To my fellow Englishmen and women out there, I wanted to wish you all a pleasant St. George's Day. That is all.

[Because he can't really wish them a happy his birthday, even if he were going to announce it. Nope.]

[There's a few plucks of various cords as Johnny tests out the acoustic guitar he purchased on the island. He takes his time tuning it, with his journal opened next to him.]

Ha! There we are, now it's playing the way it should.

[He clears his throat before playing a little warm-up melody.]

Since it appears we don't have much in the way of radio stations, perhaps everyone out there would like a little musical accompaniment? After all, the mood's all lovey-dovey around here, what's one more love song? This is a little tune from Earth before the great Holy War. We lost a lot of good music and history in that chaotic time, but every now and then we've managed to salvage a few old recordings.

I doubt I can do justice to Freddie Mercury, but I'll give it a shot.

[After taking a moment to gather himself, he starts to play "Love of my Life."]

Not bad string-work for a simple air pirate, I suppose.

[After looking around to ascertain that he is, in fact, on Isla Empieza again, Dave finds a wall to lean against while talking into his journal. He doesn't have his red pen, so you're all going to have to put up with the sound of his voice.]

Damn, I'm feeling nostalgic all of a sudden. I guess sometimes you never know how much you miss something until it's gone. It doesn't look much different than it did before. I wonder what happened while I was away. Did people form new crews and get into fights? Did the weather act up and did weird shit happen? Did Davy Jones fuck with people like he always does? I bet he fucking did.

Hey Grell, are you out there? I hope you are. I hope Dirk and mini-me came back too, but I doubt that happened. Just my luck, shit never works out the way I want it to.

Thash, you still around? Been awhile since we talked, bro.

To everyone else; sup. Gimme a holla.

They're setting us up for a proper holiday feast, aren't they?

Anyone going into the hold, be careful. I don't think our 'guest' is too happy with being caged up in there.

[Have some angry honking to make it clear what 'guest' he's talking about. Someone's planning on a Christmas goose, clearly.]

[is floating on his back, a glass swan on his chest and a bird against his ear as he smiles peacefully]

Pops laughed like an earthquake, you know. You could tell he was from one end of the ship to the other and whenever he did, the lads and I would smile. Even that one time when it knocked pepper into the eggs I was making. I laughed and fed them to Ace.

[chuckles]

And then the sails caught on fire. Never feed pepper to a fire man. Lesson for you brats.

[he hums to himself a moment, then asks]

What is the thing from home you miss the most?

Hello, darlings.

[The voice is soft, almost gentle. It's a woman's voice, one who sounds fairly young but still bears a weight and authority.]

I heard distressing reports that Mother was very ill, and it seems they were true. That's most concerning. To be quite honest, I half thought her immortal.

I suppose that mystery remains locked away. No matter.

[Then, she sighs and clears her throat.]

I apologise. I've forgotten my manners. Introductions, of course. My name is, quite honestly, irrelevant. The people who know me best here call me Cat, and I invite you to do the same.

I understand many of you have suffered a great deal. As it is, I'm attempting to arrange a little present for all of you Travelers, something to make your stay here a little easier.

It's no small task, and I don't want to name it for fear I won't be able to deliver, but I promise I will try.

In other matters, I suppose I owe it to Mother to warn you that I'm afraid you haven't heard the last of dear Hawtrey. I fear he's disturbing those best left to rest, but I can't be sure yet why. I intend to look into the matter more thoroughly, but I am almost certain no good can come of it.

[Another sigh and something that might be a chuckle but very soft. A tired sound, perhaps.]

That's quite enough about me, I think. What I'm interested in is all of you. You must have realised by now how much magic there is in this place. One can almost breathe it in, the air is so thick with it. Is that common, in the places all of you came from? Or is this quite foreign?

Other worlds do fascinate me so.

 *Faye will not have been seen on her ship for at least a day. She didn't appear the previous night when she was supposed to and there was no sign of her the next day. Late into the evening, though, a gruff male voice is heard from her journal*

We have in our hands a delicious little wretch who thought she could win us out of our money. The delightful bitch won't tell us who her crew are...so here's hoping you've heard. Unless, Faye, you can be persuaded to tell us this time?

*There's a heavy thud, like a punch, followed by a quiet, muffled cry as though made by someone with their mouth gagged*

So much for co-operation.

Bring a suitable price for her, or we'll keep her to ourselves. There's plenty of her to go around and our men are rather lonely... Be a shame to ruin such a pretty face too.

*He then barks orders for how to get to their secluded little corner of a warehouse on Corsair Kingdom. When he's done there's just enough time to hear him threatening Faye before the journal appears to be taken away*

[ooc: Anyone is welcome to have some chat with the gang that have taken her. Action is for members of the Roses only]

Usually at this time of year, I'm starting to get ready for Halloween. It may not be as big in my lands as it is in America, but he and I have a little tradition to scare each other.

Looks like I'll be missing it this year.

Still haven't gotten that brat back for dragging Russia into it last year, the cheat.

[For those on the Gilded Rose, Arthur's in the galley being kinda homesick with a cup of tea. And doodling (on scrap, not in his journal) various plans for a haunted house tailored to scare America.]

[The audio on this post is mostly that of paper rustling as well as a few tapping sounds. Someone is trying to figure out exactly how the journal works.]

Hello? Can anyone hear me?

Isn’t it strange that this book can record what I’m saying, but the locals have never heard of telephones and look at you funny if you try to explain electricity?

...Though they might be looking at me weird because I’m talking into a book.

[Or possibly because he’s wearing his pajamas, which consist of a t-shirt, drawstring shorts, and socks.

He hasn't found anything to write with yet, but he's noticed that the journal has stuff recorded in it already so he figured he'd tried too.]

While I’m talking into...the book, does anyone else listening to this know how to sail a ship at all? Apparently I’m supposed to get one, and I...haven’t the slightest clue how to operate one...I don’t even have a full driver’s license yet.

Ah, well I am just writing to say congratulations! Er-- well I suppose it's due, isn't it? It has been a full year for some of you and we're... well we're certainly closer to finding the shards and completing the Piedra Roja than we were before, so good on you! I don't know how you're going to manage to take the final pieces from the hands that hold them but we'll run screaming across that burning bridge when we...ah...run to it.

At any rate, though I am a humble Meep who hasn't been with you this entire journey-- Well, I have just that you haven't noticed because Mistress quite enjoys the verbal sparring from time to time-- It's still been a great journey and I would like to thank you for all your incredible hard work.

I... Just wish it hadn't come along with causing so much widespread devastation.

...So I am proud of some of you?

At any rate, Mistress has been cackling over some kind of 'Anniversary Gift' that may manifest in week or two so...be warned, I'm afraid. Not that she doesn't have good intent--

Well her intentions aren't neccessarily evil.


Until said time, keep sailing on, my friends!

And try not to destroy anything....

Please


Humble Love and Regards,
Marshall Evans Earnest Persimmon II (aka Meep)

No offense to my crew-mate [Added in above.] or my captain, but I don't think I've ever been glad to wake up and see my own reflection again. In a mirror, and not across the cabin. Let's never do that again. I think even Mint agrees with me.

[His voice is heavy and a bit hoarse but still easy to understand. He has yet to hit the bottle today, but it won't take him much longer to do so.]

Soon it will be September again. Hn, when people started to vanish I thought there would be only a few of us left to see a second autumn in this world.

[Of course, that refers only to those who were the first to arrive to this world. Unfortunately he never doubted that there would still be a lot of people trapped, just... Not the same people for so long.]

Have any of you changed since you arrived here? No matter how long you have been here... Ever wonder what your people would think of you if they saw you here?

( Read more... )

-----

[A heavy sigh...]

Guess I have to figure out how to find a ship to take me. It would make things so much simpler if I could just fly or summon a shiki, but nooooooo... New world has to ground me like the suits back home.

[A groan and the sound of flopping back on bed sheets is heard.]

I give anything for a Cinnabon right now...

[There is a groaning sound before the sound of a long lost voice coming through the journals.]

What carriage was that?! That driver should be arrested!

[Then after a pause, Grell speaks again.]

...where is the sea?! And my ship?!

Why am I above the clouds...

Since it seems that being in a different world as that bloody git isn't enough to spare me, I'm going to ask if anyone knows a good remedy for [This part's heavily crossed out.] coughing blo a severe cough that can be made with typical galley supplies. I don't have my usual remedy here.

[For the Bloody Roses.]

Don't mind if I say in my cabin a bit more than usual. I'm coming down with something, but don't worry, it isn't contagious.

Captain, I believe you wanted to see the finished product before I wore it out to show anyone else? Well, it's finished.

Is this book magic? If it is, can the fairies or magicians who left it here come back and take me home? I think I've been kidnapped by Vikings! My king will reward you for rescuing me, I promise!

Arthur
England

I'm headed to the shop for some material. Does anyone on-board have mending to be done? Might as well get it all on the same trip.

Dear seemingly innocuous journal that is probably the true cause of all the bloody weird things that happen in this totally twisted terrene,

I thought it might be prudent to give all my fellow kidnappees, other worlders, faux pirates, and universe hoppers fair warning...

In just a little less than a month, I shall be turning sixteen!

On the fifth of June, actually. At 2:17 in the morning, if one wishes to be exactly precise.

I will, of course, expect good wishes for another healthy year from you all on the day of my birth.

And presents.

Definitely presents.

I'll happily accept any Quidditch supplies, new broomsticks of the Wizarding variety, candy from my world -- you may direct all inquiries to the fair Miss Margie, I know she carries such things.

And clothes, particularly whatever passes for fancy and stylish in this world. Though I'm sure whatever that is will likely be disappointing. You needn't worry about sizes, adjustments like that can be done with a simple spell.

JUNE 5TH.

- Draco Malfoy

P.S. Still no Potter. What a tit.

[Everyone who was going to attend to the ball or the other party that there was had already left. Leaving Elsa and the others to take care of the ship and Zoro.

There are many reasons why Elsa chose not to go, among them the fact that she really, really, REALLY didn't want to attend to another ball. Ever. Or at least not until many months had passed. Even if the circumstances were different, there would be too many people for her to be comfortable. Staying on the ship and protecting it may not sound like the best thing to do, but it's important enough for Elsa and she's going to do her best with it.

Doing her best wasn't supposed to involve a "little" unexpected problem, though.]

[Private to Celestia]

Celestia... If it's not too problematic, could you come out to the deck for a moment? I-I would like to consult something with you.

[That background noise that sounded like a rumble? Just your imagination, Celestia. It's definitively not the huge snow golem that Elsa has created and apparently given enough life to guard the ship like a hawk.]

[Open]

To everyone who is attending the ball, please try to be careful and have your fun. Also out of curiosity... Was it ever said how long the ball was going to last?

[She may need to have an idea of when people may suddenly arrive through the Nav after all. Just in case.]