Arrika wrote:"I can have this?"

Dogura smiled and nodded. "I suppose you could see it as a reward for slaying that gang of pirates, and taking down that Reaper, Blind. Their ship belongs to us now, no matter which way you look at it- so I'd assume just about everything on board is up for grabs." He widened his stance a bit before folding his arms. "Although, I suppose when it comes to more valuable things, you should wait for the Captain's permission..." He paused and rubbed his chin as if deep in thought. "Although, according to Taint, we'll all be filthy rich by the end of this thing... I'm not getting my hopes up though. Gossip Isle has been a mystery for as long as I can think back. I doubt getting a hold of the ancient alphabet will help as much as thinks it will." He shook his head. "In any case, yes, those are beautiful daggers made for assassination. You could take down an Iron Knuckle with one shot, that is, if you're able to sneak up on it."

Dogura smiled. "Glad you're on our side."

Treasure. It was a soulless word. It floated on the breeze, and stamped itself on maps. It could motivate men into great danger, and could tempt them from it as well. Were in an anthropomorphized creature, Greed would have been a bard, and treasure the sound on his ocarina. However, not all greed revolved around treasures. Some were simpler, such as necessity, others were more complex, such as love. In practice, and in theory, one could be greedy about nearly everything, even pain. It was simply the desire to have more of one thing, perhaps because it was desirable, or perhaps because you wanted it. As for whether or not something could be both desirable, but unwanted, and wanted but undesirable, one merely had to ask your better judgment, and it would bluntly state that, yes, this could be so.

It was greed, much like for everyone, that Song obeyed when she insisted on leaving the safety of this ship for the expedition to Gossip Isle. Knowledge is not mere power, but closure, and above all answer. It was answers Song sought. The history of the Sheikahn race was one that was of great point to her, for in its history, she felt the brittle glimpse of its future. A butterfly waiting for the blood in its wings to harden. A chrysalis before that butterfly. Now if only she could catch it into her hands, close them about it, just as it took off, so the thrum of its wings was a captured heartbeat. Something fluttery to fill her empty ribcage. Hope.

Song had been a black-haired, lithe, red-eyed Sheikahn beauty, which was her main reason for interest. Of course, the point of this, that nigh-on everybody stressed to her, was that she had been. At this stage in her life - if we compare it to a swallow flitting through a room filled with people - she was making her last lap of the room, before flitting out. Of course, Song had been making this last lap for several loops of the room, and each time it seemed more sure that she would surely go, and each time she took great pride in disappointing.

Wizened? Song would shrug if you said that. Elderly? Oh, well, if she must. Frail? Her red eyes would flash, and in some cunning line of movements she would trip you. Sighing all whilst. I'm not as fast as I used to be, or I'd strip you of your skin, young sapling. Old, weaker and slower she might be, but Song had enough experience to make up for it, and she kept her body as much in tune as possible. She would need to keep her experience. Song sometimes shuddered at night, her bones feeling cold from the inside out, wary of the twilight of her race. Were there pure Sheikah alive? Yes. Did Song know where they were? Oh some, some of them. Song had remembered her grandparents lamenting how few Sheikah there were, but to Song, the bustling life of her own group had seemed so immense. Now there were even less than her youth. And less still. Her own group had been wiped out. That was less.

Still memories play their wiles on us, but experience does not abandon us. Young, her hair still dark as pitch, and slack-jawed at the sight of so many Hylians. To know you were minority. To know how tiny and insignificant your very blood was. It filled her with a snapping, razor-sharp sorrow. So, she would journey to this Gossip Isle. Through any means. For hope. For greed. For the past. For what she had left.

She stood, questioningly, leaning on her quarterstaff. An old creature, clad in time, her pointed ears dropping under it, and her face weathered, the flesh thickened slightly. The underlying notion of beauty was there, but it had changed with the flow. Like a chameleon, bending to the wills of the elements. Red eyes still flashed inside her aging body. Aging... aged. It had happened long ago, she had felt it sliding through her. It was no wonder she was not usually taken seriously in her desire to go on expeditions. Least of all this one. However, this was one she could not consciously leave alone. She tapped at the boardwalk, before hobbling up, steps slow, shuffly, but a grace to them that had come from years of training, and resolutely gnawed into the very body, refusing to relinquish its grip.

That same grace that she sought to imbue in the young of the Sheikahn race. Only, she was devoid her apprentices now. So, she went to seek time, history, the past. Some way to reclaim the future she had previously taught.

"Ho," She called, voice coughing, and growling in the most friendly-fashion. "Will anyone greet this old hag, or are you going to respond to any invasion without the bat of an eyelid?" She grimaced, almost in play, as she looked about.


OOC: Oh hai. This is Song. Sorry I fail, and this isn't very good, and I'm not 100% on character-position, so I just left it all to you to choose who goes and greets her. -flails wildly- Whipped this up way too quickly, and I'd prefer to spend more time on it, but.. school now.

What's with me and female characters? Oh well. What's with me and weird ages?

Morgoth stopped raising the anchor immediately after he'd spotted the woman, somewhat shocked that nobody had stopped her yet. He locked the anchor in place, and walked over to her. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, who are you? I'm gonna have to ask you to please remove yourself from the ship, we're actually about to set sail. Anything I can help you with?" He immediately took note of her crimson red eyes- A Sheikah. Who would have told her of the ship's voyage to Gossip Isle? Is that why she was here? Maybe she'd seen other Sheikah on board, and wanted a word. Morgoth rubbed his eyes with his knuckles, and awaited an answer. He'd hoped they could set sail already so he could go rest- it'd been quite a day for him, and even though the wounds they'd inflicted on Boone's body were healed, he still ached somewhat in those particular areas. He eyed her expectantly. "Well?"

OOC: An old lady... Of course you'd RP as an old lady. Why don't you try to make it even more difficult for one of my characters to realistically accept this?

*sigh*

Let me see how I can make this work. You caught us just in time though! We were about to leave. Good to see you could make it.

It was easy to just listen; she had never been a great conversationalist anyway. Sakiko kept her silence as Thealter seemed to speak what had been in his thoughts for a long time. Thealter, people change, and they change you with them. But when you finally get around to thinking that you can be with them forever, they leave you. They always leave you in the end. Always. She didn’t think that he wanted an answer, however; sometimes, it was just enough to let someone else in on your deepest troubles. When Morgoth called out to them, Sakiko stood up and brushed off her clothes lightly. She reached into her robe pocket and pulled out a handkerchief – she hadn’t let his tearstains bypass her gaze.

“Here.”

Sakiko hoped to get another chance to talk with Thealter; he seemed to have something in common with her. The Mage walked back to the ship, and saw the armory. She wasn’t…as strong as the others, and she figured that she had to have something light or something defensive. She recalled with a grimace what the attacks had done to her; two big shots and she’d be dead.

She picked up the iron helm and examined it, but put it back down. It would definitely help protect her, but…it would look so silly on her. Sakiko was tempted to go for the sword, but she knew that the weapons would probably go to waste on her clumsiness. She relied on her magic, and slingshot as her backup. The Mage waited for the others to make their selection, and decided that she’d take whatever was left. She looked at Morgoth, who seemed to have taken the position of leadership now that Taint was resting. Which made sense, of course.

Sakiko turned and fingered the helm once again, and muttered,

“Well, if no one is going to take it, I might as well.”

Song half-smiled, half-grinned as finally somebody noticed her. Had this ship been under attack from her - an amusing image, she admitted - she was certain she could have scuttled it before they'd even cared to notice her. The problem with the younger generation was not necessarily lack of respect, so much as lack of awareness to times before they were born. Oh they could learn their history, but they could never feel past it. As such, she assumed nobody had bothered notice a venerable lady hopping on board. Ah, until this one. "Song Sao," She introduced herself, leaning on her quarterstaff, with a lively spark in her eyes as she looked him up and down. "It would be difficult for me to accompany you to your destination, if I remove myself from this ship"

She gazed about the ship. "To the Island of the Speaking Stones" She added. "There was a request for help to join you, and so I intend to" Song knew it must be difficult for him to take her seriously, and she fully expected the impatient, and obviously exhausted, young man to reject her. Though, she was not taking rejection for any answer, and she shifted her weight subtly upon her staff. If this man felt like patronizing her, he would patronize her from his back, staring up at the sky. Carefully analyzing his posture, she detected the holes in it, some from sheer exhaustion, and others from basic flaws; all things she had seen before, or similar enough to them, to adapt, combine and create a single sequence to teach him better than assumptions.


OOC: You're just disappointed the whole trip isn't being run by old fogies >3>

Ooh, can you imagine that? Maybe if there was some aging curse, kihi, that would be amusing. Veteran pirates, y'know. Anywho, amusing imagery aside, yeah. Just made it. Glad I did, Song should be a fun character for me.

And now for a pointless test that eats up my two free periods DDDDD8

And who the hell uses a compass these days...?

Cecile was warmed to see at least one brave wizened soul leave the confines of the Antros. Here there were a handful of burly men, and not only were none of them brave enough to help face the undead, but none of them were brave enough to venture to Gossip Isle either. And yet the aged woman was. He clapped for her, loudly, not caring what the others thought. He was the captain, goddamn it, he didn't need their consent. It appeared that would be that aboard the Antros, and he too prepared the blitzkrieg vessel for the voyage back to mainland.

--

Thealter in the meanwhile accepted the younger mage's handkerchief greatfully, using them to dry off his face, before he re-dawned the mask, and boarded Taint's vessel. May the Goddesses bless his soul.

Then something occurred to him, something vague. Being on similar wavelengths of mind, Arrika's conversation with Alpha wasn't hard to detect. That's how Thealter figured out so much of the concept on his own, was because he had help from the general emotions. Now Alpha had presumably left, and he got an uncomfortable sense of loneliness. Nobody should have to feel that alone.

He hurried down to the armory. She would have treated the chance to fetch new items as a distraction. By now, she would have made her choice, and be contented with it. Hopefully, she was still there. He walked in casually, lowering his mask again. He moved next to her, and took her in a deep embrace. "You don't have to be alone anymore," he said, basely, with a tinge of depth and empathy.

--

Orpheous in the meanwhile was surprised to see such an elderly figure coming off of the Antros, and to board with them none-the-lesss. She introduced herself as Song Sao. She seemed wise, but he doubted her ability in combat. He hoped they'd seen their share of fighting for now, and heaven knows they needed her brains. Knowledge was truly power.

He called out, both to Song and to Morgoth. "She's friend enough. She appears wise and full of wit. We're going to need that at Gossip Isle. Plus, if you notice how she's leaning forward on her staff, it's a sign of being about to strike. Morgoth, you're new to that body, honestly, you would be on your back. She's probably not the strongest, but if she can analyze her enemies well enough after all her years to believe she could take down somebody who appears as fit as you, this deduces that she's equally as fit, and not only that, but she exploits tactics. I say let her come with us to the Isle of the Speaking Stones. As I said, we need help. Technically, only our captain should decide this, but do you really want to go bother him right now, even if he could be woken," Orpheous finished.

Then he turned to Song. "Nice to meet you Song Sao. My name is Orpheous, and I'm a scribe. I'm glad you're joining us," he said, offering out his hand to be shaken.

A cook, on board the ship? Saber would rather have Michael than a dragon at this point. He nodded his agreement with everyone before the party migrated to the ship's armory. Once there, he glanced through the equipment. That sword definitely looked sharper than his beat-up, constantly thinning blade. Should he trade out? And the armor...it seemed so cumbersome. Not to mention that he'd developed quite the tan since he moved into the desert--granted, his tan was a bit paler than most--and he was going to show it off, damn it. Grabbing a helm, he placed it on his head. It didn't seem too troublesome, and if he ran into anyone else with a gigantic hammer...yes, a helmet was good.

That accomplished, he headed back out onto the deck. The crew had gained another member, it seemed. He looked away from the old woman and instead searched for Michael--and there he was. Walking up to the soldier, he gave what he hoped would pass as a small salute, but ended up looking more like a weak wave at eye level. "So...I suppose you know how to do some wondrous things with tomatoes, then?"

Arrika froze as she felt someone wrap their arms around her. She swiveled her head back and stifled a gasp as she came face to face with Thea's mask.

"Thea! Let go of me. Did you hit your head during the fight or something?" she sputtered, partly Shadowmelding to worm out of his grasp. "Alone? I don't know what you're talking about," she added coldly as she felt chills run up her spine. How had he known...?

Now, she had two options- change the subject to something that didn't make her want to bolt on the spot, or just... bolt. Unfortunately for Thea, she chose the second.

The thief added the new steel dagger to her already extensive arsenal and more or less ran out of the room.

Thealter now had no choice but to stay shocked alone. Goddesses, was loneliness a motif now? Thealter cursed under his breath. If it had never been for that scribe, he wouldn't have known the word 'motif.' That scribe changed him too, that scribe and his apprentice. Simon, thank heavens he was back in Hyrule, away from all of this. Something about him, Thealter wanted to keep him safe. Just like he wanted to keep a certain somebody else safe, but that person was apparently too strong to want to be kept safe.

"And this, kids, is why you must consistently play it cool, because the second you don't, you look spastic," commented Thealter under his breath to nobody in particular. Screw it, this wasn't worth it. Just as the lone mage, Alpha, needed his space, she would need hers. No matter how right Thealter knew himself to be. He shuffled up, heading up to topside, hoping not to run into the thief, afraid she might bolt again and make him feel even worse.

OOC: His mask was down by the way, around his neck, beak facing down if anything.

Now she really knew what Thealter had been talking about, back at the beach. Sakiko stared as Arrika squirmed from his warm embrace, almost desperately. The Mage felt a twinge of pity for Thealter, not only because of the embarrassment it must have caused him, but because of the pain he had to see the attention Arrika showered on Alpha. Her gaze shifted back to nothing in particular, because she thought it rude to continue staring. She wondered what had gone on between the thief and Thealter; probably more of her usual flirtations. It wasn’t Arrika’s fault, really. She just had a vivacious side to her that might have given the wrong signals. Sakiko sighed inwardly, sliding a finger over the helm absentmindedly. I had thought that Arrika’s attentions to Alpha had been just a passing fancy, too… She paused. What exactly DID Arrika feel about Alpha? Sakiko followed after Arrika, passing by Thealter and briefly putting a hand on his shoulder.

“Hey.”

Sakiko approached the thief, determined to sort things out once and for all. She wanted to ask her what had happened between her and Thealter; did she know how much Thealter cared for her? How much he had changed for her? Did she even care about that? She knew the rogue’s flirtatious tendencies, and was angered to think that she was giving Alpha the wrong idea; was she even sincere about him? The Mage didn’t know how to ask all of that in one sentence, so…

“Who’s your new entertainment? Thealter, or Alpha? Or both?”

Ooc: It's everyone's favorite time! Cat fight! wooooo!

Persona wrote:"Song Sao. It would be difficult for me to accompany you to your destination, if I remove myself from this ship."

Morgoth shook his head. "No, no, you don't understand the dangers of our voyage. We can't be liable for your safet-"

Persona wrote:"To the Island of the Speaking Stones" She added.

Morgoth was silenced. She definitely meant Gossip Isle. So she'd found out after all... Who would have told her?

Persona wrote:"There was a request for help to join you, and so I intend to"

"... Oh! You're off the ship that delivered Leth to us then!" Suddenly his heart sunk. He couldn't turn her away now; she'd traveled all the way here. It would be downright cruel after sailing the seas to get here. "We've no room for tourists." Morgoth insisted. "If you're coming along, you'll need to be-"

"She's friend enough. She appears wise and full of wit. We're going to need that at Gossip Isle. Plus, if you notice how she's leaning forward on her staff, it's a sign of being about to strike. Morgoth, you're new to that body, honestly, you would be on your back. She's probably not the strongest, but if she can analyze her enemies well enough after all her years to believe she could take down somebody who appears as fit as you, this deduces that she's equally as fit, and not only that, but she exploits tactics. I say let her come with us to the Isle of the Speaking Stones. As I said, we need help. Technically, only our captain should decide this, but do you really want to go bother him right now, even if he could be woken."

Morgoth was more than annoyed with this. Can't a guy finish a sentence around here? He turned back to the old woman, and sighed heavily. "Our Captain can't see you right now- but our second in command is inside the ship. If you want to join, you'll have to speak with him."

No need. I've heard everything.

A voice erupted inside Morgoth's head.

And? Your decision?

Allow her to join. We don't have too many cabins left, but we can easily fit one more. How old exactly is she?

Morgoth looked at the woman, and held up a hand before she moved. "Hold it right there for just a second." It would have looked weird if he just stood there staring off into space for the entirety of the mental conversation.

She's pretty old. She appears to require a cane to walk around, but I can't be sure. Her eyes are the crimson color of Sheikan heritage. It makes assumptions moot.

That it does. She's old, and she's Sheikan. She might contain valuable knowledge if nothing else. Welcome her aboard and keep an eye on her.

Why me?

Because I want you to know what you put me through. That's an order.

Alright, fine. But after this, we're even.

We'll see...

Morgoth sighed again and waved a hand. "I just spoke with the second in command telepathically. You're welcome to the crew. Since Orpheous here is so enthusiastic about your arrival, I'm sure he wouldn't mind showing you to your cabin..." He smiled at Orpheous before continuing. "And then to the armory to meet our second in command." Morgoth chuckled to himself and walked away. "Everyone, Song Sao is now a member of the ship, be nice, yatta, yatta..." He called out.

* * *

"So...I suppose you know how to do some wondrous things with tomatoes, then?"

William smiled at the man. "Oh, hello there!" He extended a hand, which was armored in steel gauntlets. "My name is William!" He nodded at Saber's earlier query. "I can make a mean marinara sauce. Why, are you a fan of tomatoes?"

* * *

Dogura watched the whole scene go down with Thealter and Arrika, and couldn't help but wince at the awkward situation. Arrika might have overreacted a bit... But that was kind of creepy... The samurai then watched as Sakiko chased after her, and confronted her on a few subjects... A few very interesting subjects. Dogura mentally rubbed his mitts together- this was about to get good.

OOC: Dammit Sakiko XDD

OoC: I have no words for you

And Thea, she's shorter than you, so her line of sight would be more or less right at your neck. Thus, gasps at a morbid mask.

IC:

"Hey. You're alive... During the battle, I was afraid that you were really going to-"

“Who’s your new entertainment? Thealter, or Alpha? Or both?”

Arrika's originally relieved demeanor immediately flattened into a scowl. "Entertainment? Thea's just got a knack for thinking that simple things mean more than they really do. If I'd known that one night would make him-" She hissed under her breath as Thea suddenly appeared topside. "Alpha's not... entertainment. No, my friend, he's a lot more to me than that."

She hadn't realized how much she liked Alpha, or why she seemed to naturally gravitate toward the stoic Sheikah until Sakiko had brought it up. She added the last bit out of her naturally defensive personality, but once the words had left her mouth... Maybe there was something more to it than an empty claim.

OoC: I should be playing piano... screw it... it's too late for serious things

"You're not bad at reading stances yourself," Song shot back, flashing a toothy grin. "And not the strongest, no, and wise is a common adjective meaning wrinkles," Song wrinkled her nose. "So you are headed to the Rumour Rocks, then?" She looked down at his hand with interest, before shaking it. A scribe, mayhaps, but one not unaccustomed to work. Her own hands were nothing to see, age had given them the consistency of prunes, much to her distaste. "What do you hope to find there, then?"

She glanced about the ship, suddenly thoughtful. "If you find what I would suppose is there to be discovered, you must have some of my ilk..." She couldn't keep the slight longing out of her voice. The close bind of race; written in red eyes, and acknowledgment. The way one could walk in a crowd, and not be alone for a few moments, for a few reasons, and for that, she had longing in her voice. She was broken out of these desires with a curious statement.

If he could be woken?

"Even if he could be woken?" Song turned her lamp-like red eyes on the new stranger, full curious. "What troubles your Captain..." She paused, allowing them space to supply the name. Song Sao had never trained as a medic, and it was odd how often the aged appeared to know the secrets of health. For how else would they still be alive. Still, in her time, Song had bandaged up a squalling youth more than once. As a young woman she had wrapped bandages to dried sticks, biting her lip. I don't know if I did that right.. I've never done a splint before.. Tanned skin, and the way it turned green, like a fungus splaying and spreading, always dividing and breaking through the skin. Long wires of infection. Hapless responses, and dead white blood cells, mixed with what little disease could be fought, spilling out like blood, or maggots. Things that made Song recoil, and even now she swallowed, before speaking; "Injuries?"

"A pleasure... Orpheous" She spoke it, like a new thought, sounded out. "Song is a lot easier. You don't pronounce Sao quite enough through your nose; we Sheikahn have such long noses so we can manage it, but we do end up looking down them as result" Naturally, a jest, Sheikahn noses were quite in-differentiable from Hylian ones.

Then she whipped round, her amusement quite gone. "And who is your second-in-command? Who speaks without words, like some grey-muzzled wolf?" Her tone was entirely different; sad, serious, and of some terrifyingly alien element. "If I go to speak with a tongueless rogue, I'll be sure to know their name first." Song narrowed her eyes, and added. "Don't understand the dangers of your voyage? Young boy I am quite against dying of boredom, and no doubt in all my years I have sat calmly at home, ignoring the world to the point where I cannot understand dangers, and have no more say over my life than a toddling youngster just learnt to shadow-walk" She looked as though she was tempted to even spit.

"If you think of your enemies this way, I might have to take it upon myself to guard you all..." The humour had slipped back in, twisting and turning under her words.




OOC: Cat-fight -cheers- ~!

"Entertainment? Thea's just got a knack for thinking that simple things mean more than they really do. If I'd known that one night would make him-"

Sakiko curled a strand of silvery hair cascading down her neck about her finger, her eyes watching Arrika carefully. So that was what had happened with Thealter. The Mage smirked, but the glint in her eyes was cold.

“You mean that Thealter was your toy for one night, and Alpha’s your toy for a few months? I bet you thought that you cared about Thealter on that one night. It’s the same. You think you care about Alpha.”

Someone like Arrika – someone who moved on so easily – wouldn’t know the depth of what liking someone meant. Alpha had been the one to reach out to her when she had been in a state of confusion; he had been the one to tell her that it was okay to be confused and hurt. Admiration, like, attachment. Those were different from what she felt for the Sheikah. They were different from what Arrika felt for Alpha. She didn’t want Arrika to take Alpha away from her, get bored of him, and then throw him away like she did to Thealter.

"Alpha's not... entertainment. No, my friend, he's a lot more to me than that."

Sakiko let out a soft laugh.

“I think that your definition of entertainment and mine are two very different things. Don’t you agree, my litte thief friend?”

Ooc: don't worry...I'm writing my history essay while I type this. It's kind of unhealthy going from serious to catty. It’s like jumping in icy cold water and then into a steaming hot one. Back and forth. Back to partition of Africa.

OoC: ...History essay? Oh god. I... do not have time... for that... stuff. Honestly, AP Euro has perfected my use of the art of bullshit

IC:

"We go through... all of that together," Arrika began, her temper flaring, "all of this, and you think I haven't changed?" She held up the hand with the heavy wolf's ring. "It's not about being entertained, it's about finally being free to be with someone who isn't... him! If you're jealous, say it. There's not point in dancing around the word," she added, rather hypocritically, for the blue-haired rogue's name was on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't bring herself to say it aloud. "I know something went on with you and Alpha that year I was in the Tantari. What happened since then? Are you afraid I'll steal him from you?" For the rogue hated it when the mage used her profession against her, as if it completely defined who she was.

"Pathetic," she growled.


OoC: Africa what? I thought we were talking about Italy