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

[thisclockworkheart]

[ What a potent cocktail his words make, and Pinocchio drinks them with the same slow savor with which he fits his lips over Akechi's to lick the taste out of his mouth, one soft, languid lap across the velvet of the other boy's tongue. It starts off a chain of them, kisses brief enough for the breath he can snatch between them, syrupy-sweet and soft.

He joins him on his knees in the sand, his steel prosthesis creaking as he wraps it around the curve of Akechi's back, dragging his body flush with his.

Can a puppet become a human? Can it experience 'love'? He hopes so, and every action here is steeped in learned behaviors around romance, the way that he cradles the back of his head when he lays him back on the soft, sunset-drenched sand, like he's something precious and delicate. The reluctance with which his lips part from his mouth to gaze down at him through the veil of his doll-like lashes, the tip of his thumb tracing the kiss-bitten shape of Akechi's lips, propped up over him on the creaking length of a steel prosthesis. ]

I could be that for you again. I could pretend. [ He could perform for him, like a puppet—

But proving he's so much more... His hand turns Akechi's face aside, baring his throat to his lips as he leans down over him, one lean thigh pushing his legs apart, the wet of a tongue against his skin as he kisses down his neck with lips sinfully parted. Pale fingers splay over his chest, feeling the shape of his body through his shirt, fitting them between buttons to steal a glancing taste of his bare skin before he plucks each from their holes to part his shirt open. ] Would you like that?

[ One day, he might even give him the chance. ]

[silicone]

You—

[ his expression says it all, that he's more than thrilled at the idea of "full service" and whatever it entails. he bites back a laugh of relief as tongue and lips find him. his head tips back and he breathes out in a soft whimper instead.

he strokes through his hair with his fingers, one hand sliding down to brush fingertips against wriothesley's jaw for sensation's sake, stroking slowly while the other holds a little more tightly into his hair. ]

Ohhh yes, thank you— [ a stifled gasp ] —mmmgh Your Grace...

[silicone]

[ you can be a cat and a bird it's called a tressym. ]

I... [ ok this is a bit much for him. he has to still process this, but in true eiden fashion he will just push his own personal feelings of distress down in favor of someone else. easy. done. it's better that he gives this info to someone who might have better luck figuring it out ] ... sorry, I don't have any interesting data for you. As far as I'm aware, there wasn't much I could feel or see or anything.

[ just rock. ]

III - (Not) Tumbling Down

[molotovmoustache]

[Each moment spent in this 'resort' wills another mystery into the back of his mind. These swirling questions lead to fewer answers - especially with the general sense of deference found amongst many of the resort goers. Such a blanket of condonation is a vibrant Red Flag Number 1 in the supernatural hunter's handbook, for those keeping score. Nevermind the more obvious red flags such as curses, aggressive birdmen, and the lingering touches of specters..

These strange circumstances leaves Baptiste to lean on his more foundational lessons: Don't Be Obvious(as supernatural beings tend to hate whenever humans try to blatantly pull back the veil of trickery and influence) and Absorb Everything. The recall of even the smallest detail could save a man's life - and so Baptiste explores, participates, and intermingles in hopes of flying under the radar while he finds his footing.

And thus, the spirit of inquiry is what pushes him past the line of safety in this vast 'ocean.' A quick dip under the surface to avoid the prying eyes of power-tripping gullguards before he would crest the surface once more an continue his observations of just what might be worth hiding in this place that had so clearlty spirited him away. Or rather, that was the intention. Yet as Baptiste's head breaks the surface of the water, there is a rush of power around him that begins to pull him in the direction of the depths. Sea water forces its way into his sinuses as the man quickly turns to try and swim against the increasing rush of a riptide towards... The water continues its pull as if Baptiste wasn't attempting to tear his way out of it. Limbs attempt to swim in a way to cut the current, and yet with each intention to change direction - the rushing tide tosses him like a rag doll.

Overexertion begins to settle in the man's muscles as he chokes against another wave of water that overtakes his head. His own thrashing and fighting keeps him from registering the roaring sound of tumbling water or the drop until it is far too late. The sea water overtakes him, sending his body plunging over the edge. Darkness quickly begins to overtake from the corners of his eyes and Baptiste grits his teeth as he prepares for impact.

He won't die. He can't die. Not just y-

The downward trajectory of his body is suddenly stopped not by a violent collision in the dark - but instead something incredibly inhuman grasping him at the waist. Just as Baptiste's body begins to wrench, ready to fight against whatever monster came out of the dark to grasp him - he hears a gentle voice that dampens his fight response. Aching muscles comply with the request before he speaks.]

That. That makes two of us I think! [His words are tinged manic, his smile not yet one of relief. Instead his smile is interrupted by a violent sputtering as his body rejects the very notion of talking just quite yet.

It is clear by the look in his eyes that he's fighting for consciousness - having been so gently plucked a black-out. He squints to get a better idea of just what had saved him (and if he were truly saved) - yet his swimming vision makes it an impossible task for the moment.]

[silversunshine]

[Huh. Minato reminds him of a mix of Sleepy Noctis and one of those silent protags from RPGs. It's sort of comforting since Prompto is used to carrying conversations on his own, filling the silence with his chatter as he continues his battle with the sand. Man he is totally gonna need to go for a swim after this.]

Yep, woke up with a hell of a headache and got accosted by some dumb buff birds. Heh I thought I was hallucinating until some lady comes out of nowhere and dropped the deets.

[Wait a sec... A thought occurs to Prompto before he pauses his digging and he looks skeptically down at Minato, relaxing back on his haunches. This kid isn't even helping himself!]

Seriously? You're making me do all the work? [He sighs and shakes his head.] I'm starting to see why someone buried you. Did you make someone mad?

[riskybeenus]

[He glances back at their now distracted pursuers, making sure they aren't following them anymore. He notes how quickly she had adjusted in their run, and while that could mean anything, at the very least it meant she was quick on her feet. Not someone who is new to changing tactics at the last second. It made her a little more interesting, and it made playing around like this quite fun. It'd be hard if he had to save her on the sand, after all.

Once he is certain, he turns back to her and tilts his head in the direction they were going, but this time from behind the huts. Surely they wouldn't be so interested if they're mostly hidden. No words yet though, not until they're in the clear.]

[armwriostle]

Oh, people don't use my title too often. I do miss it.

[Wriothesley grins something wicked, before concentrating on bringing pleasure to the other. He swirls his tongue around the head before covering it with his mouth and sucking on it; using his tongue to lap any precum.

After teasing the head a bit more, he starts to take more and more of the length into his mouth, hollowing his cheeks as he swallows around the length.]

[thisclockworkheart]

[ The Left Arm of Steel has always been in a state of disuse, as if plucked from the trash. Inventory destined for disposal is, presumably, scrutinized less when Krat's landfills overflow with discarded puppets and outdated technology. It works, and that's what matters.

This is hardly the first time Eiden has been hurled from the familiar into another world, and yet he proves his resilience each time. Even under the influence of what Pinocchio presumes is the House's meddling, whether through some hidden substance in the air, in their food or drink, or some other invisible source, he still remains calm in extraordinary circumstances, he still spares a thought for others.

He has a good heart. Like Wriothesley and Sasuke. They show their colors, too, in different ways, but the theme of kindness unites them. ]

This? [ Aware that he is that Eiden is a kind-hearted person, it still surprises him that he asks, Pinocchio glances at his prosthesis, closing and opening his metal fist, ] It's fine, [ is a lie, but not one that hides anything important. He does pause to answer his question with a sincere: ] ...Thank you.

[ It's much cooler inside the cabin, thanks in part to deep shade and the artificial sea breeze sweeping in through its veiled windows. Beads of condensation cling to a pitcher full of water, ice, and slices of colorful fruit, waiting to refresh visitors taking shelter from the simulated sunshine. The agitation is there in Pinocchio's now more experienced eyes, the way Eiden twitches shut the door with the urgency of the frustrated. He's been there more times than he cares to count.

...The House must want his return to arrive, quite literally, with a bang. It's sympathy for the unique agony of need and desire that makes his heart go out to the man, not a sense of obligation.

He reaches for Eiden's elbow, drags his hand to his wrist as he pulls him further into the room with him, ] More importantly, you're having trouble focusing, Eiden. [ He stops drawing him along until they're nearly nose to nose. He had intended to tell him more — about the little he knows when there's so much more that he doesn't — not drag him here to collect another card, and yet, knowing how much one can suffer (and he has suffered) in abstinence, he can't bear to see Eiden in any degree of anguish. ]

Let me take care of you.

[silicone]

[ ack pardon my random text breaks i'm on my phone struggling but pls know i love juicy tag time with you... aaaaa

anyways. pinocchio takes him by the elbow and he gravitates, feet stumbling, but catching himself before he can embarrass himself altogether. nose to nose like this, it's apparent his eyes are blown dark with a thin ring of light brown. his hands flutter a little, uncertain before he just places them carefully, if pinocchio lets him, on either side of his jaw, holding his face like he's making mental notes and committing something to memory later.

he doesn't want to be trouble and he doesn't want to be in trouble. but his focus is shot and he's being offered the only cure in this stupid place that's on tap. he loves sex, loves it, but the way he can't control it—eat to live but careful because who knows what's in your next meal—he's inwardly torn up about it.

he likes pinocchio—had liked him when they'd first met. he feels a little different now, something in his eyes? his words? his posture maybe... he's been here a while after all and he can only hope that maybe it's treated him better or that he's found a way to thrive more than be pushed around like another game piece. if anyone can do so, eiden knows a few who can—pinocchio included. ]

Sorry—I just... My head, I can't... my...

[ he's offered help and eiden looks like he wants to accept it. but he doesn't want to put a burden like that on the other. But instead: ]

Please.

III

[molotovmoustache]

[The commotion is what had drawn Baptiste near in the first place. The squawking paired with the sound of ruffled feathers promised him the perfect set-up to reassert just what link of the food chain he intended to be on in this place. Yet this place provides yet another surprise as a set of feathers is shoved into his hand. Baptiste blinks, turning to get a glimpse of the man who shoved stolen goods (he could only assume) off on him. Yet the thundering of footfall promises him no time to waist. So instead, he slips the feathers into the side of his little bathing bottoms as he turns around and opens up the bottle of water at his side.

He takes a swig of it as the lifeguards grow ever closer before he produces a lighter in his other hand. A flick of the wrist and an honest-to-god wink come together before Baptiste flicks open the cap to the lighter and grinds the wheel. Just as sparks begin to jump, Baptise spits his 'water' through it to reveal that the water bottle at his side is not water by any stretch of the imagination. Instead this clear liquid explodes into a ball of fire before these gulls, promising some singed down for their troubles.]

These are mine. Show's over folks. But, we could start a new one if you'd like to tango.

[Baptiste voice carries the natural projection and charisma of a showman. While he smiles, there is a glint in his eyes as he prepares a toast of flammable liquid again. The metallic click of the lighter's cap punctuates each unspoken word his manic eyes promise.

So is it really a surprise when a few missing feathers are begrudgingly regarded as a non-issue?

The firebreather offers the lifeguards a lopsided smile as they begin to disperse to return to more pressing matters such as a Group Caw - whatever that is. Baptiste works to twist the cap back onto his water bottle, eyes searching for the little sneak-thief that had shoved these feathers and the gull's ire onto him. If his eyes don't immediately catch someone, he'll whistle in hopes to attract the culprit back to the scene.]

b - whether it ends up gen or spicy probably depends on Weiss

[pyrrhic_paladin]

[Weiss had probably conditioned herself not to think every blonde was either Jaune or Yang. After all, what were the chances that she'd run into either of them?

So from behind, Jaune probably looked like any other blonde guy in swim trunks. Maybe a bit more muscle than some, but that's about it.

When he turned around, however, she'd come face to face with someone familiar.]

Weiss?! You're here too?

[snakelace]

A physician must always be flexible.

[ He shrugs, airily. Enjoy the free innuendo. If nothing else, it helps to hide the pain in his serpent’s eyes as he briefly recalls his late master, and his predecessors before him—every single one of them having died tragically young.

For a moment he shuts his gaze with a sigh, before glancing back at him with a much more sincere smile. ]

And I can hardly stand to ignore a person in need.

[snakelace]

Oh, it’s nothing terribly difficult. I can’t help but be curious at your seemingly boundless vigor.

[ As someone with absolutely terrible stamina he can only envy her for being so lively and bubbly like this… ]

I simply wonder if all that is enough to bring a certain man to his knees, that’s all…

[briarthorns]

[ If he were another assassin, she wouldn't have had a chance to even ask him whether he was one. This dawns on her as she stares at the stranger, holding his hands up in shock and panic. As he starts to peel his hoodie off, her defensive posture deflates even further. He's got to look away from her briefly to remove his hoodie... leaving himself blinded and completely vulnerable to her. Not to mention how hard he's trying not to stare at her body. Surely, no Westalia operative would do that, whether assassin or spy or someone else...

Yor hesitates another moment as she stares at the garment sitting on the sand, but she can't resist it now that she knows he isn't going to hurt her. With a gasp that's almost a sob, she stomps off the porch of the bungalow to snatch it up from the ground and hurriedly pull it around her shoulders. ]

Th...thank you! I'm sorry. Um, about throwing the chair! I'm so sorry, I was just... I don't know what's going on! I woke up in this little hut, and this watch on my Wrist started talking about being at a resort, but I don't know how I got here...!

[befehl]

( He didn’t think self discover would come to him from a place of life or death— and he can’t have the person he wants.

He collects the utensil into the empty cup, glancing up at her. )

There’s no need to be sorry. The unfairness of life follows us to the end and there’s nothing that can be done about that. Forgiving one self and spreading eternal happiness makes up for those regrets. Wash, rinse and repeat.

Do you have regrets here, Miss Topaz?

[defendog]

What?

[ does it really sound that ridiculous? hung tilts his head, pointing back down to his hole. it's certainly large enough for at least one of them to get into. he could probably widen it if that is what broca wants. still... it's hung's hole. so. ]

I'm just saying if you don't want to be here, maybe there's a way underground. Have you tried before?

[ or is broca anti-hole. the no-digging agenda. awful if true ]

no cap I missed your Eiden sfm

[thisclockworkheart]

[ The tenderness implied in how Eiden holds him makes the ticking heart in his breast ache, sweetly. He's a little weak to the trappings of romance, a challenge to the question of whether a manufactured heart can feel.

He also appreciates how this puts them on more equal footing — that there's some measure of care on either side of a thing that might all too easily become transactional. And it has been. The very rules of the Game make it so, but before he can let the mood be poisoned by his grave thoughts about the House and its machinations, his penchant for benign mischief rears its head. Eiden attempts to explain away his predicament, and instead of shushing him with reassurances...

The dextrous, slender fingers of one hand smooth over the shape inside his beachwear, boldly palming the soft weight of his balls, thumb tracing the curve of his cock through the filmy material as he tilts his head to angle his gaze into his, a lopsided smile carving a dimple into one freckled cheek. ]

I know. It's frustrating, wanting— [ on the downstroke of his thumb, his hand scoops deeper between his thighs, gathering his scrotum into his palm to give it a gentle fondle, the fabric whispering against his palm, and still he continues speaking, his breath ghosting across Eiden's mouth. ]

—and wondering, [ hooking his thumb inside the waistband, his bare thumb tip drags along the side of his cock, pulling and tugging at his warm skin, ] 'Am I the only one who wants this? Is it a chore to him?'

[snakelace]

[ Sir, you shouldn’t be flirting this hard until at least the second date— ]

You already come with one, don’t you?

[ An audience, that is. ]

Though I warn you, I likely won’t be as easy to impress.

[ He has seen Some Shit, sir. ]

[briarthorns]

[ Strangely, that doesn't really help that much. Yor isn't afraid of what this guy might do to her — she's very confident in her ability to kill him if he were to try anything. (putting any game powernerfing that she doesn't know about yet aside.) No, she's freaking out because she's naked and doesn't know what's going on.

But mostly the naked part. ]

W-Well, of course... what else would you call it?

[ Not bothering to comment on the being gay thing, as she quickly pulls the shirt on and buttons it up with impressive speed. ]

S-Sorry. [ That was pretty aggro of her, wasn't it. The button-down extends past her hips, effectively covering up most of her body above her thighs. This is an enormous relief, and she heaves a big, pacified sigh. ] Thank you... for the shirt.

arrival

[molotovmoustache]

[Baptiste stands at the shore, watching the ebb and flow of the tide. He hasn't put together all the different technologies that have gone into this elaborate set dressing because those technologies are a far-off dream in the world he knows. Instead, his intense eyes search for something he's far more attuned to: supernatural influence. While it's clear that he's been spirited away from the camp his troupe had set up for the night, the hunter works to puzzle how. An unruly fae who feeds off indulgence and taboo? An elaborate mindmaze from a bloodsucker? An illusion from a particularly talented mage? The list of possibilities stretched on - but whatever it was there was one thing Baptiste knew as a hunter.

If he was alone against it - he was in a world of trouble. Undeniable Red Flag #2 for any seasoned hunter has arisen: Don't be a hero. Never work against the supernatural alone.

Yet a sharp question pulls him from his thoughts, his brows raising in amusement as he barks out a laugh. He turns to better look at the owner of this clever little quip, only to find his eyes going upward to fully capture the visage of the tall woman. Her gilded bones do not escape his notice. His gaze lingers.]

Glad I'm not the only one asking that. Between waking up stripped of my effects and trying to dodge the glances of birdmen - I was starting to wonder why more people weren't asking that very pertinent question.

[Baptiste's eyes finally tear away from the skeleton arm, instead rising to get a better look at her face. She wasn't a LaFontaine - but the brand of intensity set in her very person could've had him believing they were family. Something about the way her brow set, perhaps? He couldn't not see his sister in her.]

[briarthorns]

[ Even the bartender seems to agree with that, and being torn between the request of a Wildcard and the Suggestion of a king, he doesn't seem to know what to do. Yor turns, rotating on her butt on the barstool, to look at Scott with wobbly, tearful eyes. It might be sad if it weren't kinda funny. This is a drunk person's over-the-top sadness. ]

You're a teacher? You must know what it's like, then... aren't you worried about your students while you're here??

[ She clutches her hands in front of her chest, her forearms pressing against her boobs, which are way too large for the bikini top she's wearing. ]

What are we going to do? We're trapping here, aren't we?? I need wine for this! Not water!!

[wholefoods]

[How can one man be so disarming? That big smile, and his energetic behavior... She has missed it, truly. Mina never blamed him for being unable to keep up, but she certainly did hold "giving up" against him. And now here they are... Together. In a place where all of that is so far away.

Also we won't talk about how that 'lonely' bit might have been a little projecting on her part.]

I suppose you are right. Even that lunch on the rooftop was... [She lets her voice trail off, but is quick to follow up and swerve:]

What are you drinking?

[laserguy]

As long as they aren't my friends.

[Scott flatly responds, pulling his hand from his hair to let it hang by his side. He's just... mentally preparing himself for this. Or guess physically preparing himself would be better, but he still needs to organize his thoughts and wonder how he ends up in these situations with the demon king. It's fine. He'll be fine. He's handled a lot of things as a X-Man and just being here... this is just another challenge to overcome.]

I can handle the spice, trust me. [He'll have to handle it anyway. Do it for Kazuya's ass--] I don't want to see you trapped in something against your will, understood?

[softstoneheart]

Like here-here? [ In the House, she means. If it were back home, it'd be so easy to say "no."

She closes in on herself and her parfait, weighing just how much she wants to say. She doesn't want to lie, but it's also between her and Aventurine. ]

I feel like I'd be more productive if I embraced the game a little more. Prolly because the rewards and goals are clearly defined. It's easier to gauge the distance and create plans for how to get there.

I know I'm helping in other ways, and that figuring this place out and identifying a possible way home is the priority, but most of the time it feels like I'm doing nothing. I'm not used to feeling like I've failed to pull my own weight.

[softstoneheart]

[ She's seen Stelle do weird things, what was she supposed to think? Well, the Trailblazer's question is reasonable, there's no reason for her to be tense anymore. ]

Oh, that's what you meant.

The closest thing to what you're saying is what happens at Red Cardinal, but it's not like you can't go in alone— they just seat you with other people so you've gotta mingle. Most of the stuff you pay for in chips or sex is normal except for cocktails, depending on the bar.

There's themed stuff that comes with its own rules, but those're clearly defined. Like we got the beach theme now, there was a wedding theme when me and Aventurine showed up.