piratejournal | 004 Strike [Voice/Action for the Friend Ship]

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asbel lhant

004 Strike [Voice/Action for the Friend Ship]

[VOICE]
So, I was wondering...

[Actually, he wasn't wondering. He's just got some downtime and he's too riled up from the day's adventures to kick back and relax just yet.]

What's the best thing that's happened to you since you got here and joined a crew? Or, if you can't think of a "best", then how about talking about which islands you visited or what day was the most memorable for you?

[ACTION]
[Asbel closes the journal and rolls over onto his stomach. Man, this is no fun at all. He's been running around everywhere and he's even pretty exhausted, but he just can't fall asleep. Maybe it's because he's started wondering about Mom and Dad and Sophie and everyone else again.]

[It's unbelievable to think he'd be feeling homesick after all this time, right? Heaving a sigh, Asbel's chin clunks down on his arms and he shuts his eyes, feeling the need to announce with seeming indifference:]

Can't sleep.

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Simply arriving here was my "best" experience, to be honest. Each day is another experience and so far I have found all of them equally as memorable.

I see. So...that must make you an adventurer of sorts, right?

[Even though enjoying new experiences doesn't necessarily make a person an adventurer, it's a good place to start.]

I've seen lots of cool stuff since I got here, too. Way more than I ever did back home.

I believe so. I do think I am very adventurous.

It is wonderful to have new experiences and learn new things. Do you feel that you would like to take part of this world home with you?

Thought so. I'm an adventurer, too! At least, when I'm not mopping up or drying dishes, anyway.

And sure, I would. I mean, it'd be pretty hard to decide on just an island or two to take with me, but if I could bring back my own ship, I figure I could go wherever I wanted, whenever I wanted.

Mopping up? Drying dishes?

The free life preferred?

Well, of course I'd prefer the "free life"! Wouldn't you?

There's nothing too great about cleaning things and doing chores. But I guess it isn't so bad. After doing them for this long, I can kinda forget I'm doing work to begin with. Usually I tell myself it's all a part of my training.

I would indeed prefer to be free. [ But that isn't an easy dream. She's a princess. She has family. She promised her loyalty to her little brother, the future King. She can't just…walk away, no matter how much she wants. ] But I am able to satisfy myself as I am now with these moments of freedom.

[ She feels a little happy at Asbel's explanation on work and pleasure and smiles, though he surely can't see it. ] I shall adopt that view from now on.

I liked visiting Serenes. It was a pretty relaxing island to be on, and I was able to get some good swimming done.

Serenes? I don't think I've heard of that one before.

[Although someone else has mentioned a relaxing island. "Relaxing" is a little too vague for him, though.]

What's it like? Were there any people living on the island?

I don't think I saw people there that weren't part of my crew. But that was fine for me.

There were plenty of lakes to swim in and, and we managed to store up a lot of food because of all the plants and creatures that lived there.

Some of the islands we've visted have been pretty un...populated, too. Not all of them, though. The weirdest are the ones that look like they should have people, but don't. I guess they all got bored and moved?

[But that's good to know. Serenes sounds like a good place to stock up on fresh food.]

So, you like swimming a lot?

Maybe! Some of my crew didn't like Serenes for whatever reasons they had, but it was just fine for me. [A bit too many trees for her liking, but aside from that?

A+ would travel to again.]

Oh, and I'm what humans refer to as a mermaid.

Huh. Maybe they were looking for more excitement. Serenes doesn't sound too dangerous, after all.

--Wait, a mermaid...? Seriously?

[Whoa! He's heard about them before from stories, but he's never exactly talked to one before. He thinks. Probably.]

Well, in that case, it's no wonder you like swimming so much! I bet you've seen all kinds of cool stuff underwater. Is it true that the bottom of the ocean is completely dark with no light at all?

[She can always appreciate getting this kind of attention.]

The ocean is full of wonders, but also dangers. Even so, it's my home, and I'll always love it.

It's true that the sun doesn't reach down at the bottom, but we can use other light sources to protect ourselves.

Yeah, I can get that. I guess there's ups and down no matter where you live - even someplace like the ocean. Sure seems like it'd be exciting, though! Floating around everywhere with all the fish, not having to worry about trees or walls or whatever getting in the way.

[He never really thought of light being a form of protection, though. More like a way to see in the dark.]

What kind of light sources? Do your people use cryas, too?

[Nami laughs.]

You're right about that. For me, living in the ocean is a lot easier than being up here. Everything in the surface world looks similar, especially when there's nothing but buildings and trees.

As for light sources, our most important one is the Moonstone.

We use it to protect ourselves from the... less friendly sea creatures.

[Asbel thinks about it.]

We've got stuff besides just houses and trees, though. There're hills and mountains and fields of flowers. Lakes and caves. And we've got all sorts of weather like wind, rain, and snow. It might not be as awesome as swimming in the ocean or flying through the air, but I wouldn't say it all looks totally the same.

The Moonstone... [It really does sound right out of a fairytale.] So the not-so-friendly sea creatures don't like the light it gives off, huh?

That's not what it's for. We use the moonstone so that we can keep them away. They don't like the light, so it stops them from attacking us.

[Fairytale ruined.]

But it only lasts one hundred years, and the one we already have is almost that old.

It's up to me to find a new one before it's too late.

Huh.

So, uh, how exactly do you go about getting a new one? Do they all come from the same place, or is it more complicated than that?

It's up to the Tidecaller, that's me. I had to go to the surface world to make a trade with the moonstone bearer.

But when I finally made it, I couldn't find the bearer anywhere. And without the stone, my people won't have long.

[Hubert had just been on the verge of falling into dreamland when he heard Asbel speak. Rather drowsily, he asks:]

Are you okay?

Huh?

[His head turns in Hubert's direction. He could just tell the truth; he thinks about it. But Hubert's always worrying about stuff anyway. This whole adventure's been a lot harder on him than it has on Asbel. Besides, his kid brother needs his rest, too.]

Uh-- yeah! I'm a-okay.

[Asbel fakes a yawn here, hand over his mouth. Taking his abrupt words together with the well-timed motion, it even looks fake. He can't do much about that, though. He's a pretty obvious liar.]

I must've been talking in my sleep or something.

[Talking in his sleep, huh? Well, it wouldn't be the first time it happened. Though usually Asbel is a lot more incoherent when he sleeptalks. Besides that, Hubert doesn't think that people who are actually sleeping complain about not being able to sleep.

But Asbel is a stubborn and prideful sort, so Hubert won't pry any further for not.]

Okay. But...you'll tell me if anything's wrong, right?

Come on, Hubert, I already told you. Everything's totally fine.

[He's trying to be encouraging, really, but the truth has settled in his gut, and he feels bad for shrugging it off - okay, okay for lying about it. Asbel lets his chin drop back onto his arm.]

I've just... I've just been thinking about some things, that's all.

[Asbel, thinking? Don't hurt yourself, big brother!]

Like what?

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004 Strike [Voice/Action for the Friend Ship]

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