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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.)
no subject
Like hell I am!
[Luke just keeps sprinting as far away as he could. He's so close to the exit! But in an instant, he feels something snagging at his ankle and in no time loses his footing. Hitting face first against the floor.]
Ow!
[Shit. Shit shit shit shit. It's over, isn't it? He's so boned.
...But he can't die yet! He's got things to do! And he sure doesn't want to die here by some lunatic with a bowtie and his stupid dumb frock coat!!! So Luke tries to shake the wire off his leg, though he's fumbling his attempts to loosen it.]
Dammit... come on!
no subject
That's the attitude to have!
[It's not like he wants to kill Luke, even though it probably seems like he does with the bloodlust radiating off him. Watching him go down earns a maniacal laugh from Vanitas, and he's on him in an instant, blade pressed right up against his throat as he pins the other man down with a foot to his stomach.]
Hahaha... I win.
[It's said quietly, with surprising softness. And then he suddenly pulls the knife away, holstering it before standing and offering a hand out to Luke with a beaming smile. Like he hadn't just been trying to kill him a moment ago.]
You need more practice, monsieur.
1/??? ahh I guess I'm doing this lol
This is it. He's done for. It only takes a second for steel to cut through, and it'll all be over.
I don't want to die, I don't want to die I don't want to dieIdon'twanttodi—
And then.
And then he didn't die...?]
2/???
????
???? ??? ????? ????? ?? ?? ???
Wh a t ?]
3/4
SO... HE'S ALIVE?
HUH????]
4/4 THERE. DONE.
What was that about!? You better explain yourself!!!
[He's sounding a bit like his old self, but does that matter right now? I mean, HE THOUGHT HE ALMOST DIED AND ALL-]
LMAO POOR LUKE IT'S WELL JUSTIFIED
Although perfectly justified in his rage, Luke gets nothing more than a smile and a wave of his hand as though dismissing the poor fellow's outrage offhandedly.]
Hmm? I was teaching you a lesson, that's all. You should be more careful. You never know what a person is like.
[CLEARLY?? But to his credit(???), he helps dust Luke down and straighten his clothes before tapping his nose with a clawed glove.]
I would hate to see someone like you get hurt for real.
thanks for the trauma, doc--
Are you nuts!? You almost got me killed!!!
[He's still fuming. And now the urge to deck his face is rising. But instead he's just rubbing the part of his neck where he felt Vanitas' blade was at. Thank Lorelei that he's okay and his head's still intact, but holy shit man. ...He's not even sure what lesson he was trying to teach anyway.]
all part of the treatment~
Hmm? Perhaps, but you're alive, aren't you? So what's the problem?
[Truthfully that's a very fair feeling, though Vanitas might argue otherwise. Though his opinion on most things is clearly skewed, huh? For having just attempted to kill Luke, he's awfully jovial, patting the younger man on the shoulder and smiling all the while.]
Just count your lucky stars that I wasn't really attempting to kill you.
no subject
But if you're trying to teach me something, then you could've just told me what I've done wrong! Like a normal person!
[But Luke's already seeing that Vanitas is the type of guy who doesn't do "normal". And the threat(?) felt more like an irritation than something to be afraid of by this point.]
Ugh, you're definitely crazy.
no subject
Experience is the best teacher. Do you think you'll forget that anytime soon?
[Well... there may be a point to his mad ramblings at least? Even if it's not the best one?? Surely Luke will be thinking of their encounter for days to come.
Even if he might have given him more nightmares. Whoops.]Indeed! But there is a method to my madness!
no subject
Oh yeah, I won't forget it. Because what I learned now is that I'm going to stay the hell away from you. So leave me alone, you maniac.
[And so he turns away from the cloaked man and wishing he could never meet the mad doctor ever again. ...Not before going to the checkout and purchasing that baseball cap. At least Luke gained something from his visit?]