thenearshore | 012 | The Beach Episode

Entry tags:

012 | The Beach Episode

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

ugly

old

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~

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He should smile. He's grateful for Sora's kindness and he should show it, but the smile simply won't come. He feels hollowed out, cored like a melon until only his skin is left. Even tears won't come, not now.

"Thank you," he whispers, picking up his bag and letting Sora pull him into the temple with Satan trotting at his side. He's so tired, like he's been casting magic non-stop, he just wants to sleep for days. Will Sora have a room for him? He doesn't want to be ungrateful, but he can't stand the thought of sharing a room with someone when all he wants is to wallow in his thoughts alone.

Yurick doesn't have to worry about that. His temple is equipped to house at least five shinki. For the longest time it's only been Sora and Riku Replica. So most of the upstairs is actually empty.

"You can pick a room that you like." Sora says as he takes Yurick inside.

His dream eater is immediately greeting the new puppy like an old friend he hasn't seen in ages, boofing happily and wanting to play.

The temple is also on the smaller side in comparison to other ones. A modest temple with bedrooms upstairs and the sanctuary out back with a koi pond and a garden of herbs and flowers akin to Baldr. The main floor has all the living space as well. Kitchen, den, etc. It looks more like a home than a temple. There's a lot of large windows to let in light.

He feels like he should say more with the way Yurick is looking so sad.

"Do you want to talk about it? Him leaving?"

Yurick is debating if he wants something as far from the others as possible or if he prefers sacrificing distance to have a nice view of the sanctuary when Sora speaks. He flinches at the question, shaking his head after a moment's unpleasant clenching of his heart. There's not much to say right now when he's so confused about how he feels.

Except his worry that he's cursed. Maybe it's because he hid being nora for so long, disrespecting his first god....

Stars, he feels sick. He swallows forcefully, trying and not quite succeeding in steadying his voice. "No, I don't."

Sora frowns lightly and turns to Yurick. He takes a second to pull off his bag and sets it on the floor. There's something echoing here to Sora that he had with Riku Replica. An unwillingness to talk when something was wrong was something that pushed Riku Replica and him farther and farther apart until there was almost nothing left.

"... You can talk to me, you know." Sora says, obvious worry in his tone. "I'm not going to vanish on you."

He won't push, because he's not that sort of person. But that little bit of worry nudges him.

This time, Yurick takes a step back, making a sound like he's been physically struck. It's somewhere between a whimper and a gasp. Is Sora reading his mind? God or not, the idea of it feels like a violation. He doesn't notice he's dropped Satan's leash, the Pomeranian running after Sora's dream eater with the lead dragging behind him.

He wants to slam the doors on his head and heart. He wants to throw up borderlines that will keep everyone out. He has to suffer, but that doesn't mean anyone else needs to suffer with him.

Sora looks a bit startled at that reaction. He tries to smile at Yurick with some gentle reassurance.

"We're partners now, right? If you're my shinki and I'm your god, we can talk to each other. That goes both ways! Because if you're feeling sad or lonely, we're both going to hurt. It's gonna be okay. I just want you to know that."

He means the blight Sora would suffer and the emotional pain that Yurick would. They have to take care of each other in this regard.

Edited (changed the dialogue a bit) 2017-01-17 16:50 (UTC)

He knows he'll blight Sora if he keeps holding this in. It's a terrible way to repay someone who's been kind to him, someone who's giving him a home and stability at a rough time.

But Yurick is afraid. Something in his heart can't handle the thought of more loss and he doesn't want to be pitied. Sora doesn't need the distraction of a shinki in a mental breakdown. Better to harden himself and just be an ally rather than a friend. He schools his face into a stoic mask.

"... I'm fine, Sora. You needn't worry about me, I know you won't vanish. Even if you did, the Heavens will find a use for me."

He doesn't know it, but the sadness that remains in his eye betrays him.

Sora looks up at Yurick and tries to study his expression. Yurick still talks like he's some sort of tool that could just be tossed around if something ever happened to Sora. It makes him sigh loudly and he reaches out to tug on Yurick's hand to start taking him upstairs.

"I'm always going to worry, you're my friend. That's what friends do." He doesn't turn around to look at Yurick as he goes upstairs, taking Yurick with him if he likes it or not.

"The bedrooms all have really big windows so you can pick any one you like! My room is at the end of the hall. Watch out for May, she likes to steal warm spots on beds. Oh, and the the pond out back is cleansing water so if you ever need that it's there. And help yourself to anything in the fridge! I don't... cook that much. I told you about the bear that wanders on the beach sometimes, right? Also Roxas' dogs sometimes run around here too! It's Asteri and Komitis. You've seen Wanwan already, if he ever bugs you you can just push him away."

Sora starts rambling, because he's picking up that Yurick really doesn't want to talk to him. So he'll fill the space rambling happily about his home.

For a split second, Yurick wants to dig in his heels, say he can manage on his own even if it means wandering his god's home looking for a room he likes. But he lets Sora tug him along with his heart aching and uncertainty weighing on his limbs. In the upstairs hall he starts peering into bedrooms, working his hand free of Sora's so he can walk to the windows and take in the view from each. He doesn't want the one right next to Sora, it's too close, but the one at the top of the steps isn't convenient either. He finally settles for halfway between Sora's room and the steps, where there's a nice view of the pond. Water is calming for him.

"This one is fine for now. If I need a change, I'll ask you first." He sets down his bag and starts unpacking his few things, mostly clothing. There's a small roll of delicate tools and a bin the size of a shoebox as well, in addition to a couple of books and a few toys for Satan. "I need to buy more food for Satan, but he should be find otherwise. I do scrimshaw carving but I'll keep that outside since it makes a mess. Is it alright if I hang herbs in here, some of them help me to... to...."

His vision is blurring and his left cheek is wet. Why... why is he.... He keeps his back to Sora, not wanting his god to see such a sight.

Sora moves to lean against the door frame as he thinks about the new arrangement. He's a bit excited to be honest. It's been just him and Riku Replica for so long that he tends to spend most of his time at Roxas' house with his shinki. Sora gravitates to crowds of people. So having one more soul in his temple makes him exited to have more activity in it.

He doesn't notice the tears right away because Yurick is turned away from him but he hears what Yurick is saying.

"You can do whatever you like around here, Yurick. It's your home too. You don't have to ask me to do anything you want. I've got chamomile and lavender all over the grounds and you're more than welcome to line the whole room with it! I bet it'll look really cool and smell really nice."

"That... that sounds wonderful, thank you." His voice is mostly steady save for a small crack, but the fact that he's suddenly quieter might be a tip-off that something isn't completely right. Yurick himself isn't even sure why he's suddenly crying. "I'd like a rosemary plant as well, if possible."

He hears Satan barking playfully downstairs, the sound hitting him in the chest like a blow. His hands are shaking and he quickly clutches them together to steady himself. Kuroko's face drifts into his memory, then Arikado-sama's... is he really going to torture himself with the guilt that their disappearance could very well be his fault? Apparently so. It hurts, even with the friction between him and his former god, the loss like hot needles in his heart.

He has to be strong, for Sora's sake. A god doesn't need a broken, weak shinki. A god doesn't need to be troubled with his little sorrows. Guilt pricks at him. Why is this so hard to hold back? Why does it ache so much it makes him feel sick? What happened in his forgotten past to make him this way?

It's the way Yurick curls in on himself that makes Sora notice not the sting to the back of his hand when Yurick feels that guilty prick. He shakes off the pain and rubs the small black blight mark against his shorts. The pain doesn't phase him.

He walks up to Yurick and puts a hand on his upper arm.

"... I know this is hard. And super scary. But just try to take everything one day at a time. No one is asking you to forget them. And them leaving... that's no one's fault. It just happens sometimes. That's why its good to stay together while we can and enjoy it."

He pauses briefly and then smiles gently. "We can build a little garden if you want? To grow rosemary?"

Of course Sora knows. Yurick curses himself mentally for his weakness and nods, not trusting his voice right away. He doesn't want Sora to see him crying. Swiping at his eye almost angrily with his sleeve, he pulls away from the touch to start putting his things away.

"I'd like that. Thank you for your kindness, Sora."

He turns his head slightly toward his god, though he makes sure it's his blind side so there's no tears to see. "Maybe fighting some ayakashi later will take my mind off things. Do some good, rather than sitting here stewing in my thoughts."

His hand floats in the air where Yurick pulls away for a moment before he moves it to rub the back of his neck.

"That's a great idea! But first is the beach party down by the water today. Do you remember?"

And... He's not missing that for anything. There's a bright smile on his face, his excitement evident.

"That'll help you relax too! Let's go!"

The beach party? He recalls hearing about it-- and he remembers Sora's excitement over the upcoming event-- but since he's not one for parties he'd put it out of his mind. So yes, he'd forgotten about it.

"I hadn't thought about it, but...." How can he refuse? Sora will probably insist, and denying the young god anything at this point will seem ungrateful, but Yurick worries that he'll just be an awkward, sullen wallflower as usual.

Sora might also notice Yurick hasn't unpacked anything resembling swimwear from his meager possessions.

"No buts!" Sora exclaims, his excitement still bubbling. In his opinion a beach party is just the right thing to cheer someone up. He continues to smile.

"It's just for today, and then you can come meet Roxas, Kairi and the others too. It'll be great!"

He does peek at the items Yurick has dug out.

"Got a swimsuit? We can always stop at a shop real quick."

"Swim... what?"

That earns Sora a blank look. Yurick's still figuring out modern clothing, he feels more comfortable in the lightweight leather armor he arrived in, though it earns him some odd looks at times. At least he can find clothes in his preferred colors of deep blue and black.

But he gets the feeling that, one way or another, he's about to be dragged to a party.

"You know! Shorts! Swim wear? Something to swim in!"

Sora turns to leave the room momentarily and there's a clatter of Sora knocking something over before he comes back with a pair of red swim shorts in his hands.

"Something like this?"

So that's what people use for leisure swimming here? Well, he certainly never bought anything that specialized, not when his focus was general survival and everyday wear. He shakes his head slowly.

"I can't say I do. I'm used to things that are much more fitted." Like his leather breeches and those "skinny jeans" he's found are reasonably comfortable.

"Fitted?" Sora tilts his head. Well, luckily Sora was born on a island where everyone swims everyday. So he knows about the type of swimwear that is fitted for fast lane swimming. It's not Sora's style but he knows of them.

"Okay, I think I know what you might like. Let's go shopping real quick. Have you ever teleported before?"

He's not sure if Alucard ever did that to Yurick. Shinki can't but a god can take them with them. Sora's a bit ... teleport happy... sometimes.

"Tele... ported...?"

So that would be a no, then. He'd spent most of his time wandering alone, exploring, or holed up in Xargi's caverns with Satan and his thoughts. The shinki looks a bit nervous. Just what is Sora planning to do?

Sora laughs and smiles. "Don't look so freaked out, Yurick. It's fine."

He haphazardly tosses his shorts over his shoulder to land somewhere behind him and steps up to Yurick and holds out his hand.

"Gods can teleport, and we can take others with us. Just hang on to me and I'll take us to town. We'll be in and out and on the beach soaking up rays of sun in no time."

Yurick takes Sora's hand slowly, still clearly tense. Whatever "teleporting" is, he hopes it's quick and painless. His skin is feverishly hot against Sora's, a byproduct of his innate power, and his hand is shaking a bit.

"As ready as I'll ever be...."

When Yurick takes his hand he notices the warmth and shaking. He really hopes Yurick can come to trust him a little more someday. But only time will tell that. Sora takes his hand in both of his and nods.

"One. Two." And in a blink and flash, they'll be on the busy streets of Akihabara. "Three."

No pain, and barely a blink of time.

Yurick yelps as suddenly they're somewhere else. It's definitely disorienting! The strange, absurdly tall buildings only make him feel more out of place. From the memory of Yurick's death, Sora might realize the shinki is from a time and place where castles and villages were the norm, rather than modern skyscrapers.

As Yurick's head whips about, taking in their new surroundings, he's squeezing Sora's hand tightly.

012 | The Beach Episode

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