PMS II Session 0

<Halifax> [...And everyone parted ways since last the reader has seen of them. Each following dreams to where ever they would lead. But as fate would have it they were bound by something stronger. Destiny... Two years have passed by quickly since then. With the absence  of the infamous Pirate Queen Halifax, a power struggle in the pirate circles left chaos in its wake. A chaos that could no longer be...
<Halifax> ...left unchecked. Specialized "pirate hunting" privateers and naval platoons are all the rage now. The bounties on all known pirates new and old are enough to retire on. For pirates, it is the end times.]
<Halifax> [Meanwhile...]
<Ellisa> [Ellisa's been sweeping those so called "Bounty hunters" left and right, making her an even more ruthless pirate than before, she became known as the Crimsoneer, due to her red eyes, and the blood spilt each time she sets her eyes on a new target. Most fear the now reddish hue of the ship, though there are some of those brave fools who try to attack the ship only to meet Davy Jone's Locker..]
<Ellisa> [Through time, Dani left Elli... she was heartbroken... with that.. her rampages seeth even more, killing all alike... and now.... she sets out to find her next victim unbeknowing what will happen next....]
<[par]Evone> [Evone left her life of piracy with a vague sense of nausa.  The feeling of always being on the edge of violence ran on her nerves.  She set out to make her fortune and try to make a better life or herself, turning to her one windfall during the six years under Halifax, the frozen temple in the north.  A led expedition found many artefacts and made their fortune...]
<[par]Evone> [Evone used her share to remake herself and soon enough the egnimatic Lady Flavie won the heart of a young prussian duke.  They've been engaged with a sizable dowery.]
<[BNS]Amile> [Amile, having forged an uneasy alliance with Allison the night before they left the crew, returned to France in order to find and reunite with Amile's twin brother Emile. The search took months, but Amile finally found his brother in the port city of Saint-Malo, acting as an enforcer for his old gang. It was not difficult for the two brothers to reconcile, but it /was/ difficult for Amile to recover what he had lost.]
<[BNS]Amile> [In the months that followed, Amile along with Emile and Allison, waged a private war against the gang underbosses who had usurped Amile's authority ever since his supposed death in the Kraken attack upon the Harbinger. In the long process, Amile and Allison reconciled their differences and became all the stronger for it.]
<[BNS]Amile> [Eventually their efforts paid off when the underworld council finally recognized and restored Amile's authority as a leader. He earned a new position as underboss of Saint-Malo and came to control the port with Emile and Allison as his close lieutenants. He is now enjoying a relatively peaceful and prosperous existence, away from the turmoil of the last days of the Pirates.]
<[Rut]Allison> [After her business with Amile concluded, Allison returned to her wanderings, periodically offering freelance assistance to the former. Seldom staying in one place for long, she kept up her tradition of making countless friends and enemies, great and small. Those who (claim to have) known her would say that she returned from her brief crewmanship aboard the coffin ‘changed’ – somewhat...
<[Rut]Allison> ...colder...
<[Rut]Allison> ...and more distant, sometimes even taking the most brutal of contracts. Over time, her résumé grew to considerable proportions, and she joined the echelons of the most hated-yet-sought-after rogues in the underworld. What all -- save herself -- couldn’t know is that for all Allison’s bluffs, all her enigmas… this was something new to her. She had never waited so long before...
<[Rut]Allison> ...‘moving on’ before…]
<[Tess]Tony> [Tony, although having spent some time with Ellisa in the beginning, eventually broke off and resumed his old life of bounty hunting and mercenary work. He regained his old notoriety among colonial conflicts and high-profile hunts, and has been around quite a lot since, but has spent almost all of his time working alone... although he could track down old comrades if he wished, the past years
<[Tess]Tony> have all been one foot in front of the other... from one day to the next. Although he still isn't tired of his violent lifestyle, there are some days where he still misses some of the old things...]
<[Atai]Emily> The Countess, distraught over the loss of her wife the day after their informal betrothal, quickly distanced herself from the old crew. Taking her share and her already not-inconsiderable fortune, she began to hunt for her beloved. Whether out of rage, confusion, sadness, or a sense of betrayal, she was never sure. She would find Priss. Once she accomplished that... she didn't know what. But...
<[Atai]Emily> ...finding her was her first and foremost goal.
<[Atai]Emily> During the two years, she traveled extensively, tracking down any and all information on her disappeared lover. She grew more fit and more dangerous from sheer necessity: sailing, hiking, climbing, walking, fighting, enduring the elements, enduring her travels, all turned her body from lush and unsuited to a hard life into a lean, tanned, able physique. She continued to dress in clothing...
<[Atai]Emily> ...more fancy than most would expect from someone aboard a sailing vessel, but not to the point of gaudy ridiculousness. Most of her wardrobe tended towards greens and reds, earnign her the name "Miss Christmas," although for any formal business, she called herself Emily Halifax.
<[Atai]Emily> Despite all her searching and hunting, however, every trail seemed to go cold. She had vanished without a trace, much to Emily's distress.
<[Atai]Emily> That merely meant, however, that she would need to keep looking, to the ends of the earth, and back again, as long as it took. She would not be held back.
<[Atai]Emily> And then, that letter came.
<Halifax> [...and so things went with the majority of the crew... But what of Emily, Ariel, and Halifax? Maybe we'll hear about them next time. More importantly, either from trained pigeons or mailmen or by way of stranger or in more peculiar fashions, letters arrive in the hands of the previous crew members. Handwritten invitations addressed by name to the pirate queen's old crew. The messages all...
<Halifax> ...unique and slightly mysterious beckon though it seems to be an obvious trap. The location and time of the meeting seem to be an out of the way country town by the sea...]]
<Halifax> [...We now fast forward to the night of the meeting... Many of those who received the letter feeling... compelled... to attend...]
<Halifax> [The town is small and just beside a beach, barely a thatch of wood between the furthest building and the sandy beach. Without the small lighthouse beside it, the town could easily be missed by blinking as your boat sailed by.]
<[BNS]Amile> [A horse-drawn carriage approaches the town in a cloud of dust. Piloting the wagon and hanging off the sides are a group of uncouth-looking individuals with mean looks on their faces.
<[BNS]Amile> [The wagon comes to a stop along the main road leading to the town center and the thugs hanging off the sides drop down to the ground.]
<Halifax> [The mild drizzle that had been putting up a thin mist this morning has passed, leaving behind a clear daybreak with a lingering rainbow.]
* [Rut]Allison fold her spyglass, clicking her tongue in derision. She paces back and fourth a little on her perch atop the lighthouse. It wasn't the first time she'd received such an ominously vague letter, but her usual sources yielded no information on the matter. She notices movement on the road below and quickly re-draws her looking glass to get a fix on it.
<[BNS]Amile> [The thugs look around to make sure that all is clear, and when they feel it is, the biggest one amongst them knocks on the door of the carriage.]
* [BNS]Emile opens the door of the carriage and descends the stepladder to the ground. He looks around, confirming the safety of the location.
* [Rut]Allison raises an eyebrow. Emile? Or Amile? She couldn't tell. Not at this distance. But they wouldn't have contacted her in such an unusual fashion...
* [Rut]Allison continues to watch.
* [Tess]Tony looks on from nearby, having slunk behind cover and out of sight in the face of the approaching carriage. He pops his sword a few centimeters out of its scabbard, just in case he's forced to use it.
* [BNS]Emile turns around and knocks on the carriage door himself.
* [Rut]Allison refocuses her spyglass now that they're closer... They both came, albeit not alone.
* [BNS]Amile opens the door and steps down carefully, holding up the hem of his dress as he descends.
* [Tess]Tony smiles in recognition, but then frowns in thought. Are those two responsible for the letter...?
* [BNS]Amile points to a random mook and barks orders to head to the tavern and make sure it's safe.
* [BNS]Amile turns back to Emile as the mook runs off
<[BNS]Amile> Brother, what do you think about all this?
* [BNS]Emile rubs his nose and looks around again.
* [Rut]Allison watches the feminine one shout at one of his men. Yeah, that's Amile.
<[BNS]Emile> Don't like it. We're being watched. By more than one person... not sure how many exactly though.
* [BNS]Amile frowns
* [BNS]Emile points into the distance in Allison's direction.
<[BNS]Emile> Reflection from a spyglass in that direction.
* [BNS]Amile spins around and yells at another mook
<[BNS]Amile> Well, don't just stand there, go take a look!
<[BNS]Amile> [The mook stumbles as he hurries off in Allison's general direction!]
* [Rut]Allison frowns. Here comes one... She puts the glass away and goes back down to ground level to "greet" him.
<[BNS]Amile> [The mook is nearing Allison's location. He looks around like a lost puppy.]
<[BNS]Amile> [With a stupid look on his face.]
* [Rut]Allison relieves him of that. With a blackjack.
<[BNS]Amile> [Mook down, mook down!]
* [Tess]Tony diverts his attention to the subordinate that's been sent off... oh. Those generally are no good at jobs like this.
* [BNS]Amile taps his foot impatiently as he waits for the mook to return...
<[BNS]Amile> ...
* [Rut]Allison exits the lighthouse, dusting her sleeves a bit. Henchman #5 doesn't. She starts in everyone else's direction.
<[BNS]Amile> ...damn it! Emile, go find where that idiot went!
<[BNS]Emile> Yeah. You go to the tavern first though. You can't be standing out here by yourself.
<[BNS]Amile> ...you know I hate it when you try and pull the big brother card on me.
* [par]Evone arrives by carriage. She steps out with parasol and regal attire. Along with her flowing hair styled in braids and glass eye she is hard to reconize. Evone walks towards where the letter directed, eager to end this business and get on with her new life
<[Rut]Allison> ...Only because he cares for his dear sister so~
* [Tess]Tony regards the new arrival in turn... just what's going on?! He slinks around to get a better view of the new carriage.
<[par]Evone> [the carriage hastily goes off as soon as the person getting off starts on her way]
* [BNS]Amile begrudgingly heads to the tavern with the other mooks
<Halifax> [Evone enters a small house,very domestic looking with clothes lines ready to hang recently washed whites just outside and a small picket fence around it.  The house seems empty but a dining table seems set to receive a large number of people. The smells of food from a kitchen are delightful.]
* [BNS]Emile watches as Amile heads off, then heads in the direction the mook went in.
* [Tess]Tony decides to tail Amile, keeping low but never too far behind.
* [BNS]Emile is obviously not messing around, he has his clawed gloves on and at the ready.
* [par]Evone lets herself in and closes her umbrella. She stands unamused in the room waiting to be greeted and for an explaination
<Ellisa> [A large rusty red ship just pulled into the shallow water, it seems familar as you see a small boat being dropped from the ship into the water, and there lies one person in that boat rowing back, you can hear lots of ordering going around assuming you people are that close. As she hits shore, a familiar image pops up as she makes her way torwards the requested location.]
<Ellisa>  Who in the hell called me into this damn backwater town....?
* [BNS]Emile finds the mook unconscious on the ground.
<[BNS]Emile> ...great.
* [BNS]Emile looks around the area again
<[Rut]Allison> ...My, my...
* [BNS]Emile instantly looks up at the voice and puts his claws up in ready position!
* [BNS]Emile then gets a good look at the culprit's face.
<[BNS]Emile> ...Allison.
<[BNS]Emile> I don't even need to guess. You got a letter too?
* [Rut]Allison strides perpendicular to him, each step leisurely and nonchalant.
* [BNS]Emile puts his hands down
<Halifax> [Evone is disappointed that there doesn't seem to be any sign of anyone else really, she can hear someone cooking though, the smells are mouth watering. There are also little notes in front of each plate around the dinning table.]
<[Rut]Allison> Indeed I did. But I hadn't thought the head of the snake would turn to check it's tail so readily~ Every one of your men is important to you, is it?
* [par]Evone groans and sets her umbrella aside. She peeks into the kitchen and clears her throat if she sees someone
<[BNS]Emile> You know I'm not the head, Allison. It's Amile's show, I just make sure she doesn't get hurt.
* [Rut]Allison shrugs.
* [Tess]Tony momentarily breaks off of following Amile, looking over at the arriving ship. Flashy...
<[BNS]Emile> So, why are you /really/ here, Allison? We both know you're not here just because some letter told you to.
<Halifax> [Evone notices a homely woman who seems dead set at cooking what she's cooking, she tells you the food won't be ready for awhile yet so you might as well keep yourself busy and play outside. Just don't track in any mud later ya hear?]
<[Rut]Allison> You give yourself too little credit. But tell me... what did your invitation say?
<[BNS]Emile> I don't know. It wasn't my invitation. It was Amile's.
* [par]Evone groans again but descides against protesting at such treatment. She checks for her name on the table
<[BNS]Emile> I didn't even want her coming here, but in the end, it's up to her.
<[Rut]Allison> Didn't even look for yourself, did you? Hah. You're a dying breed, Emile, to treat your sister as the lady she -prefers- to be.
<Halifax> [Evone notices alot of familiar names set on the other notes around the table before finding her own. Written with a very formal flair if oddly sloppy.]
* [Rut]Allison steps on Emile's metaphorical toes gingerly...
<[BNS]Emile> Not that she prefers to be. That she was raised to be. That she deserves to be. It's not my place to judge our parents' decision or Amile's.
* [BNS]Emile stares at Allison with a bored look. They've had this discussion before.
* [par]Evone starts to piece together what is happening and hastily goes to grab her umbrella and leave
* [Rut]Allison crosses her arms and grins, apparently satisfied with Emile's reaction. She starts off towards the meeting place, calling behind her.
<[Rut]Allison> ...Shall we go?
<[BNS]Emile> ...yeah, I guess we should.
* [BNS]Emile goes to the tavern to retrieve Amile
* [Tess]Tony gets bored of sitting and walks out onto the road, stretching.
* [BNS]Amile is standing outside the tavern, having had refused to enter due to the offending odor within.
* [Rut]Allison spots... someone familiar ahead?
<[Rut]Allison> ... Do I know you?
* [BNS]Amile squints as he peers at the person walking back alongside Emile
* [Tess]Tony spins around, hands behind his head.
<[Tess]Tony> Wah, what a surprise, my lady. Do you?
* [Atai]Emily A figure in a red coat and green skirt comes up the road, into town. Striding might be a better word for how she walks, and angrily, at that. Her golden hair is done up in a pair of curled braids, with ringlets that fall over her temples. She is hauling a large black traveling trunk by herself, and appears somewhat vexed, to put it lightly.
* [BNS]Amile is heading down the road with Emile when he sees a group of people ahead
<[Rut]Allison> You're... Tony, was it?
* [Rut]Allison had only worked with the crew briefly, but knows a face when she sees one.
* [Tess]Tony bows courteously.
* Ellisa sighs as she spots that....house... over there?..No....can't be....whatever.. if its that house there has to be something wrong with it.
<[Tess]Tony> Always was and am still. Tooth-and-Nail Tony, as I am known these days, at your service.
<[BNS]Amile> ...you all got letters too.
<[Rut]Allison> Ah, you seem well. But what brings you--
* [BNS]Amile interrupts as he walks up
* [Rut]Allison stops cold.
<[Rut]Allison> Tony, Amile, and myself...
* [Atai]Emily notes people entering the house.
<[BNS]Emile> And not just you all.
* [BNS]Emile turns and draws notice to the approaching Emily
<[Rut]Allison> ...
* [Tess]Tony turns to Amile, nodding towards him in greeting. This is getting interesting...
* [Atai]Emily 's hand rests upon one of the sidearms about her person.
* Ellisa approaches the house...and sees a group of people near or around it..
<Ellisa> NO....FUCKING. WAY...
<[BNS]Amile> ...this is her doing.
* [Atai]Emily draws close enough to start making out faces. There's the... what was his name? The only male on board the ship; should have been easy to remember. Tom? Ten? something.
* [Rut]Allison scans the Horizon, and recognizes a familiar ship. Her thoughts are interrupted by Ellisa's voice.
<[Rut]Allison> ...
* [Atai]Emily sees one of the "new kids"-- funny that she still thought of them that way-- accompanied by a man she didn't recognize. And walking up the street in the other direction...
<[Atai]Emily> Ah. Lovely.
* [BNS]Amile continues on towards the house, half-convinced of who's responsible for this and wanting some select words as he opens the front door...
* [par]Evone walks straight into Amile
<[BNS]Amile> Whaa!!
<[par]Evone> "Oh pardon- !"
* [BNS]Emile has his claws drawn in a bare second, pointed straight at Evone
* [par]Evone looks surprised but tries not to reveal why, hoping she isn't reconized
<[BNS]Amile> Emile, no! It's not her!
<[Tess]Tony> Waiting on someone, are we?
* [BNS]Emile lowers his hands...
* [Atai]Emily 's grip on the gun tightens. Perhaps they're holding her love hostage? There's an itch of violence that needs scratching. She hasn't had a good fight since Johnny Copper and his thugs came after her because of something Priss had done to his brother, years ago. In fact,t hat seemed to be the situation in a lot of places. It was easier to track Priss' enemies than it was to find anything like...
* [Atai]Emily ...an ally or a friend of hers.
<Ellisa> Hey!
* Ellisa yells out to the group near the house.
<[par]Evone> "Verdammt ist es Ihnen... Wh-what is the problem?"
* [par]Evone takes effort to enunciate all the words properly
* [Atai]Emily draws her gun with her free hand, but keeps it under her coat, as she walks up to the house.
* [Tess]Tony walks out to meet Ellisa, smiling all the way.
<[Atai]Emily> Is she here?
<[Rut]Allison> ...
* [Rut]Allison is silent.
<Ellisa> ...ah shit! It's you Tony!
* [Atai]Emily calls out. They'll offer terms if it's a hostage situation.
* Ellisa grins cheek to cheek, waving at Tony.
<[Rut]Allison> ... I'll be inside.
<[Tess]Tony> Hey there, chief! Been missing me?
* [Rut]Allison turns her back and goes to enter the building.
<Ellisa> Hell yeah! Took out another set of them bastards tryin' to ruin our name.
* Ellisa doesn't look all too different really, but she's missing her bandana this time around and donning Captain's hat. You heard that right, CAPTAIN'S HAT
* [Atai]Emily 's question goes unanswered. That's... maybe a good sign. She snorts as she draws close enough to hear the light banter. How can you further ruin something that's already wrecked?
* [Tess]Tony chuckles.
<[Tess]Tony> I've been wondering about you myself. Would my lady care for a hug and kiss in celebration of such a fortunate reunion?
* [BNS]Amile does not have a happy look on his face as he passes Evone and enters the house, looking for HER.
* [BNS]Emile stays close behind
<Ellisa> Oh?...
* [par]Evone huffs. Today was already upsetting. She tries to go on her way.
* Ellisa grins and pulls Tony in with a kiss on the lips.
<Ellisa> mmnnn~
<[Tess]Tony> Whoa-mm?
* [Tess]Tony , in all honesty, looks a tad surprised.
<Ellisa> ...that's more than enough.. eh?
<[Tess]Tony> The decision is yours, chief.
<Ellisa> Ah.. little Dani left me a while back so...
* Ellisa goes silent...
<Ellisa> We'll be goin' without that little youngin'
<[Atai]Emily> So.
<[Atai]Emily> She's not here?
* [BNS]Amile storms out of the house having not found the woman and screams out...
* [Atai]Emily speaks up from behind Tony.
* [Tess]Tony nods solemnly.
<Ellisa> ...what...wow...
<Ellisa> That.. voice.
<[BNS]Amile> "HALIFAX! WHERE ARE YOU?! WHAT'S THE MEANING OF THIS?!"
<Ellisa> Countes---
* [BNS]Emile is a little taken aback by Amile's outburst...
<Halifax> [The lady in the kitchen shouts out to keep it down! The food is almost ready so don't get your knickers in a twist!]
<Ellisa> ...well..someones havin' their time of the month...
<[par]Evone> "Haven't you heard what they all say?  The dread pirate queen's been dead.  Why are you chasing ghosts?"
* Ellisa peers past Tony and to the other voice in question.
* [Rut]Allison makes herself comfortable inside. She tips her cap forward and leans back in a chair, listening to the "conversation" outside.
* [BNS]Amile points at Evone
* [Tess]Tony turns towards the house. He smiles, even though it's all quite sudden...
<[BNS]Amile> No. That's nonsense. No one else would gather these people, here, like this.
<[BNS]Amile> This is /HER/ work.
<[Tess]Tony> Perhaps...
<Ellisa> Oh.. its you.. Hey Amile!
* Ellisa waves at her.
* [Atai]Emily refrains from shooting Evone for saying such a thing.
<[Atai]Emily> Well.
<[Atai]Emily> That answers that question.
* [Atai]Emily looks among the gathered people, her gaze wandering towards the house.
<[Atai]Emily> ...What is happening?
<Halifax> [Suddenly shouts from the kitchen call that food is ready, the motherly looking woman in her thick apron begins setting out food on platters with an incredible degree of expertise. The food smells great.]
<[Tess]Tony> ...Food, eh? I wonder.
<Halifax> [The church bell tower chimes noon time with twelve loud rings, it really is peaceful in this town. Birds chirp from all around.]
<[Atai]Emily> Food is happening? ...Very well.
<Ellisa> hmph...why not...free food~
<[BNS]Amile> ...
* [BNS]Amile reluctantly goes to sit down at the table.
* [Atai]Emily hoists her trunk again, and trudges inside. Finding a spot out of the way to set it down, she finds a spot at the table, and sits.
* Ellisa has her trust Red Rust next to her like always as she helps herself inside.
* [BNS]Emile sits off to the side of the room on a small chair, not having a place at the table for himself
* [Tess]Tony walks alongside the others towards the house and then enters, finally putting his sword back completely back into its sheath.
<Halifax> [The lady continues to move platters onto the massive dining table. Apparently she was preparing this feast all day, she grumbles in a somewhat lighthearted way.]
<Ellisa> ...oh....
* Ellisa catches eye of Allison now.
<Ellisa> Its you...Allison..hmph.
* [Rut]Allison has her legs crossed, hands folded in her lap. Her cap prevents her eyes from being seen at most angles.
* [BNS]Amile prepares a dish. He then calls in one of his mooks, who takes a bite of each item on the plate as a standard precaution. When he finishes, Amile swats him away and sends him back outside.
* [par]Evone sighs and after some time goes back into the house
<[Rut]Allison> ... Ellisa.
<Ellisa> ..good to see you're still kickin' I see..
<[Rut]Allison>  I've heard you've done well for yourself... "Crimsoneer".
* Ellisa takes a look around for her seat...aha...there we go...she takes the seat and it happens to be in front of Allison.. wonderful.
<Ellisa> here and there. Just tryin' to keep the terror up and all.
<[BNS]Amile> Well... you haven't been doing a very good job of it. Piracy doesn't pay nowadays. It's why I've been keeping my feet on land.
<Ellisa> I beg to differ my dear.
* [par]Evone has not sit down yet
<Ellisa> Just gotta know where to look.
<[par]Evone> "Where is the host.  I need to inform them that their invitation was for someone who could not attend."
* [Tess]Tony stands just behind his chair, waiting for the rest of the group to sit.
<[BNS]Amile> Doesn't matter where you look. Privateers and bounty hunters are everywhere, and they're only getting stronger with every Royal Navy ship that decides to go private. It's a losing battle, one that I'm glad I got out of when I still could.
<Ellisa> Though.. you're right to a degree Amile.. the Bounty Hunters I've been killing off aren't too welll off.
* [Atai]Emily sits quietly at her place, seeming to have reverted back into highborn lady mode in an occasion where manners are required. Her back is straight, no elbows on the table, quiet, and patiently awaiting the meal.
<Ellisa> They're weak as ever, I don't see what's your problem though..
<[BNS]Amile> Ellisa, you're the exception. The other crews are getting picked off steadily. It's really cutting into my profits.
* Ellisa shrugs.
* [Rut]Allison , by contrast, is as slanted as ever.
<Ellisa> Ain't my fault you left my crew...
* [K]Ariel is now in front of the place she was instructed to come. It's been two years since el kapitan's disappearance. She went back to grandline university where she left off and complete her degree in education.
<[Rut]Allison> There's always money to be made as a private contractor.
<[BNS]Amile> I was never PART of your crew. All I did was pay for the 'privledge' to scrub the decks long enough to get back home.
<[BNS]Amile> ...let's get that straight right now.
* [K]Ariel was about to begin her first day as a kindergarten teacher, leaving her past behind, when this letter appears on her desk.
<Ellisa> Calm down geez...we're here for a reason... now unless you want to get hurt.. let us sit down and enjoy our meal.
<[BNS]Emile> Crimsoneer or no, it won't be Amile getting hurt.
<[K]Ariel> ,...and to think whe would be back...? That's...
* [K]Ariel knocks.
<[K]Ariel> "thunder"?
<Ellisa>  Such hostilities.. jesus...
<Halifax> [The door is open, unless somebody closed it on their way in... Its a pleasant day and there's no reason for it to be closed.]
<[K]Ariel> ... I kinda expect "Flash" as a response. But oh well.
* [par]Evone is still waiting to be directed to the host so she can claim that she is dead and is really her sister.
<[BNS]Amile> I'm not happy about having to be here. I already told you all that the next time we met that it would not be a friendly meeting. So I'm not going to keep up any pretenses.
<Ellisa> That's fine then.
<Ellisa> Just don't cross your line and we'll be fine here.
<[K]Ariel> Sorry for intrusio-
* [K]Ariel enters.
<[K]Ariel> Oh. It's you lot.
<Ellisa> Well well...
<Ellisa> Lookie who we got here... join us already.
<[K]Ariel> So we all got summoned here.
<Ellisa> ...some letter right?
<[Rut]Allison> There's little point in keeping such promises, Amile. Your men aren't trained as well as the present members of this table, many of whom still remember old loyalties.
* [Rut]Allison doesn't look up.
* [K]Ariel take a seat. She's in rather unique and formal dress today. Like a real scholar.
* [Tess]Tony takes his own seat, the other members each having taken theirs.
<[BNS]Amile> These people are here for my own protection, nothing more. I didn't come here to fight. If I did, I wouldn't be here personally, there would be many more of my men, and this entire village would be burning already.
<[K]Ariel> What happening in your life for this past...years?
* [BNS]Amile takes a drink of water.
* Ellisa sighs.
<[K]Ariel> I hope you people would stop the loting raiding stuff already.
<Ellisa> Whatever, let us enjoy this time together for a bit and set aside all our differences for once.
<[Rut]Allison> I do not "loot", dear Ariel.
<[K]Ariel> ...?
<[K]Ariel> Good to know that
<Ellisa> She's right.
<Ellisa> I'm just killing all those so called bounty hunters after my crew.
<Halifax> [A couple children rush into the house in the middle of some horse play. They take a couple of the open seats and begin eating without a second thought to the strange collection of cut throats around them.]
<[Tess]Tony> ...Interesting. Who might these be?
* [K]Ariel sweatdrops.
<Ellisa> Hmph...well.. they're not part of our ordeal so best we leave them be at least.
<[K]Ariel> If my class starts in havoc like this, I migt pop on my day one as a teacher.
* [par]Evone frowns, getting more ansy
<[K]Ariel> Kids, huh.
* [K]Ariel gives out a long sigh.
* Ellisa ruffles on of the children's head as they move to their designated seat.
<Ellisa> [*on one of the.
<[K]Ariel> Don't touch them. They will get infected with musclehead disease.
* [K]Ariel is a huge tsunball by nature.
<Ellisa> Really now?... are you still mad at me for that?
<[K]Ariel> Not really.
* [K]Ariel hmph.
<Ellisa> heh.. still finicky as ever too I see...
<[Tess]Tony> What a fortuitous event this is... so little has changed between all of us, I see.
<Ellisa> Though.. except Allison.
<Ellisa> What's up with your silly hat anyway?
* [Atai]Emily stays quiet, and simply listens to all that is going on. Her attention is wandering, thinking about the more worrying things. Like: Whose children are these, and why are they here? did anyone talk to the serving woman? Did anyone bother scouting the place out for a trap? Did anyone oversee the cooking to ensure there was no poison or other suspicious chemicals added?
* [K]Ariel pfft.
* [par]Evone sighs
<[par]Evone> "Tell the host Lady Flavie may be found in the tavern, I suppose."
* [par]Evone steps out
* Ellisa .oO( Lady Flavie...why have I heard that name before?...)
<[Rut]Allison> It is impolite to steal the lines of your colleagues in rehearsal, Ellisa.
<Ellisa> Oh and that time you---
<[K]Ariel> ...kids, huh.
* Ellisa stops before finishing that sentence... no.. not here.. not now.
<[Rut]Allison> ....
* [K]Ariel thinks about her kids back home. Her kids. With that person...
* [Rut]Allison still hasn't looked up, but something tells Ellisa she knows where she was going with that. It still bothered her, too....
<[K]Ariel> I'll have to deal with them for a while......
<Ellisa> I suppose its nothing to worry about now, eh Allison~?
* Ellisa grins at her.
<[Rut]Allison> ...
* [Rut]Allison ... avoids answering.
<Ellisa> Anyway.. where the heck is that person servin' us anyway?
<[Tess]Tony> Although that is a legitimate question, chief, I'm not sure it should be the first thing on your mind about 'em.
<Ellisa> I dunno.. I mean.. even as a pirate captain I should still keep my honor.
<[Rut]Allison> ...Honor?
<Ellisa> Yeah, I mean... if a person invites into their home, the least you can do is thank em' yknow?
<[K]Ariel> Who invite me here, by the way.
<[K]Ariel> You?
* [K]Ariel kinda points randomly.
<Ellisa> I don't think none of us knows....actually..
<[Atai]Emily> 'Someone'.
* [Atai]Emily speaks for the first time in a few minutes.
<[Rut]Allison> There is but one explanation for each of us receiving an invitation.
<Ellisa> And I'm damn sure it ain't the captain... she ain't arsed enough to write personalized letter and shit...
* [Mode]Catrin a sound slowly fades in, the sound of booted footsteps rushing up the street. A few seconds of muffled chatter later, a voice calls out through the door.
<[Mode]Catrin> Attention inhabitants! Come out slowly, with your hands up!
<Ellisa> ....
* [Atai]Emily 's gaze drifts towards the front of the house.
* [Rut]Allison , still seated casually, instantly draws a pistol and fires low, through the door.
<Ellisa> ...wow...
<Ellisa> I do not...fucking believe it..
<Ellisa> Its her..
* Ellisa laughs.
* [Mode]Catrin a muffled squeal later as a shot is fired through the door.
<Halifax> ["Cakes Ready!" comes from the opposite direction as  the motherly figure enters with a cake! The children cheer!]
<[Rut]Allison> ...
<Halifax> <Children> Yay~
<Ellisa> ...really now?...there are kids in here...
<[Mode]Catrin> Shit, fire!
* [Mode]Catrin the sound of several gunshots ring out as rifles are fired towards the house. Clearly, whoever is at the door was not alone.
<[K]Ariel> Wha--!!
<[Tess]Tony> Wonderful.
* [Tess]Tony draws his pistol and fans back the hammer in an instant.
* [Atai]Emily sighs, stands, and draws her own as well.
<Ellisa> Really now? Is everyone resorting to guns?
* Ellisa looks at everyone and sighs.
<[Mode]Catrin> To any survivors! Do not resist, you will only die in vain!
<[Atai]Emily> Shall we attempt to do this the nice way first, then?
* [Rut]Allison drops backwards in her seat, rolling backwards into a crouch, readying a second pistol.
* [Mode]Catrin the woman calls out again, audibly shaken.
<[Rut]Allison> ... So, this meeting was a trap, after all. Can't say it was unexpected...
<Ellisa> Allison you got one thing wrong here...
<[K]Ariel> I'm a hostage! Help me!
* [K]Ariel yells outside!
<Ellisa> Why would they have children in here if this was a trap?
* [Atai]Emily walks to the door
* [Atai]Emily opens it.
* [Atai]Emily yells out, in a voice not suited to a lady at all:
<[Atai]Emily> FUCK OFF, WE'RE HAVING DINNER! DO YOUR ARRESTING AT A REASONABLE HOUR!
* [Atai]Emily slams the door.
<[Rut]Allison> Why would they bother to remove them, Ellisa? Worse has been done in attempt to capture me, let alone you.
<[K]Ariel> Oh? The lady's here too. haven't seen her.
<[Atai]Emily> Brutes.
<[Mode]Catrin> Ah- er, wha-
* [Atai]Emily sniffs in disdain.
<[K]Ariel> Agreed.
* [Atai]Emily pauses.
* [K]Ariel up from a prone position.
* [Atai]Emily thinks.
* [Atai]Emily looks back at the door.
<[Atai]Emily> ...Hm.
* [Mode]Catrin can only stammer in response as the door opens, and some woman proceeds to yell at her and her squad.
<[Mode]Catrin> Hey, wait!
<[Mode]Catrin> You can't tell the law what to do!
<[K]Ariel> My turn.
<Ellisa> Right..but still...
* [Atai]Emily goes back to the door, and opens it.
* [Mode]Catrin grumbles and storms up to the door, ready to throw it open. Instead, it opens on it's own.
<[Atai]Emily> I certainly can. Moreover: Miss Catrin, is that you?
<[Mode]Catrin> Wha- Ah!
* [K]Ariel is about to do the same, but the lady is faster.
* [Mode]Catrin stumbles over herself and falls flat on her face.
<Ellisa> ...
<[Mode]Catrin> Augh!
<Ellisa> I was right after all...
<[K]Ariel> Hoh? It's that useless person.
* [Atai]Emily peers down at her suspiciously.
<Ellisa> Wow...
<[K]Ariel> Welcome.
<Ellisa> Catrin...
* [Mode]Catrin scrambles to her knees, looking up.
<[K]Ariel> Next time, sans the gun.
<[Atai]Emily> Indeed.
<[Atai]Emily> Your method of greeting leaves much to be desired.
<Ellisa> Really... there are kids in here...
<Ellisa> I mean.. shoot me.. but at least leave them out of it..
* [Tess]Tony peers at the scene over the rest.
* [Rut]Allison sighs, twirling her pistols before stashing them again.
<[Tess]Tony> Should I say something too?
<[Mode]Catrin> I er...
<[Mode]Catrin> Wait.
<[K]Ariel> give them some awesome one-liner, tony.
* [Mode]Catrin looks into the house, scanning a number of familiar faces, and then back to Emily.
<[Mode]Catrin> Oh.
<[Mode]Catrin> Oh!
<[Rut]Allison> Tell the young constable I will not aim so low, next time.
* [Mode]Catrin quickly rises to her feet, rapidly turning red.
<[Mode]Catrin> Ah ha... I see. Uh...
<[Mode]Catrin> One second please.
<[Atai]Emily> Are you coming in, then? or do you fancy another barrage?
<[Atai]Emily> We shall not hesitate to answer with one of our own.
* [Mode]Catrin turns around to the men behind her, all of whom still ahve their guns trained on the house.
<[K]Ariel> I don't have firearms. I'm just a generic civilian!
<[Mode]Catrin> If you all will excuse me, I do believe we have the wrong place after all. I'll just... uh... step in and apologize for interrupting this.
* [Mode]Catrin turns back to the house, but not before one of the men speaks up.
<Ellisa> ...shut up and join us already.
<[K]Ariel> sigh... Being with you people slowly makes my intelligence lower.
<[Mode]Catrin> "But this is the place! We can be sure of it!"
* [Mode]Catrin turns back to the lot.
<[Mode]Catrin> Yeah, well... no!
* [Mode]Catrin turns back around again and hastily steps inside.
<[K]Ariel> Only decent person with some wit here is the stuck-up gun-toting lady.
* [K]Ariel back to her bullet-ridden seat.
<Ellisa> Well.. someone's concieted already...
* [Atai]Emily shows Catrin to her seat, which was there all along and we are totally not retconning into existence
* [Rut]Allison examines her nails. Don't know who she could be talking about~
* [K]Ariel is unarmed, btw.
<[Atai]Emily> ...Now are we all here?
<Ellisa> ...Dani's...not here.
* [Atai]Emily asks, after being seated once more.
<Ellisa> But... I think we can go on without her.
<[Atai]Emily> Aside from her godblesshersoul, I mean.
* Ellisa nods silently.
<[Rut]Allison> ...Pardon. Can the men outside be trusted to cooperate?
<[Mode]Catrin> Uh, well, they haven't shot again yet, so...
<[Mode]Catrin> Probably.
<[Rut]Allison> ... Hm. Pity.
* [Mode]Catrin looks around the table, looking quite red in teh face.
<[K]Ariel> They are a bunch of morons. I'd rather trust YOU than them.
<[Mode]Catrin> I'm sorry for this, I didn't even know it was you lot.
<[K]Ariel> Not that you are any better.
<Ellisa> So.. Catrin, how are ya farin? Your crew still goin' after my ship?
<[Rut]Allison> I'd lined up a shot on the newcomer and everything...
<[Mode]Catrin> AH, well things have kind of changed... since...
<[Mode]Catrin> I was just a grunt back then, taking orders and what not.
* [Atai]Emily looks her uniform up and down.
<[Mode]Catrin> And now I'm kind of leading my own unit, and... well, yeah.
<[Atai]Emily> Evidently so.
* [Rut]Allison removes a hand from under the table, having been holding her remaining loaded pistol towards Catrin. She pockets it.
* [Atai]Emily has been slowly, but surely composing a Theory.
<[Mode]Catrin> No one was hurt, right?
* [Atai]Emily it is mainly guesswork, but it may indeed bear fruit.
<Ellisa> Yeah.. but we have kids in here, so be careful will ya? I mean.. its us to shoot at but at the young ones here? No so much.
* [Atai]Emily does not like the implications of her Theory. Not all of them, at any rate. One of them, however, she is delighted about.
* [Atai]Emily Still.
<[Mode]Catrin> Well, I had no idea who would be in here. It was just a report of some criminal elements spotted lurking around.
<[Mode]Catrin> If I'd known there would be kids, I wouldn't have given the fire order, for sure.
<[K]Ariel> Do I look like one to you, idiot officer?
* [Atai]Emily adjusts her seat's position slightly, moving the angle a little, and lets her lower legs assume a certain, braced stance.
<[K]Ariel> Seriously. How abut asking first the next time?
* [Mode]Catrin lowers her head.
<[Mode]Catrin> I can't know everything...
<[K]Ariel> That's why talking is necessary.
<[K]Ariel> You can't talk with someone olaready dead.
<[K]Ariel> *already
* Ellisa chuckle.
<Ellisa> For once the crazy lady talks some sense.
<[Mode]Catrin> Being shot at kind of changes things!
<[Rut]Allison> It's fine, lass. Just take care not to get shot in the line of duty, now. It tends to happen around me.
<[Mode]Catrin> Imagine this: You're leading a group of armed men to capture suspected criminals in a building in a seedy part of town. You order them to surrender peacefully, but then someone inside shoots at you instead!
<[K]Ariel> Someone's just being stupid with their trigger finger. Should've shot this stupid meatbrain instead of you, officer.
<[Mode]Catrin> What would you do?
<[K]Ariel> Blame 'm for that.
<Ellisa> I'd at least find out who they were... risking the shot is worth savin' innocent lives.
<[K]Ariel> Said the meatbrain. Bluuurb.
<Ellisa> I told you to lay off the hostilities Ariel.. its a time of gathering and fun.
<[Rut]Allison> Hadn't expected that from you. But when I feel I'm walking into the most obvious of traps, I prefer to shoot before asking questions, thank you.
<[Mode]Catrin> Ah~ I'm always making things more complicated than necessary.
* [Mode]Catrin looks back towards the door.
<[Mode]Catrin> I wonder if they'd leave if I told them it was all okay.
<Ellisa> Anyway...does -anyone- know why we are all summoned here?
* Ellisa scratches her head.
<[K]Ariel> No idea.
<[K]Ariel> I ditch my first day as a school teacher for this, too.
<Ellisa> Well... for someone to know where we all are.. that takes some damn work...
<[Atai]Emily> I don't suppose anyone watched the cook to be sure she isn't about to poison us all?
* [K]Ariel really amazed that the letter actually reaches grandline mermaid town.
<[Atai]Emily> I mean, what better way than to deal with a collection of assorted lowlifes and criminals?
<[K]Ariel> Paranoid much?
<[Atai]Emily> Present company not excluded so much as excused
<[Atai]Emily> Not paranoid, dear. Merely cautious.
<[Atai]Emily> And suspicious.
<[Atai]Emily> And a little worried.
<[Atai]Emily> ...
<Ellisa> If you dunces recall..
<[Atai]Emily> ...That comes out to paranoid, doesn't it?
<[K]Ariel> ...ain't that a lot already?
<[Atai]Emily> Well, shit.
<[K]Ariel> Yeah. Sums up as paranoid.
<Ellisa> Amile sent one of her mook to test out the food just earlier.
<Ellisa> Did you not all see it?
* [Atai]Emily says something unexpectedly foul-mouthed in polite frustration.
<[Atai]Emily> No?
<Ellisa> Perhaps... ..nah.. nevermind.
<Ellisa> The food's fine people.
<[Atai]Emily> I was probably lost in thought. Is he still alive?
<Ellisa> Yup...
* Ellisa point to over yonder..
<Ellisa> I think..
<[Mode]Catrin> I'd kind of like to know why you're all gathered here now too.
<[Mode]Catrin> I mean, I haven't seen you lot in...
<[Mode]Catrin> ... I don't even know.
<Ellisa> ...it's been about.. three to four years girl..
<Ellisa> I'm almost insulted...
* [Tess]Tony whistles in appreciation of the fact.
<Halifax> [Well now that things have settled down and the lady has calmed the children from the clamor and swept up some of the objects in the house that met with a bullet riddled end. A bright eyed child races in from deeper in the house, quickly sitting at the head of the table right in front of the cake. The lady and the children do a sloppy rendition of the birthday song...]
<Halifax> <Everyone who care> Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday to you~
<Halifax> <Everyone who cares> Happy birthday dear Tuesday~ Happy birthday to you~
* [Atai]Emily finds herself singing, hesitantly.
* Ellisa sings along.. why the hell not?
* Tuesday blows at the candles with a wish in mind.
* Tuesday is only half successful having to take in a second breath to finish the job.
* Tuesday looks around the table taking in all the people.
* [Tess]Tony claps, smiling.
* Ellisa smirks.. oO( A birthday huh.. who would of thought.... I miss those days....)
<Ellisa> Happy Birthday Tuesday, how old are you now?
<[Mode]Catrin> ... Yeah, now I'm definitely sure I have no idea what's even going on here.
<Tuesday> 'theven
<[Tess]Tony> Wow, growing up fast, aren't you?
* [Atai]Emily smiles at the child while trying to figure out what the fuck is going on.
<Ellisa> hmm... well... since it's your birthday and all.. I feel sorta bad for not bringing a present and all....
<Tuesday> I'm glad you all 'thowed up today~ It wath hard to 'thend the invitathons...
* Ellisa thinks about it...
* [Atai]Emily blinks.
<Ellisa> ...hmm.....
<[Atai]Emily> You sent the invitations, did you? ...My, but that's remarkable for one of your age.
<[Atai]Emily> We're a very hard group to track down. Tell me, how did you know where to find us?
* [Atai]Emily does not have to feign her intense interest in this matter at all.
<[Mode]Catrin> So... the invitation we got that lead me and my men here... was a child's birthday party?
* Tuesday stands up in her chair full of pride.
* Ellisa pays careful attention.
<Ellisa> I'm rather suprised that you got all of us... and while I was moving around too...
<Tuesday> I worked hard! The namths in my mommy'ths journal were hard to find but now that you're here...
* Tuesday thumps her chest once in a decisive manner.
<[Tess]Tony> Names... all of us...? Hm.
<[Atai]Emily> ........your mother's journal, did you say?
<Ellisa> Wait... mommy?....
<Tuesday> ...You will all help me thearch for Mommy Halifax!
<Ellisa> ....
* [Atai]Emily is feeling cold as ice right now.
* Ellisa blinks.
<Ellisa> ....oh shit.... no way...
* [Atai]Emily and now a bit of rage.
<[Mode]Catrin> ... Wha-
* [Tess]Tony looks back at Tuesday, his eyes suddenly turning a tad sharper.
<Tuesday> [Emily might now recognize the motherly figure to be a more mature Lindulia... She still seems a bit frazzled, but she seems used to the girl "Tuesday"s antics]
* [Atai]Emily roaring, burning, white-hot, SEARING but carefully hidden rage.
<[Atai]Emily> .............Oh.
<[Atai]Emily> I see, then.
<Ellisa> ...
<Ellisa> Do you know this woman...?
* Ellisa turns to Emily...
* [Atai]Emily gives Tuesday a dazzling smile, and pats her head gently.
<Tuesday> Will go ofer the plan afthter cake~
<[Tess]Tony> Good idea.
<Tuesday> [Emily, you must have Loooooong arms to pat her head from lengthwise across the table.]
* [Tess]Tony says simply, one corner of his mouth twitching upward.
<[Atai]Emily> [=-= bah, retcon that, then. ]
* [Atai]Emily stands, still smiling that wonderful smile, and curtsies slightly.
<[Atai]Emily> Pardon my sudden withdrawal, dear Tuesday, but I do believe I have forgotten something outside. I shall be a while, I think. Do save some cake for me, please.
<Ellisa> Countess..
<Ellisa> Who is this woman here?
<[Atai]Emily> The last woman I expected to see, Miss Ellisa.
<Ellisa> ...very well.
<Ellisa> Tuesday... what is the name of your other mommy that isn't Halifax?
* [Atai]Emily 's stares at Lindulia for a moment, still smiling cheerfully.
<[Atai]Emily> Lindulia, I believe.
* [Atai]Emily says it with great emphasis.
<Tuesday> I dunno my daddy... nobody hasth two mommy's sthilly!
<[Atai]Emily> We, too, shall be talking, later.
<[Atai]Emily> Good day to you all.
<Ellisa> ....
* [Atai]Emily gets up, and leaves the house.
* Ellisa .oO(...Lindulia...Lindulia......hmm..Oh....my GOD.She did it with her?)
<Tuesday> [Lindulia just rolls her eyes and retreats into the kitchen.]
<Ellisa> Anyway...here's a little present for you Tuesday.
* Ellisa hands her a small sack, that jingles like gold coins, its a bit heavy.
* Tuesday shakes her head.
<Tuesday> Busthineths after food!
<Ellisa> Yeah, how could I forget~
<[Tess]Tony> Kids seem to grow up quick these days.
<Tuesday> [And so everyone would hold off there curiosity/violence until after the meal. TO BE CONTINUED ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF PIRATE MEIDO SAGA X2!!!]