03 - Bones in the Ocean

[freearcadia]

The Ocarina of Space [Flotsam]

A few days after Flotsam had docked in their new holdings and people had time to process the funeral, life wasn't back to normal, but people are starting to get back to the rhythm of life.

It was late at night near the ship docks, a perfect place for someone restless to wander to if they didn't feel like staying indoors, or in a mood to be among the cheer of the many taverns. At the docks there was only the sound of creaking wood, ropes and sails fluttering in the wind...

And a lone ocarina being played, it seems at least one other person is taking the time out to be alone under the stars.

When sensing the approach of another person, Harlock doesn't immediately stop - only moving to address the person who stumbled on him when he finished - unless they interrupt him.

Guns 101 [Vault]

Out of the different places, the vault has the best place to test weapons in Harlock's opinion. With a clear warning sign posted outside that such a test is in session, the pirate is test-firing a gun that he had pulled out of the salvage after it's been inspected and repaired. He alternates between firing it in his left hand, right hand, or with both hands at the targets, his stance quite firm, as if he's expecting more kickback than what he is actually receiving.

Once he felt he had enough of target practices, he reaches up and removes the plugs from his ears. "Hmm... grip is rather thick, might be good to file it down," He mused out loud as he walks to inspect the targets, assessing how accurate his shots were. "Not bad for something that's been underwater..."

Wildcard!

Harlock is restless and is taking advantage of the ability to go from place to place, he could be found among the rigging of ships in Flotsam, buried nose-deep in a book in the vault's library, or asking a scientist to help him translate scientific vernacular from his native tongue to the local language, or more rarely he is in Elysium, mostly people watching under a hood.

Comments

Flotsam

[nyammy]

Maybe it's not another person out there with Harlock at all? In fact, there's a white house cat joining him under the stars.

The cat curls up nearby - far enough away from the edge and water, but close enough to Harlock to see and be seen by him.

The cat seems to enjoy the music well enough, and certainly isn't rude enough to interrupt it.

Re: Flotsam

[freearcadia]

As the last few notes trail away, he noticed the white cat, a wisp of a smile appearing on his lips, though he did pause, trying to recall if he has seen any white cats around - ships, docks, and cats tend to go together quite well.

Curious, he held a hand out to allow it to approach if it wants to, noting that it did seem to have paid attention to his music, so it must not be one of types of white cats that end up deaf.

[nyammy]

Yuki has been around Flotsam for at least a little bit - since the rescue missions it to the sunken ships, coincidentally - but she doesn't exactly go out to make herself known either. Still, she has a nice ribbon around her neck, so she's probably not a stray.

She notes how Harlock is acting, and chooses to allow him her company. She'll get up, approach him slightly.... then settle down just outside the reach of his hand.

[freearcadia]

"Hah." He couldn't help but laugh when she stopped just short. "Going to play that game?" The man shook his head slightly, now that she's closer, he can see the ribbon - probably someone's pet, or a well-loved ship's cat. The idea that this white kitty might be an offworlder like him never crossed his mind.

Harlock doesn't force a pet, cats will let people know what they want, he thinks. "Hope your person isn't among the dead."

[nyammy]

Yuki had no intention of showing off, coming here this night. But that statement means something to her; her knowledge and hope that Mayu was safe back home, nowhere near this particular mess.

She looks up and over to Harlock before shaking her head. Mayu is certainly alive, thank you very much.

[freearcadia]

"If I didn't know better, seems like you understand every word I'm saying." He murmurs curiously, as his gloved fingers rubbed over the wooden ocarina, his normal one was still on the Arcadia. His grip tightens, it was only by his gut feeling that he knew that he was safe... for now.

But what of Mayu? She has thirty-nine of his devoted crew looking out for her, but he supposes as her godfather he couldn't help but worry, especially in light of everything that happened.

[nyammy]

She won't dignify his last statement with a response. Of course she understood him. That wasn't particularly special. Any cat could do so, if they wanted to.

She licks at a paw while keeping an eye on him, though. He seemed to be lost in his own thoughts while messing with that instrument of his. It looked a little like one of the instruments they had in school, though not quite.

Still, she wasn't shying away from his company, which was pretty good for a cat.

[freearcadia]

And the quiet company is good, it reminds me a bit of Miime, though he highly doubted the white cat will be pulling out a lyre any time soon.

"I wonder if cats can feel pensive, or are your kind too self-assured of your place in the world to have such doubtful thoughts?"

[nyammy]

The only answer he gets is a condescending sigh and shake of the head.

After that, she's content to sit in silence for a few moments before glancing back up at him, then gesturing with a paw towards the ocarina.

Are you not playing any more?

[freearcadia]

Cats, he just thought with a hint of amusement - though there is absolutely no mistaking the pawing gesture.

Harlock puts the instrument to his lips, and starts to play again.

[nyammy]

Yuki closes her eyes, content to be at one with the music, the sway of the boat, and the stars up in the night sky.

Flotsam

[newmemorywhodis]

Link wasn't really one to spend a great deal of time at the taverns. However, he was someone who kept absolutely no regular schedule, and could absolutely be found wandering the docks at ungodly hours of the morning. Which means he's around to hear the sound of music.

It's...familiar, in a way Link can't quite pinpoint. Which likely means tugging on memories from Before, one of those blank spots that still remain.

He comes closer. He doesn't interrupt, just sits quietly nearby, and listens. Lets some of those lost memories wash to the surface.

Re: Flotsam

[freearcadia]

While Harlock was used to being in a place that had no set day or night - gaining a rather odd cycle of sleep and wakefulness - which is probably why he's playing at such an hour.

Harlock continues, sensing Link's approach, any other time he'd ask about the pack, or his fish-filching, but right now his mind is light years away. Once the final note slips out, and fade among the whisper of waves and creak of ships, he lowers the instrument, his eye going upwards.

"Couldn't sleep either?" He asked almost conversationally.

[newmemorywhodis]

In response, Link makes a face - one that suggests the answer is no - and then...shrugs. He sleeps fine, really - just not at the same hours that everyone else sleeps. Ever since he woke up in the Shrine of Resurrection, things like 'normal waking hours' were really only something that he bothered with when he was with Zelda. If he's alone or away from her, he tends to inevitably shift towards said respecting no schedule at all.

And though the music has ended, Link's eyes shift towards the instrument in Harlock's hands. Almost without thinking, Link reaches out towards it. "Can I?"

Can Link play it? He can't be completely sure, but...those prickles of familiarity make him think that maybe he can.

[freearcadia]

The face earned a quiet, mirthless laugh. He had fielded similar questions before, as he consider whether to press on the point, he noticed Link's eyes falling to the instrument.

Normally, he would decline such a request, but something about this piqued his curiosity, or perhaps his pensiveness is making him feel more permissive, or it's simply because it's not his but a substitute he made that made him close the gap, offering it to him. "Go ahead."

[newmemorywhodis]

Link's fingers grasp the instrument, and muscle memory takes over. There wasn't any tune he had in mind - but Link's fingers still know how to play.

He doesn't know the name of the song he plays. But it feels...familiar. Just like the instrument did. Eyes closed, he lets himself disappear into the music.

Link's suspicions were right. He does know how to play this instrument.

And then last notes of the song ring out. He lets the silence hang for a moment - before holding out the instrument back towards Harlock.

[freearcadia]

He leans back slightly, bracing his hands against the dock as he tilts his head skyward - stars so unfamiliar to Earth, but stars he is starting to chart and understand... much different from the distant constellations on distant soils the Arcadia would only alight on once in a blue moon or only once ever.

He lets his good eye close, listening - the sound is pastoral, as if it should be heard echoing off rolling hills instead of the crest of the sea - it vaguely reminded him of Irish reels. As the final notes floated into the night, he exhales softly, a hazel eye opening once more.

"Beautiful, it's not often I run into others who play an ocarina like that,"

[newmemorywhodis]

Link hums in response; a vague, noncommittal noise. Is it uncommon, being able to play the ocarina? He feels like it shouldn't be. But he also doesn't actively remember hearing anyone else play one, or who he learned it from.

Maybe knowledge of how to play it died with the Calamity. Maybe Link's the only one left.

In the end, all he says is, "It's nice." And it was. He liked the sound of it. He might have to try and find another one for himself. See if he can remember other songs.

[freearcadia]

He gives a little sound of agreement, as he accepted the Ocarina back, gloved fingers running over the holes. The long quiet that followed was the calm of a lake surface, more from depths of thoughts lingering under the surface, and content in it's placid state.

Soon, a ripple of sound comes out, something like a wistful sigh. "My goddaughter is a natural with an ocarina," The words came out, a little absent-mindedly.

[newmemorywhodis]

Unfortunately, since the concept of a 'goddaughter' isn't really one that is present in Hyrule, Link is...a bit confused.

"Your daughter...is a goddess?" Like, literally a goddess? Not just someone with the blood of one, like Zelda?

[freearcadia]

He was about to put the ocarina to his lips when Link asked, his brow knitting before realizing the point of confusion, he shook his head.

"Oh, no - not like that. Perhaps you know it by a different name, or it might not exist where you are from," He paused - taking the moment to translate terms and concepts into the tongue of this world. "Where I am from, in the old days, mortality was high, so to make sure their child is taken care of in the event of their deaths, they would ask friends to be a godparent - to watch over their children in their absence. Nowadays... for most people still practicing it..." There was a faint hitch. "It is just tradition, and a sign of trust and friendship, often the godparent act more as honorary aunts and uncles. Mayu is my goddaughter, her father kept swearing up and down there was no one else he would ask."

[newmemorywhodis]

Ah. That made more sense.

They didn't have a specific name for that sort of thing. Not in Hylian. But people died in Hyrule too. Even if they didn't have a specific word for it, there were still people who would step in to take care of children whose parents were gone.

There would have been many children like that, after the Calamity.

"...She's your family," he says softly. Maybe not by blood. But in the ways that mattered.

[freearcadia]

"Yes... my darling girl," He rather she knew him as Uncle Harlock or Oji, but the past can't be changed. "She wanted one for her birthday," He remember nicking his fingers when carving her present from clay, and being a little worried it was too big for her hands when it was finished.

[newmemorywhodis]

"How old?" Link asks. Was she a little kid, like Mattison? An older teenager, like Tulin? Or maybe somewhere in the middle, like Cottla?

[freearcadia]

"Seven, though... she'd be eight not too long," If time passes normally here.

[newmemorywhodis]

Link nods. Still little, then. But old enough to play the ocarina.

And if Link was the more talkative sort, he might make a remark of how Harlock must miss her. But he's not, and Link doesn't consider that the sort of thing worth saying; of course Harlock misses her.

So instead, Link just stays quiet. He's comfortable letting the conversation lapse into silence. Or maybe more ocarina playing, if Harlock is so inclined.

[freearcadia]

It was nice, someone who can be comfortable not talking.

Slowly he puts his mouth to the instrument And another lilting melody starts to fill the air.

[newmemorywhodis]

Harlock will like Link, then. He's very good at not talking.

He's also a good audience; as Harlock plays, he sits still and listens. Attentive right to the last note.

Clapping doesn't feel like the right response, afterwards. So he just says, "Pretty."

Guns 101

[upupatomway]

The sound of gun shots isn't exactly disturbing the peace when it's at the gun range and nothing compared to the explosions over The Vault. It catches Atom's curiosity though, and he pokes his head into the cavern to watch. This was one of the safer chances to observe the local weaponry in action without worrying about an actual battle.

He's distracted by Harlock's skill enough to forget to announce himself and remains lurking in the doorway, wondering how many hours Harlock had to put into learning to shoot with either hand.