You Wouldn't Pirate a Mackemel. Like a mackerel. Sorry.

May 04 12:15:01 *	Mackenzie is standing just outside the cave, watching the stars. He's been awake since before they arrived on the island, but doesn't really feel like sleeping yet. Looking inside (for the sake of convenience I'm assuming there's basic visibility in the cave,) he sees a Melons and he motions for her to follow him outside.
May 04 12:17:30 <Melons>	Mel freezes in place momentarily after the summons, glancing about the cave for some invisible reassurance before she acquiesces, walking over to Mack with an uncommon confidence.
May 04 12:21:41 <Mackenzie>	"So...  What's wrong?"
May 04 12:23:26 <Melons>	"Well I imagine Aether was performing experiments on the island which caused the aggression, and thus the shadow pokemon are hunting down the rest, with Aether having long since vacated the island. That or there's something really useful in the cave we haven't found yet, something conspicuous enough that Aether isn't risking making a direct appearance."
May 04 12:24:54 <Mackenzie>	"I meant personally."
May 04 12:27:27 <Melons>	The facade of a smile is dispelled. "You mean, aside from the fact that it's basically suicide to be part of a ragtag group of whatevers and fighting an organization with interdimensional dominion?"
May 04 12:37:37 <Mackenzie>	Mack leans against the wall outside the cave.  "I know you've been taking everything exceptionally poorly.  As far as I could discern from you, things started getting from worrisome to horrid after Mermaid Haven, when Med had her shadow incident.  I don't know how accurate that is for the source of the downturn I noticed at that time, but that's a lot of why I spent a lot of effort trying
May 04 12:37:37 <Mackenzie>	to get her back with us.  You seemed very personally beat up starting with waking up at the hospital."
May 04 12:43:05 <Melons>	There's a few minutes of silence as Mel also leans against the wall before speaking. "I'd say I handled things pretty well, given that in the span of a few weeks I went from moping in my bedroom with effectively zero social interaction to fighting pirates, organized gangs, and insane gods or something. But now I've had time to...reflect...you can consider that the old me."
May 04 12:50:04 <Mackenzie>	"That's what I'd already gathered.  It's been nigh impossible trying to keep up with you by observation, other than the fact that you've been changing a lot.  Some new addiction or fear or something coming up, seems like every other day.  ...To be clear, I don't judge you for any of it.  If I wasn't already accustomed to the idea of doing crazy shit, I might have drunk myself into a coma
May 04 12:50:05 <Mackenzie>	by now.  I just mean, there's not a lot of us any more, at least those who are readily involved in this.  Lesieli and Mayuri seem to still be thoroughly associated with us, but they're...  I don't know, I can't really say they're a liability or anything, but they don't seem very invested in this, personally."
May 04 12:53:15 <Melons>	"Lesieli is slow to act, but...well you saw her at the Haven. Can't say for Mayuri, considering we haven't really known her that long, and I don't even know how much she's following. I suppose the most isolating factor is that we haven't had much contact with the other crews involved directly in Aether business."
May 04 12:57:00 <Mackenzie>	"Have you met your...  other self, or whatever?  Like Med did?  I feel confident enough in myself to keep going as I am, but...  If you're still uneasy or uncertain, maybe involving yourself with her could help bring some solidarity.  That...  weird merging thing Med did seems to have helped her come to terms with her inner struggles immensely.  Enough to not need us any more, as much
May 04 12:57:00 <Mackenzie>	as I still find it ungrateful."
May 04 13:02:09 <Melons>	Melanie looks a little surprised. "Oh, yes. We uh... we had a rather...interesting conversation...and a bit of a scuffle. We're seeing eye to eye now, though. Someone like you doesn't really need to worry about junk data though, only those of us that are more...fragmented."
May 04 13:08:40 <Mackenzie>	"I don't even know what my...  other self or whatever is supposed to be, but to that end I don't exactly care, either.  Aether wanted me to be what I am, and I'm aiming to make them regret it on my own.  Then I'll go meet who I was supposed to be, and we can share a drink over it.  Who knows, maybe I'm the most drastically changed of any of us."
May 04 13:09:23 <Melons>	"Weren't you accidentally invited to PIRATES?"
May 04 13:13:46 <Mackenzie>	"in the end, it was all just confusing circumstances.  They had intended to invite me for me, but I'd confused what they meant for a while.  In the end it seemed like an accident, but I've verified that I'm here on purpose."
May 04 13:14:16 <Melons>	"I suppose saving face would be a purpose by definition..." She smirks playfully.
May 04 13:15:02 <Mackenzie>	"Hey, I've saved your face a few times too, you know."  Incoming sarcasm.
May 04 13:15:55 <Melons>	"In any case, I would not recommend sleeping on this island to one so well put together. There was a reason Shadow Claw said he'd never return...."
May 04 13:19:27 <Mackenzie>	"I've already been awake for a long time.  I'm not sure if that'll be an option by the time we can leave."
May 04 13:20:21 <Melons>	"Hm...I understand it might be rather...painful, but I suppose it may be unavoidable."
May 04 13:23:37 <Mackenzie>	"I suppose I could use some character development aside from just being the half comic relief, half effective leader.  I'd be more worried about making sure Lesieli and Mayuri stay awake, because I'm not so sure they could take it."
May 04 13:24:50 <Melons>	"You seem to forget Lesieli seems to literally be the incarnation of a god."
May 04 13:25:20 <Mackenzie>	"That doesn't mean she's not fairly fragile and innocent."
May 04 13:26:18 <Melons>	"Hm...I suppose since I'm the most rested, that would make me the night watch. Though I'd still advise against sleeping until we're back on the boat...was there anything else?"
May 04 13:29:09 <Mackenzie>	"I guess not.  I was just more unsure of your position than I've ever been, and I figure it's silly to continue to make assumptions about these things, when it feels like we're also smaller and less connected than ever."
May 04 13:30:21 <Melons>	"To be fair, you and I were never all that connected in the first place. Though it does seem like our current group is the most cohesive it's ever been."
May 04 13:30:23 <Mackenzie>	"I uh...  I just guess we probably ought to try to be more of a team."
May 04 13:31:15 <Mackenzie>	"We have plenty of apparent synergy when we're fighting, but as an actual unit, it feels rather lacking."
May 04 13:32:44 <Melons>	"Well what's next of our priorities...checking on the mermaid and then trying to reach out to other crews of PIRATES? Seems like a pretty good time to start building it off the battlefield."
May 04 13:34:06 <Mackenzie>	"I still want to reach out to that missing team...  But it might be better to team up with another known crew first."
May 04 13:36:06 <Melons>	"In that case..." Melanie turns toward Mack with a beaming smile and puts her hand out. "I look forward to formally meeting you, Mackenzie Frazier."
May 04 13:38:32 *	Mackenzie shakes it and bows slightly. "It'll be a pleasure, Miss Ipu." He's completely lost to any possible underlying meaning.
May 04 13:41:03 <Melons>	With that, Melanie starts climbing up the rocks to get a better vantage over the cave/cliff area to begin her watch.
May 04 13:45:38 *	Mackenzie scratches his head and goes to look for something to do other than feel like going to sleep.
May 04 13:48:13 <Melons>	</mini?>
May 04 13:48:23 <Mackenzie>	</mini>