middaeg | ( semi-open ) i think it's because we are similar!

( from here )

Wait... you're saying there are people who make a living selling or buying things for others for a good price?

[ her dream job........ no wait her dream job is being a navigator, oops. ]

I guess the way it is here is somewhere in between, then. Thanks for telling me! It's always good to be aware of the local customs.

( from here )

I guess there's nothing bad in that...

[ personally, she loves science, especially everything that has to do with the weather... but it's not like most of her crew are very scientifically-minded. ]

What do you do back home, then?

( from here )

Of course! It also means they're lighter to wear, more sustainable for the environment, less likely to chip if you end up having to fight with it on, and you don't have to be afraid of thieves!

[ look she's got a whole sales pitch going already... though hopefully the actual salesman doesn't hear it. she's not sharing her ideas!! ]

Wouldn't you want to buy jewelry that's durable, light, and that won't get you in trouble with heartless outlaws?

( from here )

Achieve... immortality?!

[ her eyes widen at that — she never thought that would be even possible, anywhere... but to reach that through spiritual energy? it all sounds fascinating. to be able to use it for so many things...

she leans closer when he shows her zidian, and breathes out in wonder, ] That is beautifully made! [ the detail is really exquisite, and she's a lover of everything beautiful. ] It's too bad I can't see it in action, too...

[ then he keeps explaining about his home, and when he gets to the part about the lake — ] Oh! So that's why you're familiar with sailing! Ahh, that sounds like a wonderful place... even the name is pretty!

( from here )

Of course you are!

[ it's a quick counter, said with a wide smile and yet absolute seriousness... how could she not think she's cute?? with the blush and all!

quickly, nami wraps her arm around soundwave's shoulders and leans them both just a little closer to the edge, so that their reflections can be seen on the surface of the water, nicely still like a natural mirror. ]

See?

[As Soundwave's eyes are still away from Nami, she squeaks out a surprise at the arm wrapping around her as they lean together, Nami's close contact just makes her face redder than the counter a moment ago. Soundwave does look at the water after the initial surprise though, scrutinizing the reflection of the avatar for half a minute, red eyes blinking.]

... Not really? [Help the fool recognize her qualities.]

[Gon is science minded in his own way...but it definitely tends to be on the natural side of things.]

Oh! Like for work? I'm a Hunter!

Yes. There are a few that claim to have done so. If nothing else, they are still alive after what should be an average life.

[It was something that of course everyone hoped for, but he wasn't sure how much he would want from that... at least at the moment]

It is a family heirloom and a rather powerful spiritual weapon. If I find a way to use it, I will have to show you.

[He better not find a way to do so... considering what his monster type is even though he doesn't know it yet]

Yes, that is why. It is common practice in Yunmeng to use boats for transportation and commerce as well as by land. [The faintest nostalgic looked crossed his face thinking about the Lotus Pier] It is. When the lotus are blooming, you can see the flowers sticking out of the water all around the clan house.

Basically! The most common type is a real estate agent, which is someone who helps buy and sell houses and land, but you can get specialists in antiques and art and jewellery and stuff too who can help you value things and make sure you're getting what it's worth, and some will help you set up auctions to make sure you're getting buyers who can pay the value.

[So real estate is kind of boring comparatively, and also still kind of full of rip-off artists compared to the other types of assessing and valuing jobs, but it's definitely the most common one he can think of off the top of his head.]

It took me a minute to adjust when I got here too, so I feel like it's easier to just let others know how things can be. Though my biggest hurdle to get my head around was definitely the fact that magic is a thing here.

[ she thought it would be a quick, easy way to make some cash — cutting some ingredients, how hard could it be?

apparently very. especially when it comes to fetching eyes and other disgusting things... yuck. at least she's stuck doing this with someone who seems to know what he's doing, and doesn't seem squeamish. ]

What are these even used for? Our ship's doctor sometimes powders herbs and such to make medicine, but not anything like this! Ugh, no, I can't do it... maybe I'll just powder some... dragon scales?

[ pickled toads and dragons?? seriously. why. ]

[ it's near nightfall, the best time for snooping around... no, actually, nami would say the best time for snooping around is in the daytime, when no one would expect you to do it — but alas, the object of her snooping, the weird people with long robes, didn't bother actually showing up until perhaps half an hour ago.

(it had been a long, boring day for her, just waiting.)

so here she is, trying for all intents and purposes to look like someone who's trying to find a friend's house — if anyone looks in her direction, she goes to ask them directions, spouting some cheerful nonsense about her dear friend and wanting to not be late. a perfectly good reason for her to be following the robes people.

except they suddenly disappear from sight. ]

Wait — [ looking around, nami sighs. ] I can't believe I lost them...

[ luckily, there's someone else standing near her. ] Sorry, did you happen to see some people with dark clothes walk past here?

[ it only made sense for her to start with weather magic, of course. it made her feel comfortable, she knew roughly the mechanics of how real weather should work... and practising that of all things made this whole "magic" thing somewhat more approachable.

she'd been about an hour into her practice, managing to create some little rain drops, when jean had joined her.

now, she has graduated into conjuring an actual rain cloud, albeit somewhat little. ]

This whole magic thing still makes no sense to me... I've tried to treat it like a special science, but that just doesn't work. Aaahh, it'd be so much easier to just use my Clima-tact!

[ she still carries it with her, twirling it in her hand to show him what she means. ]

[ little did she know, when she signed up for helping with gathering up the errant kittens, that she'd end up running around all over the city, and so far have only two caught kittens to show for it.

she's currently trying to catch the third one, a little calico that seems to want to teleport every time she gets within two feet of it, and honestly... sure, she's called a cat burglar, so maybe she should be feeling some kinship with felines, but she's pretty certain she doesn't want to see a single cat at least for the next month after this!

luckily, though, the place the calico decides to teleport to is right in front of... ]

Ah! [ she waves to get jiang cheng's attention, gestures to the kitten, and whisper-shouts, ] Catch it! Please!! Before it teleports again!

[ eren wears a large hood to cover his horns, otherwise, it'd be far too easy to spot him in the night; like two icy gems that glisten when any type of light bounces off of them. to awkward pokes tent the hood, but at least color aids him in blending in. mostly.

except he's seen this woman more than once, and some observing would lead him to the same conclusion, lifting himself from a seat outside of a pub. ]

Your dear friends? [ not sardonically, or anything, simply a sign that he noticed. eren might've heard her the first few times he was strolling down the street, too, but now that it's given that they're on the same job— the dragon's tongue, forked and toned blue slithers out in the same direction he turns his head. ] I think they're down the next block. Not too far off.

[ wow, maybe if she ever needs a job, outside of being a pirate, she should launch a service like that...

but then he gets to magic, and nami huffs. ]

Oh, I'm so glad someone else thinks the same way! It's so hard to believe, isn't it? I mean, actual magic... it's supposed to exist in stories, that's it!

[ ... says the one whose world is full of fruits that give you magic-like powers. oops. ]

A hunter? So you hunt... for what?

[ she's confused, sorry. is he a monster hunter? a bounty hunter?? ]

Ehh, that's incredible! So you must already be used to all this magic they talk about, here...

[ even if it's different terminology, she can't help but think that spiritual power and magic sound rather similar. ]

It's convenient, like that! Where I come from, there are only islands, so the only way to get anywhere is by a boat or a ship.

[ her eyes sparkle at the description... but also the way it's rather obvious (to her, who used to make a living out of being able to read people ~~and then steal from them~~) how much he loves his home. ] If I could sail between worlds, I'd come and see it... [ though then, she laughs a little. ] Well, if my captain agreed to, of course. The food in Yunmeng would have to be good, then!

[ or there'd have to be adventures. otherwise luffy wouldn't be interested... no, that's not quite true. it'd be a new place; that'd be enough for him. ]

Ehh...? Alright, see —

[ waving at their reflections, nami starts listing things. ]

You have really pretty eyes, for one! And your face is just the perfect shape, and your hair frames your face nicely!

[ as the list goes on, she points to everything in soundwave's reflection. poor thing... how can it be that no one's been affectionate with her, when she's so cute and sweet? ]

Exactly!

[ the response is accompanied by a beaming smile... or a grin, really, as she realizes she's seen this guy around, the oddly-shaped hood distinctive enough for her to remember.

so there's a good chance they're both here because of the same thing. ]

Are you heading to the party, too?

[ or, you know, looking for them. same difference. ]

[ Despite his sullen demeanor, Jean is actually extroverted, preferring the company of others to being alone. He's also interested in learning as much about magic as he can, because evening the gap between yourself and others is the most practical thing to do when in a new environment (and also, it looks quite awesome). There's no reason he wouldn't approach someone he already knows as she practices, and he's been mimicking her attempts, trying to figure this out as well. ]

So that's actually for ... science? [ ????????? ] I thought it was just for hitting people with.

[ Jean means in self-defense, but he's sure saying it like he thinks Nami is some violent queen bee.

He glances at the little cloud she had made in awe. Nami at least managed to accomplish something. Jean isn't doing so hot at all, having no actual experience with weather science. (They barely understand how the weather works where he comes from.) He's only succeeded at ... making his own hands moist with condensation? It's clean water, but the feeling is still gross. ]

[It was probably good that Jiang Cheng hadn't brought his sword today when he had left his residence. Maybe karma knew that he wouldn't need it and that it would only get in the way.

Whatever it was, he was in the right place at the right time as suddenly a kitten teleported to land in front of him. He luckily spotted the tiny thing now across his path, stopping short to avoid stepping on it.

Where the heck did that feline come from? He knew it wasn't there before.

As Nami signaled him, he looked between her and then back down at the cat. Okay, so he had to catch the cat. He took a careful step towards the calico kitten then another]

Little cat, stay there.

[Same as with her, he got within two feet of the kitten and then it was gone. He stood up whirling quickly, trying to spot it. Where had it gone?]

From what I have seen, others are able to do things that we would be able to back home. They determined I have no magic when they tested me.

[So he would be a monster, but no idea what yet]

Hmm... then being a navigator sounds like an important job to have. We at least could still see the land when we traveled.

If you were able, I would show it to you. I do tend to believe that the food Yunmeng is good. If they like spicy food, then they would certainly like it there.

( from here )

[ he keeps on firing questions at her, but the proud smile dims at the first one of them. ]

... no. I don't think anyone from where I come from is here... my crew or otherwise.

[ just a familiar face would be nice to see, she thinks, even if it wasn't her nakama... but then, maybe not. it could be marines, or any of the pirates they'd fought, and she'd absolutely hate that! ]

So I don't think I'll sail anywhere, here! There's not much point to it alone. Besides, I've got to stay here and learn magic. [ which answers his question about what she is. ]

Pirate mers...? Ah, like fish? Hm, of course I can imagine! I've met several groups of Fishman Pirates. [ ... and only one out of three had been a good one. and besides — jinbe was now part of their crew! ]

[ she doesn't really know what to say to that — it must be frustrating, to be able to do something like that and then suddenly have it be taken away... she, at least, still has some chance to get her weather attacks back.

she gives him a sympathetic smile, and lets the conversation move on from that. she hates empty platitudes like it'll be alright, so she leaves those out. ]

Yes, that seems to be the case for most people I've talked to. [ most people say their worlds have oceans, but not as many as hers. ]

Oh! Luffy likes pretty much everything, as long as it's well prepared.

[ the talk about her crew is making her a little sad, though... which is why she switches the topic to something else, to not linger on the fact that she's here on her own. ] That reminds me... I met a boy with a dog, during the welcome party. I noticed that just like you, he asked to be addressed by both his family name and his first name... Is that the custom where you come from? Is he from the same place as you are? Ah — his name was Jin Ling.

[It's actually so rare Momo meets someone else who has that kind of experience with magic that he can't help but laugh, sounding almost relieved.]

Yeah, that was my thought when I got here. Like, I couldn't really disbelieve it because I'd just walked into another world, but in my world it's just stories so having to accept it so quickly was really hard...I got there eventually, it just took actually getting into the study and having some idea of how it works.

[Somehow, that had made it a little more real to him and solidified it as another type of skill. Even if they have an innate ability for it, it's still just like any other skill in that there are rules and techniques and you need to learn how to do it if you actually want to be successful at it.]

( semi-open ) i think it's because we are similar!

MOMO.

GON.

KAINÉ.

JIANG WANYIN.

SOUNDWAVE.

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ONNI ; quest: alchemical apprentices

EREN ; quest: suspicious activity

JEAN ; it's magic, homie!

JIANG WANYIN ; quest: blink and miss 'em

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their homieship is magic

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WEI WUXIAN.

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