So I wanted to do some like, 'research'- I don't come from a place with all this magic and whatever, so maybe somebody can help me out. I asked around and heard there's some places you can go that have like, healing springs? and things like that? but one of them at least turns you into a chick, and that's not really what I'm looking for, so...

I know at least that there's people here who can cure injuries and things like that, if you get hurt during a fight or whatever, but what if someone has an actual... y'know, disease? Is there anybody here who knows how to fix that? Or has anybody been someplace here that might have some kind of magic to do something about it?

Hit me up. I want to know where to go next.

[Morning of the 27th]

[Not sure how she managed to get up there as sick as she is, but Haruta is in the crows nest, hidden away all crumpled up and chilling there.]

[In a voice that says she’s reading (or trying to) Haruta talks about... weird facts. She sounds REALLY out of it though.]

Clownfish are born male, and will only change sex to become... a dominant... female. [a long SNORT at that] Namur, is that true? Why would anyone want to cha--no... no.... no never... mind. Don’t wanna know... oh, but some sharks can smell a single drop of damn blood... in like three miles away.

Sharks are real cute.

Some snake is a great actor. It... it tricks its people... i mean it’s predators... by playing dead. They even smell dead. Best they don’t have awesome hair...

This black cat thing...run...s... so fast... that dust kicks up like... like smoke. Like they leave... the world on fire as they run. Stupid narcoleptic fire cats.

There’s a monkey that screams so loud it can be heard from three miles away. I... mmm, I dub it the Luffy Tailed Loud Monkey. Mmm yes. Good. [she coughs, and doesn’t say anything for a few minutes.]

Frogs. I love frogs. I was told a story once.... ‘bout a frog... and a pearl, and it’s a good story. Did you know... group of birds.... it’s a flock. But ... group of frogs? Called an army. An army of frogs. Go frogs! Go to war! [said stronger, almost yelled, before fizzling out and going silent again for a minute]

Frog poison can kill 100 men. Dart froggies can kill thousands... man, frogs are bastards. [Snorts again, and coughs, sounding grouchy now] Says some frog species can poison other frogs, but they eat some tropical flowers... and push food down with their eyes, and get better.

Frogs suck.

[flipping sound of her going through this book faster now, then growls, sounding annoyed.] This book is stupid. Nothing on phoenixes. Stupid...

[ANYONE ON DECK... might want to duck and cover. The book got chucked from the crows nest after that.]

[There is a small growl, then a thunk and silence for a while. She might reply back a little later. If anyone replies to her, but she's sorta out of it for a bit again.]

Funny how shit stuff [She catches the language and, out of habit, corrects it. Nevermind that the professor isn't here to scold her or tell her she has to set an example. It hasn't been long enough for habits of a year to be trained out her.] changes in a week.

Funnier still that I'm kind of getting used to it. Not as bad as I thought it'd be, actually. Not too different than going somewhere with my team. I've got good people looking out for me, too. That helps.

I don't know what to think about this place. My hunt for pyramids is going to have to wait, though. If anyone sees any, though, let me know. Especially if you've got island names. I'll see about checking them out eventually.

[Because Acpocalypse is her second priority. First, the slavers. Marco's brothers. Ending what they've started.

Then she'll worry about seeing if it could be Apocalypse behind all of this.]

Thanks,
Rogue

[After some seconds, perhaps the time it took her to decide it, she draws something next to her signature.]

♠

[Private to the Spades:]

Hey, y'all. Sorry t' be a bother.

I'm a little restless. Not bad or anythin', but I need t' blow off some of the stress. Lot goin' on in my head, y'know? An' no Danger Room t' run sims in.

So, who wants t' go a few rounds? Throw a couple of punches, practice a little? No powers, jus' a workout an' spar.

I'll be on deck if anyone's interested.

[She's been somber lately. Spades might have noticed she and Namur had been being very passive aggressive at each other for a week or so before he left. And with Namur AND Thatch missing, as well as others, well, she's been going through the motions of work and not so chatty.]

How many crews out there are missing people? [she's clue hunting. Maybe it's a new event. A new shitty thin that Jones is doing to them.] I know a few crews are ...having this problem and I'm curious to when and how.

That's all. Nothing mysterious. I just want to know what we're dealing with here. We got new people coming in, but we lost a lot of people recently too. Why.

And... welcome, to those of you who are new. Fair winds at your back.

[To Spades, she could be found on the moon, journal beside her as she sharpens and polishes her sword while keeping look out for now.]

( Having a girl fall for him has never sucked this much )

[Voice]

[At first there's only the sound of wind tearing at the corners of the pages in the journal and a crashing roar of a nearby waterfall. Then Namur catches his breath, and yells, because his voice is too broken to be heard otherwise.]

Ace or Haruta or Logan or any a y' damn birds still 'round! Maybe Korra! Hell, any Spades, I don't even care! Gone off the shitty waterfall an' I need a lift! Fast!

[There's a scraping noise, a hoarse cough, and then much softer, barely discernible over the background noise:]

Help!

Alright, lords, ladies, pirates and none of the above. I am going to take our supreme commander the almighty cold footed cockrel out for a stroll for a week or two. You know the drill. Namur, you have the Moon. Haruta, the Sun, make sure Ace doesn't destroy the world. Acelet, give Haruta hell. The rest of you who don't sail with us, if you'd like a visit, give us a yelp.

[he blows a kiss]

See you later, babies.

[as for Marco, he's already stuffed him in a bag and under Thatch's arm as he uses the typhoon grip to get the Little Dipper back down to the blue sea]


[ooc: expect replies from either Thatch or Marco]

[ Sup pirates. Bolin's coming in with a purpose and some genuine enthusiasm for you. ]

Soooo, hey everyone! There are a lot of people with these journals, so I'm guessing... probably a great chance that you have no idea who I am. That's cool. Yeah, no, hey. Again. I'm Bolin.

Just got a couple of things I've been meaning to ask about, since, you know, before whenever it was that things... started getting crazy. Still, uh. Still not exactly sure when that started, but it's been surprisingly easy to forget about stuff since then. Anyway, this is all pretty sports-related? I mean, if you wanna talk about the weather or something, I'm up for it! Kind of not what's on my mind today is all.

Alright, first things first, who here can tell me more about boxing, and is anyone up for showing a guy the ropes sometime? The guy is me, for the record. Don't worry about messing up my good looks, either. They'll be fine.

And way more importantly [ !!! ], do we have like a headcount on people who can manipulate water, earth, or fire? Oh, or airbenders! I mean, there aren't exactly rules standing for air yet, but we could figure that out, I guess. The idea is to get together a few folks to train for a little sport called pro-bending. No big deal, no big deal, just a super-great, fast-paced, really amazing sport from home that would be a lot of fun, is all. Think about it! Let me know.

[ Have a four-second pause while he thinks and makes absolutely sure he didn't forget anything.

Yeah looks like he's good. ]

Great, thanks!

[The old cook sounds a little less gruff than normal.]

Not a bad view from up here though I expected sky sailing to be a bit more complicated. Never would've figured it'd be like sailing on water. Anybody who's been to Skypeia or some other place like it, was it about the same?

[It's nice weather out, so Zeff's moved some of his kitchen prep work--peeling potatoes--outside so he can enjoy it. That and so he can see more of the Sky Islands.]

[The peels come off in long, even ribbons which he puts into one pot. The peeled potatoes he puts into another. He'll wash both before he cooks them for tonight's meal.]

[Still just because he's in a good mood doesn't mean he won't send anyone who tries playing with the food he's got out overboard. Annoy him and hope you can fly.]

So Marco's flitted off t' try an' get that smartass 'maid t' bone him but she's a hard'n t' catch. All y' Marine types out there oughta know, sheheheh! Anyway, so now I'm stuck here on the Li'l Dipper BACK IN THE NORMAL DAMN SEA praise t' whatever gods y' swear by. But I'm bored as shit waitin' round here. Someone tell me somethin' funny.

[A little while later, Namur shoots off a private message for Thash.]

[Private to Thash]

Hey smolt! The hell y' at? Got a question for y', get back t' me quick as y' can.

We're on a whatever they call Sky Islands here. It's funny because I was just telling Thatch I really wanted to go to one. All while forgetting how much Namur hates them. With good reason too, he can't swim in clouds, anymore than I can fly in the Fishman Island water half. Still, he's been a real bro about putting up with it to humor me and Ace, and the others, eh?

So it got me thinking again, about the kind of extreme things we do for those we care about, eh?

Now me, I wouldn't think twice before going to war with an entire universe if I had to, but what about the rest of you lot, eh? What kind of crazy things would you do to prove you love your family, or maybe crazy things you put a line at?

You know what I love? I love love stories! Ya know, the kind where two people fall in love and no matter what, no matter what stupid or horrible or nasty things happen, they know they'll always be there for one another, through it all, right to the end!~

Well, you'll never guess what I found? ...a love story! It was just kinda sitting around stuck to the deck of the Moon, so I picked it up to see what it was. Not a bounty poster, but a love story! It's so adorable, and amazing, and it also has me in it! Are you ready for it?

*There's a giggle before Selphie takes a small breath, calming herself and putting on her story reading voice*

It's called Sun and Moon.

Moon glanced away shyly as Sun came closer to her, not till he was touching but close enough that the creatures running a muck on their decks could cross from one to the other. He tended to get closer than was needed, from time to time. A small whistle. A happy chirp, a simple wink in her direction.

It was love. She couldn't think of any other ship out there that she would want to sail with for this long. Oh there had been others. Friends and what not. But none of them were as handsome nor as charming as Sun.

He nudged into her softly one day, a simple brush up to get her attention. It was barely a tap. She groaned at the movement and giggled.

You see - the ships are totally flirting! I knew it all along!

On deck the crews of creatures started to yell.

Someone hollered “Who let Marco drive!?”

Someone else called “I thought you were seasoned pirates!’

Someone still sighed lovingly, leaning over the railing to look down at the two of them.

That's me! That's me sighing lovingly! Tee hee!~

“Selphie, stop daydreaming and give me a hand.” Someone called to the girl, and she giggled, waved at the two ships, and bounced off. “I’m coming!”

Moon blushed, pulling slightly behind Sun, drifting near his wake but never too close, never too far. He was perfect in her eyes, in every way.

Isn't that the most adorable ship romance you have ever heard?

Please don't send me your compliments for the story - remember, it wasn't me that wrote it. And I'm not just saying that. If I'd written this, I'd totally tell everyone! But if you wanna say some nice stuff, then who knows, maybe the mystery romance writer will make themself known!

I hope you enjoyed that story, everyone!

Peace out!~

'Kay, seriously. WHY THE HELL'RE WE GOIN' 'ROUND THIS DAMN REEF 'GAIN? Been circlin' this shitty thing for like a MONTH or some shit. Honestly!

[OKAY so it's only been a couple of weeks. But still.]

Runnin' outta damn fish 'round here cuz the schools is all swimmin' off. Not that anyone other'n maybe Nami gives a shit, but if we don't head off for an island soon Y'ALL'RE GONNA BE BITCHIN' 'BOUT STORES AN' SHIT. Did someone let Marco drive or somethin'?

Really though there's somethin' important I wanted t' say. 'Bout swimmin'. This's mostly for the Spades cuz I ain't 'round no one else t' fish y' outta the deep but it's a good thing for y' t' talk 'bout in yer crews. Who the hell knows how t' swim? Who don't know how t' swim but could learn? How many a y' out there's a bunch a shitty hammers an' all y' can do is sink? If yer a Spade, sound off here before I find y'. Else we'll find out the fun way which ones a y' float, sheheheheheh!!!

[True to his word, Namur will be stalking about both the Sun and the Moon. If he catches someone that hasn't already talked to him about their ability to swim (or lack thereof) he'll promptly throw them overboard. For science, or some shit.]

[sitting on the inn roof at Empieza and he's decided himself a thing]

I wanna kiss as many people as I can. [doom!] But it's hard to figure out the rules! So if you wanna kiss someone then we should definitely meet up!

[and it's the perfect solution. Because if someone wants to kiss someone as much as he wants to kiss someone then they can just kiss and it's simple]

Pirates of the world, RISE UP I say!

This world claims we do not belong here! The people of this world say we have no home, no place on these seas, in this world! I disagree! [Oh lord, Marco's going full steam here.] My world had no use for monsters like us either! My world made it a sin and a crime for some of us to even be born. Well, to hell with that, say I! ARE WE PIRATES OR ARE WE COWARDS?!

I FOR ONE, BEAR THE FLAG OF MY FATHER AND BROTHERS! LET US TAKE OVER THESE SEAS, AND CLAIM OUR PLACE IN A WORLD ONCE AND FOR ALL! LET US SHOW THE WORLD THAT WE WILL NOT BE DENIED OR IGNORED!

Let us show the world that this era is OURS!

[AND WITH THAT: he lets out a huge phoenix cry of victory.] SCRAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWW!!!!

[We now return you to your daily journal entries of everything else completely different.]

[She’s been here or a few hours now, learning what the hell was going on and not liking it. When she found the Wanted Poster for Ace, and one for Spade Pirates, she about lost her shit. If the brothers were playing a joke on her, it was REAL bad timing, thus she didn’t think any of them would be that stupid.]

[Having learned that these journals work like weird Den Den Mushi she can now be seen frog crouched on a post on a dock, staring out at the sea. A boyish voice sounding calm but stern...]

I’ve got a wanted poster here. For one Fire Fist Ace. Captain of the Spade Pirates? I know I’ve been out of it for a few days but this is kind of a sick joke.

[and softer, as if she's reading the poster...huh] ...These numbers are ridiculously low.

[back to stern voice] Someone’s got some explaining to do and it better make more sense than mystical magical pirate lore and a fountain.