A Day in Sadaoby

Crow drank slowly, her eyes watching the many members of the Crew. She took in the sighs of the many kinds of people here, she took in the sounds of laughter and of jokes and stories being told, She was nervous to be sure, she hadn't been to a party like this in years not since she had left home, how should she act in a situation like this? She turned to Cassie and tried giving her a smile that wasn't creepy looking, it was half-hearted at best.

She just sat back in her chair and drank from her mug, after her tenth refill her cheeks suddenly redden lightly in a drunken blush and she swayed from side to side humming an old tune about a certain someones sake. As she hummed suddenly a rather monstrous noise filled the room, Crows stomach had growled. All the while she swayed from side to side humming her little tune as if unaware anything had happened, hell maybe she really was.

Cassie sat quietly in her chair, taking only a barrel of sake. Though she didn't drink it, as she was rather worried it could be poisoned or drugged. She knew she was being paranoid, but as they say old habits die hard.

When Crow smiled at her , she replied with a tentative grin. Cassie noticed Crow had already knocked back ten mugs. maybe they're safe? she thought, unsure. Some poisons take time to take affect...then again overdoses could kill you. Wonder what it tastes like, I've never actually had any.........


She nervously lifted the mug to her lips and took a small sip. Not that amazing... 

Suddenly, a loud growling noise filled the room. Cassie dropped the mug out of shock before she realized it was just Crow's stomach. Red flushed her cheeks and she bent over to clean up the spilled alcohol.

Vastile was glad that his crew were as jovial as always. This was all he wanted after all, to have friends and to be loved by them, so different from his childhood.

Vastile noticed the growl from Crow and smiled. "That's as good a sign as any, I suppose. Francis, bring it here!"

Francis jumped from the keg and ran into the kitchen, coming out moments later with a cart filled with entrees of many different regions. He slid the platters down the table, the crew lifting their mugs as the food zoomed by. Vastile was pleased to see the FishMan Island Platter land in front of him.

"Well done, Francis. Don't think it'll make our next card game any easier." Vastile laughed, he often lost in their games.

Once all the food had been set, Francis kicked the carts back into the kitchen and took a seat himself. Vastile clapped his hands together and brought the room to a silence.

He stood and looked everyone over. "Presenting our new family! Cassie and Crow! To Cassie! To Crow! To Family and The Steampunk Pirates!" Vastile tossed his back his large tankard of mead and slammed it on the table, smiling.

The crew parroted his toast and did the same with their drinks. There was a cheer and more laughing. Simon had already finished his food and walked to the corner of the room. He pulled out a violin from it's case and began to play a high spirited tune. So, perhaps, Vastile would join him.

Crow blushes upon hearing the toast to her and Cassie before picking up her fork and taking a bite. Crow eyes lit up as she eats the food. "Its really good.." She says between bites, she had never tasted anything like it. She ate every bite like it was her last.

She listens to the music and was finally getting comfortable when suddenly a crow fly into the room, if this want strange enough the crow wasn't a usual black color but a blood red and wearing what looked like a mini version of Crows collar. It flow over to Crow and landing onto her chair, dropping a small scroll in her lap. There it stays watching the others.

Cassie nervously sipped her refilled glass of sake, not enjoying the attention. "Stay out of the limelight Cassie." father had always said. Cassie barely noticed when the crow flew in, but when it perched itself on Crow's chair, Cassie leaned away out of fear. She was sitting on her bubble rather than floating in a circle, and so she didn't have much freedom of movement.

"Um Crow....." she said cautiously, noticing the collar on the bird.

As the party went on, Cassie drank more and more sake as she realized this was her crew now, her family. Her face was reddened and her words a bit slurred, but there was a wide smile on her face. A smile that had not been seen for a long time. She laughed and talked a lot more than usual, grinning at everybody and even starting a few conversations herself. Wondering why she's so happy? Well she's never had sake before......and has now learned she is a happy drunk.

She pulled a platter of food in front of her, and was excited to see delicacies from Fishman island. With a happy smile, she popped a few in her mouth. She then searched the table for fish, an upon finding them began stuffing herself.

"It's good fish!!" she shouted after swallowing, still a slight slur to her words. She snatched another mug if sake and downed it in one gulp.

Vastile was glad to see Cassie happy, but was more curious at the new arrival.

"Crow, dear, can you explain your, um... Friend's unorthodox appearance?"

A red crow... Unusual, majestic, interesting. Just Vastile's style. Vastile whispered to crow the next bit. "I'd take that note, in case it's not something you'd like to share with the crew."

Vastile watched Cassie carefully, not wanting her to get herself embarrassed or in a fix. New drunks were unpredictable.

Not many of the crew noticed the odd bird, but those who did quickly shrugged it off as Crow's familiar. Only Simon's gaze never varied, as he played.

Crow undid the note and read it slowly, not much could be legible as most of the note was spattered with dark dried blood. what little she could make out was "Fires" "Tried to stop" and "Help." but what had her face twisted in fear and worry was the name at the bottom of the note. "Leo..."

She says softly as her hands clenched into fists crushing the small letter. She looked up at Vastile, her eyes full of worry and shockingly full of tears. She then got up and made her way towards the door, leaving behind the party, her friends and the strange red crow as she made her way to her room unknowingly dropping the note on her way out.

Cassie stopped drinking for a moment, glancing from Crow's worried face to the note she held in her hands. She was shocked when Crow stood and left the hall, she even fell off her bubble, though she wa already unbalanced because of the sake.

She scrambled back onto the bubble, somehow, despite being disfunctional, pulled herself onto it. She swam trough the air after Crow, waving at the rest of the crew dismissively.

"Gotta..." she spoke difficultly, her mouth disobeying her brain. To show what's jennet she pointed at Crow and shrugged before rushing after her.

"Crow?" she called, knocking lightly on the door to her room. Her eyes glanced down and she noticed the piece of paper lying on the ground. Cassie bent over to pick it up, but instead of reading it she folded it and tucked it under the door. Even drunk she wouldn't invade others' privacy.

"Crow?" she asked, knocking again.

Vastile stood and tipped his hat to the crew, "Gentlemen." He then walked off, a serious expression on his face, which only Simon saw. He walked to Crow's door, finding Cassie already there.

Vastile open his hand to show Cassie that he had grabbed the crow. He coiled a bit of iron around it's feet, to keep it from flying, though it seemed docile enough.

"Upsetting news, I take it." Vastile's eyes, hidden behind his glasses were focused and less warm than before, but his voice and mouth remained sincere and pleasant.

"This little birdie told me that things are becoming interesting..." He held the thing to his eyes, "It's a damn interesting thing itself..." The bird remained un-phased. Vastile sighed.

"Crow, don't keep interesting things from your Captain. What's going on?" Vastile removed his hat and shook out a key with a brass skeleton as it'd handle. He tapped it against the door.

He wouldn't use it, but having this key is important, as it opens everything on the ship. He ensures his crew their privacy, even from himself. "Anything that could upset you... Must be something interesting..."

Crow sat against the door her head thumping softly against it, the she removed her collar and stared at the bell. With a sigh she spoke softly through the door. "It was a letter from my home...Its bad enough that it was delivered by Chi" The crow gave a slight caw at hearing its name.

"But..It was a request for help...by my brother...." She says opening the door and staring at the two her bangs shielding her eyes from view. "He would never ask for help unless it was something dire..he has too much pride.."

Brother? 


"You have a brother? I didn't know that...." Cassie spoke slowly, making sure she was using the right words. "Well, if it's a cry for help we should...probably...go....help him...." Cassie's words began to slur even worse as her eyes closed. With a loud thump she fell off of her bubble and onto the floor, a slight snore emanating from her mouth. Her turquoise hair draped around her head, leaving a few strands falling into her eyes. The bubble floated in the air, and Cassie's tail and body were oddly positioned.

Vastile sighed, when Cassie passed out.

"Looks like we'll need to find your kin, eh?" Vastile handed the bird, Chi, to crow."Interesting little guy." He then placed Cassie onto her bubble. He opened her door with his key and placed her on her bed, making sure the coral was safe on her desk.

Exiting, he closed the door. Looking to Crow, now. "You need to tell me everything, you're comfortable telling me. Family of Family... Is still family. We'll help your brother." Vastile flashed a smile, revealing his jutting canine.

Vastile handed Crow something. "That is the key to your medical bay. If you need something, check the cabinets, and see if you can find it. Try and relax. Tell me, what you want to do, and we'll proceed... That is if I approve. Come to me, later."

Vastile checked on Cassie again and looked to Crow giving another smile. He made his way back to the dining hall and brought the festivities to a close. The crew ran, walked, stumbled, and skipped to their rooms, beds, posts, or the main deck.

Simon came to Vastile and inquired on the health of Crow and Cassie. "Cassie's a bit... flustered at the moment. Crow... Let's just say stress. Do me a favor, prepare the engines. We're leaving Sadaoby... Tonight."

Crow took the key from Vastile, simply nodding now and then called out softly as he walked away "T-Thank You!" Before she quickly turned around and goes inside her room closing and locking the door.She sat Chi down on top of her sweater witch he curled up on looking much like a red ball then a crow as he rested. She places the key in her doctors bag before gently picking up her Tone Dial and sitting on her bed presses a part of the shell that starts the recordings.

"Case 316 and 317....I found two more today, the youngest yet, a boy no older then 10 and a young girl no more then 5 most of the wounds the same as all the rest. The boy seems to have lost a lot of blood but should pull through but the girl...Who ever did this to her, craved her mouth and back up the way they did...I don't think even my skills can help her now....But I will have to try.." Crow sat and listened to the mans voice that came from the shell, the voice of a man who had been long dead, his bones burned to ash and scattered to the winds.

On the outside Cassie looked peaceful, sound asleep and, well, beautiful. Her eyes were closed lightly and her eyelashes brushed her cheeks, her arms rested at her sides and her tail curved just a bit at the end. She was quiet, her breath barely making a sound, the only movement coming from a slight twitch in her left hand. 

But on the inside she was anything but peaceful. A man's voice shouting angrily at her, a hand reaching for something out of view. Tears streamed down Cassie's face, a young girl sobbing. There was sudden pain in the girl's side and she cried out, coughing up blood. She fell, but her hands were tied and she was unable to stop her face from hitting hard ground. Blood began to mix with the tears, and red tinted water droplets hit the floor. 

Cassie awoke with a piercing scream, sitting up sharply. She stared down at her tail, her violet eyes wide and sweat beading on her brow. She clutched the bed sheets on either side of her, trying to catch her breath.

Simon arrived at Cassie's door and knocked. "The Captain has informed me to deliver to you this medicine. It should help you with your.. Well, your hangover. Good night, then." Simon placed the tray, with the powder and glass of water by her door, going to his room and entering.

"Vastile to Engine Room. Have you got the Engines fired up?"
"Ai, Sir. The boilers have steamed up and pressure is nominal. We are ready to go at peak efficiency."

"Well done, keep up the good work. I'll have Francis make you and the rest of you down there something to keep you up. Out."

Vastile closed the lid on the tube he spoke into, flipping over another near it. "Francis, bring the Engine Room some Cocoa. They'll need it, then get some sleep yourself. You've done well today, you're a talented individual."
"Wee, Cappitan."
"That'a boy. Out."

Vastile closed the lid and put on his boots and gauntlets, placing on his coat as well. He moved to the highest deck and manned to control panel. Here he could fly and control the entire ship. Though he didn't need to, he loved to fly his own ship. He studied the dial and gauges and flipped a switch, signalling the engines were about to start. Soon the ship began to vibrate slightly and the coiling gas bag began to spiral, pushing the ship forward.

"Come on, my lovely gal, carry us into the night." Vastile sang a song of adventure and solace, as Sadaoby grew smaller and smaller. To high to be seen, to dark to be followed.

Crow sat down at her desk and pulls out some colorful and clear broken glass broken glass warped tightly in a cloth a small glass bottle and some string."Enough for three..." She says setting to work at grinding the colored glass to dust and sanding the edges of the clear glass.

She then put the now grounded down glass into the small bottle and ties the clear glass to hang around the bottle by the string and be able to hang from the ceiling by a hook. The light would become focused by the clear glass that would hit the bottle filled with the colorful glass casing the room to be filled with a colorful show of lights. once she was done the last one she stretched and looked at a small clock she had.

"Dawn already?" She says rubbing her shadow covered eyes before making her way up towards the deck with a small piece of Bubbly Coral. "Morning workouts are important..." She says to herself with a yawn.

Cassie pulled her tail close, clasping her hands beneath the joint. She tried to blink tears away, completely ignoring Simon as he placed a tray of medicine and water outside the door. She looked around we room, searching for a distraction. how could I have let myself get drunk like that? she scolded herself angrily. Father always warned me about alcohol.... she flinched at the thought of her father.

To her left she noticed the bubbly coral sitting on the desk. Frowning, she picked it up and held it carefully in her palm, studying it. In a sudden fit of rage she threw it at the wall, and it fell to the floor-unarmed-with a light plink, you can't trust them, not a single one. she told herself, crossing her arms over what would be her knees and digging her nails into her skin. She felt liquid seep onto her fingers, and upon pulling them away she saw they were stained red. Ignoring this she rested her chin on her re-crossed arms and continued rethinking what she'd done.

What can I do now? I'm already part of the crew, I can't just leave. I'm a mermaid, they'd notice her leaving for sure. she shut her eyes tight, trying to wish herself out.

Vastile was still manning the wheel and controls, when morning begun.

He flicked open a tube, which was larger than the rest. This tube would send his voice everywhere on the ship.

"Good morning, ladies and gents. We are currently flying high above the world, head west from Sadaoby. The sky is clear and the sea is shining. Take a breath of fresh air and go about your duties with a song in your heart. Francis should have the morning breaky in the dining hall, as per usual, for those interested. This is your captain. Out." Vastile shut the lid and let out a big yawn.

Simon flung himself over the side of the railing and walked over to Vastile. "Morning, Simon. How are ya?"

"You've been at this all night... You shouldn't-"
"Simon, I'll give you the coat of my back, but let me keep this, eh?"
"Fine... But, I thought you might like to know, that our new mermaid crew-mate is less than happy."

Vastile was genuinely shocked by this. "What?! How could that be, she seemed fine yesterday..."

"She was fitful in sleep yesterday, she didn't take the medicine, and she was mumbling about 'Father'... Either way, I suggest you resolve her worries or she could prove a trouble and a danger."

Vastile thought about it... "It could be... It could be the change... Lord knows the Fishmen have been wronged... I was hoping she could put that aside and see this crew as being different..."

Vastile mulled it over and Simon stood beside him, hands behind his back, looking straight ahead.

"I... I just don't know what to do, Simon." Vastile didn't fear showing weakness to Simon. "I'll have failed her and this crew as a Captain, if I can't form a bond between us all." Vastile sighed and remained silent for moments upon moments.

Together the two men stared straight ahead, side by side, communicating without speaking a word.

Vastile was troubled.

"Fetch me Crow, please... Simon."

At that moment Crow came up onto the deck and and silently stands behind them."Morning gentlemen.." She says with a soft yawn. Crow hadn't slept for over a week it seemed and it was beginning to show. Her eyes were dark with shadows, dull and almost lifeless, her hair some how even messier then before stuck out in every direction.

Her clothes seemed to match her state they had been blood stained and dirt covered yesterday but had looked fairly new, were now somehow clean but they looked old and very worn her boots looked like they hadn't been shines in years even though the had been just the night before and her bell barely made a sound as she swayed on her feet. "Slept well I hope?"

Cassie sighed, uncurling herself and letting her tail hang over the side of the bed. She felt pain her head and brought a hand to her temple, a headache? she wondered, wincing. She pushed herself off the comfy bed and crawled to the bubbly coral lying on the ground. Luckily it was unharmed, and so she picked it up.

Pressing the top, a bubble grew from it. She carefully squeezed herself into it, wincing from the pain. She turned to look in the mirror, and remembered the blood on her arms and hands, damn, what to do about that? she frowned at herself, well at least your head's clear now. Somewhat.

Softly opening the door, she looked in both directions before slipping out through the crack. Looking down she notice a tray, probably set down by Simon. Cassie picked up the glass of water, realizing how thirsty she was and drank it quickly. She didn't take the medicine though, still about paranoid. The water helped anyways, if only by a little.

She floated down the hallway, searching for a bath room or something like it where she could wash her hands.

Vastile turned to Crow. "Good work, Simon." Simon shrugged and went to the main deck.

"I wanted to talk to you about our situation, concerning your mysterious kin. I'd like to find him."

Vastile was worrying about multiple things. He kept a smile on his face, he had to be constant, ever strong. He was logical, no reason to show my un-certainty.

Vastile called on of the navigators and had him take the controls. "Would you like something for breakfast?"

Crow yawns once more before nodding "Food sounds like a wonderful Idea.." She says making her way towards the stairs "I'm just hoping I'm worrying over nothing.." She says but really she knew something was wrong. "If we were to go to my home we would have to enter by sea not by air.."

She goes to explain the layout of the Island explaining the only way in was by a poisonous river that was only crossable by the ferry that ran along it along with the rocky cliffs and shores that surrounded the rest of the Island also about the ever consent storm clouds and strong winds.

Cassie watched carefully in all directions, not wanting to be seen with bloody hands. She knew she would be seen as crazy and perhaps fingered as a murderer.

She neared the end of the hallway, peeking her head around the corner. nothing, good. she cautiously floated around it.

Vastile sat down in the dinning hall, placing his plate in front of him. The breakfast was sitting in it's own table, which would normally have been destroyed by the crew, but Francis had placed more food, and Vastile quickly took most of it.

He looked around, hoping that maybe Cassie had gotten up for Breakfast, but decided that she might be having trouble in the morning. Considering what Simon had imparted, she must have a major headache.

Vastile ate a bit, then placed down his silverware. "Alright. So, we have to take this river, and The High Spirits won't make it. Do you remember the Bubble Bikes from Sadaoby? If I were to make something close to it, would it be able to travel this river?"

Vastile was fine with leaving his ship behind, but he wanted something he could count on, fix, and pilot without contention. He had already made complete blueprints for his shuttle bikes. Built for speed and for distance, but sacrificing integrity and power.

"I could have three built in around a week. Where is this river and island anyway?"

Crow ate her food slowly before shaking her head, and explained that only the strongest of metals would be able to cross the river and remain unharmed by the acid like waters. She drinks from her cup before continuing.

"Its in the Calm Belt, should take a few days to get to the Island" she says as she pulls out a mini map of the Grand Line and tapping on a dark skull like Island that sat near the edge of the Calm Belt. "Its going to be difficult to get to the Island because of this.."