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[ From the one small word alone, Blackbeard wonders for a moment if maybe he's reached the wrong Mizuki. Very different greeting from the girl he met before. But then, it's been a shit few weeks for everyone, so. ]

Uh, your plant-wizard landlord?

[ Who else would he be talking about?? And why does she sound offended by the implication? Maybe he really was behind this. Might be why she sounds so quietly miserable. ]

[ Does he not realize that "your man" implies a very different sort of relationship? One that she may or may not be extremely salty about not having, on top of... everything else that's making her miserable?? Well, it's a backburner problem by now, but still.

Tch. ]

Astralin's not my man, or my landlord. And... no, I don't think he had anything to do with it.

[ Little defensive there, but here let him explain. ]

No, it's man, you know. Your bro, your mate, your person you've fallen in with. I know he's not your boyfriend.

[ Or well, he hadn't, actually, but she was pretty clear about that so, now he does. Fuck, it's hard enough to communicate with kids, and now there's apparently a language barrier involved. But she's still defending him, so it follows that: ]

You're still living on his land, then? With little Bacon and Ham and all their bits intact.

[ Ughhhh. He reminds her of Genny, okay?! And she'd never date Genny. Plus the man has a wife and a husband. Is he serious right now? Just answer his question, Mizuki. ]

I don't live here. I've got a room at the inn. I just... work here.

[ It doesn't have to be complicated. ]

Have you even talked to him yet?

Uh, no? Why would I want to talk to somebody who could stab me with a cactus spike, or a giant ear of corn?

[ Anyway, she seems fine, so, probably not Astralin involved with this magic tree business, or at least not his farm, and that's all Blackbeard really cared to know.

Except... Mizuki still seems pretty out of sorts. Who isn't though, right? Either way— ]

A friend of mine lives at that Chosen's Inn still. I'm around often enough. The tavern, mostly.

[ Just, you know. Putting that out there for no reason. ]

[ You could really use a drink.

...When she hears the voice, it's hard to tell who it belongs to. Her own? Her twin, Bibi? Boss? In the end, it doesn't matter much, but she sure thinks about them a lot. It's pretty annoying. ]

You can't live in a tavern. [ No matter how Date wants to prove her wrong, probably. ] Why don't you just stay with your friend?

[ Oh, that is... a question. That somehow Blackbeard wasn't expecting, and also his mind uncharacteristically blanks on an appropriate lie and just rambles instead for no particular reason. ]

Pft. I can live in a tavern if I want. And I don't, anyway. I have another place, away. Elsewhere. I don't want to live with him. We'd be all over each other. ...On top of each other. ...Crowded— Crowding one another out, if we did, so... Yuck. Don't want that.

[ #nailedit ]

[ UHHHHHHHHHH. Mizuki is rather stunned in response, and Blackbeard will probably notice the notable pause, before she clears her throat. ]

That... That sure is a mental image. Thanks. [ A healthy dose of sarcasm, and she obviously want to dwell on it for too long. Anyway! ]

Then did you build yourself your own house, or what?

You're welcome.

[ Does he know she was being sarcastic? Yes. Does he care? No, because he doesn't care about anything, especially that friend he's not living with. Totally cool and careless and independent, this guy. ]

Pft, that sounds like a lot work, building a house. Like working the land. Back-breaking labor day in and day out's not my thing. More of a "work in waves" kind of guy.

[ hahaha waves? you get it? pirate???? ]

'Sides, you see the way townspeople act to outsiders 'round this place? Told we're being punished for crimes by those letters we got, but then the locals call us "Chosen Ones" and treat us basically like gods. Just go up to any one of them and say, "Hey, need a room to crash in for a week or eight" and they slobber all over themselves to give it to you.

[ Waves... A dad joke if there ever was one smh

Yet she won't interrupt him. She never thought she'd be into this sort of work either, but it is less backbreaking for her because of genetic mutation shenanigans, so she'll just blame it on those.

Ugh. ]

Yeah. Talk about mixed signals. They even made statues of everyone. [ She didn't think they were serious. But wait— ] ...So you've just been crashing with some rando?

[ Blackbeard huffs a breathy laugh. Yeah, the statues are weird, right? This whole place is like a play pretending to be reality. But he imagines Mizuki has enough on her plate without dragging in existential crises to the mix. So, he keeps that to himself but shrugs at what... sounds like an accusation? ]

Uh, yeah? Used to living on a ship before now, which is kind of like crashing with three dozen or so randos who can't wipe their own asses without being told to do it, so this is basically an upgrade for me, living with one person who has a job and shit to do elsewhere that doesn't involve my say-so.

...Huh.

[ It's an intrigued sort of "Huh," like maybe she'd never thought of it like that. Either way, someone like Mizuki unfortunately can't... just live with anyone. ]

Were you the ship's captain? That's cool.

[ In any other town, Blackbeard might be concerned he's leading this girl into danger, but here? It's like leading a one-eyed kitten into a den of mice. Probably better off with a stranger than the "chosen" of this place. They're the wolves amongst the sheep in Aldrip, not the other way 'round. ]

Mm. Cool for a while, yeah, when there was excitement about it and a name to be made. Started out a nobody under someone else's flag like all the rest. Raided and looted and outlived the lot 'til I was "Blackbeard, Terror of the Seas." From there, though, it was just a drag.

[ Fame is... a drag? From how Iris acts, it seems Mizuki never thought of it that way, but in hindsight, it's quite obvious that it would be exhausting. At least, for her. (Iris's energy seems endless.) ]

Maybe it'll be less of a drag in a whole new world you've never been. You ever think about putting together another crew? [ There sure is a lot of ocean out there. ]

[ You ever think about putting together another crew? Uh, only every fucking day. Still, he shrugs, noncommittal. ]

I guess. I don't know, maybe, if it seems worth my time.

[ But enough about that little sore spot— ]

Why? Feel like giving up one shared, overcrowded living space for another?

[ Mizuki tilts her head. He seems casual about it, but it seemed like there was something a little more to that. Her investigative senses are telling her she should pursue this line of questioning, but she remains equally noncommittal. ]

I might be interested in adventure, but you'd have to teach me the ropes.

[ There's certainly no one tying her down anymore. Maybe Vi, but... ]

No worries there. Sailing's an easy thing to teach. [ haha Teach ] It's a thirst for adventure that can't be learned.

[ That's not why he started, though. And not why she'd be interested either, he imagines. His voice quiets. ]

Anyway, most pirates learn to sail as they go. Some are chasing dreams of glory and gold, yeah, but most are just trying to get away from a bad life. Start over. Break the chains.

[ He's heard the sounds of tears and pain in a person's voice too many times not to recognize when he hears it. ]

[ There is silence on Mizuki's end as she stares at him through the feed. She is suddenly glad that she never turned on the hologram video from her end, because it sure does feel like he is reading her right now.

In her case, it's less trying to get away from this life and more getting back to the one she had. Because she doesn't talk about it much, but she still has something important to do back home. ]

...Yeah. I can see how that life would be attractive to someone like that.

[ It's not meant to be an accusation, or a baited hook. Would kind of defeat the point if it was. Just an offer. So when it's quietly redirected, Ed just nods in equally muted agreement. ]

Mmhm. You know anyone like that, you send them my way, hm? Maybe I'll get that crew yet.

[ Or just be a safe port if she changes her mind. ]

[ A hum that might just be a grin from the other side of the charm can be heard. Mizuki certainly welcomes the way he smoothly so steers the pressure off. She'd never imagine she'd have a life as a pirate, but she'd never imagined she'd have a life on a farm, either. ]

You bet.

Be sure to save a spot for me. Just in case... Captain Blackbeard.

[ Life never goes the way you plan, does it? But sometimes, when you're very lucky, it goes in a way you don't hate. Maybe even enjoy. Being that person again doesn't sound so bad when she says it. Blackbeard's eyes narrow and cheeks apple with a smile almost entirely hidden beneath the beard. ]

Be a damned fool if I didn't.

[ And because he's got his own shit to do and feels confident enough in leaving her to hers, he signs off— ]

Take care, Mizuki.

[ —and the video flickers off. ]

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sorry for the delay!

sorry for mine too! ;; this. this month is just kind of happening. yeah

i feel that

we can wind this down if you want, make room for a new thread in aug :)

yesss works for me!

awesome <3

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