[Alucard does so, and soon enough, the next part of this awful night gets under way. The barrels are removed first, and then two of the creatures ferry the forgemaster and the dhampir to the surface. The moon and stars are the only source of light available, and through them, Alucard sees only a clear horizon.
If Isaac is waiting for them, then he has distance to contend with.
But the task is only partially completed, and Alucard moves so that he is behind Hector, capable of supporting the man the moment he requires it. He's asked one of the mercreatures to hang around just in case, and it's probably for the best.]
Whenever you're ready. Once we're on deck, you need to rest.
[Hector looks around, straining through the darkness until he gets eyes on Cesar, floating safely nearby. Ok. Time to begin.
He's too hopelessly soaked to create a spark, so he begins the channeling by flicking the water, sending droplets splashing down with a pale blue glow. It's a symbolic gesture, not a hard action and reaction, to bridge the immaterial and the material worlds.
He reaches out and down to the kracken. She's as tired as he is, though she's been wonderfully loyal in spite of the pains.]
Come. It's time to stretch now. [He whispers, too tired to project the thoughts solely with his power.] You've been brilliant. One last task, then down to the cool, dark depths to rest and feed yourself on little glowing fish.
[It makes it easier for both master and creation if their goals align. She wants to retreat, and knowing that he wants that too, she doesn't fight his suggestion.
She untangles her tentacles from around the ship and slips her body beneath it. She sucks in water and sends it jetting out, propelling her forward. Hector does not direct, other than reminding her of the goal; the water is her domain, and she knows her strengths better than he. She pushes, and the ship rises, then begins to sink, and she pushes again. It's a slow, draining process.
Finally, the water bubbles and churns, and the ship begins to emerge from the waves. Hector thinks to the ship is rocking strangely, until he realizes that no, his vision has gone fuzzy. Water streams out of the holes Alucard punched into the sides. Hector's last exhausted thought is, 'the crew better damned well be ready', and then he slumps against the barrel.]
[Alucard watches in silence, one eye on Hector, the other on Cesar. What he should be doing is paying attention to the horizon, but that? That's not as important as just making sure that the next few minutes are survived by everyone.
Seeing the ship rise again is a little miracle. Alucard directs the crew to plug up all of the holes as quickly as they're able and--
--shit. Hector.
Alucard rushes forward, and there's a little too much time supporting Hector's weight in the middle of the water, the dhampir playing the all too important balancing game until there's the all clear to return to the deck.
When Hector does come back into the realm of consciousness, he'll find the little pug next to him, and Alucard's very soggy coat and shirt acting as the worst possible pillow under his head. Alucard's laid him up on the deck beside the ship's wheel, and he's continuing to direct the crew through the first rays of the morning sun.
It's Cesar's sharp bark of joy that draws Alucard's attention, and while he doesn't move from his post, he does give acknowledgement.]
[Hector wakes, wet and salt-encrusted, and resists the urge to curl up in the fetal position. Never again, gods, his head feels like it is splitting. It's like the worst hangover he's ever had, without the benefits of having been drunk beforehand.
Cesar pounces on his face and licks him, so there's that. Hector shoos him away and rubs the tips of his fingers in circles against his temples.]
...morning. Is the shirtlessness for my benefit, or are you expecting your Speaker to come early?
[The sass hasn't gone anywhere, which should be a sign unto Alucard that Hector's still alive and kicking...or at least alive and limping along.]
Your benefit, if only to prevent your neck from hurting the moment you woke up.
[Alucard whistles for a member of the crew to come over and take control of the wheel. It allows Alucard to walk over and crouch down beside Hector, that way he's not shouting in the other man's direction.]
I have all the bedding, blankets, and such drying right now. It should be done soon.
Has there been any more sign of Isaac? How are the repairs holding up?
[The command of a pirate ship does not stop with a hangover, not even a magical one. Hector tries to guess at the ship’s speed from the rocking of the deck and the rustling of the sails. What he gets is, ‘we are moving’.
He pushes himself up with his elbows so he can look around.]
Did we lose anyone other than the decoy ship’s pilot?
[Alucard sighs, and when Hector does sit up, he tries to carefully guide the man a few inches over. There's a wall there, and it's easier to prop oneself up against that at the moment.]
No further losses. The repairs are...manageable. They'll be manageable until we reach our destination, and then we'll need to make some decisions about how we move forward. I don't know if if the boat will survive a journey further than our intended destination.
[With Alucard's assistance, Hector leans against the wall. He reaches up to the rail so he can try to pull himself up.]
That was a risk.... So long as she can get us to Death Island, we can't ask more of her than that. A ship isn't meant to sink and rise again.
[Although neither are people, but look at the crew around here.
Hector doesn't get very far in his effort to stand.]
Well, we're not going to impress the Belmont with our vessel, but hopefully you can seduce the Speaker into giving us a ride home if the Belmont can't be persuaded to lend us aid.
Slowly. [They're the first words out of Alucard's mouth when Hector reaches for the rail, and Alucard is immediately at Hector's side to brace him as he rises again.]
She's already gone above and beyond the call of duty for us. I don't know if we could demand more.
[Right. Standing's out. Alucard makes sure he's comfy there, braced against the wall.]
Are you telling me to use my body as a bargaining chip?
[Hector sags back down and lets his head fall back against the wall.]
...I just need a few minutes....
[He stares up at Alucard, his body pale in the morning light.]
Well, unless you think the Belmonts will let us live peacefully on their island, we need some way to get back to shore. If you have other ideas, feel free to share.
[Alucard looks at Hector, unconvinced about the idea that he might just need a few minutes. At least he can function for a day or two on his own, or at least that’s the very nice lie he tells himself.]
I haven’t had the luxury of time to think of other ideas. I’ll start in the next few minutes.
Oh, God hates all of us. Fortune sometimes takes strange pets though.
[Maybe she just likes the weirdest pets of all made by Hector's hand. There. That's the theory and he's sticking to it.]
Well, perhaps in time we will get that satisfaction. I'd tell you to go into your quarters and rest, but anything resembling a mattress is unuseable now.
[Hector settles more comfortably against the ship's side. If his bed is still soaked through, he assumes any hammock he hangs will be similarly dampened.
He resolves to give himself an hour before he forces himself up to relieve Alucard at the wheel. He drowses, and when he stirs again, he forces himself up and to the helm with swaying steps.]
Any more time shirtless in the morning sunlight, dhampir, and you will end up sunburned. That is no look to win over the Speaker.
I've only ever known her to be quick to change winds.
[Alucard is quiet as he works. He pauses to go below deck and see if any of the hammocks can be dried out and used, and there's some luck there that there are three viable candidates so long as they're kept int he sun. Alucard manages a way to string them up in the sun, and then he resumes the work.
When the hour passes, Alucard is unconvinced. Hector's movement is still unsteady.]
While I appreciate the concern, I'll go sunburnt if it means you can steady yourself with ease.
[Alucard hears that grumble though, then nods. He says no more as he heads off to the galley, but his return? That's much too quick, and his face is so, so grim.]
I'm sorry to report that the food supply, save a few things, is wrecked.
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I'm going to request they find us all some driftwood to take advantage of as well, since i can't balance you and Cesar very well.
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Have them fetch a couple of barrels from the hold. That's easier to find than driftwood this far off from shore.
[Well, unless Isaac's creatures really made a mess of their work, but he's trying to be optimistic until he can assess the damage firsthand.]
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If Isaac is waiting for them, then he has distance to contend with.
But the task is only partially completed, and Alucard moves so that he is behind Hector, capable of supporting the man the moment he requires it. He's asked one of the mercreatures to hang around just in case, and it's probably for the best.]
Whenever you're ready. Once we're on deck, you need to rest.
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He's too hopelessly soaked to create a spark, so he begins the channeling by flicking the water, sending droplets splashing down with a pale blue glow. It's a symbolic gesture, not a hard action and reaction, to bridge the immaterial and the material worlds.
He reaches out and down to the kracken. She's as tired as he is, though she's been wonderfully loyal in spite of the pains.]
Come. It's time to stretch now. [He whispers, too tired to project the thoughts solely with his power.] You've been brilliant. One last task, then down to the cool, dark depths to rest and feed yourself on little glowing fish.
[It makes it easier for both master and creation if their goals align. She wants to retreat, and knowing that he wants that too, she doesn't fight his suggestion.
She untangles her tentacles from around the ship and slips her body beneath it. She sucks in water and sends it jetting out, propelling her forward. Hector does not direct, other than reminding her of the goal; the water is her domain, and she knows her strengths better than he. She pushes, and the ship rises, then begins to sink, and she pushes again. It's a slow, draining process.
Finally, the water bubbles and churns, and the ship begins to emerge from the waves. Hector thinks to the ship is rocking strangely, until he realizes that no, his vision has gone fuzzy. Water streams out of the holes Alucard punched into the sides. Hector's last exhausted thought is, 'the crew better damned well be ready', and then he slumps against the barrel.]
no subject
Seeing the ship rise again is a little miracle. Alucard directs the crew to plug up all of the holes as quickly as they're able and--
--shit. Hector.
Alucard rushes forward, and there's a little too much time supporting Hector's weight in the middle of the water, the dhampir playing the all too important balancing game until there's the all clear to return to the deck.
When Hector does come back into the realm of consciousness, he'll find the little pug next to him, and Alucard's very soggy coat and shirt acting as the worst possible pillow under his head. Alucard's laid him up on the deck beside the ship's wheel, and he's continuing to direct the crew through the first rays of the morning sun.
It's Cesar's sharp bark of joy that draws Alucard's attention, and while he doesn't move from his post, he does give acknowledgement.]
Good morning. We've survived.
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Cesar pounces on his face and licks him, so there's that. Hector shoos him away and rubs the tips of his fingers in circles against his temples.]
...morning. Is the shirtlessness for my benefit, or are you expecting your Speaker to come early?
[The sass hasn't gone anywhere, which should be a sign unto Alucard that Hector's still alive and kicking...or at least alive and limping along.]
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[Alucard whistles for a member of the crew to come over and take control of the wheel. It allows Alucard to walk over and crouch down beside Hector, that way he's not shouting in the other man's direction.]
I have all the bedding, blankets, and such drying right now. It should be done soon.
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[The command of a pirate ship does not stop with a hangover, not even a magical one. Hector tries to guess at the ship’s speed from the rocking of the deck and the rustling of the sails. What he gets is, ‘we are moving’.
He pushes himself up with his elbows so he can look around.]
Did we lose anyone other than the decoy ship’s pilot?
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[Alucard sighs, and when Hector does sit up, he tries to carefully guide the man a few inches over. There's a wall there, and it's easier to prop oneself up against that at the moment.]
No further losses. The repairs are...manageable. They'll be manageable until we reach our destination, and then we'll need to make some decisions about how we move forward. I don't know if if the boat will survive a journey further than our intended destination.
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That was a risk.... So long as she can get us to Death Island, we can't ask more of her than that. A ship isn't meant to sink and rise again.
[Although neither are people, but look at the crew around here.
Hector doesn't get very far in his effort to stand.]
Well, we're not going to impress the Belmont with our vessel, but hopefully you can seduce the Speaker into giving us a ride home if the Belmont can't be persuaded to lend us aid.
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She's already gone above and beyond the call of duty for us. I don't know if we could demand more.
[Right. Standing's out. Alucard makes sure he's comfy there, braced against the wall.]
Are you telling me to use my body as a bargaining chip?
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...I just need a few minutes....
[He stares up at Alucard, his body pale in the morning light.]
Well, unless you think the Belmonts will let us live peacefully on their island, we need some way to get back to shore. If you have other ideas, feel free to share.
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I haven’t had the luxury of time to think of other ideas. I’ll start in the next few minutes.
[There’s then a small, relieved sigh.]
The plan worked, Hector. That may be a good sign.
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[More likely, it's dumb luck that's gotten them through, and not something he can count on to hold out.
He starts to chuckle, unwillingly.]
We did fool Isaac, though. There is nothing I wouldn't pay to see his face if he ever finds out that we were literally right beneath him, helpless.
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[Maybe she just likes the weirdest pets of all made by Hector's hand. There. That's the theory and he's sticking to it.]
Well, perhaps in time we will get that satisfaction. I'd tell you to go into your quarters and rest, but anything resembling a mattress is unuseable now.
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[Hector settles more comfortably against the ship's side. If his bed is still soaked through, he assumes any hammock he hangs will be similarly dampened.
He resolves to give himself an hour before he forces himself up to relieve Alucard at the wheel. He drowses, and when he stirs again, he forces himself up and to the helm with swaying steps.]
Any more time shirtless in the morning sunlight, dhampir, and you will end up sunburned. That is no look to win over the Speaker.
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[Alucard is quiet as he works. He pauses to go below deck and see if any of the hammocks can be dried out and used, and there's some luck there that there are three viable candidates so long as they're kept int he sun. Alucard manages a way to string them up in the sun, and then he resumes the work.
When the hour passes, Alucard is unconvinced. Hector's movement is still unsteady.]
While I appreciate the concern, I'll go sunburnt if it means you can steady yourself with ease.
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I don't have the physically steer the boat. I'm well enough to supervise.
[His stomach grumbles, hinting at his ulterior motive for freeing Alucard from command.]
Our food supply is intact, isn't it?
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[Alucard hears that grumble though, then nods. He says no more as he heads off to the galley, but his return? That's much too quick, and his face is so, so grim.]
I'm sorry to report that the food supply, save a few things, is wrecked.
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You’re joking, right?
[And thus the wheel of fortune turns. God, Hector hopes this is Alucard’s idea of a hilarious prank.]
We at least have water, right? We won’t last long without it.
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[And here's what's worse:]
None. We have to hope tomorrow's meeting will go well, or at least the Speakers will take pity on us.
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Fuck. We should have taken our chances running. We’re going to be at the mercy of a stranger’s charity.
[Hector and his trust issues are not a fan, not a fan at all. But they have no supplies, a busted boat, and no other choice.]