genessia | Nova Guardian Team Bonding

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Nova Guardian Team Bonding

WHO: Nova City Guardian Team, Plus Ones, and anyone who might be at Rockaway Beach
WHAT: Beach "team building" trip
WHEN: Friday
WHERE: Rockaway Beach in the New York, New York subarchway
WARNINGS: a bunch of morons at the beach what could go wrong

[ Weiss got there early, so she's already set up a nice little area with a bunch of picnic blankets and about five jumbo beach umbrellas. There's a cooler filled with ice and drinks and a wagon full of whole watermelons. There's a speaker playing whatever's on the local radio, though not too loudly, and a mysterious box that says "OPEN IN CASE OF EMERGENCY".. that's filled with an arsenal of waterguns of various types. There's also a little fold-out table at the edge of their beach relaxation fortress that has sun screen bottles, 6-hour waterproofing spray, and plates with fruit salad, salami, nuts, cheese cubes, and fresh bread beneath net covers (to keep the bugs and the seagulls out). She also may have stalked Garrus for a bit to make sure she could find out where he gets his special dextro food so she could get something for him, so there's one plate of finger sandwiches that says "GARRUS" on it. Of course there are napkins, plastic forks, and red cups as well (in case anyone doesn't want to drink out of a can).

In the sand a few feet in front of the set up, there's a beach ball and some stacked inner tubes and a special life vest for Garrus (the tag says it's made to support a lot of weight). It seemed more dignified than the cyborg child floaties at the store. ]

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[ Once Weiss is finished setting up, she looks over to the parking area of the beach uneasily. God she hopes.. literally anyone shows up. Everyone was pretty argumentative about showing up at all, and she knows it's not the easiest location but she'd gotten a little overly excited about it and bought everything ahead of time (except for Garrus's things, since she hadn't known about the sinking before she declared they were going- that she got on the food trip this morning). Her hands move to her hips as she squints to see if the figure moving in the distance is someone she knows, then once she decides it isn't she heads over to the little 'beach picnic fort and sits down next to the radio to tune it to something she feels like listening to while she waits. ]

[Wearing black swimming trunks with red accents, Jaune waves when he sees Weiss. He's guitar free, but he did bring his gauntlet and one pokeball. He stops to admire the water once he reaches her.]

You picked a good spot.

[ Oh thank god someone else showed. It would be Jaune but that's okay. She waves back and stands up. ]

Of course I did. I got here extra early to make certain we'd have the space.

I know a way to make sure we'd have the space. [It's just okay?]

Are you any good at volleyball?

[ It's good, but Jaune was one of the people she was expecting to come easily. It's the people who were arguing she's really worried about. ]

I mean we have the space already, but I can guarantee I'm very competitive at volleyball.

[ Good is another story but if you want someone who's going to glyph the ball to prevent it from being out.. ]

But if we didn't, you could have iced them out and I could have used my water gun to force them away. [Gestures to his chest.] I happen to be kind of really amazing at it.

Jaune, can I show you something?

[ She sounds so. Super serious. ]

Ah-- Anything. What is it?

[He is so confused but usually when people ask him serious questions he gets thrown into a wall or ruins a friendship so he's trying to be careful.]

[ she walks over to the "OPEN IN CASE OF EMERGENCY" box and opens it in a dramatic, swift motion. Jaune will see probably like at least 20 different water guns in there. ]

I'm prepared for anything.

What are you... I'm sorry I made an ice joke, please don't attack me. Weiss? [He tenses up, certain he counts as an emergency. Seeing the generous amount of water guns, he freezes until his brain makes the connection and brightens, walking over to look with his hands at each water gun.]

I can't believe you brought all of these. Calling dibs on this one. Yellow's my favorite color.

[ Weiss reaches in and takes out this nightmare. It looks way too big for her. ]

Sure, Jaune. You can take the yellow one.

...Actually-- [He takes the yellow one and aims it at Weiss.] I changed my mind. I want that one. And you're going to give it to me unless you want to face the Yellow Death.

You know you have to load that first, Jaune.

[ There's no water in it yet, Jaune. And if he bolts for the ocean she's going to glyph him into a faceplant and run ahead. ]

Oh. [His eyes round in surprise. It's very much an "oh shit" look.] I guess I'll just have to do that.

[He starts to lift up his right hand, the one he wears the gauntlet on to release one of the Dust cartridges. Unfortunately, it gets stuck, so he's trying to coax it out. He grimaces at her.] Hang on a second.

[ ... Yeah if he's going to try to use dust, she's going to glyph him and run for the ocean anyway, grabbing her waist pouch while she runs by it, which has her spare dust vials in it. Just in case. ]

Ah! [He faceplants into the sand. Still lying there, he lifts his arm up and aims a more powerful blast of water dust at her then he would with other people. She can handle it.]

[ He definitely sends her face first into the water and Weiss.. doesn't come up!!

She's managing to hold her breath while she fills up the water gun, but she's going to totally psyche Jaune out while she does. IT. IS. ON LIKE JAUNEKEY KONG!! ]

[Jaune makes a little victory cheer, pleased with himself. He's grinning like a little shit until Weiss doesn't go up.]

Weiss?

[She's still down there. Jaune's eyes widen in alarm and he drops the water gun to go diving in the ocean to try and find her!!!]

[ When she hears his feet hit the water, she launches herself up with the water gun, spraying Jaune with ALL HER MIGHT while running toward the beach to try to steal his gun too. ]

I can't believe you fell for that!

This is a very inconvenient location.

[The gruff voice belongs to Grievous as he stalks through the sand toward Weiss. He seems to be treading very carefully with his clawed feet.]

I take it you're not used to sand?

[ Yeah she's going to bring the waterproofing spray over to him. Sorry Grievous. She'll pick somewhere better next time. ]

[ Rockaway Beach and New York City has become one of Ayame's favorite hideout spots. It's a perfect balance of civilization with modern amenities and not being too close to home, that her acquaintance's summoned subarchway and Fayren's beaches can provide. Not exactly a being that needs to sleep anymore, Ayame sometimes travels to different subarchways just to relive a certain feeling of once being a multiverse traveler and to find some feeling of peace whenever her mind feels too loud. She's been here since dark, so now she's going on a brisk jog at the beach when morning has broken, wearing a purple tracksuit, running pants, and some sneakers. She wears the Genessia amulet around her neck like a decorative accessory. Even while running, Ayame just has to make herself look stylish.

On the way to where Weiss was, Ayame's pet cat Hibiki ran ahead of his master, finding his way to where Weiss set up shop just to avoid the water. The cat slows down and prods its nose dangerously close to that mysterious box, pawing at it curiously. Ayame follows not far from her cat, immediately calling out to her pet to leave it alone - in Japanese. But she speaks to Weiss, immediately recognizing her yet not saying anything, she spoke in a language they both understand. ]

My apologies for Hibiki here. He becomes so energetic whenever he gets exposed to some sunlight.

[ Weiss quirks an eyebrow at the cat. She's not fawning over it because she's a dog person, but she has nothing against cats. (If she did she and Blake would have a problem.) She had just been making her way over to see what the cat was up to by slowly crawling across the blankets when she heard Ayame and sat up straight in a much more polite position. ]

That's quite alright. It isn't as if it's a private beach.

Indeed. Although during this time of the day, it can certainly feel like it. Many people of the city are only starting their work days.

[ Ayame glances around, seeing a few people surfing and scattered beach goers and joggers throughout the parts of the beach that she can see. Her attention turns to Weiss once again. ]

We haven't been formally introduced. Ayame Sasaki. I'm a friend of Satsuki.

[ Ayame gives a small bow in casual greeting. She goes to Honnouji Academy in Genessia to practice kyudo and train with Satsuki in swordsmanship during these times in the morning, although she haven't been attending lately. ]

[ Weiss finally stands all the way up and gives a curtsy in response to the bow. ]

Weiss Schnee. Did Satsuki tell you we were going to be here today?

[ The idea was not to tell everyone the Guardians were out, so she's hoping Satsuki didn't just tell all her friends and this is just a coincidence.. or maybe it was just one or two. ]

[ Ayame shakes her head ]

No, she didn't. I simply visit this part of the subarchway every other morning, it's one of the better jogging routes Genessia has to offer, along with Tokyo.

[ Ayame gives Weiss a reassuring nod and a kind smile. ]

Have you been to? I've been finding myself visiting it whenever I feel homesick. It's a little different than the Tokyo from my home, but a lot of it remains familiar.

You must take some substantial jogs.

[ NYC isn't small, she took her car here. That's actually pretty impressive. ]

I've been a couple times. [ She tends to go when she's feeling down, or if Sun is. They're idiots and sneak up to the top of Tokyo Tower past the observation deck and eat fruit on occasion. ] The subarchway that leads to my world is a little outdated, so it leads to an area that's not.. doing well anymore. It's strange to see it doing so well in the subarchway, so I really only head there when I need Dust anymore.

[ Ayame gives a nod to both Weiss' remark and her response. Ayame had been jogging all night in different parts of New York City, and she remains looking as fresh as she was when she started. Using her powers and being depressed are the only thing that can really tire her out anymore ]

Dust...

[ Ayame repeats the word under her breath, placing a hand at her chin, and feeling a nagging curiosity about this substance in the back of her mind. ]

Mm. I know the feeling. It's almost heartbreaking, seeing a glimpse of your home during a time everyone is blissfully unaware, that it will suffer through such a drastic change, and that it was only a matter of time. I'm the same way with the subarchway leading to Dubai.

[ Ayame sighs wistfully. She does miss her homeworld on occasion, but visiting a city she knows right before an impending disaster that changed her forever was like reliving it over again. She does muster the courage to go back from time to time, on days her feelings of longing are stronger than her fears. ]

[ Weiss isn't about to start really bonding with a stranger, so she backs off of the topic a little. They're at the beach, enjoying a day off. If she has to talk about Vale or how everything's terrible there now or how she doesn't think people should be going to subarchways to relieve homesickness because those aren't their homes no matter how hard they try to believe it or no matter how good a replica it is, it's going to defeat the purpose. Which isn't Ayame's fault but her own. Weiss's mind goes to less cheerful things more often than not lately. ]

Regardless, that's not here. Here is the sun and sand and not worrying about things for one day.

[ Which is something Weiss needs to remind herself of sometimes when she's trying to take a break. ]

[ Ayame didn't realize how depressing the conversation could have gone if Weiss hadn't changed it. For her own mind goes to less cheerful things more often than not lately, although having friends in Genessia has helped immensely. She only gives a brief sheepish expression, crossing her arms gently so that her hands touch her elbows before she replies. ]

Yes. And some great coffee. New York has some of the best brews I've tried, along with some pasta.

[ Some teas too, if Weiss is more into that. ]

New York's coffee is okay. I think I'm a little disillusioned to it because everyone in this subarchway constantly claims they have the best everything. Pizza, bagels, oddly not pizza bagels, theaters, cafes, clubs, diners, shopping...

[ So far she's pretty sure that it's a situation of people convincing themselves they've got the best of everything. Atlas did that too, and she didn't think it was the best. ]

The Paris subarchway has good coffee if you've got time to go through Attleton to get there. I usually go get fresh beans there once a week.

[ Since she sure as hell can't be going to Paris every day for a cup.. ]

[ Ayame nods. Weiss' different opinion was intriguing, making Ayame excited on the chance that there might actually be better options in the world they collectively inhabit. She takes a notepad from her pocket an a pen, clicking it after opening the pad with pages of handwritten notes and lists ]

I love the idea of Paris so I've thought I save a trip there on a much later date, on special occasions, but it might now be tempting enough to change my mind. What is the name of the vendor you get your coffee from?

[ She wonders what this Paris would be like. Considering it's in Attleton, it's probably normal. No fancy tech or magic. ]

I take it there's a Paris in your world? Most of the time the subarchways aren't that expensive to travel to since there's no real need to spend the night.

[ Day trips are doable. Saving up? She's got to assume Ayame's world has a Paris. ]

[ Insert some shop here bc it's not modern Paris here, it's like.. really old Paris, so it's more like "this guy who grows and roasts beans" rather than a known vendor. ]

[ Ayame didn't let her slight disappointment show when Weiss revealed it to be an old version Paris. Without the Eiffel Tower, it just didn't feel the same. Her exposure about the place centers on that iconic landmark. Even if she haven't stepped in to this subarchway, she can feel her Paris Syndrome already, but on the bright side,
it's a new place to explore and new experiences await her ]

Yes, there is one. It's some place I've been wishing to visit since I was young. All the hype about it has gotten to me, you could say.

[ Ayame chuckles to herself, closing the notepad and putting it back into her pocket ]

And I hope it's not too much that I'm borrowing your deputy for tomorrow unto Sunday. She and I have been planning to go camping in Fayren now that the Chimera has been managed. Hopefully she'll behave today with you and the rest of the team.

[ Weiss may be a stranger, but Ayame and Satsuki are close enough that she feels comfortable making jokes about her friend. ]

[When he's not being forced to do team exercises with the other deputies, Jaune is playing in the water with Neptune, which includes a lot of falling off his back when the waves collide. You might also catch him eating, or attempting to steal Garrus's sandwiches out of curiosity. Why did Weiss make him special sandwiches? He's wearing simple black swimming trunks with red accents, and he also has his gauntlet equipped.]

As for Satsuki, she's in a rare instance where her hair is worn up in a ponytail. She's rather neutral on the entire scenario, though it was raised from 'ugh' entirely due to her interest in both Garrus and Grevious.

Besides, she's done her fair share of teambuilding exercises, but hers tended to be more violent.

(A) She is with her natural form Furfrou, given that whatever she chose would be ruined by the water. However the interesting part is that Satsuki can be seen riding the water atop the pokemon's back as if it were a surfboard. She's hardly a pro at it though, and may be seen wiping out several times nearby or splashing someone with the waves they create.

(B)
1: Satsuki thought of some ideas of her own and brought along some high-powered waterguns to do some target practice with. Several yards away there are cans or bottles or whatever lined up atop a stand made of.. Sand. She isn't the best shooter around, but she's feeling a bit of a competitive edge. "You," she says to the next person who arrives. "Let us have a contest."

2: Or she may just be practicing herself as she really doesn't have much experience with water guns. As she draws the pump back and forth repeatedly for a minute or so, her attention is suddenly grabbed when her Furfrou barks up at her. She pulls the trigger which may very well nail someone in the face with a blast of water as she looks down to the pokemon seeking attention.

(C) Watermelon splitting is the activity Satsuki feels the most comfortable with, and she's pretty eager to show off her mastery of the blade. However, like before, the trick is finding someone to compete with, and there's a somewhat impatient tap of her foot as she looks around for someone to challenge.

[ Weiss really likes Satsuki's swimsuit but she's not sure how Satsuki would respond to a compliment like that. She'd been coming over to try though, when she was suddenly challenged. Weiss quirked an eyebrow and opened her mouth, then made a face. ]

I think I'm one of the few people from my world whose weapon isn't also some kind of long-distance firearm.

[ It has a revolver-style Dust dispenser but she certainly doesn't use it in a normal gun-like manner. However, Weiss does tilt her head slightly. ]

May we choose which water gun we'd like to use?

[ Because there are some hella water guns in that "emergency" box. ]

[O- Oh. Oops.]

Leader.

[That's sort of an apology, she didn't mean to be quite that forward to Weiss. At the same time, she's pretty certain this couldn't be more perfect; a chance to test her skill (or lack thereof) against Weiss.]

Being primarily melee combat myself, I believe we may be of equal footing then. We will have to see. [She then nods.] Certainly; help yourself.

[ Weiss didn't have skill with water guns so much as the gusto of someone who will take a pillar to the back while holding a swordfish in a food fight. Going way overboard is the only way this can possibly happen.

A fact which may become apparent when she walks right past Satsuki and opens up that "IN CASE OF EMERGENCY" chest and starts locking and loading, brightly colored holster sashes holding spare smaller guns while she lifts up two huge ones with either hand. She filled them up with Jaune earlier. ]

How do you want to start?

[Weiss heading toward that particular chest gets a raised brow, but it's what's withdrawn that really catches her by surprise. So surprised, that a look of confusion forms on her features. Eventually she gestures to the standing bottles.]

The original idea was to take five paces from the target then turn; whoever knocks the bottle down first would win. I would have my Furfrou adjust the position of the bottle so neither of us know where it stands upon turning.

[As she gestures to the targets. She's not opposed to a duel, but she really wants to understand why Weiss is so heavily armed. Is this a misunderstanding?]

Oh.

[ She almost looks disappointed. ]

I thought we were going to have a water gun fight.

[ Say what you will, Weiss does miss the way her team does things. She starts taking off the equipment and just picks the one that looks like it's got the highest pressure- one with a pump on it you can increase the pressure with. ]

[Oh... Kay.]

If that is the case, I would not be opposed to a triathlon, though I am unclear of the rules and objective of a water gun fight. We would need a third event as well.

[Yes, more events would do nicely, though Satsuki does have difficulty picturing how competitive water gunning would work. Maybe it's a high-noon style duel?

But she most certainly won't back down.]

Edited 2017-06-27 02:18 (UTC)

Satsuki, have you never.. had a play fight?

[ LISTEN SATSUKI, LISTEN. ] You usually play things like this until you're unconscious, then whoever's left standing is the winner, so we should probably leave it until the final round.

[It's a good thing Satsuki doesn't answer right away because what Weiss describes doesn't exactly sound like playing.]

What you describe sounds more like sparring. [Well, perhaps a level above sparring. It sounds interesting regardless.] Which, yes, I have plenty of experience in.

I suppose watermelon splitting would be the obvious second round?

Last time I was involved in a food fight we essentially destroyed the entire hall. [ A beat. ] Professor Goodwitch can fix things telekinetically, it isn't as though we were causing thousands of dollars worth of damage. [ And honestly at that time her father might've paid for it if they had. ] But there's mostly just sand and water here so I'm not too concerned.

What's watermelon splitting?

That sounds like quite the battle; and yet I find myself more curious to what discipline was exacted post-battle.

[She can't imagine a Professor who would want to do that, abilities or no. The question about watermelon splitting actually makes Satsuki appear more lively.]

It is a traditional beach activity in Japan. Essentially the user is granted a wooden sword, blindfolded, twirled around, then tasked to split the watermelon in the least number of swings.

[Beat.]

However, for swordswomen as skilled as ourselves, I believe it may be a greater test of skill to keep one another from splitting it first. Without blindfolds.

Professor Ozpin talked her down on our behalf, we had to clean up the non-construction-based mess.

[ Ozpin was their trouble-causing hero and let them get away with all kinds of dumb crap. ]

Are we defending the same watermelon or do we each get one of our own? [ Because she is so down for this. ] And are we using our own swords or wood ones?

Hmn.

[Ozpin. It's been a long time since she heard that name, but she could easily see him doing that. Tsk.]

The way I see it, including two would leave less room for doubt of the winner.

[Then she pauses. She's pretty sure she's seen Weiss' weapon before- can it actually split a melon?]

Whichever you would like, but I will use a wooden sword.

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Nova Guardian Team Bonding

Weiss OTA

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Jaune OTA

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