▶ ORIGINAL TEST DRIVE 2 POST IS LOCATED HERE ▶ ALL NEW TOP LEVELS SHOULD NOW BE POSTED ON TAKE 2
▶ ALL CARRIED OVER OLD TOP LEVELS SHOULD BE LINKED, NOT COPY AND PASTED
【 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. 💕
[ why would she stay here a second longer when they should leave this room and explore around? she needs answers, and she'll get them from the first person she comes across. she's nearly out the door when she hears hiyori scrambling behind her, and though he wouldn't see it, there's a slight smile on her lips. apparently he's not so spineless or fearful after all. he'll come in handy. maybe become her meat-shield should the need arise.
this is a battle, and belarus will be prepared for it.
by the time hiyori steps out into the lounge, he'll be greeted with a rather... awkward and unpleasant scene. one in which belarus has pinned a frightened employee against the nearest wall, a hand around their neck and the other holding the aforementioned fork scant inches from an eyeball. ]
Where is management? Tell me everything you know.
[ yeah, disregarding all the gorgeous clothing on display. she'll probably come back to it and change into something less... bridal ]
[The lounge is admittedly nice-looking, even to someone like him who grew up in the lap of luxury. No time to appreciate the draped silks, complimentary drinks, or racks full of elegant clothes, however (the latter of which he'd normally be all over). There are bigger fish to fry here, namely the fact his so-called "wife" looks like she's about to kill someone!
Goodness, that poor staff member looks just terrified. There's no way of knowing whether or not they were involved with the kidnapping. Is there any chance they're just an innocent dupe? Still, as long as she doesn't kill them and merely interrogates them, he sees no need to intervene... yet.
It's a big lounge, however, and there are a couple of other staff around. One is bearing a drinks tray, while the other seems to be holding a stack of papers. If either one of them witnesses a fellow employee being threatened, chances are they'll intervene. And he might also get in trouble by association! Though, being tossed out of the resort wouldn't exactly be the worst thing, and might even be the best outcome...
It'd be nice if she got some answers first, though. So, he makes up his mind—the time to create a distraction is now!]
Excuse me! ☆
[He calls out in a booming voice and walks up to the one with the papers (which seem to be some kind of map, upon closer inspection). The employee with the tray also turns in his direction—that's the power of his loud and dazzling presence!]
It seems there's a problem with my suite! And quite a serious one—I'm not sure there's any way we can stay there until it gets fixed. I need someone to come and have a look pronto! Or, actually, I might need multiple someones, so why don't you also come along?
[This suggestion is directed at the tray-carrier, who grows a tad flustered and awkwardly tries to explain that he's just waitstaff, not maintenance. The one handing out the maps also tries to explain the same, and offers to call someone on his behalf. But Hiyori is having none of it!]
No, no, I really do need this looked at right now! There's no more time to waste. You'll help me out, won't you? It is my honeymoon!
[The staff members look to each other awkwardly, before finally, they cave in, deciding it couldn't hurt to take a brief look.]
I knew you'd make the right choice ♪ The room is just over here.
[He gestures towards their suite and then walks off, taking long strides and forcing them to rush to keep pace with him. He'll think of some way to distract them once they're inside the room. The floor is hers!]
[ it's admittedly way too gorgeous (and gaudy and tacky, in her opinion) to her taste. but that's not important as she attempts to interrogate the poor staff on hand. the other staffs either hadn't noticed, are nonplussed about it, or has seen such incidents often enough that they just let it play out. nonetheless, belarus hears hiyori's loud (and charismatic) voice, doing an excellent job of diverting their attention away from her.
the poor staff in her presence shoots their colleagues a pleading look, and realising that there's no help coming, finally deflates, resigned to their fate. even then, she doesn't move from her position, and neither does the fork in here hand. ]
You have three seconds. Three... Two...
[ with renewed panic, the staff tells belarus as much as they know. that they've been brought to this casino resort to play a game. a game called "game 52". the rules are simple enough: the players just need to complete the entire fifty-two card decks to have their wish fulfilled and returned home. they let her know the requirement to collect such cards from other players, and belarus narrows her eyes, confirming her suspicion from all those toys she found earlier in the suite.
when she can no longer wring out any more answers from the staff, she releases them. only then does belarus takes stock of her surroundings, noticing the opulent decors as well as the lounge proper. there are also velvet robes, as well as other article of clothing to change into. either way, by the time her "spouse" has sufficiently distract the other two staffs and come out, belarus will be sitting at one of the large red lounge sofas, now dressed in all black, sitting with a glass of mimosa. ugh, still no vodka. ]
Found a way out. You need to collect cards from other people. [ is he ready for the bomb to drop? ] By having sex.
[Right, so, there's obviously no big problem with their room that requires fixing. That was just a clever ruse! But as someone who was raised in the lap of luxury, Hiyori is great at identifying where people cut corners in terms of expenses. Plus, he's got another skill, too: he's a good complainer! When he had to live with someone for a week as part of a variety show, he complained nonstop about their living conditions. Everything from the position of the bed to the wallpaper! He's got this!
First, he starts by claiming there was something wrong with the table: it's structurally unsound, and that's why some of the tea set fell and smashed all over the floor! The waiter ends up getting on his hands and knees to clean it, while the other staff member inspects the table. Naturally, she finds nothing wrong with it, but he insists that no, there is something wrong! Also, there's a problem with the upstairs lights (there isn't), and the bathrooms are missing some of the amenities he needs!
On and on it goes. His barrage of complaints are obviously bogus, but the staff gets roped into investigating them anyway. Though there's nothing wrong with the table or the lights, he does get told that they can send a few more complimentary bath products over to the suite. So, that's a win, although he'd really rather not stick around the place long enough to use them...
Anyway, even he can't keep them busy forever. Fifteen minutes is about all he can manage, but he figures that ought to have been more than enough time for his "wife" to accomplish... whatever she was hoping to accomplish. He leaves the suite alongside the haggard-looking staff.
And what does he find but his dear "wife," sporting a change of clothes and a mimosa! His brows raise when he sees her like that—looks like someone's no longer fussed about escaping. But before he can even ask how her altercation with the staff member went, she goes and tells him what she's learned.
Which is not welcome information.]
.......... huh?
[His expression turns to one of unflattering disbelief, heart sinking down into his chest. What's he going to do, throw a tantrum? Accuse her of lying? No, as it turns out—]
That's an even worse approach than last time! I don't have any time at all for this. Can't you go amuse yourself with those gifts?
[—he's accusing her of lying in order to hit on him. Which is probably even more annoying than being accused of regular lying!]
[ honestly, she rather gets out of the bridal gown if she's not going to be married to her dear brother. why wear it when he's not within sight for her to latch herself to? so, new dress it is. black, almost mourning. how dreary.
either way, she returns his disbelief with an unimpressed look on her face, more so when she figures out what he meant by the gifts. ah.
it's as if there's a literal dark cloud over head her as belarus finishes her drink and puts the glass on the table harder than necessary, causing the stem to break, then stands and walks over to him. the hallway seems to darken as she closes the distance until she's standing before him. ]
You think I am lying. Fine. Ask the staffs yourself then.
[ she'd thought he would be smarter than this, though honestly hiyori isn't entirely at fault here, considering the actions towards him earlier with the sex toys. with a sigh, she continues: ]
Believe what you will. If you will not help me, then I will find my own way out.
[ can't believe their teamwork had been so brief! but if the man isn't going to trust her, even a little bit, then he can just shrivel up there and waste away. with that, she steps back and turns away, the figurative darkness gone, walking towards the nearest elevator. ]
[He flinches at her destruction of the flute glass, taking a step back. You'd think he'd have learned not to antagonize someone who won't hesitate to hold a fork near someone's eye, but nope! Being on the same side had lulled him into a false sense of security.
He is on the same side, though. The side of "not wanting to be here," that is. Which is why, when she stalks off with that truly angry look on her face, he goes following after. It's not that he's chasing her! He doesn't chase girls, or anyone for that matter! But he needs a fuller explanation, which is why he asks for one as soon as he catches up to her in front of the elevators.]
That's what they said to you? They're not even trying to hide what they're after?
[It's not a shock. Based on what happened to him, he could've guessed they were after that sort of blackmail. But who in their right mind would straightforwardly admit to it? That's grounds for a massive lawsuit, for starters! And wouldn't that just alarm all the new "couples" into not doing as they ask?]
[ most men run from belarus, save for a single man. hiyori should wise up and not further antagonise her, less he ends up like said man who often chases after her. poor lithuania and his broken fingers...
but now he's following after her? regardless, stares calmly in front of her, waiting for the arrive to arrive. ]
They do not seem to have a reason to hide or lie. It is the rule of their game should we wish to return home.
[ and when the elevator door opens, she steps inside. turning around, she cocks her head at him, as if asking "You coming in, or not?" let's hope this isn't one of those with the portraits. ]
[Apparently men do run at the sight of her, or at least her brother does, and it's not hard to see why. But it's precisely for this reason that he figures he might as well tag along for now. If any suspicious characters come along, she can threaten them with tableware or break more flute glasses. Meanwhile, he'll distract the onlookers! It's not a perfect plan, but it's better than no plan.
He was also hoping to get some more info out of her, but she mostly repeats the same words as before. The same horrible, baffling words. He studies her a moment—she's deadly serious, isn't she?—before he gives his reaction.]
Well, that won't work for me at all.
[His tone is surprisingly mild. Why isn't he freaking out?
Why, because he doesn't intend to play along with any "games," that's why.]
So I'll need to find a gamebreaking cheat. Or just flip the whole board over.
[With that, he turns from her to the elevator, just in time to see the doors open. When he sees inside, his brows raise just a hair—what sort of place is that to put a fine art collection? Then another thought occurs to him, one that's rather grim. It might even be called excessively paranoid, but...
He's staying where he is. Or rather, he's stepping aside so she can get on.]
You go alone. I'm worried they might try to trap us together if it's just us. Just tell me what floor you're getting off on, and I'll come up afterwards.
[The thought probably wouldn't have occurred to him if he was getting on with a man. Perhaps it wouldn't have even occurred with a woman who wasn't his assigned "spouse." But can he really be too careful, when he knows someone's out to blackmail him with one of the most obvious instant career-killers for an idol?]
[ hiss hiss hiss! brother is just shy! he did not run!
either way, yes, belarus sees no point in lying to him, or even attempt to trick hiyori into having sex with her. no thank you. if it wasn't already obvious enough, she has no interest in him, and he clearly reciprocates the same feeling as well.
for a moment, belarus wonders how this wouldn't affect him, and... oh! finding loopholes to circumvent the rules of the game? that's something she's rather good at. rules are meant to be broken (within reason). ]
The dining floor. I need a drink. If you want to find me, look for a bar.
[ admittedly, she hadn't cared if he enters the elevator and join her or not. but now that he brings up about entrapment, it got her thinking that she needs to raise her own wariness regarding her surroundings, much more than she usually does. regardless, the door will close between them. it doesn't matter if he comes and look for her later or not, belarus is going to find herself some alcohol. the bar better have some vodka, damn it! ]
[Now why would someone have no interest in him? That simply makes no sense. Putting his narcissism aside, however...
In spite of the dismal situation, he manages a smile. Of course he's deeply bothered, but there's no point in taking his anger out on her (especially when she's got knives strapped to her leg). Working together is likely to yield a better outcome. Besides, someone is out to get a reaction out of him, and may very well be delighting in watching them turn on each other and scamper around like panicked mice. By staying cool, calm and collected, and by dodging potential traps, he'll avoid playing into the enemy's hand!
His smile fades when she tells him where she's going, however, eyes blinking slowly.]
Didn't you just have a drink...?
[You know, the mimosa?? He mutters the words under his breath, a tad disappointed. And here he thought she'd kung-fu fight her way up to the control room or wherever and demand answers. (While he does absolutely no fighting, since he's not the least bit suited for it!)
But well, that's that. The doors close, the elevator takes her up somewhere, and he stands there and waits for another one for lack of any other plan. Once inside, he spends a minute staring at the artwork—is that the original piece? No, no, it must be a convincing replica—before turning to the button panel.]
Now, which one was the dining floor again?
[He can't remember what it said on the paper map. And while the chatty portrait ladies might normally be willing to tell him, they're a bit annoyed over the fact he told Belarus to go ahead of him and deprived them of the chance to make them do stuff! So, they're keeping mum.
In the end, he hits all the buttons. If it looks like a dining floor, he'll get out! And if it's not clear, he'll just choose randomly! At which point he may or may not get horribly lost and/or distracted by something. RIP.]
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peacockstop2024-02-19 10:08 pm
@tfy
[ why would she stay here a second longer when they should leave this room and explore around? she needs answers, and she'll get them from the first person she comes across. she's nearly out the door when she hears hiyori scrambling behind her, and though he wouldn't see it, there's a slight smile on her lips. apparently he's not so spineless or fearful after all. he'll come in handy. maybe become her meat-shield should the need arise.
this is a battle, and belarus will be prepared for it.
by the time hiyori steps out into the lounge, he'll be greeted with a rather... awkward and unpleasant scene. one in which belarus has pinned a frightened employee against the nearest wall, a hand around their neck and the other holding the aforementioned fork scant inches from an eyeball. ]
Where is management? Tell me everything you know.
[ yeah, disregarding all the gorgeous clothing on display. she'll probably come back to it and change into something less... bridal ]
no subject
Goodness, that poor staff member looks just terrified. There's no way of knowing whether or not they were involved with the kidnapping. Is there any chance they're just an innocent dupe? Still, as long as she doesn't kill them and merely interrogates them, he sees no need to intervene... yet.
It's a big lounge, however, and there are a couple of other staff around. One is bearing a drinks tray, while the other seems to be holding a stack of papers. If either one of them witnesses a fellow employee being threatened, chances are they'll intervene. And he might also get in trouble by association! Though, being tossed out of the resort wouldn't exactly be the worst thing, and might even be the best outcome...
It'd be nice if she got some answers first, though. So, he makes up his mind—the time to create a distraction is now!]
Excuse me! ☆
[He calls out in a booming voice and walks up to the one with the papers (which seem to be some kind of map, upon closer inspection). The employee with the tray also turns in his direction—that's the power of his loud and dazzling presence!]
It seems there's a problem with my suite! And quite a serious one—I'm not sure there's any way we can stay there until it gets fixed. I need someone to come and have a look pronto! Or, actually, I might need multiple someones, so why don't you also come along?
[This suggestion is directed at the tray-carrier, who grows a tad flustered and awkwardly tries to explain that he's just waitstaff, not maintenance. The one handing out the maps also tries to explain the same, and offers to call someone on his behalf. But Hiyori is having none of it!]
No, no, I really do need this looked at right now! There's no more time to waste. You'll help me out, won't you? It is my honeymoon!
[The staff members look to each other awkwardly, before finally, they cave in, deciding it couldn't hurt to take a brief look.]
I knew you'd make the right choice ♪ The room is just over here.
[He gestures towards their suite and then walks off, taking long strides and forcing them to rush to keep pace with him. He'll think of some way to distract them once they're inside the room. The floor is hers!]
no subject
the poor staff in her presence shoots their colleagues a pleading look, and realising that there's no help coming, finally deflates, resigned to their fate. even then, she doesn't move from her position, and neither does the fork in here hand. ]
You have three seconds. Three... Two...
[ with renewed panic, the staff tells belarus as much as they know. that they've been brought to this casino resort to play a game. a game called "game 52". the rules are simple enough: the players just need to complete the entire fifty-two card decks to have their wish fulfilled and returned home. they let her know the requirement to collect such cards from other players, and belarus narrows her eyes, confirming her suspicion from all those toys she found earlier in the suite.
when she can no longer wring out any more answers from the staff, she releases them. only then does belarus takes stock of her surroundings, noticing the opulent decors as well as the lounge proper. there are also velvet robes, as well as other article of clothing to change into. either way, by the time her "spouse" has sufficiently distract the other two staffs and come out, belarus will be sitting at one of the large red lounge sofas, now dressed in all black, sitting with a glass of mimosa. ugh, still no vodka. ]
Found a way out. You need to collect cards from other people. [ is he ready for the bomb to drop? ] By having sex.
no subject
First, he starts by claiming there was something wrong with the table: it's structurally unsound, and that's why some of the tea set fell and smashed all over the floor! The waiter ends up getting on his hands and knees to clean it, while the other staff member inspects the table. Naturally, she finds nothing wrong with it, but he insists that no, there is something wrong! Also, there's a problem with the upstairs lights (there isn't), and the bathrooms are missing some of the amenities he needs!
On and on it goes. His barrage of complaints are obviously bogus, but the staff gets roped into investigating them anyway. Though there's nothing wrong with the table or the lights, he does get told that they can send a few more complimentary bath products over to the suite. So, that's a win, although he'd really rather not stick around the place long enough to use them...
Anyway, even he can't keep them busy forever. Fifteen minutes is about all he can manage, but he figures that ought to have been more than enough time for his "wife" to accomplish... whatever she was hoping to accomplish. He leaves the suite alongside the haggard-looking staff.
And what does he find but his dear "wife," sporting a change of clothes and a mimosa! His brows raise when he sees her like that—looks like someone's no longer fussed about escaping. But before he can even ask how her altercation with the staff member went, she goes and tells him what she's learned.
Which is not welcome information.]
.......... huh?
[His expression turns to one of unflattering disbelief, heart sinking down into his chest. What's he going to do, throw a tantrum? Accuse her of lying? No, as it turns out—]
That's an even worse approach than last time! I don't have any time at all for this. Can't you go amuse yourself with those gifts?
[—he's accusing her of lying in order to hit on him. Which is probably even more annoying than being accused of regular lying!]
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either way, she returns his disbelief with an unimpressed look on her face, more so when she figures out what he meant by the gifts. ah.
it's as if there's a literal dark cloud over head her as belarus finishes her drink and puts the glass on the table harder than necessary, causing the stem to break, then stands and walks over to him. the hallway seems to darken as she closes the distance until she's standing before him. ]
You think I am lying. Fine. Ask the staffs yourself then.
[ she'd thought he would be smarter than this, though honestly hiyori isn't entirely at fault here, considering the actions towards him earlier with the sex toys. with a sigh, she continues: ]
Believe what you will. If you will not help me, then I will find my own way out.
[ can't believe their teamwork had been so brief! but if the man isn't going to trust her, even a little bit, then he can just shrivel up there and waste away. with that, she steps back and turns away, the figurative darkness gone, walking towards the nearest elevator. ]
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He is on the same side, though. The side of "not wanting to be here," that is. Which is why, when she stalks off with that truly angry look on her face, he goes following after. It's not that he's chasing her! He doesn't chase girls, or anyone for that matter! But he needs a fuller explanation, which is why he asks for one as soon as he catches up to her in front of the elevators.]
That's what they said to you? They're not even trying to hide what they're after?
[It's not a shock. Based on what happened to him, he could've guessed they were after that sort of blackmail. But who in their right mind would straightforwardly admit to it? That's grounds for a massive lawsuit, for starters! And wouldn't that just alarm all the new "couples" into not doing as they ask?]
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but now he's following after her? regardless, stares calmly in front of her, waiting for the arrive to arrive. ]
They do not seem to have a reason to hide or lie. It is the rule of their game should we wish to return home.
[ and when the elevator door opens, she steps inside. turning around, she cocks her head at him, as if asking "You coming in, or not?"
let's hope this isn't one of those with the portraits.]no subject
He was also hoping to get some more info out of her, but she mostly repeats the same words as before. The same horrible, baffling words. He studies her a moment—she's deadly serious, isn't she?—before he gives his reaction.]
Well, that won't work for me at all.
[His tone is surprisingly mild. Why isn't he freaking out?
Why, because he doesn't intend to play along with any "games," that's why.]
So I'll need to find a gamebreaking cheat. Or just flip the whole board over.
[With that, he turns from her to the elevator, just in time to see the doors open. When he sees inside, his brows raise just a hair—what sort of place is that to put a fine art collection? Then another thought occurs to him, one that's rather grim. It might even be called excessively paranoid, but...
He's staying where he is. Or rather, he's stepping aside so she can get on.]
You go alone. I'm worried they might try to trap us together if it's just us. Just tell me what floor you're getting off on, and I'll come up afterwards.
[The thought probably wouldn't have occurred to him if he was getting on with a man. Perhaps it wouldn't have even occurred with a woman who wasn't his assigned "spouse." But can he really be too careful, when he knows someone's out to blackmail him with one of the most obvious instant career-killers for an idol?]
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either way, yes, belarus sees no point in lying to him, or even attempt to trick hiyori into having sex with her. no thank you. if it wasn't already obvious enough, she has no interest in him, and he clearly reciprocates the same feeling as well.
for a moment, belarus wonders how this wouldn't affect him, and... oh! finding loopholes to circumvent the rules of the game? that's something she's rather good at. rules are meant to be broken (within reason). ]
The dining floor. I need a drink. If you want to find me, look for a bar.
[ admittedly, she hadn't cared if he enters the elevator and join her or not. but now that he brings up about entrapment, it got her thinking that she needs to raise her own wariness regarding her surroundings, much more than she usually does. regardless, the door will close between them. it doesn't matter if he comes and look for her later or not, belarus is going to find herself some alcohol. the bar better have some vodka, damn it! ]
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In spite of the dismal situation, he manages a smile. Of course he's deeply bothered, but there's no point in taking his anger out on her (especially when she's got knives strapped to her leg). Working together is likely to yield a better outcome. Besides, someone is out to get a reaction out of him, and may very well be delighting in watching them turn on each other and scamper around like panicked mice. By staying cool, calm and collected, and by dodging potential traps, he'll avoid playing into the enemy's hand!
His smile fades when she tells him where she's going, however, eyes blinking slowly.]
Didn't you just have a drink...?
[You know, the mimosa?? He mutters the words under his breath, a tad disappointed. And here he thought she'd kung-fu fight her way up to the control room or wherever and demand answers. (While he does absolutely no fighting, since he's not the least bit suited for it!)
But well, that's that. The doors close, the elevator takes her up somewhere, and he stands there and waits for another one for lack of any other plan. Once inside, he spends a minute staring at the artwork—is that the original piece? No, no, it must be a convincing replica—before turning to the button panel.]
Now, which one was the dining floor again?
[He can't remember what it said on the paper map. And while the chatty portrait ladies might normally be willing to tell him, they're a bit annoyed over the fact he told Belarus to go ahead of him and deprived them of the chance to make them do stuff! So, they're keeping mum.
In the end, he hits all the buttons. If it looks like a dining floor, he'll get out! And if it's not clear, he'll just choose randomly! At which point he may or may not get horribly lost and/or distracted by something. RIP.]