piratejournal | 008 ♦ Text/Action | Backdated: March 31st

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008 ♦ Text/Action | Backdated: March 31st

I feel like I've been exhausted for so long now... this is our first real break in a long time. I don't necessarily mind it, but I've been enjoying taking a breather. It's something I've missed. Nothing trying to kill me, nobody having a desire to sink us, nothing messing with my mind. Just me and the ocean breeze.

Am I the only person that feels this way? It feels like we've been so busy, these last few months. I've changed in more than a few ways since I first got here, and I'm still trying to figure out what those changes are. And if I'm comfortable with them.

Sorry, I'm being a little dramatic. I just... this is new to me. The things I've experienced here, I would have never done at home. And it's hard to reconcile that, especially with all the fighting we've had to do.

Anyway, in the interest of trying not to be too gloomy on such a nice day, how is everyone else?

Setting down her pen and snapping the journal shut with a sigh, Rikka curls her toes into the sand. It's... hard to think about the last time she was on a beach other than Isla Empieza's, but... no. Gotta push past that. She can't be haunted by her past forever, right?

So she'll be sitting back in the sand, looking out at the sea and at their new ship, debating a run into town to explore, and generally just... trying not to think too much.

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At some point or another, she'll find Alice making her way from their shiny new ship with that very intent to run into town. As ship's treasurer, she had to account for what supplies they could get on the now more limited budget after having to secure a new ship. And... well, just getting off a ship for awhile is starting to feel like a necessity. She never though she'd be the type to start going stir crazy, but after weeks of travel on the open seas and once more nearly getting killed, here she is.

Noticing Rikka off the ship too is at least one bright note, and she makes her way over the sand as she spies her, lightly twirling her open parasol in hand.

"Rikka!" she calls out, stopping short with a slight smile. "Enjoying the beach today?"

The voice calls her our of her reverie, and she glances across, a smile coming to her lips even before she sees the person coming toward her. "Alice... yes. I just needed to think about some things. Is everything all right?"

"As well as one could anticipate, all things considered," she says, looking down with her smile widening just a bit upon sight of Rikka's own. "It seemed prudent to take stock of any necessary supplies once more before heading out."

A brief pause then; Rikka and thinking were things that went hand in hand, though also was something that recent events had taught her shouldn't be left unchecked sometimes. Still, she had no reason to really worry now, but asks the next question anyway. "And what of yourself, today?"

"Mm, good idea... I don't know what we lost from the old ship before we made it to land. I blacked out trying to keep everything together, if the big hole in my memory is any indication." She remembered turning into Cure Diamond and doing her best to keep the ship in one piece by freezing the hull together, and then... nothing until she came to in her bed a day later, sunlight streaming into her eyes through a hole in her wall.

Sighing, she casts her gaze back out over the water. "Just... I'm marveling at how much things have changed since we got here. How much I've changed. That, and it's the first time I've been on a new beach since... that day."

There is a very melancholy look on her face for a long moment, before she shakes her head, rising to her feet, picking up her shoes in one hand. "I'll be okay, though. Do you want company?"

Worry flashes for a few, noticeable moments over Alice's face. Their defeat at the hands of the Navy was troubling enough without the reminder of Rikka blacking out, but... she was fine, right? She has to learn not to dwell upon those things.

Or things like the beach. She knows exactly what Rikka means there, and it starts to bring forth images she had been trying to lock away before she forces herself mentally to do just that. Then, her smile returns, and she leans over a bit, tilting the parasol so that its shadow covers the both of them at least partly.

"We have changed quite a bit, yes. But... perhaps we can start to focus a bit on the good parts of that, hm?" she asks, and then adds. "But I would love the company. You should know you almost needn't have to ask."

The shifting sunlight catches her attention, and she steps a little closer to Alice. "I know... I'm trying to let it go, Alice. It's just still harder than I expected. So... be patient with me, I guess. It'll be all right in time."

She looks back out to the city, the shipyard a flurry of activity even at this distance. "And I know I don't have to ask. But everyone needs time alone sometimes, I think. These days, it's better for me to ask."

Alice's smile thins just a little bit, but she gives Rikka an understanding appraisal. "I cannot claim to be much better," she muses. "But... I believe we both know that. It it is quite all right."

Indeed, without even talking about it, she was fairly certain Rikka knew all of that. They had certainly been over it enough times. Thus, Rikka had all the patience Alice could muster when it came to that, and it's an awful lot to be honest.

She follows Rikka's gaze. "Perhaps so, but I believe I have had my fill of time alone to last me quite awhile." Still mildly dwelling back on the previous point, Alice is well aware that's actually the very last thing she wants. To say she is still somewhat using Rikka or Mana's presence as a security blanket of sorts could be fairly accurate.

Still, she holds out a hand, smile widening again. "It is appreciated, however. So... shall we?"

Rikka sighs again, grinning a little bit. Really, of all people, she should realize that Alice knew how her mind worked by now. Even if there had been a few... involuntary remodels... everything still looks pretty much the same there. So really, she needs to just stop worrying so much, and take a step forward. The way she always had before. She just needed confidence. And she certainly had enough of that to spare, with everyone around her.

"Sure. Let's go." Reaching, she takes that hand, and she tries to put everything else out of her mind for a little while. None of that was important. Not while there was someone else she owed her full attention to.

As their hands link, Alice laces her fingers together with Rikka's and steps up close enough that she need not tilt her parasol at a weird angle to cover them both while they walk.

"This is not something we really get to do much," she murmurs as they head into town. "Or... at all, really. Is it?"

Being stuck on the same boat in proximity to the people she cared about was one thing. Yet that was a constant thing, being on that ship. But to just be able to take a walk around some place with one of them, hand-in-hand... It's almost strange that something so normal would seem so unique and welcome.

The contact and the closeness are... nice. Not that she'd ever complain, but it's reassuring to have someone that is willing to just simply be with her, and after it was so rudely interrupted previously... she's excited for a chance to get used to the feeling.

"No, it isn't," she agrees, keeping herself in step carefully, bare feet collecting sand as she walks. "I keep myself so busy lately that I don't really think of simple things like this. It's a nice change of pace, I think." Laughing lightly, she adds, "And I can't complain about the company."

A long moment passes while she just enjoys herself. She's... comfortable, like this, and she'd be okay doing this all day. But alas, there is a kind of work to be done before they set out for their next destination. Which she couldn't be bothered to remember just now. "Is there anywhere in particular you want to go? Anything specific we need?" It's more so she can know what to expect, rather than an attempt to expedite their trip.

At this point, Alice is very well past showing much in the way of shyness or embarrassment with their relationship. At least when it came to the most basic things. But the ship certainly didn't provide much in the way of privacy, especially of late. So the mundane actually becomes quite appealing, and she swings their linked hands a bit as they walk.

"Well, I should certainly hope not," she notes, adding a giggle after Rikka's own laugh. "But I figure the opportunity should be taken when presented, yes?"

She looks ahead then. "We spent most of what we had in order to obtain a new ship, and we lost a lot of basic supplies in the battle... So we have to consider certain things, such as water, food, medical supplies... Whatever we do, we have to focus on obtaining something that can be exchanged for funds later on in this next trip..."

Thinking that sounds a little bit too sullen, she goes on: "However, I do believe we can cover what is necessary! An... extra hand would probably be of use, really. Perhaps we shall end up with a little extra if we are smart enough, even."

I've had people on my ass, huntin' me down, for most of my life. I can't really say this has been a huge change on that front.

However, I really don't like sea travel, and I sure as hell don't feel good about fightin' these Navy guys to the death. They're just guys doin' a job.

I can't say I have that problem on a regular basis. For a little while before I came here, maybe, but that was kind of special. What did you do to attract so much attention?

I can understand about the sea, though, and the Navy. I don't like having to do this either, but... if they're not going to let us go in peace, what else can we do? I have no desire to die, either. So all we can do is respond in kind.

Well, originally there was no reason. Humans back home tend to react aggressively to something in me. Later I started instigatin' everything, because why fight it? It'll happen anyway.

Yeah, but most of 'em can't hurt me. I haven't met any counter-measures against super-human abilities, so it's all been small-fry up to now.

That is... a very interesting view of your situation. ["They're going to kill me anyway, so I should kill them first" seems very... hypocritical. But, eh, it's not her business if it's not on this world.] Does that happen here, too?

I know someone mentioned there was a way to disable magical and supernatural abilities... some kind of shackles the Navy came up with. I haven't seen a set in person, though. And for that, I'm thankful.

Not particulary. The natives seem to dislike all of us, and the people I've met don't seem so bad. Some are a little eager to kill, a perhaps. Can't say I'm a fan of that.

I'm not really big on it, either. I just want to live my life in peace, and maybe go home at some point. This isn't really facilitating that... between the Navy, and the possessions a few months back, and our general tendency to get into trouble, I'm starting to wonder if violence is the only way to solve our problems. And I hate that.

That's the nature of adventure, matey. You get out into that wild blue and it changes you whether you will it or not. But not always for the worst. I can appreciate the need to rest, but have you ever considered having a party?

I'm hoping not. This place gets crazy sometimes, but... I just want to stay something I can recognize as me. I don't mind changing so much, I just don't want to turn into someone I can't accept when I wake up in the morning.

...A party, though? I feel like we did try that once, and it didn't go well. I'll talk to Mana, and maybe we can think about it again. If all else fails, we can always just take a day off for ourselves, I guess.

It would likely be a difficult thing to adjust to if you're unaccustomed at all to fighting. Or, even, to fighting in the nature of a pirate, as I am. I'm no stranger to battle, but this is certainly an unusual form of it in its methods.

I'm no stranger to fighting, but... like this is another thing entirely. So much is different from what I know that I'm not really sure how to handle it. And I can feel my temper getting in the way sometimes, too. I just have this... burning need to hurt something, sometimes, that isn't like me at all. I can't really explain it.

How strange. If maliciousness is not something commonly a part of your nature, I must say I'm a bit confused as to why it suddenly is here. It goes without saying that pirates are generally associated with a sort of blood thirst, but... Well, I suppose having yet to hear of a circumstance doesn't mean it isn't still a biproduct of this place. I've only talked to so many people, after all.

I don't think it's unusual to feel that way. Especially if your life here is that different than what you were used to back home. Besides, I don't think anybody was prepared for what being here would bring.

Edited 2014-04-04 07:54 (UTC)

No, I definitely wasn't prepared for all this. I was just a student at home, moonlighting as a magical girl whenever something happened that needed us. That's certainly something weird, but... this is a different level entirely.

[She takes a deep breath.] I guess I shouldn't complain too much, though. Everyone else is dealing with this, too, right?

We're all going through the same, but I'd expect some people to be more used to this than others. I've spent most of my life in the ocean, but I've never really been part of a crew or experienced what this world has shown me.

You just gotta be able to handle yourself, and keep swimming against the current.

I don't think you're being too gloomy. I think when we slow down and realize that we've been on the go so much by how tired we feel. So, I think it's quite normal!

You're very kind to ask how we're doing. I've been well, so far, thank you.

That sounds a lot like how I feel right now. Every part of me is exhausted. I'm tired mentally, too - we just keep going, and going, and I haven't had time to just stop and put my thoughts in order. This is... a good breather, really.

I'm glad someone else is being treated kindly by this place. I've had it a little rough since I got here, and while there were some good things that happened, there are a lot of things I would rather not have experienced. I hope you continue to have good experiences here.

I'm sure my luck will not last long, so I'm enjoying the breather for as long as possible. I'd suggest you to do the same, but you're probably already doing so, right?

Rikka... you're right. These are things we'd have never had to experience back home. It's even different from all of the Selfish...

... at the same time... I... I feel like it's also made us stronger. You, Alice, and I... it brought us together, didn't it?

It brought us together. I'll grant you that. But I don't want to get stronger, Mana. I just... I just want to live a normal life, with my normal friends, and maybe get into normal troubles every so often. I don't mind being a Precure, most days. But I'll be damned if I haven't been tempted to change my mind lately.

[There's a brief pause, then a very faint "oops".]

Sorry. Anyway... it's just been so much, with nothing in between except the ocean and a cramped ship. This is a good chance to stretch my legs, and to get some of these thoughts out of my head.

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008 ♦ Text/Action | Backdated: March 31st

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