We've got cabin fever! (closed to the Pirates de les Cirque)

Le Mystère drifted slowly along the ocean waves, riding on the salty breeze. Everything around the ship was relaxed and calm. This was the first time it had been so in a while. The Pirates de les Cirque certainly had to rush around a lot recently; running from marines, racing other pirates—the usual things. For a time, Captain Jean Lafayette was certainly glad he got bored with the race and had decided to drop out. Even lunatics enjoy a little peace and quiet every now and then. Then again—after a while they became restless and Jean was most definitely growing restless.

Hanging upside down from his knees across the mainsail, Jean sat in deep thought. He always thought better when he was upside down and suspended quite far away from the ground. His new crew ran through his mind over and over. Obviously he was desperate for a crew when he began taking on random strangers. Now he wasn’t sure if some of them were even pirate material. Of course that was something that could be remedied, but he would much rather have people who were ready for action than people he would have to shape into impeccable fighters.

Today would set the basis for his relationship with his new comrades for sure. Chuckling darkly, Jean slid off of the support, flipped himself upright and landed gracefully on his feet. Who would be his first victim today? Who looked the most idle and off-guard?

Not far off, Ziv had been practicing her dancing, a few of her siblings watching her curiously. It was a new one, something they appearantly danced in the south blue.... Of course, Ziv didn't know that, she had just seen a girl dance it on the festival Jean had... found her.
When her new captain suddenly landed on deck, she winced a little, but watched curiously.
She hadn't even known he had been there...
By the sound of his feet touching the ground, her siblings had scattered into all directions, disappearing into shadows or tight corners, out of sight.
They were afraid of this man, just like they were afraid of the catman, as Ziv had nicknamed her crewmate.
Maybe they were right...

sonthiol walked into out of his ship and grabbed some food he was completely unaware of the ship drifting by him about 70 metres away. sonthiol needed to survive until he got to the next island he was sorting out medical supplies and cooking his food he was thinking (god why does it take so long to travel) sonthiol had been on the sea for 2 weeks and he had ran out of most supplies and he wasnt scared but he was annoyed.

Near the side of the ship, Jackson stared out towards the sea with a unchanging, blank expression that a stone statue could envy. His head rested on the railing of the ship while his arms dangled over it, limply swaying back and forth when the vessel hit a strong wave every now and then. Jackson hasn't become this bored for quite a while.

Generally, whenever his life became this void of excitement, he'd simply make a bit of trouble and that'd fix it quite nicely, but Lafayette didn't seem like the type that would enjoy something important being stolen from him or the kitchen spontaneously starting aflame. Getting on that man's nerves seemed like a one-way ticket to the underworld, so Jackson continued watching the clouds pass by.

As if someone, somewhere had answered his unsaid prayer, he spotted an unmarked ship a distance away. A gleam appeared in his eyes, and a sneer on his face. Today could be surprisingly fruitful after all.

"Captain!" he hollered, waving an arm in the air to gain his attention. "There's an unidentified vessel floatin' over there... Can we shoot it? Give them wrong directions if they're lost? Something?" His tone of voice became increasingly desperate near the end of his report, hoping that Lafayette wouldn't disappoint. It was true that the man seemed to be chronically insane, but he sure knew how to have a good time.

sonthiol turned his head to the noise then turned the ship then he generated thousands of cherry blossum petals and used them to gust forward to give his ship propulsion. if it was a ship and not just in his head they would be able to help him .sonthiol just thought if they could help would they get him food because his supplies were nearly out.

(just to make sure you post me out




dont)

(I HAVE COME BACK TO LIFE!!!!)

Dashing up to Jackson, Jean leaped up onto the railing and perched atop it like some odd, monochromatic and exotic bird. Quirking his head to the side he looked at the small, floating craft and the flurry of flower petals. Whoever it was on the sorry little craft out there had to have been mad to sail such a small thing in the open ocean of the Grand Line so far away from land. Twirling the end of his mustache between his thumb and index finger he smirked. Mad wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Then again... he was bored.

"Let it get a little closer Jackson my good man." he said, patting him roughly on the shoulder. "I'll go get the cannon and we can have a little fun!"

(IT'S LIKE A DREAM! I was worrying about you already... But nevermind my spamming: nice pic you got there. almost gave me a heartattack.)

((... And the masses rejoice! Good to see you back again.))

Although he was lethargic and sluggish only moments ago, hearing the beautiful word 'cannon' was enough to perk Jackson right up. He lifted his head off the ship's reiling to glance upward at Lafayette on his perch to see that smirk of his, often a beacon of trouble just waiting to occur.

"I have no objections," Jackson replied enthusiastically, standing up without delay and moving towards the storage room with a slight spring to his step. It wasn't long before he returned moments later rolling a wooden barrel that appeared to be filled with gun powder across the deck. He eventually rolled it near the side of the ship before propping it back upright, and proceeded to wait expectantly for the fun to begin. From the corner of his eye, though, he then noticed that Ziv wasn't sharing in their pleasure and was simply dancing near by.

"Aren't you going to watch at least?" he grumbled, baffled at how anyone couldn't be excited about firing at a passing ship after such a dull morning.

sonthiol's ship knocked into the larger ship he put down a seed and instantly bloomed it into a tree using each branch as a step making a spiral staircase to eventually stepping onto the ship and he could sense two people, a wall and a large object

The cat again... Ziv stopped her dancing and gave him a distrusting, suspicious look from her violet eyes. She was less than enthusiastic about whatever they tried to do... If cannons were involved, it only meant trouble. Still, she supposed she had to at least try to get along with even the cat a little. At least enough to keep him from hunting her siblings. She was positive there had been less of them lately...
Preparing for the worst to happen, she tied her long hair into a ponytail (it was always in the way when she tried to run away) before taking Abo up into her arms and slowly edging closer to the men, not taking her eyes of the cat for even one moment. With those two, she never knew who to trust less... Or who to fear more.

(is anyone going to post?)

(Patience, young poster. You need a lot of it with this one. If you're into fast posting, then this isn't really the place you might want to look.)

Jean was most disappointed for the time being. Firstly because of Ziv's lack of enthusiasm in their little game they were about to play. Two because Jackson was too slow to retrieve the cannon and thirdly, because their target had miraculously ended up on their ship faster than one could say 'Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis.' Eying the stranger curiously, he circled him like a vulture would it's next meal. It wasn't everyday you saw a blindfolded albino.

"Well, well, well gents. What do we have here?" he said, jabbing at the albino's legs with his staff. "It seems we almost made a terrible mistake my friends. Good sir, if you hadn't come aboard, we would have blown your ship out of the water." The concerned words lost their meaning with his sneering tone. Jean wouldn't lie if you had asked him. He was really looking forward to blowing him up.

"What brings you aboard my fair ship? Mr...?"

Jackson gave a disgruntled huff in response to yet another one of Ziv's distrustful stares. It was uncomfortable to be at the receiving end of them, as the way she did it without saying a single word was rather unnerving. He generally couldn't understand the reasoning behind them, unless her vermin could somehow tell on him, and that wouldn't surprise him for some reason... Maybe he did deserve the looks after all.

Moments before his excitement couldn't have been contained for much longer, it quickly deflated as the person about to suffer for their enjoyment stepped on board. The poor timing was horribly inconvenient and disheartening.

"Would have?" Jackson chimed in, his previous enthusiasm being replaced by a heavy air of disappointment. Even if the blind guy had somehow caught wind of their plot, he couldn't, or didn't want to, understand why their only form of quality entertainment had to be cancelled so easily.

Why did he always have to stick his nose into things he shouldn't? Didn't he know how Jean didn't like to be interrupted? Or, well, maybe he did, or maybe he did sometimes, or... Ziv really didn't know, but she thought it a bad idea never the less.
She stood closely behind the cat, looking over his shoulder curiously. That newcomer didn't seem trustworthy to her. So much so that she found herself wishing they had blown him out of the water.

-Some time later-

Ziv found herself out on deck. She was alone, or at least she thought she was, and it was already dark. She turned her head left and right, looking for some sign of her... captain. A menacing thought, to be in his clutches, obey every thing he said. She had met many menacing men, but compared to him, they seemed... harmless. Some of them, she was sure, had been a lot more dangerous and wanted than him, but they lacked the darkness he had, that fun he had when playing the game he was master in.
Slowly, Ziv stepped out on deck. There was one boat on the side, she knew, and that was her goal. Carefully, she set one foot in front of the other. Being on this ship felt like a huge, black cat was lowering right over her. She couldn't even sleep that well anymore, and she wasn't a sound sleeper to begin with.
Finally, she reached the small lifeoboat. One last time, she checked the small bag she had with her. She had her few dancing outfits, Abo was curled up in between them, sleeping, he squeaked a bit when her finger touched him. She didn't have any money, which was bad, but she couldn't rob him... maybe that'd make him mad. She already took some of the food, just so that her and her family didn't have to starve while on sea.
One last breath, and she was ready. Slowly, she started letting the lifeboat into the water.

Jackson had been keeping an eye on that lone lifeboat for some time now. It was perhaps his only means of salvation from this bizarre, outlandish group. Even Jackson could proudly say he had some standards, and the possibility that their tendencies could eventually wear off on him was disturbing. A fleeting image of the captain passed his mind's eye, and he inevitably shuddered. Staying much longer couldn't be good for his health.

The knob of a door turned, enough to barely open up the door. Catiously peeking around the edge of it for a moment, Jackson eventually slunk with care onto the deck. His eyes darted towards the side of the ship where the small boat would be hanging, only to stare in disbelief when he saw someone already occupying it. The lifeboat was already being lowered into the water by this point, and he snarled at the thought of being beaten to the only means of escape. He bolted towards the side of ship and leapt onto the reiling, where he crouched and glared downwards.

"Taking a late night walk, are we?" he mumured savagely. Someone had enough audacity to try and escape without him... How insulting. Jackson couldn't even make out who this person, since the shadow of the ship was enough to block the moon's glow and prevent him from getting a good look at them.

Ziv winced at the words, in shock, she let go of the rope and the life boat fell into the water hard, producing some smaller ripples and big splashes.
She held on to the reiling, and didn't fall out, but it was close. Angrily, but also fearful, she glared up to the ship. For one moment, she had thought it was the captain, the words and the tone would fit him, she imagined, but now that she thought about it, they lacked the certain madness usually assembled with the man. Also, it wasn't his voice. The words had been really quiet, and she couldn't make out whos voice it was yet, until her eyes made out the cat man. Her face took on an even more displeased look. Damn that cat! At least she thought it was him, judging from the silhouette on the reiling.

The lifeboat's sudden drop was enough to startle Jackson to the point of nearly falling in after it, but he was able to claw onto the railing and prevent the slip. Wide eyed, his hands seemed hesitant to leave to wood which it was grabbing onto, and would have probably required to be pried off if not for the loud smack the boat made as it fell onto the surface of the water.

His shock transitioned to a silent expression of alarm when it dawned upon him that the sound could've been enough to wake an unfriendly face. Getting caught at this point wouldn't be any good, so he released his grip from the railing and fell down into the lifeboat below. He was perfectly aware that someone else was in the raft, which didn't even have much space to spare in the first place, but he landed on all fours before looking up at the other passenger whom he had yet to identify.

Initially, he was strongly considering pushing the person out of the boat and being done with it, but Jackson smacked a hand to his mouth to contain an outcry as he recognized the silhouette to be Ziv. She was probably the second to last person he wanted to see sitting there, second only to the captain and possibly his female companion.

Whether it was paranoia or incredibly skilled hearing, Jackson could've sworn he heard someone's footsteps inside the ship. He immediately grabbed for the nearest paddle and tossed the other towards Ziv, holding a finger up to his mouth to convey the need for them to get away quickly yet silently. This gesture, of course, was rather unnecessary... Ziv couldn't exactly cry out, even if she had wanted to.

What? What!? No!
She didn't want him to come with her! Not him! The weird painter, or anyone else on the ship (except the captain), okay. But not the damn cat!
Ziv caught the paddel he had tossed to her out of reflex, but felt the strong urge to throw it at his head, perhaps in hopes it'd be enough to make him fall out of the small boat. Devil fruit users like him were useless in the sea surrounding it, after all...
But she surpressed the urge and instead gave him a long, spiteful glare. Maybe if she kept glaring like that, he'd jump out of the lifeboat (that she had conquered first! Who did he think he was?) himself.
This or that way, she'd do hell to be the first one to work. Not on the orders of a cat, at least. If he wanted to come, he'd have to be the one to start!

Marvelous. This was going to be one heck of a moonlit boat-ride. It was bound to be freezing and wet, not to mention he could be stuck in that bitty boat for days on end with only Ziv and her small monstrosities for company. They could come across marines, other pirates, man-eating fish...

And Ziv actually being of use for any of this was doubtful, as it always was. She sure had a talent for glaring at people, though. He imagined for a brief moment how nice it would've been if she was both blind and mute, so he wouldn't have to deal with that hateful glower of hers on a daily basis.

He returned her silent stare with a scowl of his own, albeit with something a bit less spiteful and slightly more cynical. When he realized that he probably wouldn't be able to win this staring contest, he rolled his eyes and turned his head away to avoid looking directly at her for any longer.

"You're too kind..." he grumbled bitterly, taking his oar in hand and pushing it into the water before removing it for a second stroke. "Do something useful for once in your life and start paddling. Even you should be capable of doing that. There's no way in hell I'm doing all the work, and captain's not here to let you slack off this time."

The duo was certainly being watched. Both Jean and Shira sat silently in the shadows, watching them curiously. It was no surprise that they wanted out, but that was not going to be an option for them. No matter what it took, Jean would not lose his... precious crewmates. With nothing but a glance at Shira and a nod, the red-headed contortionist took off running, flipped off of the side of the boat and landed on a low crouch on the now, rocking dinghy.

"Going somewhere lovebirds?" she sneered in a low rumble.

(ooc: bah! sorry it's short! I'm sneaking computer time... I'm supposed to be filling out college apps. :/)

Ziv winced even more violently than before, her knuckles turned white when her grib on the paddel increased.
They had been spotted! By that... woman, no less. The captain had to be nearby! This was a nightmare. Even worse than being stuck with the cat.
Speaking of him, it was all his fault! If he hadn't disturbed her, she'd be long gone already! She felt the deep desire to resume her spiteful glaring, but made it a lot shorter. She just couldn't let the woman out of her sight for long.
though, maybe they'd throw him in the water as punishment... Everything had a good side.

Shira's sudden appearance nearly caused Jackson to leap out of the boat in surprise. If she knew, then the captain must have an idea of what they were doing as well. If he knew, well... Things were not looking bright. Suddenly, being lost in the middle of the ocean on a dingy didn't sound too bad anymore.

"Sh-Shira!" he finally was able to spit out with difficulty. He considered fighting back for a moment, but Lafayette was probably expecting such a thing. There was no reason to make the situation worse than it already was.