2020-05-02 - Sun! Sea! And A Monster, 2
| Sun! Sea! And A Monster, 2 | |
|---|---|
| Summary: The perfect beach day continues. Second in a | |
| Who: Kasagami Araki, Fuu Hououji, Takeo Akamizu, Setsuna Higashi, Lera Camry, Setsuna Meioh, Steven Universe, Haruka Tenoh, Rei Hino, Usagi Tsukino, Minako Aino, Makoto Kino, Kyouichi Saionji, Rose Lavillant, Juleka Couffaine, Luka Couffaine, Ivan Bruel, Luna, Kero-chan GM: Pink Moon Stick | |
| Where: Yuigahama Beach, Kamakura Prefecture | |
| OOC - IC Date: 5/2/2020 - 08-26-14 | |
<Pose Tracker> Pink Moon Stick [Admin] has posed. <SoundTracker> Aggretsuko Theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_cdeFX-pMI
CURRENTLY ON BATTLE FANTASIA
Beach party! What seems like the entirety of Tokyo's youth have flocked to Yuigahama Beach, which is a sea of swimsuits, umbrellas, heads bobbing up and down in the waves, and a few other attractions:
ON STAGE
PCs: None
It transpires that the vocalist of Kitty Section is the tiny blond, the big guy plays drums, the tall beauty plays bass, and Luka, as we already know, plays lead guitar. Evidently the teal-haired heartthrob was in costume, but he's the only one; the other three are not so much unenthusiastic for the leather and spikes as they are for the heatstroke. So, they just use their swimsuits instead -- out of the water, Ivan's is black with a pirate's skull and crossbones on the side of the trunks, Rose is in a very strappy, very frilly pink bikini, and Juleka's purple one-piece matches her hair and is... artfully torn.
But none of that matters when they start to really play. Sweet li'l darling Rose opens her mouth, and...
...the demons of hell emerge.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAILAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAVVNIIICORNS!"*
Her eyes are white holes. She hasn't added makeup but some kind of skullish eyeliner would be phenomenally appropriate right now. The rest of the band plays their heart out, occasionally sufficiently melodic to be called rock but mostly just loud enough to be called metal. Nevertheless, there's some serious musicianship on display for a bunch of middle schoolers, especially from Luka and Juleka, who, one gets the feeling, have been jamming together for many, many years.
- "I love unicorns."
---
AT THE COURTS
PCs: Usagi, Rei, Haruka, Michiru
A crowd is gathering around the match. Makoto and Minako are now TAKING bets instead of making them, goading people into putting down beach balls, popsicle sticks that say FREE, pocket change, whatever.
Makoto is repping Team Michirei. "The other side has Usagi-chan," she states calmly, and the bets just come pouring in. That's not her ONLY line -- she touts the likelihood of brains over... ... ...brawn... -- but struggles to finish those sentences. "They really are the Dream Team! Rei-chan's super competitive! And Michiru-san is..." 'super competitive', she thinks, but with a completely different meaning to the word. "...ultra talented!" From Makoto there is little higher praise.
Minako is pumped up for Team Harusagi. As it's volleyball and 'Blonde Team' does not have her on it she refuses to recognize it as valid and is using another: "RAH RAH RAH! LAH LAH LAH! TEAM THIRST TRAP'S GONNA SKA SKA SKA!" So much for discretion. Come one, come all, bear witness to the righteous speed, strength, and prowess that is Haruka. ...And Usagi. "She's very reliable when the chips are down!" she pledges to a skeptic. "Voted Least Likely To Be The First One Killed three times running!"
---
IN THE WATER
PCs: Kasagami, Lera, Setsuna and Takeo
Surfers are pretty far out there when they discover something amazing: there are SHAPES in the waves coming down. Small whales maybe? Big dolphins? Hopefully not sharks... there's no feeling of menace, though, just a feeling of presence.
As though ocean itself is cheering the group on.
Here comes a big lull... which means a big wave is next.
---
ON THE SANDS
PCs: Steven and Fuu
Nobody knows who fronted for all this, but there is an astonishingly complex array of ingredients available to would-be master chefs. A huge amount of fish, some fileted, some whole, mostly ayu; skewered chicken yakitori; corn on the cob; and yes, some Western-style burgers and hot dogs. Marinades and sauces! Bowls of vegetables still to be skewered! The possibilities are endless.
And the queue forming... is getting longer by the minute...
...at the head of the line is a bright yellow feline creature with dainty white wings.
No, never mind, it's just a stuffed animal.
<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
A King must, of course, master any skill put before her no matter how gruelling. For various reasons Kasagami hasn't really engaged in the fine aquatic arts that often. Thus she's been spending much of her time here at odds with the stylish-yet-vexing board in front of her. The very sogged Duelist floats on the waves, arms crossed, peering oh-so-intentely. Almost glaring!
"...Why can't there be aquatic kendo!? My swordskills fail me against this foe." Mutters the young woman. Jaw tense, she takes a deep breath, and opens her eyes. Peeeer. Shapes!?
"Huh. Divers? Dolphins?" Ponders the Kass aloud. She shakes her head. Distractions! No, she has a powerful foe to vanquish.
"That's fine. I won't be stymied by a piece of shiney wood, or any amount of water! No strike is perfect the first swing. Only after attempt one-thousand!" Offers the young woman to herself. She has not yet noticed the big wave on the way. She's slightly away from her trio of surfing compatriots as befitting her lack of knowledge here. She needs her balance blast it!
HUP! Back on the board, practically rolling onto the thing. Down to both knees. Kassie sucks in a breath, tries to watch her balance against the waves. Sloooowly. Her features are nothing but concentration and the ambitious desire to ride the waves as Poseidon!
Or at least like a Kingfisher. After one slightly iffy rock of the waves...she goes for it! Knees apart, vaguely eyeing the other surfers for some semblance of proper stance upon this particular oceanic mount! And she's up!
Griiiiiin.
"HAH! I knew I could do thiiiiIIIISSSS!!!"
One small ego-fueled lapse in concentration, and she's struggling with the oncoming wake of the big wave! Her calm is slipping before the waterstorm as it comes crashing in to utterly blast at her newfound board-riding, and she's tilting, trying to use her more land-bound sense of balance to compensate. And it's almost working with Kassie ducking and weaving as she might in a kendo match! It kind of helps, but makes the ride distinctly wobbly! She may well need a hand here! But she's still suuuurfing!
Setsuna Meioh (Pluto) pages Pink Moon Stick, Rei Hino, Haruka Tenoh, and Michiru Kaioh: Not sure if that works though?
Rei Hino (Rei) pages Pink Moon Stick, Haruka Tenoh, Michiru Kaioh, and Setsuna Meioh: given setsuna is also here now we might want to move onto Another Activity, if it was just me and haruka i might suggest us hanging back until we have three again
Rei Hino (Rei) pages Pink Moon Stick, Haruka Tenoh, Michiru Kaioh, and Setsuna Meioh: setsuna coming in and taking bets could be good, shift the focus onto the peanut gallery a bit...
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.
"Oh, it looks like somebody was kind enough to do much of the prep work," Fuu observes, looking over the ingredients arrayed for work on the grill. That was one of her big concerns if she had to step up to cook - cutting fish or chicken or vegetables into properly-sized pieces, etc. But if it's just a matter of putting things over appropriate amounts of heat and making sure they don't burn?
.... well, she's not COMPLETELY confident, but it's still a little easier than home ec. Even if this isn't going to be as easy as she was expecting, they should be able to produce some edible food.
"Apron, apron ..." Fuu looks around briefly, then grimaces at the absence of an apron she can cover up with. She'll just have to be careful, it seems. "Just remember, Steven-san, cooking is a dynamic science," Fuu encourages her younger co-chef as she gets to work. "We can't just count the minutes and go 'it's done now,' especially over a grill like this. Keep an eye on everything as best you can, and don't put more on the fire at once than you can manage."
Fuu pauses, looking up at the growing line of hungry students (and the occasional wild plushie?). Then she looks around at the other grills.
Then she takes a deep breath and gets to work. Nobody'll get to eat *anything* if the food burns thanks to hasty and inattentive cooking, or if she lets herself freak out at the pressure either.
<Pose Tracker> Takeo Akamizu [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.
Having build a sand castle, and built a sand throne with Kasagami as the Knight of the Crisp alongside Endo, Takeo has shared a moment sipping Mt Dew and just enjoying the sights and sounds of a beach. He had lost his beloved Chips to the foul machinations of a fellow member of the Student Council, but had earned his vengeance in helping Kasagami. Now, Covered in sand, he had dived into the ocean with a surf board and had gone out to find some choice waves.
Takeo grins over to Kasagami, already paddling to make ready to ride the wave in while gesturing to Lera and Setsuna, "Kasagami! We're racing to see who makes it to shore first! You in?" he throws a wink and then paddles on, ready to ride that wave once it appears. He shoots a glance over at the creatures which are clearly Dolphins in his mind's eye, gives them a little wave and then settles in to catch that mentioned choice wave ...
Michiru Kaioh (Michiru) pages Setsuna Meioh, Rei Hino, Usagi Tsukino, Haruka Tenoh, and Pink Moon Stick: Yeah, I'm about to be focused on another thing. I have no strong preferences but I really can't write a pose atm :(
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
The shapes in the water seem to Setsuna to be friendly, inasmuch as a shape has motive. The water is beautifully blue; the sky is far open. The waves are rising...! And her board is, still, red.
It might be difficult. Setsuna glances back at Lera with a firm nod, face a mask of concentration. "Yes--I think we stand when it gets.... here!"
Takeo explains their racing plans as Setsuna stnds with the rising water, adopting a stable position on her feet on the board, careful at first and--!
There are outright sparkles in the air around her as for a glorious set of moments Setsuna Higashi stays entirely upright on her new board coming down the water, hair blowing in the wind.
...But who will actually make it first?? Good question.
Setsuna Meioh (Pluto) pages Pink Moon Stick, Rei Hino, Michiru Kaioh, Haruka Tenoh, and Usagi Tsukino: Aight I'll get my pose out very soon here
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.
"Here we go!"
Lera Camry cries out, as she swims up towards the next wave. Her board is in the water, and the front f it lifts a little as the wave catches it. Her eyes look to the side, spotting Kassie as she gets back on the board and declares her defiance.
Then, her amber eyes look to the side, at Setsuna. She flashes a grin at her, before she starts to climb atop her board, too. "This looks like a big one--whoa, this is harder than I expected...!"
But Lera's balance is rather good, and after a moment of shifting her feet -- and extending out her arms -- she rises up, and then sees Kasagami hit the water, going upward; Takeo does, too, and she waves back.
"I-It's a race, then!" Lera calls out to Takeo's challenge, as she rises up into the air. She grins brightly as she comes to the top.
"Aaaah, here we go!"
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Meioh [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.
Between one smoothly incremental sweep of a second hand upon the dial she is there, standing with her bare legs in the shadow cast by a red beach umbrella and her long dark hair adrift in the sun's glow and the sea's breeze. Or has she always been there, in her strappy black one-piece and silken robe?
Whatever warmth is cast upon her by this summer day, that in garnet eyes is Setsuna Meioh's own. From within her quiet she has observed this lively gathering of friends and family. Now, with the sand between her toes, she finds a certain gravity draws her in from her far orbit.
She lifts an arm and waves once, a slow and graceful motion, to the surfing swordswoman. "Of course you can, Kasa-chan," she calls, standing straight and sure in her belief. With that same hand she blows a garnet-painted kiss across the waves. If there are mysteries within those waters, well... call her distracted.
It is not so far to the volleyball net, and not so difficult to find an angle which will allow her a view of both sand and surf. The tall young woman ends up amid the throng encircling Makoto and Minako and their impromptu bet-taking -- her shadow falls across the two.
She holds out one hand, and her wager sparkles in the sun -- nay, gleams.
A delicious
chocolate
popsicle
is added to the wager pile.
"I will put my faith in my friend," she says with a matching sparkle in her eyes. The mysterious college student has more than one upon the volleyball court, but she's watching the unmatchable elegance of Michiru Kaioh. Her wager is clear.
<Pose Tracker> Pink Moon Stick [Admin] has posed.
ON STAGE
Rose continues to scream her wee heart out. Her voice will pierce the heavens. Or the seventh circle of hell.
"ANNALAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAVVFUFFFFFFFFFFFFFYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYKITTIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"*
A somemwhat different group of students have come over to dance. Or mosh. Things are definitely going in a decidedly moshly direction. This is likely to continue, as an instrumental break swells into a ripping guitar solo from Luka, while Juleka and Ivan back him up on bass and drums, and Rose adds the beat from a skull-shaped tambourine that is also bright pink.
She got it in Harajuku. She wants to be buried with it.
- "And I love fluffy kitties, yeah!"
---
IN THE WATER
The distribution of surfers and waves are such that nobody is likely to be carried to shore on a single wave just now, unless it's of truly epic proportions, and they're skilled enough to ride it all the way in.
But as individuals start to wobble as the wave curls, crests, and crashes... they find their boards unexpectedly stabilized! And they hear mysterious noises from all around, not quite a hiss, not quite a squeak, not quite a warble.
It's as though they're being carried towards shore by immense black wings (though from afar, they all just look like total professionals).
Once things start getting shallow, with a clicking squeal sort of noise, the joyful, mysterious benefactors break off.
One flips its gigantic tail stinger playfully at them as they dive back into the surf for another go.
Mantas...
---
ON THE SANDS
Something MYSTERIOUS is going on at the grill station. Something MAGICAL.
Every time Fuu takes something off the flames... or, sometimes, after it's been plated and dressed with a bun or sauce, but as it's being served...
...the food vanishes without so much as a twinkle, out from underneath her very hand.
<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
How can the Duelist survive this huge wave!?
Out of the corner of her eye she spies a figure, a motion, a person that she'd know from the merest suggestion! That single wave, so graceful, makes her heart thunder. She's struck, slammed with the force of that garnet-tinged smooch from afar!
The little garnet heart pops right onto her own lips, and her grin becomes loving and oh-so-satisfied. She flares up with confidence as those words hit her ears. Abandoning any sense of things like 'worry' or 'laws of physics' in the face of this steadfast Setsupport! Kasagami slams down one leg, and her wiggly-wobble ride of surfing becomes that much more stable.
"This is nothing!" With those eyes in Kassie's mind, bubbles and hearts surrounding her, she surfs with the slightly-less-incompetent-than-five-seconds-ago power of love!
And then as that wave slackens off...she's still going!? Kasagami looks confused, but takes it in stride. Grinning over to Takeo, Lera, and Setsuna, she clenches a fist. "Let's go then! I won't turn down any race. By facing strong opponents, you get stronger yourself! Aim for maximum surfing!" This apparently means dramatically leaning in to the front of the board, arms out all wavey-like, and hair aflutter amidst the sea spray with a jaunty grin. She slices her forward-facing arm in a Forward motion. To...the beach! Leeean in! Luckily she cuts an athletic figure atop it!
A glance down at the dark little shapes as the board-manta ride to the walkable sea ends. Smile. They're so adorable! She whispers to the retreating little friends!
"Owe you, little manta-chans. You're going to be the Kingdom's official Aquatic Animal!" She promises. Then she peers over to see which of the surf-group was the victor! No matter how dashingly athletic, she's yet to master the art of speed-surf.
<Pose Tracker> Pink Moon Stick [Admin] has posed.
AT THE COURTS
"That thing'll be melted by the time the game's over!" Minako complains immediately at Setsuna, even though it isn't her pile.
Makoto flushes, obviously less eager to confront their elder, but nods in agreement. "Yes... you could eat it quick, and see if there's a freebie on the stick?" (One in every so many popsicle sticks can be traded in for another popsicle, based on a little marking revealed after the treat is devoured. This is viable betting tender.)
"OR," Minako offers enthusiastically, a sudden gleam in her eye, "DOUBLE OR NOTHING, we see if you can finish the popsicle sooner than the next time Usagi faceplants in the sand."
Makoto wonders what makes that double or nothing exactly but decides not to ask. She knows that expression. Right now Minako Aino is not going to be held back by such trifling matters as LOGIC.
BUT...
"Oi," interjects someone, angrily.
Minako knows the sound of authority, and shades her eyes with a salute, bending left and right to look for the problem.
"OI!"
Makoto awkwardly nudges her, and chins downwards.
Four foot nothin' Alisa Bannings gives Minako a gimlet eye that even SANDTHY HIMEMIYA could not have matched. She folds her arms over her orange and white polka-dotted ruffly swimsuit.
(Retiring, purple-haired Suzuka Tsukimura is in profile behind her, trying not to be seen.)
"You big kids jumped in line," she asserts, steely, with all the confidence of the next Jeff Bezos. "Our. Group. Was. Next."
Sakura Kinomoto and Tomoyo Daidoji nod confirmation, though bashfully (in Sakura's case) and somewhat halfheartedly (in Tomoyo's, as she would have to put down the camcorder to play).
"U-um," Sakura adds, "We have to leave early, pretty soon, so... could we... please...?"
<Pose Tracker> Takeo Akamizu [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.
Takeo paddles for all his might as a wave moves in. Catching the beginning of it, he wobbly gets to a crouch, arms extending in a sort of "Airplane" posture with palms flat toward the water, and then he manages a wobbly, yet stable stand. He grins. He's athletic and has always had superb balance from years of martial arts, and he knows he'll probably fall or the wave won't make it far enough and he'll have to catch another. So he just sort of enjoys it while he can.
Then the sound starts up and it startles him. He doesn't fall though, which surprises him until he sees the shapes. Clearly some ocean god, or for once benign spirit of the sea has decided to bless the teenagers of japan this day. He's seen stranger things truthfully so he just kind of accepts it. It's DEFINATELY One Hundred Percent better than Sea Spirits or Creatures EATING the Teenagers. Then he'd have to go all Magical, and nobody wants that.
Instead he laughs joyously and crouches with the board, making it look good. He moves the board from side to side, sluicing it through the waves almost like a professional. And gives out a whooping, "YEAH!" as he comes in close to shore.
As he nears the end of his ride and the manta's choose to leave him, one leaps up and extends a wing, which Takeo flaps in a High-Fin to the Manta. "Awesome! Thanks buddy!" he calls out before he, at that moment falls flat on his rear end into the water coming up laughing. He turns and waves to the Mantas already swimming for deeper water.
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.
"W-Whoa...!"
Lera's board starts to go down, as the wave comes to its crashing end. It starts to tilt to the side, and her feet start to slip. But then, seemingly miraculously, the board begins to right itself.
"Ah--" And then she sees the pair of black wings that emerges from under her board, and swims on ahead of her. "Oh! M-Manta rays! Setsuna, look at them!"
She keeps shooting ahead on the water, glancing sideways at Kasagami, then Takeo, and finally Setsuna. So far, they seem to be neck and neck.
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Setsuna Higashi still holds the power of the mysterious transfer student!! ...Or, perhaps, the power of some helpful mantas who are stabilizing her board. It could be either. Regardless she looks around in wonder t the sight of the beach and the ocean from the crest of a wave, staring out into the vista aheaad.
Wings...! Setsuna, for one, has a certain affinity for wings for some mysterious purpose. She turns and smiles at the mantas as she starts to realize they're theere, beaming at Lera and them both. "I see them!" she answers happily, "I think they're playing!
Setsuna starts to fall behind--she slows down while she's doing all this sight-seeing, and this wave isn't going to take her all the way in. But she stays astride the board for a good long while before she has to lower down to wory about trying again, and gets something better than beginner's luck out of it.
<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.
It was time to... get cookin'!
Despite wanting to surf, Steven ha donned the mantle of responsible child and lept to the rescue of hungry beach patrons! Together with Fuu and others, this crowd will not go home hungry tonight!
"Oh no, Poultry!" the boy exclaims, reaching for the sky dramatically.
He isn't goot at cooking chicken yet. One of the tasks at hand is cooking portions of chicken for skewers. The boy is very nerous suddenly! "Okay! Someone prep talk me! Undercooking chicken is no joke!" the boy says, readying the grill with a bit of oil and seasonings.
At least he can start with the veggies. He knows those!
"Fuu, everything okay on your end?" he asks as he readies the veggies. "Right! I just need a uh, a one of those stabby thermometers to be safe."
If he cooked something like that wrong and got someone sick, his reputation as the 'funny cook' could be ruined...!
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.
"Meat thermometer," Fuu replies absent-mindedly. She has other fish to fry.
Sort of. Actually, the fish that need to get fried are right there, which is all well and good, but food keeps disappearing just as it's ready to serve, and the complication is *most* annoying - not just to the people she's trying to serve, but to her as well.
"Steven-san," she asides more quietly, "do you remember another incident where food was disappearing just as it was about to be eaten? This feels entirely too familiar ..." She's starting to pay attention to her gut as she works - that intuition, or whatever sense it is, of Wrongness which has guided her to previous troubles. And she's trying to catch the instant at which the latest burger, or yakitori skewer, or fillet of fish, or hot dog, vanishes. It also means she's paying *much* more attention to her cooking, which is probably for the better anyway - but these foods are for her fellow students, be they classmates, older, younger, or any age.
It is a problem which needs to be solved, or else literally everyone's going to go home hungry.
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Meioh [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.
Her love is all determination and fire out on the waves, and Setsuna's eyes dance as she watches. That defiance of physics inspires one evergreen eyebrow to arch. The rest of Kasagami she simply admires, top to bottom, grin to flex, on her way across the sand.
"Hmmm." Setsuna contemplates her options as presented by Minako and Makoto. She seems to be taking this seriously, but then, she takes most things thus. A popsicle's fate, accorded a certain dignity. She retrieves the treat with a nod -- is this solemn teenager going to devour it, right here and now?
And then -- 'OI!'
Something brightens in Setsuna when the young but serious Alisa makes their group's claim known. It's not quite a smile she turns to that group, but there's something to her face. The world may never know what she intended with the popsicle...
For now, she is just going to eat it in her own time.
<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
Kasagami finishes out her surfing with a flourish! Mostly by hopping off of the board with a spin, and kicks the thing into the air. Snatch as it comes down with only the slightest of lean-backs from the utter unfamiliarity of the weight and balance. Frown. Mental note, do not use a surfboard as a sword, Kassie!
Board across her shoulders, she half-salutes her opponents! From happily sight-seeing-Setsu, to the eager Takeo-kun and happy Lera-chan! Really she'll probably end up in the middle of the pack due to more exhuberance than anything else.
"I'll race you all any time! Ahhh, it's been too long since I really got to have fun in water like this. Thanks." Her grin turns to an appreciative smile to her friends!
Then Kassie is making her way over to the grill-duo that is Fuu and Steven. She's doing so pretty slow though, taking ample time to strut, flex, and generally show off now that she's on land. Her gaze is mostly Setsuna-chan-ways, trading admiration for admiration, gaze gleaming. She could watch her girlfriend being happy and ever-graceful all day. For all her fire, that vision of wisdom gives her heart a thrill of cool happiness that she so often needs lest she burn right out!
One can't keep admiring the significant other forever though. Her stomach grumbles.
"What's for lunch!?" Calls out Kasagami to Fuu and Steven.
<Pose Tracker> Haruka Tenoh [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.
Michiru is an ethereal being. Haruka is confident she was birthed from sea foam in a giant seashell. She does not really watch TV and much of her leisure time is spent creating beauty.
In other words, when it's Michiru, Haruka is not as certain as Makoto is that the beautiful violinist has heard something called a 'dream team' before, versus innocently replicating the term accidentally for her duo of seers.
Usagi finds her own way to serve. Haruka should be looking at the enemy team now and shifting his position, but he's stuck staring in confusion at his teammate for a second or two. That was impressively bad; much harder to pull off than just serving the ball, if you tried to do it on purpose.
Diving for the ball belatedly, Haruka ends up facing the tiny Bunnings heiress. With visions of lawsuits dancing in his head if her shot went wild or Rei spiked it back, he grabs the ball in both hands instead of returning it, landing prone on the sand. Coughing and working his tongue around to get some mouthed sand onto his lips where it can be wiped away, Haruka stands, instantly becoming a sort of ogre or giant in front of Alisa and the other elementary schoolers.
"Ara," he says, with that androgynous affect he often displays. He looks over his shoulder for Michiru's response, but it's perfunctory this time; it's pretty obvious they're not going to bully a bunch of elementary school girls.
Kill them, maybe, she thinks inwardly, a jape that brings her no smile.
Normally Haruka would toss the ball to the leader instinctively, but for one, lawsuit. For two, his teammate still has a big pink circle on her face. He plays it safe and throws to Sakura, the lone girl here who does not look like she came from some English girl's doll collection.
"That's too bad," he sighs to Rei as they go. "I wanted to play." But he smiles again easily. "Should we say hello to our fans?" He puts two fingers to his lips and blows Setsuna a casual kiss from a distance, the way he'll often do when walking past an audience at the track.
<Pose Tracker> Rei Hino [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
The ball sails out..!
Alisa chimes in..!
And somehow, Haruka manages to save the day. Phew.
"Oh!" Rei exclaims, as she turns to face Alisa and company; Fate's little friends, she thinks, but she doesn't say that, because Rei enjoys living and Arisa is terribly cross. "Do forgive us, Alisa-chan! We're happy to step aside, right..?" A look to Usagi and Haruka and Michiru; of course they are.
They wouldn't hurt small children like that, right? Right.
Off they trot, and Rei smiles to Haruka, not a little regretful herself. "I feel the same way," she says - inwardly, doki-doki-doki, HARUKA-SAN AND REI-CHAN FEEL THE SAME WAY, but to give Rei one single shred of credit she keeps her composure - "perhaps we'll get another chance again, sometime?"
Rei, bold as a lion, strikes while the iron is hot. Usagi can thank her later.
"For now, we've certainly kept them waiting long enough!" She chimes in, on the subject of their adoring fans, with a wave to Makoto and Minako. Come to think of it, didn't she glance Setsuna adding in an entire popsicle to the betting pool...?
Maybe she was just seeing things. She only glimpsed it out of the corner of her eye, and Setsuna is clearly eating her popsicle, more or less.
<Pose Tracker> Takeo Akamizu [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.
Wandering out of the water and carrying his board under an arm, Takeo runs a hand through his hair. He gives a thumbs up to Lera, Setsuna and Kasagami. "Thanks for the race! It was fun! We'll have to do another one another time!" He grins and waves again toward the Mantas in the ocean, putting on hand on his hip as he grins toward the enigmatic creatures. "Those sure are awesome little dudes."
He then plants his board in the sand and sits down to watch the ocean. Putting his back against the board to enjoy a little time in the sun, sand and surf all at once. Eventually he'll make his way to the grills, but he's been spoiled by somebody's cooking, and as such, doesn't immediately make a run for the confections that are there. Instead popping the tab on another green can and taking a sip as he just takes it all in.
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.
"Any time!" Lera calls after Takeo, waving after him. Her board slides to a stop, in the beach's sand. She hops off it, then kicks into the orange surfboard so it flips up. She catches it, resting the board on her shoulder.
She waves once at Kasagami, before she turns to look back at Setsuna. Lera waves towards the purple-haired girl, and flashes a grin at her as she comes in.
"Aah, that was fun, y'know?" she says to her. "We should try doing that again soon!"
<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.
Peppers and onions hit the grill and start to sizzle. For a moment in the area, eyes will water-- the onions provided are some kind of wild onion, very fresh. Also very strong. Will definitely have some bite! Tongs give waved enthusiastically toward Kasagami. "Chicken yakitori skewers is the special! Also got burgers, and my all-time favorite of course is an option as well!"
Greedy eyes glint over the franks in a cooler.
Soon.
"Wh--? I mean, yeah, I do! Why do you say that...?" The boy looks over to where Fuu is making food. Nothing seems out of the ordinary. "Is someone sneaking i nand taking food? Maybe a bird?" Eyes crest the sky. Hum. "Yeah! That thing!" he says, fiddling around with the nearby tools until he can find one.
"I will keep an eye out for anything strange for you as I cook!" he says, over the shoulder, returning to his own grill. The veggis are almost done! Time for... the chicken.
The boy deeply inhales before he uses a new set of tongs to place chicken on the grill.
Lion is still running amok on the water's surface. He is making a lot of new friends out there!
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Setsuna waves back to Kasagami. "it was nice," she agrees. On some days she might be much more competitive, but this is not that day. Instead she looks over the beach, towards the excited music, towards a vollyeball court, and--
Towards Takeo too. "Yes!" she agrees with him. And then, once back from the water, Setsuna Higashi senses an important aroma. She is not an ethereal being, far away from the mean ground. Setsuna... is a girl of snacks!
A girl of snacks who grins back Lera's way as she steps onto the sand, immediately walking over to stand beside her. "Yes! I think it's something I want to try again, too..."
Pause. "But first we should eat something! I don't think I've eaten in..." She taps her cheek thoughtfully, looking up into nothing in particular. "A while!"
look out, steven and fuu, it's happening
"Hello!" Setsuna greets cheerfully. She has not stolen anything, yet.
<Pose Tracker> Rei Hino [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
'Maybe a bird,' Steven j'accuses.
Nearby, a crow fluffs herself up and grumbles to her fellow crow, in perfect bird offence.
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Meioh [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.
Setsuna Meioh receives a blown kiss herself, but it's not from the striking surfer girlfriend she's admiring -- it's from none other than Haruka Tenoh, the sort of gesture from the sort of heartthrob which might induce uncontrollable swooning from others.
Instead she extends her hand, palm down, and makes a shooing motion as if to ward the inbound kiss off, a wry and decidedly unswooning response which a sly eye might note deflects it in Michiru Kaioh's direction.
<Pose Tracker> Pink Moon Stick [Admin] has posed.
ON STAGE
Kitty Section's first song is building to its climax, and the dancing there is becoming more frenzied and a little more dangerous. It's a good-natured crowd though, and kids who tumble to the sands are quickly and happily helped up by their peers.
---
IN THE WATER
Further out in the ocean, the mantas swim deep, then jump high. There's a fair number of them, swirling, swimming, sunning. Obviously this is a great day for everyone, human and wildlife alike.
Though do they normally form spiraling circles like that? Their interweaving trajectories, as far as they can be seen from the shore, seem astonishingly intricate, almost fractal.
---
ON THE SANDS
The lines for food have started to shift away from Fuu and Steven's station; Steven is able to get plates out, but Fuu's efforts have pretty much ground to a halt.
The winged-feline stuffed animal at the front of the line, sitting there innocently on the sand, belches.
Then he holds VERY VERY STILL.
Sweatdrops start pouring off of him.
---
AT THE COURTS
"It's just as well," Minako harumphs, "I wanna play next time." Picking Usagi over her for volleyball is a mortal insult that may not be rectified for some time.
"Hey guys," Makoto greets the aborted volleyers amiably. "What should we do next?"
"AHEM," says a crowd of people who put down bets.
Makoto bites her lip and excuses herself from her friends, dragging Minako along by the elbow. "Uh, we'll just be a bit, don't mind us..."
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.
Never mind a perplexing problem, this is downright *vexing*, even for the oft-mild-mannered Fuu Hououji. But she still puts on her sunniest smile as familiar customers come up. "Kasagami-san, Setsuna-san, good work out there!" she greets Araki and Higashi - not that she saw exactly what they were doing, or how, but she's going to presume that they lived up to Kasagami's usual high standards. "And we're having an all-you-*can*-eat special, the first person whose meal survives all the way to their stomach gets whatever they like from the grill!"
There is the sound of a belch. Fuu's gaze pauses, then tracks towards the source of that sound, not unlike a sniper's scope as the rifle is re-aligned. But that little plushie blends in fairly well with the sand ...
Hasn't she seen that plushie somewhere before?
.... probably in a UFO Catcher somewhere.
Well, somebody must have dropped it. If it's still sitting there later, she'll stuff it in her bag (with her wet towel) and take it back to Tokyo. If not, maybe its rightful owner got it. For now, Fuu turns her attention back to customer service. "So what strikes your fancy? We have fish - plenty of ayu, if you like - and we have yakitori skewers, vegetables, hot dogs, burgers, even some steak ... Pick what you like, and best of luck~" she finishes, smiling wider.
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.
"Food sounds good!" Lera says, cheerfully.
She appears after Setsuna. The taller of the two looms without meaning to; she has that Westerner (actually Midchildan) height, with the orange hair that stands out. The surfboard is perched on her shoulder, dangling a little.
She looks down at all the food, and then at Setsuna, and then quickly says: "I'll take a hot dog and a hamburger, please! Classic American food, y'know?"
She grins like an idiot.
<Pose Tracker> Haruka Tenoh [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.
Smiling at his sister-in-arms, Haruka covers his heart with both hands as if slain. He does, however, obligingly cast a query with his eyes to Michiru.
"I'd like that," he answers Rei. "But it might be too much to expect that we end up out here by chance again. Do shrine maidens get to have cell phones? And if so..." His eyes have a tanuki glimmer, looking at Rei sidelong as they walk, though he does not turn his head. "Am I the type you want to have the number of that cell phone?"
<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
"Any time, any place Takeo-kun!" Promises the young woman to her 'rival' of sorts! Then she's in line! She sadly can't keep up with the gaggle of Rei and compatriots, nor her beloved's friends. Somehow in the back of her mind she does find the mild instinct to jot down Haruka-based notes. Or be kendo-sticking him in the abs very hard. She shakes it off. Don't dwell. Don't blush blast it!
Fuu and Steven present quite the tempting options for culinary delight! She does not care that lines are slowing. All the better for her. That stomach makes a rumble, she eyes the Setsuna-in-red.
Kassie had better figure out what she wants before it's all gone!
"Ahhh, a dynamic duo of ultra-powerful cook-artists! I expect my stomach to be slain, beaten, trounced, and gained satisfaction! ...One steak sandwhich, one hot dog!" At Fuu and Steven respectively. Kasagami is on one super tight budget, and she is not going to pass up the chance to eat delicious steak and tasty hot dogs.
Water the Crimson Rose's stomach with tasty foodstuffs!
The plushie out on the sand...in line? gets a suspicious side-eye. Hmmmm. Hmmmmmm! "Anyone lose a really weird doll?"
<Pose Tracker> Takeo Akamizu [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.
<Pose Tracker> Rei Hino [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
A thrown kiss, rebuffed..! Poor, poor Haruka!
(But where it was sent...)
Rei doesn't have much time to wonder about those mysteries, though, because all a sudden HARUKA IS VERY CASUALLY ASKING FOR HER PHONE NUMBER.
This is not a drill. A hot guy... wants Rei's...
After a moment she realises a few things.
One: her face matches the red of her swimsuit, at this point.
Two: she's been making this "a-heh-heh-heh" noise for the past five seconds.
Three: REI GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF THIS IS NOT A DRILL.
"Of course we do! It's the modern age, after all! Ha ha ha..!" Rei boldly laughs off her embarrasingly Usagine response, waving a hand. "And you're certainly welcome to be part of it! Here, let me -- um --"
this is the exact moment rei hino realises she's in her swimsuit.
"Just a moment!" Rei declares, as she scrambles for her beach bag.
She may well break the land speed record for hurrying across the hot sand.
<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.
After a good deal of work (and careful checking of chicken!) the lines start to die down. Insomuch that Stu-ball is able to pitch a hot dog o nthe grill for himself at this point! "All good over here Fuu? Ever figure out what that food vanishing act came from?"
BELCH.
"Well, someone has been eating here well..." he says, eyes squinting, then slowly training on that stuff animal. Didn't it come from over here?
Steven leans down and holds a chin, giving it the once over. Squint. Squiiiiint...
Seems still wet. Maybe someone took it out into the water? Hm. He turns and leaves it be, returning to his station.
"Heeey!" the boy says toward Lera! "I know just how to make it that style too! Beach City style, coming up!" The boy then begins to try and think of a way to make it pop and say 'Straight outta the U.S.!' It takes some doing, but the boy readies up a Chicago-style hot dog! All the trimmings. "Here ya go!" he says. The burger is put on the grill for her."
"Fuu, you get the steak, Kasagami has demanded my specialty," he says, clacking his cooking tongs together! HMMMM. For her, the best looking hot dog! He has to look good is the important part! And taste good too!
"I swear on the deliciousness of this hotted dog!" the boy says, holding it toward Kassie!
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Setsuna is entirely comfortable with this looming Lera. Indeed, she looks to the line cheerfully, and... Hmm.
She looks down to the plushie, and smiles, before looking forward to Fuu and Steven instead. "Yakitori please," she answers cheerfully. "Is it weird?" she asks of Kasagami before a look to Lera and a laugh, like at an old sighing joke.
Classic American food... From Steven Universe.
Pause. "And also a burger." Pause. "And also a hot dog, please."
Now that she's up in front anyway...!
One might assume that Setsuna Higashi is getting extra food for her friends. That would be an adorable assumption.
<Pose Tracker> Usagi Tsukino [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"Minako-chan, Minako-chan- don't worry! You're always be an honorary member of team blonde!" Usagi has no idea what she meant earlier by team Thristtrap. She wonders if its a euphemism for them all being dehydrated.
She then waves at her departure, with as sly a grin and a snigger, "Take your time! We won't do anything too fun with you!" She sounds a wee bit full of herself, as if she'd scored some points in some Inner Senshi game being played over Haruka Tenoh.
And then... a rematch challenge. "Oh! We should definitely do that." And Haruka is offering his... "Whuh?"
P H O N E N U M B E R
... to Rei.
Suddenly Usagi feels the wind pick up enough to lift her blonde twintails, and its like she's eaten Rei's dust.
Suddenly as Rei hurries back to her beach towel. Usagi feels true despair, like she's lost this contest...
... but inspiration strikes her, as she slaps a fist into her palm. As she stands up a bit straighter and raises a finger and begins speaking hurriedly to Haruka. "She forgets herself! She has a traditional image to maintain around every girl that calls her Rei-sama."
Maybe Usagi only knows of two girls that do that, but that's enough for Rei to have that image to maintain!
Usagi then stutters on the next word as she looks at Haruka, "B-But it's fine - because as her good friend. I can make the sacrifice to hold it in trust for her, so that noone will know."
And then suddenly she extends out a slender arm, that's looking just a shade more tan from this day at the beach. The back of her hand, as her eyes slide sidelong, like she's shy from the gesture.
"... you can just... write it right here..."
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.
Soaring Sky whispers, through telepathy, to Steven and Fuu: <Fly, you fools!>
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Meioh [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.
Setsuna nibbles the top off of her popsicle and heads to join her girlfriend over in the food line, becoming a sudden and steady presence at Kasagami's right side, with a brush of elbows to announce her arrival. "Hello again," she remarks to Steven with a friendly crinkling at the corners of her eyes. "You helm a grill as surely as you copilot a helicopter." She tips her popsicle in the boy's direction; she's not here for food.
"After that performance, surely Kasa-chan can use something so hearty." Admiration burnishes her tone. Kassie's comment about the doll redirects Setsuna's attention, after. That stuffed animal is strange, but definitely has a cute sort of appeal. Setsuna wonders if Small Lady would like something like it. Or maybe a Kitty Section CD...? A glance at that frenzied dancing and she's back to considering something small and winged.
<Pose Tracker> Pink Moon Stick [Admin] has posed. <SoundTracker> Summer Madness - Kool And The Gang https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SFt7JHwJeg
The sun isn't setting just yet, but it is getting decidedly large in the sky, as though it's contemplating the possibility of deigning to sink. There's a lower-key feeling to the beach now, between the heat (which is becoming the kind of oppression best escaped either under an umbrella or underwater) and the need for a break from frenetic activity (which favors the former over the latter a bit).
Also there are just fewer kids; many of the youngest have gotten on trains in order to get home before dark.
There's a languid, honeyed mood settling in. Although it's still a lot, it's possible to recast the heat as just a pleasant blanket, rather than a savage beast.
That's the power of the heart.
ON STAGE
The stage is currently empty; Kitty Section played a full set and three encores, finishing with the same song they started with, a rousing round of I LOVE UNICORNS that, this time, included a sing- (scream?) along.
---
IN THE WATER
There are still a healthy number of surfers and splashers in the deep and shallow parts of Sagami Bay respectively, but like the beach itself, the water is less packed.
The mantas seem to have moved on.
---
ON THE SANDS
Whole civilizations of sand castles have risen and fallen over the course of the afternoon. The tide is a little higher than it was before, lapping at the edges of the newest generation of fortresses.
There's still food being prepared and served, though the pace has slowed. The lines at the flea market at the top of the slope are shorter too.
Frankly, the most common shoreline activity right now is the reapplication of sunscreen.
---
AT THE COURTS
The courts are empty again. Theoretically no one else has dibs this time.
(No one else really had dibs last time, either. Arisa Bannings: pants on fire.)
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed. <SoundTracker> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_8_pbu_cNo
"Thank you!" Lera says taking the Chicago-style hot dog. Some of the toppings are already falling over the sides and onto her fingers. She takes a bite of it, and then sighs happily.
And she takes her hamburger.
But then...
Then, Lera makes her way to the stage. There's a quick murmur to Setsuna -- "Karaoke time!" -- and a thank you to Steven and Fuu. And then, she steps up to the stage. She finds, somewhere amidst the instruments, a karaoke machine.
"Ground, can you look up how to plug a karaoke machine into an amp?"
<...yes.>
After a little fiddling, Lera gets it working with a fEeDbAcK sCrEeCh. She taps the microphone, laughs, and says: "S-Sorry! This song... is for everyone! It's one of the best songs ever, from my homeland, which is definitely America! By the best American band ever! S-So here we go--"
She taps her foot. "One! Two, a one two three four!"
And the chords of God Save the Queen begin, before Lera begins belting the song out.
<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.
Of course Setsuna would as well get a hot dog as well! With whatever she would desire on it! Such is the way of the Hot Dog Master. He has a whole bit about them, you see. And thankfully, everyone gets fed, even despite the problems earlier wit hthe phantom foodnapper.
Just who or what did that, anyway...?
Perhaps it is best not to know.
"Uh, I can't fly! I don't have that power!" he whispers aloud to whatever magical voice just was in his head. Sounded familiar though!
- - -
"Come ooooon, Lion!"
Steven, having given up time to assist others, now seeks to surf! He has the mini-longboard beside him, stuck in the sand near the water's edge. Lion has taken up a cozy spot near the Sand Throne once again, this time refusing to move at Steven's orders.
"AwwwwwuuuUUUUUHHH. I gave you all those Lion Lickers earlier to do thi, we even planned it out!" A curious thing that stands up, even moreso than a giant pink cat, is a tiny spot on the back of his mane is glowiny a cotton candy pink color. A cord comes out from it, to Steven's left hand. Looks like a handle or grip of some kind.
"Yo uwere gonna run on the water, and I tied the waterski line to the laser cannon! It was gonna be cool!"
Yeah, Lion is done frolicking. The time for nap is now. "Aw. You owe me later!" the boy says, tucking the cord back inside. Perhaps something else can be done instead.
And then a band Steven has heard countless times in the back of a van plays, getting his attention. "Hey, I know that song!" he says excitedly, running toward the stage!
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Food is a memory now. ...Some of it is a more distant memory than other foods, because Setsuna Higashi happened.
-=-=-
"Karaoke time!" Setsuna agrees, and when Lera steps up to the stage, Setsuna... doesn't. She moves for the audience instead to support her girlfriend. She doesn't even flinch at the feedback screech!
Instead, she looks to one of the audience members beside her and sighs as the music starts. "She's great, isn't she?" Setsuna asks of this person, and bounces on her heels to the music.
<Pose Tracker> Rei Hino [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
Between Rei's brave charge and Usagi's quick thinking, can they obtain Haruka's phone number..?!
THE WORLD MAY NEVER KNOW.
(Until next time.)
-=-=-
It's cooler on the beach now, beach-towels and beach-bags. Rei Hino, an eminently pale girl, has retreated to the warm shoreline to put on... more sunscreen.
(She's had to do this more than once, today, but here's the first time we catch her in the process.)
Deimos helpfully hops up to her and drops another of those sparkly seashells the crows have been gathering this whole time. There is now a sizable pile beside her beach bag. There might also be a few stray pieces of jewellery people dropped in the shallows. Clearly the birds were helping to recover these lost items, and weren't stealing all the treasures, right?
... right?
"Looks like you've got a real collection," Rei smiles, to her feathery friend.
'Caw!' Deimos affirms, with pride.
<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
Kasagami beholds...a Steven Universe Specialdog! She takes this blessed concoction of meat and Beach City Friendship as though it were a fanciful blade!
"Combining aesthetic appeal, tasty crisp from the grill, and the Steven Seal of Delectability? Let's see if this can meat Ohtori standards!" Offers the Duelist, ego and friendship vying in her voice. CHOMP!
She steps back as if physically struck upon the tastebuds! Nomf crunch!
"If you ever get to Ohtori, you're going to be my official Hotdog Minion Steven, because I'm impressed!" She hasn't had many Beach City Specials it seems!
Setsuna-the-Red gets a double nod. "Extremely. Sandy bear-things don't fly!" Why are there wings?
At the presence of her beloved, she gnoshes down the rest of her hot dog with undue haste. Sorry Steve-kun, there's matters of love here! She needs one arm to basically melt against the side of her love as there's the brush of elbows for the briefest of seconds. She may not be able to see out of that eye, but she can sense and smell and feel her beautiful Setsu-chan, Queen of her heart!
"After the aquatic joust, comes the not-so-aquatic feast! Looks like you beat me to it though. Keeping everyone in line Setsu-chan? A few of our friends here could always use your wisdom, nevermind gracing everyone with your unmatched beauty! If we're unlucky, the ocean's going to blush from seeing you, and then we might get sharks!" Griiiin! Kassie's being just a little thick-and-shameless with the compliments.
That attention is spun off to Lera as she begins a kareoke round! Brows rise! Lera's pretty good!
"Sing your lungs out Lera-chan! Light these hearts on fire!" Encourages the would-be King loudly!
<Pose Tracker> Haruka Tenoh [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.
Haruka looks at Rei with a mild smile during her travails. If it had to be described, it is the sort of smile with which you might regard a delicious gumball taking its roller-coaster ride out of a novelty machine. There is no purpose for its careening; a wholly unnecessary elaboration on a basic interaction. But the delay is the point. That's what you pay for, not the gumball, and so patience is not the word for your tolerance of the delay. You are, not just politely but literally, happy to wait.
What a shade of red. If she had not watched it happen before her eyes, Haruka would have thought Rei was really sunburned. But the sun is not the only thing pale girls redden more visibly to.
"I'll be here," he obliges, ceasing his walking and putting his hands in the pockets of his sweatshirt, as if to reaffirm his commitment to being stationary. Usagi sweeps in to fill the gap, however.
"Does she like people calling her Rei-sama?" Haruka wonders. He looks down at Usagi's hand, then up at her face, before closing his eyes with a contented sort of exasperation. "Yare yare. Fighting for your friends really does fill you with courage." An unusual comment perhaps. "Well, it's not like I mind."
There's a little plastic clip on the pocket of his sweatshirt, which he now reveals to be the cap of a permanent marker. The way he opens it--casually biting the cap off and stepping next to Usagi so as to have the same PoV on whatever he is writing on--speaks of many autographs signed. But though he takes the offerered hand, he rotates it palm-up.
"I think my signature's pretty okay," he explains. "But my handwriting isn't so good, you might not be able to read it if I write small, and on skin." So he uses the inside of her forearm.
It hurts a tiny bit, like it always does when you write on yourself, but where a pen is mostly pressure and part chilly ink, this is mostly chilly ink and part pressure. Scritch scritch scritch, he carves the numerals in blue. Then he initials it, H.T.
"So you know which one's mine later on," he teases, as though it were Usagi who was the heartbreaker, and he, the innocent with a crush.
Rei surely sees some of this. It really looks like a rout. But Haruka still gets Rei's number, and before Usagi's eyes, scritch-scritch writes it on his own inner forearm. He even displays it to the shrine maiden for her to confirm that it is crrect. Events move on, as they do in life, all too quickly. Only Usagi got Haruka's number, but only Rei's is written on Haruka.
<Pose Tracker> Fuu Hououji [Infinity Institute (10)] has posed.
"A steak sandwich ..."
Fuu lifts her free hand momentarily, adjusting her glasses, and for one fleeting instant, the light strikes them at *just* the right angle to make them opaquely reflective.
She sets to work. Some steak is added to the grill, 'sliced' with the edge of a spatula to expose more surface area for cooking purposes. And with one eye on the steak as it cooks, Fuu readies some other toppings for the sandwich. The sandwich roll itself is split open and laid upside-down on the grill, so it can toast up a bit, and Fuu lines up some sauce, a bit of relish - not too much, just enough to accent the meat - and some lettuce and tomato and onion. Once the roll has toasted adequately, it's placed on a plate away from the flames, the steak is turned so it'll cook evenly, and sauce, relish, and vegetables are arranged on the roll.
If Kasagami wants cheese (and Fuu will stop to ask her), then a slice of provolone cheese is laid atop the steak for the last moment or so of cooking, letting it soften and meld with the meat, before the steak is lifted off the grill, added to the plate, and presented to Kasagami.
"Eat in good health, and may this sandwich satisfy your stomach as well as your heart," Fuu says, all the while watching *just in case* the sandwich chooses this moment to softly and silently vanish away, as if a boojum were haunting the beach.
She doesn't spare a glance towards that plushie until after Kasagami has taken custody of, and thereby responsibility for, her meal.
<Pose Tracker> Takeo Akamizu [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.
After delving into his delicious bits of pilfered food, Rei will find Takeo sitting next to her with a stupid grin on his face. "Why Rei-chan!" he says with a slight flutter of his eyelashes. "I cannot 'help' but notice the effect the sun is having on your oh so delicate Ohtori skin." he flutters his eye lashes at her again and stage whispers to her, "I think your crush there noticed too."
He winks and cackles slightly, then produces a cold can of his favorite soda and offers it to her. "Want a can of cold soda? I hear it'll cool you off when you're having 'hot' days." He gives Rei that roguish grin of his and does his best to not cackle again.
<Pose Tracker> Usagi Tsukino [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
"Maybe at her school!" Usagi speculates, as if wondering if its an Ohtori tradition, "But she'll always be Rei-chan to me."
And then she has her arm extended, hand held out, she gives this small bashful giggle as Haruka comments on fighting for her friends giving her courage, as if the two were sharing some inside jest. Then - "You really don't mind?" She says almost too quickly, too enthusiastically.
Then tries to dial it back, to seem more elegant, composed - though she's like a toddler in that realm compared to Michiru Kaioh, like she's full of barely contained bubbly energy at the thought of obtaining his number. "Well neither do I - when its for Rei-chan..."
Then comes the pressure. It is a touch cold, and painful, but this once she doesn't seem to mind the pain despite being a crybaby.
Usagi finds herself staring at it a good five seconds before she starts looking like one giant sunburn and answers, "O-Oh! Because I'll have... so many...! That's... just like you to think of that."
Certainly she sees Haruka mark himself with Rei's number, but she has Haruka's number.
In the end perhaps its a draw to Usagi. Though there is a fitting symmetry in that.
-=-=-
Usagi who is lounging on the beach blanket under an open umbrella, eats a mixture of food from one of the stands and the picnic basket, and every so often gazing at the phone number on her arm wistfully... suddenly, watches Rei interact with Deimos.
Suddenly, Usagi nudges a drowsing cat with her foot.
"Hey Luna - why don't you get up and go on a seashell hunt for me? You don't want to be beaten by a bird right?"
Luna looking mostly drowsy, starts stretching herself out, by pulling back her hind legs to elongate her fore legs, "Do you know how to make a transformation pen appear? Build a communicator?"
Usagi blinks her eyes, then puts a finger to her cheek, "Well now that you mention it no."
Luna simply lays back down facing away from her, "Maybe you should be the one competing with the bird then."
Usagi stares at the mooncat and starts grumbling to noone in particular, "Artemis would go get Minako-chan some shells..."
<Pose Tracker> Rei Hino [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
Rei smooths out an arm, so as to avoid THE LOOMING SPECTRE OF SUNBURN.
(Perhaps a little less looming now the sun is lower in the sky, but Rei has been fooled by this time of day before. It was terrible. She had to put tomatos on her skin for days. She has no clue where the old women of the Community Festival Promotion Committee picked up that trick, but apparently it works.)
Rei managed to give her number to a hot guy, though, so today is a rousing success. Sure, Usagi also had successes, but that's fine. They can tie today. Next time, Rei will triumph.
Except...
'Caw!' Deimos protests, as another boy sits down.
"Akamizu-san," Rei's smile grows a shade more fixed, like it's all screwed on with bolts. "Skincare is a vital part of hitting the beach. If you're too cool to put it on now, you'll have trouble tomorrow, don't you think?"
She sighs, and takes the can regardless, because it's cold and it's still hot. "Oh, please," she rolls her eyes, cracks it open, has a sip...
PFFFT, she coughs immediately. "What's in this?!" Rei demands, a hand gesturing animatedly at the can. "This is terrible! You drink this, Akamizu-san?!"
MEANWHILE, AT THE NEXT UMBRELLA:
Phobos flutters down with an earring clasped firmly in her beak.
Phobos looks at Rei yelling at a can of soda.
Phobos looks at Usagi and Luna flopped in repose.
Phobos hops up to Usagi, and drops the lone dangly thing down for that calm princess. 'Caw,' she says, self-explanatory.
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Meioh [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.
Setsuna soaks up the heat, and it in turn bestows upon her a sheen which catches the setting sun. She glows at Kasagami -- all the more after such a reception. "You remind me of when you first turned that grin and those words on me," she murmurs, and the tone of her voice and the color of her cheeks both quietly expressive. "Except that your power only grows with time, Kasagami Araki."
And then Fuu's carefully crafted steak arrives, and Setuna takes on an air of amusement somehow, without her expression changing much. "And that looks like a meal fit for a king, indeed." She is content with her dwindling popsicle; she is content to enjoy this closeness, this dwindling day, for this moment. A moment can be a precious thing.
<Pose Tracker> Pink Moon Stick [Admin] has posed.
ON STAGE
BEACH KARAOKE is an outstanding high concept that draws a crowd immediately.
It also draws a bartender -- suits the mood. Minako is too busy wrestling for a decent place in line to get the mic, but Makoto sets herself up gladly, something she's been waiting to do all day; her coolers have remained unopened. But now they are not. She got some plastic martini glasses from somewhere, and is filling them with all kinds of cool, brightly-colored, non-alcoholic liquids. Juices, sodas, syrups. And a few solids, like rose petals, boba, and the like.
She keeps making up names for them as she hands them out to whoever approaches.
"Sunset Rose."
"Tears From Heaven."
"Sea Bubbles."
"Oak Evolution."
"...oak evolution?" wonders Saionji, inspecting his drink with an artfully raised eyebrow. It's very green and very frothy. "Why?"
"Uh, no reason," Makoto says hastily. "No leaves in it or anything."
His nostrils flare suspiciously, as he lowers his nose for a suspicious sniff.
---
IN THE WATER
It seems Kitty Section is having some after-show surfing, this time with their guitarist actually in tow (sans spiked leather, which he has exchanged for some sunset-fade trunks). They're way out there, past the breakers, but they seem to all be good swimmers and responsible buddy-system practitioners. Rose and Juleka take turns watching each other catch waves, while Luka finally coaxes Ivan into standing up on his board.
---
ON THE SANDS
The tide is continuing to gradually come in, sending flat, shallow, glittering waves creeping ever-upwards towards the crowd. They threaten Deimos' treasure pile and Takeo's footing, not to mention Usagi's blanket.
<Pose Tracker> Takeo Akamizu [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.
"Carbonated water, high-fructose corn syrup, concentrated orange juice, citric acid, natural flavors, sodium benzoate, caffeine, sodium citrate, erythorbic acid, gum arabic, Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, and yellow 5. The ingredient makeup of Mountain Dew varies based on the country of production of course. For example, in Canada, the sweetener listed is glucose-fructose." Takeo answers smoothly. He even pronounces all the words right. Takeo. He struggles pronouncing large words normally, but this time he actually pronounces all the words accurately and doesn't stumble one bit.
He looks Rei dead in the eyes. "Mountain Dew is life Rei."
Then he leans back and sips his own can merily. He grins at the ocean and says, " Need your back done? I'd hate for your crush to see you burn just becuase you couldn't reach a spot." He winks at Rei in that way of his and salutes with the can. His feet occassionally waggling in the surf.
<Pose Tracker> Lera Camry [Infinity Institute (11)] has posed.
Lera doesn't respond verbally to the calls and cries of approval, either from Setsuna, Kasagami, or anyone else. She does wave to the crowd, though. When her song finishes, she places the microphone down after yelling out a final: "Thank you, Japan!"
The microphone makes a static-y screech when she puts it down. She hops off the stage, hitting the sand with a puff, and then sighs. She waves at Kasagami, then blinks at Minako.
Then, she heads back towards Setsuna, and waves her hand in her direction. "Setsuna!" she calls out. "How did I do? I think people liked it, y'know?"
For the enterprising, the microphone and karaoke machine is open...
<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.
It is good the hot dog came out good! Otherwise he might have gotten in trouble with Kassie. He feels like that could happen at any moment! Gotta be on your toes...!
Which is easy. he is in flip-flops.
- - -
As soon as Steven leaves Lion, roughly sixty seconds later, the cat gets up and walks off.. actually over toward Usagi! Even more actually, toward Luna. The cat just lets out a small snort as some kind of greeting and yawns loudly.
- - -
"Oh! Ohhh hey!" Steven says from down in the crowd. "Where did you get this song from?" he tries to shout towards Lera once the song is done. Maybe she has her own U.S. Mix Tape! Greg gas like... uh. Well, he has a box of them. "You should do singing with Rei! Or team up with your friends and so a group number or something!"
<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
Kasagami beholds the power of Fuu's cooking! She of course asks for pepper jack cheese, and when the sandwhich is placed over? She admires the work that her dilligent friend has put into the whole thing! A long look of this roll'd meat-tower with sauce and cheese, and she laughs!
She plucks it lightly! "Fuu-chan, you never cease to surprise with your skills! I'm going to savor...no, that'd be a lie. It smells too good. My swordswoman's spirit and stomach thanks you for your dedication to the culinary arts!"
Whisper-mumble. "...And my wallet too." You heard nothing. It was definitely a boojum.
Kasagami looks quite happy, and quite proud! "All in practice! The day I can't see your face light up is the day I pray I can't see at all. So I'll have to practice every day."
Pause. The tide is coming in. Hmmm! After one more loving squeeze of Setsuna, Kasagami is off to her own long-abandoned umbrella and castle-creation-kit supplies. She's starting to pack them all up lest they get lost in the surf.
"Beware, oh beach denizens, be you toasty, sun-roasted, feathery or feline! Water will swallow even the greatest of man's achievements." Kassie mournfully glances to the many fortresses and Castlegami's remains. She pointedly ignores the ruins of Sandthy. Hmmph-grrr!
<Pose Tracker> Rei Hino [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
"H...how do you know all that?!" Rei demands, of Takeo, staring aghast. "I've seen your science scores! There's no way!" It would take a miracle -- or else..!
Rei looks down at the can of Mountain Dew.
Rei looks back up to Takeo.
Rei looks out at the encroaching tide.
"EVIL, BEGONE!" Rei declares, as she winds her arm back and FLINGS the can into the ocean. This is technically littering, and that's terrible.
She turns her nose up, "I'll have you know Usagi already helped me with that," she says, not a little huffy. Deimos fluffs herself up, and clacks her beak...
... only to realise that her precious treasure trove is in danger. 'Caw?!' She's distracted from the boy by this terrible news, hopping from one claw to the next. 'Caw! Caw!'
"Oh!" Rei is interrupted from her bickering to look down, and realise why Deimos is upset. "Don't worry, we can save it!" She proceeds to start picking up those seashells and tucking them into her beach bag. Are there a few other prizes in there too..? Never mind, it's fine, she just needs to get everything secured before the tide comes in.
<Pose Tracker> Haruka Tenoh [Infinity Institute (12)] has posed.
Setsuna, Haruka and Michiru are tanning. No, Haruka is tanning, Michiru has a parasol, a giant sun hat tilted over her eyes, and a sunscreen on with an SPF similar to Ami Mizuno's IQ. It's nonobvious to Haruka if Setsuna tans or not, at least very easily.
Haruka has taken her sunglasses off lest she get a really weird tan line going. The rays are not as strong as they had been, and her eyes are closed anyway.
"This is probably the last time we can do this." Haruka's face showed no intent to speak, nor did she get anyone's attention first. The thought drops out into the hot afternoon, amidst the soft rush of the tide. "Whatever happens, no matter if it goes much better than we expect. Them, us..."
Sunwarmed and languid, Haruka lets the thought hang a bit long.
"...we won't be going to the beach together."
She attaches no particular emotion to this comment. But it is not one that can be neutral forever. It will become something, if not today, then on a worse day.
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Higashi [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Of course! Lera is performing, after all. But Setsuna waves cheerfully back to Lera as she jumps down. "I think so, too!" she answers, "I wasn't the only one, either." Which... is good, considering that if it had been she might have said as much...
As it turns out though--Setsuna is not enterprising enough to go for the karaoke machine, instead leaving it to someone a little bolder in the ways of public performances. Instead she looks over to Saionji, who stands out, and then past him to the bar...
"Those look fun," Setsuna points out to Lera, "Should we go over there?"
A beat, "Oh, and Steven was asking after you," she remembers, looking around to wave for the boy.
<Pose Tracker> Takeo Akamizu [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.
"Know what?" Takeo asks blinking at Rei. He looks simply wounded that she would throw a can of deliciousness into its watery grave of the ocean. He gasps and blinks a few times. Such an utter waste! He doesn't cry, but it's a near thing. Marshalling himself against this most grievous of insults, he grins to Rei and sips his can. "You know Rei-chan, that was decidedly evil of you." He peers into her eyes then looks away. 'Throwing a free Mt Dew into the oceans. Should be a freaking war crime." He sighs and sips his drink again.
He looks at the squawking Crow loosing her mind and raises an eyebrow. "Your uhm friend is ... Need help?" He offers. His voice is actually sincere. He too has a Rabbit he has to talk to and placate. So he's sympathetic.
<Pose Tracker> Usagi Tsukino [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Usagi goes cross eyed as Phobos hops into her vision and drops the dangly thing. "Oh! Is this for me?" Usagi picks up the earring. "Well! I graciously accept."
Usagi holds it up to float over a single ear, but doesn't put it in, its been on the beach and is probably nasty. "Would just in one ear suit me?" She asks the crow. And Luna asks without opening her eyes, "Usagi - are you seriously asking a bird for fashion advice?" "W-Well ... ... if the bird is bringing me jewelry..."
Luna just sighs, "Honestly..." And that's when Luna's ears twitch, because something is blowing her hair back with a single snort of its nostrils. The cats eyes flare open.
And then suddenly Luna shrieks so hard that she goes flying into Usagi, limbs splayed out across the girl's abdomen, with her back pressing into the girl's flesh. "YOU AGAIN!" She shouts in accusation. "Oh that's just Lion. Hey Lion! Want a treat?" Usagi offers a sandwich. Luna looks aghast, "Usagi don't - feed that intruder! He broke into one of our secure areas!" "Hmm - it must not have been really secure then." Luna just looks up at Usagi.
And that is when the tide rushes up to the blanket. "Ah! AH - OH NO!"
Usagi takes the edge of the blanket, and just yanks it, a motion which accidentally sends Luna sprawling into the surf. "AAAAAAAA!", and toppling the picnic basket - and suddenly she's plunging her arm into the dampness to try to get it upright before everything is ruined, just as an Ofuda comes flying by. "Rei's exorcism didn't work! Lion! Quick! Do the Lion Teleport!"
She says that like it's the Sailor Teleport. A feline based version of it.
Luna sputters as she rushes out of the puddle, and admonishes Usagi, "Don't be so reckless! Just pick it all up before another wave comes-!"
Another wave drenches everything and sends her belongings spreading out further, also further drenching the cat.
"-in."
-=-=-
Usagi finally stalks up to Rei with a soggy bundle in hand of towel, half closed umbrella, and dripping basket, dumping it all down beside a soggy mooncat.
"Oh no-!" Usagi looks aghast at her arm, in complete horror and dismay. "His number!" Thrusting her arm towards Rei, a few characters are now smudged up inkstains. "Rei-chan!" She says in a panic, "Does that look like a nine to you?"
<Pose Tracker> Setsuna Meioh [Infinity Institute (U)] has posed.
Setsuna looks warmly after her dutifully departing girlfriend, then joins her sisters.
There is something eternal about the Senshi of Time, and such extends to her complexion. Unchanging, unchanged; inured to both the freeze of space and the irradiant kiss of stars near and far. ...She doesn't bother with sunscreen.
Her gaze goes from the sunset to Haruka at those unheralded words, then back to the sunset.
"Whatever happens," she echoes, and there is something formal about an echo coming from her.
"Whatever happens, we will have had this," she finally returns. "Wherever we go."
<Pose Tracker> Rei Hino [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
Phobos cocks her head one way. Phobos cocks her head the other way.
(Phobos is a bird, so they're really rather sharp angles.)
Finally Phobos fluffs herself up, and clacks her beak. 'Caw.' Is that a yes caw, or a no caw?! Rei can always tell the difference, but...
... Rei is a little bit occupied to tell that Usagi -- and Luna, and Lion, and Phobos -- are currently in a mad scramble to save their gear. This is, of course, because Rei is occupied with a torment of Rei's own making.
"Wait, you..." Takeo actually looks hurt, and Rei's face scrunches as she tries to process it. "Oh, come on, it's just a soda, it's not that big a deal, right?" Rei does not have a shovel for the sand; nevertheless she keeps digging.
She's at least trying to be conciliatory, though. Give her that much.
Of course, this means that her own efforts to save the shiny pile are delayed, and the tide starts lapping. "Not to worry!" Rei laughs, a little too forcefully. "I just have to scoop it up -- and--!!"
... Rei scoops her beachbag into the pile of shiny objects.
This has the consequence of rescuing the pile, and also getting a bunch of damp sand in Rei's bag.
"I, ehh..." Rei realises what she's done a moment later, smile twitching.
This is the precise moment Usagi's troubles find her.
New horror crosses Rei's face as she sees what Usagi is worried about. "Usagi! Haruka's number..! Oh, no, that's - that's a blurry seven, isn't it? Or, or maybe, um..."
She digs in through her beach bag and produces a notebook. The damp sand has left the pages a little damp, too, but it's fine. "Pen, pen," she digs in a moment longer to find one, but luckily pens were amongst Deimos and Phobos's treasures, so she grabs one soon enough. "Five-five-five, seven two... um... six..? That's a six, right?!"
<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.
"Oh! I bet you could be a singer with her too, Setsuna!" Steven chimes in after seeing her nearby as well. Some kind of magical girl band would be pretty radical. It could also draw every badguy from everywhere to them, which could be good or bad.
...Maybe best to stick to a normal concert.
- - -
Lion skitters backwards a step or two at Luna's sudden reaction, wondering just what would cause such a commotion from such a small fellow feline! Giant dinnerplate eyes spy the sandwich offered, and giant cat feet plod in the sand as he approaches and takes the sandwich - surprisingly gently from her hand before going to town on it!
He seems content.
When commanded by Usagi to do the teleport thing, he just blinks. Until water touches a paw and then he quickly backs up and exits the situation! Way to abendon them, Lion.
- - -
"Oh, what is that cat getting into, why is Usagi yelling at him...?" Steven says quietly, mid conversation, and looking back at the unfurling situation.
<Pose Tracker> Takeo Akamizu [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.
Takeo raises an eyebrow as he watches Usagi and Rei scramble to get a phone number off her arm. He blinks a few times and looks between the two, and then at the birds, and then to Lion and Luna. "Was ... Was that cat .... Talking?" he asks peering at Luna. DEEPLY. He is still looking at Luna and then gestures to Usagi. "If you need a number,"
Takeo looks at Usagi and gives her that roguish smile and a wink. It's a look that has gotten him into trouble more times than he cares to admit. He also has no idea when he's doing it. THANKS LANCELOT. He gestures to her and says, "I can just give you my number. You know. If you need a new number. For whatever reason you need, like donutting." he leans back and sips his Mt Dew after casting another warry glance to Luna.
<Pose Tracker> Usagi Tsukino [Juuban Public School (10)] has posed.
Luna looks Takeo dead in the eye and says.
"Meow."
Luna is a bad actress, and her meow gets maybe a 2/10 on the cat scale. Yet it's still catlike enough that he might doubt himself. Then the soggy mooncat simply pads away.
Usagi seems to be panic conferring with Rei though mostly on trying to salvage the smudged up parts of the number. "It could be a seven?"
When Takeo asks if she wants her number, she seems to be fretting too hard. Though the word 'donut' gets her attention - like something dissonant entering into her thought process.
"Eh!? Takeo-kun there's no time for donuts! Quick! We have a serious emergency on our hands!"
She simply shows him her arm.
"What does that character look like to you? Rei-chan will copy down your guesses!"
<Pose Tracker> Rei Hino [Ohtori Academy (10)] has posed.
"Akamizu-san, this is serious!" Rei admonishes him, all adrenaline. "Stop talking to cats and help us out here!"
She wouldn't normally rely on his help, but Usagi already dragged him in, so he's helping now.
With studious concentration, Rei writes down every combination those blurred numbers might amount to..!
<Pose Tracker> Steven Universe [Juuban Public School (6)] has posed.
Steven glances from Setsuna and Lera, to the stage. "Actually, I got a better idea!"
Steven stesp off and intercepts Lion as he flees the rising water. "Hold up one second! Whoch! Hey buddy. Hold still!" A small hand fishes around in Lion's mane, a gentle glow coming from it, before pulling out a CD case. He WAS prepared for this one!
A few pets o nthe cat's head, and he dashes back up to the stage and in the back, before cutting on the music, which starts with a slow beat. "Hey guys, get up here with me!" he says toward his friends around the stage. He snaps up a mic!
"H... hey guys! Whats up beachgoers! I'm Steven, and I wanted to bring a beach favorite from overseas! I dunno if it is known here, but its a good 'un!"
BGM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsFJhY4cDcE
"If you know it, sing it with me!"
<Pose Tracker> Takeo Akamizu [Ohtori Academy (12)] has posed.
Takeo rolls his eyes and simply takes Usagi's hand and lifts it so he can gaze down her arm at the numbers. He frowns a bit before he says, "Je pense que c'est un six, même si je pouvais le voir comme un huit."* He continues to hold her hand as he does a little courtly bow, and then releases it gently. "And I'll have you know Rei-chan, donutting is 'very' serious business. Discounting it's importance is an affront to life the universe and," he gestures, "Everything!"
- Translated from French to English: "I think it is a six, though I could see it being an eight. "
<Pose Tracker> Kasagami Araki [Ohtori Academy (11)] has posed.
Oblivious to both the plight of Usagi and Rei, as well as the melancholy afflicting her beloved, the Duelist has finally finished rescuing her stuff from being ocean-napped! Kassie slowly turns her gaze to Rei and Takeo.
"Rei-chan, are you tutoring Takeo-kun in math? On the beach? I admire your persistance in academic excellence! ...But seriously, take a break." Squint at Usagi!
"I'll help." Is she trying to help with the pursuit of love!?
Nah, only half way keeping the plot, the young woman is menacing with spikes of rag to at the numbers on Usagi's arm!
Luckily she's kind of distracted about it, as Steve-kun gets on stage! She doesn't know this one, but she tries to follow along! She cheers out for her tiny magical friend!
<Pose Tracker> Pink Moon Stick [Admin] has posed. <SoundTracker> Kokomo - The Beach Boys, ft. Steven Universe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsFJhY4cDcE
ON STAGE
Mature-looking drinks and dancing; the diversity of music that only karaoke can provide; it's a good scene over at the stage, and an increasingly romantic one, too. Couples -- some spontaneous, some regular -- are starting to pair off and sway.
Makoto and Saionji stand rather pointedly apart, separate, and single, and each watch what's unfolding with varying expressions of discontent.
UNDER THE SEA
<SoundTracker> Daimon Creation - Sailor Moon S https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Fh3b-2PbXk
Even as close to shore as Sagami Bay, the deep sea is a dark, cold, uncompromisingly dangerous place.
But it can't compete in any of those categories with the woman who spins, eyes impossibly wide open, arms upraised, in a ritualistic dance, down on the ocean floor.
The water is no particular obstacle to Kaolinite; it only affects her in positive ways, such as how it makes her hair unfurl and swirl in brilliant ways that gravity wouldn't normally allow. Its fire engine hue burns intensity in open defiance of logic; she is her own source of illumination, though it would be a grave error to ever call her a source of light.
Her right hand clasps a slender, twisting staff, whose infinity loop at its crown connects to itself with an obsidian star. Mimete's implement has been seen more often, but it is a fragile facsimile of this original, which never fails to be more PRESENT, more REAL, than anything else nearby. Bubbles trail in its wake as she spirals it with greater speed and complexity than your average cheerleader's baton. Weird bubbles, not the right color; they're oddly pink.
When their trajectories begin to jerk and reorient on their own, the truth becomes clear: they're not bubbles at all.
The magical girls have faced numerous protodaimon beneath Tokyo; truly terrifying foes, simultaneously more primal, more monstrous, and more deadly than many of the lighter and friendlier opposition encountered on a day-to-day basis.
But those were... embryonic; human hosts their wombs, and their first meal.
Other daimons that have appeared have been, essentially, artificially insemenated; combined with target-relevant items in an oven, irradiated until done. Don't forget to preheat. These tend to be somewhat sillier simply by dint of being bizarre combinations of objects, though not necessarily less deadly.
But what will happen when a daimon egg, imbued with the power and intent of the Grand Magus of the Death Busters, becomes one with another host at the precise moment of its hatching?
Kaolinite watches her wards squirt towards her targets like inescapably awful torpedos... and smiles.
And vastness stirs in the inky deep...
OOC: Visual aid - https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/sailormooncharacters/images/8/8a/Sm0173.jpg
IN THE WATER
Juleka and Luka are taking a turn sharing a surfboard ride down a nice big wave -- they make a striking-looking couple, except for the part where they're brother and sister. They've obviously done this before; there's a sense of well-controlled descent as they ride the swell down to where it crashes.
Until there isn't.
They wipe out suddenly and spectacularly.
Rose and Ivan are there, of course, and this is why. The former gasps, the latter grunts, and they both immediately dive beneath the encroaching wave, then begin their search for their friends.
From the shore, it looks like the number of surfers has gone from four to zero. They may have just come back in, though, and be mingling in the crowd.
ON THE SANDS
Not far from Kasagami, Takeo, Rei, and Usagi, the next dazzling tidal wave enjoys the unusual benefit of chiaroscuro. Its water is brilliant diamond. Sparkling ruby crystal, the rival of any Ginzuishou.
Except where it isn't.
There are huge patches of shadow within the swell, dramatic in the way the sunlight fails to pierce them -- they absorb it instead with all the inexorability of black holes. When they slide onto the beach, their shape becomes apparent, unified; they are wings, widely-spread, beautiful wings. Some aren't PURE darkness, but are traced with the sorts of wonderfully intricate patterns that only nature can provide. White stripes, in this case. Circles, arcs. Fades, on the wingtips, and down towards the tail.
They are mantas.
And they remain, belly-down but helpless all the same, when the wave retreats. Moreso than if they were belly-up, in fact, with sand cruelly chafing their gill slits like this.
Eventually the rising tide will surely reclaim them. But will that happen before they run out of air?
