piratejournal | [Voice & Written]

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[Voice & Written]

[He's going to regret this later, but there's a bunch of excitedly high-pitched chirps like a bird singing a love song.]

[That's okay. It matches the background sounds.]

[But FAR more embarrassing is the scribbles he makes into the journal:]

[So someone has a case of Spring Fever. Or maybe just a fever.]

[And then in big bold colorful levels Marco makes sure to add:]

FREE FLOWER CROWNS FOR EVERYONE WHO SIGNS UP NOW.

[Yeah. He's kind of lost it.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Most everyone at the castle died - from those who were family by blood to those who were family of the heart. Father, Mother, my brother's wife Oriana, my little nephew Oren.

The old sage Aldous was killed as was the librarian. So was Nan who was my childhood nanny before becoming the cook. So many, really.

[Now that she's started, it is difficult to stop as the flow of faces marches through her memories.]

Ser Gilmore, Mallol, mother's friend Lady Landra, Landra's maid Iona, Landra's son Dairren. Our brave and loyal guardsmen. No one was safe from Howe's men. Not children nor servants. They were ruthless.

[Wait - he wrote of a fishman? Perhaps he meant fisherman.]

Howe? Family enemy?

[He makes tally marks on the page as he starts hunting down the right kind of branches.]

Until he attacked, he was thought a family friend as well as my father's vassal. He betrayed us out of jealousy for our status and position, hoping to usurp it.

He succeeded for a time.

When I broke into his home, it was with three companions. We came in daylight instead of attacking while everyone was abed as he did. The four of us killed everyone in that house who took arms against us, but we did not harm those who were innocent. His servants did not harm my family. They did not deserve to suffer my retribution.

I see.

That was wise of you.

My family also has a reputation for vengeance, but my Pops always taught us to let the weakest, and the innocent go. And he always said not to hold a grudge beyond the parent. The sins of the parent don't pass onto the children.

I suppose it's strange that a pirate would have that sense of order, but that's what made him an Emperor.

I agree about the children. He was the only Howe to die at my hand.

Did you say you have a friend who fishes for bull sharks? Are not those rather large?

No no, my brother is a bull shark fishman.

You are familiar with merfolk? Mermaids? Human busts, but fish tails? Namur is a fishman, human legs, but gills and shark teeth.

You should see his Mom. She's really something.

But he is rather big. About eight feet tall. All my brothers are too tall. Only Ace and Haruta are shorter than me. It's too easy for people to forget I'm the oldest.

Part fish and part man? And eight feet tall?

You know, if I had not served with Ser Crocodile for a time, I might think you were exaggerating about the height of your brothers. Still, if I ever meet your brother Namur, I shall do my best not to rudely stare at him. I am trying to imagine how he might look, but it seems incredible.

How tall are you, then? I am around five and one half feet tall.

You sound adorable.

I'm six foot three.

My Pops is a good four times Crocodile's size. I suppose he seems tall to a lot of otherworlders and those around here, but I still remember his rookie days before he even got the scars and hook. [Which you know... Marco may or may not have given him. He's kind of a jerk like that and his feud with Crocodile goes back decades.] It makes him seem shorter than me. [But he's not, Marco, get over it.]

Even Thatch is about seven feet tall though. And I think one of the Straw Hat crew members is around eight feet tall. Nico Robin of that crew is nearly my height too.

You are not overly tall in comparison to some warriors that I know. Taller than my old friend Alistair, perhaps, but not so tall as Sten. Still, if you took your brothers to the dwarven city of Orzammar, you would all be giants in comparison!

I am somewhat short for a human female from my homeland. Very nearly elf-sized.

Admittedly the dwarves in our world are only about a foot tall, so there's certainly that. But we also have giants at a hundred feet, and Little Oars Jr. is three times the regular size of a giant.

I suppose though, it's not really the height itself so much as what one does with it. I would like to be taller so I can stretch my mass more easily, but my brother Jozu lost his arm because of what a big target he makes. It's not easy being big either, eh?

Oh, I agree. Being taller does make you a much larger target. Even the most graceful man would have trouble being stealthy, if he was quite tall. It is easier to be sneaky, if one is smaller.

I'm a little too flashy for sneaky.

Sparkles have a habit of drawing attention. [And yes the page is literally sparkling now.] But that's how I prefer it. I guess sparkles are easier to turn on and off though, eh.

Edited 2014-04-13 11:09 (UTC)

[It is a shame he can't hear her laugh of delight.]

How do you do that? Are you a mage of some sort? I know several mages, but I have never seen them do such a thing.

Sparkles would, indeed, draw someone's attention. That could be helpful, if the plan is to draw attention away from others. As for me, I prefer to remain unseen until it is necessary to act in battle. The element of surprise can be quite effective.

[He'd be pleased!]

Sounds a little like Haruta. She springs into action while Vista and I distract them. She's about your size too, maybe a little smaller.

The sparkles are a secret though! I can't do magic, but I have a few generally useless tricks up my sleeves, and in this case, that's just one of them. Well, mostly useless. Like you said, it is useful to draw attention away from the rest of my family.

It is a good trick and quite fun. I am often amazed by the people that I meet in this world. So many and varied talents. It makes for a good learning opportunity, if the skill can be taught. I have been learning a great many things, including how to use a weapon called a repeating rifle.

Usually, blades are my weapon of choice.

Sounds intriguing.

My brothers all use something different. Haruta uses sabers, but Curiel and Izou are firearms experts.

I haven't been able to learn anything new in fighting, but there's a lot about politics and certain facets of other worlds that's been amazing to hear about. It's a real opportunity as you said.

I am glad someone else views it in that way. Though I do have duties awaiting me at home, I see no reason to be sad about being here. In a strange way, coming here has been something of a holiday after fighting against the Archdemon for so long.

We get to see new places, meet new people, and learn new things. I have gone from being a Grey Warden to being a rigger on a pirate ship. It has been interesting.

I have only nominal interest in going home.

So long as any of my family is here, there is no reason to leave them, and every reason to stay and protect them.

Our reasons for remaining are similar, though strangely opposite as well. I am in no hurry to return because I have no family left. There are plenty of good reasons to remain - new friends, new interests, perhaps even love.

[Did she just admit on paper something she has been denying? Perhaps so.]

Until this new adventure ends, I see no reason not to enjoy it to the fullest.

That's a good attitude. I can't stand when people are in too much a hurry to enjoy everything around them to the fullest!

This is embarrassing to admit, but I do not know your name as you did not use it in your original journal entry. I have greatly enjoyed this exchange of words and histories and should very much like to continue it.

My name is Elissa Cousland.

Marco.

It's been a pleasure speaking with you Miss Cousland.

Please use Elissa. There is no need to stand on ceremony, especially if I shall be referring to you as Marco.

It has been very nice to make your acquaintance over the journal, Marco. I look forward to the flowers.

Hopefully you won't mind that I took the liberty of getting a little creative, Elissa.

[Indeed, when her seagull package arrives, she'll find a laurel crown with the leaves numbering a memorial for the lost Cousland family members and light blue flowers gently over the top.]

[It takes her a moment to get back to him once she's received the crown. Elissa may not have realized the significance of the number of leaves, but the fact that it is a laurel touches her a great deal.]

Marco, it is beautiful.

I never expected something so lovely or so personal. You have truly delivered happiness to me today and I shall not forget it.

Thank you.

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Handwritten - after the flowers arrive

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