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

[theidlemaiden]

[ She had only begun to feel the scratch of scarcity as the edged closer and closer to the Alliance's doorstep. War isn't exactly a conducive environment for spoiled noble children who were used to having lavish things. It's entirely likely that she might learn a similar lesson here too though it hasn't occurred to her think about it yet.

And why would she when it's probably more interesting to watch the woman contemplate her choice. Had she not been watching her she might have missed the way that her eyes crinkle slightly in the most curious way.

Before she can think more about it however she's made her choice. ]

Well, as a friend of mine used to say a little mess is nothing for good food.

[ With a cheeky little tap of her skewer against her companion's, Hilda bites into the succulent meat allowing the sauce to melt on her tongue. Her eyes flutter blissfully closed as she hums. ]

You have to try this after.

[armwriostle]

[He laughs at that, a bright grin on his face. He raises his hand to show that there's no ring finger.]

We're not. Are you thinking about it or something? [It's a playful tease though. He doesn't think the other wants to actually be married to him and he doesn't think he's ready to be marrying near strangers anyways.]

I would hope that if we're having a honeymoon, we'd have better accommodations than bunk beds if I'm being honest. If you want it to be, though, I can humour it. [He winks.]

[armwriostle]

[As he turns to check on the other, recognition immediately arises. He kneels down to help brush sand off the other and help them back to his feet.] Really, are you sure you're not a guest here? With how often we've ran into each other, I'm honestly surprised.

[Twice is a coincidence. Three seems too much. Still, he's glad he found the other as he did.] Are you okay? They didn't hurt you, right?

[armwriostle]

You're giving me some mixed messages, sweetheart.

[But he stays put, letting the other appreciate the view of the boxer on his knees, cradling their cock in his hands.] You haven't seen perfect yet. [No, there are reasons he got to his knees. He starts to run his tongue over the length of Eiden's cock; switching between pressing kisses or licking it.]

I told you, a full service, did I not?

[holeinwall]

[ She's a little better about making noise, only because she gasps then quickly clamps her lips shut. Having him stare at her had been overwhelming enough, but lowering his mask just about did her in. He's still willing to do that? Maybe he doesn't completely hate her guts, then. Or...maybe he does. Even with his avatar's face to work with, he can be hard to read on a good day. Unless he's showing extreme emotions or linefacing at her, he's a mystery.

Well, he isn't so much of a mystery right now. Even in the dimmer light of the stars, she knows how he feels. His expression has her wondering if a wave had just drenched her and left her shivering. For a split second, she considers turning and running, not stopping until she's gotten to her room...

But she's still there.

Her eyes are the first to break away, her hands coming together to fidget while she gazes out at the rolling waves. It gives her some time to build up her courage. Courage, and some irrational feelings. She wasn't the only one that messed up here. He played with her emotions! Pushing him away was solely for his benefit!

Suddenly, she's making her way over, lips pursed. As she drops down next to him in the sand, she remains silent, again focusing on the waves. What to say, what to say...? It's tempting to start off with hostility, but that's not going to do anything to help an already bad situation. Something more neutral, then. ]

This isn't exactly what I pictured when I talked about us sitting on a beach.

[armwriostle]

Kaiju? [The word rolls on his tongue with a certain foreignness. He isn't sure exactly what it is, but he gets the feeling she doesn't realize that these guys are just sad bullies at best.]

Ah, ah. I don't think they're what you think they are. Do they really seem like a threat? You'll find that the staff here is a little unique here and there. They have some mermaids too, though... [Honestly, maybe if she saw those she'd realize the staff on the beach are a little...well, there's no dull moment.]

Come on, I think he's really learned his lesson. There's no need to do more.

[counterblowing]

[please don't ask she is having a very bad time about it]

I don't think he's thrilled to be working here. [...Or here by choice. This man baking away in the heat seems cursed in an impossible and mean-spirited way—just another funny performance to make the higher-ups cackle. There are so many faceless "thems" here, people she hasn't seen and about whom she knows nothing, but Rahu does know she's likely to be working against some of them no matter what happens.

To say nothing of the fact that she just doesn't have the time for all of this.]

This feels like bait, putting this guy with this delicious food out here in the center of it all. But until we know what we're up against...we can't move forward.

[She doesn't want to see anything happen to this other girl, so instead of watching her stumble into whatever consequences wait for them, she'll get answers alongside her.] You're hungry, right? So we'll eat.

II

[massochism]

I—don't think that's the kind of thirst they were referring to, if I'm honest.

[Concord will never save Steve from his plight even so, but there's something... cute, almost, about how immediately the man misunderstands and moves to help. in that way, he reminds him of someone else... well, in any case, he himself has only been watching for a couple of rounds of this, and has somehow sidestepped too many propositions despite the location.]

You looked like you were en route to something though—is everything alright?

[lieabilities]

[ The number of pecks have lessened with Vil's timely scolding, not enough for Kleken to feel anywhere near comfortable (that number was zero), but certainly enough for him to try and get some distance between himself and the literal birdbrains searching his body for a snack. Though, it doesn't seem that the more stubborn of the group will be letting him go anytime soon. ]

[ Those ones are squawking in indignation and trying to cut Kleken off from his escape, cawing something about 'their snack' in the process. A title he can't say he's very fond of. ]

They don't seem very keen on listening to me, I'm afraid.

[schmisse]

[ That sure was a display of skill! Weiss really was expecting Topaz to tackle someone, but this isn't so bad either!

Weiss has once or twice may have caused forest fires. Nothing wrong with that, right...? ]

Woah! That was intense!

[ She looks at Topaz, awestruck. It might be worth checking out already, but she stays in her place for now in case the lifeguard isn't completely knocked out. ]

[peacewithouttyranny]

[When Monika breaks her gaze, his eyes droop down to the sand. He should hate her for what she's done to him. She played with his emotions. Even if her irrational idea and giddiness came from the fruits, marriage shouldn't be the first thing that popped up inside someone's head. And then she had the gall to make him leave at the end, how it was better for him to leave and not be attached. He feels he should hate her for that, but he couldn't. He can't ever hate her. And he's not even sure why himself.

It would be far easier for the both of them if Monika had just walked away. She can be content with having someone no longer becoming too attached to her, and he may accept that she doesn't like him anymore.

So why is she walking over and sitting next to him? Doesn't she hate him?

Complicated feelings arise in his chest, but he's not about to show them aside from the hurt she caused. His eyes flick to her, then they fall down to her hand. If things were like before, either one of them would hold the other's hand without a care, but not anymore. The desire is still in him, but he stays his hand.... he doesn't want to make the situation worse or awkward than it already is.

He's silent for a few seconds after her neutral start.]

No. It's night, so we missed the sunset. But there is still the ocean. [It's hard to tell if he's making a joke or an attempt to lighten the mood. His tone is even, monotonous. He's back to guarding his emotions like how he was before when they first met. But he remembers her exact dream. So simple and small.]/small>

[relentlessbeauty]

I cannot say I'm surprised. If they are like most staff, they can choose to ignore your complaints if you're low enough in rank.

[Not that he knows this stranger's rank, but how often do they have seagull lifeguards on staff around here?

Regardless of the complaints from the lifeguards, Vil keeps up with the group as they try ushering Kleken further along on the beach where they won't be bothered.]

Don't you have other guests to dress down? Or maybe you can do your job and keep an eye out for people who are drowning?

[The next lifeguard that bends over to peck at Kleken gets an axe kick with a sandaled foot to his broad, muscular back. It probably doesn't hurt the musclehead much, but Vil follows up by grabbing a handful of feathers from the back of the lifeguard's neck and pulling them out. Startled and pained squawks fill the air.]

Go on, get out of here!

[Whether he's talking to the seagulls or Kleken isn't clear, but his voice is stern.]

[experiment01]

[A tiny laugh is all he gets in response. She doesn't seem bothered by the rejection, merely smiling up at him in amusement.] Aw.. really? A damn shame. I wouldn't mind you smacking my butt. [Was she flirting??? hell yeah, she was. And why wouldn't she? Sae didn't see anything wrong in some harmless fun. She greatly enjoyed seeing the reactions she got out of him. Despite his seemingly gruff appearance, she has never seen a man turn so red so fast.] ..BUT that's okay too, I guess.

[She hums a little at his words, head tilted to the side curiously.] I don't care about that stuff either way. The scavenger hunt is fun!

[As they walk across the beach (or more like skipping for Sae-) it doesn't take long for them to get close to the floating bar. She pauses to squint up at Ragna, reaching over to give him a little pat on the arm.] Wait here, I'll be back! [ Breathing in and then letting it out, Sae wades into the water, wings rustling at the cold sensation that seeps into her skin. There weren't many people mingling around, so it was easy for her to sneak in close to snatch a cup from someone who was not paying attention.

She even manages to swipe a pair of sunglasses left on the counter. Oohh.. this is my lucky day! This is her gleeful thoughts as she turns around to quickly make her way back to the beach and Ragna, her grin wide on her face.] I got a drink! And I also managed to snag a pair of sunglasses too.

[holeinwall]

[ She snorts, some mild amusement in it. ] Always the optimist, aren't you? Such a "glass half full" kind of guy.

[ That's clearly a joke on her end. Someone's got to balance out his lack of humor. Not that she should be thinking like that...

A sharp sigh is pushed out through her nose, then she pulls her knees close, clutching her legs tightly. It helps stave off the desire to touch him. The urge is so strong, it physically hurts. Touching was their small bit of normalcy amongst the growing mess piling up around them. But she can't. ]

It's nice to see the ocean, though. Well, an ocean. But I guess it's real enough right now. I'll take it.

[ Beyond that, their reunion is nothing like what she dreamt of. It's not sweet. The atmosphere's heavy. Uncomfortable. She's constantly on the verge of spewing hateful words at him, only to stop herself before she can, letting out quiet huffs instead. While she likes to think she's good at hiding her emotions, her skills are no match for his. In comparison, she's an open book, no empath powers necessary.

Her body tenses up further, which is saying a lot with how tense she already is. He's so annoying. He makes being normal impossible. The worst part? This has done nothing to change how she feels about him. ]

You could've at least said goodbye.

[ She sounds like a petulant child by saying that. She doesn't care. ]

[peacewithouttyranny]

[Soundwave avoids to her look at her general direction, lest the urge to touch her will just keep poking at him, over and over. Her joke doesn't get much of a reaction from Soundwave. Not even a amused huff anymore. The uncomfortable and awkward air makes it nearly impossible for him to find any amusement from Monika.]

You make it sound as if I know when I am going to be kicked out by the resort.

[He chides. He actually stuck around for two days. However, two days wasn't enough to heal the wound. Even now, the wound is still there for him to be over with. But that's not his actual reason for not seeing her again.

He's hesitant to add, griping his own arms harder. Then:]

I wasn't sure if you wanted to see me, anyway. .... Those stuff I left in your room. That was my way of saying goodbye.

[Though it's supposed to end in a happier note when he disappears, but... Look, how it turned out at the end. Reality often doesn't play out how any one person could envisioned.]

[endyourstory]

[ It's stunning. The way Falin drops, the way pulp and juice splatters across the tarp. The weight and power behind the movement is exciting, even if it honestly looks a little silly.

Kiana cheers, clapping excitedly. ]

So cool!

getian | reverse: 1999 | current player, new character

[wingbeats]

I — IT’S FREE REAL ESTATE

( as a miemeng bird, getian is not accustomed to sleeping in a bed. as his mind slowly bobs towards consciousness, he begins to register the discomforts of confining a largely avian creature to such a place for rest: dull cramping in his wings and legs, an ache in his spine, an awkward craning to his neck. strange. all strange. miemeng may be gifted with the ability to read the way others’ pasts inscribe themselves upon the shapes of their bones, but he doesn’t need such an arcane skill to know he’s neither where he should be nor resting in a position that’s right for him.

his mismatched eyes finally flutter open. sunlight as thick as golden honey streams through wide windows, painting his alien surroundings in light and color. he is immediately aware of the beat and melody of muted music coming through the walls, though it’s like nothing he’s ever heard before—it’s an odd sensation for one who has dedicated much of a very long lifetime to song, like attempting to fall into a dance always performed only to find that one’s partner follows the steps of something completely different.

as soon as the reverie of sleep is shed from his mind, it all becomes immediately alarming. nothing of it is safe and familiar, and so it must be the human world. why is he here? he tries to move, to get out of the bed he’s been lying in, but the movement is strange and awkward. getian is lucky he’s on the bottom bunk of this bed—it means he doesn’t have fall to far, though he does so with a sizable thump followed by the sudden, wild, enormous sounds of large wings beating in the air as he tries to right himself. talons scrape against the floorboards as he gets up and into the air. he very nearly ends up flying into one of the windows, stopping himself only when the light shifts in such a way that it shines over the glass. what? is he trapped? why? who trapped him here?

for anyone else who might be in this particular bungalow: ever had a bird in your room? this is a very similar experience, except his wingspan is well over two meters and those claws certainly look like they can kill. best of luck! )

II— ACROSS THE NIGHT SKY

( as he has done for the vast majority of his life, getian watches the festivities at the beach from afar, roosting in whatever architecture he can find with a decent enough vantage. the time he spent in pei city only further exacerbated the dichotomous feeling he gets when looking on towards humanity—though he has chosen seclusion for a very long time, it is natural and innate for the heart of the miemeng bird to yearn for their world. everything about the summery celebrations seems to him a bright tumult, a riot of color, laughter, and music. he still isn’t sure how he feels about their “music”—if one can even call it that.

getian is still far too cautious to approach them outright. the closest he gets is when night has well and truly fallen. the fake “sky” spangles with constellations that he has to guess are just as fabricated. still, there are some he recognizes, even if the relative positions don’t seem accurate. he frowns. it’s a good enough metaphor for the facsimile this place presents as any—somewhat familiar, but in the wrong way.

the miemeng is most easily found during the firework show, when the sudden bursts of colorful light illuminate the beach—these might, too, illuminate the figure of the huge bird with the torso and head of a man who perches atop the eves of one of the bungalows. regardless of what he’s paying attention to, he seems to sense eyes upon him; as soon as someone fixes him in their gaze, he turns to do the same, wary but also… hopeful? no, he doesn’t say anything to greet them or move to get any closer (or fly away)—but there’s something about him, be it in his eyes or his expression, which speaks to how much he suddenly feels he wants to. )

III— (NOT) TUMBLING DOWN

( he has already observed the so-called end of this “ocean” for himself—he has seen its lie, which hides behind its disquieting facade. the water careens from its manufactured shelf, cascading into the abyss as if it were the very edge of the world itself. getian’s keen eyes could make out the dark, leviathan shapes of machines in the depth of the water, studding the walls of the abyss. their churning sounds are a sinister undertone to the music playing. once he has seen it, his vague curiosity curdles into something almost betrayed. that the sky and the ocean are both lies, and these gardens too orderly and manicured by mortal hands—it is both stifling and depressing to him to consider.

but just because getian has cured himself of his curiosity doesn’t mean others don’t seek to sate their own. as he is accustomed to doing, he observes—or, rather, he observes until he feels as though he can no longer be an observer. one of the strangers has ranged beyond the part of the water sectioned off as “safe,” and now their small shape moves quickly in the increasingly-rapid water, speeding towards the edge and—he doesn’t know. that is an unknown he hadn’t wanted to discover, and so how could he allow someone to plunge toward that discovery, even if it were the cost of their curiosity? how could he, now that he has seen a young woman leap across a broken bridge as a lushu, to deliver the people’s prayers to the silent gods on the other side?

as one hurtles into space filled with nothing but dark and the roar of rushing water, another hurtles after them. getian flares his wings and extends his talons, doing so with odd gentleness. a person is not as heavy as a horse—even working against their downward velocity, it’s not too challenging to get them aloft and into the sky once more, slowly angling toward the distant beach. )

Try not to move. ( like his grasp with those cruel, curving talons, his voice is oddly gentle. ) I don’t want to drop you.

( getian is over 600 years old! ota for smut and gen, no restrictions on age or gender. anyone interested in taking things in the direction of smut should be okay with xeno/inhuman anatomy, as the lower half of getian’s body is avian in nature. if you have questions about other kinks, feel free to pm me! )

1

[endyourstory]

[ Well, Kiana was trying to placate the couple hounding her with compliments - it's been quite a few years since she was the sort of person who picks fights that don't need to be fought. If someone else was at the mercy of these gulls, sure, but she's confident in her ability to talk her way through this one for once.

But then she hears an order shouted in a tone that's all too familiar to her. Before she processes what she's doing, old instincts take hold - ]

Yes, ma'am!

[ - and she drops low, catching one in the gut with a solid punch, followed by turning on her heel and rising again to elbow the other in the beak in one practiced motion. ]

[holeinwall]

I know you don't know that! That's not the point!

[ Her teeth are grinding together so hard, those words almost didn't make it out. She's upset that he can't know exactly what she wants, that he can't seem to stay permanently, that he can't laugh at her jokes anymore, that there's so much he can't. Why does it feel impossible to go back to the way things were? ]

Before you walked away, you could've said it. I can't hear your voice on a piece of paper. [ Her hands drop to her sides to dig into the sand. It'll hide how hard they're shaking. ] The last thing I got to hear you say was an apology. Like...all of this was a mistake.

[ As if she hadn't implied that it was. Everything went downhill because of her. She ruined everything. She's so good at breaking things, after all. ]

I'm glad you left everything you did. It was better than nothing. But...

[ He could've done better. He could've hurt her less. He could've stopped wanting her. He could've never said he wanted to marry her. ]

Never mind. Forget it. I don't even know why I came over here.

[ Having faith and waiting for him seems to have left her with nothing in the end. ]

[peacewithouttyranny]

[As if you didn't make it sound like it was all a mistake. That's what would've come out if he hadn't but down his tongue.

Why couldn't she ever admit that she was the cause? Why does she keep initiating all those moments they had together, and then made it all out as if he's the one at fault? Misery leaks out on his face and voice, along with frustration.]

If I had said my goodbye to you, I fear that... It might be permanent.

[Or, is that what she wanted? For him to be permanently gone. To no longer be some sort of obstacle in her life. He couldn't even tell what she wanted from him. He thought he knew, but clearly he interpreted wrong.

Maybe he should've just read her mind? Shouldn't that be easier for him to know what she wanted? His own morals and principles get in the way of him doing exactly that.

And it seems that he's upset Monika again. Perhaps.... He isn't a good a friend as he'd thought.]

I wish to go back to how things were for us. For us to be friends again. [Not even as lovers. Just a friend is enough.] I just... Do not know how.

[If she wants to leave him still, then he won't stop her.]

tumbling down (or not)

[extramortem]

( ooc: o/ hi again! a very different character this time, but we threaded together at noctium! i was shinsou there. hope you're doing well! )

( throughout the entirety of bakugou’s daring escapade, makoto is resting on the beach, legs extended into the gentle lap of the surf with his arms propping him up in the sand behind him. after the unrelenting energy of the day—be it others trying to either goad him into helping him with their scavenger hunts, or try this dubious cocktail or that equally-dubious kabob, or the occasional maneuver he has to do to avoid the ire of those ridiculous seagull lifeguards—he’s more than content to actually enjoy the peace and quiet of time kept to oneself. there are many things about the golden peacock that he prefers to where he was taken from. of course, he’d literally been taken out of hell to come here, so that goes without saying, right? but as terrible and sometimes hopeless as his situation in hell had felt, there was at least the partial freedom to step outside. when makoto had thought that his world might fall apart, and himself with it, he had stood on the balcony in the brisk cold with the demon who had claimed the last of his humanity. he’d attempted to smoke, then drink, and then he’d cried, but now when he thinks back on it, all he can think is that it had been fjord’s compassion and the bite of the night air which had saved him then. it had allowed him to bend, rather than break.

that first and only friend he’d made in hell wasn’t here now, and it just isn’t the same up in these upper levels of the resort, no matter how advanced the illusion is. there’s just something missing in the simulated sun and the modulated wind; it’s missing in the feeling of the sand and the salinity of the false sea air. even still, he knows it’s the closest he’s going to get. he tries to absorb it as much as he can, for all that it’s worth—even if, as a facsimile, it’s not worth all that much in the end.

looking out to sea, makoto pays witness to the tail end of the other teenager’s misadventure, though his weak, formerly-human eyes don’t allow him to make out many details at distance. he sees bakugou soar as a speck from the horizon, followed by a strange, sporadic tail of pops of light (explosions?), before leveling out and slowly getting larger. coming closer? at first he’d thought it was some weird malfunctioning firework, but if it’s coming this way—by the time he comes crashing back down into the water, he’s close enough for makoto to tell it’s another person. his eyes go wide, and he sits up. as luck would have it, the section of beach where he’s sitting is exactly the piece of shoreline bakugou arrives back to.

his eyes are still wide when he does, wide silver discs like coins shining out of blood-red sclera; it would seem he’d seen at least part of what had happened. )

Decided to be part of the fireworks? I think you’re a little early.

[holeinwall]

[ She scoffs, then fully turns her face away. Before she can stop herself, her meaner, deeply selfish side becomes more apparent than it ever has before. ]

So what? At least I would've gotten what I wanted.

[ The moment that's left her lips, regret swiftly sinks in. Bitterness has been building up in her for so long, it was only a matter of time before she involuntarily spit it out. Normally, she'd be quite shameless about that. Her needs have always come first.

Her face dips down, pressing against her legs. Why can't she be that shameless with him? ]

Sorry. I didn't mean that. [ Well, she did in the moment, but not now. Not as much, anyway. ] I don't know if things can be like they were. I don't know how to fix this.

[ Being a friend is so tempting, but she knows she'd want more. She always wants more. ]

All I know is...I can't control myself around you. Being together is only going to make things worse. [ She slightly lifts her head, wearily looking over to him. ] Not when I know you wanted to be more than friends.

[ Just like she does. ]

[abyssmade]

[ Childe isn't sure if Enji is new to the resort or just new to its shenanigans or what. But all right, hard sell, he knows the type.

His dangerous comment was mostly joking, but it also gauges something: does Enji see himself as dangerous? This guy is huge! And clearly built like a tank! That doesn't immediately make him dangerous, but surely he's strong. Childe just likes that in a person, so of course he's curious. He's never been secretive about his own strength, but his danger level is a lot less without his Vision. He isn't actually a danger to most people at the resort, though.

He shrugs. ]

Maybe. Last I can remember, I was dozing off, so…huh. Is this some kind of a dream?

[ He hasn't had any dream share sorts of things happen to him before, but he wouldn't put it past this place. Actually, it's not the worst thing that could happen. There's all kinds of things you could do in a dream that you couldn't in reality. But this is…just the beach. ]

Well, you wanna look around? The way we wake up is probably the way we do anything in this place, but there might be something we can jolt awake with.

III

[abyssmade]

[ Childe is facing away when Navia approaches him, studying his own list of tasks to accomplish. Some are easier than others, but some of this…cup of cum? Seriously?

He sighs.

Her words break through his thought process and he turns, familiarity hitting him. His eyes go wide with surprise. ]

Oh, hey! A familiar face. I do enjoy winning, so…why not?

[ He's aware she might change her mind, all things considered, but he's not too fussed about that just yet. ]

across the night sky ✨

[greyate]

[ Jean is still walking around this beach, thinking this is a dream of some kind. Some fancy casino, all these people walking around with cards assigned them? The ... seagulls and fish people?

Though, maybe Jean has experienced enough strange things that this really shouldn't be all that different from the norm. Shouldn't be, yet it feels unreal to her. She feels weirdly untethered and out of place here.

The bathing suit (a two piece) fits her just fine - a decent shade of green, thankfully - and things seem to be calming down as the sun goes down. She doesn't trust any of the alcoholic drinks, but the water and juice at least goes down easy. And while she's had people try to flirt with her, Jean just smiles politely and keeps walking up and down the beach, trying to find some kind of familiar face.

She already has a boyfriend back home.

At least, she thought he was back home.

Finally, after multiple trips up and down the shore, she finds that familiar face. She just didn't expect it to be him. She barely hears his words - the fireworks and her own heart are too loud in her ears. ]

... Scott?

[ Jean hopes she said it loud enough. Not shouting or yelling but waiting for a break between blasts. She needs to know it's actually him and not a trick of her eyes. ]