Sailor's Song
Amy goes to a local recreational center to have a conversation with Cream. She's dressed like her fellow band mates in The Green Spades; in a black suit and tie. Mighty and the others mistook Amy for Sonia the Hedgehog, but with that mistake resolved, everyone took a break while Amy and Cream had their talk.
Cream candidly speaks about her alleged innocence and how it no longer applies to her given her behavior and actions. While she admits that Tails was good to her, he wasn't right for her and she couldn't make the situation better for herself if she didn't share the attraction. She asks that Amy not do anything physical to Tails and she agrees that Cream has to fight her own battle eventually.
DISCLAIMER: Marine, Cream and all other related characters and properties are owned and operated by SEGA Corporation and Sonic Team. This author makes no such claims and is not paid or compensated for the production of this fiction. Please do not flame.
(Chapter 10- Why Did I Come Here?)
It's Friday night and the lady Mids wanted to go out. Since joining the Navy, Marine and her ship buddies quickly learned that dressing in their uniforms and, in numerous cases, using their feminine charm, would allow them to reap the benefits of their service.
All around the world, they would be able to get into clubs for free or reduced cost. While that wasn't the case for The Vale Shack and Las Rascasse this evening, the local bar called Anchor's Weigh served as the spot where her crew would spend the least amount of money and enjoy themselves as much as they can.
This is including, but not limited to, getting very, very inebriated. As the velvet rope is opened up for the dressed-up Mids, Bianca yells out a modern day battle cry, screaming "Let's get fucked up, sheilas!" These words cause cheering and whooping amongst the group of Mids with a notable exception. The raccoon girl of the bunch gives off a half-hearted 'yea' which her team either doesn't hear or doesn't notice because the club is so loud after their chant of 'Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oye, oye, oye'.
It's not that Marine wasn't interested in going out and having drinks; she's done it with her core group of sailors on countless occasions in the past year. There's just been a lot on her mind in the day and a half since running into who she now remembers as Rouge the Bat. Enough badgering from her about a 'Rose' and the lady she described as 'sex on wings' wanting to beat her to a pulp did eventually make her realize the reason why this was the case.
Without question, this hasn't been a rare occurrence for Marine. If she's honest with herself, she knows she's been playing with fire since she became a teenager and started having sex with other girls. It's gotten serious, too, even having the police come down to her boat to investigate various encounters, never finding any incriminating evidence, like a female peer on her property. She's a slick one, but also knows that many out there have a long memory and don't forget if someone apparently violated a friend or relative of theirs.
Knowing that she's gonna remain in the city for another couple of weeks; Marine can't escape like she's been able to for many of her past encounters. Rouge will want to see her again; it's obvious in her head, so she figures she'll have to confront her whenever she comes face to face with the bat. Marine didn't exactly explain herself because the memories wouldn't come to her right away, but now that she knows why Rouge is so angry at her, she can go about doing some damage control.
Rouge certainly meant business and that did make the athletically sound Marine take notice, even on a night when she's supposed to have fun. It consumed her so much, she lost track of her group and ended up bumping into a honeybee, buzzing about the main room of Anchor's Weigh.
"Hey, sour puss," says the bee, who is, in fact, Charmy. "Either you're in the mood or not, but watch where the hell you're going."
Marine, certainly not in the mood for any rampant confrontation, blows off the tone of the bee and says, "No need to be yobbo, buzzy mate. Just bogged with a lot of garbage, you know? I come here to get away from it all, yet everything seems to come back like boomerangs from home."
"Whoa, hold on," Charmy speaks, feeling a little regret for his snapping criticism. Adjusting his position in the midst of a club with very poor lighting, he notices the white uniform worn by the girl and gets a well needed uplifting. "Wow, a real Southern Island Midshipman…or is it…"
"No, I don't mind being called Midshipman, mate," she explains. "No need to change what's been workin' for centuries, right?"
"I guess, and I'm sorry if I overreacted there. My girl—my fiancée is coming here tonight to see my best friend perform and she's about twenty minutes late."
She can certainly understand how someone can be more than a little on edge when their date for the evening doesn't arrive on time. Nevertheless, one question arises in Marine's head. "All that sounds ripper and what else mate, but the bouncer told us girls that the entertainment wouldn't start for another half hour."
"That's true," Charmy admits, "though I did want to offer her some support before she gets up on stage. Well, maybe I'm flapping my wings too hard about this. We still have plenty of time, right?"
"Of course! No drama to be had here yet, mate." Given that the two are now acting cordial, the young go-getter brings out her right hand and says, "The name's Marine, mate. Marine the Raccoon, and you are?"
"Charmy Bee," he says, returning the handshake. Looking behind her and seeing more servicewomen in uniform, he inquires, "You came with them, right?"
"Guilty, mate," she answers. "It's crazy, though. Usually, I'd be in a good mood and ready to party, but…not tonight."
"Oh, did something bad happen?"
Does she really want to reveal what went down with Rouge earlier or blow off Charmy for being nosy? Marine elects to go with a third option and says, "Let's just say part of my past has come back and won't let go without getting their revenge."
"Damn!" he interjects. "Well, hope it goes off without a hitch. I'll keep waiting for milady Saffron to arrive and, just keep your head up, Marine. Whatever problems you're going through, I'm sure they can be solved easily."
After Marine thanks Charmy, he heads back outside to check for his fiancée and the teen Midshipman ponders how her issue is not that simple before taking a spot by the barstools with her team members.
"Oh how nice of you to finally get into the swing of things, Marine!" Dana exclaims. "I know close encounters with the pissed off kind is something you'd probably be used to by now, but…damn! I can't remember an experience with you taking the cake like that since we set sail."
"I just want you to know, ya dreadlocked diva," Marine beings, referring to the echidna, "that I'm ignoring everything coming out of your fucking mouth. You know why? Bulls shit more useful matter on a daily basis, and you can use it for bettering Mother Earth."
"Now, girls—don't get your knickers too twisted, mates," Bianca says to both Marine and Dana. "We came here to have fun, after all and besides, Dana, at least you won't have to deal with the wrath of a pissed off big sister who's also a G.U.N. spy."
"Oh, bugger off, mate!" Marine says, blowing off Bianca's pointed words. "Just like I told you this morning, I don't have any reason to be afraid. Hopefully, I gave Rouge enough of a bump to the head so that she doesn't try to corner me like a coward again and ask about Rose...even though I know she will. Ay, mate!" she calls to the bartender. "Could I get jagertee on the rocks?"
"I'll have it right out," the male duck bartender replies.
"Good show," Marine says, thanking the gentleman. "If I have to hear all this bullshit from my mates this evening, I should be able to drown it out with a smasher."
"Okay but what about your fear of waking up after a drunken encounter, Marine? It's been three days and you still haven't come across any desperate souls and you did say you needed to make up the lost time, am I right?"
The man; the so-called rational one of the bunch, just had to bring that little matter onto the table. Ronny just brought up the fact that Marine, the obsessive and controlling playgirl that she can become at times always likes to be of sound mind during her sexual encounters. She has this fear of waking up to something she didn't go to bed with and that's been her long-standing policy since becoming sexually active even before she started to socially drink.
"Eh, I…I don't know, mate. It could be that I'll fall flat on my arse, or I'll just do the responsible and disciplined thing and mind my P's and Q's, you know?" When the bartender brings Marine's requested drink to her, she takes a couple of sips before saying, "You rarely find the best snatch your first nights on shore, though, and I can't see anything really standing out from where I sit. If you have patience and know that the first ones don't always bite, you're bound to end up with a few gems along the way. But you know all this, right Ronny?"
"All too well," says the kangaroo laconically.
"Say, do any of you know about this entertainment performing this evening?" Tracey tried to get an answer from her shipmates to no avail. No one was sure of what would be playing this evening and decided to just wait for when show time arrived.
Another half an hour goes by and while her crew mates have had their sample of drinks for this night out, Marine has continued to take sips of her only jagertee of the evening, not really having the thirst for anything else and regretting coming here tonight, given that she's been at the 'arse end' of their many jokes this evening. Looking down at her glass, Marine sees that she still has half of her drink remaining. It's nowhere near enough for her to get a buzz, so she's still thinking and acting with a clear head while her rambunctious group carries on with their happiness.
They and the rest of the people in the club are silenced by a male emcee standing near a stage and in front of a red curtain. "I hope everyone's enjoying their evening here at Anchor's Weigh." This gets quite the approval from the audience, who cheer in response. "At this time, I'd like to introduce you to tonight's entertainment. In just a couple of weeks, he's gonna be taking his alternative rock band to the Central City Music Festival to compete against sixty other bands all over the world for the title of 'Best In Tune'.
"For tonight, they'll provide you some unique covers and originals to tide you over until the festival. The band includes Mighty the Armadillo on lead guitar and lead vocals, the twin flying squirrels, Ray and Roy, on drums and keyboard, respectively, and replacing Julie-Su the Echidna on bass and backing vocals is Cream the Rabbit. Together they form a group that has a great chance of being tops at the festival. Together they form…The Green Spades! Give it up! Show them your love!" With that, the curtain opens revealing the band members with Mighty by the microphone thanking everyone for coming out to see them and hoping that they don't disappoint.
Ray counts from one to four while snapping his drumsticks together as Cream opens with a bass line to bring the people into the song. Though she doesn't know it, Cream has caught the attention of one audience member. Marine didn't think much of the band at first, but her two eyes are on this unique sight in front of her right now. She knew she was seeing clearly now as she laid her eyes on her. She stood just over five feet tall, wearing a white shirt with black trousers held up by black suspenders. She also wore thick black glasses, but Marine figured that they weren't something she wore all the time.
Either way, from where Marine sat, this girl was something else! 'Holy mackerel!' is the thought that came to mind for her. 'She's ripper, for damn certain! Cream is her name? Well then…' Whatever thoughts were swimming through her mind right now, they were, much to Marine's surprise, not very dirty. They revolved around her wanting to meet with and talk to Cream and not just how good of a lay she would be while on Marine remained on shore.
As Cream shared the microphone with Mighty for some line about brains dropping like flies and clock handles flying out of control, she started to question something of great relevance. She was sweating like she just went through a marathon sauna session and couldn't figure out the reason why.
Of all the girls she's seen through the years, and there have been many, Cream can't compare to any others in the physical sense. Her hair is quite conservative, her dress looks like something out of a jazz ensemble and she's hardly wearing any makeup. Her breasts are modest and somewhat perky at best while her hips are only visible not showing off much except the fact that there is a bust and butt there but little else and she's slim and tone.
The only thing Marine can latch onto that stands out amongst all others are Cream's ears. She's never seen them that long, but they looked beautiful. Outside of that detail, there's really not much that leaps out at Marine, latches onto her and begs her to not let go. Quite frankly, the girl is above average in the looks department, but that leaves Marine with one important question:
'If this shelia is basically a plain Jane, why the bloody hell am I sweating thinking about just talking to her?' Marine questions. 'There've been plenty of other girls I've come across and that's never happened once! I don't get it.'
A/N: More on this story to come including the two girls meeting at last, so stay tuned for that!
Until next time, this is Rave!