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ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴏᴄᴋ ᴍᴏᴅs ([personal profile] goldmods) wrote in [community profile] peacockstop2024-06-15 12:00 pm
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TDM 04





【 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.

    NAVIGATIONLOGNETWORKOOCMEME
    unionized: (🌟 feel the fear in my enemy's eyes)

    Rufus Shinra | FF7R | NEW

    [personal profile] unionized 2024-06-16 06:23 am (UTC)(link)
    — A BRAND NEW DEVELOPMENT;
    THOSE WHO POUND S[A]ND. (SFW)
    [So one moment he, Rufus Shinra, is standing on top of the world at his ascension parade, proud and bold and confident, and the next he's on a beach eerily reminiscent of that of Costa del Sol — well, if Costa del Sol were given a hefty infusion of Don Corneo's sensibilities, maybe. His clothes have vanished, and so have his crowds, and so has the culmination of his carefully-orchestrated plans, all gone by the wayside in favor of a filmy robe reliant on a single tie-knot to stay closed, and a whole lot of artificial sand, artificial sun, and...questionable fun.

    A quick survey of the housing...situation doesn't turn up anything more suitable to wear, but he does have a watch and a set of vouchers for food and clothing, and that's a good enough place to start, so out onto the beach he goes —

    But unfortunately, those lifeguards sure are what they are, and even with all the poise and icy looks he can muster, they've clocked him as a recently-arrived wildcard and are beginning to circle. It's difficult to say how imposing of a figure a guy can really cut when he's barefoot and clad only in a breezy little linen cover-up, but damn if he isn't making a solid attempt at it. And in fact, Rufus is throwing enough of a presence that it's keeping the hovering gulls at bay, for the moment, but who knows how long that will last...

    If you're in the area, what will you do? Intervene on his behalf? Get spotted as easier prey and draw the gulls onto yourself? Sit down with some popcorn to watch? The sky's the limit!]


    — THE PARTY NEVER STOPS;
    SWIM UP TO THE [B]AR. (SFW)
    [Well, the mermaids look like something straight out of The Drum, to say the least, but at least the swim-up bar is here to make up for it. The nice thing about the selection of cocktails available is that all of them are the kind of tropical fruity nonsense that you'd expect of a beach, which means he can't be faulted for choosing one of them — these types of drinks were his preference once, years ago, when he was younger and more reckless and less focused on the image he projected, and he'd given them up for the sake of looking and acting like he belonged in corporate boardrooms instead.

    Well. There's no whiskey neat at the floating bar, so cocktails it is.

    Which is how he ends up with a Seaberry Floradora in hand, and takes it back to the beach proper to nurse. It's a gin drink, he observes with mild approval — not very juniper-forward, either — and bright with citrus flavors, commensurate with its pink color. It's no hardship at all to sip at it, letting the cool liquid sit on his tongue awhile before swallowing it down, looking out over the ocean as he digs his heels into the sand and loses himself in his thoughts.

    The drink is only a quarter gone when the first nagging pang of melancholy starts to set in. It's odd, but the sand around him feels empty in a way he can't quite explain, and another sip makes him think suddenly of how terrible it is that Darkstar is nowhere to be found on this beach when she's supposed to be at his side. Another drink, and before long he's thinking of his Turks, who ought to be fanned out in a discreet circle around him, keeping vigil from a respectful distance while he idles. A sip thereafter, and before long his thoughts are drifting to years past, to Junon, the way he'd been packed up and locked away and kept out of sight and out of mind, forgotten about like he was of no consequ

    Why isn't there anyone around?

    Which is how if may come to pass that you are approached by Rufus, half-consumed cocktail still frosty in his hand and a sort of quiet urgency in the power of his steps, almost like he wants to break into a run but is forcing himself to stay steady.]


    Festive display, these fireworks. Don't you think?

    [This is like the worst opener ever but look. It's human contact.]


    — FUN IN THE SUN;
    DAYDREAM [C]HAIRS AND PARASOLS. (POSSIBLE NSFW)
    [Look, you won't catch Rufus dead trying to smash watermelons to pieces with his ass alone — assuming that even were something that he wanted done, he's sure as hell not going to do it himself — but you will find him watching the shenanigans from the comfort of one of the lounge chairs. Or, well, at least until you come along and join him, and that compulsion to dream starts to take over...

    And in the dream, the beach is still relatively the same — albeit considerably emptier than it is in reality. The sun is warm and bright but not oppressive enough to do much more than flush the skin a bit; the ocean waves create a natural ambient white noise that keeps it all from being too silent while not really overloud either. Really, the only thing out of place is the desk, huge and sleek and emblazoned with the Shinra logo, and with Rufus perched on top of it, dangling his legs off the edge, and staring straight at you as he runs his fingers idly over the surface of the desktop, openly possessive and almost preening.]


    You know, this desk used to be my father's. But not anymore.

    [The funny thing is, it's hard to tell whether that's his heart suit talking, or if it's just...him. It's equally difficult to parse the look he fixes you with, his eyes dark and his smile sly.]

    That means I can do what I want with it, mm?


    — MISCELLANEOUS;
    WIL[D]CARD AND OOC NOTES.
    [None of the above prompts working for you? Feel free to wildcard me, or hit me up for a custom starter!

    In terms of preferences, Rufus is 30 so for anything smut-adjacent, he is available to characters who are 25+, M/M or M/F both okay! He's OTA for gen and lighter shippy things like flirting and what have you, however. Please feel free to PM if you have any questions or to discuss specific ideas/kinks! As for his beachwear, he's doing the black trunks/white cover-up/dark aviators thing. Very cool of him, really.]
    armwriostle: (pic#17142965)

    B

    [personal profile] armwriostle 2024-06-16 08:15 am (UTC)(link)
    [Wriothesley had never gotten to enjoy fireworks before. Having spent much of his young life either blissfully ignorant or living off the streets before ending up imprisoned thereafter, there had never been a moment where he could appreciate the magnificent display bursting across a night sky.

    It might all be simulated and it isn't real, but there is still something dazzling and new about it that has Wriothesley's attention.

    Rufus' words pulls his gaze away from the sky and he turns to look at the other with a smile. Wonder still shines in steel blue eyes as he speaks.
    ] Quite. While it is not real, it is my first time seeing fireworks, so perhaps I can't help but be taken by the sight.
    unionized: (🌟 seas would rise when i gave the word)

    wrio my fave 🖤

    [personal profile] unionized 2024-06-16 05:03 pm (UTC)(link)
    [It's almost a relief, to have found someone so taken by the fireworks that he's blessedly not remarking on how out of sorts Rufus is — or at least, how uncoupled he feels, for reasons he's as yet unable to explain. What is a relief is the way the acknowledgement seems to wash over him, blunting some of the odd ache that had driven him to go in search of company to begin with.]

    ...Really.

    [He sips his drink, absently, letting the remark hang in the air almost like he's expecting the other man to just know to keep talking and fill the silence — only then the discomfort starts to rise again, and no, he's got to keep talking, got to find something else to say to make him respond again.]

    Why is that? A lack of things to celebrate?
    armwriostle: <user name=rrrrrlllllltttt site=twitter.com> (pic#16966679)

    Oh no. I bloosh!!!

    [personal profile] armwriostle 2024-06-16 05:24 pm (UTC)(link)
    [He lets out a hum before patting the spot next to him. It would be polite to let the man join him where he's seated right? It seems like they want to chat, and he doesn't mind company anyways.]

    Mm, it's nothing like that. We had plenty of things to celebrate. [Hell, with Furina as your Archon, she'd definitely have a fireworks show at least once in her honour.] I just never had a chance to see them, I guess. Never quite around when it happened. [You can't see fireworks in a metal fortress under the ocean.]

    They're quite beautiful though. I guess I've been missing out.

    love me a good rowdy punchguy

    [personal profile] unionized - 2024-06-16 17:42 (UTC) - Expand

    smooches his face

    [personal profile] unionized - 2024-06-20 22:47 (UTC) - Expand

    jots that down on my itinerary

    [personal profile] unionized - 2024-06-26 02:01 (UTC) - Expand

    (no subject)

    [personal profile] armwriostle - 2024-07-06 15:32 (UTC) - Expand
    snakelace: (Then I had a change of heart)

    A!

    [personal profile] snakelace 2024-06-16 04:37 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ Compared to Rufus, Baizhu has hardly any presence at all, and would in fact be an easy target if the lifeguards’ attention hadn’t been drawn elsewhere.

    Still, that gives him the advantage here.

    One of the lifeguards circling Rufus suddenly cries out before collapsing bonelessly onto the sand, the others quickly following suit, the wall of feathery musclebrains falling away to reveal…

    …a scrawny mage who’d gone and temporarily paralyzed them with some elemental magic, Baizhu pulling his hand away from his final victim with a sigh. ]


    Are you all right?
    unionized: (🌟 i used to roll the dice)

    [personal profile] unionized 2024-06-16 05:11 pm (UTC)(link)
    [Well, that's — unexpected, to say the least, and certainly not that he's complaining. He'd been holding his own the best he could manage with poise and steely confidence alone (itself not a very easy task, with nothing but a flimsy beach robe to wear), but even in the midst of trying to deter the lifeguards, Rufus had already been vaguely aware that it was a losing proposition. With no gun, no materia, no makeshift weaponry, and no backup, the only viable play was to endure as long as he could before they inevitably overpowered him.

    But it seems he'd endured long enough for a rescue, at least. With a final look to the gulls groaning in the sand, just to make sure they intend to stay down, Rufus's attention shifts to the newcomer in his midst.]


    Better now than a minute ago.

    [He flicks a significant glance toward the musclehead nearest him, resisting the urge to nudge one that beefy torso with his foot for good measure. No sense in adding insult to injury at this point.]

    Quite the advantage you have there. One on five isn't what I'd call ideal odds, but you made it look easy.
    snakelace: (A little joke when you're sick)

    [personal profile] snakelace 2024-06-17 02:36 am (UTC)(link)
    Oh, I simply have the element of surprise, that’s all. I’m sure you would have dispatched them swiftly had I not chosen the path of least injury.

    [ So, good on him for not kicking these guys while they’re down, actually.

    But his gaze softens as he gives Rufus a quick once over. ]


    You’re not injured?

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    chokuto: (pic#15621034)

    A.

    [personal profile] chokuto 2024-06-16 05:14 pm (UTC)(link)
    [The lifeguards are a problem. Given his existing basement-bound rank, he had encountered them earlier up the beach once already — though his own dismissal was somewhat more forceful, it was enough to dissuade the gathered gulls from menacing him for long.

    So, it is not surprising to find their attention turned to another. Sasuke does not recognize the man, but a presence cannot be denied, and rather than intervene, he finds himself hanging back. He hears a few squawks from the gulls — criticizing, evidently, this man's clothes. That he should be in a swimsuit, not wearing a linen coverup.]


    They'll want you to change into one of their outfits. [Sasuke's voice is low and even, but loud enough to reach the stranger past his current adversaries.] It seems you have it handled, though.
    unionized: (🌟 sugar we're going down swinging)

    [personal profile] unionized 2024-06-16 05:32 pm (UTC)(link)
    [It strikes Rufus abruptly, what an odd notion it is: harassment not because of who he is or what he has or actions taken by something he's responsible for, but because he's wearing the wrong clothes. These musclehead gulls don't care that he's Rufus Shinra, don't know or care enough about his name to want something from him or want to see him bleed for it. He's just wearing the wrong clothes, and they've got an opinion about it.

    He could almost laugh. It's not that it's funny, and this isn't a good time to break character, but still.]


    Pity. They're not my color.

    [One of the gulls circles again; Rufus resists the urge to follow him, trusting spatial awareness to keep track of the hovering one while his attention rests on the others.]

    Seems we could resolve this a different way, amicably. I have clothing vouchers, and I'm not opposed to using them.

    [The implication being, he'd have to be permitted to actually go and utilize them, however.]
    chokuto: (pic#16992511)

    [personal profile] chokuto 2024-06-16 07:27 pm (UTC)(link)
    [Naturally, Sasuke finds the issue of beachwear stupid and idiotic enough on its own — and he had said so earlier, accosted by the lifeguards as soon as he first stepped foot on sand. Now he bears the burden of wearing a pair of dark swim trunks, but at least he had kept a shirt on his upper body, perhaps disproportionate to the weather given the long sleeves, left hanging empty where an arm should be.

    Is it cruel not to step in and assist? Yet it appears this man needs no aid, as the threat sends a ruffling of disquiet through the gathered gulls. Clicks and squawks of orange beaks almost humorously absurd to watch.]


    I'll accompany him, [Sasuke finds himself saying, earning several beady-eyed stares.] Perhaps it will allow me to find something more suitable to wear as well. [Yeah right. Still, it seems to persuade them — and they begin to back off.]

    ... They weren't happy when I chose to keep my shirt. [Explanatory, as he approaches the man once the lifeguards are gone.] I don't care if you use the vouchers, but we should at least visit a few stores, or they'll just return.

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    sorry for the delay!

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    nonvoting: (i am your dog)

    sits here. :)

    [personal profile] nonvoting 2024-06-16 10:31 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ as with most dreams, tseng isn't sure how it starts. one minute, he's sitting on the fake beach that now occupies the better half of the cloud dwelling gardens; the next, he's walking down toward the familiar desk situated just above the dark line where ocean meets sand, a sight that somehow doesn't strike him as out of place. (in a dream, after all, anything is possible.)

    he isn't surprised to see the desk, and he isn't surprised to see rufus seated atop it, either. the attire is different, of course—tseng has never known rufus to put so much skin on display—but somehow, in the context of a beach dream, tseng can't question it too hard. it suits the scenery, at least.

    it's been a long time since tseng dreamed, and even longer since he dreamed of rufus. ]


    Yes, Mr. President. [ tseng stops a foot or so away, feeling his toes curl into the cooler layer of sand underneath the surface. there's heat clawing its way up from deep inside him, a flush that starts in the pit of his belly and works out to his extremities. ] It's yours to use as you see fit.

    [ just like tseng. his fingers curl at the small of his back, an instinctive gesture, trying to suppress the desire to reach out and run his hands possessively up the soft insides of rufus' thighs. ]
    unionized: (🌟 sweep the streets i used to own)

    opens my arms and his legs

    [personal profile] unionized 2024-06-16 11:04 pm (UTC)(link)
    [It's not surprising that he dreams of Tseng, even setting aside the bawdier implications of a statement like that; dreams draw on reality, on memories and thoughts and stimuli that surface in the subconscious and bounce off each other in unexpected ways. To turn up in a dream, Tseng need only be something that's oft on his mind — and that's no surprise, given how heavily he's always played a role in Rufus's intricate web of plans.

    It is surprising that Tseng turns up like this — dressed for the beach, barefoot, and looking at him like the sun's got him parched and Rufus is one of those frosty drinks from the swim-up bar. He likes that, he finds. Likes to be looked at like this. Everyone looks at him in one way or another, but no one, no one gets to look at him like this.

    Not unless he wants it, and oh, does he want it.]


    That's right.

    [He can tell, on some level, that this isn't...right. That office desks don't just turn up on beaches, that the mood he's in is a lot more libertine than he would normally allow himself. There's a hazy element of it all that doesn't quite feel real, and yet he finds he's not eager to dwell too much on it. It's enough to feel as though what's unfolding here doesn't matter, and if he's being given no choice in the respite, then he might as well relish what he's got while it lasts.

    He flicks his gaze over Tseng, from his toes to his eyes, slow and appraising. There are few people in the world more controlled than Tseng is; all of his tells are subtle when they're even there at all. But Rufus knows where to look, knows what it means that he's even seeing as much as he's able to see. There's a tension in Tseng that's fit to burst, and that — now that's interesting.]


    I wonder what you'd do with it, if you could.
    Edited 2024-06-16 23:05 (UTC)
    nonvoting: (i'm here but you aren't sure)

    [personal profile] nonvoting 2024-06-17 01:10 am (UTC)(link)
    [ rufus' eyes drag up tseng's body, and he feels like a creature composed entirely of the sparks between two bare wires. the touch of that gaze feels almost like a physical touch, a hand between his thighs, enough to make the muscles of tseng's stomach tense with the effort it takes to not let himself get hard. and he knows rufus can see it, because rufus knows tseng better than anyone else alive, knows exactly how and where tseng carries his tension—he must be lit up with it, right now.

    still, tseng doesn't look away. he holds rufus' gaze, steady, and tilts his head slightly to the side in consideration of the question. what would he do with the desk, if he could? nothing. that seat is not for him, not for anyone save rufus shinra himself—tseng could no more sit behind it than he could pluck meteor from the heavens with his bare fingers. surely rufus knows that, though, and so there must be another question within the question, the heart of what he's really asking.

    synechdoche, tseng thinks. not what he would do with the desk, but what he would do with rufus, the boy-king whose empire the desk represents. ]


    As much as you'll allow.

    [ the heat in him is terrible. it swells up like storm surge, makes his throat tight with the desire to swallow rufus whole. he wants to put his hands in rufus' hair, wants to shove his face into the desk and find out what rufus sounds like when he comes. he wants to peel back the layers of rufus' skin and find out what makes his heart beat, his muscles twitch, what makes him tick. he wants, and the want burns a hole straight through him. ]
    Edited (mdahs) 2024-06-17 01:12 (UTC)

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    flashfirefist: (109)

    [A]nother rescuer

    [personal profile] flashfirefist 2024-06-16 10:31 pm (UTC)(link)
    [When he sees what's transpiring, Enji doesn't hesitate. Reaching out his left hand, he sends a controlled burst of fire flying towards the circling lifeguards converging on Rufus. There's no danger of the flames so much as singing a single feather—because Enji doesn't intend for them to do so—but the lifeguards don't know that.

    They scatter. Only once they've attained a safe distance do they turn back to shriek at him angrily, but Enji shrugs. He has absolutely no tolerance for that kind of behavior.
    ]

    Then don't harass people! I don't have time for your games.

    [They don't like him, and he doesn't like them; this is somehow a well-established fact already. The lifeguards continue to disperse further, and Enji glances at Rufus, inclining his head in acknowledgement. He's still (slowly) getting used to the fact that he must look ridiculous in his robe and his unsuitable swimsuit, and he's sympathetic to Rufus' own current garb.]

    They shouldn't bother you again.
    unionized: (🌟 i used to roll the dice)

    [personal profile] unionized 2024-06-16 11:16 pm (UTC)(link)
    [Fire magic? Now there's a rescue he admittedly hadn't been expecting — but it only takes an instant for Rufus to gauge that this isn't a wild blast of uncontrolled flame, but rather a technical application of the element by a very deliberate hand. (Such are the things one picks up, being around various sorts of materia for essentially one's entire life.) It takes him a second or two to clock it for the warning it is; it takes the same amount of time to realize that the guards don't know it, and Rufus proceeds to use that to his advantage, turning away and bringing up his arms as if to shield himself from the flames for his own part.

    It's a good act, and helps to sell the bit. Once the guards start to scatter, he's free again to uncoil and do a quick check of his absurd linen robe, making sure he's still got reasonable coverage of everything common decency might want covered before turning his attention to his rescuer.

    It's an older man, quite tall and quite well-built — the sort of person who'd honestly stand a chance of looking good in the beach dress code being enforced, or at the very least looking like he'd knock a few of your teeth out if you suggested he didn't. Very different from Rufus's more polished, more fluid way of carrying himself. Still interesting, despite it.]


    That was quite the trick. Fire magic?

    [He nods a little in return, in that sort of "we've just formed an understanding that we're mutually not talking about what the hell we're wearing" kind of way.]

    I appreciate the intervention, regardless. And you are?
    flashfirefist: (006)

    [personal profile] flashfirefist 2024-06-18 08:29 am (UTC)(link)
    [As dedicated as Enji is to his disdain for the gull-guards, he doesn't fail to notice Rufus' convincing assistance. It is a useful addition to the overall effect; as a hero, he's not about to actually harm anyone, even people as infuriating as those.

    Enji may have appreciated Rufus' observant reaction to his "attack", but he raises his eyebrows slightly when his Quirk is referred to a a "trick". He doesn't believe in magic. However, he has been informed that the people here apparently are abducted from a staggering range of places. Different worlds. He's not sure what to believe about what he's been told, but he's willing to entertain the possibility that that's true. People in his own world once would have considered Quirks a kind of magic.

    In spite of his disgust with this place, he hasn't forgotten his overall resolution to be more personable. Or more precisely, to be a better person, no matter the circumstances he finds himself in. He replies politely, if somewhat tersely.
    ]

    It's an ability I was born with.

    [Whether that can be considered "magic" can remain a matter of perspective.]

    I don't tolerate that kind of behavior. I'm Enji Todoroki.

    [It's rare that he's called upon to identify himself. Once, he would have given his hero name, but he doesn't see the point in that now. He returns Rufus' nod. He is more than willing to be part of the understanding that discussion of their clothes is best avoided. What dignity they have remaining should be preserved. Rufus does seem to have a certain dignity, even in this place, a quality Enji appreciates.]

    And you?

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    macaronage: (2023-11-09-450)

    the party never stops

    [personal profile] macaronage 2024-06-17 12:22 am (UTC)(link)
    [ I wrote her remembering her last stint in the tdm--let me know if you need me to change any of this. ]

    Hmm? Oh.

    [ It's... that guy. She's met him before, hasn't she? Didn't they cross paths the last time she was here, however briefly? Navia is almost certain of it. Some people just leave an impression on you, and the impression she feels is that she cannot stand him. It's a little jarring, honestly.

    Wait. This was the man in the elevator, right? The memory of her stint here is a little hazy, but ugh, he'd been insufferable, so high and mighty, like she was beneath him somehow.

    And yet, here he comes, trotting up to her now with all the eagerness of a puppy hoping to be scratched behind the ears. The urge to rebuff him immediately is strong, but there's something so sincere in his expression that she doesn't have the heart to turn him away.

    Huffing a little chuckle, Navia looks back up in time to see a splash of glittering lights erupting in the sky, taking the shape of a firm pair of buttocks before fizzling out again. Classy. ]


    They sure are something. A bit more colorful than the ones we have back home.
    unionized: (🌟 i'll be your number one)

    [personal profile] unionized 2024-06-17 12:34 am (UTC)(link)
    [OOC: That's fine! He won't remember the last TDM because I'm pulling him fresh, but Navia is welcome to if she's keeping continuity from events prior!]

    [There's an immediate relief to being acknowledged, which he knows is strange and uncomfortable and unlike him, but where most of the time his loneliness is something he's able to rationalize or suppress, this time it's incessant and only the promise of human contact seems to do. He's not about to squander it now that he's got it, however fleetingly, and he sips his drink again to keep his throat wet in the hopes of an extended conversation.]

    Well. Maybe "festive" is stretching it.

    [And "colorful" is a nice way of putting it, but still. It's not as though it couldn't be a lot worse.]

    I'd still take it over being chased around the beach by bird-headed lifeguards, though.
    macaronage: (2023-08-25-238)

    [personal profile] macaronage 2024-06-17 02:28 am (UTC)(link)
    [ Lucky for Rufus that Navia is fairly easygoing person. He hasn't done anything to indicate recognition or recollection that their first meeting had been an awkward one; he's trying to be friendly, and she's happy enough to give people a second chance.

    The mention of the seagull lifeguards earns another laugh, especially when that comment is followed up by a firework that bursts into a shimmering erection, complete with a dazzling shower of ejaculate. Truly magnificent. ]


    Those gulls are the worst, aren't they? The first one I tried to talk to about getting a swimsuit pecked at me with his beak. I thought I was going to lose an eye.

    [ A slight exaggeration, but gossiping about the literal bird-brained lifeguards seems just as good of a way to pass the time as any. ]

    How long have you been here?

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    blumenthal: 𝔟𝔩𝔲𝔪𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔩 | dnt (pic#16143759)

    b.

    [personal profile] blumenthal 2024-06-17 01:02 am (UTC)(link)
    [ A handful of small bonfires dot the beach; perhaps that is what draws Rufus' attention to the man sitting in the sand near one, legs stretched out in front of him and posture relaxed, face turned up toward the falsified sky. Mid-thirties, slim and lanky, bearded, with long red hair hanging loose past his shoulders cast a striking burnished copper by the flickering firelight. There's a half-finished cocktail held loosely in one hand, and though he seems content enough watching the fireworks alone, he also isn't perturbed by Rufus joining him. He'd be the last to judge an awkward opener. One side of his mouth quirks up, but his smile is mostly in his eyes, deepening the creases at the corners. ]

    And topical, [ he agrees. Caleb's voice is low and gently accented--Zemnian to him, but quite a few people here have called it German. ] No one has ever accused this place of subtlety, but at least dick-shaped fireworks are entertaining.

    [ Timely, the sky above them erupts with green light in a distinctly phallic outline. ]

    You are welcome to have a seat. Especially if you wouldn't mind a conversation.
    unionized: (🌟 now the old king is dead)

    [personal profile] unionized 2024-06-17 02:04 am (UTC)(link)
    [The thing is, if he weren't under the influence of Profound Loneliness Juice™ at the moment, he would probably have the focus and the wherewithal to be skeptical of this stranger's immediate kindness. Nothing in life ever truly comes for free, after all — at least, that was what he was always taught, and has never really been presented with any particular evidence to the contrary about it. For someone to be so easy about an invitation like this, so quick to offer company? He must want something, and it would be up to Rufus to suss out what that was before he was made a fool of or worse.

    But notably, he is pretty sauced on the loneliness juice right now, and so the smooth, gentle extension of comfort feels like a balm on frazzled nerves.]


    ...That's fine.

    [He says, and swallows against a throat that feels like it's gone dry, which he briskly remedies with another sip of his drink. Yes, a seat and conversation sounds like the best idea in the world right now, frankly, and he'll have to dissect precisely why that is at a later time.]

    You're alone, then? Or...?

    [He motions to the bonfire, by way of implication. Such things are usually social affairs...aren't they?]

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    philancer: (022)

    C! because clearly they have unfinished business ;)

    [personal profile] philancer 2024-06-17 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
    [ There's a massive desk. On the beach.

    Sylvain is eyeing it a bit dubiously even before Rufus speaks and then he gives a quiet snort of laughter as he glances from the very out-of-place piece of furniture and the man perched atop it. ]


    I suppose so? Why do I get the feeling that your opinion of your father is complicated enough that offering to set the thing on fire probably isn't gonna cut it?

    [ Or maybe that's his own daddy issues talking. ]
    unionized: (🌟 sweep the streets i used to own)

    opens my arms hello again

    [personal profile] unionized 2024-06-17 03:50 am (UTC)(link)
    ["Desk on the Beach" sounds like a really bad homebrew variation of another popular drink, possibly the kind that gets you so sloshed you end up facedown in the nearest horizontal surface. Or that makes even going to work on a Monday morning sound appealing.

    Regardless, the mention of his father makes him smile a little, the emotions interwoven through that particular remark blunted by the effects of the dream and of his suit being in full force both. Maybe another time he might've bristled; now, the assessment is just amusing because it's hardly wrong.]


    Mm. Clever you.

    [Nothing but daddy issues the whole way around, here.]

    He'd hate seeing it go up in ashes. But he'd hate a lot of things we might do to it, in general.

    flings myself at you happily!

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    massochism: (olivine051)

    C

    [personal profile] massochism 2024-06-19 01:40 pm (UTC)(link)
    [he'd been careful this time. well, he thought he'd been careful. there were no players in the nearby lounge chairs when he laid down—but the resort, as always, seems to have its own ideas for how things work.

    the heavy, dizzy feeling is his first sign of a problem, diamond mark on his chest aching beneath his clothes. the second is a moment after, the abrupt realisation that he's no longer seated comfortably in the lounge chairs, but standing and in a familiar outfit he doesn't have here in front of—a desk. a desk? in the middle of the sands? and on it, perched comfortably, a silhouette he'd only seen briefly around during the day.]


    ... is it?

    [he doesn't have the context here by any means, but with such a complex expression, he can get some kind of vague idea. and, with a fresh wave of heat coursing through him, it doesn't really matter. honestly, he's still glad he's kind of used to this feeling. at least enough to speak clearly.]

    That does seem like a reasonable inference, if you've inherited it.
    unionized: (🌟 i used to roll the dice)

    [personal profile] unionized 2024-06-19 04:26 pm (UTC)(link)
    "Inherited" is one way of putting it.

    [Strictly speaking, it's probably the most apt word for it, too, given that Rufus was somewhat less personally involved in his father's untimely death than he might otherwise have preferred. Still, there's a passivity to inherited that compels him to want to say otherwise. It's not as though it was easy, getting to where he is now. It's not as though it was a sure thing.

    He's never been one to sit back and just let things come to him; he wants them and he takes them. It's an apt consideration, for the way he's looking at the newcomer in his midst right now.]


    Either way, it's got his fingerprints on it. So I've got some cleaning to do.

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