Beach Boys [open]

[tongueamok]

Who: Glacius (glacius), Carlisle Longinmouth (tongueamok), and you!
What: Two dudes just chilling in the fun and the sun, minus the sun. Chilling likely literal. Fun debatable. Also, one of them is a giant snake.
Where: All islands, coastal areas
When: May 27th - Early June
Warnings: PG-13ish, probably?




"I still don't believe this is a good idea!"

For anyone who knows Carlisle, seeing him talking to himself -- or yelling, rather -- is probably nothing new; however, for anyone who may stumble upon this scene who isn't familiar with the anxiety-riddled clergyman, he's had better first impressions. He wouldn't want to make one right now, anyway: he's alone on the rocky beach that once led to the caves, his arms crossed as he picks at his sleeve nervously; his hair is a mess, tousled by the winds. Absent are his usual vestments, forgone for the beachwear he picked up last time the city saw so much water, and though it seems he intends to get wet at some point by virtue of his wearing them at all, the way he's standing a good distance from where the tides actually reach says otherwise. His previous encounter with the ocean had been just an illusion, a tranquil sea created by the gods; the waters then had been purposefully calm, a sharp contrast to the uneven waves before him now. The depths of this ocean are terrifyingly real, and likely home to equally terrifying creatures.

In the distance rises a serpentine figure with glowing, green eyes and spines along its head; it slithers through the waves with relative ease. Despite how frightening the monsters of the depths must be, Carlisle doesn't budge as this one looks his way before diving once more. Perhaps he doesn't consider this to be one of them -- he rubs at his arms, his eyes still upon the spot it vanished as he raises his voice once more.

"There could be anything out there!" he insists, his nose wrinkling as a gust of coastal wind pushes against him. His entire form stiffens, his fingers curling in reply, digging into his arm. "Or we could drown! I could drown! It would pull you under, and I would drown, and you'd be lost to the depths, and then we'd both wish we'd just stayed home!"

He is definitely yelling more to himself than anyone else at this point, but the serpent turns back toward the shore regardless, heading straight for him. It doesn't attack, as one might expect, doesn't lash out at the lanky, isolated clergyman from the shoreline -- instead, it snakes its way onto the sand, coils through the rocks, and stops once it reaches him, butting its forehead against his. Carlisle brings his hand up and lets it rest along his partner's mandible as they exchange a few, hushed words.

This might still be a strange sight for anyone who doesn't know either of them; however, some may recognize the sea creature as not a creature at all, but as Glacius, his icy form temporarily adapted to brave the waters of this new world. Though Carlisle remains nervous and reluctant to join him, he has nothing to fear -- no matter what lies beyond the safety of the land, they will face it together. Besides that, Glacius won't let anything happen to his human partner. Carlisle may not be as hardy when it comes to such elements, but anything that should try to attack them from the waters below will find they've challenged the wrong alien.

Giving Carlisle one more nudge for reassurance, Glacius makes his way back into the water, hoping to coax his partner into joining him -- if they aren't stopped by someone who happens up the coast, that is.

[[It's a joint log, folks! Feel free to tag either Carlisle, Glacius, or both as they hang around the coasts of all islands!]]

Comments

both, west island!

[dedikated]

"Gross, guys."

In sharp contrast to Carlisle, Kate looks more at home in this place than she may even have in the heat. The weather's less enjoyable for her, but damn if this isn't a lot like the place she grew up. Though that island was significantly larger than any of these. And she's avoiding any sort of beach or swimwear, back into her usual jeans and a hoodie combination, stretching her legs and getting used to their new geography with a casual stroll around the ends of the island.

And maybe, just maybe, poking a little fun at two of her friends. They're sweet, really. But it's still gross.

As she approaches, Kate picks up a rock from the shore, tossing it in the opposite direction from where Glacius was heading, casual as you please as though she didn't ask about immortality on the network only a few weeks ago.

It's been a long month, and with the outcome registered as all but entirely undesireable, she's pushed it out of her mind in favour of trying to do something else.

hello friend!!

[glacius]

Kate may just be poking fun, but that is one of the nuances of human interactions that Glacius still has yet to fully grasp, so his reaction to hearing her voice is not quite as enthused as it might normally be. The serpentine alien stops winding his way into the surf and cocks his head up, then looks down out himself with some abashment, apparently thinking she's voicing mild disgust over this new form; without a word said form drops, liquidizing on the spot and washing out into the surf with the waves.

A moment later and the otherworldy being rises back out of the water in his natural form—two legs, two arms, strapping muscles, and all—and quickly strides over to the two of him. Glacius has similarly put the phylactery business out of mind, but he cannot recall if Kate and Carlisle have had a chance to reconcile that particular investigation... so he's here to play mediator if need be. It's how he'd preferred it to be from the start, honestly, without some unrelated third party unwittingly opening a rift between his two friends.

"Ah, my apologies, Kate," the ice alien speaks, rubbing at the back of his neck. "I had not expected to encounter anyone save for my partner in that form. It makes navigating the waters easier, you see, but I did not mean to... put you off."

I'm sorry about him. :/

[tongueamok]

Though he doesn't say it aloud, Glacius may feel a series of emotions resonate through the Mote: alarm, irritation, then gratitude as he approaches and takes his natural form. Carlisle looks between the two of them, his eyes falling as he continues to pick at his sleeve.

"Kate."

That's as much of a greeting as he manages to muster at the second, letting Glacius handle it. No, he and Kate haven't spoken since that phylactery business, but unlike the two of them, Carlisle has yet to put it out of his mind. As always, he is stubborn to relinquish his concerns.

never be

[dedikated]

Kate, still relatively secure in the idea that Ravine was just bullshitting on the network that time, doesn't connect the events of that post with Carlisle's attitude just yet. She's more concentrated on Glacius' response to her joke, expression flitting to a brief, gentle smile.

"'M kidding," she explains quickly, head tilting at his explanation of the form. "You've been to the other islands, then?" Because that sounded like more than just going for a dip in the waters around this one.

open to both of them, together or separate, anything's good; south island

[6weeksmax]

"Dude, you really need to chill out. That green-eyed sea serpent dude you're talking to doesn't look scared."

It's easy for her to say, given she's not exactly the cautious type, and that if she has indeed witnessed some sort of tragedy relating to choppy seas, she's long since forgotten it -- but that doesn't make it bad advice. Say what you will about Kat's recklessness, but if she knew anything about that whole mindfulness fad, she'd be the perfect example of the liberation that living in the moment brings.

Sure, she's cheating -- she doesn't get the choice of dwelling on the past -- but still, okay.

Sbe gives Carlisle an easy grin, dressed in shorts and a hoodie that's two sizes too big, and comes to stand next to him. With a quick glance at where the sea serpent dude known as Glacius was last seen, she nods and asks, "You two friends?"

She has n o i d e a, sorry, dudes.

Carlisle first, then Glacius can join later!

[tongueamok]

Carlisle nearly jumps as Kat speaks to him, his full attention having been on the waves before him and the serpent navigating them; he manages to curb his reaction just a bit, only stiffening in alarm as he turns to face her, his eyes aglow from his momentary fright, fingers curling as he brings an arm before his chest defensively.

"Cisth, don't—" He resettles his arms into one another, grasping at the fabric of his sleeve once more as he looks her up and down, then returns his gaze to the ocean as though it would sneak up on him if he left himself unguarded. "Yes, we're friends. More than that. And he might not be scared, but there are times I wonder if he should be."

c:

[6weeksmax]

Oh man. Kat can't help but snicker. "You sound like..." She falters. Sounds like who? It's familiar, but she can't place exactly why. When she went over her journal entries this morning, there was someone like that. Who was it, though? Not Rosen...

Aha, she's got it.

"Like my partner. He's like twice my size and looks like he could kill you -- probably could, too -- but he's a big teddy bear who just wants to keep everyone safe."

It's been long enough now since she was home that she knlws she should miss Bill Harken, but it's hard when she can't actually remember him.

But hey, this isn't about her. It's about this tall dude and that more than friend of his out there.

"No way, you and a sea serpent?" Kat isn't sure if this is her first time hearing about interspecies relationships, but she does know one thing: "That's wild. He must be really nice to date a scaredy cat like you."

She's teasing. Memory problems or not, she is a champion at teasing tall people. Never mind everyone's taller than her tiny self, okay.

[tongueamok]

The comparison to a bear makes Carlisle absolutely cringe, his nose wrinkling in disgust as he completely misses the actual description of such a character. As she continues, making yet another allusion to an animal, she draws him from his initial reaction. Is that an indicator of the world she comes from? Do they have Forest Folk, as well? He shakes himself out of his momentary pondering, a tremor running down his spine as he considers a world full of bear-kind. How perfectly dreadful that must be.

"H- he is no more a serpent than I am a cat," he remarks finally, attempting to find a topic that doesn't involve bears. "He is merely able to adjust his form. And I'm human. You cannot be so blind as to assume otherwise."

Apparently, the term 'scaredy cat' isn't one used in his world.

Either or both! North Island

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin is down by the waterside, fishing off a cliff on the south coast of North Island. There has been a temporary break in the clouds, and this planet's sun shines on the leaping waves. The whitecaps sparkle and the wind blows the spume towards shore. The Elf is singing softly to himself, in his melodious tenor, and occasionally hauling up a fish.

And then he hears a splashing that doesn't sound like fish.

"Hey!" he waves both arms.

I gotchu fam!

[glacius]

Certainly not a fish, though what else is out there might very well be hunting them—a moment after Curufin calls out, a glimmering streak in the water stops before turning and heading in his direction. As whatever it is rises to the surface, its serpentine form becomes clearer and clearer... and then when the next wave breaks against the cliff face, it comes up too, its shell streaked with shining droplets, reflecting the rays of the sun that manage to pierce the overcast skies.

The form may not be familiar as it rises up from the rocks, but that icy skin is, and so is the face: glowing green eyes regard Curufin with a measured gaze, and a singular remaining mandible twitches once.

"Hello yourself," Glacius replies, apparently responding to having been called. "Out fishing? It seems you and I have similar ideas... I am glad to see others being resourceful in light of our new surroundings."

\o/

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin stands on the cliff and watches the glimmering serpentine form surface and rise up until its head comes up to eye level with Curufin. The luminous green eyes have a familiar look in them, despite the very different shape of the body.

Curufin breaks into a brilliant smile as he hears Glacius' voice coming from the beak-like mouth of that marvelous snake-like form.

"Glacius, I'm glad to see you! Yes, I'm fishing. We have some caches of food from the Orchard harvest and other sources, but it isn't going to last forever. These fish are fairly tasty. You're fishing too? With that form, you can swim anywhere you like, I take it! Are there interesting and edible fish when you get further out to sea?"

[glacius]

Curufin may be reading human traits onto a nonhuman form there—though the alien has a curved jawline and defined cheekbones, he actually lacks a mouth entirely regardless of the shape he's currently in. If one watches and pays close attention, they might actually notice that his voice rises from his gills, which might actually explain the echoic quality to it. It is subtle but present, making the alien sound almost as if he as speaking from many mouths at once, which makes sense given he has eight gills from which sound escapes.

The alien wouldn't be ruffled by the misconception, though, especially not when it's coupled with appreciation for his physique regardless of form. And no matter where his voice comes from, it still sounds pleased to engage one who has been polite and often even flattering.

"That makes sense, and it is admirable to equip yourself to provide not just for yourself but for others if need be," Glacius notes. "As for you question, I have found that the further out you go, the more dangerous life forms there are... there are some truly unfriendly-looking creatures dwelling in the deep. I have not tried to eat them, given that I am not in the habit of putting myself in the way of potential danger unnecessarily."

There's pause as something occurs to him before Glacius speaks up again. "Though... now that I think about it... if I am to be protecting people from these things, perhaps I should 'test the waters' a bit so to speak. Better to hunt a few of them now to see what they might be capable of when I am the only one at risk." And he's using that term fairly mildly, as he fancies himself as more than a match for wildlife regardless of planet. He just isn't the sort to engage in a tussle unless there's due cause.

west island, hit me with ANYTHING FAM

[sciencelizard]

Alphys has been spending a lot of time on the coastline; she's been around bodies of water before, of course, but never ones this big and this fascinating. It's one thing to see an expanse like this in media or tv shows, and another thing entirely to be standing on the rocks while the waves crash against the shore. She's idly sort of walking, not paying much attention-- until she spies Glacius' new form, and unknowing, lets out a squeak before clamping her hands on her snout. After a few blinks, though, she's putting two and two together.

"G-Glacius? Is that you??" She gapes a bit, not unkindly, but certainly surprised.

Glay for a few, then Carlisle will join in!

[glacius]

Glacius seems to have sharp hearing; even between the breaking of waves against the rocky shore, that squeak still manages to snag his attention. His winding body stills and his neck arches, his head swiveling around to try and find the source, only to land on the diminutive but brightly-colored monster staring at him.

... It still feels odd to him that is what she is, calling her by her species just like one might refer to a human or him as an alien, instead of it being a derogatory term he's using. He wonders for a moment if she might be using the term in such a manner in regards to him given the new form he's in, but thankfully the scientist is quick on the uptake. Glacius' gills flutter with the tiniest sigh of relief when she recognizes him before he turns and starts winding his way through the waves towards her. He lifts his head again well before he makes it into the shallows, not wanting to get any grains of sand in his gills, the lower portion of his icy coils scraping through the sands the further in he gets before he finally stops a good few feet away from Alphys, not wanting to risk alarming her.

"Y-yes, yes it is," Glacius replies, wishing that he still had arms to spread in a nonthreatening fashion. Lifting his tail end out of the surf and waving it a little bit will have to do, though it feels a bit silly. "I did not mean to alarm you..! This form simply makes traversing the oceans much simpler, which is something I imagine might come in handy given our... new location."

Which he's simultaneously happy and sad about, if his reluctant tone is any indication. He's happy for the fresh air and the open sky, as well as the cool rains and the abundance of water... but it's a far cry from the tundras they were offered as an alternative. He supposes he shouldn't have expected a population of beings who thrive in temperate environments to vote for such, but it's still disappointing.

cool!

[sciencelizard]

Even though Alphys knows it's a problem for species that aren't hers, it's hard to see nonhumans in this place and not think of them as other Monsters. It's less lonesome that way, really- sure, there's comfort in a space that has aliens and shapeshifters and all kinds of magical, exciting people. But it forces her to confront the scariest truth when she does that, the continued realization that she's the only Monster here anymore. She's outgrown, lived on past all her friends and everyone she's ever known. It's exciting, but isolating.

Besides, he looks kind of like a (the jellyfish monster) in there. It's cute.

Really, she's more fascinated by the form shift as soon as she knows it's him, taking a step closer, eyes flipping over his form. "How-- how'd you d-do that?? Do you have different forms for different climates? Are you stuck like this now do you have to stay in the ocean ohmygosh, Glacius, this is so cool." She wishes she could do something like that! It certainly would've helped if they had ended up in the tundra climate, seeing as she's cold blooded. But that's a problem for another Alphys.

[glacius]

"Shifting is a natural ability of my people, honed with time and practice," Glacius explains, seeming... slightly more prepared for the rapid-fire volley of enthusiastic questioning now that he's interacted with Alphys a couple of times. "I would not say that I have a form for different climates so much as different environments... and I am not stuck, no, nor do I have to remain in the ocean. I can change between forms at will..."

And he's about to do just that when she tacks that assessment on as naturally as she'd just been questioning him. Glaicus blinks, then tucks his head back. "Ah... cool? You think so? You don't think it's..." he pauses, then tilts his head, recalling reactions that he's apparently been expecting or maybe even gotten in the past. "...Well, odd?"

The inquiry is tentatively hopeful, maybe even a little encouraged. It is nice to know that there are people out there other than his partner than don't have to get too hung up on this—that can still see him for who he is right away regardless of physical form.

North island, either or both!

[claritatis]

He's spending far too much time here, mentally judging the distance between this shore and the one belonging to the island tentatively designated 'east'. Kate managed to persuade him, for the time being, that actually trying to swim over there would not be a good idea and given that he is no use to Noctis if he's dead, he has taken that point under advisement.

That does not, however, mean that he is not still thinking about it.

But his thoughts are at least momentarily put aside at the sight of a strange shape moving through the water. Ignis crouches at the tide line, a dagger appearing in his hand as he watches the movement, only to disappear in the same gentle shower of blue-white sparks that it appeared in when he judges there to be no immediate threat.

There's something familiar about the colouration, he realises, remaining where he is and not rising, but watching. If there's something to be done about this, he won't be caught unawares by it.

Going with both!

[tongueamok]

"Ignis."

Carlisle's voice comes softly from behind Ignis, accompanied by the sound of footsteps on the rocky beach, stones dislodged and jostled with every uneven step. He stops a few feet from the other man, his brow knitting as he tries to discern just what it is he's doing. Contemplating a swim? Collecting shells? Attempting to talk himself out of his fear of the water? No, those latter two are rather more his own preferences than Ignis', Carlisle assumes.

He follows the direction of Ignis' gaze, but sees nothing in the water of note -- nothing he would note, at least. "You cannot be thinking of swimming in that."

[glacius]

Carlisle isn't the only one who has taken notice of Ignis on the shore; the very thing he had been observing is doing the same to him, watching him for a moment before diving back under the waves at around the time the cleric wobbles his way over to him on the uneven, rocky sands. Said cleric has just addressed the other man before strange features emerge ever so slightly from the ocean a few feet out; a quartet of short, pale horns, the smooth curve of a glossy forehead, and two glowing green eyes with sharp, thin pupils.

That's all that Glacius shows of himself for the moment, not sure if he should reveal himself to this new face just yet—particularly not when he's in such a strange form. He mostly just wants to be sure that Carlisle will be alright; the alien isn't privy to their prior meetings, though something about Ignis is strangely familiar to him. He is about the same height as Carlisle... hadn't Kate mentioned something about that..?

east island, take your pick!

[odinbolt]

Serah agrees to split shifts with Rome in patrolling and monitoring the island. However, it seems as though the island is as safe as the city was after Hope cleaned everything up. Nothing tries to attack, though the water likely holds secrets of its own. Serah hasn't tried to dive into the waters around the island yet, but nothing rises up from the deep to attack.

Which is a relief.

Halfway through her patrol of the shores, Serah's mind drifts off, eyes follow the empty ocean to try and scope out the other islands as she hops up onto a rock for better vantage-

And promptly sees a flash of unnatural blue among the waves.

"What the--"

Her bow's in hand, and her grip tightens around it, just in case.

sorry for the delay!! i'll be on this one.

[glacius]

The owner of that pale blue shell dipping in and out of the surface of the ocean is normally up to the same thing that Serah is now; patrolling the islands, keeping an eye out for anyone in need as some sort of impromptu life guard. Whatever—or whoever—is out there now seems to be up to something else, not so much as keeping an eye on the shore as it is searching beneath the waves. Sections of that long, glimmering form are only visible for a few seconds at a time before they dive back down again, becoming obscured by the dark waters of the overcast sea.

This continues for a bit before that glimmering body disappears for a much longer time... and then just as suddenly as it vanished it reappears, although this time it is much closer. A serpentine form arches up out of the water as a wave breaks against the shore, droplets of water and spume glittering on that reflective shell. Its tail end comes out of the water a moment later and lays out an assortment of patterned, colorful shells on a slab of flat rock.

Glacius' attention seems preoccupied with these for the moment; he doesn't notice Serah just yet, but instead seems to inspect the shells, eyeing them with sharp, inquisitive features and occasionally nudging them or turning them this way and that with his tail.

what is answering tags on time i don't know this concept

[odinbolt]

Whatever it is, it doesn't seem too interested in attacking the island, so Serah's muscles relax just a little, her posture losing some of the tightness in her shoulders as it disappears under the water once more.

The noise of surprise that leaves her mouth when it re-emerges can't be stifled, however, and she heads a bit closer, running up to where it's... pulling out shells?

Okay...

And isn't there something familiar about the eerie green shine of its eyes? Someone she met a while ago, with eyes the same hue who was utterly lost because - like so many people were, because the city had changed them into children.

Maybe she's imagining it, but she's close enough for her footsteps to be audible, her hand still cautiously wrapped around her bow as she squints at the pile of shells it seems to be playing with.

Or maybe investigating is a better term?

North Island, either, or both, whatever you like!

[stealyoursoul]

"I'm with you on this," Leo addresses Carlisle, his hands shoved into his pockets. He looks unhappy being this close to the water as it is, and if one of them is especially perceptive, they might be able to catch the fact that Leo actually looks a little scared as he looks out at the waves. He doesn't seem at all ruffled by the appearance of Glacius. He's seen stranger. Heck, he is stranger in his true form.

"Looks like if you fell in, you'd just go straight on down to the bottom like a rock." Or maybe that's just him. He's a monster mostly made of fire and smoke under the human guise, so it stands to reason he wouldn't like the opposite element very much. Leo's also extremely dense in his human form, so he's really talking about himself with the gloomy predictions he's making.

[tongueamok]

Carlisle stiffens as a stranger addresses him -- it's not Leo in particular, but more of his natural reaction to anyone he doesn't now approaching him. He does, however, see that quiet fear in the other man's eyes, as though he's intimidated by the choppy waters before them. Carlisle can't say he blames him, really.

"If there truly is a bottom to be met in that abyss," Carlisle notes, his own gaze returning to the waves, and to the serpentine form of his partner beyond them. "I have no doubt there lies something within the depths just waiting to swallow up anyone who would brave them... and yet, some are so desperate to cross the gap to the other islands that they'd risk their lives to do so. A foolhardy endeavor."

[stealyoursoul]

Leo, for his part, seems to be a bit cold in the way he presents himself, all tensed up, and not with any sort of openness to his posture. His eyes are blue, but a darker shade than any human being has ever possessed, and there's a guarded nature to them like he doesn't easily give things away.

"Cheery thought, that if I fall in, I might just keep right on sinking until something eats me right up or just into a dark abyss." Actually, getting eaten would be a merciful end, a lot better than drowning in agony for minutes would be like.

"So, exactly who and what is that out there?" He waves his hand in the direction of Glacius. Clearly, he must be friendly, whatever he precisely is. Appearances often belie what a person actually is. Leo