peacockstop | TDM 03

Entry tags:

!mod,
!tdm

TDM 03

【 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

▶ 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

▶ 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.

▶ 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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ The gesture is a little odd--Xiao Xingchen normally doesn't need something as obvious as holding hands to follow someone--but Xue Yang finds he's already taken the extended hand with his right anyway. Physical contact is much more common here than it was back where they came from, and Xiao Xingchen has always seemed adaptable, so there's no reason to think he wouldn't go ahead and adapt. Xue Yang has already had one of Xiao Xingchen's hands on his dick after all, so a bit of contact like this is practically nothing worth noting. ]

It's this way.

[ And he leads him into the maze.

They make their way through for a little while, with Xue Yang occasionally describing one wall of flowers or another as they walk by and the overwhelming fragrance in the air cycles through its various smells appropriately. Some of the flower varieties are familiar, most are not, and even of the ones he recognizes Xue Yang doesn't necessarily remember their proper names. So a lot of his explanations are limited to physical descriptions: colors, gradients, sorts of petals, and the like. Each explanation is casual, as if he's not actually specifically describing things to a blind man but rather just rambling about whatever he sees for the sake of hearing himself talk.

They're deep in the maze, several twists and turns in, when Xue Yang pauses his steps. ]

Daozhang, we can go left or right here. One of them eventually goes to the middle and the other is wrong. It's no fun if you don't pick your route and get lost at least a little bit, right?

[Walking along, listening to his friend's descriptions--Xiao Xingchen's steps atop the fresh grasses even lighter than before. Even as he turns with his friend, every move feels like part of a graceful stride. He doesn't try to picture the flowers in his mind's eye, but instead chimes in here and there as his friend talks. If Xiao Xingchen didn't have such an ingrained sense of time, he could lose track of hours passing like this, unaware of them falling deeper into an endless labyrinth...

As his friend brings them to a stop and brings up this idea, Xiao Xingchen brings up his free hand to his lips as he laughs.]

Surely more fun for you, as you watch me pick the wrong direction.

[What a troublemaker his friend is.]

Then I choose... left.

[ Xue Yang's grin widens noticeably to anyone who can look to see it, but his tone of voice when he speaks remains unchanged. ]

Isn't that up to your own luck? You have just as much chance getting it wrong as right.

[ Or it would be, if Xiao Xingchen weren't the sort of person to, far more often than not, have terrible luck.

Xue Yang turns to the left and tugs Xiao Xingchen along with him. The path before them is long, without any further turns visible before it disappears in the distance around its slight right curve. They follow it along and Xue Yang continues to talk as if nothing is amiss. Finally they reach a left u-turn that sends them back along a path parallel to the one they'd just been walking, now curved left. After a bit more distance of that, Xue Yang slows to a stop. ]

You should try to figure out what's in front of us, daozhang.

[ What's in front is, of course, a dead-end. But more than simply that, there's a closed treasure chest waiting for a lost explorer to discover it. Xue Yang hasn't opened this one in particular, but he's opened a couple others, enough to develop an expectation of what's inside. ]

[Xiao Xingchen sighs, shaking his head, exasperated yet fond.]

This had better not be something else in the shape of that body part again.

[Walking forward, he takes a few careful steps until the toe of his boot taps against something solid. He reaches out, feeling around in the space in front of him, reaching lower until he feels the top of the object in front of him. At first he feels a bit of relief at how he recognizes it to be merely a wooden box, until he also realizes that it could contain something of that shape again.

He lifts the lid up with one hand, the other hand carefully rummaging about for the content. Fingers brush against cold metal, the items within making a strange jingling sound as they scrape against the wood bottom and knock into each other.]

What are these? Chains and leather straps?

[Aside from those, the chest contains metal bars, gags... all manner of things.]

[ Xue Yang gets close as Xiao Xingchen rummages, peeking in to get a good look.

He was half hoping it would have been one of the magic ones--he's seen (or heard) the effects of those a few times and thought it would be hilarious for Xiao Xingchen to be unable to stop spouting vulgar words. But this was a perfectly decent option, too... as long as the contents of the chest itself are interesting.

His eyes practically light up as he catches sight of all the things inside. ]

Wow, daozhang, you really are lucky! I haven't seen one of these with so much in it before. Since you found it, you should take it. Even if you don't use it you can probably sell it or something.

[Xiao Xingchen hums in thought. While he ordinarily isn't the sort that will pick up anything he finds around here, he finds himself intrigued, much like the time at the violet wand vendor. They feel just like restraining devices, so anyone could tie up and apprehend someone...]

What would someone use them for in this place? I would suppose this isn't something for bringing someone to the prison. It'd be quite surprising if they even have one here...

[Xiao Xingchen has yet to research everything in this place too closely, but he can gather that it's rather lax about any rules and enforcing them. Perhaps that should concern him more, but he's more curious in tracing the shape of a cuff. This must go over wrists or ankles...

Even before his companion answers, Xiao Xingchen is already picking up everything he can reach.

One of the ropes he slips under his sleeves is a bright red.]

What else is anything used in this place for, daozhang?

[ Sex, obviously, but he doesn't actually finish the thought. Instead Xue Yang peeks further into the box, trying to see if there's anything left.

Once satisfied it's really empty, he steps back. ]

Come on, let's get back on track. There really is something good at the end of this maze as well.

[ He's on the wrong side of Xiao Xingchen, so before Xiao Xingchen can reach for him again and risk grabbing the wrong hand, Xue Yang moves back towards the corridor a few steps to put himself directly in front of Xiao Xingchen's path back. From there it's equally reasonable to grab either hand, so he takes the initiative and reaches out with his right before Xiao Xingchen can make the decision for him. ]

[Perhaps it’s unlike Xiao Xingchen to not let his friend take these instead - or at least some of them - but before he can think all that much about that, he already has everything packed away. He can share anything between them later.

Hearing his friend stop again after some steps, he assumes that the man remembered to hold out his hand again. He straightens up and takes it.

He continues being led along the way towards the end, still curious about what he just picked up.]

I-I know, but… does it improve the experience somehow? Like that one before, with the electricity.

[Though he didn’t understand the appeal until he used it, he’s sure his friend understands that appeal far more.]

Dunno. Probably. I haven't tried it but I've seen a few different places that'll sell stuff like that so it's probably good somehow.

[ There's a pause as he turns it over in his head, almost long enough that Xiao Xingchen might feel like he has an opening to reply but Xue Yang speaks up before there's an actual chance to. ]

Guess it could be fun when you're fucking someone to be able to do whatever you want and they can't stop you.

[ Definitely a casual innocent thought and not at all a dangerous indicator of a terrible person.

But Xue Yang doesn't give Xiao Xingchen the chance to immediately react to that, either, before he's changing the topic. ]

Hey daozhang, do you wanna get lost again or just go to the end?

[Perhaps Xiao Xingchen should feel alarmed by such a statement. Perhaps he should reprimand his friend for suggesting such a thing so off-handedly, or he should at least feel more wary if their hosts would really encourage such. Yet his immediate feeling is not that of anger or revulsion, but even more curiosity.

If he felt any upset in his heart about those words, they don't come through in his voice, voice soft and pleasant as it usually is.]

Let's go to the end. You can only tease this good thing at the end for so long before I have to know what it is.

[He wouldn't mind taking even longer personally, but it must be something quite nice for them to share.]

And finding all these boxes along the way for ourselves might not be fair to the others.

There's more than just the boxes, but now you'll have to find out what else there is for yourself.

[ Because Xue Yang is tugging him around a particular curve at the next fork in the path. It's not long before the maze suddenly opens up before the two of them, a blue expanse spreading out at their feet, and the smell of the flower sea permeates every breath they could take. ]

We're here, daozhang. You're gonna start stepping on flowers here but it's okay. You're supposed to do that. There's a whole bunch of blue flowers covering the ground here and you can walk on them and lie down on them and stuff. The staff has some other things too if that's not interesting enough for you.

[Even without the sight, Xiao Xingchen can feel the unimpeded breeze all around him once more. From the very feeling of it and the myriad scents it carries, he can tell it is a wide, open space.

A sea of flowers all around... it must be beautiful.]

Oh...

[After a moment, he takes a few steps forward until he's out of the way of the maze's exit before he kneels down. Turning himself around, he carefully lies himself back down onto the flowers, trying to not crush them under his weight. Perhaps that's inevitable, or this place might even have special flowers that are meant to withstand it - he wouldn't put it past this resort and its magic - yet it takes a moment before the flower petals start to tickle at his ears.

A broad smile across his face, he lets out a little laugh. It's like letting go of any other worries he could have.

He reaches to his side, patting the flower cover beside him.]

Have you lied in them yet?

[ Xue Yang watches Xiao Xingchen as the man lies down, unaware of the way that the set of his gaze is lacking some of its usual harshness. The blue contrasts with the red of his wedding robes and makes the paleness of his skin stand out, overall making him a very striking sight.

His gaze drifts to the spot that Xiao Xingchen is patting, and he gives a slight huff of an exhale. ]

Nah. I only looked around a bit when I got here the first time. How is it?

[ But before Xiao Xingchen can answer, Xue Yang flops down next to him. He wasn't really expecting much from a bunch of flowers, and is surprised that it's softer than he was anticipating. ]

Huh, not bad... Your bed's better, though.

[ Xue Yang's bed, on the other hand... That's debatable. ]

[It's true that his bed is more comfortable, but right now, Xiao Xingchen prefers this place. He turns his attention away from the distant chatter of others gathered further away, turning his attention to sounds of just the two of them. His chest rises in a slow, gentle arc, before lowering back down.

For a moment, he almost looks asleep until he speaks.]

If you'd like to take a nap here, I would not mind.

[His voice also sounds all too comfortable, not precariously hanging on the edge of sleep, but that of one who could slip into it.]

Hmm? You're the one who sounds ready for a nap, daozhang.

[ Xue Yang would never intentionally fall asleep out here in the open like this. It's too exposed, too vulnerable, and he doesn't trust people. Even with Xiao Xingchen around... or perhaps, especially with Xiao Xingchen around. ]

You can doze if you want to. I don't care. No one can even tell so they wouldn't try to sneak up on you or anything.

[ And if they did anyway, they'd have Xue Yang to contend with. ]

[Xiao Xingchen knows the that even his laughter carries the sound of someone all too comfortable where he is right now.

For a moment, he muses to himself about how peculiar this field is. The clientele of this resort hardly ever sleep. Most areas are just as active as they are in the day as the night, and if there's ever a quiet place, it's often to facilitate playing that game they've been thrust into. Knowing what he does about the resort, he almost feels the need to raise his guard again.

Now, however, his breathing slows with any trace of tension leaving his body. He doesn't even want to bring up his thoughts about this flower field, for fear of such ideas taking away from their moment.

He doesn't even want to sleep and make his friend wait, but he also finds no point in fighting the encroaching desire.]

Mm... then I will wake again in ten minutes.

[He falls asleep right after he speaks, hands gathered across his front.]

Ten minutes.

[ Xue Yang echoes it as he watches Xiao Xingchen relax on the ground.

There are a few subtle signs that the man has fallen asleep, and they're not always reliable indicators. The truth is Xue Yang hasn't seen Xiao Xingchen sleep very much despite their living arrangement. He's usually still up when Xue Yang goes to his room and awake again when he gets out of bed in the morning. And it's only since coming here that they would even sleep in the same room.

All in all he's not certain, and after a few seconds pass, he calls out softly. ] Daozhang. [ Not enough to rouse, but enough that if he were awake, he'd certainly hear it.

When there's no response, the grin fades from his face as he looks Xiao Xingchen over. Seeing him like this causes some feeling in his chest, or his stomach, maybe both, and he doesn't like it. Xue Yang gives a huff and turns his gaze back to the artificial sky. Xiao Xingchen said ten minutes, so Xue Yang will give him fifteen to wake on his own before Xue Yang bothers him.

No reason why, it's just what he feels like doing. ]

[Exactly ten minutes later, Xiao Xingchen wakes up, taking a deeper breath in than he does when sleeping. His senses filter back to him - all except one - as the warm air and fragrance greet him once more as he returns to wakefulness. He said ten minutes, so that's all it will be.

Flowers rustle under his weight as he turns himself towards where he remembers the other man laid down. Speaking before listening close for the sound of breathing, he asks:]

Are you still here?

[His faint voice could only be heard by someone right next to him. While ten minutes isn't too long, he supposes it's possible his friend might have gotten up for a moment. He could reach out and feel for him, or listen to any sound he might make, or even just note the warmth of a body near enough to him.

However... he wanted to ask for some reason.]

No. [ There's an obvious teasing note in his voice, though it's a bit more muted than it usually would be. ] I ran off and now there's someone else sitting next to you waiting to take advantage of you.

[ Now that Xiao Xingchen is awake again that weird feeling is fading, and Xue Yang's mood lifts a bit accordingly. ]

Hey daozhang--

[ But before he can get any further, as if it had been waiting for Xiao Xingchen to wake up, both of their Watches chirp almost in unison, declaring the same message:

WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY A LAWN GAME?

It takes Xue Yang a moment to shift and look at it. ]

A... "lawn game"? What's that supposed to mean?

[Rolling further towards his friend, the corners of Xiao Xingchen's lips slowly pull up, followed by a few laughs behind that closed smile. The two of them are so close that the breeze doesn't come between them...

The chirping noise cuts through the mood, and after brief surprise, his expression turns to a frown. For a place that wishes to facilitate sex, he's sure that something like that would ruin any mood. Annoyance fades to resignation within the span of a breath. Not so quick to check his device, he doesn't have to raise his arm, only tap it with his other hand.]

Well... I can't be sure, but I doubt it is all that different from the usual sort of games in this place.

[His head seems to slump a bit further into the flowers.]

[ Oblivious to Xiao Xingchen's ruined mood, Xue Yang merely continues to focus on his Watch. ]

Then there's probably a prize if we do it. They're usually not that bad anyway.

[ Thus he presses "YES" and reads the text that comes up next. After a moment to take it in he speaks again. ]

Yeah, they're giving us a prize again. Looks like there are three different levels to this one. They're not telling us what we have to do before we pick which one we want to do though.

[Xiao Xingchen slides his index finger over the screen, the device reading “yes” aloud before he taps it to confirm. He doesn’t look terribly enthused as he confirms his choice, however. A prize, surely. How bad it is or isn’t has yet to be heard.

He continues to scroll through, the device reading out combinations of numbers and suits. After some back and forth, he chooses level three of spades.]

I believe we’re meant to match the one with the symbol they’ve put upon us.

[Well, he’s chosen it anyway. And while he doesn’t want to call much attention to it, it’s been some time before he’s had any payout.

Though given everything he knows, he still isn’t prepared for:

“Kidnap someone for 24 hours.”]

…h-huh?

[ When the Watch reads it out, Xue Yang's mind lags for a moment. Then without entirely meaning to, he bursts out laughing. And how could he not? Though Xiao Xingchen has no idea it's the case, he's definitely "kidnapped" Xue Yang for far more than a day before. This, compared to that? This is nothing.

But he should say something at this point, so he gets himself back under control a bit before speaking up. ]

Is that even interesting, daozhang? I've practically kidnapped myself for you with how I stay over in your room every night. Let's see what mine is.

[ And then he selects it to reveal... "Participate in a sex act you have never engaged in before with another player."

After Xiao Xingchen's, Xue Yang had let his guard down enough that he wasn't expecting something sexual, but this is definitely sexual. He laughs again. ]

[Xiao Xingchen just lies there, open-mouthed in shock and bemusement, almost shrinking somewhat as his friend laughs. How could he just go about and kidnap someone? Perhaps he has arrested someone, but that's a completely different sort of thing! That's to punish crimes, while kidnapping is the crime!

But as his friend speaks, he finds something about the feelings there smoothed over. His friend will be suitable for this, after all.

The strange calmness is dispelled once more as the other man starts to laugh again.]

You're having quite a bit of fun with this game already. What is it this time?

[Excitement, curiosity, dread—all blend into each other in this mood of his.]

Do you want to hear it now, daozhang, or do you want to wait until you've kidnapped me? It says it needs to be with another player, so if you drag me away I won't be able to do it with anyone else but you.

[ He's banking on Xiao Xingchen making the same assumption that he did: that this won't be anything sexual, and by the time they're alone it will be too late. Not that Xue Yang specifically wants to do sexual things with Xiao Xingchen... but if he's doing sexual things anyway, it might as well be with Xiao Xingchen, right? ]

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