[voice - filtered to the Winding Way - hackable/poor quality]

[Sophie, as some of you may have heard, is no longer on the Winding Way. She has, in fact, in finest Sophie fashion, managed to bully her way on to the Evil Floating Castle with the children, despite being over twenty, so that she can make sure no harm comes to anyone.

Or at least try her darndest to make sure of that.

Therefore, because of her location, the feed is staticky and fairly bad, but decent enough to at least make out most of it.]

--haven't tried to hurt us yet. They keep making vauge sort of threats with lots of evil-ish laughter. --...--n't know what they're planning to do, though I suppose we'll find out soon enough.

They're letting-- ... --with the others, for now. We've... heard the news.

[There's a long, staticky silence, before Sophie speaks again, more determined than ever]

I'll get us all home. I will.

Though some help wouldn't go am--...

[The post ends]

[private - voice - hackable]

Oh dear, I can't believe I didn't look at the date for that long! My birthday is today!

Well, I'll not be troublesome. We just had Rikku's party, and Lunasa, after all. And it's not as if I didn't get more than enough gifts this year! I've my work cut out for me, on a few of these things. And just getting thank you notes done!

Still, it's been a very memorable year. Good and bad both. I'm happy, here.

I couldn't ask for more.



...Well. Perhaps for my magic to work consistently but [a sigh] I suppose that's what practice is for.

Here's hoping for another good year.

[/private]

[filtered to the Way - voice]

Thank you for your Luanasa gifts everyone, they were lovely.

But it seems now we've things to do.


[ooc: So, yea, because the mun got busy and forgot, the Sophie got busy and forgot. It was like Lunasa and that's it, in her mind (since back home her sisters were always there to remind her).

Also! Little hand-written thank you notes will be given to anyone whose Lunasa present was signed. Nice parchment ones, with little blue embellishments on the outside corners.]

[Sophie seems to be humming while she's working, currently making a few alterations to a costume for cold weather wear. After a few seconds, this turns to singing (something about saucepans) before she stops.]

Well, I suppose it's time to give this a try.

...

[When she begins speaking again, her voice sounds...actually completely normal still.]

You'll keep out the cold, and you'll do perfectly well at it. You may not be very big but you're going to- to make the wearer feel as if they're in front of a great, toasty fire, when the weather is at it's coldest.

...

Now I just feel silly. How do I even know it worked? ...Maybe the part that didn't work was the fire th-

[Sophie is interrupted by, well, what sounds like a small explosion. In fact, it was just an accidental flash fire. Either way, Sophie yelps and can be heard clattering away from the worktable, though she's coughing from the smoke a few seconds after.

The recording cuts out as she knows the journal over in her fumbling.]

[Private - medium hackability]

How curious. I seem to have some sort of magical gift. I mean...I suppose I knew before...but the eldest daughter of three never has magical abilities. I mean, Martha is far more suited to that sort of thing, but it sounds like Lettie is the one learning magic now and... But it explains a lot. The costumes, how popular some hats were back home...

Perhaps it has something to do with talking to things...such a bad habit.

Well. I suppose that's the long and short of it. I'm a...well I suppose I'm a witch. I suppose I have to figure out what to do with that now. Hm.

...That, and apologize for accidentally enchanting a few things...

[Filtered to the Winding Way - standard ship security - voice]

It seems I should apologize for causing some trouble recently. It seems that I may have...accidentally enchanted a few things, costumes especially. If you find one of these, most of them are quite harmless, but if, on the off-chance there's something you need me to fix, I will...well, I'll try, anyhow.

...Does anyone here know anything about magic? Proper magic, I mean. Not the sparks and whistles sort.

[voice - filtered to the Winding Way]

[Sophie's just about to go out into the streets with her group and, well, given that this is her first time performing instead of being behind the scenes, she's got a little case of the nerves. There's no going back now!]

Oh dear, I can't believe I'm actually going to go out there, and, and, and, well, act. In costume and everything! And such a political sort of play too. At least I look like a proper lady...which I suppose is sort of the point, given that I'm to be Ivona... in Vohemar.

Oh dear, I'm not sure I can...

...

Nonsense! I can do this, I've just got to, well, go out there, hold my head up and...

Not forget my lines.

[Sophie makes a little noise of nerves here before the recording ends.]

[filtered to the Winding Way - voice]

That was...exciting, but kind of scary. I'm glad we made it out okay.

At least we've landed now. Big, evil puppets, and then pirates--I thought we'd never catch a break! Why are they so interested in us anyway? Well, we certainly showed them, hm? Let all purple prosing pirates fear the wrath of Sophie Hatter's frying pan!

I'm just glad they're gone now.

...

And...Wolf's gone too.

[A sigh as she sinks onto her bed. She sounds tired, and just generally weary.]

Figures the first chance at happiness I get I mess it up. 'M such a failure.

...

Hmph! No time to waste feeling sorry for myself! Work to be done. And Joshua's turned up again. I'd like to see him sort out all these things he left behind when he oh-so-merrily waltzed off.

[filtered to the Winding Way - Voice]
We have valuables?

They're going to regret the day they decided to pick on us, the cowardly bullies.

[She shouts at them from the top deck, where she's armed herself with, yes, that good ol' magic frying pan. Pirates beware.]

You hear that, you- you- you bastards!

[Angry Sophie is angry. Also armed, dangerous, and unwittingly magical. Good times.]

[private - hard to hack - voice]
...*sounding frustrated* D'ohh, it's probably nothing. Joshua's probably just spreading silly stories as he's always done.

But why doesn't he..

No, ridiculous, I should stop even thinking about it. Just rumours! Just...

*sigh* Maybe I should say something to....oh, I don't know, Rikku? Perhaps.

Oh, I don't know.

[private to Rikku - unhackable - voice]

Um, Rikku? Do you....have a second?

[ooc: Yes, Sophie's talking to random things in her room again when Wolf's not around and Gin's mind games are getting to her.]

[Voice - filtered to the Winding Way]

Oh dear, I seem to be coming down with something, tired and achy and just sort of down. Sounds like it might be a ship-wide thing.


*coughs several times* ...oh my.

I don't think I'll be doing much of anything today....all I want to do is sleep. Do try to stay healthy, if you feel well.

...huh. That...was...not so bad.

*coughs* I have pastries, from one of the nicer bakeries here in town, if anyone wants to take a break from rehearsal to get one. They're very tasty. I left them in the kitchen.

Really should tidy up my room...

Tea; tea would go well with them, I think. Hm.

[ooc: Sophie disappeared for a few hours to go into town and see her sister, Lettie Martha. Needless to say, it went better than she thought.]

[filtered to the Winding Way]

Oh no! I have family in downtown Melior, I do hope they're all alright. But I suppose it's good that all of us with family there might be able to check on them in person.

( [private to self] )

( [private - hackable - voice] )
[/private]

[filtered to the Winding Way - usual ship security]

So who else is excited for this treasure hunt, huh?

[filtered to Joshua - hackable - voice]

*mock-sweetly* Oh Joshua~

[/filter]

[Filtered to the Winding Way - unhackable]
Now this is the sort of treasure that sounds like fun to find! I wonder if there'll be monsters? Maybe I'll get to use my the frying pan again!

[private - moderate difficulty]
It seems like everything's going so well.

Almost....too well.

Well, nothing to be done but take things as they come, I suppose.
[/private]

[ooc: strikes deleted. And yes, Sophie is avoiding saying anything on here about Wolf and that night. Poor thing is embarrassed (though happy). Feel free to pester her about it.]

[private - very hard to hack - voice]

...

I believe I've just met the strangest man ever. And apparently he's to be a part of the crew. As a cook? Wolf, just Wolf.

He seemed quite polite, and he wa, well, trying to flatter me a rather lot, calling me chamring and such things, and really enthusiatic about cooking and...

I wonder if the other cooks know anything yet...

...I suppose I'll have to face Watanuki eventually...But this frying pan has been so useful! Maybe I can...offer to buy him a new one or something.
[private]

[accidental voice post - auto filtered private and easily hackable]

--still hasn't told me what exactly he wants the dresses for. Or given me proper measurements. But that's alright, at least there are styles I can make that, you know, are pretty adjustable.

[a second of silence as Sophie shakes out some cloth]

Yes, you're a color that'll make anyone look beautiful! Well, except me...

...Now let's see, where's that blue I picked up...

[There's a series of thumps until one bolt of cloth hits the journal and turns it off]

[ooc: Yes, Sophie is talking to the frying pan that she still hasn't returned to Watanuki. And the dresses. And enchanting both.

The dresses? Will make anyone in them seem really, really, beautiful (no, not handsome, beautiful), all jutsus aside. >:3 So have fun with that!]

[private - nearly unhackable]

I don't care if they're pirates. They're people too. It's good we're coming to their aid. Even if I don't know that there's much I can do other than stay out of the way, I suppose.

Maybe I could make more bandages? Or sew stitches? Maybe just run errands? I don't know. I just feel so useless when it comes to things like this.

I don't like feeling useless.

...

Maybe if I see any monsters I can try out those tips Joshua gave me on hitting things with frying pans.
[/private]

[Winding Way]
Let me know if there's anything I can do.
[/filter]

So what would everyone like for Lunasa other than mountains of candy?

I'm sure I can remake that costume in between making gifts.

[voice - Winding Way filter]

I think most of the costumes are more or less done. Some could use a few finishing touches but they're at least ready for dress re-

[as she stops speaking, a mewling sound can be heard]


Oh no.

[there is the sound of things, mostly cloth and scissors and a pile of wire, being dumped on top of the journal, slightly muffling the sound]

There you are, you little scamp.

[more things moved around until the stuff is moved off of the journal, clarifying things again]

No. Nuh-uh. No cats in my room. Do you know the havoc it can- how many things just one can-...

[a few seconds of silence with a slightly muffled mewling present]

[sigh] At least not when I'm doing costumes?
[/filter]

[ooc: She totally put an empty wicker basket over the kitty to keep from shredding her stuff though it'll probably shread the basket too. Feel free to harass her about this, kitty-lovers.]

[voice - private]

I suddenly realised that, to my sisters, I am the mysteriously disappearing elder sibling.

...

I really should write. But I'm so busy!

[sigh]

After the play. I'll write to Fan-....Martha. Yeah.
[/private]

[filtered to the WW]
I need wire. For the costumes. Like, bendable, but can hold a bit of weight on it. Rikku, have you got some? Or am I going to need Naruto to raid Tony's lab again?

Also, Al, I hope think I've got the base of your costume done. If you promise to keep whatever kitties you bring with you from the string, you want to come do a rough fitting?

Still need felt. Should have mentioned something to someone going out. Hm.

...

Right! Costumes to sew!
[/filter]