Beach episode bookends

[srwu_npc4]

"The first operation of Project Unification was a resounding success. Don't let it get to your heads, but we did better than even the most optimistic estimates. There's more dangerous, hard work awaiting us in the future. In the meatime, Dirchs pulled some old contacts and to spare you the boring details, we've organized a short trip to a luxury resort. Enjoy your vacation."


"I'll be there too!"

====


"You got it all wrong. See, it's a contest of skill, stealth! Peeking is all about not getting caught, it makes it more exciting."

Two years - it may feel like ages since the last time you had this type of vacation. Or maybe that time passed all too quickly? Regardless, it's time to rest now. The weather is warm, the beach is nice, and drinks are on the house!


"No, no. A real gentleman doesn't need to peek - he just walks up to a lady, straight and direct. She picked her swimsuit hoping that you notice it after all... here, according to my notes..."

And the Handsome Aces team are already up to some kind of shenanigans.


"Heh. Look at these guys, always up to making more trouble than it's worth."


"Cold beer tastes best on a hot day, huh?"

Well, some of them. Crowe's happy to share a drink with Rand, who in the meantime seems to have made a new friend.


"Ha! Well said! This drink is most extraordinary, it will go well with the Doban school of cooking!" Meat on Baran Doban's grill is slowly turning into char...


"..."

Ange observes the scene, some distance away from the rest. The Black Six pilot is wearing an androgynous striped swimsuit that, predictably, does little to reveal their gender.

[This is a mingle post. Feel free to talk to either other players or the NPCs, or even more NPCs of your own. Writing your own posts for others to tag in is also fine.]

Comments

[majestic_keiki]

[As far as she's come since her last beach vacation, some things about Kei doesn't change. She's still wearing a fairly anonymous swimsuit and still trying to stick to the shade and avoid notice. At least this time she's reading instead of just awkwardly sitting around.]

[herodrawing]

Wow, it's the beach! Just as I remember it.

[Here's Izuru, waving from a distance as he moves in closer, kicking up sand, a ball in hand.]

Remember the last time we were at the beach, Kei? I almost drowned!

[majestic_keiki]

...Yes.

This feels different. Even if we were still just told when and where to go have fun.

[herodrawing]

Hmm. You're right - the place is very similar, but the atmosphere's kinda different.

[Izuru looks up, recalling events from two years ago.]

Everyone was really tense back then, right?

[majestic_keiki]

Of course we were. We were forced into battle out of nowhere, Asagi just got humiliated and out of nowhere we were ordered to go relax where, when and how we were told.

[caressedthedarkness]

Kei...?

[A certain Kijin is here as well. However, she doesn't bother with a swimsuit or even a summer dress this time, and only took off the coat she normally wears - under which is a sleeveless, skin-tight suit and a long skirt.

She also looks rather exhausted.]

...So you cannot stand this weather as well?

[majestic_keiki]

It's not the weather. I'm just not really sure what to do here.

[She looked out over all the beach goers, particularly glancing at those mandatory guys creepily hitting on girls.]

[caressedthedarkness]

From what I have seen, people tend to run around, swim, and hit watermelons while blindfolded.

There is also what they call B-B-Q when the sun sets.

[BBQ in this case, is pronounced by the letters, instead of barbecue.]

[majestic_keiki]

Yeah, we'll probably have barbecue for dinner.

And I don't really like doing those other things, so I'm not sure what to do here.

[empress_without_a_throne]

[Some things really don't change at all. Specifically...]

... I'm getting better at it. Just hope nobody else minds.

[Mizuki's made another sandcastle doom fortress. With great big sandy skulls adorning it everywhere.]

[defies_fates_hand]

[Mizuki would be treated to the sight of sand rising in a trail, seemingly moving around at random locations... interestingly there seems to be a vine holding onto a Popsicle sticking out of said moving sand. No need to guess what was happening here.]

'Teritus! You've had enough Ice Cream for one day! You know how you get when you have to much!

[Mizuki can very faintly hear a soft 'Noooooooo!' from under the sand as the popsicle moves to hide in the doomfortress.]

[empress_without_a_throne]

[Wait. That was-]

No, Interitus you can't!

[Without any idea of what to grab, Mizuki grabs the only thing she can: the popsicle.]

If you burrow through it then it'll fall apart!

[defies_fates_hand]

[There was a startled squeak as the popsicle was tugged, the vine leaving the sand like a power cord being pulled from the ground... or more appropriately - a leash being pulled. Thankfully this had the effect of stopping the plant girl before she got too close to collapsing the skull fortress. Volya sighs at this.]

Sorry Mizuki... Is your ... uh... skull fortress thing alright?

[He finds himself feeling quite confused and surprised at the sight of Fort Skullmageddon. Interitus carefully unearths herself and just managed to bring her head out from under the sand to make a comment... and promptly stares up at the massive sand skull looming over her. She simply lets out a tiny squeak and freezes up.]

... Really?

[brought_it_back]

[Eva chooses to lie on a towel under an umbrella, watching everyone else play at the beach. Unlike Kei, she forgot to bring a book, so awkward sitting around commences. In an uncharacteristically racy bikini, no less.]

[cloningblues]

[An Asagi walks past, with a can of juice. He's not much for mad vacation shenanigans.]

Oh, hey Eva. What are you-

[Beat.]

Umm... Er...

[brought_it_back]

-Oh, Asagi! This is my first time at a beach, so I'm not really sure what to do...

[the beat.]

Ah...Is my swimsuit bad? I saw something like it on TV, but the woman who wore it...
[Uncomfortable fidgeting ensues.]

[cloningblues]

Oh no, it's perfectly fine! I'm just... surprised. Yeah. I think it suits you, though.

Well. I prefer to take it easy and rest during downtime. I'm not very interested in that kind of thing.

[Asagi points at the shenanigans going further down the beach with his thumb.]

Say if something catches your attention, though. Want a drink?

[brought_it_back]

Oh, sure-anything's fine. And-I don't mind quiet.

[Eva waits patiently for Asagi to return, hugging her knees to her chest while she does so.]

...It looks like everyone's enjoying themselves, huh...

[pulledplug]

[What else's a cool dude like Roy gonna do except-]

CANNONBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALL!!!!!!

[Be the big man of action at the diving board! Or rather... just jump in cannonball-style off the side of a pier. Those diving boards are really intimidating to stand on!]

[lostamigo]

[Daniel is sitting in a wooden boat - one that barely supports his weight, from the looks of it. It's attached by a rope to the pier, and from the looks of it, it seems like someone left him in here and then forgot about him.]

[And on top of that, now he's splashed with water.]

Having fun, I see.

[pulledplug]

You bet. Sun, summer, fun... tons of great stuff to be had out here!

... Ya wanna let me get you a pole though? You look like you're on the SS Boredom.

[lostamigo]

Must be nice to feel the sun. Or swim.

I'm holding the boat for a few guys. They told me they'll be back soon.

That was a long while ago.

T'least I got drinks.

[Daniel raises an open can of beer, then peers into it.]

...I think water got inside.

[star_of_sad]

Ha ha...

There really are a lot of small pleasures in life, aren't they?

[Even if the one participating in them isn't truly alive per se. Setsuko's covering herself from the water, trying to minimize the amount that splashes on her light sundress-and-hat combo.]

[pulledplug]

You totally bet there are!

[So says Roy as he looks back up at Setsuko.]

And man... even the stuff being cooked smells great already too... can't wait to finally have some of it!

[star_of_sad]

Let's pick some up later.

Ahh, the sea looks great. I don't even know what to do first...