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+---- Thread: offer me that deathless death (/showthread.php?tid=10278)
offer me that deathless death - Jack - 10-23-2024
Jack has avoided the Fangs since their arrival at Caido's frostiest region, and for good reason, he'd thought. A place with a name like that sends images of towering, sharp peaks and impossible to navigate ravines shooting through his mind, and the old maps he'd seen of Halo pair up with that impression quite faithfully. But of course, since the war the Fangs are much deteriorated, and as they finally do come into view from his ship, he lets out an audible sigh of relief.
[say]"What happened there?"[/say] he wonders; there's evidence that the mountain range did indeed used to live up to the name given to it, but low and craggy and mostly open, now it looks more like a puppy's bite than a dragon's. Leaving someone else at the helm and turning up the collar on his thick coat as he heads onto the deck, he grabs up his spyglass so he might take a better look. [say]"I can see trails through the ice. People go out there on purpose?"[/say]
RE: offer me that deathless death - Flora - 10-23-2024
Bundled up in a dark blue coat over a pair of fleece-lined leggings compliments of her mother's closet, Flora's curls were tucked under a cream-coloured beanie with a spray of ursur furr on top, with her hands wrapped in mittens made of the same material. [say]"Gee I dunno, let me just check my pocket encyclopedia."[/say] The Doubletake says dryly as she follows along behind the captain.
Leaning against the railing and peering out, Flora frowned at the way the ocean encroached oddly upon the system of caves that, as Jack had thought for himself, seemed a good deal lesser than they'd once been. [say]"I think that's where Halo's mageglass mines are."[/say] She answers, squinting into the distance to try and discern if it was merely a trick of the light and lack of contrast that made it seem as though the mountain range had been entirely levelled, or if what she was seeing was genuine.
RE: offer me that deathless death - Jack - 10-23-2024
[say]"Well I do apologise,"[/say] Jack drawls. [say]"Based on the fact your mother used to live up here and that you're leader of a fuckin' region, I assumed you might know a bit about the world."[/say] Smirking over his shoulder and pausing at the railing so Flora can sidle up next to him, he examines the strange, stark world below them with a crinkle of his nose. Caido's northern heights have proven challenging, not necessarily from a sailing perspective (it's Longheat and the skies are relatively calm) but from pure culture shock for himself and the crew.
[say]"You don't say."[/say] Eyebrows raising, clearly mageglass mines have him more interested than some mountains with their tops lopped off, and he smirks at Flora. [say]"Wanna go check it out?"[/say] he asks, knowing of her penchant for adventure and his penchant for power in all its forms. [say]"If you're lucky you might see another frost fox."[/say] And if they're very lucky, they won't see any spiders or giants.
RE: offer me that deathless death - Flora - 10-23-2024
Though a flurry of responses immediately bloom in Flora's thoughts—"You really think that's what my mom and I talk about", "Yeah well you've been alive longer than I have", "When have I ever been interested in Halo's geography before?", "Maybe instead of sleeping with you so much, I should be studying?"—instead she only rolls her eyes, opting to stand obnoxiously close to Jack as punishment.
[say]"I do know some things about Halo."[/say] She sasses, before standing on her toes and peering over the railing. A gust of surprise dampens her thoughts for a moment as Jack willingly suggests that they go down. [say]"Really?"[/say] Glancing at him over her shoulder, Flora grins and nods. [say]"I also happen to know that there's a hot spring down there somewhere."[/say] She adds with a bounce of her brows as she reaches out for his arm to drag him back toward his cabin so that they could get their bathing suits.
RE: offer me that deathless death - Jack - 10-23-2024
Grinning - not directly at Flora but grinning nonetheless - as though he'd known just what sort of response his words would provoke, Jack does her one better as she sidles closer to him, stretching an arm around her as they watch the world glide by and the Fangs grow closer. [say]"I noticed. Like the location of some mageglass mines - and a hotspring, apparently,"[/say] he agrees, and although his returning bounce of his eyebrows is a lot more flat, he does willingly allow himself to be ferried off towards his cabin.
Once they're appropriately prepared for their adventure out into the Fangs (bathing suits, some food, a thermos of coffee and so on), the captain lets out a sharp whistle and prepares the Ark to slow to a descent and a gentle hover. The crew are adept at this by now, aided by a combination of their own and Jack's magic - air to fill and slow the sails as necessary, water to strip away any ice forming and keep the canvas limber, and of course the captain's good old telepathy to be able to tell where everyone is and where there might be problems.
The result is that Flora won't have to wait too long at all before they're tossing the rope ladder over the side of the ship for them to descend to the outskirts of the Fangs. [say]"You ready?"[/say] Jack nods to her.
RE: offer me that deathless death - Flora - 10-23-2024
[say]"Almost like I know about things that are relevant to our interests."[/say] The queen sass back affectionately as she fits herself comfortably at Jack's side. Having made no attempt to be quiet (and when did she ever, really), more than a handful of the captain's crew had perked up at the mention of mageglass and hotsprings, such that once the rigging had been set and the ladder was thrown down, Flora and Jack wouldn't be the only ones disembarking into the open-air caves.
Always happy to point out where magical items might improve the Ark, Flora thinks magical ladder as she begins to descend. Not one to normally complain about it, it's only because her mittens keep slipping on the wooden rungs that she thinks of it at all, nearly losing her grip several times. Waiting for Jack to begin his descent, it's only once her feet are on the ground that the queen quickly gathers up a ball of snow and lobs it at the captain's back, hopefully fast enough that he'd not have time to defend himself magically. The fact that he'd never actually been around snow before Flora found wildly endearing, and so of course the very first thing she wanted to do was pelt him in the back with a snowball.
RE: offer me that deathless death - Jack - 10-23-2024
Indeed, it seems quite a few of their crew will be taking advantage of the opportunity (for hotsprings if not for mageglass), though an equal number seem happy to remain on board where there's plenty of food and rum to pass the time. Raising his eyebrows at Flora's magical ladder idea, Jack doesn't dislike it, though there are a few other upgrades he can imagine would be good for The Ark before going as granular as ladder convenience. Either way, he descends towards the ground after the Doubletake, landing with a muted crunch in the deep snow.
Which is about when Flora pelts him with a snowball, Jack huffing out a breath of outrage as he struggles to turn to face her, pinning her with an incredulous look. [say]"Did you just throw a snowball at me?"[/say] he drawls. One might expect him to make one of his own to lob back - which isn't unheard of, frankly - but before Jack gets a chance the other crew are landing and starting their own snowball fight, and chaos soon ensues.
[say]"This is your fault,"[/say] Jack grumbles to Flora, smirking as he trudges away from the immediate line of fire and scooping up some snow to try and dump it down the front of her coat.
RE: offer me that deathless death - Flora - 10-23-2024
You call it granual, Jack, until you have to hear Flora complain about it every time she gets on and off the Ark, at which point it's going to seem like the best idea in the entire world.
With a rather animated drop of her jaw, Flora grins at the captain, her fingertips wiggling inside of her mittens as she waits to see what the repercussions are going to be (and how best to avoid them). [say]"Surprised you even know what a snowball is,"[/say] she teases brightly, before shrieking and ducking away from the sudden onslaught of snowballs.
[say]"Don't you dare!"[/say] The queen squeals, her mind a dazzling colourful explosion of chaos that mirrors the impromptu snowball fight around them. Tucking her chin defiantly down against her chest to block any of the cold from getting through, Flora wraps her arms around Jack to try and bulldoze him backward where hopefully a member of his crew might take pity on her and pelt Jack on her behalf.
RE: offer me that deathless death - Jack - 10-23-2024
[say]"It's a ball of snow, Flora. Now c'mere, if you're so FaMiLIaR WiTh HaLo,"[/say] Jack says, positively prowling towards the Doubletake to try and cram the snow down her coat. With her tucking her chin in close he's forced to go for the back of her neck instead, but of course by that point she's trying to tackle him to the fucking ground. [say]"Oi!"[/say] he objects, unable to balance properly in the deep flurries of snow, which of course sends them both plopping down into a drift.
Unfortunately for Flora, Jack's crew are a loyal bunch, though in the chaos of the snowball fight it also means their loyalty belongs to no one in particular. As such, both captain and queen are pelted in equal measure, Jack flailing to try and get upright in the snow and barking out a laugh as he shoves Flora away. [say]"Look what you've done,"[/say] he says. [say]"Crew's in shambles. Last time I take you anywhere on a long voyage."[/say]
RE: offer me that deathless death - Flora - 10-23-2024
Screeching like a banshee, the shrillness of Flora's voice is somewhat lost given that her mouth is pressed against Jack's coat. While the crew might be spared, Jack would nevertheless have to hear her girlish outrage ringing through his head as she felt snow trickling down her back. Cackling with delight as he collapses onto his back, Flora wriggles her way astride him, fully meaning to sweep her arms out and then in again as if to bury him completely in snow. Of course that's when his crew takes full advantage of the situation, leaving the Doubletake helpless to do anything but tuck herself against Jack's chest to hide from the worst of it.
It was a rare thing for Jack to be playful, and just as much as hearing genuine laughter slip from his lips, to see him like this had something inside of her both growing weak and threatening to burst as much as other parts solidified and strengthened.
[say]"Who says that wasn't my plan all along?"[/say] Flora wonders, rolling herself to her knees from where Jack had shoved her and glancing around for her hat which had been lost in the scuffle at some point. With her cheeks a rosy-pink and her hair in snowy tangles, the Doubletake looked a good deal more like the twenty-something that she was rather than the knowledgable queen that Jack had spoken of before. Reaching for her hat and giving it a good shake to rid it of the snow clinging to it both inside and out, Flora huffs out a breathless sigh of amusement. [say]"Not bad for your first snowball fight."[/say]
RE: offer me that deathless death - Jack - 10-23-2024
[say]"Oh, I see how it is. Weaken my leadership from the inside out until I'm killed by some fuckin' snowballs,"[/say] Jack drawls, grinning and shaking the snow from his dark hair as he also shoves himself - albeit clumsily - to his feet. To the crew's credit, it only takes a warning raise of his eyebrows for them to take their shenanigans out of range of the captain, though he does toss a snowball at the back of someone's head in a parting blow for good measure.
[say]"You sure?"[/say] he says of his first frolic in the snow, the captain using water magic to draw the ice and snow away from his clothes, reaching out to do the same for Flora so they don't end up wet and cold and miserable as they make their way into the Fangs. [say]"Far as I saw there weren't even any casualties."[/say] What kind of fight could it be where everyone got up unharmed after?
Anyway, whatever, Jack's posture seems to say, and soon enough he's trekking through the snow towards the black crags looming overhead.
RE: offer me that deathless death - Flora - 10-23-2024
[say]"Good plan, huh?"[/say] Flora trills triumphantly, far more confident in the snow than he was such that she was easily able to skip over to his side (sliding only once). [say]"The best part is, even you knowing about it won't stop me."[/say] Said as if there was going to be some flash-forward sequence where she was wearing
[say]"Handy having you around."[/say] She hums, before snorting and nodding toward the ladder where one of Jack's crew was making his way up nursing a bloody nose. [say]"You sure about that?"[/say] Snickering to herself, Flora follows the captain, taking advantage of the footprints left by him and the crew so as not to have to fight the drifts.
Once they were back on solid ground the queen gave her boots a few good stomps on the cavern floor before tucking her hat and mittens into one of her pockets. [say]"Remember what you said before about me making up riddles to get into my floating city? That's the sort of shit that protects the mageglass down here, so think again if you thought we'd just stumble onto some."[/say]
RE: offer me that deathless death - Jack - 10-23-2024
[say]"If we're talkin' about stoppin' you, I think knowin' about it isn't the bit you should be worried about,"[/say] Jack points out, though to be honst, he's more interested in trying to get onto semi-solid ground than planning out Flora's imaginary mutiny. Ah yes, the queen of Torchline just wanted to captain a ship all along, or something. [say]"I've got my uses,"[/say] he agrees, glancing around to follow her gaze to the ladder and scoffing at the sight of his bloody-nosed bosun, as it happens. [say]"A'right, well I didn't cause any casualties,"[/say] he corrects, as if that's what had mattered.
Following suit and stomping the remaining snow from his boots as they reach the cave systems, Jack tugs off his gloves and pockets them before peering around at the glossy black walls of the Fangs. [say]"Riddles?"[/say] he drawls, rolling his eyes. [say]"Well this was a wasted trip. May as well just scout around for today anyway."[/say] And, yes, go to the hotsprings Flora had mentioned; Jack has rescued their bag of supplies after the snowball fight ended, shifting its weight on his shoulder.
[say]"Any preference of direction?"[/say]
RE: offer me that deathless death - Flora - 10-23-2024
Glancing at Jack, the queen narrows her eyes thoughtfully as her gaze falls upon the sharp line of his jaw. Could he stop her, if mutiny was what she wanted? Probably he could, if only because there was only so far simply bribes and threats could of, whereas Jack had access to the deepest fears and desires of those around him. Still, as a purely hypothetical exercise, Flora did think she could probably make quite a bit of trouble for Jack if she ever really put her mind to it.
[say]"One or two."[/say] The Doubletake agrees, before scoffing and rolling her eyes. [say]"Well, it's like I said. Pretty good for your first one."[/say] Said as if he'd been some lanky juvenile who'd cum too quickly his first time with a girl, Flora can only laugh and shrug her shoulders. [say]"You'll get the hang of it and soon they'll be dropping like flies."[/say]
Unbuttoning her coat now that they weren't in the open, Flora glances ahead at the various passages. [say]"Mhmm, that's what I was told. Hidden behind these magic doors that only open with the right answers."[/say] She explains with a shrug, doubting if Jack's magic would give him any advantage at all should he ever attempt to open one of said doors. Not unless he meant to tease the answers from the minds of those around him.
[say]"Well, pretty sure the hot springs are that way."[/say] Pointing at a sign labelled as such (with an amendment stating the waters could heal void infections), Flora raises her brows. Unless Jack protested, the Doubletake would head in that direction.