[02] Voice;

[clocksandroses]

Hey, guys.

[ After two weeks of being bedridden from a nasty bout of flu, Aoko sounds tired, scratchy, and just a little reluctant to string together long sentences. ]

Say, has anybody met any mermaids yet?

[ Tired and scratchy, yes. Fascinated by this world and desiring an opportunity to torment her best friend? Also yes. ] Mm, and to the crew of the Shepherd—I'm feeling a lot better now, so I'll get back to work soon!

[ For those currently aboard the aforementioned Shepherd, Aoko can be found sitting on the edge of her bed with her journal perched on her lap. Two long, miserable weeks of hiding away on her own, for fear of making her crewmates sick . . . It had been a nightmare. She'd still done what work she could, when she could, of course; Aoko's always been a stubborn girl in the face of adversity.

She runs a hand through her hair and smiles wanly down at the book. Stubbornness and sickness aside, a bit of lighthearted fun is just what she needs to feel better. ]

Comments

voice;

[melodyssong]

If you mean here, no. Back at home I saw a saw.

voice;

[watchesthesea]

[Kairi sounds rather curious.]

Are there meant to be mermaids here?

[clocksandroses]

If there are pirates and curses, why wouldn't there be?

[clocksandroses]

You have things like that back in your own world?! Wow . . .

[ Voice ]

[unyieldingwater]

There's a mermaid with the crew I've been traveling with. She was pretty nice.

[ Naive too. ]

[clocksandroses]

[ W-Wait, seriously? Aoko had been hopeful, but to hear confirmation so quickly . . . It's like a dream come true! ]

How lucky!

[Voice]

[grizzly_tea]

Oh good heavens Aoko! I'm so sorry! I fear that... I may have been responsible for giving you that illness. I tried to quarantine myself to keep everyone safe but... I fear I must have still transferred my illness to you.

If you are curious about a mermaid though, we currently have one on board that we rescued after a storm washed her out to sea, separating her from her crew. She might have gone off shopping at the Isla Empieza plaza though, since we had to make a return trip to drop off Kyouya.

[And THAT should put you up to date ^^;]

[soundandfurry]

My best friend is a mermaid back home!

[voice]

[diamondlight]

I'm glad you're feeling better... it feels like a lot of people have gotten sick lately, doesn't it?

As for mermaids, I don't know anything, sorry. Home is... a pretty normal place. No magical creatures or anything. ['Just me,' she doesn't add; it's not relevant. She's not still hiding it, nope, nope.]

[voice]

[carptricks]

[Someone out there has a few qualms with this journal entry]

Why're you asking about mermaids?

[Voice]

[carptricks]

[WHAT]

[WHAT]

-- how long has a mermaid been on board?

[clocksandroses]

Why shouldn't I?! Mermaids are cool!

[clocksandroses]

I guess when you're all stuck on a ship together, it's easy for illnesses to get passed around . . . [ Aoko makes a face to herself. ] We should all stock up on medicines.

Where are you from?

[clocksandroses]

Ehh?! Really? That's amazing!

[clocksandroses]

Maribelle-san, it's okay! Sickness happens.

[ The rest of what the captain says, however, gives Aoko a pause. ] What happened to Otori-kun? Is he coming back?

[carptricks]

[SCOFF]

I don't see what so special about being half f-- fish.

[clocksandroses]

That's because you're scared of them.

[carptricks]

. . . I'm not scared! And don't say stupid things like that in public!

[clocksandroses]

[ Coughs lightly, before raising her voice— ]

Kuroba Kaito's afraid of fish~!

[ COUGH. ]

[carptricks]

-- Aoko! C'mon!

[for obvious reasons, that wasn't exactly something he wanted advertised]

[clocksandroses]

[ tee hee ]

What? It's not like you can hide it here. We live on boats.

[NOT HERE]

[gambliar]

[Oh she is totally making note of this for later.]

[Voice]

[grizzly_tea]

...

[Give Maribelle a few moments to blink in surprise.]

Why... ever since we picked up Miss Nico Robin of course. She and her mermaid companion Keimi, had been washed out at sea during that storm a while back, and I asked of Smoker to rescue the both of them. I suspect we will be parting ways with them in the near future if that boy with the straw hat comes for them.

[grizzly_tea]

Yes my dear, but not only am I the captain of this vessel, I am also a healer. It is not merely my duty to help keep others from getting sick, but also my life's work.

[That... is a subject that Maribelle was still a touch sore about. While they had parted on amicable terms, he'd hurt more than just her pride by leaving.]

Otori felt he wasn't... qualified to serve as my second any longer, now that I have made it publicly known that our crew stands against piracy. I believe he is afraid it would draw unwanted attention upon himself, and so I agreed to allow him to work for lady Celes instead.

[That was roughly as tactful as she could manage.]

[hero_complexed]

I've met mermaids before-not really what you'd expect though they might be a bit different here.