Thread: Alternate Timeline Crossover RP (EvelynWillows & Reality Escapee)

He saw a vessel on the horizon, colorfully painted with red and white, with a blue awning, and a blue line at the water level. Near the stern was a waving piece of fabric, which matched the colors of the ship. To Aristides, the cloth resembled a battle standard meant to rally soldiers, yet the boat didn't look like a military vessel. In fact, it looked rather small, nonthreatening, and flammable. His thoughts on the boat were distracted by the woman aboard it. If he held any fears that the vessel represented a military power, they were dispelled by her, and her manner of dressing. Here was a woman obviously at leisure. Aristides had no idea what to make of the pink substance in her mouth, but he recognized a flotation device when he saw one. He leaped for it, plunging into the deep waters of the Pacific. He paddled for what seemed like forever, astonished at how slowly he moved. After several moments, he grabbed the ring, and pulled himself up. He gave a sigh of relief, and an involuntary tide of gratitude flooded into him. No matter where you went, it seemed, you could sometimes rely on the kindness of strangers. He reminded himself firmly not to let his gratitude cloud his judgment. Thank you! He said, speaking English back at her. His Koine Greek accent was pretty strong, no doubt, but he could make himself understood at least. So many questions flooded his mind as the ring was pulled up to the deck. His fingers hooked along the rail like talons, and he hoisted himself over, eager to stand on a stable surface. He truly didn't know what to make of this woman. She appeared to be young, or at least slightly younger than him. Her scant clothing, while practical in a warm climate, would be considered frivolous and distracting in Alexandria. His own clothing covered everything from the neck down but his arms. It was normally loose and breezy, allowing relief from heat despite covering most of the body, but right now it clung to him uncomfortably. He must seem even stranger to her. At least he knew she was from another world, whereas she would be trying to identify him in terms of her own world. What must she think? That he was testing some sort of new type of aircraft? He noted the incendiary firearm on his hip, the device he had used to signal for help. It was definitely something that may make her uneasy. He wished he'd had the presence of mind to conceal it. He experienced a sudden twinge of doubt that he would be able to use it on her if he had to, especially after she saved his life. Even so, he wasn't willing to disarm himself in an alien world. A distress signal. Nothing more. He told her, patting the weapon at his belt. To her eyes, that might be believable. It fired pellets that exploded into small, brilliant pockets of intense heat. Only if she experienced the blast at close range would she feel just how great that heat was. He still didn't have a decent story to tell her, not without knowing more about this world. He tried his best to divert the questions away from himself, or at least delay them. I am very fortunate you were there. It is far from your mainland to be sailing for pleasure, no? He asked, hoping he was stringing a coherent English sentence together. It sounded awkward, but his memory told him it was more or less correct. He smiled at her weakly, but his cool dark eyes were scanning the boat, noting the technology and materials involved. His spectroscopy machines had sunk to the bottom of the ocean, but the hull, deck and cabin were obviously coated with a synthetic polymer. The entire craft seemed to be powered by a straightforward hydrocarbon combustion engine. He struggled with his story mentally. He could say he was just sailing a boat himself, when some object exiting orbit fell and clipped the front of his vessel, sinking it. If she had been watching closely though, she would know that was a lie. It would be obvious to her that his sinking vessel was precisely what had fallen from the sky. Everything depended on how much she knew. Blasted satellite. He remarked, inviting her request for clarification, and hoping to draw information from her line of questioning. If she asked him what he was doing on a satellite, then clearly there was no point in claiming he hadn't been on it, and that it had merely sunk his boat.