APRIL OPEN LOG: PIRATE JENNY

[sailmods]

[early risers with odd-numbered rooms might notice that the morning sun doesn't quite come through the curtains as much as it usually does; they can peer out the portholes to see their views blocked by black-painted wood. everyone else won't realize something's off until the morning announcements. there's the chime, and Friday speaks, but...]

Passengers, I'd like for you all to join me in the atrium at your earliest possible convenience! We have a… situation!

[there is no bind on their legs; going is their choice. but, who wouldn't? something interesting is happening, at least. for once.

when they arrive, they will find Friday, and find that she is not alone. a woman - tall, dark, with a flowing coat and a lit cigar hanging from the side of her mouth like an old movie gangster - is standing on the raised area by the stairs; they are having a conversation that's too quiet to hear, and the woman's face is nearly as inscrutable. when enough have gathered, Friday steps forward, her empty hands clasped together in front of her, as the woman puts out the cigar on the heel of her boot and tosses it thoughtlessly to the ground.]

Good morning, everyone! I.. I'd like, I'd like to, well, I'd -

[the woman places a firm hand on Friday's shoulder - spins her, grabs her, dips her low to the ground, and kisses her soundly. at the first touch, Friday freezes; but, at the dip, she squeaks, and throws her arms up to hold herself up. the woman returns her to a normal position, and grins widely.]

Let me handle this, Dajutia. Hm? [Friday nods, and the woman turns to face the passengers.] Tau, everyone! My name is Jenny Storm, but all my friends call me Pirate Jenny! And I'd like to think we're all friends, sí? You could call me an... alumnus of the Serena Eterna; I spent a good five years being a thorn in the side of our good Captain! So, when I heard that he was getting up to his old tricks again, I decided to come around and see the fresh meat! And maybe have a bit of a vacation myself!

[she looks at each of them in turn. her grin widens, showing sharp canines.]

Now, I am sure you are thinking, "Señora Storm? You are a pirate! Are you here to rob us of our valuables?" [she barks out a laugh, then shakes her head.] No, no. First off, we're friends; it's Pirate Jenny! And Pirate Jenny is not interested in such things. In fact, I have valuables for you!

[she makes a quick movement: she sticks her pointer finger in her mouth, and then immediately uses that same finger to make some sort of sketch on her palm. seconds later, that same palm closes around a single white rose, which she extends to Friday. she pauses... then takes it, careful, holding it gentle as a bird.]

I may not be the Captain, but I happen to have a little bit of magic of my own! And, for a very, very low price, I can grant you a few small wishes! Trifles from home, maybe - do you like rocket launchers? I am getting very good at rocket launchers!

Jenny...

Okay, okay, no rocket launchers... Machine guns are as big as I'll go, promise!

[Friday just audibly sighs and shakes her head, but there's a clear sort of fondness in it, and Jenny laughs again.]

So, be sure to chat me up, sí? After breakfast! I may not miss much about this damned ship, but I do miss those little omelets!

[she salutes the audience, and then immediately leaves, taking the stairs down three at a time and needlessly pushing her way through the small crowd on her way to the elevators. Friday merely watches her go; her fingers have worried the rose to shreds that fall at her feet.

the rest of the month, until the 13th, is very much the same, with one exception: Jenny's ship remains at the Serena Eterna's side, a sailing ship somehow keeping pace with a modern engine craft. and Jenny doesn't seem to be keeping an especially close eye on it.]

Comments

[mooninthewater]

Don't flail.

[ Not that it matters if he does, but it'll be a lot harder to catch him on his landing. Still Mizuki steps up on the railing of the ship, taking a moment to step over the edge to the water below, and at the same time, unfurling a tentacle behind Natsuno, in hopes he won't see it. Not because he's trying to hide what he's doing, but rather, he's really not supposed to be revealing these like this...

But this counts as an emergency, surely?

So, it'll quickly wrap around Natsuno's waist, and just fuckin' yeet him over the distance between the two boats. It's kind of like flying, if you don't think about it!!

Fortunately, once Mizuki is in his element in the salt water below (and, boy, is he so happy to be in it...!), he'll do his best to keep pace, gliding through the water like it gave him no resistance. Then, once they're both close enough, he'll flick another tendril out to try and catch Natsuno... and... failing, kind of? He does manage to grab Natsuno, briefly, but the velocity combined with the slime from his tentacles just means he slips out of his grasp. But at least he's made the landing a lot more bearable...!

Just don't go face first, Natsuno! And enjoy the slime, because you're covered in it. ]

[neverleave]

[Don't flail? Alarm bells right there, ringing even louder when Mizuki climbs the railing.] Wait -

[Did this guy just. Step off into the water? Natsuno stares down at Mizuki, thus missing the SURPRISE TENTACLE until it's too late.]

Hey - !

[Aaaaaaaand off he goes, flying in a graceful arc loud while letting out a not-so-graceful scream, his brain desperately trying to catch up with the rest of his body. What the fuck, what the actual FUCK -

Somehow, he manages to land on his feet. Unfortunately, the slime makes him slip and land right on his back side.

That's it. That's his life now. Just take his dignity out back and shoot it.]

[mooninthewater]

[ Oh. Well. That's not how that was supposed to go, but it works! Mizuki uses the same tendril to hook onto the side of the ship and hoists himself up with it as well. He lands onboard much more gracefully than Natsuno. Wonder why that might be! Oh well!

The jellyfish is also here, all the same. Natsuno's probably fine. ]

[sailmods]

[just some guys being dudes.

also hello welcome to the pirate boat i am your host, pirate bird, looking down at you from the mast with a look so unimpressed it's amazing all that condescension can fit on a bird face.]

1/2

[neverleave]

[Natsuno tries to get up, slips on the slime, glares up at Mizuki, gets up for real this time.

He arrived on the Serena Eterna covered in blood, ash and quite possibly his own entrails, but the slime has utter humiliation as a bonus.]

What the HELL is wrong with you?! What was that -

2/2

[neverleave]

[Wait. His vampire senses are tingling. They're being watched.]

...there's a bird up there. First time I see any animals in this place.

[mooninthewater]

[ Mizuki is about to start apologizing and laughing any of Natsuno’s worries off, but is promptly cut short by their new bird host! Mizuki squints up at the direction his slimy friend is looking. ]

… Maybe Jenny is actually just a very cartoonish pirate and needs a parrot? … A very melanistic parrot??

[ Can parrots be melanistic? Mizuki’s not sure. He’s a jellyfish, damn it, not a bird expert. ]

Should I go get it?

[sailmods]

[the magpie puffs up at that, throwing back his wings in what he clearly considers to be a very intimidating manner.]

[neverleave]

[So intimidating!]

I think it understands you. [To the magpie, politely:] We're just looking.

[It feels ridiculous but hey, maybe it's like. A security bird or something.]

[mooninthewater]

You think so? [ He tentatively waves at the bird. ] You wanna come with us or something? Can birds eat saltwater taffy? I think I might have some on me...

[ He's not waiting for an answer, he's just digging around in his pocket and throwing a few on deck. ]

[sailmods]

[the magpie completely ignores the candy, flying instead towards the back of the ship, where it lands next to the hatch in the deck.]

[neverleave]

[Well then. Still to the magpie:] Thank you.

[He looks at Mizuki and inclines his head in a "let's go" gesture. Time to follow and pull open the hatch!]

[mooninthewater]

[ Magpie out here teaching all of us the dangers of taking candy from strangers. Mizuki is just gonna leave the candy there anyway and follow after Natsuno. Who knows!! Maybe the bird will change its mind?? And if not, Jenny’s gonna have some sticky, melty candy on her ship. It’s a win-win, really.

Regardless, he gladly helps to attempt to open the hatch. ]

[sailmods]

[the hatch opens easily, revealing little but darkness, the beginnings of a rope ladder. the magpie looks at them for a few seconds, and then flies away.]

[neverleave]

[He's on he knees by the hatch, lowering his head to peer down at the hatch. As it happens, shiki can see in total darkness, with Natsuno's kind having extra sharp eyes.

Can he see anything before he climbs down the rope like an idiot?

(That's not to say he won't climb blindly down the rope like an idiot)]

[mooninthewater]

[ Mizuki is just gonna pull his phone out from his bag and turn his flashlight on to make sure Natsuno doesn't, like, step into a bear trap or something. "Why would there be a bear trap?" you might think, but the better question is "Why is there a judgmental bird?"

Still, he'll happily wait his turn if Natsuno's gonna dive head first into the danger zone. He's always been better at following people anyway. ]

[sailmods]

[the floor that is visible from the hatch is covered in a thick layer of ash, with dozens of separate footprints of varying sizes, shapes, and species.]

[neverleave]

[Creepy. But they're a vampire and a Lovecraftian... thing, so Natsuno simply shrugs and grabs the rope.]

Let's go.

[mooninthewater]

Careful you don't slip. [ You know, because... slime isn't exactly helpful if you're trying to hold onto things. Sorry, Natsuno. Mizuki will at least make sure he doesn't fall too terribly far before trying to grab him if it comes to it.

Anyway, Jenny must throw some wild parties. But, let's add two more species to the mix! He lowers himself down into the room and does a slow pan with his flashlight around it. ]

[sailmods]

[the space is massive: it is clear that the hull of the ship is entirely hollow, with absolutely nothing that an actual ship would need for any amount of travel. the ash is thick on the ground, and it crunches underfoot, something like broken glass. a bit farther on, it looks as if some sort of dark shapes are embedded in the ash.

at the far end of the room, something like a brazier gives off an incredibly faint glow.]

[neverleave]

[Yeah, slime-covered hands aren't very good for climbing. Natsuno ends up slipping through those last couple few feet, leading to another messy landing in the ash - which of course sticks to the slime like breadcrumbs to egg.]

Gross.

[He wipes his hands on his pants, smearing them with more slimy ash mix. Then he pauses and as an afterthought, picks up even more ash and rubs it all over his clothes, stomping to get his shoes nice and filthy. Hopefully Pal will be able to use the ash to reveal more secrets.]

If we find anything interesting, take a picture. My hands are filthy.

[Carefully, he starts walking toward the light, though he will stop to examine the mysterious dark shapes.]

[mooninthewater]

[ Mizuki coughs a bit as there’s suddenly ash flying everywhere at Natsuno’s little tumble. Air sucks. Why couldn’t this have been a sunken ship exploration instead of a fully functioning yet creepy one? Terrible.

Mizuki stays put to take a few pictures of the footprints on the ground for a moment, but once he realizes his spelunking buddy is leaving him behind in the darkness and ash that both make it terribly hard to see in, he is very quick to catch back up. Natsuno will even feel a hand latch onto his without much warning, so they don’t accidentally get separated. That, and so Mizuki can pretty safely get distracted by things and still know he’s not fully alone down here. ]

This is definitely not a normal place for a ship to have… right? [ A beat. ] should we try wiping the ash to investigate, or do you think that’s a little risky?

/sneaks in another tag before mysteries unveil

[neverleave]

[Natsuno startles when Mizuki grabs his hands. He almost shakes it off, but - apparently tentacled abominations can't see in the dark, and he won't abandon a companion in a creepy pirate ship, yeet or no yeet.]

Definitely not normal. [He narrows his eyes.] There's something on the ground ahead. Let's see what it is before we start wiping off ash. It might take a while to dig up the rest of the place.

[By the way, are there any interesting scents his shiki nose can pick up?]

[sailmods]

[death.

not the rot of a corpse, but the wet earth of a graveyard, must and damp for all that it's bone dry.

the hatch snaps shut, cutting off any sunlight. and that's when the hands start. nothing will appear to change, but the distinct feeling of weak fingers trying, and failing, to grip at their ankles, at their legs, at their clothes, starts in the dark. there must be dozens of them.]

[neverleave]

[OH HELL NO

Natsuno doesn't need the sunlight to see, but those dead hands - it's familiar and he hates it.

His hand tightens around Mizuki's. Weirdo or not, in this kind of situation you stick together. When fingers grab the edge of his pants, he stomps angrily to shake them off.

His voice, however, is eerily calm.]

I'm gonna try to get to that light ahead. If you have any powers that might be useful, it's time to use them.