Scene #9418: Nonon's Treasure Island: Off On An Adventure

Owner	Pose
Angela	This story actually begins on Apple Tree Island, on a day like any other, when Bisu asked Nonon whatever happened to her plunder from all her pirating days. Nonon recalled she left it on a hidden island in the middle of the Great Lake but utterly forgot where that island was. But the thought didn't leave her mind. She watched the people of Apple Tree for a time, thought of her confessions to Rita Ma, and then decided she still had an important job to do back in The City. She went to Ceri who admitted that Trideag was always in need of funds--even with Lilian's support, Trideag's territory can only accommodate so many people but she wasn't about to authorize a treasure hunting voyage with little chance of success in mermaid and whale infested waters without any proof the treasure was still there... But then she remembered they recently recruited a diviner... If Matilda Bouanich could suffice as a navigator and she agreed to the mission, then she'd authorize the mission so long as Nonon handled the hiring of a capable crew. Trideag doesn't have many sailors in its ranks, after all. Events progressed rapidly. Nonon used the money she had squirreled away to hire a crew--she wasn't exactly living in a place that needed the coinage she had saved up--and chartered a two-masted schooner called the Vivid that had long been held in her name by some old retired compatriots of hers. A sail date was set and today's that very day! It's time to go on an adventure! T Corp sits on the edge of the Great Lake and T Corp is entirely willing to let Trideag move through its district to do this job because T Corp is in the midst of trying to formulate a deal with Trideag itself. Nonon doesn't know anything about that. But Port Tawny is a port town in the outskirts of T Corp's backstreet so everything and everyone will be all sepia toned until they head out into the Great Lake proper. The port town itself is a busy place, selling items like mermaid ice cream, timepieces that function as compasses, mermaid bladders that can hold oil, lamps, nets, harpoons. The vendors range from Workshop representatives to ambitious individuals aiming to claw their way up the social ladder one deal at a time. "Ain't she a beauty!? GA HA HA!" Nonon is personally leading Matilda and Ceri to the ship. "I'll be counting on ya crystal ball to point us the right way! We'll be lost without it, especially since we won't be using any U Corp sea charts!" She lets out another hearty laugh. "My ol' ill-gotten gains, they're gonna help out a whole load of people, my friends!" "Are you certain this is a conversation we should be having ... in front of all these ... These are the people you hired, Nonon?" Ceri is in full Trideag uniform, looking quite skeptical. The crew is ... shady looking to say the least. Of course they would be, because these are people that Nonon and Nonon's old friends could pick up on short notice for what to anybody else would seem like a foolhardy adventure. Recruits range from the desperate to the dangerous, at least if one were to judge by appearances. They're all armed either with harpoons or with swords. Some have shields, most of which look a little busted up as if they've seen their share of use.
Angela	The sorts of crewmen Nonon hired include... A bug headed and double clawed G Corp remnant soldier presently hunched over a fish sandwich his mandibles are tearing apart. He isn't in uniform, he's wearing a white shirt and ankle length trousers with a jacket folded over his shoulder. He seems touchy, and refuses to name himself, but he's already been given the nickname of Waterbug by the other sailors. A broad shouldered and bodied woman with an eyepatch and cool silver eyes. She's one of the older members of the journey, readily in her fifties or sixties by the look of her, and her shaggy grey and silver hair is scraggly and unkempt. Someone who'se seen better days. One of her legs has been replaced with a silver limb, with one leg of her pants rolled up, keeping it quite visible. A pipe is in her mouth and she's constantly smoking but she's all smiles and gregarious when she's approached. She calls herself Joanna and seems to be unarmed. A--okay, this lady's gotta be a Distortion. Instead of a head she has floating symbology of weather over her head. It doesn't seem to match the actual weather as it's presently showing a bright sun over her neck but it's actually quite foggy out there today. It seems to match her mood rather than the weather but she calls herself Weather Report all the same. She is friendly, and her outfit is a colorful motley spread of yellows blues and reds but she is still, nonetheless, armed with a gas-harpoon and shield. A man with a large mustache and a bright red dress shirt and beige slacks. He is studying the rigging of the ship as if looking for flaws. Nonon says he's an old friend of hers. His name is Gregory but, she confirms, not THAT Gregory. He has two scimitars and endless numbers of daggers strapped to him and a flintlock pistol. A red haired man covered in scars that's sharpening a knife on a whetstone. He grunts when spoken to, focusing entirely on his work. He's missing one of his front teeth and it looks like he shaves himself with a knife. The colors are, of course, still muted and sepia right now though it's likely to change once everybody gets out there. An exception seems to be Weather Report who seems to be bypassing the color drain somehow. Her bright yellow sun is still shining just fine. And there's plenty of more sailors around! This is a big venture! "Why?" Nonon asks Ceri. "They seem nice."
Madeleine Cadrasteia	Madeleine greets Nonon with a fist-bump. "Been a while! How's things keeping up on the island?" Her apparent enthusiasm is due largely to the opportunity for a good old-fashioned treasure hunt, but Nonon's company is certainly welcome too. Along with her usual accoutrements Madeleine has a backpack that appears stuffed full of sheets, sheafs, papers, parchments, and even a scroll or two. Their nature becomes clear when she immediately beelines for the Vivid's chart-room to drop the bag on a table. Stepping back outside, Madeleine finally takes a minute to assess her crew and cohorts. Weather Report's appearance doesn't seem to faze her at all; instead, she settles her gaze on Waterbug, eyeing his bio-augmentations. She's not unfamiliar with the long-term effects of G Corp's military biotech, having spent some time around the G Corp remnants in Trideag, but she can't help but be curious which parts of his body were planned and which are 'side effects'. The curiosity shows on her face, which probably makes the vibes a little weird. After basic introductions are made, however, she tries to play it cool by going to Joanna first. "So how'd an old salt like you get to know Nonon?" Madeleine asks, leaning on the rail. "You one of her mentors in the trade?" --- Once the Vivid is underway, Madeleine all but bounces her way into the chartroom to lay out her maps. Their provenance, presumed accuracy, quality of production, and even contents vary wildly, each telling a different story about the Big Lake based on their creators' individual experiences. "This one, I got for a round of drinks! You wouldn't believe what people are willing to basically give away." She holds up a bar napkin covered in inkpen scrawlings. Okay, so maybe not all of the maps are top-notch. But with enough of them to reference all together, she might be able to help chart a point-by-point course from A to B - provided, of course, that the fortune-teller can find 'B' in the first place.
Rita Ma	Rita's looking a fair bit perkier than she was yesterday- Nonon's presence makes sure of that!- but something still perturbs her. She's wearing her usual dress with a bolero jacket and little ribbon in her hai-- Wait, those aren't the right colors at all. Rita keeps looking at her hand and her sleeve. Her instincts tell her that she's made a chromatophore mistake with her disguise, but no matter how she subtly wobbles the colors, they don't get closer to 'right'. Nonon's laugh startles her out of it. "... Oh, wow!! I've hardly ever been on a sailing ship before! It's really yours? You're so great, Ms. Nonon!" Matilda gets the acknowledgement of a bright little smile and a do-your-best tip of her head. Whatever her feelings towards the Foundation, Rita can't help but feel a tiny bit bad for its... what was Matilda's title again? Monitor-assistant? Gently elbowing Madeleine out of her staring, Rita makes introductions: "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Waterbug! You're a G Corporation veteran, aren't you? It's great to work with experienced people." (She offers a handshake, even if he won't take it.) "Ms. Joanna! Wow... how long have you been a pirate? I'll do my best to learn. I guess I'll mostly be helping with talking-to-monsters and overboard rescue." "Hi, Mr. Gregory! It always makes me happy to meet more of Ms. Nonon's friends." "Miss-- uh, mister-- miss Weather Report! Wow, you're really pretty. I think most people who distort don't change their names... does that mean you're especially happy about it? It looks like, um, a good thing?" Weather Report is the person she gravitates to the most, followed by Waterbug and Joanna- Nonon is always a comfort, but she knows Nonon plenty well already, and introductions are about bonding. For supplies, she hasn't brought more than a small slim messenger bag.
Foundation Scions	"Que c'est bizarre! To see such a shift in color, while reading of it informs that of course it would be most strange, still..." Matilda waves a sleeved arm in front of herself, examining just how different the Tridéag uniform looks in such an overcast-desaturation, "It is most certainly novel and, um, quite disconcerting, surely, for those less prepared than I~! Most unusual a phenomenon..." Travelling through the City, instead of popping up at a destination via warpgate, is quite new for Matilda- this is her first real mission out and about, and what's more, a special request for her very-own talents! If only Sonetto were here to see- no, this will all simply have to be told to her, which leaves ample room for embellishment! A perfect opportunity to impress! Marching dutifully along Nonon, Matilda, instead of her usual uniform as a representative of the St. Pavlov Foundation and the SPDM, is wearing that of the Tridéag Association- straight-cut (usually, but not currently,) green-on-black summer uniform jacket, with shorts of all things, calf-height color-matched socks, flats, and- just to double-up on broadcasting affiliation, her polished-shiny Foundation pin-and-ribbon attached to her lapel. All in all, standing in the port town, she looks like some rich merchant's spoiled kid is running away to try their hand on the open sea- which is more or less accurate, actually. 'My ol' ill-gotten gains, they're gonna help out a whole load of people, my friends!' "Umn, Mrs. Nonon, I am, still, perhaps uncertain on the ethics of continuing to consider what you are after 'ill-gotten'. It is a matter of charity-! Certainly, that would be soured were such efforts towards a noble goal, erm... continually addressed in such an unprofessional way, yes? Perhaps- you should just say your 'gotten gains'." That's the whole of it tidied up, yep! Matilda looks quite pleased with her suggestion. "Nevertheless, however- it is wise of you to count on the exceptional Matilda Bouanich, as you certainly have already born witness to, my talents do not disappoint!" 'They seem nice.' Matilda steps out from nearly hiding behind Nonon to take a gander at the assembled crew- hand on hips, beaming-excited expression- "What could you possibly mean, Ms. Ceri? Why, it is normal for sailing crews to look, erm, brut de décoffrage- how is that elsewise said? Rough-edged? Why, such crews like that of Captain Hatteras-" A fictional book character, "They consist of strange, unique individuals with such depths of experience and specialization! If we are to become stranded on a desolate isle, then, surely, this is the sort to entrust to aid such a circumstance! Yes, I simply must concur with Mrs. Nonon~!" Matilda has so clearly never stepped foot on a sailing boat.
Foundation Scions	>Rita's greeting On instinct, Matilda returns the polite little smile-and-nod, which means that the moment Matilda realizes who she's looking at, and nearly jumps, is plain and clear. "A-ah! Ms. Rita Ma- I- um, of course, have heard of your involvement with, erm, the Association- are you, perhaps, here to see the mission off..?" Matilda doesn't know Rita's going to be along for the ride- Matilda does know Rita is a (very polite?) scary monster. Matilda is definitely thinking of how scary of a monster she is, there on the dock. . . . 'Ms. Joanna! Wow... how long have you been a pirate? I'll do my best to learn.' Matilda looks appalled. Stage-whispering, "Shouldn't one avoid asking such- such uncouth of a question? And shouldn't one, um, certainly not express a wish to learn piracy..? Such a thing is still, in fact, the activity of miscreants and rapscallions! Certainly this makes sense to avoid..? This is, of course, a most upstanding group, on official business, no less!" A heartbeat. "It is upstanding, no..?" 'So how'd an old salt like you get to know Nonon?' "Une vieille louve de mer..." Matilda mumbles quietly, overlaying the French term in her mind- it's simply better, of course, and not only because 'old wolf of the sea' is an utterly normal thing to think about a grey-and-grizzled shaggy pirate woman such as Joanna. Matilda is normal. She's totally not staring.
Angela	''Been a while! How's things keeping on the island?'' "Going pretty good! We got visited by the Purple Tear recently and there was a bit of a scuffle, but other than that it's been peaceful days and busy nights, GA HA HA! Truth be told I'm lookin' forward for a bit of danger, friend. The peaceful life does wonders for Shajo, but a gal's gotta adventure from time to time! Besides, we old Lob Corpers sure put everyone through a lot, particularly the Dame Commander! Good to lend a hand back without her having to carry part of the load!" She grins at Rita. "'Sides, I wouldn't feel right enjoying all the sweet lovelies I get to live by without taking care of this, ga ha! Speaking of!!" She aims to give Rita a big lifting up hug, "And you're incredible as ever, Rita! Ahh, ship was mine once upon a time, but it's more Gregory's now. I was gone for far too long to say otherwise, but he owes me a favor so he's lending us a hand this time. Normally I wouldn't be faffin' about for this ol' booty, but it's for a good cause! Have you met Matilda before? She's gonna be our ticket, our mystical navigator from another world!" But she pauses as Matilda mentions her discontent with the phrase 'ill-gotten'. She looks to Rita like she's her expert on ethics here, "Eh? Is that so? Should I be saying gotten gains?" She thinks it over. "Well I wouldn't want anybody to think it ain't good to spend! So sure, gotten gains! We'll consider it an act of purification, GA HA HA!" She belly laughs and pats her belly with her hand. "Don't worry, if the Dame Commander's vouching for ya, that's all I need. No doubts are in this pirate's mind." She hesitates and then adds, "This gotten pirate's mind." She clarifies.
Angela	Ceri clears her throat, "And we should probably not tempt of 'gains' any more than we already have. Miss Rita," She dips her head to Rita. "We should be out of range of T Corp's reach soon whereupon color will return to us." She must've noticed that little warbling and thought it might be relevant information for the friendliest sea monster. She hesitates a little, perhaps sensing something--but ultimately doesn't comment on it. ''They consisted of strange, unique individuals with such depths of experience and specialization!'' She listens, eyes widening, at Matilda's justification for the merry crew that has been established. Especially since 'merry' seems to be a bit of a reach. "...I...see. I have little sailing experience, outside of my tour on Rita's world. If the experts see no issue, I will not complain." She says this but she's still quite skeptical even in the face of a Matilda's excitement, which is quite a feat in of itself. "Just be cautious, we cannot vouch for their character. I shall check on our stores." She makes her way down to do just that, even as Joanna steps out from there. Madeleine's stares at Waterbug get him to carve a light marking into the deck of the ship with one of his claws. He stares right back at Madeleine, as if daring her, lips curled back in a snarl. He is not assuming the best from Madeleine staring at him like that. Joanna says, "Looks like we've enough for the journey. We'll be eating well barring ill fates!" She glances over towards Matilda but is distracted by Madeleine. "Ohh, ol' Gregory hired me, but who hasn't heard of the infamous pirate Nonon? Scourge of the Great Lake, who struck Syndicate and Wing vessel's alike? Who one'd be better killed outright than be taken prisoner." She winks. "Seems mellowed out from what I heard, but I suppose that's how it goes when you get older and haven't been in rough waters like these for nigh on twelve years. Looks like she's saged well." Joanna winks at Madeleine. Waterbug's seething resentment is something he's shaken out of when Rita approaches. "Ah...yeah... Good to work with you too." He does shake Rita's hand with his claw, very carefully. It'll be easy to knick her (in his mind) with those claws of his. He seems more uneasy about Rita than Madeleine because he expects Madeleine's behavior. Rita is confusing him. "Oh happy to meet you too, Nonon wouldn't stop talking about you. Glad to finally put a face to a name. She mentioned your dietary restrictions, so we've got some special coolers for you in the hold." Miss Weather Report says, "OH HIIIIIII!" She sounds like an exageration of a weather woman on a children's tv network. "Well aren't YOU a sweetheart, I could just pinch your cheeks." The sun seems to get brighter over her head. "That beautiful voice helped me find my way, I was such a stormy cloud, before. But I did lose my job, but I don't have to worry about rent while in the open ocean! Gosh I could just pinch your cheeks." She pinches the air, rather than Rita's cheeks, though. "Distort....? Oh the office used the term Anomolized. But of course I'm happy, I'm finally the real me... Except for being fired. I'm sorry, I don't know what most do... I didn't even know there were others? Have you met them?"
Sarracenia	Trideag does not have many sailors. But...it does have a certain someone who has plenty of experience with ships! Of course, it is unlikely that anyone asked Sarra to come along, but when the princess heard about adventure on the high seas she signed up immediately! And commissioned a proper outfit in Trideag colors for the mission! Said outfit consists of an overly flowy and poofy white blouse with a fan-like ruffle at the neck, a black and green bodice to accentuate her figure a bit, a black skirt that only reaches to just above Sarra's knees, black and green striped leggings, heeled black pirate shoes with a noticeable heel and golden buckles, and a black longcoat with green cuffs and embroidery along with prominent silver buttons along the lapels, it's twin tails nearly touching the floor behind her. She's also had a tricorn hat made up, also black and green, with her crown inset into the middle. It goes well with her eyepatch! But, perhaps the most noticeable thing...is that Sarra's hair is once again a shimmering copper color! She still has her red satchel bag and her Silver lotus hairpin. And oddly there is one (quite metallic) silver streak in her hair that seems to only be the locks locked within that hairpin. Of course, none of that might be noticeable until they are out at sea. Her hair has been left to flow freely in the wind since they are going on a swashbuckling adventure. Her appearance in general seems like the couple of decades that had been added to her have now been removed. She is all smiles as they reach the ship, already having delusions of the grand adventure they are about to embark on that will surely be full of heroics. Nonon is greeted with a cheerful smile, and when Nonon presents the ship Sarra even returns the 'Ga ha ha!' before saying, "A fine ship indeed, Nonon!" Ceri is greeted, but only cautiously. The crew doesn't really put her off, even the bug man! Her jungle is full of bugs after all. They are just part of the adventure and how a ragtag pirate crew should look! She smiles brightly as she sees them and gives a flamboyant bow when introducing herself to the crew. "Greetings, my stalwart mateys! I am Princess Sarracenia Sundew, Crown Princess of the Sundew Kingdom! It is an honor to be sailing with you today!" Even though this Gregory is not THAT Gregory (which is probably still a different Gregory than Sarra is thinking), Sarra still engages the man in conversation. "Gregory is a fine name! The name of my closest confidant in fact!" the princess says with a smile. As she sees his array of weapons, she nods in approval. "You seem quite well prepared, Gregory. Lovely!" Weather Report gets some attention as well. Mostly some staring with wide eyes. "...I...am sorry if this is rude to ask but...what are you?" Sarra says to Weather Report with awed curiosity. They were working on rehabilitating Abnormalities, and now here is a similar being! Rita being here makes Sarra more nervous than the crew. She doesn't think Rita would harm her, but Sarra is conscious of the fact that being around Sarra must be hard for Rita. Sarra offers a slight smile and a timid wave to Rita. "Miss Rita. It is good to see you. I hope you are well." Madeleine also receives a friendly greeting. "Good to have you along, Madeleine!" Sarra is in a good mood today. Matilda is greeted as well! "Ah, Matilda! I suppose this will be our first mission together!" She nods in agreement when Matilda points out how a crew such as this should be. "I entirely agree, Matilda. This crew is perfect for this adventure!" Matilda jumping at Rita makes Sarra blink in surprise. "Is something wrong?" she asks, looking between Matilda and Rita. Sarra knows Rita is a dangerous monster, but that isn't the same as a scary monster.
Sarracenia	'Ms. Joanna! Wow... how long have you been a pirate? I'll do my best to learn.' 'Shouldn't one avoid asking such- such uncouth of a question? And shouldn't one, um, certainly not express a wish to learn piracy..?' Sarra hmms. "Well, there is much more to piracy of this kind than just the criminal aspect. Sailing, teamwork, combat prowess, chain of command...at its core, piracy is just being in a sailing militia." she says, then pauses a moment. "But...yes, I would agree that learning the less savory sides of piracy should probably be avoided. Or at least not practiced."
Angela	''How long have you been a pirate?'' Joanna creaks out a smile, "Despite appearances, milady, I've never been a pirate. I have served as a privateer at the behest of U Corp--if anything, I mostly fought pirates myself. But that was a long time ago, now I'm just a humble chef aboard this fine vessel looking for room and board for a spell." As if by instinct, she gives Rita a headpat and hair ruffle. "Don't you worry, none, we'll make sure you eat well throughout the trip, but if this is your first time on a boat you might get a bit seasick, Har har!!" Seemingly oblivious to the irony, she approaches Matilda and then does the SAME THING to her! "HAR HAR, well don't worry, young one! I'm not about to start a new trade after all this time. I don't know what you're expecting from ol' Joanna 'ere, but I'm not about to become a rapscallion, though you are the first to call me upstanding!" She leans in and murmurs, "So it be true? You are our navigator? But you don't look to me like you've gotten sealegs yet, how 'bout I follow you up to the crow's nest. You can use me old spyglass." Joanna reaches into her coat and hands over an ornate looking spyglass that is, nonetheless, clearly weathered in time. "You're gonna want to be able to see far ahead if you're in charge of looking where we're going." Nonon hasn't really been involved in Sarracenia's life since the fall of L Corp and she wasn't AT the fall of L Corp so she doesn't react at all to Sarracenia being younger again but Ceri gives a bit of a doubletake as she heads back up from the stores. AT first she assumes it's dye but then she catches sight of that silver streak and frowns. It's not her business, she tells herself. If she starts caring she's going to regret it. Hopefully her presence discourages trouble rather than encourages it. When Sarracenia returns the GA HA HA, Nonon GA HA HAs right back in an attempt to win at GA HA HAing. Gregory has been calmed some by Rita, "Yeah? Aren't you that Fixer that flew her ship in front of the death ray? ... You fought mermaids before?" Weather Report's sun is partially covered by a cloud when Sarracenia asks about what she is. "Aheh... I'm Weather Report, what else would I be?" She says, evasively. When Sarracenia chimes in against being a (bad) pirate, Nonon looks a little uneasy but it's gone quickly. She's already made her peace with it. The ship pulls out of harbor. It's some time, but gradually like the beginning of a new adventure, color hits the forefront of the ship before gradually passing over their crew--the sepia colors brightening into a colored state. "Matilda! If at all possible I'd like to avoid Waves for as long as we can--if you can divine a path for us, don't let me stop you." Ceri calls out.
Rita Ma	"I could just pinch your cheeks." Rita, beaming, leans forward to put her face in range of Weather Report's fingers. "Awww, I'm sorry to hear about your job, Ms. Weather! It makes me really, really happy to know that L Corporation's light worked out good for you. I've met a couple of other 'distortions', but... I'm not sure if you'd get along with them. If I find others as sweet as you, I'll let you know, okay?" Trust in Carmen: +1! "A-ah! Ms. Rita Ma- I- um, of course," Rita looks down at herself like she's making sure she doesn't have a tentacle out, before remembering that the Foundation has a dossier. 'Dossier', Vertin had said specifically, not 'folder'. A folder could be trim and businesslike, she thinks. But a dossier is something indecently fat and yellow with salacious paper guts. A dossier, Rita reflects in that split second, is like a round parasitic grub. Or like pornography. She misses having been the kind of person nobody made dossiers about. "What'd you see about me, Ms. Matilda?" she says, fairly blandly. Rita can't really keep track of what indecent acts of hers the internet is circulating these days. "I'll be coming along, so don't fall overboard." Because then Rita would have to rescue her. And Matilda probably doesn't want Rita touching her. Obviously. "Shouldn't one avoid asking such- such uncouth of a question?" "Hm? Well, I don't want to learn how to be a pirate. But it's really cool when there's an older woman who's so experienced, right?" Rita please. Nonon picking her up and hugging her, though, squishes all the dossier-grub tension out of her- Rita wiggles and makes an adorably happy noise while trying to worm her arms out to hug Nonon back!- and she's sort of glowing by the time she's set back down. "Mmm! I've met Ms. Matilda before. I like her okay," Rita says, answering both Sarra and Nonon. "You should see the house she built for Mr. Shajo, Ms. Madeleine! Bisu's so glad to have her there. I think the island's a little too quiet for her, though... I'm really glad she's getting to go on another adventure." She does return Sarracenia's wave with a minimum of tension: Sarracenia inspires a lot less bitterness than, say, Petra does. It'll be fine. After dipping below-decks to stow her little bag and re-emerging onto the deck, Rita bows her head politely to Ceri too. "Thank you, Ms. Ceri. It's reassuring to have you here. I know everybody's armed, but if you're here even though you don't know about sailing, does that mean there's definitely going to be fighting involved?"
Madeleine Cadrasteia	Rita's nudge jolts Madeleine out of staring at Waterbug just in time for her to appear to be the normal kind of 'weird about G Corp ex-soldiers', instead of the extra weird kind of 'weird about them' that she really is. She offers the veteran an awkwardly-forced smile, which probably doesn't help at all, before turning her attenion to Joanna. "But that was a long time ago, now I'm just a humble chef aboard this fine vessel looking for room and board for a spell." "Nonon's hardly the only one mellowing a little with age, then," Maddie quips with a chuckle. "Nothing wrong with wanting to slow down a little. Or do you miss your swashbuckling days?" "You should see the house she built for Mr. Shajo, Ms. Madeleine! Bisu's so glad to have her there." Maddie scratches her head a little. "Is that the one folks were working on when we stopped by to give out those shots? And talked about your... future plans?" Then, to Nonon: "How is Bisu doing, by the way? I've heard a thing or two from Doctor Spring about her treatment but it's been a minute." As the ship moves out of T Corp's zone of influence, Madeleine shudders under the wash of color like it's a frigid breeze. She could maybe get used to that place, she thinks to herself.
Foundation Scions	'I entirely agree, Matilda. This crew is perfect for this adventure!' Matilda beams, her arms crossed in front of her chest. On the list of phrases she would list as the best to hear, 'I entirely agree with Matilda' ranks number five, behind 'Wow, you're so amazing, Matilda', 'For your accomplishments, we've decided to award you a medal', 'Gosh, Matilda, how is it that everyone around you loves and admires you', and finally, 'Yes, Matilda, I will stop being the Timekeeper's assistant and be yours instead, because I like you that much'. "The great Matilda Bouanich is, of course, a reliable and trustworthy assessor of character~! You are most wise to agree with me, mm-hm~!" 'What'd you see about me, Ms. Matilda?' "H-huh? I have not done the likes of performing a séance about you, no ma'am!" What a weird first assumption of meaning! There is, um- certain... videos, that were deemed important precautionary knowledge- to- to explain further, would be itself a violation of precaution, in the case that gaps in knowledge are exploitable! P-please do not press further-!" 'I'll be coming along, so don't fall overboard.' Matilda huffs- "Of course I will not be doing so! I am, in fact, not in the least bit clumsy or careless!" Still, that gets a quizzical and cautious (an upgrade from scared-scared?) glance, Matilda fully unsure whether that's a well-meaning precaution or some sort of threat.
Foundation Scions	'Looks like we've enough for the journey. We'll be eating well barring ill fates!' Hand gesturing towards her own heard, proud-tone, "And ensuring no ill-fate befalls us, is, of course, my job-! Erm, as minimal as is possible, at least..! The fourth day of the month is not the most auspicious, but, heh, at least it is not a Friday! That would most certainly not do at all! Ms. Joanna, does this ship have any cats aboard..? And, um! What type of sunrise was witnessed on this morning..?" 'But it's really cool when there's an older woman who's so experienced, right? The gears of Matilda's brain work overtime- before she spits out a nigh-thoughtless, "Well, of course! Such a thing was simply not in question!" 'But you don't look to me like you've gotten sealegs yet, how 'bout I follow you up to the crow's nest. You can use me old spyglass.' Matilda's eyes go excited-wide at that- "Mm-hmm! Just you watch, Matilda Bouanich is ever the quick learner~!" Matilda takes a moment to un-ruffle her hair, the action having stunlocked her throughought Joanna's spiel, as is normal, of course. Taking the spyglass (and keeping it collapsed), Matilda taps its lenses- "Quartz, these eyepieces are? You will find no better a material for clarity of path, I dare say, such an object as this must clearly have steered you well~!" If Joanna isn't a pirate, and is('nt protesting being called) upstanding, it's fine for Matilda to be praiseful back, in such a way as to try desperately to impress! Tucking the spyglass in her bag, where it sits alongside her orbuculum, Matilda wobbles on her heels looking for the nearest low-down section of the shrouds to start climbing! Wobbly with the shake of the boat, where she lacks sea-legs, she absolutely doesn't lack capacity to clamber, "I'll have it be known," Climb-climb, "That I, of course," Clamber-clamber, "Was, always, able to achieve highest-marks in obstacle navigation! With such ropes as these, I can only say, 'Pssh, this is easy work'!" Matilda lugs herself over the last hurdle to the crow's nest, so high up that she has to shout to talk back to the rest of the crew below! She gives a cute little wave, leaning bow-wards on the front of the nest. She takes out the spyglass, extends it, and gives the foggy horizon a giddy little once-over, exceptionally proud of herself. 'Matilda! If at all possible I'd like to avoid Waves for as long as we can--if you can divine a path for us, don't let me stop you.' Matilda has done her research! She knows that 'Waves' effectively means hazards, and so- sitting down in the crows nest, cross-legged, and pulling out her crystal orbuculum, Matilda breathes out an arcane incantation- "Oh, boule de cristal, montre-moi la voie la plus sûre..." Taking a long moment to discern some sort of vision in the swirling mists of her crystal ball, she stands up, waves, and calls back down from the crow's nest to Ceri- "Due South, at the tail end of the highest tide- but, ah, be warned! Threats do lurk, even in such a direction, from beneath and abroad! Lurkers of the depths and raiders of the waves alike- such are the present risks, but all else, it would lead us to doom- we must avoid any other direction at all cost, yes!" "... It is still worth such a risk to you all, yes..? We- we will not have a smooth journey..."
Sarracenia	'Yeah? Aren't you that Fixer that flew her ship in front of the death ray? ... You fought mermaids before?' Sarra GA HA HAs back at Nonon a few times before answering the question with a smile. "I am! And I have! ...I would definitely not recommend either. But, rest assured. If we encounter that whale or the mermaids I and the other members of Trideag are more than qualified to repel them." 'Aheh... I'm Weather Report, what else would I be?' Sarra blinks in surprise at the cloud, then gasps and covers her mouth with her hands. "Oh dear. Forgive me, Miss Report. I did not mean any insult by it." she says, then smiles again. "I quite like your appearance, actually! I would be curious to know what types of fashion work best with your unique...um...face structure!" Sarra is no doubt already picturing what fashions might work. 'I'll be coming along, so don't fall overboard.' Sarra is again confused. "What? Why not?" she asks, then looks at Matilda. "You could not be safer if you fell overboard than having Miss Rita around." she says with a confident nod. "She is quite amazing. I would be surprised if anything even bothered us with her around." Sarra blinks as Rita talks to Ceri, then she nods quickly. "And Miss Ceri! Both are very capable." Sarra isn't even a troublemaker why is Ceri worried? Now that she has thought about it though, Sarra really hopes they don't end up fighting. The things they would fight here she doesn't want the cinnamon roll known as Matilda to experience. As the color comes back into the world, Sarra takes a deep breath and lets it out as if refreshed. She loves color after all! Madeleine shuddering makes Sarra look her way. "Oh dear. Do you need a fire flower?" Matilda heads up to the crows nest, so Sarra moves to the side of the ship to look over the side, enjoying the sea breeze. When Matilda calls down from above, Sarra lets out a Ga ha ha! "There are always threats! Just do your best to minimize them. We will handle what threats cannot be avoided."
Angela	''Nonon's hardly the only one mellowing out with age, then.'' Joanna snaps back, looking shocked, and then the expression shifts into an easy smile and laugh, "Well, you might be the first to say so, they say I still can make a mean casserole after all." She tut tuts, "You know, you see these things about yourself and then it only feels real when someone agrees. Hohh hohh... Well this old seadog still has some fight in her, eh? Don't you worry about me holding back when the sea critters board." She probably does miss her swashbuckling days, at least to some extent. "What about you? What brings you here on this vessel?" Weather Report is given an opportunity to pinch Rita's cheek. She can't help but do so, though she's gentle about it. "Oh you're a doll, Miss Rita. I heard about what happened at L Corp, but you're saying it's related?" Her head goes from partly sunny to foggy an in an instant. "You always hear a stories, but I never expected I'd become one. Hohh hohh... Well if they're half as sweet as you I'd never be lonely again." ''What'd you see about me, Ms. Matilda?'' "Now now, you can't believe everything you see on TV! They have all sorts of ways to fake footage. Deepfakes, AI-constructed videos having you do things you never did. It's a relief that anything more complex is banned otherwise who knows what they might do?" Weather Report adds. ''It's really cool when there's an older woman who'se experienced.'' Joanna flashes a grin. "Well well, you're certainly racking up experiences yourself. One day you'll be the older woman. HARR HARR HARR" "GA HA HA!" Nonon instinctively joins in like a dog barking. ''Does that mean there's definitely going to be fighting involved?'' Ceri's expression darkens. "Ah, right, you haven't been in these waters that long before. Just that ... situation with the shrimp and that battle on the beach." She shakes her head. "Hopefully there won't be much fighting but the Great Lake's unpredictable. And like your world, we've got our own 'Leviathans' to worry about, to say nothing of pirates--the unfriendly kind--The Middle got pushed out to territory we're passing near too. We got this all set up in a hurry so hopefully nobody's prepared for us, but from what I've heard of Nonon's treasure, a lot of people would love to get their hands on it--all for themselves. Course, that's just assuming the rumors are true but it's got to be something if Nonon is suggesting this venture for Trideag's sake." The Nonon Piece is real.. ''She could maybe get used to that place.'' Madeleine might notice that pretty much the rest of the crew, minus the scarred red-head, seem more at ease now that they are out from that sphere of influence--not less. ''The fourth day of the month...'' Joana winks, "Ah well there has to be some danger on an adventure, otherwise it's just a vacation. Going out on the waters is always tempting some force or another." She pauses as the compliments to her spyglass. "Well, I've held onto it this long, haven't I?" She grins, smoking pouring from her nostrils as she exhales. "But it's best in your hands when you're the one who knows where we be going!" Joanna isn't an inexperiecned clamberer either, though she has a harder time than Matilda simply by virtue of age and that metal leg of hers slowing her down. She's a bit winded by the time she makes it up there. "A quick learner, are ye? Har har har!"
Angela	''We - we will not have a smooth journey...'' "Well thanks to you, young navigator, we at least know what's coming.. If the other ways are calamity, then this path's the one before us." Weather Report panics a little at Sarracenia's own panic and waves her hands from side to side. "No no no! That's what it's for, so you know. So long as you don't push for stormy weather, all's good! Haha...ha... But it seems maybe you all know more about uh... what makes a 'Weather Report' than Weather Report, so it's a bit embarrassing..." Gregory gives a small nod to Sarracenia, but it's Waterbug who says, "Heard that Trideag even takes G Corpers. I can't make it all the way out there. Lucky bastards." Gregory himself adds, "I'm more worried of pirates than mermaids. Mermaids are predictable, honest. People, you can't trust people." The red haired man shakes his head, "We're here for work, not to make friends and chat about the good times. We could be under attack in an instant, if you aren't always ready for the danger you'll end up taking up permanent residence here." He stands up, annoyed, and starts heading over to the opposite end of the deck. ''Due South'' "Then I best move up to the wheel-- make sure our course is steady!" Nonon says, rushing ahead. "Yeah, south feels right. It was definitely southish!" Most directions that are viable here are 'southish' but that doesn't stop her. "We've got time till we hit the next zone and our navigator didn't seem to say there'd be a sudden storm, so how about you prepare something in an hour or so, Joanna?" "Aye aye, Captain!" Joanna calls down before looking to Matilda, "In the meantime, maybe my new friend here can tell me some of her craft. How is it you're able to see our path in a crystal ball like that?"
Madeleine Cadrasteia	"What about you? What brings you here on this vessel?" "Well first off, I'm a friend of Nonon's. I owe her at least one, and am glad to offer more. We did some work together... where Rita's from, and at Nonon's old job. Not her old-old job, not piracy, but like... you know. What she got up to between then and now." A shrug. "But as for why I'm here, and not helpin' her with other stuff, I reckon I'm the best huntress on the other side of the warpgates. Top-notch at fightin' monsters. Tracking, too, though that'll only matter once we find the island in question." "Due South, at the tail end of the highest tide- but, ah, be warned!" "Oh, she's good at that, huh," Madeleine says, evidently a little surprised by the speed and precision of the reading. "I'm gonna check the maps for what landmarks we can expect with that heading, anyone wanna help?" With that she steps into the chartroom, eager to avoid Dossier Chat. the rest of the crew, minus the scarred red-head, seem more at ease now Madeleine, detecting a possible kindred spirit by way of perpetual existential discomfort, sidles over to the man as he works on his knife. "Nice blade," she says, as if that were a good conversation starter. "There a story behind it?" Okay, that's a little better.
Sarracenia	'But it seems maybe you all know more about uh... what makes a 'Weather Report' than Weather Report, so it's a bit embarrassing...' Sarra aws softly and smiles. "Well, there is little reason to feel embarrassed. You seem to have retained yourself completely, and that is something to be proud of! I am sorry to hear you lost your job, though. Perhaps we could offer you employment in Trideag if it turns out a life of sea-faring adventure is not for you. Or even in the Sundew Kingdom! Though...the weather reports there would be rather...repetitive." 'Heard that Trideag even takes G Corpers. I can't make it all the way out there. Lucky bastards.' Sarra perks. "Oh? Well, if you are serious, we are always looking for more strong and willing hands. Your origins or appearance matter little. We take anyone who wishes to help improve the City and is not afraid to work." 'I'm more worried of pirates than mermaids. Mermaids are predictable, honest. People, you can't trust people.' Sarra frowns lightly, but more because it is true than anything. "...I see your point. Well, let us hope we encounter very few of either." 'We're here for work, not to make friends and chat about the good times. We could be under attack in an instant, if you aren't always ready for the danger you'll end up taking up permanent residence here.' Sarra hmphs and crosses her arms over her chest. "Do not mistake friendliness with complacency. Trideag members are always ready. I may not look it, but I have a plethora of weapons and skills I can deploy in an instant." She is quiet a moment, then adds. "But...your caution is appreciated."
Foundation Scions	'Now now, you can't believe everything you see on TV!' "I, erm, do not make a habit of watching television! And- if I did, of course I would not watch that produced by unreputable means! I do not know what is 'deep and fake' about it- but no, your caution is misplaced, Miss!" >Rita Having an argument over dossiers, danger, and whatever squeaky embarrassment Matilda spat out, she's so thankful for the excuse to scurry on up to the crow's nest away from that mess below (and away from Rita, who, despite everything Matilda's seen, and how scary-disgusting the videos may have been, still makes her feel guilty to be so wary of- wait, is that a monstrous technique??). >Joanna winks, Matilda looks aghast- "Pardonnez-moi? Please tell me you did not, for some reason or another, intentionally set the set-off date for such an important and precarious task, on an inauspicious sign of impending doom...? T-that would be absurd! It is no laughing matter!" A long pause, "Y-you did not, correct?" Luck and fortune are real things, that most certainly do not need to be tempted! Such is what Matilda maintains, at least. 'We could be under attack in an instant, if you aren't always ready for the danger you'll end up taking up permanent residence here.' "We will not be- it will certainly be much longer than a moment~!" That'll soothe the worry! 'We've got time till we hit the next zone and our navigator didn't seem to say there'd be a sudden storm, so how about you prepare something in an hour or so, Joanna?' "Mm-hmm! No storms will catch us unawares, not while my watchful eye is entrusted with navigation~!" She's had the job for like ten minutes. "Oh- Ms. Joanna? What is 'ship food' like, in actuality..? Will we, perhaps, get to sample 'hardtack'?" Unfortunately, all the buzz is now being directed down on deck, not up in the vantage of the crow's nest- so long, distant horizon, so long, high-up seabreeze, and the crackle of the wind-whipped sails! Well, she can dilly-dally another moment, staring eagerly out at the edge of the world, giddy little spark to her breath... But it is, in fact, time to descend! Clambering once more, getting accustomed to the dense webs of netting far more than the heights and motion should allow, Matilda demonstrates her scamperosity for all onlookers! 'How is it you're able to see our path in a crystal ball like that?' Matilda, hopping down from the shrouds to the deck, re-retrieves her crystal ball from her bag, showing it off to the class (and still keeping a firm hold on it, as her own balancing over-accounts for the sway of the boat to ensure she's very wobbly). "The extraordinary Matilda Bouanich is, of course, a prodigy diviner- by my use of my arcane skill, I can, most clearly, foretell fates, fortunes, and futures~! It shows to me visions, and through those, meaning- further explanation on that, I fear, may not help in understanding, but rest assured! I am, in fact, most excellent at such a craft! Through purest and clearest of mediums such as polished, perfect crystal quartz, the guidance of the moon herself shines forth! M-hm!" Matilda takes a deep breath, and holds the ball out for onlookers to stare into- in her hands, mists swirl within it, quite possibly just refractions of the foggy conditions surrounding them, but it twinkles like it is sprinkled over with tiny stars. "It is most elegant an implement, no? I am most blessed and fortunate to have such a talent to express..." She may be waxing-on slightly poetically, but it is her boasting about herself. "Any questions..?" She wants you to ask questions of her so so so so so badly.
Rita Ma	Rita's colors brighten, now that she's out from the sepia! She's a blonde girl with just slightly tan skin, a cute white sundress, a charcoal bolero jacket over it, and a thin red ribbon in her hair. Wait, fuck-- A second after she spots her own weirdly greenish skin, Rita reverts to her normal colors in a little ripple-wave as if she were covered in microscopic scoreboards rolling over. Then she clears her throat with an awkward smile at Weather Report. Oh, god, Matilda wasn't looking, was she? Color-calibrating when you're sepia-toned is impossible. "Mm-hm, mm-hm. You really can't just trust everything people tell you, Ms. Matilda," she emphatically agrees with Weather Report. Rita can be a little mean, as a treat, or a coping mechanism for feeling exposed. Sarra is again confused. "What? Why not?" "Oh. I just figure she probably doesn't want to be rescued by me, Ms. Sarra." Rita smiles uneasily, but she's used to people being afraid of her touching them. "... but you're saying it's related?" "Mmm. I think most people don't know, but... L Corporation wanted more and more people to become nicer and nicer 'anomalies', like you. It only worked part-way, so there aren't many, and some of them are mean, I think," she says, with a thoughtful finger to her cheek. "But it might start working better and better, I hope. So there'll probably be more someday. How does it feel, being like that? It does seem sweet." "I can't make it all the way out there." Oh. Right. Rita's reminded suddenly that the City is huge. Besides, even with Warpgates facilitating travel, this guy probably has a whole life he can't just pack up to move... "So there might be people tailing us, or trying to cut us off..." Rita says to Ceri, while perching herself on the railing near the captain's wheel. She's got to absorb that Nonon Radiation! "I guess it's a good thing even we don't know where it is 'til Ms. Matilda finds it. I've met a Whale before, but I definitely hope we don't run into one again..." Whether Rita can befriend a Whale eventually is a whole different question from whether she can befriend it before it sinks a boat.
Angela	''Top-notch at fighting monsters.'' Joanna doesn't look at Rita. "Well well... Then we're in good hands, if we have the bext monster huntress around." Joana quips before heading up. Madelein heads into the chartroom. Unfortunately, the maps are a bit odd, it just shows a bunch of approximately sized markouts of territory, each zone labeled with a number. A little note indicates 'May change depending on year, month, time of day, Wing engagement, time lapsed.' which isn't encouraging. There's a reason, it seems, that Matilda was deemed 'neccessary' and not 'nice to have'. "U Corp has a monopoly on the navigation routes. They lease them out but they were gonna overcharge us. We've got Matilda with us so making sure she doesn't enter serious danger is going to be tantamount to our success here." Ceri says to Madeleine, from behind her. "Mission's literally uncompleteable without her. And there's not gonna be any landmarks. It's just ocean as far as anybody's ever got out there. Next time we hit land will be wherever Nonon left that treasure, if there is any, and after that it'll be when we return to port with our spoils." She sighs. "When I was a young girl I wondered if there was any territory past the sea, maybe Trideag will make an exploratory voyage someday." The red haired man (his name is Gyuto but he's not sharing it) points a knife at Sarracenia as he says, "We'll see just how capable you are when we hit a Wave. You Trideag types are all bark, couldn't even fend off the Lambent Dragon. But hey, you're free to stand in front of any claws meant for the rest of us, it's your talent huh?" Gyuto might be ... a jerk. He isn't even soothed by Matilda's reassurances! Gregory twirls his mustache and he says, "We should tolerate each other until the voyage is over." Waterbug shrugs, "Like I told you, I don't have the luxury of moving. Call me when you have an office in T Corp" ''Your caution is misplaced, Miss!'' "Oh!" Weather Report's head turns into a fully red thermometer with a sun peeking out from behind it. "Gosh, I hope I didn't offend--" She places her hands where her cheeks would be but she has no cheeks. ''Please tell me you did not.'' "Weeeelll...." Joanna drawls. "HAR har! Just teasing! No way I'd be able to decide the day of departure, I'm just the chef! Bet Nonon and Ceri picked the times themselves! Lucky for me our schedules lined up." ''Will we, perhaps, get to sample hardtack?'' Joanna's mouth drops open for a moment then she rolls onto her back, looking up at the sky, running her hand down her face. "You may be the first sailor who was excited for hardtack, but tell you what, navigator, I'll make sure you get a double helping."
Angela	"We're rationing our meals just in case!" Ceri shouts up. "An extra helping then." Joanna grins. "My treat. You can have mine." Her smile fades after a moment as she watches the sky, and then the horizon. "Seein' the old horizon through a new sailor's eyes reminds an old sea dog why they stepped off the land to begin with," She murmurs before glancing back to Matilda. "So when we make it to evening, your readings are gonna get even more precise, eh? I've heard of using the stars to find your way, but the moon works too. You won't catch me doubting if it's the real thing. Associations don't gamble hastily." ''I am most blessed and fortunate to have usch a talent to expres.'' "Aye... But talent alone won't get you anywhere, it's that passion behind your eyes that will serve you well even when there's no crystal to be seen. Haven't seen a sailor as excited to be here as you in a long old while." Joanna sits herself up. She taps her cheek and says, "I duuuunno..." In that teasing tone again before grinning again, "Now now, you say you're a prodigy, but how'd you learn to use your talent? Did you have any mentors?" She looks back to horizon. "I'd use to come out on the deck during the moonlight. After long days on the sea with the sun beating you down, a clear night sky ... quiet all around. It was peaceful. So quiet you can hear your thoughts so clearly, and purely, as if the whole world had nothin' to say to noone but you." ''Weirdly greenish skin.'' Waterbug looks up sharply, then shakes his head to clear it once Rita fixes it. He remains tense afterwards. Joanna misses the whole thing from how high up she is. Weather Report is a woman without a head that can somehow see Rita. She's probably not going to complain about any monster weirdness, her head is a thermometer right now. Where would she get off?? "I don't...know if I feel sweeter. But I feel better than I used to. Actually, I think I was probably a little mean before? But I had a really bad day and ... well, that nice voice helped me realize how little of what I thought mattered--actually mattered to me! And I guess it's easier for me to be nicer now." Weather Report says, still in thermometer state. "But that voice...it didn't seem to mind that I was mean, so--I guess it makes sense there'd be some mean Anomolies. Or Distortions." A thoughtful hrmm. Distortion rolls off the tongue well, so to speak, but it feels a little judgemental to her... ''So there might be people tailing us...'' "Ideally not, but we were less subtle than I would have liked. ANd of course, mermaids can just happen at any moment since we don't have U Corp's help here. If you can help the mermaids without risking the boat--...It's more dangerous out on open water than on the beach, but I know it's important to you to try. As long as it doesn't put us at risk, there's no argument from me." She exhales. "but...yeah. Hopefully we just dodge the Whales entirely."
Angela	''Nice blade. There a story behind it?'' Gyuto frowns. HE didn't want to make friends! But someone still seems to be insisting. "...It's nothing special about the blade. I just take good care of it. You should take good care of yours. You never know when you'll need it in top condition ... Or don't. It's not my life you'd be playing with." He looks away but at least he's not threatening her? Is this an improvement??
Madeleine Cadrasteia	In all her excitement to buy maps, Madeleine didn't think to actually look at them before getting aboard. If she had, maybe she'd have realized she's been thoroughly grifted sometime before Ceri explains the situation to her. "Then... you mean..." she rests her hands on the table, shoulders hunched, and mopes for a minute. At long last she crumples up the bar napkin, walks back out onto the deck, and tosses it overboard in frustration. "...It's nothing special about the blade." "Oh, well," Madeleine says, genuinely trying her best to be friendly, "if this one isn't your favorite, which one is? I take plenty good care of my tools, and that means I and they both have stories behind us.
Sarracenia	'The extraordinary Matilda Bouanich is, of course, a prodigy diviner- by my use of my arcane skill, I can, most clearly, foretell fates, fortunes, and futures~! Any questions...?' While the boasting is starting to wear on Sarra a bit (an irony she is not self-aware enough to appreciate), when Matilda mentions fortune-telling and futures, Sarra asks a question. The question she has been asking since she first entered the Multiverse. "Matilda...does that mean...you might be able to tell me who my hero is? Or...at least where he or she is?" Sarra asks, her tone and expression suddenly more serious and hopeful, her black gloved hands clasped together in front of her in a similarly hopeful gesture. The color returns, and Rita is...looking a bit unusual. Sarra was looking elsewhere, so it isn't until Rita's colors suddenly shift that Sarra's attention is drawn. She catches the tail-end of the color change, but unlike Waterbug or Matilda...Sarra giggles a bit, but doesn't actually comment. 'Oh. I just figure she probably doesn't want to be rescued by me, Ms. Sarra.' Sarra lets out the most dramatic, horrified gasp. "That is ridiculous! What lady of class would not want to be rescued, much less by you?! Your heroism and kindness are undeniable!" Naturally, Sarra the rescue-obsessed princess would love to be rescued by Rita. And has been at least once. But, you know what they say. Once you go monstergirl, you never go back. 'Gyuto points a knife at Sarracenia...' Sarra's hand instinctively reaches for the Silver lotus in her hair, but she stops before actually touching it. She slowly lowers her hand, lessons from the Black Silence incident ringing in her head. She still frowns heavily though. "Begging your pardon, but we -did- fend off the Lambent Dragon. At great personal cost, certainly, but it was done. I nearly lost an entire warship and its crew. I myself was burned over my entire body in that battle because I threw myself in front of those claws instead of merely letting them land where they wished. So...yes, it is one of our talents to stand in front of the claws meant for the rest of you. That is what it means to be a high grade Fixer in Trideag. And since we are trying to protect and improve the City we are happy to do it." Sarra's good mood is a bit soured after that. She puts some distance between herself and the jerk and instead listens to Rita and Weather Report. She blinks in surprise at what she hears, then frowns lightly in thought. If Angela were to reclaim the Light from Weather Report...would she be turned or perhaps returned to one of those mean Distortions? Like the Pianist? Just one more thing Sarra adds to her list of reasons to -not- assist Angela in that. Rationing the food is mentioned, and Sarra huffs softly. "Honestly, every time..." she mutters, then reaches into her purse and pulls out a grapefruit soda. She pops the top with a pop-fizz, then takes a few sips. "Would anyone else care for some non-rationed refreshments?" She pulls out another can and holds it out.
Rita Ma	"Call me when you have an office in T Corp..." "If they ever get one, I will. Trideag is nice to all kinds of people," Rita says with a slightly uneasy smile, after Waterbug startled at her coloration. "We're rationing our meals just in case!" Rita blanches slightly. Rationing... "There's normal fish in the Lake, right?" she asks Nonon and Ceri, glancing around. "I'm sure I can forage on my own!" Deprived of other food, one whole human body will last Rita about two days. Fortunately, brighter topics abound! "Thank you, Ms. Ceri. I won't be upset if people have to be rough with the mermaids for their own safety. It'd be mean of me to ask the crew to risk themselves... but... I'll do my best to handle it before they ave to. You're really thoughtful." "that nice voice helped me realize..." Weather Report is rapidly becoming one of Rita's favorite people here, and that's stiff competition! Her little legs kick as she sits on the railing, like she's a giddy kid on the swingset. "That voice... is someone I put a lot of trust in. So it makes me really happy she could help you. I'm glad it was good for at least one person, in the end."
Foundation Scions	'But hey, you're free to stand in front of any claws meant for the rest of us, it's your talent huh?' Matilda, arms-crossed, pouts in Gyuto's direction. "Well- if it comes to such a thing, rest assured that we will- or in the very least I will, excel completely at such a task! Hmph!" Wait, excel at getting ripped to shreds-? 'HAR har! Just teasing! No way I'd be able to decide the day of departure, I'm just the chef!' "Hahh... of course! Yes, that makes sense- the date of the departure, surely, it was simply the only one that would work... Hmph! And I did not truly think you had decided it would be on such a day-" She did think that, "But, never the less, I am still relieved to hear so..." 'Aye... But talent alone won't get you anywhere, it's that passion behind your eyes that will serve you well even when there's no crystal to be seen.' Yes! Yes! YESSS! So much attention! So much praise! "Mm-hmm!" Matilda stands, stanced up, orbuculum held out in front of her but with an eyes-closed absurdly pleased expression across her face. "I had only the best of mentors- in fact, the Bouanich line-" She's forgotten family names aren't a common thing here, "Has produced many an incredible diviner- ma mère, mon grand-père, both of them taught me of arcanum, and when it was clear I was most exceptional of a prodigy- the SPDM, a prestigious institute for similar studies, ensured I would excel all the more~!" She's getting such a good grade in talking to the not-pirate old sailor lady- she's even going to get a chance to try hardtack! Just like in the sailing novels she's read... 'I'd use to come out on the deck during the moonlight.' "You understand..." Matilda mutters, pleased at hearing such a shared sentiment. "The Moon, I often consider her a close friend of mine, always watching, and keeping one company in the loneliest of times... It's as if we talk, and share secrets, tell stories and watch dreams together... Ah, très serein..." 'Matilda...does that mean...you might be able to tell me who my hero is? Or...at least where he or she is?' "Hm? But of course! If- a 'hero' is out there, I, certainly, could reveal such to you! Is there a reason you would not know, however..?" 'What lady of class would not want to be rescued, much less by you?' "Pardonnez-moi-! I do not, and will not, of course, require any sort of rescue, not from anyone- (again, it is not personal!)! I can most adequately watch out for myself, mm-hm!" Literally, as she is standing there, swaying-lightly, the sepia no longer hides the slight-green seasick queasiness to her face. 'But...yeah. Hopefully we just dodge the Whales entirely.' "Trust in me- if we are to encounter such, it could only be because it is the proper way forwards, able to be hurdled without disaster- with hopeful luck, such a thing will be unnecessary, and the challenges to come, I will do my best to aid with, as-expected of anyone, mm-hm!"
Angela	''I'm sure I can forage on my own!'' Ceri lowers her voice, "Foraging here should be fine, though I'd be hesitant to eat what came from certain waters. And some of the crew might wonder how you could keep up with the boat. But if you need some cover..." ''Madeleine is foiled by capitalism.'' "Ah...sorry..." Ceri feels guilty though she doesn't really understand why. ''If this one isn't your favorite, which one is?'' "Don't know if I'd consider it a good idea to have a favorite. Best to have a variety of tools for a variety of situations but..." He draws a knife from one of the scabbards and twists it, a dull green haze rippling around the edge of the blade before he sheathes it. "Painful, certain, and opens space from those you otherwise can't handle." He is visibly thrown by Matilda saying she'd excel at getting clawed. It is such a bizarre counter that it works perfectly against him and he's left wondering if he somehow said something really stupid, running the phrase in his head over and over again, wondering how exactly he messed that up. ''I myself was burned over my entire body--'' "That's my point. But don't let me stop you." Gyuto adds, but he sounds a bit miserable about it because he's not getting the reaction he's exactly hoping out of this. ''If they ever get one, I will.'' Waterbug nods once and then makes his way down below deck. The prognosis is clear skies, he wants to get some rest. Weather Report is certainly one of the most personable people in the crew, comparable really to Joanna and Nonon by all appearances. "Aww, well you're certainly a sweetheart---" The thermometer + sun is gradually just returning to ''sun'' as the thermometer fades away. "I hope--I'm glad that trust hasn't been betrayed. It's an all too common story out here. But sometimes good things happen, and maybe it's not just good things, but that doesn't mean the good things didn't happen! Partly cloudy...is also partly sunny!" She forms a heart symbol with her hands for Rita. ''If Angela were to reclaim the Light from Weather Report'' Weather Report at least doesn't seem to be in any hurry to get to the Library. She might not even be aware that there is a Library. She doesn't really seem like an adventurer which leads to the question of why she's here. But she doesn't say anything about that, dreamily(?) looking out off starboard to watch the waves pass by. "Ooh, soda? Over here!"
Angela	''absurdly pleased expression.'' Joanna wonders if she's maybe getting too far into it. It's good to get on the navigator's good side but... She didn't mean to be so honest. She blows out her lips, tapping her pipe against the side of the crow's nest to settle its contents. Family lines AREN'T a common thing out here, but when you hear one you tend to assume it's from a big family from a Nest. "Sounds like a lot of pressure. And here you are rising to the occassion." She moves to a seated position, stretching her arms above her head. "But an empty stomach won't help us when the disasters we must face come along, eh? So I'll make sure you've got plenty to eat alongside that hardtack of yours. We've a long journey ahead of us,#-1 FUNCTION (ASNI) NOT FOUND She doesn't hop down from the crow's nest, but she does climb on down , glancing up once more towards Matilda as she slides down the rigging and makes her way down to the stores so she can get a start on the cooking. She's got a whole crew to prepare for. When she's good and alone she murmurs to herself, "Not like you to get charmed. Get it together, Joanna." She adjusts her coat, puts her smile back on, and gets to work. But she does make sure Matilda gets an extra one of those hardtacks she's so excited about.