Welcome to Gaia! ::

The stage was basically slats of wood on top of cinderblocks, but they had draped a cloth over it so people wouldn't be tempted to hide underneath. There were also posts at each corner where speakers were mounted so the music could be heard all over the beach. Whether the beach wanted to hear it or not.

Chris sat next to the machine, a mic in his hand, his eyes focused on the TV in front of him that had the words to the song. He never should have let Polly pick, though, he thought as he belted out the words. "Lollipop, lollipop, oooh lolli lollipop..."

Polly was dying, laughing so hard that she was rolling on the stage as tears streamed down her face. The sight of the demon looking boy with two voices singing such a stupid song was hysterical to the little girl. Especially when he had to make the "pop" sound.

Melchy, always attracted to weird things, had come running when the strangest sound he had ever heard had reached his ears. The boy hadn't planned on being anywhere near the more populated areas of the beach, but...some sounds carried. This was one of them.

The closer he got, the more concerned, curious, and bemused he was. The voice was vaguely familiar. Breasting a dune, he saw the stage, saw its occupant, and promptly fell on his tail in surprise (and ecstatic laughter). He rolled down the sandhill laughing, stopping a few body-lengths away from the stage. "Chris!" he panted after a few minutes to compose himself. "Chris, no WAY!"

Riley jumped out of the car as soon as it pulled next to the curb along the beach, not giving Kai enough time to ask her pestering questions such as why she didn't bring a towel or anything. Victor did manage to throw in before the door slammed shut, however, that they'd be back to pick her up later that evening. They had some things to do today and she certainly didn't mind.

So within moments she was racing down the beach, she shoes kicked off rather quickly. Seeing as the stage was the first thing she came upon, she stopped to look at it thoughtfully, hands held on her hips. It was a good thing it was warm today; a pair of swim trunks, no doubt stolen from someone, and a bikini top weren't exactly insulating. But, though summer hadn't completely arrived yet, it was warm enough for sunblock. Somethign she had, of course, neglected to put on.

After a moment she declared quite pointedly, "Karaoke? I so want a go!"

"Not if you're go'n 'round calling me Miss!" Riley scoffed, giving him a sharp look. Manners were wasted on her. She then eyed the stage thoughtfully. She really wanted to try this out...!

"Otherwise, it'd be a sure thing," she ammended sternly, though a grin was tugging at the corners of her mouth. She never could keep it away for long. It was a natural part of her face.

Riley’s words made the boy grin—it was always nice when he didn’t feel obligated to treat girls with courtesy. Laughing a bit, he dropped his arm back to his side and tossed his head. “Just as y’say, then, eh. Trus’ me, if I don’ have t’talk t’ye like a godforsaken gennleman, 'm'not gonna.”

And then the mic was offered and Riley was already grinning, and Melchy couldn't help but grin back at her and bound up onto the stage. Tilting his head expectantly at Riley, he lashed his tail back and forth and grinned like a demon, just waiting for her to join in all the fun.

"That's more like it!" Riley took the mic in one hand and then bounded over to the stage. She pushed one hand off against the stage floor, throwing herself up and over, landing in a nearly off balance crouch. She then threw herself back to her full height, branishing the mic more like a sword or something then anything else.

"Something challenging!" she demanded, but otherwise had no preference to song choice. Either way, though she didn't believe it, she'd be horrible. She might have the DNA of a bird, but she was no singer.

"Please don't dash off the instant we get out of the car," said Eshaa, turning around to eye the three children squeezed into the back seat of the jeep. She had borrowed it from the dig site for the weekend, and it had mud stains inside and out to prove it. The upholstery smelled like jungle and dust.

"Okay," agreed all three children.

"I'm unlocking the doors," said Eshaa, flipping the switch by her window. In the blink of an eye, she was left in an empty car. Nahuel, Orli, and Ranza were already racing across the beach at breakneck speed. The jaguar boy, easily twice as tall as either sister, was ahead of them by far. Ranza, who had begun to get a bit leggy, was somewhere in the middle of the pack, and Orli trailed behind, oddly small behind her siblings.

The party, it seemed to Nahuel, was around the little karaoke machine. At least, that was where everyone was gathered. He didn't know these kids - this was a Liberty Center party, Orli's crowd, not Eden kids.

The two sisters finally caught up to him. Orli knew right away where the action was, and dragged Ranza over to meet her friends while Nahuel hung back, trying to scope out who exactly was hanging around.

"Chris! Rory!" shouted Orli, running over to the stage. And then she noticed the little phoenix girl--

"POLLY!" she screeched, tearing away from her sister and tackling her friend in a hug. Ranza followed, a bit slower and perplexed as all hell. Who was this girl, how did Orli know her, and...

...Were those feathers in her hair? And were they prettier than hers?

"That's my sister, Ranza!" said Orli, releasing Polly and pointing to the blue-feathered girl. "Ranza, this is Polly!"

"Hi," said Ranza, suddenly feeling a bit shy.

"Orli!! Orli Orli Orli!!!" Polly squealed, hugging her friend back, even as the other girl pulled away. "I missed you!! I was on an island and I became a pirate and--" She blinked at the introduction, giving the other girl a grin before turning her attention back to Orli. Best friends came before strangers!

"Hey, Orli!" Chris said, dropping off of the stage, since the others seemed like they could handle it. He paused as he caught sight of Kova. "Go right on up," he told her. "That stage can hold a lot of people! We made it tough." He glanced over at Cecelia, grinning as he recognized her. "You too!" he called over to her.