"You’ve got the makings of greatness in you, but you got to take the helm and chart your own course! Stick to it, no matter the squalls.”
- Long John Silver, Treasure Planet
Turns out seafaring may not be quite as interesting as you thought. It’s been a couple days since setting sail and everyone on board has fallen into a rhythm. But the endless horizon still holds an air of excitement, and you know that something could change at any moment.
Dare:
"Swab the deck!" Another crew member calls to you. It's not exactly exciting, but it is a change, and it's important. Swabbing the deck uses the salty ocean spray to preserve the wood from rot and swell shut any gaps between planks. For the next 500 words, take a drink of water every time you use a punctuation mark of your choice to swell shut the gaps between your own planks.
Ambiance:
As you swab the deck, you’re surrounded by the sound of the sea and the light banter of your crew mates. The ocean is calm, the weather is fair, and life aboard the Oaken Inkwell is good, if boring. Half the deck is glistening in the sun and you've found a lazy focus.
Prompt:
A shadow passes over you. "A Black Albatross? A bad omen, if you ask me," your crew mates mutter. After a moment's debate, they send you to climb the rigging of the spritz sail. The deck has never looked so far away as you tenuously wave one trembling arm in the face of the great bird. Challenge your character to use an unfamiliar skill and explore the different difficulties that it brings.
Question:
What is something that your character will learn by the end of your story?
Always loved that quote!