Disclaimer: Indy Best Girl
Sleep is for the weak. The strong stay up until ten to finish their chapters. *Cries in tired*
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Reviews:
Mark: [Insert Fist of the North Star Transcript here]
Severak: Huh, I'm developing San Francisco and Atlanta. I wonder what this could mean? *Ominous foreshadowing noises*
TheOne: So, Saratoga was laid down in 1925, and we are right after the Battle of Midway, which is in 1942. So 42 - 25... Uhhh... I've gotta prepare my visa...
John: Wait, so Portland's the Imouto?
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I'm going to have to rethink my life choices.
But thanks for the research, It was really helpful!
Portland's POV:
Saratoga led us to a small propped up tent-like beach umbrella thing near the edge of the Construction site. I could see a cooler, presumably filled with drinks. A group of girls were chatting under the cover of the tarp.
"Everyone, we've got help for this project!" Saratoga waved, walking into the shade. "These two cruisers are volunteers, so why don't we introduce ourselves?"
"Benson, of the Torpedo Sisters." Benson bowed. "These are Bailey, Hobby and Kalk." (1)
"Hello~" They harmonized.
"Is ... that also a part of your group?" I asked, pointed to the destroyer lying dead on the cooler.
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"Oh." Benson sighed. "Laffy is well… Nocturnal, I guess? She'll get better in the night."
"Allright, next up!" Saratoga clapped her hands.
"I'm San Diego." The Pink haired cruiser shook my hand energetically.
"And I'm Helena." Helena smiled. Her voice was intoxicating, like honey. "Pleased to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too." I nodded back.
"K, Now that we all know each other, let's go over assignments. Benson, do you have your songs finished?" Saratoga asked.
"Almost there." Benson laughed nervously.
"What about you, San Diego?" Saratoga asked.
"I'm struggling to find new dance routines." San Diego responded.
"Helena?" Saratoga turned to her.
"I'm done." She nodded.
"Okay." Saratoga snapped her fingers. "Helena, help San Diego please. Benson, I'll write some lyrics for you. Portland, Astoria, why don't you get working on the backstage construction?" Saratoga pointed at the side of the unfinished platform.
"Got it." Astoria and I stepped from underneath the tarp and walked over to the side.
"Say, this might be a red flag, but shouldn't an idol have already memorized their songs by now?" Astoria looked at the bunny destroyers.
"Maybe it's just showbiz." I shrugged. "We're not one to judge though."
"Still…" Astoria muttered.
"Allright, let's get started." I cracked my knuckles. In front of me were a couple of steel beams and several wires that were sprawled all over the floor.
"Oh, hello." A red haired ship sat on the ground, fiddling with the electronics. "Are you new?"
"Yup." Astoria responded. "Who are you?"
"Lead ship of the Atlanta class cruisers, Atlanta." The cruiser placed the spotlight aside, and began to work on the next one. "Nice to meet you."
"Atlanta class cruiser?" I turned around, looking at the other pink haired girl playing with Helena. "That means you're her sister, right?"
"Yeah.." Atlanta screwed in a bolt into the spotlight. "That's her. The magnum opus herself."
"So you're also an Idol, right?" Astoria inferred.
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"I'm not an Idol." Atlanta painfully sighed, flickering the light on and off before putting it to the side. "I don't want to have to spend countless hours practicing like the others."
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Something was off. I turned to Astoria, who nodded in agreement.
"But let's not worry about that." Atlanta patted the ground next to her. "Come on, I'll show you how to wire lights. You ready?"
"Sure." I wiped the sand before sitting down.
"Allright, first you attach these color filters on top of the bulbs." Atlanta guided my hands. "And then we connect them to the wires. The order goes White, Blue, Red, Blue." (2)
"So how many do we have to make?" Astoria wrapped the small sheet onto a light.
"Enough to cover the entirety of the stage. A hundred feet or so." Atlanta pointed to the large metal bars lying on the side of the stage.
Today was going to be a long day..
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"Say, I never did get your names." Atlanta asked.
"Astoria." She screwed the light bulb into the wire.
"Portland." I took another blub from the box and handed it over.
"So you're 'The Portland', then." Atlanta chuckled.
"The Portland?" I narrowed my eyes. Am I that famous? Perhaps the Cult of Indy is spreading! I wonder how much it takes to rent out a church?
"You know, the Sexual Harassing Convict that insulted the Secretary's dead sister." Atlanta explained.
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Astoria groaned.
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"Okay, that may all be true, but I had a good reason." I pointed out. "You see, Indy is the most amazing sister of all time. She's got the heart of an angel and the fashion sense of a devil. Her tan glistens in the sun, and dazzles you when covered in gooey white lotion. Her lips are as red as the coral, but her skin as dark as succulent chocolate. She is by far the most attractive and revealing sister out of the entire Union fleet. Also, I was drunk."
"Saying you were intoxicated would have been enough." Astoria muttered.
Atlanta snorted. "So, how did you get in jail then?"
I got out my picture book. "Well you see, it started back in Coral Sea when I was groping Indy in a hot steaming bath…"
"Allright, that should be all the posters set up." Atlanta wiped her brow as the sun began to fall beneath the horizon, tinting the sky an amiable light orange. "Thanks for your help."
"It's fine." I shrugged. "I was sent to work here anyways."
"You tell some great stories, Portland." Atlanta strolled across the boardwalk. "You should write an autobiography some time."
"I doubt anybody would publish it." Astoria rolled her eyes. "It's too risque."
"I don't need a book, only Indy does." I told her. "What Indy ate for breakfast is far more important than whatever I do. After all, Indy is the pinnacle of the Eagle Union."
"You know, If Indy ever tries to join our group, I'll give her a favorable recommendation, just for you." Atlanta turned the corner, to see a block wide line in front of the plot. "It seems our advertising worked, huh?"
"That's … A lot more than I expected." I estimated at least a hundred ships.
"Hey, were Idols always this popular?" Astoria silently motioned to me. (3)
"Beats me." I signed back to her.
"Let's line up at the side then." Atlanta gestured to the back of the crowd, which was not even in sight.
There's no way we are going to make it inside if we wait in that..
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I grabbed Atlanta's hand, and took a deep breath. "STAFF COMING THROUGH!"
I pushed forwards through the crowd, making sure that I kept holding Atlanta's hand. "MOVE IT!"
"Portland, I can't breath…" Atlanta gasped behind me.
"Hang on!" I gripped harder and barreled to the front of the line.
"Oh, Portland, hello." Saratoga said as I broke past the cluster of ships. "Come on through."
"Huh?" A couple of people behind me groaned.
"She's with us." Astoria helped Atlanta to her feet.
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Wait.
"How did you get in front?" I asked, wiping off the dust from my skin.
"There's a staff entrance in the back." Astoria pointed behind her.
I turned to Atlanta, who was sitting on the ground, catching her breath
"I forgot about that…" She laughed.
"Saratoga, nice job." I handed her a bottle of water. "Break a leg, San Diego."
"Got it!" She walked up to stage.
"Thanks for all your help." Saratoga poured the water down her throat. "We needed it. If you ever come into trouble, I'll be sure to repay the favor."
"Everyone! Sandy here!" San Diego shouted to the crowd. "Are you ready?!"
"It's nothing." I responded, handing her a towel as San Diego began her song. (4)
"No, seriously, if you want anything, just ask me." Saratoga wiped her face. "It's the least I can do."
"Ichi Fuji, Ni Taka, San Diego~o!"
"Well, if there's one thing, why did Atlanta not become an Idol?"
Saratoga looked at the ground.
"So, what do you think?" San Diego posed.
I dropped my pen to the floor. That was just jaw dropping... This girl has mastered every part of being an Idol! This could be our big debut! "I'm stunned! San Diego, you've got talent on the stage. You're just simply amazing!"
"How about me?" Atlanta asked
"Well, Uhh.. I liked your coordination. That's good in an Idol." I ran up to her sister to shake her hand. "But San Diego, you should totally join!"
"So... did I make it?" Atlanta asked.
"Well... perhaps you could be more useful backstage?" I grabbed San Diego and led her to the back of the auditioning studio. "You would probably make a good manager, but San Diego, what are your thoughts on recording labels?"
"Truth be told, Atlanta wouldn't have been a bad Idol." Saratoga explained. "She's a great writer and a decent singer... It's just that, let's be honest, nobody is as good as San Diego. All of her songs were duets, but San Diego would just simply be stronger as a soloist."
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"Say, can I see one of her duets?" I asked.
"Uh, sure." Saratoga shrugged. "They should be in that black box. It was written on orange paper, I think."
I walked to the back of the stage, where Astoria and Atlanta was handling the spotlights.
"Watashi wa Numba one!" San Diego bounced around on stage. "Itsu demo Numba One! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!"
"San Diego really can sing..." Astoria muttered, flashing the lights back on and off.
"Yeah." Atlanta rolled the film. "She's the miracle of the show. Fade to black in three, two, one, now."
The lights darkened, and a series of firecrackers exploded in the sky.
"Neutral lighting, now." Atlanta flipped a switch, and the stage lit up again, showing San Diego bowing on stage. "Good job everyone! Let's get ready for the clean up."
"Atlanta," I put a sheet of music in her palm. "Who said the show was over?"
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Atlanta turned to me. Her face lit up with an emotion I could not decipher. She glanced briefly to the stage, where roses were thrown onto San Diego's feet. Cheers of "Encore!" echoed across the plot. A tear ran down her cheek.
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Atlanta took my hand.
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"Portland, Thank you. You're a really kind person."
Atlanta wiped her watery eyes with a grey handkerchief. She turned away, back to the stage.
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"I'm not an Idol, Portland." Atlanta watched as the stars lined up around San Diego, letting her music drift to the ground. "I could never be one."
Footnotes:
(1): Technically, Kalk was not built yet at this time, but oh well..
(2): Fun fact, Christmas lights were invented in 1881! That's like 15 years after the end of the US civil war.
(3): No they were not. Not at all. But plot says otherwise!
(4): WATASHI WA NUMBA WAN! HAI! HAI! HAI! HAI! HAI! HAI! HAI! HAI! HAI! HAI! HAI! HAI! HAI! HAI!
Note to self: San Diego's song is not good study music.
I'm realizing that every chapter I make ends on a sad tone. I've gotta change that somehow.
But I should probably get some sleep first.
Anyways, see you next week!