[open mingle] let's go to the beach-each, let's go get a wave

[orphne]

Who: Anyone in Aldrip on June 12th
Where: The beach close to town
What: A totally open mingle for a party on the beach
Warnings: potential for injury and alcohol use -- let me know if y'all do anything that needs to be warned for, and I'll update it!

The prompts are just suggestions below -- this is a completely open mingle, so feel free to make your own starters, tag around, and go wild!

The weather doesn't change overmuch in Aldrip, but what is summer if not a state of mind? If anything, the too-pleasant weather makes planning ahead a little easier. A video message from one Kotone Shiomi had gone out the day before to invite everybody -- and that means everybody, locals and Chosen alike -- to a party on the beach, starting in the afternoon when the sun is consistently warmest and going until- well, until everybody leaves.

The morning of... Kotone can't do it all on her own, though! Maybe the prospect of a party is enough to get you digging around looking for supplies that could be useful on the beach. Games? The shops must have something, surely. Food? The kitchens are, as always, available. Hauling wood for a bonfire? Hey, someone's gotta do it. Maybe you're helping some of the locals go fishing early in the morning for extra food, or harvesting some fresh fruits and veggies from their gardens and farms. Many hands makes light work, or something like that. If nothing else, if you missed the initial annoucement, the bustle should at least clue you in that something's in the works. Don't forget to buy (or make, or "find") a swimsuit! Modernity not required.


If you can dodge a chore, you can dodge a ball, or, with or without your help, there are plenty of things to do on the beach itself. Some of the sports and activities might seem a little anachronistic to the generally old-fashioned vibe in Aldrip -- the volleyball net and ball are local, but the beach ball and water guns are a little too brightly-colored and plastic, the water balloons in their bucket too obviously mass-produced, to be local, but they're there for anyone to play with (or torment others with). The band's set up as well, though with some different music than they'd played for the inn party. Maybe someone can make a request for more appropriate beach music? Or maybe you just want to see if you can launch a water balloon from a trumpet.

Eventually, someone starts a volleyball tournament. Time to let that competitive streak shine! Or at the very least, you've got to try cracking open a watermelon with a bat... but maybe not too close to the people relaxing on lounge chairs under umbrellas.


Y'all gotta eat, right? Whether you helped the locals earlier with catching fish or preparing food, there's an array of grills that have been dragged out to the beach. Hopefully some of the more magically-inclined among you can figure out how to keep the insulated boxes of ice and ice cream cold away from electricity (or maybe you're using the trek back to town for more ice as an excuse to get away from the party), but even if not, there's plenty of fish, vegetables, and meat available for grilling. Maybe you're the chef, maybe you're just here for the food, but there's plenty available no matter what you choose.

The food is hot and the drinks are cold. Unlike the inn, there's plenty of space around to try to avoid mingling with others if you're the quiet type, but watch out! It also means there are fewer places to hide. It's harder to wallflower without any walls.


As the sun starts to set, someone gets the bonfire going. Marshmallows exist, though maybe in a less-manufactured way than you might be used to, and there's plenty of other leftover things to roast if you're the type. It's another beautiful night in Aldrip to watch the stars and take in the fresh air with some friends. In light of everything that's happened, maybe some quiet relaxation is finally in order.

Well, for some of you. For others, night is when the party gets rowdier and it's time for drinking and party games. Just try not to make too much of a mess! Because somebody's going to have to clean it all up tomorrow.

Comments

kotone shiomi | p3p | ota!

[orphne]

network;

[orphne]

I. video;

Hey everyone! It's Kotone.

[A bright-eyed, energetic teenage girl waves from the charm. She's perched up on top of the roof of one of the town buildings, angling the charm in such a way that you can see her and, if you squint, the beach behind her in the distance.

You might recognize her from summoning a giant avatar of death by shooting herself in the head during the attack, but don't worry about that.]

You know how sometimes stuff from home just like... shows up, sometimes? I've had it happen to me a few times. This time, it was a bunch of stuff for the beach. It got me thinking -- why don't we do something with it? If we could get a bunch of people together for a party, I think that'd be really fun!

If you have any ideas for stuff to do, let me know! Let's do it tomorrow, okay? Don't forget to get a swimsuit!

[Maybe it's a little tacky to plan her own birthday party like this, but it's not like she told anyone it was her birthday. Really, the idea is for everybody else to have fun! And to make up, in her own small way, for all the damage she'd done and all the people she'd hurt in the attack.]

action;

[orphne]

II. Proper Planning Prevents... something something something

[It's her 18th birthday, and she's dumping ice into a big insulated box to try to keep ice cream cold. They might not be the toxically-bright popsicles that she's used to, but it's still a beach staple, she thinks! Then immediately she's on the move again, trying to set up some umbrellas that are honestly bigger than she is. As soon as that's done, she's running over to help one of the locals get a fire going for one of the grills. Busy, busy, busy!

Upon making eye contact, she'll offer a wave and a bright smile.]

Hey, come give me a hand with this? [Whatever it is she's working on, an extra set of hands won't hurt!]

III. Enemy Advantage [!!]

[The bright plastic waterguns aren't really her thing, but water balloons on the other hand...

Without warning, anyone in swimwear could potentially be pelted with one by a giggling Kotone in a very modern pink bikini. No one asked for this.

...Retaliate...?]

IV. Let's Get Ready for an All-Out Attack!

[For someone who had been in a sports club back in school, Kotone isn't the most competitive person. But when she pairs up with someone for beach volleyball, well -- she might have been in the tennis club, but she hung out with enough players from the volleyball club that she does know what she's doing.]

Alright! I won't let you down, let's win!

[She flashes a bright smile to her partner and offers a hand for a high-five. Go ahead and serve! Do your best!]

V. Burn My Dread

(spoilers for Persona 3, cw: contemplation of mortality)
[It's her 18th birthday, and she's still alive. Honestly, she never thought she'd make it this far. It's a kind of bittersweet emotion as she sits by the bonfire and sips a brightly-colored drink in a rare moment of quiet. The party's still going on around her, but for the moment, anyway, the noise has faded into the background behind the crackling roar of the fire.

She's not supposed to be alive. She should have died months ago. And yet, she's still here. Hopefully she's been able to make more of a positive impact than a negative one, but... it's hard to say. She hurt a lot of people during the attack, when she hadn't been herself. Having a self-indulgent little party like this is hardly going to make up for that, especially not when the skull-shaped marks are still fading from her back. But maybe it's a little step forward.

Maybe when she dies for real, people will remember her for the good things, instead of the bad.]

VI. wildcard!

[Want to get up to some different shenanigans? Play truth or dare? Involve her in a prank? She's here for any and all! hmu on the discord or on plurk!]

Ethlyn | Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War | OTA

[baldrshand]

Getting ready

[Ethlyn has pretty much recovered, although having been caught Not Resting by more than one person in the wake of the battle, she's trying to take it a little easier. Still, when someone asks for help, Ethlyn can't refuse. Especially for something like this, which Aldrip very much could use right now.

So she'll at least help to move the lighter things... blankets or stakes for beach games. Of course, if she sees you standing idle, she's not above recruiting...]

Hello! Would you like to lend a hand?

doop doop

[Ethlyn is a little shocked by the swimsuits she sees people wearing. They look like dancer's garb to her, not that she has a problem with dancers, but that doesn't mean she's comfortable herself with wearing as little as they do.

And she's not really keen on getting too deep anyway. Instead you might find her dressed but wading barefoot in the water, enjoying the feeling of sand between her toes.]

Time to eat

[Ethlyn has to demur on her magic being any good for preserving ice cream and cold foods, but she's more than happy to accept some of the food on offer. Fire-roasted food is comfortingly familiar to her, even if she has to be careful not to get sand in it.]

Hm... there's nothing like an apple baked in a fire... or on a grill, I suppose. Would you like one? [She smiles up from where she's testing it with a long fork.] I think they're just about done.

Evening bonfire

[Tea with ice in it is one of Ethlyn's new favorite drinks, and she's nursing a glass of it as she gazes into the bonfire. It's not so different from the campfires she sat beside as she campaigned alongside her brother in Verdane and Agustria... it seems a long time ago now.

At moments like this, she finds herself thinking of her children, growing up without her, or perhaps frozen in time if some people here are right. But she's also thinking of people here... of the crimes they're accused of, of the horror they've just survived. Her thoughts go around and around, and she's liable to start if she's interrupted.]

Wildcard!

getting ready

[snowslip]

[ It wasn't Marianne's idea to come. The nurses at the clinic had nudged her to get some sunshine after seeing her overwork herself lately. They'd gently nudged her, and then more firmly sent her along after she'd fallen asleep in one of the break rooms during a shift. Too embarrassed to protest, Marianne had shuffled along to the beach. That's where Ethlyn will find her, standing in the sand clad in a modest sundress, squinting her eyes like someone who hasn't seen daylight in some time. ]

Oh, yes. Of course.

[ Marianne reaches out to take a bundle of beach blankets and a parasol from her. ]

dazai's tiny tl

[nullificates]

(he's just gotten back, and he's wheelchair bound, both legs in splints and casts, injured to no belief, medicated into oblivion...! and here, on a little stand with hella alcohol, because he's bartending through his pain, like a normal, healthy individual.

sunglasses are on, he has a simple shirt and shorts, which make it very clear that his entire body is bandaged from pretty much head to toe. dazai twirls his drink, carefully, slowly, the little umbrella spinning in it as he rests in the shade.)

Today's customer service is worse than normal! Please wait 5-10 minutes for your drink to be done, because your bartender is enjoying his own.

(no bitch you're all broken.)

[orphne]

Are you sure you're okay to be out here, Dazai-san?

[Kotone, soaking wet both from various water balloon fights and ocean swimming, sidles up next to him and offers a little bowl of ice cream. Have a snack, buddy, you deserve it. She put pretzels on it for a little salty crunch.]

[grappler]

[here, have Vi marching up to him...

and she's going to put her hands on her hips.]

What the fuck are you doing out here?? And working?

[she eyes the drink in his hand.]

Or pretending to work, anyway... but still. Really??

[murderingjustice]

[Well, well. Look just who's made it back. Maybe not well or in one piece but at least alive? Not that Akechi cares, but he couldn't have not noticed the distress that Dazai's sudden disappearance brought. He knows that he's close to Kotone, so if he has any positive feelings about the man's presence it's for her sake.

Ew, he's becoming soft.

A n y w a y.

Akechi's drying his wet hair on a towel after his water balloon match with Kotone is done (don't ask who won) when he spots Dazai at his designated spot.]

Ah. I see you've crawled back from your hole.

i should regret this being the first thing i tag on this log probably but i don't

[chemex]

Ooh, if I wait fifteen will you let me have alcohol?

[Akira climbs onto a stool, or whatever manner of seating is provided, and if no seating he's just gonna sit like a shrimp, and grin hopefully at Dazai. He'll ask about why the fuck he's so extremely injured after he figures out if he can schmooze booze.]

hi

[prophylactic]

[Shinji is regretting his choice to come over here and try to get a drink. That is to say, not a drink drink, because he has his reasons, but he has made the gracious concession to stand around in the sun all day for Kotone's sake (in a hoodie and his silly ye olde swim... shorts? a bathing suit with a belt?), and he is thirsty.

So here he is: just standing there, watching Dazai do whatever this is.]

....Can I just get a water.

[how long is homie gonna spin......]

Just give me a cup and I'll get it myself.

[foundheart]

Um...

[honestly she's just Very Concerned, practically buzzing with concerned energy]

I'm not old enough, I think, but thank you. Do you need anything else...? Can I get you some food or something? [PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD EAT SOMETHNG WITH YOUR ALCOHOL]

akira kurusu; p5r/p5s, the jonkler himself; hello i promised this TL like a week ago

[chemex]

The morning of... Akira is, oddly, not much of a party kid. He does, however, absolutely love to feed people. So when the mention comes up, he gets to work. His arsenal has greatly expanded since the days of only knowing how to make curry and scrambled eggs, and he's got a veritable smorgasbord of eats to choose from. If you can think of it and the ingredients are feasibly obtainable in Aldrip, he's probably made it.

There's also a frankly impossible amount of finger sandwiches. Those are good party fixings, right??

If you can dodge a chore, you aren't Akira Kurusu, actually. He likes chores, because he's a weirdo, but more importantly he's damn fucking good at watermelon-smashing. He was taught by the best, after all! So while he hasn't smashed any watermelons just yet, instead choosing to go around cleaning up after anyone else who has to make the experience more enjoyable (and less sticky) overall, he has a melon and a bat set aside for himself later.

Also if you happen to be even remotely competitive and want him to chase you with a watergun, or serve you some balls, or literally anything else, he is absolutely your guy. Just say the word.

Y'all gotta eat, right? Well good, because as previously mentioned, Akira has so much food. If he catches anyone looking who he hasn't seen with a plate already, he'll circle around to them with his hands in his pockets and start immediately questioning what sorts of food they like to build them a plate. Food is one of his many love languages, okay? Please eat.

As the sun starts to set, Akira is actually sprawled like a starfish in the sand. He's equal parts exhausted and energized by the day, but he's taking advantage of golden hour and just laying still for a while in the last dregs of warmth from the sun. His eyes are closed, but he isn't sleeping-- just resting. Or is he actually asleep...? Someone should throw a remaining water balloon at him or something.

[[For your viewing pleasure, these are what his swim trunks look like, because he's the only boy here who actually came prepared for a beach episode.]]

jonkler!!

[orphne]

[It's while he's being a starfish that Kotone plops down next to him and uses his arm as a pillow. Thanks buddy, she doesn't want to get (too much more) sand in her hair. She's not plastered against him or anything, but if he's gonna leave his arm out like that, she's gonna take advantage.]

Hey. Did you have fun?

[Maybe she's had one or two of Dazai's cocktails, but sitting by the ocean with a friend seems like one of many highlights of today.]

the food one

[sincleavers]

[What sort of food does he like? That's a dangerous question to ask -- one that nearly got no small number of citizens in Aldrip killed a few months ago. But he's nothing if not friendly, and besides, maybe he'll find a food buddy if he just keeps at it long enough. At least this time he wasn't foolhardy enough to cook something.]

I'm not too picky when it comes to food, but I definitely prefer something with a kick. The spicier, the better!

Gives Akira a very weird first meeting

[darkdisgrace]

[Here's the thing: Chuuya's never actually done watermelon smashing, so he doesn't even think to use a stick.

He uses his fist instead, which means Akira might get splattered by the remnants of the poor watermelon that Chuuya just slams his bare fist through as he's going around cleaning up.

Yeah uh... sorry about that?]

[foundheart]

[Akira can't dodge a chore, but can he dodge a water balloon??

Because that's what Sumi is doing, tossing one as hard as she can at Akira while his back is turned!! She's got a water gun at her side too, giggling brightly]

Chuuya Nakahara | BSD | OTA

[darkdisgrace]

Morning
[Chuuya's been up since early in the day, helping with party and food prep in various ways. He's not a professional chef or anything, but Kotone can at least attest to his skills being decent. And his ability is very useful for a variety of set up work: Anything too heavy for one person to carry? No problem.

Though it's a rather comical sight when a 5'3 man drags an entire dead tree to the site where the bonfire will be held later. And another... and then another.

What? They're already dead, might as well get some use out of 'em.]

Afternoon
[Waterguns? Water balloons? Unfortunately, Chuuya is a man who does not know any chill whatsoever when it comes to a challenge.

Maybe someone launches a balloon at him. Maybe Chuuya decides to be sneaky and launch his own. But either way-- ever seen water balloons shoot through the air like heat seeking missiles?

Yeah. Yeaaaah.]

Evening
[By evening, Chuuya's settled in the sand, water lapping at his feet and drink in hand. He's utterly content and relaxed, perhaps for the first time in weeks honestly. He really owes Kotone thanks for planning this party.

He's open to chatting, or just sitting in silence and enjoying the night air.]

Wildcard
[Chuuya is very social, so he's pretty open to being approached at the party, engaging in fun and games, or whatever else!]

afternoon

[nullificates]

(oh, chuuya is juggling balloons on top of them? oh, chuuya is using his ability? oh, chuuya is using his ability right next to dazai? oh, there are balloons that he calculates will pop on his face if he just does...

a boop.

get rekt, chuuya, fuck you. :) )

evening!!

[orphne]

Chuuya!!

[Kotone plops down right next to him, her own drink in hand as she beams at him. She'd already thanked him for all his help with the preparations (the logs? incredible) and she'd definitely also tossed her fair share of water balloons at him, too, but honestly? Relaxing is just as nice, and she bumps his shoulder gently.]

Did you have fun?

morning

[oracledriven]

[Noel was about to ask two things about those whole dead trees. One, what are they for, and two, does he need any help? But as he opens his mouth to do so, Chuuya seems to...drag the entire thing by himself. So he shuts his mouth, tries for a grand total of ten seconds to figure out what in the hell he just witnessed, and then realizes that staring is rude. In that order.]

You know, they work better when they're in smaller parts. And also dried out already.

[The man drags several entire damn trees over, and Noel decides to sass him over it? Child, please.]

Morning

[foundheart]

[She's trying to help Kotone out setting things up, not sure what to do with herself otherwise.

She's been trying to figure out how to get wood over to the fire, but uhh Chuuya seems to have that on lock! She can't help but watch with wide-eyed awe and when he drops off one of the trees, she applauds him]

Wow, that's amazing! I didn't know Kotone-senpai had such strong friends!

Izuku "Deku" Midoriya | My Hero Academia | OTA

[heroondecku]

A: The Morning Of

[Of course Izuku shows up to help out with whatever prep work he can. Hauling firewood, naturally, but if he sees someone who looks like they're in need of an extra set of hands he's right there ready to offer his own for the task. He even pitches in for some locals willing to lend tables, chairs and benches to the cause - they're not quite the usual beachside picnic tables, and most of them end up needing to be on the more solid soil next to the beach to avoid tipping over, but they're serviceable enough.

Don't worry about the fact that he's moving some of those tables and benches single-handedly. He's got the situation under control and the green sparking he's emitting is perfectly normal.]

B: Sand, Surf, and Sunshine

[There's so much going on that Izuku doesn't quite know what to do with himself.

He's as friendly as ever, of course, and just as amenable to being dragged into things. Also, surprisingly chill with being sprayed with water guns or hit with water balloons and perfectly willing to grab his own and get competitive with the right encouragement, though he does tense up reflexively the first few times it happens. (And depending on the mindset of his "attacker", might somehow perfectly dodge entirely and prove impossible to ambush. He can't really turn Danger Sense off, sorry. Feel free to take it as a challenge!)

When he's not being dragged into things, though, Izuku...isn't really doing much. He's not exactly being a wallflower, so much as just kind of hovering awkwardly around the edges of the fun. He's still not entirely used to events like this; and most of what he has gotten used to happened through the support and encouragement of his friends and classmates, and they're not here to follow the leads of. What if he does something wrong? Are there rules for this he's supposed to know? It's safer to not risk the embarrassment - or worse, the rejection.

Even if you are pulling him into some activity or another, there's a good chance he's uncertain to the point of hesitancy. Is it really okay for him to join in? Are you sure?]

C: Bonfires

[The uncertainty and awkwardness continues into the evening - bonfire etiquette is just as new and unknown to him as everything else - but as things calm down it gets a little easier. It's hard to relax by a fire wrong, after all. If someone seems lonely he'll come sit with them, either to talk or to just keep them company, whichever they prefer.

Once he's certain it's okay for him to do so, he'll even roast a few marshmallows for himself and others. How do you like yours done?]

Wildcard
((If you wanna do something that doesn't feel covered by any of these, or want to plot out something specific/request a closed starter, hit me up on plurk @ AngelLeriel or via PMs and we'll work something out!))

B

[foundheart]

[Similarly, Sumi feels a bit awkward and on the fringes of the party, wandering about. When she sees Izuku also looking kind of awkward about it all, she approaches with a little smile]

Hi. You look a little lost too. Can I get you anything to eat or drink?

Stede Bonnet | Our Flag Means Death | OTA

[touchofcashmere]

[throughout, he is wearing this and board shorts and looking like a soccer dad trying to be cool]

I. Dodging balls and shooting hearts- [with water guns and occasionally beach balls that is. Expect Stede to pop up from behind anything tall enough to hide him or him in a crouch, a tree, a bush, the bandstand, popping up out of the water and gasping for breath only to shoot the interloper with the water gun or ding a soft beach ball off their head]

Ha ha! You've been struck by the Gentleman Pirate! Bet you didn't see that coming!

II. It's dinner time-[he is back three or four times, piling his plate with food]
This is delish! Almost as good as back on the Revenge. Haven't found anyone who can make an orange cake as good as a pirate cook. But then, there aren't a lot of people like him anyway. [and then eyeing the other's plate] Are you going to finish that?

III. Sunset-

Gosh I love a good drinking game. Of course I did them back all the time on the Revenge, but- I wouldn't mind learning a new one. Or getting drunk.

[he takes a hopeful sip of his drink]

III.

[morsangel]

[ Yosano loved drinking games. And more so because she always won. As the resident heavy weight at her Agency (surrounded by boring drinkers, she might add), Yosano was always looking for someone else to drink into the ground. ]

Oh dear, aren't you just a fine looking gentleman. I must say, I do like a friendly drinking game myself.

[ She smiled. Although it was hiding quite a dark competitive nature inside her. ]

Never Have I ever is always a fun one. Though I am up for suggestions.