Beach Party Log

[celebrity_commentator]

Who: The people of Union and all their wonderful friends who can be bothered to take a vacation.
Where: The Tropical Island
When: On and off, the second week of June
What: Union's more-than-annual beach party. Open log, tag around!

The sun is shining, the Wingull are squawking, and the beach of the Tropical Island is as beautiful as always. The whole city has more or less been effectively encouraged to come out, especially people who need to recover from the shenanigans in Sanctuary. The air is filled with the sounds and smells of Citadel visitors grilling, the expected murmurs of shock at Calderan fashions hitting the place where they're most practical, and of course, the colorful sights of everyone having a good time. There's lots of places to see and things to do on the island, and now's the time to enjoy them.

Comments

welcome to the partay

[actsmagnificent]

[ Aren't we fancy. Haruka cracks open an eye to take in this tableau. ] It has its moments.

[ And she'd better sit up a little if she's going to talk, huh. ] Summer suits you.

Well it doesn't start till she walks in anyway.

[faithfulflame]

[Fancy indeed. Rei pulls back her sunglasses and smiles.] Thank you, and I think it suits you as well.

[Deimos hand waves and out rolls a towel, born on psychic energy.]

Mind if I stake a claim here?

i suppose haruka's just been tailgating then

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haven't you already? Besides, it's a free beach. But Haruka appreciates being asked, so she laughs. ] If you want.

You're on your own today? [ No Ami, or Makoto, or ghost friends? ]

Yep.

[faithfulflame]

[Better to ask than to assume. Deimos is just a butt.]

I am. Ami-chan had to work today, I think. And this was supposed to be a training day, but Deimos insisted I relax.

[Probably on Ami's instructions.]

And my other Pokemon are around, just down in the water. It's good surfing weather for Ariel. I take it Michiru-san is off swimming?

[actsmagnificent]

It is a beach. [ You bet your fancy parasol that Michiru's swimming. Haruka's got a Vulpix around here somewhere doing independent training, too, and a Beartic who just likes the water...but they're doing their own thing. So it's just Haruka here, for now.

She keeps a careful eye on Rei, though she's smiling. Mandated downtime, huh? ] There are worst places to be told to unwind.

[faithfulflame]

Oh certainly. I'd have preferred the Volcano, myself but Ariel can't surf there.

[So...here she is on the beach.]

Are you just taking up Isabela-san on her discount then? Or are you here for some other reason.

[ARE YOU ON THE JOB STILL HARUKA?!]

[actsmagnificent]

Can't I just enjoy the summer? [ Haruka stretches. The sleeve of her shirt falls down a bit, accidentally revealing that one of her forearms is bandaged.

Oh well. It's not actually a secret, nor does she probably need that bandage any more. But there's a leaf attached to it, so. Yep. ]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei gives her a scathing look. Come on now, Haruka, this is you we're talking about.]

What hit you? And...why do I assume Natto had a hand in making sure you're still wearing it?

[actsmagnificent]

[ Hey, she had battlefield first aid rendered immediately. By her partner, no less. But Haruka still looks at Rei thoughtfully as she lowers her arms. ]

...Did you visit Sanctuary?

[ This isn't a full change of the subject, more her leading up to it...probably.... ]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei sinks down, silent for a moment as Deimos sets up the umbrella for all three of them, pulling out her own towel.]

I was involved in freeing the High Council of Mages, yes.

[actsmagnificent]

[ Ah, the part of the plan that didn't fail unlike hers. Haruka glances out over the ocean. She'd done the best she could with limited knowledge, and regrouped once the limits of that knowledge became clear. She has no regrets. ] Then you know Gigas was playing for keeps.

[faithfulflame]

I do. [Even if Right had turned it into a clown show.] You fought then? We didn't have anything beyond a short encounter with some drunks. It was over before it started.

[actsmagnificent]

You were fortunate. [ How much to tell? A quick glance around the beach to make sure everyone in earshot is too busy doing fun vacation things, and then Haruka nudges herself imperceptibly closer to Rei to keep talking. They're allies. They need to share pertinent information.

And only as much information as Haruka deems "pertinent", but she respects Rei, so that raises the quantity a little. ] Gigas had its full technology in force. So did Sanctuary.

[ She shifts her injured arm. ] We've got a lot to learn.

[faithfulflame]

[Rei raises an eyebrow at that, her eyes looking right at the injured arm.]

What did they use on you, Haruka?

[Dropping the honorific for once, as if to impress on her that she was taking this seriously.]

[actsmagnificent]

Researching the enemy? [ Half redirection of the question, half making sure she's going to answer it properly. ]

[faithfulflame]

I'd rather know more than less. It's not like this is going to be the last time we encounter Gigas or Sanctuary.

[Obtuse answer gets an obtuse reply]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka gives herself another moment to think, putting her impressions in order. ] Gigas makes up for lacking Enlightened with gadgets. Shields they could keep in their pockets. Flying knives.

[ And Haruka with a gash in her arm, so there you go. ] Aim for anything you don't recognize. Sanctuary...

[ Sanctuary. Is no better than Gigas, just uses different means. ] Watch out for cloaks and blood.

[faithfulflame]

Cloaks and blood?

[A pause, she's working out what Haruka is saying and it's a hard thing.]

The Homunculi, right?

[actsmagnificent]

They asked us to smuggle them into the city. [ There's nobody really to get angry at there - everyone did what made sense to them at the time, even Sanctuary - so Haruka is more just coldly upset things got that far at all. ]

Will you be headed there again? [ If so, she has a few more tips. But only if so. ]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei dislikes the notion of the Homunculi, too. Naturally, given her day job, but she's right. There's no point in getting angry or upset about it. It's done.]

Probably. It's an interesting place. If the council allows travel there I will.

[actsmagnificent]

[ Fair enough. Haruka blinks before continuing. ] If you end up fighting - don't let them take prisoners.

[ They have to get those Homunculus bodies from somewhere. She saw how firsthand. ]

[faithfulflame]

You mean don't let them take me alive? Or...

[Wait. Please don't tell her what she thinks you're going to...]

[actsmagnificent]

Gigas had their reasons.

[ She is telling you exactly what you thought she was going to. ]

[faithfulflame]

Shit.

[That word alone should say it all.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Haruka is inclined to agree. ] Sorry to damper your vacation.