TDM 03

[goldmods]

【 Hello, dearest guests. We hope you have been enjoying your time in the Golden Peacock and utilizing our many amenities.

Reception would like all guests to be aware that some new arrivals have been misplaced. Due to the nature of the resort, new arrivals may have been misplaced in unexpected locations. This includes your personal suites. We are very sorry for this inconvenience.

Please do not be alarmed if you come across a misplaced new arrival. We kindly request that any guests that find a misplaced new arrival escort them to the main hub, where we have arranged a central meetup where all new arrivals can claim their complimentary robes and welcome baskets.

All guests are invited to come mingle at the main hub and meet new arrivals. As always, we hope you have a pleasant day! 】

DEALER'S CHOICE

STEVE, WHERE DID YOU PUT THE NEW ARRIVALS?

The Golden Peacock has swept away the hues of winter and welcomed vibrant pops of color for a change of pace. Gone are the snow whites and cool golds. Vases of bright florals have been staged all throughout the general hubs and hallways. Statues have been cheekily decorated with bright clothes, such as charming hats and billowing dresses with cheerful prints. This peacock has cleaned up nicely, its brilliant feathers shaking with a warm palette to please the senses.

Staff are bustling during the decor turnover. While some diligent employees are steadfastly decorating the hallways with sprawling vines and spectacular blooms, others are darting back and forth in search of something. Or rather — someone. Several someones. Front reception is in an outright panic while flying over the phones and furiously slamming their hands on keyboards.

"Steve, I know you're new, but you can't just press any button that pops up on the computer screen! The new arrivals are supposed to go into temporary suites." Deborah, the head receptionist, sighs, "Now who knows where they are. I hope they're okay... I'm sure they're quite confused, wherever they wound up. Steve, stop crying. The house won't fire you for this. Probably. How's your resume looking?"

THE BATHROOM BUTTON

▷ Due to a mistake at front reception, new arrivals aren't waking up in a temporarily assigned suite like usual. All new arrivals will wake up in a bathroom somewhere in the Golden Peacock. Steve, bless his heart, chose the wrong button and directed all new arrivals to bathrooms. Why do they even have a "bathroom" button at front reception, anyway? Who is that for?!

▷ Players are encouraged to get creative and have their character wake up in any bathroom location across the resort. Please feel free to reference our LOCATIONS for ideas as to where your character might wake up. As long as it's in a bathroom, it can be anywhere. Almost all locations within the resort have a bathroom!

▷ Not even current character suites are safe. New arrivals may wake up in tubs, toilets, and showers in suite locations as well as general resort locations. For low rank rooms, the communal bathroom is also fair game for sudden new naked arrivals to wake up in.

THE MAIN LOBBY

▷ A welcome station has been set up in the main lobby. After getting their bearings and finding their way to the main lobby after an unexpected bathroom adventure, new arrivals will find racks of plush terrycloth robes and yellow tracksuits. They will also be given a welcome basket with general toiletries and snacks to get them started in the resort. Some gift baskets include special sex toys picked out just for them! They haven't tell anyone about that specific kink before? The house knows its guests well. No need to say anything at all.

▷ Front reception has arranged a welcome party to greet new arrivals and help get them more comfortable. Not because they feel extremely guilty about the bathroom mixup and are hoping that these new arrivals won't complain to the house. Definitely not! With the help of 24K and Birdbucks, new arrivals and guests alike will be treated to alcohol or coffee at the front desk's expense. The fireplaces are roaring and several couches have been set up to create a comfortable atmosphere. Some long-standing guests have joined in to tell stories about how much fun they've had at the resort while enjoying a drink by the fire.

TIME FOR BED... BUT?

▷ Due to the initial mistake at reception there are no empty suites available for new arrivals to borrow. Staff have set up twin-sized cots at the back of the main lobby for new arrivals while sprucing up the situation as a giant slumber party. All new arrivals will be assigned a cot and given a privacy screen. Unfortunately, there isn't much privacy to be had when you're shacking up in a public spot.

▷ Don't worry — this will only be until check-in has been properly completed and guests have been assigned to their correct suite. We're so sorry, please don't complain to the house! Or if you do, blame Steve!

▷ The ghost that haunts the main lobby isn't thrilled about this either. He's just a nice, low-key ghost that likes to watch people and knock over cups at Birdbucks when no one is looking. How is he supposed to do that with these people sleeping in the main lobby? In an effort to spook off these new arrivals, the ghost haunting the main lobby may whisper some odd things into their ears at night. Odd things like, "The person next to you is watching you sleep, you should run away," and "You just farted and everyone knows it was you. You should leave." Surprisingly effective, no?

In the end, Steve didn't get fired. But he did get reassigned to trash duty.

FLORAL RIOT

A STRIKE OF COLOR

【 🌸🌸🌸 Come experience new floral delights! Prepare to be ravished by a symphony of color and aroma. Romance, love, and pleasure all await within corridors of beauty. 🌸 🌸 🌸 】

Days before the grand unveiling, the gardeners of the Cloud Dwelling Garden distribute flyers announcing that their special floral exhibition is now ready for guests to enjoy. Long-standing guests vibrate in anticipation, eagerly stomping around the gardens until the ribbon is cut and the newest resort amenity has been revealed. The gardeners make a point to approach new guests and encourage them to join in on the fun, explaining that the house likes to create a new floral experience for guests every few years or so.

Exhibition opening is set for mid-month. On the 15th precisely, the gardeners line up in front of the white sheet hiding the project, each taking a turn to bow and say a few short words about how grand and generous the house is for giving them such rewarding jobs.

The curtains fall away to a wall of shockingly bright florals. Guests ooh and aahh at not only the array of shades but at the luxurious meld of so many different kinds of flowers. Wisteria and roses, lilies and carnations. Lilacs, peonies, daisies, daffodils, sunflowers. More and more and more and more. The staff explain that this flower maze is perhaps their most intricate piece of work yet and that there is grand surprise waiting at the heart. Additionally, as part of the festivities, several prizes have been hidden around the maze at dead-ends. Long-standing guests clap and cheer before charging inside.

THE FLOWER MAZE

▷ The flower maze is a winding marvel of foliage boasting over ten feet tall. Like the hedge maze, there are various twists and turns for guests to explore. This maze is a coalition of every flower thinkable, with many squared sections highlighting particular breeds. Bright pops of whites, pinks, and yellows knit with deeper purples, reds, and blues. Trees rich with blossoms hang low. Bushes rich with waxy leaves guide the way to different hidden alcoves and pockets. The flower maze is complicated and very easy to get lost in for hours. However, there is nothing magical or paranormal about it. It's just a flower maze.

▷ Guests may find statues overgrown with ivy within the maze. Despite the flower maze being a new addition to the garden, these statues are marked with age. They are weathered, having survived through the elements despite there being no real weather in the garden. Some statues are chipped and missing appendages. Despite how these old statues feel out of place in a brand new exhibit, they do not give any sense that they aren’t simply decor.

▷ Romantic gazebos have been incorporated into the design of the maze. These are popular rendezvous spots for guests to overlook the sprawling flowers and small ponds on the comfort of a small couch or a swinging bench for two. Some special gazebos have been furnished with daybeds and other comfortable furniture.

▷ Treasure chests can be found hidden throughout the flower maze. Many of these chests are filled with sex toys and lubricants to help players get into the mood to play 52, but not only sex related items are available. Some chests may have clothes, some may have treats, some may even be filled with rocks.

▷ A few mimics have snuck in alongside the treasure chests. When opened, a mimic chest will curse the opener with a horny tongue. For a short period, the cursed individual will find themselves making erotic freudian slips. "How are you doing?" may end up coming out as, "How are you fucking?" While this curse will eventually wear off on its own, the embarrassment is forever.

THE GRAND FLOWER LAWN

▷ Guests that find the heart of the maze will discover the grand flower lawn. Also called the flower sea by staff, this brilliant landscape is covered in a lush carpet of flowers in shades of blue. Blue roses are the crown jewel of the flower sea, carefully dethorned so that guests may spread out on a velvety bed of petals.

▷ It isn’t impossible for our hardworking gardeners to miss a thorn or two. Even with careful checking, a few thorns have escaped scrutinizing staff. Guests pricked by a thorn while on the rose lawn will begin to feel drowsy. Effects may range from light exhaustion to falling into deep slumber. The cure for the rose's thorn curse is a kiss. Don't worry: true love need not apply in this case.

▷ Picnic baskets are available for guests that would like relax out on the lawn. Included in the picnic basket set: a blanket and set of pillows, fruit sandwiches, champagne, small cakes, and cookies. Hot tea and coffee is also available upon request. Staff are happy to accommodate any other special requests as well. Ask and ye shall receive.

SPECIAL LAWN GAMES

▷ All guests lounging on the lawn will receive a cheerful message on their Watch: 【 WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY A LAWN GAME? 】

Guests that select the NO option will be left to their snoozing and merriment. Guests that select YES will receive a follow-up message.

▷ 【 Thank you for participating in the Lawn Game. Please choose one of the below options. You will be informed of what surprise task you have chosen after selecting an option. All level one tasks will reward in a small payout upon completion. All level two tasks will reward in a medium payout upon completion. All level three tasks will reward in two extra-large payouts upon completion. 】

LEVEL ONE

【 1♡ 】Serenade another player with a romantic ballad.
【 1♢ 】Perform oral sex on another player.
【 1♧ 】Discover a secret about another player.
【 1♤ 】Steal an item from another player.

LEVEL TWO

【 2♡ 】Confess any romantic crushes you may have to another player. The player need not be one of the crushes in question.
【 2♢ 】Find a unique item to use as a dildo. Allow another player to use this unique item to fuck one or more of your orifices.
【 2♧ 】Describe, in explicit detail, one of your erotic fantasies and/or desires to another player.
【 2♤ 】Take on a submissive role and please another player, either sexually or non-sexually.

LEVEL THREE

【 3♡ 】Make passionate love to another player while in the missionary position.
【 3♢ 】Engage in any sex act involving penetration on the Grand Flower Lawn with another player.
【 3♧ 】Participate in a sex act you have never engaged in before with another player.
【 3♤ 】Kidnap another player for 24 hours.

▷ Players will be prompted to select an option without knowing what the corresponding task is. The task will be sent to their Watch after they have selected an option. To see what your character is lucky enough to receive as their task, simply click the dropdown!

▷ There is no penalty for characters that wuss out and are unable to complete their prompt aside from a mocking message to their Watch,【 LOSER, LOSER, LOSER. BIG LOSER. 】

The flower maze will only last as long as the most fleeting flowers do. The flower maze will remain open to the public for several weeks, after which it will close for further remodeling.

"We'll be open again with another complex arrangement," one of the gardeners explains cheerfully. "A maze isn't fun once you've learned the layout. We'll open again after creating a whole new design for guests to enjoy. Maybe even some new flowers, too. A lot of the ones on the lawn got funky after guests came all over them..."

SMOKY NECTAR

DRIBBLE OF SWEETNESS

The conservatory is even busier than the gardens. Unlike the easygoing staff in the garden, employees in the conservatory are busy zooming to and fro with brooms while trying to get a handle on the unexpectedly huge amount of pollen. From flowers, from trees — so much pollen. The ground is coated and the air is thick. Several long-standing guests visiting the area have fallen into sneezing fits. Even with cleaning efforts to mitigate the build-up, the pollen becomes thicker as the weeks go on. Staff eventually give up on trying to sweep it away.

This pollen is not standard. Guests that inhale this pollen will begin to feel feverish and strange. Continued exposure to this pollen will heighten a desire for sex to the point of all-encompassing need. Orgasms become much more intense. Nipples are constantly hard. Guests may also be overwhelmed with the urge to "fertilize or become fertilized" — to aggressively deliver or receive cumshots. Gardeners soon realize that normal pollen has been tainted by the cross-breeding of their new spectacular fruits, resulting in an extremely potent sex pollen that affects people and animals. This sex pollen is stronger than any of the current aphrodisiacs in the resort, baffling the gardeners. They weren't even trying to make horny fruit!

The effects of the sex pollen will ease after a few days unless exposure is continued. Guests with too much exposure to the sex pollen may find themselves passing out from violently intense successive orgasms. Any guests found unconscious post-orgasm will be delivered to the Broken Wing clinic for recovery.

THE ORCHARD

▷ The gardeners are thrilled to present this season's fruit orchard. When the previously closed-off portion of the orchard opens, guests will find that some of the delicious fruit hanging on the trees are ... strange. In collaboration with the Dizzy Pigeon, the gardeners of the conservatory have crossbred several standard fruits to create new fruits with delicious, never before seen flavors. Sure, there are the typical apple and orange trees to pick from, but why not give something new a try? Each of these new breeds have been imagined with paying homage to one of the glorious suits in mind.

▷ ORANGEBERRY: A blend of oranges and blueberries. This delicious new citrus has a hard outer peel but tender flesh inside. Sweet with a slightly tart aftertaste. Bred in homage to the Diamonds suit. Those who eat this fruit may experience heightened sensitivity to touch and temperature for a short period time.

▷ PEARAPPLE: A blend of pears and pineapples. A brilliant combination of mildly sweet with a punch of tang. The outside of this large fruit is rough and prickly. Once cut into, the flesh is firm but juicy. Bred in homage to the Hearts suit. Those who eat this fruit may experience intense positive emotions, such as a sudden onset of one-sided love or excessive positivity, for a short period of time.

▷ PEAPLUMTO: A blend of peaches, plums, and tomatoes. This succulent fruit is powerfully sweet, with a fuzzy skin and silky inside. A new favorite for juicing. Bred in homage to the Clubs suit. Those who eat this fruit may find themselves being extremely impulsive for a short period of time.

▷ CHERRYUZU: A blend of cherries and yuzu. These tiny bunches of fruit are sour enough to make the strongest-willed person scrunch their face up! Small but powerful, these fruits are satisfying to bite into with a pop. Bred in homage to the Spades suit. Those who eat this fruit may experience intense negative emotions, such as sudden possessiveness or jealousy, for a short period of time.

THE BUTTERFLY DOME

▷ The butterfly dome is exploding with color. Bright dots of yellow and orange speckle greenery without restraint. An assortment of butterflies lazily fly from buttercup to tulip. These butterflies are unafraid of people and may approach guests, dusting them with the thick pollen that coats their wings before they flutter off elsewhere. The pollen here is thicker than anywhere else in the conservatory. Guests may feel the effects of the sex pollen more strongly while in the butterfly dome. Breathing in pollen for one hour in the butterfly dome is equal to breathing in pollen for several days in the rest of the conservatory.

▷ Several flowers glitter with moisture in the light. Upon closer inspection, guests will find that it isn't morning dew — it's floral nectar. Its light and smoky scent may trigger an intense desire to drink. Guests that give in to the urge and drink the nectar will find themselves overcome with unbearable thirst afterward. No amount of nectar, water, or any other beverage will satisfy. The thirst can only be satisfied by swallowing semen or vaginal fluid. The longer one goes without satisfying the thirst, the thirstier they will become.

BUNS GONE WILD

▷ The normally docile giant flemish rabbits that wander the conservatory have gotten into the spirit of 52 as well. These romantic rabbits have been mating relentlessly since the pollen hit, and now the vegetable patches have been overrun with hundreds of young rabbits looking for food. No vegetable is safe while dozens of baby rabbits are running free, not knowing that they shouldn't eat directly from the patches. Due to the recent vegetable shortage restaurants in the dining quarter have been complaining about not getting their produce deliveries. It's a real problem!

▷ The gardeners have been begging guests to assist in catching these baby rabbits. There are too many for them to catch on their own. Guests who are willing to help will be instructed to catch the young rabbits and deposit them into the large wooden pen built to house them. However, this won't be an easy job — these little rabbits are fast!

▷ While the gardeners can't offer chip payment for the help, they will happily give any guests that assist good plots of land to raise their own vegetables. Rabbit adoption is also on the table!

The sex pollen will fade out within a few weeks, when the new breeds of fruit have all been harvested and delivered to restaurants. The gardeners collectively agree to be more careful when engineering new breeds in the future. "I do think," reports one worker in the conservatory, "the house will be impressed that we've managed to engineer an even stronger aphrodisiac. Great things happen on accident!"

PETAL-STAINED LIPS

A BLOOMING DISEASE

👩‍🦰 "Hack hack, hack hack... what do you mean, 'please cover my mouth when I cough'? I'm a rank nine. Nine! You can't tell me what to do. Now, clean up this mess. I've been coughing up flower petals all day." 👩‍🦰

Wet, smudged petals scatter across the floors of the Peacock. The source is initially unclear, since the perfectly groomed flowers in their decorative vases are in perfect condition. Soon the number of guests coughing into their fists begins to rise and more soggy plants plague the hallways.

After the garden and conservatory unveil their Spring additions the clinic will begin to over-run with guests complaining of various symptoms. There aren't enough beds and there certainly aren't enough doctors and nurses to meet rising demand. Guests continue to visit the clinic complaining of some sort of flower cold while spitting up petals and leaves. Advanced cases involve a deeper spread of vines through the patient's body.

Though this illness manifests in many different ways, the head doctor in charge is quick to clock that it's the Blooming Disease working its way through the resort's population. Not an especially dangerous disease. More troublesome than anything and a mess to clean up. Luckily, there are extensive notes in their files about this particular disease and how to treat it.

THE BLOOMING DISEASE

▷ A strain of hanahaki disease is running through the resort. Unlike the typical hanahaki disease that is brought on by one-sided love, this blooming variation has no single discernible cause. The nurses muse that it is perhaps a side effect of the intense pollen from the conservatory, but this is speculation.

▷ Similar to the standard hanahaki disease, the main symptom is coughing up flower petals. However, the blooming strain manifests in many different ways, and doctors have seen variations of petals and vines creeping out from every orifice. Players are welcome to get as creative as they like with how the blooming disease presents.

▷ Doctors will make one point thoroughly clear: while medications are available to ease discomfort, the cure for this subset of hanahaki disease is sex. Only fucking another person will completely eradicate the disease. If the disease is not treated it will progress until the afflicted patient has turned into a monstrous pile of flora themselves.

▷ It is possible to catch the disease more than once. Having sex will cure it but some guests have caught the disease in quick succession, requiring multiple sessions of vigorous fucking. Doctors are unsure as to why some guests only catch the disease once while others are susceptible to catching it multiple times. The nurses gossip about how they think it's those guests particularly desperate for love that are prone to re-catching it, but again — speculation.

ALL HANDS ON DECK

▷ Without enough manpower in the clinic to meet demand, guests that have experience in the medical field have been asked to volunteer their time to help treat those suffering with the illness. Those kind enough to join in the effort to mitigate the disease will be given a full kit of medical supplies, which they will be allowed to keep once their stint in the clinic has finished. For the duration of their time working in the clinic they will be fully considered staff doctors and able to direct both employees and guests as they see fit.

▷ Guests that do not have medical experience but who wish to help in the clinic will also be accepted. While they will not have as much power as experienced guests assigned to the doctor role, they will be onboarded as nurses and given basic tasks. All nurses will be given scrubs which can be kept after their job has been completed. Nurses are expected to defer to doctors but can dictate to patients.

▷ All guests that assist in the clinic will be given an extra-large payout for their efforts. The head doctor in charge will be so grateful that he will be happy to grant any other small favors and gifts if asked. While something like taking one of the patient beds would be too much, he will turn a blind eye to guests who want to pocket items like scalpels and stethoscopes.

CLINIC ENERGY

▷ So many guests have piled into the clinic that private rooms are no longer available. Large rooms will be utilized as group hubs with many patient cots, while smaller rooms normally meant for one patient will be doubled up on. All guests staying in the clinic for treatment will be paired with at least one other patient due to space constraints. Private rooms will be available only for patients separated out for treatment with one of the doctors or nurses.

▷ All of the rooms in the clinic are fully stocked with condoms, lube, and sex toys. After the head doctor announces the cure for the disease, nurses will make sure every room has supplies available for patients to use. They will encourage guests to go ahead and get fucking since it's the only cure! While doctors and nurses are available to fuck as well, they are short-handed, so most patients will have to make do with other patients. To those stubborn guests who don't want to fuck for their health, staff will firmly explain that if the disease progresses they'll be reduced to nothing but a pile of vegetation.

▷ Patients with particularly bad cases of the disease will not be allowed to leave the clinic until they are cured. Patients that have only been lightly affected will be given a prescription to fuck and sent on their way, with strict instructions to return if they do not fuck and the disease progresses.

The height of the disease will hit toward the end of the month. Thanks to the hard work of the doctors and nurses in the clinic, cases will begin to decrease as the days pile on, with the majority of the affected guests treated and sent on their way by the beginning of May. Activity in the clinic will begin to decline as patients fuck it out and cure the disease, with only a handful of scattered cases heading past the first week of May.

PROMPT NOTES

PROMPT NOTES

▶ Arrival, The Bathroom Button: Multiple versions of arrival are possible. Characters may be flushed down the toilet or tub to wake up in several different locations across the resort.

▶ Gardens, The Flower Maze: While players are welcome to imagine whatever they like in these chests, we do ask there be some limits. Characters should not find their special awesome sword or other personal items that were taken away by the resort upon arrival, for example. Items that would generally be available within resort stores or without regains are fine.

▶ Conservatory, General: While this location is currently being influenced by sex pollen, players that do not enjoy this kink may have their character immune to its effects. This will not affect engaging in the hanahaki prompt.

▶ Conservatory, The Orchard: Players are encouraged to get creative with effects from these fruits. While we've offered a couple suggestions, any of the affiliated suit's effects are available to tap into. For example, consumption of Orangeberry, aka the Diamonds fruit, can cause any Diamond-adjacent physical effects.

▶ Broken Wing Clinic: Players are allowed to get as delicate or grotesque with the presentation of the Blooming Disease as they’d like; you can even use this as an opportunity to engage in some vine-y bondage play. From the medical perspective, feel free to envision access to any sort of equipment you’d like, so long as it makes sense within a (sexy) clinical setting.

OOC NOTES

GAME UPDATE | RESERVES | APPLICATIONS
BLANKET CW: Altered States; Aphrodisiacs; Body Horror (potential); Dubcon; Illnesses; Medical Play; NSFW Language; Paranormal; Somnophilia; Sex Pollen; Sex Toys

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▶ All new characters on the TDM are WILDCARDS, which means they have not yet been assigned a card value. 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 April event.
▶ Current characters may top level on the TDM. Current characters posting to the TDM should note they are currently in-game in the subject line.
▶ The top level directory is for new characters only.
▶ 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.

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▶ 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.
▶ 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.

NAVIGATION • LOG • NETWORK • OOC • MEME

Comments

2! :O

[philancer]

[ Sylvain had been in here searching for someone else. Not that he realized he might need to be searching for someone familiar, but it hadn't exactly occurred to him, either.

And this maze was way more confusing and twisty than the other one. So he's a little turned around and maybe not paying as much attention as he should be when he turns a corner... and trips over a figure laying prone in the flowers.

He manages to catch himself with a curse before he goes face-first into the nearest flowery wall, but when he turns to glare at... whatever that was, he freezes at the sight of familiar dark hair.

No way. That had to be a coincidence.

He reaches out, suddenly hesitant as he shakes the prone form. Enough to roll him over onto his side and get a good look at his face. ]

Cethleann's tits. [ This warranted a much more vehement curse, clearly. And then he's scrambling to shake Felix harder to try and rouse him, unsure what's even going on. If that doesn't work, he'll give a sharp smack to one of his cheeks for good measure. ]

Felix? Felix!

Sylvaaaaaaain

[putupyourdukes]

[He groans a little after the shaking and smack, which is about all the response Sylvain gets out of him. The usually tensed swordsman is very limp in his hold and his breathing is slow. The thorn scratch on his neck is bleeding slightly.]

he says this isn't his deathwish, he swears. okay maybe it is a little.

[philancer]

[ The blood draws his gaze as he rolls Felix over in his arms, his gaze narrowing in on that narrow slash of red on pale skin.

He's spent enough time helping out in the clinic over the past several days to put two and two together. There'd been more than a few senseless guests dragged in and deposited on the rare few empty beds. He just hoped this was one of the simpler cures and not something more... intimate. He doesn't think Felix would be so understanding.

He's actually not sure Felix will be understanding about even a simple cure, in fact. ]

Please don't stab me for this.

[ He mutters the words under his breath as he stares down into his best friend's lax features. He takes a deep breath, really hoping he's not about to spectacularly fuck everything up... and bends down to press his lips to the other man's lips.

Goddess, please let this work.

...And maybe let him live long enough to explain himself. ]

[putupyourdukes]

[Felix knows it's Sylvain before his eyes are even open, his presence so constantly familiar to him. But the press of lips is nothing familiar. It takes a few seconds of waking for him to recognize it, but his body won't understand. His heart is beating too hard, the kind of adrenaline jolt he only gets when he's in a deadly fight.]

Syl--

[His eyes are open and he gasps sharp against his lips, and he reaches a hand out to seize Sylvain's wrist. But he holds him still, caught in confused indecision between pushing and pulling, instead squeezing his wrist tight like a vice.]

[philancer]

[ Oh. It worked. Yay?

Sylvain stills at the fingers wrapped around his wrist, tensing for a moment as he braces for a more volatile reaction than that. When it doesn’t come, he pulls back just enough to give Felix a familiar, sheepish grin. Although his gaze is already scanning the other man’s face, trying to get a read on his expression.

Beyond shock, anyway. ]

Good morning, sleepyhead. Have a nice nap?

[ Yeah, that’s probably not clearing things up any… ]

[putupyourdukes]

[He can feel his face warm, likely starting to get red. ...Redder in more area than the spot Sylvain smacked him. He can't keep eye contact with Sylvain at all, especially not this close, so he turns his face to the side.]

...What makes you think you can joke around like this?

[He scowls, but forces his hand to unclench and let go of Sylvain's wrist. He feels... hurt. Which he quickly covers with anger. Of course Sylvain's only teasing him, though he's never gone that far before. But figuring that isn't making his heart race any less.]

[philancer]

Habit?

[ But he huffs out a deep sigh after that quip, dropping his head until his forehead rests against Felix’s shoulder. ]

Fuck. I wasn’t even sure that would work.

[ The relief is more than audible in his tone. And his hands are still gripping Felix by the shoulders. ]

Are you okay?

[putupyourdukes]

[His anger is stifled by Sylvain's drop in mood and the gripping hold. Sylvain's holds always did bring comfort in their youth. Felix doesn't run to him anymore, but the aftermath of terrible battles sometimes makes him open to touch. It's almost like that now... Sylvain acting like he almost lost him. Felix is still for a moment, then he slowly brings a hand around Sylvain's back, and twists up some of his shirt into his hand to hold onto him in return. His temple bumps the side of Sylvain's head.]

...Obviously I'm okay. Was I knocked out? Why are you acting like a fool? What are you even doing here?

[All he can really see is a mass of soft red hair by his face. ...Huh, is his hair a little longer?]

[philancer]

[ The question has him picking his head up again, looking baffled as he searches his friend’s face. ]

What do you mean? I’ve been here for months!

[ Surely that had been noticed? What, did they think he’d snuck away from the edge of battle like a coward in the night rather than step back on that field? (Sorry, Felix, he’s had no reference yet for weird timeline shenanigans) ]

And something like that. Some of the roses still have thorns and they tend to send people into a slumber that can be difficult to wake them from. For most, it only takes a kiss to wake them, but I’ve seen a few that have required… some more intimate acts.

[ Because that’s a totally normal statement made about a totally normal situation, right?

Still, he hasn’t moved yet, half-braced over Felix’s prone form among the flowers. It almost looks like a picture out of one of Ingrid’s storybooks. ]

[putupyourdukes]

That's why you kissed me?

[If having a reasonable explanation was supposed to settle Felix, it actually makes him frown instead. Like it just made Sylvain more offensive. But he stays laying under him in the flowers, face still unfortunately flushed.]

...Wait, did you say months?

[His eyes widen in surprise, then he reaches up to grab a lock of Sylvain's hair and give it an accusing tug.]

Your hair is longer. How long was I unconscious?!

[philancer]

Look, I know you accuse me of recklessness a lot [ And with good reason. He is reckless. ] but I don’t have an actual death wish. I wouldn’t have done that without your permission.

[ Which is very different from just saying ‘I wouldn’t have done that’. Just in case that’s comforting. Or more worrying, maybe?

The tug on his hair has his head tipping back a little further, though his gaze remains locked on Felix’s face, a confused little frown lingering on his lips as he tries to figure out what’s going on. ]

Yes, months. It was early winter when I arrived here - at least here in the resort it was. Although it’s hard to gauge the actual passing of seasons since there is no real ‘outside’.

I have no idea how long you were unconscious, though. Not long, probably. I tripped over you - literally. Had anyone else found you, they would have tried to wake you up themselves or brought you to the clinic. I’m assuming you just got here?

[putupyourdukes]

I... haven't called you reckless in a while. You were the one calling me that... for getting in a few brawls and staining my title as Duke. Ugh. Don't you remember? But if you want me to criticize you so badly, I will.

[He really can't handle Sylvain staring directly at his face like that, and glances aside again while he tries to sort through his contradictory words.]

I did just get here. But I don't understand. We were speaking not that long ago. Not months ago. No way was that an imposter.

[philancer]

[ Okay, now he’s even more confused. ]

You were getting in brawls? And you don’t have a title yet, I think you’re safe for a little while yet. I should know. If I haven’t stained mine yet, you should be golden for another century or so.

[ But no. He doesn’t remember at all, actually And absolutely none of this made sense. ]

I’ve seen this place make time a little strange before, but I didn’t think it could affect anything outside of here. I remember us talking the night before the battle, sure, but I have definitely been here for months. So has Edelgard, for that matter. Was there even a battle to have, if she and Hubert were here? I can’t imagine the Empire could function well without them.

[putupyourdukes]

Sylvain, I've had that title since I was 17.

[This is worrying. And frustrating. He starts looking Sylvain over, trying to see if there's anything he missed. This is Sylvain, he's so sure of it. He knows him. It doesn't feel like he's anyone else, but his words are all wrong.]

Edelgard's here? And you think it's this place doing this? Or is there something wrong with one of us?

[philancer]

I… I am so confused right now.

[ Sylvain scrapes a hand down over his face as he huffs out a breath. But he pushes himself upright into a sitting position a moment later, reaching out and offering Felix a hand to help tug him upright, too. ]

There is something wrong somewhere, that’s for sure. You’re not a Duke yet, Felix. Your dad… he’s fine. I spoke to him hours before I woke up here. We were all in the strategy tent for Gronder, trying to decide the best way to proceed.

[ None of them had really agreed, but that didn’t matter when Dimitri was only after one thing anyway.

He shakes his head, still bewildered. ] I don’t know why we remember things differently. But yes, Edelgard is here. She arrived the same time as I did. So did Hubert and Lorenz, although I don’t think either of them are here anymore. Or if they are, I haven’t seen them in a while. We all declared a truce while we were here, though. Figured we had enough to deal with, without adding strife from home on top of it.

[putupyourdukes]

...Ugh. You're Sylvain. I'm the Duke Fraldarius. We're not going to make sense of anything else. If you're already declaring truces, then what matters is our position here.

[He takes the offered hand sits up with an annoyed huff, crossing his legs and brushing flower petals off of his clothes.]

So forget it. Unless you want to tell me something laughable, like that I've become a sweets baker and you've become a social recluse.

[He rolls his eyes at his own ideas and flicks a handful of flower petals at Sylvain.]

[philancer]

I’ve decided to become a saint, actually. [ He’s completely deadpan right now as he swats those petals away. But the smirk that creeps out a moment later ruins the attempt completely. ] A very sexy one. Clearly. Think they’ll build a monastery full of lewd statues of me in a century or two?

[ In this place? That might actually be likely. They are strangely fond of statues… ]

Alright so we just agree to be confused, then. Great. Sounds like a plan, since I’m already doing that anyway. But I’m still not calling you any fancy titles. You’re still just Felix, as far as I’m concerned.

[ A glance around them, even though they’re tucked away in an out of the way corner of the maze currently. ] I take it someone gave you the rundown of… al this? [ He waves outward towards the gardens, but meaning far more than just that. There’s a lot to take in here, after all. ]

[putupyourdukes]

[He snorts a laugh at that, and plays along.]

Did that decision put Seteth into a breakdown? A monastery dedicated to you would certainly cause another war.

[He also looks around as Sylvain gestures outward. A little warily, since apparently a flower's thorn knocked him fully out. Who knows what other problems there are nearby.]

I was given information to read. Nothing mentioned poisonous thorns. ...But I read about a game. Though I don't see what's game-like about it.

[philancer]

You know. It'd be worth it just to see the horrified look on his face. Maybe his great grandson will have to teach a course about me one day, and be equally horrified about it.

[ That mischievous smirk is only growing, a dimple peeking out at one corner of his lips in impish humor. Then again, he is very much not a fan of that particular Professor, and never has been.

Felix's brief answer, however, has him groaning in dismay, because he's more than a little worried about Felix's reaction to this place's... well, everything, really. ]

Well. It's definitely not a game you've played much before. More my type, in fact. The thorns are temporary - this is the first I've seen them in my time here, in fact. The game, though... [ A pause as he rubs his hand over his face and tries to find the best way to phrase this. Fuck it, blunt honesty it is. ] You gotta sleep your way to the top. And yeah, I mean that literally.

[putupyourdukes]

[He smirks a little himself at the imagery of Seteth's fearful future.]

At least with you I won't have to suffer only dull people.

[But Sylvain's explanation is taken with frowning silence.]

That was supposed to be taken literally?

[His eyes narrow. There's obvious rage building. He leans forward enough to grab the arm Sylvain's rubbing his face with.]

Sylvain... is this what you've been doing for months? Now people are coming to you for... for leverage in a fucking sport?

[Felix's expression tightens. The Sylvain he knows had been well into leaving behind his more disruptive and self-destructive philandering, but apparently there's a system here designed to pull him right back in. Felix was aware that much of how he acted was his response to people wanting to use him for something.]

Don't try to tell me that's really your type.

[philancer]

Felix. You think everyone is dull.

[ His tone is full of fond amusement, however, as he tosses those words back. Even though his grin is a little pleased to not be included in that number. That's not always the case, but apparently Felix is in a good mood, despite everything, so he'll take it.

Although the good mood is short-lived, apparently.

Sylvain blinks in surprise at the hand that wraps around his arm, movement stilling as amber eyes flick over to catch Felix's once more. And balking a little at the rage there, something in him bracing for it to be aimed at him. Pissing off Felix with his escapades is an unfortunate skill of his, but usually he has to do more than that.

Unfortunately, Felix, your Sylvain is probably way more well-adjusted than this one, in that case. Not that he was anywhere as bad as he'd been back in school - the war didn't really leave much time for any of that, after all, and he had more important things to juggle. Mostly keeping you alive and keeping the Empire out of their territories. ]

I don't have a type, Felix. You know that. [ Said with a crooked grin that still holds a hint of unease as he tries to pick an answer that won't just piss him off more. At least his Felix had known that - they'd fought about it on plenty of occasions, after all. It's not like Sylvain tried to hide who he was at all. ] Besides. It's like this place was made for me. Who knows the rules of games like this better than me, after all?

[putupyourdukes]

[Sylvain's complacency just upsets Felix more.]

All the more reason you shouldn't be here.

[He curses and leans forward more, actually mad enough to give the rare direct eye contact.]

One of the first things you asked me is if I'm okay, but I should have been asking you that. Unbelievable. This game is not your type. You've been here months among people with such a worthless agenda as a game and rewards, and you expect me to believe you're fine settling into that after all those years saying everyone wanted you for your stupid crest?

[philancer]

[ Sylvain's jaw literally drops open at these words as he stares at Felix in confused disbelief for a moment.

Never, in all the years he's known Felix, has he stated Sylvain's situation so bluntly. Or ever let on that he'd seen him so clearly. It's always been about what Sylvain was doing wrong, but that wasn't that uncommon when everyone else was the same way. Which was warranted, Sylvain knew. He was an asshole. He deserved every measure of their disgust. ]

Are you sure you're feeling okay?

[ That... was probably not the response Felix was hoping for.

He shakes his head again, still looking utterly confused at this sudden vehemence on his behalf, not even sure where it was coming from. ]

It's because everyone's always wanted me for my Crest that I'm fine here. At least no one here is looking for forever. Or wants me to knock them up. Or trap me in some empty arrangement I'll never get to escape from. [ Grim fates, all of them, in his opinion. But his future has been a noose about his neck since the day he'd been born.

He shrugs, looking uncomfortable under the weight of Felix's all-too intent stare. ]

At least this is a game I can win. Sort of.

[putupyourdukes]

[This is exactly why he doesn't often confront Sylvain on his real issues. He minimizes, masks, and promises he's fine to Felix's face. Perhaps because when they were little, Felix always cried his eyes out whenever Sylvain was hurt by his brother or anything else.]

[He feels that itch starting around his eyes now, but scowling harder stops it. He lets go of his arm and breaks eye contact again, focusing his glare on the flowers instead.]

[Trouble is, Felix doesn't have a solution for Sylvain. What Sylvain's doing might really be the best thing for him in such a tightly constructed situation. If winning affects how you live, then winning is survival. And it's true that at least what they want is less than going after him for his crest, his nobility, or out of spite. But the idea of pretending it's fine and normal makes him sick.]

...Alright... do what you want. But if I hear again out of your stupid mouth that this is fine for you, then I'm going to kill you.

[philancer]

[ He doesn't point out that he really is doing fine here. It's refreshing, being a nobody. Not having perceptions of him already formed the moment he introduces himself. He doesn't have a reputation here (yet), not like back home, and he's fine with that.

It means that he doesn't have to question the motives of everyone he meets quite so much. That he can maybe find people who are actually interested in being friends with him and not just the Heir of Gautier. Back home, he could still count that number on the fingers of one hand.

It's one of the reasons he's always shown those masks. It was safer that way. For everyone. ]

I'm more worried about how you're going to do here. [ He reaches out, tugging on a dark lock of hair. Eyeing it curiously now, because he's never seen Felix wear his hair like this. It's different, but he likes it. ] Did they give you a rank yet, or are you still a wildcard?

[ Changing the topic seemed like a wise idea right about now. ]