I WANT YOU TO JOIN ME IN A MYSTERY RESCUE MISSION!

[om_nom_namur]

[Sometime around mid-month, a text message goes out to the general public.]

WANTED

Adventurers strong enough to brave the high seas
Doctors, healers, and those inclined to render aid to the suffering
A worthy crew
Explorers
Those inclined to solve mysteries

Interested Parties Report to The Maelstrom at Fayren Harbor
Anchor Weighs at Dawn June 20

*~*~*~*

[Dawn at the Docks - June 20]

[In spite of the early hour, Fayren Harbor is bustling with activity as the darkness thins. Fishermen who've been out all night rush to bring their fresh catch to the market, while others who will be out all day race to be the first out to sea, and first to the best fishing spots. At the far end of the harbor an enormous clipper towers above the everyday ships, drawing a crowd of gawpers who, after being yelled at a few times by the workers hurriedly trying to load her, have the decency to stand back and let those who look to be on official business move freely. At the top of the gangplank a man with a clipboard hurriedly checks lists and directs those bringing cargo aboard, while an oversized, burly man with blue skin and shark features watches, balancing in a crouch on top of the rail. Though he isn't saying much, there's an air of authority about him. For any wishing to enlist, the fishman would seem a good person to talk to.]

[Fair Winds - June 20-21]

[When the supplies for the expedition are loaded and the tide is nearing its peak, Namur hollers for all hands to gather on deck for a quick briefing, the sun beginning to crest the horizon and make the sails glow as he speaks.]

A'ight y'all, thank y' for answerin' the call t' come an' help. We got a whole colony a folks that's gone missin', an' I ain't gonna lie, I ain't got any idea what we's gonna be in for once we reach the island. No one's been able t' get there since they gone, or at the very least ain't no one bothered comin' back, an' folks is worried they mighta met a dreadful end if y' catch my drift. This voyage's gonna be dangerous, but I know we's up t' the challenge. Whatever quarrels y' got with each other, leave 'em on these shores, cuz from now on 'til we make it back we's all on the same team, workin' for the same goal. Watch each other's back, keep each other safe. If we do that, there ain't nothin' that's gonna keep us from hittin' our target.

When we get there, there might be folk that's sick, or maybe they don't want us botherin' 'em, or maybe somethin's already botherin' 'em an' they'll need our help gettin' rid a the pest. We done our best t' have somethin' ready for everthin' we could think of, but that don't mean we thought a everthin', so look sharp an' keep yer wits 'boutcha! Any kinda weird shit make sure t' report it t' somebody, preferably me or one a my kin. Enchantments an' curses ain't outta the question here, so if y' see somethin' strange, say somethin'. Easy as that.

Meantime, I 'xpect all them that knows their knots t' make theirselves useful gettin' this ol' girl t' run. The rest a y's gonna make yerselves useful in the galley, keepin' shit clean, an' learnin' the ropes. Don't wanna hear no bitchin' 'bout chores, we's all gonna be doin' 'em, so don't even start! Don't be stealin' each other's shit, an' definitely don't be showin' yerself for a shitty traitor. Them's the rules! Don't like 'em, get yer ass off the ship!

All that said now, let's get this baby out t' sea 'fore we lose our tide!

[There's plenty to do, both in getting the Maelstrom away, and in keeping her plunging dauntless through the open waters. Keeping sails trim, keeping the decks clean, keeping the crew fed. And plenty of opportunities to get to know the other members of the crew a little better. Namur will encourage those that don't know how to sail to learn from someone who does. It'd be a shame if all the experienced sailors became incapacitated without passing on at least the basics.]

[The Storm - June 22]

[There'd been some good cloud cover the day they set out from Fayren, enough to mottle the sea with sun and shade and provide a strong wind to speed their rescue mission. But the further from shore they ventured, the thicker the clouds became, and soon the experienced sailors would likely find themselves watching the sky with trepidation. Distant thunder rolls over the waves, until suddenly and without warning the wind abruptly shifts direction, and the distant storm bears down on the clipper with astonishing ferocity. Namur screams to be heard above the wind whistling through the shrouds.]

ALL HANDS ON DECK! GET YER ASSES TIED T' THE SHIP AN' GET THEM SAILS STOWED NOW! THIS AIN'T A JOKE OR REQUEST!

Comments

[burnt_offering]

[Self-purposed? Heh. Ace was the logical choice from the beginning, his brother being the captain and his own experience as a captain in the past serving to make him not only the most sentimental choice but the best choice. And unlike Bastien, he doesn't have a tendency to attack people randomly. He's well loved and as a rule well trusted. So Bastien can be grumpy all he wants but this is was a good choice on Namur's part.]

I don't believe in karma as a rule, but this is makin' me rethink things a little. [Ace rolls his eyes as Bastien decides to start climbing.] Of course someone's already keeping watch. Someone trustworthy. [Ace smirks, moving a box which is snagged up by someone else to take on it's journey to another part of the ship.] Sounds like someone's upset about having to pull their weight. Everyone does chores here. So stop bitching about it.

[He's all smiles as he checks a navigational app on his phone, this is a fantastic trip and he's having a great time and even this diva of a supposed pirate isn't sullying his mood.] Namur wants us all to work hard. So no one gets to have the fun stuff without the work. It's not personal or anything. And it could be worse.

[shivvymetimbers]

[Bastien swears he would've been the better choice if a certain SOMEONE did start spreading rumors about him behind the scenes. Hence his wrath now. Ace might be considered trustworthy by everyone aboard this vessel but Bastien certainly doesn't trust him. He's pretty salty about their last encounter. The pirate wishes he possessed cool fire-based powers but a creature of the sea can't hope to tame fire.

To be frank, he's a little jealous of Ace. Just a tad.]

Spare me! You've had me swabbing the friggin' deck for an hour now! [He says with a slight hiss before climbing a bit higher.] I'm not one to shrink away from my duties but this is torture.

[Bastien reaches up for the rope dangling above and with surprising skill, he climbs up onto the rope and keeps climbing until he reaches the crow's nest above. He's almost like a little monkey. It's rather impressive in an odd way, especially since most men fear heights.]

Aha! [He yells from above.] A fitting view for a decent nap!

[Bastien glances down sticks his tongue out at Ace.]

I bid thee adieu!

[burnt_offering]

Sure, sure. Enjoy your nap!

[Ace leans up, looks up at Bastien, and ignites. Fires rising higher and higher. But this time, there's none of the fearful chaos that was present before. And nothing is even so much as even heating up except for the intended target. Ace creates and controls his fires, and he's the one who chooses what burns or not.

And only one person is the chosen victim of the flames.

It's gonna be a nice, roasty toasty nap up there for Bastien if he doesn't get down fast.]

[shivvymetimbers]

[Bastien should've known better. That he should've but honestly, he's a little dumb. Not stupid but rather dumb. The pirate doesn't always make the best decisions and climbing up there into the crow's nest is one of them.

He sits up there for awhile, his gaze sweeping over the endless glittering blue of the sea ahead until he starts to feel a little hot. It's sunny and warm out but not particularly scorching.]

Must be hittin' noon soon. [Bastien comments while wiping the sweat off his brow.] It's gettin' hot---

[He trails off once he catches the glimpse of something from the corner of his eye.]

What in the---AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

[burnt_offering]

[Ace won't actually let the fires harm him, that's not the goal here. He needs to actually get him to get back to work, and he damn well needs a talk with him that he won't just walk away from. So he yells up, loudly.] You ready to come down? [The fires start to recede, pulling back a little. That said, if Bastien gets saucy again, they might just rise back up.] I just wanna talk. Come down and lets talk like men. I'll even share the rum!

[shivvymetimbers]

YOU CRAZY BASTARD!

[Bastien manages to yell at the top of his lungs over the wind. The light breeze starts to fan the flames upward a little but it seems Portgas truly has them under control. Nothing is burning at least, at least not yet.]

Put away the stupid flames, will ya?! I'm comin' down.

[Being blackmailed by some crazed pyromancer wasn't exactly something on his bucket list but he can't deny the sweet allure of rum. So, Bastien decides to climb down using the loose ropes of the sails. Just like earlier, the pirate manages to shimmy down with little effort. Bastien is surprisingly athletic despite his scrawny build. He has strong arms and an even stronger grip.

Once he's low enough, Bastien hops down with a little thump.]

You wanna talk this out like men, huh? [Bastien grumbles as he rises from his crouched position.] Fancy that. The last time we talked, you tried to burn me like a witch at the stake.

[He's being a little melodramatic but it's not too far from the truth.]

[burnt_offering]

Got it! [The fires settle back, sinking against and into Ace's skin, disappearing entirely by time Bastien comes down.] Burning at the stake? [Ace would say that Bastien is close to a bitch than a witch, but the idea amuses him regardless.] Sorry. Sometimes it takes a little firepower to get the point across.

[Ace starts walking towards the locked closet where he left his pack and personal effects for the trip. Which there's plenty of food and drink for all, Ace brought his own rum, something from his home world purchased at a tiny shop on Sphinx Island through the archway. It's not just rum to him, it's a taste of a home that he can never really return to. So he's putting his best intentions forward with this. He's a former captain, former second division commander of one of the world's most fearsome and respected pirates, and he has to handle this short term responsibility like he would if it was Pops he was working under. Namur deserves the same efforts for this mission.] So let's have some drinks and get that talk out of the way. Between you and me, stuff like this is boring. Might as well deal with it quick and get back to disliking each other at a distance.

[shivvymetimbers]

[Oh, Bastien would've blown a gasket if Portgas actually said that joke! If there's one thing that truly gets under his skin, it's that. Bastien always had a pretty face and a saucy attitude. It's just how he is.]

Right, right. [He rolls his eyes as he fetches his blue coat. He took it off earlier when he was assigned to swab the deck. He refuses to get those fancy cuffs dirty.] When negotiation fails, the threat of violence always works.

[Bastien sighs quietly as he shrugs the coat on. He looks a little different with this fancy royal blue coat. Less like a scrawny whelp and more like a dignified noble but there's nothing noble or aristocratic about Bastien. He's just "pretty", too pretty.]

Alright, I'll humor you. Lets have a drink and talk this out, this time without any fire or knives.

[burnt_offering]

[Ace honestly wouldn't even put pretty to him. He doesn't see it, personally. And even if Ace did find him attractive, he's not the type to equate male and pretty in the end. It's just not how his mind really works, unless it's Izo from back home, Izo was male and pretty. But Izo also wore lipstick and pink. So that's another issue to Ace entirely.

To Ace, Bastien's just another man with an attitude, and those are a dime a dozen. Bastien does have some interesting abilities though, but back home, that was kind of a prerequisite for piracy. No one average ever made it long.] Come on, it's a good way to get things done. Be nice if you can, and if you can't? Show 'em a little aggression.

[The closet is easily gotten to, and he grabs a backpack out of it and shuts and locks it back up.] Where do you wanna sit? The galley? We could also just grab a couple glasses from there and sit on the deck in the sun. Just let me know what you want to do.

[shivvymetimbers]

The galley suits me just fine but I rather gaze out at the sea.

[Bastien answers with a nonchalant shrug. He's not particularly picky but he doesn't want anyone else listening to them. While he's uncertain where this conversation may go, there's an invisible line regarding certain topics. A line that Ace won't be allowed to cross.]

I just hope the rum is decent. [He doesn't trust Ace to have good taste. Just look at that silly hat on his head! Clearly the man doesn't have good taste in anything. Clearly.]

No more "fire", savvy? I don't want to see a single ember nor spark while we're talkin'.

[burnt_offering]

Then we grab glasses in the galley and find a quiet spot to sit.

[Ace isn't looking for a deep understanding, or some personal touch of sudden friendship. He just wants to make sure that Bastien won't behave like a bratty kid for the entire trip. To break the rules that have been set down. This is important to Namur, who is incredibly important to Ace. So he needs to ensure that things go smoothly.]

Talking like that makes me wanna give you the cheap bottle. [There's a laugh then, although it's forced. This man makes Ace want to burn him to bits sometimes. And Ace is known for being especially easy going and in general easy to get along with.]

Can't promise anything. Sometimes it just rises up off of me, especially when I'm pissed off. If we keep things civil? No fire.

[shivvymetimbers]

[Portgas is rewarded with a rather cold stare for that last bit and a flicker of gold. Bastien doesn't take that threat lightly, especially after seeing what the other can do. So of course he's on edge now. Big time. There's no one to save him if this bastard decides to blow his top and Bastien knows he can't take Portgas on. It's that sense of powerlessness that bothers him to no end. He doesn't like feeling this vulnerable.

Nope, not at all.]

Fine. [He grumbles under his brief after whispering a curse in his Malay. Despite his Western features, Bastien is actually a native of southeast Asia.] I'll behave.

[He answers tersely with a frustrated sigh.]

Just pick the good stuff, will ya?

[burnt_offering]

[It's not a threat. Ace is fire, his body made of it and sometimes it's more work to keep a human form than not. He tilts his head at the cold expression, and he's not sure what to make of it.

But he also leaves it, moving on to focus on something else.] I'm not askin' you to behave. You're not a fucking kid. I just think we need to find some common ground to make this trip survivable for everyone on it. 'Cause if we go all out, a lot of people are going to suffer. [He sighs.] I'll give you the good stuff. Maybe you'll like it, it's not from this world.

[The trip to the galley is a quiet one otherwise. It's not particularly empty in there, but Ace manages to grab two glasses pretty quickly, it's an in and out visit.] So you pick where you want to talk. There's a lot of space where we can see the sea, so I don't care as long as you're good.

[shivvymetimbers]

You think I don't know that?! [He finally snaps after a brief moment of silence on his part.] I'm not the one tossing flames around and idle threats, now am I? To be frank, I've been rather cordial.

[Not exactly true but Bastien definitely doesn't seem eager to fight unlike last time. He's been trying to keep his distance up still now. Hell, he climbed up to the crows' nest to do just that but Portgas had other ideas. Nevertheless, Bastien reins in his anger for now.]

Despite whatever the hell you think, I'm not here to cause any trouble.

[He grumbles while gesturing for them to sit at the corner away from anyone dropping any eaves. This whole debacle is stressful enough without an audience.]

I just want to be close to the sea again. To see the horizon once more. It's a damn shame I can't do this with my own ship and crew.

[He frowns somewhat.]

Both are twenty leagues below the Atlantic by now.

[burnt_offering]

[Ace snorts at cordial, but otherwise stays quiet through the walk to the place that Bastien chooses. This is an immense act of self control for him, but he's trying his best to be pleasant. Pops wouldn't have just let something go like this go, Marco would have had him try for some sort of understanding, and sometimes there are conversations that need to be had.

Everything quiets for Ace though, when Bastien talks about the horizon, seeing the sea again, and then about his crew. Ace's brows furrow, and he sighs.] Damn... That's shitty. Nothing worse than the loss of your crewmates. [Losing a crewmate in general is painful, one death was more than enough for a thousand lifetimes for Ace. But to lose all of them? That has to be impossibly painful.] My captain is dead. Namur is my brother, he was another division commander, but this isn't like being back on the Moby Dick. My piracy days are over. [Genessia doesn't hold a lot of options for that.] I don't want them to be over. I miss the sea, the freedom. But it's not like that life exists here, and I'm sure as hell not sailing with The Whitebeards again back home. [He's starting to wonder if everything would have been different if the two of them hadn't had met through a mugging attempt. Oh well, piracy makes for rough encounters as a rule.]

This is rum that I got through the archway to my home world. It's really special to me. So I dunno if you'd think it's the good stuff, but for me it is. [Ace sets the glasses down, and opens the bottle. He pours for them both, and then carefully sets the bottle to the side.] The people who made this live in a little village, and they don't have a lot. But they do their best, and this is the results of one family's efforts. [He takes a drink, and he appreciates the uniqueness of it. It tastes like rum, sure, and pretty good rum. But it's distinctively different than the rum that he can buy in Genessia in general, and he doesn't know why and he's not sure that he cares why. It's a piece of his home world here, and that means a lot to him.] I'm not asking you to like me. I was pretty hated back home, so it's not like you're gonna hurt my feelings. But this is important to Namur, and I love the hell out of him. He's my brother, my nakama. And I want this to go well for him. So we all need to pull our weight, even when it comes to dumb chores, and keep from fighting.

[shivvymetimbers]

I lead my men to their death---[Bastien mutters as he reaches for the glass.] And they went with me willingly. An unexpected heroic sacrifice from a band of thieving bastards, most of which were good men born in a cruel world.

[He quiets as he listens to Portgas. Not just nodding at his words but really listening for once. It seems that they both know of grief. Ace lost his captain and he lost his crew. Bastien would've felt less remorseful if he hadn't survived the onslaught. Out of a crew of fifty-seven men, Bastien was the sole survivor. Bastien tries his best to ignore this truth but he honestly can't.]

There's not much for us pirates here, eh? [Bastien questions with a little frown.] All my life I've chased after freedom, only to obtain it once and lose it all.

[He gingerly takes a sip of this rum, idly taking the slightly sweet but roasted flavors. Bastien is admittedly not an avid fan of rum when there's wine available but he won't shun it and he's glad he didn't. Portgas has good tastes after all despite that ridiculous hat upon his head. He can at least admit that much about the former pirate.]

I hear you loud and clear. [Bastien mumbles into his glass.] As much as I detest taking orders from anyone, I'm not going to cause your brother any trouble. Like I said earlier, I just want to be close to the sea again.

[Although, he technically doesn't need a crew of misfits to do that anymore. It's at this moment that Bastien realizes he's chasing that feeling of "comradery" rather than the sea itself. He's chasing the heyday of his pirating days, chasing that feeling of freedom while stuck within a proverbial fishbowl.]

That but probably somethin' more but I certainly not plottin' on causing your brother much trouble. [He takes a healthy swig of his glass before placing the half empty glass down. Normally, he would've slammed down the glass but he doesn't want to be responsible for breaking anything.]

Though let me known I'm not some grunt. [He gives Ace a sharp glance.] I may not be familiar with the tide here but I can help beyond just swabbing the deck.

[A little smirk tugs at the corner of his lips.]

Besides Namur, I'm guessing I'm one of the few who can breathe under water and probably one of the few to take the wheel if need be. Hell, if I knew the constellations here, I would probably be able to navigate this ship from these murky waters. [He chuckles lightly.] I guess what I'm proposing is that I'm willing to do more.

Much more than swabbing a deck.

[burnt_offering]

It was my fault that my captain died. I was captured because I didn't listen to him. I wanted revenge on the man who backstabbed one of our own. And instead of listening and staying, I ended up starting a war when I was set to be executed. And it's because of me that one of the best men to ever sail the seas lost his life. [He's so angry at himself still, no amount of comfort from Marco or reassurance from Smoker can fix that.] No one lives forever. [He died that day too.] But as long as the worlds are cruel, good men will end up in rough lives and they'll die young.

[He sighs.] I'm glad that I came here. But I'm always gonna miss being a part of a big crew, and feeling the wind on my face and the smell of the seas back home. It's just not the same here.

[Ace sits for a moment, just drinking quietly. The warm burn of the rum brings up a sentimental feeling, and he's trying to figure out how to go from here. There's got to be a way to help soothe the ego of another former captain, while helping keep things running smoothly. Everyone has to work, but someone like Bastien needs more responsibility.]

Since you've got the skills, take up part of the first mate's responsibilities. Most of the people we grabbed for this haven't stepped on a boat before, and they need someone to guide them through the important stuff. So stop bothering with cabin boy chores and focus on keeping things running smoothly instead. [He thinks that this is a good compromise. And honestly he's been overworking himself trying to keep up with the people that aren't as capable.] I'll talk to Namur to let him know you're picking up the sea daddy tasks instead of the basics.

[shivvymetimbers]

Started war, eh? [ He questions with an arched brow. ] You're not the first and most certainly won't be last but here's hoping that ugly war ends sooner than later.

[ It's difficult for him not to show some sympathy here even if he doesn't particularly like the bloke. While the jury is still out in regards to Portgas, Bastien can admit that the man sitting across from him is a "good" man or rather as good as any man can become. Ace doesn't seem all that bad to Bastien but the former captain is still wary of him. Portgas would've made a decent ally had they met on better terms but for now, the man certainly makes a fearsome adversary. ]

So there's no future for a pirate like me. [ He slowly finishes the rest of his rum before continuing. ] Fancy that. I'm a living relic of a bygone age.

Somehow this doesn't surprise me much.

[ While lamenting over his misfortune, Bastien is pleasantly surprised by what Ace says next. He stares at the man for a long while, his eyes wide with muted surprise. ]

Really? [ He asks with a touch of disbelief in his tone. Bastien didn't really expect Ace to compromise with him. He was ready to argue more but this solution takes all the fight out of him. ]

DEAL! [ He says with a cheerful grin. ] We have an accord! I'll get started right away! You blokes never set sail with the dreaded Devilfish before!

This is a welcomed challenge!

[burnt_offering]

Not intentionally. But stuff happens. [He was made an example of, then made a martyr of sorts, and all because he's the son of the former king of the pirates. No amount of blood was enough for the world government, even before he was born people were tracking his mother down. Trying to ensure that the blood of that dreaded man would no long exist in this world.

The war will never really end. Not until the World Government is toppled and corruption ends. So Ace just nods, and goes on to the unpleasant conversation of how little available piracy options are here in Genessia.]

We both are. My brothers here too, and they're doing whatever they can to get by. We're still a crew, still brothers in arms, but it's just in bond and sentiment now. Piracy is over for us here. It's just impossible, no matter how badly I want it. I could try what Pops did, grab up some territory to protect and go on with piracy on land to keep it safe and funded, but it's not like it'll be the same. This is the closest I've been to the ocean since I died, and it feels like a dream, but it's just a fantasy. That's part of why I want this to go so well, it's something that makes me feel like I used to. Like that life never ended. [Ace laughs, softly.] Kinda a last hurrah to the seas.

[Ace is so used to talk of his death at this point that it's become something casual in a way for him. He still wakes up with nightmares if he sleeps alone, still panics at the smell of burnt meat, still struggles from time to time. But when it comes down to it, he died. Everyone dies someday. And few get the chance to come back from that.

Bastien's cheerfulness brings up a real and happy smile to Ace's face. This is another thing that he missed from back home, the comradeship that comes from having a team of leaders in a crew too massive to run smoothly with anything less than divisions each with their own commander. A pirate fleet, Pops really went all out and impressed. And this feels a little more now like how it did back then. All of the division commanders shared responsibility, and pulled together to run the ships like well oiled machines.] Yeah! I wanna see how good the dreaded Devilfish is. Between the two of us, we'll keep this mess of a crew in order.

[shivvymetimbers]

Just impossible, eh?

[ Bastien can't help but frown quite a bit. If he can't be a pirate, then what will he do? Yes, his father quit the his life of looting and raiding for a much nobler calling but still, Bastien is without much options. He doesn't particularly enjoy bounty hunting because of the dangers involved but it certainly does pay rather well. Maybe he could start there and then figure out something else afterwards? That seems like the case here. ]

The last hurrah. [ Try as he might not to feel sorry for Ace, he can't help but feel a pang of guilt. ] No, no. This isn't last for it for ya. I refuse to believe that. Besides you have more life in ya than half of the lumbering idiots ashore.

This isn't the end, not yet.

[ His mood shifts back to cheery soon enough. If there's one thing about Bastien, his mood changes just as quickly as the wind itself. ]

Ah, I'll give you somethin' to be proud of, that's for certain! I worked on my father's ship for half my life and he spared me no quarter. I had to work my way up in life. My old man didn't allow me to ride his coattails.

[ He had to make a name for himself all on his own without Goldbeard's help. ]

[burnt_offering]

[Somehow, Bastien's words light up something inside of Ace. Even though it seems impossible, that there's no way to be a pirate anymore in Genessia, somehow this still reverberates inside of him, bouncing around in his mind that he's got more life in half of him than half of the lumbering idiots ashore. And maybe, just maybe, the freedom that he once felt on the seas with Whitebeard's crew won't be impossible to achieve again.

He just doesn't know how

He's already paid for his bloodline sins. He's come back from the grave to a world that doesn't have the World Government here trying to hunt him down like a dog. If nothing else, maybe the spirit of piracy is alive here in a way that wasn't possible back home, he just needs to find a way to reach that again after today.

Finding out that Bastien spent half his life in this work is impressive. And kind of amazing to Ace.]

You've got a lot more experience than I do, then. I became a pirate at seventeen. [A life in piracy doesn't promise skills or talent, but Ace knows from his time on the Moby Dick that the older pirates as a rule really knew what they were doing. And he hopes to see some of those years of skills reflected in Bastien's work.

Ace gets himself another very long drink of rum, and gets to his feet.] So what's the plan first? I don't wanna step on your toes while we're working.