(open) like rolling waves

[hundredpower]

WHO: Barnaby, Ciel, way too many kids... and you?
WHAT: Special beach episode!
WHERE: The seaside just south of Achamoth.
WHEN: 21 Visoseri.
WARNINGS: THIS IS A CHILD FRIENDLY SPACE. except there are spiders


With things as difficult as they were in Venera, and wanting to keep his mind occupied beyond the grind of training or research, Barnaby had begun to spend a lot of his free time volunteering to help the orphans in the Citadel. It was the closest thing to his life back home that he had here, even if he's still a stranger to the kids here, and they to him, he still sympathised with them and wanted to help improve their circumstances. He'd wondered if there was something he could do to help expand their horizons even a little bit, with Achamoth largely being unsuited for young children, and so he sought permission from the Regent to take them out of the city for the day on a trip.

Their destination isn't far: the beach directly south of the city. While he initially floats the idea to Ciel, who has been helping with the organising and preparations, he'll offer for other Aions to come along if he happens to bump into them. Provided, of course, they're on their best behaviour and willing to ensure the children don't come to any harm, as per the Regent's strict orders.

1. TRAVELLING TO THE BEACH (cw: spiders)

Although the beach isn't far from the city, and close enough that the trip can be made on foot, there's one particular hazard on the way: giant spiders. The group have to cross a small woodland before they can reach the cliffside route that will take them down to the beach, and Barnaby pauses at the edge of the woods, spotting white silk webbing strung between entire trees, more than capable of snaring unsuspecting travellers not paying close attention to where they're walking.

The spiders themselves are nowhere to be seen... yet, and a lot of them have been dealt with in the days leading up to the trip. But it was impossible to eradicate all of them, and the forest canopy overhead is thick and ripe for ambushes, if they're not careful, so Barnaby addresses the group.

"If anyone who can fight is willing to volunteer to scout ahead, please take the lead. I suggest you take someone else and go as a pair."

Barnaby would go himself, but he'd much rather stay and keep an eye on the children. You're up, team.

2. THE BEACH

Once they're safely on the other side, a rocky cliffside path leads down to a private beach. The beach itself is fully secure, as Ciel, Barnaby and Eustace had worked to ensure it was safe in the days running up to the trip. For anyone who arrives early with the group, Barnaby will be giving swimming lessons to those who don't know how to swim, and for most of the rest of the day, will be keeping an eye out from a lifeguard tower they'd had an Achamite workman construct a few days before.

There's enough of a breeze and the waves are choppy enough that you can try your hand at surfing, if you don't mind the old-fashioned surfboards on offer. For those who don't like the water but don't want to just bask in the sun all day, there are buckets and spades for building sandcastles (sand Citadels...?) and balls for playing ball games, either in or out of the water. Food, snacks and refreshments are provided for the children throughout the day, courtesy of Ciel.

3. EVENING

The children are allowed to stay long enough to watch the sunset, before they pack up and head off with Barnaby and Ciel for the evening. For anyone who chooses to stay well into dusk or longer, there are dry branches and driftwood piles suitable for starting a bonfire. If you want peace and quiet by the sea, or to crack open the booze properly now the kids are gone, this is the best time of night for it.

Comments

QUESTIONS

[hundredpower]

If you want to ask about anything above, hit me up here!

[baltimores]

[ Sorry, Barnaby, but as soon as he caught wind of the mission to treat orphaned children to a fun day out, there was no way Amos was going to miss out on this one. Way to hit on the one thing he actively cares about. ]

> travelling

[ Yeah, okay, this was the kind of thing that he was made for. Amos doesn't hesitate in stepping forward to take the lead, because like hell he's gonna let a spider hurt any of these kids in any way. ]

Yeah, I can help keep a clear path.

[ And rip the limbs off of any spiders that pose any problems, but who's counting. There's a sense of determination and general fearlessness as he inclines his chin with a slight tilt to his head, an unspoken acknowledgment that he's cool with anyone else joining him. More eyes, more hands, easier work, right? ]


> beach!

[ Both in theory and in practice, he wholeheartedly supports facilitating kids having a good time.

... Except it's a little more difficult when he's the one being asked to put it into practice. It doesn't take long before Amos, innocently lounging on the beach, finds one of the kids tugging at his hand. And then another, and another, before he really doesn't know what else to do but get dragged off into the water, fully clothed as he lets himself get dunked and conscripted into splashing fights (and turns out he can make massive splashes now, so that's always fun), all the while keeping an eye out to make sure nobody, you know, drowns.

When it's time to come back out — well. He did have on shorts that were meant for going in the water, but his shirt is very much sticking to his skin now. He makes his way further up the beach, back to his first lounge spot, and... yeah, this isn't gonna work. Amos strips it off, lets it fall as a wet mess beside his spot before settling back in, hoping the sun will dry him off that much faster. It's kinda annoying that his shard is out now, but at least they're in a private space, so he can deal.

For the rest of the day he can be found either lounging in the sun, getting dragged back into the water, or trying to help the kids build impressive sandcastles. He'll just have to retrieve his shirt later, but his hopes of it drying off properly are... low. ]


> evening

[ He's shipping out to Godsblood the next day, so might as well take a bit of time to enjoy a bit of drink on the beach while staring out at the ocean, right? Whether it's when he was helping to build a bonfire or after it's already going and they've got a moment to themselves, if Amos catches your eye he'll nod at you, raise his drink up a little in a toast. ]

Good day, right? This was a good idea.


> wildcard

[ arii#6412 or cadiai if we need to talk about anything! feel free to assume his Godsblood trip is public knowledge. ]

beach

[hundredpower]

[Barnaby's taking a break to get some shade and refreshments in between being on watch throughout the day, when he spots Amos emerging from the water. Seeing the other man make an effort to play with the children has gone some ways to soften his opinion of him, and it was a marked difference from how low he'd been the last time they met. So when Amos settles in to dry off, he approaches him and smiles.]

It looks like they've been keeping you busy. Thank you for playing with them.

[It's making his job a lot easier to have multiple pairs of eyes around, and if it keeps a group of them occupied and having fun, all the better.]

[baltimores]

[ Amos blinks up at Barnaby, running a hand through his wet hair in an effort to brush it back, keep it from falling into his eyes. He's actually a little surprised that he'd come up to him on his own, considering the way things had ended between them at Misa and Lottie's party. Upon reflection, he wasn't sure how much their little meetup when Amos had been out and about filling himself with as much alcohol as possible was gonna count later on, either.

... He doesn't hate this, though, and his mouth quirks upwards slightly in response. It could hardly be called a smile but, well. ]

Yeah, well, you know. I'm kinda surprised they wanted me to play with them to begin with — [ but he's the furthest possible thing from disappointed; no, there's a heavily contented air to him — ] but who am I to say no? They're kids. They want it, they got it.

[ He'll do anything for them, basically. ]

Thanks for setting this up. This was a really good idea. Fuck knows I'd've appreciated something like this at their age.

beach!

[sterngaze]

[Given Liem’s sensitivity to the sun, a day trip to the beach is an unusual thing for him to have chosen to participate in. If not for the presence of the orphans, he never would have decided to come along. As it is, ever since the group arrived at the shore, he’s been lurking in the shade of a beach umbrella, covered up from head to toe with a pair of intensely dark sunglasses perched on his nose.

One of the orphans has attached herself to him, sticking to his side as packs of children hurl themselves down the beach and into the surf. Liem is a rather sober companion, so the company he offers consists mainly of quiet conversation as they sit together in the shade. But after she catches sight of the sand castle that Amos is in the midst of building, her shy preoccupation with it eventually convinces him to escort her over to the ongoing construction project.

Liem and his charge stop a short distance away, and he peers down at Amos and his company from beneath the wide brim of his hat.]

We couldn’t help but notice your rather ambitious building efforts. Would you like some help?

[baltimores]

[ He's kneeling in the sand, using the backside of a shovel to fortify a wall when they approach. At first, Amos blinks up at Liem — interesting beach attire, but, okay — before he looks over at the lone girl with him, and his expression softens. ]

Yeah, sure. Definitely.

[ His voice is amiable as he speaks, and he even means it — none of the blank attempts he often resorts to when dealing with others. Never with kids. Amos gestures with his head to a spot perpendicular to him, where there are buckets and shovels ready for the taking. ]

These guys decided we should put a moat in — [ one of the handful of orphan helpers he has with him whoops at the idea, while another, holding an empty bucket, giggles — ] but I been trying to tell them we gotta fortify the walls first, or else the whole thing's gonna come crashing down. Leave the centre open to attack.

"Attack from what?"

[ The first orphan's question leaves Amos looking between him and Liem, helpless. What is a kid-appropriate answer to that?? His imagination can only go so far. ]

evening

[vapour]

[ Childe approaches, raising up his own drink in kind to the toast before coming to sit himself down near the other, a hooded towel over his head as he does so. ]

Definitely a nice idea! Everyone seemed pretty happy, too, you can't beat that.

So, Amos, I heard you're going to Godsblood. You think their technology might be decently promising? I didn't really get the whole story for your trip, but was interested so I figured I'd just go the big guy in know. [ no one knows more about Amos and what he's up to than Amos, himself, right?

For Childe's part, he looks pretty innocently intrigued, like he's been hanging out with the orphans too long and every little thing is suddenly extremely interesting. ]

[baltimores]

[ Amos sips at his drink as Childe talks, amicable interest noted. He exhales contentedly when he pulls the bottle from his lips, loosely holding it by the neck as he takes all of Childe in. Amos' previously wet shirt is now thoroughly clumped with sand, so... yeah, it's kinda beyond wearing until he can take it back to the Citadel to get properly washed, but the fire's nice to sit by regardless. ]

Hope so. I already know it's not gonna be as good as what I'm used to, but Xishen said they were my best bet. Now I'm just kinda interested in what they got up there. [ He nods out at the ocean; not that Godsblood is in that specific direction, but that's his means of travel, so. The sentiment, and all that. ] If I can commandeer a machine shop there or something, I'll probably be good to go. I know what I want, just... need the means, is all.

[ His voice is casual; he's had a good day with the orphans — there really is something nice about just hanging out with kids who don't have anything better to worry about — but this is his bread and butter, so... it might be a little more interesting to actually talk about. Certainly more stimulating, at least. It's almost like a callback to what his day-to-day used to be like before all of. Horos, being an Aion, all of that. ]

beach

[affal]

( ooc: let me know if you mind the late tag-in! i thought it would be a fun follow-up since we now have an idea how their last run-in shook out... )

( if asked, makoto would reply that he was here out of a sense of goodwill, or duty, or some nonsense like that. in actuality, though, it's not as though he could find one particle in his body about these children. he cannot fathom the Regent's protectiveness over them, considering they soldiered ever onward toward a future in which every life in this iteration of the universe would be cut short so that something new might be ushered in. but it's not his place to argue with their machinations, and so he goes, not for the benefit of the youths but instead because he had been challenged to. J had given him perhaps the most inane and infuriating challenge of the entire month, once he had found out about the trip that barnaby had planned: "go with them, and have a good time." it might technically be makoto's "choice," but it's no choice at all. so now he's here, trying to slouch into the easiest victory condition he can find for this challenge.

unfortunately for him, it would not be so easy. amos wasn't the only one who had fallen victim to the urgings of the children — makoto had just spent the better part of an hour or two filling out one of the teams for a game that several of the older youths were playing in the sand with one of the balls that had been brought, and... it had gone exactly as well as one might expect for someone like him. the best part of it had been when they finally dispersed to go play in the ocean, freeing him from his time as a press-ganged player.

he could have gone back to where he'd been before that, but he stops by where the supplies had been set up to get some water. and then... he instead walks over to take a seat next to amos, who was taking a momentary rest nearby in-between play-times with the orphans.

makoto doesn't even know if he recalls what had occurred between them in venera. he had been cautious around gen at first as well, but he truly didn't seem to suspect anything. they had both been out of it, but amos had been far more lucid than gen had been — delusional, but not lost within them. in the end, it doesn't really matter; he'll get a sense of whether or not he recalls soon enough, he thinks, and either way is the same for him.

on makoto's part, he doesn't seem to bear any ill will — certainly not with the amiable smile that spreads across his face. )

They certainly seem content to run us ragged, don't they? ( his tone is light with amusement, though secretly he's pretty peeved about the whole thing... makoto is not fond of kids, and it's probably for the best. )

Majorita-chan wants to hang out

[killandrecycle]

I. She's an orphan, too.

At some point the count of 'children' goes up by one when a certain violet haired girl slips into the crowd. With so many of them being escorted, what was one more? Certainly she knew she'd eventually be discovered, it was unlikely a strict headcount wasn't being kept, after all, but she doesn't really care.

The demon barely even looks like herself at the moment. Her hair is worn loose rather then in tails like she normally favors, and her normal skull-shaped ornaments would never fit under the wide-brimmed straw hat she wears. Her normal outfit is replaced by a light violet colored sundress. She had made sure to select one that covered the shard at her collarbone. The fact that she is dressed a bit better then the other 'orphans' might give her away as much as the fact that there is one too many of them.

Despite being able to easily handle something like an oversized spider, she doesn't step up to do so when prompted. She isn't here for fighting, after all. Unless discovered beforehand, she simply blends in with the crowds. She's the right size for it, after all.

II. Surprisingly well-behaved

Assuming her little disguise was still valid by the time the group arrived at the beach, it wouldn't be for much longer. She didn't see any reason to hide it anymore. This doesn't not mean some grand display of some sort. She simply stops trying to blend in with the crowd. She can actually be seen speaking to a small group of the children, and seems to be entertaining them with a little bit of a 'light show' using her magic, by sending little bubbles of energy into the air and letting them burst in a flash of light. Its the same magic she uses to kill with, naturally. But in such small amounts, no harm is being done and she is careful not to let it burst anyone near any of the children.

Later, she can be seen building a sandcastle with the same group. Looking at her as she was acting now, it'd be difficult to confuse her for the same person who always says and does such cruel things. She almost seems to be actually enjoying herself. There's no childish tantrums, she doesn't move to kick over someone else's sand creation or anything. She really seems to fit right in.

II

[hundredpower]

If Majorita feels like she has eyes boring into her for much of the time she's entertaining the children... well, it's because she does. The fun police here (Barnaby) absolutely hasn't forgotten how callous she was towards the citizens of Venera, and although retribution from the Regent in this case would be a much stronger deterrent to mistreating them, he has no idea if that would stop a girl who has so far come across as something of a loose cannon.

It's in the middle of her magic show that Barnaby approaches, and after smiling to the children and apologising for interrupting, he draws her to one side, turning his back on the little gathered crowd to shoot her a flat look. "Please don't do anything dangerous. And I shouldn't have to say this, but you're forbidden to use magic on them. Period."

II

[vapour]

"Hey, pipsqueak, lookit you being a great big sis here!"

Cue Rita being picked up in a dramatic and squishy hug, Childe fawning all over her like an immensely pleased big brother. He'll let her down to avoid embarrassing her too much, but that also means he's coming to sit with her and the kids and observe their Sandcastle construction. "Whoa, hey, you're all going to be master architects at this rate! The adults will all have to to retire super early. "

That seems to get a pretty big grin and some giggles from the kids, but Childe keeps any further commentary to a minimum, proceeding to go about helping with little problems they might encounter when wanting to do something more complicated with their same creations. Eventually, though, Childe will come full circle to flop next to Majorita.

"Having fun, Rita-chan?"

[lachtara]

It's because of a few Aions 'pestering' him that Emet-Selch even agrees to make an appearance at the beach. If anyone asks, he would insist that he has no interest in any of the activities and would prefer to be left alone. Though if one looks very carefully, you may notice him glancing in the direction of the Orphans if they stray too close to dangerous waters.

2. The Beach

It seems almost suspicious how Emet-Selch arrives at the beach. Anyone could have noticed that he was not in the small group that traveled through the forest to get here, and yet here he is, lounging in a chair that has been stretched out over the sand. Not only that, he seems to have brought a large striped umbrella with him so that he may sit under it and out of the sun's oppressive heat.

He's wearing a white shirt and purple shorts which is appropriate enough for the beach. At his side is a hole in the sand that is filled with crushed ice and a few drinks. Anyone is technically welcome to one, but they will have to venture within striking distance of Emet-Selch's disapproving glare to do so.

3. Evening

The oppressive sun of the day finally gives way to the calm night. The umbrella is unfolded and laid on its side so that he can get a full view of the sky overhead. The unobstructed view of the sky is always one of his favorite sights. And now to add to the view, he can see the strange energy swirling around the Galaxies overhead. If he has to guess, there are other Aion's who could see it too. Perhaps this is a good opportunity to test that theory.

He hears the faint swoosh-swoosh of someone walking through the nearby sand and he doesn't hesitate in trying to assign them a chore or two. "Gather us some firewood, would you?" He asks, though he has intentions of helping in his own way.

2.

[tohell]

Without so much as a word of greeting and an entourage of Achamoth's orphans trailing a short distance behind, J saunters over to sit under the wide umbrella Emet-Selch has set up for himself. Not a minute later the kids follow his example to congregate around the two Kenoma. If they aren't kicking up a bit of sand the rugrats mill around J like chicks under a hen, with some playing around his wings and others sprawling across his legs as J stretches them out.

After a moment of making himself at home under the portion of shade not occupied by the other man, J notices the glistening ice-chilled drinks. With a little consideration and some thoughtful browsing of the options, he makes his choice. There's a satisfying slosh of crisp icecubes churning around together as he pilfers something free of liquor with a chipper quip, "Don't mind if I do."

Only then does J concern himself with acknowledging the owner of the shade he's claimed, by raising the stolen beverage up to toast his gracious benefactor, "How considerate of you to bring enough refreshments to go around."

3.

[vapour]

The sound stops momentarily as Childe listens to Emet-Selch's chore assignment before he chuckles.

"Yeah, I can do that," he responds without any amount of resentment in his tone. This is a field trip for the orphans more than anything and they also need to keep warm so Emet-Selch's suggestion is really simply the Right Thing To Do.

"I'm sure there's some dry enough wood around here," he says to himself as he starts walking again intent on locating the requested item. After several minutes, Emet-Selch may hear a decisive and somewhat high-pitched Aha! from a distance, followed by Childe eventually returning with an armful of wood.

"Piece of cake!"

beachin'

[gravings]

A. baby shark

[ A fin breaches the surface of the water. A predator is on the loose.........

Just kidding, it's Gray in her hooded swimsuit. Regrettably, there are only so many styles available to her in the realm of modest swimwear, so this is what she was stuck with: a shark-themed onesie with a highly youthful air. But beggars can't be choosers, and though she'd prefer something a little more plain, she's mostly happy to have found something with head coverage (kind of) as she paddles around the shallow waters of the shore. In a rare event, her hair is down and tied in a simple ponytail that hangs over her shoulder, because trying to untangle a complicated bun that is also wet is hell on earth.

This is her first day swimming, and she's just trying to get a hang of the basics. Her head is submerged, a single fin sticking out of the water as she focuses on kicking and moving forward. She hasn't yet perfected the art of seeing where she's going though, so if you're in her way then...... ]

B. surfin'

[ Surfing! It looks involved but fun, so Gray can't resist trying to dip her toes into it. On a surfboard that is frankly too big, she paddles out to the waves in the near distance and spends some time getting pushed around and pounced on by them. Yet in a (too) short amount of time, she's standing up comfortably and riding the waves back to shore again and again, each time inevitably tumbling back into the ocean before she turns around and starts to paddle back.

If she comes across anyone along the way, she'll stop to greet them with a small smile. (She continues to wear her shark-themed swimsuit.)

If this person is just swimming out here and having a good time, she'll say mildly: ]

Please be careful. I'll be coming back this way soon.

[ If this person also happens to have a surfboard, then she'll say instead: ]

Are you surfing too...? Ah, please show me how it's done. I'm only a beginner.

C. good(?) vibrations

[ Soon, the kids notice that Gray is going back and forth on her surfboard, and so they hatch a plan: as she's cruising back toward shore, a handful of them burst from the water beneath her and seize her board in place from both sides. Gray wails and manages to somehow keep her balance, but the kids smell blood in the water and only become more determined (to bully her). They laugh sweetly and rock her board under her, trying to get her to fall off, but it's taking an awfully long time.

Help? Make it worse?? What's a spectator to do when witnessing (probably) beach murder... ]

D. island in the sun

[ Gray is now exhausted and trudging back to the safety and stability of the sand. There aren't many spots of shade left in the immediate area, so she'll just have to share one with someone else. Her tired bones sap her of her usual anxiety about bothering other people, so it's only with an apologetic smile that she walks up to the current owner of this particular shady real estate. ]

Um, would it be alright if I sat with you?

E. wildcard

[ In the mood for something else? Hit me up! You can contact me at chipsnfish or at boba#9153 on discord. ]

B

[hundredpower]

[Gray had challenged Barnaby to join her for some surfing, and while he'd been insistent he ought to keep watch, the unintentional compulsion was enough that he'd asked the others still on the shore to take over keeping an eye out for him. A surprising number of Kenoma had come along for the day, and that does make his job a lot easier.

So he ditches his glasses and shirt, revealing the pink shard embedded in his chest, and grabs one of the (admittedly absurdly oversized) surfboards to paddle into the water with Gray. The waters have calmed a little for the moment, giving them time to talk without waves buffeting them about or crashing over their heads.]

I've never tried surfing before. If you have, do you think you could walk me through it?

[He's not worried about maintaining his balance, which he has the physical capability for, it's more the knowledge and timing he isn't sure about.]

C

[lifespanned]

[ If it's a savior Gray is looking for, she won't find one in Misa, who has really only stood on the sidelines and been an enabler for the kids bothering Gray on her surfboard. It's all in good fun— why stop them? In fact, she thinks it's taking way too long to knock her off the board, and so, she devises a little plan to speed things along. ]

Watch out!

[ Misa bends at the waist and runs both arms through the sea in order to throw up a big splash of water, planning on dousing both Gray and the horde of kids messing with her precious surfboard. She's laughing all the while, clearly getting an enormous sense of entertainment from the affair. ]

D

[perfectlygoodbird]

[Gray is so, so proper. The bird can't help but laugh a little, but she nods with enthusiasm. But she also gets an idea.]

Definitely all right! But do you mind watching for a moment? There's a place that has ices nearby, and you look like you could use one desperately. I'll go get some and you hold the shady spot, and it'll all work out then!

[Not that it wouldn't anyway, but Meteion wants Gray to feel like she's doing her part. Hard to be a bother then. As if Gray would ever bother Meteion.]

Do you have a particular flavor you'd like?

B

[vapour]

Hm? Yeah, I can show you. You'll get the hang of it in no time, I'm sure, since you look to be doing really good already for just starting. [ and he's pretty sure that she just started judging by how he watched her get herself out there from the very first wave until now. Very impressive, really! ]

Got any questions or specific area you want to focus on? [ he does feel that she would do better with a surfboard more to her size, but he figures if Gray really gets into it then they can get her a custom one or something. It never hurt anyone to learn on a less than ideal platform, so it's plenty good enough. ]

C; l8tor g8tor b@u

[expiera]

My, my. What do we have here? Have you all come up with a new game?

[A (deceptively) cheerful and patient voice sounds from behind them on the beach, causing some of the children to freeze.]

If it's a test of balance, I can help you time how long someone manages to hold on before they fall into the water. Since you all volunteered for Gray to go first, it'll only be fair if she gets to pick whose turn is next, right? What do you think, Gray?

[One of the boys lets the board go before lowering himself into the water and not-so-subtly slinking away. As for the rest, some of them look uncertain while others actually look interested. What's little miss shark's verdict?]

[devilmancrybaby]

Luo Binghe has chosen to come on this trip because taking orphans on a field trip seems like a decent way to win good boy points. However... even on the way, he finds himself getting a little bit sullen about it. HE never got taken on fun beach trips...

1. spider time

He volunteers immediately, drawing the cursed demon sword that enhances his negative impulses he has recently reacquired. Fighting giant spiders sounds more cathartic than staying here sulking about how nobody ever gave strict orders to ensure he came to no harm when he was a tragic orphan.

The sword, Xin Mo, gently thrums with sinister energies. One of the children asks to touch it.

"You may not," Binghe snaps, making the child's lower lip start to wobble slightly. He steps head on the woodland path, and turns back to the other adults present. "I don't need a partner."

2. da beach

The concept of "beachwear" is a foreign one to Binghe, who has chosen to enjoy the beach in approximately the same thing he usually wears: multiple drifty layers, long pants, long sleeves with bracers, all black. This is... not working out great for him. In the world he comes from, although he isn't consciously aware of it, he generally only gets sweaty when it would be sexy or badass for that to be happening. No such limits apply in Horos, and he finds himself wiping his forehead with the back of his hand much more often than he's used to. Before long he concedes to tying up his mass of curly black hair in a full ponytail, instead of just half, to get some of that sea breeze on the back of his neck, and when the afternoon sun reaches its hottest, he takes off the robe he's wearing... although underneath it he's still wearing a long-sleeved black shirt...

Despite remaining bitter about the fact that these orphans are being afforded opportunities he was not, he is invested enough in good boy points to go out of his way to play with the kids... even though he refuses to let them win at ball games and at one point makes a child cry because when a wave ruins her sandcastle he just tells her that it's good for her to learn that life is cruel and unforgiving.

(if you'd like to do something else. please hit me up on discord, or plurk at ormery. also if you wanna tag with brackets go ahead, i'll match format!)

spider time...

[gravings]

Gray isn't technically one of the adults present, but she does have a glaive strapped to her back, which probably puts her in the group of "technically should be insisting on going with Luo Binghe." But she does not insist, because her instinct is to obey what other people tell her. She looks uncertainly at him for a moment before deciding to awkwardly pat the wobbly-lipped child on the shoulder instead. The child's lip-wobbling only intensifies.

To Luo Binghe, she says meekly, "Um... good luck." He sounds really confident, so he probably has this handled?

for J:

[affal]

( in the late afternoon, after the sun had completed its slow climb to its zenith in the sky and now started to slowly roll back down towards the horizon, makoto has finally managed to carve out some time for himself. wearing the swimming outfit he'd had commissioned for himself in achamoth (priorities), he lays out on a towel with the shirt he'd worn on the way here rolled up and draped over his eyes to keep the worst of the sunlight out. were he still human, he'd likely be glowing brightly red by this point, but there's something to be said about demonic constitution — it seems his body can combat the damage that the sun can do just about as readily as it can burn him, so he's blessedly unscathed from that embarrassing eventuality. still, warmth and exertion has brought a ruddier glow to him than he usually has, as if it were a reminder to himself and others that he was still warm-blooded and not half as reptilian as he liked to make himself out to be. his shins are lightly dusted from sand from earlier — he'd tried to do just this several hours ago, before lunch, but he'd instead been approached by one of the kids and essentially conscripted into a game they'd wanted to play with a ball. the reasoning he'd been given had been, "we need another player to make the teams, and you're about the same size, so you should play with us?"

and damn J's accursed challenge, because he'd been virtually incapable of saying no (the results had been just as amusing to watch as one might expect). several hours and one lunch later, he's finally released to have some time to himself, which he grasps at with avaricious vigor.

since they'd overheard the plans for this little excursion to the beach and J had had the gall to challenge him to, "go along and have a nice time," he'd lived with a hive of hornets buzzing noisily in his head, content to rearrange his thoughts and manage the minutia of his less occupied moments so that he trended both in mind and in body towards fulfilling that very command. it irritated him to no end. even here, free from the laws of hell and in a place where they should be on equal ground (but for disparity in their personal levels of strength), J still finds a way to control him. as angry as it makes him, he feels like he shouldn't even be surprised.

but as the day goes on, a peace comes to him, calming both his mind and body of the apprehension and tension the challenge had given him. at least he'll be free of it soon enough.

soft sand muffles J's approach, but makoto does notice the immediate deprivation of sunlight the moment the demon leans over to eclipse the sun from him. he reaches up to lift away his make-shift blindfold, expression immediately twisting into vexation when he sees the demon's expression. ) Are you trying to sabotage me? ( he grouses, covering his eyes once more and turning his head slightly in a moment of bratty impetuousness. if he finds himself too aggravated by J's reaction to all of this, will it end up "ruining" his day and failing the challenge for him? what sort of consequence would that have? ) Do you have to look so smug, and right when I was finally enjoying myself?

( looking just like the cat who'd eaten the canary. irritating and inaccurate, thank-you-very-much. )

[tohell]

[ In the quiet corner not overrun with wayward children, two monsters take a reprieve from circling one another in their demonic courtship, spelled out in spilled blood and vicious obession. The pause is like a slow, sedate intake of air. Although it's no deviation from the winding path that leads to ruination, the clock for that countdown does stop. Up until one of them suddenly decides to set things in motion again by making a move.

J takes the here and now, for whatever this temporary truce is worth, with the ease by which he draws from the depths of his glass a cube of ice. It settles within his mouth for just a moment, its fate hanging in the balance. Only for the sharp points of teeth that fill his maw to crush it solid as he studies Makoto's form, stretched out like a banquet or a sacrificial lamb; both set up for reverent appreciation of the spread. ]

If my mere presence is enough to leave you incapable of controlling your emotions to the point you fail at such a simple task- [ Pale wings stretch open to their full wingspan, dimming what little light that does reach the island of fabric Makoto drifts on within a sea of fine sand. They paint shadows across his skin, riding up thighs and over arms, wherever wings may shift. J leans over his form from the side, blanketing Makoto in his silhouette even as he sinks from where he stands onto his knees. His only barrier to the heat of a noon-baked beach is his own choice of a beach towel. Shaped wide enough for him and more, laid down close enough to border Makoto's. In the meantime, a shallow dip carved out in the sand is the ideal location for a glass full of ice water. There it sweats until the fat beads of water swell to fullness then slide to spot the ground. ]

Then the only one sabotaging your efforts at a good time is you.

[ For him, Makoto's admission works as something of a final key in an incantation, spelling out a truth J has laid out like a baited trap he stumbles into. Recognizing that not only that his master was, naturally, correct all the while in incentivizing him to join this trip. But more than the stroke to his pride that leaves a smug sense of accuracy buoying his weary heart, there is something else. That Makoto is, by his own admission, burrowing into this moment with a sense of pleasure not bartered or wrought at some expense.

Satisfaction effuses from under half-hooded eyes and the slow coil of J's mouth, snaking up at either corner. Then it grows as an idea takes shape; like dangerous embers flickering in the colors of nature's warning, all red and orange, promising to grow into something worse than their present form.

Being reared in the company of predators can make one complacent. In spending countless hours when they are satisfied and their bellies full, those familiar can begin to forget the way their teeth are destined to rend flesh and claws meant to sink in to grip yielding skin. Just as Makoto does now, spread out with his pale throat bared and the soft of his underbelly exposed. Unimpeded by the cold pit of dread that haunts any of Hell's demons at the mere mention of J's name. Makoto may not be foolish enough to forget what J is or all he's capable of, but he does choose to be fearless while lying himself down at the foot of a creature that's written violence into Makoto's skin time and again. ]

But if what you see is so intolerable- [ Pale and smooth but larger than Makoto's by comparison, J's hand gradually slides itself under the fringe of dark bangs. With barely any weight pressing down, his palm settles atop the shirt obscuring Makoto's vision. ] By all means, remain in the dark.

[ The vibration of J's particular brand of laughter, softened and smothered in pitch by the peaceful atmosphere, travels down through the contact presently barred from being skin to skin. A thumb strokes the meager strip of Makoto's forehead not hidden from view while a crisp noise suggestive of objects clicking against glass fills the interlude between J's thoughts. Off to the side, J's drink is given a stir with one finger so that he might make a choice from any number of ice cubes at random.

Without a word, a drop of cold liquid dashes itself against hot skin as J holds one above Makoto's sternum. Like this, residual water can roll off its surface to tumble like a slow summer's rain to interrupt the unbearable heat. The little bursts of wetness splatter upon his chest one at a time, pointedly allowing Makoto to feel each individual droplet from its landing to disbursement. Some choose to roll down towards one shoulder, while others trickle into the dip at his throat. ]

Blinding yourself is an excellent way to miss what's right in front of you.