Jaws 5: Tentacles Take Glencola

[lonelynotforsaken]

WHO: Martin Blackwood, Maddy Perez, Levi Ackerman, and Ishigami Senku
WHAT: A harrowing trip to rescue a damsel in distress.
WHEN: Day 022
WHERE: The Shore and the Ocean
WARNINGS: injuries, shark attack
NOTES: Events follow this search request.

The start of the trip is a promising one. Levi's efforts to drag the raft to the shore have made it relatively simple to get prepare to set sail. Or set... paddle. Getting the raft past the wavebreak is a bit of trouble, but there's not too much issue there.

A few items of interest are noted on the paddle over, and maybe even a few of them are pulled up on the deck of the raft to be brought with the group on their way back.

Finding Maddy doesn't take long, not with the faint traces of blood in the water and a potentially hysterical teen trying to flag them down. But then the shark attacks. A sizable creature cuts through the surf, ready to attack them, the scent of Maddy's blood in its nose.

There's a mad dash to get out of the surf where Levi quickly tends to wounds, and then another larger shark-like creature with tentacles and two dorsal fins appears and chases the smaller shark off. Presumably to eat it.

Counting their lucky stars, the group gets Maddy onto the raft and hauls ass back to the west, hugging the shoreline as much as they can and keeping watch for more sharks. It's a slog to get the raft out of the surf and then carry Maddy to the bungalows, but they manage it. Rescue accomplished with only a few people exhausted for the journey.

Comments

Raft at the Start

[lonelynotforsaken]

"You... moved that all by yourself?" Martin's brows rise high as he looks at the smaller man who's joined them for this rescue mission. "That's- thank you! Really. I thought we were going to take ages getting it down from where they'd tied it up for the storm."

[wingbound]

Levi stares at him for a moment, unsure how to react to gratitude when it's an endeavor he was roping other people into, as far as he's concerned.

"It took most of the night," he finally says, which isn't ages exactly but still a significant chunk of time. And yes. He did it himself, which definitely wouldn't be anyone's first guess looking at him (while he has a cloak on anyway).

[lonelynotforsaken]

"You're really strong. That'd take me, like... a day into the night." A pause. "Um... I can still paddle, though. And-and push us off and stuff. You and Senku should probably get in the raft, and I'll walk us out as far as I can go to get past the rough waves.

"I don't think I ever really said, though. I'm Martin. I don't think Senku mentioned your... name?"

[wingbound]

That is actually an excellent idea, especially considering that Levi can not swim so wading into the ocean is far from a good time for him. So he's just going to nod, though he'll still help in pushing the raft the rest of the way to the water (he had left it some meters off the wet patch of sand, just to be safe).

"No," he agrees, and considers leaving it at that. But Martin is helping him get Maddy, and he doesn't look like anybody from their world, so it's... probably fine. So after a bit of a pause he adds, "It's Levi."

The others had been respecting his wishes to keep his name and its relation to his callsign a (relative) secret, so he can only hope Martin will be, too.

"...I'd prefer you don't mention it to people I have not met face to face."

Somehow, it sounds a little more like a threat than a request, but maybe it's just his inflectionless tone sounding unnerving. He still doesn't trust the radio people, mostly because there's no way of knowing who is actually who.

[lonelynotforsaken]

"Oh... okay?" People here are really concerned with privacy considering there are like... 30 of them max. At least based on the callsign list. There are obviously more like the Glencolans, but what are they going to do with a name?

Well, then again, some people are probably working on the assumption that this is their world. Martin makes a mental note to maybe seem mildly more paranoid about that. "I mean, of course. Who have you actually met? You only got the airfield recently, right?"

[wingbound]

In Levi's case, he works on the assumption that he may not be the only one from his world here, and that the other people may be ones who wish him dead. In that scenario, his name is more than enough, especially considering he's something of a mini celebrity.

"About ten days ago," he confirms. "I know Senku, Randvi and K." He looks at Martin. "And now you." Pause. "And Maddy."

So he may have broken his introduction rule for her because he did let her know his name before meeting her. But it seemed like it might give her some comfort to know who's coming for her, and he couldn't deny her that.

That is... definitely not an extensive list, though.

[lonelynotforsaken]

"Okay! That's easy to remember, then." He offers Levi an encouraging smile. "It's pretty scary being in a new place like this. And just... all new people. Totally get that. You're being really brave leading this mission to rescue her."

He glances down the beach where Senku seems to be getting ready before they head out into the water.

"Not really something I'm used to. Rescuing people. I know Senku is from what he's said. I was just an admin at home. How about you?"

[wingbound]

"..." Levi looks away, apparently uncomfortable with the praise. "She reached out to me," he grumbles, even though technically he had reached out to her first. "What would you do if you were in that position?"

The raft is halfway into water now, so as soon as they're all here they can set off. Levi hops onto the raft, sitting near the mast to wait.

He's still not certain if he should tell people he's military combat veteran, just in case, but from what he's been observing so far, sharing his criminal career start might be even worse.

"I'm not really used to that either," he finally admits. There was no rescuing somebody once in the mouth of a titan, though he did succeed at tearing people from their clutches a few times. "But I have some experience fighting. It's not that different."

Okay, it's different in plenty of ways, but both things required one to put aside their fear and doubts, so ultimately, he thinks it probably runs on the same fuel.

[lonelynotforsaken]

"I'd help. But not everyone would." God, this man is reminding him of Jon in some ways. The grumbly reluctance to accept that they're doing anything remotely good just because they're a decent human being, the awkwardness... the height. Martin keeps those thoughts to himself and holds the raft, waiting for Senku to board.

"And it's good you've got fighting experience. Haven't got that, either. Mostly, I'm just good for numbers and making tea... or other little things like organizing. I know they're important!" Just so he doesn't get chided about that. "But definitely nothing flashy or super useful for survival.

[wingbound]

He also doesn't like to be called kind, even though he absolutely is. You're welcome for that dose of deja vu, Martin.

"Nobody survives for long without organizing," Levi retorts, because yes, actually, those things are very important. Especially... "Or tea."

He may be a massive tea enthusiast. Oops.

[lonelynotforsaken]

Adorable. Martin's brows lift along with the corners of his lips. "Oh? Nice cuppa wouldn't go amiss. Wish we had some in a thermos for Maddy. I'll remember to save some for you if I ever find any, though. Little creature comforts are important in a place like this."

Wherever you can get them.

[wingbound]

"Yeah." He hesitates for a moment, then adds, "I do have some."

He'd actually found a thermos pretty early on too, which is lucky for him.

"I tried to make some with sage, but I don't think it tastes very good."

Still, if memory serves, hot sage leaf water has some anti-inflammatory properties so at the very least it should be a reasonable part of whatever treatment they end up needing to administer to the girl.

[lonelynotforsaken]

Martin blinks at the other man. "You've got tea? Lucky!" He's a little jealous, but he isn't going to ask for Levi to share. "Well, keep it close. If you've got any left, I think it'd be something nice for Maddy's spirits."

He pauses to hold the raft steady as Senku gets on and then starts walking it out further until he's up to his chest and waves aren't breaking against him. "If you guys can move to the other side while I, um... hop on?" This is going to be so undignified. Martin knows he's not a particularly graceful person, so dragging and rolling himself onto the raft is going to look stupid. But he'll try to be quick about it.

[wingbound]

"Well, it's less tea and more lukewarm leaf water," he points out. He did have some tea with him when he arrived, actually, but that's long gone. "And that's the idea."

Though he seriously doubts the ability of that concoction to lift anybody's spirits.

As the raft gets pushed deeper into the water, Levi scoots toward the middle, leaning against the mast and maybe holding onto it a bit. But at Martin's request, he does grunt in acknowledgement and move to the opposite side from him.

If he does need any help, he trusts he will tell them. Hopefully the raft doesn't rear too much...

think we can ftb on this one!

[lonelynotforsaken]

It's... graceless. Martin has to try hopping twice before he gets enough of himself onto the raft to grab for the mast and use that to wriggle up. It also causes the raft to rock more than he wants, but he's hopeful the others will be able to stay on. When he's finally up, he's panting soft, kneeling on his hands and knees.

"O-okay. Okay, I think I can... paddle." Just hand him an oar and point him in the right direction! He grimaces slightly, looking over at the others. "Sorry. That wasn't quite as easy as I thought it was going to be." But it's over, they're on, and they have a destination. Onward!

sounds good!

[wingbound]

Levi definitely seems a little startled by the rocking, considering how he grabs onto some ropes tied around the raft to keep himself steady as soon as it moves. Maybe he just doesn't want to accidentally tumble into the water, though. Surely that's a reasonable reluctance!..

He also doesn't judge Martin for his climbing attempt; he did what needed to be done, result is what matters and all that. So once they're all settled and have caught their breaths, he'll be picking up those oars, handing one to Martin, and keeping the other himself so he can help with the rowing.

And so, the raft swiftly slides through the waves along the shore...