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[imsorey]

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[imsorey]

i was letting you get away with it

so you want to go or what? i'll meet you by the exit

[oneandmikleonly]

[a telepathic laugh drifts into his head]

Race you there.

[imsorey]

[that is the fastest way to get him up and running]

No crying when you lose!

[oneandmikleonly]

Pot, kettle!

[hopefully they don't knock anyone over]

[imsorey]

[Sorey is a good person who would never intentionally knock anyone over

unintentionally, though, that probably happened.

he's out of breath when he actually does make it to the exit though; he had to run from the other side of the base]

[oneandmikleonly]

[mikleo was closer, so he's already there and not as winded, but he does look a little disconcerted]

I forgot--to ask where you were...

[imsorey]

[he takes a minute to catch his breath before responding, waving a hand and putting his stuff into his locker so it won't get ruined by going out into the water with him]

Other side. I should have known you'd beat me to it.

[oneandmikleonly]

Hmmm...we can have a more even race once we're in the water.

[they're both prepped and ready to go soon enough; they're not carrying much or taking a vehicle, but they do have their weapons and a small bag of provisions in case they get stranded out for a bit. even if they don't -- well, what's a date without dinner involved somewhere?]

[imsorey]

To the first island we can find?

[food is very important! but Sorey is more focused on the adventure--the race to find something, their usual game after all of the weirdness]

[oneandmikleonly]

Once we spot something. It wouldn't do to go full tilt the entire way.

[imsorey]

Fair enough. Don't want to tire out before we even get there.

[oneandmikleonly]

[it's a pretty leisurely trip once they've decided that; they're happy enough to take their time and go relatively slowly enough to take in the familiar sights and sounds as well. the ocean is beautiful, when alien drones aren't constantly trying to kidnap you in it. there are plenty of things to worry about in it in short order, too, but -- not today.]

[imsorey]

[There's plenty that they could talk about with regards to recent events, but it can wait while they explore. Sorey keeps it light and deliberately steers away from those topics, keeping to the fish and biomes that they pass through. he's not sure if they'll really find a seal, but it's obvious that it is on his mind, and he keeps his eyes peeled for one.]

[oneandmikleonly]

[they dodge some of the less-friendly Stalkers and toss a fish to a couple they're more familiar with; watch the Gasopods graze; have a narrow brush with a Mesmer and some Bleeders (good thing they raised one in the labs and recognize the lure cues now); quietly note where there's still some wreckage sitting on the ocean bed that can be taken apart; pause in the Kelp Forest to take a moment at the dead Reefback's growing reef; chase each other through the coral and plants or poke each other in the ribs through the thin material of their wetsuits. Mikleo holds Sorey's hand when they reach the Dunes and the long swathes of bloodgrass, whenever they're not dodging predators.

all in all, it's well into the afternoon before they surface and spot a faint shadow on the horizon that doesn't correspond to any of the already-known islands...]

That looks promising, doesn't it?

[imsorey]

[squinting at it in the distance and shielding his eyes to try and get a better look at it. they should invest in binocular goggles.]

It's too big to be a reefback, so I'd say it's something.

[oneandmikleonly]

[binocleos]

Hmmm...let's go a little further out and make sure. I'd hate to have it be a hostile animal instead.

[imsorey]

We could fight it if it was unfriendly...

[he grumbles a little bit about having to go out of their way, too used to his JRPG lifestyle of fighting monsters that attack them. but after their recent exhausting endeavors he's plenty happy to go with the cautious, hopefully-pacifist route of just checking things out before engaging]

[oneandmikleonly]

[Mikleo pokes him in the side to try to make him laugh, but gently]

Today is for relaxing, ideally.

[happily, it becomes clear after a while that if it IS a horrible monster masquerading as an island, it's doing a really good job? maybe it is just an island after all]

[imsorey]

[well that's all he needs to keep swimming for it]

It looks like relaxing is winning out.

[oneandmikleonly]

Well, don't jinx it.

[but he is!!! certainly relieved!!!]

[imsorey]

I barely said anything! That's not going to jinx it.

[he's eager to prove the point and doesn't slow until they finally hit the island and he pulls himself up onto the shore of the island for a break. he doesn't bother looking around for signs of life, though, oops?]

[oneandmikleonly]

Sor--

[Mikleo pulls himself up just in time to watch a seal bowl Sorey back into the water]

--ey?!

[imsorey]

[NOT AS PLANNED!! he goes tumbling back in head over heels, taking a large gulp of saltwater in surprise and coming back up coughing and spluttering, trying to clear his lungs and his eyes]

[oneandmikleonly]

[trying to wade between the two of them, staff at the ready . . . he's not super prepared for the seal to get up in HIS face, though, falling back almost into Sorey with a little yelp]

[imsorey]

[Sorey is still coughing up water, but once he sees what it is that shoved him into the water he's less alarmed and more amused. which doesn't stop him from almost going right back under when Mikleo falls back near him]

Th-that's new!