The Beach | Birthday Blues {BYOA}

[healsforjustice]

With the will of the hotel to create just about any scenario it wished, it was often hard to keep track of the seasons going by. However, if one was to find themselves wandering along a long stretch of sand as the sun slowly began to dip below the horizon, it would truly feel like summer. It was obviously fated that Amelia found herself wandering

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[foolishcleric]

Funny how often Aldray found himself crossing paths so often with Amelia. Not something he complained about, just observed.

This situation was an odd one, to say the least, with her out here alone, dressed like that. He wasn't sure what to think of it, but it was rather obvious that something had her troubled.

Aiming to see if he can turn her mood around, Aldray steps up near her, and places a hand on her shoulder. "While what you're wearing is quite lovely on you, Miss Amelia, I'm afraid it doesn't seem suited to swimming."

[healsforjustice]

Oddly enough, while not idea attire, it did cover more a bathing suit, and Amelia had at least had the decency to tie a sarong around her waist. The light material skimmed her legs due to the breeze, distracting the princess further. That is until a familiar hand landed on her shoulder.

Tilting her head up to look at the cleric, she managed a small smile, not wanting to give herself away. She troubled him enough at times already.

"I wasn't intending to go into the water anyway. I was just..." she paused a moment, letting her eyes slip shut as if trying to recall what had possessed her to wander out to the beach at all. "...thinking."

[foolishcleric]

Aldray would object to the idea of her troubling him, if he knew she had that thought.

His hand slipped away from her shoulder, and reached into his pocket, pulling out a coin. He tossed it in the air once, then held it out to her. "A copper piece for your thoughts?"

[healsforjustice]

Naturally if she thought about it, Amelia knew he would protest, but she still didn't wish to use him to offload her concerns about missing her home. Thus, she waved her hand at him, even if the phrasing made her giggle.

"It's not important, really Mr Aldray." she insisted. It was hard to dance around the subject, since she refused to outright lie. But it wasn't the sort of thing she could just tell people. Surely it would sound like she was expecting something from it, and she refused to put her friends in that position.

[onlysanechimera]

Zelgadiss hadn't expected to wind up at the beach, but then, he hadn't really been expecting anything in particular. He'd just set off walking - but then, at least the hotel had the courtesy to wait for that for once rather than just dumping him where it wanted him to go, usually without any clothes.

He slipped off his shoes before stepping out onto the sand, leaving them just inside the doorway - he was obviously unsurprised at the way the door seemed to vanish when he closed it. A way out would probably present itself eventually. He was more interested in the line of bare footprints across the beach, still visible in the light of the setting sun.

He was sure of just who the figure at the end of the trail was even before her features became really distinct; it was easy to recognize Amelia by now. He approached quietly, not wanting to disturb her apparent thoughts, but unless she noticed him coming he was going to walk right up next to her and put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Amelia?"

[healsforjustice]

Approaching would have been an easy task, considering how lost in thought Amelia was. It seemed like the more she stared, the more came to mind. She could have almost swore she saw images and memories in the reflections of light that shimmered across the water. The longer she looked, the more real it seemed.

The cool breeze brought her back back to reality somewhat, the material around her legs whipping in the wind as she rubbed her bare arms. This contrasted heavily to the sudden warm hand on her shoulder. If not for the well known voice saying her name, she would have been rather startled.

"Oh, Mr Zelgadiss, what brings you out here?" she asked, offering her usual happy smile.

[onlysanechimera]

"Just wandering, really. I found the beach, then followed the tracks in the sand. Is everything alright?" he asked, looking a bit concerned. Even if she was smiling happily now, she hadn't looked that way a moment ago - she only usually looked that quiet when something serious was happening or something had upset her.

He slipped an arm around her awkwardly. Comforting people wasn't exactly his strong point, but he at least had to try.

[healsforjustice]

Nodding, Amelia cast a glance back at the footprints a moment before answering, still keeping the smile in place. "Of course, why wouldn't everything be alright?"

As she felt his arm move around her, the princess found herself leaning against the chimera, relaxing somwhat. Having him there did make her feel a little better, but she was still weary. After all, she was getting worked up when Zelgadiss had been stuck at the hotel for much longer, even if he hadn't been specific about it. It wasn't fair for her to get upset, when he had no doubt gone through a lot more.