[OP-F24] Everyone needs a break in the summer! Open for everyone. (A strange whisper in the air)

[Bliss 0]

Upon feeling Kil’s reassuring hand on her shoulder and hearing him softly tell her, “You’re doing your best,” Bliss’s lips curled into a gentle smile. The tension in her body eased just a bit as she whispered back, “Thank you.” She could barely believe how grateful she felt in that moment.

That is, until she caught Kil out of the corner of her eye pulling off his shirt. Her mind short-circuited as his well-defined, extremely muscular body was revealed. Her jaw dropped, quite literally, and she had to physically close her mouth. Is my nose bleeding? I feel like it’s bleeding. Her thoughts spiraled as her face flushed crimson. Before she could slip too deep into her own daydreams, Kil’s voice pulled her back to reality. His words were like an anchor, grounding her. “Thanks, bestie. I’ll remember th-that,” she stammered, flashing him a sweet smile, though internally she was still reeling from the unexpected sight. @Kiluia Seiko

The first to approach her after Kil wandered off was a teal-haired woman, someone who radiated cuteness. Bliss smiled awkwardly as the woman, @Adelyte, laid down beside her on the blanket. “N-Nice to meet you, Ad-Adelyte. I’m Bliss,” she managed, still fighting the urge to stutter. Bliss pointed over to where Kil had been moments earlier, “That’s Kiluia. I-I don’t know where he’s run off to, but I’m glad you joined me. I don’t know anyone else except for Kil and, uh... W-Wulfrin? Yeah, I think that’s his name. He made my weapon for me.” Pointing over to the man fishing on the beach.

To illustrate her point, Bliss fumbled with her belongings before pulling out her trusty wrench and a set of sockets tied together with a string. She held them up for Adelyte to see, her nerves settling as they shared a moment. A new friend. Bliss could feel the tension easing from her shoulders.

Then, @Jomei passed by. Bliss’s breath hitched as her eyes locked onto the well-toned muscles the man was showing off. A panic bubbled inside her as she smiled weakly at him, trying to stay composed. A floatie? He has a floatie? Well, I guess it’s a beach, she reasoned, but her thoughts didn’t linger long as she became captivated by his Irish accent. “S-Sure! We’ll see you later, h-hopefully?” she called out after him, silently praying she hadn’t embarrassed herself too much. The more friends, the better... right?

As she was recovering from that encounter, another figure approached. This time it was a blue-haired boy who seemed shy, just like her. He wasn’t as muscular as Kil or Jomei, but his abs were still defined enough to make Bliss’s cheeks flush again. Jeeeeeeez. What the hell are they feeding the people here?! They're all so fucking hot, she thought, her mind spiraling as she looked at everyone here.

Her face burning, she peeked at him through her fingers, unable to fully hide her embarrassment. “Agh? That’s an… in-interesting name,” she remarked, tilting her head curiously. There was something familiar about his nervous energy; it was almost like she was talking to the male version of herself. The realization made her feel a little braver. She lowered her hands and offered a shy smile. “I-I’m Bliss.” She extended her hand, still sitting down on the blanket. “I’m s-sure Agh isn’t your name. Would you mind t-telling me what to actually call you?” @Cobean

Bliss's eyes lit up as soon as Zandra’s announcement echoed through the air. A scavenger hunt? That was right up her alley! She loved the thrill of searching for things, and there was no way she’d pass up the chance to join in. With an excited grin, she turned to Adelyte and Cobean. "W-Wanna join the scavenger hunt w-with me?"

Before waiting for a response, Bliss jumped to her feet. She extended her hand toward Adelyte, her excitement bubbling over. Once Adelyte took her hand, Bliss playfully linked her arm with Cobean’s, looping the other through Adelyte’s. "Come on! Let's have some fun!"

With both friends in tow, Bliss led them toward the starting point, her enthusiasm contagious. The day had suddenly taken a fun, adventurous turn, and Bliss was more than ready to dive in, her nervousness from earlier dissipating as she became distracted.

* * *

Searching for Crystals:
ID: 236311 | BD: 6 | CD: 6 | LD: 17
2 Red Crystals found! 
Total points: 2

Edited October 23 by Bliss

[Kiluia Seiko 0]

The seabreeze and the salt that rose amongst the wind and blew across the open beach. The scenery, albeit fake, was simply too amazing to ignore. The seagulls, the npc’s enjoying the beach, the players who seemed to be bustling around, and the serenity that surrounded it all made the day less threatening than most days.

While he placed his shirt into his inventory and placed black spandex on his legs, he felt eyes prying upon him and turned immediately to see who had been gazing upon him. He had been trying to spot people who he knew previously while doing a quick landscape check, but he felt Bliss’s gaze for a quick instant. Then it was followed by two others who had been there. His tense eyes softened immediately as the two newcomers introduced themselves to Bliss. “Pleasure.” He spoke to the two newcomers. “Call me Kil.” He would smile at the two. He would move a bit to them. With him around, Bliss could at least be somewhat safe…? Right…? Right?! 

No sooner than the announcement came, she started off dragging the other two newcomers off in search of an item. With one flick of his wrist, he gently placed a karate chop on her head. Bonk. Red eyes narrowed and he walked in front of her and stared at her reaching to her height. “I don’t need to educate you that despite everything, you should at least get to know your fellow new friends? Remember to check their icons over their heads… Also, don’t let anyone take you off course... Or in this case, don’t drag random people around.” He scolded. 

A sigh escaped his lips as the party sifted through the sands in search of items of the scavenger hunt. He glanced casually at Cobean and Adelyte. “Never seen you before.” He offered an encouraging smile to them. “Do you guys venture out a lot?” His words were soft and calm as opposed to when he spoke to Bliss. It was a different demeanor when it came to her anyway. He looked at Cobean, the odd man out who didn’t introduce himself. Did he seem nervous to him? 

His body language changed a bit to a relaxed stature to show he meant no harm to Cobean. Perhaps, if time moved, they would all gather together and meet together at his shop over some vanilla filled smores. It was food for thought. Pun intended.

 

Spoiler

236319    2    7    10 Search Failed

@Bliss @Cobean@Adelyte

Edited October 24 by Kiluia Seiko

[Cobean 0]

              Cobean's word fumble turned out to be a bigger problem than he expected. The girl suddenly thought he went by Agh, and Cobean covered his face with his hands as the realization of his mistake settled in. She introduced herself as Bliss, and then asked what Cobean preferred to be called. "C-Cobean. My username is Cobean." He uttered out. "It's really nice to meet you, Bliss." He said, his hands no longer on his face...which was still very reddened. It was like the sight of the woman was stirring something up deep within him. "Man oh man, she's just so pretty! Why can't I stop thinking about that?" He thought as his internal chaos befuddled his mind. He needed to focus. He remembered what his adoptive mother, and his newer brother Clark, had told him, this was probably part of the process, it was a natural thing...but if it could stop distracting his mind...

     The hostess of the party would announce the first activity. A Scavenger Hunt. Cobean's eyes lit up as something he'd learned to do for survival turned out to be useful here too. Bliss asked Cobean and the other blue haired player if they wanted to join her Cobean nodded without hesitation. "Of course-!" And before he knew it, Bliss linked her arm with his and dashed off with Cobean and the other girl in tow. As unexpected as this situation was, Cobean(although he had no clue why) somehow found the situation a bit exhilarating. The thought of being whisked away by a beautiful woman somehow got his heart going, what was wrong with him? Didn't heroes within tales be the ones whisking others off, instead of the other way around? Well, becoming a Helpful hero like that of the tales he'd read was his goal, but he was still too low level to get anywhere near that. Perhaps for his current state, this was par for the course. Bliss's words of telling the other two players in this impromptu trio to have some fun with her, set Cobean's heart fluttering and he didn't know how to respond...though his blushing told quite a lot.
         The white haired man who introduced himself as Kil earlier, bonked Bliss on the head and calmly scolded her. Cobean had absolutely no clue on how to respond...other than notice and grab at the two crystals under the man's feet. A helpful distraction. Kil asked the two blue haired players if they ventured out often. "Not yet, but very soon. I've only recently started out." He answered, flipping one of the red crystals he'd found through a toss in the air, and catching it with little issue. "I've proven to be pretty dexterous so far, so I guess I've got that going for me." He remarked.

@Bliss @Kiluia Seiko @Adelyte

 

ID# 236326 BD: 7(Crystal Found!), CD: 5(Red), LD: 15(2 Crystals Total)

Current Score: 2

 

Crystals left in the area:
Red: 23/30
Blue: 13/15
Transparent: 3/3

Edited October 24 by Cobean

[Eliseris 0]

                        Zandra arrived to announce the first activity, what it was, and that it was starting now. "Well I suppose that answers my question." Eliseris remarked. "Well, would any of you three like to join me for thi-"
                                   But the three players were not there. Not Morningstar, not Willow, not even the newcomer to the conversation. She looked and saw that Colette had disappeared too. She didn't know what else to do... "...You're um, welcome to come with me on my search if you'd like, otherwise, I'm just gonna go...?" Eliseris noted, albeit awkwardly due to the situation. Well, so much for tying to form connections so that she had allies, looks like pleasantries would have to come later. For now, the Scavenger Hunt.

@Andromeda @Mishiro

 

    Eliseris looked ahead and saw two crystals. Might as well grab them before someone else does. They shone a brilliant red. They might have been the most common crystal in this event, but they were worth appreciating.

 

ID# 236337 BD: 4(Crystal Found!), CD: 2(Red), LD: 17(2 Crystals Total)

Current Score: 2

 

Crystals left in the area:
Red: 21/30
Blue: 13/15
Transparent: 3/3

Edited October 28 by Eliseris

[Adelyte 0]

“Oh you know Wulfrin too?” Adelyte perked up, looking over her shoulder at the fisherman on the dock. “He helped me out with a quest I needed to take. Would have been totally boring if he hadn’t come along.” Bringing a hand to her mouth, she spoke as if she was telling a secret, but did not reduce the sound of her voice much, but rather mumbled. “Would you believe me if I told you he spent that whole time fishing too?” She laughed it off as her brain processed talk about making weapons. “Wait, Wulfrin can make weapons?!” smacking herself in the forehead, “Jeezlouise, I should have asked him to make me something! Since we are totally best friends and all.”

The palms of the bluenette’s hands squished into her cheeks, a silly expression of wonder and awe. “That’s your weapon?!” just as much excitement in her voice, “That’s so cooool! Do you like, work with tools or something? I would never expect someone like you to get down and dirty. You’re just so pretty and clean! Goes to show you can’t judge a book by its cover.” Her smile shone bright at the blonde. Bliss’ eyes trailed elsewhere, to another player passing by. Mister Irish, all tall and tone with ginger hair. “Hubba hubba.” Ad would chime in as she watched him past by a second time, “He was totally checking you out, did you see that? And that wink? Swoon.”

Another boy approached, this one actually taking the time to stop at their little gathering. The blue haired guy seeking the love of the popular blonde man.. at least in her head. As he tried to introduce himself to the group – though his eyes remained almost entirely on Bliss – she could tell she was mistaken. Pushing herself up from her stomach to sit on her kneels, she would slightly lean to one side towards the white haired member of their posse. “Those two talk the same.” Adelyte whispered to Kil, in regards to Bliss and Cobean’s stutters and stammers. For a moment, Adelyte felt a bit jealous. Seemed like Aincrad’s men were into blondes more than blues. “Nice to meet you BlueBean, call me Adelyte.” She would stick in her own greeting, dubbing the player his new nickname.

Before any more conversation would be had, the host of the party announced the start of a game; a scavenger hunt. Their goal, find crystals scattered on the beach. Adelyte’s shoulders dropped for a moment. “Like.. gathering materials?” she groaned to the group around her. Why was it always gathering things? At least this seemed a bit more fun and lighthearted.. and easier.

Getting up to her feet with the others, Bliss grabbed her and Cobean’s arms, an aura of excitement emanating around her. That was, until Kiluia stopped her with a small chop to the head and a lecture. “Woah man, watch those hands before you catch these” she balled her own tiny hand into a fist and waved it towards Kil. “How else would she get to know us without having some fun! Come on, dad, lighten up a little.” She teased, before rushing off with Bliss and Cobean once more.

“Oh yeah. For sure.” She responded to Kil as the four of them searched for any crystals poking out of the sand. “I get out all the time,” she lied. Cobean was more honest, sounding like he was in the same level range as her. Though, he went on to explain that dexterity was one of his defining traits. “Oh~ He’s dexterous, he says~” Adelyte made sure to nudge Bliss in the side with her elbow. “You must be quite a hit with the ladies then..” Her blue brows waggled up and down as she looked over at Cobean. “..or the men.”  She shrugged her shoulders, shooting a glance in the celebrity’s (Morningstar) direction for a moment. That slight look off to the side was enough to catch something in the water. Like a fishing bobber piercing through the gently rolling surface, but the same color. “Aha!” she shouted, before breaking off from the group and charging into the tide once more. “Thought you could hide from me?!” Holding the dripping wet, blue crystal in her hand high over her head, she turned to her group to show it off. “Got one!” Walking back to the sand with fingers interlaced behind her back, she fell into step with Kiluia, allowing Cobean and Bliss a moment together. “So, how did you and Bliss get to be close?” she asked, curious about their situation. She first mistook the white haired man as a boyfriend or suitor of sorts.. but he seemed to be more of a friend, a defender even. “I haven’t met many higher leveled players, but I can tell from the way you carry yourself that you have a few levels on us.” She smiled. “You seem very protective of her, its sweet.”  She let a moment hang in the air for a moment before she continued, “So, do you like, have a crush on her or something?”

ID 236354 | BD 9| CD 8 | LD 8
Blue Crystal Found

Score: 3
Crystals left in the area:
Red: 21/30
Blue: 12/15
Transparent: 3/3

[Acanthus 0]

After a brief, engaging conversation with Zandra, she had excused herself to open the scavenger hunt. A look of determination flashed across Acanthus' face. Current quest objective: win the scavenger hunt. Bonus objective: by a landslide.

She rummaged through her basket to find the handle, and with a violent tug, pulled it from the comically small basket. She then slung the thing over her shoulder. It was almost as tall as she was.

With a robotic fixation, Acanthus traced a line across the surf, digging half-meter holes approximately one meter apart. On her seventeenth hole, she turned over some dirt and gasped in delight as a pair of red crystals shined through the wet sand. Acanthus looked up to continue her line of holes and realized there was already one in her path. A young boy ( @Gambit ) hummed happily as he dug. She greeted the stranger warmly. “Hi there. Are you also looking for the crystals?” She thought back to Zandra’s instructions. Nothing against teaming up. And she didn’t mind someone else winning with her—just as long as she won too. “My name is Acanthus. You want to help me dig some holes?”
 

Post Action: Dig dig dig
236396 | BD 7 | CD 1 | LD 17. Two Red Crystals found.

Score: 2
Crystals left in the area:
Red: 19/30
Blue: 12/15
Transparent: 3/3

Edited October 29 by Acanthus

[Astra 0]

The sun beamed down on Astra as he made his way through the soft grass towards the even softer sand. He held one hand over his eyes, almost like a salute, so he could see what was going on ahead of him. Lo and behold, just like the posted message implied, a lot of other people were already here at the beach. It looks like they had begun scavenging for something, and he didn't want to interrupt. So many players that he didn't recognize, which made sense, as he'd only recently started getting his feet wet in the world. Nerves began to creep up as he thought of meeting all of these new people. How would he introduce himself? How would he contribute to any conversation or activities? Oh man, okay. Just gotta go for it.

Astra's blue eyes scanned the beach for anyone that he knew as he walked over, decked head to toe in light breezy summer clothes. He wore a white linen button up shirt with an open collar, and a pair of sky blue 4-inch swim trunks, with a cloud and star pattern adorned on them. His hair blew lightly in the breeze, with his bangs being pushed aside. His feet hit the warm sand, and for some reason a little bit of his anxiety dissipated. From the end of the beach his eyes caught Wulfrin, who he knew from his training lessons and sessions on the early floors. Unsurprisingly it looked like the brown-haired player was fishing. Of course he was! 

Astra made his way past some of the people conversing, putting on a light smile and nodding if any of their eyes met his. He'd give a formal introduction if they spoke. 

"Hey Wulfrin! Catch anything good here?" He asked with an overhead wave. He stopped by the chair that the fisherman was sitting in and looked to him. 

"Looks like a lot of people turned up here. That's a whoooole lot of people I haven't met before, but this is really nice." He wasn't lying, it was really nice. Everyone taking a break from the frontlines and the quests to get together and have a good day in the sun. 

***

Spoiler

Astra | HP: 20/20 | EN: 20/20 | DMG: 2 | MIT:0| ACC: 1 |

 

[Morningstar 0]

"Mister Not-A-Rock!"

He stared blankly for a moment, trying to piece together whether it was an insult or not.

"Oh! You!"

What was her name? An-something, An-something. Andromelith. Andropal. Androlese. Let's just stick with An.

He nudged Willow. "She saved me from the maze."

Willow snorted. "Only he'd forget teleport crystals and chalk. Glad you ran into him," she smiled.

The conversation turned in a hundred and one directions. Willow introduced herself to Colette, who had finished fawning over Morningstar. An announced her love for digging holes. Wulfrin, for some reason, owed Star an apology; he ran off before he could explain why.

"Hey, Jomei!" Star waved.

"Who's that?" Willow whispered.

"That's Jomei."

"Ahh. Clears things up."

Star's head spun as his name cut through the crowd. Not his username--his real name. He had gone years unrecognized, only to be bombarded at a random beach party on a random day. "Yeah. For sure. Monsters." He was to embarrassed to admit that he couldn't remember the blue-haired boy's name. Too many names had been thrown around for one day. One of them was Eliseris, he thought. He didn't even notice NIGHT, who had started conversation with Willow.

"They're not here for me; they're here for him. This was supposed to be a date," she admitted to NIGHT with a laugh, "but he can't keep the paparazzi away." She reached out a hand. "I'm Willow."

Someone chimed in, bringing up the group's ignorance of Willow. She was Eliseris. At least, Star was 45% sure. "Oh. Hi, NIGHT. Save us."

ID237030 bd3
no crystal found

[Mishiro 0]

"oh, um!"

an turns bashful at the woman's gratefulness.

"y-your-- i mean, please don't forget them next time!" she says first to morningstar, her hands clasped over her chest. then back to his friend. "he helped me a lot, too."

"why were you at the 25th?"

an smiles brightly. "money."

"ah."

seamlessly, an turns back to morningstar and his still unidentified friend. she doesn't need her to guide the conversation at all -- she had only needed a small nudge. an's sincerity would have reached others eventually, whether or not mishiro was here. she feels comfortable sliding back into a quieter role.

"um, i don't think i caught your name--?"

"stephen star?!"

who?

another body added to their group. he enthuses them all on morningstar's performative merits (or perhaps he was only speaking to morningstar) and leaves as abruptly as he had cut in. in the boy's wake, mishiro looks at the highlight of the hour, her mind blanking on his real name. that can't be comfortable. players exclusively introduced themselves by their usernames for a reason, moreso if reality carried weight. she comments mildly, attempting to bring down the energy of the conversation, "you used to sing?"

but an isn't on the same wavelength. she looks him up and down, disbelieving. "huh? really?" and something that she sees convinces her and she gasps. "i-i-i-i-it's super nice to meet you! oh my god! i called you a rock! i'm so sorry!!" she presses her fingers together, flushing slightly, anxious. "it kind of makes sense, now that i think about it. nervegears were super expensive. have you ever met anyone else like you?"

oh, an...

"are any of you going to acknowledge willow?"

the new voice is sharp with reprimand. an jolts. her nervousness takes on a different color. mishiro's eyes turn, wary, towards one of the women who had been there since the beginning but had mostly kept to herself. she hears an, in a valiant effort to smooth things over, mumble, impossibly quiet, "who's willow--"

an was one of the loudest in their group. she isn't going to take this well.

with every word that follows, her friend shrinks further and further into herself. her posture gains that awkward hunch she uses to try and compensate for her height. she worries at her fingernails and her red eyes flit from one member of their circle to another, searching for any hints of blame. she lingers longest on their newcomer, and mishiro realizes that an wants to leave.

"s-sorry. sorry. willow." voice trembling, her friend quickly bows her head and turns around. "uh, i'm going to try the refreshments! and the holes. you can stay, mish."

she lets her.

was that really necessary?

she resists the urge to glare at eliseris, or worsen the tension with her own sharp words. if the woman had her grievances, she could have spoken with willow herself rather than air it so tactlessly. mishiro smooths over her composure, blocking out for a moment the sight of her friend, contending with one of her worst social fears surrounded by near strangers.

"willow? it's good to meet you. you're here with morningstar, i'm assuming? i apologize if there was any offense on my or an's part." she moves to pull away, addressing morningstar, willow, the newcomer, and (where is colette?). "i'm going after her."

ignoring zandra's announcement of a 'scavenger hunt,' mishiro departs and follows her friend.

 

-> scavenger hunt: 237077: BD 1

Edited October 29 by Mishiro

[Jomei 0]

The greeting from his friend seemed rushed, as if he was trying to juggle ten other things at once. Maybe it was unwise to try and spark up a conversation with someone who was being spoken at by a number of other people. With pursed lips, his hands gently slid into the pockets of his jacket while he stepped back away from the ground. Perhaps another time then, he thought to himself as he turned from Morningstar and the others.

Now came the awkward part of any gathering - finding somewhere to fit in. The blonde haired woman had invited him to join them, but they had since left their blanket to go on the scavenger hunt Zandra put together. Already a larger group, filled with players he was unfamiliar with. A small sigh escaped his lips as he turned once more, this time with a drink on the mind. 

The bottle was unmarked, aside from a simple label pasted onto the darkened glass, leaving him to wonder if it was supposed to be alcoholic or not. With a crack, the ginger removed the bottle cap by popping it on the side of the table. The taste was pleasant, reminiscent of a beer but with a sweet hint of honey to make up for the lack of the effects of the alcohol. It'll do, he thought to himself as he took another sip. 

Jomei found a spot on the beach close to the water, not enough for the crashing waves to engulf him, but just so the occasional wave would wash over his feet as he sat staring out at the seemingly endless blue. 

[Acanthus 0]

The younger boy seemed content to dig on his own for now. “Let me know if you change your mind.” And so she continued her orderly line across the surf.

There was a foot where her next hole was supposed to go. As if awakening from a dream, Acanthus exited her self-made subroutine and examined the person to whom the foot belonged. A melancholy man with a mop of ginger hair nursed a bottle, staring contemplatively out at the sea. He seemed like he was deep in thought—it would probably be best to work around him. With a slight circular arc, she continued her line of holes behind the brooding figure. But something gnawed at her that she couldn’t let go.

“Excuse me.” She gestured to his foot. “Could you move to the left just a little? I’ve got a pattern going.”

Before the figure could respond, she could hear her brother chiding her for the comment. That’s not how you treat strangers! She heard him say.

“... I apologize. I have reason to believe that question was poorly timed.” Her hands began to throb, and she looked back at the dozens of holes she had already dug. Many of them were already washing away in the tide. Perhaps it was time for a break. “Would you mind if I sat with you for a moment?” Hoping for a yes, she preemptively plopped into the sand next to him. “Acanthus,” she said, holding out a sandy hand before pulling it back with a tinge of embarrassment. She wiped the hand down on her leg before reoffering it sheepishly.

She was talking before she realized it. “We used to come out to the beach all the time. My family, that is. Mom loved to sit and watch the waves just like this. Koji liked playing in the surf, but it always made mom anxious. You know how moms are. And Dad…” She paused with a smile. “It was the only time I ever got to see Dad act like… a kid, I guess? He was always so serious. But he loved breaking out his old metal detector. It was a massive brick from the 80s; Mom said he’d spent a fortune having it shipped in.” Acanthus shifted her gaze to the line of fading holes she’d left behind. “I guess that’s why I’m digging out here instead of somewhere more sensible. I can pretend he’s running just ahead of me, Coinmaster squawking like a seagull.”

The waves lapped at her feet, soaking the ends of her swimsuit cover. She adjusted her sunglasses, making sure they hid whatever her eyes were trying to say.

“My manners got away from me. I didn’t mean to interrupt your solitude like that.” She started to stand up. Her hands hadn’t quite recovered, and she wasn’t quite ready to leave, but Acanthus was confident she’d overstayed her welcome by unloading her life story onto a man who clearly wanted to be left alone. “It was nice to meet you. Good luck.”

Post Action: Dig dig dig
237093 | BD 8 CD 5 LD 17. Two Red Crystals found.

Score: 4
Crystals left in the area:
Red: 17/30
Blue: 12/15
Transparent: 3/3

Edited October 30 by Acanthus

[Gambit 0]

"Crystals?" Gambit asked. Was there something going on at the beach that he didn't know about? "What crystals?" 

He looked up from his digging and cast a cursory glance at the people gathered at the beach. They all seemed like they were scouring the sand for something. His mind immediately went to seashells -- but the nice lady (@Acanthus) who'd approached him had mentioned something about crystals. He looked down into the hole he'd been digging, now quite a bit more than ankle deep. The only thing in it that he could see were his own sand-covered feet. "Uh, no crystals." 

When she asked him if he wanted to help her dig holes, he squinted. Holes -- plural? As in more than one? Gambit thought about it. 

"I kinda just wanna keep digging this one. But I'll let you know if I find any, uhh -- crystals! I'll let you know if I find any crystals for you." 

[Jomei 0]

Not a word had left Jomei's lips - hardly even a gesture of his hand, offering the stranger a seat next to him - before this Acanthus began opening up to him. He had recognized her from the raid meeting not just a couple days prior, a new face on the frontlines. She was very quiet and to herself, a usual result of the anxiety and fear of the impending raid battle. Nonetheless, despite the fact that Jomei did not even have a chance to introduce himself, he allowed her to speak. 

He listened, as he was always taught. 

She spoke of her family, and their trips to the beach. Her worrisome mother and straight-faced father, who took those opportunities to unwind. And a sibling, what he would give to have that relationship with a brother, or sister. Especially now, someone he could trust to take care of his mother and even his father. He was sure this situation wasn't easy on either of them. 

Though they may have been the babbling words of one stranger to another, it would tug at his heartstrings. 

Homesick wasn't a feeling he had felt for a long time.

"H-Hey" he shrugged it off with a chuckle, gesturing a gentle hand in Acanthus' direction as she quickly stood and apologized. "No need to apologize. I wasn't over here burying myself in my woes or anything like that. I just enjoy watching the waves, feeling the sun on my skin. There weren't too many beach trips in my youth, if any at all. Not really a thing where I'm from. So getting to enjoy this here.. its just nice." Whether she had decided to sit back down or not, he continued to speak until she inevitably decided which path to take. "Thank you for sharing. It's been awhile since I've heard someone talk about their home, and their family. A nice reminder of what we're fighting to get back to." 

"And I'm Jomei, by the way. Its nice to meet you as well. You're one of our newcomers on the frontlines, yeah?" 

@Acanthus

[Andromeda 0]

An thought herself on autopilot, reaching the refreshments table, picking up a random plate of sandwiches and a coconut topped with a tiny paper umbrella. She didn't know where to go next. She ducked behind one of the tables.

Then tripped on Stephen Star's kid brother, a rock.

"Ow, ow, ow..."

It jutted out from the sand, weirdly shiny and red. An picked it up and sat down, well out of view of everyone on the greater side of the beach. She set aside her plate and drink and placed her head between her knees, grasping the rock tightly in one hand. What was she supposed to do now? Should she just go home and pray that everyone forgot in a year or so? She stayed there, still and silent, hypothesizing what everyone back there could have possibly talked about after her abrupt departure, until she heard the crunch of sand beneath careful feet. Shoulders stiffening, An raised her head to see Mishiro turning the corner of the table.

The woman paused. Her searching eyes had fallen on her.

An did still think she was pretty.

"An."

She resumed her curled up position. Her voice came out muffled. "Go away, Mish."

 

-> Scavenger Hunt: 237235: BD 10: CD 3: LD 9: (1) Red Crystal

Crystals left in the area:
Red: 16/30
Blue: 12/15
Transparent: 3/3

Edited November 1 by Andromeda

[NIGHT 0]

the crowd wasn't for her?

that made sense. had night a better memory, she would've remembered that star had a role in some play that she believed didn't exist. apparently, it did, or star was better known for one of his other roles (hopefully in casts for shows that did exist).

the player took willow's hand anyway. "i'm night. it's nice to meet you. i assume you're here on star's behalf, then...?" she tilted her head. "his plus one? not a bodyguard yourself."

in the heat of the moment, it was easy to not put two and two together. besides, it turns out that night didn't have to do much. given a few moments, the crowd had already dispersed themselves. she'd simply guided the two away from the rest of the players that had decided to linger (er, none, in hindsight?), and that was all.

"right," night decided aloud. "a job well done for me. are you two interested in looking for the crystals, then?" she held out her hands. "look, i didn't really intend to join this... er, scavenger hunt? i was just out here on a date."

talk about not being able to put two and two together, because night blinked twice, and suddenly she realized she might've been cutting into some company time.

"... er, scratch that," she decided, brushing her fringe back a little. her shuffle backwards had her stumbling upon a red object that seemed to be part of the hunt somehow. she picked it up from the sand and held it to willow. "um, my blessings to the lucky couple."

when she thought willow wasn't looking (a poor assessment, to be certain) night glanced to star, mouthing for help, unsubtle.

ID237237 | bd7 | cd3 | ld2 | -> 1 red crystal.

Red: 15/30
Blue: 12/15
Transparent: 3/3

[Colette 0]

                               Colette looked to her left and to her right, looking for anything that might be nearby. So far, no luck. Maybe there weren't many obvious ones. She might have to look places other than just the sandy beach itself...maybe there were some under some objects scattered about?

     Now that Colette thought about it, she wasn't known to any of these people here on the beach. The only person she could disappoint was herself...but she couldn't disappoint herself, she understood herself and knew her limits. In this Scavenger Hunt, she had nothing to lose, and so much to gain. She just had to win a little...enough to win eyes over, but not enough to look like someone who could carry the heavy load...

      Soon, she spotted something out of place. That sparkle of blue in the distance, that wasn't a shell, that was...a jewel. She ran over to it and picked it up. Three Red Crystals, One Blue. Maybe the hostess would let the players keep whatever they found? Colette might be able to make something cute with these...

 

ID# BD: 6(Crystal found!), CD: 11(Blue), LD: 11(One Blue Crystal)

Crystals Found: 3 Red, 1 Blue

Current Score: 6

 

Crystals left in Area:

Red: 15/30
Blue: 11/15
Transparent: 3/3

Edited November 14 by Colette

[Bliss 0]

@KnightinGale Bliss noticed a striking woman approaching her, a gorgeous, silver-haired figure with an edgy, punk-rock vibe that made Bliss feel instantly self-conscious. The woman’s long silver hair was pulled back in a sleek ponytail, and her entire presence radiated cool confidence. "O-Oh. T-These?" Bliss stammered, holding up her wrenches as her cheeks warmed. "Y-Yeah, I lose my 10mm sockets all the time in real life, s-so I-I asked that broody man in the Hawaiian shirt over there to make them for me. I think... I think his name is Wulfrin." She pointed in Wulfrin's direction, glancing back at the punk woman and feeling a bit like she’d been caught showing off. She took a shaky breath and extended her hand, doing her best to appear calm despite the intimidating aura of the gorgeous woman standing before her. "I-I’m Bliss," she managed with a nervous smile, her voice barely above a whisper. "Wh-Wh-What’s your name?"

@Adelyte "Y-Yeah!" Bliss stammered, feeling a spark of excitement at being able to share what she knew. "He advertises on th-the player request board. Offers armor sets for newer players, too," she explained, her voice growing steadier as she put her wrenches away and focused on Adelyte. The mention of tools brought out a glimmer in her eyes as she continued, "I work with l-lots of tools. I actually… own a garage where I work on v-vintage cars. It’s my whole setup. I don’t work on newer cars too much, but every now and then, if someone really needs it, I give them a good deal on my s-services." The words flowed easily until she realized how much she was sharing, and her face flushed with embarrassment. Just then, Adelyte’s comment about the hot irish man made Bliss become even more flustered. A mix of disbelief and shy laughter bubbled up. "N-No way!" she protested, feeling her cheeks grow warmer. "There’s no way someone who looks that good would actually… check me out." Her eyes drifted to the side, zoning out for a second as the thought danced in her mind. 

@Cobean "Cobean! Wh-What a cute name!" Bliss stammered, her smile both sweet and a little clumsy. The words tumbled out faster than she intended, and she quickly glanced down, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Nice t-t-to meet you as well." As they chatted, her gaze wandered to the sand, where a small, pearly shell caught her eye. She bent down to pick it up, turning it over in her hand before deciding to slip it into her inventory. Maybe it’d make a nice little keepsake. Cobean’s excitement for the scavenger hunt was infectious. He talked animatedly, his eyes sparkling with energy. Bliss tried to match his enthusiasm, but as the minutes passed, she felt her own excitement start to dip. While she was happy to be there, the energy it took to keep up was starting to weigh on her, and she could feel herself slowly slipping away. Steeling herself, she took a quiet breath. She could still try and enjoy the moment, even if she was running a bit low on energy and emotion. She had gained a little bit of energy back when Cobean stated he was dexterous and Adelyte poked fun at it by nudging her with her elbow, "Heheh." That was really all she could muster.  

@Kiluia Seiko With her arms linked between Adelyte and Cobean, Bliss was laughing as they set off on their scavenger hunt when, BONK, a gentle but surprising karate chop landed on her head. "What the fuck!? OW!" She let out an exaggerated yelp, rubbing her head while shooting an indignant, pouty look up at Kil. "What the hell was that for?" Before she could say more, Adelyte immediately came to her defense. After Kil explained his reasoning, Bliss retorted, "They seem safe enough. I don’t think e-either of them would hurt me," Bliss replied, looking at Kil, flustered but smiling gratefully at Adelyte’s protectiveness. She hadn’t sensed any danger from her new friends, to her, they’d been nothing but welcoming and sweet. She understood Kil was looking out for her safety, but a little part of her bristled at being treated like a kid, especially by someone younger than her.

Bliss felt her energy draining, a quiet reminder of how long it had been since she'd been around this many people. Her breathing shallowed, it had been years, not since… PANIC. Bliss began to hyperventilate quietly. I don’t wanna ruin anyone’s fun, she reminded herself and forced a smile. She took a deep breath and unlinked her arm from Cobean's. "Y’all go on ahead. I-I’ll be over th-there," she said, gesturing toward the water. Adelyte was walking alongside Kil, and they seemed to be wrapped in an interesting conversation. Bliss didn’t want to interrupt them. "Feel free to join me later, okay?" she added, giving Cobean a gentle smile before turning and heading toward the water. As she made her way down the beautiful beach, she spotted the very hot irish man from earlier standing at the water, the ocean backdrop framing him like something straight out of a movie. Her face turned pink, and she quickly looked away, recalling Adelyte’s earlier comment with a quiet but flustered squeak. Not gonna go over there.

Settling into a quiet spot a little ways down, Bliss let out a relieved sigh. I just need a moment. Just a quick breather. She let her toes sink into the cool, wet sand as she wandered closer to the water. The ocean waves lapped at her feet, a soothing rhythm that brought her a rare sense of calm. With a peaceful sigh, she sat down in the shallow water, letting the gentle waves crash against her. It reminded her of the beach days from her childhood, carefree moments when things were simple. She closed her eyes, letting the sound of the ocean fill her mind, focusing on nothing else but the sounds of the waves.

Edited November 2 by Bliss

[Astra 0]

After watching his pseudo-mentor catch some fish, Astra turned his attention to the others who were walking along the beach. It seemed like a good chunk of the people here were at least somewhat familiar with each other, and were connecting and chatting without a care. His perception and penchant for people watching also gave him that the idea that some of the others here didn't know as many people, just like him. That was reassuring, he wasn't alone in that at least. Maybe it was time to try introducing himself to someone, come out of his shell just a bit. 

Astra noticed as an astoundingly pretty blonde haired girl walked arm and arm with some acquaintances. It looked like she was fairly popular with some of the people here, and he wondered if it's because of the sort of radiant aura she seemingly gave off. I mean, it was hard not to notice someone like that. As she broke away from her friends and stepped softly into the waves, Astra fought internally about whether or not he should introduce himself. Well, I don't want to bother her. Maybe I can just say hi. What would I even say? Oh man...

Working up the courage to go and introduce himself, he began to move his feet, walking away from Wulfrin with a wave goodbye. He closed his eyes for a moment as he walked and inhaled the salty beach air, before expelling it from his lungs. What am I so anxious for? 

Not wanting to startle the girl, he made sure that he didn't walk too fast as he went to greet her. He stepped into the water, with the lapis waves softly crashing over his feet, slightly climbing up his ankles. It was as if his nerves seem to fade away all at once when he went into the water, with the bright blue sky before him. He walked through the water and stood next to the girl, at first too nervous to even look at her, but once he did he could feel his face begin to heat up and a blush spreading across his cheeks. She was actually even more alluring up close. 

"U-um. It's beautiful out here, right? I feel like I haven't had an escape like this in a long time," he said to her. He looked over to her and offered a small smile. "My name's Astra, I couldn't help but notice you were sitting here alone. Mind if I join?" She could always say no, so he didn't sit in the waves next to her right away. He hoped with all of his might that she couldn't hear the nerves in his voice when he spoke. Gotta keep it together. Be cool, or something. 

[Kiluia Seiko 0]

The warmth of the sand kept him toasty as he allowed himself to sink into as Adelyte came to converse. The words were like a string of sentences that seemed to come out and rush at him but just only his imagination running a bit wild. It'd been years since the man had come out to such events to attend to and it was practically like his old days visiting a variety of players ranging from people who still were here today to those who were not.  

To answer her first question, "We met at a church helping kids. The ones who got the game and became trapped. They lost motivation so I've been visiting about once a month to provide them with food and care. She was helping them by learning the ropes of going out on the first floor." He spoke as he looked over at Bliss.

The words of how she presented how she was hurt was an exaggeration, of course, but it felt a bit stinging. The words of people who seemed to enjoy the game without a worry seemed to downplay such events of people who would try to risk their lives to protect and serve them. It left a disdainful taste in his mouth. As she walked away, he moved slightly to stop her but retracted his movements as the conversation continued.

Eyes darkened as she left but he spoke in conversation. "Yeah. Just trying to do my part in keeping people safe. Not many people volunteer at the church." His gaze seemed to follow Adelyte for a second before he feigned a smile. "No crush. Just a simple friend." Preservation of the heart mattered most now. If no one appreciated the threats within the game, then there was nothing he could do in the meantime.

Memories of the past flooded the landscape of his mind from when he returned. Few people showed but it was the two who mattered who came to his rescue. Lessa and Raidou who kept his memory alive. The portrait of people who had X's over their faces were people who died or went missing. A fair amount enough to scar someone. Adding to that list... perhaps he would just simply stay away for now and gather his thoughts as he looked at Adelyte. "Sorry but I'm going to see if I can't find some of those items by myself. Feel free to keep her company."

He looked at the ground to search and shuffled through the white sands to find two red tinted crystals. He dusted off the sands and tucked them away in his inventory. He looked at Bliss one more time only to see another young man approach. It seemed the butterfly would attract other butterflies. She wouldn't miss him. Or so he thought to himself as he wandered off. "Pleasure meeting you, Adelyte! I hope we run into each other again." He smiled and shot her a message of a friend request. They would meet again sometime. 

 

Spoiler

ID: 237283    7    5    17
Result: Success! Two Red Crystals 

 

Edited November 2 by Kiluia Seiko

[Adelyte 0]

"Ohmygosh!" Adelyte exclaimed as she came to a halt. "I never even thought of all the little babies who just wanted to play a game!" Her realization brought on a sudden sadness, distraught by the fact that, not just adults but, children were stuck in this death game. Being forced to survive on their own, without their parents. "Everyone I had met so far was an older teenager.. or an adult. I never would have thought..." The tears that welled in her eyes seemed like drops of saltwater drawn from the sea beside them. When one finally escaped, it traced a slow path down her cheek, like a wave breaking upon an invisible shore, carrying with it the weight of those poor souls. "Sorry I-" a wrist would raise to wipe at her eyes, drying the salty tears, "I use to babysit the kids that parents brought to my mama's job. Not really a place for them, but its hard to say no when they are paying to get in.. The fear in their eyes if their mama or papa were a little late to pick them up." The tip of her tongue would push in to the side of her cheek, fighting to keep the rising tides in her eyes from spilling over. "I can only imagine how they are feeling now.." 

"Guh" she groaned as she rubbed at her eyes with the heels of her hands. "I just like kids. Super cute and totally innocent. You'll have to tell me where I can find that church, I would love to volunteer." The sadness faded as excitement at the prospect of helping kids through this tough time bubbled up within her. 

The conversation was cut short as Kil seemed keen on taking part in this scavenger hunt. "Oh, alright. It was nice meeting you as well!" She waved her new friend off as they headed off to the other side of the beach to try and find some buried treasure. Ah, right! She had followed Bliss and Cobean out here to find those same crystals. Turning from where she watched Kil run off to, she saw that the group had disbanded. Bliss was sitting in the water on her own, at least until another boy approached her. What the hell, so much attention. Cobean, on the other hand was left back where they were searching. Puffing out her cheeks, she would storm over to the other blue haired player.

"Hey there Bluebean" Adelyte would chime with a smile as she approached the boy. "So what happened? One second I go to talk to Kil, and the next Bliss is off getting all the attention from another boy." She definitely wasn't jealous. "She didn't seem too happy, did you say something to upset her?" Her voice did not give off hostility, but the step up to a couple inches away from him and the pointing finger to his chest said otherwise. "Because if I find out you did I swear to God." pulling back a fist, she would jokingly wind it up with some cartoonish flair before gently tapping it against his chest. "Nah, you don't seem like the type to do that" she shook her head, letting him know she was joking. "But seriously though, she alright?"

ID 237328 | BD 3 | Womp Womp :c

Score: 3
Crystals left in Area:

Red: 13/30
Blue: 11/15
Transparent: 3/3