Legends

Interlude II: Rivals

Normandie grinned to herself as she left the terminal at Long Beach International Airport. She was still a bit shaky from her flight over from New Jersey but the solid ground beneath her feet and the ocean breeze blowing in her face did wonders to soothe her upset stomach and ease the discomforts of her journey. For all her keenness to experience human functions she would be quite happy to never set foot on a plane again. Oil fuel did not taste good the second time around.

She was quite proud of her whistles. The engineers at Chantiers had done a marvelous job of making sure they held just the right note. The cab responded to her call instantly and she quickly got in, summarizing her destination in two simple words. A name. The name of her beloved rival. She fingered the blue ribbon in her hair. Mary had a temper to match her Scottish red hair and was very easily flustered. Normandie, having years of experience with her, knew just the right buttons to push. The ribbon was just one way to make her blush. Mary was so cute when she did that. During their races, Normandie would often find herself fascinating over the British liner. If she wasn't in a relationship already she'd all too happily resume her flirtatious with Mary.

Her thoughts turned to current lover. Titanic was in many ways, much like Mary. Both were British. Both had high toned mannerisms that sometimes came across as too cold and formal for Normandie's tastes. Both had a very dry sense of humor although Normandie had yet to see how exposure to Hollywood had loosened Mary's tongue. And both were very easy to tease. Normandie smiled as she recalled just that morning at breakfast. Titanic had gotten a bit of yogurt on her nose and Normandie had leaned over, wiped it off with her thumb and licked it up. Titanic's face quickly turned the shade of her hair and a flustered "N-Normandie" escaped her lips. Normandie spent the last hour before her departure from the base, "apologizing" for her blunder. Titanic had wanted to come with her but thanks to a last minute appearance by Becuna, in the middle of a ceremony on Constitution no less! Followed by most every item of the brass "disappearing", Normandie's commanding officer had to do damage control. Both with the brass and keep Olympia from riding the shafts out of the wayward submarine before she could bring her back to the base. Normandie did not envy her.

"We're here ma'am." The driver said.

Thanking him, Normandie pulled out a wad of American cash from her holds, silently thanking her pursers for keeping her well stocked on foreign currency, and peeled off a crisp twenty. Then she bounded away, setting her bows on the large hulk directly in front of her. The little submarine moored alongside barely registered to Normandie although she could feel the her eyes on her.

Mary was at her usual spot, enjoying the California sunshine with a cooler fully stocked next to her to stave off the persistent heat. "Mary." Scorpion called her name.

Mary looked at where her friend was pointing. Her special senses told her immediately that the woman walking towards them was a kanmusu. She knew the United States as well as several other country's including her own, had been summoning vessels to counteract the Abyssal threat. Although she had yet to see one with her own eyes. The bulk of them were military assets and were stationed either in San Diego or up north in San Francisco. The Mare Island yards had been reactivated there for the war effort and served as a base and repair facility for the girls.

Mary observed the one now coming towards her. Her human form was beautiful, typical of kanmusu, and Mary couldn't help but stare at her rack. She wasn't envious as she herself had assets to match. She was simply staring in the manner of a woman contemplating and analyzing the competition. Looking past that for a moment, Mary allowed herself to take in the other's ship form. The gray hull was an instant giveaway to a warship although the whaleback on the bow was a bit surprising. The amount of flare to her front end reminded Mary somewhat of the new British carrier although she wasn't pleased with her sister's name being given to the upstart, not that she had anything against the carrier herself. Liz was a very sweet girl, from the little Mary had spoken to her the few times she'd pulled in here.

But back to the newcomer. Mary saw the covered top deck and wasn't surprised she was dealing with a carrier. She was slightly bigger than she herself was. The height difference (in kanmusu LOA translates to height) was minimal, not even a full inch but Mary could tell. Even the big battleships that used to come here, and Mary had never forgotten nor forgiven Iowa for her antics that one time, were a head shorter. She continued her observations, spotting the number 53 emblazoned on both sides of the carrier's bow. What was it with Americans and painting yard numbers on their ships like some tattoo? Now Mary doubted 53 was the ship's actual yard number, more like her designation number but still. Using that number as her guide, Mary let her eyes travel over the rest of her. The other ship played to her whims and slowed, turning so she was more side on. A flirtatious grin on her face. Mary couldn't hide her gasp even if she tried. She had her suspicions when she first spotted her but now she knew. She'd know that profile anywhere! Those gorgeous three funnels, lacking their vibrant red paint but still beautiful.

Mary leaped from her chair and sprinted across the parking lot, grabbing her in a tight hug and spinning her around. "NORMANDIE!!" She squealed joyfully.

Normandie didn't fight her. She too relished the contact but it was a bit too constricting. "Ah Mary, mon ami ease off the horsepower a little bit, s'il te plaît."

Mary eeped and let go when she realized. "Ah, sorry." She replied.

Normandie chuckled, rubbing her arms and smiled. "It's alright. I understand. You missed me didn't you?" She asked, pushing her hair back cheekily.

Mary blushed. Knowing the other ship was teasing her but although she'd never admit it, she'd missed being teased and decided to play along. "No I did not miss you, you wine drinking cheese eating harlot!"

"You missed me~" Normandie sang, effortlessly dancing out of the way as Mary made to grab her again.

Scorpion did not help matters. The submarine launched into a round of teasing of her own. "MARY AND NORMANDIE PARKED ON THE BEACH. K-I-S-S...." That was as far as she got before Mary through an empty bottle at her. She got the hint and shut up.

Turning back to Normandie a bit more calmly now, Mary sighed and said "Yeah I did miss you."

Instead of flaunting the fact Mary had admitted it, Normandie gently took her hands in her own. "I missed you too, mon petit coureur."

Mary blushed and pulled her into a hug, a gentler one this time and Normandie happily submitted to it. After a few seconds, Mary spotted the ribbon in Normandie's hair and pushed her back. "Normandie, what is that in your hair?" She asked, an edge in her voice.

Normandie grinned. "You like it?"

"I'd like you to take it out!"

"You'll have to catch me first." Normandie turned her bows to the harbor. Oh the harbormaster was going to raise hell for this and both ships would find themselves in front of an irate Admiral Briggs at the end of the day but it was so worth it!

Scorpion watched, extremely amused as she handed out drinks to all the people who came out to watch the spectacle (Mary's habits were wearing off on her). Normandie was sprinting laps around the harbor, causing all kinds of chaos while Mary was hard on her heels, practically nipping at her stern. Furious curses erupted from the British liner while Normandie laughed and delivered replies in French that made Mary blush and swear harder.