Post by Rigel Larrat on Jun 29, 2020 21:19:37 GMT -8
Inside a hostel on the East coast of Java waited a man with white hair and no clear business. The description had been offered to Rigel by the captain of his ferry. It seemed to be thanks for his helping the young singer on their voyage. Rigel had traveled, on foot, across the coastline of the island, leaving the small city where the ferry had docked, moving through total desolation on his journey. The pirate chanced upon a town that he might've missed had he not looked up to see how much sunlight he'd missed. Dense jungle hid away houses buried up in the foliage of the island's terrain. Civilization was only a few dozen meters higher than his eyeline.
Hidden in the fragile vines of one tree hiding one of the many buildings was a thick, sturdy cable of braided rope, camouflaged against the bark of the tree. Rigel climbed it with ease, ending up on the porch of someone's house. A middle-aged woman stared Rigel down, clearly waiting for the guy to leave. In a quick survey around himself, Rigel found delicate rope bridges strung between the high treehouses. Small lizards and birds strode along its length, in calm accompaniment of the various people going about their day. If there was any place for some shady figure to hide, this little town in the trees seemed to be the perfect spot.
After some quick interviews with the locals, Rigel found his way towards the ridge of the town. Built into the interior of an especially thick tree was a swinging door and a dark lobby. Rigel pushed his way inside to find himself in what looked like a saloon, greenery decorating its walls. A single, human bartender, in nice clothes nodded, accepting Rigel's entrance. Docile lemurs, barely managing to walk about the saloon on two feet delivered drinks and small dishes of food to the patrons of the saloon, working excitedly as waiters.
Nearly two dozen people were scattered around the establishment, some in idle conversation, some in the midst of an eager meal, and a few playing cards. Rigel approached the cardsharps first, eyeing the game. Before he could grasp the rules, he noticed what one seemed to be gambling with. "Care for a hand?" a man at the head of the table asked. In his heap of chips and won treasures were gold coins, matching the one's Rigel had collected on Dulan. "Got anything with which to gamble?"
"Sure," the pirate said, flashing his coins to the appreciation of the white-haired gambler. "Rigel Larrat," he introduced himself. "This seat fine?" Rigel planted himself between the gambler and another figure at the table. Though everybody had cards and coins in front of them, nobody seemed to be doing much of any gambling. "I hope we aren't sitting around for too long."
The gambler laid his cards flat on the table, revealing nothing about them. "Eadric," he nodded his cap. "And only for as long as it takes everybody to arrive."
She was hopeless. Having arrived on Java a couple hours ago. Melissa had taken the time to dry out her clothes. An easy feat for a mermaid who could literally pick up water as if it were a solid. She had chosen to don her disguise. Mermaids and Fishmen had been persecuted for many years especially those like herself, who had been cursed by the rain. A long pencil like skirt, a beige colour. Neutral colours helped to make people not stand out, blend into crowds easier. A long white shirt which she did not keep tucked in but allowed its hem to flow to her pelvis. The large red scarf she wore doubled as her bandana, curling her tentacles within. There was nothing she could do for her lilac/white eyes, but the make-up she had would allow her to turn the whiter than white skin of her face into a more natural colour. She topped this off with a subtle pink lipstick. A pair of boots upon her "feet". This part sucked, she hated tucking her flippers away.
She had entered the trees about two hours ago, and that had been all she encountered. Tree's bugs and more tree's. She disliked bugs, they were not nice and she had in her time since arriving probably murdered an entire civilization of mosquitos. Her hands pulsed from all the slapping she had done. They were fragile as it was and now they felt like someone was tearing them apart. The pain would eventually subside and she had certainly grown accustomed to it. She had felt worse pain in her hands before.
If it had not been for the break in the tree's she would have missed the place she didn't realise she was looking for. By looking up at this precise moment she spotted a small building. It was well camouflaged and it looked as though it was something easily missed. With this knowledge she began to inspect the trees and well enough found grooves, they were not natural, man made. Using these she ascended into the foliadge. What she saw? It took her breath away. "Mother fucking ninjas" she whispered in amazement. This reminded her of her new friend Mo. When they had met he had been wearing attire commonly associated with ninja's from the old books she had read. This in fact reminded her of Rokkaku, a school for ninja's hidden in the trees from one of her favourite books. "Ally and Ignis, eat your hearts out" she said softly.
Looking at the bridges of ropes, she smiled as she saw the creatures. Bugs she hated, but reptiles, she adored. They ate bugs. Gently her long, hag like fingers wrapped around the ropes. She took a step, the rope bridge twisted softly. "Wooow" she said as she tried to catch her balance. It took a few attempts for her to bring fourth her courage, yet slowly.....very....very....very slowly, the mermaid in her big combat boots began to make her way, shakily across the bridge. She didn't actually see anyone to be honest. Duh Ninja's she thought to herself. Though she had the feeling she was being watched. Eventually she would get to a building. If this was fate or sheer dumb luck she would not look ill of the gift horse.
Entering the building, not much could be said for the interior but the hustle and bustle in comparrison to the outside world was as if stepping into a new dimension. The first thing the "human" looking woman noted was the beautiful clothing of the barmaid. This would be the first person she spoke too. She showed the note that she had taken when first starting the journey. "Awwwrite luv, ay e' seem to be lookin fer that table oor there, I dun seen golden eagles ower by em" she said with a wink. "Th..thank you" Melissa said bowing. The barmaid would simply smile. Nervously Melissa approached the table. "Care for a hand?" "Oh...uhm...I'm...jus" Melissa began. "Got anything with which to gamble" the man said, rolling his eyes. "Oh...oh I do" she said. Noting the coins at the table. She reached into her bag and pulled out the small pouch which held her own coins. She opened it and took out the coins themselves and showed them. A nod would be given in a direction of a seat in which she would take.
"H..Hi" why was she so nervous? This wasn't like her at all. Taking a deep breath to calm herself. She tried to shake these uncommon nerves. Perhaps because she believed destiny called her here. Perhaps because she knew nothing about what was going on. This was something she had simply stumbled upon. "MELISSADEVAROUXPLEASEDTOMEETYOU" she shouted much louder than she anticipated, she also strung the whole sentence together much to her own annoyance.
Last Edit: Jun 30, 2020 16:13:09 GMT -8 by melissa
Post by Rigel Larrat on Jul 1, 2020 18:54:16 GMT -8
Rigel had passed the patient waiting by forming small castles with the playing cards. In his boredom, he'd abandoned the illusion of a card game their table had maintained, preferring to see how tall he could build up his little castle. He paused for a moment when a nervous looking woman took another seat at the table. Rigel looked her over quickly, not noting anything too interesting about her, save for an abundance of makeup against her face. His attention refocused on the card castle when she shouted a rushed introduction, turning the attention of a few other patrons and undoing his hard construction work. Eadric palmed his face in embarrassment. Rigel mourned his fallen building.
"So much hard work..." Rigel commented, tossing away a few cards in frustration. "I wonder if it wouldn't be best for us to move along like Devar here," Rigel had tried to parse out the woman's words to understand her introduction. He'd heard 'My name's Devar a pleasure to meet you," and hadn't cared to ask her to qualify his guess. "I'm Rigel Larrat, by the way," he offered to the woman. Though the pirate had expected others to meet them, it seemed Eadric, Rigel and Devar had been the only ones to convene.
Eadric gauged Rigel's words, tossing them back and forth in his head. "Perhaps, perhaps not. For now, it seems no problem to introduce myself and our little game to you two." His voice was soft, but clear, slow and thoughtful. Rigel felt as though he was giving a speech. "Pay close attention to my words. I won't be repeating myself.
"In the South Blue, a strange island has appeared. It contains immense treasures previously unknown to man. I've decided to assemble a small team that will steal away some treasure for my own gain. Our information on the island itself is sparse. A native to the island possesses abilities that resemble complete fantasy, abilities akin to a devil. Our ultimate goal of the trip will be to ally with that man, and earn the use of his powers."
Eadric took a deep breath. From the scattered remains of the deck of cards before him, he laid down six cards between the other two. An ace, a two, a three, a four, a five, and a six, each of varying suits. "Now, if you can correctly identify which of the three claims I've said are true, and which three are lies, you'll be allowed to proceed." Rigel grunted in annoyance, much to Eadric's amusement. The pirate had assumed that by just collecting the coins, they'd be allowed on the mission, but his naivete had led him to be ignorant. Another test had been sprung on him.
Worse than that, in his panic, Rigel had no idea how to answer. In desperation, he turned to cooperation with a stranger. "Do you have any idea as to what the right answer is?" he asked the woman sitting across from him. Eadric laughed again.
"Splendid, feel free to cooperate," a plate of food was served before Eadric, who said a quick thanks before picking up a wooden spoon. "You'll have until I finish my food to answer."
Everything was happening, Melissa didn't even query the wrong name used by the rather adorable man whom introduced himself as Rigel. "Charmed" she said, nodding her head slightly. She had flushed red, though she wondered whether the apparent layers of make-up would hide this as well. Regardless the "human" would upon Eadrics words pay as much attention as she could. Honestly it all seemed made up. "I uh....I'm not too sure. I haven't heard of any new islands appearing in the South Blue, I'm pretty familiar with these waters" she mused outloud after being spoken too by Rigel. "If, uhm if we believe that what he's saying is all the information he has. Then we can at least say that the information they have is a little sparse, that seems to really be true" Miss Devaroux uttered, pursing her lips.
"Powers akin to a devil" she said gently. "A native to the island" she said out loud. "If this new island is indeed new then how would they know so much, that there really was a native who has these kind of powers" she queeried though she did not address Eadric but instead spoke only to Rigel. "I'v never heard anything like that, a devils power...but it seems....too, obviously made up right?" she questioned...."So I think.....thats another truth." She analysed the other information. "Immense treasures....I don't know about that, really I think the main goal....is to try to take whatever power is there....but I'm also.." she trailed off looking to Eadric as he ate.
"You don't think" she looked to Rigel again her eyebrow raised..."That the false information is the part where we need to pass this test?" she asked. "He expected more people to show up right? He needs a small team so there must have been what? Maybe one or two more people right? If he doesn't take us and no one else shows up then he's lost the only people who solved his puzzle. You don't think he could be bluffing us right? If he isn't I think the scarce island information is one of the truths, I think the "Devilish powers" she used air quotes for this, clearly unsure on the definition he was using. "could also be true. What if they wanna take his "powers?" she wondered out loud.
"Thats something right? Why would a native ever turn on its own island or leave it if thats all they know, if he has these powers then surely he's there for a reason or she. It could be that" she said softly. "I uh...I don't know though, this is just speculation, I mean....No...Im" she cleared her throat. "How does that sound to you?" she said, a raised eyebrow to Rigel, hopefully his slight panic had eased....or perhaps she had just made it worse.
Post by Rigel Larrat on Jul 2, 2020 14:15:37 GMT -8
Rigel listened patiently to Devar explain her thinking. Some of it was sensible, but her nervousness soiled much of the logic, making it hard to parse. He agreed that a new island popping up in the South Blue like this would be bigger news back on Dulan. Plus, Jukebox could simply go after it on his own if it was so close. It was probably in an entirely different Blue, which is why he needed to go through a different source. There was a small chance it was outside of the Blues entirely.
"I agree, I don't think the island is in the South Blue, good catch, Devar." He waffled on her evaluation of Eadric's words. Her logic was sound, but maybe a bit overly suspicious. "I don't think it's any sort of trick," Rigel said, "he made six claims after he said there would be a game and before he told us how to win. He might be clever, but not malicious."
Between two bites of food, Eadric spoke, "Flattery won't get you any more clues, pirate." At that word, Rigel quickly scanned Devar's face, trying to see if she had a reaction. If she was willing to connect with an Underworld prospect then she wasn't very straitlaced, but it was worth trying to find what made her uncomfortable, if anything.
"No, I think the truth is that this guy is just a worker bee. If we're assuming the new island isn't in the South Blue, it doesn't make sense for him to be so far away from it. The treasure isn't for him, and it's not for his gain, even if he's trying to get it for his employer, you know?" Eadric seemed to have the sensibilities of a worker, rather than a full fledged broker. Brokers had power and influence, much more than to be personally working with expedition candidates pulled off the street. "You're probably right about those powers. I don't know how it would be true, but it's too obviously a lie. Plus, if it's a lie, then his last claim, about the native's powers would have to be false, if there's only three lies then that's impossible."
Rigel fidgeted with his three coins. Meyye, Sakeith, Murray. He couldn't fail so close to the finish line. "It's that last claim. The underworld would never want an ally if they could just have the weapon itself. I think you're completely correct there as well," Rigel politely nodded his head. "That's where I'm putting my money, claims one, two and six are the lies, three, four and five are the truths." He was confident in his answer, but didn't want to be too demanding in front of the stranger. "Any thoughts?" Eadric was down to only a several few bites left.
Melissa smiled ever so softly at the mention of pirate. Was this man smart enough to know what and or who she was? Outside of the outfit and the make up, she had a bounty of about 2 million Beli after all. "I'v found flattery can actually get you anywhere" she said to Eadric. The soft smile continued as her attention moved back to Rigel. She nodded along with his claims. "I do agree. I think we've solved it" she said with a smile. "Uhm also...sorry. My names actually not Devar. It's Melissa, Melissa Devaroux of the Red Sca......" she faltered, still so used to introducing herself as a member of a crew, a crew than now no longer existed. Her Captain was murdered, executed due to a foolish woman who used her royalty to get what she wanted. Apparently betrayed by a member of his own crew, though she still could not understand which crew member would do this. Who had survived. She had seen almost all of her friends faces in the water. Had she not been a mermaid and not a frontline fighter, she too would have either drowned or been killed from the surprise attack.
"Melissa Devaroux, former musician of the Red Scarf Pirates" she said letting out a gentle breath at the end of her sentence. The Red Scarf Pirates had been well known especially their Captain Chevalier 'Iron Fists' Gabriel, the man was granted the Epitat "Iron Fist" due to the cyborg hands that he had aquired. Her Teacher "Kakua of the shimmering blade" was also well known in the South and West Blues, believed to be in the running for the top swordsman for either blues themselves, while the First Mate, A daggertooth fishman was made famous for his brutalization of marines, tearing the flesh from their neck during battle. He was a sweetheart and Melissa's best friend on the ship. She had really only gained her bounty because she was associated with the pirates.
During one of their battles dubbed the battle of Ohara between the Red Scarf Pirates and the Squadron under Rear Admiral Kanjuro command, the infamy of the pirates only grew, the Red Scarf Pirates during this battle killed Rear ADmiral Kanjuro and had been boosted in the game of wanted pirates. This is why Melissa's bounty was increased. She was a mere singer during many of those days and had very little fighting talent. She had been hunted by an Ensign during that day and almost died. He now continued to haunt her, though since her Captains execution two weeks ago, and her training after the battle of Ohara she was no longer the same weakling she had been. She had almost killed Toruta recently, he had only escaped out of luck. Next time he would not be so lucky.
"Sorry, how rude of me" she said, she had realised after introducing herself, she had spaced out thinking of what had all transpired. "So Mr Eadric, did we pass" she asked as the final bite was consumed.
Post by Rigel Larrat on Jul 2, 2020 17:55:10 GMT -8
"Another pirate!" Rigel exclaimed excitedly, "I'm sorry for getting your name wrong." Rigel had heard horror stories of the Red Scarf pirates. His position on Dulan Island had made him oblivious to the crew's fate, or of their current events, but even on Ophidian Island, Rigel knew of the bloodthirtsty officers of the Red Scarf. He wasn't too happy to know this companion was a member of such a savage crew, but Melissa, as he'd been corrected, didn't seem all that bad. Besides, it seemed to be serendipity that he meet a pirate musician after his strange encounter on the ferry to Java. "I hope to be in your care during this expedition," he said, deferring to a member of such an experienced pirate crew.
Rigel hadn't even realized that Eadric had finished his meal. He touched the plate, pushing it away, fully satisfied with his meal. "Well done, you both," Rigel would give a satisfied hoot in victory, cutting the more demure guy off. Across the table, he'd reach over to offer a high five to Melissa. "A boat to this island will be leaving tomorrow, in the North Blue. You'll get a full briefing when we're all aboard. Upstairs are some rooms I've already booked if you'd like to rest," he pointed deeper into the saloon's tree interior, towards some trees. "We hope you will bring us some great success," he would simply say.
"Screw that, I want a victory dinner!" Rigel flagged down one of the waitstaff, bringing them over to the table. "Two meals of whatever! No red meat." Turning to Melissa, he'd offer some food too, "Do you want something too? I only ever heard horror stories about the Red Scarves, what're you guys actually like?" It was true that Rigel didn't really agree with the practices of Melissa's pirate crew, but that didn't mean he wasn't interested. If anything, the sharp difference between their methods and Rigel's beliefs made him more interested in them. Unless Melissa adamantly refused and retreated, he'd press with the questions and offers of food.
Eadric recognized that the two who had passed their audition wanted to celebrate, and silently excused himself from the table, but Rigel caught sight of him doing so. "Where do you think you're going? You had me stressed with that game! Take responsibility and and your seat, both of 'em! It's your turn to tell us stories about this island once Melissa runs out," Rigel laughed. "What do you guys say to an all-nighter? No big plans tomorrow, right? Right?"
Excitement flushed through every part of Melissa's body. They had done it, they had successfully completed this other puzzle. "YAAAAAAS" she shouted as she returned the high five of Rigel, her hag like fingers dwarfing his. "Thank you very much" she said lowering her head to Eadric as he explained about their rooms. Though Rigel would declare wanting a victory dinner, at that Melissa's stomach grumbled in agreement. "OH, why that sounds delightful" she declared. "I'll take the red meat from his too" Melissa said with a wink. She smiled as he spoke of the horror stories of the Red Scarves.
"Honestly, a lot of that was just marine fabrication, minus anything you've heard about Morgan, our daggertooth fishman, then thats probably true" she said with a laugh. "He really did rip out peoples throats" she said with a kind of non chalaunt attitude. "We were....they were good people to each other, we stole, yeah, but never from those who didn't deserve it" she said wishfully. "They really were my family. Iron Fist was funny and charming and, just all around amazing" it was obvious from the sparkle in her eye, that remembering her crew filled her with great happiness.
"We were hunted though, because he couldn't keep it in his pants, if ya catch my drift. He bedded a royal, and then bedded the royals brother. Well Arrabella. that was her name, found out about it. She gave him a chance. Drop us, his crew and be with her, or go to the sea and she'll hunt him down and kill him. Well, he chose us" she said. Her smile widened. "In the end, she got the last laugh. After the battle of Ohara, her brother almost killed me, they finally managed to track us down and....as far as I know...I'm the only one who survived" she chose not to divulge the fact that there may be others, due to the knowledge that a member of the Red Scarf Pirates had betrayed their own.
"Really, we fought marines, we took down people who deserved to be taken down, and we enjoyed just....being around one another. Playing, laughing and singing. I never imagined it would end" she said. A solitary tear descended from her, she wiped it absent mindedly...accidentally wiping a large chunk of her foundation from her face, revealing a somewhat more translucent or whiter skin tone beneath the smudge. "What about you guys? Whats your stories?" she mused, looking to Rigeal and Eadric. She would listen to all that was needed before heading off to bed in the wee hours of the morning
Post by Rigel Larrat on Jul 3, 2020 16:31:54 GMT -8
Rigel was happy to listen along to Melissa's stories. It was surprising to hear such pure hearted fondness about people that occupied frightening stories told around fire pits. Her stammering and nervousness seemed to totally fade when she started talking about her crew. Melissa became a person much easier to listen to and speak with. He laughed along with her stories about their captain. Rigel wanted to ask why she kept speaking in the past tense, but she started crying a bit, it was obvious. Insensitivity would be the only reason to ask further. The Red Scarves, a terror of the Blues, had been obliterated.
He never thought he'd be expressing his condolences upon hearing that, "They sound like a great crew, they were very lucky to have you around, no doubt." When she changed the subject away from her, Rigel hoped Eadric would answer, but he seemed reluctant, preferring only to learn rather than to talk. "Well don't mind telling my story," Rigel said gladly, swallowing the last bite of his meal. "I used to live with my family on a small island called Ophidian. We dreamed of going to the stars, and building a ship that would take us there!" he explained excitedly.
Rigel was less excited to continue, but didn't let the somber subject wear on his mood too much. "Well, the marines didn't like what we were making too much. They blew it all up! And a lot of us with it. My friends and family." Rigel fell silent only for a minute. He hadn't really told the story in such detail to anybody since it had actually happened. "I need dessert for telling this story, and you guys for listening," he pulled aside the waitstaff again and ordered one of everything, insisting that Eadric pay for it. He tried to protest urgently, but Rigel cut him off, "I'm telling a sad story! Melissa did too. We deserve dessert.
"Anyways. After that, I ended up in the highest prison in the world! Balloon Flock was what it was called. Literally made up of balloons, it would be impressive if I wasn't imprisoned inside of it- Thank you," Rigel took some of the plates of ice creams and cakes and pastries, taking a few for himself and passing the others around the table. "To make a long story short, I met some really cool people in there and sunk the prison. We hitched a ride on a cruise ship and I stayed on an island near the prison to keep the attention of the marines while all the prisoners spread to every corner of the waters."
Rigel tried to think if he forgot anything important while he munched on a larger bite of chocolate cake. "And that was about it I guess. Since then I've just been up to no good on Dulan Island," he laughed. "You should visit after this is over and done with," he said casually, as if this Underworld operation was just a handful of errands to be run. The pirate would make sure the rest of the desserts were eaten before eventually deciding a real bed sounded like a tremendous night's sleep and retiring to his room, eager to see what a mysterious island and devilish powers awaited him with Eadric and Melissa.
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