[Pyrr Solstice Festival] Sparkling Sunsets on the Shore

[swiftyuki]

This festival extends through the entire territory of Avalon, not just the capitol. Some people prefer a quieter time along the shoreline. At Diamond Beach, its sands are a gleaming white, reflecting a brilliant green-blue water of the sea on top of it. It's home to many waves, great for surfing, as well as large boulders where many sea creatures around high tide thrive. There are a few sea caves beneath cliffsides for exploration and many out here to go treasure hunting or just to vacation on the beach.

During the Pyrr Solstice Festival, there are many fire and water mages that go out here to celebrate, but keep most things much tamer than in the capitol city. Those of a much more tribal origin, or who share a culture of tribal ancestry often go here to celebrate in the evening or night rather than the modern remix presented for most of the showcases at the city center plaza.

[Ari]

Rhapsody Carmine

How exciting, the Pyrr Solstice Festival was in town! All sorts of festivities and events were available to participate in, from games to parties and everything in-between. Rhapsody was so ecstatic, she could hardly wait!
Rushing down to Diamond Beach, the half-siren squealed as she saw the crystal clear waters and the glistening white sand, it was just perfect! She searched around the beach for a good spot to place down her stuff and go for a swim.

Searching... Searching... Aha! Found the perfect spot, right near a couple of tide pools. She'll just mosey on over to that spot and set down her beach towel along with a bag with a spare change of clothes. Shaking off the tank top and cargo shorts she had on to cover her swimsuit, she took off towards the ocean. She swam out til the ocean lapped at her shoulders a bit, letting the salty sea surround her. Getting used to the cool temperature, she dove beneath the surface, her siren blood allowing her eyes to easily adjust to the salty depths. She was truly in her element here, diving deeper until she reached the sandy bottom. 
As she touched the ocean floor, a couple of fish swam past her, startled by her presence. Eyes lit up with the sight of the vibrant and lively ocean floor as she swam with the fishes. God this was beautiful, she could stay down here forever. Well, maybe not forever, but a girl could dream okay!

After swimming for nearly an hour, with a couple of trips back to the surface to regain air, she decided to head back to the shore to get a snack. Then it's back to swimming for this gal!

[[God] - Yuki Shiotaro]

Ahh, festivals. Yuki loved celebrations between the elements. Sure, it was a lot of work for the patron gods, but it was also always pleasant to see the plans put forth into full fruition. It was only through the celebrations of tribal members of the sea that she was associated with the Pyrr Solstice Festival, even then it was incredibly minor. Kind of wild how things linked up like that. Tropical waters were always associated with summer, but summer was wholly within Pyrion's domain.

The goddess didn't have too much to do, mostly oversee the tribal celebrations that happened nearer towards night. Bit now it was midday, so she had some time to herself. She took a stroll along the quieter end of the beach, a section that most people didn't really have enough sand to place towels or blankets on to settle and sun on. It gave her some time to herself between socialising with everyone.

No disguises today, there was no need for that. Blue hair that tipped with a length that met her ankles flowed behind her. Her skin was remarkably pale, almost as white as the sand's, laced with a glowing blue series of markings all over her body. Her eyes were a deep ocean blue, lit up from her white pupils. The dress she wore was a simple white two piece dress, the top mostly just covering her front with only two bands showing at the back. One band was at her neck, the other just below the breast. The second piece was the skirt, a single piece that flowed around.

It was a lovely day. Calm waters, crystalline and clear. There were large clouds lining the horizon, buildup far away that wouldn't bother anyone here. The sky above was clear and blue, the sun shone brilliantly, almost making the sand on the beach glow a little. It was lovely weather and she wished Abel was here with her. Things with him was always better but he was off on a bounty that seemed to take a while. She hoped he was alright. She missed him.

A small sigh left her lips and she allowed herself to recollect herself from thoughts like this. It was a nice day, so she was going to do what she could to make the most of it. She was starting to reenter a section of sandbar that was populated. Thankfully, the beach was large as can be and had more than enough space to not overcrowd and give everyone comfortable space between each other.

She sucked in a breath and buried her inner thoughts down all the way and walked down the shoreline, letting others pass in front of her as they raced to run into the water, some just crashing into the water, others diving under a rolling wave and going further into the watery depths. There were many hobbies going on. Sunbathing, swimming, exploring, surfing, sports, kite flying. You name it, it was likely there.

The goddess went over to a food stand, doing her best to ignore stares and excited whispers. She just wanted something small to nibble on. She bought a seared fish, despite the store clerk doing what they could to try to make it free but she didn't like applying status to get deals. Instead, she gave them some extra coinage to pay for the next few meals they'd offer to whoever was next in line.

[Ari]

Rhapsody Carmine

As she stepped out from the crystal clear sea, she shook off dripping remnants of seawater, squeezing the salty liquid out from her hair. Walking over to her stuff, she slipped her flip-flops on and made her way over to where the food stalls were. Ooh what should she get? Maybe a hotdog, but burgers were good too, oooh she could also go for some nachos! Gosh, there were so many options to choose from! Well, once she gets to the food stalls she'll figure out what she's craving.

Heading towards the food stalls with her bag, she heard awed whispers from the other beachgoers. She caught the word 'Yuki' over and over again, but what did that have to do with anything? 
Before she could think more of it, she had already arrived at a food stall, with the vendor cheerfully greeting her,
"Hello little miss, what can I get for you today?" She scanned the menu to see if there was something that caught her eye. Humming to herself, she paused on one menu item, exclaiming, "I'll take two fish kebabs please! How much do I have to pay for it?" She was about to pull out her wallet, when the vendor stopped her.
"No need for that little lady! Your meal along with any other lucky customer after you has already been paid for by the kind goddess Yuki!" 

Rhapsody tilted her head as she stared at the vendor, the information he told her being processed in her mind. Once she fully processed it, she hummed to herself. It was pretty kind of the goddess to offer to pay for a couple of customers' food, but she still wanted to give the vendor some money, so she'll at least give the guy a tip. Just for the delicious food. 
With that in mind, the young hybrid handed over a slightly large tip to the vendor, not taking it back when he tried to convince her otherwise. She said her goodbyes as she started to feast on her food, all the while slightly looking for the one who decided to pay for the food. It was only polite to thank the goddess for her kind gesture. 
Now if she remembered correctly, Yuki had long blue hair, pale skin and eyes that reminded her of the oceans she adored so much. 

As she was lost in thought however, she didn't realize that the one she was searching for was right in front of her, because before she knew it, Rhapsody accidentally bumped into someone

[[God] - Yuki Shiotaro]

Yuki was more or less surveying the area while chewing on a piece of seared fish. She didn't seem to take much notice until someone walked right into her. She simply jumped and turned around, quick to speak out with,[smear:#00fff7]"Oh, I'm sorry! Was I in your way?"[/smear:#0066FF:0] What a weird thing for a god to do. Then again, Yuki was never fully accustomed to her status in the first place. 

Though, while she was so quick to apologise, she also stumbled a bit to catch the little tray of fish she was holding. This action on its own spelled out how much of a ditz she was if she didn't have to be formal. Well, even being formal she was an absolute ditz. As long as she wasn't dead serious or upset, things allowed for her to get this clumsy even if this wasn't intentional at all.

With her movements, her hair flowed almost unnaturally, like it was partially water and trailed behind her with a slightly floaty look. It made sense if it was known that she was an elemental shapeshifter. 

[Ari]

Rhapsody Carmine

Oof, what'd she hit? Keeping a grip onto her kebab, she heard someone ask her if she was alright. They sounded like they had an airy tone of voice, as if they were on another plane of existence. Looking up, she was confronted with young woman with long, flowing azure hair that looked weightless as it flowed about her. She was gonna think more about it, but then she realized that she hadn't answered the other woman. More importantly, Rhapsody had bumped into this lady and hadn't apologized!
"Oh! I'm quite alright, if anything I should be asking you if you are alright. I didn't mean to knock into you, my head was up in the clouds." Funny how Rhapsody was looking for Yuki but didn't seem to realize that she was in front of her. She was way too focused on the fact that she had accidentally bumped into this woman, almost causing her to drop her food. Just the mere thought of causing this woman any inconvenience made Rhapsody fret even more. Although this woman didn't seem all too concerned.
"Oh not at all! You aren't in the way, I was just in too much of a hurry." She quickly assured the woman that she wasn't in any way at fault.

[[God] - Yuki Shiotaro]

The goddess smiled and extended a free hand to shake Rhapsody's. [smear:#00fff7]"My name is Yuki." Please don't freak out."The Lady of Winter." Please don't."Ah, but no need to be formal!"[/smear:#0066FF:0] She continued to make silent pleas for Rhapsody to not panic under the realisation of who she was talking to. [smear:#00fff7]"Would you like to sit and chat for a bit?"[/smear:#0066FF:0], she asked. Maybe it was her just being a smidge lonely, maybe it was her being friendly. ...Maybe it was both. Who knows really? 

She waited for Rhapsody's response. Regardless of if her answer was a yes or a no, Yuki would then make her way down the beach towards some large rocks lined with anemones that sprouted during high tide and settled at a bare spot on the rock. 

[Ari]

Rhapsody Carmine

She tilted her head as she accepted the handshake, smiling kindly at the other woman. Then she heard the introduction...

Oh, dear she bumped into the WInter Lady!! This was Rhapsody's first time getting a look at her, and she wasn't expecting someone so.... down to earth. Sure, she's heard stories about how the Winter Lady was a benevolent being, but she wasn't expecting someone who was this kind. Oh, she hasn't introduced herself yet, how terribly rude of her!
"Oh, I'm Rhapsody, pleased to meet you!" Nailed it Rhaps.

Then the Wint-, I mean, Yuki asked if she essentially wanted to hang out. Who was she to refuse?
"Sure! Let's go!"
Rhapsody trailed behind the godly being, curious to see what she was going to do. Yuki lead her towards the beach once more, to a spot with large rocks that were perfect to perch upon, lined with anemones. 
Yuki sat upon a smooth, large boulder and Rhapsody sat on another rock that was slightly submerged in the water.

[[God] - Yuki Shiotaro]

[smear:#00fff7]"Rhapsody? That's a lovely name."[/smear:#0066FF:0] The goddess pat her skirt a couple times, straightening it a little so she could rest the tray of food on her lap a bit more comfortably. She seemed happy that Rhapsody agreed to chat a little while. 

Her attention was momentarily cast over the ocean and then went back to Rhapsody, a kind smile on her features. [smear:#00fff7]"So, Rhapsody, tell me a bit about yourself."[/smear:#0066FF:0], she said. The goddess wasn't just saying that to entertain someone, her body language and attentiveness to Rhapsody showed she was legitimately interested in getting to know this person. Of course, she still had a fish to finish nibbling on too, so she would steal a bite or two while Rhapsody told her tale.

[Ari]

Rhapsody Carmine

She hummed when Yuki asked that question, not answering at the moment with some fish kebab in her mouth. She swallowed her food before responding, "Hmhm, tell you about myself...? Well, I'm 17 years old, a student at Vyridel Academy. I enjoy music, especially singing!" She paused her talking by finishing off one of her fish kebabs, and starting on her second one. 
"I enjoy swimming, especially in the ocean! There's just something about the ocean water that's super soothing, and it's a very familiar feeling. Plus, it's just so darn gorgeous down there, seeing all the vibrant life in crystal clear waters." She had a soft smile on her face as her eyes lit up as she talked about the ocean. She didn't realize it, but soon enough she began rambling about how great the ocean was to the Winter Lady. 

After about 7 minutes however, Rhapsody realized that she was just babbling on without letting Yuki get a word in at all. "A-Ah! Oh no, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ramble on like that!" She was very flustered about taking control of the conversation like she did and began to rectify her mistake, "Er, but enough about me! What about you? What are you interested in?"

[[God] - Yuki Shiotaro]

Yuki proceeded to nibble away at her seared fish, eventually finishing it and leaving a nearly cleaned skeleton with a head and tail intact. She listened to Rhapsody ramble on, though nothing gave off the impression she was doing it to humour the girl. She kept listening with full attention and a smile. 

The goddess gave a little laugh, Rhapsody becoming flustered as to how much she spoke without much interruption. [smear:#00fff7]"Well, I guess it may be obvious that I love all things revolving around the element of water. The snowy peaks of mountain tops, the fresh mineral rich springs in deep caves, the ocean, the deep ocean."[/smear:#0066FF:0] She cupped her chin. [smear:#00fff7]"Hmm... of all of these I suppose I'm more partial to the deep ocean myself."[/smear:#0066FF:0]

She gave herself a nod with closed eyes before looking at Rhapsody. [smear:#00fff7]"Most don't get to see that side of the ocean. It's almost like another world out there. Of course.. There's not many because it's very dangerous to most mages that try to visit."[/smear:#0066FF:0] She scratched her cheek a little nervously. [smear:#00fff7]"So what of the ocean is your favourite? The reefs?"[/smear:#0066FF:0], she asked, bouncing the conversation back to Rhapsody. 

[Ari]

Rhapsody Carmine

Rhapsody listened attentively as Yuki began to list off what she enjoyed about water and its different stages, which is understandable. Rhapsody herself is more partial to just the ocean, but she can admit to the beauty that's snow and ice. 
She nibbled on her fish kebab as the goddess admitted that she enjoyed the deep ocean, which had it's own wonder to it. Rhapsody's never swam far into the deep part of the ocean, but her mama always told her that was where most Sirens resided, so she'd like to visit one day.

Rhapsody was pulled from her thoughts when Yuki asked which part of  the ocean she favored, "Well the reefs are indeed a favorite of mine, but I like to swim out far into the open ocean as well!" Sure the coral reefs have an abundance of vibrant life, but the open ocean is free and vast.
"Whenever I'm at the beach, I like to take every chance I get to swim out into the open sea, just to see what other types of ocean life live out there." She admitted with a sheepish look on her face.

Rhapsody hummed and tapped her chin as she pondered, "What about you Yuki, do you like to go out and swim into the deep ocean?"

[[God] - Yuki Shiotaro]

[smear:#00fff7]"I don't really swim in the deep ocean as a hobby... It's usually work related there unfortunately."[/smear:#0066FF:0], she said with a sheepish smile. Though she wanted to move away from the deep ocean itself. It had a lot of secrets, but she wasn't going to spill any of them.

[smear:#00fff7]"Do you study marine life or is it a hobby to explore it?"[/smear:#0066FF:0], she asked, seeming much more interested in Rhapsody's interests. [smear:#00fff7]“Is it the colours or the forms of the fauna there that interest you?”[/smear:#0066FF:0]

[Ari]

Rhapsody Carmine

She made an "Ahh," sound as Yuki admitted that she didn't really particularly go to the deep ocean for enjoyment but rather for work related purposes. Which is somewhat understandable as she's a goddess. Wonder what kind of work requires the deep ocean however.
"Ah, it's more or less a hobby. I'm part Siren on my mother's side so I just kinda have this instinctual urge to always be near water. It's just a plus side to get to experience life underneath the waves!" She ended with a bit of a giggle, feet kicking at the water lapping at the boulder she sat upon.

[[God] - Yuki Shiotaro]

Yuki stifled a small laugh as Rhapsody splashed in the water. [smear:#00fff7]“Well, I suppose it is a natural tendency to seek the water when your blood is so closely tied to it.”[/smear:#0066FF:0] That was a feeling she understood well with her own blood. But that feeling was bolstered tenfold with her job. The goddess took a moment to ponder something. Rhapsody didn’t seem to be a Siren from any of the main places you’d find one.

[smear:#00fff7]“There are many Sirens out there on the water with floating villages, everything connected with bridges and the whole village light enough to float on the water.”[/smear:#0066FF:0] She put a hand at her chin as she thought a little further. [smear:#00fff7]“There are some that can’t handle the air as well, but they’re often around the coral reefs. Actually they help cultivate the coral for the reefs.”[/smear:#0066FF:0], she gave a nod. [smear:#00fff7]“There are some in fresh water sections too. Swamp and marsh Sirens, river Sirens often live with Naiads, there’s even some that live in lakes up in the mountains. There are a rare few that live in deserts too.”[/smear:#0066ff:0]

[smear:#00fff7]“Do you perhaps know where your family’s bloodline comes from? Oh- I’m sorry, that might have been too personal a question to ask..”[/smear:#0066FF:0], she asked. Of course, it’s sometimes easier to tell based on their fins if they have any present or that they can shift with. All in all, she seemed entirely invested in Rhapsody now.