[open] hydration is out, perpetual thirst is in

[fonomena]

Who: Jade Curtiss and you!!
What: The water is cursed, it's great! Here, some condensed reactions to this over the month...
When: Throughout July
Where: Pretty much anywhere and everywhere about the ship!
Warnings: None off the bat, though depending on the nature of potential truths/lies this could change! Will update with warnings or place CWs where needed.
Notes: (I've started out with brackets, but feel free to use prose! I'll match whichever style you prefer)

[So, the month's been shaping up into something...odd.

After the whole camping affair there's been a persistent and distinct sense of waiting for another shoe to drop anyhow, of course, for all that the immediately following weeks proceeded to go by almost infuriatingly quietly. Eventually, though, something finally seems to start happening...even if it seems to be taking the form of that other shoe not so much "dropping" as "gingerly being lowered to the ground by hand", so to speak. The subtlety of it all is quite the sharp contrast against the stark bluntness of the battle royale, after all...

But that doesn't mean it isn't still thoroughly unsettling. Jade first discovers the general presence of the curse in the most disorienting sort of way, but even after that whole fiasco is eventually cleared up...he still comes away with far more questions than answers. Like how in the world that had even happened in the first place--and why it had quit happening after the fact, at least temporarily--and whether the risk still remains...or happens to be affecting anyone else on the ship?

He'd rather like to find out sooner than later, needless to say.]

A; within the first week
[After the incident in 109, Jade starts going about his daily routines aboard the ship with more of an eye out for passing fellow passengers. Whether it's in the buffet, or about the sports deck, along the outer rails overlooking the sea or down along the Promenade...familiar faces and strangers alike are greeted with a pleasantly polite smile, before being briefly accosted with a question or two.

i.) If the conversation happens to be indoors:] By the way, how is the weather today? [Ironically an easy enough test, before the first weekend of rain actually hits, considering how extremely consistently sunny and temperate the weather has been surrounding the ship for as long as Jade himself has been here thus far...well, Pirate Jenny's temper aside the one time, anyway. This day, of course, just so happens to be as full of sunshine as all the others.

ii.) If the conversation happens to be outdoors, though:] What would you say is the color of the sea, over there? [You know, as if he couldn't turn and look directly at the sea literally right now right there......]

B; the first weekend rain
[And then, of course, the weather has to go and actually change. Which sure isn't suspicious at all, in the least!

i.) It's an odd discovery, waking to find a paler sort of light filtering through the porthole in his cabin one morning--the water spatters upon it, and gray clouds beyond it, this time without any rumor of thunder or lightning to accompany it whatsoever. Similarly unlike the Jenny incident, no strange or angry elemental energy hangs about the air this time either. And when Jade does step out of his cabin at length...well, at least the walk down the hall has some overhead cover. But then he comes upon the part of the deck that opens up and out to free air and an unimpeded view of the sea, the horizon beyond smeared ashen with the misting drizzle overhead...and Jade pauses just shy of actually stepping out into it, glancing sidelong to find somebody else similarly hovering nearby.]

Well, it doesn't look like acid rain from here, does it? Though one has to wonder... [Jade arches his eyebrows, with a humored sort of smile.] I don't suppose you'd be willing to stick a hand out into it first, for science?

[ii.) Eventually, of course, determinations are made that the rain doesn't seem to be acidic or otherwise hazardous in any (obvious) way. Save for the fact that it makes crossing to certain parts of the ship rather damper than they need to be, at times...and Jade is no better at evading getting a bit soaked on occasion than anyone else, on that sort of front. Sighing and brushing accumulated water out of his bangs after a bit of a speedwalk across the sports deck, an idle remark is made to the nearest person passing by, whether they're headed back inside as well or getting ready to go out there for themselves:]

It's refreshing enough that it's some sort of change out here...but really, I think it'd be much better if this were snow instead of rain.

[Incidentally, this is rather more honest than he means to be.]

C: subsequent weekends
[Another week passes, maybe two; somewhere in the interim, Jade receives another package from the sundries shop, and among the contents he actually finds an umbrella--which is so remarkably convenient, for once, that its arrival must almost certainly be the purest of coincidences. Still, Jade isn't about to start getting too picky about this tiny bit of decent fortune...especially with how he's starting to develop a growing suspicion about the rain's correlation to the increasingly widespread bouts of verbal disconnect everyone on board seems to be experiencing lately.

The winter coat is far too warm for the temperate climate that persists even alongside the rain, of course, and so it stays folded away in his cabin for some future use. But Jade's definitely setting out with his new umbrella at every occasion it's convenient to use! Though if he happens to spot you looking pretty hesitant about going out into the rain yourself, in passing, Jade does pause and change his trajectory to make a polite enough sort of offer.] There is room for one other, under here; anywhere in particular you're wanting to go?

D: general latter half of the month
[Hm, but it's not just the rain either--couldn't be, when this had all started well before that first bout of it to begin with. By some means or another, correlations with water are eventually made...and that starts leading into a whole slew of new questions, really, as the latter end of the month becomes a more drawn out affair of how to avoid getting cursed as opposed to wondering why it's happening.

At some point or another, Jade can be found frowning speculatively at the selection of drinks to be found in one of the cafés along the Promenade. Regular water being an obvious catalyst, sure, but...]

Not exactly as if I'm much of a juice-making hobbyist...how much of a water ratio do you suppose fruit juices have, generally? It probably varies by the flavor...to say nothing of what might be in those, for that matter. [A slight and exasperated gesture is made in the direction of the sodas.] Hm, you have to wonder if coffee is affected too...my, hydration without repercussion is a difficult thing these days.

[Folding his arms, Jade looks over to you properly with a wry sort smile.]

You know, ironically, alcohol would likely be one of the safest bets of late...but that just leads to a whole other branch of potential risks where one's personal filter might be concerned, doesn't it?

E: wildcard!!
[ Feel free to throw in a prompt of your own! Or hit me up by message/plurk at rainbell if you've got ideas you'd like to run by me! This log can also serve as a general catch-all for the month, so have at :) ]

Comments

B1

[lachtara]

Emet is standing under an awning, arms folded, watching as the rain falls from above. The rain is peaceful and a nice change of pace from the oppressive light and heat of the sun.

It's some time before a stranger makes his way there and stops at his side asking about... the rain. Emet-Selch arches an eyebrow.

"You think it possible that this could acid rain, yet you ask me to put my hand out in it?" It's a rhetorical question, and an extremely disapproving sounding one at that. He scoffs and looks out onto the deck. "If it were acidic, the metal on deck would look as though it were rusting." He nods toward it. "Which it is not."

[fonomena]

The stranger's disapproval fails to put any damper upon the humored smile on Jade's face whatsoever; in fact, he seems to draw even more amusement from it, as he idly shrugs away the implicit absurdity of his request being repeated in this reasonably skeptical fashion.

"There are some people around here who would positively leap at the chance to take ridiculous risks for others," he counters cheerily. "You know, a very particular sort of heroic streak...recklessness above self-preservation, and all that. I've found that asking these sorts of things tends to be the quickest way of identifying one! But, there's certainly nothing wrong with not being one..."

He follows the latter man's glance back out to the deck before them--a fairly damp sheen of water upon it right now, indeed, but no smoking or smoldering to be found upon it or the appliances atop it.

"You're right, though, it's apparently not universally acidic at the very least. Unless the ship in itself is already designed to be immune, to this particular sort of precipitation...or unless the hypothetical acid only works on human flesh, perhaps..." Jade trails off to a thoughtful hum, but then he's returning his glance to Emet, humored smile curving into something more wry. "My, but I probably sound like someone with a vendetta against rain, about now. I promise I'm not normally; it's just all so very suspicious. ...Have you been aboard here for very long, sir?"

[lachtara]

He sounds like something, that's for certain.

"I have been on board a handful of days. Enough to see that there is no shortage of would-be heroes willing to put themselves in harm's way, as you have said." It was much of the same where he hailed from, albeit in much smaller concentrations as he found most people to be... cowardly and invested only in their own self-interests.

"I have also seen that many harbor suspicion based on past experiences." At least, for the most part. "To wit, I assume you have a reason to think so distrustfully of the weather?"

[fonomena]

"You'd be correct, where past experiences are concerned!" An approving nod on Jade's part, appreciative of the stranger's swift uptake. "I myself have been here for...hm, I believe I have counted about twenty weeks, at this point. But, in all that time, I can say that the weather has not once changed of its own volition--nearly every single day has been consistently sunny and temperate without fail. Which is very unusual, for sailing upon an open ocean...at least where I am from, anyway."

Jade casts his glance back over the horizon, with a small shrug of his shoulders.

"The only time it ever changed was once before--when a storm was being invoked by some form of elemental god, apparently, in a bid to sink this entire ship. Rather less violent this time around...but it's almost more unusual that this variation would be so quiet, by comparison." ...Here, a short and dry sort of chuckle. "Hmm, or perhaps I'm just being excessively paranoid. Equally possible, at this point...what do you think?"

[lachtara]

"I think that experience makes for a reliable ally." Perhaps not paranoid, but if those are the ways of the world on board this ship then it would be wise to heed them. This is not the first person he has encountered who has shown such caution.

Emet-Selch puts a hand to his chin. "That being said, it doesn't sound like your experience would give you a clear idea of what this could be. Only that it is something to warrant caution." Making 'acid' a very arbitrary guess.

B2

[makesomedeals]

[Max hates rain. He hates being wet, he hates the smell of wet things, he hates the dampness and the humidity and.. .well the list goes on and on. Needless to say he's grouchy because of the weather, and not just because he's not waterproof. The rain is fine, he could go out in it, but he's not going to for all the aforementioned reasons.]

Snow will eventually turn to slush and we'd have people sliding all over the place. But I do agree that at least it would be, well, prettier I suppose.

[The grey clouds and puddles leave something to be desired.]

[fonomena]

Hmm, I suppose that's generally true in more temperate climates, isn't it? Which means that slush would probably be the case here as well...you're not wrong there.

[Max does manage to convey a pretty irate atmosphere over there, impressively so with the metal contours of his face and general person considered--not particularly hard to guess why there's a dip in mood either, though, and so Jade certainly doesn't begrudge him it. Here underneath the awning leading from the sports deck to the spa, Jade pauses beside Max in lieu of ducking further inside for a towel just yet; his person might be a bit damp, but not enough so that he can't indulge a bit of polite conversation first, you know?]

The average temperature in my hometown was always below freezing in some form, more often than not--when it did rain it would be more like sleet, which meant everything getting positively coated in ice directly afterwards. At least you can walk on fresh snow...and it is prettier, yes. [...Not that he's aware as to just how much of that thought tangent actually becomes spoken word, in this way. But you know, whatever, this is fine. Just some harmless trivia from a town sitting on a fantasy arctic circle! Moving on breezily from this miniature ramble as if it hadn't even occurred, Jade casts an idly speculative sort of look in Max's direction.] ...Actually, out of curiosity--how do you tend to manage in snow, I wonder? Or rain like this in general, for that matter...

[makesomedeals]

Poorly. And worse on ice if I don't have the proper footwear. As you can imagine if I were to fall I'd likely go sliding for a fair distance before being able to right myself.

[He'd become a very large, irate, curling stone he means. And take out anything in his path.]

Rain, I simply dislike. But I'm not waterproof, so should it be a torrential downpour that could cause problems for me.

[And explains why Max can absolutely never be found anywhere near the pool. But moving on from his water-based dislikes.]

I had meant to find you earlier but was distracted. [By kidnapping and interrogating Skulduggery.] There's not much of value to be found in exploring the Tommy Bahama. I walked straight back for slightly over an hour and nothing new presented itself. Clothing and aisles generated themselves but in no discernable pattern. And the back wall never seemed to get closer.

While leaving, the entrance did get closer with every step I took, so perhaps whatever law of physics that structure is breaking only happens when walking into it, not out.

[fonomena]

[Well, at the very least, an instance of angry Max-based curling might make the sport actually exciting for once....?!

But Jade's nodding thoughtfully alongside Max's explanation, tidbits to file away with some genuine interest. Naturally, there's a low-key knee-jerk part of him habitually marking down the element of water as a definite physical weakness for this particular individual--you know, Just In Case--but unfortunate practicality aside, it's legitimately a bit fascinating on a general sort of level too. Guy or Dist would be deriving far more appreciation from the overall novelty of Max's distinctly machine-like exist, no doubt, but even Jade can appreciate that he's interacting with a pretty sophisticated piece of...no, not likely fontech specifically, but--technology for a fact, either way. One that seems to have a pretty firmly established sense of self...

And also one that actually follows up on agreements, as it turns out. Max brings up the Tommy Bahama, and--actually, that particular conversation was just long ago enough that the tangent catches Jade a bit by surprise. A more pleasant surprise than not, though, at least?]

Is that so? ...I suppose that's about as conclusive as it gets, then, with an hour of walking straight. It really is just endless clothing and endless space, hm...? It is rather interesting that the entrance at least remained reachable in a more spatially consistent way, though--I think you may be right, about the strangeness only applying to the one side...although, the forest during the camp excursion seemed to loop back to the campground from any given direction of travel. Firm proof that this sort of thing can selectively applied, I daresay.

[Which might not do much in the way of answering anything about how the captain manages these feats, but...well, weighing the extent of them is still just as interesting. Jade tilts his head a bit, and--while his expression doesn't particularly give off any rueful impression whatsoever, his next few words end up being rueful anyway. Probably because he's meaning to say something else entirely, but in the end:]

You know, I wasn't sure if you'd actually end up taking on the challenge in that terribly tacky place, but I quite appreciate that you did. It must have been a thoroughly unpleasant experience. [Well, maybe that first bit about the vague doubt over Max's commitment was unnecessary, but the appreciation is a genuine sentiment? So there's that!] Part of me is quite fascinated by the idea of applying your unique talents to all manner of other investigations, into areas that might not be so suitable for humans. But another part of me is also quite sure you'd really rather not be a guinea pig in this sort of way...and I ought to respect that...

A C-ish wildcard 👀 probably ~07/10 or so?

[myagic]

[Raining again, huh... One weekend of sudden, nonstop rain was suspicious enough, but a subsequent weekend, too? If it's not that pirate hanging around for another visit, the captain just has to be messing with them. Well, for the moment, the latest mystery package apparently waiting in the sundries shop has Rita's attention--it's been an eclectic but not unwelcome mix so far--so she heads down fairly early. She hasn't bothered to fetch any breakfast yet, and there's no need to go outside when heading directly to the shop from the cabins...not that she's pinned down yet whatever caused the...misunderstanding (to put it lightly) in 109.

--Speaking of which... There's Jade with his own nautical-decorated package. Seeing him there only makes her hesitate for a fraction of a second--it's...a little awkward, running into him like this after...all of that--before she comes up to the counter beside him with a not-at-all awkward greeting.]

So...you received something, too?

[Her eyes flicker between him and his wrapped boxes, only idly pulling her own two boxes closer without really paying them too much attention (nowhere near as massive as the last one, but still on the large side...)]

sounds good to me!!

[fonomena]

[Here Jade sure is, a handful of miscellaneous sundries "purchases" in a small bag slung over one arm and the other burdened with supporting some nautically-wrapped boxes indeed...just turning away from the checkout counter, when Rita steps through the entrance herself. Definitely more of a coincidence as encounters go here, for once; it's not that Jade's been actively trying to avoid her since that...incident, in 109? But it still can't be denied that there's been a certain--awkwardness, ever since--that's only exacerbated here and now in the way Rita hesitates and then sets down her greeting in that vaguely hesitant sort of way.

Still, Jade tries his best not to make it look as though he's noticed said awkwardness--not like that's going to help anything, after all. He might have been planning to make an exit from the shop about now, 'payments' completed and packages acquired, but instead he ends up idly standing aside at one end of the counter to give Rita the elbow room needed to pick up her packages in turn; her question's met with a similarly idle smile, and a short nod.]

Indeed I have! Just gauging by shape, it seems that these packages are a bit more conventional for me this time around...though I suppose there's no way to know for sure until they're opened, of course. [Not that there's any particular trepidation at this prospect in his tone--if only because Jade has already processed and tabled the vague prickle of trepidation far earlier in the day, when he'd gotten the notification of their presence. (He's not sure how any future deliveries could be worse than the doll, but one does have to wonder...or just bite the bullet and find out, as he's already resolved by now.) Jade adjusts the boxes in the crook of his elbow; one of them is an average and carryable sort of size, and the other seems to be a very small box, like the sort one might find in a jewelry store or something. His attention's falling upon Rita's boxes in turn, though, head tilting slightly with some curiosity.] Actually, I wonder--how has your own track record been with these 'deliveries' so far? Assuming you've received any before these, in the past...?

excellent!! ✨

[myagic]

[Sure, there might be some lingering awkwardness, but it's not like a little embarrassment is going to make her back down!! ...You know, from just saying hi. Anyway...with that part over and done with, and Jade responding normally, some of that hesitance evaporates and it becomes easier to settle into a mostly-normal-feeling conversation.]

Hmm...None of mine have been weird. There was an outfit, a couple weapons--and last time, there was even a blastia.

[She's can't tell much of anything from the shape of the packages alone, so while she's already tearing the paper from one box, she's looking over curiously to see if he's going to open his yet.]

You think there's more Panacea Bottles, or maybe some gels? What else have you received?

[fonomena]

[True, surely this particular conversation couldn't possibly end up any worse than that whole occasion in 109 was, right?? Just some casual bumping into each other in sundries, greetings exchanged, packages maybe examined--nothing particularly compromising or embarrassing here, surely!! (.....For now--)]

Ah--right, outfits and weapons...I do recall you mentioning such things before, now. Including your cat book, yes? [Don't smirk too much as you call it a cat book, don't smirk too much as you call it a cat book...! It really was pretty much literally a cat book though...honestly, Jade's not sure how he forgot about it, now that he thinks of it. A lot has transpired since that last conversation...but the memory does surface readily now, including the fact that:] Though, I don't recall hearing about a new blastia arriving for you. Rather recently, I take it? Did you find it to be--hmm, a usable one, if that's the correct sort of term for such things?

[Kind of idly eyeing Rita's person about now as if he might spot a new article of jewelry somewhat similar to her choker, anyway, since that's been more or less his exposure to established blastia up to this point. Of course, this also means that Jade ends up watching as Rita promptly starts tearing the wrapping paper off one of her boxes right off the bat--huh, looks like she's just going to open her packages right here and now in the store, hm? ...Jade was planning to wait until returning to his room, but...well, he does move to set his boxes back on the table now, resting a hand upon the larger one and plucking absently at a corner of its wrapping paper himself as he considers Rita's question in return.]

More medicines along those lines would certainly be ideal--though I'm not so sure I could be so fortunate twice over. Neither of these boxes are quite the same in proportion as the box I received the bottles in last time, either. At any rate, so far it's only been the one batch beforehand for me: assorted bottles, and a deck brush, and one other item. ['One other item' being the doll, which he figures Rita's aware of already, considering the high likelihood Natsuno had told her about it before they confronted Jade that time earlier. Jade breezes by this quickly enough, though:] Running a bit of a gamut where usefulness is concerned...I'd not mind another proper weapon myself, really. I suppose one could tenuously call a deck brush a weapon in a pinch, but it's hardly a qualifying polearm of any sort at all. And it doesn't seem like either of these boxes are quite large enough to hold a polearm this time, either--unless it's in pieces for some reason, perhaps!

D

[neverleave]

[Some awkwardness still lingers between cabin 109's residents, and the stretches of cautious silence followed by water contact certainly don't help. There have been other incidents, too - perhaps Jade saw Natsuno coming back a bloodied head after an unfortunate encounter with Mikabo's flying knives, or noticed that the first aid kit has been restocked (don't mind any residual black blood stains, Clarke just got a little stabbed).

Still, Natsuno's trying to act like everything's back to normal, or at least Serena Eterna normal. He even organized his knives and other miscellaneous items in boxes from the sundries shop in an attempt to apologize.

He's just pouring himself a drink from the special coffee machine when Jade shows up. Natsuno downs it quickly, throws the styrofoam in a trash can and, with his back still turned, wipes his mouth just in case.]

I wouldn't know. Even if I could get drunk, the ghosts won't serve me. [Not that he's bothered. All of it smells awful anyway.] Ava says juice and coffee should be safe.

[But as Natsuno and Jade are about to find out, blood is not.]

[fonomena]

[It's been...quite a month, so far, even despite the fact that things have remained entirely mundane on the ship. Aside from the affliction that seems to plague almost every form of water in some way or another, anyway--wherein misspoken words can end up being quite damaging all on their own, as it turns out. At this point Jade really can't help but wonder whether those 'additional incidents' Natsuno's experienced lately have anything to do with the risk of misunderstanding constantly afoot of late? The bloodied head and adjusted first aid kit have certainly both been noticed, with varying levels of concerned questioning applied, though how detailed Natsuno opted to be or not with his answers is another matter altogether.

Discovering Natsuno actually packing away his knives and items at one point almost made up for these concerning matters in their own way too, though, if only for the sheer surprise of the occasion. Jade may or may not have given him some knife-packing pointers around that point. No overt questioning was even had on that front, probably, the awkward apology inherent in the action obvious enough. Yes, these last few weeks have been...strange, as far as Jade's concerned.

But at least things have stayed cautiously amenable between them, in the meantime. They've even developed something of an effective system for avoiding any water-related mishaps, by now! So, surely, there's no way either of them could be caught in anything even more awkward than that interrogation at the start of the month, especially here and now in the dining area--!]

Well, rest assured, you're not exactly missing out on anything anyhow. Drinking is noted as a vice for a reason--few people do it purely for enjoyment, and all that. [Says Jade, with utterly casual cheer, as if he hasn't had past bad habit of day drinking, nor had a particularly bad stint directly after the battle royale, or anything like that....] But juice and coffee seem to be safe, is that right? Hm, I wonder if it has something to do with water concentration, then...

[Even as Jade speaks, though, it's not exactly like he doesn't notice the way Natsuno very promptly knocks back the drink he'd just gotten from the coffee machine in question--which, you know, generally isn't something done with coffee? Jade's glance flicks to catch the arc of the styrofoam cup as it lands in the trash, idly noticing--a bit of red, about the rim there? Huh.]

My, I didn't know you were such a fan of tomato juice, though! Heated, no less? I suppose this must be another Earth sort of thing... [A bit half-joking here, honestly. Though it wouldn't even surprise Jade at this point, if tomato juice were something served through coffee machines on Earth, or something?? Everything he hears about Earth is so strange, alright....some form of unconventional tomato soup, perhaps? Who knows, really--]

[neverleave]

[The head wound incident was explained without fuss: he wasn't paying attention crossing the promenade, and the Mikabo got him. The first aid kit will need no further explanation because by the power of retcons, Jade was there. Sorry about the bloodstained couch.

But back to here and now - seeing Jade noticing the cup makes Natsuno want to kick himself. He should've acted like it was just a normal coffee cup - no one seemed to comment about Claudia's daily drink. Still, he can still salvage this, since Jade gives him a perfect out in the shape of tomato soup.]

Not really. [So far so good. He intends to follow up with "We don't have soup machines back home, so I was just curious to see what it tastes like." What he actually says, though...] It's not juice or soup - it's blood.

[fonomena]

["The Mikabo...got you?" "Yeah the sushi knives fly out the entrance now--" Doubtless that particular conversation proceeded somewhere along these incredulous lines. After confirming the impermanence of Natsuno's headwound, Jade may have also expressed some disappointment over even the sushi being apparently just as vulnerable to ship-related mishaps as the rest of this place. And then the magic of retcons took hold and that first aid kit restock sure does end up having plenty of context after all, as these things tend to go when you're Literally There. At least the ghosts cleaned the blood off the couch in the end probably....THIS MONTH JUST KEEPS HAPPENING--

Jade was expecting some snark, about here, per their general tradition of interaction in 109 nowadays. Natsuno sarcastically confirming he sure can't sleep without his nightly tomato soup, perhaps, followed by either the both of them being mystified by a coffee-looking machine that even does soup to begin with, or a flat confirmation from Natsuno afterwards that these kinds of things actually are common on Earth, or....

...Or, he could say it's blood. That sure is a thing he could say, too. Though the fact that he...actually says it, is a bit. Well.

Natsuno's expression remains impassive enough. There is a lack of his customary dryness, where the teen sass would usually come in, but for a moment Jade has to wonder if he isn't in fact joking in some capacity anyway. The boy does have a pretty robust pokerface, on occasion...even if there's still something just a bit odd, about the way he phrases these words as he does. Jade blinks at him, as something nags vaguely in the back of thought, but it's either looking more closely at said nagging or--]

...Is that so? [His smile doesn't necessarily fade, but there's something nearly quizzical in the slight tilt of Jade's head to accompany it, eyebrows arching a little. If this is indeed...a particularly morbid sort of joke, it's pretty...hm.] My, the way you knocked it back, one would think you drink it all the time. Feeling a bit vampiric of late, are we?

[..........Actually though--]

c-ish, whatever, it's the umbrella academy!!!!

[light_mischief]

[Skulduggery has been there, done that as far as getting caught unwittingly in the rain, and he isn't inclined to repeat the process. Of course, there are a fair few places that are impossible to get to without at least briefly existing outside, and he has no interest in limiting his free space simply due to some rain.

Unlike Jade, however, Skulduggery hasn't been blessed with a sundry gift of an umbrella. But, where there's a will, there's a way! His way just happens to involve a constant, minor bit of concentration on the air directly above him. Honestly, the umbrella seems like a much better deal, all things considered.

Not that he's going to say that as he comes up alongside Jade as their paths cross, falling comfortably alongside for the time being. He hasn't been cursed with complete honesty, after all!]

It would seem you've been lucky enough to come prepared for inclement weather. Did you manage to find that in the Tommy Bahama, or...?

now with all kinds of umbrellas involved!!!!

[fonomena]

Oh, no, this certainly wasn't in there. I don't believe I've seen any sections in that store selling umbrellas, unfortunately...though even if they did, I can only imagine they'd be the most garishly floral umbrellas anyone's ever laid eyes on.

[You know, just going off the general...Trend, in that store. The umbrella Jade has in hand, accordingly, is about as boring and black as it gets. But there's certainly room enough underneath it for an additional skeleton compatriot, if Skulduggery's amenable to stepping under it alongside Jade; pausing in his transit across one of the more open-air sections of outer deck lining the ship when Skulduggery approaches, Jade's adjusting his grip and raising the umbrella a bit, half in offering and half to accommodate Skulduggery's taller frame should the offer be accepted.]

This is actually part of a gift from sundries I received about a day or so ago, believe it or not. 'Lucky' is right, honestly; I feel this occasion has probably used up all of my good luck for the remainder of the month! It's going to be inconveniences and mishaps of all kinds from here... [With this cheery acceptance of his future karmic-rebalancing put aside, though, Jade's also peering more speculatively at Skulduggery as the distance is closed either way...] ...Hm, and yourself? You don't seem to be carrying an umbrella, but you certainly look quite dry all around out here. Another perk of your suit, perhaps?

[light_mischief]

Hah. True enough. [Skulduggery would probably settle for something loud and floral, but it would be a close one against his ego...

It's less offensive to take the unspoken offer of shelter under Jade's respectable (if plain) umbrella. It'll give him a chance to rest, and to focus on the conversation at hand.]

A broom, an umbrella... If it weren't for everything you've told me about your reality, I'd assume it was really rather mundane. I wasn't so lucky.

[Now safely under the umbrella, he lifts his hand once more, extending the plane of solid air out in front of them. Just for a moment or two, so he can explain:] I've had to make do with my magic. [Which Jade will learn more about before too long, heading into the Chatterbox...] I figured out how to create barriers out of thin air. It turns out it works as a fairly decent umbrella, when necessary.

[fonomena]

[True, in these desperate water-allergic times, a floral umbrella would...probably be the lesser of two evils. How fortunate that Skulduggery doesn't have to make that choice anytime soon for the moment, though! Yes, Jade's quite happy to share his own boring umbrella's services for the meantime...]

Ah, this umbrella of mine came paired with a full winter uniform set--matching the exact design specifications of standard gear within the Malkuth Imperial Forces, no less. But, yes, these were altogether rather surprisingly normal things to find in a sundries gift box for once... [Though, Jade does cast an amused sort of smile Skulduggery's way, at that passing remark about his own reality.] Hmm, to me my reality is about as mundane as it gets, though. And while I assume you're speaking in comparison to your own reality, many qualities of Earth still sound utterly ridiculous to me--quite the opposite of mundane in turn. But, I suppose perspective can be odd like that...

[--Ah. Skulduggery's moving to demonstrate something about now, though, and Jade ends up trailing off to properly affix his attention on the skeletal hand that lifts. Followed immediately by a slight but clear reaction in turn, where the air directly in front of them might be concerned; the drizzling curtain of rain directly outside the bounds of the umbrella is visibly pushed slightly further away all at once, and a shifting impression of something like third fonons passes briefly over his fon flots, and Jade's perking up with visible interest. His steps had drawn to a halt while letting Skulduggery under the umbrella anyhow, but for now there's clearly no need to continue crossing the deck just yet, in favor of staying put and observing the effect while an explanation is made.]

Out of thin air--or with air, you mean? My, look at that... [Jade extends a free hand towards the rain-free space just outside from under the umbrella, curiosity taking a form of impulse as he half-expects to poke at the barrier. Maybe test for any give or flexibility? Or is it solid...?] And you've been raising it over your head before going out, I'm guessing? Quite a clever use case! How long are you able to sustain it for...?

closed to pal; backdated to last week of july-ish!

[fonomena]

It's been some time since the last occasion Pal received a text message like he does today, technically speaking...but at this rate, they may or may not be starting to fall into some kind of tradition here anyway, huh? If one squints, kind of. Jade is trying his best not to squint at this too hard in general, though, and...besides, this time around things will hopefully be less. Uncomfortable? So to speak. That's probably the word for it...

No, around noon, Pal's phone is buzzing and the message within it reads:
Good day to you! I'd like to stop by your quarters at some point today, whenever you might be available to take visitors! I have something I'd like to give you.

(Not to worry, it is not an unfortunate doll of any sort this time 😊)

With this thoroughly reassuring note left, however Pal opts to respond, Jade will eventually be there and knocking on the door of his cabin at the agreed time. In what might very well be a mild sense of deja vu anyway, Pal would find Jade on the other side with yet another plastic bag from sundries looped over an arm...though at least it doesn't seem particularly full at all, this time?

"One of these days I probably ought to pay you a visit that isn't strictly business," Jade will promptly remark with a wry sort of cheer, when the door is opened. "Though I'm afraid I've been told I'm not very good at such idle pleasantries, so perhaps it'd be a rather poor showing anyway..."

[hellonspectacles]

Color me intrigued! Please stop by anytime you wish.

Palamedes

If these discussions between Pal and Jade are becoming something of a tradition, then it is one that the young necromancer is more than happy to embrace. Surely, friendships have been built on something less vital than scientific inquiry. In fact, for two scholars (okay, nerds) such a friendship may be the best kind there is.

Pal smiles easily as he greets Jade at the door and ushers him in. “Oh, I’m inclined to agree. I’ve never been very proficient at idle pleasantries myself. And what you call business has always been decidedly educational. You’ll get no complaints from me.” He goes to sit in the chair next to his desk and steeples his fingers. “So what can I do for you, Colonel?”

[fonomena]

By (very nerdy) scholar standards these sorts of meetings are the height of friendship hangouts, really. Jade returns Pal's easy smile with one of his own--demeanor actually rather less subdued all around, really, in comparison to the last time he'd stopped by Pal's quarters in this sort of way. For all that the impending topic actually still sort of borders with the last one...well, if nothing else, there are fewer uncertainties hanging over his head this time around, now aren't there?

To say nothing of how one of the parties to help dispel those uncertainties just so happens to be the young man now settling in his chair at the cabin desk, steepling his fingers with ready interest.

"Well, technically speaking, you shouldn't have to do anything in particular at the moment! Unless you feel so inclined, of course...but, we could say that I'm the one offering a bit of a service to you, this time around."

As opposed to previous occasions so far, where Jade would come around specifically seeking the aid of Pal's psychometry. Jade sets the plastic bag on the coffee table between them, and he's already moving to pull something out as he speaks: as it turns out, the only thing in the bag is...a brown glass bottle, small enough to be pocket-sized.

"Tell me, Palamedes...are travel elixirs particularly common, where you come from?"

[hellonspectacles]

The bottle is decidedly nondescript, but somehow that only manages to make it even more intriguing. Looks can be deceiving, after all.

"Travel elixirs? I can't say they are. But I don't do a lot of traveling."