Chapter 03: Act I

[storyevents]

The Little Mermaid: Act I—

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§ instructions.

The first Act of our third campaign is underway! This is the designated log for all Main Scenes. Others are free to create their own toplevels for the Sub Quests, which are detailed below. Each Main Scene has their own unique toplevel and those cast into the roles are to thread their scene under each. All scene instructions are provided in the toplevels. There are also toplevels for each Sub Quest this time around, but players are more than welcome to create their own individual toplevel if they have something else in mind they would like to do.

As a reminder, characters will find similar information and instructions within their journals so they won't go in blind. Also to note, all characters will have all their belongings within them as well as the additional supplies provided to them by the Storyteller. As you know, everyone has undergone a special "mermaid" transformation upon arriving into the Book, but do note: characters in Main Scenes will have a second wardrobe change while acting the scene. Their merform will stay the same, but they'll have additional bits to add to their role. Outfits will be provided in the prompts themselves, and these outfits will only be in affect during the scene. The moment they leave the setting area, they return to their other wardrobe.

Finally, just to be clear, characters who are in Main Scenes are not immediately dropped in to their location and will have to travel to the "setting location" and then return. Threading all of that isn't necessary, but it's to help give a better idea that characters can take a break between scenes or wait a bit to help with other things like the Sub Quests.

Feel free to refer to the Game Notes for more detailed info as well as ask questions or clarifications.

Comments

Base Camp, OTA

[ricebird]

In the last few months between summons from the Storyteller, Kotori's been doing her best to prepare herself for the next one. Researching and memorizing cookbooks from the library, building and maintaining a pack of utensils and spices and non-perishable ingredients, and even trying to practice with the wooden knife the Disciple gave her. ... Well, trying... At least she just gets nervous and chickens out instead of having full-on panic attacks? That's progress, right? Still, it helps that she found out that her donabe has started remembering more dishes she's made before, even if it wasn't with the pot, like the sukiyaki-don from the party. That should REALLY come in handy in the future!

Aaaaand then the Storyteller says that the next story they need to repair is The Little Mermaid... and that they'll be underwater for a good bit of time... which means she can't bring her ingredients... and that her pot might just spew porridge or whatever food it made into the surrounding water... actually, the very environment would pretty much screw with the physics and taste of everything she could think to make. Except maybe sashimi, but a. that still involves knives, and b. the pieces would likely float away.

While Kotori is grateful that the Storyteller was able to provide more ocean-friendly utensils and rations- and for the mermaid form, she actually thinks being a katsuo is kind of fitting- it's still a bit frustrating. If her essence is useless down here... what good IS she?

If anyone swims by, however, she'll do her best to smile and wave... before starting to flip over with a "WAH!" Right... water physics with a tail that works COMPLETELY different even from Sora's.

[twilightskey]

The one who swims by just happens to be a rather familiar face, and Roxas blinks as he watches Kotori flip over mid-wave. He blinks in surprise for a minute, but then swims over quickly, reaching out to grab her hand and help steady her.

"You okay?"

[ricebird]

"Whoa--!"

Oof, yeah, that helps a lot, even if it might send Kotori's hair to fan out every which way, her hair is LONG.

"A-ah, thanks, Roxas-kun... How's it going...?"

[twilightskey]

Oomph, that's a lot of hair! Roxas shakes his head, having to bat at some of that long hair, but eventually it's out of his face and she's not spinning in mid-water.

"I'm alright... how are you doing? It looks like you were having some trouble there..."

[ricebird]

"Ahaha, I... yeah. You make this look a lot easier than it is."

Especially with her fins true to tuna form and having to move her tail side the side instead of front and back in order to move.

[twilightskey]

"Well to be fair, I've been practicing for a while."

It took him a little while to get to his skill level, if he was being honest.

"You need some help getting used to swimming?"

[ricebird]

"Ah... Actually, if you don't mind, that would be a BIG help. Thank you so much, Roxas-kun... I can swim okay as a human, but this? This is definitely different..."

[twilightskey]

"I don't mind at all. And yeah, it's definitely something. Here, let's see..."

He swam around her, looking at her tail. Huh, it was different from his...

"Okay, your tail's different from mine. It looks like you'll have to get used to moving it side to side instead of up and down like I do. But it should be the same as me, aside from that."

[ricebird]

"S-side to side, got it..."

Okay, easy... don't mind if she just... keeps a hold on Roxas's hand to make sure she keeps stable.

[twilightskey]

"Yeah, just like that..."

He doesn't mind in the slightest, keeping hold of her hand as he helps her to get used to swimming. He floats next to her as she moves, offering pointers to help her swim as she needs them.

"It takes a little getting used to, but trust me. After a little while, it becomes second-nature."

[ricebird]

Alright... as Roxas instructs her she keeps calming down, and her grip on his hand relaxes... but doesn't quite let go. Eventually she even manages a light smile.

"Thanks, Roxas-kun... I was gonna ask how you've been doing."

See? Small talk. Absolutely not loaded at all small talk that won't make either of them nervous.

[twilightskey]

"No problem."

He's glad to have helped her! Her question does make him pause, his tail flicking in the water.

"I'm... alright. It feels a bit weird being here, but it's alright."

[ricebird]

Mm? "Weird how?"

This IS his essence story, after all... She doesn't think any of them had ever traveled into a story belonging to another essence before, not that she knows of, so... how is this affecting him.

[hatesviolence]

Shizuo had been slowly adjusting to his own merform, with his tail looking suspiciously like a great white shark's. Honestly he's not sure what to make of that, but at least it doesn't make him a real shark. Still, it was definitely different from swimming as a human, and when Kotori starts to flip over—

"Ah—!?"

He swims over to try and help, but because he was at a level below her he has to swim upwards. And due to his tail being of shark nature and his own strength, well... That is a lot of sudden propulsion and he's about to just collide into her instead.

[ricebird]

They did not think this through, did they? Aaand yup, that sure is a chest rising up to smash itself in Kotori's face.

"Ouch!"

Yeah, her nose will be feeling that for a good few minutes. At least it's not bleeding though.

[hatesviolence]

No, they really did not. For Shizuo, although he feels the collision it's less painful for him. In fact it just feels as if he smacked against a pillow or a cushion. Unfortunately, that cushion is a young girl's face so when he finally stops about a foot above her, he turns back down to look at her.

"Aah, shit, you all right, Kotori?"

She'll have to excuse his language, but he's swimming back, a hand reaching out to her face because he really hopes he didn't make her nose bleed.

1/2

[ricebird]

Kotori only opens her eyes from the wince when she feels something her cheek and... Oh. um... Dang. She did not expect to see Shizuo floating above her with his hand on her cheek, hair floating around him and perfectly backlit by the sun like a halo, and since when were his eyes the color of honey? And is he shirtless too--

2/2

[ricebird]

Wait, why is there a plume of red floating up-- GASP!

Yup, yup yup, just... gonna try to twist away and clamp her fingers over her nose, thank goodness they can breathe down here.

"Y-yeh, it'z o-gay! I'mb fide, Shihzuo-zan!"

[hatesviolence]

Shizuo is completely clueless about Kotori's observations of him, instead just focused on her face. Did he hit her nose? Is it broken? God he hopes it's not, even if he didn't punch her or anything this is Shizuo's ridiculously strong body, made worse thanks to his essence. But just as he's leaning in to look a little closer, suddenly there's—

Blood!

"You're nose is bleeding, how the hell is that fine!?"

Good thing he doesn't have the shark quirk and blood or this would have been a disaster. As it is, he's kind of wishing he had a shirt or something on so that he could use it on her nose, but—wait would that even work underwater!?

"C'mon, let's get you back to camp."

Even if he's not a shark, he's well aware that there are creatures lurking out there that might be attracted to it. He can handle them, but he doesn't want Kotori to get caught in it.

[ricebird]

"No no, id'z fide! Id doezn'd feel brogen. Acshually, if I go up do da zhurfash, I gan heal myshelf..."

She's fiiiine, certainly no need for chest-- I mean, Shizuo to feel bad or go through the trouble.

[hatesviolence]

He...tries very hard to understand her, but he honestly can only make out like maybe a third of what she said. But he does catch one thing.

"The surface?"

...Would that even be safe?

[ricebird]

Nod nod... Although... she can probably just wait a few moments if Shizuo REALLY insists that it's not safe. Down here. Bleeding. With salt water stinging her nose...

[hatesviolence]

He still isn't sure, but if that's what she wants to do... After a few more moments of hesitation, he finally nods.

"All right, but I'll come with you—and don't swim up too fast."

That's something they're not supposed to do right??

"Do you need my help guiding you up there?"

[ricebird]

He'd be right; decompression sickness is a fascinating but really nasty condition. Who knows how mermaid biology or story magic counters likeliness of getting the bends, but better safe than sorry.

"Than'gyu... And... no, THING zhould be fide..."

It's just straight up, right. Although if she does end up needing help, the won't say no... although he should be careful he doesn't make her nose bleed more~

[hatesviolence]

Again he's skeptical, but he's not going to force her.

"Let's go."

He still wishes he had something to help cover her nose, but...again, would it really do anything? Ugh, how do things work underwater... In any case, he'll swim alongside her, staying only a little ahead so that if anything does appear, he can try and get to it first. One might think it even more dangerous that he has no weapon on hand, but he was used to just dealing things with his fists. How that will translate underwater—hopefully they never have to find out.

After swimming for a little bit, he'll glance down at her.

"Doing okay?"