phantasmalrift | DUNGEON LOG: KEYSTONE REEF

Expedition day dawns, as usual, with an android mass text -

Okay, so, this time we're aiming to go out and stabilize the Fissure in the reef you can see up a little to the north of here. The waters are usually pretty calm this time of year, so if you can swim instead of needing to take a boat, that'd be a great help. We only have a few of them.

Also, I know that last time was a mess, so I'm just gonna say this: If you need to get out for any reason, just send us a message and a picture of your location. We'll get a drone out to you as soon as we can and bring you home. No questions asked.

( ﾟ▽ﾟ)/ Stay safe out there! When you're ready to go, meet us down at the beach. The rocky, sparkly one, not the sandy one.

Unlike previous expeditions, this time there's no rooftop sendoff - instead, as Charm noted, the tables are set up on Glitterstone beach, along with a series of boats pulled up on the sand. Two rowboats that could maybe sit six people but probably better suited for four, a trio of inflatable rafts (with motors attached to the back, all mismatched) of about the same size, a two-person dinghy and a long canoe that could hold two or three.

Besides the little fleet, there's also the usual bagged lunches (in gallon ziplocs this time, and other such watertight containers), and every boat is equipped with a large number of those chepa dollar-store water bottles, all with their airtight store seals. There's also a selection of life vests and other floatation thingies in a box next to the table. Strange hovers over the setup, checking watertightness of a handful of first aid kits with a spritzer and a bucket to submerge things in. They give a little wave to anyone passing by headed to the boats.

For those who opt instead to swim, everything seems perfectly normal until you reach the border of the Fissure... When, very suddenly, it isn't.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

You're all right. I'm quite good at not getting hurt, as you should know by now.

[How many times has he phased out of your way at this point, Astolfo? It's a Lot with how much you've been sparring together.

He offers a hand. Need something to squeeze? He's got you covered.]

The sorts of fish my world has are part of the reason I've never learned to swim. [Along with the threat posed by seadwelling trolls and a simple lack of opportunity, but... Alternia's seas are as full of things that will attack an unwary troll as its sky or landmasses.]

[ Oh... Oh no. Ohhh no.

Well, at least now she knows it's Izunia. ]

I'm sorry. You must have my mistaken for somebody else. [ A normal girl with a cat. Black Witch is obviously not normal, nor does she have a cat. Just a spider... thing. ]

I'm known as Black Witch.

Obsession. I'm noting it down. I... I actually should write that down, right now, honestly?

You're weird. I mean, you are, definitely, but that was the general you.

[Well, she could probably tell them apart anyway since she's Arianna, but the tattoo makes it much easier.]

Please. This was easier when I had a bag...

[That is about as convincing as... Well, it's less convincing than Zel's cat impression and Izunia already thought there was something up with that.]

I'm sure. But there are only so many of us redheads around, you know.

[This is accompanied by the sound of eight tentacles settling onto a sandy section of the bottom, along with the vocal equivalent of a shit-eating grin.]

No problem at all.

[He takes an armful of the things she's grabbed and... Whoosh, there they blue, a lovely blue sparkle.]

I'll get them back to you at the Station?

I don't mind at all. And I'll probably make camp early, if we can find a suitable spot, so if you'd like to take the raft for the afternoon I won't complain.

[She'd still like to be able to set up a base camp outside of fissures, but this one's close enough to the station and has enough built-in transport difficulties that it doesn't seem like the time to try that. Another month, another several days of constant exposure to a high-magic environment. What is her life.

Anyway. Might as well get the raft on the water, right.]

Water damage might balance things out a little on the loot front, a lot of what I've found in the other fissures wouldn't have survived a dunking.

[That gets a laugh out of him.]

You're right about that.

[He takes Izunia up on the offered hand, squeezing it tight with a good percentage of his strength.]

How about we go and make quick work of that thing?

You should invest in a waterproof notebook.

[Actually, so should he.]

Humans are delightfully eclectic, it's true.

[ . . . . . ]

Really? There aren't?

Maddie has a cat, you know. [ STRAWS, GRASPED. ]

I'd hope that them being intangible would prevent that, but... on the other grasping appendage, it's probably best not to underestimate the ingenuity or the poor judgment of people in general.

[SIGH.]

Absolutely.

[He squeezes back, and it's not exactly a weak grasp in itself.]

There's no shame in having fear. But you aren't alone.

They're strange and confusing and stubborn and frustrating and very stupid sometimes-- no, often.

[Maybe it's because he's high or maybe it's because of his actual feelings, but somehow, his tone implies none of those are actually a problem.]

o)+ Sounds good.

o)+ I don't know what kind of inventory carrying caPacity you're working with, but I've aLso got a fair amount of extra food and water as weLL if you need it.

[Terribly grasping. Izunia just chuckles.]

A cat who, in my honest opinion, has never been a terribly convincing actor. Better than my brother, but not by much - both rely too much on looking like the thing they're intending to be, rather than taking the time to act like it.

[The words are as much directed at whatever the hell that thing is as Maddie.]

And emotional and greatly contradictory. And yet, brilliant as the stars in the sky all the same, no two exactly alike.

[How is this the thing they agree on?]

It's much the same for me. I don't have to worry about any of those. It's a shame you're still limited by having to breathe. That must be annoying.

[That's genuine sympathy, for the record, because he assumes that needing to breathe would be super obnoxious.]

All we can do is hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Although I do hope a little that there might be a challenge waiting...

It's a little selfish of me, perhaps. I don't wish for any serious trouble, of course.

Strange that you're the one telling me that.

[That's a clear, unmistakable smile on his face now.]

I've tried hating them. It would've made everything a lot easier.

...I was never very good at it.

[She smiles, just a bit.] I'm afraid I can't help with that. Even if I'm fairly sure my nesting tendencies have convinced Down I'm completely insane.

I don't think true hatred suits you. Not the kind that sinks deep inside and paints you wholly with its stain. You are far better suited to enjoying things.

Thank you, Izunia.

[Of course he can do that too. Why wouldn't he be able to?]

I begin to suspect I am the only one who lacks that ability...

Sand isn't very comfortable.

[He's still pillowing his head on his arms, anyway.]

And I like your pillows quite fine.

At least I won't die from bird attacks.

[Probably.]

Maybe I'll check out that wreck, too. As long as I'm careful, it should be safe enough...

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DUNGEON LOG: KEYSTONE REEF

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