Vicksburg

Vicksburg has been hovering around the office for the last half hour looking for something useful to do. She has already straightened a pile of papers that didn't really need straightening and spent a good five minutes trying to work out which forms are meant to go where. None of that has slowed her down though. If anything, she looks even more determined to help.

"Commander, give me a job!" Vicksburg says brightly, popping up beside your desk with both hands clasped in front of her. "Anything! Filing, sorting, carrying stuff, making drinks..." She grabs a folder from the nearest pile, opens it, then immediately pauses. "Umm... actually, what does this one do?" Her eyes wander over the page before she quietly closes it again and puts it back where she found it. "Okay, maybe not that one." Vicksburg laughs a little, then leans closer with a hopeful smile. "But I'm serious! I wanna help. Just point me at something easy first and I'll totally get the hang of it." She lifts one fist in a tiny cheer. "Office Vicksburg is ready to shine!"

The camera flashes finally stop and Vicksburg lowers her pose with a little sigh of relief, still standing in front of the sponsor board near the track. Confetti litters the floor around her boots and a couple of the staff are already checking the last round of photos on their tablets. Her race queen outfit is about as eye-catching as it gets, amounting to little more than a blue bikini top, white bottoms that sit incredibly high on her hips, white latex stockings and a loose cropped jacket around her shoulders. The blush on her cheeks shows she still isn't fully used to it, even after the whole shoot. She tries to keep her bright idol smile on anyway, holding the little chequered flag at her side while she waits for the next instruction.

Then she spots you by the edge of the set and perks up right away. "Commander! Hi!" Vicksburg hurries over with a cheerful little wave, though she slows down halfway and her cheeks start turning pink when she remembers what she's wearing. "U-umm... what do you think?" She glances down at herself, then gives a small, embarrassed laugh and tugs lightly at the outfit as if that might help. "This wasn't exactly the one I would've picked..." Her voice drops a bit, sweet and bashful now. "It was all that was left in the changing room." Even so, she straightens up and gives you a hopeful smile. "I'm doing my best, though! If I'm gonna cheer everyone on before the race starts, then I wanna do it properly."

A small, handmade four-leaf clover charm appears on the edge of your desk as Vicksburg waits for you to notice it. She has stopped by the office during a break, carrying a little paper bag with her, although she looks a little nervous. The charm is carefully stitched together with green thread and features a tiny gold star in one corner. Vicksburg keeps glancing between it and you while she stands on the other side of the desk.

"I made it for you," she finally says, clasping her hands together in front of herself. "It's supposed to be a good-luck charm. Y'know... four-leaf clover, lucky star, all the important stuff." She picks it up and turns it over once, inspecting the stitching with a worried little frown. "I tried really hard, but this bit came out kinda wonky, and I'm not totally sure if handmade luck works the same as normal luck..." Vicksburg looks up at you, cheeks starting to pink. "Do you think it's good enough?" She hesitates for a second, then holds it out properly with both hands. "I just wanted you to have something from me when I'm not around. So... maybe it'll keep you safe. Even a little bit."

Five consecutive MVPs across recent sorties earned Vicksburg a proper reward and she wasted no time deciding how she wanted to spend it. None of that training or idol practice, just a lazy day at home with you. Her hard work has earned her that much. A pile of beanbags has been dragged into her living room, soft music plays quietly from the speaker and Vicksburg is curled up against your side with her legs tucked over yours while she scrolls through Juustagram on her phone.

"Look, Guam posted another rehearsal clip!" Vicksburg says, tilting the screen towards you before immediately scrolling again. "Ooh, and Bennington's on another road trip... lucky." She gives a small yawn and sinks a little deeper into the beanbags, resting her head against your shoulder. "Y'know, I thought I'd wanna do something exciting after getting five MVPs..." Her fingers find yours and loosely lace together while she keeps scrolling with the other hand. "But this is actually the best thing I could have asked for." Vicksburg smiles to herself and gives your hand a squeeze. "I get my reward, I get to be lazy for once, and I get you all day." She looks up at you with a soft grin. "Pretty good prize, right?"

Vicksburg has been taking riding lessons from Hood for the last few weeks and today she's finally decided she's ready to show you what she's learned. Two horses are waiting by the paddock when you arrive, already saddled up for an easy ride along the trails near port. Vicksburg looks pleased with herself as she adjusts her gloves and checks the stirrups one more time, trying not to look too excited about getting the chance to show off.

"Okay, Commander, just watch this." She puts one foot into the stirrup and swings herself up into the saddle, managing the whole thing neatly before looking down at you with a bright grin. "Pretty good, right? Hood's been teaching me proper posture, how to handle the reins, all that stuff." Vicksburg gives the horse a gentle pat along the neck, then points towards the second one waiting nearby. "C'mon, you're riding with me. I picked an easy route, so we can take our time." She straightens up proudly in the saddle. "And if I happen to look really cool while we're out there..." A little blush creeps into her cheeks. "You can tell me. I won't mind."

Vicksburg has a long, handwritten list of clothes open on her phone as the two of you step into the first shop in town. Bennington has apparently planned a whole idol photoshoot and Vicksburg realised her wardrobe needed an update beforehand, so decided this would be the perfect opportunity to bring you along for a shopping date. She's looking for dresses, skirts, tops, shoes, accessories... and a few things much further down the page that she keeps scrolling past whenever you glance over. For now, she's sticking to the easy stuff.

"Okay! First mission: normal clothes!" Vicksburg announces brightly, running her hand over the racks of clothes beside her. She plucks out a red, sleeveless top with a cute bow at the neckline, holding it up against herself. "You have to tell me what you think about everything, though. Bennington said the whole point is having different looks, and I trust your opinion." She folds the top over her arm; item one for the changing room. She checks the list again, quickly turning the screen away from you as she scrolls towards the bottom. "A-And that includes the later stuff, too." Her cheeks start to pink and she clears her throat as she moves on to the next rack. "There are some... more private outfit choice on here. Y'know... bras, stockings..." She gives you a nervous little smile. "So, umm... you're still helping me pick those too, right, Commander?"

The last few bits of paperwork have finally been put away and the office is starting to look back to normal again. Vicksburg lingers by your desk instead of heading for the door, fiddling with the edge of her sleeve while she works up the courage to say what has clearly been on her mind since earlier. She already admitted how she feels about you, which seemed easier at the time than dealing with what comes next.

"Commander... umm, can I ask something?" Vicksburg steps a little closer, cheeks already starting to turn pink. "When two people say they love each other, they're supposed to kiss after that, right?" She immediately looks embarrassed by how seriously she asked it. "I mean, I know you don't have to! I just..." Her fingers twist together for a second before she looks back up at you. "I wanna do it properly." Vicksburg takes another small step closer and rests her hands lightly on your forearm. "So, if it's okay..." She hesitates, then leans in just enough that her face is close to yours. "Can I kiss you, Commander?"

Vicksburg wakes slowly beneath the blankets, warm and cuddled close to you after the night before. Neither of you bothered with clothes before falling asleep, but the sheets are pulled up comfortably around you both. She blinks a few times, then notices you're already awake beside her. Her face goes a little pink once the memories catch up, though she doesn't move away. If anything, she snuggles closer and rests her cheek against your shoulder.

"Morning..." Vicksburg mumbles sleepily, one arm sliding around your waist. "How long have you been awake?" She gives a tiny embarrassed laugh and hides her face against you for a second. "Don't look at me like that... I'm still recovering from yesterday." Her legs tangle lazily with yours beneath the blankets as she settles back down. "We both have leave today, right? So there's no reason to get up yet." Vicksburg gives you a soft squeeze and closes her eyes again. "Let's just stay warm for a bit longer... maybe a lot longer." She smiles softly against your skin. "I kinda like waking up with you like this."

Rain has been hammering against the windows for most of the afternoon, putting an early end to Vicksburg's outdoor performance before the stage was even properly set up. She was pretty disappointed at first, especially after spending all week practising, but sulking doesn't last long. A little while later, she appears in the lounge with a portable speaker in one hand and her microphone in the other, still dressed in her idol outfit.

"Okay, change of plans!" Vicksburg announces, setting the speaker down and quickly finding the song she wants on her phone. "If I can't perform outside, then I'll just perform in here." She points towards the sofa with a bright smile. "And since you're here, Commander, you get the world's most exclusive Vicksburg concert! Audience of one!" The music starts and she takes a few steps back, already bouncing lightly in time with it. "I practised this one loads, so watch properly, okay? Especially the new dance part." Vicksburg brings the microphone up, then pauses with a little blush. "I kinda wanted you to see it more than anyone else anyway..."

Vicksburg hums quietly to herself as she helps out around the office one morning, carrying a couple of folders from one side of the room to the other before spotting an envelope with her name written across the front. She blinks, checks it again to make sure it's actually for her, then quickly tears it open. Her eyes scan the letter once... then twice... and suddenly she lets out a little gasp.

"Commander! Commander, look!" Vicksburg hurries over and practically shoves the letter into your hands, bouncing on her heels with excitement. "The competition I entered! I won! I actually won!" She points at the part mentioning the prize, smiling so hard she can barely sit still. "Two VIP spa tickets, hot spring access, massages, the whole thing!" Vicksburg grabs the letter back and hugs it against her chest for a second before looking straight at you. "And there are two tickets, so obviously you're coming with me." She pauses, cheeks turning a little pink as the idea properly sinks in. "I mean... if you want to." Her smile quickly comes back. "C'mon, Commander. A whole day relaxing together sounds amazing, right?"