Beyond the strangeness with Non-Player Characters, Zori was enjoying himself with the glorious realism of the world he'd invaded. There was nothing more captivating than something new to explore, experience, and exploit. That last part seemed like a lot more work than it was worth. Normally. Today was different: the Caenis was amped to strip nature of its natural resources in gross excess. That was the goal Leopold had offered at least. In a far less cynical way. The two had decided to meet on the Brisshal coast for some good old fashioned fishing. Even in the world of Terrasphere it was a hobby for some. Zori was able to scrounge up the stuff he'd need because of that. While in Honeyhome he made a few trades, of labor and knicknacks, to get some old rod, rusted hooks, and ratty wire. The basics any good beginner fisherman was forced to use before he could upgrade to the cool gold or orichalcum fishing rigs. The guys he was bumming stuff off of were even willing to coach him on the basics. Like tying knots, which end was the pointy end, how not to get your tail caught in your swing. It was all great, very helpful, stuff for the absolute rookie: Zori Crotox. He'd never fished in reality. That was the biggest motivator to try and fish in Terrasphere. It was going to be a brand new experience. A whole new world that he had never experienced was at his virtual fingertips. Ready to be accessed from the comfort of his home. In solitude. Everything he never had the chance to do... That he still could, but would rather do it all in a game. Zori's continued life as a neet was something he liked to avoid thinking about. He filled his mind with his journey. Carefully traveling through the dangerous forest that was still filled with a plethora of intimidating and determined beasts and creatures. Using light foot falls and his sharp senses to outsmart the unwitting hunters in his path. It was probably the only way to get to the beach without having to deal with a lot of monsters. Zori was slightly concerned about Leo's journey. He could only wait for the Faerin to make it whenever he got here. It was the starter area, surely it wasn't that hard. Maybe Zori was too serious about it. He digressed with himself. While sighing at himself. He looked out at the ocean from the dry bluff he'd found by the calm waves. The sun was shining and the low tide left the would-be-fishers plenty of space to work with. So Zori decided to sit on the sun warmed rocks and dip some bait in the water. With a strung and baited hook he made a hard cast (noting how the old hook banged off some rock) and watched the line as it connected the softly roiling water's surface to his fishing rod. "I get how this is pretty relaxing. It's practically just meditation." He said to the world. Irrationally hoping someone would answer.
Leopold recoiled as he sat next to some rocks and heard a loud banging noise. Oh gosh, that wasn't another monster was it? He shivered at the thought until he heard a familiar voice. It was Zori's, the person Leopold was here to meet! Thank gosh it wasn't some ferocious sea beast. Leopold had practically decided to run away before he heard the comment. "Yeah, isn't it great!" Leopold chimed in from out of Zori's view. He had arrived here sometime before Zori did. This was mostly due to the fact that he didn't spend nearly as much time preparing for the trip in town. In fact, he hadn't spent any time preparing for the trip. He was far too excited to wait around doing nothing. Fishing was one of the games many vocations that he had considered taking, but he had chosen two he found slightly more accessible. Luckily, when he had posed the idea, Zori seemed interested. With high spirits, they had decided to try it regardless of vocation, and see what happened. Leopold hopped up from his seated position and rounded a slight curve in the beach that housed a large boulder. When he got around the hunk of stone, he saw the green haired fella perched atop the stones nearby. Leopold eagerly ran over, hands empty, indicating that he didn't have anything with him. When he got closer, Zori would easily be able to see that Leopold was covered in much, twigs, leaves, and wounds. His trip through the woods to get here... wasn't very peaceful. He had narrowly avoided death once again, but that was behind him. Leopold was shaken, but he wasn't about to let it ruin the whole day. "I got here like..." Leopold had to think for a bit because he wasn't very good at remembering time. That's what watches were for. Eventually, he just shrugged. "A while ago. I've been making a breathtaking sandcastle over there while waiting. What took you so long?" Leopold had lifted a hand and directed his thumb over his shoulder towards where he had been sitting before. Out of sight and behind the large stone was a stack of smaller stones, and clumps of sand. It wasn't a quality castle in any sense of the word. He lacked the sculpting vocation, at least, that was his excuse. As he was speaking, his eyes had drifted over to the rod in Zori's hand. There was a distinct sparkle in his gaze as he observed the tool. Leopold was well aware that he didn't bring anything with him. He was just too daunted by the trip here to even consider going back for a pole. Hopefully it wouldn't be too hard to make due with what was in the area. He had seen footage of people fishing by throwing rocks in the water to create shockwaves, or people stabbing at fish with sharp reeds. There were many methods that Leopold could stoop to... that is, if Zori didn't share.
With his irrational expectation to hear a response, Zori was able to outsmart fear. When Leopold came literally out of nowhere he didn't even hop. He just turned around to look at the sound of child-like steps under a child-like voice. They were probably a bit more mature than that, but he still hadn't gotten it out of his head that Leopold Chang wasn't just a human or elf kid. The way he talked didn't do any favors when it came to thinking of him as a more mature individual. "Nice that you managed to get here. I was starting to think I'd need to organize a search party with the sum total of two people I know in this game." He straightened his back while turning his gaze back to the ocean, at the float his line was connected to. Which was pretty much exactly where he'd left it. "I thought you'd bring something to fish with... Considering it was your idea. Not a big deal. I'm sure we have just as many chances using this one pole between the two of us." Zori looked for any small niches in the rocky ground around him on the cliff. Forcing the bottom end of the rod into it before re-seating himself on one side of it. There should have been enough space for Leopold to be on the other side. "I mean, if you know more of what you're doing feel free to have a crack at it. My dad barely ever caught anything when he went with his buddies. I figure it's more the company you share than the spoils. Right?" He felt like he should have laughed there, but nothing really came out. The light sounds of meager waves crashing and the nearby forest was a poor substitute.
"Baha, you thought I could get here? What do you take me for, some kind of fool?" Leopold snickered to himself because he fully understood it was a reasonable thought. He was practically half dead at present. Any slight variations in the path he took to get here, and he could very well have died. That's how close he cut it when wandering dangerously near to vicious beasts in the woods. They just blended in so well with all the trees and whatnot. "Oh no, I am ashamed to admit that preparation eluded me this time. I'm normally very precise when I prepare to do something, but I was just so damned excited. I've never actually been fishing. I just didn't have those kinds of buddies. Your father seems like a lucky man if he does. Personal connections are just so hard." Leopold was grumbling in his old man-like fashion as he walked up and sat near Zori. He took a glance down at the pole that was wedged in between the rocks. He had never held a fishing pole, so he was pretty excited to give it a try. On all those fishing shows and whatnot, fishing was always an action packed struggle between man and nature. Leopold was apprehensive as he reached for the device. Vooooosh. The spool on the rod went insane for a moment right as Leopold unlodged the handle from the rocks. As the excess string was pulled taught by some out of sight force, the rod arched, and was soon mid air. Within moments there was a splash and a slender silhouette darting under the surface of the water. Then there was silence. The rod had been yanked out of his unprepared hands, and then dragged under the surface to who knows where. Leopold paled, mouth open, and eyes blank. He had no reasonable reaction that he could apply to the situation, and was instead completely stunned. "Uhhhhhhh........." He wasn't even aware he was making a noise, hence the complete and utter stupefied lack of articulation. For a smart man, he sure was dumb sometimes.
Leopold was there. Somehow. Zori didn't even know that when asked a question to the world, it was wishful thinking that somehow proved to be true. The guy reminded Zori of his grandfather. Kinda, his dad's old man was kind of the exact opposite of Zori's dad. Who, in turn, was very different from Zori. An extrovert in between two generations of introverts it would seem. It didn't seem like an undesirable life, growing old alone after having a love of your life. Getting to enjoy all this cool new technology everywhere. Not dying yet. "I figure you're just a bit danger prone is all. What, with one of the few times we've met being a near death situation and all. If you weren't so jovial I might have just always felt panicked around you in preparation for what was..." Zori's entry for the conversation was cut short as he watched the cheap reel attached to the old rod spin out of control. The moment Leo had even thought about grabbing the rod, some force in the universe must have unleashed its conspiracy on the two friends. Then the whole thing went flying into the nearby ocean. The Caenis made up his mind for what to do next in a jiffy. Wasting no time for pageantry, he pulled off the leather shoes he'd entered the world with and tossed his shirt aside while standing. Stumbling towards the cliff's edge (it wasn't too high from the water's surface). All the while shouting, "That isn't mine to lose! It's a rental!" After his chest was bared to the world he bravely dove into the water. He had seen the fishing rod as it was dragged along the water's surface but it slowed down as soon as he was in the water. He didn't have time to think about how terrifying that sudden deceleration should have been. Manically, Zori paddled over to the buoyant rod and grabbed it in his hand. He had enough wits about him to cut the fishing line he'd brought with his teeth before swimming the small stretch back to the shore. He couldn't see behind him. There was no way for him to notice the three in-line dorsal fins that broke the sea's surface. The creature that had decided to interject itself in to the peaceful tripping expedition wasn't an issue ultimately. Zori was able to quickly scramble out of the water on a lower part of the rocky face and get away from the edge. Spitting out the sea water he drank while biting on string. He sputtered out a, "Gosh, I didn't know that would be so cold. Criminy." before catching his breath. The sudden burst of activity probably took him less than a minute but he was already feeling exhausted. It might have just been the thermal shock, it'd probably wear off soon enough. While putting his shirt back on he asked the most important question. "How do you wanna fish now?" It was the true dilemma at this instant. That, and then a stream of water was shot at the dog boy from the sea he'd just left. Getting his shirt wet. The rude fish creature must have been responsible. "I don't think they're a fan of that brand of fishing around here."
Leopold was stunned as he watched the acrobatic Zori dive into the water after his rod. Leopold distinctly recalls thinking that there was no way in hell that Zori would be able to catch that thing blazing along under the surface, but boy, that dog was fast. He had dipped under and snatched that thing lightning quick, and even cut the line so he wouldn't be pulled along. Leopold was even further surprised at how calm the guy was as he slowly swam back with that huge thing swimming behind him. Those three sets of fins that were attached to some massive shadowy figure beneath the surface left Leopold gasping for air in fear, yet Zori, the brave bastard, just casually swam back and climbed his way out. What really caused Leopold's eyes to pop out was the fact that Zori still didn't notice the thing when it reared up and was standing in the shallow water that wasn't deep enough to conceal it. Standing was a weird word in this context thought. It was a long fish shaped entity with tentacle like appendages draping from it's wide maw. There was a thin glimmering stream of light dangling from one of said tentacles, which happened to be the fishing line that was cut. The base of the creature was a typical fishtail situation. It had a scaley body that was propped up in the shallows as it glared fixedly at the duo. Meanwhile, Zori was just casually tugging his shirt on and chatting it up with Leopold. Perhaps this thing wasn't as threatening as he thought? "Uhhh... yeah, cold. I've definitely got a chill going myself, not from the water though." Leopold's face was paralyzed into an awkward smile as he responded to Zori. He was forcing himself to believe that Zori had a handle on the situation. The guy had seemed more than capable from what he could tell, snatching the rod, and leading those slimes around before, so he couldn't be wrong this time. Working up some more feigned courage, Leopold continued speaking. "I don't know how much fishing we can do without a pole. I'd say you're definitely right about the whole 'not a fan' thing though. They seem very opposed to it." Leopold glanced fleetingly at the massive figure still standing there in the shallows. It hadn't come any closer, perhaps because it was incapable of land movement, but it was still looking intimidating. Definitely not a fan of the hook that was embedded in its face. Leopold had always heard that fish don't have nerves in their mouths, which is why fishing didn't hurt them. He was calling bullshit on that one, mostly due to the scowl he was sure the fish was giving him. "What if we take it down the beach a bit and look for those crawly ones. The crabs and stuff. I've had plenty of crabs in my day, very tasty. Plus, we don't have to be here to catch them. I'll even cook them up with my cooking skills!" Leopold was stepping back slowly while pointing further down the bank. His gaze kept flickering between Zori and the creature. No matter how calm Zori seemed, Leopold just couldn't imagine that this was just some harmless thing. He'd rather vacate the area and go for something a little smaller that he knew he could handle.
Mr. Zori Crotox eyed Leopold with warranted suspicion. The three phrases that had just passed out of his mouth were mired in innuendo and hidden context. Dog boy wasn't quite sure what he was on about but he was able to imagine some possibilities for the dripping subtext. Most of them he didn't like, and wasn't entirely interested in thinking about. "Yeah. Let's move, I think when I hopped in the water whatever was running away with our bait turned around. I'm not looking forward to having it hang around us and scare all the fish away." While somewhat aware of the shadow streaming towards the would-be fisherman, he didn't pay it too much mind. He was more concerned with trying to fulfill Leopold's request. It was an internal drive, to be useful or something?, that was demanding his attention more than the flights of fancy. Ideas of what could be weren't worth acting on. "Let's take a shortcut through the trees. That should get whatever was out there ruining our time off our back at least. I saw a pretty nice white sand beach nearby... If I'm remembering right." Without feeling the need to turn around, Zori finished tidying his clothes and gather the remnants of his borrowed kit and tackle. Which wasn't much, really. He slung what he could on the fishing rod, over his shoulder, and patiently waited for Leopold to get ready to head down the path. Which, if his tone in the last post is consistent with the next, meant he was already ahead of Zori. At least for a little while. You know, with the dog kid being the one knowing the way. Which was also a short way, as luck would have it. They only had to wander around the forest for five minutes before Zori was able to use the local landmarks to steer his Faerin steward towards the beach he was thinking about. It gave him time to talk. "What had you so spooked by the way? Stuff in the ocean tends to stay in the ocean. It looked like you thought we were about to get hit by some monstrosity of the depths." It was just idle, casual conversation. It was all done away with when he broke through the treeline anew to point out the lovely, sunny, beach. Beige, sun-bleached, rocks broke the somewhat rough white sand surface on the decently long stretch of sea shore. There were probably even crabs hiding somewhere around this time. Even if it wasn't peak crab hours, since the tide was probably too low, there had to be something the pair of odd fools could get busy fishing. "Seriously. What's there to worry about, it's just like a beach in the real world." Zori had no memories of being at a beach in the real world.
"Yeah, scare the fish away..." Leopold was in a daze as he responded. It was more of a reflex than anything. He was too engrossed in preserving his own safety than he was in the conversation. As luck would have it, Zori was okay with moving away from here. Leopold was itching to get a move on, so when Zori seemed to pause and wait for him, there wasn't more than an iota of time that passed before Leopold was on his heels. Leopold didn't even get spooked when Zori suggested they move through the trees. Nothing he had seen in the forest was evenly remotely as scary as that giant fish beast. It was like thinking cherries were sour, and then biting into a lemon. The cherry just won't stand out anymore. When Zori tried to start up some conversation, Leopold had mixed feelings. He was thankful to have something to distract him from his fear... but the subject was the cause of his fear, so it wasn't totally effective. Either way, he couldn't leave his buddy awkwardly hanging, so he described it as best he could. "Oh, you know, a big fish. Not the kind we have in the real world, or... well, maybe we do? I don't know. It was really big, like, yacht sized, and it had those thingies on its face. You know, octopus danglies. I'm honestly not certain it would stay in the water if we stayed there much longer, it looked real mad." Leopold was fiddling with his fingers as he spoke, a clear sign of his nervousness. Now that it was out of sight, he was much calmer than he was before. Even talking about it didn't bother him, and when he rationalized it as some fake creature only in the game, he calmed down completely. It just wasn't worth worrying about if it wasn't literally feet from them. Of course, neither of them knew that the creature was getting closer and closer to the shore, as it grew appendages suitable for walking from its amorphous body. It was going at a snail's pace, but once it transformed completely, it seemed intent on pursuing them. Blissfully unaware, Leopold was ecstatic when he saw the beach. It rolled out before them with beautiful white sand contrasting with the sapphire waves. It really was like a beach in real life, if not a little rough around the edges. The sand was coarser than he was used to, and the rocks penetrating the sand stood out quite a bit, but it had a wild aesthetic that was pleasing. Beaches in real life were moderated and maintained by people. This game beach, while a human creation in the technical sense, seemed much more natural. It was honestly a little strange to think about, but Leopold was too distracted to delve into the topic. "Yesss! This is what I'm talking about!" His voice came out in a much younger tone than he usually spoke. He was genuinely excited to be there. "Man, I can't remember the last time I went to the beach. Must have been when I was a child? Anywho... how do we catch crabs? I don't actually know. Dig maybe?"
The Caenis was a little lost in thought when Leo asked him that simple question. He had previously said there was nothing to worry about, and he still agreed with that. There was no way something like what the Faerin had described could exist... At least not here. Brisshal was a starter area. There was no way some eldritch sea creature would be common enough fare that it would be trawling around starter shore lines. Putting aside the completely improbable random world boss there was no way they'd need to worry about some weird fish monstrosity. Ever. "Huh? Oh." Zori took a second to try and remember what Leo had said. He managed to catch the thought before it had left completely. "I'm not sure. Maybe crabs hide under rocks? I thought they like... Hung around tide pools to pick stuff out of the shallow water?" He scanned the decent chunk of beach he'd returned to. He vaguely remembered birds should be trying to eat crabs, but he didn't see anything circling around the skies to peck at crustaceans. They weren't in an area with tidepools either. It was entirely possible they'd missed their chance to catch crabs. That was a boring thing to consider and Z-man wasn't boring anymore. "I bet we have a better chance heading down the beach more." He started to stroll through the loose sand. The area seemed pretty untouched. People must have reserved their time to the popular, non-craggy, stretches of beach. "Sorry the uh... usual fishing approach fell through. Chock it up to inexperience, eh? Maybe we can find the time to do it again and catch more than 'tentacle-faced' monsters." In the middle of his angsty babbling Zori pushed over a loose rock near the sand's surface. Just some bored teenager stuff. Underneath were some weird looking shells that tiny hermit-crab like stuff poked up out of. He knew thinking there would be no crabs was way too boring. He watched them dig deeper into the sand instead of catching them. There were probably more, maybe bigger more interesting ones.
