vatheon | A day on the beach

Entry tags:

A day on the beach

Who: Johnny and open!
When: 4/9, midday into evening
Where: On the island
What: Soaking in the sun
Style: Whichever!
Status: Open

It was almost twenty months since he'd arrived in the bubble. In those months, there had been three separate times where he had the opportunity to go into the sun without the fear of turning to ash. The first had been when he'd been turned into an angel, unfortunately it had been raining and with everything else going on, he hadn't had the chance. The second had been when he'd switched bodies with Rinoa, not something he was going to complain about since he did get a chance to walk on the beach, but it hadn't been him. The last had been when he'd reverted to a twenties and human version of himself, but it had never crossed his mind to take advantage of the sunlight since, for that 'Johnny' he hadn't lost it yet.

When he'd awoken on Monday, it was a little amusing to discover how unsurprising it was to find his senses dampened like someone had thrown a wet towel over his head, but after so many curses where he lost those senses, it was just the sign that coral was having it's fun.

It hadn't taken him too long to discover, this time, it was because he'd become human again. Of course, at the price that he couldn't actually touch anyone himself, but as unnerving as that was, they could still touch him and that meant he wasn't going to begrudge this curse too much. Especially since he could now do the impossible.

He'd already asked Sola to come up and meet him a bit later, and that was what the picnic basket he set on the beach was for, but he had some time for himself and he fully intended to use it. Calmly, he stripped and folded his shirt, followed by his pants, and set his shoes on top of the clothing so he was left in nothing but his underwear. Then he took off, intent on jumping right into the ocean for a mid-day swim.

After a while, he went back onto the beach to sprawl out on a towel (still without his clothes), to let the sun dry him off, not unlike the cat-demon when she wasn't doing her household chores.

((OOC: Running into Johnny when he's in the ocean or on the beach are both fine!))

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Hope you don't mind your sun bathing being interrupted, Johnny. Because you're going to have two dogs interrupting it. One dog he'll recognize as Sacra. The other trails behind the cyborg dog, a furry brown and white dog who's a bit more hesitant.

"Angelo! Sacra! Get back here!"

Rinoa's voice echoes in the distance, trying to summon both dogs back.

He didn't notice them at first, but he heard Rinoa's voice and sat up, his curiosity piqued. That was when he found himself covered in cyborg dog kisses, which would be fine, except Johnny found himself unable to push the dog back thanks to this curse.

"Sacra! Ack! Stop." Once his face was free, he was able to see the other dog, one he didn't know. She was pretty, though. "Oh, Sacra, did you find yourself a girlfriend or something?" He was teasing, he could guess it belonged to Rinoa, though, so he sat with the dogs and waited for her to catch up.

Angelo sniffed at Johnny, her ears pressed back, disconcerted. His scent was not human, or anything she recognized. Almost like a monster's, but not quite. Sacra lavishing attention on him just made her more confused.

Luckily, her owner walks up just a moment later, looking as perplexed as her dog. "Johnny?" How is he not... dead... "How are you..."

Johnny wished he could scratch the dog behind the ears and show her it was ok, but he only offered her a smile. When Rinoa caught up he smiled up at her, not even bothering to cover up at all. Why should he? She'd spent a week in his body, it wasn't anything she hadn't seen already.

"Hello, Rinoa. It seems this week I've been granted a chance to safely see the sun. Ah...the trad-off is that I can't seem to reach out to anyone if I try. Though, the same doesn't apply to those who reach out to me, it's very strange."

He gestured to the dog, more than happy to talk about her than his lack of self-initiated physical contact. "Is this lovely dog what you gained this week?"

"A trade off... that sounds about right." The necklace she usually wears is missing, and it takes a concerted effort not to reach up and clutch it as she is wont to do.

She nods at his question. "Yeah. This is Angelo. She's my dog from back home."

With a gesture, Rinoa encourages Angelo to come closer to Johnny. The dog trots closer, her nose bumping against his shoulder.

Johnny smiled at the dog and reached out to her head, resulting in his hand passing through her. He paused and tried again, this time focusing on brushing just the ends of her fur, something that wasn't quite her but close enough.

He turned his smile on Rinoa. "She's beautiful. Are you guys just out for a walk?"

"Thank you. And yeah, we are. I mean, it's a curse, so I... I'll probably only have her for a week, right?"

A smile is forced, but the pain is clear in Rinoa's tone. This is one curse that, despite her loss, she does not want to see end.

[Sola does come up to meet him eventually, having had a few other things to do such as "lose" his fairy in a kitchen cabinet (won't Fai be surprised!), but by the time Johnny's done with his swim and splayed out under the sun, the replica is finally making his way up to the beach, though hardly dressed for such an excursion as he's still clad head to toe in his usual tunic and tights.

Johnny's state of undress sends Sola off balance for a moment, but the undeniably happy smile on the not-currently-vampire's face gives the Hylian pause and he smiles too, making his way over to plunk down in the sand next to his basking matesprit.

In lieu of a hello that he can't currently give, he taps Johnny on the arm gently.]

[They aren't entirely alone on the beach. From the direction of the abandoned village they would be able to hear a song, one that would be familiar to Sola - though this version seems more complete than the one he would know.

Once she feels Sola arrive properly, she stills her fingers. Sola...

Zelda starts walking over to the pair quietly.]

[Had he been himself, he might have heard the song or even just picked up on Zelda's presence in general a little sooner.

As it was, he couldn't even reach out to Sola himself so he settled with a simple smile.]

Hello to you too. Aren't you a little overdressed for a seaside excursion?

[Maybe not in pieces, but the outfit on whole plus it's dark color just didn't seem like a pleasant choice.

As for himself, he could wander around in less than this for hours if he felt like it, but for Sola's sake he sat up to retrieve his clothes and put them back on.]

[The attention brought to clothes and the general idea of undress makes Sola's cheeks burn red and he nearly pulls his hat over his face. At least, he would have if he didn't hear the faint sound of someone approaching. One ear twitches as he turns his head and catches sight of Zelda.

Still red, he waves, and his mixed feelings about Johnny minus pants all but vanish. No one else needs to see that. He wonders why she's up here, but he's glad to see her up and around instead of in a coma. That always worries him.]

Hello, Sola. Johnny.

[Seeing Johnny reminds her that she'll have to make sure the buildings don't let in light. This week it doesn't seem to be a problem though, he was apparently given his humanity again. Zelda was granted the opposite, essentially - but seeing Sola now, she's glad. She may be able to give him something she's wanted to give him for a long time now. She doesn't mention it initially, letting her mind sort through all the things she now knows. She has the memories of a goddess, but her mind and body are still mortal and she can't actively "know" all those things at once, it takes her time to sort through them properly.]

[Johnny looked around to see who Sola was waving at only to be very glad he'd put his pants back on, normally he wouldn't care, but Zelda was a little different and that just wasn't a scenario he was comfortable with.

Still, he gave a sincere smile at seeing her and waved as well before pulling his shirt back on.]

Hello, Miss Zelda. What brings you out on this lovely day?

[Sola looks at Zelda intently, though with none of the nervousness that had previously informed his actions. He's also curious as to what brings Zelda to the island, as well as curious what's different about her. There's definitely something even more regal about her than before. He's a bit frustrated he can't ask her about it.]

I am restoring the village. We need a place to stay up here on the island for safety purposes. I have made certain that at least a couple buildings do not allow the sunlight to penetrate.

[After all, if something happens to the city, she has to be able to bring people up here. Zelda glances to Sola, then smiles wider. He is one of her children too, she can hear his voice even if he can't speak.]

I have been given Hylia's memories. It may only be an effect of the curse, but I can tell that they are genuine.

Thanks, I appreciate it.
[His smile was genuine, but it would be a lie to say 'places to stay on the island' didn't make him nervous. Over a year later and he still didn't trust the place.]

Who's 'Hylia?' I don't remember ever hearing the name.

[Sola's thoughts mirror the same question. As far as he knows, Hylia is a lake. He starts to draw said lake in the sand with his finger in order to ask if there's any connection when a bright red streak cuts directly in the middle of the group and bounces right off of the replica's nose, sending him reeling backwards into Johnny and tossing up an arc of sand as his feet flail into the air briefly.]

Howdareyouleavemeunderaglassonthecounter!!!IcouldhavesuffocatedanddiedunderthereI'llhaveyouknowandthenwherewouldyoubeyouungratefullittle--

O-oh, Your Highness, hello.

[She floats up to a polite level and does the midair equivalent of a curtsy to Zelda, leaving Sola with afterimages of angry red fairies made of condensed fury swimming in his vision.]

Hylia is the goddess I once was. She chose to become a mortal so that she could have a more direct hand in protecting her people. Her memories still remain in my soul. My family has taken her last name as their own, our race is named after her, and... yes, the lake as well, Sola.

[Zelda looks slightly surprised to see the fairy, but not unpleasantly so.]

Hello there. There's no need for such formalities here. This is not Hyrule, I don't hold any titles.

[She holds out her hand to let the fairy perch if she wants to.]

[Huh...now he didn't know if he should remain sitting to remain below her or stand because he was in the presence of a deity, but he kept the thought to himself.

Especially since suddenly Nila arrived...which was also amusing.]

Edited 2013-04-13 06:34 (UTC)

[Nila perches herself on Zelda's finger and flutters her wings delicately.]

Now now, respect should be given where it's due and you're certainly due respect, Your Highness. Though I do wish you'd be less cryptic.

[She sounds a little pouty as Sola sits up and rubs his face, shaking sand from the end of his hat.]

I'm supposed to remind you to help this little one, but you didn't give me any more details than that. And it's been so difficult! He hardly listens to me at all.

Edited 2013-04-13 06:46 (UTC)

Now Sola, you know that fairies hold quite a bit of wisdom! You shouldn't disregard what they have to say so easily.

[She listens to what Nila has to say, raising a brow.]

Do you mean to say you are from my future, then? I sent you here?

[How is that possible? Well, if the future she saw comes true it's certainly possible, but... why would she do it? What's so special about this moment that the message couldn't wait?]

If you are from the future, then it is for the best that I did not give any specific instructions. Depending on what needs to be done, that could cause another split in the timeline.

[Most of what was being said held Johnny's interest simply because there was nothing else going on. Talk of timelines and time travel was not something he cared to think about too deeply; there were plenty of other complicated things to think about without adding that aspect.

However, there was one thing that caught his attention more than just in passing.]

Help Sola how, exactly?

I'm really not sure! I was just told to make sure Sola and Her Highness meet during this week, that's it.

[She looks at Sola and somehow, despite her expression being utterly unreadable thanks to her intense glow, she seems rueful.]

Thoughheobviouslyneedsalotofhelpinthegrowingupdepartment.

[He totally caught that and he's gonna just stick his tongue out at her in irritation and obstinacy. Kind of...proving her point, but he hates attention being paid to his actual age and it's not fair to do it when he can't even argue!]

[Zelda takes on an intensely thoughtful expression. Talking with the pair had pushed her initial idea from her mind. Though holding Hylia's memories has granted her an amazing amount of knowledge, it's also made her a little flighty. It's difficult for her to focus for long with so much streaming through her mind, a mind that's meant for a mortal. She just doesn't have the ability to perceive it all at once, not yet. Maybe not ever. Nila's words bring her original purpose back to mind easily enough, though. She lowers her head for a moment.]

I see. I see... surely I can't hold on to these memories forever. They are too much, and I haven't gone through the ritual. This may be the only time in this lifetime that I hold them...

[Her head raises again, and this time she speaks as Hylia.]

I am truly sorry. When I chose to become mortal, I did not foresee an existence such as yours. You have suffered greatly for my lack of foresight. If you would like, I can correct that now. Would you like to become one of my children, Sola? A Hylian, with a Hylian soul.

[A stillness washes over Sola at those words and he sits frozen, staring at Zelda with his tongue still peaking out of the corner of his mouth. It would be comical if the shock and awe weren't so vivid. It's everything he's ever wanted, to be a whole person, a complete person with his own place in the world. To fill that gaping hole in his existence with something akin to the light that all other natural beings possess.

His heart jumps to his throat and his mouth is suddenly dry. He's afraid if he makes any sudden move, any wrong motion that he'll wake up with a jolt and none of this exchange will have happened.

One minute passes.

Then another.

And time snaps back into place, chugging along at its normal pace. Sola finds himself nodding, eyes still trained on Zelda's face, and the thudding of his heart against his ribs lessens just a little when the nod doesn't turn the world around them to dreaming.

It's real...

He looks to Johnny, wide eyed and with some spark there that's barely been before. Something that started small, has been small the entire time the Hylian has been in Vatheon, but suddenly is plain as day in his expression.

Hope.

Not for others, he's always had that, but for himself.]

[Out of all the things she could ever dream of giving her children, hope is the one she wants to give them the most. It's easy to be content when everything is as it should be, she wants them to be able to stand strong even in the darkness.

Hylia steps over to Sola, thinking of all the things she wants for him. To be able to hold on to his courage, for him to never have to let go of the bright outlook his innocence has given him even when he does grow past it. For the rest of this life to be one that he can look back on when he passes on and feel satisfied. She thinks of his next lives too, dreaming up the possibilities and gathering them all together to pass on to him. She thinks of his song, mentally composing it from start to finish and weaving it into the symphony that represents her people. Holding all those ideas close, she leans in and gently draws Sola's face towards her own, placing a kiss on his forehead and bestowing that divine plan upon him.

To most people, he wouldn't look any different. Sola will be able to feel the difference though, no longer an existence without a purpose or a plan. Whether he chooses to follow through on the things she hopes for him or not is up to him.]

[His forehead feels warm, not as if he'd been kissed but as if Zelda were pouring in all the possibilities of life, now and future. His head momentarily buzzes with potentiality, with what he could accomplish in this life and next. There will be a next. And another. Until all the stars run cold and wink out together at the end of time, Sola will be reborn again and again in his time.

Just like everyone else.

His eyes remain closed, his expression rapturous, and two tracks of tears roll down his cheeks unheeded. He's full of promise, the emptiness he's always felt banished in that instant, in that kiss to his forehead. He feels alive, he feels important, he feels worth something.

He feels complete.

Suddenly Sola throws his arms around Zelda's waist, burying his face against her stomach, and cries. It's overwhelming, wonderful and strange to be whole and he can't express how grateful he is other than near silent and paltry thank yous whispered over the lump in his throat against the fabric of her dress.]

[She doesn't need to hear the words he can't speak right now, she can hear his thoughts. She holds his head to her abdomen and lets him cry it out like a child - her child, one of Hylia's many children, full of hope.

No longer requiring Hylia's memories, Zelda allows herself to be at the forefront of her mind. She can feel the guilt over the pain she caused Sola washing away along with his tears. She hurt him, yes, but wasn't birth always a little painful? In the end she didn't ruin his life at all.

That gives her hope, too.]

Fai tended to go up to the surface whenever it was nice. It was quiet usually and he was able to just sit and think and not worry about anyone wandering up to see the normally energetic vampire being a little more somber. Of course this time when he walked up, there was a familiar face jumping into the water. Fai smiled as he walked up to the water's edge.

This curse had given him back something he had lost, but it was a little different then he was expecting. It was strange being able to see out of both eyes again but it definitely wasn't unpleasant. He hadn't realized how much he had missed it. What he had lost in return? Wasn't much of a loss in his mind. It seemed he too was back to being human. He wondered if perhaps this was what it would be like if he ever did get his eye back on his world. The mismatched eyes..no powers..It was a nice future to hope for.

He placed his hands on his hips as he waited for Johnny to surface. Might as well harass the other not-sparklepire.

Fai wouldn't have to wait too long, Johnny resurfaced soon enough and wiped the water off of his face. Once his eyes were clear, he noticed the blond on the beach and gave a mock salute in greeting, which was only ruined further by the huge grin on his face.

"Faaai~ How nice of you to join me. Though, you're really wearing far too much clothing for swimming."

"It's not too much clothing if the water is really cold. Then it would be just enough clothing." Fai hadn't really expected to go swimming but that didn't mean he couldn't strip down and enjoy a little dip if it came to that.

"So is the water really cold or is it safe to remove a few layers?" Not that Fai was wearing that many. The weather was fairly nice which was why he had chosen to head to the surface that day.

Johnny smirked and made his way a bit closer to shore. "It's perfect in every way." Of course, he was a little biased, right now he'd say just about everything ever was perfect. However, he wasn't lying, the water was a decent temperature.

Honestly, he wouldn't have minded if Fai didn't want to join him, he could always join the other man instead, but there was something to be said about getting a guy to strip down willingly...

He held out his hand as though to help Fai into the water, though he was still a good few feet away, the water covering only from his upper thighs down. "Interested?"

"It's been a long time since I've gone swimming for fun. I suppose it couldn't hurt~" Fai kicked off his shoes first. Once his feet were bare he tentatively stuck a toe into the water.

It was cold but that was to be expected considering where the water was coming from. He looked up at Johnny, "I think I can manage that. Besides, how could I really resist when you are the one asking~"

That flirtatious teasing smile rose to his lips as he set to work at removing the layers.

Johnny matched that smile with his own and added a wink. "I'm a terrible tempter, I know."

"Just beware: if you take to long, I might just have to come help you." Johnny didn't get any closer, though. He was teasing and while he was half honest with the suggestion, he was very content with simply watching. The ocean around him, the sun on his skin, the sand beneath his toes, and Fai standing there in the light with him...it was all worth taking in. A memory to keep for as long as he was allowed to keep it.

However, the shorter distance between them and Johnny's observation did finally lend to noticing the change in Fai's appearance. "Your eyes are different."

Fai was about to retort about taking too long and actually slow down his efforts in order to tease Johnny and see if he actually would emerge from the water when that last statement was spoken. It did make him pause and he looked up from what he was doing.

That teasing smile became a little softer as the two eyes took in the view of Johnny in the water. It was so odd..being able to see again. It was almost bittersweet to think that in a week he'd lose it. "It seems the thing I've gained is a nice shiny new eye. Do you like it? I think it suits me~"

There is still that little bit of a teasing tone floating through those words but it is clear that the weight of the knowledge he will have to lose the eye for a second time is rather heavy upon him.

"It's lovely." Really, he thought the blue was a very nice color and, in contrast with the gold, he thought Fai's eyes were beautiful. Johnny also thought of the end of the week and what they'd be losing. He wished he could trade something to give the other man his eye back, but he knew it didn't work that way.

All they could do was enjoy it while it lasted.

"How does it feel?"

Fai resumed undressing, tossing each piece of clothing aside as he thought about that question. "It doesn't feel like anything. It's just..there. But being able to see everything so clearly again..That feels amazing." Finally Fai got down to the underwear.

He stood up straight and placed his hands on his hips. The lithe and pale form looked ready for the water. "Alright! Time to swim!" He slowly started to make his way into the water, step by chilly step.

Johnny watched him with a bit of a smirk at first. Then he had an evil thought...one he really couldn't shake.

Calmly, he went to meet Fai as he came in. And, just as he was close enough, he lunged with every intention of dunking them both beneath the water if Fai wasn't fast enough to dodge.

Luckily Fai has pretty good reflexes and even though Johnny is quick, Fai was pretty sure he could be quicker. Avoiding and running away from Kurogane had always been one of his more useful skills after all. Even with the resistance from the water, Fai managed to sidestep that lunge. It did still send him a bit off balance though which caused him to flail a little as he fell sideways. Nothing graceful at all about either vampire at the moment.

Johnny only found air and fell into the ocean instead. As soon as he surfaced, though, he was laughing and started brushing the water off his face so he could try and find Fai again. "You're faster than I gave you credit for."

"I have a lot of experience with running away." Fai laughed as he back floated a little ways away from Johnny. He brought his hand up and skimmed it along the top of the water to send a splash towards the other vampire.

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A day on the beach

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