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~

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Which god? What sort of miracles?

[He seems suddenly interested. More knowledge in how this place works and who is in it is a good thing isn't it? Though 'miracle god, likes melon soda' isn't particularly helpful just yet.]

My assignment is apparently Anubis now. I'm also glad to have met you.

U-um... I'm, uh, the? [ Heavily emphasized question mark, there. ] Sanae Kochiya, god of miracles.... any miracle...

[ To be fair, it's a question she gets often. Because that who she is, and she didn't replace any god because she already was a god, and she was already a god of miracles. Even though other gods produce miracle like phenomena on their own already ha ha ^haaa

She takes another sip of the melon soda. ] Oh, but Anubis is Egyptian, isn't he? Is your temple a pyramid? [ Sanae, that's stereotyping. ]

You're a native then, not one of the imports like us.

[Or not. It's almost a question, fishing for more details when something very obviously isn't aligning with what he'd already been told. Of course there had been native gods as well, but he hadn't encountered any of them, merely heard about them.]

It is not, no. It's ...

[He pauses, considering. How to describe it?]

Like a temple. Pillars, frescoes. Can you control what miracle you grant?

Oh-- no, I'm not from this world, but I was already a god in my own world.

[ Pillars and frescoes, huh. She's just about to ask him if he sleeps in a sarcophagus when he asks her a question in turn. ] And I can grant whatever miracle you'd like! All it takes is a wish-- and what comes from in here. [ She taps the middle-left of her chest, where her heart would be. ] Ah, but I can't bring any of us home or bring anyone here, so... [ A slight frown. ] Guess I'm not too helpful in the big scheme of things, huh?

I will find a way to return home in due time. Until then there's plenty to find out here.

[Knowledge is power! And he intended to get as much as he could. If this didn't fill an entire set of books back home, he'd eat a hat.

But Xehanort pauses and considers, then raises a hand. Maybe he couldn't go home, but..]

Could you restore memories?

That---... [ A pause. ] I haven't tried, to be honest. And... if I were to be doubly honest, I wouldn't want to.

[ A pause, and she takes a step closer to him, lowering her voice. ] It would be bad news if a shinki regained their memories. If you're new, let me tell you that if their memories are brought up to them, they turn into an ayakashi, and that there's no saving them.

[ It's a bit of a heavy topic to have on the beach, but she continues. ] There are a few instances where shinki regain some kind of memory of their past here and there, but for the most part it's not advised that their past is brought up.

[At that, Xehanort smiles. It's not really an unpleasant one, but there's a slight touch of bitterness to it.]

I understand why the shinki must not. Thinking of it alone makes me uneasy, and there is surely a reason for it.. such as becoming monsters. I ask for myself. I don't believe a god has such a restriction.

---Oh.

[ Well that changes things!

Sanae blinks, and straights up to give them both some room. She takes another sip of her melon soda, and then nods. ] Well, I suppose that in that case, yes, a miracle could work to restore memories.

[ But now she looks at him. ] ---Ah, are you an amnesiac?

[ HOW TERRIBLE!!! ] Do you not remember any of your family and friends or how to even use a spoon?!

[A slight bit of tension leaves him when her protest ends. Maybe it was possible; surely he'd be better off if he could remember anything. He'd set out to simply move forward in spite of it but if there were a way..

... Wouldn't Master Ansem be surprised when he returned?]

I'd be interested in trying then.

[...And then the rest. And he has to pause, and weigh that. It ... wasn't as stupid a question as it sounded at first, since someone with everything gone did have to relearn even the basics.]

I know how to take care of myself. Those who took me in have been most prompt with my education. I don't remember anything from before two years ago. Perhaps I have no friends or family to remember.

Oh-- oh, but surely you do. Or did! [ SHE'S. She's truly moved by his tale.

Nevermind she has no idea what kind of person he is (or was), she now only wants to help him. ] Family and friends, I mean-- and if not then, then right now. [ She motions to herself. ] I'll be your friend. [ Believe it or not, he is not the first to be offered friendship right after meeting them. ]

And because of that-- I'll definitely help you. [ Or try to help him. ]

Possibly. Or I could ... to take something out of a fiction novel, be the last survivor of a decimated people and so on and everyone else is gone.

[He pauses, bemused.]

Which would make my assignment as Anubis exceptionally ironic.

[But no, that didn't feel right. He wasn't sure he'd know anyway, but it didn't really trouble him to think everyone might be gone. There simply was no 'everyone' for him. Her offer of instant friendship is also bemusing.

She was awfully trusting, wasn't she? He makes no reciprocal comment about friendship, he certainly CAN have friends but he preferred to ... know a person a little better than brief conversation. Still..]

Hopefully something can be done then. Even my master could not, yet.

[Though their latest experiments looked so promising..]

Okay....! Okay, let me set my soda down.

[ It's completely informal, as if she's worked many miracles of all sorts before. Which is quite true, what with being a god of miracles to consider them casually, without the need of pomp and circumstance. She takes a step back, closing her eyes.

Her brow furrows determinedly. Even if she's just met him, even if she doesn't know if this will unleash some sort of beast, she's already set on her decision to help someone in need. She raises her hand, ready to perform the miracle. ]

[ BUT NOTHING HAPPENS. ] --....Eh?

[ Another wave of her hand.... and nope. Nothing. ] ...It.

[ A pause. ]

There's... nothing. [ She looks at her hand, then at this white-haired man, and then back at her hand, and then at this man (of whom she still does not know the name). ] Er, um, I... this is a little embarrassing, but-- I don't know how to say this... [ Actually, she's not quite sure what to say at all. Normally there's a sensation, like she's pulling at something, a string, a wisp of wind or light itself, and the miracle falls through to set itself in reality as if it has always been, whether or not it existed before. But here she was pulling for something that supposedly did exist before, and when she pulled at it-- it wasn't there to begin with.

Which may mean that the assumption of its initial existence is in error. ] ............There, um, there aren't any memories to restore...

Let me know if I need to do anything.

[The process is just as interesting as the intended result, and it's obvious Xehanort is paying very close attention. He liked magic. He knew he could do more with it than he currently was, but anything that slid into the realm of the magical was always interesting!

Her process however seems remarkably informal. He simply waits, unwilling to ask questions or possibly disrupt anything.

But nothing.. happens. What was supposed to happen?

The explanation is equally baffling. He doesn't know that he as he was simply didn't exist before he woke up; before that a very different heart was in control and those are now locked and asleep. The only memories he had that were his as he was now .. were the ones he made himself in Radiant Garden.]

There has to be. I knew my name. There are things that seem familiar to me, I just can't place them. Are you certain something didn't go wrong with the process?

[He sounds pretty calm about it really, but he is terribly alarmed. People didn't just appear out of nowhere fully-formed and functional!

The downside of having hearts that weren't truly yet his own. Those seats of memory belonged to other men.]

O-oh, um... [ She seems a bit baffled and flustered herself. This hasn't happened before, and as to what it actually means is something at which she can only guess. ] I...-- [ Another wave of her hand, and nope. Nothing. ]

I'm certain of it. [ She looks at him, distraught. ] I'm sorry, but... If there was something to restore, then it would have been. [ Now if he asked for a miracle to implant someone else's memories in him, then that would be different. But he's not asking for that. ] I, ah, I don't know what it means.

Perhaps it's a power greater than mine, like how this world works to keep us here. [ She'd hate to think that this man has no other memories at all. That would be too sad! ]

[Eventually those hearts' locks would come undone and there would be memories to find.. but not today.

Xehanort draws a slow breath as if to calm himself a little but since he doesn't seem overly distressed it might be a bit out of place. But he was good at not showing how he felt.

How could there not be anything to restore?]

..Perhaps. Or whatever being or accident took them from me erased them so thoroughly that nothing remains to return. The mystery will endure, I suppose. I swore to stop looking back and move forward in spite of it.

[That was better than to try to contemplate nothing ever having been there at all. The other option of course was she didn't have the power she thought she did..

He pauses, then bows. It's awfully formal seeming.]

But than you for trying. I am grateful.

[ Somehow, she feels unsatisfied with leaving the mystery be, but clearly it's out of her hands. ] To move forward.... mm!

[ But she brushes those thoughts aside, and nods at him. ] Agreed-- that's the best course to take, in spite of everything. And, if you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask. [ A pause. ] Anubis, right...? What's your given name?

[His smile is brief and not particularly happy but it was at least something he's used to dealing with.

The reason why seems to have changed a bit though. If only Ansem were here. Surely his wisdom and experience would have SOME kind of suggestion..]

Perhaps when or if I find a way to the bottom of that mystery.

[Which hadn't happened in a couple years and apparently wouldn't now either.]

Yes. [God of deeaatthh.. one of many, which may have something to do with trying to prevent another situation like the recent issues with the dead reviving themselves and causing problems.]

Ah, sorry. Usually my manners are a little better than that, I should have said when you gave me yours. I am Xehanort.

And as I've said before, I'm Sanae. [ She smiles. ] Thank you for the melon soda-- I'll owe you one. [ For someone who's lost his memory, he seems like a pretty decent man. ] And I'm not joking about what I said about friendship. Really, if you have none-- then I'll still be your one friend. Because everyone should have at least one to count on if things get tough. Or for when you'd like to play video games!

[ Friendship means a) being there when needed and b) playing video games, among other things. ]

There's no need for thanks, they were brought just for that purpose.

[Drinking! If other people found them delicious then they could go nuts! He hadn't brought them just so they could sit there. In fact maybe he could get her to take one or two with her when she left. Maybe she had other people who'd enjoy one.

Or a case. Although Xehanort could point out the difference between politeness and friendliness he .. isn't going to. He didn't make friends easily to begin with, at least friendship on his end of the deal, and now was no different, but.. well.

It's better to have allies than enemies.]

I'm going to hope that things don't get tough. Or at least so tough that I can't handle it. Though.. video games?

[He knew what videos were, and what games were..]

Video games, yes! You know, games you can play on the video screen... like Street Fighter or Pokemon! [ She says, happy to explain. ] There are also idol games and dancing games and strategy games, too. There's something for everyone, even the most strict of people!

[ Like her shinki. who she's given the Civilization games to play, otherwise they might have nothing else in common. ] ....Don't tell me-- you come from a world without video games?

[ Le gasp. ]

[..He wasn't sure if he was alarmed or interested about such an idea. PLAYING on a device instead of putting it to work?

Well. She seems awfully excited by it, so it might not be completely terrible an idea.]

Master Ansem prefers we leave the castle's technology to more ... studious pursuits. It's possible they're around, just not where I spent most of my time.

Eh--? [ That definitely sounds like the typical "I have never played video games" phrase that she's heard here before! ] ...Then forget playing volleyball or spending time in the sun, you have to go to a store right now and buy a video game...!

[ She's just a bit dramatic about this. Just a little bit. ]

..But what would I play it on? There's no viewscreens and so on here.

[Be reasonable! ... Wait that might encourage her to drag him off to find just those things.]

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012 | The Beach Episode

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