get your towels ready, it's about to go down

[yourattention]

Who: Whoever would like to have been picked up after March's event.
What: We're on a boat. No, seriously. That's the whole pitch.
When: Very late on March 19th, presumably.
Where: The middle of the ocean, my friends.
Warnings: Y'all can handle that.


On paper, the plan was simple: get a boat, sail everyone back. In practice . . . It was a lot less simple.

Getting the boat had been something of an ordeal, but it happened. Nobody has to know that the blind man stole it, because Connor is the one sailing it. He is sure as fuck sailing it back to Enso, despite the fact that he has never in his life actually sailed anything as big as the boat they stole and may have lied a little when he said he could "sail." Nobody had to know that either, okay? Nobody had to know any of that, because he is going to sail this boat back and the Jormun are going to fucking help him.

Hours 1&2
Unfortunately, Connor was in such a hurry to, like, leave? That he did not exactly ask the Jormun what the best route back was. He just kinda picked a direction and went which has led to a run in with some new shit from the bestiary: lightning eels. To quote the bestiary:

Considerably territorial, lightning eels range between four to eight feet in length. Sleek grey, their pointed, though rather small teeth may convey a sense of little threat- until they begin to spark, that is. Lightning eels are highly conductive to electricity and store up to a lightning bolt's worth of electricity in their small frames; whilst they won't release it all in one go, those close by them will certainly find these slithering creatures to be quite... shocking.

Have fun with that. The lightning won't really do much to the boat itself, so just don't fucking fall in, yeah? Seriously. Please don't fall in, Connor did not actually complete his lifesaving merit badge and only has a vague idea of how to perform water rescues.

Hours 3&4
A decent chunk of the way into the journey back, Connor will point to something in the water and say "Oh, they're here. We're going the right way." In the water is a group of sea otters. If you ask nicely, the Jormun will catch a few so . . . you can all eat. Unsurprisingly? Connor did not think to pack food for this hastily assembled rescue mission, so if you're hungry, sea otter is all you're getting. Bone apple tea, everyone.

Bonus: sea otter pelts. They're very soft and warm. Sea otters have fur up the wazoo.

Hours 5&6
Do you want to sail the boat? Great, because Connor is about to hand the wheel over to whoever's closest because he has to go talk with the Jormun about something. It's fine. Just keep the boat straight for ten minutes, you won't crash anything out in the open sea. If you want to listen in, Connor and the Jormun are discussing a type of plant known as lightroot. It can be picked and will act like a lantern for a while, but what they're actually talking about is cultivating it as a kind of . . . underwater landing strip. Don't worry about it. I'm sure this will never come up again.

Once Enso is in sight, Connor will actually sail around the island until he reaches the cove in D8. He's just gonna leave the boat there, like 20m/22yd out in the water, so. If you wanna swim to shore, that's fine. If you can't swim or don't want to, he'll come back with the boat from islet 2 after he swims to shore. Y'all are responsible for getting your own asses home after he brings the boat, though. It is not his responsibility anymore? He got everyone home, he's out.

Comments

connor | ota

[yourattention]

[I mean. You can come talk to him, but he's a little Busy.]

shion |ota

[savedbyasong]

[In any other circumstance Shion would be fascinated by all of this. He's on a boat, he's never been on a boat before. There are cute creatures and fascinating new plant life. These things should have him exclaiming in wonder and babbling excitedly at anyone who cares to listen.

But he's... not. He's just curled up in the most out of the way corner he can find. Everything hurts, he doesn't care and to most people giving him a casual glance it might look like he is asleep.

He's not, at a closer look. He's awake, his eyes are open even if they are staring at nothing.]

gabe goodman | ota

[ungrieved]

[What does Gabe have with him? Gabe has a Shitload Of Knapsacks.]

[Turns out raiding the barracks is quite the lucrative achievement. He's managed to haul several bulky-looking treasures from whatever counted as a means of storage in Ai'tuoh, and there are all sorts of fun little things nestled in there. He's having a blast just going through them all.]

[Someone stop him. Or, alternatively, come claim your belongings if you were rule-napped.]

[ooc: so like if you want Gabe to have your pack and not gone through it at all, go for it. if you want him to be picking through shit indiscriminately, that is a-ok with me!! just let me know what you'd prefer so i don't go godmoding anything you don't like! Gabe could've grabbed any number of knapsacks so if you want your shit back this is just an easy way to do it.]

[thermalwind]

[It's been a while since he's talked to Gabe. He's been busy charging into frays and letting himself off his chains, blades singing. After the water and the events of his capture he spots his own pack. The guards must have found it. He strides over to him and takes it back from the edge of the pile.

He removes the lantern from it and straps his knife back to the small of his back.] Where did you find everyone's stuff?

[His voice is rougher than usual with exhaustion. But he can't sleep. Not yet as he fits the glass like knife on his hip and straps the lantern back into its place against his other side.]

[ungrieved]

[Of course there's one labeled KEITH. And of course he picked it up. Not that he cared or anything.]

The barracks. [He grins, seemingly not giving a shit about Keith's obvious exhaustion.] I blew it up.

[thermalwind]

[He slides his small Marmora device into its proper pouch and narrows his eyes.] Why? Just a distraction would have been fine.

[That's going to have consequences. He can practically hear Kolivan's lecture coming.]

[ungrieved]

That was the distraction.

[It was one of many distractions, because wreaking aimless chaos just happens to be a skill that he and Connor share. They might not see eye to eye on many things, but they sure as hell could raise a ruckus.]

Re: gabe goodman | ota

[savedbyasong]

[Shion has been curled up nearby and mostly staring at nothing. However even Shion can't zone out for six whole hours and eventually he notices Gabe. It takes him a moment to work out why Gabe would have so many knapsacks. But he must have grabbed all the ones that were confiscated.

It does not occur to Shion in the slightest that Gabe's not meant to be going through them. He's not... with it enough to think about it. But after a few moments of just... staring. He speaks]

Does one have 'Shion' stitched on it?

(OOC: he is totally welcome to rifle through Shion's things, he's not got much in there, just a knife and a first aid kit. Oh and an unopened bag of gumwater taffys that he never took out again after seeing that it was candy)

[ungrieved]

[Sure enough, one does. And Gabe is already turning over a package of something that crinkles promisingly. Candy?]

[He is just going to blatantly filch that out from the pack before shoving the rest in Shion's direction absently. He's not even masking his petty theft at this point, partly because he fully expects Shion to raise a fuss about it.]

[lol]

[savedbyasong]

[Shion blinked as Gabe took the candy. He had... forgotten he had that. He's not sure what to think about Gabe just taking it like that. But... Shion just lost any control he had and tried to burn down a city. He's not sure he's in any place to judge.]

You can have it if you want. It was in my bag when I arrived.

[byhalves]

[This boat ride should probably be a reprieve - after all, they're getting the fuck away from all of the terrible bad no-good of that weird island with it's awful, awful rules buuuut-

Boats kind of suck. Who would have thought?

While he'd much rather spend the boat ride wallowing in misery, he can't help but notice the guy with all of the knapsacks, and when he sees one with a familiar name...]

What are you hoping to find in there? [Treasure? A reason for being? Shouto's got neither of those.]

[ungrieved]

[Gabe, this horrible boy, this no-good gremlin, this awful being, only pauses briefly to glance up, survey the asker of the question, wonder ever so briefly if this knapsack might belong to him, and...goes RIGHT the fuck back to rummaging through it, utterly brazenly.]

[He's terrible. Please destroy him.]

Uh, anything I can use? [Obviously.]

[byhalves]

I don't think my uniform would fit you.

[Terrible. Awful. Worst boy - except this pales in comparison to some of the emotional babies he's had to deal with so far, so he's not yet reached a point of being actually bothered by this.

Or maybe he's just still dealing with that whole "arrested for existing like some sort of abomination" thing.]

Ignis Scientia | Final Fantasy XV | OTA

[shatteredlenses]

[If this was one of Prompto and Noctis' video games, Ignis is sure he would have just earned some achievement with a very punny name. It would be something to celebrate and brag about--at least in their minds it would be. Here in real life, he is more than willing to allow people to believe their courageous captain is responsible for that little bit of thievery.

As the boat get on its way, Ignis ignores his own wounds and focuses what little magical energy he has left on healing those who need it. His Regroup spell is only a minor regenerative boost, but it boosts morale as well and if everyone is as tired as he is, then they can use that little boost.

Never one to sit still for long, once food is introduced into the equation, he shifts his attention to it. He's never cooked sea otter, let alone tried to cook it in the middle of a boat through creative use of flaming daggers, but even if the food itself doesn't turn out all that well, he's putting on a show?

Lets just hope he doesn't accidentally set the boat on fire.]

[sorewatopsecret]

[The eels reminded her way too much of snakes. Ever since Takane caught sight of them, she made it a point to avoid the sides of the boat, despite how much she'd like to sit with her friends. If she were to fall in by chance... Goodness, she doesn't even want to think about it.

Now that the most immediate dangers of Ai'Tuoh were behind everyone, however, it has finally hit her that it has been a long while since she has eaten. With adrenaline no longer fuelling her, she's finally feeling her energy depleting, lethargy slowly taking her over... However, she sees...!

What is that man doing to that dead sea otter? She did remember overhearing some Jormun offering some up as food. Takane never thought of sea otters being used for food, but she wasn't a particularly picky eater, and was willing to try any meal available to her at least once, no matter how strange.

She watches with acute interest, a tell-tale tummy growl rumbling out.]

How mystifying! So there are people from worlds that are well-versed in the preparation of sea otter...? It much reminds me of teppanyaki...

[shatteredlenses]

[Ignis smiles at the comment. Blind as he is, he can't actually see how his efforts look. They feel rather clumsy to him, but he hasn't set anything on fire yet and the meat doesn't smell burned. That's something, anyway.]

If there are, it's certainly not my world nor me. I've never head of a sea otter before now. Hopefully, I'm not about to overcook the meat.

[Oh, but speaking of things he's never heard of before...]

What is teppanyaki? I'm not familiar with the term.

[sorewatopsecret]

[Indeed, and Takane very much appreciates his efforts, willingness, and great courage to venture into the great unknown of cuisine! Even if this ends up in hopefully non-lethal failure, she'll most definitely try to eat the results based on incredible respect.

Oh! A question, and one she will very gladly answer.]

It is a method of food preparation originating from a country I had recently relocated to, prior to being whisked to this island.

[The energy in her voice rises as she continues, like a child talking about their favorite cartoon, yet somehow she maintains her refined manner of speech.]

The name is derived from the word teppan, meaning "iron plate," and yaki, which can be equated to grilled, broiled, or pan-fried. As its name implies, the method makes use of a heated iron plate to cook food, and are widely used to cook food in front of guests at restaurants. Since it is more popular with tourists, however, the performance aspect of the chef has as much importance as the preparation itself. [It was almost as if she said it all in one breath. An incredibly educational experience... and perhaps fortunately, one of her shorter ramblings when it came to food.] I've heard that the training can be quite intensive.

Kanata Shinkai | Ensemble Stars! | OTA

[seafriends]

[ For the first hour or so, Kanata can be found on the edge of the ship, arms dangling over the railing while he peers into the water. He's exhausted after the ordeal of being thrown to the water and then rescued, letting his body rest heavy against the ledge of the boat without moving for some time. To any bystander, this may read as a sign of seasickness, but in reality? He's fixated on the eels that have begun writhing around in the water, sharp teeth and all.

It's a species he doesn't recognize, and one he suspects to only be native to this world once they stark sparking with bright little jolts of electricity. But rather than shy away like any sane person, he tiredly coos down to the water and wiggles his fingers at them affectionately. ]

Aah.. you are "so cute", Eel-sa~n... ♪ [ and to the poor soul that's closest to him, he has a question: ] Do you think we could "catch" one..?

[sorewatopsecret]

[Once her survival instincts petered out, having the immediate dangers of Ai'Tuoh behind her, Takane realized she was tired, aching everywhere, and very hungry. She has done well in keeping such ailments subtle, enjoying the company of her friends during the travel, but once she started noticing those in the water...

She's made it a point to sit away from the edge of the boat. Faaaar away. In constrast with her usual proper sitting posture, she is hugging her knees close to her chest as if forming a defensive ball. She can't even hide how she's glaring with discomfort and paranoia towards the direction of the boat's edge. With so many dangers she has found herself in, many would note Takane never showed outright fear or terror. Yet, somehow, here she is, unusually showing an obvious display of fear and wariness towards the eels. "Cute"? WHAT IN THE WORLD IS SO CUTE ABOUT THESE FIENDS???

Eels were a part of Japanese cuisine, and Takane did not mind the long fish so much when it was prepared into an eel bowl or unagi sushi or such, but live ones always made her skin crawl. They were so wriggly and slithery; eels were basically underwater versions of sn---! Ahh, she doesn't even want to think of the word!

Many anxious thoughts are racing through her head. Would they somehow get on the boat? They don't jump, do they? With all that's going on, she can't dismiss the idea... How would Kanata contain it if he manages to catch one? WHAT IF IT ENDS UP FLAILING AROUND ON THE BOAT AND GETS ON HER??? Ugh, it's too much to think about!

Kanata seems so excited about it, though! After all he's been through, she didn't want to spoil his fun! So Takane refrains from outright protesting his idea.]

K-Kanata... [Her tone is rather weak compared to normal, but its totally because she's tired and not scared, ok!!!] It pleases me to see you brimming with such enthusiasm, but are you able to safely do so without facing electrocution...?

[seafriends]

[ With how far from the ledge Takane is keeping herself, Kanata can't see much of her at all unless he twists his body to face her a little more properly, which he does only after flexing his fingers a few times more. If he were only just a little closer to the water, the eels might jump up to snap at him and he could touch them..

But the concern in Takane's voice is notable, and while it's not really something Kanata wants to get into after the events from earlier, he at least ought to let her know he's fine? ]

Mm.. I have "been stung" by jellyfish before, so touching these eels would probably feel "about" the same..? [ Yes, that is supposed to be comforting information. ] But I have not seen "this species" before, and they are very cute.. I want to bring one "home", if it were possible~...

[sorewatopsecret]

[So, like a sea anemone and a clown fish? For some reason, that makes perfect sense to Takane, and she accepts that immediately. However, it does nothing to comfort her, because that, funnily enough, was not the main reason for her anxiety. She doesn't want to see one! She doesn't want any of them to get near her...!

Home? He wants to bring one home? As in, the shacks and not his home world? Possibly both? They live next to each other, though... Wait, then does that mean she would have to endure seeing one of those every day if he's successful?!]

Uuuu... [She doesn't want to say anything about it, though. If having one of those eels will make Kanata happy, then she doesn't want to get in the way of that.] Might you... have a method of keeping it alive until we reach Enso...?

[ONE THAT HOPEFULLY CAN CONCEAL ITS PRESENCE EFFECTIVELY, PERHAPS...?]

closed to Taako and Magnus

[hellawrath]

It's like something of that horrible place under the water seeped into Lup's heart and stayed there, leaden and alien. The exhaustion she'd helped others fight has finally reached her, after so many trips through a dead city, so many sleepers left behind. Maybe, maybe they could still be saved some day, if they found a way to defeat that water god the Storyteller is afraid of? She'd like to hope, but all she feels is defeat as she clings to the railing of their escape boat for support and watches that wretched island grow smaller in the distance.

She hadn't saved Ren.

Sure, they'd all split up to look for her among the rescued, it's entirely possible somebody else got her out of the water or picked her up in the chaos of the fighting and brought her here. She's got to be here, it's just, unthinkable that she's still down there somewhere, curled up and alone until the rabbit wipes the island off the map and-- Lup swallows harshly against the lump in her throat and turns her back on the horizon, intending to keep looking.

But nobody she's talked to has seen Ren. And it's not that big a boat.

[ohshitsweetflips]

There's definitely a weight on Taako, too, something almost visibly heavy in his slow steps to Lup's side. Enough so that he doesn't feel he has to announce defeat, on the 'finding Ren' front; whatever broken heaviness he carries with him should make that clear for him, just fine. No Ren, and no leads from anyone who might have seen or helped her.

Of course for him this is a familiar weight, predating the water by far. Why shouldn't it? He expects loss as a matter of course, just that constant stress that his grip on anything is tenuous, and anything he wants is too fragile to really clutch at. You can't do anything about it either way, is the thing; just keep juggling wineglasses like an idiot. So why does he feel so shitty?

It's just. It wasn't Ren's fault. Lup befriended the shitty rabbit god, as skillfully as she does all that kind of thing, and this wasn't supposed to be on the table anymore. Sure, he  chooses to be kinda shitty about the whole thing, and by no stretch of the imagination could he be said to trust them, but. This is still a shock and he hates so much that it is, because he should know better, always.

So he's just here, and miserably, shakingly angry, at a stupid god and himself and an entire island of criminally misguided fucks, with nothing to do about it but let it chew at his mind. His eyes are sharp and helpless when they meet hers, but very direct. "I hope you burned all their shit to the ground."

[hellawrath]

She hears it in his steps before she even turns and sees it in his eyes, and the feeling of losing the last of whatever dwindling hope had kept her going almost takes the feet out from under her. No Ren. They tried, and sometimes that's just not fucking good enough. How many more times are they gonna have to do this? Leave behind innocent people, innocent worlds to their horrible fate because they hadn't been good enough, hadn't been fast enough or looked in the right places or convinced the right people to help. I have to believe, to keep doing what we do...

It hurts worse for being just one girl, somehow. Like it's made so much sharper by the fact that it's not a mostly faceless world but Ren that she's let down. It's never fucking fair but this is just, it's unbearable. For her and for Taako too, misery shining bright in his eyes. She's never needed a mirror when she's got him.

For a moment his bitterness re-ignites her wrath and her expression hardens in turn, thinking of the library and the ships, all ashes now. Maybe some cosmic fucking justice was done and it spread across the entire city. "You know it."

But she's just. She's too tired for anger, and all the fires in the world aren't gonna bring Ren back. So she relents, tears filling her vision and she closes the distance to wrap her arms around him desperately. Holding him up, holding herself up, it's all she can do now.

[proficienciesouttheass]

Magnus isn't too far from the scene, leaning against the mast of the ship, one arm crossed over the other while a hand fidgets with the useless water drop shaped necklace he kept for no good reason. His gaze is vaguely turned towards the water, but he looks over in time to watch them hug.

A week in a cell hadn't been the issue. Magnus could take that and more, even if the helplessness in not being able to break free and play the underdog hero in some sort of B-grade prison escape story was less than ideal. But he'd once again found himself in a situation that pushed him back to feelings he thought he'd long been able to learn to control: seeing himself surrounded by helpless people who he couldn't help, no matter how hard he tried.

It had been a few months since the wake up call during the no-sun almost-apocalypse. A familiar scene in downgraded intensity, past experience and confidence leaving him complacent until they almost lost someone he cares for. it hadn't been his fault or his mistake, but it awoke in him is ingrained want to help those in need. And, now, he'd been ready to do as much as he could, and found himself unable to. Days and days of trying, just to find his strength ultimately useless.

He'd talked to Ren, tried to keep her company while stuck in the prison together, fully believing the elves and their friends would be there as soon as possible, ready to save the day.

They'd sung songs together to pass the time and keep morale up.

Not getting her back, not being able to save everyone - it feels wrong. It doesn't feel natural. Haven't they done this before? Haven't they fought bigger foes, haven't they saved the day? They're supposed to be--

It doesn't feel like it's his place to impose in a moment between the siblings. He watches them, for a moment, giving them their time before he finally walks over to them, quiet and serious, rubbing at the back of his head.

"Hey. Huh..." ...but words escape him as soon as he tries. So he sighs through his nose, lowering his hand back down.

Shit, man. What's there to say, at this point?