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Who: The Crew of The Shepherd
Where: Various locations
When: Month of January
What: General crew log
Warnings: None at the moment; EDIT: attempted homicide, violence, and all around insanity, in accordance with the new event
Style: Whichever you feel like
Status: Closed to crew members

And so, at the beginning of January, the Shepherd set off from Isle Impieze back to Green Breeze Island, intent on revisiting what they'd discovered there; there were new crew members after all (in fact, the crew was almost completely different at this point), so there was more than enough justification for it. It would take some time reaching it, but the ship's supplies were well stocked so that wouldn't be an issue at all.

That wasn't the only change, however. The crew had since elected a new captain, and as such, this voyage was a proving grounds for the new status quo.

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... I know, Alice.

[Mana reached for Alice, and took her by both hands, looking at her seriously]

You're always looking after us, protecting us. So... whatever is coming, Alice... will you help me do whatever we can to protect the people on this ship?

[Alice, for just a split second, gives her a look that seems to question what Mana was asking. Because of course she was. It was why she was there. It was why she became a Precure. It was the "why" to a lot of things in her life.

Then she catches herself, and realizes that Mana was talking about the ship and not just her and Rikka. Of course she was. Alice had heard her say it quite clearly. But for just a moment there, her focus narrowed a great deal.

She blinks a bit, looking confused for another split second, before nodding at Mana.]

You know you don't need to ask me that, right? You and Rikka-chan... and everyone else here, I'll do everything in my power. [She squeezes her hands, and attempts a smile.]

... I know, Alice. But... this will be very serious! We need to be at our best! You're the one of us that's the smartest about fighting, so... I'll need you especially!

[That, and... asking Alice in particular just felt natural. Jade, or Smoker, or any of the original Shepherds might have known more, but... Alice was already close to her already...

... that was it, right? That was all of it, right...?]

[Alice gives her a serious, steadfast nod.

Of course she'll do just as she asked. This was clearly starting to get worse, and... she'd made a promise to herself. She wouldn't let either of them be hurt like they were before. That curse which had made Rikka have to do as she did... It had hurt the both of them, be it emotionally or physically.

She would do everything in her power to make certain that wouldn't happen again. So that it can't happen again.]

Of course, Mana-chan. And we will be at our best. We don't have any choice, do we?

Of course! We need to fight as hard as possible! Or else... or else we'll be letting everyone down...

[Mana's fears were the same as Alice's, and she drew her hands away from her's]

Alice... I know how you feel about not being there for us when... Rikka was affected the way she was...

[Alice gives a somewhat startled blink, and almost draws but, but stops herself.]

I suppose I haven't... made that much a secret, have I?

... Well, yes. You strongly hinted at it when you confessed...

[Mana's expression turned serious again]

We have to be strong, Alice. Strong enough to keep anyone from hurting her ever again.

Edited 2014-01-07 06:43 (UTC)

Strong enough to...

[Alice's expression flickers a bit.

She'd thought as a Precure she'd had that strength back home.

Yet here she'd already been proven wrong. A part of her knows that even if she had been here then, that she couldn't have...

No. No, that wasn't acceptable. Her lips become a firm line.]

Yes, we do. Something is coming, and I will not let it hurt the people I love. Not again.

Right!

[Mana's hands take Alice's again]

Nothing will stop us... we'll protect them all... Rikka... the whole crew. I just need you to trust me and stand at my side...!

[Alice manages to smile then, in spite of her worries and just how tired she is. That, at least, felt totally natural when Mana said something like that.]

Mana-chan... as I said, you know you need not ask that of me. I'd never doubt you, and I'll never not stand by you.

[She then disengages her hands from Mana, and reaches forward to pull her into a hug. Which is not entirely natural, perhaps, but... she's still kind of getting used to the new standing between the three of them, isn't she?

That the hug, for a moment, feels slightly possessive is another matter... and one that doesn't register with her for longer than a split second.]

Nothing will hurt either of you.

That's the Alice I know!

[and she's just going to wrap her hands around Alice, and... leans forward, kissing her lightly on the cheek. That's Mana's usual enthusiasm, and... well, she senses Alice's hesitation, and figures there's only one way she'll get used to it]

Edited 2014-01-07 07:13 (UTC)

[That actually startles Alice enough that for just a moment she feels like she's thinking more clearly.

Just the other day, wasn't she cheering Mana up for wondering if all this was a "bad omen" on her being a captain? Why was she worrying so much more, now? Had they not all faced great peril before? Unknown curses were one thing, but... an enemy, someone to fight... they could handle that, right?

The clarity passes though, and she gives a long breath, blushing, in spite of having initiated the hug.]

Ah- ah, right.

We just... have to be vigilant.

[She pulls back a bit, and smiles brightly.]

Everything will be fine. I feel confident of that, now, because I have you two.

Exactly! Friendships, love, bonds...! That's what we're all about, Alice!

[she giggled and rested her head on Alice's shoulder]

You know, if Aguri were here, she'd have us reciting the oaths of the Precure...

Edited 2014-01-07 07:37 (UTC)

[For a moment, the mention of their other, missing teammate gave Alice a number of conflicting emotions.

If all five of them were there, keeping Mana and Rikka safe would be easier, wouldn't it?

But... she SHOULD be all they needed to do that... A surprisingly selfish thought, and Alice realizes it is as it passes through her head.

And Mana, especially Mana, would worry about them, then, too... Put herself in more danger to protect THEM, too. She certainly would for the other crew members, but for them it would be even more so...]

Perhaps she would, but... with the way this world is, it is probably for the best that they do not have to face what we have been...

After all, we wouldn't want them to be in danger too, would we?

... Eh?

[Mana looks... very surprised. And then thoughtful, and... her eyes widen in realization]

... You're right. It... it would be better if they weren't brought here, wouldn't it...?

They'd only be in more danger from those things we can't control...

[And so would you, she thinks.

But she missed her friends, didn't she? She had just been talking about that with Asbel days ago.

But... she couldn't let those things distract her, could she? Things were different in this place. More dangerous. Protecting Mana and Rikka... she had to focus on that.]

But... thank you, Mana-chan. Talking has helped a bit, I think...

It has for me too...

[Mana's reply is a bit distant... like her mind is suddenly in another place]

... You... do you want to get something to eat now?

[Alice blinks. She'd been up most of the night... she couldn't remember the last time she HAD eaten... So she just nods, the implications of the things she'd said and thought drifting off as if they weren't even there.]

Certainly, Mana-chan. I ... must admit I haven't eaten in awhile, now that I think of it...

[Mana smiled, and moved to put an arm around Alice's shoulder]

Come on then! I'll make you whatever you want in the galley!

[it'll help us get our mind off things, she thought to herself]

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