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

[unswervingcompanion]

To Hendrik it sounded like the Luminary was finally understanding what it was like to be an adult and a man and finding his way in the world. "That will come in time."

A hand awkwardly placed on Eleven's shoulder. "And what did they do for you to consider them as friends?"

The knight's searching for answers here, but of course the boy isn't making it easy.

[bearshermark]

Eleven glanced up, slightly taken aback.

"Do...?" He frowned, fingers twitching at his sides in an urge to fidget. "Well, they're.. they talk and laugh with me. We help and enjoy each other's company. That's all, I guess."

[unswervingcompanion]

"And that has not happened here?" Hendrik's definitely wondering now. He's definitely laughed and spoken with the Luminary here. He's certainly helped and enjoyed the other's company.

"By your own admission, I would say all of those requirements have been met."

[bearshermark]

Eleven gave Hendrik a measuring stare, brows slowly creasing.

"I suppose, but if you don't think we're friends," he swallowed, eyes dropping to the sand. "If I'm only.. an obligation, then.. we can't be, really."

[unswervingcompanion]

"I have not called another friend since..Jasper." The other knight's name was spoken low and Hendrik shook his head. "And you know what happened with him."

A sigh came out of the knight as he looked at the Luminary, figuring he himself was somehow the reason that the blonde knight had taken to darkness and renounced his oaths to the King and Heliodor.

Thinking on something, he lowered his body back down to kneeling before Eleven, looking the other in the eyes.

"When I oathed to you I did not sign up for us to be friends. But it is a change that I would welcome."

[bearshermark]

His heart leaped, as it always did whenever Hendrik knelt before him. Like he was meant to do or say something he'd never been taught to. Knights and royalty- all a far cry from the life he grew up leading.

"Oh," he said, swallowing. That made sense, really, now that he thought about it. "Well, you don't have to- I'm not ordering you to. It's something that should only be if you want to."

[unswervingcompanion]

"I understand. Friendship cannot be forced in any way." He sighed, and patted Eleven on the shoulder before he stood to his full height.

"I can..see what I can do."

It was still a strange thought and it made him wonder why this seemed to be so important a topic to the boy. When they were back home, the knight knew of the other's companions, but then they'd disappared when the Tree had fallen.

And Hendrik blamed himself for that. Surely Eleven knew it was his fault too, which made his mnind boggle over why the Luminary would want to be friends with one who had caused him pain and misery, oath aside.