"A month?!" I exclaimed, much to the chagrin of the holographic Saratoga before me.
"Afraid so, Commander," she ruefully acknowledged with a slow nod. "Right now, we're trying to consolidate the gains we made with you and clear those Mirror Seas. That's going to take time. We can try and accelerate that plan, but if we do, we run the risk of losing those forward operating bases we just set up…"
"Out of the question," I dismissed the idea with a shake of my head. "I'm not going to have us jeopardize what we've fought so hard just to pick me up early. Stick to the plan and I'll see you when I see you. Maybe we'll get lucky and you'll manage to clear those Mirror Seas ahead of schedule."
"Understood, Commander," Saratoga nodded dutifully, then paused. "How are they treating you over there?"
"Too early to tell," I answered diplomatically. August had said this was a private room and that my transmissions wouldn't be monitored, but I wasn't going to take any chances. "They let me call out, so that's a good sign. Maybe we could do a weekly check-in? See how everything's going on our respective ends?"
Saratoga flashed me a smile and gave me a thumbs-up. "Deal! Now you go rest up and I'll talk with you soon, alright?"
Even though I'd been asleep for who knows how long, I was still feeling pretty fatigued. "Sure thing," I acknowledged with a tight smile. "Take care out there. Oh, and Saratoga?"
Her smile faltered. "Yes, sir?"
"Make sure Enterprise knows it wasn't her fault."
Her expression became somber and she nodded solemnly. "Yes, sir, I will. Have a good rest, sir."
"Later, Sara."
The transmission cut off and the holographic image of Saratoga flickered briefly before disappearing altogether. I sighed as I looked around the room, still trying to gather my thoughts. A month on the sidelines. After all the progress we'd made, and had been making, it felt like a major setback. And then there was the matter of my new host.
She was troubling on quite a few levels. To start with, her mere existence was troubling news. The Iron Blood never had even begun on the construction of an aircraft carrier with her name, which means they'd somehow managed to build shipgirls from ships who hadn't really existed. If they decided to start up their war against the Azur Lane again, they could have the numbers to seriously threaten us. Which led me to my next concern: what were this August von Parseval's intentions with me? She repeatedly called me "her familiar", which made sense if she thought she was a witch, although I thought familiars were animals like cats and birds and lizards. Or does she just see humans the way humans see said cats and birds? That was an unsettling thought.
In any case, there was no point trying to figure it out on my own, and I couldn't hide in here for a month. I was going to have to face her at some point, and I might as well start getting some answers. I cinched up my robe and tried to look as presentable as I could, although I still felt somewhat ridiculous, limping around in someone else's home in a bathrobe, no matter how comfortable it was. With another heavy sigh, I hobbled to the door and swung it open.
On the other side, August was patiently waiting for me, a curious glint in her eyes and an amused smile on her lips. "Well, my familiar?"
"A month," I grumbled, just loud enough for her to hear.
Despite my obvious frustration and disappointment with the news, it seemed to cheer her up immensely, her violet eyes alight with what I can only describe as predatory glee. "Excellent," she purred, "This gives us plenty of time for you to finally submit to me once you've properly healed."
At that point, I wondered if she was fully rational or capable of understanding human physiology at all, and all the frustration, confusion, and stress finally boiled over. "It takes a person a month and a half at least to heal from a broken leg," I somewhat snarkily snapped at her. "What, are you going to put a spell on me with your witch powers?" It was not my finest moment.
To her credit, she laughed as if I'd asked the silliest question. "Of course not," she answered with a dismissive wave of her hand and I was relieved that she wasn't completely crazy. Then she almost immediately smashed that feeling with, "I shall brew you a potion."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. But as much as I wanted to see if she was serious or not, my stomach decided it wanted to put its own two cents in on the matter and growled loudly. We both stared, wide-eyed, at my abdomen before we looked back up at each other. I felt my cheeks flush red and I quickly broke her gaze, not wanting to see that smile on her face.
"Perhaps something more substantial would be in order," she chuckled. "How long has it been since you've eaten anything, my familiar?"
"I don't even know," I sighed, suddenly feeling very tired again. "Two days?"
She gently laid her hand on my forearm and fixed me with a warm smile. A genuine caring smile, free from haughtiness, smug superiority, or pride. "Far too long," she determined as she began guiding me down the stone halls. "Let's get you fed, and then we will discuss your stay…"
As we slowly walked, the awkward silence continued to build and build until I couldn't take it anymore. "Uhhh…sorry if I was rude back there," I sheepishly apologized. "I just…there's been a lot to take in and not a lot of time to really process it and I snapped."
"You are forgiven," she magnanimously declared. "You have had a trying day. Or days, I should say, not to mention being thrust into this new role. But do not lose that fire, my familiar."
Despite my hunger and exhaustion, I couldn't let this "familiar" thing go by one more time. "You keep calling me that, but what exactly do you mean by 'your familiar'?"
She glanced over at me with a coy smile. "Witches have familiars, do they not?"
"Yeah, but usually cats, birds, that sort of thing," I replied, for a moment wondering if she was planning on turning me into a cat. Or trying to. "I don't think they had human familiars." Granted, most of my information on witches came from mass media. At the time, the word witch conjured up an old hag with a pointy hat riding a broom, which clearly did not fit August at all.
"True," she admitted, "but I am no ordinary witch. I deserve a familiar more befitting of my power as an Unhulde. And so I have chosen you, Commander, to be my familiar. You should be honored." Before I could reply, she continued on, answering what she thought my as-yet unasked question was. "What does being my familiar entail? You shall learn in due time."
"Wasn't really the question on my mind, but okay," I muttered quietly, still wondering if she was truly sane. I don't think I'd ever seen or heard of any kansen capable of performing supernatural feats. A few rumors about ancient mystic rituals in the Sakura Empire, but nothing that hinted it gave them any sort of real power. "So, uh, I don't think I've ever heard of a ship by your name before."
"That's because I was never built," she nonchalantly stated.
That brought me to a dead halt. "Never-" I struggled to find the words as my mind reeled from the implications. "That's-you…I thought in order to be created, you needed to be tied to some physical part of the original hull."
She stopped and turned to face me with a patient smile. "For most, yes," she agreed with a nod, "But there are ways to bring life to ships that were designed, yet never constructed. Consider me…the road less taken, if you will."
I idly wondered if this was the reason she thought she was a witch. That being created from an idea rather than an actual physical object to tie them to reality, they would be unhinged or insane? I fully expected my next question to be deflected, but I simply had to ask. "And how did the Iron Blood manage this?"
Her smile grew slightly as she shook her head. "I'm afraid that's a secret, for now, Commander. Even for you." She beckoned me forward, waiting patiently for me to get moving again. After a few steps, she looked over at me and said, "May I ask you something personal, my familiar?"
"Sure," I sighed as I tried to keep a rhythm going with the crutches and my good leg. I was starting to get the hang of it, and the faster and smoother I could get around, the better. "Doesn't mean I'll answer it, though."
My continued defiance earned another amused giggle from her. "Such fight in you," she happily sighed. "What was it like to be a child?"
Once again, I came to a stop as I tried to process what she said. "What do you mean, 'what was it like?' As in, my childhood?"
"Yes. No." For the first time, I saw a flicker of uncertainty cross her face as she tried to phrase her question better. "I would care to know of your own stories when you were young, but I also want to know the general experience of being a child. What was it like compared to how you are now?" When I continued to give her a confused look, she elaborated, "We are born as we are, fully formed and fully capable. We do not grow or change, physically speaking, unless, of course, our rigging is modified. I've always been curious what it was like to experience that journey."
"Hoo boy," I exhaled, shifting from crutch to crutch as I tried to figure out how best to describe it to someone. In the end, I decided to table the discussion. At least, until we got to an actual table and I got some food. "Lemme think about this for a bit. Hard to think on an empty stomach."
An empathetic smile crossed her face as she gestured for us to continue once more. "Then come and feast, my familiar. I'm sure there will something there to your liking."
Fortunately, it wasn't much longer before the familiar smell of food was wafting down the corridor, making my mouth water and my stomach went from growling to almost roaring in anticipation. "Not sure if it's the hunger talking, but whatever you're cooking smells delicious," I declared, picking up my pace ever so slightly.
"Just a few things I conjured up," she said with an enigmatic grin. That was a figure of speech, I thought to myself. Wasn't it?
We stopped in front of a large wooden door that looked like all of the others but had the unmistakable smell of food coming from behind it. August savored my eager anticipation for another moment before she swung the door open to reveal a small kitchen with a veritable feast laid out on the small table in the center. Several roasted birds, fresh fruits, bread, cheeses, and side dishes are crammed onto every inch of available space. There was just enough room for two place settings, set side by side on the bench closest to us.
"This is…impressive," I breathed softly. "How'd you make all this so quickly?"
"I had the kitchen staff get to work once Z24 told me you'd awoken," she smiled as she ushered me inside. "I did not know when you had last dined before you fell into the sea, but I knew you would be famished after you spent the first half-day unconscious."
"How long was I out, anyway?" I asked as I used one of the crutches to pull out the bench for both of us.
She gave me an amused, approving look as she took her seat, patting the spot next to her. "About a day, perhaps a day and a half. You had already fallen into slumber by the time we found you, and I could not tell how long you had been in such a state."
It took every fiber of my being not to load up my plate with as much food as I could and begin tearing into it like a wild animal, but I managed to suppress that hunger for a few moments more. "I think the last thing I remember hearing before falling unconscious was your…aide…roaring overhead," I helpfully offered while grabbing a couple of rolls, some cheese, and an apple. "The next thing I know, I'm here."
August nodded as she began to fill her own plate, keeping mostly to light snacks. "Once we warmed you back up, set and bandaged your injured leg, all that was left to do was wait to see when you would awaken. But enough talk for now. Eat, please."
I smiled and nodded my thanks as I continued to sate my hunger. Every single thing I tried was heavenly, and although people say hunger is the best spice, some of the best meals of my life were had in that castle, even after that first dinner. As my hunger gradually subsided and I felt myself getting full, I decided to slow down, lest I make myself sick, and distract myself with some conversation. "So," I began, "You wanted to know what it was like to be a child, right?"
August's violet eyes flashed and her smile grew larger as she put down the bunch of grapes she'd been idly picking from. "Absolutely," she eagerly confirmed.
"It's still hard to describe," I sighed, "But we'll start with the basics and work our way up. First thing is that you really don't start remembering anything until you're three or so. I think my earliest memory is seeing a plane fly over our house. After that, it's flashes of memories, instead of the more coherent, continuous memories we have as adults. Running through the sprinklers in the yard when I was four or five, then falling out of a tree at six. And everything was a lot taller when I was younger. I remember being a lot more emotional back then. Really didn't think about the consequences of my actions or the other person's point of view, it was all just reactionary the entire time.
"Of course, it's more than just being selfish," I quickly added. "When you're young, there's this feeling of…newness and wonder to everything. Yeah, you're also scared of a lot more things, too, but for me, at least, the good memories outweigh the bad…" I sighed and leaned back, "And then there's the teenage years."
"Ah yes," she grinned, "I have heard much about the tribulations of teenagers."
"It's not the half of it, I assure you," I chuckled as took a sip of water. "From the outside, it looks like a bunch of rebelling and whining and insane amounts of drama. But it's even worse on the inside. Your hormones are raging around, making you feel things you've never felt before, your body changing seemingly every five seconds, strange urges, and on top of it all, you're starting to become your own person, which means you don't see eye to eye with your parents so fights are more common. It's…a lot to deal with, and I'm glad I've grown out of it." I stretched and reached for some of the roast chicken that had been calling my name for the past five minutes. "Anyway, that's what childhood is like. I hope I answered that question well enough for you."
"You did," she affirmed. "In return, is there any request you would ask of me?"
As I was thinking it over, I looked down and found my answer. "Yes, actually," I replied, "I could use some clothes. I feel ridiculous wandering around in a robe and skivvies, especially in someone else's home. I don't think my uniform survived, but…at least something a little less…casual…would be appreciated."
"It did not" she ruefully confirmed. "We had to cut it off you while we were trying to save you. We did keep the effects we found in your pockets, and your shoes, but the rest was a total loss and disposed of. I believe I can find something that would fit you somewhat better than this robe, though. Nothing befitting your status as Commander of Azur Lane, I'm afraid, but something that will put you more at ease, my familiar."
I bristled slightly at the repeated use of the title. "I have a name, you know," I said as politely as I could through clenched teeth.
"I am aware," she answered. It was clear she could sense my aggravation, and judging by the wolfish smirk on her face, she was also enjoying it. "Do you not care for my pet name for you?"
I stopped, took a deep breath, and tried to keep a level tone. I didn't want to come off as ungracious, nor did I want to make things awkward on the first day of a month-long stay. "It makes me feel like I'm less a person and more your pet."
She hummed thoughtfully before she answered with a question. "Do human couples not have pet names for each other?"
"Yeah, but those are things like 'honey' or 'dear' or 'darling'," I countered. "Generally positive things, not…names that imply ownership or submissiveness. Also, we're not a couple!"
"Yet," she confidently grinned as she leaned forward, her lips brushing against my ear. "You will be mine, in time," she whispered, sending another shiver down my spine. "My dear William." She leaned back, her violet eyes drinking in every bit of me, waiting for my reaction.
To my credit, I did not shirk from that stare as I grumbled, "At least you got my name right." I held her gaze until she smiled triumphantly and looked away, going back to her grapes. "Still not a couple, though."
"Yet," she repeated, declaring with confidence, "You've already fallen into my trap. You are mine, and I am going to savor every minute of your futile struggles. Almost as much as I am going to savor the look on your face when you discover it was all for naught."
Again, her words and the hungry look in her eyes sent a shiver through me, but two could play at that game, I thought. "We'll see about that," I smiled coldly back at her. She didn't respond verbally, instead, she laughed quietly and fully returned to her food. I watched her for another moment, wondering what sort of game she was playing before my stomach growled again, reminding me that I was far from full just yet. So this contest of wills would have to wait for now, but I was certain I would find out well before it was time for me to go…
A/N-Oh, August. What secrets are you hiding? How do you know his name? What IS his full name? Until next time, fair winds and following seas!
