subnautica | March Intro: Head First

March Intro: Head First

PREMISE & NAVIGATION ✦ RULES ✦ MOD CONTACT
TAKEN ✦ RESERVES ✦ APPLICATIONS ✦ HIATUS & DROPS
FAQ ✦ BASE ✦ BIOMES ✦ URSULA ✦ URSULA CONTACT

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 can't even swim.

She definitely didn't want this, because, well....she can't swim. She's been outfitted with a breathing apparatus and goggles by now, at least, but ineffectual flailing and attempted doggy paddling can only get her so far.

So.

When that shark suddenly breaks off to come straight at her, she definitely just sort of...freezes up pathetically.

GOODBYE, CRUEL WORLD.]

[Well. This was his fault, so Fukami's on this!

There's definitely a moment where he goes tch when he sees her freeze, though it's just bubbles for anyone who doesn't know how to... talk underwater. Which is most people. Because of course. He speeds his pace, snaps out a tentacle, and wraps it around the tail of the sand shark.

Yanking it back, he proceeds to wrap up the rest of its body in his tentacles and just.

Squeeeeeeeeeeeze. While he glances over at her.]

Oh--!

[Or, at least, she...tries to speak??? She wants to tell him not to hurt it, it was just being a shark doing its shark-y things, but then instead she swallows seawater.

Good job, Mai.

The mental connection might pick up on some of her concern and distress, though.

She flails, trying to fix her breathing apparatus, please hold.]

[Listen, hurting sharks is a hobby of his... But, since it looks like she's drowning and he jerks (startled) at the sudden sense of feelings not his own, he winds up letting the shark free.

It wiggles out of his grasp and escapes back to its homies as Fukami moves through the water toward her.

He's just going to move to encourage her to float back up toward the surface...]

[The sharks are people too!!! ...wait.

But as soon as she reaches the surface, she's coughing and spluttering, trying to tread water as best she can for someone who is... not great at swimming.

Wheeze.]

T-th... thank you...

[they are not ppl they are pests, it's not like Fukami has any underlying issues or anything

Fukami pops his head above water, exhaling slowly, shaking some of his wet hair out of his eyes. He'll just wait a minute or two until Mai gets her breath back.]

Are you all right?

Y-yes...

[That answer comes pretty quickly, even if she's still coughing a little. She does manage to catch her breath, slowly.]

Um... thank you for helping me. I don't know what I would have done without you.

[Fukami just shakes his head. She probably wouldn't have had sharks coming at her at all, honestly, without him there...]

...You froze up. [Plainly.]

Can you not swim well?

[He's used to the immediate reaction being FLEE.]

[She would duck her head here, but she really...can't....considering she's barely keeping her head above the water right now.]

... No... I can't really swim at all...

[WHOOPS.]

...Do you need help?

[Fukami's frowning slightly now because WHAT A PLACE NOT TO BE ABLE TO SWIM.

Out in the ocean.

And he can't even really teach a human how to swim because he doesn't know how they swim. So here is one of his tentacles lifting up, floating in front of her. She can hold onto it. If she wants.]

[Absolutely.

She absolutely needs help, so much so that she's not going to not grab onto that tentacle, even if it's a tentacle (???) which is terrifying (??!?!?), she'd rather that than drowning.

So yeah, she's clinging to that and...breathing a shaky sigh of relief.

Thank goodness.]

... Thank you... again. I'm sorry for... for the trouble...

Not at all.

[It's... a tentacle. At least it's not moving around under her hands?? Fukami might be minding himself as much as he can.

She's probably just a human, after all. Don't want to freak her out.]

They were ill prepared for those who can't swim.

I... didn't mean to cause any...trouble.

[COUGH HACK WHEEZE.

Okay, no, she's dealing, slowly catching her breath now that she has his assistance..]

But this is...the ocean, right? [HOW DID SHE GET HERE...]

[No... You should be, at least, this much trouble. Wanting someone to keep you alive is fairly important.

Another tentacle is lightly patting Mai's back. This is fine.]

Yes. [...] Why do you ask that?

[Didn't she know? Beforehand??]

[NOT REALLY.]

I... I don't know how I got here...

[WHAT ELSE IS NEW-- wait are you...patting her on the back with a tentacle.

Please. Hold.

...]

Um.

[ . . . . . . ]

Are these...tentacles yours?

[Listen.

It's easier to reach. And his tentacles are just like more hands, it's not weird for him.

Fukami cocks his head slightly to one side, looking at her. At least it stops the back patting?]

That's right. I'm an octopus.

[........ you're...going to have to bear with her.]

You're...an octopus.

[And, weakly:]

I... I see...

...Is it surprising?

[She's not the first one.

Fukami's at least chill (cool??) enough that any surprise (if he is surprised) doesn't show on his face.]

[YES????]

Um... I've never spoken to an octopus before.

[But her NEED FOR MANNERS overcomes her utter shock and confusion.]

But... it's still very nice to meet you, and you did save me, so...thank you very much!

[Oh, she's polite. That's always nice. He's spent too long with Memoca, to whom manners may as well be a foreign language.

Fukami nods.]

You're welcome. [...] What is your name?

Oh...! [Oops.] I'm sorry, I've been rude... My name is Mai. Um, again, it's really nice to meet you.

[Even if you...are an octopus!! Even so!!]

It is a tough circumstance.

[Excusing her rudeness, BY FAR SHE'S THE POLITEST PERSON HE'S EVER MET. Much less helped from sharks.]

I'm Fukami. [Punctuated by a nod.] Likewise.

[Being an octopus is only weird if you make it weird. Or something.]

I suppose we ought to wait here, for now.

[Politeness is all she has going for her right now!!]

Oh... right. I guess... I can't really swim anywhere.

[... This seems really troublesome.]

Am I...causing trouble for you, Fukami-san?

Not particularly.

[It's hard to tell that that question threw him off guard for a second...]

I've no pressing matters to attend to, or anything else I need to be doing right away.

[Just in case she was concerned about it!]

[No pressing matters in the middle of the ocean!! You don't say!!

Still, she seems a little relieved at that.]

Oh... then... I'm relieved that I'm not causing you any more trouble. [Since she is kind of helplessly clinging to his tentacle.]

Not after you've been so kind to me.

d.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject