30 Kisses Fic Number 1
Feb. 12th, 2005 06:17 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dethoratsTheme: Look Over Here
Title: Parade Ground Promotion
Rating: G
Pairing: Hina/Tashigi
Time: About an hour
Word Count: 1,791
Tashigi made one final adjustment to the newest stripe on her formal uniform. It had stubbornly refused to align with the other two, and she’d ended up taking the jacket off to re-pin them on her sleeve. Checking herself in the small mirror, she eyed the insignia that made her a full-fledged Marine sergeant at the tender age of seventeen. She wasn’t sure she was ready for the honor; her swordsmanship was still so weak and her overall physical grace was sorely lacking. But she’d pulled high marks on all her written exams and was fully versed in protocol. Besides that, she’d led her small squadron of privates successfully against the pirates raiding the small town of Rosea. Straightening, she spared one last glance at her stripes. Young or not, she had earned this rank.
The low peal of the tower bell shook her from the mirror, and Tashigi glanced at the small alarm clock on the table next to her regulation-made bed. It was already eleven-thirty! Taking a deep breath to hold down the sudden surge of panic, she buckled Shigure into place at her hip and smoothed one hand back through her hair. One last glimpse in the mirror and she strode briskly from the room.
She was nearly to the parade grounds when it happened. As usual her clumsy feet decided to betray her. She tripped over nothing, stumbling down the three stairs in front of her straight into a broad back clad in a non-regulation jacket.
“S,sorry. I’m so sorry.”
She tried to gain her balance, not wanting to lean any further on whoever was unfortunate enough to have been in her way, and managed only to tangle her legs again. Tashigi was sure she was going to end up on the ground, but strong hands caught her under the arm, supporting her until she had gained her footing.
“Thank you. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to bump into you.”
Tashigi knew she was babbling as she turned around. The man who had caught her just raised a smoke-colored eyebrow. There were cigars in his jacket pocket and two more in his mouth. She was almost ready to remind him that smoking wasn’t allowed inside the base when recognition made her gasp.
“Oh, captain, sir. I’m sorry for falling into you. It won’t happen again sir. I’m so-“
He cut her off, a cloud of smoke puffing from his mouth. His voice was gruff when he spoke.
“You’re going to be late, Sergeant. Get moving.”
Tashigi glanced up to the clock on the bell tower and squeaked. Eleven forty-five! She had to be at the parade grounds by eleven-fifty! “Yes sir. Thank you sir.” She turned to go and remembered protocol, whirling back around to salute. The captain sketched one in return, and Tashigi took off at a run, Shigure slapping against her hip.
Only slightly winded, she made it to the parade ground just in time. She took her place in line with the other new sergeants, standing at attention in front of the small speaking platform. Today was the when all the new sergeants were looked over by the captains seeking an aide de camp. It technically wasn't another promotion, but it was regarded that way by the enlisted ranks. Being an aide de camp meant forming a close relationship with an officer, which meant the opportunity for easier promotion recommendations. The role was traditionally filled by a sergeant. There were plenty in the ranks, but sometimes a captain couldn’t find a suitable candidate. So whenever there was class of new sergeants, the base also allowed the officers to seek an aide. Tashigi wanted desperately to be chosen. She loved the Blues, but she wasn’t sure she was ready to be a full-time combat sergeant. Being an aide de camp would also give her the chance to continue her training.
A quick glance down the row of her fellow sergeants revealed a line of disciplined men, ranging in age from sixteen to forty-four. As usual, she was the only female. The base was currently home to just six women. There were three new recruits, privates just starting basic training, herself, a lieutenant, and the vice admiral. She hadn’t met any of the recruits yet, and the lieutenant she knew only in passing. As for the vice admiral, the older woman was so much higher in rank, that Tashigi had only ever seen her twice before. Once when she herself had been a recruit, and when the vice admiral gave the annual address at New Year’s last year.
Loneliness wasn’t something she’d expected when she had enlisted. But the small barracks had been empty of all but herself for months. The lieutenant slept in the officers’ quarters, and the vice admiral had a house somewhere off base. The new recruits had moved in last week, but they were so tired from training that she rarely saw them. Besides, they had already bonded, and she didn’t want to intrude on the cozy friendship. Rumor had it there were two female captains coming today, and Tashigi held a small hope that one of them would choose her. She was tired of being alone in a sea of testosterone that claimed she couldn’t be a good swordsman. She was tired of constantly defending herself and her skills. It would be nice to have a female mentor, someone to look up to for career guidance.
She shook herself from her reverie as Admiral Toft took to the platform. He was in charge of the base and held the nickname of Ol’ Gusty among the enlisted men for his habit of making long speeches. Tashigi stiffened her posture, eyes straight ahead as the captains slowly filtered onto the chairs set up in front of the sergeants on the parade ground. It wouldn’t do to be caught slacking now, no matter how much she wanted to search for female faces.
Ol’ Gusty droned on and on, and Tashigi struggled to keep from sagging as she heard the bell mark the half hour. She hadn’t really even heard much of what Admiral Toft was saying, something about duty and honor and the usual stuff about being a marine that he seemed to recycle for every speech. At last he stopped, gesturing over the heads of the gathered captains towards the line of sergeants. Now was the time. She just had to make a good impression.
There didn’t seem to be much rhyme or reason to the process. Several of the captains approached immediately, walking down the line, pausing from time to time to ask a question. A few just turned in their seats, watching, while the rest gathered into tight knots, talking amongst themselves and ignoring the proceedings behind them. Tashigi held herself smartly at attention, Shigure’s hilt jutting proudly from her hip, but none of the officers even gave her a second glance. Down the row, Durshi stepped forward from the line, saluting an older captain before following him towards the administration building.
* Lucky Durshi. He’s got it all: looks, intelligence, and skill. But he deserves it so there's no use being jealous now. *
Twenty minutes passed and Tashigi’s muscles were complaining at being at attention for an hour. The line had thinned considerably; eight out of the twenty new sergeants had been selected. Most of the captains were gone now. A few groups still stood conversing, but they hadn’t even bothered to look over once. She felt her heart sink just a little. She hadn’t seen any female captains and she hadn’t even been asked a single question. It looked like she would be shipping out with a destroyer fleet after all.
The bell marked thirteen hundred hours and she just wanted to go back to her quarters. She felt herself growing annoyed. These stupid captains should remember how it was to be a sergeant and take their conversations elsewhere. Then she could relax. Sudden loud laughter came from one of the groups, and she spared a quick glance. The man she’d run into earlier was there. Captain Smoker. He had a formidable reputation, and Tashigi was glad he hadn’t been upset. He was a devil’s fruit user from what she’d heard, and he allegedly didn’t like to follow all his orders. The jacket alone flaunted regulations. He was stepping aside, turning towards the line of sergeants, and Tashigi whipped her eyes forward.
“Smoker-kun. You know the rule. Ladies first.”
The smooth voice carried, and Tashigi felt hope bloom again in her chest. So at least one had come!
“You’re no lady.” That was Smoker; she recognized the deep, rough voice from before.
“Fine. Then the rule is Hina first.”
Was that the captain’s name? Hina? It sounded familiar, but Tashigi couldn’t quite remember where she’d heard it. She fought to keep from turning to look. The captain would make her way down the row soon enough. Her fingers twitched against the wool of her formal trousers, though, and she felt her glasses slip a little down her nose.
The first thing she saw, out of the corner of her eye, was the red. This captain wasn’t wearing a regulation uniform either. Hina hadn’t spoken to anyone thus far, and Tashigi’s chest was tight with nervous anticipation.
Light blue eyes captured her own, before she really had a chance to acknowledge the captain’s presence. Hina wasn’t much taller than herself but there was a steely aura of command about her. She took Tashigi’s measure, holding her gaze before suddenly leaning in close. Tashigi was frozen at attention as Hina’s breath kissed the shell of her ear.
“Good luck.”
And then she was turning away and Tashigi stared stupidly after her.
* She has pink hair. *
“Sergeant.”
“Sergeant.”
“Wha?”
Tashigi realized there was someone else in front of her now, trying to get her attention. She tore her eyes away from Captain Hina to find another captain.
“Sir!”
Smoker was there, frowning at her as she tried to snap a salute. She managed to whack herself on the forehead, jolting her glasses off in the process.
“Ah. Sorry sir. Excuse me sir.”
She started to bend down to feel for them, but they were already being pressed back into her hands.
“Sergeant.”
“Yes sir?”
She sought for him, her vision blurry.
“Put your glasses on sergeant, and follow me.”
“Yes sir.”
Smoker was already striding away, but Tashigi spared a second to search for Hina. The other captain was gone, vanished back into the ranks of her fellow officers as the few left finally abandoned the parade ground. And Tashigi turned, trotting after Smoker. She only tripped twice on the way to administration.
A/N: No revisions to this fic. I think I'm going to keep posting that way.
Title: Parade Ground Promotion
Rating: G
Pairing: Hina/Tashigi
Time: About an hour
Word Count: 1,791
Tashigi made one final adjustment to the newest stripe on her formal uniform. It had stubbornly refused to align with the other two, and she’d ended up taking the jacket off to re-pin them on her sleeve. Checking herself in the small mirror, she eyed the insignia that made her a full-fledged Marine sergeant at the tender age of seventeen. She wasn’t sure she was ready for the honor; her swordsmanship was still so weak and her overall physical grace was sorely lacking. But she’d pulled high marks on all her written exams and was fully versed in protocol. Besides that, she’d led her small squadron of privates successfully against the pirates raiding the small town of Rosea. Straightening, she spared one last glance at her stripes. Young or not, she had earned this rank.
The low peal of the tower bell shook her from the mirror, and Tashigi glanced at the small alarm clock on the table next to her regulation-made bed. It was already eleven-thirty! Taking a deep breath to hold down the sudden surge of panic, she buckled Shigure into place at her hip and smoothed one hand back through her hair. One last glimpse in the mirror and she strode briskly from the room.
She was nearly to the parade grounds when it happened. As usual her clumsy feet decided to betray her. She tripped over nothing, stumbling down the three stairs in front of her straight into a broad back clad in a non-regulation jacket.
“S,sorry. I’m so sorry.”
She tried to gain her balance, not wanting to lean any further on whoever was unfortunate enough to have been in her way, and managed only to tangle her legs again. Tashigi was sure she was going to end up on the ground, but strong hands caught her under the arm, supporting her until she had gained her footing.
“Thank you. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to bump into you.”
Tashigi knew she was babbling as she turned around. The man who had caught her just raised a smoke-colored eyebrow. There were cigars in his jacket pocket and two more in his mouth. She was almost ready to remind him that smoking wasn’t allowed inside the base when recognition made her gasp.
“Oh, captain, sir. I’m sorry for falling into you. It won’t happen again sir. I’m so-“
He cut her off, a cloud of smoke puffing from his mouth. His voice was gruff when he spoke.
“You’re going to be late, Sergeant. Get moving.”
Tashigi glanced up to the clock on the bell tower and squeaked. Eleven forty-five! She had to be at the parade grounds by eleven-fifty! “Yes sir. Thank you sir.” She turned to go and remembered protocol, whirling back around to salute. The captain sketched one in return, and Tashigi took off at a run, Shigure slapping against her hip.
Only slightly winded, she made it to the parade ground just in time. She took her place in line with the other new sergeants, standing at attention in front of the small speaking platform. Today was the when all the new sergeants were looked over by the captains seeking an aide de camp. It technically wasn't another promotion, but it was regarded that way by the enlisted ranks. Being an aide de camp meant forming a close relationship with an officer, which meant the opportunity for easier promotion recommendations. The role was traditionally filled by a sergeant. There were plenty in the ranks, but sometimes a captain couldn’t find a suitable candidate. So whenever there was class of new sergeants, the base also allowed the officers to seek an aide. Tashigi wanted desperately to be chosen. She loved the Blues, but she wasn’t sure she was ready to be a full-time combat sergeant. Being an aide de camp would also give her the chance to continue her training.
A quick glance down the row of her fellow sergeants revealed a line of disciplined men, ranging in age from sixteen to forty-four. As usual, she was the only female. The base was currently home to just six women. There were three new recruits, privates just starting basic training, herself, a lieutenant, and the vice admiral. She hadn’t met any of the recruits yet, and the lieutenant she knew only in passing. As for the vice admiral, the older woman was so much higher in rank, that Tashigi had only ever seen her twice before. Once when she herself had been a recruit, and when the vice admiral gave the annual address at New Year’s last year.
Loneliness wasn’t something she’d expected when she had enlisted. But the small barracks had been empty of all but herself for months. The lieutenant slept in the officers’ quarters, and the vice admiral had a house somewhere off base. The new recruits had moved in last week, but they were so tired from training that she rarely saw them. Besides, they had already bonded, and she didn’t want to intrude on the cozy friendship. Rumor had it there were two female captains coming today, and Tashigi held a small hope that one of them would choose her. She was tired of being alone in a sea of testosterone that claimed she couldn’t be a good swordsman. She was tired of constantly defending herself and her skills. It would be nice to have a female mentor, someone to look up to for career guidance.
She shook herself from her reverie as Admiral Toft took to the platform. He was in charge of the base and held the nickname of Ol’ Gusty among the enlisted men for his habit of making long speeches. Tashigi stiffened her posture, eyes straight ahead as the captains slowly filtered onto the chairs set up in front of the sergeants on the parade ground. It wouldn’t do to be caught slacking now, no matter how much she wanted to search for female faces.
Ol’ Gusty droned on and on, and Tashigi struggled to keep from sagging as she heard the bell mark the half hour. She hadn’t really even heard much of what Admiral Toft was saying, something about duty and honor and the usual stuff about being a marine that he seemed to recycle for every speech. At last he stopped, gesturing over the heads of the gathered captains towards the line of sergeants. Now was the time. She just had to make a good impression.
There didn’t seem to be much rhyme or reason to the process. Several of the captains approached immediately, walking down the line, pausing from time to time to ask a question. A few just turned in their seats, watching, while the rest gathered into tight knots, talking amongst themselves and ignoring the proceedings behind them. Tashigi held herself smartly at attention, Shigure’s hilt jutting proudly from her hip, but none of the officers even gave her a second glance. Down the row, Durshi stepped forward from the line, saluting an older captain before following him towards the administration building.
* Lucky Durshi. He’s got it all: looks, intelligence, and skill. But he deserves it so there's no use being jealous now. *
Twenty minutes passed and Tashigi’s muscles were complaining at being at attention for an hour. The line had thinned considerably; eight out of the twenty new sergeants had been selected. Most of the captains were gone now. A few groups still stood conversing, but they hadn’t even bothered to look over once. She felt her heart sink just a little. She hadn’t seen any female captains and she hadn’t even been asked a single question. It looked like she would be shipping out with a destroyer fleet after all.
The bell marked thirteen hundred hours and she just wanted to go back to her quarters. She felt herself growing annoyed. These stupid captains should remember how it was to be a sergeant and take their conversations elsewhere. Then she could relax. Sudden loud laughter came from one of the groups, and she spared a quick glance. The man she’d run into earlier was there. Captain Smoker. He had a formidable reputation, and Tashigi was glad he hadn’t been upset. He was a devil’s fruit user from what she’d heard, and he allegedly didn’t like to follow all his orders. The jacket alone flaunted regulations. He was stepping aside, turning towards the line of sergeants, and Tashigi whipped her eyes forward.
“Smoker-kun. You know the rule. Ladies first.”
The smooth voice carried, and Tashigi felt hope bloom again in her chest. So at least one had come!
“You’re no lady.” That was Smoker; she recognized the deep, rough voice from before.
“Fine. Then the rule is Hina first.”
Was that the captain’s name? Hina? It sounded familiar, but Tashigi couldn’t quite remember where she’d heard it. She fought to keep from turning to look. The captain would make her way down the row soon enough. Her fingers twitched against the wool of her formal trousers, though, and she felt her glasses slip a little down her nose.
The first thing she saw, out of the corner of her eye, was the red. This captain wasn’t wearing a regulation uniform either. Hina hadn’t spoken to anyone thus far, and Tashigi’s chest was tight with nervous anticipation.
Light blue eyes captured her own, before she really had a chance to acknowledge the captain’s presence. Hina wasn’t much taller than herself but there was a steely aura of command about her. She took Tashigi’s measure, holding her gaze before suddenly leaning in close. Tashigi was frozen at attention as Hina’s breath kissed the shell of her ear.
“Good luck.”
And then she was turning away and Tashigi stared stupidly after her.
* She has pink hair. *
“Sergeant.”
“Sergeant.”
“Wha?”
Tashigi realized there was someone else in front of her now, trying to get her attention. She tore her eyes away from Captain Hina to find another captain.
“Sir!”
Smoker was there, frowning at her as she tried to snap a salute. She managed to whack herself on the forehead, jolting her glasses off in the process.
“Ah. Sorry sir. Excuse me sir.”
She started to bend down to feel for them, but they were already being pressed back into her hands.
“Sergeant.”
“Yes sir?”
She sought for him, her vision blurry.
“Put your glasses on sergeant, and follow me.”
“Yes sir.”
Smoker was already striding away, but Tashigi spared a second to search for Hina. The other captain was gone, vanished back into the ranks of her fellow officers as the few left finally abandoned the parade ground. And Tashigi turned, trotting after Smoker. She only tripped twice on the way to administration.
A/N: No revisions to this fic. I think I'm going to keep posting that way.
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no subject
Date: 2005-03-01 03:14 pm (UTC)Reading over all of these. I have to say, I *love* how you handle the Marine environment. I find it quite difficult to write Marines.
This is my favorite so far. LOVE the premise of it. Love the so many moments that make me squeak. Can't wait for more. X3