What have we here? a man or a fish? dead or alive?

[jackrackham]

The festivities at the City Hall feel far from civilized, and the general air of celebration carries with it a sense of unease. He'd been told to be prepared for something strange and possibly deadly to happen tonight. Eliot had said to be prepared for anything, so he and Anne had brought their swords. It feels both comforting and strange to have it at his hip again, especially when the power unexpectedly cuts out.

Instead of sticking around to see the ritual effigy-burning, they collectively decide to head towards the boardwalk and see if there is anything less likely to cause mayhem happening there. Jack buttons up the front of his coat as they walk. The night is crisp, but he's comfortable as they approach the ocean.

He points towards the south, then looks towards Eliot. "We arrived down that way. On the shore. Didn't you say that you arrived in the water?"

Comments

[annebonny]

Whatever mild satisfaction Anne takes in Eliot's little start is swept under the clear utility of it, once he explains. She likes sharpening her own blades, but this is different, and she won't say no to an extra edge.

She keeps back, her eyes on both Jack and Eliot as they veer off—Jack can handle himself, but she's not letting him out of her sight, and Eliot... she doesn't know what to expect, but at least she knows she don't want to see him dead.

Jack kills one of the things easy, laughs and keeps moving; Eliot works quick and smart, far better than she would've guessed, and it's with grudging respect that she watches as he finishes one, then another, this time with a flash of light like he's done something more.

And the light seems to work faster, and it does seem to draw them, so after sparing a glance to make sure Jack's seen it as well, she moves in quick toward Eliot, lunging past him and slashing through a creature that was near closing in. The strike is so much easier this time that it throws her off balance, her muscles tensed for greater resistance, but she recovers quick and adjusts her weight before holding out her sword again, hilt-first this time.

"Do it," she says, less a bark and more an agreement.