Hey, everybody, it's me, Hajime! I didn't do a birthday post last month because everybody was so busy with their visit to Isla Empieza. We were on Phantasia, so sorry we missed you all! We'll all need to get together again some other time.

Anyway, now that it's a new year, it's time for a new BIRTHDAY LIST! Lots of people on the old list went home, so it's super short now. Let's all work together to make it big again!

[She then copies down the names of people from old list that she knows haven't left (in actual chronological order this time!)]

JANUARY
2 - Gaius
6 - Roxas

FEBRUARY
2 - Rin
16 - Elissa
22 - Homura

MARCH
27 - Lea

APRIL
??? - Mitsuhide
1 - Pinkie Pie
7 - Harlock
14 - Maribelle

MAY
7 - Vyse

JUNE
9 - Itachi
10 - Codi

JULY
6 - Namur
7 - Susumu Kodai
16 - Selphie
23 - Sasuke

AUGUST
1 - Boris
20 - Olivia

SEPTEMBER
27 - Clementine

OCTOBER
8 - Zozo

NOVEMBER
3 - Keimi
13 - Henry
24 - Me!

DECEMBER
3 - Cap'n Di-Stri
17 - Ban

So, a new year is about to start. That certainly makes it feel as though we've been here for a long time. In all the chaos we'd had, I almost didn't realize how much time was passing. None of us have been here a year, and I'm still holding out hope that none of us will be, but those of us remaining from the first group have been here nearly four months, and it seems clear that we're in this for the long haul, so to speak.

Now, during that time we have accomplished some rhings. We've found one piece of the Piedra Roja, we've learned the schedule for new arrivals, and we've successfully fought off the Navy and kept Isla Empieza as a friendly port. Obviously there is a long way to go, but given that we did all this while having people constantly appear and disappear around us and in many cases while we were still learning how to sail, I believe it's fair for us to feel proud of what we've done.

Some points of order:

• It would appear that new arrivals appear on a regular schedule, as we suspected. Given this, it would be prudent for us to ensure these newcomers are informed quickly of the situation, to avoid incidents like the one that prompted the Navy blockade in the first place.
• Scurvy Dog has implied that the Navy is working on something to use against us. Details weren't given. We need to find out what this is.
• Related to both of the above, we need to establish a method of preventing, well, stupid questions from being asked. The individuals involved are gone now, but in September there was a proposal to plan questions for Scurvy Dog in advance and vote on one to ask each week. I suggest reviving this plan.

Other people have already presented their greetings and I know that not everyone here celebrates it back home but... For those who do, I'd like to wish you a Merry Christmas.

The cold curse is over, so this wish came true at least.

My other wish would be for this day to be a day of Peace and Truce between us all. Wouldn't be a nice present we can make to each other?

Oh and I have a recipe for Christmas cookies for any of you who might be interested.

[Action for the crew of the Hope of the seas]

[A letter is slid under your door. Your name is written on the enveloppe in Mami's elegant handwriting and inside is this card written and drawn by Mami:]



[And on the other side of the card:]

I'd very be honored if you'd join me in the kitchen at 4:00 pm for a cup of tea and some cookies.

Yours faithfully,
Mami TOMOE

[/end Action]

[[OOC: Merry Christmas High Seas!!!]]

[The cold has not subsided yet and it doesn't seem about to anytime soon. The only way to keep the cold at bay seems to be staying in direct contact with another human being but... direct contact is not Mami's forte. If only Madoka was still there...

Mami's strategy is to try and ignore the cold. As long as she can still move, still breathe, it's okay. But what about her crewmates? Shouldn't she feel guilty for not helping them when she could?]

I'm sorry to bother everyone but... has anyone found another way to get warm? A way that doesn't entail direct physical contact, I mean?

[Well it's worth asking, right? Though Mami's handwriting is a bit less neat and harder to read than usual. This might be due to the fact that, despite her best efforts, she couldn't manage to prevent her hand from shaking. Her body is shivering almost non stop now.

She wraps the blanket tighter around her frame and reaches out for her tea cup. Unfortunately half of the cup's content drops onto the journal before she manages to bring it to her mouth.]

...Sorry. ...I just spilled some tea on my journal. ...Is it still working?

[ 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. ]

[ It's been nearly a week without any sun whatsoever, with no end in sight. Between that and the number of journal entries talking about monstrous changes happening to people, and a few disappearances to boot, it's hard to feel particularly optimistic about this entire expedition. ]

[ Homura hesitates for a while before putting pen to paper, but she thinks this needs to be done. ]

Have there been any confirmed casualties since the sun failed to rise? Either as a result of the various transformations, or something else entirely.

[ Crewmates will be able to find Homura sitting in the crow's nest, keeping an eye out for any ghosts ships while curled up with her journal and a thick blanket. ]

[Mami stares at the page for the longest time. She's been meaning to do this for days but... Even today she's still not sure it's such a good idea but since it's not something she could manage to talk about with her crew, even with Madoka and Homura then...]

I would like to ask all of you here a few questions.

The first one is: If you were given the opportunity to make one wish, one single wish, would it be about yourself or about someone else?

And the second one is: Did you ever regret wishing for something to happen once it had actually become true and it was too late for you to do anything about it?

I undestand those could be seen as very personal questions. So feel free to answer anonymously if you prefer.

Thank you very much in advance for your time.

[She sighs, re-reading what she's just written. Well all what's left for her to do now is wait.]

I have a request.

[ He's staying warm, at least, but his handwriting isn't quite as neat as it usually is. The background noise is very quiet, but there's the sound of a ship in the background; waves rocking against the sides of the ship, and on occasion, a door opening and shutting. The ship is rocking slowly, with wood creaking from the motion. Zeref himself isn't used to the cold. Spending a long amount of time on an island in a tropical climate will do that to you. ]

If anyone comes across a book titled 'The Book of Zeref,' I would like to know immediately. It would either be in the Backwater Brig, or worse, someone here might arrive with it.

Thank you.

[ Madoka's voice comes over the journal singing!! ]

Happy birthday to me~! Happy birthday to me~!

Happy birthday [ ........ nope too shy to go on. She cuts herself off with giggles at and is almost audibly covering her face. She still sounds pretty pleased though; ] Ah, never mind, forget that! It's too embarrassing!

But, back when everyone was still at Isla Empieza, did anyone see somewhere that might have cake? Just a small one would be fine...

[By now, Kaito's sloppy handwriting is probably distinctly recognizable to some. At any rate, he keeps this message to the point]

Yo! By now most of you have seen the message Celes-san left in the journals the other day, right? Since Scruvey Dog is scheduled to give us the weather and news tomorrow, s'probably better if we start taking votes now. Don't worry! I'm a very fair poll operator, and I'll make sure everyone's opinion is counted and given equal weight. ♥ A magician doesn't cheat or lie, after all!

[Except when they have to, but. Details]

So far, the questions we have are:

1) Why does Davy Jones want the ruby?
2A) Since we use the ruby to wish ourselves home, does that wish count for all of us or just the person who completes the ruby?
2B) If it counts for everyone, can those who prefer to stay here do so?
3) Which Nation does the navy hail from?
4) How the local sailors navigate by night?

And the people who volunteered to ask 'em are-- er. Well, if any of you want to throw your name into the pot, lemme know and I'll add you to the list too.

1) Celestia Ludenberg
2) Yours truly~

If you've got a vote, just write the number down and I'll tally 'em all at the end. Haa. . . let's hope this method actually prevents anyone from accidentally wasting a question, or making Scurvey Dog so mad he refuses to entertain any questions for a while.

[The text that appears on the page is written in a very elegant handwriting.]

Greetings. My name is Mami Tomoe.

I'm looking for a crew who'd accept two more people on their board. Or for four to six people who would be willing to form a crew with us.

If you know anyone else in the same situation, please tell them to contact me.

As was said before, it's not safe for us to say on the island for too long. Our presence seems to be highly bothering the Natives living here, and there is no point for us in uselessly angering them. [They might need their help in the future after all.]

Thanks in advance for your attention and assistance.

Oh... and I'm looking for tea as well. [She figures that while she's at it, she might as well.]

Thanks.

This be first mate Karen Minazuki o' the Antoinette, writin'...

Arr, it be affectin' the written word, too?!

Anyway, no need t' foul the air wit yer talkin' funny about talkin' funny, me hearties. Most of us be in the same boat. This be what that scurvy dog Scurvey Dog be meanin' by "givin' an answer," me think.

[If you happen to be watching this entry as Karen first writes it, there's a pause here.]

Me head hurts just readin' me own words.

It has been made known that I am from the past! At least, to most of you. Really, the clothing should have tipped me off, you guys have it really... really rough, whatever time it is you're from. Some of the things you wear hurt my eyes.

But, I do have an important question!

I'd love to know of important events-- favorably something closer to my time, but I won't be picky. It's nothing short of earnest curiosity! As someone presented with a rare opportunity, I'd like to take advantage of it. For history and the pursuit of knowledge!

[ And betting on the winning horse. And possibly writing a correct book of predictions to stash somewhere and secure his legacy, not that he's told anyone about that yet. ]