middaeg | . summer's play

[The woman certainly looks foreign, but Dimitri makes no assumptions based on that. Her circlet implies something religious to him, and her clothing looks sensible enough. What he's most interested in is her weapon - she's ready for a fight.

So she'll make a good companion on this venture.]

I see- [Would they come this close to the port? None of the other sailors seem to be on high alert. But he won't put a damper on her efforts.] Keeping watch is an excellent idea. I may propose that they post some of their own men, in addition to us.

Two people can't well watch the whole ship.

[He looks over the vastness of the deck, breeze ruffling what hair isn't stuck to his face with sweat.] Oh.

I'm sorry, I've not introduced myself. My name is Dimitri - [He offers a hand, gloved and armored.]

[Maybe she was marveling at the water more so than looking for Merrow, but the man goes along with it and she nods in full agreement. As it is, she's a little bit worried about fighting merrow herself - one of her closest friends turns into one on the full moon, and while she knows that these are wild merrow, it still feels a little wrong to be attacking them.

But they need help, and so here she is. She nods in greeting when the man introduces himself.

My name is Princess Allura. [Her gaze drops to his hand, and there's an awkward pause of contemplation before she puts her hand in his. Not immediately going for a handshake, but gripping it like she remembers her father used to with the paladins of old. Her eyes flick back to the sailors scurrying around.]

The men look like they have their hands full with the cargo. But it doesn't hurt to have some extra eyes and ears open for danger.

[Princess?

Ah, perhaps he should not have skipped his full title either - now it would be awkward to go back and mention his lineage.

With a stiff inhale, Dimitri raises her hand to his lips. He offers no kiss, but the gesture is one of respect for her station all the same. And immediately following he releases her, turning away towards the length of the ship's main deck.]

I admit I don't know much about the process of sailing. But... surely some of them will be taking breaks throughout the journey. They need only relax near the rail, and sound an alarm if necessary.

[He doesn't think that's too much to ask, and the crew hasn't been particularly surly.] That way, it is no surprise when we are boarded.

[Dimitri is not a man of tactics - he just wants to know where the enemy is as quickly as possible so he can rush them.]

[Her title is just part of her person - something sentimental even. With the loss of her family and her planet, she took pride in representing her people in whatever way she could.

But that neither here nor there. She blinks as he lips her hand her his lips. It's not the gesture she was expecting and it's been some time since she met someone with the sort of decorum that reminded her of the court.

She lets her hand fall back to her side as he stalks away, following after him with her staff hanging at her side.]

This is my first time on a sea-faring ship myself. [She confesses, peering around at everything going on. But he's talking tactics and she responds in kind. Talking business always came more easily to her than other things,] I presume the Merrow would be able to launch an assault from below the waves as well - they have no need to surface so we should not only assume that an attack would come from on deck.

[Already, the princess gives a more in-depth assessment of potential Merrow tactics. Dimitri is content to settle on one game plan, and fight his way through anything that goes awry. She hasn't shown him the light regarding contingencies...

But he likes her implied plan better.]

So we wait beneath deck, near the cargo they're most likely to steal.

To avoid casualties, we should notify the crew to run rather than fight, but otherwise, I think that's a good plan.

[No time like the present to get started. Dimitri looks around before heading immediately to the sliding trap door that leads beneath deck. They'll find someone on their way to tell of their plan, and that person can spread the information.]

Is this agreeable to you? [Once again, the courtly manners. She did include her title in her introduction after all - she must expect, or at least appreciate, the decorum.

[It’s almost nostalgic, in a way, discussing battle strategy. She didn’t know this Dimitri much, but he gave her a similar feeling as Shiro did when he first came on board her castleship. Allura had been groomed and raised to someday take over her father’s place on the throne, but people like Shiro had leadership written into their bones. Deeper than any title.

She almost balks, when he agrees so readily – her insight on merrow tactics are only guesswork, based on her friendship with Lance and her history fighting space battles – where no fighter came from just one direction – but she steels herself in the next moment. Dilly dallying on tactics would do them no good, and she turns on heel to follow him as he makes his way to the trap door.]

I think it’s a place we can start. [She peers around before they disappear below deck. It’s much more claustrophobic here than anywhere on her castleship, and she sways a little with the rocking of the boat, reaching out a hand to steady herself on the wood beside her.]

Remind me, do ships like these have a means for defense? A... rudimentary particle barrier perhaps?

[It felt a little foolish to ask, but this was clearly a different beast from her castleship.]

[While Dimitri has never done battle aboard a sea vessel, he's fought more than a few skirmishes in tight quarters. The passages through the ship's underbelly are far narrower than anything he's used to, but the cargo hold is more spacious.

It'd be to their advantage - given the length of their weapons - to fight the bulk of their enemies there.

So he moves quickly.

Too quickly - several paces away from the princess when she staggers slightly into the siding. He reaches back, forward march halted with extended hand to offer a steadying bulwark until her legs adjust.] I'm sorry...

A what? [Foreign words, though he assumes they're of magical nature rather than technological.]

[She takes the offered hand gratefully, but does a relatively good job of adjusting to walking on board a ship, not letting the slight wobble in her step slow her pace.

But his confusion answers her question just as well and she huffs a sheepish sounding laugh. She probably should have known, but it didn't hurt to ask.]

It's a sort of shield meant to keep enemy combatants from getting close to the ship. They're fairly common on the larger ships in my father's fleet.

[Within a few paces the Princess's gait grows sure; Dimitri releases her hand promptly, though he keeps himself oriented slightly towards her as they slide through the narrow, damp hallways.

It's cooler down here - Dimitri appreciates the relief from the sun.]

I see. [So she's from a coastal country?] I haven't heard mention of any such shields.

I believe that we are the only precautions this ship's crew was able to take.

Though such a thing does seem ideal to prevent a bloody fight. I wonder if the Coven could...

[He trails off, turning fully to slide the cargo hold door open. Waves crash audibly against the hull of the ship here. Several lamps flicker alight when they enter, dimly lighting the rows of crates and bundles.

Dimitri crosses to a barrel and leans against it, surveying his field of view from there. It's acceptable, so he lets his spears rest at his side and settles into the spot.]

[It really is claustrophobic in here, and it feels even moreso when she nears the beat of the waves against the hull of the ship. Suddenly it made her very aware that they were only protected by human-carved lumber and caulk to keep it water tight, and not the strong metal composite that Alteans built with.

Best not to think too hard about that.]

Then we'll have to work twice as hard as any particle barrier.

[She jokes, sliding past him as he holds the door open for her. It's dark and musty in her and she wrinkles her nose a bit, appraising the boxes as Dimitri settles.]

...I'll admit, this is my first time being on board a vessel of this type before. It's all very. [Hm.] Small.

[Swaying with the waves of the sea isn't something Dimitri has ever become accustomed to. He so rarely traveled over water back home - his country an expanse of tundra and scattered stone towns. Now that they're settled below deck, he can feel his stomach churning.

The longer any ensuing fight draws out, the greater their disadvantage will be - neither of them is in full possession of their balance.

Dimitri glances to his spears before returning his attention to his partner with a small smile. He's not one to tell jokes, but he does appreciate them... the cheesier the better.]

Your royal fleet must be impressive, if this is underwhelming in comparison. [He means it as a true compliment, nothing derisive at all in his tone. To Dimitri, this ship is about what he'd expect, so someone who views it as rudimentary in comparison to their own must come from a society of great nautical prowess.

~~Space travel? What's that???~~]

[They're really going to be a wonder team, if Dimitri is getting sea sick and Allura can't find her sea legs. Blissfully, she's spared the same stomach churning experience. She's always had a strong stomach for these things.

When he compliments her fleet she smiles, nodding. ~~Modesty, what is that?~~] Oh, my ship could hold at least a dozen of these ships.

[That's not how boats work, but still.] My castle alone houses all five of the Voltron Lions, as well as a number of shuttle crafts, for civilians.

[She's chatting casually, not really thinking about the number of difficult concepts there were in that sentence.]

[The sheer enormity required to house vessels within vessels is a concept Dimitri doesn't think he can grasp. For a moment, his eyes go wide, honest surprise on full display as he tries to consolidate all of these concepts in his mind.

Having pet lions is all well and good, as is providing shuttle carriages for the laypeople.

He's utterly dumbstruck in the face of the size she's proposing-

Before he can ask for clarification, there's a sharp 'crack,' and the strong scent of seawater. He'll have to revisit his absolutely blown sense of scale later-

Dimitri lurches for his spear, and moves towards the door. As suddenly as the noise interrupted, the room falls silent but for waves rocking against the ship. And then, scratching, prying, snapping-] Are they coming through the hull itself?

[Sorry Dimitri, she sometimes forgets that not everyone comes from the same technology level as she does.

The crack of wood nearby makes the conversation immediately die and she yelps a startled noise. In the next instant jumping to her feet, and grabbing her staff. Only a few steps behind when they both stop for the noise of splintering wood. Nearby, of course the merrow would have figured out where the most vulnerable parts of a ship are by now.

They have a few seconds to act but she’s frozen, trying to figure out the logistics of this fight.]

They’re going to flood the hold. [The Mer have a significant advantage in the water. Thinking fast, she runs over to Dimitri. Closing her eyes, she touches his arm and there’s a flood of magic between them. A spell.

It’s one I’ve been working on- to help you breathe in the water. [Thank the stars for her antics with Lance.]

[Healing spells leave a particular warmth where they're cast, but the magic that slips from Allura is different. Dimitri can feel it seep into his skin, muscle beneath relaxing as the small burst of power flows through him.

It settles in his chest, and his breathing deepens.

Not uncomfortably - he smiles at her, brow set with confidence.] Good, we'll chip away at their advantage.

Attack quickly, before we're completely submerged.

[A sickening prying sound rips through the chamber, followed by the sudden stench of fish. Another scrape of wood and a panel of the hull is ripped away by an arm covered in jagged fins. Water rushes in.

Dimitri charges the hole, thrusting his spear through the hull inches from the gash. It punctures ship and flesh alike, and when he pulls back the water that sprays in is tinged with blood.]

[Hopefully they won’t need the underwater breathing. But she didn’t want to work off of a hope, and if there’s one similarity between fighting in space and fighting on the sea, it’s that they’d be sitting ducks once they’re out of their ship.

Her staff isn’t nearly so efficient as his spear, and she’s just about to use it to bat the hand away from the hole when he spears the mer through. She doesn’t see it, but there’s a sickening noise and a cry filtered through gills that tells her all she needs to know, and her breath catches.

Now isn’t the time to get shy about battle though, and she steels herself, kneeling in the quickly growing pool of sea water to get a better vantage of what’s outside. Another mer’s face pops into the space where the wood had been, and she makes a startled noise, but not without jamming her staff forward, wood connecting with the creatures head as it’s effectively torn from the side of the boat.]

If we make it hard enough, they might just give up- Ah! [She’s cut off as a different spear- one crusted in barnacles pierces through the ship in the space between her and Dimitri. Missing them both by scant inches.

In a moment of inspiration, she drops her staff, and goes to grab the shaft of the spear – engaging in an awkward tug of war between her and the spearman.]

[The mer Dimitri speared slips away from the ship, almost immediately replaced by another. It's talons dig into the hole Dimitri left in the hull, prying more wood away and widening the hole.

Water now bursting inside, there's a distinct ache in Dimitri's ear. The pressure is shifting - not that he understands what's happening.

All he knows is the growing urgency of their situation.

Typically he'd prefer to kill all of their assailants, but Allura is right. If they retreat, the ship will be protected and their job will be done. Dimitri slices the tip of his spear through the mer's clinging fingers. Severed, they drop into the water filling the room.

Only then does he notice the struggle at his side. Quickly, he reorients himself to grab the sea-crusted spear and help her pull. With a yank, they slam the merrow's head into the hull above the hole and it slips away, dizzied by the blow.

There's a hiss from outside, and then the broken hull begins to glow.] ...magic!?

[Without a target in sight to attack in hopes of interrupting the spell, Dimitri looks to Allura-]

[Freed from the grasp of the merrow, Allura quickly scrambles to flip the spear around, grasping it around it's shaft. It's a much deadlier weapon than her staff, and feels a good degree more sturdy, built out of metal and with a sharp, cruel hook at the end.

Her attention snaps from the spear to Dimitri, eyes widening. Mind racing through all of the lessons at the coven, instinctively guessing at what the spell might be, but they're running out of time. With a shout, she instinctively dives for Dimitri, shielding him from the blast of water that smashes into the ship a moment later.

Wood splinters as more of the hull is ripped away, and the whole of the hull fills with water and the two are dizzyingly buffeted up around the room, and then the pressure shifts, water flooding back out, dragging them and some of the lighter boxes along in it's powerful undertow. If they don't do something fast, they'll be out in open water at the mercy of the Merrow.]

Edited 2020-06-20 13:25 (UTC)

. summer's play

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oh shes so cute

:>

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even your fight scene writing has such voltron energy to it im amazed

your compliment was so kind it took me a week to reply