piratejournal | 002 - Voice (Action for crewmates)

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002 - Voice (Action for crewmates)

[ It's hard to write when your fingers are freezing. After a few unsuccessful tries, Homura opts to go for a voice entry instead, keeping her teeth from chattering through sheer force of will alone. ]

This explains why the Backwater Brig's advertisement last week contained a disclaimer about anti-curse apparel. Perhaps the shopkeeper knew this unnatural cold, or something like it, was coming.

Has anyone found a way to warm up yet? The usual methods aren't working. Any information would be appreciated.

[ That's the extent of Homura's entry. Her crewmates won't find her in her usual spot in the crow's nest; instead, she's holed up in her room, cocooned in her blankets with only her face showing... for all the good that it does her. ]

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[ It didn't spread. He had hoped it would... exactly how much contact did this take? Before his mind dared to venture any further, she was already asking to sit next to him. Okay... fair enough. He nodded, and scooted over a bit on the bed, his arm resting on the headboard. ]

Alright.

Thank you.

[ She tells herself that this is just a means to an end. They'll get nowhere fast if no one can so much as control the ship due to freezing fingers, or if everyone dies of hypothermia. They'll just keep each other warm for the duration of the curse. That's all. ]

[ No, Homura does not want to think about exactly how much contact it might have to take, either. ]

[ Without a word, she take her hand off and sits down next to him a trifle awkwardly, leaning against him shoulder to shoulder, side to side. She's still wrapped up in her blanket, arms crossed over her chest, and she resolutely faces forward, eyes closed. ]

[ Even she can't hold back the small sigh of contentment as the warmth beats back the cold curse all along one side of her body, allowing her to feel human instead of like a frozen chunk of ice. ]

[ Similar thoughts are going through his mind. While he by no means disliked Homura, one couldn't overlook the fact that this, well, had more than one connotation. Romantic, affectionate, whatever one wanted to call it, Zeref trying to tell himself that that's all this was. Survival. Even if... well... as much as he didn't want to admit it, it felt nice, and not because of the warmth.

As Homura leaned against him, leaning into her with every bit of awkwardness as she displayed. The warmth spread through the entire left half of his body like a knife through hot butter, so much so that it was almost painful. Every tense, shivering muscle relaxed, and he couldn't silence the relieved sigh as it escaped him, echoing her own. His other side was still somewhat cold, but for the first time all day, he felt like he wasn't about to freeze to death. What an odd curse this was. ]

That's... much better.

[ For someone who had spent centuries at a time alone, with only animals and a ghost for company, this kind of closeness was something he was unused to. But given that this might have just saved his life, it was, oddly enough, a welcome change. ]

Mm. It really is.

[ Once she gets re-accustomed to the warmth... well, Homura also doesn't want to admit that this sort of contact feels nice. Even outside the fact that she's never been this close to a guy before- and Zeref isn't particularly hard on the eyes, either, though she doesn't really care about that kind of thing, and she doesn't think of Zeref like that- it's been a long time since she just leaned against ANYONE like this. Before coming here and reuniting with Madoka, at least. ]

[ Homura sighs again, a little wistfully, both because she's thinking of a certain pink-haired girl and because they can't spend the entire duration of the curse like this. ]

... we may have problems getting anything done if we need to sit like this just to keep warm, though.

[ She'd get no disagreement from him, there. It did feel nice. For one thing, he wasn't feeling like he was about to freeze to death anymore, and for another... it had been a long time since he had felt this kind of closeness with anyone, even if his feelings towards Homura weren't exactly of a romantic nature.

Still, she was right. He didn't know how long it would be until he needs to do this again, of course, but they still needed to check out the Backwater Brig, and he wanted to be with them when they went. He needed to ensure that they weren't trying to sell any of the Books of Zeref there. The last thing he needs is his compendium of dark magic falling into the hands of whoever is cursing them, here. ]

You should check on Mami. She's likely cold, too.

[ He slowly began to release her. ]

And... if you need to do this again, I'll be willing.

[ Which begs the question as to what will happen when he eventually needs to sleep. ]

[ There's a strange, awkward moment when Homura actually resists Zeref pulling away, half-leaning into him. A split-second later, she realizes what she's doing and quickly stands up in a rustle of bedsheets, slightly embarrassed at herself. ]

You're right. I'll go and see if she needs any help.

[ She turns to look at him, giving him an even nod. ]

... thank you. So will I.

[ He felt that. It was a bit of a surprise, of course; sure, it made sense that she'd like that warmth, but considering she had been the one who suggested they stop, it was unexpected. Did she... actually enjoy that closeness? ]

I'll be here.

[ An invitation to return whenever she wished. He reached for his mug of still-warm tea, and took a sip. ]

Yes. And... thank you, as well.

[ She enjoyed that closeness, though she wouldn't admit it to herself- nor the fact that it's lonely when you can't rely on anyone else, and it's been a long time since she let herself grow close to anyone. She'd almost forgotten what it was like. ]

[ That she almost couldn't bring herself to pull away was a sign of weakness. ]

[ Homura flips her hair back over her shoulder and walks off without another word, studiously ignoring the chill settling back into her bones. ]

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002 - Voice (Action for crewmates)

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