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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.)
Dick Grayson (sometimes Nightwing)| DC comics
[Dick Grayson doesn't seem too bothered by the cold, or the smell, because the penguins are delightfully animated, and the girls are fighting-- or maybe they're boy penguins, it doesn't matter. but if you should catch his eye, he'll grin and point--]
Haven't seen anyone that enthusiastic about fish since my brother got a Manatee.
B. Free Willy
[Nightwing didn't come to these events for the fun, or the plushie Seals....which is a shame, actually, someone needs to invite him one of these days. Either way, either you run into him investigating the backrooms, or more likely he stumbles upon you stumbling around back there]
C. Relaxed, Refreshed, Resurfaced
[There is a particularly obnoxious t-shirt with a shell bra that calls his name, apparently. Dick Grayson holds it up to his chest, then turns to you consideringly:]
What do you think?
relaxed, refreshed, resurfaced. 😌
[ she takes a step closer, her warmth spilling across the small space, and taps the edge of the shells where they curve over his chest. ]
Though if you wear this, beloved, you will have no choice but to let me braid flowers in your hair to match.
It is law. Tamaranean law. Very official.
[ her laughter softens into a grin, lingering on him with a kind of tenderness that slips beneath the teasing. ]
But... yes. I think you would look very handsome. Even in this.
whew
his mouth curves into a grin, all sunshine as he lowers the shirt to shift her closer in his arms]
Not sure it's long enough, but you'll give it a college try. You think I'll look good in only this?
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Unless you mean... dressed only in that shirt and nothing else. ( kory's arms instinctively wrap around him, eliminating as much distance as possible because close was never close enough. her grin shifts into something mischievous, voice lowering. ) In that case, I would very much like to see that. Sign me up.
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I could be persuaded into that gym. Is the membership good?
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LOOKING INTENSELY @ YOU DC EDITORIAL.just them. this moment. forever.it's a body's instinct to find air when oxygen is depleting, so kory slips away, maybe too soon, and with all the reluctance she carries each and every time a kiss between them has to end. her eyes fall, a glowing green that peeks beneath heavy lashes, and takes this moment, like many moments before it, regardless of how fleeting, to simply admire him. this beautiful man with love that radiates so brightly for her, so warmly. can you blame a girl for wanting to bask in that at every given chance? )
Oh, Dick. I love you so much.
( another kiss, for good measure, before she sneakily reaches for the shirt still loosely grasped in dick's hand. she draws it up in the space between them, as if presenting it for consideration. )
... and I would love to see this on you. I'm buying.
youre spoiling me!!!
and he looks into the depths of her eyes, the eons beyond them, the endless love.]
I love you-- [and yes, he'll happily accept another kiss, humming into it, curling his fingers into the hem of her shirt a little desperately.
oh, right. the shirt] You really don't have to, you know.
YOU DESERVE TO BE SPOILED!!!!
But I must — and I insist you wear it the next time we are out.
( the thought tickles her, luring another laugh that soon dissolves into a pensive hum. hmmm. )
Do you think Donna might wear one? The idea of you two matching delights me greatly.
NO YOU!!!
Alright, alright. I can't resist your please. [she literally only asked one time, softie. he brightens at the mention of Donna] You mean the twin joke? I don't get tired of it, that's for sure. She...maybe she would, yeah.
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( she holds the shirt out to look it over one last time, beaming at the mere image of the two people she loves the most matching in this manner. kory turns to look at the other color options of that same shirt, never straying far enough from dick to break contact, doing so much as bringing him towards the rack with her so that they don't have to part, folding one of her hands in his. )
But which color do you think she'd like best?
( another pensive hmmm... while she sifts through the rack. )
I think you should surprise her by wearing yours first, and then gift her the one we choose.
... and I must be there for it or else!
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Anything looks good on Donna, but...maybe blue, too? For her eyes? Or red, to match your hair? I can't imagine what you'd do if you can't see it.