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

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.

[shatteredlenses]

[Ignis stills his motions a moment, seeming to study the blades and the meat in front of him. Of course, he can't actually see it, but he can imagine what it looks like. He can also imagine what it might be light to be one of those well trained chefs preparing food in such a manner.

He might have to look farther into this kind of preparation. Was there such a method back on Eos?

After a moment, he sets the food in motion again, not wanting to allow it to overcook in one place and still be raw in another.]

I wonder how in demand such a chef would be if he was also blind. Can you imagine how much more impressive it would be knowing he couldn't see what he was doing?

[sorewatopsecret]

[At first glance, Takane could have been fooled into thinking that this man has sight. His movements were skillful, not once dropping the slab of otter meat as he juggled it with those strange daggers as her eyes follow accordingly like a curious child.

That oddly specific remark, though, it tells her everything.]

Fufu... [She lets out a knowing giggle, but verbally dances around the actual subject all the same.] I would say this gentleman must carry a lot of dedication, care, and passion for the craft, and is owed much respect and acknowledgment. That person must be unhesitant in facing the unknown, even using it as a resource. For that, it must be commended, good sir.

[shatteredlenses]

[Ignis bows his head and chuckles softly. It seems he's caught, even with his sunglasses hiding most of the scarring. Not that he actively tries to hide his blindness from people, but the idea of fooling someone even for a little while soothes his very damaged pride.]

A very wise man once told me that 'a king cannot lead by standing still. A king pushes onward always, accepting the consequences and never looking back.' I think that can apply to more than just a king, don't you? We all must face the unknown everyday or else nothing will be ever be accomplished.

[sorewatopsecret]

[Takane found herself agreeing with those wise words, finding them to be quite lovely, in fact. She'll be sure to file it away in her memory, in case she would need them in the occasion she needs to give a pep talk.]

Indeed. If one wishes to thrive, there must be great resolve to break down the walls that is oneself. Speaking of.... I never once thought otters would be fit for consumption, but I had enjoyed the food the Jormun had provided to us upon my arrival to this world. Perhaps I could trust this as well... Truth be told, I was about to partake as if it were sashimi or tartare...

[It was fortunate she managed to spot our friendly neighborhood specs trying to cook one, since eating raw otter meat might have been a Bad Idea to people with a more sensible line of thinking...]

[shatteredlenses]

[Yes, lets just leave that filed firmly in the BAD IDEAS category.]

If it is any comfort, this is the first I've heard of otters period. We don't have them on my world. Still, as they are not a kind of fish, I believe it better to eat them cooked than raw.

[Fortunately, the terms sashimi and tartare are more familiar to him than teppanyaki is since he's dabbled in raw fish preparation more than once considering how much Noctis likes fishing.

Ignis takes a moment to smell the meat and then banishes the flame from his blades, satisfied the pieces are cooked through.]

We'll let them rest a bit and then they will be ready to eat.