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

[gettingmilk]

[Soundless is the spread of indignity. The cherried stickiness Baptiste shares makes Sid's clothes appear clingy and unwilling to part with the burnt man. They do so only because he moves ahead of them with his eyes on his true prize. The gesture is met with what could pass for a small and a chuckle that almost costs Sid his cigarette.]

I'll take that gamble.

[Feet move forward and water fills the gaps that exist between each toe. Rough hands then undo the remaining buttons of Sid's shirt. They carry it lower and knead fabric against each other until a final scrub restores the shirt to its original coloring. Sid lifts the cloth to wring it of most its moisture. The salt of the air corrupts the taste of saliva in his mouth, and Sid swallows once before maneuvering beside Baptiste to wipe his face.

He nods at the question.]

I'm what you call a citizen of the world.

[Sid starts with one cheek, his fingers overtop the shirt tracing the shape of Baptiste's eyes without ever touching them. The stickiness is wiped from one side and then the other before Sid unfolds the shirt and sets it atop Baptiste's head like a towel. He ruffles it around with more precision than initially appears, withdrawing only to dab at the remaining foodstuffs off blonde strands and returning the shirt to the sea.]

I don't choose where I go, I just end up there and make it a home. I also help people find theirs.

[At the last line Sid pulls himself up with the freshly doused shirt. He frees one hand from the task to take hold of his cigarette again and breathes out slowly towards the sea.]

Those things treated you like a stranger earlier...You have somewhere else you're from. It would be natural for you to miss it...Or be glad you're gone.

[orobashi]

You dove after me when you can't swim?

( That's her understanding of this, and as touching as it is, as warmed as her heart is from it, the smallest frown on her lips shows her concern for it, tone adopting a gently scolding edge. Very gently. )

I appreciate your concern, but do try to be more careful. This may not be a real ocean, but there are simulated currents that can sweep you away with ease.

( Again, her eyes fall to Kirma's body underneath the water, noting the desperate way he keeps himself afloat, not unlike a dog who's just learning. )

You're doing quite well, for an unfamiliar environment. The surface here is a little more pleasant for you, right? ( She offers a smile, now. ) Or, mm... Your fur may still be weighed down by the water. Would you like help back to shore?

[softstoneheart]

Heeeh, real deal noble peeps have it tough in their own way.

[ His Family seems more strict than Asta's anyway. Imagine being so rich you can buy whatever food you want, but you're limited to specific things. She doesn't envy him at all. Conversely, it makes her frown in concern. But at least it's an easy fix. ]

The stuff I've learned is pretty basic: Salads. Soups. Pancakes. All kinds of pancakes. Potato pancakes. Wheat flour pancakes. Sweet. Savory. They're super versatile.

And if we're done here, we can go pay the bunnies a visit downstairs!

[ Seems like Sunday will get to see the chaos first hand. ]

[shanksyourfeels]

[ Even if it's fake, it doesn't matter, as long as they make the most of it, that's how Shanks looks at it, at least. It's a beach, and he's going to do all the beach things! While he can, of course. ]

[ All three of them (Shanks, Buggy and Nami) are displaced from their crews, now, and it hurts, a sharp pang, but Nami's experience of it is far more fresh. It wouldn't matter how Shanks put that sentence, it stings. ]

[ Shanks tilts his head and raises an eyebrow before he grins to Nami's words. ] Works out better for me, then.

[ He easily makes himself comfortable and leans back once he's on the boat. ]

[dissonyance]

[ he doesn't like the way that getian looks at him. something about how the miemeng's eyes seem to pierce through him in a way that goes beyond noticing him. it's like he's staring directly into leaks' everything. it's unsettling. the ribika feels like he's being put on trial, scrutinized for all that he's done. all that he might do. the past and present both creating scenarios for his future. what does getian see? he would like to know and also not know. why else would he say such a thing and then ask a question like that?

gathering his thoughts for a moment, leaks shakes his head and glares back at getian. who does he think he is prying into what he's gone through? even if it's only glimpses, guesses, some kind of cursory glance. his life has always been private and never to be told to another living creature. only one deserves to carry on his memories and that one will also suffer having to know. to have the entire story cripple him until his last day.

a parting gift to the child of his beloved. ]

My fate. That there was a step past oblivion that I did not anticipate encountering. My world rejected me despite my best efforts.

[ his tail curls behind him. at least a part of him continues to feel like it needs to do something. ]

Now it seems I will continue to wake up in a different bed, in a different place.

[blastedass]

That doesn't mean shit!

[Does he seriously think that merely introducing himself equates to knowing him?! What the hell kind of life did this guy come from? Following him around after he got drugged doesn't endear him to Bakugo any easier. A deliberate machination, watching him eat that crap, knowing what it would do, and not saying a damn thing until it was already too late. Esikko said he'd been there from the start. Bastard. Once he gets this damn shit out of his system, he's gonna bury the pink-haired prick in a sand coffin!

That offered hand earns a sharp glare from the explosive hero as he moves into the shade, trying to fight the rising heat inside. Ever since the other boy said those words, reality he doesn't want to face has been pounding in his head, a mocking red throb of what his physical wants need. What he's not willing yet to deal with. Bakugo notes that healed-over scar with little more than filing away as trivia for another time.]

Don't you dare look down on me! No one's tearing me apart! [He'll blow all these potential lions sky high! The flattery of "catching his eye" is juxtaposed with the mild pity insult. Someone really needs to work on his "help or hinder" balance.] I'll outlast this damn drug without a fucking problem!

[hatefuldays]

Slow, okay. I think I can do that.

[ The instincts screaming at her seem to have gotten a bit quieter now that they've decided to have sex about it. She can manage slow, in theory.

Being used to taking the submissive role, *Hyun-ae lets Weiss take the lead, returning the kiss eagerly. As she does, she reaches back and undoes her bikini top; rather than falling off all at once, it clings to her chest for at least a moment, giving Weiss the option to take care of it herself. ]

[smokeandglasses]

[This is horrifying to hear.]

But why?

[He's pretty sure humans don't go into a heat or rut, there's no reason for them to be so needy that they can't find somewhere private.]

[smokeandglasses]

[Wait until he discovers the sex-pods. Concord is going to have to help him investigate that.]

Huh...You know, you might be onto something there. A glass tempered to be a different color at different temperatures, perhaps? So the warmer it is, the darker they get. But it would require a special kind of glass...

[There's still a decade before modern sunglasses are invented, and even longer before transition lenses become a thing. Maybe Ali will help pioneer that discovery in their world after seeing them here.

He goes on this tangent for a good ten minutes before he realizes they're back at the beach and there's tasks to do here.]

Oh, right. We should be....mingling, I guess?

[counterblowing]

[He's...patronizing her? The kneejerk reaction to that thought crawls like a fog up the base of her spine, spiderwebs of it threatening to wrap her nerves in rejection. A kicked, abandoned dog hating the boot that struck it but wanting to cling to its owner's side for as long as it can. No, maybe the kindness is extended without strings attached.

It quells, hazy, and as Rahu's own emotions ebb like the tide, she starts to filter between what is her and what's being activated within her.] So this is one of the ways this place can toy with you, huh? [Her teeth and her ankles both chafe together in unison, one to quiet her mind and one to quiet her body.] What a pain.

[She's mollified by the knowledge that he'll stay. The turmoil in the distance doesn't fully go away, but it never does. Some things are simply a part of you - forever.]

... [Rahu presses her spare hand to her thigh. Her body is much more forthcoming than her words. It isn't all she needs, but -] It's all I can ask of you. You're already caught up in this, and I still can't be sure what's real.

[senku]

Putting on a public show isn't my thing. I couldn't tell you exactly what's going through their heads.

[Finally, his expression shifts to one serious enough to be suitable for discussing public indecency.]

Something I can tell you, is sometimes you can't help it.

[He's not trying to scare him, but when he talks to someone newer, it feels like his duty to pass along a little of the knowledge he's picked up over the past months.]

[laserguy]

[Maybe it's a small thing that's unnoticeable, but Scott seems just a little more open compared to their last interactions. Maybe hard to discern, given that he's always been a little more easy and relaxed around Hawks, but in the last month, he's just been allowing himself to actually connect with others. Nothing too deep, since their presence here is only temporary, but he isn't as fully bogged down by expectations and guilt.

So, there's not much hesitation on his end when he closes their remaining distance, their lips lightly pressing against one another as he gazes at the other man through his glasses. It really is so easy to just slide back into this with him, isn't it? Stupid charming bird--]

Don't be too greedy, Hawks.

[He mumbles against his lips, before fully pressing into him with a kiss.]

[catmemes]

[ And well...fair enough, really. Kai can't even complain too much because it means they were easy enough to scare off, but it does mean that he's going to have to been on the lookout for future issues, huh.

He does have an easy solution for that, at least. Even if it does mean he's getting an uncomfortable amount of sand in his fur. The thought does make him cock his head in his new friend's direction, though. ]

Have they been bothering you?

[ Considering they seem to be giving the cat a wide berth now, his general vicinity seems to be a bird-free zone. Someone should at least get something out of that. ]

[keyeju]

[ The only thing Narumi has ever cared much about when it comes to his appearance is looking cool. He doesn't need to look physically attractive for that either, though there's something particularly insulting about the assessment of not terrible looking that would make him wish she'd just call him ugly if she was going to grade his looks at all.

He tilts his head as he considers her sudden question that follows that declaration of getting out. ]

Narumi Gen, but you're gonna have to sober up a little before I agree to it.

[ Talk about hubris. He's really making a presumptive leap about what she wants from him. ]

[loosestrifes]

( It's the sort of reaction he expected, and so he withdraws his hand easily, even as he steps into the shade. He can see what Bakugo's logic is here, what he's hoping to accomplish, but he's always found it so laughable, trying to stubbornly run away from the whole idea of this place that was strong enough to warp them away from home. )

I believe you're misunderstanding something. The drug is far from the only thing that will affect your body here.

( This time, at least, his voice dips a little lower, out of his teasing playfulness he's been harassing him with the whole time. Esikko is wearing a buttoned up beach shirt, too ashamed of the scars on his chest, but he has no trouble rolling up a short sleeve to show his heart tattoo, a slightly darker pink of vine-like windings in the shape of a heart. )

Should they manage to check you in— and this isn't up to you, I'm afraid— you'll get a mark similar to this. ( He drops his sleeve back down. ) You're not going to be able to wait out every time you feel like this, and if you try to, it's only going to get more intense until you can't anymore.

( Again, he folds his arms, shrugging his shoulders. )

I'm not looking down on you. I'm only speaking from experience.

[catmemes]

[ Well, he's not wrong. Strange as Kai's life has been, this is a new one even for him. It wouldn't surprise him if they're all being very deliberately messed with, but this is all very elaborate for a prank.

In the end, all he can do is shrug. ]

Something like that for me too. But I think all we can do right now is play along.

[ Or stand around looking confused, but nobody can blame them for that. Right? ]

[morarchon]

[ A stranger knowing his name isn't too unusual—but a stranger here knowing his name? Zhongli levels a thoughtful look on Navia, but after a moment he decides there are more pressing matters to attend to first. 'Not well' only ever really means one thing in this place, after all. ]

Come sit in the shade. It may not help, but at least you won't be dealing with the heat as well.

[ And he offers a hand out to her. ]

[counterblowing]

[As Hilda's hand passes her face, she might be able to feel the quickening of Rahu's breath against her wrist. Her mind is crossed by the quick-fleeting urge to grab that one, too, so that she can pin them both at once. It's followed by the subsequent urge to pin her against the side of a food stall, where they might be free to forget about everything else. How easy it would be to hold her there with her legs around her waist... Rahu bites her own lip quickly.]

It's almost all I can think about, [she admits, her voice thick like it's tied down by the hot sauce from the grill.] What a distraction. Still, I'm used to worse thoughts. [Used to losing control to anger, she isn't sure how she feels about that same control slipping through her fingers to the desire to feel skin against skin, to pin for something other than violence. Once more she leans forward, bringing her lips close to the shell of Hilda's ear as she inhales then exhales against her temple.]

If you'd like to take this somewhere, I'll accompany you. But if we get any closer, I don't think I can come back from that. [It's slightly threatening, but only as a warning. How hard it is to think of herself as desirable rather than dangerous. It's been a while since she was more than weapon, a shield.]

[tfy]

I've found out some stuff, and I think I'm close to a breakthrough, but it's hard to tell since some people are awfully stingy with information. Right now I'm on a quest for some bar owner—she said she'll tell me something about how the place works if I just do one thing for her! And last month these diary entries were found scattered all across the place—they were written by someone who got brought here against her will a long time ago, just like we were. And then there's some bloated alcoholic called J who's been here a while and knows some things, but he's such a useless person that he's not much help. That's why I think it's for the best that we all help each other. Some people know how to sense spirits or use magic, so they've been able to do some digging into how the resort functions.

[He rattles all this off without pausing to go into detail about any of it. Or to take a breath, really. But at least he's a good sport about being peppered with questions! It helps that he likes talking.

Even though the subject matter is less than enjoyable.]

There are all kinds of stores, including ones that sell ingredients. I don't really cook for myself, though. That's what Jun-kun, my partner, is for! ♪ So he'd be better able to answer your question than me. But they did have a big "welcome market" shortly after we arrived, so maybe they'll do the same thing now that they've kidnapped another batch.

[In response to the flower comment, he smirks slightly. No, Bakugo doesn't look a thing like someone who's ever stopped to smell the flowers, so that was a tease. But it's also a fair warning.]

Not really, but you never know! ♪ It's best not to judge a person by their looks too much. That's how people get swindled.

[And now onto discussing the monsters.

Bakugo's reaction would not have been Hiyori's if anyone had been kind enough to tell him that stuff after he arrived. But honestly, if this guy can handle himself, then it should be handy to have someone like him around. They sure could've used him last month when all those crawlers invaded the lobby! Hiyori had to be rescued twice from those.]

I don't like seeing gore, but good luck with that, I guess. It'd help relieve stress, it'd be a public service, and you'd get to show off your flashy powers to everyone, so by all means, feel free to take care of the monster problem ♪ Perhaps your show of bravery will win you some admirers!

[Though whether or not the long-term guests and staff will admire him depends heavily on his "rank."

... which is probably something Hiyori should also explain. Ugh, it never ends.]

[bountyfull]

Good enough, I guess.

[ He shifts a little so he's sitting up on his elbows, then up further so he's sitting similarly to Ches, but with his legs crisscrossed. ]

Beaches and oceans are a newer concept for me. [ It's not exactly something he's used to seeing. While it's definitely novel, the extras that came with it were things to avoid rather than participate in. Sort of. He gave his best honest go at the scavenger hunt at least? His gaze slips back up towards the fake stars for a minute. ]

Wore myself out, anyway. [ There's a shrug as he laughs and tilts his head a little. ] Don't let me keep you from resting. I can be quiet when I need to.

jots that down on my itinerary

[unionized]

I see. Not bad luck, just the wrong place at the wrong time.

[There are so many questions one could ask about a society that finds a need for both an underwater prison and someone like this to administrate it. It occurs to him after a moment that he's not really sure what his subconscious even means by "someone like this", and truth be told he's not going to think too hard about it.

It's truly a strange feeling, though, when he's asked what his occupation was in return. It's so strange being in a place where people don't just look at him and know. To say nothing of the fact that, well — he's never actually had to explain it before, either. His dear old dad had made sure Shinra was a household name, a fact of life. Why would a Shinra ever need to explain himself to begin with?]

I own a company. Electric power.

[That's the simplest and arguably most literal way of putting it, at least.]

The last fireworks I saw were for me, actually.

[unionized]

Not considering. Just observing.

[And arguably only because he hasn't quite assessed yet what value the good doctor might be to him, aside from just another potential ally in a place where he's got few resources to begin with. Still, there's no use in doing it without a good reason, so why bother, really.]

Besides, I've already gained an advantage from your company. After all, those featherheads are nowhere in sight, mm?

[virtuesignal]

[Having missed Ali's chattering, Concord simply walks and listens, lulled to a calm with the other man rambling on and on like he does. The unicorn would fall asleep in dull meetings about finances, but listening to Ali speak passionately and enthusiastically was something he didn't get annoyed with, not ever,]

I need a drink- [Concord mutters, before stopping in his tracks, arm still wrapped around Ali's waist, holding him a bit tighter at the question,]

-Wait. What do you mean mingling-? Ali, are you ready to indulge this game of theirs? Just like that?

[unionized]

[Ah, there's that — not a trick, an ability he was born with. There it is again, dancing around his eyes. So it's spurred on by emotion in some capacity, is it? That's a reasonable hypothesis, at least, and Rufus silently files that observation away for later reference.]

No interest, even if it means you wind up disadvantaged because of it?

[keyeju]

[ If it's not one that Fuuta is familiar with, at least he's not alone in that. That warm sensation is settling uncomfortably in Narumi's stomach and chest as well, less pleasant for a man who might not be as... acclimated to the going-ons of The Golden Peacock himself.

It's still a low enough simmer that he can fix Fuuta with a flat look at the suggestion, before shoving more potato in his mouth out of petty spite.

A move that would definitely be a lot better if he wasn't letting out a few more coughs before managing to choke down the lump of spud. God, he didn't even enjoy eating that, but he had to on principle. ]

Quit overreacting. I'm fine.

[ He isn't, but in a way that has nothing to do with choking. That squirming sensation is starting to grow now, settling as a different sort of heat starts to creep up on him that has him furrowing his brow, before stealing the rest of Fuuta's water. ]