Newest part of my liminal series!

(Are dream and weirdcore ocs okay for this?)

(they are welcome, they can be from the realm itself or a visitor!)

(Yay! Ill start in a new comment)

(Sorry it took so long to respond but I'm finally locking in.)

Ink had been skipping along, chattering into the comms device Seven had given it. Always more to say. It was wonderful not being on its own to do all the talking.
It hadn't even noticed the water until it had nearly dove right in. Where the sidewalk ended, it stumbled back and tripped on the uneven ground, grazing its one palm that still had skin. It hissed, wiping pebbles off on its shirt and licking over the shallow wounds. Their blood tasted slightly sour.
"Heeeeeey guys?" It called. "Small problem."

seven: yeah? what is it?
*the street lamps dip into the ocean below, only one way forward.*

"Minor roadblock I found, it's the ocean." Could've at least put a wet floor sign. Someone, namely Ink itself, could've fallen in!

Seven: just walk through it, you can't drown after all.

"I guess. I'm just not the best swimmer. And what about the electronics? And my clothes? And how am I gonna see?" It went down the list of issues it had with water.
That and there was definitely going to be something down there, but that was arguably the least of Ink's issues.

Seven: well the electronics the lab made is waterproof and-
Trav: *he cuts off seven* the water won't stick to you in this realm, won't even clog your lungs.

"Oh. Weird. Okay." Without much further hesitation Ink marched casually into the sea.

*the water is unaturally cold, but it's not pitch black, so their skin is stripped the moment they enter the ocean water.*

Ink shudders. It buttons up its flannel as if that will defend from the cold. As if it were a windy day. At least it wasn't fully wet. At least it could still breathe the thin film of air around it.
"Where to?" Its words bubbled a bit.

Trav: just keep following the pat-
*Trav is cut off as the headset floats off of ink's head and floats forward, the water pulling it along the path.*

"Wh- Hey! Gimme that!" It reached out after the headset, chasing it.

isn't*

Iris: nice to meet ya ink, I'm Iris. *they shake Ink's hand, their palm is slimy and cold.*

The slime stings against its scraped palm, but it shakes properly regardless. "You too, Iris."

Iris: so... what are you here for?

“I’m passing through. Trying to get to the next lab over to investigate it. I have a relatively good track record of keeping my skin and I’m not an entity marked for death yet, so.” It waved its unloved hand.

*as ink runs after the headset they grab it before running face first into another person, a tall angler fish humaniod.*
???: watch it!

Ink grips tight to the device and stumbles back, hitting the rough ground yet again. As if its palm hadn't been wrecked enough.
"Sorry!" It yelped, licking at its hand again.

???: *they sigh before helping ink up.* it's fine, not like you meant to do it...

"No, I didn't." It let itself be pulled up. "Something swiped my stuff. I got it though." It waved the device around a bit.

???: a comms device from one of the labs? Are you one of the bastards that experimented in this place? *they growl slightly*

Ink holds up their hands innocently. “I’m not. I ended up here a month ago and have just been walking. The guy who was in charge of the lab I got this from is currently a hundred individual pieces. I’ve got nothing to do with any experiments.”

???: and did you cause it?

"The hundred pieces? Not really, it was mostly my friend. I did knock his head off though!" It made a swinging motion with its felt hand. "Not that we plan to do it to anyone else. The lab guy was an ass and I prefer talking."

???: well you're good in my book then!

"Sick. My name is Ink." It offered it still-flesh hand.

*insert sid the sloth's voice* mmmm, tastes a little *face shrivels like a raisin* S A L T Y

*Velmorè stops and looks at the ocean water below* well that’s less than ideal, but a little water won’t hurt will it?

*the street lamps marking the road dip into the ocean water.*

Seems like logic doesn’t apply here. But then again where does it?

*the ocean water is still, no motion at all.*

Hmmm well it doesn’t seem dangerous

*i look around to see if anyone or anything is nearby worth my time*

*Colt, a curious visitor to the realm, stopped on the path, peering curiously down into the blue water*
Colt: Hm. Well isn't that a bit problematic...
*he glances back at the path he just came from, but decided water can't be that scary. He bent down and stuck a hand in the ocean out of curiosity*

*the water was unnaturally cold, yet not freezing. the street lamps from the path dip into the water, the path continues under the waves.*

*he took his hand out, drying it on his suit. He debated silently for a moment if submerging would be bad for him, but said to he'll with it and confidently continued walking down the path*

*the water seeps into him, but he's fine. the street lamps keep going along the path and he sees someone walking along it.*

*his hat starts floating away, so he grabs it back. He notices the person and waves to them*

???: *their back is turned to Colt as they walk.*

*he walked closer*
Colt: Hello?
*he didn't know if they could hear him, hence the were underwater*

???: *they turn around, it seems to be some sorta humaniod angler fish?* do you need something pal?

(*slams hand on table* SEBASTIAN SOLACE!? jk sorry 😅)

Colt: Could you tell me where this path leads? If you know, of course.

???: from what I've heard, labs. no clue what's in them, but they gotta have reliable lighting and food!

Colt: Hm! Thank you! Are you headed that way as well?

Iris: anyways, I'm Iris.

Colt: Its very nice to meet you, Iris! I'm Colt. *he pointed to himself*

Iris: so what do you do in the realm? just a traveler? an anomaly? scientist? or maybe you live in one of the few rare towns down here.

Colt: *waving a hand* Oh I'm just a traveler. I'm not familiar with the landscape

Iris: oh, well I work as a dredger down here.

Colt: Oh really? How's that going for you?

Iris: tons of junk to fish up, so rather well.

???: can't exactly leave the path. have you tried it? it doesn't go well. *they remove a glove from one of their hands to show it's nothing but bone.*

*his screen glitches*
Colt: Holy-! I haven't tried. Does that hurt...?
*he is probably gonna try it at some point cuz he's a bozo*

???: nope. feels like the flesh is still there. *they move their skeletal fingers around despite having no muscle.*

Colt: Huh. Well isn't that something. *he chuckles, his movements extra cartoony* I wish you good fortune my friend, but sadly I must cut our meeting short.

???: and where exactly do you plan to go? *they look around, the pitch black of the ocean only being cut by the street lamps.*

Colt: *trying not to seem gullible* Uh... Forward? I thought I'd just walk the path. No where else I've got to be.

???: well then we're on the same path, so our "meeting" isn't ending.

Colt: *awkwardly* Ah... Right....

???: of course you can always walk into the darkness and get flayed alive if you want.

Colt: *he made the cartoony 'gulp' sound and fidgeted with his sleeve cuffs* I think ill pass on that-