Cherry Recruitment #2-Beer, Onsen,and Women (Jack)

[lily]

It was very early in the morning when the Bedrock which was boarded by Tracey Reddo, Sora, and Morgana began to enter the waters of Shirve Mountain. It was so early in the morning that the sun wasn't out yet and their were barely any ships out in the harbor that were moving around or any people out on the docks besides a group of 4 who were monitoring people who entered the harbor making sure they weren't here to destroy anything or pillage the town as the had the Rock Bandits to deal with anyways.

So Tracey who was barely able to keep awake was sitting on the bow of the ship looking out for land as she kept Sora and Morgana resting due to their injuries from before when they had engaged the Bombardment Pirates and managed to win. So as Tracey sat on the ship with a blanket wrapped around her due to the cold of being in the North Blue at early morning she watched as she saw the dock light come into view and immediately lit up and she hopped down and ran into the room where Sora was and then Morgana saying "We're going to dock soon! Then we'll all get patched up!" she smiled at both of them as the boat got closer and closer to being docked and the people at the dock came to surround the boat in case they tried something.

(OOC:Alright so Harusame and Jack. We're each gonna post twice...and then Flash can post with Jack just going with the flow..)

[BEX]

“Burn you! Will you bloody shut up?” Morgana snapped back in a half dazed fit. Immediately her cheeks burned with embarrassment at her lack of tact. Discretion and control were two things drilled well into the hearts and souls of the Aiel people, yet it seemed the longer she remained away from her lands, the more she became prone to outlander habits. “I’ve brought shame upon myself. Please forgive me.”

Wounds or no wounds the messy haired merchant sprung from her sheets without a stitch of clothing on to prostrate herself at Tracey’s feet. Forehead pressed firmly to the ground she waited resolvedly for the blow that she thought should have been coming with a soldier’s sense of duty. It was not an act of servitude or humility instead it was a matter of her pride and honor. Where she came from when you wronged someone you risked proving yourself a dishonorable and without pride in yourself—the worst insult that an Aiel could ever be faced whether warrior or housewife. As such whenever wrong, an Aiel would commonly throw themselves at the mercy of the wronged and not uncommonly punish themselves equivalent to the value that was attributed to their sense of justice. For this reason Morgana knelt willingly ready for any atonement that Tracey might have sought to take against her, but it seemed such matters would have to wait as voices called from the dock. Raising her slightly flushed face—bowing to anyone was never her style—Morgana stared at the doorway of the room where she became more aware of various number of early morning sounds associated with a town of significant size.

“Where exactly are we?” she asked with a single swipe at an unruly tongue of fiery red hair. No sooner than she’d voiced her curiosity did the sound of thumping boots ring loudly on the main deck. Had injury not prevented her Morgana would have seen to it that the unannounced intruders paid dearly for their lack of formalities, but as it was pain sent her toppling face first into the ground. At Tracey’s feet once again. “Em…sister, you wouldn’t mind dressing me would you?” Heat once again licked at her cheeks. Anymore of this and she really would begin to believe she was confused teenage girl in heat!

[Harusame]

Awake. Restless. Confused. Sora was in full wake as he sat on the bed, not even feeling a drop of sleep hit him. He had slept for a long time and his body was starting to get this uneasy feeling of restlessness. He was restless to get up and start walking again but do to his injuries; he had decided to stay in bed until Tracey called him. And as he sat there, he thought of those odd dreams he had. The ones about a little girl named Asta. He was confused and wondered if she really was his sister. His mind stuck on the subject. He had a stern face on until Tracey busted through the front door and shouted "We're going to dock soon! Then we'll all get patched up!"

Sora's thought of the dream faded away. I'm finally getting out of this damn bed! He sat up and looked at Tracey with a smile. Aye, Aye Captain Tracey! Then she jetted to Morgana's room. Sora had slept all that time with only a t shirt and some cotton pants he had for sleep. He went to his closest slowly due to his stomach wound and dressed up. Then when he was dressed up he went to his counter and picked up a bag of marshmallows that lay there. Before he put it in his jacket he took one and plopped it in his mouth. Mmmm. Marshmallows just make my day. Then he put them in his jacket and walked up the steps to Tracey. Hey Tracey! So where are we now?

[lily]

Tracey looked at Morgana who had managed to limp out with her injuries almost as intense as to when she first got them and as she fell to the ground and bowed at Tracey expecting some sort of punishment Tracey cocked an eyebrow and said "What are you doing? Do you need help standing?" As Morgana managed to stand up herself Tracey smiled but then she fell again to which odd enough...Tracey began to laugh. When Morgana asked if Tracey could dress her she smiled brightly and said "That's what crewmates are for!" and procedded to lift Morgana up and carry her back to her room before she heard Sora say from behind her "Where are we now Captain Tracey?" Tracey turned as she carried Morgana back to the room and said with a smile and dumbfounded laugh "I have no idea! The lady in purple on that Lester guys' crew just gave me a weird compass thingy and told me this is where we could get healed for all our injuries." she then began to walk Morgana over to the bed and yelled out to Sora "You could ask the people at the dock what this place is! And take Strawberry with you as I help...uh..." she then turned to Morgana and said "I don't even know your name!" with a laugh and said back to Sora "Our new crewmate! If you want to and can manage it..ask them what the healing properties of this place are!" she said as she closed Morgana's door and began to help her dress herself so she could get out of her freezing cold clothes.

[BEX]

Joy should have filled at having encountered such an enthusiastic young woman—an Aiel she had to be or else Morgana had just been involved in the world’s finest prank; she did not prank easily. Even as this Tracey set about giving out precocious orders while hauling the impressively useless Morgana around like a sack of barley, the noise outside began to grow in intensity. It seemed the men outside were beginning to suspect the boarding ship an enemy given that no one had come to ease their worries. Still that didn’t distract a disgruntled Morgana from the fact that her new companions had no idea whom she was nor what the color of her hair and skin meant of her origins. Outlanders seemed to be so oblivious to the most obvious of facts.

“Morgana” she interjected blandly once Sora had received his orders. Her nakedness held no shame for her, but it was the fact that she hadn’t been able to actually help herself with her current condition. “I-I’ll be fine after I’m out of those clothes…it’s just been a long time since I’ve been that cold you see.” she quickly rambled, her cheeks colored with shame. Perhaps spending too many long nights in the warm arms of some willing street tough or dancing on bar room tables had finally begun to take their toll upon her body. Regardless of that being true she couldn’t return to the Waste until she regained her people’s resolve and strength of body and will. A trip with this excommunicated sister should prove to be just the remedy she needed.

As for dressing her, Tracey chose the a serene blue jacket—cut high enough that Morgana’s hips would be fetchingly exposed. Frilly lace lined the cuffs to the neck while embroidered dragons of golden spool ran up and down the breast of the cloth. It was one of Morgana’s finest though she never saw much cause to wear it. The pants were another matter. By the time Tracey found anything she found ‘suitable’, most of the room floor was covered with pants of all cuts and clothes; many of them well received by any number of men! Yet this child was dismissing them as indecent of all things. Secretly, the disposal of her clothing burned her up inside, but she’d already lost her temper once. There was no need to shame herself once again. Completing the ensemble was a white high necked blouse that was a touch away from snow white in color. It held its own appeal though it was for high class audiences…stuffy drama queens and kings who were too puffed to tie their own shoelaces without the aid of a servant.

Still...Morgana reluctantly admitted that Tracey had dressed her rather nicely for not knowing her tastes.

Forcing herself off the bed with visible effort Morgana flashed the younger girl her best smile. “I think it’s time I go to town. Maybe figure out where I can replace all the things I lost,” she chirped, but there was an out-of-place twitch in her right brow. “You know….the things that I lost when you dragged me into that mess?” Not quite so misplaced it seemed. Outright roaring with fury at the apparent captain would have crossed the respectful line between firm and belligerent, but then all her compasses, maps, drawings, trade routes, and even a few souvenirs given by her ‘groupies’ had been in that bag. In fact the only thing she possessed now was the clothing she’d managed to keep near her in that fight with the crazed sword girl. The experience still sent tremors down Morgana’s spine. Never had she met anyone quite as fierce as that little tyke.

Tracey came a close second in her opinion.

Hobbling as best she could, the Aiel attempted to make her way to the door. It would be shame after that biting sarcasm if she couldn’t make it to the door. Thankfully her legs only gave out when she touched the knob, but all was well as she managed to keep upright by leaning on the doorframe. Acting as if the slight stumble and lean had been planned she spoke to Tracey over her shoulder, “I owe you toh sister. As such I will travel with you until it is paid in full. With that being understood between us I expect you know flaming better than to believe I’ll run errands like…that boy.” That statement and a wrinkle of the nose was all Morgana left as she made a very slow route out of the room and onto the main deck.

Where she slipped and fell on her face again. Blood and bloody ashes! swore the woman as tears as hot anger threatened to jump from her eyes.

[Harusame]

Sora followed Tracey's orders. He went up the stairs with limps and srouching to looked at the vast place. The second he entered the atmosphere and inhaled, he felt a cold, evil lingering shiver. His eyes widened. This air, it was familiar. He looked up from his steps. He saw a gray sky and coldness. He now jogged from the steps to the tip of Bedrock and looked at the town.

The houses, the design of the place, everything was so familiar and so...evil. Then his mind reacted after scanning the place. He tumbled back with shocked eyes. Out of any place, he was here. Shivre Mountain! The name echoed like he was yelling in a cave. He remmembered Selvin, Near death, Degavin and all of his friends in a heartbeat. He was back at frickin Shivre Mountain. This was in for trouble. Allot of people knew him and if he go on the land, they would recognize him and tell Selvin. Selvin... He thought. His slave master could be a badass with a bigger whip and built muscles. Thsi was bad, VERY bad. Sora ran down the steps and passed Morgana then yelled at Tracey. WERE AT SHIVRE MOUNTAIN! TRACEY, I AM GETTING US THE HELL OUT OF HERE!

[Deleted]

Another day had dawned and the white haired teenager had been up long before dawn, helping the merchants she had travelled with to move their wares to the market and set up their stalls. This took only a couple of hours and after that Jack was wide awake and a little sweaty to say the least, she was fit and all, but the stagnant air inside of the cavernous town made it a lot easier to get hot from working. After a quick dip in the sea at the docks and dressing herself in whatever clean clothes she had, a tight blue shirt with “rockstar” printed over the chest and a pair or busted up jeans, then of course her black boots and blue scarf. She knew full well that with her monetary gains she should go and buy some decent clothes, but she felt that was money better spent on alcohol and food. Speaking of food, her stomach was giving a low grumble as she made her way to the deck of the ship, what should she eat? Was the thought floating through her head, she was in the mood to try a new place and a new type of food, she had heard that their was a restaurant near the hot springs that catered to sea food, that sounded like a good time to her stomach and with a quick hop off of the ship she was on her way. Her walk thought he town earned it usual glances from those up that early, her tattered clothes and stone cold expression made people stop and stare often enough that she had become accustomed to it long ago.
After much wandering and getting lost, the young snow haired female finally found the building she was looking for, sadly though she had not really thought to long about it and the place was actually closed, it was pretty early in the morning, the only places open were the market stalls. She dropped her head and turned to walk in a random direction. She spent some time shuffling through the growing crowds, trying to think about what she could do, during which time she managed to buy a few bottles of wine and a bushel of apples to snack on till that place opened up. She eventually though found herself stood outside the spring resort, she looked up at the sign and pondered for a moment before softly muttering to herself.

”Hot water, apples, wine… maybe that would be a relaxing few hours…”

Her mind was still unsure, she was curious to try warm wine as she had heard about it was quite a pleasant thing to drink, yet at the same time she could fall asleep in the water and miss out on the restraint, Such a bother, She was stood for a fair amount of time, looking and thinking still unsure what to do as she had nothing tipping her reason one way or the other. Perhaps something to push the scales of her mind to a decision would arrive soon.

[lily]

As Tracey helped Morgana up to the deck of the ship she listened to her and allowed her to walk on her own for a bit before she once again fell straight on her face cursing as she did so. As she explained that she was gonna to travel with her until she payed of her debt Tracey smiled and picked her up carrying her on one shoulder before she said "Well why don't you just stay with us for good!" she laughed a bit before they got near the edge of the ship and she said "Well we need to get you another bow since your other one broke." she looked down at the dockhands who were looking at the other boats that were coming in but one of them stood near the Bedrock as Tracey yelled down "Oi! Are their any good shops and maybe doctors around here?" the man looked up and saw Tracey dressed in scantily clad clothing and Morgana latched onto her and said "This is a popular tourist spot. We don't have any real doctor for newcomers but..we do have very nice healing hotsprings. Just go into the center of town and you'll find em!" he said as he moved over to another boat that was coming in.

Tracey smirked and looked at Morgana saying "Well we'll need some winter clothing and we can check out those hot springs! A warm bath sounds niiiiice...haven't had one since home." she said reminiscing a bit before she turned to Sora saying "Hey you gonna come with us?" she then saw the look on Sora's face saying "I'm getting us the hell out of here!" so Tracey wrinkled her forehead and said "No way man! We're gonna check out the town!" she then hopped down with Morgana and said "Don't wait up!" as she hurried to head towards the hotspings.

[BEX]

Tracey’s offer seemed strangely sincere if not completely outrageous. It was as if the temperamental fire haired girl hadn’t heard any of Morgana’s abundant protests about her disdain for the seafaring buccaneers that slithered upon the oceans in this day and age. In fact it wasn’t lost on Morgana that Tracey was one such pirate—though a tad different from any others she’d seen. Partially because the gender aspect attributed that…

Light, it’s been some time since I’ve had a good man beckoning for me to rub back.. Mhmm. Darkened cheeks suggested crude thoughts, but they were hardly noticed as Sora sprinted back past the pair of embracing women screeching about how he had to ‘get them the hell out of here’. Morgana wasn’t the only one puzzled by this proclamation and Tracey flat out denied the notion of them leaving the town—likely because of her desire to see this healing spring that the dockhands had gone on about. That was another peculiarity about Tracey. Aiel people revered water like they would a god if they had any, yet this woman never expressed any small signs of shock at hearing or seeing vast amounts of water in anyone place…ever! Very strange indeed.

There was not time to press the matter because soon Tracey, with Morgana leaning against her temporary captain, made their way into the town resting at the foot of the frosted peaks of Shivre Mountain. People of all shapes and sizes walked about the streets and many averted their gaze from the ornately if not exotically dressed duo. Even the males turned their pale, gaunt faces away with spots of red once they realized that they’d stared a second longer than was proper. Morgana wasn’t at all used that. These people…they had the expression of prisoners as they walked about town making disheartened motionless that were nearly dead silent except for the occasion sound of rushing water. Smells clung to the air with each inhalation and not all of them were obtusely unpleasant….in fact. Wait a bloody minute…

Coming to a jerking halt, Tracey or no Tracey to hold her up, Morgana looked ahead where steam rose in lazy snake curls of white into the sky. Squinting, she could just make out dim, wispy images of people with towels head deeper into an area blotted out by a thick fog. Excitement danced happily in her breast, “Where there is steam, there must be water. Sis—I mean Tracey, I think that means the springs must be close ahead!” she chattered happily while exuberantly pointing towards their destination. Her elation didn’t last long as the town’s gloominess seemed to suck away the momentary flightiness that had possessed her. Hollowed stares took her in when she came upon a family of five to ask whether the Onsen or whatever the place was supposed to be was not far off from where they were currently situated. Burn her, she had even smiled warmly at the children to assure them that despite her dark skin and flaming red hair she meant them no harm. And how did they repair the favor?

They didn’t.

Before the last syllable fell from her lips the two weary parents ushered their children towards the docks and away from Morgana. Annoyance flashed in quick colors in her mind’s eye, but she managed to assuage the desire to rap her knuckles on the heads of this emotionally deflated town. “Well we can’t be that much further…might have helped a bloody bit if those people hadn’t acted as if I was the flaming Dark One.” Morgana growled to Tracey, but with a dignified tug of her coattails she made a grand show proving that she wasn’t the slightest bit rankled by the exchange—or lack thereof; it was important to impress the outlanders with her stalwart Aiel dignity as much as it was to never forget where she grew up. “Now let’s see here, shouldn’t be too hard to get to that place…” And just like that Morgana was off wandering in what she hoped was the right direction.