- Location
- Minot, North Dakota
"Yarr, them Coastie's be a violent bunch, that be for certain." - Kidd
Why else would they be called "puddle pirates" and have a group of ships in their fleet with black hulls....
Belated Battleships (KanColle) [REHOST]
- Thread starter theJMPer
- Start date
Why else would they be called "puddle pirates" and have a group of ships in their fleet with black hulls....
Leafninja91
The man that makes the impossible real.
- Location
- The Great White North
Jesus Fucking Christ, what a monstrosity!Happy 4th of July my 'Murican friends.
- Location
- Beyond the Unknowable Veil
But it has enhanced FREEDOM!
- Location
- Vancouver WA United States
Omake: Fireboates!
Because it's the 4th and where there's fireworks or any kind of pyrotechnic stuff, there's Phoenix!!
Fireworks are an inevitable part of July 4th. There just isn't an Independence Day without fireworks! So when each base in the US and those abroad that hosted US shipgirls had truckloads of fireworks brought in for the celebrations, the inevitable happened.
That inevitable began when Taffy 3 got into the fireworks. For some reason or another they decided to take a box into the summoning chamber.
"Think this'll work?" Whispered Johnson.
"Definitely!" replied Heerman in the same quiet tone. Between them they lugged a box containing Crosettes and Spiders as well as a few ground shells. Their objective, make as much noise and cacophony as possible for maximum possible summoning effect! Why? Because it was 4th of July!
With Hoel following close behind and shaking her head all the while, the three entered the summoning chamber. As expected it was deserted what with all the festivities outside. Even the Japanese shipgirls couldn't resist the temptation and for once the mess hall was completely empty as Kaga, Akagi and the other carriers took their plates of food with them to watch the show outside!
Johnson pulled out a ground shell, a simple canister that acted as a giant sparkler spitting flame at low level in all directions. A simple strike of the match and it was lit, Johnson stood back and watched the little canister work its magic. If this wasn't enough, she had the aerial mortars in the box.
She had witnessed the Attack on Pearl Harbor.
She had seen the fires of World War 2.
She had served her country in the days of peace that followed.
She had lived through the days of Korea and Vietnam.
She was a survivor!
Her sisters had all met their ends at the scrapyard but she had gone down at sea while flying the flag of a foreign nation.
Her death was sudden and unexpected and she longed to regain her honor. She ached with that longing every day!
GENERAL QUARTERS! GENERAL QUARTERS!
It had been decades since she heard this sound. The call to arms, to duty.
Her country needed her.
The United States needed her.
Her home needed her!
ALL HANDS MAN YOUR BATTLE STATIONS!
She would answer the call as any good ship would.
She would avenge her crews honor.
She would restore her own glory!
Like a Phoenix, rising from the ashes, she was ready to fight upon the seas once more!!
GENERAL QUARTERS! GENERAL QUARTERS! ALL HANDS MAN YOUR BATTLE STATIONS!!!
GENERAL QUARTERS! GENERAL QUARTERS!!
Johnson knew the summoning had worked. She could sense it! Her radar detected a mass in the center of the summoning pool.
She identified the newcomer as a Brooklyn-class light cruiser. A visual inspection revealed her to be a redhead. She wore a thick leather jacket with a vest over it, similar in style to New Jersey. Unlike her she lacked a hat. Her hair was left to fall freely about her shoulders and back. She wore jeans with a pair of riding boots, classic of the cowboys of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
She was bristling with weapons with the 6 incher being her primary armament. She spotted Johnson about the same time the destroyer spotted her and immediately stepped out of the summoning pool. As soon as her feet crossed onto dry land her rigging vanished and she looked like a normal human girl, except for the ethreal beauty that all shipgirls seemed to possess.
Johnson sensed movement behind her and knew without looking that Admiral Richardson had entered the room, no doubt drawn by the disappearance of the infamous Taffies outside. New Jersey was right behind him.
"There you girls are! Now what kind of trouble have you gotten yourselves into..." She broke off when she saw the cruiser.
The cruiser took one look at the big battleship before her and the stars on Richardson's collar indicating his rank and stood rigidly at attention, snapping off a salute. "Brooklyn-class cruiser, USS Phoenix CL-46 reporting sir!"
New Jersey was barely able to hide her grin as she and Richardson returned the salute.
"Welcome back Phoenix." The Admiral said. "Your return is an unexpected but welcome gift."
"Thank you sir." Phoenix answered. "I'll be happy to serve in any capacity you give me." She turned to New Jersey. "Still pining after Halsey?"
New Jersey's face flushed red, then darkened as the Taffies started questioning her. "P-Phoenix, not in front of the kids!" She spluttered.
Phoenix laughed. "You're such a child Big J!" She said.
Admiral Richardson looked torn between pulling rank and intervening or letting this carry on for his own amusement. The Taffies would have to be punished, that was for sure. Bringing fireworks inside had worked out this time but thank SecNav that Phoenix responded to the summons as quickly as she did or else the little firecrackers would've lit off a few of the big canisters they had in the box.
Because it's the 4th and where there's fireworks or any kind of pyrotechnic stuff, there's Phoenix!!
Fireworks are an inevitable part of July 4th. There just isn't an Independence Day without fireworks! So when each base in the US and those abroad that hosted US shipgirls had truckloads of fireworks brought in for the celebrations, the inevitable happened.
That inevitable began when Taffy 3 got into the fireworks. For some reason or another they decided to take a box into the summoning chamber.
"Think this'll work?" Whispered Johnson.
"Definitely!" replied Heerman in the same quiet tone. Between them they lugged a box containing Crosettes and Spiders as well as a few ground shells. Their objective, make as much noise and cacophony as possible for maximum possible summoning effect! Why? Because it was 4th of July!
With Hoel following close behind and shaking her head all the while, the three entered the summoning chamber. As expected it was deserted what with all the festivities outside. Even the Japanese shipgirls couldn't resist the temptation and for once the mess hall was completely empty as Kaga, Akagi and the other carriers took their plates of food with them to watch the show outside!
Johnson pulled out a ground shell, a simple canister that acted as a giant sparkler spitting flame at low level in all directions. A simple strike of the match and it was lit, Johnson stood back and watched the little canister work its magic. If this wasn't enough, she had the aerial mortars in the box.
She had witnessed the Attack on Pearl Harbor.
She had seen the fires of World War 2.
She had served her country in the days of peace that followed.
She had lived through the days of Korea and Vietnam.
She was a survivor!
Her sisters had all met their ends at the scrapyard but she had gone down at sea while flying the flag of a foreign nation.
Her death was sudden and unexpected and she longed to regain her honor. She ached with that longing every day!
GENERAL QUARTERS! GENERAL QUARTERS!
It had been decades since she heard this sound. The call to arms, to duty.
Her country needed her.
The United States needed her.
Her home needed her!
ALL HANDS MAN YOUR BATTLE STATIONS!
She would answer the call as any good ship would.
She would avenge her crews honor.
She would restore her own glory!
Like a Phoenix, rising from the ashes, she was ready to fight upon the seas once more!!
GENERAL QUARTERS! GENERAL QUARTERS! ALL HANDS MAN YOUR BATTLE STATIONS!!!
GENERAL QUARTERS! GENERAL QUARTERS!!
Johnson knew the summoning had worked. She could sense it! Her radar detected a mass in the center of the summoning pool.
She identified the newcomer as a Brooklyn-class light cruiser. A visual inspection revealed her to be a redhead. She wore a thick leather jacket with a vest over it, similar in style to New Jersey. Unlike her she lacked a hat. Her hair was left to fall freely about her shoulders and back. She wore jeans with a pair of riding boots, classic of the cowboys of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
She was bristling with weapons with the 6 incher being her primary armament. She spotted Johnson about the same time the destroyer spotted her and immediately stepped out of the summoning pool. As soon as her feet crossed onto dry land her rigging vanished and she looked like a normal human girl, except for the ethreal beauty that all shipgirls seemed to possess.
Johnson sensed movement behind her and knew without looking that Admiral Richardson had entered the room, no doubt drawn by the disappearance of the infamous Taffies outside. New Jersey was right behind him.
"There you girls are! Now what kind of trouble have you gotten yourselves into..." She broke off when she saw the cruiser.
The cruiser took one look at the big battleship before her and the stars on Richardson's collar indicating his rank and stood rigidly at attention, snapping off a salute. "Brooklyn-class cruiser, USS Phoenix CL-46 reporting sir!"
New Jersey was barely able to hide her grin as she and Richardson returned the salute.
"Welcome back Phoenix." The Admiral said. "Your return is an unexpected but welcome gift."
"Thank you sir." Phoenix answered. "I'll be happy to serve in any capacity you give me." She turned to New Jersey. "Still pining after Halsey?"
New Jersey's face flushed red, then darkened as the Taffies started questioning her. "P-Phoenix, not in front of the kids!" She spluttered.
Phoenix laughed. "You're such a child Big J!" She said.
Admiral Richardson looked torn between pulling rank and intervening or letting this carry on for his own amusement. The Taffies would have to be punished, that was for sure. Bringing fireworks inside had worked out this time but thank SecNav that Phoenix responded to the summons as quickly as she did or else the little firecrackers would've lit off a few of the big canisters they had in the box.
ijnfleetadmiral
CinC Rengo Kanmusutai
- Location
- Admiral's Bridge, HIJMS Kongo
Meh, I prefer the American camouflage pattern they had for Texas.Happy 4th of July my 'Murican friends.
Needs more AA spec. 6/10I wonder if the Cleveland sisters would show up and how they would react to how they are represented in a Slavic Boat Game. You can never have too many AA ships to escort Shinano and her friends.
- Location
- Somewhere in Southern Flipland
The only skill missing to maximize her AA is AFT (She's still a 14-point captain). I already have the AA range module, but she can still farm CV tears just fine.Needs more AA spec. 6/10
Ah. I've mainly played my Cleveland in Cherry Blossom, so I chose AFT as my first 4 point skill. (Max AA rating is around 88 with the AA boosting flag)
- Location
- I thought you had the map?
Cleveland: "Huh, so Dayton was right. We are in a video game. Cool. Now where's some enemy planes for me to shoot at? I got AA guns for days, bitches."
Last edited:
staplesdex2
CLASSFIED
...Why not have another poster just cross-post it? It's not that hard.
Burning Baron
This position needs more entrenching.
- Location
- In here, not out there.
It may break the rules, as it's circumventing a ban.
Old Iron
Admiral Unfun
- Location
- The Southwestern Deadlands of America
Pretty much.
They'll get posted properly once JMPer's suspension ends.
Burning Baron
This position needs more entrenching.
- Location
- In here, not out there.
Two (I think) months to go!
Old Iron
Admiral Unfun
- Location
- The Southwestern Deadlands of America
* * * * *
Admiral Richardson allowed himself a smug grin as Mutsu let out a melodic hum of contentment.
She was seated on the floor with her back to him while he sat forward on the couch, allowing him unfettered access to her neck and shoulders. An arrangement he was taking full advantage of. And also one he was very well aware his wife was enjoying to the fullest.
A tilt of her head to one side prompted him to increase the pressure on that same side. It hadn't taken him long to work out her little signals and gestures and to adjust his ministrations accordingly. Mostly for the neck and shoulders however. The rest of her was still a work in progress. And there was a wait order on the feet and lower legs. Those were plenty off limits until the twins arrived.
Of course, the extra direction provided by a little fairy standing atop her head with a miniature set of semaphore flags was greatly appreciated.
"Mmm... Tonight couldn't have come fast enough~" murmured Mutsu with a smile he knew was there despite not being able to see it.
"Pennsy working you pretty hard?" Richardson hadn't wasted much time in giving Pennsylvania's proposal the green light. Especially after Hiei had gone on to back it with a rather detailed explanation on the pros and cons to go with what Ari's sister had already provided.
"Hard, but she's not reckless." She tilted her head up slightly and Richardson moved his hands in accordance. "And I haven't seen a peep of her usual fire and brimstone."
Richardson nodded with approval. He wouldn't go so far as to say Pennsylvania had suddenly become a social butterfly, but the fact she was willing to put forth an effort to avoid things that would set her off or attempt to rein in her more volatile reactions was telling. There would never be a healing, but there was certainly a hope for something resembling control.
"Daaad. Come on! Mutsu-mama finally has a day off from Pennsy's training and all you two do is talk about work?" Jane's exasperated voice cut through the air from the dining room. "Flirt more! Talk about the names of my adorable twin siblings on the way!"
He rolled his eyes.
"Aren't you supposed to be doing your homework?" he fired back. There was a slight pang of disappointment that his little girl had started calling him 'dad' instead of her usual 'daddy'. It didn't happen often. However the fact it was happening at all told him Jane was starting to look at things slightly differently.
"I finished it all."
"Really?"
"Really really. I even got Smolmu to second check my work." Jane skipped into the living room as she delivered her confirmation.
Richardson sighed while Mutsu giggled.
"I'd like to imagine my miniature self is just as exacting as I am." Mutsu quipped with a mirth-laden voice. "I'm sure we can entertain her a little~"
"I'd still like to know how she managed to summon those things." he grumbled while eyeing his daughter suspiciously. "There's a limit to how far MSSB can go. There has to be."
"Dear, think about what you just said."
Richardson did just that and let the statement roll around in his head for a bit.
Right.
"So, should we tell her?" Part of him wanted for it to be a big surprise for everyone. But at the same time, he did feel a little guilty for keeping Jane in the dark. "I mean, everyone else either figured it out or somehow got a recording of it."
He raised his voice a bit at the end of his words and a none-to-subtle giggle emanated from the kitchen.
"I regret nothing."
"Recording of what, Jintsuu-mama?" queried Jane as she did an about-face and all but ran to the kitchen. The girl could put a destroyer to shame sometimes with how much energy she had. It also went a really long way into explaining how much she ate. Even for her age, it was still crazy. He put away a pretty hefty volume of food himself when he was younger. But Jane put that to shame by leagues.
"Something rather important. And I just so happened to be in the area to overhear." Jintsuu continued to tease her hidden jewel of information, keeping her voice raised enough for everyone to hear.
"Just so happened my foot..." Richardson's toothless ire joined Mutsu's laughter as he began running his fingers through her hair. "You've been having that tiny yo-
"Smoltsuu."
"...Right. Smoltsuu. She's been shadowing me off and on almost since the day she showed up. If you two don't have some sort of system going on, then I'll eat my hat." He'd bet money and favors he only saw her much as he did because she let him. Or she was riding around on Jintsuu's cat. It was really hard to not be noticed when you were an inches tall copy of a shipgirl using a good sized cat as a mount and wielding a lightsaber keychain like it was the real deal.
Things that glowed bright red, or any color for that matter, were not conducive to stealth.
"Oh? You're finally spotting her regularly?" chimed in Mutsu with a mirthful tone that told him he was about to get a headache pretty darn quick. "Jintsuu, I think it's time to increase the difficulty~"
What.
"Are you training me?" Richardson could feel the disbelief practically dripping off his words. He wasn't angry. Not in the slightest. Rather he was just confused. "Do I want to know why?"
"Mmm... Well, I suppose we can let you in on this little game of ours. We are about to spill the beans to Jane about something rather important as well." Jintsuu stated as she left the kitchen. The second pair of footsteps telling that Jane was right behind her. "And yes, it is a bet. One that Yamashiro of all ships is winning at the moment."
Why was his base obsessed with betting?
And on the most bizarre things?
And how in blazes was the self-proclaimed most unlucky ship winning a game of chance?
"Our bet," began Mutsu as Richardson went back to rubbing her shoulders. "Is how often and how quickly you can spot Smoltsuu, or any of the smols for that matter. But the main point winner is Smoltsuu. She just so happened to be around with a recorder when we were talking about that little tidbit~"
Richardson groaned. There was that headache. The one that only shipgirl shenanigans could cause and one he was positive only command staff had to deal with. Goto probably dealt with it more often than anyone else, but Williams probably had the worst ones. He did have a lot of American destroyers on base after all. They were good kids, he'd make no mistake about that. But they were more rambunctious than a two year old hopped up on a literal ton of sugar.
"It just so happens you're learning to be more aware of your surroundings in the process."
He gave Jintsuu the most flat, amused look he could manage while maintaining his ministrations upon his wife. She just gave him a knowing smile in return.
Jane hopped onto the sofa and clapped her hands together, effectively drawing all attention to her and away from the revelation of yet more lighthearted gambling.
"So! What's this thing you and Mutsu-mama were trying to keep secret?" Her amber eyes gleaming brightly with anticipation.
"Might as well spill. I don't think we can keep a lid on it at this point." Richardson adopted a thoughtful expression before tapping Mutsu on the shoulders. "Would you like to do the honors, dear?"
"If you so insist~" Mutsu shuffled around on the floor so she was now seated facing Jane. There was a glow to her cheery features and a twinkle in her eyes. She reached out and took Jane's hands in her own.
The temporarily littlest Richardson's smile grew win anticipation.
"We decided on names for your little sisters. And yes, they are sisters. No little brothers for you yet~"
That subtle tease in Mutsu's tone on the 'yet' filled Richardson with complex emotions and visions of a very, very busy future, but mostly the question of whether or not he'd ever sleep again. He liked sleep. Who didn't? He just didn't get a lot of it. In fact he had a hard time recalling the last time he'd had a full, uninterrupted night's rest that wasn't in some way caused by external forces.
"And? And?" Jane's impatience was palpable and had Mutsu not been holding her hands, it was highly likely the girl would have begun to vibrate through the sofa. Or begin levitating. Or somehow both.
"We decided on Mary and Mirai." Mutsu smiled broadly. "What do you think?"
"I think they're great!" came Jane's almost immediate reply. Her joy was stilled not a moment later as she turned to her father with an expression of abject shock. "Wait. Did Dad help pick these?"
"Of course I did!"
"Only after I let you get the chuuni out of your system."
"...You didn't need to tell her that." He hung his head in shame and defeat. Why did no one understand his naming sense? Was he doomed to never grace someone with a truly epic name?
"Do I want to know?" queried Jane hesitantly.
"No, you really don't." Jintsuu piped in whilst giving the girl a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Some things are better left to the unknown."
Says the warship with the Darth Vader body pillow grumbled Richardson internally.
Mutsu giggled.
"Once he ran out of legends, myths, metal bands, and pantheons, he finally came up with Mary." She leaned in as best she could and stage whispered to Jane, giving a playful glance at Richardson as she did so. A look that told him he was about to be the butt of yet more teasing and joking. "I think your father might not be completely hopeless after all."
"I hope so. I was getting nervous."
Amidst the following laughter, there was a knock on the door.
"I'll get it." Richardson stated as he stood up. "I need to escape this brutal and vicious assault on my character anyway."
"Brutal?" questioned Mutsu as she glanced up at Jintsuu, quelling her laughter for a more serious expression.
"Vicious?" Jintsuu returned the look.
"I thought we had only gotten to wicked."
The warships began laughing once more as Richardson rolled his eyes in the most dramatic fashion he could muster. Oh, he'd have his vengeance. One day. Maybe. His wife was no simple foe. And Jintsuu, was Jintsuu.
"Har har har."
Strategically withdrawing, not retreating, to the front door, he glanced out the peephole to see who was at the door. It looked to be an enlisted. At this hour? What was going on?
He unlocked and then opened the door.
"A bit late for a social call, sailor. What can I help you with?"
He was given a rather snappy salute in response.
"I have a message for you, sir. I was instructed that it was for your eyes only and to guard it with my life if need be."
Well, that wasn't ominous at all.
"At ease and let's have it. I'm sure you don't want to hang onto it any more than I probably want to receive it." There was an awkward silence as though the sailor wasn't sure if he was joking or not. Which he was. He did take his duties seriously after all. Tried to at least. "That was a joke."
"Ah, sorry, sir. I'm still a little..."
"Don't worry about it. Here." He waved his hand and then held it out to accept the message.
Taking the sealed envelope, Richardson leaned against the doorframe much to the apparent surprise of the enlisted standing before him. He tore open the seal and withdrew the message. It was handwritten and he recognized it as Goto's crisp, blocky script. This was getting more strange by the minute.
Well, nothing to wait for.
Richardson began reading.
And reading.
And reading.
When he was done, he read it again just to make sure he hadn't suddenly gone completely mad.
Slowly he looked up from the message, held in now shaking hands, and locked eyes with the enlisted.
"You... cannot be serious."
"Per Admiral Goto... Very serious, sir."
* * * * *
Smooth jazz filled the barroom. Relaxing the spirits of those souls who came to kick back and enjoy a trouble free evening.
Ideally with good company. Whether that be a friend or two, a romantic pursuit, or even their own thoughts and a glass of gin. Company was a must here if one wanted to enjoy the eve to the fullest.
Arizona considered this to be one of the more sane dreamscapes she had experienced so far.
She hadn't really been sure what to expect when she had closed her eyes and entered the deep sleep needed for Akashi to work on the much needed refit. Everyone she'd talked to had said they'd experienced something different. Ranging from meeting their former crews to facing off against their worst fears to winning the grand prize of a lifetime supply of cake. But she was fairly certain few had as much a wild or varied ride as she was going through.
There was quite a bit of blame to be laid at the feet of her friends and family for some of the experiences she'd gone through however. Particularly the fiasco involving the comedy of errors that was helping Jintsuu give Valentine's chocolate to her beloved upperclassmate, Darth Vader. Without getting caught by Principal Palpatine.
That had been... interesting were she to put it lightly. Certainly an event to hang over the cruiser's head when she awoke.
"A penny for your thoughts?"
Arizona turned away from the Manhattan she had been staring into for the past few minutes and turned her steely grey eyes to a spirit with whom she shared a very... complicated relationship. One she would much rather not deal with at all. But due to circumstance, she really had no choice in the matter.
"Shouldn't you be off trying to seduce something?" The towering rage of her prudish beliefs had long since been worn down into resigned acceptance with this individual. It had been better to accept she was never going away than to drive herself mad wishing so.
"Oh, perhaps later. Even spirits get tired you know." The spirit took a seat as she spoke. "Besides, I'm still in a state of utter shock over that little escapade."
Arizona did not need a mirror to know she had turned red as her hair at those words.
"Miss Blair, please do not say another word."
Madeline shrugged and graced her with a smile that was far, far too much like Mutsu's own for her liking.
"What? I'm not the one who seduced your new Admiral." She giggled with a saucy grin on her face. "Even I didn't go after anyone with too fancy a pin. But you? Oh dear me my."
"Madeline..." growled out Arizona as she tried to glare the other woman into oblivion. Such was the problem of being able to interact with elements of your soul and fairies in general. You didn't always get along with them. And some you really wished you could get rid of.
"You shot for the stars~"
Arizona let out a strangled sound of embarrassment and fury as Madeline's taunting brought memories to the fore in incredibly lurid detail. Details she would never, ever allow to be revealed. Either in spoken verse or written word. Not ever.
Dammit all!
John was not supposed to be running around fighting demons with some blade of legend, clad in naught but a loincloth and looking like a well oiled male pinup off the covers of the most salacious bodice rippers imaginable! Nor was she supposed to be a scantily clad warrior princess who fought alongside him and challenged him to contests of strength, combat prowess, and other endeavors of good natured rivalry. Their seemingly endless stalemate finally broken when they smote the vile demon lord and their passions had finally shattered the bindings placed upon them. Shattered them and left her coming out on top.
The stereotypes were almost too painful to bear as she recalled that particular dream. Even outside the salacious content.
"It's quite funny seeing what parts of you take over in your dreams. Especially when you're not quite yourself." Madeline chuckled. "Of course, I don't mind the ones where your conscious mind is at the helm. Much like this one. Though some more company and a little spice in the music every few songs would be nice."
For a brief moment, Arizona considered attempting to throw the spirit out the nearest door or enact some other drastic means of removing her. But despite her issues with the other woman, it was almost nice to chat with her. Almost. And she wasn't yet incensed enough to wreck the rather pleasant environment.
Thus she settled for resting her head on the counter-top with a dull thud.
"Be careful. You don't want to spill your drink now."
"Had I any control over this, I'd conjure up a cannon and shoot you to the moon."
"But you don't. So you're stuck with me this round. And besides, I'm a part of you. I just happen to be one of the more irritatingly intrusive and vocal parts." Madeline sipped her own fancy drink with a satisfied smile. "Besides~ I know you're not nearly as angry as you want to seem."
Arizona could only grumble a resigned agreement.
"Accursed subconscious. Becoming this intimate with my supposed inner self is not something I would have ever wished for. This goes far beyond coming to terms." She lifted her head from the counter and took up her own drink. The liquor went down smooth. "I pray Akashi gets the lead out and finishes quickly. This is taking far too long."
"Perhaps. But you kno-"
"I am perfectly well aware that this is all some sort of a lucid dream and that time is probably meaningless. But that doesn't make me any more eager to remain." There was far too much to do in the waking world. She could not languish here.
"Not even for the donuts?"
Oh, that was a low blow.
"...Not even for the donuts."
The hesitation in her reply was damning.
That dream had been a gluttonous paradise. Donuts of all conceivable sort laid out before her in an endless realm of gigantic pastries. Some she had the luxury of tasting in the waking world, others she'd only heard legend of, and even those which were a figment of her own imagination.
A mere thought had summoned up a treat of her choosing and the fountains of coffee ensured she was never left wanting for a good cup. And it was always just the right temperature. Piping hot, but never enough to burn the tongue.
"Reeeealy~?"
"I will find a way to recreate some of those. Mark my words." Even if it involved letting Hiei help and have full run of the kitchen with will rights to experiment. She would taste those donuts again. Of course, she would share them. Such majesty was not to be contained. But there was no denying the origin of her desire was blatantly selfish.
Madeline laughed. For once with legitimate humor and none of the usual sultry tones that normally laced her voice.
"Good luck with that. I don't think some of those donuts were designed to be made by mortal hands or with mundane ingredients."
Arizona huffed in response to that and crossed her arms.
"A minor inconvenience."
As the mood settled, a bell rang out. A bell Arizona knew by now signaled the end of this particular dream. It was a bit of a pity. She would have liked to enjoy it a little more. Perhaps dance a little or continue chatting. But such things were not within her realm of control, much to her ire.
However before she could bid farewell to Madeline, something she felt was only appropriate by now, the air was split by the piercing whistle of the boatswain's call.
This was a first...
A nearby door opened, it's dark wood front revealing grey painted steel as it swung open.
All assembled in the barroom turned to the portal and stilled. Those who wee not standing, did so. The musicians set aside their instruments and the bartender placed the last glass upon the countertop.
It was time.
Arizona could feel it in her bones. In her steel. Suffused into her entire being were her new orders. There was no doubt. No questioning the validity of it.
All eyes turned to her and a small smiled tugged at her lips.
"All hands to stations. Prepare to weigh anchor."
Without a pause, the room was empty. Empty save for her and Madeline. Well, Madeline didn't really have a post to return to. She was simply... there.
"Well, I suppose this is it for now. A shame." Arizona's most famous stowaway reached over and took the battleship's still half full drink from its place on the counter. "It's nice to be able to talk like this. I suppose I'll have to wait for round two."
Arizona turned to the spirit and paused.
"I will... see what I can do."
Madeline raised an eyebrow.
"So much of you is anathema to me, but I will not say our chances to speak were wholly unpleasant. I might even go so far as to admit some were almost enjoyable." She paused. "I will find a way to launch you to the moon however."
Silence permeated the barroom before both women began laughing. A friendly sort of laughter shared between two people who had wildly different outlooks on life.
It was Madeline who broke the humor with a chuckle and smile.
"Go on. You have a war to fight and I have... things to do~"
Arizona palmed her face with a groan.
"Until next time, Madeline."
"Until next time."
Battleship Arizona turned and walked through the portal with a smile.
And in the waking world, steely grey eyes opened once more.
* * * * *
Admiral Richardson allowed himself a smug grin as Mutsu let out a melodic hum of contentment.
She was seated on the floor with her back to him while he sat forward on the couch, allowing him unfettered access to her neck and shoulders. An arrangement he was taking full advantage of. And also one he was very well aware his wife was enjoying to the fullest.
A tilt of her head to one side prompted him to increase the pressure on that same side. It hadn't taken him long to work out her little signals and gestures and to adjust his ministrations accordingly. Mostly for the neck and shoulders however. The rest of her was still a work in progress. And there was a wait order on the feet and lower legs. Those were plenty off limits until the twins arrived.
Of course, the extra direction provided by a little fairy standing atop her head with a miniature set of semaphore flags was greatly appreciated.
"Mmm... Tonight couldn't have come fast enough~" murmured Mutsu with a smile he knew was there despite not being able to see it.
"Pennsy working you pretty hard?" Richardson hadn't wasted much time in giving Pennsylvania's proposal the green light. Especially after Hiei had gone on to back it with a rather detailed explanation on the pros and cons to go with what Ari's sister had already provided.
"Hard, but she's not reckless." She tilted her head up slightly and Richardson moved his hands in accordance. "And I haven't seen a peep of her usual fire and brimstone."
Richardson nodded with approval. He wouldn't go so far as to say Pennsylvania had suddenly become a social butterfly, but the fact she was willing to put forth an effort to avoid things that would set her off or attempt to rein in her more volatile reactions was telling. There would never be a healing, but there was certainly a hope for something resembling control.
"Daaad. Come on! Mutsu-mama finally has a day off from Pennsy's training and all you two do is talk about work?" Jane's exasperated voice cut through the air from the dining room. "Flirt more! Talk about the names of my adorable twin siblings on the way!"
He rolled his eyes.
"Aren't you supposed to be doing your homework?" he fired back. There was a slight pang of disappointment that his little girl had started calling him 'dad' instead of her usual 'daddy'. It didn't happen often. However the fact it was happening at all told him Jane was starting to look at things slightly differently.
"I finished it all."
"Really?"
"Really really. I even got Smolmu to second check my work." Jane skipped into the living room as she delivered her confirmation.
Richardson sighed while Mutsu giggled.
"I'd like to imagine my miniature self is just as exacting as I am." Mutsu quipped with a mirth-laden voice. "I'm sure we can entertain her a little~"
"I'd still like to know how she managed to summon those things." he grumbled while eyeing his daughter suspiciously. "There's a limit to how far MSSB can go. There has to be."
"Dear, think about what you just said."
Richardson did just that and let the statement roll around in his head for a bit.
Right.
"So, should we tell her?" Part of him wanted for it to be a big surprise for everyone. But at the same time, he did feel a little guilty for keeping Jane in the dark. "I mean, everyone else either figured it out or somehow got a recording of it."
He raised his voice a bit at the end of his words and a none-to-subtle giggle emanated from the kitchen.
"I regret nothing."
"Recording of what, Jintsuu-mama?" queried Jane as she did an about-face and all but ran to the kitchen. The girl could put a destroyer to shame sometimes with how much energy she had. It also went a really long way into explaining how much she ate. Even for her age, it was still crazy. He put away a pretty hefty volume of food himself when he was younger. But Jane put that to shame by leagues.
"Something rather important. And I just so happened to be in the area to overhear." Jintsuu continued to tease her hidden jewel of information, keeping her voice raised enough for everyone to hear.
"Just so happened my foot..." Richardson's toothless ire joined Mutsu's laughter as he began running his fingers through her hair. "You've been having that tiny yo-
"Smoltsuu."
"...Right. Smoltsuu. She's been shadowing me off and on almost since the day she showed up. If you two don't have some sort of system going on, then I'll eat my hat." He'd bet money and favors he only saw her much as he did because she let him. Or she was riding around on Jintsuu's cat. It was really hard to not be noticed when you were an inches tall copy of a shipgirl using a good sized cat as a mount and wielding a lightsaber keychain like it was the real deal.
Things that glowed bright red, or any color for that matter, were not conducive to stealth.
"Oh? You're finally spotting her regularly?" chimed in Mutsu with a mirthful tone that told him he was about to get a headache pretty darn quick. "Jintsuu, I think it's time to increase the difficulty~"
What.
"Are you training me?" Richardson could feel the disbelief practically dripping off his words. He wasn't angry. Not in the slightest. Rather he was just confused. "Do I want to know why?"
"Mmm... Well, I suppose we can let you in on this little game of ours. We are about to spill the beans to Jane about something rather important as well." Jintsuu stated as she left the kitchen. The second pair of footsteps telling that Jane was right behind her. "And yes, it is a bet. One that Yamashiro of all ships is winning at the moment."
Why was his base obsessed with betting?
And on the most bizarre things?
And how in blazes was the self-proclaimed most unlucky ship winning a game of chance?
"Our bet," began Mutsu as Richardson went back to rubbing her shoulders. "Is how often and how quickly you can spot Smoltsuu, or any of the smols for that matter. But the main point winner is Smoltsuu. She just so happened to be around with a recorder when we were talking about that little tidbit~"
Richardson groaned. There was that headache. The one that only shipgirl shenanigans could cause and one he was positive only command staff had to deal with. Goto probably dealt with it more often than anyone else, but Williams probably had the worst ones. He did have a lot of American destroyers on base after all. They were good kids, he'd make no mistake about that. But they were more rambunctious than a two year old hopped up on a literal ton of sugar.
"It just so happens you're learning to be more aware of your surroundings in the process."
He gave Jintsuu the most flat, amused look he could manage while maintaining his ministrations upon his wife. She just gave him a knowing smile in return.
Jane hopped onto the sofa and clapped her hands together, effectively drawing all attention to her and away from the revelation of yet more lighthearted gambling.
"So! What's this thing you and Mutsu-mama were trying to keep secret?" Her amber eyes gleaming brightly with anticipation.
"Might as well spill. I don't think we can keep a lid on it at this point." Richardson adopted a thoughtful expression before tapping Mutsu on the shoulders. "Would you like to do the honors, dear?"
"If you so insist~" Mutsu shuffled around on the floor so she was now seated facing Jane. There was a glow to her cheery features and a twinkle in her eyes. She reached out and took Jane's hands in her own.
The temporarily littlest Richardson's smile grew win anticipation.
"We decided on names for your little sisters. And yes, they are sisters. No little brothers for you yet~"
That subtle tease in Mutsu's tone on the 'yet' filled Richardson with complex emotions and visions of a very, very busy future, but mostly the question of whether or not he'd ever sleep again. He liked sleep. Who didn't? He just didn't get a lot of it. In fact he had a hard time recalling the last time he'd had a full, uninterrupted night's rest that wasn't in some way caused by external forces.
"And? And?" Jane's impatience was palpable and had Mutsu not been holding her hands, it was highly likely the girl would have begun to vibrate through the sofa. Or begin levitating. Or somehow both.
"We decided on Mary and Mirai." Mutsu smiled broadly. "What do you think?"
"I think they're great!" came Jane's almost immediate reply. Her joy was stilled not a moment later as she turned to her father with an expression of abject shock. "Wait. Did Dad help pick these?"
"Of course I did!"
"Only after I let you get the chuuni out of your system."
"...You didn't need to tell her that." He hung his head in shame and defeat. Why did no one understand his naming sense? Was he doomed to never grace someone with a truly epic name?
"Do I want to know?" queried Jane hesitantly.
"No, you really don't." Jintsuu piped in whilst giving the girl a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Some things are better left to the unknown."
Says the warship with the Darth Vader body pillow grumbled Richardson internally.
Mutsu giggled.
"Once he ran out of legends, myths, metal bands, and pantheons, he finally came up with Mary." She leaned in as best she could and stage whispered to Jane, giving a playful glance at Richardson as she did so. A look that told him he was about to be the butt of yet more teasing and joking. "I think your father might not be completely hopeless after all."
"I hope so. I was getting nervous."
Amidst the following laughter, there was a knock on the door.
"I'll get it." Richardson stated as he stood up. "I need to escape this brutal and vicious assault on my character anyway."
"Brutal?" questioned Mutsu as she glanced up at Jintsuu, quelling her laughter for a more serious expression.
"Vicious?" Jintsuu returned the look.
"I thought we had only gotten to wicked."
The warships began laughing once more as Richardson rolled his eyes in the most dramatic fashion he could muster. Oh, he'd have his vengeance. One day. Maybe. His wife was no simple foe. And Jintsuu, was Jintsuu.
"Har har har."
Strategically withdrawing, not retreating, to the front door, he glanced out the peephole to see who was at the door. It looked to be an enlisted. At this hour? What was going on?
He unlocked and then opened the door.
"A bit late for a social call, sailor. What can I help you with?"
He was given a rather snappy salute in response.
"I have a message for you, sir. I was instructed that it was for your eyes only and to guard it with my life if need be."
Well, that wasn't ominous at all.
"At ease and let's have it. I'm sure you don't want to hang onto it any more than I probably want to receive it." There was an awkward silence as though the sailor wasn't sure if he was joking or not. Which he was. He did take his duties seriously after all. Tried to at least. "That was a joke."
"Ah, sorry, sir. I'm still a little..."
"Don't worry about it. Here." He waved his hand and then held it out to accept the message.
Taking the sealed envelope, Richardson leaned against the doorframe much to the apparent surprise of the enlisted standing before him. He tore open the seal and withdrew the message. It was handwritten and he recognized it as Goto's crisp, blocky script. This was getting more strange by the minute.
Well, nothing to wait for.
Richardson began reading.
And reading.
And reading.
When he was done, he read it again just to make sure he hadn't suddenly gone completely mad.
Slowly he looked up from the message, held in now shaking hands, and locked eyes with the enlisted.
"You... cannot be serious."
"Per Admiral Goto... Very serious, sir."
* * * * *
Smooth jazz filled the barroom. Relaxing the spirits of those souls who came to kick back and enjoy a trouble free evening.
Ideally with good company. Whether that be a friend or two, a romantic pursuit, or even their own thoughts and a glass of gin. Company was a must here if one wanted to enjoy the eve to the fullest.
Arizona considered this to be one of the more sane dreamscapes she had experienced so far.
She hadn't really been sure what to expect when she had closed her eyes and entered the deep sleep needed for Akashi to work on the much needed refit. Everyone she'd talked to had said they'd experienced something different. Ranging from meeting their former crews to facing off against their worst fears to winning the grand prize of a lifetime supply of cake. But she was fairly certain few had as much a wild or varied ride as she was going through.
There was quite a bit of blame to be laid at the feet of her friends and family for some of the experiences she'd gone through however. Particularly the fiasco involving the comedy of errors that was helping Jintsuu give Valentine's chocolate to her beloved upperclassmate, Darth Vader. Without getting caught by Principal Palpatine.
That had been... interesting were she to put it lightly. Certainly an event to hang over the cruiser's head when she awoke.
"A penny for your thoughts?"
Arizona turned away from the Manhattan she had been staring into for the past few minutes and turned her steely grey eyes to a spirit with whom she shared a very... complicated relationship. One she would much rather not deal with at all. But due to circumstance, she really had no choice in the matter.
"Shouldn't you be off trying to seduce something?" The towering rage of her prudish beliefs had long since been worn down into resigned acceptance with this individual. It had been better to accept she was never going away than to drive herself mad wishing so.
"Oh, perhaps later. Even spirits get tired you know." The spirit took a seat as she spoke. "Besides, I'm still in a state of utter shock over that little escapade."
Arizona did not need a mirror to know she had turned red as her hair at those words.
"Miss Blair, please do not say another word."
Madeline shrugged and graced her with a smile that was far, far too much like Mutsu's own for her liking.
"What? I'm not the one who seduced your new Admiral." She giggled with a saucy grin on her face. "Even I didn't go after anyone with too fancy a pin. But you? Oh dear me my."
"Madeline..." growled out Arizona as she tried to glare the other woman into oblivion. Such was the problem of being able to interact with elements of your soul and fairies in general. You didn't always get along with them. And some you really wished you could get rid of.
"You shot for the stars~"
Arizona let out a strangled sound of embarrassment and fury as Madeline's taunting brought memories to the fore in incredibly lurid detail. Details she would never, ever allow to be revealed. Either in spoken verse or written word. Not ever.
Dammit all!
John was not supposed to be running around fighting demons with some blade of legend, clad in naught but a loincloth and looking like a well oiled male pinup off the covers of the most salacious bodice rippers imaginable! Nor was she supposed to be a scantily clad warrior princess who fought alongside him and challenged him to contests of strength, combat prowess, and other endeavors of good natured rivalry. Their seemingly endless stalemate finally broken when they smote the vile demon lord and their passions had finally shattered the bindings placed upon them. Shattered them and left her coming out on top.
The stereotypes were almost too painful to bear as she recalled that particular dream. Even outside the salacious content.
"It's quite funny seeing what parts of you take over in your dreams. Especially when you're not quite yourself." Madeline chuckled. "Of course, I don't mind the ones where your conscious mind is at the helm. Much like this one. Though some more company and a little spice in the music every few songs would be nice."
For a brief moment, Arizona considered attempting to throw the spirit out the nearest door or enact some other drastic means of removing her. But despite her issues with the other woman, it was almost nice to chat with her. Almost. And she wasn't yet incensed enough to wreck the rather pleasant environment.
Thus she settled for resting her head on the counter-top with a dull thud.
"Be careful. You don't want to spill your drink now."
"Had I any control over this, I'd conjure up a cannon and shoot you to the moon."
"But you don't. So you're stuck with me this round. And besides, I'm a part of you. I just happen to be one of the more irritatingly intrusive and vocal parts." Madeline sipped her own fancy drink with a satisfied smile. "Besides~ I know you're not nearly as angry as you want to seem."
Arizona could only grumble a resigned agreement.
"Accursed subconscious. Becoming this intimate with my supposed inner self is not something I would have ever wished for. This goes far beyond coming to terms." She lifted her head from the counter and took up her own drink. The liquor went down smooth. "I pray Akashi gets the lead out and finishes quickly. This is taking far too long."
"Perhaps. But you kno-"
"I am perfectly well aware that this is all some sort of a lucid dream and that time is probably meaningless. But that doesn't make me any more eager to remain." There was far too much to do in the waking world. She could not languish here.
"Not even for the donuts?"
Oh, that was a low blow.
"...Not even for the donuts."
The hesitation in her reply was damning.
That dream had been a gluttonous paradise. Donuts of all conceivable sort laid out before her in an endless realm of gigantic pastries. Some she had the luxury of tasting in the waking world, others she'd only heard legend of, and even those which were a figment of her own imagination.
A mere thought had summoned up a treat of her choosing and the fountains of coffee ensured she was never left wanting for a good cup. And it was always just the right temperature. Piping hot, but never enough to burn the tongue.
"Reeeealy~?"
"I will find a way to recreate some of those. Mark my words." Even if it involved letting Hiei help and have full run of the kitchen with will rights to experiment. She would taste those donuts again. Of course, she would share them. Such majesty was not to be contained. But there was no denying the origin of her desire was blatantly selfish.
Madeline laughed. For once with legitimate humor and none of the usual sultry tones that normally laced her voice.
"Good luck with that. I don't think some of those donuts were designed to be made by mortal hands or with mundane ingredients."
Arizona huffed in response to that and crossed her arms.
"A minor inconvenience."
As the mood settled, a bell rang out. A bell Arizona knew by now signaled the end of this particular dream. It was a bit of a pity. She would have liked to enjoy it a little more. Perhaps dance a little or continue chatting. But such things were not within her realm of control, much to her ire.
However before she could bid farewell to Madeline, something she felt was only appropriate by now, the air was split by the piercing whistle of the boatswain's call.
This was a first...
A nearby door opened, it's dark wood front revealing grey painted steel as it swung open.
All assembled in the barroom turned to the portal and stilled. Those who wee not standing, did so. The musicians set aside their instruments and the bartender placed the last glass upon the countertop.
It was time.
Arizona could feel it in her bones. In her steel. Suffused into her entire being were her new orders. There was no doubt. No questioning the validity of it.
All eyes turned to her and a small smiled tugged at her lips.
"All hands to stations. Prepare to weigh anchor."
Without a pause, the room was empty. Empty save for her and Madeline. Well, Madeline didn't really have a post to return to. She was simply... there.
"Well, I suppose this is it for now. A shame." Arizona's most famous stowaway reached over and took the battleship's still half full drink from its place on the counter. "It's nice to be able to talk like this. I suppose I'll have to wait for round two."
Arizona turned to the spirit and paused.
"I will... see what I can do."
Madeline raised an eyebrow.
"So much of you is anathema to me, but I will not say our chances to speak were wholly unpleasant. I might even go so far as to admit some were almost enjoyable." She paused. "I will find a way to launch you to the moon however."
Silence permeated the barroom before both women began laughing. A friendly sort of laughter shared between two people who had wildly different outlooks on life.
It was Madeline who broke the humor with a chuckle and smile.
"Go on. You have a war to fight and I have... things to do~"
Arizona palmed her face with a groan.
"Until next time, Madeline."
"Until next time."
Battleship Arizona turned and walked through the portal with a smile.
And in the waking world, steely grey eyes opened once more.
* * * * *
ijnfleetadmiral
CinC Rengo Kanmusutai
- Location
- Admiral's Bridge, HIJMS Kongo
Great update, Old Iron! Does this refit mean Ari's up to her 1930s guise now?
- Location
- Minot, North Dakota
Maybe she'll be wearing her Whites instead of Blues now also.
Nuuuu, not the loss of red hair!And now she's AL Ari!
Old Iron
Admiral Unfun
- Location
- The Southwestern Deadlands of America
Aye. She's all decked out in that familiar tripod mast setup we all know and love.
That's a really nice photo. Nice and cool forthe heat.Maybe she'll be wearing her Whites instead of Blues now also.
And now she's AL Ari!
Ah, but what if AL!Ari with that lovely red hair?Nuuuu, not the loss of red hair!