My deepest apologies for this chapter being so disgustingly delayed. In the time since last chapter I: had eye surgery, moved, got covid, graduated college, and got a new car; a beautiful Mustang GT/CS. Poor Hood had to sit in the horribly tiny backseat for a while. I got New Jersey and Ticonderoga from the new event. I love that Ty looks so peaceful and serene but is just holding a gun up to the head of every destroyer with her unique Rocket Airstrike.
This chapter is unfortunately shorter than usual. It had been two scenes, but the chapter was too bloated so I split it in two. Expect the next chapter in the next few days as it's almost done.
All y'all best enjoy the chapter.
Would it be rude to ask Admiral Bell for a leash?
On more than one occasion during the short trip to the Mess she was forced to grab Benson by the scruff of her shirt and pull her out of the way of some machinery or group of sailors.
That wasn't to say that she thought ill of the young girl- quite the opposite really. It reminded her a lot of Electra when she would let slip her mask of formality and proper etiquette. It was during her physical therapy that she helped Electra express herself more freely, and in doing so, helped herself, too. With Electra off on a daring adventure in the Java Sea escorting Prince of Wales and Repulse of Force Z, Hood was more than happy to watch over what she considered a smaller Electra.
The bunny ear headband is a strange touch, though. Maybe I can ask her about it at some time. After Laffey, though. Bollocks. Not even a day in this fleet and I'm already writing up a mental laundry list of problems and questions. At least Bell can't accuse me of slacking.
There was a more immediate issue remaining, however, that was straining her ever-present polite smile.
She had forgotten the way to the Mess.
In her defense, she had only been to it once.
Thankfully, the young girls crowding around her legs and running circles around her didn't seem to notice that she had been walking in circles herself. She whispered thanks to whoever was listening that Pearl Harbor was cut into three pieces. There were only so many places she could backtrack to that didn't involve crossing the harbor on a launch.
The Mess itself was actually rather simple to find once she noticed where the flow of sailors began to meander toward.
Belfast did always say that the quickest way to an officer was his stomach. Still no idea why she thought that was useful information. Or why she winked at me afterwards.
Belfast was strange like that.
A marine saw them approach the front doors of the Mess and scrambled to hold it open. "After y'all, ma'am."
Hood smiled at him and bowed her head. "Thank you, sir." She caught Benson by the collar of her jacket as she tried to wiggle past and into the hall. "What do we say to the nice man, ladies?"
"Thank you, mister." They echoed.
"Good job, girls."
The moment Hood let go of Benson's collar she bolted into the building; the other three girls trailing in behind her.
"Kids, amiright? They your's?"
Hood realized that the marine had been talking to her. "Hm? Oh, no, I would never, I mean, I think I'm just not ready, er, can, or-"
"Hey, hey, hey, don't worry about it. So they ain't yours?"
Hood shook her head. "No, I'm just looking after them for the moment."
The marine nodded. "Ahh, you must be like one of them rich kid nannies. I gotcha, I gotcha."
Do I have a label on me that says, 'please misidentify me'? I swear to all that is Holy in this world I'm going to get myself a big name tag that says 'Task Force Azure Second-in-Command Hood' on it.
Hood sighed lightly. "Yes, just like one of those. If you'll excuse me, kind sir, I need to buy the girls ice cream before they somehow burn the Mess down."
In Benson's case perhaps literally.
Hood made to walk into the mess hall, but a hand pressed down on her shoulder.
"A beautiful dame like yourself shouldn't be havin' to buy some kids ice cream when she's working."
She lightly moved his hand off of her shoulder. "I'd be more than happy to accept such a generous offer, sir, but please respect that I do not enjoy people touching me."
He slapped her on the back as he walked past her and into the mess hall. "Anything you say, ma'am."
In one ear and out the other then, I suppose. At least I get to keep this dollar Admiral Bell gave me. I may be able to get one of those wrist watches soon. Depending how much I get paid.
She frowned. If I get paid. Though it sounds like I'm at least a secretary according to Admiral Bell. Secretaries get paid, right? I don't actually know. Maybe it's volunteer work? The women that worked in Whitehall always seemed happy enough. Maybe they volunteer and they enjoy it.
"Hey, y'all good?"
Hood shook her head to clear the thoughts. "Ah, yes, I'm fine. Just thinking about something is all. My apologies for the delay."
He shrugged. "Sometimes even little ladies got things to think about. Y'all'll figure it out, I think. You look like one of the smart ones."
I swear to God why is every compliment I receive backhanded?
She wiped away her frown quickly and replaced it with a tight smile. "Thank you for the... concern, sir. Now about that ice cream…?"
"Oh, yea, yea, I'll catch the little rugrats. Just take a seat somewhere ya like and I'll bring 'em over."
Hood flashed another smile that had him winking back in return. She turned back toward the table that she and Enterprise had shared an hour earlier and collapsed on the bench. Gracefully, of course.
I love my heels, but I think even with two good legs all the walking I've been doing today would've been Hell.
She took the next few minutes to simply close her eye and breathe slowly. The day had been busier than she had originally envisioned and if she were honest with herself busier than she could really take.
Twice today I've had small episodes. I haven't had a single one in weeks, and before that only once in months. All this stress will be the death of me. I'm all but sick of myself. I'm the mighty Hood, dammit. It's not like I was coasting with Captain Kerr. I had important duties on my ship and always had something he needed me to do. I used to be so good about work. It's been months since the Denmark Strait, too, so it's not like I can blame it on recovering anymore. Why have I been so lethargic recently? So easily fallible. It seems like every moment I have to myself I retreat into this little bubble that I have trouble talking myself out of. You're doing it now, Hood. Snap out of it. The mighty Hood wasn't a ship made of metal, it's you. You're not at the bottom of the ocean, you're not at the bottom of the ocean, you're not-
Any further thoughts were interrupted when Laffey flopped onto the bench to her right.
"Oh, hello, Laffey. Did the kind marine get you some ice…" She trailed off. "Laffey?"
Laffey blearily looked up at her.
"What is that in your hand?" Hood asked.
Laffey blinked slowly before turning her head down to the bottle in her hand and then slowly turned back to Hood.
"Primo. The sailors call it piss water but they let Laffey have it for free, so oh well."
Hood snagged it out of the girl's limp grasp. "That's not what's wrong! Why're the sailors giving you alcohol?"
Laffey blinked. "Because I asked them."
"Okay." Hood fought the urge to scream. "Okay. Why, pray tell, would you ask the sailors for alcohol?"
Laffey shrugged. "It makes Laffey's tummy feel warm and head all light and happy. Laffey has a hard time staying awake, too."
She capitalized her point by slumping onto the table and after only a few seconds began snoring softly. Taking the break in conversation for what it was, Hood stood up to toss the half-empty bottle of alcohol in the rubbish bin. Just before tossing it her curiosity won out and she took a sip of the beer.
"Ugh. This is piss water."
She tossed the bottle without another thought. "I need a cola to wash out this horrid taste. It's lingering."
A passing sailor holding a coke bottle solved the issue.
Sitting back down next to Laffey she took a small sip of the cold soda and hummed happily.
If I'm not careful I'll get addicted to this stuff.
Hood looked down at Laffey and then to the coke bottle in her hand.
This is not a smart idea. This is not a smart idea. Hood, this is not a smart idea.
She nudged the sleeping destroyer. "Laffey? Wake up, darling."
"Wah?"
"I felt a bit bad about taking your, uh, Primo, away from you. To make up for it I got you this soda instead."
Laffey blinked unnervingly slowly before turning her attention to the bottle in Hood's hand. Faster than Hood thought it possible for the lethargic girl to move, she snatched it from her hand. Throwing her head back she drank nearly half the bottle before removing it from her mouth and burping lightly.
"Thank you. It's very good."
"You're… welcome." She absentmindedly rubbed Laffey's back as she happily continued drinking the rest of the remaining cola. Hood tried her best to appear like she was casually turning away to look around the mess hall before her composure broke.
What the bloody fuck was that?! Now the poor thing will be addicted to Coke instead. Improvement?
Hood took a deep breath in and closed her eye. She continued to rub Laffey's back slowly and drowned out the cacophony of the mess hall. Pulling the remains of her left arm closer into herself and crossing her right leg over top of her left, she let the breath out.
The day can only go for so much longer. I can gather my thoughts tonight and then present a clear and concise argument to Admiral Bell tomorrow. As fun as I'm sure being a secretary would be, I'd rather keep the position I was told I would hold. It's just a misunderstanding, is all.
"Ms. Hood!"
"Dah!" Hood nearly jumped out of her seat as Benson tossed herself onto the seat beside her.
The little destroyer just smiled up at her. "Hi."
Hood readjusted her capelet and straightened out her blouse absently. "Yes, hello, Benson. Please don't sneak up on me again."
"Ha! You're old."
"Ah, yes." Hood hunched over. "I'm just an old woman, you see. Would you like some candy? It'll let me fatten you up before I eat you!" Hood leaned her one good arm over and tickled Benson's sides.
"Ah! Aha, stop! Ahaha, stop! I'll pee on you!"
Hood immediately pulled her hand back and leaned away. "What kind of threat is that, young lady?"
Benson beamed. "One that gets you to stop!"
She tried to suppress a laugh as she lightly flicked Benson on the nose. "Still no way for a lady to talk." She looked down at the table and noticed that Benson didn't have any ice cream.
"Benson, darling, did the kind man not buy you all ice cream?"
"Oh, he did."
Hood let it hang for a moment hoping to get the rest of the answer. "...and?"
"And."
I swear to God.
"And where is it then?" Hood asked.
"Oh! Well I got a mint chip ice cream cone that Mr. Langley got me and then on my way to the table I was hungry and I ate it."
"You ate all of the ice cream in the time it took you to go from the counter to here?"
"And the cone, too!"
"...and the cone, too. Dare I ask how?"
"I ate it."
"Yes, but how did you eat it so fast?"
Benson frowned. "With my nose! I don't know how you eat where you're from but we use our noses here in America."
Hood swore she could hear her blood pressure rising.
I take it back. This is worse than another Electra. A little gremlin. Whatever I'm being paid, I'm asking for a raise.
"Aloha, ma'am." The marine said as he came up from behind her. Behind him trailed a happy pair of Mahan class with matching cones of vanilla ice cream.
"What?" She blurted out.
He rounded the table and slid onto the bench across from her. "Aloha. It's something the locals say. I think it means hello. I'd be mighty embarrassed if it ain't." He paused and frowned. "I said aloha to a captain once. I really hope it's hello."
Hood waved her hand. "It's fine, sir. I judge by intention, in any case. I hope the girls didn't give you too much trouble. Did you, girls?"
"No, ma'am." All four parroted.
The marine laughed. "Sure got 'em on a good leash, there, at least. Mind me asking who you're sittin' for?"
She took the chance to dispel the misconception from earlier. "Ah, I'm not actually babysitting; I'm watching them for Admiral Bell for a moment."
"I didn't know Jack had any children. I thought the missus got canned."
Hood shifted, suddenly very uncomfortable in her seat. "She's gone, yes, but these aren't his children. They're not mine either. We're just taking care of them together. He's busy at the moment so I'm watching them."
The marine's eyes widened. "Oh. Oh! Oh, I'm sorry ma'am if my behavior has been too forward I didn't know you were with someone."
"Yes, I'm with Admiral Bell."
"Ah. Well, uh, could you maybe not tell him about this? I enjoy not being on holy stone duty."
Hood frowned. "I don't see why I would. If anything I'm a bit upset at him at the moment."
The marine leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. "Oh? Why's that?"
Hood swatted the marine's arms with her hand. "Elbows aren't for tables, young man."
He mumbled something about mothers under his breath and shifted his arms back so only his forearms rested against the edge.
"But to answer your question, it's due to a misunderstanding, really." Hood paused and rolled the words around on her tongue, uncertain how to explain it. "I came here to the States as a sign of good faith from the Royal Navy. I met here in Pearl and I've been stuck with him for the foreseeable future. He told me that he didn't need me for the moment and to watch the girls here instead of helping him."
"Well that ain't right. Any man would be lucky to have you by their side, ma'am. It sounds to me like he don't appreciate what he's got."
Hood rolled her eye. "I got that distinct feeling, yes."
"You know what you should do?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Hm?"
"You should give him a piece of your mind. I know that sometimes when my pa is being a real piece of work, ma will tell him that he's a few pigs short of a farm."
What the bloody hell do pigs have to do with this?
"Then pa will yell back at her for something or other, then she'll yell, too, and suddenly everyone's yelling, but afterwards they always end up kissing each other and my pa promises to do something nice for her."
Hood blinked. "What a horrifying family life."
"You're missing the point." The marine leaned forward. "If'n you want to make ol' Bell see some sense you gotta get in his face about it. Men don't like all those signals and fancy lady stuff. You just gotta go right up to him and tell him to his face."
"Like what?" She huffed. "Just walk up to him and tell him that I think I deserve better?"
He clapped his hands together. "Exactly like that! You're a downright fox, ma'am, and you deserve the best. If'n he ain't giving it to you; just walk away. You don't owe him none."
She sighed. "If I could just walk away I would have already. Just plop myself back onto a ship bound for home and wait to see Electra while I figure out a living situation."
The marine raised an eyebrow at the name Electra, but didn't comment. "Don't matter none. Then just ignore that bit. You just need to tell him how you feel. Y'all love each other, dontcha?"
Her mind ground to a halt. "Wha?"
"Are you two not far enough along to say that? Well, then repeat after me. 'Jack, I love you, but I think we need to talk."
Is this an American thing? I love Electra as a dear friend, but do Americans really feel the need to say it to their coworkers? Maybe that's why Jack has been rude to me; he doesn't believe that I think well of him. To be fair, I don't have much reason, but I'm willing to bury the hatchet as they say if it means moving forward.
Hood cleared her throat. "Jack, I love you, but I think we need to talk."
"See! Super simple. Just say that and y'all can talk about whatever you need."
"That was rather simple, wasn't it?" Hood smiled. "Yes, yes it was. I didn't think making up to people was so easy here. Thank you, sir. You're wise beyond your years."
"Aw shucks, ma'am, you don't mean that. Now go get him!"
Hood shot to her feet- stumbling slightly as her left leg nearly gave out- and marched toward the door. "I'm going to give it to Jack!"
Benson watched as Hood all but slammed the Mess hall door open as walk out into the Hawaiian midday sun. She turned back to the marine.
"You're single, aren't you?" She asked.
"How'd you know?"
She smiled with a bit too many teeth and giggled, "c'mon, girls! I wanna see this shipwreck!"
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Each review goes toward a burger for a Hood in need.
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