open to all investigators. (3rd day of Maiden)

[creatic]

[ okay so he's pretty well known to just drive you people up a wall in telepathic conversation but in rare instances he can be serious.

And one thing the veterans, at least, know? He never starts open conversations unless he's serious and with something worth hearing. And he only says things worth hearing when he finds it dangerous. ]

Right, so, I think we might suddenly have a really big problem. Like, really big.

[ yeah he means it literally concerning it physically as much as simply metaphorically. ]

Has anyone heard of anyone around the ships talking about something called "the Grasper"?

Comments

[detectivewonder]

No, but I agree that sounds... not good. Who's been talking?

[creatic]

One of us that's infiltrating as a mermaid.

She is terrified.

[detectivewonder]

I've only spoken to one mermaid, and she didn't mention it. Does she have a description?

[pseudologist]

Doesn't ring a bell. But any monster that has its own name can't possibly be good.

[creatic]

You know, I was afraid you were going to use that word.

[ HE SORT OF TRIED TO PRETEND MAYBE IT WAS ANOTHER SHIP OR SOMETHING. but monsters are never cool, especially monsters that are in mystical type worlds with magic or the like. ]

[pseudologist]

I could use another word, but that won't change what it probably is.

[If it were a ship, he figures the question would've been about a ship and not a general something.

Besides, the timing is suspect - ships don't usually cause stampedes.]

[howexciting]

[Leonardo quietly responds after a bit of discussion on the subject. Anyone who sees him in person will see just how hesitant and nervous he is. But his thoughts are deliberate.]

It seems to me as if it might be a reference to the Leviathan. If that is the case, we are in grave danger.

[unabatedly]

[He's not the only one listening in. But she finally speaks.]

How so? What is the Leviathan?

[creatic]

[ YEAH WHAT'S A LEVIATHAN... he'll just let neria ask the questions here instead of repeat them. ]

da Vinci-san?

[ you have his full attention. ]

[unabatedly]

It doesn't sound like something we wish to tangle with.

[Neria sighs. Nothing can be easy around here, can it?]

Where did you hear of this, Souji?

[creatic]

[ of course not. ]

One of ours that's currently one of those fish people. I've seen real fear for one's life many times [ he's been the cause of it so many times ] but her level of terror was the same as a person not wanting to die watching the blade in motion as it descends on them.

The thing is, I don't feel as if it's anywhere closeby despite the strange... activity in the water.

[ a pause ] At least, not immediately so.

[unabatedly]

Then it's no longer her problem. It's ours too.

[The creature Leonardo and Souji are describing sounds diabolical and destructive, a force to be reckoned with, but they have no choice.]

I doubt we can outrun it. We can urge the captains to try to get us to shore somehow or to set sail full steam ahead. But I doubt, if the merpeople are so frightened, that we will be able to escape so easily. The captains won't want to stop, either; something's pushing them, too.

We have to try to convince them to stop...or, at least, to help our friends.

[upcard]

[Her mental tone is just as quiet as the rest of her speech is, and she's additionally ridiculously exhausted, but nonetheless, she can't let this go.

Mostly because that's terrifying.]

That's...

[um...she's seen her pirate movies probably but--]

A monster...?

[creatic]

Ah, hey, don't go all shy on me already I haven't even gotten your name yet. Anything more specific about it? [ details Mai !! remember your pirate movies, everyone's live depend on it probably. ]

[upcard]

[she can't help it, okay, it's a state of being--and also she can barely believe that this is really turning into a pirate movie???

(she remembers watching pirate movies with ikki and kent, and their commenting on the ridiculousness of the kraken, and the vertigo of the memory almost makes her dizzy, but--)]

There's...always a monster, right...? Like a kraken--In things like this...it tries to sink the ships.

[she never wanted to live in a pirates movie, okay, she's still trying to wrap her brain around this.]

[hakodate]

I hadn't heard anything yet. What've you got?

[creatic]

Agitated and Aggressive sea monster bigger than any of these ships in size and spends it's time destroying and other devouring everything it comes upon because it is unable to satiate the hunger.

If you aren't busy... I pulled her up onto the ship. [ aka come talk to this sea maiden and hear a few more further awful details. ]

[windyflower]

I never heard of it but does anyone have any idea on what we can do about it?

[creatic]

So far, all I've heard are death wails about the doom it's going to rain down on them. It sounds like it's after them, in particular, and we're just along for the ride.

What ship are you on?

[tealeafs]

[ .. when Souji calls something a big problem, then it's.. probably a real big problem, isn't it.. especially since he doesn't sound like he's just pulling some sort of prank - even if she may be oblivious, she's pretty sure this one is for real.

So she can't help but feel instantly worried. ]

Does it have something to do with how all the fish are acting strange..? [ And.. well, the merpeople, but they have been a little odd from the start since she's totally unused to them. ]

[creatic]

It seems like it. They are acting like they're running away now that I think about it, yeah?

[senseandcecilbility]

[Unfortunately, he knows what a Kraken means and is well acquainted with the Leviathan.]

Good Lord. [No seriously, Lord. He is too old for that.] The Leviathan exudes the most dreadful odor!

[creatic]

[ . . . WOW. ]

—I'm sorry, what.

[ is this really only primarily concerned with the smell? at least they'll know it's coming, right...? ]

[fixated]

[ he's a bit behind on the times, do explain more, please, souji! ]

Eh... is it something we can eat?

[ because he doesn't know about anybody else, but the ship galley on all these ships seem to be getting pretty bare and that was before all the extras descended on their decks. ]

[creatic]

. . .


[ ...WELL, TECHNICALLY... ]

Yes.