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

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.]

[techmaturgy]

Thank you.

[Well, he feels better about making Caitlyn hold things for him, rather than a Summoned he doesn't know as well. Viktor appears to be offloading his current shopping on her explicitly because he has seen a stall selling pastries that he likes. He'll make his way towards it, more or less expecting her to follow him.

Viktor can, at least, walk and talk.]

Oh. [He says, like carrying around a sheet of metal is a normal thing to do.] It's for a sign. I could always commission one, but you know us. We like to do things ourselves.

[preferscuffs]

Anytime.

[What else is a Sister, or in this case more technically future Sister-in-not!Law, for if not for helping with things? Plus, she honestly doesn't mind. Holding everything he passes to her with good grace as she follows him to the next stall.

She wants a pastry for her efforts at the very least, Viktor.]

I see. [She looks at the odd shape of it and shrugs, probably spare then.] Plus why commission one, when the one you two could make would probably be better?

[Not that other people aren't talented, but she's very, very biased on the matter.]

So what's our next stop?

[Now that she's apparently his pack mule for the rest of this excursion.]

[techmaturgy]

Oh, yes.

[Viktor is kind of a snob about his own work, and he’s very much of the belief that if he wants something done right, he’ll just do it himself. This is their first foray out of Cadens, and he wants everything to be to his own specifications, so it follows that he’s gathering the materials himself. In a place like Aquila, where raw materials are abundant for the craftsmen, there are almost too many choices.

For now, however, he seems satisfied. Enough to take a snack break, at least.]

There’s a vendor here who sells pastries that I like. [Just in case she thought this was somehow not frivolous.] Do you want one? I’ll buy.

[preferscuffs]

[They can both be snobs about his work. Caitlyn quite spoiled to what quality craftsmanship is like considering who she's close with. So it just makes sense to her. Not that she can relate, not really having the skillset for such a thing. Unfortunately. Which she kind of mourns now. A skill like that would have come in quite handy in trying to live and work here. Instead she's an enforcer who has no interest of working with the local law enforcement and... has no real idea what to apply herself to anymore.]

A pastry would be lovely, thank you. [Plus, it's always good to learn about the sort of things he favors. It'll be notes for future gift giving. Caitlyn's quite studious in that regard. Then she pauses, mouth turning up slightly at the corners.] And tea?

[Who would sell pastries without also selling something to wash them down with after all, right?]

[techmaturgy]

[It's possible that Viktor fully intended on getting a box of them to go, and he looks slightly surprised when she suggests a more sit-down situation. Perhaps he should have expected that, however, and he quickly relents.]

Yes. And tea.

[The least he can do, he supposes, if he's going to make her carry around all of his stuff. Viktor approaches the booth in question and places his order--two for now, with tea, and a dozen boxed up for later. There are a few cafe tables nearby, presumably for this purpose, so once he's paid he invites her to claim one, joining her not long after.]

I didn't mean to co-opt you for help with my shopping. Do you have plans while you're here?

[preferscuffs]

[Well, it's not like she can eat them with her arms full anyway. But also tea. Which is probably the quickest way to Caitlyn's heart. So... yeah, probably should have expected it honestly.]

Thanks, Viktor.

[Not quite as high energy as it would have been when she was younger, but there's still a happy smile anyway. She watches him as he orders and then heads for a table claim it as their own. And also to set his purchases down so she can enjoy their little repast.]

It's quite alright. I didn't have any particular plans, just browsing. So I'm more than happy to spend the time with you.

Beach Time

[hextechhead]

Jayce and Viktor were two of the people Jesper snagged some money from so of course he was going to insist they go, and even if they were there recently, Jayce jumped on the idea. He had such a great time already, and he loves group activities. In a way, it's something he never had much of. Despite his friendly personality, he had no more friends than Viktor and Caitlyn did, and then they all came here and started making connections. So being a part of a group event with so many smiles? Catnip to someone like Jayce who is beaming. He's as sunny as the day itself.

In typical Jayce form the first thing he did was set up a nice sitting area for Viktor and got him the umbrella and a comfortable chair. He has to be the best fiance he can be, after all. He brought him water and then ran off with a kiss on his head to do some water activities. As time goes on he constantly checks in with Viktor, covered in sea spray, having picked a very simple swimsuit although considering how bulging all of his muscles are bare like this, it's not doing much to hide him.

He shows up about halfway through the day with food for them (fresh fruit in particular!) and drinks that he knows Viktor would like. He settles into a chair next to him, in shade for the first time that day, his brown skin glistening. Jayce carefully sets the food where it won't get sand all in it and reaches over to run fingers through Viktor's hair.

"Hello, love. Lunch time!"

[techmaturgy]

Contrary to what some might believe, Viktor actually does like the water, and his memories of Aquila are now fond enough that he doesn’t mind a return trip. He and Jayce have business here anyway, so it’s a good excuse to further operations and get in some additional relaxation time. Jayce is attentive as always, and though Viktor will express a desire to go into the water later, when the sun is less intense, he’s content for now to enjoy the shade of the umbrella and the comfortable chair.

He’s brought books and a notebook, true to form, but he doesn’t work so hard that he isn’t watching Jayce. It’s hard not to, given how at home he is under the rays of the sun, and he must admit that this is not a bad look for him at all. Maybe he even stares a little.

So he’s in good spirits when Jayce returns, leaning forward in his chair and reaching for him, hoping to pull him in for a kiss in greeting.

“Hi,” he says, leaning forward in his chair and reaching for him, hoping to pull him in to greet him with a kiss. “What have you brought me?”

Lunch, apparently, and Viktor reaches for it to start picking through. He has more of an appetite now that he isn’t sick, but as a rule he doesn’t eat much, and that hasn’t changed. Fresh fruit is nice, though, and he’ll reach for an apple, to start, taking a long look at Jayce as he settles in next to him, not bothering to hide his appreciation.

“You look like you’re enjoying yourself out there.”

[hextechhead]

"Very fresh fruit." Which Jayce knows that Viktor will want, and he proves that by immediately reaching for it. He knows his appetite was never huge in the first place, but for years now Jayce has put food down in front of him as they worked, and it's just a natural part of their dynamic.

Jayce knows the feeling of Viktor's eyes on him so he's felt them more than a few times today, and always shot him a warm look back and a bright smile. He's rarely the relaxing sort himself, always constantly working, so being active for no more reason than fun is a rare thrill. He settles into his chair next to him and playfully does a full body stretch, part for his need, part for Viktor's gaze.

"I am. The desert, not for me, the beach, sometimes for me." Jayce probably wouldn't want to spend all day every day here either though, it's beautiful but distracting. He does miss the metropolitan of Piltover, the city energy, that doesn't quite feel the same in Cadens. He misses the tall buildings and unique architecture. But less and less does that stay at the front of his mind.

Sometimes he wonders what it would be like to see Thorne. He's seen Luna, Nocwich, and Solvunn now, and all their incredibly unique looks, but they were only on the boundary of Thorne. Some day, maybe. The world keeps opening up more and more by the day, and he's still an optimist.

"It's good to see everyone enjoying themselves." They could really all use it. It's been a rough few months. "After a childhood of being too weird to be invited to group activities, it's fun to be an adult and just weird enough to be invited to group activities."

[techmaturgy]

"Mm--," he answers, mouth full, reaching over to the basket to see what else is there. When he finds it acceptable, he leans back in his chair and continues to enjoy bites of the apple, appraising Jayce as he sits. Viktor is not at all subtle about the way his gaze travels from Jayce's eyes downward, then back up again. He reaches out in response to that full body stretch, hand just grazing the smooth curve of Jayce's arm.

A great deal has changed for them in the past month, and as a result, Viktor seems more amenable to open displays of affection--or maybe he just can't resist, given the way Jayce practically glows.

"Sometimes. I saw you showing off."

Glances exchanged, both of them knowing exactly what they mean. Viktor is glad, too, that Jayce feels comfortable with their community of summoned. He knows more than most what it feels like, not to belong.

"Yes, I think something like this was sorely needed." For all of them, but Viktor isn't going to say no to another beach getaway with Jayce. He's even getting some work done, though that's probably not surprising. "Do you want to see what I've been working on?"

A rhetorical question, of course. Viktor is going to show him anwyay.

beach time prankin

[theidlemaiden]

[ The universe delivering Viktor slumbering peacefully on the beach feels like some kind of moral choice that has been presented to Hilda on a silver platter.

On one hand, she could (and probably should) leave Viktor to his nap. After all, she bothers him at least twice a week about getting more sleep. But on the other hand...Even in her off-kilter state, Hilda Goneril has rarely passed on the opportunity to partake in some harmless mischief.

She looks like a bit of a sight, rushing past Viktor's sleeping form and returning moments later with an paper bag and a large coconut filled with whipped cream. With a startlingly amount of stealth and patience she would never put into practice otherwise she crawls the last several feet towards his chair, gently trying to add the whipped cream to his hand stopping every so often to ensure that he's still asleep. ]

[techmaturgy]

[It's true that Viktor does not sleep as much as he should, even after ridding himself of illness. There will always be a part of him that thinks time spent idle is time wasted, so a nap in public is certainly a rarity for him. Perhaps he's allowed himself the indulgence because he's among friends. Because he feels. Safe.

He must really need the sleep, because all of Hilda's machinations go unnoticed. Viktor shifts, slightly, but it doesn't seem to be because of her--rather, just the book sliding off his face, slightly.

His hand is full of whipped cream. She knows what she must do.]

[theidlemaiden]

[ Really laying on the guilt here, huh? She can feel bad about it later. Maybe.

When Viktor shifts, Hilda freezes and there's a sharp intake of breath as she holds it, waiting to see if he'll stir. When it's clear that he hasn't woken, Hilda quietly lets out a breath before adding one final flourish of whipped cream and straightening up.

Perry is summoned, their presence made known thanks to a quiet breeze. Knowing she has to move fast, her paper bag is quickly filled with air and she positions herself just off to the side by Viktor's ear. When she's ready, the book on his face is quietly tugged the rest of the way off his face by an unseen hand - and at that moment she strikes.

She winds up, hand meeting the blown up paper bag in a force strong enough to make the noise louder than she even expects if her wide eyes are any indication. ]

[techmaturgy]

[Viktor does not awaken. Hilda is just stealthy enough (or he is just tired enough) that he doesn't notice her machinations, nor does the summoning of Perry move him. It seems that all will go according to plan--but at what cost?

The cost is that Viktor snaps awake immediately upon explosion of the bag, and, predictably, smacks himself in the face with his handful of whipped cream. He yelps, clearly not at all aware of what has just happened. Viktor can't even look around for the culprit, because he has whipped cream in his eyes.

So he sits there, taken aback, everything covered in whipped cream. After a moment, he drags his hands down his face to clear his vision. He lets out a cry of frustration. It is pathetic. Sopping fucking wet.]

[theidlemaiden]

[ Hilda's own moment of shock is mere moments before she's spluttering in laughter. The coconut filled with whipped cream is suddenly tossed by Perry's unseen hand over a dune as if that will somehow prevent Viktor from connecting to the dots. A laughing Hilda and the remains of a broken paper bag are clear signs of her guilt.

She tries to move the paper bag behind her back but it's too difficult when she's clutching at her stomach. This is where she'd say something witty or find a way to apologize for how...really pathetic he looks but she's laughing too hard to do that. After a beat she tugs the a nearby towel and manages a word as she hands it over to him. ]

Here -

[techmaturgy]

[Given a moment to breathe (and to clear his vision), it's not difficult to see what's happened here. His first inclination is towards disbelief--surely Hilda would never do something like that to him--but the way she laughs indicates he's been betrayed.

Viktor lets out another anguished noise at the realization, grasping for the towel.]

Did you--why would you do this!?

[theidlemaiden]

[ Unfortunately for Viktor, a prank is a clear sign that Hilda has tossed aside most delicate flower pretenses leaving a gremlin behind. In other words, she really has to take a shine to someone to have laugh hard enough that she's not trying to quell the little snorts that punctuate her laughter.

Somehow she manages to subdue them, but mischievous joy is still painted as clear as day on her face. Even though she's clearly enjoying the spoils of her prank, she's still watchful, waiting to see if she needs to grab another towel, brain not registering the glint of a ring on Viktor's hand. ]

Vikky, I'm sorry! You were napping and it was the perfect opportunity.

aquila

[aquilus]

[Having already greeted Viktor with a nod as he made his own perusal of the adjacent stall, Altaïr has no particular objection to answering the request for aid, brusque as it is. However, that means he also feels no particular compunctions about immediately sorting through what he's been asked to hold. He can imagine what Viktor might be in the market for, but he's still curious.]

Of course. Looking for anything in particular?

[techmaturgy]

Those pastries.

[Thank you, Altaïr, for hanging on to all of Viktor's shopping while he goes over to that booth and buys some kind of fancy fruit tart(s). For a moment, it seems as though he's going to leave him there, quite literally holding the bag, before he realizes that might be rude.]

Do you...want one?

[aquilus]

[He wasn't out looking for a snack, but they do look delicious, and free it free (unless Viktor is about to follow up with a request for coin.)]

I wouldn't say no.

[Which is basically a yes.]

[techmaturgy]

All right then.

[Thankfully, Viktor isn't so impolite that he would make Altaïr pay for his own pastry. He just adds it to his (not insubstantial) order and the vendor helpfully places it in its own little paper wrapper on top of the box of a half-dozen or so that Viktor gets for himself.

Predictably, he hands the whole arrangement back over to his current shopping helper.]

That one's yours.

[The one on top.

[aquilus]

[More and more Altaïr is starting to wonder if he's relegated himself to shopping assistant for an indefinite amount of time.]

Thank you.

[He's not a huge consumer of sweets, but there's a time and a place for everything, and a leisure trip is certainly that.]

I'm a little surprised to see you here. You didn't strike me as a fan of the seaside.

[If he's honest, Viktor mostly strikes him as a fan of working incessantly.]

[techmaturgy]

I'm a fan of a well-shaded area with somewhere comfortable to sit.

[If that's on the beach, so be it. Besides, he's been here recently and the trip was pleasant for a great many reasons, so why not give it another go? He's careful enough about sunscreen--that's half the battle.

But he knows what Altaïr is getting at.]

Don't worry. I've brought some projects with me.