paradisabeyond | Lastlook: Entering the River

[For the past day or so, it's pretty clear the Amber Steppe has been left behind and the Totem Coast is getting closer. The air is more humid and the undergrowth has gone from a burnt amber color to be thicker, greender, and almost bordering on jungle-like. Several other streams have joined the one that the explorers have been following until it's almost large enough to start sailing on. Raine had encouraged everyone to press on, though, not sure it was time just yet (and also because she doesn't particularly like boats, okay). The cliffs around them start to grow up as well, and it probably won't be too long before the jungle becomes a properly impassable one, leaving the river as the only choice.

But this morning, another large stream had joined up with their and now it was more like a proper river. In the late morning they reach a large pier with five boats. The river also begins to take a higher road from here downstream, while the jungle starts to clog the lower road. Looks like it won't be too much longer before they're in the very painting that led them here. It's time to investigate those boats - and unload the smaller onces Percy Jackson has packed. And if you don't trust either of these, there are some inflatable rafts that Raine has packed as well.

So let's load up, and they'll be on the water by the afternoon!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ James is standing on the deck of one boat, staring over the edge thoughtfully. He's not about to be left behind with the mounts, no matter what form he's stuck in at the moment! But you have to admit, deer and boats aren't exactly a fantastic combination.

He can swim just fine as he is, but not knowing exactly how long they're going to be on these things, he'd rather not subject himself to that.

This ought to be an interesting ride for him, that's for sure. ]

[And Clint comes up from below, a crate under one hand and a bottle of... something in the other. It's his plan to share the alcohol trove he found out with the other people on the expedition who were old enough...

...That was before he saw the stag. On the boat.]

Oh, yeah. Forgot about you.

[ James ears perk up and he turns his head around to look at the guy. Oh yeah, he remembers this one! He was there around the time he first transformed on the expedition. Sup bro?

Actually, question what's that he's got in his arms? James walks over with his head down, looking pointedly at the crate before looking back up at Clint. ]

[And Clint stares at the deer. Nope, still weird, but he's not going to let that get in the way.]

Hm? Oh. This? I found some alcohol in the hold, thought I'd go out and share it.

...How old are you? Tap your hoof how many times.

[No alcohol for minors. Not that he can card deer.]

[ Hesitates. Judging by the accent, the man's voice he's American. Of course, James can't remember what the drinking age is for American muggles. Best to just exaggerate a little. He doubts that anyone's going to guess his actual age while he's a deer.

So he starts tapping his foot on the deck of the ship until he's done it about twenty times, hesitates for a moment and adds in a couple more taps for good measure. ]

...

[Okay, that hesitation was suspect, but, whatever.]

You can have one mouthful, okay? I don't want to deal with a dead deer.

[He offers forth the bottle he'd been drinking from, which had about a mouthful left in it.]

[ Better than nothing, he'll take it! And admittedly he's never had a drink as deer before, and dying isn't really something he's interested in doing.

Either way he leans forward and tires to grab the end of the bottle in his mouth. ]

[And bottle in, tilted back so the stag can drink.]

Never thought I'd ever do this...

[ Giving a stag booze? It's true, it's not something that happens often. He chugs it down like a champ though before lowering his head, trying to push the bottle towards Clint so he'll take it away. ]

[And have a pat on the nose for that, James.]

Don't tell anyone about this.

[ He snorts and shakes his head at the pat. More than a little patronizing, but since he just got free alcohol he can't really give him that hard a time.

He nods slightly once. Mum's the word. He wont' be telling anyone about Clint boozing up animals. ]

[Good deer.]

Try to stay outta trouble, okay?

[And he's off to continue handing out the rest of his booze cache.]

[ He nods his head stiffly once in the most formal way he can manage. And while Clint does that James is back to slowly picking his way across the deck and making sure this is acceptable for deer. ]

[Rue walks over with a smile]

Are you okay, James?

[ He lifts up his head, nodding once, almost hitting his antlers on the side of the railing, backs up a little and nods again. ]

[She holds out her hands] Whoa, be careful! [She giggles] You don't want to break anything.

[ Well he's glad someone thinks it's funny!

He nods, slowly and a lot more carefully this time, before taking another step forward and nudging at the rail with his shoulder a bit. Doesn't look like it's about to break easily under a little pressure at least. ]

[Hey, she's not the one who's a freaking DEER.

She reaches out to pat his shoulder]

Are you having fun?

[ Not his fault he is one! He didn't mean to get stuck like this.

And he's not sure what's up with this petting today, but being she's an adorable kid she gets a free pass.

Either way he bobs his head in a "yes". As fun as he can at the moment. He'd have more fun if he could run around as a human while out here. ]

[She gets away with a lot being an adorable child.]

Me, too. I can't wait to explore!

[ She sure does. And he nods again, looking a little more excited this time. He looks off over the water, not sure where they'll be headed, but more than ready to see, before looking back at her.

He wonders if she's ever been out on any of these before and has some idea of what to expect. ]

[She follows his gaze. It takes her a second to realize he's looking at her again.]

It's amazing, isn't it? I've never seen anything like it before. Do you think we'll find anything good out there?

[ An excellent question, he wonders the same thing. Though he sure as hell hopes that they will. He nods again though. He's not really sure how to say "maybe" at the moment. Besides, the nod answers the first question too. ]

Lastlook: Entering the River

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject