[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

[nullificates]

Huh? What kinda drink?

(did she want him to make up one or is it one she already knows-- actually, why are we doing this-- why is she--

oh.)

Koto-chan, is this your... Birthday?

[orphne]

Nope!

[She gives him a bright smile as she lies right to his face. She learned her lesson from last time, but honestly? She just wants to see if he can catch her in the lie. She's trying to keep her face as neutral as possible. Maybe too neutral, so she tilts her head with feigned curiosity.]

Why do you ask?

[nullificates]

(oh, honey, he knows you too well. he watches for a moment, two, allows that know-it-all smirk to take over his lips before he nods.)

Very well, then.

(#busted.)

[orphne]

Nooo!!

[Damn it! She knows what that smirk is, and she pouts at him. Her hands would be on her hips if they weren't occupied by a bowl of ice cream in one hand and a mimosa in the other.]

C'mon, how'd you know? I was really trying that time!

[Even if she's pouting, there's laughter in her voice.]

[nullificates]

Perhaps I'm simply supernatural, have you considered?

(all he can do, however, is reach so she comes closer, so he can pet her a happy birthday.)

[orphne]

D'you think it would've fooled other people?

[She does come closer, and offer him his mimosa back as she ducks her head to receive her pat.]

I didn't want to make a big deal out of it, but... I wanted everyone to have fun. It's kind of selfish, isn't it? Throwing your own birthday party?

[nullificates]

Selfish is not letting others celebrate your existence.

(therefore, he's a horrible person, but alas, this is not about him!!! even if they don't know, they're here because of her, and that counts for something.)

Happy 18, kiddo.

[orphne]

[She just tilts her head and gives him a knowing look. Like hell this ain't about him, but she'll let it slide for now. As long as he knows that she knows, or something like that.]

Thanks, Dazai-san.

[A smile, then she tilts her head, letting her smile grow more playful.]

So, can you make me something you think I'd like? Since you're supernatural and all.

[nullificates]

(nothing too strong, he supposes. something sweet, but with a tinge of bitterness, much like one's steps towards being a grown-up. Campari Spritz, coming up!)

Here, here, try.

[orphne]

[While he's preparing it, she's eating her ice cream. Look, she didn't ask anyone to make her cake, so ice cream will have to be the next best thing. Besides, sweet ice cream after swimming in the ocean? Can't get better than that.

She tilts her head at how bright the drink it, but accepts it with a cautious sniff before taking a sip. Her nose immediately wrinkles because mm!! Bitter!! but it's kind of sweet after the first sip.]

Huh, [is all she says at first, trying another sip.] Bittersweet?

[nullificates]

Bittersweet, like one's 18s! You're becoming an adult, aren't you? There's sweet and bitter there, so here it is!

(he loves her so damn much, don't tell her. the little face she makes is very very cute, and he can't help but giggle.)

[orphne]

I think I've got two more years until I'm an adult.

[She says while taking another sip of the alcohol that she definitely also isn't supposed to be drinking for two more years. Still a little bitter, but she's getting used to it.

For now, she plops down in the sand next to his wheelchair, looking out over the beach.]

Think we'll make it that far?

[nullificates]

Not in my eyes, which counts much more than the law!

(this could totally be why you're in a max security ability user big ass prison, but alas.

good question that she poses. a myriad of things to consider - they don't go home for two years, so kotone doesn't die upon arrival. dazai holds off for that long. this place doesn't kill both of them. the smile he gives is so close to being genuine, but knowing him, she certainly knows he's faking the perfect expression for her sake.)

I hope so.

[orphne]

[She huffs a small laugh. Dazai, former mafia, current detective, thinking his opinion is more important than the law? Shocker.

With a glance up at him, it takes a moment of study to recognize that it's fake, less than that to realize that he's doing it for her sake. The smile she gives him in return is knowing, tinged with just a hint of sadness, then she returns her gaze out to the ocean.]

I always liked looking at the sea. It's like... it makes you feel kind of small, doesn't it? Like everything you're worried about doesn't matter.

The school roof had a really good view of it. [The one she died on.]

cw suicide mention

[nullificates]

I'm more of a river person - though most of what I do in these bodies of water is-- well! You know. Glub, glub, glub. I do enjoy looking at it from time to time, though, at a distance.

(it's a calming feeling, even if his body reacts to it intensively. even if it barely allows dazai to enjoy being washed away.)

Ah. A lot of things don't matter, though. Everything in this life is awfully subjective.

[orphne]

[She just gives him a patient look. Thanks for the mental image, Dazai. Could've done without that.]

It being subjective is what makes things seem so big though, huh? Bigger than they should. People's feelings and problems all seem huge to them, but small to everybody else.

[nullificates]

(truth be told, he never got to play the part of a mentor much for girls. gin, without an ability, had been under another's wing for a while there, with dazai complementing it on the side.

he was good to her, he likes to think. kotone, sometimes, makes him think of that.)

Ah, that's my girl. Everything is chaos, there's no harmony, we must just go with it.

[orphne]

That's why it's good to talk to somebody else about them. They seem smaller when they're shared.

[A gentle verbal poke. He knows he can talk to her about anything, right? They've crossed that hurdle by now. But also- she looks back over the sea.]

You and Chuuya talk a lot about the stuff that happened at different... "times," right? Like, when we brought you back, you and him both seemed able to talk about stuff you remembered that the other didn't.

["Drowned you, drowned me?" she still doesn't get it, and honestly isn't sure she wants to.]

[nullificates]

Or perhaps bigger, depending on how the other person takes it. People...! Ah, what a complicated concept.

(he won't talk, not that much, not that often, but he has learned that it isn't the best to keep so many secrets from kotone. some, but not so many.)

Ah, not really. We talked because we were all attempting to murder each other, business only, no hard feelings. We don't tend to talk. He didn't know about Odasaku until very recently, you see.

[orphne]

Mm.

[She hums again, still not looking at him. Sorry Dazai, she really, really doesn't want to dig into why you were all trying to murder each other. Again, she is probably better off not knowing.]

Do you think it's better not to talk about stuff you know about somebody's future...?

[Shinji. She's talking about Shinji.]

[nullificates]

I'm the last person you should ask that. I wouldn't particularly care to do to it if there was no benefit for me or in general to do that. That said, there's the whole debacle of it being, well, someone else's life, correct? I don't have the answer for you.

[orphne]

Oh.

[She looks down into her drink and- takes a really long drink. It burns! She coughs after, then laughs a little at her own reaction.]

Yuck! It really is bitter, Dazai-san. Can you make something sweeter next time?

[nullificates]

I'm just going to give you a piña colada next time, this is what I get for being creative!

(see, adult life, kotone, bitter BITTER)

[orphne]

I've never had one!

[She sticks her tongue out at him. Anyway, forget she asked about other people's futures!]

You're a bad influence, you know.

[nullificates]

I'd have to be very stupid not to know that! I do like to think I am doing a better job with you kids, though. Either way, to summarize what you've asked - it's your decision, after all. Tell them if you think they need to hear it. Don't tell them if they could be better off. Or tell them because it's the 'right thing to do'.

(never forgetting, and he even sticks his tongue out back, because he's an adult.)