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

happy pride month

[dreamunchained]

[Firefly closes her eyes at the touch and leans into it slightly, cheeks turning just a tad pink before it starts to occur to her that Stelle's hand feels peculiarly warm. Her eyes open back up and she takes in the sight of the other girl in front of her with no shortage of confusion and trepidation, and then it hits her--]

Oh. You ate some of that food, didn't you.

[She'd almost forgotten. :I]

Have I mentioned lately you're incredibly silly?

[Firefly lets out a sigh, taking Stelle's other hand and giving it a tug with a certain sense of authority behind it.]

C'mon, let's go find somewhere quiet and shaded before you get heat stroke with how hot you're burning up.

[Also if she's leading in front, Stelle can't see how much redder her cheeks have gotten seeing the state of her--]

[starcinoma]

[ oh. oh, firefly's leading them. if she still had a tail, it'd be wagging up a storm right now. ]

Yes ma'am.

[ she doesn't even bother to say anything past that. she's in full "listening to orders" mode right now. maybe if she's good, she'll get a treat?? a sexy treat????

look. i'd say it's the aphro but she's just genuinely this stupid half the time anyway. ]

[philancer]

[ Look. he's not stupid. not even he messes with women who can kill him with their pinky. And she just has that look about her. Like Shamir. Or Petra. The kind that could very easily break him, if the whim struck, and it was 50/50 on whether it would be the kind he enjoys or not. ]

I suppose it is. I'm just... very confused over why here? And no one else has suddenly landed in my bathtub of late - at least not without my express invitation - so apparently you're special? Or I am? [ Or maybe they're both just very unlucky. Who's to say?

He snickers a little at her very serious question, however, half tempted to lie his ass off right now, just to see how far he can get. ]

Well. Bathing or steaming as a group isn't that unusual, but the tub is usually far larger than this. Having two in one of these, however, is typically considered intimate or romantic.

[ Aren't you glad you joined him now, if that's the context for it? ]

[starcinoma]

[ she nods intently as she listens. most of this makes sense; it wasn't too different before, at least. so she chooses not to interrupt until the very end- when the surprise on her face makes it clear she has to. after a moment: ]

Congratulations to you both...?

[erbe]

Isn't it? I have great taste.

[Says the woman who hasn't even had any herself yet! Though she does take her own glass with her as she peeks out a window. Incredibly pleased to be out of the "sun" and comfortably inside shelter. As an 8 herself she didn't get much flack from the lifeguards, but she had fun offering "protection" to others.

For a price. Rin takes a sip.]

What have you been up to?

[empaler]

[ she's never heard of watatsumi island before, nor of its priestess, but there's something about kokomi that commands respect. the way she holds herself, perhaps; her dignity and grace. clorinde has served the divine for long enough now that she's come to recognize it in some ways. ]

You are, yes. [ kokomi's amusement is echoed in her own tone, a small smile curling her lips. ] And it is. I would've liked it to be under different circumstances, but if this is the one silver lining I have, I'll take it.

[schmisse]

[ It's going to be difficult explaining all these differences to Pyrrha, so Weiss figures there's no need to. She waves a hand dismissively and then tries to turn Pyrrha around, a hand on the taller woman's arm and then another on her side. ]

That's enough about me! Let's go sit down. And... I don't know, I feel like I need to hear your thoughts about this place before anything else.

[ She will maneuver Pyrrha to a nearby drink bar! Maybe they can have some refreshments while they're at it. Weiss is starting to feel lightheaded from all this. ]

[schmisse]

Then how did you get in there?

[ Hopefully he didn't wake up and find himself buried in the sand. That would just be really dumb...

Weiss does, at least, get on her knees to start scooping some sand from the top of the pile he's buried himself in and bringing it down to the lower and flatter parts of the ground. It would probably be easy to use wind magic or some other, but she might get sand in his face and that could be dangerous. ]

Also, maybe try shouting "Help!" next time.

[schmisse]

That's not good!

[ Goodness, Weiss has been talking about how lonely she was all this time and not realising this woman has been starving! While the other woman takes her hand in hers, Weiss gives it a squeeze. ]

I'll get you some food, so— [ A lift of her free hand to get the attention of a bartender. Being a queen, someone's there right away with a notepad and a pen. ]

A menu for both of us, please. And please take her orders and make sure they're served right away.

[ Much as she doesn't want using her privilege to her advantage, sometimes, you have to! ]

[schmisse]

[ This poor, poor lifeguard. Weiss nods before taking a few more all from the same spot. It seems like its skin is adjusting so the next five feathers she pulls off are a lot easier than the first batch. Poor lifeguard, though... They are going to wake up with a bald spot later on.

Once Weiss is done, she quickly gets up and takes Topaz's hand and starts running. ]

Quick, we gotta hide before the lifeguard wakes up!

[ Hide or just not be in the near vicinity. Who knows what kind of punishment might befall them if they stay nearby! ]

[schmisse]

[ It is a miracle she didn't hit her nose as she was pushing her sunglasses back up because— ]

Jaune?!

[ This truly is her fault for not realising sooner. Weiss is experiencing a mixture of disbelief and relief, laughing nervously to try and cope with the situation. ]

Wh... What... S- Surprise?! I'm here too!

[ ??? ]

iii feat. canon points shenanigans

[bunk]

[ he has allowed himself a moment of weakness — that was clearly a mistake, considering where he finds himself now. it was meant to be only a brief moment of rest, but the lull of sleep seems to have caught him off guard; and so, he finds himself in this dream-like pastel landscape... but at least, he doesn't seem to be alone. ]

It seems we have been transported elsewhere.

[ an ongoing theme with the hotel, since this is the second time he's been spirited away elsewhere. dan heng crosses his arms, emerald eyes watching his surroundings, before it lands on his companion. ]

Perhaps we’re trapped in a dream. There should be a way to wake up if you have any ideas.

[astrolabium]

[ Although there is a distinct lack of wildlife and ocean scenery, Mona still finds that the ability to breathe underwater makes this dive exciting. She is able to spin and twirl without slowing down in the slightest. It really is a shame that this isn't possible in most of Teyvat. Though, she supposes that she should be fortunate that Fontaine does allow it with its mysterious magic.

Beside her, Kokomi, too, gracefully kicks her feet and slips effortlessly through the seawater. Mona thinks of herself as a strong swimmer, but the woman beside her—there's no doubt that she is used to this. Would that mean she originates from a region with a large expanse of water? She'll have to ask. Mona herself may have been born in Mondstadt, but it was thanks to her Hydro Vision that she learned to dive so quickly. After all, she often travels across land in a torrent-like puddle rather than walking.

Dressed as she is, she does look the part of a mermaid, Mona thinks, giving Kokomi another glance.

Another 'sea' of toy fish comes into view. She slows enough to slip behind a tangle of them, her face speckled in multi-colored lights. It's not a true attempt at hiding; she is very much still visible. Still, Mona peeks around the few in front of her to give Kokomi a playful smile. ]

1/ here we go

[softstoneheart]

[ Topaz has a dilemma, and it's written all over her face. Technically Stelle isn't wrong: As far as all registration logs for the House are concerned, she is married to Aventurine. Consequently, staff recognizes them as such. It wasn't a bother, especially when it came with perks! There was no reason to refuse at the time. ]

[briarthorns]

Oh. Ah... I see. Well, thank you...

[ Looking down at the skewer, Yor goes quiet. She's clearly contemplating the Soundwave's kindness, as if she wants to keep insisting that she'll pay the woman back... but that chips thing is keeping her from emphatically insisting on it.

She eats a few more pieces in silence before deciding to broach the topic further. After all, it's fine to ask another woman about this kinda stuff, right? Girl talk. Not that Yor has ever been one much for girl talk, but let's forget that part for now. ]

Is it bad? [ she asks simply. ] Having to do that kind of stuff here... Do they force everyone, or...?

[briarthorns]

N-Nice to meet you, Chishiya.

[ Although Yor is clearly drunk, she places her hands on her knees daintily, with effortless femininity. Her eyes linger on Chishiya, that depression from before starting to lift as she finally has someone to talk to. ]

My name is Yor Forger... um, I just woke up here this morning... oh, but I guess you probably guessed that by now.

listen here you little--

[bedroll]

[ By now, they have a rapport, if not something akin to routine. And part of that routine involves far less of Gladio being perhaps as chivalrous or charming as he might otherwise be. (Read: If Satoru wanted a drink, he was welcome to ask at any time.) There are hang ups, lingering since that fateful night in March, that he's still working through—even and especially now, when Satoru agrees to see the new sights, to sweat under the sun with him in the kind of clothing Gladio prefers. Sure, he'd complimented the kid in a teasing, backhanded sort of way when he'd slipped into that gaudy printed shirt, mostly because he looked so good in it. And maybe that's a new part of the routine, or a new branding of the old one: Gladio fighting with his increasingly hard to ignore inclinations, and the questions about himself those inclinations try to force him to face.

Not even for the first time today are they are the forefront of his mind, gaze drifting over the shape of Satoru as he sizes up the row of potential watermelons. There's plenty he still doesn't know, maybe doesn't really want to know, about what he can and can't do with those strange powers of his. Not that he really knows whether to believe some of the things Satoru says about them, with how fantastic some of them sound to him, a guy who's seen all kinds of technology that apparently only shows up in "science fiction" movies in Japan. He's rolling that conversation over again in his mind when Satoru turns to him, grinning suspiciously. ]

I already regret this. [ Said to himself, to the heavens, as he rolls his eyes and gestures to the MC to take that one to the tarp. He meets her there, rolling his shoulders, and not so surreptitiously adjusting himself in his shorts. The tarp is as sticky as it looked from the sidelines, his sandals sounding like Velcro as he approaches the center, in full view of the throng of hopefuls and, honestly, just horny onlookers.

And he takes a few moments after it's set down, since there's no hard time limit, to knock on the shell himself and heft it a little. His gaze is razor sharp as he glances at Satoru, mouth frowning with his consternation. He's no expert at this by far, but he knows a set-up when he sees one.

A choice word is muttered under his breath as he shakes his head, his breathing already slowing, focus honing deliberately. It's just another form of training: a way to channel his strength and spirit from top to bottom instead of bottom to top. He has the leg strength, the core strength for this; he has the knowledge of his body for this.

And yet, despite all of this—from his practiced squat to his booming kiai—his hard, targeted landing only manages to just crack the rind, not shatter it. The rind itself responds in kind to the assault by sending a discomforting spike of pain through his glute and hamstring on the left side, though he only furrows his brow to show it. ]

Ah~ A real shame, big guy! We all thought you had it in one!

[ Not helpful, lady. He doesn't dare glance at Satoru as he re-centers for attempt two. ]

[bedroll]

[ Despite his looks, he's surprisingly sensitive to the moods of others, able to size them up in a blink even if he isn't always as easy to respond well. He credits Iris, for taming him a little growing up—and the idea of being separated from his little sister for so long only tightens his chest further. Even more so than the disappointment of the confirmation of his loneliness here. Perhaps it's that, then, that has him looking at the woman beside him with something akin to familiarity, or desperation for it, anyway. There have been plenty of people coming and going in this place, though, and her answer closes that hopeful door in his face. Not familiar after all, then; he'll let her mask those tears in peace. ]

The months have been pretty miserable, honestly. [ A rueful laugh, coupled with the clunk of the ice in the plastic tumbler. He pulls his gaze from her to the cup for a moment, considering... The clawing of tears in his own throat is surely connected to this, to have come on so suddenly. Yet it doesn't stop the urge to at least savor this glass, both for its taste and for the simple fact of having already paid for it. ]

But this set-up isn't so bad. Feels a lot less fake than the rest of this place. Or maybe that's just because the sea was one of the last places I got to see back home. [ He swallows, clears his throat. ] You live near the coast, where you're from?

[bedroll]

[ It's not the answer he expects, really, and it hits him with a momentary jolt of realization. Three months had felt eternal, especially alone, especially trying to carve out something like normalcy in the day-to-day of a place that's both like and so very unlike the life he's used to back home. Six months is a true eternity, then, and for several beats Gladio's left something like dumbfounded, searching for something like—what, an apology for his pity party? commiseration? congratulations for enduring this hell? The follow-up at least saves him half the struggle, even if something about it also feels a bit barbed.

He huffs a small, rueful laugh, and tucks his tumbler into the sand beside him. ]

Can't exactly say the same, for me. Guess I'm less adaptable than I thought.

[ So much for skirting the pity party, though he at least opens up his body language, forces himself to recline in the cool sand, hands splayed behind him as he searches the sky for anything at all familiar. ]

You still trying to get outta here, then? Must be halfway there by now after so long.

[bedroll]

[ Had it been a bit opportunistic of him to approach a woman lost in her thoughts? Perhaps. But he hopes that a genial smile and a measured distance from her will show that he isn't trying to do anything but avoid a playful consequence. It's hard to say it's enough, when her pale wide eyes greet him with bewildered blinking, unreadable yet mysteriously pretty for their pearlescence. He lets out a proverbial breath when she finally grants her own smile in return, and his body relaxes just a little too in response. ]

You're one of the lucky ones then. They send it directly to your Watch. [ He gestures at the display on his, presses a button to project it above his arm as a hologram, for easier perusal. He's missing more than just the two kisses, with none of the items yet completed. ]

It just says "kisses," so I guess it's up to the players. Do you have any lipstick? If not, a photo of it would probably be enough... [ It's also more than a little obvious he also hadn't thought this one through before approaching her. Maybe not the best look for him. ]

[swearfilter]

[It's likely pretty obvious from his expression, but Boothill does not like this turn of events. Can't even fall asleep on the beach without some weird dream shenanigans, huh? Great. This place is getting better and better.]

Here's hopin' this one's easier to deal with...

[Ugh. But at least there's a familiar face here, and Boothill grins at Dan Heng.]

At least we ain't alone, huh? Good to be workin' with ya again, partner.

[It's light, but not sarcastic. Boothill is quite fond of Dan Heng, after all! So surely we can figure something out together!]

[hatefuldays]

[ Let's take a look at this menu. Cake... probably isn't right for a beach trip, right? ]

Oh! Can I have one of these skewers? I had one before, but the seagulls stole it.

[ That underway, she turns to Weiss. Feeling a bit more secure, thanks to the physical contact. ]

Sorry, I never introduced myself, did I? I'm Hyun-ae. Uh, do they have AIs where you're from? I'm one of those.

[blastedass]

They've held you extras that long?! [It unfortunately fits within the timeframe given by someone else... He'd hoped that had just been a stretch to rile him up, but now it seems far more likely to be true. Fuck. Whoever's running this place knows how to keep people prisoner. Even strong ones.

Bakugo rubs the back of his wrist against his forehead, then moves forward, cursing under his breath at the heat. It's just the fucking spice, it's the hot sun, that's all it is. Everyone else is eating the damn thing and not keeling over dead or puking! Where's a cool place to go and not burn up?]

I don't need anyone's help! [Something about that suggestion makes his blood boil. In multiple ways. He instantly bristles at the "shy" comment, snarling over his shoulder when the guy tosses "poor" at him.] Piss off! You've been watching from the start!

[He's calling this guy out for pegging him as an easy target for whatever! And that nice-guy facade is shot right through.]

[softstoneheart]

[ Plus it's not like it's been all bad— he's been considerably less annoying than usual— a little dodgy and out of his element when she shows him consideration— but that's expected. What wasn't expected was how caring, mindful of her comfort levels and even vulnerable he's been...

On top of being his super capable self.

Undeniably, he's the point person for this mission and he is still doing the bulk of the work.

Also undeniably, the sex is pretty great. The flush on her cheeks spreads all the way to her ears just thinking about it. ]

[belialedge]

[ GASP! What kind of development is this! Scott is exuding such confidence, that not a single article of clothing is going to be lost on their watch. Now the pressure is on. Not just for the gullheaded freaks across the net, but for Ragna as well. He's only watched volleyball! But...he at least knows the basics. That, and he can at least bank on a couple factors. He's tall. He knows he's strong. And if it boils down to it, he can pour on the juice when it comes to bursts of speed when need. Scott's a terrific hand-to-hand fighter; he should know, he bested him the first time! But as for everything else that follows? Whose to say?

Whilst the gulls prepare their serves while the NPC crowd bicker amongst themselves if the King really was going to live up to his word, or get dragged down into the abyss by his lowly 3 of a subject partner... ]

Shit. With confidence like that, who am I to pump the brakes.

[ Ragna stomps forward, taking the receiving side of the future server. The one with the big titties. ...but which one? The beefy ass pecs on the "male" bird, or the ones straining in their bikini top? They're both hauntingly distracting. And yes, it's ALL the goddamn fault of their heads. He can't be rattled. Can't fall behind. Cracking his knuckles, his brow knits and body is ready. ]

Bring it on, you beaky sonsabitches!

[ If Ragna can just properly defend and get it up for Scott (heh), he can deal a wicked spike. One can only hope as the bird delivers a wicked serve.

WAY TOO FAST— ]

!!!

[ It's going for the far right corner, in bounds! And Ragna has to quite literally take a dive into the sand with an outstretched hand to tap it up into the air. ]

Scott!!