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

[sediments]

[ Then why aren't you more shocked? Bolin wants to ask when the splash of the ball hitting the water distracts him.

Facing the mermaid again, he leans forward to give her a teasing grin. ]

Oh, I guess that's a point for - uh, for...

[ He looks over at Kavi. ]

What's your name, by the way?

[umberly]

[ Probably because I've seen weirder things would be the answer. What's a mermaid compared to a gaggle of children who all look as if someone took a pinch of an animal and added it to their genetics?

And now Bolin asks? Better make this count!

Kavi may be striking a little bit of a pose, hand on his hip and a grin on his face. ]

Kavi. And yours? [ It's directed at both Bolin and the mermaid she shrinks back again at being asked. ]

[sediments]

[ The pose is a bit much, but Bolin eats it up for the most part. He definitely doesn't think it's cool, but Kavi seems like a relaxed fellow; someone that Bolin could really get along with.

He doesn't cause his own scene when introducing himself in return, but he does look like he's having a great time. ]

I'm Bolin! And... [ He turns to the mermaid. ] Can I guess? [ Without waiting: ] I bet your name's like... Aqua? Maybe Atlantic?

Serenity?

[umberly]

[ If you want relaxed, Kavi is your guy. He nods at Bolin's introduction and glances towards the mermaid who seems to be giving Bolin a wide eyed look before she fiddles with her hair, tucks it behind an ear before tugging it to the front again.

Finally, she stutters out her name which turns out to be Aurnla. ]

From Aura? Or from Audio? Or both?

[ Huh. Seems like he was wrong. She raises her tail a bit above the water and points at the golden spots.

Nope, Kavi doesn't have a clue. So he shoots Bolin a questioning look. ]

[sediments]

[ Bolin's entire world is Asian, Kavi. He doesn't know any of these Western names.

And he doesn't really care either, completely enamoured with the brief view he'd gotten of her tail. His eyes are wide, and he looks like he's just seen a unicorn. (Though, if asked, he would say a mermaid is much cooler.) ]

Whoa, your tail is so pretty!!

[ Very helpful. ]

[umberly]

[ Back to school you go, Bolin. A western one. With latin. Because latin is a joy to learn. Really. Honestly. Truthfully.

Not.

And dear god, the way Bolin's face lights up when he spies the fish tail makes Kavi hide a grin behind his hand. This young man is going to make someone very happy one day. The sheer delight is enchanting.

And enchanted is what the mermaid seems to be because she's sinking down into the water until her hair is floating around her head like seaweed. Even from over here, Kavi can see her burning ears. ]

Bolin, you sure know how to win them over, yeah?

[sediments]

[ His eagerness softens into something a little more gentle when she sinks into the water out of embarrassment, still enamoured by her reaction and the glimpse of gold.

Kavi's statement earns a confused and slightly embarrassed look. ]

What? [ He's just being friendly! ] You're the one that wanted to make friends. Are you using me as a wingman?

[umberly]

Actually, I'm trying to be your wingman. Though maybe I haven't been doing a good enough job at it if you haven't caught on.

[ Which is why Kavi wades over to the hiding mermaid and holds out a hand. He has to be patient for some time before a slim, wet hand emerges and takes his hand. A red face soon resurfaces and Kavi guides the mermaid back to Bolin. ]

There. Do you have something to say to one another?

[sediments]

[ But Bolin doesn't need a wingman?? Didn't he just mention that he has a girlfriend?? Also Kavi hadn't even met him before now???

This must be code for something, except Bolin has no idea what it is and he's just left staring between the blushing mermaid and Kavi uncertainly. ]

Yeah... I had fun today?

[ ?????? ]

[umberly]

[ ...Why is this his life. Bolin, you are stomping on Kavi's very hopes and dreams and leaving him an empty husk of a man. What's wrong with the cute mermaid? Are her breasts too big? Her teeth too sharp?

...Her ears not pointy enough?

At least the mermaid seems flattered and shoots Bolin a nearly blinding smile while Kavi gives Bolin a half bemused, half exasperated look.

Success is where you find it? ]

[sediments]

[ Why is Kavi still looking at him like that?? Is he supposed to say more??

He swallows, trying to speak with his usual lightheartedness despite how awkward he feels under Kavi's stare. ]

We should hang out again sometime—I think you could get pretty good at volleyball. [ Well, he's starting to forget the pressure of Kavi's presence as he talks a little more. ] We're friends now anyway.

[umberly]

[ And there they go. The odd look on Kavi's face disappears as he crosses his arms over his chest as he listens to Bolin continue--

We're friends now anyway. Which is not disappointing to hear. Maybe he pushed too hard before. The mermaid seems to agree with Bolin and she nods enthusiastically, her eyes gleaming when the word friends passes Bolin's lips.

Looks like someone owes someone else here an apology. And it's not Bolin who owes anyone anything. But...

There was a reason as to why Kavi came to the beach in the first place and he hopes asking now won't make Bolin or Aurnla feel as if he's taking advantage of the good cheer and mood. ]

...

[ ...Damn it, he can't. Not when these two are being really, really cute. ]

[sediments]

[ ... There can't be more for him to say. Why isn't Kavi saying anything?? Stop making Bolin feel awkward, he says really stupid things— ]

And who knows, maybe I'll bring Kavi along! He's really into mermaids, heh heh. [ These are words coming out of his mouth. ] I mean, I dunno if there's some kind of romantic subplot going on here, I can be pretty bad at reading people.

[ No really.

Though, while Bolin normally bowls on unaware of how painfully awkward he's being, now that he's a bit older, he's slightly more self-aware, and he tapers off with an expression that is simultaneously guilty and asking to be put out of its misery. ]

[umberly]

[ Sweet baby Jesus, Bolin. You sure have a way with words. Wingman of the year right there. Bur rather than be offended, Kavi seems more amused. He did end up throwing Bolin under the bus and considering the way he acted when he first laid his eyes on the mermaid, well...

Besides, he should have opened his mouth sooner and put Bolin out of his misery. If anything, the mermaid looks conflicted at the mention of Kavi being there. Seems as if she only has eyes for a certain someone. ]

If there is a romtantic subplot going on here, I think it would be between the two of you. [ Tease tease. But Kavi doesn't want Bolin's head to explode so he plucks up the volley ball and gives it a small bounce. ] How about we play some more, yeah? Cool our heads.

[sediments]

[ THANK GOD

Bolin nearly deflates in relief, not even sending a Kavi a huffy look at the romantic suggestion when he'd just told the other man that he has a girlfriend! Bolin doesn't want to give this poor mermaid the wrong idea and jeopardize their friendship. ]

That sounds great!

[ Takes some steps back and focuses immediately on the game!! Yeah!! ]