I apologize for the LONG delay. I can't say I haven't had time. During my
absence I've shelled out two GW one-shots, two RK one-shots and the new
chapter to Taming a Tiger. Let's say, I haven't had the mindset to make a
new chapter. I've been less than genki for such a long time, and you need
to be genki to make this crazy fic. Anyways, thanks for waiting, and I hope
you like the new chappie. As usual, pronouns kept to an absolute minimum.
I'm not sure anymore what pronoun to use anyway. Yes, I do know the
correct pronoun but I'm still avoiding an accidental spoiler.
............
"Don't fret, don't fret," Hibiki patted Bart from the back.
"I'M FRETTING! I'M FRETTING!" Bart replied.
"I'll say, more like you're panicking," the Vanguard pilot grinned.
"How come YOU'RE not worried?" the other asked. "Only Duero got those steps perfectly right."
"Me? Worry about that woman? Not in your life!" Hibiki turned his back on him. However, he did not let the navigator see the sudden concern in his eyes upon the mention of "that woman". "What about you? What are you so panicky about? You look swell in that getup."
Indeed he did. Bart Garsus was wearing a pure white tuxedo, complete with coattails and bowtie. The vice-captain owned the elegant ensemble, and being the same size as the navigator it fit Bart quite perfectly. He looked the perfect military gentleman. If only he would stop wringing his hands so much.
"What if she doesn't like it? What if she doesn't dance with me? What if she hates me? What if..."
"It's not like you've done anything she hasn't seen before," Hibiki shrugged. "You've made a fool of yourself too often already!"
Bart grabbed for his shirt.
"Watch the bowtie! I just got it right!"
"And you say you're not worried?" Bart retorted.
"I said, that woman doesn't scare me!"
"You're scared you won't have her turkey at the party tonight 'coz she's mad at you!"
"Say that to my face, you lousy navigator!"
"I just did, you lousy ALIEN!"
"GENTLEMEN! Calm down!" the vice-captain ordered from one corner of the male quarters.
"Easy for you to say, vice-captain!" the navigator sulked into the white tuxedo. "Dita's mad at him, and I don't know if Meia's mad at me or something...in any case, she won't dance with me!"
"I wouldn't say that," BC assured.
"What makes you so sure, sir?" Bart asked with apprehension.
"You will see."
The evening of the birthday party had finally arrived.
Hibiki was busy fumbling at the bowtie and tighter pants, after he fought a lost battle against his unruly hair. Bart continued to pace the tiny quarters back and forth, trying his best to stay neat while releasing some tension. Duero was trying his best to act composed - as he went through the dance steps in his head, over and over and over.
In the meantime, the girls at the upper deck were all getting into their fine linen and jewelry. The usual ooohs and aaaahs of admiration echoed through the recreational area, as the ladies appeared in their low necklines and revealing slits and sleeveless gowns.
"Who took care of Meia's dress for today?" Jura suddenly asked the primping and powdering girls.
"Did you?" Misty looked at Amarone, who shook her head.
"Dita didn't," she admitted, and so did all the other girls.
"You mean, you all forgot to get her a dress?!" Jura yelled. "What, do you expect her to come here in her pilot suit? Who could you all be so careless? Did you want this party to be a failure from the start?..."
"Whoa, whoa, calm down, Jura," Gascogne interrupted the tirade. "Remember...."
"Smile, smile," the crew chorused.
"Very good, girls," the artillery manager grinned, and patted Jura heavily on the back. "Don't worry about your celebrant. I understand someone took care of her party dress."
A few minutes after that, the vice-captain checked on the birthday celebrant and the party dress in question.
"I can't wear this," Meia protested flatly.
She folded her hands and tossed her head at a blue evening gown that lay on her bed.
"You will do me the favor of at least trying it on, Meia," the vice- captain answered rather sternly. "I had to go through several hi-level connections in order to bypass the long waiting list for this dress."
"You did not have to, vice-captain," she retorted, also flatly.
"You are right," he smirked, as he disabled the sound device on his neck, and walked to where she stood. He faced her, eye to eye.
"You don't understand, do you, Meia? I never deserved the kindness the crew has given me all this time. You, on the other hand, deserve all the kindness and concern this crew gives you. You have always thought that you are unworthy, but what have YOU done to disappoint them? Failure in battle? That only comes with the business we are in, and it does not mean you personally disappointed them.
"You do not believe you are capable of being liked. Quite the contrary. The entire crew admires you, and I can name one crew member who admires you more than the rest. This event, the party you are avoiding, is not because the crew has to do it. The crew wants to do it, for you, to show that they admire you as a pilot, a woman, and a friend." He opened the door of her quarters. "Do not disappoint them." He completed his exit and went back to the male quarters.
Meia sighed, and looked down on the dress again. There was indeed no harm in trying it on. She freed herself from the usual pilot suit, and slipped on the blue gown.
The dress fell to her ankles, and had a slit to the side that rose to slightly higher than her knee. It was made of a shimmering, silky material that emphasized her beautiful figure to its fullest, and swayed gracefully with each movement. The cloth ended high enough to reveal only some of her cleavage, and tapered to cover both arms slightly below the shoulders. The ensemble was held up by thin, almost invisible straps that drew one's attention to her elegant neck and shoulders. In its simple refinement, it called attention to the cool beauty of the calm young woman.
Instinctively, she drew her hair back and pinned it close to her head with a hair ornament from a previous birthday. She never wore it before, but it seemed perfect with the dress she had on. She admired the effect, and proceeded to apply a little powder and lipstick.
She could not believe she was doing all this, for a party she did not really want to go to. But for once, she felt the need to look pretty. Not for any of the girls. Not even for herself-although this few of herself was not bad at all.
She had no idea what the navigator had in mind, but she planned to give him a surprise he would never forget.
Just then a rap on her door. "Leader, let's go! The...um....reunion party's starting!"
Meia slipped into the shoes that came with the dress, and answered the door.
Poor Dita, already in a cute pink ensemble, simply gawked.
"What? Anything wrong with the dress?" Meia asked.
"Leader....you look.....beautiful!" Dita ogled further.
Meia's eyes bulged at this, then shook her head to regain reality. "Let's go, Dita." And lead the way.
"Everyone, thank you for coming!" Jura greeted the audience.
Finally she realized that it was useless to keep hiding this birthday party, so instead she was into it full force. The streamers were all in place, the gifts all wrapped, the new turkey cooked just right, and the rest of the food prepared to perfection. All that was left for everyone to do, was party.
"And now, may we introduce our guest of honor for tonight..."
As she turned and flourished, the spotlight fell on a entirely new and astonishing snow queen. And even she, with the entire crew, was speechless at the sight.
Meia searched the rec room for the navigator. As their eyes met from over 10 feet, she gave him a slight smile.
Bart fell into a nearby chair, jaw fully dropped.
Jura on her part completely forget the program in her head. "I...I....um....."
"Get the music and the dancing going, Jura!" Gascogne advised from a corner. "We can worry about the food and the gifts later, when we've gotten used to this angel of beauty before us."
"I....I....um.....sure, Gasco-san. Hit the music, Misty!"
Classical music began to fill the room, as the lights were brought low. Still, everyone was under Meia's spell, and could not move.
Until all heard Bart drive a right fist into his left hand. "Well, no time like the present." He took a very deep breath. "Here goes nothing...."
All eyes were on the navigator, as he stood up with stiff grace, and walked across the room. He seemed to be walking to the vice-captain, now dressed in a dark suit and polished shoes, with hair untied and in an orderly waterfall.
Whispers all around.
"I can't believe this guy! Despite everything, he still likes the vice-captain?!" Jura harrumphed.
"You just wanted the guy for yourself, that's why you're reacting!"
"Shut up, Barnette!"
The navigator kept walking
He stopped in front of the vice captain, and gave BC a slight bow. The vice-captain smiled, and nodded. "Well, Garsus. Get on with it."
"Yes, vice-captain," Bart answered with military stiffness.
He then walked, away from BC.
"What?! He's not dancing with the vice-captain?!" hushed whispers buzzed. "Then...who the heck is he taking? Where is he walking to? What's he gonna do next?"
Only one of them had other things in mind. "Where is Uchuujin-san?!" Dita inquired of anyone in a two-foot radius.
"Never mind Hibiki!" everyone else hissed. "What is Bart doing?"
"He...he's walking toward....Meia!" Misty pointed.
All eyes then turned on the birthday celebrant.
Meia had always been pale, but the Nirvana crew had never seen her so pale before.
A deathly silence fell on the crew. Only his steps crossing the room could now be heard. If it were any more silent, the crew would have also heard Meia's more rapid breaths and heartbeats.
Bart Garsus finally stood before the chief Dread pilot, and just stood there for about a minute. He anxiously looked back at BC, who merely nodded in support.
With new courage, he snapped to attention, cleared his throat, and spoke in his deepest and manliest voice. "Miss Meia."
Aside from the new outlook in life, a crash course in charm had indeed helped the impression Bart Garsus made on the audience, especially the guest of honor. Lost were the cowardly eyes that belied the old debonair words. In its place was a new confidence in himself. It was a transition from bravado, to bravery.
Only her hands betrayed her consternation. They were shaking and sweating. But she slowly looked up at the earnest, serious face of the navigator, and awaited his request.
He offered his right hand with a flourish. "Miss Meia, may I have this dance?"
...........
Of course, this means that I'm almost done with this piece. If all goes well, you will have the ending in two weeks' time. I hope to see you all then!
............
"Don't fret, don't fret," Hibiki patted Bart from the back.
"I'M FRETTING! I'M FRETTING!" Bart replied.
"I'll say, more like you're panicking," the Vanguard pilot grinned.
"How come YOU'RE not worried?" the other asked. "Only Duero got those steps perfectly right."
"Me? Worry about that woman? Not in your life!" Hibiki turned his back on him. However, he did not let the navigator see the sudden concern in his eyes upon the mention of "that woman". "What about you? What are you so panicky about? You look swell in that getup."
Indeed he did. Bart Garsus was wearing a pure white tuxedo, complete with coattails and bowtie. The vice-captain owned the elegant ensemble, and being the same size as the navigator it fit Bart quite perfectly. He looked the perfect military gentleman. If only he would stop wringing his hands so much.
"What if she doesn't like it? What if she doesn't dance with me? What if she hates me? What if..."
"It's not like you've done anything she hasn't seen before," Hibiki shrugged. "You've made a fool of yourself too often already!"
Bart grabbed for his shirt.
"Watch the bowtie! I just got it right!"
"And you say you're not worried?" Bart retorted.
"I said, that woman doesn't scare me!"
"You're scared you won't have her turkey at the party tonight 'coz she's mad at you!"
"Say that to my face, you lousy navigator!"
"I just did, you lousy ALIEN!"
"GENTLEMEN! Calm down!" the vice-captain ordered from one corner of the male quarters.
"Easy for you to say, vice-captain!" the navigator sulked into the white tuxedo. "Dita's mad at him, and I don't know if Meia's mad at me or something...in any case, she won't dance with me!"
"I wouldn't say that," BC assured.
"What makes you so sure, sir?" Bart asked with apprehension.
"You will see."
The evening of the birthday party had finally arrived.
Hibiki was busy fumbling at the bowtie and tighter pants, after he fought a lost battle against his unruly hair. Bart continued to pace the tiny quarters back and forth, trying his best to stay neat while releasing some tension. Duero was trying his best to act composed - as he went through the dance steps in his head, over and over and over.
In the meantime, the girls at the upper deck were all getting into their fine linen and jewelry. The usual ooohs and aaaahs of admiration echoed through the recreational area, as the ladies appeared in their low necklines and revealing slits and sleeveless gowns.
"Who took care of Meia's dress for today?" Jura suddenly asked the primping and powdering girls.
"Did you?" Misty looked at Amarone, who shook her head.
"Dita didn't," she admitted, and so did all the other girls.
"You mean, you all forgot to get her a dress?!" Jura yelled. "What, do you expect her to come here in her pilot suit? Who could you all be so careless? Did you want this party to be a failure from the start?..."
"Whoa, whoa, calm down, Jura," Gascogne interrupted the tirade. "Remember...."
"Smile, smile," the crew chorused.
"Very good, girls," the artillery manager grinned, and patted Jura heavily on the back. "Don't worry about your celebrant. I understand someone took care of her party dress."
A few minutes after that, the vice-captain checked on the birthday celebrant and the party dress in question.
"I can't wear this," Meia protested flatly.
She folded her hands and tossed her head at a blue evening gown that lay on her bed.
"You will do me the favor of at least trying it on, Meia," the vice- captain answered rather sternly. "I had to go through several hi-level connections in order to bypass the long waiting list for this dress."
"You did not have to, vice-captain," she retorted, also flatly.
"You are right," he smirked, as he disabled the sound device on his neck, and walked to where she stood. He faced her, eye to eye.
"You don't understand, do you, Meia? I never deserved the kindness the crew has given me all this time. You, on the other hand, deserve all the kindness and concern this crew gives you. You have always thought that you are unworthy, but what have YOU done to disappoint them? Failure in battle? That only comes with the business we are in, and it does not mean you personally disappointed them.
"You do not believe you are capable of being liked. Quite the contrary. The entire crew admires you, and I can name one crew member who admires you more than the rest. This event, the party you are avoiding, is not because the crew has to do it. The crew wants to do it, for you, to show that they admire you as a pilot, a woman, and a friend." He opened the door of her quarters. "Do not disappoint them." He completed his exit and went back to the male quarters.
Meia sighed, and looked down on the dress again. There was indeed no harm in trying it on. She freed herself from the usual pilot suit, and slipped on the blue gown.
The dress fell to her ankles, and had a slit to the side that rose to slightly higher than her knee. It was made of a shimmering, silky material that emphasized her beautiful figure to its fullest, and swayed gracefully with each movement. The cloth ended high enough to reveal only some of her cleavage, and tapered to cover both arms slightly below the shoulders. The ensemble was held up by thin, almost invisible straps that drew one's attention to her elegant neck and shoulders. In its simple refinement, it called attention to the cool beauty of the calm young woman.
Instinctively, she drew her hair back and pinned it close to her head with a hair ornament from a previous birthday. She never wore it before, but it seemed perfect with the dress she had on. She admired the effect, and proceeded to apply a little powder and lipstick.
She could not believe she was doing all this, for a party she did not really want to go to. But for once, she felt the need to look pretty. Not for any of the girls. Not even for herself-although this few of herself was not bad at all.
She had no idea what the navigator had in mind, but she planned to give him a surprise he would never forget.
Just then a rap on her door. "Leader, let's go! The...um....reunion party's starting!"
Meia slipped into the shoes that came with the dress, and answered the door.
Poor Dita, already in a cute pink ensemble, simply gawked.
"What? Anything wrong with the dress?" Meia asked.
"Leader....you look.....beautiful!" Dita ogled further.
Meia's eyes bulged at this, then shook her head to regain reality. "Let's go, Dita." And lead the way.
"Everyone, thank you for coming!" Jura greeted the audience.
Finally she realized that it was useless to keep hiding this birthday party, so instead she was into it full force. The streamers were all in place, the gifts all wrapped, the new turkey cooked just right, and the rest of the food prepared to perfection. All that was left for everyone to do, was party.
"And now, may we introduce our guest of honor for tonight..."
As she turned and flourished, the spotlight fell on a entirely new and astonishing snow queen. And even she, with the entire crew, was speechless at the sight.
Meia searched the rec room for the navigator. As their eyes met from over 10 feet, she gave him a slight smile.
Bart fell into a nearby chair, jaw fully dropped.
Jura on her part completely forget the program in her head. "I...I....um....."
"Get the music and the dancing going, Jura!" Gascogne advised from a corner. "We can worry about the food and the gifts later, when we've gotten used to this angel of beauty before us."
"I....I....um.....sure, Gasco-san. Hit the music, Misty!"
Classical music began to fill the room, as the lights were brought low. Still, everyone was under Meia's spell, and could not move.
Until all heard Bart drive a right fist into his left hand. "Well, no time like the present." He took a very deep breath. "Here goes nothing...."
All eyes were on the navigator, as he stood up with stiff grace, and walked across the room. He seemed to be walking to the vice-captain, now dressed in a dark suit and polished shoes, with hair untied and in an orderly waterfall.
Whispers all around.
"I can't believe this guy! Despite everything, he still likes the vice-captain?!" Jura harrumphed.
"You just wanted the guy for yourself, that's why you're reacting!"
"Shut up, Barnette!"
The navigator kept walking
He stopped in front of the vice captain, and gave BC a slight bow. The vice-captain smiled, and nodded. "Well, Garsus. Get on with it."
"Yes, vice-captain," Bart answered with military stiffness.
He then walked, away from BC.
"What?! He's not dancing with the vice-captain?!" hushed whispers buzzed. "Then...who the heck is he taking? Where is he walking to? What's he gonna do next?"
Only one of them had other things in mind. "Where is Uchuujin-san?!" Dita inquired of anyone in a two-foot radius.
"Never mind Hibiki!" everyone else hissed. "What is Bart doing?"
"He...he's walking toward....Meia!" Misty pointed.
All eyes then turned on the birthday celebrant.
Meia had always been pale, but the Nirvana crew had never seen her so pale before.
A deathly silence fell on the crew. Only his steps crossing the room could now be heard. If it were any more silent, the crew would have also heard Meia's more rapid breaths and heartbeats.
Bart Garsus finally stood before the chief Dread pilot, and just stood there for about a minute. He anxiously looked back at BC, who merely nodded in support.
With new courage, he snapped to attention, cleared his throat, and spoke in his deepest and manliest voice. "Miss Meia."
Aside from the new outlook in life, a crash course in charm had indeed helped the impression Bart Garsus made on the audience, especially the guest of honor. Lost were the cowardly eyes that belied the old debonair words. In its place was a new confidence in himself. It was a transition from bravado, to bravery.
Only her hands betrayed her consternation. They were shaking and sweating. But she slowly looked up at the earnest, serious face of the navigator, and awaited his request.
He offered his right hand with a flourish. "Miss Meia, may I have this dance?"
...........
Of course, this means that I'm almost done with this piece. If all goes well, you will have the ending in two weeks' time. I hope to see you all then!