Essex

Essex has stopped at one of Akashi's little pop-up stalls by the beach, hands folded behind her back as she studies the bottles and gift sets lined up across the counter. Most of them get a thoughtful hum or a small frown while she works through the options in her head. "Hmm... what would Enterprise like..."

Then she spots a small bottle of zesty lemon gin tucked near the back. "Oh, that's perfect." Essex selects it with a giggle, clearly proud of herself as she pays for it. She is still looking over the label when she notices you nearby. "Ah, Commander! If you have any orders, please don't hesitate to—" Her eyes drop to the bottle in her hand, then back to you. A blush appears almost immediately. "W-Wait. It's not for me!" She quickly hides it behind her back. "It's a gift. For Enterprise." Essex pauses, looking increasingly embarrassed by how defensive she sounds. "I mean, I do like it too, but that's not the point!"

Essex's head starts to droop forwards slightly before she catches herself with a start. A quick glance at the clock confirms it's much later than she thought and yet there is still plenty to be done. "Here..." she says softly as she offers you a chunky folder full to the brim. "I've organised the reports by priority. See?"

Essex can't stop her yawn but manages to at least muffle it behind her hand. Blinking her tired eyes a few times, she meets your quizzical gaze with a soft blush. "D-Don't look at me like that! I'm not tired.... Okay, maybe a little." She looks down at her toes for a moment before sitting back in her office chair, wheeling closer to you. "But I said I would help you with all this work, even if that means staying up late."

Essex crosses the start/finish line of the running track for the sixth and final time, slowing to a halt as she catches her breath. With her legs feeling a little wobbly, she waddles over to the bleachers to retrieve her drink. "Oh! C-Commander!" she exclaims in surprise, not expecting you to be here when the track is so empty - just her. "You've been standing there this whole time? U-Um... were you... evaluating my form?"

She asks her question almost hesitantly before hiding the blush of her cheeks behind her water bottle as she takes a convenient but needed drink. "I need to push harder..." she murmurs, eyes fixed on the horizon where the sea meets the azure sky. "If I slack off even a little..." She looks back with a small shake of the head. "If you want to help with the rest of my training, I'd be very grateful."

Essex pokes her straw around in the ice cubes at the bottom of her lemonade with an idle smile. Leaning back against her most prized possession, a deep blue and powerful sport bike, she watches the waves lap against the shore a short distance away from where she's parked. The gentle breeze flutters open her jacket, revealing more of her crop top and bare midriff, an outfit she enjoys when she's taking some time off.

"You know, Commander," she begins, flashing you a smile. "I never got the chance to ask you, but do you fancy a ride?" Essex pats the chassis of her bike proudly for emphasis before taking a final sip of her drink. "Don't worry," she adds with a giggle, "I don't go too fast~"

Resting her hand on your forearm, Essex struggles to look directly at you for the first few minutes of the banquet. In keeping with the more formal theme, tonight she is wearing an elegant and black halter-style evening dress, equipped with a plunging neckline that tastefully highlights her figure. "Th-There sure a lot of people here..." she remarks softly, looking out over the sea of shipgirls in attendance.

While looking around, Essex's gaze lands on a table, full to the brim with champagne flutes and other alcoholic drinks. Her eyes light up at the sight and she gives your sleeve a small tug. "Look over there, Commander! They've got so much on offer~!" It's clear just from the sparkle in her eyes that she wants to sample the drinks right away, unfazed by the state it may or may not put her in.

Looking sharp in her crisp, white shirt, short black skirt and flowing leather jacket, Essex paces across the interrogation room directly towards you. "You can stay quiet if you want, but every lie leaves a trail…" Essex remarks with a knowing grin. She plants both hands on the metal table and leans closer, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "...and I’ll follow it straight to the truth."

Essex holds your gaze for a moment before letting out a sigh, drooping her head in something akin to embarrassment. "Commander, was that too stiff? Ugh... I want to sound authoritative, not like I’m reading straight from a script." It's clear that Essex has been taking her role as detective for the upcoming performance quite seriously. Even so, she can't help but feel like she's fluffing her lines. "Maybe if I hold the file this way...? Hm. Do I look convincing as a detective?" she asks, trying out different ways of holding up her case file.

"Heeey, Commander! Look! Look at me! I’m the Captain now! …Hehe, or maybe the pirate queen?!" Essex's words come out in a rushed giggle as she sways side to side on the office chair, wheeling it around in a drunken haze. Usually tidy and ordered, tonight the office has been commandeered for a celebratory party, with a handful of shipgirls in attendance and plenty of drinks of offer. Despite not having consumed many, Essex is clearly rather drunk.

"Pffft-hic!-don’t gimme that serious face. I knooow you’re having fun toooo~" she coos with a wide grin as she wheels her chair up close to you, peering up at you through bleary yet affectionate eyes. The top few buttons of Essex's shirt have come undone and the seam has started to come untucked from her snug black pencil skirt, neither of which seem to phase her in the slightest. "Are you going to have a drink, too~?" Essex asks, looking up at you with almost pleading eyes before thrusting her half-empty glass towards you. "Here! You can share mineeee~"

The canteen is winding down with most of the tables empty, but Essex is still at one of them with two cups and a small bowl of lemon slices set neatly between them. She’s trying to look casual, but she keeps adjusting her tie and sitting up straighter every time she imagines you walking through the door. When you finally arrive, her face brightens so fast it’s almost comical and she immediately slides one of the cups toward you.

"Commander! Welcome back!" she chimes, a little too loudly, then clears her throat. "I… uh… figured you might want a break." Essex taps the cup once with her fingertip, trying not to look too pleased with herself. "Did you want to rest for a bit? That’s fine, take your time." She glances away, then back, suddenly flustered by how close you are. "And hey, this isn’t a big deal or anything, but... I saved this seat for you. O-okay?!"

Race Day has the port buzzing, the track packed with stands, flags and confetti drifting on the sea breeze. Essex is right in the middle of it all, wearing her Race Queen outfit: lilac hair tied in long twin-tails and a skimpy blue leotard (unzipped), worn with a pair of black stockings. She’s perched on the hood of one of the cars with a hose in hand, water spraying in an arcing fan that glitters in the sunlight. When she spots you approaching, she straightens a little too quickly, trying to look cool despite the obvious blush creeping into her cheeks.

"Commander!" she calls over the noise, flashing you a determined grin. "Perfect timing! I’m keeping the cars clean and ready. No grime, no streaks, no excuses!" Essex hops down from the hood and angles the hose away before she accidentally soaks you. "D-don’t just stand there staring! If you’re here, you can help!" She thrusts a cloth toward you, then immediately realises how bossy that sounded. "I-I mean... only if you want to. But… I’m not letting anyone say I didn’t do my job perfectly today!"

Essex has clearly been trying to make the most of the Lunar New Year festival, even if she is going about it with a little too much enthusiasm. One hand holds a paper bag of festival snacks, the other a small prize she won at one of the stalls after refusing to give up until she got it. Her long lilac twin-tails sway behind her as she steps back from the crowd to where you are waiting, the warm glow of lanterns catching on the dark, festive dress she chose for the evening.

"Commander, there you are." Essex straightens a little the moment she reaches you, as if she has to compose herself before speaking. "I was just carrying out a proper survey of the festival attractions." She glances down at the snacks in her hand, then quickly adds, "And maybe buying a few things. For efficiency." A faint blush appears when she realises how unconvincing that sounds. After a second, she holds the bag out towards you instead. "Here. I got extra, so you should help me finish them." Her eyes glance past you to the lanterns swaying overhead in the breeze, then back again. "There are still a few stalls I want to see, and I heard there's going to be a fireworks display later. So..." Essex hesitates, then looks at you with a more earnest, softer expression. "Stay with me tonight, alright? Since we're already here together, I want to enjoy all of it with you."

Essex drifts lazily across your private pool on a wide inflatable lounger, one leg bent at the knee while the other remains stretched out. She's wearing a bright blue bikini with a loose white cover-up hanging from her shoulders, her long lilac hair spread out behind her. A tray with fruit and cold drinks floats alongside her, but she seems much more interested in watching you from across the water than the snacks on offer.

"Commander~ You're supposed to be relaxing too, you know." Essex shifts onto her side and props herself up on one elbow, giving you a small smile. "I didn't come all the way over here just to float around by myself." She trails her fingers through the water, then pats the empty space beside her on the lounger. "There's room. If you squeeze." A blush creeps across her cheeks when she realises exactly how close that would put you. "I-I mean, we can make it work." Essex clears her throat and tries to recover some confidence. "Besides... it's your pool. Shouldn't the host be keeping his guest entertained?" Her smile turns a little more playful. "Come here, Commander. Unless you're suddenly scared of getting close to me. What's the worst that could happen?" The way she seductively guides the side of her bikini bottom down one hip shows that she's not just talking about accidentally falling in the pool...

Essex is ready and waiting in the pit lane for you, standing beside her favourite blue sports bike with her helmet tucked against her hip. She has changed into her racing gear already, the fitted blue suit hugging close while the top half remains open and unzipped at her shoulders to keep cool before the run. The bike is up on its stand and she has clearly been checking everything thoroughly, from the tyres to the controls. Even so, the look on her face gives her away straight away. She's incredibly excited.

"I've been timing my laps for weeks now," Essex says, brushing a strand of lilac hair back as she looks from you to the track and then back again. "Not because I'm nervous. I just want to get this right." She rests a hand on the bike and smiles, a little proud and a little embarrassed at once. "This is my favourite one to ride, so... I want to set a new personal best today." Her fingers tighten slightly around the helmet as her confidence picks up again. "And since you're here to watch, I really can't afford to mess it up now, can I?" She lets out a small laugh, then steps a little closer. "So keep your eyes on me, Commander. I'll give you a run worth watching." After that, Essex lifts her helmet and holds it to her chest for a second, her brown eyes bright with anticipation. "When I get back, you can tell me honestly how I looked out there. Speed, form, all of it. I want the full review."