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

Right. Choker. That's useful. ...It's nice. Being here. Where everyone can do all kinds of things.

...yes, it was different for you, wasn't it? You were alone in that regard.

That's why... I became very good at seeing the supernatural. But I was still alone.

[Another fish kiss. Mai blinks.]

All of you are here. I like it. ...Am I better at that now? Liking things. And saying I like things.

[How cute! Mai's making so many friends in this Fissure!]

I believe so. You certainly say more than you once did. And you smile more.

[Her smile grows a little wider as the fish flit around her.]

I like that. ...I like fish-san. I like you. I like all our friends. I like beef bowl. I like magic being everywhere. I like this fissure. ...Lee was right. I do feel more like a person now. I think.

Mai, you were always a person.

[But Arianna smiles, too, and on impulse she swims over to Mai and gives her a hug.

A fish gives her another smooch.]

[Mai is a bit loopy, but she'd probably hug Arianna back anyway. Maybe not so hard, and maybe not rubbing her face on her like a cat or a K-On character, which is what she is currently doing, but.]

Thank you. ...Glad.

My goodness!

[Yeah, that's a little more than Arianna would normally expect from Mai.

Normally she'd be at least slightly concerned by that, but for now she just pets Mai's head.]

Mm. [Hug. She lets go reluctantly and pets a fish-san.] It's nice. Right? Like you. You always say what you like.

Not always. [Oh, hey, that's something she doesn't usually bring up.] But yes. You feel more comfortable with people now, do you not?

Mm. ...Unhappy?

I am mostly happy.

[Oh, there are her defenses! They're so insubstantial they were hard to find after they fell down for a moment.]

If something makes you sad... I'll fight it. Okay.

[Clasps her hands very seriously.]

I--please do not fight Clarith!

[Whoops, there they go again.]

Won't. Clarith... Made you sad? But she's nice to you. Always says you're good.

[Mai is not sure how many fish kisses she's gotten, but her eyes are foggy and her head feels light.]

Even nice to me. When I ruined everything. Made you sad?

[oops]

No, that is not what I...

...I am uncertain what came over me.

[arianna you know exactly what came over you]

...

[Have another hug, because Mai has no idea what to do here and is apparently very affectionate once intoxicated.]

I won't fight her. But I'll fight... The sadness? Maybe. Fight that.

[Hopefully nobody was counting on Arianna to realize something's wrong. She knows Mai isn't usually this cuddly, but clearly that can only be a good thing. So a hug is happening.]

Thank you, Mai. I know you will.

[Well, they are both hai right now. ~~I'm sorry.~~]

...

[She lets go and unties the ribbon from her hair. Maybe looking less like Clarith will make Arianna happier? Possibly? Mai's too out of it to care and she ends up staring at the ribbon for a while.]

[This flies right over Arianna's head.]

I've always liked your ribbon. It's pretty.

...

[She reaches over to tie it into Arianna's hair. Now she can be Clarith instead. Not that, in Mai's current state, she's doing a good job at tying it in.]

Thank you.

[Arianna has been promoted! (...?)]

Thank you.

[...and she reaches up and pats Mai on the head.]

Nice.

[She's smiling as she starts passively floating upwards. Later, Mai will be very confused as to where her ribbon has gone, but not now.]

Cute. It's why they love you.

[At least she'll get it back?]

...do you believe so? I must be certain to remain as cute as I can, then...

Not just that. Kind. Strong. An approachable authority. Like... A lion-san.

[Exactly how that is like a lion-san, I'm not sure, and Mai may not be sure either.]

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daughterofthemark - 2018-06-14 00:48 (UTC) - Expand

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