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she-wolf09231982 · 1 month

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Chapter 2-Going My Way

Summary: H Company trudges through the jungles to the Tenaru River. Kate, Blanche and the rest of the boys finally make contact for the first time with the enemy. Following the carnage, Kate learns more about the Marines she's looking after...especially Hoosier.

A/N: Mature audience, BillHoosierSmithx!FemMedic, WW2, OC/Kate Danaher, Female Pronouns, Cursing/Swearing, Derogatory Slurs, Womanizing Comments, Military and Medical Terminology, Inappropriate Nicknames, HBO The Pacific References, Mentions/Descriptions of Death, Weaponry, Smoking.

Story begins in the middle of Episode 1/Chapter 4

*These stories may not fall entirely in accordance with the TV series timeline. I do not know the real Marines the actors portray in this series, so please understand I show no disrespect. Some or most of historical events and character interactions in my fanfics are fabricated purely for the sake of the enjoyment of fiction*

~~~~~~~

Kate and Blanche trail H Company through the brush to stay out of the line of any potential enemy fire. The Marines they follow maintain serious noise discipline, not saying a word as they push through the tangled mess of the jungle. Random birds abruptly flying away causing a stir, startling some of the men prompting thoughts that it may be the enemy approaching. Kate and Blanche were edgy as well, the anticipation causing their stomachs to ache.

Kate can see Hoosier not too far ahead. His features are stern and sharp, scanning his surroundings with the precision of a hawk. She scoured the area making sure Blanche was within her line of sight as well. Of course, she was following not too far behind Sid.

They come upon an abandoned camp on the edge of the thicketed jungle with strewn gear and half eaten bowls of food scattered everywhere. As the convoy approached the tree line, the LT signals to halt while he references the map.

As the men continue deeper into the jungle before them, they stumble upon some brutally maimed Marines that were obviously dead. Each Marine that passes the bodies takes a moment to let it sink in. Staring in awe that their fellow Marine brothers were got by the enemy.

“Keep it moving.” LT Corrigan ordered as each Marine stopped in their tracks to look at the massacre in front of them.

~~~~~~~

That night, a tropical storm rolled in. The men had dug foxholes with palms or rain gear as roofing for shelter. Kate and Blanche managed the same shelter separately on each side of the site partnered with a Marine so to be available in case there was an attack.

Blanche of course requested Sid to share her shelter while Private Gibson was assigned to Kate in her foxhole. Kate felt it best to not make any small talk with the Marine since an enemy advance could happen at any moment and she didn't want to distract him. As the rain poured, and the thunder occasionally rumbled, H Company, fighting off sleep, waited in silence.

“TAKE COVER!” a voice bellowed from the distance.

Shots rang out from every direction. Every man donning a weapon firing into the dark.

“Holy shit!” Kate gasped outloud.

“CEASE FIRE! CEASE FIRE!” another voice called out.

Silence befell the camp.

~~~~~~~

The following morning, the lifeless body of Pharmacist’s Mate Third Class Lewis was awaiting burial, while his fellow brother Marines watched in horror as his grave was being prepared.

“He went to take a piss. Somebody opened up.” Sgt Stone explained.

“Did he say the password?” another asked.

“I don’t know.” Leckie replied.

“We’re moving to the top of the ridge. We’re moving.” Stone directed.

Leckie remained still, the weight of guilt anchoring him down. Kate walked up to him.

“Bob, no one could’ve known it was him. Everyone opened fire when they heard him.” she said as she placed an encouraging squeeze on his shoulder.

Leckie glanced at her then nodded unconvinced by her attempt to comfort him.

~~~~~~~

Later that night, the men watch from a hilltop as another regiment takes the airfield that was the objective of the invasion. The U.S. Navy suffers a major defeat and retreats to open water, leaving H Company to defend the airfield, abandoned and unsupplied.

The men were told to dig in and make camp for the night.

“I heard the medical supplies the Navy was supposed to drop didn’t make it.” Kate disclosed to her best friend.

“What!?” Blanche gasped.

“Mmhm. We’ll have to make do with what we have left.” Kate explained.

“But how can we-”

“-I don’t know, Blanche, we just have to figure it out.” Kate interjected.

“Doesn’t leave us with much, Kate.”

“Well, if we require tourniquets, we could use the guys’ belts if need be. And if we find any spare uniforms or blankets, we could make those into bandages. We’ll make it work, Blanche.” Kate assured.

After days of convoying, H Company set up their heavy weapons along the bank with their sectors of fire facing across Alligator Creek.

Kate and Blanche once again located way behind the men, separated so to be accessible in case any conflict occurred. Kate dug a shallow 6 by 6 hole in the sand then layered a few sandbags around it to have some sort of “aid station” rally point for casualties. She looked through the clearing where the water was deeper and saw Hoosier unraveling barbed wire.

Her focus was suddenly interrupted by LT Corrigan, “A Company made contact three miles East. Destroy any letters you have with any dates or addresses.” He called out as he walked through the littered Marines digging foxholes.

Blanche ran over to Kate, “What does he mean!?” She whispered in a panicked voice.

“Well, it sounds like the enemy is close and that we should remain vigilant.” Kate clarified.

Blanche stared at the ground in disbelief, obviously scared of what’s to come.

“Blanche, if they do make contact, be careful. Stay low and get behind cover whenever possible.”

Blanche remained staring at the ground without responding. Kate took her by the shoulders and gave her a gentle shake to get her attention.

“Blanche?”

“Uh, yeah Ace, I heard you. Stay low and behind cover.” Blanche repeated back.

“Ok, you should get back to your side and prep your bandages and syrettes.” Kate added.

Blanche nodded and hurried back to her station.

That night, the Marines ward off a violent Banzai attack. The aftermath of carnage that covers the banks leaves Kate and Blanche stunned while they tend to their wounded that were caught in the crossfire. For hours Marines have been brought to each makeshift aid station-one right after the other, leaving Kate and Blanche’s backs sore and their heads aching as they push through each one.

When dawn broke, the sandbar bore witness to the aftereffects of the battle. Hundreds of Ichiki’s soldiers lay dead—victims of the Marines’ unwavering defense. Approximately 800 of the original 917 from the Ichiki Regiment’s First Element had perished. It was a costly defeat for the Japanese.

Blanche stared at the sand, clearly lost in her thoughts.

“Blanche?” Kate addressed her best friend with concern.

She remained silent for a few more seconds before responding, “So much blood-” Blanche muttered.

Kate nodded, “Yeah.” Not knowing how else to respond.

“Well, I didn’t see Sid come through so that’s good news.” Kate added.

Blanche allowed a weak smile to grace her tired face, “Yes.” she replied.

~~~~~~~

Kate and Blanche started to make their rounds to each foxhole seeing if any of the men needed assistance.

Kate found Leckie and Chuckler. She crouched close to the exhausted men.

“You two ok?” Kate asked.

“Yeah.” Leckie breathed while Chuckler nodded.

Runner and Hoosier hurried over with new cans of ammo for Leckie and Chuckler. Hoosier conveniently kneeled next to Kate.

“Look at ‘em all.” Runner said.

The four men and Kate look out at the mess of bodies of the enemy all over the beach and banks. Some floating out the open water.

“I mean, we- we chewed ‘em up.” Chuckler pointed out with a smirk.

“They just kept on coming.” Hoosier added.

“A real turkey shoot.” Leckie mumbled.

After a minute or two of silence, Kate broke in.

“Are you all ok? Anything you need me to look at?” she asked, looking around at the four Marines around her.

Leckie and Chuckler shake their heads, while Runner gave a simple “I’m good.”

“Bill?” Kate tapped Hoosier’s shoulder.

“I’m ok. Are you good?” he asked.

Kate’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion at first because no one had asked her or Blanche since the attack if they were ok. For anyone to be concerned about their welfare was oddly shocking to her.

“Oh, um, yeah. Yeah, I’m ok. Just tired.” Kate responded massaging the back of her neck.

Hoosier smiled at her.

“Thanks for asking.” she added with a nervous smile avoiding eye contact. With the dirt and grime all over his face, the brilliant deep blue of his eyes had her practically dissolving at his feet.

“Corpsman, we got a live one here!” Doc called out from the beach.

An Ichiki soldier raised a shaky hand encrusted with blood.

“Stick a pin in him, Doc!” Hoosier called out to him. A ping of revulsion projected through Kate’s stomach when she heard Bill say it. She wished he hadn’t said something so cruel.

As Doc and another Marine pulled him up, the Japanese soldier yelled out in Japanese while activating a live grenade behind his back, killing the two men and himself with the explosion. The gruesome scene Kate just witnessed had her collapsing backwards onto her rear.

Chuckler, Leckie, and Runner shout expletives at the now nonexistent Jap that took two of their own with them. Hoosier rushed over to her, gripping her arm to help her up.

“Hey, you good?” he asked.

Kate could hear the concern in his voice. She looked at him with wide eyes.

“I- I don’t...” Kate began.

Suddenly machine guns started firing across the bank as four or five Ichiki sprinted out from the brush firing at the Marines across the water. Four of them were put down while one struggled to stand, leaving his weapon on the ground trying to make a run for it. One Marine fired at the fleeing Jap soldier, keeping him from making any kind of escape.

“Let’s have some fun with that son of a bitch!” The Marine yelled out to the rest of the men.

The Ichiki turned to run the opposite way as another Marine shot at him preventing him yet again from advancing to safety. Kate, Hoosier, Leckie, Chuckler, and Runner watch in awe, unsure of how to handle this twisted game of target practice.

The shots and shouting of racial slurs commenced. While the relentless Marines toyed with the Ichiki man across the bank, he screamed to the sky throwing his cap to the ground. Yelling out in Japanese, he slowly walked into the water until he was waist deep with his arms open welcoming his tormentors to put him out of his misery.

The same Marines fired away until a round made contact. The first bullet hit his shoulder, but he remained standing, screaming at the shooter as if to taunt him.

Kate looked at Hoosier in horror. He glanced at her with his jaw clenched and his chest heaving while the other three watched with their mouths slacked, each holding their breaths.

The second shot made contact at the Ichiki soldier’s right hip as he started to sob. Sinister laughter filled the air adding to the cruelty of the situation. Kate wasn’t sure if she could stand it anymore. Then, as if he heard her thoughts, Leckie stood up, took aim with his handgun, and fired the final kill shot to the soldier’s chest, ending the ‘fun’ for the other Marines involved in what they thought was a game.

“Hey, what did you do that for?” A random Marine called out to Leckie.

Leckie stayed silent. He was just glad it was over for the poor bastard. Kate stood up, abruptly turning to hurry back to her aid station, hoping that Blanche didn’t have to watch what she just saw. Hoosier watched as Kate disappeared behind some palms, making a mental note to find her later to see if she was alright.

~~~~~~~

The bodies of the enemy laid dispersed across the sandbar, some caught in the tide and drifting out to sea, as the foul stench of rotting death lingered in the air. The Marines prepared for recovery and resupply for the next mission. Kate was at her aid station doing inventory of her supplies while Blanche sat on a stone staring out into the distance.

Kate, so hyper focused on repacking her gear, noticed how quiet her best friend was being, taking a moment to look at her.

“Blanche?”

No response.

“Blanche?” Kate said a little louder.

Blanche shook her head, then looked at Kate startled.

“I’m-I’m sorry, Kate. I must’ve spaced out. What were you saying?” Blanche replied.

Kate went back to packing, “I wasn’t saying anything. Are you going to be ok?”

Blanche nodded, “I’ll be ok. It-It was just so much blood, Kate.”

Kate looked at her, “I know. I have a feeling we’re going to see a lot of that.”

Blanche looked at her boots and sighed.

“Blanche, how about you take a break? Go find Sid. Maybe he needs some cheering up, too.” Kate suggested.

Blanche looked at her somberly, and smirked.

“You know me too well.” Blanche asserted.

Kate smiled, “Go on. I’ll see you later.”

Blanche stood and made her way out past the tree line. Not too long after she had left, Hoosier walked up. He waited listening to her hum a tune while she rolled bandages with her back facing him. Her singing had him in some sort of a trance as he stood over her foxhole, trying to figure out what song she was humming to herself.

“What song is that?” Hoosier finally asked alerting Kate to his presence.

Kate’s breath caught in her chest, “Jesus, Bill, you scared the hell out of me!”

Hoosier chuckled, “Sorry, didn’t mean to.”

He crouched down planting the butt of his rifle into the sand to hold onto for balance.

“It’s an Irish lullaby.” Kate explained referring to the song she had been singing.

“Oh? What's it called?” Hoosier asked genuinely interested.

“Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral.”

“Too-Ra what now?” Hoosier asked laughing.

Kate looked at him in disbelief, “By Bing Crosby? From the film ‘Going My Way.’”

“Nope, don’t know it. Guess you’ll have to sing it to me.”

Kate laughed, “Ha! I don’t think so, Bill. I’m not here to be a songbird, I’m here to make sure you guys don’t die.”

Bill smiled at Kate affectionately, “Ok, I’ll let you off the hook this time, but one of these days, I’ll get you to sing something for me.”

“Ok, Hoosier, we’ll see about that.” Kate returned as her eyes locked with his.

He gave her a flirtatious wink, sending her into a shudder as she attempted to look away to avoid further embarrassment.

“Damn him and those blue eyes.” Kate thought to herself.

“Hoosier, we need you over here!” Leckie called out.

“See you around, Ace.” he said before dashing off to the sandbar.

Kate choked on her breath again staring at Hoosier as he trotted off.

“But-how did he...?” she asked herself.

Blanche returned with a little pep in her step.

“I see that your beau stopped by.” she mocked.

“Blanche,” Kate began without removing her eyes from where Hoosier was, “did you tell any of the guys about calling me ‘Ace?’”

“Oh, no, I haven’t. Never really had a reason to tell them that. Why?” Blanche replied.

Kate’s eyebrows creased together, “Um, no reason.” she lied.

She returned to packing her supplies, making mental side note to be more aware of when and where she’s humming to herself.

~~~~~~~

H Company pushed through more jungle for the next few days, and as they finally settled by a tree line for a break at sundown, Leckie, Runner, Chuckler, Hoosier, Sid and Gibson sat together taking turns reading their letters from home outloud to eachother.

“-Best wishes: Father,” Leckie read aloud, “p.s. your mother would like to know if you want us to send your dress-blue uniform.”

The group snickered collectively.

“Must think we get a lot of fancy dress balls around here.” Leckie added.

“Hey, if we do have one, can I be your date?” Runner asked sarcastically.

“You are ugly. I want Hoosier.” Leckie said mockingly pointing at Bill.

“Take a number.” Hoosier responded without missing a beat.

“Seems like Bill already has his eye on a plus one.” Runner eluded.

“Say it ain’t so?” Leckie teased.

The men shared a laugh at Hoosier’s expense.

Bill looked across the crowd of exhausted Marines to catch a glimpse of Kate sitting next to Blanche on a fallen palm.

“Yeah, well, she’s better lookin’ than all of ya’ll put together, and I’d much rather see her in a dress than Leckie.” He joked.

“Yeah, me too!” Chuckler added as they all sniggered.

Hoosier took an opportunity to study Kate. The fair, lightly freckled skin of her face hiding behind a few days' worth of sweat and dirt, enhancing the green of her eyes, absolutely captured him. The voices of his buddies became distant and muffled while he got lost in his thoughts as he sat there admiring how beautiful she was.

“Earth to Hoosier! Helloooo?” Runner called out.

Bill finally blinked back to reality.

“You really do got it bad for her, don’tchya?” Sid stated.

“Who wouldn’t?” Hoosier retorted, “You’ve all seen her.” he gestured to where Kate was sitting.

Leckie hummed, “So when’s the wedding?”

Hoosier threw a small rock at Leckie as a response while the rest of the guys chuckled mutually.

~~~~~~~

That evening while Runner covered the next shift for guard duty, Hoosier was trying to use his hour to take a nap. But his mind was flooded with thoughts of Kate. He laid stretched out on his back using his helmet as a pillow staring up at the black sky sprinkled with stars. Everytime he closed his eyes, all he could see was her.

Hoosier growled outloud, “She’s going to be the fucking death of me.”

He stood up and grabbed the bottle of the Japanese wines they had found in bulk the other day, taking a generous swig of the potent alcohol.

“Trouble sleeping?” Runner teased.

Hoosier shot him his signature death stare as Runner laughed while shaking his head at him.

Bill redirected his attention over to where Kate was across the way. She was awake as well. He looked down at the bottle, studying it for a second in his hand then looked back at Kate leaning against a palm tree using the moonlight as a lamp to read her book.

“Go ahead, Bill. Take an extra hour.” Runner urged, knowing Hoosier wanted to go see Kate.

Hoosier looked at Runner as if to ask, “Are you sure?”

“Go on, get outta here before I change my mind.” Runner added.

Hoosier smirked at him then made his way with the bottle in hand over to Kate’s camp.

~~~~~~~

Kate’s back leaning against the tree, sitting on her poncho to prevent sand from getting in anywhere, she cradled her small medical journal close to her face so she could see the words with the poor lighting she had. She heard Hoosier’s footsteps approaching her and looked to see who was coming. She could barely contain the flutter behind her chest when she saw him.

“Hey, Bill. Couldn’t sleep?” she asked.

Hoosier shook his head, “Nope, my brain’s too busy.”

“I’m sure.” Kate empathized, “Whatchya got there?” she continued gesturing to the bottle in Hoosier’s hand.

He looked down at the wine in his hand, pausing before he sat across from her on a her poncho.

“It’s Jap wine leftover from the airfield the other day,” he held it out to Kate, “wanna try some?”

Kate’s eyebrows lifted skeptically, “You guys have been drinking out here?”

“If you can't fight 'em drunk, don't fight 'em at all.” He stated confidently.

Kate laughed, “It dulls your cognitive responses, I don’t unders-”

“-Look, it’s shitty out here. Alcohol and coffee are the only things we can enjoy while we’re here and since the coffee we were supposed to get is at the bottom of the ocean, this is what I got.” he explained simply.

Kate just stared at him processing his words.

“I just thought I’d enjoy it with a pretty lady instead of by myself.” he added.

Kate blushed, averting her eyes to the journal on her lap.

“Ok, I’ll try some.” Kate accepted.

As she grabbed the bottle, Hoosier scooted himself to sit next to her. The wine had a sweet cherry scent, giving Kate the false sense that it would taste sweet. After she took a hearty gulp, she choked on the intense sting of the liquor and proceeded into a coughing fit.

“Whoa!” Hoosier said with a chuckle. He gave her a few claps on the back, “Stronger than you thought?” he teased.

Kate could only nod as she was still hacking and trying to catch her breath. Hoosier looked around and saw her canteen.

He picked it up removing the cap and handed it her, “Here.”

Kate took the canteen and took a few sips of the water. The choking died down and she was able to breathe normally again.

“Better?” Hoosier asked.

“Yes.” Kate took a deep breath, “That stuff is very deceiving.” she added.

Hoosier laughed, “Yeah, Sid felt the same when he tried it.”

There was a long pause.

“Want some more?” he asked shaking the bottle side to side in front of her, flashing her a mischievous smile.

Kate laughed then studied him for a few seconds, "Sure."

~~~~~~~

#the pacific #hbowar #hbo war #bill hoosier smith #hoosier smith #jacob pitts #bob leckie #chuckler juergens #wilbur runner conley #sid phillips #us marines #ww2

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deputy-buck · 6 months

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I’m back lol. So as we know, you love Sid (I totally get why!) but now here’s another question…

WHAT’S YOUR SHIPS FOR SID (if you have any) AND DO YOU HAVE ANY HEADCANONS OF SID!??

(I love it so much when people come back to my askbox again and again, it makes me feel so loved, thank you Mar)

There's 4 people that I ship him with!

Sid/Gene: childhood lovers, all of their firsts are with each other, there's no bashfulness so they know literally everythin that makes the other go bonkers in bed. Before their service years, it was very sweet and frantic, the 'this is so wrong but it feels so good' feelin was still fresh. After the war, it turned a little dark -not too dark- and Sid became a sort of authority figure for Eugene, givin Gene an outlet for his new need to serve. It also helps soothe the slipping feelin Sidney gets at times; like none of his efforts amount to anything. The visual proof of Eugene relaxing and dropping into a submissive headspace gives Sidney a sense of control, it allows him to focus on Eugene and his needs, and meetin those needs is the most satisfyin thing for Sid.

Sidney/Hoosier: idk I always got the feeling that Hoosier was an important person to Sid, like he looked up to Bill, and then Bill realized that and felt a need to protect and guide Sid. This is all based on the scene at the end of the first episode where Hoosier asks how old Sidney is turning, I look at Hoosier's face as Sidney says 18 and I see NEED and WANT and ACHE in his eyes in every scene after that they share.

Sidney/Chuckler & Sidney/Runner: I just think they're cute together. That's it. With Lew I can see Sid letting Chuckler take a bit more control, more so in the way of learning from Lew and not so much the Dom/Sub type dynamic that Sid/Gene, and Sid/Hoosier have. Like Chuckler is teaching him how to be with a man, and Sidney is so eager to know everything about it. With Runner it's very much giggly-handsy-goofy intimacy, they're making mistakes and laughing about it, maybe accidentally hurting each other a little but it's okay because they both make it up to each other later with softness and jokes and the giddy "I can't believe we're doing this god it feels so good" strangling feeling

See this post of me complaining about the lack of fic for Sid/---

FOR THE HEADCANONS YES I HAVE MANY BUT THEY'RE SO DUMB-

It took him so long to learn how to ride a bike, Eugene made fun of him ofc but he also held him upright while Sid peddled very slowly until he could get enough momentum to go on his own. His primary way of stopping was jumping off into the grass, hey, the brakes were scary!

He is a Mama's Boy to the end. "Sorry, my mama said no." "Mama would love these flowers, Gene slow down, I need to pick these." "Good morning Mama, I cut up some fruit for you for breakfast." THE LIST GOES ON- He loves her with all his heart.

Him and Mary have an open relationship (very progressive for the 40s-50s I knowwwww) and they both know about each others attraction to their own genders: Mary has a couple of girls she messes around with, and Sid of course has Eugene. Sid, Mary, and Gene had a discussion about Gene joining them in bed, but Eugene is very much not into women. He assured Mary that she is still stunning as ever, just not his cup of tea these days, he'd have jumped all over the chance when he was 16 but now? No, but thank you Mrs. Houston-Phillips.

He builds and donates bird and bat houses to the local town hall, where people can pick one or two up and hang them in place of a recently downed tree. Sid is a sucker for flighted animals, it drives Mary crazy sometimes, all the chirping and squallering from birds at the bird feeders Sid has hung outside every window, but they make Sid happy so she always picks up a bag of bird feed every time she heads into town, just to see Sid's eye light up at her thoughtfulness.

That's just a couple that I can actually put into words lmao

#thank you sosossosososos fuckin much #you know how fun it is to answer asks #sidney phillips #eugene sledge #bill hoosier smith #wilbur runner conley #lewis chuckler juergens #mary houston #the pacific #buck builds

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lucky-bastards · 1 year

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Hey, Leckie, your parents ever send you your dress blues? - That joke stopped being funny a year ago, Hoosier. I just thought you might want to get spiffed up. Battalion's holding a lottery.

- What's the prize? A bullet in the head?

A ticket home.

#hbo war #the pacific #bill smith #robert leckie #Wilbur Conley #lewis juergens #hoosier #runner #chuckler #leckie #H Company

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mccall-muffin · 1 year

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Me: Hey, it's stupid, but do you wanna...?

Runner: Hell yes!

Me: I didn't even tell you what...

Runner: I SAID: HELL YES!

@liebgotts-lovergirl @lieutenant-speirs

#Runner just does what he wants #The pacific #Bestie thoughts #sorry it didn't let me go 😅#Runner #HELL YES #Runner Conley #Wilbur Conley

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ithinkabouttzu · 7 months

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Hi,

can you write the morning after with the pacific boys? (can u include runner please? if u don’t mind. he’s my favorite lol)

The night after with the pacific boys ⋆⭒˚｡⋆

genre! Romance; suggestive; fluff

warnings! suggestive, kissing

A/n: Thank you sm for your request! Let me know if you like it

Eugene Sledge : He’s so kind, from the moment you wake up to the moment you guys both get out of bed. He wakes up before you, and he can help but just admire how beautiful you are to him, and all of the events that came about last night, but he feels so lucky. When you wake up he asks if you need anything, and gives out the amazing idea of going out for breakfast after the eventful night before.

Sidney Phillips: Wakes up way after you, and even when he does wake up he doesn’t want to get up at all, would rather just sit and cuddle all day in bed with you, after last night he has officially becomes whipped for you, so honestly he’s willing to do anything you want to do later that day. You guys settle for cuddling in bed while watching tv together, he can’t get enough of you though, the images of last night pop up into his brain and he can’t help but bring up the idea of a round 2

Robert Leckie: Wakes up with a big ass smirk on his face. He’s still as happy as can be about last night, just replaying all of the things that happened last night, he can’t help but feel so lucky that he got to be the one you do stuff with. Wakes you up with kisses all over, giggling until you finally wake up. When you do he pulls you over to him with a big big hug, thanking you for last night over and over again.

Lew ‘Chuckler’ Juergens: He’s so cute the whole morning that you guys spend together, you wake up first, but quickly fall back asleep considering how comfy his arms are while holding you. Both of you are pretty in and out of sleep the whole morning but it’s so cute, just sneaking kisses here and there and being playful with each other, despite the fact that last night was the complete opposite. He’s so soft and sweet the whole morning, making you feel extra lucky.

Merriell ‘Snafu’ Shelton: Wakes you up to kissing and leaving small bites all over your neck, it’s so romantic and slow, but also rough enough to wake you up, round 2 is immediately followed by those kisses, afterwards, you guys decide to go back to bed and relax for the rest of the day, contrary to popular belief, he shows you such a sweet side to him, he has such a soft spot for you. He’ll hold you for the rest of the day and remind you how amazing you are in bed.

John Basilone: He looks soooo good the morning after, like the sight of him shirtless in the morning light is almost a heavenly thing for you to wake up to. He wakes up almost immediately after you, catching on to your intense stares, “How do you feel, darling?” He says, with his deep raspy morning voice, leaving you almost speechless. You guys spend the rest of the day just taking it easy, with lots and lots of kissing and hugging, watching movies on the couch while feeling his strong arms around you, all that good stuff.

R.V. Burgin: Being the gentlemen he is, he wakes you up to an amazing plate of breakfast in bed. He’s so sweet asking you if you need anything at all, he’s a complete simp for you and is willing to do anything if you ask him to. After he offers to give you an amazing massage, which you gladly accept. He’s so amazing and reminds you how amazing last night was.

Wilbur ‘Runner’ Conley : He’s a complete angel the entire morning, he wakes up before you and can’t help but stare at how beautiful you are, later he *attempts* to make breakfast for you but fails bad, almost burning the whole house down and waking you up, when you walk into the kitchen and see him, trying to make pancakes, you can help but laugh. Both of you agree to go out for breakfast instead but you can’t help melt at his sweet offer to make it in the first place.

Bill ‘Hoosier’ Smith: Does not want to wake up at all, would rather just hold you in bed for the rest of the day. Even when you try to wake him up, he whines about it to where you just give in, and stay in the bed with him. He’s so happy that he gets to spend this time with you. Just holding you and being sweet with you after last night. Asks you if you liked it and if there was anything he did to make you feel uncomfortable. He loves playing with your hair while you guys are laid up together, it actually becomes his new favorite thing.

If you enjoyed make sure to like or reblog! Support is always appreciated and welcome! 🤍🤍

#the pacific #john basilone #eugene sledge #sidney phillips #robert leckie #hbo war #the pacific reacts #the pacific headcannons #ithinkabouttzu #bill hoosier smith #runner conley #rv burgin #snafu shelton #chuckler juergens

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hbowardaily · 24 days

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#the pacific #hbo war #ultimatehbowarpoll #round 1 #hugh corrigan #runner conley

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batmanschmatman · 1 year

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HBO War Daemon AU Masterlist

Rising from the grave in this fandom to share all my way too many thoughts about war boys (and girls) and their daemons. Daemon AUs are my absolute favorite trope and I’ve spent way too much time bothering my wife with thoughts about what everyone would have and how it would work to fight a war with all these soul critters tagging along for the ride, so here they are! Will add links as I finish write ups.

BAND OF BROTHERS

Dick Winters - Australian Shepherd

Lewis Nixon - Nebelung Cat

Ron Speirs - Peregrine Falcon

Carwood Lipton - North American Beaver

Harry Welsh - European Badger

Eugene Roe - American Pika

Babe Heffron - Raccoon Dog

Joe Liebgott - Marbled Polecat

David Webster - Eurasian Red Squirrel

Herbert Sobel - Mute Swan

Buck Compton - Angora Goat

Bill Guarnere - Ethiopian Wolf

Joe Toye - Dingo

Bull Randleman - St. Bernard

Johnny Martin - Olive Baboon

Don Malarkey - Carrion Crow

Skip Muck - Western Jackdaw

Shifty Powers - Tawny Frogmouth

Frank Perconte - Chihuahua

Chuck Grant - Siberian Husky

Shifty Powers - Tawny Frogmouth

Albert Blithe - Riverine Rabbit

Renee Lemaire - Sand Cat

Robert Sink - Bald Eagle

Norman Dike - Black and White Colobus

THE PACIFIC

Eugene Sledge - Common Genet

Snafu Shelton - Fisher

R.V. Burgin - Basset Hound

Andy Haldane - African Lion

Eddie Jones - Border Collie

Bill Leyden - Blue Jay

Jay De L’Eau - Hare

Elmo Haney - Mountain Goat

Bob Leckie - Raven

Lew “Chuckler” Juergens -

Wilbur “Runner” Conley -

Bill “Hoosier” Smith - Yellow Labrador

Sid Phillips - Crab Eating Fox

John Basilone - German Shepherd

Lena Riggi - Ocelot

I can also do requests or give advice if you’re looking for picks for guys I haven’t gotten to yet or any other characters you might be interested in finding a daemon for! But full disclosure, your best bet for inspiration is always using the analyses at the Daemon Forum as a jumping off point, because those folks are A+ at interpreting animal behavior in fun and reasonable ways. No “owls are very wise, all wolves do best on their own” there!

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hbowar-bracket · 3 months

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Albert Blithe

Alex Penkala

Alice

Alton More

Anna

Anthony 'Manimal' Jacks

Antonio 'Poke' Espera

Antonio Garcia

Army Chaplain Teska

Baba Karamanlis

Bernard DeMarco

Bill 'Hoosier' Smith

Bill Leyden

Billy Taylor

Brad 'Iceman' Colbert

Burton Christenson

Capt. Andrew Haldane

Carwood Lipton

Charles (Chuck) Grant

Charles Bean Cruikshank

Charles K. Bailey

Col. Robert Sink

Cpt. Bryan Patterson

Cpt. Craig 'Encino Man' Schwetje

Cpt. Dave 'Captain America' McGraw

Curtis Biddick

Darrell (Shifty) Powers

David Solomon

David Webster

Denver (Bull) Randleman

Donald Hoobler

Dr. Sledge

Edward (Babe) Heffron

Elmo 'Gunny' Haney

Eric Kocher

Eugene Jackson

Eugene Roe

Eugene Sledge

Evan 'Q-Tip' Stafford

Evan 'Scribe' Wright

Everett Blakely

Father John Maloney

Floyd (Tab) Talbert

Frank Murphy

Frank Perconte

Frederick (Moose) Heyliger

Gabe Garza

Gale 'Buck' Cleven

George Luz

Glenn Graham

Gunnery Sgt. Mike 'Gunny' Wynn

Gunnery Sgt. Ray 'Casey Kasem' Griego

Hamm

Harry Crosby

Harry Welsh

Helen

Herbert Sobel

Howard 'Hambone' Hamilton

Jack Kidd

James (Mo) Alley

James Chaffin

James Douglass

James Gibson

James Miller

Jason Lilley

Jean Achten

Jeffrey 'Dirty Earl' Carisalez

John 'Bucky' Egan

John Basilone

John Christeson

John D. Brady

John Fredrick

John Janovec

John Julian

John Martin

Joseph 'Bubbles' Payne

Joseph Liebgott

Joseph Toye

Josh Ray Person

Katherine 'Tatty' Spaatz

Ken Lemmons

Lance Cpl. Harold James Trombley

Larry Shawn 'Pappy' Patrick

Leandro 'Shady B' Baptista

Lena Basilone

Lew 'Chuckler' Juergens

Lewis Nixon

Lt. Edward 'Hillbilly' Jones

Lt. Henry Jones

Lt. Nathaniel Fick

Lt. Thomas Peacock

Lynn (Buck) Compton

Maj. 'Red' Bowman

Maj. John Sixta

Mama Karamanlis

Manuel Rodriguez

Mary Frank Sledge

Meesh

Merriell 'Snafu' Shelton

Navy Hm2 Robert Timothy 'Doc' Bryan

Neil 'Chick' Harding

Norman Dike

Old Man on Bicycle

Patrick O'Keefe

Phyllis

R.V. Burgin

Ralph (Doc) Spina

Renee Lemaire

Richard Winters

Robert 'Rosie' Rosenthal

Robert 'Stormy' Becker

Robert (Popeye) Wynn

Robert Leckie

Rodolfo 'Rudy' Reyes

Ronald Speirs

Roy Claytor

Roy Cobb

Sammy

Sgt. Mallard

Sidney Phillips

Stella Karamanlis

Teren 'T' Holsey

Vera Keller

Walt Hasser

Walter (Smokey) Gordon

Warren (Skip) Muck

Wayne (Skinny) Sisk

Wilbur 'Runner' Conley

William Guarnere

William Hinton

William J. DeBlasio

William Quinn

Winifred 'Pappy' Lewis

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hoosierbi · 3 months

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wilbur "runner" conley apb keith nobbs guy that is so animated chipmunk sidekick who sits on the main characters shoulder or in their pockets and makes funny squeaky heartwarming remarks coded

#if u get what i mean. hopefully.#my thoughts are coming to me in that animal crossing language #wn

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she-wolf09231982 · 2 months

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Chapter 1-Dynamite

Summary: Growing up in Chicago, you haven’t seen much outside the city limits, except maybe Wisconsin or Indiana. After the Pearl Harbor attacks, WWII was announced across the country. Not long after you find yourself with your brothers resisting temptations after you stumble upon two military recruiters encouraging you to join the Army or Marines to make a difference.

A/N: Mature audience, BillHoosierSmithx!FemMedic, WW2, OCIntroduction/Kate Danaher, Female Pronouns, Cursing/Swearing, Derogatory Slurs, Womanizing Comments, Military and Medical Terminology, Inappropriate Nicknames, HBO The Pacific References, Mentions of Weaponry, Smoking.

Story takes begins Episode 1/Chapters 1-4 Guadalcanal/Leckie

~~~~~~~

December 7th, 1941

Chicago, IL

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, I am speaking to you tonight at a very serious moment in our history. The Cabinet is convening and the leaders in Congress are meeting with the President-”

Kate listens intensely to the radio one evening with her family in the parlor.

“-In fact, the Japanese ambassador was talking to the president at the very time that Japan's airships were bombing our citizens in Hawaii and the Philippines and sinking one of our transports loaded with lumber on its way to Hawaii.”

Kate's mother obviously in shock sitting next to her father on the loveseat, reached for his hand as her other hand slowly rests over her mouth.

“In the meantime, we the people are already prepared for action....Preparation to meet an enemy no matter where he struck. That is all over now and there is no more uncertainty. We know what we have to face and we know that we are ready to face it.”

When the announcement ended and the regular scheduled program continued, her father walked over to the radio and turned the volume dial down. Kate, her two brothers and mother waited for him to speak.

“Well, all we can do is wait.” he said with finality.

The following day, newspapers all over the U.S. had “WAR DECLARED!!” across every headline.

So, this was it. World War II has begun.

~~~~~~~

Kate and her two older brothers, Peter and Tommy, walk through Sears, Roebuck & Co retail store trying to find Christmas gift ideas for their mother.

“I heard they’re sending guys all over! Britian, Australia, Philippine's, Italy, Germany-” Tommy said excitedly.

“Yeah, that’s what I heard, too.” Peter confirmed.

Her brothers walking ahead gossiped about war details between them, not bothering to even look around for a gift.

Kate huffed irritably, “Why did you guys even come with me if you’re not going to help me find something for mom?”

They looked back and chuckled, “Ah come on, Ace, ma will love anything we get her.” Pete dissolved with a wave of his hand.

Kate rolled her eyes then continued to search for something worthwhile.

As her eyes scan the decorated windows of each shop, two uniformed men were standing in a storefront entrance each next to a military recruiting poster. One bearing “I WANT YOU FOR THE US ARMY” and another “WANT ACTION? JOIN THE U.S. MARINE CORPS!”

“Hey, get a load of this!” Pete nudged Tommy when he saw the two posters.

The uniformed men saw that your brothers’ interests were peaked.

“What do you think, gents, wanna do your part for your country?” The Marine asked.

Pete and Tommy shot eager glances at each other while walking closer to the two men.

“Your country needs you, boys, we’re always looking for good, strong men.” The soldier added.

“See the world and get paid for it!”

“-an extra $50 if you join the 101st Airborne!”

Kate's brothers’ eyes lit up, so she decided to intervene.

“Excuse me, gentlemen, I think these two-” she began.

Each recruiter redirected their attention to her as she approached.

“Ma’am, we’re looking for abled women as well.” the soldier interrupted.

All of Kate's thoughts dissipated at this statement, stopping her dead in her tracks.

“Ever thought about becoming a nurse?” the Marine asked.

“That’s actually what she’s always wanted to do!” Tommy verified for you.

“Shut up, Tommy!” she snapped.

“Well then-” the soldier began, “-sounds to me we have three new U.S. Army recruits!”

“More like three Marine Corps recruits.” the Marine countered with a sly grin.

~~~~~~~

Kate convinced her brothers to revisit the idea later when more was known about where the war was heading. It’s only been a week since the start of the war was announced, and they were already jumping into the snake pit feet first without looking.

But she had internally thought about it herself. Was it really such a hasty idea? The military would pay for all her training to become a nurse. And it’s not like she’d be on the front lines, right? So, she’d be safe.

Kate wasn’t sure who she would be trying to sell the idea to more: herself or her parents. They’d be more against the idea of her joining than Pete and Tommy. The more she considered it, the more she was inclined to join. But which branch?

Tommy and Pete were already dead set on becoming paratroopers for the Army. The idea of $50 more per check was more than enough to motivate them.

Kate discussed your idea with her best friend, Blanche.

“I mean, financially it makes sense.” Blanche agreed.

“They’d pay for me to become a nurse AND pay me while I go. Other than being away from my family, I can’t see why I shouldn’t do it.” Kate reasoned.

“Well, you would be without your best friend.” Blanche eluded.

Kate laughed, “That’s right.” she agreed with a slight look of disappointment.

“You know what, I’ll do it with you!”

A look of surprise appeared across Kate's face.

“Do what?” she queried.

“I’ll join with you and we’ll both become nurses in the military.”

She studied her best friend, “Really? You'd join because I’m going to?”

“Of course! We made a pact, remember?” Blanche reminded.

They each had promised eachother as children they’d always stick together and be best friends forever.

Kate smiled, “Ok! But let’s wait til after the holidays to go see a recruiter. I don’t want to ruin my parents’ Christmas and New Years.”

“Good call.” Blanche concurred.

~~~~~~~

The holidays came and went, and before Kate knew it, her, her brothers, and Blanche had enlisted as service members of the U.S. military. Tommy and Pete signed up as paratroopers for the Army, while Kate and Blanche decided on the U.S. Marine Corps. Needless to say, this news didn’t go over well with any of the parents. Especially for Kate and Blanche being women.

Kate and her brothers sat at the kitchen table across from their mother, Elaine, who was weeping, while their father, Mortimer, paced behind her.

“So,” Mortimer began, “-all three of you signed your lives away.”

They all remained silent with only the muffled bawls of their mother filling the room.

“You see what you’re doing to your mother!?” their father scolded, gesturing towards his wife.

“Pops, we just-” Pete began.

“Do you understand what you just did? The government owns you now. You’re just a number to them. They don’t care if you live or die over there. Who know what will happen to you!” their dad continued as he ran his hand through his disheveled hair.

Tommy, Pete, and Kate looked towards the floor with the weight of guilt weighing upon their backs.

Their mother finally straightened up and composed herself.

“Mortimer, what’s done is done. Shaming the children won’t do any good. Only thing we can do is support them now.” she defended.

Their children exchanged confused glances. Their father turned to her with a look of shock painted across his face.

“Elaine?” he questioned.

“Mortimer, they’re grown enough to make their own decisions. The least we can do is be there for them every step of the way.” she responded.

Their mother looked each of them over with a weak yet genuine smile.

“You will all be outstanding. I am proud of you all.” she added.

~~~~~~~

August 7th, 1942

After Kate and Blanche completed basic training, they surprisingly found themselves aboard a battle cruiser heading for Guadalcanal with well over 1,000 some male Marines. The Corps decided to assign two medics to each platoon, regardless of gender. When they ran out of men to assign, they resorted to placing females.

Kate was just thankful to be paired with Blanche, so she wasn't alone with all these unfamiliar faces. She wasn't one to enjoy too much attention in big crowds. Blanche, however, relished the spotlight. Especially when most of the attention were from men.

“Just look at them! So many handsome ones.” Blanche whispered as she nudged Kate.

“Mmhm.” Kate hummed unamused, looking around the mess hall below the main deck of the ship.

The kitchen prepared a special meal for the Marines today, so the men were buzzing, quite eager to eat something tasty for once. Kate and Blanche (being the only women within hundreds of miles) were usually allowed to get their meals beforehand to avoid unnecessary interactions with the males. Usually, they were able to finish their meals and leave before the guys would get there, but today seats filled up rather quickly upon hearing about the exclusive meal that was prepared.

The only encounters they usually had with the men were when they visited the aid station in one's and two's within the ship to receive medical attention as needed. So, to see them all at once in the chow hall was very overwhelming...specifically for Kate since most of them watched her and Blanche’s every move.

They were pushing through the crowd, trying to get back to their sleeping quarters when a Marine accidentally bumped into Kate with his arms cradling a bunch of oranges, causing him to drop a few.

“Oh! I’m sorry ma’am!” the boyish blonde Marine offered.

Kate crouched down and picked up the two oranges that fell to the ground.

“It’s ok, Private, no harm done.” she assured trying to place the two oranges strategically back on the pile in his arms.

“Oh no, please take them. A gift for two pretty ladies.” he added winking at Blanche.

“Why thank you, Private..?” Blanche began waiting for him to introduce himself.

“-Phillips. But call me Sid.” he insisted.

Blanche and Sid shared a brief moment of staring until it became too painful for Kate.

“Thank you again, Private Phillips. Try not to drop anymore, it would be a shame to waste those.” Kate said as she pulled Blanche in the opposite direction.

“See you around, Sid!” Blanche called out as she waved at him.

Sid made it to his table with the rest of the fruit unscathed.

“Dessert!” he announced to the guys seated as he distributed the oranges onto the table in front of them, “Make sure you save one of those for me!” he added.

“I just wanna get off this goddam rust bucket, I can’t hear myself think!” PFC Wilbur Runner complained.

“Yeah, at least they give you a good meal before your send-off" PFC Lew Chuckler justified.

“Yeah, like the electric chair.” PFC Bill ‘Hoosier’ Smith interjected sarcastically before continuing, “But you, Runner,” placing a hand on the seated man’s shoulder, “-you have won a trip to a tropical paradise called Guadal-Kenel...Guada...ken...I still can’t pronounce it.” He dismissed with a laugh.

The table laughed collectively.

“Hey Sid, who was that doll you were chattin’ up?” Chuckler asked.

“Her name is Blanche.” Sid replied.

“Weren’t there two of ‘em?” Runner questioned.

“Yeah, but I didn’t get the other one’s name. She was a looker, too. She didn’t seem interested, though.” Sid proclaimed.

“Maybe you ain’t her type, Phillips.” Hoosier teased.

“Oh yeah, and you think you are?” Sid shot back with a snicker.

“Guess we’ll see, won’t we?” Hoosier returned with a confident smile.

“Not if I get to her first!” Chuckler chimed in.

“Ok, you’re on.” Hoosier said shaking Chuckler’s hand officiating the bet.

~~~~~~~

You sit on your bunk trying to concentrate on reading your anatomy and physiology research journal while Blanche drummed on and on about Sid Phillips.

“Blanche, please. That was an hour ago.” Kate resounded.

Blanche rolled her eyes at her, “You’re such a book bug!”

“Excuse me?” Kate chuckled back at her.

“We’re surrounded by strapping handsome Marines and you got your nose stuck in that book.” Blanche teased as she snatched Kate's book from her hands.

“Blanche! Be careful with that! It’s old-”

“Please, quit being sucha crumb. You’re always reading or studying.”

“Well, my brothers don’t call me ‘Ace’ for nothin’.” Kate explained.

“Just live a little, ok!? Look beyond the hard covers and enjoy the boys.” Blanche insisted.

“I’d say you’re a little slack happy, Blanche. I’m here to make sure these boys make it through the war alive. Not to find a boyfriend.” Kate clarified.

Blanche laughed, “Well, some things are out of your control. Because let me tell you something, you may not have been noticing all the hot bodies on this ship, but they absolutely been noticing you.”

Kate flashed her a bored and surly glance then snapped the book back from Blanche's hands.

“I’m not the least bit interested.” Kate finalized, flipping back to the page she was previously on.

“Not yet,” Blanche purred, “but you will.”

Kate ignored her comment and continue reading.

~~~~~~~

“Wrap it up now! Get your gear! Everybody topside for the pre-landing briefing! Let’s move!”

Kate heard the officers calling out in the slim hallways of the ship.

Kate and Blanche began collecting their medical supplies and duffels.

“Don’t forget your brassard.” Kate reminded her best friend as she pinned her own white armband donning the red cross to her left arm of her own uniform.

Soon, they stood on the deck with the rest of the Marines as an officer projected his voice as far as he can to brief everyone.

“Forget all the horseshit you’ve heard about the Japs. They had their turn, now it’s our turn!”

Kate and Blanche side eye each other with wide eyes.

He proceeded, “They may have started this war, but I promise you, we will finish it!”

“YES SIR.” The men responded outloud in unison.

“Hit the beach. Keep moving to your rendevous and primary objectives. When you see the enemy, kill ‘em all!” he ended.

“YEAH!” the men collectively roared together.

“Go! Let’s go get ‘em!”

All the men started to stir, each either tightening their helmet straps or adjusting their web belts.

Kate looked to Blanche to ask her if she has everything but discovered she had wandered off somewhere leaving her alone. Kate tried to look over the swarm of Marines then saw her talking to Sid. Kate shook your head and started to push through the crowd to get to her.

It was like swimming against a current walking through the sea of men.

“Excuse me.” Kate called out to no avail.

She suddenly felt a shoulder deliberately check her, knocking the strap of her duffel off her own shoulder.

“Hey, asshole, watch it!” Kate snapped.

A rather tall and broad Marine turned around staring her down.

“What the fuck did you just say to me?” he dared.

“I said watch it.” She repeated emphasizing the last two words without flinching.

He started to approach her as a devilish grin started to stretch across his face.

“I like ‘em feisty.” he whispered inches from Kate's face.

She stood her ground, not giving him the satisfaction he can intimidate her.

“You’re not getting anyone with that breath.” she replied with a grimace.

The large man fisted the front of her uniform practically lifting her off the ground.

“Hey, Bennetti! That’s enough!” a voice barked out from the crowd.

He doesn’t let Kate go but does allow her feet to touch the ground again. She looked to the side and saw another Marine pushing past the others with a few members of his squad close behind him.

“What’s it to you, Hoosier?” Bennetti retaliated.

“Well, that there is our medic, so get your meat hooks off her. Do you not know how to treat a lady?” Hoosier asked smoothly.

“I can think of a few ways to treat her.” Bennetti stated winking at Kate. She strained to get out of his grip as anger started to boil over from within her.

“Let her go. Now.” Hoosier warned as Chuckler, Runner, Sid, and Private Bob Leckie line up ready to square off in case Bennetti decided not to comply.

Bennetti sized up his competition, then let her blouse top go with a bit of a shove, slightly projecting her into opposite direction. With her chest heaving, Kate spat at Bennetti’s boots, then turned on her heel to walk away.

Hoosier and the rest of the boys “oooo-ed” then laughed impressed by her gumption.

“She is feisty, isn’t she?” Leckie acknowledged.

“Yeah, like a firecracker.” Chuckler added.

“More like a stick of dynamite...I think I’m in love.” Hoosier confessed while his eyes were glued on Kate disappearing into the mass of men.

~~~~~~~

Kate and Blanche boarded a Higgins boat with H Company. Almost forty people were packed like sardines in the floating metal box, not allowing for much personal space. Blanche conveniently sat herself next to Sid for the ride to the island, once again leaving you to fend for yourself. Fortunately, Kate found herself in better company next to the Marine that defended her earlier from the brute, Bennetti.

She side-eyed him awkwardly, knowing she hadn’t properly thanked him for helping her yet. Hoosier sensed her apprehension to speak first so he took initiative.

“You alright?” Hoosier asked.

Kate's breath caught in her throat before she spoke, “Oh, uh, yes. I’m fine.”

He smiled, “That’s good.”

She looked down at her boots, swallowing hard before she spoke again, “Thank you. You know, from before.” she muttered.

Hoosier’s smile increased, “Don’t mention it.” he replied admiring her shyness.

Another moment of silence passed.

“I’m Bill Smith. But my friends call me Hoosier.” he said extending his right hand.

Kate coyly smiled at him then grab his hand to shake, “Mary Kate Danaher. Call me Kate.”

Hoosier raised his eyebrows, “Irish?”

“How did you know?” she asked mockingly.

He chuckled, “Just a hunch, I guess.”

They remained quiet for the rest of the journey to shore while explosions tore through the air, as hundreds of C47’s soared over them in flocks. The water was choppy and rough, causing a lot of the men seasickness and lose the meals they had just eaten. Kate wished she could help them, but they could only just push through until they all reached land.

She began to hear indistinct shouting.

“Standby!” The driver shouted.

“Hoof it up to the beach! Spread out! GO! GO! GO!”

The hatch of the boat drops and Marines hit the beach running forward each yelling profanities as they find themselves knee deep in water trudging to get through the sandbar. Many suddenly slow down to take in the scene before them.

“What took you so long?” a random Marine called from the beach, leaning against a palm tree relaxing in front of what can only be described as a campfire.

“Welcome to Guadalcanal.” another added sarcastically seeing the confused looks on the new arrival’s faces.

Leckie, Chuckler, Hoosier, Sid, and Runner collectively laugh, amused by the laid-back atmosphere that they weren’t expecting to experience.

~~~~~~~

Kate sat close to where H Company settled on the beach. Blanche checked in with her before rejoining Sid on a makeshift bench made from beached driftwood. Kate decided to make use of this time by reorganizing her medical supplies.

Kate was startled when she heard Chuckler repeatedly beating a coconut against a stone. She laughed to herself imagining him as a caveman. As he successfully breaks through the shell of the coconut, he becomes disgruntled to find there’s another solid layer.

He shows Leckie, “Hey, now what do I do?” he asked.

“I think the islanders us a machete or a rock.” Leckie responded with a smile.

“Try using your head, Chuckler, it’s big and rocklike.” Runner added.

Chuckler grabbed his machete.

“If you do get that open, you might not want to drink too much of the juice right away.” Kate advised Chuckler.

He looked over at her and smirked, “Oh yeah? Why's that?” he asked flirtatiously.

“Coconut water has mild laxative effects if you consume too much at once.” she clarified.

Chuckler tilted his head eyebrows drawn together confused.

“You’ll get the shits if you drink too much of the stuff inside.” Leckie simplified.

“Ah ok...” Chuckler comprehended while looking disappointedly at the fruit on his lap.

“But the coconut meat is very good for you, so you can eat that.” Kate expanded to cheer him up.

Chuckler smiled at her, “When I get in this son of a bitch, I’ll bring you some.” he offered with a wink.

She only smiled and return to packing her supplies.

Leckie walked over to Kate, “Yeah, you kinda have to dumb it down for him. He’s a great guy. Great Marine, just not that bright when it comes to big words.”

She looked at Leckie and snickered.

“Bob Leckie.” he offered his right hand.

“Kate Danaher.” she took his hand firmly.

“Strong Irish name! Good to meet you. So, your assigned to H Company?”

“I am. And I already have a good feeling about it.” she stated.

“Yeah? How’s that?”

“Well, you all came to my rescue when that bum had me dangling a foot from the ground. You guys didn’t even know me, and you stood up for me anyway. Speaks volumes about you guys.” she illustrated.

“Oh, we knew you long before that happened.” Leckie confessed.

Kate looked at him befuddled.

“Yeah! You and your friend, um, Blanche, is it? Yeah, you two have had these guys’ heads spinning since you boarded that carrier to get here. Of course, we all had to asked around about you.” he explained with a dismissive shrug.

Kate's eyes widened, “Weren’t there more important things to worry about?” she questioned.

“Uh, like?” Leckie returned.

“Oh, I don’t know. Battle plans perhaps? Maps of the beach and the rest of the areas we’re about to trek through?” she listed.

“I don’t know about the rest of these guys, but I write more than I read. Would’ve brought my typewriter if I could.”

“Leckie, you’re going to bore her to death.” Hoosier teased sitting on a fallen palm tree right next to Kate.

She beamed at Bill.

“Well, Bob Leckie, since I love to read, and you love to write, perhaps we can exchange some literature sometime. I’m always looking for new material to read.”

Leckie looked at Hoosier with a cocky, triumphant smile.

“Absolutely, Kate Danaher.” Leckie replied with a slight bow.

She nodded and occupied herself with the project at hand.

Leckie raised his eyebrows at Hoosier.

Bill presented Leckie his middle finger then waved him away mouthing, “Get lost.”

Leckie trotted off laughing to himself.

“So, what do you like to read?” Hoosier started.

“Mostly medical journals. Medicinal studies, anatomy and physiology, physician dissertations-” Kate glanced at Hoosier noticing his furrowed eyebrows, “-um, sorry, I’m what Blanche refers to as a ‘book bug.’”

She winced looking down at her medic satchel embarrassed.

Hoosier chuckled as he scooted closer to her, “No need to be sorry. Only thing I read is the newspaper or Dick Tracy comics. Not exactly a disser-uh-dissrat-”

“Dissertations.” Kate corrected him with a nervous giggle.

He laughed, “Yeah, that.” He started to rub the back of his neck.

Chuckler abruptly walked over to Kate handing her a half-gutted coconut filled with sliced coconut meat.

“As promised, doll.”

“Oh my, thanks Chuckler.” she praised as she accepted the coconut.

“Anything for you. And call me Lew.” he implored with a proud grin.

Hoosier rolled his eyes at Chuckler’s intrusion and sickening attempt to seduce her. The moment was short lived as the meek voice of Pharmacist’s Mate Third Class Lewis chimed in.

“Hey, for what it’s worth, Col Dobson said the Japs might’ve poisoned the coconuts.” he announced nervously.

The group looked at him perplexed.

“They poisoned…a billion coconuts?” Runner asked him.

Lewis shrugged his shoulders, taking a second to think about how silly that sounded until he heard a man cry out in pain behind him.

“Excuse me!” Lewis pardoned himself from the conversation to run towards the injured man.

The group exchanged amused glances, enjoying a good laugh together.

Lieutenant Corrigan appeared, stomping through the camp.

“Intelligence has it the Japs moved back into the jungle. Clean the sand out of your weapons. We move in three minutes. Let’s go find some Japs.” he bellowed.

Hoosier stood up and walked past Kate to where his gear was.

“See you around, Bill.” she called after him.

Hoosier met Kate's gaze with a gleam of excitement behind his own.

“You bet you will.” he called back.

She smiled then redirect her attention to packing up.

Blanche came skipping over.

“See?? I told you!”

“Ugh! Told me what, Blanche?”

“You got yourself a beau!” she tittered poking Kate's ribs.

“Unlikely. I was just gettin’ to know the guys we’ll be taking care of, that’s it.”

“I saw how you looked at him. You can’t fool me.”

“Can we focus on getting our gear and supplies together before the LT snaps his cap?” Kate warned.

“Sure thing, Ace.” Blanche squeaked as she walked off.

Kate shook her head, “She’s going to kill me.” she huffed to herself.

~~~~~~~

#the pacific #hbo war #bill hoosier smith #Hoosier #jacob pitts #bob leckie #chuckler juergens #sid phillips #wilbur runner conley #james badge dale #josh helman #ashton holmes #keith nobbs #ww2 #us marines

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latibvles · 1 year

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titling is for the weak. part three to the band au. also putting this on ao3 so uhh watch out for that when I post the link there! this turned out WAAAAAAAAY longer than I initially planned for it to be. anyways have the guys, a bar, a performance, and Vicki's perspective again as a treat. a special thank you (again) to @almost-a-class-act and @cody-helix02 for listening to me lament over naming this goddamn band. this one is aptly just called “The Bar Scene.” You Can also read the rest of this under the tag “ #au: let me down easy ” :)

A Sunday with Devil’s Piano starts in the studio. Reuben “Chuckler” Jeurgens (although his friends also call him Lew, of which he has many) walks in with Wilbur “Runner” Conley hot on his heels. Between them are five iced coffees. Jeurgens smiles as he crosses to put the fifth in the mini fridge they put in the practice room.

“For Lena, when she comes in.” He explains, in reference to Lena Riggi, the sound engineer who’s worked with the group since their first album, and also known for her work with the Basilone Brothers. As Conley heads immediately to the drum kit, Sidney “Sid” Phillips, bassist, walks in — face lighting up when Chuckler hands him the coffee, but he’s looking around the room like something’s missing.

That something, or rather, someone, is Bill “Hoosier” Smith, their lead guitarist and typically — the first one in the room.

Vicki taps away at the keyboard, glancing periodically at the digital clock on the bedside table, and then at the slip of paper, the name of the club the guys would be performing at sprawled in Corrigan’s neat print. He’d given her the venue name and address earlier that day. The guys would be playing tonight in town, as good of an opportunity as any to get photos. She figured she could hack away at the beginning of the article now.

But her words keep getting away from her and what replaces them isn’t nearly as productive.

Staring at the blinking cursor on her screen, the only thing that comes to mind is an acoustic guitar, its owner smug-grinned and messy-haired, making sharp remarks in a rumpled white t-shirt. And every time he caught her stare, she knew he got a sort of satisfaction from watching her face flush, or watching her look away.

Monday was worse. A clean-shaved, alert, not-hungover Bill Smith was more bold than late, disheveled, embarrassed and hungover Bill Smith. He brushed by her, looming over her notepad and she could smell the spice from his aftershave — but she didn’t say anything. He gestured with his pointer finger to her heading, grinned.

You always make a heart for the letter I?

Only for headings, she’d wanted to say. But he was far too close and his eyes were far too blue for her to form a coherent thought, so she just rolled her eyes instead

Vicki’s been working far too long to not be able to recognize a honey trap. Bill could be as kind and funny as her neighbors in Melbourne, it didn’t change the fact that rock bands lived life in the fast lane, and she’s watched too many of her coworkers end up in messes of their own after falling for the easy smiles and pretty faces that this line of work attracted.

The first thirty minutes is a hodge-podge of activity. They step into the booth to record what they can, and exchange ideas for new songs for their next album. “He’ll show up,” says Conley, not especially worried about his bandmate’s absence. “He’s just directionally challenged.”

And sure enough, thirty minutes past call time — Bill “Hoosier” Smith walks into the studio. He’s narrow-eyed and clearly exhausted from the previous night (when the band held a much more intimate performance at The Troubadour). What occurred after the band’s 30-minute set? They’ll never tell. But Smith wastes no time in grabbing his guitar, and getting down to business.

The best and worst part was that Bill, contrary to what the gossip mags and paparazzi claimed, didn’t mind striking conversation and answering questions. He, like the rest of his bandmates, was endearing in his own way. He talked fondly about his grandparents and his parents, his siblings and growing up in rural Indiana.

But Bill would ask questions too, and no one wants to hear that sob story, so she skirts around it with the story of how she met Bob Leckie after her interview and how he’d crashed on her couch for a couple months after breaking up with a girlfriend.

She takes one last look at the clock, and scrunches her nose. She’d have to continue this later. Thanks a lot, Hoosier.

Picking out clothes isn’t a difficult affair — slipping on the black dress and the heels, flattening her hair and parting it down the middle, hanging her camera around her neck in lieu of a necklace. Vicki calls for a cab while putting on makeup and thanks whatever higher power there is that she doesn’t poke her own eye out with a mascara wand when her brain is elsewhere.

By the time she’s stepping into the cab from the hotel lobby, she’s already fiddling with her camera in an attempt to stave off her own thoughts.

It was a smart move on Corrigan’s part, keeping their talent fresh with these smaller gigs and not letting the local nightlife forget their faces. She wasn’t at The Troubadour the night they performed, but she’d be there tonight. If the label wanted them to maintain relevance, this was definitely the way to keep at it without compromising the quality of their work.

Vicki sees the line out the door before she sees the white lights of the sign for the bar itself, and withholds a groan as she pays for the cab. She had no personal qualms about pulling out her ID, and if that didn’t work she’d just have to call Corrigan. She takes one last look at herself in the cab’s rearview before stepping out and crossing the street. She focuses on the precise click of her heels rather than the indiscernible noises of offense as she skips the line. The bouncer at the door looks at her with a raised brow.

“I’m with the band,” she supplies him with, watching as his eyes narrow, reluctant to let her in. She reaches into her purse to grab her Press ID. As she’s pulling it out, a warm hand presses against her back, and she snaps her head to the right.

Hugh Corrigan’s in one of his finely tailored suits, and behind him are three familiar faces with large black cases in their hands. He smiles at her, then looks to the bouncer as Vicki flashes the card to him.

“She’s with us,” Corrigan reaffirms with a nod, ushering her inside before security can object. He immediately retracts his hand after that as they walk into the mostly-empty bar, its future patrons outside and buzzing with excitement. “Hope you weren’t waiting there too long, Miss Graves.” He offers, all squared-shoulders and polite smiles.

The ones trailing in behind him are anything but polite.

“Shit, I didn’t realize you were comin’ to this thing,” Chuckler’s voice is drenched in mirth, flashing a smile. “What, you invited Leckie too?”

“What if I did?”

“Well we would’ve told Hoos here to put on a nicer shirt.” Without meaning to, her gaze immediately moves to him — and Sid lingering beside him, and he returns it. He’s in a black short-sleeved button-down, a watch on one wrist and several bracelets on the other. His hair’s parted and gelled in an attempt to keep it out of his face. He eyes Corrigan with blatant suspicion, although the latter can’t see it, before looking back at her and eyeing her up and down.

“I think he looks alright as he is,” Vicki decides, without thinking about it too hard. His lip curls, and she’s grateful for the dim lights hiding her flush. Adjusting the end of her dress, she rolls her eyes and looks away.

The back entrance door slams, echoing through the space before Runner calls out.

“Y’know the band performing before us is called Dumb Fucks?!”

—

Dumb Fucks isn’t half-bad for an opener, but she’s not here for them, so she sits with her Coke and lets her legs swing from the barstool, watching and waiting to approach the stage later once the guys take it. She didn’t plan on drinking anything stronger until after she got her pictures — if she stuck around that long. Across the bar, tending to drinks, a familiar face hums.

“You didn’t tell me you were working tonight,” Margie points out. Margie was currently interning at Fusion, and worked as a bartender here on weeknights. Vicki shrugs, watching the brown-haired girl salt a rim swiftly and then get to work on a margarita for someone two seats down. “Or that the drummer was cute.” Vicki laughs, with a roll of her eyes.

“Right, cause that’s what at the top of the list, cute drummers for Margie.”

“Well it could be, if you loved me more.”

“I love you just enough,” Vicki assures as Margie moves down the bar to slide the margarita over the counter, take another order, and mix another drink.

“Not enough to get me the number of your cute drummer friend.”

“You mean my drummer client?”

“Same difference,” and then, tossing a rag over her shoulder and leaning on the bar, she gets a catlike grin. “Although the guitarist couldn’t stop looking your way during soundcheck, you know,” there’s a giggle in there, somewhere, as Margie’s grin grows and Vicki rolls her eyes, reverting her attention back to the band onstage to avoid Margie peering right through her.

“Kinda hard not to look when someone sticks a camera in your face, I reckon.”

“Oh you’re the worst,” she bemoans, all but flinging herself on the countertop. “Right, cause every guy you interview smirks at you and licks their lips and totally shows off on a guitar solo, right? All for the camera?” Vicki laughs, turning to look at her friend who’s resting her chin on her fist.

“Do you want me to answer that seriously?” Margie huffs, exaggerating her point by rattling her cocktail shaker with a certain type of vigor as the opening act wraps their set. Ice rattling is drowned out by the scattered applause and faint murmuring as the lights of the stage dim so they can change the drumkit and the guitars. She then finalizes it by sticking out her tongue before pouring the drink into another glass and breezing by to another patron.

Vicki rises after a few minutes, camera in her hands, as the murmuring starts to crescendo and the lights come up with Runner’s familiar drum kit. There’s a fairly sizable crowd around the stage, but thankfully she gets to the front of it — and there’s enough room for her to move about. Her palms are unreasonably sweaty, and her hair’s standing on end, ignoring the occasional bumps and jostling from other people trying to cross the floor.

When Chuckler comes out, and then Sid, she can’t help but giggle at their stark contrast. Chuckler, all rock-star swagger and charm, versus Sid, who’s somehow maintained that endearingly sweet smile, his cheeks already flushed under the lights. He catches her eye and the corners of his eyes crinkle as he takes his spot further from her, at the left of the stage. And then Runner, full of energy, waving his sticks in the air once he takes his spot behind his beloved drums.

She really tries not to stare too hard, when Hoosier walks on right behind Runner. She knew it was coming, but Vicki swallows hard nonetheless. He looks positively golden under the lights, catching all those shades of dirty blonde in his hair, that looks way softer than she remembers it looking earlier (not that she’d been looking for long). Now though, it feels almost criminal to look away. She might need a drink after this after all.

They go straight into the first song. Chuckler’s voice in the mic is a surefire wakeup call, and she snaps back into herself.

She heard and watched them practice several times in the past two days, she even sat through soundcheck prior to this. She had pictures of them tuning up, one where he looked through his lashes and grinned at her, but said nothing.

This is fundamentally different. Were it not for the view being a bit different through her camera, she could get completely lost in the sight of him. It feels less like her losing her train of thought and more like him stealing it.

And if Vicki weren’t so painstakingly alert, every hair standing on end — she could mistake that warm feeling in her stomach as her being drunk.

She shifts her focus to Sid and his bright grin, fingers dancing across the neck of the bass. He nods his head along to the music and she smiles as the camera shudders and she gets three more shots of Sid, in all his bass-playing glory. Then shifting his attention to Chuckler, sticking his tongue out on the ad libs, his raspy baritone reaching every corner of the room.

By the time he greets the crowd at the end of the first song, they’re already buzzing with energy, barely able to contain their murmurings as Chuckler speaks into the mic.

She watches and moves as her camera requires of her, taking pictures throughout and conscious of bumping into other patrons. The guys onstage work up a sweat, jumping around or otherwise moving. Hoosier gets this grin on his face that she’s never really seen. All-encompassing, directed towards the guys around him, his hair no longer neatly done and now strewn about his forehead. He licks his lips and her eyes divert to his hands as they fly across the frets. He makes it look effortless.

He looks golden.

By the end of the set, she’s already making her way towards the bar, to Margie who’s got one of her more knowing smirks on her face.

“So are you gonna introduce me to the drummer or what?”

“No, but if you get me a drink I might change my mind.” Margie laughs at that with a roll of her eyes, but likely recognizes the look on Vicki’s face — fixing to make her a Manhattan.

Now, at the very least, she can blame the warm, tingly feeling on alcohol and not—

“Thought I knew that lady in the front row.” Fuck.

She turns her head, as Hoosier takes up the seat next to her. She swallows hard as she catches the whiff of sweat mixed with whatever cologne he wears. In the moments where he asks Margie to get him a beer and she agrees, Vicki does her best to brace herself.

“And what if that seat was taken?”

“I’m sure whoever he is won’t mind if I keep you company.” Vicki scoffs, finishing off her drink and ordering another.

“Is that what you’re calling it?”

Hoosier twists the bottle around between his fingers. Vicki’s gaze moves from his hands back to his eyes. He runs his fingers through his hair, to push some of it from his eyes, but it still falls over his forehead.

“Well then what would you call it?”

“A bad idea,” his brows shoot up at her forwardness. She takes a sip of her drink, focusing on the burn of the whiskey as she swallows rather than on the intensity of his stair. “You’re much more marketable if you aren’t seen with a girl. The public likes attractive, single young musicians.”

He leans towards her and she sucks in a breath when his arm brushes hers. She tries to tell herself it’s for purely logical reasons — it’s a crowded bar and he’s just spent the past two hours carrying harmonies and talking into a mic, so he doesn't want to strain his voice by talking over the din. But Hoosier makes it very hard to believe that, looking her up and down like he did when they first walked in.

“Anyone ever tell you you’re a bad liar?” She turns her head a little more to stare at him, saying nothing. “‘N you still haven’t told me to go away yet.” He points out. She swallows hard, licking her lips and returning his stare.

“Would you go away? If I told you to?”

“If you want me to,” She doesn’t have a response for that, not one that’s true, so she says nothing. But Vicki doesn’t look away, and neither does he. He just grins, knowing, and she doesn’t know if she wants to wring his neck out or pull him towards her and make him finish what he’s trying to start here. More importantly, she really hates how he’s seeing right through her right now. “You look good, by the way. Forgot to say that.”

Musicians really are nothing but trouble.

“You didn’t have to,” She can feel a flush creeping up her neck, but she certainly hasn’t drank enough to be incoherent. She knows it’s him, doing that. She hates that too. “I saw you staring.”

“You said I looked good,” he returns, bumping his knee against her bare one. “And I saw you staring.”

“I said you looked alright.”

“Ain’t it funny how synonyms work?” She rolls her eyes and snorts, shaking her head slightly.

“You’re not funny.”

“Then why’d you laugh?” He challenges, and she knows it’s meant to be playful. Vicki presses her lips together, and with her free hand, she takes his shoulder, gently pushing him back so there’s a distance between them again. It’s hard to ignore the heat of his skin through his shirt or the firm muscle there. He looks at her hand, and then at her. She glances to Margie tending to the bar through her periphery, in an effort to remember where and who they are.

“Cause this isn’t gonna go how you want it to.” She lets her hand fall, resting her elbows on the bar itself, waiting for the scrunch of his nose and some kind of venomous words thrown her way that she won’t write about to maintain some semblance of pride. You weren’t the first, Bill Smith, and you probably won’t be the last — but I’m damned before I become a notch on your bedpost.

But he doesn’t do anything like that. Bill takes another sip from his beer, then sets it down.

“I don’t want it to go anywhere,” he sounds almost reassuring. The smile Bill gives her then, is almost boyish. “I just like it when you talk.”

It’s not what she was expecting and the way he says it, as warm as he feels, leaves her without anything that she could say in rebuttal. She can’t help but wait for a ‘but’ or some kind of catch, even though nothing of the sort comes from him. Vicki stares at him, mouth slightly agape but he doesn’t seem to notice until she clears her throat.

“Watch my drink, yeah? I’m going to the restroom.” She watches him drag the glass towards him, and without another word, she slips off the barstool to beeline to the bathroom.

If Vicki’s heart is hammering harder than it had been all night, that’s no one’s business but hers.

#bill hoosier smith x oc #au: let me down easy #. vicki graves #the pacific fic #the pacific oc #hoosier x vicki

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