Kotone "sleepy bitch disease" Shiomi (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
orphne) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
expiationlogs2023-06-10 08:49 am
orphne) wrote in expiationlogs2023-06-10 08:49 am
[open mingle] let's go to the beach-each, let's go get a wave
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.
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.
getting ready
Oh, yes. Of course.
[ Marianne reaches out to take a bundle of beach blankets and a parasol from her. ]
no subject
[Ethlyn's really not sure how to treat the matter of possession by a massive, malicious monster. So she's just... striking the same sort of tone she would for someone who's been ill.]
no subject
[ Marianne hangs her head, unable to look at Ethlyn. She remembers being stubborn and unreasonable when Ethyln had tried to convince her that her 'friend' was dangerous. Now that she's come to her senses, she feels so foolish.
She busies herself with the parasol instead, pulling it open with a snap. Maybe she can just...hide her face behind it this whole beach trip. Yeah. ]
no subject
It wasn't your fault. I'm just sorry that I didn't know how to free you from it. [She didn't figure it out until trying to talk Noel down from following it, and even then it wasn't about her words--it was him seeing her get hurt that loosened its grasp on him.] And a lot of people were caught in its snare. Don't be too harsh on yourself.
no subject
You couldn't have reasoned with me. I wasn't...in the right mind.
[ Said from behind the parasol. There's the sound of shuffling as Marianne unwraps the beach blankets and shakes them out.
... ]
Have you been alright?
no subject
I'm just glad everyone was freed before anything worse could happen. [Even that, she regrets as she says it--she's thinking of what Claude said about demonic beasts, and Claude and Marianne are from the same world--that's probably what she's been thinking about too.] I'm all right. Recovering from some injuries I took during the battle. You weren't wounded yourself, were you?
no subject
[ That makes Marianne shift the umbrella, finally coming out from behind it to take another look at Ethyln, her eyes sorrowful. Even if she hadn't been the direct cause of her inquiry, it feels like she's played a part in it. If she hadn't sympathized with the monster, perhaps she could have prevented some of the terrible destruction.
She thanks the goddess that her friend is alive. It makes her resolve to try harder to set things right. When the day is over with, she'll put on her hospital gown and return to the clinic... ]
I'm alright. The marks have faded now. It doesn't feel right that I got away without a scratch...
no subject
[That's how Ethlyn thinks of the matter, although it's not quite the right version of events--rather, she lost patience and shoved her sword into the roots first.
She shakes her head at Marianne's guilty conscience. She'd probably feel the same way herself, but she's just relieved that her friend hasn't suffered any effects more pernicious than shame.]
No, I'm glad that the marks have gone. Claude told me about something similar that had happened to people in Fódlan... I was afraid that the effects would last even after the monster fell, but I'm happy that you've recovered, at least in body.
no subject
[ Marianne wrings the towel in her hands anxiously. So Claude had told Ethlyn about Fódlan, and the kind of creatures that existed there. ]
Similar things have happened back home. Only once you're transformed, there's no turning back. Remember when I told you I was cursed?
[ She looks down at the sand, knowing what she asks next will be terrible. But to not warn Ethyln would be even worse. Her friend might have survived without any lasting injuries this time, but Marianne could have seriously hurt her. ]
It's true the marks are gone for now, but someday I fear I may lose myself again. If that happens, and I become a monster, will you put a stop to me?
[ This probably isn't what the nurses had in mind when they sent her on the beach trip. ]
no subject
I... [How is Ethlyn supposed to answer that? Marianne is standing there on the sunny beach with a towel and a parasol. It's impossible to imagine her becoming a monster--having to drive a sword through her. Ethlyn remembers her reaction when Claude told her about the demons, saying that death sounded like a release for them, but... Marianne?
She remembers how frightened Deirdre was at first. Warning Sigurd of the terrible fate she carried. Sigurd had forged ahead anyway, declaring that their love would overcome anything, and then Deirdre vanished, and who knows if that fate claimed her already.] Only if--only if there is absolutely no other choice. I will.
[She understands that Marianne would not want to live like that, especially after being possessed by the monster here. Still, the words taste appalling as she speaks them.]
But please don't give up on yourself so easily.
no subject
[ Marianne breathes a sigh of relief. If the worst should happen, just knowing she wouldn't be forced to live a cursed existence that hurts others fills her with more peace than it should. ]
My parents were the same as me, and they disappeared one day. I fear...
[ Her voice trembles. She's afraid to finish the thought. ]
I don't want to become a monster who will strike at my friends, you included. This is for the best.
[ She says softly, managing a weak smile. Maybe it's unfair of her to ask this of Ethlyn. It feels like she's always troubling her with her woes. She's not been a terribly great friend, has she?
Still, she cherishes the friendship extended to her, something she still feels shy to express, too used to being alone and feeling undeserving of it. But if there was anything good to come out of the recent disaster, it was that she realized there were people who've seen her at her worst and somehow weren't frightened of her, people who believed in her more than she did herself.
Once upon a time, she might have resigned herself to her fate and left it at that, but now she considers Ethyln's words. Don't give up on yourself so easily. Her expression turns pensive. She thinks of the moment the spell over her had been broken, and how she had never once dreamed that was possible with her curse.
The sun shines down from a cloudless sky. The sand is hot underfoot, filling her with warmth. Maybe the nurses' suggestion had been right. ]
It's funny you should say that...
no subject
[It's fitting that Marianne is the first person that Ethlyn prayed with here, because now se is praying again that she never needs to fulfill her friend's terrible, terrible request. Ethlyn wonders if both Claude and Marianne can be wrong and knows that the chances are slim. She can only hope that if that time comes, there will be another way. Marianne is a dear friend. She may be the person who knows the most about Ethlyn here--in spite of their differences of temperament, Ethlyn feels a kinship with her that she doesn't with many others.]
Funny how?
[She gives Marianne a small smile of her own, trying to make it a heartening one.]
no subject
[ Which wasn't to disappear, but to stay as she is, with the friends who cared for her. She has Claude and the knight Sir Mylnar to thank for her realization. It would have been easier to give in, and for a long time all she wanted was to be freed of her suffering, but for the people who accept her as she is, who believe in her, she thinks she can endure. She has to try. ]
I never thought the spell could be broken. I don't know if my curse is the same, but I want to become stronger so that I can stand a fighting chance.
[ Someone strong like Ethyln. When Marianne thinks of who she admires, Ethlyn is one of those who come to mind. ]
no subject
...I'm glad. I'm so grateful they were able to reach that part of you. [She reaches out to put a hand on Marianne's arm.] Maybe your curse is alike, and maybe it isn't, but if this one was broken, then perhaps your own can be, too.
[She finds herself thinking of Deirdre again, wondering what heavy burden was laid on her. Maybe that's why Ethlyn has been so drawn to Marianne... reminded of the sister-in-law she lost.]
I think you are strong already, but trying to get stronger is always a worthy goal to strive for. And though I don't know very much about curses, I'll help you, if you wish.
i think we can wrap here and make way for new threads!
[ Ethlyn's touch is a reassuring one, and Marianne smiles genuinely. For once, she feels hopeful for the future. Perhaps, as Sir Młynar had said, she could become someone who she never knew she could become. She has to try for the people who aren't giving up her. How can she give up on herself now?
She straightens up and sets the parasol properly into the ground, her movements more lively this time as she looks to her friend. ]
Shall we finish setting up?