(open) ☀️ beach bonfire party

[niwabi]

WHO: Everyone! You and you and yes, YOU!
WHAT: Summer Beach Party
WHEN: June 23rd
WHERE: Solarpeak Beach
WARNINGS: none for now!

BEACH PARTY

The sun is shining, a cool, crisp ocean breeze flutters across the shores of Solarpeak Beach. There's not a single cloud in the sky, the perfect day to have a party! Whether you heard about it through Yoimiya's network post, word of mouth or just happen to stumble onto the festivities, everyone is invited to Ellipsa's scorching hot Beach Bonfire Party! Grab your swimsuits, sun dresses, or whatever you feel the most comfortable in, and join in on the fun.

➤

Gonna Soak Up the Sun

Through the combined efforts of Sisu, Yoimiya, and the many kind volunteers who lent their assistance in setting up the venue, the beach party is here and open to the public! Upon arrival, everyone will be given a choice of colorful, handmade hibiscus leis or bracelets to adorn for the party. They aren't mandatory in the slightest, just a cute little thank-you gift to those who are attending. After receiving a warm welcome from the hosts, you're free to set off and have fun! Meet up with friends or introduce yourself to new people from distant worlds, the party is your oyster. Of course, there will be plenty of other activities to partake in as well. Venture forth to the fun!

Feeling brave and daring? Sitting on top of the ocean is an inflatable balance beam built especially for water jousting. Foam joust poles and life jackets (if you wish to wear one!) will be given to would-be challengers looking to scratch the itch for a fight. The goal is to assert your dominance by knocking adversaries into the water and be the last person standing. Show off your strength and become the champion of the beach!

Perhaps you might be in the mood for a bit of fun in the sand. A large area of the beach is sectioned off for the grand Sandcastle Competition. Solarpeak residents from all across the city are bustling with excitement, flocking in to watch the artists do their magic, so go wild with your creations and give them a good show! Buildings, any kind of sculpture, or even just a basic castle are all accepted, let your imagination run free. You can even drag a buddy in for a helping hand if your work of art requires assistance. For the winner, the grand prize is a summer gift basket filled with goodies for a nice relaxing spa day at home. Tucked away inside the basket are gift cards to various restaurants in Ellipsa. Don't fret if you aren't interested in participating! Anyone is welcome to walk around and marvel at the competitor's creations.

➤

A Feast for All

The hosts are bound and determined to ensure that no one leaves this beach hungry. If you're craving a cold tasty treat to stave off the heat, a bustling shaved ice stall is here to cool down roasting attendees. An endless variety of flavors are available for mixing and matching, waiting to quench your thirst. If you are feeling adventurous, there are a few questionable flavors on the menu such as Bacon, Durian, Jalapeño, Ketchup, Mushroom, Pickle juice and Seaweed. Try them at your risk or if your palette is "hungry" for something more on the "unique" side.

For those who made inquiries about alcohol, special arrangements have been made! A small pop-up bar has been set up for today's joyous occasion. The bar's pride and joy is a variety of summer-themed cocktails but you can also find other basic liquor or non-alcoholic drinks if your tastebuds are craving simplicity. To go alongside the refreshing beverages, food is also provided at this small establishment. Some of the dishes on the menu are: kebabs with a hint of rum, peach bruschetta, spring rolls, fish and chips, crab hush puppies, and a spicy jalapeño popper dip (you can also ask for the ghost pepper version of this dip if you are feeling brave). All the hosts ask is that visitors to the bar be mindful of the people who can't or aren't interested in drinking.

Decorated across the shores of the beach are tables, picnic blankets, and sizzling hot grills for the designated picnic area. In a similar fashion to the potluck that took place a while back, several tables have been set up for those who like to go crazy in the kitchen or wish to advertise their food business by bringing samples to share.

Time flies when so much fun is taking place! As the last light of day begins to fade, the stars come out to brighten up the night sky on this clear summer day. However, just because there's no more sunlight, doesn't mean the party is over. Far from it! There's still lots of excitement to be had for the attendees who wish to stick around for the night festivities.

➤

A Midsummer Night's Glow

On the middle of the beach, a blazing bonfire burns ever so brightly inside a log fire pit. Eat snacks, catch up with friends, meet new people, or get cozy with others should one be feeling touch starved. In need of an icebreaker? A game of truth or dare or telling scary stories makes for a good way to pass the time. Maybe you'll have a fateful encounter and land yourself a date before the night is over.

With a sky full of beautiful stars, a bustling bonfire, and a large open space, the atmosphere is perfect for dancing. The DJ for the evening is the bright and energetic Aimoto Rinku, here to bust out an array of sick beats with her turntable. There's plenty of fun to be had in a group conga line or grab a partner for a slow, romantic bolero, and dance to whatever music piques your interest. A small makeshift stage is also set up for those who wish to sing, Rinku will be more than happy to work with any potential performers. From upbeat EDM to ballads, all types of genres fill the air with music. Let loose, enjoy the melody, and dance the night away!

➤

Festive Mementos

For one of the hosts, summer just isn't the same without fireworks exploding across the sky. To end the evening with a bang, a beautiful barrage of fireworks paints the night sky in various colors and patterns. As a final gift to the attendees, Yoimiya has prepared sparklers for everyone to play with. There are a variety of colors to choose from, pink, red, blue, green, orange, purple, yellow, etc. No matter what color catches your fancy, with a little flick of the wand, all of them appear like twinkling stars sparkling and flickering across the stick.

To end off the light show, fireworks representing each of the seasons burst into the sky. Blue snowflakes for Winter, pink cherry blossoms for spring, a yellow sun for Summer, and red maple leaves for Autumn. After the vibrant display, a final golden ray of light flickers and explodes into a bright, heartwarming message for all of the guests. "Thank you for attending! You are all amazing! Let's have a great time in Ellipsa!"

(OOC: Make your own top levels, mingle and have fun! ♡)

code

Comments

[phoenixblessed]

[He looks as well, because there has to be some kind of challenge to this, right? But, no, there's nothing, and he's not about to be outdone by a Harbinger.

So, here goes nothing. He only sees the look on Childe's face a moment after tasting the stuff himself and his own expression immediately mirrors the other man's confusion. He lowers the bowl and lifts his head, brow furrowing as he mentally examines the taste.]

What the--

[How?

It smells close to raw sewage and Diluc had been fully braced to have to resist immediately throwing up. What he gets instead is a taste he can't quite identify. Sweet and faintly bitter in a way that isn't unpleasant.]

... I don't hate it.

[What's going on???]

[monoceroscaeli]

[He feels the way Diluc looks. Childe takes another scoop of his shaved ice and shoves it right in his mouth, making sure not to breathe while doing so. It's sweet, of all flavors in the entire world. He can't believe that something could smell so terrible taste so good.]

I've heard the saying don't judge a book by its cover, but I think this is taking it a little too far. This is delectable.

[But at least his money isn't wasted and it's actually edible. He was also expecting to have to fight the urge to wretch it all up.]

...Huh. Want to give another flavor a go?

[There's chaos brewing in his eyes, Diluc.]

[phoenixblessed]

[As long as he tries to not pair the smell with the taste this is more than tolerable, and though he doesn't go at it with quite as much enthusiasm as Childe does he finishes most of it before it's more of a drink than shaved ice.

His attention is only half on the other man when he speaks again and Diluc immediately looks over at him, ready to inform him in no uncertain words that he should not consider them on good terms in any respect just because Diluc didn't try to kill him. He aborts the urge when he sees that look in Childe's eyes.]

I don't know about you, but I already know what pickle juice tastes like.

[Though, he does have another look at the questionable list.]

... Fine. But let's make it interesting. I'll get one and you get another, but we won't say what we got until after we try both.

[monoceroscaeli]

[If his eyes could shine, they would right now. Diluc's come up with a much better idea than what he had in mind, so he immediately abandons that to quickly agree with his companion.]

Deal. But don't worry, I wasn't going to make you eat pickle juice. I really don't think it's all that bad, to be honest...

[But he turns to the menu himself and looks it over, finding one that looks somewhat familiar and yet he still doesn't know what it is. Tartaglia taps his chin a few times, deciding on this particular flavor, and wondering if he still needs to steel himself and his stomach for whatever comes next.]

Shall we order for each other? And then be made to taste what we've just forced the other to eat? Or would you rather know what you're handing the other person before they eat it?

[Either way, he orders his shaved ice, making sure he's quiet about placing the order. When it's handed to him, it looks unassuming and safe, however it's anything but.]

[phoenixblessed]

[It's a bit strange to not be being outwardly hostile towards the other man all things considered, much less to be raising a competition of sorts with him... and they're probably both going to end up in a state after this... but why not.

Why not, indeed?

Childe's right to be wary. Diluc isn't going to go easy on him but he is expecting exactly the same from Childe.

At first he only shoots the Snezhnayan a wry smile and he steps close to the stall, making his own order and waiting for it to be handed to him. Much like the one he's about to swap it with it looks perfectly unassuming and safe.]

Let's swap what we have here. I'm sure you chose with a reaction in mind and we may not want any more after this.

[And he does smile a little at that... because as much as he believes that of Childe he certainly did the same.]

Don't worry, it shouldn't kill you.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Childe looks down at the shaved ice in Diluc's hand and he wonders what terrible flavor he's chosen for him to eat. His gut tells him that the other man probably didn't tamper with it in the second he might of had to poison it or something to that effect- Diluc comes off as the kind of guy to him who'd rather put his sword through him instead if he were going to try to kill him, which Childe appreciates!- so he's not worried about being too trusting here.]

I've got a pretty strong stomach, you know.

[He is prepared to feel like he might throw up, though. He hands Diluc the shaved ice he's ordered, and Childe hasn't done anything to it, it's just a terrible flavor.

The flavor, once Diluc tries it, is a salty fermented fish flavor, and it's gross. Similar to durian in that it smells bad, different that the smell is indicative of the taste. But Tartaglia just smiles as he hands it over, and prepares himself to try something just as gross.]

I hope you can handle what I've picked for you. It too, shouldn't kill you, but it will certainly put you to the test, haha.

[phoenixblessed]

[Childe's right about that, at least. Diluc isn't the kind of person to resort to poisoning someone when he could fight them fair and square and regardless of what he might think of Childe that isn't something he's going to do.

But he should have known that it would be something like this. He swaps his own pick with the other man's and is immediately hit by the smell, knowing without tasting it that this is not going to be a case of something tasting better than it smells. The man closes his eyes briefly, taking a breath an exhaling it slowly.]

... I'm sure I can handle it.

[When it comes to his own choice for Tartaglia the smell is far more deceptive. Slightly spicy and pungent, but nothing that seems too concerning... until it's tasted. Once it is, it will release a powerful, stinging burn to fill every available space in the young Harbinger's head.

Just how they got the heat and spice of a stunningly powerful kind of horseradish into shaved ice is anyone's guess. He braces himself for his own trial, already mostly aware of what he's in for.]

[monoceroscaeli]

[The Harbinger only smirks, and without hesitation, takes a scoop of the shaved ice up to his nose. Smelling it, it definitely has a kick to it, giving him an idea of what he's about to eat. Smells spicy to him, and he's thankful that he's come to enjoy spice especially from some of the Liyuean dishes he got to partake of from Xiangling and Chef Mao, and some of the spice that Inazuman cuisine. So it goes right in his mouth, tasting the horseradish (western wasabi?) on his tongue, immediately identifying exactly what it is.

There's not much too it, that's how he can tell, and he's pretty sure he's had it before, just with other food. Childe feels his sinuses instantly clear and he coughs a little on the shaved ice, the spice seeming to get even worse if he breathes through his mouth. It burns, it burns so much, and he has to set his cup down on one of the nearby tables as his eyes begin to water. He knows as well as anyone else that you should never eat that in large quantities and it should be just a small accent to your food, but he took a whole bite of it and is suffering for it.]

Ah...you villain, giving me something this spicy-! Oh, it burns the tongue so well, in fact my whole mouth is on fire...

[A mistake made, because now he's breathing through his mouth again and the oxygen alone increases the pain. He needs a moment, he can't do anything right now until his mouth finally calms itself.]

[phoenixblessed]

[Naturally he knows what's going to happen to the other man as soon as he sees the size of the scoop he puts in his mouth, but Diluc has his own problems to contend with. He's a man of honour, of course, so he doesn't just let Childe have his and then put his own aside. No, he's already bracing himself with a spoonful of the stuff as the Harbinger has his own and his reaction is... somewhat different.

The first challenge is actually swallowing it. It's as if his entire body rejects the concept and he has to force the muscles of his throat to move. Getting the ice off his tongue does absolutely nothing for the taste, which immediately settles in the back of his nose as a pungent, overpowering flavour (if one could even call something like this a flavour) that makes his eyes tear up.]

Gods--

[He manages to mutter the word, putting the cup to one side and sinking into a low crouch as his stomach turns and he feels an uncomfortable heat prickling across the back of his neck.

Deep breaths. Deep breaths, or he's going to throw up.]

Make-- ngh. Make yourself useful and get us some water. Please.

[Just don't ask him to stand up. If he stands up he's going to vomit.]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Through all the coughing he's been doing, and through how watery his eyes are, he still gets to watch Diluc eat the shaved ice he'd given him, much to his delight. He knew it was going to be bad. Such a delicacy was imported into Snezhnaya, and quite frankly he's not a fan of it himself, but the fact that they had it here was incredible and he couldn't pass it up. He chuckles to himself through fits of coughing from the burning sensation that's lit up his entire mouth, nodding in obedience to Diluc's request. He's not sure if water is going to help him, but it might help Diluc.

Either way, it doesn't hurt to try.]

Alri - cough cough - alright. I'll be right back...

[He quickly makes his way over to the stall that's serving alcohol, luckily scoring a few glasses of water for the both of them as he suffers in agony. One cup gets handed to Diluc, the other he throws back for himself.

Of course, it does nothing to soothe the burning, but at least his mouth is cold and hot at the same time.]

Ah...it doesn't help at all. Hahaha, are you alright down there...?

[Tartaglia asks through another coughing fit, hoping, praying to the Tsaritsa that his mouth calms down soon.]

[phoenixblessed]

[He doesn't speak at first, he just takes the water and drops back off his heels to just sit on the sand as he gulps down the entire glass in one breath. It... mostly helps. A little. The memory of the taste is almost as potent as the actual event and he has to press the back of his hand to his mouth and concentrate for a few moments before he waves that same hand in Childe's direction.]

I'm fine.

[Not dead. They both at least kept that particular promise.]

Gods be good. [He still feels weird. Like he's sweating without actually sweating, and it looks like he has no intention of standing up yet.] I think we can safely call that a draw.

[monoceroscaeli]

Goodness gracious...

[As Diluc is gulping down his water, Tartaglia is throwing both his hands behind his head as he walks around in a circle. Everything burns and there isn't a thing he can do about it other than wait. He can't argue with this one- they're both suffering, and this is definitely a draw.]

Ahaha...usually I'm not one to give up a challenge so easily, but perhaps we should quit while we're ahead on this one...

[He can only imagine what condition they'll both be in if they do this again. He, of course, still wouldn't go easy on Diluc and he'd expect the same back. But he does want to enjoy the rest of his night too.]

[phoenixblessed]

I'm inclined to agree.

[As much as he never thought to find himself agreeing with a Fatui Harbinger, it seems to be happening more often lately than he ever would have expected. A minute or so more on the floor and he finally gathers himself up enough to stand. Never again. He's going to be retching at the smell of fish for weeks.]

I should have known we'd both go all-out on the first round.

[But there is some satisfaction in knowing his opponent is suffering just as much as he is, if in a different way.]

Dairy should help you. Or bread, dry crackers, that kind of thing.

[monoceroscaeli]

Thanks. I'll seek some out shortly.

[He remembers now back in Inazuma they had something that reminds him of the burning he feels now, except you could control how much of it you had and the sushi easily helped to counteract it along with the soy sauce. He idly wonders if anyone is that crazy there to eat it the way he just did...

But regardless, he shoots Diluc an apologetic look.]

I'm afraid I don't have any good remedy for that one, however. As you can imagine, it's an acquired taste, and perhaps the best thing to do is just simply eat something else to rid the taste from your mouth. But I must say, I have to commend you for keeping your lunch down here. That's considered disgusting no matter where you're from, haha.

[Sorry Diluc but he's at least impressed with you!]

[phoenixblessed]

Having a weak stomach is something I've never been accused of.

[But gods it was certainly a challenge, and one he's still struggling with as the taste continues to linger. Diluc rubs the back of his wrist against his forehead, scrubbing away the faintly clammy sensation there, and then straightens his shoulders and finally regains some sense over himself.

He gives himself a small shake then coughs to clear his throat.]

Though I expect it helped that I haven't had lunch yet.

[Diluc does realise, in the back of his mind, that he's very much acting his age right now. It's something he doesn't get to do very often - so little that he barely marks it - but isn't this kind of stupid thing exactly what two men in their early twenties would do to each other?

They're behaving ridiculously, and he can't bring himself to mind too much about a little harmless pranking.]

I may have to see to that, if only to get rid of this awful taste.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Oh, the perfect opportunity has just presented itself. He wonders if the persona non grata of Snezhnaya will dare to be around him longer than he already has to. Time to test the waters.]

Then why don't we make our way over and get something? No need to prolong either of our suffering, wouldn't you say?

[Is Tartaglia plotting something? Yes. He absolutely is.]

The food that was set up for this outing is delectable...unlike what we just ate. Care to join me?

[Do it Diluc do it do it do it]

[phoenixblessed]

Join you?

[Diluc gives him a look.]

I've tolerated you so far but don't make the mistake of thinking that makes us friends.

[Since what's going on around them is a good-natured party and Diluc doesn't want to ruin that by starting a fight with someone, he's already gone far and beyond what he would have expected out of an interaction with this man... but joining him for an actual meal strikes as just a step too far.]

Since we're done with this competition of ours, you can go your way and I'll go mine. I can be civil to you when I see you, but we're never going to be anything more than that.

[monoceroscaeli]

[He throws his hands up, smiling. There's that hostility he expected, but it doesn't seem as harsh now. Not like at the bridge, so he'll take that as a win.]

Alright, alright, I just thought I'd offer. No need to jump down my throat, now.

[Persistence and patience will win in the end, and he knows it- he'll take this as a personal challenge now that Diluc has said that. After all, how will he get the spar he wants if he doesn't?]

Thanks for doing this little competition with me, anyway. I enjoyed it- it's really not often I'm able to do small things like that. Even rarer still to be able to do it with someone else.

[Sometimes, that Harbinger lyfe is lonely.]