Topsy Turvey

[youhearthebells]

Who: Hazmats with special guest star Aokiji
Where: at sea, a Navy base in the west-southwest, then Turvey Top
When: seagoing Oct. 1-15 with a stop of about a day on the 9th to raid a Navy base, then Turvey Top from the 15th onward (tbd by October plots)
What: they need a new ship. They're going to steal one from the Navy and then take it to Turvey Top to get it refitted/hide out for a while. And deal with curses, plots, and witches. Also picking up a lost and lonely Kuzan at some point.
Warnings: not likely but let me know
Style: anything you want
Status: closed to whoever's under "Who"

The vacation was nice, but for a few days of Cynthia not remembering some of her friends, but it became clear by the end of it that Raphael wasn't coming back, at least not in the immediate future. They had to accept it and continue on, now without any of their turtle-pals who had brought them together as a crew in the first place.

Size of ship was not quite an issue, but the Hazardous Materials had gone through so many changes lately that there really was only one way for it. Gan Ning felt they needed a fresh start, and what better way than by procuring a new ship? They could christen it with a new name, though he didn't mind still being referred to as Hazmats in homage to the turtles who built the crew and were their friends. Besides, that was what the bounty posters called them, no sense in confusing that. A few casual inquiries around Aquatica Paradise uncovered the presence of Navy bases on small islands in this part of the world. But of course, what with that rumor of the frigate passing through on the current soon...

They set course for the base to do some real piracy. After that, though, they would have to see what island would come up on the escape heading. They could hide out there to refit the ship, make it their own. Little did they know they had found an island with a witch who was rumored to bless or curse even visitors...

Comments

10/8

[willwork4sugar]

     They'd lost their last turtle, and it'd be a lie if Gaius didn't admit that it bothered him more than he'd thought. So far as he could recall from his pieced together memories, Raphael had been the first he'd gotten to know of their current crew, and it had been his suggestion to the turtle that they make off with a ship. At the time he'd felt like being a little reckless, but they'd managed just fine.

     The thief was in his usual place up at the crow's nest, looking out at the seeming endless blue for their destination. The stick of his lollipop twitched up and down between his teeth before he pulled it out to look at the translucent red as he held it up to the sunlight. A new ship, huh. They were going to pull something tricky, but Gaius had no doubts that they'd be able to do it. Besides, he felt they owed the Navy a thing or two- or rather, they owed them.

     Sticking the sucker back into his mouth, Gaius shielded his eyes with a hand as he peered out again, and he slipped his spyglass out to get a better look at things. He nodded to himself. So far, looked like they were still heading in the right direction. Snapping the spyglass closed, he tucked it away before grabbing hold of the nest's rim to hop over and nimbly make his way back down to the deck below.

[youhearthebells]

At the moment, Gan Ning was looking far less than captainly as he chased the handful of remaining chickens around the deck, trying to herd them into a crate. Stealth wasn't the only thing they would need in tomorrow's raid, speed was also of the essence and everyone needed to have their things packed and ready to haul. That included all of their supplies, right down to the last of the chickens that once rained down on them.

Gaius alighting nearby took his attention away long enough for a single chicken to escape - or rather, the tiny rooster that seemed to be taking it personally that his harem had dwindled so much. He fluttered up over the crate and let out one of his ridiculously loud crows from the other side to mock his would-be captor. "Damn you, Gongji!" Ning roared at it. "Get back here and get in the box with the rest of 'em!"

Cynthia and friends

[anelegantmyth]

[ A. Pre-raid

It's a sombering feeling, looking at her now empty bedroom. Looking back, it held so many memories for her, and she'd be lying if she said it didn't make her feel horribly sentimental. They were about to jump ship. Nothing new for her. But knowing that she'll soon be leaving behind the last remnant of her favorite turtle boys...once she's done packing, she'll take a nice good bye stroll on deck. For old times sake.

B. Post raid and shiny new boat
Her own bedroom...

As cool at it was having a room that was actually hers. It didn't really feel all that different from the last ship. Sure they had a whole lot more space, their own cabins with actual beds and even some extra rooms to be used for whatever. But she was also alone in her room on the last ship.

But shoving those feeling aside, she'll be unpacking. In fact, she'll be unpacking three rooms. Namely her cabin, with the door wide open so anyone is free to walk in. The new treasure room, which will be unlocked till she'd done fixing it up. And the map room, because she wanted to turn it into the map room/library and no one's going to stop her.

C.Turvey Top
So it seems...she's cursed. She didn't really know how it happened. One minute, she was having an interesting conversation with this random lady. When suddenly they started talking about what would happen if she cut her hair. Next thing she knew, her entire look just changed over night. Suddenly she was glad she did a little clothes shopping over at water world, because now, with her brand new and completely cursed hair, she looks like this, and will stay looking like that for their entire stay there. ]

A

[legsarerequired]

[Ariel has heard the plans and isn’t sure how she could help, but she wants to. She wants to be part of the crew and help them. Something under water, she’s sure, but she’s not sure what. Ships are still new to her, and though she can try and help them if anyone attacks while they are in the water, she’s pointlessly helpless if she were to try and help them on ship.

at the moment she’s got a little green seaweed bag over her shoulder, packed with her few bikini tops, some shells, a dinglehopper, a few strands of pearls and other odds and ends. It all fit well, and she didn’t really have a lot with her anyhow. But she had it slung over her shoulder, and she was saying a mental goodbye to the little row boat tub that Wan had made her, heart aching to leave it. Wan made it for her. She had nothing else of him with her. It was saddening.

But she could grow up. Move on like an adult. She could be mature--ahhh she missed him. With a sigh she used her upper arms to move her to the center of the ship, turning to rest on the mast. She wouldn’t venture too far inside or anything, because there was no point, but she was there, ready to go when the time came.

While out thee by the mast, staring at her little rowboat, she sighed, movement catching her eye though. the pretty blonde Cynthia taking a stroll. She gave her a sad smile.] Miss Cynthia. [She said with a small wave and greeting, her fin flipping a bit.]

OTA

[legsarerequired]

[A: Pre-Ship Heist]
[It was said they were going to take a new ship. To have her things packed and ready. There wasn’t much to take. A few bikini tops, some pearl strings, a dinglehopper and some odds and ends. It all fit in a green seaweed bag she made. Honestly, the girl needed to learn she could keep things here as well. Keep her human things she finds and gathers.]

[At the moment she was sadly staring at her rowboat tub. Wan made it for her, and not she had to leave it behind. The last of the things Wan had done for her. So there is a sad mermaid sitting on deck, watching, waiting.]

[B: Post Ship Heist]
[After the stealing of the new ship, she was granted a room of her own if she wanted one. She... decided if anything she’s keep her things in it, but for the most part she was on deck, near the side, trying to decide if she liked the bigger feel to this or not. It was new, exciting but sad. but at least everyone came out of it okay, right?]

[C: Turvey Top w/Legs]
[She had sat on the shore of the island, alone for the most part, as the others went to shore. She didn’t mind, but she wished she could see what the others could see. Singing a tune to herself she attracted the attention of a woman. The woman sat with her and they talked, for a good hour, chipper and cheerful.]

[As the woman was leaving she smoothed down Ariel’s hair and wished her good luck, simply saying “if you want to walk, stay dry.” and walked off. In a flash, her fin split, setting Ariel in a panic, only to leave her sitting on shore, in a bikini top and a long white linen skirt half bunched up over her thighs. LEGS exposed.]

[LEGS!!]

[Her eyes were huge, and she crossed a leg, bouncing it, looking over it in shock. SHOCK and Excitement! She turned back to see if she could see the woman, but she was gone.] Wait! Excuse me! [she called back, but the woman wasn’t there.]

[Someone ELSE just received a fin, though she doesn't know that. At all. Anyone near by might see her struggling to stand, or falling over a few times, knees bent in and arms out, oh holy shit. but hey, at least the witch gave her clothing too.]

[Later on: You can also find her walking down a path. WALKING. can you believe it. It’s easy to guess it’s her because of her red hair, but... but... WALKING!]

SHIP RAID 10/9

[youhearthebells]

[It may have stretched Gan Ning's brain to its limits, but they had a plan. Good plans. Great plans, in his estimation. As the sun went down on the 9th, it was time to put it in motion.

They had come upon the base earlier in the day, with enough lead-time to trim sail and stop before they could be spotted. Thanks to Gaius' spyglass and a little help from Ariel, they had their ship picked out so they could target the others for sabotage and get everybody on the right one. The big brig sloop had more guns than the Booyakasha and presumably more rooms, it would be perfect. And if the Navy expected them to go for the biggest ship, well, wouldn't they be surprised when the galleon nearby went untouched?

As the sun set, they raised sail again, so that they'd reach the base in the darkness after nightfall. Then, the teams moved.

Team A consisting of Gan Ning, Gaius, and Roxas would wait until they could put in on the far side of the island and then steal across to the quay to actually take the ship - and eliminate all resistance, including alarms.

Team B is Tsuzuki and Lea, whose job will be to infiltrate the base and cut off pursuit, create diversions, and otherwise wreak havoc with the Navy. Whether scaring them with ghostly apparitions, blockading doors, or whatever else they come up with, no reinforcements can make it to the quay.

Team C is everyone else, and they'll have to wait for the signal from the new ship to begin off-loading all their belongings and cargo. It all has to be stripped from the old ship and carried over, as quick as can be. Ariel will be sabotaging the other ships from underneath, so if anyone wants to help her by setting ships ablaze, go for it.

Once it's all over, they'll have to bid a fond farewell to the Booyakasha as well...

Team A

[youhearthebells]

[Sorry Cynthia, Gan Ning is keeping his bells. At least he keeps his free hand resting on a couple of them so they don't ring while they cross the island?

This is just like Ruxukou, only with fewer men. But then, their foe isn't nearly the size of the Wei army, so it balances out. As they get nearer to the quay where a couple of lanterns light up the walkways and the handful of patrolling men, Ning halts his boys and points]

There, second one from the end. The second-biggest ship. That's our baby.

Team B

[amethystsregret]

[Tsuzuki walked rather calmly toward the main gate of the base. Gan Ning had said he and Lea were cutting off any pursuit when they got the ship out. That didn't seem like such a big deal, especially with his power set. He just wished he could fly. Things would have been so much easier, but he would make do. The only actual problem he had was where the hell his partner for this was!]

[Pulling out a few fuda slips, he walked right by a few guards that didn't even seem to notice him. Sighing heavily, he wondered where red-head could be. Weren't they supposed to be working together here? He finally stopped, next to a marine, blinking in surprise.]

Wait... is he looking for me? No one can seen me in Ghost Mode. Ah crap...

Team C

[legsarerequired]

The third half of the crew is taking care of moving things from ship to ship. Everyone had their stuff packed and ready, right? Ariel just had one simple bag, and she left that there with some others stuff. SO she's hoping someone tosses that onto the new ship while she's in water.

For Ariel, she and Cynthia talked it out and they have plans. To make sure everyone gets out of there alright, she's made note of which ship they were taking, tucking a piece of seaweed to it to make sure she doesn't hit it on mistake when she was scouting.

When the boys left to go do the raid, she slipped over board as well, deep under water and swimming for the first ship. Grabbing the largest rock she can carry she swam to each rudder and lodged it into place, locking the rudders into a turn. For every two boats she locked them into Left turn and right turn, so they'd run into each other.

After each was disabled she'd pop up above to peek around, red head barely showing above water. Then dive under and swim for the next one. She was keeping an eye on the teams, in case any of them had to make a fast get away into the ocean. If you need a mermaid rescue or a faster swim somewhere, she'll find you.

Otherwise she's breaking down rudders and locking others in. Any of you fire bugs, if she notices you've taken care of a ship she might bypass that one until last, mostly to keep speed on her side for the others.

BYE BYE BOOYAKASHA

[youhearthebells]

[Everything went off with surprisingly few hitches. Their cargo and belongings had been shifted over, the other ships disabled, and the base in disarray, leaving the Hazmats with a clear escape route.

But, in the wee hours of the night before dawn, there's one more thing they need to do.

The U.S.S. Booyakasha II has served them well, far longer than expected. But the Navy can't be allowed to have any serviceable ship available to pursue or call for help. And, really, it deserves a fond farewell, so the crew can move on to a new chapter in their time in this world.

Gan Ning orders it towed just off the island and then casts off the rope, leaving her adrift. She's been stripped of sails and flag and everything else not nailed down (and a few things that had once been nailed down), a skeleton against the moon and starlight. Everybody's on board, so come to the railing.]

Should be far enough. I dunno about this tradition, somebody else wanna say somethin' or somethin'? Or do we just light 'er up?

[all those with fire magic, stand at the ready. He'd shoot a flaming arrow over there himself, as per Wu fire-attack protocol, but why waste an arrow when you've got fire mages at your side?]

Roxas Catch-All!

[heartismyown]

[On Their New Ship]

[Roxas finally doesn't have his sling and he's a lot less mopey without it now that he can move around properly. He's been storing up all of his energy for this moment! Anyone want to spar? Anyone want to play? It's possible he may be quite hyper and there's no sugar in sight. Please give him sugar.]

[Turvey Top]

[So there was this crazy old woman who was talking to him and asking him weird questions which only frustrated him and he may have snapped at her. She was rambling about something and it was so unhelpful. Unbeknownst to him, she was a witch and now he's gone and pissed her off.

So on their third morning at Turvey Top, Roxas has awoken with a bit of a problem. No doubt this is going to be his topic of conversation regarding this island. If anyone has any ideas how to un-piss off a witch, that would help.]

[by_heart]

[Since Roxas' shoulder has healed, Lea has once more been given the gift of someone to elbow in the face while he sleeps. Therefore, that means his hammock is ground zero for Roxas' curse. Lea wakes up that morning with Roxas attached to him like a limpet as usual, but that means that, well, something is immediately apparent. At first, Lea is afraid some weird bodyswap thing has happened again, but when he cautiously opens his eyes to assess the situation, he can see that the person attached to him certainly looks like Roxas and he certainly seems to still be in his own body. So...um...]

Uh...Roxas?

Brady Catch-all

[cry_brady]

[Brady is NOT coming along with the raiding of the Navy Base, AND YOU SHOULD ALL BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES. He's staying behind, giving you all the eye, but he will heal anyone who needs healing.

As for the rest of the days, he can be seen practicing the violin, tending to his flock of chickens, or going out and exploring to satisfy his curiosity.]

Sometime after the raid

[by_heart]

[Lea has never been a fan of chickens, so when he emerges from the galley to check out what's going on on deck and sees Brady playing mother hen, he can't help but be less than enthused with the entire arrangement.]

Couldn't you find cuter pets somewhere? Like one of those giant spiders?

[heartismyown]

[It's the sound of the violin that attracts Roxas, but it's after he's had an unfortunate incident so Brady can instead have a girl coming up to him in ill-fitting clothes, peering curiously at him.]

What's that?

One'a those Turvy days

[b2_dragon]

     It seems like a certain someone has upset the resident witch, but then how was he supposed to know those fish were spoken for? The human was a really strange one, yelling at him after he'd gobbled up about half of the fish he'd found drying out- he'd thought someone forgot about them because why would you leave fish out to get all shriveled up?

     She'd shooed him off, calling him strange things, and the Night Fury had loped off, making his way back to the ship. Well, he'd had his snack, and with the warm weather, there was nothing better to do than nap for the rest of the afternoon.

     ...which would explain nothing as to why there appeared to be a large black cat sleeping on the deck of the HazMat's new ex-Navy ship, clearly!

[heartismyown]

[Hey look! A cat! Just like his stuffed one, only this one looked real. Roxas really likes cats after meeting Logan's before and he bounds over. He has his own problems, having met the witch himself, but no matter, there's a nice soft cat there he can pet. He reaches out and runs his fingers along the soft fur.]

[anelegantmyth]

[ It wasn't that she was scared of Toothless. Oh no. She loved that stupid dragon almost as much as she loved her own dragon. But when you turn half fish and know he likes eating fish...well...it's best to have protection, right? Garchomp sits with her as she lounges around on deck. Her tail was covered by a damp blanket, and her two little poots happily floated around her.

That was, until they found the little kitty Toothless. Prepare to be annoyed by Pat and Tootle. ]

10/13-onwards General Kuzan catchall.

[lazyjustice]

[A: Aokiji is a man who tends to go with the floe. In this case quite literally. He'd been biking somewhere, using his ice powers to carve a line in the sea when inexplicable and utter exhaustion overwhelmed him and so he made an ice floe to prevent himself from drowning and is now floating on it, taking a nap. Anyone want to haul.

B: General Sailing: Where does a 10 foot tall Marine in uncertain standing sleep? Wherever he can, really. Don't mind him. He'll try not to take up too much room. Though try not to trip over his deck chair made of ice as he snoozes on deck.

C: Turvey Top Ahoy. Aokiji has been here before and, despite trying to instill some justice, it didn't go as well as he'd hoped and now that he's back on the island he for some reason is cursed to say whatever is on his mind. Prepare for either nothing or long winded ruminations about life]

A

[youhearthebells]

[what the hell? there is ice. In this warm ocean. What. And as they draw closer, there seems to be a man on it.

Gan Ning is suspicious but intrigued enough to call for a stop. The ship may still have the paint and outrigging customary to the Navy but it's flying the Hazmat black flag already. When they come abreast of the ice floe, he leans over the rail and yells. Obnoxiously.]

Ooooi! Are you shipwrecked or somethin'?

B

[amethystsregret]

[Tsuzuki was used to napping in weird places, and he had means of not being noticed. This though... He didn't know what to say to the giant sleeping on ice, literally. He was still getting used to the new ship, not that he had gotten used to the last one before they had set her ablaze. He wasn't aware they had a new crew member though. He shifted back to normal, because wandering around a ship was less embarrassing when no one could see how lost you were.]

[He paused. What if he wasn't the best morning person when woken up, or what if he was one of those people who noticed their surroundings even when they slept? A presence suddenly appearing might have just woken him. Crud. He just stood there watching to see if he needed to run...]

[Why did he have to be curious?]

C! This is probably a bad idea

[anelegantmyth]

[ Oh look, it's that guy they picked up from that giant floating ice cube thing. She never got the chance to properly introduce herself to him. Maybe she'll go to that now...oh wait, no legs.

As a mermaid, Cynthia was pretty much stuck on the beach unless her Garchomp was there to carry her. Garchomp though, like all her other pokemon, were playing somewhere else on the beach. But maybe she could catch his attention?

Cynthia literally just stares at his direction. Hoping she could catch his eye or something. ]

And new crew member!

[theaxeeffect]

[Hopefully there's no one in the immediate vicinity of the Nav, because while the young woman that just arrived doesn't take up all that much space, the dragon following her definitely does.]

[If Astrid's shaken by the teleportation, she doesn't show it for more than a moment, wary of exhibiting any sort of weakness among strangers. She keeps the dragon at her back and has a large axe in one hand, though she keeps it lowered... for now.]

[anelegantmyth]

[ She was still cursed. So her dragon had the privilege of carrying her around the boat while she was stuck with her black mermaid tail. But, of course, that didn't stop her from being the Hazmat welcoming committee. Oh no, that was her job and dammit she was going to do it, cursed or not.

Her garchomp stared at the new dragon. Holding her trainer close since she doesn't trust the thing yet. ]

Fresh meat huh? Hey there.

back on TT 10/17-24

[youhearthebells]

[when the Hazmats return to Turvey Top to pick Gan Ning up, they'll find him rather not in the shape to move too quickly right away. Fighting Kuzan could have turned out a lot worse, but he still got pretty torn up in the process, and is sitting at their rendezvous point dripping blood with his two weapons laying in the sand at his feet. The chain on Dark Thresher looks like it's been frozen and then shattered in two.

He won't take the news of Cynthia's disappearance well, but instead of going on a bender, he'll throw himself into fixing up the Nightfury, as much as he can while bandaged up and sore. Possibly getting shirty with anyone who annoys him. It's a good thing he's not going anywhere near any of the settlements, because what he'd say to the witch who cursed his crew would get him probably cursed into a slug that instantly gets trodden on, and nobody wants that.]

[willwork4sugar]

[For a victory in obtaining the treasure, there is certainly a solemn air about the ship.

Gaius had been reluctant to leave the area of the battle once he'd been informed of Cynthia's absence, but there was no clear clue as to what had happened to her, and they couldn't linger around without endangering the rest of the crew.

They'd retrieved the medallion, Jones' Right Eye, successfully, and Gaius hadn't let it go since he'd laid hands on it.

It was an almost welcome but disturbing distraction to find their captain in such a state when they returned. It was easier to put duty and necessity ahead of other worries. Fix what you could, tend to the things in front of you.]