(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

[gravings]

[ The kids shriek and laugh at Misa's surprise attack (even though she warned them) and quickly start crowding on one side of Gray and her surfboard to use them as a shield. Gray, who's still sputtering through a faceful of water, doesn't notice until it's too late — and the kids all on one side ruthlessly tip her surfboard over so that she goes flying into the water toward Misa with a hearty splash.

Cheering, the kids crouch behind the board now propped on its side and start slinging water at Misa (and Gray) en masse. Gray is thoroughly a victim and will continue to be one for the next few seconds. ]

[lifespanned]

[ And even though she just forcibly made operation Make Gray Fall Off Her Surfboard successful, her immediate reaction at being splashed by all those kids is try to pull Gray up from the water, holding up an arm to shield the majority of her still done-up face. ]

Gray, hurry! Let's get them!

[ Her movements to drag Gray up from the water are probably more forceful and touchy than they need to be, as she's practically hugging her around the middle to pull her to stand before launching her own counter-attack, fully expecting Gray to be on her side here. She saw how timid and afraid of her Gray had been at the party— she only wants her to have fun, even if her way of showing that is pushing her off right into the metaphorical and literal deep end. ]

[gravings]

[ Gray, a humble leaf trying to go with the flow on the river that is this world, allows herself to get dragged up and recruited by the very architect of her demise. With her eyes squeezed shut (this is so much salt water in her face), she blindly starts scooping water up at the squealing children. Through her sputtering, she stutters, ]

I-I'll go right!

[ She doesn't have it in her to command Misa to go left, but she hopes it's obvious what she's going for...?? In any case, she starts fighting her way over to flank the kids on the right, weathering the brunt of the kids' onslaught for at least a moment. ]

[lifespanned]

[ It's a good thing they're both on the same page— Misa obediently goes to the left in order to make this a war on two fronts, grinning mischievously all the while. Causing problems, and winning a little impromptu competition along the way? It's all in good fun. It isn't as if there's been a ton of time to have normal, good old-fashioned fun without the weight of their responsibilities hanging over them, after all.

But seeing what the two of them are planning, the kids scramble for the surfboard to use as a makeshift shield— though they push and pull this way and that to decide a direction to face it in, once they've stopped their temporary all out assault on Gray. That's where Misa starts splashing water up high to drizzle down on their heads, putting a hand to her mouth to call out to them - ]

How about you silly little kids surrender, and Misa and Gray will go easy on you? Too bad it was so easy to beat you....

[ With a taunt like that, she draws the kids' (and their surfboard's) attention over to her momentarily— their backs are turned, and they're totally defenseless, while they hurl a bunch of indignant complaints (and arm splashes of water) at Misa's smack-talking. At which point, Misa fires a wink off in Gray's direction, practically saying FINISH THEM with her expression alone. ]

[gravings]

[ That's a perfect diversion if Gray's ever seen one. It's clear that the kids have no real intention of surrendering, so she follows Misa's cue and winds up for a decisive blow, focusing her magical energy in her body.

With the magical power of magical enhancement, she swings a hole through the water. What carves out flies up in a monstrous mass like the maw of a water dragon, its shadow looming over the children for an elongated second. In a blink, the jaws close — and the children are thoroughly dunked, their formation breaking apart in the small wave that follows. ]

[lifespanned]

[ Wow, here she was thinking Gray was just some normal, timid girl. How wrong she was!! In hindsight, it was pretty stupid to assume that of anyone brought to Horos, but she just can't help herself after coming from a world of complete normies. The shock and awe (and a little bit of fear, to be honest), is evident on her face as that water dragon comes crashing down on all the kids, her hand coming up to shield her eyes from any additional spray. And, as luck would have it, after all the kids are completely drenched, they seem to have broken formation, dog-paddling this way and that to their friends who had been spread apart from them in the colossal splash.

Dumbly, Misa wades over to the side, disbelief still plain on her features as she extracts herself from the kids chattering, calling out to Gray who's still a few good paddles away from her— though from the looks of things, Misa is trying to close the distance between the two of them, with the war on pause, or completely terminated with Gray's last attack. ]

Sheesh, could you always do that? Or is that some new power? You're amazing, Gray!

[gravings]

[ As the children scatter on the water like ants under a running faucet, it occurs to Gray that she may have overdone it. She flusters a little and wonders if any of the kids need help up until Misa comes wading over. ]

Yes, I was already able to do that. I just enhanced my strength a little...

[ It's nothing special among magi, but maybe she's too used to assuming that everyone around her knows about magecraft. ]

But, um, should we make our escape while they're still trying to regroup?

[lifespanned]

Oh! Yeah, you're right.

[ She nods once, before beginning to wade towards the shore, only continuing to go on when she's sure Gray is staying close. ]

All that splashing around tired me out. Though I guess that magic stuff makes it so you don't get as tired, even doing something amazing as that? Or is that not how it works? I've never used magic before, but I always imagined it'd make things easy.

[gravings]

[ Gray is indeed sticking close behind, lest drifting too far away from Misa would trigger some sort of predatory response in the children. She's certain that they can sense weakness... ]

Yes, enhancing one's strength with magecraft was a fundamental skill among magi in my world. Though I'm not a magus myself, so I can't do much more than the basics.

[ In this case, what counts for "basics" is heavily up to interpretation. ]

But, um, thank you for the help, Miss Misa. And I wanted to thank you for the macarons, too...

[lifespanned]

[ She nods with a distant sort of understanding— she's heard enough tell of magic by now to at least comprehend that learning and studying magic is just everyday life for some of her companions. Of course, Gray's skills seem otherworldly to her, so to hear them described as "basic" leaves her wondering...

Though, altogether not for too long. Her eyes light up brightly at the mention of the treats as they wade up to the shoreline. ]

Oh, did you like them? I knew you would. I'm pretty good at guessing those kinds of things. You're welcome!!

[ With her feet back on the more solid sand of the bank, she goes to twist some water out of her hair, asking half-jokingly and half-earnestly: ]

I guess this means you're not scared of me anymore, right?

[gravings]

[ Gray is in the middle of squeezing out what she can of the ponytail sticking out of her hood when Misa asks her question. Gray startles, suddenly confronted with a horribly embarrassing fact: that Misa noticed Gray's scurrying away from her like a mouse at the party. Blood stampedes to her face, granting her the likeness of a shark-themed tomato. ]

N-N-No, I'm not!

[ She dips a jittery bow in Misa's direction as she continues to wade out of the water, her voice becoming smaller with mortification. ]

I'm sorry. I guess I was obvious...

[lifespanned]

[ Misa just smiles knowingly at Gray's little bow, honestly finding her reaction rather amusing, evident by the way she laughs openly over it. ]

You were! I could see you hiding behind everybody. And all I wanted was to make you have a little fun...

[ She muses, feigning hurt, though she clearly takes no real offense over the matter. Misa is just self-aware enough about her overbearing and pushy tendencies to understand that they don't work on everybody equally - some people really cannot be dragged out into the spotlight or to have fun the way she thinks everyone should have fun, much as she wishes otherwise. That doesn't mean it stops her from trying, though. ]

I mean, I'm glad we can have fun now, instead, but it would've been fun back then, too. We could've taken a picture together!

[gravings]

A picture? You mean with that artist... and the chair?

[ The one that compelled people to sit in each other's laps? Gray sitting in Misa's lap?? Gray mentally flounders again at the thought. Maybe she was wise to avoid Misa at the party after all. ]

A-Anyway, Miss Ciel spoke very highly of you, so I realized that I was probably thinking of you unreasonably. If it isn't too late, I'd be happy to get to know you better...

[ There's absolutely nothing in Misa's behavior that would suggest that she'll suddenly turn around and spurn Gray's friendship, but you just never know... ]