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

[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.

[faithfulflame]

No. I needed to know this.

[She lays back on the towel.]

Do you think the council will let them join our alliance?

[actsmagnificent]

Depends what they can offer, doesn't it?

[ Though if any civilization can be counted on to choose the moral high road over the road that gives results, Union is probably it. Haruka supposes she should be proud of that. She looks out over the sea, as if looking at something else that seems endless will give her answers to questions that...just don't have them right now. ] They're fools if they agree.

[faithfulflame]

I agree. My father may not see it that way.

[Acknowledging the fact, perhaps, that she has family in power. That's rare enough, but even he should have more sense than all that...

After all, they may be estranged but he does know his daughter fought in Sanctuary, and he can't be stupid enough to assume she's okay with all that.]

Hopefully he'll show some sense for once.

[actsmagnificent]

[ So that's where the council question was coming from. Having never really worried about what the rest of her family was doing (or thought), Haruka hadn't followed at first. ]

What happens, happens. [ She rotates that arm - it doesn't really hurt; she got a Heal Pulse applied to it quickly enough, so the bandages are just to keep infection away while the cut heals. ] We've got our own wills. We'll play with the cards we're dealt.

[ She's more concerned about the Big Dealers in the Sky.... ]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei snorts a laugh.]

That we will. That's what we do, I suppose. Our little secret club.

[That seems to include a 5 year old.]

[actsmagnificent]

[ Hey, the 5-year-old had big plans for doing medic things and contributing to society. Haruka is relatively impressed with the 5-year-old. ] Anything you saw I should know about?

[ Her tone is lighter now, and it sounds like Rei'd had a simpler time of it, but Haruka just spilled a lot of intel. Fair's fair. ]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei shakes her head at the question.] Quite frankly, most of what we did involved Right-kun making a fool out of himself. We put on disguises and snuck in but none of them fit so we had a few scuffles. It wasn't particularly difficult but it was quite foolish.

[There's a pause and she holds up her left hand, showing Haruka a small silver ring inlaid with a tiny ruby.]

I did get this crafted by a Mage, however, so that won't happen again.

[actsmagnificent]

[ .....Haruka has to keep an eye on Right, doesn't she. She lifts her chin appraisingly when she sees the ring, but doesn't seem to disapprove. ] I'll keep that in mind.

[faithfulflame]

[Rei smiles faintly, and nods. and then seems to shimmer a bit, replaced by someone else, a cafe attendant.]

So you're aware.

[actsmagnificent]

[ Oh, that is handy. Haruka winks. ] Good luck.