Scene #7197: A Chance Meeting

Owner	Pose
Haguro	Haguro has definitely seen better days. Following the battle near Malaysia just over two days ago, she hasn't returned to Luthe nor any of the Concord's territories. She's simply drifted blindly without so much as seeking out a port or warpgate. By mere chance, she sees herself drifting closer to a familiar place, and fatigue is the only thing stopping her from changing her course. The lone cruiser can be seen drifting towards the Hikari Sea Port, and it's a wonder that she's even above water. Her gear is wrecked, her uniform is in tatters, and she's covered in blood, oil, and ashes. There's a brief moment of hesitation as she starts to notice where she's going. Physically, there's no other options. She's too tired, too damaged, and too drained to move aside, and she just lets the water carry her onward.
Shigure	Shigure is still recovering from battle damage, bandages obvious under her uniform. "Hesinca..." seems she remembers that name, at least. Blue eyes peer out at the ocean beyond the port.. and they lock onto Haguro's growing form on the horizon. Without moving, save to bring a hand up to her ear, pressing against it as if activating a headset. "Harbour control, incoming damaged heavy cruiser... have the guest docks opened and prepared... Flagship need not be informed, I will take responsibility." The destroyer stands, and once Haguro is closer, waves her over to the smaller, out-of-the way mooring point used for visiting scouts from other Kamusu fleets to take a rest while on long range duty.
Haguro	There's movement. It's not hostile movement, either, and for a moment, Haguro looks surprised. It's only for that moment, though, before she chuckles quietly, shaking her head and moving towards the indicated mooring point. "Can't be that surprised..." She murmurs to herself as she drifts into place, stopping only when she bumps into the side of the dock and rests her head on a relatively dry patch. Wincing while shuffling around in that hunched over state, Haguro turns her head just enough to get a better look at Shigure. "You're... Taking a risk doing this, you know. Are you sure?"
Shigure	"It's my risk to take, and despite our differences in opinion lately, you are still my friend, and a member of our fleet." replies the destroyer, lowering the platform so Haguro get come ashore. "I've radioed ahead to get the guest bath ready... you look like you survived a run-in with the Re-class." The destroyer still has her almost-monotone timbre, but she's clearly genuine in her concern over the damaged cruiser. "If that centaur had not been there, I would have come talk to you myself... I hope all this pain and bloodshed is worth it."
Haguro	"I should be surprised that you did that, but..." Haguro chuckles again, wiping her eyes off and wincing immediately afterwards, having just wiped her eyes off with a handful of sea water and leftover grime. "... It wouldn't be you not to. Thank you, Shigure." It takes a bit longer for Haguro to actually get up the platform, although not for a lack of trying. She certainly needs that repair bath sooner rather than later from the looks of it. "That... Does remind me. I never did give Re that fight she wanted... Sometime, maybe." Sighing lightly, she closes eyes for several moments, partially to mull over Shigure's words and partially from the continued sting in her eyes. "It's... I hope so, too. They're learning, but..." She trails off after that, going quiet again while she resumes limping.
Shigure	Shigure steps in, and hooks an arm around Haguro's waist, pulling one of the cruiser's arms over her shoulders to support her. "Lean on me a little." She says, shifting her gait to help support her friend as she limps. "Lessons are important... but some lessons are not worth the cost to learn, by the teacher nor the student." she offers, giving Haguro a sidelong glance. "Some lessons are also more harmful than helpful." Having said her piece on the subject, the destroyer falls quiet for a few moments, guiding Haguro towards a smaller, out-of-the-way building styled after an onsen bathhouse. "How are you doing otherwise?" asks Shigure after a few long moments.
Haguro	Haguro winces reflexively at the contact, the extent of the damage likely becoming even more apparent to Shigure just from that. It could easily look less like Haguro using Shigure for support and more Shigure enduring Haguro's weight. "That's... That's true. Generally. This one..." There's a low, anxious noise in Haguro's throat as she keeps moving along, her gaze looking a little less focused than before. "... If this saves more people in the long run than those that got hurt this time, it'll be worth it." That last part, at least, has some of that conviction Haguro's been building herself up towards over the recent years. Her tone softens shortly afterwards, though, and she actually giggles briefly followed by another wince. "I've been better. I tried karaoke for the first time in a while and that was... Awkward. How about yourself?"
Shigure	"I took up origami again. I've been making paper cranes, with wishes for your safety." admits Shigure, glancing at the cruiser, as she guides Haguro through the doors and into the repair bath. It's a rather cramped affaid, compared to the main docks, but those are meant to service entire combined fleets at once, this is meant for one or two ship recon units. "I tried karaoke, I was told my voice would be better suited to the stage than a cramped messroom." The destroyer giggles herself, and winces a bit as the jolting causes her wounds to flare up. "Look at us... it's almost like the old days."
Haguro	"Hm... I can see it. I never did have that kind of finesse like you or the others..." Haguro chuckles again, wasting little time in getting into the repair bath. If she notices the spacing issues, she certainly doest show it. She's more focused on just collapsing into it. "I suppose... Alcohol helped a little." A beat. "... A lot." She laughs softly, resting her head back against the edge of the bath while staring off into space once again. "It is, isn't it? It's... Heh. Things were so much easier back then, weren't they? A simple enemy, simple goals, simple... Everything. Do you think that'll ever be possible again?"
Shigure	"I hope we reach a point where we don't have to fight anymore... where the sea is a peaceful place for everyone. Human, Abyssal and Kanmusu alike." Shigure sits crosslegged beside the bath, and leans back against the wall. "Do you remember when I first joined the fleet? Just a skrawny little destroyer, couldn't even speak up for herself..." she smiles wistfully. "I wouldn't go back to that... because even though now is harder than then... if I went back, I wouldn't have the bonds I formed. The friends I've made, and even the rivals I've earned." Shigure shifts, wrapping arms around her knees as she changes position, resting her chin atop her kneecaps. "Each one has shaped who I am today, and they continue to shape who I'll become in the future. Some of it bad, some of it good." She looks over at Haguro. "The same can be said about you."
Haguro	"That would be..." Haguro grunts lightly as she mulls over just what is she wants to say, obviously holding back on saying the first thing that comes to mind. "... I'd like that. Even if we're pursuing it in different ways, it's... I'd like that." Haguro laughs then rests her head back once more. "I remember... You were so scrawny, and I could barely even get myself to talk to you or the others without hiding my face. I mean, it's still... I still get anxious talking to anyone new, but I wouldn't want to go back /that/ far, either." The cruiser rubs her forehead lightly while stretching out in the bath, just letting the pain and fatigue soak off while listening to the destroyer. "That's true... Our paths certainly went in different dierctions and... Places, but we're still moving forward." She sits up briefly, rubbing another knot out of her forehead before turning to Shigure. "Just... Please, don't forget that there's things that only you can do. Not my sisters, not the Admiral..." She settles back in, closing her eyes again and pausing for another moment. "Not myself. Not after what I've done."
Shigure	"I have some projects in the works. Noone else in the Fleet even thought about them until I suggested it." replies Shigure, vaguely, glancing back over at the cruiser. "You inspired something in me, with your rigging modifications." she smiles. "But just because we're on different paths, doesn't mean they can't rejoin together again sometime in the future."
Haguro	"Oh? I'll look forward to seeing what you come up with, then." Haguro smiles warmly as she rests her head on the back of the bath again, groaning a bit at the urge to just loaf around in there for several more hours or days or however long it would take to recover. At least she's not in a rush to get out yet. There's still time to enjoy this. "That was... A bit of a fluke, really, but it worked out. Things have a habit of doing that, anyway." Another chuckle, and she taps her hands along the side of the bath idly. "It's good that you have a path in front of you. I... I sitll need to figure out the rest of mine. Eventually."
Shigure	Shigure is quiet for a long while... then she stands. "I'll make sure the base guards don't come by until you're ready to go... I can't offer you replacement rigging, but take your time, and rest up here a little." she says, stepping towards the door. "It was good to talk to you, outside of a life or death situation again."
Haguro	"Thank you.. Shigure. If anyone asks..." Haguro furrows her brow while sinking deeper into the bath. "... I broke in. I'll manage once I can move again." After offering that rather crappy exxcuse, she chuckles once more and nods towards Shigure. "I hope we can do this again sometime. Take care."