Obligatory Beach Episode (the actual beach part)

[hoasen]

Who: Everyone at the beach (and Vietnam)
When: First few days of April?
Where: Capablanca: Beach
What: In order to complete a few jobs set in Capablanca, a volleyball match and a beach bbq happened (at different times). As usual, everyone can end up joining for no goddamn reason (other than money maybe).
Rating: PG is always the safe option.

NOTE This is also a mingle log, so just tag around in the sub-headers set up!

VOLLEYBALL

[In order to complete this job and win the trust of the merfolk, a beach volleyball session has been organised. What are they going to do? It has been suggested that they play on the shallows, stick up a net and then hit balls back and forth to the merfolk. Seems easy enough...right?

WRONG. Beach Volleyball is super intense. Start planning your strategies, because you could be unfortunate in that your mermaid friends are actually professional underwater volleyballers. Which is probably like Blitzball or something.]


BEACH BBQ

[One of the best ways to learn about each other and also WIN THE TRUST of local populace is to hold a random Beach Barbeque. Who knows where Vietnam managed to amass all these ingredients for the barbeque (trade secret) but everyone can help cook! If they know how. Alternatively, all barbeques need people to EAT so come judge the food. And talk and make merry.

There is word going around that someone left a whole case of alcohol for mixing. Who on earth brought that?! (And left a convenient list of drinks and how to mix them). We'll blame the proprietor of a bar who wants more publicity.]

Comments

[liberal_arts]

Oh if only.

Really, as a sword, it's particularly embarrassing if I cut myself while preparing food. It's an insult, but one I suffer unto myself.

[liberal_arts]

My hand bleeds, but my pride languishes. -Kasen huffed.- Really now, a sword of the liberal arts cutting himself at the board... I must be a sorry sight.

[yaoihand]

Kisses ... [ He kind of trails off, as he lets that seep in. Shin-Ah never really looked interested in women, so Kija hadn't expected that answer at all. Just what was he doing just now? It's always hard to tell with Shin-Ah but it doesn't look like he hated the experience, so there's no reason to assume someone forced themselves on him.

He's really not sure how to respond to this. ]

Do you ... want help cleaning it off? [ He needs to ask first, in case Shin-Ah prefers to keep those marks on his face. It feels like Jae-Ha would ????? so he has to be sure ?? ]

[praises]

[ However they'd come by all these ingredients, there's plenty to go around, so Allelujah doesn't mind giving a little extra away. He nods. ]

I'm glad to hear it. It's better for you than what comes out of the kitchens in Caissa.

[ Bless that poor chef, but no. ]

[praises]

There is no sincerer love, or so they say. [ Than that for food. If anything proves it, it's all here. ] I wanted to thank you for the chance, either way. We didn't have much time to celebrate the kitchens in Caissa being opened.

[ And believe you him, it was worthy of celebration. ]

[wingbottle]

Yup, it gets stuck in my hat and it's really hard to take out.

My name isn't "Miss" you can just call me Kobato! What's your name?

[ Kobato offers Aigis a handshake and a bright smile. It looks like she wants to be friends! There seems to be no harm in doing so as far as she's concerned. ]

[seventhgen]

My name is Aigis. It's very nice to meet you, Kobato-san. [She looks down at the extended hand for a moment and hesitates before reaching out and taking it. Kobato should immediately realize that beneath the white glove isn't normal human skin, but hard metal, instead.] Why not just take the hat off, though?

[carptricks]

[his pride commands that he answer defensively]

'Course I'm good at volleyball! [he practically puffs up when he speaks, too. like a cat] I'm good at most sports, but especially volleyball. Put me on the field, and I'd bring any team to victory.

[the merfolk aren't convinced. so why don't you stick around and play with us, scaredy cat? ehehehe!]

. . . d'you know if all merpeople are annoying like this?

[that last question is directed at Vietnam, of course. he's gonna ruin the merfolk's relationships with Blanc's heroes at this rate, yeesh]

[twosidedsword]

[He thinks and then nods. That's absolutely right. It is better than the stuff there.

Coming from the guy who will eat anything at all without a complaint. But at least he knows what food is good!]

You made it?

[twosidedsword]

[He honestly hadn't realized they were there, Kija. The people were just so friendly that he didn't think to stop them.

He nods though. Apparently Kija can see them better so maybe he should be the one to help clean them off of his face.]

[praises]

I did. Cooking is something I enjoy. [ Mostly so he can watch other people enjoy it, too. ] If you have anything you like in particular, all you have to do is ask.

[ Not quite... catching on to the fact that he's eating like he'd eat anything. Young people should have good appetites, right? Vietnam managed to get a lot of ingredients amassed to try and win over the mermaids, so either way, it's working in their favor. ]

[twosidedsword]

[He looks at his food and goes quiet. It's not really for the reason one might think though. It's not that he's trying to decide if his favorite food can even be made. It's that...

...he doesn't know what his favorite is.]

I...don't know...

[yaoihand]

[ ... And he took a step back. ] That is ...a form of swimwear?! [ The concept of having clothes to swim in is odd to him to begin with. Back home, people would just strip down to lighter clothing and jump in the water.

-- Oh, maybe that's what she did.

But the women never swam around wearing basically nothing!

He's really not sure which to be more stressed over. It's like he's caught between both of his deepest, darkest fears (what a loser). Kija eventually prioritizes saving Vietnam's life!! It takes a lot of courage, but he moves a step closer to her, averting his eyes and making a blind grab for her hand. His normally fair skin just looks like it's burning red right now. ] Y-Yes, we must go. I do not know what manner of sea-insect it's supposed to be, but it's coming right toward us! I-I will make sure you don't get hurt!

[ But with how terrified he looks, maybe he's the one who needs protection tbh. Also, can he really do all this while keeping his eyes glued to the floor? ]

[yaoihand]

[ o..k.....then. Kija whips out a napkin that he had in his pocket (as if he isn't overdressed for the beach enough already), moving a step closer to Shin-Ah and taking hold of his chin. He pulls it a little lower so it'll be easier to clean his face.

Some of the glitter gets all over his fingers. Kija stares at it in confusion. ]

I don't think I've ever seen powder like this.

[twosidedsword]

[Shin-Ah's eyes close as he relaxes and lets Kija work on cleaning him. Right until he talks about the powder anyway. Ah, he knows what he means.]

...It sparkles. They were wearing it.

[A lot of it.]

[yaoihand]

[ Now Kija gets to wiping Shin-Ah's face. Though he's using his dragons claw to hold the napkin, he's putting a lot of consideration into not exerting too much strength or accidentally scratching his brother with his nails. The end result almost feels gentle. He may be dense and klutzy on a regular basis, but with Shin-Ah he always tries his best to be gentle. ]

Wearing ... this? Is that some sort of preparation for battle ...? [ SOME TRIBES... WEAR BODY PAINT FOR WAR??? Look, it sounds reasonable in his mind. ]

[twosidedsword]

........

[He thinks about what they were doing at that club. It definitely wasn't a battle in there. It looked more like...]

...singing and dancing.

[yaoihand]

Ah. A celebration of some sort? That explains why I couldn't find you just now.

[ He got roped into a celebration of some sort??? Kija brushes Shin-Ah's hair away and starts wiping his forehead. ]

But who were these people?

[twosidedsword]

...I think...they always do it.

[He's not really sure. It was kind of confusing. There was glitter and kisses and lots of food.

Oh and tears. There were tears too.]

...They work there.

[avantguard]

What?

[ Whether joke or warning, she doesn't get it. But she does recognize Dust as the person she had worked with during the Snow Dungeon. ]

Oh, Dust-san. Hello. [ Still saving damsels? ]

What do you mean a trap?

[avantguard]

[ BUT IN THE END...

She's embarrassed still, rubbing at the other red cheek a little more roughly to get it off. This time, everything goes as planned. Her face is clean.

At least Vietnam didn't lick her finger and rub her cheek like a mom would do. Or clean her face for her... like Yata... actually she wouldn't mind if Vietnam did it. ]

I was cooking, but I had no idea it was so messy. [ There is more charcoal on her uniform but THERE'S NOT MUCH SHE CAN DO WITH THAT ]

[avantguard]

[ She's too WELL-BEHAVED for rebellion!!

Since Bolin agrees, she's left to watch him closely. From picking up tongs, to laying down da meatz, to squinting at knobs.

Why is he squinting... he was giving the grill a weird look earlier, too. Even his reaction to the grill turning on is curious. She raises her eyebrow at him. ]

Um, could I ask you something?

[avantguard]

[ She nods her thanks for the room and steps up to the table, looking down at all the ingredients. Where the hell does she begin?

Her eyes trail over to Kojirou and his bird carving for an idea. But he seems really good at it?! Uwah. Too advanced for her. She's staring at the flash of metal and a question slips out, ]

H-have you ever cut yourself doing that?

[avantguard]

[ Asuna shuffles over closer, a little unsure but hey Adra seems welcoming and willing enough that she slowly gains more confidence. Cooking can't be that hard, right? She wants to do it and his fish was tasty. She can get some pointers. ]

Okay.

[ Grab the edge, no problem. SHE DOES IT and stares at the steaks, inhaling a little as she listens to the grill sizzling. ]

I shouldn't be surprised but it already smells good, Adra-san.

[ Smelling food as it cooks versus smelling food when it's already in front of you is a totally different feeling. Maybe it's the fact that she can eat the food on the plate and she can't when it's still cooking that makes it more tempting. ]

[hoasen]

[She nods slowly, but now she feels subconscious?! Because if he's from a time further back, then this is scandalous!

Yet it looks like that because this is an emergency, he's willing to overlook it. At least, a little bit, since his hand was really red. Nevertheless, she holds on tight.]

I think it is a crab! Half crab.

[Just to help confirm it. But really, she's flattered that he's still. Trying. No matter how scared for his life he is?!]

I-I will do my best for you too! [She's also protect him!] Quickly, let's go! [If he's not looking at her, then she'll run with him in tow!]