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.

[herodrawing]

Feels like we really earned it this time.

I don't mean just the Balmarian thing. But, well, everything.

[majestic_keiki]

Yeah. And we've done a lot more on our own since then to give us control over our lives.

[herodrawing]

And now we can use that control to do whatever we want!

[Izuru sniffs the air.]

Hey, is someone grilling?

[majestic_keiki]

Yes...Been out here for a while, getting hungry.

1/2

[herodrawing]

I'll go get us something. Do you want a hotdog, a burger?

[Izuru quickly departs for the grill.]

2/2

[herodrawing]

[And returns just as quickly.]

All the old guy had was charcoal...

Re: 2/2

[majestic_keiki]

He was just burning charcoal for no reason?

[herodrawing]

It wasn't charcoal when he started with it.

The grill's fire is really intense... it's kinda scary.

[majestic_keiki]

...What?

[herodrawing]

I think it's best if you see for yourself.

[Following the smell over a dune shows... an inferno. A very happy Baran Doban is laughing as a grill he's in charge of bursts with huge flames time and time again. He occassionaly throws a piece of meat onto it, and retrieves a charred remain a few moments later.]

[majestic_keiki]

Looks healthy. Wonder how he hasn't died of stomach cancer yet.

[srwu_npc4]

"Ha ha! I hear mutterings of uncertainity but you must know better than to judge things by their appearances."

"Try anything I made, I am certain you will enjoy it!"

[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.

[caressedthedarkness]

...Truth be told, I do not enjoy running around and swimming, either. Not in this weather...

I am curious about breaking watermelons, though...

[majestic_keiki]

We can probably get some, somewhere. We need to figure out who to blindfold, though.

[Probably not the superhumanly strong, clumsy kijin, though.]

[caressedthedarkness]

Ah, someone who will not destroy the fruit before we manage to eat it...

[And things in the surroundings as well.]

[majestic_keiki]

You can do it. We'll just need to find a watermelon, a bat and a blindfold.