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

[unionized]

[It's still so strange, fielding questions like who are you and being reminded of the fact that this really is a place where he can't be recognized on sight. Equally so to find himself following when they start to walk up the beach; normally, his company follows a little behind and flanking on either side, because that's just how it is when you're a Shinra. Always leading, never behind.]

Rufus Shinra.

["Sasuke" is presumably a given name; he probably could've just left it to offering his own in return. But that's a little too weird for his already-stretched sensibilities right now. When was the last time anyone was familiar enough to call him by nothing but his given name, anyway?]

You know your way around? I'm still getting my bearings.

[chokuto]

[Tseng had, unfortunately if perhaps understandably, never told him the name of the corporation that employed him — so there is no recognition in the angle of Sasuke's gaze when he looks back. He sees only someone who is out of their element, but that is to be expected; he recalls the same feeling in himself upon first arrival. If anything, Rufus Shinra is handling the newness of a sexual resort far better than he had.]

Uchiha Sasuke. [In return for the man offering his full name.] And I do. I've been here for a while.

[Accustomed to leading, Sasuke takes them off the sand and onto the boardwalk, taking a path through the bungalows for a shortcut.]

This beach wasn't here until recently, though. I assume it's meant to welcome the new guests — you. [If there's a taint of fatigue to his voice, it isn't imagined.] Do you have any questions about this place?

[unionized]

If this is their idea of a "welcome", it leaves a lot to be desired.

[But he keeps up with Sasuke's pace as they head off toward the available stores, a little extra purpose in his footfalls now that they're bolstered by the promise of actually finding a pair of fucking pants to wear.

That's not the only intriguing aspect, either. The prospect of having some of his questions answered — and he certainly has many, for all that he might be judicious about asking them — is an advantage he'd be an idiot to write off without considering how he might take advantage of it.]

The suit and rank system. Going from a wildcard to a set designation — do you know what goes into that decision?

[chokuto]

[This man isn't wrong. Sasuke had found nothing pleasant about his own arrival, even if the memory feels far from his mind now, in the moment. Yet he hadn't liked it, and he is certain there are few in this resort who felt otherwise.]

Unfortunately that information isn't known. I do have an idea around the suits themselves and what they mean, but nothing has been proven. The House doesn't seem keen on sharing anything for public knowledge.

[Considering their direction, Sasuke veers them toward one of the closest clothing stores — not far down the road.]

So, when you're sorted, you could be as high as a King or as low as a two. I was a two myself until recently. There are benefits and costs to both positions, depending on what you value.

[unionized]

So you escaped the perils of low rank. How did you manage that? Good behavior?

[Good behavior, he's already thoroughly grasped, involves going along with the shenanigans and presumably fucking a lot, so. If that's what it takes to get himself positioned in a manner that doesn't set him up to be hassled by musclebirds every hour of the day, then that's just what he's going to have to do.]

...I'm curious what you'd say the benefits and costs of both are.

[There are benefits to not being rich and privileged?? Sounds fake.]

[chokuto]

There's usually only one way to progress, in the eyes of the House.

[As if confirmation to what Rufus is thinking — he glances back again, because yes, it means sexual intercourse. That is a fact about the resort that cannot be understated; it is a reality and a demand of them all, and if not abided, invites severe consequences. It would be something to learn quickly.]

The benefits of living as a lower rank in the basement floors is anonymity. You won't be noticed by most of the other guests or the staff when you're out and about, unless they're seeking to discriminate against you, which does happen. [Ask him how he knows.] The cost is, again, that discrimination. Or also heavier fines for perceived offenses. It's easy to go into debt.

[Gratefully, Sasuke is good with money and has recovered from his own temporary debts.]

For the higher ranks, in particular royalty... It's the opposite. You may as well be considered a celebrity within the resort, and you'll be noticed wherever you go. But you'll also have access to luxury and privilege, so you won't need to worry about financial security.

[unionized]

[Ah. It's funny how, laid out like this, the social structure of the resort becomes as familiar as home — because, in a sense, it is. The slums below, the plates above. The privilege of even getting to see the natural sun, or if your daylight is decided by industrial lamps. Being no one and nothing sounds like hell in the making, even with the promise of the benefits of anonymity — but then, maybe his personal opinion is just biased, on account of having absolutely no idea what it's like not to be noticed everywhere he goes.]

Put that way, I gather you see some value in the anonymity.

[Or maybe just value in presenting a balanced and reasonable take on things, but still.]

Is that what you prefer?

[chokuto]

[It's a pointed question. Sasuke doesn't answer right away, headed up the walk to the department store ahead, mannequins dressed in beach attire in the window — and once he reaches the door, he pulls it open for Rufus to duck into the air-conditioned interior ahead of him.]

Wouldn't anyone prefer that?

[Ah, maybe not.]

I'm not interested in being famous in a place like this. [Or anywhere. Given the notoriety he carried back home, the anonymity is a blessing.] But what about you? Do you have a preference?

[unionized]

[It's nice to get out of the sun, even if the sudden shift from hot to air-conditioned is all the more dramatic when you're wearing nothing but a breezy robe; as he steps inside, Rufus takes a moment to surreptitiously survey the layout of the store, marking exits and checking for the presence of any gull guards — or anyone who might resemble them. If wildcards are ranked low in the — bird pun intended — pecking order, then it stands to reason that the purveyors of this establishment might be as petty as the so-called "help" outside.

It's been a while since he had to sweep his surroundings like that on his own. That's more a Turk's job than his own — and as soon as he thinks it, he finds himself holding the answer to Sasuke's seemingly rhetorical question.

That's who would prefer the anonymity, isn't it? Not someone like him, who wears white and was made to stand in the spotlight. Celebrity status would be hell for a Turk, particularly one who would want nothing more than to go unassuming and unobserved, to better get their work done.

Maybe that's the thought that loosens his tongue, makes him just a little more candid than he might've been otherwise.]

I don't think I've been anonymous a day in my life.

[Not that it's really a surprise to confess to being accustomed to celebrity status; he carries himself like it, even when he's wearing next to nothing.]

It'd certainly be a...change of pace. To say the least.

[chokuto]

[Sensitive as he is to body language, he notices the man look around the store, alert and cautious — but there could be many reasons for such behavior. He cannot ascribe a particular reason without knowing who Rufus Shinra is, and that level of familiarity will not come from a sole conversation.

So he follows, and waits until Rufus seems satisfied, and then inspects the nearest rack of beach clothes. He isn't looking for anything for himself; beyond his role in chaperoning Rufus away from the busybody gulls, he sizes up the more colorful shirts for the person in his life who would actually wear them.]

Perhaps you'll even enjoy it. [Sasuke glances through the fringe of his hair, partly hanging over his left eye.] No one here cares who you used to be. Your rank determines that instead. You can create a whole new identity for yourself if you choose.

[He imagines Rufus would not be the first to go that route.]

Unless you encounter someone here that you knew in your own dimension. That's possible, too. And... the House will always know you.

[unionized]

[Circumstances sufficiently surveilled, Rufus wastes no time in gravitating towards the available selection of clothes, eager as he is to have something with actual coverage and not just the nonsense he'd woken up in. With four vouchers, he'll have to be a little bit selective — as though he wasn't going to be selective already, making a slight face at the garish patterns, bold colors, and generally cheap materials the swimsuits are made of.

(Tell us you're a rich kid without saying you're a rich kid, Rufus.)

What he is drawn to, almost immediately, is the sunglasses; maybe it's just that he knows it's going to be a long haul finding something among the swimsuits that he'll deign to put on his body, versus the ease of finding something to cover his eyes, but it doesn't take him long to find a pair of dark, mirrored aviators that seem to suit him well.

One down. Three remaining.]

...Is that likely? To have people you know turn up?

[It makes him think: who would he most want to see, in a moment like this? He already knows who he'd want to see least.]

I'm assuming the hotel staff is unlikely to be forthcoming to a wildcard. But is there some sort of directory or registration book of residents?

[chokuto]

[From the selection of shirts, Sasuke chooses one that appears a size too large for him — but he doesn't seem concerned by this, draping the hanger over his arm before circling back to where Rufus has begun to browse. An array of sunglasses in all shapes and colors catch his own eye; he's never considered wearing them before, but then, the sunlight has not been an issue indoors. Hm.

At those questions, he faces the man.]

I don't know if I would call it likely, but there is a chance. [Most of those he knows are here alone — but that isn't the same for everyone else. And once before, it was also not the case for him, in that other dimension.] I believe the bulletin boards in the main lobby may have a registry. It may not be all inclusive — again, most attention is focused on higher rank individuals.

Is there someone you're hoping to avoid?

[unionized]

[Sasuke that shirt is ugly as hell, well done. What an absolute look.]

Avoid? No.

[Although — okay, so possibly there are a handful of people he would prefer not to cross paths with at the "get ahead by sleeping around" sex-driven resort, but they're few and far between. Frankly he'd rather have a ready-to-go ally, someone suited to this sort of thing. Someone who'd thrive in a place like this, with the talents to navigate it with ease. Someone like —]

Actually, I was just thinking of a business associate of mine. I imagine he'd find this whole business funny, of all things.

[He pauses a minute, slipping on the aviators to hide the look in his eyes before he goes on.]

Maybe I'll borrow his name, if I decide to take your advice and reinvent myself around here. I'm sure Reno wouldn't mind.

[chokuto]

[Sorry he doesn't have rich boy taste. Also, that name does sound familiar, but unfortunately Sasuke never spoke with Reno directly, so —]

Unless he arrives to discover you've taken his identity.

[It's a dry quip. With the shirt obtained (for his Hawaiian-shirt-wearing boyfriend, okay), he appears content to trail after Rufus while the man continues shopping. Though he will not offer any opinion on Rufus' selections unless prompted first. ... Well, probably.]

You seem as though you'll handle this place fine, based on your reaction overall. Or you're simply good at hiding your true thoughts.

[unionized]

Oh, he wouldn't object.

[What's funny is how immediately and how offhandedly the remark comes — like he doesn't even have to think about it, as matter-of-fact as if he were describing the temperature or his own hair color. Because the question isn't whether Reno would complain, because he would assuredly complain with all the breath in his lungs, but he wouldn't mind. All of his Turks are far too loyal for that.

The newly-donned sunglasses hide the scrutinizing look he shoots toward the shirt Sasuke picks up, but it doesn't take long before he's breezing past it in search of something halfway decent for himself. Would that we all had boyfriends to shop for us, but right now he's pantsless and nobody's going to remedy that problem save himself.]

Besides. What's the alternative to handling it fine, falling apart and crumbling? Not likely.

sorry for the delay!

[chokuto]

[That earns another glance — because he can read enough into the response to assume some sort of dynamic, where either the other party (Reno, in this case) has little qualms regarding stolen identity, or Rufus' relationship with him suggests a special exception. Telling.]

Denial, most often. [He remembers his own reaction — spending the better part of the first month in the maintenance tunnels underground.] But you're right. It is better to face this situation directly than expect it to change. As you will gather, leaving this realm isn't feasible at the moment.

[He has in fact never heard of anyone leaving, only being statue-ified.]

Do you have any other questions?

[Sasuke will... hang around, awkwardly, while the man shops for pants. Don't flash anyone your pristine white ass, President Shinra.]