[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

[chemex]

[He's probably had worse? And if he hasn't, he's got the patience of the entirety of the population of Tokyo. He watches Dazai's hand drop, then looks from it back to his face without moving his head.]

[And immediately raises both hands in front of himself in an "X", making a quiet buzzer sound.] Nahhhh, not gonna talk about his deal. If he hasn't told you he doesn't want you to know, sorry. [He will not suffer the consequences of telling his boyfriend's life story, thanks.]

[nullificates]

Ah, since our little disagreement, it seems like we are neutral. It's not the first time someone's wanted to murder me, as you can see for yourself! I'll find out eventually.

(predict, predict, predict, who knows what goes into dazai's mind. it's a vast place, categories, eyes that don't stop scanning, silver tongue that manipulates answers as quick as one can - akira's told him just enough.)

What did Koto-chan tell you about me, anyway?

[chemex]

Probably won't be the last, either, [He breezes, shrugging and going back to his bubbly.] Still doesn't mean I'm gonna tell you anything. It'll be more rewarding if you can get him to tell you himself, anyway.

[He considers the question, scrunching up one side of his face and shaking his head.] Not much, really-- she threatened to ask to you pick the lock to my door if I didn't let her in, once, and that gave me enough of a hint, and then the altercation with you 'n Goro..., [Oop, he sure did call him by his first name publicly, didn't he. Dazai is probably just sharp enough to notice the way he briefly stares through his glass of drink when he realizes that-- otherwise he doesn't visibly react.]

[nullificates]

(he just listens, for a second, because those two things don't really tell akira that much about him. it is, however, interesting to hear the last words, which make dazai smirk. probably sharp? he'll stab you with it!!!)

Ah. Goro-kun, is that? You know. Chuuya and I know each other since we were fifteen, and not once has he ever called me by my first name. Interesting how the youth is that quick into comfort?

[chemex]

[He's lucky his hair is so ridiculous and fluffy and mostly hides his ears, because they've gone slightly pink.]

I guess I've known him since I was sixteen, but you're a couple years older than me, still. He doesn't get close to people easily, so I wanted to have the right to call him Goro for a long time.

[nullificates]

(he'd poke fun of akechi forever, being the piece of shit he is, but he likes akira, so instead, he just smiles. he too liked someone at their age.

perhaps it's a bit of projecting - arsène lupin really does remind dazai of him. he can't help but wonder if he can see some of that in the pair, or if this is just him playing tricks on himself.)

He's a difficult one, isn't he? I'm glad you managed to get close. You seem like a good kid, and he seems a little lost. Take care of him if you can, and, obviously, don't tell him I've told you that.

[chemex]

[Oh. Dazai, you've just earned several points in Akira's mind and his heart. He looks him over, carefully, tilts his head, and covers up a more pensive emotion with a crooked smile.]

Difficult is the world's biggest understatement about him, but. Yeah. I appreciate that. [He picks up his bubbly again and waves the glass at him just slightly.] Try to avoid breaking his fingers again, if only for my sake? He's even harder to deal with when he's trying to hide like some kind of weird angry turtle.

[nullificates]

Ah, you see. I stopped with that kind of activity years ago, save for emergency times. He brought up something I needed to know, and then refused to tell me anything about it, which was rather important to me - and then I asked you, you told me yourself, and all is fine and dandy!

(weird angry turtle sounds just about right, though.)

[chemex]

[He gives him a sort of withering frown, shaking his head.]

...okay, different request: if he's being difficult, come to me before you cause him harm? Ignoring that he probably gets off on being enough of a prick to make people want to hurt him.

[nullificates]

Fine, fine!! Don't be a broken record!

... Although I will say, depending on who he antagonizes, he might actually be hurt badly. You should also keep him out of trouble.

[chemex]

I'm the dad friend, I gotta be a broken record sometimes.

[He sulks into his drink and chugs it, setting down the class and nudging it forward in a silent bid for another.] Yeah, I know. It's harder than it sounds, though.

[nullificates]

Oh, I never said it wasn't. I have mentees who make him seem like a walk in the park. I've done my time, though, so this one is completely on you!

(akutagawa... akutagawa.)

[chemex]

[He laughs softly, and his posture folds inward just slightly.] Well, it's at least nice in a weird way to know it's not just me.

[nullificates]

Oh, no. I had a subordinate where Chuuya and I worked, and it's been four years since I left, and he just now is starting to see things.

[chemex]

[His posture stays pinned. He doesn't have that kind of time? But that's not something he thinks is appropriate to say, right now.]

I'm sure he'll come around. Akechi, that is.

[nullificates]

You underestimate my virtue - I don't care if he does, for me in particular. Quite frankly, I have more to gain if he continues to be as he is, but I don't think that'd be good for you or your comrades in the long run, and thus, you'd make my life slightly harder, and I'm not very into hard work myself.

(bullshit, but like, kinda true, but also, very bullshit-- which is it?)

[chemex]

[He chuckles, shrugging.]

I want him to get better for himself, more than I do for me. I just stand to benefit a lot from his improvement, too.

[nullificates]

I don't see him letting you walk around holding his hand in any foreseeable future, though.

(sorry, grace period gone, back to being bitch.)

[chemex]

[He chuckles, shaking his head.]

No, I don't really see that ever being a thing. [He'll roll with the bitch-mode, he's used to it.]

[nullificates]

Does it bother you?

(LET'S ACCEPT THAT HE KNOWS BUT PRETEND THEY'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT IT AT ALL.)

[chemex]

[He rolls that question around in his head a minute, shrugging gently.] Not enough to talk about. I'm happy just getting to be around him, if it's never anything different, that's okay.

[nullificates]

I suppose that's better than frustrating yourself over something you can't control.

(says a control freak, very frustrated at times, alas.)

[chemex]

[He nods, staring just about through his empty glass for a moment.]

...your friend, the one you were asking about. He died, didn't he? [Please don't kill him, Dazai.]

[nullificates]

(of course that would be obvious with how strongly dazai reacted.

thread carefully...)

When I was your age, so it's been a while.

[chemex]

[He draws in a breath, holds it, and exhales, nodding.]

...it's not my place to ask how you deal with it, but. If you ever want to talk about it... We aren't so dissimilar. [Looking up, he offers..., Well. It's a smile, but one that looks like he's smiling through having a really awful stomachache.]