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

[summing_it_up]

Eh. [His left leg lifts slightly, knee bending as he stays on one foot for a few seconds.] It's...not much to look at.

You've changed a lot. I-in a good way.

[theaxeeffect]

You should see it now. Well, I mean. You will eventually. Right?

[A flash of surprise crosses her face, followed by a slow smile.]

Yeah?

[summing_it_up]

I...I guess I will?

[He's starting to get curious about it now. His eyes dart about before he looks up at nothing in particular, trying to not bring attention to the faint blush under his freckles.]

Uh, mmyeah.

[theaxeeffect]

...How old are you, anyway?

[Well that's amusing... and kind of adorable.]

I'm not the only one who's changed, you know.

[summing_it_up]

Fifteen. Give or take a year...

[Metal leg scuff. He blinks.]

...Wait, you did say I was taller than you, right?

[theaxeeffect]

...I'm twenty.

[She rolls her eyes a little at that.]

Yeah. You'd never let me forget it.

[summing_it_up]

[His face just drops into a look of awe. Both for her age and for his future height.]

...Twenty...

[theaxeeffect]

[Okay, so maybe this has some upsides.]

That's right.

[summing_it_up]

[He can't help it if he makes funny faces.]

Twenty and I get– I'm sorry, I'm still trying to wrap my head around this.

[Hiccup then prods the black fur muffler around his neck.]

Hey, Toothless, you hear that? I actually get taller!

[theaxeeffect]

[Oh please, like she'd ever want to get rid of the funny faces. ...And she finally pays attention to the cat.]

...Toothless? Are you going to name everything that?

[summing_it_up]

What, no! I haven't lost it, this is actually Toothless!

[He unwraps the cat, holding him out to Astrid for closer inspection.]

[b2_dragon]

[The cat dangles, blinks sleepily before yawning, and then meows.

...and then it pauses, blinks again and stares at Astrid.]

[theaxeeffect]

[She looks at the cat, and then at Hiccup, and back at the cat -- and makes no move to touch it.]

Yeah, as far as I remember, he's never been a cat.

[summing_it_up]

Well, no, but right now he is.

[He lowers Toothlesscat a bit.]

Iii think it had to do with this island here. Some of the other crew are kiiind of not themselves.

[b2_dragon]

[The cat reaches a paw out towards Astrid, meowing a bit more. Something off about her, but she smells like he remembers!]

[theaxeeffect]

[Eyes him cautiously, but before she can put a hand out, she's bumped to the side as Stormfly rushes forward and lowers her head to sniff at him.]

Stormfly, what--

[summing_it_up]

See, he recognizes y– WHOA!

[Hiccup is almost bowled over by the Deadly Nadder, barely keeping his balance.]

Hhey, Stormfly–

[b2_dragon]

[The cat starts slightly- dragon-friend is so much bigger than he remembers!! Squirming slightly in Hiccup's grip, Toothless finally settles, sniffing back at Stormfly before meowing at her.]

[theaxeeffect]

[Stormfly nudges at Toothless curiously, sniffing and trying to figure out why he's so small... and furry. But after a brief examination she makes a happy chortling noise, apparently deciding that it's not a concern.]

[Astrid watches her, frowning. Still, it's hard to argue with the nose of a tracking dragon.]

Well... I guess she's convinced.

[summing_it_up]

[A sigh of relief visibly escapes him. He cradles Toothless against him, patting his little buddy.]

Am I glad she can!

So, just for future reference: this is just a mild example of what can happen while sailing.

[b2_dragon]

[Mya~

Toothless paws at Stormfly's nose lightly before purring up against Hiccup, stuffing his head under the boy's.]

[theaxeeffect]

Mild.

[Well, at least he seems to act the same, just tiny.]

I'd hate to see extreme.

[summing_it_up]

Well-oof–

[A scrawny hand tries to move the cat's head from under his chin.]

–It's. It depends! At least it doesn't make it boring.

[b2_dragon]

[Meowing again, the cat shifts to drape himself back over Hiccup's shoulders.]

[theaxeeffect]

Because you usually have so much trouble with that.

[She watches Toothless, amusement starting to win out over the skepticism.]