[open] april manta quests

[vermilloci]

Who: Rem and You!
Status: Open
Where: around
What: Manta board prompts.
Warnings: Include any content warnings

Wishing Tree (General)

It's really beautiful, isn't it?

[ Seeing as this tree blooms only one night a year, many have made their way up to this tree during this very same night. You, too, might have trekked all this way with a friend or a lover in order to make a promise. But, if you're taking a moment away from them to mingle with the other pilgrims, Rem is here to converse!

She is, of course, alone, as she has no one to make a promise with-- but that's no matter, as the tree itself is beautiful enough to justify the entire hike. Doubly so, as it only blooms once a year. Although she appears winded, she smiles through her fatigue, coughing softly into her hand. ] It's worth seeing, it is. [ Rem lifts her gaze to admire the flowering pinks and reds of its boughs. ]  Even if the blooms fade too quickly.  

Down Where It's Wetter (General)

[ SOMEONE STOP HER, SHE'S BEING SWINDLED BY HANDSOME MERMAN VARIANT #2 BY THE COAST-- ]

Oh, what's that,  you need more to be able to buy dinner...? Fishing while being able to breathe underwater must be tougher than it looks. [ Rem reaches for her coin purse, selecting another doubloon. The merman motions her closer, and she blinks, initially confused, and leans in to allow him to murmur something into her ear.

Immediately she turns red, and she hands him the coins. ] Oh, um, that's... You're very kind, you are!  [ Wow wow wow, he called her beautiful. That's so nice. She's never had someone call her that before, much less in such a forward way! An embarrassed, bashful smile forms at the corners of her lips, her cheeks retaining that soft pink. This is the look of a young woman who is easily moved, practically made smitten by such kind words. ] Here, take more.

[ It's not like she needs to eat or anything! The merman has to! Plus, he's so friendly! ]

Crab Curry (Special)

[ She's kneeling by a tide pool, cupping a tiny, baby hermit crab in her palms. Rem looks over the little critter remorsefully. ] I'm sorry, little one. I was too late.

[ With her thumb, she pets over its colorful shell. Should you be close enough, you might be able to notice that it's no longer moving.

But she's still holding it. Although her head is bowed, it doesn't appear as if she's praying over it, but concentrating. ]

Wildcard

[ Have an idea? PM this account, drinksteapots, or Jade294#6977! ]

Comments

OH NO HE'S HOT (Down Where It's Wetter)

[catsgothistongue]

[So many mermaids... Or in this case, merman. Mermen? Why can't there be any bounties on dry land? Given what he read on the bounty list, these mermen have the ability to enthrall those into falling heads over heels for them, last thing he wants is to get wet and have those things try and attract him. Reminded him too much of that one sleazeball that went around kissing women because he felt entitled to their lips.

Then again, that guy was just a rich pretty boy. Falling for some fish man out of the sea sounded like some romantic novel older women would go gaga over. Surely no one would... be...

... And there goes his doubt that anyone would be gullible enough, much like Rem's gold coins. Thrown into the ocean and left to drown.]

... Rem, what are you doing?

[Disappointment was covering his words and his face watching the girl swooning and eating up the merman's honeyed words.]

[vermilloci]

[ NO ITS TERRIBLE SHE'S FALLEN FOR THIS SCHEME-- ]

O-oh! Ranma! [ She exclaims in surprise, immediately straightening up from her spot. While she's still sporting a healthy blush, it seems she's trying to make herself look proper by smoothing out her blouse and skirt. Unfortunately, both the hem and cuffs are soaked with water where she had been leaning down near the merman.

The merman in question doesn't appear to be intimidated at all by another man's presence. Everyone is fair game to be flirted with, and he gives Ranma a wink just to start out. ]

I was just helping out! This is, erm-- [ She falters, because she doesn't know the merman's name!! (Or the other two, who happen to be nearby but not currently engaging.) Embarrassing! Helpfully, the merman motions for her to lean in again, which she does, and after a moment, she addresses Ranma again. ] ...Adrian. He was telling me how he's hungry... and that he's never had a real diamond bracelet. It's so sad. [ Nevermind she's never had one, either, or even personally knows of anyone who has ever owned a genuine diamond bracelet. But Adrian the merman, who is already decked out in gold and gems, has made it clear that he would absolutely adore it if Rem could go out and buy him a luxurious gift! ]

I was going to go out and buy him one... Or find one.

[catsgothistongue]

[Crosses arms, keeping the flat look on his face all the while. Girl please... Slowly turning his head to the handsome merman, he shot it a minor glare when it winked at him. You can't seduce him, he likes girls! He's not going to let himself be taken that easily!]

Oh you poor, unfortunate soul. Woe is you.

[He drawled, tone ever dry as if he's been drinking salt water for the past three hours. The martial artist sighed, pinched his nose and shook his head before turning back over to his friend.]

Look at him, Rem. He's wearing gold and jewelry all over his body. [The merman hadn't even made any attempts to look necessitous.] Why does he need you to go out and get him food or more gems? He can get it himself! He's just trying to swindle you.

[vermilloci]

[ One would think Ranma's flat look would get her to pause, but nope. The spell remains strong, and Rem's eyes sparkle with affection as she looks at the merman, then back to Ranma. ] Ranma, don't be rude! He'd never!

[ Throughout their exchange, the merman yawns feigning indifference as if he's seen this all before: a young woman enchanted by their song finds herself stopped by someone trying to stop her from being taken. He merely glances back at the other two mermen waiting further out.

Rem raises a hand up, delicately tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Although her attention had briefly been on Ranma, it seems her newfound infatuation always draws her focus back to the merman. ]

Besides... This gift I'll give him-- it'll be special.

[ The mermar perks up. RIGHT YES THIS GIRL IS ENAMORED WITH HIM. HE WILL BE PLEASED WITH THE GIFT. ]

Because a gift from... [ She coughs into her hand, then clears her throat. ] ...from someone who keeps you in their heart is worth more than any gold.

[catsgothistongue]

[From his experience with charmers and items that enthrall people to fall in love or be all romantical (some of which he was the target of), he isn't sure if Rem's behavior is her eating up the eye candy or if it's the merman's doing. Either way, he's baffled that they're even having this conversation to begin with. What's worse is the merman. Acting like he's just an innocent handsome fella appearing before a young lady like he's their true love, like he hadn't seen this a million times.]

I'm not...

[Okay, might be time to switch up strategy. Try to talk Rem out of it first, and if that fails, then he can resort to beating the merman's chiseled face in.]

Know what, you've got a point. Special sweethearts oughta give their true loved ones gifts from their heart. [He says in seeming agreement, before tilting his head innocently.] So what is he giving you?

[Ranma kept a smug smirk to himself and continued on like it was an innocent observation than a ploy to open Rem's eyes and get her head out of the clouds.] You're giving him something from your heart, so it just seems fair he should be giving something back. Which I bet he totally is because he loves you so much.

[Try that, creep.]

[vermilloci]

[ "he loves you so much--"

WELL THAT GETS HER TO BLUSH FURTHER!! He loves her so much?! That's...!

She brings her free hand to her cheek, as if she could somehow stop it from burning red. Uwaaaa ] You're being silly. Such feelings are never transactional. It's not transactional. Haven't you ever loved someone, Ranma?

(1/2)

[catsgothistongue]

[... This might've backfired on him a lot. Don't slap your forehead Saotome, you might give yourself a migraine. Though that leads something else to happen, that being his cheeks turning a light pink at Rem's sudden question.]

What?

crab curry~

[indispensable]

[Alhaitham is, by this point, a fairly regular visitor to Norhpip. Not even all the troubles he's experienced or his near drowning experience can drive him away from this Abyss-damned crab. He wants that clue and he will get it one way or another and he's not going to let anything stop him.

So he is here once more, this time with Rem. At least its somebody who Alhaitham has worked with before this time so he doesn't see an issue with this. Not that the others have been bad, but its always easier to work with people who he is already familiar with.

...but with that having been said, he can't say that he is familiar with what Rem is doing at the moment. He stands nearby her, watching what she's doing with a vague notion of interest, but mostly he's just waiting for her to be done so they can move on. He doesn't begrudge her for wanting to mourn over the loss of a life, even if its that of a crab's, but it is ultimately not something in his wheelhouse.]

[vermilloci]

[ She remains still, holding the tiny, decesased crab in her hand for a what may seem like minutes more, until, finally--

Rem lets out a sigh, shaking her head tiredly. Whatever she had been doing, it hadn't worked. The hem of her skirt saturates with seawater as she crouches down, gently placing the crab back onto the shore. The next wave takes it back into the ocean.

Tuning from the shore, she gives him a quiet smile. ] We should hurry to find its other siblings.

[indispensable]

[For better or worse Alhaitham says nothing as he waits for Rem to be done, though the way she acts does pique his interest a little. He isn't going to be one to say anything based off assumptions, and ultimately what she does is not something he will concern himself with unless it directly interferes him or Kaveh, but... well. As long as she knows what she's doing and isn't actually hurting people.

He watches the wave that comes to take the deceased crab, seeing it vanish back into the waters, then turns to look at Rem, nodding in acknowledgement to her words. One of them might have not made it, but it is merely one out of many. He has no doubt that there will be others who are not as unfortunate.]

[vermilloci]

Let's look more inland. Those are probably the ones that need our help the most.

[ She'll turn away from the shore, heading up from the beach. ] It'd be easier if we were given a count for how many to find or help.

[ Wouldn't a mama crab keep track of all of her kiddos?? No? ]

[indispensable]

[Have you seen how many eggs a crab lays in one go, Rem. Do you think mama crab would've kept track of that.

In fact, Alhaitham will say as much too.] If it did give us a number, I wouldn't be surprised if it was one that no human would be reasonably able to keep track of consistently.

[There's also the somewhat violate environment to consider... or well as much of one as fierce seagulls can be anyway. Seriously, he doesn't remember the seagulls back in Teyvat ever being this annoying. This world truly has some strange variances at time.]

[vermilloci]

[ She is never claimed to be a crustaceologi... crustaceanolog... carcinologist! So when Alhaithem suggests that a crab's brood is a lot-- ]

Which means we should hurry! [ Saying so, she quickens her pace. ] I mean, I'm sure the gulls are quite happy and not hungry anymore... [ Honestly she can't blame them because crabs are tasty but that's not the point. ] Still, the poor crabs.

[ She crouches down again, picking up a langer piece of driftwood to see if any are hiding there. When she finds none, she throws it off and continues. ] I suppose this is the least we can do.

down where it's wetter!

[garudas]

[After her last mishap with a bounty on the MANTA board not even shy of a couple weeks ago, Benedikta had taken on something... a little easier. Surely mermen would not give her any trouble, would they? It's not as if she's so easily bribed into things regardless of looks, so how bad could this possibly be?

Worse than she thought, she thinks to herself, as her boat comes sailing to the shore where there were rumoured sightings of them. She has to squint at first to be sure, but that is definitely a merman whispering what she is certain to be nothing good into Rem's ear. With a flick of her wrist, the wind picks up speed, and with it, the waves that lap onto the sand, and it shoves the quite-literally-fishy man out further up onto the beach.]

Rem!

[Benedikta calls out, nearly tripping out of her boat to rush to her, paying little mind to how the current might carry it away again.]

Put that purse away!

[vermilloci]

[ The merman is washed some meters away, and the abrupt, ungraceful way in which he flops on the shore leaves Rem momentarily startled. He's only ever seemed so poised, so seeing him flounder is a shock. Rem whips her head in the direction of a familiar voice, eyes widening. ] Benedikta?

[ The hand clutching the coin purse raises to her chest. Immediately she blushes, as if she's been caught doing something she shouldn't-- ] What are you... That was uncalled for!

[ Her nose scrunches, defensive. Nuuuu not What's-his-name-the-merman! Poor guy! ]

[garudas]

[Poor guy, indeed. His worst nightmare has shown up—

Benedikta is genuinely taken aback by Rem's response, her gaze torn between the merman who washes up on the shore and the pouty girl in front of her. What in the world...?]

Was it? If there is anything I have learned about this place, it is that we should not trust our finned friends.

[And, because she feels just the slightest twinge of guilt...]

Are you alright?

[vermilloci]

I'm alright-- but...! [ She stumbles through her response, trying to figure out why one of her closest companions here has attacked a fish-man who was conversing with her! ] He's different!

[ He's not just some guy!! ]

[garudas]

[Rem looks like she's just killed the fish man and not just washed him ashore, and she glances over her shoulder to check on him. He seems fine, if not a little bit covered in sand as he coughs it up, but she could have made it much worse than that.]

Oh, is he? And how so? Because what it looked like to me was that he was trying to con you out of your coin purse.

[And here he comes, clawing his way across the sand in their direction from behind Benedikta, like some horrific monstrosity and not the admittedly handsome merman that he is.]

[vermilloci]

[ Rem down at her (near) empty coin purse, then towards the merman making his way back to them, then back to Benedikta. Benedikta surely has her best interests at heart! But Rem's heart flutters whenever she looks at that tail! Although, he does look much less dignified now that he's crawling on the sandy shore. ]

But I don't mind it. [ She replies, but uncertainty causes her voice to break. ]

Giving things to him, I mean. Even if it's gold. He's nice to me. [ And he's hot. ]

Crab Curry

[callmekacchan]

[Katsuki has been chasing seagulls off all day. His quirk makes for an effective way to clear them. Loud and flashy enough to spook the birds into scattering, giving others more time to rescue crabs without interference from them.

He's taking a break to hydrate and cool down when he spies Rem nearby and comes to see what has her attention. He pauses when he gets close enough to see.

Ah.]

Oy. That one's past saving, but we still got a lot who need help.

[vermilloci]

[ Rem continues to look at the small hermit crab held within her palms, frowning for a few moments more until-- at last-- her shoulders slope, and she lets out a breath. ]

You're right. I suppose I couldn't. [ A rueful smile colors her tone, but she eventually shifts, standing up to greet him properly. ] Let's find others.

[ Rem places the dead crab, shell and all, in a satchel. ] They can't all be sea gull fodder. [ A pause. ] Can they?

[callmekacchan]

Of course they're not all gonna die. Don't take that defeatist attitude.

[He spies some gulls circling above and points.]

Listen, I can keep these damn birds off your back. You just keep getting the crabs to safety. We aren't losing another one, got it?

[vermilloci]

[ "We aren't losing another one--"

... ]

Got it.

[ Rem turns from him, and upon spotting another crab scurrying some distance away, breaks into a jog after it. The tiny thing is heading away from the shore. Baby crabs have very little survival instincts, apparently. ] H-hey! Come back, little guy.

[callmekacchan]

[While Rem herds crabs, Katsuki launches himself skyward with his explosions, yelling and startling the birds, who are honestly starting to reach a point of 'is this meal worth it'. Because Katsuki is a menace. He'll keep busy chasing them off by being loud and flashy!]

[vermilloci]

[ The explosions are... startling to say the least, and not only to Rem, but also the crabs.

--Which is actually a good thing, because all of them seem to scurry towards rocks for shelter, making them less scattered. Rem dashes forward, skidding down into a crouch, and scoops up a bunch into her satchel. ] Got six! There's a few more to go. Keep it up!