deercountry | a catastrophe and yet a masterpiece

[ Sato sighs. He shakes his head and gives a smile. ]

Are you ready to go fishing?

[ He doesn't want to lead her to talk about matters that would be uncomfortable. Sometimes the best thing is to fish and relax. ]

[vi finishes her tea and sets down the little cup gently and letting out a breath.]

We ...didn't have a lot to go around, and a lot of what we got our hands on we had to sell. [understatement of the highest order, and she chews her lip a moment, but she isn't embarrassed, just thoughtful, deciding how much to reveal: how much to make her shit someone else's problem.]

Spent my childhood in a slum, below a whole city that wanted to pretend that trash like me didn't exist. Thing is, there's 'trash' everywhere, and it doesn't have anything to do with where you live or what you have. Most of us "undercity scum", at least in The Lanes, we had each other's backs, and while it lasted it was worth a more than any fancy thing topside, even their sunlight and clean air. We had to fight for a lot of what we had. We had to fight for each other, and that meant something.

[she blinks at his compliment - it's been a long time since anyone qualifying as an adult has said something like that to her as well. now she's a bit embarrassed. not for anything she's said, but for the length of it. there's a pride in her words, though, and her smile remains as she tells what she tells.]

Ready as I'll ever be. Maybe you can tell me about your old home, or what games you like to play while we fish. Y'know, if you want to.

I see.

The old man expresses his sympathies. Somewhere amidst his failed memories, Sato feels as though he faced a similar issue. Why does life always have to play a game of 'us' versus 'them?' He sighs.

Sometimes despite being thrown into the bullpen, so to speak, people grow stronger because of that adversity.

He takes a moment to grab a couple of rods and an extra tackle box. With a warm smile, Sato nods.

I'm sure we can continue this chat aboard. After all, fishing is a great place for talking.

As he prepares to lead the way, Sato looks ahead to the sky. He admires the ocean's beauty in spite of it bringing him to the strange land. Sato enters the boat and waits for her to climb aboard. Once all are set, he brings the boat several yards out to sea. The waves are calm as he anchors the vessel. Sato hands her a rod and prepares opens the tackle box. The old man baits his hook then casts it into the sea.

May we have some luck!

Sato cheers. As some time passes, he attempts to draw upon some old memories. After all, Vi has been open about her previous situation. It's only fair. He thinks with a somber smile.

There's a lot of details that are blurred, but I think that I had a relatively boring childhood in contrast to yours. That's probably why I sought out as many thrills as I could...Perhaps, you can say that I was a regular daredevil. However, I think that my mindset eventually led to some risky decisions...If I could remember more, than maybe I would share.

He regards Vi with a thumbs up.

I appreciate your honesty. I know, it's not easy to talk about certain things. But at least I know one thing is sure--you can count on me as your comrade!

[vi will step in without hesitation, and yes, the ocean is beautiful - this ocean that's strange and frightening and somehow feels like home - an ocean that's responsible for birthing them here in the first place.

the fishing rod is nicer than any that came before it, and she takes a moment to examine it, appreciate - before reaching into the box and baiting her hook, too. that part's muscle memory she didn't think she still had. her cast's not as good as it could be, but it's not shit, and she huffs a small laugh as it plunks on the surface - sinks.

who the fuck would have thought this would even be possible?

vi nods when he mentions thrillseeking, being a bit of a daredevil in a way that says get seeking thrills. risky decisions, too.]

Still a bit of a daredevil, here. Working on that, trying to get it to be less regular. Not sure how that'll turn out.

[a good natured shrug and a pause.]

I'm not used to counting on people anymore. It's ...weird. Hard, even. But I'm trying to let that go. It can't be just me anymore. It's supposed to be different here.

[it's tons different. she's fishing on water that isn't full of toxic waste, breathing in air that's breathable. talking to this man like she's known him for at least a few days. maybe it's because she's not herself yet. maybe it's because she is.]

I understand.

[ The old man responds pensively. He treads through the recesses of his mind to reach a conclusion. ]

I think, that being Sleepers, we ought to stick together. Perhaps, given this new terrain, we will come across good allies and friends.

[Sato gives a warm smile. His eyes glint towards the sea. He carefully looks overboard and points to the water. ]

Maybe we'll have better luck in a moment! Incredible sight, right?

[The old man appears jovial. He shows Vi a school of fish swirling in the depths below. ]

Seems like a good plan, yeah. I'd rather make allies than enemies.

[though, to be fair? she's used to making enemies. wasn't always the case. the trenchies don't seem to want them here this month. what had changed? the month, the patron - but she doesn't know any of this, yet.

what she does know is that she feels a spot of calm amid excitement - and her excitement isn't fueled by danger - and those fish - what a sigh that is.]

Hell yeah, it is.

[and maybe. maybe they will. she catches herself holding her breath in hope - she doesn't need to do that to catch fish, not like this. she waits, waits. and ...there's the tug.]

I've got one. I've got a bite.

Incredible!

[ Sato cheers. He watches with earnest as Vi reels in her catch. ]

Steady now, and soon you'll snag him soon!

[ The old man cannot help but to help. Once the fish flings out of the water- its scales glisten in the evening sun. Sato throws his arms in the air, nearly knocking his fishing rod off of the boat. Once he repositions his own rod, the old man grabs a bucket for Vi's fish. ]

I knew you would catch one!

[ Upon a quick pause, Sato beams with the delight of a new idea. ]

Let's see who can snag the most!

[it's on! one down and ...let's fill a bucket!]

You. It's gonna be you, I bet. But that doesn't mean I'm not gonna try and beat you.

You're on!

[she is in this - and it's not long before she catches another - longer before the next - and her casts are fair, but never with the ease that sato seems to manage. ah, that's to be expected, though. can't get better at something if you don't try - and he lives on the water - probably has been catching fish far before trench.

he's making a game of it - that's something she might have done with her makeshift family - they made games out of lots of things.

as she waits for any further bites, she watches sato - the way he casts - the way he baits his hook - they are things she will try to emulate. but the gleam in his eye and his enthusiasm - she doesn't have to try there - that part just comes.]

Sounds good!

[ Sato fetches a bucket for himself. As the two fish above the school, snagging a bite becomes easier. One, two, three and more flailing fish are brought into the air. Sato enjoys the game, though he failed to set a time limit. At least, the sun seems to make one for the fishing duo. ]

Looks like we're about done!

[ Sato says with a smile while pointing at the sun. As he reels in his final catch, the old man knicks a finger. He places his rod down and wipes his finger on a handkerchief. The wound is minor and heals remarkably well. The old man turns to Vi's bucket. ]

We may have to weigh the catch to find out the winner. It might be a close one. What do you think?

[ He grabs his bilucket and shows the haul. The two have full loads of fish, but weighing them on a scale will be better. ]

Too be honest, I lost count!

[ The old man laughs. He leads the way to a scale in the captain's cabin. ]

[vi can't say how many she's caught, either - her thoughts have drifted between wonder to melancholy to a sense of nothingness - a couple rare moments of just being in the present without a sense of worry hovering over.

neither does she worry when she sees the wound - sleeper blood, she's been told, is resilient - though this is faster than anything she's seen. it's like the transformation from tentacle to limb, only ...faster. weirder to be a squid, to know that deep down under all this flesh they're all squids - that's almost to weird to dwell on. so she doesn't.]

Mmmmm. Well, I think you've got the edge, and I'm cool with that. But I guess we'll find out.

[the haul is good. the haul - the sun's journey through the sky and on the water - it's been one of the most normal things in trench in the last couple days - which were among her first couple days. violet takes up her bucket and follows, watching what he does - she'll place hers on the scale after he places his. it's his place - he gets dibs on all of the things.]

[ Sato observes the weight. He turns back to Vi with a smile. ]

Option 1:

Look at that! I've won by .5 pounds!

[ The old man laughs lightly. ]

Better luck next time.

Option 2:

[ Sato whistles.]

Looks like you win! By half a pound too.

[He throws a thumbs up. ]

Congratulations !

[she is the novice, here. still - a bucket of fish, any fish at all, is nothing to sneeze at. vi caught what she caught, and that's cool with her. she's stayed out of the worst of the crowd, spent time both in comfortable silence and a bit of not unwelcome conversation, so ...there are worse days to have.

she shrugs, nodding. gives him the thumbs up.]

Maybe, yeah. Was still a good time, and really ...cool of you.

Any time!

[ The old man smiles. ]

I'm always game for a rematch!

[ The sun begins to set over the sea. The incredible view brings Sato a light heart. ]

We'll have to head back soon. But look at the sky!

[ He walks over to the railing and extends a finger outward. No matter the challenges ahead, one thing is certain: it's important to enjoy the happy moments. ]

You know, when we get back I'll help pack your fish for you. How does that sound?

[ Sato smiles. He has no intention of keeping her hard earned haul. ]

Me too, Sato. Anytime.

[the last time she'd looked at the sky - evening, not sunset - it had been one of the worst things she could have gazed upon - this, right now, is the opposite of that. it's another indicator that things are different here. reality's different. she can be different. when she looks at it a lump forms in her throat, but it's not ...bad. it's just a lot. her face is writ in wonder and wordlessness.]

Sounds like a plan.

[the happy moments have been rare - and usually turned on a dime into heartache and disaster, so this is ...again, unexpected.]

[ Once the fishing boat docks, Sato prepares a box for the fish. He hands Vi her catch with a smile. ]

It was a pleasure meeting you. Stay safe out there!

a catastrophe and yet a masterpiece

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OPTION 1

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