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

[revengier]

[ When one becomes accustomed to their own abilities, they simply know. That's what Kurapika is about to express when he gets stuck on something else— ]

You stopped? I suppose it's not that surprising, if you didn't like your ability.

[fallingsand]

Yeah. I decided to just. Stop. For the last ten years, uh, though it did mean becoming a hermit.

[ In a way, that is. He just holed up in a hidden room rather than somewhere off in the wilds. ]

[revengier]

A hermit... is that why you lived communally with rats?

[ It makes sense, in a way. Though, it confuses him all the same, and his eyebrows knit together. ]

Why would giving up your ability force you to become a hermit? Was it so no one could ask you to use it?

[fallingsand]

That's... kinda it, yeah. The other reason is I saw something coming that I. I couldn't tell anyone about. Not yet. Only people knew I'd been asked to look into it, s-so I... just... vanished instead of trying to lie about it.

[ It's complicated! But yes, that is also where the rat roomies come in. ]

[revengier]

Would talking about it have caused chaos?

[ That's the only reason he thinks going into hiding would be justified, but... he doesn't know the extent of Bruno's situation, so he can't exactly pass his judgment here. ]

[fallingsand]

Mmhm. It would have caused a lot of damage. At least, I... that's what I suspected, anyway, and I'm not usually wrong about that kinda stuff.

[revengier]

You do know your situation best, after all.

[ And what he does with his ability is his choice, in Kurapika's eyes. ]

Although, I wonder if you regret vanishing instead of weathering the damage.

[ It isn't a question, but rather something akin to wondering aloud—Bruno doesn't have to answer. ]

[fallingsand]

[ There's a long pause after Kurapika says that. There are so many ways to answer that and Bruno can't think of any single one that explains everything he's felt these past ten years. He's been a ghost in his own home, longing to speak to his family again, no matter how they might feel about him. ]

I... miss my family, despite everything. I do. Only the damage would have ruined someone else's life and she was just a little kid then. I couldn't do that to her.

[revengier]

[ Ah. A kid, someone with their whole future ahead of them... as if Kurapika isn't basically one himself, but he's made enough choices that his future is pretty clear. There's not much he can do to change that, but someone much younger? That's a different story. ]

I understand. Faced with dealing with my own consequences or ruining the life of someone so young... I don't know that I would have done anything differently.

[fallingsand]

I just hope there's still time to change her future. It might be too late by the time I get back from here or... or even if we do get back.

[ Though he can't imagine any great outcome. He goes back, convinces everyone it's his fault, that he did it on purpose, that Mirabel is an innocent, then... what? Leave the valley forever?

That's no choice to present Kurapika with, however. It's only something he can answer. ]

Though there's probably no point in fretting over it here and now, huh?

[revengier]

If you're thinking logically, then no, there isn't.

[ Buuut he knows that "logic" doesn't exactly apply to reality or where one's thoughts will drift towards. ]

That said... you're going to fret over it anyway, aren't you? Don't worry about whether or not you should or shouldn't, in that case. Use the time you've been given here to get creative with how you might change her future.

[fallingsand]

I sort of already have a back-up plan, at least, so... that's... a start, anyway.

[ He isn't sharing that plan with anyone because it is, in fact, still the one where he takes all the blame. This is the only way forward in his mind. ]

Sheesh, I've been spending my whole beach trip bemoaning my own problems. How about we change the topic a bit? Uh, your mana area. Have you figured it out yet?

[revengier]

[ He's kind of curious about that backup plan, honestly, but Kurapika knows what it looks like when someone clearly doesn't want to discuss something.

So... ]

I have. The renowned ruins in Central. When it's empty, it's rather peaceful.

[ Though there's more to it than just that, so he'll elaborate. ]

I like the idea that people who are long gone have left their mark on the world.

[fallingsand]

Huh. Do you think you'd be able to use anywhere with empty ruins like that?

[revengier]

I could certainly try. Though I think the history of those ruins in particular appeals to me. People still visit them frequently to see them, so it's a sure mark of their impact on the world even now.

[fallingsand]

Oh, yeah, that would make a difference. I guess not every ruin would have a bunch of people still dropping by to see it.

[revengier]

No, they don't. Though... any ruin that attracts attention could still work.

[ Which makes recharging his mana a potentially easy task. ]

So, is the beach suitable? Or will you pick elsewhere? You'd have plenty of places to choose from if any coastline would do.

[fallingsand]

Oh, this? I like this beach but I think the deserts in Central would work, too.

[ He glances down the coastline, off into the distance. ]

This was the only nice sandy spot I could find in the Southern Country and I figured it would be more comfortable to try here for me than anywhere else.

[revengier]

Fair enough.

[ That's why he started with the renowned ruins. He figured Central was easiest for him.

Kurapika looks out toward the horizon. ]

What matters is how it makes you feel, and if the deserts in Central make you feel peace of mind... then I don't see why those wouldn't be just as good as this spot.