Bon voyage

[hot_mes]

Who: Three ships a-sailing! (from here Law's crew of 8, Curufin's boat, and Floki's boat)
What: hunting for Door fragments and having adventures
Where: wherever the wind takes us, baby
When: August 14-September 19, a little over 4 weeks at sea
Warnings: unknown besides violence, sass-mouths, and general assholery. Will update as needed.

The first round of texts alerted everyone involved that the ship was finished. Law's plans dictated something alike to a brig sloop, only the final product came out a bit smaller thanks to limited resources. Twenty-five meters long and 6 meters at the beam, two masts, square-rigged, with a half-cabin in front to serve as forecastle and a larger cabin aft to store Kaiba's technology and provide shelter for the galley. Spoilers, he's named it the Corazon. Law's only order at that time was to prepare: pack a single bag and nothing more, make arrangements with your pals staying back, and show up to help load supplies at XX:00. The second text came on the 13th, dictating that only god-provided supplies the captain wanted were a map, a compass, and the boxes from Tranquility. Nothing else was worth his time, or his attention. The morning of the 14th, they're off!

The alliance of three ships includes Curufin's elvish longboat and Floki's Viking ship, so that anyone not capable of getting along could still be along for the trip while safely sequestered out of each other's way. Along the way they will stop off on any island with vegetation and animal life signs, to resupply both food and water, and anyone up for fishing is welcome to have at it. When it comes time to go diving for the fragment they've discovered, difficulty and adventures await.

Your captain has only two rules: your crewmates are your life so no killing each other, and if he gives you an actual order you obey it. Aside from that, there are no orders, just a mild suggestion that you not piss off the captain. He won't care if you piss each other off so long as we can all pitch in together to rig the sails, raise anchor, and get those fragments. Everything else, enjoy yourselves.

On September 5th, an anomalous reading at coordinates uncovers Null Sentries which attack the ship.

On September 7, through the 15th, there is a massive storm after which the ship will limp to one of the small islands just a few days away from the city, so they can make repairs and resupply for the last leg home.

[ooc: make your own toplevels! make multiple toplevels! prompts by day, by phase of the journey (embarking, hunting, searching for the fragment, returning), new prompts whenever you get a new idea, whatever. We're pirates, there are no rules. Jump between the three ships, meet up on an island where we've stopped, come get fed by Sanji because he's the best...
]

Comments

Caedra | Early in the trip idk | OTA

[abyssalarcana]

Departure

There's something to be said for a new adventure. Caedra remembers vaguely the last time she was on a ship - a much larger one than this, full of unfamiliar faces on a cold northern sea. She was excited then, and she's excited now, some of that girlish enthusiasm still within her at all times. She climbs aboard, having hallowed the entire structure the day before against intrusion by any irritating celestial that might try to get in their way, and now settles in for the long haul with her bag - a larger one than the little purse, with an assortment of odds and ends that might be useful for the trip. A mirror, for example, to scry on the city, to keep up with what might be happening there. Ample supplies of paper and ink and a few pens, to record whatever they find as well as her own thoughts. A few different changes of clothing, just for fun.

She stashes her things in an available spot, and trots over to the bow with a smile as she faces out toward the waves, ready to leave the city behind.

Cruise

Look, a lot of sea travel is pretty dull. The winds hold steady for a while a few days in and there's nothing but sea on all sides. Caedra finds herself a seat and reclines, eyes closed.

If anyone bothers her, there will be trouble. She looks content. She's also being utterly lazy, if someone does need something.

There are a few who are exceptions to that, and they likely know who they are. One in particular she wishes to make abundant use of. She opens her eyes after a while, looking around. "Sanji? How much wine do we have left?"

Island

Land ho would be too comical to shout aloud, but Caedra spots a rocky shoreline in the distance all the same, and points. "There! Should we land?" she calls back - and then takes hold of part of the rigging, actually ready to make herself useful. It's probably a rare sight for some of these people, who know her as an agent of violence at times, and sheer selfishness otherwise. But it seems that when she does want to do something, she gets right to it, and thanks to the earlier sailing lessons with Law she at least has a vague clue of what to do to be generally helpful.

On landing, though, she bounds off onto the rocky soil as if it's a race to be the first one to touch land. Sword in hand, she stalks forward over the barren terrain, looking for something to take out her restlessness on.

It turns out that as eager as she had been to set off, sitting around on a ship for days and weeks doesn't do much for her now either. She kicks over a rock that had been balanced precariously on another by the action of the waves just out of the sheer desire to ruin something, and then looks around to see if anyone else is coming.

depature

[puzzlingly]

She's too excited, she's too transparent about it, even he can see it. She's the complete opposite to him, in every way. He's being petty and he knows it, as he can't help but feel more than a little envious of her looking so excited.

And that's when the thought caughts up with him, he's thinking about Caedra as a person as he sees her going from point A to point B in a way he's only seen Anzu acting before, like some happy girl.

He shakes his head quickly, he cannot allow himself to do that, to give it that right. It'd make things even more difficult for him in the long run, it's not about the demon... it's not.

But it is, isn't it? The reason why he's there is not only to see his friends part after all. Caedra doesn't know his little secret, and while part of him would love to watch the reaction on those black eyes to what he and Carlisle worked on for weeks, the other hopes it doesn't have to come to that, he'd be just happy knowing his preventive measures weren't even needed. Either way, that thought alone makes Atem's semblance change again, from sour to a little cheeky.

"Hmph... Look at you, are you truly so eager to get out of here?" He mentions when Caedra happens to walk past him.

Caedra | Mid-trip prompts | OTA

[abyssalarcana]

Dive prep

Probably best not to leave this spell untested until the moment she needs it most, right? Caedra's use of alter self is typically limited to creating alternate humanoid forms with which to move incognito around cities for infiltration. She also knows how to use it to modify her appearance just for fun - changing her eye color, for example.

But theoretically it should be capable of more than that. It's why she had offered to dive for one of the Door fragments. It's true she doesn't need to breathe, but she can do better than just that with a little effort. It only lasts an hour, anyway, and it's likely she'll need more than that - so she considers this a test of re-casting it underwater; a test of how effective it is at giving her better mobility. Also an opportunity to scout for dangers below.

On the upper deck of the ship, she strips down to nothing but her pendant, which she holds in her hand. Visualizing what she hopes for, she speaks a different form of the spell and transforms, growing scales and fins. ((warning for mild nsfw for bare torso))

Want to come swimming? Want to hunt sea monsters? Jump in with her!

Deserted event: scrying on nobody

You may have seen Caedra occasionally sitting around gazing into a mirror. She keeps tabs on the city periodically, and the mirror shows not her reflection but Hadriel's familiar buildings and people.

Today, the mirror is black.

"Ah.... Well. This is concerning."

The Dive

[abyssalarcana]

On deck | OTA

There are things down there in the deep. They lurk, hungry, waiting for prey. The last time Caedra went down to test out her aquatic form, she had to fend off a particularly nasty one, faster than she had predicted and possessing not just a mouth full of teeth but also far too many eyes, looking like one of Kaetos' spawn rather than something natural. She avoids the demon leviathan's Abyssal layer as much as she possibly can, and would rather not be claimed by one of his children on some world that the Door has severed away from the rest.

It takes her a few minutes to prepare. She casts Foresight before all else, focusing on her incantation until her mind races with its effects. If something is down there that isn't a fragment, she wants to know about it in advance, even if 'advance' is just a few seconds. She looks over the circle she has drawn on the deck with the last of her ink, inscribed with Abyssal runic writing to ensure a prompt and safe return. And then as with her previous dives she sets aside her clothing and transforms, growing webbing and fins to help propel herself downward.

"You better have that box ready, we won't be gone long!"

Below the waves | Closed to Glacius

Part of the benefits of her transformation is the ability to speak more or less clearly underwater - a necessity when communicating with her dive partner, though even with her modifications he's faster and more mobile down here than she is. But the coordinates they have landed at still mean there will be searching, and the water is deep. She can see in darkness with her gifts, but the difficulty of what they're doing hits her when twenty minutes down, she still can't see the bottom.

What she does see, in her mind's eye first and then in her own vision itself as she spins abruptly in the water, is one of those sea creatures heading straight for her. It easily dwarfs her in size and her first reaction is to cast, knowing she won't outspeed it. Darkness bubbles from her fingertips and spreads outward, screaming and clawing at the thing, which is slowed but certainly not stopped.

"Glacius!" she cries out, hoping help isn't too far away.

cruise;

[deviledlegs]

"More than enough for a berry cordial every day if you wish!"

The sing-song echoes from out of sight, but no more than a minute later, he's wafting over the deck with a drink in hand and stars in his eyes.

"Are you sun bathing, Miss Caedra? You look absolutely stunning! If only I could be the moon, to share a sky with your radiant, sunny beauty!"

He reaches her then, leaning down on one knee so that the drink is at the perfect height for her to accept. If any of the guys complain about this blatant favoritism, their teeth can meet his boot.

Island

[so_dark_a_road]

Someone else is coming, probably one of the last people Caedra would wish to see. Curufin's and Floki's boats have both put into shore, and their crews are off to explore the island. Once the boat is squared away and the sailors all have their tasks, Curufin starts off up the dingy beach. He is walking along the wet sand where the waves slosh up the berm and then rush back down again. His boots are wet, and his black hair blows in the breeze.

He carries a satchel, a bow, and he has his sword slung at his back. He's thinking in terms of looking for game, and if there is none, maybe going fishing or clamming.

He spots Caedra ahead of him and hails her. "Good day, Caedra! Nice to get off the boats, isn't it?"

Departure

[allthecards]

Kaiba was having doubts about the voyage now that it was actually here. He had no intention of backing down from it though. Doing something, anything, was better than sitting around on those islands waiting for the "gods" to solve anything. All of his equipment had been checked and re-checked before setting sail. There was nothing to do now, but wait. It was as bad as still being on the island.

Looking for anything to do, he decided to "survey" the boat he'd be trapped on for the next month. This brought him near the bow of the ship. By the time Caedra appears, he seems to be deep in thought over the silver necklace Atem had just given him.

Cruise: 8/16

[allthecards]

[Kaiba storms out of the computer cabin as soon as he finishes his call with Atem.

He doesn't care if Caedra looks like she wants company or not. He looms over her reclining form, blocking the sun.]

I need to talk to you.

closed. prior depature

[puzzlingly]

(Law.)

Traf-- 「Stop that...」 Law.

「It's like he had been waiting for the text to finally come because it doesn't take him longer than a few minutes to get to the pier, it might also have not been a secret anyway, giving that one of his best friends is going with them as well. Atem approaches to the pirate right away when he finally makes his way there, he's got not much to say but just offers to him something. One of his most precious possessions.」

Take him with you.

「It's dangerous to go alone...」


(Kaiba.)

Hey-- wait. I need to give you something.

「Atem calls him just when they seem about to have finished setting everything up. Why did he wait till the last minute? Because part of him is expecting for him (them) not to leave, maybe. But this is real, this is happening. He can't help to feel absolutely anxious about the whole thing. But here they are.」

[hot_mes]

[Law is actually surprised to see Atem show up at the ship, even knowing his relationship to Kaiba (such as it is). But, hey, its a nice surprise. He turns from being all captainly and orderly to look at what's being held out to him.

Why is this thing following me everywhere I go??]

Seriously? What, do I need a good luck charm, now?

[allthecards]

[Kaiba looks back over his shoulder, but only turns half-way. Doesn't Atem see there's a ship he needs to get on?]

What?

Trafalgar Law - OPEN

[hot_mes]

At Sea, Aug 14-30

[Law is, basically, at home. He knows exactly what he's doing and what needs to be done, from daily watch schedules to manning the helm to taking reports on the navigation, supplies, and so on. It's probably the most approachable and conversational he's ever been, always easy to spot going around deck with his sweatshirt that matches the flag and that hat. He even pitches in with the physical work, hauling ropes and moving cargo around belowdecks to keep the ship balanced. Grab him to talk, to help, to fish, or to spar. Or, if you're not too happy with how long all this sailing is taking or his choice of crew, you can try getting in his face...]

All Ashore, Aug 22

[This place looks promising. Actual trees! Not many of them but more than anywhere else. Law advocates for putting in here to search for fresh water and hunt for whatever might be here. Is it edible? Can Sanji make it palatable at least?]

Come on. Let's check this out.

[if there aren't any apex predators to make a ruckus, maybe they can even have a bonfire and camp out on land! I mean, if you wanna...]

Trouble ahead?

[They've been seeing larger animals break the surface, like breaching whales, at a distance all along. The further out they get from the last passable island, the more Law can feel the sea life beneath them, and has a bit of a warning for anyone nearby and paying attention.]

I don't know what it is, but it's huge. There's no telling whether it's hostile or not, we just have to...

[cue the ship pitching to starboard and the rudder creaking as the water immediately beneath the hull churns and swells. Something "huge" is coming up to the surface!]

All hands, to the sails! Hard to starboard, get us out of the way!

Wildcard

[like man idk let's do some weird shit]

August 15

[abyssalarcana]

[Look, Caedra is sensible enough to mostly stay out of Law's way on the first day of travels - to let him work, and to admire from the sidelines of the ship as she does what she can to help. She's having fun, but she can see that light in his eyes, much like when he took her sailing weeks ago but intensified even beyond that but mixed with the dedication she saw in that dream of his, out in charge of his crew at home in his submarine.

Ugh, if she thinks too hard about it she realizes she kind of cares a little about him as a person, and not just some useful tool who's pretty to look at and good in bed. These people are rubbing off on her. She's been stuck here too long. Or maybe it's just that the joy is infectious as they set out away from the islands.

Yeah. That's all it is.

Just after dawn on the second day when he's up and looking out over the waves, she goes to join him from where she had been standing near the main mast, keeping an eye on things. Easy to do when you don't sleep.]

So, tell me. What's the name of this ship mean?

trouble on my left, trouble on my right;

[circumitus]

That's no friendly. That thing isn't friendly at all. Rey has caught sight of some silhouettes lingering in the depths of the water, they kept to themselves -- for the most part. Maybe they got hungry, or maybe they got brave.

Either way, Rey doesn't need to be told twice when the telltale creak of the ship tips to the force of whatever is coming up from under the ocean shadows. If her mass is going to be good for something, it's having over three hundred-twenty pounds of a tank woman grasping one of the sail ropes and pulling it with the strength of half the crew.

Coming out from the water, tentacles snake from both sides of the ship, brushing past Rey's boot.

"Shit," she mutters under her breath, too busy trying to keep to sails from going out of control than to deal with whatever the hell is trying to either grab something or drag the whole damned thing under.

[ooc: Hope this is all right! Prose is just easier for me for more action-y threads. Others can totally hop in, as well.]

all ashore;

[deviledlegs]

[For the most part, Sanji's dealt with his lack of nicotine by focusing on his kitchen duties. Even that has a limit, however. His head is pounding like a fucking steel hammer, and as he wipes the sweat from his curled brow, he can only stare at this new island in frustrated disdain, even as he calculates what supplies would be most vital for them to harvest here.

Nonetheless, he follows Law off the ship without hesitation. Maybe there'll be some monsters on the island for him to beat to a bloody pulp. It's a comforting thought.]

I give it a six out of ten. [He pipes up suddenly, not bothering to explain what he's rating.] Next time try it with more enthusiasm, captain.

Rey. | OTA

[circumitus]

I. Into the blue again; (Ocean, August 17th-31st)

All things considered, the ocean should unnerve her. Rey had been aboard a much sturdier vessel than this when she had been a woman named Silva, an Argentinian who ended up drowned near the bottom of the ocean with several hundred bullets and wounds gored into her body. Yet her heart remained, the very thing that saved Rey all those years, collecting those varied lives and experiences that got her where she is now.

'Silva' should have been terrified of the wide open waters, but if anything, her bravado is stronger than ever. Her time sailing with the Argentine Navy as an intelligence operator gifted her with a variety of non-combat related skills. Even without the user-friendly maps provided by Sorrow, it seems that 'Silva' knew exactly where to go.

Like Silva, Rey doesn't talk much to anyone else. She stays focused on her task, goal-driven now more than ever. She doesn't sleep much, even when her eyes are heavy. She doesn't eat much, even when her stomach twists and her head is pounding. It's easy to just mistake that for her usual migraines, anyway, and even easier to ignore her mental anchors dragging her feet.

The fatigue gets wrung out when she shakes her head, mumbling instructions to herself inaudible to those who might investigate what she's doing.

II. You may find yourself in another part of the world; (Island, August 20th)

The headaches have gotten more troublesome than she'd anticipated, so it's a relief when they take a pitstop on one of the few existing islands on this planet. The first thing she does is set up a personal makeshift stove setup made from a soda can and alcohol. It burns just as well when Rey sets a pot over the mini-tripod to boil some of their water for the special tea she'd brought along for times like these.

This pain has been an ongoing problem for months, but for one reason or another, she's never questioned why. The tea certainly ends up helping her not to give a shit, once she has a cup boiled for herself.

See? It isn't so bad.

II POP CAN STOVE !!

[abyssalarcana]

Another disappointing island trip. While the others are off scrounging for fresh water, plant life, and near-shore fish, Caedra surveys their location with clear boredom. These islands are so empty of interesting native life. Where are the ankhegs, the orcs, the dragons? Or at least their local equivalents. Sure, the last planet had been burned to dust, or whatever it was - 'shook the air'? But this one she had thought would be more promising than it is.

It's on her return to the ship with a clear lack of enthusiasm in her step that she spots Rey crouched over something burning. A - oh, she's seen those little drinking cans in the shops sometimes, or used for mixers at the bar. But why is she trying to burn metal? Is she boiling the drink? Is that what those are for?

She pauses nearby and gestures to the can with the tip of her rapier, confusion on her face. "Explain this," she insists, although it sounds more like blunt curiosity than an order.

Alucard Emery - OTA! (will match style)

[solase]

DEPARTURE
The ship is no Night Spire, but it will do the trick in a pinch, Alucard thinks to himself, as he gathers up his pack, straightens his hat, and heads aboard. He looks the part of someone who belongs on a ship like this one. Three years spent as a pirate and then as the captain of a privateering vessel will do that to a man, he supposes.

Anyone who's met him before might recognize the absence of his white fluffy shadow, Esa. There's a story there, although it's not a sad one. Not completely. There's someone else he's had to leave behind as well, however, and perhaps here without his own captain's quarters to keep her safe Esa might have a better time keeping him company than Alucard himself.

Setting his pack down on the deck of the ship, Alucard steps back to take the lot of it in before clasping his hands together in front of himself. His silver rings glistening in the sunlight, the sapphire stud in his eyebrow twinkling merrily as he smiles at the first person to pass him by.

"One magician, reporting for duty."

SAILING
Alucard stands back against the mast, gazing out at the ocean as the boat skips its way across the swells and waves of the open water. He's missed this. He's missed the smell of the salt air and the way that the the sea mist seems to get inside just about everything. He's missed the feeling of being part of a crew and the sense of having a purpose again -- even though he's part of the guard back home, they don't really need him. Not like this.

But he misses Rhy as well. Misses him all the more for the fact that this time, he'd had his permission to be on this voyage. And he can't help but wonder if, after all they had been through, a better man might not have just stayed home. The other man does call once a day but he knows it's not enough, he can hear it in the young prince's voice. And he can hear the fear that he might not be coming home again as well.

Absently, he recognizes the sails beginning to sputter, the wind dying down with his lack of concentration. Letting out a soft sigh, he straightens and waves a hand in their direction. A warm gust of air spinning up to fill the sheets once more.

WILDCARD
((ooc: i just tossed a couple of prompts together for alucard here so far but if you would like him in a specific scenario don't hesitate to toss something together here or let me know your thoughts at lycanthropy101 so we can plot something there too! tl;dr he has some pretty fancy magic and he can see magic as well so. if your character has any and you haven't filled out his permissions, hit me up here too!))

Departure

[abyssalarcana]

"A magician!"

Caedra can't help but step forward with a puzzled, but pleased, expression as she overhears Alucard introduce himself. "I've never heard of anyone with actual magic introduce themselves as a magician - rather they prefer terms like 'sorcerer', or perhaps 'mage'. But you're the one who does weather magic, right?"

She looks him up and down, and while dress shouldn't sway her, it does help. It's a little comforting to see someone wearing fashions she's more familiar with, rather than the odd state of dress some of these people adopt here. Makes his supposed abilities more immediately believable, which is ridiculous but there it is. Most of the creatures that think of themselves as 'modern' have no magical ability at all, anyway, though there are certainly exceptions.

"I'm Caedra," she says, in case he had somehow missed the memo. She's fine with her reputation preceding her but there have been occasions when someone preferred to bury their head in the sand until meeting her in person. Law, in fact, is a prime example.

Curufn | OTA

[so_dark_a_road]

Up Anchor! Departure on 8/14

[ On this partly foggy day, a brisk wind begins to blow as the sun lifts over the trees on North island. Curufin's boat, to which Margaery Tyrell gave the name Intrepid, is anchored in the sound. Supplies and equipment are stowed, all the crew are aboard, and it's time to row out to catch the wind, trim the sail, navigate the channel and then sail into the open sea. ]


Island Camping

[ The boat is moored near shore, the small island has been explored and foraged for fresh water and hunted for edible shellfish and other food, and a camp has been established. The tents are pitched and dinner is being grilled over a crackling campfire, and some of the Speakeasy's best is being poured out and handed round in mugs.

The crews of the other two ships are free to visit and partake of some tasty dinner with Curfuin's crew, if they like. The three boats have been traveling within shouting distance of one another, after all. ]

Cheers! And also, skol! [ He lifts his mug and toasts his companions. ]

[ And I hope you brought your musical instruments, because besides drinking and being bold sea robbers and tarry jacks, you can play and dance! ]


Diving the Deeps

[ Out in the middle of the ocean, it is time for Curufin and whoever is going to dive for a Door fragment with him to harness up, sling their oxygen tanks on their backs, put on their dive masks and flippers, and get ready to jump into the cold water. Curufin grins at his dive partner. ]

Ready to rock?


Rough Weather

[ Actually, this is not even unusual for these seas. The waters are northerly and turbulent, due to the confluence of currents and the twisting flow of the planet's coriolis winds at these latitudes. The dull green waves toss and leap, flinging the white seafoam thirty feet into the air, and the crew must keep the boat pointed into the oncoming waves or risk being capsized. Luckily, an Elvish/Viking-style boat is built specifically for this sort of environment. Lapstrake construction (overlapping hull planks) makes the boat flexible enough to absorb the force of each wave strike so that the boat doesn't bounce maniacally in the chop but rides it fairly well. This is lucky, if you have a tendency to get seasick.

But say, the winds are getting worse, the waves are getting bigger, and there's a crack of thunder and the rain begins to fly sideways through the air. You all are going to be soaked. ]

Diving

[survivethis]

[Jill has plenty of experience, so her gear is ready to go in no time. It surprises her, though, that she has a dive partner.]

Yes. You didn't tell me you knew how to dive.

[Diving with a partner was definitely safer, but she's surprised.]

Jill Valentine | OTA

[survivethis]

Sailing! - Curufin's Ship

[Jill was invited aboard by Curufin, who has been a good friend since she just arrived. Having something like this to do has given Jill some purpose beyond survival, which is well and good, but she likes to help out. Make a difference whenever she can.

She's no expert sailor, but Jill can take instructions and can figure things out along the way, being a pretty intelligent woman. As they sail along, there's always time for a chat.]

Island Living

[Once all ships are settled on a piece of land, Jill spends a little time exploring, which might not take long at all given how small some of the spots can be.

However, she pitches in with setting up camp, picks fruit, or whatever else might be useful. There are times when she might be spotted around the campfire or having a bit to eat, or even checking over the diving equipment she received from the gods.]

Wildcard

[Whatever! Jill will be sailing and participating in diving for fragments.]

island living

[soldier_blade]

In a sense, Sonya was relieved to see Jill had decided to come along with the crew. Among those in their selection of boats (and in this place in general), she felt the most familiar, however much she didn't know of the woman and her past.

She was helping clear an area for the camping ground when she saw her approach, and gave her a slight wave in greeting.

sanji | open

[deviledlegs]

galley kitchen;

[Sanji stands over creaking wood in the galley, feels the rolling of the ship through practiced sea legs, and he can't stop the smirk that curves at the edges of his lips. For the first time since he walked through that impossible door, he has a kitchen to call his own, and he even knows how to fucking use it. He doesn't care that it's small and cramped. It's his territory, his domain. And now he can finally own it. He has only one shitty pack of cigarettes to his name, but he also has two perfectly sharpened kitchen knives in his hands. For now, that's enough.

With a flick of his wrists, one after the other, he spins the knives deftly, growing accustomed to their feel and weight. Once he's satisfied, one is dropped back into its place while the other he flips right through the bulk of a prosciutto ham leg. He doesn't bother slowing down, flowing right into the motions of cutting deli-thin slices from the meat. On the counter beside his cutting board, he's already laid out two chicken cutlets for each member of Law's crew, and a bowl of freshly cleaned and chopped spinach is airing out beyond that. Salt, pepper, a box of toothpicks, parmesan cheese, olive oil, and lemon juice fill out the rest of the counter space completely. Sanji is humming.

He doesn't even know half of the crew's names, let alone their tastes. This trip won't be anything like traveling with his own crew. But he's already brainstormed ways to remedy this, and so when someone idles by, he waves them in.]

Play a game with me. [He beckons.] Guess what I'm making for lunch before I finish it, and you get to choose what everyone has to eat for dinner.

[Careful though. When Sanji says "everyone has to eat," he means it.]


near the stern;

[Leaning against the side of the ship, Sanji glares threateningly up at the three cigarettes remaining in the open pack he's raised above his head. He knows how to ration from bitter experience, and he has more restraint than anyone would ever give him credit for. If he needs to go without something, even something vital, he knows the best damn way to do it. Sanji is confident in this fact.

But this? This is different. This is a violation of the natural order of the universe. A growl resonates from the back of his throat.]

Stupid, shitty shops stocked by stupid, shitty assholes.

[Suddenly, he really wants to kick someone.]

stern

[abyssalarcana]

[The frustrated muttering draws Caedra's attention from where she's sitting on the deck, working away on paper at a circular diagram littered with smatterings of odd foreign writing. She raises her head from her focus on the paper, and looks over at him.]

What did the shops get wrong this time?

[She's certainly well-acquainted with their failings, or she wouldn't be working in sparkly magenta ink.]

Floki | OTA (will match format)

[boats_n_hoes]

Departure;

Floki was getting ready to leave, applying the pain under his eyes and trailing back down over the tops of his ears and all the way down the back of his neck, in pointed ends like snake fangs. His expression was serious, sailing out into the unknown was never something one should take lightly and Floki, though he had all his Gods on his side, was no exception.

Once his face paint was applied, his robes donned and his hair spiked, Floki would splatter blood around the outside of his boat. It was needed after all! Shaping the splatters with his finger, so that they made the sigil or protection and good fortune, something he would have insisted on doing before sailing out of respect and tradition.

As he was finishing up, setting his tools, the small few supplies he'd gathered and soft bag of bird feathers he's been collecting (something soft to rest his head upon) Floki waited with a wide smile spread over his face, looking around at all the other men, children and women who were also readying themselves for adventure.

"May Thor's thunder light our way! May his storm push us onwards!" Called out in celebration and excitement.


High Seas;

There was nothing quite like it! The splashing of water on your face, the smell of salt and seaweed, the cool bite on the wind as it chilled you to the bone. Floki was in his element! Climbing the mass and dangling from the edge near his sail, waving frantically and blowing into a small horn made from a goats horn.

Waving to the other boats as he laughed, careful not to slip and fall (he might have been a Viking, but Floki couldn't swim!) "Good day! Oh what a good day this is, is it not!?" Yelling at the top of his lungs for all to hear, only stopping to shake off a wave that reached overboard and splashed him violently, almost causing him to lose his grip.

" Tee-he! By the Gods what a marvellous day to be alive!!"

Floki had yet to check his lines, the ones that hung overboard attached with large wooden poles and nails, he intended to catch a fish or two... or three if he was lucky, with plans of cooking them up for everyone later.


Islands;

It was inevitable that they would all have to settle down and camp from time to time, if Floki had it his way, they wouldn't have stopped at all! It was common for Vikings to remain completely on the boat during such adventures, though he wasn't with a fleet of Vikings now was he?

As they all docked for the night and gathered around to greet one another, Floki found himself a nice spot close to a small fire pit someone had already made. Stripping his sodden tunic top from his torso and slinging it over a nearby rock to dry, Floki haunched down and warmed his hands.

"Any food or drink my friend?" He asked with a mischievous smirk on his face.


Wildcard;

( ooc: Hit me up with any starters you might have in mind! Fighting a sea monster, digging for treasure, hunting, or other you name it and I'm down for it! )

Departure

[so_dark_a_road]

"May it be so!" answered Curufin, who was as eager to cast off as Floki was. He did not mind being driven by a storm wind, if one was available, as that would speed up their journey considerably.

He and the crew who were going with him on this first leg of the voyage had finished their preparations and were now saying their farewells to friends and family who had come to see them off, or wishing other friends bon voyage, those who were taking other boats. Curufn had wandered down the shore a bit to find Floki and those who were going with him. They'd all be sailing close, but you never knew what might occur on a voyage.

He watched with interest as Floki completed his ritual preparations, precautions, and celebrations. "What's the meaning of the sign you are drawing?" Rhetorical question, but Curufin liked to hear Floki talking of his life and his beliefs. He never got tired of this.

Eleven | Slightly closed to Curufin's ship and Glacius (will match format)

[theflea]

Stow away / Overboard!

Eleven had seen the many people, coming and going on the boats. She's not found a crew of her own and didn't really know how to sail or fully understand why people were sailing, all she knew was it was something she'd never done, something she wanted to learn.

So, with very little thought, El clambered inside a sack of supplies and nestled herself away in a tight corner of someone's boat. She concentrated on the voices she could hear, on what was being said and who was saying it but she couldn't identify the voices as of yet.

When the boat finally set sail, only just over a few hours in and El was starting to feel a little green around the gills. She waited for as long as she could until she couldn't hear the voices of those around her, before sneaking out of the sack and hanging overboard. The sea was rougher than she imagined and in such a small boat too! It felt as though the waves were deliberately trying to toss the vessel up in the air, only to bring it crashing back down.

After emptying the small contents of her stomach overboard, El realized that she was in danger of being spotted, so in a brash moment of impulse, she threw herself over the side of the boat and hung on there for dear life. She didn't like the idea of being spotted, what trouble she would be in, what kind of people would find her. As she hung there, panic set in. The sea lashing at her legs, soaking her right to the middle. Her fingers started to go numb from the cold splash of sea spray and in a moment faster then the blink of an eye, El felt her fingers lose their grip.

Splashing into the water, she gasped out loud! managing to treat water out of sheer fear and automatic reflexes. There was no way she would be able to swim, she'd never learnt! And catching up with a boat that she wasn't supposed to be on in the first place just seemed pointless.

So there she was. Splashing and bobbing up and down. Only bearly able to keep her head above water for long. Using her powers and trying to levitate was harder than she thought it would be, so she tried to stop the waves from crashing over her head, by extending her minds reach and breaking them before they got to her. Her nose started to drip blood from the excessive use of her powers, the water around her tinting pink with each drop that splashed down.

She was in trouble. Deep trouble.

resident ice alien to the rescue~~

[glacius]

It certainly is a precarious position that Eleven has found herself in, but thankfully the danger is lessened nearly as quickly as the situation had escalated in the first place. Given that Glacius has been spending as much time in the water as he could to distract himself from his troubled mind, escorting the boats and keeping an eye out for any trouble, it does not take long for him to notice the small human bobbing about haphazardly in the waves. Her distress is clear, so the alien immediately moves in to assist, his serpentine form winding through the choppy waves.

Oddly enough, the closer he gets to her, the less those waves become a problem; somehow they're breaking before they reach her form, meaning that she's surrounded by a short region of calmer water. Curious. Some innate ability of hers, perhaps? It doesn't help the alien feel better about the situation when he notices that said water is tinted red with blood. Fearing that the young human might soon succumb to injury or exhaustion, but not quite able to break through whatever field of influence Eleven has thrown up in her fright, Glacius has to reach out to her in other ways; his natural form emerges waist-up from the waters, and he extends one large white hand to her.

"Here, young one, take my hand!" Glacius calls out to her, so set in his intent to help that he hasn't much thought of how she might react to an alien suddenly emerging from the dark sea before her. He is largely humanoid in shape... but so was the last creature she faced, unknown to him. At least he has a clearly discernible face, and the lack of mouth is an immediate distinction from the petal-like opening lined with nasty teeth that haunted her. "I promise you, I am here to help if you let me!"

semi-closed to Caedra (reactions welcome)

[hot_mes]

[Law has been eagerly awaiting the result of Caedra and Glacius's dive, able to sense that they might have had some company down there but unable to do anything about it. He had to trust they could handle it, and they did. Wonderful. The box is waiting for them on deck, so they can store the fragment as directed, but the captain's curiosity outweighs anything that might have been mentioned in passing by Tranquility. Why do they need special boxes? Who the hell cares, as long as they come back with a full box rather than an empty one as proof that they've done what they set out to do. He just wants to have a good look at this "fragment" before putting it in the box. And make no mistake, it will go in the box, and anyone who has ideas about holding that box hostage are going to find themselves sans heart for a bit.

The gods really could do better about warning their guests.

Law really only handles it long enough to give it a once-over before putting it in the box, but that brief touch is all it takes. Without a word he suddenly rounds on anyone standing within arm's reach of him, striking out with a punch and then immediately following it with an attempted Mes, Room flaring around him and fingers curled to excise organs with precision. He misses, but barely. Something has come over him, his eyes are completely hidden by his hat but there's an irrational rage twisting his face, baring his teeth in a snarl.

Better hope this emotional outburst passes faster than it takes him to punch a heart out of a chest]

[abyssalarcana]

[It has been all of ten minutes. Ten goddamned minutes, in which Caedra dries off, gets dressed, and goes to find a well-earned drink. She only gets halfway to the galley before she hears Law, and sees that pale blue sheen out of the corner of her eye thanks to the lingering effects of the Foresight she cast before the dive. She only has about half the usual store of her own arcane energy to draw from after the exhausting dive, and immediately she draws on it before he can turn his sights on her.

With one hand outstretched, she calls her sword; and as the familiar shape forms in her palm, she gestures with the other hand and practically spits out an incantation in her haste to curse him with her lord's mark. If it saps his physical strength, great; but Law is formidable and may not be as affected by that trick as some others. More importantly, she'll stick to him like glue if he tries swapping them around, and she can give him a good little psychic shock if he keeps trying to attack the others. She'd kind of like to keep them around so they can get back safely, after all.

Brandishing her sword, its tip trailing with green flame, she calls out:]

Law, what in the depths are you doing?

[But she has a guess as to what happened. She could feel it too, that pulse, the disturbance within her when she brought the thing back. It had taken all her willpower to fight it and step away before she too could be tempted to tear the ship and its inhabitants apart.]

STORM! Sept 7-15

[hot_mes]

The Corazon is on its way back to the city-islands proper, still a couple weeks out, when the storm hits. The clouds darken to near black, the winds whip up, and in short order the rain and sleet begins. Law moves quickly to order all hands to furl the sails and reel out the anchor to create drag, and the rest is what we call "battening down the hatches." The other boats following may want to tie up alongside the larger one for shelter, they're in danger of capsizing. The sloop, less so, but a lightning-strike to the mizzenmast shreds the topsails and it takes a constant effort to keep water out of every essential area. Pitch in, crew, make sure the hold stays water-tight, no sea-spray gets into Kaiba's scanners, and the fragment box is safe.

It's going to be an exhausting, wet, and cold week, crewmates, let's cuddle in the cabin for warmth and do our best to keep the ship upright. The one thing it can't do is find an island and land - any captain who's been through a hurricane knows they're safer at sea than in harbor right now. Safer, of course, is a relative term. If anyone gets seasick, just ask Sanji for some ginger.

[ooc: feel free to make toplevels under this, do as you please with or without the captain!]

open

[hot_mes]

[Law starts going without sleep almost immediately, snatching no more than four hours a night if he can - when he has able crew on watch overnight. The damage to the mizzen is pretty bad, they'll need to limp to an island to repair it before making that last leg of the trip but for now, all they can do is ride it out.

So, he's even more curt than ever, short-tempered, and rigidly in control of everything. No more languid captain rolling with the punches, he snaps out orders at everyone and demands obedience. Really, all he wants is everyone to stay safe, no one to get swept over, and the ship to not be thrown into maelstrom currents or undersea rock formations. He's just yelling because if he doesn't you'll all die, okay?

Find him any time of the day or night (and really, who can tell what time of day it is under these clouds?) slouched in the galley with the hottest cup of tea they can manage with wet fuel and pitching deck, looking murderous. Or, alternately, on deck with ropes in hand, struggling to keep the sails from unfurling and subsequently tearing apart in this wind. One man and his Devil Fruit aren't enough to keep this ship afloat, he needs his crew.]

September Prompt: NULL BATTLE, 9-5

[hot_mes]

The storm is still on the horizon so the 5th is a good day to check out an anomalous reading during their search for another fragment. Law frankly doesn't care if they don't have the boxes to carry a second one, he'll see to it that the thing is contained as best they can because fragment > no fragment. But what they find on the ocean floor today is not what they expected. At all.

No one is expecting Caedra to teleport herself immediately up on deck so soon after diving, but there's any number of things that could have gone wrong. More sea creatures she can't take alone? Dangerous currents? No fragment after all? But the things she describes as having encountered and briefly fought sound all too familiar to the captain, who immediately turns hot and urgent, whipping around and barking out orders.

"All hands get ready for a fight! Null. We can't let them take the fragment and they won't leave here alive." But he can't remember which of his crew have been here since the last time anyone saw the Null. Rey, thankfully, and Curufin in the nearby boat. The others may not know how to fight them, so in a moment he'll give them a crash course in how to destroy a Null. First, though, he runs over to the rail and bellows across to warn Curufin, then Floki, and encourage them to tighten formation so they can all work together.

And that's when the three amphibious Null erupt from the water in pursuit of Caedra and land on the deck of the Corazon. All hands is right, this is going to be a fight to the death.

[ooc: to keep from bogging down in 7+ person threads, there will be separate threads for each Null, plus aftermath. Law will be battling one of them, everyone can split as they like to fight the others.]

Null #1

[hot_mes]

[this fucker belongs to Law, so he can show the newbies how it's done. However, the adaptive nature of the Null and their previous encounters with the Hadrielites mean this one's core is well protected. It's going to take some work to tear it open.]