【 Thank you for choosing the Golden Peacock, 5-Star Resort and Casino. You are currently registered as a WILDCARD in our system.
Due to unprecedented high demand we are temporarily unable to check you in to your reserved room. We apologize for the inconvenience. We have arranged for a temporary room while we work on processing your reservation as quickly as possible. We appreciate your understanding.
As a special wedding gift from us, we have arranged for you and your new spouse to stay in one of our junior penthouses while you wait. Congratulations on your new marriage. We are so pleased you have chosen our resort for your honeymoon.
You will be notified as soon as your official reservation has been processed. Your comfort and happiness are our utmost priority. We hope you enjoy the provided amenities and lose yourself in marital bliss. 】
EVENS
EVENS: NEW CHARACTERS
Music plays. Instrumental, the tune gentle enough not to disturb peaceful rest. The sudden insistent beep of the Watch is a cutting cacophony across an otherwise sweet lullaby. Upon opening their eyes, new arrivals will quickly discover that something is wrong. The quilt snug across their body is weighty. Crystals glint in a weave of embroidery and cotton shimmers with threads of silver. Dozens of decorative pillows surround the bed. The gauzy curtains of the canopied bed are drawn, obscuring the rest of the room.
Extravagant for a kidnapping. Too extravagent. What’s more, these new guests will find something even stranger than this new diamond-studded suite tucked into bed beside them. Someone else. Who are they, what are they wearing? What happened last night?!
Guests are encouraged to explore the resort from here! There are paper maps available for those who would like and staff are happy to recommend locations if they have any preferences. Enjoy your honeymoon, you lovebirds!
ODDS
ODDS: SPECIAL RE-ARRIVAL
Never trust a hallway in the Golden peacock.
Cross the wrong threshold and time begins to slow. A short hallway becomes long, sheds its doors, only leading to turns without end. Guests too eager to explore the resort have gotten lost before. For how long always varies, dependent upon capriciousness of the resort. Hours? Yes. Years? Yes. Every guest caught in the winding hallways has reported the same thing: time is different there and too difficult to discern.
Some wayward guests have been caught in the endless hallways since the FIRST TDM. Weeks pass before a single doorway appears in the distance. It creaks upon opening before everything goes topsy-turvy. These guests have been let out of a trap door in the depths of Crane's Respite.
All water corridors will eventually lead back to the populated areas of Crane's Respite. The waters are warm, the scent of bath salts returns, and staff are wild with joy at finally finding all of you. They have been beside themselves searching ever since you vanished!
NOTES
PROMPT NOTES
▶ Because we love all of the new characters premiering on this TDM, we kindly request that our Evens prompt be top level exclusive for new characters. Current characters are encouraged to tag in to these prompts with the caveat that they’ve been picked up from their assigned suite (or wherever else they were before) and dumped into the new arrival’s bed. We would like for new characters to have this prompt unique to their top level comments!
▶ Players are welcome to have their current character riff off of these prompts in the log community with the exclusion of the new arrival element. This request is just for TDM top levels.
▶ Current characters and new characters are both welcome to freely mess around with the Odds prompt with the exclusion of the arrival element. For new characters, players may participate with the idea that their character is exploring Crane’s Respite after their unique arrival in the Evens prompt. The Odds arrival element may also be utilized by current player characters who may have been on an unofficial hiatus in January and did not tag as much as they would have liked, to explain any long IC absence.
▶ Octopi may be killed. If a character decides to eat one of the octopi they may find themselves taking on some of its traits. Which traits are up to player discretion.
ELEVATORS
ELEVATORS
The house has recently ordered a full changeout of art in all high traffic areas. The elevators in particular have received special attention with many different famous artworks and portraits studded to the walls for guests to admire. These artworks are treasures of the modern world that one would typically see behind glass at a museum. Guests may even find works from their own world hanging in the elevators. Even famous works that maybe have been lost to time. So this is where they ended up. Is that Vermeer's The Concert?
Guests may find their elevator suddenly stopping without warning. The portraits on the wall stir, curiously studying them, but there are three main portraits calling the shots. The portrait that controls that particular elevator will make their demands known with the threat that, if they are not obeyed, you will be trapped forever.
Elevators will function after the portrait's demands are met. Guests that hold out and refuse may find themselves trapped upwards of twelve hours. Guests with the ability to do so may crawl out of the top emergency door, free to go wherever they want from there.
GREAT TIT!
GREAT TIT!
Great Tit! is the Golden Peacock’s popular dessert bar and cafe. With its bright pops of color and whimsical treats, guests simply can’t resist stopping in for a butt shaped cookie and hazelnut coffee. After catching wind that the resort has decided to celebrate a dessert shop's most lucrative holiday, Great Tit! is ready to impress the masses. Advertisements for limited edition drinks and desserts rain the main lobby; one can’t go three steps without slipping on a neon pink coupon for 10 percent off nipple buns. Guests that decide to pass by the cafe will find themselves assaulted with confetti cannons and eager employees ushering them inside.
Guests will find a temporary communal shower room upon exiting Great Tit! where they can wash off after a fun day of rolling around in sugar. All guests will be gifted a tee branded with a, CHOCOLATE IS MY LOVER logo.
NOTES
PROMPT NOTES
▶ This portraits prompt has been triggered by several characters expressing interest in and investigating the lore of the resort paintings. This is just dipping a beginning toe in, but congrats to all for poking around!
▶ Portraits in the elevator should not be destroyed, purely for continuity’s sake. If a character would go far enough to attack one of the portraits, the portrait will slap them back with ghostly power.
▶ Characters may also figure other ways out of the elevator if they have specific abilities to do so. While the portraits can control the elevators, they cannot control your character(s). Any destruction to the elevator itself is liable to result in a rush of security dragging the culprit(s) away to the Iron Net.
▶ Great Tit! is running a massive sale! Even characters who are on the broke end of the spectrum will be able to afford to join in on the fun and indulge in sugar at these prices.
▶ Players are encouraged to make up any other elements for the Hall of Chocolate. If it’s a dessert and edible, it’s there. Enjoy your sugar coma!
▶ While the chocolate boxes are ICly limited due to Alessandro’s skills as a chocolatier, this is only an IC mechanic. There is no OOC limitation on this prompt as far as chocolate rarity goes.
THE NEST
ALICE AND THE PARROTS
Fashion boutiques are a dime a dozen in the Nest. The shopping hub is massive, lined with stores all trying to aggressively appeal to guests. A challenge in itself — but the guests of the Golden Peacock are no ordinary people. Used to being pampered and fed excitement, if these boutiques don’t bust their bottoms to appeal to the fickle nature of their patrons, they won’t be in business for much longer! One particular boutique, Alice and the Parrots, is riding winds of romantic thrill and churning out a couple of brand new fashion lines sure to draw in loads of chips.
Guests are welcome to try on clothes in Alice and the Parrots' dressing rooms. These dressing rooms are small and can only accommodate two people sharing at a time. Such is the life of a small boutique store. Sharing is no big deal, right? And there’s no way you can buy clothing this expensive without giving it a test first.
NOTES
PROMPT NOTES
▶ Players are encouraged to make up whatever cute outfits they would like for this prompt.
▶ Wedding clothes do not have to be cute and frilly; this section accommodates tastes of everyone.
▶ Alice and the Parrots is more expensive than Love Dove. Their clothing quality is excellent but their price tags are high. Staff may watch low ranks extra diligently to cut off any stealing. Thieves will be chased by NPC security! Anyone caught gets a day in the Iron Net.
CASINO CHAPEL
CASINO FLOOR
A Pop up Chapel has appeared in the Phoenix Casino. Guests are delighting in playing out weddings and pretending to get married — and a few guests are even tying the knot for real. They aren't worried about the sanctity of marriage; they can divorce tomorrow if they get bored of each other. And everyone knows that getting married doesn't mean you can't fuck whoever you want!
Since the resort isn't keeping track of how many marriages a guest has, all guests are encouraged to marry as many people as they would like. The more the merrier!
Wild wedding events will continue all throughout the month of February, until the guests find it's gotten stale. A divorce rush will round out the fun at the end of the month.
NOTES
PROMPT NOTES
▶ Weddings are not legally binding. Birdvis is not registered as a real officiant, but he does have an excellent beak and pompadour.
▶ Prizes from easy mode slot machines are automatic and do not require mod thumbs up to claim.
▶ Chip prize from difficult mode slot machines is automatic. The special prize is 5 reward points to add to your bank on rewards. Players who wish to claim the special prize should link the finished thread (the kink in question has been completed) under their rewards header with the header, Wedding Slot Machine. If you do any combination of 6/6 (finger hand lol) we ask you somehow make this sexy or involve a climax in order to claim the points.
BLANKET CW: Aphrodisiac; Compulsion; Costumes; Dubcon; Entrapment; Foodplay; Gambling; Lingerie; Matrimony; Tentacles; NSFW Images and Language; NTR; Nudity; Roleplay; Sacrilegious Themes
▶ All new characters on the TDM are WILDCARDS, which means they have not yet been assigned a card value. The house is still observing and deciding. As rank and suits are assigned upon acceptance your new character's suit will not manifest until they are accepted into the game.
▶ All TDMs are game canon. This TDM acts as the game's February event.
▶ Current characters may top level on the TDM. Please make sure to review the arrival prompt notes! Any current characters posting to the TDM should note they are current in their subject header.
▶ The top level directory is for new characters only. We want to make sure new characters are priority and receive attention!
▶ If you aren't satisfied with the prompts on this TDM please feel free to check out our LOCATIONS to explore more of the resort.
▶ Smut threads that take place on this TDM can be used for rewards. If both parties in the smut thread join the game, you may retroactively apply the character's initial card values to your 52 bank. If one character does not join the game the thread will not be applicable toward rewards (as that character would not have a card value). The character that does join would still receive a small payout for the encounter. Hopefully it was a fun thread anyway!
▶ We ask you to kindly add content warnings to your threads as appropriate.
▶ If you do not currently have permissions and kinks listed in your character’s journal we suggest leaving a note in your top level of any limits or boundaries for other players to reference.
▶ Thank you for spending Valentine's Day with us! You're our sweetheart this year. 💕
[ Stirring beneath the fluffy weight of light pink tulle, Aerith cracks one eye open at the sound of the device around her wrist buzzing for her attention - the message waiting to be read is as inexplicable as the giant skirt she’s buried underneath and the sound of strange breathing beside her.
Her arm lowers, slowly pushing the fabric she’s ensconced in aside so that she can peer out and catch a glimpse of the person beside her.
Interesting.
Whoever they are, they’re still konked out, so Aerith takes great pains to be as careful and quiet as she can, climbing out of the bed while battling her massive skirt, deciding that it’s probably for the best to put space between her and the person the message she received implies she married, considering they’re all but bound to have an awkward conversation once they wake.
Poofy skirt tamed down, revealing the form-fitting tuxedo printed t-shirt she’s got on as a top, Aerith crosses the suite with limited rustling, pausing once she catches sight of the breakfast spread.
Strange circumstances or no - the lure of the mini quiche is enduring and whenever her new spouse decides to come to and join her, they’ll find her posted up by the breakfast, mimosa in one hand, tiny quiche in the other, which she’ll wave in greeting. ]
Hi! I don’t remember how we got here, but the food’s pretty good!
– ii. the teasing trio
But I’m already cute!
[ Aerith counters once the trio in the painting lay out their demands.
Unfortunately logic never got an elevator to start running again, magic paintings or otherwise, and even though she feels her point is incredibly valid, the ladies in the portrait respond in tittering laughter, all too pleased as they point out that they want to see her being cute with the other person stuck in this car with her.
Obstinately pointing out that the person she’s with is cute too doesn’t get her far, and once it seems like the painting is done offering its course correction she huffs, hands going to her hips as she looks at her traveling companion for this elevator right. ]
Well…[ Her head tilts to the side, as though she’s weighing it all out. ] What do you think?
– iii. great tit!
[ It’s a cake.
It’s a cake big enough for more than one person to lay on, outfitted with dollops of cream, sparkling confectionary glitter, and mountains of tempting-looking red berries.
So of course she’s going to sprawl out and have a snack while the more lively of the cake enjoyers bounce around elsewhere on the big chocolate cheesecake. It gives her time to get her bearings, still swathed in soft pink tulle, a hunk of cake in her hand that she takes bites out of after dipping it in the nearest peak of cream.
In her lap is a coupon for nipple buns, which she looks over with tentative curiosity, waiting until someone’s close enough before speaking up. ]
Do you think they’re buns for your nipples, or buns made out of nipples? Or do they just look like nipples?
[ Surreal times call for surreal questions. ]
– iv. wildcard
[ or choose chaos and drop a wildcard based on any of the other prompts, feel free to send a dm if you'd like to plot something specific or have any questions. happy to match tagging format, 18+ all genders for smut. ]
[ Tifa had spotted Aerith down near the bakery. It didn't matter that they'd only known each other a short time back at home; Aerith was her friend, and she wasn't letting this place get the better of her. Nami had done that for Tifa, and Tifa was doing it for Aerith now.
So she'd beelined toward the other and immediately swept her to the elevators so they could talk in her room before anything weird happened. It seemed like the elevators had other thoughts.
Aerith turns that bright, innocent look at her, and she knows her face is betraying her actual feelings. No smiles here, just a pained look as she tucks her hair behind her ear, vaguely wondering if she's making Tifa uncomfortable dressed like a Turk like this. It wasn't her choice, either, but that didn't feel like the right place to start. ]
I think...you haven't been here very long. This place likes to, uhm, make people...get off before it lets them go. And we're trapped in a box right now.
[ The complete and thorough sense of relief that sweeps over Aerith like the coziest blanket of them all from having spotted Tifa deteriorates in short order once the elevator car they're in stops and the painting throws down what she's starting to imagine is a very tawdry gauntlet.
Her arms loop around one of Tifa's, taking a step closer to her as she frowns at the painting while her friend does what she can to clearly and honestly drive the point home. They are indeed tapped in a box right now, and Tifa's not wrong about how she's new and wholly unaware of the way the casino's laid out like a horny obstacle course. ]
Well, I still think that painting needs its eyesight checked if it's going to look at you and say we're not doing enough cute stuff.
[ By her metric, it doesn't get much cuter than Tifa. The compliment earns an approving coo from the trio in the painting, a sound that unconsciously encourages Aerith to take another little step closer to Tifa's side. ]
So we...hm. [ Tifa had been so plain-spoken about it. They would have to get off together, simple as that, and while when it's laid out like that, it should be the most practical move in the world - she needs a minute.
Aerith loosens one arm, bringing her hand up to her chin, humming briefly before giving a decisive nod to no one in particular. She's no expert, and the horny painting is a little bit of a mood-killer but, it's Tifa. Aerith would be lying if she said she'd never considered it before. ] Well, how do you want me, Tifa?
[ She really has gotten better about blushing since getting here, she swears, but that's all out the window with Aerith's arm wrapped around her and insisting to their unknown assailant that Tifa is cute. She had been trying not to think about home, but her experiences here had made it abundantly clear that she, in fact, had an enormous crush on Aerith.
Which feels really inappropriate right now.
So when Aerith steps back, she's a little relieved. And when she asks that bluntly, she nearly chokes on her own tongue. ]
I hope they are buns that only look like nipples. Sourcing that many nipples to make buns with would be a logistical nightmare.
[Jin Guangyao automatically responded without recognition before he realized who was talking to.]
Excuse me miss, I'm going to ask a strange question, but do you happen to be Aerith Gainsboro?
[Or at least another version of her. He had met others who were in the prison with no memory of their time there, like Loki, but it was still good to see a familiar face.]
[ Sourcing that many nipples for buns would just be gross, but she'd rather not think about that while sitting on a giant cake she's currently trying to nibble her way through.
The question about her name gets a surprised look from her, and she lowers the hunk of cake in her hand, cocking her head at the stranger. ]
Gainsborough [ She corrects sunnily before thinking the better of it. ]
[Setting aside all the other garden-variety (pun intended) batshittery that clearly had to go into this abduction, there's one particular piece of it that strikes Rufus as particularly odd, as he props himself up on his elbows in bed and frowns at the unfamiliar clasp of metal surrounding one of his fingers:
The fact that he actually knows his apparent intended, despite last catching glimpse of her fleeing the seventieth story of his fath— of his company. Well. That's one way of securing the assets, he supposes.]
You're eating what they've provided? It's likely drugged.
[Not that he really minds that much, because you know what a great way of seeing if something is drugged is? Letting someone else eat it and watching them.]
...You're the Ancient.
[Tseng's Ancient, he thinks to himself, not that he's going to say that much aloud.]
look i am literally that gif of gordon ramsey going gorgeous about it right now
[ The food might be drugged - but considering this helpful tidbit is coming to her by way of one Rufus Shinra, Aerith's only response is to narrow her eyes and obstinately pop another little quiche in her mouth before pulling the tray they're on closer to her. Sorry, Rufus, mini-quiches are for people who aren't murdering the Planet.
Of all the little nicknames Shinra's come up with her for the years, The Ancient ranks one step below The Asset. At least the latter makes it sound like she's hiding some secretly sick martial arts abilities or something, The Ancient just presses on everything she would very much like to avoid pressing on, especially in a place she doesn't know, especially with the present company. ]
Mrs The Ancient.
[ She replies, the corners of her mouth curving in amusement as she lifts her left hand and wiggles her ring finger. Is this the best predicament in the world? No - but she bets Rufus likes it even less, which makes her want to rub it in even more. ]
[ Her elevator companion happens to be tucked in one corner leaned against the wall with her eyes closed, a look of irritation planted on her face. The next time she has to get anywhere, she'll take the stairs. Though based on her limited experience already, that probably wouldn't be enough to save her a headache.
It's not until she's directly addressed that she opens her eyes again, gaze traveling first to the paintings and then to the young woman and then back to the babbling paintings hung up on the side. ]
I think we'll be trapped in here for some time if they're expecting any sort of show out of me.
[ Her voice is low, casual with a small whiff of resignation. It's not that she's unwilling to participate but simply that she's unversed in the art of romance and flirtation. A simple show of violence and strength would be much easier than having to dance around coy words. ]
[ It's not the best response as far as getting out of here in a hurry goes, but Aerith can empathize. She hasn't been a captive of the casino for long, but she's seen enough to understand how appealing being cool and composed in the face of it like her companion in this elevator seems to be.
With a decisive nod and puff of tulle as her big skirt moves with her, Aerith settles on the floor of the elevator car. ]
I guess we better sit down and get comfortable!
[ Sure, it may mean they'll have to be clever about how they approach getting out of here when the time comes, but all things considered - the elevator is quiet, no staff bustling her around and calling her a newlywed, no people swarming bakeries to fuck on giant cakes. There are worse places to be than stuck here. ]
[ Sylvain is among those who had been pulled in by an overly-eager staff and shoved towards one of the confectionary areas they're highlighting. He'd very studiously avoided the mob around the truffle displays because nope, no thank you. But the sight of a young woman in pink tulle sprawled on a cheesecake is enough to get him to stop with a bemused chuckle, even before she asks her question.
One eyebrow arched, he crosses his arms over his chest with a playful quirk of his lips. ]
Do you want to order some and find out? Hopefully they're not... actually made out of nipples, though. That's a little weird, even for this place.
Maybe we could wait for somebody else to order them? [ She raises her eyebrows hopefully as she asks. ] That way, if they turn out to be made of nipples, we're not stuck with them - or with them stuck to our nipples!
[ Though her tuxedo t-shirt provides a decent enough shield from any wayward nipply buns - a thought Aerith takes some consolation in. Like how she's sat here enjoying this cake, she's taking her respite where she can while adrift in a sea of utter strangeness. ]
(Considering how awkward a lot of this place is starting to appear, there's something a little magical about large and baked cake trampolines that bring out a persons inner child. Even Haru can't help but admire the cake, scatterings of glitter twinkling in the light as the young woman passes by. It all looks very delicious and Haru takes a moment to watch others as they jump up and down on a nearby cheesecake, having the best of times from what she can see. She would think about joining them but her attire won't allow for it, her wedding dress accented now with an oversized sweater.
Wait, nipples?
Haru opens her mouth to respond as she thinks about it, pausing before covering it with a small laugh.)
I must say that's a difficult question. Perhaps all three?
[ The new arrival looks confused - which, girl, same - but it's hard to be that perplexed while sitting on a delicious cake. Still, she leans over the side of her cake and flips the neon pink coupon around for Haru to get a look at - as though seeing the advert for nipple buns might actually clarify what she's talking about. ]
Sounds...weird. Maybe that's why they needed to make coupons!
[ Pausing to dunk her cake in the frosting arranged artfully beside her, she glances around before smiling at the other young woman. ]
Want some? I was here when they brought this one out, so I know it's fresh.
[ Having seen what people get up to on the cheesecake, Aerith felt it important to point out. ]
[ while the very notion of weddings and chapels and any associated paraphernalia is absolutely a repellent to Reno in every possible way, the allure of spicy games to make him some fat stacks and exchange a few cards easy-peas-like is enough to pull him into its gaudy orbit. he already spends enough time as it is down at the regular casino casually scoping out company for the evening, so why not this? what, like something absolutely crazy is gonna happen?
well, uh. kind of. for awhile everything's going on as usual, the drinks keep coming and Reno makes his rounds, but when a prowl's not enough to get him set for the night, he takes to the slots. the spicy ones, of course (if he has to endure any more of this kissy romancey shit in this fucking place he's gonna scream). and wouldn't you know it, he's pulled the lever once approximately 0.5 seconds ago when Aerith's face appears in his peripheral vision, leaning just close enough to scare the absolute, complete, total, and ever loving shit out of him.
of course, for Reno that just means he flinches a little bit, sliding askew on the stool to angle his body in her direction, his mouth falling open just enough that his lit cigarette tips from his lips and lands in his drink. if we're being honest, it's not the first time he's been jolted out of his wits by a specter of his past mistakes, but it is the first time that specter's been real. she'll pop up sometimes, y'know, like how she would back in the church, sneaky in her bare feet and him sprawled in a pew and absorbed in his phone—boo! and an infectious giggle—but as soon as he turns to look, she's gone.
not now, though. Reno's mouth moves, forming a soundless word (probably "fuck"), but he recovers just in time for his slots to finish rolling:
>Fuck >Face >In the bathroom
his gaze darts from the ding-ding-ding of a winning roll (every single one is), back to Aerith. ]
Well, no - the casino itself is still stranger than seeing Reno in front of a slot machine, looking as at home as she imagines he would in a place like this. There's a complicated bent to the way her chest twists at the sight of him, an ache she's familiar with, tied inextricably up with all the years she's spent having him as her shadow - for better or for inherently menacing, sharpened by the bitterness she'll work hard to rise above in the days to come, born as the plate dropped on Sector 7.
The Turks like to act like they're cut-and-dry killers, but Aerith knows the truth - take away the directives and let them stand in her garden for a few hours while she weeds and chatters, and it becomes clear as day - they're messy. Some less so than others, but she's spent years looking at them, learning how to see them, and while some remain tougher nuts to crack than others - Reno is Reno. She can be furious and relieved to see him, she can be just as messy.
She saunters up to him without thinking about it, hands clasping behind her back as she leans her way into his space, verdant eyes darting from the crescent-shaped tattoo sitting high on his cheekbone to the rest of his face - the slot machine he's pulling on can wait for now.
Reno's response is exactly what she hoped for, but her sense of triumph is short-lived as his remark about her good timing makes her look towards the machine, her eyes widening at the results. ]
The bathroom? [ Because she doesn't believe he's serious, she feels comfortable running with this, enjoying the familiarity that comes with giving him shit. ] I guess it's lucky you left your goggles at home Reno! They would probably get in the way.
For what it's worth, I think you're very cute and should absolutely meet the qualifications.
[ not that there was ever any question in sanji's mind about that the moment he stepped into this elevator with the adorable woman standing at the other end of it. but despite the charming smile that he'd given her when he'd walked through the doors, he hadn't had the chance to say much else once the paintings decided they'd rather steal his chance to slip out any of his best lines.
there are probably worse predicaments to get into than getting stuck on an elevator with someone who looks like her, which would have him in no rush at all to find a proper exit from this scenario, but since she seems pensive in trying to come with a plan, he decides to press his lips together with a thoughtful hum. ]
Well. [ well. ] They wanted cute, right? [ there are plenty of things he could do, plenty of sweet that leans into the sultry side and he could take a chance in offering those now.
but with sanji, it's his gentlemanly ways that always take the forefront, and when he steps closer to the woman, he pauses once the distance is shortened, giving a slight bow as he looks up at her, holding out his hand in offering. ] Then would you grant me the honor of dancing with me, miss?
[ Does she mean the offer, him, or is she just repeating his words?
The gentle but decisive way her hand settles on the one he offers her heavily implies this may be an all of the above situation. At least the paintings approve, an amused titter of laughter sounding up from the troublesome canvas behind them, a sound Aerith ignores in favor of continuing to look up at him intently, the passive smile on her face deepening some. ]
I hope you're a good dancer. This is a little elevator, and this skirt is enormous.
[ She hopes he's a good dancer, full stop. For no other reason than to add another detail to the picture she's already forming in her imagination of the blond coming to her rescue. ]
What's your name? [ Aerith perks up after she asks, her eyes narrowing shrewdly, barely keeping the smile on her face from spreading into a cheeky grin. ] Wait, can I try to guess?
[ there's something appreciably familiar about stepping into an elevator and coming face to face with aerith in all her pink-ribboned glory, the air around her faintly scented like the flowers she spends so much time growing. familiar, and also a relief, because it means that aerith had survived the last time tseng had seen her, in flight from the shinra tower hot on cloud strife's heels.
the surprise and relief shows on tseng's face in the fractional widening of his eyes and the faintest lift at the corners of his mouth—no dramatics from him. ]
They don't seem convinced. [ whether or not he agrees that aerith is already cute is... beside the point! what matters is what they think, evidently, and judging by the expectant looks on the faces in the painting, aerith's pleas had fallen on entirely deaf ears.
tseng glances at the painting, then back at aerith, then back at the painting. having conversations with pieces of art is, admittedly, not a line on his resume. ] What would you like to see?
[ kiss her! one of them squeals, while another says, put your hands on her! (tseng shouldn't have asked.) he looks back at aerith, long-suffering. ]
[ It almost doesn't register as unusual - Tseng stepping onto the elevator after her like the lean cool specter he's always been, that barely there reaction to seeing her, as predictable and easy to decipher as he tries not to be - she might as well be shopping for something above the plate with him on security detail, hovering by her heels.
But, this isn't that, and even if they were still in Midgar, it couldn't be that anymore, not with what happened in Sector 7, not after he delivered her to Hojo - and it hurts in all the strangest ways, enough that she stays quiet, a light enigmatic smile fixed on her face as she watches Tseng take his turn trying to reason with the paintings.
What they come back with has her crossing her arms over her chest defensively - kiss her indeed - but Tseng undoes all the apprehension that starts to creep in when he turns to her, the weariness he feels at their response gratifying in a way that someone who's spent years making a pest of herself can appreciate. ]
Sounds pretty strange Tseng– [ She starts, airy and light as a feather, the knot of feeling sitting heavy on her chest masked save for the doubt lurking at the corners of her eyes. ] You don't put your hands on me unless you're making me go somewhere - are you sure you'd know what to do now?
[A helpless little smile grows on Scott when the demands are listed. It's not the worst situation he's been stuck in and while he agrees with Aerith's personal assessment about herself, it's apparent enough that her simple acknowledgement isn't going to get them anywhere. Maybe one day, things can easily be solved like that.]
They mentioned anything that's cute or sweet. [Scott starts, his voice a little quiet, maybe something wistful about it.] When I imagine those descriptions, I think of something innocent, such as holding hands.
[Like going out on your first date as a teenager with Jean Grey-- okay, that's a little specific, Summers.]
[ That's - wonderfully wholesome as answers go, and on the heels of all that suggestive smirking the figures in the painting did while explaining their predicament, Aerith can't help but smile at the stranger appreciatively. ]
I think that's very cute! [ She answers brightly, sticking her hand out for him to take without a moment's hesitation. ]
If we weren't stuck in this elevator– [ A pause as she shoots the painting on the other side of the car a light but markedly pointed little look. ] We could go on a walk together, but I think if we tried here we wouldn't get very far.
[ Her hand is soft, the little squeeze she gives him in thanks gentle and sincere. Everything in this casino is coming at her fast, these moments of coming across a kind soul are worth enjoying, if only to keep her going until she manages to wrap her head around exactly what's happening to her. ] Does this happen a lot?
I don't think they're buying it, [ steve says, amused despite himself, after his elevator companion tries to insist that he's cute and should count too. look, steve rogers is a lot of things, some form of attractive easily being one of them, but he's just not cute. that ship sailed in 1943 and he waved goodbye to it happily as it left the harbor. ]
I don't have a lot of practice with flirting, [ he admits, and glances upward. as expected, there's an emergency exit in the elevator ceiling. ] I could try, but it might not get us out of here any faster. I could also boost you up instead, [ he points to the exit, indicating what he means, ] if you've got somewhere to be.
Your call. I won't leave you in here alone. [ that's a captain america promise! ]
[ That's her secret, cap: under the luminously green gaze of one Aerith Gainsborough - everyone has the potential to be cute until proven otherwise. And as much as she would like to continue to argue her point at the paintings, the man in the elevator distracts her from the noble pursuit of pestering when first - and very surprisingly given that he is, in fact, quite cute - he admits to being out of practice with flirting, before following that up with an offer of rescue.
The kindness of the gesture isn't lost on her, and while there's not much she'd enjoy more right now than getting out of this elevator it's not like her to leave someone to fend for themselves if she can help it. ]
Okay, deal. I won't leave you alone in here either! [ Aerith gives him a determined nod, smiling when she meets his eye. ] But, I guess that means you're going to have to learn how to flirt, or – I could flirt with you. [ Plot twist - that's already happening. ]
aerith gainsborough (ffvii remake)
– ii. the teasing trio
– iii. great tit!
– iv. wildcard
ii
So she'd beelined toward the other and immediately swept her to the elevators so they could talk in her room before anything weird happened. It seemed like the elevators had other thoughts.
Aerith turns that bright, innocent look at her, and she knows her face is betraying her actual feelings. No smiles here, just a pained look as she tucks her hair behind her ear, vaguely wondering if she's making Tifa uncomfortable dressed like a Turk like this. It wasn't her choice, either, but that didn't feel like the right place to start. ]
I think...you haven't been here very long. This place likes to, uhm, make people...get off before it lets them go. And we're trapped in a box right now.
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Her arms loop around one of Tifa's, taking a step closer to her as she frowns at the painting while her friend does what she can to clearly and honestly drive the point home. They are indeed tapped in a box right now, and Tifa's not wrong about how she's new and wholly unaware of the way the casino's laid out like a horny obstacle course. ]
Well, I still think that painting needs its eyesight checked if it's going to look at you and say we're not doing enough cute stuff.
[ By her metric, it doesn't get much cuter than Tifa. The compliment earns an approving coo from the trio in the painting, a sound that unconsciously encourages Aerith to take another little step closer to Tifa's side. ]
So we...hm. [ Tifa had been so plain-spoken about it. They would have to get off together, simple as that, and while when it's laid out like that, it should be the most practical move in the world - she needs a minute.
Aerith loosens one arm, bringing her hand up to her chin, humming briefly before giving a decisive nod to no one in particular. She's no expert, and the horny painting is a little bit of a mood-killer but, it's Tifa. Aerith would be lying if she said she'd never considered it before. ] Well, how do you want me, Tifa?
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Which feels really inappropriate right now.
So when Aerith steps back, she's a little relieved. And when she asks that bluntly, she nearly chokes on her own tongue. ]
I, uhm, have you...done this before?
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iii
[Jin Guangyao automatically responded without recognition before he realized who was talking to.]
Excuse me miss, I'm going to ask a strange question, but do you happen to be Aerith Gainsboro?
[Or at least another version of her. He had met others who were in the prison with no memory of their time there, like Loki, but it was still good to see a familiar face.]
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The question about her name gets a surprised look from her, and she lowers the hunk of cake in her hand, cocking her head at the stranger. ]
Gainsborough [ She corrects sunnily before thinking the better of it. ]
Why? Do we know each other?
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[Ah she didn't recognize him. His heart sank just a little bit. He fixed the cardigan he was wearing and sat down with enough space between them.]
I had met someone similar in a place I was in before this. We were friends, but that is fine, I am Jin Guangyao. It is a pleasure to meet you.
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i. look i literally cannot resist the stupidity potential of this so here i am
The fact that he actually knows his apparent intended, despite last catching glimpse of her fleeing the seventieth story of his fath— of his company. Well. That's one way of securing the assets, he supposes.]
You're eating what they've provided? It's likely drugged.
[Not that he really minds that much, because you know what a great way of seeing if something is drugged is? Letting someone else eat it and watching them.]
...You're the Ancient.
[Tseng's Ancient, he thinks to himself, not that he's going to say that much aloud.]
look i am literally that gif of gordon ramsey going gorgeous about it right now
Of all the little nicknames Shinra's come up with her for the years, The Ancient ranks one step below The Asset. At least the latter makes it sound like she's hiding some secretly sick martial arts abilities or something, The Ancient just presses on everything she would very much like to avoid pressing on, especially in a place she doesn't know, especially with the present company. ]
Mrs The Ancient.
[ She replies, the corners of her mouth curving in amusement as she lifts her left hand and wiggles her ring finger. Is this the best predicament in the world? No - but she bets Rufus likes it even less, which makes her want to rub it in even more. ]
rufus @ all the ff7rs from now on: john mulaney going "that's my wife" dot gif
rufus like my wife is a bitch (to me) and i (dis??)like her so much
i mean the more she's a bitch the more he's probably gonna like her, bitch 🤝 bitch solidarity
lmao her take on shadiness is at least never boring?
that's his wife <3
the it's complicated box has never been more checked and underlined
all the more reason to make it MORE COMPLICATED
okok lets set some tones and small fires
(narrator voice) and then it got MORE stupid
will i ever hit post without yelling softly?
not if i have anything to say about it
the aphro element may kill me
then prepare for death i guess!!!!!
tags from my coffin ig
hold on i thought you were playing aerith not vincent
oh don't worry. the coffin is very pink
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i can't tell if this is a thread or a knife fight anymore...
🔪 💋 🔪 💋 🔪 💋
bye
heh heh heh
forgive me i was spiritually vexed and listening to a lot of taylor swift at the time
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ii.
It's not until she's directly addressed that she opens her eyes again, gaze traveling first to the paintings and then to the young woman and then back to the babbling paintings hung up on the side. ]
I think we'll be trapped in here for some time if they're expecting any sort of show out of me.
[ Her voice is low, casual with a small whiff of resignation. It's not that she's unwilling to participate but simply that she's unversed in the art of romance and flirtation. A simple show of violence and strength would be much easier than having to dance around coy words. ]
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With a decisive nod and puff of tulle as her big skirt moves with her, Aerith settles on the floor of the elevator car. ]
I guess we better sit down and get comfortable!
[ Sure, it may mean they'll have to be clever about how they approach getting out of here when the time comes, but all things considered - the elevator is quiet, no staff bustling her around and calling her a newlywed, no people swarming bakeries to fuck on giant cakes. There are worse places to be than stuck here. ]
My name's Aerith, what's yours?
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iii!
One eyebrow arched, he crosses his arms over his chest with a playful quirk of his lips. ]
Do you want to order some and find out? Hopefully they're not... actually made out of nipples, though. That's a little weird, even for this place.
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[ Though her tuxedo t-shirt provides a decent enough shield from any wayward nipply buns - a thought Aerith takes some consolation in. Like how she's sat here enjoying this cake, she's taking her respite where she can while adrift in a sea of utter strangeness. ]
Are you a wildcard too?
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iii
Wait, nipples?
Haru opens her mouth to respond as she thinks about it, pausing before covering it with a small laugh.)
I must say that's a difficult question. Perhaps all three?
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Sounds...weird. Maybe that's why they needed to make coupons!
[ Pausing to dunk her cake in the frosting arranged artfully beside her, she glances around before smiling at the other young woman. ]
Want some? I was here when they brought this one out, so I know it's fresh.
[ Having seen what people get up to on the cheesecake, Aerith felt it important to point out. ]
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wildcard baybeeeeeeee
well, uh. kind of. for awhile everything's going on as usual, the drinks keep coming and Reno makes his rounds, but when a prowl's not enough to get him set for the night, he takes to the slots. the spicy ones, of course (if he has to endure any more of this kissy romancey shit in this fucking place he's gonna scream). and wouldn't you know it, he's pulled the lever once approximately 0.5 seconds ago when Aerith's face appears in his peripheral vision, leaning just close enough to scare the absolute, complete, total, and ever loving shit out of him.
of course, for Reno that just means he flinches a little bit, sliding askew on the stool to angle his body in her direction, his mouth falling open just enough that his lit cigarette tips from his lips and lands in his drink. if we're being honest, it's not the first time he's been jolted out of his wits by a specter of his past mistakes, but it is the first time that specter's been real. she'll pop up sometimes, y'know, like how she would back in the church, sneaky in her bare feet and him sprawled in a pew and absorbed in his phone—boo! and an infectious giggle—but as soon as he turns to look, she's gone.
not now, though. Reno's mouth moves, forming a soundless word (probably "fuck"), but he recovers just in time for his slots to finish rolling:
>Fuck
>Face
>In the bathroom
his gaze darts from the ding-ding-ding of a winning roll (every single one is), back to Aerith. ]
Hey, uh. Good timing.
me? resigned to hellfire.
Well, no - the casino itself is still stranger than seeing Reno in front of a slot machine, looking as at home as she imagines he would in a place like this. There's a complicated bent to the way her chest twists at the sight of him, an ache she's familiar with, tied inextricably up with all the years she's spent having him as her shadow - for better or for inherently menacing, sharpened by the bitterness she'll work hard to rise above in the days to come, born as the plate dropped on Sector 7.
The Turks like to act like they're cut-and-dry killers, but Aerith knows the truth - take away the directives and let them stand in her garden for a few hours while she weeds and chatters, and it becomes clear as day - they're messy. Some less so than others, but she's spent years looking at them, learning how to see them, and while some remain tougher nuts to crack than others - Reno is Reno. She can be furious and relieved to see him, she can be just as messy.
She saunters up to him without thinking about it, hands clasping behind her back as she leans her way into his space, verdant eyes darting from the crescent-shaped tattoo sitting high on his cheekbone to the rest of his face - the slot machine he's pulling on can wait for now.
Reno's response is exactly what she hoped for, but her sense of triumph is short-lived as his remark about her good timing makes her look towards the machine, her eyes widening at the results. ]
The bathroom? [ Because she doesn't believe he's serious, she feels comfortable running with this, enjoying the familiarity that comes with giving him shit. ] I guess it's lucky you left your goggles at home Reno! They would probably get in the way.
me? gone, goggles
hi i'm here to fuck you up
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ii 🌸
[ not that there was ever any question in sanji's mind about that the moment he stepped into this elevator with the adorable woman standing at the other end of it. but despite the charming smile that he'd given her when he'd walked through the doors, he hadn't had the chance to say much else once the paintings decided they'd rather steal his chance to slip out any of his best lines.
there are probably worse predicaments to get into than getting stuck on an elevator with someone who looks like her, which would have him in no rush at all to find a proper exit from this scenario, but since she seems pensive in trying to come with a plan, he decides to press his lips together with a thoughtful hum. ]
Well. [ well. ] They wanted cute, right? [ there are plenty of things he could do, plenty of sweet that leans into the sultry side and he could take a chance in offering those now.
but with sanji, it's his gentlemanly ways that always take the forefront, and when he steps closer to the woman, he pauses once the distance is shortened, giving a slight bow as he looks up at her, holding out his hand in offering. ] Then would you grant me the honor of dancing with me, miss?
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[ Does she mean the offer, him, or is she just repeating his words?
The gentle but decisive way her hand settles on the one he offers her heavily implies this may be an all of the above situation. At least the paintings approve, an amused titter of laughter sounding up from the troublesome canvas behind them, a sound Aerith ignores in favor of continuing to look up at him intently, the passive smile on her face deepening some. ]
I hope you're a good dancer. This is a little elevator, and this skirt is enormous.
[ She hopes he's a good dancer, full stop. For no other reason than to add another detail to the picture she's already forming in her imagination of the blond coming to her rescue. ]
What's your name? [ Aerith perks up after she asks, her eyes narrowing shrewdly, barely keeping the smile on her face from spreading into a cheeky grin. ] Wait, can I try to guess?
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elevators :)...
the surprise and relief shows on tseng's face in the fractional widening of his eyes and the faintest lift at the corners of his mouth—no dramatics from him. ]
They don't seem convinced. [ whether or not he agrees that aerith is already cute is... beside the point! what matters is what they think, evidently, and judging by the expectant looks on the faces in the painting, aerith's pleas had fallen on entirely deaf ears.
tseng glances at the painting, then back at aerith, then back at the painting. having conversations with pieces of art is, admittedly, not a line on his resume. ] What would you like to see?
[ kiss her! one of them squeals, while another says, put your hands on her! (tseng shouldn't have asked.) he looks back at aerith, long-suffering. ]
...There we have it.
this is fine and i am normal
But, this isn't that, and even if they were still in Midgar, it couldn't be that anymore, not with what happened in Sector 7, not after he delivered her to Hojo - and it hurts in all the strangest ways, enough that she stays quiet, a light enigmatic smile fixed on her face as she watches Tseng take his turn trying to reason with the paintings.
What they come back with has her crossing her arms over her chest defensively - kiss her indeed - but Tseng undoes all the apprehension that starts to creep in when he turns to her, the weariness he feels at their response gratifying in a way that someone who's spent years making a pest of herself can appreciate. ]
Sounds pretty strange Tseng– [ She starts, airy and light as a feather, the knot of feeling sitting heavy on her chest masked save for the doubt lurking at the corners of her eyes. ] You don't put your hands on me unless you're making me go somewhere - are you sure you'd know what to do now?
shakes your hand this is so fine! we are both so normal!
nobody has ever been more normal than we are right now
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ii;
They mentioned anything that's cute or sweet. [Scott starts, his voice a little quiet, maybe something wistful about it.] When I imagine those descriptions, I think of something innocent, such as holding hands.
[Like going out on your first date as a teenager with Jean Grey-- okay, that's a little specific, Summers.]
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I think that's very cute! [ She answers brightly, sticking her hand out for him to take without a moment's hesitation. ]
If we weren't stuck in this elevator– [ A pause as she shoots the painting on the other side of the car a light but markedly pointed little look. ] We could go on a walk together, but I think if we tried here we wouldn't get very far.
[ Her hand is soft, the little squeeze she gives him in thanks gentle and sincere. Everything in this casino is coming at her fast, these moments of coming across a kind soul are worth enjoying, if only to keep her going until she manages to wrap her head around exactly what's happening to her. ] Does this happen a lot?
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aerith sure is taking a lot of elevators today!
I don't have a lot of practice with flirting, [ he admits, and glances upward. as expected, there's an emergency exit in the elevator ceiling. ] I could try, but it might not get us out of here any faster. I could also boost you up instead, [ he points to the exit, indicating what he means, ] if you've got somewhere to be.
Your call. I won't leave you in here alone. [ that's a captain america promise! ]
she's a gal on the go! she's got places to be!
The kindness of the gesture isn't lost on her, and while there's not much she'd enjoy more right now than getting out of this elevator it's not like her to leave someone to fend for themselves if she can help it. ]
Okay, deal. I won't leave you alone in here either! [ Aerith gives him a determined nod, smiling when she meets his eye. ] But, I guess that means you're going to have to learn how to flirt, or – I could flirt with you. [ Plot twist - that's already happening. ]
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