The Brotzeit Beirhaus buzzed with activity. Steins went up and clashed together and then down upon surfaces more frequently the more that the patrons of the establishment drank, but still the jovial air remained somewhat orderly. On occasion a war song or a drinking anthem from the Vaterland belted out from sets of lungs, multiplying occasionally but often dying down into the loud white noise of conversation within moments, before eventually rousing up again.

The dark rings under Mona's eyes were apparent as she carefully but strainedly set a pitcher of hefeweizen upon the table in front of the three shabbily-clad officers who'd by then plainly and openly admitted that they were plainclothes agents from across the border. But in town, they gladly wore their rifles slung over their backs, no questions asked as they strode through the doors, little swastiska pins that they’d brandished upon their collars only upon entry into the town. They were welcome here, especially in the Beirhaus, and clearly no harm would come toward them. Gerhard reached over to pluck two of the three glass steins Mona barely carried, handles slung along the insides of her wrists.

"Frauline Mona, you're going to strain yourself after such a long journey," he chastised with a brilliant smile that looked even brighter under the establishment's lights, "insisting you go retrieve our beverages like that." His eyes searched the table, then squinted at her. "Where's your glass, Frauline?"

Mona's left hand rushed to grasp a few strands of long dark hair as they tumbled from behind her ear. Her right hand's fingers wrapped around the handle of the pitcher. "I could only afford three glasses," she piped up meekly, her face darkening in an embarrassed shading.

The trio held their hands up sympathetically. "Frauline, no, you didn't have to do that!" insisted one, the other repeating similar sentiments after the other.

She shook her head as she collected their glasses. "No, no, no... I... I just..." she trailed off as she began to fill the steins one by one, "... I just know perhaps I shouldn't be riding on the train, you know. I could have gotten into big trouble."

Gerhard's smile was something else. The longer they stayed in the beer hall, the more at-home he seemed. "Well, that's no call for you to spend everything you had on us!" he responded good-naturedly. He raised a hand to gesture to the bartender.

Mona raised a hand. "Really, it's all right... if I drink beer right now, I'll fall asleep in my chair," she said while raising a hand to her face to suppress a yawn before distributing the drinks. "Zum wohl!" she cheeped, cautiously cheerful with a polite but still restrained smile. “... and Heil Hitler.”

“Heil Hitler!” The three drank gladly. "Thank you, Frauline!" they all chittered one after the other. They seemed genuinely grateful--really, they did. It was hard to be on the job for weeks on end, slinking along through the underbelly of the Europe along the railway or even in worse daily conditions. A meal wasn't guaranteed every day--not one fit for a human, at least. Beer was a treat today, something that was a guaranteed once wandering into friendly territory once off duty... but since it was Mona who brought it along, the appreciation sent to her was higher than it might have otherwise been. "Let us buy you a meal, and then a beer after you have your energy back! The gedadschde here is delicious. The schweinsbraten is even better."

"Well," she started as her eyes darted over the heads of those gathered around them, "before I do that... I may need to visit the ladies' washroom. I look terrible.”
"No you do not!" they protested, in chorus yet again, almost comically. "You’re the loveliest Italian woman we’ve ever seen! Come now, Frauline. Take all the time you need. We're ordering the schweinsbraten for you. What a long journey you had. This food may not what you're used to down in Italy, so let us treat you to delicious German food... while you're in France." One sitting beside Gerhard tipped his felt-brimmed cap politely with a wink before Mona nodded and wordlessly disappeared.