Victoria and Elizabeth giggled as they scrolled through their collection of magazines. Ever since the latter's developed love for them the two had been eagerly ordering their monthly copies of the lewdest, nudest covers they could find. For Liz it was mostly about the pictures. The accompanying articles held little interest for her although she was particularly fond of Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears. While annoying as hell on stage their continuous sexual and emotional dramas made for good reading. Then there were the model magazines.
Elizabeth heard the delivery truck pull up right on schedule. She and Victoria exchanged glances and then as one, they shouted "IT'S MINE!" And charged over. The delivery man, used to Victoria, was still adjusting to seeing two ships charging down the dock at him. "Easy does it girls. Plenty to go around!" He laughed. "Which one's mine?" Elizabeth was bouncing with excitement and Victoria was slightly more reserved. She didn't bounce but she also couldn't keep still. He laughed and handed them the packages. Both signed for them, Victoria tossed him a $10 piece and the two charged back to their berths, still giggling. He rolled his eyes at the pair of lewd ships and continued on his rounds.
Elizabeth eagerly tore into her box and pulled out her copy of Baby Beauties, beneath that was a Playboy and she eyed both hungrily. Victoria was reading her British magazine so Elizabeth opened her American copy. It was give or take with the Yanks sometimes. Either they'd have the best photos that would make both ships feeling it. (Victoria had slipped off a couple of times after some particularly lewd pictures to do something) Or they would have excellent stories worth reading about. This time they had more of the former and Elizabeth purred with delight as her eyes greedily poured over the succulent breasts and the delicious long legs. Liz rarely had a thing for the male photos. Their poses just didn't work with her. Something about the way the female stood, that kind of vulnerable knees bent position certainly made her drool as she was doing now and she hastily wiped the spit away. She felt Victoria's muzzle against her shoulder as the older ship leaned over for a look. "Ooh." She licked her lips. "We've got a good one this month. Which copy is that?" She asked. "American Models or something like that..." Victoria started rummaging through her own pile until she came up with the same copy. And both began to read. Of course that's when Mary came by.
"Your brains are going to rot reading that you know." She growled. Elizabeth eyed her but said nothing. She still remembered what Mary had said about the magazines and had kept her end of the bargain. Victoria though had gotten bolder as of late and took great delight out of taunting her sister's tolerance for all things lewd. "Our brains may rot but it makes our other organs come alive." She replied. Mary glared and Elizabeth sensed a fight coming on, wisely backing out of view of both sisters. "Spare me your crude languages for once Victoria." Mary sighed. "Why? You know it turns you on." Victoria purred. "Stop it!" Mary growled but the angrier she got, the more amused Victoria became. She was playing with fire and she knew it. But the years spent growing up together had made her all but immune to Mary's blaze. "You really need to get laid, sis. Come on and pull in a berth. Here, I'll lend you a copy and you can drool and drip or whatever to your heart's content. I've got plenty of toys set aside just for you if you need a helping hand." Victoria giggled, but she had pushed too far this time. Mary snarled. "MS QUEEN VICTORIA! I AM SHOCKED AT YOUR BEHAVIOR! YOU AND ELIZABETH BOTH ARE GROUNDED TO THESE BERTHS!" "Oh what?!" Elizabeth spoke up for the first time. "Why me? I didn't do anything?!" "You've let this-this lewdmarine," Mary shoved Victoria hard enough to push the smaller ship backwards. "Corrupt you to her ways!" "Actually, I think lewdmarine is a term used for submarines is it not?" Victoria said innocently and fuming, Mary stalked off. Victoria huffed. "And good riddance. This is just stupid! 'Grounded' pah! I'm not a shipling!" "May I remind you," Elizabeth began, not amused with how Victoria pushed Mary over the edge. "That it was your pestering that got us into this." "Oh sure, be made at me for trying to do the right thing." Victoria grumbled. Mary had Long Beach on her itinerary for over a month now and the flagship had yet to make good on the visit. It was driving Victoria up a wall! "Why is she so reluctant to see Queen Mary anyways?" Elizabeth asked. "You heard the story from QE2 didn't you? Mary doesn't see her as her mother." "Of course I heard it but surely it's not like that, is it?" Victoria sighed. "Liz, I'm her sister. We were both raised by the same ship. QE2 was more of a mother to me than Queen Mary ever was but I don't have a problem calling her mother. Why do you think Mary does?" Elizabeth shrugged. "You're an intelligent young ship, Liz. Surely you can figure it out." Victoria said. "They share a name." Elizabeth realized. "Mm hmm. You share a name as well. Do you feel anything by that?" "No! I could never dislike QE2, she..." Elizabeth broke off as she forced back the memories. Her time in Dubai had changed her. Made her more grateful that she even had a mother and she never wanted to go through something like that again. "But that wasn't the question, was it?" She sighed. Victoria smiled. "My sister cares for Mary a lot. More than she'll ever admit, even to me. But she doesn't know how to deal with her. She's her mother, our mother. But they share a name and a title. She inherited the mantle of flagship from her mother. QE2 was just regent flagship." "I think I understand now." Elizabeth sighed. Victoria nuzzled her.
"Well, well. If it isn't Cunard's mock up cruise ship." said a high toned voice. Victoria grimaced and turned to face the largest ship Elizabeth had ever seen. She thought Mary was big but her flagship was dwarfed by this giantess. "Oasis." Victoria acknowledged and something in her tone told Elizabeth this was not a friendly greeting. Oasis narrowed her eyes, looking past Victoria and seeing Elizabeth. "Ah, so Cunard got a new oversized monkey to play with. One apparently wasn't enough." She said. "Speak for yourself." Elizabeth muttered, eying Oasis' massive stacked decks and wide beam. "Leave her out of this!" Victoria hissed, moving in front. "I think we should let her speak for herself hmm?" Oasis said. Victoria's only response was to narrow her eyes and offer an angry growl. "Elizabeth, if you would please leave us. Oasis and I are going to have a little chat." Victoria growled, rolling her neck back and forth. Elizabeth could hear the cracks and she knew what her fleetmate meant by "chat". "Y-you s-sure you don't need a hand?" She stammered. "She-she's kinda, large." Oasis growled. "Who're you calling large you fat..." Oasis squealed as Victoria lunged at her. The two meshed into a flurry of lashing teeth and broken hull plates.
Elizabeth was relegated to the sidelines and remained where she was, transfixed on the sight before her. She made no attempt to leave but no attempt to help either. Oasis was giant, far too big for one ship to handle by themselves but Victoria seemed to be holding her own. And then Oasis got her teeth into the Cunard Queen's shoulder. Elizabeth flinched as she heard the scraping sound of teeth meeting bone. Victoria gave a loud shriek and that was enough to spur Elizabeth into action. The youngest Vista-class launched herself into the fight, slamming into Oasis' side with a loud clunk. She heard the satisfying crack of hull plates being bent, their welds giving and ribs breaking. She got her teeth into the scruff of the bigger ship's neck, scrabbling for purchase on that deceptively smooth hull. Oasis shied and a fierce buck threw her clear. Elizabeth landed hard, rolling several times before slamming into a pier. Pain shot through her hull as she was left in a trance, working to get her breath back. The fight still raged on but Elizabeth was faced away from it and she didn't have the mobility at the moment to turn and see what was happening. All she could do was listen and it sounded nasty.
It ended abruptly with a harsh ripping sound, a squeal and the sounds of a ship in fast retreat. Elizabeth closed her eyes tight as the "victor" started in her direction. Was it Oasis and if so what would she do? Would she finish her off? The large cruise ship had a deceptive mean streak in her, as evidence by her harshness with Victoria. But instead of sharp teeth or a fierce shove, a warm hull pressed gently against her belly seconds before a rough tongue moved across her face. Elizabeth couldn't help but giggle as it tickled her nose. The licking stopped. "Elizabeth?" Elizabeth was so relieved she could've cried right then. Instead, she opened her eyes. "Victoria?" She was so happy to see her fleetmate standing over her and clearly worried. "Where does it hurt Liz?" "My side. Opposite side." Elizabeth added as Victoria began nosing her flank. "I hit the pier pretty hard. Quite sure its in worse condition than I am though." Victoria nuzzled her and Elizabeth noticed a piece of blue and white plating hanging from her jaws. "You bit off her rudder?" She asked. "Part of it." Victoria casually tossed the piece aside and let it sink. "Bitch has too big an ass to get at with just one bite." Elizabeth giggled. She noticed the blood gathering along Victoria's shoulder and remembered the sound that had brought her into the fight. "That shoulder looks bad. I heard teeth scrape bone." "Is that was got you into this?" Victoria asked and Elizabeth nodded. She sighed. "Well then, I suppose you deserve honesty. No, it's not broken." She said quickly seeing the horror in the younger ship's eyes. "Just fractured. One of her teeth punched into it and that blow caused cracks to form. I'm lucky I'm half ocean-liner. A standard cruise ship's shoulder would've shattered if put to that kind of treatement." She licked blood off a cut just above Elizabeth's right eye that she didn't even know was there. "You've likely got a concussion so we're both going to the drydocks. Can you stand?" She asked and Elizabeth nodded, slowly righting herself. Off balance, she staggered into Victoria who straightened up with a sharp hiss at her sudden weight. Elizabeth backed off at once, realizing she'd stumbled right into her shoulder. "I'm sorry." She said. "It's fine." Victoria forced a smile though the pain was still evident behind her eyes. The two set out.
Victoria looked at her fleetmate. "I'll admit, I was ready to admit defeat until I saw Oasis throw you like that. It, scared me and angered me." She ducked her head. "It's kinda hard to explain but..." "I understand." Elizabeth interrupted. "And, thank you." As they entered a narrow part of the channel they were forced to go single file and Victoria limped along in front. "Should I call Mary?" She asked. "She's probably off releasing the last of her temper somewhere and likely has her radio turned off but its worth a shot." Victoria replied so Elizabeth pinged Mary on a private frequency. Surprisingly, Mary answered and when she did Elizabeth noted she sounded like she'd been crying. A pang of sympathy went through her for her flagship. Mary had so much on her shoulders and she and Victoria never made things easier on her. She couldn't promise for Victoria but Elizabeth promised for herself that she would stop being so difficult. Mary was right, she really did need to stop letting Victoria push things on her. Her own lines needed to be drawn and once they were, there were no crossing them. "What is it Elizabeth?" Mary asked. "Victoria's hurt." Elizabeth answered. Clearly it wasn't the answer that Mary was expecting judging by the silence. At last she spoke up "What happened?" "Another big ship came by here. Some ship named Oasis. She wasn't very nice to be. Started calling me names and stuff. Victoria gave it to her, Oasis gave it back." "Did you get involved, Liz?" Mary asked. Elizabeth hesitated. She knew she should tell the truth. If she didn't, Oasis likely would. Elizabeth had noticed with some satisfaction that the wound her teeth made on the big ship's neck was bleeding quite a bit. "I'm not mad, Liz. I just want to know what happened." Mary said in a gentler tone. Elizabeth made up her mind. "I was on the sidelines at first." She began. "But when Oasis got Victoria by her shoulder, I-I just had to jump in." "How bad is Victoria?" "She says her shoulder bone's cracked. Tooth blow." "And you?" "I feel alright. My side's stinging a little bit. Oasis threw me off and I rolled into a dock." "You might have a concussion. Are you two headed to the drydocks?" "Yes." "I'll meet you there. I'm keeping this channel open so if anything changes, you or Victoria let me know at once." "I will, promise." As Elizabeth signed off, she noticed she'd fallen behind. Victoria had slowed down up front to wait and she put power into her engines, swiftly catching up to the elder liner. "I'm assuming you got a hold of Mary?" She asked. "She's going to meet us at the drydocks." Elizabeth replied. "Great, another lecture." Victoria groaned. "I don't think so. She didn't sound mad, just-just worried."
When they arrived, Mary was already there conversing swiftly with Africa Mercy, the hospital ship on duty. She broke off swiftly and bounded over to her fleetmates upon seeing them though. She promptly embraced them both. Victoria winced as her shoulder protested but settled against her sister. Elizabeth wriggled a bit, working to snuggle herself more into Mary's side. She was so warm... Unfortunately Mary backed off. "You two are a mess." She said. Both ships looked down. "Are you going to yell at us again?" Victoria mumbled. It was unusual to see the cheery ship so subdued. Mary looked at her, not a hint of anger in her gentle gaze. "Why would I yell at you?" "Because you grounded us to our berths and we left our berths." Victoria replied. "That was Oasis' doing, not yours. I don't blame you. Either of you. In fact, I should apologize." Victoria looked up, shocked, while Elizabeth watched and listened silently. "I know what I promised and I should not have lost my temper like that." "Well, I shouldn't have pushed you that far. I know better than to do that with you." Victoria nuzzled her. "Yes, you're a little shit sometimes but you're also my sister. And you, my cousin." She nodded to Elizabeth. "Family shouldn't fight like that." "No, we shouldn't." Elizabeth agreed. "Get in here!" Mary ordered and Elizabeth bounded over with a grin. She pressed herself deep in Mary's side, purring heartily. On the opposite flank, Victoria was doing the same, leaning heavily into her big sister and getting as much weight off her wounded shoulder as she possibly could. "Victoria, that shoulder needs looking at. It's still bleeding." Mary sighed. "Elizabeth, look at me for a moment please?" She asked and the young ship did. Mary shined a light in her eyes and she winced. "Sorry," she looked closely. "Well, you seem to be alright but I want you near just to be safe." Elizabeth nodded, having no issues with that arrangement. Victoria on the other prop was not happy at the doctor's verdict.
"You need 10 stitches." Africa Mercy said. Victoria groaned, she hated needles! "Do you want me to do it?" Mary asked. "Please?" Victoria begged. She'd rather family than some stranger. Sighing, Mary shifted her weight so she was better facing her sister and took out a needle, attaching a string of weld rods. "Alright, hold still now." Mary ordered and gently began cleaning the wound. Victoria gritted her teeth, harsh breath escaping her with every loud exhale. "Here, I forgot." Mary handed her non-dilluted rum. "Bottom's up." "You're just giving her alcohol?" Elizabeth asked, having peaked around to watch. "When you're getting needles poked into you, you sure as fuck don't want to do it sober." Victoria groaned, taking a several large gulps that would've destroyed the tolerance of most ships her size. "I'll remember that." Elizabeth grinned and Victoria rolled her eyes. "You taught her too well, sister." Mary said. "Yeah, yeah well she inherited half of it... ouch goddamn it!" She cried as Mary unexpectedly began sewing. "You're such a baby, hold still!" She ordered as Victoria started flinching away. "Drink your rum like a good British ship." "You are a horrible person who loves to poke fun at me." Victoria grumbled as she took another swig. "Love you too Vicky." Mary grinned. "Don't call me that!" Victoria growled and Mary just laughed.
At last, she completed the last stitch, tying off the end of the weld and cutting the excess away. "It's a good thing you didn't become a hospital ship." Victoria said. "It wasn't that bad." "Says the needle queen." "Says the 23 other wounds I've stitched up since mom showed me how." Victoria paused. "You've kept count?" She asked. "Counting this one, that makes 24." "Gah!" Victoria cried. "You really are the needle queen." "Come on then, my loyal subject. Back to our berths." "Oh so its our berths now is it." "Don't make me find more thread and sew your mouth shut." "Oh come on, you know you love it!" Elizabeth simply giggled as she bounded along beside the two bickering siblings. She was happy because this style of bickering wasn't like the kind she witnessed earlier in the day. This was the good-natured ribbing that these two had mastered over the years and the jokes came freely. Both respected each other's boundaries and everything that was said, was said in fun. Elizabeth listened, hoping that one day she too could take part.