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 Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:20 am
"Maxi...have you ever actually fished in this world?"
Donner didn't seem to care about the fact that nobody was around.
They stood upon the docks, looking down at the boat, to which Donner sighed. Will this thing take my weight? Well, only one way to find out...
Moving first, Donner placed one foot on the edge of the boat, pushing down upon it. It only sank a little bit, which made him sigh a sigh of relief, before he jumped onto the vessel, the boat only sinking down a few inches. Well, thats a start...
"Untie us from the dock and get on board, and I'll show you the finer points of Gaian fishing..." Donner said to Maximos as he checked over the engine in the back, making sure it was full of fuel and oil, and that the screw in the back was secure.
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 9:23 pm
How different can it be?
He said, following along. The boat should stand, Gaia was full of large freakish people much like Tomorrow, Logan would be a fool not to employ some sort of customization.
Maximos just followed, this entire process was new to him. For him, fishing had involved diving into the water, and shanking fish. This whole boat process was just seemingly unnecessary, none the less he finished off his popsicle, leaving the stick hanging from his mouth and untied the boat, then jumped in.
The boat would drive about, 1 minute before Maximos spoke up.
Electrocuting the lake does not count as "fishing".
Just in case.
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:11 pm
Donner had been enjoying the freshwater spray and the wind in his hair before Maximos spoiled it.
He sat in the back of the dingey, one hand on the handle of the motor as it chopped through the water, propelling the boat forward. Maximos was sitting at the front, and between them, was a box filled with fishing gear. It looked like there were rods and spears, as well as a smaller box filled with lures, hooks and weights. To the giant's immediate right was a chum bucket, the fishy smelly contents swirling about within. A bloodstained ladle hung on the outside of the bucket.
"I know that..." He growled in response over the roar of the motor. That was for emergencies only. "...But neither does shanking fish."
When they had gotten a good distance from the shore, Donner cut the engine and, grabbing the heavy anchor to the left of the motor with his metallic hand, tossed it overboard, the anchor splashing into the water and disappearing quickly beneath the dark depths.
Crouching before the assortment of rods, Donner grabbed a large one, the long thin fiber-glass rod in the standard condition the Aesir expected from a public fishing boat. "Its not great, but it'll do. Pay attention, coz i want you to do this next."
Sitting back down on his seat, he grabbed one of the reels from the box and attached it to the rod's handle, before poking the nylon thread through the O-rings along the length of the rod. Pulling a decent length from the end of the rod, Donner then grabbed a hook and tied it to the end, as well as a lure and a weight. He presented it to Maximos with a smile.
"There! This is a fishing rod. You put bait on the end of the hook..." As he spoke he dipped his fingers into the chum bucket and pulled out a chunky piece of flesh, stabbing it onto the hook, "...Cast your line into the water..." He stood and, pulling the rod back over his shoulder, hurled it forward, letting the line spool out of the reel with a loud whizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz, before the end of the line landed in the water with a 'plop'.
"...And now we relax and wait for the fish to come to us." Donner finished with a smirk, sitting down on his seat with a thunk, rocking the boat slightly.
This wasn't new to him. When he had been a boy, a few years after he'd buried his Tribe, he'd been taken in by a traveling circus. The manager had been a kind man, taking the young boy who didn't seem to age over the years in as his surrogate son. He'd taught him fishing, which was different to the Tribal way, which involved a spear.
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 4:00 pm
Hmph...
Shaking the fist was one of the oldest ways to fish, not at all the sport of today. But back in Maximos' era the idea of hunting something just to let it go again was unheard of.
Tomorrow offered him the fishing rod, and it was left hanging in his grasp for a few moments. The shadow scanned over it, its mechanisms, its design, it seemed simple enough, even if Maximos had no understanding of modern day technology.
He followed the instructions the was given, though several times a frustrated groan seemed to escape him as he fidgeted with the smaller aspects of the process. Threading the lure and the hook for instance was particularly troubling. By the time he had finished the lure, Tomorrow had already cast his line into the waters. Maximos was visibly frustrated, a rare occurrence indeed. There was nearly a visible anger and despair mark on his forehead. But despite anger and frustration he was determined to finish it, even shooting Tomorrow a sharp "Dont even think about helping", look before the Aesir even said a word.
Nothing particular would happen as John tossed in his line, the water as very still, the fish seemed absent today. About five minutes later.
Ha!
Filled the air as Maximos finally threaded the hook and gingerly grabbed some of the bait and with all the vigor of a victorious warrior shanked the bait...and his finger...on the hook.
Fleeb!
It wasnt that it hurt, more than it was annoying. But none the less, Maximos pulled it out. The poke just happened to be on his fingertip, one of those annoying spots that doesnt stop bleeding. Before he could wind the line back a few inches he had just about covered the bait in red.
Frustrated ignore the wound and continued. He held the fishing rod like a sword, both hands on the hilt, he lifted it back and flung it forward sending the line sailing a several dozen feet away with a "whiz" and a "splunk". Needless to say it sent drops of blood all over the distance and the force scattered his bait. But Maximos felt accomplished, and plopped in his seat.
No fish can possibly stupid enough to fall for something that obvious.
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 6:23 pm
Donner simply sat there and watched, supremely amused. For once in a long time, he was better at something then Maximos. Regardless of whether Maxi knew how to do it or not. It was childish, but Donner allowed a little bit of smugness.
He winced sympathetically when Maxi poked his finger. The smallest injuries were always the most painful. "Take care to wash that in the water...you dont want it to get infected." He said as he watched Maxi cast his line and flick blood everywhere in the process, the blood dripping into the water and dissipaiting into the water like a fading cloud of crimson.
If you can get infections... He thought to himself, turning his head as he idly watched Maximos' bait floated past the boat and into the distance.
A wicked voice within him told him to not tell the Shadow. Even with the best lure, nothing would bite a hook with nothing on it, and Maximos would have a taste of human frustration. But, with a sigh, he reached over and grabbed the rod out of Maxi's hands, swapping it for his, before reeling the line in and proceed to re-bait it.
"You'd be surprised how stupid fish are..." He said as he skewered something fleshy onto the end of the hook and re-cast the line.
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Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 7:37 pm
Maximos just sort of leaned back in his seat, his hands behind his head and a sort of "Yeah, yeah", look on his face. He knew Tomorrow was enjoying this, and he wouldnt rob the man of that. With a wet pop the finger slipped from his lips.
It'll be fine.
He said holding it up to the sun. The cut wasnt healed or anything, but without the blood messing it up he could see how bad it really was, at least until the blood came back and he stuck the finger back in his mouth, closing his eyes and leaning back.
It was hard to believe something was supposed to be wrong with this water. The water was so completely quiet.
-Thump Thump-
The boat rocked from side to side, not enough to throw anyone but enough to be noticed. Something beneath the water had hit the boat, just before Tomorrow reached Maximos' rod.
The shadow immediately stood straight up, instinctively grabbing his sword/rod.
Did you see that?!
He said with a start. Of course that raised the question of how Maximos saw anything with his eyes closed. But there wasnt an answer for that was there? No, of course not.
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Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 12:37 am
Donner frowned, looking over the edge. The lake was still, besides the ripples of their own boat and the lines in the water. "...I dont see anything, Maxi..." He muttered - as he reached for one of the spears within the box.
The weapon was almost two meters long, with a rusty barbed tip. Slipping the haft of his rod into a rod-holder bolted to the side of the boat, Donner stood slowly, both hands gripping the weapon...before he heft it above his head with his right hand, his metallic left arm coming straight out with the fingers slightly curled.
He hadn't forgotten about why they were here. Why they were really here. But then, how else do you catch a big fish...if you don't use bait.
And if Maximos figured that out, stiff cookies. Donner was in the boat too. It wasn't as if the giant Aesir trussed him up and tossed him in the water.
He began to pivot on the spot, his left arm leading out, his eyes cool as he watched the water as one. His legs were curled, like he was about to spring, and he kept silent - suddenly slipping back to old ways, Tribal ways. He wasn't just looking for an animal - he was looking for ripples in the water, either from when something broke the surface or swam so close to the top of the water the currents created a spasmodic ripples effect.
He'd watch until either Maximos asked him what he was doing or he the boat moved again.
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Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 8:00 pm
Maximos expected Tomorrow would arm himself, it was the only wise thing to do. He had risen too fast, the thing was gone, either lost in the muck of the water or vanished into the ether, even his magical eye couldnt perceive its presence.
Wha-Hermph!
He shouted, he hadnt a warning, Maximos' end of the boat was immediately tugged forward, kicking up a small wave of water. If not for his quick reflexes he would have had the rod ripping from his hands, but the red chafe of it trying to scrape free from his grip was more than visible. Something, something large had scored his hook and was trying to swim away. Logan's old rod simply would not breath, its impossibly strong wire would not snap. Unfortunately Maximos' grip could not boast such invincibility. Anyone could see the strain on his face as he tried to hold the rod even as the boat was being toed.
Toss it now!
Whatever it was, it was deep, but it stood to reason it was at the end of Maximos' line. He himself would have tossed the spear but he lacked the superlative strength necessary to heft the shaft with that sort of power and precision.
If Tomorrow was going to attack, now was the time, the blood his cut had placed on his rod was seriously starting to make it slip, inch, by inch.
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Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 1:36 am
Something primitive made the giant Aesir move. Five hundred years he had not even thought of these techniques, but they had come fresh in his mind, like old old movie reseen.
He span as Maximos cried out, his eyes wild as the Shadow came into his vision, his metallic hand coming around to almost knock Maxi's head off - but it stopped just at his ear, rigid like the steel it was made of, before he pulled it back viciously, the spear shooting forth like an arrow from a bow as Donner threw it with a vicious roar.
Although Donner could not see the fish, he was able to instinctively judge it's distance and position via the nigh-invisible nylon thread it was hooked on to, and the spear disappeared into the water, the throw so streamline it barely made a splash.
As soon as the spear had left his hand, Donner grabbed Maximos' shoulder, bodily lifting the smaller man as he grabbed the rod out of his hands and pushing him behind him, grunting with surprise at the amount of tension on the end of the rod's line, the heels of his feet digging into the crook of the boat's hull as he tried to lean back, the boat dragging through the water like a bobbing cork.
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Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 6:45 am
The moment the spear left Tomorrow's hand, the rod finally slipped free of Maximos grip lost in the mirky water.
Maximos almost immediately smacked the hand away that was approaching, even if there was no purpose in him being heft.
Stop trying to man handle me and grab another one! Quickly!
It was a clear warning that Maximos would not be lifted and deposited around like a toy despite the size difference between the two individuals. That was simply rude,and he would not be treated rudely. It took about four seconds before a quivering overtook the entire surface of the lack as "it" roared beneath the waves and in an explosion of water, fishy bits, and red the creature breached the surface of the water, roughly 250ft away.
It looked like a giant catfish, twin whiskers lashed at the water as a shrill cry filled the air. The spear had struck it clear in the side of its mouth, following the fishing line exactly. It wasnt down, but it was pissed.
Whether Tomorrow acted or not, Maximos heft a swear and chucked it, burying it in its exposed body before it bucked and dove back under the waters surface, vanishing into the inky black water.
Silence.
The entire lake fell deathly silent save for the calm breaths of two men. A white pulse flared from Maximos' right eye, followed by cold stoic words.
...Brace yourself...
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Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:55 pm
Donner swore as he dumped Maximos and swirled to grab another spear, cursing himself at the time he'd lost as he grasped the next spear and turned -
And blinked with shock as the catfish breached. He'd never seen a fish that big.
And then it crashed back into the water, disappearing from sight.
"By the gods, I've never seen a fish that big!" Donner cried as he looked about the boat. "No wonder people have been scared off!"
His mind whirled, thinking of something. His eyes veered right, to the bucket of chum, sloshing it's red muck about as the choppy waves rocked the boat. Stepping over to it, one hand still grasping his spear, he took up the handle of the bucket and, swinging it around, tossed it into the sky, the bucket flying about fifty feet before hitting the water with a splash.
As soon as the bucket hit the water, it sank like a rock - and it's contents clouded the water, bits of fish and meat floating on a surface of crimson clouds.
Looking back to the boat, Donner grasped a spare rope lying in the gear box and began to tie it to the end of his spear, his big fingers fumbling with the thick hemp with haste as he kept his eyes fixed to the cloud of red.
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Posted: Mon Nov 19, 2007 7:31 am
Tomorrow Donner swore as he dumped Maximos and swirled to grab another spear, cursing himself at the time he'd lost as he grasped the next spear and turned - And blinked with shock as the catfish breached. He'd never seen a fish that big. And then it crashed back into the water, disappearing from sight. "By the gods, I've never seen a fish that big!" Donner cried as he looked about the boat. "No wonder people have been scared off!"His mind whirled, thinking of something. His eyes veered right, to the bucket of chum, sloshing it's red muck about as the choppy waves rocked the boat. Stepping over to it, one hand still grasping his spear, he took up the handle of the bucket and, swinging it around-- The boat did not simply rock, it lurched, immediately tugged forward 50ft as if the motor had just spurted on, it was enough to unbalance anyone, especially the giant already operating with limited foot room. Maximos himself nearly fell if not for him using his fishing rod to catch himself. Both men would be able to hear the rapid whiplashing of rope unraveling at frightening speeds as the extra length of rope attached to the anchor soared into the dark waters. They were the rod, the anchor was the hook, and they had hooked a big one. With the weight and angle of the rope, the boat was tugged down nearly sinking on the spot, as it was only about 6inches above the water, and was rapidly taking on water as it was splashed up by the speed at which the creature toed the small craft. Maximos immediately sprung forward, drawing his small knife and jabbing it into the anchor line...with complete failure. Much like the fishing line, and the rod, Logan made his stuff of tougher material. Before he could re-sheath the blade, the boat was tossed into the air as the fish breached yet again, soaring a good 60ft above Bass'ken before diving back under, thusly toeing the boat into the air and smacking it back onto the choppy water. The creature clearly upset. About 400ft ahead one could see its head just above the surface as it tried to swim hard and fast to sink both the men into the water. It completely ignored the chum, it tasted human blood...it wanted more...
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Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 12:45 am
Donner growled at the rope as it unspooled quickly, disappearing into the water fast as he yanked the knot tight around the spear in his hands -
Before they were both launched up into the air.
Donner didn't have time to think about Maximos. As he flew through the air, leaving the boat completely, his eyes were fixed on the giant fish as it breached. The spear in his hands was a good weight, the rope collected in his right hand, and as he span to face the monster, he threw, the spear streamlining straight down to slam into the monster's side...
Before both monster and giant slammed into the water. The fish was trying to swim, and swim hard - but now Donner had a line. And, using all his strength, he was pulling his way closer and closer to the fish, fighting the incredible amount of water slamming into him as he did.
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Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 1:11 am
This fish was smarter than the average aquatic creature, and several time more angry.
It didnt like being speared once, much less several times and while it had attempted to smash the small boat on the lake waves it could now see that effort was in vein and it could hardly devour prey that was attached to it.
Employing at technique used by most crocodiles the fish rolled, and it rolled hard. Its massive sleak body giving all the force and pressure needed to snap all four spears attached to body leaving only their heads buried in its flesh. And leaving Tomorrow with a grip on nothing. Simultaneously its mouth opened freeing the anchor and letting the boat free to simply drift in the current, which it did, just about to precisely where the giant was drifting. Needless to say, the fish vanished yet again beneath the waves, vanishing into the black.
Fishing rod and knife in hand Maximos leaned over the edge of the boat toward the Aesir. It was clear to the shadow that neither of their abilities alone were going to defeat this thing. They would need to work together. As such Maximos asked.
Did you zap it, or did it run on its--
Having been blinded by the splashing waves surrounding the giant, Maximos could see nothing, but he saw it now. He had sight like Tomorrow would never imagine, just as the thundergod had strength such as Maximos could never attain, no knew Tomorrow's strength and endurance better than Maximos. So it was with no light heart that he flatly and yet very sternly said.
--Get back in the boat! Now!
Instinctively he reached out his right arm to help the giant back into the craft without overturning it, as it would definitely do if all of his weight was suddenly placed on one side.
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Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 1:33 am
Donner's head broke the water and he muttered a curse. The thing was smarter then it put on. Maximos "Did you zap it, or did it run on its--" Donner began angrily, shaking his long blond hair free of water, trying to pull it from his eyes - before Maximos suddenly barked at him. Maximos "--Get back in the boat! Now!" The Aesir only spluttered something before viciously swimming to the boat and pulling himself up over the edge - poking Maximos on the shoulder as he did. Maxi had been on the other side of the boat, equaling it out - if Donner had been pulled up by Maxi, the boat would've capsized. The giant had scrambled on behind Maxi. "What?! What is it?!" He shouted as he tried to figure out what had fallen out of the boat during it's time in the air.
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