A much deserved vacation day!

[itookashot]

Who: The Free Cities Summoned
What: Beach Party Episode, aka the Summoned take a break and enjoy the new portal
When: June 6thish, post Nocwich weekend. We can timey wimey it folks.
Where: Aquila!



[ooc: these are just suggested prompts, please feel free to roll with any ideas you have! Thanks to Hannah for sharing the code. Descriptions about Aquila are taken from the settings page here and credited to the mods. A player-made Pinterest mood board was created here for inspiration, but keep the world of Abraxas in mind for the reality.]

The Aquila Portal / Time to Go!

An invite shows up on the network from Jesper Fahey to the Free Cities Summoned stating the following:

Hey everyone, I managed to score funds from our money makers to have a group outing through the Aquila portal. We deserve it, don't you think? We did vote it into being after all. So get out your beach day clothes (or lack thereof) and meet at 9 AM tomorrow. If you come later, I'll let the portal people know the list allowed. They've got chairs and such to rent there, so don't worry if you don't have anything helpful.

Let's party like we're in the Horizon! If you need some extra cash while there I know the people to beg.

PS - No arguing, Crows. (That means you Kaz.)

True to his word, Jesper will be waiting at the newly opened portal to mark the Summoned so they're allowed to get through with the money he's collected. He'll smile and wink at them as they go through. He is dressed casually himself for this outing and in high spirits. Summoned can meet up here and go through together if they'd like or maybe be persuaded if they're not really sure about it.

Welcome to Aquila!

Aquila is the world's fastest-growing economy and the scenery in Aquila is also considered some of the most beautiful, with both the mountains and beaches of Andromeda Bay nearby, making it a popular destination for vacationers.

The beach may be exciting, but it isn't the only part of Aquila to enjoy! The massive public market takes up most of the city's center. Anything you might want can be found here. Countless booths and stalls and carts fill the town's center, and traders from all across the nation congregate to offer their wares. From raw materials such as fabrics, dyes, exotic wood and stones, to finely crafted artisan everything. Furniture, clothing, foodstuffs, weapons, art, magical oddities, it's all here. The market opens at sun-up and shuts down sometime after sunset - plenty of sellers will linger, hoping for one last sale of the day.

Art and fashion thrive in Aquila. Studios and galleries of art are scattered all over the city and artists sketching or painting out on the streets or on the nearby beaches are a common sight. This is the time to go looking for new clothes as seamstresses and tailors are all looking to outdo themselves and create the next big fashion statement.

But if it's the beach fun you're looking for ....

Fun in the Sun!

It's more crowded than usual in Aquila thanks to the emergence of the portal, but the Summoned will manage to camp out their own area on the right side of the beach and have freedom to enjoy themselves alone. Nearby one of the entrances of the beach is a local business called The Wave Palace. There people can buy or rent chairs, cloth to sit on, hats, and other beach items to feel more comfortable.

Once settled onto their spot on the beach, the Summoned can enjoy a full day of various activities to either relax or be active. They can swim or race to see who is the better swimmer, do the same on a sand race, and head up to a popular nearby cliff that is perfect to jump off of. Challenge each other to the perfect dive or laugh if someone ends up belly-flopping.

Anyone can lounge comfortably in the sun or maybe they want to get creative and build sandcastles. They can rent bowls and sticks and other instruments at the shop to gather sand correctly. Maybe your castle is remarkably impressive or dismal at best, but the point is to have fun. If you're feeling mischievous you can bury a friend in sand, or even a stranger if you want to test fate. You can find rocks or shells to collect and bring home as a reminder of the trip here.



There is a bar down the beach called The Wave Crash Pub where people can sit and listen to live music or carry drinks back to their chair. At some point in the day, someone suggests playing a game of volleyball or something similar, and a net and ball can be found to set it up. Test your might against each other and no cheating! (Just kidding, cheat away.)



As the day comes to a close, stay long enough to watch the sunset together or do some night swimming to cool off. When it's time to go home, don't forget to either return your rented items or decide to buy it. See if you can convince a friend to get a keepsake or ask their opinion of one on the way out. Hope you all had fun in this beach day episode!

Comments

Abby Littman

[everybodysterrible]

A. Whiter Shade of Pale

Surprising to some, Abby is remarkably covered considering how regularly her outfits show off her her arms whenever she has the option. Of course, a day on the beach, with skin like her’s, she’s not going to turn herself into a lobster just for people to ogle. She also has sunglasses and a big floppy hat with her when she’s not under an umbrella, tree, or awning.

Which is where she spends most of the day. Either watching people enjoy the water, or watching people enjoy being with each other. She has a book, which she isn’t reading. It is there to anchor her bag to the towel she’s on. She does look fairly bored and disconnected so she’s probably up for talking to anyone who comes her way.

B. Sandcastles in the Sand

Once Abby bores of sitting and watching, she starts a modest sandcastle project. It started as a four tower with walls between them. But she has doubled the height of each tower, then added more towers and expanded the castle to a large walled garrison roughly three feet by three feet, taking delicate care not to destroy any of it.

She’s really gotten focused on the project she’s set herself, which combined with her burgeoning magic means various parts of the walls and towers glitter in the sun. More than normal. Like she’s buried small gemstones in the walls. Be wary, Abby’s glitter has a habit of sticking to people that break her creations.

C. Summer Nights

Once the sun has started to set Abby has ditched her shirt and goes with just the bikini top and shorts. She’ll be a lot more gregarious and open to chat now that she feels more comfortable moving around. Firelight and darkness are far more her speed than the bright glare of the sun.

She even goes swimming, ditching her shorts as close to the water as she can to head in for some night swimming. She is wearing a bikini bottom under them. Although she won’t be leaving the water with anyone she knows around. Rushing as fast she can to her towel when she’s ready to get out.

A;

[shadowthief]

Inej has donned a a skirt cover-up to pair with her emerald suit to wander the beach in when she's not actively swimming or bathing like a cat in the sun.

Right now, she's in search of some shade, and she spots Abby perched under an oversized umbrella. "Abby, mind some company?"

steve rogers | ota

[assembles]

welcome to aquila

[ When it comes to reprieves, Steve doesn't think there's much of a contest between that gala that was put on and a Summoned-organized beach trip. The portal to Aquila is something that came about because of Sam, Claude, and Jayce's efforts, and that's reason enough for him to be here. But it's not even a matter of him being forced, this time — who's going to say no to some rest and relaxation by the ocean?

It's a far sight from the few times that he and Bucky had scraped together enough money to go to the beach when they were kids, especially since the sights here beat the rocky gray shorelines from home. This is a lot more tropical.

Before making it down to the water, Steve does spend some time wandering around Aquila itself, peeking into the art galleries, watching street artists at work, and taking in some of the scenic views. In the latter case, he has a more discerning look on his face, as if he's searching for some kind of artistic inspiration himself.

He's already dressed for a beachside town, with a loose button-up shirt, a pair of shorts, and sandals. ]

fun in the sun

[ By eleven AM or thereabouts, Steve does head down to the sand and makes his first stop The Wave Palace, where he spends some hard-earned coin on a swimsuit and a few beach supplies — just a towel and some enchanted sunscreen, to keep things simple. He's not interested in the more vintage looks that involve a striped one-piece suit, he's not quite that old-fashioned, but he does find a pair of swim sport shorts and a tank top that match the style of his day.

It's a bit nostalgic, really, though he definitely didn't have the physique to pull this off back when he saw people running around in this sort of style.

That's neither here nor there, though. After changing, his bare feet skim over the sand and he lays out his towel not far from the water. He's got a small bag of snacks that he brought with him from the Sarstina, and if someone settles near him, he'll greet them with a crooked smile and offer something, whether it's nuts or some pretzels or a piece of fruit. ]

Don't forget to stay hydrated. [ He's got a waterskin with him too, which he drinks from regularly.

Not soon after that he'll take out a tube of the enchanted sunscreen and start applying, though he might request that someone help him with his back — once the tank top inevitably comes off. That, or he'll offer his supply to anyone who looks like they forgot to bring some. ] You don't want to end up with a sunburn — believe me.

[ It won't be long before he rises up to his feet, stretches, and then nods toward the water. ] Anyone want to take a dip? [ He didn't come here just to sunbathe, after all, and he's eager to actually go for a swim. More than that, he might eventually start eyeing up the nearby cliff when he sees some locals leaping from it into the water below. As a natural thrill-seeker, it's not hard to miss the flash of interest on his face.

Whenever the volleyball net gets set up, it won't be that hard to coerce him into a game, though he'll look a little incredulous depending on who's asking. ] Are we doing this one-on-one, or with teams?

wildcard

[ I'm pretty much up for anything! Grabbing drinks at the pub, sand castles, burying a friend in sand/being buried, and anything else under the sun. (Har har.) Hit me up at demonology / demonology on Disco if you wanna plot anything, but you can also just wildcard me and I'll happily roll with it. ]

sun....sunscreen...

[techmaturgy]

I'm sorted, thank you.

[Viktor is under a comically large umbrella, in a comically floppy hat, with a light coverup around his shoulders and dark lenses on his face. The smudge of white across his nose indicates that yes, he has already applied sun protection in ample quantities for reasons that are probably obvious.

He will, however, peer over his sunglasses to give Steve something of an appraising look, as if determining the degree of coverage.]

You missed a spot.

[Where is the spot? He will not say.]

volleyball baby

[theidlemaiden]

[ Among the things that Hilda doesn't enjoy, being very hot and sweating are included on that list. It's any wonder then that she's even inclined to understanding more about what volleyball.

The answer probably lies in the novelty of it; it's not something that they had in Fodlan after all. Or at least, that's the excuse she's running with when she approaches Steve with a volleyball tucked under her arm.

Her large sunhat has been left behind with her belongings, revealing the two little buns atop her head. She still doesn't look ready for a volleyball match with Steve though what with her sunglasses and oversized dress shirt that's still draped over her swimsuit. ]

I was just thinking that we could play together. I heard you knew how to and figured why not learn from one of the best teachers around?

[ Don't ask too many questions, Steve. This isn't out of character at all. ]

art dorks in aquila

[aquilus]

[Altaïr would never consider himself an actual artist — he's a dabbler at best — but the locals are welcoming enough, perhaps because they can sense little competition, and he's enjoying working on a sketch of the nearby promenade. It's half-done when he spots Steve, broader outlines of the architecture in place and waiting for further detail work.

He waits for the man to draw close enough before he raises a hand in greeting; judging by the distracted looking on his face, Steve wouldn't have noticed it sooner.]

Good morning. Looking for anything in particular?

cliff jumping gimme

[philancer]

Looks like fun, doesn't it?

[ Sylvain's been watching the locals jumping from the top of the cliff for a few minutes now. He's heard of places where you could do that - there was a waterfall famous for it in Brigid, from what he remembers - but he's never gotten to try it himself.

But considering he's very much one of the daredevils among his friends, that same flash of interest has been lighting up his gaze as well and he turns to glance sideways at Steve with a crooked grin. ]

Feel like giving it a try?

suntime funtime;

[shadowthief]

[When she's not bothering her usual crew, Inej wanders the beach in her green swimsuit paired with a simple skirt cover-up. It's been so long since she'd been to one properly. Sure, Ketterdam is a harbor city, but it's not as though it's a prime spot for beach vacations. This, though? This is nice. Having the time to truly languish and relax.

She keeps an eye out for familiar faces, and smiles brightly when she sees Steve perched on a towel not far from the water.]

Having fun yet? [She asks as she approaches him.]

diana prince | ota

[monomachy]

i. blues what blues, hey i forgot them [aquila arrival]

The invitation, as it is, comes as a surprise, but Diana is delighted for the opportunity. She goes to Aquila often with trade caravans, but has never stayed there for the pleasure of it. The glimpses of the cliffs and the scent of salt air has always reminded her of Themyscira's shores, and she relishes the opportunity to explore the beach town in earnest.

She dresses casually for the occasion, and steps out of the portal into thrilling chaos. There are vendors of everything from fine cloth to sweet fruits, and Diana spends the early morning perusing the stalls for trinkets and snacks, more than happy to give her opinion on anything anyone else is considering buying. Later, before heading to the beach, she'll visit the art galleries, paying particular attention to art of scenery and people.

ii. the sun and the sand [the ocean]

The afternoon comes, and Diana removes her sandals before stepping on to the beach, holding them in her hands as the soles of her feet hit the warm sand. She sighs, eyes closing, takes a deep breath of the salty air, and for the briefest of moments she's transported back to her beloved island. A sea bird calls out, breaking her spell, and though a small seed of disappointment plants itself in her chest, she is still determined to enjoy her time here.

The sun beats down, the waves crash, and it makes for a beautiful sight. She walks further out on to the beach, and sees others already in the water. She wonders what sorts of coral or fish she might see beneath the surface, and wastes no more time before walking towards where the sea meets the sand. She finds a large rock where she can leave her sandals, and proceeds to pull off her dress, folding it up beside her sandals. Diana isn't at all bothered by her lack of bathing suit, striding into the ocean naked and diving beneath the surface as soon as it's deep enough to. When she finally emerges from the ocean (just as Aphrodite once did), she sits up on the rock where her clothes are, head tilted up towards the sky, allowing the sun to dry her.

Eventually, someone (a local or another Summoned), will probably convince Diana to buy a bathing suit despite her initial protests that it seems totally unnecessary. She also gets a matching sunhat, just because. Unfortunately, the hat doesn't last too long once she makes it to the cliff, flying off her head from a strong gust of wind. But she doesn't bother going after it right now, too busy peering over the edge of the cliff to judge the distance to the water. After a few seconds she nods, hands on her hips, and takes a few long strides away from the edge. She glances at whoever happens to be nearby, flashing them a bright grin before asking:

"Would you take the leap with me?"

iii. and a drink in my hand with no bottom [the pub]

Once the sun begins to set, Diana finds herself drawn to the pub, to music and chatter and life. She'll park herself at an available table, trying to sing along to songs she doesn't know and ordering far too much food for just herself. She's happy to share the table, along with a meal and a drink, with any Summoned who happens to pass by.

When the game of volleyball starts up, she'll watch, intrigued, and can pretty easily be convinced to join in. Just be ready for some godly spikes if you're on the opposing team.

iv. and no shoes, no shirt, and no problems [wildcard]

[i'm up for anything! feel free to pm me or add/ping me on plurk at watchet to plan anything specific.]

cliff diving!

[theidlemaiden]

People flinging themselves off cliffs into the ocean isn't exactly a common occurrence where Hilda's from. Sure Goneril had plenty of alpine and glacial lakes that had mountains around them, but you didn't just go flinging yourself off of those unless you wanted to freeze upon impact.

Luckily the water here isn't glacial and in the hot sun it's downright welcoming. It's only a matter of time before Hilda takes a brief stroll up to the cliff to see what all the fuss is about herself. Heights aren't a problem for her, but she's normally got a faithful creature that's trained to catch her if she falls. That certainly isn't the case here.

It's clear that she hadn't been intending to jump off based on her outfit consisting of a large hat, sunglasses, and oversized button-up shirt on to cover her swimsuit. There are a couple of others like her, curious or simply building up the courage to jump into the waters below, so she's surprised when she finds Diana is addressing her. Recognizing Diana from the Sarstina (and from earlier on the beach, because how could you not), Hilda does perk up, but still manages to look a little confused. "Me? I've never done it before though."

cliff diving

[assembles]

As soon as Steve had seen some people climbing up to the nearby cliff and diving down into the ocean below, he'd been curious. As someone who thrives on adrenaline a little more than he'd like to admit, the chance to get some of that while there being little in the way of actual risk is just too much for him to pass up.

So he eventually makes his way up there, noting how much the wind picks up the higher he gets. In fact, someone ahead of him must have lost their hat to it, because it blows right into his face. Thank goodness for super soldier reflexes, because he manages to fling his hands up to catch it before it's gusted away again.

When he lowers the hat into his grip, he can see who it belongs to. "Diana," he greets as he closes the distance between them, tilting his head at her offer. He's not that surprised to see her here. It's more that her question feels a little formal, but that's just how she is, he's pretty sure. "I'd be happy to, but what about your hat?"

They either leave it up here, meaning it will be at the mercy of the whipping winds, or it's going to get soaked.

There's a pause, and then he clears his throat. "Good to see you, by the way." He'd briefly seen her back on the island when the group of Summoned had shown up to save them, but they hadn't actually talked then. These are much better circumstances under which to chat.

post-her dive, back on the beach

[aquilus]

Altaïr is on the beach when a large hat drifts toward him on a breeze, apparently cast off from someplace much higher. He catches it on a whim, thinking it looks somewhat familiar, and looks up to see a familiar figure make a very graceful leap — not quite one of the leaps of faith he's used to seeing, but just as well done.

By the time Diana emerges from the water, she'll find that he's sauntered toward the shallows, holding her lost hat.

"I believe you lost this." He offers it with an amused smile. "Bought here, I take it? I didn't expect people to be so bashful about swimming."

cliffs;

[shadowthief]

Inej was intrigued when she saw people going up to the tops of the cliffs and leaping into the water below. She's done similar in necessity, being in a gang, and Ketterdam being a harbor city, means sometimes your escapes end with you in water. But this is different. This is pure sport, and that makes it at least ten times more fun automatically.

"Have you done it before?" She asks in turn at Diana's question to her, a grin on her face. "Bit different than walking a wire."

Striding into the Ocean

[everybodysterrible]

Abby was wandering near the water, still fairly dressed for the beach. But she was hunting shells and not really interested in going into the water past her ankles at the moment. Large hat and wire rim sunglasses keeping her delicate features protected from what probably still could cause skin cancer but she didn't know how alien fucking suns worked.

When she saw a naked woman in the ocean. Which, one, how did anyone just get to look like that. What the absolute fuck made that okay for people to look like that? Abby's eyes were hidden by the dark glass, but her staring wasn't subtle at all. Surprise in her slightly jaw-dropped expression covered the envy and not-strictly-purely respectful staring.

And, two, after Abby has a moment to collect her thoughts, "They do sell swimsuits you know." Seriously how the hell was she ever going to feel good about herself after seeing that.

ii

[thearchangel]

You know, every time I see one of you in the water, it takes me a second to remember humans actually float.

[Sorry, Diana, you're not the only one taking in some vitamin D. For everyone's sake, Garrus is studiously turned in the opposite direction from her, because while Diana is fine with her Aphrodite impression - and he's not judging - Garrus definitely doesn't want to cause any problems. Or seem like he's staring. That's weird.]

[Frankly, he could have been dozing sitting upright, with his head tucked into the edge of his cowl like that.]

Kaz Brekker | ota

[bealufull]

[ Entirely not arguing - Arrival and Around ]

The truth is, Kaz really wanted to argue. Not about exploring in new places and learning what he could for their sake. It was about the proposed this is about enjoying the water part that really left the very old man in a young body wanting to object strenuously. If not for the fact that Jesper himself arranged it all, he probably would have.

That and that he'd called him out publicly. A brilliant strategy on Jesper's part and Kaz hated it.

He had dressed for the beach though, parasol and all. Truly it's beachwear. There's no tie, for one, and no waistcoat either. It's positively bared. If not for the leather gloves, and every inch of him from the throat down being covered.

There's not a word of objection though as he heads through the portal, and it's hardly a glare he gives Jesper, or any others. Okay, maybe a tiny glare.

Heading first for the market, he does some exploring and even a little shopping. Not that he anything he picks up won't fit in his pockets. If he spends a bit of time with those that sell such things as weapons more than anywhere else, so be it. At one point he does seek out one of the seamstresses, actually seeming to be engaging them for some time with plans.

[ Supposedly this is meant to be fun - At the beach ]

There's a lot of things that Kaz Brekker doesn't like. Contact. People who annoy him. Slave traders. More people. If the outfit doesn't make it clear, contact. Up there on that list as well is water. Particularly large bodies of water wherein others choose to swim. Not that they can't choose to but he'll be damned if he's going to do so as well. The memories are still as sharp as the day it happened, and he won't have the entirety of the Chosen witnessing him having a panic attack.

So for a while he settles in a chair on the beach. Mostly to watch whatever Inej, Jesper and Wylan are doing, so he moves about from time to time as if its his duty to watch over them. It is more vicarious living, not that he would admit that. Or think that things like swimming or cliff diving into water are fun.

The parasol proves to also be a cane, helping him as he makes his way to the bar and settles in there for a bit. At least there things feel a bit more familiar, turned just so that he's watching others rather than the sun off the water as he enjoys a drink or two.

He does seek the others out as the sun sets, if only to prove that he did stay and "enjoy" the day. They did though, and he has learned that is what matters. Even if he's going to complain about sand for weeks, he just knows it.

Sun sets

[itookashot]

Jesper can play dirty. He knows if he called Kaz out publicly that he would have to prove he wasn't afraid to go. He is aware that water is a trigger but that's why he assured his beloved once they got there that no one had to go in. It's fun to be there as a group. Jesper made sure to have ready clothing that Kaz would feel comfortable in, even if he looked silly compared to the others.

The one thing he did do before running off to play was whisper love you in Kaz's ear, without touching his skin, but he very cheekily snuck a squeeze of Kaz's ass before running off before he could get in trouble. He spends the rest of the day seemingly with endless energy, jumping off cliffs, getting trapped in the sand by Inej, talking with everyone.

But his eyes always sought out Kaz. To keep an eye on him, to gauge if he was well. It's time for the sunset and everyone is settling in to watch, which is when Jesper finally sits for five minutes. Onto a beach blanket he tosses down in front of Kaz and then he sits, patting it enticingly so Kaz will join him. He is still wet, his dark hair plastered to his face, and he is glowing with his high energy and joy.

"Admit it, it wasn't that bad."

[shadowthief]

Inej keeps most of her activities fairly lowkey— at least, that is, until she finds out about the cliff diving. That one might not be quite so low key, but she has a blast doing it.

Every good adventure deserves a good break, too, and it isn’t a surprise to anyone who’s seen them around the inn or the city that she seeks him out when that time comes for her.

She drops gracefully down onto a huge towel laid out next to the chair he’s chosen as his permanent perch on the beach and leans back on her arms, letting her head dip back between her shoulders. Her eyes are closed, but if his gaze lingers on her a little longer than usual, she won’t miss it- there’s a certain weight to the way he looks at her sometimes…

“When is the last time you put on sunscreen?” she asks cautiously, slowly cracking one eye open to glance over at him. He’s practically porcelain, and he’ll regret it if he doesn’t…

Jesper Fahey | OTA

[itookashot]

The Portal/Before Going

Jesper stays at the portal for a little while to make certain people get through, although he did tell a specific time so he lingers only about a half hour extra before giving the person there a list of who is allowed through. He does know the name of every Summoned after all, including their newest ones. Jesper's just that good at collecting information. He's wearing casual garb for the moment since they're not there yet.

If he sees people uncertain of coming, he will reach out and try to persuade them. With his bright smile and charm, how can you say no?

The Beach

This was his idea so Jesper knows exactly where to go and what he wants to do. His energy is so high at the moment that he is practically skipping his way onto the sand. He has rented chairs and blankets for the Crows, obviously his first thought is always to take care of his gang, and finds them their own set up toward the cliff side. This is so Kaz can hide in the shade if he wants to in all his black.

Jesper decided on going with funny for his clothes so he made himself a fun set of shorts. They did not sell these so he had to be artistic in his own design, but he's gotten very used to making his own clothing these days. It's all worth it for the joke, after all. If anyone does look to try to read it, he'll grin and waggle his eyebrows when they look up. All responses to this are equally amusing to him.

From there he never seems to stop being in motion. If he's not swimming like he was born to it (he is not), he gets into splash fights, goes cliff jumping without fear, he'll even do some backflips off it, and he is ready to race anyone who wants to. He will chase his friends around.

Outside of the water he ends up making sandcastles for fun during a breather and his designing skills for that are simply not fair. Jesper's gifts are openly used while he does it, his fingers seeming to slide through sand like it's made of water instead and put it in place. It looks more like he's drawing a castle and the sand is obeying him into the shape. He is an excellent person to go looking for shells since he seems to be able to find them even when they're too deep into the sand.

The only time he seems to take a break considering his high energy is when he grabs a drink at the bar and chats amiably with the bartender, probably flirting as he always does, and then walks over to one of the chairs to relax and rehydrate. This is a good time to sit down with him if someone wants to talk, and he's friendly as can be like usual.

He is not at all subtly checking out other people in their bathing suits. He made an entire book of how they're all hot. It had to happen. Jesper doesn't play volleyball but he very much enjoys watching it. He will take a break from the water to be a voyeur with a drink. He may need to add some pages to his thirst book.

Finally he will settle down to watch the sunset and smile as he looks around at the other Summoned, feeling satisfied that his plan worked the way he wanted it to. For this trip, he does not go into the market or the art. Only this, only with them.


Wildcard

[ooc: go for it!]

Sunset

[everybodysterrible]

Abby had noticed pretty immediately she missed her friends, that was easy enough. She missed the smaller details of missing them until she'd been here with a while. Like the fact that she'd basically had to sit in chairs like a normal fucking adult all the time and that was awful.

But she finally met someone her own age, not in another kingdom, and overall a lot more extroverted and fun than she could do on her own. Like Max if he was tall, handsome, and unendingly cheesy (but in a good way). As such, with the sun setting when she decided she was a little cold, rather than putting her shirt back on she just curled up next to Jesper.

And then to cover her motives of 'body heat' and 'being near people' she will very blatantly reach across him to try and steal his drink. Because she is in no way ready to admit how fragile she really is.

So many hot people everywhere;

[shadowthief]

“You’re incorrigible,” she says, doing the thing where she seems to materialize from nowhere, suddenly settled next to him on the beach blanket spread on top of the sand.

She leans back against her arms and stares out across the beach, watching people in their interactions, smiling, talking, laughing… it’s nice to have a moment like this. Even if a moment is all it is.

Ciri | The Witcher | OPEN

[wiedzminka]

[ It's been a rough couple of weeks. Months. While.

Normally, Ciri's way of relaxing involves going outside, alone, just her horse and her sword. Riding fast, killing some monsters, working out whatever feelings she's got pent up by letting them out with speed and violence. But this time, for various reasons, that method of coping isn't on the table; this time, she ends up holed up at home, or in one or another of the various taverns nearby (but not the Sarstina). For about a week after returning from another mysterious absence she got kidnapped, again, Ciri is more or less insufferable, and home way too much.

So when news goes out about the portal to Aquila, and Jesper organizing an outing for the Summoned to the beach, Ciri may not be inclined immediately to go, but she is eventually cajoled, harangued, and/or bullied. Jaskier practically shoves her out the door, and after that, Sephiroth and Hilda won't let her escape.

And so. Here she is. Beach Ciri, at the beach, wearing a ruffled white swimsuit under a thin robe, a big floppy sunhat, and a put-upon scowl.


Ciri can be found throughout the afternoon and evening: drinking on the beach or in the nearby tavern, wading into the ocean (maybe even swimming!), gathering sea shells or watching the sandcrabs, and generally enjoying the vibes.

She's a strong swimmer, up for racing! Or rescues, if anyone ends up going too deep. Her competitive spirit may reemerge as well if someone can teach her volleyball... she may be seen watching in the sidelines at some point, trying to figure out the rules of the game.

Anything else? She's around, and she'll be staying the night at one of the beachside inns, so if anyone's here to stay (and enjoy some late night drinks and card games?), maybe she can be convinced to hang out too. ]

[techmaturgy]

[Viktor is still out of place on the beach--the sand is not very friendly for his general navigation, so although he does spend some time in the water, once he's situated in a chair he stays there for a long while. The sun, also, is not very friendly to him, so in addition to said chair, he situates himself with an oversized umbrella and an equally oversized hat.

(He lets Jayce bring him the drinks).

He's mostly content to stay in the shade with a book, though when Ciri passes by he capitalizes on the chance to greet her. Given their previous mishap in Aquila, it seems only appropriate to comment on it. Make a little joke. That kind of thing.]

I like this better than the last time we were here.

[It feels like a lifetime ago, at this point. He offers her a little smile and gestures to the empty chair next to him, inviting her to sit.]

Altair Ibn-La'Ahad | OTA

[aquilus]

arrival & market visit;

Altaïr isn't one for taking time off; like he's discussed with Matt not long ago, he wouldn't know what to do with himself if he had nothing but free time, even here where he can choose his own work instead of being beholden to the needs of the Brotherhood. But hasn't he told himself he needs to make more of an effort to connect with this world and the people in it? Besides, if many of the Free Cities Summoned are attending, it makes sense for him to do so. Hide in plain sight...

For once, he leaves his hidden blade at home, though there are still several knives tucked into his things. Upon arriving in Aquila, he makes a beeline for the market and spends a couple of hours perusing its wares. Other Summoned doing the same might discover him sorting through booths that offer weapons, art supplies, clothing and even magical items — look quick and one might catch a look of absolute consternation on his face as he tries to figure out what a particular artifact is for.

Are you also caught up in what's for sale? Maybe not paying much attention to your surroundings? At least once, Altaïr is suddenly there, pushing himself between you and someone who was standing way too close, who quickly mutters something and leaves.

"My apologies. He was about to pick your pocket."

A little later, he's not in the market for art itself, but he chats casually with a local artist on a beautifully walkable street and settles down to do some sketching itself, of both things and people. Who knew he had it in him?

fun in the sun;

The beach itself reminds him a little of the coast of Acre, in better times. Altaïr settles his things down on a rented beach chair and sets off for a swim. Bathing suits? What are those? He doesn't bother, perfectly content to swim nude as he has done before. (Eventually, when he is persuaded that swimsuits are more commonly the done thing, Altaïr agrees to buy a simple suit.) He is certainly not the fastest but does reasonably well.

Eventually he goes cliff diving, striding right up to the edge with incredible confidence. Looking down, he raises an eyebrow, a little arrogance sneaking out despite himself.

"This is the highest point above the water? A shame."

It's clearly not his first time — something he demonstrates a short time later in an incredibly graceful leap.

it's five o'clock...here, actually

At the end of the day he joins others at the pub, sitting in a slightly quieter spot — not in the middle of all the merriment, but not too far off, either. He waves off any offers of alcohol but will gladly share other drinks and food.

draw a wild card

Choose your own adventure goes here.

[ooc - will match prose or action tag style! also, cr meme/plotting here! also, if anyone wants to be the one person to persuade him re: swimsuits, feel free ahaha]

It's five o'clock

[bealufull]

While Kaz has certainly spent much of his day watching a particular trio as they played in the water, but that hadn't meant he hadn't noticed others. In particularly those he knew.

Especially if they were nude... or close to it later, but that was definitely a start.

Of course Kaz is dressed throat to toe in black, even wearing supple black leather gloves as he settles down where Altair is sitting, placing down two glasses of something bright and fruity and nonalcoholic.

"I'm told it's meant to restore the body once you're out of the sun, but I suspect it's just a game to charge more for fruit than anyone actually should," he admits. "Enjoying yourself?"

viktor | open

[techmaturgy]

i. aquila

[True to form, Viktor cannot simply take a vacation. Every new place visited or re-visited is an opportunity to get something done—in this case, he and Jayce have been busy setting up operations for their business after receiving permission from Fallon Marsh. Aquila is not necessarily interested in the sciences the same way that Cadens is, but Viktor has an affinity for artisans, and he likes making tools for them.

So earlier in the day, he spends some time in the market, out and about and clearly making business moves. Viktor inspects raw materials, haggles with merchants, and scopes out real estate of his own. Of course, with so much on offer, it's not long before he has, perhaps, bitten off more than he can chew. He only has one free hand--that's where you come in.]

Hold this, please.

[You'll help him out, right? He is already handing it over to you--it is several notebooks, a bag of fabric samples, and a strangely-cut piece of metal, for some reason.]

ii. beach time

[Eventually, however, he ends up on the beach. By now, he isn’t a stranger here, though the sand and the sun are not necessarily conducive to his general comfort. He ends up in a beach chair, under a comically large umbrella, in a comically floppy hat, with a light coverup around his shoulders and dark lenses on his face. The smudge of white across his nose indicates that he has already applied sun protection in ample quantities for reasons that are probably obvious.

Generally speaking, you’ll have to come to him if you want to hang out, but he’s friendly enough and doesn’t necessarily mind the intrusion.

He does not play volleyball, though he does watch it with interest and eventually posts up as unofficial referee (provided he does not need to move from his chair). He has a whistle, which he blows sharply any time there is a perceived foul. How did he get a whistle? Does he even know the rules of volleyball? All of this is a mystery.

Later, he can be found fully passed out in said chair, book over his face. Unconscious. Defenseless.]

iii. Wildcard

[look I’m just here for shenanigans. Hit me up on plurk at whitticus and I’ll do whatever you want.]

[preferscuffs]

Of course.

[It's not the first time she's been strong armed into holding things for someone. The notebooks and fabric samples go unremarked upon. The metal piece though?]

What exactly is this for, Viktor?

[What? It's very curious looking. Not asking about it would be boring.]

Your friendly medic Brother Cadfael | OTA

[rarebenedictine]

Cadfael was sure from the start that the place they were going to has its own medical staff. So he could have gone only out of curiosity and gratitude to the man who has organized all this. Knowing himself, though, he was well aware how much idleness he's capable of. So it was out of this knowledge that he went with a bag full of supplies. Nothing to elaborate, remedies for twisted ankles, upset stomachs and inevitable sunburn. Anything more substantial couldn't be treated on a seashore festival anyway.

Having high hopes for the local tailors and seamstresses willing to procure him what he considered most comfortable attire he found himself being sorely disappointed. The good people he spoke to scoffed at his crude drawings, citing their craft and artistic integrity. That they wouldn't have ever produced anything this outdated. Cadfael had no choice, but to settle what they were willing to make for him. Not too far from he did use to wear during his sailing days. With the addition of wide-brimmed straw hat, he was actually quite pleased with the result in the end.

He had spent the early hours of their excursion walking the market. Just taking in the sights, the scents and the sounds. There was always something that had drawn him to whatever place huge crowds of people gathered. This was no exception. Cadfael go himself into striking a conversation with many a merchant, not even for buying their wares, but for the pleasure of the conversation itself.
He did make some purchases, apart from the clothes: a sheet of bleached fabric, enough to fit several people under it, a sturdy wooden pole and another piece of fabric to make a sign.

He chose his place on the beach carefully. In some distance from the bar and most of the commotion, but close enough that he could see and be seen from both of those place. There, he had set up his makeshift white tent with the sing MEDIC written on it vertically in elegant cursive.

He would occasionally leave his beach fortress to have a drink and talk with other people at the bar. He might be a monk, but as such promised work, prayer and temperance, not complete abstinence from all the worldly activities.