I want to swim away but don't know how

[insecrets]

Characters: Finnick Odair, everyone who was interested from this post, and OPEN.
Date: Backdated to around the day of the post and over the weekend, since there was a lot of interest
Location: On a boat. On the ocean. On the shell's edge? Idek.
Situation: Fishiiiiiiiiiing.
Warnings/Rating: Innuendo, for sure. Will edit if needed.


[Since arriving on Tu Vishan, Finnick's felt like he's going to explode. Like one day, he'll just not get out of bed again. Thankfully, the pull of the ocean is stronger than his need to simply stop existing for awhile. Fishing is as natural to him as breathing, and while he had really wanted to have quiet time to himself, he likes that so many people are interested in either joining him or having him teach them how it's done.

He likes that a lot more than being alone. He can't be alone anymore.]


[ooc: so feel free to assume whatever day you want to go out with Finnick. With so much interest in the post, I figured this would be the easiest way of doing it rather than having everyone come out all on one trip/one day, yada yada. c:]

Comments

[wintershepherd]

[ It was almost sunset when Jack came swooping out of the sky near the shell's edge with a few flurries, spying a small boat on a long rope tether with a lone but familiar figure fishing to it. Breaking into a grin, Jack descended until he was hovering not far away, cushioned by the Wind, then landed lightly on the rope so that it frosted over; his weight was so scant that the rope barely dipped. He couldn't communicate to Finnick without the consoles but he hoped he could at least hang out. ]

[insecrets]

[It's been quiet so far, peaceful. Sitting here, there's plenty of time to think, although his thoughts mostly center on Annie. Is she okay right now? There's a selfish part of him that wishes she was here with him, although he's afraid of what it'd do to her. Johanna, for all her issues, is stronger than Annie, and even she freaked out.

Lost in his thoughts, it takes him a moment to notice the frost on the rope, the slight dip as if someone were touching it.] Glad you could make it.

[There's really only one person who it could be.]

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack smiles as Finnick greets him, dancing nimbly along the rope with his staff behind his shoulders like a casual tightrope walker. ]

Thanks for the invitation.

[ He leaned down to draw a smiley face on the plank seat across from Finnick to convey what he'd just said. ]

[insecrets]

[Finnick smiles back at the picture.] Anytime. Anyone who appreciates the "old school" way of doing things is... [The man trails off for a second before he looks around sharply, brows furrowed.]

Say something again.

[wintershepherd]

Wha--?

[ Jack's eyes widened when Finnick started replying to his remark, his steps fumbling on the rope so that he slipped off it, landing in the bottom of the boat with a bump but more occupied with staring at the older one. ]

Did you... did you hear me just now? Can you hear me?

[insecrets]

[The boat rocks a little for a second, and Finnick grabs a rail to keep himself steady as it calms down again.]

Unless I've gone mad. I'm not really sure which option is more likely at this point... [Could he be having another relapse?]

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack had extended a hand cautiously to see if he could touch Finnick or if his hand would pass right through him, but he stopped well short of actual contact when the man wonders if he's insane. The winter teen bites his lower lip, sitting in the bottom of the boat and looking up at Finnick even though the other couldn't see him. Finally he speaks again, his voice quiet and suddenly hesitant. ]

... which one do you want to be the truth?

[insecrets]

[Finnick recognizes that tone. He's heard it a million times, and a frown twitches on his lips. He's not trying to make the guy feel bad about anything, not when it isn't his fault that Finnick can't see him.

And then he smiles.] Well, the truth is, I'm already pretty insane. I also know that there are plenty of people who can see you. So either they're crazier than I am, or I can hear you talking to me. So we'll go with both as an answer.

[wintershepherd]

Yeah, that sounds like a good plan.

[ That earns Finnick a new smile, relieved and still a little shy and he decides to leave this part of the conversation where it is for the moment, and return it to the original topic.

He gets up from the bottom of the boat and perches on its edge again, across from Finnick to keep everything balanced. His bare toes dangle in the water, creating little patterns of ice that last only a few seconds in the salt water before dissolving. ]

So what kinds of fish do you think you can catch here?

[insecrets]

Not really sure. [It's both an adventure and a little bit irritating. Finnick runs his fingers through his bronze hair, watching the patterns of ice in the water.] The few I've caught are nothing like I've ever seen before, but then again... [He laughs.] The only place I've ever fished, besides in an arena, was back home in District 4. If there were other types, then I've never encountered them before.

[There's a pause in conversation as he goes to place bait on his hook.] The animals on Tu Vishan are unlike anything I've seen. Similar, but not exactly right.

[wintershepherd]

How do you fish in an arena?

[ Jack automatically pictures a sports arena like is in Burgess. ]

And don't worry, I don't think the animals here are ones that any of us have seen before. It's like they're more than one animal blended together.

[ He watches Finnick bait his hook, smiling... it was a tiny piece, a fragment of a memory recovered from the memories in his teeth. ]

I remember... going out really early in the mornings to find worms. The mist was so heavy between the trees that it felt like I was the only one for miles.

[insecrets]

The arenas usually have a water source. Sometimes, the water has fish. It's the same as fishing out in the world, just... You're being watched at all times. [It's as creepy as it sounds.]

A little like mutts. [Edible mutts, but still mutts.

He casts the line when he finally has the bait on the hook, listening to Jack with a small smile of his own.] I was three when my father first took me to a shallow river to catch bait. He said that any son of his should be able to catch a minnow with his own hands.

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack couldn't really picture someone watching him all the time -- it was like the worst possible opposite of what'd he'd been through. His gaze follows the line as it was cast into the water. ]

That's a good memory... were you and he close?

[insecrets]

[Was he close with his father? Finnick waits for the idea of his parents to hurt, but it never comes.]

Before I was reaped into the Hunger Games, we were pretty close. He taught me a lot about fishing and defending myself.

[wintershepherd]

Is he the one you learned how to use a trident from?

[ Jack had seen a lot of unusual weapons in his time as a spirit, but he'd never met any one of them who used that particular one. ]

[insecrets]

A little bit. [Finnick nods as he rolls the line up. No bait, no fish. Oh well. Just gotta try again.] I learned how to use a lot of weapons from him. And from... my mentor, Mags. The trident is just special because it was the reason I won the Games.

[You know, catching children like they were fish. Stabbing them. That kind of thing.]

[wintershepherd]

[ So, so glad that part is not mentioned aloud or else = broken!Jack. ]

So how do you cook the fish once you catch them?

[insecrets]

[This is a much better topic change now. Finnick tries to not think about the Games more than he needs to.]

Depends on what you want, really. You could fry it, bake it, put it in soups or stew. [Fish all day, erryday.] Roast it over an open fire.

[wintershepherd]

"Mmm," Jack said enviously. "Those all sound so good. You're making me hungry, Finnick!"

[insecrets]

[Finnick laughs.] I think that would probably have to convince me that you're there. Where else would the fish be going?

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack begins to laugh. ]

If I'd known it was going to be that easy, I'd have just brought us some snacks while we fished. Or, you fished at least.

[insecrets]

We'll just have to keep it in mind for the next time we hang out. I'm starting to get a little jealous of those people who can see you.

[wintershepherd]

[ Aww Finnick, that's a really sweet thing to say. ]

Don't worry, it'll come. If I were North, I'd say I can "feel it in my belly"! But even if you can't see me yet, you can always ask me if you need anything, okay? We're friends.

[ The last part is said with certainty and Jack believes it, even if Finnick may not necessarily reciprocate the feeling yet. ]

[insecrets]

We're friends. [Finnick doesn't have a lot of friends, and sometimes he worries about what that term even means. But he thinks it's right; he's friends with Jack.] All good things come with time, I guess. [A grin.] Hopefully just like these fish.

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack smiles, contented with the affirmation, crosses his arms on the railing of the boat and looks down at the water. ]

Maybe the fish around here are more attracted to lures than bait.