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

[macaronage]

[ Now hold up a minute. ]

Research? What kind of research are you conducting, exactly?

[ Because there's no way she's going to agree to anything even weirder than what she's already been roped into. ]

[skinstitch]

You're not paying for shit. ( muttered, irritated--and he makes sure of it, his free hand lifting to make sure that the bartender understands it's an order of two, not just one for the one that kajiyama's thrown back, and that they're on his tab for the evening. it would be easy enough to turn on his shitty attitude and ask for something back: funnily, he would have considered asking for kajiyama's shirt in return, which maybe does show how much the guy knows him, now. that's a terrifying thought.

still, even as he works to finish his own drink in anticipation of his next, he can't help but feel a little--well, vindicated. a little relieved. kajiyama doesn't ask, and continues on, and maybe that means he won't have to tell him anything further, maybe that means he won't be interested. it's a story that ends in a terrible way, anyway, in all the ways that he thinks someone like kajiyama will hate: all the crimes, all the plans, all the murder, all the villainy. who's going to keep fucking a guy that wanted--and still wants--to murder his own brother in cold blood? to do anything necessary to make his father suffer?

it's a relief, getting kajiyama to keep talking. to keep spilling his secrets. quiet things that he thinks kajiyama hasn't told anyone else, here--and some greedy, nasty little part of him trembles in excitement at the thought. he's always tried to have some lackadaisical air to their interactions, as though he could care less where kajiyama spends his time, who he lays under, who he talks to in the late hours or when he can't sleep. maybe that's always been a mask for something else, or maybe the liquor is doing something to him: he feels keenly pleased that he's the one here, on this makeshift date, listening to his secrets; he feels like, boldly, he's the only one entitled to them. the only one who should have his arm wrapped around him like this, curled in against him like the wolf circled around little red riding hood.

a machine to prove one's guilt, then? no, something like that couldn't exist. if it did, how would it differentiate the actual guilt from someone's feelings? their perceptions, their thoughts, even their memories would be warped by their own view: or maybe that's the point, in the end. if kajiyama--and the nine others, a sobering number--believed themselves to be guilty of whatever they were accused of, would that not be more important than standing trial in front of a jury of unknown people? naturally the warden could make their own determination based solely on their own beliefs, but why have the machine at all, in that case?

he's mulling it over, considering, his palm sliding, fingers curling in at kajiyama's side, as though to snake him in closer--he knows he should ask it, the question that kajiyama has to know he'll ask: guilty of what?

but he doesn't get the chance. one drink, placed in front of kajiyama, and another few beats later, his own. he's used to drinking a lot--kajiyama already sounds a little slurred. )

...Half-Cold, Half-Hot. ( it's hard to even say the words: they grit through his teeth with a slow drip of ire. ) Ice, to combat the fire. Fire, to combat the ice. To keep balance. Can't overheat or get frostbite if you use either one too much.

( his chin ducks a little, his head tilting in towards kajiyama's, like they might touch there, temple to temple; like they're capable of saying sweet, quiet things in against each other. and maybe they are, maybe they would be, if they weren't both digging into the worst things either of them could want to share; his free hand moves, palms itself open between both of their glasses, wrist bent back against the bar's edge.

just one blossom, one quick puff of blue flame, arced up in a sizzle of smoke past his fingertips before he clenches his fingers in to put it out. )

They fucked up. We'll get to that. What were you guilty of?

[macaronage]

[ Oh, sneaky! Navia likes the way he thinks. ]

Pleasure to meet you, Rei. You know, I'd considered that the rules were a little vague, but it hadn't occurred to me to just... buy swimsuit bottoms.

[ Mostly because she doesn't want to incur the wrath of the seagull lifeguards and get strapped into a pillory if they decide that her interpretation of the rules was a little too loose. ]

If we wanted to stick to the rules a little more closely, we could buy some in advance and then offer to swap them out with people. Surely that would meet the requirements.

[ The rules also didn't specify that the nudes couldn't be tasteful, either, and Navia's hair is long enough to cover all the parts of her a dress would normally conceal. ]

oh my

[onikoro]

[ that and really, it's hard to ignore that gaze on her. stelle's pretty herself, and seems to know how to treat a girl anyway. she can feel her knees getting weaker, hazy from the different clashing substances in her body. she can't help the giggle that turns into a grin on her face, her hand tracing along the other woman's side. ]

Would ya even make it anywhere private? We do got a pretty good thing goin' here.

[lieabilities]

[ Kleken's certainly not oblivious to the implications here, not when he has the same requests on his own list to complete. That someone would request such a task of him had also been a possibility, but he hadn't expected the... forwardness in this request. Or should it be the shamelessness? ]

[ What a wonderful thing that his own sense of shame was twisted as well. ]

[ He takes the offered glass to make a show of looking at it, letting his eyes slide over to the other man afterward. ]

Right here then?

[massochism]

Of course, I'd be happy to.

[personally, he doubts this is anything Concord is doing wrong, but he's also aware that saying so changes nothing, let alone the determination. so he trails along beside the taller man, noting his gait and how it informs his likely being correct. taking as many as he's given is easy—he would be able to take a whole crate, if they decided to.]

[befehl]

( His flesh appears like any other this up close. He wonders if the texture will be just as warm as a person or if it'll be - well - he gazes down at the rest of his shiny shell. His wings lift in unison to him rising higher on his tip toes, pursing his lips rather performatively - like in the movies! He presses them to his cheek, smooching a little too loud before lowering back down. )

Ahem.

Was that satisfactory?

[izanagis]

[In moments like this, it's almost kind of a shame that Yu isn't from a later canon point, because right now, he's absolutely not used to having an audience like this. They're cheering, they're whistling, they're practically foaming at the mouth, and they're all clearly hyped up to see whatever show these four are about to put on.

It's... Look, he'd be lying if he said it wasn't intimidating. But you can't let them see you're afraid, either. Isn't that how you're supposed to deal with bears?*

(*advice not recommended when dealing with bears)

As much as Yu is neither an expert camper nor a Bear Whisperer, he can recognize a setup when he sees it, and putting the spotlight on them like this? Definitely a setup.] Ignore them, [said as an aside to his partner.] They're trying to rattle us with all the attention. Not like it'll work, right? [... Whether he's feeling that confident or just bluffing, it's not unconvincing.

(Boy, does he hope he doesn't screw this up by not knowing what he's doing.)

Oh. He's got the ball. When the hell did he get the ball? ... Doesn't matter, looks like he's up.] Leave it to me. [And just like that--

BA-BA-BA-BOWWWW!!! goes the DJ airhorn as the music pumps louder, bass thrumming, and for some reason there's party strobe lights going off too, which isn't distracting at all in the slightest, now is it? Only marginally less distracting is the announcer, who --I guess this is appropriate-- announces:

"LLLLET'S GET READY TO RUMBLEEEEEEEEEEE--"

Which sounds fine and good, until one of the other lifeguards sidles over and goes, "Dude, really? What is this, the 1980s? Can we even SAY that? I thought it was, like, SUPER trademarked--"

--Which is all just an aside and not at all important to the main action, which is that Yu serves the ball. What, that's it? Really? Yeah that's it, what, do you think I know anything about volleyball? Boy hit ball, ball go whoosh. Their opponents may look like they'd get distracted by something as simple as an errant french fry (in fact, one of them has to tear their eyes away from someone rather distractingly eating a hot dog) but they both snap to attention as the ball flies in their direction. Looks like the game is on!]

[pyrolyzed]

I wasn't giving you shit? I was just ... saying things.

[ Oh, he doesn't even want to start imagining what the punishment might be.

And, like. He knows the, like, logical thing to do here would be to offer his help? A part of him wants to. Wants to say, 'well, I'll help you out, so be grateful.' But also, the mental dissonance of offering his semen like it's something useful is bad enough to stopper up the words in his throat. Fuuta ends up just awkwardly squirming in place for a moment, clearly considering saying something before changing his mind and instead muttering, ]

... if you're trying to get that much -- stuff, then wouldn't it be better just to be honest? And say you're asking for help with it.

[belheir]

[Impressive eating speed... Kazuya hopes for his sake none of that is drugged!

To his question, though...

>Nope. No more tricks.
>Wanna watch me pull a rabbit out of a hat?
>Act offended.]

What, healing isn't impressive enough?

[It's more the playful sort of offense, at the very least. And he's not taking the stick, but he will gesture to it.

I'm trying to conserve energy a bit, or I'd put that wooden stick into one of the seagulls asses from here.

[starcinoma]

I don't know what that word means.

[ haha, stelle! you and your deadpan!

...god, here's to hoping it's a deadpan. ]

And I don't really like getting hurt. [ she remains conspicuously quiet on the other side of things. ] ...outside of the basement that one time, I guess.

[swearfilter]

[This is absolutely not what he would have expected of Sunday, but that's exactly what makes it so funny. Boothill tries very hard not to laugh at the little performance and when Sunday pulls back, he's grinning widely.]

'Course it was, that should do just fine.

[Boothill clears his throat (which is probably not necessary given he's a cyborg from the neck down?) and tries to get his expression back under control.]

You just get here too? How's the place treatin' ya?

[cartographie]

[ Two displaced pirates reveling in the illusion of beach. It's what they've fallen into together up in her suite, why not drag him onto a boat and complete the facade of normalcy now that she's spotted him down here as well? Shanks looks at home as ever, and after their time hiding out together, both recovering from hurts neither one wanted to talk about, it almost feels right taking him out on the water.

It's a blessing her back is to him after he mentions his crew, allowing her to hide the wince that momentarily darkens her expression, hearing that word. ]

Oh? [ She sounds both casual and resolute at the same time, determined to brush the momentary ache in her chest aside and press on, knowing once she's out on the open water they'll be fine. ] Who says I'm going to let you help me sail my ship?

[ Nami looks over her shoulder, smirking at him, challenging without their being any real bite to her words. ]

[relentlessbeauty]

[Is that a good or a bad thing... On one hand, it's a nice gesture, but the fact remains that they both know it was pretty easy to crack (read: destroy) a watermelon with a metal ass.]

I better get out there before I overthink this.

[Sandals off. Shirt off. His hair isn't anywhere as long as Boothill's, but he's still going to make sure it's properly tied up before he steps away.

Jumping on the watermelon doesn't hurt as much as he thought it would. He knows how thick melon rinds can be, so it's no surprise when the watermelon pops out from underneath him when he doesn't crack it.

He has a better idea on what to do for his second try, but it's still somewhat a surprise when he successfully cracks the melon. A medium payout is better than nothing after getting melon juice and pulp all over his back and legs.]

either dogshit or hella stellar no inbetween

[jakdf]

[ You know, he'd been doing his best to try and make sense out of what he remembered dealing with last, and what this place had him involved in.

Because the last thing HE remembers is Ashiro saving his life in so many words.

He kind of sets his jaw a little, despite having momentarily flailed a little at the abuse his neck is getting. ]

Dunno, kinda thought it was all a dream you know? This is surreal and doesn't make sense. [ He pauses. ] Because I WAS dealing with Nine before I woke up here.

C'mon Captain leggo that's starting to really hurt!

[swearfilter]

[If you thought you heard a particularly metallic-sounding cackle from the crowd after the first attempt, no you didn't.

But Boothill's clapping as Vil manages the second try, adding a few whoops for good measure. The other beach-goers seem pleased with the show as well, cheering on too. Once Vil's back, Boothill's grinning and not just in amusement.]

Hey, not bad! Ya did better than I thought ya would!

[counterblowing]

[Six months. It's sobering. Angering, even more than that. There's a mote of rage simmering inside her, the frustration at being waylaid for that long when she was so close threatening to bubble and break.

Rahu is understandably still suspicious, and her expression as she looks back to the skewers currently over the flames reflects it clearly, light eyes piercing.]

So I could be your babysitter instead? I don't know how I feel about sitting around and seeing what kind of trip you end up on... I don't have time for distractions. [The thought of leaving him behind to deal with whatever happens on his own...well.] It'd be a chance for me to learn what happens and for you to have a level head watching over you.

[Those are about to be famous last words, however, as Rahu is approached by a deus ex machina convenient and perhaps untruthful staffer swinging by to chastise her: no free seats. This is how Rahu ends up holding a new full order of skewers and drinks, forehead creased.]

...Well. [She clears her throat.] Do you feel any different yet?

parasols!

[izanagis]

[For someone like Yu, the hearts suit is a bit of a curse. He's not sure when everyone else fell away, or how, but he feels it acutely in the pang of loneliness that threatens to wash over him like a wave. In the sudden feeling of standing at the edge of the world, or maybe the afterlife. The increasingly desperate way he tries to seek out other people. Thoughts of home that almost overwhelm him. In spite of the warm sunlight shining down, he feels a chill run through him.

It's a lot. He doesn't love any of it.

He wanders the beach for what seems like ages, and when he does finally find someone—it's Scott, lying with closed eyes under the bright sun. He'd be relieved no matter who it was, but the fact that it's someone he knows makes his heart feel a little lighter, too.]

I dunno, [he says noncommittally.] It is pretty bright out here.

[Of course he knows that's not what Scott meant. Of course he has to give him a hard time nonetheless.]

[massochism]

As you like. Admittedly, I've only been here for six months or so now, but I will do my best.

[if nothing else, Sunday can at least rest assured that Olivine will do all in his power to ensure he's comfortable. but his question draws attention to the building, and the pause speaks volumes before he does.]

The... academy? It's actually here...

[honestly, he's not sure if that's more or less concerning than everything else. he doesn't feel that much trepidation, at least, so with a nod, Olivine takes a step toward it.]

It's as good a place to start as any. [a wry sound escapes him.] We shouldn't get lost inside, at least.

[relentlessbeauty]

[Laughter is part and parcel for making a spectacle of yourself. Vil can steel himself against that for the sake of a game, but he huffs and flushes a bit as he regroups with Boothill -- and it's not just because of the heat.]

I'm just glad all I had to do was crack it.

[He grimaces as the sand sticking to his feet slide around in his sandals, but it soon turns into a smile.]

Now then. I think we both deserve to clean up, with some extra chips in our accounts.

hihi!!

[endyourstory]

[ She silently stares Firefly down for a few seconds, the expression on her face as close as a human face can get to the lazily annoyed sort of look a cat that was woken up wears. Who is this girl? Surely she misspoke. Surely.

But, no. Once it's clear that Firefly meant what she said and isn't budging, "Kiana" sits up straight and leans in. ]

Do you know who you're speaking to, worm?

[jakdf]

Took....

[ Kafka stares at this guy, dropping his own offered hand up to stare at the empty (???) hand. ]

Took it? Uh. Took what?

[ He looks from the guy to the food vendor and back again. ]

They took your food?

[tfy]

Yep, 90 floors! ♪ They don't know the meaning of "less is more" here. And they must be expanding, since I distinctly recall it was more like 80 floors when I got here. The elevator buttons didn't go up into the 90s yet. Anyway, I don't know how they're doing all this, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's no machine and they generated everything with magic. Or with "powers." I'm guessing no one in your world has a Quirk that allows them to transform their environment, though. That sounds less like a power and more like a cheat.

[As for that last question...]

I'm honestly not sure. It seems as though someone ought to have tried by now. I do know someone from my world tried tearing down the "artificial view," but he didn't have much luck. He doesn't have special powers the way you do, though. Then I heard from one person who does have powers that there's some sort of force field or enchantment surrounding the place. That might explain why no one's done anything. That, or everyone's too busy being distracted by things like beach parties and "Game 52."

[Which he'll namedrop, but he won't explain to Bakugo. Someone has to be the bearer of bad news, but he'd rather it not be him! Instead he'll strive to keep the mood from getting too dour, fixing Bakugo with yet another smile.]

Which makes this the perfect time for a hero to step in. Don't you agree? I think someone like that is exactly what we all need right now.

[jakdf]

[ ah.

Shit. The mess all over this guy is totally his fault isn't it? Crap. He looks frantically for a towel or something and finds one almost immediately. He holds it out while laughing a little. ]

Heeeey woah, you really had a front row seat huh! My bad my bad.

[ Wait. ]

You're gonna eat ALL this watermelon?

[cartographie]

I was living on one like this before I ended up here, I was a navigator on a ship heading to the Grand Line.

[ The way he returns his focus to his drink catches her attention, leaving her following suit, pensively taking the first sip of her cocktail before venturing to say more. ]

What's it like where you're from? Hua Cheng told me you had a temple.