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

sung jinwoo | solo leveling | ota

[lowestclass]

|| 🎇 vampires don't do beach parties ||

[ There's a certain someone who wasn't around for most of the 'beach affair', but that was for obvious reasons. Maybe when he was younger he was into the whole sun-and-surf thing, the idea of going to a beach, playing in the water had been fun, but...

Given his fun allergy he'd gotten ten years ago, and how it's gotten worse since he got to Kaisou--he doesn't make an appearance to any of the day's festivities.

However, that doesn't mean he's not gonna' make an appearance at all. Once the sun is well and set behind the clouds, he'll suddenly just--be there, as if he'd been here the whole time. His hood is even down and away from his face so he can actually be seen--a somewhat rare sight--and under his arm, he's carrying a watermelon, his umbrella looped and folded at his side like a bulky sword. ]

--I haven't actually done something like this in years, but.

In my opinion, the thing that goes together better than beaches and barbecues are beaches and watermelon splitting.

[ he gives a sheepish grin, looking towards the slowly growing bonfire. ]

Wanna help me split it so we can share it with everyone?

I don't have a super strong arm.

[femmecatale]

[Ann's been hanging about the beach most of the day, alternating between the water, tanning, and hiding under an umbrella to make sure she doesn't get sunburned. She's wearing her floral swimsuit, with a white cover up for the moment.]

Oh, hi Jinwoo.

[She glances at the watermelon he's holding.]

I think I can help you, but I'm also not the strongest person here.

[Unless she uses her dress sphere, but... she likes her current outfit.]

[lowestclass]

[ The sun's started to set, and that's the only reason he's out and about--he's carrying that umbrella with him that he always carries, but what with the sun becoming a dull orange, and how he seems to be sticking to the shadows for now, he doesn't seem worried.

He even casts he a smile when she remembers his name--pleased at that, honestly.

He lifts a part of his cloak, to where he's been hiding a nice, sturdy looking stick--kind of like a firm broom handle...? minus the broom. ]

That's part of the fun of watermelon splitting, I think.

Seeing how many good hits it takes until it splits open.

Then we can share it.

[ he gives a bit of a sheepish smile. ]

You're definitely stronger than I am though. I'd bet on it.

[femmecatale]

Oh yeah, suikawari, right? I left Japan before I got a chance to do that.

[Oh, did she turn a bit red in the face? Maybe.]

No, I'm not really that strong. Since I realized I have magic, I've been relying on it and my Persona a lot more than I should.

[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?

[femmecatale]

Yeah, I heard about it from some of my high school friends before I left. I'm glad I get a chance to do it here though!

[She beams.]

I mean, getting to hang out on summer beaches instead wasn't too bad! Just different traditions.

[Oh right!]

My Persona! You met her in Hyrule. She's Carmen, the woman in a flamenco dress I use to fight. It's... something from my past life, and she's normally only visible to others in the spirit realms...

[lowestclass]

--Oh, your shadow! [ erm. ] At least, that's what I thought she was. 'Persona'... I suppose that suits her better. It's pretty interesting.

Can you summon more than one...?

[ he can summon two, but. They don't look half as ...solid? as carmen did...

he finishes setting up the melon on its cloth, and then scoots back over, holding the bat in his hand. ]

I suppose we can both take turns, but. I feel my swing is going to be pretty embarrassing.

[femmecatale]

No, I can't. I can only summon Carmen. From what I remember, I did have a friend who could summon more than one... in my previous life.

[She grins]

I promise I won't use my strength power. I'm not that strong.

[lowestclass]

I see.
I could summon... at least thirty, from the memories I currently have, in my past life.
But it's currently just two.

[ she's already seen Tank.

But anyway, he's gonna take a step back, giving a little flourish, as if to tell her 'after you!' ]

We'll take turns to see who wins, then.
It's fun that way.

[jackdawvision]

[As the night goes on, Edward withdraws a bit from the festivities. Not so much that it’s too noticeable, but he’s pulled away a little, the darkness of the night matching the way his own good mood has faded to a more pensive one. He’s drinking off to the side when Jinwoo shows up, as though he was always there.

He hums in response.]

Aye, certainly. I’ve a strong arm, fortunately, I can help. [Probably obvious enough from the fact that he carried around two cutlasses in Hyrule with such casual ease.] What do you need of me?

[lowestclass]

[ he may have been here the whole time, hiding in the shadows, biding his time until the sun rose. Unfortunately, there was little way to tell with jinwoo, what with the way the shadows seemed to cling to him.

Despite that, he looks pleasant enough, his hood down, a smile on his face as he gives his new pirate friend a crooked grin in response.

He'll hand him the watermelon, then go about pulling a few things out from under that long cloak he's always wearing.

A picnic cloth that's a little plasticky...and a solid wooden stick, like a broom handle, but without the brush at the end. ]

To put it crudely, just take the stick and give it as hard as a whack as you can.

Normally, there's a tradition of doing it blindfolded, but... if this is your first time, I'll go easy on you.

The aim is to break it apart as best as you can so we can share it.

[jackdawvision]

[Edward takes the stick, twirls it in his hand with the ease of someone used to deadlier weapons than this.]

Hm. [A pause.] Give me the blindfold, I'll do it fair. With respect to tradition, and all that. [That's funny, considering that he'd been happily shitting on Assassin tradition for years.] Besides, I like a challenge.

[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.

[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?

[lowestclass]

[ okay, so, he's never getting into a fight with you, sir. But he watches with a flash of his eyes as that stick does the job it's meant to--shattering the watermelon near in half, even if it isn't a perfect-even break.

Chunks are here and there, and Jinwoo is pretty quick to scurry in to assess the damage.

He looks pleased. So pleased. ]

--You split it in one hit. I knew you'd be the right person for the job...

[ he's gonna squat down and pick up a broken chunk. And offer it to the other. ]

Now all there is to eat it.

[jackdawvision]

[He pulls the blindfold up and off his head, and gives the stick a fancy little twirl.]

I've cracked harder heads than that. [Usually with swords or an ax he picked up from a fresh corpse.] What sort of tradition is this, anyway?

[Taking the broken chunk and munching on it, then spitting the seeds out to the side.]

[lowestclass]

Haha. I suppose that's a good point. Bokoblin heads are harder than a watermelon...

[ Don't mind if mr. vampire just sits down and pulls up a chunk of watermelon for himself, looking pleased with how things turned out.
Anyone else who may have been watching will be offered some melon as well as Jinwoo looks over--that question being asked making complete sense. Right. ]

--Ah, right. You're from a different world, I am not even sure if you'd have heard about it before.

I grew up in Japan, and when I was a teen, this tradition was called Suikawari.
'Suika' meaning 'melon,' and 'wari' meaning 'to split.'

It was a game thought up by young people, as watermelon could be pretty unwieldy to cut into at the beach--so making a game of hitting it until it split was thought to be far more fun.

To crack it in one hit is impressive.

[crisantemo]

Oh, there you are! I was wondering if you would turn up once the sun set.

[ Lapis, meanwhile, is absolutely dressed for the occasion - having spent most of the day relaxing and helping at the grills. And also very much avoiding going into the water, she was not letting it mess up her hair.

But she clearly perks up when she spots Jinwoo, stepping closer as she takes a look at the watermelon. Considering his words for a moment, before nodding firmly. ]

Mmhm, I can give it a try. Do you want me to use my scythe?

[ Lapis do not summon your scythe at the beach party - ]

[lowestclass]

I'd have loved to have been here when the sun was up, but...

[ he gestures with a hand. You know how he is about the sun.

He gives her a sort of crooked smile; trying not to say something dumb about honestly--how beautiful she looks in her beach outfit. A hand moving to scratch his cheek as he considers the watermelon in his hand. ]

--Hoho. Your scythe would cut it pretty cleanly, wouldn't it...

[ he withdraws a bat from under his coat. ]

I brought this, but. This'd make it pretty messy in comparison...

[crisantemo]

But you still made it.

[ And she's happy about it all the same; it doesn't matter that the sun has started to set. It's not like the gathering is ending anytime soon, and it gives him the chance to have some fun too.

And honestly if he said anything about how she looks she may get embarrassed and she wouldn't be able to blame the sun -

- Though her attention goes to the bat he brings out, considering for a moment. Her scythe does sound like the much cleaner option. ]

So, how does this work? Do you just hit it?

[lowestclass]

[ quite the opposite, much like how Jinwoo came out after the sun set, it's almost like there were others waiting for the day party to end to be part of the night party. The beach is as busy as ever--but Jinwoo is focused on the game of Suikawari he's setting up with Lapis now. A hum in his throat as he straightens up, looking at the melon and wondering if he should warn about a blast radius--he's not sure how lapis might destroy this thing.

He's curious to see, anyway. ]

The point of Suikawari--the watermelon splitting game--is to trade blows back and fourth on the melon with those present until it splits open.

The person who splits it first gets to eat the biggest piece.

[crisantemo]

[ Oh, so it's a game? That makes it a little more interesting. ]

It wouldn't be much of a game if I used my scythe. [ Sure, her scythe will be neater, but... Well, it's also not the fun way either. So she steps back from the watermelon, enough to give him some space as she motions a hand towards it - quietly telling him to go first. ]

Let's see who can split it first. [ And this is where Jinwoo will discover that Lapis, for all her calm, is competitive. ]

[lowestclass]

It'd be a quick game, that's for sure. And you'd get to eat at least half of it by yourself. [ he smirks slowly, giving the bat a few practice swings, considering the melon sat down on the cloth between them. ]

But you're right. It'd be fun to do it the slow and steady way, huh.

[ ...he's really gonna'. Embarrass himself here, he can feel it in his bones. But. Here goes nothing.
Gripping the bat in both hands... he swings it down. Hitting the watermelon with a solid thwock.


....


It bounces, and there's... a clear little dent in the side, where the bat hit, but... ]

[crisantemo]

I'm not even sure I can eat that much... [ But time to find out!

So she stands back as Jinwoo takes a swing, watching as the watermelon bounces and is... Left with a little dent. Hmm. Well, he did say he doesn't have martial experience -

Lapis doesn't comment on it though, instead reaching to take the bat from him - twirling it in her hand for a moment, an absent-minded action before she grips it properly.

When she brings the bat down, there's definitely the sound of a crack - though it doesn't fully split apart. Her strength is mostly in her legs, despite using a scythe, but axe-kicking it isn't part of the game. ]

I think... I cracked it a bit. [ She'll hand the bat back, before taking a peer at the watermelon. Yeah, there's a crack stretching across through the centre but that's it. ]

[lowestclass]

I'm sure we'll make at least a good dent.

[ is this a joke because Lapis put a big crack and a dent through the melon? Maybe. He's smirking a little. ]

You definitely did something there. [ there's a small leak of pink juice starting to creep out over the cloth he'd put down.

Well. His turn again.

He'll take the bat, wind up a swing--

Thump.

The crack grows--and the watermelon definitely starts to split--the image of deep red flesh inside the green skin peeking out.

He clicks his teeth. ]