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

A

[softstoneheart]

[ Beaches aren't common where she comes from, and the places she goes on business tend to be more barren. Even if she's fairly certain none of this is real, she can't help staring in wonder at the waves, kicking them up as they roll in.

It's almost as if she expected the question. Considering the bikini she's overflowing out of, it's likely she asked it herself. ]

Depends on what you mean by that. The dress code on the beach is enforced.

They're so damn nitpicky. What was so different about a sports bra and shorts?

[ While she's undeniably grousing, the beach is also too nice to leave. ]

[minitrue]

A member of the IPC put off by rules?

( They haven't met, not in any official capacity, but Gallagher knows everyone on the Charmony guest list, and their compatriots. He's the one who sent out the invitations, after all. )

I'd have thought you'd find comfort in the order around here.

( Maybe not to the extent that some people enjoy Order, but it'd stand to reason. With all the bureaucracy and red tape that the IPC have to muck through, one little dress code shouldn't ruffle her feathers too much. )

1/2

[softstoneheart]

Look, some rules are just useless. If they get in the way of productivity, obviously they should get thrown out.

[ Should an IPC executive think this way? Probably not, but she doesn't care. RULES WERE MADE TO BE BROKEN. Or something like that. ]

[softstoneheart]

[ She pauses, considering what he just said. And granted, she's got a rep even amongst those outside the IPC. She's a public figure(ish), but it's also rare for her to not know someone who knows her, especially out of uniform. ]

Have we met?

[minitrue]

( Caelus, is that you—

Wow, is she passionate about rules. )

Hey, you won't get any argument out of me. I might not look it, but I was quite the ruffian in my younger, more formative years. I know a thing or two about skirting past the rules that don't work in your favor, heh.

( But that was the old him. Now, he's clearly a paragon of righteousness. )

We haven't, not formally, but your name precedes you. Hope you don't take that the wrong way. ( No time for questions. ) I'm Gallagher. Back home, I worked with the Hounds to keep things on Penacony secure. With everything going on with the upcoming Charmony festival, your name's come across my desk. Not for anything bad, mind you. The IPC's on the good list, not the naughty one.

Well... it was.

Not sure where things stand now after the stunt that friend of yours pulled.

( Sorry, he's an expositor. )

[softstoneheart]

[ She doesn't mind exposition— knowledge is power after all. But to her knowledge, she and Aventurine had arrived at the resort before the Penacony acquisition mission had begun.

Her face never betrays her thoughts. Eyes widen in surprise, then her brows furrow as his words turn over in her head.

It was her understanding that this resort was pulling people from different dimensions, and some worlds sounded similar to ones from Amber Eras ago. It only makes sense that people can arrive from the future too. ]

When the incident happened, how long was it until the Charmony Festival?

[minitrue]

( Her eyes flicker through a whole cocktail of emotions. There's a base of surprise, a note of curiosity, and an adjunct of intrigue... Not the reaction he was expecting, which makes him chuckle. )

What, they kept you out of the loop of that big spectacle?

( That seems hard to believe. )

Tell you what: get me out of this robe, and I'll tell you all about it.

( He'll tell her either way, probably, but the breeze against the beach robe is distracting him. He can feel too much of it. )

[softstoneheart]

[ She's not that great of an actress and an even worse liar, but there's at least a sliver of truth in saying: ] I'll see a report later. I can use your account to corroborate it.

Wanna get off the beach and into some proper clothes?

[ For more info, a trip to the mall is a super small price to pay. Totally worth it, if the info is true. Low risk, high reward investments are her favorite type.

Plus, the poor guy could use some clothes anyway. The batches of guests that came before and after her really didn't get much. The resort has its goal and will achieve it by any means necessary. Scarcity is a powerful motivator— desperation drives people to swallow their pride and forfeit their freedom for survival. The IPC has taught her that in more ways than one. ]

[minitrue]

Yeah. I do.

( He's a simple man: give him pants, and he'll tell you whatever you want, mostly. Topaz might not be a great liar, but Gallagher doesn't have much of a choice. He's been deceiving those around him for the entirety of his life, and he's gotten quite good at it.

That said, he really will tell her what he knows of life back home in exchange for some real clothing. That's not a lie. He may leave a few things out as they pertain to his own part in things, but that's neither here nor there. )

How much will I owe you?

( For the clothes, which are going on her tab. He didn't get beamed in with his credits on hand, he's sad to say. )

[softstoneheart]

Hmm~

[ She doesn't hide how pleased she is that he's offering to pay her back. ]

The info will cover the interest. You can pay me back in chips when you're able, or just help me complete a task that promises a large payout and I'll call us even.

[minitrue]

Fair enough.

( It sounds pretty easy, too, but he shouldn't call that just yet. He has yet to see what the tasks around here entail.

Well, they can walk and talk. )

What's the last thing you remember, Miss Topaz?

[softstoneheart]

Aventurine was leaving for Penacony. I had some arrangements to make before I could depart.

[ They start walking away to the beach, to a changing area where she stashed her clothes. ]

Oh, lemme change. Keep talking!

[minitrue]

Take your time.

( Where else has Gallagher got to go? He leans against the outside of the changing area while he speaks. )

He arrived, all right. I can't say that Penacony's better for it, but Mister Aventurine certainly left his mark on things. Gave us Hounds quite the headache, too... If his goal was to be a thorn in the Family's side, he succeeded. I figure he had a lot more in mind.

Part of the IPC's mission, or is he just especially ambitious?

[softstoneheart]

[ There's the rustle of clothes (if you can call a bikini that) coming off and whatever she intends to wear getting slipped on. ]

What exactly did he do?

[ The question is appropriately concerned, but she seems unaware. It's easier that she's got the changing room separating them, so he can't see her face. ]

[minitrue]

Some would call it a daring, attention-grabbing final act. Others might call it stupidity... It had a purpose, if nothing else.

In short, he called The Family's bluff. As it stands, I happen to be a member of said Family, so I can't say I was all that happy to see Aventurine's plan come to fruition.

( The lies continue, as they tend to do. When you do something for long enough, it comes to be second nature.

If she doesn't know about Aventurine's performance, then she doesn't know about Sunday's ascension, and she certainly doesn't know the truth of the Watchmaker and his hidden spaces.

It means Gallagher can play his role a little longer. )

If he didn't survive... well, he proved his point. He did what he sought out to do.

[softstoneheart]

[ The noise stills, the sourness of her expression is apparent in her voice. ]

He does a lot of flashy things. You're not being specific.

[minitrue]

I'm still in my robe.

( He was promised pants, and he's not seeing them. )

[softstoneheart]

[ He makes a fair point. But no one can blame a girl for pushing for as much as she can get for free.

The curtain of the changing room swings open with drama that would make Aventurine proud, and she strides out in a sports bra and shorts. Cut outs emphasize her hips, it's a little more modest than swimwear, but overall not by much. ]

This way. We'll have to go a few floors down to grab an elevator.

[minitrue]

( He is looking respectfully as he pushes away from the wall and follows her lead. )

Sounds like you really know your way around this place.

Does the IPC know you're taking a vacation?

[softstoneheart]

Communication with the outside world has been cut off. All personal items were confiscated.

[ She hates that, and hates that she can't get any work done. Truly, this is a prison. So her effort has been redirected to resort research. ]

There's rumors that they're kept in a safe. A possible heist was discussed, but any planning has been taken offline. [ An unsurprising move. She was honestly surprised someone brought it up on the network in the first place. ]

If you're wondering, access to paths is still functional, weirdly.

[ At least as a Hunt pathstrider, the weapon itself is a preference, not a condition. She can set anything on fire. ]

[minitrue]

I hadn't been, but it's good to know.

( That's true enough. He'd been more preoccupied with the where and the why of it all, he hadn't given much consideration to himself. Now that he's taking the time to focus on them, he can see his scars activate from beneath the flimsy material of his robe.

He stops, because setting it ablaze would not be preferable. )

What do you think this place is?

[softstoneheart]

If I had to guess, I'd say it's closer to a Simulated Universe than Penacony. We're physically here. The power gained from our participation in their "game" is what sustains this place as a habitable environment, so it's simultaneously "real" but not, since it's unstable. This place has longstanding guests, but that wasn't enough. And judging from what happened a month ago, it still isn't enough.

To that end, this place has the ability to draw in more guests. Unless all everyone is lying, they've been pulled from various dimensions and worlds across time and space. Not only have items been taken, but some guests have claimed their abilities have been suppressed. Guests can purchase full use of their abilities using chips earned from Game 52.

A stellaron disaster can corrupt an existing environment and its residents, which could explain the mental and physical effects people experience here, but my understanding is that stellaron corruption isn't usually temporary.

However a force that can draw people from other dimensions, across time and space; suppress or reinstate abilities; and grant abilities to those who have none sounds a lot like an Aeon. It's a better fit for the "how" and "why" of this place.

Not that I can prove any of it.

[minitrue]

( He likes listening to her. Clearly, she's had time to think things through. How long has she been here? He'd like to think there'd be some kind of uproar should one of the Ten Stonehearts up and vanish like that, gone for months without a trace. There's a chance that the IPC is playing it cool, but she's made mention of Aventurine being here, when he'd so clearly been there.

It lends more credence to her theory than it does his. A simulated world, power on scale with that of an Aeon... He knows someone who's come close to amassing such power, and this place wouldn't be too dissimilar from the sweet dream he envisioned for the good of humanity. )

Not death, then.

( Too easy. )

[softstoneheart]

[ She halts, turning to give him a withering glare. He might be a stranger, even an enemy, as far as their positions are concerned. But as a person from the same place, someone whose life has value, she just can't stand the idea of people carelessly throwing their lives away. ]

Please don't try.

[ IPC executives rarely say "please." ]

[minitrue]

( The way she stops in her tracks pauses him. Good. That seems like her intention, to give him a moment to think about his words. )

You misunderstand me, Miss Topaz. ( Clothing is on the to-do list, he knows, but he feels so silly trying to have a conversation of this magnitude in a beach robe. All the same: ) I propose that we're already dead.

Afterlives aren't much of something I believed in, you see. It's a long shot no matter how you look at it. ( And believing in anything really isn't the Fictionologists' way. ) But... Well, it's worth putting out there.