The best of times, the worst of times

[just_a_minute]

Who: Anyone on the Triton's Mistress!
Where: Triton's Mistress
When: Backdated to June 10th through the 15th,16th?
What:  A combination log to include the following subjects:
             Welcoming a new crew member!!!
             A Casual Dinner Conversation
             The Tragedy of Eternal Bliss
             The copycat destruction of Deesuko Ballia
             And whatever else comes up~!
            
Warnings: Shouldn't be too bad towards the beginning. Language might become an issue in places XD. Pg-13!

When everyone had returned to their own ages, it had been expected by some that things would return to some semblance of normalcy. Unfortunately, there had been a slight hiccup in that plan but by roughly the 7th or 8th that too was put right. The stop at Himmelin had also afforded the crew an opportunity to break into a new line of trading that should fill their pockets with dubloons given enough time and the right connections.

With this stroke of good fortune.. surely more was to come........

[Feel free to make your own threads under the different sections or make a section of your own if you think of something you'd like to add that doesn't fit any of them. Just let us know what it is in the header and we're good to go!

HAVE FUN!]

Comments

Around Jun 10th: Meet and Greet for Hawke!

[just_a_minute]

Now's your chance to introduce your characters to the latest addition to the Triton's Mistress! As always please feel free to start your own threads and mingle about in others. Let's all make Hawke feel welcome~!

On Deck

[just_a_minute]

The addition of a new crewmate was always considered a special occasion. Unfortunately, circumstances did not always allow for the proper welcome. This time however the winds were in their favor. The Navy was not currently launching a major assault, the crew had returned to their proper ages, and the hold was filled with the finest spirits Himmelin had to offer. Ban had taken it upon himself to raid the stocks of some of this special elixir... for Hawke's benefit of course... or at least that was his story.

A table was set up on deck with an assortment of mugs. The pilfered barrel sat conveniently beside it. The decorations were sparse as if they had been hastily constructed. One mug had already been poured. Naturally Ban had to sample the drink to be sure it was suitable. They couldn't very well test it on a new arrival, could they?

Although Haythem and Elissa had spoken to Hawke before, Ban didn't know what to expect. Sure, he'd eavesdropped a little .. enough to know that they were finally getting another female crew member -which should improve the aesthetics on this ship immensely-, and that she hailed from Elissa's world. He'd missed some of the finer details but it was better to meet a person yourself and form an opinion about them based on your own encounters.

With his eyes glancing toward the nav every so often, he awaited Hawke's arrival.

[questionablewit]

Normally, Hawke wouldn't have signed on to a crew without first meeting the captain. That was common sense. Not that anything about this situation could be described as 'normal'. Even by Hawke's standards, the past few days had been distinctly strange.

But she was willing to trust the judgement of the Hero of Ferelden--not just because of Elissa's reputation and past deeds, but going by her own conversation with the woman. From what she'd heard from Elissa and Haytham, the Triton's Mistress sounded like a place where she could live and work without having to compromise her integrity, to put it baldly. Hawke wasn't sure how much integrity she had left these days; she wanted to hang on to what was left.

All that said, using the nav took things past strange and straight into impossibly bizarre. Being told what would happen had not prepared her for suddenly disappearing from one place and appearing somewhere else. Hawke had been warned to keep a hand on her dog, to keep him from being left behind. Turned out that was a good thing, because he stayed steady while she lurched forward a step from surprise. "Maker's breath," she muttered, wide-eyed. "Wish I'd had that back home. It would have saved me so much walking..."

[orderispeace]

A mug was retrieved from the table and placed down near Ban in a silent request to have the container filled just as the Nav glowed and deposited their new crew member and her large pet on the wooden planking of the deck. Haytham had to smile at her reaction to the trip. In sentiment his first time through the Nav had not been so dissimilar.

"Like many things it has it's advantages and disadvantages."

One of the empty glasses was picked up and held out in offer to Hawke.

"Would you care for a drink or would you prefer to stow your things first?"

Jun 10th: In the Galley

[just_a_minute]

Later in the evening, as the crew gathers for the evening meal it gives them all a chance to discuss the latest matters concerning the ship, answer any questions that still needed answering, or to just kick back relax and let the subjects wander where they may.

[homelesswargod]

Meals were a good way of rousing Yato out of hiding. He wandered down into the kitchen and grabbed a plate, before sitting and beginning to eat. He had a huge appetite, so he often ate seconds or thirds if he could get away with it.

[just_a_minute]

If there was food, Ban was all over it. Courtesy to his high metabolism, and the steps he took to stay in shape he could pack away as much food as he wanted and it would never show. Course- this sometimes led to his gobbling up much of their resources.

Without even bothering to employ the use of his silverware much, he was shoveling it in one handful at a time. When Yato arrived, he only acknowledged it with a glance over his sunglasses before finally slowing down a little on chowing down.

"Is that all you're going to eat?" He nodded at the one plate. Instead of making trips, Ban took what he could carry in one trip.

Jun 11-16: Island Burnings

[just_a_minute]

The news concerning the island, Eternal Bliss, had disturbed and repulsed quite a few members of the crew. So much so that it inspired Elissa to issue this warning to the other ships which garnered mixed results some for good and others for ill. The most surprising was the retaliation of the Bloody Roses as their captain intentionally set fire to another island just to spite Elissa. This section of the log is dedicated to those situations and to allow the crew to openly discuss how they feel about the situation and what actions they may wish to take.

Just in case for those that may not know. The Eternal Bliss incident originated from this post. Fear the wrath of a woman scorned! When things did not go as Kodachi had hoped she set the island ablaze. Grell's copycat burning was on Deesuko Ballia and the post for it is here.

16th

[arcadiasailor]

Today is another day Harlock misses the DeathShadow because he'd be able do drop right on top the the crazy bitches head. Instead they were almost a week from even reaching Dessuko Ballia. It was annoying has hell to see Elissa get challenged like that and not be able to do anything. There wasn't even a nice native pirate ship to go let off some steam on.

Instead Harlock down in the galley with some of their Gun Frontier Bourbon and the journal. She was good at covering her tracks but she'd have had to have slipped up at some point.

[orderispeace]

It was a grim day. He had expected Elissa's cry for justice to fall on deaf ears but to have some one purposely set out to murder others and have the rest see no problem with that at all, that he could not understand. People were heartless, cruel, and thought only of themselves... but even as jaded as he was about human nature that had caught him off guard. Maybe there was no hope for any of them. The Navy might be correct in wanting to see them all put down like rabid dogs.

These were the dark thoughts running through his mind as he took the stairs down into the belly of the Triton's Mistress. The light from the galley drew his attention even before his feet had reached the planking of the lower deck. Some one else was up? Curiosity drew him towards the room and when he saw Captain Harlock with his journal and bourbon... well, he almost didn't need to ask what the man was thinking.

"Evening, Captain. Care for some company?"

He stood in the doorway, politely waiting for the answer before entering.

[just_a_minute]

This wasn't the first time the Gilded Rose had raised warning flags on Ban's radar, and it likely wasn't going to be the last. Their captain relished destruction, senseless or otherwise. He had been allowed to get away with who knows how many diabolical acts by now.. and clearly had nothing but loose screws rolling around in that head of his. Ban never thought that he'd be able to find respect for a certain bloodthirsty transporter back on his own world but Grell was making the argument in Akabane's favor. At least Akabane kept his murders to his work, and was seeking to challenge himself and hone his own skills through those encounters. If that bastard wanted to, he could just senselessly wipe out the better portion of Shinjuku's population without breaking a sweat.

Grell on the other hand.. was doing this act out of spite and for the attention. Both were sick- but this was so much more pointless and infuriating.

Ban headed to the galley, but by the time he arrived he realized he actually was not in the mood to eat. Instead he spied Harlock there. "Yo..." He greeted the other casually. Harlock looked like he was deep in thought over there. Maybe they were thinking about the same things.

June 16th - approx 30 secs after Grell posts

[elissacousland]

The topmast was where Elissa was located when Grell and associates began to attack the bar on Deesuko Ballia. She had paused in her duties as rigger a good ten minutes before to flip through the journal in search of an old entry after finding a somewhat precarious perch to do so. At first, she mistook the words as yet another rant in response to her entry of the previous day. But then, the noises began.

By the time the screams started, the journal was spiraling downward from the topmast, pages flapping as it fell. It reached the deck with a thump and a tumble several moments before Elissa. Horrified and frantic, she half-climbed, half-fell from the mast, sliding the last few yards down a line that left stinging rope burns on her palms and the insides of her fingers. The sounds from the journal almost taunted her as she raced to the tool box to collect anything that might be used as a weapon. A filet knife found a place in her left hand and a heavy mallet in her right. She wasn't dressed for battle. She was dressed for sailing in loose, comfortable clothes, but there wasn't time to change into her armor. Not when people were dying because of what she wrote.

Elissa raced to the helm, vaulting the stairs two at the time to reach the upper deck where it was situated, shoving aside anyone who might be in the way. An angrily shaking hand set the dial on the front of the Naviraimant to the Gilded Rose and, still clutching its weapon, reached out to activate the device.

Nothing happened.

The charge meter was nowhere near full. Who had used the damn thing last? When? A noise of rage escaped the woman as the breeze ruffled her clothes and a few tendrils of hair. She hit the activation again.

Still nothing.

Again.

Nothing.

That's when she started slamming the mallet into it with maddened frustration - almost in counterpoint to the muffled screams barely carried to her from the battered journal on the deck. "LET. ME. THROUGH!"

[bloodheels]

Lenalee had been busy the past hour in the kitchen, preparing for the next meal that would be in the next hour or so. When she was done she had made her way on deck to get some fresh air and that was when she heard something.

Looking over she soon noticed Elissa and when she did her eyes widened slightly, she wasn't quite sure if that could break it, but that wasn't what got to her. It was the fact she looked so angry and upset at the same time. It hurt.

Running over to her she went to grab the mallet off her. "Elissa, what are you going? What's wrong?"

Things Yato Can Be Found Doing

[homelesswargod]

Yato can be found avoiding the conversations about the fire, because it was not his place to interfere and meddle in the problems of humans in the first place. Nor did he agree with Elissa's plans or desires to get revenge and involve herself in something she wasn't involved in.

He was often up in the crow's nest or down below in his assigned bunk. In the early mornings he can be found at the front of the boat, drawing as he sat on the railing. He was beginning to get a sense of foreboding from being around all these people and he wasn't sure what to do about it yet.

[givemelee]

Ratonhnhaké:ton was keen to discuss the current events with the rest of the crew. The lives of innocent people were being effected by all these rogue bouts of arson, and it was important for everyone to get a chance to voice their opinions and come to some agreement on what course of action would be taken. The actions the ship took could effect all of those aboard her.

From down on the deck, he spotted someone up in the crows nest. It would have been a short flight from here, but this time he opted to climb up manually. In a few minutes he was up there too.

[homelesswargod]

Yato had been napping and he opened one eye as his hide away was invaded. He raised a hand lazily from beneath his head in greeting.

"What's up?"

[just_a_minute]

Yato was never one for doing... much of anything from what Ban could assess so far. He tended to keep to himself, and he only came out when he wanted food, or to draw... like he was doing now. There were a few occasions where he'd offered his services to the public in exchange for monetary gain but that was about it. It was hard to get a read on this guy that claimed to be a God.. what was he the "god" of? The god of loafing? Ban was one to talk, since he often tried to get out of chores...

Ban approached Yato as quietly as he could, to start peering over his shoulder at what he was working on. "You're not drawing something inappropriate are you?" A grin split his features as if he hoped that's exactly what he was doing.

[homelesswargod]

Funny how no one seemed to ask what he was God of because it was more interesting to tell him he was delusional.

It was Ban's lucky day, he was working on a full panel, one of Kodachi's requests.

"Just a commission, that's all." He grinned.

[orderispeace]

Not that sketching didn't have it's place but as Haytham watched this same trend continue... each morning with Yato at the rail drawing when there was so much else that needed to be done, it began to annoy. The bucket full of water and mop were placed none to ceremoniously in front of the rail just next to Yato's feet.

"Since you've the time, why not help swab the deck?"

[homelesswargod]

Yato arched an eyebrow at the declaration, but didn't lower his pencil.

"And why would I do that exactly?"

He didn't even have to walk on the deck if he didn't want to.

Things Hawke can be found doing

[questionablewit]

Hawke spends her first few days on board...getting used to being on board. She climbs the rigging. She explores the ship and learns her way around. She considers Kodachi's temper tantrum and the other, unknown person's more deadly attack. She stands in the crow's nest, when it's empty, and looks out at the ocean, wondering which way home is.

She keeps moving, because that's the easiest way to cope with this new and entirely unexpected life.

And she talks to people.

[orderispeace]

Normally a task done below decks on this sunny day Haytham was outside sitting on a crate near the main mast. The pistol was in pieces in front of him as each metal components of the mechanism were given a good cleaning with a fresh rag.

"Good afternoon."

He looked up when Hawke approached but made no move to stand, so the small bits of the six-shooter would not fall to the deck and become lost.

"How are you finding the ship?"

Oh good, someone to introduce her to guns!

[questionablewit]

"I looked around, and there it was," Hawke said, smiling. That line was so old it creaked, but it was still useful for small talk.

She crouched down, looking with curiosity at what Haytham was doing. "What's all this stuff for, then? Looks like some sort of machine."

June 11th? At least sometime long before Grell!

[elissacousland]

In the months since Elissa had been brought to this place, she'd served as both ship's cook and rigger. Those of the crew who were with the Mistress when the Warden was cook have likely been very grateful that Lenalee took over those duties. Elissa certainly was - she much preferred working on deck to being stuck down in the dark, cramped galley. Admittedly, she'd learned a lot from watching Ratonhnhaké:ton, who apparently knew a great deal about sailing though he'd never spoken of it to her knowledge. The brig sloop was much larger than any of the small pleasure craft she'd sailed along the coast of the Waking Sea with her brother, so there had been a lot to learn.

Hawke knew far more about Elissa than Elissa knew of her and the so-called Hero of Ferelden was eager to seek out and befriend someone who actually knew where Ferelden was located. Up close, the young woman might be something of a disappointment compared to whatever tales Hawke had heard - she was shorter than Hawke and barely in her twenties with a tiny sprinkling of freckles across her nose that had appeared since she became a full-time sailor. She looked even less like a noblewoman than a hero in the practical garments she preferred to wear while on duty - loose tunics and trousers - though her sword and dagger were always strapped to her back even in the rigging.

Now, duty done for the moment, she was hanging in the rigging with her face into the wind, a few tendrils of loose hair dancing in the breeze where they had escaped from her twin, braided buns. "Hawke!" she called to the other Fereldan. "Have time to talk?"

Before Kodachi too, I take it?

[questionablewit]

Hawke was settling into the ship fairly well, mostly because she was willing to do anything that was necessary. She didn't shirk from dirty or onerous tasks. It was a trait that had been useful more than once in her life; people were much more willing to accept you if you did the work they did. If it was boring, well, for now that was fine; she had a lot to think about, and straightforward physical labor was almost welcome.

Though as she'd noticed before, during her brief stay on Isabela's ship: it was amazing how much of keeping a ship working involved scrubbing things. Constantly.

Fortunately she was off duty at the moment, and like Elissa, preferred to spend any time she could outside. Upon hearing her name called, she shielded her eyes with one hand and looked up, though it was obvious who was hailing her. "I haven't got much but time, since getting here," she called back. "Assuming our captain hasn't got something for me to do, that is. Am I supposed to clamber up there or are you going to come down?"

She could clamber up there, but it didn't look a very comfortable place for a conversation. Granted, secretly, Hawke was wary of talking to Elissa. She did want to, very much; Elissa was the only person from her home, and seemed a likeable person in her own right to boot. The awe Hawke had felt about talking to the Hero of Ferelden had faded pretty quickly given that Elissa was an ordinary woman (well, not ordinary, but still) and entirely unaware of her own reputation. Plus, Hawke had a reputation of her own, and knew how little it meant.

But at the same time, things had the potential to become...seriously awkward. Hawke knew a number of things about Elissa's future, Thedas' future, and mutual companions, that she really didn't want to discuss. Fortunately, Elissa knew nothing at all about them, and wouldn't know what questions to ask (or rather, not ask). But for Hawke, the awareness was there.

It was also something she knew she'd just have to get used to, however.