#beachnanigans

[ continued from here @cashandaxes ]

Strange beach realms really weren’t anything out of the ordinary as far as Charlotte was concerned. She didn’t even think twice about waking up here. And really, a beach paradise was an excellent opportunity to put herself out there and cozy up to some wealthy nobles.

She was in the process of trading her armored bikini for a bathing alternative. It felt strange but also kind of nice to shed the few pieces of armor she actually did wear, but wherever this place was seemed peaceful enough. It would be hard to get a cute tan with her arms and legs covered anyway.

She stood with her back to the door as she began to tie the strings of the bathing suit behind her back when the door opened. Hostility was easily her first reaction and she snapped at whoever the intruder was. “Hey what the fu–” After looking over her shoulder and realizing just who it was, Charlotte’s demeanor quickly softened and she flashed a grin at him.

Red faced and embarassed, Hector fled the scene but Charlotte ran after him, hands still trying to tie her top on behind her back. “Wait! Milord! Don’t go!” she cried out. “We could go down to the beach together! We could pack a picnic!”

Oh, she was mad, she was so mad-- bloody hells, what was it with all the different ways he managed to attract the fury of the ladies in particular? And here he’d thought Charlotte a dainty creature, but that grin of hers, the way she’d schooled her expression so fast... it promised little of anything good on the horizon.

Ordinarily, Hector might have been inclined to stand his ground. He wasn’t one to cower. ...There wasn’t much ground to stand on in this case, though. Stick around and risk being labelled a peeping tom... or vamoose and hope for the best... the second option sounded the wiser.

Except, contrary to all of his expectations, Charlotte was calling for him to come back.

He might have been tempted not to heed her words, were it not for her parting siren call: the promise of a meal. Padding to a stop, Hector glanced back... for all the space of half a second that was, a light burn immediately returning to his cheeks as she ran down the hall after him - the one hand behind her back the only thing currently preventing a, er... wardrobe malfunction. . .

“A... picnic,” he repeated, slowly. “That, uh... That sounds nice. Yeah. Why not?”

Then, without thinking. “Do you need help with that?”

It’d been a little while, yes, but that didn’t make him any less enthused to see his friend anew. Meeting Mitama with a bright smile, he laughed. “You’re playing? I thought about it, but...” He waved his hand. He glanced down at the boxes he’d been carrying down the beach. He had other plans.

He pauses a moment, thinking, thinking... he was quick, but nowhere near as quick as her, she who’s devoted herself to this particular craft.

“Clever boy wonders / if clever girl loses touch / imagery, lacking.”

Matthew smirked back, hand on his own hip, brows lifted with amusement.

“Kinda, yeah, actually,” he stated with a shrug.

Was he joking? Was he not? Few were those who could tell.

“But now that you’re here... you will help me look out for m’lord, won’t you?”

[from here @flowerofgoneril ]

Hilda’s eyes sparkle as she watches the fiery butterflies floating and fluttering around her. “Oh, Ewan!” she says breathlessly, taking in the beauty of the moment. “They’re so cute!” She’s rarely seen magic used in such a beautiful, purely aesthetic way and it almost makes her consider paying a little more attention during magic focused lessons.

As the butterflies fizzle out she turns her attention back toward Ewan with blushed cheeks and a soft smile across her lips. It must be the light flickering off the fire, but there’s just something different about him. Something that makes her feel as though his magical butterflies found their way to her stomach.

Oh goddess, is this happening? Is she about to experience the fabled Teen Beach Summer Romance? It’s something she’s heard Holst and Baltie talk about before and something she’s read about in the kind of novels Seteth would immediately purge from the library. Could she be about to experience that right of passage for young adults?

Hilda takes a step closer to Ewan and reaches for his hand. “I think I’d like that.”

He’s glad the magic is well received - he’s proud of the control he’s managed to achieve over the course of his studies, and to see someone marvel so at one of his creations... to see Hilda - beautiful, charming Hilda - of all people, approve.

Ewan’s own stomach is half in knots. He tries to sit tall, reminds himself internally not to fidget, and in the midst of his whirlwind thoughts, he remembers to keep an easy smile. The bonfire’s light flickers, but though he feels warmth in his chest, he doesn’t credit its flames.

She reaches for his hand, and honestly he can’t really believe it - but maybe this whole thing, this whole place really is a dream, after all, and if it is...

His hand entwines with hers. Crimson eyes meet pink, and then flick just slightly down... then back.

The pitter patter of feet... He doesn’t have to lift his head from where he’s sunning to know. He just feels it in his gut. Here comes trouble.

Half-lidded, judging eyes watch as Sharena skids to a stop before him. It seems she has forgotten what she had put him through already...

But. He hasn’t.

[from here @fenrena ]

Jaw drops, and her eyes widen. “S-sorceress? I only know basic spells!” Really basic. But, she’s getting better each day and with practice. Soon, she’ll be able to use a weapon and spells.

Sharena drops to the ground, crawling the short distance until she is next to him, where she tries and looks at him. “C'mon, Hector, please? Pretty please?” Expression turns a bit pitiful, mossy eyes wide and a pout on her lips. “I didn’t mean for it to go that far. I mixed too many serrano seeds with the sprinkles.”

Suddenly, the princess is sitting on her knees. “I know! How about I make it up to you?” Signature is forgotten as her hand goes to her chin, and she thinks, a nail tracing the underside of her lips.

“Let’s see… I could make a dish for you. Or I can teach you how to climb walls or surf. Maybe we could spar? I’m a great sparring partner…” There’s a pause before she presses herself against sand—its warm against her stomach—and looks at Hector. She’s quite serious despite the excited energy radiating off her.

“Hector, I really am sorry. Let me make it up to you.” A wide grin appears on her face. “Who knows! We might have a blast!”

On top of reminding him of that terrible experience, she’s in his sun now, too. With a grumble, he shifts and tries to get comfy again. Just as quick, though, the shade disappears, replaced by... the sounds of something shuffling in the sand. Cracking an eye open, he frowns.

What is she doing?

When he sees the look plastered on her face, he knows at once he’s in trouble.

The witch is at it again, his mind whispers. If he doesn’t take care, he’ll wind up in her thrall anew, and he doesn’t much care to try his hand at whatever wicked new concoction she’s come up with this time. Seeing as how she doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to leave, though...

Propping himself up on an elbow, fist squished into his cheek, he watches as Sharena goes about apologizing. Pensiveness suits her better than it does him. He leaves her to her thoughts,

until he can’t really take anymore of it. With a growl and a glower, he roughly pushes himself up. Sitting up, hands behind him holding up up, he shakes his head.

“Look, I don’t... need any of that stuff... though I’m not one to say no to a spar...” This last bit had been a bit quieter, albeit still audible. In any case, he sure in blazes didn’t plan on eating anything of hers anytime soon. “If you want a signature, just promise you won’t hit me with serrano again, or whatever that was.” He waves it off. No long term harm done, at any rate. . .

Then, a thought.

The view had been more than worth the climb.

And alongside the beauty of the sight before them, it called too to mind old memories... one of those days he’d spent traveling Magvel with his teacher, Saleh. The great sage had been off doing something or other, and his pupil had been left to his own devices, for better or worse.

Ewan had climbed a similar tree, on such an occasion, though it had been more of a coniferous variety if memory served... And as Pent made his request, Ewan smiled at the sky, squinting against the sunlight. Right... Right... He’d fallen off of that one, hadn’t he? Luckily, a wandering cleric had been nearby at the time, and he’d also had the fortune of falling into a big ol’ bush, but...

Somehow, he doubted Pent would be quite so comfy to land on. Like, the guy wasn’t jacked or anything, but he didn’t look particularly cushy, either - just a fellow spindly mage, in the end.

“No promises,” he said with a chortle, though he fully did not intend on falling again if he could help it. “But if you hear a yell, you better WAaaATCH OoOOUt BELoooOOwWW!”

But nothing happened. Ewan picked himself another foothold, carefully.

To the ends of the world...

Ewan had always envisioned traveling a great deal when he got older. There was so much to see, to learn, to witness and behold... It seemed only natural to want to see how far this strange new place itself might extend.

And for once, for a blessing, his current partner in exploration would find Ewan curiously quiet. Part of it was due the occasional pause in order to soak in their surroundings and marvel at the wonders this Voice had seemingly conjured up for them. Part of it was his focus on trying to Remember.

It was a bit humid in this part of the area, but not dreadfully so. Most of this place seemed made to cater, he’d noticed, and that in itself was an oddity he’d not have minded explained. If he had the power to pull off this kind of stunt, he was sure he could think of some better use for it, but...

Better not to look a gift horse in the mouth, one supposed.

And besides, in the midst of all them thoughts rattling about in his noggin, there was one memory he held on to tightly.

“Hey, Felix...?”

The mage fidgeted with something in his pocket. “I found this back in... Before here.” Where... Why couldn’t he remember...? “I don’t remember what’s it’s called, but I remember thinking you might like it. Anyway, uh, thanks for letting me come out here with ya... I’m not sure what we’ll find, if anything, but, even so...”

He held the cube up and offered it over. It had lost its glow, but its colour, at the least, remained.