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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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Sh-shut up!

[If being attacked didn't already tip Asbel off to Hubert being seriously unhinged, the fact that 1) Hubert seems to be glossing over Asbel hiding his precious comics and 2) Hubert actually being outright disrespectful to his older brother (verbally, anyway) would have done the trick. He brings down a frying pan vertically, trying to catch Asbel on the head again.]

"Shut up"? What do you mean "shut up"!? What're you so worked up about anyway?

[Asbel only needs one hand to figure how many times Hubert's said something like that to him. Sure, they have fights sometimes, but not this kind of fight!]

[--No good. Hubert's serious! Asbel tries his best to block the blow - but what he really needs is something to defend himself with until Hubert can cool the heck off. (...) That's it! Aiming a low kick for one of Hubert's shins, Asbel hopes he can trip him up long enough to go grab his practice sword.]

[But where'd he even toss it? What a time to keep a messy room!]

Edited 2014-01-14 06:05 (UTC)

[Hubert might now have full intent to commit violence, but he's still woefully unprepared for being the target of it. With a cry and eyes tearing up, he stumbles to his knees, heart hammering with the sudden, sharp pain.

But the murderous urge returns soon enough. It might even be tinged with a bit of anger.

You'll pay for that, brother!

Hubert barely straightens up before he lunges again to attack Asbel. Better watch your back, bro.]

[Asbel takes his chance, shooting across the room to dig around under his bunk. Where is it, where?]

[He doesn't have a clue what's going on, but it's really starting to scare him. Why won't Hubert tell him what's going on? Why is this even happening? What's he supposed to do about it?! He doesn't want to hurt him, and just that one kick's already making him feel pretty lousy.]

[Ah-ha!]

[Asbel snatches for the glorified practice stick, his own gift thanks to the Christmas ship. But thinking minute's over. Asbel's head whips around just in time to see his little brother lunge at him again.]

Edited 2014-01-14 19:37 (UTC)

[This time, Hubert makes two swings in succession, one aimed high and one aimed low. In fact, if he's not stopped, he's going to keep on swinging furiously, desperate to land another hit -- a critical hit.]

[Asbel gasps as the first blow strikes between his shoulder and collarbone. The second lands lower. His arms already ache from the force of the previous strikes, but he manages to position the sword between himself and the next consecutive attack. But it doesn't stop. This isn't a sparring match, this isn't a game. Why?]

[...Why is this happening? Why?!]

Rrgh! Stop it, Hubert! Stop it right now!! [Asbel winces, lashing out with an attack of his own, aiming for the flat bottom on one of the weapons in the hopes of partially disarming him.]

I don't want to fight you!

[Asbel's practice sword bounces off one of the pans with a loud CLANG!, the vibrations ringing all the way down Hubert's arm.]

Oww!

[His grip loosens a little, but not enough to drop it. In retaliation, he lashes out with his other weapon.]

Just...just die already, okay?

[Hubert is probably only one of a handful of people in the world who can make a command to "die" sound more like a desperate plea rather than a legitimate threat.

But that's really what it is: a plea. It's like if Hubert wishes it hard enough, Asbel will drop dead in front of him, making the voice happy so the voice can send Hubert home.

(But wait, wasn't his desire to go home with Asbel...? No, no time for second thoughts. Hubert has to go through with this. There's no other choice.)]

No! There's no way I'm just going to lay down and die, Hubert!

[Asbel counters as best he can, continuing to aim for the weapons rather than his brother, swinging the sword as hard as he dares. But despite how much promise Asbel might've displayed before, he feels heavy now. Hubert can't really want him dead...? Why would he? They've been through pretty much everything together. It makes no sense.]

Come on, just talk to me! If someone's picking on you-- or, or whatever we'll figure it out, okay?

You won't understand! You never understand! That's why you're always causing problems for everyone!

[This time there is a tinge of menace to his words, as Hubert actually sounds a bit angry. The possession, along with the frustration of not being able to end things quickly, is starting to draw out all the resentments that he normally keeps hidden or that he normally brushes off, like junk swept under a bed to present the facade of a clean room.]

That's why it's better if you just go away!

[Okay sure, maybe he does get into trouble sometimes, but he can't have caused that many problems, can he? It doesn't help when Asbel's questioned similar things in the past.]

["I wonder what my parents actually think of me."]

[Dad's annoyance with him has never been a secret, but he didn't think Hubert of all people... Has Hubert really gotten so fed up with him that he'd prefer it if he just disappeared? Do Mom and Dad?]

How'll you know unless you give me a chance!

And what happens once I go away, Hubert? I can't just leave you here. Didn't you say you wanted to go...home?

[There's not even any hesitation when Hubert yells:]

I'll go home without you!

[He's wasted enough time talking; there's no way he can convince Asbel to actually listen to him. (...right?) Hubert swings at his brother again.

~~if this were in the game this might be the beginning of a boss fight~~]

[Asbel gasps as the blow sends him stumbling and tripping backwards. Dammit, those pans hurt! Trying to catch his breath, he mutters in frustration and locks eyes with Hubert. Okay, little brother! If this is how it's going to be, he's just going to have to defeat you somehow! This can't really be what Hubert wants; he refuses to believe that! And he's not gonna leave him under any circumstances!]

Hubert!!

[Picking himself up, Asbel charges towards him, trying to get a few good swipes in with his practice sword.]

[Hubert's eyes widen as he realizes that Asbel is actually actively fighting back now. This is bad, this is really bad -- he's never been able to match Asbel in any of their practice spars.

Then again...those fights had always been more or less fair.

Hubert skips away from Asbel's strikes, nearing his own desk. He reaches for the books stacked on top of them, flinging them at Asbel one by one to distract the other boy. He'll even shove the chair at Asbel with a foot once there's nothing else on the desk to throw.]

Gwahh!! [Incoming! Books?! Asbel veers, but it's hard to dodge with thick covers and flapping pages flying in multiple directions. One of the hardbacks manages to strike his already bruised arm, and another actually knocks him upside the head. The others either miss or get deflected, but Hubert's tactic has successfully slowed Asbel down - and given him a headache to boot. Shaking his head to clear it, Asbel dashes forward again - one goal in mind - and nearly falls over the chair being shoved in his direction.]

[Think. Gotta think...! Already halfway down, Asbel scoops up one of the heavier books to use as a shield.]

[The pan hits hard against the book that Asbel is holding with a loud thud. Hubert swings upward with his weapon to try and disarm Asbel. He thinks he's almost got him cornered now, but he just needs to get Asbel defenseless again.]

[Why can't this be over! Asbel wishes this were done! Even worse than the sting of metal and the lead weight of Hubert's words is the awful look on his face. It's a face he's never seen him make before.]

[Asbel manages to lunge forward with another brisk swish of his wooden blade, but with his focus on attack, the connecting swing sends leather slipping from his fingers. Shield gone, the book clatters open against the deck.]

[Fortunately for Asbel, the other battle has ended and at this very moment, the possessed crewmembers are being taken to the brig. It's then that Jade hears the commotion from the crew quarters, and given the events of that morning, it doesn't take long for him to come running.

...Oh dear. This is quite the scene.]

Now now. That's quite enough of that.

[Without wasting a movement, he strides in and grabs one of Hubert's wrists, easily yanking the boy off balance. His other hand catches Asbel by the shoulder and pulls the elder brother back.]

[So intent had Hubert been on trying to kill Asbel that he doesn't even register Jade's presence until after the colonel has yanked him away.]

H-hey! Let go of me!

[He tugs violently at his captured arm, trying to break free. If that doesn't work (as it likely won't), he'll try to swing at Jade with his improvised weapons, or otherwise attack Jade somehow. Basically, this kid's got some fight left in him.

But he's still just a 10-year-old kid with only basic fight training and a lot of sleep dep.]

Jade?

[Sword still raised, Asbel at least isn't putting up the struggle Hubert is. His eyes flash up to the adult's face, and then his attention's back on his brother again, his brother who's still fighting even now...]

[Jade could handle this, he knows that. But it feels wrong somehow. He and Hubert are family. Should he really let a grown-up take over before he's done everything he can? There must be a way to get through to him. He can't have tried everything.]

[The redhead makes a half-hearted attempt at shrugging Jade's hand off, but in that brief glance Asbel's fear and distress were plain to see, and Jade could probably feel the boy trembling beneath his hand even as he squares his jaw now and tries to pretend he has everything under control.]

R-relax, Hubert. It's fine... Everything's going to be fine.

[Asbel seems to still be himself, so Jade lets him go in favor of catching Hubert's other arm mid-swing and twisting it to make him let go of the make-shift weapon. Not hard enough to cause an injury -- he's not that sadistic -- but it's probably painful enough to give even a violent 10-year-old a pause.]

It seems I was too focused on our captain and her friends to notice any other threat. That was careless of me.

[There is an unusual edge of frustration in Jade's voice. While he's fared better than most of the others, the rapid arte-casting earlier left him drained, to speak nothing of the mess they're in now.]

[The eleven-year-old's exhausted. He can barely grasp onto what Jade's saying. His chest hurts and he feels sick, his eyes not leaving his little brother. Finally he shakes his head, taking a step wearily towards Jade.]

D-don't hurt him! Jade!

[He definitely didn't manage to hide his fear that time. Asbel shakes his head again, fists clenching hard.] Uh--hold on. The captain? Did-- did something happen to Mana, too?

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