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

[chief_of_staff]

[He isn't too surprised that Ace couldn't figure this one out, and honestly, he feels a small pang of guilt hit him when he's asked to write the word. He still does it, though, and makes a point to say:]

It was a hard one, I know.

[He gives the notebook back, this time with the word written on the page.]

But we'll work together and get you where you can write words even longer than this one! I promise. [He nods so enthusiastically that his blond curls bounce a bit.]

How about you write it under mine?

[burnt_offering]

I'm just not sure how it's supposed to look.

[Ace takes the notebook back, and looks the word over. He didn't expect it to be spelled like that. And he takes his time, breaking the word up into parts to make it easier to memorize it.

Revo-lu-tion-ary. Revo-lu-tion-ary. Revo-lution-ary. Revolu-tionary. Revolutionary.


No matter how he practices the word and breaks it up, it looks terrible. His handwriting is a childlike scrawl, but he's getting it. And finally, he writes out. Sabo is a revolutionary.] That's how it should look, right?

[chief_of_staff]

[Sabo smiles the widest, most enthusiastic smile he'd made in quite some time when he sees that sentence. It's correct, and even though it's messy and pretty much on par with a child's skills, he's proud. So proud, in fact, that he rushes over and wraps his arms around the other man's shoulders.]

Great! You did it!

[burnt_offering]

[Ace grins at the attention, he's always been desperate for praise, even if he's unlikely to admit to it.] You helped. Wanna show me how to do something else?

[chief_of_staff]

I did, but you still accomplished something.

[He audibly ponders what else to teach him. The day is still gorgeous, and he'd rather not send too much time writing. So, he'll pick an easier task:]

Well, how about this -- write out the first word that comes to your mind! Anything at all.

[burnt_offering]

Okay... [Ace stops, thinks about it for a moment, and then writes out a word that's near and dear to his heart.

Meat.]

[chief_of_staff]

[And as soon as Sabo sees that word written out, he gives his brother a very enthusiastic pat on the shoulder.]

Meat. You wrote out a word, and spelled it correctly, too. Good job!

[One more task comes to mind.]

Could you put that word in a sentence?

[burnt_offering]

[He's starting to realize that his reading skills are still far beyond his writing skills. Even to his eye, this looks awful.] Sure. [He thinks for a moment, and then comes up with Luffy likes to eat meat.]

[chief_of_staff]

[He leans forward, completely getting into the other man's business, just to peek those words. He makes a contented sound and nods.]

Luffy likes to eat meat! Good job!

[And then he straightens up.]

Well --

I think that might be enough for now. What about you?

[burnt_offering]

I think we got somewhere, right? At least it's readable.

[He really isn't that impressed with his skills, but considering that he was using voice to text and hoping for the best when he first arrived, this is a vast improvement.]

[chief_of_staff]

Definitely. Besides, my handwriting isn't the best all of the time. [He'll take his notebook back, flipping through the pages until he stops on one where his writings look like scribbles. They're barely legible.]

Sometimes, if I don't have enough time to actually write out important things I see, I'll short-hand.

[burnt_offering]

What's short-hand? I've heard of it, but I don't know what it means. [It does make him feel a little better that Sabo isn't perfect in his writing, even if he's one of the most educated people Ace has ever heard of.]

[chief_of_staff]

Abbreviations. [That might be a little complicated, so he quickly adds:] or just shortening words to make writing them down faster. Such as writing down 't-m-r-w' instead of 'tomorrow.'

[burnt_offering]

Oh. I bet that makes stuff easier if you're in a hurry. [Good thing Sabo explained, Ace wouldn't have had a clue if he left it at abbreviations.]

[chief_of_staff]

Yep. Had to rely on it when I was getting assaulted by a certain someone back home.

[He laughs.] Sometimes I'd even sneak down a few quick notes while my cheeks were getting pinched. Not often, though.

[burnt_offering]

The cheek pincher, that's Koala. Right? [He thinks that's who Sabo is probably talking about.] The other you told me about her.

[chief_of_staff]

Yes. [He nods slowly, but when he hears about the 'other' Sabo, widens his eyes.] Ah. What did -- he say? About her?

[burnt_offering]

Not that much really. Mainly that you'd been close to her for a while. [He didn't have a chance to get all that close to the Sabo that was here before, so he's still missing a lot of information.] Why?