Azur Lane: Return of Davis

Interlude/Howell-Roberts: Hospitality in Hell

Please read Interlude/Howell for context. Thank you, and good night (or day)

---

"Say, were you that voice I heard when we first found that cube?"

I turned to look at her before we reach the bridge.

Heather: "Oh, no. That was the King James. She was proud to have worked with you."

"...So, what you're saying is every ship has... whatever you are?"

Heather: "Effectively, yes."

I smacked my lips, processing this information.

"...Good to know."

Reaching the bridge, I looked to the crew.

"Gentlemen, may I have your attention?"

The crew stopped, wondering what I was about to say.

"As I'm sure you are no doubt aware, just a few moments ago, I lost almost half my pay and this lady suddenly appeared, claiming to be the Royal Rover herself." I point to the ship. "From what little I've experienced; this is no dream. This is, in fact, the, um... 'human embodiment,' let's say, of our ship. To simplify communications, and to make sure nobody looks at us funny for using a ship's name on a woman, I will call this lady–" I pointed to her. "–Heather.

"Heather here is the Royal Rover, so we must treat her with the same respect as we do our ship. As well, as she is the ship herself, she will be joining us as a member of the crew. Would be rude to separate her from her ship. Oh, and if we happen to come across another one of these... 'ship-girls,' let us call them, within our travels, do not try to rape them. It's like having sex with the ship itself. And that is just weird.

"Now, I'm sure you all are concerned about your share of the loot. Heather here has assured me she does not wish for a portion of our loot. She simply wishes to be fed, and she'll do what we need her to do."

Heather, stepping up: "Yes, I am capable of manipulating multiple aspects of the ship. Leave me at the helm, and I will make our rides across the waves as smooth as milk."

Ray, from somewhere: "So, what does that mean for the rest of us?"

Heather: "I cannot clean, cook or do laundry while taking control of the ship, so that job is left to the crew. Same with the cannons."

--- Please note that since this is, canonically, before the discovery of the kansen, Heather does not know her full capabilities, and likely won't discover it for a long while. ---

Heather, bowing: "Still, I hope to be of use to you all."

"Now, of course, as our crew requires a sense of unanimity to act, I ask you, the pirate body: do we let Heather join us as the sole exception; should she become a legend amongst pirates?"

Quiet murmurs break out before the voting concluded, with a majority voting 'yay.' Eventually, the minority of the crew had accepted Heather as a part of the crew, and we were off once again.

--

Heather was an absolute doll through and through. When not manning the helm, she would be with our surgeons, teaching them special medicinal whatevers. I don't know, I'm no medic. She worked heavily with the carpenters about maintenance of the ship. She taught the crew ways to fight off mosquitoes, the little devils that they are. And, like she said, when she was at the helm, the knocking of the Royal Rover would prove non-existent, almost as if we were gliding across the skies instead of turbulent waves.