012 | The Beach Episode

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Beach party
When: All day June 5
Where: The beach
Summary: A beach party for all of the Far Shore residents

[01-27 Edit: Continue your threads at the overflow post to evade captcha!]



There were certainly a lot of broken hearts and emotional roller coasters recently, so the Heavens have decided it's time to allow their people to let loose and have some fun for a little while. Through some magic - or possibly just a lot of money - they have managed to rent out an entire private beach for the event so that they won't be interrupted by any Near Shore residents. The beach is beautiful and well-maintained, the ocean goes for as far as the eye can see, and rocky outcroppings offer a handy place to dive into the water on a test of courage.

It's a beautiful summer day, perfect for swimming and cracking watermelons and playing some beach volleyball. There's even some soft music permeating the air so that nothing is every silent on this fun-filled day.

New arrivals, after having been met at the Meeting Hall, would have been immediately redirected to this party. After all, they should be enjoying themselves as well.



Swimwear

Anyone who doesn't have swimwear will be provided with swimwear to fit their needs. Unfortunately, the Heavens don't have access to a lot of swimwear, so you'll likely wind up with something ugly, something old, or something just plain weird.

Playful Fish

The sea critters are excited about the party too. They're happy to swim up to anyone in the water and will even come up to the shallows to take a look at the fun happening on the shore. Toe nibbling and brushes of scales are in your future, so you'd better get used to the idea if you plan on being in the water.

Barbecue

Some basics have been provided, but everyone has been asked to bring a little something to the barbecue as well if they can. So you're more than welcome to grab one of the many grills and start frying things up. Heck, there are even fishing poles available if you feel like hauling in a few of those friendly fish to grill. Additionally, summery drinks have been provided, including iced tea, lemonade, water, and horribly fruity cocktails.

After Dark

Just because the sun is down doesn't mean that the party's stopping! The barbecue will continue well into the night, lit now by the stars and a huge, roaring bonfire. The bonfire is maintained by Amaterasu's shinki and climbs higher than any bonfire has the right to. Also, there are floating lights in the water so that people can continue swimming now that it's dark. And if you happen to get too drunk to go home, don't worry. A white-clad shinki will be happy to put you back to bed at the end of the night. Additionally, some sparklers and small bottle rockets have been provided for your entertainment.

In Summary:

• Get some sun
• Go for a swim
• Make sure you're in a swimsuit
• Enjoy the food and activities
• Don't drown
• Have fun~

Comments

[brynwieldr]

[Leo just stares before dropping the parasol and hugging Takumi]

You. You remember me. Thank the gods, you aren't a shinki!

[That lasts for about two seconds before he remembers himself and pulls away, grabbing his parasol and trying to ignore how he lost himself there in the excitement]

Um. Yes. Long story.

[tacomeme]

[the hug is short enough that Takumi barely has time to tense up in surprise before it's over. He's seen his friend BE hugged: by his sisters, by Sakura and Forrest. But never hug someone himself. It's enough of a surprise that when Leo stands again Takumi clasps his upper arm. As if to offer reasurrance- though from what he couldn't even begin to say.]

I hope it's a good one. Otherwise I'd assume the sun finally cooked your pasty Nohrian brain.

[brynwieldr]

Yes, I know, I'm whiter than snow.

[Really, the pasty jokes are getting old. He returns the grasp before gesturing to his little chair-sunshade-and-book set up not far]

Over here. You'll want to sit down.

[tacomeme]

[Takumi nods, following easily enough. He too is dressed for the beach: simple blue trunks and his hair done up in a tight braid. Both provided by his glassy eyed shinki]

Anything you can tell me would be great- I only got a messenger and a servant that looks blanker then a Faceless to explain... pretty much anything about this Deeprealm.

[brynwieldr]

...you know, I didn't consider this being a Deeprealm, mostly because this world is so unlike our own. Hm.

[Interesting]

The servant, I imagine, is your shinki. Welcome to the Far Shore, Takumi. You're a god.

[tacomeme]

[Takumi pulls a face like he just bit into something rotten]

And here I hoping they were just insane.

Anyways, I was reading a book- I'll dig it up for you once this is all over- that suggested that the further you get from where you started in the Deeprealms the stranger they get as they start reflecting each other instead of the starting point. Like a game of Whispers- everything it's repeated it's a little different? If that's true we're lucky it's not talking squid at this point.

... though I mean, it's all conjecture.

[have you missed this high level nerdery, Leo?]

[brynwieldr]

Oh, I've read that one. This world almost makes too much sense for it to be a far Deeprealm, however. It's incredibly strange, yes, but the world's internal logic seems more or less consistent. The magic here is too strange to be at all based on our magic, anyway, and I think that book mentions that all magic must remain constant regardless of distance from the starting point.

[tacomeme]

[He scoffs, tilting his chin up in a familiar guesture]

The theory and basic effects stay consistent- there's nothing saying our perceptions of it can't change.

[brynwieldr]

[He rolls his eyes]

As a master class dark knight, trust me when I tell you this is not based on our magic by any stretch of the imagination. Our magic still works here, provided we have a tome, but the basis of this world is something only vaguely similar to ours. Trust me, I've been here a while now.

[tacomeme]

[He looks about to argue on principle... then sighs]

Well you are the mage here.

[only Takumi can make conceding sound like an insult. Though his smile holds no malice.

...until he seems to realize something]

Wait. How long HAVE you been here? Gods, Sakura must be having a fit.

[brynwieldr]

Several months, but why would Sakura be having a fit?

[tacomeme]

[he narrows his eyes at Leo in a way he hasn't since they became friends]

That's kinda a cold way to talk about your wife, Prince Leo.

[brynwieldr]

[Leo just stares at Takumi for a good minute before shaking his head]

I...I am single. I haven't had time to court anyone, Takumi, not with the war and the aftermath and then arriving here. Your sister is a wonderful young woman, of course, but I haven't had time to even consider who I might marry back home.

[tacomeme]

...

That's impossible. I was there, Leo. I've held your son.

[brynwieldr]

I promise you, Takumi, I am not married.

[Wait.]

Son? You mean Forrest? Looks scarily like me, blond, wears dresses?

[tacomeme]

Everything except for the blonde part. At least SOMETHING took after Sakura, otherwise I'd think you magic'd yourself a doppelganger and my sister was just your cover

[brynwieldr]

I assure you, I would never do that. If you don't believe me, though, Forrest is here and is blond. I didn't know him when he first arrived, though honestly it is a bit disturbing how much he looks like me with long hair. I couldn't argue with that, when he introduced himself.

[tacomeme]

[He sighs]

I know you wouldn't do that, not really.

[He still, even now, finds himself thinking the worse of the Nohrians sometimes. But:]

You saved my life in that damn canyon, Leo. So if you say that's the truth, I'll believe it.

[he huffs]

Still sounds like something out of a story though.

[brynwieldr]

That isn't even the half of it. I was excited you remembered me, yes?

[He sighs]

Niles and Elise are here as well, but as shinki. A shinki is...someone who died, previously, and was brought here to be the weapon of a god. And they have no memories of their past life. At all. My baby sister and my closest friend don't remember me beyond what has happened here.

[tacomeme]

Wait, your retainer and... Elise?!

Elise is dead?!

[It had taken him a long time to warm up to the youngest Nohrian royal, but she had a way of digging in deep]

[brynwieldr]

[Leo nods, and for the first time in...ever, really, he lets himself show an emotion and just sort of curls up on himself a little. Only a little]

She is, and I can't find her god to ask who killed her--a god will see the death of their shinki once they're named. I know what happened to Niles, as he's my shinki. He died in an assassination attempt the last night I remember being at home. But someone killed my sister and I don't know who.

[He sighs]

And Niles hates me, but that's my fault.

[tacomeme]

Niles is a good retainer.

[Dying to protect their lord's life was an honorable act- Takumi might not like Niles much, but he never doubted his devotion to Leo.

As for Elise- gods, he can picture the impotent rage he must be feeling. The inability to even grieve because he doesn't know what happened. It would drive Takumi mad.

Had, in another time and place. He scoots closer and puts a hand on Leo's shoulder. Takumi's not great at this kind of thing, but he can be here at least]

We'll figure it out.

[brynwieldr]

[He nods]

I just want to know why Elise? Why Niles? Why any of this, but I'll settle for the answers to those two questions, for now.

[And then he sighs]

I should introduce you to Hijikata. He's much like us--always thinking, never satisfied with answers given.

[tacomeme]

I dunno, the last one might answer all of them.

[He mutters, mind wandering down pathways. He didn't have enough information yet, but for his friend's sake he'd start hunting it down]

And oh? Sounds Hoshidan.

[he smirks slightly]

[brynwieldr]

Actually, it's "Japanese". We're near the country of Japan, here, which is very similar to what I know of Hoshido, just futuristic. Hijikata, before coming here as a god, lived several centuries ago in Japan.