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.

[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.

[triggerhappytraitor]

He's a Siren.

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

[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.

[chalicejoker]

Well, I am a fighter, and he wasn't impressed with me, either.

But yeah, he has no use for any of us.

[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...

[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.

[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 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]]

[chalicejoker]

...I see you ran into him again.

And he'd better worry about the consequences, because now I'm really pissed off.

[chalicejoker]

Fighting underwater takes some getting used to. I can't run quite as wild as I could on the land--it's a work in progress down here.

But I can try to help other people figure it out, too.

[venetianprince]

I don't like it. People who just see people like that...

I've seen Nations fall by hands like his.

[venetianprince]

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

[chalicejoker]

I'm not going to let him win.

[shiroganeheir]

Yes, that does seem a bit difficult. Good luck.

If there is anything you all need, please let us know, and we can coordinate.

[awitchdidit]

I was a bit disappointed that I didn't retain my expertise with Koroshima weaponry when I left Yuki's consciousness. If I can't bother fellow former ninjas for that, I would appreciate some concealable weapons lessons in general.

[triggerhappytraitor]

Are you trying to escalate this out of control?

He can create Songs that do whatever he wants, will use them without hesitation, and already sees you as a threat. He's flat out told me he doesn't have morals.

[chalicejoker]

...I can get earplugs.

[awitchdidit]

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

[chalicejoker]

We're going to have to--who knows what the humans on the other boat are like, if their mermaids are this bad.

[chalicejoker]

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

So they haven't made the greatest of impressions.

[triggerhappytraitor]

There is more at stake here than your pride, Hajime!