(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! ♡)

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[wingbound]

⛱
[ Levi had no intention of coming to a party of all places, but, well. Once he found out that Hange was going, and that there would be a large water body possibly filled with creatures, he figured he should be around, just in case he needs to stop them from doing anything... stupid. ]

[ He's... not dressed for the occasion at all, minus the lei that's been forced on him upon entry. In fact, he's still in his uniform -- pants and knee-high boots included, as well as a button-up shirt and a cravat. Don't question it. He also has his trusty knee brace on, as well. At least he seems to have undone a button or two on his shirt and his sleeves are rolled up, which is as much concessions as he's willing to make. ]

🍹
[ Later on, he might also sport a pair of shades procured from... somewhere (probably won through some very one-sided water jousting as he simply could not afford to be knocked down into icky beach water, and then doused in disinfectant), as he sits in a lounge chair under an umbrella with a cold drink in hand that he sips from occasionally. It's got a colourful straw and a tiny umbrella in it, which is perhaps surprising to see on someone so gloomy and serious. ]

[ He... seems to be having a reasonably good time? ]

[ At some point, he'll also be eyeing the peach bruschetta, because the peach arc is still growing strong and he's quite fond of both peach tea and the actual peach he's tried so far. Perhaps he just needs a little encouragement to go grab it?.. ]

🔥
[ While he doesn't necessarily join those huddling next to the fire, he does move somewhat closer as it gets darker. ]

[ It's a nostalgic feeling; people sitting around a fire outside, talking and laughing. He's not really listening, though; perhaps he's thinking of a similar occasion in a different time, judging from the way his expression turns distant the longer he stares into the flames. ]

💥 (( cw: ptsd ))
[ The fireworks, however, turn out to be less of a good time. He may not have been present for the height of artillery bombardment back home, but he sure did get a thunderspear exploding in his face. ]

[ He hears it before he even sees it, and by the time he's even registered that he heard anything, he's already acted; the nearest table had been turned over like a barricade, whatever had been on it scattering to the ground, and he's crouched behind it, having put that improvised shield between himself and the source of the explosion. ]

[ It's only then that he realizes nothing else is actually happening, and any looks of surprise or concern will just be met with a glare as he slowly straightens up and dusts the sand off his pants. ]

🍹

[hometown]

[ "Heads up!!"

So shouts an unfamiliar voice as a wayward volleyball careens toward the umbrella under which Levi is lounging, its trajectory making contact appear imminent.

At least, it appears imminent until a swimsuit-clad Reiner—passing by on his way back to the water—lunges forward and blocks the ball, snatching it out of the air with a slight spray of sand around his bare feet. It's a good catch, but he doesn't celebrate, just tsking before calling out, ]

Hey! Be careful!

[ Then he throws the ball back with a little more force than necessary, aiming for the idiot who nearly hit the poor person lounging beneath their umbrella.

Only then does Reiner turn to see who it is he just saved, asking as he does so, ]

You oka— oh.

[ Well. Shit. ]

[wingbound]

[ Wow, look at that, his hero -- ]

[ Except, you know, not. ]

[ Levi was probably not in actual danger. He noticed that ball coming, ready to throw out an arm or a leg to stop it before it becomes a problem, or just let it bounce off the umbrella with whatever damage, but this good samaritan beats him to it. ]

[ While spraying a wide arch of sand behind himself as he kicks that ball out of the way. ]

[ For a moment, Levi just sits there, staring at Reiner, then at the state of his clothes (it's barely anything, probably just a few specs of dust but of course to him that's unacceptable). Worse yet, the sprinkling of sand definitely went over his hands, too, and by extension, the drink he was holding. ]

[ He sits up, terrifyingly slowly, and beckons the teen closer, holding the soiled drink out toward him. ]

Oi. Take this.

[hometown]

[ Unfortunately, Reiner has absolutely no idea how much sand he kicked up, so he can't begin to guess the issue. He only sees Captain Levi, hailed as humanity's strongest soldier, giving him a look straight out of hell. Beckoning him closer for some unknown reason.

Reiner instinctively backs away a step, his body tensing, expression shifting from surprised to extremely wary. He vividly remembers what happened the last time Levi got close to him, and he has no interest in a repeat performance. Nor does he have any reason to believe Levi won't try to kill or at least hurt him; after all, he's yet to hear back from Hange about the pact.

So he backs away, only then asking, ]

Why?

[wingbound]

To free up my hands.

[ For what, exactly??? He's still holding the coconut out, too. Maybe wiggling it a little. Go on, take it, don't test his patience. ]

You look like you're about to shit yourself.

[ He adds, helpfully, still staring him down, apparently oblivious to the fact that it's definitely not helping the issue. ]

[hometown]

[ Although Reiner says nothing, the look he shoots Levi is loud and clear: "Yeah, no duh."

Even if Reiner hadn't come perilously close to death at Levi's blades, he'd still be afraid of Levi. He'd have to be an utter moron to not be afraid of Levi. That's what Zeke fails to grasp, no matter how urgently Reiner and Bertolt word their warnings. Levi is a damn force of nature. The only place Reiner is safe from Levi is in his Armor, knowing that blades are useless as long as he doesn't weaken his joints. However, even as a Titan, Levi would be a difficult opponent (to put it mildly).

But … Reiner is trying, isn't he? He's trying to establish a nonaggression pact. He's trying not to lash out at perceived threats. He's trying with Hange; he's trying with Mikasa; he's even trying with Eren, complicated as that has become. He can try with Levi, too, can't he?

For Gabi's sake, Reiner can try.

Slowly, Reiner approaches again—still tense, still wary—and leans down to take the coconut. ]

🍑

[dreamsofwings]

[ Eren doesn't bother encouraging Levi to get food on his own. That seems like an exercise in futility. Instead, he does the same thing he does at home. He just…shows up with food.

(Where did the captain even get sunglasses from? He looks almost like he's relaxing? Is that alcohol? Eren has so many questions he isn't asking right now???)

Eren only has his pants still on, and both those and his hair are wet. He's probably annoyingly sandy to someone like Levi, but he knows Levi well. He's careful with the plates. There is absolutely not sand on the little paper plate holding a peach bruschetta that he wordlessly holds out to Levi as he looms over him. It's not his fault he got this tall, whoops. ]

🍑

[wingbound]

[ (It's most likely not alcohol, at least. Levi just doesn't bother with it, because it never did anything for him, so why pay extra for nothing? Assuming everything is free here, though, he may not have gone out of his way to demand it be made any particular way, so who can really tell?) ]

[ It's been working well enough at home. He just leaves it around or in the fridge, and Levi can get it later and pretend there isn't a large portion of care attached to it. They're on better terms now than they were during the first few weeks, but in this case it's less about it being Eren and more about Levi still being uncomfortable with being taken care of in any capacity, even when it's perfectly reasonable amount. Hell, he still gets caught offguard when it's Hange; it being Eren (or Gabi, or even Jean) just makes it all the more awkward, because shouldn't it be him looking out for them at all times instead? ]

[ But here they are, without room for that plausible deniability. Levi glares at Eren for being outrageously tall enough to obscure his sun (that he's hidden from under a double whammy of umbrella and sunglasses anyway), then stares down the plate offered to him, clearly looking for some speck of sand or something he could cavil at and turn it down, he even pushes it up slightly to check the underside of the plate, but it is, surprisingly enough, perfectly acceptable. ]

[ After another moment of awkward silence, he takes it. ]

...Have you tried it?

[ He's trying to avoid outright asking what is it, because he recognizes the peach, but the whole combination is definitely new. ]

[dreamsofwings]

[ Eren stands there watching Levi inspect the plate. Somehow the captain manages to glare at him even with sunglasses on. Typical, really, though Eren is past the point where Levi glaring at him makes him nervous or tense. He's not exactly relaxed, but he's not afraid of Levi like he was when he was younger, even if sometimes he should be.

Today isn't one of those times either way, though. He hasn't done anything today other than dare to grow tall. And bring food, which…well, everything is fraught, isn't it? He can't shake off the things he has done and he can't shake off the things he will do, if only because Levi has lived through them. All he can do is the same thing he's done: move forward.

Today that means bringing some weird food directly to the captain. At least it's not that spicy pepper dip!

It passes inspection, at least. Eren has his own plate of the bruschetta (which he cannot imagine how to pronounce correctly) and he looks down at it. ]

Not yet. I thought we'd try it together. It's…brusk something.

[ Swing and a miss, but he tried. ]

It has peaches and tomatoes and some kind of cheese spread on it.

[ There are obviously more ingredients than that, but whatever. ]

Seemed like it was worth trying.

[ What he doesn't say, wouldn't say: I thought you would like to try it. ]

[wingbound]

[ Growing tall may not be the worst of Eren's atrocities, but it's definitely a close second. ]

[ Levi isn't actually angry with him though, at least not at the moment. Quite the opposite. He just... doesn't know what to say, as usual. (How about starting with a simple "thanks", Captain?) But he... appreciates the weird peach sandwich? ]

I see.

[ This is what they called a "shared experience" or something, right? Do they call it that? Who knows with kids these days. But Eren wants to eat together and that's alright, really, sure, they can do that. He's earned tea privileges already after all and this seems like the logical next step. ]

Fine.

[ He gestures at the free chair next to his. His stare doesn't really get any less intimidating, but at least he seems to be up for this adventure in peach bonding or whatever. ]

[ He does actually wait for Eren to settle in, too, pushing his sunglasses up so he can inspect the peach sandwich better in the meantime. It definitely looks odd, but it smells nice enough. He's actually... kind of looking forward to it? ]

[dreamsofwings]

[ Eren might not have brought something like this in public if not for the tea thing; knowing where he stands with other people isn't his strong point anyway and Levi is hard to read, even having been in his head. They aren't friends, exactly, right? On some level Eren still thinks of Levi as a superior, though they aren't in the military anymore and Eren left that behind anyway.

Well, whatever. This is at least an attempt at…something. Connection. Friendship. Camaraderie. Just trying new food. A secret fifth thing.

He accepts the offered chair, careful not to get sand everywhere or something. He's still wet, obviously, but he's not all up in Levi's personal space enough for that to be a big deal. They can just try the "brusk-whatever" and Eren will try to pretend there's no way that Levi saw him lose to Reiner at that stupid game.

Normal people things, right?

He glances at Levi, but there's not really a need to wait. Besides, if it's awful, better he tries it first. He'll feel bad if it's awful.

So he picks up the bruschetta and takes a decent size bite, chewing thoughtfully. Actually, it's…not shitty. It's a mix of flavours and textures he's not expecting, the saltiness from the cheese with the sweet fruit and the sort of sourness of the tomato. ]

This is pretty good...

[ He might be talking with his mouth full, whoops. ]

💥

[mistsplitter]

[ Yoimiya's fireworks are always a marvel, and there is never a time that Ayaka finds herself tired of watching them. As the fireworks go up now, popping and colouring the sky with neon flowers, Ayaka's attention goes to the ruckus she hears.

Goodness! There are stuff on the floor, and the table's been turned over. There doesn't seem to be any threats nearby, but Ayaka rushes to see if anyone got hurt, anyway. But the one who caused it seems to realise that there aren't any threats, getting up and showing himself from behind the table.

Ayaka approaches with caution, despite the glare she's being given. ]

You are not hurt, are you?

[wingbound]

[ Unfortunately, Levi isn't too good about concern being showed for him. Especially in a situation like this, where he feels foolish for freaking out, so the glare continues until the girl speaks. ]

[ Well. He sure as fuck just worried passers-by, hasn't he? ]

...no. [ He makes an irritated motion toward the fireworks, as if it's Ayaka's fault somehow and she should explain herself. ] Why the hell are those lights so loud?

[mistsplitter]

[ Please don't glare at her like that, little man... It makes her feel like she did something very wrong. :( ]

A- Ah, that's... good to hear. [ She bows her head slightly, averting eye contact. ] That's what they are meant to do, the fireworks.

Colourful fiery explosions in the sky... They dispel evil spirits, and are beautiful to look at.

[wingbound]

[ Better don't call him "little" to his face-- ]

[ And clearly she did something very wrong by perceiving him in an embarrassing moment! ]

Sound just like any regular explosions to me.

[ Does it really do all that?.. ]

[ But maybe that's the only kind of an explosion these people know. Maybe they're able to celebrate it because they never had one go off in their face and rip off their fingers, never had airships dropping bombs over their cities. That would be a good thing, right? That places so peaceful actually exist. ]

[mistsplitter]

The sounds are not any different from ones used in the military, though the purpose is different.

[ These ones aren't used to signal their allies, for one.

Though she thinks she understands now. He wasn't hurt, he was scared. Of course, it's just a guess, and it would be very rude of her to straight up and ask. So she'll try and explain a little bit, for Yoimiya's sake. ]

Yoimiya makes fireworks for a living, and we work together back home during festivals and other events. Everything she makes is just so beautiful, but it is not very often that I get to witness them like this.

🍹 generally, except later

[rustyhonesty]

[Once Jean has successfully calmed Reiner down and unintentionally bonded over death, Jean finds Levi next. It's not his business to tell Levi what he should and shouldn't do, but at least he can try prevent future situations like that.]

Do you have a moment?

[He looks kinda tired, considering the topics they had in mind, but whatever.]

[wingbound]

[ Levi may or may not have found himself a new drink and place to sit down by now, even if there's still some clear underlying irritation from earlier. He glances at Jean over his sunglasses and doesn't say anything, but considering that he's not telling him to scram, it's probably as much of an invitation as it's going to get. ]

[rustyhonesty]

[Jean sits down nearby, careful not to get any sand on Levi or else he'd likely be swimming soon. Or just eating sand. Or burrowed into sand by the impact of his throw. Either way. He's careful, that's what matters.]

... I found out some information about Reiner that you should know, if we plan on not destroying one another.

[It was useless anyway since they'd just come back from the dead. Though the natives wouldn't be so lucky so it was a good idea to keep that in mind.]

His last memory is when you almost killed him in Shiganshina. That's why he freaked out.

[wingbound]

[ Good good. There's a reason why he's (one of) the favorite child. ]

[ Levi listens, because information is always useful, and he would also prefer regular people to not be destroyed in the crossfire, but he doesn't look entirely sympathetic. Honestly, he likes this version of Reiner less than he does the one back home, and they're not exactly best friends there either. But at least Grown-up Reiner had realized the weight and effect of his actions, had accepted a deal with the devils without a second thought when it felt like the right thing to do, and was willing to die for it, perhaps would have, if Hange had not stepped in to take that role. He knew who he was and was open about it. He could be trusted. ]

[ This Reiner seems volatile and somehow less stable, willing to hold civilian deaths over Levi's head just because he fears for his own life, despite him pointing out several times that he wasn't going to kill him. He's dangerous. And yet Levi is trying, attempting to treat him the same as he would any other of the kids, no prejudice or letting his own distaste color their interactions, and yet, apparently, it's not working. It's not working to the point where Jean has to get involved even though this isn't his responsibility anymore. Can't Reiner just scrub some fucking floors until he calms down and can be dealt with like an actual person? ]

Did he? [ Levi did walk away from him, but yes, he did notice the sheer terror on Reiner's face. He'd figured that him trying to do anything about it would have just made it worse, though, so he didn't stop. And if he sounds just a tad dismissive, well, that's just his annoyance at this whole situation. ] I wasn't trying to kill him now. He of all people should know the difference.

[rustyhonesty]

[It may not be Jean's responsiblity, but he can't help getting involved anyway. He can say it's for the sake of normal people who wouldn't be able to revive if they died when Reiner shifted into a titan. That was at least half of the truth. The other half was too complicated for himself to actual start telling anyone else about it.]

He did. I was afraid to leave him alone so I stayed with him until he calmed down. That's why he told me why he was so shaken up.

[Most likely since Jean could very well relate to the story. Or just because Jean was trustworthy. Who knows.]

It's not that simple for him to just know on a moment's notice. His last memory is that. He's in a world full of enemies. He hasn't gotten anyone to talk to about it until now, since there's no way he's going to want to tell Gabi. So he's had to keep the memory as his burden alone. Especially since he's convinced everyone else has forgotten it even happened.

💥

[badsunrising]

[ A reactionary type himself, his head whips to the side and his hand goes for his necklace chain when he hears the sound of food and dishes thrown to the floor. He's expecting a pair of fighters or even a stray monster. But his expression pinches into confusion as all he finds is the overturned table and Levi hiding behind it. A quick scan of this place reveals no source of such a response. No immediate danger... Then what?

His confusion only deepens as Levi slowly gets up again and dusts himself off. ]

What was that all about?

[wingbound]

[ Levi scowls, not too happy with making a scene of himself in this way, and especially with others commenting on it, but he supposes he brought this on himself. He recognizes the man from a mission at the graveyard, though he doesn't presume to know him just from that. He gestures up at the fireworks as another colourful bouquet blooms in the sky, flinching a little at the accompanying noise. ]

...Explosions.

[ Surely he doesn't need to explain it any more thoroughly than that, right? ]

[badsunrising]

[ It takes a moment to make a connection between the word and the fireworks in the sky, but when the realization hits, his confusion shifts into a soft frown. ]

Ah.

[ He half-turns away and looks at the brilliant bursts above them, while still partially watching Levi. ]

Considering how many people come from different worlds, they really should have given an announcement before setting them off. Especially with all the Pokémon running around now.

[ His own has formed a semi-scarf around his neck and is hiding her face in her bushy tail.

He pauses for a long moment before adding: ]

The devices they gave us for communication carry music on them as well.

[ If Levi needs something to drown out the sound. ]

[wingbound]

They should have.

[ He's not sure how much it might have helped, considering he had no idea what "fireworks" are prior to this, but at least he would have expected something. (One of his eyes and hands is still covered by bandages at this point, and those injuries are, in fact, from an explosion going off in his face.) ]

[ He's momentarily distracted by the creature that the other man seems to be wearing like a fur collar before he forces himself to parse his actual words. ]

Music?..

[ He knows what music is, he's just surprised that the devices apparently carry it, and also confused about how it's supposed to help. Sticking his fingers in his ears would be more effective, right? But he seems to be willing to brave it at the moment. ]