Chapter 9: The Talmascan III
Roxas: *splashing around in a tub of water and soap on the deck*
Garnet: *struggling to keep Roxas still, akwardly scrubbing him with a brush, an empty potion bottle is next to the tub* Hold still, would ya? It would make it a lot easier on me!
Roxas: *suddenly jumps out of the tub and starts running around the deck, leaving a trail of soapy pawprints*
Garnet: HEY GET BACK HERE! *goes to stand up and run after him but slips and falls on butt* Ahhhh owwww... *angrilly* ROXAS!
Garnet: *scrambles around Roxas but eventually manages to pour a bucket of water on top of him*
Roxas: *shakes off his fur, splashing Garnet in the process*
Garnet: *puts hands up to shield herself* Ew, no, stop it!
Roxas: *prances his white puffball self away*
Garnet: *watches Roxas go and crosses arms* Silly dog.
Callie: *smiles a little as she sees Roxas run by* *looks out at the water, leaning on the side railing*
Jillian: *leaning with her back to the railing, laughs a little as she sees Garnet run past, sliding a little as she goes* Do you remember the faire, Callie?
Callie: *looks over at her* Hmm? Yeah, of course.
Jillian: Ever since we got you back from that cat, there's something that happened at the faire that's been irking me a little.
Callie: What's that? *turns to face her*
Jillian: Well.. you said that Kuro kept talking about a Baronness..
Callie: Yeah. She kept calling her the fire queen too, like she was royalty or something.
Jillian: Well... the thing is... while I was at the faire, I went to one of those fortune tellers.. just for fun, right? And her fortune has been pretty accurate so far.. she said that a bird would take the plant back to my mother to cure her wounds, and she said I would be travelling with fish. Well, she actually said goldfish.. but still, travelling on a ship across the seas? It's too weird.
Callie: Well, did you tell her anything? Maybe she saw you walking around with one of the others or something.
Jillian: No, she didn't.. but that's not even the weird part. She talked about a baroness too. One that will "scorch the land". Callie, I don't normally believe that people can predict the future, but it was just all too coincidental. *looks at her* I'm worried.
Callie: Oh, Jilly, you don't need to be worried! Besides, even if the Baroness is planning to set all of Acacia on fire, what are the chances that you would be that one person that could stop her?
Jillian: I guess you're right..
Callie: Of course I'm right! *watches her for a brief moment* What else did the fortune lady say?
Jillian: The only other thing she really talked about was a puzzle.. and the last piece of it will fall into place, or something. It was all really strange.
Callie: You should stop worrying so much about riddles, Jilly. Really, enjoy what you're doing while you're still doing it! When have you ever been so far out to see that you can't see land? *motions for her to look around*
Jillian: *scans the horizon and smiles* You're right. *stretches a little* Let's go find Roxas.. I'm betting he's causing trouble somewhere around here. *pushes off the railing and begins walking around the ship with Callie*
Garnet: *senses someone behind her, turns to see Azrael walking below quarters, goes to catch up with him*
Azrael: *walks into his room, goes to shut the door behind him*
Garnet: *quickly puts hand out to stop the door from shutting, pushes it open*
Azrael: *turns to give Garnet a dirty look*
Garnet: Don't give me that look. I wanted to talk to you about something.
Azrael: *sounding bored* Oh? Is that so?
Garnet: *walks into the room, leaning against the door, shutting her and Azrael in the room* *looks at him* I was under the impression we are supposed to be partners.
Azrael: *crosses arms and faces her* *dryly* We are.
Garnet: Well, I was also under the impression that partners help each other. *moves towards him a little, raising voice slightly* And you just stood there while Kuro attacked both me and Baku! You didn't lift a finger!
Azrael: *nonchalantly shrugs*
Garnet: *loudly* She escaped! And you did nothing!
Azrael: *in a darker tone* Your eyes are not ready for the things that I could have done to that girl...
Garnet: *silent for a moment* *calm but firm* What's that supposed to mean? You think you are just so strong that she wasn't a worthy oponent? Or that Baku and I weren't worthy enough to fight along side? *looks away and crosses arms* You are such a snob. I could take you on myself.
Azrael: *smirks* Is that a challenge?
Garnet: *looks at him, then away, then up, then towards the desk...* *tone turns slightly distracted* Maybe...
Garnet: *eyes a box on the desk, can't control curiousity, dashes towards the box*
Azrael: *about to say something but haults immediately when he sees Garnet going towards the box, beats her to it and scoops it up* You're pretty fucking nosy, you know that?
Garnet: And YOU have a lot of fucking secrets! Tell me, Azrael, what exactly WAS that thing back in that room? Was that something from your past? Or was that yo--
Azrael: *cuts her off, pushing Garnet against the wall, lifting her chin to look directly at him* *words are quiet but firm* Listen to me, partner. You ask very dangerous questions that I would advise avoiding. There are things about me that you are not ready to understand.
Garnet: *looks at him* But I want to.
Azrael: *softer* Want to what?
Garnet: Understand.
Azrael: *pushes away from her and sits himself on the bed* Come over here, and I'll show you.
Garnet: *looks insulted* Hmmph! *exits the room, slamming the door behind her*
Azrael: *lays back on his bed and smirks*
THE NEXT MORNING
Garnet: *moves around a little in her bed, half-awake* Mmm... *feels the ship rocking more than usual* *opens eyes to look out the window* I wonder if--
Baku: *kicks open Garnet's door* WAKE UP WAKE UP! EVERYONE ON DECK! NOW!
Garnet: Ahh! Baku! Okay, I hear you. *rubs eye*
Roxas: *wakes up and looks at Baku, barks*
Baku: ON DECK! *leaves quickly, kicking open the others' doors and yelling*
Jillian: *bolts upright in bed as Baku pounds on her door* *groans a little and flops back down, only to roll over and stumble out of bed a few moments later* This whole waking up early thing doesn't work for me... *staggers out onto the deck, still in her pajamas, rubbing her eyes*
Jack: *calmly walks onto the deck, already dressed and looking as if he's been awake for some time* What's the news, Captain?
Aiden: *wanders out on deck with just his boxers on* *yawns* It's way too early, Baku.
Garnet: *yawns as well* Nice bod, Aiden. *giggles*
Aiden: Really? I've been working out. *flexes*
Baku: CUT IT OUT. Listen, I brought you all on deck because I wanted to tell you about our next destination. *turns to look out over the sea* We are going to an island.
Jillian: *raises eyebrows a little* Just any old island?
Baku: *turns around and points at Jillian* Ah-HA! That's where you are wrong, my dear! This island is special! The Isle of Morla! And it is full of gold and riches galore!
Garnet: *jumps up and down* Finally! We're back on track to what we pirates do. *grins*
Fiona: *looking up at the sky, which is increasingly becoming darker* You may be right, but the weather does not favor us...
Jack: *also looks up at the sky* How far away is this island?
Jillian: *thinks to self - Gold..? Maybe she meant fish made of gold instead of goldfish...*
Baku: I have just spotted it on the horizon. That is why I had to wake you all up at this hour to tell you the good news!
*everyone groans*
Baku: Oh, hush now!
Garnet: *holds hair back as the wind begins to pick up* Well, I'm going to get ready before this storm hits us... *slumps back to her room*
Callie: *looks worried* Umm.. Jilly, maybe you should come get me once we're on shore..
Jillian: *smiles a little* Not scared of a little storm, are you, Callie?
Callie: *stumbles over her words a little* N-no! Of course not! I'm just still tired... *stretches and yawns* See you later. *winks and walks back to her quarters*
Garnet: *crawls back into bed and goes back to sleep*
Aiden: *throws a shoe at Garnet, hitting her*
Garnet: Ow! What was that for?
Aiden: *grabs his shoe and puts it on, now fully dressed* Don't think you get to go back to sleep when all of us are out there preparing for this storm!
Garnet: *groans* Fine, get out and I'll meet you on deck.
Aiden: *grins and walks away*
Jillian: *walks past Aiden towards Garnet's room* *knocks softly on her door* Umm.. Garnet?
Garnet: *brushing her hair, yawns* Yes, come in...
Jillian: *pushes open the door and steps in* Do you.. Uh, I mean, is there anything... *laughs a little awkwardly* I've never been on a ship in a storm before, but I want to help out the crew. What can I do? ^^;
Garnet: *sets down her brush and walks with her up to the deck* Well, there's not too much we can do. We can't stop a storm, but you can at least move anything on deck downstairs that would cause an obstacle if the ship were to rock. Or you can help pull the sails. Anything really. *smiles* Don't worry, I don't think this storm will be a bad--*suddenly the ship is hit with a massive wave, rocking it, the storm becomes violent* *picks herself up from the ground* O-kay then. *runs to Baku*
Jillian: *pushes herself off the chair she fell into and follows her on deck, nearly getting swept off her feet again, this time from the wind* *looks up to see dark grey clouds pouring down rain*
Bartimaeus: *pulling the sails* Everyone needs to brace themselves or get downstairs! *watches as the storm get increasingly more violent*
Baku: Bartimaeus and I will stay up here to watch the ship. *sees Callie coming up from the quarters, runs to her and pushes her back inside* No, no you need to stay down there... we wouldn't want you to get swept overboard by this storm!
Azrael: *walks past Jillian, speaking to her as he passes* You should get inside as well, we don't want any casualties... *smirks and goes to help Bartimaeaus*
Jillian: *frowns a little, then turns and follows Callie back downstairs, with Garnet close behind*
Jillian: Could someone really fall overboard that easily?
Garnet: Yes, with a storm this bad you don't know what could--*the storm knocks around the ship, a loud crack is heard* *stumbles over from the rocking, causing her to slam into a wall* Shit! I hope they're okay up there... *holds arm*
Aiden: *opens the door to downstairs, looking at the girls there* The mast just broke, brace yourselves!
Callie: *uprights herself from stumbling over* *whispers* Jilly, I'm scared..
Jillian: *steadies herself against a wall* *looks at Callie and then at Garnet* Do you want to come to my quarters to wait out the storm? We could atleast keep each other company..
Aiden: *shuts the door and braces himself against it* I'm going to stay right here and see if the others outside need any help, you girls go ahead.
Garnet: *ushers everyone to Jillian's quarters, grabbing Fiona and Roxas along the way*
Callie: *sits on the bed and grabs a pillow, hugging it close to her*
Jillian: *sits quiet a moment, then asks softly* Will we still be able to get to shore without the mast?
Fiona: Let us just hope the water carries us to the island and not further... otherwise we'd be lost... *looks out the window*
Garnet: I haven't seen a storm this bad in some time... I wonder why around this particular island there is such terrible weather...
Jillian: It does seem strange.. *suddenly stumbles to the floor as the ship jolts violently* *stands to her feet, surprisingly with ease* *looks around* We've stopped moving..
Callie: *breathes a sigh of relif*
Garnet: *quickly exits the quarters and goes on deck* Is everyone okay?
Bartimaeus: We are all alright, but the ship suffered some damage. *throwing some debri off the ship* It can be fixed though. However, we are stuck on this island until then.
Baku: *has face in hands* My ship... not again!
Garnet: *pats Baku on the back* Well, look on the bright side! It's not blown up this time! *grins*
Jillian: *walks up to the deck* So what can I do to help? *grabs a relatively large splinter of wood and tosses it over the side*
Baku: *looks around at the damage done to his ship* Well... *glances at Azrael*
Azrael: *calmly* Who knows what could be on this island, so I would suggest we conduct business as quickly as possible.
Baku: R-Right... ahem... *looks at Jillian* You can be on the treasure-hunting team.
Jillian: *blinks* The what?
Callie: Treasure hunting? That sounds like fun!
Baku: *pulls out an old, worn map of the island and hands it to Jillian* You two along with Aiden and Garnet will go find this treasure and report back to me.
Garnet: *walks up* And what will you be doing, Baku? I never known you to trust outsiders with getting treasure.
Baku: That's why you and Aiden are going along. Is that clear?
Garnet: *rolls eyes* Clear.
Jillian: *looks closely at the map* Okay.. yeah.
Jack: *walks up to Baku* Mind if I help get the mast back together?
Baku: Yes, Bartimaeus and Fiona will definitely need your help getting this ship back together.
Jillian: *smiles at the other three* Ready?
Callie: *nods, eyes shining*
Garnet: I suppose I'm ready. *grabs her gunblade and makes sure it's loaded* Who knows what's guarding that treasure...
Jillian: *bites lip a little* I'll... be right back.. *runs downstairs briefly, re-emerging with her naginata and Callie's crossbow* Right, so let's go! *hands Callie the crossbow and walks off the ship*
Callie: *giggles a little and follows her off*
Aiden: *puts arm around Garnet and leads her away with the others*
Garnet: *peeks back at Baku suspiciously* *thinks to self - As much as Baku wants us to be partners, he sure keeps Azrael and I apart a lot...*
This chat was completed on Friday, July 27, 2007.