as the wind fends off the waves

[drinkupmehearties]

Who| Captain Jack Sparrow & OPEN (+ a prompt for Roland).
What| Jack discovers a familiar ship out at water.
Where| The water and the Black Pearl.
When| Sometime during Week 4.
Warnings/Notes| Will update if necessary.

The water is a welcome sight, as is the cool breeze that sweeps off it, and it doesn't take him long to spot the tall ship anchored far offshore. Having run into major trouble on the ship in the last Arena, Jack nearly dismisses it. Almost. But a second look, however, has his heart caught fast in his throat and his blood running cold. He'd recognize those sails anywhere.

The Pearl. His ship.

Moments later, he's in a small boat and paddling in the Pearl's direction. Most likely this is a foolish idea, most likely it's been set out as a trap of some kind, but the Pearl's presence is more dangerous and more enticing than any siren's song could ever be to him.

And damn it all, if there is any place he'd want to die, it'd be on that ship.


(A. Onboard.)

The first thing that Jack does after he's hauled himself up onto the ship is to scour the decks -- for other Tributes, for potential supplies, for any monstrous creatures the Gamemakers would've tried to hide in it. He finds that there's no cargo in the holds, no rum to be found, and his captain's cabin is noticeably barren of anything beyond the basics. Once he's sure that the ship is clear of threats, however, he's able to breathe easy and revel in the fact that his ship -- or, really, a damned good copy of it -- is here.

He spends what feels like ages on the upper deck of the Pearl, hand grazing across the rails, over the gloss of black paint (he realizes it's a fresh coat, that's not quite right), fingers curled around the ropes and rigging that tangle like a massive spiderweb up the length of the masts, palm feather-light over the spokes of the ship's wheel. He won't be able to sail it, of course; he has no crew, and the Gamemakers had practically hollowed out the ship until it'd become a mere ghost of itself. But he's content to stay.

At night, Jack shuts himself in the captain's cabin and sleeps light with a hand curled around his knife, swallowed down in the darkness. In the daytime, the pirate climbs the rigging to a higher perch and remains on lookout for anyone that thinks to cross over to his ship.

During one afternoon Jack has sprawled himself out on the main top -- the platform that sat snug around the main mast -- and is dozing, watching the clouds drift by, when the soft, tell-tale thud of a boat hitting the hull snaps his attention downward.

He shifts to peer over the edge of the platform, squinting, then calls out, "Oi, I'm armed!"


(B. Fishing.)

A few days in, his Sponsor-gifted supply of food runs low. He fashions a spear from rope, a stick, and the extra knife that he'd been given, and takes the small boat out to fish in the shallows near the shore, right as the sun hits its peak. He's learned to ignore the dragons that glide around in the sky much further off in the distance, not noticing that their flight patterns had become gradually more erratic and fervid.

He can be found not too far off the shore and waist deep in the water, spear in hand, focused on getting his next meal.


(C. Dragons! - Prompt for Roland.)

A small fire licks at the air on the shore, roasting his most recent catch as the water's waves hiss over the sand near him. He's gotten up from his perch near the fire, brow furrowed, shading his eyes to get a better look at the thickening smoke that curls up from somewhere off in the distance. Judging by location, it looks like the smoke is coming from the forest portion of the Arena -- possibly even near the mountains.

He doesn't even really have time to make a guess at what's happening over there; the leaves in the trees that line the beach shudder, ruffled by a sudden gust of wind that comes from massive wings, and then a heavy THUMP can be heard as the beast lands, skidding, in the sand. Jack startles, then stares, uncomprehending.

A dragon. It's a dragon. Shit.

The beast's scales are a deep royal blue, highlighted by stripes of yellow that trace lines along its jaw, down its long, snake-like neck that's craned to stare off over the trees. Then it swings its gaze around over to the fish cooking on a spit, to him, and a snarling rumble bubbles up in its throat. It bares its teeth.

Jack is frozen in place, unsure if running would spur the dragon into chasing him down.  He slowly lifts his hand instead, fingers splayed, and grimaces.  "... Nice ... beastie."

Comments

[ka_sera_sera]

He is, but being close to the beast as he is, there's no way to do it without getting the dragon's attention. The dragon's whole body jerks in a way that would probably be funny, if Roland were anyone else - it did not at all expect someone to be that close to it and its head turns. A fan of spined skin snaps out around its neck, its wings unfurl and hold themselves high, and it hisses, bares its teeth, draws its head back.

"Jack," he calls, still staring straight into the creature's eyes. To break that gaze, he knows, will mean death. Not that death might not be coming anyway. "Grab that weapon and use it. Quickly, if you value our lives." Not that he doubts you, Jack, but he remembers you running away before. Hopefully that use of the plural there will be enough to remind the man that if this dragon takes Roland out, it isn't too difficult to guess just where it'll head next.

[drinkupmehearties]

He'd run this time, too, if Jack wasn't so damned sure the dragon would be able to chase him down extremely easily. He hisses a shaky breath between his teeth as the beast snaps sharply around towards Roland and spreads its wings high, his eyes flicking over at the other Tribute. He's hesitating, perhaps longer than is good and healthy for either of them. But the beast is distracted, and that's what emboldens Jack enough to make his next move.

He makes a sudden dive for the spear, feet mashing in the soft sand, and the abrupt motion garners the dragon's attention again and draws a powerful, angry roar out of it. It's not certain where to keep its focus, now, and that frustration manifests in it eventually lunging at whatever catches its eye most -- which happens to be Jack, moving.

He's snatched the spear from the ground, however, and lets out a panicked yelp as the beast comes after him, its massive form quickly prowling around one side of the fire in an attempt to swipe at him with its razor-sharp claws. He'd intended to drive the weapon into the side of the beast's neck, but with its attention locked on him the task becomes much harder and much more dangerous. Hopefully, however, that might give Roland the opening he'd need.

[ka_sera_sera]

It's quick moving, apparently - very much so, which means if it's really going to go for Jack Roland won't be able to get over there before it hits him. Roland hefts his pipe, grimacing at the necessity but not hesitating to make the throw. He aims for the frill around the dragon's neck, because that looks easiest to get the pipe stuck in and if it's somewhere in the creature that means he might be able to get it back. As he runs toward it he hears another noise, not a roar this time so much something high pitched and annoyed, and he thinks that means the pipe made it.

The dragon's ducking its head, scratching at the pipe, and when Roland nears its head snaps up again. It looks between the two of them, one hand still raised, claws curled. Its tail lashes, kicking up sand into the air, and then does it again, and Roland wonders just how clever this creature is. If it does that enough, neither of them will be able to see well enough to fight.

[drinkupmehearties]

The pirate is all but tripping over his own feet in an attempt to get away, nearly falling over in the sand once or twice, when Roland's pipe hits true to its target. With a screech of irritation the dragon has stopped chasing him to try and dislodge it, giving Jack an opportunity to skid to a halt, quickly regain himself and his breath, then face the beast with the spear in hand.

Only to get a face full of sand.

He curses loudly and scrubs at his face, his eyes, but doesn't let himself think long enough to hesitate this time (that'll do neither of them any good, but gods does he wish he had a pistol or something better right now) -- Jack bolts forward and right through the next spray of sand that's flung into the air, squinting to protect his vision, taking his chance to attack as the dragon shakes its head to try to free the pipe from its frill.

He plunges his spear into the beast's neck as hard as he can, adrenaline racing through his veins. Except, with the sand still blurring his sight, the weapon actually misses its mark and instead strikes deep into the dragon's shoulder. He's still holding onto it when the beast flinches and jerks its arm instinctively, lifting Jack off his feet and heaving him upwards. The roar that follows is thicker, this time, with fury and outrage.

[ka_sera_sera]

And with that the dragon, maybe deciding this meal is turning out to be far more trouble than its worth, maybe just wanting to circle around and destroy these awful stubborn pests from the air, decides to leap up and fly. That wounded shoulder keeps it from jumping as far up as it could, and while its wings are working hard to compensate Roland jumps. He does not think about it, only acts, and it's a good thing he threw that pipe a few seconds ago because it means his hands are free to catch on a claw, a foot, work their way up to an ankle and grip hard enough to try and swing himself up from there. Could he have done this without those little machines the Capitol fitted onto his right hand? Could he have held on long enough to keep from falling and breaking his back with one hand missing its two strongest fingers?

Probably not. Only enough time to be grateful, vaguely, fleetingly, because it isn't as if the dragon can't feel his weight hanging onto it down here and the whole leg shakes, and Roland clings, and a voice practiced in cutting over the noise of battlefields is surely enough to carry over the wind rushing past them, enough to carry his words up to that thing's hand, so uses that practice and shouts out, "Distract it! I need to climb!"

There's a short pause in Roland's words, time enough to have a very important thought. "Don't kill it!"

[drinkupmehearties]

The second that his feet leave solid ground, when the dragon decides to finally take to the air with a heavy and lumbering leap, an alarmed (and not very dignified) shriek squeezes out past his lips. This is bad -- is all Jack can think -- this is really, really bad, damn it all to hell.

The pirate scrambles to hook fingers into the large scales on the beast's shoulder, just above where his spear has been buried, his other hand still clamped around the weapon to keep him secured onto the now airborne dragon. He carefully inches his way upwards, incrementally, towards the beast's back where it's hopefully safer, boots digging in to any available, precious foothold. Then Roland's voice reaches him.

Roland. It takes a second, through his shock, to realize that the other Tribute is on the dragon too. Jack cranes his neck to snatch a look over at him, hearing him shout above the roaring wind, then yells in return: "Aye!" It's about the only word Jack can manage, because looking anywhere but at the bulk he's clinging to means he can see the beach that's quickly shrinking from view. His stomach turns.

Returning his focus back to the task at hand, he quickly weighs over ways to distract it without having it fling Roland off. His jaw clenches as an idea comes to him, then Jack makes sure his grip on the dragon's scale is completely solid, firm. Then he abruptly yanks the spear free with a sharp, quick motion and buries it higher. The fresh pain serves well to distract the dragon; it shudders and bellows, reacting with a great flap of its wings and enraged jerk of its head. He grabs this chance, too, to swiftly crawl further upwards to a flatter space on its back and near the base of the dragon's neck -- a spot far enough to not be knocked off by the powerful flaps of the beast's wings, but secure enough to cling to.

((OOC: Hope this works, I can edit if not!))

[ka_sera_sera]

(ooc: yeah this is great, thanks! Likewise let me know if this messes things up for Jack too much.)

Well. Roland wanted a distraction. It's a distraction that works on Roland as well, and that's for the better - best not to find out how well he could keep his grip with half his mind focused on the way the ground looks all small and distant, stuck sorting through the treacherous storehouse of his memory to figure out what it is that sight reminds him of. The dragon's roar and its movement shakes him out from it. It's a good thing Jack is here.

Good for Roland, that is. Better for him than for the dragon, though maybe only by a little. Its pain sends its legs shaking along with the rest of it, although since it isn't focusing on him anymore the movement is down to a level that's manageable and Roland can lock his arms and legs tight around the leg in front of him and scoot up, occasionally prying his fingertips beneath large, sturdy scales for leverage.

Of course, then he reaches a problem area. Climbing over that hip without so much as a knife to stab through the creature to keep himself in place - he wouldn't try it.

Roland assesses the situation. Assesses his options. Doesn't think about it. A wing swings down to pump them all further upward and as it does Roland reaches out for it, finds the bone on the edge of that wing, small enough to be gripped by a human hand. His whole weight hangs from that one wing now, his feet dangling and his whole body dipped into this unimaginable expanse of open air and that would be the worst feeling he's ever had to endure, is the worst for almost a second. Until his weight on this one part of the dragon's body begins to have an effect. Until the dragon begins to tilt.

His hands begin to move feverishly, he tries as much as he can to swing himself in toward the dragon's body, but he may not be able to manage to move his weight close enough inward before the dragon's tilt begins to turn into a spiral. The other party on this particular journey with Roland may have to make his own arrangements.

[drinkupmehearties]

For a few seconds, all Jack can do is concentrate on clutching the dragon's scales for dear life. He's hoping beyond hope it'll tire eventually and land somewhere, and this nightmare would be able to end one way or another. But the massive form beneath him shifts -- along with the current of air whipping wildly around them -- and Jack realizes something's different. Something's wrong.

He lifts his head and catches sight of Roland dangling off the dragon's wing, overburdening one side of the beast, causing it to dangerously angle in one direction. Cursing and cursing again, Jack doesn't have time to think of how foolish his next actions are -- of course he'd rather keep his head down and not put himself at risk, but he's certain that none of them would survive a crash if the dragon spins and can't pull up.

So instead Jack carefully, slowly, inches downwards, making sure each foothold and handhold is secure along the way. He does this until he's close enough to the dragon's wing -- the one opposite of Roland -- and reaches over to hook his hands around the wing's bone, where the scaled skin is stretched tight. And then he begins to move out along it.

The wide stretch of air gapes out below his feet, and it takes everything within his power not to look down. His stomach drops anyways, however, and his throat grows immediately dry, as he's unable to stop the thought that there's nothing to catch him if he happens to fall. And it's a very long ways down from where they are.

But it works. The weight on the dragon's wing becomes less one-sided, and the beast is able to mostly right its path in the air. All the while, Jack is thinking this has to be one of the worst things he's ever had to do.

[ka_sera_sera]

While Roland does not waste time nor thought dwelling on this, he immediately respects two things about the man opposite him: the speed of his mind, and his willingness to do whatever it takes to survive. Both are potentially very dangerous qualities, but for the moment they are working in Roland's favor and he can respect them, in any case. Rare enough qualities, especially in a world full of Capitolites.

He swings, does not think on the nightmares he is going to have about this later because he is, for the moment, living it, swings and gets a foothold and begins to inch toward the dragon's body. Stops.

He's had a thought. Or, more accurately for Roland, he's had a feeling. A notion. He casts his mind back, going briefly over what memory he has of the way the dragon'd moved in the air before he'd sent it spinning, the ways it'd shifted its body.

"Stay there! Jack, we can steer! Steer!" That, as the most important word, is repeated in case parts of the rest are stolen by the air rushing into them. Roland squints against it, ducks his head and hunches, and yells a little more. "Try! Lean forward!"

It steers with its tail too, maybe, but Roland knows the anatomy of birds and bats and most things which had flown in the skies of the world in his boyhood, and he can make a few guesses here. If they can figure out which parts of this beast they need to shift, if they could do it without dying, they may just be on to a good thing here.

Where's that good thing going to take them, should they master it? Gods only know. Roland doesn't care. Roland only knows that this is good, it is an advantage and he is going to take it. He leans back, pulling at his grip on the front-middle of this thing's wing, and tries to get a good look over to see what the Captain does. Perhaps more importantly, what the beast under them does in response.

[drinkupmehearties]

"Oi?!"

Oh, Jack heard him. But by the shrill tone to his voice, barely carried over past the roar of the wind and the rush of blood in his ears, the pirate doesn't appear to keen on the idea. Each downward dip of wing sends his racing heart jumping into his throat, twists his gut into tighter knots, and he's more than certain that the sweat on his palms will make his grip so slippery that it'll soon send him hurtling to the ground. So shifting his grasp or position even the tiniest bit sounds like a terrible idea.

But they've come this far. And if they don't do something, anything, the dragon may well keep flying around until the both of them drop to their deaths.

If it were possible, Jack looks even more unhappy than he did before as he does what Roland suggested. He tightens his grip, leans forward, shifts his weight -- and then the dragon begins to angle in its path.

[ka_sera_sera]

Roland pays no attention to the man's protest. Even less than he normally would. The same movements that terrify Jack send Roland's heart racing, too, but his own fear is just part of a larger process, a tool to make his grip tighter, his sight keener, and the only thing which matters to him is that Jack does it. And Jack does.

Roland tries to see what he can of the ground below but everything he can see is very small. He isn't used to the way things look from so high up as this, has never really encountered the effect before and, if he is lucky, never will again. Nonetheless, it means they'll have to simply pick a spot and hope it's a good one. "Down now! Not too far!"

He hooks his toes as much as he can over a protruding wingbone, hoping the other man has sense enough to do the same. Ideally, of course, they'd take this beast at a gentle angle all the way to the ground, but Roland does not really expect that. If it happens he'll be pleased, but things like this never really do go according to plan.