piratejournal | 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!"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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...

005 ♦ Voice + Action [Isla Empieza]

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