Classless

Chapter 8- No Masks

Chapter 8- No Masks

Fedor’s POV

Chief stared at me like I was drunk, I had a weird affinity for alcohol meaning I don’t remember a time when I got drunk, it was one of the ways I sponsored myself through school, you’d be surprised at how much of a pissing contest it became to win me at drinking; I don’t know how it came to be but I knew that I was a champion of drinking games and drinking itself, the Chief didn’t know that, I could see his heart in his mouth, and I felt giddy inside. He deserved this after making me wear a fat suit, I knew he did it on purpose, he seemed to derive pleasure from annoying me. “Captain Song! Would you like to join in? I wager that you can’t beat me at drinking!” I winked at him.

“It is not a good idea to drink while working.” He glared at me dangerously but I wanted to see how far I could push his buttons, I forgot completely about my decision to steer clear of him but he was fast becoming an addiction, I liked and hated it all at the same time.

I shook my head at him and pointed, “You are no fun!” Napolo men in the vicinity agreed and booed in response, the man beside him, whom I assumed to be the famous Chief Laje was amused and challenged me in his stead.

“Song! Your man here is right, you are always uptight! Relax, it is another day under the moon, you are alive, I am alive and your men are here, what would happen if you let go tonight? Young man! I challenge you. My people think you are a good drinker, a good drinker is welcome at Napolo anytime and any day, come! If you win, I will do you a favor but if I win, you have to stay here for one more day. We could use more men like you.” Chief Laje had a boisterous personality, I could tell with the way his men looked up to him, it also meant that he was a good leader which meant that he was intelligent and that fact kept me on my toes. Chief Song was not happy that I had his attention and while what I was about to do meant that he might kill me in my sleep, I could not resist.

“I accept the challenge; I should warn you; I have never been drunk my entire life.” I decided to take pity on Chief Song, I doubted his heart could take any more tension, so I came down and pretended to slip into his arms, then I whispered; “you can relax, I am fine and I can’t get drunk. Trust me, I have tried.” I felt the tension reduce in his arms, there was just one problem, I enjoyed holding him and for a terrifying second, I thought about what it would be like to truly sink into his arms, that was enough to make me stand on my own. Chief Laje and I started the drinking competition amidst chants and screams from the men, once in a while, I would find Chief Song looking at me with worry. Chief Laje was good, he was one of the best I had encountered, but it was me. There was only one possible outcome and as predicted Chief Laje slumped unconscious in the middle of drinking his round. The shouts were deafening; one would think I was a hero that had just rescued an entire village with the celebration. I was lifted and thrown in the air and caught several times, I hoped the lack of weight was not obvious, thankfully they were too drunk to figure out the difference in my weight and my physical attributes.

The festivity died down and we returned to Martha, Men were simple creatures, it took a night of alcohol for them to get comfortable with me. Ode had his arm around me; he complimented my drinking habits. He hardly talked and if I had known this was what it would take for them to accept me, I would have taken them out for drinks the minute we met.

“H..how were you able to keep the drinks down?” Ode slurred.