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

[massochism]

Oh—I don't...

[drink much, he means to say. need one, perhaps. but Kleken slides over a drink and while yes, he does have to wonder where the hell it came from... Olivine is notoriously bad at refusing gifts.

for now, he does just keep the drink nearby without drinking it, focusing on the conversation instead.]

Comes and goes... from this place? I wasn't aware that was a thing people could do.

[God, even Olivine struggles to find Kleken anything other than suspicious. he's trying very very hard to give him some kind of benefit of the doubt...]

[briarthorns]

Oh. You're right.

[ Yor blinks curiously at the single straw as she continues to roll the melting chocolate ball around in her mouth. This discovery doesn't seem to cause her much concern, but she does think about it for a few seconds before gently saying, ]

I think we can just share the one straw... right?

[ Yor glances to Mitsuru with a little smile as she picks up the glass and takes a long sip from the straw. The drink fills her mouth, the bitter sting of alcohol dampened by the mix of other ingredients and the chocolate coating her tongue. Instead of setting it back down, she offers it to Mitsuru. ]

[virtuesignal]

Huh... [Concord was watching, he was watching diligently! Did he blink and miss what happened? No, that isn't sensible. Actually, none of this is sensible!

He approaches to inspect the bottle. That's sure the bottom completely blown out of it. What could explain this?]

You didn't get nervous and squeeze it, did you? [Concord is a bit dull, unfortunately.]

[virtuesignal]

Magic? I don't sense... any magic.

[Concord's idea of "magic" is deeply tied to nature and hauntings are... not really a thing. Curses are! He considers if this has the feel of a curse-

Well, actually, he'd rather not. He hates curses.

First thing is first, Concord puts firm hand to Olivine's shoulder, voice quiet and concerned,]

Are you alright? That must have been startling.

[hatefuldays]

[ Oh, she's tempted. The idea of feeling Weiss up while they fly is intoxicating, but by the time she's worked up the courage to consider it, they're back on the sand and the moment has passed. ]

Yeah... honestly, anywhere out of sight would be good at this point...

[ It's all she can do to hold out for the vaguest veneer of privacy before throwing herself at Weiss. ]

[dianxie]

Wow!

[ That's quite the haul!! ]

I'll take a drink, if that's alright. [ What a smart guy. ] One of the guards started cooing my name as he followed me around, 'Xie Lian! You're so kind! Be gentle with us!' So I bonked him on his beak with some driftwood.

[dianxie]

You tried to fight the sun?

[ He squints, guessing as he eyes Sunday. ]

I'm guessing the 'Sun' was someone you didn't like very much.

no worries! i barely noticed jfkalnfe

[laserguy]

[Nope, he's definitely not going to warn her that she's about to drink a whole glass of water instead of wine. This is what he wanted anyway. Is it a little bad of him to take advantage of the situation? Maybe, but good cause and everything. Sometimes, you just have to be this way when accomplishing something.]

It's okay, you don't have to be good at this right away. No one is expecting that. We can work through this together.

[He tries once more, although he can't help but be a little impressed when she knocks back the entire glass with one big gulp. Scott just politely sits as he watches her drink until there's nothing left. She'll figure it out soon that it wasn't alcohol-- oh, yes, there it is.]

So it was. [...He's a little amused, he's sorry--] Quite refreshing, wasn't it?

[Please drink more water.]

[noholdsbard]

[ Don’t mind him while he follows her like a lost puppy, then.

Especially since he’d just gotten this bright idea— ]

I can be your friend. I’m sure Master won’t mind, and my fellow Knights would be so jealous—

[ Or just…you know, concerned.

For her. ]

[virtuesignal]

We don't know if this place is safe, Ali. I'm not resting if you might be in danger.

[No matter how cross he is, Concord will always put his life on the line for Ali. No matter what. Sure, this place seems picturesque, but there is something wrong about it. Deeply wrong. To simply go back and rest seems like a trap. They should be alert and aware until they know what is happening...

Concord jumps in place as his watch rings- it's the welcome message! Baffled by the realization there is a strange shackle on his wrist, he lifts it between them- the voice cheerful;

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-" it goes on.

Huh.]

[snakelace]

Now now, seduction is hardly worth considering when it’s already a foregone conclusion.

[ One who’s already turned many heads in this beach, he’s noticed. Including his, because he’s not fucking blind, and she has a certain way about her that makes it very difficult to refuse her anything…

Which is just perfect for shenanigans— ]

I mean what I said: bring a certain stubborn fellow to his knees, and I’ll forever be in your debt. But of course, you’re also free to refuse.

[smokeandglasses]

[Ali also jumps as his watch rings, he had completely forgotten about it until this moment.]

A....5-star resort?

[Why are they here of all places, they have work to do!]

There's no way Mipsie didn't do this to us.

[It would be just like her, to see Ali and Concord fighting and push them together at an exclusive resort to get them to kiss and make up.]

[wholefoods]

[Far be it from Mina to ask too much of someone trying to help her. She would be appalled if receiving help were at the detriment of someone else. Even so, Ashiro cannot deny how grateful she is to receive the simple kindness of the robe draped against her bare skin. A small touch of modesty in an otherwise immodest scenario. It is, if nothing else, a relief.

Though the way Rahu's hand ghosts along her spine does make Ashiro's skin shiver and come alive with gooseflesh.]

It seems everything in this place is ridiculous. Nonetheless, thank you.

["I will wait patiently for your return," seems like it would be odd to say since Mina has... literally no choice but to do that. Instead she will simply accept what comes her way and deal with obstacles as they come. Even if being alone brings its own anxieties, Ashiro would never let it show outwardly.]

[virtuesignal]

Mips... [Concord growls, clearly agreeing with Ali's assessment. Sphinx are usually only capable of conjuring up illusions, but Mipsie is... unique. New. Special for her kind. A product of the modern age... somehow she must have been able to do this, right?

Not that Concord doesn't appreciate the sentiment, but what of home? What of all their shared responsibilities!? Concord is fuming, in his usual, quiet way...]

I don't know what to do about this. You are the clever one. [Concord doesn't do the thinking, he does the feeling and the fighting.]

[snakelace]

[ Since when do you follow the rules— ]

Heheh, you’re quite forward, aren’t you? But perhaps you shouldn’t raise my expectations like this…

[ He’s still a customer who needs the upsell, after all! But he’ll just content himself with taking in the scenery for now—and by scenery he means Kleken’s tentacles, as they perform their various duties while Baizhu follows this completely suspicious man inside.

Double dog dare you to make it spicier— ]

[snakelace]

[ He watches her for a while, wondering how much of it is the drink talking, but…

Ah, well. If his experience is anything to go by, these things tend to force out the truth rather than conceal it. So he smiles back, warm and genuine, as he nudges his own drink aside.

He’ll deal with it later, if it ever comes to that. ]

It’s hard to say…half a year, perhaps? Time moves strangely in this world, after all. Sometimes I can’t even tell if I’m awake or dreaming.

3

[rovescio]

[At least, in the chaos here, this place has a decent bar. She’s not really much of one for swimming, because she hates having her tail soaked, but whatever.

She’s just nursing a drink — either a Seaberry Floradora or Blackberry Rosemary Glimmet, dealer’s choice — when someone approaches. She flicks an ear.]

Can I help you?

[When Clorinde reacts, Texas hardly bats an eye.]

I get that a lot. [Granted, they usually do recognize her and she’s brushing it off. Either way, she’s used to moving past it.]

[laserguy]

[If his friends showed up... that's a little complicated, but he fully knows how he'd feel if any of his students showed up.]

I'd be extremely concerned if any of my students showed up. [Especially some of the younger ones. Scott might just have to break all of his own rules and blast the walls apart just to find something if someone too young showed up. He already feels some discomfort to know that teens have been brought here.] I honestly can't promise to be fully rational about it.

[He shakes his head. Hopefully he didn't speak it into existence.]

And I wouldn't want my friends to be trapped here, forced to play a game against their will. [A light breath leaves him, leaning just a bit closer to Weiss to shorten the distance between them.] Perhaps it would make things less lonely, but I'd like to think I'm not so selfish to put my feelings above their safety.

[...] Is that how you feel?

[defendog]

I don't know. I was never assigned a room, for starters. Just like now.

[ and he knows that aak has his own. that's the major difference between them, as far as he knows. ]

So that might be the biggest thing. I wonder if that'll change this time around.

2

[tfy]

[The smell of those meat skewers and the smoke rising from the booth don't make for the most pleasant of atmospheres. So why is he hanging around?

Well, first of all, some of the fruit skewers have strawberries on them, and he's watching to see if any of the people eating them are suffering any effects. If not, he'll buy some for himself and his stage partner, who loves strawberries!

And two, watching the "cook" bumble around and suffer various misfortunes is sort of amusing. It's odd, though. The staff are useless when it comes to things like "doing something about how gross and illegal this whole operation is," or "telling them what happened to disappeared guests." But they're usually competent at basic stuff like cooking and cleaning. So why does this staff member keep suffering so many mishaps? It's almost like...

His thoughts are interrupted by the woman reclining nearby. Skewer in hand, she seems to be watching—and thinking about—the same thing he is, so he smiles and shares his own thoughts.]

It's almost like he's been cursed. Which can happen around here, but I didn't think it could happen to staff...

[Was this J's doing? Or does this one man happen to be useless? The issue nags at him for some reason, but he puts it aside for now.]

You haven't tried any of the other kinds, have you? The rabbit didn't sound good anyway, but I'm curious to know if the fruit ones are safe.

[defendog]

Yeah. I kind of do a little bit of everything. Pays the bills, you know?

[ an employee of lee's detective agency, which really does any job that's requested of them. hung might be trying to fix the pipes in a client's bathroom one day and in the next, he could be acting as a bodyguard for his partner aak. or he might be doing some surveillance on a beach! funny how that last example feels a little too on the nose for him right now.

shame though--- bakugou seems like he only knows as much as hung does, which is okay. as okay as it can be, anyway... ]

Well when you put it that way it's only a bad thing. And I guess it kind of is, huh.

[ hard to have an optimistic point of view. ]

[comfypillow]

[ The thumb brushing against this back is both soothing and maddening. Quincy squints, tightening his arms around the priest, while trying to decide how to handle the sudden influx of intense feeling pinballing between his ribs.

What does he need? The forest guardian is temporarily mute as he turns his face in, rubbing the curve of his mouth against the other man’s neck. Irrational desires ebb and flow; he is able to recognize them as such but unable to push them away. The passing seconds only make it worse.

It isn’t surprising that the priest would make such a kind offer. Quincy exhales, dryly amused at himself. ]

Don’t look at anyone else. Don’t talk to anyone else. Stay with me.

[ He speaks slowly, eyelids lowering to a close as he drawls the sentiments that have been burning through his system since the moment he laid eyes on the other man again. There’s a tinge of something sardonic when he follows up with, ]

… unreasonable.

[ Yet the grip tight around Olivine doesn’t relax. ]

[smokeandglasses]

[It's true, Ali is the one who can step back and look at things logically. And while he would like to blame Mipsie and just be done with it, he has to consider all possibilities first.]

Our first step would be to find the check-in desk and try to leave. If this is just a normal resort, they should understand that we're government workers and aren't on leave at the moment.

If there's something more magical to this though, then we would have to meet the conditions of whatever being put us here. If that's Mipsie, then we might really be stuck here until-

["Until you apologize" is what he wants to say, but he also doesn't want to get Concord riled up when he's naked and they're possibly trapped in some magic spell. ]

-until we work out our differences and make up.

[wray]

[ What Concord suggests is not too farfetched for someone like Six, given his strength, but he can only shake his head. ]

I doubt it. I held it like I normally would. I wonder what's going on...

[ Steve is looking at them both helplessly, but then goes back to lamenting about his thirst. Woe is him. Will someone ever manage to help him quench it? ]

Should we keep trying?

[comfypillow]

[ It’s almost a relief, in fact, that Rei is Just How Rei Is as usual. Even if all of his talking is tiresome and his shenanigans often troublesome, he’s somehow become the lesser troublesome thing in this situation. There are too many people around and way too many excited staff members trying to push him into beach games and fraternization. People keep approaching him and asking to do shots off of his abs. Someone even grabbed his ass.

Unfortunately, what the researcher describes is even worse. Quincy is silent as he stares at the other man in vague disbelief tinged with distaste. Using his cock isn’t a problem, but going around talking to everyone and actively pursuing them for the same of some card game? Is this some annoying prank of that old fox’s? He would certainly think so if that fox’s essence weren’t absent.

The hulking forest guardian’s brow furrows. He does remember that deck. Wasn’t it decently thick? ]

… that’s more than troublesome. What if we don’t do it? [ ah, wait. this was for Rei. he holds out the watermelon he had taken a bite of before to test, ] This is for you too.

[ There will be no mercy for Rei’s stomach. If Quincy has to use his dick, then Rei has to eat. It’s equality. Don’t let this butt watermelon go to waste. ]