DUNGEON LOG: KEYSTONE REEF

[phantasmods]

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.

Comments

[beguiledcard]

[ HMMM... ]

I'm sure you'd do just fine without one. [ becaaaaause it's better to lay out a nice foundation for: ] But, if something does happen, I've got your back.

[ WITH THE FORCE OF PROTECTIVENESS HE TOOK UP AGAINST YALDABAOTH; DON'T FUCKING TEST HIM, UNIVERSE.

... But also he's being serious and really will protect Morgana if the boat goes down. ]

[meowna]

I'll count on it, then! You like swimming?

[Excuse him while he takes the least convenient possible route to the bentos then, climbing and hopping over the piles of life jackets to go look for their names. He knows Akira likes running with Ryuji, but swimming? They've never had occasion to talk about it before this.]

[beguiledcard]

[ He nods. ]

It's not my top favorite thing, but it's a much better form of exercise when it gets super hot and you still want to be outdoors.

[ He'll follow, taking a... more convenient route. ]

[meowna]

I haven't really had the chance to do it much--that I remember, anyway. I at least know how, though.

[Go figure, the Metaverse doesn't actually have water-themed stuff that often. BRB, strolling along on top of the bentos so he can see all the names easier~]

[beguiledcard]

[ Morgana....... plz don't walk on people's lunches... ]

Looking for yours?

[ After a thoughtful hum and a scan of the boxes, he walks over and crouches next to the one that has Morgana's name on it. ]

[meowna]

[Don't be like that. The bentos are sturdy enough to take his weight! It's not like he's walking on the food directly. Besides, he's not tall enough to scan all the names at a glance like you are.

He pads over to examine his once Akira spots it, curious; it's watertight and opaque, so he can't even tell what's in there by smell..... Hopefully something good!]

You see yours yet?

[beguiledcard]

[ Guess he couldn't argue against that, but... that is why he let it be. And he nods at the question before reaching over to grab his own.

... And he's just. Quietly looking at it for now.

Hm. What's up with that? ]

[meowna]

[Morgana tucks his bento away in his inventory, looking back up to find Akira..... oddly quiet, staring down at the bento in his own hands. What's going on? Didn't he take one of those to school every day? It really shouldn't be anything to have such a serious expression over.....

Morgana pads over, tentatively nuzzling against Akira's arm.]

Hey..... are you okay? What's the matter?

[beguiledcard]

[ He blinks out of thought, one hand lifting so he can scratch Morgana behind one ear. ]

Now isn't really the time to go into it, but...

[ After glancing to the side for a moment. He's determined not to linger on it, but he's also determined to be more open with his friends. Heh, talk about a conflict... ]

A girl in the last place I was in used to make one of these for us before every... trial. She picked all of our favorite things... and...

[ It's as he gives a slightly wry smile, he shakes his head. ]

So, now... I-

[ ... just say it... ]

Whenever I look at a bento, I remember death.

[meowna]

Every trial? You were at court?

[Morgana's ears flatten under Akira's hand in confused displeasure. He's not sure why Akira would be bringing bentos to a trial, or why it would remind him of death, unless it was a murder case, or capital punishment verdict..... but then again, those are reserved for murderers, aren't they? Serial killers and really heinously brutal murders. That..... doesn't really make sense, though. He said he was only gone for a little over a month, right? So..... why would there be multiple trials in a month, let alone all reminding him about death?

That's..... he's not sure what other possible explanation there could be, though. Either way, he doesn't like Akira's tone, or the way he's struggling to speak. He pushes his head into Akira's hand, nuzzling against him in hopes of offering at least a little encouragement.]

[beguiledcard]

... Kind of.

[ He's hesitance... ]

The place I was in, we were forced into some difficult choices. One of those choices almost forced me to do something that I know I'd regret, even now...

[ ... Yeah, he's being kind of vague, isn't he? He takes a moment to pet Morgana before he continues. ]

Put simply, we were forced into a few situations where one of us was expected to kill another person and fight to get away with it. I... never gave in, but some people I care a lot about... did.

[ A pause... ]

They always held a trial after every murder. The only way for the majority of the group to continue living... was if we caught the killer. But... whenever the killer was caught, they died instead...

[meowna]

That..... who would do something like that?

[Yeah, he's definitely horrified. It sort of confirms his line of thought, only in the worst way possible..... But the motive eludes him. What kind of disgusting, twisted, distorted heart could possibly dream up that kind of scheme? How horrible must their Palace be? How did they even get away with something that would require such elaborate set up and control?]

[beguiledcard]

[ His exhale is tense. He immediately wants to end this conversation; thinking back to this isn't good for the situation, given they have to get on with a mission. He shouldn't be upsetting Morgana before something like this, damn it.

Really, he's been putting this off for so long... it's no wonder it came out at the worst possible time. Hell, he... should stop putting things off, period. He did that with Makoto, and then Makoto vanished... and then, even when he came back, things started-...

... Hell, even... Ann--... ]

It was part of the Reaper's Game. [ holding a blink ] I'll give you more details on everything, once we're back... but... [ managing a small smile; it's an attempt at being reassuring ] We did defeat her - the one responsible. After that, those who died were given a choice of either returning to life or joining the big fight. And those of us who were never killed...

[ Something in his expression falters. There's something very big that he's avoiding saying, and it might be all kinds of obvious in how he can't look Morgana in the eyes? ]

Well, we have some decisions to make as well. The point is, everyone is out of there now. But that game is why-... [ hesitance; his expression is straining the tiniest bit ] I struggle to sleep. That's what I dream about, almost every night.

[meowna]

.....Right.....

[The Reaper's Game. Even the name alone sounds ominous and deadly. So whoever this madman was, she went by The Reaper, and this was all just some kind of sick, twisted game to her? At least they defeated her in the end, and people were brought back to life, but..... Even beyond the question of how they resurrected the dead, just how long had that been going on? How many lives had been destroyed and stolen? Had they managed to bring back everyone who was killed?

He guesses that'll be something to "look forward to" hearing about when they get back, huh? At least Akira trusts him enough to talk about it. Morgana bites back a sigh, instead licking Akira's hand; have a kitty kiss, Akira, he wishes he knew how to make you feel better after something so traumatizing.]

Sounds like you need to take up lucid dreaming, or something..... But until that happens, maybe you should start packing your lunches in brown bags instead of bentos.

[beguiledcard]

[ Lucid dreaming...

Honestly, he'd started to consider the concept back in that forest, but then the whole idea of dreaming... in general? Has never been a comforting thing. Still, he nods, a small and faintly wry smile appearing. ]

... Good point.

[ After a pause, he scratches Morgana behind one ear. ]

Thank you, Morgana... And sorry I've been taking so long to tell you about all of that.

[ Well. Not like he was ever the absolute most open book in the first place... ]