'Is it really that hard to believe that?' you press, surprising even yourself. It's a lot more aggressive than you intend for it to sound; all the same, however, you can't help but feel that it's ... warranted.

'The Carriers can fool themselves all they like,' Nachi snorts rudely. 'Most of us know the score.'

>Try to reason with her/Appeal to her
>Negotiate/Discuss her position on Ashigara
>Allow her to take her stance
>Question/Elaborate the nature of your own relationship to her
>Write-In

>>3341102
right last thread left off with Nachi admitting that some habits of Ashigara rubbed off on her and that would be the love of sappy romance novels

>>3341102
>>Negotiate/Discuss her position on Ashigara
i wanna know more about her relationship with her sister

>>3341174
And we almost fucked everything up. Can't forget that. I feel like leaving it is the safe option, but it might be wise to try and further discussion on this topic. Should we try going for a basic "reason with her"?

>>3341102
>Try to reason with her/Appeal to her
Since nobody else is here ill just go with my gut.

>>3341102
>Negotiate/Discuss her position on Ashigara

Good god, there have been 79 threads of a Kancolle quest?
Looks like I've got some reading to do.

>>3341233
forewarning anon, shit get real in this quest

>>3341240
Considering we did get Revengeance that one time, yeah.

File: Tsunachidere.jpg (108 KB, 850x1083)

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‘Maybe it’s just my human sensibilities,’ you start, feeling just a little … irritated, ‘but that doesn’t remotely seem like the kind of thing that’d set me off, and I’m guessing that’s not your whole story, either.’

‘There’s no more to say that what I’ve already given you,’ Nachi retorts curtly, a tone of finality in her voice. ‘If there’re conclusions you’re trying to reach from those or any that you already [i[have, sir, I’d have to say that you haven’t grown as much I’d previously believed.’

You’d missed those snipes. You really had.

‘Well, some things take a little bit more time to come around,’ you return, letting out a light chortle before rubbing your fingers in your left palm. It was getting cold. ‘Besides, you’ve never really talked about your sisters before.’

‘And you think I’d like to talk about them now?’

‘No,’ you answer softly, ‘but if you’re trying to make it sound like Ashigara’s involvement in this tantrum of yours is just down to a bookmark that you didn’t want to see again, then you’re making a terrible job of it.’

Nachi makes a slight gurgling sound as she takes a step back.

It wasn’t quite hook-line-sinker, but catching her on the wrong foot was a plus on any day. Professional and ruthless, Nachi was a tough nut to crack … but if there was ever a time to try your luck, it was now. Volatile as she was on a bad day (and good days), letting her walk away from you with a torrent of emotions on top of the crashing realities of fighting a losing war … wasn’t—isn’t—a good idea. No, not by a long shot. You don’t know how much you could sort out now, but the more you could get out of the way, the less angry she was closing her eyes tonight … the better it’d be for her.

You didn’t need her distracted.

She didn’t need this distraction.

‘I’m not gonna jump to my own conclusions,’ you continue, raising your hands, ‘but I think that … rather than have you walking away from here cursing under your breath, I think it’d be better if you—’

‘Just let it all out here?’

You shake your head.

‘That you at least talk about it.’

‘Oh, and you’d listen?’

‘Of course.’

No hesitation.

None whatsoever.

For the second time that evening, you’re treated to a countenance of a woman you’re used to seeing composed or angry … confused. Nachi hisses, gritting her teeth. She uncrosses her arms, swinging her hand to one side as if slapping the air itself, glaring right at you.

‘Don’t you ever get tired saying those stupid things?’ she grumbles. ‘Saying that you’re going to be there, that you’re going to listen, that you’re in this for more than just … that you’re going to be there for us like we actually matter?’

You frown.

‘You do matter, though.’

Nachi covers her face, letting out a sound akin to a hen’s squawk.

‘Gah! You’re so damn cheesy! I’m glad Ashigara isn’t here! She’d have a field day with you around!’

>Back away
>‘You miss her, huh?’ (On topic)
>‘Was Ashigara into … Carrier tendencies too?’ (Inquire)
>‘You’re making it sound like I make some sort of criteria.’ (Self-conscious)
>Write-In

>>3341487
>>‘You miss her, huh?’ (On topic)

>>3341487
>>‘You miss her, huh?’ (On topic)

File: Wolf Girl.jpg (346 KB, 600x900)

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‘You miss her, huh?’

Nachi clicks her tongue, regaining her composure … or whatever she could gather from its pieces. You would have normally been amused at the sight of Nachi acting like some embarrassed teenager … if not for the current circumstances. It’s a strange place to be discussing the loss of a loved one. Out in the open instead of someplace away from prying eyes; even you feel a little uncomfortable being so … brazen about it, but life had never given the allowance of convenience to time or place.

If this was where it had to happen, this was where it would happen.

‘If I spent my days crying about the why and the how I wouldn’t be effective.’

‘That’s not what I’m asking.’

Nachi pauses, letting out a sigh and placing her hands on her ribs. She doesn’t look at you, preferring to fix her gaze on one of the bare walls. Fully expecting to be smacked in the jaw, you steady yourself for evasive maneuvers … that never arrives. The both of you stand in silence for at least a minute; with Nachi probably considering her next response … and you patiently waiting for her words. You’d stand here all night if you had to. Not that you wanted to, but you’d come this far; to take a step back now would be silly.

‘I’d rather not think about it.’

You frown. ‘Is that—’

‘It’s how I feel about it,’ she declares. ‘I’m … maybe Houshou and Zuikaku were right about us, or maybe they’re wrong, but I’m … I’m no good at these kind of things. I’m not … it’s not something that you can just be programmed to endure or forget. Right now, Ashigara, Myoukou-nee, Haguro … I don’t know if I’m ready to come to terms with … with whatever it is they are to me right now. I don’t know if I’m angry at myself for being strong enough or just … I don’t know. And the more I think about it, the less I’m able to focus on the now.’

‘Nachi …’

‘However you look at it, you still need me to be on the front lines and at my best,’ Nachi continues, her demeanor serene. ‘I can’t do that dwelling or … thinking about these sort of things for now. I … I feel something and I don’t know how or why I should deal with this, but right now, more than anything else, it’s something that I don’t want to think about. That I’d rather ignore. I’m not sure if what I’m doing is the correct course of action, but we’re fighting for you. As a KanMusu, I can’t let that stand in the way of my job.’

You bite your bottom lip, unsure of how to advance.

‘I am a little angry at you for bringing that problem back to my plate, though.’

The irritation in her statement is laced with playfulness … and melancholy.

>>3341691
>‘I just tried to give it back.’ (Irritation)
>‘I’m sorry.’ (Apologize)
>‘It’s not against regulations to cherish their memory.’ (Press)
>‘At least we’re being honest there.’ (Tired)
>‘I guess … I think that’ll do.’ (Leave it be)
>Stay silent
>Write-In

>>3341692
so we need to somehow have Nachi come to terms with her sisters death rather than just ignoring the feeling

>>3341736
She clearly isn't ready for us to push it. Perhaps staying silent is the right choice?

>>3341742
could also just make a quip about how long it took us to give her the damn thing

>>3341692
>>Stay silent

>>3341692
>>Write-In
>funny how it feels like it took me months to give it to you when i've found it a few weeks ago

>>3341774
>when i only found it
curse my ability to not read over my write ins before i post

>>3341691
Is this a time for a hug?

>>3341692
>>‘It’s not against regulations to cherish their memory.’ (Press)
>.If anything, a bit of distraction is okay.

>>3341944
eh i really dont think she is ready to talk about it right now

>>3341692
>>Stay silent

>>3341944
Oughta work

>>3341762
>>3341972

>>3341944
>>3342126
Flipping a coin. Coin flipped.

File: Nachi.png (71 KB, 285x241)

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You don’t rise to it. You don’t sense any venom; it’s merely a playful observation, a mechanism of response in action. Nachi’s gaze turns to the floor, uncertain and unfocused. It’s hard to reconcile her current state with how she had been before. You’d half expected her to explode and sock you in the jaw at least five times over by now, so the fact that you hadn’t so much as nursed a scratch in the last several minutes tells you that you’d either successfully danced around the wires … or that she was just being unusually patient with you on a whim. Regardless, she stands there, mimicking your own silence and looking smaller by the moment, more than likely considering her own words.

It’s a wait that feels longer than it should really be.

‘Look, I know that … I know that you think you’re helping, but really, I … I’m not sure if I’m ready for any of … this … yet.’

Her stutter is slight, but apparent. You probably wouldn’t have noticed if you hadn’t been around her for as long as you have.

She doesn’t break, doesn’t shatter … but there are cracks.

They’d probably been there for as long as you knew one another.

‘I’ve got my duties to the Admiralty and to you … to the humans,’ Nachi continues, her voice growing steadier by the moment. ‘I’m … I don’t need distractions and reminders of what I don’t have anymore. Not right now. Maybe you … maybe you think that we’re all the same and that there’s something in us that needs fixing or something but that’s … that’s not the case. I can do this myself and I … I’d appreciate if you’d just let me sort this out by myself.’

You neither nod nor shake your head.

It didn’t feel like a rejection.

‘I think that part about you that thinks that every single broken vase is something that you need to glue back together is charming, sir,’ she quips, albeit only with a half-hearted snort to go with it. ‘But Ashigara, Myoukou, Haguro … what they left behind for me to put back together, is what I’d rather not have to do. I’ve got enough on my plate and you … I think you have better things to do than worry about a KanMusu’s worries in your off time.’

You laugh.

As rude as it is, you really can’t help it.

You cover your face with your metal hand, throat quaking from the sheer amusement, the sheer irony of that statement. Turning back to Nachi, you see the irritation on her face return, the creases of her brows narrowing as she bares her teeth to you, taking full offense and marching right up to your trembling form.

And you still can’t help but laugh

Better things to do?

>‘Nachi, I think that we’ve established that I dropped myself into that pit on day zero.’ (Retort)
>‘No, you’re right. Sorry, just reminded of something …’ (Evasive)
>‘Sorry.’ (Apologize, back off)
>Write-In

>>3342514
>Sorry

>>3342514
I am not quite arrogant enough to think I can fix every broken vase just by a handful of cheese and ham, Nachi... but I do believe that if you care for someone, you help them with their burdens. Even if they have load past anything one can imagine, or if one is too obtuse to ascertain it correctly. Take your time, but don’t ever think you’re alone.

>>3342528
seems good to me
supportin'

>>3342528
Supporting

File: I Also Apologize For Usin(...).jpg (67 KB, 400x400)

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Sorry lads, dozed off a bit there. Going to be resuming in an hour or so if you're up for it.

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‘I won’t claim to be a handyman in that department,’ you declare, regaining your composure and looking up from your hunched position to a pair of irritated KanMusu eyes. ‘I do think that if you’re able to do something to ease the burden of someone you honestly care about, you’d be an utter asshole for not doing so.’

‘It’s not as easy as that.’

‘True,’ you agree, prompting a slight look of surprise from your companion. You dust yourself off and throw up a smile as you stretch your exoskeleton, feeling the twinge of inert muscle underneath the metal shell. ‘That’s why you do what you can however you ca—’

You frown as you cut yourself off. You’d thought that often enough for it to be a catchphrase at this point.

You hope it didn’t start grating on people.

‘You do what you can and,’ you pause again, clearing your throat, ‘and if there’s nothing you can do, well … at the very least, you can make sure they aren’t alone through it all. I won’t … like I said, I’m not going to let out and just declare that I know what’s going on with you and Ashigara and the others. I’m an idiot, but even I know when I’m jumping in—’

Cutting yourself off, you let out a sigh.

Terrible terminology. That’s what it was.

‘Look, I know I jump in without looking more times than any of you would like, but I … what I’m saying is that I’m not going to push you through this if you don’t want to. I’d like to think that we’ve been able to set our barriers a little better the last few weeks and … if it’s something that you think you’re not ready to pull up, Nachi, I won’t be the one to force you to do it.’

It’s a little hypocritical on your part.

‘I mean … I’d like to,’ you concede, licking your lips as your stutter returns. ‘But, um … if there’s anything that I’ve learned, it’s that, uh … you’re your own woman—KanMusu, whatever and I’d be a heel trying to force the issue. Especially when we have bigger things to worry about.’

A lie. One that means well, but a lie, nonetheless.

You really do think her emotional well-being takes priority, sap that you are … but at the same time, trying to break through Nachi’s defenses by force would more than likely result in another trip to the MASH, or worse, drive a fissure between the both of you. You want her to know that you are on her side, and as confrontational as you had been in regards to the topic of her and the memory of her sisters, of Ashigara …

Knowing when to fold a hand is a quintessential skill.

She nods, accepting your explanation.

Better to be back to square one than to lose altogether.

‘Right, so, uh … you done?’ you ask, hoping to lighten the mood. You’d half-expected the other girls to come back to pick Nachi up for another round of work.

‘Should be,’ Nachi answers, turning her head and looking down the corridor. ‘I should probably make sure, though.’

‘Right,’ you acknowledge, nodding. It was getting cold and you wanted to go ho—

You stop yourself.

Home.

‘I’ll see you back at the barracks, then?’

‘Yes, sir,’ she answers, throwing up a salute. You give one in return. ‘By the way …’

‘Yeah?’

‘Who’s … going to be your new Secretary?’

>SKIP INTERLUDE
>INITIATE INTERLUDE

>>3343674
>>INITIATE INTERLUDE
HERE WE GO LADS

>>3343674
>INITIATE INTERLUDE

>>3343674
wait we lost our last Secetary?

>>3343685
No. You haven't made the announcement that you chose Takao yet. These interludes are more glorified cutscenes than anything substantial, though. If you choose to skip, you get to the next part of the Quest.

BRB. Have to pick some things up from my parent's house. Will try to be back as quickly as I can.

>>3343664
>INITIATE INTERLUDE

>>3343674
>>INITIATE INTERLUDE

>>3343674
>INITIATE INTERLUDE

>>3343674
>INITIATE INTERLUDE

>Tfw classes and sleep still get in the way of a favorite quest even after catching up on archives
Love your writing and I hope to participate more in the future

>>3344664
how long did it take you to crawl through the archives?

I got locked out of my own fucking house. Not kidding. I left the gate remote and the fucking keys on my fucking dashboard and was stuck in the frontyard/garden for 4 hours before my mom "rescued" me and gave me a tongue lashing like I was still 9. Took me another 2 hours to find the things that I was there to pick up because my dad has a terrible filing system. Like father, like son.

>>3343674
>INITIATE INTERLUDE

>>3344733
fuckin RIP man

>>3344670
About a month on and off. If you power through it you could probably do it in a week or two.

>>3346512
that aint bad, good speed

I have prayers today and I've been in a mood the last 24 hours. I'll be running after prayers for sure. If I sound irritated, I am. Sorry for the inconsistency.

>>3349263
aight sounds good

I'd tell you what happened this morning, but fuck it. Let's just run.

20 minutes. I want this over and done with.

>>3351787
aight

File: Murakumo Wanted The Job.jpg (87 KB, 850x680)

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The typical ceremony of a workplace promotion wasn’t something that you were used to being more than a spectator to. A small room with colleagues and a suit or two; paper cups rising in congratulations; applause that’s as sincere as a wife complying to a husband’s request for a midnight snack; compliments all round and a grin on the congratulated as they parade their new post with all of the enthusiasm of a caged tiger given its feed for the day.

It’s just really too bad that KanMusu aren’t bound by the conventions of typical human behavior and nuances.

‘Sir!’

You rub the fabric of your eyepatch as you meet Murakumo’s desperate gaze … and Samidare’s confused and desperate gaze.

You’d thought it would be straightforward: you’d gather all the girls in the house that were explicitly capable of attaching weaponry to the essence of their souls in the common area for the announcement of Takao’s appointment and head right to bed with no ear for protest or mind on consequence. However, in the face of your decision and logic to appoint Takao on her merits, you’d gained the ire of practically every KanMusu that took the appointment of your new Secretary as an attack on their own qualifications than a reasonable tabulation of skills that you believed that the post required.

Surprisingly enough, even Houshou was in on it.

She hadn’t said anything yet … but she wasn’t standing next to a scowling Tenryuu with a face as blank as a fresh sheet of paper without reason.

‘I’m not downplaying what you bring to the table nor do I have anything to hold against any of the members of this Division,’ you announce, distinctly and formally. You almost cringe at your tone; you feel like you’re trying to explain a workplace indiscretion more than you are a point-by-point dissertation on why you’d appointed Takao.

You emphasize that you appointed Takao. You didn’t dismiss the rest.

It’s a message that you’re keen to drill through their heads, even if it’d take until morning.

‘It does sound like you just decided it on a whim, sir,’ Houshou sounds, stepping forward. ‘We would have liked for you to have taken a little bit more time consulting us on the matter instead of just making a parade out of it …’

You cross your arms, glaring at the stoic-looking Carrier.

‘You’re the one who thought she’d be a good pick for the job!’

‘Yes, but I thought that you would have come around and picked me anyway.’

Nagato makes an agreeable grunt.

‘Oh, don’t you start,’ you retort, narrowing your eyes at her.

‘I didn’t say anything,’ she hums innocently, mumbling under her breath.

‘Right.’

‘I’m just’—you let out a tired sigh—‘I thought that you would have had a measure of my abilities at this point. Clearly I was mistaken …’

You throw your head back, covering your face.

Why were they being such … women?

‘You’re already swamped with my paperwork and the Admiral’s! Do you really think I’d want to add to that at all?’

She crosses her arms, raising her nose. ‘I’m more than capable.’

You make a sound akin to a dying pig.

‘Now, now, everyone,’ Takao’s voice rings clearly, clapping her hands and sounding much too cheerful for someone at the center of a churning hurricane. ‘I’m sure that the Vice-Admiral’s decision was done with every single deliberation he could muster!’

You could feel the temperature drop.

>Write-In

I'll give you guys options since a particular anon with experience women and their "subtleties" isn't present.

>Leave it for Takao to handle. It's her job, after all.
>Try to call for calm
>Stamp your authority
>Address their grievances individually
>Write-In

>>3351945
im torn between letting Takao handle this and addressing each girl individually

>>3351959
I think a mixture of both authority and to address their grievances individually would be better, some authority at this moment would come handy alongside hearing of what they have to say about the decision.

>>3351968
that does sound like it would work, but we'd need to make a good right in for it

>>3351971
*write in
christ i cant type tonight

>>3351968
>>3351945
>"Alright, i want everyone here to know i considered the pros and cons for everyone being Secretary and did not make this choice lightly after becoming aware of the "prestige" of the position among you girls.
fuck it, someone add something to this or use it to make something decent sounding

>>3351945
"My decision will remain the same about this matter, but I would like to hear your grievances about this decision, and why I shouldn't have chosen Takao?"

Going with this.

>>3352018
this sounds alot better than mine

>>3352008
>>3352018
Flipping a coin. Coin flipped.

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‘My decision on this matter, irregardless of your input at this moment, will stand,’ you declare, deciding to take initiative before things really came to a head. You had to live with these girls for the foreseeable future, after all, and keeping the group cohesive meant making yourself a bigger target and keep the likelihood of them shifting their venom to Takao at a minimum. ‘But if you do have something to say, I’d like for it to actually be tabled formally and professionally so I can at least have perspective as to why you don’t think Takao’s appointment isn’t the best possible decision that I could have made.’

‘Well, Nagato does more paperwork than she does,’ Murakumo chimes in, predictably. ‘I mean … she’s good at it, but if you’re talking about organizing stuff and-and stuff, like, wouldn’t it make sense that Nagato should take it.’

You eye her neutrally, the bones of your command returning to the fore.

‘You’re saying I should’ve chosen Nagato?’

‘N-No, not at all!’ she denies, raising the palms of her hands. ‘But you said, like, you trusted her to do the paperwork … and we all know Nagato’s been pretty much, uh … cleaning up your messes, so to speak, sir. So if it was just that, then …’

You give a nod as she trails off, catching her point.

‘It wasn’t the only point, no,’ you reply.

‘So … we just weren’t good enough, then?’

And there it is.

‘It’s not about being good enough,’ you start, crossing your arms. ‘It’s about having a mix of being able to sort out a block and having to screen through people like the Deputy Mayor—’

Acting Mayor.

‘—while being able to manage the administrative affairs that I don’t have the time to pay attention to. It’s not a knock against you or even me glazing over what each member brings to this Division, but to install the people I feel most capable of handling a particular set of problems that require a degree of specialization and a variety of attributes to perform optimally.’

You pause for a moment.

Perhaps college had paid some of its dues.

‘But you just said that—’

‘I know,’ you interrupt, raising a hand. ‘It’s a bit contradictory saying that I value her skills a little more … worthy for the post, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t think any less of you—and of you—reaching this decision. I mean, it’d be like giving Samidare Nagato’s guns. She wouldn’t be able to lift—’

‘But I can lift her guns!’

Everyone nods.

You’d forgotten about that detail. Super strength, go figure.

‘I feel like Takao has a thicker skin and more experience dealing with people,’ you continue. ‘She’s more … equipped to deal with these sort of things when people get nasty with their, uh … negotiations.’

File: Eh It's So Stupid.jpg (593 KB, 601x926)

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‘Wouldn’t you just pick Houshou for that, then?’ Tenryuu questions pointedly, gesturing to the Carrier beside her.

‘Yes, wouldn’t you have picked me?’

You smile wryly. ‘I opted for a more logical process than one based on emotion. Besides … you vouched for her. You wouldn’t be taking those words back, would you?’

Houshou stiffens slightly, visibly struggling for words. ‘Not at all,’ she declares, clapping her hands together, ‘it’s just, well … I thought that my own experiences would have given you … due consideration, even after, I mean … I wouldn’t have said no if you said yes … Vice-Admiral.’

‘Which is why I went to you for advice.’

‘Excuse me?’

To your surprise, Iowa’s the one that chimes in, raising a hand and grabbing your attention.

‘What’s up, Iowa?’

‘What’s the actual deal about all this, really?’ Iowa questions, wrinkling her nose and crossing her arms. ‘I mean, it’s being a secretary, right? It’s typing on a … a typewriter and making sure everything in the briefcase is ready and everything else is filed and stuff, right? Why would you be fighting over that sort of thing? It’s super boring work, isn’t it? Is there something that I missed?’

Nachi takes a step forward, taking the spot.

‘Traditionally and by definition,’ she starts, holding her arms, ‘or at least on basic human terms, it would be … but it’s become something of a ceremonial thing for us. Don’t get me wrong on this, my priority’s still the mission, but an Admiral giving the post is a sort of … symbolic gesture, I suppose. Not just for the Admiral and the KanMusu, but that they acknowledge her enough to maneuver the subtleties of human society and bureaucracy to act as their representative in full confidence of her abilities. It’s a formal appointment, but it’s … for a lot of KanMusu, it also stands that the Admiral trusts us to be … human, I guess.’

Iowa snorts, tossing her hair back.

‘Yeesh, talk about some padding,’ she comments, raising her hands in a defeated gesture. ‘It’s not really that big a deal. Just because your boss tells you to do more work doesn’t mean that it’s some sky-borne revelation. What kinda thinking is that? I’d figure that for a con if I ever had anyone say that to me!’

‘It’s an acknowledgment that the Admiral sees you as human enough to conduct actions in his stead, Iowa,’ Nagato answers, crossing her arms as she takes a step forward. ‘Or, that’s what it looks like, at least, for many of us. I fancy it myself, but … for a lot of the girls it’s at least a reprieve that someone would trust us as more than just a blockade breaker.’

Iowa frowns.

‘Then wouldn’t it be silly for the bunch of you to be fighting over it, then?’

Nagato tilts her head, confused.

‘Excuse me?’

‘Well,’ she starts. ‘I mean, he loves us, right? You need something more valid than that?’

You hear a nail drop from the ceiling.

You should really, really fix that.

>Write-In

>>3352296
>Iowa is correct, i love all of you and no matter who says other wise, to me you all are as human as me

>>3352296
"Though Iowa is not wrong, is my fault to not more apparent in recognizing my affection and the worth of all of you, but the decision I made was just based on something objective."

>>3352296
>>3352358
This, but also add that we really did take this aspect of secretary very seriously.

>>3352296
>"The secretary position was given to who could perform it the best. As for me giving acknowledgment to you being "human enough" it wasn't even part of the choosing process. To me, you are all as human as I am and like Iowa said, I love and respect all of you regardless of that trait.

>>3352296
Fix the ceiling too while we're at it.
jk dont do this

Anyone having slow loading times with 4chan lately?

>>3355110
here and there somewhat, captcha's been taking forever for me

File: Eh Who Cares.jpg (210 KB, 850x741)

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You cover your face in your hands, releasing a breath you had been unaware of holding into a mismatched pair of metallic and organic textures. Your ears grow hot and your abnormal sensory organ pulses like mad as you consider your next answer. Iowa’s direct nature gives you no time to gather proper stature on the issue. While you’d conceded yourself to an unhealthy obsession with the well-being of revenant war machines with the priority of tearing humanity’s horrors a new one … the fact that she is all too willing to spell it out regardless of your own reluctance in an open discussion on the matter has you almost wishing her to go back into her shell. KanMusu had no—have no—restraint on any front without an external, proverbial hand to hold them back. The utter lack of agenda coupled with what you can only surmise to be a teenager’s approach to uncertainty—at best—has them catching you on the wrong foot on a frequency you’d rather … not.

It’s not that you are allergic to that word.

It’s that Iowa saying it out in the opening is just bloody embarrassing.

That the KanMusu all shrug and make agreeable sounds as though they’d reach a decision ordering take out … only made it more unbearable.

‘Iowa … isn’t wrong on that,’ you let out, sliding your hands down your face and feeling the energy practically drain in that one sentence before stretching the corners of your mouth in an effort to hack what syllables remained into an actual semblance of discernible language. ‘If there’s been a misunderstanding as to the requirements of this post and if they change my perceptions and requirements of you from a professional or personal perspective, I apologize. I don’t fully get just what you girls … really expect of certain things. I don’t get what KanMusu get as important or … what they don’t care about. Maybe you’re right that that breaks off a little more than a canyon between us in understanding … but it doesn’t change the fact that I, uh … well, care for you. If you guys are seeing that post as validation’—you spare Takao a quick glance—‘from me, I … well, I’d like to ask you to not. Seriously, uh … what Iowa said.’

She bobs her head up and down like a child solving a classroom problem.

Curse her for putting you on the spot like this. It’s not as if you didn’t already have trouble with this particular … job scope.

Even when KanMusu, women would be women.

Murakumo grumbles, but gives an otherwise agreeable nod, crossing her arms over her chest.

‘Ew, you’re really picking this time to be sappy?’

‘Vice-Admiral, there’s a time for everything, you know …’

‘Can we go to bed now?’

You run a hand over your face, letting out a sigh.

>>3355321
>‘You know what? I take it back. I hate you all.’ (Grumble)
>‘You know what? I take every assumption I made about you and human women back. You’re both insane. No wonder!’ (Grumble 2)
>‘Fine! Takao, you sort this out!’ (Activate The Takao Card)
>Go upstairs without another word
>Write-In

>>3355326
>>‘You know what? I take every assumption I made about you and human women back. You’re both insane. No wonder!’ (Grumble 2)

>>3355326
>‘Fine! Takao, you sort this out!’ (Activate The Takao Card)

>>3355326
>‘Fine! Takao, you sort this out!’ (Activate The Takao Card)

>>3355326
>>‘Fine! Takao, you sort this out!’ (Activate The Takao Card)

you have activated my TRAP CARD

>>3355326
>Ask Takao if she has any closing remarks to say to end this "promotion ceremony", since this gathering is technically for her.

>>3355326
>>‘You know what? I take every assumption I made about you and human women back. You’re both insane. No wonder!’ (Grumble 2)

>>3355321
Based Iowa.

>>3355326
‘You know what? I take every assumption I made about you and human women back. You’re both insane. No wonder!’ (Grumble 2)

File: Loudmouth.jpg (75 KB, 1280x720)

75 KB JPG

‘Fine!’ you let out, your patience reaching its absolute limit. For a race (for what aesthetic value the word held) that held itself separate from the wiles of humanity, the fact that they could be as petty when something spurred them on enough had you thinking that maybe, just maybe, the both of you were in parallel rather than perpendicular or opposite vectors on the same map. ‘Takao!’

Your Secretary’s ears perk up visibly.

You decide to give her her first assignment. If she could handle this collection of characters, she was set.

‘You sort this out!’

‘Yes, sir!’

You turn your back to your Division, shrugging and raising your palms to the ceiling, grumbling and irritated. Mostly at the fact that Iowa had decided to turn the whole affair inside out with her sheer lack of filter, but also because you thought that the concept of a post being a sign of affection and respect was such a silly construct that … well, you couldn’t fathom it! How silly would it be if someone like a mother decided their sole evidence of affection to stand the test of eternity would be their job to watch the stove while they were out? Lunacy!

You don’t even notice that you’re halfway up the stairs until you see one of the only other humans on the premises walking down, clad in a tank top and very baggy pants.

Loudmouth gives you a nod of acknowledgment. One that you return, albeit a little tiredly.

‘Specialist.’

‘Commander,’ she starts, ‘or is it Vice-Admiral now?’

‘Either one’s fine,’ you sigh, not bothering with the semantics. ‘I’m not going to jump to conclusions until I see a paycheck, though. Feels like more multi-tasking and compartmentalization than it does anything resembling an actual damn promotion …’

‘Your chain of command is a little … unorthodox,’ Loudmouth confides, crossing her arms over her chest as you make your way to the top of the stairs with one loud creak. ‘Vaguely military … but at the same time, structured. An attempt at organization that looks more like an imitation of an actual operation command. If I didn’t know any better, I’d probably be wondering how many people were sitting at a table playing war.’

You throw an accusatory glance in her direction. Her stoic expression manifests into one of apology, albeit briefly.

‘Considering that the scope of the operations are in fact in warfare, it would’ve made sense for the Admiralty to be more of an extension of the Armed Forces than it would as an independent entity,’ she comments further. ‘Not that I don’t understand the politics of it … but seeing everything around here barely forming a cohesive operational unit, yet operational, still … I suppose you are doing something right there.’

>>3362036
>'Were you always this chatty?'
>'Well, regardless of how you look at it, we're all trying. Even you.'
>'I'm going to bed.'
>'Well, you know how it is. Red tape and ... more red tape. It's how it goes.'
>Write-In

>>3362038
>>'Well, you know how it is. Red tape and ... more red tape. It's how it goes.'

>>3362038
Well, you know how it is. Red tape and ... more red tape. It's how it goes.'

>>3362038
>'Well, you know how it is. Red tape and ... more red tape. It's how it goes. Regardless, we're all trying. Even you.'

File: loudmouth2.jpg (103 KB, 640x398)

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‘Well, you know how it is,’ you let out with shrug. ‘Red tape, politics, more red tape and … bureaucracy at its best.’

You hear more muffled sounds from below, coupled with Takao’s calls for calm and order. Things must have gotten heated in the minutes since your departure … but if Takao couldn’t handle this, then you’d made a mistake giving her the job in the first place. You rub the fabric over your exoskeleton’s shoulder joint, feeling the alignment shift slightly. It must have slacked again during the day. Perhaps Akashi would have another look at it once she was over … Kaga.

Seriously, it was just some tongue—

‘I’m … pardon my informality, but I’m actually surprised that you’ve taken to it so naturally.’

You wrinkle your nose, scratching the side of your cheek.

‘Huh?’

‘Considering your background, I thought that you would’ve … struggled more,’ she elaborates, leaning against a corner. ‘I’m thankful you’re not, but it’s not a common site to see someone transitioning between two unrelated disciplines so … easily. You’re unorthodox in your methods, but you’re otherwise more in tune with the realities and the gravity of everything around you. It’s … I guess you can say that it’s an attribute I’m envious that you have.’

You open your mouth to reply … only to find that no words could come out.

It’s quite true.

You’d been rejected quite handily, on grounds of incompetence (and utter idiocy), and yet … you’d adapted. You’d changed. You’d changed so much, in fact, that you wonder where all this … focus and ability had been before. Not the physical abnormalities … but the odd changes that you’d noticed in your habits, the nuances and subtleties of your methodology. There were still mistakes, of course; screw-ups and miscommunications came as naturally to you as they did oxygen and water, but now that you actually do think about it, they weren’t—or at least, in less frequent bursts—constant. The occasional emotional or instinctual drive came, of course, taking over logic and reason, but those outbursts … outside of your girls, you’d been quite professional. Methodical.

You are getting older.

You are, for lack of better word, growing up.

It’s an oddly frightening prospect.

‘Is that praise?’

‘It’s … an observation.’

You chuckle humorlessly. ‘I’ll take what I can get,’ you mutter, throwing up a wry smirk. ‘I won’t say that it, uh … didn’t come without a cost, though.’

‘Your arm?’

You shake your head. ‘No, I mean … I had to learn that there were things I couldn’t take along with me forever. There were things that I wanted to leave behind but had to bring along … and things I wanted to bring along and had to leave behind. It’s … life. You gotta learn to know what to take with you.’

She wears a tiny smile.

‘Maybe you can put that on a manifesto for the Navy.’

You snort loudly.

>>3362135
>'Nothing's convincing that bunch of hard tacks!'
>'You have something against the administration?'
>'Mind you, the Admiralty's really not that much better.'
>'Good night, Specialist.'
>Write-In

>>3362136
>>'Nothing's convincing that bunch of hard tacks!'
Old folk are the most stubborn in their ways, like a pack of mules

>>3362143
>'Nothing's convincing that bunch of hard tacks!'
We fight evil spiritual battleships
We dont do the imposible

>>3362136
>'Nothing's convincing that bunch of hard tacks!'
>'Mind you, the Admiralty's really not that much better.'

>>3362136
>>'Nothing's convincing that bunch of hard tacks!'

‘There’s no convincing that bunch of hard tacks any time soon.’

It’s not as snide as you make it out to be. You’d been around the administration enough—and experienced the sheer volume of regulation and legislation—for yourself to give yourself the pass as an authority on the subject. While the Admiralty and the Congregation of Lords are indeed working to a middle ground (of a very, very broad definition) in the background to humanity’s survival … the military arms of the Taiyouga government had been as keen in regards to the sharing of the authority of the nation—and by extension, the world’s—defense. Not that you could blame them … much. It’d been said time and time again that they’d long loathed their—for lack of better word—helplessness in the face of an eldritch army from the depths of whatever dark sea saw fit to gave birth to such horrors … and even with the Congregation of Lords, the Lord and Vassals themselves taking a step forward in relations (again, with a broad definition on “step forward”) by essentially being the new overseeing body to the Admiralty, a breakthrough looks to be a harder task to achieve than a semblance of progress from humanity’s current position in war.

You wouldn’t be surprised that even in victory, humanity would stand in the way of its own survival.

Light laughter rings at the back of your head.

You choose not to heed it.

‘A biased stance to take.’

‘Well, it’s not like it’s not true … for the both of us,’ you reply, sighing. ‘The Admiralty isn’t any better and doesn’t care about anything but the war and the Navy and the Army and every Joe looking to jump into battle doesn’t want to fight alongside a bunch of supermodels that can level a city if they so wished.’

The corner Loudmouth’s mouth twitches.

‘It’s nice to see some traditions stay the same.’

She hums lightly, but otherwise keeps her silence.

‘I’m turning in for an early night … is there anything else you wanted to talk to me about?’

‘Nothing in particular, sir,’ Loudmouth replies, straightening the fabric of her top. ‘It’s just been a long weekend.’

‘You can blame the GM for that.’

She nods.

Well, fuck you, too.

‘Although, there is … one thing.’

‘One thing?’

‘Nagato-san caught a few documents with verification that was a little … confusing. I’d requested a proper detail on the current training sessions, but the requisition forms have had incoming and outgoing addresses that I didn’t label as per the requirements of my sessions, but she chalked it down to a misfile.’

‘Probably was.’

‘It probably is,’ she starts. ‘But I like to think that I’m organized enough to know the difference between a document in triplicate and a one-off form.’

>‘I’ll look into it.’
>‘It’s really probably just a misfile. Don’t worry about it.’
>‘We all make mistakes. You’re not an exception to the rule.’
>Write-In

>>3363680
>>‘I’ll look into it.’
i am intrigued, could be something or it could be nothing, lets poke our nose into it regardless

>>3363680
>‘I’ll look into it.’

>>3363680
>‘I’ll look into it.’

‘I’ll look into it.’

[Loudmouth will remember that]

‘Shut up,’ you grumble, marching away. ‘That’s not even a good game.’

The GM agrees.

END DAY 61

File: Cigarette.jpg (134 KB, 850x1326)

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You can’t sleep.

Your bed’s too soft or too hard.

The night’s too cold or too hot.

There’s too much noise.

It’s too quiet.

Regardless of the reason … you can’t sleep. Jacket over your body and a pair of sock-less feet nestled into a set of boots, you make your way into the dark outside, hoping that something would trigger some mechanism that allowed you to shuffle back into bed with forty winks and change. It’s the wee hours of the morning, and even the lamps out on the street look like they’re about to nod off. It’s cold. Expected of a stroll at three o’clock in the morning. Your hands tuck themselves into your armpits as you plod across the empty court, feeling your snot turn from liquid to solid. Autumn might as well have been winter. It’d been some time since you prodded up a snowman.

‘Oh? What’re you doing up?’

You turn to your right to see … a face you didn’t quite expect to see sharing the same insomnia.

‘Kasumi?’

It’s dark and hard to make out, but it is, indeed, your old friend. Clad in what you can only surmise to be a lab coat, scarf and nothing but a pair of stockings of indeterminate color, Kasumi leans against the concrete walls of the Barracks … and a cigarette between her two fingers.

You narrow your gaze at her.

>‘I thought you decided to quit.’ (Point out her habit)
>‘I should be the one asking you that.’ (Evasive, Counter)
>‘Couldn’t sleep.’ (Direct)
>‘You know, for someone trying to get into medicine …’ (Disapproval)
>Write-In

>>3363909
>>‘Couldn’t sleep.’ (Direct)

>>3363909
>‘Couldn’t sleep.’ (Direct)

File: Kasumi Kasumi.jpg (158 KB, 639x715)

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‘Couldn’t sleep.’

You don’t wait for her invitation. It was your barracks, anyway.

You lean your back against the wall of the building, feeling the ocean breeze waft across the pores of your skin … and prompting you to feel for the five o’clock shadow that, inevitably, was on its way back. You remind yourself for what could possibly be the thirteenth time to get a move on in the last few days; you didn’t mind looking a little rugged, but since you were a Vice-Admiral, it’d be setting a bad example to not at least make the attempt to look more presentable. Then again, considering how cold winter would undoubtedly be, perhaps growing one out would be more practical. Your thoughts regarding the aesthetic of a bush along your jaw are interrupted by scent of smoke from current companion, who’d puffed out another cloud.

In this light, you’re uncertain if she’s deep in thought or just enjoying her stick.

You’d only caught her doing it once.

She’d sworn to never do it again.

‘Something on your mind?’

You’re shaken from your little trip with her words, raising your head and tilting your gaze to face her.

‘No,’ you answer. ‘Just … couldn’t sleep.’

She raises the cigarette to her lips, nodding but otherwise returning to her silence, as do you.

The ocean breathes a sigh.

She shuffles slightly, half of the glowing embers falling to the ground.

>‘I thought you quit.’ (Smoking)
>‘What’s keeping you up?’ (Bring up her insomnia)
>‘So … how was your day?’ (Casual talk)
>Keep quiet
>‘Here.’ (Give her your jacket)
>Write-In

>>3363969
>>‘What’s keeping you up?’ (Bring up her insomnia)

>>3363969
>>‘I thought you quit.’ (Smoking)

>>3363975
>>3363979
Flipping a coin. Coin flipped.

File: Thoughts.gif (926 KB, 500x281)

926 KB GIF

‘I thought you quit.’

‘I will,’ she replies nonchalantly, shaking the cigarette between her fingers. ‘This is the last one.’

You’re under a tree in the second year of high school again, clutching the shoulder straps of your bag and wearing a look of disapproval. You remember the shade of heavy leaves in spring and a scowl on your face, reciting whatever nonsense you’d read off from a pamphlet to a very familiar face, sitting cross-legged with a lighter in her hands and a full pack of smokes on the grass … or [i[almost[/i] a full pack. You distinctly remember one lodged between the lips of a much younger Kasumi, full of energy and mischief, snidely remarking your inability to budge on a point before conceding that it would be that one stick and no more. Just a taste.

She didn’t exhale.

‘I recall you saying that about the last time you sneaked a pack …’

‘Hey, I was curious,’ she protests defensively, taking a tone similar to Tenryuu’s old mischievous one. ‘And this really is going to be my last one.’

You don’t reply, hooking your hands underneath your armpits and staring off into the night. You don’t put much stock into a reply, too bothered with your inability to catch a wink of shut-eye to argue where she was headed with her words. Your thoughts wander again to the events of the day, to the promise of the morning to come. It’d be back to the grind for you, for everyone … and with your new post, your new responsibilities, came the feeling of dread. People would be on your back more than ever, and that wasn’t even accounting for Iowa’s little secret and the guest that hovered in your head and in and about town.

Heaven knows what the Shaman is up to because you honestly didn’t.

‘You’re not going to tell me how it’s bad for me?’

You turn your gaze to your friend, still wearing that nostalgic look.

It doesn’t work as wel.

‘You’re too old to be told what to think,’ you return, hitting the back of your head against decades-old bricks. ‘We both are.’

She pauses, the tiny smirk vanishing from her features as her countenance takes a more hardened, melancholic expression, turning her head front and center.

‘This … this is only the third one I had since we … since high school,’ she starts. ‘I lit one up the night after my first shift at a diner and the boss yelled at me … and my second was to get the taste of dick out of my mouth.’

You open your mouth … before closing it again.

‘This one,’ Kasumi continues, grimacing, ‘this one’s the last one I’ll ever take. Promise.’

Sincere.

Or as close as she sounds to it.

A chilly breeze hits your nose, prompting you to look away and sneeze.

Kasumi blows warm breath into her hands from the corner of your eye.

>>3364068
>'If you say so.' (Dismissive)
>'Any reason it's such a special occasion?' (Inquire)
>'So how was your day?' (Casual talk)
>Keep your silence
>'Here.' (Offer her your jacket)
>Write-In

>>3364070
>>'Here.' (Offer her your jacket)
we will Dadmander even our human subordinates
and is captcha for anybody else?

>>3364073
The site is EXCRUCIATINGLY slow. I had to wait 10 minutes. Thank God that the successive captcha only needs me to click the "I'm Not A Robot"

>>3364070
'Any reason it's such a special occasion?' (Inquire)

File: Kasumi Again.jpg (213 KB, 850x1138)

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You decide to get one thing out of the way.

‘Here.’

You push yourself off the wall, sliding your arms out of the sleeves of your jacket. Kasumi leans forward, her face now covered in a shadow and rendering you unable to fully make out what expression she wears. Not that you care. The cold breeze of the ocean night hits your bare shoulders, your body now unprotected from the elements with your relinquishment of your sole protector. Kasumi tries to eke out a protest, but the sounds die at the first syllable with your placement of the jacket on her shoulders.

‘I don’t have the right to tell you what to do in your own time, but going out in stockings and a shirt in this weather’s just asking for trouble,’ you chastise her, wrinkling your nose. ‘You should really know better, being a … doctor and all that.’

She doesn’t give you an answer.

A cold breeze tickles your shoulders again. You see her hand closing around the collar of the jacket … and the embers of the cigarette falling to the ground. An uneasy sensation scratches at the base of your spine, prompting you to ghost-hop from one foot to the other. Was she angry with you? And if she was, why would she be? It was a cold night and you’d merely decided that braving the elements wasn’t something that you wanted to have her endure in that get-up. It would have been inconsiderate of you to stay warm and toasty while her knees buckled and knocked against one another like a pair of drumsticks!

You decide not to rock the boat more than you already had. You had stepped out to clear your head, not add to the misfiring neurons.

‘Thank you,’ she lets out quietly.

And sometimes you just overthought things.

‘You’re welcome,’ you return, leaning against the cold bricks and rubbing your nose. That was another good deed for the books.

‘You know, while we’re out here,’ Kasumi starts again, ‘would you mind if I … asked you something personal?’

You frown again. A sense of deja vu comes over you as you turn to face her.

‘Personal? Like … what kind of personal?’

She pauses for a moment. You see her knuckles tightening as she wraps the jacket tighter around her being. Her face is still covered in shadow, but you don’t need eyes to feel the apprehension that she practically radiated. You find yourself all kinds of hesitant … or rather, half of you does. The other half is more … curious. How personal did she want to get? Did she … want to know what you’d been up to in your college years? In detail?

Because if she was, you had some lies that you were keen on trying out.

‘Personal.’

Her statement is one brief word. Steady and neutral.

>‘Not in the mood.’ (Dismiss)
>‘Where do you get off thinking you can carve something like that out of me?’ (Irritation)
>‘All … right?’ (Hesitant, Concede)
>‘Personal and … nothing to do with my professional life whatsoever?’ (Clarify)
>Write-In

>>3364070
>'Any reason it's such a special occasion?' (Inquire)

>>3364131
>‘All … right?’ (Hesitant, Concede)

>>3364131
>>‘Personal and … nothing to do with my professional life whatsoever?’ (Clarify)

>>3364131
>‘Personal and … nothing to do with my professional life whatsoever?’ (Clarify)

‘Professional … and with nothing to do with my professional life whatsoever?’

Kasumi doesn’t reply.

‘Not … wholly personal, I guess,’ she reiterates. ‘I suppose it’d be more of an … intimate inquiry?’

You don’t need to be a genius to figure out what the implications were.

>‘Not in the mood for that.’ (Dismiss)
>‘And what makes you think I’d trust you with that?’ (Irritated)
>‘All right, but we cross a line, I get to cut it off.’ (Concede)
>Write-In

>>3364172
>>‘All right, but we cross a line, I get to cut it off.’ (Concede)

>>3364172
>‘All right, but we cross a line, I get to cut it off.’ (Concede)

>>3364172
>‘All right, but we cross a line, I get to cut it off.’ (Concede)

>>3364172
>‘All right, but we cross a line, I get to cut it off.’ (Concede)

File: Bloody Rain.jpg (181 KB, 850x1234)

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‘All right,’ you agree, albeit not without some puzzlement that you’d rather do without. Considering how close the both of you were—how the both of you are—you would have thought that she wouldn’t need to be so … vague. Then again, considering what the implications of the subject matter were … you suppose that neither of you wanted to step on toes you’d rather avoid altogether. ‘But we cross a line, I get to cut it right off.’

‘Okay,’ she lets out breathlessly, her voice taking an oddly … relieved tone. ‘Okay.’

You throw a small nod her way. You’re not sure if she could see it, though.

‘So …’

‘You act differently with the KanMusu.’

‘Huh?’

‘With the KanMusu, your … behavior changes,’ Kasumi continues, biting her neck. ‘I don’t know how to put it into words, but you’re more … open with the KanMusu than you are with anyone else. They get more … just more from you, emotionally. You have a wider range, a more responsive nature when it comes to them … more than you do with almost anyone else.’

You concede the point, albeit silently.

‘Yeah, and?’

‘And you don’t do it with anyone else,’ she goes on. ‘I’ve … I’ve seen you work. You don’t … I’m not saying that you have to be a social butterfly because Heaven knows you have no talent there, but … for some reason you find yourself connecting with the KanMusu on a more … on a broader level than I would’ve thought. I respect Nagato and the rest, but it’s just … it’s like you have two sets of rules. One for other people … and one for them. I’m not … I won’t say whether it’s in your job description, but the way you carry yourself it’s like you’d rather get lost in whatever dynamic that you have with them than actually …’

She trails off, pushing herself off.

‘For someone who preaches that there’s no dividing line, you’ve just … you’ve really drawn one for yourself here. Maybe it’s just … maybe I’m over-thinking or maybe I’m just worried about something that isn’t there, but I’ve seen you with them and I’ve seen you with other people. It’s like … it’s like you’d rather not bother with the rest of the world’s problems and just fall back into comfort.’

You frown, feeling a little … offended.

‘This sounds a lot like a threshold, Kasumi.’

‘I just want to know why,’ she presses on, sounding strangely … concerned. ‘I want to be wrong, but it feels like you’re … using them as shell, like you’re using Nagato and everyone else as an excuse to not come out. That you’d just … you’d rather not deal with anything but them.’

‘I don’t.’

You’d helped people, right?

Protect their smiles.

Protect their smiles.

Protect their smiles.

You're helping people right now.

>Write-In

>>3366087
oh boy, i mean she aint wrong really, we do prefer the company of the Kanmusu to humans

>>3366096
i mean, if you think about it, before we became Cmdr we had been content with not dealing with people at all aside from our various part time jobs. and since becoming CMder we've managed to break out of the shell abit with the Kanmusu but we seem to be falling back into the shell with the girls just forming another layer

>>3366096
You cant blame us, when alot of our interactions with people have been generally trash

>>3366129
yea to a degree but we must be better, we have become content and that leads to stagnancy

>>3366087
>>funny how that i would have never seen that myself if you hadnt pointed it out Kasumi. you're right, i guess despite the progress i've made breaking out of the shell i made for myself with the girls help, i've just somehow had been adding another layer to it with the girls as the buffer. i still gotta long way to go dont I?

>>3366156
this

>>3366129
>>3366156
No offense, but is it really just the both of you this time?

>>3366156
This

>>3366087
I feel like there is two parts to this. The first part is that with human people, we interact with them very professionally as our role requires it, being a Commander/Vice-Admiral, On base, the humans like the Admiral view and treat us like somebody who's part of a military organization, which we are. Not much friendly banter going on when the discussion is about war and not dying. They expect a certain type of person to be a Commander, and when we interact with them we give them what they want.

With the kanmusu, I think they were expecting someone who was cold and unfeeling, treating them as weapons and tools. However, we treated them like normal people who have feelings, dreams, and wants. Our attitude towards them changed their attitude towards us, letting them open up and letting them see us as more than just a commander, but as a friend or someone who can help them with their problems. In turn, we open up more to the kanmusu, showing them more 'emotions' than we usually show to other humans.

>>3366174
Responses take a while to write, if you can take what I wrote as a response.

>>3366156
this

>>3366156
>>3366188
These two are on to something here

>>3366188
Iowa pointed out that kanmusu want to be acknowledged as human by being sexytaryship but its pointless in our case since we already love them

File: Best Friend.jpg (80 KB, 646x653)

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‘I …’

It’s not a hard pill to swallow.

It’s just … something that you were never really inclined to consider.

Were you really that different?

Was the chasm really that visible?

‘Wow,’ you let out, feeling a little … off-balance. ‘I wouldn’t have really thought about it like that. And here I thought I was doing so well.’

‘You are,’ she reassures you, much to your confusion. ‘You’re … different now. You’re the same, but … different. You’ve grown and I can’t … I can’t imagine what you’ve been through fighting this war, but … for more than my sake, or yours … please don’t use them like that. I … I don’t think I have the whole picture right and maybe I’m not as on the money, but … I don’t want you to just use the KanMusu as a reason to … shut everything else out. They’re your responsibility and I know you’re fighting for everyone’s sake. That much I … I can put my whole weight behind. You helped me and you’re putting your life on the line just as much as they are. I know that this isn’t a game to you. I’m aware just what you’re putting on the line … for all our sakes.’

Your eyes widen slightly.

More at the hesitance than the outright honesty. You’d only seen her like this … twice.

‘I just don’t want you to use them as a crutch and reason,’ Kasumi continues, her words quick … and clumsy. ‘Maybe Nagato, Iowa … Takao, maybe all of them had a hand bringing you where you are now and I’m not … I’m not saying that you can’t lean on them once in a while, I guess. I mean, I’ve known you for years. You’re about as steady as playground twig.’

‘Hey.’

‘But … maybe it’d be better to not just … fall back on them so much.’

You frown.

‘I’m not saying that you can’t,’ she repeats, the sound of her heels scraping the ground hitting your ears. ‘They’ve done better by you than I ever managed—’

Untrue.

‘—and I can see why you pretty much use that fall back. At the same time, I don’t think that it’s fair to them that you’re … using them as a reason to not … be human anymore. It’s a little hard to put into words and believe me, I’ve been trying to mesh this together since Akashi-san mentioned, but, well, what I’m trying to say is that …’

She trails off. You can see the contours in the darkness, the biting of her lip, the shift of her shoulders.

Then she lets out a gruff grumble, raising her head.

‘I don’t even know why I’m bothering with this! Guh! Forget it! I’m sorry I brought it up.’

>>3366318
>'You know, this lack of honesty might be the reason I gravitate so much to KanMusu.' (Amused)
>'Right,' (End conversation)
>'You're right. It's ... I'd be a hypocrite there, definitely.' (Serious)
>'I try not to be. It's just ... habit, I guess. Some things are hard to shake off.' (Concede)
>Write-In

>>3366318
>>'I try not to be. It's just ... habit, I guess. Some things are hard to shake off.' (Concede)

>>3366329
>>'You're right. It's ... I'd be a hypocrite there, definitely.' (Serious)
>dont be sorry Kasumi, im glad you brought it up. Thanks for being my friend despite my stupidity

>>3366329
>>Write-In
Chuckle at her display. When she starts to get a little more upset, step in and give her a peck on the forehead.

"No. Thank you for caring. I most certainly won't have seen that without you bringing it up and I'll be certain not exclude everything outside my command."

>>3366329
>'You're right. It's ... I'd be a hypocrite there, definitely.' (Serious)
>'I try not to be. It's just ... habit, I guess. Some things are hard to shake off.' (Concede)

>>3366355
>support

>>3366329
>>3366355
This is fine

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You laugh.

‘I’m serious,’ she declares, huffing.

‘I know,’ you answer gently.

There’s a small silence that reigns between the both of you as you consider your next course of action. The moonlight had finally seen opportunity to peek out of the clouds in the last few moments, bringing the glimmering stars with it. You can see her face now, troubled, puffed out and pink, with eyes glaring up at you with an irritation that you—despite all sensibilities—find more endearing than a sane man probably should. With the current state of your relationships, it would be mental suicide to even so much as think of something concerning her, of all people, even with all the intimacy that you’d engaged in in the last few days.

Especially because of the last few days.

‘I’m not trying to sound bossy or anything,’ she goes on, clutching the leather fabric tightly around her being. ‘It’s just …’

She sighs.

‘I do sound bossy, don’t I?’

‘Not at all, no,’ you let out, chuckling again … and swiftly pecking her forehead. ‘Thanks for caring enough to … point that out for me. I’m … not exactly or … well, I’m not all used to this whole gig just yet. I wouldn’t have thought about it at all if you didn’t bother bringing it up at all.’

You take a brief pause.

‘Maybe I … maybe there are things that I still need to get used to and some things I still need to carry around with me, still, as much as I’d rather not,’ you confess, ‘but it’s nice that you care about me enough to drop a reminder. I’ll try to make sure I don’t forget this time.’

‘You’re doing well for yourself,’ she starts again. ‘I just—’

‘I know. Thanks, Kasumi.’

A comfortable silence returns. You see a small, honest smile blooming again, before disappearing behind an amused chuckle.

It was nice to have a friend like that again.

‘All right, now that I have the less personal question out of the way—’

‘Less personal?’

‘All right, this one has more to do with me than it does you, but since we’re on a roll, just … humor me for a bit, will you?’

You narrow your good eye, feeling the chill wafting over your ears again. ‘Uh-huh.’

‘What? It’s not as if I’m going to force an answer out of you this time, either,’ she snorts, as if she had been the one offended. The nerve! ‘Come on.’

‘And you say I can’t read the mood.’

She laughs.

‘I’m serious. Please?’

You’re not falling for it this time. You’d endured Samidare and Shigure treating you like a hug pillow. Kasumi was small game by comparison. Besides, you could feel the winks coming along and it was getting late. Or early.

>‘Okay, one more.’ (Concede)
>‘I’m calling an escort for you.’ (End it)

>>3366488
>>‘Okay, one more.’ (Concede)

>>3366488
>‘Okay, one more.’ (Concede)

>>3366488
>okay, one more.

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‘Okay,’ you concede, sighing. ‘One more.’

She brings her fingers together, a motion that you would’ve mistaken for prayer if you weren’t already aware of her character. You’re aware of the gravity of the subject matter, but you’re unaware as to what she was looking for … in specification. If your current state of being, that your aversion to more extrovert inclinations in the wake of an outlet in your KanMusu had been … less intimate, just what on Earth would a more intimate one be?

‘I want you to be as honest with me as you can and … I’m very, very, very, extremely serious about this,’ she declares, staring right up at you. ‘I’m honest enough with you, so … please, I’d like you to be honest with me, too.’

‘Wait, I thought you were asking me a question?’

‘I am,’ she reinforces, biting her bottom lip. ‘But no matter what I ask … I can trust you to be honest, right?’

You shrug.

There really wasn’t … anything that you couldn’t be honest with her on on a personal basis. Like it or not, you don’t think you’d be able to get far playing stupid or on a lie, but at the same time … you really hoped that it wasn’t something too intrusive, like asking what a relationship with a particular KanMusu was like in specification.

You’d set the threshold there, after all. It’d be stupid not to plead it.

‘Fire away, then.’

Even in this (lack) of light, you see a … pink tinge to her cheeks.

‘Am I … good in bed?’

>‘I don’t think my standard’s one you should … measure yourself up to. I’m, uh … an exception.’
>‘I think Nagato would be a better ask.’
>‘Honestly? You’re my … first human woman. I, uh … I’m biased, but I, um … I think you’re uh, okay.’
>‘Good night, Kasumi.’
>'What the Hell?'
>Write-In

>>3366592
‘Good night, Kasumi.’

>>3366592
>>‘Honestly? You’re my … first human woman. I, uh … I’m biased, but I, um … I think you’re uh, okay.’

>>3366592
>>‘I think Nagato would be a better ask.’

>>3366592
>>‘Honestly? You’re my … first human woman. I, uh … I’m biased, but I, um … I think you’re uh, okay.’

Scratch that, lets not go around the issue.

‘Honestly? You’re my … first human woman,’ you answer, not thinking much of it. You probably should have, but she wanted honesty above all else; you didn’t want to waste time dancing from one point to the other. ‘I might be biased, but, uh … I think you’re … okay?’

Her shoulders slump.

Maybe that wasn’t what she was expecting.

‘Just … okay?’

‘I mean, it’s a … good okay,’ you elaborate. You weren’t one to rank the adventurous nature of a woman in bed. You weren’t the Vice-Admiral. ‘I, wait, you did fine. I mean, I felt good and I don’t think that you’re lacking anything in any department.’

‘Are you saying that as a friend or just to avoid the topic?’

You frown, feeling a little irked. ‘You’re the one who asked for honesty,’ you counter, albeit a little playfully. ‘I’m not going to say that I didn’t have a good time or that I have pointers in mind but, uh … oh man, this is hard. Uh, I’d like to reiterate the point: you’re my first woman … that isn’t an extra-dimensional revenant locked in the form of a supermodel. If anything, you’ve set the standard.’

Kasumi smiles wryly. ‘That … doesn’t really help me.’

‘It’s not a competition, you know.’

You’re quite surprised at how comfortable you are with the topic.

‘I know,’ she grumbles, before letting out a small giggle. ‘Maybe I could ask Nagato for a few more pointers …’

>Write-In
>‘Okay, threshold reached. I’ll get you an escort.’ (End the conversation)

>>3366592
>‘Honestly? You’re my … first human woman. I, uh … I’m biased, but I, um … I think you’re uh, okay.’

>>3366636
>Nagato likes you, ya know?, call it a gut feeling but, if there is anyone that you can trust on that matter, it would be her.

>>3366644
sounds good to me

>>3366644
>Encouraging NTR
Based players.

>>3366652
is it really NTR if we're involved as well?

>>3366652
Nonsense, this is merely family bonding

>>3366664
Family?

>>3366667
we'll make it family

>>3366644
But to cut to the chase, what's this statement meant to bring about? Ask Nagato for sexual favors? Just making sure she gets along well? I don't know what vibe I'm suppose to be getting here.

>>3366676
I think its more to...count on her for advice when it comes to this, she can still always come to us ofcourse! but, Nagato will be much more effective.

so, guidance really.
>they're the same person anyway

>>3366676
Maybe be like how it was when we nagato and takao had that thingy

>>3366678
yea guidance for these types of things and other advice in general

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‘You know … Nagato likes you,’ you start again, letting out a slight chuckle. ‘And considering that she’s more experienced than either of us on the matter, she’d probably be a … better fit to ask than I am.’

Seeing your amusement, she follows suit. ‘It’d be awkward,’ Kasumi says, wrinkling her brow.

‘I mean … not just for this sort of thing,’ you elaborate. ‘She likes you a lot and … I think the both of you could use a friend. You know … all that girl talk stuff that I’m no good it. She’s still a girl, you know. Just … one with the capacity to level a mountain if she ever decided to go rogue.’

‘Your sense of humor needs work.’

She playfully slaps you on the chest.

‘The point is … you could use a friend,’ you start, ‘and personally, I don’t think you can do much better than Nagato, human or KanMusu.’

Kasumi’s hand stays on your chest, unmoving. Her head tilts downwards with a small, enigmatic giggle, prompting you to furrow your brow in confusion. Had she thought that you were joking? The night dims again; the shadows return with the clouds obscuring the night sky once more. The bitter chill of the cold hits your shoulders and prompts you to let out an inglorious, almighty sneeze, much to your companion’s very audible amusement.

‘What?’

She bumps her forehead into your chest.

‘No, I probably won’t be able to.’

You let out a light laugh, staring down at her prone form.

‘You know, I—’

The sound of thundering wheels has you both jumping to attention. You look to the open compound gate to see two jeeps turning in, headlights practically blinding you as they invaded the grounds without so much as a warning. Kasumi—probably on reflex—charges her shoulder into you, startled at the sudden intrusion. Your form now fully alert, you gently push her prone form off, throwing her a look of reassurance as you march forwards towards the sound of revving engines. The silhouettes are hard to make out, even as they jump out of the vehicles.

You don’t personally recognize either of them, but with your visual orientation returning, you’re able to make out the Admiralty’s Engineering unit in full regalia on one of them … and a third form jumping from its place in the other truck, higher than any human could possibly manage with one bound.

That pony-tail was unmistakable.

‘Yuubari?’

‘Vice-Admiral?’

You turn your attention towards the stone-faced engineer … and the mustached man who you now recognized as one of the faces among Yuubari’s operations crew, clutching what appeared to be a stack of folders, distress etched upon the lines on his face.

‘I’m sorry to bother you at this hour, Vice-Admiral,’ he starts, his voice as dire as you’d ever heard anyone’s been, ‘but we have a situation.’

END INTERLUDE

>>3366720
welp back to the grindstone lads
i hope your dice are ready and loaded with luck

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Oh dear ...

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Session in 100 minutes.

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It’s nice to have the conference room up and running again. Not that you hadn’t grown fond of that excuse of a table in the Prep Dock, but it’s a welcome change to the sound of buzzing machinery and whining gears (not to mention the chirping fairies) that distracted you from the matter at hand. You’re all prepped and ready in your operations suit, enjoying the warm air (and barely dozing off). Takao isn’t here, of course, out on patrol with the rest of the assigned unit, so you’re pretty much the only Stream-capable officer here without one of his own KanMusu by his side. The Vice-Admiral is seated to your right, Hiei accompanying him with her arms crossed and looking more peeved than you’d seen her … save for the time you’d caught her and her superior having that argument. The Admiral is out of his chair and standing not two feet away from a rather jittery-looking operations officer, who you recognized as the man who had accompanied the convoy to bring you here, with two others, a very pale-looking man and a dark-skinned woman with a rather plentiful volume of curly hair, her expression mirroring that of Hiei’s. Fusou and Yuubari sit by a fully-utilized chalkboard, detailing everything technical that you could think about in regards to the recent developments.

Developments, which, even after weeks on the job, you couldn’t quite make heads or tails of.

‘Look, hold on,’ The Vice-Admiral starts again, the irritation in his voice echoing the lines etches upon his features. ‘We had two warnings go off, a few quakes and nothing at all after? In the last four hours?’

‘That’s about the gist of it,’ the Admiral replies, sounding just as annoyed. ‘I sent a comm out to Ominato, but they’re saying that it’s not them either. They’ve got a unit prepped and ready and a patrol, but no contact’s been reported. None of ours are saying anything either.’

‘Both your patrols haven’t reported any significant encounters,’ Yuubari sounds, stepping forward. ‘But that we’ve had quakes this visible … and enough to actually trigger the new systems has us suspecting an offensive from the western and northern regions. The readings, however, don’t give us any vectors on whether they’re planning a reclamation of territory or just disrupting our patrol lines. It could be two or three independent offenses, but regardless of what we think they are, a counter to the offensive must be taken to make sure we don’t lose anymore groun—sea.’

‘And that … brings us to the, uh, other development,’ the officer steps back in, not missing a beat as he approaches the hologram, practically stumbling over the cables as he does so. ‘About, uh, on this vector’—he indicates an obscure point away from the blinking lights—‘we have reason to believe we, uh … a KanMusu.’

No one speaks.

The man clutches the folder close to his chest.

>>3368131
>'Wouldn't that be presumptuous? Quakes don't automatically mean that there's a KanMusu, right?'
>'Admiral, why would there be a KanMusu out there? Didn't you get a distress signal last time?'
>'What evidence supports this?'
>'Pulling us in five different directions. Sounds more like a trap than something that we want to jump in right away.'
>'Wouldn't the alerts be more ... severe, then? If there was actually a stray?'
>Write-In

>>3368140
>>'What evidence supports this?'

>>3368140
>'Wouldn't the alerts be more ... severe, then? If there was actually a stray?'

Clarification and effectively a request for more evidence.

>>3368156
This

>>3368140
>>'Wouldn't the alerts be more ... severe, then? If there was actually a stray?'

>>3368140
>>'Admiral, why would there be a KanMusu out there? Didn't you get a distress signal last time?'

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‘Wouldn’t there be more severe alerts if there actually was a stray?’

‘It depends,’ Yuubari answers, taking to Ooyodo’s role like a duck to water. All she was missing was the glasses. ‘But in this case, we can’t be sure. We don’t have a positive identification on the signature, but if there is … one of us out there, it’d be a boost to our forces, Destroyer or Battleship.’

You have a feeling that she wanted to say more than just that.

But Yuubari was a professional through and through.

‘The distress would have gone out a long time ago, wouldn’t it?’ The Vice-Admiral questions, looking unconvinced. ‘I’m all for playing the cavalry but from what you’re telling us’—he gets up from his seat, pointing to the hologram in the middle of the room—‘this thing going out in the same timeframe as these quakes in these positions … can we afford to actually risk driving right up and picking one of our own up against a possible pincer? That’s not just out there. It’s deep. At least a few dozen knots across the engagement zone. The way we are, we’d be spreading ourselves thin by putting our current positions here and here and pushing forward. This is calling for something teetering on a campaign.’

‘We’re not taking back territory, Vice-Admiral,’ Yuubari reiterates. ‘Ominato’s already given us the go ahead and they’ll be joining in on a manual patrol should you wish to proceed … or if you’d rather, you can take their places up there. We have the forces to actually operate this time around.’

‘Yeah, I’m sure that the Vice-Admiral over there would love another cockpit peeled open on bad intel.’

Yuubari snarls at him.

The Vice-Admiral glares right back.

‘This is the first time that we’ve had enough manpower for a two-front operation since the attack,’ the Admiral cuts in, prompting Yuubari to take a step back and for the Vice-Admiral to seat himself once more. ‘Like Yuubari’s said, Ominato’s prepped to back us up … or for us to back them up. And to answer your question, Vice-Admiral’—he definitely means you this time—‘we’re not sure. Certainty goes a long way on underlining an outcome, and I can’t say for sure if this is for real … or if it’s a new trick that they’ve tried.’

‘Or an old trick with new distractions.’

Hiei’s voice catches everyone’s attention.

The Admiral, surprisingly, agrees.

‘Regardless,’ he starts again. ‘They’re still breaching the new line, and it’s better to send them a warning that we’re still in the fight than let them run wild like they’ve been doing the past few hours.’

The Vice-Admiral grunts his agreement. Hiei gives him a slap to the back of the head.

You don’t miss the ghost of a grin. Even if it is fleeting.

>>3368246
>'Didn't Iowa send a Stream ... distress or whatever last time? Can't you make sure with that?'
>'Would there be any reason for there to be a KanMusu ... out there?'
>'Is there anything at all that we can call ... tangible? To proceed, I mean?'
>'What are the assignments?' (Proceed)
>Write-In

>>3368250
>>'Would there be any reason for there to be a KanMusu ... out there?'

>>3368250
>>'Didn't Iowa send a Stream ... distress or whatever last time? Can't you make sure with that?'

>>3368250
>'Is there anything at all that we can call ... tangible? To proceed, I mean?'

>>3368260
>>3368266
>>3368275
Flipping a coin. Coin flipped.

>>3368327
dat 3 sided coin =^)

>>3368337
I got 8 tails in a row. You can guess who won.

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‘Is there anything at all that we can call … tangible? To proceed, I mean?’

‘Vice-Admiral,’ The Admiral starts again, ‘you’ve been on the job for a whole week … how often do you think that these assignments involve us jumping forward with both eyes open and a safety net?’

‘None, sir.’

‘Good lad.’

>'Didn't Iowa send a Stream ... distress or whatever last time? Can't you make sure with that?'
>'Would there be any reason for there to be a KanMusu ... out there?'
>‘What does Ominato have to say?’
>'What are the assignments?' (Proceed)
>Write-In

>>3368416
>>'Would there be any reason for there to be a KanMusu ... out there?'

>>3368416
>'What are the assignments?' (Proceed)

>>3368416
>>'Would there be any reason for there to be a KanMusu ... out there?'

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‘Going by what we know, then, Admiral,’ you start again, fearful of your tone. ‘Would we … is there any actual reason to believe that there’d be a KanMusu out there? Anything from the records or anything that’d … you know, really give us reason to push that far?’

The Admiral keeps his silence.

Yuubari looks from you, then to the Vice-Admiral … and the click of Hiei’s tongue that follows tells you more than care to know without a word being spoken. You shift uncomfortably in your seat as the room takes on a … strange atmosphere. Dread and … an uncomfortable stench seems to permeate the very essence of the room. The Admiral covers his face in his hands as he grumbles and whispers something to Yuubari, who gives her ponytail a flick as she marches along the circular edge of the table with a look that reminded you of whenever she had to fix another bolt on one of your mishaps. She exits the room without ceremony, slamming the door shut behind her with enough force to make the curly-haired woman flinch.

‘You know,’ the Vice-Admiral starts, grumbling, ‘maybe we could just bribe one of the engineers to pretend that he likes her. It’ll solve most of our problems.’

‘Vice-Admiral,’ the Admiral rebukes, glaring at the younger man. ‘Please shut up.’

The Vice-Admiral raises his hands in exasperation.

‘Well,’ he sighs, ‘Kaga picked a good time to be a good soldier, I tell you.’

Hiei lets out an exasperated noise, pinching the bridge of her nose.

‘Fucking Carriers.’

>Don’t comment
>‘Uh, what are you talking about?’
>Write-In

>>3368589
>>‘Uh, what are you talking about?’
I MUST KNOW
THE FEDORA TIPPER COMES

>>3368589
>>‘Uh, what are you talking about?’

>>3368592
>>3368611
Imagine "All women are queens and if she breathe's she's a THOT" except on a KanMusu

>>3368613
well at least we will somewhat know how to deal with her

>>3368589
>‘Uh, what are you talking about?’

>>3368589
That sounds like akagi
what is she doing there? Didnt she pull out with the rest of the carriers?

>>3368589
>‘Uh, what are you talking about?’

>>3368704
guess we'll found it

Resuming in 45 minutes ... ish.

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‘Uh,’ you slur, confused. The energy of the room had been practically sapped with Yuubari’s leaving … and you’re not quite sure if it was from her absence. ‘What’s … going on?’

‘Nothing, Com—Vice-Admiral,’ the Admiral replies, exasperated. ‘We’re just talking about one of the … consulting operators on the matter. She’s a little, uh … over the top.’

Hiei snorts.

‘You mean over-tip—hey!’

The Vice-Admiral shoots Hiei a small glare, prompting her to grumble. Your two senior officers turn their eyes to the door, your query being answered with nothing more than a vague description felt a little … hurtful, really. You’d merely asked what the whole deal was. The way the both of them—and Hiei—approached it was as though she was an energy vampire whose mere name sucked the life out of everyone within hearing range. Was she another Taigei? Was that why?

‘Is she … you mean she’s like Taigei?’

The Vice-Admiral barks in laughter.

Fusou, of all people, doubles over, but is able to keep her amusement from reaching the audible stages. The attending officers shift slightly, two of them staring at the shaking Fusou while the third worryingly glances at The Admiral … who grumbles as he pinches the bridge of his nose.

‘No, she’s … not like Taigei. It’d probably be healthier if she was.’

‘That’s what happens when you try to be human,’ Hiei lets out sagely, glancing at you. ‘Kongou-nee warned her, Kaga said the same thing and Zuikaku got the butt end of it all. Sometimes I wonder if the Shamans wouldn’t just program—’

‘Hiei.’

The Vice-Admiral’s voice takes a warning tone. Hiei, however, is undeterred.

‘It’s true!’

>‘Who are you talking about?’
>‘Zuikaku got the … butt end of it all?’
>‘Kaga knows her?’
>Sit back and wait
>Write-In

>>3368878
>>‘Zuikaku got the … butt end of it all?’

>>3368878
>‘Zuikaku got the … butt end of it all?’

>>3368878
>>‘Zuikaku got the … butt end of it all?’

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‘Zuikaku got the … butt end of it all?’

The Vice-Admiral runs his hands over his face, letting out a groan. What did Zuikaku have to do with it? This was certainly a KanMusu they were talking about … but other than Taigei, you didn’t have a clue at who or which KanMusu could cause such a headache. Zuikaku’s involvement only raised the intrigue.

‘Whatever you do, when she comes in … keep professional, don’t try to flirt with her, don’t even make eye contact if you can manage it and for the love of all that’s holy, don’t so much as mention how you’re dealing with your Carriers. Especially if you’re having no problems with them. She’s a good soldier and a damned good department head, but really, the worst thing you can be around her is having a healthy relationship with any KanMusu that isn’t her so please do not even mention how good things are going with your Division.’

‘She doesn’t … take it that well.’

‘Kaga’s gone,’ you return, albeit with a ruder intonation than you intended in the first place. ‘Why would—’

‘Just an advance warning, Vice-Admiral,’ The Admiral cuts in. ‘And, uh … right, the Zuikaku thing. Don’t even mention her. In fact, it’s a good thing Kaga isn’t here either. I remember the last time those two—’

‘Everyone.’

You turn to the door.

It’s Yuubari.

‘Admiral, Vice-Admirals,’ she greets, stepping fully into the room … with a taller figure in tow. ‘I’m sorry for the delay.’

A dark-haired woman steps right in behind Yuubari, clad in a black and red yukata, thick black hair spilling past her shoulders. She looked … relatively normal. Pretty, serene, innocent brown eyes and … well, she was beauty. Classically, at least. No sharp features, nothing … tangible. The type of girl that your grandmother would have probably been pleased with through dress code alone. There is an oddly demure aura about her, something akin to Houshou’s delicate inclinations but more … raw. There is steel behind that silk, albeit not quite as refined. Neither tall nor short, you measure her to be at least—no, definitely close to—Kaga’s height. Looking straight at her, a sense of deja vu comes over you. Fair skin, a slight chub to her cheeks and a soft expression … strange at it seems, it feels like you’re staring at Kaga’s opposite.

Was that why they warned you off?

‘Admirals, Vice-Admirals,’ she starts, taking a formal tone and bowing politely. She was nothing like how they’d described her; maybe it was just an in-joke. ‘I am sorry for my tardiness. I was … delayed. Please forgive me.’

Her speech … is stilted.

Scripted.

It was like watching Shigure talk on day one again.

‘That’s all right, Akagi,' the Admiral waves it off, sounding oddly ... chipper.

Akagi? This was Akagi?

>>3368906
>Shut up and let her get to work
>'Akagi? You're Akagi?' (Suicide)
>'Oh, Akagi. I heard about you from Kaga!' (Idiotic Suicide)
>Write-In

Guys, I fucking swear. It doesn't get easier than this.

>>3368907
>>Shut up and let her get to work
>>3368909
i know Mech, but god damn those choices are like 2 fuckin big shiny red buttons to me

>>3368907
>Shut up and let her get to work
Remember we got a weird as hell shipgirl around and they have not trhown the hunters at her yet
Shit be more inportant now

>>3368907
>Shut up and let her get to work

>>3368919
This

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You give a small nod of acknowledgment … but otherwise heed the warning. You aren’t sure if they are, indeed, true, but you don’t want to chance it. Not now, at least. You’re in the middle of a briefing, after all … and she was here with information. You didn’t need to talk to her about Kaga or Zuikaku and ruining things for everyone. Akagi doesn’t pay much attention to you, striding right up to the Admiral, who throws his friendliest smile up as he steps out of the way, causing all eyes to fall on her. The engineer, to your surprise, scoots further away from the dark-haired KanMusu, going practically shoulder to shoulder with his male compatriot.

She didn’t look that intimidating to you.

‘Pardon my intrusion,’ she lets out, giving a respectful bow. ‘I know that it’s unorthodox for me to … cross the departments, but I’m aware of the current situation and, well, I believe it’s my place to give full disclosure on the two sites—’

‘Wait, sites?’

You’re not able to catch yourself.

Akagi smiles thinly. ‘Yes, Commander. Sites.’

‘Explain, Akagi,’ the Vice-Admiral prompts, leaning back in his chair and giving a nod.

She nods again.

The hologram stops at the four blinking points. Akagi raises a finger, gesturing for one of the attending officers to do … something with the hologram. The only woman of the three steps forward, picking up a remote and zooming in on what appeared to be a grid. Four points turn into eight, and two of those eight stand on opposite corners of a square. Numbers and letters make themselves known to you … as does a small sub-heading at the bottom of each indicator

037: AGAMEMNON

098: PARIS

‘These were two operation outposts that were meant to serve as frontline support for the Admiralty’s campaign,’ she starts, catching your immediate attention. ‘Outpost Agamemnon and Outpost Paris were erected and purposed as front-line defenses. Agamemnon fell first, about two weeks prior to the first strike, claiming the lives of all personnel. Paris fell about forty-eight hours later. Same result.’

‘That was when we mounted the counter-strike up,’ the Vice-Admiral chimes in. ‘Both outposts falling would’ve probably encouraged the Abyssals to keep marching inland.’

‘Likely, but that’s not why I’m here,’ Akagi continues. ‘The Admiralty … the Court of Admirals sanctioned the installation and erection of artificial Summoning Modules. Agamemnon and Paris were two of the designated sites that … housed them. With the Modules failing all over and being rendered inert and the Shamans unsuccessful … the Court didn’t want to wait.’

You know it to well.

You and the Admiral share a look.

Aquarius is still fresh on your mind.

‘You’re saying a KanMusu could have crawled through?

‘That’s practically a zero percenter,’ Hiei scoffs.

Akagi’s face tightens.

>>3368948
>'You mean like Aquarius?' (Spill the beans)
>'What're the specifics? This doesn't sound like a retrieval at all.' (Home in on the point)
>'Why is it a zero percenter?' (Confused)
>Write-In

>>3368952
>>'Why is it a zero percenter?' (Confused)

>>3368952
>'What're the specifics? This doesn't sound like a retrieval at all.' (Home in on the point)

>>3368952
>'What're the specifics? This doesn't sound like a retrieval at all.' (Home in on the point)

>>3368952
>>'What're the specifics? This doesn't sound like a retrieval at all.' (Home in on the point)

>>3368952
>'What're the specifics? This doesn't sound like a retrieval at all.' (Home in on the point)

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Motherly rapists.

>>3370568
its not rape if there is love
and if the eyes turn into hearts

>>3370624
Did yours?

>>3370629
i'd need a play-by-play analysis of the rape by Nagato and Kaga to be sure

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‘So what’re the specifics?’

You don’t mean to sound so rude. Especially not to someone who you’d just met less than five minutes ago. But the fact that she was being so … opaque with the details to the point that you had to prompt for something tangible was beginning to grate on you. If she wanted to be vague and put a trail of breadcrumbs for people to follow on implication … this wasn’t the time for it. At all. Eyeballs click and roll, their owners turning their attentions to you. You prop yourself up slightly, clearing your throat to speak; hopefully she wouldn’t shoot you down like a lame duck.

That didn’t mean you couldn’t be stern, however.

This was a war.

‘If you’re hoping for us to pick up on the implications, I’d like to put forward this feels less like a rescue or retrieval operation by the word,’ you go on. ‘If there’s something that’s vital to the success of the operation or the welfare of our Squadrons I think that we deserve for it to be given upfront rather than after six bouts of prying. Is this really a retrieval operation on the whole or … do you have something else in mind from the higher ups? Miss Akagi?’

Her smile is creepy.

‘It depends on what role you’re willing to take,’ she replies neutrally. ‘However, it’s not a sole objective that we’re attempting to achieve here. Repelling Abyssal forces and if there is, indeed, a KanMusu that was summoned or even one that survived the offensive … to bring her back.’

You nod. That was … acceptable. So far, at least.

‘You are, however, correct that success here isn’t totally beholden to either objective,’ Akagi goes on. ‘That, and while we’re not a hundred percent certain on the current state of either site, we can confidently surmise that one of the Summoning Modules is at least in operational condition … and must be destroyed.’

You frown. ‘Destroyed?’

‘The MagiTek, if still active, can’t be allowed to be. That is the priority objective should that be the case.’

‘Launching missiles at a Summoning Module,’ the Vice-Admiral sounds. ‘I always wanted to crack the earth in half.’

‘Your Stream resonance and ripple will be able to counteract the activation algorithm and trick it into thinking it’s done its job,’ Akagi replies curtly, sounding more impatient by the second. ‘It’d be better if you could assign a more senior member to walk you through the steps, though, should you … choose this particular portion.’

‘A senior member?’

‘Someone who is … seasoned in Streams, like … a Carrier.’

The Vice-Admiral’s chair squeaks.

Akagi’s smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

‘I wouldn’t mind being a temporary assignment, myself …’

>>3370974
>‘Houshou should be able to do the job, then? If I choose to take the assignment?’ (Houshou)
>‘You … and me?’ (Consider her offer)
>‘I’m fresh out of luck, then. One of the other Commanders will have to take point.’ (Proceed)
>Write-In

>>3370976
>>‘Houshou should be able to do the job, then? If I choose to take the assignment?’ (Houshou)
not even a question, Houshou is loyal to us and we are loyal to her

>>3370976
>>‘Houshou should be able to do the job, then? If I choose to take the assignment?’ (Houshou)

>>3370976
>>‘You … and me?’ (Consider her offer)

>>3370976
>‘Houshou should be able to do the job, then? If I choose to take the assignment?’ (Houshou)

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There’s no doubt in your mind.

‘Houshou should be able to do the job, then?’

She doesn’t deflate that much.

But she does deflate.

‘Of-of course,’ Akagi lets out, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. ‘Houshou’s definitely … I mean, Houshou-senpai would definitely meet that criteria, definitely … definitely.’

You almost feel …

The Admiral shakes his head.

But she looked so sad.

>Reassure her
>Keep yourself professional
>Write-In

>>3371099
>Reassure her
>Keep yourself professional
>why not both?
Lets stay calm and professional while making emphasis on the importance of her role back home.

>>3371099
>>Reassure her

>>3371099
>>Keep yourself professional

>>3371101
this

>>3371099
This>>3371101 probably gonna need a write-in for that though, and I'm terrible at those, so I can't help you there.

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‘Not to denounce your presumed expertise in the matter, of course,’ you backtrack, if only slightly. ‘I don’t have any reason to believe that you’re lacking in that aspect, nor did I mean to insult you, if … that is cause for concern?’

You’re not sure if the transformation that Akagi undertakes is “perking up” by the most exact definition. Nonetheless, her seemingly shattered self-confidence pieces itself back together enough for her to be able to square her shoulders and stride over to the display. There is a twitch in the corner of her lips that you’re unsure to dismiss as a mere trick of the light or an actual sign of worry … but even if there was, it was the least of your concerns. After all, you were fighting a war. There were more pressing matters to tend to than the secrets behind a woman’s smile.

Shall I get the shovel or do you want to dig that grave yourself?

You try to give your most professional smile back, regardless.

‘But back to the current state of operations,’ Akagi starts again, gesturing to the grid display. ‘We have four possible encounter points on this op; one north, one south-west and a fishnet assignment at the back. I don’t believe I need to emphasize how it goes level by level.’

‘What’re we looking at north and south-west?’

The grid zooms out. Two red markers make themselves known to you.

‘There are two known force movements on intel. I’m not sure how numerous they are, but we know the ones approaching the South-West point here is likely to be the heavier of the two. We can’t get a proper read, but the signatures tell us that we might have at least a few B-Class threats, maybe even an A-Class trying to make breach. The Northern Point will likely be a supporting rally for the offensive, so the assignment would be to cut them off before they reach here’—she points to a square some two squares down from the northern point—‘and … consolidate. If both Squadrons can choke them enough to discourage it, then whoever’s hanging back can pick up whatever strays that break through both points.’

‘So it’s a standard line,’ The Vice-Admiral sounds. ‘Nice to know that that’s still the same.’

‘Danger would still be with the team deep between Agamemnon and Paris, then,’ you conclude, getting a round of nods. ‘It’ll be a tight fit on a tighter schedule. That gives us three hours tops of effective operation length. Cutting it close doesn’t even begin to—’

You notice that all eyes are on you again.

‘W-What?’

‘Nothin’,’ Hiei remarks, grinning. ‘But you’re settling nicely into your role, ain’tcha?’

There’s a rumble of chortles around the room.

‘Well then … Vice-Admiral.’

He means you.

‘You get first pick.’

>>3371232
>'My Squadron and I will play point. See what's really going on at those sites.' [LEVEL 4]
>'We'll cut the South-West Offensive.' [LEVEL 3]
>'I'll take the North intercept course.' [LEVEL 2]
>'I'm okay picking up strays.' [LEVEL 1]
>Write-In