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Bouncing the stress ball off the wall for the seventy-sixth time, Enterprise caught it one-handed and sighed.
"Does something disturb you?"
The ace carrier sank into a sofa. "The commander said he was going to meet me at eleven, Belfast, which was thirty minutes ago. Do you know where he is?"
Standing dutifully in front of the office door, an impenetrable bulwark between the waiting room and the unwilling hub of Azur Lane's administration, Belfast frowned a polite, reserved frown. "He said he went to get something from Mainz. What he has been up to since is none of my concern, although I do hope he will return soon. It is past the time of his morning tea."
"Gods." Enterprise's eyes widened. "That's a crime. He's missing out on your tea?"
"You may well put it that way," said Belfast, closing her eyes. "It is a shame, Miss Enterprise. Those tea leaves in the pantry will not stay fresh forever."
Enterprise rested a hand on her chin contemplatively as she looked at the maid, before glancing out of the waiting room's window to see the active streets of the base two floors below.
"Aren't you bored?" she suddenly asked.
"Bored?" Belfast tilted her head inquisitively. "Not particularly, no. Are you?"
"Honestly, yes."
"May I entertain you, then?"
"Huh?"
Belfast smiled warmly. "I am a woman of many talents."
"If... you say so then." Enterprise privately wondered what the maid was about. Belfast looked her usual well-dressed self. Was she going to tell her a joke? Start dancing? Or possibly even-
"Please tilt your head a couple of inches to the left."
And before Enterprise knew what she was doing, Belfast had taken a pencil out of one of her innumerable pockets and hurled it at her. With well-trained reflexes the Union's finest carrier ducked to the side, the projectile whistling past her ear. Shock registered - Belfast attacking her? Impossible! - and then she heard a faint click.
Turning around, she saw that for some reason a music player had emerged from the wall, and that Belfast's pencil had pressed the 'open' button.
"The heck?"
"Such language is unbecoming of you, Miss Enterprise," said Belfast playfully as she pulled out a CD and span it through the air. This time Enterprise was wise enough to dodge and she watched with awe as the disc flew like a bird and landed perfectly in its slot. A small fork and a paper clip followed it, giving the carrier a hint as to the variety of things Belfast had in her pockets, closing the music player and pressing the 'on' button in the span of a second.
"You throw things well," she said, partly stunned by what she had just witnessed.
"I assume you would know that by now, given how much we have fought together," replied Belfast. And for some reason, as Enterprise turned to face her, remembering all those thrown six-inch shells that would blow Siren ships to pieces along their length, the white-haired woman now had a beautiful violin and a bow in her gloved hands. "Max Bruch's Scottish Fantasy in E-flat major, fourth movement. E for Miss Enterprise, perhaps?"
She struck into the music as the backing track began to play, leaving Enterprise blown away by her performance. She hadn't even known Belfast was capable of playing a musical instrument, but looking at her now, it was impossible to question her. The head maid played like a professional violinist, fingers dancing over the strings, arm energetically pumping and eyes closed happily as she moved to and fro in beat with the lively tune.
"That was amazing," she breathed as the piece came to an end.
Belfast curtsied elegantly, tucking the violin behind her back. "Edinburgh recommended this to me. She is from Scotland, after all."
"I-" Enterprise frantically searched for something to say, anything that would express her feelings. "When did you even learn to do this?"
"Two months ago."
"What?"
Belfast nodded smoothly. "The commander expressed a wish that the music he listened to be somewhat more varied. I took this to mean that he desired live performances."
"Two months. Damn. You're dedicated." Enterprise coughed. "Will you teach me?"
"Are you not a busy lady?" The maid sounded surprised.
"I learn fast."
"That is indisputably true." Belfast gave a small chuckle, before bringing her hands back in front of her dress and clasping them together. "Very well! Shall we discuss times before the commander gets back?"
"Yes - wait a minute." Enterprise pointed accusingly, a sudden realisation washing over her.
"Is something the matter?"
"Where did you hide that violin?"