Playle
Talking In Your Sleep
Posts: 441
Deadly Sin: Sloth
Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw
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Post by Playle on Jan 22, 2014 1:08:29 GMT
The tea had just finished boiling and Diane had placed a number of cups for people to help themselves. She was consumed in the book, flicking through pages with a studious gaze. Her old eyes moved from side to side as she compared this book to her other readings. She looked up to Vin who gave her a solemn nod to confirm he had told them. She got back to her reading, waving a hand towards the tea for people to help themselves.
After a few minutes, she shut the book and thrusted it towards Anna. It’s spine was at the point of splitting by now, and some scraps of leather had fallen off onto Diane’s table. She sweeped them away into a bin. Vin rested his leg up to get a proper look at it; something which would heal, but not ever fully. It would look aesthetically horrible for a few days, and the muscle would never set right. His limp might be permanent.
“The Queen of Fairies. Nerida, I believe that’s the name she goes by. Well this book is written in Fae, the very language of fairies, nymphs and sprites. Even a couple of other languages to mix it up, but I can identify most of them. Troll’s always a difficult one to decipher, just looks like smears and scribbles to most folk… Vin, you remember to drive this thing?”
That took the detective by surprise. Diane’s tone was a friendly request too, much of an improvement compared to the hostilities earlier.
“Scarlet always thought I was crap at it, but I can do that Diane.”
“Good,” the old woman replied “you three get some rest, make yourself at home, maybe one of you keep watch with that old rifle of mine. Vin, your sailing this thing the way it’s already facing. Dink this against anything and I hope Scarlet’s ghost keeps you awake for ruining her boat. I need the night to look through my own books for anything related on this, and I don’t want to be parked up waiting for anything to attack.”
Vin made a comment under his breath about Diane’s mention of “Scarlet’s ghost” but nodded with the old lady's plan.
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Post by PenguinNinja on Jan 22, 2014 8:13:07 GMT
Anna had took a seat and a cup of tea, welcoming the change in temperature. It was a quaint little room they were in and she blew on the hot tea and watched as Diane flicked through the book. The older woman gave her the book back and Anna took with a light smile, "Thank you." She put her tea down to put it into her bag, somewhere near to the bottom, and retook her tea.
The banter between Vin and Diane had Anna smiling. Then the woman had mentioned somebody taking watch with a rifle. Anna was good with a pistol or two. A rifle? She could maybe shoot somebody chest with it. She shook her head, "I'll let somebody else take care with the rifle," she said. "Where can we rest up?"
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Playle
Talking In Your Sleep
Posts: 441
Deadly Sin: Sloth
Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw
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Post by Playle on Jan 22, 2014 15:23:05 GMT
"There's a bedroom with what I suppose counts for a double bed, but it's a squeeze. Sure two of you can bunk up in there, I'm not going to be sleeping any time soon."
The old woman watched as Vin left the canal boat to begin untying it from where it was parked. He hobbled a little, but nothing that seemed drastic.
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Post by Tonks on Feb 3, 2014 16:10:07 GMT
"I'll keep watch." Erick volunteered. He didn't need to rest and didn't want Vin to be outside any longer than he needed to, the man was a mess at the moment. He picked up the rifle and began checking it over.
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Post by Light on Feb 4, 2014 12:56:28 GMT
Jonas took one of the cups and sat down, glad to be off his feet after the journey and the fight. "I'll trade places with you after a while Erick." He looked over to the other man. "Just let me know when you want to get some sleep and I'll take the second watch."
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Post by Tonks on Feb 4, 2014 16:28:16 GMT
Erick nodded at Jonas and once he'd finished sorting and loading the rifle he headed to the back of the boat. He sat and watched Vin untying it. "Ready when you are, friend."
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Playle
Talking In Your Sleep
Posts: 441
Deadly Sin: Sloth
Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw
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Post by Playle on Feb 6, 2014 19:00:30 GMT
It was a pain in the arse to untie, but he got round to unbinding the rope and getting the boat adrift. Slowly it moved away and Vin prepped himself to steer it. He had to chase his memories for how Scarlet had taught him long ago. It was a juddering start, but they got going on the Irwell. He was glad to have Erick with a rifle on watch as well. They were both on the outers of the houseboat now - Vin just had to maintain steering, which was in a small booth he could sit in at the bow of the boat. The mechanics were simple so it seemed, but he wasn't the smoothest sailor. He looked to Erick, who was harder to see now that night was truly falling.
"Crazy twenty-four hours eh? Just keep that gun loaded and ready pal; could be anything out there knowing our luck."
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Post by Light on Feb 6, 2014 21:36:17 GMT
"You can take the bed she mentioned." Jonas looked over to Anna as he cradled the cup, allowing the warmth to sink into his hands. "I doubt either of us want to squeeze into the same space." He said gruffly; he'd slept worse than the seat he was currently occupying; anything that wasn't a floor was a bonus as far as he was concerned. When hunting the sparse game in this world forces you to sleep on the frozen ground in all but bare woodland you tended to appreciate the small comforts more and more.
That and he wouldn't be too far from Erick when they needed to change watches.
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Post by Tonks on Feb 6, 2014 23:53:08 GMT
After an hour and a half of silence, Erick noticed something move in the water. He sat upright and squinted to see. It disappeared again and he sat back, still clutching the rifle just in case. Suddenly, a huge tail emerged out of the water in the distance. He looked at the rifle.
"Oh God."
When the tail landed it produced a wave and Erick had to steady himself on the side of the boat as it wobbled. He aimed the rifle and took a shot.
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Post by PenguinNinja on Feb 7, 2014 0:00:37 GMT
Anna had been trying to get a few quick hours of shut eye in when the boat rocked and she was rolled onto the floor. The breath escaped her lungs and she groaned as she pushed her hands underneath herself. She stood, hands planted on the frame of the small room the bed was in and peered in at the other occupants of the room. "What was that?"
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Playle
Talking In Your Sleep
Posts: 441
Deadly Sin: Sloth
Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw
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Post by Playle on Feb 7, 2014 13:00:07 GMT
Diane was busy scrutinising the book. Some of the information inside was meaningless - troll funeral arrangements, gnome wine recipes, other miscellaneous parts. She couldn't picture why anyone would include these in such an important book, until she looked at them once more. These pages were an acrostic poem. The cryptic nature of these pages was to conceal what true power the book had. She got her notepad and pencil out to start scribbling as she looked for other messages. She muttered the words to herself as she scribbled them down, making sure she didn't make any mistakes.
"Head... to.. the.. east.. to.. fi-"
That's when the boat rocked. Her pencil flew out of her hand and rolled to some odd corner of the houseboat.
"Vin, I swear, you better not have hit something!" she yelled.
Outside, Vin was squinting with his aging eyes to see what that was. His guess was as good as Erick's, but it looked like it meant trouble all the same. This part of the Irwell was too tight for him to risk turning the boat around.
"Erick, you need to keep a shot on that thing. I don't think we're going to be getting around this one."
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Post by Tonks on Feb 7, 2014 13:54:57 GMT
"I got another rifle in my backpack, a better one than this thing. Will you grab it for me?" Erick asked Vin. The aim on this one was skewed to the left, making it hard for him to get an accurate shot. When the tail came out of the water again it was closer. Erick aimed as best he could and took a shot. The noise the creature made would suggest that he'd managed to hit it, but a small tail wound wasn't exactly going to kill it. The boat rocked again as the tail hit the water.
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Post by PenguinNinja on Feb 7, 2014 14:55:25 GMT
Anna fell to the floor this time, putting her hands out to stop herself from falling on her face. Once the boat settled somewhat she pulled herself up and moved to get up top. "What's going on?" she said, turning her head from Vin to Erick and back again.
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Playle
Talking In Your Sleep
Posts: 441
Deadly Sin: Sloth
Hogwarts House: Ravenclaw
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Post by Playle on Feb 7, 2014 16:10:59 GMT
Diane had found her pencil and clutched onto the table and held the book. The ride was rocky, and she couldn't risk injuring herself. A chessboard flew off a shelf and crashed into the wall, with pawns scattering everywhere.
Vin turned back to Anna as he recovered his composure. The rocking of the boat was turning his stomach a little now.
"Get back below Anna! Make sure Diane's safe! The book, make sure that's safe!"
Vin rummaged through Erick's backpack to find what the man asked for. As he reached to pass it to the man, the boat rocked violently and knocked Vin to one side. The impact winded him, and the rifle left his hand and made a beeline towards falling off the boat.
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Post by Tonks on Feb 7, 2014 18:45:18 GMT
"No!" Erick found himself exclaiming, as he dived for the rifle. The other rifle left his grip and he landed on it painfully as he hit the deck of the boat. The boat tipped the other way now and his rifle began to fall back towards him. He grabbed it as he began sliding towards the other edge of the boat. His back hit the railing. "Ooft." He got to his feet, holding the rifles in his hands. He gave Vin a glare as he passed him the other rifle. "Aim it slightly right!" He shouted as he steadied himself and aimed at the creature. He shot it again in the tail and it whimpered. The boat stopped rocking and the waters were still. Erick walked to the edge and looked over. "Brace yourself." Erick advised Vin. The creature lifted it's head above the water now. It had the head of the dragon. "Oh God! Leviathan!" Erick called as he aimed and began shooting it in the head. --------------- Imagine a much smaller version of this Leviathan picture (not the Supernatural version):
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