Pola

Pola waits by the office door, twirling a strand of purple hair around one finger while humming softly to herself. She seems perfectly content to pass the time there, perched on the windowsill closest to the door with one leg crossed over the other. Her gaze drifts across the port below, following the movement of the ships and the girls coming and going from sortie and commission duties. For all her teasing, she still watches the harbour with a careful eye, clearly hoping everyone makes it back safely.

The sound of footsteps in the corridor pulls her attention from the window. Pola looks over her shoulder and gives you a soft smile, though there's still a hint of classic Pola mischief in there too. "Ciao~ You sure took your sweet time, Commander." She slides down from the windowsill and smooths her uniform before sauntering over to the office door. "I was just about to start without you, you know~" Her hand rests lightly on the handle as she waits for you to catch up.

It’s a warm summer day at port and several shipgirls have made their way down to the beach to enjoy it. Pola and Zara have been playing volleyball on the sand for a while now, both in their favourite bikinis: Pola in yellow, Zara in black. The two of look incredibly beautiful together, though Pola is starting to look more interested in the shade than the next round.

"Littorio might have to fill in for me," Pola says with a small sigh, brushing a little sand from her thigh. "I need a break." She leaves Zara to continue the match with Littorio and the others, then makes her way over to the sunshade where you’ve been sitting. Pola lowers herself onto the sand beside you, deliberately close. "You look like you’re enjoying yourself, Commander," she remarks with a playful glance. "Been admiring the glory of Sardegna from afar, have we~?"

Morning light slowly filters through the blinds of the bedroom, causing Pola to stir beneath the sheets. She wakes facing you, purple curls loose against the pillow and one arm resting lazily over the blanket between you. For a few seconds, she simply watches you with sleepy red eyes, clearly taking in the fact that the two of you ended up like this again. It has been happening more often lately, though neither of you has made much effort to stop it.

Pola lets out a small yawn. "Buongiorno, Commander..." She murmurs, her voice still sleepy. She shifts a little closer under the covers, her smile growing when she sees you’re already awake. "You know, if Zara heard how often I’ve been staying here, I dread to think what she'd say~" Pola laughs quietly, then reaches up to brush a curl away from her face. "But for now, it’s still early." Her fingers find yours beneath the edge of the sheet and she smiles fondly.

The afternoon at your home has become much less peaceful since Pola and Zara discovered the private pool. Zara is stretched out on one of the loungers in her black bikini, sunglasses lowered while she watches you, while Pola sits at the pool’s edge in her yellow one with her legs dipped into the water. The two of them look very comfortable here already, a pair of drinks set between them and your towel stolen for 'Sardegnian purposes' before you could even object.

"Commander~" Pola calls, swirling one foot through the water with an innocent smile that does not suit her at all. "You’ve been standing over there for a while now. Are you nervous to join us, or just enjoying the view?" Zara gives a soft laugh from the lounger, clearly enjoying herself as much as Pola is. Pola glances at her sister before looking back at you. "Come on, Commander. Don’t make us enjoy your pool all by ourselves~"

Pola sits across from you at a small Sardegnian restaurant near the harbour, a half-finished glass of wine beside her and a plate of shared appetisers between you. She has been smiling more than usual tonight, not just teasing smiles either, though she always returns to those whenever she catches you noticing. The date has been going well, so she thinks, although she's noticed you not saying much for the past couple of minutes.

"You’re rather quiet, Commander," Pola says, resting her chin lightly on one hand as she watches you. "You're not bored, are you?" She lets the question linger for a moment before laughing softly and reaching for her glass. "Relax~ I'm only teasing~" Pola takes a small sip, then sets the glass down and nudges one of the appetisers toward you with her fork. "Here. Try this one. It's one of my favourites. I want to know if you like it."

The dinner party in the Central Hall of port has been going on for a while now, with groups of shipgirls scattered throughout the venue. Not Pola, though. Instead, the purple-haired beauty has been glued to your side, charming you from across the table and then from beside you, dressed in a deep purple dress that matches her hair and flaunts her figure. From the way she's been talking, it's quite clear there is something special on her mind for tonight.

"You've been very patient tonight, Commander," Pola says, standing beside you with a glass held lightly between her fingers. "All these conversations, speeches and polite smiles... It can be quite tiring, no?" She glances toward the other guests, then back to you with a small smile that turns more playful by the second. "Though I must admit, watching you try to keep your attention on anyone except me has been rather entertaining." Pola steps a little closer, lowering her voice so only you can hear. "Come with me to the terrace for a minute. I think you’ve earned a quieter reward for behaving so well."

Pola has taken over the chair beside your desk, a folder open in her lap and a pen balanced between two fingers. She has been helping for most of the morning, though her version of helping includes sorting reports, adding neat little notes in the margins and occasionally glancing over just to see if you notice her. A small pile of finished work sits on the corner of the desk, while the more troublesome documents have been placed directly in front of you deliberately.

"Commander," Pola says, tapping the top page lightly with her pen. "I handled the easy ones for you, so you can’t accuse me of only sitting here looking pretty." She smiles softly, then leans back in her chair with one leg crossed over the other. "These, however, need your attention. I would do them myself, but... well, I'm afraid I'm not cut out for everything."

Pola wraps up warm before heading out into the snow, pulling her coat close around herself as she leaves her apartment and starts across port. Her boots leave a clear trail behind her, cutting through the fresh white path between the Sardegna quarters and your residence. The walk gives her plenty of time to think and, by the time she reaches the hill leading up to your home, she has already imagined several ways the two of you might spend the day off together.

"Hehe... I'll just have to use some Sardegnian charm~" she whispers to herself, amused by her own plan as she makes the final climb through the snow. Since this is a surprise visit, there is always the chance you might already be busy, but Pola does not let that thought trouble her for long. She reaches your front door, untucks one hand from the warmth of her coat and knocks lightly. "Commander?" she calls gently, one of her hands twirling her purple hair while she waits. "Are you home?"