Tenth Ink Drop [Voice]

[chiisaichou]

[After certain events concerning her friends, Miyabi's taken it upon herself to do a little something for them. Too much misfortune has befallen the Strawhat crew and she doesn't like it. Not one bit. She'd completely forgotten about the beginning of the New Year, though, so anyone tuning in to the journals will hear her voice speaking quietly. She

Comments

[Filtered from Straw Hats]

[goldenglasses]

Aw! That's sweet Miyabi!

Hm... I know Usopp is great at making snowman and has some really awesome stories. He also uses a slingshot and is suppose to be a really good shot! Uh... Nami is the ship's navigator and Brook was telling me back home she use to have a huge grove of tangerine trees! Chopper is the doctor and likes sweets... and I'm afraid I don't know much about Zoro except he likes swords.

[Filtered from Straw Hats]

[chiisaichou]

Ah, thank you, Vash!

[She nods to everything that he said and writes it down on a separate piece of parchment. So far, she was getting a few ideas, but quirks an eyebrow at the two last names. Those must be the ones that got taken away recently. Oh, swords! Miyabi's grinning to that. She could think of a few things to give Zoro as a fellow swordsman.]

Can you tell me what the last two look like a little? I haven't seen them around, yet. If you can, please be as descriptive as possible.

[Filtered from Straw Hats]

[goldenglasses]

Well Chopper... he just got back! He... well... he's a reindeer? Wears a big pink hat. Blue nose. He's hard to miss.

[Voice softer.] Zoro hasn't come back yet from what I know. He has green hair and is fairly tall. And carries around three swords every time I've seen him.

[Filtered from Straw Hats]

[chiisaichou]

Ah, one of them came back!? That's wonderful! Is he all right? Please give them my best - but don't tell them about this, please.

[She laughs happily, happy that at least one of them returned just now. But...wait. A deer? Miyabi snickers, then writes that down, too. The gentle swish of a brush on paper is the only thing that breaks the otherwise quiet of the intervals where she does and doesn't speak.]

Eh? Three swords? How does someone use three swords? [She's going to muse that over a little. Oh, she definitely wanted to meet this Zoro person. If he was skilled, and used three swords - if that was even possible - she may learn something from him. Granted he was well enough upon arrival.]

[oda_hates_me]

Miyabi-chan? [he doesn't quite understand what he dropped in on]

You're tardy for something?

[chiisaichou]

[OH SWEET GODS. Miyabi fumbles, and there's a fairly loud squeak and plop as she falls off her bed in her shock. HCHSHD what did you hear, Sanji!? She scrambles back up, puts on her best "I don't know what you're talking about" smile, and answers as best she can. Her voice may be an octave higher, but just ignore that. Nothing suspicious here!]

Sanji~ ♫ A-Ah..? Tard--Oh! Hehe, yes. Uhm--I-I was just a little late to celebrate the new year! It's the year of the Tiger now! Th-That's all, nothing else, heh...

[So smooth, she could be made of silk.]

[oda_hates_me]

[cocks an eyebrow at you, young lady. He senses something is amiss, but won't bring it up... not yet, anyway]

Ah, are these your gods?

[chiisaichou]

[She's going to squeak out a response, laughing. Well, he hasn't called her out, yet, so maybe he hasn't caught on? Even so, Miya's still going to play it cool. ...Meaning she's going to be a nervous wreck.]

Yes! The year of the Ox god, Itegami, just ended. Now we're in the year of the Tiger god, Gekigami. There are thirteen in all. Mother Amaterasu actually resides here. You should meet her, Sanji, she's very sweet! Y-Yes, that's a marvelous idea! You should go give her a bit of your wonderful cooking and say hello for me~ G-Go on, you'll adore her.

[What, we are not trying to get rid of you. You can't prove anything. B|]

[Voice] [Filtered from Straw Hats]

[i_like_fluffy]

Nami like orange tangerine. Sanji Kun Nami cook.

[Voice] [same filter]

[chiisaichou]

Tangerines? Okay, thank you, Stitch! I'll be sure to make a note of that. And I know Sanji is the cook. I already have a good idea for him.

Promise you won't tell anyone? I want it to be a big surprise~

[Voice] [same filter]

[i_like_fluffy]

Stitch not tell. Miya need help. Miya ask Stitch.

[Voice] [same filter]

[chiisaichou]

Can you help me bake something? I'll tell you how, and you can even have some, too, of course. Ah, but that'll probably be the last thing to do, so I'll let you know when you can help. Thank you, Stitch, you're a very good friend. ♥

[sun_trumpet]

Ox... Tiger?

[Action]

[chiisaichou]

[Let's just pretend this is action. Miyabi's going to jump a little to the sudden voice so close to her, then turn with a smile to her housemate. Haven't seen you in a while! That just makes her even more pleased to see you.]

Ah, uhm...yes! The year that just passed was the year of the Ox on the zodiac calendar back in Nippon. The year that started now is the year of the Tiger. The twelve animals of the zodiac are my gods - though we include the cat - so I'll be celebrating Gekigami, the tiger, this year by painting him when I'm done wi--

[Miyabi freezes, then snaps her Journal shut and shoves it under her pillow. It'd be no good if someone overhears her surprise.]

When I'm done with my surprise for my friends. Do you know anything about those people? I got some information from Vash and Stitch, but if you have anymore, that'd be great!

[Action]

[sun_trumpet]

Ah! Sorry! I didn't mean to startle you, Miyabi!

[Listens attentively] I see. What are the twelv- Huh? What's wrong? Oh! I see!

I'm sorry but I don't know them...

[Action]

[chiisaichou]

No, it's all right. I haven't seen you in a while, Salt, have you been busy? I missed you!

[She smiles, tilting her head to one side a little and explains briefly.] The twelve animals of the zodiac calendar are, in this order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

In one of the legends of Nippon, it tells how the Rat tricked the Cat from coming to the gathering of the twelve animals and was excluded from being one of the twelve. We still consider the Cat a god, though.

Ah, it's okay! Vash told me a little bit, so I think I know enough to get a basic idea of what to do for them. Oh, that's right! [She scurries her way off her large bed and leaps to where a large stack of scrolls are. Artists, always messy. Sigh...Miyabi's going to clean it eventually. Maybe after she's done working on this.]

I have a gift for you, too. [She pulls out a scroll, and opens it up.] Here. ♥ I hope you like it.

[Voice]

[skulljokelol]

There's a tiger in Luceti? Ah, I should be more careful when going out by the forest!

[Voice]

[chiisaichou]

[FFFFFF--Okay, okay. Calm down. Sanji seemed unaware, maybe Brook is, too...Play it cool. Her voice is a little bit higher pitched, but she's trying to keep it steady this time.]

Heh...Hehee! N-No, there's no tiger here, Brook! I-I just mean that, on the zodiac calendar back home, last year was the year of the Ox. This year starts the year of the Tiger. The twelve zodiac animals are my gods back home, but we include the cat.

Th-That's all, really, heh~ Nothing to worry about!!

[Voice]

[skulljokelol]

[Pause] Oh, I see! Well, not really, since I am a skeleton and have no eyes. Yohohoho!

What a relief though!

[Voice]

[chiisaichou]

[Lawl. Oh, Brook~ Miyabi laughs softly at the little joke, then tilts her head a little.] Are you afraid of tigers, Brook~? They're not that bad, really, or so I assume. Though Gekigami does looks really fierce when Master Ishaku paints him... I hear stories from my old teacher that there are tigers in certain parts of Nippon.

The animals here are big, too, but I'm not afraid of them. I met a very nice bear that helped me carrying something heavy once~ And many of the animals here I rely on to get me somewhere fast. [Considering she's epically tiny and it'd take her forever to traverse the village on her own.]