The Midnight Prince

[Shisou]

"O... okay," she says, quietly. "Meet you by the back door," she adds, as she begins the transformation.


When she returns, she's in her girl form again, but her eyes are puffy and there's traces of tears down her cheeks. But all she gives is a nod, and they're on their way. 

[Rokag]

Rokag gave a nod back and, with grabbing her hand, starts heading towards the boats. ...fuck Indou. Even with the dresses, weird things she had to do, and the fact that she was odd. This was still...pretty alright of a place. If she ever got to see it again, she might even say so out loud.

[GamesMaster]

The shore hasn't changed much since Rokag saw it last. It still stinks of fish guts, a stench that permeates no matter how many streets you go from the lake. The fish processing factories on the shoreline are the source; they're also the source of much of the work on the shore, so there's not a lot of complaints despite the stench. As they walk round the lake, hand in hand, Rokag and Shiori get many strange looks, but nobody accosts them, much to their relief. Their destination is clear: there's a boat up in the sky, anchored near one of the major marketplaces Rokag remembers being good for textile goods as well as the ubiquitous fish. They have no idea where to find Isabela, but if there's anything strange and foreign about the marketplace it's that shit, the one that flies through the sky instead of sailing on the lake.

When they get to the marketplace, Shiori buys them each a hand pie, and asks casually about the ship. "That's Captain Isabela's ship, and don't ye be goin' too near it or she'll snatch ya up for slaves and sell ye." Shiori thanks the man for the warning, but it puts a new spring in her step, and she nearly drags Rokag toward the ship after that.

[Rokag]

Doesn't seem like much changed. There was a bit of a smile on her face as they made their way towards the ship. For all that she needed to get away from this place, it was familiar. She knew that heading down that alley was a bad idea at nightfall and that the fish smell got stronger when a big hawl came in, meaning that you could probably grab a couple as they're loading and get away most of the time. And if they did catch you, they'd be too tired to try and beat you.

She kept her voice low as she spoke to Shiori. "Ya sure she acutally isn't a slaver?"

[Shisou]

Shiori shrugs. "Do we have anywhere better to go?"

[Rokag]

"Look, I'm just...really wanted to be sure before we walk onto a floating boat. Well, unless you can fly or something in case we need to run."

[Shisou]

"If we fall, grab onto me. I can cast a spell that slows my fall considerably."

[Rokag]

"oh....well fuck, that's pretty useful. Why didn't you mention that before?" Rokag squeezed Shiori's hand as they walked. "...do you think she'll believe me?"

[Shisou]

"I don't know," says Shiori quietly. "What I heard of her, she's not a bad person. A pirate, though, so maybe rough around the edges."

[Rokag]

That got a stifled laugh from Rokag. "You mean, even more than me?" She HAD met him by sleeping almost naked in a shed after paddling her way onto an island. "But if she thinks we're trying to trick her, I'll just..." Rokag paused, her hand going to her navel for a moment. "Oh...right, I should probably try and run." And suddenly she felt a little sick to her stomach.

[Shisou]

Shiori nods. "You run, I'll protect your retreat."

[Rokag]

"No, you'll run with me and we'll both get out." She gave a sharp scowl. "If you stick around and get killed I'll find SOME way to get my ancestors to send you back so I can kill you myself."

[Isabela]

"What a cute couple you make," says a voice from behind them -- odd, because there wasn't anyone else on this road a moment ago. "And you're looking for Captain Isabela why, luvs?"

[Rokag]

There was a brief, chilly wind before Rokag could grab her own wrist and jump back a little, glaring. <Tengu>"What in the flayed hell of cheating merchants?!"

[Shisou]

Shiori steps between them, glaring. "None of your business, lady!"