[Open Log]

[bearshermark]

Who: Elliott and OPEN to ALL Different!
What: Beach Partyyy!
When: May 31st, all night
Where: Rockaway Beach
Rating/Warnings: Will update if needed



It's a good spot.

Two diagonal picnic tables are parked a within roasting fork distance of the fire pit. It starts as a small, flickering fire, but once everyone's gathered, Elliott takes the opportunity to kick the night off and turn up the heat with the aid of a few magical fireballs.

There's hotdogs and an overlaying grill to cook up Yotsuyu's mix of meat and veggie kebabs. A cooler filled with soda and water bottles sits further away to avoid premature melting. Cookies and marshmallows or s'mores feature as dessert- or dinner, if that's anyone's preference.

For entertainment, Roselia makes a live, musical debut with Lisa as its sole performer. Meanwhile, Elliott does his best to encourage socialization and facilitate any necessary introductions. There's even a volleyball net and ball, and at least one attempt is made to form teams and get a game going.

But for the quieter sorts, dark, ocean waves lap at the shore outside the firelight. The weather is perfectly clear, and the location affords a rare opportunity to enjoy the stars. There might even be a cat playing in the sand somewhere nearby.

Some accouterments (like cutlery or extra chairs) might have been accidentally overlooked.

...He tried okay.

Comments

Aziraphale/Mr. Fell - OTA

[temptationaccomplished]

Aziraphale went a little overboard bringing snacks: more cookies than strictly necessary (and yet somehow he fit them on a motorcycle) as well as his handsome new beau Anthony who was also, as the kids these days say, a snack. Sadly it's illegal to have open alcohol on the beach, so he hasn't any wine. What a pity.

Dressed more casually than usual in a button-up and khaki linen pants, Aziraphale is definitely not planning to go near the water. He's brought his own red-and-white checked picnic blanket just in case its needed, and he'll spend most of the evening flitting about and enjoying the party: chitchatting, appreciating the music, or looking at the stars and snuggling up next to Anthony.

[bearshermark]

"Mr. Fell!"

Elliott spotted him the moment he arrived, but waited until he'd settled down to approach. Still, he was all smiles when finally he did.

"I'm so glad you came- and with Anthony, too. I hope you guys enjoy yourselves- or at least are able to relax some."

[howkickassiam]

York's been out of town for two months, so this is sort of his chance to get reacquainted with people he hasn't seen in all that time. Mr. Fell's face is familiar and when York sees him, he greets him with a grin and a broad slap on the shoulder.

"Hey there, Mr. Fell! Long time, no see!"

He puts out his hand for a handshake.

"And who's your friend?" he asks, giving Anthony a nod, although he's not standing just nearby. He'd witnessed some physical affection going on between the two men, and he immediately shipped it.

Re: Aziraphale/Mr. Fell - OTA

[consortofalderaan]

Bail caught Aziraphale in a moment of looking at the stars. He took it as a good opportunity to introduce himself.

"I'm Bail." He put his soda in his left hand and held out his right. "I don't think we've met yet."

Wei Wuxian | OTA

[chenqing_player]

Wei Wuxian loves a party and he loves the water even more. He has always been drawn to lakes and the ocean and he doesn't quite understand it. So the fact they are having a get-together at night on the beach just makes him really excited..even without alcohol to keep himself entertained. He'll just have to make due with the all age drinks.

Dressed in tight black jeans, a white t-shit and a red denim jacket, Wei Wuxian made sure he was dressed for comfort as well as a little bit of protection against any coolness the night might bring. Shoes are already gone as he walks barefooted towards the party.

First stop is definitely the food as he scopes out all the kebabs. His mouth is already watering as he reaches out and takes one. After adding a few more items to his plate, he carries it over to the table and sits up on it so that he can be ready to cook his marshmallows for smores once he finishes.

[bearshermark]

Elliott has a hotdog at the end of his roasting fork, and takes a seat next to Wei Wuxian with a grin. While this was technically their first time meeting in person, it felt more familiar than that after talking a few times over the network.

"We got our wish, huh?" he says, pointing up at the stars with a free hand. "I'm really glad the weather cooperated tonight. It's almost perfect."

Re: Wei Wuxian | OTA

[ashenscipher]

Bitterblue was on the picnic table, sitting on the bench watching the fire when Wei sat down. She looked up at him - forever looking up, she was. The plight of being short.

She had a few marshmallows in her hand and she was snacking on them - yes, untoasted.

"Enjoying yourself?" she said with her French accent, smiling up at Wei.

Obi-Wan/Ben Kenobi - OTA

[neverjedi]

Obi-Wan is definitely one of the quieter sorts. When he's not deliberately putting himself in the spotlight, he prefers simply fading back and letting others come to him if they choose. That's what he's doing tonight.

He's wearing shorts and t-shirt that was a gift from one of his students. No shoes, feet completely buried in the sand he's sitting on and a bottle of diet soda.

He's not far outside the reach of firelight, and there's a jacket just beside him if he needs it later, but mostly he's watching the stars and people tonight. He's all but radiating contentment while he does it.

He will get up and kick some ass at Volleyball at some point, though. Then return to his spot int he sand and being quietly content and present.

[bearshermark]

Elliott drops down next to him, out of breath, and leans back on his elbows.

"Man, where'd you get that good?" His own team had 'lost', but the game had been fun anyway.

[howkickassiam]

York doesn't waste any time—he approaches the place where Ben is sitting, scopes it out for a moment, and then plops right down on the sand next to him.

"Hey, there," he says. "Turned out to be a perfect night, huh?"

Ben/Bail

[consortofalderaan]

Bail arrived in time to watch Ben 'kick some ass at Volleyball' but not so on time that he was picked for team. And he was okay with that, some people were meant to play sports, some people were meant to be entertained.

He went to Ben when he was done playing.

"Can I sit here with you?" It was easier to ask that this time, having already shared lunch. Part of him wished their dinner could have been yesterday.

[aggressive_negotiations]

Smith has been making the rounds, introducing herself to the others. What strikes her so far is the diversity of the Different -- People here are from all ages, all walks of life. Whatever has been happening, it does not seem selective.

For example: a figure skating coach. She approaches him with a smile.

"What rink do you work at?"

Lisa Imai | OTA

[traceofeffort]

Lisa went all-out today, for various reasons; as asked, she showed with a cooler in tow, bearing soda, bottled water, ice, a bag of ice because who knows where everyone's hands will have been by later tonight, and a sealed jug of sweet tea because it's her - she'll share, of course. She's dressed casually for the occasion, too, carrying a larger tote bag with a change of clothes but currently in a loose, cream top and denim shorts, a gold bangle and her now-signature rabbit earrings catching the eye. Then there's the gig bag on her back... but now that she's got more than one of those, while she did promise a guitar performance tonight, who knows what's in there? Earlier in the day she's cheery and does a fair bit of running around, socializing, playing around - if anyone sets up the net she'll give volleyball a try - and at one point building a small sandcastle, although quite a bit later she can be found destroying it like it's offended her. And between things she's more than content to just sit by the fire and take a break. She's needed one for a little while now, really, and it can't be from crying all over her friends and acquaintances.

But later in the evening, as the sun dims and the fire is what illuminates everyone's faces, Lisa lets out a shaky breath, slaps her cheeks, and puts her game face on. Her tea's set aside and she finally goes back to her bag, taking out her acoustic guitar and finding a nice place to sit, setting her phone down propped up to record her. "Okay," she starts, "I know I've been promising this for a little while. Lemme warm up with a couple songs y'all have probably heard before, and then we'll get into the fun stuff." That's said while she tunes her guitar - it takes only a moment, given she's done that three or four times in the last 24 hours out of anxiety - and then takes a long breath in, centering herself again. She knows why she feels like this, it just galls her, and she shakes it off quickly enough, smiling out at her tiny crowd. Even Galaxy had a larger crowd than this, even the bars she plays now, but... it means more today than it's ever meant to her before. So with that feeling in her heart, she strums out the first notes of an adaptation of I'm Movin' On, to use the somber mood she's trying to shake off and inspire herself to push harder, that she's got things under control. Then it's Find Out Who Your Friends Are, which is probably too direct a message, but she also doesn't care, and she glances around at the small crowd that's made her feel comfortable enough to do this in the first place.

[♫ LOUDER | Anime live show (@ 17:17, ads), full song]
And then she seems to draw herself up, and even as she innately feels this isn't the right set of strings she should be playing, Lisa launches into the opening guitar riff of the first (full) thing she knows of Roselia's music. It feels different, hollow somehow, too slow, yet as the pulse of the music flows through her, she comes alive - this is hers, in a raw, almost unexpected way. She's not that Lisa, and she's sure not Sayo to be be playing lead guitar, but she doesn't care. In this place, this time, she is Roselia. That's enough. Her hair is wild, swinging everywhere as she loses herself in the music, focusing on making sure her fingers play the guitar track and don't try to switch to the bass line, singing lead vocals and not the backup, and belting out the best J-rock this crowd's ever heard she hopes. Actually having this go well is doing wonders for her confidence, and in turn she amps her show up, shifting upright and really getting into it, using her body to give her playing more power. When she hits the drop going into the last chorus, and she stills her strings for a second, two seconds, three seconds of silence, there's a flash in her eyes as she flips her mane of hair back out of her face and takes in her tiny audience again. They haven't paid for tickets, this is a terrible venue, and her costume... well, isn't. And yet she understands. Her other's best friend aside, this is what being in a band is about. This feeling. This burning in her blood. This overwhelming emotion, as her voice breaks just a little- "Louder! You're my everything-" As she carries herself through the rest of the song, her heart is pounding, and her eyes are wet but clear, even as they flash with a will she's been trying to find for what feels like months. Maybe longer.

Her set goes on a few more songs; If in August is scrapped because she couldn't figure out how to make the duet work by herself, and it's mostly just a few more country songs before she wraps up, sweating and feeling like she'd run a mile or three. But as she downs the rest of her iced tea, then a bottle of water, then half of another bottle of water, holding a stick with a marshmallow on the end with a slightly sore arm, her smile is radiant. What had she been hiding from this whole time? Why had she been so scared? She'd wasted so much time... no, no more. From here she's not going to let herself be held back. And even now, that resolve shows, as she's more open in conversation and finds people that look like they need company. And maybe goes back for more s'mores to share.

[bearshermark]

Elliott's just as happy for her as he is excited to see her play. So as she tunes her guitar, he settles in to watch her and smiles along to the songs he knows through her warm-up. He's not surprised she has a nice singing voice, but it's a pleasant reveal all the same.

But the warm-ups are nothing compared to her actual performance. The way the music takes her and the language washes over him, mostly foreign but for the passion they're delivered with. She dances while she plays, and it's fascinating and so close to magical that his heart skips several beats when her voice breaks in the wake of a heart-pounding silence. She delivers an infectious energy he can't help but find himself enraptured by, knee bouncing with a muted will to be part of it.

He's utterly in awe of her talent by the end of it. So much in fact, that he struggles against speechlessness when she's finally finished with her set. He knows he's staring, but can't really stop, so his face and ears simply burn to match.

"I... um- that's.. you're.. wow."

[serpentinthegarden]

She was going to have to fight him for the smores!

While during the concert Anthony had been curled up using Fell's lap for a pillow now that it was over and his eyes were open again, he had slithered his way back over to the dessert table. He had in the past made fun of the American smore... but damn if they weren't good. Anthony snatched about four of the things, thinking he might share a few with Fell when he returned to their patch in the sand, but stopped when he felt the need to pass the marshmallows to the guest singer. She looked tired but still sparkling with that performance radiance she'd displayed on their make-shift stage.

"That was a Hell of a performance. Do you do things like this all the time... I mean professionally?"

[ashenscipher]

"Oh no," Bitteblue said. But she was smiling as she walked up. "You destroyed my castle!" She was talking about the castle in her memories. "I wished on a star for that."

Elliott/Eleven- OTA

[bearshermark]

1. Greeting

Elliott makes it a point to try to greet everyone as they arrive.

"Thanks for coming!" he says with a bright grin that despite a repeated appearance throughout the evening, remains utterly sincere. As he'd gotten to work on setting up for the day, part of him had worried no one would actually show up.

"We've got food, music, and dessert so help yourself." His grin turns a little bit mischievous. "And we might even get a volleyball game going later. Would you be interested?"


2. Socializing

As the party host, suffice to say Elliott spends the majority of the evening flitting between party-goers. He'll fetch drinks, hunt down a spare roasting fork for anyone in need of one, or just drop into their space with a radiant smile like he's simply thriving off the energy of the evening.

"I think tonight's going well so far. I hope you're enjoying it."


3. Food

Of course, it's not a party without food. Elliott snags several kebabs and two hotdogs for himself, and goes to town on the especially large, fluffy marshmallows he's brought for the occasion for good measure. His mom might be present, but he's not concerned himself with eating in order. In terms of efficiency, kebabs cook the slowest, and the roasting forks have two prongs on them. And so he's roasting a pair of marshmallows crammed onto one, and a hotdog on the other while a pair of kebabs roast on the grill.

The marshmallows come off almost perfectly golden and gooey.

"Mmmn," he says around them, and swallows. "Man, I haven't done this in too long."


4. Quiet

Even the most social types need a break now and again. As things begin to wind down for the evening, Elliott takes a trip down to sit on the shore and let the cold touch of the waves lap against his heels. He stretches out on the sand and stares off at the indefinite horizon with a quiet hum.

"I guess it's too late to make a wish," he remarks to the sky full of stars, voice hollowing on the edge of a stifled yawn. He breathes a sigh and kicks his feet a little. "But.. I hope things can always be like this."

[howkickassiam]

The mention of volleyball brightens his already grinning face.

"Hey, man, yeah, of course," he says. "'d love to beat everyone in one-on-one beach volleyball. I haven't had the chance to play since...well, it's been a while."

He chuckles, then holds up the gourmet sodas he'd brought, a 12-bottle variety pack of Jones Soda.

"Sorry I didn't bring much," he adds.

Anthony J. Crowley | OTA

[serpentinthegarden]

Anthony had arrived on a hot bike, with his sweet newly nicknamed squeeze, but had taken the time in the parking lot to strip off his riding gear and reveal something a good deal more comfortable. Anthony had been considering some kind of speedo or low-rise swim brief, but for some strange reason these trunks had spoken to him. However unlike Fell, this outfit was definitely made for swimming. After all if he were this close to the beach he did intend to at least dip his toes into the water.

He smirked at the smores, as he couldn't imagine a more stereotypical American campfire treat than that one... but ate at least a dozen. And then he saw the hot dogs. Naturally a few of these needed to be noshed on as well.

After waiting a reasonable amount of time he shrugged off his sunglasses, sandals, and shirt and splashed into the waves to have a bit of a swim around under the star filled sky. He would naturally watch after anyone willing to join him.

[chenqing_player]

Wei Wuxian had his feet in the water but that is as far as he has gotten. He may have what could be considered a bathing suit by some underneath those jeans of his, but he hasn't yet been ready to strip off layers to reveal it so that he can enjoy the water.

Instead he looks up at the sky, enjoying the large expanse of stars above him and even enjoying how they reflect off the water. He has a feeling that his peaceful life is going to change soon and so he wants to take in as much as he can right now.

"The water isn't too cold?"

Yotsuyu Naeuri | OTA

[darkenedmoon]

There is a reason why Elliott's mother shows up fashionably late, of course. It may just be her tiny Mini Cooper that she's parked in the beach lot, but the back is filled to the brim with things he may have forgotten. That cutlery. Extra napkins, plastic glasses, all of these in a wicker basket to prevent the wind from taking them. A small table to put that on--the basket and the cake, of course. Said cake is simple enough--it just has a sandcastle drawn on it simply, dusted with dark-blue painted frosting. Edible glitter fireworks explode in the 'sky', and it only says "Happy Summer".

Yotsuyu herself has a white, broad-brimmed sun hat, ridiculous Jackie O sunglasses, and a cover-up, all in white, along with what seem to be heeled flip-flops.

"Sorry I'm late! The tofu wasn't quite right, it needed a little more!" And she'd brought more hot dogs and kebab fixings, as well as more dessert. And if there was a bottle of wine or two hidden in her car, well, that could be kept hush-hush, right? Throw in some of the fruit salad and call it a sangria. Everyone really ought to be well taken care of.

After all, it was supposed to be a party, wasn't it?

Re: Yotsuyu Naeuri | OTA

[howkickassiam]

York immediately sees that she's carrying a lot and leaps up to rush over and offer his help.

"Need me to take anything off your hands?" he asks, already holding out his hands, ready to accept whatever she'd want to divest herself of. He doesn't grab, though—that's a good way to cause everything to end up on the ground.

Jack Harkness l OTA

[captainspain]

Jack was a little nervous about showing up and mingling among a bunch of people he didn't know. But it was a beautiful day and he was sick of running lines and going home. So here he was dressed in a light blue shirt and white shorts trying to find a spot to lay out his towel and humming a song from his newest show under his breath.

[chenqing_player]

He was just coming out of the water from having a swim when he spots the other man laying out his towel. It takes him a minute but he grins as recognition hits him.

"Ah! The one who also likes the stars!"

Padme/Smith | OTA

[aggressive_negotiations]

It's a public event, and public events mean photos. As such, Smith wears a modest blue bathing suit, a knit cover-up, and a wide-brimmed sunhat. Although her outfit is modest, she is friendly an open to the public as she navigates through the space.

She circulates the party, at turns listening to music, singing up for volleyball, and sitting beside the fire with her toes in the sand.

All the while, she carries a clipboard under her shoulder.

Re: Padme/Smith | OTA

[consortofalderaan]

Bail was stunned the moment he saw her. She looked exactly like the woman that was sitting next to him in his memory. In fact, he was even speechless for a moment. He'd been told it was possible, but he hadn't expected it to happen to him.

But curiosity cut through his astonishment and made him approach.

"Hello," he held out a hand. "I'm Bail. Are you new?"

Clarence - OTA

[hardtoignore]

A pale, quiet boy sits in the sand, not caring if his black jeans or sleeveless black shirt get dirty. In his lap rests a cat, orange and soft and purring, though that won't last long. The sand is too inviting, nice and warm on the cat's feet, so soon Cheddar will leave his owner's lap to run along the beach and paw at washed up debris.

Clarence has also brought two containers of food to add to the spread. One contains several rounds of injera and the other full of what could only be called a "stew" made of chicken and spices. The lid has a hastily taped on note that read "pour on bread" and "beware: somewhat spicy." If Clarence happens to see anyone approach it, he keeps an eye out to make sure they don't... over-indulge.

While Clarence doesn't reach out to others, he seems content to watch everyone's shenanigans while trying to keep Cheddar from wandering too far. He's happy to remain on the sidelines for now and just listen as Lisa picks away at her bass.

[chenqing_player]

Wei Wuxian reads the note and when he sees the word 'spicy' he holds up his arms as if he just scored a major victory and is celebrating. "Finally! Something with some kick!" He loves spicy foods and can eat even the hottest of items.

He grabs a plate and although he isn't familiar with the dish, he makes sure he does exactly what the note tells him to.