piratejournal | [ 015 ] written

[It starts with a few lines. The lines take on a life of their own, though, and he keeps drawing until he's created an entire border.]

[Inside the border, once he's realized he can't do any more around the edge, he actually writes.]

If I am understanding the situation correctly, the afflicted are unable to contact us.

I am willing to publicly offer, then, that the Antoinette is at sea starting today, and we are offering a safe haven for any non-combatants whose ship is going to the fortress, once we are called to battle. We are willing to offer room and board to any who require it in this trying time.

If there are those who would use this information to cause us harm, let me be clear: we make this offer in good faith, but you will be watched once among us. I am willing to take drastic measures should you attempt to harm anyone on board.

-Otori

[Some time later -- about half an hour -- the drawing alters. He's borrowed a set of colored pencils from a certain pair of fashion-inclined twins. The vines of the roses become green, and the roses are colored. The offset pair become orange and blue while the clustered trio become red, white, and purple.]

(original art found here, the image drawn in the journal does not include the words along the bottom.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[At first, reading the exchange of words between Kyouya and Hikaru was amusing. There was a talk about getting dragons. That sounds so awesome. Every pirate ship should have a dragon. Then there was talk about getting meat. Nothing was bad about getting more meat for them to eat. Meat was preferable to vermin.

Then it became sour. Very, very sour, in the opinion of the host club king. First there was a matter of losing his quarters to cows. So that alone triggered a panic alarm. So he decided to get his blazer and confront his crew/friends.

...and then there was talk about getting him to live in a barrel. That got Tamaki running at record pace towards Hikaru.]

COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWS????

[Hey, give a guy a chance to deck out your new living quarters before you go charging at him! Hikaru's not especially surprised at what's happening - he figures Kyouya probably spilled the beans.

After a brief internal debate about what to do (he could trip Tamaki, run away, or try to roll the barrel at him), he decides to simply hold his ground. Any other option would probably strain the Host Club King's injuries too much, and he's still being cautious about that.]

Oi, Tono, you're just in time!

[Tamaki glares at the barrel then looks up to glare at Hikaru, and looks at the barrel once more.]

For what???

[Does he even fit?]

[He probably would fit, if he scrunched up Corner of Woe style. But Hikaru's not intending on actually stuffing him in it or anything - he's just interested in making the sales pitch.]

Your genuine commoner-style accommodation upgrade! [He gestures to the barrel with a flourish. He's not managed to do much to it except crudely carve some happy chibi faces of the Club members on the outside; he hasn't exactly had much time to decorate it yet, so it's not as impressive as he was hoping to make it.]

[He was glaring at Hikaru intensely for a few moments. Until he spoke. There was that familiar word that he was always interested in. Commoner. He squats down to look at the details of the barrel.]

Commoner's live in this??

[He looks up at Hikaru with disbelief.]

[He shrugs, blithely holding his hands out to his sides.]

It saves them space, right? And when they're not using it, they can store their belongings inside!

[That sounds believable.]

[This is horrible. He weeps a little and falls down to his knees.]

I pity them...they call this home???

...poor Haruhi...

[He then looks up at Hikaru with hope in his eyes. And a plan.]

Is there anyway we can make this more comfortable?

[Sold it hook, line, and sinker. He gives himself a mental pat on the back, and wishes Kaoru were here right now to enjoy this with him. He feigns thoughtfulness, striking a generic thinking pose.]

Well, Kyouya-senpai said that we should put at least one dozen breathing holes in it. We could add some more pictures, and maybe a blanket. I don't think you're supposed to really enjoy living in it, so I wouldn't put much more than that.

[He's still a bit teary but he nods as he stood up confidently.]

Understood. Let's place the most number of blankets we can find because its cold. Lots of breathing holes. And lets put a lot of pictures of ourselves, most especially myself.

...That should make Haruhi very happy!

[Wait why would he want a big picture of himself in his barrel? He's not that vain, right? Sure, he can see the making Haruhi happy connection - she'd be relieved to see someone else sharing her commoner lifestyle ~~if this were actually part of it~~ - but he's getting the slow feeling that this may turn out more entertaining than he initially thought.

Instead of questioning, he snaps to a salute with an easy grin.]

Yes, sir! I'll go get the blankets.

[...and leave you to make the breathing holes and pictures, while he fills Kaoru in on this.]

[ 015 ] written

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