OPEN LOG: A beach party.

[bouchonne]

WHO: Everyone.
WHAT: A beach party.
WHEN: On a very hot day. At some point during the month.
WHERE: A beach just outside of Kirkwall.
NOTES: It is a beach party.

During a particularly hot and oppressive week in Kingsway, the Diplomacy division announces it will be diverting some of its funds to organize a party on a nearby beach. Kirkwallers are invited as well - a relationship-building sort of effort - but the party is mostly intended for morale boosting for Riftwatch itself.

The party features the following:

• Transportation to this lovely beach from the Gallows and from Kirkwall.


• Sunbathing and swimming in skimpy (or non-skimpy, if you're a fuckin square) bathing suits.


• Live music and dancing.


• Delectable grilled meats (and some vegetables, if you're a fuckin square).


• Rum drinks served in hollowed-out fruits.


• A sandcastle-building competition.


• A swim race.


• A few fun little sailboats bobbing around out on the water.

Does all that sound too wholesome? Great! There's also a cave system in the cliffs next to the beach. These little grottos are full of nooks and crannies and are perfect for a bit of sinful action after dark; in one cavern, there'll be some gambling games where some of Kirkwall's citizens are losing money; in another, you're likely to run into people making out.

Have fun! Soak up sun! Don't get in trouble! Or do, whatever, it's a beach party.

Comments

[highborn]

[ Oh. That makes sense, he'd wondered at that. He makes some small thoughtful noise, considers it a moment more, then flops back into the sand with a deep sigh. ]

I'd better start collecting humans then, I wouldn't mind a few years less. I've had a hundred and twenty-five of them so far, and I've done next to nothing with the whole lot.

[sulahnan]

If nothing else you've certainly become adept at dodging questions, [ she chuckles, clearly not minding his diversion of the topic.

Wherever the joint is, she fetches it up and takes a drag, holding in the smoke and then breathing it out through her nostrils. ]

Are you an only child?

[highborn]

[ Wryly: ] Ah, well, at least the time wasn't entirely wasted.

And no, no. Youngest of eight, in fact. [ He tips his head to watch that dispersing smoke. ] Have you any children?

[sulahnan]

[ Luckily the smoke is all the way out of her lungs by the time he asks that, because otherwise she'd be coughing and spluttering instead of the epitome of nervouslaughter.gif ]

Me? No, gods no.

[ And then, because maybe that was a bit strong for an initial reaction: ]

Sorry, it's just...that's kind of complicated, and also...putting me in charge of a baby just seems like a bad idea.

[highborn]

[ The answer pulls a quick laugh out of him; he feels about the same, but the question had to be asked. He waves it off with a grin. ]

I'm sure you're not alone. The Riftwatch seems a remarkably unstable lot. [ And then, more relevant-feeling, and smile lingering: ] Are you single?

[sulahnan]

[ Unstable might be a bit generous, but Athessa glances at Vanadi sidelong, her own smile trending toward mischievous. ]

I am. [ Might be until I die, too. ] Are you?

[highborn]

Typically.

[ 'Eternally' would be more accurate. He rolls onto his side to face Athessa, propping up his head in one hand. The other rubs almost absently at his face, tracing the bottom edge of the scar there. ]

I got this from a cultist with a knife and the enthusiastic will to use it. She got my eye as well, actually.

[sulahnan]

Oh yeah?

[ Athessa reclines back onto the sand, both as an excuse to stretch out and flaunt her assets, and to be better situated to brush a lock of Vanadi's hair away from his face, fingertips grazing his eyebrow. His eyes are not a typical color for most elves in Thedas, as far as she can tell. They're more like Loxley's, in that respect. ]

How'd you go about getting it back?

[ Ha-ha. Joke. ]

[highborn]

[ He'll gladly admire the view as she reclines, a little less quick with the polite return to her face this time. But he does make it back there eventually, mostly to watch for any reaction to his answer. ]

A demon gave it back.

[ People here seem so touchy about that kind of thing. Though, really, they were back home too. Still, he'd prefer not to immediately chase away a beautiful woman. ]

[sulahnan]

[ She does pause a moment, but as people like Bastien and Byerly have discovered, Athessa doesn't quite react the way most people expect. She looks curious rather than disturbed or uncomfortable, possibly because the implication is that demons back in Vanadi's world are different than the ones here, or because she would like to hope that demons can be returned to spirit form without killing either themselves, or a mage in the process. ]

Of their own volition, or did you have to convince them? [ This hardly seems the time or place to loudly repeat WHAAAAT? A DEEEEMONNN? GOLLY JEE WILLICKERS, VANNY, WHAT-EVER DID YOU DO? ]

[highborn]

[ He lets out a light breath he hadn't been aware of catching, but no relief comes with it. Maybe it would have been better if she'd jerked away in fear, then he wouldn't have to find the least awkward way out of this topic. ]

No, it was ... coerced. From me, I mean. [ His brow furrows as his chest tightens despite the cloying smoke from the joint. ] Perhaps ... any other topic. If you don't mind.

[sulahnan]

[ Shrug. ]

Sure. Let's see... [ A moment to mull over potential topics. And to appreciate the depth of the high settling over her from the elfroot. A pleasant electric sensation skittering over her skin, warming her face, feeling at once heavy in her bones and buoyant. ]

If you had to choose someone in our company to fight, who would it be, and why?

[highborn]

[ There's the relief, washing in like a wave with no small bit of appreciation along with it. What a woman. ]

Well. [ His smile is back, a little tired around the edges. ] I'm a terrible duelist, so really the question is who would kill me most quickly and get it over with?

[sulahnan]

The Scoutmaster, Yseult. Without question.

[highborn]

Excellent, that's the one for me.

[ He shifts to return her earlier gesture, brushing a bit of hair off of her forehead with a gentle touch. It's a good excuse to inch a little nearer, too. ]

And you, who will you be fighting?

[sulahnan]

[ Aha. His touch draws her smile a little wider. She's usually the one playing his part in this sort of dance. Mirroring gestures, toeing the line.

She pretends to think about it, really considering her options. ]

Hmm. You said you're not much of a duelist, but how good are you with your hands?

[highborn]

[ His smile picks up in one corner, with a dash of the old roguish look he used to call home. ]

I could tell you I'm a genius with them, but I'm certain it would only sound like bragging, so I'd better demonstrate.

[ And he twirls a finger, requesting she flip to her stomach. There's a sexy backrub on today's menu. ]

[sulahnan]

Bold strategy, making your opponent expose their back for the first move.

[ But she complies, going one step further to pull her barely-there cover-up off over her head to fold over her arms and use as a head-rest. ]

[highborn]

Even bolder is agreeing to it.

[ He'll start things lightly, just settling himself down beside Athessa. His hands land open-palmed on her shoulders, touch light, for a light skim down warm skin. It's nice. It's always nice to touch someone, grounding.

He gets to it. It is quite good, his touch a very practiced combination of gentle tracing and deep massaging. He's had a lot of time to polish this particular flirty move. ]

[sulahnan]

[ The thing about sexy back rubs as flirting is they make for a great preview. Of what someone's skin feels like, of their shape and form, and of the sounds they make when something feels good.

Nothing crazy, this isn't the diner scene in When Harry Met Sally, but soft sighs and hums and the odd groan are perfectly appropriate for such an occasion. ]

I like to be — mm — unexpected.

[highborn]

Not to worry, you are.

[ He appreciates the running non-verbal commentary of his efforts; it guides his hands, and they seek any particularly sore or in-need-of-a-massage areas. ]

[sulahnan]

I think I could still take ya.

[ Briefly, she thinks that maybe if she had someone to rub her back like this all the time, she could do without sex. But only briefly. (Por que no los dos?) Vanadi finds a knot and she groans, her face against her folded arms. ]

Ohh, right there—

[highborn]

Right at this very moment? [ He obeys the command, focusing where instructed with smooth, slow pressure. ] Gods, but I would hope not. It would mean I'm not doing my job.

[sulahnan]

Oh, but what you're doing, you're doing very well.

[ A sigh, and she turns her head to look at him out of the corner of her eye, a satisfied smirk on her lips. ]

Is this a technique you use often?

[highborn]

[ He shifts to more easily meet that sidelong look, and the return smile is fond. ]

Hm. This question feels like a trap, my dear.