[Quin's voice is hurried and hushed like he's afraid of being overheard or getting caught]

Hello?! Hello?! Daddy, Ichigo, Captain, anyone? This is Harlequin. I'm . . . I'm not on the Way right now. I'm actually on some kind of flying castle ship. They, ah . . . d-don't know I'm here. Y-yet. Um . . . I'm sure you've all found out by now that some of our crew members have been kidnapped. I don't know yet who all or how many, or where they're being kept. B-but I'll keep looking! Promise!

I don't know where we are yet, but I'm trying to determine that too. A few hours ago, I made it to an outside window and we're in . . . mountains. I don't know which ones. We might still be in the Badlands. O-or not. It's not cold enough for snow, so I know we're not in the north like we were in Tulgim. We didn't travel nearly long enough anyway. We are stopped, though . . . a-at least for now.

I've been trying to find the radio room. Ichigo! I might actually manage to put to use some of the stuff you've been teaching me! If I can, I'll send you the coordinates where we are. O-or even . . . hey, is it possible to trace difference engines?! Obviously, this one isn't mine. I've . . . um . . . b-borrowed someone's. It's too heavy for me to pull up into the ventilation system with me, but I'll stay with it at least until the owner comes back. Hopefully, someone will hear this and respond before that. I-I'd really like some advice on what to do here. I-is there anything I should be doing differently?!

W-well . . . I'll post this so you guys can get it. I really hope this finds everyone well!

This is Harlequin of the Winding Way, signing off.



((OOC: Um........one request, guys? D-don't tell Quin that his "daddy" is dead. Not yet. He's going to be devastated enough as it is when he finds out. He might not be able to do what he needs to do here if he knows. =D;;; ))

Goodness!

W-well, I finally made it back.  Eheh . . . if anyone even noticed I was gone.  [SHEEPISH tone of voice]  One of the farmer boys found me and, instead of bringing me back here, gave me to his sister who trapped me in her toy chest!  B-but, ah . . . I'm back now.

Captain?  I'm . . . I'm afraid I haven't any news on the fleece.  Um . . . i-is it even still missing?  I-I'm afraid I'd gotten myself stuck for too long to know anymore.  I s-sorry . . .

((Yeah . . . fail!mun is back . . . or trying to be.  Health's probably about as good as it's going to get, at least for now.  Brain's a little clearer.  Yayy for rainy weather to fuck with the fibro.  *flails*  ...............................=3;;;))

[private]

Goodness, they don't joke when they talk about a two-horse town, eh?  In fact, I'm not so sure there are even that many here...  Oh, well...

But now there's some fleece has gone missing?!  Darn, what timing!  Makes it look like we did it - even Captain Ryuuzaki at least somewhat suspects......................u-unless that was the plan all along.  Whoever stole it waited for a ship to arrive, some outsiders to pin suspicion on....?

Darn....darn!  This is no good at all!

...on the other hand...I might actually be of use for this one...

[/private]

[Winding Way]

Hey, guys?  Who....um, who makes the tags and labels for things here on the ship?  I....I-I have an idea and...I'll need help to make it look...w-well, authentic...

[/Winding Way]

[sounds like he's in some pain, as he's still getting used to the new, replacement body parts]


M-magentabeard?  Did...did he attack the ship at some point?  Is that why people want to get him?

Count me in!  I-I mean, I'm not one for revenge or anything like that, but I'll certainly stand with my fami- . . . ah, m-my crew mates.  Ahaha... [sounds somewhere between embarrassed and uncomfortable, not sure if he should put it like that ("family") aloud]  A-anyway . . . let me know if there's anything I can do to help!  I'm no fighter, but I'm small, quick, and easy to overlook.  And if there are any traps or anything like that, I can help trigger them.  O-or something . . .

So . . . yes, please let me know what I can do!

Okay, so RL was making catch-up take a little longer than normal, and Quin's the last one I'm catching up.  And....I totally missed the fact that the mine collapses are probably happening about the same time as something else that has...quietly taken the little puppet out of commission for a while.

Krystal and I are working on a log here that is resulting in Quin having to give up his explorations of the ventilation system, at least for a while . . . basically until new parts have been carved by one of the shipwrights and the magic animating him has fully integrated them.  Until then, he'll be stiff, uncoordinated, and in a lot of pain.  ^,^;;;

Not sure if anyone would overtly notice when he goes missing for a short time - except maybe Hughes and Sai - but I at least wanted to let people know why I'm not following up on the initial tags I'd done (with Luffy at least, don't remember if there was anyone else) about him participating in the rescues.  With the mine collapses, I'm going to guess the shipwrights are off-ship for the time being helping with that...? 

I'm debating if I should wait until the log is done before I put up a journal entry from him about it, but . . . yeah, letting players know, whether or not characters would.  9,9;;;

Thanks!

*crawls back under rock*

Oh, goodness . . . goodness, things aren't looking very good at all.  First Mr. Vash's warning, and now this?  The news from the Tulgim Times is quite distressing.  It's so hard to know who to believe.  But . . . someone's got to be lying and covering up, right?  And if it's the miners, one wonders why.  I don't like to think that someone in charge of the safety and wellbeing of so many would not want to take care of those precious lives but . . . but . . .

Oh, what's this?  A post from . . . I think his name is Luffy?  ..................oh, no!  A-a collapse?!  I have to go help!

[*click*]


*********************
[OOC:  Probably should just go ahead and delete this post but............... Anyway, gotta take this back - Mun-fail: Quin's not available for the mine rescues cuz he is/will be waiting for a shipwright to carve him new body parts...... 9,9]

[OOC: Or if they're even back there yet...]

Mr. Dimo, Mi-!  Ah....J-jenka!  I just got your gifts!  Thank you so much!  I really love the hat - my other one was...actually getting kind of worn anyway - and a book about people and constructs and things.  Neat!  [sound of flipping through briefly, stopping suddenly]  Oh!  And a note . . . "There - now can you stop being an-"!  Oh!  ......o-oh.  Ah . . . y-yes, ma'am.  I'll...I'll try.  [another brief pause as he reads the description of Van Rijn's Muses . . . and there's a note of awe in his voice]  W-wow . . . you...you really think I can compare to something like that??  [not arguing, just...a little shocked]   Ah . . . a-anyway - thank you!  Both of you!  These are great!

I . . . I don't really know what a birthday is, to be honest, but I've heard people wish happy ones to each other, so . . .

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MR. HUGHES!

Um . . . I . . . just found a . . . really small box of tools outside the door.  Mr. Hughes, a-are these . . . no, I don't think so.  But everything is perfect size for me to use...

D-does anyone know where Mr. Gintoki is?  I've . . . not been able to find him . . .


[OOC:  Post is in reference to this of course.  GINTOKI-MUN if you happen to see this - we'll miss you!  I'll miss you!  *HUGGLES!*]

[sounds REALLY excited, like a little kid, and....maybe even a little teary]

Thank you so much for all the wonderful, incredible gifts, everyone!  I-I'm . . . I'm just overwhelmed!  I had no idea there was such an event as this!  And while I did give gifts as well, I'm so sorry that I didn't give more!  I'll do better next time - I promise!

I HAVE A BED!!!!  [SO. THRILLED!]  I have a real bed!  Just my size!  Thank you so much, Mr. Hughes! 

And Miss Ilya, the music box - I've heard of them, but I'd never seen one before.  It's beautiful!  And it sounds so lovely, too.  And Miss Sophie, the book - I'll learn the stories so I can tell them to people.  Ha!  I can provide a side entertainment or preshow amusement before a play, maybe, yes?  Mr. Ichigo - the sword is just the right size!  And yes, I'd very much appreciate the knot and rope lessons, if it wouldn't be too much trouble.  A-and maybe I can learn to use the sword too?  Mr. Sai, the cat drawing is really beautiful - you're such an amazing artist!

And Mr. Zack . . . the crate of apples!  [snickering, highly amused]  Thank you!  I'll be sure they don't go to waste!  Next time we see each other, maybe we can share a cobbler or something.

A-and . . . oh, goodness, I'm sure I'm missing someone.  I hope I got everyone - thanks for all the cards and sweets too!  And if I am forgetting anyone, I'm really sorry...

HAPPY LUNASA, EVERYONE!

[[OOC:  Oh!  A-and . . . he'd have listed Connor too, thanking him . . . only I think neither of us know what it was yet.  LOL....  But yeah, Quin thanked him too.  And he's not gotten Dimo's yet, so.....]]

Miss Zeetha, when you have a few minutes, could I come talk to you?  I have a few questions about a . . . a project I'm working on, actually, and I thought you might be able to help me.

Mr. Dimo . . . I've been thinking . . . what does your brother look like?  The one your looking for...  You know, just so I can help look for him too.  We'll be in different ports at different times and all that, after all...

Oh, a-and . . . what does Mr. Maxim look like?  Just that . . . I never got to meet him yet, is all.  I was wondering.


((OOC: Yeah, that's all valid . . . but he also realized he doesn't know what half the people look like that he's wanting to draw.  ^,^;;;;;;))

Ah . . . Mr. Gintoki?  Do...do you have a few minutes sometime we can get together.  I-I, ah...h-have a favor to ask.

Oh, goodness, I just heard that radio show.  How exciting! 

Dimo, Jenka, Zack, everyone - have fun and best of luck!  Even if you don't win, I'd imagine that'd be an incredible experience!

[The soft clatter of wood can be heard as Harlequin sits shivering in his "room" in the props closet]

G-g-goodness!  T-they d-don't joke w-when they s-say it's c-cold here!  I-I should p-probably dig up a b-blanket for myself o-or something.  O-or maybe s-someone wouldn't m-mind letting me s-stay with them i-in their room, j-just for the w-warmth u-until we l-leave... 

M-miss Sophie, I-I do hate to b-be a bother but d-do you know if y-you'll have m-my clothes ready s-soon?

((backdated to right before leaving the Badlands, shortly after Vash's announcement.))

Ah . . . h-hello?  I'm . . . I'm looking for a Miss Sophie.  I'm told she's a seamstress, and . . . I-I find myself in need of clothes....  Mr. Vash and Miss Jean both told me see her.

Thank you and I'm sorry for the trouble.

[*sounds terrified but /trying/ to stay calm*]

I-If anyone n-needs me, I-I'm in my r-room, which is a c-cabinet in the props storage room.  T-third from the door on your r-right as you enter.  S-sorry, everyone, but I-I'm really no good to anyone in storms.  They mean water, which s-swells my joints so I freeze up u-until I can d-dry out again.  A-and l-lightning . . . lightning means fires!

Gods of the firmament, please tell me this ship has a plan for f-fires and lightning strikes!

[*to himself, not realizing he's not switched off his journal or changed the setting to private*]

Dear gods, please . . . please let us get through this storm!  I-I couldn't . . . I just couldn't bear it if this home gets lost too!  Or if so . . . please let me go down with it this time.  I-I can't take going through this, not again . . .

For them to be as successful as they can be, for the ship to run as smoothly as possible, and for the threat of pirates and anything else to remain a minimum.  I'd like for them to stay safe and healthy and alive...



Okay, not really OOC since it's written in mah puppet's voice, but . . . can or not be taken in-game for TST, but I happened on this and couldn't pass it up!  LOL

((Meant to be private but he's tired after a long day working, etc, and wasn't paying attention to what exactly he keyed in.  ^,^;;;;))

I've heard someone here referred to as Mama or Mommy.  I wonder who that is.

...or what that's like.  To have a mother, I mean.  Or a father.  Although... [audible grimace in his tone] ...if it means someone like Ichigo's father, I . . . I'm not sure I'd want one.  Still..............

Well, anyway, good night, diary.

[*click*]

Hello?  This...is for anyone in the kitchen actually.  I know everyone's kind of resting and enjoying themselves after the races and working so hard on the play and everything, and I'm glad!  For myself, I brand-new to the ship, and I'm eager to start helping around.  Mr. Hughes had suggested I see if there's anything I can help with in the kitchen, especially with Mr. Watanuki out of things for a while.

And speaking of whom, I do hope he recovers fully and speedily.  Is there anything in particular he likes?  A food or plant or.......?