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

[befehl]

( Seriously who could blame this sheltered Holy Man. He wants to be cooped up into his sweet dream and in his sandpit room. Let him out. )

I'm not used to this heat, but I guess that is one way to inspire others to take off their clothes.

( Sunday tries to scan for the lifeguard mentioned because why on earth would a lifeguard have feathers to begin with? The laughter pulls his gaze back to him and this time, it's with a frown. Just a slight, pathetic type of frown. Those teeth, though...

He only just gets the joke, but you know who has feathers? Sunday. Too bad it's not a real task, huh. )

If you're serious about the drink, I did see a swim-up bar with drinks.

[counterblowing]

Not a problem. Defending others has been my assignment for some time. But I'd be careful not to get too far from others in case they come back. [It's impossible not to notice Kokomi's softness and think of her in comparison to those "others." It's an almost intrusive comparison that latches to her thoughts without permission. Calm, delicate, soft, thanking her for her intervention...this is so much like the villa.

Though she may be weaponless, she can feel the strain of her power still hot inside her body and consciousness. Whatever's shackling abilities hasn't impacted her the same way; there must be a reason for it. Rahu shifts her weight again, as if sifting the weight of Kokomi's words back and forth between her hands.]

... Is there a problem with my performance? [She settles on that as a response. For her, she can't quite tell if there are implications seeded in those gentle words, so she pries a little for an answer. Pries or challenges. For a woman who seems so gentle and fragile, Kokomi speaks with the patient confidence of someone who knows so much more.]

[swearfilter]

[If only he could snatch Sunday's feathers and pass them off as a gull's... but it probably wouldn't work. He doesn't really know enough about birds for this course of action.

Anyway! Boothill makes a face at that.]

You'll have to get it for me. I ain't goin' anywhere near the water.

[Seawater, in his cyborg body?? Hard pass. Also he would sink, so y'know.]

But if you're fine with that, I'd appreciate the help!

[malpwactice]

[What are the suit effects if not just compulsion by another name? Truly, we are all vampires at the end of the day.]

[Aak's shoulders do come down. Charlie's rapid-fire speech does actually follow the flow of his reactions. His brow furrows, like he's going to object to being called suspicious, and then the conversation's moving past it. The corners of his mouth drag down as he waits for a pause.]

[Do you?]

Well, yea. [Since pretty much day one he's been trying to get all the tools he usually used back. And, you know, if someone really didn't want him to buy something it does make him wanna buy it.]

But not sandals and shades. I saw what they're paying out for that scavenger hunt, dude, it's nothing worth running around for.

[He shows some restraint in not immediately listing the contraband he'd actually be interested in. Not yet.]

[theidlemaiden]

[ Hearing that truthfulness come from someone that looks like him makes her forget for a moment that she's sitting in her own misery. The last thing she wants to do is project her own loneliness onto a stranger but his laugh devoid of mirth tells her that that isn't the case.

It moves her.

Their loneliness might come from different places but there's comfort in knowing that at least they aren't alone in that feeling. Something crystalizes in that moment of shared commiseration: if there's anything she can do to help chase that away from him, she'd do it.

There's a wistfulness to her voice as she answers his question. ]

Not at all. Goneril is a landlocked territory. We have lots of mountains and meadows with some of the prettiest wildflowers during the warmer months. Not to mention the coldest glacial lakes. [ The condensation from the cup she holds against her bare skin is nothing like tentatively dipping her limbs into a lake but it reminds her of it all the same. ] Before this I didn't get to see a beach until recently.

[ And even then it had been from a distance as they prepared to go to war. She had hoped to see Derdriu's beaches and walk along it properly to feel the sand between her toes, but, she thinks faintly, that won't happen now. ]

Is the sea here similar to what you saw? [ There's a teasing lilt to her voice as she raises her gaze from the fire and back across to the man. ] Were there also weird seagull lifeguards and reverse mermaids?

[schmisse]

[ THIS GUY TOTALLY IGNORED HER QUESTION... smh.

(She did not understand.) ]

I could have also dropped my slushie on your face.

[ She didn't, which is the good part, but still! There could have been consequences, Minato. ]

I'm going to do something, but don't scream, okay? It's not going to hurt you.

[ It's going to get her out faster! Her hands are a little dusty from the sand, but she holds up her palm and closes her eyes. A glyph appears from it, spinning for a few good seconds before a small knight in shining armour ascends from it. How can something so small help? Well, it runs to the other side, climbing the Minato mountain and sliding down to get there. On its own, it changes in size, growing, growing, growing, until it's just a little shorter than a palm tree.

Let it do the work for Weiss, shoveling the sand with its hands. ]

who gets seven years bad luck

[blastedass]

[Who the hell is pathetic enough to let other people tell them how to act and behave completely?! Bakugo already met someone here he thought was strange as hell to appear so... domesticated. They could've got into a fight, but opted not to for one reason or another. Likely because the flint sparks didn't hit the tinder. Proverbial. So finally getting to vent even a bit of that pent up anger feels fucking amazing! Even if it's against some shitty seagull guards. And whoever this loudmouth wuss is.]

YOU, ASSHOLE!! ARE YOU THAT FUCKING STUPID?!

[Does it look like he's talking to someone else?! Bakugo's already tensed up for another clash when ugly x3 and an upgrade show their damn faces. His brows furrow at the show of security (assumedly), jaws setting in irritation. They better not be here to bitch at him for blowing up those fucking seagulls. Unfortunately he's already seen the "merfolk" earlier; they still look disgusting. Put some damn clothes on! He doesn't care if it's a bunch of fishing net! How the fish thing even got a tanktop on is beyond him. When one of them cracks his neck, Bakugo cocks his hand back, knuckles cracking in a fist.

Don't even start with him...]

Who the hell are these freaks?

[Addressed to the new group. He's not in trouble! He was defending himself earlier from a flock of those gulls assaulting HIM over nothing! If these security guards want to take that up with him, then he'll brazenly accuse them of instigating it first! Well, he would've, if he didn't notice the other man pulling on a glove. Seriously?]

Don't do anything until they start it, dumbass. This place probably has surveillance, right?

[schmisse]

This resort is all about indulgence, so you should eat as much as you want. Just make sure to pace yourself so you don't get sick, okay?

[ Weiss really should be a bit more wary of the food, but no one's started making out at the bar! She trusts that the drinks and the food are all okay.

Finally, she takes a bite of her own. Less spicy, although the kick is definitely enough to make her want to take a sip of her iced tea right away. This is something she'll have to pace, too. Can't keep drinking with each bite, after all! ]

Ib: #thisisstupid

[malpwactice]

[The beach was a nice change of pace. It was like this place knew the best way to keep the masses satisfied was to change up the show now and then. Some of their tricks were the same, like there was always some sexy game included, but,]

[but some of it's real exciting (and the hotel deserves no credit for it)]

[Aak started as just one of the figures at a distance as the wheels in his mind started turning. He turns on his heel and takes off to see if he can find the materials he wants. It's not the kind of activity that's sponsored... but it's not so weird that he can't nag a staff member to get what he wants. When he trots back over, he smiles at seeing the mustache-man still working.]

[he sets his bag down on the sand, pulling out... a long skewer, which he stabs alternating marshmallows and tiny hot dogs on. Once it's prepared, then he's actually closing the distance and approaching the main event.]

C'mon, c'mon, toasty~! [the young Feline cheers with his skewer, as if this is an intended part of the show]

[(he's also wearing a wetsuit, which begs to question what the seagull overlords will accept as a swimsuit bottom)]

those who buttfloss sand

[holeinwall]

[ Monika's already testy enough. All she wanted to do was explore the beach! Do something normal! But noooo. Of course the resort has to be the way it is and insist that her cute and flowy sundress wasn't good enough beach attire. It's not skimpy swimwear! It can't show off her ~assets~! She can't breast boobily down the beach unless everything's flying free like dicks for Harambe! Blah blah blah blah blah blahhhh!!!

So. When she sees Ragna getting pestered by lifeguards? It's fucking on.

Now, she's been described as athletic in her game, and she does what she can to maintain her vague sportsball skills at the gym. In some instances, that innate skill has been a real help at the resort. This will be another instance. The cackling shrieks of the lifeguards are abruptly cut off, not by Ragna's fists of fury, but by a volleyball flying at one of the stupid gulls's heads, hitting with a magnificent spray of feathers. No one ever said volleyballs can't double as a projectile, especially when one's been kicked like it's the head of one of her enemies. ]

Get your feathery butts away from him!

[ She's stomping forward, kicking up sand, another volleyball tucked under her arm and ready to go. While she is wearing a skimpy yellow bikini, she used her rank (read: bullied other birdbrains) to get some other things to cover it up. If she's got to be mostly naked in public, it's going to be on her terms!

Also? She protects what's hers. When she's close enough, her other volleyball is launched at another lifeguard. They dodge it, but the message is becoming quite clear as Hurricane Monika, Category 9, prepares to sweep through and wreak havoc on the local bird population. ]

The only one that can bully him is me! [ She points towards an ice cream stall, glaring at one of the lady birds that isn't helping the others tend to their fallen feath-ren. ] Get him a fresh ice cream cone! And the rest of you? Go the fuck away!

[ She'd normally be more dignified with such a request, but she's beyond caring about fake niceties. That, and her Spade's probably acting up while she's been making another attempt at being "good" for the Player.

With another round of shouting, plus a threat to chop heads off that she sounds very serious about, the flock scatters. The fallen one's left abandoned in the sand. She gives their ribs a small kick, grumbling to herself. ]

Ugh. This place is so annoying sometimes. [ Crossing her arms, she tilts her head at Ragna while idly shoving the gull's head with the tip of her shoe. ] Is your first answer to everything always violence? Use your words sometimes.

[expereiment]

[regardless of the real reason, it seems to have worked anyway from his perspective, so he breathes a silent sigh of relief. god he's the worst person to try and console someone else, but hopefully the shirt helps a lot...

he reaches behind her (carefully, so as not to freak her out even more) to test the door. yeah, it's locked. what a happy coincidence. of course this place is doing everything in its power to embarrass a poor anxious woman. these doors are electronic-based, though, so it's not as simple as picking the lock.

luckily, though, rei's studied up on technology during his stay here, so he brings up the interface on the door and begins hacking away. the receptionist desk really needs to pull it together.]

You can keep it - I don't really need it anyway. [while his gaze is focused on the door, he casually drops:] But you know, you'll need to get used to being naked around here.

[who let him be the one to tell people about this place...he should be banned...]

[relater]

Lucky that you have a way with words then, isn't it?

[ His roommate, boyfriend, lover, [ REDACTED ], the sea creature. Kizuna shakes his head, laughter welling in his chest. ]

No, no, my stamina would never last all the way out there. It's better that it happened this way. [ Slanting sideways, Kizuna brings his arms up to circle around the other man's shoulders, tugging him in for the continued sensation of those kisses being laid against his cheek. ] Besides, I had fun up here too. It really feels like summer.

[ Tipping his head a little, he plants a soft kiss against Wriothesley's mouth. ]

But there is something I wanted to show you... you just seem tired out.

[counterblowing]

I'm fine. [The answer comes quickly, a kneejerk rejection of the concern. Rahu pushes worry away under normal circumstances; now, she's compelled more than ever to offer that strength and reassurance. Rahu retains her grip, but her free hand moves to stroke the crown of Weiss' head, a tender comfort that's unusual for her.] There's no need to be worried about me. [But it's nice that you are, the tone of her voice seems to imply.]

This place feels different. [She feels different. Rahu braces her knee between them, letting it take her weight where she's still too uncoordinated to stand. Never mind about the control she's still struggling to regain over her body and its sensations; Rahu is driven to draw closer and ask.]

Are you hurt? Frightened?

[armwriostle]

Hah, falling for my voice are you?

[Maybe he should not be flirting this deeply, but what if he was a bit of an idiot who isn't always thinking straight?]

That's what the drink is for. You can just idle under the waters with me. It's a lot more relaxing than it seems once you get over the moment of trepidation. [He knows that people might be hesitant to try to breathe underwater, the fear easily capturing one's heart when they're unused to the idea.

His smile softens as he rubs his nose against Kizuna's cheek.] It won't feel bad. [It'll feel more like what Kizuna had felt when linking with the boxer.]

Mm, I'm tired, but it's because I've been out a lot these last few days. It's just swimming and the sun all day would make anyone tired, right? [He pulls away finally, but only because he moves to get to his feet.] You should still show me whatever it is.

Oh noo! don’t apologize, you gotta rest up when you’re sick - i hope you’re feeling better

[theidlemaiden]

[ Thoughts of could have, would have, should have, of decorum and what is right and proper have all but flown from her mind. Hilda would be the first to admit she’s a romantic through and through. Denying that she doesn’t enjoy the experience of getting to know someone (even better if it were over a shared meal) would be like saying she didn’t have a pink hair. But, a voice asks, what was wrong with getting to know someone like this? Or maybe she should think about it this way: what if she didn’t wake up again tomorrow? What then? It’s the last push she needs to put her reason in a bottle and toss it out to sea.

She can’t remember ever being so acutely aware of someone and their reactions. The faintest hitch of his breath. The leftover sweetness of the fruit he’d eaten that lingers on her lips. The way his skin feels alight with something that is so similar to the kindling in her own belly. All of culminates in a singular want, or rather, a singular need. Her intrusive thought from earlier suddenly begins to make itself known again, no longer feeling intrusive and more sound logic.

The feel of his touch down the back of her bare skin sends a jolt down her spine. As she instinctively arches into his touch she can’t stop the soft exhale of desire that leaves from parted lips. More than anything she wanted his hand to dip lower, to feel the grip of him as he held her close.

The sound of her heartbeat thudding in her ears drowns out the sound of everything else around them. Suddenly nothing else matters except Ragna and the need to have him cure the ache between her legs. The hand that had rested so lightly on his chest begins to slowly walk its way up, resting at the nape of his neck. Her nails scrape lightly against his skin as lithe fingers take a hold of white strands so she can pull him towards her. But instead of lips meeting lips, they flit against the corner of his, cresting up the curve of his cheek before finally brushing the shell of his ear. He doesn’t need to see her to hear the grin in her voice. ]

Show me then. And who knows? Maybe I missed a spot too.

flip a coin. (it's the same on both sides. they're both fucked.)

[belialedge]

THE HELL'S WRONG WITH YOU?! YOU WANNA DIE RIGHT NOW, YOU LITTLE BITCH?! I'LL BURY YOUR ASS IN THE SAND!!

[ This has been. The most worked up that Ragna has gotten since he got here. It's almost like it's a contest to see who can be angrier. And damn it all if Ragna the Bloodedge wasn't about to get upstaged by some sparky teenager with an explosive personality. Before fists can fly in the wrong direction, however, they're accosted by the worst case of fever dream security.

Many of which are approaching them as if to either usher them away or physically apprehend them both. So this little impromptu skirmish between the two guests was going to have to wait. He may have a weapon on him like his Blood Scythe, confiscated before he even had the chance to wake up, but that hasn't slowed him down when he's equally as capable and ready to start letting his fists and legs do the talking. ]

My guess? Security.

[ Seagull chatter goes here. ]



Really effed up security.

[ When he's warned by Bakugo not to start anything, he omits the dumbass remark so he doesn't just go flying off the handle at him again. It doesn't reduce the amount of barking he'll do, but at least his bite is reconditioned towards the oncoming feathered trio and fishy freak of a merman. ]

Fine. They touch us, it's their asses. [ As if that was going to stop the House from punishing them if they saw fit. But that's a prospect they can figure out together after. Maybe. ] Probably though. Not like that matters much.

[belialedge]

[ He's fired up. Fist cocked. Ready to pull the trigger and ignite this little scrum. He was in a decent mood before, not in any need of letting off any steam to begin with. But the seagull lifeguards have since done a damn good job in ruining that notion. And just when the low ranking diamond, formerly in the deeper rough, was about to make a decision he wasn't so sure he'd regret by the time he was thrown into this smuthole's slammer, a volleyball goes whizzing by his head, eyes snapping wide from the sheer break of wind that it causes. Followed by the cut off cry of a seagull as its feathers erupt in a glorious display of white feathers. If there were scavengers looking for a free box to check off, now would have been the opportune time as the other birdbrains are rattled by the appearance of not just a very volatile Spade, but a higher ranking one at that. One they would have shown great respect towards had it not been for her taking matters into her own hands and stomping forward. ]

Holy shit what a shot! [ Perhaps thanks to Monika's perseverance to pursue a modicum of modesty, her current getup of a summer outfit doesn't cause him to stare so unabashedly yet. Not when he's more concerned about getting out of a hairy situation than what she's currently decked out in. ] Thanks for the assist, but I totally had that—

[ BOOM! There goes the second volleyball as another lifeguard receives a feather-busting headshot. By this point, the lifeguards were raising their hands up in surrender, gesturing amidst screeches and cries to calm down because they clearly want none of that smoke. He knew that when riled up both the right and wrong ways, the poet could be a real firecracker, with a temper that remains tucked so neatly away beneath her surface poise and bubblier nature. But: ]



Jesus that was a snipe.

[ He's not even worried about these assholes! He's...literally play-by-play commentary for now. He would have gotten out of this sticky wicket of his own accord eventually. Hell, there's a part of him that wants to make an example out of the lifeguards that have been far more aggressive than even NPC staff members have been to him for his rank. If anything? They would have had it coming. Which is exactly why he steps up by Monika's side, fist clenched and his confidence brimming as he stands in agreeance with her!

"The only one that can bully him is me!" ]

You're damn righ— —hey wait a minute!!

[ The rest, as they say? Is history. Monika blows her top (hot), the impact her Spade has on her darkening her actions as the gulls are practically powerless beneath her own anger. His own assertive nature would have eventually kept them at bay too, but now that she was effectively establishing her dominance on this beach, he couldn't help but feel upstaged. Like there was no need to be so angry anymore now that the problem had been solved. But moreso, now that she was stepping on a seagull lifeguard's head as they protest weakly, he's forgotten all about his ice cream she barked at the vendor to prepare for him. Whether it gets to him in time or not, he makes a face when she calls him out for his own penchant for violence. ]



Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. You went nuts on them before I could!

[theidlemaiden]

[ With the free entertainment provided to them Hilda almost forgets the whole point of them trying to sneak away in the first place. She catches Rinne’s quiet signal and nods, tearing her gaze away from a poor guest who’s now gotten into a tug of war with a lifeguard over their sandwich.

Running had been bad enough - but a tug of war? No thanks. Raphael might have been more than thrilled to fight for the honor of his lunch but she certainly isn’t.

With her hand still in Rinne’s she follows him behind the huts peeking over her shoulder every so often to ensure a lifeguard wasn’t on their tail. As the noise begins to fade behind them she finally dares to whisper conspiratorially — ]

A part of me feels a little bad about using those guests as a distraction but that was some quick thinking on your part. Have you done this before?

[relater]

That depends. Trying to lure me out to sea?

[ As if he hasn't been answering this siren's song for a long time, now. He feels the nature of his smile shift against his skin and he's absolutely not immune to that type of sincerity and fondness. He tugs his arms tight, just for a moment. ]

I remember what it was like to breathe underwater with you. I'd do it again, though it should probably wait until you get some sleep.

[ Not that this is stopping him from following the other man as he climbs to his feet, idly brushing bits of mottled sand away from his skin. This won't take long anyway — Kizuna turns his attention aside to pick up a little packet of something resting in his towels and clothes. He plucks a slender wooden stick out of it and hands it to Wriothesley before ushering him back out towards the sea. ]

Hold this. Let's get a little closer to the waves.

[riskybeenus]

[He's glad the guests had to fight for their right for their sandwich, and while he should probably feel bad, he's sure management would reimburse him. That, or maybe they're more into buffalo wings instead-- they sure have enough feathered friends there. For now, escape was his priority.

He slows down once they're a safe distance away, the question making him chuckle.]

I lived an exciting life, you could say. Ya didn't hurt anything, did ya? I don't think they got yer snack.

[wingbeats]

( whatever entity behind this place has already committed the most capital offense that getian could consider sustaining in his long life: it has taken the wind and sky away from him, and these imitations that the resort manages on the upper levels might be convincing to many—like those that throng the shorelines of the simulated beach—but they can’t be convincing to him. this last of the miemeng birds has spent the majority of his long life in seclusion, and those many years spent in seclusion were for the most part spent in personal reflection and the exploration of music and song. this is to such an extent that it is essentially the lens through which getian understands the world. there is a rhythm, beat, and melody to the world, be it the thrumming and pulse of the planet’s molten blood moving sluggishly beneath its crust, the slow melodic movements of the wind as it travels across the land, the breathing of the ocean, and the brisk accompaniment of every living creature under heaven. it took him less than ten minutes after awakening in this place to realize that the music here is all wrong, and it’s not just the cacophony that blares over the loudspeakers on the shoreline. the heartbeat of this resort is a strange, alien, rotten thing. he doesn’t know what he’s going to do here, cut off from the freedom of the sky and the music of the wind. he hasn’t managed to think that far yet, still moving through a culture shock just as strong as the one he had received when he had joined vertin and her many allies in the wilderness stored inside her suitcase.

he does know one thing, though. even if it slowly, he will continue the change that he began when he left his mountain to enter the human world—he will no longer be a silent observer to the misfortunes of others. it’s hard to break an old habit, and especially one reinforced by hundreds of years, but it’s made slightly easier when he recalls the headstrong bravery of his newly-made friends, strangers to his land, and a young half-lushu who had risked herself to deliver the wishes of a whole town. in comparison to their strives, it’s not so hard to pluck a stranger out of the air, shaping the dead wind beneath his broad wings to take them once more over the pelagic shelf and back toward dry land. getian breathes a sigh of relief that the human heeds his instructions. he does not struggle and fight, and so the miemeng does not drop him back into the abyss. )

Do your best to relax. ( even if he’s saved him from toppling into the unknown, he’s still concerned about his wellbeing. he once again feels the absence of his bone wand. he is not skilled with healing arcane skills, but at least with his wand he might feel he could do something. the next best option is, ) I will put you down shortly.

( it does take some time to get back to shore, but certainly not as much by air as it had taken by sea. getian overshoots the beach, wary of the crowds and noise; he lowers in altitude in the gardens a short distance away, where there are fewer prying eyes and agape mouths. his wings pound the air as he hovers for a moment, doing his best to deposit baptiste as gently and carefully on the ground as he can. there’s a further beating of wings before he settles down a short distance away on a low stone wall, wings folding as his talons grasp into the masonry. getian wears the same thin robe all of the newcomers had woken up in, though he has also apparently stolen a very brightly-colored beach towel to wear over his head, spilling down onto his shoulders.

he stands up a little from his perch to lean over, mismatched eyes inspecting the stranger, assessing his health. worry and uncertainty creases his brow. ) Should I find a healer? ( you know, assuming he’s conscious enough to make a reply… )

[armwriostle]

Oh, that's quite tempting. I wouldn't mind pulling you into the waters with me.

[It's said playful enough that one could just see it as playful flirtation. Nothing too deep or anything, but Kizuna can feel it's more than that. An honesty tucked away that the man genuinely enjoys the idea of it. As though he wanted to covet the other for himself away from everyone.

Perhaps that's no surprise, given the man being someone who stays deep under the surface of the water in a metal fortress.]

Tomorrow then. You'll join me? [His tone lights up and that hopefulness touches his voice and shines in his eyes. It's truly the simple pleasures that means the most.

His steps are a little unsteady, but it can easily be assumed that it might just be gaining footing in the sand. He rights himself well enough, instead, curiously turning the stick he was given in his hand as he tries to identify it. He turns his attention back at Kizuna even as he's being ushered to the calm waves of the shore.]

What is this?

[relater]

[ He stops them just short of the shoreline where there's a cool breeze, the rhythmic hiss and bubbling of the tide. ]

I'll join you. [ With his free hand, he reaches up to boop the pad of his index finger to Wriothesley's lips. He pauses to study his expression, the physical flourish of hope on it almost as compelling as his feelings are. Something soft dances across his expression. ] So make sure you save all that temptation until then, okay?

[ With that, he fishes a lighter out of his pocket. ]

Hold it this side down and watch your fingers.

[ Cupping his palm against the air, Kizuna flicks the lighter and touches its flame to the stick. It takes a moment for it to catch, fizzling to life in a colorful pop of gentle sparks. ]

[wingbeats]

( getian is silent for a strange, disjointed moment. he has just realized that, as leaks speaks to him, he understands his words. that might not be strange to some, and perhaps it shouldn’t be strange to a creature who can temporarily gift comprehension of all tongues to any he casts his arcane skill on, but what startles him is how different it feels from his own skill. getian’s skill does not translate; the words are still foreign in one’s ear when under its effects, but it allows them to comprehend what is said by way of the inherent rhythm and musicality within them. the sensation of that understanding is completely different from what he experiences now—as if this stranger could speak to him in the dead tongue of his people. it washes over him like a cold rain, as sobering as it is disorienting.

what’s going on? are they under the effect of some other arcane skill?

his mismatched eyes narrow. ) Typically, I would agree with you. But there is no safety in this unknown.

( and how could the stranger feel confident about sleeping anywhere that doesn’t feel safe? getian peers at him closer, taking note of the dark, animal ears and tail. curious. he has seen plenty of individuals with such features over his long life, though typically from a distance—there are many families of arcanists and arcane creatures, as well as those with mixed heritages of both humans and arcanists, who carry them. to getian, they mean little. what else is he supposed to glean from the man? if he’s not his captor, does that mean he is another captive here? a local? would that explain why he’s so insistent on being relaxed at a time like this?

all of these questions tangle into a confusing mess in his mind. he struggles to find a loose end to pull, providing him words to reply with.

as per getian’s usual, he does not helpfully answer any questions, instead asking his own. ) You do not wish to figure out what has happened to us. ( well, this isn’t a question. it’s a fragile, cool observation. the, ) Why? ( that follows it has an odd color to it as well: rather than being sharp or derisive, it is instead softly said—almost gentle. almost concerned.

perhaps that’s because he’s started to recognize some of the shapes pressed into the ribika’s bones. they are odd—so strange compared to those he has seen on humans and arcanists. but from what little understanding he can glean from them… they are dire indeed. )

[armwriostle]

[Wriothesley was truly the dichotomy of man. The way he contradicts in so many way. How he's secretive, yet he wears his emotions so visibly to his soft demeanor towards people despite his potential to have such a cold countenance. It shows so visibly, the way his expression brightens into a smile at Kizuna's agreement.

It's so easy to be happy when someone is willing to share the experiences of something that means so much to you. It glows warm in his chest.

He almost is completely distracted until the sparkler crackles to life, sparks and colors brightening and reflecting off the dark waters that lap at the sand. The boxer's eyes widen and they shine with a childlike awe and curiosity.

When one spends most of their life under the sea, there was a lot that was missed. Fireworks in the sky. A childhood that never got to breathe life. The man watches, completely enthralled by the bright sparks the pop from the thin stick in his hand. He doesn't have any words, but Kizuna can feel the swell of emotions, as though bursting in colors like the object in his hand.]