TDM 04

[goldmods]

【 Thank you for choosing the Golden Peacock, 5-star resort and casino. You are currently registered as a WILDCARD in our system.

Due to a high volume of check-ins, temporary accommodations have been made on our brand new beachfront for new guests. We will endeavor to have all guests moved into their reserved rooms as soon as possible. We apologize for any inconvenience. Affected guests may convene with the nearest lifeguard or reception for a complimentary swimsuit, at their earliest convenience.

Please remember that beach-appropriate attire is mandatory. Guests found breaking dress code may be escorted off the beach until they return in proper swimwear. We hope you enjoy your stay, and have a beachy keen experience. 】

BEACHFRONT PROPERTY

A BRAND NEW DEVELOPMENT

As the resort moves into what it claims is summer, the days grow longer. The sun is projected well into the evening, the heat of its warmth dialed up to a level some guests complain is unreasonable. Then there’s the most excessive transformation of all – half the Cloud Dwelling Gardens have been transformed into a sparkling beach of white sands and blue waves, seemingly overnight. Statues nearby have been dressed up with wide hats and stylish sarongs. Upbeat music fills the air without any discernible source.

A section of the beach has been reserved for a collection of bungalows. These cute pastel homes open straight onto the sand, and are comparable in size and amenity to a rank 7 or 8 suite. All screens within these bungalows are fixed to a channel that airs reruns of Boobwatch around the clock, a classic TV series about blue-footed boobys running in slow-motion across the beach. Staff and long-standing guests all agree — there’s no better summer programming than this!

IT’S FREE REAL ESTATE

▷ Thanks to a classic move called “overbooking,” new arrivals are being checked in to all this wondrous new property that’s just opened up. The catch? Why, characters are stuffed up to 4 in a room, of course. Don’t worry, that’s what the bunk beds are for!

▷ Characters still wake up naked save for a robe, as is standard for the Golden Peacock. This round’s robes are a light and breezy linen, patterned with tropical flowers and colorful designs. Some of these robes are more sheer than others. Watch out that the gentle breeze on the beach doesn’t reveal more than you wanted.

▷ Existing characters are welcome to temporarily take up residence in any empty slots in these homes. The staff understand that sometimes you want to pretend to be a brand new guest again, all bright-eyed and ready for adventure. They can even lock you out of your real room for an extra bit of authenticity. No need to ask! It’s all taken care of already.

THOSE WHO POUND SAND

▷ Several lifeguards have been newly hired to protect the beach and its visitors. These burly fellows and lasses all have three things in common: skimpy swimwear, rippling muscles, and seagull heads. They spend most of their time hanging out in groups, flexing and gossiping loudly. If characters approach them for their complimentary swimwear, they will provide whatever they’re currently wearing for them to use... by force, if necessary.

▷ Characters who seem particularly vulnerable or are holding something particularly tasty may find themselves surrounded by these lifeguards out of nowhere. The seagulls are relentless, pushing and shoving and pulling hair until they get what they want. Hope you didn’t like your sand castle very much. Those on the lower end of the rank scale will suffer the worst harassment, and they may even go out of their way to harass wildcards, 2s, and 3s just for the heck of it.

▷ Being new hires and fairly low on the resort staff hierarchy, these troublemakers can be easily chased off by someone of a high enough rank, or an assertive enough presence to pass as one. T-they’re not scared! They just remembered they have a mandatory group cawing session to get to! Buzz off!

FUN IN THE SUN

DON'T FORGET TO OIL UP

What’s a beach without fun and games? Dreadfully boring! That’s why all of the beach classics have been expertly set up by staff, including strip volleyball nets, giant boob-shaped beach balls, and plenty of floaties for use in the shallower areas of the temporary ocean. A row of parasols with paired lounge chairs underneath them are placed in some prime viewing areas for festivities. Any time you get thirsty, there’s always a cooler full of canned drinks conveniently nearby, courtesy of Cock-a-Doodle-Doo’s. Sometimes you can hear the staff whispering to each other, “What if it’s too perfect? We won’t be able to deal with the ratings dip once the beach ends!”

Seashells have been arbitrarily scattered along the shoreline, coming in both natural shapes and ones a little more... erotic. The sexiest ones of all are conch shells that let you hear the moans of another guest when held up to your ear; supposedly, if you hook up with the person on the other end of the shell, you’ll be extra lucky in the casino for the rest of the summer. All in all, it’s a carefully tailored creation that can be called nothing short of paradise.

THE BEACH BUNNY BARBECUE BONANZA

▷ This booth constantly has smoke billowing out the top and is manned during the entire day by one man – Steve, formerly from reception. It seems this is his punishment duty for be-bathrooming all of the arrivals, last time. Those willing to lend Steve a sympathetic ear will be entreated to bring him water, since the sweltering heat of the booth dries him out like nobody’s business. No matter how characters try to help him, though, a tragedy always occurs and the water always ends up spilled across the sand. That curse really is something, huh?

▷ The signature item at this cookout are the Flamin’ Hop Skewers. Made due to the current overpopulation in the Conservatory, these spicy-sweet — emphasis on the spicy — glazed skewers temporarily grant those who consume them the soul of a rabbit, including their insatiable desire to mate. Any rabbits that resort-goers have formed an attachment with have not been culled, so don’t worry about your precious buns!

▷ The booth also boasts several other exotic meats and vegetables that are considerably safer to eat, for guests who find themselves unable to overcome their attachment. Some of these skewers also feature fruits, including the hybrid ones from the previous gardening collab with the Dizzy Pigeon. Characters are free to revisit any of the Orchard prompts under the Smoky Nectar section of our PREVIOUS TDM.

A SHOW OF STRENGTH

▷ When the projected sun is at its highest, staff members will start bringing out tarps and watermelons, fresh from the gardens. What’s that, you ask? Oh, of course these were donated willingly! What a strange question!

▷ The goal is to smash the watermelon the staff give you until the succulent red fruit inside is splattered all across the tarp, perfect for falling comically into or... eating, if you’re into that. The rules are that you must use your buttocks to do so, and you only get two tries. Successfully cracking open the watermelon on the first try will earn characters a large payout, and if it’s on the second try, a medium payout.

▷ Failing to bust a watermelon at all won’t have any penalties associated with it, and you can always try again tomorrow! In order to keep their watermelon supplies steady for the duration of the beach festivities, the staff do ask that guests attempt this no more than once per day.

DAYDREAM PARASOLS

▷ Every umbrella set up on the sands has two lounge chairs set up underneath it, with a shared table between them. The chairs are padded and oh-so-comfy — sitting in them for too long while another person is present will result in both characters falling into a deep sleep.

▷ While asleep, characters will discover they’re sharing a dream with their umbrella-mate. The dream is always set on the same beach as the waking world, but there are floating clouds and sparkles in a range of pastel colors. Other beachgoers are faceless, if not entirely absent. It’s just the two of you.

▷ Anything the characters think of can drift in and out of the dreamscape, including but not limited to items from home, scary monsters to dramatically rescue your partner from, and strange abilities to fly or float through the air. However, characters will also be at full suit activation in the dream. Once both characters orgasm or they naturally wake up from their naps, they’ll find things are entirely back to normal, as much as they ever are in the resort.

NOTES

▶ All new arrivals have been issued four food and four clothing vouchers. These vouchers are as good as money around the resort. The staff will strongly insist on characters picking out "summery" attire with it, though.

▶ Existing characters may be booted into the bungalows or locked out of their room against their will. We leave it up to player discretion if this happens and the degree to which they're removed from their normal suite.

▶ For the Daydream Parasols, wildcards may be afflicted by whichever suit their player prefers for the duration of the dream. This will have no bearing on their suit selection when applying, and suit effects should not manifest once back in the waking world. It's just a dream, after all!

▶ The dreamscape has no explicit time limit, so feel free to make them as long or as short as desired. Dreams should also be sexy first and foremost. While you can include your mom dying in the background if you'd like, you have to be horny about it too.

TWINKLING CURRENTS

THE PARTY NEVER STOPS

As the sun sets in a cascade of colors over the water, lamps are lit and floating lights surface from the depths. Stars twinkle in the sky, and Steve is finally released from his smoky shackles. Though the daytime amenities have gone to sleep, the night promises its own set of beachy wonders sure to please even the most distinguished of vacationers.

Flyers posted in the lobby and in the hallways promise of a bar ran by the most enchanting mermaids you could ever want to fuck, as well as a fireworks show in every color, including ones you’ve never heard of. With the seagulls gone to bed, peace settles across the sands, tinted blue, yellow, and pink from the myriad of lights. For those seeking a more subdued, romantic air — this is the beach for you.

SWIM UP TO THE BAR

▷ While the advertisements promised mermaids, they were careful not to include any photos or illustrations. Wading out into the sea to the floating bar quickly illustrates why: these merfolk are fish on top, not the bottom! If asked about this configuration or accused of being unsexy, they’ll lift their elegant legs out of the water and exclaim, “How else would you be able to fuck us if not for these!” Though a few guests seem unsatisfied by this clarification, there are no complaints about the drinks themselves.

▷ HOLDING ON TO SUMMER. This cocktail brings seaberry-gin, limoncello, white crème de cacao, and freshly squeezed lemon juice over pebbled ice, wrapping you in decadent flavors accenting the season. Drinking this cocktail can cause you to be overcome with the desire to lean back and sink into the ocean itself, but fret not! It also grants you the wonderful ability to breathe underwater, no gills required! And it’s topped with a yummy little ball of white chocolate.

▷ MANGO STAR. A delightfully bright drink in a highball glass, the combination of elderflower rose syrup and seaberry-gin floats a summery pink over the orange mixture of mango juice, lime juice and honey syrup on the bottom. On top are two cute little stars cut out of mango, accented with mint leaves. Guests who drink this cocktail report some confusion in the identity of other guests, as just one drink is enough to shift perception of others. Other characters may appear to be different guests of the resort, or familiar faces from home.

▷ SEABERRY FLORADORA. This is a vibrant cocktail made of seaberry-gin, ginger beer, lime juice and raspberry syrup, highlighted by floral ice cubes and edible flowers. Despite its bright pink color indicating a level of cheerfulness for the summer, this flavorful cocktail causes guests to be quickly overwhelmed with a sense of loneliness. The longer this sensation goes on, the more guests will try to seek out company to aid in the ache, even if it means appearing quite desperate in the process. Each successive drink will increase the severity of the effect.

▷ BLACKBERRY ROSEMARY GIMLET. Blackberries, rosemary sprigs, simple syrup, and a combination of seaberry-gin and lime juice make this aromatic cocktail. It’s double strained over ice and garnished with a blackberry on a pick, giving it a regal appearance. Drinking this cocktail causes obsessive and possessive behavior, however — sometimes to extreme levels. Should your partner choose this cocktail to drink, you may not want to mention anything that could make them jealous. Each successive drink will increase the severity of the effect.

▷ JUST SOME SEAWATER? Questioning the mermaids and mermen on how they came to be the way that they are will result in them offering you an item off the sea-cret menu. Taking a glass from the bar, they dip it into the ocean and offer it right over to you. Drinking the seawater does, in fact, turn you into a very sexy reverse merman or mermaid. This occurs whether or not you drink it from the glass or take in a gulp while swimming, so watch out!

ACROSS THE NIGHT SKY

▷ Where else could you get a perfect view of the stars? Despite the sea of lights below, the artificial nature of the skies in the resort means that all guests get an unrivaled view of the galaxy. Which galaxy? Why, any of them — characters will see a shifting range of constellations from night to night, including ones they don’t recognize, ones shaped a bit like something you might find in Love Dove, and ones that are identical to those from their home. Happy gazing!

▷ A fireworks show is held every night, from 10PM until 1AM. The noises are just loud enough to block out a whispered confession timed correctly, but aren’t quite enough to inhibit conversation. Most of the fireworks are from a design series known as Matteo’s Masterpieces, and range from the standard burst to abstract shapes to... well, you know. Unlike the sloppy doodles found in the margins of books while Swan Lake was decaying, all of the boobs and dicks blasted across the sky are very well rendered. For fireworks.

SANDY SCAVENGING

A GAME OF BEACHES

It wouldn't be the Golden Peacock without a game for guests to play! All guests that wander into the beach area may find themselves receiving one of two Watch messages. Some very special guests may even receive both challenges — or continuously receive a new challenge when the last 24 hours is up. The resort just wants you to have the most fun possible!

SCAVENGER HUNT: EASY MODE (SFW)

Hello, dear guest. You have been randomly selected to play our EASY MODE: SCAVENGER HUNT! You have 24 hours to complete this hunt. Once completed, please submit your collected items to the nearest SEAGULL LIFEGUARD to claim your reward of Great Tit! Dessert Vouchers and a large payout.

Guests who do not complete the hunt in 24 hours will be hunted down and then publicly spanked by a SEAGULL LIFEGUARD.

Please note that items scavenged may not be personal items. They must be collected from other sources. Good luck!

1. Collect one unfinished drink.

2. Collect two kisses.

3. Collect three pairs of sunglasses.

4. Collect four sets of sandals.

5. Collect five feathers from a lifeguard.

SCAVENGER HUNT: HARD MODE (NSFW)

Hello, dear guest. You have been randomly selected to play our HARD MODE: SCAVENGER HUNT! You have 24 hours to complete this hunt. Once completed, please submit your collected items to the nearest SEAGULL LIFEGUARD to claim your reward of Naked Yolk Kink Vouchers and an extra-large payout. Winners will also be given a limited edition WINNER pin. Any guests wearing a WINNER pin will be treated as kings and queens of the beach, and be permitted to command any other guests as they see fit.

Guests who do not complete the hunt in 24 hours will be hunted down, stripped, and then strapped into the fuck pillory by our SEAGULL LIFEGUARDS. Losers will be free game for other guests to use for their pleasure.

Please note that items scavenged may not be personal items. They must be collected from other sources. Good luck!

1. Collect one cup of cum.

2. Collect two bite marks.

3. Collect three pubic hairs.

4. Collect four nudes (nude images).

5. Collect five bathing suit bottoms.

NOTES

▶ All effects from the swim-up bar last around 2-3 hours, but may be extended by having another drink.

INTO THE DEPTHS

IT'S HIGH TIDE WE GET OUT OF HERE

Though the beach experience is perfect on the surface, things are less elegant behind the scenes. Wave-making machines pulse and rattle down below, shaking the ceiling of the basement suites. Water leaks from pipes, streaking across walls and pooling on the uneven floors. The maintenance levels are abuzz with staff setting out buckets and pans, shooing lost guests away with a heightened level of urgency. Someone got a little too enthusiastic with mopping, they claim. Nothing to worry about at all!

Even the ocean itself isn’t without its issues. Despite appearing as a boundless expanse from the shore, the walls of the Golden Peacock are a very real factor. To avoid any undue damage to the screens that comprise the sky, the sea stops abruptly before it reaches them, cascading into a waterfall all the way down to the depths of the resort. Gentle currents become swirling vortexes and choppy waves, sure to pull down any guests that aren’t careful about where they swim. A few gull-guards patrol the line of buoys that mark the end of the safe swimming area, but the primary line of defense the resort relies on is the utter disinterest most of its guests have.

TUMBLING DOWN

▷ Characters who stray past the line of buoys out in the far sea will find themselves caught in a riptide that sucks them straight over the edge of the water. This applies both to characters swimming, or characters in some sort of vessel, such as a small rowboat borrowed from the staff.

▷ Feel free to make up any sort of vehicle rentals in general, as long as they’re reasonable in size — they should be able to accommodate 1-2 characters at most. A waverider would be okay, but a yacht would not.

▷ While falling down the waterfall, characters will temporarily black out before hitting anything solid. They will resurface anywhere there is standing water, whether that be a flooded hallway, in the Crane’s Respite, or even in someone’s open toilet bowl. There are no limitations on where in the resort the resurfacing can happen; even the bathrooms at Roost aren’t safe from this teleportation.

A RISING FLOOD

▷ Drainage is a difficult aspect to manage. Though the majority of the seawater is recycled to maintain the ocean above, enough of it is siphoned off for deeper filtration that the resort’s plumbing systems simply can’t handle the volume. Leaks are happening on all floors below ground, increasing in depth the further down into the basement characters go.

▷ Characters living in the rank 2, 3, and 4 suites may notice that in addition to having leaks in the hallway, their own rooms are also flooding. This can range anywhere from a constant, unpleasantly damp floor, to having an entire cascade of water blow them and any other unsuspecting guests down several hallways the moment their door is opened. Life vests are recommended.

▷ The flooding will intensify as the event goes on, culminating in some of the maintenance levels being entirely underwater towards the end of the event. Once the event is over, the flooding will recede within about a day, leaving only a few water stains here and there as evidence of their presence.

NOTES

▶ Any amount of standing water is a valid target for a character’s resurfacing, even something as minor as a glass of water. For situations where a character would not actively fit into the source of their arrival, they will be violently flung out of it, knocking over or spilling it in the process if that’s possible.

▶ As always, players are free to control the level to which their individual characters are affected, and being flooded out of their space is not mandatory.

---

OOC NOTES

INVITES | RESERVES | APPLICATIONS

▶ BLANKET CW: alcohol; altered states; aphrodisiacs; breeding urge; delusions; forced clotheswearing; hallucinations; harassment and bullying; jealousy; thalassophobia; transformation; unreality

▶ All characters on the TDM are WILDCARDS, which means they have not yet been assigned a card value. The house is still observing and deciding. As rank and suits are assigned upon acceptance your 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 June event. The beach will ICly be present from June 15th - June 30th.

▶ Current characters may top level on the TDM. Any current characters posting to the TDM should note they are current in their subject header.

▶ The top level directory is for new characters only. We want to make sure new characters are prioritized and receive attention!

▶ If you aren't satisfied with these prompts, please feel free to check out our LOCATIONS to explore more of the resort! There are recent additions to the locations page as well, for those who have yet to see them!

▶ Smut threads that take place on this TDM can be used for rewards. If both parties in the smut thread join the game, you may retroactively apply the character's initial card values to your 52 bank. If one character does not join the game the thread will not be applicable toward rewards (as that character would not have a card value). The character that does join would still receive a small payout for the encounter. Hopefully it was a fun thread regardless!

▶ 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.

▶ Don't forget your sunscreen! We'd hate for any chicken wings to come out burnt.

NAVIGATION • LOG • NETWORK • OOC • MEME

Comments

[wingbeats]

( getian can sense that he isn’t lying. it’s not necessarily an inherent ability of his—very clever liars can make their words ring with the exact same musicality, regardless of whether they work in truth or falsehoods—but, rather, he feels as though there is very little for him to gain by lying. they are strangers to one another, found in a strange place, beset by a strange scenario. if anything, severing himself from natural anxieties that might arise in one who found themselves awakening in a place they don’t recall falling asleep attracted suspicion, as it had in getian. surely such a thing wouldn’t be to his advantage?

so: he must be telling the truth.

how strange. it is natural for all living things, perhaps one of the few things that bind them down to their mortal essences, to fear the unknown. getian knows that he, even living as long as he has, had allowed his wariness and timidity to keep him from following his fellow miemeng birds into the unknown. and now he is the only one which remains.

as he continues, though… no, it’s not that getian is suddenly convinced he has decided to lie. rather, what he says—how he feels, if he is telling the truth—directly contradicts what he can read in his bones. it is an innate arcane ability of all miemeng birds to be able to peer with ease through flesh and blood to read the bones of others beneath. the pasts of all creatures write themselves upon their bones, and the shapes that those bones take carry them toward certain futures. getian would not identify himself as a seer, but he can read the signs. he has centuries of experience in foretelling where they might lead. )

But you did not always feel this way.

( he doesn’t say this challengingly, nor in a way that might goad leaks. he almost says it as if he’s uncertain of it himself, his eyes tracking across the ribika’s body as he takes note of the bones of particular interest to his point: strong striations scraped across the scapulae, indicating tension in the shoulders bearing the weight of an unfitting world. notches in the mandible where teeth might have been gritted against an unfair fate.

bitterness. it’s an interesting emotion to read there. it’s not one getian has much familiarity with. his expression tempers with wary sorrow. )

You once fought. To any length. ( his brows draw together. ) What changed?

[armwriostle]

Well, it's weather it as best as possible. It's not like we have much of a choice in the matter. [And he imagines how exhaustive it might be if people didn't learn to make do with the situation.]

Alright then. [He carefully slinks an arm around Boothill's waist and tugs them close until they're flush against each other.] Then please excuse me.

[His voice was sing-song before he closes the distance between them, pressing his lips to Boothill's in a kiss.]

[armwriostle]

[Wriothesley doesn't need words to have a conversation. After all, he was a being who grew up in the ring to some extent. Fists spoke for him and actions screamed, taking place of words that couldn't be uttered. He had learned to speak with his actions than to deceive with words because words had only been used like a weapon to hurt him.

And so, he can enjoy the swim with Kokomi. They swim in tandem and he can read the joy in her face and the way she moves about. It's refreshing for him, not having anyone else who seemed to find as much fondness in swimming as he does.

His mouth quirks in a grin before kicking up to finally surface with her, the feeling of air filling his lungs instead of water makes him breathe like he was taking fresh air for the first time in his life.]

[schmisse]

Get 'im!

[ Is Weiss enjoying the show? A little. It's pretty amusing to stick it to the resort one way or another even if it means tackling one of the staff and stealing its feathers.

Once the lifeguard's properly on the ground and doesn't look like it's going to get away, Weiss heads on over to try and get some of its feathers. Some actually fall to the ground on their own from the stress, but she needs a little more. ]

Sorry, this'll only hurt a little! [ Pluck! Weiss winces as she hears the lifeguard squawk in pain, looking over to Hyunsu to try and commiserate. ] Oops. Maybe that was too hard.

[armwriostle]

Ah, you're new here, right? [He speaks steadily. His tone is light though, not about to judge someone who might be unused to hos this place operates. The whole moment is a little bizarre, but he is aware enough that they're in some dreamlike state.

He offers her a small smile at her words instead.] You want me to stay?

[He carefully slides his hand into hers.] I'll stay for however long you want me to stay. If you don't want me to leave, I won't leave. It can be that easy. [She might be a stranger, but he wasn't about to turn his back on someone who obviously wanted the company.]

So I'll stick around. Is that all you need?

[lieabilities]

[ Thanks sex-charged hotel for adding legitimacy to his wildly made claim. ]

[ His gaze flickers toward the merperson with amusement before back down to his drink, letting his fingers tap against the sides of the glass in idle contemplation. Or the presentation of idle contemplation, anyway. ]

Oh... you're right. I've already had a drink though, so perhaps it's now too late for me.

[ He had zero sips of this drink, but that's not about to stop him from selling a story. ]

[lieabilities]

So I see.

[ Another subtle glance of his own toward the sky then back to Shirou because... he doesn't see shit. But with the state of the other man, there's not a terribly inclination to test it out on his own. Convince someone else, perhaps, but the only available person around here was someone who had already been through the experience and didn't seem keen on repeating it. ]

A shame, a brief dip sounded quite nice. But if there are some underwater currents at work, it might be best not to test them.

[lieabilities]

[ Undersea caves are second date spots. ]

[ Kleken motions into the room with a tentacle while using the others to take in information about the place while his main body is preoccupied. He hadn't actually looked around here much earlier, having decided to beeline for the bar with a necessary swing by the changing rooms on the way. It's a mild relief he won't be needing to bodily remove someone, empty as the place was, and it'd be quite easy to set up an illusion to keep any of his roommates from entering while occupied. None of which he shares with Baizhu, of course. To keep things spicy. ]

[ Speaking of spicy, he lets the amusement flow clearly in his answering tone. ]

I could find somewhere sandier if you have an interest. Or perhaps underwater.

[theidlemaiden]

Just remember that you gave me permission.

[ She'd never use that information for anything bad, especially for someone that she didn’t know the name of. But she could use it for mischief. It’s difficult to say what kind though and if the imposing woman before her would be open to it.

Her heart quickens as her tongue sweeps against her thumb in what has to be an innocent way. Hilda half expects her to step further away, to increase the distance between them once her fingers are clean. But when she locks eyes with her she can’t help but quietly delight and hope that the warmth in her belly is shared. It was usually more obvious when someone wanted something, hungered for her in the way that couldn’t be sated by food.

But it was the sort of challenge that she can’t help but think that she’d like. And if she were wrong? Well, that’s a future her problem, isn’t it? Boldly she takes two steps towards Rahu, standing up on her tiptoes to tuck a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. ]

No need to apologize. I could probably eat more myself. But [ As she begins to lower herself back down to the ground, she gazes up from beneath her lashes. ] I wouldn’t mind trying some other things - if you’re open to it that is.

[lieabilities]

What a practical point of view you have. It's refreshing.

[ It's cunning is what he truly means, given how well he knows the laws of information. The more you knew, the more cards you had to play with, and here was someone aiming to gather up the whole deck if she could. And depending on how Kleken played his own card, he could get his hands on a few extra as well. ]

[ Well, a go-getter like her would be a very good start. ]

I still have quite a bit to learn here to catch up to everyone else, but perhaps I'll be able to shine once that's been done.

[lieabilities]

Oh, but this one has you.

[ The sincerity with which that's said is easily enough to be suspicious for anyone who's known the man, even for a few minutes. ]

[ He's also not going to address being able to handle himself, because this is very much the one case where he can't quite do so. But he also won't be admitting that to anyone anytime soon, not without some sort of substantial gain for himself in the process. ]

Nothing serious. I believe you're right, with time they'll heal up. I'm quite sorry for worrying you though.

[schmisse]

We've never had to talk about them before.

[ The way she says it is so innocent, stating a fact more than anything else. ]

You always seemed sad when you'd talk about your friends, so I don't ask about them either.

[ Sad, nostalgic. . . she understands that things are complicated back home, so she'd much rather focus on the present. If she started talking about Ruby and the gang, he might think of his own friends too, and she doesn't want to see him upset.

Weiss is being a lot more truthful now if only because she doesn't want Kazuya to leave her. It comes with the desperation to be with someone at this time. ]

[armwriostle]

[He just continues to laughs brightly at the way she pouts at his words. Look, just don't look them in the eye if you decide to bang one of the mermaids and it'll be fine, right?]

I'm just speaking honestly. But let's not think about them much more. They can swim freely and we can keep to ourselves. [Look, they can move on from the talk of the strange mermaids. Out of sight, out of mind. Even if they leap through the air and a few of them man the bar.

Just focus on each other.]

It wouldn't stop you if I denied it. I think that I'm in a lose-lose situation here. I'm going to assert my right to be silent. [A chuckle.] Hilda. [He takes her hand and kisses the back of it.] A pleasure then. Look, I'm a flexible guy. Give me a pet name you'd be fine with and I'll use it. I won't do anything you wouldn't want me to do.

[abyssmade]

Oh, hey, tiger boy.

[ He knows Atsushi's name, of course. He's not the type to forget the names of people who he considers strong - or people he fucks. ]

Let's see...some of these are kinda hard to get, y'know? Cup of come and it can't be my own? Might take some convincing.

[ Of course he starts with the grossest one, that half-teasing grin on his face. ]

I do need two more nudes, though.

[ He won't take those by sneaking around. He prefers to get permission for this sort of thing. ]

Oh, and I don't have any bite marks yet. I bet you'd be a good biter.

[abyssmade]

[ Childe remembers Basch, too, of course. It was a really memorable way to meet someone! He remembers the feeling of Basch up against him, a man who clearly had some strength, some muscle. He likes that in a guy!

Unlike Basch, Childe isn't even embarrassed about how they met. This place has done much worse to him by now. He's hard to embarrass anyway.

He's surprised now, however, with Basch's attitude. He seems pretty different. Childe vaguely assumes it's a suit thing, but he decides to play along. He doesn't realise yet that it's the drinks, that he's not unaffected.

He turns away from whoever he was just talking to as if there's no one else in the world now but Basch. ]

Hey, stranger. You know I can take care of myself, right?

[ But his tone is light, not annoyed in the slightest. ]

[arsenist]

If it's manpower you need, I might know a guy.

[It's said with a faint amusement, even if his eyes are still searching to see if there's something obvious he's missed. Akira can multitask, and that means he can also think about what might be his new (or renewed, rather) problem - the seagull lifeguards. It'll be tricky because they're relentless, but with the right infiltration route they can probably still secure the goods before it's too late.

He's in. Time to see if this guy's in, too.]

Let's make a deal. [Maybe those are fateful words for him, but Akira's still repurposing them.] If you answer something for me, I'll help you out.

[abyssmade]

Childe recognises this place, too. How could he not? It's not exactly the same, he's sure. He doesn't have Zhongli's clear memory of it, but that's not the point. The beach chairs and shoreline are definitely all the resort's doing.

So is the fact that he's not totally dressed here, instead still left only with skimpy swim briefs, but in the way of dreams, he just kind of goes with it. He has more important things to worry about.

Like that note of tension in Zhongli's voice; Childe knows him well enough to catch it. Part of him — that dark part, the part that Spades hooks into — wants to push on that wound. Part of him still wants to fight the former Geo Archon! He's always wanted that, a showdown for the fact that he was deceived.

It wasn't like he'd really wanted to resurrect Osial. Innocent people could have — may have — been hurt. He doesn't like doing things like that, involving people who can't fend for themselves, putting children in danger. He'd set aside his distaste for those tactics because duty called. Anyway, Liyue Harbor still stands. Childe has a reputation there he'll probably never be free of. All's well that…ends.

He steps in front of Zhongli, no longer walking beside him on the beach. He wants to reach for him, starts to. He wants that touch, Zhongli's familiar hands. He wants everything, like always. He balls his hands into fists instead, but he isn't exactly the pinnacle of self-control. He'll give in to that impulse soon enough.

"You know, you can just say what you think. You don't have to keep it to yourself all the time," he says. He has the same easy manner he always does, eyes that pull the light in and don't reflect it back properly, that lazy grin on his face. There's something a little feral about it, though, a little challenging. He's dimly aware of it, that this isn't normal, that it's the Spades thing, but that doesn't change anything yet.

[arsenist]

[Akira glances at him curiously as he watches him look away. Did he make him nervous...? Yusuke's bringing up the fact he can't put on his own clothes, so it's not impossible. The best thing to do would be to say something that would put his mind at ease, just in case.]

Is it in bad taste if I say that it flatters you? I know it's really sheer, but...

[His neck's a little hot. Uh oh, maybe he was a little too honest.]

I think it still flatters you.

[That heat didn't turn into a blush... Or at least, Akira thinks it didn't. He should be in the clear.]

[icequeenly]

[ She can't but return his smile with a wry one of her own at that. ]

Likewise. No doubt with incredibly messy results.

[ Definitely not doing that herself, she takes another small bite, savoring the barbecued flavour a little more this time before finishing her mouthful and continuing, ]

I am.

And neither do I. But the top floors of the resort were a lot more sparsely populated initially so I thought I'd seen you around somewhere.

[ She can feel the residual effects of the spice still tingling on her tongue. It isn't unpleasant, far from it, although it is leaving her feeling a little warm, as though she's having some kind of flush. They're sitting in the sunshine though - what else did she expect? Nothing out of the ordinary here. ]

The meat is a little spicier than I expected... Not unpleasant though.

[armwriostle]

[He watches with some level of amusement in the way the lifeguards immediately scramble off, tail between their legs. Well, it's what they deserve for trying to pick fights when they're all bark with no bite. There's too many guests here that definitely have enough of a bite that'll leave its mark, much less lethal.]

Well, that would be their problem and not mine. [He chuckles.] I'm sure they'll be spending much of their time nursing those bruised egos of theirs anyways.

[onikoro]

[ damn, that is crystal clear. kikuri's easily pulled down, semi-surprised at the bulge yet, chuckling a bit. everything seemed to be falling into place, and it didn't feel that unlikely that she'd be getting a peek soon enough. or, even moreso. ]

Yeah. Give it to me.

[ a brief pause as she keeps her eyes on stelle's face-- damn, what a swig. ]

Gimme whatever you've got.

[armwriostle]

[He can't help but grin before leaning up to press a kiss to Sylvain's lips. The boxer then tugs the other forward with him again so that they can continue swimming.

Wriothesley has no destination in mind. He's just happy to move through the waters. Content with Sylvain swimming alongside him. It's nice like this. It's unfortunate they can't talk, but there's also something pleasing to just quietly swim like this.

The scenery isn't gorgeous like Fontaine. It's severely lacking if anything. Yet, just having this moment meant a lot to Wriothesley, whom hadn't gotten to really enjoy a swim like this outside of Crane's Respite. And, well, it simply was not enough.

Eventually the simulated sky will start to show the signs of day ending, a sunset starting in the horizon.]

[armwriostle]

What? So jumping me was just to try and give me a heart attack? Isn't that a little mean of you to do? I'm just enjoying my time on the beach and here you are hunting me for my swim shorts.

[He laughs though, obviously unbothered.]

I never said I was refusing. I would rather not run around the beach naked though.

[armwriostle]

Mm, what exactly do you mean by that? [It's asked with a somewhat curious tone and he taps his chin in thought.]

Personally, I don't feel like my days and nights feel that different. I think that the concept of a day and night cycle here is more muddled since time moves here oddly and days easily blend together. For the sake of normalcy though, I think people keep a certain routine.

[He taps his fingers against his glass in thought.] I don't really feel like anything is much different at night other than certain views that you can see at night but can't in the day and vice versa.

[massochism]

It's entirely possible... I can certainly try, though.

[it's Steve, after all. that man has certainly had an awkward time here of late. compassion would still drive Olivine to try if he'd seen the man without Concord's presence, and as he steps forward, his pace is steady and sure.

all seems well, for a good portion of the walk. not a soul nor tripping hazard in sight. the path is straight and flat, even. but it's about halfway there when the first problem begins. a crackling noise, and a sudden pop, like pressure building up and simply exploding the first water bottle. and just like that, it's splashed all over the ground and Olivine himself, making the priest jolt briefly and just... stare at the wreckage of plastic for a moment.

... that sure happened.]