Chapter 03: Act I

[storyevents]

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.

Comments

[hatesviolence]

"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.

[ricebird]

... 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?"

[hatesviolence]

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.

[ricebird]

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?"

[hatesviolence]

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."

[ricebird]

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~?"

[hatesviolence]

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...?

[ricebird]

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."

[hatesviolence]

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?"

[ricebird]

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.

[hatesviolence]

"Hm... So you could make healing food like in video games."

Was that a crack at a joke? It was AND there might be a small grin.

But that soon fades when happens to see some movement past Kotori's head, and he looks a little past it. Was that... ...

Not wanting to alarm her, he shifts his gaze back to her.

"Go ahead and eat some."

The sooner she does, the sooner he can maybe just grab her and run—or in this case, swim.

1/2

[ricebird]

She ALMOST misses that grin, but after a blink it registers and she can't help but laugh a little too.

"I guess it is kind of like that!"

And sure, that works, she'll just ask Nabe-chan to cook and stop making some basic sweet rice porridge to start... and then realize she has NO utensils on her.

"... Aha... sorry about this..."

She'll just turn around so Shizuo doesn't have to see her scooping porridge out of the bowl with her bare hands like a barbarian--

2/2

[ricebird]

...... Okay maybe turning around was a huge mistake.

[hatesviolence]

...Yeah, her turning around was definitely not what he had intended because although still a little far, those fins are a lot closer than he liked. Knowing that she finally noticed them, he swims up next to her.

"Eat it, now."

He wasn't looking at her, his gazed focused on the nearby sharks, but his tone definitely left no room for argument.

"Then we're running."

He could probably handle them on his own, but with Kotori here...he didn't want to risk it.

[ricebird]

"H-hai..."

Yeah, she's stunned enough that the translator magic fritzes a second. She quickly scoops a handful of porridge and wolfs down as much as she can in one swallow. She starts feeling more energetic already and she feels the pain and bleeding in her nose quickly stop.

"Okay, I'm good, let's go!"

Dive dive dive!

[hatesviolence]

By now he can see the eyes of the sharks and see how large they really are. This...is definitely going to get hectic.

Without another word, he waits for her to dive down first before following along right after. Seeing their movements, the blot sharks make their move as well, speed increasing as they swim right towards them with their mouths already gaping wide. They were a lot closer than it originally seemed, and Shizuo is going to give Kotori one big push before he spins around, a giant rusted anchor appearing in his hands to ram into one of the shark's mouths.

[ricebird]

"WHOA!"

The push is HARD on her shoulders, jettisoning her a good yards down before she can stop and turn around herself! When she can, though, she sees Shizuo grappled with one of the sharks and... holy crow, how did Shizuo get that anchor?! Is... is that his essence? Sure he's strong, but how is he able to HOLD that thing without sinking?

Wait, not important right now! Even if one shark is busy gnawing on the anchor, more are swimming towards him and now he probably can't defend himself!

"SHIZUO-SAN!"

[hatesviolence]

Shizuo hears Kotori and manages to glance at the inbound shark. With a click of his tongue, he gathers all his strength into his upper body and with a loud yell...turns, swinging himself, the anchor, and the shark towards the other in an attempt to smash them together. If it works, great. If not—he's about to get a nice shark bite to his side.

[ricebird]

WHACK! The two sharks collide with a burst of water and crunching cartilage. It’s definitely an impressive sight... but thankfully not SO distracting that Kotori can’t see two more quickly charging at him from behind.

For a second she’s frozen again... but then an image flashes through her mind.

Squid ink.

She rushes TOWARD the fight again, gripping the handles of her pot tight, and then once she’s close enough she THRUSTS the donabe towards the fray.

“COOK, NABE-CHAN, COOK!”

And the pot SPEWS rice porridge into the open water, spraying thick gluey rice, making it hard to see or move, the attacking shark’s mouths only grasping porridge.

And through the chaos Kotori BARELY manages to grab Shizuo’s hand.

“Come on, let’s go!”

[hatesviolence]

Shizuo doesn't notice Kotori swimming in behind him, too focused on the sharks in front of him and wrenching that anchor free to wind up for another hit, until he hears her screaming her pot to cook. But before he can shout at her, a thick spray of porridge fills his vision. It's a good thing she grabbed his hand since he had been so surprised by the sudden "attack," but he won't protest.

After getting his wits back, he just chucks the anchor into the mess before swimming alongside her. He's going full tilt, so he may end up dragging her in the end.

[ricebird]

If it was on land, no doubt Kotori WOULD be dragged along, possible even waving behind Shizuo like a banner. But here she has a tuna’s speed. While Shizuo is still pulling on her hand and Kotori still have to WORK for it, she pushes herself hard enough to keep pace with him.

Once they STOP, though, she’s definitely breathing hard.

“Ohhhhh thank goodness that was WAY too close...!”

[hatesviolence]

Even Shizuo is a bit breathless when they finally reach a safe point—sticking to the shadows of one of the underwater palace buildings but close to the main entrance a lot of crystal light nearby. Going further in would be better, but this isn't a bad place to at least catch their breath.

"You okay?"

Of course the first thing he asks is how she is. As a friend and an adult, he is concerned!!

[ricebird]

“Y-Yeah... I should be asking YOU that, I’m not the one that was fighting sharks singlehandedly! Are you okay?”

[hatesviolence]

"Yeah, I'm fine. One bumped against me, but nothing to worry about."

[ricebird]

“Really?”

Yeah, really, Shizuo, does “bump” translate to “I now have massive bruising and hemorrhaging and maybe some teeth embedded in my side?”