piratejournal | [voice] and you can't hold me down / 'cause i belong to the hurricane

[You know... it's pretty bad when the woman in your dreams starts talking outside of your head. Or maybe he was still dreaming?]

[Only he was doing some work, and very much not asleep. Honestly, he's almost willing to wait and see if anyone ELSE say something to this before he does, because... ah... crap]

[Doesn't matter if it's lower or more reckless. It's still the voice he knows well. Before he can help himself...]

Jean?

[It takes her a while to answer, and when she does it's guarded]

Logan.

[Yeah, thanks for the wait... he stood there forever waiting to see if he was crazy or not. He's still not sure, once she does say his name. Though it sent a chill down his spine]

Jean! Where are you? How long have you been here? [What's the last thing you rememb--no] Are you alright?

Well. I'm alive.

[ouch.]

[Well, that said a lot.]

[damn. He's silent for a bit longer then he meant to. He's also a bit used to the snippy 'alive' or 'not' comments, but not from someone in the books. Shit. He has no idea what to say...]

I ... I'm glad to hear it. [omg wtf Logan. Glad to hear it? It's your fault she died. Idiot. He's at such a loss.]

You don't sound so glad.

Depends on how you feel about me, sweetheart. Or how insane I'm currently going...

[sighs. Damn this was going to be bad, huh.] We can get you off that island.

'We'?

Crew I'm with. I've... been here a while. Good bunch of people.

These other people offering to help... they're part of your crew?

They are. The Spades. [he held the word Pirates out for a moment] We've got a couple of ships and some room. If not you can have my space.

What did you do, Logan, tell them to welcome me with open arms? So you could keep an eye on me? So you could control me?

Jean, honey, I didn't tell them anything. They just saw you needed a hand and offered. That's the type of people they are. I don't want to control you. Never did, and you know that. I'm... It's just... you're the last person I ever thought I'd get to see again.

[A bitter laugh, because yeah, why would that be, Logan?]

I'm not here for you.

[Yeah, gotta watch what the hell he says, huh.]

You aint here because you wanna be either. At least you know me.

You're right about that.

[This is like, the worst idea, isnt it? But he knows this crew, and there are people here who could handle her better then even he could.]

So, ya scared of me now, or just pissed still? Because I only did what ya asked. It's haunted me for years now, Jean. If you take any comfort in that at all, then good. I wont mess with you. Come to the Sun.

Gonna have a hell of a time toppin' the last person that made it worth my while, but I ain't so rude as t' not let no one try, sheheheh!!! Which island y' on, sweetheart?

Namur. [That was his 'I'll kick your ass' warning voice. He knows this one. Don't make him break your pretty lil fish face]

Try not t' make the weather get all shitty this time 'round bro, but uh. Gotta do shit right, catch me?

[He might be baiting, or totally oblivious. Perhaps Logan ought to be a bit more clear about what he's angling at.]

Empieza.

Trust me-- you'll like what I have to offer.

Oh hell that's easy then, shit. Ever heard a the Nav? 'S this bitty round thing sends y' from one place t' 'nother. Find a seedy li'l place called the Backwater Brig, 's gonna be down the longest, darkest alley y' can find, but for whatever dumbass reason the locals ain't never heard a it, catch me? Anyway, Miss Margie'll explain how it all works better'n I can. Jus' tell the thing y' wanna hop onto the Sun or the Moon or even if y' think I wanna go meet that Namur guy, an' then there's all this brightass light everywhere an' y' gotta watch yer step cuz suddenly yer here. Got it?

[dryly] Teleportation. Yes, I've heard of it before.

It's nice to have directions, though.

So what's the deal with y' an' Logan? Sounds like shit's kinda intense since he come in throwin' his warnin' voice at me an' all.

We have history.

He tried to kill me.

Yeah, that'll usually put a damper on the relationship. Y' know why? Or did he jus' go kinda flippin' nuts one day?

[He'd be more concerned if Logan hadn't already tried to kill the whole crew at one point...]

Yes, I know why. He couldn't control me. Nobody can.

Y' know, Logan don't seem t' me t' be the controllin' type... Sure it weren't some kinda shitty misunderstandin'?

I know what happened.

Well I don't, 's why I'm askin'.

[Damn, Namur hates meeting people on the journals. He can't taste them or smell them and he can only go by what he hears... and peoples' voices are tricky, sometimes.]

[Geez, Namur, you'd really hate the Internet.]

That's right. You don't.

Annn'... yer gonna come hang with 'im on the ship anyway. Think that kinda says more t' his credit than yers, eh?

You're lucky, if there's something this place has is people willing to help. It doesn't depend on who does it, but on who you choose to allow to do it.

Knowing where you are exactly will be useful though.

[This is a voice he doesn't recognize, but Ikki doesn't really keep a close track on the people on the journals.]

[Freedom of choice suits her just fine.]

Are you offering, or just giving advice?

Offering, though it seems that some of my crewmates are already on it. I'm with Logan and the other guy. So take this just as a confirmation of "yes, we can take you the hell out of that island if you want us to".

You're with him? [Flatly, with a hint of disgust. Or is that apprehension? There's a pause before she speaks again.]

All right. I accept your offer.

We are in the same crew, which is the best way to survive here. It's not necessary, but know how to sail around it's the preferable option at least until you find your ground. But if it troubles you there are other crews who would be just as happy to welcome you.

[He doesn't know the story between Logan and this woman, neither does he care, but if she isn't convinced about going where Logan is... Ikki thinks she should be reassured that she has other options, even if she has said that she accepts the offer.]

If you still want to accept our offer you can wait there a bit more until we go to pick you up or you can come directly by yourself. [Pause.] Just one thing, fire doesn't scare you, right?

[She's got a bit testy. Happens when you're simultaneously arguing with the guy who killed you.]

Nothing scares me.

And I said 'all right'.

Nothing? That's just perfect. We have enough people scared of things around this world already.

You can come here from a store named Backwater Brig, just say that you want to go to the Sun, it's the name of the ship. It's the fastest way you have right now to get out of there.

The Sun.

I like that name.

[He laughs a bit.]

Me too, it fits some of us perfectly even. The Sun is where fire concentrates after all.

Mind if I ask your name? I'm Phoenix Ikki.

Yeah? [What, is Logan collecting Phoenixes now?]

I'm also called Phoenix. Seems like we might have a lot in common.

[Okay, now this really has his interest.]

It really seems so. I would ask if it's just a name or something else, but that's probably better left for when you're here. For now, to avoid confusion, just call me Ikki.

Anyway, there should be a long and dark alley right across the way one of the inns, it's hard to miss but if you're not sure just ask one of the locals and if they look at you as if you had lost your mind you'll know that you found the path. Apparently the place is just for us to use. Be sure to check the store before coming though, especially if there's anything from your world you need or want, they may actually have it in stock.

It's who I am. [She seems pretty firm about that]

The Backwater Brig, right? Your crewmate told me all about it. Sounds a little risky, if you ask me.

It's more safe than sailing the waters alone so far. Quick, painless and without stops or interruptions.

That said, if you don't run a few risks here or there life can get pretty boring, don't you think?

[Amused]

I meant for everyone else.

Who said that what I said couldn't be applied to everyone?

[Oh dear, he still doesn't understand what she's getting at.]

Sounds like you've been pretty lucky up until now.

Or maybe you are underestimating us? Personally I've gone through shit that would make "little risky" be a joke, and so have others.

Look, I don't know what you mean with "a little risky" or to what you're referring, to us inviting you right away, to use the Nav or whatever, it doesn't really matter. We like risks.

[voice] and you can't hold me down / 'cause i belong to the hurricane

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