:)Ch54
A great geyser erupts out in the distance and through the fountain of water and ocean foam...I see it.
Jumping high out of the water and thrashing wildly to shake off its hook is a positively gorgeous turquoise colored marlin.
17 feet from dorsal to tail minimum. Its bigger, badder, and more beautiful than any of its cousin species back on Earth.
'And it's going to be mine!' I keep cranking the reel, silently hoping the heavy-duty line doesn't snap on its own...when my small window dries up.
Alert! [Adrenalin Rush] has expired!
STR (229.5) → (135)
'No no come on! I almost had him!' The marlin senses my weakening and renews its fight with a vengeance. I can see the splashes from its flailing out on the horizon and once again the two of us are caught in a deadlock.
Two of the fisherman grab at the neck of my rod and try to help pull it in. "What'd you stop for!" The one named Gabe shouts. "You were winning!"
My jaw clamps down as I push harder on the reel arm. Even just getting half a turn has me sweating and grunting with strain.
'I need the boost [Game]! I get three a day! Gimme the damn boost!' [Adrenalin Rush] Activated!
STR (135 +70%) → (229.5)
A maniacal laugh rips from my throat as I overpower my prize again. The beast gets dragged closer and closer to the shallows and I see that my initial estimate of 17 feet was...conservative...This big ol' bastard is looking more like 22 or 23.
That's just about quadruple the size that fat businessmen hang on their office walls. Somebody needs to tell them to man up and get on my level!
[Adrenalin Rush] fades away again but by then the work is basically done. It's close enough to the shore now that all I need to do is start walking backwards to drag it in, with perhaps a little assistance from my fellow anglers.
All the sun tanners and beach goers have cleared out of the way as the monster crests over the final wave and flops down on the sand. I reel in the last bit of line and gaze upon the fish with no shortage of personal satisfaction.
Ding!
You've caught a rare fish!
+10 Exp!
'Oh gee whiz! Thanks [Game]! A whole 10 Exp! I'll be sure not to spend it all in one place!'
I'm not sure why I'm getting all sassy with the [Game]. It's not like I was expecting a prize in the first place.
I guess it's kind of like receiving 50 cents for a job you were going to do for free. It makes the whole achievement feel...cheapened.
"Hey!" I shout to the onlooking crowd and my brand new fishing buddies. "Who wants to help me fillet this bad boy?" I knock back another swig while the crowd sings their part. I could lie and say that the alcohol burns but... honestly? I'm so far gone I don't even taste the booze anymore.
Now I've had some good times in this new second life of mine. Been to some parties. Shared a drink or two at more than one friendly get-together. But not once though, not a single time, have I allowed myself to truly cut loose.
To throw all caution and good sense out the window and have a night where I get completely, utterly, out for the count, three sheets to the wind, shitfaced.
And there's my cue again!
~Oftentimes have we laid out, toil nor danger fearing.~ ~Tugging out the flapping sail, to the weather earring.~ Barely a blink passes before the chorus kicks in on its own,
~Long we've tossed on the rolling main, now we're safe ashore, Jaaack.~ ~Don't forget yer old shipmate, faldee raldee raldee raldee rye-doe!~
The bartender trades me two bottles for another wad of cash and I sweep across the room, refilling every drained mug I see,
~When the middle watch was on, and the time went slow, boy,~ ~Who could choose a rousing stave, who like Jack or Joe, boy?~
~Long we've tossed on the rolling main, now we're safe ashore, Jaaack.~ ~Don't forget yer old shipmate, faldee raldee raldee raldee rye-doe!~
I wonder if [HP Regen] helps with hangovers...meh that's future-me's problem.. ~There she swings, an empty hulk, not a soul below now.~ ~Number seven starboard mess, misses Jack and Joe now.~
~Long we've tossed on the rolling main, now we're safe ashore, Jaaack.~ ~Don't forget yer old shipmate, faldee raldee raldee raldee rye-doe!~
My arms swing out, sloshing the remaining drink onto a patrons arm who cheerily laughs it off,
~But the best of friends must part, fair or foul the weather.~ ~Hand yer flipper for a shake, now a drink together.~
The final verse hits and the whole tavern goes absolutely nuts.
~Long we've tossed on the rolling main, now we're safe ashore, Jaaack.~ ~Don't forget yer old shipmate, faldee raldee raldee raldee rye-doe!~ ~O' long we've tossed on the rolling main, now we're safe ashore, Jaaack.~ ~Don't forget yer old shipmate, faldee raldee raldee raldee ryyye-dooooeeee!~
The song ends and the bar explodes into an uncontrolled raucous of whoops, cheers, and table banging. Glasses are clinked together, laughing fits are still going strong, and soon patrons are slapping their hands down demanding another, and well..who am I to disappoint them?
"Okay okay okay." I drunkenly slur, shaking my hands in front of me. "Who knows this one? Jump in when you know the words!"
I climb atop the nearest table -nearly falling on my own ass while doing so- and drunkenly wobble for a moment as I struggle for balance. A deep breath fills my chest and my boot begins tapping to a beat that I was prayingthe people of this world would somehow recognize.
And when the entire room started grinning, that prayer was rewarded.
~What will we do with a drunken sailor?~ ~What will we do with a drunken sailor?~ ~What will we do with a drunken sailor?~
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