Land, ho!

[lieutenantsteward]

Welcome to Unnamed Island #1, everyone! Lt. Jopson has successfully steered the ship towards land! (Or maybe the ship was going there the whole time? Who knows, burst his bubble if you want to be a monster!) The island is large and uninhabited by humans, but has lots of wildlife. This isn’t a specific island on a map because, like all things in the dream, it is an amalgamation of the characters in it. So, if it looks like it might be on a tropical island, it will be! Pineapples, coconuts, mangos- sure! Seals and feral pigs- you bet! Beautiful reefs- Of course! Secret Caribbean rum stores- why the hell not? Two species of crabs that shouldn’t be in the same hemisphere- hell yeah! (After all, Goodsir’s the only one who will know the difference). Enjoy the island, folks! The Terror will dock there starting today and they will leave on Tuesday the 7th.

Piña coladas, anyone?

((This is an open post for island shenanigans though, of course, you are always welcome to start your own!))

Comments

[kingsroads]

"You know, I'd love to join you. That sounds delightful," Strange says, as he starts to take his shirt off as well. "Though truth be told, I'm not the strongest swimmer. I doubt I'll go out that far."

Not the strongest swimmer is an understatement: he can doggy paddle and that's about it. Still, not being able to do something hasn't ever stopped Strange before, even when it logically should!

[lieutenantsteward]

He sighs. "Can you not use your magic to help you?" he asks, walking into the waves and diving into the first one that crested. He can swim in theory, but he isn't planning on testing that too long. He just wants to enjoy the water.

[kingsroads]

"I know how to float!" Strange protests, as he wades into the water. As a wave hits him in the face, Strange spits out some seawater. "And I suppose I could use my magic to push me to the shore if I go too far out? But I'd rather that not happen to begin with."

Indeed, as Strange wades out, it's pretty obvious that he's not wading out to any place where he can't touch bottom.

[lieutenantsteward]

"I am certain," he calls out, swimming closer to him, "that you are not meant to imbibe the saltwater as it comes. Perhaps if your mouth were closed, it would change the outcome."

[kingsroads]

"Lieutenant, when have you ever known me to keep my mouth shut?" His chatterbox nature is something that Strange is comfortable making a few jokes about. Lord knows Arabella has told him enough times that if he wishes to know her opinion, he should actually keep quiet for a while and listen to said opinion.

[lieutenantsteward]

Thomas relaxes, letting himself just float for a bit, the waves rocking him. "And what do you have to say, Mr. Strange? Simply listen to what's around you. Enjoy that."

[kingsroads]

Strange gives Jopson a slightly dubious look for a moment. But okay. Listen. He can do that. He closes his eyes for a moment, listening to the surf. The sound of the waves, the occasional noise of seabirds, all of these are more relaxing than he realized. Strange is still touching the seafloor with his feet but he takes a few steps forward until just his tiptoes are touching bottom...

...and then another wave comes and Strange lets out a yelp of surprise as it pushes him underwater a bit. Just give him a moment as he flails ineffectively before feet touch sand.

[lieutenantsteward]

Suddenly worried for the poor idiot, Thomas sits up and swims over to him. "Are you alright?" he asks, reaching out to try and steady him. "Perhaps this venture is too much for you."

[kingsroads]

"I'm fine," Strange says with what he hopes is a reassuring smile, as he looks over at Thomas (swimming! He's swimming!). Though he will indulge in a brief moment of grumbling. "The venture is certainly not too much for me, I simply haven't been in the ocean in literal years."

[lieutenantsteward]

"Yes, that is obvious," he tells him with a sigh before moving away again, floating on his back, though he occasionally drops one foot to ensure that he does not stray too far from Strange. "When was the last time you were in the ocean?"

[kingsroads]

About that...

"Arabella and I took a brief vacation to Brighton...ah, six or so years ago? Possibly earlier than that."

[lieutenantsteward]

He keeps one foot down before deciding that he should just join him properly. "Arabella? Is that your wife, sir?" he asks with a lot more tenderness than he had probably ever shown Strange.

[kingsroads]

Strange nods. "She is. Have I not told you about her, Lieutenant?"

Because that's odd, normally he'll chat up anybody about Arabella until the cows come home.

"Anyway, she's a delightful woman. Kind, caring, sensible...the absolute love of my life. I would be a lesser man had I not met her."

[lieutenantsteward]

He wanted to remind Strange that they haven't had many pleasant conversations in their time knowing each other. But before he could get a word in, Strange was already talking about her and Thomas could see that transformation in him. He finds himself nodding along, letting him continue if he wishes.

[kingsroads]

Given the opportunity to yammer on about Arabella, Strange yammers on about Arabella. The more he talks about her, the more he softens. This is a man who adores his wife, who has a deep and unabiding love for her, and who will happily tell others about said love.

"She is full of understanding, yet she does not hesitate to chastise me when I am wrong. She is a lovely dancer, has the most stunning eyes, and an ungodly amount of patience. She is my rock." There's a pause before Strange continues talking, wistfulness slipping into his voice. "And, due to certain circumstances, I doubt I will ever see her again."

[lieutenantsteward]

He makes a soft noise of sympathy. "I am sorry for that, Mr. Strange. It is a cruel world that would take us from those we love. She sounds a treasure." He gestures to the shore and starts walking, hoping Strange would follow.

[kingsroads]

"She's a delight," Strange says, as he follows Jopson. "Still, it is what it is. I doubt I will see her again but I know she is safe and I hope she is happy. That matters more to me than anything else."

[lieutenantsteward]

Jopson sits on the sand near the waves, letting the water touch his feet as it approaches. He blushes slightly as he sits forward. Strange's love for his wife was more intense than any love he had ever felt, or any love that he felt towards himself, and it was almost improper. Almost.

"Mr. Strange, would you accept an apology from me for how I have treated you these months past? I have reacted in anger to you that you do not rightly deserve. I see now that you are a good man."

[kingsroads]

Strange walks out of the water, brushing a sea plant from where it landed on his arm, before he sits down on the sand next to Jopson.

The apology is unexpected. Stange blinks a little in confusion before his expression softens to a wry smile.

"Lieutenant Jopson, I arrived at this place traumatized and out of my mind with madness. I then proceeded to ignore the advice of everyone around me, was attacked and killed by the tuunbaq, and then dragged you all to London and gifted you with magic simply due to my own desires. If I may be blunt, I am surprised more people haven't treated me with open dislike."

[lieutenantsteward]

He chuckles dryly. "It is because you are a genuine person. It is the same reason that Mr. Goodsir will never be disliked by...most...on the ship. You treat others with respect now, and I intend on doing the same for you."

[kingsroads]

The compliment takes Strange by surprise. He looks over at Jopson, confusion visible on his face for a moment before it settles into a gentle smile. A genuine person. That's one of the nicest things he's heard in a while.

"Thank you, Lieutenant Jopson. That...well, I cannot deny, that is nice to hear."

[lieutenantsteward]

He settles back on the sand, his arms behind his head. He nods once, easy in his silence. He is surprised at how smoothly that admittance had come out, but there is a lightness in his chest.

[kingsroads]

Strange settle on the sand as well, resting himself on his arms and elbows.

"What about you?" Strange asks as he looks over at Jopson. "I know that army men feel it is unfair to take a wife while one serves, but I do not know about navy men."

[lieutenantsteward]

He instantly clams up. He knew it would have been expected of him to take a wife eventually, but he had, in life, continued to push it off as long as no one actively asked. "I have no wife, Mr. Strange. Because of the circumstances of our voyage, I never will." He says it, though, without a trace of regret or sadness. In fact, he's almost relieved.

[kingsroads]

Fortunately for Jopson, Strange is remarkably oblivious to any hesitation or relief that Jopson might have in that way where aggressively arrogant men usually need to take a moment or two to figure out someone else's problem.

Though the circumstances of their voyage...yeah. Strange knows what he means by that. There's an awkward pause while he debates how much wants to tell Jopson versus how much he should keep secret so that he doesn't have questions asked.

"I suspect that part of my curtness with you at the start was that I did not know how...harrowing your voyage was. I've only recently learned the extent to what the crews of Terror and Erebus went through and I apologize if I was insensitive or made light of things during my first few weeks here."