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down by the seaside
Who: Kavi Misra and you!
When: Before the 8th, while the clue hunt is still on.
Where: Capablanca
What: The beaches are lovely. The beaches may also hide a clue as to what Noir is planning next. It is time to investigate.
Rating: Gen with minor cursing?
[ Capablanca may be a city of two faces with people as quirky as they are superficial, with hidden underground operations and bright spectacles during the daytime but one thing but there is one piece of absolute beauty to it: The beaches. With white, lovely sand and inviting looking waves splashing against the shore, there is nothing Kavi does not like about it. Despite the Spring slowly arriving back in Caissa, the temperatures are still on the lower side of the scale but Capablanca?
Compared to Caissa, it might as well be Summer.
Unfortunately, while Summer usually means vacations and time off, there is no such thing as a break for Heroes and it’s why Kavi is actually at the beach.
Rumor has it that mermaids have been spotted surfacing at this particular area of the beach. It has to be easy to hide behind rocks or among the nearby cliff area and perhaps, with enough patience and gentle coaxing, they’ll tell him if they’ve seen anything or anyone suspicious hanging around. ]
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[ Time to go mermaid hunting! Not literally though since they likely wouldn’t appreciate that in the slightest. It would seem this mermaid in particular is a very shy one and Kavi has been trying to get closer to her but to no avail.
How fortunate that someone else has appeared at the beach and Kavi is quick to jog over to them. How can you possibly say no to that winsome smile and the slightly desperate look in his eyes? ]
You wouldn’t happen to be great with shy mermaids, would you?
b
[ After the mermaid has been convinced that, yes, no one is going to strip her of her scales and sell them to the mafia later, she reluctantly mentions seeing two people talk in the middle of the night. Not unusual, considering what showed up on the Carrier feed very recently.
What happens to be unusual is the fact that they were talking with Noir accents. And that they apparently buried something.
You know what that means, right?
Work. Tedious, long winded and exhausting work. The beach is rather big after all and why Aurnla the mermaid was willing to narrow the area down for them, it’s not exactly a walk in the park. ]
Have you found anything other than seashells or a random assortment of trash yet?
[ He is taking this job seriously so there is no ounce of complaint in his voice but you know what would be great right now? A cold drink and some shade. ]
(Clue info is here.)
When: Before the 8th, while the clue hunt is still on.
Where: Capablanca
What: The beaches are lovely. The beaches may also hide a clue as to what Noir is planning next. It is time to investigate.
Rating: Gen with minor cursing?
[ Capablanca may be a city of two faces with people as quirky as they are superficial, with hidden underground operations and bright spectacles during the daytime but one thing but there is one piece of absolute beauty to it: The beaches. With white, lovely sand and inviting looking waves splashing against the shore, there is nothing Kavi does not like about it. Despite the Spring slowly arriving back in Caissa, the temperatures are still on the lower side of the scale but Capablanca?
Compared to Caissa, it might as well be Summer.
Unfortunately, while Summer usually means vacations and time off, there is no such thing as a break for Heroes and it’s why Kavi is actually at the beach.
Rumor has it that mermaids have been spotted surfacing at this particular area of the beach. It has to be easy to hide behind rocks or among the nearby cliff area and perhaps, with enough patience and gentle coaxing, they’ll tell him if they’ve seen anything or anyone suspicious hanging around. ]
a
[ Time to go mermaid hunting! Not literally though since they likely wouldn’t appreciate that in the slightest. It would seem this mermaid in particular is a very shy one and Kavi has been trying to get closer to her but to no avail.
How fortunate that someone else has appeared at the beach and Kavi is quick to jog over to them. How can you possibly say no to that winsome smile and the slightly desperate look in his eyes? ]
You wouldn’t happen to be great with shy mermaids, would you?
b
[ After the mermaid has been convinced that, yes, no one is going to strip her of her scales and sell them to the mafia later, she reluctantly mentions seeing two people talk in the middle of the night. Not unusual, considering what showed up on the Carrier feed very recently.
What happens to be unusual is the fact that they were talking with Noir accents. And that they apparently buried something.
You know what that means, right?
Work. Tedious, long winded and exhausting work. The beach is rather big after all and why Aurnla the mermaid was willing to narrow the area down for them, it’s not exactly a walk in the park. ]
Have you found anything other than seashells or a random assortment of trash yet?
[ He is taking this job seriously so there is no ounce of complaint in his voice but you know what would be great right now? A cold drink and some shade. ]
(Clue info is here.)
B!
It's while she was looking around the beach for any sign of it that she spots Kavi digging around, and she doesn't hesitate to offer her help. Two heads are better than one, after all. Even though they haven't found anything yet and Lapis was very tempted to just flop into the ocean to cool off for a bit (luckily she was still wearing her two piece she bought for beach exploring).
At Kavi's question, she peeks up from her rummaging spot and shakes her head. Before pausing, reaching to pull something out of the sand and then holding up... a crab. Yeah.]
... I found a crab. That's something different.
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I'm pretty sure this isn't something whoever visited the beach hid in the sand. Nice find though. Any luck with your bra adventures?
[ He isn't about to let Lapis ditch her mission because she wanted to help him with his. Two heads are indeed better than one and four hands can work a lot faster than just two. And who knows, maybe some creep buried the seashell bra in the sand to retrieve it later. ]
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Once Kavi has examined the crab, she'll let the poor thing go free to burrow itself under the sand once more. His question gets a shake of her head though, brushing some sand from her hands before she reaches up to adjust the ponytail her hair is in.]
... No luck. I found a lot of seashells, but no bra versions of them. The mermaid said she last saw them around this area, so maybe they buried it since I doubt walking around with a bra will look good.
[At least, that's what she hopes. She might have to go around cornering people and scaring them with illusions later for information if not. She could use her Charm skill, but even then she still wouldn't be able to charm her way out of a wet paper bag.]
I did find a bottle with a note in it earlier, but it was just some poem about sea foam.
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Damn. It would have been too easy if we'd managed to find both within a single hour, yeah?
[ Not that Kavi's overly concerned about not finding the items as quickly as possible. All good things need time. What he is worried about happens to be the young woman standing in front of him. She is rather pale and if she isn't careful, she'll get burned to a crisp before she knows it. ]
I think we're going to have to start improvising soon. A question first though: Are you alright? You're not going to catch a heat stroke, right?
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... Of course it would be. But we'll find them, even if it takes a while. At least it gives us an excuse to hang around the beach.
[And Lapis can be patient if she needs to be. Plus it's not as if being impatient about this will make them find the items any quicker, so she isn't too fussed if it takes a while. But now she needs to think about where she would try to hide a secret message bottle or bra in the sand...
His question snaps her out of her thoughts though, and she waves a hand in an 'it's fine' gesture. She actually rather likes the heat - especially since she's so used to the chill of ghosts hanging around her, so the warmth is a very nice change.]
I'm alright. It could get pretty warm in my home country sometimes, so I'm used to the heat. What about you?
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I'm good, I'm used to the heat, too. I grew up in India for a while and then moved to a blip of an island near Japan's coasts. The temperatures a little extreme so we had rather warm summers.
[ And freezing winters.
Which thankfully seems far, far away with the sand beneath his feet and the sea breeze moving through his hair. Knowing Lapis is unaffected by the heat, knows it well is an added bonus and Kavi reaches out to ruffle her hair in an affectionate gesture. ]
You've been to the beach before, yeah?
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... Yeah, I've heard that India and Japan can get pretty warm. Although the weather in Japan always sounded a little extreme too.
[The winters there would force her to stay inside all the time.
At least it's warm here, and judging by how the months and seasons here are similar to the ones back home, it's only going to get warmer. And the hair ruffle gets a positive response - with Lapis leaning into the touch as she peeks up at him.]
A long, loooong time ago. I must've only been a toddler, so I don't remember much. Did you come to the beach often?
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/sliiides in with a b?
My search has been every bit as fruitless as yours, I fear.
[ The good news? The beach is by far more clean, well-groomed by their efforts! What's more, Sion seems somehow charmed by the task of combing the sand for clues, as though it were somehow enjoyable and not (entirely!) so mundane a thing. And really, the mission is a rather important one: a puzzle can never be wholly complete without each and every one of its pieces. ]
Perhaps a change of strategy is in order, then? [ Golden eyes lambent and bright, he beckons Kavi closer to him. ] You will want to stand behind me.
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The beach isn't exactly small and slowly but surely, the sun inches its way closer to setting. And then digging through the sand might not be as easy as it was before. Thankfully, it seems Sion has a plan. Picking up his discarded jacket and shirt, Kavi jogs over and stops two steps behind the other Hero, one eyebrow raised expectantly. ]
Let's see this strategy of yours then.
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It is elemental magic which is native to his kingdom, and it is elemental magic which he calls upon now. Let it be sundered! is the incantation upon Sion's lips after he's made it a point to affirm that their's is the only presence upon the present stretch of beach, for as soon as the words have been spoken and strengthened by mana, the spell is cast in the instant when the Hero King seamlessly sinks to his knees, palms pressing to the sand to unleash...!
An upheaval, sand billowing forward and up as a great ripple courses through the sediment so much like a wave through the sea. He is King's rank, of course, and certainly lacking the power of a Queen, but there is considerable strength and familiarity behind the spell as it sees an area of a decent size overturned. ]
...brute force. [ Well, it is a strategy, right? And as sand is wont to do, it settles again, and Sion rises to his feet, surveying the beach before them. ] If we should be so lucky, perhaps we'll find a clue unearthed.
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Kavi sucks in a short breath and holds it as he surveys the beach, the way everything has shifted just enough to bring forth whatever may have been hidden. Useful. Very useful.
It reminds Kavi of someone he used to know, a lifetime ago. ]
Brute force tends to be a very solid tactic. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
[ He drops his jacket and shirt into the sand and wipes the sweat away from his brow before he grins at Sion, admiration and awe filling the slightly crooked corners. He holds out his hand gaze unwavering as he offers Sion a mana exchange.
The other man probably has enough mana to rely on if push comes to shove but the spell was nothing to sneeze at. And who knows, maybe they just woke a rather nasty crab monster which had been living beneath the sand and before they know it, they'll be involved in a battle with something rather irritated. Perhaps even crabby. ]
Do you need a boost?
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[ A boost, Kavi says, and for the briefest of moments, Sion hesitates, golden eyes wide and oddly solemn as he considers the gesture before...! He banishes the expression with a delighted laugh, a smile as he accepts the offer, his hand fitting neatly into Kavi's own. It is for practicality's sake, after all—a spell is a thing which costs mana, and mana is an even more troublesome thing which the Hero King has difficulty with maintaining even now, when holding rank. What's more, it is not an unpleasant sensation, the link between their hands, and as the seconds pass, Sion finds himself sighing with a gentle slope of his shoulders, renewed. ]
—yes, perhaps more so than I'd realized. [ Perhaps playful (and perhaps daring Kavi to let go!), Sion swings their hands in a slow back and forth, to-and-fro as he turns his eyes to the sands before them, spying...! Well, it is surely something, though it's difficult to discern precisely what at a distance. ] It is a necessity, or so I've always believed, that when the world seems to stagnate at your feet, one must do all they can to change it.
[ And brute force has always been Sion Astal's favored method, for better or for worse. He has always been keen, to facilitate change, his great machination operating on a time-table which allowed for no stalling and nothing but the making of great waves.
And that Kavi should be understanding of the sentiment, however newly acquainted they are, brings a smile to Sion's lips, matching the other man's ever-so-slightly crooked grin. ]
Do you see that? [ With a flourish of wrist, he marks the something which lays before them, glinting in the sand! At the very least, it doesn't appear to be a too-crabby monster which Sion (inadvertently!) summoned from the depths. ] Or might my eyes be deceiving me?
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And they can't have that now, can they?
Laughing softly at the way Sion swings their hands together, Kavi follows Sion's lead to survey the mess. Well. It would seem that it caused quite a bit of damage, so to speak, and some of the locals might be disturbed by the way the sand has shifted. It's not much, not really, the beach is still a beach but there is a definite change.
He raises a hand to shield his eyes and squints into the direction Sion pointed at. He slowly retracting his hand from the hold but not without giving Sion's fingers a brief, joyous squeeze. There is only so much control he is able to cling to and it wouldn't do to just start eating Sion's mana without his permission.
Not without buying him dinner first anyway. ]
I can see it. Doesn't look like something that would try to kill us. [ Yet. ] You got my back while I go and check it out or do you want to screw being cautious and come along?
[ Judging by the expectant raise of Kavi's eyebrows, he's expecting Sion to pick the latter. He seems like the practical sort of person. ]
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A
... hopefully this one is NOTHING like the one he knew. ]
Hm? Mermaids, sure. Shyness though... that sounds like a challenge. No luck so far?
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[ Which could have been a blow to Kavi's pride and there are traces of a pout in his voice. He isn't angry at the poor little mermaid, he's sure she has her reasons for acting the way she does, but it's still a little disheartening to see her shrink back and fiddle nervously with her hair. ]
I've tried sitting nearby and letting her get used to me but every time I move, she dives back underwater. When I try and talk to her, she fidgets and hides behind her hair. I've complimented the colour of her fin but I think I only managed to scare her off.
So Wukong, oh wise mermaid expert. Can you help me?
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[ Locking his fingers together with his hands on the back of his head, Wukong lets his tail prop him up as he leans back--- it's great having a prehensile limb that can hold a primary weapon like his. ]
Have you tried giving her a present? Something shiny that looks precious, but it doesn't have to cost much. Not saying you should trick a mermaid, of course! Still. Gotta gain her trust with something she understands, you know?
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[ That does sound useful. They do say diamonds are a girl's best friend and perhaps something shiny is just what this mermaid wants to see before she is willing to extend her trust a little.
There is only a small problem, a tiny one, really.
Kavi's broke. He won't be able to afford anything shiny. He crosses his arms over his chest and looks around, chewing on his bottom lip thoughtfully. ]
Do you have some time on your hands? Could you help me look for all sorts of shiny things lying around on the beach? I'll pay you back later.
[ Once he gets paid. ]
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Oh, I can definitely help out with that. You know, I've been practicing something in particular that should make anything requiring labor a breeze! This time, though, I think we'll be safe from any disastrous effects.
[ Whatever Wukong could be mentioning becomes very clearly a good and/or bad idea as he eagerly cracks his knuckles and looks at the sandy beach. He's definitely got a plan in mind, except... ]
... uh, just in case, you may want to keep anyone from getting too close while I attempt this.
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[ Laughing, Kavi steps a couple of feet back, curious to see what Wukong is planning. He can't be thinking about punching the beach, right? Use the pressure to unearth whatever has been hidden below the sand? No one should be that insane.
And it's the kind of plan Kavi expects and anything less will probably be disappointing.
He crosses his arms over his chest and cocks his head to the side in a wordless form of consent. ]
Go ahead. Blow my mind, Wukong.
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a
But the beach is pleasant; Republic City doesn't really have much of one though the port can be beautiful, and most of the Earth Kingdom is landlocked.
He doesn't even mind when his search for peace is interrupted by a stranger, perking up and attending to the question attentively. ]
Mermaid? [ HE'S SO INTERESTED. ] What is that?
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A mermaid. A pretty woman with the upper body of a human and a fish tail instead of legs. You really haven't seen one before?
[ Which sounds odd to Kavi's ears since he has been brought up on fairy tales, lost gods and mythical creatures. He'd assumed that mermaids, at least, count as universal constant. It seems he has been mistaken. But perhaps...
Perhaps Bolin, young, nubile and clueless, will be able to gain the mermaid's trust. ]
She's right over there. I want to ask her a couple of things but maybe she'll be willing to talk to you instead if you tell her you've never seen a pretty mermaid like her before?
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[ He's boggled by the concept, and instantly more curious than he had been initially. It gets him to lean closer to Kavi in his eagerness, though he quickly redirects his gaze outward toward the water. ]
So they live underwater? How can I talk to her if they can't breathe air? Do they even speak human languages?
[ Eventually he just scoots past the young man, nosing curiously closer toward the water to see if he could catch a glimpse of this fishgirl. ]
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They're doing it. They're gonna make it happen.
And while Kavi leads the way towards the ocean, he decides to answer all of Bolin's questions lest he make a fool of himself in front of a cute mermaid. ...Which Bolin might end up doing regardless. ]
They live underwater, yes, and you can talk to them because they are also able to breathe air. So far, I've only encountered mermaids who could speak our language so... Seriously, have you never met one before?
[ Bolin's in luck, the mermaid is peeking out from behind a rock and Kavi does a bit of jazzhands into her direction. Behold! ]
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[ Bolin gives the other Hero a stare, trying to wrap his mind around someone being so at peace with the existence of a half-human, half-fish creature.
But really, Kavi loses all of his attention when Bolin spots the shy mermaid peeking out from under the water. His bright green eyes go wide with wonder, not having expected to be faced with such a pretty girl. (Even if he can't see her entire face!!)
His mouth forms a small "o" as he leans forward. ]
Whoa! Hi! [ He's not subtle at all with his stare. ] I'm Bolin!
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Seems like Bolin's wide eyed enthusiasm did indeed make her shyness kick in again. ]
Point taken. I think you should keep talking to her, she seems to like you.
[ Kavi just got an skittish look and a splash when he introduced himself. ]
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