▶ 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. 💕
It's true that he can't even begin to guess how their captors bypassed security. He'd been more focused on the logistics of other stuff—transporting them to the resort and changing their clothes without them waking up, for example. But that part is equally puzzling.
Unless...]
They wouldn't have to teleport if they were someone connected to ES.
[Not one of his fellow idols. He doesn't suspect that. Only Eichi has the resources and money to pull this off, and he knows Eichi wouldn't dare sabotage SS. Yes, Eichi must surely want to win against Eden and the others, but more than he loves winning, Eichi is someone who loves idols and wants to spread that love all over the world. He wants the program to be a success, no doubt, after the Tenshouin Conglomerate poured so much money into it. And he'd never want to tarnish the image of pure "idols" that he loves so much. They can rule out Eichi-kun.
But they can't rule out Gatekeeper, or anyone else he's connected with. What are the chances it was anyone else?]
I know this place has cameras. I wish it didn't, but I'm sure it does. So then I suppose it's just a matter of where to find them. That sort of room wouldn't normally be accessible to guests, and it wasn't on that map they handed out, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. The sort of people who would have access would probably be security guards, so if we found one of those to tail, we might get somewhere.
[Another point in favor of bribing the staff. Which Jun seems very adamant about him not doing. He raises one eyebrow; what did Jun think he meant by bribery?]
You know the sort of bribes I was talking about, right? The Tomoe Foundation runs a few different businesses, so it's never hard to set someone up with a job. If you promise better pay and benefits, most people will turn on their current employer. Especially when they're just doing grunt work, and their employer's involved in some shady illegal scheme.
But anyway, first we ought to talk to them. This is where we split up, I guess. Or so I'd say, but you came to this store for a reason, didn't you? You weren't here looking for me like a lost puppy, were you? That's awfully cute if you were ♪
It's almost exciting to understand how this place operates, especially given the circumstances. It's beginning to feel something close to a detective manga or anime, not that those genres are Jun's favourite, but he's read enough to (believe) that he's some expert. Maybe leaving it to the professionals who were skilled in hacking and similar capabilities, would be better, but chatting about it with Hiyori has sparked his curiosity. ]
It's... I guess that makes sense. Who'd let them in, though?
[ From what he understands, he doesn't think Eichi would, even if he doesn't know him all that well. Ibara wouldn't. So maybe the only logical answer is Gatekeeper, something they've already established. He'd rather not entertain the thought of someone intentionally trying to sabotage Eden, even if this isn't the first sabotage. ]
Any sorta place like this does, right? Even more creepy this place has 'em. It's gotta make sense that's how it goes, 'cause they probably don't want people finding out. How're meant to look for security guards? I haven't seen one since I got here, unless you've gotta do somethin' real bad first.
[ He now regrets jumping to conclusions about it being a form of bribery, despite knowing about the Tomoe Foundation's business activities. Why would the people here even care about that? He's hesitant to burst Hiyori's bubble, but... ]
Wait, you're serious 'bout this? Are you really gonna offer 'em a job with one of the Tomoe Foundation's businesses?
... yeah, I'd rather you talk to 'em first before you go off and offer something like that, Ohii-san. Jeez, I didn't even know you were here! How was I meant to go looking 'round for you if I didn't know that? You're not making any sense, 'cause I came here lookin' for clothes, not for you.
[ Sure if he did know Hiyori was here, this would be the first place to look. ]
[It does feel like detective work, and Hiyori would be lying if he said there wasn't anything the least bit enjoyable about it. The prospect of searching for clues and unraveling a mystery together is fun, especially now that he has a partner to do these things with. The Watson to his Holmes! Now if only the stakes weren't so high...]
Ah, I'm one step ahead of you there. There were security guards in the garage! Though they were just milling around and not really doing much of anything. And I was expecting to see more, given how expensive the cars were. Perhaps that does mean there are people monitoring the garage from a computer room somewhere? Anyway, if we want to tail a guard, we might as well start there.
[There's another option that occurs to him: sneaking into some more staff-only areas. They might just find security there, or even some management offices. But that's obviously more dangerous, so he'll opt to go back to the garage.
He pouts a bit as Jun expresses his dislike for the bribe idea (again)—]
That was just a last resort in case no one's willing to tell us anything! Of course I'll talk to them first.
[—but lets it go, since this is all hypothetical anyway.]
Ah, you were here to shop too, huh? This place does have rather nice clothes, though it also has some over-the-top stuff even I wouldn't wear. Unfortunately, there aren't nearly enough of those "chip" things for me to buy all that I'd like to buy. I honestly don't feel comfortable buying much of anything, given that food isn't free, either. Which is an absolute outrage, since I never thought I'd have to hold back! If you're going to hold us hostage, the least you could do is feed us!
[He puts his hands on his hips and shakes his head. As though that's the most outrageous thing going on here, and not literally everything else.]
You weren't given more of those "chip" things than I was, were you? I was only given what I might spend during a couple of shopping trips, which isn't nearly enough...
[In reality, he was given a medium payout just like all the new arrivals. Also, what Hiyori spends during the average shopping trip isn't at all the same as what a normal middle-class person might spend, but Jun surely already knows that.]
[ Well, it looks like he doesn't need to be too concerned about the security guard issue. Understandably, his partner has already deduced that information; after all, he did admit to spending some time in the garage. Jun was listening! He suddenly becomes lost in thought as he considers Ohii-san's statement, which reminds him of something else Makoto has previously mentioned. ]
Yuuki-san's mentioned somethin' like that before. He's pretty good at finding out all sorta information, but he said something like that's usually the case. 'Sides someone's gotta make sure we're not breaking outta the garage, so... I'd believe it. Yeah, I'm up for tailing, long as we go down together if we end up getting caught.
[ If they go down, at least they'll be together, so Jun doesn't want to end up in jail alone. In the event of being caught, they will confront the situation together, so Jun doesn't want to be the sole person imprisoned. Although he hasn't realised yet that the duration of detention is short there, that realisation can be saved for another day. Ohii-san ought to refrain from discussing bribery, as it still doesn't sit well with him, even if he mentioned it as a last resort.
He doesn't want Hiyori getting into any more trouble than they already are, thank you very much! ]
And yeah, thought since I've been to all those stores back home with you, I woulda picked somethin' up by now. Turns out, has gotta be the most overpriced store I think I've ever been to. [ The employee nearest to them frowns, realising that Jun has just disparaged the cost and that Hiyori has called the clothing "over the top." ] If I had more, I wouldn't mind sharin'. I'm not gonna need mine, 'sides some of the other stuff we've gotta buy. Like, I don't mind buying our food when we need it. But that's gotta be bad, even for you, Ohii-san. I almost feel sorry for you, 'cause don't think I've ever seen you hold back.
[ Which leads to Jun rolling his eyes, as though that were the worst possible outcome. Ohii-san's digressions about wanting to purchase items he cannot afford continue to be entertaining. As if any regular person doesn't experience that daily. ]
Huh, I don't think I was given more. How're we supposed to check that? I've just been given whatever I got when I woke up here. That still means nothing to me, 'cause you already spend way too much on our normal shopping trips. But maybe that's good for you, Ohii-san! Now you've gotta curb your spending habits ♪
[ Or use Jun's chips, though, his supply is just as limited. ]
[There's no need to make sure they don't break out of the garage if there is no way to break out.
But he still hasn't accepted that prospect. A trap door exit, a platform exit, an exit hidden in the wall that he just didn't see: surely there must be something. Otherwise, what's even the point of having those cars there? Unless the exit used to exist and got removed or sealed off or something like that, but... Ugh, this is all too big a headache!]
Well, I can promise I won't get caught, since I'm excellent at stealth! So it's just you who we'll have to make sure doesn't get detected.
[He speaks with obnoxious (over)confidence, even though in reality, Hiyori's probably more likely to get them caught than Jun is. Between the two of them, he's the flashy one who draws attention wherever he goes! But he'll do his best to conceal his presence, like a ninja or a private investigator.
... especially if getting caught means going to "the place to put unruly people," which someone already told him about. He doesn't like the sound of that at all. But he's confident he can talk his way out of trouble and it's not like there's any rule saying the garage is off-limits to guests. Just the staff-only areas! (Which he's... also been poking around in, but at least so far he hasn't been caught!)]
Some of the other stores have cheaper clothes. I just thought I'd stop by this one since it had some cute things in the window. But, much as it pains me to say it, all those clothes you dropped on the floor would deplete my whole bank account here, even though they'd be a drop in the bucket back home! Another reason to leave this place pronto!
[Hiyori prattles on, continuing to act like this is all such an outrage, completely oblivious to the nearby employee whose face just flashed with alarm. Sure enough, her eyes drop to the floor, where that pile of clothes that Hiyori unbalanced out of Jun's arms is collecting dust! She proceeds to make a beeline for them, but Hiyori just keeps going, narrowing his eyes at Jun and sounding a bit more heated.]
It's not my shopping habits that need to change, it's our hostage situation! That's the whole problem. But well, as far as sharing goes, I do have a few changes of clothes in my room. I pulled them off a rack in a lounge somewhere—they didn't say they were free gifts, but no one stopped me, so that makes them mine! I know we're not exactly the same size, but we should be close enough, even with all that extra muscle you have. And as for food and such, well... it pains me to say this too, but we may need to eat cheaply, just to make sure we have some chips left over in case of an emergency. But eating cheaply doesn't suit me at all, so we really need to find a way out sooner rather than— ... hm?
[He finally stops talking when the frazzled-looking employee steps up to them. She asks about the clothes on the floor, and Hiyori, rather than look admonished, simply beams.]
Oh, those? They simply fell! I was going to pick them up, or rather, Jun-kun was, but then we started having a lively discussion, which we're actually still in the middle of!
[Naturally, this response is the height of rudeness. Even Hiyori doesn't normally treat store employees that way. But rather than scold them, the worker—who wasn't watching and can't actually prove that they're the ones who dropped the clothes—simply requests for them to step aside so she can clean up after them. The two of them are guests, after all, and guests are always right, or at least the higher-ranked ones are. And while these two "wildcards" haven't been assigned a rank just yet, there's no telling where they'll stand in a day or two.]
[ Which means, they might be trapped here indefinitely, then. He hasn't fully embraced that idea yet, as he refuses to surrender and risk both of them landing in jail. The remark from his partner that follows drives him to burst into laughter, presuming there's no way Hiyori can be stealthy. The way his partner speaks is so exaggerated as if he believes he won't ever be caught. Jun finds that hard to believe, but at the same time, it's not entirely surprising. ]
You're shit with volume control, Ohii-san. So if anyone's gonna get caught, I know it'll be you. You've gotta be kidding me, thinking someone like you can be stealthy.
[ He shakes his head to make the point, an amused grin forming at the bottom of his lips. Either way, there's still a high chance of them being caught, Hiyori's obnoxiousness or not, but Jun can't help but tease anyway. Again, at least they'll go down together, which might make an amusing end to finding the security rooms. ]
They're just clothes, so why does it matter how they're made? And I wasn't the one who threw them on the floor! You threw them at me first.
[ Or more accurately, when Jun realised who was flinging clothes into his arms, he let them fall to the ground. But as soon as he said that, he was trying to avoid this very situation—the worker had already headed straight for them! Well, she's going to be upset about the clothing; and she is! Jun ought to have picked them up sooner.
Unable to address the other issue, since the employee appears displeased with the mess that has been created. He finds it's unwise for Hiyori to take those additional clothes, even if he mistakenly believes they belong to him. What if they actually belong to someone else? But then again, he wouldn't really mind either way. ]
Yeah, I was gonna pick them up in a second. They've not been there long, 'cause It just happened, you see, so it slipped my mind! I'm real sorry 'bout that, we just got distracted talking.
[ It wasn't entirely untrue, but he wasn't a fan of how Hiyori was speaking to the worker, but she appeared so flustered, with apologetic stutters and stumbling over words it seemed inconsequential at the moment. He planned to reprimand Hiyori later when they were alone, but for now, this seemed the strategy to avoid reprimand and possibly being banned from the store.
Even if Jun disagrees with the way it happened, "the customer is always right" worked to their benefit in this instance. He's sure Hiyori is happy about not having to worry about them being banned or having to clean up after them. She accepted Hiyori at face value without questioning him, which suits him fine. She didn't inquire about their rank either, maybe it wasn't important? Even though they both didn't have one at the moment, that was another thing that worked in their favour. ]
We should probably go. I'm real sorry 'bout the mess, again.
[He refuses to believe they're trapped here indefinitely. If there's no exit, they'll just have to make one! Though first he has to set the record straight with his rude partner, which he does by turning up his nose and crossing his arms.]
How rude of you! You know I don't talk all the time. I can keep quiet when it counts!
[You know, like when they're on set, listening to directions about a job! Or... yeah, that's pretty much the only example.
In response to the clothes thing—]
And you're the one who dropped them ♪
[—is all he says in response. But then the store employee rushes over before they can argue any longer about whose fault that was. She doesn't much care who dropped them; she just cares about picking them up, which is why she proceeds to kneel down and gather them up in her arms. Honestly, leaving all that stuff there is rude, and Hiyori normally wouldn't do that while shopping, but he and Jun had bigger fish to fry at that moment. Plus he's still a tad resentful about everything that has to do with his resort, which is why he hasn't been treating its shops and facilities with much care.
Thankfully, Jun-kun smooths things over, acting polite and apologetic, which seems to calm her down a bit. No doubt he feels embarrassed, but that's not how Hiyori feels. As he watches the worker, his thoughts end up taking a different turn. Jun suggests they leave, but—]
Actually, before we go, I have a question.
[Once she's on her feet again, he extends his right arm, rolling his sleeve up to reveal the watch. With a pleasant smile on his face and a cordial tone to his voice, he asks,]
Do you know where this watch came from? Or who wrote the message about "Game 52" on it?
[It's a long shot. She's just some random retail worker; there's no reason to expect she knows much, but he figures it's worth a try. And sure enough, a look of slight confusion crosses her face, giving him the impression that she's not sure what he's talking about. Perhaps she's never heard of "Game 52." She could've started at the resort last week for all he knows.
But to his surprise, she answers his question with total certainty.
"Why, the House, of course."
He blinks, his smile slipping.]
The House...?
[Now it's his turn to be confused. But she has an arm full of clothes to re-hang, and since he's just echoing her words back to her instead of asking her more questions, she proceeds to walk away. He lets her go, staring at her receding back in silence for a moment before questioning Jun.]
[ He immediately scowls at the suggestion that he dropped the garments, eager to argue once more about how it wasn't his intention to do so. However, since the employee is now in the vicinity, all he can do is sincerely apologise. He couldn't envision himself acting rudely or in this way towards anyone, even if this place was treating them poorly.
However, since he's resolved any potential conflicts, he'll overlook Hiyori's behaviour. If nothing else, Jun's prepared to leave the store, as he stated, and hoping Hiyori would be as well. He feels a little humiliated, but not too much. His eyes follow the worker as she diligently cleans up their mess, but he seems more uncomfortable and regretful about the garments on the floor.
Just as he's about to turn and make way for the door, he stops in his tracks, just as Hiyori asks his question. Right, he did say he was going to ask someone in these stores, while Jun was delegated towards the sports stores, but what he wasn't expecting is the answer she gave. Jun wasn't expecting much of anything, for her to answer, but she sounded almost proud of the name.
The House? Now what does that mean?
His gaze narrows as she turns to leave, watching her back as she departs from view. Once she's out of sight, he glances at Hiyori to respond. ]
I dunno what that means. You think there's something on the watch that talks 'bout it? If that's who brought us here, whoever did all this stuff, there's gotta be something, right?
[ But what is "The House"? Who are they? Jun doesn't want to read anything more on the watch, not anything else after what he's read, but there has got to be something around leading to them finding out about the House. ]
[He knows a thing or two about noble houses, but he has a feeling that's not what they're referring to. He rests his chin in-hand, frowning while he thinks.]
I do recall hearing something about "the house" in reference to gambling, which might fit given where we are.
[It was Rinne-senpai who said it. He loves to talk about that sort of thing. But in this thread, they haven't realized he's here with them, so Hiyori won't bring him up as a possibility! Instead he says,]
We'll just have to ask around, I suppose. We can also try checking the watch—it's just that whenever I try to read the messages on mine, I always come across something crude, and that just gets my blood boiling, so I always have to calm myself down with a relaxing bath or a hot cup of tea.
[ Right, of course they wouldn't be, but it's a strange thing to hear from a worker. Almost as if they should already know who or what the house is? ]
Well, yeah, but it's pretty odd to hear somethin' like that.
[ He frowns at the explanation, in part since, unlike Rinne-senpai, Jun has never been very fond of gambling. They could approach a stranger in the poker rooms as he does not know anyone else who bets, but... ]
I'm no good at gambling, Ohii-san, and I'm pretty sure you don't wanna go and gamble either. Makes sense since there were loadsa people 'round the slots earlier.
[ Except Jun knows exactly why they were, it's not all that relevant since they weren't gambling, either. He isn't eager to revisit the contents of the watch, but he would prefer to handle it instead of Ohii-san, sparing his partner from the ordeal.
It would be a smart move if.. ]
Well, if you don't wanna go and read whatever the watch says, I could try. I mean, I already said I didn't read much of it, but I'd rather do it instead. Just so it doesn't make your blood boil, I don't want you goin' through that. But I guess it might make you mad anyway, 'specially after I tell you whatever's on the watch.
Well, of course not. That sort of hobby wouldn't make any sense for me. And the last thing I want is to risk losing even more chips, when we weren't given nearly enough of them to start with.
[Again, what constitutes "enough" money for Hiyori probably isn't the same as what constitutes "enough" money for a normal person. But then it all depends on how long they're stuck here, doesn't it? Even a frugal person can't live off that amount of money forever.
He frowns a bit more when Jun proposes reading the watch himself. Of course, he was already given ample opportunity to, since he received the same message as everyone else. And it would be best to know what they're up against. But the idea of having Jun read those vulgar messages also doesn't sit well with him... He is a boy, but he's rather innocent-seeming at times, occasional swearing aside.
Hiyori gives a small head shake.]
It's already much too late for that. Any reasonable person in our shoes would be furious. Kidnapping anyone and telling them to do that stuff is just wrong, but it's even worse to tell that to two idols.
[He sighs.]
But I do suppose one thing might work: if we treat the instructions as some joke. A tasteless joke, but a joke nevertheless. Then I might just be able to get through them. Though normally, whenever I do hear that sort joke, I speak up and say "That's not funny!" or "That's not very idol-like!" or "Save it for the locker room, or better yet, nowhere!" So it'll still be tough, I'm afraid, but it might just be the best option we've got.
Right, so gambling is out. We should be saving 'em for things we need. Just 'til we figure everything out.
[ That gives him relief; not that he expected Hiyori to want to bet, but as things are, neither of them can afford to lose any chips. He's trying to be the rational one; even if there's not a whole lot of rationality there. Either way, the plan is they'll not have to stay here long enough where it'll matter, or so that's meant to be the plan. Now that should be a serious wake-up call.
Well, maybe he shouldn't have proposed reading it himself—not that he really wanted to, but to save the messages from getting across. Maybe's has changed his mind about reading it, which he thankfully doesn't have to. ]
Figured that's the case; it was only a suggestion, but it was a bad one. Yeah, first gettin' kidnapped is a problem on its own. I'll just not read it, alright? I'm not all that curious, but just so we don't hafta worry 'bout it.
[ Yep, he's not curious, and it is worse that it's happening to two idols.
He semi-snorts at the suggestion, not that it's a bad one, but the "locker room talk," sounds so incredibly ludicrous. Jun's never experienced that kind of "talk" before, but maybe it's different here. Or maybe... ]
Ohii-san, sounds like you've been keepin' up with those American TV shows? No one talks like that in 'em. Anyway, that's not the point, 'cause you're gonna hafta work on that, or you'll blow our cover. Just think 'bout the funniest joke you've ever been told, alright? Or, uh, anythin' that's not 'bout how "crude" the stuff on the watches are.
[Once they start running out of money, he may just change his tune on the whole gambling thing. Then it might be time to pester Rinne to show him how those machines work, the same way he pestered Jun to show him how arcade games work back in the summer of last year. But for now, no gambling! It's too risky, so that's a no-go!
Jun's suggestion, however, wasn't really all that unreasonable by comparison. They ought to be gathering all the information they can, so at least one of them ought to read everything that's on the watch. Even Hiyori recognizes that.
Though he does raise an eyebrow when he's corrected on the concept of "locker room talk."]
They don't?
[How interesting. And here he thought that locker room talk was a bunch of guys asking each other "How far have you gone?" That's a notion he got from foreign TV shows, of course, as Jun correctly surmised. He's hardly ever been inside a locker room. He can't stand the smell, so he doesn't go near them! Whenever Yumenosaki had PhysEd, he'd just cut class!
But anyway.]
Well, I understand see what you're saying. It's important to know what we're up against, so I'll try to read through the rules properly. And once they start going off on a tangent about "ways to play the game" and "new positions to try" and other disgusting things, I'll simply scroll faster! That's that, I guess.
[Otherwise he'll become the kind of person who smashes computer screens when he doesn't like what he sees on the Internet. And that won't do anyone any good! That'll just make him Itsuki Shu from Valkyrie!]
I swear it's not like that back home. I dunno 'bout anyone here, and you're not the type who's gonna head into a locker room anyway, Ohii-san.
[ Well, Jun's only shared locker rooms with idols from ES, who don't talk crudely. (Or the Specials he's in the Tennis Club with, but they're not so bad.) However, he may find out later that non-idol's do engage in vulgar locker room talk, just as Hiyori claims and as depicted on TV shows. For now, Jun is assuming all guys are respectful, but his assumptions could (and will) be proven wrong over time.
And for now, he remains unaware of that fact, so it's fine. ]
Hey, I don't want you reading it just for that, alright~? I know you don't wanna, since you said all that stuff 'bout it being crude and vulgar. So you'd really think they'd put something that suggestive in there? I'd really prefer reading whatever it says in there together.
[ It would be nice to know what they're up against, just as he said previously, but he doesn't want Hiyori to read it all on his own. However, there's no viable way for this to work if they're both attempting to prevent the other from reading whatever's on the watch, since there's no real way Hiyori would recite it aloud. ]
[If any locker room is guaranteed to be full of people discussing their sex life, it's bound to be one in this place. But as Jun points out, he wouldn't have entered a locker room here anyway, the statement causing him to bob his head up and down in agreement.]
Yes, because no matter what the discussion's like in there, the smell of sweat just doesn't agree with me! You understand me perfectly.
[Does Jun understand what's on these watches, though?
His proposition that they read them together has Hiyori raising his eyebrows. He at least tried to scour the introductory message for useful info himself, but all he can remember is repeated urging for them to have sex, complete with suggested acts and positions. "Game 52" was stated to be the only way they can leave the resort, but he's not inclined to believe that without proof. What if they say "Ju~st kidding!" and decide to keep them trapped even once they've completed their "deck"? And then, even if they do let them go, what happens to all the blackmail-worthy footage their captors have accumulated? Do they just throw it out?
Nope. They'll surely use it to ruin their careers or keep them ensnared. He'd love to be proven wrong about that, but he can't trust this resort on anything.
But back to the messages—if Jun's so insistent about reading them together, then that's that. It does make the most sense for them to work together. Still...]
I'm not sure "suggestive" is the right word. That's a word I'd use to describe our song lyrics. "Explicit" might be a better one.
[Or "obscene." Just as a warning. But despite keeping up the appearance of a pure princess, Hiyori knows his eyes won't melt if he reads some vulgar words on a screen. He's seen more "explicit" things, frankly. So he accepts Jun's idea with a bracing smile.]
But that's all the more reason not to read it alone, I suppose. If I get too angry or you get too embarrassed to go on, the other one will simply take over! I'd rather not read them in here, though, so let's go find a place to sit down somewhere.
[And with that he turns towards the store's exit.]
[ And that's how he knows Hiyori will never hear that kind of talk, even if Jun does in the future. But that will be a different road once he crosses it, and he will definitely not be discussing his (lack of) sex life for the foreseeable future. ]
'Course I do! I still hafta listen to you complain 'bout sweat and my muscles all the damn time. So if you're ever in one, I know something's gotta be seriously wrong with you.
[ Good question! He very much doesn't, aside from what he's told Hiyori already.
It's only a suggestion, so Hiyori doesn't have to read it alone. Jun wants to be helpful, and, well, that's the only way he thinks he can be. However, he remains unconcerned about the content on the watches, knowing it will eventually sink in that they're here against their will, which would upset their fans and infuriate Ibara if he found out. Still, Jun only knew the beginning of Game 52 before losing track of the rest. As idols, dating was forbidden, on top of lacking time between busy schedules. So how could they make time for romance now? Or even think they could? It seemed no one cared half of Eden was trapped here, anyway. ]
Our songs as Eve? Yeah, I guess you've got a point there. Anyway, yeah, that's what I meant.
[ Not that's close to what he meant, but Hiyori can be counted on to clarify his phrasing when he chooses the wrong words. Regardless, Eve and Eden's songs were more sophisticated than the Game 52 material, something that's clearly fact.
He nods in agreement with Hiyori's advice, concluding that it would be best to avoid reading it in the store given their recent incident. Especially given the employees could be listening in and reporting back to their beloved "House," which sounded so convoluted, he still doesn't know what to think. Without answering, he follows her out of the store. Once outside, he feels relieved, as though a weight has lifted and he can finally breathe freely again, no longer confined by the judgemental gazes of the store's workers in a place he clearly doesn't belong. ]
How 'bout over there, Ohii-san? Or d'you think that's not private enough!?
[ He gestures to an empty table, isolated yet near enough to the shops that their conversation might be overheard. Maybe Jun's not so skilled at discretion, after all. ]
[It's cute that Jun thinks "romance" has anything to do with this.
Hiyori has a different view. He's well aware you can do that sort of act without love. The illusion of love is more than enough— pretending in order to stave off loneliness. You can "date" someone without love, hold them without love, even enter a loveless arranged marriage—all are possible and even common in this world.
They're possible with love, too, of course. But if the goal here really is to pick up 52 "cards," romance is surely impossible. No one in their right mind would let their romantic partner sleep with 50 other people on their watch. Hiyori especially—he's never dated seriously before, and won't be starting now since he's an idol, but if he were to ever date, he's the type who'd want to tie his partner down. The type who'd want to ensure his partner don't even so much as look at anyone else...
Well, anyway!]
I'm not sure it's just our songs as Eve...
[Saying only Eve has horny song lyrics would be Dance in Apocalypse erasure.]
But none of our lyrics are remotely comparable to what's on that thing. Let that be your warning, I suppose.
[With those ominous words, he steps out into the hall. In the Nest, there are plenty of benches around for shoppers who need to take a rest, alongside tables outside the little cafes and eateries. It isn't long before they find somewhere to sit and read their watches. But, noticing other passerby around, Hiyori does reject Jun's first idea.]
Maybe somewhere a bit further in...
[And he'll lead them further down until they find an area with less foot traffic. It truly is amazing how the shops seem to stretch on forever, like a shopper's paradise. It's the kind of place he'd love to explore in literally any other circumstance. However, the inclusion of some shops is puzzling. Why is there a store selling outdoor goods, for example? They're trapped indoors here! And so, having found a shop with absolutely no people entering or exiting, Hiyori plops down on the bench outside.]
Here seems about right.
[He crosses his legs, lifts his watch in the air, and swipes at the screen until he pulls up the welcome message. There's no need to read aloud, he figures, so all he does is tilt the watch so that they both can see. This will require Jun to lean into his space, but oh well.]
Now, let's see here...
[The introductory message is something he's read a few times. "Thank you for checking in to the Golden Peacock, 5-Star Resort and Casino. Check out is scheduled for ¿¿UNDETERMINED¿¿. Complimentary chips have been added to your bank account. Welcome to the deck." Of course, that last part had confused him when he first read it. What does "welcome to the deck" even mean? But he's started to get an idea of what that means, which is unfortunate, because he doesn't like it one bit.
His thumb scrolls down further. It's onto the Game 52 rules.
Which is where things go from bad to worse. Or, more accurately, from confusing and annoying to flat-out obscene.
"To collect another card's value, you must have a sexual encounter with that card. A "sexual encounter" can be any act in which at least one person climaxes. If you or your fellow card is struggling to climax, we recommend switching acts or positions midway. For example, instead of having sex in the missionary position, you could try—"]
Ugh.
[If Jun glances at Hiyori he won't find him blushing, but he will find him looking at the screen in absolute disgust.]
Sorry, Jun-kun. I'm already tempted to quit. Whoever wrote this absolute filth ought to be purged from the world.
[ Well, of the romantic ideals Jun's absorbed from Shoujo manga and seen in the devoted couples around him, his perspective on relationships is naive but understandable. (Hidaka-sensei talking happily about his wife and to his shitty parents, who seem to care about one another.) Having only seen caring relationships portrayed as the norm, how could anyone fathom physical intimacy without an emotional bond? He purely believes that's something reserved for those who genuinely love each other.
Though simplistic, the thought true affection should precede physical acts comes from an innocent place—a desire to avoid the loveless marriages and trysts that would leave anyone empty. Experience may test his ideals over time, but for now, Jun aims for a romantic connection defined by mutual understanding and care.
That is, if one were to ever occur.
He knows, clearly, that lust is an emotion anyone can experience easily. So perhaps that is how things will unfold here. Unfortunately for him, there may be many superficial encounters in the future. But for now, he wants to believe romance plays a role too. After all, he's never been in a genuinely romantic situation before. (Unless someone who was scared asks to hold your hand, counts as something. Though that experience carried weight, Jun would take death over thinking about that person again.) He wonders about Hiyori's views on romance, though perhaps ignorance is bliss. Recalling Hiyori's jealousy over him playing a card game with Natsume, maybe he's still slanting sideways to this day. ]
Alright, that'll be a warning.
[ Welcome to Apocalypse...
Jun figures further in would probably be better, but it was the first empty place he's seen. Hiyori's expression causes him to nod, following behind and further down until they pass by another number of stores. He seriously can't believe how many more stores are down this wing—it's a shopper's paradise, and probably Ohii-san's too. But Jun pays the stores no mind, as he and Hiyori are here to find a place to sit and examine whatever is on their watches.
Though in the future he'll likely become familiar with these stores, for now he sits next to his partner, leaning in closely to view the watch without drawing unwanted attention. Despite feeling uneasy with physical closeness, Hiyori's no stranger and they did offer to read together, so he leans in, even if it's difficult, to view the face of the watch.
And then he'd only read as far as the first rule about collecting someone's card before feeling uneasy and turning his watch off. Though reading the rules with Hiyori now, there's an unsettling feeling as he scrolls to that same spot. However, it's comforting to go through the unnerving text together instead of alone.
Even if those rules are obscene and unlike any rules they've been given before, that doesn't mean they have to be followed.
Eyes widening at the mention of "position," his heart hammers in his chest as embarrassment flushes his cheeks, and he looks away from the watch for a moment. He doesn't believe anyone should be instructing them in this, much less condoning it. Glancing back to Hiyori, he sees no embarrassment in his partner's expression, but something close to disgust. ]
It's fine, Ohii-san. Don't worry 'bout all that, 'cause I can't blame you for not wanting to read the rest of whatever's on there. Dunno whoever greenlit this was thinkin', clearly not with their head.
[Yep, it's cute that Jun thinks "romance" is involved. ... Really, it is cute. Hiyori doesn't want to see his bubble burst. It would be a shame if Jun started to see relationships as just transactions. The fact he's kept an innocent outlook on life in many ways, despite the hellish environment he endured, is something of a miracle Hiyori wants to preserve.
Which is why the "Game 52" rules elicit such a violent response from him. He's not an absolute prude; there's nothing wrong with enjoying your body or seeking comfort in someone else's arms. Nothing wrong with dreaming about such things, either. That's what he seeks to give fans: a pleasant dream.
But to turn that sort of act into a "game," with forced participation from kidnapped idols, well... that's a different matter. One that makes his blood boil, hence the harsh words.
He sighs.]
I want to treat it like a bad joke, but it's hard to even laugh.
[Someone out there is taking this seriously, after all.
He glances at Jun out of the corner of his eye, not having looked at him since they started reading. His partner is red-cheeked, which in any other circumstance he might find cute. But he'd rather not have this place planting any weird ideas in Jun-kun's head.
Still, they've decided not to quit early. With that in mind, he scrolls past the part about positions, seeing nothing remotely useful there. Though there is one thing that snags in his mind, much as he doesn't want it to: that "rule" about only one person needing to enjoy themselves for it to "count." That's what you call a "loophole," isn't it? The sort of rule that could be easily abused. Someone can be a mean, selfish lover in bed and still collect "cards" out of the deal. And he hasn't seen anything about hurting people being against the "rules," either...
Ugh. He doesn't like that his thoughts are traveling down a dark path. But the next words on the screen seem to confirm his worst fears—that being awful to people isn't forbidden, and may in fact be encouraged.
"For example, if John and Amy engage in kinky spanking and John orgasms, then John will collect Amy's card and Amy will collect John's. And then if Amy sleeps with Ellie, who has the same value as John, while John engages in passionate waxplay with Susie, sexual whipping with Jack, and paddling with Cory, who all have different values..."
Yep. Now he feels even more revolted.]
Er, Jun-kun...
[He looks away from the screen before clearing his throat. This is awkward, but he needs to interject!]
You probably don't need me to tell you this, but don't use "John" as an example of anything, alright? That's pretty much the opposite of how a man should behave.
[Sleeping with everything that moves and hitting them all with whips and stuff? Double yikes!]
[ Despite their current circumstances, he can't seem to view romance as anything other than what it is. Holding on to this belief, clinging to it desperately each day, even as his reasoning might be forced to change.
But he struggles to accept the reality that they'll have to accept this and ruin their public image, and reading about their indiscretions leaves him feeling disappointed and ashamed. He knows scandals could end careers, even if an idol's songs aren't innocent; he performed those songs because being an idol brought him joy. The thought of having impersonal relationships with strangers, well, that doesn't bring an ounce of happiness. ]
Noticing the look from Hiyori, he can't really hide that he's red-cheeked and embarrassed. This place isn't planting anything in his head, apart from they can't be seen doing any of this, he hopes they won't. (As futile as it is, it's bound to happen.) That's why he struggles to understand the following rules: Not that he believes anyone should act selfishly, but it's self-centred to receive something from someone in that way, without offering "help" in return.
Oh, Ohii-san sounds embarrassed? Or awkward? Jun picks up on that, feeling his cheeks heat up again. ]
Yeah, but I really appreciate you saying something, anyway. 'Cause I might be clueless, but I'd never do anythin' like that. I'd rather die, you know? I'm sure you wouldn't either, Ohii-san.
[ He speaks low, just loud enough so Hiyori can hear. Jun really doesn't like how "John" treats people as objects, or rather, cards for his deck. Punishing them with paddles and the other objects mentioned.. It's not surprising people here might act that way, but to use that as an example right off the bat? He'll do anything in his power to avoid acting as "he" would. Besides, Hiyori probably wouldn't, not after that little speech about "John"!
Besides, Jun has morals and doesn't think he might go around sleeping with everyone just because they were interested. ]
Even someone like me knows it's not right, but it makes me feel a lil' uneasy.
Well, that's going a bit far, but I do get what you mean.
[He doesn't like when Jun talks about dying! But he refrains from scolding him this time, since he understands why Jun reacted strongly. That "John" person just sounds awful. You certainly won't catch him sleeping with everything that moves, never caring whether his partners orgasm, and hitting them with whips in the process!
Though it's not just violent kinks John and the others are engaged in; scrolling through more text reveals even more examples, like "temperature play with Tommy" and "petplay with Pam and Cindy." He's not even sure what those entail, really. And it's not just John who gets around, judging from all the other names onscreen. Jack, Ellie, Amy... he can't keep track of these NPCs and their affairs! But given some of the stuff he's bound to find in the marketplace later, he should probably just be glad they're not named Iori, Jin, Reo and Rintarou...
His eyes scan back and forth over the small screen. Reading on a watch is horribly inconvenient, though it might be a bit less awkward than looking his partner in the eye while there's such filth written in front of them. Honestly, most of the Game 52 "explanation" is worthless. It's just a bunch of suggested positions and strange fetishes, which has absolutely zero use to him. But one thing in particular does stand out.]
What do they even mean by "value"? How is that determined?
[He speaks with a frown, less revolted (though there's still a bit of that leftover) and more simply confused this time. "John will collect Amy's card and Amy will collect John's," it said, but what cards are they talking about? "Ellie has the same value as John," it said after that, but what does "value" mean?
Maybe they mean it literally. You take someone to bed and then hand them a playing card once the deed is done. But as he tells Jun, finally turning towards his partner again,]
I haven't been given any cards to hand out. Have you?
Alright, I guess it's going a bit far. That's how serious I feel 'bout treating someone poorly, Ohii-san.
[ He knows that, but the fact that there are people here who use someone for their pleasure and kinks, without helping their partner orgasm? Jun doesn't like how someone could be so selfish. Well, even if it's only in the text, someone's bound to have that sort of kink. He's glad Hiyori didn't scold him much about the whole dying thing again.
As Hiyori continues scrolling, unfamiliar words catch his eye, but their meaning eludes him. "Temperature play?" Something about wax? It's all a blur; he didn't know half these kinks even existed. Perhaps ignorance was bliss, but being here, these discoveries were inevitable, especially with so many "speciality" stores nearby.
There are so many names to remember now that it's all become meaningless in the end. Did they really need to write all those names in the text? Probably not, but for someone as oblivious as Jun, having a reminder of what not to do with a partner is helpful, even if it should be obvious. Not that Jun is thinking about that! Idols can't have relationships, right? Those thoughts will come back to haunt him soon, but for now, they don't.
Though reading the explicit words causes his cheeks to flush, reminiscent of an explicit manga or erotic light novel. However, he's in public with his partner, whom he avoids looking at or questioning, despite his confusion. The thought of determining someone's "value" confuses him—how can you gauge that? You could ask directly, sure, but would the answer reflect the truth? ]
That's a weird thing to write, but I dunno. What're you gonna do to find out someone's value? Well, that probably involves asking 'em, right?
[ Jun feels embarrassed as his eyes once again scan the words about value on Hiyori's watch, trying in vain to make sense of the absurd text. Though he enjoys collecting cards and playing card games with ASOBI Club and fellow idols, this twisted card game gives him pause. Staring back at Hiyori, Jun shakes his head, cheeks still burning a deep red. ]
I've not been given anything, 'sides this watch. I don't get what that part means, 'cause in card games, you usually draw cards, yeah? But we've not been given any cards...
[Jun's a warrior of love, after all. It was probably Tatsumi who taught him to be kind and never to harm others. Certainly it wasn't his parents. But Jun already had a good heart even before that, he assumes.
Also, he has absolutely no idea about the explicit manga and light novels. So he really has no idea how much Jun knows about any of this. He is a boy, but he seems so innocent and clueless much of the time! Hiyori doesn't want him to get corrupted (a huge part of the reason he hates that they're trapped here!), but he did warn Jun about the messages on the watches being explicit. He'll just have to trust that Jun's good heart to pull him through, and that he won't be reading any of this and thinking, "That game sounds like fun."
So far, so good on that front, although both of them are equally confused about how the whole thing even works. It's a relief to hear Jun hasn't been given any cards himself, though.]
That's the confusing thing. It sounds as though other people represent cards, and you collect them by...
[He clears his throat.]
Well, anyway! If we haven't been given any cards or any "value" yet, then perhaps that means we haven't been officially enrolled. Mine did say I'd been selected to "join the current pool," but if we don't have "values," how can we even play? Though saying that out loud feels a bit like tempting fate...
[He scans the screen again in search of clues. Not finding any right away, he continues to muse out loud.]
I'm not sure what my "card" would be in the first place. Ace of spades is highest, but "king" or "queen" might suit me better.
[ It's true, Tatsumi-senpai was the one who taught him to be kind and never to harm others. Instead of directing his anger at others, he should direct it towards God instead. If necessary, he would only tell Ohii-san that his "good-for-nothing" parents had taught him nothing. That should have been obvious, but it was not until meeting Hiyori that he felt bathed in such a bright light that his anger finally dissipated.
Jun knew of those types of manga and novels, but he hadn't read many; his time at the manga cafes had been limited, despite his curiosity. He suspected Hiyori would likely disapprove, sticking his nose up at literature he'd probably call "filthy." Anyway, Jun preferred to read them last or only if nothing else was available. As a guy, curiosity sometimes gets the better of him, that's all.
He still can't solve the card problem, and they both remain stumped by it. Therefore, Jun thinks it must relate to the watches in some way. He decides to share this idea with Ohii-san. ]
But none of it makes sense, 'cause then we'd be given cards? My only thought is that somehow the watches know what you've done, y'know?
[ That. He doesn't elaborate on it further, the same as his partner and he goes a little quiet after, listening to the rest. ]
Hm, I guess? If we've got the watches, aren't we already "enrolled"? Sorry, I dunno why I said that. [ After saying it, a sudden bitterness arose in his throat. ] For starters, we don't really wanna play, so maybe we just got lucky.
[ No, the deeming someone's value rule, or whatever it is, makes it sound like Reimei all over again. But they've already been through that, so Jun's not going to mention it. ]
It'll be the "Ohii-san" level. "King" or "Queen" don't suit you, 'cause you're a fussy "Princess." As for me? I'm probably a three or four.
I'm not too sure how that would work... perhaps there's something like a heart rate monitor? That isn't the only activity that would get someone's heart racing, though. But I suppose it's slightly more palatable than thinking there are hidden cameras everywhere. Although if the goal is to blackmail us...
[He trails off, letting that grim thought spell itself out. You can't blackmail someone with Fitbit info, but you can certainly do it with revenge porn.
Neither of their thoughts are very cheerful. Here he is thinking about blackmail, and there Jun is, thinking they've already been enrolled. Hiyori purses his lips but can't disagree with him. It is odd to think their captors went to all this trouble without enrolling them. But how do they find out for sure? Do you just wait around to be handed out playing cards? Is their "value" somewhere on the watch that he hasn't found? He'd much rather spring into action before they do find out that information, but he doesn't have anything resembling a workable escape plan right now.
So, for the time being, it's just this: sitting together on the bench with Jun, scouring the watch for clues and speculating about things like card values. He does at least crack some semblance of a smile, cheerfully retorting,]
Then I'll just have to create a new card! The "Ohii-san" card ♪ I'm not the type to let others decide my value, anyway, so that's what suits me best. What's with this "three or four" business, though? You don't think that lowly of yourself, do you?
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peacockstop2024-02-19 10:08 pm
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[Ah, deja vu.
It's true that he can't even begin to guess how their captors bypassed security. He'd been more focused on the logistics of other stuff—transporting them to the resort and changing their clothes without them waking up, for example. But that part is equally puzzling.
Unless...]
They wouldn't have to teleport if they were someone connected to ES.
[Not one of his fellow idols. He doesn't suspect that. Only Eichi has the resources and money to pull this off, and he knows Eichi wouldn't dare sabotage SS. Yes, Eichi must surely want to win against Eden and the others, but more than he loves winning, Eichi is someone who loves idols and wants to spread that love all over the world. He wants the program to be a success, no doubt, after the Tenshouin Conglomerate poured so much money into it. And he'd never want to tarnish the image of pure "idols" that he loves so much. They can rule out Eichi-kun.
But they can't rule out Gatekeeper, or anyone else he's connected with. What are the chances it was anyone else?]
I know this place has cameras. I wish it didn't, but I'm sure it does. So then I suppose it's just a matter of where to find them. That sort of room wouldn't normally be accessible to guests, and it wasn't on that map they handed out, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. The sort of people who would have access would probably be security guards, so if we found one of those to tail, we might get somewhere.
[Another point in favor of bribing the staff. Which Jun seems very adamant about him not doing. He raises one eyebrow; what did Jun think he meant by bribery?]
You know the sort of bribes I was talking about, right? The Tomoe Foundation runs a few different businesses, so it's never hard to set someone up with a job. If you promise better pay and benefits, most people will turn on their current employer. Especially when they're just doing grunt work, and their employer's involved in some shady illegal scheme.
But anyway, first we ought to talk to them. This is where we split up, I guess. Or so I'd say, but you came to this store for a reason, didn't you? You weren't here looking for me like a lost puppy, were you? That's awfully cute if you were ♪
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[ No, it wasn't!
It's almost exciting to understand how this place operates, especially given the circumstances. It's beginning to feel something close to a detective manga or anime, not that those genres are Jun's favourite, but he's read enough to (believe) that he's some expert. Maybe leaving it to the professionals who were skilled in hacking and similar capabilities, would be better, but chatting about it with Hiyori has sparked his curiosity. ]
It's... I guess that makes sense. Who'd let them in, though?
[ From what he understands, he doesn't think Eichi would, even if he doesn't know him all that well. Ibara wouldn't. So maybe the only logical answer is Gatekeeper, something they've already established. He'd rather not entertain the thought of someone intentionally trying to sabotage Eden, even if this isn't the first sabotage. ]
Any sorta place like this does, right? Even more creepy this place has 'em. It's gotta make sense that's how it goes, 'cause they probably don't want people finding out. How're meant to look for security guards? I haven't seen one since I got here, unless you've gotta do somethin' real bad first.
[ He now regrets jumping to conclusions about it being a form of bribery, despite knowing about the Tomoe Foundation's business activities. Why would the people here even care about that? He's hesitant to burst Hiyori's bubble, but... ]
Wait, you're serious 'bout this? Are you really gonna offer 'em a job with one of the Tomoe Foundation's businesses?
... yeah, I'd rather you talk to 'em first before you go off and offer something like that, Ohii-san. Jeez, I didn't even know you were here! How was I meant to go looking 'round for you if I didn't know that? You're not making any sense, 'cause I came here lookin' for clothes, not for you.
[ Sure if he did know Hiyori was here, this would be the first place to look. ]
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Ah, I'm one step ahead of you there. There were security guards in the garage! Though they were just milling around and not really doing much of anything. And I was expecting to see more, given how expensive the cars were. Perhaps that does mean there are people monitoring the garage from a computer room somewhere? Anyway, if we want to tail a guard, we might as well start there.
[There's another option that occurs to him: sneaking into some more staff-only areas. They might just find security there, or even some management offices. But that's obviously more dangerous, so he'll opt to go back to the garage.
He pouts a bit as Jun expresses his dislike for the bribe idea (again)—]
That was just a last resort in case no one's willing to tell us anything! Of course I'll talk to them first.
[—but lets it go, since this is all hypothetical anyway.]
Ah, you were here to shop too, huh? This place does have rather nice clothes, though it also has some over-the-top stuff even I wouldn't wear. Unfortunately, there aren't nearly enough of those "chip" things for me to buy all that I'd like to buy. I honestly don't feel comfortable buying much of anything, given that food isn't free, either. Which is an absolute outrage, since I never thought I'd have to hold back! If you're going to hold us hostage, the least you could do is feed us!
[He puts his hands on his hips and shakes his head. As though that's the most outrageous thing going on here, and not literally everything else.]
You weren't given more of those "chip" things than I was, were you? I was only given what I might spend during a couple of shopping trips, which isn't nearly enough...
[In reality, he was given a medium payout just like all the new arrivals. Also, what Hiyori spends during the average shopping trip isn't at all the same as what a normal middle-class person might spend, but Jun surely already knows that.]
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Yuuki-san's mentioned somethin' like that before. He's pretty good at finding out all sorta information, but he said something like that's usually the case. 'Sides someone's gotta make sure we're not breaking outta the garage, so... I'd believe it. Yeah, I'm up for tailing, long as we go down together if we end up getting caught.
[ If they go down, at least they'll be together, so Jun doesn't want to end up in jail alone. In the event of being caught, they will confront the situation together, so Jun doesn't want to be the sole person imprisoned. Although he hasn't realised yet that the duration of detention is short there, that realisation can be saved for another day. Ohii-san ought to refrain from discussing bribery, as it still doesn't sit well with him, even if he mentioned it as a last resort.
He doesn't want Hiyori getting into any more trouble than they already are, thank you very much! ]
And yeah, thought since I've been to all those stores back home with you, I woulda picked somethin' up by now. Turns out, has gotta be the most overpriced store I think I've ever been to. [ The employee nearest to them frowns, realising that Jun has just disparaged the cost and that Hiyori has called the clothing "over the top." ] If I had more, I wouldn't mind sharin'. I'm not gonna need mine, 'sides some of the other stuff we've gotta buy. Like, I don't mind buying our food when we need it. But that's gotta be bad, even for you, Ohii-san. I almost feel sorry for you, 'cause don't think I've ever seen you hold back.
[ Which leads to Jun rolling his eyes, as though that were the worst possible outcome. Ohii-san's digressions about wanting to purchase items he cannot afford continue to be entertaining. As if any regular person doesn't experience that daily. ]
Huh, I don't think I was given more. How're we supposed to check that? I've just been given whatever I got when I woke up here. That still means nothing to me, 'cause you already spend way too much on our normal shopping trips. But maybe that's good for you, Ohii-san! Now you've gotta curb your spending habits ♪
[ Or use Jun's chips, though, his supply is just as limited. ]
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But he still hasn't accepted that prospect. A trap door exit, a platform exit, an exit hidden in the wall that he just didn't see: surely there must be something. Otherwise, what's even the point of having those cars there? Unless the exit used to exist and got removed or sealed off or something like that, but... Ugh, this is all too big a headache!]
Well, I can promise I won't get caught, since I'm excellent at stealth! So it's just you who we'll have to make sure doesn't get detected.
[He speaks with obnoxious (over)confidence, even though in reality, Hiyori's probably more likely to get them caught than Jun is. Between the two of them, he's the flashy one who draws attention wherever he goes! But he'll do his best to conceal his presence, like a ninja or a private investigator.
... especially if getting caught means going to "the place to put unruly people," which someone already told him about. He doesn't like the sound of that at all. But he's confident he can talk his way out of trouble and it's not like there's any rule saying the garage is off-limits to guests. Just the staff-only areas! (Which he's... also been poking around in, but at least so far he hasn't been caught!)]
Some of the other stores have cheaper clothes. I just thought I'd stop by this one since it had some cute things in the window. But, much as it pains me to say it, all those clothes you dropped on the floor would deplete my whole bank account here, even though they'd be a drop in the bucket back home! Another reason to leave this place pronto!
[Hiyori prattles on, continuing to act like this is all such an outrage, completely oblivious to the nearby employee whose face just flashed with alarm. Sure enough, her eyes drop to the floor, where that pile of clothes that Hiyori unbalanced out of Jun's arms is collecting dust! She proceeds to make a beeline for them, but Hiyori just keeps going, narrowing his eyes at Jun and sounding a bit more heated.]
It's not my shopping habits that need to change, it's our hostage situation! That's the whole problem. But well, as far as sharing goes, I do have a few changes of clothes in my room. I pulled them off a rack in a lounge somewhere—they didn't say they were free gifts, but no one stopped me, so that makes them mine! I know we're not exactly the same size, but we should be close enough, even with all that extra muscle you have. And as for food and such, well... it pains me to say this too, but we may need to eat cheaply, just to make sure we have some chips left over in case of an emergency. But eating cheaply doesn't suit me at all, so we really need to find a way out sooner rather than— ... hm?
[He finally stops talking when the frazzled-looking employee steps up to them. She asks about the clothes on the floor, and Hiyori, rather than look admonished, simply beams.]
Oh, those? They simply fell! I was going to pick them up, or rather, Jun-kun was, but then we started having a lively discussion, which we're actually still in the middle of!
[Naturally, this response is the height of rudeness. Even Hiyori doesn't normally treat store employees that way. But rather than scold them, the worker—who wasn't watching and can't actually prove that they're the ones who dropped the clothes—simply requests for them to step aside so she can clean up after them. The two of them are guests, after all, and guests are always right, or at least the higher-ranked ones are. And while these two "wildcards" haven't been assigned a rank just yet, there's no telling where they'll stand in a day or two.]
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You're shit with volume control, Ohii-san. So if anyone's gonna get caught, I know it'll be you. You've gotta be kidding me, thinking someone like you can be stealthy.
[ He shakes his head to make the point, an amused grin forming at the bottom of his lips. Either way, there's still a high chance of them being caught, Hiyori's obnoxiousness or not, but Jun can't help but tease anyway. Again, at least they'll go down together, which might make an amusing end to finding the security rooms. ]
They're just clothes, so why does it matter how they're made? And I wasn't the one who threw them on the floor! You threw them at me first.
[ Or more accurately, when Jun realised who was flinging clothes into his arms, he let them fall to the ground. But as soon as he said that, he was trying to avoid this very situation—the worker had already headed straight for them! Well, she's going to be upset about the clothing; and she is! Jun ought to have picked them up sooner.
Unable to address the other issue, since the employee appears displeased with the mess that has been created. He finds it's unwise for Hiyori to take those additional clothes, even if he mistakenly believes they belong to him. What if they actually belong to someone else? But then again, he wouldn't really mind either way. ]
Yeah, I was gonna pick them up in a second. They've not been there long, 'cause It just happened, you see, so it slipped my mind! I'm real sorry 'bout that, we just got distracted talking.
[ It wasn't entirely untrue, but he wasn't a fan of how Hiyori was speaking to the worker, but she appeared so flustered, with apologetic stutters and stumbling over words it seemed inconsequential at the moment. He planned to reprimand Hiyori later when they were alone, but for now, this seemed the strategy to avoid reprimand and possibly being banned from the store.
Even if Jun disagrees with the way it happened, "the customer is always right" worked to their benefit in this instance. He's sure Hiyori is happy about not having to worry about them being banned or having to clean up after them. She accepted Hiyori at face value without questioning him, which suits him fine. She didn't inquire about their rank either, maybe it wasn't important? Even though they both didn't have one at the moment, that was another thing that worked in their favour. ]
We should probably go. I'm real sorry 'bout the mess, again.
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How rude of you! You know I don't talk all the time. I can keep quiet when it counts!
[You know, like when they're on set, listening to directions about a job! Or... yeah, that's pretty much the only example.
In response to the clothes thing—]
And you're the one who dropped them ♪
[—is all he says in response. But then the store employee rushes over before they can argue any longer about whose fault that was. She doesn't much care who dropped them; she just cares about picking them up, which is why she proceeds to kneel down and gather them up in her arms. Honestly, leaving all that stuff there is rude, and Hiyori normally wouldn't do that while shopping, but he and Jun had bigger fish to fry at that moment. Plus he's still a tad resentful about everything that has to do with his resort, which is why he hasn't been treating its shops and facilities with much care.
Thankfully, Jun-kun smooths things over, acting polite and apologetic, which seems to calm her down a bit. No doubt he feels embarrassed, but that's not how Hiyori feels. As he watches the worker, his thoughts end up taking a different turn. Jun suggests they leave, but—]
Actually, before we go, I have a question.
[Once she's on her feet again, he extends his right arm, rolling his sleeve up to reveal the watch. With a pleasant smile on his face and a cordial tone to his voice, he asks,]
Do you know where this watch came from? Or who wrote the message about "Game 52" on it?
[It's a long shot. She's just some random retail worker; there's no reason to expect she knows much, but he figures it's worth a try. And sure enough, a look of slight confusion crosses her face, giving him the impression that she's not sure what he's talking about. Perhaps she's never heard of "Game 52." She could've started at the resort last week for all he knows.
But to his surprise, she answers his question with total certainty.
"Why, the House, of course."
He blinks, his smile slipping.]
The House...?
[Now it's his turn to be confused. But she has an arm full of clothes to re-hang, and since he's just echoing her words back to her instead of asking her more questions, she proceeds to walk away. He lets her go, staring at her receding back in silence for a moment before questioning Jun.]
What do you suppose that meant?
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However, since he's resolved any potential conflicts, he'll overlook Hiyori's behaviour. If nothing else, Jun's prepared to leave the store, as he stated, and hoping Hiyori would be as well. He feels a little humiliated, but not too much. His eyes follow the worker as she diligently cleans up their mess, but he seems more uncomfortable and regretful about the garments on the floor.
Just as he's about to turn and make way for the door, he stops in his tracks, just as Hiyori asks his question. Right, he did say he was going to ask someone in these stores, while Jun was delegated towards the sports stores, but what he wasn't expecting is the answer she gave. Jun wasn't expecting much of anything, for her to answer, but she sounded almost proud of the name.
The House? Now what does that mean?
His gaze narrows as she turns to leave, watching her back as she departs from view. Once she's out of sight, he glances at Hiyori to respond. ]
I dunno what that means. You think there's something on the watch that talks 'bout it? If that's who brought us here, whoever did all this stuff, there's gotta be something, right?
[ But what is "The House"? Who are they? Jun doesn't want to read anything more on the watch, not anything else after what he's read, but there has got to be something around leading to them finding out about the House. ]
If not on the watch, somewhere 'round here.
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A house wouldn't be a person.
[He knows a thing or two about noble houses, but he has a feeling that's not what they're referring to. He rests his chin in-hand, frowning while he thinks.]
I do recall hearing something about "the house" in reference to gambling, which might fit given where we are.
[It was Rinne-senpai who said it. He loves to talk about that sort of thing. But in this thread, they haven't realized he's here with them, so Hiyori won't bring him up as a possibility! Instead he says,]
We'll just have to ask around, I suppose. We can also try checking the watch—it's just that whenever I try to read the messages on mine, I always come across something crude, and that just gets my blood boiling, so I always have to calm myself down with a relaxing bath or a hot cup of tea.
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Well, yeah, but it's pretty odd to hear somethin' like that.
[ He frowns at the explanation, in part since, unlike Rinne-senpai, Jun has never been very fond of gambling. They could approach a stranger in the poker rooms as he does not know anyone else who bets, but... ]
I'm no good at gambling, Ohii-san, and I'm pretty sure you don't wanna go and gamble either. Makes sense since there were loadsa people 'round the slots earlier.
[ Except Jun knows exactly why they were, it's not all that relevant since they weren't gambling, either. He isn't eager to revisit the contents of the watch, but he would prefer to handle it instead of Ohii-san, sparing his partner from the ordeal.
It would be a smart move if.. ]
Well, if you don't wanna go and read whatever the watch says, I could try. I mean, I already said I didn't read much of it, but I'd rather do it instead. Just so it doesn't make your blood boil, I don't want you goin' through that. But I guess it might make you mad anyway, 'specially after I tell you whatever's on the watch.
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[Again, what constitutes "enough" money for Hiyori probably isn't the same as what constitutes "enough" money for a normal person. But then it all depends on how long they're stuck here, doesn't it? Even a frugal person can't live off that amount of money forever.
He frowns a bit more when Jun proposes reading the watch himself. Of course, he was already given ample opportunity to, since he received the same message as everyone else. And it would be best to know what they're up against. But the idea of having Jun read those vulgar messages also doesn't sit well with him... He is a boy, but he's rather innocent-seeming at times, occasional swearing aside.
Hiyori gives a small head shake.]
It's already much too late for that. Any reasonable person in our shoes would be furious. Kidnapping anyone and telling them to do that stuff is just wrong, but it's even worse to tell that to two idols.
[He sighs.]
But I do suppose one thing might work: if we treat the instructions as some joke. A tasteless joke, but a joke nevertheless. Then I might just be able to get through them. Though normally, whenever I do hear that sort joke, I speak up and say "That's not funny!" or "That's not very idol-like!" or "Save it for the locker room, or better yet, nowhere!" So it'll still be tough, I'm afraid, but it might just be the best option we've got.
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[ That gives him relief; not that he expected Hiyori to want to bet, but as things are, neither of them can afford to lose any chips. He's trying to be the rational one; even if there's not a whole lot of rationality there. Either way, the plan is they'll not have to stay here long enough where it'll matter, or so that's meant to be the plan. Now that should be a serious wake-up call.
Well, maybe he shouldn't have proposed reading it himself—not that he really wanted to, but to save the messages from getting across. Maybe's has changed his mind about reading it, which he thankfully doesn't have to. ]
Figured that's the case; it was only a suggestion, but it was a bad one. Yeah, first gettin' kidnapped is a problem on its own. I'll just not read it, alright? I'm not all that curious, but just so we don't hafta worry 'bout it.
[ Yep, he's not curious, and it is worse that it's happening to two idols.
He semi-snorts at the suggestion, not that it's a bad one, but the "locker room talk," sounds so incredibly ludicrous. Jun's never experienced that kind of "talk" before, but maybe it's different here. Or maybe... ]
Ohii-san, sounds like you've been keepin' up with those American TV shows? No one talks like that in 'em. Anyway, that's not the point, 'cause you're gonna hafta work on that, or you'll blow our cover. Just think 'bout the funniest joke you've ever been told, alright? Or, uh, anythin' that's not 'bout how "crude" the stuff on the watches are.
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Jun's suggestion, however, wasn't really all that unreasonable by comparison. They ought to be gathering all the information they can, so at least one of them ought to read everything that's on the watch. Even Hiyori recognizes that.
Though he does raise an eyebrow when he's corrected on the concept of "locker room talk."]
They don't?
[How interesting. And here he thought that locker room talk was a bunch of guys asking each other "How far have you gone?" That's a notion he got from foreign TV shows, of course, as Jun correctly surmised. He's hardly ever been inside a locker room. He can't stand the smell, so he doesn't go near them! Whenever Yumenosaki had PhysEd, he'd just cut class!
But anyway.]
Well, I understand see what you're saying. It's important to know what we're up against, so I'll try to read through the rules properly. And once they start going off on a tangent about "ways to play the game" and "new positions to try" and other disgusting things, I'll simply scroll faster! That's that, I guess.
[Otherwise he'll become the kind of person who smashes computer screens when he doesn't like what he sees on the Internet. And that won't do anyone any good! That'll just make him Itsuki Shu from Valkyrie!]
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[ Well, Jun's only shared locker rooms with idols from ES, who don't talk crudely. (Or the Specials he's in the Tennis Club with, but they're not so bad.) However, he may find out later that non-idol's do engage in vulgar locker room talk, just as Hiyori claims and as depicted on TV shows. For now, Jun is assuming all guys are respectful, but his assumptions could (and will) be proven wrong over time.
And for now, he remains unaware of that fact, so it's fine. ]
Hey, I don't want you reading it just for that, alright~? I know you don't wanna, since you said all that stuff 'bout it being crude and vulgar. So you'd really think they'd put something that suggestive in there? I'd really prefer reading whatever it says in there together.
[ It would be nice to know what they're up against, just as he said previously, but he doesn't want Hiyori to read it all on his own. However, there's no viable way for this to work if they're both attempting to prevent the other from reading whatever's on the watch, since there's no real way Hiyori would recite it aloud. ]
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Yes, because no matter what the discussion's like in there, the smell of sweat just doesn't agree with me! You understand me perfectly.
[Does Jun understand what's on these watches, though?
His proposition that they read them together has Hiyori raising his eyebrows. He at least tried to scour the introductory message for useful info himself, but all he can remember is repeated urging for them to have sex, complete with suggested acts and positions. "Game 52" was stated to be the only way they can leave the resort, but he's not inclined to believe that without proof. What if they say "Ju~st kidding!" and decide to keep them trapped even once they've completed their "deck"? And then, even if they do let them go, what happens to all the blackmail-worthy footage their captors have accumulated? Do they just throw it out?
Nope. They'll surely use it to ruin their careers or keep them ensnared. He'd love to be proven wrong about that, but he can't trust this resort on anything.
But back to the messages—if Jun's so insistent about reading them together, then that's that. It does make the most sense for them to work together. Still...]
I'm not sure "suggestive" is the right word. That's a word I'd use to describe our song lyrics. "Explicit" might be a better one.
[Or "obscene." Just as a warning. But despite keeping up the appearance of a pure princess, Hiyori knows his eyes won't melt if he reads some vulgar words on a screen. He's seen more "explicit" things, frankly. So he accepts Jun's idea with a bracing smile.]
But that's all the more reason not to read it alone, I suppose. If I get too angry or you get too embarrassed to go on, the other one will simply take over! I'd rather not read them in here, though, so let's go find a place to sit down somewhere.
[And with that he turns towards the store's exit.]
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'Course I do! I still hafta listen to you complain 'bout sweat and my muscles all the damn time. So if you're ever in one, I know something's gotta be seriously wrong with you.
[ Good question! He very much doesn't, aside from what he's told Hiyori already.
It's only a suggestion, so Hiyori doesn't have to read it alone. Jun wants to be helpful, and, well, that's the only way he thinks he can be. However, he remains unconcerned about the content on the watches, knowing it will eventually sink in that they're here against their will, which would upset their fans and infuriate Ibara if he found out. Still, Jun only knew the beginning of Game 52 before losing track of the rest. As idols, dating was forbidden, on top of lacking time between busy schedules. So how could they make time for romance now? Or even think they could? It seemed no one cared half of Eden was trapped here, anyway. ]
Our songs as Eve? Yeah, I guess you've got a point there. Anyway, yeah, that's what I meant.
[ Not that's close to what he meant, but Hiyori can be counted on to clarify his phrasing when he chooses the wrong words. Regardless, Eve and Eden's songs were more sophisticated than the Game 52 material, something that's clearly fact.
He nods in agreement with Hiyori's advice, concluding that it would be best to avoid reading it in the store given their recent incident. Especially given the employees could be listening in and reporting back to their beloved "House," which sounded so convoluted, he still doesn't know what to think. Without answering, he follows her out of the store. Once outside, he feels relieved, as though a weight has lifted and he can finally breathe freely again, no longer confined by the judgemental gazes of the store's workers in a place he clearly doesn't belong. ]
How 'bout over there, Ohii-san? Or d'you think that's not private enough!?
[ He gestures to an empty table, isolated yet near enough to the shops that their conversation might be overheard. Maybe Jun's not so skilled at discretion, after all. ]
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Hiyori has a different view. He's well aware you can do that sort of act without love. The illusion of love is more than enough—
pretending in order to stave off loneliness. You can "date" someone without love, hold them without love, even enter a loveless arranged marriage—all are possible and even common in this world.
They're possible with love, too, of course. But if the goal here really is to pick up 52 "cards," romance is surely impossible. No one in their right mind would let their romantic partner sleep with 50 other people on their watch. Hiyori especially—he's never dated seriously before, and won't be starting now since he's an idol, but if he were to ever date, he's the type who'd want to tie his partner down. The type who'd want to ensure his partner don't even so much as look at anyone else...
Well, anyway!]
I'm not sure it's just our songs as Eve...
[Saying only Eve has horny song lyrics would be Dance in Apocalypse erasure.]
But none of our lyrics are remotely comparable to what's on that thing. Let that be your warning, I suppose.
[With those ominous words, he steps out into the hall. In the Nest, there are plenty of benches around for shoppers who need to take a rest, alongside tables outside the little cafes and eateries. It isn't long before they find somewhere to sit and read their watches. But, noticing other passerby around, Hiyori does reject Jun's first idea.]
Maybe somewhere a bit further in...
[And he'll lead them further down until they find an area with less foot traffic. It truly is amazing how the shops seem to stretch on forever, like a shopper's paradise. It's the kind of place he'd love to explore in literally any other circumstance. However, the inclusion of some shops is puzzling. Why is there a store selling outdoor goods, for example? They're trapped indoors here! And so, having found a shop with absolutely no people entering or exiting, Hiyori plops down on the bench outside.]
Here seems about right.
[He crosses his legs, lifts his watch in the air, and swipes at the screen until he pulls up the welcome message. There's no need to read aloud, he figures, so all he does is tilt the watch so that they both can see. This will require Jun to lean into his space, but oh well.]
Now, let's see here...
[The introductory message is something he's read a few times. "Thank you for checking in to the Golden Peacock, 5-Star Resort and Casino. Check out is scheduled for ¿¿UNDETERMINED¿¿. Complimentary chips have been added to your bank account. Welcome to the deck." Of course, that last part had confused him when he first read it. What does "welcome to the deck" even mean? But he's started to get an idea of what that means, which is unfortunate, because he doesn't like it one bit.
His thumb scrolls down further. It's onto the Game 52 rules.
Which is where things go from bad to worse. Or, more accurately, from confusing and annoying to flat-out obscene.
"To collect another card's value, you must have a sexual encounter with that card. A "sexual encounter" can be any act in which at least one person climaxes. If you or your fellow card is struggling to climax, we recommend switching acts or positions midway. For example, instead of having sex in the missionary position, you could try—"]
Ugh.
[If Jun glances at Hiyori he won't find him blushing, but he will find him looking at the screen in absolute disgust.]
Sorry, Jun-kun. I'm already tempted to quit. Whoever wrote this absolute filth ought to be purged from the world.
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Though simplistic, the thought true affection should precede physical acts comes from an innocent place—a desire to avoid the loveless marriages and trysts that would leave anyone empty. Experience may test his ideals over time, but for now, Jun aims for a romantic connection defined by mutual understanding and care.
That is, if one were to ever occur.
He knows, clearly, that lust is an emotion anyone can experience easily. So perhaps that is how things will unfold here. Unfortunately for him, there may be many superficial encounters in the future. But for now, he wants to believe romance plays a role too. After all, he's never been in a genuinely romantic situation before. (Unless someone who was scared asks to hold your hand, counts as something. Though that experience carried weight, Jun would take death over thinking about that person again.) He wonders about Hiyori's views on romance, though perhaps ignorance is bliss. Recalling Hiyori's jealousy over him playing a card game with Natsume, maybe he's still slanting sideways to this day. ]
Alright, that'll be a warning.
[ Welcome to Apocalypse...
Jun figures further in would probably be better, but it was the first empty place he's seen. Hiyori's expression causes him to nod, following behind and further down until they pass by another number of stores. He seriously can't believe how many more stores are down this wing—it's a shopper's paradise, and probably Ohii-san's too. But Jun pays the stores no mind, as he and Hiyori are here to find a place to sit and examine whatever is on their watches.
Though in the future he'll likely become familiar with these stores, for now he sits next to his partner, leaning in closely to view the watch without drawing unwanted attention. Despite feeling uneasy with physical closeness, Hiyori's no stranger and they did offer to read together, so he leans in, even if it's difficult, to view the face of the watch.
And then he'd only read as far as the first rule about collecting someone's card before feeling uneasy and turning his watch off. Though reading the rules with Hiyori now, there's an unsettling feeling as he scrolls to that same spot. However, it's comforting to go through the unnerving text together instead of alone.
Even if those rules are obscene and unlike any rules they've been given before, that doesn't mean they have to be followed.
Eyes widening at the mention of "position," his heart hammers in his chest as embarrassment flushes his cheeks, and he looks away from the watch for a moment. He doesn't believe anyone should be instructing them in this, much less condoning it. Glancing back to Hiyori, he sees no embarrassment in his partner's expression, but something close to disgust. ]
It's fine, Ohii-san. Don't worry 'bout all that, 'cause I can't blame you for not wanting to read the rest of whatever's on there. Dunno whoever greenlit this was thinkin', clearly not with their head.
[ With other things, that's for sure. ]
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Which is why the "Game 52" rules elicit such a violent response from him. He's not an absolute prude; there's nothing wrong with enjoying your body or seeking comfort in someone else's arms. Nothing wrong with dreaming about such things, either. That's what he seeks to give fans: a pleasant dream.
But to turn that sort of act into a "game," with forced participation from kidnapped idols, well... that's a different matter. One that makes his blood boil, hence the harsh words.
He sighs.]
I want to treat it like a bad joke, but it's hard to even laugh.
[Someone out there is taking this seriously, after all.
He glances at Jun out of the corner of his eye, not having looked at him since they started reading. His partner is red-cheeked, which in any other circumstance he might find cute. But he'd rather not have this place planting any weird ideas in Jun-kun's head.
Still, they've decided not to quit early. With that in mind, he scrolls past the part about positions, seeing nothing remotely useful there. Though there is one thing that snags in his mind, much as he doesn't want it to: that "rule" about only one person needing to enjoy themselves for it to "count." That's what you call a "loophole," isn't it? The sort of rule that could be easily abused. Someone can be a mean, selfish lover in bed and still collect "cards" out of the deal. And he hasn't seen anything about hurting people being against the "rules," either...
Ugh. He doesn't like that his thoughts are traveling down a dark path. But the next words on the screen seem to confirm his worst fears—that being awful to people isn't forbidden, and may in fact be encouraged.
"For example, if John and Amy engage in kinky spanking and John orgasms, then John will collect Amy's card and Amy will collect John's. And then if Amy sleeps with Ellie, who has the same value as John, while John engages in passionate waxplay with Susie, sexual whipping with Jack, and paddling with Cory, who all have different values..."
Yep. Now he feels even more revolted.]
Er, Jun-kun...
[He looks away from the screen before clearing his throat. This is awkward, but he needs to interject!]
You probably don't need me to tell you this, but don't use "John" as an example of anything, alright? That's pretty much the opposite of how a man should behave.
[Sleeping with everything that moves and hitting them all with whips and stuff? Double yikes!]
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But he struggles to accept the reality that they'll have to accept this and ruin their public image, and reading about their indiscretions leaves him feeling disappointed and ashamed. He knows scandals could end careers, even if an idol's songs aren't innocent; he performed those songs because being an idol brought him joy. The thought of having impersonal relationships with strangers, well, that doesn't bring an ounce of happiness. ]
Noticing the look from Hiyori, he can't really hide that he's red-cheeked and embarrassed. This place isn't planting anything in his head, apart from they can't be seen doing any of this, he hopes they won't. (As futile as it is, it's bound to happen.) That's why he struggles to understand the following rules: Not that he believes anyone should act selfishly, but it's self-centred to receive something from someone in that way, without offering "help" in return.
Oh, Ohii-san sounds embarrassed? Or awkward? Jun picks up on that, feeling his cheeks heat up again. ]
Yeah, but I really appreciate you saying something, anyway. 'Cause I might be clueless, but I'd never do anythin' like that. I'd rather die, you know? I'm sure you wouldn't either, Ohii-san.
[ He speaks low, just loud enough so Hiyori can hear. Jun really doesn't like how "John" treats people as objects, or rather, cards for his deck. Punishing them with paddles and the other objects mentioned.. It's not surprising people here might act that way, but to use that as an example right off the bat? He'll do anything in his power to avoid acting as "he" would. Besides, Hiyori probably wouldn't, not after that little speech about "John"!
Besides, Jun has morals and doesn't think he might go around sleeping with everyone just because they were interested. ]
Even someone like me knows it's not right, but it makes me feel a lil' uneasy.
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[He doesn't like when Jun talks about dying! But he refrains from scolding him this time, since he understands why Jun reacted strongly. That "John" person just sounds awful. You certainly won't catch him sleeping with everything that moves, never caring whether his partners orgasm, and hitting them with whips in the process!
Though it's not just violent kinks John and the others are engaged in; scrolling through more text reveals even more examples, like "temperature play with Tommy" and "petplay with Pam and Cindy." He's not even sure what those entail, really. And it's not just John who gets around, judging from all the other names onscreen. Jack, Ellie, Amy... he can't keep track of these NPCs and their affairs! But given some of the stuff he's bound to find in the marketplace later, he should probably just be glad they're not named Iori, Jin, Reo and Rintarou...
His eyes scan back and forth over the small screen. Reading on a watch is horribly inconvenient, though it might be a bit less awkward than looking his partner in the eye while there's such filth written in front of them. Honestly, most of the Game 52 "explanation" is worthless. It's just a bunch of suggested positions and strange fetishes, which has absolutely zero use to him. But one thing in particular does stand out.]
What do they even mean by "value"? How is that determined?
[He speaks with a frown, less revolted (though there's still a bit of that leftover) and more simply confused this time. "John will collect Amy's card and Amy will collect John's," it said, but what cards are they talking about? "Ellie has the same value as John," it said after that, but what does "value" mean?
Maybe they mean it literally. You take someone to bed and then hand them a playing card once the deed is done. But as he tells Jun, finally turning towards his partner again,]
I haven't been given any cards to hand out. Have you?
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[ He knows that, but the fact that there are people here who use someone for their pleasure and kinks, without helping their partner orgasm? Jun doesn't like how someone could be so selfish. Well, even if it's only in the text, someone's bound to have that sort of kink. He's glad Hiyori didn't scold him much about the whole dying thing again.
As Hiyori continues scrolling, unfamiliar words catch his eye, but their meaning eludes him. "Temperature play?" Something about wax? It's all a blur; he didn't know half these kinks even existed. Perhaps ignorance was bliss, but being here, these discoveries were inevitable, especially with so many "speciality" stores nearby.
There are so many names to remember now that it's all become meaningless in the end. Did they really need to write all those names in the text? Probably not, but for someone as oblivious as Jun, having a reminder of what not to do with a partner is helpful, even if it should be obvious. Not that Jun is thinking about that! Idols can't have relationships, right? Those thoughts will come back to haunt him soon, but for now, they don't.
Though reading the explicit words causes his cheeks to flush, reminiscent of an explicit manga or erotic light novel. However, he's in public with his partner, whom he avoids looking at or questioning, despite his confusion. The thought of determining someone's "value" confuses him—how can you gauge that? You could ask directly, sure, but would the answer reflect the truth? ]
That's a weird thing to write, but I dunno. What're you gonna do to find out someone's value? Well, that probably involves asking 'em, right?
[ Jun feels embarrassed as his eyes once again scan the words about value on Hiyori's watch, trying in vain to make sense of the absurd text. Though he enjoys collecting cards and playing card games with ASOBI Club and fellow idols, this twisted card game gives him pause. Staring back at Hiyori, Jun shakes his head, cheeks still burning a deep red. ]
I've not been given anything, 'sides this watch. I don't get what that part means, 'cause in card games, you usually draw cards, yeah? But we've not been given any cards...
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I know you do.
[Jun's a warrior of love, after all. It was probably Tatsumi who taught him to be kind and never to harm others. Certainly it wasn't his parents. But Jun already had a good heart even before that, he assumes.
Also, he has absolutely no idea about the explicit manga and light novels. So he really has no idea how much Jun knows about any of this. He is a boy, but he seems so innocent and clueless much of the time! Hiyori doesn't want him to get corrupted (a huge part of the reason he hates that they're trapped here!), but he did warn Jun about the messages on the watches being explicit. He'll just have to trust that Jun's good heart to pull him through, and that he won't be reading any of this and thinking, "That game sounds like fun."
So far, so good on that front, although both of them are equally confused about how the whole thing even works. It's a relief to hear Jun hasn't been given any cards himself, though.]
That's the confusing thing. It sounds as though other people represent cards, and you collect them by...
[He clears his throat.]
Well, anyway! If we haven't been given any cards or any "value" yet, then perhaps that means we haven't been officially enrolled. Mine did say I'd been selected to "join the current pool," but if we don't have "values," how can we even play? Though saying that out loud feels a bit like tempting fate...
[He scans the screen again in search of clues. Not finding any right away, he continues to muse out loud.]
I'm not sure what my "card" would be in the first place. Ace of spades is highest, but "king" or "queen" might suit me better.
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Jun knew of those types of manga and novels, but he hadn't read many; his time at the manga cafes had been limited, despite his curiosity. He suspected Hiyori would likely disapprove, sticking his nose up at literature he'd probably call "filthy." Anyway, Jun preferred to read them last or only if nothing else was available. As a guy, curiosity sometimes gets the better of him, that's all.
He still can't solve the card problem, and they both remain stumped by it. Therefore, Jun thinks it must relate to the watches in some way. He decides to share this idea with Ohii-san. ]
But none of it makes sense, 'cause then we'd be given cards? My only thought is that somehow the watches know what you've done, y'know?
[ That. He doesn't elaborate on it further, the same as his partner and he goes a little quiet after, listening to the rest. ]
Hm, I guess? If we've got the watches, aren't we already "enrolled"? Sorry, I dunno why I said that. [ After saying it, a sudden bitterness arose in his throat. ] For starters, we don't really wanna play, so maybe we just got lucky.
[ No, the deeming someone's value rule, or whatever it is, makes it sound like Reimei all over again. But they've already been through that, so Jun's not going to mention it. ]
It'll be the "Ohii-san" level. "King" or "Queen" don't suit you, 'cause you're a fussy "Princess." As for me? I'm probably a three or four.
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[He trails off, letting that grim thought spell itself out. You can't blackmail someone with Fitbit info, but you can certainly do it with revenge porn.
Neither of their thoughts are very cheerful. Here he is thinking about blackmail, and there Jun is, thinking they've already been enrolled. Hiyori purses his lips but can't disagree with him. It is odd to think their captors went to all this trouble without enrolling them. But how do they find out for sure? Do you just wait around to be handed out playing cards? Is their "value" somewhere on the watch that he hasn't found? He'd much rather spring into action before they do find out that information, but he doesn't have anything resembling a workable escape plan right now.
So, for the time being, it's just this: sitting together on the bench with Jun, scouring the watch for clues and speculating about things like card values. He does at least crack some semblance of a smile, cheerfully retorting,]
Then I'll just have to create a new card! The "Ohii-san" card ♪ I'm not the type to let others decide my value, anyway, so that's what suits me best. What's with this "three or four" business, though? You don't think that lowly of yourself, do you?
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