All the while. The Naturalist Lantis stayed seated, looking to the two standing next to him. A bit of sweat rolling down his face. "Well. That was Certainly something…" He spoke as a Familiar Face peaked around the edge of the wall.
With hands on his hips, Kirk walked into the Bar. "Who was that guy?" He questioned as he closed the distance to his crewmates. "Don't know. But-"
"It's probably they." Leroy corrected the Navigator. "They?" He perked an Eyebrow.
"Yeah. A guy like that's not bound to be here alone." Kále added on. "So you're saying their probably more of them…" Kirk spoke, his eyes shifting to the ground in thought.
The Captain and First Mate then spoke in Unison "Yeah."
"Well…We better not stick around for too much longer then. How longs the Log Pose on this Island anyway…" The Navigator spoke looking at his wrist.
"Three Days." Interrupted Lantis "That is unless you have an Eternal Pose."
"Three?!" Kirk shouted. Looking back down at his Log Pose as it wiggled from side to side, occasionally pointing up in jitters. "Man…"
The Navigator Slumped at the Bar discouraged. "Hah~ Stuck on an Island for Three Days surrounded by Pirates…"
Leroy Smiled as he sat back down at the bar. Giving the Fishman a pat on the back "Cheer up Kirk! We're Pirates. It's expected."
Muffled by his head being put onto the bar, he spoke "Thanks…"
"Well…" Lantis said clearing his throat politely "If you are going to stick around. I'd enjoy telling you those stories!" He gave a polite smile as he looked at Leroy. The Captain swiviling around in his chair again and leaned into Lantis "Oh yeah! Please do!"
The Naturalist Eyes lit up. Enthused by the captains excitement. "Well- As I said. I came all this way to Jaya to travel to a sky island-"
"Sky Islands are said to be islands that are above even the clouds. Rare Types known as 'Cumulofirmianimbus' or 'Island Clouds' Clouds that are hard and Firm and stay a float in the so-called 'White Sea' of the clouds. These White Sea clouds are known as 'Cirrostratus Mare' Clouds. Or Sea Clouds. Able to hold up and Wrap around Island Clouds!" The Naturalist seemed to be in a daze of Information. Finally able to let out all that he could to the two that would listen. Both Kirk and Leroy utterly Infatuated and Enamored by his impromptu lecture.
"These Clouds are even inhabited by their own unique Creatures…Though. I do not know much about them. No one really does. But! There was a man by the name of Howard D'Louc that attempted to study many of the Sky Islands in the World-" Lantis Scratched his chin as he thought "I think it was close to 120 years ago now…He discovered that man of the Sky Islands were Rather uninhabited…"
Leroy leaned in close. An inquisitive look on his face as he asked "Wait…How do you even get to a Sky Island?"
This question seemed to knock Lantis back on course, his eyes lighting up, his gaze shifting back to his audience. "Oh! Fantastic Question! Well, Theres a Phenomena with in the Sea known as Jet Current!"
Kirk and Leroy then Both spoke in Unison "Jet Current?"
"Yes. Also known as Knock Current, are Pillars of water formed from underwater volcanic eruptions tens of kilometers under the water! The Resulting Explosion is forced out of a small opening and forces a column of water to shoot into the sky tens of kilometers up!"
"It was even theorized by D'Louc that Islands could be sheared or broken apart if a Jet Current was Underneath and Island…Some Jet Currents can Occur Annually as well…" Lantis says as he once again wonders off mentally.
"And that's what happens here?" Kirk Questioned.
"Wh- Ah, Yes. Theres a Jet Current that Happens once Every year here. And it's supposed to be happening two days from now!"
"Two Days?!" Kirk and Leroy both said. Though one with a perplexed look, the other with a look of pure joy.
"Yes! Though…" Lantis took a Breath. A saddened look coming over his face. "I don't think I'll be able to make it there myself…"
As if, on direct cue. The Captain said words that caused the Navigator to have a irritated look on his Face "Join my Crew! I'm Sure you and Raven will have a great time together!"
"Wh-" Yet again, for the countless time that day, the man in front of him confused him due to his words. Constantly one of the thoughts in his mind was 'Just what kind of pirate was this man?' he had the look, the scars, the ruggish rouge look. And yet, even with his outburst and belligerent delinquent attitude of speaking so freely, here he was asking an old man to join his crew with the brightest smile on his face.
"What?" Lantis blinked a few times and shook his head. The Captain clarifying "Join my crew! We'll take you to the sky island, You'll see all the mysteries for yourself! It's your dream isn't it?"
Lantis was left speechless, and in all honesty, had a bit of a flushed look to his face that hadn't been seen since when he spoke to his wife. "Well-"
Lantis was suddenly interrupted by a gigantic crashing sound that rang through the bar and slightly shook the bar's liquor. Constant rumblings and quick cracks that immediately reminded Leroy of his fights of the past month, but on such a larger scale…
"What is that?" Lantis spoke as he raised a wrinkled hand to his ear.
"Sounds like Thunder." Kirk responded with his expertise, knowing the distinct crack of wind anywhere.
"Again…?" Spoke the Bartender behind the bar, putting down a glass, flinging a rag over his rounded shoulder. "What do you mean again?" Asked Leroy.
"We've had a bad Electrical Storm some weeks back. But it was never like this…" He spoke with worry in his eyes as the vibrations seemed to get worse. "It was almost as if the Storm Never moved. Only staying in one place."
Kirk put one of his hands up to one of his ears to muffle the noise. "It doesn't feel right…How long do these storms usually last?" He questioned
"Last one lasted the entire Night. So it could take hours-"
Like the very storm in question was waiting to answer when someone asked exactly that, the Cracks of Thunder came to a sudden stop. Yet another bit of unnaturality to the storm stopping so suddenly
Kirk slowly Uncupped his his ears, he was used to thunder, but such a constant barrage of shaking made him want to cover up out of annoyance, a light grimace on his face. "Weird…"
"You alright kirk?" Leroy Inquired "Yeah. I'm good. Let's hope the others are alright too."
"You alright Lant?" Leroy asked the naturalist. Who just gave a simple nod
Leroy sat back down in the Barstool, looking around to the other patrons who all seemed to follow suit or pack up their tabs, leaving Berry on the Table and walking out. It was getting closer to the Late afternoon.
"So, Ha- Lant." Leroy Spoke to the Naturalist. "How 'bout it?"
Lantis Cleared his Throat, A nervous twinge in his eyes as he avoided eye contact with the captain "About that…I, Can't go…"
"Tsh- What? Why Not?"
"Well. I was so excited to tell you about the Sky Islands…Because it would be the Only way to live out that dream. By telling another about it." He said gesturing with his head and clasping his hands together
"I'm old Leroy. 87 years old. And not to mention I'm already missing a leg" He said pulling his pant leg up to show the well crafted wooden and brass prosthesis. "Going so far up into the Sky…Tens of Kilometers up where the Air is so thin…I'm sure it could mean the end of me." His eyes carried a feeling of Distraught and dishearten. Something that caused the captain to frown himself.
"I understand…I guess that means you wouldn't be able to Join me."
"Yes. Unfortunately not…"
Leroy's gaze shifted to kirk, who held a look of worry and contemplation on what his captain would do.
"Alright. Well. I know where I'm going." He said as he pushed himself up from his seat and began walking, stopping in the middle of the bar when both Lantis and Kirk asked "And where would that be?"
With a Simple Gesture, and A finger pointing up. He said. "The Sky." That cocky grin coming over his face once more. "We'd best go tell the crew that, that's where we're headed." He put his hands behind his back and stretched.
"It'll be fun! And even if we never see each other again. I'll be sure that the experience we have will be in your honor!"
"Y-" Lantis couldn't help but be gobsmacked at the idea. "You'd do that for me?"
"Of Course! We're friends right?"
"Y-Yeah. I-I guess so." Lantis Stammered out. He was at a loss for words to the person in his mind 'Was like a ray of sunshine.'
"Oh- And By The Way." Leroy Turned on his heel "If those Pirates ever give you any trouble over the next two days. Don't be afraid to call for me. I'll Kick their Asses for you." He emphasized the notion by slamming his scared fist into his palm. Accompanying it with that signature smile.