so about that flyer...

[thalassino]

[ there's a bit of a commotion tonight, and many locals are talking about something happening up on the island. anyone curious enough to check it out would first notice a glowing shore to match a starry sky; it seems to be a type of jellyfish causing this.

immediately afterward they would undoubtedly see a very large boat having apparently docked itself on the shore. there's no captain in sight and it appears to be completely inoperable, so it's a full-blown mystery on how it arrived on the shore. it certainly doesn't look like a normal boat though— probably due to the fact that it is utterly decked out for a party.

there are streamers, balloons, and a whole lot of glitter on deck. there's even a large banner that reads:

☆ HAVE FUN!!! ☆

on deck there are speakers blasting a nautical-style party music should dancing be your thing. nearby there's plenty of good food for the eating, along with a gratuitous amount of chapagne (with a non-alcoholic brand for the underage); a champagne tower can also be seen. party games are encouraged, and a few are even already set up (such as the large whale-themed piñata).

have fun, mingle, and enjoy the party! ]

Comments

[devwocean]

You can do the decorations, then. No ship a mine's gonna be a hollowwed out tree stump or somethin'. It'll havve style. [Then he pauses and looks doubtfully at Signless' fashion choices] You'll havve to take instruction. It'll be fine.

[And he climbs down to the diving platform at the stern of the ship] Noww then. I'll get in first, so you don't drowwn.

[withoutasign]

[Wow, rude! He knows how to work these tights, okay?]

That's fine. It will be your ship, I wouldn't want to presume and try to decorate it for you.

[Whoah, what now? Signless balks at this new idea.]

Dualscar, there's jellyfish in the water!

[devwocean]

Wwell, good, then wwe're on the same page.

[He pauses at this, which is quite true, and looks down at the water thoughtfully]

Not all jellyfish are dangerous. [He kneels down on the water and bends, intending to stick his hand in the water and scoop up one of the phosphorescent jellies]

[withoutasign]

Be careful!

[Signless has to assume the seadweller knows what he's doing, though, and he leans out over the railing to watch.]

[devwocean]

[He holds the water in his cupped hand and holds the tiny, inch-long jellyfish up towards Signless]

It's not stingin', don't wworry. See?

Dualscar gets Signless stung, Signless drowns, bubble implodes. I see your plan here!

[withoutasign]

[It looks like Dualscar is holding a tiny, glowing star in his hand.]

It's so delicate...

It's foolproof.

[devwocean]

Yeah, a course. It's basically a bit a gelatin. [He holds it out] Nothin' to be afraid of.

[withoutasign]

[Signless leans in for a better look.]

What makes them glow like that?

[devwocean]

It's got phosphorescent chemicals in its body. The oceans can be real beautiful dowwn deep because a things like this.

[withoutasign]

Wow.

[Signless casually leans in against Dualscar's side, completely fascinated.]

Can you do that?

[devwocean]

[He blinks at the question, then crooks a smile] No, I don't gloww. That'd probably be foolish.

[withoutasign]

[All right, then. Signless makes a note to tell Darkleer that no, seadwellers do not glow, the next time he sees him.]

[He grins at Dualscar, then stands up and pulls his cloak up and over his head.]

If you're willing to take your cape off, I'm ready for that swimming lesson.

[He's not risking getting tangled in a cape while they're in the water.]

[devwocean]

[He chuckles faintly and casts the jellyfish back into the water over the side, then unfastens his cape, laying it aside. He follows it with his armour, leaving him in a tight-fitting outfit that won't be a problem for swimming]

Vvery well. Noww, wwait until I tell you to get in, but you might wwant to just sit on the platform an' dangle your feet in the wwater, just to get used to it.

[withoutasign]

All right.

[Signless takes a seat on the platform, dangling his feet into the water. It's warm and comfortable, and he kicks his feet a bit to stir little ripples across the water's surface.]

[devwocean]

[Dualscar, on the other hand, slips into the water like a fish. He dives in with barely a splash, and takes a moment to get used to breathing salt water again, filtering the water through his gills and tasting it for the first time.

After a while, he finally comes to the surface and puts his hands on the swimming platform next to Signless, water sliding off his skin]

Ready? You can hold onto me as you get into the wwater.

[withoutasign]

Yes.

[Signless puts his hands on Dualscar's shoulders and slips into the water. He holds on to the seadweller so he doesn't sink, and looks around them.]

Whoah...

[Okay, this is a little more intimidating than he thought it would be, with the water completely surrounding him and nothing beneath his feet, and he clings a little tighter to Dualscar.]

[devwocean]

[Dualscar rather likes this feeling of Signless holding onto him, completely dependent upon him.

He lets go of the platform and gently moves away from the boat, using slow, subtle movements so Signless might not realize that they're actually moving until they're out of reach of the ship.]

Just hold on to me. I wwon't let you sink. Let's just let you get used to bein' in the wwater.

[withoutasign]

[This is what it feels like to have someone trust you, Dualscar. Nice, isn't it?]

Okay.

[Yeah, Signless has no intention of letting go, and maybe he's holding on like a wiggler, but he doesn't care. He is, however, looking around and inspecting the jellies that are swimming around them.]

[devwocean]

[No, no, it's what it feels like to have total power of life and death over someone hahahahahaha!

Dualscar swims a bit further out, then pauses, treading water]

Noww, I wwant you to put your face in the wwater. Since you don't havve gills, you wwon't be able to breathe, so you better hold your breath.

[withoutasign]

[Trust, Dualscar. Truuuuuuuust.]

All right.

[Signless breathes deeply a couple of times, getting himself ready for it. His hands tighten on Dualscar's shoulders... and then he slowly lowers his face into the water, keeping his eyes closed and holding his breath.]

[devwocean]

[Dualscar watches him, counting his own regular breaths to see how long Signless can actually do it for.

He reaches out impulsively and ruffles Signless' hair, smiling with real affection. No one can see them, anyway, and here he is with Signless completely in his power and here, unable to leave, just for him. It's a good moment.]

[withoutasign]

[Under the water, Signless smiles too, when he feels Dualscar ruffling his hair. He thinks, sometimes, that if the other trolls could see Dualscar like this, being patient and kind and affectionate, they would think very differently of him.]

[He holds his breath until he can't hold it any longer, then pops his head back out from under the water.]

I did it!

[devwocean]

Vvery good, but you aren't swwimmin' yet.

[Dualscar smirks at him, giving him a second to catch his breath]

Noww, do it again, but this time keep your fuckin' eyes open, because otherwwise wwhen you start swwimmin you'll bump into things.

[withoutasign]

You can keep your eyes open underwater?

[News to Signless! But all right, Dualscar is the expert here, and after catching his breath, he lowers his face into the water again.]

[There isn't much to see, where they are. He can see some jellies and Dualscar's legs, slowly kicking back and forth, but nothing very interesting.]

[devwocean]

[But this time Dualscar dives, dragging Signless completely under the water with him. He swims below the jellies, but not too far. When Signless starts to have difficulty with holding his breath, they can easily surface]