Barnaby Brooks Jr. (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
hundredpower) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
aionlogs2022-06-21 07:14 am
hundredpower) wrote in aionlogs2022-06-21 07:14 am
(open) like rolling waves
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)
2. THE BEACH
3. EVENING
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.
Majorita-chan wants to hang out
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
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."
no subject
Still, that doesn't mean she's suddenly become an adorable sweetheart. "Oh, so you did recognize me after all." The tone of voice she uses when addressing Barnaby is like the difference between night and day compared to how she'd been speaking with the children. "Afraid I'll make them fight for my amusement or something? That might be funny, but the Regent would kill me. Maybe even literally." She glances over at the little crowd she'd been showing off for. "Its fine. I'm not here for anything like that. I think some of them even LIKE me. They sure will be disappointed when they get older."
no subject
"If you care about what they think so much, just behave yourself, and they won't be disappointed," he retorts. "Many of them look up to the Aions, so we should all set an example while we're around them."
no subject
"They're safe with me. There is nothing to gain and a lot to lose by being anything but a good little chaperone. So, you won't have to worry. Here, at least."
Her smile fades, only to be replaced by an intense stare. "But just here. I still despise you. You disrespected me, and I'm going to make you suffer for it."
no subject
"If we're at an understanding, that's all I wanted to say. You can continue."
He'll stand back and watch a short distance away... just in case.
II
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?"
no subject
That is all she's able to get out before she's scooped up. She seems immensely bothered by it, her body going rigid as she's held off the ground. When released, she shoots Childe the sort of glare that would surely make him glad looks can't kill, her eyes narrowed, and her teeth gritted. It only lasts a few moments, but there's no denying it was there.
Whatever it was all about, it doesn't seem to be something that sours her mood beyond repair. Maybe the good mood of the children helped her keep in her temper. It isn't too long before she's gone back to helping.
"Somehow. I didn't get to do anything like this when I was their age." She glances over the little group she'd been entertaining. "I dunno why I am even here. Maybe if someone had done something like this for me I might be different now. I don't have any family either." She glances out at the water. "I guess that is probably why. If I still did, I doubt I've have ever become anyone worth summoning here. I'd still take it if I could, though."
no subject
"Huh? Run that by me again? You think if you got to do fun things like go to the beach with kids your age you would be somehow unremarkable?"
That's the suggestion anyway, assuming someone might consider themselves 'remarkable' for being summoned here. Childe himself isn't really sure if that's the best way of looking at this situation, but he's also not convinced that they're just all suddenly 'chosen ones' that have become demi-gods without a really big catch.
no subject
"Probably. It would have meant I'd have had a normal life, so why wouldn't I be unremarkable? These kids are pretty lucky they have people willing to look after them. No one looked after me. I spent every day worrying if it was the day someone would kill me for fun. Eventually someone tried and it didn't go how they planned." She doesn't want to get any more specific with the children nearby, but the implication is obvious.
"So of course if I had just been some moronic kid there would have been no reason for me to be summoned. I'm sure you're stronger then you look, too. I.."
There's a bit of a pause. Her brow furrows.
"I can't remember what happened in Venera very well before I came into my right mind. But I sort of remember you telling me you were going..."
She glances around. No kids within earshot.
"To kill me. I'm sure I'm not remembering that properly, right?"