capeandcowllogs | wade into the water with me, wash my body down

Entry tags:

wade into the water with me, wash my body down

WHO: Rick ~~Bradbeary~~ Bradbury and all you poor fucks who signed up for this or anyone who wants to gatecrash!
WHERE: Coney Island Boardwalk and around the City!
WHEN: December 29, 1PM until January 1st, midnight.
WARNINGS: Naked people, animals, probably a lot of cursing.
SUMMARY: It's all fun and games until someone turns into a polar bear.
FORMAT: Poster's choice!

this post is meant to cover the day of the swim itself and subsequent days after! there will be threads for the swimming/mingling; feel free to start closed/open threads for the following days, or start logs on the main comm, whatever floats your boat! indicate if threads are closed or open and i'll keep them organized on the main post. o/

REFERENCES
OOC PLANNING POST | F. A. Q. AND GUIDELINES

PRE-SWIMMING
Bradbury | Kate | The Shade
"Wild Tiger" | Rikku | Feferi
KITT

IN THE WATER
Bradbury

ON THE SHORE
Bradbury | Kate | The Shade
Jane Vasko | Roy Harper | Spike
James Bond | Bight

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Getting into the water doesn't happen until 1PM, but there are already people gathering in the area around the boardwalk before then. Whether they're here to swim, to take incriminating pictures, or provide moral support, it's surprisingly more of a turnout than one would expect.. There's some hot chocolate (though some enterprising souls have probably brought their own idea of "warming) to keep swimmers and spectators warm while they wait for the fun to start. Mingle and chat, have second thoughts, or reassure your friends you haven't gone off the deep end; if it needs doing before you take off into the water, do it here.

The weather's actually surprising pleasant for this time of the year, and the sun sparkles off the still distinctly icy-looking water almost merrily. What could possibly go wrong? ]

[ It's time to jump off the boardwalk, so shuck off whatever blanket or coat you've been shivering under, take a deep breath, and plunge in! After the initial shock of the cold, you might be surprised to find your body actually adapting to the temperature around it, and it actually doesn't feel that bad, especially if you swim around a bit and get that blood flowing.

But then? Something goes awry.

You might feel it like a hand around an ankle, or like a cramp that spreads to the rest of your body, freezing you up. Either way, you'll find yourself suddenly plunged under the water, and when you surface? You'll find yourself changed. You aren't the only one in this dilemma: as you get used to your new limbs, you'll hear the voices of your fellow swimmers when you break the water, calling out in confusion (and in some cases, fear).

For spectators and those who find themselves human, still, they'll find themselves confronted with quite the sight as swimmer after swimmer disappears into dark water, only to reappear in a different shape.

Needless to say, the afternoon just got a lot more exciting. ]

[ Eventually the swimmers make it back to shore, one way or another, but whether they manage to be recognized or whether things devolve into pandemonium is anyone's guess. Needless to say, spectators and friends may have some sorting out to do.

Attempt to figure out who's turned into what, or contribute to the general chaos: either way, what happens next is up to you. ]

[ To say Bradbury's surprised to see so many people around -- definitely enough to make the place feel a little crowded -- is an understatement. Despite the fact that he's the one who organized this (if "organizing" is what you can call piling some spare blankets into his backseat and fixing up some hot chocolate to pass around) he doesn't seem to be mingling much, preferring to lean against one of the posts towards the end of the pier and nursing a cup of hot chocolate that may or may not be spiked.

He's currently bundled up in his trenchcoat, feet shoved into a pair of rubber shoes. No socks, though, and his skin's prickling from the cold. ]

[ When 1PM rolls around, Bradbury finally moves into action, calling for people's attention. ]

All right, people, line up along the boardwalk, and no pushing. [ That last one's directed at a few of the rowdier-looking would-be swimmers, and his tone suggests he's not going to be very pleased to find anyone stepping out of line. ]

Dr. John Watson over there's gonna be keeping track of how long we're in the water, and probably saving your ass if you end up getting hypothermia. First whistle means it's been five minutes, second whistle means ten, and three means it's been fifteen and you're a fucking popsicle. [ He sounds so cheerful about that, too, particularly because he's giving John a shit-eating grin as he tosses him the whistle and stopwatch right then. Because clearly, forward planning is his strong suit. Rounding back to the swimmers: ]

Don't be shy: holler if you need help. Swim safe, and have fun.

[ He toes his shoes off on the boardwalk, bare feet on the wooden planks, and sheds the coat - he's wearing swimming trunks underneath, and a white shirt - before taking a breath. ]

Go on three. One, two -- three!

[ He doesn't do a fancy swan dive in, but he does manage, impressively, to slip into the water smoothly. His head breaks the surface a few seconds later, but he's laughing, effortlessly treading water as he tips his head back to look back at the pier and the people on it. ]

Edited 2012-12-29 15:50 (UTC)

[ He's one of the last to straggle to the beach, dripping water like some kind of huge, shaggy dog. As a Kodiak bear, he makes an impressive sight, though his golden fur is currently a muddy-looking brown from being soaked through. He still hadn't fully comprehended what had happened when he'd been pulled under, one of the last people to stay human.

He shakes himself off, spraying water on unsuspecting passersby and his fellow victims; his fur fluffs up with the motion, and he rears back onto his haunches, rubbing at his face. This turns out to be a horrible idea, of course, since he nearly puts out one of his own eyes with a claw, so he stops quickly enough, muzzle jerking back and ears flattened against his head.

To those who can understand him, they can hear what he's saying loud and clear, where anyone else might just hear a low, rumbling snarl.

"Motherfucker." ]

Edited 2012-12-29 16:02 (UTC)

[Few people in the city can pull off bare feet in the winter the way Jane can. Of course she's wearing her black trench for modesty sake; can't have any of the participants fainting before the big swim. Ignoring most of the crowd Jane hones in on Rick's figure]

Aren't you suppose to be mingling? It is your party after all.

[ Kate's brought along a lot of extra thing just in case something goes wrong. She's starting to feel like an old woman, bringing first aid and other things every time she goes out with other imPorts. But that's the thing isn't it? Something tends to happen when they're in groups.

She's got a long and heavy towel draped around her figure. No shoes, socks or sandals of any kind as she walks along the edge and stares into the water. It looks pretty and clean. She finds herself watching the gentle waves for too long. ]

[ Once everyone else began to behave strangely in the water, she caught on instantly, only to feel herself swept below the surface and struggling to break through and grab herself some air. She fights against the current, suddenly much stronger than she had predicted and bursts through the surface.

And she realizes her body feels heavier-- warmer. Her senses are acting strangely and she's paddling back to the shore with all four legs.

She's panicking on the inside, but it isn't until she's dragged herself back to land that she realizes what's happened to her. Covered in sleek, white fur and feeling sharped teeth in her mouth. She reaches to touch her nose awkwardly, which looks just as strange to see a large wolf trying to rub its own face.

Oh god. ]

[ Well, the entire point had been to walk out over the water, and laugh at the foolishness that was not only exercising, but exercising in the freezing water. Maybe the Shade should have just stayed on shore, with his fine plate of cheeses that he'd carted along with him, for entertainment purposes. Who wouldn't want to eat while watching people do stupid things?

That had perhaps been the faulty idea. Using his shadows to step lightly in the air, above the water, small constructs that dissipated into nothing quickly enough, but something about it seemed... well, off.

It was unfortunate he wasn't sensitive to matters of the occult, really. Maybe then the whole thing could have been avoided, but the Shade was simply so beyond knowing anything about it beyond his own powers.

Which is how he ended up in the water, and only long moments later when he can't actually just leave, which is frustrating in of itself, that he's moving to shore.

Everything feels weird, off, and the Shade knows what he normally feels like from head to toe, and this is not it. He feels, perhaps for the first time in two hundred years, actually warm, or rather actually cold for the moment. His whole body shakes with shivers, and when he's out he's attempting to slake water off before he realizes he's not wringing his hands, he's shaking, and his vision is all too clear, no tint of sunglasses setting things off, no feeling of the world beneath his feet, shadows curling every which way.

He looked down to white, and his only thought was that this was truly the hell he'd only imagined before. ]

[ Well, Shade's not swimming. He refuses to swim, that sounds like work, and from the way he walks in a smooth saunter, it's obvious the fellow doesn't favor anything of that sort.

If the Victorian garb, lace at his wrists, and delicately handled plate of delectables in his hand weren't enough of a sign, honestly. He looked, however, mostly amused, with a quirk to his lip that was just a bit too all-knowing, a bit too...well, snide wasn't quite the word, but it was the closest one could get.

He very obviously was there for one reason, and that was to laugh at the entire thing. ]

[ Well, that was unexpected. He wasn't exactly a fan of swimming in the middle of winter, but he'd come along for a walk anyway - the scenery was nice, this time of year.

There must have been something magical in the water, then, or possibly demonic (he feels a small hint of something off in the air, before the changes start happening, but nothing he can pinpoint with any surety) but the point is that...

Well. He walks over to the fox shaking water off itself, shrugging off his jacket - just a plain one he's bought while here, but it's a winter one, so it's warm enough. And fluffy on the inside! ]

Oh dear. What have you gotten yourself into? [ There you go, that jacket is getting draped over you for the moment. You are small enough for this to work. ]

[ The Shade really hasn't quite gotten over the horror of not being able to just slide into his shadows that he's still putting two and two together. Someone is talking, and he recognizes that voice, is it the Fiddler, he hears? An old compatriot in arms during his times fighting the Flash, who could run like the wind. He opens his mouth to tell him that it's little matter, and that he will be fine, but it comes out as a yip, and his ears prick forward, before swiveling backward, flattening to his head in what was probably supposed to, in fox speak, be something with shame.

To Shade, it was a flat annoyance. He may prefer dogs, but in mannerisms, he is much more like a cat.

He shakes his fur against the coat, trying to worm out of it, before standing there on very dog-like four legs, long, large fox's tail whipping around in agitation. ]

[Jane was one of the last to make it to shore. Upon seeing the chaos on the beach she was tempted to head back into the water and drown herself.

This city was really fucked up.

Pausing, she patted her ass just to make sure she wasn't sprouting a tail before grabbing her towel and walking right into the thick of things.]

And they say the Hudson is toxic.

[ He has to stifle the urge to laugh, because this is probably very distressing for his companion as it is (and a severe blow to his dignity) and he'll probably pay for it later if he does.

He takes his jacket back, after a moment, and reminds himself not to try and pat Shade (he'd probably get bitten for his trouble). Besides, it is rather cold out here. ]

Dear me. White really isn't your colour, is it.[ His voice is soothing - he's had more than enough experience with nervous and normal wild animals to know what works. ]

You can understand me, can't you? [ He sounds curious. ]

Never really liked parties.

[ It's said absently, with a crooked grin over his shoulder. ]

You look ready for a swim.

[totally slouching around fully clothed and wearing his mask, trying to pysch himself up for this]

[The tiger that just got done pulling itself out of the water and shaking off does not appreciate having water sprayed on him all over again, and turns to snarl at the offending bear.

...it's still wearing a green-and-white mask, though. Funny.]

[Roy struggles to get out of the water in all of the chaos, flopping around in a pathetic attempt to get his feet. It takes him about a full minute to comprehend what the hell has happened to him, though the exact nature of the changes to his body still haven't quite settled. After all, who expects to suddenly transform into a 2000lb sea lion?

Enraged and quite honestly terrified, Roy lets out an angry roar as he beaches himself forlornly on the shore.]

[ His ears prick forward, and he stares straight at Fiddler, still unsettled by the very prospect of what's happened. White really isn't his color. He's in hell.

He's in hell, and he doesn't know what's happening to himself, beyond the fact that his balance is off, everything is off. Blood pounds in his ears, a heartbeat pushing something he hadn't had in some time through his veins. Frustrated, he tries to speak again, an annoyed 'yes' coming through as a half-growl, half-yip. Really, Fiddler, that should be obvious, is the implication, even as his eyes narrow. ]

[Rikku is so ready for this.

Though she's bundled up for the trip to the boardwalk, she's only got on her trademark bright yellow bikini beneath her jeans and layers of hoodies and jackets. She's read up a little on how to do this kind of thing (wow really, jumping straight into ice-cold water without a little preparation was just stupid) and is pretty sure she can handle it. Besides, it's all for fun and games, right?

Hands shoved in her pockets, she saunters up to the designated area, looking around and smiling. So many people! Who knew that jumping into freezing water was so popular with the imports?]

*The young girl looks more excited for this snow-cold plunge than anyone ought to reasonably be. She's also not changing into a swimsuit or anything, just in a normal T-shirt and exercise pants.* This is going to be so great!

Oh, I'm so excited!

[ She can't focus with so much noise erupting on the beach and so close to her. These new, fuzzy ears of hers are much more sensitive to sound than she anticipated and she ducks her head as if evading the roaring and snarling. She looks to the-- god, is that a sea lion?-- and inches closer. It's obviously one of the divers, she just doesn't know who. ]

[Holy shit! Is that a wolf?! Look at the teeth and claws on that thing!

Roy lets out a sharp roar almost instinctively, like he's warning the furry creature to stand down. It's not like he can run away, not when it takes so much effort to heft himself around on land. The fact that he's so massively large and definitely not part of a wolf's diet hasn't quite settled in yet. He's really just paranoid about being eaten.]

Just to make sure. [ oh no you're adorable and fluffy and mortified!! it's paris all over again ]

Well, I don't think you can wander around here for very long. Someone's bound to call animal control, at this rate. [ there's bears and tigers and sea lions and god knows what else will come out - with the City's luck someone's probably turned into Cthulu. ]

Shall we? I doubt anyone will mind me keeping a fox in my apartment temporarily.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 14

wade into the water with me, wash my body down

PRE-SWIMMING

IN THE WATER

ON THE SHORE

open

open

open

no subject

open

open

open

OPEN

no subject

no subject

open

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

open;

no subject

open.

open

no subject

no subject

no subject