[open] beach episode volume 2: gallows edition

[altusimperius]

WHO: everybody who wants
WHAT: (lukewarm) BEACH PARTY (on rubble, in harbor)
WHEN: late Justinian
WHERE: the Gallows, amidst its newly-acquired sea view
NOTES: he's trying

I. Prep

He didn't ask for help overtly, but Benedict is clearly working hard setting up the space he's designated for the company to have their beach staycation: drapings taken from his own stash and salvaged from the Gallows' erstwhile guest rooms are drawn across glyphed-in-place poles to create shade. He's hauled out a table, onto which he proceeds to place a variety of whatever canapés he could afford to procure with his own wages-- it's not a feast, all right-- and beside which he rolls two barrels of decent-ish wine.

From the baths come a stack of towels piled high in his arms, hindering his vision to such a degree that he may crash into someone not paying attention; pillows and the like come next, in armloads that take multiple trips, by the end of which he's visibly out of breath.

Lastly, it's his very own water pipe making an appearance, which he arranges amidst comfortable ground seating mimics how his room used to look: in fact, most of the accoutrements here are his personal belongings.
As such, he knows just how to set everything to create an attractive, if minimalist, space for an afternoon's leisure.


II. Party?

It may not be an all-out bash like their excursion to the sandier shores of the Waking Sea some years ago, but this, if nothing else, is an opportunity for work on the Gallows to pause in palatable increments. One can be clearing rubble or cataloguing property for the morning, then pop over for an hour of sunbathing and a glass of wine; they're all within calling out distance of the courtyard, and the party likely bleeds into the day's work in a manner somewhat more comfortable than if it were sequestered.

That said: the early summer sea water is cold, the sun is out but meek behind occasional cloud cover, and the festivities are on clean-swept stone rather than sand. The view across the water is of mainland Kirkwall, and all that that entails.
But it's none of it so bad, for anyone looking to take a break. A few musicians even show up a bit later in the afternoon, and Benedict provides a bonfire in the center of the party space as the sun goes down.

Anything brought to share is met with effusive thanks from Benedict, who ensures its appropriate placement and distribution. He doesn't spend much time relaxing himself, instead making the rounds with the air of a fussy host, where he's quick to offer refills or alternatives in libations, or diversions for unsatisfactory activities.

[make your own starters, do your thing, go hog wild-- if you have logistical questions feel free to ask on plurk or discord]

Comments

[laruetheday]

It is a very Kirkwall beach. Clarisse is forcing herself to pretend it's decent, hence why she's standing in the frigid ocean daring people to come in with her.

"Come on, rivers have parasites in them. And there aren't even any rocks around here," absolutely not true, "at least not any close enough to get bashed into." She sighs. "But hey, if you're that scared of losing..."

[favoriteanalyst]

"If you can't handle a couple leeches, you shouldn't be in any body of water anyway," is what he has to say about parasites. That's what she means, right?

"And, I'll lose if I participate or not. I'm smart enough to admit that much."

[laruetheday]

"Not leeches," she says, "little bugs in the water that'll make you shit yourself."

Fine, though. Clarisse will stop trying to convince him. She shrugs and begins to walk out of the surf, stopping when she gets to the point where the waves are only lapping at her feet.

"Suit yourself. I was thinking about getting a drink anyway."

[favoriteanalyst]

He's not so sure about that, but it sounds like some of the stuff Stephen and Cosima tend to say, so he can't call it bullshit on the nose. More reasons not to take a dip then! Thanks!

"You want something hot when you pop back up like a block of ice, or you want something that'll put a fire in your belly?"

[laruetheday]

"Why not both?"

Clarisse is not sure whether she means an alcoholic drink that's also warm, or whether she's going to end up with a hot drink in one hand and some wine in the other, but look, she's not fussy.

[favoriteanalyst]

"I can't say hot wine would be any good, but..." No, he's not going to put whatever might be left of the wine on the fire. "Hot beer's a crime, I'm sure of it. Maybe a tea with whiskey in it. Usually reserved for winter or a cruddy throat. Soothe what ails you."

Might not soothe everything, but it'll be soothing nevertheless.

[laruetheday]

Tea with whiskey actually sounds pretty good right now, especially now that Clarisse is dripping cold water but no longer pretending to enjoy herself in the ocean.

"Yeah," she admits, "that would be good." A drink and a spot near the fire might even relax her a little bit. Gods know she needs that lately.