piratejournal | 005 ♦ Voice + Action [Isla Empieza]

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005 ♦ Voice + Action [Isla Empieza]

Rikka's running around the Shepherd, and the dock where it remains moored, like a girl possessed. She looks like a completely different young woman than she did a week ago; friends and a long bath have breathed new life into her after the events leading up to Halloween. But, whatever happened, it's got her scared again, and both her own crew and anyone else on the island are likely to notice - she's usually a little more collected than this, vampiric shenanigans aside. Catching herself for a moment and realizing there's a better way, she stops, take a moment to get her breath back, and opens her journal.

"If anyone on the Shepherd is reading this, we need to move now. We're in danger if we stay here any longer. If anyone's joining us, get aboard. Alice, Mana, we need to start making preparations; meet me on the deck. Whoever else is left, you should probably meet me on the deck, too. I am not going to see us killed today, if there's anything I can do about it.

Anyone else that's on Isla Empieza, I think it's a good idea if you do the same thing - if the Navy comes here, we're going to be stuck, and I don't want to think about what's going to happen to us. Please... everyone be careful."

Satisfied as the journal finishes recording her handwriting, she snaps it shut, and starts up the gangplank at a brisk walk. And when she's on the deck:

"MARIBELLE!"

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[Alice is already on the deck, looking out over the sea, an umbrella shielding her from the sun's rays. Lance sits on her head, and pokes her as Rikka emerges.

She eyes her friend for a moment, and then blinks a bit as she approaches her.]

Rikka-chan, I do believe this situation calls for us to remain calm.

I-! [She stops, the gentle reminder enough to get her back under control, if only barely.]

Right... right. Okay, I'm better now. Still, we need to move quickly.

[Alice nods, satisfied with that for the moment.]

Indeed. Though we don't have terribly much to work with, on that account, right now...

We'll have to do what we can. I don't want to presume our captain will agree with me, but... what other choice do we have? We can't fight the Navy. Not with the kind of firepower they're talking about.

[Alice purses her lips, and looks around.]

Yes, especially when this crew hasn't had the chance to gather more members yet...

As it is, our powers as Precure can help us to an extent, but... Those powers weren't granted to fight humans. Much less human armies.

But they were given to us to protect. We won't attack - that's not our role, and you're right, it's not why we have our power. But if something else attacks us, or if someone else is under attack, I have no problems using our abilities to keep people safe.

Most certainly, that's without question. It's just...

[She sighs a bit.]

How do I put it? We don't know how those powers will WORK against beings that aren't Seflishness.

[She shakes her head.]

But I suppose that is more a matter we will have to cross when we come upon it. More to the point of protecting people, have you seen Mana-chan?

She did not seem to be taking the news of what happened ... well.

We can't know for sure, but it's likely they work mostly the same - a shield is a shield, and ice is ice. The only question is what effect they'd have if we actually tried to hurt people with them, and that's something I don't want to test until we have to, so... yes, let's set it aside for now.

[Rikka sighs; this wasn't exactly on her departure checklist.]

I haven't found Mana yet; she's next on my list. Even without everything else that's happened, she'd be taking this hard. After all that, I need to make sure she's okay. The crew is at least as important, and probably moreso, than the equipment and provisions.

Yes, I expect that she is... hence why I ask. I haven't seen her since the announcement... I'm at least a little bit concerned with that.

[She frowns. She can't really think of how to put forth what she's thinking without being upfront about it. Must be karma from trying to talk everyone else down when she showed up.]

If you would like, I can check on other things as need be?

I don't have any doubt in her ability to pull through and do whatever she has to, but I'm beginning to worry about these things taking their toll on her.

What we deal with back home, those are monsters and demons, creatures fueled by pure darkness and malice. Here, it's ... not quite the same, is it?

[She sighs and lowers her umbrella, folding it up.]

I'm beginning to worry a bit about how a place like this may affect someone as loving as she is.

[Rikka's silent for a long moment. She hadn't thought about it in those terms... and now she was worried. Very worried. Either Mana was going to pull through and grow from this... or she was going to break. That wasn't acceptable.]

I... completely ignored that. I was careless, thinking I could just make sure she had an anchor and everything would be okay...

[Her mind whirls, trying to think of a solution. She starts to think out loud, words coming out slowly:] I think the only thing we can do is reassure her that we're going to make this right, once we get ourselves settled. Just like at home... we've got to get stronger, and we've got to decide what we're fighting for. It's not just "protecting Earth". It's "protecting the people that are important to us," or "keeping innocent people safe." One or both of those.

[The girl's expression hardens.] If it comes down to it, you and Mana are getting picked up and taken somewhere safe, and everyone else can take care of themselves. But Mana won't be okay with that at all, and that's where we have a problem.

[Alice paused for a beat before smiling warmly, and she nods.]

I wish I could say that when I chose to become a Precure, it was to save the world, but I would be lying in that case. Certainly, I want that as well - to save everyone, to restore the Trump Kingdom - but it wasn't my motivating factor at the time.

In all honesty, that hasn't changed here.

[She tilts her head to one side a bit.]

I know what I'm fighting for, and that is to protect the people most important to me. So, whatever it is you and Mana-chan decide to fight for, I will always go with you. Be it here, or wherever we may end up with things becoming more and more dangerous out there.

I'd certainly say that reassuring her is just as important as taking stock of what needs to happen with this ship, if not more so. Mana-chan will want to protect everyone, yes, but... Well, I know she can be a bit stubborn, but...

I suppose that's where you come in?

It's not going to be here. We've got to get moving, one way or another. But I'm really happy you're still behind me. I've been a little weird, this last month or two, and I was afraid I'd push you away with that.

Seriously, though... if Mana breaks under the stress of this, we're sunk. Can I leave the rest of the checks to you? I... need to find her, and make sure she's going to be okay. [A little unusually for her, Rikka's fidgeting; either she picked up some odd nervous tics, or she's really worried.]

[Alice notices that, certainly, but just nods.]

Of course, you know I will... and you've been fine. You've just been you, Rikka-chan, and that's all I could expect or want.

[She gives a small (somewhat wistful?) laugh.]

I need to get used to the fact that sometimes you have to be there for her now where I can't, anyhow.

Go, I will handle things up here until you're back.

Alice... thanks. I'll be back as soon as I can. I just need to make sure everything's okay. I know she's important to both of us. I've been pushing her a lot without meaning to, and it's time I addressed that.

[She hesitates for just a moment, before she nods and starts hunting for her most important person.]

[Alice sighs a bit quietly to herself as Rikka leaves, but nods to herself and clasps her hands together.]

Alright, then. Time to get to work...

[voice]

Alright, Rikka... I'll do what I can to make sure we're ready to set off...

----

[after posting this, Mana is quick to work at her assigned duties... getting the ship's galley ready for them to take off, and making sure it's stocked for the voyage ahead. They've been at port so long, there's thankfully not much that needs to be done.

Nevertheless... Mana looks quite worried, and not to mention preoccupied. The fact that someone burned down the population of an entire island... it was weighing heavily on her mind.

The fact that it happened, and there had been nothing she - or anyone else - could do about it hit the hardest, though. But then... bad things happened all the time in the world back home, didn't they?

But then... Mana was also a Precure... and ever since she'd seen what happened to the Trump Kingdom... the idea of unavoidable tragedies troubled her a great deal.]

[Rikka's sweep of the ship brings her down the galley in time, and she sees the worried look on Mana's face that she's completely certain wouldn't be there if Mana knew Rikka were there. So, she walks quietly, and when she gets close, she reaches for her friend's hand, whether she's been noticed or not. She doesn't say anything else yet, just... waits. If Mana has something to say, she'll say it. That much hasn't changed.]

[Mana was so much in her own world, that she didn't even realize Rikka was there till she felt the other girl touch her hand. She practically jumped, but eased when she saw that it was Rikka standing there]

Rikka... hi...

[she's going to do her best to force a smile now]

[Rikka could see right through Mana, this time, and she didn't like it, frowning.]

Hi, Mana. You can drop that smile. I know you better than that.

[She sighs, pulling her closer for a hug.]

We'll make this all right, somehow... okay? Things look bad now, but we'll find a way. Try not to worry so much. If you need to get it out, I'll listen. But... we can't change the past. All we can do is work hard so we can keep things from happening in the future.

[Perceptive, but then, between her knowledge of her best friend and Alice's suspicions, it's fairly apparent why she's torn up.]

[Mana's eyes widened, as Rikka caught her in a lie... and yes, that's what that smile was. A lie. Knowing full well her illusion had been shattered, she frowned and hung her head]

Rikka...

[Mana sucked in a deep breath]

... You know... not even the Precure can save everyone, right? We... we protect everyone from the Selfish, but... there were things that happened to other groups before us... And even then, everything that goes on in the world...

[Mana's hands balled up into fists]

It's not just that a fire took out an entire island... it's that... I haven't really used my power for anything since I got here, you know?

What would we have used our powers for, though? We can't be everywhere. I don't even know where the island was that burned. There's nothing for us to fight. I...

[She sighs.] I've kind of been thinking of this as a vacation, from everything that's happened. But that vacation's over now, and we'll have to figure out what to do.

But this is what I think. We can't save everyone. But maybe... maybe we don't have to. That's why there are police, and firemen, and other superheroes, and everyone else. There are things only we can do, and things that other people can do better than us. So... [She holds Mana's hand tight, trying to be reassuring but not sure she's finding the words.] ...maybe we need to take a step back. You and I have been pushing ourselves a little bit lately, since we got here, and...

[Rikka keeps trying to fish for the words she wants, but after a couple seconds she shakes her head.] I can't figure out how to say it. But you're trying to take so much onto your shoulders, and you're not going to be able to stand under it all.

... I know. It just... it would hurt a lot less if I'd done something as a Precure. Like... it would make up for my not being there...

[she sniffles a bit, squeezing Rikka's hand]

I'm not... I'm not being over-dramatic, am I?

No, of course not - after all, why do we have this power if we're not going to use it? I'm just worried. If you keep going like this, you're going to make yourself sick. Again.

I'm not trying to make you sad, or to give you grief, or anything. I just want to see you smile again - for real, not just because it's what you think I want. I know it's hard, and I wish there were something more we could do. But... we'll just have to play with the cards we're dealt.

[Rikka frowns.] And it's a pretty bad hand, really. We've got to make the most of it.

... I know, Rikka. You're just... trying to make me see the reality of it all, right?

[she sighs]

... you know... you always compare us to the swallow and the Happy Prince from the story... but...

[she looks up, smiling a bit more sincerely now]

... the swallow in that story couldn't really save the prince, you always do for me...

[she blushes a bit]

... I kind of... read it after you told me about it...

[The thought flashed through Rikka's mind that she should be amused she'd convinced Mana to read 19th-century literature, but more than that... she'd hoped Mana would never follow up on the reference. Aguri had been bad enough.]

I just don't want you to push yourself too far. Whenever something goes wrong, I get so worried you're going to throw yourself into things and... [She shakes her head.] I can only do so much. At the end of the day, it's you that does all these amazing things, and I'm just helping, and taking orders. But making sure you don't overdo it is something I can do.

[She tries to smile.] The swallow couldn't do anything for the prince, in the end. But he tried as hard as he could to get the prince to see reason, and when the prince wanted to do something, the swallow did it, until he couldn't manage anymore.

We're better than them. You learn from your mistakes, and you listen to me when I try to stop you. I'm not going anywhere, Mana, so...

[Eventually she averts her eyes, blushing and mumbling:] Mmn... I'm no good at this stuff...

Edited 2013-11-21 15:44 (UTC)

... Rikka. I've told you before... I couldn't do all of those amazing things without you at my side...

[her smile grows brighter, and she brings her hand up to Rikka's cheek]

I chose you because you are good at this stuff... and because we make each other better. The Prince and the Swallow... they tried to do that, but they didn't.

[she giggled a bit]

You're right. We're better than them... thank you, Rikka, for helping me find my confidence again.

O-of course. [She hates the squeak in her voice, but Mana's very good at moving at her own pace, as usual. Rikka does manage a smile of her own, though.] I like you better when you're smiling. And I'll do whatever it takes to get it back, if you lose it. That hasn't changed.

So, um... thank you. For picking me, back then, and for trusting me for so long. It's going to take me a lifetime to pay you back for it, but if being with you is how I can do it, I'm in.

[Mana pulled Rikka into a hug... and then gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. If they were going to be a couple, displays of affection like that had to be more common, right?]

You don't need to thank me... it was natural, you know! We were drawn together from the start!

... and I like it better when you're smiling too!

[OH GOD MELTDOWN NOW]

I-I... t-thank you?

[Clearly Rikka is not yet prepared for such random acts of affection. Oops.

[blinku blinku. Oh my gosh, that is too cute]

... Did I make you flustered, Rikka-sama? [she says that teasingly... just before giving her another one on the other cheek]

M-M-Mana...! [She's resisting the urge to flail her arms, considering she'll hit Mana; after a moment, her brain restarts, and she turns almost as red as her friend's hair before coughing lightly.] T-this isn't helping us finish our preparations! Um, I've got to do some... some very important work assignments!

[She starts to walk away before she remembers Mana is still holding her, which means she has no ability to actually move, and just stands there dumbly again.]

Edited 2013-11-24 04:18 (UTC)

I knoooow you do! [Mana giggled a bit, before giving Rikka a kiss on the nose this time]

I'm giving you these for good luck~!

[So guess who's finally out on deck for once, instead of being holed up somewhere on his own? Yeah, Henry's sitting on deck, laughing as Rikka shouts.]

Wow, you're really loud!

[Someone's not taking this situation very seriously, obviously.]

Aren't you being a little too casual about all this? We're talking about armed forces coming with us in their sights! We've got a problem, here!

I dunno, aren't you being too stressed? It's still a problem, whether you're freaking out about it or not, right?

Anyway, I don't think we have to worry that much, it'll be fine!

I want to get things done so we can go! Time we're not spending here is time we're less likely to get shot at!

[She shakes her head.]

I know I'm being a little unreasonable, but... I don't want to die. You can understand that, right?

Not really. I've never thought death was that big a deal. I mean, everyone dies sometime, so there's no use worrying about it.

If it makes you feel any better though, I'm not planning on letting anyone on this ship die, since Maribelle likes you guys! [And that's good enough for him, really.] So if anyone tries to, I'll just kill them first.

[Rikka is not at all sure what to think of this person. But... if Maribelle trusted him enough to have worked with him before...]

...I'll try to calm down a little. Can I ask you to help at least a little, though? If Maribelle's okay with it, I want to be able to leave soon... we've been on this island a long time, and I'm getting a little tired of it.

Yeah, staying in one place for too long can do that to you! I'm used to moving around a lot myself, so this is getting boring. Even if things are getting more exciting now, nya ha!

[Yeah, uh... He has an interesting definition of exciting.]

Anyway, sure! I'm always happy to help!

Please try not to get excited where you're going to hurt someone.

That aside... I could really use someone to make sure everything on the ship itself is in working order. The masts, the sails, all that. I don't think I'm the right person for the job, since I'm light enough that a breeze will be a real problem, and there's only one other man on the ship. He's not here, so... can I ask you to do it?

Hm... I don't really get why not. I mean, it is exciting, right? But I guess I can try!

Sure, I don't mind. I don't know a whole lot about ship, but I think I should be able to handle that much! [Finally he stands up, brushing some dust off his robes.] Oh, right, I don't think I've really introduced myself to anyone yet! I'm Henry, nice to meetcha!

Maribelle is practically stumbling out of her cabin. She'd been sick, turned into a zombie, throwing up blood and gods know what else, and she still was not feeling at peak health. Still she was not about to ignore a distressed cry from one of her crew members no matter how ill she was.

"Rikka?! What in Naga's name are you shouting about? Can you quickly explain what's going on? Is the island under attack?"

Well she might not exactly look like a kind benevolent captain at the moment, but she would not shirk from her duties to her crew.

"Yes, actually... that's exactly it." Her tone is strange; she's worried, that much is clear, but seeing Maribelle seems to be causing other problems. "Are you still sick, ma'am? I don't mean to cause a problem, but... we can't stay here. The Navy's coming. For all of us."

She frowns, considering the language she wants to use, before continuing, "With your blessing, I'd like to begin preparations to depart. Staying here longer than we have to is... making me very, very uneasy."

Maribelle winced... that was not good news... actually that was some of the worst news she could have heard. They were still undermanned with the loss of several of their members, and she still hadn't had the opportunity to parley with the Navy. Staying and invoking their wrath simply because of their presence however, was something they could not risk.

"Our original plan was to sail back to Green Breeze island. Hopefully if any of our missing crew members are still in this world, they will know to meet with us there. Before I took ill, I made preparations to set sail again, if you could please check our stock to see that we have the supplies and rations we need, I'd like to get the crew ready to sail as quickly as possible..." Maribelle winced again, trying to shake off the illness that had been plaguing her the last few days. It would figure that she could heal broken limbs, and gashing head wounds, but illness? That was usually beyond her power.

"You were right to come to me about this. I apologize for my... ngh... absence of late. When everything is ready, we'll make a roll call of all available hands, and set sail. Any of the others who fall behind will need to use the Nav system if they are not here within the next 24 hours. Understood?"

"Aye, ma'am," she replied, listening attentively to the orders - knowing she was in the right and had Maribelle's permission to continue made her feel quite a bit better about everything. "I'll finish checking the supplies soon; if anything's missing, I'll run into town for it, quickly, so we can get moving. I'll try and get everyone moving and ready, too. You're still sick, so don't push yourself too hard if you don't have to - we need you back to health as soon as possible, so let us handle things for now."

She tries to think if there's anything else; mostly, she's waiting to make sure Maribelle doesn't have any other thoughts to add.

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005 ♦ Voice + Action [Isla Empieza]

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