Chapter 16: A Tale of Roses
It was one thing to watch the activity of Azur lane through the eyes of a spy drone, another thing entirely to see it with his own eyes, the rigging disgorging his body onto the warm sands as Alexander rolled his shoulders, gazing around the scenery and taking a deep lungful of air.
"Man...never really thought about it before but the air on the Bakunawa is pretty stale."
Greenery, smoke, ocean salt, animal musk...the base felt alive. Far more engaging than the sterilized neutrality of his ship.
"Are we clear?"
[Affirmative, no human life in two hundred meters.]
"Alright, then let's start exploring. Give me a heads up if anything dangerous or potentially alarming looks my way."
[Affirmative.]
Rigging drifting along in his wake the male Siren eagerly looked around, exploring his surroundings with unfettered glee as he reveled in the odd novelty of not being surrounded by metal composites, sand between his toes and cool wind - rather than harsh ocean spray - caressing his pale skin.
"Now where to first…"
Glancing at the overhead map provided by his hovering drones Alexander confirmed that the way was clear, Prinz Eugen's statement that most of the base was gathered to greet the four that had engaged the Siren fleet right on the mark. What few lookout and patrol groups there were all had wide and vulnerable patterns that, were a force of conventional human opponents to show up, would be fairly sloppy and easy to exploit.
...Sirens cared little for subtlety when it came to warfare.
Alexander strolled right on through, easily hopping over the few fences and other barriers with zero difficulty before nodding in confirmation.
"Right, the rose gardens it is. Everyone was always talking about Aurora's skills in gardening, that should be a sight."
Setting the spy drones to patrol and make sure no one would accidentally walk in on him while he was observing the garden the young man jogged towards the patches of covered landscape, overhead tarps and retractable shades making the entire area prime for raising a variety of plants.
"Actually, a lot of Azure Lane is like that…"
The entire base seemed like it wore insanity and unconventionality as a second layer. The barracks were a riot of pictures, artwork, shrines, prayer mats, fire pits, ball and dart games, the hangars and docking berths had graffiti and logos of a dozen different nations - all overshadowed by the Azur lane emblem - sprinkled across them while the real head turner was what looked like a damn aviary had sprung up out of nowhere, probably to house the odd Manju birds that had popped up.
...He shouldn't be surprised by the weirdness in all honesty, he'd already received warnings that the Bakunawa's drones were being ridden by the Bulins like some kind of beast of burden, the diminutive mechanical savants having the time of their lives as they whizzed around the base like it was the high-tech wild west.
Chuckling to himself Alexander slipped into the gardens, unleashing a low whistle of appreciation as he did so.
Bamboos, figs and other such trees were aplenty while smaller Orchids grew around their bases, a riot of colors that was aesthetically pleasing in every way that mattered.
But the eye catcher was, undoubtedly, the solid lines of red that stretched across an entire section of the garden, blooming roses standing strong despite the sheer impossibility of their growth in such a trying climate.
"Damn, she really knows her stuff...can't help but wonder how many customers she would get if she opened up a shop."
The male took a step forwards, intending to inspect the flowers up close-
-and promptly pressed himself flat against the sparse covering that was available in the gardens, soft footsteps approaching his position as he mentally kicked himself.
"So freakin' concerned about not being walked in on that I never considered the reverse."
Keeping a wary and watchful eye on where he heard the noise originate from the male prepared to either slip away or brace for a seriously awkward encounter...and blinked before sagging in relief as he saw that it was none other than Aurora herself approaching, feet and legs devoid of her shoes, stockings and garters while durable gardening gloves covered her hands as she carried a watering pot.
"Whew. Lucked out on that one, the shipgirls already know about me. Should probably avoid making a commotion so as not to startle her."
The male raised his knuckles to rap on the trunk of a nearby tree-
"Oh you know how you it is, lady Illustrious. Always keeping busy with scarcely a moment to stop and enjoy the sights. Yes, I'm aware that it is normally not I that serves tea but instead provides the cookies. Trying times call for desperate measures, unfortunately."
-and froze, eyes not so much as blinking as he stared at the blonde shipgirl water a collection of flowers, chatting away the entire time.
"Oh don't be such a stranger, Wales! While my tea may not be as good as the maids it's by no means undrinkable. And aren't you just adorable, being so patient like that, Unicorn~?"
The male Siren watched Aurora amicably and ceaselessly chat with her flowers, watering and trimming them as the list just kept getting longer and longer.
Formidable, Renown, Hood, Ark Royal, Edinburgh, Repulse...dozens of names and individuals no longer alive.
Ordinarily he wouldn't have thought much of it - people coped differently, after all - but the Commander had said she would occasionally get lost in speaking with her dead comrades...not to mention his eyes and ears were sharper than ever. He could see the tremble in her hands, tightness to her soft voice.
"Yes, Nelson, the war is going quite splendidly, actually! We won an important victory and for the first time we...we…"
Alexander blinked, wondering why she had trailed off mid-sentence...and noticed that she was staring directly at him, mouth agape and eyes wide, skin paling.
"Umm...sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop-"
The watering pail slipping from her hands the shipgirl tried to sprint from the room as Alexander leapt forward, not liking the look on her face - he's seen more than his fair share of hopeless looks back in the mainland, sometimes followed by a single gunshot and screaming onlookers - as he gently grabbed her arm.
"Aurora, wait! Please, just listen to me, it's-"
"Go ahead, laugh. Most do. The mad little cruiser made of glass who talks to her flowers."
The utterly emotionless and clinical nature of those words made the male more certain than ever that he wasn't about to let go, desperately trying to remember how the communities back home had dealt with cases of hysteria like this.
"Aurora, look at me."
After a few seconds of silence the blonde eventually did, the young man fighting back a wince at her guarded and withdrawn expression. Instead he pointed to his body, raising an eyebrow as he did so.
"You think I don't understand what it's like to be considered just a little bit crazy? I've got a Siren inside my head that's always talking to me, you know. Vampire, Belfast and the rest got a taste of that strangeness the first time we met."
His sincerity seemed to reach her, the Royal Navy cruiser hesitantly nodding as he released her, Aurora embarrassingly retrieving her spilt water can, heedless of the muddy dirt marring her pristine legs.
"I...I didn't mean to alarm you, sir Alexander. Running away like that, I mean."
"Don't worry about it, I didn't exactly announce my presence so that one's on me. Prinz Eugen suggested that I get out of the Bakunawa since most of everyone is gathered on the other side of the island to welcome back your four conquering sisters. Everyone always said your garden was the most impressive thing this side of the ocean so I just had to take a look myself."
Some semblance of life and confidence returned to Aurora's expression, a small smile pulling at her lips as she refilled the pail, replying, "They're always saying things like that. It's gratifying to hear but I can't help but feel like they blow things out of proportion somewhat…"
"Eh, I dunno about that. These gardens are pretty incredible. How did you even get the roses to bloom in this climate?"
A trace of playfulness adorned her features as she winked.
"A lady is allowed some secrets, sir Alexander."
Relieved that she was seeming somewhat more like her normal self the male rolled his eyes in good humor, remarking, "Oh very well, keep your secrets, miss mysterious beauty."
"You are rather full of flattery, aren't you?"
"If the truth counts as flattery then I've never spoken so much as a single white lie."
Aurora smiled, nodding along with his words as they fell into a comfortable silence.
"Does it help? Talking to them, I mean."
The refined shipgirl hesitated in her watering, glancing at him as if debating how sincere he was being...and she sagged, returning to her task with a small nod.
"We used to have a garden much like this back in England, that our queen would always hold court in. They always used to tell me how pretty the flowers I grew made everything seem, how it would make discussion and contemplation much easier…"
Her gaze turned distant, tone soft.
"It's so much easier to remember them as the lovely and refined flowers they were, than the sunken and desiccated hulks they would become. The Royal Navy is often the butt of jokes, stating how we would stop to have tea and crumpets in the middle of a firefight, or to powder our noses and adjust our wigs as shells rained down around us...but that is something we nonetheless take great pride in, our beauty and elegance that inspire all around us."
She cupped a crimson flower, staring at it with a distant expression and stating, "It likely isn't healthy, to live in the past so much...but times truly were much simpler back then."
Unsure if this would be crossing a line of some kind Alexander eventually gathered his courage, setting a hand on the shipgirl's shoulder before comfortingly saying, " Healthy? Who knows. But I can't say for sure how I would react if hundreds of close friends or family slowly began to die in battle, whittled down to almost nothing over a decade of constant conflict."
He gave the cruiser a light squeeze before removing his hand.
"But I think you have every right to cope and feel however you wish to. This war has been rough on a lot of people."
For a time the blonde was silent, not responding to his words...and her hands briefly wiped something off of her face, turning to face him with a watery smile.
"Thank you. I think I needed to hear that, Alexander."
"Hey, happy to help-"
"What are you doing here?!"
Whirling around in a moment of panic as he belatedly realized that he'd missed the warning his drones had sent while he was busy speaking to Aurora Alexander prepared himself to come up with a variety of different explanations...and relaxed as it was only Admiral Hipper stalking his way, fierce scowl etched on her striking features.
"Oh, good, it's just another shipgirl. For a second there I thought I would have to-can I help you, Hipper?"
Arching an eyebrow as the comparatively tiny Ironblood began poking him in the abdominals she all but snarled, "Why are you here? You should be contained upon your ship, not...not gallivanting about as if you belong on this base!"
The words struck a little close to home, Alexander narrowing his eyes as he tried to think of a proper response that wouldn't lead to further strife down the road-
"Hipper, you may relax. And Alexander was nothing but courteous during his conversation with me."
The Royal Navy cruiser smiled, gesturing to the empty gardens.
"And, as you can no doubt see, there is a distinct lack of other individuals around to observe or discover us."
Hipper looked as if she was about to protest-
"Oh, that reminds me, what are you up to over here? Far be it from me to dictate what you do with your time but everyone and their dog is out and ready to welcome back your four sisters. What brought you to this neck of the woods?"
The Ironblood bristled at being ignored until a pointed look from Aurora caused her to simmer down.
"It's usually quite busy here, with everyone out and about on the opposite end of the island I thought it would be a good time to get some gardening done. And what of you, sister?"
Blinking as she was put on the spot Hipper protested, "W-well obviously I was worried about you! You weren't with everyone else and we were all gathered together, so…"
The unspoken worry was received nonetheless as the shipgirl's emerald eyes flashed towards the roses, Aurora smiling in understanding as she responded, "You're such a sweet person, Hipper. If only you were more honest about aforementioned sweetness to others as well…"
"T-that's neither here nor there. And that still doesn't explain why he's with you!"
Now understanding that the Ironblood's hostility was simply a result of her unable to articulate her true feelings as anything other than passive aggressive or confrontational words - the Commander had been right on the mark with that one - the male Siren grinned, responding, "Well actually it was none other than Prinz Eugen herself who said I should get off of the Bakunawa every now and again. Today seemed like a good opportunity to do so."
Features twisting into one of consternation as hearing the heavy cruiser get namedropped so casually took a lot of the proverbial wind out of her sails, Hipper huffed out a sigh and merely responded, "Fine, you being out of your ship isn't too much of an issue. Now depart and leave us be."
Smirking to himself the male instead took a seat on one of the scattered benches, Aurora hiding a giggle at his clear provocation of the feisty Ironblood as he said, "You're free to leave if you want too, Hipper. So, thinking of undergoing the retrofit along with the rest of your sisters? Even I didn't expect those four to so cleanly decimate the Siren fleet."
"D-don't you ignore me, I can-"
"I think many of us will be clamoring to be first in line, Alexander. To have that kind of power...it would certainly go a long way in reducing the lopsided odds we have more often than not found ourselves in."
A more melancholy smile tilted her lips.
"One could even say we wished you had appeared sooner. No matter the risks or unknown effects that will originate from these changes it seems a far better alternative than to simply sit and do nothing."
Sadly nodding at the light cruiser's words it was Hipper that again played devil's advocate...even if her heart clearly wasn't into it, a self-loathing wince decorating her striking features as if she wanted to stop herself but couldn't.
"We shouldn't so easily buy into his words. Who's to say he won't simply turn on us once all of us those Wisdom Cube shards are grafted onto our bodies?"
Sensing an opportunity to break the ice somewhat - and remembering the Commander's words in regards to Hipper's attitude shifts - Alexander joked, "Whoops, you caught me. Guess my evil plan to create a harem of slave shipgirl babes is exposed."
Aurora gave him a mock glare that he returned with a wink-
-and the ironblood slammed her hands into the bench, getting right in his face with a snarl.
"Do not dare to joke about something like that, bastard!"
"Hipper, he was merely-"
"Shut up, Aurora! You've never had a backbone and you're not about to start now!"
Silence reigned at the end of that statement, Aurora's face wiped clean of emotion while Hipper's emerald eyes widened, skin paling as she realized just what it was she said.
Ready and waiting the male Siren already had a hand on the ironblood's shoulder, keeping her from running off as she stammered, "L-let me go, you damn brute! I don't...I don't…"
Sending Aurora a quick sideways glance his intention was perfectly conveyed, the blonde shipgirl's anguished expression clearing as she realized Hipper had again hurt herself in the worst way possible, trying to show concern and instead driving wedges between those she cared for the most.
"Sister...will you not stay and talk with us?"
Her face still hidden from view the Ironblood hotly retorted, "Why, so I can keep saying things I don't mean?! I…"
Her voice took on a distinctly wet tinge, slim shoulders shaking beneath the young man's grip.
"I hate how I keep saying things that hurt everyone!"
"Well it's a good thing actions speak louder than words, isn't it?"
Angrily turning her head around Alexander found himself staring at tear-ridden eyes of bright green, calmly stating, "Yeah, you seem to have a way with words, that's for sure...but you came here in the first place because you were worried about Aurora. You raise concerns when no else seems to because you care about your sisters. You stick to those guns regardless."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Or am I wrong?"
The Ironblood angrily wiped away her tears, facing away from the male as she grumbled, "Shut up, no one asked for your opinion…"
Smirking to himself as he released her shoulder the cruiser stiffened as Aurora suddenly gathered her up into a hug, whispering, "Thank you for always being so worried about us, sister."
"I...I wasn't doing it for you, okay?!"
The harsh statement was anything but as the Ironblood had to swallow past the lump in her throat, Alexander chuckling at the sight as Hipper glared at him, Aurora offering the male a curtsy as she stated, "I think for now we shall rejoin the rest of Azure Lane in welcoming our sisters home. Nonetheless…"
Curtis blinked as Aurora glided forward, placing a quick kiss on the same cheek Zero had - which went a long way towards removing the gross sensation - as she gave him a grateful smile.
"Thank you for listening. And understanding. We shall see you soon, I imagine."
"Umm...yeah. I'll look forward to it."
Taking a moment to clean her feet and slip her shoes back on Hipper sent the man a sidelong glance, grunting, "I still don't entirely trust you, Alexander."
"No biggie. Remember what I said about actions speaking louder than words? I'll be able to figure out what you're really asking, no matter what kind of roasting you elect to put me through."
The duo locked eyes for a moment...and Hipper's cheeks pinked as she spun away, huffing out, "G-good! Then I shall not hold back in the future! Come, Aurora. We'll likely be running late as is."
"Of course, Hipper. Take care of yourself, Alexander."
"Same to you."
Both shipgirls departed without further incident, the male sitting silently in the garden and absolutely lost in thought.
"And there I was, joking about how I'm not a therapist yet here I am, doing just that...or maybe they just needed someone to talk to."
Heaving out a sigh he could feel the rampant triumph and excitement of the shipgirls transmitted across their link, no doubt as a result of the four winners entering visible line of sight.
"Well...at least there's some tangible reward and positivity to be shown for my efforts. Might as well get back to work, I doubt the Sirens are going to call it quits after that one failed assault."