Welcome newbies to the Alcyone

[delugional]

Who: Crew of the Alcyone
Where: The Alcyone
When: October 21-Nov 1
What: Simple crew mingle with contemplations on life, the universe, and everything this world, what's to come, and maybe even home. Oh, and a boatload of supernatural weirdness following. Literally.
Warnings: Possible violence, undead, and blood-lusting.
Style: Prose or brackets, either is fine
Status: Closed to the crew

The night before...(21rst)

All was quiet for the night, the cleaning finished, the crew in bed, except for one. It was still fairly warm, much cooler than it had been in the southern seas, but they had only left Isla Empieza that morning. The waves to weave and crash upon each other in a soft lull. Clear skies for the most part, the not quite full moon overhead cast some excellent mood light where the lantern nearby wouldn't suffice. Anyone else having trouble sleeping tonight, feel free to go find Archie chilling out on the deck.

Fog, phantoms, and the RPG norm...(22nd)

Being out on the water, fog was a pretty normal occurrence. Warmth of the day with the cool of the night, casting vapors at dawn and dusk. Usually it was quite ethereal. This fog... even more so. It possibly wouldn't be nearly as worrisome if it weren't for how quickly it came rolling in, covering everything in a faded bone chilling haze. And speaking of bone chilling, what was that coming closer.... A ship...? And those figures on board.... PREPARE YOURSELVES!

The morning after...(23rd-end)

Its not all that hard to believe the attack from the night before. Considering the crew, stranger things have happened than mere ghost ships (although ghost ship isn't exactly something they've all had to face before) appearing from nowhere. Perhaps that was what Dog had mentioned about something coming and by sunrise they would.... hey has anyone seen the sun today? And it still feels like something isn't right to the magically sensitive. Something is still going on, and that moon sure doesn't look too friendly either...

Comments

[lost_sailor]

I haven't heard any complaints.

[There were so few of them on board that any complaints would have been impossible to ignore.]

...How are you feeling?

[It was a hesitant question that he didn't expect a proper answer for.]

[jadethenecromancer]

Oh, I'm fine. The chill is just making my joints ache. Old age, you know.

[The lie didn't come out quite as light-hearted as intended. If this got any worse, he might have to come clean or he'd just wind up putting the others at risk.]

[lost_sailor]

[The lie, hollow as it was, earned a small smile in reply.]

Believe me when I say that you're not old.

[Looks weren't to be relied on in any world. Piers' smile dropped at that point, and the jokes fell with it.]



I am more skilled than you realize. But, I cannot help if people do not tell me. [His tone lightened, briefly.] I don't read minds.

[jadethenecromancer]

[Jade gave him a long, calculating look. Opening up was never his first instinct, but...]

...You recall the Dog's warning, correct? About not letting the ghosts touch us?

[lost_sailor]

I do.

[Piers met that gaze, as open and fearless as he always was.]

Something happened, didn't it?

[jadethenecromancer]

The first wave had us cornered. We were forced to fight at close range.

[Jade had tried to take the brunt of the attack. It had seemed like the logical choice -- his spear had better range than Ivan's short sword, after all.]

It was only for a moment... but I think one of them touched me during the confusion. It seems that was enough.

[lost_sailor]

Just a touch?

[Suspicions confirmed, his tone leveled and his brows furrowed in concern. The Dog's fate was alarming enough, but one of his own?

He went over the possibilities and what he could do.]

Are there any other complaints beside what you've already shared?

[jadethenecromancer]

[Hm. How to put this tactfully...?]

I'm fighting the temptation to tear out your throat and drink your blood. No complaints otherwise.

[So he said with a completely straight face.]

[lost_sailor]

[...

What?]

There are legends of sailors gaining immortality by eating the flesh of mermaids, but you can be assured that the same cannot be said for Lemurians.

Please, do not take me for a child.

[jadethenecromancer]

Piers, you wound me. Do you honestly think I would joke about something like this?

[...Yes. He absolutely would.]

[lost_sailor]

[Piers looked over, his confusion clear.]



You do have a strange sense of humor...

[jadethenecromancer]

Please. If I wanted to fool around, I would have said that to Luke. His reactions are far more entertaining.

[lost_sailor]

[It was no lie then. Rarely did Jade ever state anything so plainly.

Piers stepped forward, breaking the distance that stood between them in the fog.]

That sounds like a strange affliction, if it is not a joke. [Definitely not a run-of-the-mill side effect from a monster encounter.]

You'll keep something quiet for me? I don't want too many people knowing...

[jadethenecromancer]

[Jade forced himself to hold still when Piers stepped forward -- whether to keep from recoiling or attacking, even he wasn't certain. Close proximity did nothing to ease the blood-lust.]

What is it?

[lost_sailor]

[The tension was palpable between them, but it didn't deter Piers. He simply offered a small smile.]

I already told you; I can do more than what you've seen. [He gently lifted an open hand, as if in a show of peace.]

May I? This won't hurt you. It may actually help.

[jadethenecromancer]

[Jade held his gaze for a moment before answering. Piers was a caster of some sort, he knew that much. If he wanted to try something in response to the curse, it could only be a healing arte.]

[Besides, unless Jade had utterly misjudged his new captain over the past weeks, it was highly unlikely Piers would intentionally hurt him.]

...Very well. Go ahead.

[lost_sailor]

[A nod. Piers pressed his palm against Jade's head and stilled. Jade would notice a strange blue glow as his captain reached into the reservioirs of Mercury's power to draw forth it's influence. It should be able to work regardless of strength.

Piers breathed.]

...It's a little more difficult to work in this world.

[jadethenecromancer]

[Oh, this wasn't good. Physical contact made him painfully aware of the warm blood flowing beneath his crewmate's skin. Jade stood rigid, resisting the sudden violent urge to yank Piers' head back and sink his fangs in. If only the arte would work...]

[...It didn't.]

Get back!

[This time Jade did jerk away, taking several steps back until he hit the railing. His face had lost what little color it still had.]

[lost_sailor]

{...it should have worked.

It always worked.

Stunned, Piers unconsciously reached for his blade when Jade violenlty pulled back, prepared for any kind of retailiation that could come. He didn't follow through with the movement when it became apparent that there wouldn't be an attack.

Instead, his grip tightened on the blade in quiet frustration. He couldn't bring himself to look at the man.]



...

Sorry

[jadethenecromancer]

[To say Jade was unnerved was an understatement. Losing control like this was disturbing on its own -- and the last time he had lost control, someone had ended up dead.]

[He pushed his glasses up, half out of habit and half to cover up his reaction. Within a few seconds, he seemed to regain his composure.]

...There is no need to apologize. I appreciate the attempt.

[lost_sailor]

[Jade had regained his composure; Piers had nothing to grasp. He looked up, for once seeming to be the young man that his appearances belayed, with all of the irritations and uncertainties that came with it.]

I've never had that fail before. It's... [He trailed. There was no easy way to describe it.] ...instinct.

[He quickly shook his head.]

No -- it's one of the first things a child learns in my homeland. At least, the few that there are.

...

That really should have helped.

[jadethenecromancer]

[It was somewhat surprising to see Piers so rattled when he was usually the calmest of the crew. Clearly the young captain (was he young?) wasn't used to failing.]

This is a different world. It's reasonable to assume some of our powers won't work as effectively here.

[lost_sailor]

We both already know they don't.

[Manila. He's grateful for how Jade took over during the trip back to Isla Empieza, but that entire stunt made several facts of this world plain to all of them.]

[jadethenecromancer]

Then there's no reason to be so shocked, is there?

[He shrugged, as though this was all merely a minor setback.]

[lost_sailor]

I expected difficulty, not this.

[It may have been minor in the grander scheme, but it was enough of a setback for Piers to take problem with it.]

...I have never had that do nothing.