(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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Comments

[bravestknight]

[Flynn looks confused for a second and then he kind of grips at his turtle neck and tugs at it.]

Oh this? It's just right. I'm used to wearing heavy armor over my clothing so--

[He smiles.]

Also I was helping to get things set up, so I didn't really think of wearing anything different?

[mayoninofukucho]

That's even worse! You were lugging heavy stuff around dressed like this? It's a wonder you didn't get a heatstroke!

[Of course Flynn helped set things up. Of course.]

So you haven't gone swimming either? No jousting, no anything?

[bravestknight]

Again, this isn't that bad. Really. One day you can try on my armor Hijikata and you'll understand.

[He smiled and looked around at everyone having fun.]

I'm just happy to be here helping out. Also, I'll swim some other time.

[mayoninofukucho]

Sure, let's swap clothes on our next quest.

[He's just joking around... but it should actually work out; Flynn is only a little bit taller than him.]

Speaking of which, let's not go into the Winter Segment again next time.

[He says that, but he'll go wherever help is needed, even if he may bitch about it more than Flynn.]

[bravestknight]

I really don't think you'd like that.

[He huffs, and gives Hijikata a small smile. He turns and starts to watch the others come and go around them.]

It wasn't that bad. We weren't even in a minimum amount of danger.

[mayoninofukucho]

We may not have been in danger, but I've had enough of the cold.

[They totally were in danger. He just isn't taking it seriously because his summer powers made the ice maidens an easy match once they'd discovered their ruse.

By now his tepig, which had been playing near the water, has noticed that its owner is talking to someone it doesn't know yet, so it comes running over and oinks. Hijikata addresses it.]

Oh, hey! Do you want to meet Flynn?

[He picks the little pig pokémon so it can look at the new person. It's friendly and lively, though a little loud.]

Do you have a pokémon too, Flynn?

[bravestknight]

I don't know, I'd rather be too cold than too hot.

[Both had their bad parts, but he could always add clothing on rather than taking off his clothing and still being miserable. He blinks when the tepig comes over and Hijikata picks him up. Flynn reaches over and gently scritches the little tepig under its chin.]

No, but I do have one of the little flying puppies. His name is Fiel.

[mayoninofukucho]

Ah, one of those... good of you to adopt one.

[The tepig enjoys the attention from Flynn, but when a couple of other pokémon run by its attention gets diverted, and it struggles to be set down, so Hijikata complies and watches it run after them.]

It's crazy to me how many of us ended up adopting pets here. I mean, that isn't the point, right? We should be focusing on fixing the mess with the Darkness.

[Part of him just can't stop breaking the 4th wall. Wasn't this supposed to be an exploration/mystery adventure? Why were so many pet mechanics implemented?]

[bravestknight]

It could be because they bring joy to those who might otherwise be uneasy.

[He looked after the tepig and other pokemon as they ran away.]

Having a pet or a companion can help relieve stress and that's definitely something that people who do the missions, or even have no combat experience need.

At least that's what I think.

[mayoninofukucho]

Stress relief..? I guess so.

[I bet it's some 'power of friendship' lesson, even with the "normal" animals! Maybe with the pokémon it's a cross-over? But there's no profit in a crossover with Dreamwidth RP..! He notices himself getting mentally side-tracked and blinks back into the present moment.]

Sorry, I'm a bit pooped. Maybe I should get another drink.

[Non-alcoholic, most likely, tempting as the cocktails are... he needs to get home at the end of the night, after all, and doesn't want his mentee to have to lug him all the way.]

[bravestknight]

What do you want to drink? I'll go grab it.

[Flynn slides from where he was standing and sits up. Offering to definitely go grab something.]

Besides I should probably get something to eat.

[mayoninofukucho]

Let's both go and check what they've got.

[Like it makes a difference when he's going to drown it in mayonnaise anyway... but he does walk to the bar with Flynn and ends up with a mixed tropical juice, complete with a little paper umbrella.]

I'm not hungry, I ate earlier. But I recommend anything from the grill.

[He's looking forward to the fireworks! Maybe he and Flynn can watch them from the picnic area (or at least the start, if Flynn wants to join other friends for the rest of the show).]

[bravestknight]

I was just helping Izuku grill the skewers not that long ago. Those smelled pretty good to be honest, but I don't need anything heavy. Just something--

[He trails off and kind of shrugs as he chuckles as he ends up with the same mixed tropical juice. He takes a small sip of it and he looks to him.]

Hm. Maybe some noodles?

[mayoninofukucho]

Oh, Izuku was manning the grill? He's a good kid. I didn't know he liked to cook.

[Sadly didn't rub off on Shoto, who does most of the cooking in his and Hijikata's household despite being really bad at it (which Hijikata somehow hasn't noticed yet... probably because he is even worse and would just mix mayonnaise with mayonnaise).]

I want to try those skewers now. Let's get some! You'll be able to fit one in with the noodles.

[bravestknight]

Well the coals. He was doing a really good job.

[Flynn listens to him, and he nods as he nudges the other along in the way that he left Izuku so they can grab some of the skewers. On the way he makes sure to get the noodles and his hands are full before it's time to head back.]

Okay, this is really a lot.

[mayoninofukucho]

If you can't finish it and I can't either, my Tepig will.

[No food has to go to waste with the little pig creature around! It seems to literally burn food in its stomach. Hijikata brings out the mayonnaise and covers his skewer in it before taking a bite.]

Mmm. Yeah, these are good!

[It's nice to just sit here near the sea, relax and eat... a lot of shit has been happening lately, so he truly appreciates the break.]

[bravestknight]

Deal.

[Flynn relaxes again and starts to eat, letting the silence settle between them, nice and comfortable. He takes a drink of the beverage they picked up and he smiles. All of it is pretty good, even if Hijikata uses an ungodly amount of mayonnaise on everything.]

Right? I am happy with the way they came out. Also the noodles are pretty good too.

[mayoninofukucho]

It's rare that we get to enjoy peaceful days like this back home.

[Honestly, his beach day was... turbulent, but right now he's determined to just enjoy the end of the day! Flynn is indeed good company for that.]

[bravestknight]

Most of the people in my world, unless they grew up in port towns, didn't really travel. I remember when I started my service as a knight the first time I saw the ocean.

[Flynn thinks back at how beautiful and expansive it had been. He had wanted Yuri to see the same sight too, and now he had the chance after journeying with his companions.]

It always seemed peaceful, even though it probably wasn't always.

[mayoninofukucho]

Travelling at sea is goddamn dangerous, take it from me. I prefer to stay on land.

[The hasn't even travelled the seas back home, but Lake Avalon gave him all the stress he never needed!! He focuses on eating his gloopy-ass mayonnaise meal for a few moments. It's nice to just take in the atmosphere - the warm summer night, the smell of the campfire, the colourful lanterns.]

[bravestknight]

I definitely agree. But sometimes it's nice to have a change of pace.

[Flynn continues to quietly take bites of his noodles and the chicken skewer that he received as he tips slightly towards Hijikata knocking a shoulder against his friend's in a quiet fondness for the other.]

What are you going to do tonight after the festival? Go home and rest?

[mayoninofukucho]

Yeah. I'm looking forward to getting a good night's sleep, honestly.

[Hijikata is very low-maintenance as far as housing goes, having been content with government-assigned apartments or inn rooms or even just a tent in all his adventures across the multiverse, but he can't deny that it feels good to have a proper home to return to after a eventful day - a warm, welcoming home for him and his mentee and now their little pokémon companions. Hopefully Flynn can enjoy that luxury, too.]

Did you move in with Yuri? He lives in a big house, doesn't he?

[Hijikata thinks Yuri lives with Saya, Kantera, and Venti (and probably more people), but he isn't really in the loop. He only knows Saya well out of her household.]

[bravestknight]

It sounds good.

[He took a moment to think about it. He liked to rest if he was with Yuri, but if not, he sometimes had a hard time sleeping. Nightmares had gradually become a thing. At the question with Yuri, he nods and smiles]

Yes. We share a room, but the house is very big.

[mayoninofukucho]

[So they're roommates, huh... they must really get along well! (TheySeemToBeVeryGoodFriends.png) Given that he doesn't know about the nightmare part he smiles, glad that Flynn has good accommodations too - until some commotion at the beach catches his attention.]

Oh, I think they're gathering for the fireworks already! Let finish our food and go down too!

[bravestknight]

Sure. That sounds like fun.

[Flynn takes a few more bites, and then the food is gone. With that done, he picks up his drink and moves to clean the trash, turning to look at Hijikata.]

So, to the fireworks?