[Action]

[dissonates]

[Missions suck as much as, if not moreso than, the drafts. Asch has decided this. It's not just that he'd been sent on an uncomfortably-outnumbered solo mission, it's not just that his health problems had reared their ugly heads in the middle of it and nearly gotten him killed, it's not just he'd had to rely on luck and skill to keep him alive with zero ability to heal himself despite being a Seventh Fonist.

No, at this point, mostly? It's the fact that once it's all over, and the Malnosso saw fit to send him back to the village, he finds himself floundering underwater.

Bastards, is his second thought, since his first is a string of expletives that would do a sailor proud. Thankfully he's only a couple of feet or so from where his feet can touch solid ground, so within a minute he's slogging towards the shore, soaking wet and pulling seaweed from his hair. Damn. Bastards.

Not that the shore is much better. There's apparently something going on - the usual love experiment, no doubt - and he's managed to get dumped right in the middle of it. They probably did that on purpose. He can't do anything while soaked as he is, though, so his first order of business is to get changed. There isn't much selection, but within a few minutes he's got his uniform hung out to dry and is wearing a suit and a long, dark blue bathrobe. It's humiliating, but it's better than freezing to death back in the village.

Since he has to wait for his clothes and hair to dry in the sun, Asch will be hanging around the beach area, available for chatting, fruity goodness, and whatnot. Come and bother the cranky one! (He is unaffected by the normal love stuff, btw.)]

Comments

h e h

[meritocracy]

[Natalia is in her own pretty little ensemble, the one that one of the characters in this weird game called Tales of the Abyss mentioned he might 'cry' if he saw her in.

She's laughing, clearly oblivious to whoever is around as she watches a pair of birds flutter over her head, a brightly colored flower resting in her hair--her eyes shining. It might be the first time since anyone has seen her that she has looked so happy.

Oh and she's headed your way Asch.]

legit this is his canon expression when seeing that suit...

[dissonates]

[It doesn't take long for Asch to notice her, though it takes a second glance to realize that "blonde woman in a scandalous bikini" is actually "OH GOD NATALIA WHAT ARE YOU WEARING". His eyes widen, a glorious blush crosses his cheeks, and he takes a step backwards.]

N-N-Natalia!! What is that...!?

i'm legit choking

[meritocracy]

[Natalia pauses, blinking as the person near her right field of vision suddenly stumbles back. She twists, the blue wrap around her hips swaying in the breeze as she tilts her head, slightly obscured by the sunlight.

BOY LOOK AT DAT BODY I WORK OUT. ]

Asch? [her eyes crinkle as she opens her mouth to greet him before she pauses]
What is what?

you need to legit breathe to tag

[dissonates]

[kjshdfkjf from the front it looks even more- o-oh god he can see almost everything why is she wearing that--]

That suit! It's...! [He gestures vaguely. Probably unhelpfully. HE CAN SEE ALL THE CURVES AND FAR TOO MUCH SKIN FOR THIS TO BE APPROPRIATE, YOUNG LADY.]

[distressedude]

[Asch, you always look cranky, so Ion can't tell this crankiness apart from your usual crankiness...]

[But he still remembers what happened the last time they spoke to each other. Just as he remembers what happened shortly after that conversation when Dist decided to give him one that was even worse.]

[But hey, they can't let something like complete and utter humiliation over the journals keep them from being friends! Well, Ion wants to be friends at least. He's not holding his breath on whether Asch will considering him one any time soon. But regardless, he'll be headed over to him with a fruit in hand, already cut into two even shares and everything.]

Hello, Asch.

[dissonates]

[Asch glances sidelong at Ion as he approaches, lifting a brow - both at Ion actively seeking him out after the last conversation they'd had and the fruit he's holding. What...?]

Fon Master. Why are you here?

[distressedude]

[No, see, clearly that talk just made them closer since they now understand the same pain or something! ...or something. Who knows.]

Do I need a reason? I saw you sitting over here and wanted to say hello. [And, just taking note of the fact that his hair is wet...] Did you just get back from taking a swim?

[dissonates]

[...Do not blush, do not blush, do not blush...]

It's a long story.

[Mission: failed. He doesn't seem to protest Ion joining him, though.]

[inkdrops]

[Though she doesn't spot Asch immediately, Miyabi's scrounging along the beach, letting the waves lick at her bare feet as she draws a stick in the sand behind her. In her other hand, she's holding a cloth with cut up bits of fruit in it. Thankfully, she is not in a bathing suit, and instead a fitting ensemble of shorts and a long, fluttery top - made to look kind of like a dress.

It's just as she's putting a bite of fruit to her lips that she spies Asch...emerging from the water...in his full clothes.








Yep.]

A-Asch...?

[dissonates]

[Drip drip drip glare.

And that's just wonderful, now he has a witness. Which wouldn't be so bad if it had been a stranger, but no, of course he gets someone he knows... ugh, this is beyond humiliating.]

...Not a word.

[inkdrops]

[Pfft. Miyabi wasn't going to laugh, but after seeing how disgruntled he is, and after he said not to, Miyabi can't help how her lips turn upwards into a smile. She pops a piece of fruit into her mouth to keep from actually laughing at him, and holds up her hand as a sign of peace.

Sh-She's not saying anything! ...Not with a full mouth. Chew, chew, and swallow.]

As long as you're all right...I-I won't say anything. [Snerk.] Do you need a towel?

[dissonates]

[Asch tugs at his tabard, getting it over his shoulders and twisting it around to drain some of the water out. Ugh, there's sea gunk everywhere. Gross. He's going to need one hell of a wash later...]

I'm fine. Why the hell is it so warm here?

[It's so balmy it could practically be summer. The sun alone ought to have him dry within the hour, at this rate.]

[fabrecation]

[Someone just ate half of a nice, mild tasting fruit, and he kind of wants to share it with someone else. Someone he knows. Someone he cares about.

... Ah, there's one such person just chillaxin' on the beach. Luke grins and heads on over, especially humored to see Asch wearing a bathrobe, of all things.]

Hey, what's with that get-up? [Still, Luke feels so friendly towards Asch right now! He sits down by him and tilts his head curiously. Please, Asch, tell him why you're wearing that. He genuinely wants to know. He's your friend, and he wants to listen!]

[dissonates]

[What the hell is up with all the fruit fascination today? Asch's gaze is unwillingly drawn to it, and it takes him a moment to force his stare upwards again. Weird...]

This is a beach party, isn't it? What do you think it's for?

[Which is way better than the real reason. Speaking of weirdness, though, the replica looks awfully happy for someone who just found out they're going to die. Maybe he's just glad to see Asch is back or something...]

[fabrecation]

Heh... fine, fine, you got me. [He lifts up his free hand with surrender... then offers the other half of the fruit to Asch.]

You want some of this? It's really good!

[dissonates]

What's that? Everyone seems to be eating it today. [Asch takes the fruit warily, torn between reluctance and a sudden urge to bite right in. It just looks so tasty...]

[herotypical]

Swimming trunks are more in season, you know.

[ she couldn't help it. she had to say it. she sidles up next to him with a coconut-shell-beverage in her hand. ] Well. Sort of.

[dissonates]

[Asch blinks in surprise- of all the people who could've approached him, he wouldn't have expected her.]

...I'm not here to swim. [Although he is actually wearing them under the robe...]

i am so sorry i am not usually this slow. ;;

[herotypical]

No? Then you must be here for the cute half-coconut shell drinks, instead.

[broji]

[Ginji's been pretty content up until now to just sit on the sand and enjoy the nice weather, despite how out-of-season it must be for everyone else. But it's hard to miss his former employer sloshing through the waves. He doesn't remember him heading out there, and come to think of it, he really hasn't seen much of Asch since New Year's.]

[Which means Ginji is stumbling to his feet and loping over, waving an arm to try to get his attention.]

Mr. Asch!

[dissonates]

[Asch glowers in Ginji's direction, leaning over and twisting his hair around to start with the drip-drying. He could probably kill someone right about now and not feel bad.]

Ginji? I didn't think you'd be here. What the hell is going on?

[broji]

[Ginji interprets that to mean "don't shout and stop waving your arm around like an idiot", which he does, but the glower doesn't deter him completely. He stops just out of easy stabbing distance.]

I didn't think so either, but I got the feeling that if I came to the beach the weather would be much nicer. [He doesn't understand it too well, but it seems like he had the right idea after all.]

Oh, and them? [He gestures with his thumb in the direction of the trees and the couples hanging around.] They've been here for a good while now. My guess is they're enjoying each other's company - and the fruit. I've never seen anything like it before.

Have your injuries been healing up all right?

[Action]

[knightofratatosk]

[HI ASCH HI ASCH HI guess who's been eating some of that delicious fruit and is now approaching from behind in a tacklehug!]

[Action]

[dissonates]

[kjdshfjdkfhsdkj EMIL YOU ARE SO GODDAMN LUCKY HE'S NOT ARMED RIGHT NOW

Asch staggers forward, eyes widening, and glances over his shoulder, annoyed until he sees blond hair. There are very few people who could get away with such a thing, and they're all blond(e)s. This is-

...Emil? What the hell?]

What do you think you're doing!?

[Action]

[knightofratatosk]

[Emil tilts his head, looking somewhat confused. Wow, you're grumpier than usual, Asch. :| And it's such a nice day out and everything! Cheer up a little.]

Huh? I was just saying hello. Is something wrong?