(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

[tohell]

"I'm merely seeking a little reprieve from the sun," said as he hoists his drink up with a tilt of his head, pointing in the direction of the umbrella his gaze slides to appreciate. That done J lowers the beverage to sway it ever so slightly to and fro within his grip. "And mooching to my heart's content."

In other circumstances, this might resemble a taunt; with J practically mocking the original owner by waving stolen goods in their face. But in this case, Emet-Selch doesn't seem bothered enough for J to try and press his buttons. Still, J is quick to hide the ghost of a smirk wrapped around the rim of his sugary confection. Not that it does anything but further highlight his impish mood. There's a brief interlude where he wets his whistle, savoring the reprieve from a sun-parched throat that appreciates the balm of a cool refreshment no matter how quickly he heals such a minor discomfort.

"Might as well enjoy the bountiful generosity of my peers," he sighs in relief, resting the glass bottle against his cheek to let the chill slip into skin. "Before that well inevitably runs dry."

Heavy words to exchange over a single cheap beverage and some stolen shade. Or maybe there's a sense he's alluding to matters that reach beyond those. Not that there's time to ponder that when J's attention diverts back to his fellow Kenoma's property with a sweep of the arm draped over his knee. An upturned palm gestures very clearly to the state of the rapidly depleting ice bucket nearby.

Seems the children have decided to ransack both it and its contents. Some take drinks while others go for the ice itself. One boy full of mischief has taken to scooping out handfuls of ice cubes in order to run after his playmates. He alternates between trying to simply chuck one at a time at scurrying bodies or shove them down bathing suits to the tune of childish shrieks. Emet-Selch gets one thrown at his chest in a bout of friendly fire as the kids run past. "I'd say the kiddos needed a timeout from the heat too, but these rugrats bounce back faster than I do."

[lachtara]

The sudden feeling of cold on his bare chest causes him to open his eyes with a start, look down, and lazily toss the thing aside with a sigh. He spares a brief thought for those who 'encouraged' him to come on this trip. It seems that children are truly intent on inconveniencing him.

"As is their wont," Emet-Selch says while reaching down and picking up a pair of sunglasses from the small number of things he's brought with him. He opens them with a flick of his wrist and slips them on so that he can shield his eyes from the light.

Ah. Better.

"And how does one find themselves in charge of so many all at once? Did you earn the ire of the right person, or are you truly a glutton for punishment?" It is not something that many people would have the wherewithal to handle or deal with, at any rate. Something about his tone is particularly facetious. If his fellow Kenoma is so keen on kidding around he could play along. A little.

cw: discussions of abuse + (fake) child kidnapping plot

[tohell]

"I have been known to enjoy a little of both, on occasion." Throw a stick in Hell and you're bound to find plenty of scorn and violence, whether you want to or not. Outside of his home world, the rules don't change much for a demon bound to the whims of others. The same horrors exist freely among the company of those who summoned J to act out violence upon him in place of others, be it enemies or lovers long dead or those they couldn't bring themselves to harm.

"But those proclivities have nothing to do with my little hostages here." His freehand is ready to jerk a thumb behind himself at the hooligan presently unleashing his boundless energy and insufferable demeanor upon the other less demonic children.

"Barnaby's wayward ducklings decided to follow me all on their own," spoken like a man who isn't trying hard to obscure his crimes.

"If by some coincidence they fail to scurry back into his loving care within a timely matter," said as J spreads his hands, palms up in a helpless shrug to suggest he shirks all responsibility and isn't at fault for implying a kidnapping scheme in the works. Yes, he is absolutely petty enough to use underhanded tactics, such as absconding with a bunch of orphaned children, just to lure someone into meeting up with him. He's done far worse. "I guess that means he'll have to pay me a little visit."

"I'm not unreasonable, though. I'll return them safe and sound, on the condition that he asks nicely."

[lachtara]

Emet-Selch lets out a huff of air, one indicative of a small level of amusement. "Well, I do wish you luck in your endeavors to obtain the Regent's brand." Considering their direct instructions were to not harm those children is from the Regent themselves, it seems like a direct way to earn their ire. A rather wasted amount of effort with little payoff, in his opinion.

"If I may make a suggestion: If you wish to meet with the duckling's overseer so badly, why not the direct approach of walking up to him?" He sharply motions to the opposite end of the beach where that very individual is.