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.
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I'll have anything. I'm not picky.
[ She hasn't had many ice desserts in her lifetime, but she's found every one good. She trusts Meteion to pick out sensible flavors and not something like, say, potato. While Gray is waiting, she'll just be looking out over the beach, watching the kids run up and down the shore with their boundless energy. ]
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The entelechy darts over back to the shade--not necessarily because she's hot, but because she doesn't want the ices to get too melty. Once Meteion arrives, she offers the colder one to Gray.]
Here we go! I asked for rolanberry, but he didn't know what they were. I described them to him, and he said he had something like it. These are strawberry, he said. I don't remember having one ever, but I'm sure Ser Haron gave me something he made with it, once. He's a very good baker! I'm interested in trying this now, though.
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Rolanberry... I haven't heard of it either.
[ But it has a nice ring to it. She supposes she'll hear if strawberry is really similar to it or not once Meteion has a go at her ice. ]
Ser Haron... Is he a knight?
[ A knight baker?? This idea is highly endearing to her as someone who very much enjoyed a show about a dog chef hero back home, and she looks to Meteion with a spark of interest. ]
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[She pauses there, briefly, to try her ice. And then Meteion giggles a bit, looking at it with a smile.] It does taste like rolanberry! Almost exactly. I like it!
Oh. And I don't know if you've met my retainer. You can't miss him though. He's like two of me and a brick wall combined. [Meteion gestures, delineating 'tall' and 'wide' with her hands--as best she can holding her ice, anyway.] And he's green! Like pea soup green? But he's very nice and jolly. If he ever comes to your door, you don't need to be afraid. He'd probably protect you, too, if you needed it. But I'm fairly sure you're better at defending yourself...
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[ Gray nibbles at her ice while Meteion talks, enjoying the refreshing coolness and thinking that it's a marvel of luxury that they're even able to enjoy ice on a beach. ]
I'll be sure to say hello if I see him. Ah, my retainer is about my size and age... and she doesn't stand out terribly, but her name is Senna.
[ By design, she and Gray look like they could just be a pair of schoolfriends when they're out and about, the better to blend in with a crowd. Though over time, Gray has found that her retainer has become a little more eager than anticipated to carry out her perceived duties... but that's something for Gray to worry about in her own time. ]
Someone recently gave me macarons. They were delicious. I wonder if Mr. Haron made them.
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[In a moment of embarrassment, Meteion blushes and ducks her head, sheepishly explaining.[] Before I came to Horos, I didn't need to eat. Hermes created me and my sisters with something called dynamis, and it sustained me. It doesn't seem to work here, though...
We'll have to go visit his bakery sometime, though. He'd probably be delighted to meet you--and Senna as well. I'd like to meet her someday, too!
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[ She responds quietly, a bittersweet pang touching her heart. She hasn't had much occasion to spend time with her fellow Aions outside of their mission-based tasks and get-togethers, so the thought of simply going out for tea and snacks calls to mind the people she left behind in her home world. ]
If you didn't need to eat before... then how are you finding food now?
[ Maybe the act of eating and being hungry would seem bothersome to someone who didn't have to deal with any of it before. ]
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[It reminds Meteion a bit too much of her creator's deep and abiding sorrow. Even now, with Etheirys probably destroyed, the idea doesn't make her happy. That deep and abiding wish still persists, even now, that Hermes could be happy. Somewhere. Somehow. But Meteion doesn't know how. And that makes her sad.]
And I didn't realize what I was feeling was hunger, at first? So that was a bit of a revelation once I was told that was what it was. That was odd. But it isn't terribly irksome for me. I think it's kind of nice to be able to experience it for myself.
[The byproducts are a bit disturbing, but she's not going to mention that. Some things shouldn't be, in polite company...]
no subject
If traveling means visiting new places, I think experiencing delicious new food is like having those places visit you.
[ She really feels blessed by tasty new food... ]