♫ right past the fabulous mess we're in...

[behisstrength]

Who: The crew of the Koumyou
Where: At sea → Phantasia
When: Spanning the latter half of November
What: Crew catch-all log
Warnings: Silliness abound!
Style: Ladies' choice
Status: Closed (unless you're also at Phantasia, at which point let us know!)

Sailing
Gobble, gobble matey
Phantasia
New crewmates' arrival
Aboard
Phantasia II

Comments

SAILING

[behisstrength]

For threads that take place aboard the Koumyou before this month's event.

[behisstrength]

[Standing at the Koumyou's wheel, his hands resting lightly upon its spokes, Motochika glances across to his companion. His gazes briefly flicks to their map as he speaks.]

What do you see today?

[wavesoakedlegs]

[Mitsuhide is rather confused.]

[That is not, in truth, an uncommon state for him to be in. This strange world boosts creatures, places and magic quite different to his own; indeed, since arriving the samurai has seen so many versions of the undead that he's gained a deep distrust of cemeteries!]

[This, though, is something quite new. Having gotten to grips with how the magical maps work, he is certain that the latest appearance on it is somehow wrong.]

There is an island very close to us.

[Mitsuhide looks to Motochika, back at the map, then back at Motochika again.]

So close it should have shown up days ago.

[behisstrength]

[Motochika's eyebrows draw in, puzzlement trickling into his expression.]

There is, is there?

[He drawls, as he leans towards Mitsuhide. He does not doubt Mitsuhide's word, of course -- he is merely surprised given that there was none close to the Koumyou's position last time that he looked at the enchanted parchment.]

Show me.

[aidreamofsenpai]

[It's not like he's never been on a ship before, but Aiichiro has definitely never spent this much time on one. Walking around on deck isn't all that difficult when the weather is calm, but doing tasks while walking around on deck is a little different.

Not to mention that he's got to learn how to do all those tasks anyway. Thankfully, he's got a really nice crew, and he's pretty confident that he can learn how to do things.

Still, he's not perfect. And right now he's sitting on his butt on the deck, rubbing at his head, after he's just managed to bump it tripping over his own feet while going about some chore that he probably assigned himself in the first place.]

[behisstrength]

[It strikes Motochika as unusual not to see Nitori in motion -- the boy has a truly abundant amount of energy from what he has witnessed this far. That alone gives Motochika reason to approach.]

Aiichiro. Are you hurt?

[aidreamofsenpai]

[Aiichiro blushes brightly at being caught doing something stupid, and gives a little shake of his head, which of course only makes him a little dizzy. He leans forward a little and rubs at his head awkwardly.]

I-I'll be okay, Captain! I just... I guess I'm still getting used to walking on board sometimes, and I was trying to do too many things at once, and...

GOBBLE, GOBBLE MATEY

[behisstrength]

For event threads that take place aboard the Koumyou.

[sharkasm]

[It's the sound that registers first, when Rin goes to get some food from below deck. An oddly garbling cluck-cluck noise, like nothing he's ever heard before - and there shouldn't be anyone down here anyway. Do they have a stow-away, or...?

Sneaking up to look behind two barrels, he finally sees it - a massive heap of feathers.]

What the hell..?

[He barely manages to mutter the words before the turkey spots him and runs off - and Rin, setting his jaw, chases after it, more out of instinct than with an actual plan. Whatever this thing is shouldn't be running loose!

And so, a moment or two later, the turkey comes out on deck, half-flying as it frantically flaps its wings - and Rin comes running after it.

Nothing to see here. Just another day in the life.]

[behisstrength]

[Motochika often plays his shamisen out on deck when matters that require his full attention lull, and now is one of those times. Concentrating intently on his music, the sudden commotion takes him by surprise -- he instinctively turns towards its source, bachi at the ready to strike.

Only to have the turkey crash against his shin with a squawk, which does nothing to stop its mad rush onwards. If that wasn't unexpected enough, Motochika barely has time to register the fowl before Rin's pursuit becomes clear.

He stares after them, his mind taking a beat to catch up with what he just witnessed.]

[aidreamofsenpai]

[Aiichiro has a lot of things to be excited about! Between being able to be on a ship with his senpai to learning all kinds of new things, he's been bouncing around cheerfully since he arrived about the Koumyou. When he discovered the turkey, however, his previous excitement paled in comparison.

Turkeys are not small birds. Nor are they always particularly nice or friendly. Does this stop Aiichiro? Of course not!

He follows after the creature with wide eyes, grinning all the while.]

Mr Gobbles! Come play with me, Mr Gobbles! Oh, don't fly up there, you might fall off or get knocked off by a wave or something! Here, come over here and I'll get you a treat!

[The animal doesn't seem to know what to do with his enthusiasm, but when he holds out a small handful of food, the bird moves toward him cautiously. Aiichiro beams.]

[wavesoakedlegs]

[Mitsuhide's first opinion on what to do with the suddenly-appearing turkey had been 'slaughter it.' Fresh meat is a rarity when sailing, after all, and it would have made for an excellent meal.]

[Nitori's reaction to the presence of the strange bird had put a firm halt on those plans, however.]

[Mitsuhide is on the deck of their ship, staring out across the cove in which they are currently docked. This island is a refuge from the navy and therefore a temporary home, so soon they must explore it, but there are plans to be made before they do so. The samurai is therefore enjoying a moment of peace, something welcome after everything they gave been through, but it is cut short by Nitori and the turkey walking past.]

[Humming thoughtfully, Mitsuhide turns around and straightens himself up. He looks to Nitori, to the turkey, back at Nitori again, and eventually sighs softly.]

I would be cautious, Master Nitori; the bird could strike out at any moment.

[It had proven several times already that it was quite prepared to do so, if provoked.]

PHANTASIA

[behisstrength]

For all threads that take place on Phantasia.

THE SOCK THIEF STRIKES (Open to crew)

[wavesoakedlegs]

[Since the Koumyou's crew started exploring Phantasia, it's become obvious that the island is... very unusual indeed, even compared to what they have seen in this world so far. Strange creatures roam, the weather changes according to no particular pattern, and Mitsuhide could swear that it reacts to them, sometimes.]

[But... no... surely that would be a step too far.]

[Regardless, on this particular day on Phantasia, Mitsuhide is exploring the area just outside the cove where their ship is hidden. He is doing so with a very irritable look on his face, his mood not helped by the heavy rain falling all around him that is very quickly soaking his long cloak. Perhaps he is searching for something? If one approaches, one will hear him muttering under his breath:]

I wouldn't misplace every one of them... something is definitely... I know I heard something...

[Something is certainly bothering him.]

In the glittering desert... (Closed to Motochika and Mitsuhide)

[wavesoakedlegs]

[The crew has seen many strange things in their time on Phantasia so far. Some of those things have been interesting, some frustrating, some intriguing and full of wonder.]

[But none has so far matched the sheer beauty of this sparkling desert.]

[On the edge of it sometime in the evening, wrapped up in his cloak to keep warm in the cool all deserts bring, Mitsuhide kneels in the sand and runs his fingers through the grains. In the light of the moon it does not shine so much as to almost overwhelm, instead adopting a more gentle glitter.]

Oh, goodness...

[He sounds genuinely awed, touched by the sight before their eyes. To look across this desert is to witness true beauty, surely. Smiling softly, Mitsuhide looks up at Motochika.]

My Lord, this is incredible. I can hardly believe what we see is real; it's like we stand upon a bed of crystals.

[behisstrength]

[Motochika too takes in the incredible sight stretched out before them. The pearlescent sands glimmer under the moonlight, creating a truly ethereal stage. Like this, it's easy to believe there is magic in the air.

Mitsuhide's voice draws his gaze down to his friend.]

Certainly none can deny its magnificence.

[Motochika responds, smiling in turn. The image of Mitsuhide framed by the moonlit desert is one that he is sure will linger in his mind -- their surroundings suit Mitsuhide's classical beauty and inherent grace, as if both man and landscape sprung from the same legend.]

Very few sights compare.

[The first notes of a new song stir in his thoughts.]

Anyone/everyone/multiple threads is fine since he'll bounce around a lot

[aidreamofsenpai]

It's all so... it's all so beautiful...

[If you've ever seen a small excited dog wag its tail so hard that it looks like it's going to break in half, that's something like what Aiichiro looks like right this moment. He's walking back and forth across a clearing, his eyes trying to go everywhere at once, from the waterfall that dominates one side of the clearing to the trees to the strange birds that fly overhead occasionally.

His eyes widen even more as he catches sight of something moving in the trees, and he stands stock-still, as if he can't decide whether to give chase or wait and see what happens.]

There's something over there! Maybe it's that unicorn I saw earlier, or... or... it could be a deer or something or dragon or- or-!

[sharkasm]

I told you this world has weird things.

[So tone it down a little, Nitori. Sheesh... This shouldn't be such a big deal.

Rin wouldn't have been all that happy here in the first place, but there are more practical reasons for that as well. Nitori's insanely bouncy mood may dominate the island far and wide, but Rin isn't affected.

Which is probably why there's a small shadow all around him, from the miniature thundercloud that hangs over his head like in a bad cartoon.

Don't even make him explain why he hates this place...]

NEW CREWMATES' ARRIVAL

[behisstrength]

For threads revolving around the arrival of the Koumyou's newest crewmates.

[collagehero]

[A rather impressive stack of chests and boxes precedes the former crew of the Mahi Mahi Iwatobi-chan through the Nav. At first it seems like nothing human is ever going to appear, but then a loud and perhaps overly exuberant voice rings out.]

HEEEEEEEEEEEY, EVERYBODY!

[Hajime climbs up on top of one of the boxes and waves her arms excitedly, sending the overly long sleeves of her "pirate" coat flapping. In the discussion of what to keep and what to sell to other travelers back at the Manila docks, somehow the small collection of wigs they'd found on Breakneck Cay managed to stay in the "keep" pile, so she's once more wearing her fancy white powdered wig. All in all, she looks rather ridiculous, but she seems quite happy with it all.]

[aidreamofsenpai]

HIIIIIII!!!

[Equally loud and equally excited, Aiichiro bounces toward the newcomer. He'd be startled by the sudden appearance, but he's too excited for that, really. Besides, there were all kinds of strange things in this world, and while this girl looks pretty strange, she can't be the weirdest.

He finds himself looking from her to the boxes, then back to her, and laughing.]

I guess it's pretty normal for girls not to travel light, huh?

ABOARD

[behisstrength]

For threads that take place aboard the Koumyou after the crew's expansion.

[collagehero]

[Hajime has been busy getting into the middle of everything ever since she arrived on the Koumyou, but now that things have settled down a bit she figures that it's probably time to hunt down the captain, first mate, or both. More importantly, though, is that the discussion takes place out of earshot of Rin, so she waits until it looks like he's too busy being Rin to notice.]

Hey hey, got a second? It's pretty important!

[wavesoakedlegs]

[Mitsuhide is feeling a little overwhelmed right now; he hadn't quite expected that many boxes, and while he won't come close to complaining about it, it's left him feeling rather restless as he ponders how best to organise their new crew.]

[Hajime's question drags him out of his thoughts, however; the urgency of her question concerns him...]

Of course. Is everything alright?

PHANTASIA II

[behisstrength]

For all threads that take place on Phantasia after the crew's expansion.