WHALE WATCH (ACTION; OPEN TO ALL)

[oneandmikleonly]

I. WHALE FUNERAL - KELP FOREST

Early in the day, before she's seen anyone leave the base, Merrill tries to use the telepathy for a call.

"Hello? One, two, three-- Counting in your head is normal but it's strange when everyone can hear you. But... I thought, the ocean looks very calm and clear today, it would be nice to go pay respects to that Reefback. I can perform funeral rites. So... so! That's all I wanted to say. I'll be going, maybe I'll see people? So, yes, that's all! Have a nice day!"

For anyone who does come to the Reefback funeral, they'll see something very curious. The coral that makes up the 'reef' in its name has started to consume the body of its host, spilling out over the damaged parts and sprouting out through wounds.

Someday soon, this spot will no doubt be a beautiful reef. There could be no better honour.

-

II. WHALE HOSPITAL - GRASSY PLATEAU

Later that same day (perhaps right after the funeral!), an intrepid group of crew members will head out to find the rest of the Reefback pod and help fix them up, or just observe and bond with them. The pod's slower and smaller than it was when they saw it last, more than just the one adult lost to Reaper injuries, and the young are sticking to the safety of the group rather than venturing out on their own.

Many of the survivors have extensive injuries and could certainly use the help. The crew is welcomed and musically greeted by the huge creatures when they come into sight, though the Reefbacks don't quite understand what they're there for at first . . . best to be patient, and to try not to get booped too hard by confused tentacles.

Comments

[roundoff]

[ . . . . why aren't you getting up, friend.

Kaden's already wandering over and honestly he's just going to kneel next to Loki with a rather worried expression.]

Why aren't you getting up, friend?

[he is a simple soul]

[mythbuster]

[ Though he doesn't recognize the voice, Loki continues to lie there with his eyes closed. ]

A man's pride can only recover so quickly.

[roundoff]

[ . . . ah, is that what it is.

There's a soft thump! as Kaden then seats himself right next to this poor fallen fella.]

Gotcha. Alright, take your time. I'll make sure you're not caught unawares again!

[mythbuster]

Oh, thanks. That's thoughtful of you.

[ Almost excessively so... He finally tilts his head to look at who's joined him.

... ??? Those shapes on this guy's head, and what's obviously a tail back there... ]

Aren't you a kitsune?

[ WHY IS THERE A KITSUNE IN THE OCEAN ]

[roundoff]

Yeah, yeah! Whoa, I've had to tell a lot of humans what I am - but you guessed it right off the bat!

[AMAZING.]

But don't worry, I try my hardest to be thoughtful! I'm glad to know it's working.

[mythbuster]

[ Magical/spiritual/mythical creatures are kind of his specialty?! He'd be a really awful god-detective if he couldn't identify such an obvious one... He sits up so he can converse more properly. ]

You seem like a really carefree guy... I spent a lot of time in Japan recently, so I've become especially familiar with the folklore there. You're the first kitsune I've met, though.

[ WEIRDLY, most of Japan's evil spirits end up being European in origin. Don't question it. ]

[roundoff]

Oh... There's kitsune in Ja-pan too?

[The name sounds foreign on his tongue, like he's trying it out for the first time. But then he's perking up, grinning.]

Wow! So I've got relatives in places that I don't even know! How do you think that started? Did a kitsune just wander off really far from the rest of us and start a family?

[mythbuster]

[ He crosses his legs and props his chin on a hand. A kitsune who's never heard of Japan? That's unexpected. ]

I wonder. Spirits drift where they feel they're needed, I suppose. Where are you from, then?

[roundoff]

Hoshido! Kitsunes have a little hamlet there and most of them stay put their whoooole lives. I don't really follow that though. So I guess I drift where I feel needed too?

Mostly I'm just repaying favors, though.

[Though he's laughing a little bit, now that Loki's sat up and everything.]

By the way, my name's Kaden! Are you feeling better?

[mythbuster]

I do, thanks. I'm Loki.

[ The favor comment interests him. Many sayings about mythological creatures end up being exaggerated or untrue, but it seems like this particular thing is true about kitsunes? That they doggedly repay their favors... ]

I guess this means I'm in your debt.

[ EVEN IF he didn't really need watching over... at all... ]

[roundoff]

[OBSESSIVELY RETURNING FAVORS

But Kaden blinks at that, his ear twitching in surprise.]

Oh...! I mean - if you wanna be!

[He's... actually not that devoted to hunting down other people to be in his favor - at least not when he doesn't know what they can offer him in the first place.]

[mythbuster]

I'll think of something.

[ Eventually. Might as well be polite if he can be. ]

It's said that kitsunes like aburaage and inarizushi. That true?

[roundoff]

That's really specific....

[????]

I like anything that keeps my skin and fur healthy and glowing! The perfect diet to staying beautiful!

[mythbuster]

... Ah...

[ That's kind of cute. ]

I guess it's fortunate that we're in the ocean, then. Fatty fish have a lot of omega-3 to give fur a glossy sheen.

[roundoff]

Really?! Man, I was wondering if maybe I was even shinier than usual lately! Hopefully that'll make it okay that I'm not getting as much sun...

[mythbuster]

[ He knows more about dog care than fox care, but it's probably similar...? ]

It shouldn't be a problem. Diet, overall health, and mindful grooming are the most important factors in maintaining healthy fur. While some sunlight is good for you, it's linked to bone health rather than fur health.

[roundoff]

Whoa.... Are you a cleric or something?

[YOU KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT HEALTH]

[mythbuster]

[ ... Cleric... Talk about unexpected word choice. ]

Not at all. I just like to keep myself informed. Also, I have a dog for family.

[ Well. Technically a wolf? Maybe? ]

[roundoff]

[those rpg classes, y'know]

Oh, I get it! Heh, then your family sounds pretty great to me.

But you're not part dog?

[mythbuster]

Nope.

[ So much elaboration. ]

I think of all dogs as family. They're such good animals, you know? Cute, too.

Ah, that reminds me. There's a famous tale about how the word "kitsune" came about. Have you heard it?

[roundoff]

Yeah, you're right! I think that's part of what makes kitsunes so much cuter. I can't imagine not having a tail.

[a beauty fluffy tail.... but at the question, he tilts his head]

Don't think so! Try me!

[mythbuster]

It's said that for years, a man named Ono longed for his ideal vision of a wife. When he finally met her, they married and had a child. At the same time, Ono's dog had a pup.

Over the years, the pup grew and gradually became more hostile toward the wife, until she grew fearful and asked Ono to kill it. He refused. One day, the dog attacked her so viciously that she lost her nerve, reverted to fox form, and fled their home.

As she ran, Ono said after her, "You may be a fox, but you're still my wife and mother of my son. I love you. You can come back whenever you like. You'll always be welcome." And so she was -- she came back every evening to sleep in his arms.

Thus she came to be called kitsune. A play on words, kitsu-ne means "come and sleep", while ki-tsune means "always comes".