1251/Sea Shanties and Ice Cream

Sea Shanties and Ice Cream
Date of Scene:	08 March 2024
Location:	Ice Cream Parlor
Synopsis:	Bow and Erika tackle the Davy Jones Challenge at the Ice Cream Parlor! Erika has the BEST shanties - when compared to an ice cream shop ditty. Hinata observes. Information is exchanged and TRAGIC ROMANCE must be addressed.
Cast of Characters:	Bow, Erika Shimizu, Hinata Muramasa

---

Bow has posed:
There apparently is a current promotion at the ice cream parlor. A five-flavored monstrosity that is served in it's own 'boat' that comes with two spoons, ten toppings and several cherries and other toppings. It's like the staff threw a little of everything on it!

And they have called it the 'Davy Jones Locker' Challenge, and if someone can finish off in thirty minutes, they can get it for free! And a t-shirt and a coupons for free ice cream cones for a month to boot.

Bow, being a robust young man, was sure that he was up to the challenge. Arriving at the ice cream shop, the bell jingles, and he moves to take a seat at a table, just looking up at the little ship-shaped bowl and it's picture with all the stuff in it. He can do this. No sweat.

Even though they do have two spoons. Is a partner allowed?

Erika Shimizu has posed:
    The Davy Jones Locker challenge? Who better to conquer this so called challeng than an ACTUAL pirate?
    Well. Technically a pirate. Erika Shimizu isn't the pillaging kind of pirate, but she knows when she hears the siren call of ice cream and free t-shirts.
    That's when the door to the ice cream parlor swings open...

    "Oh, Hina-chan, she's the gal for me, boys~!
    Roll boys! Roll boys, roll!
    Hina-chan she's the gal for me, boys!
    Weigh, high, miss Hina-chan~!"

    She enters with a flourish, dressed in her school uniform, with a load of various skull and crossbones bracelets and charms and knicknacks and--

    "It's down to Tokyo to see Hina-chan, boys!
    Roll boys! Roll boys, roll!
    She's lovely in the foreyard, she's lovely down below, boys.
    She's lovely 'cause she loves me, that's all I need to know, boys~."

    Who better to conquer this challenge than a legit shanty singing pirate...
    A pirate who halts in her tracks at a familiar sight.
    "Well! This is a surprise!" She says coming to a halt when she sees Bow in the ice cream parlor, too. "It's been a hot minute, how've you been settling in from... You know. Transferring from 'abroad'?"
    Yeah that's one way to put it.

Hinata Muramasa has posed:
    Hinata follows the baudy shanty screeching blonde a few steps behind. She sighs and gives a little eye roll and the ghost of a smile crosses her lips at the lyrics.

    She's here to support her friend, not participate.

    The young scion of the Muramasa family is wearing the Radiant Heart Academy uniform like Erika, only hers has a few samurai-themed elements added to it, namely a belt-sash, and her hair put up in a neat little bun.

    She too recognizes 'Bow', and gives a duck of her head for a bow in greeting, though remains quiet as Erika's already taken care of the talking part.

Bow has posed:
He was just about to place the order when there's a chime of doors and the two women that are coming in. To be fair, last time he saw the pair, well, there was a lot of robots, a pirate ship, a giant monster, and people pulling on portals. It was a confusing night.

However, the sea shanty catches his attention.

As does the comment from Erika asking about transferring from abroad. Next to him on the table is a violin case as he offers a grin. "You can say that. I don't think I can place a name with a face, but I know that at least one of you I should be thanking for making sure that my arrival was safe?" he asks curiously, a lift of his brow.

To Erika, he offers, "I had a friend back home that was fond of singing shanties - and setting his own ship on fire." He'll just leave it at that. Hinata earns a small smile. "Ah. They call me Luke here." If that helps.

Erika Shimizu has posed:
    That sure was a confusing time. But now there's no chaos. There's just ice cream to be had! Erika flashes a wide grin with the glint of a tiny fang showing as she does. Once Hinata is done bowing though, Erika hooks her arms around one of Hina's and tugs her to the fore so she can't stay too quiet.
    "Ha~. Well yeah that was a... A busy day wasn't it? Right, Hina?" That day involved a freaking shark.
    "Oh yeah? I love the sea, I've even got a boat of my own! ... Sort of. It's complicated."
    Ghost ships are spooky.
    "But I'm Erika. Erika Shimizu. Hina can introduce herself~."

Hinata Muramasa has posed:
    Weh!

    Hinata gets dragged into the limelight, and looks... about as dour as usual. "Muramasa Hinata. Hinata is my given name." she offers... but doesn't go into the detail of 'yes /that/ Muramasa.' since Bow wouldn't know who the Muramasa family were.

    "I am glad to see you settling in well. Luke-san." she adds.

Bow has posed:
"Nice to meet you Erika, Hinata. If that's okay? Someone told me that was too familiar. But where I'm from... noone really has a last name unless they're a Princess. And while I served the Princesses, clearly not one." Bow offers with a quick little smile as he rubs the back of his head. "But seriously, thank you both for your help that night." Because he's narrowed it down - Sayaka was obvious, Rashmi soon became it - and the trail of crumbs that the pair are leaving him now is helping him to who they are. But he hasn't quite completely put the picture together. Silly veil.

"Anyway, I was just about to order the Davy Jones Locker, would you two like to join me?"

And the minute he says 'Davy Jones Locker'... music begins over the speakers in a pre-recorded song that honestly, might make Erika's singing sound angelic. Bad pirate voice and everything.

Come gather 'round, me hearties bold,
A tale of challenge, a tale untold,
Of Davy Jones, his ice cream fair,
A challenge that none could ever dare.

"So..." says the bored-sounding teen that is working the counter. "Name your flavors. We provide everything else..."

And at this, Bow looks confused, wide-eyed, his dark eyes filled with sparkles. "So. Many. Flavors." he whispers in awe, as he stares at the confluence of all the flavors and looks to the two girls for ideas as the shanty continues poorly.

In Davy's locker, deep and dark,
Lies ice cream made from a pirate's mark,
With flavors strange, and textures rare,
It's a challenge that none can bear.

Erika Shimizu has posed:
    That is a little familiar! But Erika doesn't seem to mind as she waves a hand.
    "Well! I'm no princess, but one day I'll be a pirate king."
    This girl is a little uh. What's the word?
    Chuuni.
    Or maybe she's an actual pirate with a dream.
    But that's neither here nor there now as it comes time to take the CHALLENGE.
    "... What a sad shanty..." She says on hearing the tune from the speakers, but then she's grinning.
    "Oh yeah there're a ton of flavors to choose from huh...
    "Well. We gonna do this~?"

Hinata Muramasa has posed:
    "I will offer encouragement, but I will not participate." states Hinatat emphatically, giving Erika a withering gaze with that stone-like face of hers. She disentangles herself from her friend and takes a seat as the other two do their thing with the naming of flavours and the setting up of the challenge etcetc.

Bow has posed:
"Sea Hawk would be sad." Luke finds himself in agreement with Erika's concept of the song's sad state. "He probably even wouldn't set his ship on fire." Yes, he was serious about that. But since it seems that Erika is leaving him to choose the flavors -- she is about to find out why people from other worlds should not order ice cream.

"We'll have the ah... that one..." he points at the Pistachio. "That one." Peanut Butter Cup. "And ah... that one looks nice!" Like the color of my skin!" Caramel. "Oh, I liked the coffee Naru gave me." Coffee. And for the last one? "Oh, is that berries?" Strawberry.

But beware, ye who enter here,
For Davy's challenge breeds a fear,
With brain freeze and chills, it tests your will,
To taste the ice cream, you must be still.

The staff goes about assembling the massive boat. Bananas on the bottom. Scoops of the five ice cream. Toppings next. Caramel, chocolate, hot fudge, nuts, whipped cream, marshmallows, sprinkles, gummy worms, sour candy, and strawberry sauce. And all topped with a cherry on top.

"Yar." the employee deadpans. "You have thirty minutes to complete the challenge. Your time starts..."

So if ye seek Davy's prize,
Prepare yerself for sweet demise,
For in his challenge, legends say,
Only the bravest find their way.

"...now."

Erika Shimizu has posed:
    Bow has selected flavors!
    He chooses... Some flavors that are good on their own. But how will they hold up together?
    Unfortunately Erika won't know as she settles into a seat with a sigh.
    The poor shanty singing is really putting a damper on her mood. So when the timer starts, she plucks up her spoon.
    "Well, for the sake of a free shirt, here I go~." She says, stabbing into a scoop and starting to dig in.
    "So. You're settling in well enough yeah?" She does ask conversationally.
    "Things can get pretty crazy here in Tokyo, but see I learned that it's best to handle everything with the mates you make, so look. If you ever need a hand with anything just gimme or Hina-chan a call~."

Hinata Muramasa has posed:
    Hinata plucks a business card from somewhere in her uniform. She places it on the table and slides it across to Bow's side of the table, without further word. On it are two phone numbers, one is marked with a skull and crossbones, the other with a katana and open fan.

Bow has posed:
"You know... back home? Sea Hawk. Guy I was talking about? He claimed his shanties were so good that it made sirens jump on his deck to get to him. I think that song? It would have sent sirens away from him. Like a repellant."

But there's ice cream to dig into. And he takes the first bite. And... his face gets this weird look.

You'd think. All of those yummy flavors? They're all great together. Or in certain combonations. The combonation that Bow has picked tonight?

Is like when Al Capone's vault was opened. So. So disappointing. Even more than the shanty.

He's taking another bite. "S-s-s-o good..." he says, giant fake smile. He doesn't want to disappoint! But... this is almost as bad as imagning what Double Trouble's eye tasted like when they licked it.

The card is slid over to him - and he gets an out! For at least a moment. Taking the card, he looks it over, offering Hinata a quick smile, before he gets out his own phone. It's pretty and crystal and he enters the information, before sending a message to both numbers.

Erika Shimizu has posed:
    "Eesh, yeah it was... It was... Pretty bad." The shanty Erika means. The ice cream? Totally fine. Unlike Bow, she stabs into another scoop and keeps at it.
    "Oh thanks, Hina~. I'm glad you got those printed, they're super helpful huh." She says when Bow busies himself with adding the girls to his contacts.
    Erika's phone suddenly chimes with a cheerful little ditty when she gets the message, and she nods sagely. Before peering at the youth.
    "Eh? Something not to your fancy?" She asks. It's clear he's not enjoying the flavors too much though but...
    How is SHE tolerating it the way she is as she scarfs another bite down. At the rate she's going, at least between the two of them the challenge will likely be a success.

Hinata Muramasa has posed:
    Hinata's phone chimes with a simple tone... it's clear which one's the 'boring' one of the two. She slips it out of another hidden location in her uniform, checks the contact and adds it properly, before asiding to Erika. "I think the flavours are contrasting too much." she explains.

Bow has posed:
"No, no, it's great, really!" Bow offers quickly. Because he's not one that's going to put down something he did and he takes another bite. Slowly? Maybe if he can find where the flavors are not actively mixing together, it would go better?

No, they're all mingling in his stomach and probably talking about having a gang war down there. It takes a little bit, but about the fifteen minute mark? While Erika is still going strong, ice cream dribbles from the side of Bow's mouth.

The blue parlor of his skin might match Erika's own from when she's in her other form, and yeah, he's tapping out. "Uggggh. I think I'm gonna be sick." he murmurs.

A nod to Hinata. "Totally contrasting. At war even."

Erika Shimizu has posed:
    "Oh." That's Erika's response to Hina'a explanation as Erika takes a beat to slow down.
    Though poor Bow taps out, Erika does frown a little.
    "... I didn't notice." She mutters a little glumly when Bow throws in the towel.
    Actually that seems to sour the normally chipper pirate chuuni's mood a bit as she works on polishing off the last of the ice cream.
    Well. He gets credit for trying at least, right?
    Nevertheless, Erika folds her hands together behind her head as she sits back a bit before lightly patting the youth on the back.
    That's when she reaches into her backpack and pulls out three bottles of Jan Ken Pop. One is slid to Hina. One is for herself.
    For Bow? She passes over the ginger ale flavor.
    Ginger ale always helps when the tummy tosses and turns like the sea.
    "... For too long I've been parched of thirst and unable to quench it. Too long I've been starving to death and haven't died. I feel nothin'. Not the wind on my face or the spray of the sea. Or the warmth of Hina's touch." She mutters sourly Before she pops the last bit of ice cream into her mouth.
    "... Hahahahahahaha! Heavy stuff, ain't it?"
    Wow what a chuuni.

Hinata Muramasa has posed:
    Hinata places a hand on Erika's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze, before popping the cap of her bottle and taking a sip. "We'll get through this, Eri-chan. Together." she affirms.

Bow has posed:
As Erika looks... disappointed in him, Bow's expression actually sinks. Oh man, he totally did not mean to let her down. His lip wobbles a little, his eyes about as wide as one can make them, that look of a punished puppy dog over his expression. And then, suddenly, "I'm sorry! I'll conquer it next time!" he swears, as he looks at the mess of an empty boat. "I didn't mean to let you down!"

And then she comes over and pats him on the back and offers him a ginger ale. And then... then it gets worse!

"...you mean... oh my gosh, that's so sad! It's terrible." He actually looks like he might start bawling at the fact that his two friends are in a romance, and one of them can't even feel it. "It's so tragic." he whispers in shock.

But then he's inspired. "You... you can still communicate how you feel with your song though, right! That's how Sea Hawk made sure Mermista knew he cared." Grabbing for his violin. "We... we'll compose a melody! A shanty! With music! And then Hina will understand what you feel when she touches you!"

In the meantime, the poor clerk, witness to this, is trying to quickly assemble the t-shirt and coupon kit for Erika before this gets too deep.

Erika Shimizu has posed:
    Oh no that's not what disappointed Erika. 'Twas not Bow tapping out but something else entirely. So she looks a little on the bewildered side when he apologizes so vehemently.But then Bow is stricken by inspiration.
    This is good. It brings a smile back to the blonde girl's face.
    "Haha... I think she knows how I feel. I sing it loud and proud every day we're together~. But I'll not say no to a good tune ever~."
    That poor clerk is probably so confused, but the ice cream parlor is about to experience a *real* shanty now.

    "The other night,
    I had a dream...
    The funniest dream of all.
    I dreamt that I was kissin' you...
    Behind the garden wall!

    And I said...
    Hina-chan, I love you,
    Hina-chan, I love you,
    I love you in the springtime and the fall!
    Hina-chan, I love you~
    Hina-chan, I love you~
    I love you the best of all~."