher down without any friendly casulties... and... believe me when I say that the quicker his pain ended, the better off he was."

*-------------------------------------------------------*

Rankin meanwhile was walking towards the immense Crimson Angel that had arrived while they were out. Crimson Angels were not exactly subtle beasts, and it would have been plainly visible even in a crowd of heavyweights.

"Good day," said Rankin as he approached. "I'm Captain Michael Rankin, Squadron Commander, RAF Tangmere. You'd be Veritas then?"

*------------------------------------------------------*

"An ab'rignee!" said Capricorn, as though repeating an obvious statement. "They're the ones who fly the purple dragons! They're all black 'cause they live where the sun's too hot. Are you an ab'rignee?"

He considered this question again for a second and looked up at Hermecritus. "You're not purple," he said after a second and began to ponder this mystery of the universe while munching on the cow's liver.

"Cap? Cap, where'd you get off to?"

Capricorn turned around and bounded over to a slim man in an RAAF uniform, who patted the small dragon on the head and nodded as he babbled about "brown Dreamweavers" and "ab'rignees". Captain Kelly walked over towards Hermecritus and his captain.

"G'day," he said, extending his hand. "Cap'n Nick Kelly, on Capricorn. What's all this about Dreamweavers?"

[rhoenix]

Rankin meanwhile was walking towards the immense Crimson Angel that had arrived while they were out. Crimson Angels were not exactly subtle beasts, and it would have been plainly visible even in a crowd of heavyweights.

"Good day," said Rankin as he approached. "I'm Captain Michael Rankin, Squadron Commander, RAF Tangmere. You'd be Veritas then?"

Veritas, upon hearing the Squadron Commander's voice addressing him, placed hs bookmark where he was reading and closed his book, looking at Captain Rankin calmly. The great red dragon spoke with a low Ulter accent. "Indeed, Captain Rankin," he said nodding his head in respect, "I am Veritas - and I am honored to meet you. I am also sorry Captain Braithwaite and I didn't come sooner - it appears we missed a bit of fun."

[LadyTevar]

The old American Middleweight let out a deep rumble of a laugh. "Is that all there is to it?" he asked. "Just grab and swing? And here I thought you'd surely tear your wings off if you tried a stunt like that, then again I s'pose you don't have as much bulk to haul around as some of us."

The wind picked up suddenly, and Fulminatus tensed up a second, raising his head and sniffing the air, but finding nothing out of place, he looked back down at Jeb.

"Ayeah, tha' helps...," Jeb agreed. "Might jis' be why it works so well. Lord knows th' Virginee Dragons hate us fer it." Oddly, he too brought his head up to the breeze to taste the scent in the air, trying to get used to the new scents in the wind. When Fulminatus relaxed, Jebediah took that to mean the scents were normal and filed that information away.

"Was that your first time in real combat?" Fulminatus asked the lightweight, "or were you in the 'Great' war? Not many but newcomers take risks like those."
His voice was plain and declarative, not indicating whether he thought the risks laudable or idiotic.

"Nah.... Tha' would o' been m' first Captain, Jack McClung... Judith's father," Jeb said, looking towards the messhall, or probably beyond it, into the past. "Th' two oldest boys were still in diapers, an' Jake was workin' hard keepin' 'em all fed ta go joinin' no army. Then th' Infloo-inza hit," Sadness touched Jeb's voice now, dropping it low. "Half th' county twas down wit' it... an' those as got it mostly died. E'en Ah was diggin' graves, caus' t'weren't 'nuff healthy ta do it. Damn near thought Ah'd lose Jake......."

A shiver started at Jebediah's head and went to his tail tip as he chased away the memories. "Nah... wha' Ah was doin' t'was naught but shine-runnin' tricks, keepin' th' Rev'nuuers from a-catchin' us." Jebediah looked up to the larger Reaper. "Work'd well on th' Virginees an' som'o yer own kinfolk, so Ah figur'd t'would work well 'nuff here. Th' mil'tary tried ta teach us proper fightin', bu' shipp'd us o'er hear afore th' month twas owt." A wide devilish grin spread across Jebediah's face. "Migh' o' been me showin' up tha' Virginee ridin' herd on us. Might'n o' been Judith tellin' his Captain she t'weren't no whore, an' kickin' him in th' twig-n-berries." That was the real source of his smirk, as he remembered the rest of the Captains not raising a hand to stop Judith as she stalked out and left the officer on the ground. Even the Captain's dragon didn't make a peep ... good thing too, with five lightweights all watching him like a hawk.


+++++++++++++
Philidelphia Tahalshia was wishing he'd not introduced Judith McClung to rum. It had made her talkative, in that colonial accent that was more barbaric than Hackney in butchering the Kings English. For the last several minutes she'd given a rather expert disertation on the flaws of both Gin and Rum compared to a drink she called 'The 'Shine'.

"... a good 'shine, ya don't smell it or taste it, ya jis' feel th' warmth all th' way down," Judith avowed, her hands gesturing animatedly as she spoke, the mouthful of Gin and the glass of Rum making her cheeks ruddy and her eyes sparkle. "Lik' m' paw an' his frozen' cider...," she paused, chuckling. "Ya gotta hear this-a-one... M' Paw an' his cousins were atta Chris'mas party owt on Sunday Road, an' Jeb told 'em 'bout a hogshead o' apple cider he smelt inna barn owt back. Now, it'd been right cold an' snowin' fer sev'ral nights, an' th' barn t'weren't heated 'tall ... so they was righ' s'prised ta find th' hogshead frozen solid, but fer th' very center. Tha' twas cold, bu' not frozen' t'all... so th' got owt their cups an' star'd drinkin."

Phil, having a good English Education, as well as his own little side studies, got the idea quickly. "It was pure alcohol.." he stated, realizing just how badly the story could go.

"Ayeah... t'was pure AppleJack. They drank it dry, an' th' next mornin' felt lik' God Himself had put a hurtin' on 'em fer it." Judith laughed, pleased that the little man had gotten the joke.

"So.... do -you- like apple drinks?" Phil asked, looking around furtively.

"Ah lik' a drop o' cider now an' gin'..." Judith allowed.

There was a spranging sound of suspender elastic as Phil dug under his coat and pulled out a flask and a tiny shotglass. As he opened it up and poured out a measly measure, the liquid was pure gold and seemed to mist slightly inside the glass.

"Wha' th' blazes?" Judith exclaimed, leaning forward to make sure she was seeing it right.

"It's ... mostly apples...." Phil answered as he handed her the tiny sip.

[Charon]

"It's all right," said Æquitas evenly, "I wouldn't want to meet the dragon that was pleased with it. Something like what happened today doesn't come easy to anyone. Take what time you need. After the mauling we gave that Jerry squadron, we shouldn't be in action again for a day or so. At least I hope not."

He turned to go. "I'll inform Michael of your decision. Whatever you may think of the kill... it was well done on your part to bring that Aufseher down without any friendly casulties... and... believe me when I say that the quicker his pain ended, the better off he was."

Both Kunja and Jake nodded slowly. "Yeah we know. Still doesn't make it much easier." Jake slowly got to his feet once Aequitas was gone. "I suppose I should show myself for the party huh?" Kunja looked at his captain and nodded. "Yeah, don't worry 'bout me. I'll be fine."

Jake made his way down to the tent where all the noise was coming from and with only a brief pause he took a deep breath in and out and then stepped in.

Kunja slowly got to his feet as well and began to wander the camp some, testing out some of the wrappings that the medical teams had put on his numerous wounds.

[LadyTevar]

Jake made his way down to the tent where all the noise was coming from and with only a brief pause he took a deep breath in and out and then stepped in.

And thus, Judith does not find out the hard way why the 'mostly apples' drink Phil offered is called Tahalshian KnockOut, as she spots the man she'd been looking for all evening. "JAKE! 'Bout time ya show'd up!"

The tiny cup of questionable content was handed back to Phil without a second thought before Judith got up from the table and made her way (slightly unsteadily) towards Jake. "How's Kunja?" she asked, giving the Aussie captain a one-armed hug. Unbeknownst to him, she'd given nearly everyone a victory hug that night.

[SirNitram]

"Aw well. Ground crew, brace!" Phil stated simply, causing two of Semmemon's ground crew to run to his side. He upended the glass in one go, and tilted backwards almost instantly. It was mostly apples. Well. Stuff taken from apple trees.

[Charon]

Jake returned the hug, and to anyone watching the pair it was clear that he was torn between staying that way for the next twenty minutes and pulling away as soon as convenient. In the end he decided to break away as soon was convenient and smiled at Judith. "We'll be fine. We're both a bit scraped up, but nothing a few days won't clear up." Jake paused as he looked Judith over, "How about you? I didn't get... uh, much time to see you in action, but I understand you had quite a flight."

[LadyTevar]

"Jeb an' Ah did awright," Judith answered with a grin. Jake may have let go of the hug, but Judith hadn't stepped back far, the rum inside her muting what normal shyness she had. Unnoticed in the background, Phil Tahalshia downed the shot of whatever liquor he'd been about to feed Judith, and fell over backwards in a drunken stupour. Semenon's groundcrew lifted him and carried him out as if they'd had practice.

"Jeb an' Fulminatus skeer'd th' other Assfer-whasis outta its harness," Judith continued, adjusted the sling on her left arm and not noticing Phil's departure. "An' afore that Jeb n' Ah clum th' back o' a Jerry lightweight an' made it turn tail. Tha's where Ah got this," she added, making a face at the sling. "Tradin' shots with' th' lightweight's capt'n. Jeb got a tooth shot owt, tha's 'bout th' worst he got." The grin reappeared, as devilish-looking as her dragon. "Ah don' think th' Jerrys lik'd Jeb climbin' aboard. Ah know th' Assfer-whasis was a might shock'd when Jeb landed an' start'd plowin' his backside."

She left out the part about the nets and the flamethrower, the grin trailing away as she gave Jake a long look. "Ya sure yer awright?" she asked again, softly. "Jeb said ya'll were takin' it hard."

[Charon]

Jake listened carefully to Judith as she told him of her own exploits, nodding and grinning at her as she told him. When she stopped he grinned as he led her towards the bar. "Hell, we may make a proper dragon out of you yet Judith. Good job on holding off that Aufseher." Jake paused as though he was trying not to think about his own experience with the other Aufseher.

Jake made it to the bar and grabbed a glass and poured at least three shots of whiskey into it. "Physically, we'll be ok in a few." That much was true, there were a few bandages that covered random parts of Jake's body, though there was nothing big, just scratches from the fight and places where the frothing acid had struck. "But..." Jake paused for a long time before he drained the majority of his glass. Coughing harshly afterwards for a good twenty seconds. "I don't think we'll be ready to fight for awhile." Jake didn't seem to notice that Judith herself was rather tipsy as he looked back to his glass and finished it off.

[LadyTevar]

The praise made the young woman blush a little, fumbling out a polite thanks. But as they got to the bar, Judith watched him down the whiskey with a frown. "Iffen ya try ta drown yerself lik' that, ya'll not be able ta fight a'tall," she said with concern, her good hand reaching out to rub his arm. "Ah din't see what happened wit' yer flight either, Jake," she said, trying to politely offer someone to confide in.