subnautica | March Intro: Head First

March Intro: Head First

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Arrival!

It was supposed to be a routine mission. Maybe you think you’ve been here for a bit or maybe you just arrived. Either way, you know there was supposed to be a completely normal underwater mission, probably just gathering resources, unless you just arrived, in which case welcome!

Unfortunately, somehow you’ve been dumped somewhere you shouldn’t be. A woman’s voice can be heard, robotic in tone with hints of emotion. That emotion mostly seems to be mild surprise.

"Life signs detected. Life forms are non-native to this planet. They... oh. Oh dear, I wasn’t prepared after all. Please refrain from dying for a moment. Your things are incoming."

Your eyes open underwater. At least you're near the surface. But the moment you break through you'll notice one thing: the ocean, stretching out for miles around you in all directions with no end in sight and only a very distant gleaming metal structure in the far distance. You're not alone but this surely isn't what you expected. In fact, you really can't understand how you managed to get from where you were to underwater so fast.

None of your belongings are with you save the clothing on your body. And the depths below you offer no comfort, the light engulfed before it can reach wherever the sea bottom is.

Somewhere, you hear a sound shaking through the water, like something between a whale and a foghorn.

No turning back now.

Prompts!

A: WHALE OF A TALE
As it turns out, there is hope for those who can't swim or get help from someone who can. Something emerges from the depths, a massive bed of coral that makes that strange sound, allowing people to climb on top of it. Of course, that bed of coral is actually the back of a massive creature that moves how it pleases and occasionally dives back down underwater.

There is a pod of them around the area calling to each other. They're friendly, or at least they don't seem to mind any poking or hangers on. But one of their long tendrils may still give you a good whack on accident.

If you’re really lucky you can probably ride one all the way back to the base. Wouldn’t that be a fantastic entrance?

B: HELP ARRIVES
At least, some assistance arrives. Strange little robots on propellers arrive fifteen or so minutes later, rushing to the scene carrying a floating bin of some sort. They drop it into the ocean and buzz excitedly around it in the hopes of luring people over.

Inside the bin are goggles, breathing devices and knives enough for the new arrivals. The knives have a compass on the hilt that has a marker for the direction of the base. One robot will play a helpful recording from the robotic woman for those getting their gear:

"Please deposit any articles of clothing getting in the way of swimming in the bin. We will be sure they arrive safely at the base. Do not try to swim in anything that will bog you down."

A pause.

"Swimming nude is not recommended. There can be... unpleasant issues. For future reference, please consult me before going on missions like this."

C: UNDER THE SEA
Of course, there's no reason to rush right to the base. This place is certainly beautiful in its own right and has a few caves to explore - watch those stingers hanging from the ceilings - with an abundance of strange and wonderful fish eager to either play with you or dart away as fast as possible. Of course there's plenty of Reefbacks still calling to each other and a large amount of floating rocks with Floaters attached.

D: MATING SEASON
On second thought, maybe heading to the base is a good idea. Occasionally you might see plumes of dust near the ocean floor. Exploring these is a very bad idea. The moment you get close, a Sand Shark will explode out of the sand, ready to attack. They range from five to eight feet in length and will pursue you without mercy. At least they give up if you get near the surface or hide in the right caves.

Unfortunately, it's mating season. That means dozens of them can appear at any time trying to court a female with acts of aggression and skill. And you really don't want to be in the middle of that.

E: HOME SWEET HOME
You did it! You made it to the base. You are probably dead tired by now having swam quite a long distance—or somehow riding a Reefback all the way here—and the sun is beginning to set. Upon arrival, URSULA will welcome you and give you a quick rundown of the lockers (where your personal items can be found, as safe as if you stored them there yourself) and the base's layout if you’re new. She will also recommend that you put on your communication device and settling in. She will then just as quickly apologise by saying that she must finish preparing the base for the others.

"Please give me a few days to finish retooling the base. Oh, I'm so excited. We're going to make a great team, I promise. And don't go back to that biome yet until mating season is over. Sand Sharks are... troublesome."

F: WILDCARD
The ocean is yours to explore! Maybe your characters will find places to take breaks. Maybe they'll start gathering things. Maybe they'll murder fish! Or maybe they'll get lost in the dark and take a rather long time to find the base. Or just crash the kitchen for some of that delicious fish, more fish and seaweed! It's all up to you!

See the Biomes page for the currently accessible areas or details on current wildlife and the Base page for all your base needs. Direct any questions and plotting to the OOC post and have fun!

BASED ON CODE BY TESSISAMESS AND SUPERSUITS

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Mai is exhausted. She can't, in fact, swim, so it was a matter of luck and those whales and a few other shenanigans that made it so that she didn't drown on her very first day, but she's just leanings against one of the walls, breathing hard and dripping everywhere (exhaustion and fear work together to make things really hard), but.... well, when she hears that, she looks up despite herself, bangs dripping water into her eyes.]

Eh...? Me?

[A quick glance around reveals that... she's the only one here. Oh. So she tries to push herself up on trembling legs to step closer.]

Um... what do you need?

[ Peridot probably isn't much better in terms of being exhausted, but that just makes her more irritable. She scowls at Mai and thrusts the communicator at her again. She's surrounded by humans and even if she's started to like Earth and people more than she lets on, she's still not all that happy about any of this. Her voice is a snap. ]

Just strap this stupid thing to my wrist!

[ She shouldn't be so harsh, but she's going to be. So deal with it. ]

O-oh! [The snap does make Mai jump--but she's quick to try to do what Peridot requests (or orders, really), reaching for the communicator and fumblingly managing to strap it to her wrist.

What a scary lady......

And when she's finished, she peers up tentatively from beneath her bangs.]

Is...that okay? It isn't too tight, right?

[ Well, she's not that intimdating, aside from her screeching voice. She's only about the size of your average seventh or eighth grader. Still, she seems pleased that she's managed to get someone to listen to her. She gives the device a tug and then nods, apparently pleased. ]

It's... adequate. I suppose I ought to thank you.

[ This is her being gracious, don't ruin it. ]

[Everyone is intimidating to Mai, especially when they're being snappish--but her face melts into a tentative smile of relief at that.]

Oh, thank goodness... um, it's okay... I'm just glad I could help.

[She doesn't really need thanks, she's just happy that she was semi-useful, even if it was just helping out with the communicator.]

If there's anything else I can help with... please just let me know.

[ Peridot frowns at Mai for a moment and then turns away, covering her mouth with a closed fist as she clears her throat. ]

Introductions are in order. I'm Peridot. You look human, os I assume you have a name of some kind.

[ She's learned that much from Steven. ]

As to whether or not you can help - well, that depends entirely on what you're capable of.

[Everything about this is so confusing!!! But she'll try to keep up as best she can.]

Oh... I'm Mai! [Hastily she bows properly, looking sheepish.] I'm sorry...that was really rude of me.

[Not sharing her name, that is.]

It's very nice to meet you, Peridot-san.

[You're stuck with this horrendously polite girl now, you're welcome.]

I... I'm not sure if I'll be able to help that much, but... I'd like to try if I can.

It's just Peridot, not Peridotsan.

[ Peridot stares at Mai grumpily. Why are humans so confusing? Why can't they get it right? Why are they so stupidly endearing in weird ways? ]

Well, I'm trying to figure out if you can or not! [ Her voice rises slightly in irritation. ]

Just tell me what you're capable of!

[But that's rude....!!! She'll try, though... she'll try so hard.]

I-- um, I--

[... What can she do, exactly? Mai winces a little at the slightly raised voice, and it spills:]

I'm not really sure...!

[Yeah.]

[ Peridot stares at Mai, a little flabbergasted by the response. ]

You're not sure? You have to know what you're capable of, right? Aren't you, you know... good at something?

[ Everyone has something they're supposed to do, a task they excel at. ]

If you don't know, why'd they even send you?

[It's really hard to know what she's good at when she can't remember a single thing about herself--but even so, all she can remember are Orion's warnings to not tell anyone about her amnesia, and so all she can do is stay silent, head ducking at the berating.

Why did they send her? she can't even swim, and even just getting to this point was a struggle.]

I... don't know. I'm sorry... if it causes trouble for you.

[ Peridot feels a twinge of sympathy. Along with irritation. What's the point of a pointless person? Why send someone who can't actually help? ]

For me? It's going to cause trouble for all of us if you're nothing but dead-weight!

[ She throws her hands up with a little 'ugh'. ]

I know humans are strange, but - can you even hold a tool? You can do that much, right?

[Right... trouble for everyone, which is definitely not what Mai wants at all. She cringes a little, head lowering further.]

Y-yes...! I mean, I... I definitely can! [Probably.] I'll...do my best to learn whatever I can't do, too!

[ Peridot looks at Mai with an expression somewhere between distaste and pity. What kind of poor, benighted idiot doesn't know what they're good for? She finally sighs and rubs at her nose with a pair of fingers. This is exasperating. ]

I guess you can at least carry things, can't you? You can manage that, right?

[ She can already tell that this is going to be a long trip. ]

Y-yes...!

[Somehow, saying no at this point doesn't really feel like an option... she's pretty fragile and not very strong, but she'll carry things until she can carry no more if it means she won't be getting that judgmental look anymore... Mai hasn't felt this small and useless in awhile, after all.]

I'll carry things, if that will help...!

It's better than nothing.

[ Peridot doesn't sound all that reassured. What kind of people is she expected to work wit here? Why would they recruit a human who has no relevant skills? Why do humans do anything? She runs a hand over her face with a groan. ]

I just want to... not be soaking wet anymore. We can figure out what our next objective is after that.

Oh... yes, that sounds like a good idea.

[Getting dry, not being quite so...drip-y... Mai, too, would like to be dry at this point; her dress feels totally sodden and useless.]

Let's... try to find some towels, maybe? I don't suppose there would be extra clothing...

They have to have towels somewhere-

[ Huh. Extra appearance modifiers? She supposes that humans would just have to change into new ones. They can't just go around in the same outfit all the time. Right? ]

Why wouldn't they have towels?

[ Hmmph. ]

Isn't having to manually change your clothing... inefficient? I mean, Steven does it all the time on Earth, but it still seems incredibly tiring.

[In...efficient?

She has to think about that for a second, because she's honestly never thought about it before. It's pretty obvious Peridot isn't human, but after talking to an octopus and a snake and...so many other odd people... she's starting to get desensitized to this already.

At least Peridot is humanoid.]

I suppose... it might be a little? [Pls, Mai can get ready in the morning in 3 minutes, she's got this.] But... I think it can be fun too. [At least this gets a smile out of her, if a small one.] I like picking out clothing that matches, or trying new combinations.

[ OK, Peridot had liked those shorts she'd found. And the limb enhancers. She can't really bring herself to be too dismissive of clothing, even if she's just meeting someone new. She makes a little 'hmmph' sound and then allows that she might be lightening up just a tiny bit. ]

Well, they can be visually pleasing, depending on what it is you've chosen. Even if it does sacrifice overall efficiency.

Mm, I think so too...!

[It cheers her up, at least; Mai's fond of clothing and fashion and at least this is a topic she feels somewhat less useless at.]

Like... I think that the green is really lovely on you, but a nice cream would probably look really pretty too.

Cream...?

[ Peridot glances down at herself. ]

You think so?

[ WAIT. She shakes her head. ]

That's ultimately irrelevant. We don't have time for these kind of distractions!

Mm, I do think so... like a cream coat over a green dress--wouldn't that be pretty?

[A beat.

Oh.

Right.

No time for these distractions!!]

Um... I'm sorry, you're right. I guess we should look for towels first, right?

Towels would be ideal, yes.

[ Although now she's thinking about appearance modifiers. Maybe it'd be sort of neat - no. No, Peridot. Focus. There are more important things to worry about. ]

Maybe they have some in these lockers...

[ Peridot has to stretch to reach the handle on said lockers and she looks a bit irritated by that fact. ]

Why do they design these for tall people?

[Someday, Peridot. Someday they'll try on cute clothes.

but Mai's not going to be a lot of help there, because she's not very tall either; all she can do is stand on her tiptoes to try to peer into the lockers thoughtfully.]

Oh--here are some! Peridot-san!

[She's... grabbing the towel to offer immediately. Here!!]

March Intro: Head First

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Sorry for late, had a busy weekend!

no worries! take your time

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