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

[myocordial]

It's about more than just that, it's personality and... and context? [No, that's not it, what words is he looking for?] And-- you are the worst and I hate you?

[In fact! He's gonna try to whack Izunia with his tail, because that seems like a good plan right now.]

[founderinglight]

[Sorry, Heart, that doesn't work - Izunia doesn't even need to phase to dodge it, he just drops lower in the water and the tailthwack goes sailing over his head.]

We're not that different personality-wise either! We're twins~!

[myocordial]

[The fancy tail whip completely missing any target at all actually puts Heart a little off balance there and he moves a little awkwardly as he just... gets himself back in a better position. At least he can't stumble and fall in water, or that would have been extremely embarrassing.]

You are incredibly different, only one of you is obnoxious and inspires so much rage in me. [That he can't reach right now, but it's the thought that counts!] Also your convictions are garbage and you're will is lacking. And you're dumb, in case I hadn't mentioned that.

...Did I mention it? I don't remember.

But you are. Dumb, I mean.

[founderinglight]

You've hardly seen any of my will and my legs are fantastic, thank you.

[...This is not a complete non-sequitor but it sure looks like one.]

Well, when I have them, anyway.

[myocordial]

You have... [Wait. Wait, numbers. Numbers are hard, wait, let him count. Wait. Wait............ Wait.] ...You have more than you usually have right now? So that argument is invalid. You invalidated your own argument.





Why are we talking about legs?

[founderinglight]

[Honestly the fact that they keep moving probably isn't helping that attempt to count at all.]

They're not legs, they're tentacles!

[Technically, anatomically, they're arms. But Izunia doesn't know shit about cephalopod anatomy.]

And we're talking about legs because convictions is why!

[myocordial]

[he's gonna try to whack you with his tail again]

[founderinglight]

[This time he's successful and gets Izunia in the side, which doesn't do anything to make any kind of explanation more forthcoming. Instead, Izunia tries to grab onto the tail in turn, but is just a hair too slow.

Possibly because he's high. A final kissfish swims off to the reef.]

Ow. Bastard.

[myocordial]

Ha! [And that devolves into further laughter. He's real proud of himself right now.] See, I don't need a freebie to hit you!

[founderinglight]

Doesn't count, I'm still more sober than you!

[myocordial]

And yet I still hit you, so what does that say about you? You can't just say it doesn't count!

[founderinglight]

I can and I will, because you have the unfair advantage of a cooperative nervous system! Or whatever your equivalent is.

[myocordial]

Yes, well, it's not easy controlling this tail. There's too much of it. And I still hit you.

...I think that means you just suck?

[founderinglight]

Control eight of them and then we'll talk.

[Tentacle wiggle at you, Heart.]

[myocordial]

Oh, sorry, my mistake.

You suck times eight.

[founderinglight]

...At risk of taking the piss out of myself, isn't that why they're called suckers?

[myocordial]

[There's a slight pause. And then a snicker. And then Heart just keeps laughing, because what would be mildly amusing otherwise is, right now, absolutely hilarious.]

See, see? That just means I'm right!

Thank you for confirming that you suck!

[founderinglight]

I can't even be angry about it.

[Because he's high.]

But your insults still need work.

[myocordial]

...your face needs work.

[children please]

[founderinglight]

My face is magnificent and you just proved my point.

[myocordial]

Maybe from your... stupid, limited human perspective.

[oh heart honey no don't try to pull that card when you're this high]

[founderinglight]

I'm two thousand years old. And very pretty.

[myocordial]

Two thousand years old and human and dumb. You just took time off.

Being old doesn't mean you're right.

[sooooo there]

Ardyn's much prettier.

[founderinglight]

We're identical, so you're stupid too.

[myocordial]

Limited. Human. Perspective.

You just can't appreciate all the differences, you look alike and immediately think "ohhh, we're identical, there's no difference, it's just the saaaame!" when there are so many things that aren't the same? God, humans can be so stupid, no appreciation for nuance whatsoever.