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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, you certainly look like you're having fun.

[As Astolfo swims in fin-fluttering circles, Izunia is a bit further down, having...

Well, some kind of time with his own new setup. He's wearing a smile, but it's a little strained from effort.]

I think no legs is much easier to gain control over than eight.

[Upon hearing Izunia's voice, Astolfo eagerly darts downwards to meet him, a laugh escaping him at his tentacle troubles.]

I'm sure you can get the hang of it! Maybe you need to use them as just one whole leg, like this -

[He pushes his arms out in the water in front of him, fingers flicking out with each thrust as he propels himself backwards. He pushes himself a bit too hard, and dips upside down, plait floating in the water above him.]

Or maybe the whole thing is like a hand, and they're your fingers, and you've got to... [He wiggles his fingers about in some attempt at a crawling motion.] You know?

[You know.]

I think it's more along the lines of fingers, but - well, they rather have a mind of their own. I don't think a human brain is actually equipped to handle all of the sensory information.

[He makes a face.]

Did you know that octopus taste with their arms? Everything tastes like seawater.

[Well, now he does.]

Oh really?

[He does sound genuinely interested by that fact, however unpleasant learning it was for Izunia.]

I keep tasting it too, but that's probably because I keep talking underwater.

[Still upside down, he swims closer to Izunia until his tentacles are about an arm's length away. Driven by a curiosity over how they'd feel to the touch, he reaches out to give the nearest one a gentle poke.]

I can barely tell that I'm tasting it with my mouth at this point, it's taking some getting used to.

[He watches curiously as Astolfo approaches, and... poke. The tentacle is more than a bit softer than normal skin, and perhaps a little slick in that way that most undersea creatures are.

It also curls in response to the touch, like hey, what is this?]

[He'd expected squishiness at least, but finding the skin soft was a nice surprise, and it wasn't as slimy as he would've anticipated. Overall, a pleasant tactile experience.

There's a giggle of amusement at the tentacle's reaction to being poked. It really did seem to have a mind of it's own.]

Sorry! I couldn't help myself.

[He gives a little wave, both that and the apology directed more towards the tentacle than Izunia himself.]

Careful, they're a bit -

[Curl. Uncurl. Wrap around Astolfo's hand.]

- grabby.

Oh?

[It takes him a little by surprise, and all the suckers definitely feel weird, but somehow it's not all that unpleasant.

Maybe if they were belonging to someone else he'd have more objections about it, but for now, he's just amused.]

It's friendly after all. [He just waves his trapped hand a little bit before looking at Izunia.] Hey- do you think this counts as a hug or a handshake?

Definitely a handshake. A hug involves significantly more of at least one limb.

[If Astolfo's not careful though he's going to wind up in a hug.]

[When has he ever been careful, at all, in his life?]

Mm, but what about one-armed side hugs?

[You're not just gonna take that 'first hug' milestone away, are you?]

[Exactly never, which is presumably why he's letting that tentacle just kind of climb his arm.]

I said at least one limb, did I not?

[He can't help but giggle as the tentacle just crawls up him; it's too strange of a sensation.]

Is this enough limb, do you think?

... I think it may need more thorough testing.

[Time to just pull you into a tangle, right?]

Wah-!

[Astolfo makes a small yelp of surprise as he enters the tangle, though the laugh that soon follows suggests the sudden affection isn't at all unwelcome.]

Is this the tentacles, or you?

Hmmm.

[Oh, hey, that's a pair of normal arms also wrapping Astolfo up.]

How about both?

[He leans into the embrace, though with the tangle of limbs he just presses against the general idea of Izunia's torso.]

Both works.

[With a grin, he returns the sentiment, wrapping his arms around him tightly.]

[Hugs are real good.

Even if it kind of mean they're sinking now, oops.]

I'm glad.

[He buries his face into his shoulder, which probably doesn't help the sinking.]

I'm glad, too.

[That, for someone who hadn't even had friends before, he'd reached this point with Astolfo. He was glad that they could share this moment together, and for all it meant.]

Mmm...

[A small squeeze.]

Touch helps. Keeps me grounded.

In that case, I'm happy to help.

DUNGEON LOG: KEYSTONE REEF

early dungeon

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