Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?

[chalicejoker]

Heads up--if you run into Teruo, Kinji's infiltration, some kind of yellow sea snake mermaid--be really damn careful. He's a menace.

Asshole goaded me into what I thought was a spar, but then he started singing, and it...

[Hajime's mental voice trails off in embarassment here before picking up again.]

Look, I'm not proud of it, but it's hard to get me to back down from a fight. And what he did, it...I just stopped fighting. Didn't even think to defend myself. He kept it up long enough to hit me with a cheap sucker punch.

[The irritation is just coming off his mental voice here.]

He also said several times that if I was a warrior, I should be sticking closer to the boat and protecting my school--I'm still not sure if that was a threat or not. I wouldn't put anything past him.

...and if you do end up talking to him and he mentions someone named Chalice, that's me--I'm not about to go by my real name in the same world as the Bando, even if I'm a fish this time around.

Comments

[venetianprince]

V-Ve... I ran into him too. He's cruel... If I hadn't run away when I did...

[chalicejoker]

...dammit, you're not even a threat.

[There's a long pause.]

No offense.

[venetianprince]

I was trying to be friendly...! But he got really aggressive when I mentioned the idea of our schools working together... he doesn't trust or care about us at all.

To him, it's better if we die somewhere far from here so they can keep their peace hidden...

Ah... haha... no, it's alright. I'm not much of a fighter, so... he didn't seem impressed with me.

[awfullyironic]

-=WHAT WHAT WHAT=-

So where's this asshole now?

[chalicejoker]

Probably with the other ship.

Bright yellow and black snake, full of himself, can't miss him.

I've got dibs on tying him into a knot.

[venetianprince]

Ah, I left him behind by some of the trenches, but... I think we should all just avoid him...!

[shiroganeheir]

We should keep more watch on the ship, in that case. I have not seen anything, but that does not mean much. I can help defend things if they get on the ship, but those of you in the water will likely be of more help.

[chalicejoker]

I've got weapons now, at least. Went back into Liminal and made some after that first night.

I can hook anyone else in the water up with some, too, if you're comfortable with that.

[shiroganeheir]

As long as they are comfortable wielding the weapons, please do. I have some experience with blades, but more with firearms, which is somewhat less useful in our current situation. My main method of attack, while... pretentious, is possibly not that far out of the realm of possibility in this world.

If anyone wishes a quick lesson on throwing kunai, I would be happy to help.

[triggerhappytraitor]

He's a Siren.

[[Very tense, but hey, he's actually using the network! Be gentle.]]

[chalicejoker]

Makes sense with the way he had to have been planning that. Bastard needs to fight me directly if he's going to try to fight me at all...

[triggerhappytraitor]

He won't.

He's addicted to Song. Any excuse to use that power for what he thinks is the good of his people, he'll take.

No matter what the consequence.

[[So much worry. So much uncomfortable 'been there done that' worry]]

[professorwolf]

You've spoken with him? Kinji?

[Derailing from the bickering match, okay. That sounded important, and unlike with Feli who's already basically said everything about that conversation, Tachibana hasn't.]

What all did he say?

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[a small pause because no, he does not want to yell at Lyall, one moment, let him just... disengage from yelling mode]]

Yeah. He's second in command of his school. Doesn't really listen much to his leader despite saying he respects her. He thinks she's too soft.

[[can you see why he's abit worried here]]

[awitchdidit]

He was with the other ship, correct? Do they seem generally hostile or was it just the one merman?

[chalicejoker]

He's the only one I've run into so far.

So they haven't made the greatest of impressions.

[awitchdidit]

Did he mention anything about his group's allegiance?

[professorwolf]

Hajime, come get earplugs from me in liminal space immediately, please. And keep your distance from this person.

[His voice is calm, but the pack bond is full of all sorts of alarm.]

[chalicejoker]

Yeah, yeah, I'm coming.

[He is...not addressing the second part of this. He can handle himself.]

[Jumping to action]

[professorwolf]

[Lyall is in liminal space when Hajime portals in there, by the pool of statue tears, because he's aware by now that it's there and it's a convenient place for merpeople to appear. He has earplugs in hand, and a stern expression on his face.]

[theflyingone]

Have someone teach you to protect your mind. If we Travelers pick up skills right and left, we may as well have that. The theory is that the same power that makes network conversations private also shields your mind from outside forces.

[chalicejoker]

I've got some protection, but...he caught me off guard. Really off guard.

I'll be ready next time.

[thornsofmalkav]

Oh Jesus fucking Christ.

That was the Song of Calming all right.

[chalicejoker]

You know what it is...do you know any way to counteract it?

[professorwolf]

Thorne, do you know a lot about this sort of magic? I only know Alcuin knows a lot about it, but hasn't checked in yet. We need to know what all it can do before anyone tries to do anything rash.