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The Commander had long come to the realization and conclusion that he had to be far more than simply a Commander in a Navy. The Kansen, as amazing as they were at fighting the Sirens, had all the same troubles that regular soldiers did. Oftentimes to greater degrees considering them being ships. So it didn’t surprise him much anymore when they came to him with certain non-Commander types of questions or even subjects that were technically Commander related but not in the normal navy category.
It was something that he considered a sign of the trust he had developed with his people and he moved to uphold that trust as best as he could. But just because a Kansen came to him didn’t immediately mean they announced their presence. Many destroyers, and some capital Kansen, were physically shorter or quieter meaning they occasionally got into his office without his immediate notice. This resulted in a rather amusing instance of Warspite nearly scaring him out of his chair once.
Littorio was no such Kansen.
“Commander! I have come to shed the glory of Sardegna on your noon meal,” Littorio announced her arrival with verve and the smell of fresh cooking.
“What’s the occasion?” he asked, unable to recall why Littorio might bring him lunch.
“Does there need to be such an occasion?” Littorio smiled.
“I suppose not,” he agreed, the smell already making his mouth water. “And thanks as well. This morning was one where I couldn’t escape the office if my life depended on it.”
“Such is the labors of our great leader,” Littorio nodded. “But you have time to enjoy your meal, si?”
“I certainly do,” he nodded and cleared his desk.
Littorio delivered the plate of Sardegna goodness to his desk and stepped back. He managed to tear his eyes away from the pasta and sauce long enough to see she also had some reports for him as well.
“Delivering for Libeccio today?” he asked.
“Si, she ended up in a small crash in this morning’s exercise,” she nodded. “Nothing bad, I don’t even think it made the report other than as a note. But Vestal wanted to make extra sure.”
“As is her prerogative,” he nodded. “We trust her to help keep everyone in good form. If she says Libeccio needs to stay off her feet then that’s what happens.”
“Glad we are in agreement,” Littorio nodded. “Though the concerned might not fully agree, she had plans today.”
“It happens. I’m sure she can reschedule if need be,” the Commander said as he started on the food. “Anything interesting happening in the living area recently?”
“Not a whole lot, no,” Littorio told him. “A few of the normal things and pranks, nothing that would require your attention. Oh! My marvelous sister has gotten a magnificent idea in recent times though.”
“Veneto?” he asked. “What has she come up with?”
“Well, the Senate has its peculiarities,” she said. “One of those is that they don’t fully trust Veneto to bring the full glory of Sardegna to the world at times. A ridiculous thing if one only thinks for a moment, but it's their way. So they pushed her quote, ‘Come up with something’. That something my sister thought of was a thermae.”
“... The old Roman bath?” the Commander asked.
“Si! How did you know that?” Littorio asked in pleased surprise.
“It’s not all that impressive," he shrugged. “I just remember it because someone made an off-color joke about it in high school.”
“Regardless, it saves on explaining what it is,” Littorio said. “But as you might imagine, thinking of something and asking you for permission to build it are two separate things.”
“She wants to build it?” he asked.
“Si,” Littorio nodded.
“Here, on the island?”
“Well, the original idea was for it to be within the base, but yes,” Littorio nodded again. “You see her issue now?”
“Yeah, that’s gonna be hard to fly,” he nodded. “I mean, High Command has let a lot of things fly for the Kansen, but so far all of them have technically fallen under the umbrella of ‘necessary for the operations of special units’, and have already existed in some manner before. From what I know about a thermae, they’ll certainly see that as pleasure and not necessary.”
“I thought so as well,” Littorio said. “I’m not here to try and sway your opinion to try and make it happen. It wasn’t even on my mind when I first got here. But I suppose now you won’t be surprised when she does come to ask you about it. Because she will ask in the near future.”
“I’ll give it an honest effort,” he assured. “But my power as Commander is far from infinite.”
“I understand,” Littorio smiled. “That is why we take the field and you do the strategic thinking. Though none could ever call you wilting with how you lead us. There are Generals in my nation's past that would cower in your presence.”
“Really?” he asked.
“Si,” Littorio gave him a grin. “It is not them fighting that which they don’t understand.”
“Fair enough.”
They paused the conversation so that he could finish up his meal, it was best when fresh after all. And Littorio soon left with a flourish and the plate, leaving the office feeling a little more open than before.
~~~
It was a few days before Veneto visited the Commander’s office.
“Good day to you, Commander,” she said as she entered.
“To you as well,” he looked up from his work. “What can I do for you today?”
“Actually, I have a request,” she told him and handed him a stapled stack of papers. “With some pressure from my nation's government, I want to build a thermae here on base.”
“Yes, Littorio had brought this up before,” he nodded as he read through the official request. “And you have done your due diligence as always.”
“I feel that there is a ‘but’ in there,” Veneto said.
“Correct,” he nodded. “I’m not against the idea, but I’m also not sure that High Command will bite off on this.”
“I am aware that this is a bit of a tall ask,” she nodded. “I informed my government of this as well, but they were insistent that something be done. To them it is an insult to not be seen as glorious or whatever word they chose when compared to the other nations represented on base.”
“I understand that, but that won’t move Command,” he said. “I see that you’ve done a great job listing the benefits and have assured that its use will be open to the rest of the Kansen, and this will certainly help. But at this moment, it lacks an example or line of law to point to. This makes it very hard to back up.”
“This is where I had hoped you would be able to help, Commander,” Veneto said. “This base is owned by the Eagle Union after all, and I’m not aware of the intricacies of those policies.”
“I’ll give it my best, of course,” he told her. “But I can’t make any promises on this.”
“I understand, Commander,” she gave him a smile. “Regardless of the decision, I can use it to make those old men shut their mouths for a while.”
Considering how the Senate often acted, that just might be Veneto’s main goal at this point.
~~~
The Commander had done some homework after Veneto officially submitted her idea. There were modern equivalents today that were relatively easy to construct in the way that some rooms weren’t needed with the advent of modern water heating. But it still illuded him as to how it might be allowed. High Command would do a great deal for the Kansen, but there were limits.
Then he found it.
Cultural significance. The Eagle Union had managed to get a baseball field made under the pretense of the sport being a healthy and historic way to stay active. The Sakura Empire also managed to get a whole slew of Onsen installed for the cultural practice and health benefits. And this was going to be the angel the Commander used.
This required him to do a bit of studying of history, but soon enough he had what he felt was enough points to at least make High Commander consider it. Though he did state that this was at the behest of the Sardegna Empire through Veneto. He also put in a stipulation that the Senate would foot the bill. It was their idea after all. He was sure they wouldn’t mind.
So with all that, he sent it up the chain to see what would happen. At worst they said no to him. The Senate might get an ear full for it, but that was out of his hands. Now it was time to wait. He didn’t know if it would be allowed, but High Command has been known to bend over backwards for the Kansen in a lot of cases. And if he did his job well enough, then they’ll see the benefit in doing so again.
And he apparently did. It took three days before he got a response on the thermae. And then about a week for all the materials to arrive. And another three weeks for the manjuu and bulins to construct the thermae in its entirety.
The Commander often marveled at the ability of the bulins. They were strange Kansen-like creatures that some believed were the manifestation of all the workers that used to help the ships function. People like logistics, dock workers, factory workers, all of them condensed into these highly energetic bulins.
As he stood outside to take a look at the building the thermae sat in, he wondered how the ladies were getting on using it for the first time. Then he realized that, as a public bath, there certainly weren’t any clothes or even bathing suits in use, so he quickly steered his mind elsewhere. Sensing that trying to understand the whats and hows of this structure was an easy way to get him thinking thoughts he really shouldn’t be having about his subordinates, the Commander decided to leave them to it and head back to the office.
Besides, Veneto would find her own way to thank him later. He was sure of it.
~~~
Littorio let out a content sigh as she stepped down into the hot water. There was a bench just underneath the surface for those enjoying the bath to sit, and she made use of it, the water coming up to just above her chest. She decided to sink a little lower, allowing the water up over her shoulders and to her neck. Another sigh escaped her as she felt the hot water starting to relax her stress away.
“I don’t think I’ve seen you enjoy something so earnestly in a long while,” Veneto said with some amusement.
“Ah, it has simply been a long while since I’ve had the comfort of a thermae,” Littorio said and splashed her foot in the water. “How did you manage to convince the Commander?”
“All I did was bring it to his attention,” she said. “It was then his work that allowed for this all to be built.”
“Then we must find a way to thank him!” Littorio said with a smile.
“I had thought of inviting him to enjoy the thermae,” Veneto said. “But I feel that he may politely refuse for some reason or another.”
“Ah yes, the fear of a young man embarrassing himself in a bath full of so many beautiful, naked, and energetic women,” Littorio nodded. “I doubt the Commander has anything to fear in such a way, but it is not we who are surrounded by the opposite sex.”
Veneto blushed a little at her sister's words, though they were true. “Do you have another idea?”
“Perhaps simply extend a standing invitation for him to use the thermae?” Littorio suggested. “That way if he ever decides to use it he can? Surely some day he will think to relax using this place, even if it’s only once.”
“That might work,” Veneto said. “Though perhaps we can do what we always do and keep it simple with dinner. I think that will resonate with him more than simply using the thermae.”
“And that is why you are the Eternal Flagship, my marvelous sister,” Littorio winked at her. “You always find the answer.”
Veneto blushed, but she was used to Littorio’s ways. But they were far from the only ones who decided to use the old Roman bath.
“No need to be shy, Comrade, we are all here to bathe, nothing more,” Gangut was already in the water, and appropriately nothing else, assisting Murmansk who was still wrapped in a towel into the water. “It’s not as though we don’t have our own bare skinned traditions, yes?”
“Yes, but…” Murmansk trailed off for a moment, but Gangut understood.
“This isn’t a Sakura Onsen, the towel can stay,” Gangut told her confidently.
Murmansk had been toying with the towel around her chest before nodding and took Gangut’s hand as she helped her into the water. Once sufficiently covered by the water, she removed the towel and seemed to relax.
“See, nothing to worry about,” Gangut said.
Littorio wasn’t surprised to see several of the Northern Parliament Kansen present. And Gangut and Murmansk weren’t the only ones either. Kursk and Voroshilov had also decided to enjoy themselves with this new attraction. And just as she was thinking, Kirov walked in as well.
There were many other Kansen as well. Many from the Iris had decided to relax in the hot waters after a good day’s work. Littorio even spotted Richelieu and Jean Bart. A few Dragon Empery destroyers had found themselves a corner to use. There were a great many Sakura Empire Kansen as well, seeming just as at home in the thermae as their own Onsen. A few from the Iron Blood had decided to make use of one of the smaller private rooms, disappearing behind the door. There were even a few of the Royals as well, which pleased Littorio greatly. Perhaps that meant Lady Illustrious might come to try this as well.
“My, the Sardegna certainly out did themselves with this~”
Littorio turned to see Amagi being assisted into the water by Azuma with Houshou right behind them.
“Though I believe the most excited must be those from Sardegna, this is a little bit of home away from home after all,” Amagi added with a smile.
“Indeed!” Littorio agreed heartily. “And it is all thanks to Veneto and the Commander. It was them that made this possible.”
“The Commander?” Azuma asked. “Ah, I suppose it would have to cross his desk, wouldn't it? Has he come by yet?”
“I believe the Commander is practicing being modest,” Veneto replied.
“Well, we can hardly blame him for that,” Houshou giggled as she entered the water as well. “He might see it as an abuse of his authority or something else silly like that.”
“Perhaps, though we will make sure he knows he is welcome all the same,” Littorio said. “I am glad to see so many from your nation decided to come and try our own version of hot water. Do you find it agreeable?”
“Most agreeable,” Amagi nodded. “I think some expected, or even hoped, that something like this would pop up at some point. We don’t have a monopoly on public baths after all.”
“And we are glad to see so many decided to come and enjoy it,” Veneto smiled.
“Interestingly, I don’t think I’ve seen any from the Union yet,” Littorio noted. “I would have thought at least a few of the more open minded ones might try it out.”
“I believe they have a slightly stricter idea of what counts as modest,” Azuma said. “While they have no issue with bikinis and the like at the beach, bathing is a somewhat different matter. It might take them a little longer to warm up to the idea. But I certainly think some like the South Dakota sisters will be here sooner than later.”
“Ah, the stoic Union beauties would bring a certain type of atmosphere to the thermae, wouldn’t they?” Littorio smiled.
“If I may, it might actually be the more sport minded Kansen from the Union that appear first,” Houshou said. “Especially if they catch wind that it’s not all that different from a locker room at most times.”
“Really?” Veneto asked. “Now that I think about it, someone like Giulio might be the one who introduces them to the thermae. But everyone will make their way here on their own time. No need to rush.”
“Now that you mention it, I did see Alabama in the outside courtyard doing some exercises,” Azuma added. “So maybe they will be in here later after working out?”
“Well, it is a bath, yes?” Littorio smiled. “That is what it is supposed to be used for.”
~~~
The Commander had been a little surprised by the outpouring of interest from the Kansen at large. Even those that didn’t traditionally have public baths started to gain the courage to go and so far he hadn’t heard of even one saying it wasn’t for them. There were those that wouldn’t go regardless, but that went for most anything. It wouldn’t be for everyone.
Though he did have to make and ratify some ground rules to start, no one had made any trouble. But he had made it very clear to all the pranksters that the thermae was off limits for such things, just as an added precaution. That said, he was glad the Kansen were enjoying themselves. Even if he didn’t go, it had been a net positive for the Kansen and base as a whole.
He had even been extended a standing offer to use it as it pleased him. Something that he appreciated greatly as it was yet another thing that showed the Kansen trusted him around them. Though he felt it would take some building of courage to actually get in there.
“Hello Commander,” Veneto said as she entered the office. “The reports you asked for.”
“Ah, thanks,” he nodded. “It sounds like the thermae has been a hit by the way. Have you run into any trouble?”
“Only that we are running out of locker space during busy hours,” she told him. “But we already have a solution thought up. It’ll only take a few days to get that fixed.”
“Well, of all the problems to have I’d say that is a good one,” he nodded.
“Correct,” Veneto nodded. “Littorio and I had hoped to thank you for the help as well. Just dinner when you have the time.”
A Sardegna dinner was hard to pass up at any time. Especially because both Littorio and Veneto were excellent cooks.
“You didn’t have to, but since I know you’d say otherwise, I’ll happily take you up on the offer,” he said.
Glad to see that we are in agreement~” Veneto giggled. “Just let us know when your schedule allows. We’re always ready to host you.”
Veneto bowed and left to go about her day. The Commander looked over his calendar to see what days might soon work. This was definitely something he could make time for. And perhaps someday he’ll try the thermae for himself, who knows?