realmofstories | Chapter 03: Act I

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Chapter 03: Act I

The Little Mermaid: Act I—

§ 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.

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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.

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.

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.

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--

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!"

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.

"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.

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?

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...

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?"

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~

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?"

You know, the swim up is actually pretty nice, almost peaceful... and she definitely feels safe with Shizuo swimming above her, strong and quiet aaaand why do her cheeks start feeling hot? It's enough that Shizuo's question almost startles her.

"Ah, yeah... Yeah, the pain's getting better... and I think the bleeding's slowing down."

True enough, the long, steady trail of blood has been thinning out quite nicely during their swim up to the surface.

"Good." And then there's a small pause. "Sorry I hit you like that."

She shakes her head easily, giving him a smile she hopes is reassuring.

"No, it's fine. It was an accident, I know you didn't mean to."

He'd never hurt her on purpose.

"Even so... Can't believe I just charged at you like," he sighs. Even underwater he needs to be wary of his strength it seems...

They are nearing the surface, and it seems they'll be fortunate enough to be approaching during a lull between storms. The waters will be a little choppy, but bearable at least.

... Yeah, she doesn't like the sound of that. The shark might be strong, but the tuna is VERY fast, a close rival to Rokurou's swordfish, so she too a chance and jolted forward to try and get in front of him, looking Shizuo face to face.

"Shizuo-san... You didn't charge at me. These tails are REALLY hard to control. You tried to help me, and you miscalculated. This could have happened to any of us... You get that, don't you?"

Shizuo is actually surprised when Kotori swims up to him, forced to stop when she does. He's even more surprised by her words, and he just glances away.

"...Yeah, I do." And he does understand what she's saying, but at the end of the day she still got hurt. And although his complex about his strength has improved greatly over time, it's still there.

Yeah, she can see the words might need help sinking in, but she gives him a light smile and... very briefly squeezes his hand before letting go, her cheeks glowing a bit.

"I'm not upset with you at all. I know it's not always easy but... you can forgive yourself too, okay?"

She once again surprises him when she grabs his hand for that brief squeeze, but he doesn't think too much about it other than the meaning behind the gesture. It is...definitely going to take a little bit, but he'll just give a small nod before he turns slightly.

"Thanks. ...Let's get you to the surface, we're almost there."

A nod, and she follows him like before. Thankfully the swim UP is rather uneventful, and when they break the surface, no more stinging salt water hits her nose, and something about the air suddenly filling her lungs just feels SWEETER.

"Ahhh...! I never thought I'd miss breathing fresh air this badly, have you~?"

Breaking the surface alongside her, Shizuo is actually surprised when he finds himself actually breathing in air.

"...Huh, guess I never actually thought about it."

But it does feel different somehow. Is this how those special fish feel...?

A few more sweet breaths, and then Kotori pulls out her donabe pot from... somewhere around her, the thing tends to follow her if she goes too far away with it- and begins to pour water out. She's gotten used to it the last few months.

"Okay so... it's light enough that I should just need a quick sip and be fine." She looks to Shizuo. "Ah... are you feeling hungry at all? If you want, I can make something to eat for you too, Shizuo-san."

Shizuo watches her pull out the pot with some surprise, but only some. This time it was less about her being able to and more...well, it just looked a bit out of place as well as what she just said.

"You can heal yourself from drinking from your pot?"

A soft nod. "Yeah, I figured it out a little while after the Hyde incident. I burnt my tongue on some hot tea, but having some porridge from the pot for lunch later that day actually cleared it up. Kinda wish I figured THAT out sooner, though..."

It wouldn't have been enough to heal the arm fully, but it could have helped some of the pain and swelling, even fully alleviated the aftermath of having his shoulder reset. It should definitely work for a nosebleed.

Buuuut funny thing about blood. Even though Shizuo didn't inherit that blood lust from his sharky form, there are a few blots that did... and Shizuo might see some cliche fins a little ways off, but coming closer.

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