Whale Man Tries to Turn Around And Walk Back Into the Rift

[encoreinthedeep]

Type: Text
Sender ID: encoreinthedeep (Ulpianus)
To: Everyone
Subject: Return
Warnings: None

Requesting all available information on how to return to my own world.

[ He sends this message within ten seconds of receiving his shellphone. ]

Comments

[encoreinthedeep]

[ Hm. Suspiciously reticent for someone who'd just volunteered a lot of information - or perhaps they really don't have much else to say?

But it's fine, he has other questions. ]

What does your username refer to?

[withermarked]

[ Well, he's not a huge fan of that question. But then again, not answering might seem suspicious.]

Likely nothing so interesting as you think.

There's a river that runs through the country where I grew up. The locals have names for the tides you get at different times of year. In the spring the water retreats and new life grows on the shores.

[ It's not a lie, it's just... about the least interesting way to explain it. ]

[encoreinthedeep]

[ Why did you specify it's not as interesting as he thinks......... 👁👁 ]

A poetic description. What are the other names?

[ There is something about this person that makes Ulpianus suspicious, even if they have only been helpful so far. Maybe something about their choice of words - "where I grew up", "the locals" - that seems to suggest a certain emotional distance from what should be their home. ]

[withermarked]

[ This conversation has him a touch on edge, but it's probably nothing. He's just being paranoid, right? ]

Oh there's plenty, but they're really just useful if you live there or fish. The swarming tide when you get fiddler crabs on the shores, the harvest tide when the water's high and your nets find the best return, that sort of thing.

What's yours about?

[ Their username, that is. Seems like fair play to ask too. ]

[encoreinthedeep]

[ Hmm. Well, the rest of those seasonal names sound logical enough at least. He will slightly lower his degree of suspicion... for now.

... and he's going to properly look at his username for the first time. ]

I did not choose it.

[ But the likely intended wordplay is not lost on him. He's just not certain if it is slightly better than Blandus's terrible jokes, or worse. At least Blandus doesn't try to pretend his are clever. ]

Song is how we communicate. The abyssal depths are my destination.

[ Isn't it cool how he's not actually answering anything. ]

[withermarked]

[ He can't help noticing that seems like no more of a helpful answer than his was. ]

Is there a reason you intend to go there?

[encoreinthedeep]

Yes.

[ Question answered, right. No further explanation necessary, right. ]

[withermarked]

One you're interested in sharing?

[ He's guessing not, but he might as well ask. ]