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

[prunedworlds]

[I. Beachside]

Did someone say beach episode? You better believe Ritsuka is there. Most of the time will see her sporting shorts and a crop top as she flits from one person or activity to the next, clearly enjoying the chance to socialize. Places you might find her include:

- Checking out the tasty smells coming from the grills.

- Approaching anyone she knows or who otherwise looks interesting to talk to who happens to be lazy around the beach.

- Doing some good old beach lazing herself.

- Trying to round up people and see if anyone has a bat and a blindfold for some good old traditional beach watermelon smashing. (Wait someone brought watermelons--?)


[II. Seaside]

Of course, sooner or later, Ritsuka can't help but go for a swim. The day's so sunny and hot and the water just looks so good, after all. So there she is in a cute two piece swimsuit enjoying the nice cool waves.

"Are you coming in?"


[III. Fireside]

Of course, Ritsuka's going to stick around for the bonfire. A good summer episode just isn't complete without it, right? She'll happily say hi and motion you over to an empty spot nearby if she spots you. Or you might find her very intently focused on trying to get a marshmallow toasted just right.

Actually, maybe don't interrupt her concentration on that last bit. Or do and see what happens.


[Wildsidecard]

Nothing quite fit? Have another idea? Feel free to poke me in PM or Discord, or just throw something at me!

I

[onahairtrigger]

"Oh, shit, watermelon splitting?" Josuke's grinning widely. "I don't think I've done that in years..."

He sure hasn't done it since he joined POKEGO, at any rate. "I don't think I've brought anything with me for it, but I bet it shouldn't be too hard to find stuff."

[prunedworlds]

"Yup, you got it!"

Ritsuka sounds just as excited about this. It really is the little things, isn't it?

"Yeah, I guess even just a big stick and a shirt or something would work if we have to..."

[onahairtrigger]

"Yeah, if we've gotta... Let's at least ask around first, just in case anyone brought stuff we could use. Pretty sure I saw a guy around here with a bat..."

[prunedworlds]

"Yeah, and I guess if someone's got a bandanna or something..."

Clearly they'll manage, one way or the other! There are melons waiting to be split, after all.

[onahairtrigger]

One way or the other!

"Hmm... Let's split up for a few minutes, see what we can get, then meet back up here? I'm sure between the two of us, we'll manage to get what we need!"

[prunedworlds]

Ritsuka nods.

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."

With both of them working in it, it should go twice as fast, right?

I

[incendiarize]

[Arthur perks right up when watermelons get mentioned. He is currently in long sleeves and long pants, yes despite the beach, so the shift is pretty dramatic.]

Someone brought watermelons? Hell yeah! You said we need a blindfold?

[prunedworlds]

"Yep!"

To both of those, really.

"I heard someone has a bat, so if we can find a blindfold, we'll be set!"

[incendiarize]

"A blindfold, huh..."

He thinks for a few moments. Did he bring anything that might work?

"I have a sharpie and some goggles I'm willing to sacrifice. Could that work?"

[prunedworlds]

"... Uh, I think if we can't find a blindfold, we could just use a t-shirt or something...?"

No need to go that far.

[incendiarize]

"Oh- I did bring an extra shirt, too. Long sleeves will be easier to tie, right?"

He just. Thought of the more complex solution first. He's a science nerd, sometimes that happens.

[prunedworlds]

"Yeah, probably."

Ritsuka had just said one of the first things that came to mind, really. Not a lot of planning has gone into this, needless to say.

"If you have something like that we can use though, that's probably good enough to get started."

[incendiarize]

"Great! Okay, here..."

He digs around in his bag and pulls out the spare shirt. It's a little wrinkled, but nobody ever cared about a wrinkly blindfold. Right?

"So. It's basically a piñata but with watermelon. Right?"

[prunedworlds]

"Pretty much! Every takes turns trying to split it open."

And then once someone succeeds you eat it. Look, it's about the fun of it more than the potential sand getting everywhere.

[incendiarize]

"That sounds awesome. And there's watermelon after!"

Could not be better for the summer. Though also sounds like sandy melon. But then, who hasn't eaten sand at some point?

iii

[lowestclass]

It isn't such a mystery that Jinwoo only shows up once the sun has gone down. Truth be told, he wanted to go MUCH earlier--an invite from Eunie was one he really didn't want to ignore.

But with the ever-haunting orb that hangs overhead, Jinwood decides not to risk it. Knowing his bad luck... he'd just end up getting hit with a volleyball or someone might trip up in his robe and...

Yeah, no. He shows up when the fires are being made, and one of the first sights he sees is ritsuka.... trying very hard to toast a marshmallow.

"...You seem very focused there..."

[prunedworlds]

"Huh??"

She was indeed quite focused, so much so that she startles at first when he speaks to her. But then a moment later she realizes who it is and is all smiles.

"Oh, you made it!"

... Might wanna keep an eye on that marshmallow, though, it's dangling awfully close to the fire while she's distracted.

[lowestclass]

"I wanted to come earlier, but. It was a really sunny day today...."

Beautiful, really. He looked outside at least once or twice, from his apartment, the window in his kitchen something he avoided getting too close to during the day, but using it to guage the weather with, all the same.

"But at least people are still hanging around... I'm glad for --

...Oh, be careful. Your food."

[prunedworlds]

"Yeah, I was thinking of letting you know people were still here even past sunse--" Oh right the marshmallow. Have fun watching as she jerks her arm as he reminds her... in exactly the wrong direction.

That marshmallow sure is on fire now, whoops.
"Ah!"

Give her a moment while she uh. attempts to blow that out.

[lowestclass]

...It sure is on fire now. And of course, Jinwoo quietly wonders if it's his fault--just another flicker of his bad luck--but like most things, he's gonna' do his best to shrug it off.
It's just a marshmallow.

"You were going to ... ask me to come?" He looks a bit surprised to hear that, eyebrows going up a bit.
A hand touching the back of his head with a sheepish laugh.

"...Personally, I think burnt marshmallows taste better than gently roasted ones."

[prunedworlds]

It's definitely not his fault, that marshmallow was Doomed the moment anyone started talking to Ritsuka. At least she does manage to put it out quickly.

"Well yeah. I know you wouldn't be able to do much while the sun was up, but it'd be a pity to miss out completely, right?"

And she thinks of him as a friend, so of course she'd be thinking of things like that. If she can keep track of the quirks of hundreds of Servants she can surely remember those of a handful of friends.

"Maybe, but... I kinda wanted to see if I could do it all nice..."

Look, the Servants who man the cafeteria are one thing, but Chaldea's current director is an amazing cook. It makes her kind of want to actually put in a little effort herself, sometimes!

[lowestclass]

"Ha. It would be something of a pity. I used to go to the beach a lot when I was young. I loved swimming in the ocean, truth be told."

But he's gonna sit, now--putting his parasol aside as he pulls up one of the available grilling sticks, and a new marshmallow--offering it to her.

"We could try again--together this time. How about it?"

[prunedworlds]

"Would you still want to go swimming, if you could?"

Obviously swimming in the dark is not the greatest idea, but perhaps on a sufficiently cloudy day or something, maybe. Though, as for the marshmallow...

"Oh, uh, sure."

She's still feeling a little sheepish, but that's no reason not to give it another go!

[lowestclass]

"I... didn't bring a swimsuit, truth be told. And isn't it dangerous to swim at night?"

Not that he minds the idea. He's actually quite a good swimmer! But for now he's gonna' start trying to roast one, too.

...His catches on fire nearly immediately.