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[3.8★] "Too much water" — Yelp Reviewer
It's like a fish tank, but bigger.
The sea is a vast expanse of water that covers 70% of our planet Earth. It is also home to various marine life that dwell within the very depths. Then one day, someone decided to bring the ocean to the surface for Reasons. So now everyone gets the chance to see all sorts of seafaring creatures — man-eating sharks, living fossils, and whatever horrors found deep in the ocean trenches all safely confined inside these oversized aquariums.
Somehow, your character got their hands on some tickets. So why not dive right in and spend some of that free time to hang out with the fishes? Learn something about the ocean, pet a cute penguin, or even plot to free a killer whale. It'll be an experience they won't forget.
This is just an open RP post with a sandbox-like setting. While there's some scenarios premade for your roleplaying needs, you can mess around with it as much or as little as you want. Feel free to use it for voicetesting, create cross-canon shenanigans, or develop a ship even further. You can carry the story over to your musebox if you'd like too. And you can re-use this post as many times as you'd like (until it hits the comment limit.) So bring your blorbos, your originals, your AUs, your friends and your friends' friends along for the fun!
- Comment with your character's name and series in the subject.
- Follow it up with a starter, and state your preferences too.
- Label any warnings when necessary.
- Reply to other characters!
- Most importantly, just don't worry and have fun!
Upon arrival, the attendant greets you as she collects your ticket. She hands over a brochure of the park containing a map, and descriptions of each featured exhibit that you can access. Afterwards she explains some guidelines for you to follow while within the park premises:
- No smoking.
- Don't leave your children unattended.
- Don't tap or slam against the glass.
- Please keep your valuables with you.
- Don't bring food or drinks inside any of the exhibit rooms.
- Use of flash photography is strictly prohibited.
- Ignore the noises coming from the backrooms.
- Keep a safe distance from the pools, otherwise you will get wet.
Once she's done, she slaps a wristband over your arm and gestures to make your way into the main lobby where all of the other visitors are gathered. From here you may begin exploring around the facility on your own, with your partner, or tag along with a tour guide as they show you the way. There's a lot of places to be, and plenty of fish to see!
The Sea-Through Tunnel is the main attraction of the Oceanarium, and the highlight in most advertisements you find about this place. And you now understand why after seeing it up-close.
It is a long glass tunnel that passes through the large indoor aquarium, giving you a glimpse of the wonders of the sea. And like an aquarium, the exhibit presents a near-perfect replication of the seabed and the various kinds of marine life found exclusively under the sea. Though it comes with a few bits and bobs you expect from any fish tank like a shipwrecked galleon or a treasure chest. If you peruse through the brochure, you take note of the description of the tunnel as follows:
Apparently this exhibit is also popular among families and young couples according to the guide that you overheard. They explained how with the vivid blue water, the colorful coral covering the surface, and an assortment of marine life swimming by, certainly all of these make for a perfect backdrop for any special occasion.
"First meetings, reunions, confessions, wedding proposals, you name it!" the tour guide enthused, "What could be more memorable than having a heartfelt moment or two take place underwater and being surrounded by thousands of fish?"
Another popular attraction in the Oceanarium is The Cold Spot, showcasing images and dioramas of wildlife that survive within polar habitats. And to really add to the experience, the temperature in the room is a bit lower than usual. So as the name implies, it does get a little chilly inside.
Though what draws people the most is the large penguin enclosure within the exhibit. It's where guests get to see these dapper-looking birds clumsily waddle around on the snow-covered surface or diving gracefully into the waters of the indoor pool. Many of them are seen idling by either at their nests, the fake rocks, or at the edge of the pool with little concern of their spectators standing behind the glass barrier with fascination and glee.
Then you notice some smaller text at the bottom of the Cold Spot's description.
Other than that, if you're not up to paying for meeting penguins, there are a couple of penguin statues and a photo stand-in of a penguin with its face cut-out so you can pretend to be one just for laughs.
But as it turns out, there was more to it than meets the eye.
Maybe it's something you caught word of before entering the facility, but you heard rumors that there were plans from the staff behind the scenes about getting rid of one of their poorest performers in the bunch. The Oceanarium has a bit of a seedy reputation regarding the welfare of these seafaring mammals, and have even called into question how they handled them in captivity. You don't know what they'll do to that poor creature, and wouldn't want to think the worst of it to happen. Frankly it's not your business to pry, yet you feel you have to do something if any of that is true.
Now driven to save the creature, you and your partner sneak into the backrooms and make an attempt to set it free.
You figured there's a good reason why this exhibit is called The Abyssal Zone, as it is almost pitch black inside upon entering. This makes it impossible to read the brochure in such darkness. And the only sources of light that you could find are the tiny LED lights embedded on the floor to illuminate your path, and the soft eerie blue glow coming from the fish tanks.
Apparently all of the specimens featured here are mostly found within the deepest trenches of the ocean and are highly sensitive to bright lights. That would explain why the attendant from earlier discouraged you to use flash photography. The tour guide mentions how a handful of them are species that have been around since the prehistoric era. They even proudly boast that the Oceanarium seems to be the only marine park that has the rare "Deep Sea Pucker-Faced Lanternfish" in captivity, thought to have been extinct during the Paleocene era. Seeing how these species of fish managed to survive for over millions of years makes you wonder what else could be lurking beneath the depths.
You then take notice of a few fish that seem to be glowing by themselves. One of them at a distance looked rather... humanoid in shape based on the silhouette. Though maybe you're just seeing things.
"...Oh and did you know?" you hear the guide continue, "Some of these fishes are able to produce their own light naturally – mostly to lure in their prey."
Somehow, you're getting the sense that you're being watched by whatever it is behind the glass.
Slight body horror.
Something's wrong.
Your body swiftly jumps and aches as your nerves begin to connect to your sudden awareness. It's like you are weighted down with lead for muscles, your limbs are uncooperative at every attempt. Not only that, but there's an odd sensation coming from your hands and feet like they felt stuck together. And for some reason, it's become a chore to breathe through your throat as you rasp loudly. And as you awake, bright lights glare before your eyes and you immediately shield them away with your hand. And that's the first oddity you've discovered – the skin between your digits are stitched together, webbed like fins of a fish. The second is finding yourself atop an operating table.
A sharp chill takes over you completely.
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary before you got here. But whatever reason you have for visiting the Oceanarium, someone had their sights on you and knocked you unconscious when no one's watching. And now you've found yourself in a strange yet horrifying predicament. Everything about you has changed, and you dread how your life will be like from this point onwards. It's become certain that you've regretted ever coming to the park in the first place.
There's no time to think about this any further. There's only one goal in mind right now – You have to get out of here. And you can only hope and pray the people running this place don't catch you if you're spotted.
Had enough excitement for today? It sure seems like it.
Well, your time here in the Oceanarium is finally over. Maybe you got to learn a thing or two about the sea, that you found some appreciation towards our fishy friends. Or maybe you've just decided for yourself that you're going to stay far away from the ocean permanently. Either one of these is a valid response really. Just don't let the staff know about the latter part.
But before you leave, the tour guide encourages everyone to stop by at the gift shop and bring home a souvenir or two for you and your friends. There's Oceanarium-themed keychains, fridge magnets, bottle openers, t-shirts, baseball caps, and even plush toys of critters such as penguins, dolphins, octopi, a legally distinct clownfish, or the pucker-faced lanternfish that you can have as a new companion on your way back out.
Alternatively you can sit back, relax, and grab some bubble tea or try out some fish and chips at the indoor café. Of course there's more options you can choose from in the menu, with some food items specially catered towards those who are either vegan, vegetarian, have specific allergies, or just a really picky eater.
If you're not feeling any of these prompts, or have some other ideas in mind, then go wild!
You can mix and match scenarios or come up with your own. Swap roles where you play the villain and your partner would be the hero or the other way around. You can even expand the setting with new locations, or AU it up and rebuild it into your own version of the setting if you'd like. There's no limits to what your imagination can create. It's free real estate here, and the world is your oyster! (No pun intended.)
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Frustrated... [Emil frowns, thinking about it.] I guess sometimes, yeah. Not that much these days. [Back in the days when he was regularly bullied, things were definitely more frustrating. Now, he's got friends that listen to him even when they don't agree on something.] Most of the time, I feel like I get angry for good reasons, though. So it's not like I want to not end up in Ratatosk Mode at times like that... I wonder if there's a good balance.
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I think there would be a good balance .. I think everything has a balance to it, if you're careful. [ But that was definitely something on a more personal level that he and his friends would have to sort out. She couldn't really speak to the Ratatosk situation more than she already had, since that felt like she weas being presumptuous and overstepping. ]
Like any power or ability, I think it's important not to let yourself get overwhelmed and be used by it out of convenience.
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Yeah, I guess balance is important... Finding the right balance is probably hard.
[Being used by his ability... That does sound awful. "Like any power or ability, I think it's important not to let yourself get overwhelmed and be used by it out of convenience." Emil decides to try and remember that phrase, to remind himself of the importance of not overwhelming himself, of not overusing any powers. Maybe he can help other people if he borrows Agnès' words, too. He can already think of one other person who feels burdened by his own powers...
Oh, he's getting ahead of himself. He should be thinking of how to apply Agnès' words to his own powers, how to not let himself be used by them.]
Maybe... instead of trying to hold back on getting angry, I should try and figure out why I've started to forget what I've done in Ratatosk Mode? I don't know how I'd do that, but maybe Tenebrae could help... Oh, um, Tenebrae's a servant of Ratatosk who helped me make the pact with Ratatosk in the first place, since Ratatosk was asleep and all. He's taught me everything I know about using my powers.
[You could say Tenebrae is something like Emil's Mare, if Emil knew who Mare was (and if Mare popped up to make stupid jokes or tease people constantly).]
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[ She looked thoughtful for a moment, frowning a little. ]
I think that is definitely a good place to start. Personally I wouldn't be comfortable having such gaps in my memory, so I can't imagine how you must feel. [ Of course, if he never thought about that as she suspected - he seemed to be a 'go with the flow and worry about it later' type? Which admittedly worried her a bit. ]
Oh! In that case, Tenebrae must know something - or at least, he should be able to help you in terms to find out what might have happened. [ She'd be a little worried that Tenebrae just wasn't telling Emil something, and if that was the case, what was he hiding, and why. But she didn't want Emil to get paranoid and start doubting someone who was an ally. ]
[sorry for the late tag!]
I mean, it's not like I'm comfortable with it. I just never really thought about it before. But... maybe it's not really that big of a deal... Ratatosk Mode is a lot stronger than me, and a lot more confident than me... I don't mind leaving things to him sometimes. [Emil's definitely the type to worry a lot, he just
has a mental block preventing him from thinking about certain things too deeplydoesn't feel this is that dangerous.]Yeah, I think I'll ask Tenebrae about it when I see him! Though, he does sometimes like to get cryptic about things and not give straight answers... I think he thinks it's funny. I'm sure he'll answer honestly if I tell him it's important, though. [
He won't, Agnès is totally right to suspect him :D]No problem!
Um.. well if you feel that strongly about it, I suppose it isn't a problem. [ Until it is. ]
Ahah, I know the type of person who does that - never giving straight answers, I mean. [ Mare, half of Ouroboros.. ]
But you're right, I'm sure he'll be up front with you when you make it clear you aren't joking. [ Suuuuuuuuuuuuuuure he will. She at least hopes for Emil's sake, that is the case. ]
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Emil, that's counterproductive...] I-I mean... nevermind. It's no problem.Oh, you too? [Oh boy, can he commiserate with Agnès about this? Emil smiles.] Eheh... It can get a bit annoying, right? The kind of person that'll drop big information that changes everything out of nowhere like it's nothing, but when you're actually asking, it's like, [Emil goes for a deeper, smug voice:] "Fufufufu... I wonder."
I hope so... [He's got low expectations, but Tenebrae can be kind too, so maybe...?]
((ooc: Emil, please don't talk yourself into going "my memory loss and loss of control over my body is no problem because I don't want to annoy people by talking about it," what are you doinggg... *facepalm*))
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though nowhere NEAR as bad as Emil, but she had been able to grow out of a lot of that. Emil just needed the same support and opportunities to stand on his own feet the way she did. ]Ahah, that's actually a pretty good comparison. One of our friends likes to be that cryptic too, and I know we all would wish she just be up front with what she might now. It.. would make things much less difficult in the end. [
..as much as I like the chaos gremlin : Friggin Shizuka and her friggin OP crypticness lol]I think in part some enjoy watching people scramble to piece together information, and in part they're bound not to be completely up front, so all they can do is leave the equivalent of breadcrumbs to nudge people along the right path to an answer. [ She's probably closer than most on that one. STILL it was annoying. Although the 'fufu I wonder' was pretty unhelpful. ]
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[Oh, his Tenebrae impression got a laugh! Emil is very pleased at his success. (He kind of misses Marta and the way she'd join in on the complaints and Tenebrae impressions at times like this, but it's not like he'd expected Agnès to do that. The mental image he suddenly gets of Agnès doing so makes him hold in a laugh, though.)]
Bound to not be completely up front? You mean, sworn to secrecy or something? [Emil frowns, thoughtful.] Huh... I wonder if there's something binding Tenebrae. Since he's a servant of Ratatosk, maybe he's supposed to keep some things about his powers a secret or something...? You'd think he'd be more helpful since we're trying to revive Ratatosk, though...
Still, Tenebrae's not a bad person or anything, so I don't think he'd keep secrets if it was something important for me to know, unless he had to... Since he's smart, I think he'd leave breadcrumbs like those.
[
chaos gremlin is a good description for Shizuna XD So annoying yet so cool...]no subject
It might be a matter of not wanting crucial information to get out if someone happens to kidnap and torture one of your party members. [ Agnès, Emil already has the nerves of a chihuahua (sorry Emil :D) don't freak him out more! ]
But I think you're right, I think he's just trying to nudge you along the correct path. As frustrating as it is, when you think about it, isn't it more satisfying to piece it together rather than have the answers given to you? Especially if you find a new perspective on the subject.
[ ooc: lol yeah she can be a little much, but I like her a lot more than Elaine. Although Elaine has improved slightly (she was a lot worse in the first game) ]no subject
That's...! [But then, his expression turns thoughtful and grim.] That... does sound like something that could happen, and something Tenebrae would think about... [If Emil ever was captured by the enemies, he knows exactly who'd be torturing him, too.] I don't really know how well I'd be able to handle that... Maybe Tenebrae's right.
[The thought is disturbing, of course, but... Emil doesn't freak out as much as you'd think, since it feels like something expected in hindsight. He decides on the spot that, if it ever comes down to either him or Marta getting captured by the enemy, Emil would take her place. He could survive something like that.]
I guess it is satisfying to find the solution to a puzzle or something, and that sounds like something Tenebrae might say, but... Mm, I don't know. [Emil's shoulders slump.] Trying to figure out Tenebrae's motives when he's not around might be useless... I feel like the possibility of torture is probably closer to the truth, though.
[[ ooc: whoa Elaine slander out of nowhere XD For the record, I think Shizuna's annoyingness is a good thing! I like her, but I like almost every other party member more, so Shizuna always ends up getting left out when I'm forming the team... Elaine's not my favorite, but I think she had more good character moments in the first game than the second, so yeah, I guess my opinion is the opposite XD ]]
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I-I'm sorry, maybe I shouldn't have mentioned that. [ Too late now though! ]
Of course I'm sure you'll never have to actually worry about either scenario...at least I hope you won't. To be completely honest, I don't think I'd be able to handle something like that well either, so you're not alone with that thought. [ She'd bet Van would - but she also wouldn't want him in that position. ... ]
Now that I think about it, I think I definitely shouldn't have brought it up. [ Because she's wondering now how SHE would deal with torture or something like that. ]
I guess I've sort of gotten the habit of thinking about these other possibilities.. which isn't really a bad thing, but I wouldn't want to make someone overly worried or paranoid. You have a lot of people to watch your back, so I'm sure you don't have anything to worry about. Do you hav anyone else you can talk to though, besides -- [ Uh. Girlfriend, Tenebrae the Cryptic and Questionable enemy Richter... UM. Y'know she thinks she understands why Emil was having troubles now.. ] -- I mean, someone more impartial..?
[ It's not slander if it's true LOL. But seriously I don't hate-hate her. She's OK as a character but I found her pushy, judgmental attitude in the first game annoying during the first half; I know WHY she was like that (the whole guilt over taking credit for Van's accomplishments, pressure from the Bracer Guild (which is a whole other issue) pushing all that praise on her, and her family issues so once they addressed that, I was 'okayish' with it. First game basically dealt with her arc so it makes sense they wouldn't have many more character moments for her; the focus is on Van's team and she's just kinda... there?
Also yes, re Shizuna, I do like her, I just think the "I saw it once and I can do it now lol!" trait is a little much, even if there's reason for it! I think Daybreak/Kuro is one of the few games that I actually like all the characters (I even like Celis and Leon after the second game, though I had the same problem with them as Elaine). My team was usually Van, Agnès (best caster/healer), Judith (built up to be dodge queen/buff stealer) and Shizuna. I think sometimes I swapped Shizuna for Elaine, Risette or Aaron - I almost never used Quatre though.
Also oops sorry about the teal deer @.@ ]
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[Emil starts to genuinely think about how to prepare for the chance he could be tortured. Should he find a book about torture so he can mentally prepare for it? Or would that make it worse? Maybe Tenebrae would know.]
Um... I guess I could talk to Regal about it? He's been travelling with us for a while, and he seems really mature... Oh, um... and I guess talking to you about this has been really helpful, too. [But Emil definitely doesn't have a big support circle, with most of his travelling companions coming and going according to their own goals, and him having no friends before he met Richter, Marta and Tenebrae...]
[[ ooc: haha, I guess we've got very different preferences. I'm the type that totally loves it when a morally grey protagonist is judged by a white-knight, holier-than-thou type character, especially if it's someone who also cares and worries about them! It's a similar set-up as Tales of Vesperia, which I also loved! So yeah, the thought that Elaine was "annoying" never even crossed my mind at times like those XD
Shizuna's funny, but she doesn't feel like she's got the same depth as the rest of the main cast... As for my team, I usually defaulted to the base Van/Agnès/Feri/Aaron team, but I used Quatre a lot too, and sometimes swapped in Elaine, Kincaid or Renne. Never quite figured out how to fit Judith or Risette into my teams...
no worries about tl;dr, I like talking about Daybreak! ]
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That's awful! [ .......... but not expected for an enemy to threaten that. Melchior probably would if he were around still. ]
I don't really think that is something that you can prepare for, mentally. Even if you asked friends to try to torture information out of you I don't think any one would morally want to do that. [ Even if it were tickle torture. ]
I think it's something only a certain mindset- or incredibly strong will could withstand, and even then, I think everyone has a limit. Most adults probably won't be entirely truthful about theirs..
[ Best to keep some things secret so they can't be used against you -and- they are supposed to look out for the 'youngins'. Agnès was on that icky line between adult and child - leaning more towards adult mentally, even if her peers thought otherwise. Punks. ]
Have I? I didn't think I was that helpful...if anything I was worried I might have caused more problems.. but I'm glad if I was able to help even a little. I'm glad you have someone else you can talk to though. [ Who will hopefully also help. ]
[ ooc: Oh good phew XD But yeah definitely then, I'm not fond of 'holier-than-thou' types, especially when they're in the wrong! Unless they have a turnaround where they acknowledge they're flawed or in the wrong. Sometimes they can be done interestingly, though. I used to like the archtype too. I thought Agnès was going to be that 'innocent and naive can do no wrong' type so I was pleasantly surprised that they subverted the expectation there with her lol. Shizuna DEFINITELY doesn't have the depth that the others do, and I'm not sure if she's going to ever get it since she's technically not really MAIN cast, I see Van, Agnès, Judy, Risette, Feri, Aaron and Quatre as main cast, and the others like Bergard, Zin, Elaine and Shizuna are secondary. Considering I'm hearing scary things about Beyond the Horizon though... that might change. Two months to go!
I usually had Judy for the speed and lucky (lol one boss fight she was literally the only one standing and I was able to get everyone up again because the enemy just could not hit her XD Risette I only ever used for extra shields if Agnès couldn't get hers up in time. I always forgot about poor Kincaid, but I usually used Renne too! ]
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I-I mean, it was only a threat, and Richter saved me, so it's no big deal... [He rushes to reassure her.]
I guess that's true... Nobody would want to do that. So then, is there nothing I can do...? [Emil frowns, thoughtful.]
No, you've been really helpful. I think I tend to get stuck in my head about some things, and, it's nice to get a new perspective on them! Um, if there's anything I can help you with in exchange, then... please, let me know! Even if it's just a different perspective on something you're worried about...
[A different perspective... Wait, that gives him an idea about that whole torture problem.]
Oh! Maybe, if I do end up captured, I should try and switch to Ratatosk Mode? Then I might not remember what happened... That's kind of like avoiding torture, right?
[Something within Emil stirs, not happy with that idea.
Ratatosk Mode incoming...][[ ooc: totally understandable, the "holier-than-thou" type is difficult to like XD I personally find them more likeable when they're wrong, but it's true that the type can be done badly! Agnès is definitely great, I had no real pre-expectations for her but she and Van both impressed me as characters when I played the demo! I'd never played another Trails game so I didn't know what to expect XD But she also reminds me of Estelle from Tales of Vesperia, another "naive at first but open-minded and ready to learn" kind of character done well! I kind of expected Shizuna to get some more focus in the second game since she was one of the few to get a new outfit, but I guess what we see is what we get with her...
Kincaid was a character I liked to bring out for boss battles for his crafts to erase all enemy buffs and give a teammate an instant turn! Judy and Risette did clinch a victory as the only survivors when my team got almost wiped out to a boss once, so I can respect their skills too ^^; ]]
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I suppose it is, but doesn't that feel a little... mean to push something unpleasant onto another person just because you don't want to deal with it? Although I don't really know what this Ratatosk mode is, or how it works, but it sounds like it's something that's protected you when you're in danger. I'm not really sure what the correct option would be. [ She might change her opinion on actually /seeing/ Ratatosk mode though. ]
I don't think anyone would want to endure torture
except a sado-masochist, ... I'm not sure if it would help you avoid the torture in the long turn. You might not experience it in the present, but you would still feel the after effects. It's like if during torture they broke your arm - you wouldn't feel them break it, but you'll still experience the pain afterwards. And there's still a possibility that the you would feel it even if you did try using Ratatosk mode, thereby making the attempt pointless.[ Hrm. HRMMMMMMM. ]
I would think it unlikely that any of your friends would admit to having been tortured either. Something like is far too deeply personal and traumatizing to talk about casually.
[ ooc: We still have like, two more games I think? Kai/beyond the Horizon is supposed to be HUGE so she might get something. And I THINK there's one more game that might cover Arteria so we've still got time, especially since we know Shizuna's working with Agnès' dad.
lol Yeah, Agnès does have a lot in common with Estelle from ToV, but Estelle I think leaned harder on the 'you must do only good and follow the law' and Agnès was more of a 'I wish we didn't have to, but it's necessary' mentality. I think Agnès only really fussed at Van maybe twice about (once when he picked a lock and then when he used Marielle (who was being a pain) as a distraction with the cops XD I could be wrong about Estelle though, it's been a long time since I played ToV! ]
1/2
[Breaking his arm... Emil winces at the thought. He didn't have much of an image of what torture actually entailed, except like, whips and stuff? He doesn't want that, that's scary, that'd hurt, Ratatosk Mode, please protect him...
In response to Emil's unconscious, unfiltered first thoughts at the idea, something shifts within him...]
2/2 [ratatosk time]
Hmph. Don't bother reasoning with that coward. There's no need to talk at length about this. He wouldn't last a second, so I'd take his place. Whether he feels it or not doesn't matter as long as I'm in control.
[He might not like that Emil would intentionally make him take his place, but he's certain that unlike him, Emil would talk under torture. It's the obvious thing to do.
...He's a bit touched that Agnès would speak up for him, though.]
[[ ooc: Ooh, interesting. I haven't been keeping up with news about the upcoming Trails games at all, so this is all news to me.
I actually started a replay of Vesperia not too long ago! The thing about Estelle was that Yuri expected her to be the law-abiding type so he hid things from her for a long time, but when she actually found out what he'd been doing, she was more open-minded about breaking the law to help people than he'd expected! ]]
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Emi-- erm.. I-I mean.. I suppose you're... Ratatosk mode...? [ This was VERY different from when Van called out the Grendel. ]
I had no idea you were an entirely other entity all your own the way Emil explained it. But even if you're fine with taking on the danger to protect him, it's a little unfair isn't it..? [ But there really wasn't an alternative was there? Except for perhaps Emil getting strong enough on his own to not rely on Ratatosk mode so much. It made her even more curious! ]
[ Ooc: Yeah, I'm trying to go in as blind as possible and not spoil myself the closer we get to it, but it's hard because you can literally trip over something by accident lol.
And Oho! Then yes, there are some pretty decent parallels between her and Estelle for sure! I didn't even remember that bit, that's cool :D ]
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I'm Emil, and this is my Ratatosk Mode. [Not said in a tone of correcting her or anything, he doesn't care what she calls him. That's just how people around him tend to call him.]
I don't care if it's unfair. What matters is keeping Marta safe. She's their main target, and if I'm captured, they'll stop at nothing to get to her through me. The other me isn't strong enough to protect her, so I'll do it.
[[ ooc: I kind of wonder if Daybreak was partially inspired by Vesperia since the main "love triangle" in each has so many parallels! You've got Van/Yuri, the morally grey, cool and mature protagonist who's in a bit of a slump in his life at the beginning, Elaine/Flynn, the protagonist's lawful good childhood friend who's worried about the protagonist's lifestyle in a way that annoys the protagonist, and Agnès/Estelle, the naive young lady who enters the protagonist's life by asking for his help and ends up changing his life for the better and being changed for the better herself over the game's course... And of course, both have a character named Judith XD ]]
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What does Marta think about it? [ Had anyone even asked if Marta was okay with that sort of thing? In fairness how in the world could someone be prepared or defend against torture without experiencing it themselves. It's a complicated situation! ]
[ ooc: it's funny I often see people say that about Flynn/Yuri - I never saw it or shipped it, personally but I also have no interest in m/m or f/f either, so that's part of why, probably! Either way, I don't think it was inspired, it's just a trope in most jrpgs lol. The Judith thing is probably a coincidence since the two are VERY different types of characters XD. ]
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What do you care, anyway? This doesn't involve you.
[[ ooc: Oh, haha, I wasn't even really thinking about Yuri/Flynn with that XD I meant the Vesperia love triangle in the Yuri/Estelle and Flynn/Estelle sense, though I do personally like the Yuri/Flynn ship (even if I prefer Flynn/Raven, but hardly anybody else seems to see the vision...) But basically what I mean is, even if the intended romances are different, the characters involved in the trio and the relationships they have with each other have enough similarities that they remind me of each other! But yeah, the Judiths are very different, other than being the main fanservice character of the team... ]]
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Ah.. I mean no offense. . .and I suppose it really isn't my place to speak on the topi either. As you say it doesn't involve me, but it seems cruel to subject you to suffer on behalf of ...er... yourself, because he isn't able to himself. [ Also if he keeps dodging things and just letting his other side handle the matter, that was another problem altogether. ]
But I really don't have a satisfying alternative or suggestion that would resolve the situation either. [ Short of being even more cruel to ..er.. original flavor Emil? ]
[ ooc I mean - that's still the trope :D As for the 'fanservice' eh, agree to disagree. I like the outfits and I think they'd have to lean a LOT harder for it be 'fanservice'. Just wearing clothing that shows skin isn't enough to qualify to me, especially when there's fanservice on the other side too (I mean. Yuri's -right there- and I don't really recall them doing anything particularly fanservicey with Judith in Vesperia. Maybe a hotspring thing? But they also do it with the guys in Daybreak - Aaron at least). Honestly, I'd rather see more confident female characters in games that aren't afraid of showing off skin than the ones who think showing skin is a crime. Granted Judy had a dumb trope or two in Daybreak, but nothing showed (thank god) so I can't say it counts. It was a hot spring trope and done for comedic value, so its practically a requirement lol ]
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I can handle it. I'm not as unreliable as that weak me.
The best solution is to just not get caught in the first place. Getting all worried about a possibility is useless. I'll cross that bridge if there's no other choice, but breaking that bridge is better. [He's mangled that saying to the point of it barely being recognizable...]
[[ ooc: Well, it's not like I'm against fanservice, and I totally agree that a fanservice character that likes being sexy is better than a fanservice character that hates it! But still, the Judiths get the most sexy alternate outfits of their casts, so it's hard to argue they're not the most fanservice-y characters, even if the games don't have that much fanservice of the sexy kind. (Fanservice of the "hey, look at this character/reference" is pretty common in both, haha.) And yeah, Yuri definitely shows skin and Aaron takes the role of the male fanservice character in Daybreak, but their alternate costumes severely lack in sexiness... Well, I'm asexual though so I admit my viewpoint of these things may not be the average experience XD ]]
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[ She paused, about to correct the way he mangled the phrase -- decided against it. It's not important and she knew what he meant. ]
[ ooc I'm definitely not against it either :D But yeah, Judith's outfit is like Yuri so she's the fanservice girl and he's the fanservice guy I guess! Also correct, I'd have to dip into Daybreak 2 again to check out the costumes but I THINK they were mostly just alternate colors/references to other games or.. a towel which was a little disappointing :D The gogod ones could be behind paid dlc though (ick). Other than that, super straight over here, you can take my word for the sexiness of the guys lol (though Van's def more my type than Aaron). ]
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yay I'm back! I missed everything ;o;! XD
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