"Are you guys happy now?" Brooklyn says flatly at the two Fleet Carriers across from her at a clothing rack.
"I can't believe you were hiding this from us all this time," Shangri-La says back at the light Cruiser.
"I wasn't really hiding it per say..." Brooklyn responds, "I just never had a reason to tell anyone."
"I'd say the first human-Shipgirl marriage is a pretty big reason!" Essex shot out.
"Human-Shipgirl relations are nothing new," the Light Cruiser tries to defend, "We all know what the Commander was like when he was younger."
The silent blushing faces of the three other Shipgirls told Brooklyn all she needed to know.
"Back then, he was pretty..." Massachusetts trying to figure out a word, "handsy?"
The three Shipgirls nod in unison.
"And there was that time Honolulu and St. Louis..." Shangri-La tries to add before being muffled by a flustered Light Cruiser.
"Oh, God I remember that!" Essex yelled out again, "Weren't you there too?!"
Brooklyn having her hands full with Shangri-La couldn't stop Essex from blurting out something she wishes she could forget.
The Light Cruiser's body lit up like a Roman Candle.
"Pfft..." Essex can't stop herself from snickering. "I'll never forget the look on Phoenix' face when she walked in on you guys."
"Please," Brooklyn begs, "don't bring that up near Val, or anybody else, especially the Commander"
"Oh I'm pretty sure the Commander doesn't need a reminder," Essex continues to tease.
Massachusetts looks at Brooklyn wide-eyed.
"It was one time!" the Light Cruiser tries to reason, "wejustwonamajorbattleandHonoluluwasgettingintothatbluestuff...and you know how St. Louis can be..." Brooklyn explains a mile a minute.
"One thing led to another..."
"And next thing you knew, you end up naked, sandwiched between your sisters and the Commander." Shangri-La finishes, her notebook in hand, open.
"You do not have that written down!" Brooklyn shouts trying to grab at her notebook.
"Oh no," the bespectacled Fleet Carrier says, holding her notebook out of reach of the Light Cruiser. "Not in this one at least."
Brooklyn could only groan as she hung her head in defeat.
"So that's why you call the Commander a beast when he's not around." Massachusetts not at all helping Brooklyn's plight.
"Please," the Light Cruiser begs again, "can we please move on to something else."
"Like how this dress would look so cute on you." Shangri-La says holding a white one-piece up to the Battleship.
"I usually don't care about stuff like this." Massachusetts says as Shangri-La pushes her in front of a mirror.
"Aw, it does look real pretty," Brooklyn says as she stands next to her in front of the mirror.
"And I'm pretty sure she would like it too," The Light Cruiser said, just loud enough for the Battleship to hear.
Massachusetts eyes widen a bit before blushing slightly.
"Try it on at least," Essex says as she pushes her towards the changing rooms, "It would be a nice change to cover up those boobs of yours every now and again."
"What's wrong with them?" the Battleship says as she looks down at her black and white bikini top.
"Nothing, but you keep flaunting them around like it's nothing." Essex says as she tries to zip up Massachusetts's jacket.
"They're a pain to cover up" the Battleship says as Essex struggles and fails to get the zipper past her bust.
"Geez, no kidding," Essex says, wiping the sweat off her brow.
Brooklyn turning to look at her own reflection in the mirror brings her hands up to her own chest. Under normal standards she would be on the larger side, but glancing at her three Capitol Shipgirl companions she can't compete. To think there's even larger among their kind, and she would have to think no farther than two of her most infamous sisters.
"Just hurry up and try it on already." Essex groans as she pushes the Battleship into the dressing room, sliding the curtain shut.
A sigh, followed by the sounds of clothes hitting the carpeted floor comes through the dressing room curtains.
Massachusetts pulls the white one-piece over her head.
Silence...
"Everything alright in there?" Essex calls out, but all she hears in response is the sounds of struggling and rustling of fabric before it goes quiet once again.
"I can't get them in," Massachusetts states as she pulls the curtain open.
The three can only look stunned. Their gazes trace up the Battleship's long bare legs to where the skirt meets the upper most part of her thigh. While fairly short and daring it wasn't what caught their immediate attention.
"You're kidding me," Essex says as she looks on at the Battleship's exposed cleavage. Most of the top's buttons left unfastened, exposing a lot of Massachusetts's ample chest.
"It does suit you, I guess," Essex scanning the Battleship up and down, "though, it does look kinda..."
"Erotic." Shangri-La finishes as she pushes up on her glasses.
Brooklyn shakes her head as she flags down a sales associate.
"Excuse me, but you wouldn't happen to have that dress in a bigger size?" The Light Cruiser says pointing at Massachusetts still trying to get the buttons closed.
Blushing at the site, the sales associate nods his head before disappearing towards the back of the store.
Sometime later, the Shipgirls are back on the streets, bags of newly acquired goods hanging off each arm.
"I'd say this was a good expedition," Shangri-La says, clutching a bag of new stationary in her arms.
"Consider this payment to keep quiet about my engagement at least until I get back." Brooklyn says, turning her head to look at the two Fleet Carriers following behind her.
"I'd've kept quiet either way" Essex says peering over her tower of clothes and sporting gear.
"Yeah, I somehow doubt it..." Shangri-La says under her breath.
"Oh ye of little faith."
"So did the Commander end up approaching you?" Brooklyn asks.
"Yup, You're looking at the new Flagship, at least until Massa gets back."
"You'll do a great job I'm sure." Massachusetts says as she pats Essex in the back, nearly knocking her and her mountain of stuff over.
"I appreciate it," she says, wincing.
"Isn't it nearly time for Val to be getting out?" Shangri-La points out.
"It is," Brooklyn says looking at Massachusetts, "I'm sorry but do you mind carrying these back to my room for me?"
"Yeah, I don't mind," the Battleship holding out her free arm grabbing hold of the bags Brooklyn transfers to her.
"How about that one?" Massachusetts asks, pointing at the larger bag the Light Cruiser was carrying.
"This?" Brooklyn says lifting the bag up slightly, "It's a gift for Val's Mom, gotta try to convince her to let me take Val with me."
"Should be easy for our star diplomat." Essex pipes in.
"Well, Mama Hermosa is a tough nut to crack so hopefully I can persuade her."
"You got the Red Axis guys to sign a treaty with us so if anyone can, it's you." Shangri-La says.
"I appreciate the encouragement but no one ever told me dealing with in-laws would be harder than fighting the Sirens."
"She's not your In-law yet, at least until you two finally go through with it," Shangri-La bumping her shoulder lightly into the Light Cruiser's, "and I can not wait for that day to come."
"Yeah," Essex looked away slightly embarrassed, "Y...you better invite us when you do."
"I thought you were against it," Brooklyn says a little surprised, "but, most definitely."
"I... I wasn't against it really," Essex tries to clarify, "just still a little strange to me."
"It was to me as well," Massachusetts admits, "but after seeing how happy you are."
The Battleship offered a warm smile towards the Light Cruiser, "Makes me happy too."
"Sorry I couldn't say it before, but Congratulations." Essex bumping into Brooklyn's side.
"Aww, You guys..." Brooklyn struggles to fight back tears, as a warm sensation bubbles up in her chest.
Dropping their stuff at the same time they all rush in to comfort the emotional Light Cruiser.
Essex was the first to reach her mark, followed by Shangri-La next to her and lastly Massachusetts as she wraps her arms around all three.
Sandwiched between the three Capital Ships Brooklyn let's her emotions go, soaking the sister's shoulders with her tears, her breath hitches as the Battleship gives them a tight squeeze in her arms.
Sorry, but this one is a shorter update.But I assure, the Voyage to the Joint Base should be happening soon.