The Midnight Prince

[Rokag]

Rokag gave her a look. "Better chance getting free from a smaller cage than a larger one where you fight for everything." She gave a long sigh. "Look, I know it isn't perfect. People are probably still asses and they probably still gotta where those Yukata, but they can probably get ones that don't make it so damn hard to move."

[Shisou]

"What would free even mean?" she asks, quietly. "Dead? Nobody who controls food will let you be free."

[Rokag]

"It would mean...that I have a say in my own rules. I mean...look at you! You could probably go to any of the islands you wanted to and be alright. You might not want to, but you have the choice in that. Some people can't even choose to live ON the islands."

[Shisou]

"I couldn't. Where would I live? What would I do during the day? This isn't something I can do full time. I get hurt, I need breaks. You know how hard it can be to just move."

[Rokag]

Rokag looked shocked for a second before sighing. "I mean...no, it's not easy. Thing about that is, I didn't have a boat OR a family name." Rokag looked over at her. "So, are YOU trapped here as well?"

[Shisou]

"You want this boat? You can take it. What would you do with it? It's not big enough for fishing, not on a scale you can sell -- try to drag a net behind and it'll capsize. As for my family name, you don't know what it is. Trust me, it's not getting me any traction anywhere off this island. I'd be nobody from nowhere, just like you."

[Rokag]

"I...alright I don't know. I'd need a bigger boat for something bigger than a few fish." Rokag gave a frustrated sound. "So what? Should I just...be alright with this? You don't sound like you're alright with it, either." She took a long breath. "I just...this CAN'T be how all this is going to be. I just can't...think that I'm always going to feel like this. It's why I'm here in the first place"

[Shisou]

"All I'm saying is, I don't have the answers. We're both in the same boat -- literally." She smiles. 

[Rokag]

"...good point." She rolls her eyes at the joke, but can't keep.from smiling a little. "I actually should head back, tho. A couple of the others were also planning to sneak out, and I'm sure they're pretty crap at it so I want to get back before they get caught."

[Shisou]

The Midnight Princess nods. "Should I check on them?" she asks, wryly. 

[Rokag]

"Nah, Hinata's almost bigger than I am and could probably throw most bandits into the lake." Rokag laughs a second. "Besides, you sound like you needed the time not jumping out and saving people." With a nod, she dives out of the boat, apparently a much better swimmer without the surprise dunking.

[Shisou]

"Take care of yourself," whispers Soushi-hime, to the waves. 

[Rokag]

The next few days there aren't any ribbons tied to the fence, but it's probably due to not having any time. There was a lantern festival coming up and with having quite a few visitors from the other islands, it would be best that everything Cicada Island was to offer was perfect. THIS meant more time working with the animals to make sure they'd be their most impressive and picking the few that could be on one of the larger ships for entertainment. This meant none of the birds (as Obishi didn't want any of the expensive/rare collection flying away) and nothing that would weight down the ship too much. Which gave Rokag the 'fun' task of trying to get the mama-lizard to be okay not guarding her eggs for an evening. This meant that, the day OF the festival, she was expected to get her on the boat and caged, THEN head back and get 'properly dressed' and THEN run back to the boat to be presentable for the guests.

And there were quite a few guests. This was, after all, one of the few annual events that most of the families attended. Each would have their own paper lanterns set on the water and well-lit boats with festivities that could be taken in. There would be amazing artists, singers, actors, and performers all trying to make the best show for their respective islands. While only the Emperor was in control of the Dance, this was an opportunity to make enough talk to maybe get him to hear, making it something of a competition. And competition was fierce this year.

Flower Fruit Island had a boat with several poles sticking out at various ends where acrobats would jump from one to another  to bring treats to the various patrons and anyone in smaller boats traveling between the other, larger boats. Sea Urchin Island, who had several Outbloods from the Plane of Water in their heritage, and a wonderful arrangement of floating glass bowls with different fish in them. They also had smaller globes of light, making it look like a floating aquarium as they went by. There was also Bamboo Grove island, home of the Tiger family, that had fitted a large boat with a stage for their martial arts displays and demonstrations. It was popular for a show of force and also showing off their...well maintained forms.

And with the additions to the menagerie, Cicada Island was going to make a great show of their interesting animals being presented in their finest. Animals medium to small were set up in cages and enclosures on a fairly impressive boat to house them all. Of course, the Families themselves would be on separate ships as to not mingle TOO closely with their staff, but there was no doubt that the showboats were the real eye-catchers.

How in the nine hells do they all keep their make-up from getting in their damn eyes while doing this?

Rokag was WAY too hot in all this crap. Not only did her head ache from having wrapped her hair tight enough to stay 'as is befitting a lady' but it was a warm night. The lanterns were warm, the air was humid, and the clothing was WAY too restrictive for trying to get fussy reptiles to sit still and look nice rather than hissing and snapping at the patrons. Well, not TOO much, since it just staying still would be boring. Which meant prodding her enough to be fussy but not enough to bite Rokag's hand off. She was sure there was some kind of message in that, but it was lost in the haze of running around and smiling politely. Right now, she was off to get some more water for the animals, lowering a bucket near the back of the boat and far away from prying eyes. It made it easier for everything to look perfect.

So why was Rokag hearing things? Everyone should be either entertaining or keeping the frilled lizards in their cage...so who IS that? There were a pair of bright colored lizards with frills that seemed to glow..and also we're poisonous and testy. They wouldn't kill you, but even the girls handling them had to make nice, pretty gloves to go with their yukatas. Rokag pulled up her water bucket and slowly moved towards the sound, in case something was about to go wrong.

[Shisou]

Yukata are nothing compared to this bullshit. 

Shisou at least got to wear bright colors: brilliant blue with yellow designs overlaid on top. That was good, because he felt he could barely move. Between the loose-fit trousers, the robe, the vest, and the over-robe, his hanbok felt stifling and heavy. If I fall overboard, there's no way I can swim in this. His sisters at least didn't have to wear trousers, even if they did have four layers of kimono to provide the proper layering effect at the sleeves and hems. They were pretty as a painting, all together on the deck of the family ship, seated in a pavillion, far from the action and fun. 

We really should be floating over there, mingling with people, Shisou thinks for the dozenth time. But no; Indou wanted them to seem aloof, distant, mysterious. Beautiful and unattainable. 

[Rokag]

Rokag slowly made her way towards the voices, which sounded to be pitched low. She figured they were probably tr-

"And you are sure this will do the job? We won't have another chance till the next festival if this fails."

One figure was crouched low, drawing something on a cleared area on the back end of the ship. Another was standing and looking out over the water. Both had their faces covered and were dressed in black. The standing figure turned towards the other.

"It will work. And it will make our ascension that much easier. Now finish the sigils so we can summon it here."

....Aaanyway, she should probably just leave this alone. Rokag didn't know what these guys were here for, but it wasn't like she knew anything about what they were doing. She wasn't paid to care about this and she didn't care much about the nob-

"First it will take the boy, then move on to Indou. We will not suffer his line continuing. Then we will make our move."

Fucking Hells! "HEY! What are you two doing back here?!"

Rokag stormed from the shadows from where she'd come from, brandishing the water bucket and had IMMEDIATLY regretted it. She didn't know what they were here for, but the heirs were male... and she knew who that was. What she didn't expect was the third figure that grabbed her from behind, a hand going over her mouth to keep any more shouting to a minimum.

"Kill her!" The standing figure harshly whispered. He produced a knife from his clothing before the writing one stood, holding his hand out.

"No, give her to it. It will save us a sacrifice." The figure gestures to the circle that he'd drawn in chalk. Rokag didn't really recognize any of it, but she did know that being any close to it would be a bad idea. The third figure had also not figured that anything that had small tusks was probably not safe to put your hand close to. He gave a sharp cry of pain as Rokag bit as hard as she could on the hand that was over her mouth, being released quickly and kicked forward. This resulted in her stumbling and skidding across part of the circle as well as leaving a trail of blood from her mouth and the figure's hand running across it.

~~~

Shisou got the sudden feeling that something was wrong. It was the mix of an odd chill and the faint sent of unhealthy water. It was almost like any time the Moonlit Princess would have had a fight or had to find something around where fishing boats would dump some of their bad catch. It was also hard to place WHERE it was coming from till there was a sound like air popping and some large creature that look like a cross between an eel, a water snake, and some kind of armed octopus appeared on the Cicada boat. It was another second before there were any screams.