[for once, he's writing instead of talking, perhaps to keep people around deck from just listening to him yap at the book. They can read it for themselves, after all.]

Been a while since Dog's warning about the storm. Haven't heard from her since. I kinda wanted to know her news on that pirate summit that was supposed to have happened.

Been a longer time since anyone heard from the cat. Or Meep.

I don't remember the last time we heard newcomer voices on the journal.

This is really weird and creepy. It's like we're floating adrift with no log pose to lead us anywhere. maybe we will get lucky and Jones will just send us all home.

but then, if I'm remembering right next month is the great ghost race. He tends to show up there.

Who wants to go punch a ghost in the face?

[crewmates are free to notice him hanging out, writing, with the annuler chain near his foot. He's not getting anywhere with his "training," but he's not going to say so out loud.]

Gotta say, anybody who goes by 'the Bloody' is just overcompensating.

[someone was almost the target of forcible recruiting on Isla Empieza. And by almost we clearly mean, beat the ever-loving crap out of the poor pirates who were sent after him.]

But it's interesting. Between that guy making a ruckus on Empieza, and the ones that banded together to ambush us last month, the local pirates have been stirred up. Wonder what's behind that.

So more than one crew got hit, I hear. Not just us and the Spades at Serenes, but Hazmats too? They got lucky that so many of us were in one spot, but it's more than just lucky if they managed to find all the outsider crews. Any of the rest of you come up against something metal that drains your strength? Guess they call it annuler or something.

I'm training to withstand it. If it's possible, I'll find a way.

[and that's going about exactly the way anyone would expect it to go. i.e. terribly.]

Maybe I'll have some progress to show at the summit over the weekend.

[no, he really won't.]

[if he sounds groggy, like he just woke up, spoilers - he did. He's been asleep for nearly two days.]

Book's empty. Oi...everybody alive?

We got the bastard, at least. Dunno about the rest.

I'm hungry.

[and grateful to whoever wrapped him up and left him in his hammock to sleep off his blood loss. But he is rather swaddled in bandages (again) and wondering what he missed while he slept]

Well, it's been half a day and nobody seems to be acting weird around them, so I think the blankets are just blankets. For once.

They're nice blankets.

This is what, nine or ten days in a row, now? How long does anybody expect this to last?

[Straw Hats - and any Spade visitors - might find him in a next made of comforters in the crow's nest. If he's going to be on watch, he's going to be on watch in style.]

[his voice sounds a little squished]

It's Zoro's birthday!! Everyone should give him stuff! Like booze and meat! But if you don't know what kinda booze a lot of meat is okay.

Also this island is pretty fun. Everyone should come! Ahh, and if anyone does I'm kind of stuck and these walls are pretty heavy. Nghh. [scraping sounds as he tries to inch a little closer toward the light and for anyone who stops by, have a captain squished between two walls that seem to want to close on him. At the end of the hall is a leg of meat which got out of his grip and he is slowly finger walking his hand to it. ]

Stupid walls.

[his voice is ragged and low, probably because he hasn't slept in three days.]

Everybody said last year this shit was over when the new month started. The sun came up and the ghosts went away.

It's a new month. There's still no sun.

Nothing is safe. We can't count on anything. People are dying and it's not doing any good to just sit here and endure it. Even my captain is compromised, I don't know what to do but I'm starting to think this is one of those times we need to band together. Before it's too late. It's pretty clear to me that just hoping it runs its course or happens exactly like last year isn't a solution.

If anybody's got any ideas, I wanna hear 'em.

The gods know I seriously doubt this world will fall into a repetitive wheel regarding the shit it throws at us. But I suppose it doesn't hurt to be careful and given that I know some people work better with actual warnings than with calls for their common sense...

For all of those who weren't here last year, in case no one has told you. Around those days, last year, we encountered several "ghost ships" while sailing through a thick mist. If that were to happen again, beware of them, those ghosts couldn't be harmed in any way as far as I know, yet if they touched someone they could change them. Or even outright kill them.

Now that I think of it, other than a day in which everyone talked like bad pirate imitations, the ghost ships were the first really strange shit I saw in this world. Not counting islands, of course, those are a whole different category. [Speaking of which...] Anyone knows any other way to destroy an island that doesn't involve burning it? Or at least a way to destroy the plant life there.

[Not that he plans to return just yet, not even to get rid of the flowers. But it never hurts to know.]

Another island with nothing to fight. I swear, this world is making me soft.

What're the most dangerous places everybody's been to, around here? I know about the place with the giant spiders but there's some reason we're not supposed to go back there. I don't remember why, but oh well. So what else is there? What's the worst place of all?

...Luffy wants adventure, but I want a challenge.

[Straw Hats may find him hanging around on deck with his journal and a fishing pole, looking a little indistinct in the direct sunlight. And restless. Too antsy to even fish properly.]

Oi, Spades! Or anyone still at Port Chance. Is Luffy with you? He didn't come to breakfast this morning and he's not on the ship. We set out last night but maybe he decided to pop back and visit somebody while we were still close.

...come to think of it, I haven't seen Robin around either. I assumed she was already onboard when we raised sail.

So if he's over with you guys, will you send his ass back? He didn't tell us where he wanted to set course to, and I dunno where to go. If anybody's even seen him or Robin, tell me.

[the other Straw Hats on board may see Zoro pacing the ship restlessly, triple-checking every nook and cranny of the ship. Somebody as quiet and private as Robin can easily elude notice, but Luffy? His Supreme Noisiness not being onboard is pretty obvious and as the day goes on, Zoro will start to really worry.]

[Ace, lying on the deck of the Sun, looked at the sky with a fixed feeling of irritation in his eyes. He opened his journal and glared into it.]

So, I'm not gonna destroy that island anymore, but I still don't feel like following this crappy map anymore.

Anyone hear of any interesting islands, lately?

[For everyone, those on the journals, you can't see him, but he sounds mopey. He sounds like he's laying down somewhere and is bored or sad or tired...]

[A huff of air, puffed out from tired black lips. His deep voice drawled slowly:]

I've been here six months now. Six months. No one from my crew has showed up yet.

[He huffed again. Someone is a little homesick. Sure he might know NOW that his Captain leaves them for some time to do great things, but he would still have the rest of his idiot crew, right? And he does love this crew dearly... but... he misses the smell and feel of the seas back home.]

I put on weight here. [No he didn't.] I got slower here. [Has not.] Does anyone want to spar? None of you monsters with the swords and rubber either. I mean real fist to feet sparing. After that last battle I think I need to improve on... everything. A bear can't get rusty. It's unheard of.

[To Straw Hats that are around: You can find him laying belly down on the deck in a patched up orange jump suit, arms in front of him and his journal on the ground. He looks... bored.]

[He'll be here for a while, so either come sit or lay with him, or encourage him to spar. Bepo needs to take his mind off home!]

I suppose distancing myself from this journal hasn't warranted any good; though, I cannot say it has left me surprised. I also cannot say that I would remain entirely unobservant and inactive! For the sake of all innocent parties, I would like to make an offer--because a pirate's grudge can be terrible and terrifying as well.

As an upholder of the law on the seas I originate from, it was my sworn duty to defend the innocent--rather, I still believe in such a vow even if my status here has been demoted due to a lack of a proper Navy. As such, I volunteer my services to defend those who do not wish to fight as much as within my power.

So--I allow you to please contact me through private messages to describe to me criminals, their crimes and any offenses in which you or your allies may be put into danger. Admittedly, I'll put such things under immense scrutiny as these offers have been blatantly disrespected and mocked in the past, but dismissing all opportunities as lunacy when a few may be a success is cynical and impractical!

My name is Coby and I'm a Captain of the Marines! I will not call my allies to support unless they willingly volunteer, but in good conscience, I cannot allow transgressions to maintain their steady course into chaos! Now--

Everyone, have a pleasant day and stay safe!

Oi. I'm making a list for the next time I send the cook shopping.

What's the best alcohol around? I don't care what it costs, I just want to find out what I haven't tasted yet.

Or if it's from another world, I guess I can ask the Backwater lady if she can get it.

[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]

So...Guess I'm out of a crew, for the time being. Okay, so maybe the first ship didn't work out. Hopefully the second time's a charm, right?

[He clears his throat and tries to mind his language for the pitch. Got to give off a good impression, after all. Got to sell that sizzle.]

Alright, here's the gist of it. I'm Akira, and I'm from Japan, a little island country on a cozy little blue planet called "Earth".

I need to form up with a new crew, but I feel I should probably toss out the no-go criteria right off the bat. I didn't do that last time I joined up with a ship and it bit me in the ass pretty hard.

Number one, I don't like killin'. I'll do it to defend myself and those around me, but I only if it's absolutely necessary. I also tend not to see eye-to-eye with people who do like killin'. Call me crazy, but homicidal impulses and a constant scent of blood tend to make me not trust a person, you know?

Number two, I'm a werewolf. That means I have some supernatural abilities and every Full Moon I turn into a big, furry beast. I'm in control of it, so no worries there. Just try to not freak out if you see it happen.

Number three, if I'm followin' someone, I like to know they have a good head on their shoulders and aren't gonna' to get us all killed over something dumb. Reliability is pretty key.

But if all those are covered, I'm willin' to work hard. I pick things up fast and I'd also say I'm a fairly good cook. In my spare time I like to document little points of interest on the islands and do a little supply hunting.

I have to wonder, how many books did someone speak into before they discovered this one was magical?

[ A small chuckle, and what sounds like a long drag of a cigarette. ]

My, my, they must have made quite a scene, I'm surprised nobody called the Marines. Or maybe someone did... It would explain why Scurvey-chan is so grumpy.

Aha, regardless, it's a pleasure to meet everyone. My name is Shakki, short for 'Shakuyaku', since I realise that's quite a mouthful for you younger ones. [ Another puff. ] After I figure everything out, lets have a drink together, alright? We could have a party and get to know each other a little better.

My, my, it would seem I drank to much last night and got lost and/or am hallucinating. What a pleasant surprise, I wasn't even aware I could get that drunk anymore.

I suppose I should at least introduce myself to this network thing. My name is Silvers Rayleigh and I am an absolutely, positively normal old man who coats ships for a living.

I will admit, this journal thing is positively fascinating, but the over shining matter is, I would need the location of the nearest bar and a den-den mushi.

Out of curiosity, has anybody figured out a...I don't know, an antidote or something to protect people from losing their damn minds every other month? By now I've seen enough bizarre behavior, it'd be nice to find some kind of immunity to that.

...not that we can predict when it happens.

Which reminds me. Ace, you ever send Luffy something like that again and I'll come over there next. You don't want me to come over there.

[some time later, he adds, scrawled on the bottom of the page as if he forgot that he can't write notes to himself on this journal...]

Needs more treasure. I need those weights.

[seriously too lazy to write. It's nice having time to poke at the journal when he's bored]

So everything's back to normal, yeah? Good. We found Luffy, by the way. Everything's fine.

All that made me think, though. I don't know where half of you other folks hail from, but you're gonna have to step it up if you want to survive this place. I thought it was no more dangerous than the Grand Line, but now, it looks like it's worse. And if you have to be strong enough to brave the Grand Line, you'll have to be even stronger just to survive here.

I don't really care much about how the rest of you want to go about doing that. For me, I just want to know who around here is the strongest. If there's anyone worthy of even calling themselves that. I'm not letting myself go soft while I'm here. Not when my crew needs me.

[there's a pause, and then his tone grows positively bloodthirsty]]

So come on, strong ones. If you're out there. I want to see if you can live up to your boasts.