A/N: Hey, hey! Thanks for dropping by on my first work here! Just some things about myself to start us off. I've tried writing before, but they've never really gone anywhere satisfactory. This is the first time I have a format that I think can work out for me, so here we go. Do keep in mind that this being my first crack at actually posting something, the story and characters could be lackluster here and there. But hey, I'll learn as I go and take you guys along for the ride! Why not?
Second, a quick background of what to expect from this. This whole thing is going to be a collection of little stories featuring different characters and headcanons from, of course, Azur Lane. These tidbits are the kinds of things you bust out and read on the side of other stories, they'll be quite short. The chapters won't have an overarching story that connects with each other unless I say so.
Third, updates will not be regular. They'll be sporadic, if at all. This stuff just comes randomly to me, so what happens happens.
Finally, I hope you enjoy this first bite! You know her, you love her, Vittorio Veneto!
"This way, commandante", Veneto said as she dragged me up the street. I just got off-duty for the day and we both thought it'd be a good idea to get some fresh air before retiring to our residences. "Okay, okay", I replied before picking up the pace. I looked around us and a lot of people were either throwing us some cheeky glances or just outright staring. Eyebrows were raised, understandably. I pulled my cap down a bit with my free hand to try and hide some of my face, whatever value that might serve. "Veneto, Veneto", I stress before changing the balance of our grips and she halted as a result, turning to face me.
I look around quickly and say in a somewhat hushed voice, "you mind telling me where we're going?" She looks at my hand gripping her wrist before looking back up at me. She smirked for a half-second before leaning closer and in a similarly hushed voice replying, "just trust me, sir. I think you'll like it. This is the perfect time of day to check it out, too!"
Looking at the sky and then to my watch to confirm, I press the issue. "Late dusk with the sun almost done setting? What, did you find some secret spot to check out the view?" I let that hang in the air for a few, waiting for a reaction. Finally, she pouted a little and I thought I saw the faintest shade of pink across her cheeks before her mouth opens to answer. "Oh, come on commandante, you're no fun."
Letting go of her wrist, I sigh a bit while I size her up for a few seconds. A small smile creeps on my face before I wave my hand in front of my face and say, "you're blushing", rather quickly. Veneto's eyes widened in response before she shifted to trying to cover it up with her hand, before resorting to grabbing my hand once more and resuming our trek in the same direction from earlier. Allowing myself a little snicker as I allow her to guide me proved to be an act I didn't yet know could be so dangerous. She stopped and looked back at me with a steely glare in her eyes. I gulped as a single bead of sweat rolled off my head. I nervously replied, "something in my throat", and proceeded to clear it, trying to sell the bluff.
So, she most definitely did not buy that. She raised an eyebrow before turning back and continuing to pull me into a little secluded alleyway between two restaurants. Finally letting my hand go, she looks at me and says, "are you ready, sir?" I clap my hands and give them a quick rub against one another before stowing them behind my back and nodding, "sure." She graced me with a smile and went behind the building on the left. I followed suit and we found ourselves in front of a door in the wall opposite the restaurant. Looking at the door, then Veneto, then back at the door, then back at Veneto, I begin, "are you sure we should be going through that? This is not what I expected the leader of the Sardegna Empire to be doing."
She chuckled before saying, "oh commandante, surely I can have my fun every now and then too?" She produced a paperclip from her coat and picked the door's lock, letting it swing outward. Tucking the clip back, she nodded and smiled towards me whilst gesturing to the doorway. "After you, commandante."
Smiling as I nod, I walk through and find myself on a little overlook that seemingly had the entire installation in its field of view. I take off my hat and squint a little, the sun just low enough that I could lean forwards a little to get a good look at things from up here without blinding myself. I hear the door swing behind me and look back to see Veneto likewise with her attention to the sprawling view in front of us. "Wonderful isn't it", she asks. Chuckling, I smile and say, "beautiful. Gotta say these secret spots are actually kinda cool." I turned my attention back to said view.
Moving closer to me, she nudged my arm with her elbow playfully before replying, "you see? I told you, just trust me." I let those words process in my head, drinking the view in. The contrast between the stark, metallic, manmade structure of the naval establishment and the more natural, organic flow of the crashing ocean to the left was a sight for sore eyes. The sun almost through setting was an added bonus. To find the cherry on top, I simply had to look up at the sky and saw a handful of stars already glittering, even though it wasn't full night yet.
Turning to look to my immediate left, Veneto was fully immersed in the scenery. She was an interesting person. In all honesty, when she first got here 3 weeks ago, I thought she'd be just fine. Like all the others, she proved her worth in active combat. As the tradition goes, the next step in the process of acquainting with new troops would be to set her up as secretary for a month or two. It was then that I started really getting to know her. She was a strong woman, no doubts about that. Respectable, too. Always on top of things, consistently beautiful, very regal and elegant, this, that, the list stretches on. Less a weapon, or a naval vessel, and more as a person, Veneto proved to be infinitely fascinating. Something that I could definitely get behind.
It was rare that she got flustered, but when she did it was always a good laugh. That was something we had to adjust her to a little. It was fine to screw up every now and then, and if it's something as minor as a wardrobe malfunction caused by oversleeping and a subsequent panic-induced morning rush, then we could all just laugh it off. And when she laughed, it was simply melodic. When she'd calm down and get herself back together, she'd give me this serious look in her pearl-white eyes and go, you'd better not tell anyone else about this. In short, being with her was just good, old fun. Something I desperately needed these days. I feel that this is one reason from a handful of others that had me slowly but surely falling for her.
"-mmandante! Commandante!" I widen my eyes before looking towards the scenery. I rub them before looking back towards Veneto. "What? What happened", I hurriedly asked, completely oblivious to what I'd been doing. She breathed a quick sigh of relief before explaining, "you were staring into blank space for a while. I thought you'd finally lost it", she joked. Suddenly, it rushed back and crashed into me like a truck. "Oh, karabast! Sorry about that, I just…", I trailed off before finding the words, "had a lot on the noggin."
Yeah, she didn't buy that either. She narrowed her eyes and seemed to size me up for a hot second before turning back to the now-almost-completely-set-sun. Deciding to just play it off and continue admiring the now not-so-enamoring view, I clear my throat awkwardly and slowly put my cap back on, hoping that Veneto wouldn't think much of it. What she said next, I didn't quite know what to feel about.
"Commandante, may I ask a question?"
I face her and reply, "sure."
Please don't ask what I was doing back there – "why do you do what you do, commandante?"
Umm... I tilt my head quizzically. "I'm not sure what you mean."
"Allow me to be blunt, sir. Why are you here", she elaborates, now turning to hold my gaze.
I let the question stew in my head for a little bit, thinking up a proper or at least appropriate response to that. "Ah. Well, that's rather simple. I apologize if my backstory isn't quite so cinematic or dramatic. I went to the academy and did my tours. Got noticed here and there, was recommended by some higher-ups, and took the job. As to why I stick around, well. This is our home. The only one we'll have, no matter how hard we try to find another. Might as well go all-in defending it."
She nodded before I continued, "and it's more than just home, Veneto." I take a deep breath and look back out to the now-night sky. "This planet is also host to the places, people, things, that I care about. Some, that I love." I emphasize the last point, looking back at her. The shade of pink showed itself once more, but she didn't react too much this time around.
I finish my answer with a shrug, "so why wouldn't I, why shouldn't I, give everything I can afford to, to defend what I love?" She gave me something that I'd savor every time I got it. Her warm, genuine, smile. There was a glint in her eyes as she slowly nodded, replying, "well said, commandante."
I nod, with a little mental pat-on-the-back. I'm not usually the best with words, but I liked to think I could mix them up nicely when I needed to. Veneto returned to peering out past the overlook once more. Suddenly, a thought ran through my mind. A few days back, I recovered the old mp3 player that I got from my parents for my birthday years and years ago. Still had all the songs I used to jam out to, too! I'd whip it out from my desk drawer whenever I was alone, and stuff my earbuds in as I took trips down memory lanes.
Anyway, I'd recently gotten to the part in the library with a certain rock band. The first taste I got of them was when my sister had me listen to one of their hooks. It had me interested enough that I'd decided to get some albums of theirs on the side, and it was in these albums that I found one of the songs that would stick with me all the way till I grew up. And I'd only rediscovered it again yesterday. But then I hesitated. What if she didn't agree with my taste in music? I was the kind of person who didn't really care about the rep of the artist and preferred just to let their music speak for itself. Oh well. You miss every shot you don't take.
I fish the player out of my pants pocket and pull out the earbuds with it. Veneto looks at it curiously, asking me, "what's that, commandante?" I look at her, chiding, "what d'you think it is?"
She squinted a little before replying, "I would guess some kind of communicator?"
I chuckled and opened my mouth to reply, but before I could she cut me off saying, "hey, I'm not that great with technology! You know this!" She was funny when she complained. Cute, too.
Holding my hands up in mock-surrender, I defuse the situation, "alright, alright! It's an mp3 player", I explain. I finally get the cable untangled and plug in the barrel connector before looking at her. She had a confused look on her face. I smile and have a little laugh inside before going on, "it's basically something you use to play music, and only to play music."
"Ahhh", she says nodding in understanding.
I turn the clickwheel until I hit the song I'm looking for. Grabbing the right bud, I offer it to her with my left hand. "Hear, put it in your ear. Don't worry, it should fit like a glove." She looked at it and took it gingerly, carefully placing it in her right ear. Before I could do anything, she said, "there's nothing." I chuckle before explaining, "no-no, I just haven't started playing any music yet, give me a sec."
She nods as I get the other bud into my left ear. Before I start playing, I had to ask. "Veneto, how do you feel about alternative rock?"
She seemed to think for a while before answering, "I've heard some rock on occasion, whenever Formidable would leave some songs playing. I don't quite fancy how wild it is, though."
Understandable. Some rock just hits hard. "Oh, I get that. But alternative rock is a little different. I promise you it won't get too heavy", I say.
She nods, "Alright, I'll give it a listen."
"Yes! Okay, this one's called Yellow."
"Yellow… sure."
With her affirmation, I hit the play button and pocket the device as I stare back out there, letting the memories rush back as the wall of guitars hit my eardrums like a truck. "I'll give you this, commandante. It's interesting how it punches so solidly while sounding so weirdly pleasant", Veneto says over the music. I look at her and reply, "yeah it is!"
The first few lyrics kick in.
Look at the stars, look how they shine for you.
And everything you do.
Yeah, they were all yellow.
I came along, I wrote a song for you.
And all the things you do.
And it was called yellow.
I glance to my left just to see how Veneto's taking it, and was pleasantly surprised to see her, eyes closed, and bouncing her head to the beat.
So then I took my turn.
Oh, what a thing to've done.
And it was all yellow.
Your skin, oh yeah, your skin and bones,
Turn into something beautiful.
And you know, you know I love you so.
You know I love you so.
I'm taken out of the song for a bit as I hear Veneto mutter, "affascinante." My curiosity piqued. "What's up?"
She turned her head ever so slightly towards me, not breaking the subtle headbang, saying "how can lyrics make so little sense and so much sense at the same time?"
I laughed a bit. "Ha! My thoughts exactly! But the music itself's just that good."
"Mmm."
I swam across, I jumped across for you.
Oh, what a thing to do.
'Cause, you were all yellow.
I drew a line, I drew a line for you.
Oh, what a thing to do.
And it was all yellow.
Your skin, oh yeah, your skin and bones,
Turn into something beautiful.
And you know, for you, I'd bleed myself dry.
For you, I'd bleed myself dry.
The symphony of the instrumentation of drums and guitars took the song in an instrumental break for a few seconds. In these moments, the faintest orange-gold glow of the setting sun washing what was left of its light on her face as the source dipped below the horizon, I noticed and was able to fully appreciate just how pretty she is. Her flowing, silver hair that complimented her pearly eyes so wonderfully, her near-perfectly proportioned curves, I could go on.
It's true.
Look how they shine for you!
Look how they shine for you!
Look how they shine for you!
Look how they shine.
Look at the stars, look how they shine for you.
And all the things that you do.
The song ended and I took in a deep breath, the nostalgic rush coming to an end. To my left, Veneto took the bud out of her ears. I likewise took mine out as she said, "commandante, that was…", she began. "That was beautiful."
I smiled. "Yellow, I remember very clearly, was almost like the song of my high school career. And the lyrics themselves, well. They also synthesize quite nicely what I fight for and work towards, day in and day out."
She locked her eyes to mine, their pearl white glistening under the stars. "How so?"
I smile and laugh softly. "Look at the stars, Veneto. Look how they shine for you."
An expression of realization crept onto her face as I explained. "That's what I work for. That everyone else here gets to realize that beyond war, there's so much more to explore in this infinitely complex and immensely intricate world. That no matter what happens, I'll drive the people who I believe in forward, just like how the ones who once believed in me did. I don't know about you, but I think that's a pretty neat prize to work for."
Her face took on a deep crimson. For a second, I was worried she might've caught a cold from being out here for so long. But then I realized it was something else entirely. Perhaps it could be considered a sickness, but it was nowhere near being detrimental. I give her a knowing smirk before saying, "I stick around because I care about every single one of you."
She broke into a full-blown smile and shook her head, not saying anything but her feelings on full display in her eyes. It didn't take me too long to figure out what was happening here.
My cheeks heated up slightly and I launched my self-defense mechanisms. That is, sarcasm. And a little self-deprecation. I nervously laughed, "c-come on, that was the cheesiest crap I've ever spouted. It's true though." She laughed before leaning into me and closing her eyes. Surprised by the gesture, I didn't quite know what to do here. Luckily for me, she had something to tell me this time. "Commandante, allow me to say. It might have been cheesy, but it worked." Chuckling, I wrap my arms around her, and she does the same. Up above, the stars shone brilliantly in the now darkened sky.
It's the seemingly trivial moments like these spent with special people like her that I treasure.
These fleeting little nothings.
A/N: And that wraps us up for this first chapter! Constructive feedback is of course appreciated, just keep things civil.
Who are your guys' favorite artists? I've been looking to expand my music library and I figured this might be a good place to gather a few suggestions.
I'm not necessarily what you might consider a big Coldplay fan, but I can appreciate the difference between a good song and a beautiful song. I'm sure at this point I'm just one of tens of millions that Yellow has struck in a rather unexpected way.
Just to share, the best artists in my book are Daft Punk. My favorite album is tied between Homework and Random Access Memories. Buuut all their LPs are fantastic, so I can't really decide concretely, heh.
'Till next time! Cheers, Jarvis.