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Jacob ll Black Pearl ll Crow's Nest

Jacob said to Dawn, too lazy to peer over the side or the crow's nest. Jacob rolled back into plow pose and popped up into a balance pose for a nice stretch. "I'm bored." He said to himself.

Why not continue your quest for...self perfection?

Why don't you just shut up?

Why don't you keep lying to yourself?

Jacob sighed as he propped himself up onto his forearms into a handstand. He timidly raised himself, one hand up until he was completely vertical. His face turned a violent shade of red as the blood drained into his head. He gently lowered one leg down and braced himself onto the rickety, wooden walls of the crows nest. One hand left the floor, followed by its twin to the opposite side until Jacob spanned the diameter. His muscles felt the obvious strain as they pulsed and quivered. Jacob screamed inwardly to the moomba, like a masochistic freak.

Sayrike would have felt better talking over what to do about the upcoming battle--shouldn't they try and plan something?--but the others started getting up to leave, and she could tell that the meeting was over. To her side, Anthony chimed in, "Yeah, I believe that's about it... But, as fun as this was, this whole thing is a bit too serious for my taste, and if y'all would excuse me, I'ma go cry and cut my wrist in some corner now." Anthony stuck his hands in his pockets, grinning sheepishly, as he turned away and walked over to the stairs. Not that he minded speaking to the group, since it gave him an opportunity to get to know them all, but between the tension building up between Dawn and Kyle that led to her sudden explosion and talk of certain doom once face-to-face with the Replicas (not to mention James), he began to feel a bit bored and downcast and in need of a change in scenery.

Sayrike just stared at Anthony's bluntness, mouth slightly open, as the man walked away. She could tell it was said jokingly, but at the same time, it was just so...callous, but...something tightened in her chest, and her breathing caught, making her exhale in a sudden, rushed breath. And then...she did it again. And again. Her body started shaking slightly, and it was a second before she realized...she was desperately trying to contain her laughter. Things had been so heavy and serious, but the way Anthony had spoken...the tension was broken for Sayrike, even if it only increased the awkwardness for the others. It was a statement someone might have said among personal friends, but here...it was just inappropriate. Wasn't it? She felt a little disgusted at herself. It wasn't funny. At all. Pfft, teehee--I mean, no. Insensitive. Dang it, I need some air. she thought with some frustration.

After a few seconds of painfully keeping the chortles inside, Sayrike passed everything off as a cough. "I'm sorry, the air down here isn't exactly...sanitary, to be polite. I'm headed up to clear out my lungs." She stood up, feeling her derriere's relief at finally getting off of the wooden planks and moving again. She, too, strolled away, and as the girl neared Anthony she jogged the last few steps to catch up as he began up the stairs to the upper deck. "Hey wait up!" she called.

Anthony paused, mid-step, as Sayrike closed the gap between them. "Yeeees?" he asked innocently enough.

"What do you mean, 'Yeees'? What was that? I mean..." The man just gave her a slightly quizzical look.

"Er, I don't--Ohhh." A look of recognition came over his features. "Uh, oh that. Oops...I tend to say blunt things like that without thinking, then get in trouble for it later. But ya gotta admit, as insensitive as it may sound, things were getting rather depressing---emo, if you will."

Sayrike just rolled her eyes, making sure to exaggerate her movement so Anthony could tell what she was doing without being able to see her eyes. "You could have a little more tact about it, at least...<Even if I agree with you.>" she sent the last bit through the Trinity Charm to him. <"I'm either too optimistic or too emotionally detached to sympathize entirely with everything."> Sayrike mentally said this last bit with a hint of guilt, but also a hint of exhaustion. This entire day seemed to be one, long emotional roller coaster. Now, Sayrike was a fanatic about roller coasters, but this one was getting a bit much, despite her gradually settling into it. It was tiring.

The two of them finished walking up the steps together, emerging into the late sunlight and a fresh breeze. Both Sayrike and Anthony unconsciously took in a large, heady breath of the ocean air, feeling considerably less burdened and more lighthearted. Sayrike grinned, arms akimbo and face turned into the wind. This was the change Anthony needed... all he has seen since their capture had been the lower decks of either ship. As ironic as it may sound, something about the ocean air and the sound of water was therapeutic even though both played a part in his nausea. However, the few seconds of peace were broken by commotion on the deck. "Chickideeeeee!" a woman yelled in delight as she ran toward a surprised Dawn, but after a few steps, she tripped...and fell overboard. Anthony and Sayrike simultaneously turned to each other and began to laugh--side-splitting, ragged breath, sore-solar plexus laughter. Sayrike was doubled over, eventually having to put one hand on the floor for support. (The shout over the Trinity Charm went unheard over their guffawing.) Anthony, too, was doubled over, leaning on Sayrike's crouched figure for support. Once she was finally able to breathe, Sayrike wheezed, "Well, that looked familiar." They watched as Auron and some of the crew finished hauling the new woman back up. Anthony walked over to the railing as Sayrike stood up and did the same, leaning nonchalantly against it, their breathing gradually slowing down to normal again.

The man scoffed, "Chh, I save your life and all I get is a lousy movie quote and one of those lame air-kiss-things.." Sayrike looked over at Dawn and the newcomer, who were hugging and crying. She pointed at them. "Would you rather I do that? Because I can. And hey, Ferris Bueller is not just some 'lousy' movie, I'll have you know!"

[Michelle : Black Pearl : Above Deck]

{{Cue: Suspense}}

Michelle had been listening to the names and the mention of scars, well that was normal enough with this lot, but when the play of strong emotions washed over her Sister's face and her voice cut off after the most terrifying two words she could think of... Michelle froze. Her breath caught in her chest and her hands tightened into a crushing grip on Dawn's fingers, and her vision started to fade like she might pass out.

Michelle... Listen to me. Ask her what happened. Open your mouth girl and find out everything before you go to pieces. Breathe damn you. Michelle. Ask the question.

The old man was trying desperately hard to keep Michelle from running away, from rejection the idea of consciousness just because there was apparently a whole lot more pain to be felt then she had prepared for. It barely worked. Michelle was still perfectly prepared to go to pieces again if it was called for, if he was... lost. But the summon was right she needed to know the details. Without releasing her grip she forced her eyes to focus on Dawn's face, unaware that her own expression was a frightful mix of anticipatory agony and fiercest dread, she spoke two more words. "Tell me." her voice was barely loud enough to be called a whisper but it would be heard.

[Dani :: Hawaii :: Beach]

“Don’t worry,” Dani smiled at Bobbi before looking towards the water, “I can’t throw anyone. It would cause more damage to me, considering everyone can lift me.”

Dani then focused on the man Bobbi seemed to be concerned with. Looking at the man’s form, Dani was ready to draw her weapons if necessary. She soon learned, however, that the group was not attacking.

Relieved, Dani felt herself being pulled by Bobbi and looked up at Bobbi confused. “You okay Bobbi,” Dani asked Bobbi before they started to reach the water. Dani then found as her feet started to touch the water, her dress sphere started to change its shape of a black and dark purple bikini.

“Hey Bobbi,” Dani remembered before she got too far in the water “I am going to stay in this shallow part if that is okay.”

[ Kyle ; Sora : Caribbean : Pearl's Lower Decks ]

As Jacob left, Kyle nodded, deciding on the things he needed to get done anyway. However, shortly thereafter, there was a terrible screeching noise which, a moment later, he realized was Dawn yelling inside his head, causing him to shut one eye and have the other one remain open, his face twitching lightly.

Before he could get a read on what was going on, he heard Anthony and Sayrike make their (admittedly belittling) exit, causing a slight frown, both of annoyance and worry. They were laughing.

If they stay with us, that won't last much longer, I can guarantee that much.

As they left, Dawn called again over the charms, much more calm... and revealing that Michelle had returned, giving Kyle a pang of regret- one he chose, for once, to shove off to the side. He had more important things to do right now, that's for sure.

"Alright, well, if there's nothing else... I need to go talk with Tia Dalma privately," he said, running a hand through his hair. He'd made sure to say privately mostly due to the presence of Louis and Prote, though he easily played it off. He began to exit the brig, making his way for the deck- there was no way the Heathen Goddess of the Sea would be below deck, separated from her sea. The dragoon paused, though, turning back to look at the others. "Jenny, I might need your knowledge with something, though, so can you come along?"

Sora had long since bolted out of the room, making his way toward the deck after hearing about a man overboard- only to find Michelle coming over instead. He sighed, releasing the tension he'd built up, before looking around to see what else was going on.

[Michelle : Black Pearl : Above Deck]

{{Cue: Sadness and Sorrow}}

It didn't make sense at first, they got captured by the enemy... okay but they were here so they escaped that's good. Ajora whoever that was, one of 'replicas' as Dawn called them, Mizu had used the name too but not explained who they were... the enemy did something to James. Did what? Why was Dawn being so vague? James went after him she said. He chased him? No if Ajora simply hurt him, James would have been with the group, if he'd been kidnapped or gone on some sort of tangent, surely someone would have helped or followed after, or been tracking. Why was everyone here and safe if he was... it sunk in. Though her mind didn't get it, was trying to reject it, her heart understood. James had not gone after Ajora... he had gone with Ajora.

Memories of the darkness, of the cold, of the numb... of the horror of not having been herself came flooding back as she thought of the trial she and James had been put through just before she left for the Castle. Darkness and Light were more than just words, more then products of sunlight and shadows here. In this strange universe they were entities and power unto themselves.

Michelle did not have to wonder if James had changed, she knew him heart and soul and the only reason he would join with his enemies was if darkness other than his own had a hold on him. Dawn had said that Ajora did something to James while they were captive, and that something was the reason behind his betrayal and absence from this ship. So she would just have to do anything and everything, whatever it took to bring the balance of light back to his heart as he had once hers.

As she processed the knowledge of why her beloved was not aboard silent tears flowed down her face allowing the pain in her chest to ease enough for breathing. So that is what she did, breathe, just keep breathing. If I shut myself away I can't bring him back or help anyone else along the way.

That's right little one. You are learning to cope, to live again, and I'm proud of you. The Summon's voice was full of ancient fatherly tenderness, and wisdom, and it was comforting.

Thanks Gramps... I know I'm not alone. No matter how much this hurts it's better than not feeling at all. For each tear shed a balance of joy and happiness to come can be looked forward to with faith. We will be together again, I choose to believe because trying to acknowledge what I could never accept is a waste of time.

"Dawn could you please tell me where this ship is headed. What are we doing right now?" Her tone was a little distant, a little distracted, but it wasn't lifeless or cold to freak her out. Michelle knew that her sister would understand, that she didn't comment on the news about James or ask more questions because she needed to process in private.

[ Kyle : Caribbean : Pearl's Lower Decks -> On Deck]

"No need to apologize, silly," Kyle said, his tone becoming playful for the moment (even if it was obvious he had other things on his mind by the undercurrents in his tone). He tried to give her a reassuring smile as the two slowly made their way through the ship's lower quarters, looking for the stairwell up.

"Hey, look, I, uh," he said, the volume of his voice dropping so that only she could hear him as they continued onward. "I wanted to apologize... about Ajora and Alice. I can't help but feel that, I dunno... maybe Ajora did something to that girl when we lost track of her. I..."

He tried to speak, but he didn't really know what he wanted to say. He wanted to give his apologies, his condolences, but... he wasn't sure how. How to word it, what exactly he was trying to say... even he didn't know. It's just something he felt he needed to do.