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]

"Well when I fell asleep in the hall, Fou--that's, uh, Fou's a kind of magical animal? Something like... a little like a squirrel, or maybe a small fox, but white. Anyway, I woke up because Fou found me and started licking my cheek.

"At the orientation though the Director slapped me for falling asleep. She was pretty mad..."

Mad enough to kick Ritsuka off the initial mission, even.

[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."

[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..."

[bebest]

Zulius cants his head because there is clearly some TEA to be spilled here. But given the way Ritsuka says it, he has a feeling it's not the fun sort of tea and he's honestly had his fill of that this month.

"Ohhhhh okay, deffo not a fun campfire story. What else you got?" no wait. "When you say Merlin..."

[prunedworlds]

Oh, there is so much to potentially spill, but it would absolutely ruin the mood right now. Maybe Zulius could ask about it another time, if he's still curious enough.

"I mean like King Arthur's Merlin, yeah." Ritsuka grins a bit. "He's immortal because he's a cambion, and he's helped us out a few times, so I've met him. But he's kind of a slacker, too..."

And apparently someone Ritsuka knows well enough to be perfectly fine trash-talking a little. Does Zulius want dumb Merlin stories? Because she can absolutely provide dumb Merlin stories.

[bebest]

Zulius is always curious. Probably to a level that's unhealthy because oh boy does he sometimes learns things he'd rather not. But that's just one of the pitfalls he has to accept for being a terminal gossip.

"Soooooo there are just. Immortal people. Like story people? That's just a thing?"

He has no idea, he hasn't really discussed this at length with anyone before.

[prunedworlds]

"Well, in my world there are, yeah. Though most of the magical things like gods and phantasmals just live in the reverse side of the world instead of on the surface with humans anymore. Merlin does too technically, but he can sorta get around it."

There's a brief pause as something occurs to her.

"Oh, but most people don't know about any of that, kinda like here. I didn't before I came to Chaldea."

[bebest]

He's just gonna take a moment to digest that. Huh.

"So is he like. Bearded and does magic spells? Does that mean like, King Arthur exists too? And Lancelot? All those guys? Just, y'know. Existing. Like real people? But in secret? "

Secret mythological people?!!

[prunedworlds]

"Actually he usually likes to make himself look like some kind of biseinen, though since incubi are shapeshifters he could look pretty much however he wants, I think."

She could tell a funny story about one time when Merlin's projection was... most definitely not what he'd intended it to be, at that.

"And people like that existed in the past, yeah, but they're not immortal like Merlin, so they would have died a long time ago..."

[bebest]

"Oh, nice. I mean, yeah! If you can make yourself look like anything you want why don't you-"

He pauses again, canting his head to one side.

"And incubi the sexy demons? P.sure those are the sexy demons. So he's like. An immortal sexy demon?"

[prunedworlds]

"Yeah, incubi and succubi can get energy from sex and stuff. Merlin's only half incubus, but he always just calls himself an incubus..."

Because one thing you need to understand about Merlin is, that Merlin is a giant liar.

[bebest]

Zulius lets out a snort at that, prodding the fire a little.

"Well, that's probs to get the... whoever he's interested in into him. You know, trying to make himself look more desirable . Saying he's a full sexy demon instead of only a half one. But hey, good for him. Hope it worked."

[prunedworlds]

That gets a chuckle from Ritsuka because yeah, that'd be pretty on brand for Merlin.

"Well, seeing as he mentioned having a favorite girl he was seeing in his free time when we were trying to save the world..."

She has so much dirt on Merlin.

[bebest]

Oh, if there's one thing Zulius loves above all else, it's delicious, scandalous gossip!!!

"Oooooooh, I love that. Having a favourite, that's adorable. Guess she was a REALLY happy customer."

[prunedworlds]

"I think he must've tried hitting on the ladies at the palace there, too, because when we got there a lot of them were avoiding him."

Merlin is both a wondrous source of potential gossip and also one that Ritsuka does not feel the least bad for talking about. He tends to bring it on himself with his ridiculous antics.

[bebest]

Zulius clucks his tongue, shaking his head softly.

"See, you've gotta get your flirt game right. It;s no good if they don't wanna go near you, that's missing the whole point. Tragic."

[prunedworlds]

"Yeah, you'd think with as long as he's been around he'd know better, but..."

Then again, there's probably a reason that trouble with the ladies became such a famous part of the wizard's legend.

[bebest]

"Buuuuut that doesn't always mean anyone's any wiser," he snorts. "I mean, have you met some of the immortals here? Yeesh."

Common sense was not a life skill most of them possessed.

[prunedworlds]

"I guess getting older by itself doesn't really make people smarter."

Or maybe it's just an immortality thing? Who knows. Ritsuka sure doesn't.

[bebest]

That gets a proper laugh out of him.

"Oh, wow, no, biiiig nope. I know some immortals here who are definitely carrying some serious dumbass energy sometimes. I mean, LOVE them for it, but still!"

[prunedworlds]

"Sounds like you have some fun stories there, huh."

She's not going to insist that he share, but she definitely wouldn't object if he does...

[bebest]

"Ohhhh yeah. Have you met Zhongli? He lives here and is full of it."

Look, Venti already outed them as gods so it's fiiiiine.

[prunedworlds]

"I don't think I have, no..."

Not beyond the general seeing people talking on the network part. Which doesn't really count as meeting, right?

[bebest]

"Oh man, you should give yourself a treat! He's pretty sensible and has serious grandpa vibes, but he's so dumb sometimes," a beat. "But he's also like, a genuinely nice guy. Like one of the best people here. Don't tell him I said that."

[prunedworlds]

That earns a laugh from Ritsuka.

"What, you don't want him to know you care or something?"