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

[jokey]

[Yes queen. Akira unscrews the vial and pours a generous amount of sunscreen into his palm, working it into lean but surprisingly taut muscle. He's going to take his time, but Kurapika probably expects as much. Did he expect Akira to turn this into a massage?]

Really? Are you asking me to describe my vision of your naked body?

[revengier]

[ He actually didn't, but it looks like they're here now and he can't exactly stop it from happening. (Well, he can, but whether or not he wants to is a different matter entirely.)

So much for being subtle about the nature of their relationship. ]

No. I'm not. I'm simply expressing my doubt. Nothing more.

[jokey]

[It's fiiine, Akira's barely speaking above a whisper! No one knows. It's totally not obvious. These are the lies he comforts himself with and he will not hear otherwise.]

If you're that worried about my impression of your body, show it to me yourself. That'll set me straight.

[revengier]

[ Enjoy your bed of lies, Akira. At least Kurapika accepts the truth here.

Anyway, Akira's massage is working so well that now Kurapika seems even more tense now. ]

As if you wouldn't die of embarrassment.

[jokey]

Would it kill you to relax?

[Even Kurapika's body is contrarian. Go figure.]

I've seen plenty of people naked and it didn't effect me one way or the other. Strangers, friends, Kiryu...

[If he saw Kurapika naked in the context of a bath, he wouldn't be waylaid by impure thoughts, probably.]

[revengier]

In my line of work, yes. It would.

[ Get with the program, Akira. But his gaze snaps to Akira's face at the mention of strangers and— ]

Kiryu. [ Hold on. His brain needs to get back to running again. ] Are you talking about the baths?

[jokey]

You're not working, dummy. You're practically on vacation.

[Moving onto the next pasty arm. The mention of Kiryu clearly got Kurapika's attention. What were you just imagining, Kurapika?]

...What if I said no?

[revengier]

I've been on my own since I was twelve. Vacation means nothing.

[ But he'll let Akira take his other arm. ]

Anyway, if you say no, then I know you're lying.

[jokey]

Come on. You're no fun.

[Don't be such a wet blanket, Kurapika! Akira takes his other arm with a laugh.]

We were in the bath, obviously. I had a hunch that needed confirming.

[revengier]

That he's yakuza? You could have asked, you know. That's what I did.

[ Akira, you're making things way harder on yourself... but the fact that Kurapika is also mafia probably made things easier on him. ]

[jokey]

But that's no fun, Kurapika. Just asking questions like that? Boring. There's no mystery there, no intrigue.

[...His hand is gradually drifting towards Kurapika's shoulder...]

[revengier]

Who cares about mystery?

[ He'll allow his hand to creep, but his gaze flicks over to Akira's hand as an indication that he's very much letting this happen. Distraction is not part of this. ]

[jokey]

[Getting away with breaking the rules is one thing, but knowing that Kurapika is directly enabling his handsy crimes? Even better. The slight upturn of his lips is acknowledgement enough.]

Are you serious? Take that back right now. Life would be boring without a little mystery and drama.

[revengier]

[ He fights the urge to roll his eyes at that smile, breathing out heavily from his nose. ]

Life is plenty satisfying without it. Land yourself on a boat with an ongoing death match and then you'll see what real drama is like.

[jokey]

[With all pretenses cast aside, Akira's moved on to kneading the knots out of Kurapika's shoulders. Good god, this guy is tense.]

Wild. Is that what you were doing before you came here?

[revengier]

[ He sure is!! There are a few particularly gnarly knots too, right near his neck and by his shoulder blades. ]

Yes. I mentioned the security detail job to you, didn't I? Part of it is protecting a young prince from her death.

[ Hm. How does he say this succinctly? ]

It's essentially a battle to the death for succession to the throne. They've manifested magical beasts all over the first level of the ship with the intention that those beasts will kill the other princes. I've tried to create a stalemate, at least for the one I'm guarding.

[ ... ]

I was headed into a meeting regarding an alliance before I was pulled here.

[jokey]

[Good lord baby jesus, this knot is going to take an eternity to untangle. Good thing Akira is determined! He swings one leg around the other side of the lounger, don't mind him, so he can use more of his weight to dig into that stubborn muscle.]

If you weren't such a serious guy, I'd call bs, but I know you're not kidding. And...

[He leans down so he can whisper in Kurapika's ear. No one else is close enough to hear them anyway, but just in case!]

...This benefits you too, right? Are they "paying" you well?

[revengier]

[ Does Akira want him to scoot back to settle closer to him? Well, regardless, Kurapika is doing just that.

He's also ignoring the slight shiver Akira whispering in his ear gives him, turning his head slightly to look him in the eye as he lowers his own voice. ]

They are. One of the princes has the rest of what I'm looking for.

[ The Scarlet Eyes. ]

[jokey]

[The rest of the eyes... That explains that, but Akira doesn't move back just yet.]

You have a backup plan if he tries to pull a fast one?

[People with as much money, power, and influence as a prince does aren't above resorting to unscrupulous means to cling onto their treasures.]

[revengier]

Yes. I'll kill him.

[ There's an undercurrent of resolve in his voice, as if it's a decision he's long since made, even if he isn't happy about it. ]

I'll place a conditional bond on his heart—hand over what I'm looking for, or I'll pierce his heart with my Nen blade.

[jokey]

...Easy as that, huh?

[No. Nothing is ever that easy when it comes to Kurapika. Call it a gut feeling, but his easy explanation doesn't sit well with Akira.]

How can you guarantee your backup plan will go off without a hitch?

[In other words, what is the cost of ensuring success?]

[revengier]

What do you mean?

[ He knows exactly what Akira means, he's simply stalling. ]

It's an ability I've crafted myself. I know the ins and outs of it, and I know exactly how a conditional bond like that works.

[jokey]

You said it yourself: there are conditions that have to be met. What are those?

[Power always comes with a cost. Knowing the kind of man Kurapika is, there's not much Akira is willing to believe he wouldn't sacrifice to fulfill his goals. May as well admit it, Kurapika.]

[revengier]

[ He doesn't say anything, not for a few long moments. Only one other person knows and it's his literal soulmate, and his feelings for Akira only make it harder for him to say it aloud.

But, he owes Akira honesty. ]

Emperor Time. It allows me to wield all areas of Nen when my eyes turn scarlet of my own volition, including setting that conditional bond.

[ Naturally scarlet, however, doesn't apply, and he wants that to be clear. He knows Akira is going to press for the cost of something so powerful, so he forges ahead. ]

Every second that I have Emperor Time active, I lose an hour off of my lifespan.

[jokey]

Kurapika...

[God damn it. He knew this was coming, but he can't stomach hearing the answer straight from Kurapika's lips. His hands go still before Akira realizes it, and once he does, he sets his hands to Kurapika's back and sharply pops it. A little punishment for his boundless cruelty towards himself.]

You idiot.

[It takes a lot for Akira to outright condemn anyone. More than that, it's impossible to keep the upset out of his voice. He cares about Kurapika far, far too much to remain silent.]

Isn't there a way? Any other way that doesn't require shaving precious time off your own life?