I(joint post with Dylan)
After driving through the former Morstablysian countryside, Frank finally reached the bar called the Smokey Finch in Finchallet, not too far from Sani Bursil.
Frank was from Xagrurg, from the city that used to be called Imperium, the former capital of the Xagrurg. After a tungsten strike rippled through the city, the administrative functions of the nation was crippled, though most government officials were evacuated beforehand to Assowolf when news of the attack of Fort Eidenburgh by the cannon and the fall of Laona reached Imperium weeks prior.
He parked his truck in front of the bar and walked into the bar. The reason why he was in Finchallet was to visit and catch up with some old war buddies of his from the war, but he stopped at the bar to grab a couple of beers and get to know the locals some more. He walked up and sat at the counter, asking the barman, Akevitt please.
Your average middle aged, starting-to-grey barman turned and faced the man. His gaze looked tiresome and he bluntly awknowledged the request, digging into his store. He produced a half-drank bottle of the stuff and poured him a full shot glass worth.
“Usually it’s 6 Etads, but it’s on the Smokey Finch today. Thank Bursil Football Club.”
Cheers mate, Frank said to the barman. Hows your day going so far?
“It’s been good mate. Busy as hell. Haven’t stopped serving people all night,” he paused, leaning over to get closer to Frank. He discretely pointed at the barlady. “That’s my wife, Gill. She’s basically running it tonight. I’ve already had a few, thank Bursil for that.” he giggled.
Frank smiled and then said, Good to hear business is booming. Frank takes a shot and then continued. So, how come you set up shop here in Finchallet and not over in Bursil? More customers over there in the city.
“Ah, born and raised here kid,” he paused to reconcile old memories. “My parents never wanted me over there, so I’ve never really been. Don’t ask me why mate. I prefer it quieter than how Burisaye sounds anyway.”
Im from Imperium down south. I came up here to visit some old war buddies of mine, he then took another shot. Well, at least you had parents who cared about you so you could avoid the brunt of the war, Frank said with a sad look on his face.
“I’ve visited the war museum in Imperium. Lots of funny relics. I never knew my actual family. I was adopted at five.” he paused. “It’s funny. I was only explaining this to that bloke stood by the window about half hour ago.” a pause. “You sound like you know lots. Do ya like this kinda history?”
Yea, I was a history major at the University of Imperium when I volunteered, he replied. You ever try finding out who were your biological parents?
“Ah fuken smart arse ahaha. Know more about it than I ever would. Na mate. I’ve never really been interested. What’s a dead family good for, they’re useless.”
Had a full-ride scholarship and everything, he chuckled. But I felt the call to duty to protect Xagrurg and its people against the Ethalrian threat, looked how that turned out, he scoffed. Perhaps but still, if I were you, Id try to figure who were my actual parents so I can put that mystery to rest and move on. You ever serve?
“I’ve never said I wouldn’t mate. I might give it a go in the future.” he paused, poured himself some Akevitt and continued. “Na mate never. Too old now anyway. You served?”
Yeah, 4th Air Assault Regiment with the Xagrurgian Territorial Marines, Frank replied while he took another shot. If youre wondering how Im taking this many shots without passing out, Id like to let you know me and my buddies downed akevitt a fuckton during the war, he joked.
“You look good for your age sir. I don’t usually get many Xagurgians at my bar. I salute you for your service and effort. To be honest, I don’t know what a Morst victory would’ve looked like. Different world, savy?”
Yeah, a Morst victory would be interesting to see. But it probably wouldve ended up with a nuclear holocaust or if that didnt happen, decolonization of the Morst as the expenses of the war would’ve taken their toll on all sides, Frank said to him. Also, thank you, Frank nodded at Lambert.
“Yeh. Not been into it too much. I’m just your average joe mate. If Norograd didn’t have that weapon then maybe it’d’ve been a different story to tell our kids, haha.”
Frank chuckled slightly at the barmans joke but then his face saddened and then mumbled, I wish Nara and the kids were still here, as he took another shot.
Lambert got the hint that, whenever Frank necked a shot, his glass wanted refilling. At this point, he had a bottle in his hand to pour into the shot glass.
What happened to them? he asked.
Imperium got hit with the tungsten cannon during the evac operations, didn’t make it out, he looked down and took a sip of his shot.
Damn. I have no words. I were a lucky boy back then. Parrently I was miles from a hit site in Fort Bersius… he paused. How many kids did you have?
Only two, both were with Nara in Imperium
he said which then his hands began shaking. He settled it after a couple of tense seconds and then continued. The whole war was hell, he quietly said. Then, he began slightly laughing. You know what’s funny? I was supposed to be in Imperium that day to help with the evac ops but my regiment was deployed elsewhere to the front.
The fucken guilt, Lambert, a little saddened by the story, poured himself a shot and necked it.
IM WATCHING YOU MISTER! a voice called from the other side of the bar. It was his wife.
She never stops yappin
Frank lightened up a bit and then said to Lambert, Here’s a tip for ya, if you ever have kids, treasure every fucking minute with them, because you never know when they’ll be gone, then he took another sip.
You know, we were thinking about having kids. If it were a boy, we decided Thomas, Tom for short, and if it were a girl wed call her Celina Rose, he paused. Cant have kids tho. Shes had her thingy removed.
Sorry to hear that mate. I think I know of a Tom or Thomas from the Battle of Laona. Pretty friendly guy, served in the Xagrurgian National Guard. Never knew what happened to him though. Anyway, those are good names, though the little shits are hell-raisers though, he joked. Ever try adoption or that new procedure thingy 'artificial insemination or whatever sci-fi bullshit the scientists are calling it today?
To be honest mate, I think were too old for kids now. We struggle enough running this place. Keepin this place up is fucken hard work. I have to work 12 hour shifts 7 days a week to keep what we got here. Aint no rest for the wicked.
Tell you what mate, Frank takes out a piece of paper and writes down a phone number. Here’s a phone number to my brother’s cell. He owns a pretty cozy local line of distilleries in Laona. He’s a pretty nice dude. If you need any cash, call him and say you’re a friend of mine. Hell help ya out.
I could do with the money to pay for the legal shit in sorting out another bartender. Might actually get a day off ere and there. Thanks mate.
No problem, Frank said to Lambert. So, what’s your opinion of the insurgency down south in Xagrurg?
Fuken… Ah. he sat back. I hope it they win, he said, nervously looking around the room to make sure nobody heard him. Havent heard about it recently. They getting anywhere?
Supposedly, there’s making good progress, he whispered to Lambert. Last I heard, several ammo dumps were raided a bunch of resistance fighters from the woods, he paused and took a shot from his akevitt. You know, I was originally part of the insurgency a long time ago, fighting the good fight with other troops left behind and other patriotic citizens armed with guns. But alas, I got old and retired with a new identity provided by a old friend in the city gov. Cant exactly keep fighting 30 years straight you know, he smirked.
Youve been out there that long? Dont you get bored of it?
I retired from the fight back in 89 or 90, like I said, I got tired of it, the Assowolfians and Xagrurgians will come back when they want to is what I thought. I think a couple of the old guard are still fighting, hiding in the woods and carrying out raids.
You ever think this regime will lift off of us?
They’ll eventually have to, fighting or not. The will of the people will prevail, especially backed with absolute fucktons of guns floating around the black market thanks to Xagrurg’s lax gun laws, said Frank. You ever think there’s a surviving royal of the Morst?
They were all hung mate. Theres videos on the dark web. Think the granny made it out but shed be dead now, Lambert smirked. You?
There probably is, the royals would’ve at least kept one royal alive hidden somewhere to maintain the continuation of the familial line; they weren’t that stubborn to let any of their young die here. My guess they’re either living under some false alias or made it to Arcturia, Frank pondered. You know what’s weird? While I searching through the royals palace in Sani Bursil while evacing the place, I saw a photo of the royal family with a kid in the picture, looked 2 or 3 years old. But when I saw the hangings, he wasn’t among them.
Probably lost in the rubble of the city or summin. Cant imagine a little boy like that made it out. I dunno mate. Its 43 years ago. Half the fuken generation doesnt even know about them anymore.
Im betting he’s still alive somewhere, even if he forgot his true identity. His government caretaker probably had to make up a story on what happened to his real dad like he was some criminal that got executed or something.
I had a caretaker when I was younger. Bet ya that means Im a royal! Ahahah. he jokingly swept the idea aside.
Frank smirked at him and carefully examined Lambert’s facial features. Tell you what, let’s make a bet. If you turn out to be a royal by running your dna through some ancestry tracing service or something, I’ll owe you 30 Etads. If you don’t, you’ll owe me 5 Etads. Deal of the century mate.
Ill pass. I aint no royal. I just run a pub n have been my entire life.
Eh, you’re missing out on a bargain mate. Anyway, I’d best be going now. How much do i owe ya-oh wait, the game, Frank said. I’ll leave a tip anyway, dropping 40 Etads on the counter. Im feeling pretty good today. Cheers!
Nice talkin tya. See ya around mate, he said, picking up the tip. Rich bastard. he whispered under his breath. With Frank as the last customer of the night, him and his wife who was counting the money packed away.
That guy thought I was a royal. Lambert chuckled.
Youre handsome enough to be my royal. his wife remarked, kissing him.
The thought lingered. It wasnt something Lambert had thought about, but the man had convinced him enough to have the idea of trawling the internet to find out some more about this kid who supposedly wasnt hung with the rest of the family. Intrigued, but tired, Lambert went to bed.
