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subnauticmods ([personal profile] subnauticmods) wrote in [community profile] fishesoutofwater2016-02-13 02:56 pm
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Test Dive #1








≡U.R.S.U.L.A. NAVIGATION
TEST DIVE MEME


For information about the animals and locations, be sure to check out the BIOME and BASE pages!

A1: Go Fish
You! Yes, you! Your friendly neighbourhood AI has a task she would like to encourage YOU to do! After all, you can’t forget the most important fact: you’re here to make the planet habitable. Which means cataloguing, capturing and studying potential threats to anyone’s life. That includes a swarm of Stalkers that have been hanging around the waters awfully near the base, which presents a perfect research opportunity! At least, URSULA seems to think so.

Don’t go in willy-nilly waving your knife around, though. URSULA doesn’t want you to bring in tonight’s Sashimi Surprise™, she wants you to bring in a Stalker that’s still kicking. Which means you have to capture a live one. So hold back your crazy power or trigger-happy instincts!

How will you take one in alive without ending up dead yourself? You could go in the brute-force way, slamming its jaws shut and bagging it, though it’s pretty strong itself… or you could be a bit more cunning, taming it with bait or giving it shiny metal salvage to play with before luring it into a tank to bring it into the base. You might want to get a helping hand with this task, since it’s not exactly an easy one-man job.

A2: Go With Fish
So, now you’ve got a live and very disgruntled Stalker on your hands! Hopefully, said hands don’t have to be amputated (it’s okay if they have to though, URSULA will fix it. Try not to watch the nanites go). What do you do with it? You could keep it as a pet and observe its growth! You could dissect it and study its anatomy! Or you could… eat it. (After going through all the effort to bring it in alive?!)

B: The Abysmal Sea
You’re stranded.

One of the planet’s troublesome signal-interfering pulses has just made your communication devices 100% nonfunctional. No matter how you try to call URSULA for help, she isn’t able to respond. The database strapped to your wrist is just a useless chunk of metal now, leaving you without a useful library of knowledge to survive off. If you were driving any underwater vehicle prior to this point, it’s broken down. And unless you’re a mechanic, it’ll be pretty hard to get it jumpstarted again.

Don’t fret! The communication systems always come online eventually, so if you stay put, it’ll boot back up and give you directions straight back to base so you can finally get home. But can you really afford to stay put? The sunlight’s slowly streaming out of the sky, leaving the waters darker and darker with each passing second. Soon, you won’t be able to see five feet in front of you, and the only warning you’ll get of any approaching threat is through sound, if they even make any.

You have a few choices: take a daring risk and try swimming back to base, but on the off-chance you don’t remember the directions correctly from before you were cut off, you’re going to get even more lost, in the darkness of the night no less. Or, you could huddle in, with any friends if they were unfortunate enough to be with you, and start focusing on getting warm. Because spending the night out here in the vast oceans with the entire world against you is becoming a very, very real possibility.

C: It’s dangerous to go alone. Take them!
URSULA’s technology is breathtaking. With enough materials, she could make practically anything: weapons, vehicles, all those human comforts and entertainments she forgot to build... or perhaps she could expand the base to give everyone even more leg room. But there’s a catch: you need to get those materials to her in the first place, and scavenging can be a monumental task.

The planet Iniidae has a plethora of materials to provide, but you’ve got to go find them first. Some are easy enough to get, by plucking off the ground or breaking a rock. But some are a bit more challenging, such as Crash Powder, seeing that the Crash defending it will literally explode in your face if you get too close. And then there’s materials such as Blood Oil, only harvestable within the Blood Kelp Caves several hundred meters underwater in the pitch-black darkness… remember, you have to gather resources with your two bare hands. No such thing as driving around and conveniently collecting them within the somewhat-relative safety of an armored vehicle.

Since it’s so dangerous to go alone, URSULA will encourage you all to leave the base in pairs or groups if you’re going to try collecting some of the more precarious materials to harvest. She has heard that most lifeforms find being reconstituted from nanites traumatic, so try not to die in front of each other!

D: Hide and Seek Help
URSULA knows that everyone needs downtime, and no one can go salvaging or gathering specimens all the time. So what do you do for fun on an alien ocean planet when the AI who made your base forgot to make any kind of entertainment room?

Why, play hide-and-seek, of course! There’s a lot of places to hide away from others, and it’s challenging to find anyone. (Sometimes, too challenging to find them… ever… but that’s not the point.) The area around the base and submarine is relatively safe, so anyone can hide away in a coral structure or a cave, and telepathy makes it easy to taunt your seekers without revealing where you are.

Of course, you may encounter a Bone Shark or even a stray Stalker, and you won’t have time to get away or even scream as it attacks you, but hey. What other way to make hide-and-seek more thrilling than to turn it into hide-and-hope-you-get-found-as-you-shout-for-help-to-anyone-who-can-hear-your-telepathy?

E: Toilet Humor
Really, it was bound to happen eventually. Someone's in the bathroom observatory, doing their 'business', and someone is trying very hard to catch a fish for dinner outside. Your eyes meet. Someone has literally been caught with their pants down.

And in that moment your telepathy goes a little wonky, because it's good to have open communication about this incident.

F: The Caverns of Dream
The ocean calls you. Of course, it's much easier to dismiss it as nightmares. You'll probably think that's all it is after you have them. Flashes of screaming sea creatures writhing in agony, pleading for help, but these creatures can't ask for help, can they? Something huge, beyond the scope of imagination, moves in the ocean of your dreams and calls out to you to go deeper into the darkness. It pleads and begs but not with a voice you can hear or words you can understand.

You wake up in a sweat with the unrelenting desire to take a swim, even though it's late and everyone is asleep. Or maybe someone else just had the same nightmare as you? Are you willing to take a swim and try to understand the dream?


BASED ON CODE BY TESSISAMESS AND SUPERSUITS


showybusiness: (sorry i left you for my dreams)

Mettaton | Undertale

[personal profile] showybusiness 2016-02-13 08:05 pm (UTC)(link)
A

[ Oh, goodness! He had come down to the base - or, the planet, and then down to the base - under the assumption he and his band were going on a tour to make more fans, more business, and MORE MONEY! But here they were, stuck doing menial labor. Mettaton, the fantastic and FABULOUS star of the underground world, was not made for his!

But he's metal, and can discharge electricity, so perhaps it was wise to make him go wrangle these big fishy beasts. One extendable robot arm dips into the water and grabs one of the stalkers, discharging some voltage into it - and water carries electricity. So every time he does it, he visibly shudders in... pain? Something like that, perhaps. But he's going to get one of these stupid fish so he can go back to performing!

What does matter is a sexy robot is wrangling fish. What? ]
inhumanity: (trifolium dubium)

[personal profile] inhumanity 2016-02-13 10:26 pm (UTC)(link)
[Glubbing down from above, a shark-mouthed, red-eyed monster of a man . . . is clapping? Yes, he's clapping! He's cheering! He is even, from his upside down position, whipping out some waterproof equipment—yes, that's a camera—and yes, he is taking photographs!

He could, of course, help. But this is clearly a more productive use of his time.]
showybusiness: (BRING OUT THE ROBOFUCKER)

[personal profile] showybusiness 2016-02-13 11:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Well, well, welly well. Even when doing something this dull, Mettaton was dazzling and worthy of applause. Winking up at the stranger, he keeps doing his work, then blows a kiss. It looks awkward, given the water is in the way, and he has to be careful the ocean life doesn't take any parts of his long robot body off. ]
inhumanity: (Stylomecon heterophylla)

[personal profile] inhumanity 2016-02-14 05:20 am (UTC)(link)
[Christopher swims right up to Mettaton, only just out of the range of the electrical shock. He pulls out something from his pocket. It's vaguely microphone shaped. He shoves it towards Mettaton.

Of course they're underwater, which means Christopher is only speaking telepathically anyway—]


Friend! Roman! Persecutor of fish! I'm astounded by your persistence. No, I'm shocked by it! To be a robot, and yet to pursue Nature! To release electric pulses, and yet to spark no cathodoluminescence! Share a few electrifying words on your relationship with the creature you pursue and the natural phenomenon you emulate!
showybusiness: (hot for the bot)

[personal profile] showybusiness 2016-02-14 04:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Wait, what? Well, it must be some kind of magic! Monsters have magic, so maybe this fellow is a very human-shaped monster, using their powers to speak to his beautiful self. What matters is there's a microphone, and that's his favorite thing to be anywhere near. Except underwater, any noise coming from his mouth or his speaker is muffled and useless.

So he just winks and flashes a shining smile. ]
inhumanity: (Stylomecon heterophylla)

[personal profile] inhumanity 2016-02-15 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
What charisma and charm! I thank the world every day for the kind of reckless mad scientists who can bring a world of compelling artificial life forms into the world! May they rejoice in the Hell they are destined to! But what's this? Is it too easy? Tell me, my friend: does this challenge not show you to your full potential?

[The manic tone of his thoughts is reflected with grand gesticulations of great joy, even as he floats around unhelpfully.]
showybusiness: (you sassy bitch)

[personal profile] showybusiness 2016-02-15 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
[ Oh, right, he can talk on the base underwater, somehow? He tries to float closer to the microphone, his smile only getting more intense. ]

Goodness, no! I'm a PERFORMER, not someone for menial tasks! And here I thought my bandmates and I had a chance to spread our brand - but nope. Stuck wrangling fish.
inhumanity: (Stylomecon heterophylla)

[personal profile] inhumanity 2016-02-22 03:14 am (UTC)(link)
You mean this isn't a documentary! It's a tragedy!

[What a sympathetic look Christopher gives! What a compassionate pat on the (???) shoulder pad???] And you're taking the leading role! Since tragedy is about predestination there's no point trying to keep suspense! What will your fate be at the end of this rampage of violent misunderstandings, bloody retributions, and star-crossed lovers?
gayfish: (why haters joked around)

[personal profile] gayfish 2016-02-14 08:59 am (UTC)(link)
[Well, just because he can do it, doesn't mean he should? Undyne doesn't have to watch for long before she feels the need to address that whole painful shuddering business.

Mettaton sorta creeps her out but he's also Alphys's friend, so Undyne is going to try really hard to play nice.]


Uh. Hey, there. [She leans casually against the nearest wall and also casually checks out the scales on the back of her hand.]

So… are you… having fun? Fishing??
showybusiness: (NICE)

[personal profile] showybusiness 2016-02-14 04:22 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh. That's a voice he... well, he wasn't exactly expecting, but it IS the ocean. And Undyne's a fish! So she must feel right at home. Like in Waterfall, only everything is underwater instead of damp all the time. His head turns towards her, quirking an eyebrow. ]

No, but I don't mind doing a bit of dirty work if it means I get to perform later. Nothing gets handed to you! Well, except fish, apparently, on this base. Even if this is tasteless and below me.
gayfish: (now i got my wish!)

[personal profile] gayfish 2016-02-15 09:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[Well, Undyne can get behind the idea of Mettaton doing some honest hard labor in place of… whatever it is he does or did normally with his free time in the underground. She quirks an eyebrow back at him in a much less casual way so that it looks kind of scary.]

Yeah. Yeah, I guess there are no pianos to lounge around on here, huh?

Er, I mean, so you're performing later! That could be fun. Imagine the possibilities with all the fish and, uh, limited… space.

[Dammit, she's not even trying to be sarcastic, it's just happening.]
showybusiness: (i am not okay)

[personal profile] showybusiness 2016-02-16 04:18 am (UTC)(link)
[ He's immune to Undyne's... uh, being Undyne. Whatever charm and appeal Alphys sees in her is obviously not what he sees, but they have to get along for her sake. Even if she's not here! He's a good, charming robot superstar that everyone loves! ]

Blooky was dancing with the floaty things in the water earlier, you know! I'm thinking of using that in the performance.
gayfish: (gay fish)

[personal profile] gayfish 2016-02-16 06:45 am (UTC)(link)
[Clearly, whether Undyne tries to be nice or not has little affect on the actual stuff that comes out of her mouth.]

Oh, I saw that, too!

. . .

I don't think they were dancing on purpose, but! That's. Absolutely not the worst idea for a performance that I've heard before!! Good luck working that in.
showybusiness: (OHHH YES)

[personal profile] showybusiness 2016-02-16 02:53 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm a talented robot, darling. I can do anything I put my mind to.

[ He grins, while his long, metal, noodle-like arms extend out and instead of shocking a fish, he strangles it. Family friendly! ]
discardia: (MY BROTHER IS INSAAAAANE)

[personal profile] discardia 2016-02-15 11:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[ ... Oh. Cardia is still fairly new to this whole... swimming thing, and the figure in the water ahead of her seems to be doing just fine. But that's before she sees him shudder, and then she's very quickly swimming closer. ]

Are you all right??
showybusiness: (fabulous sexy rectangle)

[personal profile] showybusiness 2016-02-16 04:19 am (UTC)(link)
[ He regards the poor girl fondly, with a charming smile. The pink hearts in his eyes glow warmly, along with his pink heart-shaped core in his stomach. ]

I'm always fabulous, darling! Don't look so worried! Goodness.
discardia: Getting kidnapped by phantom thieves and all (This is kind of a first for me)

[personal profile] discardia 2016-02-16 04:35 am (UTC)(link)
[ Cardia hesitates now, looking him over with... well, less alarm, but still plenty of concern. And some minor confusion.

Steampunk place or not, she's never seen someone quite like him. ]


But you looked like you were in pain...
showybusiness: (the light of the underground)

[personal profile] showybusiness 2016-02-16 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, that? No, no! Just a bit of electricity coming back to zap me! You might want to keep your distance for that reason, sweetheart.

[ For now, he can wrap his bendy, extendable, metal noodle-like arms around the target and wrestle it into submission. ]
discardia: (Dem hips?)

[personal profile] discardia 2016-02-16 05:33 am (UTC)(link)
[ Isn't that... like lightning? She knows enough about that to know it's never a good idea to be hit by it, so she swims back a little, heeding his advice.

But he also got hit by it is he really okay aaaaaaah--

It's really not a conscious response she sends to him, just a whole lot of incoherent concern. But he also seems to be... better than expected, even if the fish certainly doesn't appreciate it. ]
showybusiness: (great i'm trash again)

[personal profile] showybusiness 2016-02-16 02:55 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm okay, sweetheart! Really! It... tingles a little. It hurts, but feels good. That's all!

[ Considering he can't modulate his tone, exactly, via the weird telepathy, it sounds like he's trying hard to cover something up. Something sinful. ]
discardia: (The pick-up lines they hurt)

[personal profile] discardia 2016-02-16 04:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Cardia may be a quick learner, but there are times when she is still... very, very innocent.

The woes of only remembering two years of your life and spending the majority of those two years tucked away in solitude in a secluded mansion because you were a monster and your dad sucked at parenthood, am I right (no Cardia hardly anyone can sympathize with that). ]


It hurts, but it feels good? How is that possible?

[ Is he like Impey?? Impey who can somehow get excited about being turned down? ]
showybusiness: (HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO)

[personal profile] showybusiness 2016-02-16 09:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Let's just call it magic and machinery, then! Don't worry about the details, darling.

[ This is a FAMILY FRIENDLY conversation. ]
discardia: Getting kidnapped by phantom thieves and all (This is kind of a first for me)

[personal profile] discardia 2016-02-16 10:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[ BUT SHE'S SO CURIOUS don't deprive her of knowledge, Mettaton!! ]

Machinery? Are you a-- oh, I'm sorry! I can help you carry that back.

[ AND THEN YOU CAN ANSWER ALL OF HER AMNESIAC OTOME PROTAG QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT A MASOCHIST IS ]
showybusiness: (help i'm gay)

[personal profile] showybusiness 2016-02-16 10:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, would you? You're the sweetest, gorgeous, doing me a favor. Or rather, yourself a favor, because now you get to hang around me a little longer! Everyone wins!

[ His looping mass of metal arms begins to almost spool itself back into his shoulders, untangling the strangled, subdued fish. It's not dead, just... in distress. ]
discardia: Don't question it (Dramatic windblown... post-train jump)

[personal profile] discardia 2016-02-16 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
[ ... Okay, so maybe there's more than a trace of Impey in this person. No one else has called her so many pet names in the matter of minutes, even though that last line was more like Lupin's charming confidence (in himself).

It's interesting, nonetheless, and she swims closer to help get a grip on this poor, poor fish. ]


I suppose that's one way of looking at it. Thank you for your company?