the beach episode (dated before the east mission)

[fallingsand]

There's a small slice of sandy beach between mountains and wasteland, where the South meets Central, only an inlet of ocean between them, and that is where Bruno has decided to set up camp.

Literally.

He only had a simple tent and supplies for two initially. Tatara had asked if he could join him on his little trip out and how could he say no? Unfortunately for him, Tatara may have decided to invite everyone else, too, so, welcome, everyone, to the beach episode and a chance to relax after a potentially rough week in the City of Rain.

The sand is warm and fine, the water isn't too chilly, and scrubby little palm trees and plant life dot the dunes. Sea birds are the most active wildlife out here, not counting whatever fish can be found dwelling in the depths of the inlet between South and Central or further out into the ocean. It's comfortable enough... unless you hate sand, that is! You don't hate sand, right?

Since Tatara's arrival, more than Bruno's humble setup can be found.

- There's food fit for a picnic and enough bottles of wine for the evening.

- In the evening, a (non-deadly) bonfire will be built and there'll be pillows to sit on for those who don't want to sit directly on the sand.

- A few colorful rough wool blankets laid out under umbrellas meant to provide shade.

- There's still only one sad-looking tent... However! Bruno's gone ahead and enchanted it so that, when one pushes the cloth flap aside and enters, they'll find a much more comfortable setup inside.

And, of course, anything the other wizards have decided to bring! Bruno wasn't expecting a party but now that it's here, he sure can't tell them not to have fun however they want.

Comments

[dyingtohealyou]

[Ahito spends most of the daytime relaxing on the beach. He doesn't know how to swim, so he will not be caught out in the water, thanks.

At night he unpacks some extra ingredients he brought along - enough for a group of people to make some s'mores, as a matter of fact!]

Well? Want to give it a try?

[It's the morning after spending the night, however, where that cheer seems to fail him. He tosses and turns throughout the night, albeit quietly, and when he wakes he does not look particularly cheerful nor... well, in general.

It's a short-lived moment, however. Those who pay attention may notice a sudden burst of magic as he casts without incanting, soothing the day's aches and pain with a spell, tension leaking from his body as it takes.

Hopefully it's too early for anyone to notice...]

morning

[revengier]

[ Kurapika, true to the kind of person he is, is up early in the morning enjoying the sunrise. That's why he can easily catch that burst of magic, coming from a signature he's now used to. ]

Feeling alright?

[ What would he be casting on himself, if not a healing spell or enchantment? ]

[dyingtohealyou]

[Ahh, caught...

He glances around meaningfully at the crowd still in the tent.]

...Yeah, just drowsy. You?

[revengier]

[ He nods toward the exit. Follow him so he can pry into your business, Ahito. ]

Just fine.

[ Sleep wasn’t super restful with a bunch of people around, but it’s fine. ]

[dyingtohealyou]

[Sighing softly as he replaces his shades and holsters his gun before heading out. He didn't really wear anything different from the norm for their beach outing - a white, shortsleeved button up and slacks - and he quickly stuffs his hands into the pockets as they walk.

He won't speak until prompted, but to be fair he's also trying to put some distance between them and the tent first.]

[revengier]

[ For his part, Kurapika is no longer in a swimsuit, but rather something more suited for sleep.

He'll wait until they're out of earshot of the tent before giving a cursory glance around to make sure no one is nearby. ]

So, what's actually going on?

[dyingtohealyou]

...Nothing unusual.

[Because... it really isn't.]

Ever since all those experiments... All those sacrifices and surgeries, my body's been kind of a wreck.

There's some pain that just never fades, no matter how long it's been. But I've pretty much figured out a spell to suppress it that lasts me most the night by now. I just have to reapply it when I wake up again.

[revengier]

[ ...Ah. It certainly makes sense, even as much as he hates to hear it. ]

What kind of pain?

[ It seems like Ahito has it under control, but... maybe he can still do something about it. ]

[dyingtohealyou]

All over?

[He doesn't have a good way to explain it.]

...Mostly around the torso, I guess. It's not like they had to fix up my limbs.

[Just, you know. Organs.]

But I've pretty much got it handled, anyway.

night

[dadsandals]

[ Oh, neat. Yamato hasn't had one of these in a while. He gives Ahito a smile and sits nearby, reaches for a marshmallow and a stick. ]

Yeah, sure. It's been a while. Are you making one, too?

[dyingtohealyou]

[He'll meet Yamato in the middle, handing a stick over.]

Of course. You didn't think I brought this just out of the goodness of my heart, did you?

[dadsandals]

Heh, of course not.

[ He grabs the stick and slides on a marshmallow. ]

Did you make any of this yourself? Like the marshmallows. Just wondering what kind of magic people've gotten up to.

[dyingtohealyou]

...

I honestly have no idea how you'd begin to make any of this stuff.

[Skewering a marshmallow of his own to begin roasting it.]

[dadsandals]

I guess magic doesn't always replace science...

[ He and Jing Yuan couldn't really make a cake with magic, so this is no surprise, really. He was just wondering if anyone else could've figured out a way. ]

But this is a nice change of pace, regardless.

[dyingtohealyou]

Science is probably more consistent anyway.

[Bias what bias.]

You mean a nice, relaxing getaway instead of a surprise attack?

[dadsandals]

Yep. That exactly.

[ No more surprise attacks...no more. Just for one day. Please. ]

I think we've been through enough. This is a well-deserved beach vacation, even if it's only for a day.

[dyingtohealyou]

We probably need it, after everything that's happened.

[A chance to unwind and put all the trauma behind them... or something.]

Morning

[impacter]

[Given Solomon is far more a night owl than he is a morning person, it's the tossing and turning that catches his eye first and foremost. A concern, but residual.

The proximity to the ocean already has him on edge, so his own sleep refuses to be restful. When a magic signature echoes through the tent like the drip of a faucet at 3am, it's enough to rouse him yet again, squinting in the general direction. Who--

...

Ah. Well. How to go about this gracefully...


...

Hope Ahito likes having a piece of wizard sugar flicked briskly into the back of his skull.]

1/2

[dyingtohealyou]

[-?!

A hand reflexively goes to his head as he casts about for what hit him (sugar???) and then the culprit-]

2/2

[dyingtohealyou]

[












Wow okay today's just starting off The Worst, huh.

With a grimace, he gets up to leave the tent. Might as well get some fresh air now that he's up.]

[impacter]

[Good, at least he saw him.

Solomon won't get up to pursue at first, allowing Ahito his space. It's early and he is so old and tired, oh woe is him. But eventually, he'll drape his coat across his shoulders and quietly slip out from the tent, glancing around the coast to see if he can catch which direction Ahito went.]

[dyingtohealyou]

[It's not hard to find him.

He's standing on the shore, shades back in place, just out of reach of the waves as he gazes out at the sea, apparently lost in thought.]

[impacter]

[of course :')

He kicks his shoes off near the tent entrance, barefoot in the sand as he approaches the boy with distance kept between them.]

That was an unusual wakeup call to see from you. [It's kept quiet.]

Is everything alright?

[dyingtohealyou]

[He turns a little - and then, a bit oddly, turns to fully face him, even though he should have been perfectly visible with just his right side.]

Unusual for you, maybe.

I'm fine.

[impacter]

A regular occurrence, then.

[He notes how Ahito turns fully, his brows raising slightly. This has Ahito facing back towards the tent, though...

So Solomon just keeps walking, letting himself walk into the traces of the seafoam that wet the sand, leaning down to roll up his pant legs enough to keep them from getting soaked and exposing several more tattoos similar to those elsewhere on his body. It's uncomfortable, but if it keeps Ahito drawn away from any other onlookers, then he'll put up with it.]

We're going to have our mission as a team sooner or later, you know. Have you considered that in depth yet?