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

[ Okay, hilarious it is, then! She giggles like the dummy she is. He's probably going to make her suffer more for this eventually, but a mildly sore shoulder is a small price to pay for such a precious moment. ♥ ]

C̸̰͑ǒ̷̖m̴̝̕ḙ̴̍ ̵̹̇o̴̬̓n̶̺̄, Cum on me! Give me a̴̻͐ ̸̣͐b̷̎͜r̶̝͛ĕ̵͖a̸̗͘k̷̦̃ more, daddy!

[ Er. That pretty much beat anything he said on the awful scale already. Like, completely. Gold star for her.

Monika clears her throat, quickly shoving the dildo into her bag, then look at that! Time to move on! They've got a maze to finish! ]

I'm so h̵o̷r̵r̵i̸f̷i̴e̷d̷ horny right now.

[ Comeuppance is so swift... ]

[.............................]

Pfft. [Oh, she heard that sound out of him alright.] Idiot.

[Yeah, he's gonna be all smug about it. What she said does not at all compare at to the embarrassing things that came out of his mouth. Gold star for Monika! Congratulations!

However, Soundwave is gloating over it so much that he forgets to shut his own damn mouth.]

That was really embarrassing sexy, Monika. I should have a record you Mommy Monika spank me.

[Nevermind, they both are stupid.

Soundwave clears his throat, pretends he didn't just say those things, and finally gets the genius idea to use the Watch to chat, following Monika by her side to continue the maze.]

How long is this stupid maze?

[How much longer are their tongue cursed for!]

[ The glare he gets shows just how much she's seething inside. This "idiot" isn't a victory! This "idiot" does not feel good! But...something like a laugh? It softens the blow~~job~~, maybe.

She huffs, preparing to spend the rest of the trip saying absolutely nothing. It wouldn't be to stop from saying something stupid again. No, it'd be to be a brat. He'd deserve it!

...Good thing he gives her a reason to make noise again. ]

Pfffffft!

[ Here, Soundypoo, have two big thumbs up! You really know how to show her who's boss! And give her plenty to taunt him with. That mommy bit is going to come back to haunt him any day now.

She's not done, however. When he has the smart idea to text, she raises an eyebrow and smirks. ]

as long as your gigantic spike 🍆

[ That's not horny magic. That's her being an ass. Revenge is sweet! ]

[That daddy bit won't be forgotten, either. They both have ammos to use against one another. He so dearly hopes that Monika would open her mouth again to say something horrifically stupid to use against her

Okay, this for sure it wasn't the horny magic at play. And so, she gets a glare from him, too.]

Dirty.

Pervert.

Idiot.

[ She's doing an intentionally-poor job of covering up her continued laughter. It'll probably annoy him more, she figures. If not, her smarmy grin as she types her reply ought to do it.

On the bright side? They seem to be finally nearing the center of the maze. That should be a welcome distraction before she can get way too irritating. ]

cutie patootie

hot bot

sexy mechy

😊

[Meanwhile Soundwave continues to pout under the mask and smolder as Monika continues to laugh. The reply he gets do not help matter at all. There's no reply, but he does eventually playfully punches the back of her shoulder, as petty revenge.

As they are nearing the center the maze, the annoyance is forgotten as his eyes are captivated by the sight he's about to see.]

We're finally here.

[Pardon him as he's silent for a bit, no sound is coming out of him but it's clear by his look, or lack thereof, that he's a little at awe at the beautiful landscape, eyes scanning over the lush of blues covering the entire ground. It really is a flower sea. That was worth the tiring adventure in the maze.

His eyes then shift over to Monika. Hmmmm, he figures he could say something sweet to Monika. She won't know! After all, he'll probably just going to come out with something embarrassingly dirty anyway, so he can pretend he didn't intend to say something sweet.

That would be infinitely more embarrassing than a dirty mouth.]

Seems this is the perfect place for us to lie down on the flowers, quietly gaze at the floral while holding hands.

[Ah, perfect timing. The horny magic is gone.]

[ Awww~ He loves her compliments so much! She giggles as she rubs her arm after getting punched. He's so physical with his affection! No wonder he's awful at using his words for it.

Then they enter the center of the maze, and her mind's completely wiped. She stares, lips parted slightly, nearly forgetting that she's not alone. ]

Oh, m̴͖̔y̶̰͑ ̸̭̓G̷̛͉o̵̕ͅd̴̤͆ fuck me.

[ ...Dammit. The magic has its last laugh before completely fading for her, too. At least it sort of works, despite being tinged with horny? This is a total "oh fuck" moment.

This...this is one of those small things she's craved. It's in a place that's completely artificial in every aspect, but for her, right now? She's wrapped up in a beautiful sea of blue and green hidden away somewhere on Earth, blanketed in the most wonderful floral smells that her best perfumes couldn't rival. Life had been so unkind to her, but somehow, she got this gift she can't believe was so easy to find.

And she got it with someone special at her side.

Slowly, she realizes she'd been spoken to. She glances his way, finally parsing the words, then smiles, taking his hand. The softness in her eyes? Way more than friendly. ]

Nothing would make me happier, Soundwave.

[ His hand gets a squeeze, then she gently leads them on, snagging a picnic basket for them along the way. She's sure to find a spot that's as quiet as possible, a little hidden away from all the others lingering about. After a staff member shuffles up and offers to get the blanket and pillows set up just so, they're alone, back into their own little world. Perfect, because as she sits, never letting his hand go, she figures the isolation might be enough for him to be willing to accept her request. ]

Would it be okay if...I could see your face while we're here?

[It seems that Soundwave has taken Monika's lesson from earlier to spark. He speaks like he meant it. He did say what he means like he really means it with all his heart- or spark, rather. Granted, he said it when he thought he has a protective layer to still hide behind. The one time he expected the dirty tongue magic to work for him, and it failed him.... And thus, his head dips down in embarrassment and his cheeks are a deeper shade of red, more embarrassed than when he spoke horny.

At least that meant the horny magic isn't going to ruin their flower viewing experience with it gone now.

Monika didn't make fun of him for his words, but when he looks back up to see her eyes again, it makes his... chest heat up again? He couldn't find any words to say to her, only giving her a nod. Silently, he follows her as she leads onwards to a secluded spot. Mild surprise, as his brows curve upwards slightly. She knows that Monika is considerate deep down, but... he can't help but feel appreciation that she remembers he'd prefer an isolated, quiet place. A place where they can be their vulnerable self for just a moment. Just a small world of their own.

And when Monika makes her request? He doesn't hesitate.

With a nod, he abides to her request and pulls down his mask, visor then dissipating in pixels to reveal his stoic face to her once more. His face is still a deep shade of red from earlier, but he's meeting with her eyes. So soft, and it speaks of something. Or, is he reading too much into it? His red eyes has a noticeable glow on them, probably from the embarrassment or perhaps, something else when he met with her eyes. Something that speaks more than mere friendship.

Before he knows it, he shifts a little until his shoulder is touching with hers and his other hand drops down to softly place ontop of hers. He's staring into her eyes, far longer than it is friendly, and even when he speaks (finally remembering to do that), he keeps his eyes trained on Monika.]

It's... Not the beach, like you wished for. But this is a good enough alternative, right? The only thing missing is real sunlight basking over us.

[The hand she's holding him gets a light squeeze in return. They're surrounded by sweet floral fragrance. A nice view for the eyes to drink in. He can still hear chatters from the other guests, but.... if he just keeps his focus on Monika, he can enjoy the quiet, too.]

And besides, I... Think I prefer the flowers more than sand.

[ If anything, this is proving how much Miss Selfish can be thoughtful and considerate to others...if she cares enough. Just like any good thing worth unlocking in a game, it takes some work to meet the criteria for her special route. Soundwave has more than done that.

And so, he's earned no jokes about being openly sweet to her. No pointing out his blushing. No complaints about where they sat, even if the view wasn't as perfect. If he'd insisted on keeping his face masked? She'd have smiled and shrugged. He lets her be himself, so he can be himself in turn. The ultimate kindness very few people have received from her.

Anything for such a good...friend. ]

Is this the time I say it's coarse and irritating and blah blah blah? Ahaha. [ Yeah, yeah, she doubts he'd know any Earth memes, but it's funny to her. ] Never mind. But... [ She nods. ] It's okay either way. With you? It's perfect.

[ She indulges in a moment of shutting her eyes, breathing in long breaths of the scents mingling with what she thinks is the scent of him. Once she's done, she rests her head on his shoulder, gazing at his face. Those glowing eyes of his get that same soft look from her. Soft, but oddly intense, like she's trying to look past his avatar's eyes and directly into his visor tucked away in the garage. ]

Maybe you can tell me about a beach you've been to. Or any nice place. Or anything you want.

[ She brings their hands up and kisses his fingertips. Another friendly gesture. ]

Or...nothing at all. Just as long as I can be here with you.

[Even though he prefers to keep the mask on, he feels it's worth to allow Monika to see his true face. As close to it, anyway. This is the closest she'll ever get to seeing his expressions for now, albeit not his true face. It does speak of how comfortable he is around her that he's willing to show his expressions to her where he'd keep it all hidden behind a mask to everyone else. This isolated spot allows that, and allows him to be a little more open to her.]

Sand is coarse and irritating.

[Was she making a set up for a joke? It feels like it, even though he's missing what exactly it is that's supposed to be funny there. So comfortable with her presence by his side, he hardly show any surprises when she kissed his fingertips, watching her as she gives him such a friendly gesture. His fingers stay on her lips so she may continue kissing them. Though he may briefly pull his hand away to brush at her cheek and tickle under her chin before returning to her lips.

As she does so, he falls to silence as he tries to think of places he's been to, closing his eyes and resting the side of his head on Monika's. It's nice to know that he has the option to just say nothing at all, but she does have him thinking about any places he's been to. Any that weren't torn apart from their war, anyway.

After about five minutes of silence, one finally comes to mind.]

There... was a place I visited on Earth. Tanzania? Specifically, I believe the place was called... Mikumi National Park. When I wasn't busy building a commune, I spent my free time there to watch the elephants and stroll with them. I found being around those creatures... peaceful.

[A pause, as he considers talking more about himself. Despite how long he's talked to Monika, he never shared much about himself, aside from his liking poetry earlier in the bath house. Not even going into his rather violent history, even when it comes to totally mundane facts about himself, he rarely talks about them period. So...]

I... Like elephants. They are among my favorite creature on that planet. Aside from them- [His eyes open and shift down to Monika.] -you, Monika... are my favorite person in this universe.

[His words... those are definitely a great thing to say.... to a great best friend.]

[ He gets a little giggle when, of course, he takes her little joke literally. Any other time, she'd give him the lowdown about some super old movies with a bunch of wars in space...but he'd probably hate that, anyway. Just another thing that'd probably make him think humans were goddamn weirdos.

In any case, she figures he's going to go for the "say nothing" option she presented, so she occupies herself with light fingertip kisses and making happy noises whenever he touches her back. If they'd stayed like that for hours, no problem. She could lean into his warmth, remain comfortably in his presence, and maybe if she imagined hard enough, hear the distant sound of waves crashing as sand crunched beneath her toes.

He speaks. She jerks, then moves away to blink at him. Talk about getting one hell of a gift... ]

Mm. Now that I think about it... [ Her gaze moves away momentarily while she sorts through the memories. ] You did say something about liking animals. [ She smiles. ] Wow. That...sounds amazing. I bet you could've pet them, too.

[ She giggles at the thought, but it's also painting such a wonderful picture. It almost makes her jealous, him being able to do that. However, it's also planting seeds that are sprouting wildly into questions in her head. Why was he there? A commune? What drew him to elephants? What put him on Earth?

For a second time, her mind's wiped clean. He'd said more. He'd said something incredibly--so entirely-- ]

Jeez, that's... [ She moves away a little, just so she can take a breath without blowing it directly into his face. ] Really? As long as you've been alive and...and all the places you've been--? [ Deep breaths! ] I-I don't know what to say...

[ She thinks on it, though, while staring at some of the flowers peeking out near the edge of the blanket. Ah, look at that. A rose. The shades of blue remind her of his metal, making it prettier in her eyes. And, like she'd said when they started this little adventure, it's the flower of passion and romance. The flower of...

Monika reaches out, tugging at the stem until it comes free. She scratches at one of the thorns that got missed, wincing when it pricks her, but she eventually scrapes it off. While she turns back to him with it, she shakes off the pinprick of pain and wipes away the tiny bit of blood it drew out on the blanket. Her smile returns, then slides the rose behind his other ear, adjusting it just so until it's securely in place. He gets another of those soft but intense stares, her hand shifting down to his cheek to hold it.

But the Player, she thinks. But everyone else, she tries to remind herself. It doesn't stop her. ]

That's unfair, you grump. [ She leans in and boops his nose. ] You stole my words, even if I guess "mech" would be more appropriate for you.

[ One might even say he's a...mechfriend. ]

[Monika isn't his only favorite person in the universe. He had a number of favorites before her. She's not even his first favorite human- she gets second place for that in particular. But as of this moment? In this very resort and universe? She's undoubtedly his one and only favorite. The only person he has an easy time talking to. The only person he can rely on. The only person who makes him feel less lonely here.

It's amusing to see Monika taken aback by his words, though, but concern flashes on his face when he sees her winced by the lone thorn on the stem. He was about to ask if she's alright, but she looks fine. It's probably nothing. A small, barely noticeable injury like that probably isn't worth worrying much about. It isn't as important as her sliding another flower behind his other ear. Can't help but feel his chest getting warmer again when she does that.

A blue flower on each side of his head, behind his ears, matching well with the avatar's darker blue hair. Monika's making him prettier.]

Stole your words? [An amused huff leaves him.] Does that mean I am your favorite as well?

[In which case...

He grabs Monika's wrist - the same hand where she accidentally pricked herself- and brings the pricked area up to his mouth and press his lips against it, giving her finger a little suckle before slipping a tongue out and lapping the offended area. She doesn't mind a bit of healing, right? Then, without letting go of her, he drops down on his back and brings Monika along with him, having her lie on top of him. As he continues to stare into her emerald, he then nuzzles his nose on her for that boop moments ago.

He's getting bolder and bolder with every minute he spends with Monika, and he can only blame the person right in from of him for the boldness.]

I... Do not know what to say, either, but... I- Thank you.

[Yeah. He could just settle with appreciation for now.

Turning his eyes away from Monika, he turns to another blue rose poking out of under the blanket. He reaches towards the flower and plucks it free. No thorns on its stem for him or Monika to be pricked by, and so he tucks her hair behind her ear before sliding the rose in, tucked securely in place. There are only blue roses here, but at least that meant they have matching flowers. He'll just have to find another flower for her other ear later. Something that is more suitable than blue.]

So awful, isn't it~? Such a grumpy mech like you, someone's faaaavorite~

[ No more gentle teasing beyond that. She's too entranced once he grasps her wrist and tends to the wound she'd been already halfway to forgetting about. Something so tiny? It was hardly worth a thought. She's had worse, unfortunately. But now...

Heat blossoms not only in her chest, but also pools low in her abdomen. She's sure it's just some wires getting crossed inside, her affection and attraction to him drawing out some of her more carnal wants. The pleasure ends up being brief, anyway, so she doesn't have to worry about being turned on during a special moment. Besides, it was sweet of him. Really, ah...

Romantic.

There's a tiny squeak when they're suddenly horizontal, and she blinks at him for a moment before the nuzzles have her smiling all over again. Wow. She feels even warmer. So comfortable. ]

You don't have to...um. [ Hold on, she needs to yawn. ] Sorry. You don't have to say anything else. You're welcome.

[ While he's been saying and doing things that'd keep sending her heart into overdrive, his rose just makes her comfier. Had they fallen into a field of poppies instead? Should she be asking which part of the maze leads to Oz? ]

And now it's almost like we gave each other rings. Ahaha...

[ Her head sinks onto his chest, and despite the heavy weight of sleepiness settling over her, she's careful to lie on the side that doesn't have the most precious rose in the universe on it. And, after a bit of effort, she manages to find one of his hands to hold it again. ]

Maybe I can even be your--your... [ She yawns again, further giving in to the comfort of his chest, imagining her own heartbeat to drift off to. ] Your...conjunctivitis?

[ Even if she weren't falling asleep, she'd have mangled the right word just as badly. But he'll get the gist, she's sure. If not? He can correct her once she's awake, because she's moments away from falling asleep. She'll be sure to tell him all about her trip to Oz soon enough. ]

[He intends to just leave it at that and go back to his usual silence. There's nothing more for him to say, or rather... he doesn't know how to say them]

Conjunx Endura.

[He corrects her gently. Silly girl. Alas, his avatar lacks a heartbeat or the hum of pulsating energy in his chest, but there's still warmth she could still rest on. Careful to not disturb the sleeping Monika, he reaches for a pillow to slide under his head, all the while keeping his other hand linked to hers. To stay connected forevermore. His free hand then play with her ponytail, brushing along the strands, tugging lightly.]

You must be tired. I suppose all that running has finally gotten to you. Feel free to rest...

[He won't go anywhere.

About twenty minutes has passed. Time goes by fast for him compared to a human, but they should be enjoying the sights together instead of spending the day away napping. And so, he gives Monika another shake. She's not even budging. Hmmm, even a poke to her cheek doesn't seem to stir her awake? Was she that tired? After giving her another shakes, he gives up, and soon enough, he thinks back to the word she had failed to say earlier.

Conjunx Endura...

Maybe she can be his Conjunx Endura, huh. Can he... Can they... He couldn't even finish the question in his own mind, but something is welling inside of him and it compels him to speak to her. His eyes shift down to the cute face sleeping soundly on his avatar. He's not sure if he could, really, but... She's sleeping, right? She probably won't hear what he's about to say next. He speaks in a whisper, pretending that the sleeping beauty on him can hear and listen to him.]

Still, as precious when you aren't being a menace. [His hand brushes her front bangs, then his palm warms her cheek, enjoying himself, much like the first night they slept together.] That is still one of your charm points. Sometimes... you are annoying, but you can be...... fun to be around, I suppose.

[Primus, just saying the word fun out loud is almost painful, but... Monika is fun. Sometimes. Whenever she wasn't being obnoxious. ... No, that wasn't what he wanted to say to her. There's something more that's causing his chest to heat up so much.]

It is... odd. Anytime I am close to you, I feel... Warmth? In my chest. I do not understand it myself, but I can feel my chest overheat and that it might burst at any moment just by being around you. I feel something- I do not know what they are. I am... Unsure of how to deal with... Whatever it is I am feeling towards you, and that worries me. Whatever I am feeling worries me.

What if I only think I... [He can say it.] like you because you are the only one that puts up with my poor personality. .... There are not many things that can make me happy in my life, but you... You make me happy.

I thought I could dismiss theses feelings and own my misery, but I can't. There is nothing dignified in being miserable. ........ I sound pathetic.

[What is he doing? Talking to a friend who is in deep slumber. Even talking this much, too. Millions of years old, much older than Monika is and maybe even the all the guests age combined, but.... Physical age does not equate to emotional maturity with him.

With a sigh, he lets out what he wanted to say to her, and cuddles her closer. Please wake up.]

[ With her last shred of consciousness, she laughs at his correction, a vague sort of noise. Then she's completely dead to the world.

It's not so bad, really. Normally, sleeping isn't a thing she enjoys. It requires being still, trapped in one spot, subjected to hours of darkness. Every day, she has to willingly lose control of her body, and there's nothing she can do about it unless she wants to go truly insane. She abhors it all.

That's not even touching on the dreams. There are times where she wonders if she's even capable of having a normal, happy dream. Nearly every night, she falls into nightmares of the void, full of screams, flashing colors, crushing solitude. The only times she's slept with some level of peace is when someone's been lying beside her. Any sign of life next to her distracts her unconscious mind, just like the mech currently holding her in his arms. As long as she has his warmth, the heartbeat's not necessary. She's so desperate for contact, for affection, that littlest bit will do.

If only she could hear these things he's saying. She'd be flustered, of course, stumbling over every word while caught between being ecstatic and terrified of having to confront her true feelings. When she's supposed to be connected to one person and one person only, someone that can't be him unless he gained a sudden love of visual novels she didn't know about, isn't that unforgivable? Shouldn't she have tried harder to stop herself? Shouldn't she have done everything in her power to push him away? It wouldn't be that hard. It shouldn't be. He's mean. He's got a poor personality. He can't smile to save his life. He's everything she shouldn't want!

...All things she'd readily accept if he were the fabled Player. What's making him so different? Why does she keep failing to resist his pull? Yet here she is, warm in his arms, and so she will stay. Not just now, but, as her waking mind would want...for more than the fleeting time they seem to be cursed to have. It'd be so perfect to have forever.

Her fingers twitch against his hand, but otherwise, there's no reaction. If she's hearing anything, it likely won't remain in her mind, or she'd figure she fabricated it all in a pleasant dream. He can say all he wants. Be as pathetic as he wants. She'll simply enjoy some of the best sleep in her life, there in the arms of her favorite mech in the universe. ]

[It's been more than half an hour. Concern starts to grow in him as any attempts to wake Monika up from her sweet nap all ends in failure. Not knowin what else to do, he carefully pushes Monika off him, onto the blanket, and let her head rest on the pillow, careful not to disturb the flower he put behind her ear. Don't want to ruin that, of course.

Just as he emerges towards where there are more people around in the carpet of blues. That's when he sees a couple of guests much in a similar predicament as Monika is, some sleeping much like Monika is, and some fully awake. A couple in particular catches his eyes and he observes them waking the sleeping one with a kiss, stirring them back to reality. Ugh... Maybe there is another way? He flags down a staff member, asks about this odd predicament, and if there's any other solution other than a kiss. Sure enough... There isn't any other way. That's the only way.

Of course, that's how it needs to be done. He figures that the resort was responsible for Monika's deep slumber, and the only way to wake her up from it is a kiss. Of course that is the only way. At least a kiss isn't so bad, as opposed to more... Sexual activities. He's not sure if he could do something like that while Monika remains asleep and blissfully unaware. At least not without knowing she'd consent to something that...

Now with the knowledge on how to wake Monika from her dream, he returns to their spot and kneels down to Monika's side, staring down at the sleepy face. The back of his hand brushes her bang and then her cheek, affectionate almost, before his fingers find themselves tracing along her lips once again. It's not the first time they kissed. It shouldn't be any different, right?Yet after... That confession of his, it makes him hesitate slightly

He shakes his head. A quick kiss will do. Just press his lips to hers, and pull back. He can't let Monika stay asleep like this. And so, he finally dips his head down, eyes close, as his lips inch closer and closer to Monika's until they finally met.

Except, he doesn't pull away immediately. He lets it linger for more than a second. If she stirs awake, he'll pull away, but until then he lets it linger for a little while.]

Edited 2024-05-10 09:49 (UTC)

[ One moment, there's nothingness. The next, soft sounds. Soft smells. Soft lips. The sleeping beauty's awake.

But she doesn't open her eyes. For a few terrifying seconds, she's afraid that something awful happened while she was sleeping, namely that the resort saw fit to knock her out and steal away her happiness with Soundwave again. Also, why was she sleeping? Then memories slip back in. The soft sounds are the people around her in the center of the maze. The soft smells are all the flowers. And the lips...

She makes a quiet noise. As much as she'd have liked to contain her reaction, if only to extend this moment for as long as possible, she can't. Not that she knows how this moment started, but she knows those lips. They fit against hers just right. Lips she could--and has--tasted for hours.

Her fingers twitch, and she realizes belatedly their hands aren't linked anymore. She quickly fixes that supposed problem by blindly reaching for his cheek to have something to hold, but mainly to keep him in place. Who says good times have to end, even if they're highly confusing? Whatever Soundwave gives, she'll readily take, especially when it's affection. ]

[At some point, he thinks he should pull away by now. It should work. She should be awake by now. The kiss is probably overstaying its welcome. Yet he can't let go, and the idea of letting go is soon dismissed when her hand presses against his cheek. That means she is waking up now, but... With the warmth of her palm on his cheek holding him in place, he can't find the desire to pull back.

His hand finds Monika's, finger interlocking with hers, squeezing tightly, as his lips press deeper against hers. He's still here. He hasn't gotten away. Don't worry.

He'd apologized. Explained himself. Why he'd do such a thing while she was sleeping. He can easily do so.

But he won't. Not until this kiss finally reaches it's end point. In this moment, if Monika allows it, then he'll continue the kiss, slipping his tongue into her mouth. His tongue urges her to dance with him. Of course, it'll have to end eventually, like all good things. Sensing she might be losing air, he pulls away with a sigh. Face flushed entirely red for Monika's eyes to see, looking down at her, as she begins to explain himself.]

I... Apologize. I couldn't wake you, no matter what, I-... I had to...

[Ah, he's stumbling over himself so much. Why...? So frazzled over what he just said earlier to her. Frustrating.]

[ The more he responds, the more her heart swells. So many questions remain unanswered, but she can't bring herself to care. She readily allows more. Of course she'll let their tongues dance. Of course she'll dance with him until she's dizzy with want. If he's willing, so is she.

Her hand returns his squeeze, just as hard. More, compels her usual greedy urges. More touches. Tastes. Pull him closer. Give him everything. Let everyone see just how much she cares--

He pulls their lips apart. She whimpers, then gasps in a breath. Even so, she fruitlessly attempts to chase after his lips with hers. Just one more minute. Just one more brush with heaven...

It'll have to wait. He needs reassurance more than he needs kisses. ]

Hey, hey. [ She clears her throat to get rid of the rasp of her voice. ] Calm down. If you had to, you had to. I trust you, okay?

[ Her thumb brushes across his red cheek, trying to will some calm into him. ] I've dealt with weirder. We've dealt with weirder. But whatever you had to do...I'm glad it was you who did it.

[If he had only done the kiss, he wouldn't be as frazzled as he is right now. He might still feel embarrassed and a bit guilty for kissing a friend in that manner, but the real reason he's so out of it was what he said to her- while she was deep in slumber - still weighs in his mind.

Which Monika makes no reference to it. Either she really did not hear anything he said, or is good at hiding it... Though the latter is impossible to hide from him. She likely didn't hear anything, which he's glad.... And upset. He's not sure why he's feeling this contradictory feelings. Monika confuses him, still.

He swallows the needless concerns away, just as he takes a deep breath, calming himself down to his usual composure. He's glad that Monika understands that it's probably just something weird they're dealing with rather than him taking advantage of her during her most vulnerable.]

Right.... You were so deep in your sleep. No matter how much I shake you, you wouldn't wake up. .... I was getting worried.

[He adds the last part hastily. Unsure if he should've shared that last part with her or not, but it's out now regardless. Seeking a better position than simply staring her down, he sits back down on the blanket. His hand remains connected with her while his other hand lands on the edge of blanket, a finger pricked by a blue rose that still had its thorn. His hand twitches and there's a small wince visible on his face, but it quickly goes away.]

The only way to wake you up was with a kiss.

[If he knew about the story, he'd make a reference to that.]

Ahaha, gosh. Why are you so worked up? I'm pretty sure no one saw you!

[ That's clearly what's got him in a tizzy! She figured she chose a good spot to keep him comfortable, but maybe not, especially if he had to do the unthinkable and kiss her. Once he moves away, she sits up with him, wincing momentarily at how stiff her muscles are. How long was she out? At least the sleep was good... ]

Maybe it's because you were so worried about me~? [ After a giggle, she yawns and stretches a little, missing his wince. ] Don't worry, your Sleeping Beauty is perfectly fine now~

[ She'll make the reference for him, of course. It's funny to her. How shocking that this place would go for something totally cliche! Should she start calling him Prince Charming now?

Ha! No way. He's too grumpy. Prince Grump would be better. ]

Like I said, I'm glad it was you. It could've been way worse. Some people here would probably leave me to rot. Ahahaha!

[ Her free hand reaches out to fix the flowers in his hair, then she gives him a few pets to help calm him more if he needs it. It's almost cute, seeing the most eerily stoic guy she's met acting this way. Did he cry while she was out? That must be it. ]

Thank you, Prince Grump. I appreciate how much you care.

[Yup, surely the reason why he's incredibly flustered and in a slight panic. Because people might saw! Despite.... this spot being the perfect spot away from prying ears and eyes. No, actually it was because she was so deep in her sleep that got him worried. Which is true, it did put him in a slight panic when she wouldn't wake up. All is well, Monika's awake now.

Seeing that Monika doesn't know the true reason why, he calms himself down further, but his attempt to take another deep breath turns into a yam instead. Huh....

As he listens to her, intense exhaustion washes over him out of nowhere, or maybe millenniums of non stop work has finally hit him at full force in this very moment. After all, this is his first proper "vacation". His eyelids grow heavy as she readjusts the flowers in his hair, and what seems to be an attempt at an indignant pout fails.]

Do not.... [Another yawn.] Call me... Prince...

[His voice trails off into a mumble near the end, and he collapses forward face first onto her chest. There's a stubborn attempt to move his fingers, or to try and say a word, but there just wasn't enough energy for that anymore. Plus, the warmth and comfort of her chest has him easily giving in to sleep. And just like that, it's light's out for him, sleeping soundly on his friend, much like Monika did prior.]

Edited 2024-05-11 01:39 (UTC)

[ She's about to tease him more with his new dumb nickname...but then she's got a Prince in her tits. What in the anime hell...

Making a face down at him, she tries to shift him, but that only has him dropping down into her lap. She sighs deeply, holding her forehead. She's making this so much worse. Not that it matters. He conked out, just like she did. Which means this is a perfect opportunity to say what he deserves to not-hear. ]

Idiot.

[ Gently, she eases their hands apart, then brings his hand up to peer at it closely. The hand she was holding is fine, but when she looks at the other? Sure enough, the tiniest smudge of his glowing blood is there. She sighs harder. Sleeping Beauty? Roses? Just as she thought. This stupid resort!

Her gaze shifts down to her dozing Prince Grump, kissing his bleeding finger. She knows what part of him she needs to kiss to fix this, thanks to his sleuthing. Is there a need to rush, though? If anyone deserves some rest, it's him. With a shake of her head and a soft chuckle, she makes some effort to move him so his head's resting on a proper pillow, setting his flowers aside so they don't get damaged. Sorry, Princey, no more boobs or thighs for you. ]

Why can't you always look this way, huh? Learn to relax for once in your life!

[ It...really is nice to see him like this. She tugs her pillow over and lies down next to him, watching him rest. It's much more interesting than how he probably is in the garage. Staring at his vehicle form wouldn't be nearly as fun.

Sighing once more, she reaches out, brushing some hair out of his face. More than anything, she's dreamt of a moment like this. With the Player, yes, but he's a fine substitute. He always has been. Hell, she barely thinks of the Player when she's around him.

Her hand eases away with a frown. There's that uncomfortable feeling again, intermingling with the warmth of being with him. Now she's having her own crisis while lying with the sleeping beauty that's none the wiser. ]

I wonder if... [ She hesitates. Maybe it'd help to get these words out. Some routine cleaning of her memory or something. ] Would it have been better if you never came back? Then maybe you wouldn't have revived all these feelings I thought I had taken care of. Maybe I'd--

[ What she was going to say would get swallowed down. If she says it, it'll make it real. Her face turns into her pillow. She can't. She'll keep it inside. It's better that way, to suffer alone, just as she always has. ]

[His face is the most peaceful he's ever looked before. No frown. No grump. Not even a smile, either, but just the peaceful look of someone who finally got the rest he's been waiting for and so rightfully deserved. Though it's not his intention to sleep, and he couldn't say anything, he would... want her to leave him be for just a moment, allow him a rare moment of peaceful sleep, before waking him up. He's sure she knows the method to do so.

Soundwave is normally a light sleeper. Millions of years at war made it all but impossible to sleep through even the softest footsteps of a human. Always have to be alert. Always at the ready. A brush near his face would certainly stirred him awake, but it didn't. The most she'll get is a twitch of his finger, brushing against her lips and cheek accidentally as she fixes the small injury with a kiss.

He can't say that he's ever had a good sleep in his life. Even before the war, he had lived on the streets and those were hardly comfortable places to sleep, especially when his "home" was a dredge. It wasn't all terrible, because he had his friends to keep him company, provide him with warmth he'd never expected anyone to care enough to give.

Much like Monika is providing him right now. He purrs to himself inside his dream, unheard in reality. When she brushes some hair out of him, he'd be tempted to lean forward, welcome more of the soft hand on him, but he refrains himself from doing so. Or rather, he can't. Because dreams aren't meant to be easily manipulable.

In reality, aside from the earlier twitch, he hasn't moved a muscle, only his chest rising and falling, stimulating breathing. If he had heard her words, he'd certainly be hurt by them and even wonder what she meant by revived feelings, but with most things regarding, he'd keep it deep within him. And perhaps never confront them.

Nothing enters his ears fortunately, as a pleasant dream enters his mind, petals falling over his body, surrounding him. Blues, greens, purples, and pinks falling down the light blue sky... A sight he's sure does not belong in the real world.]

[ At least they're in sync on one thing: despite her internal crisis, she wants nothing more than for him to have this rest. She won't disturb it until she absolutely has to. She's lost count of how many times she's gotten the sense that he doesn't know how to rest. It's a shame it took resort fuckery to give him that small gift.

Her face turns back out to watch him again. She touches his cheek, keeping her hand in place this time. They're both caught up in dreams of different kinds. ]

Why couldn't you be the person I'm supposed to be with...?

[ He's throwing a wrench into all of her carefully-crafted plans. It's almost like she's back in her game, dealing with the same situation, only this time she actually cares about the one tossing the wrench. No matter how much she tries to rightfully force herself away...he yanks her back in somehow.

Just as always happens when the dissonance in her mind gets to be too much, her usual coping mechanism creeps in. Delusion slowly snakes out, a vine that chokes out any further rational thought. Maybe...she's been worried about this for no reason. In this moment, Soundwave can be the Player. Anything's possible, after all, if every pained step she's taken got her to this point. The Player...was lying in front of her, and always has been.

She smiles as her worries float away. Now, she can say whatever she wants, because these words were destined for the mech that'd searched far and wide for her. ]

Ahaha, sorry. I guess I'm being dramatic, huh? It's only right that I feel this way. We've been through so much together, haven't we? Besides, any relationship worth fighting for isn't meant to be easy.

[ With a contented noise, she slides her arms around him and brings their bodies together. His head settles on her shoulder, and while she intertwines their legs, she imagines they're comfortable and warm in her bed where they belong. She's always wanted to stare at the object of her affection for hours, after all. ]

You're everything I didn't expect, you know, especially after some of the things you've done. You're so grumpy and rude and not nearly as affectionate as I thought you'd be. Also? You're not even from Earth! Who knew I'd fall for an alien...

[ O-Oh. Whoops! She said the quiet part out loud. She laughs, then breathes out in relief. Finally! It's completely out, and it wasn't nearly as scary as she thought it'd be. Besides, she knows he feels the same way. They're already established that. It's fine! She can be at peace with what she's always felt. In this tiny moment of delusion, she can feel however she wants, say whatever she feels. ]

But I'm sure you already knew that. It didn't take long for me to realize how much we have in common, now that we've had time to get to know each other better. Sure, you don't talk a lot, but that means you're a good listener. And you're bad at showing your feelings, but that means we can learn how to be better about it together. We can learn how to fix our loneliness together. We can...

[ She kisses his forehead, holding him close as she whispers: ] We can love each other like we were meant to.

[ With that, she goes quiet, gently stroking his hair. And there they stay, surrounded by the flowers, long enough that she loses awareness of how much time has passed. She even falls asleep again herself a few times, so warm and comfortable with him at her side. By the time she's fully awake and has slipped out of her deluded state, the number of people around has decreased. He'll probably appreciate that, now that they have to return to reality together.

Monika leans back a little, lightly taking hold of his chin. If only she'd had the bravery to say those things to him when he could hear. If only she could allow herself to accept how she feels...

Her eyes close as she presses her forehead against his. Then, with a quick peck to his lips, she ends the dream completely, making them friends once again. ]

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