[Network Video]

[ziedrich_bearer]

[Imagine the beach. Okay, don't imagine the beach because the video, it's definitely of the beach. Of the waves hitting the shore, of feet buried in the sand, of strong legs too, but the angle doesn't continue far up them, mostly because the video is looking over them, at the ocean.]

Gonna be frank here. All that shit with the 'Calibrations' junk? Total fucking horrible bullshit. Too quiet. Too weighty. Too fucking enclosed and tense. We need something else. We need to be something more than what they inflicted on us.

Least, that's what I think.

[The view panned from the sea off to the right, where someone had built a large stack of felled wood. Sorta fresh, so maybe it wouldn't burn the best, but it was there. This was clearly bonfire territory.]

I'm thinking it wouldn't be bad to fucking chill a little, you know? Like, not entirely. Don't trust whatever did that to not fuck with us again. But beaches can be relaxing, and with enough of us, maybe we can enjoy ourselves a little but still keep a watch. So, maybe we do it. Maybe we come here and make our own memories we don't gotta sit through and watch.

Memories we can be a part of.

Back home, at the start of summer, we've got this thing to do. It's meant to be a celebration of identity and self. Okay, I'll be honest, it's called 'Pride', and technically it's for, you know, celebrating gender and sexual identities and all that. Never really went to one back home, but feels like the concept is right. Celebration of identity. The ones we build for ourselves now, not all the fucking baggage they dredged up.

So, uh... who might be in?

[Gladio turns the camera's view around so that it's on him fully. Of course he isn't wearing a shirt. It's fucking Gladio. If you know the man and haven't seen him shirtless yet, do you really know the man?]

So anyone down for making some good memories about ourselves? Doesn't have to be today. Might take some time for the wood to be good to burn. Doesn't have to not be today either. I'd say I'm flexible, but come on, muscles like these are for strength, not for bending. But I can work with what people want. What they need.

And I think we might need this.


[OOC: Feel free to have people come find him in action. Or start your own logs of partying at the beach because of this]

Comments

[Video]

[fatedsacrifice]

I'm already getting ready to go fishing.

[Of course he is.]

I can bring some stuff to eat and you can make a campfire.

[Boy did he miss Gladio's ability for outdoor stuff.]

[ziedrich_bearer]

Of course you are. Because you always are.

But yeah, you should do that. I could race you, kick your ass, maybe throw you int he water. And we... we can talk.

[Those words trail off more. but after his talks with Richie, maybe... maybe he needs to say it.]

[fatedsacrifice]

You talk a good game, but I recall beating you on the sand in Galdin Quay.

[Which was literally a lifetime ago now. But something in the other's 'we can talk' comment got to him and the earlier bravado just faded. Still, Noctis planned to listen to whatever his shield had to say so he nodded.]

If you need to talk, that's what I'm here for.

[ziedrich_bearer]

That's more than a decade ago, Noctis. I've been getting better since then. You've been napping. I think i've got this.

When you get here. We can talk then.

[fatedsacrifice]

Napping. I'll show you napping.

[Still, Gladio's words about talking sounded ominous, even if Noct wasn't going to say that.]

I'll be there in about ten minutes.

[Or less if he got warp happy, which he might because he was nervous about this talking thing.]

[Text]

[mutedsuspicions]

there's a word for things like that? teh pride thing, with who yo're attracted to? i've nevr heard of a pride thing for that

_{[He looks over the man in the video and squints before messaging again. Lerith couldn't remember well but he felt like he had met this man before somehow? Maybe it was during the calibrations thing.]}

i can help with the fire maybe? or to at least help with getting the wood ready

[ziedrich_bearer]

Yeah, there are terms for sexual and gender identity where I'm from. Because there's so many things a person can be, and it can help to use words that others will understand.

And help with the fire would be nice.

[mutedsuspicions]

_{[Oh. Hm. He didn't realize there were actual terms for them.]}

is there a word for when you only like your asme... gender?

also have we met ebfore? you look familar

[ziedrich_bearer]

Homosexual. Though there's more refined ones too. Gay is used as a generalized term for it too, but also can specifically mean a guy that only likes guys. And Lesbian means a woman who loves a woman.

Don't know. Can't see you.

[ action ]

[tempredmental]

[A beach party, huh? Keith didn't even have to know about it from Gladio himself because, honestly, Lance would have brought him along anyway. So, he was, of course, there... with Kosmo.

He wasn't big on parties and crowds, so he kind of hung around and got some food and sat on the edge a bit, watching everyone else. But, that said, he wasn't exactly adverse to people coming over and talking to him, either.]

[ziedrich_bearer]

[It wasn't something Gladio had intended to get big, but who was he to turn away people if they came? No one, that's who. So when Gladio saw Keith, he of course moved to the guy. Met him, and nodded.]

So, I've gotta ask... You ever pull that jumping the speedy bike thing off the cliff thing that Shiro did?

[Gotta love Calibrations, right?]

[tempredmental]

[Keith looked caught a bit off guard for a moment, and then... He laughed.]

Yeah, I did it.

Let me guess... you saw his memory of our race through the desert. [He nodded.] That was the first time I ever saw him do it.

[Keith hadn't jumped that first time. But, after a few runs along that route, and then doing it off smaller cliffs to get a feel for the hoverbike, he definitely gave it a go.]

[ziedrich_bearer]

[Gladio nods. Yeah, it's like that.]

I was riding with him in it. Fucking intense. But he seemed proud of what you were doing.

[ video ]

[beholding_archivist]

...Pride... right. I remember these.... Festivities to be rather crowded. And loud. And filled with rainbows.

[ Not exactly his sort of party. ]

Are you suggesting another beach party?

[ziedrich_bearer]

Another?

[Dude, seriously, what do you mean 'another'. He got here in the winter.]

[beholding_archivist]

Well, I… I suppose you weren’t here yet, but- There was a beach party being held last summer as well.

[ He could send you pictures, but… Jon considers them rather private. ]

[ziedrich_bearer]

Last Summer? Man, you guys really know to live it up. Seriously, ain't no harm in enjoying the surf and sand more.

Besides, you probably need it more than most. You've clearly seen some shit. Bring that boyfriend of yours too.

[action]

[the_tailor]

[Pride? Beach celebration? Heck yeah, Lance is all about this. It's not as if he's not going to be at the beach every other day as it stands while the weather is this nice, but he always loves when others are there.

Keith and Kosmo are brought along, of course, and even Oliver is allowed to come by and frolic in the water where it's calmer. After supervising him a bit to make sure he's going to be safe on his own for a while, he goes to find Gladio. Not that it takes long to do so!]

Heeeeeey!

[He waves as he jogs over.]

[ziedrich_bearer]

[Well, that’s a thing isn’t it? Hey Lance. Gladio nods at the guy. What energy he’s got.]

Lance. How’s the fiancé?

[the_tailor]

[One thing that'll never change about Lance is the sheer energy he exudes, at least.]

He's doing good! A little grumpy about how much I'm dragging him along to the beach, I'm pretty sure he's specifically telling Kosmo to shake the water off of him right in my face every time, but he does need sun.

[He grins, a little sheepish.]

What's up with you?

[ziedrich_bearer]

Just trying to... Come to terms with a lot of things that have happened recently. The Calibrations stuff. The being trapped here.

[He sighs. What's his purpose here? He doesn't even know.]

Don't even know what the Agrii see in me.

[video]

[lionunchained]

I like this idea. Definitely seems better than just waiting around for something to happen.

If you are planning it for today, I can meet you there.

[ziedrich_bearer]

I'm less planning and more encouraging people to just come and do whatever they might be motivated to do. But I remember owing you a talk. So come on by and we'll bond in the stereotypically manly way and, I don't know, lift something heavy.

Video -> Action

[lionunchained]

[Shiro laughed at the last part of that] Well, then I will definitely come by. Yes, feats of strength do seem to be a method of bonding according to some. I'll be there soon.

[And true to his word, Shiro would soon show up at the beach. He at least he was dressed more casually than in the room, with shorts and shirt. But that also meant the metal arm was more visible here]

Hey there.

[ziedrich_bearer]

[Shorts, shirt, metal arm? Yeah, Gladio gets that mood. He nods at Shiro, gesturing for him to come over.]

Hey Shiro. Wanna help me move some of these logs to be benches by the bonfire area?