Canon is Candle Cove. I'm not even sorry.

[candlecovesailor]

I really hope you can find somewhere to put me, mun. I know Percy will be fine with Laughingstock there to take care of him - they managed just fine without me before - but if I don't have a purpose I'd rather not just vanish on him. On either of 'em, really, but Percy... well, you know how he gets. He'll worry and think I did something 'stupid' again, and then he'll try and 'save' me and I'll end up having to go back. Then we get set back in our plans, again, have to go find a new treasure map to follow, again, and Percy will hog the bed. Again.

But at least the Skin-Taker isn't here. It'll be nice to be able to trust land again. He d-doesn't scare me, I just get tired of t-trying to outrun him all the time. So I'm not mad at you. And maybe someone here can help me get the shoelace off so I can finally get back to Greenville. It's been almost a year, you know. My whole family is probably worried sick by now. My Avó will tan my hide if she doesn't die of a broken heart first. I don't even want to know how my Paizinho is dealing with this.

I just have one problem with this whole setup: why did you tell everyone in my profile I'm mixed? I was hoping time at Candle Cove without anything but a moon in the sky would lighten me, and then you just ruined all my progress!

Comments

[myhatdisablestraps]

I... think you just broke my mun. He's over here freaking about you. Ignoring the possibility of him having a stroke, you mentioned a treasure map?

[candlecovesailor]

Oh? The good kind of freaking out, I hope. [Pony! Janice smiles, but contains her squee.] Yeah! Percy and I look for treasure in Candle Cove so he can be a real pirate like he always wanted.

[myhatdisablestraps]

Yes. That kind. I have no idea why, but he started doing it as soon as he saw you. It's kind of creepy, actually.

I'm Daring Do, Archaeologist. I live for finding treasure. It's what I do when not teaching at the Canterlot University. What are some of the treasures you found? I bet you couldn't beat what I found.

[candlecovesailor]

As long as he doesn't want to take my skin, I'm okay with that.

I'm Janice Damasio, um, pirate. So far we found a set of candles that never go out or burn down - which really helps since it's always night in Candle Cove and sometimes the moon goes dark - and shoelaces that correspond to the islands in the world, but those can backfire and trap you on an island so we have 'em in a box, sunglasses that make you see spirits, and gold. Lots of gold and jewels. But it's not enough to make Percy a true pirate until we have ten real pieces of magic treasure.

[myhatdisablestraps]

[Daring Do waves her hoof dismissively.]

Nah, he'd never do that. He's not Krastos.

That doesn't even come close to the amount of things I've managed to pick up. Stones, statues, amulets, ancient staves, and a whole bunch of other stuff. Like, for instance, this one time, I was aiming for a pharaoh's toothbrush. You wouldn't believe the amount of death traps I had to get by, all for just a toothbrush.

[candlecovesailor]

It's hard to get to treasure with Skin-Taker following us. Although he's only at full power on land, all the treasure's on land. Then there's the fact it's all dark out there, and don't even get me started on the skeletons in the ocean. Thank God for the tides.

Why would you want a toothbrush?

[myhatdisablestraps]

Heh. This Skin-Taker sounds like a real nuisance. I'm going to call him Skitty from now on. I have my nemeses, too. Buuut I'm awesome, so they haven't killed me yet.

'Cuz it's an ancient artifact.

Pft Skitty XD

[candlecovesailor]

I wouldn't mock him if I were you. Even I don't do that. It doesn't go well.

[myhatdisablestraps]

He couldn't be any worse than Ahuizotl, Krastos, Inti, or any of the other nutjobs I have to deal with. I'd like to meet Skitty one day. See what kind of death traps he has set up that I can use my hat to escape from. The usual.

[candlecovesailor]

He moves silently through the darkness. And grinds off your skin. There's no traps like what you're thinking of and your hat wouldn't save you from anything. [You would die during the course of an average day in the life of Janice.]

[myhatdisablestraps]

I'll be fine. I'm always fine. I haven't died yet.

[candlecovesailor]

He has a collection of hats made out of the skin of his victims. He sleeps on a bed made of their hair and scalps. He paved his island with bones.

Quit being stupid and take him seriously. Or your hat'll be the only thing we find out at sea.

[myhatdisablestraps]

Don't worry. I'm taking him seriously. I have a plan if I ever see him.

[candlecovesailor]

And what plan is that?

[myhatdisablestraps]

Punch his face and run.

[candlecovesailor]

...it's Candle Cove. Everything is an island or ocean. Running doesn't help when you have nothing to run to.

[myhatdisablestraps]

I'm a good swimmer.

...Say, haven't you ever tried tricking Skitty to go into the ocean?

[candlecovesailor]

There's already living skeletons in the ocean. Do we really need to add the Skin-Taker into that? He could just walk out.

[myhatdisablestraps]

I thought you said he stays on land. Given what you just told me, he doesn't seem to like water very much. Otherwise the ocean wouldn't be safe and he could swim after you.

[candlecovesailor]

Well, I've never seen him in the ocean, but... I don't really look back once I'm onboard the ship. I haven't really studied how he acts...

[myhatdisablestraps]

What's the harm in trying? After all, water might defeat him.

[candlecovesailor]

But how could I lure him into the ocean?

[myhatdisablestraps]

Good question. I'll go find him and bring him here while you think of a way.

Daring Do needs a boat and a pirate adventure.

[candlecovesailor]

You can't find him. He finds you. Unless you have a ship to navigate Candle Cove by.

They'll go against ninjas.

[myhatdisablestraps]

Coco can get me a ship. Though I'll probably have to find another buried toothbrush first. That or a cursed straw. Coco likes collecting objects like that.

I would read that.

[candlecovesailor]

Can I help?

[myhatdisablestraps]

Sure! The more, the merrier.

[candlecovesailor]

What should I do?

[myhatdisablestraps]

You just sit tight and wait for further instructions.

[feminine_carnivore]

Man, "The Skin-Taker?" What the heck is that supposed to be?!

Also, my mun says she loves you for liking Kris Straub's work, whoever that is.!

[candlecovesailor]

He's a skeleton who takes people's skin and makes it into hats. And furniture, and... basically his whole island.

My mun says thank you!

[still_doll_janice]

I-I'm terribly sorry to be a bother, Mademoiselle, but m-my mun is over here in the corner twirling about in celebration that she's found another Candle Cove muse on here...Particularly another....another me. [She gives a soft, somewhat nervous laugh] Do forgive me...I-I just can scarcely believe it. I'm still g-getting used to the whole possible alternates thing with muses and suchlike...It's all very curious. What...what is it like? Your version of Candle Cove, I m-mean...

And on the whole mixed ordeal, why is it that you mind, if I may ask....? [Janice tilted her head curiously and raised an eyebrow] If it w-would help any, I see nothing wrong with the way you look...

[candlecovesailor]

Wow, you're definitely the prettier me! This is amazing. I'm so glad to meet you! I never thought I'd see another me, ever!

Um, my Candle Cove is basically one big ocean. And the world is a circle - we found the edges once, me and Percy, while we were sailing. It's hard to explain. And it's always twilight or night, but I don't mind much because every island and port has lights and things, and so does the Laughingstock, of course.

Oh. Uh, well, where I'm from people that look like me are teased. A lot. I guess I wish I didn't look quite like this so it wouldn't be so constant.

[still_doll_janice]

[Janice laughs] No, you're plenty lovely, I guarantee you...It's a pleasure t-to meet you as well, Mademoiselle. [She curtsies] Heh, n-never thought it either...

Ah, I see....So it's n-not a town? I suppose Papa (Percy is my adoptive father here) may be interested in exploring it. He can b-be afraid of the dark, but if there are lights...Candle Cove is a town here. The sun r-rarely shines, but it's not always night. It's gray and often foggy d-during the day...

Do excuse my unladylike language, but to bloody hell with those who tease you. They are the ones who s-should be feeling ashamed of themselves- not you. Shallow p-people like that make me so angry, I swear...[Janice clenches her fists]

[candlecovesailor]

No, it's not. It's the name of the world, kind of. It's awesome to meet you, even though I feel kind of grungy compared to how fancy you are. Percy's my - er, our, age back where I'm at.

...that is the sweetest thing I've ever heard. You're awesome, you know that?

[still_doll_janice]

World? S-so it's more like a realm...? [Janice shook her head] There's really n-no need to feel that way. If it helps any, you've been far m-more polite than many others b-back in my town I've come across. And once again, I see nothing wrong w-with your appearance- perhaps you're dressed a bit differently than most of the ladies back home, b-but I don't mind...[She raises an eyebrow] Heh, really now? That's interesting. It's quite difficult for me to picture Papa as a child. He c-can be childish at times, yes, b-but he's so much taller and older than me....How d-different is the version of him you know?

It's true though...[Janice smiles timidly] Thank you very much...