You Asked For It: The Beach Trip

[magicademymods]

Be Careful What You Wish For: A Beach Adventure Crowded Quarters To the joy and delight of the Sundered students who feel joy and delight over going to the beach, the Sundered students get to go to the beach in celebration of their completed midterms! Professor Trammel has graciously paid their way on the local airship, which runs regular routes on summer days to the ocean some 45 minutes away, and so every student who so desires can pack up and head onto it to enjoy a fantastic day of fun and adventure! Slight downside: the airship is small and packed, as it keeps its fees low by relying on volume to turn a profit. The crowded travel compartment is standing-room-only, and even those who are lucky enough to get seats won't find themselves with much shoulder room. Some people may even find themselves in the lap of a fellow student, which only the most cynical and bitter of minds would abuse as a way to ship-tease (right?). The trip isn't long, just hot and stuffy. You can make it, students! Wave Your Hands If You're Shore The beach at last! Though the hot sun beats down from above, a gentle breeze blows in from the ocean and the water itself is delightfully cool without being icy cold. Waves run about five to six feet in height, enough to be forceful without dominating like some giant curl suitable only for surfing. Though scores of people have set up tents, umbrellas, blankets, and towels across the sands, the Diatu contingent has plenty of space to conjure up tables and chairs, an awning and plenty of shade. Professor Trammel politely deploys Spells of Sunscreening, as well as directing students to the swimwear the school has obtained and the screened canvas changing areas where they can don them. Helpfully, he's obtained all manner of suits to fit any taste, so... choose wisely? Baskets of sandwiches and drinks kept magically chilled offer sustenance for the busy swimmers, and all manner of balls, nets, and beach toys to enjoy. The Sand Castle Contest Early in the afternoon, Professor Trammel announces that a sand castle contest is open to all participants! The rules are as follows: 1. Headmaster Birony is forbidden from competing. (At this, Headmaster Birony sulkily turns Makerion Keep back into stone and sends it back to the Magicademy Campus. Ka students will be finding sand in odd places for a while.) 2. Students may work in teams of no more than 2. 3. You will have an hour to work with any of the sand-castle tools available. 4. Judging will be on creativity, quality, and durability. 5. 'Bedmaster Hirony' is forbidden from competing. (Headmaster Birony rips her fake mustache off and throws it to the ground in frustration.) You have a few minutes to form pairs and get ready. Who will win the competition? Teachers' Day Off Some of the Professors, too, have taken the day off! Students are treated to the sight of Professor Trammel digging a hole in the surf so his own knocked-together sand structure goes up against the waves, leaving him to improve its walls and channels each time to make for a better hope of surviving. Professor King is teaching anyone who will listen about a new game she calls Sunder-inlota, which involved lobbing a ball through portals to get it into the other team's goal. Headmaster Birony occupies herself doing a Sorcerer's Apprentice thing with the waves, making them smash and crash against each other with glee, while Professors Porfsin and Trent fail to put campus politics aside and both spend the day trying to attract an audience with their own personal performances. And Professor Kith just... swims and enjoys herself, like a normal human being, which is probably in violation of the Adequate Wackiness In Teaching Staff Proclamation, but no one seems inclined to call her on it. Fire in the Sky As darkness falls over the beach, swimming comes to an end as the gathered people move to get home, their day off done. The Magicademy, however, still has some tricks up its organizational sleeve. With fires conjured along the sands, the Professors take turns cooking -- simple fare like sausages and hamburger patties, that even the less adept among them (coughCamBironycough) can't screw up. And as the last vestiges of sunlight vanish behind the horizon and the beach and ocean are both swept in darkness, Professor Trammel pulls off his final flourish: a Discovery of beautiful lights exploding in the sky, a mixture between fireworks and aurora borealis that paints the night in glory. All in all, not a bad day.

Comments

[king_of_egypt]

Looking back on the last few minutes, it appeared as if Kuja had the right idea. At this late stage, Atem would have been hardpressed to find the free wall space. He had truly underestimated how many bodies would be crammed onto this airship. At the sound of the voice, there's instant recognition as Atem looks up at the source.

"You'd be surprised but- not that early." It likely had helped that he didn't need to spare much time packing. "You ... didn't want to trade did you?" You can't blame a pharaoh for trying.

"It's been a while since we last spoke, Kuja. How have you been settling in?"

[treno_nobleman]

He might be surprised, but given the number of people who wanted to visit the resort, he wondered if there wasn't something else to the place. Most of the people on the ship were students, but it still said something that it didn't include all of them. Even by Gaia's standards, this wasn't a small ship.

"I may have underestimated how popular this locale is, I suppose." At the question, he looks over Atem, then at the mostly blank space on the floor between them. It was a little cramped, but Kuja thought Atem would fit. "Not in particular. You've a choice seat, I'm sure, but I would stand if I can help it."

He gestured to the spot near to him, still somewhat vacant, and shifted his tail more tightly around his leg. "As well as any, thank you. I didn't expect to be tested on our material, not when I first arrived, but I have no reason to fall slack in my studies, as little love as I have for this place. How do you think you did?"

[king_of_egypt]

"As did I, but when you think about it I suppose most students might be feeling a little cabin fever by now." Especially ones that had been stationed at the school since the beginning. This trip should be good for them all. He gave a little nod when Kuja declined to trade and honestly couldn't blame him. "Think nothing of it," Then he did avail himself of the unspoken offer, abandoning his seat to someone who might make better use of it. Due to his short stature the change in viewpoints was only marginally better, but he wouldn't complain. "The test seemed a bit sudden even to me. It's just hard to believe that much time had passed." "Heh... well... I think I passed," That's all he could guess at really. The late night cramming session had helped, but that always left one with more uncertainty. "... Do you really find this world so distasteful?" Picking up on the line as little love as I hold for this place right away. If Kuja was having a hard time adjusting Atem would wish to help if he could.

[treno_nobleman]

He shifted aside marginally, only able to do so enough to give Atem the faintest hint of space where they stood, but it was enough that they could speak a bit easier. They weren't going to get better standing or seating arrangements until the ship touched down and cleared out anyway. "If nothing else, I suppose we have a better idea of how the schooling system in this world works, or at least their testing. With magic like this, it could have gone either way. But I am glad you did well. "

His weight went to one leg, not quite restless, but to give his tail a new place to rest with so many people so close to him. "There isn't much to like about a world that drags you away for no known reason and then tells you you must learn to live with it or be killed, is there?" Yes, he is still complaining about that. As much leeway as the heads of the school have given them, he only has to follow the rules and keep his head down, and that sounds far too familiar and far too unpleasant. Too much like a past he had hoped to leave behind. He sighs and looks out the window nearby, only to see a sea of faces he knows and doesn't all at the same time. "None of the Sundered asked for this. I make do what what I have, but what control do we truly have over our lives anymore? It is disconcerting."