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

Scott Summers | XMCU | K♦️ | Current

[laserguy]

pound sand; sfw
[Getting harassed by one of the staff lifeguards? While we can all appreciate a burly bird guy... maybe... it is probably a bit much to have a bunch of them piling on an unsuspecting person at once. Scott hasn't faced that problem yet and he knows with some exasperation that it's because of his rank. Well, might as well use it for good? So, anyone that looks like they need help, the mutant will step up, his presence garnering the attention from the lifeguards.]

Excuse me, I believe that you need to leave now.

[All of them caw, some apologetically, before they scutter away, leaving the two of them alone. The slightly more stern expression on him fades, although it's still hard to read him behind those opaque red shades.]

Are you alright?

daydream parasols; nsfw
[It's always rather noticeable when he finds himself depowered.

The buzzing in his head, the power emitting from his eyes, all of that simply disappears to leave him utterly defenseless. Normally, this would be something that would cause Scott to panic, because he doesn't want to be powerless, but... look at the beach surrounding him. There's something just really nice about the sand beneath him and he can at least rule out him being collared for the reason why his powers aren't working. That hated collar isn't on him, leaving his neck bare and he slowly reaches to the glasses that are ever present on him, hand removing it to place them on his head.

Although, he keeps his eyes closed, because what if something still happens?]

Can... can I open them?

[He may also be affected just slightly by the effects of his suit being fully activated, causing Scott to crave encouragement and touch from the person that's in this dream with him. He just feels warm... and the atmosphere from the beach is making him more relaxed than normal in this circumstance.]

across the night sky; sfw/nsfw
[He knows that he should've avoided that Seaberry Floradora cocktail that was offered to him, but after a few sips of the drink, he couldn't quite put it down. So, now he's sitting here on the beach with the glass in hand, just watching the fireworks explode in shapes that look rather normal, until he sees a penis in the sky. And a pair of boobs. Scott snorts, but even those sights do nothing to quell the loneliness that's been clawing at him tonight. Maybe he just misses Jean? Yeah, that's probably it, because they'd watch a night like this together. But... she's not here. She won't be.

...

Anyone that's passing by or coming to his side will get a slightly forced smile from him that almost seems to beg for company.]

Nice show, isn't it?

[No, he hasn't realized that the drink he's been consuming has been making him feel more lonely. It's not like an uncommon feeling he's felt before, although a part of him feels just a little more clingy as well. He wants to spend this night with someone.]

scavenger hunt easy; sfw
[Looking for a pair of sunglasses? Well, there's a guy just lying on one of the lounge chairs, seemingly relaxed and maybe even asleep. Probably an easy grab to snatch his sunglasses, right? Of course, anyone that nears the seemingly sleeping man and reaches for his face will immediately get their wrist snatched. Or even if they just tried to peer closely at his face, Scott will still comment either way without missing a beat.]

I wouldn't.

[wildcard: Got anything in mind? Please DM or reach me at currykirby! For the scavenger hunt prompt, I ask that your character don't take his sunglasses, thanks!]

across the night sky ✨

[greyate]

[ Jean is still walking around this beach, thinking this is a dream of some kind. Some fancy casino, all these people walking around with cards assigned them? The ... seagulls and fish people?

Though, maybe Jean has experienced enough strange things that this really shouldn't be all that different from the norm. Shouldn't be, yet it feels unreal to her. She feels weirdly untethered and out of place here.

The bathing suit (a two piece) fits her just fine - a decent shade of green, thankfully - and things seem to be calming down as the sun goes down. She doesn't trust any of the alcoholic drinks, but the water and juice at least goes down easy. And while she's had people try to flirt with her, Jean just smiles politely and keeps walking up and down the beach, trying to find some kind of familiar face.

She already has a boyfriend back home.

At least, she thought he was back home.

Finally, after multiple trips up and down the shore, she finds that familiar face. She just didn't expect it to be him. She barely hears his words - the fireworks and her own heart are too loud in her ears. ]

... Scott?

[ Jean hopes she said it loud enough. Not shouting or yelling but waiting for a break between blasts. She needs to know it's actually him and not a trick of her eyes. ]

OwO!!

[laserguy]

[He barely notices when his drink slips from his fingers, spilling on the sand around him. There's a brighter hint of red that flashes behind his sunglasses, his eyes widening in disbelief when the love of his life, the one that he thought dead all this time, is now in front of him. She's... she's just like as he remembers her. There are no markings from the cosmic force, she looks just like she did before everything went downhill.

And more importantly, the most important thing of all, she's standing in front of him.

Alive.]

...Jean?

[...Is she an illusion, a cruel image made by the people running this place? It wouldn't be the first or even the second time something like this happened, but Scott doesn't dare tear his eyes away from her. He barely notices his legs slowly getting up, allowing him to stand as his mouth silently parts. He... he so desperately wants her to be here, in front of him. With him once more. Can he actually have that? Does he deserve it--

Hope cracks in his chest, along with a wave of other emotions. Sadness, uncertainty, but more overwhelming than anything else, guilt. For not saving her, for not seeing the signs better, for even thinking that he could move on just after five months. But he manages one step forward, one hand reaching out as that wave of loneliness hits its peak. Even if she is an illusion, maybe it's okay to embrace it just this once?]

Jean...

u w u

[greyate]

[ Her powers aren't nearly as strong here, in wherever this place is, but some feelings still come through for her. Strong, pointed. Her brow creases at them as she reaches and takes the outstretched hand before her into both of hers.

Jean moves forward and pulls Scott towards her simultaneously, bringing the hand to her cheek. ]

Are you ok? How long have you been here? I was looking for you.

[ And she couldn't feel him anywhere. She can only vaguely feel his mind here and now when he's standing in front of her. ]

[laserguy]

[Scott visibly shudders when their hands meet, his fingers slowly wrapping around hers as the lump in his throat hardens. She... she is here, right? This is so familiar, them holding hands. He can't possibly mistake it even now.]

You're... you're really here.

[Sorry Jean, he's not quite in the right mindset to answer your questions. Far too fixated on having her close, warm and feeling so real. He lets his mind be open, like he's trying to reach her. Unlike all those years ago, he's completely okay with her reading his mind now. He just wants to feel her in that way once more. Scott thinks he can feel her presence there, mentally grasping for her in a way that feels a little desperate. Maybe even clingy.]

You came back. [His lips start to tremble. He doesn't care who else is around them in the distance, if they're out in public. All that matters is the woman in front of him. He doesn't even try to hold back those feelings, the way his vision starts to become blurry.] Like you promised.

[He's never fully composed when he's around her. Never just Cyclops, now official leader off the X-Men, but Scott around her. He's been hers since they bumped into each other almost a decade ago. Maybe he should wonder about the logistics more, why this is happening, but he can't. He doesn't want to let go of her again.]

parasols!

[izanagis]

[For someone like Yu, the hearts suit is a bit of a curse. He's not sure when everyone else fell away, or how, but he feels it acutely in the pang of loneliness that threatens to wash over him like a wave. In the sudden feeling of standing at the edge of the world, or maybe the afterlife. The increasingly desperate way he tries to seek out other people. Thoughts of home that almost overwhelm him. In spite of the warm sunlight shining down, he feels a chill run through him.

It's a lot. He doesn't love any of it.

He wanders the beach for what seems like ages, and when he does finally find someone—it's Scott, lying with closed eyes under the bright sun. He'd be relieved no matter who it was, but the fact that it's someone he knows makes his heart feel a little lighter, too.]

I dunno, [he says noncommittally.] It is pretty bright out here.

[Of course he knows that's not what Scott meant. Of course he has to give him a hard time nonetheless.]

[laserguy]

[Scott's mouth slightly parts when Yu's familiar voice reaches his ears, sitting up a little more and turning his closed eyes towards him with curiosity and maybe some eagerness. He's always liked the young man, even if most of those feelings are from a standpoint as a mentor more than anything else, but Scott's also come to respect him in his own right. It's clear that Yu faced several challenges back home, details that aren't fully known yet, but he believes there's been an unspoken kinship-- maybe because Scott is rather certain that Yu is the leader of his own group back home.

So, he stays relaxed, his suit flaring up and twisting his feelings just slightly, where he's far more comfortable being with him and sharing a more intimate space if he wants it too. And it starts with his powers possibly not working, maybe giving him the chance to see him as he should be.

...Although, he has to make some retort in return because wow, punk--]

Don't know how you and the others always manage out here.

scavenger hunt

[redfeathers]

( While Hawks isn't in any particular hurry to finish the scavenger hunt, he's already found a few things. He isn't in need of any sunglasses based on his appearance - a pair folded with one leg hanging from the collar of his shirt, a pair nestled into the messy hair, and a comically large pair with red lenses he's wearing properly.

But seeing Scott laying there peacefully? Hawks can't help but think the other man is just asking to be bothered. Especially considering people are going to see those shades and think they're up for grabs.

He makes his way closer quietly, crouching neatly beside him, perfectly balanced on the balls of his feet. One of his wings shift, flexing as he listens to the sounds around him, focusing on the way Scott breathes. He doubts he's asleep, but he still considers if he should bother him at all. Scott speaks, though, and he grins down at him. )

What if I was looking for a kiss? Is that a no, too?

( There's that familiar teasing edge to his voice, and his lips are curved on a small, amused smile. )

[laserguy]

[The familiar voice gets his eyes to snap open from behind his shades, momentarily caught off guard that it is Hawks speaking to him. They haven't spoken in a hot minute, but as his eyes settle on the teasing man with that amused smile, Scott's brief moment of tension melts away, shoulders relaxing as his own mouth twitches upward.

They really do have a habit of teasing one another, huh?]

...I suppose I'll allow that. This time.

[He's already long decided to just be a little more open, a little more accepting of others, and Hawks is someone that's he liked before. Scott straightens up from his longue chair, bringing them a little closer to each other, but he doesn't yet go for a kiss yet.] I'm feeling generous today.

[redfeathers]

( Hawks can’t see what’s behind those sunglasses, but he figures this is a good reaction. He can’t remember how long it’s been since they’ve seen one another, doesn’t know what happened after everything in the maze to waking up earlier today. But at least, Scott is a familiar face.

And he can’t help but think he enjoys this bit of back and forth they have. Something easy and calm where they can gently poke one another without going too far or expecting too much. It makes it easy for his smile to spread wider, especially when Scott replies. Like it’s really such a hard think for him to even consider doing.

He leans forward, folds his arms neatly on the edge of Scott;’s lounge chair. ) How generous?

( His head tilts up slightly, expectantly. He even reaches up to flip the ridiculous sunglasses he’s wearing up and out of the way. ) I still need another pair of sandals.

[laserguy]

[Maybe it's a small thing that's unnoticeable, but Scott seems just a little more open compared to their last interactions. Maybe hard to discern, given that he's always been a little more easy and relaxed around Hawks, but in the last month, he's just been allowing himself to actually connect with others. Nothing too deep, since their presence here is only temporary, but he isn't as fully bogged down by expectations and guilt.

So, there's not much hesitation on his end when he closes their remaining distance, their lips lightly pressing against one another as he gazes at the other man through his glasses. It really is so easy to just slide back into this with him, isn't it? Stupid charming bird--]

Don't be too greedy, Hawks.

[He mumbles against his lips, before fully pressing into him with a kiss.]

[redfeathers]

( Hawks knows this isn't always the easiest place for some people to be. He can't say he likes it much. But there's still something relieving about seeing how some people are getting their footing, finding their peace with all of this. It's been fun to see that with Scott the few times they've spent time together. And he appreciates how easy it is for Scott to give in to or humor him with these types of things.

It's easy to meet the other through that small distance, returning the light press. There's even a soft, warm puff of laughter against the other man's lips at those words before he presses back into their kiss. There's no urgency or desperation in something like this, but he still reaches up, softly resting his palm against one of Scott's cheeks as they kiss. )

What can I say - I'm not good at stopping myself when I want something. ( He says as he pulls away from their kiss, lips curving into a small grin. His hand lingers where it is, softly rubbing his thumb against the warm skin. The contact lingers for a few, long seconds before he lowers his hand to the edge of the lounge chair. But he's still looking up at Scott with an expression that's playful. )

But is that a no on the sandals, then?

across the night sky

[schorl]

( loneliness is like a beacon to shalom, both for what it represents in opportunity and— perhaps, somewhere deep— how it’s shared from whatever passes for her heart, too. perhaps. either way, as she winds her way through the beach, there’s a lingering slowness as she starts to pass by him; slowness becomes stillness at his entreaty, and, with a gentle flip of her sarong to avoid sitting on it, becomes a seat at his side. )

There’s certainly an interesting choice of aesthetic.

( her voice is cool, unbothered, even as another sparkling penis lights up in the sky. she smiles— has been smiling— and that too is at a temperature not unlike that of the drink in his hand. )

Is it a common sight? ( the fireworks or the beach, in the resort or at home; however he wishes to answer is enough for her. whatever information he wants to offer… is enough for her. )

[laserguy]

[Unfamiliar, but far from unwelcome, especially since that loneliness is still digging its claws into him, sinking past his skin and making him grateful for any sort of company right now. So his forced smile turns just a little more genuine, relief surging in his chest when she takes the offer to sit next to him. It's not him and Jean watching the show, but he's not alone and that's what he's going to accept. He has to accept it anyway.]

They're certainly on theme.

[He dryly remarks. Maybe not entirely on theme with the beach itself, but with the entire casino and its purpose.]

Not the fireworks part, but it's a common occurrence to have a penis or a set of breasts celebrated in such a away. Just between us, I think they're trying to send a message. [There's some humor in his voice.]

[schorl]

No subtlety in this place, is that it?

( how funny. surely there are better ways to encourage them to fuck beyond blasting it across the sky? for instance— her eyes fall to his drink. if there’s any, hmm, incentive within it, then he must have a tolerance not unlike steel. if there isn’t… what is the house doing, really. she shifts, coming the barest centimeter closer; her head tilts, towards him, even as her gaze turns back to regard the sky. )

Maybe it’s my assumption that’s incorrect. I can’t say I have as much… ( hmm. ) experience, compared to what they’re asking of us.