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[The Black Pearl ~ Crow's Nest]

Noelle scooted over to give Jacob more room and gave his shoulder a light punch. "Yeah, I get it, I'm the same way. Get angry, go for a run, feel upset, do a bunch of sit ups. It's better than anything else, really . . ."

Sitting up and getting to her knees, Noelle looked over the edge of the crow's nest. The crew was going about their business ensuring the good function of the ship, but none of the other earthlings were up on deck. She wanted to know how everyone else was doing. It was a little selfish of her to just leave, and she felt bad. She needed to go and check up on everyone.

"Hey, I'm going to go make sure everyone is okay." The agromancer said, beginning to climb over the wall of the crow's nest carefully, "You should come down, it's kind of hard to hear people from the deck up here. I wouldn't want to hit Shipwreak Cove and have you get left behind."

With that, Noelle left, climbing back down to the deck and heading back down to the lower portions of the ship.

[ Kyle : Caribbean : Pearl's Lower Decks ]

Kyle jolted at Quistis' touch, startled that anyone else was even around, turning his head quickly to glance at her. His eyes were somewhat wide with his brows furrowed. Before he responded, he turned back to the cell, back to his hand that had been grasping at Dawn's. Only... Dawn wasn't there. No one was there- the cell was empty.

"I, uh, no, it's nothing, really," he responded, turning to face her again and immediately putting on his contagious grin, chuckling, as if amused by some sort of joke. And then the smile fractured a bit. What point was there in hiding when he'd already been found out?

"I'm... I'm not like him," he said, looking down and away from her gaze, obviously not wanting to make too much eye contact at the moment- who would want to stare into Ajora's eyes? "I mean, I guess I... but..."

He sighed frustratedly, a low growl caught within it. "I'm sorry. You got caught up in our mess and I don't even think we've been properly introduced. I'm Kyle," he began, holding out his hand to shake, putting on a reassuring (yet weary- he didn't bother hiding it this time) smile. "And you are?"

[Anthony ~.~ The Black Pearl ~.~ Cargo Hold]

"Oh...," was all Anthony was able to mutter as his gaze fell to the wooden floor they sat upon. He was never good at encouraging others, and whenever it was forced he just felt it made the situation worse. He placed the lantern to the side between the two, then linked his hands together and rested them on his crossed legs.

"I'm assuming you're talking about James," he continued after a brief silence. "You know that wasn't your fault, right? We were all powerless. The most any of us could've done is yell and scream, kick and shake the prison bars, and occasional throw their shoe..." He said the last part with a smile and a chuckle, referring to the time Dawn had thrown her shoe at Ajora.

"I mean, I understand that you feel worried and scared and even confused, we're all probably feeling that right now, but lonely? How could you possibly feel so lonely on a ship full of people who care for you and your wellbeing?" Anthony paused for a moment, staring at Dawn with an expression of redundancy, feeling he didn't even need to mention the last part. "We're a team, Dawn--a single unit. Think about us as a body. We're all parts of a body--hands, feet, legs, arms, torso, head... One part can't say to the other that it isn't needed, nor is one part less significant than the other. We work together. And when one part of the body suffers, so does the other." Even though what the man said was a biblical reference, it still applied to their situation.

"Right now the body is hurting, because you're suffering... because Joe is suffering... because Jenny is suffering... because we're all suffering. Losing James didn't just effect you--though it probably did more than the rest of us given how close you two are--but it effected all of us. And until we get him back, we'll continue to suffer because one part of the body is missing." Anthony paused again to catch his breath, forgetting to breathe again since he felt he was a roll. "And rest assure, we will get James back. It's not a matter of 'if' or 'we might,' but when... You've seen the movies. The heroes always win. Trust me, I was a film major before all this. I know movies," he reassured, chuckling at the end. "Though ironically, there are a lot of films I haven't seen or even heard about..." He rolled his eyes up to the right, his lips puckered and to the side, as he pondered about the past, then shook his head and continued to speak. "Anyway... But for now, we have an injured body to attend to and comfort. Once we're back to near 100-percent, then we'll talk strategy and figure out our next move and how to save James."

Anthony took a deep breath and released it, feeling he just talked the poor girl's ear off. "Woah, sorry... I didn't mean to talk so much. When I speak, I tend to just babble on and give plenty of details so that the person I'm speaking to would better understand what I'm trying to say."

[Dawn : Black Pearl : Cargo Hold]

[Cue : Music]

Dawn looked up at Anthony, tears still in her eyes as she listened to him. Her mind focused on his words as best she could. She could see James telling her something along the lines. She felt her lips curve into a brief smile as Anthony mentioned her shoe throwing at Ajora. She had to admit that was not her smartest move. If she didn't do that, her hand wouldn't be hurting right now.

'Maybe I am being selfish right now. For being like this right now. I suppose he is right, though.'

~'Finally, someone who can talk some sense into you. Which you also got to consider something else. What would James do if he saw you like this?'~

Dawn closed her eyes as she thought about both Anthony's and Garuda's comments. She shook her head as she soon leaned in and wrapped her arms around Anthony in a hug. Though her tears were still going down her face, she still felt glad that she wasn't alone.

[Anthony ~.~ The Black Pearl ~.~ Cargo Hold]

For a moment, Anthony's body froze and tensed as Dawn wrapped her arms around him, taken back by her unanticipated embrace. Regardless of how hard he tried to fight it, his cheeks quickly flushed as he darted his eyes left to right, a sense of embarrassment filling his chest.

"Oh my gosh...," the boy thought, the voice in his head sounding rather panicked. His eyes now fell upon Dawn. "What do I do?"

Eventually, he hesitantly lifted his arms and returned the embrace, resting his chin upon her head. "It'll all work out for the best in the end," he said softly. "You'll see." Anthony held her tightly for a moment in silence as she continued to cry, allowing her tears to drench his clothes.

However, the silence did not last long as it was abruptly interrupted by the might roaring of his stomach. Gurgle gargle nargghhh ruhhhh blurrrg...! Anthony pulled away from Dawn, waving away whatever strands of her hair were caught in his beard, and chuckled nervously as he rubbed his tummy. "Uh... it appears my stomach is quite angry at me for skipping lunch," he said, feeling rather embarrassed. "Do you think we'd find any food in these crates?"

[Dawn : The Black Pearl : Cargo Hold]

Dawn stopped crying and blinked as she heard the loud grumbling of Anthony's stomach against her ear. She stared at him as she pushed her away. It wasn't long before she started to laugh a little at the situation. Ooh the little things that amused her.

Though her laughing was soon stopped by her stomach's own commentary, "Gurguguh!" That caused her to flush slightly. Her stomach was hungry too, from the sounds of it. Last time she remembered eating was back on the train. And that was a good while ago.

"Uh..." she said looking around, "I would assume so. As to which, I have no idea. I have been down here for awhile, but I haven't bothered to touch the crates."

[Amy ; Cloud ; Riku : Hawaii : Village]

Heart untainted, Amy emerged on the other side of the dark portal; Cloud and Riku followed shortly after. Riku, she noticed, had a smile on his face. Cloud, however, looked paler than usual.

There was a strange smell in the air that Amy was largely unfamiliar with, but the sheer foreignness brought to mind memories that had long lain dormant. The scenery wasn't exactly familiar to her, but the blue demon poking Bobbi was.

Amy pointed at it and muttered, "Cute. Demon." The distraction of Stitch, mixed with that odd smell, effectively pushed aside her deep musings on the nature of darkness.

The village was a little banged up, but quiet. For all appearances, an attack had occurred, but whatever danger there was had been taken care of by someone else. Instead of thinking such a thing strange, Amy found it encouraging- she even entertained ideas of the villagers fighting Ooze's henchmen off all by themselves. Eat that, storyline. You don't have to wear a ranger suit to be a hero.

Riku casually walked forward to get a better view. He stopped just short of the building's edge; there was something relaxed in his movements, his posture. The breeze played with his hair as he looked back at the group, a small, mischievous smile on his face.

He had recognized the smell from back in Angel Grove, of course, but here it was far stronger. To him, it was the most familiar thing in the world.

It was the smell of the ocean. The beach wasn't far away.

Cloud took advantage of the building they had arrived next to, and for all appearances casually leaned against it. You might call it his signature pose- arms crossed, expression guarded. Few people would recognize he was actually using the building to support himself. This feeling... would pass.

It will pass.

He looked for Leon, hoping to catch his eye. It had been a while since they had last talked... granted, they never talked much anyway.

[[Captain's Disclaimer: Don't forget, to all people with Dress Spheres: the Angel Grove Costume Effect is still in place- the worlds are merged, after all. So the moment you summon your weapons, you will enter your ranger suit.]]