piratejournal | [Written]

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[Written]

[It's late at night when the journal entry appears.]

Evening.

I suppose I am writing in this thing because I can't sleep. I haven't really figured out what to do about that. Any suggestions would be helpful.

[There's a pause, before he adds more.]

Is anyone else up at this hour? What are you doing with your time?

[Another pause, longer than the last.]

If anyone would like to talk right now, that would be fine.

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Not really. Being up alone all night is a very lonely thing.

[Finally he puts his journal away in his pocket and lies on the railing instead, one leg draped over the side. If he falls, well he can swim so it isn't a problem.]

[Watching him and he frowns, because now he can't keep writing to him. After a moment, he sighs and tucks his own journal away. Then he whistles softly to try to get Natsuno's attention.]

[He just isn't sure what else he can say to Riku. The whistle does make him turn his head and look across the way at the Moon.]

[...Well now that he's got his attention, he's not sure what to do. He ends up giving an awkward little wave, before sliding down from where he's sitting and walking farther down the deck so he's closer to Natsuno, standing directly across from him. He leans up against the railing.

He keeps his voice low, though it still carries across the water pretty easily.]

Card games are quiet.

[He nods a little bit, sitting up again.]

Usually yeah. Do you want me to come over there or...?

I'll come over. Do you have cards or should I bring some?

I have some.

[With that in mind he heads down to his room again to get the deck of cards. It only takes a moment before he's back up on the deck.]

[And in that moment, Riku has magically made his way over in whatever way they do on this crew, idek. He's there when Natsuno comes back, and he gives him a somewhat wary look if only because this is the first time since...that last conversation...that he's been near him.]

What should we play?

[Natsuno takes a seat on the deck and holds out the deck.]

I'm not sure about these cards in particular, but if you have a game you want to teach me, I'd be open to it. I only really know one game, and I barely remember the rules. Well, aside from solitaire.

[Sits down across from him, taking the deck and starting to shuffle it.]

Mmm, I know a few -- I think. If I can remember them. Which one do you know?

I don't really remember what it's called. You can just pick something.

[He gives his head a small shake.]

I played in grade school a few times but not since then and in high school it was mostly video games.

[Thinks.]

Ever heard of Egyptian Ratscrew?

Never.

[He watches Riku shuffle for a moment before he glances away.]

How do you play?

It's easy.

[He cuts the deck in half and hands one stack over to Natsuno.]

See if you have 26 there. Don't look at them, though.

[Starts counting through his own stack.]

Basically...I put down a card, you put down a card. Back and forth. If we put down matching cards, the first person to slap the pile gets all of them. Same with sandwiches -- so, like...I put down a three, you put down a five, then I put down another three. Follow so far?

[He counts his stack with a bit of a fumbling hand. He's not used to handling cards, just like he said.]

Yes, I understand the rules.

[He reaches twenty-six and holds out three cards to Riku.]

[Only had 23, so at least they don't have any cards missing! He takes the three Natsuno hands him.]

Okay. If someone puts down a face card -- King, Queen, or Jack. Oh, and Aces, too -- then the other person has to put down another face card, or they lose the pile. You haves four chances with Aces, three with Kings, two with Queens, and one with Jacks. And if you can't tell where this is going, the winner is the one who ends up with the entire deck of cards first.

[Looks up at him.]

Still good?

[He nods in agreement, committing the rules to memory.]

Alright, I think I've got it.

Awesome. I'll start.

[Puts a card down, keeping his eyes on the pile that will eventually grow and his hands close in case any pairs or sandwiches pop up.]

So...how's the sword training and all that coming, anyway?

It's fine.

[He his own card, it's not even close to the same as Riku's.]

I practice most days. I'm being very diligent about it.

[Already putting his next card down practically before Natsuno's hand is out of the way. Still nothing.]

You said that. I meant, how do you think you're doing? Feeling more comfortable with it yet?

[He drops a six on the pile.]

Much more comfortable then I am with my pistol.

[Have a five.]

That's good. ...Heh, you're going to become a weapons specialist or something.

[This time he draws a nine.]

Perhaps, but perhaps not. Then again I have ample time to do so.

[Another nine! Riku's distracted from replying just yet as he instantly slaps his hand down the second the face of the card is revealed on top of the pile.]

[Natsuno is a little startled to say the least, but it makes sense within the rules. He sighs.]

These are mine now, right?

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