[quote=@Chiro]
[center][h3][color=00aeef]Henri[/color] [/h3][/center]

[center][color=00aeef]La Trinidad de Manila Academy[/color][/center]

Henri was mostly focused on eating, though occasionally he looked around him. It was then that another fellow appeared at the table. A soldier himself.

[color=00aeef]"You and me both, pal."[/color] Henri replied and shook Oskar's hand,[color=00aeef]"I'm not much of a conversationalist myself, either. Henri, Henri Janssens."[/color]

While they were both military men, this didn't feel like the time of going for ranks. Besides, Arms-Masters here were relatively casual outside of battle.

[color=00aeef]"So, what do you think of the Philippines?"[/color] Henri asked, hoping to ease the mood. [color=00aeef]"Personally, the sights are beautiful, but this heat really gets to me."[/color]

[/quote]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Y9sJ6mj.png[/img][/center]

[color=f7941d]“It’s the humidity.”[/color]  A figure in army fatigues practically fell into the seat beside Oskar, pallid face and messy blonde hair quickly following and a bowl of [i]arroz caldo[/i] thunking onto the table in front of her.  [color=f7941d]“Wish I’d spent more time in the South-West as a kid, I’d have been used to it already, but as is…  Didn’t take too long to acclimatise.”[/color]

She spared a glance towards Henri, wan smile crossing her face below her half-lidded eyes.  [color=f7941d]“Not going by rank, then, [i]Sergeant[/i]?  And give the guy a break, he’s barely arrived.”[/color]  She plunged her spoon into the dish, then turned towards the newcomer, extending a hand to shake.  [color=f7941d]“Caroline, Lidmann, but please just call me ‘Callie’.  ‘Caroline’’s what the brass and my mum should call me, and, ideally, not another soul.”[/color]

[color=f7941d]“Speaking of…”[/color]  Callie lifted the spoon, now heaped with rice broth and chicken, and pointed it at Henri vaguely accusatorially before withdrawing it to beside her mouth.  [color=f7941d]“We’ve barely talked since Lingayen.  What brings a Belgian with a Greek NA from an EU spec ops unit to the other side of the world?”[/color] she asked – followed by practically inhaling the mouthful and [i]shivering[/i] with pleasure, then going for another.  [color=f7941d]“Mmmph…  God, that’s good.  Anyway – spill.”[/color]