Beach exploration trip!

[Ada Turing]

Having gathered at least a majority of the people interested in going to the beach, Ada set off for the beach right after a quick dinner. She carried a small backpack, more than half full with its current cargo of a water bottle, camera, and flashlight.

The evening was calm and warm, with the sun still high enough to count as the end of an afternoon. The flashlight made for more of a precaution than anything else; the sun wouldn't be down for at least three more hours, by which time the expedition would (by Ada's estimate) be well over.

Ada ducked a tree branch as the path entered the forest and became a trail, and pulled it back and out of the way for the others.

"I'm looking forward to this," she said. "We had beaches in Chicago, but not salt water."

((OOC - feel free to push this along, assume we get to the beach itself in five or six posts if we don't stop walking. Feel free to join, even if you weren't in on the discussion earlier.))

[Mellianne Joss]

Mellianne followed Ada with her swimming bag over her shoulder. She had her refilled water bottle, cell phone, as well as a soda just in case. She had kept to drinking water and the like for meals and the sodas for a special treat. Now if only she could manage to get them cold without ice. And as always, she had her swimming things on her.

"We didn't even have beaches in Missiouri, we just had the banks of the Mississippi River. I'm not entirely sure what to expect."

She looked around the trail, trying to make sure she would know how to get back from the beach. Maybe if she did this enough times, she wouldn't get lost if she ever went alone.

[Ada Turing]

"It's..." Ada started, before pausing to collect her thoughts. "It's both mundane and completely magical at the same time. Sure, it's where the land ends and the water begins, but that doesn't even begin to describe it."

[Kahlen Jeanne Nox]

Kahlen had made sure to pack a swimsuit, water bottle, and sun lotion for this trip. She was excited to check out the beach because she hadn't been to one in a while.

Walking to the beach was rather peaceful. The sun was still up, but it was getting late since the group left after dinner. Kahlen brought her MP3 player with her, tangled in her hair as usual. The music wasn't turned up very loudly, so she could still converse with the others.

"Ada's right," Kahlen said to Mellianne. "Since you like swimming, the beach is going to be the perfect place for you- even better than the pool, I should think."

Kahlen soflty whistled along with her music. "It sure is nice outside."

[Mellianne Joss]

Mellianne raised an eyebrow at Ada's description of the ocean. She then turned to Kahlen. "Is the ocean much better than a pool?" She felt stupid asking things like this, especially considering how much she loved water. She did a stretch, trying to loosen up.

[Kahlen Jeanne Nox]

"I suppose so. It's a matter of personal taste, but I think you'll like the freer and more interesting enivronment. I wonder if we'll find any starfish or shells!" Kahlen grinned at Mellianne.

After walking for a moment, Kahlen got an idea. "You could probably make fish fly with your powers. Like, contain them in a cocoon of water and move them around."

[Mellianne Joss]

Nodding at the first part Kahlen said, Mellianne thought for a moment. Slowly, she replied, "Hmm. I might. I've never tried to hold something in the water before...I would definitely need to practice with something non-living first. I wouldn't want to accidentally kill one cause I messed up."

[Scott Logan]

Aidan and Scott joined the group, both dressed in board shorts and bright, clashing Hawaiian shirts and carrying towels.

"It's been ages since we've been to the beach," said Aidan. "It's too cold most of the year- unless you wear a wetsuit- and we'd normally have to wait another six months or so before it was warm enough."

"Yeah, that's the advantage of moving to the other side of the world- you get two summers. At least for the first year." Scott joined in.

[Ada Turing]

Ada paused for a moment, listening.

"I think I hear it! We must be getting close."

[Less Than Beta East Tundra]

Following the group was a large wolf. Less was fairly preoccupied with smelling everything they came across, but he still heard Ada's announcement and huffed in acknowledgment. His pack's territory was land-bound, so he hadn't ever been to a beach before. Frankly, it was exciting.

[Mellianne Joss]

Soon the forest ended and Mellianne stepped out of it onto white sand. She froze, entranced at the sight of the ocean, the sound of the waves and wind, the smell of the salt mixed with water, the faint taste of that very same salt, and the feel of the wind in her hair. All of her five senses, plus that little sixth one dealing with all things water, were overjoyed.

Moments later, she peeled her socks and shoes off and felt the sand between her toes. She tossed both items into her bag, went in a little ways, and started taking her shirt and shorts off, as she was wearing her swimsuit underneath. Placing those in her bag as well, Mellianne kept her eyes on the water as much as possible.

[Ada Turing]

"I think we broke her," Ada commented, quietly, to Scott. Or maybe it was Aiden, as she definitely was unable to tell the two apart.

[Aurora Lumina Robinson]

"It's just a beach," Aurora commented with a hint of bitterness. She'd tagged along because it seemed like a good opportunity to get to know the other students, but now that she was here, she was reminded how disappointing beaches were for her. She moved sand around with her foot, trying to remember what it felt like between her toes.

[Somariel Lamaron]

Finding an out-of-the-way spot with a nice view, Somariel took a towel out of her backpack and spread it on the sand. Sitting down on the towel, she removed her backpack and took out a sketch pad and some pencils and started drawing.

[Mellianne Joss]

With her bag in a spot where the waves wouldn't get it and her glasses safely away in their case which was under her clothes, Mellianne ran into the water and immediately started to use her powers. When she splashed, the water would raise and fall in huge arcs, her absolute joy helping to strengthen her powers for this moment in time, least that was what she thought it was. She turned to the others, her eyes sparkling. The entire time she had been laughing with her entire soul. She smiled and yelled to the others, "This is awesome!"

[Less Than Beta East Tundra]

Less took a running leap into the water, and then promptly ran back out as a wave splashed over him. He shook off suspiciously near Ada and immediately ran over to sniff Aurora. Really, Less was just running around everywhere from sheer excitement. After a few minutes of hyper dashing back and forth, he settled down to dig a large hole near Somariel. He had plans on eventually making a small den, but was currently being foiled by the capricious nature of the sand which kept filling in his hole.

[Kahlen Jeanne Nox]

Kahlen pulled off her swimsuit cover up and ran along the beach. The sand was white, which was interesting. 'I think I read that this was imported,' she thought. Kahlen saw that Mellianne was enjoying the beach.

"Told you so!" she called out.

Kahlen sat at the edge of the water and squished the sand between her toes. She started gathering together wet sand to create a sand turtle.

[Aurora Lumina Robinson]

Aurora couldn't seem to stay depressed with everyone so excited. She even giggled when Less stopped by on his mad spree to give her a sniff, although he had already darted out of range by the time she could try to lift her hand up to pet him.

Gradually her usual sunny disposition took hold, and she meandered to where Kahlen was building something. A castle? It was kind of roundish if so. "Can I help?"

[Kahlen Jeanne Nox]

Kahlen looked up to find a redheaded girl standing next to her. She had peculiar lights on her face. "Sure! I'm building a sand turtle," Kahlen said to her. "This sand's rather good for building things."

Kahlen moved over a bit and patted the sand in the round clump that would eventually be the turtle's shell.

[Ada Turing]

"Less!" Ada yelled, not really mad. She'd been planning on getting wet, and dressed accordingly. She took off her shoes and socks, tied them to her backpack by the laces, and then set the whole assembly down next to Mellianne's backpack. On second thought, she grabbed her camera before walking into the surf.

[Mellianne Joss]

Mellianne went back to playing in the waves. She was having the time of her life, and the amount of control she had over the water here, it was simply amazing. It must be the fact that it's the ocean.

Thinking for a bit, she concentrated and slowly made a water replica of herself. There were no colors to it, so it was barely noticeable as someone other than an elf. And for some reason, she couldn't get it to move realistically.

[Aurora Lumina Robinson]

"I'm Aurora, by the way," she replied, a flash of her huge blue eyes and a toothy smile before reverting her gaze to the turtle. She sat down on the opposite end of it and sat, watching what Kahlen was doing before trying to contribute. After a few moments, she started taking wet sand to add to the central pile.

After a minute or so of sitting in the wet sand, she started fidgetting, as her knee-length silver dress (decorated with LED light 'lace') was not exactly comfortable beach attire.

[Michelle Wilcox]

Michelle couldn't help smiling as she watched Less run around. His behavior seemed less creepy and more appropriate when he was in his wolf form. Michelle had removed her regular clothes and was wearing a yellow bikini. She made an effort to be as conspicuous as possible while sunbathing.

[Scott Logan]

Scott and Aidan took off their shirts and ran into the water. Aidan started to swim strongly through the waves, but Scott stayed closer to shore, just playing around in the surf.

Aidan turned once he was almost out the back of the breaking waves and started bodysurfing, riding one particularly big wave almost all the way into the shore.

Scott had swum over to near where Melianne was playing, and with a mischievous grin on his face started splashing water at her, only to immediately have second thoughts about whether starting a water fight with someone with elemental powers over water was the best idea he'd had today!

[Mellianne Joss]

When Mellianne got splashed, she lost control over the shape of the water 'person' she had created. She turned towards Scott and grinned (not evilly though). She dropped the remains of the watery 'person' and scooped up a ball of water.

Tossing the 'ball' up and down in her hand a few times, Mellianne then took aim and fired. As she wasn't wearing her glasses and had forgot to bring contacts, it landed near Scott, splashing water onto him anyways when it broke against the surface of the ocean.

[Ada Turing]

Ada looked down at her camera after taking a few pictures (both of the scenery and Mellianne's abilities) and softly said "bah". She didn't want to just record this moment, she wanted to be part of it. She walked back to where she'd left her backpack, put her camera away, and then stripped down to the swimsuit she'd put on before coming. She waded out into the surf, and then started swimming out towards Scott and Mellianne.

[Less Than Beta East Tundra]

Having finally dug out a sizable pit and smoothed the walls, Less Than Beta darted out to try going in the water again. The water fight between Scott and Mellianne looked like it was fun, so he naturally bounded over to them and started splashing water at them. Admittedly it would have been easier in human form, but he managed to get a good spray in via a carefully aimed swish of his tail.

[Kahlen Jeanne Nox]

"I'm Kahlen," she said to Aurora. As she was piling up sand for her side of the turtle's legs, she noticed Aurora didn't look very comfortable.

'It must be her dress. While very pretty, it isn't exactly practical,' Kahlen thought. She rather like the effect of the lights on Aurora's dress.

"I've got an extra swimsuit if you want to wear it," Kahlen offered. "I'm sure it'd fit you."

[Aurora Lumina Robinson]

"Oh, right!" She looks down at her clothing, noting that she really ought to pay attention to her wardrobe/circumstances a bit more often.

She stands up, brushing wet sand off of her bottom, then gives a small twirl as the metal threads shift and rearrange. When she comes to a stop, her wild red hair still bobbing about, she's wearing a glimmering silver one-piece bathing suit. Her initial instinct is to start putting lights all over it, but decides the large amount of water about would probably make that a poor idea.

"That should do," she decides, nodding after examining it. She turns to Kahlen and smiles. "Thanks for the offer though." The bathing suit gives a good view of her legs, which are covered with the same silver as her arms. The silver dissapates just above her knees in a disjointed pattern, breaking into thin lines and circles that continue the rest of the way up her legs, mirroring the designs on her arms, shoulders, neck and face.

She sits down again, giggling as the sand tickles her thighs, and starts gathering sand again.

[Kahlen Jeanne Nox]

Kahlen's eyes bugged out a bit as she watched Aurora transform her dress into a bathing suit. She knew she shouldn't have been surprised, but there she was, looking at Aurora like a fish.

Closing her mouth and blinking a few times, Kahlen said, "No problem. I see you've got it all covered."

Kahlen put her focus back on the sand turtle. She etched the lines for the shell.

"It's pretty cool that you can change your outfit like that."