Harbinger of death from the world of witchcraft

[wavesoakedlegs]

Who: The crew of the Koumyou.
Where: Isla Empieza; maybe out on the ocean later?
When: From the 11th until the 17th.
What: The cursed, the uncursed and the influence of That Voice.
Warnings: Violence and general unpleasantness.
Style: Any!
Status: Mostly closed to the Koumyou; ask if you think you could get involved?


1. Strangeness begins
2. A Special Meal

Comments

[collagehero]

[Have a nosy shipmate, Ai.]

Whatcha up to, Ai? Been shopping again?

[Hajime has been all over the place, so even though she's usually pretty observant, she really hasn't been around to see the changes in him. She's really only been returning to the ship to sleep or take care of any duties Motochika and Mitsuhide set out for her. The rest of her time has been spent visiting friends and adding to her ever growing collection of random odds and ends.]

[aidreamofsenpai]

[He probably shouldn't jump at her approach, but he does. It's hard to keep track of his surroundings with everything going on in his head, and he isn't really prepared for Hajime right about then.

He winces as the gym bag he's carrying bangs against his back with the little jump, and then gives a shake of his head.]

Nothing! Well, I have been shopping, but I was just looking for little things mostly, so it's nothing exciting... what have you been up to?

[collagehero]

Stocking up on art supplies! I don't know when we're gonna be on an island with stores again and Rin's birthday is next month, so I gotta make sure I have enough stuff for the party! Pinkie and I are probably gonna have to plan it over the journal. You wanna help?

[They've already decided they need a piñata and that they need to play confetti-face, but that's not going to be nearly enough.]

[aidreamofsenpai]

Of course I want to help! It's for Rin-senpai!

[Aiichiro bounces a little at that, for the moment forgetting everything else.]

I'd love to help in any way I can!

[collagehero]

Great!! Then we're gonna have to come up with more games to play. I'm gonna plan out the decorations, so that's taken care of until we need to put them up, but we're definitely going to need stuff to do. Pinkie and I came up with one game that was really fun, but one's not nearly enough! What kind of game do you think we could get Rin to play?

[She should probably make medals of some sort or he probably won't play at all...]

[aidreamofsenpai]

Um...

[He pauses.]

You'd probably have to pick something pretty athletic? He'd need to feel it's pretty competitive...

[collagehero]

Hmmmmm, I'm not sure what we could play on the boat. Maybe if we were in port...I'd have to talk to the captain about that one. We could make teams and play some sports-y stuff! Maybe I should buy some balls...

[She keeps adding to her mental list. Hopefully they'll make port at some point between now and then so she can sell off some artwork for funds.]

[aidreamofsenpai]

I didn't really think about that...

[This is the point where he remembers his errands, and the reason for them, and why he's had a headache and weird music playing an whispers in his head for days.

Of course, there will be no party. Rin won't be here. If he plays his cards right, either will anyone else he knows. That's right.

But he can't say that. He chews his lip, trying to think of something.]

Oh! What about something with darts? Like where it's a contest of aim?

[collagehero]

[Her whole face lights up when he mentions darts.]

Darts would be great! We play that in the Cage sometimes! Jou-san is the best, but I'm pretty good, too! Don't underestimate me!

[She flexes her arm, as if to show off the muscles she doesn't really have.]

[aidreamofsenpai]

I'm sure you'll be really amazing!

[He even makes an appreciative face at her arm, even though there's nothing to really see. Because he's that nice.]

I'll help set it up with you too okay?

[It doesn't hurt to pretend.]

[collagehero]

Sure! Do you need help with your bag! Since I'm super strong, after all!

[It's kind of ludicrous since she's the smallest person on the crew except for Clem, who has the excuse of being nine, but in a way she's kind of like one of those little yappy dogs that has no idea how small it actually is.]

You've been carrying it a long time and it looks like you don't know where to put it!

[aidreamofsenpai]

Nope!

[He responds quite cheerfully.]

It's part of my training! I'll get out of shape if I let someone else do it.

[collagehero]

[Hajime's eyes go wide.]

What, really? You must be really serious about training! Harukitty only ever sat in his tub, and I guess that was supposed to be training, but it didn't seem very active. Maybe we shouldn't tell Rin that.

[Somehow she thinks he won't take it well.]

[aidreamofsenpai]

Please don't tell Rin that, no.

[Aiichiro sighs, softly, and gives a little shake of his head.]

People like Nanase-san and Rin-senpai aren't like me, though.

[collagehero]

No? Why not? You all swim, right?

[Rin's lectured her about the Olympics before, but it's all a bit over her head. Her school doesn't have mandatory sports clubs and she isn't even in any culture clubs, so she really has no frame of reference for the whole thing. Rin and Ai certainly are serious about it, though, much more so than the boys from Iwatobi High.]

[aidreamofsenpai]

Well, yes.

[He doesn't know how to put it.]

They both have a lot more natural talent than I do though. Rin-senpai works really hard anyway! But even if I work as hard at Rin-senpai, I won't be as good as he is.

[collagehero]

That doesn't sound right at all! I'm sure you're just good at something different. I mean, after all, you're much more cheerful and helpful and encouraging than Rin is! That's important on a team.

[That's her job back home. Well, she kind of shares it with O.D., but O.D. needs someone to cheer him up sometimes, too.]

[aidreamofsenpai]

That's true!

[He beams.]

But I didn't mean anything bad by it either! We're just different.

[collagehero]

Yup! It takes all kinds!

[She pats Ai on the head.]

I know if I ever have a grumpy senpai, I'll ask you for advice!

[Nevermind that Rin is older than she is too and she steamrolls over poor Sugane back home whenever she feels like, upperclassman or not.]

[aidreamofsenpai]

[He should probably mind being patted on the head like that. But she's so cute he can't mind it.

In fact, he forgets all about everything he's doing - for now, until the voice gets him again - and reaches out to hug her eagerly.]

You're the best, Hajime-chan!

[He'll think about how to murder her later.]