each little clam here know how to jam here (OPEN MINGLE POST)

[tentaculled]

There's a very big, very important expedition happening - the base's first trip as a group to the Aurora to go salvage what's inside! Very big, very important, and happening... next month. They're not going anywhere until they've conducted some research on that downed ship and gathered a good base of intel on how they might take care of - and protect - themselves.



A: THE ACTUAL WRECK

Maybe you're a daredevil who's not afraid of a little bit of radiation/fire/falling debris/angry wildlife hiding in a burned-out chassis. Or maybe you're one of the lucky ones who's immune to the radiation and are doing your part for the team. Either way, the monstrous silhouette of the Aurora looms in the distant waters of the Safe Shallows. Available for use are three Seaglides and one Seamoth to get out there, if you desire - although you might have to compete for their use. If you're feeling athletic, maybe you can even swim out there.

The radiation leak has been plugged, but the radiation itself is still dissipating from the area, so you probably shouldn't spend too long out here if you don't want to get sick. The hull of the ship is pockmarked with holes and damage, but not all of them are fit to be used as entrances by the crewmembers. Some of them might even have already been claimed by Crashes mistaking the dark nooks for caves. If you do get inside, there are still fires burning within the ship. Be careful out there!

B: GRASSY PLATEAU
 

Gotta get out there and check that new biome for resources before our big adventure. The Grassy Plateau is still largely unexplored, with plenty of treasures (or, well, survival resources) to be found.

In search of food? Apparently, those sand shark eggs are good eating, if you're daring enough to go toe-to-toe with a mother predator. Or maybe you'd prefer more exotic cuisine. Has anyone tried eating a Mesmer yet?

Alternatively, the expansive caves of this area are chock full of vibrant and unusual plant life that might offer some tasty nutrition to the hungry diver. Or there might be some that are medicinal - or toxic. Finding metals is another goal set by Ursula this month, and there's ore hiding deep down in the cave systems.

C: PARKS AND WRECKS

The Aurora's explosion left plenty of scrap metal around, and although some of it was cannibalized to fix the radiation leak, there are still husks of ship parts lying around on the ocean floor. If you're out searching for food, weapons, or other resources in any region, it may be worth investigating them to see if anything useful survived. The life pods embedded in the sand seem like a good place to start.

D: OTHER

You don't have to go foraging in the Grassy Plateau. Feel free to assist in preparations by gathering things from any of the biomes! Or you can stay in the base working on making all that weird stuff everyone else is collecting into something edible/helpful/otherwise useful.

(ooc: this is an open post for everyone to participate in the mission, similar to fukami's mingle post earlier in the month!! post your own toplevels and do your thing.)

Comments

[tentaculled]

[ amnesia, a rich father, and being locked up in a mansion. Oh boy. This sounds like a soap opera... But he's not one to dismiss the story, considering all that's happened to him. He looks at her curiously for another moment or two before turning back to the cave wall, reaching out one of his tentacles once more. ]

That's quite the restriction to place on a teenage girl. I don't suppose you remember why he didn't want you to go outside.

[discardia]

[ Soap opera, otome game, same thing sometimes-- ]

I... because I'm a monster.

[ That she says it half-sadly and half matter-of-fact? Well. ]

[tentaculled]

[ ... he may not know much about her, but if he considers how the two of them look standing next to each other... ]

... Cardia-san, can you really look at me and say that with a straight face?

[discardia]

Yes.

[ YOU'RE A GOOD OCTOPUS. ]

[tentaculled]

[ she seems pretty serious about it. ]

And what about you is monstrous?

[discardia]

Someone who looks human... shouldn't be so dangerous when touching anyone.

[ How to say I'M HELLA POISONOUS. ]

[tentaculled]

[ he could make an off-color joke, but he senses this is an important topic to her, so he restrains himself. ]

There are many different types of humans, Cardia-san. Even this Sensei was human once. [ he's not above admitting that much. ]

[discardia]

[ ... Wait, what? ]

You were?? But why do you look so different?

[tentaculled]

Well, that's a long story. If I told you, I doubt it would make you feel any better.

[ he turns from her to pluck at a wrinkly-looking red coral nearby. ]

How we look doesn't reflect who we are. A monster is made by his actions. And, despite what you say, I have a hard time picturing you lifting a finger to hurt somebody. You've been working hard to be friendly and helpful.

[discardia]

[ That's the problem, she thinks, doing her best to keep at least that thought to herself. She doesn't have to lift a finger to hurt someone. ]

But I've hurt people before. They've... died, because of me.

[tentaculled]

They died?

[ an even tone, asking for more details. There's no judgement from him whatsoever. Really, he's in no position to dispense it. ]

[discardia]

[ ... Look, it's complicated. But if she's working with him, and the others... maybe it's best to warn him. ]

There's poison, inside of me. If I touch anyone, they'll get hurt, or die.

[tentaculled]

[ An amnesiac girl with a father who kept her locked up for her entire life and a poisonous touch. Interesting. Strange, but interesting. Korosensei pages through his library of knowledge briefly, trying to come up with a comparable illness, but comes up empty. ]

That's strange indeed. I've been around the world and studied many subjects, but I've never heard of a condition like that. If you'd allow it, I'd like to study it later. But for now... [ he reaches out a wetsuited tentacle to place a small branch of that red coral in her hair. ] Rest assured that you can hardly be called a monster because of that. If anything, I would say you're a victim.

[discardia]

[ SOUNDS JUST LIKE AN OTOME DOESN'T IT-- Cardia blinks though, rapidly, as she reaches up to touch that piece of coral. ]

I haven't suffered half as much as the people who've met me...

[ But... ]

If you want to study it, you can. I wanted to try and find a way to get rid of it entirely.

[tentaculled]

[ time to see if that coral dies or not, pal. ]

Well, I'd be happy to try and help! Problem-solving is one of my specialties. Who knows? Maybe there's a solution in these waters.

[ there is an awful lot of magic in these waters - sometimes literally, apparently. ]

[discardia]

Is ocean water really that medicinal?

[ Don't take that so literally, Cardia. And gosh, the coral's doing fine-- although she does have all bare skin except her face fully covered up right now. ]

[tentaculled]

[ oh... i guess he just stuck it on her head then OH WELL ]

Nurufufu. I was referring to the bounty of plants and animals here, but seawater does have its benefits. [ her taking it literally is endearing... and lightens the mood a little. Unfortunately, though, he's not quite done. At least he asks before he continues. ]

Does talking about this make you uncomfortable, Cardia-san? Sensei has more questions, but the last thing he wants to do is perturb a young lady by prying into her life.

[discardia]

A little-- [ She'll admit that, because it's never really a happy topic. ] But I don't think I'll be able to do anything about it if I don't talk about it, so I'll help where I can.

[tentaculled]

Then for now, I'll just ask one. "You can't go outside because you're a monster." Are those your words, or your father's?

[ does he need to schedule a parent-teacher conference here?! ]

[discardia]

[ He'd have to find her dad first. ]

... His. I'm sure he was just trying to protect me.

[tentaculled]

[ that's just what he was afraid of... even though he'd surmised as much before asking. ]

I see. [ it's not his place to interfere with someone's parenting. Not yet, anyway. He doesn't know her well enough yet. But the neutrality of his tone is probably telling enough, considering how vibrant he usually. ] Well, when we go back to the base, we can try a few things. For instance, what happens if you touch Sensei.

[discardia]

I can't do that!!

[ THERE IS SO MUCH DISTRESS WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT???? ]

[tentaculled]

There's no need to worry. I won't die from something like that. My body is immune to all poisons on Earth.

[ BECAUSE HE'S CONFIDENT THAT'S WHY!! ]

By seeing what effect it has on me, I might be able to understand it better.

[discardia]

[ Or it could kill him, because she's not entirely sure her poison's of the usual brand. What kind of poison existed inside of a person, after all? ]

But it might still hurt...

[tentaculled]

Don't worry about something like that. If we leave things alone, it sounds to Sensei like it will only keep hurting you.