The Broken Light [Plot]

[BEX]

Earlier that morning the pair of freshly groomed Ensigns had been given their first mission, some might have called it a breaking of the seal in some respects, but Li’s face held none of the trepidation that might usually have been found in such things. Leaning against the railing of the navy transport vessel the officer casually stared out into the sea, his thoughtful brown eyes watching with the eyes of the hunter, yet even in this predatory stare there was something about it that seemed almost vulnerable. Since his leaving of the newly established Amino base, men had stopped stumbling over themselves-these were fellow Ensign officers he was dealing with and while they ranked at the same level as him, a certain confidence came with each syllable that fell from their lips; amongst peers of the same rank only competition was bred.

The last thought made the young man smile illuminating the handsome softness of his face as he remembered there was one Ensign onboard that would be quite easy to talk to-not to mention more interesting to hang around; the man had literally changed Officer Shengshung’s perspective on the world. Once he had been consumed with only saving his lost sister from pirates, so much so that he became a disconnected sociopath bent on using any means necessary to find the long lost sibling even at the cost of innocent lives. Those days weren’t far enough behind him were he could laugh them off so he only stared somberly into the distance until he heard a voice shouting for him,

“Officer Shengshung!! Officer Shengshun!!” the voice called, there was an edge it that made the once expressionless face devolve into a frown as he left the seaside gaze to head for the voice he knew for certain to be one of the gambling members on the small ship.

Upon reaching the cabin that dominated the upper deck, Li leaned his head in to see a few men of equal station staring back at him haughtily while one sat at the desk of the squadron leader of the ship. It was all he could do not to sight as he slipped in gracefully his eyes hooded with clearly visible indulgence in them-strained indulgence. The prank pulling trio stifled childish giggles amongst each other before the man at the head of the chair rapped his fingers softly against the polished oak that sat before him, “What do you think of Dice Bando. The boys…” he started to say while inclining his head to the preening pair that was present on either side of him, “We think that maybe the new Captain made a bit of a mistake. You’re close to him, maybe just nudge him in the direction that does not involve him getting in our way” the sly devil said without clicking his teeth.

Of course this was a standard practice for veterans who felt out of place with rookies whom people had marked to be exceptionally talented-Li had gone through and it seemed that Dice would have to as well. Shoving his pinky in his ear as if he hadn’t been listening he stared off towards the ceiling as anger pulsed visibly in the form of the man’s overactive veins as he bolted upright suddenly in his plush seat. Flicking away whatever treasure he’d recovered Li calmly gave his answer, the effect was instantaneous and one couldn’t have imagined an angrier bunch once he left the room; what did he say you might ask?

None of your business…

In any case when the now brown headed official stepped out of the cabin, the door closed gently leaving the dazed men within the room undiscovered until the Captain of the ship came back to find a few rather unconscious individuals slumbering in his quarters.

[Terminally Chill]

The nervous laughter of Dice could be heard as the impressionable young soldier came around the corner, giving a wave to a couple other officers he had been speaking with who were curious about what had occurred in Serine City many days ago. The new Ensign was still adjusting to being a commissioned officer in the Marines and the unfamiliar relationships that came with it. Dice was no longer a lowly peon having to hang on the whim of every superior officer; there was a certain dignity one had to carry themselves with when they donned the white mantle of justice. Speaking of that, the marine took a few awkward steps as his coat swirled upon taking the corner... Another part of his new rank he hadn't quite adjusted to. Aside from the presence of the flowing overcoat, Dice had changed his look to more formal attire. A pair of shades rested on the bridge of his nose. The usual enthusiasm was worn on the soldier's face; after all, this was his first mission as an ensign! Dice was able to contain his excitement to a smile, but there was always the giddy bout of laughter that threatened to overtake him. As he continued on in search of a particular fellow ensign, the cheerful officer could feel a chill enter the breeze as the vessel ferrying the duo to Yetine Island neared the snowy island. Although other marines on the ship may have drawn their overcoats to keep the gradually dropping temperature out, Dice walked comfortably; the cold was reminiscent of his home island, Viktas, a place which he was told had a very similar climate to Yetine. Ahead Dice saw his partner in the mission leaving the captain's quarters fresh off the beating of a few childish officers. Just the man he was looking for: Ensign Li Shengshun.

“Hey, sir – Er, I mean... Li?” Dice called out with a grin and a wave, his greeting having grown uncertain by the end. Dice had become accustom to addressing Li formally from their first mission together, but now considering they were the same rank it wasn't exactly necessary. Other officers at the newly established Amino Island branch had harped on him for being so formal despite being promoted; considering their history, Li would most likely take the same stance. The man known as “Shiro no Shinigami” to his comrades and enemies alike was certainly a role model to Dice, but he was also a person Dice considered a friend. Title was everything in the ranks of the Navy, but if Dice was allowed to create a more friendly relationship hrough bypassing that, then he would do his best to at least get used to the prospect.

“So, have you ever been to Yetine? The way they described it, it kind of reminds me of home. Well, except for the Longarm Tribes there... I've never even seen a Long Arm myself. It's actually kind of exciting.” The ensign babbled on with his usual goofy grin, personable as ever as he made the effort to make sincere small talk with his comrade. While Dice was certainly interested in any experience Li may have had with Yetine or the Longarms, it was apparent there was another question that had been bugging him as he took a moment to gaze out at the freezing northern water.

“I've been meaning to ask you...” Dice snapped out of his daze, turning to Li as he nervously scratched at his blond locks. “I mean, it's not like I doubt Captain Esquire or anything but...” the young ensign paused, going out of his way to preface his next carefully-chosen words. “Do you really think a winery not buying some grapes from people is really something we have to be sent out to deal with...?” Dice would be unconditionally excited for any assignment, it was just that this one seemed rather... mundane compared to his last mission. Soon the soldier would have to learn that the urgency of issues did not always reveal themselves on the surface.

[BEX]

Having just been involved in a little bit of unauthorized roughhousing himself, Li conformed quite suspiciously being met by the very man that had quickly become the pride of the Amino base. Dice Bando was not only an Ensign now, but to many he was symbol of what hard work and perseverance could get the common man even if he was clumsy, naïve, wavering in resolve, meek, overly formal, uneasy in his own skin, and more important than anything else…blond.

Flashing his best smile though only managing to look like a weasel having stolen an egg from the nearest chicken roost, the slightly taller of the dynamic duo straightened up at the question that his uncertain friend had posed to him—he had been wondering the same things about Esquire, but it was not as if he could confront the man about the importance of their mission. Insubordination wasn’t something that was dismissed with a slap on the wrist in the Navy and any good solider knew that…even some of the bad ones were very aware of what it meant to disobey your commanding officer in a brutish manner. That being said, there couldn’t have been a baser individual heading the already tarnished group that had settled into the North Blue area where crime had run amuck for such a long time the citizens had completely given up on the law. The women that had been present at Dice’s inauguration were only the beginning and to be frank, were only the first of many atrocities that the Navy’s pride had to endure at the cost of Captain ‘Bitches’ Esquire III; how the man was not up for high treason was a miracle.

Cold wind bit through the thick navy blue coat set upon the relaxed looking Li, but his brow furrowed as he made a quick note to head back into his sleeping quarters below deck and grab his firs before setting foot upon Yetine, “I really don’t know Dice. These things aren’t really for us to question” he responded half heartedly more because he knew this was no time for time for a rookie officer to question his superiors—not when he was so newly promoted up the ladder, “The best thing for you to do is to simply do what you’re told for now. Guys like you and me are only the fists of righteousness, we don’t choose who’s face we smash in” he said as he patted his unsure companion on the shoulder on his way below deck; the lashing snow laden winds were getting to him more than he could let on in front of Dice.

“Maybe when you become Admiral, you can change it so that the fists have more meaningful things to do, eh?” he said over his shoulder with serenity that transcended the frigid winds that whipped around at everyone. The sounds of the ship cascaded about only making the prominent figure of Ensign Li Shengshung seem all the more noticeable from the fray…at least until three or four of the recruits that had also been sanctioned to handle boating malfunctions clambered up to him in a tight unit completely ignoring the fact that more than one Ensign was on the upper deck—this particular group had heard of Blackeye’s defeat and immediately appraised Li as the true hero leaving all other’s in the dust.

Shouldering each other quite roughly the trio or other jostled for the chance to speak their issue until Li coughed lightly…only to receive a swift kick in the nads that sent him dropping to his knees with tears in his eyes, This never happens to Dice. What did I do to deserve this?, he thought gingerly as the battling group paused and blinked dumbly for a moment at the suffering of their heralded icon. Apparently they believed him to be of much sterner stuff than a kick in the child bearing region could smother for the debriefing of the issue quickly went on as planned. “Officer Shengshung! Officer Shengshung! There is a major electric malfunction that is going on below deck! We need your expertise immediately!” the group cried in unison and Li winced again, only this time not for his accosted testicles.

Since when did becoming a commanding officer mean you were also a handyman?

SPOILER: Click to show

Sorry for not posting in such a long time man. Got sick with strep throat!

[Terminally Chill]

Dice could feel the blood rushing to his face after Li's words and reassuring pat on the shoulder, his features taking on a hue of red from a mixture of embarrassment and the biting cold that slowly wove itself into the air. Although they were still now the same rank, little had changed between the two; the young marine still often felt the sting of inexperience when speaking with Li. Fortunately the more battle-worn of the two ensigns had the patience to be kind when dealing with Dice. Quickly regaining his composure, Dice took a moment to stare into the freezing waters while Ensign Shengshun attended to the rowdy recruits who had emerged from below the deck.

'Guess I should be more careful about what I say...'

The doubt of the mission's relevance had actually caught Dice off guard; it was uncharacteristic of the bright-eyed soldier to question any orders. No task was beneath him if it served the greater good of the Marines... Right? I mean, you couldn't blame a guy for thinking most missions were mundane busy work after his first assignment had ended up with a brutal brawl with his brother while his partner dueled a wanted criminal to the death. However, it went deeper than that. The mission to take down Blackeye had not simply cast a dim light on other assignments; the ordeal, deep down, had dealt a blow Dice's faith in his superior officers. After all, Commodore Greenbeard had resorted to underhanded means to ultimately ensure the northern scourge's death. The ensign could still not shake the feeling that he felt on the shattered Serine City docks... But right now was not the time to bring up such emotions once again. Perhaps an “easy” mission with who he considered his closest friend in the Navy was just what he needed to clear his head.

“Officer Shengshung! Officer Shengshung! There is a major electric malfunction that is going on below deck!”

The urgent cry of the recruits snapped Dice from his sea-gazing trance, the ensign's shaded eyes looking to the scene of Li on his knees while the group wrestled about. The young soldier put on a cheerful smile as he approached, a hint of nervousness evident in his face as he looked to the buckled form of Li. Ignoring the ensign's groans for the moment, Dice turned his helpful expression to the recruits.

“I'll help any way I can.”

Dice did not receive much of a reply for his offer of aid but a few indifferent glances as the group turned to walk down the deck. In the Marines there would always be fans... These guys seemed to be Li's fans. Dice could understand their admiration; after all, Li was the true hero for defeating Blackeye. Either way, lending a helping hand to a task best left to a common handyman good way for Dice to get his head in the game of simply doing what needed to be done without question.

“Tough crowd,” Dice whispered jokingly, giving a shrug and a bit of a smile to Li as he recovered from the unfortunate mishap. The rowdy recruits made their way down the hall with a quick step, their shenanigans not much of anything but a series of loud whispers and the occasional light push between one another. As the surroundings darkened below the deck, Dice removed his shades and hung them from the collar of his shirt.

What kind of dire malfunction had caused the rough recruits to enlist the aid of two commissioned officers?

[BEX]

Dice’s sympathy was if anything appreciated even if it offered no relief from the slow, throbbing pain that shot up from wounded officer’s man jewels; years of training never prepared a man for any such thing. Rising with a ginger expression as he stared hotly after the jostling band of misfit recruits Li shook his head with a bit of annoyance to his grimace as he set off at a stern pace to follow the men to where this malfunction was while managing to find good enough reason to lay blame at the feet of the illustrious pimp daddy Captain ‘Bitches’—the man was a menace after all. Sighing as he hobbled down rickety, water logged steps he heeded his own advice and let the personal issues with his commanding officer fade from thought before lifting his deep brown eyes towards the fixture that was rooted crookedly in the wooden ceiling. A small bead of sweat rolled down the Ensign’s cheek as he folded his arm and began tapping his foot as if irritated, no, he irritated.

“Guys….” he began slowly, a clear effort was made on his part not to break out into another spell of violence, but the air surrounding began to take on a garish feel, “would it ever have occurred to you that the reason the light won’t work is because it doesn’t belong on the ceiling…OF WOODEN SHIP SAILING ON GALLONS OF WATER WITH NO LIGHT FIXTURES?!” he roared as the seething anger that had been snaking through his chest…and supposed other areas that had recently suffered injury at the hands of the egotistical rookies burst forward. Eyes aflame Li’s wrath seemed endless as he took the light bulb screwed in carelessly…into a hole?!

“D-D-Did you guys drill a hole in the upper deck to put this in?!” Li asked with his voice going shrill at the tail end of his remark. A tell tale sign that he was letting his anger get the best of him, but the blank stares of the mop top groupies who had so quickly become members of his recently founded fan club said that they had no comprehension was of what was going on. In fact, matters were worsened when one turned around to set down the hammer and nail used in the act on a nearby crate—in broad daylight. Face fully palmed in his hand Li dropped his butt onto the stairs where he hoped Dice would come soon because the gathering steam ready to jettison from his ears was certainly going to cause medical problems before their mission ever began.

Perhaps anthropology would never be any of these impressionable young men’s strong points. Apparently the vexed manner of speaking coupled with several other plain signs of frustration, aggression, and flat out incredulous outrage went completely unnoticed as they all shuffled forward to draw closer to Li whose head remained cradled in his hands. Staring from one to another they pointed at the drained officer and made hand signs as if attempting to figure out what was wrong. They came to no conclusion because the red head with the afro, Li believed his name was Seaman Recruit Willis Davenport, spoke with the same dazed, star struck voice that he usually addressed his role model with, “Hey boss,” the overbite toting recruit whispered while shaking Li firmly on the shoulder, “Hey boss, we just realized you can’t screw that light in…cuz there’s no electricity on board”

…

Hell’s flames quickly paled in comparison to the heat that burst out like the unearthly smith forges that would not stop flaring up beyond their master’s control, “Is that so, huh?” Li asked as he tossed the small light bulb gently in his hands and a smile that was colder than most sultry winter on Drum Island. “Well…I just thought of place I could screw it in quite nicely, no?”

Uh-oh.

[Terminally Chill]

Dice held his face in his during the entire charade, Li venting his explosive frustration out on the three dim-witted recruits. The young soldier often found himself being the half of the duo to overreact in situations, but now with his fellow ensign was unleashing his fiery wrath, Dice figured it was up to him to be more level-headed despite being absolutely baffled himself. Even he wasn't like this as a recruit! As Li plopped down onto the stairs, Dice began making his way to the heated officer with the best interest of everyone's health in mind. However, the snappily dressed young man found himself cut off from Li by the group of recruits. Dice scratched the back of his head nervously, knowing very well what disaster could potentially erupt if they pressed him any further... But of course, they did.

“Hey boss, we just realized you can’t screw that light in… 'Cuz there’s no electricity on board.”

The thud of Dice slamming into the water-logged boards below them could be heard, the ensign overcome by how ridiculous the situation was becoming every second. The man's white-draped frame did not stay down for long, as he quickly clambered from the floor in anticipation for what sort of unspeakable rage was about to come next.

“Well… I just thought of place I could screw it in quite nicely, no?”

The calmer of the two officers pushed through the few oblivious recruits, knowing that each of them would be, at the very least, grievously injured by the light bulb Li held and then hauled overboard into the freezing northern sea. While the White Reaper was patient with Dice's antics, he was not as forgiving of others... The southern soldier flashed a friendly smile once more, putting up his hands before Li.

“Alright Li... No need for that... Just... Give me... The light bulb...” Dice's hand slowly crept toward the makeshift weapon, taking it from Li's hand as he spoke rhythmically in between nervous laughter to calm the enraged ensign. Then, seeing that Li still had the intention of murdering the sea-faring recruits, Dice strangely took his comrade by the shoulders and started... Massaging them. “Just take it easy...” Dice said after letting out a sigh of relief, hoping to contain the approaching storm. The recruits merely looked on, unsure of how to react and feeling infinitely more awkward than before Dice started rubbing another man's shoulders. But why should they? It wasn't weird... Just one friend calming another friend down. Didn't matter if they were both guys. It isn't weird! Anyway... Amid the awkwardness, the ship slowed and finally came to a shaky halt.

“OI! Ensign Shengshun! Ensign Bando! We've arrived at Yetine so get yer asses up here!” called out a gruff voice from above them.

“Alright, well, guess that is our cue to leave... Right Li?” Dice said, giving Li a light push of encouragement up the stairs. Not encouragement as in hyping him up for the mission, more like encouraging him not to kill the recruits. The group of neophytes simply gave their farewells to the “boss,” oblivious of the mental trauma they had inflicted on him. With Li on his way to the upper deck and free of the onslaught of stupidity, Dice turned to the recruits. He fumbled with his words, not even sure what to say to them.

“You guys... You uh... Yeah.”

With that eloquent moment of speech accomplished, Dice Bando turned to head up the stairs as well, prepared to take on whatever challenges awaited on Yetine Island.

SPOILER: Click to show

OOC: Okay, done with that. Sorry that I had to control Li's movements a bit for the sake of ending it.