2; THE BEACH EPISODE

[medicgunner]

WHO: Everyone!!
WHERE: Starting on the network, then The Beach!
WHEN: Forward dated to the last weekend of August
WHAT: Beach Episode!!
WARNINGS: None hopefully??



[With no context, no preamble, no nothing. Early on the last weekend of August, Eunie greeted the network with a message.]

text; un: fortuneclovers

hey
Eunie here, changed my un
so this month was fuckin awful
im goin to the beach. Maybe have a little fun there to get the mind off all the bullshit
if you’re seein this youre invited too. come on and lets have a good time, bring what you want

Oh yeah
im bringin a volleyball for the nets
anyone who wants a game come at me. >:)

🌭 getting grilled

[So ended the text one humble weekend morning. Eunie didn’t have specific plans for this, she just sort of ran off and invited the whole app to the beach without considering the logistics. She did say to bring what you want but she was social enough to arrange some things for a bit of a beach gathering.

It wasn’t a lot, a few coolers and BBQ grills people can hand around and either loiter or cook at if they have the capability. If they don’t though they will be removed from the grill. But maybe that’s part of the fun.]

🌊 ocean owned

[Aside from the coolers, there’s obviously the beautiful sea people can surf or swim in all they want! The water is fine, a little cold but in a way that felt refreshing from the hottest days of the last legs of summertime. The tides were even and there was no real risk of drifting away, but don’t go too far out unless you’re a strong swimmer. There are lifeguards on duty but we’ve had enough trauma this month, we don’t need a drowning scare. Or do, I’m not your mom.]

⛱️ avoid the burn

[Not a swimmer? Well then catch up on your tan under the share umbrellas and towels laid on the sand. Or your sunburn. It is a bright and sunny weekend after all so no matter what you’re catching up on, get your sunscreen on too.

It’s also just as good for a little break from the swimming and the music to steady yourself before you head out or head back into the water or some piers you can walk down on your own for the same experience to just catch the sea breeze while staying up and about.]

🏐 bolleyvall bapped

[That being said, Eunie was not joking about there being volleyball. There are a few nets on the beach for a few different games to go on at once. Organize a tournament or just play casually. Remember though that there are normies on the beach and any Earth Shattering volleyball spikes might cost some property damage claim money. This isn’t death soccer, people.

Who am I kidding, this is going to turn into a disaster either way. Go ham, challenge the bird girl or just watch the chaos unfold and place your bets, kids.]

🎇 bonfire lit up your life

[As the day winded down and night settled on the beach, some folks were headed home or have gone there already to get the sand out of their shorts. But those who stuck around will get the pleasure of sitting by a bonfire not me as they bid a fond farewell to the summertime and summer vacation.

Or get in touch with their inner arsonist in a less destructive way.

Sit, relax and socialize, take in the ambiance of the twilight by the fire, roast some marshmallows or hot dogs. Maybe decide to camp out for the night. It is a pretty peaceful time, and it’s these small moments of calm with friends and loved ones we have to cherish the most when in recovery, right?]

Comments

[fionnuisce]

It's no less a skill than music, and probably just as difficult to learn.

[homf]

Besides, I set plenty of shit on fire when I was learning. No shame in screwing up now and again, so long as the kitchen's standing by the end. Or the beach, in this case.

[bebest]

Nah, they're paid for that sort of thing, right? Getting all up into people's brains and figuring them out. You gotta enjoy that sort of thing to do a job like that, I bet.

[He clearly has no idea how it works, he doesn't trust 'em. People shouldn't poke in people's heads!!!]

Naturally! I've got to keep up the expectations! Wouldn't want to let anyone down.

[bebest]

Ohhhhhh so that's the difference!

[Every day is a learning day!!]

Wow, that's- okay I guess in hindsight it makes sense. Because the ship would be ON the pirate ships, right? Where they [a smirk crosses his face, he can't help himself] plundered the booty.

[Sometimes, he's mentally 12. ]

Yeesh, I bet, feel free to like, never share those ways.

[He taps his chin, humming.]

Okay, so do you guys have a lot of people with like- hook for hands or peg legs? Is that a thing? Also PARROTS, there are so many parrots. Sitting on your shoulder.

[bebest]

"A...magical squirrel-fox," he considers this, and honestly most of his past life memories are that batshit so he's just gonna roll with it. "I mean, congrats on finding a little furry friend, I guess?"

He lets out a faux gasp, putting a hand to his chest.

"Wow, RUDE! I mean, I love a good slap as much as anyone, but I'm p.sure there's rules against teachers doing that."

[bebest]

[Zulius flashes her a wide grin.]

Oh, well I always wanna know embarrassing stories about my staff! DO tell!

[lowestclass]

--Ah, you're familiar with it.

I'm sorry you never got to try it. I grew up in Japan, so we used to do this every summer when I was a teen...

[ he pauses, though, as he starts to set up a picnic cloth on the ground to get things ready. Looking up at her with a curious expression. ]

...Persona?

[lowestclass]

[ Oh, the look on his face. He lights RIGHT up. He's gonna hand over the blindfold with a smile slowly moving over his face. ]

I like a challenge too. So long as your arm is good, a blindfold shouldn't hinder you much...

[ He's gonna take a bit of a step back once he has the watermelon set up on a cloth to... hopefully catch the chunks once it's broken open. ]

Ready when you are, Mr. Edward.

[prunedworlds]

"Yeah, I'm not sure anyone knows exactly what Fou is. Well, Merlin always calls him Cath Palug, but..."

Maybe Ritsuka should just stop trying to explain things she doesn't understand while she's ahead.

"Oh! The Director's not a teacher? I was at Chaldea for a job, basically." There's a long pause as she evaluates what to say without actually ruining the mood here. "I guess it still is, technically, but a lot's happened since then and I don't think that's the kinda story for right now..."

[doubledollar]

You're damn right I am.

[ and you know what. he's gonna scoot up from where he's sitting in the sand and take zulius up on his offer. His skinny ass is going on the hair-chair.

...and damn, honestly, it's more comfortable than any plastic lounger available on the beach. He expected it to be sort of soft and squishy, but it's somehow firm and soft --

And zules is right. Smells great, too. ]

Glad you're the first person to agree with me on that sentiment.

Water is terrifying.

[doubledollar]

It's fine. It looks gross anyway, I'll put it in a bag and feed it to Brad later.

[ thomas are scavengers, fortunately.

He's gonna turn around for a moment, though, and snatch up a nice paring knife he'd used to cut up vegetables already, flipping it around a little tooo showoffishly for a moment before handing Jun the handle. ]

Nice to see you outside, by the way.

[ how you feeling . ]

[whiteshroud]

That works.

[You showoff. He snorts a little as he takes the knife. He meanwhile will do no flourishes, simply start working on cutting off the top of the pineapple and the sides]

Haha- it's nice to be outside, really. I was ready to climb the walls by the end there. How about you?

[fiddlestick]

[......Elliot has to bite back some negative thoughts at the idea of music being compared to stupid grilling. ]

Eheh, really it's not lack of practice. Just negative association.

Every summer Dad would try to shove these skills onto me, to try to make me more "manly".

[fiddlestick]

Haha, it's okay. You weren't in charge of my genetics.

[Yeah always look out for the little ones they're much closer to hell]

You never- used a microwave before? How old were you?

[lapislamine]

[Sometimes. In the course of being someone's sibling. You've just gotta throw that someone under the bus a little.]

He's become very responsible since we moved here a year and a half ago, so it may not be obvious, but he used to be quite the delinquent. He had a dear friend he got into fights with all the time. They got into and out of - mostly into - all kinds of trouble.

I remember one time, at the farmer's market, the two of them got into a particularly rowdy fight. Someone called the cops, and in his wisdom, Caesar used the tomatoes I'd just bought as a distraction while they fled. Joseph was, unfortunately, also distracted, and ran into a wall. Caesar, of course, laughed at him - at least, he did until he crashed into a different wall.

Hmm, that may be one of the tamer ones.

[fionnuisce]

[Waver rolled his eyes with a wordless noise of disgust, skewering another marshmallow.]

That's pretty fucking obnoxious. No wonder it didn't stick.

[unreachableside]

He can't go into the sun? [That's weird.] Is he a vampire? [....... wait, that's actually possible.]

As good as it was, asking you to cook for me would be unfair. I'll just pick something up later.

[He is so incurably stubborn. When she brings attention to his hand, he looks down at it and flexes his fingers.]

It's mostly healed. [His eyes narrow, glowing an ember red while they stand in the half-shade of the rocks.] I may have mentioned this before, but the beast always takes my blood. Be it for the beast's enjoyment or the use of my magic, this incessantly-healing body always pays the price.

It is less a torture and more of an annoyance. The hands are easy, though it slows my work.

[unreachableside]

[Oh, balls. He didn't expect the flying. That's so rude. He wheels around and starts running the other way, then.]

You infernal woman—! Can't you see that I am busy?!

[jackdawvision]

That’s where you’d plunder the booty, aye. [Said with a completely straight face, because “booty” doesn’t mean anything but “shit to steal” to Edward. Indeed, he gives Zulius a confused look in response, like he’s trying to work out why he’s smirking like that.

A pause.]

Peg legs I’ve seen a few times, but not very often either. It’d be difficult to climb the rigging with a peg for one limb. But why would someone walk around with a bloody hook for a hand?

[And as for parrots?]

Not on the ship, no, and frankly it would be too much trouble, but there’s a merchant who runs a store in my cove. Has a parrot who greets everyone who comes in.

[jackdawvision]

[Edward takes note of the watermelon, how far it is from him and the length of the stick, before he slips the blindfold on and tightens it for good measure. He gives the stick a little flourish, then falls into a stance and brings it crashing down on the watermelon as hard as he can.

It cracks open into uneven parts, chunks flying everywhere on the cloth. Strong as he is, Edward’s experience in breaking shit open is less concerned with even halves and more concerned with just cracking skulls hard enough to send somebody off to dreamland, possibly permanently.]

Well? How did I do?

[crisantemo]

Yep, that's right. [ The most casual response. A vampire isn't really one of the strangest things in this city, when it comes down to it.

And she raises her brows again at his answer, humming under her breath as she squints. ]

I wouldn't offer if I didn't want to. And I'll probably end up getting something for you later, so best to let me know either way.

[ He may be stubborn, but so is she!

Her eyes quickly drift back to his hand, and there's a pinch of her brows as she listens. It's a harsh price to pay, even if he simply views it as an annoyance.

So she's silent as she brings a hand closer to his - only hovering nearby as she lets the modicum amount of healing magic she has speed up the remainder of the recovery. It only takes a few seconds before she pulls her hand back, bright gold eyes peering up at him once again. ]

How does it feel?

[unreachableside]

[Blade looks a little startled that he was right. Jesus. It's only brief, but wow he hates what his life has become sometimes. But he can see her squinting at him. This girl really won't give up. He sighs and relents after a moment.]

... Fine, do what you want.

[She wins this round.

The healing magic is unexpected, too. He hesitates as the remainder of the wound knits together—a familiar sensation by now—and then he glances down at her.]

It—

[Those eyes remind him of someone. It hits him hard enough that he reaches up and clutches his temple. It's not right, it's not right, it's not right. Who is he trying to remember? What did he forget? He winces and squeezes his eyes shut. Not now, not now, not now...

Finally he responds through his teeth.]

I should go.

[He turns away and almost drops the robot and controller, but manages to save his fumble. He needs to get out of here. He can feel the beach closing in, the cool wind coming off the water suddenly oppressive in nature, like a tornado tearing at his foundations.

He's broken. This is just another reminder.]

[ornamentals]

[little brother? damn it, vash.]

Ugh. [kni pulls at the hat brim, letting out an annoyed sound. was it worth correcting her, even if it meant going through the somewhat tedious task of explaining?] Yes, we're brothers.

[reasonably, kni knows vash probably calls him younger because it was easier, but kni takes a certain amount of pride in being twins. he looks down at the water, kicking his foot through the waves.]

So, are you another one of his friends?

[ornamentals]

[knocked back and left soaking wet by the wave, somehow miraculously his hat wasn't knocked off too. the brim cuts off his vision when luca rushes over to help and so the first thing kni notices are the scaled feet and ankles, glittering under the water at his side.]

Um-

[he tilts his head up, using a hand to push the brim to see properly. another kid?]

I'm alright. [the initial shock has worn off, thankfully and after considering the boy's offered hand with a wary look, kni takes it to pull himself up. almost immediately he's looking back down at the water where luca is standing, head tilted curiously.]

Does that always happen when you touch water?

[ornamentals]

[by now he's gotten a little used to strangers approaching him with conversational intent, but it still takes him a moment to respond.

he holds out a sand dollar he found earlier, laying face up on his palm.]

It's a clypeaster rosaceus, but it's dead.

[ornamentals]

Uh-!

[startled, kni drops the little ghost crab he'd been cradling between his hands. it scurries away immediately, leaving kni to suffer the jolt to his heart. at the level of his tone, kni expects to be chastised or something stupid.]

I'm not, I was just looking!

[he says with a huff, standing up as he brushes sand off his knees.]