~ Utakata ~

 

 

They walk arm and arm, two women, seen from the vulture's eye as it sounds. Kimonos are agelessly worn by the empty desert they walk, appearing as an eternity there would adapt them from forgotten ceremony to timeless function.

Whispering and giggling as one blindfolded points to nothing, the other watching around, protectively, wearing a simple white scrap mask over her mouth, the same fabric.  The blindfolded pulls from her protective arm running, in her eyes to a market vendor.

The vendor sell a large bowl of mixed sweet breads, she scoops it into her arms, their walk continuing in the desert. Her protector guiltily sneaks a sweetbread as the other looks about babbling in her view of the market.

The magistrate passes chatting with a well dressed man before they part amiably, the man to the crowd, the magistrate to the simple palace at the hilltop.

Children running past as dervishes spin, the bird's shadow flies over.  They approach a dock with smoke in the distance on the sea only the one sees, the other smiling up at the sun they share, eyes closed.
________

A crow flies to Lilith's deck port, she takes and reads the message (voiced over a view of a period sea chart).

Morgan - "Lilith.  Status request.  For our part, we've encountered a Spanish fleet en route and spent the powder reserves settling them. We've enough to hold for now, but not through Tortuga's renovations.  Please acquire.  Use the reserves."

~ Lilith opens the loose panel filled with treasures.

"Unknown the status of Xinhua ports, they may be well guarded, borders closed. If so, you'll find the Korean ports still welcoming, they do well taking up that lost business.  Otherwise you won't find the quantity required in the smaller islands."  

"Last hope, Japan.  Please report status in return.   The bird will await it."

~ Lilith looks at the crow, the crow looks back.

"Morgan."

('Give it Up' by Public Enemy)

 (timed to the opening)

The crow flies circling over her ship and away, message at it's ankle, the view showing the Xinhua and Korean armadas lining up for war.  The commanding admirals walk to the bows of their flagships to regard each other, deck crews behind, posturing.

Miranda leaps from the water and snaps a fleeing sea bird, splashing back in.

The deck tensions rise on both sides and then slowly, a middle finger rises from the crowd on the lead turtle boat (it was Mishil, remember that name), sending all into chaos.

(main song)

As both sides begin to fire a Korean turtle ship turning to the dragon's head at it's bow as it fills the screen with its cloaking smoke.

Beneath the water's surface the Eden walks the ocean floor (looking very much like the Orson for) chasing the Nautilus.  Inside Eve sleeps curled up in her leaky cabin, the walls weaving tighter.

Above Lilith's ship passes through smoke and beneath the fire (it floats about five feet above the surface, a broad hull, with pontoon glide), unnoticed as it paddles along.

Through the splash against the thick meshed window at the bow, the smoke hovering just about over view, Lilith and her crew watch and guide tensely. Eleanore and Virginia stand at front to the side, Virginia sleeping in her arms.

~ うたかた ~

 

(Utakata)

Their blades strike.

Keeper - "It is a tale of two daughters.  One in Heaven, and one in Hell, yet bound together always by their love."

Between the spinning clashes.

Morgan - "When did they live ?"

The keeper ducks the swing twirling forward to behind with a swing, blocked over Morgan's shoulder by the gun-blade, then a turn to face and point, broad stance.

Keeper - Twirling off to a low stance, sword low behind her, "No one knows.  It is forever."  

 

She brings the blade back to front, swinging up with one of the double edges circling back down with the other with a lunging spin.

____

A dervish passes the smoke ~

They sit in the sand watching nothing at all, while one watches the sea, waves of smoke blowing across.

Vultures now circle above ...

Suddenly the blind throws up her arms tossing the bowl and it's breads to the air.

Akari (the blindfolded) - "They're here !"

Mariko catches a bread and eats it, while after the passing cloud the Eden splashes from the sea before them with a stomp as the Nautilus and Arena follow, knocking beach.