HMS Eskimo
Yokosuka, Japan
Morning
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I'd been stewing until now, the simmering anger and frustration of being attacked, just recently after so such
fucking awfulness almost spilling over. As i kneel, i my have looked out of it to some extent, but really i'd been staring at the ship girl who'd just thrown me. An angry stare, an accusatory stare, a stare that screams of restrained fury.
I more than anyone knew what might have happened under the wrong circumstances. Cold concrete, bending my shoulder, a skid, and then a
crunch. Legs folding and bending and splintering under my body. I'd had bruises and injuries upon padded mats, for Christ sake. Pressed in toes, bruised backs, head dizziness, many tumbles and hurts over the years.
On what is essentially hard ground? I was lucky to have gotten away with just a bruised shin.
Yet. How much was she at fault? A human transported to a new existence, allegiances confused and badly translated, panicked movement, righteous anger at the sight of me. Those were not the actions of malicious intent, rather series of unfortunate coincidences if I've ever seen one. The perfect elements combining to form an accident, one that might have claimed the life of another.
'collision at sea' how was she to know that a throw could be so devastating? Had she even known her own strength when she did it? There were too many possibilities, and so my thoughts became not so murderous.
I flinched as i saw her get slapped, and then go down.
'Concussion, a faint?' either way, she'd gotten her comeuppance, if not an explanation as to why. To my side, i could take in the shocked and rapidly darkening expression of HMS Lion, anticipating her anger like a slowly erupting volcano. I recognised it's motivation and found myself approving; They were a good person, to react so to the sight of a potential injury on a stranger. Not enough people took the right things seriously, and too many attached importance to things meaningless. Sometimes, passion is better than it's results can imply.
I could feel the edge of my lips tug upwards, but then i'm unexpectedly tackled by a hug once again. Immediately, my arms pinwheeled for stabilisation on instinct alone, but then i realise it's no good and instead lean forward into the embrace. Hugs are nice, comforting and warm, as well as applied too infrequently.
With a peek of my one good eye - The other squished closed between my cheek and her shoulder, only possible due to my new form - i see that it's Maria, returned once again to administer hugs. I realise that while i'd usually be against such a thing from a stranger, both sides of me are in strange accordance of approval. A familiarity towards fellow ship girls perhaps, or comfort in the face of continual support?
Either way, i chose to tighten my own arms around her and close my eyes, shifting from my tense crouch into a sort of slouched sideways sit. I'm not blind enough to miss that she might need this too, just as much as me.
Comradely, a new but admittedly pleasant feeling to experience.
@Jhin Lemon,
@Lt Darkhound,
@TheFanficAddict
