Yoruyounaka Kaizokudan: Unknown Winter Island (open to anyone)

A puff of vapor emitted from Phinneas’s mouth as he scoffed and scowled at his snowy, white surroundings. He hated winter islands. It was far too cold and the snow was a pain to deal with. Rubbing his gloved hands together, trying to generate enough heat to bring warmth to his fingers, he looked back towards the ship to his sister. She was waving her blue-mittened hands, giving orders, trying to get the sails up before they froze where they were. Captain Oceana Edwards didn’t particularly like winter islands herself, but everyone had a serious case of cabin-fever and the chance to walk on land was a welcoming idea.

“Captain, are you sure it’s alright to stop at now of all times?” Her first mate Nova asked tentatively, “We were so very close to a shichibukai.” Oceana grimaced at the thought. They almost had one not too long ago, but they had escaped from her grasp. Sighing and adjusting the baby-blue, felt beret on her head she let out a sound between a sob, a laugh and a grunt of frustration.

“Yes I’m sure Nova.” She said quickly, “The well-being of my crew comes before my need for vengeance.” Turning her gaze from the tall, dark-haired man, she looked out at the bleak, white surrounding area. Phinneas was already heading inland towards the plumes of smoke that barely peeked over the trees. Whatever the name of this God-forsaken island was, it at least appeared to have signs of life.

"Brr, cold" Jackson was walking along the shore of the island. He didn't want to get lost from his boat, if he couldn't find anything or anyone here. He clutched his trenchcoat closer to himself, continuing walking.
After a while of walking, he saw a ship "So there's someone here?" Avarill walked closer, noting the pirate flag on the ship. There were people on it "Oi! Fellow pirates!" Avarill shouted to the crew of the ship.

Head snapping towards the source of the sound, Phinneas frowned at the large frame of the man that approached. He looked a little less than a head taller than he was. The scowl turned into a look of indifference as he continued shuffling towards the forest.
"Oceana, you're being summoned." He called, without a so much as a glance over his shoulder. Narrowing her eyes, she scanned the landscape and rested on the large, muscular bulk of a man. Raising her eyebrows, she looked back towards Nova, then to her brother as he departed and back to the stranger. It seemed she was doomed to be surrounded by tall men. Chuckling softly at her own expense, she bounded down the gang-plank into the snow.
"What makes you think we're pirates?" she said with a facetious grin. It wasn't like they had their Jolly Roger all across the mainsail and flying high above the crows nest. No-- not at all. Approaching him, she stuck out her hand in a friendly gesture, "Hello good sir, and what might bring you out to this frost-bound hinterland?"

"I'm lost." Avarill said "I landed in hopes of finding something to get me back on track. I just recently escaped imprisonment." Avarill shook Oceana's hand. "What are you doing here though?"

Letting out a melodic laugh Oceana shook her head slightly. A prison escapee, now lost on a frozen island... looks like she had another mouth to feed.
"My crew and I are stopping to rest, restock and get rid of a bad case of cabin-fever." she said, not really going into much detail. That was all that he really needed to know. Debating for a short moment with herself, she looked up to the stranger again.
"You must be weary, why don't you come have lunch over on my ship?" she asked politely, "I'll have to get your name first though." she added with a wink.

"Thanks, that would be nice" Avarill replies to Oceana's proposal in a similarly polite manner "I'm Avarill. Is there anything I could do for you in exchange?" Avarill asks, hunching slightly and bringing his head to Oceana's level "I'd hate to be a freeloader." Avarill adds with a slight laugh.

Returning the jovial gesture, she laughed lightly as well. Looping her arm through his, forcing him into a formal escort position, she began walking towards the Ethereal. Looking over the light-colored galleon with it’s dark navy sails and elaborate, angel figurehead, she went over the mental checklist she had made earlier that week during inspection.

“Well, I’m sure I could find a number of jobs for you if that’s what you’re concerned about.” She said, “For now, you can relax for a bit and meet my friends.” Leading him up the gang-plank onto the deck, she curled her finger, motioning Nova over towards them. “Avarill, this is my long-time friend and first mate, Nova Erikson.”

“Pleasure to meet you.” Nova said cordially, offering a large hand, about the size of a trash-can lid.

Ranyx crawled out of the bowels of the ship, yawning. "Good morning..." he said, with his eyes half closed. When he fully opened them, he noticed that there was one more person extra on board. "Oh dang," Ranyx said, "Did I oversleep again?"

Looking up towards someone for once, Avarill shook the giant's (in the sense of a really big person, not an actual giant) hand. "Pleased to meet you as well." He turned to see the person who just came from belowdeck "Good morning to you too."

"Glad you could join the living" Nova said, roughly patting Ranyx's shoulder before he disappeared into the galley. Oceana smiled at Ranyx and repeated Nova's gesture. Realizing she forgot something, her eyes widened and she gasped, looking a little flustered.
"Dear me Avarill, I don't believe I ever gave you my name." she said, "I'm Captain Oceana S. Edwards, at your service. This is Ranyx Hadmeas, one of my newer cremates."

"I'm sorry! It's been years since I've been on the sea, in case you've forgotten!" Ranyx said jokingly before he stretched out a bit. He waved to the new guy and said, "Hello, Avarill." Addressing Oceana, he whispered, "Um... what's going on?"

"Oh the poor man's an escaped convict and he's utterly lost." she explained, "I've just invited him to lunch so he can rest up for a while." If there was one trait that people who knew her father could recognize in Oceana, was her kind heart and open attitude towards other people. "Nova just left to go fix up some sandwiches."

"Oh they were going to put me in Impel Down of all places." Avarill pipes in "Apparently I'm that bad." He then switched note "Anyway, thanks for the offer. It's rare to see such generosity as a pirate. Or from pirates for that matter."

"Oh, okay," Ranyx replied, smiling. Addressing Avarill, Ranyx said, "You know, some of us are in it for the fun of it: myself included. You can't ever judge a book by its cover, eh?"

"Oh I know." Avarill replied "I'm a pirate myself. Most pirates, unfortunately, are not in it for the fun." Avarill sighed.

Impel Down... the mere mention of the place sent shivers down Oceana's spine. Every pirate, renegade or other such person that entered the doors, never left... except for Golden Lion Shiki about a year ago. That in of itself was a miracle for him. This made her wonder what he had done to deserve such a sentence and which of the hells we would enter.

"Well those are the pirates that don't know how to live life." Oceana said almost sharply, "Anyone that isn't at sea because they love it, shouldn't be out here. Piracy certainly isn't just a title or a lifestyle; it's the gateway to freedom." It was a touchy subject for her. Those were her father's beliefs and she would carry those beliefs on for him. "As for my generous tendencies? It's my honor to serve a fellow seafarer."

Hateshi was seated by a rock. he looked at them and spoke up, 'May i ask why you are all here for? After all to see a stirng of pirates together something obviouslly must be up no?" The 20 year old jumped down from the rock and looked over each of them with carefuly eyes. Two impact dials in his hands at the ready.

Hey i won't be able to post as much for the next week. Download is nearly all gone. We get access of morning so i can post then

"Heh, no, we're not up to something," Ranyx smiled, lifting up his right leg. "Is there a problem?"

Hateshi looked at them slowly putting the impact dials away but still ready just encase, "Yes well i just don't trust you. I can't tell what your up to. So why exactly should i believe you?"

Likewise, Ranyx lowered his right leg, but he was prepared for the worst. "Because you have no other information. You can only believe the information given you, amiright?"

Giving the newcomer a dry look, Oceana kept herself from rolling her eyes. True it was hard to trust people out on the seas, but openly saying to them was most likely going to rub them the wrong way. Phinneas could have told the lad THOUSANDS of similar stories from his own experiences. Thrusting her hands on her hips and settling roughly on her left leg, she raised a brow. Every part of her body language let him know she was annoyed.

"Can't pirates simply socialize amongst each other?" she asked in a patronizing tone, "Is it a rule that we have to be plotting something nefarious or dastardly when we get together? We were simply about to have lunch." Hesitating, she realized how harsh her tone was starting to sound. Shaking her head, she then gave the stranger a soft smile. "You're welcome to join us if you'd like."

Hateshi looked at Phinneas then at Oceana. His eyes narrowing at her. he merely shrugged his shoulders at her as she patronized him, 'If i needed to be patronized i would go to my own mother. But sadly your not hurt." he turned and waved them off as he slowly walked off, 'And i would i eat lunch with you?Im a pirate just like you. So you wouldn't know what i was planning."

Tossing her head back, Oceana let out a loud guffaw. About doubling over with laughter, she slapped Ranyx on the back and tried to catch her breath. Slowly her laughter subsided into giggles as she wiped away the moisture that had just accumulated in her eyes.

"There's one thing you have right there boy-o." she said, "I'm not your mother. You're far too old and you lack the manners I would teach my offspring. Right now though m'dear, you have two choices, either follow my brother, who would surely gut you, or come have lunch. I promise we don't bite unless provoked."

Hateshi turned to her as she spoke. His impact dials in his hands as he stared at her, 'Are you trying to threaten me into having lunch with you?" His eyes narrowed as he glared at her. He clenched his fists as he held the dials, "And beside im glad your not moy mother."