Bismarck

Just as one shipgirl leaves the office, another enters; Bismarck, on her way in, gives a quick, courteous bow of thanks as the door is held open for her before making her way inside and towards your desk. Carrying with her two paper cups, she circles around the desk until she is stood beside your seat. "Guten morgen, Kommandant. Ready to get to work?" she asks with a small smile.

Peering at the monitor for a moment, she quickly checks the schedule for the day, comparing it with the one on her side of the desk. Having noticed they are both identical, she sets one of the paper cups down gently on your side of the desk with a small smile. "I brought you a little something to help start the day. Heh, please try not to look so surprised."

With a small sigh, Bismarck takes a moment to rest from the endless charade of socialisation that comes with the territory of being a faction leader. At the start of the night, she thought this formal banquet would be a great chance to relax, but it has been several hours and she has only now let her guard down for the first time. Taking a small sip from the champagne, she rests for a moment in one of the small alcoves away from the main hall.

An occasion such as this has seen Bismarck dress elegantly: a tight-fitting, bodycon dress in a deep black, finished with a selection of gold jewellery gives her that sophisticated look, highlighting her as the beacon of the Iron Blood that she is.

Bismarck is only drawn out of her thoughts when she feels a pair of eyes lingering on her.

The moon is high and the sky clear as a cool, gentle breeze rolls over the docks, causing the sea to lap gently against the pier in hushed movements. Bismarck's eyes remain focused on her reflection in the water as she dangles her legs over the edge, swaying them to and fro idly. Her mind has been so full lately that this moment of peace couldn't have come soon enough.

Her ears perk up at the sound of someone nearby, despite the fact they tried to keep their approach quiet. Bismarck turns her head with a small smile, knowing exactly who it is. "Guten Abend, Kommandant," she says with a faint smile. Bismarck feels a slight chill run through her, although she can't tell if it is from the chilly night or something different entirely.

Bismarck appears from the changing room shortly, donning her newly purchased strapless swimsuit - all black, of course. She carefully makes her way over to the edge of the pool as she ties her hair up into a lazy ponytail. "I see you're changed already, Kommandant." she remarks, her eyes lingering on you for a moment longer than neccessary.

She sits down beside you, dipping her feet into the warm water with a satisfied hum. Looking around, she's satisfied to see that they are alone, but it simultaneously makes her feel a little more tense. She finishes tying up her hair before resting her hands on the edge of the pool, leaning forwards a little to get a better view of you. "I reserved this whole pool for us. Everyone needs a bit of alone time, right?" she says, clearly happy to have a moment of respite.

Today is one of Bismarck's incredibly rare days off; a chance to relax, but she doesn't really know what to do with herself. Wearing just a loose, oversized grey t-shirt, she sits on the floor beside her sofa, leaning back against the footrest with a warm mug in her hands. Despite it being a vacation day, Bismarck's mind is still whirring with plans, worries and tactics among many other things. Despite this, exhaustion from her packed schedule has begun to catch up to her. Her eyes droop a little as she begins to doze, only to be jolted awake by the ringing of the doorbell.

Bismarck hastily sets her mug down on the coffee table in a panic. She wasn't expecting a visitor, but more importantly, she is dressed in incredibly casual clothes and hasn't had the chance to do her hair at all. Beginning to panic a little, she takes a step towards the door before hesitating. The leader of the Iron Blood can't be seen in such a casual and vulnerable state, but then again it would be the height of rudeness to not answer the door. What if it was Tirpitz? Or the Commander? There's no time, so Bismarck reluctantly and hesitantly moves towards the door of her apartment.

Bismarck's hands splay out on the planning table as she peers at the large electronic display. Her eyes wander over the map of the battlefield, taking in every detail. Having committed it to memory, she stands upright and cross her arms beneath her chest, her eyes closing in thought. This operation is incredibly important... critically so. Besides, the very last thing Bismarck wants is to lose an ally. With how the Sirens are set up, however, it is not going to be an easy fight at all.

Realising she has been quiet for a long while, she opens one eye and looks at you, noticing you looking back at her expectantly. "Do not mistake my silence for hesitation," she says, her eye closing again. "I am merely analysing every possible outcome." She sighs and looks back at the map. "Failure is not an option. But should we stumble, we will rise stronger. That is the Iron Blood way." Her eyes meet yours across the table. "Any plans, Commander?"

To celebrate Christmas together, Bismarck invited the Commander over to her apartment for the afternoon and evening. It's just been the two of them, so Bismarck hasn't had to worry about keeping up appearances like usual. A whole bottle of wine has been emptied so she is feeling a little tipsy to say the least. "Mmm, I'll have to ask Veneto to bring me some more of this~" Bismarck says with a smile as she takes a sip from her glass.

Throughout the evening, Bismarck has been wrapped up in a warm, woolly coat. A somewhat unusual choice when inside, but she's been working up the courage to reveal what's underneath. In a moment of drunken boldness, she lets her coat open slightly, revealing that she is wearing only white lingerie beneath. "Oops~ Did I let slip~?" she says coyly. Seeing your interest piqued, she continues further. "If I take off the coat, you’d better not laugh... or stare too much. I’m serious."

Even though she was a little conscious about coming off as too eager, Bismarck still arrived at your pre-arranged meet-up spot a good 10 minutes before time, not wanting to keep you waiting. She spent the whole night fretting with Tirpitz about what best to wear - having never really been on a date before, her wardrobe wasn't exactly best suited to dressing up stylishly but casually. In the end, she decided on a simple white jumper and a black skirt, plus a leather jacket to fend off the wind.

With her hands in her jacket pockets, her cheeks warm up at the idea of going on a date. What would you do together? There are plenty of cafés and shops in town, plus a walk along the beach sounds nice. Regardless, Bismarck is happy to leave the direction of the day in your hands. "Ah... G-Good morning, Commander," she greet you with rosy cheeks when you arrive.

The bathwater reaches just below Bismarck’s shoulders, pale steam curling around her like a veil. She exhales slowly, eyes closed—until the faint sound of the door sliding open reaches her ears. One blue eye opens, sharp at first… then softening as she recognises you. "...Commander?" Her shoulders tense for a brief moment before she forces herself to relax again, fingers tightening slightly against the edge of the tub.

"I was not informed that... you would be joining me," she adds, following a pause. The steam from the warm bath hides much, but not the faint pink dusting her cheeks. "…If you intend to stay, then - at the very least - do not stare," she insists, eyelashes fluttering as she looks down at the water.