Just Keeping Swimming | March Planet Mingle

[thespaceopera]

Who: Everyone!
Broadcast: If you want!
Action: Anywhere on Mafik
When: The month of March



[Welcome to Mafik, the water world! Hope you brought your best swimming gear and don't have a paralyzing fear of water, because that's all that's here! So get out those wet suits and enjoy life under the sea!

In other words, it's a mingle! ]

> System Information

Comments

[helmsplitter]

A: Network Video - At the Ghost Town
[After the initial shock of getting his sword wet was over, Doudanuki sealed everything he could and set off across the world. It took a long while, since he wasn't used to swimming, but the reports of the dead city on the edge of the settlement were too interesting to pass up.

There's no life here at all. No sounds of people or animals, just a strange a sullen silence that descends over the abandoned homes. Plates left on tables, beds left unmade, food left to rot on countertops - it's eerie.

After investigating what he can, he flips open the communicator.]

Anyone know what this "Dark One" is? Heard the residents here talk about the "Three" but no Dark One.


B: SS Caprine
[Seeing so many people sick and not having any of the other swords around puts him on edge. Oodenta was the one known for curing illness, but without him here, it makes Doudanuki want to do something. He's largely ineffectual against an unseen enemy, but he heard someone asking communications officers to scan, so that's what he does when he's dry and on the ship.

He sits for hours at a time, listening and watching the radar blips on the screen until his eyes strain and he has to put his head down.]

I dunno what we're even looking for...


C: Market - Animals Hate Him
[He went on a temple run and killing monsters and trawling dungeons was fun, but the puzzles? Yeah, no. He hated those. Thinking was not his strong point at the best of times, so unless those puzzles needed someone to push a giant rock 40 meters, he was pretty useless. Still, he managed his way through and how he has a...gold ball? Yup, a gold ball to carry around with him - in a wetsuit with no pockets.

...

Well then.

On his way back through town, however, the shiny gold ball starts attracting fish. And then more fish. And more fish until he's got a school around him trying to peck and get at the shiny trinket in his arms. And he can't run because there's no running underwater. He can't attack the fish because they're sacred creatures and even if they're annoying as hell he understands that. So he eventually just lies down in the middle of the market square on top of the gold ball, hoping the swarm of fish circling over him will eventually go away.]



Wildcard
[Up to you! He's exploring the ghost town and willing to do as many temple runs as people need/want. Fighting is his thing, so let him tank for you.]

c, because it made laugh a lot

[stoccado]

[Asuna passes by once and sees this, slightly concerned, but she decides it's better she leave this person alone for the time being.

However, when she passes through once more a little while later, she changes her mind. This is worrisome.

Navigating through the crowded mob of adoring fans, she crouches down next to figure.]

Are you all right?

c: i'm glad <3 he's ridiculous

[helmsplitter]

[No, he's not alright. He's getting hungry and the water is cold to him and he hates the feel of salt water on his skin. He's pretty sure he's going to die down here at the bottom of the ocean all because of a bunch of stupid fish and a shiny gold ball.

He lifts his head when someone talks to him though and a fish smacks him in the face trying to get to the treasure underneath him. After it fails and swims up to join the rest of the crowd, Doudanuki turns a long-suffering gaze toward the newcomer.]


.......I'm being haunted by fish. How d'you think I am.

it's so cute

[stoccado]

[His sarcasm isn't lost on her, but she can sympathize enough to not be affected by his retort. Looking at him, then up at the fish again, she replies.]

We don't want to hurt them... If you'd like, I have an idea to get you out of this.

[Asuna holds out a hand for him to take.] It'll be sudden, but it should work.

orz i've ruined his rep

[helmsplitter]

[He considers the hand for a moment and then reaches out to take it. He's been stuck here for what seems like hours. He'll do anything to get away from the fish at this point.]

I'm starting to rust, so I'll do whatever it takes.

[His poor little troop stuck inside the gold ball, too. It's probably drowning. If...those things can drown. Who knows.]

always fun tbh

[stoccado]

Hold on tight. [To her hand and to whatever he's got there. Asuna turns to face away from him, and a pair of wings suddenly appears behind her back. Without another word, she launches from her crouched position and shoots off along the sea floor, away from the fish with the poor sword guy and gaudy sphere trailing behind her.]

always c:

[helmsplitter]

Hold on-- [TIGHT? HOLY SHIT THEY'RE FLYING UNDER WATER??

When the wings first sprouted he just thought it was another weird thing like what happened to England, but then she took off and his arm jerked and he nearly lost his grip on his sword and the troop ball. He fumbles and then clutches them tight to his chest, letting out a strained yelp of surprise and then immediately clamming the heck up.

He did not just scream.

He did not.

The fish swarm for a second, confused about what just happened and start their pursuit. Sadly, they are not winged speed demons, so they start to fall away school by school the longer they fly until they give up and go elsewhere.]

[stoccado]

[It takes a little longer than she tought, somewhere around thirty seconds, to lose them, but eventually, once she sees they're not being followed, she slows down to a complete stop. Only then do her wings disappear, and she releases his hand with a sigh. She looks over to check on him.]

You're okay, right? Sorry, but that was the only thing I could think of.

[helmsplitter]

[When they finally slow and stop, Doudanuki drops to the ground and finally loses his battle with juggling. The golden ball thumps to the seabed and he fumbles the plastic bag holding his sword, barely managing to keep that in his free hand.]

Y-You coulda warned me first!

[Never mind how his voice wavers or how his heart is pounding his chest okay. That's totally normal for a sword!!!

But at least the fish are gone.]

come tank for your forgemaster who currently is more than a little insane

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor walks/swims almost unseeing - or perhaps seeing what others don't.

He's humming a little, so soft as to almost be below hearing, and the sound blends into the currents around them. He moves like a ghost himself through the ghost town, and the song sounds a little like weeping, if you listen closely. As if he's following (followed) the ghosts of those long gone.

He is going to walk right through that temple door if someone doesn't stop him. ]

maglor. buddy. what happened bro

[helmsplitter]

[At first he didn't notice the music because he was absorbed in reading and checking out the city. But then the hum starts to break through the quiet and the hairs on the back of Doudanuki's neck stand up, making it impossible to ignore. He leaves the house and catches a glimpse of someone moving out of his peripheral, like a wraith floating through this desolate area.

For a brief moment, he debates just leaving and getting the hell out of Dodge, but the song continues and it feels like it's breaking his heart. A few false starts later and he's following, awkwardly swimming through the houses trying to trail the "ghost."

When he gets to the temple, he realizes that it's Maglor - his forgemaster. And he's about to go straight into danger.]

Oi! Hey! Where're you going?!

[He speeds up, managing to just barely catch the hem of his sleeve before he fully walks through the temple doors.]

he's got this wee problem where he gets lost in the song of water....

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor startles at the hand, spinning around to blink at Doudanuki with inhuman eyes. It takes a little while before he can find words. ]

...Doudanuki? What....?

bro we're buying you some ear plugs

[helmsplitter]

[He lets go when Maglor starts and is ready to fight just in case. He doesn't know what's going on, but the look in his eyes isn't good.

He relaxes when the elf speaks, glad he doesn't have to rip open the bag protecting his sword again.]

I dunno. You were just wandering straight in there without a damn thing to arm yourself. You okay?

he would be very grateful!

[bythewaves]

[ Slowly, the water in his eyes ebbs to something a little more normal as he focuses on Doudanuki ]

Wandering... I left the ship! [ He bites his lip ] I didn't mean to. Thank you for stopping me.

dudebro, he got u

[helmsplitter]

[It slowly dawns on him that Maglor had absolutely no idea what he was doing or where he was and Doudanuki's confusion turns to concern. Wandering off into the ocean for anyone was bad, but being unaware of it was so much worse.]

Did you not realize you were off the ship? What happened to you?

swordbro, u the best

[bythewaves]

No. [ Maglor shakes his head, shoulders slumping ]

I ... when we landed, I knew it would be too risky for me to leave, but... I was following the Song, and I don't think I even realised I had left.

fistbump

[helmsplitter]

[That is hella dangerous, bro.

Doudanuki's frown deepens.]

Let me take you back to the ship. You're one hell of a long way off out here.

[A beat]

Wait. What song are you talkin' about?

[ wild card ]

[revengeofthemordsith]

[ The minute the stories poured in from about receiving items from other worlds, their worlds, Cara didn't waste any time in leaving her ship and braving the strange watery world. She tied it back as well as she could, pursing her lips at the puzzles set up. Why couldn't she simply go in and murder everyone and take what she needed?

Honestly.

But as she was dwelling on this, she noticed another man. A familiar man. ]

Hunting as well?

[helmsplitter]

[He's been doing temple runs not for the treasure at the end of them, but because a lot of them had giant beasts to kill. Since it was frowned upon to just attack and kill the inhabitants here, the monsters were the closest to a good fight as he was going to get.

Doudanuki has his sword sealed in a bag to keep the water off it until he needs it, but he turns his head when he's spoken to, noticing someone else has shown up finally.]

Yep, came lookin' for a fight and got a bunch of stupid puzzles. You're Cara, right?

[revengeofthemordsith]

[ She nods, making a face. ]

Who has time to make such intricate puzzles? I just want the treasure.

[helmsplitter]

No idea, but if you can help with the puzzles, I can help you get that treasure.

Deal?

[He sticks his hand out.]

[revengeofthemordsith]

[ She takes a moment before nodding firmly and shaking his hand. ]

Deal. If they are what I think they are, be careful not to touch them. You'll get hurt.

[helmsplitter]

[He shakes and then goes to check out the puzzle that's blocking their way.]

So you think your...[small>What were those called?] agiels are in here?

[Was that right??? He has no idea

[revengeofthemordsith]

They must be. They're the only thing I own.

ugh html fail, sorry

[helmsplitter]

Then hopefully they don't mind waitin' a bit until we get these doors open.

[The mechanism in front of him looks like a bunch of numbers and symbols all in disarray on moveable tiles and by the side of the door are three empty slots.]

...Is this some kinda code?