As the Big Island comes into view, John heads over to the helm.
John: do you mind if i sail for a little while?
John: i know the waters around the island pretty well - i used to sail around a lot with my pals.
Vriska: Then I defer to your expertise, John. So, sure. Go ahead. T8ke the wheel, and just kind of spin it around some to try and get a grasp.
Vriska: Just for the record though, I'm only letting you 8ecause this is a dream, and you can't actually accidentally wreck my real 8oat 8y running it aground or something.
Vriska: *She takes his hands, and sets them on the wheel, helping him get accustomed to its shape.*
Vriska: Alright, go nuts.
John sails around in the deep water further beyond the island for a while, getting used to the steering. She shows him around levers for acceleration and breaking too near the wheel.
Vriska: So what kind of a name is John, anyway?
John: I guess it's just one of the names my people had - my clan I mean. Lots of J names. Like my sister Jane, the Princess that I mentioned.
John: James, Jacob, Joel, Joe, Joy, June, Jill... man... I wonder how many of my other kinfolk ended up getting scooped up along with us by your piratey relatives!
Vriska: Why are you so sure that the pir8s who sn8tched you 8re rel8d to me, anyway?
Vriska: *She seems pretty sour about the implic8ion.*
John: i don't know! it's just this feeling that i get! your ships and armor seem the same.
John: Anyway... I'd tell you what my people are called to answer your question, but we just sort of called ourselves... the people. Which now that I'm thinking about it more, seems kind of dumb and silly?
John: I guess when you're living on an island in the middle of a vast ocean, even though you know there are other people in the world, it can feel like you're the only ones. But my world I guess is called Eszett.
Vriska: Eszett, huh? That sounds familiar.
John: It does?
Vriska: Yes it does but... it's kind of hard to remember. And I'm not sure if that's just 8ecause we're dreaming right now, or if it's 8ecause it's from some 8oring irrelevant history lesson, or some com8in8ion of 8oth of those things.
John: Huh! I guess... that's kind of a weird coincidence?
Vriska: *She shrugs her shoulders.*
John: *he looks around at the clouds and the sky, and thinks for a second.*
John: hang on, i have an idea. is it okay if i take us somewhere? it's another memory of the island, and i think if i think about it, i might be able to take us there?
Vriska: I think dreams are a little harder to navig8 than you're pro8a8ly making them out to 8e, 8ut sure! Give it a shot!
John: *he spins the wheel, and pushes the acceleration, speeding up the ship. it lances over the surface of the water towards its destination, kicking up a wake behind it, sails rippling with energy as he scoots it around the island toward a spot from what he's pretty sure is an important memory. suddenly, the ship lurches, throwing him from the wheel and tossing vriska across the deck.*
Vriska: Aaaaaaaargh.
Vriska: *She hops to her feet, running over to the railing.*
Vriska: We hit a reef! Gr8 jo8, genius!
John: wow you're light on your feet.
John: and hey! aren't you the person who just said it wasn't a big issue if i crashed the ship?
Vriska: Still kind of a 8onehead move!
John: it's where we need to be, anyway. i'm pretty sure this is the reef i was near in my memory.
John: *he starts undressing, taking off his shirt and pulling down his pants.*
Vriska: *Vriska recoils, jumping.*
Vriska: John!!!!!!!! What the fuck has gotten into you!
John: i'm going for a dive, come on.
John finishes stripping, showing off a body that ripples with lean muscle from hard years sailing, swimming, and exploring the island with his kith and kin, and throws his dream clothes to the deck of the ship, leaving him standing in swim clothes not from his handful of days on Sanctum but from his years on Eszett, and disappears over the port side with a majestic leap that surprises Vriska, splashing into the deeper water off the side of the reef.
Vriska: *She looks over the edge of the ship, eyes following him down, ashen cheeks darkening.
Vriska: *She grumbles, and starts taking off her longcoat and cuirass to follow him in.*
John: *john splashes down into the water and opens his eyes, long acclimated to the sting of salt water, pushing through the water past dream phantom fish, toward the reef.*
John: *he swims up above the waterline, and takes a big gulp of air, ducking back into the water to dart toward an outcropping, where he manages to get some footing on a slimy rock.*
Vriska: *She follows him, keeping her head a8ove the water, and finally catches up, treading water near him.* Where are you going in such a hurry so suddenly!
Vriska: Wow, and I thought elves were flighty! Hahahaha.
John: there's something i want to look at from a memory... something i just thought might be important suddenly. but i don't think it's the right time. the clouds don't look right and the sun's not at the right angle. this probably isn't even the right day!
Vriska: SPEAK UP! THE WIND AND WAVES ARE SO LOUD, I CAN 8ARELY M8KE OUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING!
John: OH SORRY! HANG ON A SECOND. I'M GOING TO SEE IF I CAN'T CHANGE THIS TO THE RIGHT MEMORY!
Vriska: I DON'T THINK THAT'S HOW THIS WORKS, THE DREAMS KIND OF DO WHAT THEY-
The wind in the dream flutters to a stop, and then rises to a gale force around John. It is not the wind of his memory, but the ethereal force of the dream changing around them. The clouds billow rapidly, and the sun and moon rise and set a handful of times as the clock changes and John thinks about the days that go by.
Vriska: *Vriska's mouth hangs open as she watches.*
Vriska: (Woah.)
John: *the dream finishes its transformation around john, revealing a sky filled with grey clouds and another sea breeze. it looks like late afternoon, and about to rain.*
John: *john opens his eyes and looks around.*
John: ok yes. this is the right day.
Vriska: WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?!!!!!!!!
John: *john squints, and points up into the sky.*
John: THAT!
Vriska: *She squints, and then her eyes slowly widen.*
Vriska: What is that?