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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.)
Close Encounters of the Penguin Kind
Well.. I certainly don't know any royals that are quite so ... um... [ Obnoxious? ] Insistently loud? [ That'll do. ]
Although royals don't generally fly, unless it's aboard an airship, and these ones don't fly at all, I think. Maybe that's where the comparison is from?
[ She paused to study one of the plaques. ]
It says there's one called an 'Emperor Penguin' but ... I'm not sure which one that is. Maybe it's not mingling with the others yet? [ But, ultimately she was there with you Luke - she doesn't get the comparison. ]
no subject
I don't think having to fly counts as a quality you'd find in royalty...
[It's then he spots a penguin that's larger than the rest of the huddle. Probably the largest Luke could find. There's a proud aura to it with how it holds its beak up high, exuding an air of confidence.]
Hmm, you think it's that big one over there?
no subject
[ Nobles back home did like to get the newest and fastest or flashiest of airships, either as their own personal transportation or to at least be able to afford the most expensive - and if you couldn't afford it or your own, then you were lower on the social ladder in their eyes. ]
Awww look at that little ball of fluff- hm? [ She looked away from the tiny baby penguin with its brothers and sisters to scan the flock until she spied the one that stood out the most, as Luke indicated. ]
Yes, that must be it! It's the biggest one of them, and it does seem to have a noble bearing, in a way.
no subject
Then again, airships are a new thing where he's from...He could shrug his shoulders.Now focused on the bird, the so-called Emperor keeps its head up as it waddles past the flock without a care. Another smaller penguin follows behind it like an attendant following its lord. But the Emperor doesn't seem to pay much attention to it as the bird starts preening by the edge of the pool, merely focusing on itself. And it doesn't seem to mind letting the smaller penguin help straightening its feathers with it.]
Heh, I guess it does. They kind of remind me of myself and Guy.
no subject
... that's a little sad, ... [ OH that might come across a bit rude, huh? ]
Erm.. I mean, no offense, but.. that little penguin seems so focused on preening the other penguin, and it doesn't even seem to care. It doesn't seem very friendly.
[ The emperor penguin thinks it's above the lesser penguins she guesses? But who would want to be compared to like that? ]
no subject
Heh, none taken. There's... some truth to it anyway.
I was a real pain in the ass back then, and Guy would always stick by my side to keep me out of trouble as best as he could. Because he was my servant, he's always looking after me for as long as I could remember.
[The parallels are more apparent when the Emperor starts waddling off again with the smaller one following behind once more. As the two march towards the flock, a few other penguins try to peck at the Emperor for whatever reason, only for the smaller penguin to rush into its defense and scare off its bullies.]
But Guy's more than just that to me. He's my best friend. And despite how I acted before, he still chooses to believe in me. ...I'm really grateful that I have someone like him by my side, who's always looking out for me.
[In a surprise twist, the Emperor then goes to the smaller one's side and starts preening its companion's feathers, seemingly content with what it had bravely done.
Somehow what he just witnessed got Luke to wear a fond expression on his face.]
It looks like the big guy cares about his friend too. That's nice of it.
no subject
I hope they don't often bully their fellow penguin. Maybe we should say something to the handler? I'd feel bad if the little penguin got hurt trying to defend the other one like that and I didn't say anything.
no subject
So far it doesn't look hurt... [And the little penguin seems to be capable of fending for itself fine.] ...but it might be a good idea to let them know. Maybe they'll work something out for these guys.
[The bully penguins meanwhile are seen huddling together while staring menacingly at the Emperor and its friend. They're not doing anything right now, but they seem to be plotting something.]
no subject
.. Actually no, she's seen some mean and spiteful little fluffballs before, so this really didn't surprise her that much. Maybe a little though. ]
... I'm not sure I like the way they're looking at those two penguins... [ She glanced around. ]
Do you see the handler anywhere?.. maybe I should go and look for him.