(These first six are from last year, which is why they're structured a little different. I'm tackling a bit bigger project this year.)
So I may have completely forgotten to upload all of these here as they were completed, but um, I guess I'll just put them all up at once. There are really just six in all. Merry Christmas! We'll call this my gift to all of you.
This one was for liitlegoldfish, who requested "Christmas Party preparations aboard the Karyū! How would Warrius and Marina react to a gorgeously kitschy decorated bridge?!"
"This ship is your workplace," Marina lectured, her arms folded over her chest. "It is not a place for celebrating holidays. You can do that on your off time." She didn't expect an eager response to the idea, but she didn't expect the chorus of agitated groans from the men either.
"She's worse than the captain," Rai sighed.
"You were supposed to be on our side," Ishikura added, pouting.
Unabara smiled easily. Then younger men on the ship were all so thick-headed. "I don't know where you all got the idea that the first officer of all people would let you take some time off, but you should really rethink your attack plan."
Marina watched them all grumble, confusion written across her face. "The captain…doesn't let them celebrate Christmas either?" She was stunned but genuinely impressed. He actually made them follow sensible rules. Maybe there was hope for him yet.
"He hates all holidays," the old man explained since the rest of the men had taken to ignoring her. "He's the biggest grouch about them you've ever seen. Well, unless we get him drunk enough."
Oh, so he wasn't really trying to follow the rules then, Marina realized. He was just being bitter. "I'm with him on this one anyway," she sighed. "It would be too much of a distraction, and if everyone got drunk off eggnog, then what would we do if we were attacked?"
Again she was stunned to silence, this time by a chorus of laughs. "You think we've never beat someone back while drunk?" Rai grinned.
Unabara shrugged. "It's true. We actually fight better drunk in some cases."
"Not the kid though," Rai added, much to the irritation of Ishikura. "But the captain, boy, you should see him. I'll bet he could out think Harlock a lot easier with a good number of drinks in him."
"I think you're all imagining this, because your drunk minds convince you you're being intelligent when you're really not" Marina rebutted skeptically. "You can exchange gifts on the date if that's what you'd like, and that should be plenty of celebration for the holiday."
Standing, she straightened her shirt and headed for the door. If they decided to try something ridiculous behind her back, she would at least be able to handle it with the backing of her captain for once. On the subject of her captain, he owed her a few dozen forms with his signature of approval. Most importantly was the proposition for the new punishment that she would apply every time one of the men decided to look down on her because of her sex.
When the door closed behind her, the boys on the bridge all exchanged the same expectant glance. "What sort of decorations do we have?" Grenadier asked with a smirk.
"I have some hidden away," the old man offered. "But I'm not getting involved in any of this, so don't come crying to me if you get punished for it. The captain might be a good sport, but I won't guarantee that he'll be able to talk her down if she's mad."
Marina discovered that her captain had surprisingly done his work. All the forms had been signed and dated appropriately and even were placed in an organized file in the system she'd created on the tablet. Things were starting to look up.
He was seated at his desk, his chin in his palm as he dozed off, his elbow holding him up. She cleared her throat to wake him, causing his eyelids to open sluggishly as he gave a light sigh. "Yes?"
"The men were discussing celebrating Christmas," she began, but he spoke before she could continue.
"You told them no, right?"
"I did."
He nodded slowly, leaning back in his chair. He would have thrown his feet up on the desk, but she would have gotten onto him, so he'd just wait until she left.
"I was just surprised that you didn't care for the idea," she said when she realized he wasn't going to say anything.
"Things get out of hand," he frowned. "And their choice of presents are…" embarrassing. Purposefully embarrassing. And they always spiked the drinks, which was fine until Ishikura didn't notice. The decorations had a habit of winding up on the floor, and as if the cleanup wasn't enough, Zero had managed to step on one of the glass ornaments the previous year, even though he'd ordered them not to put up anything then too. Not to mention all the horrible memories he always managed to relive. Then he'd drink until he was too wasted to do anything but pass out, only to wake up with a splitting headache in the strangest places.
So they absolutely did not celebrate holidays extravagantly.
Except they did.
"You can tell them 'no' all you want," he halfheartedly grumbled. "It doesn't matter. They're going to do as they please. Sometimes I figure they make things as ridiculous as possible just to spite me."
"We'll see about that," Marina huffed, her hands on her hips. It was about time those boys learned to listen.
Zero attempted a light smile. "But, when they do celebrate, there's usually lots of food, so it's not all bad."
Lots of food for them maybe, but she wasn't going to be able to eat it. "Was it always like this though?" she questioned suddenly. "Have you had this rule for as long as you've been a captain?"
He took the mug of coffee sitting beside him and eyed her calmly over the rim of the glass as he sipped it. He didn't mind being asked. He owed a lot to her, especially a few answers about his past. "If you're asking," he replied as he set the mug down, "you already know the answer. But as much as I complain to them, they do it so everyone can enjoy something for a day. We might as well give in."
She immediately attempted an argument, stating all the reasons why it was a terrible idea. He agreed with her, of course, but his eyes glazed over as she talked, and he drank his coffee while attempting to listen. Eventually, he gave up, standing and walking to the door. She was about to bark at him for ignoring her, when he gently took hold of her arm and led her out.
"What's going on?" she demanded.
His caffeine was just starting to kick in, and he finally smiled genuinely. "Just come with me. We'll see how much they've done."
"What? They better not have done anything!"
Zero thought they'd outdone themselves. He never did know where all the decorations came from, but they sure looked nice on the bridge, at least while he wasn't stepping on them. Gold stands of tinsel lined the walls, and unnecessary light strands were twirled around them as though the bridge didn't glow enough with blinking lights already. There were ribbons, wreaths and holly and whatever else they could put up on the consoles and walls. And all the men sat at their stations as though nothing had changed.
Marina fumed, her cheeks reddening. A lecture was quickly calculated in her mind along with the punishments they would all receive. It wasn't about the decorations. She liked Christmas, but she didn't like the crew directly disobeying orders. They'd be cleaning the outside of the ship until-
She was snapped out of her rage as Zero placed a hand atop her head, drawing her attention to his warm smile. "We lost," he said "We were outvoted. Now don't be a sore loser."
He walked to his chair and took his seat, plucking the candy cane from his console and sticking the end in his mouth.
"Well it does…look nice," Marina offered. The men cheered in victory, one of them throwing a Santa hat at their captain. He lazily flicked off his cap and tugged the floppy hat on.
Marina was so lost. He seemed so accepting of the whole thing. Why couldn't he at least bother to get onto them? They weren't going to stop if he didn't even try.
"It's tradition," Unabara explained as he walked up to her to hand her a green candy cane. "I'm not sure how it became tradition, but we always have to have the bridge decorated for him to make him mad."
"He doesn't look mad," the first officer frowned.
"Of course he's not. That's the point."
"I don't get it."
"The point is to make him happy," the old man smiled, "while under the guise of trying to make him mad. He really was mad the first year, but he lightens up. The alcohol helps."
"Okay!" Rai yelled. "Time to make bets on where the captain's gonna show up after the party."
"What?" Marina questioned.
"For when I pass out drunk," Zero snorted. "Last year I woke up laying on one of the rafters above the engine."
"Don't ask how," Unabara laughed.
Marina decided it was best not to think about the subject entirely. She'd make sure to keep the alcohol away from him. "Well, if we're going to have all this up, are we going to bother with a tree?" she questioned.
The room went deathly quiet as all the men glanced around nervously. Zero's expression darkened momentarily as he shattered the silence by snapping the end of his candy cane off between his teeth. "We don't set up trees that could obviously fall over and pose a hazard during a fight, do we boys?"
"No, sir," they all mumbled nervously. Marina didn't need to ask for clarification this time.
"Now, are you going to play some music or what?" the captain smiled.
Marina went to stand by him as the cold spell broke, and the ditzy tunes started up along with the happy chatter of the men. "You know," she said, looking around, "it does feel warmer in here with all this…stuff around."
"Mm-hm, you should get yourself a Christmas bow or something."
"Please," she chuckled. "Just because you're okay with looking like an idiot, doesn't mean I'm going to."
He twirled the candy cane around his tongue, looking up at her innocently as though he didn't know what she could be talking about. She reached down and flicked the puffball end of his Santa hat as a lighter, more musical song started up through the bridge speakers.
"So how embarrassed would you be to dance with me?" he hummed, holding out a hand.
"Incredibly embarrassed, Captain." She placed her hand in his. "But this whole place is embarrassing, so I'll just have to try to live it down. You're still all in trouble too."
"But after the party, right?"
"Yes, alright, after the party."
In the next fic, Nazca and Tochiro throw up some decorations. I'm being literal. I'm so funny.