cerulean castaways | {second star; day two}

[dars]

[presto][/presto]

"my regrets are a shade
around my neck, I know
it's torturous how
some burdens are I can't let go"

Between his attack and Faline's, the biggest of the creatures fell for good. Even as blood spilled from its wounds, as its eyes glazed over and its stare became vacant, it was menacing. Even as it ceased to move, halted breathing, it was a nightmare that would leave here with all four of them. A head that was half the length of Mackenzie's body, teeth designed to eat meat, armor that made it nearly impossible for other predators to kill.

This was not a threat anymore, but it was a reminder. Mackenzie was not strong enough to beat the Capitol; no one was. With help, he might have been strong enough to beat the games, though. Maybe.

He spun on his heels, eyeing the creature who'd swatted at him before with its tail. Older, wiser, ore tactful with her attacks. She was an experienced hunter, almost as regal in her movements as malicious. Her eyes glinted with something more than what the others had to offer, a knowing, an understanding. She was the monster, they were the innocent.

Everyone had a job.

His eyes flicked to Wynter for the slightest of seconds. Knife to Faline's throat, those biting words slipping out her her mouth, a promise, not just a threat. She'd meant them, hadn't she? Part of him wanted to believe there was a person somewhere deeply within the ice, and he would continue to search for it, but that did not change that she was the monster; they were the innocent. Everyone has a job.

Faline was obviously set on being a fighter, and Mackenzie could not fault her. If she was going to survive, she wanted to earn it. Surely, it could have been handed to her in some instances, but Mackenzie liked to think he valued his own life as well. Just as soon as he readied his spear, she readied her glaive. Little mouse with a will to live, he thought, watching as the braid of her long, dark hair swung over her left shoulder. She showed no fear in that moment; she showed only bravery. A form of passion, a need to move on, a need for this to be over.

He felt the reflections of it within himself.


The others followed suit with their weapons, and Mackenzie felt like he was part of something bigger than himself for a change. The way they all moved at the same time, ducked and rolled and ran and swung. It was something worthwhile. Something that the games could not take from him.

Hope.

royal blue, here I fall
i'm digging up for the gold
spilled on the floor
there's no solid ground

song: royal blue

[mackenzie attacks dorothy; spear]
IHxO6ptZspear
[3056 -- Stabbed in Stomach -- 9.5 damage]

spear

[eulalie blake 1a 🍒 tris]

[presto][/presto]

"The silence is so loud
The lights spark and flicker
With monsters much bigger
Than I can control now"

I am no phoenix —
and I am no songbird.

Flames still burn and ice still cuts; I am not immune to pain. But I am a magician, trained in the vanishing act and in the arts of illusion. When I stand, pressure rising and my bone fracturing, I exhale just enough to hide the sound of my whimper. And when Wynter looks at me, matching the fury of my expression, I know how to shut off my anger. To appear indifferent and unfazed. Because girls like her only want a reaction, a way of feeling validated. To hear that it's okay for them to be hurting, for them to hurt others. Letting themselves drown in shallow waters. I should know.

But that memory's in the past — in the minutes that have left me behind and in the sand that has slipped through my fingers. I'm more than I was back then. I always will be, with each new day and each new night. Always learning and improving and adapting. The sun and the moon are at war within me. Eclipse; but I'm too earthen. Too much of a stone. I'm still on my feet, though. My weapon's by my side. I'm not drowning, even with the sea calling my name. I never listen to what I'm told, I run until I can't breathe, but that's what keeps me alive. I'm too stubborn to die.

( Too afraid to let go;
too brave to keep holding on. )

What does it matter? I've already accepted my death, I've dug a grave on my favorite hill and I've picked the perfect dress. It's not the dying that scares me, it's the time. The hour and the reason and the why. Let me go when I'm older and wiser, when I'm happier and stronger and all the terrors have set me free. When all I hear is the wind and all I feel is the warmth of my house, when I'm fed and safe and loved. When I'm not myself. "We can protect you, Wynter." I watch her bleed and do nothing to help. "We can be an alliance, but we'll never be your hostages. You can't take all of us."

My eyes look to Mackenzie, to Ike; to the trust that we've built between us and the bond of our friendship. The mutual will to survive. And I hold grudges, I am not gentle and forgiving and someone to take advantage of, but I know when some battles aren't worth being fought. When some cruel actions are just cries for help, when I have the choice of being the bigger person. "We're not threatening you. Don't you see?" I glance at Mackenzie, watching as his spear goes straight through a beast's stomach and as its body crashes to the floor. "We can handle ourselves. We're gonna make it out."

Glaive in my hand, determination behind my gaze and thunder roaring with every step I take. Not a storm, but not a clear sky. Just a kid with too much to lose, too much to prove and so few hours to work with. "You don't have to be alone. We can do this together." And I'm ancient in this moment, so much older and too knowledgeable for my own good. As if I understand what I'm saying. "Cut the crap. All the bravado and all the lies. You can stay with us." I walk forward, readying myself and lifting my blade. I want this to be over. "But I swear, if you ever hold a knife to my throat again—"

"I'll take you down with me.
Like a true ally, huh?"

---

song: panic room - au/ra
table: dars

( faline attacks maneater #3; glaive )
sNlyGB2tglaive
( Shallow Cut on Forehead -- 4.5 damage )

glaive

[я𝑜𝓈𝑒]

[presto][/presto]

"The future can't
be real, I
barely know how
long a moment is"

Filler because I have an exam tomorrow and won't be home until 4pm

she rolls her eyes at wynter, not really having much time for a comeback bc they're fighting mutts !

kind like, bleeding and stuff after her dg ! panic bc it's her first deep wound but stayin cool enough to fight

"whatever," she says and ba bam attacks the mutt

song: link

[ike attacks maneater #3; spear]
J33pHv5Kspear
[3066 -- Stabbed in Chest -- 9.5 damage +1 strength]

spear

[✨ zozo.]

[presto][/presto]

what if i'm made of stone?
feeling is not a system
nervous i'm caught in a hold
hoping i'm over thinking
i should be feeling more

She talks with sense and logic - and kindness.

They're foreign things. My world is angry. Angry words spitting out my mouth and spat into my ears - everybody always snarled at me so I bit back. Faline doesn't snarl, or bite - she's reasonable, and fair, and even in the state I'm in her voice is clear. Calming.

I used to think the sounds our throats made were violent, harmful sounds but maybe I just wasn't listening. I want to listen, though. Maybe I'm foolish for looking up at her and believing her lies, maybe I'm an idiot for trusting a kid who's just trying to get back home, but when she extends her hand toward me and offers me sanction I want to believe her words are true.

Hesitantly, I nod, coughing up blood in the process.

"Okay" I croak, words quivering underneath the weight of the pain from my wounds. "Okay. Deal."

I take her hand and she lifts me up, tiny girl with more strength than I could ever hope for.

"Let's kill these fuckers" I seethe, no longer alone. Maybe just for a while - but I'll stay, anyway. I can be an ally. I can be loyal. Selflessness. They're easy to pick up.

Trust, though, I'll have to learn along the way.

built out of memory

built out of scenes

structures of whispers

pass through our veins

laid out on screens

song: link

wynter attacks maneater #3 withknife
nwuD2ACRknife
8 + 1 blades

knife

[Baby Wessex d9b [earthling]]

She'll only come out at night
The lean and hungry type
Nothing is new, I've seen her here before
Watching and waiting

DARYL

And there went Dorothy right after Chester, joining him in a watery grave. So stupid. So senseless! The worst part was: they'd left him all alone. He thought about diving back into the deep, but his pride stopped him.

Maybe the ditty was wrong.

Maybe other fish - even strange four limbed fish - were food and not friends.

[Daryl aka Maneater #3 attacks Wynter; fin (blunt)]

7XUR5ojhblunt

[ Bruised Left Shin -- 2.0 damage]

Watch out boy she'll chew you up
(Oh here she comes)
She's a maneater
(Oh here she comes)


lyrics: maneater by hall & oates

blunt

[dars]

[presto][/presto]

"my regrets are a shade
around my neck, I know
it's torturous how
some burdens are I can't let go"

filler to keep this going <3

-grabs faline and helps her out, probably calls for the others to follow and doesn't realize they aren't coming bc he has a person in his arms and whatnot

royal blue, here I fall
i'm digging up for the gold
spilled on the floor
there's no solid ground

song: royal blue

[mackenzie flees with faline]
[insert other maint stuff]

[eulalie blake 1a 🍒 tris]

[presto][/presto]

"The silence is so loud
The lights spark and flicker
With monsters much bigger
Than I can control now"

Filler.

---

song: panic room - au/ra
table: dars

( faline flees w/ mackenzie )

[я𝑜𝓈𝑒]

[presto][/presto]

"The future can't
be real, I
barely know how
long a moment is"

Filler.

song: link

[ike attacks maneater #3; spear]
jLug3zI|spear
[3001 -- Deep Gash on Left Forearm -- 8.0 damage +1 strength]

spear

[✨ zozo.]

[presto][/presto]

what if i'm made of stone?
feeling is not a system
nervous i'm caught in a hold
hoping i'm over thinking
i should be feeling more

The beast is weak now, all alone without its friends. I'm glad I have the others behind me. We're stronger in numbers, that's what they always taught us back home. Pack mentality - just make sure you're the last one standing.

A wave crashes against the boat and I stumble forwards -- then tilt backwards, floors breaking underneath our feet and the sound of wooden boards crashing behind me drowns out my unsteady cries.

When the echoes clear and the ship ceases caving in on itself I only hear two sets of footsteps. Seven stands next to me, sea-salt in strands of hair stuck to her forehead - but we're alone, now, with a furious creature of the deep and down two allies.

"Where are they?" I cry, diverting my gaze to the rubble behind us.

"Shit!"

A canon sounds and my mind goes white, ringing in my ears, "Shit!" -- Seven stabs the mutt through the stomach but it's not dead yet -- Mickey and Faline might be. 

White noise, I resurface, ripping my palms from the sides of my head and slamming one down towards the mutt. 

Kill this fucker first, find the corpses later.

built out of memory

built out of scenes

structures of whispers

pass through our veins

laid out on screens

song: link

wynter attacks maneater #3 withknife
KYTKPtJUknife
Shallow Cut on Right Thigh -- 3.5 damage

knife

[Baby Wessex d9b [earthling]]

She'll only come out at night
The lean and hungry type
Nothing is new, I've seen her here before
Watching and waiting

DARYL

sweepy filler

[Daryl aka Maneater #3 attacks Ike; teeth (knife)]

yRYqeIORknife

[Shallow Cut on Chest -- 4.0 damage]

Watch out boy she'll chew you up
(Oh here she comes)
She's a maneater
(Oh here she comes)


lyrics: maneater by hall & oates

knife

[я𝑜𝓈𝑒]

[presto][/presto]

"The future can't
be real, I
barely know how
long a moment is"

Filler.

song: link

[ike attacks maneater #3; spear]
iifELZyCspear
[3093 -- Shallow Cut on Right Calf -- 3.5 damage]

spear

[✨ zozo.]

[presto][/presto]

what if i'm made of stone?
feeling is not a system
nervous i'm caught in a hold
hoping i'm over thinking
i should be feeling more

"Why won't you just die already?!"

And with that, I drive my knife into the side of its head and feel it sink into death, still.

All is quiet, save for the gentle rush of water around us. I exhale, drinking in our victory, yanking the knife out of the creature's skull. Blood drips, death's tears, onto the floorboards below me and I wipe my blade clean - turning to Ike and kicking the creature's dead body away for good measure.

"Right," I sigh, gazing out towards the ruined stern of the ship. "Let's go find them."

The echo of the last canon still whistles by my ears, eerie and chilling.

"Or what's left of them."

built out of memory

built out of scenes

structures of whispers

pass through our veins

laid out on screens

song: link

wynter attacks maneater #3 withknife
7TExA0peknife
severed ear 8 + 1 blades

SHE DEADDY

knife