[ORP] Under the Sun - Summer Beach Party 2010

[Aki Ana]

((Oceanside 5/6))

Her question to Varun was a good one. The Sigel was curious what sort of creature lived in such a dainty shell, and she dropped her eyes back to the sand to see if the little critter was still nearby. Something else in the disturbed sand caught her attention, and she gasped again, eyes wide.

Casting a look to her partner, Melisande tried to see if he'd spotted it as well. She looked at his fins in particular...it was easy to see when he was interested in something, and the Muse appreciated that. It made him easy to communicate with, even if his roar had been a little scary! "There's something else! I think..."

With deft fingers, she plucked a second shell out of the sand, and held it up beside the first. It was a perfect match! "It is!" She cried, wings flaring with excitement. "It's the very same! Look, they make a top and a bottom!" Melisande fit them together and giggled, holding them out on an outstretched palm for Varun to inspect.

"This is a good spot." She confided, dropping her voice a little. "You can look here too, if you like?"  

[soutou]

[[ Oceanside - 4/6 ]]

Varun wondered if all the female Raevans had magical healing powers, mind still lingering on Melisande’s gentle kiss as he dropped his not-a-shell into her bucket. It seemed very out of place, black and slimy against all the shiny, colorful shells. The redhead wrinkled his nose, but said nothing. If the Sigel wanted keep the creature (if that’s what it was, but Varun had his doubts about something that ugly residing in something so delicate), he was not going to argue with her. It was her bucket, after all.

“I do not know,” the Leviathan responded amiably, watching the blond flick around as she collected another gorgeous shell. She was quite good at this game, Varun noted. He was glad they were partners for this game. Even if they did not win (he did really want to win), the seasonal Frei was still reasonably pleased he had met Melisande. It had been a long time since he had made any new acquaintances, Kinsey keeping him locked away in the apartment like some kind of savage beast. Being angry all the time was so tiring. This was a good change.

He was brought back to reality by a melodic noise, realizing after a moment that it was laughter. Eyebrows hiking up into his hairline, Varun shifted to observe Melisande’s newest treasure. The edges of his lips twitched, a smile begging to be released as he nodded. “You are very good at this, to find top and bottom. A matching set. I am sure they are very happy now.” It was illogical to think shells could be happy, but the Leviathan wanted to think that everything that had it’s partner was happy. So the shells could be happy.

Rumbling softly and flicking his wings, the redhead shifted his gaze to the sand, pleased the Sigel was offering her good spot. What he spotted first, however, made him frown. “Nasty,” he hissed, the noise serpentine. He sunk and plucked a crumpled piece of paper from the sand. “The beach is for fish. And Varun. Not this.” He held the offending litter in his hands, slightly dismayed the words could no longer be made out. Quickly dismissing it as unimportant, he did not let go of the garbage, unwilling to make a mess like the lazy humans did.  

[soutou]

[[ Oceanside 5/6 ]]

Wad of wet paper still crushed in his pale fist, Varun straightened himself and continued to scan Melisande’s special spot for any more shells. As luck would have it, a third shell rode the lapping waves into shore, coming to a rest on the glistening sand. Feeling incredibly lucky in that moment, his bright yellow fins flared and the Leviathan leaned down to scoop up the shell before it could be carried out, back to see. Arching his neck, he proudly turned around to offer it to the Muse.

“You were correct,” he informed her, something akin to pleasure creeping into his formal tone, “this spot is very good for shells.” He gently placed his half into the Sigel’s bucket, wondering idly if they’d find its other half, as well. Maybe Melisande could find it. She did seem to be very powerful, in the ways of making things feel better. Tipping his head to one side to observe the blond better, the Leviathan decided to tell the older Raevan as much.

“Maybe they come to you,” he decided, sorely lacking in the explanation department. As far as the redhead was concerned, it was clear as day why anyone would want to flock to the Muse. It was even clearer after she’d made the hurt go away for him; even his Kinsey couldn’t do that, and she was his Kinsey. “Yes. That must be it.” As far as the Frei was concerned, it made perfect sense.  

[Aki Ana]

((Oceanside 6/6))

It didn't take Melisande long to find something else secreted in the sand. At first, it looked like a funny shell, but when she realized it was just a crumpled cup, the Sigel laughed quietly and dropped it in anyway. All well!

Pasha set the bucket down on the soft sand as Varun displayed his new shell...just the same as her matched set!! Briefly, the thought of a necklace and earrings set flitted through her mind, but the Raevan had grown up a bit since leaving home. Jewelry was nice, but it certainly wasn't the only thing on her mind.

Instead, she clasped her hands together joyfully, and floated forward to inspect his most recent find. "I don't know, I never looked for shells before! Maybe they do!" She didn't notice the wave that rolled in, sloshing against the bucket, nor the stealthy crab that slipped in over the rim. "Maybe we can look for other things together, some day? Something you like?" It seemed to her that Varun was being very sweet natured to be her partner...he always seemed to listen when she talked, and always looked at the new shells she found!

Realizing she didn't have her bucket, Melisande turned around...and watched it rock and tip dangerously as the same wave rolled out. "Oh no!" If the bucket tipped, they'd lose all their shells to the waves! But going for it meant going closer to crab territory. Instead, she did the only thing she could think of. She froze.

((Total count: 5 shells, 1 crumpled cup!))  

[Rapidashtrainer]

((Oceanside: Xiu -> Zul ))

Xiu had turned when the scream erupted but the white raevan sensed no harm from the source. For one thing, there was no dark aura surrounding anyone and for another, there was no extended commotion implying that whatever it was that had triggered the scream, it was merely…a women thing. Admittedly Hazeline rarely screamed but the damsels in television and books tended to in excess. Squinting against the bright sun, Xiu could just make out the shape of a female raevan…a Sigel.

Melisande?

Vyn had mentioned a female Sigel by that name hadn’t she? And…it was a ‘Melisande’ who’d signed that funny little balloon message. Xiu was interested and would have liked to meet her now except…

There was a Varun there as well. Frowning a little, Xiu decided that perhaps meeting the other Sigel would have to wait. From past experiences, the Leviathan had a tendency to be… possessive when it came to being around members of the opposite gender and a ruckus on the beach was something the white raevan could do without.

What was more troubling that the feminine scream on the other hand was …Zul. For a moment Xiu had thought….no, had sensed something abruptly dangerous radiating off the tanned frei as he dropped the bucket and floated slowly towards Varun and the female Sigel. Alarm signals ringing loudly, Xiu would have tried to stop Zul but just as soon as it started, the feeling faded with Zul returning to pick his fallen bucket and subsequently flinging a poor crab out to sea.

Not wanting to look overly concerned, Xiu gave the sandy stretch a cursory glance and found a rather beautiful mussel shell, its two halves still joined together and the rainbowy iridescent sheen on its inner side still strong. Thinking that it was as good as a mussel shell was going to get, Xiu picked the dark coloured shell up and carefully placed it in the bucket.  

[Kyoupiruchi]

(( Shoreline - Seashells 4/6: lace murex ))

Lazarus just cocked an eyebrow at the Frei's analogy on the shell as his eyes trailed to the cone shaped shell again, that imagery definitely did not cross his mind at all. Nonetheless, he placed the small shell into his bucket as he followed after Cordelia, seemingly spotting something of interest.

Eyes wide, he examined the clam shell that the basilisk Frei just picked up. It was only half of one clam but the colors were very interesting nonetheless, unlike the usual white ones that he normally see. "It's definitely a shell, and it's very pretty." He beamed, running a finger along the bumpy top side instead, finding himself liking the interesting texture there.

Something caught the corner of his eyes then, something with a familiar white color. Peeling his crimson eyes from Cordelia's clam shell, he looked in the direction of the object that caught his attention. It was a little ways away from them, but half buried in the sand. Without a look back he headed straight towards it, bending down to examine the object he just spotted - a lace murex. Like most of the ones he found, this is one of those spiral shells where slugs or hermit crabs lived in, but this one was a bit different, it had some really cool spikes around the hole. "Look Cordelia, this one looks really cool!" It was a little longer than two inches, the Sigel noted as he dust some of the sands away. This one might be his favorite shell they picked up yet.  

[Ebony Shade]

((Delia=Seashells (Roll 5/6 – A piece of shoe))

Placing the shell in her bucket with a proud smile, Cordelia realized how much better they were doing since they’d moved closer to the water. Momentarily her eyes wandered towards the gentle ebbing of the ocean. Maybe it wasn’t so bad, but she knew all too well what would happen if she got wet and thus would still be very mindful of its activity. Luckily for the time being the ocean seemed to be behaving.

Grey eyes looked curiously towards the new shell Lazarus found. It had to be the biggest of all the ones they’d found and by far the one with the most character in looks. Small, flaring spires made it look dangerous. “It looks like it’s mad.” She remarked, unconsciously shuffling her sharp wings. Pressing her dark lips into an encouraging smile, “But I guess that’s what makes it special.”

Without warning something wet and disgusting looking came flinging out of the surf as it pushed up against the sand rather violently this time. Perhaps the sea saw it fit to remind the smoke Frei not to mock its gifts. Whatever the case, as the piece of shoe came flying at them, Cordelia gave a thoroughly startled hiss and slithered around to hide behind the bigger Sigel male as it thudded just below his ribbon. Whatever it was he could take care of it right? Normally she would have, but it freaking came out of the ocean damnit! She just knew that water couldn’t be trusted.  

[Chrystali]

(( Oceanside - Roll 3/6 - Sea Fan ))




The demon turned his eyes towards the sky, the color of blue lost in both expanses. He did not want to be here. The best part of the event had been the pretty woman - Lette - and everything else had been a bit of a buzzkill. From Riv's odd behavior, Zeke being busy, Sevilin being apologetic, Xiu's persisting silence...Zul just didn't feel like he belonged anymore. It used to be a game of seeing who he could impress and be friendly with. Maybe his time with Jezebelle had broken him of that shallow habit, and maybe...maybe he didn't care to be what everyone thought he should be, though less for his sake, and more for theirs...

His expression darkened again. He was projecting what he thought of his tutor onto himself, but that was likely because he was eagerly awaiting the alloted time for his lesson to get him out of here. The demon glanced to Xiu, watching him put another seashell in his bucket. Better than the ridiculous snapping crab of brainless that he'd gotten. Zul blinked and then started to chuckle under his breath. 'Snapping crab of brainless?' Great. Now he was thinking like his woman. Shaking his head, he moved to rejoin the white Sigel, though the water crested just high enough to tug at his ribbon - and then get it stuck on something.

Zul stopped, turning to scowl at the water that lapped over the brown tip of his ribbon, lowering himself. If it was that crab, so help him, he was going to throw it at the barbecue...!! The demon's expression warmed into surprise, fingers extending into the foamy water to dislodge his ribbon and, after a moment of hesitation, to remove the object stuck in the sand. Lifting it and floating upright, he looked in open wonder at the sea fan in his grasp, thumbs very tentatively touching the wet and semi-pliable boughs. It was like a tree! A mini-tree! His woman had a blanket that had something similar on it, though it had long roots too.

Smiling earnestly, he floated over to his partner, extending the fan for Xiu to see. "Odd, isn't it?" he asked, though the second he looked up to the Pi Yao, his defenses slammed into place. Zul hesitated, looking at the Sigel with a momentarily confused expression before carefully putting his newest treasure in the pail. Deciding he really needed to get out of that party, he sighed through his nose, resuming the search with a perplexed look in his eyes.  

[Rown]

(( Rong Wei - Drinks Booth [ tag to Kyou ] ;; Ripley - > Moving back to Drinks Booth [ Tag to...whomever is there to watch him be a jerk? ] ))

"That there, yes. That sounds good, just keep them coming - please."

Rong Wei had accepted the drink offer. . . several times over. She made sure to take each drink with thanks before she downed it quickly and ordered another, the heat of the day only quickening the alcohol as it moved through her veins. The Chinese woman was lucky that she had a high tolerance for such things or else she would have already found herself slumped on the bar or sprawled somewhere on the sands. She always drank but never got drunk, as it were, and the few times she actually did get so shitfaced by drinking she always woke up fully dressed and somehow back into her house.

Rong Wei doubted her luck would be that strong here, what with being surrounded by strangers on a strange beach with really good drinks. At this rate of consumption she was unlikely to last another hour, but whatever.

"You make really good drinks, you know? Do you do this professionally, or just as a hobby of sorts?"

It wasn't a backhanded compliment. . . though coming from Rong Wei it was always hard to tell. At least she wasn't openly slurring her words, and for the most part she appeared to be very...lucid. It didn't matter how little alcohol was in something if someone drank quite a lot of it.

Ripley, for his part, had grown tired of standing at the popsicle booth. His question had gone unanswered when the man simply went on to announce something and speak to the people around him who'd walked up, and thus he shrugged it off with little more than a sigh and decided to head back to where his guardian would be, knowing that spending time with her in a drunken stupor was better than most other things. At the very least she could provide conversation and entertainment in this otherwise sweltering heat, though not a single drop of sweat graced Ripley's brow or lips. This heat was nothing.

Leaving the booth he floated back over to where he knew the Chinese woman would be taking in drinks, and a thin smile of delight passed over his lips rapidly as he noticed the amount of cups that surrounded her rather large frame. This would be a wonderful distraction indeed while all those others ran around on the shore looking for things.

"I see you've managed to find where they serve. . .drinks? Are you having a good time?"

His words were calm and collected as he slipped up next to her, the Chinese woman not even turning her head to acknowledge his arrival. Instead the friendly smile she might have been wearing instantly soured into a frown, the game of cat and mouse unhappiness having begun. Turning to face the man behind the bar the Sphinx Frei gave a slight bow of his head, causing Rong Wei to stiffen a bit.

"I hope she hasn't been troubling any or all of you here. She's a horrible drunk."  

[Yuurei-dono]

((Lucia=seashell hunt Roll 4/6))

”Dude!” she said with a smile holding up the spiraling shell with the various bulbs on it. Digging had worked. ”This shell is awesome!” Turning to Iorek, she held it up for him to see before placing it in the bucket. That’s two shells, she thought.

Lucia’s violet eyes flicked all over the sand as she continued to sift through the pile before her. When that sand turned dark, and time was wasted searching for more shells without any results.

Her eyes, flicked up, briefly towards Meli and Varun. She had heard her friend’s shriek, but they seemed to be getting along just fine now. Later, Lucia thought, she’d ask Pasha what that was about.

”All right Iorek. Listen.” She looked at him and smile. ”You and me can be the best team out here. The game is silly, but screw it. Let’s just find the coolest shells and beat them.”

As much a pep talk to him as herself, the older frei looked down. Right below where she had floated she found another something poking through the sand.  

[Rapidashtrainer]

(( Collected Sand Dollar. Previous post: Mussel shell ))

Xiu had found himself a neat little sand dollar with its pattern still strong upon its shell. It was a good idea, coming over here away from the crowds. The shells here weren’t broken or trodden on like those found around the more populated parts of the beach. Carefully placing it in his bucket, Xiu heard his partner giving an excited exclamation and looked up at the sea fan in Zul’s hand. It was a pretty thing with its ‘branches’ fanning out like a tree in winter. Smiling, Xiu was about to reach out to touch it when Zul suddenly stiffened and gave him an odd look before placing the item in his pail.

“Zul…?” Xiu mouthed the words silently as the other resumed his search for yet another shell to collect. What was wrong with the frei? He had been acting odd this whole while…

Deciding that enough was enough, the white Raevan floated over to his friend and gave the other a pat on the shoulder, his expression clearly portraying the ‘Is something wrong?’ question.  

[Kyoupiruchi]

(( Shoreline - Seashell 5/6: // Drinks booth - Rong Wei, Ripley and Eiry ))

It caught Lazarus by surprise as well as a wet shoe suddenly came flying out from the ocean. A startled cry escaped his lips as the object landed just below his ribbon as he darted back a few inches quickly. "Yikes!" Now that was... surprising. He thought as he stared disbelievingly at the shoe in the sands. Turning his eyes towards the ocean questioningly, he wondered how could something like that flew out of the waters, when the Sigel realized who the culprit was. A young boy with brown hair, perhaps just five or six years old sat in the shallow waters, laughing at them, it was apparent that one shoe was missing from his feet.

"It was just that kid, don't worry." He chuckled as he watch the child's mother ran over to him with an angry expression. "Let's go." Grabbing onto Cordelia's wrist gently, they made their way a little bit more down the shore, away from the naughty child less he throws his remaining shoe at them. Kids nowadays.

They only stopped when they were some ways away, by now they had went rather far down the beach. As he trailed his eyes further down, he don't see anymore Raevans, just a few scattered humans here and there. Turning around to the direction where they came from, he noted that Zul and Xiu are the closest to them, with Melisande and Varun further away in the distance. Maybe they should go back soon. "Want to start heading back? We could still look while on our way." No sooner when the words left his mouth he felt his ribbons touched a rock behind him. Turning around instinctively, it was then he saw the shell hidden behind the rock - another lace murex, and it was HUGE! Eyes wide, he picked up the shell gingerly, shaking off some of the sand. Unlike the previous one which was white with yellow markings, this one had black markings and stripes, and it was as big as his hand! Awed, he decided that he will be keeping this shell. "This is a definite keeper!" He said excitedly, like a boy that just found his perfect new car.

Kyou beamed at Rong Wei's compliments as he served the lady her fourth cup of banana colada. The drink was a little less than moderate in terms of alcohol level, but it is not exactly served in small shot cups either. He couldn't help but wonder how much water the chinese lady can hold in her stomach. "This is just a hobby." He said as he chuckled. "I'm a scientist, I work in the Lab."

That was when Ripley came to the drinks booth, looking pleased. "Oh, hello Ripley." The words just escaped his mouth, not realizing that he had never met the Egyptian Raevan before. Wait, if he is coming here to speak with the chinese lady, that would mean that she is... "Are you miss Rong Wei?" He asked curiously, remembering their names from his files.  

[soutou]

[[ Oceanside - 6/6 ]]

Varun was content to watch Melisande buzz about, chattering happily as she searched the sand for one more shell. She was having much better luck that he was (and if he were any more worldly, the redhead might have been proud of himself for doing trash detail), and the Leviathan was perfectly fine allowing his fair-headed friend to…were they friends? Varun tipped his head to one side, the fins on the side of his head flaring outwards as he considered the possibility. As though she was reading his mind, the Muse spoke up, and offered a second meeting.

Hovering just a little closer, Varun nodded firmly. “I would like that,” he replied. It was like this with Sa’ida, he decided. You met someone when you go new places, and then they ask to see you again. Good things happen when you are not with Kinsey. (He’d definitely have to try that out more, later.) “I would like that very much.” And then, a pause, remembering the last time he told someone he’d like to see them again. “How do I find you?”

He didn’t have time to wait for a response, Melisande suddenly crying out in distress as the ocean threatened to claim her bucket, and all of her shells. Wings and fins flaring out, Varun did the most princely thing, and dove after the bucket. The sea sprayed up against him, soaking the seasonal Raevan once again, but the shells had been saved. There was some water in their bucket, and Varun did not notice the extra clam shell that rolled in, but all the shells were still in one piece as he proudly handed the bucket back to the Sigel.

“Hold on tight,” he instructed, something light in his eyes and tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Unless you want to start all over again~” The scales on his wings looked to be a light green instead of the same vibrant yellow as the membrane, but perhaps it was just a reflection of the water. Nevertheless, Varun offered his hand and nodded towards the beach. “Do you want to go back?”  

[Aki Ana]

((Oceanside))

Wincing against the spray of water, Melisande reflexively brought up an arm to shield the worst of it. She wasn't soaked, but she definitely wasn't dry! That barely registered with her though. Pasha was too concerned about the shells, and for Varun as he dove after them.

She took her sunglasses off, since they were so dotted with ocean water she couldn't see through them, and blinked with wide blue eyes. He was dripping wet, but held the bucket triumphantly.

"You got it!" Pasha breathed, voice high with excitement. "You should hold it, maybe, so nothing else happens?" She was a little embarrassed to have set it down, without watching the waves. After all, she used to live in a Villa near the coast! Aki had taught her proper ocean safety years ago!

The thought of her estranged guardian dampened the Sigel's spirits a bit, but she tried not to let it show. Instead, she offered the Frei a little smile as she tried to dry her lenses of her sunglasses on her wet, white dress shirt.

"Let's go show them at the booth!" That had been about enough adventure for her. "And I work at the Plaza Cafe if you'd ever like to find me." She hoped Varun did stop by someday. He was fun to be with, even if the crab had been awfully scary...and his colors were so pretty to look at! She didn't know if she'd ever met a Frei quite as colorful as he!

Melisande also realized that she looked quite a mess...curls heavy with sea spray, and white cover shirt patchy with wet. "I'll catch up in a minute or two." She smiled and turned towards the warm breeze, wings shivering as she shook them dry.

((Gone for a few days! Back on Monday smile ))