And the Boats Drift On [Open to All]

[applesaucemod]

The water is calm, and the night sky is filled with stars. The only light is natural: a patchy, bioluminescent glow coming from the water below, and the bright swath of the Milky Way above. It's not much, but it's more than enough to see by.

The dreamers will find themselves sitting in their own little rowboats, each stocked with two oars, a length of rope, some cushions, and a little picnic basket full of snacks. There is no visible shoreline, but it won't take the dreamers long to realize theirs are not the only boats in this shallow sea. Anything stirring in the water, be it fish or paddle, causes phosphorescent plankton to glow a bright blue, so there isn't really anywhere to hide.

Feel free to paddle around and visit the other dreamers, perhaps tying your boats together and sharing your snacks in an impromptu picnic. Or you could go for a swim - the bioluminescence makes it difficult to see the bottom, but it's not too terribly deep, so the risk of drowning is all but nonexistent. This setting, unlike the last one, isn't actively out to kill you. Or you could simply lie back and look at the stars.



[ooc: Same drill as always, folks. All are welcome, regardless of whether or not your character is in the game. Characters may remember or forget dream shenanigans at the player's discretion.]

Comments

[rae_of_sun]

Sunshine doesn't normally go in for boating, in part because fishing tends to be involved, and she's never been a fan. But there isn't a rod or tacklebox in this rowboat, just some comfy seating and a basket that, upon cursory examination, reveals nothing more than food intended for human consumption.

Really, though, it's the sky that has her attention. You can't see the stars in Manhattan. Even back home, with the overall population depleted as it is, you don't get skies like this. (Well, you probably do in a lot of places, but traveling far enough from civilization to avoid light pollution is pretty ill-advised.)

For a few minutes, she just leans back in her little boat and stares up at the sky. Then she pulls her jackknife out of her pocket. It glows a warm, comforting gold in contrast to the blues and greens that surround her. She pries open the second blade - the dull, lint-covered one she barely ever uses - and wedges it between two of the planks at the stern, like a little clement lantern. Or a beacon.

All right. Time to more thoroughly investigate the contents of this basket.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine is decidedly not going to just sit in a titchy little boat when there is an entire ocean to explore. When she reaches her hand in to test the temperature and sees the resulting flash of blue, that clinches it. She tumbles overboard - a neater dive seems risky, given she doesn't know how deep it is - and beams as the water around her glows with every little stirring of her limbs. Numair's told her about this sort of thing before, and that it's caused by tiny creatures living in the water, but this is the first time she's seen it firsthand.

A few moments later, she's taken dolphin shape and is twisting through the shallow sea, leaving a fading trail of blue behind her.


[ooc: feel free to spot her from your boat and call out to her! She'll respond once she's over her initial giddiness. Or perhaps she approaches your boat out of curiosity and pops her head out of the water.]

[johnny_truant]

It's a while before Johnny realizes he's dreaming. For some time he just rests on his back in the little boat, listening to the gentle lapping of the water, gazing up at the stars. Has he ever seen so many? He feels so content. He could just drift off to sleep... but he already is asleep, isn't he?

Instead he sits up, looking around himself. No land in sight, but that doesn't bother him like it ordinarily might - it's just a dream, he's not really lost at sea. Looks like he has some supplies as well, though he doesn't investigate yet.

He lets his fingers dip into the water, which is just cool enough without being cold, and it ripples gently, and beneath the surface he sees bright glowing pinpricks of light shimmering and dancing around. He pulls his hand back, a little startled, and just watches for a while.

It's been a while since he had a restful dream all on his own, without Gabriel or the TARDIS assisting him. He hopes it stays this way.

[brink]

Topher's decided to participate in a dream party for once. He's felt a bit too much like a shut-in lately. But only after taking certain precautions of course, like making sure anyone he's hiding from (quite a few specific Romac and rebel higher-ups, a certain angel, a few other people...) can't actually recognise him. It's become routine by now, anytime he goes someplace they might turn up.

Still, that doesn't mean he intends to look unremarkable to everyone else. In fact, he finds the whole "tiny little row-boat" thing a bit too dull. Instead, he's sitting on the shell of a giant, realistic-looking Lapras, serenely paddling along.

[peeta_mellark]

Peeta's fascinated by the sky. They could see plenty of stars in the districts, but none of them match the ones here. The sky is different and the stars seem more numerous.

It's beautiful, but what captures Peeta's attention is the water.

He has only seen the ocean once before, during the Victory Tour. And even then, it was only from the shore. The water had been dark - very different from the clear, bright blue that stretches around him in all directions. The boat he is in drifts gently, the water around it glowing blue as the hull rocks against the surface.

Peeta leans over carefully, trying to gauge the depth of the water. It doesn't seem too deep, and he cautiously dips in his hand, momentarily surprised when the water glows around it as well.

[sadie_doyle]

Boozy laughter echoes across the water, occasionally interspersed with a ringing clink! The Doyles wasted no time in making a two-ship flotilla by tying their respective boats together. Now, they're sitting side by side in one boat while the other (riding noticeably lower in the water) is stocked with enough liquor to either fell a herd of elephants or last the Doyles an entire weekend. There seems to be a disproportionate amount of rum in keeping with the oceangoing theme.

It's safe to say that they won't be doing much in the way of rowing, as the glasses they're holding would make it cumbersome. But the liquor has put them both in a rather expansive mood, so they'd probably be delighted to chat with anyone else who happened by.


[ooc: you're getting two Doyles for the price of one, so any threads will involve (at least) three players.]

[wildmage_daine]

Daine recognizes Peeta from a fair distance - not with her eyes, but with her echolocation (which, in this shape, is even better than a bat's). She considers trying to sneak up on him, but then realizes he probably hasn't seen a dolphin before. Best not to frighten him just for a joke.

So she surfaces a few yards from his boat, coasting on her side so she can examine him with one eye. She keeps her mouth shut (it looks as if she's smiling, and he can't see how many sharp little teeth she has). Then she lifts her pectoral fin and waggles it in a little wave.

[peeta_mellark]

When something surfaces not too far away from him, Peeta immediately pulls his hand out of the water. It's an animal of some kind, though not one he's ever seen before. It has some similarities to a fish, from what he can tell, but is much larger than any fish he's come across.

He's watching it carefully, trying to make up his mind about it, when it rolls slightly and - waves at him?

After a few seconds of surprised staring, everything clicks together.

"Daine?"

[wildmage_daine]

Amused, Daine swims up to his boat and floats there, head poking out of the water and the rest of her submerged. Hullo, Peeta! she says cheerfully. Have you ever seen a dolphin before?

[peeta_mellark]

"No, I haven't," he says with a delighted smile. A dolphin. It's kind of strange looking, and Peeta's reaching out before he thinks about it. Realizing what he's doing, he quickly pulls his hand back.

"May I - may I touch you?" he asks Daine.

[wildmage_daine]

Of course, Daine says. It's a common enough request when she's in animal shape, and it's not just children who ask. Most folk are curious what different animals feel like, and they know she isn't a truly wild animal who might take their hand off.

She does appreciate being asked, though, which is more polite than just poking at her without so much as a by your leave. Thank you for asking, she adds.

[mr_fring]

Strange. He doesn't remember coming here.

It's been a long time since he was on the water. He has a boat, oars, supplies - he seems to be well stocked. Everything is quiet, the sky is bright and beautiful. May as well enjoy it. Gus has become better at accepting life's strangeness lately.

He opens what appears to be a picnic basket and finds it to be just that: filled with little sandwiches, what looks to be guacamole, chips, fruit - there's even some beer. Enough for more than one person. Gus looks around, and it's not long before he can see more boats in the distance. He hesitates, wondering who they might be, before deciding not to worry. He takes the oars and rows slowly, steadily, toward the others.

[peeta_mellark]

Gingerly, Peeta reaches out and runs a hand over the top of Daine's head. The skin feels smooth and slightly cool beneath his hands, and he marvels.

"Thank you," he says as he pulls his hand back again.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine briefly bobs beneath the surface so she can take in a mouthful of water… which she then playfully spits, bright and blue, in Peeta's general direction. It's not a trick she's practiced much, so she does it with more enthusiasm than accuracy. You're welcome.

Then, because the water's quite nice, she says, You should come swimming. She forgets, for the moment, that he has plenty of good reason to give shallow seas a wide berth. It's not as if she'd allow him to sink, and the water glows! What could go wrong? Look at what the water does! She turns away from the boat and cuts a swift arc through the surrounding water, her dorsal fin stirring up a wake of bioluminescence behind her.

[peeta_mellark]

The glow is enticing, and the water inviting, but Peeta -- "I can't swim," he admits.

[watchesthebeans]

It's a mote! It's a hunk of driftwood! No, it's the tiniest rowboat ever!

Aglet's never been in a boat before, but he's already pretty sure he doesn't like it just like he never likes any of these dreams. The flat, open water sets a semi-subterranean creature like him ill at ease, and it's impossible for him to stop scanning the sky for something ready to drop out of the air and nab him. He doesn't know what that tiny orange vest is for, either, though he may find out if his boat tips over. Even the presence of free food isn't enough to reassure him, and he would be paddling madly for shore if a.) he could see a shore and b.) he knew how to paddle properly. As it is he keeps digging one oar into the water with both hands and going in little circles.

[wildmage_daine]

You can hang onto my fin, if you like, she offers, returning to the boat and listing to one side a little so she can look up at him. The one on my back. I could tow you around. She's done it with dolphins before, so it shouldn't be difficult for her to play the dolphin's role instead of being the one getting pulled around. It'll be fun, she adds enticingly.

[peeta_mellark]

Peeta's skeptical, but he trusts Daine enough to at least give it a try. He's already shoeless, so he quickly shucks off his shirt and - with some delicate maneuvering - slips into the water, one hand clutching his boat.

"Now what?" he asks, kicking his legs awkwardly and managing to keep himself afloat.

[wildmage_daine]

It's only the work of a moment or two for Daine to circle around and tuck herself beneath his other arm. I've got you, she reassures him, turning her head a little to look back at him. Just lean against me instead of hanging onto the boat. They can start slow, she figures - get him used to the water and using her for support before she actually starts pulling him around at any kind of speed.

[peeta_mellark]

Peeta lets go of the boat hesitantly, leaning against Daine as she's directed and grasping her fin with one hand. "I'm not going to hurt you, am I?"

[wildmage_daine]

I doubt it, Daine replies, an undercurrent of amusement in her tone. Dolphin skin is sensitive, but there's nothing objectionable about what he's doing now. Just hang on like that, and we'll be fine. If he drifts loose and starts to panic, then he might actually manage to hurt her by thrashing around. She's more concerned about him losing his grip than she is about having her fin squeezed a bit too tight.

And besides, she adds after a moment's thought, I'm fair certain this is a dream. Elsewise, I wouldn't be able to talk to you like this.

[peeta_mellark]

Peeta blinks in surprise. "Oh. Right. A dream." The thought hadn't even occurred to him, but now that it's been pointed out, it's obvious they're dreaming.

Even so, they both know from experience that dreams aren't always pleasant. Or safe. So he holds on a little tighter, sure Daine will say something if his grip becomes uncomfortable or painful.

[wildmage_daine]

His nervousness isn't hidden from Daine. She can hear his heart rate picking up a little, and she makes an effort to tow him smoothly through the water. Dolphins can 'see' with sound, like bats, she says, her tone light and conversational. That's how they hunt and talk with one another. Right now, there's nothing nearby but fish. The implication being that if anything else should come along, she'll know straightaway.

[interndana]

The first thing Dana sees are the stars overhead, so bright and vast that for a moment she thinks she's back home looking at the desert sky. But then she sits up, and everything lurches unpleasantly, and Dana grows to realize that she is not at home, and not even on solid ground. She is in a boat. Dana has never been in a boat before.

She does know how to swim, if only because of city council-mandated flash flood survival training, but this vast and oddly glittering sea seems ominous to her, despite the calm surface. Dana tries to move as slowly as possible, looking around for any sign of life, or a shoreline. And what are these, paddles? Dana reaches for one but the motion sets the little boat swaying. She shrieks, and the sound echoes out across the water.

faster than liiiiiiightniiiiiiiing

[wildmage_daine]

Even without her enhanced hearing, that shriek would be hard to miss. Daine streaks toward the sound, expecting to find that someone's gone overboard. But the woman who screamed is still in her boat, and nothing appears to be outwardly amiss. Daine circles the area, wondering if she's just missed a shark or somesuch, but she doesn't hear anything bigger or scarier than fish.

Concerned, and a little perplexed, Daine bobs up out of the water alongside the woman's boat. What's wrong? she asks. Then, as she gets a proper look at her, … Dana?