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

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Sorry. [Said with a little humor. It's so ridiculous that she has to laugh, softened by incredulity. It would be nice if her car had come out of storage with the rest of her things. There are few things that make her feel calm the way breaking speed records does. It's a clinging vestige of a life she's mostly had to leave behind.

But as long as she can continue her fight, that's what really matters.]

I'd be lucky if I got to drive it out here, anyway. Look around. This is is no place for landlubbers. [Her partner's the lucky one...if there is such a thing, in a world that's close to ending. She looks a smidge wistful, just thinking about it.]

I'm familiar with them, but the technology level here is more advanced than anything on Earth. [ She can say that with some certainty - for all of Infinity Academy's many, many faults, its technology is cutting-edge. ]

Of course! [ boy he sounds like a weirdo. somewhat nervously, he taps his suckers together, back to being awkward. ]

My situation at home could be called stormy, so it's in my best interests to expect dangerous people around every corner. I didn't mean any offense... If you were an assassin, I'm sure you'd be a very good one! But it's better that you aren't.

I look forward to our friendship, Fukami-kun.

[ although this is still pretty freaky. He'll get over it. He's pretty good at that - even if being in the water like this isn't doing anything for his stress levels.

Talking about school will make him feel better, though. Somehow, his expression seems to perk up a bit. ]

What do I teach? Why, a bit of everything, of course! As a junior high school teacher, it's up to me to prepare children for higher education and the rest of their lives. History, English, Japanese, the sciences, mathematics, home ec, art, and, of course, important life lessons for budding young assassins! All of that falls upon these reliable tentacles.

[He contemplates that seriously; if it puts people at ease to have the place look more lived-in, then there's no reason they shouldn't do just that.]

I'd be fine with homey. But what would make it seem homey to you?

[Pictures? Books from home? Personal belongings?]

If we have an idea of where to start we can get supplies, I guess.

[ Michiru kicks, and the speed with which she begins to swim away, in the direction of the cave as she recalls it, says she's waiting for Haruka. She looks back over her shoulder before she starts to move forward once more, and it's as she's moving that her mind touches Haruka's again, her thoughts clear and precise.

This is Haruka, the only person she feels comfortable reaching out to this way, but she still isn't sure what bleeds over. ]

Some of our companions are creatures that live underwater, but they seemed more interested in the local wildlife.

The larger creatures, at least, will be easier to avoid.

[ There's a feeling of laughter attached to the last of that. ]

Edited (redundancy.....) 2016-03-28 05:14 (UTC)

[ just as roderic is about to resign himself to his fate forever, the creatures visibly perk up when they notice the kelp. the other fishes in fukami's grip did not go unnoticed at first. they naturally gain some of their attention from the mere fact they're the creatures fellow fishes. the sea creatures acknowledge them mostly by nudging and 'calling' out to the other wriggling brothers and sisters with cheerful obliviousness.

the kelp though. that's a whole other matter. they are quick to surround the tentacles that were holding the kelp and were soon wiggling and bumping and gently nudging one another to get closer to it. all attention was focused on the kelp that almost seem to hold a hypnotic quality for the sea animals with how they were acting.

and just like that, the problem is solved. most of them are more than happy to leave behind roderic. while he's almost a little offended with how quick they were to ditch him - no. scratch that.

he isn't a little offended. he isn't offended at all. roderic takes the opportunity to swim a bit further back to keep out of their range of sight. he doesn't quite leave yet however. that'll be rude of him to do and he's a tiny bit curious to see what the hullabaloo is all about with this kelp fukami managed to scavenge. they're behaving like its the best thing ever judging from their reactions. he'll like to know what they like about it so much. ]

[He figured it out from her, ehm, trial and error. Taking the breathing device, he looks it over from all angles before moving in. Look, he'll even do this with his hands and not his tentacles.

He goes about fastening it to her face, pulling back his fingers when he thinks that it's secure.]

I believe that will work. [...probably.]

Well... it's a little...metallic, right? What if we had... things like pictures on the walls, and rugs on the floors? Or bookshelves for books and things... just...!

Things that would make it look a little more lived in might be nice, don't you think?

[She wants this place to be welcoming to everyone if they're going to be living here.]

[Yes, please don't put your tentacles anywhere near her mouth, that's what pixiv is made of.

She'd respond if she could, but she can't, since now she's got a breathing apparatus attached to her face. There's a faint feeling of acknowledgement though. Yes, okay, seems legit.

She should...test it.

Probably.

...She doesn't want to go underwater though, so she's hesitating.]

[That's just like her, Haruka thinks, sensing the laughter coming from her. That's no different from normal. She'd notice it if they were having this conversation another.]

Hey, hey...you never know.

[Not wanting to hold either of them back, she pushes herself into a speed breakthrough once the cave system becomes, however murkily, visible through the water. Finally a physical activity she has to put some backbone into; she's ready to catch the flak for that one later.]

It was nice of them to give us those little knives. [Said like someone who has access to a much larger sword but hasn't quite figured out how to use it.] It's dark. Can you see inside?

[ oh sweet baby jesus.

she wasn't kidding. one second, roderic was looking at the back of her head wildly and the next he found himself back on the surface. it was the barest of seconds but it was enough to get him. the sudden sensation of air on his body and the lack of water all over his person takes him by surprise. he hadn't know they could do this. he barely had a second to realise what was going on and prepare himself before they go back in the water.

the plunge is more abrupt than the emergence and roderic hangs on for dear life. the control on his powers flicker while everything seems to be happening at once and-

he hears voices. idle chatter. people lulled into ease. one of them sounds soft. he sounds soft, the man (boy?) who is speaking of how far away the stars are, how some of them are long gone. someone asks him a question - does it bother you, how different it looks than the sky in the fade? - and he replies with certainty. he'd rather forget.

he stands by that claim when someone says he speaks in riddles because no. he speaks what he means. he speaks his words whether or not she understands them

-roderic tries to keep his grip the best he can, biting down hard on his tongue, brutal and mechanical. it hurts and that's the point. snap back to reality. not lose his grip.

it's not really working. ]

/ Help? / [ he sounds scattered while reaching out to her. as if he's trying to remember how words should sound like in his own head, his own voice. ] / Don'twannabe rude but shitIcan'tvoicessofttheFade lend a hand? /

[ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS NOT LIKE THE OTHERS... ONE OF THOSE THINGS JUST DOESN'T BELONG]

Assassins.

[Echoing. Just to be certain.]

[Well, Fukami would have had the good sense not to take fish that looked the same as the ones circling them--

Fukami waves the kelp lightly back and forth for them, since it works and all, and brings it a little further into the cavern, until he can find a nice place to deposit it for them to do as they will with it.]

[Ah, yep, that's hesitation.]

You may test it by just putting the lower half of your face underwater for a moment.

[Like you're going to blow bubbles in the water... Fukami doesn't do that, but the younger familiars do. Since they're much more like kids.]

Obviously, I'm not like the gems that you understand!

[ She seems both infuriated and intensely proud of that fact. ]

We're not from Earth, although we could use Earth's resources to make more of us. In fact, that was the original intent before... uh. Well, before a lot of things!

[ Peridot laughs. It's... well, it's not entirely mean-spirited. ]

Ha! Well - good luck with that.

[ Peridot is always surrounded by disappointing people. Or at least she tries to give off that impression, even when she thinks differently. ]

Well, I suppose not.

[ Can Haruka go five minutes without racing someone, when the option is available? Michiru suspects not.

Her partner is irresistibly competitive. Then again, so is Michiru, and it shows as she swims between pillars of leafy green plants that aren't quite seaweed. ]

I'm sure they'll be very helpful... in the kitchen, perhaps. [ There's silence for a moment as she leans into a cave's lip, hand on the arch of rock over her head just in case she needs to make a getaway. But the caves, while dim somewhat from the depth, are large enough that things become much clearer as her eyes adjust. ]

It seems nearly empty. There are - oh!

[ She feels surprised, but the reason is immediately obvious - her investigation has attracted some brightly-colored fish with wide wings. Her posture tenses, but then she reaches out carefully and slowly to tap one on the nose, and when nothing happens, she looks around for Haruka. ]

I believe we're safe.

[You are such an understanding friend, Fukami.

She nods slowly in response to that, slowly sliding a bit further under the water--and then she blinks, startling a little.

SHE CAN BREATHE!!!!

(Yes, Mai, that's the idea.)]

Offering to cook already? [It's not competition, really, she'd claim - and she'd be about 60% truthful. A team is handicapped with a member who can't pull her wait. But she keeps it light - like Michiru, she doesn't know what thoughts will bleed onto other airwaves. Their more serious conversations about their situation will have to wait.

She starts, reaction before thought, when the little fish make their appearance.] Michiru - ! [There's a slight movement, like she'd put Michiru behind her, but the fish prove themselves to be less than a threat immediately. She leans down to get a better look, even as they lazily drift over to swim around them. Surprised she didn't frighten them, Haruka takes her arm away from her waist slowly, ending up nose to nose with a fish as Michiru "speaks."

She'd make a remark about getting self conscious in the presence of sea life, or say something else to crack the the otherwise still surface of their dive, but her good humor evaporates now in favor of sternness. They have plenty to get used to in this new environment, and a lack of privacy from the fish won't get in the way. Around the fish, she meets Michiru's eyes, and nods.]

It needs to be settled, doesn't it? [ Haruka can do the 'fishing', if it comes to that.

She raises a hand at Haruka's sudden protective movement, concerned her own misstep is about to lead to injuries for them both-- ] Haruka-- [ But their paranoia seems to be for naught.

Her hands still lifted near her chest, a fish darts between them and over her shoulder like she's an obstacle course. She tilts her head to meet Haruka's eye despite her apparent admirer, and reaches into the pouch at her waist for the Lip Rod tucked carefully inside. Befriending these fish isn't exactly on the program for today.

Without another thought, she twists to kick her way into the cave, making for the very inside of the mouth. It isn't terribly long, but more than enough to put them both out of sight. There's no need to wait for Haruka here: she's always been the first on this particular road.

She can't call on Neptune to transform with the breather in her mouth, but she can think it, instead. She won't broadcast it, for perhaps obvious reasions, image of crashing waves may touch Haruka's mind before Michiru raises the Lip Rod over her head. ]

Edited (grumbles) 2016-03-30 02:36 (UTC)

[In truth, Josephine would rather just not pry too much at first. ...Especially when she still can't ask the questions she'd like until she finds out more.

She is nothing if not hyper-aware of every one of her own actions, after all.]

Thank you, that is truly kind of you. You have been there already?

[Josephine laughs now, shaking her head. Yes, she can definitely see how she would need a moment as well.][But that reminds her.] But perhaps this means we should properly introduce ourselves now. Even with... time magic, I am terribly sorry to not know your name while you know mine.

[A pause.] You should not have to have someone you know not recognize you.

[The confirmation that the magic will work underwater like this is reassuring. To her chagrin, they'll likely be spending a lot of time down here. Haruka's hand returns to its earlier position, shaking out the identical rod she carries.

She makes the transition from words spoken to words thought with more difficulty, her lips half-molding around the words and finding them obstructed. It works, anyway, and air fissures the water around her to speed the transformation

Sailor's Uranus's boot heels hit an outcropping of cave rock as she lands from her transformation, arms extended in pose. Some residual light illuminates the deep waters for a moment, and, empowered by whatever law-breaking rules of the universe her powers bestow upon her, her eyes adjust a little better to the dimness. Of course, now the fish would be frightened of her enough, if they could sense a difference in her motivations.]

[At the mention of bookshelves for books he does get pretty interested.]

Do you think we could get bookshelves? That would be perfect! I wonder if there's a way to read books from other worlds. Wouldn't it be great to share them? I think that would make this place feel more comfortable.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 44 of 48

March Intro: Head First

well, did you bring me anything from starbucks?

i archived this notif i am so sorry

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

not gonna lie, i was trying to get us to mxyzptlk. (also, let me know if this tag is fine by you!)

no subject

no subject

no subject

Sorry, had another busy weekend.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject