[b]Mischief Reef – 11/01/2022, 08:23 UTC +8[/b]

Jasmine's sundress and flip flops were thankfully among the few luxury items she packed in her suitcase. The thought of roaming the sandy beaches in navy attire discomforted her. Those inevitable granules in her dress shoes... She shuddered as she strolled across the moist sandbar, silently delighting in what impressions her footfalls made. Nonetheless, the briefcase she carried had to double for a tote bag.

Her target was yonder cluster of Noble Arms Masters. Admiral Abasolo explicitly instructed to gauge and assist their well being, yet another reason why uniforms were a bad idea. Even so, her visage was drawn to the lone surfer on the outlying seas. Female, seemingly. Was it Lidmann? Jasmine squinted. Yes, apparently so! The Brit's rigorous determination to completing her task gave her an ironically graceful flow to her movement. Jasmine waved, though doubtless Callie's attention was directed elsewhere, judging by her own hand gestures.

Jasmine was so distracted that she almost ignored a massive pit in the sand. She approached it for inspection and was surprised to discover Orozco inside, busily shoveling away at the ground. The crevice was very clearly taller than he; otherwise she'd have spotted a head protruding off the surface. As she stood on the precipice, the sand underneath her began to give way. She staggered backward. Iker finally noticed as his bare toes were covered entirely. He glanced up and shielded his eyes. [color=fff200]"What a pleasant surprise!"[/color] he announced.

"Yes, um," Jasmine stuttered. What response does such a situation warrant? "Apologies for refilling your hole."

Iker shrugged. [color=fff200]"Wouldn't be the first; won't be the last. I wish to employ your assistance, if you desire penitence. Are those waves distant presently? I can't view them from my position."[/color]

Jasmine peered out towards Callie again. "I reckon the tide's coming in; it wasn't that aggressive previously. There's no urgency, however."

Iker snapped his fingers. [color=fff200]"Confound it."[/color] He thrust his shovel into the side of his hovel.

"What's the matter?"

Sand flew out the opening. [color=fff200]"So, when excavating this kind of structure, dampness composition is key. Water keeps the walls rigid. Too far from the waterline, and the dry sand falls downward and pours in. Too close, and-"[/color] To punctuate, a rogue wave stormed over the dreary gray plains, stopping just at Iker's construction. Jasmine yelped as the frigidity touched her. A foot's worth of progress fell off and slushed at the bottom, hardening to cement Iker's feet in sturdy sand. [color=fff200]"That happens,"[/color] he quipped.

"An exercise in futility, then," Jasmine lamented. "Why do you do it?"

Iker held up his hands. [color=fff200]"It's a diversion. And eerily peaceful."[/color] Before resuming, he divined additional reasons. [color=fff200]"I want to conclude my vacation with an accomplishment, you know?"[/color] He tagged a glint of white and blue. [color=fff200]"Would you appreciate a seashell?"[/color]

Jasmine smiled. "That would be lovely; thanks!" Iker carefully extracted a pristine specimen out of the stucco and extended his arm upward. Jasmine collected and toyed with it, as humans often do with dazzling trinkets. "I'll cherish it," she promised, "but I don't suppose it's healthy to labor alone."

Iker surveyed his workspace. [color=fff200]"I didn't bring a second trowel, and I doubt the spare space would fit you. But I'm certain you can locate tools in the abandoned Chinese base. That's where I got mine."[/color]

"No, I meant you should fraternize with the others," she laughed, pointing off to Qingshe. "A bunch of our friends gather beside that tree. You could use the social acumen."

Iker's countenance disagreed with that advice, but he had little rationale to support his objection. [color=fff200]"The project isn't nearly deep enough for my usual specifications."[/color]

A sister wave dumped an extra load of sediment into the basin, ensnaring Iker to his knees. [color=fff200]"Perhaps it's the will of God,"[/color] he mused. Resigned to abandonment, he outstretched his palm. Jasmine squeezed it and pulled with her full strength. Iker was out in a jiffy. He dusted himself off and sighed in relief. [color=fff200]"Lead me to this gathering."[/color]

The duo arrived in time to hear Callie's boisterous announcement, followed by instant regret: [color=f7941d]“…I have definitely interrupted something, haven’t I?”[/color]

[color=fff200]"It likely wasn't important,"[/color] Iker assured, scanning the scene for faces. He knew... probably two or three of those present, and none particularly well. [color=fff200]"Our aim is to relax, and there's no relaxation in heavy talk. Certainly not while we have numbers for what constitutes a party, or maybe some manner of sports."[/color] He stretched. [color=fff200]"Speaking of, 'twas you who rode the surfboard, wasn't it? Well performed!"[/color]

"Yes, you're quite deft!" Jasmine added. "Well, since the conversation is halted," she unbuckled her case, "I've been authorized by my superiors to distribute these for a job well done at Jinghong Dam." She opened her luggage like a book, displaying the vibrantly colored wrappers within. "Candies! Nothing that melts, of course. Select your favorites! They're American imports. I guess not everything from the United States is cutoff from us, eh?"

Iker perused the selection. [color=fff200]"Anything watermelon flavored?"[/color]

"Gum, I think." Jasmine nodded to a lime green rectangular wrapper, and Orozco nabbed it.

[color=fff200]"So, would anyone care for music?"[/color] Iker asked. [color=fff200]"I don't possess instruments, but I'm sure our powers combined might assemble an orchestra of sorts."[/color]