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

kajiyama fuuta | MILGRAM | 2♦️ | current character

[pyrolyzed]

i. ... --- ... ( those who pound sand ) ( gen )

W-what the hell. This is mine. Don't --

[ Those enjoying their time basking in the sun on the beach might overhear the sounds of a growly voice uttering those words a short distance away -- right before they cut off with a startled yelp. Followed by the much louder sounds of cawing and squawking and ... scuffling movements? What sounds like roughhousing? A quick glance in the direction of that commotion will soon make it very clear what the hell is going on. A posse of three lifeguard-gulls have surrounded some poor victim, a lowly rank-2, and are hard at work shoving him around, yanking at his hoodie, pulling at his hair, and trying to get him to relinquish his bounty: a corndog.

On his part, Fuuta is putting up a valiant fight, flailing one arm in an attempt to swat off his attackers, the other keeping his precious treasure clutched close so that it can't be snatched away. Out of principle, honestly, more than any personal desire to eat the damn thing. But a particularly hard swipe at his head has his baseball cap going rolling across the sand, earning a loud yelp. Fuuta's voice crackles with equal parts frustration and flabbergasted anxiety when he snaps, ]

The hell's your problem?! Fuck off already!

[ Another snag at his hair has the harsh growl in his voice giving way to a bark of pain, though. He could use a helping hand, maybe ... ? ]

ii. hit me baby bun more time ( beach bunny barbecue bonanza ) ( nsfw )

[ He should have seen this coming, honestly? It's rabbit meat, after all. And ever since that game months back, he has zero good associations with rabbits. Rabbits are stupid, rabbits are bad, he wants nothing to do with rabbits ever again. Ever.

-- but, like. How was he supposed to resist this? The smoke of barbecue, the delectable scent of grilled meat, and the hot sting of spices in the air. After a few moments of staring at Steve's booth with gaze fixed and mouth watering, Fuuta had opted to purchase one (1) rabbit skewer for himself. 'It's just meat!' he'd told himself. 'It's not an actual rabbit! It'll be fine!'

Anyway, as Fuuta polishes off his delicious skewer and distractedly licks the last traces of spices off his hand where they'd dripped down the skewer's length to stain his fingers, Fuuta finds himself staring at the nearest other person loitering around the stall. ... it's just that he's sorely tempted by the delicious morsel they're holding, obviously. Obviously. There's no way there's anything deeper in the way he's staring at them with an ludicrous level of hunger and focus ... right?

iii. bottoms up! ( swim up to the bar )

[ It's a good thing he'd actually had zero expectations when it comes to the mermaids. Fuuta just raises an eyebrow as he watches those mer-people swim by, but otherwise has no comment to offer, happy enough to nurse a drink as he enjoys the facsimile of fresh air and open skies. (How long has it been since he's actually gotten a breath of fresh air, though?) The relative quiet and darkness of the evenings are more his style in comparison to the active, sunny, and too-hot atmosphere of the beach in the daytime, and these drinks are pretty tasty after all ... ]

a. mango star ( probably gen )

[ Anyone loitering around the bar or the shallows nearby might suddenly be alerted to the sound of wobbly footsteps splashing through the water nearby, followed by a sharp tug at their wrist. ]

-- what the hell? When did you get here?! [ Regardless of if it's someone who recognizes Fuuta or not, they're equally subject to fingers tightening around their wrist as Fuuta wobbles a half-step closer into their personal bubble, speaking a little too loudly: ] I thought I was the only person who ended up here, you know ... Don't you pay attention to your surroundings? You should've said something if you saw me.

[ He's not really making much sense? Maybe he's tipsy. Or maybe he's recognized you for someone else ... ? ]

b. seaberry floradora ( gen or nsfw )

Hey.

[ Those still enjoying the beach in the evening might look up at the sound of uneven footsteps and slightly-slurred words. It's Fuuta standing there, holding a half-full cocktail glass, and he doesn't wait for a response before pointing to the spot next to his poor victim. ]

That spot's empty, right.

[ Once again, no waiting for an answer, not really. Fuuta barely lets his words breathe for a half-second before just plunking himself down beside whoever's been unfortunate enough to catch his eye, regardless of whether they're seated at the bar, on the sand, or on one of the many lounge chairs scattered about the beach. This rude interloper simply claims the spot without even waiting for permission? And then -- and then! -- has the gall to lean against his poor victim's shoulder.

To his meager credit, he does seem a little tipsy? But still, there's probably no real excuse for the way he just ... settles in there. With no further unprompted explanation. Rude. ]

iv. wildcard

[ ooc ; I'm also very interested in the prompts for daydream parasols (almost definitely nsfw, as Fuuta is a diamond and full suit activation will have him spiraling), blackberry rosemary gimlet (the possessive drink option, gen or nsfw) and/or any scavenger hunt (gen or nsfw) prompts , but would like to tailor those more precisely! Please feel free to leave a comment indicating the prompt if you'd like me to start, hit me up with a starter, or contact me through PMs or at databomb if you'd like to plot something specific! Otherwise open to any wildcard prompts in general, please hit me with anything, fingerguns! Fuuta is 20(-ish, it's complicated) and so has a preference for 18+ for smut prompts, but there's some wiggle room there, so please don't hesitate to hit me up if you'd like to plot something!

Also one last note: Fuuta is definitely the type of loser to go to the beach wearing swim trunks, yes, but also a T-shirt and a hoodie on top the whole time, and thus look sweaty and visibly on the verge of heat exhaustion all event. Characters are free to note this! Or not. He'll be fine, don't worry about it. ]

iii, seaberry floradora

[astrolabium]

What do you think you're doing?

[ Mona lifts a hand and presses her index finger into Fuuta's fluffy hair, pushing him off her shoulder with relative ease. She'd been enjoying the ambiance of the beach thus far, so to have a stranger plant himself down on the sand beside her and use her as a pillow... Just was in the world is he thinking?

As if to answer her, she gets a whiff of him. Fuuta smells especially fruity. Not only that, the glass he has in his hand is already half-way downed.

Hmm. ]

[pyrolyzed]

[ Oh come on. Who the hell pushes someone away like that??? Fuuta promptly gives Mona an offended look, free hand pressed against where she'd poked him in the head, the other clutching his remaining half-glass of cocktail. ]

I just sat down? It's not like you own this beach, I can sit down here.

[ No, he is not going to acknowledge the fact that he specifically chose to sit down here, right next to her, and lean against her. Which, like, is the sort of desperate bullshit he'd usually never resort to? Who just does that to people? He's perfectly fine with being a lone wolf and sticking by himself, thank you very much! It's just -- right now, the thought of being by himself has an unbearably anxiety bubbling in the pit of his stomach.

And so, even as he shoots Mona a slightly resentful sideways glance, he stays sitting right where he is, parked next to her. ]

Or what, you gonna tell me you laid claim to this whole area? You can't do that.

[ Insufferable ... ]

[astrolabium]

[ He returns her look of frustration, brows furrowed and fingers curled tightly around his glass. However, Mona can see that his irritation is slightly different. He genuinely thought there wasn't an issue with their proximity, as if it were completely natural to cuddle up together without any introduction. And due to her astrological magic, she can also discern something else... an another underlying emotion there.

Why, despite being disgruntled, does he look almost needy? Is it solely the alcohol's fault? ]

Pardon? It's true that I don't own this beach, but I did not allow you to cozy up to me.

[ She gives a little huff at that. ]

Are you inebriated?

[pyrolyzed]

Who're you saying was cozying up to you?!

[ The gall of him, the one who was cozying up to her, sounding all offended as he squawks his retort at her. ]

I was just sitting here?! What, are you the type to throw a fit just cause someone, like, accidentally bumped into you? Stop making a big deal about it.

[ So he says, but he's the one who's starting to go a tiny bit red in the face. ]

And I'm not inb -- inebi -- drunk. [ He is tipsy. Those cocktails are way stronger than the sorts of weak-ass highballs he's more used to drinking now and again. ] I've just had a drink or two. Not like there's much else to do here.

[astrolabium]

Goodness. That's enough of an answer.

[ Sure, not drunk, but certainly buzzed enough that his inhibitions are lost. Mona does pity him a bit, though; it seems that pointing out the obvious has already gotten him flustered. In response, she raises her eyebrows and sighs. Honestly, she doesn't think she can just abandon him now. Babysitting wasn't in her plans, but whatever.

Mona does have a good heart, even if she won't readily admit her concern for others. ]

What are you drinking, then? I'll have you know that you smell like berries.

[ Is she intent on embarrassing him further? ]

iiia.

[affectare]

[ what's a girl gotta to do get a little alone time around these parts? here she'd been, minding her own business and contemplating which of the oh-so tempting drinks she ought to taste first, when suddenly some skinny twink (a/n: not her words) just grabs onto her - her! furina de fontaine, the former hyrdo archon herself!! - like some common lout without any respect or common decency. truly, is this what civilization outside of fontaine is like? utterly detestable.

she looks down at his hand, nose wrinkled in disgust, and gives it a good tug while imbuing her words with all the contempt she can muster. ]

Unhand me this instant. I can assure you that whoever it is you're looking for, I am decidedly not them.

[ she's never seen his ugly mug in her life. ://// ]

[pyrolyzed]

[ Unfortunately for her, she's granted no easy reprieve. Fuuta mostly just looks confused by her admonishment, brow raising high and lip curling in disbelief before he utters an incredulous ]

-- haa? The hell're you talking about? Did you hit your head or something?

[ Rich coming from the guy wearing the eyepatch! ]

It's me. Uh -- [ He pauses, though, then glances aside. It's not a terribly crowded area of the beach they're at, but still. There are enough people wandering around and traipsing by that he seems to be conscious of what he's saying. At least he lets go of Furina's wrist and withdraws his hand before continuing. ] ... number 3? [ 'Prisoner' goes unsaid. ] Y'know? From Milgram? Don't tell me you don't remember ... this place better not have fried your brains or something. You're hard enough to deal with even when you've got your head on straight.

[ Rude!!! ]

[affectare]

'Number 3'?

[ she echoes his words with a complete lack of comprehension, quickly drawing back her hand once she's freed and holding it close to her chest. a number and not a name? how utterly bizarre. unless—maybe this is one of those prison things and he's actually one of wriothesley's people? but wait, he'd said from milgram instead of from meropide, so that can't be it. ]

I...I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about. [ some of the haughty air drains away, leaving her simply puzzled. ] I've never heard of this 'Milgram' before. But if it's someone you're looking for....well, I suppose I could lend a hand and help you find them.

[ you know, because that's the nice thing to do. even if he did call her hard to deal with. rude. ]

[pyrolyzed]

[ The confusion is mutual, honestly? Fuuta can't help looking a little concerned at the thought that one of his fellow prisoners might end up here and not even recognize him. Like -- what does that even say about Milgram, then? Was it all just in his head? His injuries immediately disprove that idea. Then what else? Maybe ... maybe this is a version of her from before Milgram, then? Not impossible. He's been told about dead people ending up here alive, after all. Ugh.

The slow crawl of tension and unease across his expression culminates into a scowl before Fuuta heaves a sigh. Scuffs a hand through his hair, clearly working through some thoughts. Then he finally speaks again. ]

-- no. S'fine. I'm not ... looking for anyone. Never mind. Forget all that.

[ He'd already known people from the same place could end up here; he just hadn't thought it would happen to him. Though. Well. Now that it has, he can't help feeling a little responsible for 'her.'

Muu's always been a bit of a headache and a space case, after all. ]

... did you just get here? Don't think I've seen you around before. [ Pretty sure, actually. ]

[affectare]

[ sorry, but she Will Remember him manhandling her for the rest of her life.

the rest though? that's all easy enough to brush aside. this place....it's not like it's the easiest place to integrate into, what with all the nakedness and the outlandish requests and the...nakedness.....

though now that he mentions it, furina shrinks a little further, fingers tugging nervously at the front of her shirt. ]

...Is it that obvious? [ that she hasn't the foggiest idea of what she's doing here???? ] I thought I was doing a pretty good job, you know. Of blending in, and all that.

iii-a

[malpwactice]

[The area near the bar was the best place for people-watching. Even if he couldn't figure out the exact chemical composition that caused each effect, you got to see the wacky shenanigans and people getting a bit too frisky. It's fun. It's the kind of fun this place encouraged, at least.]

[And, of course Aak thinks, when Fuuta's grabbed onto his wrist. The guy was like a magnet for all the annoyances of the resort. He couldn't even blame them! Fuuta was fun to mess with therefore he's probably been messed with. Yet he hasn't shambled up with the red-faced humiliation Aak's used to this place forcing on him. The attitude is different and the way he's speaking is suspicious.]

[So, of course, Aak lies.]

I saw you, I saw you, I was just getting a full picture of the place first.

[It could be extraordinarily cruel, to give someone hope that a familiar face was here and then reveal it to be deception. Whatever, whatever, it's not like he's the one who pulled the first trigger here.]

So this is where you've been hidin' out?

[pyrolyzed]

[ That ... gives him pause.

Not enough to snap him out of the odd delusion the drink's cast over him -- especially since the drink was tasty enough he'd had two -- but enough that Fuuta just stares at Aak for a moment, brow furrowed and lips parted in obvious confusion. When he does speak, he sounds a little cautious, a little concerned, and also a little annoyed. ]

Since when did you start talking like that? [ A little click of the tongue as he glances aside. ] Did Muu get into your head about it? Never did like the way she treats you ... you shouldn't've been hanging around her so much, you know.

[ Still, for all his griping, Fuuta does seem somewhat relieved to see whoever it is he's mistaken Aak for. His grip remains firm around Aak's wrist, like he's concerned about letting go. Further bolstered by what he says next, as he tugs Aak to stand a bit closer to him. ]

You didn't go wandering anywhere weird, did you. This place is ... probably better than back there, but there's still plenty of weird shit around here. You shouldn't go messin' with stuff casually, alright.

[malpwactice]

[When Fuuta looks at him, Aak wonders if he messed the game up immediately. It's not like he has any idea who Fuuta would hang out with normally. He constantly fell into the web of troublemakers so acting like normal felt natural. When he starts speaking again, Aak tries to pick up any little detail he can. Not like that, someone named Muu, the way she treats you...]

[He follows when Fuuta urges him closer. A part of him wants to take Fuuta's hand for the reaction but that's sacrificing the long game. Instead, he stands only a few inches away, shoulder-to-shoulder.]

N- [Not "nah."] No. I was just walking along the beach. We're not... going to get hurt here, are we?

[He tries a more shy approach. If it was someone who hung around a rougher type, if it was someone Fuuta felt protective over... Aak's mental picture is some shivering schoolgirl maiden. He's not a good enough actor to play that but he can at least sound unsure.]

[pyrolyzed]

[ Good call. While Aak's guessed the gender wrong, the rest of it isn't entirely incorrect -- that nervous little stutter, especially, hits the mark enough that Fuuta reflexively gives Aak's wrist a little squeeze in an clumsy attempt to be reassuring. ]

No, s'not that. It's not dangerous or anything. It's ...

[ And here's where he hesitates, voice petering off into an uneasy grunt.

... how old was Haruka again? Like, seventeen? Eighteen? He probably knows about sex and all that then, right? Even if he's kind of stupid and stunted and naive about things, he must have still gone through puberty and figured out what it's like to ... feel good. Still, the prospect of straight up having to tell him, 'yeah, you're just going to have sex with strangers here' is making his stomach tie itself into a knot, and Fuuta's face is a touch red when he meets Aak's gaze again. ]

-- it's fine. Just stick by me, alright? [ Said as he tugs Aak to start following after him. ] Let's head somewhere quieter. And if you ... see people doing dirty stuff on the way, just ignore it. You know what I mean, right?

[malpwactice]

[There's the squeeze on his wrist and Aak glances to the side to try and hide his instinctive grin. He was sincerely trying to help and that means Aak had to try really hard not to laugh. When he glances back, he's evened out his expression. At least there was the delay of Fuuta's embarrassment that gave him extra time.]

[Too shy to say it right away, huh? Aak's making judgments but keeping any commentary to himself. As he trails a bit behind, he makes sure to react when Fuuta says "dirty stuff."]

Ah... [He can't blush on command, but he can bring his forearm up to his face and hide behind it. His eyes dart over to Fuuta, checking if it's landing, before back to his arm. He could trail behind without really looking. After all, Fuuta was being such a good chaperone for him! (Hehe)]

I did... I saw it... [Internally, he's wondering how the hell someone could not see it. It's fine. He channels one of the girls on the landship, the one with the bitter herbal medicine. One time Aak had chatted with her and she barely got a word out in response.]

blackberry wildcard.

[skinstitch]

( the resort is a small place, and the beach is even smaller.

no matter how the manmade ocean looks, no matter how real the sun feels during the day, no matter how the water smells just the way it should, salty and warm: they're still trapped in this place, and being trapped means that there are very few places left to hide, anymore, especially from someone like kajiyama.

not that he's particularly avoiding him. maybe it's more accurate to say not that he's particularly avoiding him like before, after that stupid game, but this is more the space that he feels someone should be afforded after--all of that. besides, if he wants something out of him, he knows where to find him, and with all the leaking down in the lower levels, and all the rumors he's heard about flooding, he's thinking that he'll probably hear from him sooner rather than later. maybe that's wishful thinking. maybe he just likes it when it feels like he has the upper hand; they're starting to feel on alarmingly even ground, as of late.

whatever. it's not like he wants to avoid him, and besides, kajiyama is always getting himself into trouble with that fucking mouth of his--which is why when he sees him approach the bar, mulling over the menu, he slides a little closer, dropping an elbow down onto the bar so that he can slide his cheek against his folded hand. casual and sudden. he's even dressed for the part: a pair of black swim shorts and a loose black overshirt, unbuttoned, showing off every little line of demarcation between healthy and damaged skin from neck to navel. )

I'm not interrupting anything, am I? ( slowly, warm and amused--his gaze drifts over the bar to the staff there, moving around making drinks, and his other hand lifts to show off the glass he already has: something iced and dark, a blackberry neatly splintered onto a pick. )

You want this? Haven't tried it yet.

( it doesn't matter to him, either way: he hasn't had even a sip off the top yet, but it smells good, and if kajiyama wants to refuse it, then he'll just blandly pay for whatever else it is he wants and down the glass himself. it isn't a date, but still--he'd rather offer to buy him something before anyone else does. wordless, he sets the glass on the bar between them, stretching back up to straighten out.

honestly, the guy looks like he's drowning. it might be cooler, now that it's night, but he's hardly dressed for the beach at all, for the humid, moist current of the night air, and with a slow curl of a grin, he reaches forward to hook a finger in against the neck of kajiyama's hoodie, tugging. )

The hell else you got on underneath this? Another four t-shirts?

[pyrolyzed]

[ It's not like he's been avoiding Dabi, either.

-- no, maybe that's a lie. Sort of. Kinda. It's not that he's been avoiding Dabi per se, but more what he knows he should be doing when it comes to Dabi. Inviting him for those drinks where they can spill their guts out, or whatever. Address the ugly truths that that stupid game in the library hard forced them to reveal. But like -- could he be blamed for kicking that can down the road just a little longer? It's not like he's going to go back on his word. Fuuta does fully plan on fulfilling that promise of a shit-tier "date," he really does, but ... he just needs a little more time to mentally prepare, is all. It's not like he's been avoiding Dabi entirely, or on purpose.

Which is to say, when his attention's caught by a familiar drawl, dragging his gaze away from where he'd been squinting at the menu, Fuuta does give a little start. Brow furrowing slightly, lips pursed, as he seems to think for a moment. But only a moment. That pause passes quickly enough, then he gives a quiet huff before slinking forward to slide onto the bar stool next to Dabi. ]

Not like there's anything to interrupt here. There's not much going on once the sun goes down.

[ Vaguely, he wonders if the offered drink's going to come with any strings attached, but ... whatever. It'll be fine, probably. And he could really use a cold drink ASAP. Case in point, the skin peeking above the neckline of his T-shirt is a touch red and clearly damp with sweat when Dabi tugs aside the folds of his hoodie, and Fuuta scowls as he swats that hand aside. ]

Leave off it. I can dress how I want, alright. [ And 'how he wants' is flirting with the danger of heat stroke, obviously. Despite his griping, Fuuta does tug off the hood of his hoodie and undo the front zip a bit, letting some of the heavy fabric slide off his shoulders; patches of his T-shirt are dark and heavy with sweat, further beads of damp lining down his jaw and throat. ] 'm just not a beach person. Can't even remember the last time I came to one.

[ A pause to take a long sip of the drink, and Fuuta comes up with a loud sigh of relief. Oh, that's tasty. The sweetness, sure, but mostly the chill of it. And maybe it's the bliss of immediate reprieve that has him lowering his guard a touch, or just because it's Dabi that he's talking to, but Fuuta mutters as he mixes his drink with the straw -- ]

Only came here 'cause it's been, like, years since I've actually gotten to go outside. This place at least feels pretty close. [ This resort might also keep them trapped indoors, but at least there are facsimiles of fresh air. Milgram had had nothing but gray walls and metal doors. Fuuta takes another sip, a good half of the drink already gone, before looking over to Dabi to hold the glass out. ] -- did you want a taste?

[skinstitch]

( exaggerated, he pulls his hand back, all five fingers outstretched as though in a blatant show of innocence. sure, the guy can dress however he wants, but he also isn't sure he wants him to pass out from heat stroke here, of all places, where he'd have a hell of a time hauling him back down to his room. even with the hood off, and the zipper dragged, he can tell that he's sweltering under there, the fabric soaked with sweat. his gaze falls, watching him, eyeing the rub of the soaked t-shirt collar, the way that his shoulders seem to shrink with the weight; his tongue presses against his teeth, but he doesn't say anything.

it's more worrying, the rest of it. another jolt of that incredulous disbelief, in him, becoming more and more accustomed to the truth: it's been years since kajiyama's been outside. years. years in prison. how long is it going to take for him to feel like that's a normal thing? how long for his first reaction not to be incredulous laughter, as though it could never be possible? he knows he's not being lied to, it's nothing like that. he just doesn't know what he must have done.

and this still isn't the date for that. bemused, he lets out a huff of breath and waits; when kajiyama offers the rest of the drink back to him, he eyes it, then fits his hand in over kajiyama's hand to help force it up, the both of them holding it as he leans forward to tip it past his lips. sweet, cold, and a little sour--he forces kajiyama's hand to lower, the clink of ice all that's left in the glass.

that and the speared blackberry, which he plucks out, catching it between his teeth. )

Thought they had windows in prison. ( mildly. ) Supervised outside time, or whatever. At least for regular people.

( not for the villains stuck in tartarus. with a tilt of his head, he immediately flags down one of the fish-heads, completely at ease. not like it's the first time he's talked to a heteromorph or anything--he orders another round, two glasses, and puts it on his tab. promptly, they're rewarded with the same drink, one set neatly in front of each of them. )

Are you not a regular person? ( with a low tease, lips curling, as he lifts his glass up for a slow sip. ) Oh, cheers or whatever. You can pay me back by taking off your stupid hoodie.

[pyrolyzed]

[ Feeling the warmth from Dabi's palm lingering over his knuckles and watching the easy way he tugs the berry from its pick, Fuuta wonders if he acts this way with everyone -- a little suggestive, a little flirty, a little too intimate. (And the thought annoys him, for some reason. Strange, that.)

He'd just been putting the empty glass back down on the bartop, swiping his hand against his hoodie's front to wipe off the condensation wetting his fingers, but Fuuta squints at the questions. The easy demand of payment. Brow furrowed and lips pursed, he considers it for a moment before glancing aside, checking how crowded their surroundings are; not very, at this time of evening, most others still populating the beach busy with their own conversations or just strolling by. Then finally, he huffs before saying, with the sort of casual loftiness that has to be feigned: ]

Fine. [ He tugs down the zipper of his hoodie hastily enough that it snags for a moment before sliding the rest of the way down. ] You're a guy, so I guess I wouldn't have had to pay for you on a date, anyway.

[ This is a date, then. The date. He'll talk. So Dabi better be prepared to as well.

Fuuta peels his hoodie off, balling it up and placing it in his lap before grabbing up the fresh drink that's been placed before him and taking a big gulp. Drinking a cocktail this quickly is probably a bad idea, especially when he's been losing water all day; his T-shirt's practically plastered against his body with sweat, his skin flushed all over, and he comes up with a gasp after draining half the glass in one go. But the night air feels nice and cool against his damp T-shirt, and the heady punch of alcohol admittedly helps smooth out his thoughts. The words come a little easier when he just starts talking. ]

No outside time. No windows, no doors. I told you it wasn't just a normal prison -- it's not like I was arrested. I didn't get a trial or anything. Just ... woke up there one day, and there was no way out. Kind of like this place, actually -- there not being any way out at all. [ So a part of him can't let go of the thought that maybe, just maybe, this place is related to it. ] Milgram, if you've heard of it. -- you know a lot about prisons?

[ What he's actually getting at: 'have you ever been in one?' ]

[skinstitch]

( he wants to snap something back, something agitated--like how he's paid for everything, like how he's always offered everything himself, and kajiyama is a guy, so what does that mean? puts stupid holes in his stupid argument, but whatever. the more accurate statement would be that he wouldn't pay for a girl, anyway, and he doesn't want to have to go down that rabbit hole. he's living comfortably enough, an odd feeling, and it doesn't bother him to blow a bunch of credits on drinks if it keeps kajiyama next to him, which is a sobering thought. he'll leave it there.

his hand curves in around his own drink, but he doesn't take another sip. he watches, waits for that hoodie to come off, piled into kajiyama's lap; he should probably get him some water, but he's not sure he trusts what they might give at this place--better to wait until he's dragging him, or walking him, back home. at the very least, the ice in the drink will give him something to chew on--something to hopefully cool him down. maybe he's too used to the feeling of burning up on the inside, but he feels relatively comfortable, even in the muggy night air.

his tongue works at the inside of his cheek, across his teeth, considering. no trial means that he was probably kidnapped and dropped there--but then again, funnily, he thinks: do villains get trials? no one asks them why they did it, no one tries to defend them. regular people, petty crimes, those might get trials; but since he'd been a kid, he'd always just heard of the bad guys going away to prison, and that had been that.

there's a faint shake of his head. )

Never heard of it. Milgram. But then again, we already know our Japans are different, yeah? Not like you have people with quirks running around.

( --which falls out of his mouth before he realizes it, quickly rolling his eyes to take a small sip of his cocktail. )

You were alone? Did anyone tell you anything, once you woke up there? Sounds like someone might've had it out for you, if you were kidnapped there. ( oddly, weirdly, he doesn't like that idea. doesn't like the thought of someone keeping tabs on kajiyama like he's some kind of lab rat. )

IV. daydream parasols

[moonlightbeast]

[Atsushi is ready for the beach and has spent most of the day having fun in the sun. Despite how sex-themed everything is, he still finds relatively clean ways to have fun. After building a sandcastle and trying out some of the snacks, Atsushi is full and happy and ready for a nap. The parasol chairs seem like the perfect place for this too, he's looking for a place to sit when he spots a familiar face, which makes him light up.]

Oh! Hello!

[He'll walk right over to Fuuta.]

I was thinking of relaxing in the chairs for a bit, want to join me?

[It's about noon right now too, which is the best time of day to get out of the sun and pass some time in the shade.]

[pyrolyzed]

... oh. Hey.

[ Fuuta's response is uncharacteristically toothless when he first looks up and recognizes Atsushi. But, like -- the heat's getting to him, man. The prospect of getting to at least pretend to be getting some freedom had been alluring enough, but it hadn't taken long at all before the heat had started building up under the heavy drape of his hoodie. His bangs are plastered to his brow with sweat, beads of it sliding down his jaw, and it's only the suggestion of those beach chairs that has him perking up a bit. Right, he'd forgotten about those. ]

Sure.

[ Atushi's free to lead the way, the scuff of Fuuta's slides through the sand accompanying him. ]

You look like you've been having fun. [ He doesn't even mean it shittily, for once. ] Your first time at a beach?

[moonlightbeast]

It's my first time having a day off at the beach. We have plenty in Yokohama, but any time I had gone was for work, and usually involved taking statements or looking for evidence.

[Not all of them were murders! But some were. Which makes sense, when you consider that the mafia owns most of the port area.]

You look a little warm though. Want some water to drink while we relax?

[He will not say anything about the hoodie Fuuta is wearing. For one, Atsushi is wearing what is essentially a sleeveless beach-hoodie too, and secondly if Fuuta is dressed like that it's for a reason. And Atsushi is not one to pry into personal secrets like that without being invited to, he just accepts them as they are.]

[pyrolyzed]

[ Atsushi's consideration is so kind and sweet, and utterly wasted in this moment because there really isn't a deeper reason for Fuuta slowly steam-baking himself in the sun other than that he doesn't like feeling exposed any more than absolutely necessary.

And he's stubborn about it, too. The offer of water just earns a dismissive wave of the hand. Fuuta's focus is instead on the benches up ahead, and he rolls into the first one they come across. ]

Yeah? S'good, I guess.

[ A low groan as he stretches out, then gives a sigh of relief. Man, even just being in the shade helps a ton; already, he sounds a little drowsy as he drapes himself over the comfy padding. ]

First birthday, first beach outing ... S'good if you at least get to enjoy some stuff like this in between all the other bullshit this place makes you go through. And at least you don't gotta work while you're here.