She Sings Sea Shanties

[hyliasblessing]

Who: Princess Zelda and, perhaps, you?
What: Zelda has just acquired a new business venture
When: Now, but also later
Where: Various
Warning(s): Possibly thalassophobia, will add more if necessary



With a final farewell handshake to her former employer, Captain Booth, Zelda begins to move her personal effects from work onto her new vessel, the Mipha's Grace. Some of the Copper Coin's prior crew have elected to join her--- particularly Jon Sims, her partner Jean, and a small handful of the locals. She is also joined by a newcomer named Pomni.

Her new vessel is smaller than the Copper Coin, but it is a bit more comfortable for the small crew needed to man it, with proper beds and cabins in lieu of a communal hammock space, and a small research lab for the dredged artifacts and odd creatures found in the water. Zelda is also more in control of shore leave, with ventures being significantly shorter due to the issue of space. Additionally, the lifeboats double as canoes with which to harvest sea weed--- a project her beloved Jean began.

Ahoy there! What business have you with Captain Zelda?

---

My Heart is Pierced By Cupid
[ Oak & Iron, open to all ]

In honor of the new career growth for both herself and for her associates, Zelda has arranged a small celebration, open to any friends! A round of drinks for everyone, and a chance to sample Jean's clever creations! Zelda herself has never had sushi before--- what a delightful treat! Who knew raw fish could be this good?

Perhaps you'd like to congratulate the hostess, or thank her for the booze, or simply join her in singing one of the songs her crewmates taught her. You can find her at the center table, aglow with fun and firelight. There's a seat open for you!


I Disdain All Glittering Gold
[ Main Street Market, open to all ]

One of Zelda's new duties is to sell her own wares. At least until she cuts a deal with one of the local fishmongers. But that's no trouble--- for now, in a shaded booth Zelda sells fish caught by herself and her crew. Perhaps you'd like to buy some? Or maybe just keep her company?


There Is Nothing Can Console Me
[ Closed to Jon Sims ]

Aboard the Mipha's Grace, Zelda spots her boatswain staring forlornly out at the sea. It doesn't take the Triforce of Wisdom to tell he is troubled by something. He's seemed off for the past few days, in fact. Zelda waves to him from the helm.

"Jon! A word, please?"


But My Jolly Sailor Bold
[ On Jack's Marina ]

It's shove-off day! Time for another voyage out onto the Black Jade Sea. Zelda is out on the dock by the gangway, there to greet her crew and welcome them aboard, but she's got some loading up to do still and some deliveries to receive, so she'll be here a bit. Perhaps you're a crewmate coming aboard? Or perhaps you've got a delivery? Or maybe you're just a friend, here to wish Zelda and her crew a safe voyage. Or a stowaway, even. What has you sneaking onto a fishing boat?


Wildcard
[ We stay silly ]

Comments

[jeveuxpartir]

"Ohhh, god, yeah, I don't want to get turned to for anything life-threatening if there was an emergency. Good point."

Pats are clearly appreciated, even if she's looking deeply and profoundly stressed at the notions of confession. It was bound to happen eventually, though - it wasn't like she'd ever been the best at faking it until she made it. At least she was making friends from what could've been a nightmare of a screw-up? Good job, go team!

"Have you guys... had any emergencies? And, what should I, uh... expect from sea emergencies? I've got a few notes I took from some sailing books, but it didn't really cover a ton of stuff."

[restingslasherface]

"Thankfully nothing at sea since I started sailing, but the ones on land have been..."

Jean trails off, visibly staring out over the water. They go silent, and when they speak again their voice is lower.

"Find me or the princess if there's trouble. Stay behind us and out of the way. We'll protect you."

[jeveuxpartir]

Pomni can't help the frown that pulls at her lips. They didn't have to say much to speak volumes. For a short time, she'd wondered if her run-in with Smiling Jack was just her bad luck - but now, it seemed like that was anything but the case.

After a quiet, thoughtful moment, letting her gaze drift out to the slowly rolling waves, she looks back their way.

"...I will. I promise."

For a moment, her flighty, self-preserve-at-all-costs instinct catches any further words in her throat. She barely knows these people, and she's been given a free out for anything bad that happens. Why wouldn't she take it without thinking twice about it?

Then again, she got the distinct impression that, even in times she can't remember, she ran from responsibility and danger any time she could. And in times she can remember... the face of a friend in mortal danger that she tried to abandon lingers.

For now, she'll sit with that guilt and that fear. Maybe someday, with some effort, she'll swallow those feelings and find a way to help these people that have already helped her so much.

"If there's anything I can do in those situations, just tell me. But, hopefully smooth sailing, right?"

Short but I gotta write SOMETHING

[restingslasherface]

"Hopefully! But to tell you what needs doing I need an idea of what you're good at! You'd be surprised what's relevant - a good turn of speed on foot could save lives, for instance. Your own among them!"

DW ABT IT U DONE GREAT!!!

[jeveuxpartir]

"Well, I think I'm kind of fast," She starts, a little uncertain. She didn't feel particularly good at anything, but she surely had to have something going for her. "And I'm, uh... observant? I mean, it comes from a little bit of being paranoid, but I--- catch onto stuff. If that's useful for this sort of thing."

[restingslasherface]

"Observant...fast. Interesting." Jean finishes helping to secure the cargo, dusting off their hands with a broad grin. "You may want to see Lord Erik." Beat. "Uh, in his capacity as one of us off the ferry, though if you want to see him in his other capacity I do hear good things. But! He's on the emergency communication team, and may already have ideas about where someone else fast might contribute. The faster we know about attacks or disasters the better, right?"

[jeveuxpartir]

Other... capacity?

The gears turn in Pomni's head, before it all clicks together, and she lets out a quiet ohhh. She gives an awkward laugh, and scratches the back of her neck.

"Yeahhh, no, I can't really do... all that. Cursed clothes," She pulls at one of her sleeves for emphasis, the fabric stretching, but not liftining off her person. "But I'll talk to him about the emergency communication thing! And maybe I can, I dunno... take some swashbuckling classes or something? Practice with a sword? ...Do people actually use swords here?"

She's joking, of course, but god, wouldn't it be cool to get good at something like that - maybe then she'd have something going for her.

[restingslasherface]

Jean makes eye contact.

Maintains eye contact.

Does not break eye contact while slowly lifting the sheathed saber that comes with their outfit.

[jeveuxpartir]

Pomni stares right back. Glances down to the saber. Glances back up. Repeats this twice more.

"... I figured that was just... a cool accessory or something for your pirate theme you got going on...?"

[restingslasherface]

"Comrade, I can block bullets with this. And it's divine!"

They pause.

"...I wonder if Kora's power could cut your outfit off..."

[jeveuxpartir]

"Wait, you can block what? How---"

Pomni's barely done asking the question before the last thought makes her brain flatline for a solid few seconds.

"...Honestly, I have no idea, but if I wasn't at least fourty-percent convinced it could just kill me or something, I'd have you go for it right now? And also I... don't have anything else to wear.

[restingslasherface]

Cannot stress enough Jean's air of exuberant innocence. "If you change your mind, I'm happy to help! We're nearly the same size, my clothes could cure your nudity."

[jeveuxpartir]

If their whole energy is anything to go off of, their mind isn't even in this ballpark, but Pomni can't help a laugh, a little more flustered than she'd care to be. And, to try to cut any embarrassed tension (entirely from her end, of course), she equally can't help but make a joke right along those lines.

"I mean, if we can find a piece of something that wouldn't kill me right away if it goes wrong, it could be worth a test, but--- maybe take a girl out to dinner before offering to cut her out of her clothes?"

[restingslasherface]

"...Medics on your world must have a very difficult job." Blink. Blink.

Wait.

The realization dawns in their eyes.

"OH! Oh. Hahaha, AHAHAHAHAHA I'd need to talk to my partners before trying that in an erotic context! I'm just very sure I won't hurt you! I'm not even trying to brag it's just..." They buckle the sword back on. "I'm very good at my job, comrade."

Don't think about clown nipples Jean. Don't think about them. Do NOT imagine the clown nip - and you did already. Fuck.

[jeveuxpartir]

"Oh, I didn't think, I mean--- not that I wouldn't, I was just--- making a joke?"

Oh, wow, what a hole to dig for herself. Shoving her silly jester boot right into her mouth. Good work, dingus!

If she wasn't already going to be thinking way too hard about clothes-cutting-off via sword, she sure is now. She's having to work double-time not to think about it right this second, really.

"Maybe we should, uhhh... ask Captain about it before we give it a test? In case it goes horribly wrong for some--- evil magic reasons or something."

[restingslasherface]

"Sure! Good idea. And I'd need to talk to her anyway about the other thing." Just joking, nobody does emotional unavailability like the City does it Pomni, Jean sees through you.

Plus it's not like they haven't noticed that Zelda seems fond of the jester. Which, speaking of...

"CAPTAIIIIIN can we see you for a moment?"

[hyliasblessing]

Zelda looks over from what she was doing previously (a conversation with Jon about trawl net maintenance) and comes over to the pair looking marginally suspicious. Pomni is blushing cartoonishly, her face as red as an apple from hairline to chin, and Jean seems to be very interested in their sword at the moment.

"...Is everything alright over here?"

[jeveuxpartir]

"Wait, wh--- right now? Right this minute?? I don't know if---"

Too late, clown! There's Zelda now. Oh, god, she barely had time to get anything together in her head, and the sword thoughts were still waging a war against her. This is fine! This is definitely fine, and won't be a total disaster.

(Its going to be a total disaster. She's stumbling on almost every word out of her mouth. Oops!)

"Hhhey, Captain! We were just talking about, um--- a situation I've got going on, and a, uhhh, fix? For it? Maybe? That could kill me, or maybe not, but it could also fix this curse I've got?"

[restingslasherface]

Don't worry Pomni, Jean can explain!

"The local divinities are said to oppose the powers identified as curses! And this is the Page of Kora's Avatar...Captain, does your experience suggest to you that a divine blade might be able to cure Sailor Pomni's malignant sartorial affliction and restore her to nudity and freedom of dress?"

[hyliasblessing]

Zelda takes a moment to process the absolute slew of information she's just been given. She was today years old when she found out that the reason Pomni has been wearing this impractical costume all this time is because she is literally affixed to it, and now Jean is suggesting invoking the power of a god to unclothe her by slashing at her outfit with what is ostensibly a holy sword.

Things sure do happen in Pumpkin Hollow.

"I... I'm honestly not too sure. I wonder if perhaps we should reach out to Neil to see what manner of curse it is before taking guesses on how best to counteract it."

[jeveuxpartir]

"I've, uhhh. Talked to Neil a little bit, actually!"

By little bit, does she mean barging into his office, calling him a wizard to his face, asking a dozen questions, and then having a normal-ass therapy session a day later? Sure. But it counts, probably!

"But maybeee we should... ask specifically about the sword? I don't know if he knows about that, or um. Y'know. What all it can... do? But honestly, these got stuck to me against my will in another place I got trapped in, and, I mean... if we can try it in a way that wouldn't get me hurt, Jean seems pretty confident...?"

[restingslasherface]

"Excellent question! It doesn't strictly exist." Jean beams; they like explaining, they really do, and they're getting Animated with the enthusiasm. "My entire raiment at this time is...light. A story of the power of Kora, a piece only but still her. That much I know for sure! So far it's made me more - more agile, more balanced, stronger, faster, especially on water...but other properties haven't been tested yet. But!"

They clap Pomni on the shoulder. "...I know I haven't spent much on clothing for myself, but freedom of dress is important to me. Uniforms shouldn't be worn forever. I'm very confident that I can try this without touching your skin, but even if it doesn't work, or you'd rather not try...you have my help for the asking, Sailor. Something important was taken from you."

[hyliasblessing]

Zelda frowns slightly at this, having realized exactly what Jean's stake in this is. She gives Pomni another look, thinking.

"Hmm. Well, Kora is the goddess of liberation. And we are in her domain. Perhaps... Try going for one of the poofy bits first. That way if it doesn't work, we'll know before you actually get anywhere near skin."

[jeveuxpartir]

Though she's clearly still nervous, Pomni can't help but find herself a bit sentimental. This was something important, wasn't it? She didn't get the impression that she did much with self-expression in the life she can't remember, but for this one... she could do whatever she wanted with it.

Goddess of liberation, helping her get free of her circus confines, even to some degree. How fitting.

"Wait, uh--- not here," Pomni raises her hands, giving an awkward laugh. "I mean, if it does work, I don't want to, y'know... get stuck without anything in front of the whole crew. Would it be okay to go to my cabin for privacy's sake?"

A pause, a moment of hesitation, and she softly pats the hand that clapped her shoulder, and tosses a small, fond smile between the two.

"And... thanks, for being willing to give something like this a shot. It doesn't put me back the way I used to be, but... its a really solid start!"

[restingslasherface]

"Oh! Yes, of course, your cabin. I'll run to mine and get my spare outfit." Their one spare outfit, Jean does a lot of fucking laundry. "I'll meet you there, Sailor, Captain!"

Don't think about the nudity don't think about the nudity don't think about the nudity don't -

(Wonder how Zelda will react to -)

DON'T.

Jean goes running off. They are On The Job. Besides, Zelda can escort Pomni to the cabin and help soothe her. Zelda is very soothing. It's one of the things Jean loves about their partner.