A strange Variety (Ofan, Jackie, Open)

Alaistair couldn't see anything wrong with the loading process. An hour of simply floating from ship to ship to assist loading some crates that looked a bit heavier than one crew mate anticipated encompassed Alaistair's focus. He'd return to his position again after these moments, a smile remaining on his face. It wasn't anything complicated! Just the usual.

At least, until Alaistair heard a surprisingly loud whistle from the pier below! The Captain looked down to the source, as well as some of his crew as well. It came from a large tiger person, with tattered sea-blue clothing that had seen better days with no shirt underneath, with a pair of brown pants hiding under a sea-blue hakama. What alarmed him was, trying to focus on him, he simply sensed nothing from him! A few crew members had put down their items and started to approach. However, Alaistair bellowed out to his crews, "Guys, it's fine. Just continue what you're doing!"

The crew members grumbled, but they resumed. It was good that Alaistair trained them to not get pissed off, but he needed to address this later. In his head, though, he wasn't sure what he was about to deal with in this new person. Getting closer, Alaistair could definitely ascertain that this guy was a fighting type! He took his pipe out of his mouth, blowing the smoke out while still above the man. He went to eye level, keeping a few feet between them.

"Yes, that would be I," Alaistair finally responded back, puffing the smoke into his mouth. His tone was inquisitive and optimistic, "Captain of the Cayenne Shako and the Minty Spot, and owner of the Cherry Fishing Company! What can I do for, sir? My men and I are in the process of ferrying back home, now that the tournament's business is wrapping up, so I won't be able to talk too long."

Current WC: 852

It was another beautiful day with a pristine sky, clear of any clouds, perfect weather to go out and spend her free day travelling to a nearby town to help alleviate some stress as finals were steadily approaching. As such, Krim had ridden her jet squirrel up to Yahhoy Port, planning on doing a joy ride around the city to help relax her nerves. After spending hours cooped up in either her dorm or in the university's library, the sea crisp air revitalized her mind far better than anything back in South City could. She felt free as if she was on top of the world and was once again energized. Although she dreaded tomorrow's cram session, she could put that in the back of her mind and enjoy what the world had to offer right now.

As she rode closer to the port, she took in the crystal sea, her body on autopilot as she took in her surroundings idly. There wasn't really much to actually pay attention to aside for the random ship and sailors here and there. For the most part Krim glanced over such scenes only once before moving on to the next sight. However, as she was ready to pass by another dock her jet squirrel began to make some strange sounds. Well that didn't seem right. Stopping it on one of the parking spots they had nearby, she had begun to inspect her vehicle to see what was wrong. It wasn't long before she discovered that it was just overheating. That was her fault for buying a used jet squirrel. Oh well, may as well use this time to go and stretch her legs.

With that she began to stroll around, exploring the nearby sights as she waited for it to cool down. As she was ready to go on her walk, something caught her attention. Bandit attacks? Especially in such an urban place? That was almost unheard of, something that was confine to fiction rather than actual reality. Although Krim knew that it would probably be better not to involve herself in a situation, especially when she had a string of episodes lately, she simply couldn't help. Not to mention the people in the distance were rather intriguing, especially once she realized that no energy came from her. What was happening over there?

Gonna keep this thread moving at this point.

Alaistair was asked what he was by this person. They had been squinting and were taking a couple of steps back as well. Alaistair looked down at himself, floating above the waters below him, and then back up. He took another couple of puffs and landed himself back onto the solid ground, saying, "Well, it's a bit obvious, isn't it? A strange looking man, in a sailing uniform looking to set off to home with his merry crew and his new boat!"

They came to introduce themselves as Chaznut. A deep voice with a firm posture was assumed by the tiger man! Alaistair, meanwhile, kept his focus on the man. Questions about getting trouble arose, in the bandit and mercenary kind. Alaistair raised an eyebrow and let out another puff before resting the pipe, in hand, on his other forearm as he crossed his arms.

"Bandits and mercenaries," Alaistair muttered, rifling through his memory, "Well, many threats come and go like debris at sea. Sometimes, it has to be knocked away from the vessel, other times it just floats on by no problem..."

The first thing that came to mind was the warehouse. This made sense to Alaistair, considering the suckers managed to get the Captain involved and, in turn, also introduced him to the Dirty Snakes! As he pondered, he did notice not just 1, but two girls near by. One seemed to be listening to them, while the other with a honestly astounding power not being hidden away practically bumping into them and trying to strike up a conversation!

Alaistair brought the pipe up, pointing the thin end of the pipe towards Chaz and he brought up, "Well, there was a time about two weeks ago now, I want to say, that some folks got into a gun and sword fight with some law enforcement. Over in that warehouse behind you-"

Alaistair pointed towards a beige warehouse with some broken windows being replaced by some workers a couple hundred yards away, while some large cargo containers were being brought out by some heavy lifts to be set onto the ground and opened up to be inspected inside and out.

"-The fighting got way too close to the Cayenne Shako here," he continued, pointing towards the larger vessel with the demonic mask on it, "So I chose to assist! I've some experience in combat and, to put it mildly, the culprits there were taken care of. Some did run away, and they probably had been watching my ship. Even so much as to note the changes I gave it! It didn't actually have the space you see before you nor the odd design on it!"

The 'mask' of the Cayenne Shako was still, save for one part on it: The large red eye on the forehead. It was darting back in forth, as if it were scanning the people that were getting close. Naturally, the visage of a enormous Oni face kept people away, save for those taking pictures in awe and excitement! A few crew members who weren't doing anything that were decent looking enough had been talking up a story about the Cayenne Shako.

"Originally dubbed the Cayenne, this vessel is fully capable of bringing in a couple dozen tons of fish by the container, by which 4 are easily stored underneath the ship's deck! The reason for the change on the front had been due to how most of the crew, and the Captain and owner of the Cherry Fishing Company, Alaistair, look an awful lot like Oni! Granted, we have other folk of other planets working with us, including some humans and Namekians, we have a large number of people who are unfortunate to have the visual of Oni. It was also that, within the past recent weeks, we've had near run ins with criminals engaging the police in aggressive manners, so we've had to install this decoration, and additional security, on the vessel, like the large camera that has been looking around all over. Now, the Cherry Fishing Comapny has been..."

The details on the Cayenne Shako and the Cherry Fishing company to the crowds by these crew members trailed on, being pleasantly loud as to not interrupt the conversations. This scanning eye on the Cayenne Shako, though, did seem to settle, often, on the two ladies that were talking near by Alaistair and Chaznut. It was as though it was being carefully aware of the two in particular, while also keeping attention to the rest of the pier near the vessel.

Current WC: 1,610

Since it came to a standstill for a few days with no messages yet regarding this thread, I'm gonna get this brought back to life!

"I suppose, 'trash removal,' is one way you could put it," Al replied to Chaz's tease, a grin and a chuckle with it!

Chaz took note of the ship's shifting eyes, that seemed to occasionally rest on the two girls talking near by, also being able to hear the nearby presenter. He commented on it, and about the world too before asking about life in the sea of stars. Alaistair asked in kind, "Don't venture too far out, do ya?"

Al took a puff and looked up above the two of them. No stars were visible in this daylight. He then moved to a stack of unattended crates with some netting draped over the top crate. He sat on the corner and breathed out some more smoke, making use of his magic materialization to manipulate the smoke as it came out. The normally violet gray smoke was attended with a variety of other colors that looked almost like paint that wrapped around itself and shaped into almost a miniature smoky version of the Earth.

"I've not been among the stars personally," he began, his eyes glossily looking at the swirling smoky ball floating in front of him, "I've always been here, in this little region of the world. However, I do know of the stories of worlds beyond our planet. Sadala of Planet Plant, as odd of a name that sounds; the myriad of vicious battles occurring on the Planet Namek, a bright green gem on the farther reaches of the galaxy with 3 suns always keeping the place bright. Things like this I can talk to you about, if you'd like! However, it's more 2nd hand tales at this point, for your warning."

Alaistair took another puff of smoke in from the pipe, vastly longer than the previous, and breathed it around the miniature Earth. This smoke collected into 3 other orbs. A dull pink with cartoon-like, war torn buildings of the Tuffle people forming on one for Plant, the bright green gem of Namek, and then a third smoky blue orb that looked alien and cold. He took a fresh breath of air in, and gestured to the 4, saying, "I've plenty of tales from myself and many more from my crew that had come or lived on these other worlds, if you wish to hear about them, Chaz! It'll certainly be a pleasant downtime for everyone... Speaking of-"

Al paused, looking to the crews and whistling loudly with two fingers being stuck in his mouth! The two leads on board looked over to the Captain, who proceeded to tell them, "We're quite a bit ahead of schedule so far! Everyone, go grab some lunch and relax for an hour or two!"

The order didn't bare need to be repeated, the crew quickly putting what they were carrying down on the ship and running off the pier to go back in town. Some stayed behind, as they didn't want to leave the ships and their cargo unattended. Alaistair, for certain, didn't want some things being discovered from the Dirty Snakes deal he had previously. Shako, naturally, had to remain put: He was the large red ship after all, and he had to appear to be like a security system. Thus, he remained analytical, keeping his eyes on the 2 strange women primarily while looking at everyone else!

Current WC: 2,169

Alaistair has used Magic Materialization to manipulate the smoke from his pipe to form 4 mini globes of Earth, Plant, Namek, and Arcose in front of Chaz, for the tiger man to choose from if he desires a story or two.

Since it's been a little more than a week, I'm gonna progress this along.

There was an awkward silence that purveyed in the area for a bit, with Al waiting for Chaz to choose a story from the planetary orbs before him. It struck Al that he was a bit much!

"Sorry," he said, blowing the smokey planets away, "That was a little too much flare. If you want, I-"

A teen came bounding up to the two, one of the two ladies from before. Seemed the other had moved on, so she came over to Alaistair! She was dazzled by the trick, asking Alaistair what else he could do! The Captain chuckled with a smile, simply replying with a grin, "Plenty, youngster! It all depends on what I can concoct!"

She quickly handed Alaistair a flyer. Curious, he took it and looked it over. A circus was coming through! Seemed she was part of some entourage of oddities striding around, entertaining people. Compared to the folks on it, this girl looked rather plain, though when one has a mountain of a bearded lady and a daring tamer 'holding' the mouth of a lion wide open with his head inside! It didn't list the name of the circus, though. All it had said was, 'The cavalier Circus returns to the Southern Ports!'

This girl went on to asking both Chaz and Alaistair if they'd be interested in coming to the circus! Alaistair wasn't too sure if he'd have the time to visit, wherever in the South it was, but lest to be rude, he inquired, "Well, you can color me interested, Miss Rei! Though, I do have to ask, as I don't see it on here and I've not much time on my hands: What is the name of this caravel troop and where are they setting up?"

He did have his ships to finish preparing with his crew soon, and he knew he'd not have time today to visit. He'd need to know more, and what's more, Alaistair could easily sense the power in this youngster! How'd such a strong person get wrapped up in a circus troop? A question he'd ask later on.

Current WC: 2,520

The showman running the circus, Lyton, had chosen the name Circus. It'd been named that way longer than Rei joined them, causing Alaistair suck in his lips and eyes widen a bit. He thought in his head, 'This man's gotta be having an incredibly difficult time with getting people to come...'

A gust of wind from the sea picked up, snagging the pages from the girl and trying to run with it. Yet, to solidify her way above normal power, she flickered from being front of Alaistair and snagged the pages back! She returned, asking Alaistair to show her something else. Alaistair let out another puff of smoke upwards, shifting his expression from concern to pondering. He didn't get stunned in awe by her unintentional display! He'd seen plenty on this planet over the last century on this side, and vastly more when he was in the Demon Realm!

"A new thing to show you," Alaistair muttered, taking one more puff from his pipe. The tobacco had burnt away at this point, barely any flavor from it linger. He blew the smoke out, took the pipe away from his mouth, and tapped the lingering ember out to step it out. He spoke afterwards, questioning, "Show you what exactly? I doubt there's much I can do to show you, considering how swift you are! Did they train you at this, 'Circus Circus,' you're handing posters out for?"

Current WC: 2,756