Summary: A day for Captain Nemo can be summarized as thus — maintain the Storm Border, check in with Sion, and… paint with Van Gogh? Before you say anything, it wasn't like he was averse to the activity, no. They were both Phantom Spirits and he could feel a sense of kinship with her. He just wasn't expecting it. But seeing her smile with Vy — well. He could at least understand why a standoffish Archer like Robin Hood fell in love.

Note: This was inspired by how Nemo and Van Gogh both came home to my Chaldea in the first three days of NA's release of Imaginary Scramble, and how much I grew to love them both more through the event. And considering how I've had a few moments of painting to myself back in high school, I wanted to revisit that.

So here we go.

The theme for this is AmaLee's English cover of Legend of Mermaid from my childhood magical girl show, Mermaid Melody. The lyrics AmaLee made for this version really resonated with me and what I wanted to write. For a lighter, more somber alternative, I'd recommend Kyle Landry's piano cover of Shelter.

Please enjoy!

Day 48: Day for Nemo

"How's it looking, Captain?"

Nemo didn't bother looking up at the hologram of Sion that showed up in his peripheral vision, keeping his gaze on the monitors of the Storm Border with narrowed eyes. "The magical reactor is running normally and the nanomachines we installed back in the Atlantic Lostbelt are still functioning with no problems, Sion. We should be all clear for traveling to the British Lostbelt when it eventually opens up." With a swivel of his head, Nemo pressed a button to open up the comms. "Anything on your end, Engineer, Professor?"

Almost immediately, the hologram shifted, displaying Engineer Nemo's sullen face as she raised a wrench in his direction. "None! Even as the reformed Storm Border, the Nautilus core is still active and our baby, Captain, and she's breathing just fine! No need to ask!"

"Professor here too," was the next incoming drawl, and Nemo blinked as his Professor self's image solidified as the newest hologram addition. "And I don't see any problems either, Captain." Professor proceeded to yawn, making Nemo blink as she rubbed at her eyes past her glasses, jostling them some from their place on the bridge of her nose. "Aside from the massive headache the Foreign God gave us with their — her — attempted descent onto Earth with Beryl's influence, we can rest some for now."

Right. The Foreign God. Back when she descended in the Orbital Shrine of Olympus, Nemo could do nothing but watch in half awe, half terror, more so when out of all other things that could've been done in response, Vy had decided to throw her usual reactive boomerang. And that it actually hit said God clean in the cheek before Wodime could do his last hurrah. In the face of that, and what had happened in Void Space with Van Gogh's Outer God before—

"Captain?"

Shit. Nemo forced himself to take a breath. "It's nothing. Alright then, Sion. You heard them. Is that enough for you?"

Despite her inhuman nature, Sion still had the gall to look apologetic through her hologram, placing a hand on her hip. "Sure," she said after an adequate pause, enough to make the rest of the Nemo Series start to tremble through their connection. "Should we call a break then, Captain? We can talk later."

"That'd be good," Nemo said curtly, cutting the hologram before Sion could say anymore to put his head into the palm of his hand.

He really needed a parfait at this rate with the looming danger that was soon to come. Because he still couldn't get the look of that U-Olga Marie's fury out of his mind.

"Captain, Captain!"

One of the Marines. Nemo paused his trek through Novum Chaldea, schooling his expression into nonchalance as the Marine who called out to him ran up with a hand in the air. "What is it, Marine?"

"I-It's Master!" The Marine chirped once he was a few feet away from Nemo, grin clear on his face for the world to see as he jumped back and forth on his shoes. "She's making coffee! Wanna join us, Captain?"

"Us?" Nemo tried, blinking as a few other Marines showed up from the first's shadow in response to his question. Hm. Okay then. That made more sense. "Huh. And… Vy is the one making coffee?" It's not like her to make something unless she feels up to it… At the same time, Nemo couldn't deny the possibility either.

If there was one thing the Chaldeans could agree on, it was that Vy couldn't stop caring about people, whether it was for the better or worse.

"Yeah, Captain, let's go! I heard from the Grailed that her coffee's really strong!" Another Marine piped up, an equally matching grin on his face as the other Marines in their little group eagerly nodded their heads. "We could use the drink break!"

We could… huh? Nemo shook his head, ignoring the curious glances the Marines were giving him in favor of forcing a tiny smile onto his face. "Alright. I could use the cup of joe. Where is she at?"

One of the Marines reached over to grab Nemo's hand. "We'll take you, Captain!"

"Where is that condensed milk…?"

"M-Master, I could get it for you…"

"And I appreciate it, Goghie, I really do, but I also don't want you to possibly hurt yourself," Vy said absently, giving the wilting Van Gogh a warm smile over her shoulder as she opened the nearest cabinet above her head. "I have a rough idea of where it is in the kitchen, so you don't have to move from your seat. You've helped me out a lot with farming materials today anyways, so please rest instead. I have it handled; plus, I heard from Da Vinci Caster how it seemed like you were a bit tired this morning." A hum echoed in the air as the coffee machine started to let off some steam. "Condensed milk, hazelnut coffee creamer, I should have everything…"

Nemo decided to take the seat to the immediate right of Van Gogh, giving the Foreigner a wry smile once she was turning his way to stare at him in shock. With a shrug, he reached over to gently pat her back, taking care to smooth out some bumps that started forming in her spine from her tension. The other Marines proceeded to file into the room after him, either taking their own seats or crowding around the counter separating the tables from the kitchen area of the Dining Hall with bright grins. Vy only had to turn her head to see all of them, letting out a quiet Eep of surprise when taking in her new audience.

In lieu of an explanation, Van Gogh let out a sheepish "Ehehehe" as Nemo shrugged in Vy's direction.

"Um," Vy started mildly as one Marine climbed up into the nearest tall seat to place his elbows on the counter, holding his chin up in his hands to meet her befuddled gaze. Rosy pink started to fill Vy's cheeks as she held up a spoon and the can of condensed milk she was apparently looking for, ponytail brushing the back of her reddening neck in the meantime. "Should I just start taking orders of what everyone likes for their coffee?"

"We Marines are fine with anything, Master!" the Marines all chirped.

"Th-That's nice, but that doesn't really help, Marines," Vy continued in the same quiet tone, one of her eyebrows twitching as she put the condensed milk can down near the coffee machine. Reaching into another cabinet to pull out a can opener, she then added, "Anything you, Captain, and Goghie don't like in your coffee, then?"

"Poison!" Van Gogh chirped loudly from Nemo's side, much to his surprise. "A-And sunflower seeds!"

"Coffee grinds!" The Marines put in via their usual unison.

"Noted!" Vy went on without missing a beat, pressing a button on the coffee machine to stop its subsequent hissing. "I'll make sure to avoid all three!" While pushing her ponytail back over her shoulder, Nemo could hear her faintly mutter, "Why would I put poison and sunflower seeds in good coffee, anyways? That's such a waste…" As steam continued to float into the air, Vy started pulling out cups and mugs from the other cabinets, setting them down on the counter in front of her while continuing to mumble under her breath. "12 for the Marines, 1 for the Captain, 1 for Goghie, 1 for Baker, 1 for Nurse, 1 for Professor, 1 for Engineer, now who else am I missing? That's a lot of cups…"

She's including all of us, Nemo realized with a breath. By giving us all our own servings, she's treating us all like we're equals. Pride started to swell up in his chest as the thought came to pass. No wonder Van Gogh got attached to you so easily, Vy.

Unbeknownst to Nemo's thoughts, Vy looked over her full counter and then proceeded to turn her head back to the still-unopened can of condensed milk in front of her with a face. "18 cups of coffee will need more than one can of this stuff at this rate." With a quiet Hm, Vy closed her eyes as she rocked back and forth on her shoes. "Then again, I know Big Robin likes his coffee with some creamer, so should I just brew another pot of coffee and go run to the storage room along the way? That'll be at least 19 cups, with some to go in the fridge for later…"

"M-Master!" Van Gogh piped up again, and Vy turned to look at the Foreigner while Nemo blinked at them both. "I-I can wait on my coffee, ehehe…" Hiding her mouth behind her sleeve, only Nemo could see the shy smile on Van Gogh's face as she glanced in Vy's direction. "S-So you can make coffee for Nemo and the other Marines first…"

Vy tilted her head at Van Gogh in response, a soft and worried "Goghie…" leaving her lips. It was obvious, even without her saying Van Gogh's nickname, that she wasn't convinced.

"I-It's okay, Master, really!" Van Gogh waved both hands in the air as Vy's gaze continued to linger in her direction, red dusting her own cheeks as she shook her head. "I-I can wait, there's nothing wrong with that!"

"Even so, it doesn't feel right making you wait, especially when I offered to make you coffee, Goghie," Vy said in a softer voice, glancing at Nemo and the other Marines helplessly. "I'd rather you drink at the same time as Captain and the other Marines because only then will it feel fair to you, more so since you're a Chaldean Servant now." In a tone bordering a plea, she then asked the Marines, "Will you all be okay with waiting a bit longer?"

"Eh?" Van Gogh said helplessly, lowering her hands to the table to tap anxiously. "Master? Are you sure?"

"Yes!" Vy added immediately.

No wonder Van Gogh's looking so awkward. It's the typical selfless Vy the Grailed keep worrying about, Nemo thought. In unison with everyone else in the room, he outwardly saluted their Master with a wry grin.

"Of course!"

To no one's surprise but Van Gogh's, Vy then beamed. "Then I'll work as hard as I can so that you all can enjoy home-brewed Vietnamese coffee!"

Two pots of coffee later, all the inhabitants of the Dining Hall were nursing their own mugs of the stuff to drink. "Th-This is really good, Master!" one Marine chirped after a long sip of joe. "What did you use for this?"

Vy tilted her head back to lightly bump it against the wall behind her, closing her eyes in thought as she raised a hand to count off fingers (while brushing off some coffee grinds along the way). "The regular coffee beans Novum Chaldea has in stock, a little less water than the machine usually requires, a spoon of condensed milk, and a variable amount of hazelnut coffee creamer…?"

"…Wait," Nemo paused mid-sip of his own drink, giving Vy a look past the rim of his mug with disbelief. "Master?"

"Mm?" is the little response she gives.

"Did you say you just used the regular Novum Chaldea brand of coffee beans?"

Vy opened her eyes and then lowered her hand to say a bright, "Aye!" in response to his question. Confidence filled her voice as she put a hand on her hip with an equally bright grin to match. "Coffee strength doesn't just come from the beans, it really is how much you use them in tandem with the water!" Almost as if making a show, Vy winked at Nemo and the other Marines. "Was taught that by the best of the best!"

"I-It's not bad, Master," Van Gogh puts in politely, happy blush barely hidden by her mug as she sips at it. "It's just the right amount of bitter and sweet…"

Vy turned a softer smile towards the Foreigner in response. "Then I'm glad. Means I succeeded." Crossing her arms over her chest, Vy leaned back against the counter behind her with a little sigh. What left her mouth probably was supposed to be in a quieter voice, but no one could miss her saying, "…It would definitely make everyone back home proud."

And Nemo knew he wasn't imagining the drop in temperature as the other Marines paused in their motions of drinking. Van Gogh too froze at his side, looking up past her cup to gape in Vy's direction, but the only Chaldean Master didn't meet their eyes, merely closing her own while tilting her head up towards the ceiling. Nothing struck Nemo through the bond he had with her, their mental connection remarkably empty as he processed the sight with a heavier heart, matched in time with the other Marines starting to fidget in their seats.

"…Master," Van Gogh spoke up first, tentative and cautious in spite of the sympathy starting to echo in her voice, "do you miss your life before Chaldea?"

Vy blinked, slowly bringing her head back to look at Van Gogh, and her eyes glistened past her glasses. They weren't to the point of shedding tears like Nemo feared, but they weren't happy either. "…A lot," is the eventual answer Vy gives, and from the look on Van Gogh's face Nemo could briefly glimpse from his perspective sitting next to her, she doesn't like it as much as Vy herself does. "But there's no point in thinking about them too much when there's still work to do and you all matter more to me." It doesn't take long for Vy to force on another smile, and Nemo found himself liking it less and less. "Let's drop this subject? I don't want to make things awkward and I can make another cup of coffee."

Be careful, Nemo could vaguely remember Skadi saying once after their contract had been established. The Lostbelt goddess had wiggled her finger in front of Nemo's nose back then during his orientation, having pulled him to the side when Vy wasn't looking to make a face at him. Our Master has a bad habit of trying to brush off her own pain in favor of addressing yours or any of the other Servants when it comes to the situations at hand. Let her do it too often, and she will drift away from you.

Then…

"Maybe not coffee, Master," leaves Nemo in a voice he can barely recognize, "but painting instead?"

Van Gogh was throwing him an incredulous look once the light came back into Vy's eyes with a quiet, "Huh?"

"Marines, you don't have to push me…"

"No, no, Master, we want to push you!" the Marines all chimed in unison, tiny hands all clamoring to claim a space on Vy's back and waist as they marched forward, leading their Master through the many halls of the Wandering Sea. "You have to rest and rely on us sometime!"

"Th-That's true, but you really don't…" Vy cut herself off with a small sigh, shaking her head. "Y'know what? Never mind. Go ahead."

"Yay!"

This would be a parade anywhere else, Nemo allowed himself to think, glancing over his shoulder to catch the eyes of his fellow Marines as they continued to cheer and push their shared Master towards Van Gogh's art studio. The named Foreigner herself seemed to be a bit happier too, skipping along every tile in the hall as they approached her room with joy-filled humming. This is what Chaldea is turning out to be, huh? It's not… bad…

"Here we are!" Van Gogh announced with a crooked laugh as the door loomed in front of them, and she jumped back and forth on her oddly shaped heels as sunflowers bloomed from her shoulders. "T-Time to paint something, Master!"

"As long as nothing explodes, Goghie, by all means…" Vy had her eyes closed from part exasperation, part fatigue as the Marines continued to push at her back, but she offered no resistance once Van Gogh skipped backwards to take her hand. Heck, not even Nemo could miss the fond smile tugging at Vy's lips once she squeezed Van Gogh's hand tight in return. "Some Vaseline would be nice right now…"

Nemo looked at the motley crowd they were making, from a giggling Van Gogh to the clamoring Marines all cheering for various things ("Let's get some pots!", one said, while another added, "What about bread and more coffee? We can do some character studies!"). In the center of them all stood Vy, eyebags under her glasses and a tired breath leaving her lips, but she still looked happy too.

"As long as you all remember the daily nap system, then let's paint," Nemo put in finally, shaking his head. "The Grailed could come by any minute now."

"'KAY~!" the crowd outside of Vy heartily agreed, and Nemo smiled.

This is my school of fish, you mockery of a Foreign God, and I'd like it to stay that way, he thought to himself. So do us a favor and get lost.

It was a good comeback to save for later when Novum Chaldea would confront that enemy again.

Note (Nov. 22, 2022): I had to add extra dialogue to some of Vy's first lines in the chapter as a response to a review I received from a specific user who related to Van Gogh and called Vy's treatment of her "rude and infantilizing."

To be brief, their words were very hurtful, considering it was already personally hard enough writing this chapter WITH Van Gogh's original characterization in mind and my own situation in real life when it comes to career work, but I can't change their mind. What I CAN say, though, is that this story is STILL my personal work. I can't cater to everyone's likes and I'm not going to. This story is still MY story in the end.

Let it be said now: If anyone constantly DEMANDS things to be changed in their "idea" of improvement like this reviewer did, whether it's lines of dialogue, characterization, or even the inclusion of specific characters, then LEAVE. You can write your own story to have the changes you want, or even commission another writer to make it for you. Putting it on someone else otherwise is just plain UNREALISTIC expectation, MORE SO for a story that was started for fun. I'm NOT going to keep listening forever when writing itself is a trip I take of my own choice. Not yours.

So there's that.

For everyone else, I'll see you at the next update.