fonomena: (maybe there will be a cute tear thread)
Jade Curtiss ([personal profile] fonomena) wrote in [community profile] come_sailaway2022-05-22 10:07 pm

[open] at least the month couldn't get any worse, right?

Who: Jade Curtiss and YOU!!
When: Several days after That Party but before the start of next month
Where: Various places! Mainly the Promenade / some random hall with a supply closet / in front of the menacingly new Tommy Bahama...
What: Mostly some processing of a few Neat and Fun gifts from sundries! .....But also like, what is up with that Tommy Bahama place though--
Warnings: Nothing too pressing! Some talk of earlier events in the month and all the murder/party stabbing therein may arise, though, considering...well. Gestures at the last few weeks.....
Notes: (I've started out with brackets, but feel free to use prose! I'll match whichever style you prefer)

A; hawaiian shirt hell persists...with a twist??
[It's a bit of a belated sort of takeaway, from the one part of Friday's last announcement before the party that had seemed entirely innocuous in the grand scheme of...everything else. A new shop being opened in the Promenade, apparently--because that's just, a thing that can happen on a ship like this, apparently. Granted, the evening following that announcement had been quite the mess in and of itself--and such small things were promptly forgotten for a few days afterwards.

But eventually, Jade finds the new storefront standing out in a passing sweep of the Promenade one day, its wide display windows now taking up a space that had most certainly not existed between Sand Dollars and John's a few weeks prior. --From that point it's only natural to investigate, isn't it? i.) Perhaps you're investigating it too, and might find Jade rather further inside, staring hard at an assorted setup of polo shirts in various distinctly...tropical color gradients with a thoroughly exasperated sort of frown on his face. One would think it's at the expense of the casual gaudiness of it all--which, to be fair, it sort of is. But........he also feels like he's walked by this display a couple times already. He's been moving in a straight line this entire time. Yet the back wall sure hasn't...actually gotten any closer, for a good few minutes now--??)

...Or maybe ii.) you find Jade outside the Tommy Bahama, after the fact, hovering in front of the entrance once more with a moderately-filled matching shopping bag now on his elbow but...a frown still on his face, too, this one a great deal more perplexed.

If you're passing by, or happen to be looking even vaguely interested in checking it out:]
You know, I think you might want to exercise some caution, if you're headed in there...

(closed to Natsuno) Room 109; awkward unboxing session
[Early one morning there's a card slipped under the door; familiar to Natsuno, perhaps, but actually addressed to Jade for once. Several packages waiting for him in the sundries shop, apparently--and so Jade had set out to pick them up promptly enough, probably making some airily sarcastic remark about the impressiveness of the nonexistent postal system apparently afoot here on his way out. It's a half hour or so before he returns...

Though it's not immediately obvious, because it's not like he actually comes back into the room off the bat. No, instead, Natsuno might find Jade's return instead heralded by...well, it's not quite a knock, is it? More of a weirdly muffled thump--and then another one, for emphasis--like somebody's mildly kicking the foot of the door or something?

That's exactly what it is, actually; Natsuno would open the door to find Jade on the other side, sure enough, arms full between a couple boxes stacked in the crook of an elbow and, propped in another hand...something longer than he's tall? Very narrow, shaped vaguely like a pole, with some sort of horizontal piece attached to the top of it...? Not much else to go off but the shape, though, considering it's wrapped in matching nautical wrapping paper as well. --Jade shrugs, insomuch as he's able.]
Ah, thank you. Might want to step aside a moment, yes? Let's see--

[--Well, alright, initially trying to move through the door has the pole-thing promptly rapping against the top of the doorframe. Hm, time to attempt awkwardly angling it through instead...]

B; that feel when you get the useful item drop only after the nasty boss fight...
[It's an hour or so after he's processed the "gifts" in his room; at length, Jade opts to take one of the boxes in question someplace else for a closer look, if only mostly out of a discretion for Natsuno's reactions to well over half the contents. Jade can thus once again be found seated at one of the many Promenade tables--this one near a window, in the full light of the sunshine streaming through--considering the contents in said box as it now sits open on the tabletop. Slowly, one at a time, he's pulling a series of pocket-sized glass bottles from it; each one is critically examined, before evidently being considered cleared to be set upright in a growing line on the table proper. A couple of the bottles are an eggshell white, with a very vague but distinct sort of luster; a few other bottles are black, and seem to reflect rather less daylight than glass ought to; and two of them are a deep brown, oddly-shaped in a more rounded sort of way.

Jade's attention lingers rather longer on the odd-shaped ones than the others. In fact, he even opens one of them, and seems to try peering inside before testing the scent of the contents as well. Whether he's actually happy about whatever he finds is difficult to say, though, a rather inscrutable sort of expression on his face as he recaps the bottle and sits back in his chair...though a deep sigh follows the movement, too, and his tone is very dry as he speaks--more to himself than anyone in particular, but perhaps audible all the same if you happen to be nearby.]


Well, this certainly would have been rather useful about a week ago. Seems practical jokes take many forms, around here...

C; obligatory deck-cleaning happens only after burning away to ghostly nothing ok
[The question, though, the real question...is what to do with the most exasperating gift of the bunch.

Should you happen to be passing through one of the smaller and quieter halls connecting one part of a deck level to another, you might end up bumping into Jade lingering in one of them. In front of one of the more basic janitorial supply closets found throughout the ship, specifically? The closet doors are opened, anyway, and there sure are some very boring cleaning supplies in there...though Jade's still hovering and staring inside in a weirdly intent sort of way, for some reason.

Then again, difficult to miss is the fact that he's also got a deck brush with green bristles propped over one shoulder. Did he...just take it out of the closet? Or--?]


Hm, what do you think? [Oh, he's looking over to address you now, noticing your presence and acknowledging it with a cheery sort of smile, as if this is now a totally normal conversation in totally normal surroundings happening here.] If I put this inside, do you suppose it would stay put? I'd almost bet it doesn't, if I were a betting sort of man... [...Jade this doesn't actually offer anything in the way of any context here, though--]

D; wildcard!
[This log can also serve as a catch-all for any other interactions that might arise before the end of this month! Jade can generally be found in most any of the more-trafficked areas of the ship, as he does like to check around all the more common facilities at least once every few days. Feel free to have your character bump into him for whatever reason! As always, if you have something more specific in mind you'd like to thread here and want to hash it out beforehand, feel free to hit me up by message or on plurk at [plurk.com profile] rainbell!]
neverleave: (get out of here)

[personal profile] neverleave 2022-05-29 03:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[Congrats, Jade, for evading an awkward topic by making your roommate uncomfortable. Cabin 109 is truly a constant ping-pong of secrets, repressed emotions and karma.

There's pause before Natsuno replies. He can do what he always does - evade, snark, outright lie - but he's tired of it. There more important things to focus his energy on than constantly looking over his shoulder while keeping track of the lies.

And, as odd as it sounds... he doesn't think Jade will take advantage of this particular weakness unless it's justified.

Natsuno sighs.]


Shiki don't like holy stuff.
neverleave: (not much we can do)

[personal profile] neverleave 2022-05-29 06:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[Natsuno understands why passengers react the way they do. We saw the kind of person you are, so we don't care about your species. Natsuno himself extends the same courtesy to anyone who isn't a vampire. And yet...

And yet.

He wouldn't say he's surprised, or grateful. He's too detached, too resigned to being a monster to feel so strongly about acceptance. But every time someone doesn't turn on him, it makes breathing through the thorny mess that's memories of Sotoba a little easier.]


No, it's fine. I don't mind them when I can't see them. But if you're going to open one - I'd rather not be around.

[There's finality in his tone, because this is clearly nothing more than roommates agreeing about another house rule.]

Also. I meant what I said about making more bottles. These too, but especially the healing ones. If the captain hates it when poison doesn't work, maybe we can make him angry enough to forget his magic.

[According to another piece of meta, the captain killed Friday because she told Natsuno about it. Alas, for now it only exists in brackets...]
neverleave: (as neutral as he gets)

[personal profile] neverleave 2022-05-30 05:13 am (UTC)(link)
[Looks like emotional honesty is answered in kind, and can even make you... feel... better?? Should Natsuno reflect on it?

Nah, better focus on how it's the longest messing with a lid he's ever seen, and that includes coffins.

Seems like what he thought was nothing than a rational suggestion struck a nerve, but unlike their talk about resurrection, this time Jade doesn't slip. Natsuno doesn't make the connection to clones - how can he - but... hm.

Also, "I may know someone"? Just say you're asking for a friend.

Natsuno doesn't point any of it out, though. He addresses the words alone, his usual rational self.]


Yeah, no guarantees. They'd have to start with making one, and then test it, and we don't want to hurt anyone...

[Alas, Natsuno can't offer himself this time, as he's immune to poison. They can test it on the crab, but Pal is weirdly attached by now, he'll argue...]
Edited (Shhhh i can fix typos hours after hitting send) 2022-05-30 11:01 (UTC)
neverleave: (mild surprise)

[personal profile] neverleave 2022-05-30 05:52 pm (UTC)(link)
The captain and Friday can't see into the cabins. [He knows this for a fact. Jenny' gun is still in 109, and while Friday knows he and Clarke took it, she believed when Clarke said she threw it in the ocean.] As long as they keep everything inside, it should be fine.

[It's not lost on Natsuno that now he's the one collecting odd tidbits about his roommate, trying to connect dots. He'll have to think about it later, though, because now he's eyeing the cardboard box, opened to reveal -

a doll?

Since he has no idea what to make of it, he looks at Jade's face instead. Is this nonsensical, useful, or something else?]
neverleave: (lovely graveyard view)

[personal profile] neverleave 2022-05-31 04:13 am (UTC)(link)
[A murmur it may be, but not nearly quiet enough for Natsuno's sensitive ears.

He already had a snarky remark ready - something about voodoo dolls - but it seems like it would be in very poor taste indeed. Jade may keep his tone (mostly) under control, but Natsuno knows the sudden blankness that takes over his features all too well. He does the exact same thing when he's upset.]


...is this your kid's?

[Okay look you can't really blame him for jumping to this conclusion - ]
neverleave: (sigh)

[personal profile] neverleave 2022-05-31 01:09 pm (UTC)(link)
[Natsuno scowls. It's not THAT far-fetched!]

It's a children's toy. People your age have children.

[Said with all the disdainful petulance of a teen who thinks being 35 is already old. Natsuno's parents were around Jade's age - they had him when they were still in college, which was rather unusual, but it makes total sense for Jade to have a kid who still plays with dolls.]

But you're right, I shouldn't have assumed. No way a woman would've tolerated you long enough to have a kid with you.
Edited 2022-05-31 13:15 (UTC)
neverleave: (moonlight)

[personal profile] neverleave 2022-06-04 12:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[Is it weird that he's kind of pleased to be called a brat? There's something refreshing in this unabashed rudeness, exchanging sarcastic remarks free of hidden barbs.

Jade's admission that the doll belonged to his sister, however, clouds the mood. Natsuno doesn't know the true meaning of the doll and the heavy weight it carries - but it obviously made Jade upset. He assumes the sister must've died tragically, maybe when both were still kids.]


Hmm.

[A neutral sound, just to acknowledge he heard. Natsuno has no business prying into Jade's painful memories, after all.]

Thanks, by the way. It's both natural and practiced to perfection.
neverleave: (not much we can do)

[personal profile] neverleave 2022-06-05 01:26 pm (UTC)(link)
[Natsuno gives him a puzzled look. He never considered that the gifts were anything but an original article. The gun was just a gun, but when he got clothes for home he naturally assumed they were his clothes.

(Originals, copies, Jade's discomfort... there's something there, nagging at the back of his brain. That's something to think about later, though, if he can even connect the dots)]


I assumed they are original, but the stuff I got isn't exactly unique. [He looks down at the black-and-hot-pink sneakers hit wearing, extending a leg to look them over like he's seeing them for the first time.] I guess these can be my shoes or just the same model.

[He looks back at Jade, gaze trailing between him and the doll.]

I don't get why it matters, though. Was that a popular doll where you're from?

[For all he knows it can be mass produced...]
neverleave: (lovely graveyard view)

[personal profile] neverleave 2022-06-06 03:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[It's almost a relief when Jade puts the smile in place. Natsuno feels like he just snuck a peek into a void he isn't sure he'd want to keep looking at, though he will probably keep wondering about it later. Copies and original and resurrection...]

There's little consistency with us passengers, too.

[Magic users and post-apocalyptic warlords, sea-jellies and magical girls, gods and bird people and at least five different kinds of undead. The inconsistency is consistent on its own, weird randomness that ranges between ridiculous and gut-wrenching.

He pauses, thinking how to put it in a way that won't make it sound like he's acknowledging how upset Jade is by the whole thing. Like he's not offering sympathy is his vague, awkward teenage brat way.]


It just looks like a doll to me. You're wasting time overthinking it.
neverleave: (side eyeing this shit)

[personal profile] neverleave 2022-06-08 05:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[The topic of the doll is closed like its boxed, which is fine by Natsuno. He's willing to bet Jade would never actually throw it away, just hide it. People got so attached to mementos (this thought will come bite him in a week or so, when he gets a box full of withered flowers his best friend used to put by Natsuno's window for days after killing him).]

You got it, so clearly you're the one expected to use it. [He tilts his head, thinking, and adds without sarcasm:] Actually, if they really "find use" for anything we give them, it'll be a new one.