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File: An Impressive Battleship.png (2.39 MB, 1260x1170)
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>Statistics: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1p2K_evlFKjbblbSTf3ZSf-0xECyNHEeiQEgyiFdADcw
>Character:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1F43-0W17qNQ3Q_FwOOQPYw8Rf4HmSCFrEcAv-uOPQD0/edit?usp=sharing
>Archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=shipgirl+commander
>Twitter: https://twitter.com/DiceToTableTop

You clear your throat, rubbing your temples as you take in the bizarre occurrence all at once. Around you the mess still lingered, so you move to sort that out first. Nachi’s words may or may not have been significant, or even had a meaning to it, but you really didn’t want to delve into that dig all at once. Your neck aches slightly as do your knees from all the kneeling – at the back of your head you realize that whatever had just happened, you couldn’t make sense of it as you were – maybe when you and your Heavy Cruiser had another meeting, you could sort it out, but as of right now, the mess was the only thing on your mind.

That, of course, and Kaga.

You’d only seen her half a day or so back, and while it wouldn’t have been entirely truthful to say that you missed her, you did feel as though she’d be a good person to talk to – especially after all that you’d been through. Taking down a mental manifestation of a Princess of all things. She hadn’t even had her first mission yet.

Nachi’s previous attempts at shaving herself may have looked like a failure of epic proportions, but it wasn’t anything that you hadn’t been through as a cook on the day; a mop and pail in the corner – and some grit had you sorting it out the best you could, the fastest you could. You don’t call out for Nachi – you’re not sure if you could handle her snipes, naked or otherwise, for the day.

You’re done in less than half an hour. As you walk out into the corridor, you make out the arriving evening. Making your way past the stairs, you see Nachi peer out, giving you a wave off and nothing more – you don’t know if she liked you, but you know now that she was at least all right with you being around; for now, it’d suffice – and your mind drifts again to Kaga.

Making your way down the stairs, you enter the hallway to see the bulky attendant of yours set behind a table, scratching his head as he filled out forms. The Admiral’s words echo through your brain as you approach him; you had no real clue where Kaga would be yourself, not after last night – and she hadn’t come back to the room either – before, during or after.

‘Sir!’ Your attendant raises to his feet, saluting. ‘Just makin’ sure we got enough space for your requisition, sir!’

‘Oh.’ You blink. So your attendants would be sorting that out. ‘Thanks – Would you know where Kaga is?’

‘Kaga-san?’ He looks thoughtful. ‘I saw her at Mamiya’s… but she could be attunin’ her weapons at the Dock or the MASH.’

>‘Mamiya’s?’
>‘Dock?’
>‘MASH.’
>>
>>381181
>‘Mamiya’s?’

He actually saw her there, so I feel like that's the best bet.
>>
>>381181
>‘Mamiya’s?’
>>
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‘Mamiya’s? What was she doing there?’ As the words leave your mouth, you feel like slapping yourself something silly – there’d only be one thing that she could have been doing there, if anything.

‘Havin’ lunch.’ Your bulky attendant looks thoughtful, tapping his lip with the pen in his hand. He hums slightly, leaning back – you’re treated to an unsightly stretching of the button threads on his uniform, but decide that given your own bulk, find that it’d be hypocritical of you to even let out a whisper or a stray thought of the unflattering state of it. Your attendant turns to you again, wracking his mind for any extra tidbits he could give you, it’d seem. ‘I think she was with one of the new arrivals.’

‘New arrivals?’ You’d encountered Hiei the day before; you didn’t think that the base would get reinforced from the Admiralty so quickly – but you can’t complain, of course; after all that’d happened, any guns they could spare were as welcome as an oasis in a desert.

‘There were a few new KanMusu checking in today.’ Your attendant elaborates – briefly you wonder why the Admiral hadn’t mentioned it to you, but you suppose you could hardly hold it against him for not dropping every single tidbit of information coming and going on your lap. ‘I’m not sure if they’re going to be part of the Admiral’s forces of the Vice-Admiral, but Kaga-san apparently knew them enough to pull a table up for ‘em.’

You let out a small smile. After last night, after the whole week, it was nice for you to find that Kaga actually had a familiar face to do things with – especially after the long week and change. You remind yourself that she hadn’t been on a mission yet and already put on the grill twice – with you as the spatula and pan.

‘Oh, and we just finished sorting out a schedule for the buggy transit today at the Vice-Admiral’s office. I didn’t know if you wanted a copy, sir, so I just gave one to Nagato this afternoon.’ Your attendant hands you a piece of paper, one with many scrawls and scratches with certain times and dates that you can’t make sense of yourself – either from the unintelligible shorthand or the glaring red cross-outs that leaked from word to word.

‘What’s this for?’

‘Like I said, I didn't know if you’d need one, but…’ He shrugs, dropping his pen onto the floor almost clumsily – he bends over to pick it up, still grumbling in his chair. ‘seein’ as I’m your attendant, it’d be irresponsible for me not to tell you that I had one written up, right?’

‘Fair enough.’ You agree – you feel a little bit more appreciative of the effort he put in.

‘Headin’ out to Mamiya’s, sir?’ He questions you, playing with the instrument in his hand.

‘Yeah.’ You offer him a small smile, motioning yourself around. ‘I have a few things to sort out with Kaga.’

‘Happy hunting!’ He lets out cheerfully.

TBC
>>
>>381514
Wohoo here we go again!
hope you had a nice holiday
>>
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WOO

SHIPGRILL COMMANDER IS BACK

>>381514
How you doing, MECHANIC? Hope Eid wasn't too hellish for you
>>
>>381181
Great to see you again Mechanic
>>
>>381181
>Character doc
>Tenryuu
>"Is in agreement with Tenryuu on the status and competency of his person."

Might wanna fix that
>>
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You head outside, pocketing the schedule. You elect not to waste time waiting for a prospective buggy – Mamiya’s wasn’t that far a walk, anyway. You make your way past familiar gravel and cement, lightly humming as the engineers and the maintenance crew look sparse compared to before – the evening was fast approaching, and the shifts would be changing soon – so that made sense, at least. You catch a few glimpses of your crew of ex-gangsters toiling as they were before. Apparently some of them had been assigned off-site, what with everyone available pulling double duty.

You don’t even realize you’d reached Mamiya’s until you trip on one of the cables connected to a generator right in front of the store, gaining a few grumbles from the maintenance crew working the shift – you’re not given the opportunity to give an apology as the crew moves past you; you see the entrance to the restaurant, and Irako bowing to a pair of leaving KanMusu.

‘Hey there, Irako.’ You walk up to her, raising a hand in greeting.

‘Commander!’ Irako raises herself from her bow, eyes sparkling as much as the last time you’d seen her. ‘Good to see you – oh!’ She puts her hands together in a loud clap. ‘Congratulations on your mission!’

‘What?’ You blink, a little confused.

‘Did I get the occasion wrong?’ Irako tilts her head, looking confused herself.

‘No, I – !’

You’re cut off with a sudden motion of Irako’s – the brown-haired KanMusu whirls like a released top on her heel; – her back to you, her eyes turn to a pigtailed girl, who freezes in her tracks in the middle of the floor of the restaurant, clearly in your sights… and hers.

‘Zuikaku, put those plates down!’ Irako demands.

‘Look, you’re feeding us – the least I could do is – !’

‘No, no, no, sit down!’ Irako raises her hands, exasperated. ‘Sit! You’re not a customer, you’re a guest girly! Now put those plates down and – !’

‘It’s least I could – !’

‘Gimme those!’

Irako swipes the plates of food out of her hands skilfully and quickly, to the pouting features of the spritely KanMusu. The girl, Zuikaku – or something, motions to take the plates back, only for Irako to glare at her; a clear motion for her to give up in her endeavor.

‘We ate like five plates – each – and you’re not even footing us with a note!’ She whines, motioning for a pouch on her dress – her archery uniform. ‘I’ll do the plates and – !’

A Carrier.

‘Sit down!’ Irako says in a sing-song voice, balancing the plates before turning to you. ‘And bring the Commander with you!’

‘Commander?’ Zuikaku blinks, looking around; behind you, around you, above you. ‘Huh?’

‘Sir.’

Kaga’s voice reaches your ears and you see her emerge from behind a pillars

‘C – Commander.’ Zuikaku stutters, raising a finger. 'COMMANDER?!'

>Be playful about it
>Be formal with Zuikaku
>Write-In
>>
>>381591
>Be playful about it
>>
>>381591
>>Be playful about it
>>
>>381591
>Be formal with Zuikaku
>>
>>381591
>Formal greeting
>>
>>381591
>Be playful about it
>>
>>381591
>Be formal with Zuikaku
>>
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‘I know.’ You chuckle, motioning to your belly. ‘Beneath this exterior is a well-oiled man of the military. Who’d thunk it, huh?’

Kaga shoots you a look of discouragement – her hands motion for you to drop whatever attempt at communication you had in mind when it came to this KanMusu, but you raise a hand to her in return. You could handle this; you handled Nachi just fine, and with this girl that Irako had cowed so quickly and swiftly, you could – !

‘Your hair isn’t regulation.’ Zuikaku starts crisply, crossing her arms and looking at the top of your hair. You unconsciously run a hand through it – a little embarrassed – you could stand to have a little trim of your own when it came to it, after all.‘Your shirt’s untucked and your shoelace isn’t per rulebook options – the collar has to be straightened properly and you have a food stain on your right pocket. Your hat and uniform are missing – your boots need a good shine and there’re creases on your wear.’ You touch every offending part of the KanMusu’s point-by-point – she approaches you with a pair of cold eyes not unlike Nachi’s, her mouth curled into a scowl – you being a Commander didn’t seem to have any weight here – she goes on without missing a beat, looking up at you. ‘Want me to go on?’

‘I didn’t know all Carriers cut as deep as Kaga.’ Is all you manage, letting a defeated smile and rubbing the back of your neck. ‘Bravo.’

‘Only ones that need to get laid.’ Kaga crosses her own arms and smirking from behind her.

Zuikaku’s face turns red at the mention, and you feel a more amused smile creeping from the corners of your mouth. You do nothing, though, regarding Kaga with a thankful look, one that she returns warmly, taking the hand of the Carrier, who doesn’t fight the tug towards a nearby table, nestled in a corner.

‘Come on, Commander; Zuikaku.’ She invites you with a nod and smile – Zuikaku follows her lead, going back to their seat with minimal fuss and not a single look at you.

You sit across from them – unsure of what to talk to Kaga about. You’d figured that you’d be able to chat with her about what had happened the day before, but with the state of the information and the basis of it, you didn’t know if this would be the place to actually divulge it so casually. The other part of your unofficial mission was fine so far – Kaga didn’t look anything like the wreck you’d expected in the worst case scenario – which was a plus, in any case.

‘Were you looking for me, Commander?’ Kaga tilts her head, a little confused, it’d seem.

‘Just wanted to check on you. I mean, after last night…’ You bite your lip, unsure of how to be properly discrete with this.

Zuikaku grumbles audibly.

‘Zuikaku?’ Kaga turns to her friend. ‘Something wrong?’

Nothin’.’

>Address Zuikaku
>Talk to Kaga
>Write-In
>>
>>381591
>Be playful about it

Welcome back, Mechanic.
>>
>>381735
Welp, my timing is as good as ever.

>>381733
>Talk to Kaga
>>
>>381733
>Talk to Kaga

I don't know why but I'm loving the switched around personalities
>>
>>381733
>>Talk to Kaga
>>
>>381733
>Talk to Kaga
>>
>>381733
>Talk to Kaga
>>
>>381733
Who is the QM's waifu? Is she in this quest, or not?
>>
>>382171
He married Hotel IIRC.
>>
>>382178
>>382171
I don't think the QM has stated any waifu preferences yet.
>>
>>382171
>>382183
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/115418/#p125628

Make what you will of that.
>>
>>382192
>glowing, falling petals

Yup that's ship's married.
>>
>>382197
Maybe he just married her for the stat boosts?
>>
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>>382197
I know.
>>
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‘If you’re wondering if I’m all right, Commander – I am.’ She practically reads your mind.

Kaga smirks – or smiles, you can’t be a hundred percent sure with her sometimes, but is in an assuring thing. You feel a little bit embarrassed for entertaining the thought that she would be an emotional wreck after the events that transpired, but you’re glad to see that – right now, anyway – it wasn’t the case with her. It really did seem stupid in hindsight, worrying about her after all she’d been through.

One little nightmare probably didn’t count for much when one was out on the sea dodging shrapnel, explosions and teeth. It probably didn’t even count for notice or attention to Kaga – not with her record.

‘Oh, right.’

‘I’m not so weak and delicate that one nightmare’s enough to send me into a permanently quivering mess.’ She chides you – there’s a little bit of the Kaga you’d first encountered, not that she was gone in any capacity for you, just a little more restrained – and takes a delicate sip from her cup of water.

‘But two fingers are?’

You really can’t resist.

You see Zuikaku, to Kaga’s left, with a shadow of a twitch at the corners of her mouth – it dies out as quickly as your eyes can hone onto it, though – while Kaga herself has her eyes open a little bit wider than usual, evidently surprised that you’d taken that route. You bring your fingers together into a roof, giving Kaga a toothy grin – taking her in surprise on this end was no easy task. It may have not been advisable in any capacity, but you bask a little bit in your tiny victory.

‘I have taught you well, Disciple.’ Kaga pushes a lock of her hair behind her ear, leaning back onto the chair with a conceded look and taps a finger in your direction; an acknowledgment. ‘Ippon.’

‘So what’re you doing for the day?’ You get to your next point – you were a little curious of how things worked with Kaga’s shifts – Nagato was a horse befitting her unflattering nickname – but all you knew from what she did around the base

‘Goes to show just what kind of Commander you are.’ Zuikaku snipes audibly.

There’s a small grunt of pain from her after – Kaga had probably done something to her under the table.

‘I had paperwork this morning – I still have my correspondence with the Sky Force to keep running. All rented out Carriers have to – especially with our needs.’ Zuikaku grumbles a little more – Kaga looks at her with a scowl, and Zuikaku, in response, shoots you a look that plainly stated, for some reason… you were to blame.

‘It’s nice to have someone look after your well-being around here.’

‘Hah!’ Zuikaku lets out, slapping her hand on the table loudly.

‘Honestly?’ Kaga rolls her eyes, a little exasperated. ‘Right now?’

>‘Right now what?’ (Ask Kaga)
>‘Something you want to add, Zuikaku?’ (Address Zuikaku)
>Write-In
>>
>>382679
>>‘Something you want to add, Zuikaku?’ (Address Zuikaku)
Let's put her on the spot.
>>
>>382679
>‘Something you want to add, Zuikaku?’ (Address Zuikaku)
>>
‘Yeah, Zuikaku?’

You lean back into the spine of your chair. The pig-tailed Carrier cocks her head one side, surprised – at least a little – that you’d addressed her directly. It may have been a little rude for you to shun her presence so blatantly and crassly like that, but you did have a priority set for yourself to address Kaga first – although you do think that you maybe should have been a little more inclusive of her in the conversation – maybe you should have been a lot more open.

Now was your chance, anyway.

‘Huh?’ Zuikaku takes her head off the palm of her hand, elbows resting on the table as she straightens slightly to look right at you. She tries to affirm that you are indeed addressing her – and as you do so, you see Kaga shoot you a quick warning look, which you pay no heed to. ‘You mean me?’

‘Is there something you want to bring to the table?’ Of course you meant her – and truth be told, you were wondering where the source of the spitfire’s fire was – she seemed a little dismissive, but having Kaga as a friend meant that this KanMusu was at least worth having and getting to know.

It was either that or Kaga wasn’t that spoiled or choosy when it came to her own inner circle.

You can look yourself in the mirror and attest to that with a nod and a twirl – if true.

‘Look, I’m practical.’ There’s an energy to Zuikaku’s words – she doesn’t look at you with the same amount of disdain, but it does seem like she was about to get into a sort of stride – and one that Kaga seemed to have a hint of disapproval for but held back on… or just blatantly refused to address. ‘I’m not a romanticist. Can’t delve into that junk for the life of me. Things are better seen when they are taken as the value perceived – not the value they are presented.’

‘I swear, I am burning that collection of books Akagi bought you the moment I see it.’ Kaga groans, dropping her head onto the table with a loud thud, much to your worry. There’s an exasperation to her words, and she rakes her nails against the wooden top, apparently sobbing upon the wooden surface; she turns her head around with narrowed eyes to Zuikaku. ‘I swear that they have corrupted you.’

‘You just can’t appreciate that I’ve taken up philosophy as a hobby.’ Zuikaku remarks in a sing-song voice, smirking before downing her cup of water with a hum.

‘That’s not a hobby.’ Kaga growls, sitting up straight and raising a finger to her friend, taking an accusatory tone. ‘That’s pretentious.’

‘Books?’ You latch on to the simplest thing your mind can comprehend or get – and try to steer the table away from spiraling.

‘Books on the state of being – on our existence. Wanna know more?’

It’s not a question. Kaga looks to you – her expression one of clear despair.

‘You had to ask.’ She pinches the bridge of her nose.

TBC
>>
‘Are you a… cultist?’

‘No, I’m just a little bit more enlightened than most – Kaga, if you’d just – !’

‘Find a man already!’ Kaga declares loudly enough for the other patrons – you now notice that there are other patrons, taking notice of the increasing volume of chatter from your table. You shrink a little, embarrassed at the growing spectacle. ‘It’s been three years – get something between your legs!’ Kaga rises to her feet, jabbing a finger in her friend’s face, thoroughly annoyed by her attempts – or a build-up from previous attempts, judging by the tone – and her patience was definitely wearing thin. ‘Preferably before you bore another human to death. I’ll even pay for the damn brothel, you uptight wannabe. You can rent it out and have them ram you in all three holes and piss down them or whatever.’ She raises a hand, waving it around and making obscene motions in succession.

You turn to your left, noticing a few members of the worker crew with red faces, their mouths agape and blatantly eavesdropping on the table, not three feet away and throwing Zuikaku and Kaga curious gazes. You yourself feel a tinge of red coming on, scratching the bottom of your chin.

‘WHADDAYA STARIN’ AT? MOVE ON!’ Kaga yells, jabbing a thumb to the exit, to which they do.

You grimace slightly as Kaga grumbles back into her seat.

‘Kaga, I am perfectly operational without a man.’ Zuikaku insists.

‘You’re operational, but you’re boring us to tears.’ Your Carrier practically weeps. ‘Get someone! Anyone! You got dumped! Move on!’

Zuikaku was dumped? That was interesting story – if true.

‘I don’t feel the need to.’ Zuikaku says in a zen-like trance, her hand in front of her like a sort of prayer. ‘Unlike you and the others, Akagi and I are perfectly fine in the one-ness we experience with the universe.’ She smiles kindly to Kaga. ‘Don’t need a dick for that kind of enlightment. Ain’t that right, Irako?’

Irako is right beside you, setting another set of cups of water on the table,

‘Get. Laid.’ Is all she says, walking away.

‘Is this kind of thing guys usually discuss with their girlfriends?’ You find yourself amused, resting your chin on your hands. ‘Because if so, I think I’ve been missing out.’

‘No, no, no, Mr Commander, sir.’ She huffs proudly. ‘Kaga and the others have just entered a state where what they think they want is a man in the sheets – in truth, it’s so much more – !’

‘Why are we friends, Zuikaku?’ Kaga practically weeps.

‘Why is he your Commander?’

Oh, that hurt.

‘Anyway, wouldn’t you agree, Commander? Would you like to delve the mysteries of being alongside me?’

>‘Are you flirting with me?’ (Confused)
>‘I’m not sure what you want me to agree to.’ (More confused)
>‘I’m a Commander, not a philosopher.’ (Back away)
>Try to change the topic (To what? Specify)
>>
For reference, this is a conversation I had with my friends when I broke up with my favorite ex 5 years ago. I delved into this really weird place where I justified not having a girlfriend was actually awesome and I had everything on a platter and would wax about it to my friends.

My friends still say that is the worst version of me they'd ever seen.
>>
>>382908
>‘Are you flirting with me?’ (Confused)

>>382913
Interesting. I can't say I've ever done anything like that. My worst breakup resulted in a minor (massive) stint with me and the bottle though.
>>
>>382908
Would it be unwise to change the topic to her getting dumped?
>>
>>382927
I spaghetti'd because I thought she wouldn't want to convert. Then I found out, years later than as long as she was Orthodox Catholic/Ultra-Orthodox Jewish, I could have stayed with her - which she was. I felt stupid about it.

>>382928
You tell me.
>>
>>382935
>spaghetti'd because I thought she wouldn't want to convert
Wait really? I thought if the spouse didn't convert, then family would virtually exile you
>>
>>382938
What? No. Ultra-Orthodox Jewish and Orthodox Christians are fine. The only ones you really have to convert are ones like Buddhists, Atheists, and the like. My father and grandfather said it was fine - it'd be better if they DID convert, but the first two use the books of God as they were presented, so it's all good.

Think of it as a software update from the same brand.
>>
>>382908
>‘I’m not sure what you want me to agree to.’ (More confused)
>>
‘Are you flirting with me?’ You uneasily back away – the sparkle in the eyes of the pig-tailed Carrier was a little bit unnerving – and turn to Kaga for good measure, who merely raises an eyebrow, leaving you to her attentions… after all, she did try to warn you about Zuikaku’s zeal – one you did not heed.

‘Hardly.’ Zuikaku snorts, smirking with crossed arms as she leaned back. ‘I like my men – oh, you almost got me, you did. Sly one here, Kaga.’ Kaga doesn’t reply, merely rolling her eyes as Zuikaku takes a stance like a recognized expert, a superior stance, a decided one, affirming her position more than ever before. ‘I am most definitely not flirting with you, sir. You see, I’ve moved past base desires and wants – I realized that I don’t need all that to affirm myself in my state of being based on whether or not I’m acknowledged by the opposite sex or not, but in self-acceptance and self-improvement.’ Kaga snorts at this, to which Zuikaku scoffs. ‘Try it, Kaga. You may be pleasantly surprised.’ She finishes in a sing-song voice – half-teasing, half-inviting.

‘You’re joking, right?’ Kaga takes a drink out of her cup, her tone one of a worn rock on the waves; you follow suit.

‘Kaga, you need to realize there’s a whole lot more to life than pining for that snug fit.’

You choke on your gulp, your face red – around you, the patrons of the restaurant, you realize, are just as embarrassed at how open the conversation – and how loud the voices – had become. Kaga throws you a look and a wink, to which you find your collar several sizes smaller and the back of your throat holding an itch that could irritate mountains.

‘Good Heavens, Zuikaku, what the actual Hell, woman?’ You stutter, setting down your

‘I’m just saying. You know that as a Commander for a Carrier Unit, our attunement is a lot more volatile than most, that our connection to the Stream reacts much more quickly to quick changes, sudden shifts.’ You nod – you’d heard all this before. Zuikaku pats her chest, looking very much proud. ‘I’ve merely entered a state where the changes affect me minimally – through my acceptance of self – I don’t need to have a man to affirm my – !’

‘No one cares, Zuikaku.’

You actually do. That seemed like a good way to get around the volatility; at least you think it is.

‘Evidently, your Commander does.’ She was apparently just as good as reading minds, too.

‘Don’t you dare, girl.’ Kaga growls, pointing a finger at her friend. ‘I thought Akagi was bad. Get out there!’ Zuikaku’s mouth frowns, to which Kaga raises her hands before burying her face in one palm, annoyed.‘All right, all right, bad analogy – Zuikaku, you know as well as I do that the only reason you got into this is because he dumped you!’

Zuikaku only giggles.

'Oh, Kaga.'

TBC
>>
‘How simple-minded. He merely opened the gate to true enlightenment for me – I harbor no ill-will; I have reached self-awareness in my role in this world.’ She actually looks tearful, her eyes lined with a light that was both frightening and impressive. ‘It’s beautiful.’

‘I am going to kill Akagi for what she did to you.’ Kaga groans loudly, banging her cup onto the wooden surface. ‘This is horrible.’

‘You’re only saying that because you can’t think of a future that doesn’t involve you and a pile of men in a sheet.’ Zuikaku gives her a good-natured pat on the shoulder, but Kaga doesn’t react to it outside of a few mumbled words into her forearm. ‘Houshou has turned you from your true cause in this world.’

‘True cause?’ That piqued your interest quite a bit – you’re curious, just a bit.

Kaga sends you a glare and a subtle rise of her middle finger – you’d evidently done the wrong thing again in her eyes, but you couldn’t help your curiosity. Zuikaku may have been spouting nonsense, but her point of view is certainly interesting; there is a charisma to the way she carries herself, one that you can’t help but get caught in.

‘We are but pawns on a board, the clouds in the sky – things with places and roles, to think of ourselves as anything but guided by a divine right is to deny ourselves peace and acceptance.’

‘Die, Zuikaku.’ Kaga punches Zuikaku’s shoulder in exasperation.

‘You love me, Kaga, buddy,’ Zuikaku practically constricts her friend, rubbing cheek-to-cheek with the tired woman, ‘and if it takes me forever, I will put you along this beautiful path with me.’

‘That’s adorable.’ You chuckle, amused.

‘Isn’t it?’

‘Don’t encourage her, Commander.’

‘I’m not.’ You raise your hands in defence. ‘I just don’t think I’ve ever had a friend that close. Must be nice.’

‘It is.’ Zuikaku hums. ‘Ah, to be caught in this bliss of pure, unspoiled relationships of trust and friendship and dependence – the core of all things to lean on one another! Is it not the essence of of our very being to be here?’

‘That’s… actually a pretty good point.’

‘What did I say about encouraging her?’

‘But she says it so nicely!’ She did.

‘Are you honestly saying that you’d rather be humming mantras to yourself in a garden rather than be with me?’ Kaga pouts with a baby-ish tone. ‘A cold bed of stone over my warm bosom?’

Zuikaku immediately releases Kaga, getting to her feet. The atmosphere immediately changes and you feel ice – cold ice stream through your veins, empty eyes regarding her tired-looking friend.

‘Hang on, back up, what? Kaga, what?’ There is a dead laugh in her voice.

‘It is what it is.’ Kaga rolls her head, shooting you a small smile – or a half-smirk. ‘Commander?’

She rounds on you.

>Affirm your relationship discretely
>Affirm it readily and openly
>Dodge it
>Deny it
>>
>>383064
>>Affirm your relationship discretely
It would probably be bad if the other patrons heard us outright admitting to breaking regs, even if the Admiral is okay with it.
>>
>>383064
>Affirm your relationship discretely
>>
>>383064
>Affirm your relationship discretely

zuizui, by the love of god, get laid
>>
>>383064
>>Affirm your relationship discretely
>>
>>383064
>Affirm it readily and openly

welcome back Mechanic and zuizui needs a man stat!
>>
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‘It’s… complicated.’ You try to be as subtle, as discrete as you can. Even if the Admiral was a lax figure, you didn’t know how far the wind traveled – and if its direction would change. You decide to be very, very careful with what you say. More for your own safety than you are to actually declare anything concrete between you and Kaga that could lead to anything broken – ceramics or bones. ‘Very, very complicated.’

Complicated?’ Kaga most definitely smirks at you now – underneath the table you feel the trace of a foot dragging along the inside of your leg – to your growing embarrassment and your very much restrained agitation. Trust the most mischievous – or second most – mischievous of your KanMusu to actually try to drag something out where you didn’t want it to be. ‘I suppose you could say that.’

‘Ix-Nay. Ix-Nay.’ You hiss – her toes smoothly tickle the inside of your thighs, and with a flash of your eyes you see that she’s not doing this for you or Zuikaku; this is for her amusement alone.

It is a trite relieving for you that the tiny sadistic twinge of Kaga’s hadn’t completely disappeared after one night between the sheets and a battle for your very soul – but it is mostly a warning alarm of epic proportions as you realize that no matter how many climaxes in either sense, this KanMusu still got off on your embarrassment in the open. You bite your lip and move your chair back – she is amused at this.

‘Zuikaku’s a carrier.’ Kaga interjects, leaning her cheek against a fist and winking at the twisted visage of her friend – Zuikaku herself look like she is walking the line between a murder fantasy and the before-scene of a real life massacre. Your Carrier doesn’t let up. Not at all. ‘She knows how it goes.’

‘How what goes exactly?’ Zuikaku snarls – not at Kaga, but at you, you find – her fingers dig into the wood of the table, her lips taking eldritch shapes, her eyes burning an invisible flame.

You blink, despite yourself. Mayhap she did need to get laid. She certainly did look like it.

You can see what Kaga had been getting at.

Not that it helps you one bit, but it’s an insight you put away at the back of your head.

‘Well…’ Kaga is certainly enjoying herself too much – she rubs the back of her neck, smirking at Zuikaku, definitely Zuikaku, taunting her with a motion of her eyes, ‘let’s just say that I don’t have to book a date or deposit for my appointments anymore.’

She winks at you again.

‘Not when I can drink from the tap.’

You slash your fingers across your throat. Zuikaku definitely doesn’t look like she’s the least bit entertained with the subtle reveal of the more sordid, but very much real details of your relationship.

‘And guess what?’ Kaga goes on. ‘I dug the well.’

Zuikaku explodes.

>Calm her down
>Let Kaga handle it
>Leave
>Write-In
>>
>>383317
>Calm her down
AH FUCK
>>
>>383317
>Calm her down
>>
>>383317
>>Calm her down
It'll be hard for us to find her a boyfriend if she kills us first.
>>
>>383329
>>383331
>>383334
OOC: Do you guys even know why she's angry?
>>
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>>383337
Oh no...

Did Kaga steal her previous boyfriend?
>>
>>383317
>Let Kaga handle it
>>
‘I don’t approve of this!’ Zuikaku raises herself on her seat – quite literally, in fact. She stands in her chair, glaring down at you as you feel the wind of her battle aura – so bright, so wild, threaten to envelop you – if this had been you two weeks or so ago, you’d be crapping your pants about now – but you’d seen too much to actually care much, beyond feeling a little bit intimidated, but not much more than that. ‘I’m reporting you to the authorities, you – you deviant!’

You’re not quite sure how to take that. Kaga, however, does, and only rolls her eyes, balancing herself on the two back stands of her chair, tiredly regarding her over-dramatic friend. You’re not quite sure how to properly address the issue, but before you could move, Kaga takes the talk with a finger jabbed in her friends twisted visage as before, unmoved.

Zuikaku.’ Kaga begins in monotone. ‘Get. Laid.’

‘Stop telling me to get laid!’ She practically shrills, her claw-like hands reaching for the sky as though milking the Heavens themselves – she looks like an absolute demon, wild and consumed – she looks like some sort of hunched beast throwing a temper tantrum. ‘I am perfectly happy reaching Nirvana! I don’t need no man and I don’t need no – no roll in the hay to get my kicks up, you braggart.’

Rude.’ Kaga frowns, crossing her arms.

‘No Nirvana like a roll on Saturday Night, eh, fellas?!’ The rest of the patrons raise their mugs, cackling.

AYE!’ Is the resounding reply.

‘Stay outta this, ya fogeys!’ Zuikaku shrills right back – most definitely a shrill this time – at the howling patrons, who, even with the arrival of the evening, had seen it very much appropriate to down their first barrels of the night – and very likely not to be their last. ‘No one asked ya!’

‘Someone really needs to take a breather.’ You pinch your nose’s bridge, exasperated – you feel a small migraine going along – and your dislike of her growing by the second. Handling melodramatics wasn’t and would never be your strong point. ‘Zuikaku, I think you should calm down. It’s just a little – !’

‘Calm down?! Calm down?!’ Zuikaku declares. Pointing down ‘Do you understand what’s going on here?!’

‘That you’re over-reacting?’ You offer, feeling a little more annoyed than you were scared of her – this had just developed into something childish when you hadn’t been looking.

‘OVER-REACTING!’ She cries out, her aura swirling in a violent torrent. ‘I’LL SHOW YOU OVER-REACT – !’

Irako bangs a bottle of soy sauce on your table, surprising all three of you.

‘Stuff it or I get Mamiya.’

She’s right back in her seat – and Irako leaves, shaking her head.

‘Feel better?’ Kaga puts a hand on Zuikaku’s shoulder.

She says nothing.

>‘Something the matter, Zuikaku?’ (Pry)
>‘What’s that all about?’ (Inquire Kaga)
>Write-In
>>
>>383412
>>‘Something the matter, Zuikaku?’ (Pry)
We should also sneak in an apology for jumping to conclusions without knowing the situation.
>>
>>383412
>‘Something the matter, Zuikaku?’ (Pry)
>>
>>383421
this, we need to calm the turkey down or we may end up in bind. do recall that she is kaga's friend of sorts and who knows if she will help her friend by sharing
>>
>>383412
>>‘Something the matter, Zuikaku?’ (Pry)
>>
>>383412
>‘What’s that all about?’ (Inquire Kaga)
>>
>>383412
>wasalldisbut bae?
(Ask kaga)
>>
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Zuikaku, once petulant, crosses her arms in her seat, thoroughly annoyed and very much emanating a vicious and restrained light. She grunts and growls in place, annoyed at, evidently, both you and Kaga. So much for actually giving good impressions – it’s not even fifteen minutes and you have a friend of your subordinate glowing in concealed rage. Nonetheless… it’s something that you feel you have to address, warning from Kaga or no.

‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen something like that before – from a KanMusu or otherwise.’ You tentatively begin – in plain view, Kaga slaps her forehead, now very much annoyed with you, as well.

‘Leave me be, will you?’ Zuikaku scowls, looking away and puffing her cheeks. Kaga grimaces, but her eyes are laced with a sort of filial concern as she regards her friend’s bad mood. ‘I came here to see Kaga – not to be judged on my singledom.’ She snaps at you, daring for you to take another step. You’re briefly reminded of Nachi, but only for a bit – Nachi was aggressive and dismissive, in contrast, Zuikaku stubborn and very in-your-face with her arguments; she had no subtlety. ‘I don’t know why you’re being such a busybody over this, anyway – it’s my life. I can die or live as I see fit, so there.’

‘Zuikaku, I’ve only known you the last ten minutes, but…’ It’s now Kaga’s turn to mimic the motions of silence, telling you to quit – you press on. ‘I think Kaga’s just worried about you – despite her rather… unorthodox methods of making sure you’re okay.’ You continue delicately, trying to sound as empathic as you can – at the back of your head, you realize that it only sounded pretentious, despite your best efforts. ‘I know enough about Carriers to know that you’re at least a little more emotionally-inclined than the rest of the KanMus, but – hey, give me some credit.’

‘Easy for you to say.’ Zuikaku‘ You’re a guy – and human. You don’t get it.’

‘Maybe I don’t… but I know that you’re a little more than upset at the topic of getting laid – either that or Kaga’s been yapping in your ear about it for quite some time now.’

‘Are you on my side or hers, really?’ Kaga gives you a half-lidded stare.

‘I’m just trying to make sense of it all.’ You admit truthfully. ‘I’m on the side that votes on a quieter and more discrete manner of communication in a public location, if anything.’ You raise your hands, a little more exasperated than you had been been before. ‘I think I’ve had my good share of spectacles the last 24 hours, to be quite honest.’

‘Fair enough.’ Kaga nods. ‘Zuikaku’s ex-boyfriend was a dick. We sorted him out.’

Kaga!’

'Boyfriend?’

‘I ain’t sayin’ nothin’.’

‘She didn’t have a good one – she had a horrible boyfriend that duped her something fierce.’

‘You’re one to talk.’ Zuikaku grumbles. ‘Miss Other Woman.’

TBC
>>
‘I came to terms with my sin.’ Kaga replies. ‘You’re laying too much blame with yourself and swearing off a whole gender that doesn’t even remotely represent your sample as a whole. You’re being sexist, Zuikaku.’

Wow, this conversation was going weird places now.

‘I am not being sexist.’ Zuikaku insists, suddenly indicating you with a hand, as if you’re the front an center example. ‘I’m just swearing off men. Think they’re great just because they have pecs and all that shit. Friggin’ two-faced liars, the lot of them.’

‘See, that’s sexist.’ Kaga insists, pointing a finger in her direction than indicating you just as she had. ‘The Commander doesn’t have anything remotely resembling pectoral muscles.’

Oh, she could hurt you when she wanted to, really, she could.

‘Kaga, did you know in some countries that counts as domestic abuse?’

‘It does?’ Kaga actually looks a little sorry – you backtrack a bit – it wasn’t; not really.

‘No,’ you admit, ‘but I read it in a Women’s Magazine once.’ That was close enough – those magazines thought they had sovereign rights anyway. ‘I think it still holds.’

‘Incorrigible, honestly.’ Kaga rolls her eyes, sighing. ‘Zuikaku, everyone’s just worried – and the way that you’re approaching this is getting a lot of us even more worried. You don’t even need a boyfriend at this rate – just a fling over the bar top’d do, really.’

‘Urgh, I’m not you, Kaga.’ Zuikaku insists, crossing her arms. ‘I don’t want that.’

‘Well, it’s what you need.’ She turns to you. ‘I’m even willing to – !’

‘Oh, no, I have my hands full with you and the rest of the crew.’ It is the honest truth from your mouth – between Houshou and Takao, you already had a ticket punched four times over. ‘I don’t need this.’

‘You’re merely an example of how desperate I’m willing to go to get my good friend here out of that ball of string – I don’t think she’s quite ready for your particular brand of loving, my dear.’

‘Vile.’ You grimace. ‘You are vile.’

‘You love me, darling.’

‘Kaga, I don’t want this.’ Zuikaku insists, now honestly upset – she looks like she’s about to cry. ‘Can you just let it go? Maybe I’ll find a guy or maybe I won’t, but – !’

‘Zuikaku, I was all right with it two years ago and it wasn’t my business.’ Kaga practically snaps. ‘When you started picking up Akagi’s habits, we actually went to the Shamans to see if you had any brain damage – a bad place is where you went to, girlfriend. Don’t deny it.’

She doesn’t… but she doesn’t look like she wants to be here either.

>‘A bad place?’ (Inquire on Kaga’s trail)
>‘What actually happened, really?’ (Ask about the incident with Zuikaku and her ex)
>Let the both of them finish it off
>Change the topic (Specify Topic)
>Write-In
>>
>>383704
>>Let the both of them finish it off
>>
>>383704
>‘What actually happened, really?’ (Ask about the incident with Zuikaku and her ex)
some directness might be required for this kind of thing
also her ex surely had shit taste
>>
>>383704
>‘What actually happened, really?’ (Ask about the incident with Zuikaku and her ex)
>>
>>383720
It's not about taste. It's about how you treat your girlfriend/boyfriend.
>>
>>383720
Wouldn't this make us look kind of dumb? I mean, we can already infer about what generally happened
>>
>>383736
feels like she will clam up if we arent direct, and might be a bit deeper

then again i know fuckall about this kind of things
>>
>>383704
>Get them off. Err i mean let them both finish it off.
>>
>>383704
>>Let the both of them finish it off
also i was here for the frist one of thise, good to know its still going on il have to read all the other ones soon
keep it up
>>
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‘Mind me asking, but what really happened?’ You frown, crossing your arms and surveying the suddenly small Zuikaku. ‘Call it curiosity or whatever, but… I don’t think I have a clear picture of what’s going on with this.’ You tentatively continue, looking to Kaga for something you could latch on to. ‘Did… something happen?’

‘I don’t know if that’s my story to tell, honestly.’ Kaga’s face remains neutral as she turns to Zuikaku.

‘I dated a guy. Thought he was sweet, turned out to be anything but – end of story.’ Zuikaku snarls, surprising you. ‘What’s yours?’

‘Commander.’

Kaga looks different – a little more dull, colorless.

‘We are not human.’ There is a firm, insistent, self-identifying tone to her voice – one that doesn’t leave room for doubt, nor a smidgen of negotiation. ‘You need to understand that is how we are seen – not as equals or as contemporaries – we are anything but human, and thus, in the eyes of many, less.’ She says it as though it is but arithmetic. ‘I won’t talk about it or refer it in vague tones, sir, but… even with all this, we are not human. Not even close; people know – they know just how far away we are, just how far… below it is.’

‘That’s – !’

‘It’s something that all of us have come to accept at one point or the other in our lives, although it’s not the same for any two of the KanMusu – it’s easier for the Destroyers, but for the Carriers? Not so clean.’

‘Kaga, can we just not, please?’ Zuikaku growls tiredly.

‘I’m not getting much out of that, but… I suppose I should be thankful you’re willing to open up that much with me.’ You admit.

‘Oh, you’re not special – Zuikaku doesn’t do discrete.’

‘That makes sense.’ You chuckle.

‘I’m right here, Kaga.’

You heard me.’ Kaga’s amused voice ‘Still, I wish you’d just stop cutting yourself up over it; it’s been three and change.’ She frowns. ‘Most people move on.’

‘We’re not most people.’ Zuikaku says quietly, offering Kaga a smile – resigned, understanding or mirthful you couldn’t tell – and only Zuikaku knows what it did.

‘No, we’re…’ Kaga chuckles, putting a friendly, apologetic arm around Zuikaku. Zuikaku hesitates in its reception, but she doesn’t push her away, shoulders tiredly drooping as her eyes haze, her mind not in the present. Kaga lets out a small laugh. ‘We’re definitely not most people.’

You try to take in as much as you can, but you find that you really can’t – not more than you already have, anyway. Even after two weeks, even after all you went through in this hectic trial by fire you find that Kaga, Nagato – everyone is still very much a mystery to you. The banners for recruitment, the adverts, they didn’t prepare you for this sort of thing that changed them from poster girls to…

People.

>Write-In
>>
>>383894
i dont think you all are that different, in these weeks seen you suffer, cry, laugh, despair...

aint smart or knowlageble on that kind of thing but thats being human right?
>>
>>383894
>But you Are people. Regardless of displacement and a bunch of other things.
maybe draw some paralell to autism or adhd, still people but different
>>
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>>384003
>Regardless of displacement and a bunch of other things
The QM has stated that they're pretty much humans, not ships.

Basically, think of them as magical girls, not mecha musume.
>>
>>383928
il take it
but probs should follow up a bit more.
like add in something like this
your right your not like most people and your all specle for this with all the things you can and have done, y would you ever want to be like most people, looking down and treating people like shit course there different too them? no matter what other people think i see you all as humans just like me
>>
>>384007
Well duh? Though i guess i shoulda said power or sth instead.
>>
>>383894
>"Having a relationship end badly is one of the most human things I know. You girls are people just like anyone else, you've just had to experience the world differently."
>>
>>384179
I like this
>>
>>384179
Seconding this.
>>
>>384179
Agreed
>>
>>384003
>>384007
>displacement and a bunch of other things.

This just in, people cannot separate planefag's interpretation from how other QMs would do it.
>>
>>385119
It wouldn't surprise me if some of those anon's only interaction with KanColle is the shitty anime and his quest, which perhaps can create a distorted view if you think of that as "canon" only. Since you know, there isn't going to be much consistency between fanworks. But, "they're basically normal girls without the equipment" is fairly standard, but their are variations.
>>
>>385338
>basically normal girls without the equipment
Though the fanfic scene seems to have run with the interpretation that they can go 'semi-ship' at will; one moment soft skin, another moment they bounce bullets

Not sure if this interpretation is held on the Japanese side though
>>
>>385429
Just clothes flying off when damaged seems to be somewhat normal. Oddly the anime included what looked like force fields in some of the early episodes, but I think they were dropped later.

Picture is from the official Play Manga chapter 94.
>>
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>>385429
>>385547
And from the doujin LOVE PHANTOM.
>>
>>385429
Also, IIRC there was an interview with the game devs where they said that they were normal girls without the equipment. Presumable that interruption is common among Japan, but I don't really know.
>>
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>>385620
>they were normal girls without the equipment
>>
>>383894
Well shit, a write in entirely depending on one's knowledge of how to deal with people.

I'm out. Hopefully you guys picked something good.
>>
‘That’s not it at all.’ You shake your head, disagreeing with the idea. Maybe for everyone else it seemed the fare, but for you – as fresh as you are, you just didn’t get it. ‘I think you’re the same as us – just that, well…’

You try to answer it as best you can, sighing as you let out your point.

‘I don’t see much of a difference between you and anyone else I see, really.’ You lean back into your chair, frowning. ‘You guys argue, you guys serve – I don’t think it’s any less than being part of an enlisted man’s resume – you still serve, and you still pull your dues, so I don’t get why there’s such a… point to this.’

The both of them regard you with neutral gazes.

‘Takao said the same thing to me – don’t you find it tiring at all?’ You question, lifting a concerned gaze to meet theirs. ‘Being talked about like that?’

‘You learn to tune it out.’ Zuikaku lets out casually, letting out a small chuckle and grimace. ‘If you still get the ball up with that little topic, you’ll be falling into a spike pit of distractions out on the open sea. I take it that some people like us and most people don’t; anything more or less and our bunch’d explode.’

‘It does get a little harder for Carriers, though, right?’

The both of them frown at you.

Hey.’ Kaga brings you to attention, her lips thinning in a slight agitation.

‘Something I said?’ It must have been.

‘It’s not something we like to discuss often.’ Zuikaku admits, and you regret your words a little – the topic was a little heavy in by itself. ‘We’ve come to terms that we’re not one of you – and a lot of us; a lot of us are fine with that, really.’ You try to say something, but find that you have no words – there’s a defeated, accepting tone in her voice, leaning back in her chair and looking to the ceiling with a mirthless laugh.‘Just wish that once in a while we get referred to as she and not it.’

‘Zuikaku.’ Kaga looks to her friend worriedly.

‘It’s fine.’Zuikaku waves her off. ‘Three years, remember?’

‘So, what you’re doing is a… coping mechanism or something.’

‘Wow.’ Zuikaku chuckles again. ‘Your parents teach you tact?’

‘I didn’t mean for it to be so out there. I apologize.’

‘You know, there’s a little bit I get as to why Kaga and you mix so well together, despite my earnest disapproval. You just take all of her, don’t ya?’ She grins. ‘Give you a little credit, Commander Fatty.’

‘Thanks, I guess?’

‘On to less personal fare; Kaga, are the Shaman’s requisition forms due this week or the next – I don’t have mine filled out yet.’

‘You’re not using my documents as a template.’ Kaga grumbles. ‘Fill one out yourself, girly.’

We besties, yo – on the road to Nirvana!’

You only smile… if just a little.

0/4
>Gym Appointment
>Stick around a little longer
>>
>>386772
>Gym Appointment

Well that didn't end horribly. Good job, guys!
>>
>>386772
>Gym Appointment
went better than i thought
>>
>>386772
>>Gym Appointment

Time to make gains. That way we can get a whole shitload of old-school sailor tattoos related to our division later on.
>>
>>386815
>tattoos
i heart big 7/ 1st cardiv
ill put something more general but im outta ideas
>>
The three of you continue to have some measure of small talk, mostly about how things were going in Ominato and Maizuru – Zuikaku’s transfer here was made upon her own request to return to active duty, you learn – and how the Admiralty had been sorting the mess out in the last two weeks. Fighting was still very much on the cards, even if the battlefields weren’t in plain sight. Zuikaku’s ISSF status and the mission record she’d chosen to divulge, for you, said more about her.

Regardless of whether she had needed to get laid or not – or how much more brazen or uppity she did get, this was a Carrier that had more than earned Kaga’s respect and trust. Dozens of missions taken part in together, years between them that showed a camaraderie that few would take time or effort to forge – Zuikaku was just as capable as the best of them, as decorated as the most achieving of the lot.

You even feel a little envious of how well she and Kaga seemed to function, despite their quirks.

The evening finally approaches, and Kaga and Zuikaku get to their feet. The day was just about over.

‘Pleasure to meet you, Zuikaku.’

‘Yeah, you’re not bad either, Commander.’

‘Sir, there you are!’

Your lanky attendant comes through the door, clutching a few folders under his arm. He looks a little more agitated – disheveled – than usual, his pants a little more frayed – probably from running around, you conclude – than usual. He approaches you with a salute. You’re a little surprised at his unannounced arrival, but seeing as his job description entailed grabbing whoever was convenient for you and grabbing whoever you were convenient for at any point in time for anything, you feel like you shouldn’t be.

‘Attendant.’ You return the salute, frowning. ‘You were looking for me?’

‘The Vice-Admiral’s lookin’ for ya!’ He lets out in one breath, groaning. ‘Told me to go look for ya – said you were gonna be here for the evenin’. Said to just tell ya to head on down and… whatever ya need to do yer thing is gonna be there.’ He sighs. ‘Might not wanna keep him waiting sir.’

‘Where is he, anyway?’ You recall he hadn’t exactly dropped a place to meet for these sessions.

‘There’s this place called Mighty Mick’s just down the street – the sign’s all gone, though, but if ya see some chipped blue paint, that’s the place.’

You turn around to look for Kaga, only to find that she and Zuikaku were gone. You dismiss your attendant, who gives a salute and bolts right out. People were keeping busy… and that meant you had to, too.

The directions are accurate and the distance is short – on the same street, in fact. The gym looks just like it was described: blue, chipped, run down and resembling a stone barn on a farm than anything else.

You move to open the door…

And something bolts right out.

>Task: Dodge! (Roll 1d6 each)
>>
Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>386860
>>
Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>386860
Oh boy. Here we go!
>>
Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>386860
the eye of the commandeeerrr~~
>>
Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>386860
>>
You may only have one good eye, and you may be fat, but you’d taken enough knocks to know when one wasn’t your regular fare. You bend over backwards, gritting your teeth as you see nothing but the dark of the shadows underneath whatever it was that was before your eye… and lean right back, dropping to keep from being anywhere near that straight jab. You grunt as you land on your bottom most uncomfortably, grunting loudly as you see the owner of the thrown fist tower over you with a grin.

It wasn’t the Vice-Admiral.

‘Muh brotha on land and sea, your superior told me here you’d be.’ He grins, offering you a hand – a very large hand, you estimate, for you to take. ‘Don’t be scared now there, son. On the dirt ain’t no battles there to be won.’

You take his hand – he pulls you up with a chuckle, and you observe him, a little confused.

He looked strange.

The most apparent thing about his features were his large lips and cocky grin – his eyes are older, stronger, faster, and even in a hundred years you don’t feel like you could get even a millimeter closer to him. There is a confidence, arrogance, intelligence about him, something that warns you that this is not a man to be challenged – and not from sheer size alone, and he had a good part of a foot on you in that manner as well.

His frame was somewhere between lanky and powerful. His arms are long and toned, his bulk not as apparent on his frame, but there is a concealed strength to him. He looks like he can run around the world and not break a sweat – whether or not he could do it, you don’t want to know. You feel a little intimidated, a little nervous, frankly, to be here. However, he doesn’t look like a thug, despite his build. There is a dignity to him, in the manner of his smile and his walk that speaks more than wise and focused eyes, a friendliness that is apparent when he gives you a friendly jab on the side.

‘Birdy tell me you got a cyborg arm – you use that to cause hazard and harm?’

‘Uh, yeah.’ The both of you walk into the gym, and you unconsciously flex your joint. He frowns a bit, to which you hastily add, ‘I mean I do have a cyborg arm – a prosthetic, more like. I don’t use it to start fights, if that’s what you mean.’

‘Ain’t no good to start a battle,’ he chuckles as you enter the wide hall, ‘but great to finish – show strength and mettle.’

You smile a little as he grins widely at you. The gym looks old, ancient and… used. There is a whiff of age and experience around the place, and everything looks like its seen its fair share of wear and tear… and it seemed like there was no other way the dumbells, mats and punching bags would have it.

‘Superior comin’ later.’ The dark man throws two articles at you. ‘So let’s get to work and stop the chatter.’

It's a top and pants.

>Ask who he is
>Ask about the gym
>Put on the clothes
>>
>>386910
>Ask about the gym
this is where champs are made aint?
>>
>>386910
>>Ask about the gym
>>
>>386910
>>Ask about the gym
>>
>>386910
>Put on the clothes
>>
‘I never knew there was a place like this.’ You admit, looking around. It was indeed, very much impressive – it looked, most of all, used and worn. But in good shape and carried a fair character about it. You let out an appreciative whistle as you pat one of the balance balls on your right, walking down the hall alongside the tall stranger. ‘When was it put up?’

‘Been here a while, business ain’t no shine o’ light.’ He laughs, indicating at some old posters on one side. They’re written in a foreign language, a foreign character, but you can make out what they are – there are men, almost always two each poster. ‘But my man this is where you go when you got a fight.’

They were fight adverts – a wall filled with them which seemed to span across several circuits. They were in a flurry of languages, each of them a little more yellow or brown, the scent of age upon them. They completely cover one wall of the cracked gym, pictures of mean and inviting fighters plastered on each piece of paper.

‘This a boxing gym or something?’ You approach the wall, trying to make out the language; no such luck – they were from all over the world, although there are a few that you can make out, at least.

‘A boxing gym he says, without a clue.’ The man lets out a loud laugh – you swear that it probably caused a low rumble to shake through the building. ‘What we have here is a means to pay when the rent’s due.’

‘Sorry?’ You frown.

‘World’s a struggle, jumpin’ atcha heels – dogs abitin’ and the wolves are nippin’ at yer scent.’ He crosses his arms, nodding with a smirk. ‘This is where you come when you need some metal bent.’ He throws out an arm, long and smooth – [i[deadly[/i]. ‘This ain’t no boxing gym, compadre, nothin’ so simple as that.’ The smirk grows wider as he fully grabs your attention, amused. ‘This is where the strugglers come to when they’re brought up to bat.’

‘Sounds a lot like another boxing gym to me.’

‘Another snipe, brotha and I’ll throw you out on your patootie.’ He points a finger in your direction. ‘Don’t talk tiny ‘bout my girl, she got more guts in her little pinky.’

‘Sorry.’

You really are. He doesn’t look so sunny anymore, regarding you with crossed arms once more.

‘You been in business long?’

‘Little Birdy didn’t say you talked this much.’ He barks out. ‘You lucky I patient or you be in a crutch.’

‘Um…’ You feel a little nervous as he walks towards the small ring in the middle of the gym.

‘Twelve rounds o’ battle, weeks on the clock.’ He pats the weathered structure. ‘This is the hallowed land, where we see if your balls rock.’

You let out an impressed whistle.

‘You ain’t ready, hombre, not a single bone is.’ He winks at you, still smirking. ‘Why don’t you get in ‘em tighties, see if you can strike like snakes hiss?’

>Change into the clothes
>Ask about him
>>
>>387000
>>Change into the clothes
I'm thinking we should do as he says, he is the greatest after all.
>>
>>387000
>Change into the clothes
Lets get ready to rumble!
>>
>>387000
>>Change into the clothes
>>
You elect not to press anymore. The Vice-Admiral’s nose wasn’t even at the corner of your eye, so you vote not to press – you were in the gym with a dark man who could lay you out a hundred times over on the floor and be home for breakfast without a single sweat, who you had apparently just been handed over to without much ceremony. You walk to a corner of the gym, undressing yourself on a nearby bench – there didn’t seem to be a locker room around to do your thing.

The sound of the door opening reaches your ears as you put on the last of the gymwear – you see the Vice-Admiral entering, clad in the same manner that you are, his face a little flushed and his form a little bit more tired than you had seen of him before.

You fold your clothes and put them on the bench, approaching him with a salute.

‘Commander.’ He gasps slightly, catching you – you notice a lot more sweat on him than usual – apparently he’d given himself a head start on the exercise, with or without you. His muscles flex – you admire his form. It was definitely one of a military man – scars and callouses were here and there, along with the tattoo of a snake coiled around a dagger. ‘I see you’re ready.’

‘He a big guy, but that ain’t no worry.’ The man walks up to you, crossing his arms. ‘Could be a headache if he takes a shortcut or hurries.’

‘I’m here to get myself fit for duty.’ You insist. The accusation hurt a bit, but you answer with a flex of your own, cricking your neck. ‘I’m not here to waste anyone’s time.’

The large man puts his hands on his waist, raising an eyebrow with regard of you. You feel a little judged right now – the Vice-Admiral himself gives his stubble a scratch as he observes you, his breath returning to normal.

‘If you can sing the song I won’t keep ya.’ He nods, gesturing you to a small bench near the ring. ‘We start with stretches so ya don’t end up like Chick-fil-A.’

He gestures for you to the bench and the both of you begin. The Vice-Admiral, surprisingly, doesn’t join you. He makes his way past the ring to a sliding door at the back, closing it – the washroom, you suppose – and leaving you with the large man. You bend over forwards as the man, the trainer, evidently, with all that is going on, begins. You mimic his movements.

‘Relax and breathe, this ain’t a race.’ He frowns at you, shaking his head. ‘What we want is to get ya warmed up, not spring right into space.’

You nod.

Even stretching feels a little bit of a chore – your ankles, your back and your shoulders groan under the new movement – you had always procrastinated on the matter of your health and fitness, but right now…

Right now there was no choice but to go this way.

>TASK: Warm-Up (Roll a 1d6 each)
>>
Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>387151
>>
Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>
Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>387151
>>
>>387151
dice+1d6
>>
>>387151
dice 1d6
>>
>>387168
>>387171
You need to do it in OPTIONS bar.
>>
>>387168
>>387171
In the Options field anon.
>>
Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>387151
we fit now?
>>
>>387195
No, it's a failure, actually. Write-up in 30.
>>
File: image.jpg (222 KB, 1920x1080)
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>>387157
>>387159
>>387195
Get it together anons
>>
The stretches are harder than you expect – maybe because you hadn’t done it since high school. A decade ago? A few years back? It didn’t matter – you struggle with the burn in your thighs – your trainer looks at you with an amused glance as you try to get yourself, right yourself, into a proper motion. You’re barely past the first set, the second set just on the horizon, but you’re not quite sure how you’re going to go with this. He rolls his eyes he moves left and right in another motion, making you shift.

‘It really is just too sad.’ The man shakes his head, moving his arms upward and his thigh. ‘That a bunch’a warm ups can make such a proud man look bad.’ He barks out a laugh as you struggle to keep up with the pace. The problem wasn’t so much the workout, but that you… no, it was all sorts of things – the workout, your own horrible conditioning, the rapid pace the man seemed to take without breaking a single sweat. ‘Come on, hombre, we barely begun. Don’t you wanna impress some ladies with your guns?’

He laughs, almost mockingly as the warm-ups themselves take a very real toll on you. You realize at the back of your head just how unreal the pace had become – you know now that this isn’t just something you had undertaken, something you had been pushed into to lose weight and get yourself straightened out; it is a pure cycle of conditioning that works to push you into a realm to keep yourself upright, alert and better. You know you can’t keep this up for long, but you try – by the Heavens do you try to.

‘How long since you hit a run, soldier?’ The Vice-Admiral appears alongside you, sans his top. He follows through with his own exercise, joining your shifts and reps at a pace that’s much slower than yours, but following familiar form. ‘Don’t tell me you couldn’t find time for a click down the road?’

‘When – When your – !’ You grunt as you lean forward into the next stretch, feeling an intense hurt in your back with the motion, cutting yourself off. The Vice-Admiral smirks in the corner of your eye; you feel blood rush in your skull and out, your throat feeling very much parched. ‘When you shifts are irregula – irregular – !’ You swing your arms up, following the sniggering trainer of yours, grunting as the momentum pushes you back down; you try to keep balance as best you can, but you find that you’re at least a few reps behind – the pace is punishing. ‘Irregular, you can’t exactly tell yourself that you’re gonna have a run every evening.’

‘Evening? I don’t think you’d recognize a jogging trail if I brought you to one.’ He smirks down at you, cooling himself down with what looked to you like several irregular sets of crunches. ‘I guess this was a good idea after all.’

‘I take off - !’

‘We done yappin’, wide and flabby. Get on your back – don’t get chatty.’

You practically collapse.

>Task: Effort (Roll a 1d6)
>>
Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>387270
GUTS
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Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>387270
>>
Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>387270
Inner Strength!
>>
Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>387270
>>
Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>387270
Welp, using up the last roll. Kek help me.
>>
Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>387270
>>
File: sad Akatsuki.jpg (100 KB, 511x757)
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>>387318
Well fuck me sideways
>>
File: One day.jpg (13 KB, 369x176)
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Somehow you find the strength to go on. Hard as it is, you lift yourself up – the warm-ups leave you sore all over and a bit more tired than you’d expected to be coming here – but you’d taken out a Princess’s Imprint on you half a day before; in comparison to that, this wasn’t much. You repeat to yourself a mantra that the only reason that this was a real chore was that you hadn’t done it before. Your back is fat on the floor, your lumbar feeling uncomfortable at the sudden weight shift.

Maybe you should have cooled down a bit – but you dismiss it. You hadn’t even begun the exercise portion of your workout; you’d merely begun. You feel a little stiffer than you expect; your stretches weren’t as effective as you’d thought – you hope you can improve it with time. Above you, your trainer puts his hands behind his head, indicating for you to do the same. You lift your arms, feeling movement in your upper arm, the shift of muscles groaning as you finally get yourself into position.

‘We playin’ upsy-daisy like flowers in spring.’ He grins menacingly, his weight on your kneecaps – you wince; he is a mite heavier than he looks, and you can feel the groan in your lower legs supporting him. ‘Come on, boy, let’s see if you can keep pace like a king.’

One.’ The Vice-Admiral counts, his arms crossed as he looks at you from his standing position. You bring your body up with a groan; the man gives you a curt nod as you ease yourself back down – with pain and difficulty, but you manage it anyway – and bring yourself up again. The Vice-Admiral opens his mouth – his eyes now glaring at you. ‘One.’

You blink, moving to correct him, but your trainer slaps you on the lap, motioning to correct you.

One.’

You bring yourself up, grunting as you do so. The Vice-Admiral repeats the same word, eyes focused on you. You bring yourself up again, crying out on your third try – he still says the same number, the same word – you bring yourself up again and again, feeling the groan of your own muscles as you raise your torso, only for the trainer to slap you again, nodding at you to go on.

So you do.

One.’ The Vice-Admiral puts his arms on his waist, his tone practically dead as he watches you go on – you do it again, feeling a small pain in your lower abdomen. ‘One.’

You bring yourself up and down, a cramp forming in your lower torso, but you try not to heed it. Your metallic arm weighs a ton for your lower body to bring up, and the cramp builds and builds. You grit your teeth as the cycle goes on and on, the Vice-Admiral’s single word echoing in your ear as you keep at it, your pace fluctuating but remaining the same on the whole – blood rushes through your head as you feel your shoulders ache, and you don’t know how long you’re doing it down there.

‘Time.’

You fall on your back, exhausted.

‘Not bad.’

>Task: Effort (Roll 1d6)
>>
Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>387370
You're the best! Around! Nothing's ever gonna keep you down!
>>
Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>387370
>>
Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>387370
>>
Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>387370
>>
Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>387370
Eye of the Tiger!
>>
>>385547
English translation of this page?
>>
Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>387370
>>
‘No break, Commander, come on.’ The Vice-Admiral looks down at you with an unflinching gaze, to which you get up, not saying a word. Your bones ache and you feel like throwing up a bit – not to mention the gas build-up that’s apparently now getting the attentions of your body’s function system. You grit your teeth as you get to your feet. ‘Squats – go until you can’t.’

You grunt as you get into position – your waist feels slightly off-balance, your body the same. There’s a sort of weightless sensation to your condition, arms forward and leaning in the same direction – a slap on your bottom – a kick, to be more precise, gets you a little more into the swing of things, but you feel another sensation – a buckling one in your knees – one that’s apparently crying out for a little bit dead. You feel beads of sweat – you don’t know how badly you’d done the last exercise, but you feel like you could have warmed up a little bit better before.

The Vice-Admiral gives you a pat on the back – the signal to begin. You move up and down – your thighs burning with the motion, your spine aching with every movement, but you endure. This is nothing – the Vice-Admiral and your trainer say nothing, observing you with unfeeling eyes. They merely want you to do what it is you are set by them to do… and do it you would. There is a burn in on your bottom – from your thighs to the inside of your knee with each movement.

The Vice-Admiral counts – no, he repeats – the same number again and again, one; one; your back aches with every cry out. He doesn’t change his tune, doesn’t change his words – you slip into a sort of haze as you move your back and bottom up and down, arms forward as you begin and end the repetition, the set. You don’t count. You just do it – the burning sensation grows, as does the cramp. You might have let out a fart or two, but the sweat on your brow and bodice accumulates.

You don’t know how long you keep at it. Every time you slow down the pace, there is a knock on your back to not slack – you feel tears gathering at the corner of your eyes as you go up and down, shoulders aching and thighs relying on sheer will to be held together.

The motion is simple and torturous.

You want it to end, but… you find yourself in a groove, a motion, a routine you can’t seem to stop, like a train on a schedule. Precise and unstoppable.

‘TIME!’

You drop onto all fours, feeling something seem to want out from the back of your throat. You don’t throw up, but burps and tears come freely, as does a kick to your down shins. You gasp, looking up to the lights of the gym, where your Vice-Admiral gives you a look that clearly said he wasn’t finished with you.

‘Not done.’

You raise a hand…

>Task: Effort (Roll a 1d6 each)
>>
Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>387573
>>
Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>387573
>>
Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>387573
GUUUTTSSSS
>>
Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>387573
"No Guts, No Glory!"
It's 80's montage time
>>
Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>387573
>>
>>387573
Dice+1d6
>>
Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>387678
/facepalm
>>
‘Like a hungry tiger, right out of the woods.’ The trainer gets into a stance, throwing a few jabs into thin air. You find yourself without the energy to reply. ‘You gotta focus on what you want, subtle or crude.’

You do, however, offer a small grimace.

‘One arm ‘till the pain comes is how this is going to go.’ He laughs loudly. ‘It ain’t over ‘till you feel like your vein’s gonna blow.’

The Vice-Admiral puts away the stopwatch you notice that he’d been holding all this while, nodding to the floor. You frown, thinking for a bit, even with all the blood rushing to your head, until…

‘Push-ups?’

‘One-armed.’ You groan, wondering just how far he wanted to push you down that particular threshold. ‘No sense cheating, Commander – you’ll only be lying to yourself.’

‘Can I at least have a number this time?’ You chuckle mirthlessly – futility marked your words.

‘I only count up to one, soldier.’ There is no room for argument, no trace of that friendly smile from before. He is here to get you fit – niceties were left. ‘Get at it.’

You struggle with this – your bulk prevents you from doing as much as you can, but your only flesh and blood arm does a commendable job, given your mass. Your back hurts with every push, every pull, and you wonder if your arm would just snap in half if you don’t give it time to stop – you count yourself just how much you go, how low you go – it’s almost embarrassing for you to have to do this, but you tell yourself, mentally, that if you can’t get to double digits, you might as well turn in your stripes and uniform.

This is an effort you have to make, that you had to do – for you, yourself, and of course, for them.

It’s amazing what women could do to men that would have otherwise wilted away.

The Vice-Admiral is merciless in his drilling of your routine. You feel the muscles in your neck sore and your brain telling you to drop onto your belly and snore away the pain, but you fight it back, telling yourself that you’re not that man anymore; that this time you’d finish the first steps to your metamorphosis, your change. You feel your molars straining under the force you put them under, crying out with an irregular drop you barely catch.

There’s no break after this, either.

The weights come next – you start with a regular set, this time the Vice-Admiral and the trainer don’t bother with you as you sit down and begin your reps. You feel your left arm, sore and begging to stop – but you won’t let it, you won’t let yourself. You go and go, as only you can. The Vice-Admiral leans against a machine as you bring your arm up and down, the cramps and the burns eating away at your will, for you to stop.

You don’t. You won’t.

Damn, sir.’

You raise your head…

>Who? (Choice + 1d20 roll. Priority: Total roll values of choice)
>>
Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>387748
Tenryuu
>>
>>387762
It's a d20, Quester.
>>
Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>387748
>>387791
woops
nagato
feels the right choice
>>
Rolled 20 (1d20)

>>387748
>Murakumo
>>
Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>387748
Nachi
>>
Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>387748
I feel like out of all our girls, Tenryuu or Nachi would be most likely to hit the gym, and since I have a soft spot for tomboys...

>Tenryuu
>>
Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>387748
Nagamon
>>
>>388082
Sorry, buddy, just a little too late.
>>
>>388086
Wait, are both Murakumo and Tenryuu here?
>>
File: Muraneko.jpg (479 KB, 800x950)
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‘Murakumo?’ You blink as you continue your repetitions, raising your gaze up to see your blue-haired Destroyer, very much wearing the expression of amusement… but you also see a hint of an impressed gaze – you can’t help but feel a bit proud of yourself at sensing it. You you don’t drop the pace; there’s a little bit of confusion lingering on you, too. ‘Did you need me for something?’

‘Thought I’d find ya here.’ Murakumo flops herself onto the remaining space of the bench, chuckling as she scans the place, a light humming sound coming out of the floating constructs on either side of her head – they could be downrightmysticat times, really. ‘So this is what you’re gonna be up to most evenings, huh? Not bad.’ She nods in approval, humming and looking around. ‘Place’s got a lotta character to it, huh?’

‘M’lady KanMusu has indeed a good eye,’ your trainer approaches your bench, in his hand a weight at least twice the one you’d managed to procure. You feel a little inadequate as he makes punching motions with them, all the while keeping his attention on Murakumo, ‘this place gives guts to those once shy.’

‘Ibet.’ Murakumo chirps, getting to her feet and looking around again – she’s a lot more impressed with the place than you would have given her credit for before. You’d pegged her to be one of the girls that would have complained about this sort of place of dialogue, but she’s as curious as a child – never mind that she looks like she a high school freshman – giving a punching bag a good tap and before going over to a weights machine. ‘Ya charge for membership, sir?’

‘I didn’t get this place up to bathe in gold.’ The man shakes his head, still moving the weights in slow, punching motions to one side. ‘You wanna work out, you come here before your ass gets old.’

‘Wicked!’

‘Murakumo, was it?’

‘Vice-Admiral, sir!’

Murakumo immediately breaks into a salute upon turning to him, which the Vice-Admiral returns briskly.

‘Duties finished?’

‘Yes, sir!’ Murakumo gestures her finger like a gun, clicking her thumb. ‘Logistics and supplies sorted out for the day.’

‘Good.’ He sends a smirk your way. ‘I want you to make sure that our mutual friend over there doesn’t cheat himself with his gains.’ You frown, opening your mouth to interject, only for the Admiral to cut you off with another one of his grins and a good word in. ‘You don’t get fat without effort, ya maggot.’ You glare balefully at him, to which he just smirks and chuckles, looking back to her. ‘Tell the barracks to watch what he eats – if he can get his hands on anything that he really shouldn’t.’

‘I havediscipline, you know.’ You growl, although the effect is practically lost on the both of them as they give raised eyebrows; they only serve to agitate you even further. ‘I can handle myself.’

TBC
>>
File: Hey, yeah, let's race.jpg (164 KB, 992x1403)
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‘Sure, you can.’ Murakumo shoots a teasing grin your way, to which you reply with a roll of your eyes as you begin another rep – your good arm is sore, but you’re definitely feeling much better off than you were when you began; that doesn’t mean your agitation with the both of the ones before you had grown any less since they’d begun their gossip of you. ‘That thing didn’t grow a good one before long, did it?’

You realize that Murakumo is, of course, referring to your stomach. You wish to retort that you’d toned down a margin in the last several days, but knowing her, she’d probably turn it around on your head right in front of the Vice-Admiral. You choose to ignore the jab, going back to your routine.

After about half an hour and an aching body later, you’re out into the dark sky, with the night shift workers seen from the beach to the street, lined up by KanMusu and tents.

You jog in place, your breath unused to the cold intakes of air and the prickle of frigidity on your sweaty skin.

‘Murakumo, I believe that our esteemed Division Commander is under your capable hands now.’ The Vice-Admiral shakes Murakumo’s hand, like a businessman closing a deal – behind him, the trainer gives you a smirk and a chuckle, which you return with a defeated smile. ‘7 kilometers and no less. Go!’

The both of you are off – Murakumo almost embarrassingly breaks off from you past a corner with a teasing. The rest of the run is quiet, save for a few encouraging pats from her to keep going and a few remarks of her day with the logistics department.

It’s about half an hour later that you arrive on a familiar street.

‘You know, we actually got some good food back at base – direct from the inland cities.’ That perks your interest considerably; Murakumo jogs backwards as you look to her, the sun setting to your left. ‘You’re free to pig out if you want to.’ She says in a sing-song voice. ‘Just this once.’

‘Really? What’s there?’ You inquire.

‘Apparently something the Vice-Admiral thought you’d like.’ She grins toothily. ‘Something called… what was that again? A whole lamb shank or something? I ain’t good with the terms.’ She shrugs.

A lamb shank?’ You almost trip over yourself. ‘Are you serious?’

‘Yup. It’s right in the freezer – he also said not to finish it all in one go.’

Murakumo runs around you almost dizzily – she’s fast, land or sea.

‘Stop doing that.’ You frown, gathering the last of your strength.

‘Wanna race?’ You roll your eyes. ‘Humor me.’

You position yourself proper, heeding her request. The both of you get into a start, raising your posteriors.

‘On your mark, get set – !’

And you’re off.

CHEATER!’ Murakumo yells after you, laughing.

For a while, at least… you hope times like this keep coming.

END DAY 16
>>
I'm taking a small vote now; I want to know if people still want night scenes after this as options, sparingly, or ignored at all. Most of it is just casual talk or just one entry wonders, so I want to know just what it is that you guys want out of it if I do attempt night scenes after this. Right now I'm at the base formula of:

Daytime meetings and work > 4 Selections > END. If there are any grievances on that formula, I'd like to know of it right now.
>>
>>388249
that SOL feel is great
here is where we get shat on aint?
>>
>>388265
id be down for them
>>
>>388265
I definitely like the night scenes. It seems like a nice way to end the day with something that doesn't involve our military responsibilities.
>>
>>388265
It is fine
>>
>>388265
Pacing is great overall. No need to change anything. The gear shift when missions happen are distinct enough to be noticeable without feeling out of place.

You're doing fine.
>>
>>388265
In favor.
It would be an enjoyable way to finish off daily routines imo.
>>
>>388265
If there's multiple things to do at night, options would be good. If it's a routine otherwise, I think sparingly would be nice.
>>
It’s probably the first time in two weeks that you actually feel rejuvenated. You see Samidare and Nachi head out of the washroom as you walk towards it, feeling a little more chipper than you probably have any right to; no doubt, in your mind, that this is probably thanks to the good workout you had the night before. Your stomach still feels a little sore from all that exercise, but you can hardly complain – especially with the solid meal you got from the Admiral last night.

You crick your neck and flex your shoulder smoothly, your bare feet making it into the washroom where you’re greeted by the sight of Murakumo walking out of the shower, buck-naked, soaked and holding her wet towel aloft. Despite yourself, you can’t bring it in you to hold back a grin at her unamused glare, grumbling at the condition of her pink piece of wool – and in her free hand, her busted loofa, which looked like it had gone through some sort of grinder. Murakumo gives a quick grumble, about as caring as the other girls had been about her state of undress, which is to say, at least in front of you, for none.

She looked squeaky clean, but she didn’t look like she had a good time getting it done.

‘What happened?’ You take off your t-shirt, a little surprised at her state – your eyes somehow keep right to her face, although you tell yourself it didn’t really matter in the end, as Murakumo’s consciousness of her nudity probably weighed as much as her polishing her spear out. ‘You look a wreck.’

‘I just bought this.’ Murakumo grumbles, holding up the destroyed bath apparatus, her hand dripping wet and not bothering to dry herself off – not that she could with that towel, anyway. ‘I think I just threw away money.’ She sighs, making her way past you. ‘Damn catalogs.’

Before you can get a word in, she’s gone past the corner and headed towards her room without much ceremony, leaving you and whoever it was that was left in the shower…

‘Are you getting in?’

With Kaga, of course.

You turn around to see your Carrier already relieving herself of her clothing and setting it into one of the pigeon holes on the side of the rack. You feel a little conscious of yourself now, even with Kaga’s fully-nude form – especially with Kaga’s fully-nude form – but put the thought to the back of your head with a quick mental shove, stepping out of your standard issue pajama bottoms and past the corner into the shower, where you see two present patrons.

Heya!’ Tenryuu gives you a quick wave.

Good morning, Commander.’ Houshou says in a sing-song voice, slipping you a wink.

You give them both good greetings with a slightly embarrassed smile, heading to the closest stall and starting it up, feeling the warm water rush on you.

‘Commander.’

You turn around to see Kaga, catching the rain of the shower head. Your shower head.

>‘Kaga, this is mine.’
>Share the shower
>>
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>>389709
>Share the shower

Here we go again
>>
>>389709
>>Share the shower
Incoming small size jokes
>>
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>>389709
>Share the shower
>>
>>389709
>Share the shower
poi
>>
‘I want to get clean too, you know.’ Kaga presses herself against you, much to your surprise – you try to struggle out of it, but the feel of her – a feel so familiar and welcome, you really can’t quite push away. You find yourself on the spot, her arms at your side, hands grasping your thighs, that teasing, begging glance on her face as the water rushes down the both of you, an uncomfortable curtain that echoed your rushed thoughts. ‘I have work soon. I’m not so cruel to understand that you do not have things to do this morning, either.’

‘Yeah, but – !’ You manage a protest, though it dies down as you find your eyes locked with her playful pair of eyes, framed by the wetness of the rippling shower; as much as you don’t wish to admit, there is a part of you that doesn’t want her to go away, to get closer to her, and…

You shake your head, reluctant as you are at the opposition of such an idea, you are still her Commander.

‘I don’t think you’re so inconsiderate and selfish to actually tell the woman whose shower wash and shampoo you’re borrowing that you’re not willing to share, are you?’

Oh, she gets you; she gets you good. Even Tenryuu and Houshou cease the cleaning of their bodice to shoot you playful looks of disapproval, as though you’d just done something wrong in the run of things. You mumble to yourself, reasoning that you’d already seen her in such a state; and it’s not as if Kaga would take it any further with Houshou and Tenryuu watching.

You fight down a grimace at the absurdity of it – of course she would.

‘Of… course not.’ You reluctantly turn around, only to feel two hands propped on your chest, rubbing you almost – not sensually, but… enough to make you feel nervous, especially with the sudden weight on your back; not to mention the amused glance that Houshou gives you, lathering the soap on her hair. ‘Kaga?’

‘Relax.’ She insists that you do, bubbles of soap forming as it slowly dawns on you just what it is she is trying to do with her hands – she was… washing you down. ‘I’m not going to bite unless you want me to.’

You turn red; it wouldn’t surprise you one bit if you’d raised the temperature from your raised body heat alone.

‘You aren’t gettin’ hot and busy in here, are ya, Commander?’ Tenryuu says, exasperated as she scrubs herself down with a loofa, throwing you a tired look; you don’t know how to reply to that, really; not when things had been taken out of your hands so quickly.

‘That depends.’ Kaga positively drips with it in her voice, wrapping her arms around you like a snake, pressing herself against you, an invite and a ‘He so loves an audience, don’t you?’

She gives you a flick where you honestly don’t want there to be, sending you scrambling away.

‘KAGA!’

She lets out an amused laugh, as do the other two… and hands you the shampoo with a wink.

>Write-In
>>
>>389843
>Turn the tables on her.
>>
>>389843
>>389850
This
>>
>>389850
This
>>
>>389843
>>Turn the tables on her.
>>
>>389959
but just wash her, get her all hot and wanting it then walk out giving her a wink
>>
>>389962
that
>>
>>389962
so voting for this
>>
a quick question thats been bothering me for a while...

since there are brothels for girls to go to, is this just for kanmusu or is it that in this world women are the ones that go to redlight districts and not men?
>>
>>390018
>implying women dont go to redlight districts
gigolos are a thing man
no matter the universe, humans will have those services, no matter the gender
>>
>>390020
Ironically, gigolos cost more than whores. Have you seen gigolos IRL? They have these suits, slicked back hair and fast cars to keep the look up. One of my old friends actually tried to get one to see how he operated in Venezuela - she was like...

"Wow, this is a guy designed to make women drop on him."

The sex was apparently meh, but the experience was, according to her, awesome.
>>
>>390033
given how bad prejudice is against them and from houshou and kaga's description, it must cost a fuck ton of money to hire their services if your a shipgrille
>>
>>390052
i think she blows a few months of pay per visit, it is a grop thing i belive, so it cant be cheap

the prejudice againts them is pretty fucking serious, tho
>>
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You take the bottle from Kaga with a sigh – the water becomes slightly less hot as you do, indicating that the hot water was running out for now – and pour some of the liquid into your hands, putting it into your hair and turning away, and more importantly turning your little bit of shame in a direction that hopefully wouldn’t let you get in trouble.

Not that it ended up doing much, as Kaga may have left any more hands-on contact with you, but the closed circle of the shower had her occasionally – and by occasionally, you mean frequently – teasing you with a bump and a slide. You find yourself trapped in a small conundrum, as you’d give her the express permission – indirectly – to keep at it by not pushing her away, and awkwardly showering in an imaginary corner of the shower, your body catching the droplets and your hands scrubbing.

Kaga is positively ablaze with her teasing of you, you find small brushes, a drag of her upper body with a turn. It even goes to the point that you wonder if she’d go a little too far and begin a southern assault on you without a little more vigilance, and with her, you really couldn’t tell.

Maybe it’s the paranoia or the over-thinking but you decide to take the offensive – and that meant turning around and solving a problem, or preventing a problem, before it got too big. Your foamy palm catches Kaga’s wrist, much to her mild surprise. You let out a breath, your faces barely apart, no thanks to the small circumference of the showerhead’s rain on you.

‘I know what you want.’ You let out, defeated… tired… resigned.

Kaga doesn’t reply, your prosthetic pushed into the wall above her left shoulder – the way her chest heaves up and down, you feel her pink buds prick you; there is uncertainty in her eyes now, a puzzled and lost look that dictates that this is somewhere she did not want to go but at the same time a place that she doesn’t want to leave.

You bring your hands to either side of her face, Tenryuu lets out a sort of protest, drowned out by the sound of the warm rushing water. You start rubbing the back of her head, making the woman moan slightly as she leans into you, moaning.

She closes herself to your lips, inch by inch, but you don’t meet her, your hands pressed to her back in an awkward half-hug by now, running your hands up and down her, the thick foam and soap sliding down her back, a workman’s touch on things. Her legs, her body, her supple bottom as you run your hands along her and…

‘You’re done.’ You say with much satisfactioon.

‘E – Eh, b – but!

‘Clean as a whistle.’

There’s a protest to her stutter, an utter dismay to her expectations as you declare yourself done, grabbing your towel.

Tenryuu’s bark of laughter as you leave the bathroom is very much satisfying.

MORNING SHIFT START
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>>390070
>mfw
>>
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>>390070
>>
>>390070
Commander, I am so proud of you.
>>
>>390070
YES YES!!! love it, also you should end on this
dont know how your going to top this as an ending
>>
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>>390131
>Ending
What.
>>
>>390139
like just for this thraed for the day not for its life.
would very much to read more( got to read the past ones as well) and see it keep going on just that right there is a good ending for now
>>
>>390148
Ah. That makes sense. But generally this quest runs right up to the autosage. Besides, I'm sure there are other fun adventures to be had during the morning shift.
>>
>>390154
ok, and true im sure last night is going to pop up at some point
fun ether way,
>>
>>390164
Nothing happened. You ate a bit and went to sleep. If anything special happened, I'd make a scene out of it. That's why I asked for the survey and vote in >>388265
>>
>>390170
That makes sense. Also, I remember you mentioning that we could do an extra thing at the cost of waking up later in the morning in a previous thread. Do you still plan on having that as an option?
>>
>>390170
umm the shower washing happpened
im sure the girls will bring it up at some point
also Kaga probs want to get even. thow we would be sure as fuck from all that training
>>
>>390191
That was this morning though. We did all that stuff after waking up fresh and glorious.

I am looking forward to Kaga's revenge though.
>>
>>390181
Not on the first day. I railroaded that a bit to show the mechanics of the gym workouts you're going to be having. You can do it from now on, though.
>>
>>390196
ok so this happneed a bit latter
we getting pics now? or at lest loseing some of the man boobs?
>>390195
yer same here Kaga's revenge when and how?
lawds at some point only to blue ball us?
>>
>>390202
Not planning on it, currently. You get what you get and that's it for now.
>>
‘If I knew I’d be a filling out these forms back in college, I’d have taken a course in business administration or something.’ You rub your temples, pushing the stapled sheets of paper to one side. You feel a tick of annoyance on your forehead, your open collar feeling tight as you work through the fourth hour of work with your two attendants, letting out a huge sigh. ‘This is horrible.’

Before you stood mounds and mounds of paperwork – most of it for the day and about a quarter of it a backlog from the day before. You’d always thought that the military life was about drills and keeping yourself vigilant, but right now you feel like you’re very much an office drone with one direction – slowly wilting towards the ground.

You take the consolation that, at the very least, your table is nice and your chair is a mite more comfortable than before – but just a bit. The crew had delivered it during your exercise session yesterday, and right now, you feel thankful for requisitioning it. You make good use of all the space.

‘Eh, you get used to it, sir.’ Your lanky attendant shrugs, shooting you an encouraging grin. ‘It ain’t that much of a chore once you get the motor running.’

It doesn’t cheer you up much, if at all.

‘I still can’t believe this is just a day’s worth of work – this is crazy.’ You go through a folder about the usage check-ups for your KanMusu’s weaponry and your Division’s ammo deposit, groaning as you lean back in your chair for the thousandth time. ‘How am I supposed to know how many fairies I’m supposed to assign to the gear works?’

‘Not my job to know that, sir.’ The lanky attendant shrugs. ‘That’s yours. I just sort the papers out, mostly.’

Across from him, your bulky attendant hisses at his friend, gesturing with his head with annoyane.

‘What my colleague is trying to say, sir, is that you should really check up on your Division to see what it is that they really need.’ He adds with a sort of superior tone, raising his chin to his friend, how throws him a middle finger for his troubles, ‘Although, if you go by appearance, I’d say just go with your gut – we’re kind of short-handed anyway, so I don’t think the Admiral’d blame you for dropping the ball on the requisition forms for crew.’

‘I suppose.’ You admit, picking up a file with the ISSF’s symbol on it – two daggers and a falcon or an eagle, you can’t tell – this one practically an inquiry of Houshou and Kaga’s well-being. You’re tempted to just stamp a huge red THEY’RE FINE on the damned thing. ‘How are our Division Members handling their shifts?’

‘Well, everyone except Houshou-san and Nagato-san is – !’

‘What are you talking about? Houshou-san’s got an assignment, man!’ Your bulky attendant interrupts, again gesturing with his head – you cock your head, wondering how you’d miss that tidbit.

TBC
>>
‘Oh, right.’ Your lanky attendant agrees, his features taking one of realization.

‘Assignment?’ You frown, looking up from a folder and its contents – these ones pertained to some sort of request by the maintenance crew for something that involved more plungers and, for some reason, a bucket of sodium – which you close, curious as to the recent development of Houshou’s work.

‘The Admiral and Yuubari-san called her out this morning to look over a few things.’ The bulky attendant elaborates – you briefly recall Houshou leaving this morning with a mention of her going to see the Admiral for something.

A part of you feels a little bit, and insensibly, annoyed that Houshou’d been taken out from under your nose with but a call and a brush, but you also realize that being one of the first KanMusu ever summoned, she’d definitely be one of the few KanMusu outside his direct chain of command that the Admiral would actively consult.

‘So that’s what she was talking about.’ You nod, closing a file on one side of the table. ‘What kind of assignment?’

Eh.’ The both of them shrug.

You keep at it, mentally counting down the minutes and the diminishing pile. You pick up another file, then another, frowning as you realize you don’t know the designated resource check with this particular document’s requirements. You growl as you set it down, going through another pile.

‘Still can’t believe I have all this to triple-check – hey, get off of there!’ You frown at the blue trail of fairy glitter; you see a fairy in aviation wear float – no, roll – upwards to its friends, chirping excitedly to them. ‘Honestly, it’s like they don’t know we’re doing work – what are they doing here anyway?’

They roll and twirl in mid-air.

‘Fairies go where they want to – I don’t think there’s anyone but KanMusu that know how they’re thinkin’, some time.’ Your lanky attendant shrugs, leaning over and giving you a confused look. ‘Thought you’d know that, sir.’

‘Yeah, but I’m still not sure why they have to be around so much.’ You try not to sound too ungrateful, but the pile of work had put a damper on your mood from the moment you got off the stairs. ‘They’ve been busy around me since I came down here.’ You look around – Shigure’s refitting form was gone.

You peer downwards to see the folder you’d been looking for on the floor.

‘Can you pass me Shigure’s file, please?’ You ask your attendant – he moves out of his seat and picks it up for you. ‘Thank Heaven these things take less than half a day to sort out. I don’t think I could deal with passing out all the approval ticks a whole day.’

‘Here you go, sir.’

‘Thanks.’ You open the file, sighing. ‘The details are technical, but – hey!’ A fairy zooms past you, chirping loudly. ‘The specs on a tech upgrade is incredible.’

TBC
>>
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‘You damn right!’ The bulky attendant flexes an arm, declaring it proudly. ‘A marvel of magic and science! Alchemy!’

‘Take it you’re a fan of the details?’ You can’t fight down the small smirk.

‘Eh, no, not really, but you gotta admit, sir, it’s pretty damn cool.’

You lean back, remembering the small details that you’d introduced yourself to in regards to the KanMusu; just how their weapons were formed, how their gear was made. You don’t recall much, but you do remember just how – or at least, how you perceived – the process worked for you.

Metal into dust, dust into energy and energy into the extension of the soul of a fallen titan.’

The three of you get back to work, moving through it as best you can, as fast as you can.

The last stretch takes two hours, and seeing your neat, organized sheets lets you give a sigh of relief.

‘Well, that’s the last of the paperwork, sir.’ The words are music to your ears. ‘I think we’re done for good with all this.’

‘I hope so – oh?’ You spy a stray piece of paper in a corner, picking it up to see a form… but weirdly enough, already filled out – in type instead of handwriting. ‘What’s this?’

‘That’s just a statement for the establishment of a practice arena for the KanMusu on the base.’ Your lanky attendant gets up, tucking his documents under his arm. ‘It’s not done yet, but… you might want to hang on to it for now.’

‘How do they practice drills, then?’

‘Nagato-san has that sorted out, actually.’ The bulky one clarifies, sorting out his pile into a neat stack.‘Until the ranges are clear, they’re allowed to run some practice – and with the supply lines as they are…’

‘So they’re getting in what they can when they can?’ You finish for him.

‘I wouldn’t actually worry much about it, sir.’ Your lanky attendant shrugs – you do, a little more, actually. ‘They’ve got a good enough handle on things, I reckon.’

‘I suppose.’ You admit. You read through it for a bit – truth be told, you did wonder why there weren’t any drills run or practice runs made. ‘Says here that clean-up’ll be done by tomorrow, but not for the Battleships and the Carriers.’ You frown, turning to your attendants. ‘Is that significant?’

‘I think the maintenance crew are just paranoid – those ladies pack a Hell of a punch, you gotta admit.’

‘That they do.’ You admit again, letting out a small laugh.

‘We’ll leave you to it, sir.’ They give you a synchronized salute, one that you return briskly as you rise from your table.

‘All right.’ You give them an encouraging smile, raising a hand to wave them off. ‘Thank you, gentlemen. Have a good lunch.’

‘Sweet!’ The bulky one is first out.

‘Hey, wait up for me!’

4/4
>Look/Specify for a KanMusu (Specify)
>Seek out Officers/Staff (Specify)
>Observe District Management
>Wander (Specify)
>Write-In
>>
>>390288
>Look/Specify for a KanMusu (Akashi)
Lets surprise her by meeting her uninjured for once!
>>
>>390288
>>Look/Specify for a KanMusu (Samidare)
I remember Tenryuu saying that we should go see her.
>>
>>390288
>>390297
thia
>>
>>390295
This. Only we should act like we've been horribly injured when we first get there.

We are Commander Prank after all.
>>
>>390297
Thirding
>>
>>390288
>Look/Specify for a KanMusu (Akashi)
id like to know more about this refit thing, plus not a scar!
>>
>>390297
Agreed
>>
>>390288
>>Look/Specify for a KanMusu (Samidare)
>>
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You check the manifest to see where everyone was assigned your mind drifts to a name that you believe you should check on – Samidare is one that comes to mind, in this case – and go through the sheet to check her posting for the day. You see that she’d been assigned to Yuubari in her off days to assist and give manpower to the restoration of the status quo, but not a real pinpoint on where she was posted.

You roll your shoulders and zip up your suit, walking out into the afternoon sun. It’s still a little cold, despite the sun being up so high, but the worst of it merely hits your lips as you make your way down the street. They’re not so much bustling anymore; you supposed that a lot of the townees had caught a transport to bring them back somewhere safer inland, with everything that had happened.

You see a few of your men, toiling away, not noticing you as you make your way to the familiar, and staff-heavy path towards the Command Tent. Prep Dock XJ-9 had a few rails on it – men and women giving it a sort of makeover, you reckon.

As you approach the Tent, past a few men in uniform who give apologize as you walk past them, you notice your target, clad in an odd bikini as Tenryuu had been in the day before, going over the details, hunched over a table with several men and women intently listening to her in one of the smaller stands.

‘Yuubari.’ As you approach the table, the group disperses.

‘Commander.’ Yuubari raises herself; you can see in her eyes that she’s at least not mildly annoyed with you or angry with you this time, but tell yourself that could swing at any time. With the bustle about the Command Tent, it looked like people were definitely busy on this side. ‘Something I can help you with?’

‘I was hoping to see if I could find Samidare here – I thought she’d been working under you with the logistics side of things.’

You look left and right, as if to get a glimpse of her – you see a few KanMusu, and recognize one of them as Ikazuchi, standing on a large plastic box off to one side, but not a glimpse of Samidare.

‘Samidare?’ Yuubari’s eyes widen as she looks thoughtful, then to the ceiling of the small stand. ‘Yeah, she is. She’s not here right now, though – I think I have her assigned to one of the inner town units; just wait for a bit.’ She dives underneath the table and into the boxes almost noisily. ‘And help yourself to those sandwiches – they’re for humans.’

After about five minutes of rummaging through boxes – and a sandwich and a half – she takes out a pad and paper, scrunching her face as she reads from it with quick, hushed words.

‘I made a mistake – Samidare’s at one of the maintenance camps. She’s… a admin-ing there?’ Yuubari looks to you, shrugging. ‘I don’t remember assigning her to that – must have been a slip of the mind - YOU!'

She barks to a seated young man.

'Commander needs a ride to Camp 5!’

TBC
>>
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‘I appreciate it.’ You say sincerely; Yuubari’s attentions are already back on a chart on the table as you turn on your heel. ‘You’re keeping busy – something good happen?’

‘Hey, what can I say, it’s been a productive week.’ Yuubari’s reply is quick and casual; she gives you a grin, leaning over the table and resting her chin on her locked fingers. ‘Can’t say the same for you, though – you look like you’ve been through a ringer.’

‘Sir!’ The young man from before walks up to you – he is significantly shorter than you, looking like he’d just come out of high school… which he probably was.

‘Before you leave, since Samidare’s managing stuff on-site, tell her that she’s relieved for tomorrow. I’ll be sending one of the Fubukis to take over… can’t believe I assigned her to that.’ Yuubari says, as quickly as before – you barely catch the words before Yuubari, keeping busy, walks away from you and towards another tent; you yourself make your way to the buggy with the young man.

The buggy ride is so slow that you wonder, if only for an instant, that you could trade for the old man.

You stop in front of a caged compound with warning signs all over it, telling non-personnel to stay out. The place isn’t that big, but you spy a structure in the middle of the compound, comparable to the size of a house. The MP at the gate recognizes you, giving you a curt nod and opening the gates.

As you go in and see the piles of metal and concrete, you say the first thing that’s on your mind.

‘Looks more like a junkyard than a maintenance camp.’

‘That’s what a maintenance camp practically is, you know.’ A voice comes alongside you. ‘At least that’s what we’ve operated on, anyway.’ It’s gravelly and coarse, but also…

Feminine.

A blond woman with a bandana, about your age, stands right next to you, her eyes narrowed and her mouth occupied by a cigarette. She’s fairly attractive, you find, despite the grease and the muck on her she does look like a tight fit of femininity and experience. Her arms show off some impressive musculature, one that, even as a man, you find yourself in admiration of.

‘What’s your damage, young man?’ She rests a wrench on her shoulder, glaring up at you.

Young man?’

‘I’m the Head of Crew for this little lot.’ She nods. ‘Before you make a single comment, no, I don’t want to be here, yes, I am a woman, and no, I didn’t sleep my way to the top for this gig.’ She growls. ‘I’m a private contractor and not under your little banner, so if you’ll cut to the chase with what you want, I’ll be more than happy to oblige.’ She takes a step towards you – you take one back. ‘You here to check with one of the boys or somethin’?’

‘Uh, no, I – !’

>‘What is this place?’
>‘Head of Crew?’
>‘I’m looking for someone – Samidare.’
>Write-In
>>
>>390546
>‘I’m looking for someone – Samidare.’
let the chief work, i guess
>>
>>390546
>>‘I’m looking for someone – Samidare.’
>>
>>390546
>>‘I’m looking for someone – Samidare.’
>>
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‘I’m looking for someone, actually, she was assigned here.’ You begin, looking around and hoping for a glimpse of your subordinate. No such luck – the Head of Crew frowns at you, crossing her arms; you’re definitely trying her patience right now. ‘Her name’s Samidare.’

‘The KanMusu, huh?’ She grimaces, eyes narrowing and looking away, before – almost rudely – jabbing the crest on your fatigues. You find yourself surprised at the woman’s physicality and move to speak, but she looks away, spitting out her cigarette. ‘Figures.’ She jabs a thumb behind her, more of a general indicator than a real direction. ‘She’s sorting out things with her people in the storage shed. You can find her and the rest of the yucks there.’

‘Excuse me?’ You blink.

‘Your ships. Whatever they are.’ You frown at her words, but her eyes are definitely not on you; they’re on her watch, gritting her teeth in frustration. ‘Look, I’m busy, so head on down there to do whatever you need because we need some – !’

‘Oi, Boss!’ A rather thin jumpsuit-clad man, in your line of sight, yells from the top of a stack of scrap, jumping and running to the exit. ‘We haulin’ to the West right now!’

‘KEEP YER PANTS ON, I GOTTA SORT OUT THIS FOGEY!’

You take a step back, biting your tongue before you say anything unnecessary.

‘Look, I got stuff to do, but if you’re looking for one of ‘em, that Sami-something or whatever, the storage shed’s your best bet.’ She makes her way past you, tying her hair into a messy ponytail. ‘There’s a big sign on it that says storage shed! I gotta get goin’, so just sort whatever you need out!’

‘Hey!’ You call after her, but either because of the loud horn or because of her blatantly ignoring you, she doesn’t turn around, leaving you to your own devices. ‘Storage shed, huh?’

You make your way through the yard, careful to not step on any of the metal or concrete blocks. The place did indeed look more like a junk field than a camp to you, and the exhaust pipes and scraps littered here and there and their containers only reinforce your idea of it. You try to approach a few of the crew members present, but they look none too friendly and don’t bother to acknowledge you, making their way around holding half-filled boxes.

In one corner you recognize a middle-aged woman; the same woman you’d seen Kiyoshimo drop the goods with back then, laughing and pouring whatever into a cup with a few men. She must have been part of the contractors.

True enough, the storage shed comes into view, its name sprayed in yellow paint of its purpose. You approach it, your hand reaching for the door.

‘Sami – !’

‘How can you say that?!’ A voice cries out; definitely not Samidare’s. ‘After all that’s happened?!’

‘Because I promised, that’s why!’

That one, though, is.

>Walk inside
>Listen
>Write-In
>>
We have officially hit sage. Discussions are open, whatever feedback you want to drop can be dropped now, any trivial questions about the world and I will answer it the best I can.
>>
>>390808
the reports said something about refits, can kanmusu be "repruposed" like a ASW destroyer be refit to AA destroyer?
or its just mantenimence?
>>
>>390804
>listen
>>
>>390804
>Listen
>>
>>390827
It's made in the same context of re-attuning the core so that other weapons can be manned by the KanMusu, like the Stealth Suit.
>>
>>390804
>Walk inside
Knock, then walk inside.

Eavesdropping isn't right, poi.
>>
>>390804
>Listen
>>391299
but they will stop talking and wants t know
or if you wana walk in ask them whats happening
>>
>>390804
>>Walk inside

>>390856
Are upgrades from the alchemy components done to their equipment, or to the girls themselves?
>>
>>391553
It's practically both.
>>
Maybe we should knock first if we walk in?
>>
>>391547
I already have a suspicion of what's going on. We can always ask them what they were talking about to confirm it. If we knock and walk in, then what we've heard so far will be accidental.

Btw, I suspect they're mistreating the KanMusu there. That is why Tenryuu vectored us this way. That is why Yuubari is replacing Samidare with a fubuki.

...poi.
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>>392094
If they made the team daughter cry, there's gonna be Hell to pay.
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>>390804
>Walk inside
>>
>>392094
they screw with our DDs, we shove our prothesis up their asses
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>>390804
>Knock first, then walk inside
>>
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QM, got a lore question, apologies if this has been asked before: were the fairies always known to humanity and nobody bothered them, or did they first reveal themselves when they joined the war?
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>>396349
The latter. Prior, only mystics like Shamans and Mikos knew of them.
>>
Quick question before I get my crap up: would you Questers mind several events that require a reactionary input every few days or so in addition to the action slots? I feel like putting more weight on you guys in regards to the impact of your decisions, military and personal.

The downside? Pace might go a little slow. Upside is that the impact is more apparent.
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>>398209
I'd be okay with it.
>>
>>398209
Could you give a hypothetical situation?
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>>398209
I'm indifferent. If you feel that's more comfortable running the quest that way, then go for it.

Btw, we need to get a rocket fist put into our prosthetic. We should ask someone about that.
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>>399518
I'll agree with this. I could take it or leave it.
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>>398209
id be down to that
>>
i just thought of it, when will be able to launch our own missions?, not just tasks from the admirals?
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>>404036
You're not a sufficiently ranked Officer nor do you have the authority to do so. Going off the grid is not an option at this time.
>>
New Thread Up

>>409407
>>409407



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