down by the seaside

[umberly]

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. ]

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.)

Comments

[topkong]

[ It's hard for him to not look a little disappointed as he takes the hand, though his smile is still as serene as it was when he was lying down. The regret can probably seen in the corner of his eyes, his lips, and in the way his grip isn't as tight as it could be. Telltale signs of not wanting to do the right thing and do the selfish thing... whatever it ended up being. ]

Yeah, I guess. [ The monkey scuffles as he gets to his feet, brushing sand off of his uniform. His eyes once again return to the mermaid, who looks apologetic, like she was breaking something up. ]

Hopefully you didn't lose any valuables. Then again, I suppose there's not much sand for them to hide in around here.

[ He didn't blow ALL of it away, but there's definitely a clear difference between the area he affected and the area he didn't. Wukong's still proud of his handiwork, even after the lessened consequences. Stretching up and out, he sighs. All that's left of his earlier pain is the slightest tingling of muscle burn. Nothing else.

Well, other than a friendly and growing fondness for Kavi. ]

I figure, once you're done doing what you're doing around here... well, maybe when we're back in Caissa, after whatever happens? I wouldn't mind hanging out for a while. Sound good?

[umberly]

Don't worry about it, yeah? I keep everything of value in my pockets and even that is nothing that can't be replaced. [ Or taken from Zelos' pile of various trinkets and treasures. It's like living with a magpie sometimes. ] Plus, the things needed for the necklace are still over there somewhere. And those wouldn't be here without your help. So... thank you.

[ A quick glance confirms that the items are, in fact, still where Kavi dropped them when he saw Wukong collapse. He's glad for Wukong's help and is clearly appreciative (and quietly marveling at what Wukong was able to do) of it but he's worried that Wukong overdid it for the sake of wanting to be helpful or wanting to be of use. Perhaps, unconsciously, Wukong still feels the need to prove his worth even to someone who does not consider Wukong to be less than he is. And didn't consider the consequences as a result, especially in a strange new world which works with an entirely different set of rules.

Still...

Kavi's eyes dart back to Wukong, follows the way he brushes the sand from his clothes. There is a spot he missed near his collar so Kavi reaches out and helps Wukong clean up. Perhaps he shouldn't, he doesn't want Wukong to feel babied because that's not Kavi's intention, but he'd like to return the favor. Wukong out-did himself when he helped after all.

The question gets Wukong a quiet laugh and a nod. Fondness blooms in Kavi's chest and he meets Wukong's eyes, his own crinkling slightly at the corners and his hands make no effort to hide the cheeky grin. ]

Sounds good. You keep an eye out for yourself until then, yeah? I might not be there to heal you the next time you collapse.

[topkong]

[ Good! Good. He allows Kavi to get that last few specks of sand off near his neck. If he considered what Kavi did as being babied, he wouldn't have allowed it. After all, he's a friend, just looking out for him. It's something small. Pride disappears when personal defenses are lowered. After all, Kavi's seen Wukong at his worst, disbelieving and paranoid of the future. Sand is sand. Kavi is Kavi. It's a meaningful gesture. There's no immediate worry. ]

Of course. I'll save the collapsing when you're nearby. Besides, you took care of me so well... hard to imagine anyone doing any better.

[ Catching Kavi's gaze, he has a sudden want to reach out and give him another hug. A tighter one. Maybe... never let go? Nah. They both have something to do. ]

You better be careful, too.

[umberly]

Aren't you just full of compliments today?

[ Amusement flickers in Kavi's eyes as he meets Wukong's gaze, the corners of his mouth soft with affection. Was Wukong this much of a smooth talker back home, too? He sure has a way of making people feel appreciated and it's his honesty in this that makes the friendly words worth more.

Kavi wants to give Wukong another hair ruffle but he resists the temptation by tucking his hands into his pockets and keeping them very firmly to himself. Wukong should rest some more, just to make sure his body won't give out on him and prolonging the inevitable is useless.

Even if... ]

I'm always careful, Wukong. I never do anything reckless. [ Lies and slander. Kavi winks at Wukong before turning around and jogging over to the fallen trinkets he picked up, raising a hand in a lazy wave.

They will talk later. ]