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+---- Thread: [SWE] The Punchiest Pool Party (/showthread.php?tid=11439)
RE: The Punchiest Pool Party - Sunjata - 06-02-2025
At the very least, Sunjata’s resigned enough to not let his passive magic appear when the shock hits him from what Deimos describes. Instead, he continues to peer out at the party, listening intently and doing his very best to not let anything seem off, like they’re conspiring on the edge of the party.
There is however, a passing glance toward Ronin, before he responds to Deimos amongst the rest of them. [say]I’ve come prepared in case anything started.. So, I’m happy to help if you need.[/say] In case the indication isn’t clear, he’d also like to snag some blood where possible. But even still, he glances out over the party with a slow and heavy breath, muscles feathering in his jaw as he shoves a hand in his pocket, waiting to hear the answer to Remi’s question.
And after a few heartbeats, he tacks on a little tidbit. [say]He's got a flurry attack. He can hit three times unarmed at a time.[/say] Comes the quiet admission, sacrificing a chance to glance over toward Ronin, Remi, and Deimos.
RE: The Punchiest Pool Party - Nova - 06-02-2025
Don't worry everyone, the party has arrived!
Flouncing in with the most complicated and obnoxiously glittery bikini she could find, Nova is practically a second sun. She skips and twirls with a flattering rainbow tie-dye skirt tied around her waist, her hand dragging Calypso behind her as she lets out a giggle and peeks around the giant sunglasses on her face. [say]"Wow. Everyone looks so serious!"[/say] Unaware of any plots or plans, she's thoroughly convinced it's because they're not wearing something fun enough.
She spots Jack sulking to the side and offers him a sparkling wave before making her way to the other side of the pool where fewer people seem to be occupying the water. Nova snags some fruit as they pass, humming a sweet tune to the music. [say]"It's such a nice day for a pool party! Look! Even that one's out to enjoy the water!"[/say] She points to Vox, uncomfortable with his odd appearance, but knowing that others might feel the same about her fashion sense. [say]"Let's claim some of these chairs and -"[/say]
Nova stops in her tracks, the air abandoning her along with a stillness that runs through her veins, suffocating and nauseating.
Her magic is gone.
Her reaction is visceral, her body recoiling like it's been electrocuted and burned and then cast into a frozen ocean full of darkness and silence. Nova stumbles back, her hand clutching at the racing beat of her heart while she tries desperately to catch her breath, the fruit forgotten on the ground. In a moment of panic, all her magic flows through and out of her all at once. It's a small pulse of power, but it's enough to reassure her that it's back; ice frosting her fingertips, the earth cracking softly under her feet, a gust of air ruffling her pastel rainbow and blonde hair, starlight shimmering subtly in the sun around her. Each piece calms her, and Nova spins to find Caly's hand, shaking slightly as she throws her glittering smile back in place. [say]"Let's go hang out with Vespy. instead."[/say] She can see his shadows, and she'd much rather be near him with whatever the hell that was. Vesper might be a party pooper most of the time, but she's convinced they can have a good time, regardless; especially as she pushes a giant splash of water over his head when she jumps in.
RE: The Punchiest Pool Party - Calypso - 06-02-2025
Very content to be dragged along by Nova toward the party, she’s got her own glittering bikini she wears that snugs to each and every curve. Golden and bright, the only tempered thing she wears is the cream, see through shawl that she’s got wrapped around her shoulders, one hand fisted into it as she squeezes her sister’s hand with her free one, feet sinking into the sand comfortably.
Flashing a wave to Jack as well, and Flora for good measure - reminded that she needs to talk to the Queen, Caly’s eyes find Kaisel among the waves while Nova’s fully distracted snagging food and drinks. She takes what she can until they drift further, sucking in a quiet breath of surprise to feel her sister so abruptly stop.
“[say]What’s wrong?[/say]” She asks quietly, a whisper as her gaze focuses on her sister first and foremost, but very much abandons saying hello to anyone else no matter how much she wants to, if only to make sure that Nova is okay. And if that means going and sitting next to their shadowy sibling, she’ll do it, sidling into the water with much more grace and far less chaos than Nova had.
RE: The Punchiest Pool Party - Vesper - 06-02-2025
Vesper glances at Colt as she arrives, and were it not for the fact that he didn't want to dart around and draw attention to himself, he might have appeared at her side and told both she and Thorn that fuckin' off might be for the best. Instead, he just swallows, pale blue eyes trained on the blonde until he feels the unmistakable pulse from his sisters.
Sprawled lazily across the floatie, Vesper lifts his head just enough to let the reflection of his sisters' glitter catch his eyes before it hits the water. Nova, all sunburst and chaos, is impossible to miss. Calypso trails her like a softer ripple behind a wave, her grace understated beside Nova’s glitterbomb of an entrance.
His expression doesn’t shift when Nova stumbles. But beneath the lazy drift of the floatie, Vesper’s shadows stir sharp and fast, ready to move. The moment her magic comes rushing back, the flare of all her elements at once, he lets out the breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.
And when she cannonballs a miniature tidal wave directly into his face? He lets it hit. Just this once.
The float rocks violently, water sluicing off his chest and collarbones, but there’s no complaint. Just the slow drag of his tongue across the inside of his cheek as his shadows reach out—not aggressive, not teasing, just...anchoring. A steady curl around their waists, like seaweed coiling protectively from the ocean floor. He draws them in until the three of them are close enough to drown out everything else. [say]"Pierce’s got a field up,"[/say] he murmurs, low and dry, his voice barely audible over the lap of water. [say]"Some kind of magic nullifier. Felt it the second I crossed into it just like you did."[/say] His fingers tap idly against the float’s edge, silver rings glinting with droplets.
He jerks his chin toward the far edge of the party, where the Dad Group (sans their own dad) are lingering. [say]"They're plannin’ somethin’. Couldn’t get all of it before they stepped back, but if things go south..."[/say] His constellation freckles shimmer faintly, even in daylight. [say]"We make a clean exit. Quick and quiet, got it?"[/say]
RE: The Punchiest Pool Party - Hawthorn - 06-02-2025
It was supposed to be a quick little jaunt to the tropical region to snag some new clothes he’d had made, stuffed into a bag to be brought back home, when the party is immediately noticed. Diverting course because obviously the courtesan is curious, he’s sidled up beside Colt, arm in arm, the tattoos on his wrists a stark emerald green over his otherwise slightly tanned skin. “[say]A party?[/say]” Thorn mutters, raising a brow, before locking eyes onto the host of the party.
The frown that graces his face is sharp as he recognizes the man from the notice boards, nodding numbly to Colt as he sidles a bit closer - like he could offer some kind of help and protection for her despite her being far more likely to deal damage than he is. “[say]Wanna grab something and just watch from afar? Shit’s fuckin’ awkward.[/say]” He mutters, puffing out a sigh and tightening his hold on the bag he carries with him as if unsure what else they should do.
RE: The Punchiest Pool Party - Zavien - 06-02-2025
Zavien's about as excited to be at this party as he was to be at the carnival in Stormbreak - and that thought alone makes his jaw clench, remembering that he can't go home. Just last week, he'd been shopping in the square, sparring with comrades, and tending to the Celestine with Lena - and now they find themselves cruelly exiled, forced to rely on the kindness of others for protection. He gives Sunjata a grateful nod as he and
For now, he leads Lena into the midst of people, cautious as he holds her hand tight and scans the party. Not wanting to give away that anything's amiss (more than he knows) and since they're not blatant weapons, he only wears his ring and bracelet, noticing with relief that the ring isn't warming near most of the other guests. Unfortunately, his sword would draw too much suspicion and he's forced to leave it tucked along the side of a chair with their bags, ready just in case things go down. Plus, it didn't really go with the green swim trunks or the lack of shirt - which incidentally puts his gnarly scar on display for all to see.
His eyes find Flora's in the crowd of attendees, but he doesn't make any obvious signals, only a silent acknowledgement of his presence in the weight of his gaze before he lets it drift away to other attendants. Deimos,
RE: The Punchiest Pool Party - Deimos - 06-02-2025
He waited for some kind of rejection or refusal. If he wasn’t the one holding the knives, he’d probably be doing the same semblance of balking or eyes widening. He’d already thought of the multitudes in between – his family, his region – but the negatives surrounding not taking precautions and some steadfast resolution might’ve been even greater. What would happen if they failed at Starfall? If everything amplified further and further, until there was nothing they could do? The Sword didn’t want Halo, nor any others for that matter, to suddenly be condemned because he hadn’t been bold enough to try.
At Remi ‘s offer, another long breath unfurled. [say]Thank you. I am hoping to be invisible and not within his range or sight, but -[/say] he shrugged thereafter; they knew how happenstance and fortune worked. Turning his gaze towards others at the party, as if aloof and not warring over stoicism and apprehension colliding within himself (heavily pressured downward, not wanting to radiate anymore to those clustered by him). The inquiry isn’t a bad one – but he’d like an opening. [say]Preferably when he is distracted.[/say] Was that what Hadama was doing – though he wasn’t certain how long the conversation would linger on.
His eyes glanced at Sunjata momentarily; not so much surprised as somewhat amused, the twitch of a grin forming before he smothered that too. Though the next round of information would’ve quickly diminished it anyway, and so he gave another tight breath, eyes narrowing as they pinpointed on Pierce, then roamed around to the others meandering and wandering through. [say]Lovely. How do you know that?[/say]
RE: The Punchiest Pool Party - Lena - 06-02-2025
Likely the last thing they needed was another panic-inducing extravaganza, but there they were, at a pool party hosted by Pierce. Reminded of the ill-fated taco party, Lena kept herself quite close to Zavien, pretending her sundress matched her sunshine disposition, and that the plastered smile wasn’t a pretense for the impending gathering.
She hadn’t come unprepared either – in classic medic form, where her staff was tucked with Zavien’s sword – just in case these plans went horrifically and horribly awry. She pulled her sunglasses further up her features, pressed squarely across her nose, hiding the widening of her eyes every time she glanced around, waving to a scant few. [say]“Not really, but we can munch on something.”[/say] Too nervous, too apprehensive, to actually want anything in her stomach if a chaotic event was bound to occur.
RE: The Punchiest Pool Party - Elizabeth - 06-02-2025
Elizabeth isn't much of a party person, but she is a people person, and she likes to sit and watch as things unfold when people are placed in such a large gathering. Dressed in a simple cream two piece and a pair of sunglasses, she sits just within the barrier as a bridge between the groups - feeling quite vulnerable without her magic. She holds a book in her lap, but behind the tinting of her glasses, her eyes scan every interaction, from the 'dad group' out of range, to the small pairings that gather together like they're bracing for something. From what she can gather, very few people are actually here for the party.
Sipping on a fruity cocktail someone had passed her, Elizabeth does her best to stay informed, catching some of the key players through the interactions. It doesn't surprise her in the slightest to see Deimos amongst the top people, not missing his interactions with the demigods, even if she doesn't see any lips moving. She doesn't recognize most of the other people, although she spots Hadama conversing with the host and Iskra with a red-haired woman that she's seen around a few times but doesn't know her name. Pretending not to be nosey, she continues 'reading' and sipping on her cold beverage.
RE: The Punchiest Pool Party - Soren - 06-02-2025
A party? Free drinks and pretty girls in little to no clothing? Sign him up. The youngling nearly vibrated as he made his way down the beach and to the gathering, a smirky smile plastered across his face as he took up a cocktail and shoved a snack down his throat.
He didn’t have many thoughts on whether the family was good or bad. The only thing he knew was that they had taken over Stormbreak, but it wasn’t the reason he left. He would have left as soon as he hit adulthood even if the Order were still in power. It wasn’t the city, after all, that he resented — it was his family culture.
The ancient flicked his tail and took a slip of his cocktail, licking the sugary-sweet taste off his fangs and lips as he looked around, assessing and deciding where to go next.
RE: The Punchiest Pool Party - Koa - 06-02-2025
Koa would rather be just about anywhere else in the world, but here he is, dressed in swim trunks and a button-down shirt dotted with seahorses that hides his mothman armor and his bracers because fuck it, it's not like he's gonna show up unprepared to this kind of event. Still exhausted from leading the evacuation efforts, he looks... well, remarkably less-hot than usual, with a multi-day-unshaven beard and eyebags that aren't fully hidden by the green-rim sunglasses he sports.
As much as he'd like to keep his distance from the horrific pool-shaped nightmare waiting to happen, Koa has a reason for being here beyond just fun in the sun. Striding toward the edge of the pool where Sohalia talks to Kaisel, Koa shoots a look between his reclining cousin and his...
...er....
...Soh.
[say]"Any sign of Noe?"[/say] His voice is low, the darting gaze hidden behind his mirrored shades. He's spotted a mess of familiar faces, but not his sister.
Not yet.
RE: The Punchiest Pool Party - Theea - 06-02-2025
I spot the party before I hear it—bright colors flashing like bait between the palm fronds, sunlight glinting off water, laughter pitched just too high to be easy. My sandals crunch against the stone path as I step out of the shadows and into Torchline’s version of paradise, which is apparently half poolside glamour, half predator's den.
The blue bikini feels tighter now that I’m surrounded by people. The wrapped skirt gives me the illusion of modesty, even if the dagger strapped to my thigh underneath it is the only thing making me feel remotely dressed. Sunglasses help. I can pretend I’m just here for the sun, not the sheer thrum of tension that hums under the music like a second heartbeat.
I know who threw this party. Pierce. Family Pierce. I avoid looking at them altogether, and I feel like the biggest fucking idiot sandwich. I could have stayed away. Should have. Hindsight and all that.
A breeze tugs at the loose fishtail braid down my back, catching strands of my hair and dragging them across my cheek. I tuck one behind my ear, scanning the crowd from behind tinted lenses. There’s Flora , radiant as ever. Koa, Sohalia talking to Kaisel, Calypso, and others. Remi and Ronin stand out like twin sun gods no matter what they’re doing, and Deimos looms like a storm cloud you only realize is overhead after you’ve already heard the thunder. Elizabeth’s here too, and I almost try to catch her eye to smile.
Everyone looks like they’re pretending to be more relaxed than they are. No one’s smiling quite right. They’re all waiting.
I hover near the edge, letting the pulse of conversation and splashes roll past me like wind over glass. A server offers me a drink from a tray—tropical and obnoxiously pink. I nod my thanks, take a sip, and nearly choke. It’s stronger than it looks. Of course it is.
My mother would kill me if she knew I was here. Not kill, maybe. Lecture me into oblivion. But she’s not here, and I am, and I have no idea what I’m waiting for either.
So I lean against a post in the shade, drink in hand, and watch my family swirl around in the light like stars circling a black hole.
RE: The Punchiest Pool Party - Talyson - 06-02-2025
Add Tal and Alys to the list of people who would rather be anywhere else today.
Hail, Tal hated parties at the best of times. Throw in water and Void and it was pretty much every nightmare he'd ever had in the last couple of years all rolled into one suntan-lotion-scented dystopian apocalypse.
Tal had his Goggles on and he didn't care that it made him look like a huge nerd as he walked with stiff joints towards the pool party with all the nonchalant grace of a fully arched cat sidling towards a cucumber. His arm was stiff beneath Alys's hand as he scowled around at the gathering where, for once, he didn't look like the most uncomfortable kid at the party. There were a couple of folks he didn't recognize, and Tal squinted suspiciously at Jack, Vesper, and Pierce, wondering which one of them was the host of this horrible little shindig--
And then his eyes caught on Vox. The courier stopped dead in his tracks and chewed on his lip before turning his head to look at his partner hesitantly. "D'you, uh... wanna hang out with Sunjata for a minute?" he asked, hopeful and utterly oblivious to the sixty foot line that most of the other 'guests' weren't crossing. Though he titled his chin towards the lounging horror to let her know what he was thinking. Kind of. In the vaguest sense, at least.
RE: The Punchiest Pool Party - Kaisel - 06-02-2025
It’s not the easiest thing for him, wearing a smile that isn’t real. It’s always come naturally, easily, so the conscious effort of it now is distracting. He has to remember how it’s supposed to feel, the shape of it on his face, careful not to overdo it like a kid yelling cheeeeeese, scrunching every feature in hopes the picture (and the moment spent without play) will end sooner. He tries to summon good memories to help, starting off strong with puppies, but they don’t hold a candle to the echoes in his mind of the panic that had ricocheted down the stone walkways of his home. The same home brought down by the very people who now thought it considerate to host a pool party, like each event had been nothing more than an item on their summer fun to-do list.
Sighing through his nose he relents a bit on the focus to fake it 'til he makes it, munching on the hot dog as his gaze finally drifts, when previously it had been honed in on Pierce alone. He spots Flora, already talking with Jack. Guess she's talked to him again. Kaisel resists the urge to roll his eyes and throw himself off his floatie, instead watching as Vesper joins the water. His siblings can’t be far behind. Then there’s Vox. Kaisel’s simmering fury kicks back with renewed strength, his grip tightening until the bun squishes into the meat in a sad, unpalatable mess. He checks himself with a squint toward the sun, letting the light rearrange the creases of his expression back into something smoother.
When Sohalia casts a slight shadow over him, he sets the mangled dog on the edge of the void-viper donut, glancing up with a careful pull of his lips. [say]“Me?”[/say] he says a little too high, shaking it off with an empty laugh. [say]“Never better. I was ready to move anyway. Didn’t think it’d be across all of Caido, but such is life, right?”[/say] Over her shoulder, he spots Calypso joining her brother, as expected. He lifts a hand in a small wave to her, but little more—he's not overly interested in chasing a pretty girl when he feels like he could chew the air here.
His focus shifts to