[Action: Open]

[schoolingfish]

WHO: Luca and you!
WHERE: Somewhere in the city
WHEN: Right after Luca's arrival
WHAT: He just got out of the labyrinth, found a weird device with directions on how to use it, and he's trying to figure out what's going on
WARNINGS: Fear of extreme isolation and mentions of whale carcass


Luca doesn't know how he got here. One moment he's on Genova, the next he's suddenly deep underwater. He's never been to the part of the sea he finds himself in before, but he instantly knows where he is, because it's exactly how he pictured it. The Deep.

It's dark. Completely pitch black, nothing to see. Nothing to hear, either. It's quiet, incredibly quiet, enough to make him feel alone and isolated because clearly there aren't any other sea monsters around. He doesn't even hear any other fish or sea life around to catch his interest. There's just...nothing to see or do, just endless emptiness with nothing to engage him but his thoughts...and the smell of rotting whale meat that seems to permeate the water.

Why is he here? He was in Genova, on land. His parents had gone back on this, they weren't going to send him here. He shouldn't be here!

Terrified, not of any imminent threat because there certainly doesn't seem to be one, but of being trapped in this place while he slowly goes mad from the endless monotony, living off the bits and pieces of floating whale carcass that he feels brush past his skin as they float past, he screams.

"No! No, no, no, no, no! I'm not supposed to be here!" he yells out to no one, because no one's there to hear.

Luca then takes off, desperately swimming up to escape the Deep, even though he can't see any signs of even the slightest sliver of light piercing the darkness to indicate that he might be escaping.

He's in such a frenzied panic that he doesn't even know how he ends up reaching land, only that he finds himself in a new place he's never been before. He quickly shakes himself off to remove any remaining droplets of water, triggering his transformation back into his human form. Still trembling slightly from the sheer panic of thinking he'd be trapped in the Deep, he looks around and spots a nearby bench and decides to have a seat. That's when he notices the strange, rectangular device next to where he's sitting, and under the device is a little booklet with directions on it's use. Strange...why would something like this just be left here? Is it for anyone to just pick up and use? It must be, because why else would someone leave it with step by step instructions on how to use it?

Curious, Luca picks up and starts messing with the strange device, following the instructions to try and understand it.

Comments

[letmewin]

It's not just the sight of someone who looks the same age as him that catches his eye, but the worry and confusion, as well. It must be someone new - and more importantly than that, someone who just made it through their own maze.

Asriel remembers his far better than he would like. It brought back memories that were already vivid for him - reminded him of regrets and failures that he had before he was in where his own maze had taken him. He may look young, but he's also lived long enough to know that such emotions weren't ones that he should linger on.

Either way, he knows that this person must not only be confused, but likely overwhelmed as well.

"Howdy, there. Are you okay?"

[schoolingfish]

"I..."

He looks up, surprised at the appearance of this stranger. It's not a bad thing, of course. If anything it's a good thing that someone who looks like that can safely walk around without getting any trouble from humans. It is, however, an unexpected thing.

"I don't know. I don't know how I got here. Or what this thing is."

He holds up the device.

"Or...um...the humans here, they don't give you any trouble when they see you, do they?"

Because that's very important information.

[letmewin]

Asriel is about to answer his first question, only... how could he not pause when he's asked about the humans here? This person looks very much human to him, but so did Alberto.

More than that, he can't help but feel sympathy for any monster who's had run-ins with humans that didn't turn out well. He's had his own share of experiences with humans who thought that monsters were dangerous.

"... No." He shakes his head. "The humans here don't seem to want to hurt monsters. I've met some kind ones, even if it was kind of scary to be around so many at first."

He stops for a moment before taking a seat next to Luca, paw-like hands pressing against the bench - feet dangling inches away from the ground.

"I met someone who said they were a monster, but... they looked an awful lot like a human at first. Are you a sea monster like them?"

[schoolingfish]

"Oh! Well, that's good!"

He's definitely glad to hear that. Sure, everything back home turned out great in the end, but he'd rather not be chased by another harpoon wielding jerk to get to that point here, too. Luca freezes when this other monster correctly guesses that he's a sea monster, though. He'd thought he was being discreet. Lots of humans would ask about how the humans in a given place would be, right? But then...he says he met another sea monster...Luca's curious, though he knows it's a long shot to think that the sea monster this guy would have met would be anyone he'd have known.

"How did you know? And...there's another sea monster here?

[letmewin]

"Oh, uhm -- it was kind of a lucky guess, heehee." Asriel offers a bright smile, kicking his feet back and forth.

"I have a friend who's a lot like you. Even though he looks a lot like other humans, he's actually a sea monster."

It was surprising, at first. In fact, Asriel had his doubts that he was in fact a monster. After all, he's never seen a monster that looks so much like a human. The monsters at home were all so unique -- whether it be in appearance or size.

"Gosh, maybe the both of you came from the same place!"

[findingways]

It isn't all that strange to see some kid sitting on a bench messing with their phone, and under normal circumstances Moana wouldn't really have thought anything of it.

But then she notices him actually reading through the instructions, which is actually what gives her pause. She isn't sure why that strikes her as odd, but then again, most kids already know how to work smart phones and other devices. Some even better than a lot of adults.

And she thinks of some of the people she knows who had arrived from other worlds, who had never seen a smartphone before. She doesn't want to assume that he's not from around here, but...if he wasn't, then she didn't want to just leave him alone either.

So eventually she approaches, clearing her throat as she nears so hopefully she won't startle him. "Hey there. Everything okay?"

[schoolingfish]

"I...um..."

He looks around.

"I don't actually know how I got here? I just kind of stumbled out after I was trapped in...a place. After a while."

So...that's sort of...a no.

[findingways]

Moana only knows a little bit about how people from other worlds arrived, but what he says sounds a bit like that. With a gentle smile, she sits on the end of the bench, giving him a bit of room so she doesn't crowd him.

"That place you were trapped in...Was it like a maze?"

[schoolingfish]

"It was...honestly, it was so dark it was hard to tell what it was like, but I was lost and I'm not even sure how I managed to find my way out."

[a_cute_batata]

Luz was really trying to get used to being in a city that was a lot like her own back home, though even then it was a bit more bustling than Gravesfield. She was on her way to get a doughnut for Eda when she happened to see a kid who seemed to be fumbling with the device that they gave them, including the manual.

Well now she couldn't help herself.

"Hey," she said, giving him a wave. "You just arrive? Looks like you never had a handheld device before!"

[schoolingfish]

"A...handheld...device?"

Sure, he knows what each of those words were, and it certainly describes what he has, but the way she talks about it so casually...well, he supposes if they have these sitting around on random benches for everyone in this place, everyone would have one soon enough.

"I haven't. And I did just arrive, although I'm not really quite sure how I got here."

ha ha the gang is all here Luca!

[a_cute_batata]

"Right, what you're holding in your hand there. That helps you find out about everything around you. I can help you with that, if you want."

Luz wasn't the type of girl to start mocking someone just because they didn't know how to use something. Everyone started at square one at some point.

"That's all of us," Luz said, sighing. "I can out of some labyrinth and saw some scary stuff before winding up here. But you're going to want to learn how to use this since it's going to link you with everyone else who's sorta stumbled into this world too."

[schoolingfish]

"Oh, wow, really?" He stares down at the device. "So...how do you make it show all of that? Because I already have a million questions I need answer."

And if it really will tell him about everything around him...well, he's going to be using this device a lot.

"Yeah, I came out of...well, I came out of a scary place, too."

He doesn't really want to go into detail about what he saw. Or, for that matter, be forced to explain why he didn't drown. He holds the device out to her so she can take it from him to show him.

"So if it connects everyone who stumbles into this world...does that mean one just shows up for everyone who comes through that...labyrinth, I think you called it?"

[droptheious]

Varian still isn't completely to grips with the phone himself. Sure, he understands the concept of it, and he's figured out how to talk to people on it, but there are so many unknowable things on it. Like how does one google? And what is a Tumblr? Did they spell tumble wrong? Or tumbler? Who knows!!

He finds the other boy staring at it in obvious confusion and sees a potential ally in trying to understand this strange, modern world. He raises his hand in a little greeting.

"Uh, hey- you doing okay?" he points at the phone. "They're...tricky to figure out first time, huh?"

[schoolingfish]

Luca waves back.

"Um...yeah. I've never seen anything like this before. I guess it's a good thing they left the directions with it. So is it normal in this place to just leave these things around for whoever?"

Because it certainly looked like it was placed near the place Luca had escaped far too deliberately to have simply been left there, especially since it had the directions there to make sure he knew how to use it.

[droptheious]

"I think it's more that it's left there for you, specifically," he pauses. "I'm not sure how, though. Whoever is controlling how we fall into this dimension is probably setting it up, but I'm still trying to work out all the hows and whys and whos"

He'll get there, he's sure!!! Right anyway, focus!! He clears his throat.

"Anyway. Uh, I'm Varian. Also...pretty new. Do you need some help?"

[schoolingfish]

"Huh. That's weird, but I guess it makes more sense than these just being everywhere?"

But also good to know. It's useful to be aware that it's actually his and that he won't have to return this to the bench once he's done with it or whatever.

"I'm Luca and...yeah, I could definitely use some help. I just got here. Like...just got here, and I really don't know where here is."

[laminae]

Hey, it's another shoeless kid! Fern has gotten some weird looks about that, but claw feet don't exactly lend themselves very well to human-size shoes and besides, he doesn't have any money that would allow them to purchase a pair, so whatever. Who needs shoes? Not him.

He's wandering by the bench when he notices Luca though, and blinks at what he's doing. "Dude, those instruction books are lame. It's better to figure it out for yourself."

[schoolingfish]

"But I've never seen anything like this before! I'm not even sure what it's supposed to do."

And sure, he might figure that out through trial and error, but he has the booklet, so he might as well use it.

[laminae]

"That's easy," Fern replies. While they don't have smartphones in Ooo, they've got a variety of other kinds of phones, and communication devices. He isn't the brightest kid, but he's picked up on how to use it pretty fast. "You use it to talk to people. And take pictures of cool stuff."

[schoolingfish]

"Oh! Like...a camera and a phone in one. Except phones usually have to be attached to a wall. A phone camera."

That's neat! He'll have to figure out how to use it, because it would be fun to take lots of pictures!

Then, looking at his new green friend and wondering about this place and the people here, he asks, "And what are people like here? They don't react badly to you being green, do they?"

He's wondering how they might react if he ever gets wet and shows his own green skin.

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto's out and about, as he so often is, idly putzing around town to see what he finds... and, quite unexpectedly, he finds: Luca.

Or, at least, he thinks it's Luca, from afar. He narrows his eyes to be sure, having to do a double-take, a triple-take, as he gets closer for a better look. But no, indeed, as he approaches from behind, it's unmistakably Luca. After so many months of pining, keeping memories, telling stories, missing him, this moment Alberto's dreamed about has finally come.

A whole gamut of emotions hit him like so many waves, might as well be tsunami after tsunami. He feels his chest swelling and a lump form in his throat, his eyes threatening him with tears, but he manages to bite it all back, in favor of... pretending to be suave... Mamma mia...! Of course he does. Because far be it for Alberto to just genuinely let his emotions pour out without pretending he's okay first. Would Luca expect anything other than feigned nonchalance, anyway?

So, willing himself composure after a moment of watching him, unseen from a ways' away, he sneaks up on Luca... y'know, like a creep. Not at all unlike their first time meeting, when Alberto had watched Luca examining the Magic Singing Lady Machine on his own from afar for a solid moment or two before deciding to approach him. And in much the same fashion, he relives that moment, this nostalgic tongue-in-cheek humor saving him the embarrassment of the real overwhelming emotion he feels inside. Walking up like a shadow, the best he's ever been at being quiet, Alberto reaches a hand out to gingerly push Luca's back forward, hand grabbing his shoulder with full intention to startle him. And just the same as when he first found Luca undersea, what seems like a lifetime ago now, all he chooses to say now is a flat, sarcastic: ]

...Boo.

[schoolingfish]

Luca is easy to sneak up on. He's completely transfixed by this strange new device, carefully following the step by step instructions to try and figure out how to operate it, and all sights and sounds around him go completely unnoticed. Then, just like last time, Alberto's able to easily startle Luca.

At the sound of his voice, Luca jumps and cries out, "Gah!"

He fumbles the device and it lands next to him on the bench. Then he looks and sees who it is.

"Alberto!"

Then, as soon as he says Alberto's name, he launches forward to pull Alberto into a hug. Sure, it might have only been weeks since he last saw his friend (though he misses him terribly all the same), but he's also just found himself in a strange and unfamiliar place with no idea how he got here or how he'll get back, so realizing he's not alone in this place is definitely more than welcome.

[prontissimo]

[ Alberto receives that hug so readily — even if it's from a completely awkward angle over the back of the bench where he stands behind Luca. Does. Not. Matter. He'd hug Luca upside-down if he had to (don't ask how, he'd figure it out!!)...! Clumsy as it is, that hug is the biggest comfort Alberto's felt in ages since his own arrival; he's been pretty short on hugs, truth be told. So, just one backwards, startled hug is not enough.

In typical Alberto fashion, he can't just, y'know, walk around the bench... He has to hop the back of the bench — except, in his desperation, he's way too excited to be graceful, though at least doesn't totally wipe out... But all that clambering doesn't deter him one bit! When has it ever? Standing up straight beside him now, Alberto tugs Luca into a proper hug, full-on, tighter, but just as urgent as the first hug. Cuz one is not enough, obviously. For Alberto, it's been months since he's seen Luca... He's not even sure how many months exactly, but too many, he knows that much.

Grinning ear-to-ear uncontrollably, the tears he bit back just make his eyes brighter, as he finally breaks the hug and pulls away, beaming at his friend. He keeps both hands clasped on Luca's shoulders, though, as if to make him stay put. It feels like a dream — and frankly, he doesn't trust this place entirely to be sure it's not. But not so skeptical that he's not taking this at face value exactly as he should. Luca is here. Luca is here! ]

Luca! Ahahaaa, holy sharks, I can't believe it! It's you — y-you're here! When did you— I mean, heh, where did you— Are you okay?! Are you hurt?

[ He gives him a worried once-over, failing to find all the words that run through his mind way too fast, but even then, he still can't wipe the smile off his face. ]

[schoolingfish]

[Luca cringes at the clumsy way Alberto jumps over the back of the bench, expecting him to completely faceplant, but he's pleasantly surprised when Alberto doesn't. And then he gets a much better hug from Alberto because the back of the bench isn't in the way, which Luca eagerly returns. If there's ever a time that calls for more hugging, this is definitely it. Or one of them, anyway, because there have definitely been other times that called for a hug at least as much as this.]

I just got here! And I'm...not entirely sure how. I was in this other place, and I didn't think I'd find my way out of it so I just panicked and swam until I ended up coming out and...well...I'm not hurt, though. I'm just glad I'm not completely alone in this place, especially since I'm not even sure where 'here' is.