high_seas | (no subject)

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(no subject)

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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Oh, Alice... [This hurt to watch. Something was eating her from the inside out, and Alice was... not at all herself. But she still stubbornly clung to the one thing she knew she could do, and now it was being used against her. Rikka could admit she had no idea what was going on, but whatever it was, it was bad, and it needed a solution fast. It wasn't just a crisis of personality or anything - if that were the case, Alice would have opened up to Rikka, with their relationship as it was. No, this was something entirely different.

Reaching out gently and pulling the girl to her, she sighed.] Okay. I'll be careful. I don't want you to get blood on your hands for me, all right? And if I have to sit on the beach every day to make sure that happens, I will. Whatever it takes... I don't want anything to tear us apart. If nothing else calls you away, though, I'd like it if we could spend some time down on the island. With Mana, or just us. Whichever works out. We can just relax and take it easy, and try not to think about all this. Does that sound good?

[Alice's eyes widen, and the next moment she finds herself clinging desperately to Rikka as she's pulled closer. She was worried for both of them, but... Rikka. Rikka was the one who was affected then, right? Mana was only hurt helping her. If she could keep Rikka safe, then Mana would be safer too, right?

That... made sense, didn't it...?

She still shook as she clung to Rikka, clenching her tear-filled eyes shut.]

S- so long as Rikka-chan stays safe, yes... That may be fine...

[For the moment. The gnawing in her mind was still there. That voice was still rising in her head. She feels that worry still rising, and dangers all around. A part of her knows if she's left to dwell on it, the feeling will only get worse and worse. But if she could just... keep her safe...

Yes, that might be good. For now.]

[Well, this was a little better than when she'd started. Alice was shaking now, too, but it was better than what she'd been expecting. Worlds better.]

Perfect. I'm glad to hear that. [She yawns wide again.] I don't know about you, but it's two in the morning... I'm really tired. Do you think you'll be able to sleep? Or... would it help if you stayed here for the night?

[She feels her face heating up a little, but mostly it just seems like the right thing to do. If Alice is concerned for her safety, the best solution would be to offer to let her stay somewhere that she has the best possible shot to fend off threats. Right?]

[Alice nods in response, almost frantically. Truth be told, getting her to release Rikka right then and there would have probably taken the jaws of life, or at least something with Cure level strength.

Yes, if she protected Rikka from harm, it would protect Mana as well... Rikka was the one this world had sunk its horrible curse into before, she was the one in the most danger, and no amount of rationally explaining to her now would convince her it wasn't all but assured to happen again.]

Y- yes, if I... if I could...

[She shudders a bit. She still is trying to remember why she came there in the first place, or what was even going on with her. Whatever it was, she couldn't voice it to Rikka, but the fact she couldn't was rapidly slipping away. She just knew what she had to do and...]

I'm- I'm really scared, Rikka-chan...

[She says that last part in a shaky voice, clearly on the verge of a sob. It is true, as well. Regardless of anything else, it's probably the most untainted thing she's said since knocking on Rikka's door.]

I know. I know, Alice. I'm scared, too. I'm just hiding it a little better. ['Even if we're not scared of the same things right now,' her mind adds helpfully.] It'll be okay... I promise. Everything will work out, and this will pass. Everything will be back to normal soon.

[She's lying through her teeth. This will keep happening, month after month. They will never be truly safe. Things will come up, they'll have to be dealt with, and until they are this will happen again. But if she kept telling herself it would be okay, maybe she'd start to believe it eventually.

In any event, she can feel herself starting to slow down, and she smiles a little more.]

I'll keep you safe tonight, Alice. Try to calm down... and try to get some sleep, okay? We've got a long day in front of us tomorrow.

[Unless Alice objects, Rikka's going to slide over and finally get around to that sleep thing. But she'll keep her arms wrapped around Alice like a pillow, trying to take at least a little comfort that, whatever else happens, it's still her at some base level. No matter how hard the world tried to break them apart... they were still themselves. Nothing could break their bond.

Right?]

[Alice just clings to her, in a very clear and possessive manner. She doesn't object as Rikka lays down, and just holds herself close to her.

But keep HER safe? No, Alice knew, Rikka is the one who needs to be kept safe. But it WILL be a long day, yes...]

Yes, it'll be okay, Rikka-chan...

[She closes her eyes and curls up beside her.]

I'll make certain of that...

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