TEL VISHAN BEACH PARTY

[akito]

Characters: OPEN
Date: Saturday, August the 9^th
Location: The Shell 'Coastline' nearest the Water Sector
Situation: Baby Turtle Beach Party!

-

At the edge of Asti's shell there are coastlines of natural deposits that make up the closest thing to a 'beach' that they'll ever find in Keeliai. It's here that the official Tel Vishan Beach Party is set to take place. All turtle 'parents' will have gotten a message from their respective hatchlings about said party (perhaps a nice change from the whining and the temper tantrums).

Temporary shaded areas built with poles and sheets for weary parents or hatchlings who do decide to come, and some simple snacks and refreshments have been set up as well. There's a fishing net set up to act as a volleyball net for the day, and a ball waiting in the sand for some players.

The rest is up to those who come.


((ooc: feel free to comment under the headers, or start your own top-level comment!))

Comments

[skeletonenigma]

It sounded like the 'fakes' took a bit of finesse, then. Skulduggery was no stranger to that, but neither, he suspected, was Raine. Her students might disagree with small shapeshifting mimics being relatively harmless, but Raine herself very likely didn't disagree. She wasn't a novice fighter.

Skulduggery inclined his head. "Mimics are sorcerers - or small creatures - who can copy an existing object to exact detail. They're very uncreative. Shapeshifters are sorcerers - or small creatures - who can shift into any form they choose, limited only by their own imagination and power. They can also be uncreative, and frequently are, which is fortunate for me since they also tend to be criminals."

[ruinsprofessor]

They'd learned, as time went on, how to handle monsters such as those with more efficiency, but the early days had left their mark, and no one was particularly fond of the little beasts.

The distinction was a sensible one, and she nodded. "It seems like shapeshifting should go hand in hand with creativity," she mused aloud. Still, most was not all, so there was that hope at least. Such a power deserved to be used to its full potential, though preferably not criminally. "Do you encounter many criminals in your everyday life?"

[skeletonenigma]

"I'm a detective," said Skulduggery. "Yes, I encounter many criminals in my everyday life. They run the gamut from unimaginative thrill-seekers to diabolical masterminds. I've arrested the instigators of war, and I've arrested a man who locked himself in a hidden room and eventually suffocated. His was the easiest arrest I've ever made, admittedly."

[ruinsprofessor]

Her world didn't have much call for detectives, but at least the concept did exist, and that spared some confusion. No wonder he had such a broad range of life experience. So to speak. "While legal definitions likely differ, is it still arrest if the criminal is already dead?" She watched the path ahead rather than Skulduggery for the moment; she didn't leave the city proper that often and it was, overall, an impressive thing.

[skeletonenigma]

That depended on your definition of 'death,' and Skulduggery told Raine so. "In the mortal world, very likely not. But enough sorcerers have managed to cheat death that there are caveats in place for what to do when presented with the apparently dead body of a criminal. In the case of the man who suffocated, my first task was to neutralise the curse he'd placed on a pen before that curse killed an acquaintance of mine. I succeeded admirably, of course. I then had to make sure he really was dead, and that involves a very complicated step-by-step magical process."

In fact, Skulduggery usually ignored that process. When he killed things, they tended to stay dead. In fact, he was usually capable of destroying or killing things generally lauded as unkillable or indestructible.

[ruinsprofessor]

"Of course," she echoed. All this was so matter-of-fact that it was almost concerning. People flouted death enough that there was an established procedure? Well, she had known there was Necromancy in his world, but even so. "I take it he was actually dead, then? Exactly how complex a process is it?" Making sure things stayed dead was not exactly her specialty, and she was, as ever, curious.

[skeletonenigma]

"He was," Skulduggery agreed with a nod. "The process itself requires calling in back-up, and I never have the patience for that. I assumed he was dead because he didn't get up and try to attack me. As it turned out, I was right."

His tone was flippant, unconcerned to the point of worrying apathy, but Skulduggery was relatively sure Raine knew the difference by now - subconsciously, if nothing else. Otherwise, now that they were getting into the city proper, there were people around. Hopefully that would be enough of a deterrent if she decided that he needed a strong lecture.

[ruinsprofessor]

Raine gave him a resigned sort of a look, the kind that came from living too long around people who were cavalier with their personal safety. There probably wasn't much that could seriously harm him, anyway, and she was in no position to lecture. "Speaking with you is always fascinating," she said instead. It came out a little dry, but she did mean it in all seriousness as well.

[skeletonenigma]

Skulduggery's voice came out tinged with a smile. "Isn't it just."

Intriguing, how walking through the city with a companion made such a difference to the reception Skulduggery received without a disguise on. When he was alone, he was a potential threat to the general peace among the kedan, maybe even a pawn of Malicant's. With another Foreigner so obviously unafraid, Skulduggery almost seemed to fade into the background. He became, if not trustworthy, at least someone of little consequence.

He paused at the first real fork in the roads, and gestured towards the Fire Sector. "I don't suppose you live that way."

[ruinsprofessor]

She glanced the way he indicated, then shook her head in the negative. "Earth Sector," she said, by way of explanation. "The other direction is shorter. Unless you feel like somewhat of a detour, I suppose I'll see you later?" Hopefully a little more quickly than the space between their last meetings, for his company was enjoyable and she'd been entirely serious about the conversation being fascinating.

[skeletonenigma]

The feeling was mutual, if in a slightly different way. Skulduggery found most conversations fascinating, if only for his involvement in them. But Raine was pleasant to talk to, both for her genuine curiosity and for her insight into several varieties of topics. Skulduggery had no doubt that they would find each other again very soon.

He struck out, tipping his hat in farewell. "Until we meet again."