19/10/2018
Cal and Franco enter The Armory, a specialist multifunction pub within Fujimori Air Force Base in Nichihan where the ATLAS Air Force is based. The bar’s resident singers, Martin and Ivy, keep the customers sane while the more loud ones head to the soundproof basement where a discotheque and club is located.
Cal then takes a good glass of fine Yuktobanian vodka with a dash of lime soda, whilst Franco simply orders a cup of decaf Americano from the coffee shop.
”How have you been doing so far, Franco?” Cal asks.
“I’m good bruv, it’s been quite a real mess, probably a bigger quagmire than what we’ve been in training, but I’m okay,” Franco responds, and the two start talking.
“How are you and that girl you’ve seen last week in Mayfair?”
“Ah, I did bang her but it wasn’t enough. Girl got way too clingy, so I stopped and now I’m ghosting her. Young-hearted, she is.”
“What about that aircraft mechanic from Kang Mai?”
“Ahhh, same. Had that after-sex sentiment, she was better than Britanny but dude, I really ain’t up for anything long-term at this point.”
“So you’re just gonna enjoy whatever you can find and just plant the seeds everywhere eh?”
“Yeah, boss. How about you? How’s Merriam doing?”
Cal takes a quick drink. “She’s fine, she’s fine. The stresses of long-distance relationships is finally taking a toll on me, ya know. It’s not easy that she’s in Afzalia waiting on me to get home when we haven’t even earned our weekend passes yet. I’m even planning on buying her that silver dogtag pendant we saw at the Duty Free yesterday, have it engraved.”
Franco responds, “Boss, you definitely are soooooo mushy.”
“Yeah, because I truly loved that woman, Franco. Always wanted to have her since we were in seventh grade. How about you, what made you decide to just go casual?”
Franco then takes a sip of his coffee and bites into a chocolate chip cookie.
“I really don’t know, bruv. It feels hard to be alone in life and always pressured be the good guy, to follow in Raven’s footsteps. Heck, yeah, I’m not my uncle, I’m my own man. But I’m also half-lonely and half-empty. I need purpose. I need companionship. I need to fulfill what I want to fulfill.”
“Have it your way then, Franco. But don’t let those thoughts drown the way we fight battles up in the air.”
“Definitely, Boss.”
As the two pilots continue, the song in the background changes.
“I don't want your body
But I hate to think about you with somebody else
Our love has gone cold
You're intertwining your soul with somebody else...”