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

[wholefoods]

(ooc: oh, thank you! this is just fine the way it is 👍)

Owing you is a risk, is it? And how much of a risk is freedom?

[What Mina doesn't understand is that the sunscreen wouldn't even be any help — considering the false environment doesn't have any settings for sunburn built in. However if being freed by this man means a steep price to pay, she'll have to weigh it against the other possibilities. The possibility that someone more magnanimous than him would set her free with little to nothing asked in return. Or the possibility someone even worse comes along — though most residents have been pushy, they haven't steeped into outright refusal to acknowledge her (lack of) consent.

He'll find her normally flat expression twisted with frustration. A frown at her lips and a furrow of her brows from having to not only strain to see him, but also deal with his attitude.]

[belheir]

[Well! That's nice of Scott to say, considering that he's pretty much only been a menace to the guy pretty much every single time they've interacted.

Unfortunately for Scott, Kazuya will, in fact, end up strapped in for a ride.]

Sure. I'll be right back, hang on.

[He's going to go run off to go get some of those rabbit skewers from one of the shacks selling them nearby. Funny how he doesn't just teleport, but oh well! It's fine. Don't worry about it.

With those skewers paid for a short moment later, he'll come back, handing three of them out to poor Scott.]

Bottoms up, I guess.

[... Or it'll be Kazuya's bottom up. :(]

[laserguy]

I promise. Only fair that if you're my spotter, I'll be yours.

[Scott perhaps remains comically still when she gets to task, matching her faux seriousness with... actual seriousness. It's definitely a little silly, but he's doing it anyway, easily slipping into that more stern role until she pulls away. So, it's an all clear, huh? Well good, thanks Hilda.]

Thanks for the thorough checkup. [At least Scott doesn't keep that up for long, slowly easing once more as he relaxes against his longue chair.] It's nice to meet you, Hilda. I'm Scott, Scott Summers.

[She's really quite sweet, isn't she?]

Shall we finish the rest of this and do a final check on each other?

[defendog]

[ if it's in his head... well. that's not hung's problem. sounds like a bakugou problem. c: ]

I don't know. [ he's being honest. he's not trying to talk back. for all hung knows, this guy could be playing him as the fool. he could be a staff member? someone who's been here as long as his actual partner's been? yet their circumstances are similar enough where he can't help but believe that they're both strangers to this place. hung's thoughts can't be helped: he's naturally trusting of others. it's difficult! this is why he's a bad mercenary. a better detective. or something. ]

You wouldn't lie, would you?

[ just asking. hung smiles gently, as he goes to see if he can change the channel on the television. there's no on or off buttons. no way to mute it, either. the squawking from the birds on the beach is a little grating. ]

[snakelace]

[ Until she dies? He’d had a feeling that that would be the case, but the thought causes him to wince, all the same.

He wonders if this is the right time to offer up that other power of his-Changsheng’s ability to transfer medical ailments into his own body. Then she’d need never worry about Mania again… ]

…Of course. My apologies.

[ He glances down at his own drink. Truth be told he hadn’t even remembered ordering it in the first place, so he couldn’t quite place what sort this sweet, colorful concoction was. ]

Though I wouldn’t recommend these drinks, not unless you’re in the company of someone you find more agreeable.

[belialedge]

Yeah... [ The passage of time. ] Something like that.

[ He listens, his eyes set back on that fake sky above them as if he was attempting to make out constellations that would remind him of home. They were so bright and beautiful out in the countryside... To think that the world was on the brink of going to hell in a handbasket despite it all. But humanity was surviving. They were rebuilding. And...whatever humanity looked like on the other side of the NOL's collapse, it wasn't his job to rebuild. Olivine's words strike deep, and his brow knits deeper to that as he realizes just how vague he was being himself.

It's hard not to be, when the whole truth of it all hardly makes sense to him either. Ragna's life has been full of "when the time comes, you'll understand" moments that it makes his head spin just thinking of it all. But fuelled by his loneliness and the urge to be heard, his one hand in the towel fists through the sand slightly, throat tightening as he attempts to find the right words. ]

But we can't let ourselves forget. No matter how deep we find ourselves falling into the trap.

[ A softer sigh. ]

Look, I...can't promise I'll make a lot of sense, but... [ His gaze turns back to the man when he asks: ] Think you can keep a secret?

[ A secret that only a select couple of people in this resort already know. It may not have happened tonight, but with enough time, Olivine would have entered that small circle of trust eventually. ]

[wholefoods]

That depends on if I catch them causing trouble again.

[After all, men and women with gull-heads aren't the only "kaiju-like" people around here. The mermaids, and even Kleken himself, sport some oddities she'd otherwise call suspicious. However with her being alone it's best not for her to cause (more of) a scene lest she put herself in an even more disadvantageous position.]

I'm not some vainglorious superhero, but I cannot watch idly as people suffer.

[armwriostle]

[The man goes completely rigid, immediately recognizing her voice. For a moment, he's stock still, like he doesn't know how to respond. He doesn't.

It's been a long some months and he's seen everyone seem to come and go while he was still here. His feelings were...well, complicated. He swallows that feeling, instead, concentrating on what she had said.

It's then that he lets out a bit of a snort.] Are you stealing my swim bottoms?

[blastedass]

[How far did he get into that skewer?! He torched the other one, had only gotten two or three pieces into the first one, the fourth piece is on the ground. Other people are still lined up to get their food, seemingly not at all bothered about the potential "drugged" affect this stranger's talking about. Wait- did he just trick him into wasting food?! He better not!

The problem being, he's already had two interactions with other people already that clued him into the nature of this place (more information than he wanted) so the idea of something being drugged leans toward plausible. Unfortunately, whoever this asshole is, he's being serious. Bakugo can tell that already. Even if he did come across as a sleaze in the process.]

Urusei! I don't have to tell you shit!

[The way this guy instantly describes being warmer as a symptom hits the nail on the proverbial head. But that's probably just the damn spices! If this place really is kidnapping them for that kind of shit, poisoning them wouldn't be a smart idea. He wipes at his mouth again, a trickle of sweat wandering down his temple.]

You sound like you've dealt with this before.

[wray]

[ Well, his embarrassment isn't going to go away anytime soon so he'll be happy to hop into that hole. He tilts his head at the question, looking a tiny bit confused. ]

I have the room they've given me, if that's what you mean. Are you new...?

[ It's the only thing he can think of, to make sense of why Hung isn't assigned to a place. ]

[defendog]

[ nice, one frenchy fry. it's not that bad, maybe a little soft because how the container holds onto steam? unfortunate but it's still tasty. he'd probably eat every one that aak offers if he continues to do so, though he takes a second to think about his question. ]

Well... no, but I wasn't thinking about that...

[ both ears twitch as he chuckles weakly. ]

... was more worried about trying to find you around here.

[ yes. the danger of sunburn through fur is second to 'making sure his favorite catboy isn't causing a ruckus' but also? he needs him. ]

[erbe]

Because you don't think like we do.

[Who is "we"????]

If you're asking for help, it means that you're asking for a favor. If someone helps you, you owe them. I don't intend to rack up a huge cumulative debt, so instead I'm offering a service that simply has a side-benefit instead! This way the action is framed as a give-and-take, rather than just a "give". After all, like-minded people would probably reply, "yeah? What do I get out of it, if I help you?"

Or maybe it's people like you who want to be indebted to others! Do you like knowing that people will keep coming back after you when they feel like collecting? Does it give you a sense of purpose, or fulfill a need for attention?

[No, she won't shut the fuck up. Glad you asked.]

[armwriostle]

The house does this a lot. You learn to endure their games and make the best of it. [He decides not to tell her that this is really nothing compared to some of what is to come in the future. Navia had came and went once that he feels like there's no point bringing up more serious topics unless she's checked in.

He focuses more on her plight to finish her scavenger hunt.] Anything you need. You'll find that the list of what I'm not comfortable with is easier to name than what I am comfortable with.

[His mouth quirks into a crooked smile.] I'd rather not have to drop my shorts in front of a crowd though. I'm not into being that much of a spectacle.

[blastedass]

[Who's going to be happy about getting kidnapped, shoved into a perverted prison masquerading as a hotel, then expecting some small downtime with decent fireworks, having a bunch of lewd images blow up in the sky above?! Not someone who's fresh to the hotel, that's for sure. Granted, the normal fireworks aren't bad, but like how a few bad apples can ruin the lot, getting jarred out of his slight relax by a gaudy dick is not helping any attempts at relaxing. Some stranger piping up nearby to counter his muttering comments to himself just jerks up the irritation.]

Haa?! What the hell do they think we are, a bunch of 11 year old brats?!

[The maturity aspect-- "hahaha boobs!" --at least...]

[erbe]

Oh, not specifically. I take advantage of anyone I can — no discrimination.

[Tohsaka hands over her left-over drink, and rests her hands on her hips.]

How far along are you in task?

[Since she wants "her cut" of the winnings, Tohsaka might even decide to help if Mitsuru hasn't gotten very far along.]

[erbe]

[ A FRIEND?! ]

That's not what Masters do! That's not even what mages do! They don't make friends!

[blastedass]

You're running your mouth too damn much! Stick with the building!

[Look, he appreciates the information in his own grouchy way, but this guy's rambling along a fucking mental train track and jumping topics without a shit in the world! This prison is expanding? Suddenly there's "magic" involved?! Then ramps right back to Bakugo's world with another assumption that sounds like some gamer talking about their console game. Ugh. There are way too many questions he has about this place and Hiyori's... shotgunning the answers.]

Someone tried? What happened? [Does that mean he went at a wall with a sledgehammer or was he up on the "ceiling" with some other tool? Don't just say "no luck" without any kind of detail! That's the IMPORTANT kind of detail!

Okay, the notion of a barrier seems more legitimate... Bakugo scowls in thought, trying to decide whether attempted breakout is worth the potential trouble in the face of either punishment or previous experience begetting failure.] A barrier, huh...

[He glances up when Hiyori mentions "Game 52" in a way that says "important keyword" but it's glossed over. Probably on purpose. That smile proves it.]

I'm not your fucking missile. Heroes don't blindly run in. [Sometimes they do, but in this case, he wants more information.] But once we've got a shot-

[He cracks his knuckles.] -I'll kill 'em.

[blastedass]

[IT'S HIS PROBLEM FOR PUTTING IT IN HIS HEAD IN THE FIRST PLACE, DAMMIT!! be more conscious of your state, damn mutt! (not that someone falling off the top bunk would be best in awareness...)

at least the blonde's not yelling at him more.]

I woke up here yesterday. I barely know anything more than you do. [if that's a precursor to ward of a bunch of questions, then so be it. bakugo folds his arms across the tops of his knees and rests his chin on his forearms, glaring at the wall at the end of his bed. he doesn't really want to go back out there and deal with that shit again, but sitting in here doing nothing isn't going to help him get out any faster. he has to learn more about this place before he can act to try an escape.]

Haa?! Who the fuck asks that kinda question! Die! It takes too long to lie! [despite his attitude, bakugo's an honest person when it comes to talking. lying is too much of a hassle and never pays off in the end. his proud denial of things being an exception.]

[sleepyone]

[Just once! For the oof.mp3]

Just save yourself the trouble and leave your goodies to your ex-wife! I like that bath of yours, after all. [she sets aside anything in her hands so she can press both hands, polished nails first, down into his bare chest. She just bounces them sharply against him, not actually scratching just yet.

He'd like that too much, wouldn't he?]

[blastedass]

[as much as bakugo would like to rip through the walls or ceiling or whatever the fuck needs to be torn through to break open this prison and rescue everyone, he's constrained by a host of uncertainties and unknowns. the two or so people he's directly asked about escape have slammed the proverbial door down on the idea, with talk of games needing to be won and barriers preventing leaving the hotel both precluding any notion of "who" or "what" might be running the damn place. heroes can certainly be reckless and rush headlong into encounters, but only idiots do so with no thought to what's there. bakugo's not an idiot. if he's going to break out of here, by himself or with a concentrated group, he needs to know more before mounting an attempt. it could very well be a one-shot deal... he isn't going to waste it with poor planning.

bakugo hikes a leg up at the knee and starts working on the leash, tearing open the velcro before unbuckling the fastener inside with a few metallic clinks, before pulling the thing off his ankle. no point in tripping himself on the way back. he hooks the leash around his arm instead so it's not dragging in the sand, then looks back at the guy in the shade. hopefully he's in the shade; with that pallor of skin, a few minutes would probably burn him pink...

wait- why the fuck does he have sutures on his neck?! he thought the guy looked zombie-like from afar, but closer up, HE IS ONE! are they really dragging any person here? or was this guy dead before he arrived and reanimated? does he want that answered... maybe he'll come back to the "flight" topic later; discussing the mechanics of this place is more interesting.]

There's a wave machine beyond the edge of the ocean. It goes further down than a building floor would. [suggesting this beach thing might be one "floor" but the supporting mechanics of it take up more space. which is odd in a building.]

[laserguy]

I'll being trying extra hard for you, Ragna.

[Does it sound flirty? Well, probably not from Scott, because he is being pretty serious about this now. The prior amusement he had before has almost fully vanished from his face, because controlling powers and having restraints are important things to him. He understands it better than most. As he looks at the lifeguards, sizing them up in a way that isn't discreet at all, Scott rolls his shoulder and nods.]

We'll win... and not only will we win, we won't have to take off a single article of clothing.

[Scott's words draws some gasps and cheers from the crowd, although it only seems to incentivize their opponents. Their screeching and squawking reaches new heights as they get in position, just a few seconds away from starting the first volley. Scott braces himself as well and while volleyball isn't something that he's played often in the past, he'll just treat it as another training exercise.

He's working with a teammate and hitting something while defending their side, the basic principles are there.]

[softstoneheart]

Reviewing all the posts on the Network for signs of people poking into the nature of this place and its effects on us. Summarizing that info and grabbing contacts for that. I've handled everything leading up to this point, so it'd just be going forward.

[ A lightbulb goes off, the exact moment she realizes she's gotten ahead of herself and hasn't fully explained something. ]

Ah— you're new, right? Sorry! [ She smiles in sincere apology. ]

The network is basically the social media hub of this place. People can post about anything, like an event they're hosting, but people also discuss stuff they've seen or rumors they've heard that could point us in the direction of getting out. That's what I'm after.

[notscar]

Dunno. Don't doubt they got some solid tech behind whatever they're doin', but I've seen some unusual stuff that magic doesn't even cover.

[ unfortunately (or fortunately), he has to give up the ghost of secrecy here. not that leona keeps his magic under wraps, it's just some don't believe him. or they don't want to believe him. that there are limits to what he can do, but also limits to what he wants to do. that he's not going to waste his efforts if it'll drain him. ]

I'm sure they've tried. But ya know when ya know you're workin' against somethin' that's got ya tied up no matter what ya do, like sinkin' in quicksand? That's how I've viewed all of this as. Not that I've given up myself.

[ but sadly, he can't just go around and say a few magic words and turn everything into sand. that requires a lot of energy. lot of effort and force and things that he can't spend without consequences. and so... ]

Ya got somethin' up your sleeve?

[softstoneheart]

That's prolly it. [ Aphrodisiacs would be the most predictable. ]

It's not like I'd avoid all stuff with effects forever, I just wanna know what I'm getting myself into.

[ To prove her point, she grabs one of the bioluminescent mushroom skewers and eats one. Silvery fox ears and a fluffy tail pop out instantly. ]

[silicone]

Hnnngh, well I...

[ he wastes his words, choking back a moan as wriothesley's clever tongue laps at him, his hot mouth enough to get him to still try and buck forwards, twitching muscles in his hips and thighs. it's when he swallows him down that his eyes widen and blow out, mouth hanging slack a little. the sensation causes an embarrassing trickle of slick liquid to dribble further down his thigh. ]

I—

[ he covers his mouth with his hand, the other pulling him closer as he has him swallowed. if he's pushing into that tight wet hollow then he's unapologetic about it, snapping his hips impulsively with a punched out groan. ]