open august w/ sigma.

[ticket218]

Who: Sigma + you!
Where: Around Aldrip
What: Beach time, relaxation, and flower status effect hijinks
Warnings: Nothing in the prompts, but will change as needed.




The Same Sun.
[ Sigma hadn't initially come to the beach of his own volition. He's had enough of sand for a while--course, irritating, gets everywhere, you know the drill--and from what he's heard of beaches that seemed to be most of what they offer aside from the ocean. The ocean he couldn't responsibly go in to escape the heat, what with the bandages on his left arm resting in a sling. So, that's a good recipe for a grumpy, miserable time, right?

Well...maybe not entirely.

For one, the atmosphere is much nicer here than in the desert. People are playing, laughing, having a good time, and it feels good to just be in even if he isn't doing anything in particular. Something others take note of very quickly and try to remedy. What they eventually manage to finagle him into is the seashell hunt, which becomes more and more difficult as time goes on. He hasn't seen that many real seashells up close, so all of them look pretty and noteworthy to him, but he can only carry so many in one hand. Maybe he should see if anyone has a bag he can lend...?

One might catch him getting distracted from his hunt, too. Locals were adamant that you need to be barefoot at the beach, no shoes allowed, so the feeling of wet, gushy sand under his feet when he felt curious enough to touch the water was. New. And he's not sure if he likes it. So like a baby deer testing out if an iced-over lake is safe, he's taking a few moments to step in and out of the water to test it out. It's. Weird. So weird. ]

Sit it out, or...?
[ Despite his love for being around people, even Sigma needs time to himself. A nice spot for this, he's found, is Aldrip's statue garden a little after folks looking for somewhere relaxing to have their lunches have filtered out, leaving him to enjoy the space in relative peace and solitude.

He's after a little more than solitude today, though. If anyone also looking for peace happens upon him, it looks like he's...practicing a dance? A simple waltz, by the looks of it, eyes glued to his feet and humming some kind of tune to keep rhythm to. Completely in his own little world. ]

Plants for Hire.
[ When excited children talk to you, you listen. That's a rule. You might not have to buy whatever it is they're peddling at you, but a kid with a basket of wildflowers proves cute enough to Sigma to trade a coin for a handful of...whatever these flowers are. The little entrepreneur gets to be proud of themselves, and Sigma gets to put flowers in a cup on the windowsill for a few days once he gets back to the inn. It's a win-win.

Inspecting them, he didn't expect quite so much pollen. Or what he's assuming is pollen, at least--it's a little late in the season for that, right? Is that how it works? The flowers themselves don't seem to care what season it is as said maybe-pollen tickles at Sigma's nose, prompting a big enough sneeze to stop him in his tracks for a moment. ]

Oh, goodness...thought that might happen.

[ A blink. Did that come out right? Trying again. ]

I knew full well what I was getting into with these things.

[ No, that definitely wasn't what he wanted to say. What in the world...? Is this something he should ask for help with? Could he ask for help if he wanted to, with whatever's happening to his speech all of the sudden? What would come out of his mouth if he tried? Maybe he could ask for a pen and paper instead??

Any which way, standing around isn't going to fix anything at all. So he musters up the courage to grab the attention of anyone nearby, ] E...excuse me?

Wildcard.
[ Wanna mix-n-match prompts? Do something completely different? Hit me up! I'm super flexible! ]

Comments

Plants 🌱

[quizpersona]

[ Wow a betrayal most foul. Can't believe you brought all this pollen into the inn like this Sigma. A certain fair-haired man is peering over his Overcoat clad arm following that sneeze despite being safely across the room from the pollen infested windowsill. ]

You should elaborate on that! What are you getting into?

[ticket218]

[ Flowers can brighten up a room, okay! It was a harmless investment in decor!! ]

Just what it looks like, something to inconvenience both of us.

[ Except now this is happening. He sure looks confused despite how confidently those words came out. ]

[quizpersona]

[ So true king. Seasonal allergies really tie a place together. ]

Wow! Is that what it looks like? ...Just kidding, it totally is! I'm very inconvenienced right now.

[ Gogol has no idea what's happening either but it has potential to be funny whatever it is. He twirls his wrist into a point at Sigma. ]

What are you going to do to rectify this?!

[ticket218]

Absolutely nothing.

[ Said as he's taking the flower cup back in hand, bringing it over to the sink. Never had to deal with aggressively pollen-laden flowers before, but surely drowning them would help rather than hurt the situation? ]

[quizpersona]

[ Meandering over now to watch Sigma potentially make a drown victim out of a innocent plant. Nikolai peeks over the shorter man's shoulder without initiating contact. Respecting personal space but not really.

But really, he's curious now. ]

Now what are the chances. That's what I'm doing too!

[ticket218]

[ And once in-not-in that space Sigma will be making "shoo-shoo" hands at the nosy clown without turning to look at him. ]

Back up, I don't want you anywhere near me.

[ Huh. Meaner than "near the flowers", but should have the same effect. Gogol's a big boy, he can take it while Sigma figures things out. ]

[quizpersona]

Y-Yikes!

[ Certainly, he can take it. But that doesn't mean he won't play up being wounded for the bit. As such he clutches his chest like he's been shot and fake swoons but quickly transforms the momentum into a swing around to sit on the counter right besides all the action. ]

That was kind of hurtful!? Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today.

[ticket218]

[ Well if Gogol's gonna get closer he'll just scoot the cup a little further away in the sink. ]

Listen, I'm saying exactly what I-- [ NO, no, already wrong. Stopping himself with a "wait" gesture, thinking. ] My mouth is cooperating-- [ No. Lowering his hands to drum irritably on the counter.

Okay, thinking back on the past few minutes there's a pattern. One he could test, maybe, if risking sounding like an idiot, but perhaps that's already out the window. So he clears his throat, turning to face Gogol with one of the most dead serious expressions he's ever had. ]

Gogol. The sky is green.

1/2

[quizpersona]

[ During that on and off struggle where Sigma struggles to find the right thing to say he watches closely and without interjection. With his expression having dropped to a neutral blank previously it quickly morphs into a wide-eyed slow blink after that final and truly very brave declaration. ]

2/2

[quizpersona]

Heeheehe, it sure is! Sigma. It is.

[ Still got to get a little heeheehee in at the other's expense. He stifles it with his hand in the next breath. ]

Don't worry~ I get it. It was the plant wasn't it? Did that nasty little plant do something to you? Lift your right hand for yes.

[ticket218]

[ There's visible relief that he seems to have been understood despite the whole predicament, but the giggles still aren't appreciated. Oh well.

He'll keep his mouth shut for now to hopefully keep things simple. Raising his right hand. ]

[quizpersona]

[ Holding his hand out palm up. A moment passes before he wiggles his fingers for emphasis. ]

Gimme here.

[ticket218]

[ His eyebrows furrow in confusion, cautiously looking down at the offered hand...

And relenting. Hand given there. ]

sit it out or

[nullificates]

(dazai knows what's happening, the steps visible, the concentration. ah, sigma is truly really cute. he awaits patiently for a moment when he has his eyes closed, so he can take the hand, and continue the rhythm the other had established.)

Hey!!!! You could have just told me you wanted to dance!

[ticket218]

--Dazai!

[ Thank goodness Dazai keeps the rhythm going, otherwise Sigma would've given into his feet's surprised stuttering and just stopped. Practice has been great, though, 'cause he picks it right back up despite the rest of him still looking plenty surprised.

Especially since he may have been trying to avoid prolonged contact with Dazai since that network conversation with a total stranger. Whoever that was must be dreadfully embarrassed. ]

I didn't--well, I did. We had discussed it, after all, just...

[nullificates]

(oh, sigma. each moment cuter than the one before. his eyes close for a moment, a smile on his lips as he allows their feet to enjoy their dance. this is hardly what had been promised, after all, there's no music, but a popular waltz plays softly in his mind and he hums it for tempo.

his eyes are closed, naturally, to save a certain individual from a heart attack, even if he plays it as if he's relaxed and retelling a song.)

It's ok! You could have just invited me, you know?! Ah, I'm about to dip you, so hold on well!

[ticket218]

Inviting you to practice feels like it would've defeated the purpose of our arrangement.

[ Oh, dip? Dip! Grateful for the warning, he does indeed hold on and cooperates. ]

[nullificates]

(he'll sneak a glimpse. it's easier when sigma doesn't look extra done with him and uncooperative for NO REASON WHATSOEVER.)

Ah, you look much less done with me when we're not about to die!

[ticket218]

[ There's a hint of it there, but not nearly as much as Dazai's seen before. "No reason" is awfully subjective here...! ]

I much prefer it when you're not playing around in dire circumstances, yes.

[nullificates]

To a man like me, all moments are dire, so we must play!!

(ah, no dancing, dazai is just lifting poor sigma up and spinning them before he's returned to the ground-- back to one, two, one, two.)

[ticket218]

[ Ope, thank goodness he's still holding on. That is. Indeed a lot more fun when they're not in a murder-prison. There's a little pep in his step once he's back on the ground. ]

Whether or not we agree, I guess I can't be too upset at you for playing on a day like this.

[ It's basically what he was just doing, even if he could spin the argument that it was practice and therefore productive work. Not everything has to be difficult. ]

[nullificates]

(yeah, no, he's definitely not letting sigma go with how cute that little burst of energy is. he's spin them again, so sorry.)

Are you hungry?!

[ticket218]

[ Ah! Spin!! Hang on, a laugh escapes before he can actually answer. ]

I could eat, yes.

[nullificates]

To Lupin?

(he'll let sigma go now, but not before squeezing him a little bit.)

[ticket218]

[ Fixing his hair after all that spinning is a perfect excuse to hide the beginnings of a blush after being squeezed. ]

Mm, Lupin sounds lovely.