ph_logs | She Sings Sea Shanties

She Sings Sea Shanties

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 ]

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Bart had been near the beach at the time that Zelda and her crew had been moving from the Cooper Coin to Mipha's Grace, staying well out of the way but watching curiously, taking notes in the loosely bound journal that he brought with him most everywhere. He'd made loose sketches of both vessels but had no labels to give them just yet; his expertise was not in nautical pursuit, after all, such things having been forced on him previously for the sake of survival.

When the smaller vessel's captain shows up at the Oak & Iron, Bart is there of course, tidying his notes and quietly ruminating over a bowl of soup. He has questions for her, but doesn't want to intrude on her time if she has better things to do than to entertain his queries. Then she surprises him the same as the rest of them by ordering everyone a round, and the opening is there. Provided that her attention isn't taken by something more important, Bart perches on the edge of an empty seat nearby and reaches a hand out, though he doesn't touch, just trying to get her attention.

"Pardon me, miss! I've got a proposition, if you would hear me out."

"Oh--- Hello there!" Zelda grins. "You must be one of our new neighbors, correct? What can I do for you?"

( icon not relevant - marketable plush be upon ye )

Pomni could barely believe shove-off day was already here. She'd spent the few days between her signing-on (and lying about her prior experience) to research as much as she could in the library about sailing and the ins and outs. She could barely tell port from starboard just yet, but she's got a meager little notebook in her few effects she brought aboard the ship with sloppily-written notes to help her remember. Better than nothing, right?

With the bag slung over her shoulder, she hurries down the dock, a bit hurried. (She couldn't remember what time it had been said the ship was leaving. Oh, god, did she miss it? Wait, nope, there it was. Or did she keep them waiting? Ohhh no.)

As soon as Zelda is in view, however, she tries to push her worried frown and thoughtful, zoned-out gaze to a smile, giving her a short-yet-upbeat wave.

"Hey! I hope I'm not too late, I just had to get a couple things together for the trip. But Iiii'm completely packed and ready to set sail!"

~~Oh she's cute...~~ "Yes! I haven't been here long at all but I've been trying to learn and document as much as I can about the island's flora. If it wouldn't be too much trouble, do you think that you might have an extra space for the next time you set off? It's just, I can't swim for long myself so being allowed on another's vessel would be a big help." Big sparkly hopeful eyes pointed right at her...

Jean has taken to their new work uniform very well, and the new ship is an exciting time. On the one hand, there's a far greater and more terrifying feeling of responsibility; Jean is no longer a crewman serving under a much more experienced sailor who might correct them, but instead serving under Zelda whose experience is much closer to their own. On the other hand, what an achievement for Zelda, and what independence for all of them!

This new comrade, though. She seems to be struggling some. Jean hasn't met Comrade Pomni yet, not outside of brief introductions mediated by Zelda, and while they trust Zelda's judgement surely just a little bit of education can't go amiss.

"Sailor Pomni!" they call from where they're working to lash down the barrels of water rations. This can start nice and small. "I could use an extra pair of hands on these knots!"

At this, Zelda's smile broadens to one of utter delight! Her eyes are just as full of glittering excitement. "I have a small research laboratory aboard my ship! We're trying to research flora, fauna, and artifacts recovered during fishing and dredging! If you're familiar with such studies, you would be an incredible asset to our crew. Would you consider joining us, if you found the work to your liking?"

Immediately Bart brightens up in kind, hands clasped in front of him. "Oh brilliant! I would love to help, of course! I've got intentions to eventually set myself to supplementing the town's food supply, but it won't do much good for me to start when we've just passed by the harvest season. This would be an excellent way to keep busy and be able to help rather than idling away here. Do you have any itinerary set down yet?"

Zelda's assumption hadn't been far off at all - Jon had been staring off, having lost himself in thought. It'd been a trend since the Carnival, really; there was a lot he needed to think long and hard on, after all that he'd done.

Her voice jogged him out of thought, though, and for a moment, he looked surprised, a lift to his sullen demeanor, before he trekked up the stairs towards the helm.

"Is everything alright?"

A little bit of education could go a long way, because, even as Jean calls over, Pomni is struggling.

She's quick to drop her nearly-finished simple chore to come lend a hand, though, and join them. Best way to learn was through example and watching her fellow crew do things, right? (Hopefully she could get a handle on it before the imposter syndrome set in too hard, at least.)

Joining Jean on the other side of the barrels, she cracks an awkward grin their way, starting to fuss with the rope and doing her best to recall how to knot it. (Ships, knots, why did they need so many knots?)

"No problem! You're Jean, right?" She asks - matching faces to names take a while, and while the crew is relatively small, she want to make sure she's got it down before it hits a point where it'd be a little awkward to go 'Hey, you!'. "Everything been getting set up okay so far?"

Jean's correction of the chosen knots is both gentle and quiet; mistakes while learning are no one else's business. The corrections also come with helpful explanations of why the right knots are right, what they're doing for the cargo.

"Agent Jean, yes! It's going very well!" Jean beams but, then, they're always beaming. "It's nice to see you already getting to work! A few people have struggled to settle in, never a fun situation, haha ha ha...ha."

If there's one thing Rachel enjoys here, it's downtown. Much smaller than what she's used to, not exactly bustling by her standards, but it has its own charm that she can appreciate.

She's wandering the commercial district today, coffee in hand, indulging in the simple pleasure of window shopping. Despite limited funds, exploring everything from clothes to food remains a favorite pastime. A dark booth displaying fish catches her eye—or rather, her nose. The aroma of fresh fish triggers a longing she can't ignore. Oh, how she misses seafood. Perhaps someday she can afford it.

Her most recent purchase was a simple outfit costing 50 Brass—though, she felt more drawn towards the men's collection than the women's this time around. Clad in a cream fedora-style hat, a loose-fitting grey button-up top neatly tucked into textured brown pants, and held together with brown suspenders, she approaches the booth.

"Good morning," she greets with a friendly smile. "Did you catch these yourself?"

"Pomni, hello!" Her smile brightens and she stands up straighter from where she had leaned. "Welcome to the Mipha's Grace! There's a cabin with your name on the door on the lower dock. I can show you, if you like."

"In the sense of voyages or studies? Because the former, yes. The latter will be happening organically based on what we discover." She happily produces a calendar marked with boarding and returning dates from her pocket.

"I should be asking you that," Zelda scolds gently. "You've been gazing miserably at the water for hours. What's the matter?"

"Hello! And not all on my own, I'm the captain of a small fishing vessel. My crew and I worked together. It was a good trip! Quite a bit of cod this time." Zelda's prices are quite reasonable--- it would be easy to work a bit of this into a grocery budget.

"You just arrived, didn't you? I believe I've seen you in town a few times now."

Bart scoots closer immediately upon Zelda producing the calendar, looking down at it himself. If she's got an opening for him and a schedule to abide by, then he'll know when to come and find her again for the next voyage out. "The former, yes. If I know when you might be casting off, then I can prepare accordingly."

"I understand completely. My plan is generally to sail for three to four days, then return to rest and offload our stock for roughly the same. We're scheduled to shove off again tomorrow." She offers him her map, allowing him to peruse and copy it.

Bart immediately takes the map to be able to copy the general route down. "Tomorrow. Alright, I'll have to get try and get a spare set of clothes soon, and then I can join you. Do you have a set departure time?"

"We usually plan to set sail early, just in case we hit weather and need to delay. Can you meet us at 9am?"

"Nothing you need to trouble yourself with, Zelda."

He's quick to waive off the concern, feigning a normalcy, but the weight of everything is quick to return to him. He sighs.

"It's nothing that anyone should be troubled by other than myself. I've been making a terrible mess of things, and am facing the repercussions of it."

Jean's grinning has Pomni cracking an awkward one of her own right back their way. They sure were... all teeth, huh! She shouldn't be as vexed by it, considering they weren't the only person-or-entity that she's ever met like that, but it still somehow caught her off guard about half the time. That'd take some getting used to. (At least they were nice and didn't bring up her blunders directly? Small victories!)

Their last note has her raising a brow, though, casting a glance across the deck, as if to see if any of the people in question were around.

"People on here?" She asks, sounding a little surprised, looking back down to the knot that she was struggling to get quite right. "I mean, I'm not--- y'know, the most experienced sailor in the world, but this seems... nice! A lot less tight-laced. ...Not that it's not put together or anything like that, I mean! Everyone's just been easy to work with. Unless you meant that other ship I've heard the captain talk about?"

"Oh--- yeah, that'd be great!"

The walk up the gangplank was a short few steps, and she can't help but take in the sight of the seawater between the ship and the dock. It was strange, to think that her life was going to be a lot of that for the next however long. So familiar, in a way she couldn't place - any degree of familiarity was a welcome sight, really.

She wasted little time joining Zelda's side once on the ship, however, giving her a distinctly-interested look.

"Wait--- did I hear you right that I get my own cabin? I thought ships usually had bunks? I'm not complaining, just... kind of surprised!"

"Nonono, people off the ferry! Us!" Jean's grin goes guilty. "I was so confused that I tried to live in the library! Which! Is not allowed! For some reason..."

"Certainly! I look forward to it." He raises the cup that had been paid for in her celebration. "Is there anything else you'll need from me?"

"Well, this ship's designed to run with a smaller crew, so I wanted to give everyone their own space. It isn't much! But a little privacy goes a long way," Zelda explains.

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She Sings Sea Shanties

Oak & Iron

Re: Oak & Iron

But My Jolly Sailor Bold

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Shipmates (And More?) | Closed to Pomni

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There Is Nothing Can Console Me

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Market

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