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

Rise Kujikawa | Persona 4 | New

[stripsearch]

[I - Free Real Estate]

[Would you believe that it's not the first time Rise had woken up in a separate world altogether?

The Midnight Channel had at least had the grace to leave her in her normal clothes, though.

And speaking of the Midnight Channel, that's Rise's first assumption about where she's ended up-- but a quick scan with Kouzeon tells her that no, this isn't the world inside the TV. This is something else entirely. Which is somehow more disconcerting.

Also disconcerting is that she's in a very light, breezy bathrobe, which would normally be perfect for a summery bungalow like this. Except there's nothing on under it. And there's someone else walking into the room right now.

That person is getting one heck of a slap across the face.] I don't know who the hell you are, but if you think you're going to stuff me in something like this, you're gonna regret it, buster! You better not have even thought about touching me--!

[...they did strip her and put her in the robe, right?]

[II - Those Who Pound Sand]

[What a nice, summer day. Pay no attention to the screaming.

Or the girl who's running at you, arms crossed over her very naked chest, in just a bikini bottom, looking behind her at the two large, burly, seagull lifeguards chasing her.] Quit it! I said I'll put it on myself! What the hell is wrong with you guys?!

[Trip her? Help her? Or just don't move because she's not looking where she's going and is kind of headed right towards you?]

[III - Swim Up to the Bar]

[Well, the trauma of arrival and the swimsuit incident aside, this is... kind of beautiful? It's just like any beach resort she's ever been to. Okay, the thong bikini bottom is a little skimpier than anything she'd ever worn back home, and she'd definitely prefer if the top covered a little bit more, but she really can't complain.

She keeps eyeing the swim-up bar. There's really no ID check here? She can just order it?

Memories of an ill-fated night in Tatsumi Port Island don't deter her. She gets a Mango Star, because it sounds the least intimidating. It is thoroughly delicious and sweet, and if there's alcohol in it, she can barely taste it. Dangerous.

Her gaze jerks up when she sees movement next to her.] Senpai-!?

[No, probably not.]

[IV - Across the Night Sky]

[The fireworks are beautiful. It's really just like the best sort of festivals at home. Rise is content to lounge in the pool on a little blow-up floaty, drinking a much less enchanted-- and much less alcoholic-- beverage of cola and ice, watching the display.] It really is gorgeous, huh... [She remarks to you, the person next to her.

A pause.] Okay, there are a lot of dicks, though. Er, is that normal?

free real estate because bullying ragna is the MO

[belialedge]

[ As for Ragna? His circumstances were a little...well, different. Having been checked in a few months prior, the taller white-haired man had ample time to not only adjust, but procure enough funds to live a comfortable enough life when he wasn't being harassed by staff and NPCs for his low rank or having the House hurtle shenanigan after shenanigan at him. The lower levels where his own suite were being flooded? Honestly, it doesn't even surprise him anymore. That, and having his own place within one of the Queen Suites was his saving grace. That didn't stop the resort from miraculously cutting Mr. Grim Reaper here a break and giving him access to what he thought was going to be his own bungalow.

Better than napping out in the open where those freakish lifeguards with seagull heads could be waiting to pick at him. If there's one saving grace of having arrived in the Cloud Dwelling Gardens on this "Summer" stretch, it's that Ragna already has his own proper swimwear. Huffing a sigh as he leaves the hustle and bustle of the beach and various partygoers, hoping he can take a break in what's supposed to be his own private abode (he was promised! psych. you got pranked bruh.), the instant Ragna steps inside, waltzes down the hallway and conveniently enters the same room as a bewildered wildcard...

SLAP!

That's some reach, Rise, considering Ragna's literally got a whole foot on you. But he snaps with a shake of his head instantly, fists clenched as he hops away from the young lady whose immediately barking at him. It's less the sting of the smack and the fact he's startled and now having the proverbial finger pointed right at him, his teeth grit before finally having a chance to speak for himself. And what does he do? ]

HEY! I'm not the one who just sucker slapped someone outta the blue!

[ He barks. Of course. ]

And what the hell do you mean touch youI JUST got here!!

[ ... To the bungalow, that is. Ragna's definitely not new to this casino. And a little too pissed to stick himself in her shoes (or lack thereof) and realize Rise is another prospective wildcard waiting to get shuffled into the deck. ]

[stripsearch]

[Okay, he's definitely taller than she'd been expecting-- he looks even taller than Kanji, at least by a little bit-- so Rise does have to adjust her aim and even step closer and up on the tips of her toes to fully connect.

Rise is still trying to draw herself up to her full height, which is not very impressive in the slightest, but let it never be said that she's not ambitious.] Well somebody had to put me in this bathrobe!

If it wasn't you, then who the hell was it? You've got a kind of shady look about you, you know!

[belialedge]

[ If nothing else, she’s a firecracker. …justifiably so. He’s just a victim(?) of circumstance getting put on the slappy end. Even when not straightening his back, Ragna towers over the younger idol. Though he looks more like a scolded Great Dane than anything right now as he tries making heads or tails of how to handle this predicament. ]

And that somebody sure as heck wasn’t me!

[ Wait, what did she just say?! ]

Where do you get off calling ME shady! I’m—!!

[ —an evil looking man, depending on who you ask. Weiss in Cross Tag Battle help djfjncnfc Ragna’s voice clips, and with a hitch in his shoulders, he forces himself to just. Calm down. Terse, he opens his eyes and huffs.

Go on. Swallow your pride. …dammit. ]



Okay- Just…look. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. Lemme guess, you just got here, yeah?

[stripsearch]

[Rise glowers up at him, the image of a little kitten arching its back to appear bigger and more intimidating.

But then, at least, he apologizes. Which mollifies her, if only a bit.] ...yeah. How'd you know?

[She then narrows her eyes.] You realize that that's totally what a shady person would say, right?

ii!!

[izanagis]

[Every so often, just every once in a while, you end up in the middle of a situation so strange, so absurd, that it's like it goes into slow-motion while coming right at you. If any situation counts for that, it's this one: someone in the distance running right at him, topless, hollering for dear life while being chased by two hunky lifeguards with seagull heads.

Is...is this some kind of weird dream?

Wait. Is that--]

--Rise, [said softly, more to himself than to her, equal measures shocked and confused. But it does spur him into action -- he can figure out what the hell is going on in a few minutes. He charges forward, stepping to the side so he can get behind her, between her and the uh. the lifeguards.]

She can take it from here, thanks.

[He may be a 5, but he wears it as well as any of the royals do, and after a discerning moment, the lifeguards stop their chase. They don't entirely back off, just yet, but they certainly do seem like they're wary of getting on his bad side.]

[stripsearch]

Senpai?! [Rise...

...is very confused.

But then the seagull lifeguards seem to back off, or at least they stop chasing her, and her senpai is the one who'd just come to her rescue.

His is a very familiar face, and perhaps the one she'd most want to see right now.

So, as the seagulls start walking away, Rise is just going to throw her arms around him in a big hug.] Is it too cliche if I say something like "my hero" right now? What the hell was those guys' problem?

[She is

still very topless, so enjoy that nice smush sensation, Yu.]

[izanagis]

[That.

That sure is a smush.

His hands hover for a moment; does she...realize? Should he...say something?? But in the end, how much he's missed her wins out over concerns about propriety. You could call the hearts suit a little bit sappy, at least in his experience, and he seems to be feeling that more than usual today. So we're just gonna return that hug and pretend it's totally find that she's completely topless.]

It's me. I'm glad to see you, Rise.

[Whenever they put some distance between them, he will avert his eyes. For now--] They really do seem like seagulls, don't they? Relentless and needlessly aggressive.

[Said with a pointed look at one of the lifeguards. Said lifeguard does not seem to care, still watching them both with a sharp eye.]

[stripsearch]

[Oh, she realizes.

But, you know, it's this or everyone seeing her topless, and this is by far the better of the two options.

She's glad that from the position of this hug he can't see how her cheeks are burning.

But eventually, Yu pulls away, since they can't stay like that forever, and Rise crosses her arms over her breasts to get some semblance of modesty.] No kidding. They told me I had to wear a swimsuit, I said sure-- but I didn't think they'd try to force one on me right there!

Geez, what sort of weird place is this, anyway? It's not in the TV, right? I did a sweep with Kouzeon earlier and it looked totally different.

III

[belheir]

[It's not his first time being called "Senpai". Normally by underclassmen, sure, but he was popular enough in school that it wasn't a surprising thing. What is surprising is when he's called that but can't put a name to the face, so he's just stuck there for a moment, brain trying to pick apart where he might have seen this girl, if maybe they shared a class together?

Or did he tutor her at some point...?

Nothing comes to mind, though, and so after an awkward moment of silence, he responds like he isn't entirely sure. Surely there's gotta be somewhere he knows her from, right?

(Wrong.)]

Kohai?

[#nailedit]

[stripsearch]

[Oh.

Rise feels her cheeks turn red and hot. She can't be that drunk, right? It had just been out of the corner of her eye, so--] Ah, er.

No, I guess... sorry, I mistook you for someone else. You just kinda looked a lot like him for a second.

[But he doesn't look that much like Yu, now that she's looking more closely. Geez, that's embarrassing.]

[belheir]

[Well, that makes his whole situation a lot easier, honestly. For a moment he really was getting worried that she really was someone he knew from back home.

Which would have been exceptionally awkward, considering the state he left Tokyo in, and his current Wanted status by the SDF. Whew.]

That's alright. I was worried you might be one of my underclassmen that I didn't recognize.

[stripsearch]

Unless you went to high school way out in the sticks, I don't think there's a lot of risk of that. [She says with a shrug, taking another sip.

And then blinking. And rubbing her eyes.] Okay, it's the weirdest thing, but every time I don't actually look at you, in my peripheral vision I swear you look like him.

Geez, is this what being drunk feels like? How'd this ever take off!

[theidlemaiden]

[ Fireworks have never failed to fill Hilda with a sense of child-like wonder. It wasn't very often she saw them which is what made them all the more special. Call her silly or childish, but there was never a fireworks show that passed that didn't see her wishing on them like they were stars in the sky.

It doesn't take much to convince her to remain in the warmed pool on her floatie with a large glass of water to try and flush whatever god awful effects the previous drink at the bar she'd had out.

But when the show starts and the sky lights up, there's definitely something wrong with the fireworks. Or maybe it's right considering where they are? Either way there's less childlike wonder and more confusion happening. ]

I was just about to ask you that. I've never seen fireworks like that - [ A very nice pair of boobs flashes across the sky. ] or that.

[stripsearch]

[Rise squints up at the lights in the sky.

Given that they're fireworks, those breasts are rendered in remarkable fidelity.]

No, that's new too... [A pause.] I can't say I've ever been envious of a fireworks show's rack before.

[Those were Naoto-level.]

[theidlemaiden]

[ What word do she use to encompass a collective resort's penises and boobs? ]

Do you think they modelled them off people's...parts?

[ That feels right, at least for the context. And maybe it's something she should be concerned about in the future. There's a contemplative little sip from her fancy little straw. Just because she's only drinking water doesn't mean it can't be fun. ]

But I suppose I shouldn't be really that surprised considering what I've learned about this place.

[ Her gaze skips back to the young woman sitting beside her. ]

Have you been here long?

Those Who Pound Sand

[killjoyprince]

[It was probably a bad habit to pick up. But Naoto had started ignoring the screaming she heard here. She'd seen some things that could not be unseen. She was just going to walk around, fully dressed and enjoy the weather.

But the few words she could make out sounded like someone who actually needed help. And it sounded familiar.

Then an even more familiar face appeared around the corner.]

Ris- [Her words died in her throat. Why was Rise mostly naked? Why were there seagull men that made Kanji look scrawny chasing her?

Naoto was so perplexed and torn between helping and running herself that she was rooted to the spot. She squeaked as they collided and she fell backwards.

...It was a good job they were on the sand...

Except Naoto was now trapped under Rise and could feel...things she'd rather not be able to feel right now. Especially not with the seagull lifeguards looming above them.]

[stripsearch]

Naoto-kun?!

[Rise is torn between happiness, at the sight of her close friend who she knows is definitely handy in a pinch; and embarrassment, because this is very not the sort of situation she wants anyone who remotely knows her to see her in.

And then confusion, because why isn't Naoto moving, but she's running on sand and it's too hard to change course, and--] Move! Get out of the-- [too late.

Rise topples over, right on top of her friend, and Naoto is going to get a very nice taste of some of Risette's fans' biggest dreams, right there in her face. At least for a moment, before Rise scrambles off her and tries to hide behind the Detective Prince. Sort of. As much as she can.] Naoto-kun, they're so gross! Make them go away!

[killjoyprince]

[Sorry Rise. But Naoto was struggling to understand the scene in front of her and it's dangers. Until it was far too late.

To go with the squeak as she fell, she'd squarked during the scramble on the floor. Naoto was focused on putting her hands on the ground to shove herself up. So those didn't feel anything, but something hit her in the dace at least once.

She wasn't going to think about that THANKYOUVERYMUCH.

...Why was she being used as a human shield? Why were these seagull men in speedos looking down on her?]

Um... Leav-[Nope, the lifeguards cut her off and just started... Flexing at her?

It was tragic Rise. Naoto was too scrawny nerd for them.]

iii

[arsenist]

[Akira's getting ready to leave, just slightly disappointed, because he isn't planning on trying any of the alcoholic drinks... but that exclamation pulls him up short. There's something else more interesting here, it seems.]

Not unless you go to Shujin Academy, sorry.

[It's delivered in a very deadpan way, just a bit of amusement in his eyes... but there's something else there, too.

Something's nagging at him, familiar though it's been a while... Has he seen her before somewhere? Was it here... or could it have been back home? He doesn't think she's his kouhai, but perhaps it isn't impossible. Does she go to Shujin after all?]

...Unless you know me from somewhere else. Have we met before?

[stripsearch]

[No, it's not him. Rise sighs and takes another sip of her drink, feeling chagrined. How could she have made that mistake?] I don't think so, sorry.

I've never heard of Shujin. Where is it in Japan?

[Because obviously it's Japanese, and he understood what 'Senpai' meant, so she just assumes.] ...sorry, I guess it was just my mistake.

[arsenist]

It's alright, it happens. [The feeling nags at him, but Akira let's it be. She seems so disappointed, it doesn't feel right to just let it be.] Were you waiting here for them?

[There's lots of people here, so maybe her senpai is still in the crowd... It's not impossible. Maybe he can keep an eye out and help her find them.]

As for Shujin, it's in Tokyo.

[He watches her carefully, seeing if she reacts to that either. He knows now she won't recognize the school itself, but he's run into enough people here that have different "versions" of Earth that he's always waiting to see if somebody will be missing a city or something.]

iv

[sociallinks]

[ Minato has also decided to relax in the cool pool and on a floaty, but unlike Rise, he has neglected to get a drink. Blast... he should grab one later, but first, a very important question to answer from the person next to him. ]

Probably, for a place that has scavenger hunts for pubic hair and cups of cum.

[ ... yeah, he doesn't know that not everyone got that message. He just assumes that Rise would already know. ]

[stripsearch]

What--?! [Guess who didn't see that.

Rise practically falls into the pool off her floaty, looking at Minato with a horrified, shocked expression.] You... you gotta be kidding me!

That's so gross!

[sociallinks]

[ Oh, there she goes...! Minato watches her fall off her floaty without a change in his blank expression, also not reacting to her justifiably becoming grossed out. Instead, he just presses a few things on his Watch and holds out his wrist for her so she can glance at the scavenger hunt message that he got earlier. ]

Yeah, see?

[ He would offer to help her back up onto her floaty, but uh, he's pretty sure that he'll just dragged off as well so instead, he just reaches out to hold onto her floaty with one of his feet so it doesn't drift away. Here you are. ]

Interesting place, huh?