37B - Beach Episode: Electric Boogaloo

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone!
What: Beach Party Reward!
When: April 8-10
Where: Honolulu, Hawaii
Summary: Orihime has persuaded the Heavens to grant the Far Shore denizens a reprieve. The people spoke and asked for a beach vacation!






The Far Shore has managed to rent out an entire private beach for the event so that they won't be interrupted by any Near Shore residents. The rented beach is beautiful and well-maintained, at Sand Island State Recreation area, not too far from a certain temple, overlooking the bay and Honolulu itself, depending on the side you're on. The party stretches to all the way around the island so that you can look out over the ocean waves as well.

It's a beautiful late spring day, perfect for swimming and cracking watermelons and playing some beach volleyball. There is a hut with snorkling gear (shallows only) and surfboards too! There's even some soft music permeating the air so that nothing is every silent on this fun-filled day.

You Need Only Ask Permission

Not knowing how to decide which of many beaches to suggest before Amaterasu, Orihime asked her dear friend Fuujin for advice, and of course he suggested the Daijingu Temple of Hawaii. (It's a temple dedicated to him, and one he visits fairly frequently.)

Getting down to Honolulu is treated like a simple affair by Orihime. She tells people that they only have to go to Fuujin's temple in the Far Shore, ask for permission to use it to travel to one of his temples on the Near Shore, and one of his shinki will grant permission on his behalf while he silently watches in the Far Shore. (A satisfied smug look on his face, mainly directed at the new gods, less so the shinki.) His Exemplar, Kaede, will smile and wave as she watches the parade of people exit on the other side in Honolulu, at the Daijingu Temple.

Of course, if you would prefer not to indulge Fuujin and you have another way to get to the party, you're welcome to do so!

Swimwear Strikes Again

Anyone who doesn't have swimwear will be provided with swimwear to fit their needs before leaving the Far Shore, courtesy of Lord Fuujin's memory of how well the Far Shore residents enjoyed their swimsuits last time. 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.

Picture Perfect

How enchanting are the people posing for all those cute pictures? The Heavens would greatly appreciate proof that the event was a similar hit, so they've asked Orihime to bring back picture evidence of the festivities. Whether you post the picture to the BBS or not, can you get a cool shot while surfing? While eating your favorite treats? While building sand castles? Playing beach games? Possibly a series with a common theme? Make it a challenge with your friends! Maybe that perfect picture isn't something your friend wants to hand over... Feel free to go to great lengths to find that perfect picture.

Barbecue Bonus

This time, more than the basics have been provided, but anyone is welcome to bring a little something to the barbecue as well if they so choose. A wide assortment of fish, a fair bit of chicken, and some beef have all been provided by Orihime and transported by Fuujin's shinki, but it's clearly all been locally procured. 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 fish to grill. Additionally, summery drinks have been provided, including iced tea, lemonade, water, and horribly fruity cocktails. By evening, small desserts on trays will also be brought over, including such Hawaiian specific treats (in bite-sized portions) as Passion Fruit Cheesecake with Toasted Macadamia Nuts, Chocolate haupia pie, and Poi mochi.

Come Join Us!

All of those activities aren't as fun alone! Whether you're preference is swimming, snorkling, or surfing; beach volleyball or sand castles; cracking watermelons or maybe even... games involving other kinds of spirits! Start things off and welcome others in!

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

[priforprince]

[ ....As long as she cleans up, all is well. Hibiki pulls herself up, accepting a handkerchief when another spygoat arrives with one.

And not by rolling along the sand, either. This handkerchief was delivered especially for Maa-ster by a spygoat surfing on a small drone.

Hibiki thus duly cleans herself off and then sips her tea. Right. Chris is fit for the presence of a celebrity now. And she is calm. She is. Yes. She is. ]

Had there been a point to your posturing?

[trustheart]

It's not posturing. I just get enthusiastic about eating. But if it bothers you that much I'm gonna save myself a headache.

[She starts on her ear of corn again, making more effort to eat less ravenously this time.]

[priforprince]

Do so from the start, and all shall be well.

[ YOU DIDN'T THINK YOU COULD ESCAPE CHANGING YOUR BEHAVIOR WITHOUT AN "I TOLD YOU SO" FROM SHIKYOIN HIBIKI, DID YOU

GENIUS PERMITS NO SUCH ESCAPE ]

Dear me. And this is what this puniverse calls a "god"....

[trustheart]

[Chris lets out a weary sigh, setting her food down.]

Look, Shikyoin, I know you're trying to do the "stone polished by adversity" thing, but senpai said to try and get along with you. And we're on vacation. Can't we just talk about how each of us are doing?

[priforprince]

Hmph. I remain flawless as ever.

[ Flawless, and very picky about the foods she's resuming choosing. Nothing that might make a mess. Unlike certain other people.

...But. All has been amended, so she'll let that go (until it would benefit her to bring it up again). A smug little smirk graces her features. Composure: regained. Recovery from revolution: apparent??? ]

No report necessary.

[trustheart]

Sure. You're like sterling steel, aren't you?

[The tone is just sharp edged to not be a total compliment on Chris's part.]

But... good. I'm glad you're doing better. It would have been a shame if that show you put on was your last performance.

[She grinned.]

I need you to be at your best if my debut is gonna outshine you enough, after all.

[priforprince]

[ Heh. Now who's polishing through adversity?

But not to fear. Shikyoin Hibiki only calls people's bluffs when it suits her. The mere security she gains from the knowledge she has seen straight through them (particularly if they themselves don't realize this fact) is enough to please her. ]

Amending your metaphor is in your best interest. Preparing to challenge anything less than a diamond will leave you rusting in the shadows.

[ And there. Her last choice of food, arranged beautifully on this plate. Someone could paint a still life of Hibiki's lunch and sell it for a prillion bucks. It's that gorgeous. ]

Though my charms are already more impregnable than that.

[ ....she's um

she's not wrong

she literally busted a diamond by singing, twice

she's that good

pripara ]

[trustheart]

[Chris simply shrugged.]

You think you're a diamond, huh? I have to admit, you were shining up there.

[Maybe Hibiki has seen right through her. But Chris has never really been good at hiding her emotions, even when she tries so, so, so hard to do otherwise.]

But that's just gonna make me try harder. I don't lose to people, Shikyoin.

[priforprince]

Perhaps thus far.

[ Hibiki is very good at being very unconcerned about Chris's posturing. Come this point, she enjoys it. People who aren't chomping at the bit to compete aren't nearly as entertaining when they clash.

Here comes a spygoat, to accept the plate of food. ] My objective is accomplished. Do take care not to lose sight of your own.

[ because hibiki getting lunch is definitely comparable to chris challenging a god of fortune to the thing she is god of

nah, there's no contest

hibiki's lunch is objectively the most important thing ever ]

[trustheart]

... Your objective? [Chris regards the spygoat.] Are you talking about your lunch?

[A pause as Chris thinks about this statement, before she lets out a heavy sigh.]

You know what? Never mind. That makes perfect sense.

[priforprince]

I look forward to seeing how you choose to assail the unassailable.

[ Two drones buzz over. One is large enough to accommodate Hibiki, and lowers itself to facilitate easy boarding. The other one is smaller. It is for the goat.

This sure is a thing that is about to happen. ]

[trustheart]

...

[Chris doesn't respond to that first part, she simply stares at what's happening in front of her.]

The fuck is going on?

[priforprince]

[ The smallest drone skims almost to the ground. The spygoat concentrates very hard, then wiggles itself up atop the drone's levitating surface. The plate of food slides, but does not topple: safe!

Hibiki, for her own part, hops backwards without so much as checking the larger drone's location. And nails the landing. Genius, you see. ]

The nightengale's singing voice suits you far better than such profanity!

[ AND GOAT AND MAA-STER LIFT OFF. TO SWOOP INTO THE SKY. BACK TOWARDS THE GIANT BOAT ANCHORED OUT ON THE HORIZON.

HA HA HA! HA HA HA HA HA! ]

[trustheart]

[Chris watches this happen, the same expression on her face the whole time, until Hibiki gets too far away for her to accurately track.

... Once that happens, she looks at her remaining food, and slowly pushes it away. She takes out her phone, and immediately texts Tsubasa:]

Senpai. I just saw Shijyoin and one of her goats fly away on drones.

I may be hallucinating.