Redamancy ✷ Simon Riley

Chap 13)

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𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧
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Poppy strode into the lively cafeteria with incredibly soundless footsteps like an idle cat with Simon by her side. Her green eyes scanned the extensive room crammed with tables that were filled with animated soldiers talking amongst themselves.

Ravenous mouths were stuffed with smokey bacon, luscious pancakes and palatable hash browns while parched throats had orange juice, apple juice or coffee downed gradually.

The room was inundated to the ceiling with a pleasant smell of freshly cooked food that ranged from a wide selection of meats, cereals and treats like pancakes. The golden toast was placed on tables with a plate of butter, jam and honey. Cereals were in their own section for soldiers to go up and pick their desired choice.

The lieutenant parted from her to gather his own tray of food while she headed off to the metal table that had the cereal situated on the surface. The transparent plastic containers holding the cereals were labelled so everyone knew what they were picking.

Grabbing a clean bowl from the table, Poppy read over stickered labels before deciding to choose cornflakes. Picking up the container, she poured in the cereal until it reached halfway. She wanted to make sure she didn't put too much as she wanted to have room to put an equal amount of milk in.

Dargie placed the container of cornflakes back where she found it before she poured the cold milk into her bowl. She took a spoon with her, plopping it into the cereal. She got herself a mug of pungent coffee that had visible steam arising from the flat surface of the liquid.

As she held her bowl of cereal in the palm of her left hand, she clutched her right hand around the mug of coffee. Her nimble fingers tightened around the handle as she raised it to her mouth and blew over the rim to cool her hot drink down faster.

She made the mistake of raising it to her lips and taking a careful sip. This resulted in her burning her tongue which she berated herself for mentally.

Seeing a recognizable group of soldiers at the center of the room, she moved her legs and sauntered elegantly over. Her army green trousers gave her room to move freely without constriction preventing her from picking up her pace or moving readily.

The soles of her boots made a repeated scuffing sound across the polished tiled floor beneath her feet. Her eyes darted between familiar faces who looked up upon seeing her approach from their peripheral vision.

"Poppy motherfucking Dargie in the flesh," Callum—a soldier she had been on a classified mission with a few years ago—exclaimed, making his friends around him howl with hilarity. "How are you doing?"