[Vacation! Open thread]

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

Characters: Rinoa, OPEN
Progress: Ongoing
Summary: It's time to hit the beach! Get out your bikinis and swimming trunks, girls and boys. Yes, even you, Squall. Party style! Feel free to threadhop, start your own threads etc.
Location: Costa Faguita
Date: May, 1804
Warnings: None

This was the life. Rinoa relaxed on a sun lounger, soaking up the rays. Behind her sunglasses, her eyes were closed. She could hear the waves lapping gently against the beach in the background. It was as though the dragon invasion had never happened.

A group of holidaymakers passed by, laughing and joking as they headed for the sea. Rinoa sat up to take a look around. Hmm. Maybe it was time she went for a swim. But first she needed to reapply her sun cream. She smoothed back her hair and picked up her bottle of sun lotion. Now was there anyone around who might want to help? 

Comments

[bastard.livejournal.com]

Seifer had no recollection of the blonde girl standing before him, however. Which was odd, considering the fact that she seemed pretty familiar with him. It couldn't have been anyone from Balamb Garden--he would have remembered, and he seriously doubted that any of his former classmates would be going out of their way to come up to him and catch up on old times.

"Do I know you?"

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

"She's in the airship. I had the hardest time getting her to stay. I think she knew we were coming to meet you." Penelo had no doubt the bird must have known. Once she'd heard Mjrn's voice through the phone, the cockatrice had finally started to eat once more.

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

That drew a small smile and a nod out of Penelo in response. "I'm glad to hear it. Especially since it means we get to spend some time with you." Without waiting for an invitation, Penelo fell into stride with Kain's walk on the shore. "You looked... " The word lonely almost slipped out, but at the last moment, she changed it to something else. "...serious. Is something bothering you?"

[danceawaypain.livejournal.com]

Penelo hummed thoughtfully, and her head canted to the side. "I suppose you don't now. It's been a while." How to explain the awkwardness of watching familiar people come and go, and having left once herself? "I'm Penelo. We traveled together before, but I suppose you don't remember now. How have you been?"

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

So much for keeping her balance. Rydia shrieked, but was unable to stop herself from plummeting into the water at a rapid pace. She flailed for a moment before surfacing, knowledge of how to swim overriding her shock. Brushing her hair out of her face, she glanced around for Selphie.

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

Kain shrugged. "Perhaps you might? Those I'm with have taken up residence in Troia, if you've met." He gestured toward a few others from his world. "Cecil and Rosa over there... Rydia, and... Edge." A faint trace of disdain at that name. "Edward as well, over there."

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure we can find a place that's remote enough. The crowds seem to be mostly in one area of the beach." That, and Kain was an expert at finding locations to be alone in. Not just for brooding, but training as well. He especially didn't like a good session being interrupted by anyone. "It's been much too long since the last time, anyway."

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

It took Kain a moment to remember her, too, but when he did he faintly groaned."...Selphie?" Kain looked over to her, and then to the oncoming group. "What's going on? What have you done to these people?" He leveled a threatening glare on the first of the group to approach, looking like he was about to start punching anyone who dared get closer. Perhaps he would...

[xredthespianx.livejournal.com]

Blank returned the smile and soon joined Mjrn in the water, digging his toes into the sand. Costa Faguita sure was pretty, and it was great to see people relaxing after the dragon attacks.

"How are you doing, Mjrn?" He was worried about her. It couldn't be easy adjusting to life with dulled senses. It seemed it was the steep price Gaia desired for a second chance. Hopefully with time it would pass.

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

"I suppose so. Although I enjoy spending time with Zephyr." In Kain's opinion, a dragon was the best companion of all.

He sighed wistfully and then looked away. Yes, leave it to Kain to spend a fun relaxing trip brooding while everyone else played games. "I was just taking some time to think."

[dragoon-rising.livejournal.com]

Kain immediately looked over his shoulder, expecting a certain annoying ninja to be right behind Rydia. Then he glanced in the other direction to make perfectly certain he wasn't following. Only after that, could he relax enough to talk.

"It's nothing that you need be concerned over..." Really, why did everyone see it necessary to pry?

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

Rydia sighed a bit. Getting Kain to open up about anything at all was akin to pulling teeth, at times. She knew there was only so much she could expect, but it was still frustrating, even when going for the goal of making light conversation.

"Believe it or not, you're a friend. I'm allowed to care." She crossed her arms.

[dewdrop-pebbles.livejournal.com]

"Then perhaps now she ought to be allowed to roam more freely." Mjrn waited for Penelo to lead the way, since she wasn't sure where the airship was landed.

[dewdrop-pebbles.livejournal.com]

Mjrn shakes her head. "I would not enjoy that manner of surprise. I did see large fish by the Nebra River, in Dalmasca. They swam in the air, by the shoreline. I know not if they were hostile, but I did not venture too closely."

[dewdrop-pebbles.livejournal.com]

"Aye, likewise. I am glad to have traded the chill of Narshe for warmth and sunlight." Mjrn tilts her face up to the breeze. "I will almost be sorry to leave...."

[dewdrop-pebbles.livejournal.com]

"Aye, indeed." Mjrn peered behind them, at the crowds, then grew thoughtful. Well, why not now, since neither of them seemed especially interested in partying? "If you allow me a moment, I can retrieve my spear."

[dewdrop-pebbles.livejournal.com]

Mjrn took a moment to answer that question. She still had no desire to dampen anyone's mood with her uncertainties. But...Blank had asked, and she could not imagine being less than honest with him.

"I...am managing. It is less a shock than it was at Guadosalam, though I cannot say I am used to it, yet. It will take time, though at least it allows me to tolerate the crowds better. I...." She bit her lip. "...I wonder how badly this will affect my hunting, but perhaps I ought not think too far ahead. I am grateful to be here, truly."

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

Clearly Rinoa should have made up a monster threat or something. That would have got Squall running. She'd been looking out for him and she was disappointed that he'd arrived fully clothed. But happy that he had ventured out, at least.

Catching up to him, Rinoa tapped him on the shoulder. "Did you forget to change?"

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

"There's space if you want," Rinoa replied, smiling back as she adjusted a strap on her bikini.

It was just her for now - Irvine had gone off somewhere, probably with Selphie or some other girl, and pretty much everyone else was wandering around the beach or splashing around in the sea. Rinoa herself was drying off, her hair curling slightly at the ends.

Naturally, she welcomed company. Rinoa leaned forward as she watched him approach. There were a lot of guys with great bodies on this beach, but there was no denying that Seifer was one of the hottest.

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I do know most of them," said Rinoa, delighted. "It's great that you guys have got the chance to all hang out together." She tilted her head to the side, regarding him with a small smile. "So when you've got all these friends here, why are you walking around alone?"

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

"Almost?" Rinoa laughed. "I will be sorry to leave. But it's not so bad, 'cause we'll be going straight to Zidane and Garnet's wedding afterwards. Are you going?"

[winhillstime.livejournal.com]

Uh-oh... Selphie's cry was the first thing Ellone heard and she braced herself for the inevitable hug. The brunette still hit her hard enough to knock them both over and into the sand. Sputtering and laughing, Elle sat up, hugging her friend closely.

"Raine and Uncle Laguna said it would be good for me to get out a little, so I did. Who else is here?"

[winhillstime.livejournal.com]

Quite a while after everyone else had arrived, Ellone got there. After having been attacked by Selphie, Elle made her way around the beach, still dressed in the bikini top and skirt. She wanted to see everyone, but she was nervous about meeting Squall and Zell. As far as she could tell, they didn't know her.

What should she do about it? She didn't know. Spotting Zell off in the distance, she decided to wade into the water and wait to see what happened.

..../throws a nervous Sis at him

[winhillstime.livejournal.com]

Yet another person Ellone had wanted to see, Squall was one she both sought out and avoided. Rinoa had told her that he didn't remember her and hadn't even met her. The idea of having to go through the whole explanation again tore at Ellone's heart, but she had known the possibility would be there. After all, several others had come and gone and who was to say they'd retain their memories?

So, she hesitatingly walked closer, but still far enough away. She wondered if he remembered saving her in the training center that day... or even seeing her outside the infirmary. There were so many variables that she almost turned around and left right then.

But, no... she had to at least talk to him once.

[xredthespianx.livejournal.com]

Blank folded his hands behind his back, rocking on his feet as he stared out across the sea. "It can't be easy, learning to adjust I mean..." He turned to face her. "But people adapt, it's what makes us so amazing."

"You know... if you ever need someone to talk to or if it ever gets too much for you... give me a call, okay?"