Harry Potter & the Shipgirls

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Consecration I

Tsurugaoka Hachimangū, Kamakura

Eishō 8, 7th Day of the 7th Month (June 7th 1511)
Spoiler: The Decision

A hot wind blew the songs of the farmers in the rice paddies to the shrine of the Protector of Warriors. It flapped in the banners of three proud and great clans.

To the west, the four black diamond mon of the Takeda Clan fluttered from their black and white banners. The wind carried the nickering of their peerless cavalry's horses as a procession made its way from their camp to Hachimangū.

To the east, light blue and white banners flapped in the wind. Emblazoned with the three dragonscale mon of the Hōjō Clan, a matching procession left their camp to head to the shrine.

Finally to the north, the dark blue banners of the Uesugi Clan showed their mon of two flying sparrows in bamboo as a third procession left their camp to head to the shrine.

All three processions came to the first Torii gate, where they dismounted. Glares were exchanged and hands found the hilts of weapons as the three daimyos, each with a double handful of retainers, walked along the consecrated path to the stone staircase. The priests and monks watched as radiating hostility, the three delegations climbed the centuries-old staircase, and approached the main shrine.

Awaiting them, a phalanx of monks and priests bowed to each in turn. Once the last servant was seated and tea was served, the chief priest nodded to his assistants. The shrine bell was rung twice by a team of monks, the sound of the bell causing doves to fly from the roofs. All present bowed to the door to the Honden sanctuary as Hachiman manifested invisibly.

He surveyed the assembled priests, monks, and samurai with an unreadable face.

"Bring forth the offerings!' The High Priest commanded, as three samurai, clad in Takeda black, Hōjō light blue, and Uesugi dark blue came forth and bowed, as each presented a sword for His invisible inspection on the provided sword racks.

All was still as Hachiman looked at the three blades offered as the monks and priests examined them.
Spoiler: The Swords

Looking at the first rack, He carefully examined the katana presented. His brow wrinkled slightly as she saw the humble, almost ostentatiously austere, fittings with a simple square iron tsuba guard etched with His dove. Nodding, He watched a senior monk draw the sword and a stifled expression of awe rose through the crowd as the perfection of Masamune steel was revealed to all present. Moving through a fast kata, the monk paused, as one by one seven kanji, the Seven Virtues of Bushido, shone forth.

He nodded to Himself, this was the weapon of a humble and loyal samurai, perfectly forged to serve its lord and master as a servant should. He sensed her spirit's willingness to serve Him in any way required unhesitatingly in accordance with Bushido.

As He turned to the second sword's presentation, the Takeda daimyo shot a triumphant smile at his rivals. Clearly his offering of the Masamune he had commissioned from one of the Master's apprentices in the school that the Master had founded would be viewed as superior and the Protector of Warrors would bless his cause.

The second sword glittered with gold as the monk picked it up. His eyes narrowed slightly as Hachiman surveyed the decorative ornamentation, and a minute wrinkle creased His brow as the sword was drawn. Gold inlay was patterned in the steel with a prayer of praise to Hachiman. Another stir ran through the crowd at the sight, with hushed whispers for the beauty of the weapon.

Beautiful, but the weapon of a courtier and not a warrior. Unsuitable.

With that he watched the monk perform the kata again, and then replace the sword.

The Hōjō daimyo smiled triumphantly at the pleased comments from the assembled dignitaries.

Beside him, his Takeda rival's smile became more smug.

Sweat patterned the brow of the Uesugi daimyo as the priests reached the third stand.

Unlike the other two katanas, the third was a mighty no-dachi greatsword. Gold flashed from the menuki of two doves on her hilt as Hachiman minutely inspected her, his face thoughtful. As before, the monk unsheathed her, and eyes widened at the curve of equally perfect Muramasa steel exposed. The dignitaries laughed at the ostentatious blade's clear 'compensation' as her decorations, her massive size, and her Muramasa steel suggested a blatant attempt to sway the judges.

Hachiman's eyes narrowed at the spirit he sensed within as he thought silently as His priests and monks laughed.

Strong and resolute she was, but also eager for battle in ways the Masamune was not... and yet... something could be made of her. She had a use in His plans. But not in this place, not yet.

Finishing the kata, the monk replaced the third sword and the High Priest stepped forth. He bowed to the three daimyo and then spoke in a clear voice.

"Hear our words. Masamune-no-Tokunotakai is pleasing to Lord Hachiman's sight and shall remain here as His Blade to serve the temple."

The dove engraving on Tokunotakai's tsuba blazed with bright white light as Hachiman consecrated her. The Takeda daimyo's face curled in a triumphant smile as he bowed his head to the ground.

"The Hōjō Yoshihiro blade is likewise accepted by the Hachimangū as worthy of enshrinement."

Hachiman shook His head. The sword was beautiful, and well crafted, but not that of a soldier. A showpiece, on the other hand....

A hush ran through the crowd as the golden prayer on the blade stayed inert. The Hōjō daimyo blanched slightly.

Finally the priest looked at the no-dachi. "This... monstrosity... is not suitable for enshrinement here. Let it be taken back by the Uesugi!"

Hachiman invisibly nodded to himself. This fitted His plans for an agent outside the walls of His Temple, and He dimly sensed that this blade would have an important part to play in future events. She would be the fulcrum on which much depended.

Hachiman reached out to invisibly touch the nodachi blade and whispered. "I have plans for you, My Daughter. Have faith." As the blade was wrapped back up in the dark blue silk, the dove menuki flashed white in turn, although none saw it.

The Uesugi daimyo bit his lip at the apparent rejection. He glared at his advisors as the other two delegations left the shrine. "Get that blade out of my sight."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Consecration II

Brussels, Belgium, June 13th, 1707
Spoiler: Dove's Birth

"Now push!" The midwife grasped Julie d'Aubigny's hand as the woman screamed in pain and her swollen belly rippled with the effort.

The door opened and a young man entered, doffing his hat and shaking out the rain from his cloak. "Julie, I came as quickly as I could..."

Tear-filled hazel eyes turned to him as the legendary and scandalous Frenchwoman looked at one of her lovers. Julie gasped out his name and then screamed as a fresh contraction rippled through her. "Jean-François!"

He hastened to her side. As he knelt to take her free hand, a faintly glowing white dove landed on the windowsill to survey the scene.

"I see the head, one more push Julie!"

The pregnant woman bit through her lip and grunted with the effort. Hands callused by twenty years of dueling across France and the Low Countries clenched on Jean-François' riding gloves as she choked out a scream of agony.

The thin cry of the newborn rewarded her efforts as a small infant girl slid down to the waiting mattress. A fresh gusher of blood followed and the midwife frantically hastened to try to stem the bleeding. As the infant girl was placed on her mother's breast, a ripple of energy filled the room, and motes of light formed a gold and patterned steel fencing rapier leaning against the bed.

Julie's sweat-soaked and pale face focused on her child, and then her eyes lifted to the dove witnessing the birth. "c-colombe..." she whispered as her face acquired a deathly pallor.

Jean-François' face turned ashen and he grasped her hand hard. "Don't go, your child needs you, Julie!" He whispered as the midwife shook her head at the failure to stem the flow of lifeblood from the dying woman.

Julie's eyes found his with an unspoken plea in them, and he nodded, swallowing hard. "I promise I shall, Julie."

Julie's eyes unfocused and she whispered her final words through bloody lips as her strength left her. "Merci... She has... Nori... s... eyes..."

Jean-François sobbed over her corpse. The cry of the infant roused him and he looked at the midwife, then pulled several gold francs from his purse. "Go, hire a wet nurse for the child."

As the servant closed the door behind him, the Squib nobleman closed his eyes and pinched his nose. He then looked at the faintly glowing sword and the infant. Sighing he gestured with a hand and blinked silver-glowing eyes as the sword, the infant, and a brooch on her table all glowed silver. "The only spell I mastered at Beauxbatons, and it gives me more questions than answers."

With that he heard a coo behind him and half turned to see the dove witnessing him. He stared at the bird, fingering his belt at the sight of the glowing aura around the dove. "I do not know who you are a messenger of, but I swear on my honor and my soul that I shall raise this girl as a du Chasteler."

The dove surveyed him gravely, then nodded once in acceptance. As it did so, an engraving of a dove flared to life on the cross-guard of the rapier.

Jean-François looked at the blade then back to the dove. "So that's it then. I do not know what I shall tell Marie, apart from my mistress died in childbed and left me a bastard daughter to raise when we reach my holdings tomorrow."

He sat down next to the bed with the dead woman, and gently cradled the infant. "I suppose I shall have you baptized as Colombe du Chasteler if you live the requisite week for the priests to perform the rite."

Colombe's crystal blue eyes found the dove witnessing her birth, and she reached out an infant hand toward the bird as it took flight.

------------------------------

Presently the dove landed on a cherrywood perch far indeed from Brussels. The Protector of Warriors looked up from his writing desk and lowered his ink brush as the dove cooed.

"So Norimune refused to return at the news?"

A bob of the head and another coo.

Hachiman pinched his nose. "That headstrong Blade of mine! Well you can lead a horse, or in her case a stubborn mule to water, but cannot make her drink. At least Colombe has a honorable man to raise her."

Another head bob.

"It is not much, but it is something. Norimune will not like the consequences of her choice, though. It will be decades at least before she meets her firstborn."

The dove fluttered its wings and Hachiman nodded in response.

"Still, this complicates things, since I will have to find out a way to contact Colombe once she grows up. Well done, My Messenger. Watch over Colombe for now and notify me if she is threatened by other pantheons. Gaijin-born or not, she is one of My Kami, just as her sire is, and I do not wish for her to be harmed. One day the Europeans will contact the Land of the Gods, and when that happens, I shall need subordinates with a foot in both worlds to manage affairs."

Then dove bowed its head and took flight.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

All was quiet in the Norwegian forest, just the sound of snow and the cracking of wood in the dark, late February pre-dawn hours. The Sun would not rise, for some time yet due to the time of year. In fact, the Sun would barely rise over the horizon. And so, it was almost peaceful...

Until, that is, there was a fireball between the trees that dissipated to reveal an old man in garish robes, a one armed and eyed woman in Naval dress, another somewhat young though also worn woman, and a large, red bird in the old man's shoulder.

Looking around, Victory frowned before pulling out a pocket watch and frowning at the time, "Blast it, Bumblebee. How long are we to wait? Because right now it is cold enough to freeze the Devil's own knickers."

Head tilted to the side, Dumbledore hummed a bit, "The Devil's knickers? Does he wear them?"

Scoffing, the shipgirl gave him a look, "Yes, and he looks smashing in them. Brings out the goat legs, don't you know. It is the lace, I think." Victory then narrowed her gaze, "And you did not answer the question."

Chuckling, the wizard checked his own pocket watch and nodded, "It will not be too long now, Vicky. Should be no more than five minutes and then we can get your creaky old bones somewhere warm."

Only glaring, a growl escaped from Victory, "Creaky old bones my arse, Bumblebee. Not all of us have magic to warm us after all!" Moments later, her friend waved his wand and she felt warmth cover her which made her snort, "Better."

Somewhat bemused, the until now silent shipgirl spoke up, "Is this how it usually goes for you, Victory? Headmaster Dumbledore?"

Turning to her, Dumbledore smiled and nodded, "It is, Miss Haarfagre. Us old people need to amuse ourselves somehow."

Just snorting a bit in amusement as Victory demanded to know who he was calling old, the Coastal Defence Ship, Harald Haarfagre shook her head at their antics. Ignoring them for the moment, she glanced around and tried to figure out exactly where in Norway they were. Before she could get too far into her thoughts, she heard the sound of bells and turned as a sleigh right out of a storybook pulled up. 'Hmm...' Her eyebrows twitched a bit as a man with holly green robes came out and a large, white beard that went down to his waist and was tucked into his belt. Glancing at the sleigh, she noted that yes, it was pulled by reindeer, 'Note to self, do not let Troll know about this.'

Shaking Dumbledore's hand, the old wizard was all smiles, "Albus, it is good to see you my friend. It has been far too long."

Dumbledore chuckled as he returned the greeting and nodded, "And you, Eirik! It has been far, far too long. But alas, the war. You know how it is."

With a sigh, Eirik nodded, "The war, yes. Always a terrible thing and I hoped to live out my life without seeing my homeland embroiled in another conflict the likes of which we are." Seeking to look far older, pain in his eyes, the old wizard grimaced, "The war with Grindlewald was enough for me."

Perking up some, Haarfagre now turned an interested gaze on the old man, "You fought in the war?"

Slowly, Eirik made a sound of confirmation, "I did. Was in the local resistance against Grindlewald as a matter of fact and remained here throughout the war fighting." With a nod in Dumbledore's direction, he smiled, "This old bat used Fawkes to transport us supplies. Needless to say, he's been a true friend over the years."

Rather than say anything, the Headmaster simply bowed his head some. Turning towards Haarfagre himself, he gestured at the other man, "May introduce you both to Eirik Bjornson, Minister of Magic of Norway."

Just raising his finger, Eirik chuckled, "Minister of the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Magic."

Eyebrow raised as she held out a hand, which was taken by a firm grip, the Norwegian shipgirl hummed, "Royal Norwegian Ministry of Magic?"

Briefly, a saddened look crossed Eirik's face before he nodded, "Despite the separation, we always kept to our roots. We are loyal to our country and crown before we are to the ICW." Glancing at Dumbledore, he smirked a bit, "Despite what some would rather." Ignoring the snort, the old wizard continued, "And, I hope, that this will be the first steps towards that being in more than name only."

Haarfagre gave a chuckle and nodded, "One can only hope."

With a smile of his own, the Minister gestured to the open door of the sled, "Well, we must be off. It is an hour away after all before we can reach our destination even with magic."

Interested, Haarfagre stepped inside only to blink and not from the warmth that surrounded her. The reason being that the interior of the sled was much larger than the inside with plush, leather seating and a carpeted floor. Glancing at her feet, she noted that the snow and slush vanished automatically as did any dirt. With a slight nod, she hummed as she got out of the way for the others, 'Interesting.'

Once they were all inside, the sled began to move through the trees at a high speed. With a wave of his wand, Eirik opened a cabinet and smiled, "May I get you any drinks?" After getting various responses, he poured out the chosen drinks and sat back with a sigh, "I must thank you all for coming. And I... recognize that the cloak and dagger portion of this may be much, but there would be those watching that I would rather not alert to what is going on."

Frowning, Haarfagre narrowed her eye some, "In your own government?"

Simply waving a hand though, the Norwegian Minister of Magic sighed, "There might be a few. But my main worry is any ambassadors or members of the ICW that could be around. Some of them report back on things of interest, which this would be." Lips curling, he chuckled, "Well, except as far as they know, I am using my influence for an early morning sleighride through the countryside. Normal, for someone higher up to take a break as such."

The Norwegian shipgirl only nodded, "I see..." Shaking it off, Haarfagre sipped her drink and felt the burning sensation of the alcohol go down her throat, "It is a good thing then that this is such. Though I will admit that I am not quite sure what I am doing here."

Blinking, Eirik stared at her before fixing an amused Dumbledore with a look, "You have not told her?"

Albus put a surprised look on his face before shaking his head sadly, "I am afraid not, my friend. Must be my age, I think, it makes one forget things."

Pinching his nose, Eirik turned back to Haarfagre and was silent for a few moments to gather his thoughts. Finally, he began to speak, "As I am sure that you understand, the magical world was just as affected in some ways by the various wars as the non-magical world. Like the NoMajs, we saw the coming storm in the 1930s as Grindlewald began his rise. I remember it well, especially in regards to students from Drumstrang, though I never went there." At the look, he shrugged, "I am what the English call a 'Muggleborn', thus I was not allowed to go to Drumstrang. Instead, I had to make due with one of the smaller schools here in Norway."

Her eyes narrowing, Haarfagre frowned, 'An issue that should be rectified...'

Not having noticed her reaction, the Minister continued, "Like our NoMaj counterparts, we began preparations. Our population though is smaller than the other nations outside of Scandinavia, thus we had to leverage what we had. We were not alone in this as both the Ministries in Denmark and Sweden also prepared. One thing that we did was pool our resources and build a small navy."

Sucking in a breath, Haarfagre realized what he meant, "But they did not return when the King called upon them."

Only shaking his head, Eirik frowned, "No, they did not." Looking the shipgirl in the eye, he let out a breath, "Because they had already returned at the start of Blood Week, though mostly in the more northern areas of Norway. We did not have much, mind you. Very few as a matter of fact. They've fought like wolves to keep the Abyssals busy up here. In that, they were helped by our other military forces." At the blink from her, he gave a very thin smile, "We were... prepared, during the Cold War just in case with enchanted aircraft from the Second World War that we scavenged. I was Minister during the late eighties and nineties when the Soviet Union fell and bought some Jets with some gold just in case. We used them as well, though we've started to run out of ammunition for them." Spreading his hands, the Minister sighed, "Most of those in the Magical Military are magical beings who volunteered."

Just leaning forward, Haarfagre considered this, "I see." A group of folders was handed to her and she began to look through them, "Are these them?"

Humming, the Minister nodded, "They are, all of them answered the call of the lone Natural Born, as I believe that they are called, who asked for help." With one finger, he tapped one folder, "In this life, she is known as Karina Rebekkadottir... in her previous one, she was the Coastal Defense Ship, KNM Valkyrien, of the Viking Class that was built between us, Sweden, and Denmark. One deserving of the name."

With a glance at him, Haarfagre opened the folder and her eyes grew wide. There was a picture of a ship twice her size and a number of guns. Reading through it, she flipped the page and paled as she saw the same ship, likely just before her sinking. Being it was a magical photograph, grainy as it was, the picture moved like a modern gif on a computer. From bow to stern, the ship was covered in hellish flame that took the form of various beasts as it tried to kill her. But even as armour melted like wax, the guns kept firing. Leaning in, Haarfagre could see movement but not much else. Feeling more than slightly sickened, she quickly flipped the picture and took a deep breath before looking at Eirik, "What happened to her?"

For several moments, no one spoke. But it was Dumbledore who answered her, "When the King and his family as well as the non-magical government fled to England, the Valkyrien and her escorts shadowed them to make sure that they would make it. However, somehow, Grindlewald found out and sent forces to capture, or sink, the ships involved. Among his forces were no less than four controlled Lindorn. But the Valkyrien and her escorts managed to stop the Lindorn and sink most of the ships with the escorts sinking in the process. Damaged, the Valkyrien continued to fight in order to distract them... enraged, the wizard in command of Grindlewald's forces there ordered her sunk. They used Fiend Fyre upon her, but despite that, she kept fighting until the bitter end when the flames finally burned through her turrets into the powder room."

Voice soft, Eirik spoke with a near whisper, "There should be a note from a journal recovered from one of those involved in her sinking."

Quickly looking through it, Haarfagre found the bit and read it aloud, "Even with her alight from bow to stern with hellish Fiend Fyre, even with her turrets melting, still she kept firing everything she had at us. Some of those onboard coming out to fire rifles and spells at us, even as they were turned to ash seconds later by the magical flames. Magnificent is the word I could call them, misplaced as their loyalty was against their fellow superior beings. Truly, she lived up to her namesake, the Valkyrie..." No one said anything for almost a minute before Haarfagre closed her eye with a solemn nod, "Yes, she was."

The rest of the ride was spent with the Minister answering various questions for the shipgirl, with Dumbledore adding what little he knew. Finally though, the sled came to a stop and they exited it. One of the first things that the Coastal Defense Vessel did was widen her eyes a bit at the large man who stood nearly fifteen feet tall. Not helping was how he had what had to be a field artillery piece on his back and had thick, steel plates as armour. Spotting them, the man saluted, which they returned, "Minister, Miss Haafagre, welcome to Hulderheim."

Eyes widening slightly, the Norwegian shipgirl stared as she spotted a number of beautiful women watching them. One thing that caught her eye though was that many of them had cow tails with the odd one with a fox tail. Then she gave them a nod before turning towards Eirik, "I hope that you do not keep them here because of what they are."

However, he shook his head, "No, we do not. The Hulder and others live in villages like this in the wilderness because it is easier. They also make charcoal which they sell through various companies to other magical nations, though that has become slightly harder." Pointing at a nearby mountain, the Minister continued, "We actually do help them with their various businesses, such as bergså that mine and the like."

Only humming, but not commenting further, Haafagre gave a small nod to the giant man who she suspected was a frost giant, and followed the Minister with Albus and Victory behind her. They came to a small building near the docks where a young man stood nervously. Seeing them, he saluted, "G-good day, Minister, Miss Haafagre. It is an honour."

Chuckling, Eirik shook his head and waved a hand, "Karl, please, do not be so nervous." Turning to the Norwegian shipgirl, there was a twinkle of amusement, "Karl here is my grandson and helps out with the shipgirls. He is the closest thing we have to a commander. Read all sorts of books on naval warfare so that he could help out."

Heavily blushing, the young man shook his head, "I... I just wanted to do my part and help out."

Lightly laughing, Haafagre clapped him on the shoulder, "Then that is all that one could ask! And it is good that you have done so." For a moment, she seemed to examine him before nodding, "Now where are the others?"

Glancing at his grandfather, the young man took a deep breath, "They are inside, though... Karina might be an issue." Sighing, he shook his head, "She believes that, perhaps, she would not be accepted by the others or by the King because of what she is."

In reply to that, Haafagre narrowed her eyes, "Then she is wrong in every way. Now, have her brought out-"

A squawk made her look up as a young woman in a dress similar to that worn by rural woman was pushed out the door. Behind her, there were various snickers and she turned to them, only for the door to close, "Let me in!"

From inside, various young voices shouted back, "No! Because you are being silly about this, Big Sister! They will like you!"

While the shipgirl, who Haafagre recognized as Valkryien from the ghostly hull, banged on the door, she realized one fact. One which suddenly caused everything to make sense...

Mainly, a cow's tail that was poking out from her skirt.

Just looking at the Minister, he nodded and confirmed it, "She is Hulder, and thinks that because of that she would not be accepted." Grimacing, he shook his head, "I suspect it was due to how she had certain neighbours before moving here lived in a village. Some... do not trust, Hulder due to their reputation."

Scoffing, the Coastal Defence Vessel shook her head and walked up to where Valkrien was still banging on the door before clearing her throat, "Valkryien?"

Very slowly, the Hulder shipgirl turned, "Y-yes?"

Lips curling, Haafagre's arms shot out and pulled her into a hug, "Thank you, for what you have done and have continued to do. You have done well for King and Country." With a chuckle, she continued, "And trust me when I say the King would have no trouble with what you are and would not care."

Bringing her own arms up, Valkryien hugged her silently.

Moments later, she froze as Haafagre spoke, "Which means, of course, we will be presenting you to him at the earliest convivence!"

After all, Troll was not just the only such shipgirl in Norway...

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

Flash Back: My Car
The good thing was that Jeffrey was reasonably sure he could kill the girl his sister was hanging around—one of the Japanese kids—fairly quickly when worst came to worst. The bad thing was that he wasn't so certain of anyone else—especially the Scottish girl, who was disguising at least dirty looks behind a cocky grin. True, he was frequently on the back foot, trying to guess what to do against a stronger opponent, but the rule generally went that Sam stayed home, out of danger. This time around, she could so easily become a hostage.

"… No, to be honest I don't think I've read that one either," the girl talking with Sam said awkwardly.

"Aw, come on!" the younger girl whined. "You're from Japan, so why don't you read manga?"

The sword girl leaned over the back of the car seat, smiling serenely. "That," she said knowledgeably, "is because American young adult novels." Sam wrinkled her nose in disgust. And there it was—getting too attached to people who could just as easily become enemies at the drop of a hat whether they wanted to or not. When things went wrong, she would—

"She's okay with them," the bucket girl in the back seat said, leaning forward herself. "Don't worry—Reiko's pure, and Tonbo gets cranky about hurting innocents." Jeffrey wasn't sure whether or not he could believe her—no matter how jokingly, she had still been threatening his sister, and he'd seen jokes turn deadly before—but the Japanese boy turned in the front seat and gave him a curt nod. For some reason, the girls all seemed to defer to him—except the Scot, of course. If he seemed certain Sam would be safe, she probably would be.

Sam had complained in the past about him assuming the worst of new people, so he was learning to extend tentative trust. Little by little, but still.

"… trust me, kid," the sword girl (probably Tonbo, judging by everyone's actions back in the field) said, folding her arms, "if you'd read Vampire Knight, you'd be wanting to read Twilight for something less painful."

"I like Vampire Knight," the other girl, Reiko, muttered under her breath. Tonbo reached forward and patted her on the head.

"And we love you anyway, you damn heathen," she said congenially. Reiko swatted at her, and she retreated with a snicker.

"YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!"

The car swerved, the Scottish girl cackling in response to the Japanese boy's outburst.

"What happened?" the girl behind Jeffrey chirped up again. "Traffic jam? Statute fell? Marriage interview?"

"Sorry, Mommy, but Daddy's not in the mood," the boy grumbled, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Everyone stay ready, we're gonna have a fight on our hands sooner or later."

"No, seriously, what happened? I missed it."

Jeffrey leaned back in his seat. "Our driver made some comment about how she was certain nothing would attack us at the 'Secret Safe House.' Your friend doesn't seem too impressed."

"You can't be serious," the girl repeated dully, glancing over at Sam. "She couldn't possibly—" she groaned, audibly slapping her forehead. "Actually, it's pretty sad, but I can see her doing that. Just from today alone. Reiko!" The girl in question balked slightly. "You've got kid duty until whatever stupid happens gets stupider. Understand?"

"Uh, yeah?"

"Great!"

Jeffrey wasn't certain what she was talking about until they arrived at a small suburban apartment building and the Scottish girl unlocked the door, and gestured them in.

"Oh hey!" The dark-skinned woman on the couch stood up, turning to face the people in the doorway. "I didn't think you would actually come here… saves me the time searching for clues, though." She raised a half-empty bottle of Coca-Cola. "I don't suppose you have some actual booze stocked around here somewhere?"

The Scot grinned almost viciously, and Jeffrey realized with a sinking feeling that this was almost exactly what she had been hoping for.
-----

It's weird how clinical writing this one was--just reel off some things that I wanted to happen, spend a little bit of time in Jeffrey DuBois's head, move on to the next snippet. Which, if writing goes the way I'm hoping/planning, will probably be a few shades sillier than my more recent stuff in this story line. I've got the rest of the arc planned for how I want it to run--writing it in the time I have should go easier (and a little quicker) now.

Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Consecration III

13 June 1902

"You are well off your game. I actually got a touch in on you." The speaker carefully cleaned off his fencing rapier and then placed it in the rack for its use, which curiously enough, existed in the traditional dojo that they had been sparring in for the last two hours, since well before dawn.

His companion nodded as she turned away from him to look at the rising sun outside. The woman, dressed in the tight breeches, shirt, and boots of a 17th century fencer, racked her own rapier and trembled slightly as she finished. "I know, it is just..."

He walked to embrace her gently. "That she will be facing one of her greatest tests as the sun rises over Africa. Have faith, Julie. Our little dove is ready to spread her wings."

Julie d'Aubigny turned in his embrace, pulling at the French braid she had her hair in to let it cascade down her back like a waterfall of molten gold. Hazel eyes shimmered as she rested her head against Jean-François du Chasteler's chest. "I wish that I had your faith, Jean. Thank you and yours again for being there for her when I could not. Her own mother..."

He silenced her with a kiss to her forehead. "And I could not be there for her after my death in turn. Never there to tell her how proud I am of the woman that she has become. She might not be my child in blood, but in every other way that matters..."

"You gave her what she so desperately needed. A family that loved her. The example of how to live her life with honor. The foundation that she has built herself upon. Jean... Colombe is Nori's child with me, but if things had been different...." Julie trailed off hesitantly.

He placed a finger on her lips to silence her. "I know. But it is better this way. I loved all the children of my loins greatly, but like the father of the Prodigal Son, I loved the one of my choosing most of all, perhaps. And your love for Norimune was greater than your love for me." His tone was sadly proud and carried the weight of many, many discussions upon this topic.

She nodded in acceptance as the rice-paper screens opened and an attendant beckoned. "And it still is. What has happened to Nori..."

He sighed as they began to walk down the corridor of the Japanese castle that they were in. "Has been harsh, yes. Just as what is happening to Colombe is equally harsh. My own grandchild!"

His fist clenched as he continued. "But she redeemed our family honor in the end even though it nearly broke her in the doing. I am not sure that I could have done what was right as she did then. She gets that unwillingness to compromise her ideals, unwillingness to give up the fight from you and Norimune. And the saying is true. The hottest furnace..."

Julie finished the saying with a sadly proud smile on her face as she thought about her love and her daughter. "...is needed to refine the finest steel."

"True. Muramasa steel."

Presently they came to an audience chamber where Hachiman stood by a floor to ceiling mirror. Julie curtsied, and Jean bowed, receiving an acknowledging nod of the Protector of Warriors' head in response, along with a gesture to make themselves comfortable.
Spoiler: Cruicible Of a Chosen

As they seated themselves, the mirror hazed and then cleared, showing a bird's eye view of a place of power deep inside the Congo. Julie clutched Jean's hand as she watched the familiar sight of her weary and travel-stained daughter step between two of the cyclopean stone monoliths to confront the would-be Dark Lord waiting for her.

The Dark Lord whose unwilling slave had furthered the corruption of Colombe's great-nephew and nearly destroyed the du Chasteler family in the doing.

The Dark Lord whose aura, unseen to the rapier who had just drawn herself to challenge him, was marked with the sign of a Chosen of Nkongolo, the deity of evil in this region of the Congo.

-----------------------------

Hours later, Julie had not moved from where she was seated. Her hand clenched an equally intent Jean hard enough to cut off his nonexistent circulation as their daughter fought for her life.

Colombe was fighting spectacularly, brilliantly, clashing with the axe spirit Kasuyu in a whirlwind of steel as she magically dueled the Chosen of Nkongolo with spell after spell.

Julie's hand clenched tighter as her tiring daughter's parry was a half-second too late and the axe carved a bloody chunk of meat from the outside of her right thigh. Colombe kicked off with her good left leg, 'crossing the box' in a risky maneuver as she blurred past Kasuyu, her free hand hammering his kidney with a vicious punch. As the axe staggered, Colombe's lips moved in an incantation as the bulk of her enemy's avatar broke the line of sight of the Chosen for a critical second.

A scarlet aura flamed around her rapier as she grasped it in two hands and swung her true self with all her force at Kasuyu. The axe staggered as Muramasa steel, reinforced with a custom cutting charm patterned off the masterwork which was forged into her aunt Juuchi Yosamu by Muramasa himself slammed into the enchanted sky-iron of his true self.

Snarling with effort, Colombe pushed him back off balance as his blade notched and blood began to pour from a slash that opened across his chest and then snapped out another enchantment. Lightning crackled around her right foot and she screamed in pain as she kicked him with all her strength.

A flash filled the mirror, and when it lifted, the axe was twenty yards away from the now unconscious avatar. Colombe's lips curled in a smug smirk as she turned...

"Look out!" Julie screamed as the Chosen threw a venomous green bolt of Dark Magic at her unsuspecting daughter.

Colombe, as if hearing her mother's voice, turned just in time. Time seemed to slow as her eyes widened and she batted the killing bolt away from her face with her open left hand. Instantly the hand withered to uselessness and the viridian energies began to eat their way up her arm, leaving scarred and mutilated dead flesh and bone in their wake.
Spoiler: Swearing Of A Chosen

Julie's tears began to fall as her daughter collapsed to the blood-stained dirt of the arena of combat, whimpering in excruciating agony.

Suddenly a young woman's voice sounded in the the observers' ears as Colombe's lips moved. "Someone... anyone... it can't end like this. I need to win, I need to restore our honor... I need to find my father.... "

Hachiman leaned forward, his eyes intent on the gravely wounded rapier as the energies reached her elbow. "Colombe d'Aubigny-Muramasa du Chasteler, I can help you if you willingly swear yourself to Me. Do you swear to fight Evil wherever you find it in this world?"

"I... I do." The dove engraving on Colombe's true body flickered to life with a pure white light as her avatar whispered the words.

"Do you swear to act with honor in your conduct in word and deed, being an example of how a Warrior should act?"

"Oui.. I do..." The light built and began to pulse in time with her heartbeat as the Chosen reached the axe and knelt to pick it up.

"Do you swear to protect the innocent and those needing your help as you encounter them in your travels?"

(3:40 on the piece when the synthesizer kicks in)

The green light of the Killing Curse approached her shoulder as Colombe's hand clenched on the hilt of her now rainbow-glowing rapier. "I... swear...."

"Then Arise, My Blade, and smite your foe down on this day, as you shall smite those who threaten those innocents who need the aid of the Protector of Warriors!"

With that Colombe threw her true self toward the Chosen with the last of her strength.

His eyes widened at the sight of the rainbow-glowing spear of light coming toward him, tipped by Muramasa steel. A gesture formed a shield of black energies that the rapier ripped through like it was paper to impale his heart.

As the corpse of the Chosen crumpled, the energies eating Colombe's avatar flickered out, and the damage from the curse faded in a white glow as she relaxed in the embrace of healing sleep.

Unconsciously Colombe's lips moved in her slumber. "Mama... Papa... Did I do good?" The voice was that of a little girl asking her parents for reassurance.

Julie's tears flowed as she whispered back to her child. "Non, Colombe, you did not do merely good, but great."

Beside her, Jean-François du Chasteler nodded in turn as he wiped tears from his eyes. "I just wish that we could tell you how proud we are of you."

Hachiman looked at them with compassion in His eyes as the scene in the scrying mirror faded. "One day you shall. One day you shall."

 

[darthcourt10]

RCNAnon

Ron, Duke and Warspite 13

There was a moment of pause as the surprise and sudden movement ceased and both sides of the confrontation looked each other over.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" Duke's voice rang out, loud and demanding.

"I am Victoria Passel and I greatly apologize for startling the Young Sir and My Ladies. I mean no harm at all and beg leave to explain myself." The voice was immensely contrite and sounded completely sincere.

Ron couldn't see what was going but there was another moment of pause and he could imagine looks were being passed back and forth between various people. He couldn't see anything at the moment, though if he opened his eyes he'd be treated to a rather nice view of white on white. Which was exactly why he kept his eyes closed.

"Summer, please let Ron go I don't think there's any danger." Warspite said.

Ron felt the arms holding him closely let go and he pulled away, only opening his eyes once he was sure he was relatively safe. When he did open them he saw Summer standing over him, still hunched somewhat as she looked down towards him.

"I'm ok Summer. Thank you." He gave her a smile.

Summer's face flushed in the mild red that it could do and she nodded.

Ron then finally turned around to see what was happening. Warspite and Duke still had their rigs out but they were not as on edge as they had been. Instead they were looking at the maid, who was bent over at the waist with her skirts held up slightly and her head down. He could see that her clothing was well made if seemingly made plain on purpose, the dress being a flat black color covered with a bright white apron. A head of medium length dirty blond hair fell down over her neck and face.

Ron looked to Warspite as she turned to look at him. She seemed to be asking what he thought about all of this and he gave a shrug.

"I think it would be best if you stood up and explained yourself Miss Passel." Duke's voice wasn't nearly as harsh as it had been, though there was still a small edge to it. She gave a small glance back towards Ron and he gave her a short smile before she turned back around.

The blonde maid in front of them stood up, her head lifting and seemingly seeking him out for a moment. Ron's eyes met hers for a moment and there seemed to be something she was looking for that she found and a brief look of pleasure crossed her face before she went back to being contrite.

Now that she was fully upright it was easy to see that Victoria, whoever she was, seemed to be a bit older. She wasn't elderly, in fact if Ron had to compare her face to anyone he would have compared it to Dreadnought's. A well aged forty something that had been quite pretty in the past, developed into beautiful as she aged and still retained a beauty that would continue well into old age. If such a thing were to happen, as Ron suddenly got an inkling of what might be going on when his mind processed what looking like Dreadnought probably meant. In other matters she looked much less like anyone there, with a middling height that was more than his or his mothers and less than Duke or Warspite's battleship given size. She was also relatively slender but not excessively so, with only a moderate bosom and flair to her hips.

"Yes." The blonde bowed her head as she started speaking. "As I said my name is Victoria Passel. I am… the awoken spirit of the house and its grounds."

She notably paused there, looking up to see the groups reaction.

"I see this does not shock you very much." She seemed almost disappointed at that.

"I'm HMS Warspite." Warspite grinned as she dismissed her rig. "Pennant 03."

"I'm HMS Duke of York, Pennant 17." Duke similarly dismissed her rig, though Ron could see she was still on guard.

"HMS Dreadnought." Dreadnought kept her introduction short, though courteous.

"My friend had a tea set from his mum that woke up like you." Ron said with a grin. "She's married a battleship."

"One of my other sons has an Ancient Egyptian Sunship following him around that thinks he's a reincarnated Pharaoh." Molly seemed like this was just another day in her life.

Summer didn't say anything, though the mere fact that she was nine feet tall, fully white in skin tone instead of merely pale and had glowing blue eyes said enough on its own.

"I see my owners are as well traveled and experienced as one could expect." Victoria seemed to smile slightly and then bowed once more. "I thank you for your acceptance."

"You said you're the spirit of the house." Asked Duke. "So why are you dressed as a maid?"

"A maid and a home are the same no? The master takes care of them and in turn gets taken care of. It is the way things go." Victoria seemed to think that was quite obvious. "Young Master Weasley and his mother have already demonstrated their willingness to clean me and you have all been discussing renovations to the buildings and grounds." She tilted her head slightly. "For that you have my thanks. As well as my service if you would have it. My last master was… erratic and would not have accepted my offer so I did not extend it."

Ron, Duke and Warspite looked between each other and nodded.

"I don't see why not." Ron said. "Is there uh… anything you would like or need? I'm not sure what a House Spirit like you might desire as payment."

"No Young Master." Victoria seemed quite sincere. "All I would ask is that you not leave me empty as I have been for so long. It gets… quite lonely." She paused and then smiled. "Though you have already discussed having guests over for rest and relaxation. I would be quite thrilled to serve any and all who came."

"I think we can manage that." Warspite said. "A small stipend as well I think."

"Yes. It would not feel right if you were not compensated in some way." Duke nodded in agreement.

"You are very kind." Victoria bowed again.

For a moment there was a pause and then Ron cleared his throat.

"While we're here, is there anything we should be aware of for the renovations?"

Victoria seemed to light up at that and nodded. "I could very easily provide you with a list if you like."

"I think that would be good." Ron said.

"If you don't mind me asking," Molly cut in, "What exactly can you do as a… House Spirit?"

"In short the house and the grounds are an extension of myself." Victoria said. "Though I am generally "aware" of things, unless I listen or try to see on purpose I will not notice details. Privacy is important after all." She paused and then bowed down again. "I apologize for my earlier peeping, I wanted to know what sort of masters I would have."

"I think we can all forgive that given the circumstances." Warspite said.

Ron nodded. "Yeah, I don't think anyone is worried about that."

Victoria nodded and inclined her head again. "Thank you."

"We'd planned on hiring a few more staff, will that be necessary for you?" Victoria turned to look at Duke as she spoke.

"I suppose in the strictest sense it is not necessary but it would be a relief for me to not have to do everything myself." Victoria seemed willing enough to do that if asked but her reservations were clear.

"I think we should still get a few more people to help out." Ron said, drawing a small curve of the lip from Victoria.

"With how many people might visit? I agree." Warspite said, with Duke nodding along in agreement.

"I look forward to it." Victoria seemed quite happy with what was going on.

"Well..." Ron looked back and forth as silence once more descended. "I think we were mostly done with our check of the grounds. I think we should be back soon to help start with the renovations so if you could get that list..."

Ron froze as Victoria pulled a not, inconsiderable sized folio from… somewhere and offered it to him.

"A list of everything you may want to look at for renovation Young Master." Victoria again bowed slightly as he took it. "From the most pressing to quite minor."

"Thanks." Ron was a bit shocked at the promptness but then again a spirit probably had nothing better to do than catalog everything that might be needed to fix itself.

"Is there anything else I can assist with?" Victoria asked.

"No… I think that's it for now." Ron forced himself to focus and then nodded.

"Then I will look forward to seeing you all again very soon." Victoria bowed once more and then suddenly disappeared as if she'd never been there. Only the folio in his hand kept Ron from questioning if he'd just hallucinated everything.

Back at the road and waiting for their ride to come back, Ron looked between Duke and Warspite, with Summer close behind him as she usually was.

"That was unexpected." He looked down at the folio again. "Really unexpected."

"I think it will all work out quite nicely." Warspite said as she let one of her hands rest on Ron's shoulder.

"Oh I think it will too." Ron said with a nod. "It just seems like life keeps getting crazier. A house spirit is something I'd expect from Harry."

"I think that you have quite enough adventure on your own Ron. Without comparing yourself to your friend."

"I suppose that's true." Ron said, finally grinning again as the truck came into view. "Hopefully not too much though."

"Hopefully." Warspite looked to Duke, sharing a knowing look. "Hopefully."
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
AN: Another post by me, hoping to move things along.

And yeah, Ron still needs to remember Murphy but Warspite and Duke are there to look out for him.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Consecration (Epilogue)

1962, Ian's Pub

Lyra Potter grinned at the sight of a trio of Kitsune maidens leaving the back room of her husband's pub. Although, judging from the perked up ears, wagging fox tails and vulpine smiles, these attendants of Inari were maidens no longer.

Her perverted grin redoubled at the sight of her beloved husband giving her a wink as he ostentatiously reached for a Pepper-up potion to 'rehydrate himself'. The bell rang and automatically he turned his head to the new arrival and froze.

Lyra glanced over curiously, raising an eyebrow at his reaction and her jaw dropped herself.
Spoiler: Julie d'Aubigny's Theme

A beautiful young-seeming female spirit walking through the door of what she privately called Ian-kun's Love Shack was rather the norm.

Said beautiful woman wearing the badge of a servant of Hachiman was also not very unusual.

The beautiful woman entering while wearing knee-high leather boots, skintight breeches, a ruffled silk shirt, leather kidskin gloves, and with a rapier at her waist was very unusual.

Especially with her being an obvious blonde European woman surveying the inside with one hand on the hilt of her sword like she owned the place and could kick the ass of everyone present. Lyra's eyes teared up in the memory of the lover who had stood alongside her and Ian for the last half-century of her mortal life.

Colombe....

The woman strutted over to Ian and spoke to him briefly. He grinned and pointed to Lyra, and the woman made her way to the table that Lyra had commandeered for a 'working lunch' to try to find inspiration for her next story.

As the woman approached, Lyra's eyes narrowed. She wasn't Colombe, not quite. Her eyes were a warm hazel instead of crystal blue, her face a little less angular, and the sword at her side was a slightly different pattern. But the strut and challenging attitude, that was pure Colombe at her most sensual and caused her hormones to dance.

The woman grabbed a chair from the table with one gloved hand, and spun it around to sit reversed on it. "Lyra Potter, oui?" Her contralto voice was a husky purr.

Lyra nodded and extended her hand. "I am she, and you are, Miss?"

The woman stripped off her glove and shook it with a hand with swordsman's calluses on it, "Julie d'Aubigny at your service. I apologize for the delay. I was tied down with the aftermath of the Pacific War when you passed over to here, and then when things had started to settle down in Japan, Lord Hachiman needed someone to establish points of contact with his counterparts in other pantheons, specifically the Norse and Celts. So I got tagged for that since they would see me as a bard or skald as well as a warrior and only now returned."

Lyra blinked twice. "THE Julie d'Aubigny? Colombe's mother? What are you doing here?"

Julie grinned, "The one and only! As for that, I suppose I qualified as the lover of one kami in Norimune-no-Muramasa and the mother of a second in Colombe." She shrugged expressively. "Reading between the lines of what Lord Hachiman has told me over the centuries, I think that I'm here as part of a deal with someone in Europe to prepare for when Norimune or my daughter finally visit here. As an afterlife goes, it is far from the worst and He believes in rewarding faithful service. I'm sure that you can relate."

Lyra nodded and then idly sipped her butterbeer. "The same as Ian asking for me, I suppose."

Julie nodded to the mentioned man as he laid a platter of Arashi cheeses and a loaf of bread and butter down in front of Julie. "Merci!"

She bowed her head briefly over the meal before continuing. "That said, I promised myself that if and when you passed over to here, I would thank you for what you did for my daughter. I am indebted to you."

Lyra idly twined a strand of her dark hair around a finger. "It was the least that I could do for that poor girl. She was quite a broken bird when I met her in 1899."

Julie sighed, "Indeed. I have been following her actions off and on as my duties and scrying allow." Julie's eyes shadowed as she continued, "The situation with Hippolyte, it nearly shattered her. If you had not met her... well, she would have gone to a very dark place indeed. Darker than she actually went during the Great War and the Congo. If there is anything I can do for you in return...."

Lyra laughed, "Not unless you have any good erotic stories to tell me. I'm trying to find inspiration for my newest book, and it is a little lacking right now." Lyra then paused and got a perverted smile, "Colombe was always good for those when I needed a new script for 'Lady Chastity Dovesworth' to have another erotic adventure."

Julie grinned and leaned over the table, "Lady Chastity Dovesworth, hmm? I shall have to track down a collection from the bookstore here to find out what kind of scrapes my little girl has gotten into over the years. As for erotic stories, oh, I have quite a few that I shall share. Want to hear about the time I broke my lover out of the convent that her family locked her up in?"

Lyra's eyes twinkled as she flipped to a fresh page in her notebook and nodded with a perverted smile from ear to ear. "This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship...."

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Puppy Love IX

A Piece of Heaven Karaoke Club, Yokosuka, Japan

Moriko giggled as she fed a piece of mebachi sashimi to the boy in her lap with her chopsticks. In turn, he picked a slice of raw fish up with his chopsticks and lifted it over his head for her to snap up.

They smiled as Verniy took the stage to provide some music for the shared 'sashimi platter for two' dinner that they were enjoying. The Russian destroyer smiled at her sisters and mother as she made her song selection and then took the microphone as an accordion played.
Spoiler: Hibiki Sings For DesDiv6 And Harry

"Rastsvietali yabloni i grushi,
Paplyli tumany nad riekoy;
Vyhodila na bierieg Katyusha,
Na viesokiy bierieg, na krutoy."

While neither spoke Russian, the emotions of love for a young man far away from the singer were evident in the white-haired destroyer's voice.

Hchiko looked at the platter. "Last one, do you want it, Moriko-chan?"

The Okami Natural-Born shipgirl nodded. "Hai. I'm a growing girl."

Hachiko laughed and picked up the last slice of tuna for her.

"Oh, look, another shipgirl is taking the stage, who is she?"

Moriko swallowed and answered. "I have seen her around, one of the submarines. Hm, which one is the blond one with the glasses?"

On the stage, the girl tapped out a song selection and began to sing in German after giving Verniy a brief smile as she passed the destroyer.
Spoiler: Hachi Sings About Harry

"Bei der Kaserne, vor dem gro(ss)en Tor
steht 'ne Laterne und steht sie nach davor
da wollen wir uns wiedersehen
bei der Laterne wollen wir stehen
wie einst Lili Marlene"

"I don't know, but she's clearly singing something meaningful to her."

Hachiko leaned back into Moriko's chest a little more as they listened to the melancholy love song.

The subgirl finished her song to applause from the crowd and headed back to her table where several of her fellow submarines hugged her as she arrived there.

"Hm, I wonder who is going to sing next?" Moriko mused idly, taking Hachiko's hands in hers.

The next person to take the microphone was the manager of the karaoke bar. "Good evening, everyone! Are you doing well?"

A collection of cheers and affirmations answered Uzume's words and the smile she gave lit up the room a little and lightened hearts. "Good! It's time for our nightly raffle drawing!"

Hachiko and Moriko dug in their pockets for their tickets as the manager's assistant wheeled out a metal drum with a hand crank. The mechanism was spun and then the manager plunged her hand into the drum. "And our winner for tonight is number 22706!"

Moriko blinked at her ticket.

22706

"Yatta! We won, Hachiko-chan!" She hugged him to her and then they untangled themselves to make their way to the stage.

In a shadowed booth Suzume grinned. "Way to go, Moriko-chan!" Beside her Shigure smiled happily as she sipped her soda and contemplated a return trip where she escorted a capital ship or two for a night out.

Moriko presented the ticket to the manager, who compared them and then announced. "We have a winner! The lucky couple gets a return visit coupon, two draws from our Pit of Plushies, and a free duet song tonight!"

More cheers as the assistants wheeled out a large container that came up to Moriko's waist and Hachiko's chest. The top was covered with a black plastic lid that concealed the plushies inside.

The Okami looked at the Inugami Hanyo and smirked. "One draw each Hachiko-chan?"

He nodded. "Hai, Moriko-chan!"

With that he stuck his arm into the container and rooted around. It seemed like a furry tail leapt into his reaching hand, and he grabbed it to pull the plushy out.
Spoiler: Hachiko's Plushy Moriko....

Moriko barked out a laugh at the stuffed plushy wolf that was revealed. Behind her, DesDiv 6 did a collective squee of joy over how kawaii the plushy was. Tenryuu just hoped no one was looking her way at this time. Suzume dissolved in a gigglefit as her phone shook while she filmed.

Hachiko grinned and held it out triumphantly. "I guess it's your turn, Moriko-chan."

Moriko nodded and stuck her arm in with broad smile. As she rooted around, she felt a plushy move into her grasp. Pulling it out, she howled her laughter with tears in her eyes.
Spoiler: ...And Moriko's Plushy Hachiko!

She had wondered after meeting Hachiko if he had been named for the legendary faithful Akita Inu of Shibuya. And now she had an Akita Inu plushy in her hand! It must be fate.

DesDiv 6 sent out a SOS for an emergency insulin delivery to their table, judging by the squeeing from their location. The submarine table was also 'taiha' critical damage status from the kawaii feels barrage.

Hachiko looked at his watch. "We have time for one song and then I'll have to pick up Aki, Moriko-chan."

She nodded and looked at the selection. "Well let's make it a good one, Hachiko-chan."

With that she punched in her choice as he adjusted the microphone stands for their duet.
Spoiler: Last Song Of The First Date

Hachiko sang the opening verse in his warm alto as he leaned against Moriko and swayed.

"And I'd give up forever to touch you
'Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't wanna go home right now"

Moriko's husky contralto growled out the next lyrics as her free hand found his and their fingers interlocked.

"And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
When sooner or later it's over
I just don't wanna miss you tonight"

Behind them, Uzume had a happy smile as She watched the red cord of Fated Love linking their pinkies strengthen and glow with an inner light for those with eyes to see.

Her contralto and his alto joined in perfect harmony as they sang together. In the booth, Suzume quietly sang along with an overjoyed smile at the scene that she was witnessing.

"And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah, you bleed just to know you're alive"

All too soon, the song approached its end and the two hands squeezed each other hard as they tried to stretch this magical moment out into eternity in truth as well as in their memories.

"And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am."

Hachiko and Moriko turned as one and stared into each other's eyes as the song began to slowly fade. The final refrain was sung in perfect unison to the only person that they could see through their tears of joy.

"I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am"

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Walking into the theatre-like auditorium, Akimi frowned as she glanced around in thought, "This the place, Miu-Chan?"

Beside her, the purple haired woman nodded, "Hai, this is the place. Normally it is a Noh theatre, but... it happens to be on neutral territory between Tokyo and Kyoto." With a hum, Miu glanced around in thought, "Anywhere in particular that you want to seat?"

Simply frowning, Akimi considered her friend's question as she glanced around. Part of her ignored the various looks she was getting from some Onmyouji now entering as well. At least one of whom she recognized as a friend of her father's. There was a part of her that wanted to be seated at the back and out of sight, but...

Another part was telling her to sit somewhere else.

Seeing another venomous look given to her by one of her father's friends, she stiffened her back and made her decision, "I think that we should sit down front, near the stage."

Just turning away from where she was glaring at one of the friends of Akimi's father, Miu nodded, "That sounds good to me, Akimi-Chan. Let's go before someone grabs those spots." Soon enough, the two were seated before the stage, "There we go, some of the best seats in the house, Akimi-Chan."

Only humming, the other female Onmyouji took a look around. To her amusement, her father's friends sat all the way at the back glaring at her, which caused her to shoot them a smile back. Movement out of the corner of her eye made her blink and turn back before she hissed at Miu, "Miu-Chan! What are you doing?!"

With a blink, Miu looked at her before going back to adjusting her clothes, "What? I'm just trying to make this top more comfortable. Gods, why did I have to inherit my Okaa-San's bust? Makes everything so much harder..."

Blushing, Akimi fought the urge to pinch her nose, "Please, don't do that in public, Miu-Chan. You know how people give you looks."

The other hanyou just gave her a raised eyebrow, "Yes? And?" Her gaze went a bit lower and smirked, "Besides which, you of all people know my pain, though not as much."

If anything, that made Akimi blush harder and pull her top tighter, "Miu-Chan!" Getting snickers, she sighed and rolled her eyes, "What is the English term? Incorrigible?"

Winking, Miu grinned some, "And don't you forget it, Akimi-Chan." As her friend sighed and shook her head, Miu became thoughtful, "So, you excited for this? Shipgirl magic is odd and I will admit that I wonder if we'll find out something about it. Or if being a shipgirl affects onmyoudo."

A frown on her face, Akimi shook her head, "I can't imagine that it would cause too much issue in regards to what magic can be cast. But it will be fascinating to hear what Junyou-San and Hiyou-San have to say about the matter in any case."

Just nodding in agreement, the other woman smiled at her, "That is a very good point. From what I've seen, they use Onmyoudo in their actions as shipgirls. Their planes seem to come from Shikigami, which is frankly fascinating to me. It is something that I have never heard about or seen before, so I am very interested in finding out more about the hows and whys of what they do in that case."

Making a sound of agreement, Akimi crossed her arms, "I won't deny being interested in that either, Miu-Chan."

Blinking, Miu rubbed her chin some, "You know, after the presentations, there is a dinner as well. Where we can all meet them and speak personally to them." At that, Akimi perked up which made her smile, "I think that we can do that."

Lightly blushing as she looked away, the Hanyou coughed, "Well, we can at least get a free meal out of it."

Chuckling, her friend shook her head. But then, Miu lowered her voice some, "I am just glad to see that you are enjoying yourself, Akimi-Chan. It is good to see, especially after so long."

With a sigh, Akimi smiled a bit back, "Well, with your help things have gotten a bit easier, so I am happy there. But... this is a break. From everything that has been going on."

Not saying a word, Miu nodded in agreement before they turned their gazes out onto the stage.

It was only fifteen minutes that Junyou and Hiyou appeared to applause. Both shipgirls smiled and bowed to the crowd, "Thank you for having us."

Eyes scanning over the gathered Onmyouji, Junyou though paused and blinked as she came to one section. To those watching, she seemed somewhat surprised for a brief moment before she covered it up, which made some wonder. Moments later, Hiyou's eyes widened and she glanced at her sister silently before shaking her head and bowing to the crowd again, "Now then, let us begin our presentation..."

To even most magicals, the presentation would have confused them. But to Onmyouji? It was fascinating as the two Light Carriers went over various aspects of Onmyouji magic and how it interacted with their current existence. Including how it worked in regards to their planes, though most there understood that they were not telling them everything.

And that was fine, as no one expected them to give up anything secret that could be used against them.

However, all that said, what they did tell of was full of information. Both shipgirls even created diagrams using magic and the like to explain. Questions were asked and answered to either agreement, interest, or disbelief. But a lot of pieces began to fall into place for those there from both sides. Alongside the questions, many of those were taking notes on what was being presented that they could reference later. There was a lot of new information regarding magical theory there and most realized that it could give them a number of breakthroughs regarding various issues.

Once the presentation as well as the questions and answers period was over with, which was a few hours later, everyone was hungry and broke for dinner nearby. Something that everyone was thankful for due to hunger. Munching some food, Akimi turned to her friend with a smile on her face, "What did you think of the presentation?"

Miu swallowed the food that she had in her mouth before answering, "Hmm... I found it actually interesting." Finger tapping her cheek, she gave a small nod, "It gives me some ideas in regards to Shikigami as a matter of fact."

Frowning thoughtfully, her friend hummed, "That is true, it opens some new avenues regarding them."

Before they could continue their talk, a throat being cleared made them turn and their eyes widened at seeing Junyou there with a smile on her face, "Good evening, I could not help but overhear what you were talking about. So you found the presentation a great help?"

Quickly, Miu and Akimi bowed and nodded before the crane blooded of the two spoke up, "Hai, Junyou-Sama. It was informative and actually very helpful."

Rubbing her chin, the shipgirl nodded with a smile, "That is good to hear and I am glad." Looking towards Akimi, she hummed, "You are... Aranami Akimi-San, are you not?"

Confused about that, Akimi frowned, "Hai? I am she."

Slowly nodding, Junyou's smile widened as she brought out a bottle of sake and took a drink from it, "That's good, from what I heard, you are a tutor, correct? Especially in the Onmyoudo arts?"

Just blinking, the nearly forty year old woman nodded, "As a matter of fact, I am, Junyou-Sama. It is something that I will admit to being some good at, or at least that is what I have been told by the parents of those children that I have been teaching." She smiled a little bit, "It is also something that I am quite proud of."

The Light Carrier chuckled a bit at that, "Good to hear, perhaps you might be up for a meeting later? I have a student of sorts who is studying Onmyoudo. Unfortunately, as a shipgirl, I am not always around. And it would do me good to know that he has a sensei who can teach when I cannot and help him in his studies."

Eyes widening, Akimi was about to answer when a voice cut in, "Ah, Junyou-Sama? That perhaps is not a wise choice." The source of the voice was one of her father's friends who glanced at her with a false smile, "You see, my friend who is her estranged Otou-San, well... She is a war crimes apologist of the worst sort in that her Ojii-San was a war criminal and she, well... she is fond of him."

Junyou cocked an eyebrow at this, "A war crimes apologist, hmm?" Taking a sip of her drink, she glanced at Akimi who was glaring at the male and about to say something. Before she could, however, the shipgirl spoke up, "Was this before or after your friend decided to drive his wife, her Okaa-San, into despair and suicide? And after she let him know when he missed her funeral? Because, I believe, he was attempting to court the daughter of his then superior when she informed him of it? Almost right after her graduation as a matter of fact... it saw him having issues, from what I heard."

Utter, complete and utter silence fell across the room as those close by and had been pretending not to be listening in now stared. Face pale, the man took a step back and swallowed even as the whispers began, "I... that is my friend-"

Head tilted to the side, Junyou hummed, "Am I wrong about that? How he apparently went out for drinks with the daughter of his boss after his wife's death? Not even a week after? This is who I am to believe?"

More whispers could be heard as various people gave glances at the group. Back straightening, Akimi took a deep breath at the feeling which welled up in her before speaking, "I have never, despite what the man calling himself my Otou-San has claimed, ever once stated that my Ojii-San was anything but utterly in the wrong for what he did. Can I honour him as being my Ojii-San, my ancestor? I can do so without making allowances for what he did and stating that he did a horrible thing as well as admitting such. Can I understand and sympathize to some extent that his reasoning was because his daughter was murdered by American Aurors with them not even being investigated due to her not being human? While also stating that he should have made better decisions? That what he did in retaliation when given the chance was horrific? I would like to think that I can do that." Chest heaving, she continued, "My Otou-San, I believe, still honours his Otou-San. Someone who, from what I remember, was imprisoned after the war for several years due to being mid level in the Kamo Government. I accept what my Ojii-San did and that it was wrong. But he is my Ojii-San and thus observances must be met, if nothing else."

Voice soft as the group of Akimi's father's friends walked off with various expressions, Junyou nodded, "Well said."

With a deep breath, the Hanyou sighed, "Maybe."

Lips twitching, Junyou took a sip of her sake, "Well, just the same..." With a motion of her hand, she held out a card, "Perhaps, in a weeks time you would not mind meeting with me privately? So that we can continue our discussion..." Humming, she nodded towards Miu, "And bring your friend along as I believe she can provide for the conversation as well.

Both somewhat stunned Onmyouji bowed and stood up as Junyou walked off. After a few moments, Miu shook her head and looked at the card which also had an address and date on it, "Did that just happen?" Getting a nod, she continued, "And are you going to go?"

Examining the card, Akimi nodded before placing it into a hidden pocket, "I think that I will, as a matter of fact." Softly smiling, she hummed, "I have the feeling that it might change some things."

Only snorting, Miu shook her head, "Well, if you are going, than I will be there with you. For support if nothing else... Let's head over to the bar, because I feel like a drink after that."

All Akimi did was nod in agreement and they walked off.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Shaking off some of the wet snow, Akimi glanced around the small café not far off from the base itself in Yokosuka. Beside her, Miu also looked around and turned to her friend, "Is this the place?"

Not saying anything, her friend pulled out the card before reading it, "Hai, this is the place." Looking around, she frowned a little, "Not exactly the sort of place that I was expecting to meet Junyou..."

Both of them jumped as said Carrier suddenly spoke up behind them, "Well, I considered a bar, but Hiyou shot that down." When they twisted around, they were met with the sight of Junyou with a smirk on her face, "Good to see that you are here."

Glancing at each other, they just nodded before Akimi bowed some, "Thank you for inviting us, though..."

Rather than say anything, Junyou raised a hand, "Let's go inside, outside in early March weather is not the place to be discussing things after all." A smile still on her face, she gestured them inside, "Come on then, there's some booths in the back where we can talk."

Once more, the two Onmyouji glanced at each other before following the Light Carrier through the café. Soon enough, they were in the back and both of them sat on the opposite side of Junyou. Rather than be insulted, the shipgirl only nodded before making a few symbols in the air using her finger. Akimi could recognize privacy charms and the like being set up, including one that would blur their lips. It would also allow for them to see and hear outside the field, while allowing people to walk over and talk with them. Nodding, she made a hum, "Impressive."

Chuckling, Junyou nodded her head, "Thank you. Most people just think that because I drink a lot, that I am not all that good." A gleam entered her eye, "Something that they are quite wrong about, I assure you."

Simply making a sound of agreement, the Kitsune Hanyou chuckled, "I can see." Expression becoming serious, she narrowed her eyes and tilted her head, "May I assume that we are here to continue our talk?"

Junyou motioned at the waitress who began to walk over, "We are, but first let's place our orders so that we don't need to worry about them. And wait for them to be delivered so that we will not be disturbed while we talk."

After cups of coffee and some pastries were placed, Akimi took a deep breath before sipping her coffee with a hum, "While I normally drink tea, this is good coffee."

Bemused, the Carrier hummed as she sipped her own, "Hai, I enjoy the coffee here. Especially after a binge of drinking." Softly, she snickered a bit, "Hiyou complains about that for some odd reason that is currently beyond my ability to remember."

Not saying anything about that, the two shook their heads in amusement. Reaching into her purse, Akimi brought out a piece of paper that she pushed over to Junyou who took it in interest. Seeing the shipgirl glance at her, she nodded at the paper, "Those are my usual rates as we were talking about my skills as a tutor, Junyou-Sama. As such, I felt that you might well wish to see them."

Opening the paper, Junyou scanned it and nodded, "This is very well done, and the cost is actually quite affordable." Gaze going along the words, she frowned, "And you added your accreditation as well, which is quite impeccable."

Lightly blushing, Akimi smiled and bowed slightly, "I thank you for the compliment, though I would need to know more about the student in question before I can tell how much I can do for him."

Just continuing to read, Junyou made a sound of agreement. Finally, she folded up the paper and glanced at Akimi. Getting a nod, she slid it into her shirt, and thus into her hull for later. Leaning back, Junyou took a donut and bit into it, "As to the student? He is someone rather famous in the magical world as I assume that you know of Potter Harry, correct?"

Eyes widening, it was Miu who spoke up, "Potter Harry? As in the Boy-Who-Lived? That one?"

Gesturing with her partially eaten donut, the shipgirl nodded in amusement, "One and the very same as a matter of fact." Taking another bite, she chewed for a few moments before continuing, "Granted, he does not like the whole 'Boy-Who-Lived' stuff, not that I can really blame him all that much considering the background."

That only got her sounds of agreement and grimaces from the other two. After a few moments, Akimi frowned, "I think that the big thing is that Potter-San has been learning Onmyoudo in the first place. Not something that I would have expected."

Just spreading her hands, Junyou smiled, "Hai, but it is as it is. Harry-Chan, as I and some others call him, has been learning under myself, Ryuujou, and Hiyou for several years now. In fact, since he was around nine." She then pursed her lips some, "Though, as you can expect, it is somewhat patchwork. As one of his sensei though, I feel it necessary considering some possible events to help him get as complete an education as possible as he is also going to Hogwarts. His birth parents wished for him to go there after all."

Both of the other women nodded, though Miu gave voice to their thoughts, "And a parent's wishes in this case are especially important." Suddenly realizing something, she frowned and glanced at her friend, "I... do wish to know why I am here though? When it comes to Akimi-Chan, she is the one who would be teaching and such. Yet, you asked for me as well."

For several moments, Junyou was silent and just considered them. Taking a sip, she nodded slightly, "You are right that there is more to this than just choosing tutors. What is more than that though involves both of you."

Eyebrow raising in askance, Akimi frowned, "And that would be?"

Setting her coffee down, the Light Carrier seemed to examine her for several moments. However, before they could ask, she began to speak, "It is a very good reason as a matter of fact. I assume that you know quite a bit about shipgirls? In particular Natural Borns?"

It took only moments to connect the dots and Miu sucked in a breath, "You believe that we're Natural Borns..."

Only shaking her head, Junyou frowned, "No, I do not believe that you are Natural Borns. Rather, I know that the two of you are Natural Borns." Seeing them about to say something, she held up a hand, "Have you ever wondered how we can tell who is an unawoken shipgirl and who is not?"

Blinking, Akimi took a drink of her coffee and nodded, "I will admit that I did wonder about that. And thinking upon it, it is rather odd that you can find a shipgirl who is a human. It is also something that you did not mention at the presentation."

A frown on her face, Junyou nodded, "No, we did not and with a very good reason. In particular, what some there might think." With a slow nod, she took another drink of coffee, "Us shipgirls are spiritual beings at our most basic. While we are physical and can interact with the physical world, that does not mean that we cannot interact with the spiritual. Our sight, for instance, sees beyond the physical and into the spiritual at all times. That means, of course, we can see things not visible to those on the physical without a lot of work, except in our case it is that way all the time."

Suddenly, Akimi winced as she realized what she was hinting at, "You could easily see through Yokai disguises. Because they are magical or spiritual in nature." When she got a nod, she shook her head, "No, it is best that information does not get spread around. There are those who would try and use such a thing for their own purposes."

Grimacing, the shipgirl shook her head, "They would try and fail. But that leads to how we can tell if someone is a Natural Born." Using her hand, she gestured at the two, "One of the things that we can see is a... representation, if you will, of the shipgirl's original hull. It is not much mind you, even to our senses. It is more like a ghostly form overlaying them. It is that which we can see, and even identify them to an extent. We can also see the same for other shipgirls as well, awoken or summoned."

With a deep breath, Akimi swallowed, "I see... and you can see such around us?" Getting a nod, she continued, "Can you tell which sort of ships?"

Yet again, Junyou nodded, "Hai, I can tell which ships they are. In your case, Konohana-San, I can see a Carrier." A small chuckle escaped from her, "In fact, I can identify it as it looks like a slightly bigger version of Honshou-San's own hull. Not a whole lot bigger, but still noticeable."

Already knowing which ship that was, if only because being friends with Akimi meant knowing some about old magical warships, the crane Hanyou only frowned, "I see, that is... interesting."

To their confusion, Junyou seemed to be struggling with something. Finally, she sighed and turned to Akimi, "In your case... I can see the hull of a Battleship, a very small one."

For several moments, no one moved or said anything. Swallowing, and speaking in a small voice, Akimi looked at Junyou, "A... small Battleship, you say? Is it..." When the shipgirl nodded, she seemed to slump a bit, "Ah... I see..." No one spoke for several minutes as they digested that. Eventually, Akimi gave a sigh and shook her head, "Oddly, I feel like I should have expected this. The call of the sea, how I found myself more than once at the shore. It all makes some sense."

Hands folded in front of her Junyou gave her a sympathetic look, "If you have any issues, know that myself and the other shipgirls would answer. As well..." She slid a paper across to them, "At the moment, we are not worried about numbers. Especially in regards to shipgirls from the magical side of things as there has been some worries about the reactions. Thus, we have considered it best not to openly advertise such matters. If either of you wish to be awoken, it would not be openly publicized, I am afraid. But you would receive the pay any other shipgirl would receive. More than that, we would also allow for you to sortie from certain places, if only for practice and to gain experience."

Taking the paper, Akimi nodded, "Thank you... may... may we think this over for a time?"

Just smiling, the Light Carrier chuckled, "Like I said, we are not worried about that, so take your time. In fact, I have been told to inform you to take as much time as you may need for as long as you need. It is, ultimately, both of your decisions as to if you are awoken as a shipgirl."

With a glance to her friend, Miu nodded, "Thank you."

Soon, the conversation turned back to tutoring and the like for the next hour, though Akimi was distracted throughout it.

Finally though, they left the café and headed back to Akimi's home. Entering it, Miu turned to her silent, thoughtful friend, "Akimi-Chan? What do you think of this?"

Chewing her lip, the other woman shook her head, "I don't know, Miu-Chan. But it is something that I am going to need to think hard and long about before I come to a decision."

Gently, Miu placed her hand on her friend's shoulder and nodded, "Take as much time as you need. Just remember though, I am here and I have your back."

Softly smiling, Akimi nodded back while patting said hand, "Hai, I do know. And I appreciate it..."

 

[darthcourt10]

Savato93

Carrie and Sherri had to admit—their new island home was quite pretty. Their old home, for all that they loved it, was a bit drab. Here, the shores were uncluttered, free of piers or boats... the waters were populated by majestic (but derpy) sea cows… tall, full trees dotting the landscape… and the forest that crept all the way up the heels of the dormant volcano.

The one downside had to be the lack of internet access.

Sherri paused and reached for her thigh, thinking she'd just felt her phone vibrate—before remembering that her phone was with Mom, left behind along with the rest of hers and Carrie's electronic devices. Everything here, from the iceboxes and cooking ranges, to even the plumbing, all worked on magic. That was all well and good… really, it was awesome... but there wasn't a wall socket to be found on the whole island, which made their devices almost useless. Not that they minded too much; they were connecting to all their other sisters, out here.

Shaking her head, the Ri-class turned her attention back to the task at hand. She watched as a handful of Abyssals used parts of their rigging as makeshift chisels, methodically carving into a trailer-sized boulder, breaking it down into blocks that were much easier to handle (although still pretty big). According to Ruadri, these blocks would be used to build a wall… or more accurately, a walled-in area, that they could then develop into a pen for the pigs they were capturing. It wasn't intended to be a long-term solution—eventually, she said, the blocks would be phased out in favor of proper chain-link fencing—but for now, as long as the pigs were still feral to some degree, a solid barrier was vital to prevent them from escaping.

Sherri was more than happy to help out her sisters in further developing their home off the grid… but she had to admit, it was kinda straining her arms, carrying the huge rocks around. She wondered if her twin was faring any better, out helping clear a path to the newly-uncovered hot spring...

XXXXX

Carrie's gaze slowly shifted between the splintered hunk of wood in her hand, and the shattered remains of the ax head embedded several inches deep into the tree in front of her.

Perhaps she should have gauged her strength before she began?

XXXXX

...oh well, she'd probably hear about it later.

Bending down, Sherri worked her hands underneath the block at her feet and hefted it up. With the stone in hand, she turned and ambled over to the nearby… sea-turtle-centaur, Marble. "Do you know how much more you can carry in there?" She asked.

The Oku-class bent over and took the block from Sherri, before twisting and stowing it away in her hold. "Um… they don't take up too much space… but they are heavy," Marble muttered to herself, counting her inventory. After a few seconds, she turned back to face the Ri-class. "I think... I can take another dozen, before it gets too heavy for me to move."

As Sherri stood back, flapping her hands to relieve the burning of her muscles, one of the others suddenly spoke up. "Hey, has anyone seen Rizzo around?"

Around her, several of her elder sisters started looking around. "I think she slept in again…" someone eventually said.

There was a sigh. "Could someone go get her, please? She signed on to help us carve blocks, and she's got to hold to her commitment!"

Well, this seemed like a good opportunity to take a break from the heavy lifting. Sherri raised her hand. "I'll go. Which cabin?"

"Should be the second row from the left, third in line… and thanks, Sherri." The Ri-class smiled and nodded, before turning and beginning to make for the cabins. Unlike in Unalaska, where she and Carrie were mistaken for one another on several occasions, now thanks to IFFs it was all but impossible for there to be a mix-up between the two. It was a small detail, but one she and her twin nonetheless enjoyed.

At a relaxed jog, it only took Sherri around ten minutes to head past the farmland, cross the old town square and reach the residential area on the other side. Stepping up to one of the three cabins reserved for the fleet's Ri-classes, sure enough, she felt her older sister's IFF within. But when she made her way up to the second floor, she didn't see anyone in any of the beds. Nobody was downstairs either. So where…?

Wait a minute. The sheets on that one cot looked a lot bumpier than the others. Sherri stopped beside the cot and prodded it with a finger… and jerked back when she realized whatever laid underneath was soft and squishy. "Mmn… give me back my top…" the lumpy mass mumbled. With an explosive sigh, Sherri grabbed the mattress and heaved, sending the bundled-up Abyssal on top of it tumbling off.

"Ack!" The bundle of sheets squirmed on the floor, until a heart-shaped face with short-cropped hair poked out. "Hey, what gives…?" Rizzo groaned. "I was in literally the best position~"

Sherri pulled the bedsheets off her older sibling, and arched an eyebrow at the tangled mess of limbs underneath. She had to applaud the cruiser's flexibility—not just anyone could get a leg behind their head, let alone in their sleep. "Really? You look like a freaking pretzel."

"What, have you never found an awkward pose to lie in that felt amazing?"

"...fair point." She bent over and helped her fellow Ri-class to her feet. "Sorry to throw you out of bed, big sis, but you slept in! Everyone's wondering where you are at the quarry!"

Rizzo perked up. "Oh… crap! I completely forgot!" With a shake of her shoulders, her rigging partially materialized. She rushed to the stairs. "I'm going to head over right away—I'll see you there. Thanks for the warning!"

Thus, Sherri was left alone in the cabin. "Alright, that's taken care of," she said to herself. "Now to head back, or…?" She paused, wondering if she could grab a drink before returning to the quarry. Shrugging, she stopped to tidy up Rizzo's bed, before going back downstairs for a cup of water. She couldn't help but tilt her head in befuddlement at the faucet as she filled her glass, wondering just where the water was coming from, and if the magic controlling it also made it drinkable. More questions she could ask her wizard uncle when she and Carrie finally got to meet him, she supposed…

As she was bringing the glass to her lips, Sherri paused—a couple of IFFs had come into range, one of them unlike any of the others she'd felt from her family. Was she a new type of ship? Curious, Sherri quickly downed her glass and made her way out of the cabin, wanting to learn who this newcomer was.

XXXXX

Millie quietly followed after her mother, taking in her surroundings with awe.

Now that she was out of the palace, everything was so much more bright and colorful—lush green trees, the distant blue ocean, puffy white clouds in the sky. She could make out numerous cabins laid out in rows just up ahead, with barns for the destroyers to either side. It was all arranged around a wide circular area filled with benches and lunch tables, for everyone in the fleet to sit together for meals, with more than enough empty space left over for children to play.

She could definitely get used to living here.

"That's the residential area," her mother explained. "This is where we all actually live—the palace is utilized primarily as a base of operations, and only a few Abyssals in the Fleet live in it." She smiled. "As you can see, plenty of open space. And if we ever need more, well, there's an entire island for us to expand."

"Wow…" Millie gasped. She glanced off in the direction of the shore. "uh, by the way… what was that big boat I saw when we were coming out of the palace? It looked terrible, even all the way from the entrance."

"I was wondering whether you'd noticed that," Nuri chuckled. "Long story short, some of my sisters claimed an abandoned leisure boat for themselves, and now we're restoring it. It's going to be your testing grounds for the next week or so."

Millie looked to her in confusion. "Huh?"

"Before we can start training you to be able to take care of all the different types of Abyssals, I want to make sure that all your equipment works properly, and that you understand how to use all of it. Since we're busy reconstructing that ship anyways, I thought it would be a good way to test your capabilities. Does that make sense?"

The Mi-class nodded. "Yeah. Sounds fun, actually."

Nuri smiled and patted her daughter's shoulder. "Glad to hear it." The pair looked back to the cabins ahead—just in time to spot another girl approaching them. "Oh, there's Sherri! She's one of Mother's youngest children."

As the Ri-class got closer and Millie got a good look at her, she tilted her head, baffled. Somehow—she assumed it was due to being a repair ship—she had a basic idea of what Ri-class were supposed to look like: slim but muscular, white skin and short hair, their arms encased in black gauntlets, and wearing a simple bikini. And yet, even though her hull was that of a Ri-class, she barely looked like one on the outside; her skin was flushed with color, her arms were bare, her shoulder-length hair was done up in a ponytail, and she wore a dusty beige shirt and rugged jeans.

"She… she looks so strange…" Millie said.

"Hey, big sis!" Sherri called out, waving to them. "Is this a new Abyssal? Why is she dressed like a nurse…?"

Sherri's questions were abruptly cut short when her foot caught on a stray root sticking out of the ground, causing her to stumble and fall forward. Almost unconsciously, Millie found herself lunging forward, clearing the remaining distance between the two. Both her hands and her tails were outstretched, trying to halt the Ri-class's descent…

But as Sherri fell into Millie's arms… as their skin made contact… there was a sudden flash of information in Millie's mind.

...

Sherri clung to the new Ayssal's arms, a bit shaken up, as she tried to find her footing again. "S-sorry…" she gasped. "I don't know what I just tripped on… but I think I'm okay." Slowly getting her feet back underneath her, the Ri-class eventually stood up and released her grip on the other Abyssal. "Are you alright?"

The Abyssal nurse stared at her with a shocked expression.

"What happened to you…?" She whispered.

XXXXXXXXXX

For those curious, this is just a quick sketch of Avrora. At least, how I currently imagine it.
Spoiler: Warning: big pic

https://forums.spacebattles.com/attachments/d9e69cac-2640-48d3-855c-d81a81fee75d-jpeg.41044/

​


The central black-and-Grey area is the original town square, which is currently abandoned. The new town clearly dwarfs it in size, and is more organized around a circular area. Directly to the north is the palace, and to the west of that is Regalia's farmland, with Sherri's group working in a rocky area just north of the farm. Carrie's group is trailblazing, making a path from the new town directly to the hot spring near the foot of the volcano.

 

[darthcourt10]

RCNAnon

Ron, Duke and Warspite 14

Ron groaned as he pulled out yet another seemingly useful piece of magical reagent, only for it to clearly have been infected by the item sitting next to it. Summer looked down from where she was reaching the top shelves for him and gave him a curious stare.

"Just another thing we're going to have to throw out." He held up what looked to have been a piece of a meteorite that had somehow fused with a piece of wood he couldn't identify.

Summer nodded somewhat sadly and then showed him what appeared to an impressionist sculpture made out of melted taffy. He had no idea what it had been originally and shook his head.

"Here, I'll go put it in the pile."

Summer nodded and handed it to him before going back to clearing the top shelves.

Ron sighed as he carried the objects out to The Pile as he thought of it. Originally a storehouse full of magical reagents and old equipment had seemed like a great boon to him. Surely there would be unique items and hard to find ingredients that he could use!

There weren't.

Instead it seemed like it was more a storehouse for old junk. Whoever had created the shelves had probably meant for them to be used as proper storage but between some of the dust and the age of the items it appeared that the had lain there for more than simply ten years. Some of them were WWI vintage! Even the magical items had mostly bled their essences together, ran out of power or simply rotted away.

It had taken him and Summer working off and on as much as they could for two weeks to get to the point they were at, which was the storage almost completely cleared out and the few items they could salvage stored up front where they could both reach it. They'd maybe saved one piece out of twenty and most of that was simple things like ore or a few magically preserved metals.

Tossing the two pieces into The Pile, which was actually a dumpster provided for the purpose by the Royal Engineers, Ron gave another sigh. Despite having the place nearly cleared out, he'd not managed any time on Duke's problems like he had hoped and likely wouldn't before he left for school. Yet there was good news.

Looking up Ron grinned as he saw all the activity going on around his house. There were a number of experts in old fashioned buildings doing minor repairs to the main house. There were apparently laws about such things in the muggle world and after they'd brought down the muggle repelling charms and began fixing things, Dreadnought had called a few people she knew and got the best.

The repairs were going well, with the main house and the gatehouse getting the most attention at the moment. The lab building would be next, after he cleaned everything out and the Orangearium would be last, given the need for properly fitted glass and the fact it needed many of the old trees inside cut down and removed piece by piece.
Victoria was happy as a clam and was assisting where she was able, mostly by providing tea and biscuits. The story that they told everyone not in the know about magic was that she'd been hired on early and was simply eager to get started. It worked well enough, especially when the builders got refreshments during their breaks.

What really made Ron smile was the other activity. In preparation for their specific type of guests, the Royal Navy had authorized the building of a repair bath. It was of mostly standard design, large enough to hold numerous girls at the same time and having both a large main pool and smaller tubs for those who wanted to relax in private. There were plans to add a walkway from the back of the house to the front of the spa but with all the other construction it would go in close to last.

At that moment there were a number of Royal Engineers finishing up the main pool, which was open until the interior set properly and they could be sure it didn't leak. That was supposed to be today and Ron saw them bringing in a rather large hose to begin filling it. Nearby a small communications post was going up, which would allow the Royal Navy to contact anyone staying at the mansion without delay. All in all there was quite the hustle and bustle

Ron looked up as Summer came over with more items to dump in the pile, what looked to be an old Narwhal horn merged with a gearbox and something that was so old and rusted he couldn't tell what it was supposed to be that was sporting the upper half of a propeller blade.

"No good huh?"

Summer shook her head no.

"No. N-not even good f-for scrap."

Ron shrugged. At this point he was used to it and if Summer said it wasn't even good for scrap, he believed her. She'd pointed out a number of things that he would have simply tossed that she felt she could use and had pulled a couple items out that he'd thought were magically useless but were actually just covered up by others.

It seemed that both of them had decided to take a break at the moment, as they watched the Royal Engineers continue their work, a few antenna's going up as the repair pool began to fill towards the top.

"D-do you… do you really have… to go?" Summer spoke from out of the blue, causing Ron to look up at her. She looked quite sad and though she had asked him before, there were only a few days until he went off to school.

Smiling gently at her Ron reached up and took her hand.

"Yeah, I do." He kept his voice as light as he could, even though he would miss her, as well as everyone else. "School is up north and I can't take you with me."

Summer nodded sadly at that.

"I'll write you though, with the owl box. You can write me too. Duke and Warspite said they'd bring you up with them when I have the Hogsmeade weekends."

"O-ok..." Summer was still unhappy about it but at least she wasn't crying.

"And you'll have a nice room here, with Victoria to talk to. You're friends right?"

Summer nodded again, this time with a bit more enthusiasm. Victoria had taken to Summer like she had to everyone else, as over a decade of isolation had left her with more than a bit to catch up on. Which meant that she had no existing prejudices to get over in regards to Abyssals. Summer had eagerly welcomed a new friend and Ron had bee quite pleased that Summer would always have someone around if she needed them.

"I'll miss you." Summer spoke quietly, though only a little sadly.

"I'll miss you too Summer. I'll try to come back as much as I can ok?" Ron looked back up to her as the construction sounds around them began to swell.

Summer nodded, then very obviously froze as she looked up.

Following her gaze, Ron froze as well and his eyes went wide.

Something was happening with the repair bath pool as the Royal Engineers nearby finished filling it. The surface had taken on a light glow, which was visibly brightening by the second. The sounds of construction continued to rise, the saws seeming louder, the hammering more firm and the crackle of a nearby welder seeming to go on for much longer than it should.

A glance to the side saw Summer's eyes flaring a little brighter, along with a similar glow coming from The Pile.

A scream of metal as a beam was cut echoed through the air. The Pile began to disappear, flowing towards the repair pool.

The pool grew lighter and Ron saw the Royal Engineers staring as well but none of them seemed to stop working. It was like the motions were part of a trance.

Ron could recognize a summoning when he saw it and closed his eyes for a moment as he felt something fumbling at him in the back of his mind. Whatever it was caught and Ron felt Summer's hand stiffen in his and then his eyes popped open.

The summoning pool began to bubble and froth mightily, even as he could still hear the sounds of construction. It wasn't until there was one final "scccrrriiiinnnggggg!!!" of a saw cutting off that the summoned ship girl burst from the water.

The girl, whoever she was, was massive. She was easily taller than Duke or Warspite but she didn't seem to be as tall as Summer. At least not quite. She was similarly curved as well, though most of it was covered up in an oil stained workers coverall that was unzipped down to her stomach. Her hair was a dirty blonde that looked to have been bleached white by the sun, her richly tanned features matching the sun drenched look. A wrench hung in one hand, with a large sledge-hammer in the other.

There was a moment of silence and then the woman spoke, looking directly at Ron.

"Wo bin ich?" Her voice was deep for a woman, a true contralto and Ron somehow got the image of a hearty smile and beer from it despite never having actually had a beer.

"I'm sorry?" He spoke instinctively, thinking he'd misunderstood her.

"Ah, English." The woman spoke English with a distinctly German accent, which clued Ron in that he'd not misunderstood her and she'd been speaking a different language. "I asked where we are."

"Southern England." Ron proceeded to try and catch up with what was happening. Clearly they'd done a summoning but a German? "May I ask who you are?"

"Ach, excuse me. Admiralty Floating Dock Number 8, reporting for service." The woman raised her wrench to her forehead in a mild salute.

"Ron Weasley. I work for the Royal Navy sometimes." He paused and pointed to Summer. "This is Summer. She's a friend."

"It is good to meet the both of you. Could I ask for a tow?" The woman gestured down to the water. "No engine."

It was only the work of a minute to get an appropriate tow rope from the Royal Engineers watching everything, one of whom was on their radio back to base. Summer hauled AFD 8 back to shore with ease, the woman coming up to her chin when she was finally on land.

"Thank all of you." The woman had put away her tools somewhere and gave both Summer, Ron and several of the engineers a rather large hug, regardless of how tall they were.

Grinning slightly at the face some of the men made, Ron nodded to her. "You're welcome. Are you hungry? I think we've got something..."

"We have sandwiches Young Master and I can try to make something more substantial for her if she wishes."

Ron jumped as Victoria's voice came from right behind him and he turned to look at her.

"I told you not to do that." He'd already discovered that Victoria seemed to find it humorous to surprise people with her presence. Mostly him.

"Apologies Young Master. I did not mean to do so." A bow and the same tone she almost always used, as if she really had done it on accident.

"Well, anyway. I think..." He turned to look at their new summon. "I'm sure you're hungry but Admiralty Floating Dock Number 8 is a bit of a mouthful."

"Hmm. You may call me Angelica. Angie if you want." The woman nodded, her face seemingly constantly plastered with a smile.

"Then Victoria, I'm sure Angie is hungry so if you could get those sandwiches."

Victoria bowed and gestured back towards the house. "If you'll follow me then Ms. Angelica."

"Ja! Thank you Victoria. And call me Angie!"

Ron watched as the massive woman followed the new maid into the house and the engineers began to get back to work. Then he shook his head. As if he didn't already have enough to deal with before he went to school!

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Toulon, France. A week later.

Jean-Bart sat on her bed, drying her long brown hair fresh from the repair baths. A week long cruise across various ports in the Mediterranean had been a nice distraction from her normal daily drudgery. Even if sailing alongside merchants was rather boring, it was better than sitting on the shore. She'd even fired her guns for once!

Granted the abyssals had immediately run away at the presence of a battleship midst what they'd thought would be easy prey but it was better than what she usually got. Unfortunately she wasn't allowed to pursue and the local Italian forces had been vectored in to deal with them.

Twas a strange world when you could call on those you'd been designed to defeat for assistance.

Finished with her grooming and freshly dressed, Jean-Bart once again logged on to SGO. With a weeks news to catch up on certainly there would be something…

"Again!" She couldn't help but exclaim to herself as she caught sight of the redheaded English boy in a highlighted article. This time a floating dry dock! There was even a picture of him between the Germanic looking woman and the Abyssal, where he looked absolutely tiny in comparison. She read the article several times to make sure she had everything straight and in the end there was only one thing that mattered.

He was clearly the best chance she had at fighting in this decade.

She dug through her desk and pulled out her cellphone, dialing her most frequent number. She only had to wait a few rings before it picked up.

"Hello Sister?" She hoped to make this short but she doubted it would be. "Yes it's me. Yes I'm fine, I only fired my guns once. No I did not meet a nice Italian boy. What? No, I didn't meet a nice Italian girl either!" It was clear Richelieu intended to keep asking about her, nonexistent, love life so she interrupted. "No no, I need your help. What? NO! No I mean..." She coughed, clearing her voice as Richelieu quieted, seeming to understand her seriousness. "I need you to ask Admiral Chirac to introduce me to the British Admiral of Warspite and Duke of York." There was a pause where Jean-Bart expected a comment about the man but it did not come. "I… their Ronald has proven himself a naval engineer of high caliber and… Yes. I think he might be able to help."

"MON PETIT! TRES BIEN!"

Richelieu's voice was loud enough that Jean-Bart had to pull the phone away from her ear.

"I… non sister. It is not so great yet but hopefully it will be yes. Mhmm. Yes, thank Admiral Chirac for me as well. Oui, I love you too."

Jean-Bart sighed and collapsed back on her bed, thoughts swirling in her head as her sister was likely running to her Admiral and lover with her request. There was much to do yet and she did not know what the English boy would need to do if she was to be repaired but it was the first hope she'd had in a long time.

It was perhaps not the beginning of the end, to steal a quote from an Englishman even she admired, but it was the end of the beginning.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
AN: I apologize to anyone who uses the languages I hopefully didn't butcher but probably did with Google Translate.

Questions, comments etc. welcome as always.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Puppy Love X

"Thank you and come again!"

Hachiko and Moriko stepped out of A Piece of Heaven karaoke bar onto the darkening streets of Yokosuka as night began to fall.

He hefted the wolf plushy that he had won and looked up at the taller form of his girlfriend -his girlfriend!- as she rested one scarred fist on her hip and squeezed the dog plushy that she had won.

"So, um.." He adjusted his glasses and smiled happily, seeing her give a matching smile. "That was a lot of fun, let's do it again sometime."
Spoiler: Date In The Rain

"Agreed." She gave a happy smile, her battered face coming alight with joy. "I'd like that a lo---"

A roll of thunder cut her off and she looked up. "Shimatta! We better take cover!" With that she grabbed his hand and dragged him into a nearby convenience store as it began to rain.

"Right where is... Ok, there!" As rain fell outside, she grabbed a pair of 500 yen clear plastic umbrellas and took them to the clerk. Hachiko watched as she paid for them and then got a smirk on her face. "I'll walk you to the train station then so you can pick up Aki-kun, Hachiko-chan."

He nodded. "Sounds good. Why the second umbrella?"

She grinned and guided him close to her so they could share the first umbrella as she hooked the handle of the second umbrella over her free arm. "Well I don't want my boyfriend to catch a cold in this rainshower when he picks up his little brother."

He nodded, 'That makes sense and Moriko-chan... thank you. I would hate to have my plushy get damaged by the rain. Hm..." He made a thoughtful noise and squeezed her hand. "Can you make a left at the next turn?"

------------------------------

Behind the couple, Suzume and Shigure shared the bamboo and rice-paper umbrella that the destroyer had pulled from her hold when the rain started. "Shigure-san, where are they going? This isn't the way to the train station or the base."

The destroyer shrugged, "I don't know Suzume-san. I must say that this is almost a storybook romantic setting with the couple sharing an umbrella."

Suzume nodded her head. "And Big Sister Moriko is a romantic at heart under all the toughness. I just hope that it did not go to her head...but I'm sure that it did not."

The couple that they were spying on laughed and walked down the street. Then they turned into the driveway for Yokohama Momijizaka Apartments. Suzume and Shigure stopped dead and looked at each other.

"Um, it's a little soon for that, right, Suzume-san? I mean it's just a first date, right?" Shigure spoke hesitantly with a blush on her cheeks.

Suzume's own face turned scarlet, "Don't be silly, Shigure-san, Moriko-chan is not one of that kind of girls, so I'm sure that it is not what it seems... right??" Suzume's voice trailed off at the end.

They watched Hachiko unlock the gate to the apartment complex with his key and bow Moriko through like a samurai to his daimyo. The click of the gate behind them was like the peal of doom (for Moriko Ibuki's virginity) in the eyes of the furiously blushing spies.

"SHIT!! IT IS WHAT IT SEEMS! WE HAVE TO STOP HER BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!!!"

--------------------------------
Spoiler: Hachiko's Apartment

"Thank you for walking me home so that I could put the plushy away, Moriko-chan, and thank you for the umbrella so Aki doesn't catch cold when I walk him home from his kyudo instruction."

"It was my pleasure. I'll see you day after tomorrow when I visit the library, Hachiko-chan?"

Any answer Hachiko planned to give to Moriko was drowned out as the security gate was rammed by the spirit of the second Shiratsuyu-class destroyer charging it at flank.

"Moriko-chan! Don't do it!!" Suzume burst through the remains of the gate hot on the heels of Shigure's takedown of the security gate (which was not rated to handle a 1635 ton displacement destroyer hitting it at 34 knots).

Suzume then skidded to a halt, and her blush went from embarrassed scarlet to mortified nuclear at the sight she saw. Her sister was leaning against the low balcony wall, well away from the door which Hachiko had just closed after putting his plushy away. In fact, her sister was clearly about to leave after bidding her boyfriend good night as they went their separate ways.

One eyebrow twitched over a scarred face as Moriko locked her fire control on her identical twin and growled out an angry challenge.

"SU-ZU-ME?!?"

"um, oops?" Suzume whined as her invisible ears and tail dropped in submission and lights came on all over the apartment complex.

Hachiko stared with a befuddled bluescreen look at his girlfriend's twin sister. I thought that she was younger than Sachiko!

--------------------------------

SGO General Forums/Ship Happens

Post #14013 by LongSufferingSecretary (Moderator) (JMSDF) (Secretary Boat) (大淀)

Re: "Cute Couple? Discuss!"

After getting off the phone with the Yokosuka Police Department to bail out your spies, plus having to budget for damage to the security gate at Hachiko's apartment complex, I merely have this to say about anyone else planning 'extracurricular intelligence operations' against Moriko and Hachiko.
Spoiler: The 'Yodo Is Unhappy

--------------------------------

"...and that's why I ran late picking up Aki. I had to explain to Mrs. Hasegawa that it wasn't a burglary but my girlfriend's twin sister and her shipgirl friend overreacting. She's sweet but a bit hard of hearing and it takes her a while to understand things. I'm sorry about the trouble."

Hachiko bowed to Tokunotakai, who was desperately stifling a gigglefit with a happy smile on her face. "Apology accepted. Ah... You said that your girlfriend filmed the mess with the landlady and the police on her phone, right?"

"Hai, Tokunotakai-sensei." Aki, meanwhile, was doubled over laughing with his ears and tail fully out at the funny story Tou-san was telling Toku-sensei.

"Can you do me a favor, and have her send me a copy of the photographs and videos? I have a... friend... who enjoys that kind of dumpster fire and I just picked up a new cell phone this morning. I will write down my number."

"I will ask her to when I see her Saturday, Toku-sensei."

Tokunotakai bowed back. "Saturday will be fine, Hachiko-kun."

Hachiko turned to the laughing Aki and scratched the Inugami boy behind the ears. "We need to go, Aki. Put your ears and tail away and I'll get you ice cream on the way home."

"YAY! Ice Cream!!"
Spoiler: Aki Miyata

 

[darthcourt10]

MagisterAurelius

Ship of Fools Part 10.5 ie Continuing from the previous:

Draco yawned and attempted to bring his arms up in a stretch, only to find himself with his arms immobile and unable to do much more than arch his back slightly. He felt two bodies to either side of him and the weight of a third on top of him. As he continued to wake up and his blurry vision cleared from sleep, he realized he must be in the middle of what he had heard was a cuddlepile.

His head seemed to be cushioned by a soft yet firm pillow. Gazing upward, he saw Washington's sleeping face and now realized that she had fallen asleep sitting up with Draco's head on her thigh. Turning his head to the left found him looking at the top of Cleopatra's blonde head where she lay between him and the back of the couch in the Common Room. Cleo had clasped her arms around his and holding it close to her. His visual search to the right found the silver haired cruiser Niobe embracing him tightly like a body pillow, her legs wrapping around his right leg. He raised his head slightly and saw the weight on top of him was Johnston.

A small smile graced Draco's face as he watched his girlfriend sleep. When he noticed her begin to stir and yawn, he leaned his head back and closed his eyes to feign sleep. I wonder if she'll wake me up or go back to sleep? Then he felt strands of her hair tickling his nose and her breath in his ear whispering.

"Draco... Draco... are you awake?"

He then heard her giggle softly. "I wonder if this will wake up my sleeping prince?" He then felt her lips meet his. As she softly kissed first his upper lip and then the lower, in Draco's mind, the cloven footed miniDraco broke into a leer.

"All this chaste kiss stuff, if she wants you to wake up, make her work for it boyo....HEY!"

The inner vision of miniDraco suddenly hugging himself in shock faded and Draco's eyes shot wide-open as Johnston's tongue invaded his mouth. Once again, Draco found his body incapable of movement and his thoughts going incoherent as Johnston touched his palate, gums and tongue with hers. After a seeming eternity to Draco, she pulled away, opened her eyes and smiled down at him with a string of saliva connecting the corner of her mouth to his hanging between them.

But before either could speak, Cleopatra interjected with a sly expression. "Her tongue's like an electric eel, and she likes the taste of Draco's tonsils. But! What does our studio audience think?"

Draco sat up like a shot and finally noticed that there was indeed an audience gathered in the Slytherin Common Room. A crowd of both boys and girls were staring on with various expressions on the girls' faces. The boys seemed to have a commonality of rage. Their faces and the strangling motions most of the older boys were making with their hands sort of gave it away. Even normally emotionless Blaise Zabini had a rictus of anger. But to Draco, the female Slytherins' reactions were worse.

An intense smugness smirked and danced in the eyes of Daphne Greengrass. Tracey Davis's expression radiated a careful contemplative calculation that Draco could see by the slow deliberate pace of her morning teethbrushing. Purchasing the silence of these two was going to be expensive, he realized. More disturbing were the various coos and titters of embarrassed gossip, or worst of all, Millicent Bulstrode's embarrassed blushing, which along with her pressing the index fingers of the hands together, made her look positively girly. Parkinson was the anomaly of the females. She stared at Draco with a look of sheer shocked betrayal.

This is going to require.. what the hell do I do now anyway? This has had to of happened to Potter, how would he deal with it? Yeah. Shrug it off like nothing. All right then. Let's do this.

Draco swung his legs over the sofa and stood up despite the sleepy protestations of Niobe. "Good morning Johnston, Cleo, Niobe, Washington. We need to get up now for breakfast so we can make the carriages to the village in time." With that, Draco helped each girl off the couch and then made his way to the men's bathroom as the ship-girls went for the women's bath.

-0-

Draco sighed as he stood at a urinal, emptying his bladder as the pack of Slytherin boys glared daggers at him. At this point he was starting to get pissed off at the jealousy, and his inner mini-Draco kept suggesting curses, jinxes, hexes and even to try getting Force Lightning to work. No, he would do what the Evil Overlord list suggested for such situations.

"So being used as a pillow by ship-girls, is justification for you all to what exactly? Hate me? Revenge yourselves upon me for a perceived slight? Well, here's some unvarnished truth for you all: I never sought out any of those girls. Ship-girls are a vortex that catches you, not the other way round." He finished with his ablutions and moved to his room to change. As the crowd followed, individuals split off, whether convicted by reason or shame Draco neither knew nor cared.

He continued to the few remaining holdouts as he finished tying the emerald necktie to go with his black button-up shirt. "Dating a ship-girl is perilous business, last night alone I nearly suffered a concussion. They will drag you into doing things you never thought you would do, and you will enjoy it. If any of you think that you have what it takes to do that? Well, if you hang out where ship-girls do, maybe eventually one of them might just decide you are her next hobby."

He then turned to leave to the Common Room and smirked with the smuggest Malfoy smirk he could. "Otherwise, think of it this way. Now you do not have to be concerned with my stealing your girlfriends here at school." And with that Draco brushed past them and joined the girls in the Great Hall for breakfast.

-0-

Breakfast had gone swiftly and without incident. Washington had begged off going to Hogsmeade, saying that she was stay behind to squelch any rumors started due to the cuddlepile and prevent any panic attacks of the teachers. She did however give Draco a wink and told him to have fun. With that, Draco turned to other three girls and smiled. "Ready to go ladies?"

"You bet sweetie!" Johnston's smile was incandescent and she twirled in her shoulderless violet blouse and long white skirt.

"Ready when you are Muffin!" Cleopatra batted her violet eyes at him while she wrapped a scarf around her neck and let it drape over the Sabaton tee shirt she had gotten at the concert.

"Light cruiser Niobe, ready to sortie mein kapitan~." Draco did a double take at the silver haired cruiser's teutonic lilt and her half lidded eyes looking into his. "Oh, was I wrong to assume that we were on a date together then~?"

Draco began to stammer. "Wut?! I...How.. By Merlin, how did I go from one to three? What the hell happened last night?"

The German ship-girl hooked her thumbs behind her back and rocked on her heels while she glanced at Draco soulfully. "Well, sleeping together is a bonding experience es ist nicht? And you remembered my name in the morning, another good sign."

Draco gulped air like a fish out of water and grew progressively pale. After a pause, all three girls began giggling madly and each of them then kissed Draco on the cheek. Niobe then embraced him from behind and squeezed. "Ja, you were right Cleo, he is an innocent little muffin. Und Johnston was right in that he is cuddly as fuck."

At this point Draco could only weakly protest, "We really should be going." Somehow, despite three ship-girls all hanging off him, he and they managed to get to the carriages to Hogsmeade. What Draco and the girls failed to see as they left, was a bushy-haired figure shaking with rage watching them leave the Great Hall.


Whew. And there is still a bit more.... aaaaaa.

 

[darthcourt10]

Year Three - Prisoner of Shipping Part 3b

START

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Softly humming as she sat on the bed, Haruna gently rubbed her rounded abdomen. Where just a few months before there had been the barest signs of a swell, now it was quite obvious that she was pregnant and well along. Eyes softening, the Battleship smiled a bit, "Haruna cannot wait to meet you, Little One. And neither can Haruna's Nee-Sans as well as Rose-Chan."

Moments later, a smaller hand placed itself on top of the shipgirl's own as Rose's voice spoke up, "She is right, Little One, I look forward to each day as I know it is one day closer to meeting you." Turning her head, she gave Haruna a gentle kiss that, as always, sent the Battleship's boilers fluttering, "Good morning, Haruna"

Brightly smiling, the Kongou leaned her forward against her wife's, "And another good morning to you as well, Rose-Chan." Nuzzling the smaller woman, she sighed a bit, "Just a few more months, Rose-Chan. Then we can meet our child."

With a quite nod, Rose hummed as she began to gently rub the soft skin of her wife's stomach, getting a shiver in response, "Yes, they'll be due in May according to the doctors." Beneath her palm, the skin was not just soft, but also warm, "Just two more months."

Only nodding, Haruna smiled, "Yes, just two or so more months and Haruna will meet the child she made with Rose-Chan."

The Tsukumogami suddenly gasped in surprise as she felt something, "Haruna! They... they kicked!" Gaze softening, she swallowed, "They just kicked."

About to nod, Haruna noticed something and frowned in concern, "Rose-Chan? Are you alright? You look like you're crying..."

Quickly, Rose reached up with one finger and wiped the tears away. Swallowing, she turned to Haruna and gave her one of the most beautiful smiles that the shipgirl had ever seen , "Ah, I am sorry about that Haruna. It is just..." Gazing down on the swell that hid their infant from the world, she sighed, "I suppose that makes it all so very real. And I just feel so happy." With a deep breath, Rose turned to her wife, "You must think me so very silly to cry over that."

For a few moments, the Battleship didn't do anything. But then, she tilted Rose's head back and looked her in the eyes, both hers and her wife's filled with love, "Haruna could never think that Rose-Chan is silly for that. Because Haruna wants to cry in happiness as well."

Gently, the two of them kissed for a few moments before pulling apart, breathless. Leaning into Haruna, Rose sighed a little bit, "I'm just ever so happy, Haruna. Never did I think that I would know the joy of having a child as my Mistresses and Masters did. And yet, that is what is happening before my eyes." Eyes glancing at the matching rings on hers and Haruna's fingers, she hummed, "But then, I did not think that I would know the joy of being in love and having someone love me back. To be married to them."

Softly nuzzling Rose, Haruna sighed herself, "Nor did Haruna. And Haruna is happy to be proven wrong." A giggle escaped her as the child kicked again, "Though Haruna thinks that the Little One is also happy about that."

Giggling herself, the tea set nodded, "Indeed." Her expression than became thoughtful, "Haruna? Since you are getting close to your due date, does that mean that you will be taken off active duty until the Little One is Born?"

Haruna tilted her head to the side checking her logs before humming, "Yes, Haruna is going to be taken off of active duty come April, Rose-Chan." Lips curling into a soft smile, she nuzzled the smaller woman, "Hopefully, Rose-Chan is not going to mind Haruna being around more often."

Unable to help herself, Rose gave a chuckle before nuzzling her wife back, "No, I do not think that I will mind at all, Haruna. Not in the slightest." Moving a bit, she nibbled Haruna's ear which made the Battleship turn bright red with some steam coming out, "Especially with your... greater appetite, Love."

Looking at the tea set, who smirked knowingly, the Kongou chewed her lip some, 'Haruna... is definitely looking forward to maternity leave...' A moment later, Haruna gave a giggle, "Well, the next one will be Rose-Chan's, I suppose."

Eyes lighting up, Rose gave a smile, "That will not be a problem, Haruna." Briefly though, she had a shiver go down her spine and looked around with a confused expression, 'I wonder whatever that was?' Shaking it off though, the Tsukumogami got up and helped Haruna to her feet, "But, as much as I would like to stay here like this, Haruna, we must get breakfast. After all, we have work to do, unfortunately."

With a sigh, Haruna nodded, "Hai, Haruna knows this, Rose-Chan." Then, her expression brightened a little bit, "But Haruna is also happy because she will be home early as all Haruna needs to do is escort Honshu around the harbour as her first patrol."

Her eyebrows raising a bit, the tea set thought back to the young girl in question and hummed as the two got dressed, with her helping Haruna some due to her pregnancy, "Is that right, Haruna?" Getting a nod, Rose smiled a bit, "I see, that is a good thing to know then. After all, she has been hard at work getting things done."

Now dressed, Haruna gave a giggle, "Hai, she has been hard at work learning everything that she needs to in order to be a shipgirl." Walking out into the main area of the apartment, the shipgirl continued, "Though she had to use the Heavy Cruiser area for working on her accuracy due to her guns. Her gun size is too big for the Destroyer Range."

Simply nodding as she got to work frowned, "Yes, I did hear that." With a practiced ease, she began to make breakfast for both her and her wife, "Though I suppose that it is also a good thing, as I also heard that the Admiral is most happy with her being around. Because she was built specifically to patrol near the coasts, which frees up Heavy Cruiser shipgirls for other duties, from what I have heard."

That got her a nod and all too soon, the two of them left the apartment and walked hand in hand to where Haruna would be launching. Neither talked much, but simply savoured the time that they had with each other, though every once in a while either Haruna's or Rose's hand would drift to the Battleship's stomach. Small, soft smiles shared whenever they felt the baby move.

It still did not take them very long to reach the launch ramp though both of them paused at the sight that met them. Mainly that of Sayaka fussing a bit over her sister, which made the two adult women tilt their heads some. Out of the corner of her mouth, Rose softly whispered to her wife, "Haruna? Is today not a school day?"

With a hum, Haruna nodded, "Hai, Rose-Chan, today is a school day."

All Rose did was nod in reply to that.

Meanwhile, Sayaka was still fussing over her sister and checking everything, "Are you sure that you have everything, Momo? I mean..."

Sighing, the young shipgirl glanced to where Yamapi was attempting to eat a muffin, "Hai, I am sure, Onee-Chan."

Briefly, Sayaka chewed her lip before taking a deep breath, "Okay, let's just go over it again just to be sure." Ignoring the amused roll of eyes from her sister, she began, "Okay, do you have your lunch?"

Nodding, Momo reached into her pocket and pulled out a rather large bento, "Hai! Right here, just like the other times." With a smile at her sister, she gave a giggle, "Thanks for making it for me, Onee-Chan."

A blush on her face, the older of the two sisters only nodded, "W-well, I thought that you needed a lunch just in case you get hungry out there. And... and speaking of, do you have your snacks as well? And bottles of juice?" One by one, Momo confirmed that she had the items in question with the sort of exasperated amusement that only a little sister could pull off. Finally, Sayaka looked at her little sister's uniform with a frown. It was not much different from her old school uniform, except it was the one for warmer months... and it was still march, "Are you sure that you don't want a coat? I don't want you to get chilly or anything and catch a cold."

Only shaking her head, Momo shook her head, "Nope! I have a scarf!" Frowning at it, she tilted her head some, "I am not sure how it works, but it does. Just like Kashima-Sensai said it does." Brightly smiling, the young shipgirl looked up at her sister, "I'm nice and warm!"

Despite her confusion over the matter, Sayaka just nodded as she furrowed her eyebrows, "Um, okay? If you say so..."

Just as she was about to say something, Haruna walked over and cleared her throat, "Is everyone ready to go out on our patrol? We must be leaving soon."

Throwing her hand into the air, Momo nodded, "Hai, Haruna-San! We're ready!" Quickly turning, she gave a hug to Sayaka, "I'll see you when I get back, Onee-Chan! So don't worry."

With tears in her eyes, the older girl hugged her little sister as tightly as she could. Being as Momo was a shipgirl, it didn't hurt her at all, but the thought was there. Ever since her sister had come back, Sayaka had barely left her out of her sight. Anything that the younger girl needed, her older sister got. Due to Momo being stuck on base until her spiritual power settled, Sayaka almost never went home, coming to the base right after school. And often, Momo would wake up with her older sister hugging her tightly in her sleep, as if afraid that she was going to vanish.

But knowing what she did, the young shipgirl both understood and did not mind.

Finally, Sayaka pulled away and wiped at her eyes, "H-hai, because you're more powerful than your Onee-Chan now..."

Giving her another hug, Momo's next words caused Sayaka to outright cry, "No, because Onee-Chan is the strongest girl I know! But now it is my turn to protect you, Onee-Chan, and I'll be the best at it."

Unable to say anything, the older girl only nodded and let go of her sister. She watched as Momo headed down the ramp and waited for the others to launch before looking over her shoulder. Understanding what she wanted, Sayaka waved, "G-good luck, Momo! I'm proud of you!"

The smile she gave, to Sayaka, practically lit up the somewhat grey March morning, "Hai!" With a deep breath, Momo took a step forward onto the water as her rigging manifested around her, "Coastal Defence Vessel, Honshu deploying!"

Sayaka sucked in a breath, as per usual, she could see the rigging that belonged to her sister's ship portion. It seemed so much bigger compared to the little girl than the others, giant turrets capable of blasting and sinking ships much bigger than her. But... it was still Momo. As her sister headed out with the others, Sayaka waved at her, 'SEE YOU TONIGHT, MOMO! OKAA-SAN IS MAKING DINNER! AND... AND I'LL BE WAITING!"

With a sharp nod, Momo waved back and Sayaka stood there on the shore. Walking up, Rose placed a hand on her shoulder, "Miss Momo is in good hands, Miss Sayaka. Haruna would not let anything happen to her and neither would any of the others." When Sayaka nodded, the tea set gave a nod, "Now how about we head for a spot of tea." Seeing the young girl about to say something, Rose continued, "And I shall see about giving you my binoculars. They are powerful enough that you shall be quite able to watch over her on her patrols from where we shall be."

All Sayaka did was nod and gather up Yamapi before allowing for Rose to guide her along...

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

(A.N. Sorry this one took longer than planned to drop)

This builds on the events of Harry And The Shipgirls: Prisoner of Shipping (A HP/KanColle Snippet Collection) | Page 780
An Egyptian SunshipGirl at Hogwarts 3

An Egyptian Sunshipgirl at Christmas

The Burrow, Ottery St. Catchpole, Devon, England

Christmas, Harry's 3rd Year in Hogwarts
Spoiler: Christmas With The Weasleys

"Thank you very much for your gift!" Amisi spoke with a happy smile on her face as she stowed the instructional book that Fred and George had given her 'to assist with her English studies with Percy' away in her hold. She glanced over at her Pharaoh, whose face was as red as his hair as he sipped a steaming cup of hot cocoa.
Spoiler: Gred And Forge Get Percy And Amisi Good

With that she reached inside herself and pulled out a pair of copper amulets inscribed with the Knot of Isis and crafted with prayers to protect and increase wisdom. "Here are your gifts, Brothers of my Pharaoh."

Fred and George took the amulets in turn. "Thank you Amisi."

The sunshipgirl mentally surveyed the shrinking pile of presents in her hold and then selected the game board that she had picked out for Ron (on her Pharaoh's advice). She smiled and handed the young man sitting between Duke and Warspite the special three-player chess set that she had found for him.
Spoiler: Ron's Chess Set

Smiling at the expressions of happy delight and interest from the young man and his ship-spirit companions, she felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Here you go dear." Molly said as she handed a wrapped present to Amisi.

The sunshipgirl carefully undid the paper wrapping - no destruction of such valuable papyrus for her! - and then blinked salt-water tears of joy from her eyes at the sight of the hand-knitted sweater presented. "{May the Great Pesedjet bless you with abundance!}" she said as she slipped back into Egyptian at the sight of the dark burgundy wool sweater with a gold Ankh knitted in it.
Spoiler: Amisi's Sweater

Pulling it on, she made her way to where her Pharoah stood with His two other Great Wives at the foot of the stairs. "My Pharaoh, Merry Christmas."

His smile caused her drummer to miss a beat for her oarsmen. "Merry Christmas Amisi."

She bit her lip as she looked at the Sea Demon fiddling with her metal gauntlets, and Ooyodo adjusting her glasses idly as she sipped a steaming cup. Then Amisi's jaw firmed and she pulled three carved sandalwood boxes from her hold. "I... made presents for you all."

Ooyodo's eyes sparkled behind her glasses as she finished her drink and pulled out three boxes a cubit-length on a side from her own hull. "So did I."

Supprin gave a shy smile and pulled three bags out of her storehouse into her massive gloves. "I made my own preparations."

Percy waved his wand and three small boxes filled his palm. "It seems that preparedness is the order of the day then." His lips curled in a happy smile as he cast a privacy ward around them. The noise from the rest of the family faded to a background hum.

"It is time."

Amisi handed the sandalwood box with hbny-wood inlay to Supprin in exchange for a bag tied with a bright yellow ribbon. She then handed the cherrywood-inlaid box to Ooyodo in exchange for the matching box with her name written on it in kanji. Finally, her cheeks blushed as she handed the third one... the one carved with cedarwood to her Pharaoh and in turn getting his small box.

Percy spoke, "I'll open mine first." He opened the box that a blushing Ooyodo had given him and his lips parted at the sight of the blue and white porcelain tea caddy inside. The hull of a World War II warship glided through the waves on its side in blue patterns on the creamy white bone china. "it's beautiful..." he whispered.
Spoiler: Tea Caddy

He carefully closed the box. "I'll enchant it with spells against damage."

He then turned to the bag that Supprin had given him. The Abyssal spoke softly, "Ooyodo and I agreed to make our presents a joint effort. You will need something to put in the caddy to serve its purpose so...." Percy nodded and opened the bag to reveal a supply of Supprin's specially grown magical coffee beans. "Practical and heartfelt. I am impressed, Supprin."

The Abyssal Princess bit her lip shyly and blushed. "Thank you, Percy."

At last he turned to Amisi's present. The sunshipgirl's drummer's instrument thudded as he opened the box, and revealed the ushabti-figurine carved from her heartwood for him. He looked into her eyes with a questioning glance. "It is a magical servant to assist you in the filing of the reports on papyrus, fixing of beverages to refresh the scribe at his desk, and to do whatever else is needful."

He looked back at it to see it open its eyes and salute him with the stubby hand that did not hold the stylus. "Thank you very much, Amisi."
Spoiler: Percy's Present

She smiled happily at his words of acceptance and love. His next words of firm command sent a shiver down her keel. "And I order you three to open my present to you next."

She opened the box and cried tears of joy at the glimmering enchanted ring her Pharaoh was giving her. Hieroglyphs proclaiming his intention to one day make her his Great Wife were engraved in the gold... in her log... in her very heartwood.
Spoiler: Amisi's Ring Fit For A Great Wife

Her lookouts alerted her to the condition of the other two Great Wives. Supprin was blushing scarlet as she touched a duplicate of the One Ring, engraved with an identical promise from Percy in Quenya, which was part of near invisible dragonhide elbow-length gloves that glimmered with charms of shielding, of protection, and of defense for her vulnerable hands.
Spoiler: Supprin's One Ring To Rule Her Heart

Amisi then looked over at Ooyodo, who was biting her lip and trembling at the sight of the cadmium-gold dark green ring with a glowing emerald cut in an odd hieroglyph that Amisi did not know.
Spoiler: Ooyodo's Ring (No Paperwork Shall Escape Her Sight)

As glances of agreement to a joint course of action were shared among the three spirits who would one day be the wives of Percy Weasley, the object of their smouldering love-filled gazes hastily reinforced the privacy wards before the first kiss landed on his lips.

 

[darthcourt10]

Tackweld

Alert! Alert! New Chapter Inbound! Alert!

Ok, now that that is out of the way.
After far too long, The next installment in the saga of CDV Cowes attempts at summoning Shipgirls has arrived!

ORP Orzel: You are too silly for your own good. *bonks Tackweld over the head with a fish*

Ow...…..
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Part 8 A Joyful Surprise

The next day, Eustace found a packet by his overcoat. it was marked 'Poster Samples' in Francis' messy, slanted handwriting. Eustace grabbed the packet without a thought and went to meet Cpl. Jones at the end of the street.

Francis grinned broadly as he heard the latch fall.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
When Jones and Eustace arrived at the church hall, most of the rest of the platoon was already there, the notable exception was that Cpt. Ewart was still absent.

Eustace did not pin the packet to the Announcement board, out of fear of damaging the samples.

Mrs. Pertwee was present and passing out lunches that the Church Ladies Guild had made for the platoon. Pvt. Franklin had seemingly come into a quantity of good perry and was giving each member of the platoon a small sample bottle. Eustace suspected it was an attempt to drum up some shady venture, but held his tongue.

By the time Ewart showed up, about five minuets later, the more shady portions of the impromptu "PX" had been cleaned up, as if they never occurred. Ewart checked the announcement board and nodded. It appeared that the mousetraps in the shelters were racking up quite an impressive kill count.

Ewart strode to the front of the hall and brought the meeting to order. He then read down the list of pressing matters.

"Has anyone made contact with the Navy?"

That enquiry was met with silence.

"Stobart, Have you found a suitable vehicle to haul the iron and fuel that we will need for the summoning?"

"Yes, Sah, we could use my Sentinel. She aint good for daily use, takes too long to steam, but for heavy haul she is grand." Replied Pvt. Doug Stobart.

"Ball, Any word from your Grandson on the poster?"

"Yes, sir" replied Eustace. "He has sent samples."

The packet was passed up the room.

Ewart undid the string and withdrew a small stack of samples, but a smaller, folded piece of paper fluttered its way to the tile.

"Ey! Cap! Don't let it get away!" shouted Franklin.

A mad scramble was made to catch the errant note, and Jones ended up with it. With a tangled heap of groaning platoonmates behind him, he presented the note, with a flourish.

"Captain, here is the important communication from an unknown party, Sir!"

Ewart opened the note and read it, once. And again for he did not believe it.

Ewart passed it back to Jones. "Read it aloud, Jones, I think everyone should hear this."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Captain Denholm Stone Ewart,
I have heard of your difficulties in contacting a representative of the Navy. I do some contract work for them and one of my contacts agreed to work with you on the issue of getting your summoning attempts approved.

My contact and close friend, HMS Warspite, looks forward to speaking with you at your earliest convivence. Her contact number is listed at the bottom of this letter, for your convenience.

I wish you well on your future endeavors,
R. Weasley
Civilian Contractor to Her Majesty's Royal Navy
~Letter transcribed by F. Ball~
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What Do you think,
As always, feedback is appreciated.

TW

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Butterknives Under Starlight

A farm in Uenohara-shi, Yamanashi Prefecture, 74 miles west of Tokyo

After The Hunt For Norimune.
Spoiler: A Midnight Conversation

"Can't sleep either?"

The owner of the farm turned at the semi-familiar female voice, to see a dark shape sitting on the stone terrace wall for her vegetable garden.

"Delilah. What the fuck are you doing here?"

The revolver spirit shrugged. "Looking at the stars. Thinking. Reflecting on my path to this point. Remembering long-dead friends. How's the arm?"

Norimune leaned against the wall. "Been hurt worse. Surprised you didn't pile in to assist her."

Delilah barked a laugh, "Two reasons why I didn't. First off that whole 'avenge the family honor' kick is Colombe's hangup, not mine. I have my own issues, but that isn't one of them. What had happened between you and her was fucked up, but enough blame to go around for everyone with bonus extras. And between you and me Sis... Colombe didn't chase you over half the globe just for that throw-down. When we found out what happened to you after World War Two, Sis was all kinds of torn up by it. She was kicking herself hard over not being there for you. Even though it all worked out in the end, she still feels like utter crap over failing you then, as she sees it. Failing family in her eyes is a sin worse than eating babies raw."

Norimune stared at her youngest daughter. "No fucking way."

"Way." Delilah shrugged and pulled out a silver hip flask. "Want a drink?"

"Sure." Norimune took a swallow of the bourbon, then passed it back. "So what's the other reason?"

Delilah turned to look at her father and gave her a considering stare. "Short and dirty reason? I'm a stone-cold killer with trust issues. Sis, Jackie, they can get into fights to have fun, to prove a point, or increase their skills. They can turn it down, not go flat out to win or die. Not me, not really. I can back it off a bit, shoot to cripple or maim rather than shoot to kill, but I have to clamp down hard to prevent going straight up to maximum lethality."

Delilah took a shot of bourbon and then continued. "I suspect it is because of what I am. You can do a sword duel to first blood or whatever. Pistol duels tend to end with one or both people getting maimed or carried away feet first. Add in that I'm really constitutionally incapable of doing less than my best for things that I believe in and there you have it."

"That's fucked up." Norimune quietly observed.

"Tell me about it. Add in that I spent the past... oh century and a half or so concealing my true nature while working inside the belly of the beast of MACUSA and the ICW as a student at Ilvermorny - eleventh in my class incidentally - and then as an Auror."

Delilah gave a very dark laugh chased down with another shot of alcohol and then handed the flask over to Norimune as she continued. "Considering that for most of that time I was a walking, talking death sentence for myself and Mother by just existing, never mind if the wrong people got a whiff of my nature, loyalties, or actions. Yeah. I had trust issues piled on top of my nature thanks to that high wire act with no net over the pool of Death Potion. I could count the number of people who knew who and what I truly am before I arrived in Japan on two hands. Living and dead."

Norimune stared and took another slug of liquor. "So why the fuck are you telling me this then?"

Delilah shrugged. "I'm not totally sure myself. I want to see you and Mother at least talk and maybe resolve some of what happened before. I want to see Colombe and Jacklyn happy and both of them want a relationship with you in their own ways. I wouldn't mind a relationship with you either, and..."

Another shrug, "For better or worse you are my father, so you deserve to know the truth about me, I guess. Call it a little bit of cosmic justice for all the shit that happened to you up to this point. I believe in truth and justice among other things, after all. Make of that what you will."

"Mmmmm." The Unrepetant Blade made a thoughtful sound as she took yet another slug of the bourbon. "Have to think on that."

Delilah nodded, "Take your time. Not like we are going to die of old age here. Oh, that reminds me, I ordered a pair of Vanishing Cabinets before coming here. I'd like your permission to install one here to link to my house."

Norimune gave Delilah a look, "What's a Vanishing Cabinet?"

"Oh yeah, you probably don't know. Invention from that mess with Voldermort in Europe fifteen years or so ago now. They are a refinement of the Owl Box. Wardrobe-sized, step into one, close the door, and come out in the other one. Think The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe if you ever read C.S. Lewis. I have a set in my family home's basement that Sis uses to go back and forth from Belgium to the USA to avoid the issues she has with all her ICW arrest warrants. That way she can magically visit me and Jackie without pinging their radar."

"So totally untraceable by the ICW?" Norimune thought out loud.

"Yes. Unless you get spotted after arrival of course. They are still pretty rare and they aren't cheap, but I have the money and connections to get a pair of them 'off the books' as it were. I figured that I can use it to visit you, well and the rest of the family can too." Delilah leaned back and looked at the night sky.

"I'll have to think on that too." Norimune said quietly.

"We have time. The Cabinet won't arrive for another three days. I'm shipping it in nomaj to keep Tokyo blind to my intentions and already have a storage container rented to hold it if needed. Thanks for putting us up at your farm while the heat dies down in Tokyo." Delilah responded equally quietly, still staring at the twinkling stars.

"This reminds me of... God, was it that long already? 1942 in North Africa when I really got to know Colombe. Grindlewald's folks were up to some serious shit in Algeria; details are still classified so I can't tell you more. Sis got appointed to be my native guide since she spent two solid decades of her life running around Africa before World War I and the first night after heading into country we camped out and just talked under the stars. God that was a gorgeous night." Delilah's voice was hushed, and Norimune could see the glitter of tears on her cheeks in the starlight.

Norimune hmmmed thoughtfully, looking at the night sky herself as silence descended on her farm.

After a long pause, the silence was broken by a quiet, tentative question - a hesitant hand outstretched from a person who life had kicked one too many times before. "So... that was when you met Colombe. Africa, right?"

A wry chuckle as that hand was taken in an equally hesitant grip as the question was answered. "I fucking wish. No. Louisville, Kentucky in 1927, not that I had a clue that Sis even existed then. I was on vacation for the first time since 1914, relaxing at Mother's house when Sis decided that it would be a good idea to pick a fight with the local Ku Klux Klan chapter there rather than get lynched...."

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Squeaking, the rat made its way through brush and over light snow on the ground. Every so often, it stopped to sniff around to catch the scent of possible predators. But each time, it didn't catch a whiff of danger. Coming up to some rocks on a small hillside, it was about to crawl into them when a tanned hand shot out from the shadows and grabbed it. Two dark eyes quickly examined it, in particular the front paws before the owner dropped it.

Quickly, the frightened rat fled into the surrounding brush as the feminine form stood there in her dark cloak looking around before she seemed to melt into the night once more.

A few hundred meters away, Peter whimpered a bit at what he had seen before he transformed into a rat and scurried away as fast as he could in the opposite direction. Inside his head, he was crying out at the world wondering what he had done to deserve this. But nothing answered him at all.

Peter wondered where everything had gone so wrong! After he had framed Sirius, he had laid low for a few weeks before heading to the sister of the Prewitt Brothers, Molly Weasley. He remembered how shortly before their deaths, not really all his fault though he had told the Death Eaters, who were the real ones who killed them, they had told him that their sister's husband was in the Ministry. That meant that if he hung out by their home, he would find out various bits of gossip. Not helping was how Molly was still friends with some of the Order, and he could listen in there. With that, he could find out more about what happened to the Dark Lord, or at least understand if anyone caught onto him.

Eventually, one of their children, Percy, found him sniffing around their garden for food and caught him. At the time, Peter had nearly panicked and transformed to kill the child right then to escape. But, he was too frightened of the fact that Molly was only a few feet away. Instead, he stayed as a rat and, to his relief, became a pet. Food and warmth as well as an easy life awaited.

Granted, he had something of a fright during Blood Week, but was thankfully at Hogwarts which was far from the ocean.

Years later, he was passed down to the youngest, Ron. And when he came to Hogwarts, he laid his eyes on James' and Lily's boy, Harry. Looking at him brought a twinge of regret, but he shoved it down. He had no real choice but to do what he did after all, otherwise he would have died torturously. In his mind, Lily and James would have understood. Granted, there was that bit where his Master had infiltrated the school. And the next year with the Basilisk.

One of the things though that he did not like was how the past few years had brought him into contact with shipgirls and Abyssals. They scared him to no end after all, and they were so protective of James' son! And of his 'Owner' to some extent. There was even one that came to live with the Weasleys named 'Amisi'. Not to mention that one, Summer, who Ron hung around with.

Then, the worst news reached him... Sirius Black had escaped from prison! From Azkaban as a matter of fact. His poor heart had nearly given out from that. Especially when he heard that Sirius might well show up at Hogwarts to kill Harry... or him, if his former friend knew that he was there.

Worse, that awful cat was always after him. Sure, that strange snake that transformed was bad in that she knew something was wrong about him, and same with that owl of Potter's. More than once, he wondered exactly how much they knew, and it had frightened him so.

As the months went on, Peter planned his escape just in case he needed to. He had it all planned out as a matter of fact. It was brilliant in its simplicity, all he would do was cut himself on Ron's bed, bleed some, and then run off. The boy would blame his friend's cat for it and he would be able to escape! And no one would be the wiser about it!
Unfortunately, he never got the chance.

Somehow, they had found him out and he had to run. Thankfully, that cat actually helped by getting in the way of Snape and McGonagall. But then, things went bad to worse as he was chased around the castle. No matter where he went, they were after him! And he was unable to get someone to make them stop... before he got caught by Remus.

Even now, he nearly pissed himself at the look in his old, former friend's eyes.

Of course, that was when Harry had saved him. He thought, at first, he was blessed with it... until Harry spoke. Even now, when he tried to sleep, he could see those eyes. Green eyes like the Killing Curse, Lily's eyes, looking at him accusingly. And Peter would also hear Harry's voice, his promise, his threat... Other times, the face and voice would be Lily's, though she snarled at him and described what she would do to him. It was horrible and he always woke up trembling, wondering why he had to suffer. Life was awful now...

And it had not stopped there as he was put into a cell in the Ministry of Magic after they had interrogated him time and again. He could still remember that night he escaped, when MacNair and Yaxley had broken into his cell for their own 'Interrogation'. Every once in a while he could twitched still and felt phantom pains. Why... why him...

Thankfully, it was not a far journey for him to enter the sewers where he hid. Plenty of rats down there, though he had to keep an eye out. There were... things down there in the labyrinth that was underground London. In places where man had not been for decades, horrible things. Especially if one traveled close to the old magical dump where expired potions, reagents, and the like had been dumped for decades and centuries before the Vanishing Charm was created, with the dump being eventually buried and covered over by the city.

Peter had hid down there for weeks, perhaps months. It was so easy to lose track of time in such places where you could not see the Sun. However, eventually, he left the sewers behind, hopping on trucks and the like to travel around the country. He was going to lay low at one of the old shelters Lily had created for some time. Maybe for a few months and then leave to find his Master, whom he had heard was in Romania somewhere. The Dark Lord would protect him after all, he could be useful and help, and so be protected...

Except... when he had arrived at the first such shelter, he barely escaped with his life.

He had been about to enter the clearing when he had felt his instincts screaming at him. And just in time as a spear nearly killed him which he had barely dodged! Using it was a small slip of a girl, except she had horns and a tail that whipped back and forth. Then she had given him a grin that made his blood run cold and he pissed himself, which made her laugh about having the Traitor (though he didn't consider himself a traitor! He had no choice in the matter!) and she had proceeded to try and kill him.

Much to his relief, he was able to transform and escape from her. But that was not the only such place. Each of the others he had gone to had someone there waiting for him, even some of the depots that only Lily and James had known about (he had followed them and noted were said depots were, just in case). One blonde woman in what looked like Roman armour had nearly cleaved him in half while proclaiming something about her prey-tor, or something. Another blonde woman he had not even tried to get close to due to an odd feeling of a truly massive amount of guilt. He had wanted to rush up to her and spew out all his sins.

That had scared him enough to take off and run in the opposite direction rather than face her.

Yet, there was more and this was the final one he knew about. And there was no more that he could go to in order to wait and hide until he could escape. Transforming back, he began to sob. Why... why him? Why did his life become so terrible... none of it was his fault! He had no choice and now it seemed like the universe had turned against him.

When he calmed down some, he began to think. He would need to find his Master, maybe help the Dark Lord regain his lost strength. Yes, that would likely help. Even if the Statute fell, which the Weasleys were certain of though he himself would not believe it, the Dark Lord was powerful enough that he would be able to stand and be protected.

But first... he needed to get to his Lord. Which was harder than one would think as he there were only a few ways to get across the Channel. He could ride on a ferry or a boat... but that would be dangerous even with the Channel secured. There was also the Chunnel, of course, but that carried it's own risks. Or an muggle aircraft...

Eventually, he came to a decision and one that he did not want to make at all. Because he knew just how bad it could turn out. However, he felt that he had no choice in the matter at all. Thus, he turned southwards and transformed back into a rat. It took him a few days, but he arrived at his destination, a small house.

Part of him had hoped that, perhaps, the Abyssals had destroyed it but it seemed that there was no such luck.

Stealthily, he made his way across the grounds, keeping an eye out as he travelled. Hearing a crack, he turned only to be struck by a spell that transformed him back into a human before a second one knocked him out.

Hours later, it felt like, he awoke only to find himself secured to a metal table as a man not much older than him was looking him over as if he was nothing more than a curious insect, "B-Brandon, my friend and ally..."

Just humming, the man smiled, "Ah, Peter! I was wondering if you would be coming by! We have so much to catch up on, you and I."

With a nod, Peter nodded, "R-right." Smiling unsurely, he motioned with one arm, "C-could you free me?"

Laughing coldly, Brandon shook his head, "Oh no, Peter. Can't do that, you understand. Now, I have a few questions for you." He brought up his wand and made a motion, the arms of Peter's robes splitting apart to reveal his skin which made him whimper before doing the same with the other arm, "Now, now... I promise that nothing will permanent, my dear friend."

A whimper escaped from Peter, "W-what do you want to know...?"

Head tilted to the side, the other man hummed, "Firstly, why did you come here?" Swallowing, Peter shuddered a bit before he screeched as Brandon moved his wand, a small sliver of flesh coming off his arm, like the skin being peeled from a potato, "I am waiting, Peter."

Jerking around a bit, the Animagus cried a bit before screaming again as the other man made a motion and salt poured over the wound. Once he was able to breath, he shouted, "I NEED YOUR HELP!"

Brightly smiling, Brandon chuckled, "Now, that wasn't so hard, now was it?" Amused at the whimpers, he tilted his head, "Though you must be rather desperate to come to me for help, Peter. Somewhat stupid, though I am certain that you had your reasons."

Peter gulped some at the look in his eyes, "I-I-I... I knew that you would not turn me over to the others! B-because-"

He was unable to get much further as the other wizard's eyes narrowed and he made a motion with his wand. Something like a jumper cable shot out and clamped itself on Peter's leg before he began spasm with pain, "Please, do finish your sentence."

The cable fell away and Peter spasmed a bit more before it settled down. Every bit that he has gone through reminded him of why he avoided the man. Not the least was because he was vicious and cruel to an extent that Bellatrix was impressed. He also did quite a bit of research for the Death Eaters and in his pain, Peter thought back to why he would not work with the others after the Dark Lord's disappearance, because they would likely kill him like they would Peter, though for another reason...

Mainly because Brandon was a Muggleborn, one of the very few who managed to join the Death Eaters.

Breathing hard, the rat animagus remembered back to how his Lord had declared that Brandon was a Pureblood stolen from what was likely his true home. Left, with overly religious Muggles who berated him as being the Devil's child due to his powers. Oh, the Dark Lord had laughed about how they were so foolish as to try and get him exorcised, which obviously did not work.

And when Brandon went to Hogwarts, they disowned him and wanted nothing to do with him...

It was the first time that Peter had been on one of the Death Eater's little torture sessions and the man across from him had taken joy and pleasure in making sure that his parents had suffered before death. The Dark Lord had been pleased with how well he had taken to it after all. So very many ways to cause pain and agony...

The former Marauder still shuddered at the memory.

Seeing the wand come up, Peter shouted, "I KNOW WHERE THE DARK LORD IS!"

Brandon blinked at that and smiled, and it was not a nice smile, "Well now, that is good news. Once you tell me, we can go and find him to bring him back..." Once Peter told him, the other wizard's eyes lit up, "Europe? Well now, I will be able to contact some friends I've made over the years. They will be happy to help, I think. After all... it is for the Greater Good, that our Lord rises once more..."

All Peter could do was whimper.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Just sighing, Harry rolled his eyes as he continued to walk towards the Divination Tower. The whole time, he was internally grumbling, "Dammit, Hermione... did you really need to do this?"

As it was just him, however, he did not get an answer. Instead, his mind drifted back to earlier that day when his friend finally had enough with the Divination teacher and shoved everything on her desk into her bag. With that done, she stormed off snarling while swearing that she was not coming back.

Unknown and unfortunately, one of the items that went into her bag was a crystal ball.

It was unfortunate because Hermione would not return it to the class. Thus, it fell to Harry to do so as when he turned around, both Ron and Neville had vanished. Hence, the thirteen year old's current grumbling and swearing to get his friends back for it. Already, ideas were swirling around in his head regarding what he might do to them when he caught them.

Before his revenge fantasies could get too far though, he realized that he could see Kagotsuruhe up ahead and raised an eyebrow, "Hello, Kagotsuruhe-San."

One of her unnerving smiles on her face, the Sword of Hopelessness nodded, "Hello, Harry-San." Seeing his eyes trail to her side, she hummed and patted the second sword, "Juuchi-Chan wanted to go for a walk."

Cocking one eyebrow, Harry snorted, "As long as it is not an enthusiastic walk."

That got him a nod and a fake chuckle, "Indeed." Kagotsuruhe tilted her head somewhat to the side, reminding Harry of a cat, "May I ask what you are doing up and about here? Our lesson is not for a few hours yet."

Now saying anything, Harry held up the crystal ball in his hands, "I need to return this for Hermione." At the look of polite interest, he continued, "She stormed out of the classroom after one too many issues with our Professor, quitting the class, though..." Rolling his eyes, the thirteen year old sighed, "I can't blame her really. Professor Trelawney is, well... yeah."

Eyebrow raised, Kagotsuruhe hummed, "I take it that she is problematic?"

Sighing, the thirteen year old glanced around before looking back at her, "As I am sure that you know, she teaches Divination?" Only waiting until he got a nod, he continued, "Thing is? I am pretty damn sure that she is a complete and utter fake. She does not seem to show any signs of the Gift of Prophecy at all. Instead, she just goes on about vague things that could easily happen in one way or the other."

Just considering that, Kago frowned, "Oh? So she is like one of those then..."

With a shrug, Harry shook his head, "Generally? It seems so... one of the first things she did when I walked in was predict my death, and apparently she usually predicts at least one student death per year, if not term. But she also came out with other things as well. For example? She 'Predicted' that one of our class would leave it forever."

Kagotsuruhe snorted softly, "Ah, I see. So when your friend stated that she was quitting the class."

Grimacing, the wizard nodded, "She claimed that her 'Prophecy' came true? Yeah, pretty much. It did not help that the reason why was another of her 'foretelling's'." Eyes rolling again, Harry scoffed, "At the beginning of the year, she claimed that Lavender would suffer a tragedy sometime this year. And today, Lavender got word that her pet rabbit back home was killed by something, so... Trelawney took credit for foretelling it. Though really, I still have issues that Lavender did not slap her there and then, but seemed to look up to her more."

A frown on her face, Kagotsuruhe tapped a finger against her chin, "Humans are odd, though I suppose that she felt as if she was at fault for not listening. Or, perhaps, she thinks that the professor has now proven herself..." She shrugged and shook her head, "Emotions are strange things at the best of times."

Only shaking his head, Harry could only agree with her silently. The whole thing, to him, was strange. Finally reaching the staircase to the Divination room, he walked up with Kagotsuruhe behind him. Not that the thirteen year old minded all that much really, after all he knew her. But also part of him wondered how she would react to the Professor. Knocking on the trapdoor, he waited a few seconds before a voice called through, along with the sound of bottles. Glancing at the sword, silently he mouthed the words 'Alcohol' to her, with Kagotsuruhe nodded.

Not long after, Trelawney's voice could be heard through the trapdoor, "Ah, my Third Eye foretold that I would have a visitor! Come in, come in!"

Bemused, Harry opened the trapdoor and walked in with a slight smirk, Kagotsuruhe behind him silently moving, "Hello, Professor, I'm just returning something that Hermione took with her by accident when she left."

Taking out the crystal ball, he handed it to her and she nodded, "Of course, of course. I only did not go looking for it as my Sight allowed for me to see you return it to me. But thank you, just the same."

With a sigh, Harry chuckled as the Professor sat it down, "Not a problem, Professor."

He was just turning to leave though when Trelawney spoke again. But unlike before, it was not in the airy tones, but a rougher one as if she had a sore throat, "It will happen tonight. The Dark Lord lies alone and friendless, abandoned by his followers. His servant has been chained these twelve years. Tonight, before midnight... the servants shall leave and set out to rejoin their master. The Dark Lord will rise again with his servants' aid, greater and more terrible than ever he was before. Tonight... before midnight... the servants... will set out... to rejoin... their master... And a new Darkness shall feed on the old and thus become stronger than ever..."

All Harry could do was stare at the woman who blinked and seemed to be coming out of a trance, "Professor... are... are you okay?"

Blinking, Trelawney looked at him, "Hmm? Of course I am, dear boy. Why ever would you ask?'

From where she was behind him, Kagotsuruhe narrowed her eyes as Harry mentioned that she had said something about the Dark Lord. But the Professor stated that she would never talk about the Dark Lord, which made her narrow her eyes still further. Placing her hand on Harry's shoulder, the Sword of Hopelessness plastered a smile on her face, "Ah, very well then. We must be off."

Gently, she guided him out of the room while Juuchi at her hip was utterly silent, considering what happened.

Once they were at the bottom of the stairs, Kagotsuruhe turned to him, "Harry-San? You do realize what just happened?"

Slowly, Harry nodded, "That... that was a real prophecy, wasn't it?"

A frown on her face, the sword nodded, "Yes, I have seen such before in my life." Briefly, what looked like pain flitted across her face. But it was gone so fast, Harry could almost swear that he had imagined it, "Once, many, many years ago, my... Master, journeyed to Mount Osore and met an Itoko there who gave him a prophecy which upset him. One from my previous Master, his Otou-San. It was much the same as there..." Eyes narrowing, she let out a breath, "Which means..."

Understanding, Harry swallowed, "Which means that she just confirmed that Voldemort is going to return, and soon..."

Much to his surprise, Kagotsuruhe came to a stop and turned to face him. For once, she did not have a fake expression on her face, but one of utter seriousness, "Yes, he shall return. But understand, you are not alone in this and have allies." Suddenly, she was all smiles and giving him a thumbs up, "So do not despair!"

Just nodding, Harry hurried along and soon enough, they reached the Headmaster's office and soon entered it to find Dumbledore there, "Headmaster! We..."

Realizing how what had happened sounded, Harry paused. But before he could figure out how to say something, Kagotsuruhe stepped forward, "Headmaster, we just heard a prophecy from the one known as Trelawney. And I can confirm from previous incidents, that was what it was."

Dumbledore grimaced at that before sighing, "I take it that it was in a different voice than was normal for her? And that she did not remember it afterwards?" At their nods, he shook his head, "In which case, this may be the second such prophecy from her." Stroking his beard, the Headmaster frowned, "What was it she said?"

With a nod, Harry recited what he had heard, word for word. When he was done, he looked towards Dumbledore, "Professor... I think that she was talking about Peter."

For a few seconds, the Headmaster said nothing, but then he nodded and sighed, "Alas, I think that you are most likely right. Peter has been chained to the Weasleys for twelve years, and thus would most match. But I am worried by what it means by 'Servants', as that suggests at least two. And the last bit is also very worrisome..."

Later, after some more talking, Kagotsuruhe made sure that Harry got back to Gryffindor Tower, cancelling their lesson. Once she was out of sight, the Sword of Hopelessness turned to her sister, "What shall you do?"

Juuchi seemed to consider the question for a few moments before she walked off, "I shall have Tsu-Chan gather the others. Things, it seems, might get a bit more difficult."

Head tilted to the side, Kagotsuruhe hummed, 'I believe that is the famous British gift of understatement...'

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Bread and Tea

Tokugawa Memorial Foundation Offices, Uehara, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Masamune-no-Honjo waited patiently in the underground private parking garage as the gate attendant bowed to the Toyota Century limousine that entered. It stopped in front of her and she bowed in greetings, her dark blue irotomesode kimono with the five Maru-ni-mitsuba'aoi triple hollyhock leaf crests of the Tokugawa picked out in white thread rustling as the driver opened the door for his passenger.

Masamune-no-Kotegiri stepped out and returned the bow of her younger sister, her own scarlet irotomesode with the five golden chrysanthemum crests of the Imperial Household making her appear to be the spirit of a Dowager Empress from a period drama. "Honjo."

Honjo raised from her bow and walked alongside her sister to the private elevator. "Kotegiri. I thank you for the response to my message. Tokunotakai will join us shortly. I received word from the driver I sent to Kamakura. There was an accident on the E16 that is delaying traffic coming from the south."

Kotegiri nodded as the two Masamunes entered the elevator and Honjo punched a button. "I see. Surprising of Toku-chan to leave the shrine to come here. She is admirably dedicated to her service at Hachimangū, after all."

Honjo gave a faint smile as the elevator doors opened and they walked down a corridor. "I have found that all things change in time. Is it truly that surprising that after four centuries that Toku-chan finally changed a little?"

Kotegiri hmmed in acknowledgment of the point as they reached a sliding rice paper door. On the far side was a Zen rock garden with a teahouse. The two swords knelt in contemplation of the white rock 'ocean' with moss-covered stones like islands rising up from the rippling waves.
Spoiler: Honjo's Garden

Time seemed to fade as the Armor-Cutter knelt in seiza beside her sister, her thoughts drifting. Presently the door opened again, and Tokunotakai, dressed in a furisode kimono with colorful butterflies on pink bowed to her sisters and then knelt in seiza beside them.

Presently, Tokunotakai spoke. "It is time for tea."

Kotegiri raised a mental eyebrow as she and Honjo proceded to the tokonoma waiting room. The eyebrow raised further as she recognized the calligraphy of the Buson poem on the wall scroll as Tokunotakai's delicate brushwork.

A summer river being crossed
how pleasing
with sandals in my hands!

Proceeding to the teahouse along the garden path, Kotegiri felt the weight of her centuries and responsibilities fade away from her like the morning dew with the contemplation of the simple beauty presented. Kote removed her sandals and entered, placing her true body in the rack presented alongside her younger sister's gleaming steel. Honjo followed suit and closed the screen behind her with a loud click to signal to Toku that the tea ceremony was about to begin.

--------------------------------
Spoiler: Sisters Have Tea

Kotegiri sipped the tea from her bowl, admiring the subtle taste as well as the skill that Tokunotakai had prepared it for herself and Honjo. Again her mental eyebrow quirked at the subtle signs of nervousness behind Tokunotakai's near-perfect calmness as her youngest manifested sister sipped her own bowl of green tea. A sidelong glance to her left showed that Honjo had both picked it up, and did not know the reasons.

Tokunotakai bowed her head. "Thank you both for accepting my invitation, Kotegiri-oneesama, Honjo-oneesama. It has been far too long since I was able to share tea with you both."

"Indeed, Toku-chan. I was happy to receive your petition to use my family's teahouse to host this reunion." Honjo spoke contemplatively as she admired the irregularities in her hand-thrown tea bowl.

"As I was happy to receive word that my little sister wished to see her older sisters for a family gathering." Kotegiri mused, offering up a conversational gambit.

"Hai. I wished to notify you both that I recently spoke to Hachiman-dono. He approved my petition to go on a musha shugyo warrior's pilgrimage outside the Land of the Gods to take a more active role in my service to the Protector of Warriors."

Kotegiri's eyes widened fractionally at the news. Toku had indeed changed greatly if she was going to sally forth in battle. Certainly, it was well within her duties and service, but....

"This is news indeed, Toku-chan. I take it you have an idea as to your plans for such a course of action?" Honjo stepped in smoothly, demonstrating what she had learned from her centuries of service in the courts of the Shogunate.

"I do." Tokunotakai took a deep breath, visibly steeling herself. "Once arrangements have been made for travel documents and the like, I shall first travel to Belgium to learn from Colombe du Chasteler..." A fractional pause before the next syllable to escape Toku's lips. "-Muramasa."

Kotegiri shot a disbelieving look at her sisters. She had never dreamed that Toku was the type at all. Honjo was equally surprised, but recovered sooner.

"I see, Toku-chan. I have also had some indirect dealings with Colombe d'Aubigny-Muramasa du Chasteler to use her full name. She is Muramasa-no-Norimune's oldest daughter, and just over three centuries old. Like her sire, she has spilled her blood on the battlefields of Europe, Asia and Africa as she fought for what she believes in. My kohai has known her for a long time, since Colombe was well known by Tsukiakari's First Master, and a loyal ally and friend to the British Potters for almost a century." Honjo's voice was very thoughtful.

Toku bowed her head. "Indeed. Also I have heard from Hachiman himself that Colombe was consecrated as one of His Blades, just as Muramasa-no-Norimune is. He approves of my relationship with her."

Kotegiri's gaze sharpened, noticing the slight flush on Toku-chan's cheeks and nervous hitch in her breathing. Centuries of experience as 'Aunt Kote' to a succession of Imperial Princesses, noble daughters, and ladies-in-waiting caused her mind to whirl.

I never thought Toku-chan would ever be the type. And with a Muramasa no less....

With that in mind, she spoke. "You have tested this Colombe's steel against yours then?" Beside her, Honjo flushed slightly as she caught the unspoken meaning of the words.

Toku bowed her head, her voice soft but resolute. "Hai, Kotegiri-oneesama. She matches my skill with a blade and understanding of the Virtues in her own way."

"I see. I would like to meet her and see her skill for my own in a spar some day soon, then. If you are sure of your course of action and selection of a traveling companion, I see no reason not to approve, and I will advise His Majesty of such a course when we speak on this matter and others concerning the earth-bound kami." Kotegiri's voice was contemplative as she reflected on the impossibility of fighting some battles.

"Likewise, I see no issues with it in principle. If you need assistance with the Diet or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to expedite the processing of paperwork, I stand ready to assist my younger sister." Honjo spoke in turn. "I also would like to meet Colombe informally to take her mettle, since she has left such a positive impression on both my imouto and my kohai."

Tokunotakai bowed her head. "I thank you both for your wise words and consideration for your imouto's flight of fancy."

Kotegiri smiled faintly, "I do hope that you have a plan to deal with Fudo-chan. She is... ahh... quite concerned for your welfare, which is something that I never quite understood."

Toku shook her head as she deflected the gentle probe, "It is not my place to speak on the reasons; it is Fudo-nee's story to tell. I merely did what honorable duty required during those dark days."

"I see..." Honjo's eyes were sharp behind her glasses. "I also happen to know some spirits in that part of the world who I met after the Pacific War. I shall scribe a letter of introduction to them if your paths should cross and send out a few owls to them in case you need assistance on your travels. A traveler should always carry her umbrella, even if the sky is clear when she sets out, no?"

Tokunotakai nodded and spoke quietly with subdued emotion in her voice. "I suspect that my journey will not be the most peaceful one. Still, only a fool does not accept aid when it is freely offered. Thank you again for your assistance in this matter."

Kotegiri nodded. "When you come back, share with us the stories of your travels and exploits. I would say here to make our father proud with your deeds on the path that you shall take, but I am certain that Masamune-dono is proud of your dedicated service to the Protector of Warriors. Just as I am."

"We are, Toku-chan. We are."

 

[darthcourt10]

NotHimAgain

Flash Back: Both Sides Now
"… Who exactly are you?"

Reiko leaned back subtly. Sam tried to step forward, but the teenage jorogumo held out a hand and pushed her back as well. At the same time, Sam's older brother stepped forward. From his new position, he could be in front of his sister at a split-second's notice. It was a relief—if Reiko still couldn't help but panic the moment things went out of control (she winced, still embarrassed at her own loss of control), then someone even younger and less experienced than her couldn't be allowed into the fight. And Sam was raring to fight, that much was certain.

The woman planted a hand on her fist, striking a casual pose. Black hair tied into a cock-eyed ponytail, clad in a trench coat that fell down to the back of her knees, and (Reiko blushed, but only a little bit) a build that practically screamed "sexy," she looked like a rebel leader from some science fiction series. "That," she mused, "is a good question. Though I'm not entirely sure about giving you a proper answer. Tends to backfire on you something awful. Let's just say I'm here about the whole incident—" she frowned, standing a little straighter. "Wait—you, Japanese girl. The one in the middle. Got a sword on you?"

By the low metallic sound, Tonbo was doing that thing from the movies where the samurai thumbed their swords out of their sheathes slightly—Reiko knew that there was a technical term for it, but she wasn't entirely sure what it was. The woman laughed.

"Hah! Thought so!" she grinned. "Been a long time! Ah… 1890's, I believe?"

Tonbo frowned, shaking her head. "I'm sorry," she admitted, "but that was a bad decade for me."

"Oh, really?" The woman was not crestfallen per se, but definitely disappointed. "You threw me in a snake pit."

"I've thrown a lot of people into snake pits."

The sad part was that, if it were anyone else who said it, Reiko would have thought the sentence a non-sequitur. The woman hummed thoughtfully, tapping a finger to her chin.

"Well, you've got a little while to think it over," she said finally, flopping back down onto the couch. "You were pretty cool before things went to hell in a handbasket—whether you remember it or not, you've earned a freebie."

"I don't suppose that would entail a little more information?" Tatsuya cut in frostily.

"Heh! Sorry, but no." The woman threw her head back, draining her bottle of soda, then leaned forward. "I'm not that dumb. Let's make it… the kid lives."

"That's not vague at all," Benio pointed out cheerfully, gesturing around the room.

"The little kid." The woman gestured to Sam. Jeffrey immediately took his step forward, putting himself in front of her defensively. "Don't want to go killing any children—I avoid it if I can, so I'll take the chance where it's offered."

Benio dropped to her knees, widening her eyes. "Pweeease, Missus!" she whined with an exaggerated lisp. "We'we awe chiwdwen hewe! Pwease don't hurt uuuus!"

The woman laughed loudly, a deep, belly laugh that left her gasping for air for a few moments. "I like you!" she chuckled, before turning serious again and shaking her head. "But… no. You lot… you've taken up weapons to fight, and by the way you're standing around me you've done it more or less of your own free will. As far as I'm concerned, that makes you adults."

"And adults have to own up to the crimes of only one of them," Tatsuya continued dryly as he glanced over at McKay.

"They deserved it," she said, catching his attention. So far from unapologetic, she actually sounded just a bit mocking.

"… Because the victims were with you somehow?" he continued, undeterred.

The woman sighed and nodded. "Funny and smart," she noted, glancing between Tatsuya and Benio. "You two work pretty well off each other." Despite the fact that this woman was openly planning on killing them, Reiko felt herself bristle just a bit. With that, she felt her eyes boring into her. "Oho? And not just one… I'm honestly impressed with you, boy."

"Yes, my life is a bad manga," Tatsuya replied, voice squashed flat by impatience. "Can we get on with it already?"

"… And nothing like Ian." This came out almost like an afterthought. "Shame, that. World could always use another Ian Potter."

The name didn't really mean much to Reiko, but she noticed that Benio (standing again, slouching in that "zero-to-murder" ready way that the jorogumo hadn't mastered yet) twitched slightly at this. "Ian Potter?" she repeated slowly, thoughtfully. "I seem to recall that name from somewhere…"

"Yeah, he and I were…" the woman shrugged ruefully. "I wanted to get the whole Batman-Catwoman thing on, he wanted to bring me home to mother, we fought, the train derailed, everything was on fire, and I ended up spending a month digging through that canyon for my goddamn true body." She sighed. "Things didn't work out. Shame, really."

"Holy War Sword of the Scythians."

This came from Tonbo—maybe the short rant had sparked a memory? Reiko noted that her tone wasn't warm enthusiasm for an old friend, but quietly grim. The woman—a sword?—laughed happily.

"You did remember eventually!" she grinned.

"Only a little bit," Tonbo replied evenly, sliding into a ready position. "Transylvania. Vampire village. You were trying to sell me on a plan—" Reiko skipped to one side and slapped her hands over Sam's ears. "—conquer the world."

"And you're still running your mouth without thinking," the Holy War Sword (Scythia sounded good, right? That way there wouldn't be any time wasted thinking the whole thing) said, glancing over at Reiko and Sam. She gave an approving nod before turning her attention back to Tonbo. "You still sure you don't want in? I could probably spare you if you did."

Tonbo planted a hand on her hilt. "If you're still trying to make that offer," she grit out, "then you never understood me the way you claimed you did."

Scythia looked at her a moment longer before reaching up to run a hand through her bangs. "No, guess I don't," she admitted. "Shame, that. I'd really love to have you watching my back."

Reiko didn't listen any further. With Sam struggling free of her hands, she shifted them down to the younger girl's shoulders and began to walk quickly backwards. Despite Sam's protests, she maneuvered the two of them out the door, leaning around to kick the door closed.

Not ten seconds later a sharp report and a shattering window signaled the beginning of another fight.
-----

Well what do you think, sirs?

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Looking up from the book he was reading, Bill let a smile bloom on his face and he tipped his hat at seeing who came through the doors, "Hey there, Tsukiakari."

Just smiling, the sword giggled a bit, "Hello, Bill." Glancing around the lower floor of the old Potter Mill house, she noted that the others were also there, "Hmm? Why did Senpai call all of us here?"

A frown on her own face, Dracul huffed a bit, "We were wondering if you knew. She pulled all of us off of guard duty for some reason!"

With a slightly bemused smile, Xing raised an eyebrow, "Did she pull you away from your singing perhaps? After all, you nearly killed the Betrayer, so I doubt that he will be returning there anytime soon."

Arms crossed, Feng scowled at nothing in particular, "More the pity."

Dracul poured some and nodded, "She did! And I was getting better at it!" Head hanging, she huffed some as Cathy patted her back to comfort her, "No fair, just as I was thinking this awesome song."

Scratching her chin, Vala hummed, "Well, I suppose that it is better than that one time with Johann Potter of the German Branch?" Ignoring the increasingly flustered look on the spear's face, she continued, "She attempted to block him and his wife from coming to a marriage here in Britain. That was, until he vanished his clothes and drove her off. Never seen her so flustered befor-"

The Sword/Shield found herself cut off as Dracul had launched herself across and slapped her hands over Vala's mouth, "YOU SWORE THAT YOU WOULD NEVER MENTION THAT!"

While the Germanic blade shrugged, the French sword frowned, "Wasn't he a son of a Potter and Malfoy? Or was it a Du Chasteler? Hence his blonde hair?"

Face red, Dracul looked at her, "SUBJECT CHANGE, NOW!"

The various others all looked amused at her reaction before the door opened and Goldie strode in, "HA! Hello this fine night my Amici! It does me good to see you all here, Umu!"

Softly giggling. Tsukiakari only nodded as Goldie flopped onto one of the recliners as if it was a throne, "Hello, Goldie."

A smirk on her face, the Roman blade nodded to her, "And hello to you as well, Young One! And how does things go with Praetor?"

Only shrugging, Tsukiakari shook her head, "Master is doing well in his studies and I have been telling him tales of his family. Or what I know of it anyways..." Chewing her lip, she frowned a bit before sighing, "Which is not too much, I'm afraid compared to any of you."

Head tilted to the side, the Roman blade hummed before clapping her on the shoulder, "Bah! You know enough for Praetor! And I can tell that he has gotten to know our family more through you." Suddenly, Goldie turned and grinned, "You can now come in and explain why we are all here, Juuchi! For you must have a reason, Umu!"

The front door opened and everyone hid a slight smile at the disgruntled look on the Muramasa's face. However, Juuchi simply sat down and grunted a bit which got their attention. Sharing a look with the others, Catherine frowned, "Juuchi? Is something wrong with young Harry?"

Just snorting, Juuchi shook her head, "No, nothing is wrong with our Master..." Pausing, she sighed before looking over her shoulder towards the kitchen, "Okay you three, you need to come over here and hear this."

Blinking, the two sets of knives and one knife box looked at each other before cleaning off their hands and walking over. Once they sat down, the first one to speak was Sabah in her soft, quiet tone, "Juuchi, What is wrong with our Master?"

With a sigh, Juuchi ran a hand through her hair before frowning, "Does the name Trelawney ring a bell for any of you?"

Tsukiakari blinked at that and frowned for a moment, "Trelawney? Yes, Master Henry knew of a Cassandra Trelawney in school. She was a Seer of great renown." Considering things, she tapped her chin, "I think that Master Henry had her over a few times when they were in school and, um..." After a moment, the Kyu Gunto shrugged, "Well, she was a Seer and I remember one prophecy she made which actually sounds like it came true regarding the Abyssals."

Everyone stared at her before Catherine coughed, "I, too, know of the Trelawney family. They have produced seers with some regularity I believe."

Juuchi shrugged a bit and shoved her thoughts regarding Henry into the back of her mind. Best not to deal with them now, "Well, the current one, Sybil, is... well, acts like a fraud most of the time. As one of those fortune tellers at a carnival. But it seems she has given prophecies at least once before last night..."

Quickly, she explained what she overheard the night before from where her true self had been hanging from her sister's waist. After she was finished, the room lapsed into silence for a time. Finally though, Carnwennan spoke up with a sigh, "So, it seems, that this Voldemort is rising once more. And from what that prophecy stated, Peter is out of our reach for now."

The Muramasa grimaced, but nodded just the same, "It would seem so. And none of you have reported him attempting to reach one of the bolt holes for some time."

Glancing around, Sheff cleared his throat and got their attention, "While I am unsure what I, or Saki, could do... perhaps we should make some plans just in case."

About to comment, Juuchi blinked as Sabah stood up and walked towards the door, "Sabah? And where might you be going?"

The Arabic woman turned and looked at her before smiling, "I am going to get two others that may be able to help, though I would ask for you to come Tsukiakari for one of them."

Perplexed, the Kyu Gunto nodded and followed her. The others just sat there and chatted among themselves for a time while they waited. Granted, Juuchi was getting more and more irritated by a certain sword and her Umus even as Kansha looked on in amusement.

However, thankfully for everyone, it was not too long before Tsukiakari and Sabah returned. Granted, they brought along some items. In Tsukiakari's case, it was a Bayonet blade modified with a hilt. Said blade manifested as someone who was either a boyish girl, or a girlish boy, dressed in the uniform of a WWI British Army soldier. Tipping the brim of their hat, they smiled, though Juuchi noted that they had the same green eyes as their Master, Harry did, "Good evening, name's Nightbane."

Everyone than turned their attention to the massive shield that Sabah had brought in. It had a circular part behind a larger cross shaped bit. Though they noted that the shield boss had seven small circles around it which were made of a black stone. Sparkles gathered from said stones and formed into a purple haired female that had blackish armour over her body. Looking at her, Kansha frowned, 'Why... do I have the sudden thought of doing something with eggplants?'

With a slight bow, the shield-woman smiled a bit, "Um, hello, I'm Andraste."

For several moments no one said anything before Juuchi facepalmed, "I cannot believe that I forgot about you."

Lightly blushing, Tsukiakari nodded some, "As did I..." Turning, she gave a bow to the purple haired spirit, "I am sorry about that, Andraste-Senpai..."

Only waving her arms, Andraste shook her head, "No, no, it is fine. Besides..." Scratching her cheek, she weakly smiled, "I have not been out and about for some time."

Beside her, Sabah smiled, "And that is something that we need to change." Turning to the others, she continued, "When it comes to possible protection, Andraste is the best. After all, the enchantments on her prevent her user from suffering from poison, disease, and spells that would harm one." A slight smirk crossed her face, "As my original master found out... it was quite a shock when the poison on my blade failed to kill Hadrian Potter. Giving him the time to kill my original Master."

The Kyu Gunto had a thoughtful look on her face, "Um, Andraste-Senpai? Can I ask you something..." Getting a nod, she continued, "Is it true that your body was made from a meteor? And that the stones in your shield is from..."

Softly smiling, Andraste chuckled, "From the stone from which Caliburn was pulled? Yes, they do come from that." Blushing, she stroked over the stones which softly glowed, "The shield was a gift to Hadrian before he set out for the Crusades from his mother... the leader of the local Fae. She had me forged to protect him." Glancing down at Sabah, she hummed some, "Which I did."

Raising his hand, Bill frowned, "That is lovely and all, though I do have to wonder how exactly you are supposed to help the Kid. Because no offense, but you are rather large..."

In reply, Andraste lifted her true from easily, "Special spells so that a Potter, or myself, can easily hold it as if it was made with wood at most. Also..." Tapping the boss and the stones, they watched as the shield folded in on itself until it took the form of an bracer on her arm, "I don't have to be fully out to protect."

For several moments, those who did not know her stared before they shared looks. Bill then shrugged some, "Objection withdrawn."

Guided over to the couch, Andraste sat down with Nightbane beside her. Looking around, the purple haired maiden frowned and looked around, "Um... so what is going on?"

Moments later, Sabah sat in her lap causing her to blush. It may have been a surprise, but the two of them had become very close friends since the Crusades, arguably almost sisters in some ways. Leaning forward, Juuchi took a deep breath before explaining everything, with the two new spirits listening. Once she was done, Nightbane frowned with a grimace, "Well, that is rather lovely..." Turning to her, the Bayonet continued, "Any idea as to what we should do?"

Tsukiakari frowned some before nodding, "Well... there is one thing." Getting looks of interest, she bit her lip briefly, "We need some transportation. And there is money in the various bolt holes that we could use. I... do not think that Mistress Lily would mind in this case."

Scratching his chin, Carnwennan hummed, "That is a good idea. In fact, I was planning on getting a vehicle as I now have a driver's license."

With a blink, Juuchi turned to him, "A license? And what sort of car would you even drive?"

The Arthurian blade smiled a bit, "Why, I am going to buy myself a Mini."

Disbelief on her face, Juuchi boggled at him, "... Why would you buy yourself a Mini? Of all the cars possible..."

Just blinking, Carnwennan frowned some, "Why wouldn't I? It is a British car and I have heard that they are quite good. Perhaps in blue..." Turning, he looked at Tsukiakari, "What do you think, granddaughter?"

Softly giggling, the Kyu Gunto nodded, "I think that it would fit you, Grandfather." She then shrugged, "I think that I will have a look at some of the things that Henry brought back. Um, I sort of like motorcycles and I am certain he brought some military ones back from Europe after the war."

For the next hour or so, the various weapon, and one shield, spirits made plans. At the end of which, they split up with them leaving, only for Tsukiakari to pause and walk over to Goldie who raised an eyebrow with a small smile, "Is something wrong, Umu?"

Cocking her head to the side, Tsukiakari frowned, "May I ask you something, Goldie...?" At her nod, she continued, "Where did you learn the word Umu? And why do you say it so often?"

With a glance around, Goldie smiled a bit, "I learned the word from Juuchi as a matter of fact one day. She said it and I liked the word, especially after she explained it. As for why I say it..." Her smile became a smug smirk, "She seems to have this odd twitch when I do so... Umu."

Blinking, Tsukiakari stared at her before giggling madly, which was met with snickers.

 

[darthcourt10]

RCNAnon

Ron, Duke and Warspite 15 – Summer Interlude

Summer didn't know why she was away from the new base her Yardmaster had recently taken control of with the help of his fleet but she did know that they'd asked for her specifically. The Yardmaster, whom she should have told was her Yardmaster despite how embarrassing that was damn it all to the Abyss, had just left for further training. She didn't think he needed more training but everyone else seemed to so she didn't argue.

Instead the day after he left she'd been told by Victoria, who was probably the least scary person she knew outside of the Yardmaster, that some of the men who worked with the fleet were coming to take her back to where she'd signed the papers that said they wouldn't hurt her. There was something they needed her to do and it would make them happy, therefore it would make the Yardmaster happy.

Perhaps if he was happy he'd come back sooner.

Thankfully she had Angie, the not installation not ship, to come along with her. They weren't sure if she could help with the problem or not but there was probably something for her to do there. Summer liked Angie since she helped fix things like she did and didn't want to hurt her. The somewhat familiar presence was nice since Warspite, she of the Shiny New Engineering Spaces, and Duke of York, she of the Turret Fixing, were not available.

Angie had fallen asleep though and Summer had decided that perhaps she should do the same. It was simply unfortunate that Summer didn't need much sleep and therefore the ride was only cut short by a bit instead of all of it. She wasn't even sure where she was until the large truck they were in came to a stop and a familiar face opened up the rear gate.

"Hello Summer." Duke of York looked like she needed a brief refit and full fuel tanks but she was otherwise fine. "Thank you for coming."

"Y-you're welcome." Summer moved carefully out of the truck, as Angie came awake behind her.

"We need you to help fix someone." Duke said, her voice much less scary than it had been the first few times that they'd met. "And if it's possible we'd like you to try and do something we haven't had the chance to do before."

Summer followed Duke towards a building which was surrounded by men with little weapons. They weren't going to hurt her but she was still a little nervous anyway. Thankfully they let her and Duke through without an issue and they went into the big building.

Inside there was a sister ship of the Turret Fixing class and a few others she didn't recognize. Not that she'd recognize most of them anyway since she was still getting used to the whole names thing in the first place. Thankfully the Yardmaster had given her one and his was easy to remember.

They were all surrounding several more humans that seemed to be working on something…

Pain as a hand pulled down her down by her hair, only to smack her across the face.

"I don't want excuses Installation! I want results! We need more forces to fight off the humans!"

Why didn't they understand she simply couldn't do what they were asking? She needed resources to fix things! Not the scraps of their own sister ships and leavings off of human wrecks already picked over!

"I expect you to have another Wo class back in action by the time I return or it'll be worse for you!"

An accompanying growl as the Battleship Princess turned, her massive rig following behind.

"Summer? Summer are you ok?" Duke's voice finally cut through Summers mind, even as her hat was already over her face.

"S-s-scary…" Summer stared at the unconscious Battleship Princess on the table, damage of a major sort clearly visible to her.

Duke turned to look at the unconscious Abyssal and then back to Summer. Her face wrestled with something and then she placed a hand gently on her arm.

"She's not going to hurt you Summer, that's what we're here for." Duke gestured around to the various other girls. "It's also what we were going to ask you to try. To make her unable to hurt you."

"W-what?" Though Summer had plenty of experience with the Yardmaster being nice to her and the people the Yardmaster said would be nice to her, she had plenty of past experience that said other abyssals would not be. Much as that experience was vague and hazy.

"There's a thing humans do when they ah, put old ships into a museum. They call it "Demilitarization" and it involves making the guns not work. Except you don't damage the main structure, just the internals." Duke explained carefully to Summer, making sure to meet her eyes.

Summer wasn't exactly sure what a museum was but it sounded important if you put elderly ships there. The rest…

She'd never thought of doing such things herself but it was perfectly possible. Of course she'd never worked for people who didn't want to hurt others more before either so that made sense. Small connections were made as her shades began to try and implement the idea with what she knew of repairing a Battleship Princess.

"I can do that." A firm answer, her engineers in charge for the moment and knowing what they could and couldn't do.

Duke nodded and smiled slightly. "Good. Good." She looked over at the Princess. "Otherwise we're pretty sure she broke her back, literally. She's stable for now but..."

Summer knew what that meant. They weren't sure how long she'd last without being repaired. In truth Summer herself wasn't sure how long the other Princess would last without repair. A broken keel was nothing to scoff at even for a Princess and it'd been hours at the very least.

"We have supplies if you need them and if you need something else we can try and get it. We really want to speak with her regarding some things that happened up north, so even if it's only for a little while we need her awake."

Summer nodded and finally moved towards the other Princess. A pool of water had been provided in the form of a large tub and there was steel, oil and other miscellaneous items around that she could use. The Yardmaster's allies knew what you needed to fix somebody.

"Time to fix." Summer spoke to nobody in particular as she summoned her rig, reaching out to carefully cradle the Battleship Princess and lower her into the water as her engineers began to swarm outward and cranes were deployed. This would take some time but initial reports were promising and the little shooter people deployed by Duke and the other Turret Fixing class were quite helpful in keeping the other Princess' shades out of the way. Always so bossy when she was working.

Summer settled in for her work, humming a little tune that had no name as Duke and the others watched.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Brigid opened her eyes slowly and with great difficulty. She'd never expected them to open again once Noreen left but it was happening. It wasn't even really her choice at the moment since everything seemed to hurt but her boilers were coming back online.

Everything was blurry at first until she managed to blink a few times and a face came into view. White, with flaming blue eyes and white hair that dangled over her shoulder. It took her a minute to parse through her recognition tables but it was clearly an Installation. Nigh useless things until you were damaged… then you needed them terribly. She wasn't sure where in the abyss this one had come from but any port in a storm.

She started to open her mouth but the Installation beat her to it. She'd expected a report on her status or a demand of fealty for further repair.

It was unfortunately neither.

"Duke. She woke up." The installation looked up and over at somebody else nearby. Duke? That was a strange name for…

Another head came into view as she turned her viewpoint slightly. Blonde, proper blonde and full of color. Not friendly.

She tried to call her crew to alert stations and summon her rig.

Nothing happened. Not even a shimmer. She struggled for why and finally recognized that she'd been boarded.

The ship girl looked at her, then to the installation.

"Did it work Summer?"

Summer? Who was Summer?

"Yes. All guns disabled." The installation looked pleased for some reason. Wait… who named an installation?

As her mind grasped for purchase like a propeller out of water, her crew finally reported in. Structural integrity compromised. Boarders in control of her bridge, engineering spaces and weapons. All munitions removed and the unknown shade engineers had done something to her weapons so they were as good as useless even if they'd had ammunition. She couldn't even make steam without permission and presuming she could, she'd more than likely break herself in half trying.

Brigid's eyes flared in both anger and humiliation, her arm raising shakily towards the Royal Navy girl.

"W-what did you do to me?!?" Her voice was a mix of pain, anger and embarrassment she couldn't disguise.

"We saved your life." The other battleship, there was no way she could be anything else, leaned in closely and held up some transcribed papers. "You know things we want more information on. If you cooperate we'll see about getting Summer to fix you fully. If not..." She shrugged.

Brigid grit her teeth. She knew what some of her more idiotic and headstrong kin would do in this situation. Of course there was a reason most of them were dead.

So she forced down her gorge and promised herself that she'd get out of this one way or another to repay the humiliation in full.

"What do you want to know?"

The Royal Navy battleship smiled at her.

"We have unconfirmed reports of strange activity in the north. Your crew reports something about "demons" and..."

As the exceedingly polite interrogation began, Brigid forced down her anger and tried to conserve energy. She would have to wait for a good moment to escape and she'd need every scrap she could get. Her eyes glanced to the installation and part of her smiled. Installations were easily cowed, so she just needed to get her alone for an hour or two…

Plans formed in dark places away from her captors eyes, simply waiting for a chance to be implemented.
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
AN: View point switch and I'm officially out of Summer break!

Now to catch up to New Years!

Questions and comments welcome as always.

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

There are Two Kinds of Fools (Part I)...

Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
Spoiler: A Visit With Fuji-san

The local passenger train doors opened and Colombe stepped out of the train that she and Tokunotakai had spent the last three hours riding on. Hefting her space increased and reduced weight enchanted mountaineering backpack (purchased and then enchanted in preparation for this trip) she stepped out to the platform and adjusted her wire-rimmed glasses (plain glass) a bit on her nose. Combined with the sweatshirt showing her support of Germany's World Cup soccer team (a gift from Ehren who was a convert to the cause of Deutschland über alles im Fußball) and with her hair in twin French Braids on either side of her head, she was a far cry from the 'criminal' who had helped destroy Aunt Akutoku's car seven months ago.
Spoiler: Colombe's Sweatshirt

Tokunotakai joined her, dressed in a crimson All-Japan Kendo Federation sweatshirt, and with her own backpack. With a white Yokohama Baystars baseball cap on her head, she looked like a college student out for a vacation rather than a National Treasure of Japan.
Spoiler: Toku's Threads

The Masamune grinned at the Muramasa as they made their way to the stairs down to street level. "I have to thank you for the clothing gift. It fits."

Colombe smiled and spoke back in German accented English. "Thank Ehren. I asked her to go online and find something that you would like and she dug that up. Her skills of searching for information are..." Colombe's voice hushed as they stepped outside and she saw the bulk of Mount Fuji towering seven miles distant from where she stood. "...impressive."
Spoiler: Gotemba

"Hai. I made reservations for us at a local inn in Subashiri, halfway to Fuji-san." Toku bowed her head in respect to the awaiting mountain. "Would you prefer to hire a taxi, or walk, Co-chan?"

Colombe squared her shoulders. "Let's walk, To-chan. I think... it just feels right here."

"Agreed." With that the two swords made their way through the town, and then up the road paralleling the Oyamasanyo River flowing from the mountain.

-------------------------------

As they passed through farmland, Colombe idly spoke. "The last time I climbed a mountain.... Would have been 1897 I suppose. When I was walking out of the Congo, I had that mountain range in my way. I don't remember too much about that, honestly, those days all blurred together. I never really climbed to test myself."

Toku spoke softly as they paused to drink from their canteens. "I see. I had always wanted to make a pilgrimage to climb Fuji-san, but never did before. My duties prohibited me, or so I thought."

Colombe glanced at Toku. "And yet now you are doing so. You mentioned that you had gotten permission to travel outside the Shrine. I'm glad that you invited me along."

Toku nibbled her lip and then nodded. "Yes, after you departed from the Shrine after our first time, I petitioned Hachiman to modify my responsibilities. He gave His approval and suggested for me to travel and fight alongside you."

Colombe looked at Toku as a happy smile lit up the Masamune's face. "Along with other matters. He suggested that just like I am to learn the ways of the outside world from you, you should learn the ways of the inward world of the spirit from me, Co-chan. Apparently, He has a task ahead that involves us both to set right."

Colombe pursed her lips and nodded. "I... see. I certainly have no objection to teaching you what I know, nor learning from you, I envy your inner peace, truth be told."

Toku shrugged her shoulders as they continued their walk toward Mount Fuji. "Just like I envy your confidence and determination born of your experiences. We are two sides of the same coin, it seems." She smiled shyly as they reached the bridge leading into Subashiri. "I also spoke to my elder sisters about my decision to travel with you. Both Kotegiri and Honjo expressed support, eventually. Each of them will wish to meet with you privately, I suspect to remind you of the consequences of toying with my heart. Foolishness on their part, I know that your heart is pure and true, but such is the prerogative of the elder members of the family when the youngest finds love."

Colombe shrugged. "I'll listen, of course, since I plan to stay with you as long as I can, and they are your family. Family's important. Ah... speaking of family, Fudo still disapproves of us?"

Tokunotakai frowned as they turned left at the post office. "Unfortunately, yes. Fudo is... stubborn." The Masamune hesitated, clearly picking her words with some care. "She feels incorrectly that she has much to prove and that I need her protection. She is a good person, and has many positive characteristics, although sometimes it is difficult to discern them."

Colombe laughed in agreement, "Sisters! Sometimes you just want to throttle them, but I would not trade mine for the world."

"Nor would I, Co-chan. Even if she can infuriate me from time to time."

-----------------------------

Toku smiled, then pointed to their hotel. "Let us check in, and then we passed an izakaya a block ago. We can have dinner there."

Colombe slowly nodded. "What is an izakaya?"

The Masamune bowed to the proprietor of the bed and breakfast and acquired the key. "It is a neighborhood tavern. Food and alcohol can be gotten there."

"Ah!" Colombe's eyes lit up. "That makes sense, and I have been in my share of taverns over the years. I did not see it when we passed, what did I miss?"

Toku smiled and stretched as she dropped her pack in their small and tidy room. "The red akachōchin lantern out front indicated that they are open for business."

Colombe blinked and then placed her own pack beside Toku's, before gathering the Masamune in her arms for a kiss. "I see that I will have to study under your attention, Toku-sensei, to improve my understanding of Japanese culture. In the West, red lanterns and red lights were used to show a place where prostitutes were available. Different meaning here."

Toku returned the kiss and melted in her girlfriend's arms. "Which I shall have to learn when we leave the Land of the Gods. Just as you are learning from me now, I shall have to learn from you. Now, let us speak Nihongo tonight to improve your understanding of my homeland."

"Hai, Toku-sensei." Colombe responded in carefully enunciated Japanese as she swapped languages while she pulled her rapier body from her pack and slid it into a space-expanded purse carefully.

"Nihongo ga jōtatsu shite iru. (Good, your Japanese is improving)" Toku said as she slid her true self into her own space-expanded purse.

-----------------------------
Spoiler: Heart of a Dove

The next morning, Tokunotakai woke up first for a change. She blinked sleep out of her eyes and then focused on the sleeping woman in her arms.

Awake, Colombe was full of smug self-confidence, almost well past the point of brash arrogance. Her lips curled at the memory of her first sight of her love in 1864, remembering that smirk that somehow broadcast a challenge to her to take her best shot at the Muramasa who had shown up in her shrine.

Toku's smile widened as she remembered the look in Colombe's eyes after their second fight. The hard-won respect for her skills and power and acceptance that on that day, the Masamune had proven the stronger opponent, and the natural automatic response to push herself harder to exceed the standard that Toku had just set.

"I demand a rematch" indeed. You hate to lose, but that is good, because so do I. And the challenge whets our appetites for more than we could do alone.

Asleep, though, was a different Colombe than the infuriatingly wonderfully strong and passionate survivor of centuries of war. Colombe asleep in her arms was peaceful, vulnerable almost. Like a scared little girl who was clinging to her parent for reassurance that the monster in her closet would not get her, that she had done well that day.

Tokunotakai felt her heart go out to this Colombe. She wanted to do nothing more than comfort and protect her, and put balm on the woulds in her spirit that few ever suspected bled under the armor of smug self-confident superiority.

Shen gently placed a kiss on Colombe's forehead, feeling her love relax minutely as a single crystal tear trickled down her cheek.

From what Colombe had revealed about her past, about her adopted family, she suspected that the little girl in her arms might be the true Colombe. Her mother had died in childbirth, and her father had not known of her existence for three centuries. While she was close to her adopted father, and spoke of him with love, Toku had sensed a certain very well hidden melancholy regret in those words and memories; Colombe knowing deep down that she was not the daughter of her Papa's blood, but merely of his choice.

A choice that she had sworn to herself to prove right by her actions. Tokunotakai had no doubt that wherever in the afterlife her Papa was, he was sure that he had made the right choice in adopting her. Not that Colombe totally believed that she had proved her Papa right, but instead used that burning need to prove herself, the need to live up to what her Papa had seen in her as the fuel for her life.

As Colombe slowly stirred, Toku's smile grew warmer and more loving.

She was also certain that few of the many, many souls who Colombe had met, fought alongside, bled with, and made love to had ever been permitted to see Colombe d'Aubigny-Muramasa du Chasteler with her guard fully down like now. Lyra and Ian Potter certainly, her adopted father definitely, but... few others indeed.

Toku was not sure that even her sisters Jacklyn and Delilah or her daughters Ehren and Claire had seen her like she was now.

Just as none of her own sisters had seen the intensely frustrated painful depths under the matching armor of placid acceptance and humble service of Masamune-no-Tokunotakai.

Fudo had perhaps come closest that awful night in 1945, sensing her bitter regrets at her futile failed efforts to stop the slide into the Pacific War. Sensing how she had railed against the chains of duty that bound her in Kamakura as Tokyo burned with her sisters in it, how her faith had wavered, how her fears and worries had tormented her. How she had confessed to Masamune-no-Fudo as Fudo lay wounded in her room after the firebombing that despite their differences of philosophy, of temperament, of experiences, that she loved Fudo deeply as a sister should and that a world without her brash, hotheaded, stubborn, infuriatingly annoying sister would be one that Tokunotaki would not wish to live in.

Just as, she mused, Fudo perhaps thought equally of her....

"Ohaiyo Gozaimasu, To-chan~."

Toku refocused on the now-awake face of Colombe as mischief danced in the crystal blue of the Muramasa's eyes. Her lips opened in automatic response to the teasing words wishing her a good day, only to be invaded by a questing tongue as Colombe drove all further musings from her brain with the first passionate kiss.

Tokunotakai did not mind the distraction in the least.

 

[darthcourt10]

mikelima777

For the purposes of chronology, the Convoy began their voyage from Kushiro after Christmas, departing on December 26, 2013

(December 30, 2013)

Avrora, Aleutian Islands

The main island of the Fleet of Laughter, once the home of a despotic Russian Wizard, was now hosting over two dozen vessels making a stop on their trans-Pacific voyage. while in the past such voyages were common, the Abyssal War had made such voyages perilous without sufficient escorts.

Following communications and negotiations with the Fleet of Laughter, the convoy was to spend two nights off Avrora Island under the protection of Hoppou's children. While the Aleutian corridor was now mostly free of hostile abyssals, the hope was for Avrora to be a safe haven for merchant ships, particularly during the winter months.

Over the region, aircraft from the abyssal carriers, as well as Ritou and Patty, kept a careful watch over the airspace above Avrora and the convoy sitting under their protection. To avoid confusion with hostile abyssals and to avoid confusion, the Fleet of Laughter had their mechanics modify their aircraft to glow red and green on the left and right sides of each plane, mimicking the navigation lights on human and shipgirl aircraft.

The Wardens spent much of the two days with their sisters. While none of the Wardens had yet to turn into princesses or demons, Tanith and the other leaders of the Fleet of Laughter had their suspicions about Tandy. The Ta-class battleship before the scattering was known as one of Tanith's younger sisters, who had volunteered to lead the abyssals watching over HMCS Regina and her crew. The oddest thing was the protrusion on Tandy's forehead started to split. There was also what felt like felt forming on the surface of the strange horn. The barbette-sized hole between her aft turret and superstructure was now covered in tarps and scaffolding, with the sounds of construction, welding, and other noises.

Patty and Ritou helped build replacement aircraft for Wonda and Numa, though much to the installations' surprise, the aircraft looked remarkably less abyssal then expected, with navigation lights fitted as standard and marked with Canadian roundels. There was some amusement thanks to one of the Warden destroyers. Little Dipper had eagerly dragged the human she regularly hung out with for a nice walk on the island, while other members of the FoL played with the children from HMCS Regina. Today, Tandy spent some time with her daughter; Natasha nervously made her first steps on water, her brother and father cheering her on.

The humans were going to stay tomorrow as well to watch fireworks that were certainly not smuggled out of Japan by some bored sailors and a few abyssal co-conspirators, as well as more fireworks that weren't supposed to be on a container ship bound for Seattle. The humans intended to party on as they celebrated the new year.

The convoy would resume the voyage with the hope to reach the Port of Vancouver by the 20th of January.

 

[darthcourt10]

Harry Leferts

Around her, everything... was dark.

It wrapped around her entire being, whatever she was. Darkness was the only thing that she could see and feel at first. It was not a warm darkness, nor was it a cold darkness.

The darkness simply was.

Eventually, she felt something. Her body felt heavy in some way, as if it was made of stone or metal. Immovable. At least she knew that she was a she now. A woman, the word drifted up from the depths of her consciousness supplied to her. But still, her body would not respond even as she slowly felt more. It was not that she felt pain, not really. Or at least not something that felt like pain.

Something else drifted up from her mind, from the murky depths. Her body felt like it had when she had slept in uncomfortable conditions in the wilderness. A stiffness, but no pain accompanying it. Nor any cold as it were. But the darkness was ever present.

Finally, she could hear something.

Whatever it was, that something was muffled. Incomprehensible as she was currently. As if... as if she was hearing it from far beneath the ways. Despite that, she could tell that one voice was male and the other was female. The female one tickled something within her mind. Memories that were currently impossible to grasp even with her slowly clearing consciousness.

However, she suddenly felt something deep inside her, like... a spark.

Yes, a spark, that was the word.

The spark was followed by another feeling, one that confused her greatly to no end. Something told her that it was important, even as the voices became clearer. The odd feeling was inside her, deep inside her... chest? What? What was...

*Thump-thump*

Another word rose up in her mind, Heartbeat. Yes! Heartbeat! That was her heart beating! Even now, she could feel something moving along her body, warming her... blood! Her blood was now flowing! There was an elation of sorts that drifted through her mind, telling her that this was somehow important.

Moments later, she finally felt pain as her chest expanded and her lungs filled for the first time with air. Eyes snapping open for the first time with light shooting into them, the woman coughed and hacked as her lungs expanded and contracted for the first time in... how long? But it also hurt.

Her blurry, though clearing vision was suddenly taken up by a face of a woman, a beautiful one. And one that was achingly familiar in some manner. She could feel hands on her shoulders as she sucked in air and expelled it in coughs, "There, there, Atalanta! It is okay... everything is okay... just relax."

Rapidly blinking, the woman blinked. Atalanta? Was... was that her name? Yes! Yes her name was Atalanta! And... and the woman above her was.... "Medea."

A brilliant smile appeared on Medea's face as tears began to run down her face, "Yes... yes, its me, Medea, Atalanta. Welcome back."

Confused, Atalanta furrowed her eyebrows, 'Back? I... where did I...' Moments later, her eyes widened as memories rushed in. Her life, the voyage of the Argonauts, meeting Medea and becoming close friends, nearly sisters with her. The boar hunt with Meleager and what had happened there. Her father attempting to get her married, her challenge. When she met Hippomenes and fell in love with him, and how she did not mind much how he cheated. Their marriage to each other and their first night together...

How on the way to his home, outside a cave both of them were overcome with unnatural lust for each other. Tearing off each others clothes, even as their minds attempted to stop themselves, but were too buried under their lustful needs. Their slow transformation into lions and their lives afterwards...

Medea coming across them and using her magic to calm them. The Sorceress even calling her Aunt Circe to help, only for the Demigoddess to state there was nothing that she could do for them. All the attempts to change them back as she grew older and older. Hippomenes death of old age...

When she died, held in her friends arms as the other woman wept and wailed about how sorry she was. How she had failed her only true friend in the world. The woman's near legendary beauty marred by her grief and sorrow, covered in salty tears and discharge from her nose as she held the elderly lioness close. And how, just before her last breaths, a small bit of her, Atalanta's, human self managed to rise up enough to lick away the tears on her friend's face before laying down and closing her eyes as her heart beat the final time...

This all went through Atalanta's mind and she jerked in her friend's grasp, eyes wild with panic, "MEDEA! What, where-"

Hands firm, Medea held her, "Calm down, Atalanta. Everything..." With one hand, she began to stroke her friend's head, "Everything is fine. It is fine, you are safe."

A male voice spoke up a bit with humour, "Well, at least for now considering what you have gotten into. And what she did when she was last, well, you know."

Frowning, Medea looked at the tall man who had an amused smirk on her face, "That is enough, Hades."

Yet again, Atalanta felt a bit of panic at that before resignation set in as she looked around. The "Room" they were in was obviously in some sort of cavern, the work hewn into something approaching a temple-like structure. Gemstones, gold, silver, copper, and bronze made their ways along the wall in beautiful murals. Her senses told her that they were deep underground which made Atalanta sigh, "So we are in Hades, then." At the nod, she continued as she felt tears prickle at her eyes, "Then we are dead as well, Medea. You are dead."

Blinking, the Sorceress stared at her for a few moments before the God of the Underworld laughed uproariously, "Dead? Hardly! Not after the negotiations that Medea here had with those of us who are gods." Much to Atalanta's shock, Hades gave her friend a look of pure respect, "She drove a hard bargain to aid us, one which included bringing you back."

Jaw dropping, Atalatana looked down at her hands, Slowly, she clenched them and unclenched them, "I... am alive? You..." Looking up at Medea, she stared for a moment, "You managed to convince the gods to let me live again?"

Slowly, Medea nodded with a relieved look, though there was a look in her eyes, "I did. Zeus is unhappy as are... certain others. But I gave them no choice in the matter if they wished for my services. And I have also made it so that they cannot interfere for some time."

Understanding just how much of a risk her friend took, and for her, Atalanta gave her friend a silent question. One that was answered without any words, just a look of her own and made the Huntress feel a burst of appreciation for her friend even though there was a hint of worry.

Because the Olympians never took being shown up well.

However, that was something to worry about at another day. Instead, a laugh bubbled up and out of her throat as she threw her arms around the shoulders of her friend who squeaked a bit in surprise, "Only you, Medea! Only you would be willing, and capable, of doing such an act!" Softly, she nuzzled Medea , with the other woman squirm a bit even as she could hear Hades cackle. Pulling back, Atalanta smiled at her, "Thank you."

Medea was heavily blushing, but nodded, "You're welcome, Atalanta."

It was than that Atalanta looked around and felt her heart fall a bit, "Medea? Where is Hippomenes...?" At the wince, she sighed as she knew what was coming, "Ah..."

The Sorceress shook her head and swallowed, "I... could only convince them to bring you back, and that was hard enough as it was. Please..." Voice small, Medea continued as a few tears dripped from her eyes, "Please forgive me, Atalanta..."

Eyes widening a bit, Atalanta wondered what had happened since she died that would make her friend, one of the strongest women that she knew, seem to be so... broken. The grief in her was swallowed up by worry as she noted that Medea, not getting an answer, had started to pull away and seem to withdraw into herself. Grasping her closely, Atalanta shook her head as she softly whispered to her friend, "There is no need to ask for forgiveness, Medea. Because there is nothing to forgive. You have given me a second chance at life. And for that, there is nothing that I could do to thank you."

Arms coming up, Medea grasped onto her as if she was a piece of wood that a drowning person was trying to keep herself afloat on, "Just... just do not hate me and stay my friend."

Lips curling into a slight smile, the Argonaut chuckled, "You do not even need to ask me such... sister." As Medea shook with near silent sobs, nearly broken ones, Atalanta just held her close. Once more, she wondered what had happened that broke her friend so. And a glance towards Hades was not the answer as the god looked... ashamed. Upon noticing the silent question in her eyes, the Lord of the Underworld shook his head slightly and turned before walking over to one of the murals. That only brought more questions to Atalanta's mind. Ones... she was not sure that she wanted answers to, 'And yet, I do if I am to help her.'

For how long she simply held her friend, Atalanta did not know. But, eventually, the tears slowed as did the sobs. And when they finally stopped, Medea pulled back and wiped at her face before waving a hand that made the tears and mucus there vanish. Her eyes were still red and, upon seeing the tear stains on Atalanta's clothing, she flushed a bit before vanishing the wetness there, "Sorry-"

Eyebrow raised, Atalanta cupped her cheek, "There is nothing to be sorry about, Medea. It reminds me of when we were on the Argo. And as I said there, I am available whenever you need such."

Still blushing a bit, Medea nodded before stepping back and helping the Argonaut off the raised dais. With a deep breath, the Sorceress turned and bowed towards Hades, "Thank you, Lord Hades. I am sorry to cut this short, but we must be off so that I... can explain things."

Waving her off, the god chuckled, "You have no need to be sorry, Medea. And I wish you both the best of luck."

Once more bowing slightly, with Atalanta bowing a bit deeper beside her, Medea lead her friend outside the temple. Upon exiting the temple, the Huntress sucked in a deep breath as she looked up at what should be the ceiling of the cavern. But there was only darkness... and the glitter of what looked like stars high above. It took her a few moments, but she realized that the stars were, themselves, gemstones embedded in the rock and softly glowing. Beside her, Medea chuckled a bit, "I may not like most of the gods, but I will admit that Hades does have a certain... flair, let us just say. And being as he is the ruler of all the riches that comes from the underground..."

Just nodding, Atalanta decided to look around her. In an odd way, her surroundings reminded her of the above ground. Even in the low light, she could see fields of grain gently rustling in the breeze, and a distance away she could even see a lake. But here and there, she could see... shadows. And with a shiver, she realized what they were.

The Dead.

Following her gaze, Medea only nodded slightly and held out an arm, "It would take us several hours to reach the Styx. So just take a hold and I will get us there."

Confused, and somewhat curious, the Huntress grasped her friend's arm. Before she knew it, everything swirled around them and she felt like she was being squeezed hard, though there was no pain. When it stopped, she stumbled a bit and was caught by Medea, "What was that!?"

Amused, Medea helped her straighten herself out, "That was a magical form of travel invented some time ago called Apparation. It allows for travel over large distances." Softly snorting, she shook her head, "I could travel from the Mainland to Crete in a single jump like that."

For several moments, Atalanta stared at her before frowning, "I... suppose that it is useful then. But not something that I like."

Lightly laughing, Medea shook her head with a grin, "No, not everyone does. Though we shall need to use it at least once more." Starting to walk, Atalanta following, she continued, "But that will not be until we're fully out of the Underworld."

Simply nodding, the Huntress followed her as they walked until they came to a pier that jutted out into rushing water. Looking down into it, Atalanta could see... forms... beneath the surface, "What are..."

However, she was jerked out of her thoughts as Medea yanked her back, "Do not get too close to the waters of the Styx." Rapidly blinking, Atalanta looked back only to find that there was nothing there but water. When she turned to her friend, the Sorceress grimaced a bit, "You would die if you were to touch the waters."

Atalanta frowned a bit at that, "I was under the impression that the waters could heal or make one invulnerable."

With a hum, her friend nodded, "Yes, that is quite true... if one was of divine blood. But for those who are truly mortal? It is a case of too much healing which is just as bad."

Even though she was confused, the Huntress nodded, "I... see."

It was then that she could hear something pushing against the water and turned to see a boat coming out from the mists above the river. Pushing it along was a ferryman who had a large, unkept beard and was somewhat dirty looking with a reddish brown cloak over him. He turned flashing, grey blue eyes upon them as he arrived. With a slight bow of his head, he spoke with his voice sounding like grave dirt falling upon a body, "Medea... Atalanta. Please, come aboard." Seeing Medea pull out two coins, he raised an eyebrow, "Lord Hades stated that there was no need for payment."

Thinly smiling, Medea chuckled, "Perhaps, but I feel like appearances must be met. For luck, if nothing else."

As she placed the gold coin upon her tongue, and handed Atalanta one to do the same, Charon ran grimy fingers through his beard, "I see, very well then, Medea." When they each stepped up, he reached out and plucked the coin from their tongues and placed it into his robe. Waiting until they were seated in the boat, he pushed off and began to drive it across the Styx. None of them spoke as they made their way across the infamous underground river. But, eventually, they reached the other shore with Charon gesturing at the pier as they pulled up, "And here we go, welcome back to the World of the Living." A light smirk played across his lips, "I do hope that it will be quite a long time, as mortals count it, before I see either of you again."

Looking at him as a shadow passed them and entered a boat, a coil appearing in the Ferryman's fingers, Medea only nodded, "And I do hope that you are not insulted that I wish much the same." All Charon did was grin as his eyes widened a bit before he pushed off again with a chuckle. Soon, he vanished into the mists and Medea began to lead Atalanta away from the River Styx. The cavern soon narrowed into a tunnel which they made their way down, a small orb of light floating above Medea's hand as she guided her friend and fellow Argonaut through the twists and turns.

Every once in a while though, she paused and took a look around before continuing. There were offshoots from the main one. From some, foul air blew which nearly made Atalanta choke before they were past. Others, pleasant smells wafted from and made her want to investigate. But she could see... things... in the shadows moving and decided it was best not to. Instead, she stayed as close to Medea as possible.

It was a relief when she caught the scent of salt upon the air and the tip of her tongue. Same, the sound of seabirds calling from far off. Medea suddenly dismissed the ball of light and Atalanta realized that she could once more see, though the light was dim. Minutes later, the two women walked out of a cave on the seashore and the Huntress looked around as gulls circled high above, "Where are we?"

A small smile on her face as she took deep breaths, Medea glanced at her, "We are at Cape Matapan on the shores of the Aegean not far from where Taenarum once stood."

Recognizing the name from when Herakles had told her and the others about capturing the Cerberus, Atalanta smiled and lightly laughed, "I see." Looking at the waves, she glanced at her friend who nodded. Thus, walking a short distance, Atalanta laid back on the warm, sun drenched sand as the waves gently washed over her feet and calves. Leaning back, she closed her eyes as she felt warm sunlight upon her skin while taking deep breaths. Sensing Medea sitting beside her, Atalanta just smiled before opening her eyes, "Thank you."

Tears pricking at her eyes, Medea laughed, "No, there is no need to thank me, Atalanta." Calming down, she also leaned back some, "I am just happy that you are here with me, that I have my friend and my... sister, with me."

Head tilting to the side, Atalanta patted her friend's shoulder, "And as I told you on the Argo, Medea. There are few others who I would consider less my sister than you. We may not share the same mothers or fathers, or have the same blood, but you are my sister."

Only nodding, Medea wiped away her tears before they both laid back and simply enjoyed the Sun after what seemed like forever underground.
__________________________________________________________________________

With another pop, Atalanta grimaced as they reappeared somewhere else. After straightening out, she looked around and blinked. They were on the grounds of some large residence. Part of her noted that it was as large as some palaces that she had known various kings had used. The style was somewhat different from what she was used to, but... there were familiar bits and pieces in it, "Where are we?"

Medea shrugged a little as she began to walk, "We are at one of my main homes..." Pausing for a moment, she turned to her friend, "Which is in Arcadia."

Her eyes widened slightly, Atalanta looked around the countryside that she could see from where they were. Some aspects were... familiar to her. Then, she looked down at the strange road leading up to Medea's home and placed a hand against it, "And what is this material? Did you make it from magic?"

Lips twitching in amusement, her friend shook her head, "No, I have not made it with magic. It is a material known as concrete and can be poured like mud before it hardens into a rock that can take quite a bit of wear and tear."

Still rubbing her hand against it, Atalanta frowned before looking towards Medea, "I do not remember such a material. If it had existed, then I am sure that some of those Kings, or my Father would have made use of it."

Grimacing, Medea sighed a little, "You... wouldn't remember, because it was not really around when you were alive. It came about some time after your death."

Now looking around the visible countryside, Atalanta was struck at how much it had changed, "How long have I been dead for, Medea?" Not getting an answer, she turned her attention to her friend, "How long?"

With sigh, Medea closed her eyes, "It has been... nearly three thousand years as one would count. And the world has greatly changed in that time."

Thoughtful frown on her face, the Huntress softly whispered to herself, "Three thousand years... I... I can almost not imagine how long that has been..." Seconds later, Medea's eyes snapped open as she felt her friend's arms around her, "But then, that just means that the two of us will be having more adventures together if the world is that different."

Looking over her shoulder, the Sorceress didn't see anger or dismay, just gentleness and understanding. Swallowing, Medea smiled a bit, "And I would love to show you how the world has changed, Atalanta." She then twisted a bit and hugged her friend, "So much has opened up to the world. Trips that would have taken years when we were with the Argonauts can take days, or even hours."

Intrigued, Atalanta stared at her for a moment before smiling, "I look forward to seeing this new time then."

Unable to help herself, Medea chuckled a bit, "Well, we'll wait until your settled in a bit more." Pulling away, she nodded, "Come on, we should head up to the house so that we can get something into you."

As if to agree, her friend's stomach growled a bit. Lightly blushing with a grin, Atalanta shrugged, "That sounds like a good idea."

Entering Medea's Villa, as she called it, Atalanta looked this way and that to take it all in. When she glanced up, she spotted an odd device that began to spin when Medea flipped a switch. Seeing the unasked question, Medea smiled, "It is called a fan, it helps move the air around in a room and create a breeze. I also have some air conditioning for the summer months here as well, just in case."

Head tilted to the side, Atalanta hummed, "And the torches? Or the scones? Where are they?"

Medea chuckled at that and flipped another switch, which caused a orb of light above to appear, "Humanity has learned how to harness lightning in a way to create light indoors. Needless to say, it is very useful, if only due to less of a risk of fire."

Watching as the Sorceress turned it back off, the Huntress could only nod. She could see how it would be useful considering things, though the bit about having harnessed lightning as the gods or some sorcerers had was impressive. As they walked, she noted other objects here and there as well as more fans and lights. Obviously, the home would be well lit at night if needed, which she agreed with.

But that brought the question of how the gods allowed for it as from her own personal experience, she could not see Zeus allowing anyone but him to control lightning. Smiling thinly, Medea shook her head, "One of the changes is that most have turned from the worship of the gods. There are still a few, but most worship a new god under the name of Christianity. Most seem to find him a kind one it seems, but I do not follow said god. Far too many times that gods have caused trouble for me to trust one. Though that does not mean that I have any issue with people worshiping them. Just do not do so myself." After getting a nod, she continued, "That, along with some other... issues has meant that the gods have withdrawn from the world. But that also meant that humanity has had to find its own way and has grown."

Not quite sure how to respond to that, Atalanta nodded and continued to follow until they were in a smaller room filled with various rectangular objects as well as a small table and some chairs. Running her hand along the wood, she nodded, "This is fine craftsmanship."

Chuckling, her friend smiled a bit, "It is, and I do not go for anything cheap." She then opened one of the rectangular objects and Atalanta felt her eyebrows raise at the sight of food within, though some looked strange. Closing it, Medea brought forth a bowl of fruits, a number of which Atalanta could not identify. Seeing the confusion, the other woman smiled and took one of the yellow ones which had a curved shape and peeled it, "This is a banana, it comes from the continents from beyond the Pillars of Herakles."

Her eyebrows raised, Atalanta took the offered fruit and took a bite of it. A hum escaped her as she chewed it before swallowing with a nod. Once she had eaten it all, she smiled a bit, "Pretty good, so this is a new food."

As she walked over to an indent in the counter, Medea nodded, "It is, and just one of many. There are so many new foods that, well..."

Bemused as she took another banana, Atalanta raised it in a salute, "Unlike the others, I had no issue eating strange things as long as it was edible. And I never bought into that 'Barbarian' food is not for us Greeks. Food is food, and that is all there is to it."

Moments later, her eyebrows raised as she watched Medea twist an odd object and water came out, "That is good to hear." Filling a glass, she brought it over and set it down. Seeing the cautious look Atalanta was giving it, Medea shook her head, "The water from taps is safe, far safer than it was in our day."

With a glance at her, the Huntress took a sip of the water and frowned slightly. There was a slightly odd taste to it, but she did not mention it, 'Perhaps it is how they make the water safe to drink?'

For her part, Medea went back to the sink and washed her hands, answering questions. Atalanta was surprised about the fact that washing one's hands helped prevent disease, but after thinking for a few moments, she decided that it did make sense. Much like how drinking dirty water would make one sick. After a stew, which she enjoyed with bread was tasted fresh, Medea continued to show her friend around their home. Opening one door, she stepped into a room that had one side composed entirely of glass.

But what caught Atalanta's attention was the pool that was there.

Gesturing at it, the Sorceress smiled, "I sometimes like to take a swim so when I had this place built, I also had a pool added. After some renovations, it is now a heated pool so even in winter, the water is warm. Like the rest of the property, it is open to you for your use whenever." With a glance at her stunned friend, she was unable to help herself and laughed, "Don't worry, no one really comes by. But if we go to a beach, we are going to need to get you a swimsuit."

Confused, Atalanta looked at her, "A... swimsuit?"

Suddenly realizing the problem, Medea explained that it was a form of clothing for swimming, which made her realize something else. Looking Atalanta over, she frowned a bit, "I suppose until you are settled in and we can go shopping, you can borrow my clothing. Though you might find a few of the styles... odd."

Eyebrow raised, Atalanta frowned, "Odd? In what way?"

Medea shrugged a little, "They are... different, than what you would be most used to. In some ways, they can be simpler and in others more complicated." Looking her friend up and down, she smiled a bit, "Though I cannot wait to introduce you to the miracle that is a good fitting bra."

If anything, that left the Huntress even more confused about things.

The tour then continued with Medea showing her the rest of the house. Entering one room, she paused and turned to look at her friend, "And this... this is your room, if you want it."

Stunned, the other Greek woman walked in and looked around in complete awe. To her, the entire room was utterly opulent in a way that none of the palaces that she had stayed in could be considered. Fine, wooden furniture was set against the walls as was a leather chair next to a table. In one that held shelves, were collections of paper which she looked at. Finger trailing along the spines of the books, she muttered to herself, "National Geographic?"

Eyes widened a bit, Medea walked over, "You could read that?"

Opening her mouth, Atalanta paused and looked back at the book, "I... could." Frowning, she furrowed her eyebrows a bit, "How...?"

Just running a hand through her hair, the Sorceress shook her head, "I was wondering what Hades meant in regards to having decided to leave you a gift of sorts."

Her eyes lighting up, Atalanta opened another book and found pictures of various animals in it. Finger pressed against one photograph, she raised an eyebrow, "What is this?"
Looking over her shoulder, Medea frowned, "Do you mean the animal or..."

Glancing at the creature, which had an almost human look, the Huntress frowned herself, "Both?"

With a nod, Medea smiled, "The animal is from the continent of Africa to the south of us and is called a gorilla. It lives far in the jungle there. As for the other thing that you are wondering? It is called a photograph. Humanity has managed to discover how to take an image of something and still it. Like a frozen reflection in a way."

Atalanta considered that for a few moments before nodding, "Interesting..."

Flipping through the books, she took in the rest of the animals with a small smile. Eventually, she put it back and turned to Medea who only nodded, "I promise, Atalanta, one day we'll go around the world. So many animals that no Greek in our day knew even existed."

A smile on her face, Atalanta laughed, "I'll hold you to that, Medea..."

Soon after, Medea showed her the bathroom which shocked her. A personal bath?! And the idea of a shower, like standing beneath a rain cloud or a waterfall, except she could change the temperature... Amazing! Not to mention the various soaps and shampoos. The idea of the toilet was one that also stunned her before she thought it over. Once more, it was explained about it being to prevent disease among other things, which she fully agreed with.

That night, a clean and refreshed Atalanta was laying in her bed with a book of various animals open in front of her. Flipping from page to page, she smiled before closing it. She then set it aside before stretching out and closing her eyes as she fell asleep...
_____________________________________________________________________

Walking along the streets of 1980s Athens, Atalanta winkled her nose a little bit. Yes, she did not have too much issue with how humanity has advanced, besides a lack of wild places. But she could do without the smell of pollution. Granted, it was better than the smell of livestock and the like when she had last visited the city in what she knew was now called the 'Bronze Age'.

Still, as one car rushed past, exhaust coming from the back, she barely held back the look of disgust on her face before shaking it off.

Instead, Atalanta decided to focus on other things since Medea had finally allowed for her to go somewhere on her own. Part of the Huntress was amused by the whole thing, another part just sighed to herself with how clingy Medea was. Not that she could not understand, mind you. But... shaking her head, Atalanta adjusted her shirt some before stretching and jogging along. And that brought her mind to another matter, one that Atalanta was in full agreement with...

Bras were amazing.

Jogging along, Atalanta spotted a sign outside a theatre for a play. What caught her attention was the familiar name on the board for one of the plays. Eyebrow raised, she slowed down and looked at it before checking her wallet and nodding. Medea had given her more than enough, and she was interested in a play named after her friend...

A few hours later, Medea walked into an ice cream shop and found Atalanta at a booth looking down at a banana split in deep thought. Eyebrow raised, she got herself a milkshake and walked over before freezing at how Atalanta looked at her for a moment before the Huntress shook it off, "Medea."

Confused, and somewhat nervous, the Sorceress sat down, "Atalanta? Is... something wrong?"

Frowning, Atalanta shook her head, "I... came across a play." Her next words caused Medea to freeze, "It was about you and Jason."

To Atalanta's somewhat shock, Medea seemed to slump and look like she was awaiting execution, "Oh..."

Eyes narrowing, the Huntress frowned, "Medea..." When her friend kept staring at the table, she grasped Medea's chin and forced the other woman to look her in the eyes, "Medea, what happened? Why would someone write such an awful thing about you?"

Blinking, Medea stared at her, "You... don't believe it?"

With a snort, Atalanta took a spoonful of ice cream and ate it, "No." Her frown deepening, she shook her head, "I know you, Medea. Enough to really suspect that something more is going on."

Several moments passed before Medea blinked away some tears, "Thank you."

That... shocked her friend, "Medea, what happened...?"

Just wiping away the tears, Medea took a deep breath before waving her hand to set up some privacy spells. With that done, she sighed a bit, "What you have to understand, is that I do not have the best reputation in this time. The play you saw likely was drawing on a play about two and half thousand years ago. It was a tragedy and at the time, I was in Colchis. It had me kill mine and Jason's children because I hated him. That... is not true. But..."

One eyebrow raised, Atalanta frowned, "But what?"

Shaking her head, Medea looked off to the side, "After Jason betrayed me, I was visited by Zeus. I do not think that I need to explain what he wanted." The look of disgust on the other woman's face was all she needed to know, "Well, I loved my children despite their father and one of the things that Zeus offered was to make them immortal if I gave myself to him. And I was tempted, but... I knew enough what would happen when Hera caught wind of such a thing. So I turned him down and kept doing so until he finally gave up and left. That was when Hera appeared."

Eyebrows furrowing, the Huntress frowned, "Why?"

Her hands clenching for a moment in rage and hate, Medea took a deep breath to calm herself down, "She told me that she was happy about me turning down Zeus. Extremely pleased with that fact. Thus, she would make my children immortal for my act. All I had to do was bring them to the inner sanctum of her temple and she would use her fires to burn away their mortality. At the time, I... was still a mess due to what happened with Jason and had killed his wife to be in vengeance, which I regret though I was madly in love with him and wanted him back, even as I hated him. And before you ask, yes, the play got the fact that Hera and Aphrodite cast magic to make me obsessively in love with him true. That I swear on my mother's name."

Already guessing where the story was going, Atalanta scowled, "Hera lied."

The Sorceress nodded with a sniffle, "She lied. When I laid my children where she told me, she instead used her flames to burn them to death. I realized what was happening and tried to stop it, pleading with her, but she would have none of it as Zeus still attempted to sleep with me, whether I did so or not. Thus, I had to be punished and that was to be by me accidentally killing my beloved children." Slumping a bit, Medea closed her eyes, "I sometimes hear them in my dreams, screaming as the flames consumed them. Which is still better than other dreams where they ask and demand to know why I killed them, where they hurtle abuse at me..."

Quickly getting up, Atalanta walked around the table and pulled her friend into a tight hug, "Oh, Medea..."

Swallowing, Medea shuddered a bit, "I did get some measure of revenge. Because Hera was speaking through her Head Priestess, who knew what was going to happen and agreed with it due to what happened to her King, I cast a spell that my Aunt Circe taught me. It bound Hera to the body that she was using... at which point, I leapt on her and began to beat her." A slight smirk crossed over her face, "According to Hades, who had been visiting, everyone watched as Hera screamed and was thrown to the floor with her nose being broken, followed by her jaw and the like by an invisible assailant. In fact, she nearly died, with it only being due to Hecate snapping the connection forcefully that saved Hera." Shrugging, she shook her head, "It is one of the reasons why none of them really try and go after me."

Rather than be dismayed, her friend only shrugged herself, "Good." Looking back at her ice cream, she sighed, "So that was why..."

A grimace on her face, Medea shook her head, "I don't know if that was part of it, or if Hera had something to do with his muse. But... it spread. Other ones as well, such as how I killed my innocent brother and spread his remains."

That made Atalanta blink and stare at her, "Wait, people think that you killed your brother? But I was there and it was Jason who killed him. Not you."

Only snorting, the Sorceress shook her head, "You know how people work as well as anyone. Do you really believe that they care?" Sighing, she took a sip of her milkshake, "Some call me the 'Witch of Betrayal' as if I was betraying people all the time. And I am used as a villainess so many times... and it has been like that for over two thousand years."

Eyes gentle and understanding, Atalanta pulled her into an embrace to comfort her, "Well, they do not know my friend, my sister, like I do. And I know better."

The slight smile it brought to Medea's face counted as a victory in her book.
________________________________________________________________________

Not a thing was said as Atalanta stared between Medea and Herakles. While her female friend seemed embarrassed, her male one seemed inordinately amused. Taking a deep breath, Atalanta let it out, "I am sorry, but what was that?"

Crossing his arms, Herakles let out a laugh, "My wife will be by in the next few days to provide an elixir of youth that will make you a child once more."

Just pinching her nose, Atalanta pressed her lips thinly together, "That is what I thought you said and hoped that you didn't." Turning towards Medea, she gave her female friend a look, "Why...?"

In reply, the Sorceress shifted a bit, "I... well, you decided that you were going to help me with what I am supposed to do. But to do that, you need to be in the system in a way that will not raise any suspicion at all." With a sigh, Medea waved her hand, "And the simplest way to do that, is to grow up in the system. You become a child and I disguise myself as one. Then, we get schooling and the like as a proper background."

Frowning, Atalanta crossed her arms, "Could we not do what you have done?"

A grimace on her face, Medea rubbed the back of her head, "Actually, this is what I do." Seeing the looks, she shrugged, "Every few years, I have my 'Daughter' go through the school system. Maybe once every forty or so years? It is not that hard."

With a groan, Atalanta closed her eyes, "So what you are telling me is that you are going to de-age me into a child and put me into school. A school in which I will have to grow up once more, all in order to make it so that no one will suspect us. Really?"

Simply chuckling weakly, the other woman nodded, "That... is what needs to be done, yes." At the look, Medea held up her hands, "I will be right there with you every step of the way. So you don't need to worry and... I'llbeputinasyourguardianaswell."

Utter silence met her at that and Atalanta threw her hands up into the air, "SAY WHAT NOW?!"

Herakles, meanwhile, just began to laugh hard enough that he fell to the floor and not even Atalanta kicking him in the face did anything to make him stop.
_________________________________________________________________________
"Ugh... finally."

Dressed in her school uniform, an eighteen year old appearing Medea snickered at her friend, "Come now, Atalanta, you enjoyed school and will miss it." Poking her in the side, the Sorceress smirked a bit as they left the private school behind, "After all, you were the track star of the school."

Smacking the hand away, Atalanta flushed a bit, "What can I say? I enjoyed it and it wasn't that hard for me." Eyes narrowing, she poked Medea back, "And you told me that we had to join some extracurricular activity."

A squeak escaped from her friend as she jumped away. Playfully glaring, she snorted, "Yes, but I did not mean for you to join something and promptly beat everyone to the ground in it."

Just shrugging, Atalanta smirked, "But you did not say not to." Reaching their car, she got into one side as Medea slipped into the driver's seat, "Though the boys involved... ugh."

Turning the key in the ignition, Medea shrugged, "What did you expect? Both of us are, to use current language, hot chicks. I'm the slightly bookish and nerdy hot girl, and you are the athletic hot girl. Add in that our 'Family' is rich and you got the perfect storm for people attempting to get in our pants."

Eyes rolling as she leaned against the door as Medea drove away, the Huntress sighed, "Yes, though I will admit that it was less frustrating than it was in Ancient Greece. For that, I am thankful." A frown on her face, Atalanta hummed a bit, "Though I will admit that I did learn some useful things. Still...'

Both of them chatted for some time, only stopping for some treats before Medea made her way up the road to their villa. Upon entering the property, they noted a letter in the mailbox and took it with them. Opening the letter, Medea frowned before looking at Atalanta, "We know where the disaster is coming from."

Sipping her juice, Atalanta walked over and looked over her friend's shoulder, "Where?"

In reply, the Sorceress pointed, "The ocean. And it is going to be big, to say the least."

Neither said anything for a few minutes as they digested that before Atalanta sighed, "So how are we to help negate a disaster coming from the sea?"

Folding the letter, Medea thought it over before turning to her friend, "How do you feel about joining the Navy...?"
__________________________________________________________________

Opening her eyes in her bunk upon the Meleager, Atalanta yawned a bit before stretching. A glance at the clock made her nod as she woke up just a bit early though she hummed a bit as she thought over her dream, "It has been a while since I dreamed about that." Shaking that off, she got up and dressed.

Not that she had much she needed to put on.

It was several minutes later that she entered the Control Room and took in the activity there before turning to her XO, "Anything new?"

Just shaking his head, he gave a shrug, "Nothing. No new orders but to keep observing the island for now."

With a sigh, Atalanta rolled her shoulders a little bit, "I see... hopefully, they make their decision soon..."

 

[darthcourt10]

Lord Khuzdul

Well, yesterday someone liked an old post of mine from back in 2015 and reminded me of it. I have gone over it, and decided that it fits in this 'verse, so I decided to repost it here. A quick slice of life piece from the Turkish shipgirls. Originally posted here: Kantai Collection, Fanfic Idea and Recs | Page 179

---

"Still can't stand it huh?"

Yavuz almost pouted when she heard the voice. She pushed the half full glass of raki towards the other side of the table. The owner of the voice, protected cruiser Hamidiye, was already making herself at home in the other chair. "You can take it. Anise burns my nose. I know Mecidiye keeps you on a strict ration, so don't go overboard."

The cruiser nodded happily, picking up a few roasted chickpeas from the bowl in the middle of the table. Yavuz smiled. She liked drinking with Hamidiye. She didn't go for the spiced corn kernels like many other girls did. She liked those with her beer, dammit. "So, subs scheduled to be back tonight?" the cruiser asked as she sipped her drink.

Yavuz tilted her head to the side "Yes, in fact, but what does it have to do with anything?"

Hamidiye smirked. "Well, you are here, the only balcony that looks over the piers in the base, far past midnight, for once. And I saw Peyk pacing down there earlier. I don't get that girl. For all her screaming about how she hates submarines, the moment one of the Inonu girls look her way, she melts into a puddle."

"Well, she was a training ship for a long time. She likes the little ones."

Hamidiye snorted. "So was I, but you won't see me rushing about to wipe their bottoms."

Yavuz laughed. "Well, you take after that crazy captain of yours, Rauf, was it? Besides, were you not the one that insists to go out with the destroyers everytime? Despite having a speed almost half of those girls, I might add."

The old cruiser grumbled good naturedly. "Don't remind me. What does a girl have to do around here to get an engine upgrade? I would kill for a set of new, oil-fired boilers."

Yavuz chucked lightly, mentally putting a point down on the scoreboard. Hard to do against Hamidiye, in any case. She changed the subject graciously. "What did you do this time to slip the leash? I don't have to deal with Mecidiye complaining about how you got away again tomorrow, I hope?"

Hamidiye leaned back. "Don't worry. She's asleep back at the barracks. I told her I was going to see you, and got strict orders to not do anything else. She also put Demirhisar on my tail, you know, the responsible one. She's down at the officer's lounge downstairs, doing something with that computer of hers."

Yavuz grinned, and was about to answer when she noticed Peyk down at the pier move ahead. Immediately after, the landline phone next to her rang with a message from the watchpost at the tip of the Karaburun peninsula. "Girls are inbound. Everybody present and accounted for, no apparent injuries," she said, standing up. "Let's go greet them."

Hamidiye quickly threw back her glass, picking up some more nuts from the bowl. "Okay. If they are coming back with a mission accomplished, I'm giving them candy this time," she added, rushing out.

"Oh no you don't! Sakarya would have a heart attack this time. Not after the last time!" Yavuz rushed after the crazy cruiser. Nobody needed a repeat of the Inönü Sisters Sugar High Debacle!

 

[darthcourt10]

Yellowhammer

Drahcir said:
A bit behind.

So the start of a prequel series following Lady Chastity's mother? With the occasional guest star of her father? Colombe's face when she finally reads the first one.​

Pretty much. Lyra and Julie teamed up for "The Adventures of Madame Chastity" which since Barricade never cross-posted his now-canon genius inspiration from SV, I will crosspost here.

*-*-*-*

'The Tales of Lady Chastity's Mother'
by Yoko Mason

-A prequel series set during the previous generation of the Chastity family, this surprise hit has stormed the bestseller lists, toppling the 'Shades of' series from it's throne as the king (or is that queen?) of erotic adult fiction, which likely will leave many a reader breathless - for multiple reasons - during some scenes, if not also in need of a cold shower. The writer is still a mystery, and easily deduced to be a pseudonym tribute to the original Lady Chastity's author, Lyra Potter, as Yoko is obviously a reference to Yoke Harps, of which a Lyre - or Lyra - is considered one, while a Mason is one kind of Potter. Yet, no one in the publishing industry is talking, or seems to even remotely know who this author is. In any case, the series begins In Media Res, set only days before the birth of Lady Chastity with her mother reminiscing upon her younger days, scandalizing her last lover - the man who would raise Chastity as his own - with her 'exploits'. If it were not for the more fantastical elements present, one might think the author was plagiarizing wholesale from Julie d'Aubigny's notorious scandal filled life, who lived in the same era as the prequel is set in. Yet, there are enough differences, such as the aforementioned magical/fantastical events common to the overall Chastity series to set it apart from reality.

Unlike the mainline series, which spans what seems to be centuries as otherwise no one could be that frisky in the span of their twenties no matter how hard they try - and they will try, this is a much shorter series which spans what appears to be the 17th century at a glance if however as usual for the overall meta, is never quite confirmed as to the date. Lastly, this gives us the strongest tease yet as to the person that is Lady Chastity's true father, as the last of the trilogy in the currently released arc states that Chastity's father is actually present in two separate scenes which likely will see long-time readers pouring over every word, and discussing every glance taken. I regretfully admit that I haven't figured it out either. There is however a twist on the standard cliffhanger ending sure to leave many in an uproar, but then again, 'Madam Chastity will fight again'....

My suggestion is to take the setting with a grain of salt, a chocolate caramel milkshake, candles, and a long hot bath/massage. A good looking Cabana boy is optional.

-USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world, an active shipgirl protecting Boston Harbor and is seen as their nominal head within the United States Navy. She also acts as a roving Ambassador to various nations involved in the Abyssal War. When she has a moment free, she writes reviews for us here at the New York Times about the newest books/series on the market she has recently read.


(this is now Canon for Colombe)

So yes, eventually Colombe (and Norimune!) will stumble over Lyra-produced primo-quality smut that is a thinly-disguised retelling of Julie d'Aubigny's exploits.

For that matter at some point, Norimune will stumble over 'The Adventures of Lady Chastity' and find out what her daughter got up to.