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

[skepticstarbuck]

Those are the monsters they mentioned?

[She wrinkles her nose dubiously.]

I haven't seen them yet, but this whole explanation seems fishy from the start. First, people don't turn into gods, second, I'd like to know why if I'm dead I can still get blisters from a cheap lighter, third, I've clearly suffered enough head trauma to have complete retrograde amnesia and I could very well be hallucinating.

[She's not a neurologist, but she still knows that's a shaky argument. A brain scrambled that badly would have more deficits than memory and convincing, consistent, ongoing hallucinations. Maybe there are drugs involved.

As complicated as the explanation has to get, it still sits better with her than monsters, gods and ghosts.]

[adventurology]

They are. And I promise, they're quite real.

[Lara reaches up and touches her cheek, a small cut from a few days ago still pink, a reminder of the spider in the hospital.]

That much, I know is true. But you're right. People don't turn into gods, not without a hell of a lot more questing going on. And only if you believe certain legends. I'm an archaeologist and I know a dozen 'godmaker' tales from all over the world. Heaven doesn't just hand out power like that without a price. They've given us something though.

As for the blisters and amnesia, I'm afraid I have no good answer. I'd say that you're probably overthinking it. It's probably just amnesia, but a shared hallucination like this with so many people is improbable. I know hallucinogens and this is too mundane to be one, too, if you're thinking it's a drug.

[Lara's no neurologist either, but she knows enough to get herself into trouble. Especially when it came to hallucinogenic drugs. After Siberia and 'Baba Yaga' she'd done her research, and this wasn't that.]

[skepticstarbuck]

That doesn't rule out a psychotic episode. [All right, she's starting to doubt her own explanations here, and her tone is stubborn enough to give away the fact that she's just trying to come up with some kind of rational explanation. Any kind.]

... Anyway, I don't know that everyone here is sharing the same hallucination. You could be a figment of my imagination.

[Dryly, she adds:] No offense.

[adventurology]

[Lara's reply is equally dry, a trickle of amusement there.]

Awfully solipsistic of you, Dana. [But she does have a point. Poor thing, she must've been a hard skeptic in her life.]

In any event, you're here now and you're probably not psychotic. Also you...might want to get those hamburgers started. Your fire's caught on well.

[skepticstarbuck]

Am I a butterfly dreaming that I'm a dead woman on a beach grilling hamburgers?

[She glances back at the fire. Lara's right, the coals are glowing encouragingly, and she spends a few seconds transferring her hamburgers to the hot grill.]

So much for philosophy. For a figment, you're very nice, Lara. Thank you.

[adventurology]

You could very well be. One of those great mysteries, eh?

[Lara reaches over to her own grill, grabbing some tongs and yanking off a few bits of roasted pork and beef of her own.]

And thank you. I do try, and apologize profusely that you're dreaming of me and not Prince Charming.

[skepticstarbuck]

Prince Charming is probably overrated, anyway.

[She pokes one burger with the corner of her spatula.]

Although I hear I'm supposed to have a god running around here somewhere.

[adventurology]

Probably. Not me, though. I'm supposed to find someone named Felicia.

[Shrugging, Lara swept her gaze across the crowd, wondering just which one was her new partner.]

You know about name? Perhaps I can direct you.

[skepticstarbuck]

They told me it's "Coeus." Greek, I think, not that it makes much difference.

[She looks around at the crowd, too. Felicia must be Lara's ... shinki, then.

If she's going to pretend this is real, she might as well start with this god and shinki business. That might be the best thing to do. After all, she doesn't have evidence one way or the other, and while she's looking for it, she doesn't have any better place to start than responding as though what she sees and hears is really there.]

[adventurology]

Coeus. One of the Titans I think. I unfortunately don't know them, but I should probably make an effort.

[She huffs a sigh, still scanning the crowd, then takes a quick bite of one of her leaf-wrapped meat strips. Chewing thoughtfully, she keeps quiet, considering the exchange with Dana. Thought provoking to say the least, but pleasant enough.]

I've given to understand that most pantheons do tend to stick together, but the Greek one seems a bit spread out. I've only met one of my 'siblings' so far.

[skepticstarbuck]

Well, I wouldn't expect you to know each other. Wouldn't Coeus be Athena's...

[She looks up, searching for memories of Greek mythology. Those are faded, but intact, even when all of the personal memory that should surround them is gone. Was she in a class? Was she an enthusiast? She has no idea, but she knows that the Titans are Zeus's parents, and Zeus is Athena's.]

... great-uncle, anyway?

Frankly it's a little surprising that there are all these ancient Greek gods in Japan.

[adventurology]

Something like that. The Titanomachy isn't really my specialty.

[Admittedly, she was much more interested in it now, because of her association with the Pantheon, but she's just a stand in.]

And is it really so surprising? Western tales have spread throughout the world. There are Norse and Mesomerican and Slavic gods as well. I'm not really sure I understand all the implications, but there are certainly more than a few cultures represented here.

[skepticstarbuck]

You don't think it's surprising? Why Japan? Why aren't you in Greece, or the Nordic countries, or Mexico?

[She frowns, thinking.]

[adventurology]

Well, aside from the fact that Amaterasu brought us here? This whole setup positively screams Shinto. Pan-animism, little gods for everything, cooperation between pantheons?

[skepticstarbuck]

I don't know a lot about comparative religions, but I'm still stuck on the fact that Athena is Greek. Unless you're the--

[Scully waves a hand in the air helplessly and looks down at her burgers. They're starting to char; she works the spatula under each in turn and flips them as she continues talking.]

... The Shinto version of Athena?

[None of this even makes any sense, and she's starting to feel a little like she needs to say fifty Hail Marys for having this conversation at all.]

[adventurology]

I really don't have an answer beyond Amaterasu? But even then, I have to wonder where Izanagi is, if that's the case.

[She waves her hands helplessly, not really knowing how to answer that question.]

In any event, I'm sure it'll all make more sense to both of us in time. I've only been here a few days myself. Still learning my way 'round, as it were.

[skepticstarbuck]

You're probably right.

[She pokes a hamburger despondently with her spatula.

Worst barbecue ever. Even if it's improved slightly now that her grill is actually lit.]

Either it'll make more sense after I sleep on this, I'll wake up back home somewhere, or I'm going to have to do a lot of reading in the morning.

[adventurology]

[It is a bad day to be cooking, what with the whole dead thing.

Still...]

I'm sure it'll make more sense soon enough. [She nods to her station.]

If you need anything, I'll be here. And after, too.

[skepticstarbuck]

... Thanks.

[She means it. She doesn't know anything about this place, anything about herself, anything about the god she's stuck with, even... so she's going to need someone on her side.]