hadriel | [ Video ] 01 - The sea, the great unifier, is man's only hope.

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[ Video ] 01 - The sea, the great unifier, is man's only hope.

[ The video pops on to Rey's excited face, bits of hair falling in her eyes and sweat beating on her temples and clinging to her red cheeks as she sets the phone on something high enough to show where she is. ]

This is the prototype's first real water test! I've made a few adjustments after testing the parts in the fresher and I think that it'll support my weight.

[ As she backs up you can see about 12 water-bottles taped together inside a plastic bag is tucked over her head and tied around her waist, and she motions towards a monstrosity of a contraption that was floating, tied to shore with a length of rope. Rey's incredibly excited about it though, and waves to it, her voice loud for the camera, and sounding more than a little manic. ]

It took me a while to find material that wouldnt sink, even when filled with air! I've got very little experience with needing to make things float on water, but - [ She laughs ] I think I got it right this time. Oh and to steer!

[ She grabs something off the ground and lifts a broom that's had a dust pan taped to the end of it, and now, covered in bottles and beside her junkraft, she looks quite mad. Rey tosses the paddle into the boat and then jogs back to the phone, reaching for it.]

I'll check back in after it's maiden voyage! Wish me luck!

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Please be careful, lady. (Celebrimbor knows her enthusiasm well and he knows how her situation can turn sour very quickly.) Do not sail out too far and if you encounter any foul currents, turn around and request aid.

I won't. I hardly know how to swim. [ She laughs, the irony of being a sand-rat plunging herself into the ocean not lost on her. ] Thank you for your concern though, it is good advice. I hope to make something bigger than this eventually. Do you have experience with sailing?

(Now he is MORE worried. Rey!)

All the Elves of my world are drawn to the Sea. I know how to sail and well. I feel a great fear for you.

Will you not come back to shore?

I may need to pick your brain then, if you'd have the time.

[ She's definitely not coming back yet! She still hasn't really tested her craft out! ]

I do want to make something a little more robust in the future.

That didn't take very long. [Some folks just leapt straight to problem solving. It's a cute trait to have.]

So, how'd it go? Still kickin' or did you drown out there?

[ She's bobbling around in the water, her pants getting nice and soaked but she's still looking very pleased with her self. ]

Haven't drowned yet! It seems to work!

Hey, that's a start, huh? [The girl's obvious enthusiasm for her little invention is adorable.]

How far out are you? See anything interesting?

No, not yet.

[ She's only a few feet from shore, and she makes a little determined face and lifts the paddle. Nothing gained without some risk right? The boat wobbles in response, bobbing in the water.]

I'll go out a bit further and see if there's any fish.

Where you at? Off of what island? If you want a hand or just someone to help drag you back to shore if you start goin' under, I can probs help.

[Look, she'll feel a little bad if the girl starts drowning over the device and no one is there to scoop her out of the ocean.]

I'm not certain, but I was in my room when we moved, in the third spire? Are you on this one?

[ She's definitely not going to say no to a safety lookout. ]

Spire three, huh? Pretty sure that's the island north of me. But I can pop over.

The benefit of having - [The elf holds up a hand and wiggles her fingers.] - Magic.

[Like that actually explains anything.]

Holy shit that's fucking badass.

[They have exactly the same amount of chill about this stuff. Read; zero.]

What island are you setting off from? Where do you want to go?

[ She laughs at that, pleased that he's as excited as she is. ]

The one with the third spire, I heard someone call it the north island? I dont have a destination yet, this is just a test run. But One of the other islands eventually.

Shoot. I'm on the west island, or I'd offer to spot you-

If you start sinking there's a small, small chance I can get to you, but, uh. Small enough that you should super try not to drown!

That's why I have this! [ She pats all the empty water bottles taped around her chest, the motion making a musical kind of hollow sound. ] I can't actually swim. At least, no more than a few feet. So I have taken precautions.

Is that a flotation device?

[He asks, leaning in and peering closer.]

Here's hoping you don't have to use it, the water looks cold.

It is! It floats in the 'fresher very well.

[ She brings the camera closer, showing him the bottles and how they're tied inside the bag. ]

The boat floats, but it doesn't keep out water all that well so my legs are already very chilly. Next time I'll put sides on it.

Christ, I'm getting anxiety just watching you. We'd better hang up before I start mothering you, a random stranger, to death. But get back in touch when you land?

Is that-- is that a boat??

[Can you just make a boat out of garbage like that? She's a good engineer, but she's never done boats.]

Does it w-work??

[ She's paddling around on it and gives her a 360 view of her surroundings, her clothes a little wet from splash-over but otherwise yes, she's floating! You can make a boat out of trash! ]

Seems to be working well enough!

[Alphys leans in close to the camera, blinking as she takes in the scene.]

That's amazing!! How many tests did it take to make it buoyant?? Does the design have a weight limit? Is there anything to help with it flipping over or stabilization?

[ That makes her laugh. ]

Well it's it's first test so I really don't know how much weight it can handle! I took several things I could fill with air and threw it into the tub in the fresher. The big plastic bottles seem to float the best. And then I just connected it with plastic piping and really heavy tape...so far it's holding up well. Eventually I want to make it a bit more...durable. I know plenty about space ships but not water ships, so it's all trial and error as of yet.

[Hearing her process just serves to make her more excited.]

That's so cool! I've never made uh, a-any ships, but-- it looks great! I'd imagine having a, uh, some stabilizers on the side might help for it not to get thrown so much.

[ Curufin is working on his own boat, but he keeps the phone nearby at all times, on a bench amongst the tools. When he sees Rey's watercraft and her excitement and enthusiasm, he grins with delight. ]

Amazing! I do wish you luck. Where are you headed?

Edited 2018-06-02 00:43 (UTC)

Thank you! I don't have a destination, it's just a test run, but if it floats for a bit longer maybe I'll make an attempt for one of the other island. I can see it after all. How far could it be?

[ That is of course a terrible idea, but she's feeling more and more confident the longer her rig holds up. ]

[ Chuckle ] I hope it does keep floating. Maybe a quarter of a mile?

[ He likes risk-takers, and is one himself. The amusing thing about risk is that it doesn't always kill you; it often pays off, or at least gives you great stories to tell later. ]

[ Glancing at the thread archive. ] You're on the North Island? So am I. If you start to sink, give a shout on the phone if you can.

[ She nods, now a bit further from shore than she had been. The waves are making the craft bob around, and her pants are thoroughly soaked, but she's still floating and generally in control of the craft. ]

I hope it doesn't come to that, but I will take you up on that offer if it does. I've never had occasion to really swim.

[ He's getting as much visual info as he can from the phone image. She seems to be doing all right so far. Let's hope her luck holds! ]

You don't swim? Make sure that thing stays tied tight around your waist, then!

[Jane looks more than a little incredulous]

Are you sure that's gonna work? Looks like a pretty big gamble to me.

It seems to work! IT's not all that...DRY, but it does float!

Where are you planning to go with that thing?

[Squint.

She gets the idea. It doesn't even look half bad.]

Where did you find all that stuff?

I'm a very good scavenger.

[ And has no qualms digging through garbage. ]

Okay, that answers the how, but not the where.

[Call her curious.]

[Elena is absolutely in favor of experimentation in transportation, but she's a little concerned.]

I wish you all the luck. Do you have someone with you, though? Just in case it doesn't work as well as you expect.

[Please don't drown right after they left the desert, Rey.]

[ She thinks to Ben, where ever he is, for half a moment. She's already asked too much of him since arriving here, and as such shakes her head. ]

I'm fine, I have a safety device!

[ The water-bottles tied to her midsection make a hollow noise as she beats on them. ]

[Yeah, she noticed the bottles. And it's good that they're there--better than the alternative! Probably.]

Did you test the...safety device on its own?

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[ Video ] 01 - The sea, the great unifier, is man's only hope.

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