piratejournal | [Voice]

[Ace, squatting in front of Natsuno the moment he finds him, sets his elbows on his knees and stares his way, archly.

There isn't a hint of worry in his eyes.]

Yo, Natsuno.

[There should be. Natsuno has his fingers clenched into his shirt around his chest, he's tense everywhere. He knows when Ace is approaching, by hearing only, his sense of smell seems to have dulled, just like everything else has and his body was not that pleased about it.]

Get away.

[His voice is low, struggling a little, but he's dead serious. Ace needs to run away. Now.]

[The brunette stares at the journal a moment; and, without any hesitation, he's running. Literally, he had forgotten about whatever he was doing, or talking about and took off.

It doesn't take him long to find his friend, and it looks like the captain already made it there. There's worry and fear on Sora's face, but he still doesn't pause in getting near Natsuno.]

H-hey, Yuuki. Just... hang on, okay?

[He glances to the captain, a look of concern resting on his face.

Come on, Natsuno... JUST LET HIM THINK OF SOMETHING...]

Edited 2013-10-07 00:04 (UTC)

Don't come close to me!

[Natsuno has his second hand has gripped into his hair.]

You have to stop me.

[SORRY THREADJACKING TOO -- because Riku, after seeing this post, knows that Sora will get involved somehow. But he also knows that Sora might just be able to help, whereas Riku isn't quite sure what to do.

But that doesn't mean he can just let his best friend handle things all on his own. So for now he keeps his distance and just kind of watches from up in the crow's nest where he was on watch ~~again~~. He doesn't want to complicate things more unless it becomes necessary.]

That's enough, guys.

[Ace began to stand up, stretching his arms out before planting his palm on the the middle of his neck, pushing it out just a little bit. He smiled, shrugging with ease. This wasn't the end of the world. No one was going to die and nobody was going to suffer.]

You want to drink blood, right? Natsuno.

[To which Ace reached up and held his left arm out bare for Natsuno.]

Yes...No. [He growls a bit the last part.]

I don't want to bite anyone!

[He's looking at Ace's arm though, his tongue tracing the outline of his lips.]

It's fine.

[It wasn't as if Ace liked the situation, but Natsuno was a member of his cew.

Like hell was he going to remain idle.]

If you're hurting and biting is going to fix it, bite me. You're my responsibility.

But...--

[Ace spoke and Sora was left to watch the conversation unfold--

--and he wanted to stop it. How, though? The captain was offering himself. Natsuno wasn't going to kill him, so... Sora let out an unhappy sigh and flopped back, looking worried and frustrated.

Natsuno's face kind of made it pretty obvious how well it would turn out, if he didn't get to take it from someone willing. A slightly sick feeling hit the teen's stomach. There was not going to be any getting around it.]

[It's at this time that Natsuno truly understands the anguish that Tohru must have endured, how painful it was for him physically and why he was so insistent that he couldn't go off and leave the life he was 'living'. He can survive without this, it's just that it's so much better with the blood. Natsuno reaches out and grasps Ace's arm, pulling it close to him. There's none of the strength he had before, it would be easy to escape.]

[While he doesn't have the strength, he is still fast. His instincts take over for him, his eyes dying themselves red and his fangs appearing from behind his teeth. He opens his mouth and chomps onto Ace's arm in one singular move. The puncture is clean and should not hurt too much and the reward is so much better as Natsuno's mouth is flooded with hot sticky blood.]

[So the fangs in and Natsuno's aura turned a bit more dangerous, but it went unnoticed. Ace was more worried about Natsuno panicking and running off.

The baptism at Impel Down made this feel like nothing. Being boiled in water heated by a molten forge could make anything seem extremely pleasant in comparison. Ace reached up after a certain point and tapped on Natsuno's temple with his left index finger, giving him a curious look.

The feeling of being 'drained' at the arm was a little weird, but not painful enough that he needed to get away. It was more so because he didn't think Natsuno needed to drink 'that' much.]

That enough?

[Natsuno was almost finished when he tapped, he needed about two cups of blood, which didn't sound like a lot, and on a first round it wasn't. He was regaining his senses by then and he retracted his fangs, ran his tongue over the wound and sat back, a small trickle sliding down from the corner of his mouth.]

[He felt incredibly guilty though. He looked down at the ground. His body felt amazingly strong again, his senses blossomed into life so quickly, he nearly got whiplash.]

Does it hurt? I can...make the pain stop.

[In return, Ace hiked a brow in some surprise. The difference between Natsuno then and now had been immense. So, he really did make the right decision. If anything, Natsuno might have felt even better.

Ace's blood was as vibrant as it could possibly get.]

You don't gotta worry about that. I've taken a lot worse than that.

[He looked down at the two punctures in his arm, even more curious.]

Feelin' alright, though?

[Natsuno felt a lot better physically, it was exactly what he craved, exactly what his body wanted and his powers were back in a surge. He was still nowhere near Tatsumi, but he was back up to his usual standards.]

Oh...[He murmured a little, but that still didn't make it better. He'd actually bitten someone again, and not for part of his master plan. Just because he had to. He really did understand how Tohru felt. Tohru...he must be dead by now.]

I'm...I'm fine.

Do your best to beat yourself up a little less.

[It would be impossible to not notice that this had affected Natsuno for better or worse. The problem was morale.

If one member of the crew felt horrible, the rest were at risk of that negative infection.]

As a member of my crew, you're on the way to great things. Don't let this hold you up.

[That had definitely been one of the strangest things he'd ever witnessed. Sora blinked a couple of times, before scratching his head. Well, that had actually went... pretty well. Letting out a sigh of relief, he leaned against the wall and gave each person a questioning look.

So was that really all there was to it? It hadn't even hurt Ace. And... he seemed... fine.]

Edited 2013-10-07 07:20 (UTC)

I didn't want to bite anyone. [Natsuno hisses this a little bit, putting his head in his hands.] This was never supposed to come up. I am supposed to be dead!

[The female with the generic English accent in a quiet contralto might be familiar, though she doesn't give her name.]

I suppose that it has been a month. Are you truly set on this course of events or is it the fear of your hunger that has you speaking this way?

Upon which ship do you serve?

It hurts...I can't bear it. [His voice is a little raspy.]

I'm on Ace's ship.

Does it have a name? I am sorry that you are in pain. I will attempt to use the Nav to find you, but I believe the name of the vessel is needed.

[We'll just say he responded to this on the way to Natsuno or something? WHATEVER WORKS.

Clenching his teeth, he interrupts the conversation. SERIOUSLY, YOU'RE NOT KILLING HIS FRIEND.]

Don't worry about it, we can handle it.

[He shuts the journal and continues running.]

[His voice is soft, ashamed.]

I bit someone.

[There is sympathy in Elissa's own voice.]

Did they survive? Did it help you? Talk to me. I am listening.

He's fine. I can't drink enough to kill him even if I wanted to.

[He's frowning.]

I guess it does. It doesn't hurt anymore.

So... he is fine. You are better. He is in no danger from you. You are no longer suffering.

Will he suffer the same affliction in the long run? Or is he immune?

I suppose if I kill him, he might turn. I don't know how likely it is. Not everyone who died became a Shiki in the end. A lot more died than did.

But you say that you cannot drink enough to empty him of enough blood that he will die?

Not in one day. It takes three to four days in a short period of time to kill someone.

In your honest opinion - is he a danger to anyone?

Will he be a danger, if you do not bite him again?

No, of course not. He's suffering from some light anemia. Provided I don't continue sucking his blood until he dies, he'll be fine. No more or less a danger than he is now. It's a really unpleasant way to die.

How often must you feed? How long do you think you can go until you begin feeling ill once more?

I've become weaker over the past week and a half and the ache truly began in earnest a few days ago. It progressed rapidly after that. I'm meant to be a creature that feeds on humans, but I don't like that.

No, but you must do it, if you wish to live. How long had it been since your last meal?

If you can go for a certain length of time without feeling the ache, then you could make up a schedule of days in which you would need to feed and find volunteers.

If you truly do not wish to live in this manner, then I will do as we agreed.

It won't kill me. I just proved how weak willed I am. [There's the sound of him punching a hard surface.]

I bit someone just before I arrived here. So about a month.

I don't think you can get volunteers for something like that. I would have never volunteer-oh. [He remembers something, and is reminded how that is not exactly true.]

Mmmhmmm. And I suspect that your friend Sora was quick to volunteer, was he not? I would be surprised to learn that he was not the one who was bitten today.

Necessary feeding - once per month. That is twelve people within a year. None of whom have to be bled until death.

I would let you taste my blood, but somehow I think it would be unappealing. I carry my own sort of curse.

Do you begin to think that your condition might be managed like ... a strange illness? One that does not have to end in your death, if you do not truly desire it?

No, it wasn't him. It was our Captain.

Managing it? I...I don't know. At least I have so long before I need to feed again. The Shiki, the others who are like me, but different, they needed to feed much more often.

Tohru-chan did, anyway.

Did your captain voluntarily offer himself to you as food? If so, I think you should reconsider death for at least another month. Think about what I have said to you. Formulate options. Make a plan. Study it.

If you think such a thing might work, then I see no reason to end your life, so long as you are not causing death or serious harm to others or exposing them to the possibility of becoming like you.

I will be here, however, if you or someone you have bitten needs to be put down.

Is this agreeable?

Edited 2013-10-07 08:09 (UTC)

[There's a pause.] That's fine.

My offer still stands, should you be interested♥.

Everything was resolved here. I don't know anymore. I'm confused.

[It's been a while, but he recognizes the voice]

You're still on that shit?

[Yeah.. Ban is so polite. He really is.]

.... [The kid had expressed a desire to be killed before, but something was different about it this time. This was more pleading, more urgent]

What's going on over there?

[It's a bit of time that passes before he answers. He sounds somewhat defeated.]

I've been fed. It's...fine. For now.

................................................

[................]

Fed? Or had your thirst quenched? [Are we talking food or blood here, without being blatant about it]

I bit my captain.

[What? How was someone supposed to react to that?!]

And.... he was okay with that?

[Give me a read here.. is this a good thing or a bad thing kid]

[Natsuno sighed softly.]

He volunteered to end my suffering on the matter.

Hey, what goes on between you two is none of my business.

[Even though I asked, I don't want to know more about your creepy relationship ]

There is nothing going on.

Save the whole sharing his blood thing...

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