Commander's Rounds

Entry 8: What Do You Do With a Drunken Sailor

It was actually a slow day, as far as base business was concerned- what work there was could be easily handled by him and the secretaries, and there was even time for King George V to pay a visit without needing to check in advance. The two definitely had some things to talk about, even more so than they used to. But after she left, there wasn't much left on his desk, so it was time for him to go out and see if there was anything he could do in person.

It turned out to be just normal outdoors, with one exception. Cygnet was sitting outside, seemingly in deep thought while eating her fish and chips. He never quite knew how she was able to find those wherever she was in the base, so he just assumed that fate conspired to put fish and chips in her hands- she could probably get a hold of them on the Moon, if she wound up there somehow. She wasn't entirely unaware, however. "Ah! Commander. I... Actually want to talk."

He sat with Cygnet. "What's on your mind? Did things go well at the tea party."

Cygnet fiddled with one of the chips. "Oh...! That went just fine. Ooshio and her sisters are all nice kitties, and she was like "We've got plenty of treats, darlin', just take what you like." and "If yer nervous, just rub my ears." And I did, and she purred, and so I was all right. And then she was like, "Why don't ya try this, I think you'll like it." And she fed me a couple of things." She took a deep breath. "And so I was there for I don't know how long with Ooshio and tea and things, and they liked my clothes too, and then it was time to leave and... Ah..."

"Take your time."

Cygnet eventually found some words. "And... When it was time to go, she gave me a kiss on the cheek and was like. "Hope to see you again, sweetie~" And I... Ah... You see..." She then turned red as a tomato. "I... really... liked it?"

He thought a moment. This may be somewhat beyond his training as a military officer. But Azur Lane had its own needs. "So, what's the problem?"

Cygnet stuffed herself with some fish, but even she wouldn't talk with her mouth full- she was a Royal Navy ship, after all. "So... She's invited me to a sleepover with her and her sisters and a friend of theirs. And, ohhh..." She turned even redder. "It's just, commander, it doesn't feel like she does anything special, but she just makes me really, really comfortable and I don't want to leave."

The commander had some idea what was going on. "All right, so who else is going to be there."

"Shinano."

Well, everyone was going to get some sleep out of it, at least. "All right, you can count on her if you need help, but it seems to me that you really like the way that Ooshio makes you feel."

There was another deep blush, and a quiet nod.

The commander continued. "I think you should go, then- this sounds like the kind of thing you need to work out with her, in person." He felt a bit more qualified to give advice like this these days, considering his more recent experience. If not actually qualified, then certainly much less pulling things out of his stern.

She nodded. "So... it's all right, then?"

He shrugged. "I don't see any harm in what the two of you are doing."

She actually started to go back to normal. "Ah, thank you, commander!"

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The work was simple enough that he thought he would actually get a whole evening to himself, and he was wrong in thinking that it would be just as uneventful as his day. He took a quick look on Juustagram and saw that Honolulu had expanded her social circle to not only Trento and Sirius, but Niizuki as well. As he was getting ready to close up shop for the night-