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

[wray]

[ Truth be told, he does not have an alternative, so he looks towards the direction of where his accommodations were placed. ]

Then, it's towards over there.

[ The faceless crowd seems to flicker in and out of their sight, almost unnerving given how idyllic and bright everything else is. There has to be a catch somewhere, a glitch in the system that will make it obvious what exactly has gone wrong, but so far, there's nothing.

Six can only make his way towards the area he pointed out, assuming that Sunday will follow suit. ]

... I doubt it would be this easy, however.

[ He just has a Bad Feeling about this. ]

[befehl]

( Sunday doesn't miss on the crowds phasing in and out, like fish in the water disappearing between reflections. As Sunday follows behind, he keeps his surroundings on his peripherals, wary of any sudden movement or danger. Paranoia runs naturally in his veins, but it's not as bad as it used to be.

What is bad is this horrible sensation his body seems to reject. He can't mold his surroundings how he likes, he doesn't have his servants or the other Family members who help him police all rules. He can't control anything.

As they arrive closer to the establishment, Sunday thinks he sees a dark shape in the distance, a person. It stands out like a sore thumb between all the faceless ones, but they disappear before Sunday gets a real sense of who they are. It could have been a butler? Naturally, Sunday keeps this fact to himself. Communicating important observations? Naaah. )

Has this happened before?

[wray]

[ At least Six makes it a point to linger close to where Sunday is. Protecting others is just naturally ingrained in him at this point, because who knows what sort of trouble is waiting to ambush them here? As pretty and idyllic things are, he already knows that things can't be trusted at this point.

He doesn't notice what Sunday sees, so he proceeds to open the door to "his" bungalow and peers right in. It looks exactly like the one assigned to him — beautifully furnished and all that. ]

If it has, I wouldn't know. This is my first experience being transported elsewhere.

[ Maybe it's his fault for not paying too much attention everywhere, but you know. ]

Things look normal inside, at least.

[befehl]

( He’s like a guard of sorts and Sunday gets a sense of protection being near him— following their initial meeting and exchanging trustworthy information about each other seems to have helped.

The atmosphere itself is familiar enough to Sunday, it’s the same lucid sensation from the dreamscapes back home. )

This seems more organized than my room. I was unfortunate enough to end up with messy roommates.

( But isnt this too good to be true? Sunday falls silent for sometime while he opens drawers to look for any clues. He climbs the ladder to check the top bunks, all while keeping that distant black figure in the back of his mind. )

Have you ever gotten sick here?

[wray]

[ Paranoia is often a good thing. It helps you check things that one might miss, and once Six realizes what Sunday is doing, he does a sweep of the other side of the structure, just in case. So far, everything is good except for the creeping sensation under his skin.

He knows what that means, but he's also hoping it's just the summer heat getting to him. ]

... It depends on what you mean by getting sick.

[befehl]

( As he tours the room back to the entrance, Sunday locks the door and looks out between the blinds. Just to be safe.

He joins Six once again, looking at his face - well, his mask. It's still polite to be within a line of sight. )

... If we are in a dream, then sickness shouldn't be possible. We were laying down on those parasols and then transported here. If you pinch your arm, does it hurt?

[wray]

... If this isn't a dream, then it's likely something much worse.

[ Not that he's too sure about that assumption, but it's not like he has the best opinion about this place. He does pinch himself to make sure, and the pain is sharp, real. So that rules this being a "dream". ]

Could it be possible that this is a realistic one? I barely remember the last thing we were talking about.

[ As if they simply drifted off. ]

[befehl]

I don't remember either. However, if this isn't a dream... ( Sunday mirrors his movements so he can pinch his arm as well. His flesh turns slightly pink over the area, and sure enough there is pain. The result disappoints him, because then... )

Look outside the window. The clouds are gathering outside and they don't appear to be rainclouds. They're massive and black. And coming right this way. I would rather stay here than find out what they are, though.

[wray]

[ That makes Six frown. He follows Sunday's gaze to the window, peering from the huge blot of black in the skies. How quickly it's moving towards where they are is alarming, and that's all he needs to know to realize what they aren't. ]

... They're not clouds.

[ The loud screeches are barely heard from the distance, but given the vast amount of crows, bits and parts of it are obvious enough. Six makes his way to the windows to make sure they're bolted shut, followed by the door. He doesn't know what good it will do against the large flock, but it's something. ]

Do you know how to fight?

[ They might need to, at this rate. ]

[befehl]

Then... ( What is it? Sunday stands beside him to peer through once again, focusing his attention better as they're closer - each individual crow angrily gunning their beaks towards them across the ocean. He wouldn't be so worried if they didn't previously prove their ability to feel pain. )

We can't stay here. Do you know any other areas we can use to seek refuge? Someone told me about some basement. How do we get there?

( That's pretty much his answer - no, he can't fight. And it's not like he has the ability to steer the dream - or whatever this is - into his favor. The dread seems to stir the birds to move faster, too, reacting directly to his emotions. He grabs Six by both arms, almost shaking him. )

Tell me.

[wray]

[ The frantic tone in Sunday's voice tells him everything he needs to know.

He tries to remain calm in the face of it, not bothering to stop the other man as he nearly shakes him. The murder of crows is a worrisome threat, sure, but he doesn't think it's something he can't handle. Of course, it's not like Sunday has any reason to trust his capabilities right now, so — ]

We can always try to head back to the resort, but we'll have to head out in the open for that.

[ No matter what they do, it'll be dangerous either way. The crows are closing in by now too, and if they step foot outside this bungalow, he knows they'll just be attacked no matter what. ]

... If they're just crows, I can handle them.

[ If they're nothing more than just birds, that is. He grabs hold of Sunday's wrists, gently prying them off him. The next thing he does is guide the other man towards the bathroom. ]

You can hide here until I'm done.

[befehl]

( His grip is firm on him, strong enough to possibly cut off circulation temporarily before he’s pried away. If the crows have anything to do with Sunday, it explains the previous body he witnessed in earlier.
That man’s figure creeping between the silver, faceless crowds.
He doesn’t want anything to do with him anymore. )

What about you?

( His gaze penetrates that mask as he’s guided into the bathroom, watching him from the middle of it. )

There’s too many for one person.

( Words lump in his throat helplessly. )

If it’s too dangerous, return in an instant.

[wray]

[ If Sunday's firm grim bothers Six at all, he doesn't mention it. There's something visceral about the fear that he can sense from the other man— almost familiar, he thinks. Similar to the kind he dreams about against his will.

But that's neither here nor there, not when a murder of crows nearly is upon them. ]

I've dealt with worse. Stay here.

[ Maybe he's being too overconfident, but he still remains one of Phantagrande skydom's strongest fighters, so birds should give him no trouble at all. Or so he hopes.

He doesn't say anything more as he closes the bathroom door, leaving the bungalow to meet the angry creatures head-on. It's a fight that barely counts as one, because as feral as the birds are right now, he makes quick work of them nonetheless. Without his weapons, he only has his hands and body, ripping apart what he could reach, crushing what he couldn't.

He hates this feeling. It's too similar to what happened long ago, but he smothers that thought before it blooms into something worse, focusing on the task at hand.

He takes out every single one of the birds until they're all gone. They glitch out of existence, as if they were never there to begin with, but the scratches and cuts are still there on his person. Even his mask has been taken apart, but he can always fix that later.

His fingers rap at the bathroom door. He doesn't move to open it. ]

... It's safe now.

[befehl]

( Stubborn as he is, the last thing he wants is to stay behind. Yet involving himself in a fight like this will only drag back Six so he stays back with much reluctance.

When he's alone, he speaks gravely under his breath. )

Come back safely.

( As the crows get slaughtered and crushed, the sensation of Six's protection does ease his mind which in turn, also makes the murder lessen in numbers - as if they are directly connected to his fears. He's not sure how much time it passes.

He sees the handle seem like it's about to move, and Sunday glances up towards the voice behind it so he does the job for him and opens it. The revelation is grim at best, seeing his precious mask torn like this knowing how much he rather keep it on also tears at Sunday's heart. )

Mr. Six...

( The shine coming from the hallway lets Sunday know they're still in this wild dream. The energy within his halo is also condensed and hard, physical. Just keep feeding that guilt buried deep inside him so he never comes back out into the light. Sunday reaches for his shirt to guide him into the bathroom. It's luxurious enough to share, and the vanity has a chair. )

Please, take a seat. Why didn't you come back if it was too much? You...

[wray]

[ Six feels more exposed than ever, but he knows that's thanks to the absence of his mask. He tries not to meet Sunday's gaze because he doesn't want to see the expression on his face, not while he's all bloodied and bruised up like this. It truly feels like he was brought back in time, when all he can remember are broken bones and shredded flesh.

Monster, they would all call him before begging for their lives.

The Halovian's voice brings him back to the present, and before he knows it, he's been made to sit on the chair by the vanity. ]

I told you— I've been through worse. This is nothing.

[ All wounds will heal. He already knows how to put himself back together. ]

I'll be fine.

[befehl]

( It's difficult not keeping his gaze on those beautiful features of his when they're scratched up and seeping with hints of blood. )

Don't be ridiculous.

( Sunday says before he goes to search drawers for anything useful. The dream, while reflective of what there is in real life, seems to lack certain things. As if there were glitches. He only finds a small towel which he dampens with hot water. It's better than nothing. )

Give me your hands, I'll clean them for you.

( He says, shaking and squeezing off excess water from the fabric. He'll avoid his face for the time being. )

[wray]

[ Six wants to protest, to tell Sunday that none of this is necessary, but the man is already looking for something to help him with before he can say anything. He falls silent and says nothing more, waiting like a good dog by the vanity.

When Sunday comes back, he offers his hands. His knuckles are the worst off, most bloodied since he's always fought with his fists, especially given that callouses and smaller scars have worn them down over time. But scars like this are only skin-deep, never quite reaching the ones that linger on even after these have faded after a while. ]

You don't have to go this far.

[ It's not something he deserves. ]

[befehl]

( And Sunday didn't deserve staying back doing nothing. Just like all those years ago. He carefully hoists up his palm using the tips of his fingers from below, pressing the damp cloth to soak in any blood without adding much pressure. He runs it over each crest and down the length of each finger. He can feel his calloused areas from below, so he inches his touch further towards this wrist, keeping his gaze lowered. As the blood is wiped away, it reveals more ugly bruising. )

I want to.

( He folds the towel over to the other side so he can repeat the process on his other hand. This is when he briefly glances towards his face. There are cuts there, too but he already has an inkling that touching him directly on the face isn't welcomed. Sunday won't push him for it. )

If you want me to stop, then tell me so.

[wray]

[ There's hardly any pain, but Six can tell that Sunday is delicate with his touches, treating him as if he might shatter at any moment. And maybe he will, given how much of a mess his mind is now. He tries not to think about it, tries not to listen to the phantom whispers from those he belongs in the past.

He chooses to focus on Sunday's voice instead. There's something soothing about it, but maybe that's just wishful thinking. (Or the ever-darkening effects of his suit's mark on his back.) ]

... You can keep going.

[ Their eyes meet this time, pale lilac gazing into golden hues. It's like he's searching for something. Why does Sunday want to look after a stranger? ]

[befehl]

You shouldn't have put yourself through this because of me.

( He scolds again under his breath, worn into a rasp from the dire situation they're still experiencing. Trapped in this convoluting dream. Sunday's bare finger pads dab over the scratches, the scars and the bruising. He might be a stranger, yes, and the beginning might have been rocky but here, they are a team.

He glances up at him, finding himself locked on his gaze while he ponders. )

They managed to rake their talons on your face, too.

( He moves away so he can squeeze out bloodied water from the towel. It's not much, just pink, but he rinses it again so he can start the process over. )

I can clean it for you, too. You can't possibly keep going all dirty like this. It might get infected.

[wray]

What if there was no escape? It was the quickest way to deal with them.

[ They could have ran, sure. There were places they could've gone to just so they could seek shelter there instead, but that was a risk they barely had any time to consider. Meanwhile, Six figured he could handle a few birds. There were many of them, but it was hardly the toughest fight he ever experienced.

But with every admonishment that comes from Sunday, he doesn't think he'll be able to convince the other man that it was fine. That it was better he got hurt instead of Sunday. Keeping the Halovian safe was all that mattered.

He drops his gaze to his now-cleaned hands, slowly clenching them into fists. ]

Go ahead.

[ He'll allow himself this moment of vulnerability. If this is all a dream, then maybe there's a chance neither of them will remember this when they wake. ]

[befehl]

( If they will end up forgetting this encounter, Sunday hopes returning to reality will give him back his mask in full.
It's in the past now and useless to dwell so much on what ifs, so Sunday lifts a portion of the folded towel over his jawline to wipe off traces of blood. He's meticulous, treating him as if he were a glass sculpture underneath pressure. At least, that's what his fists seem to be displaying. If Sunday can show him warmth, maybe he'll be able to relax. )

You can close your eyes if it helps.

( That way Sunday can slide the towel up towards what is exposed of the bridge of his nose, and across towards his cheekbone. The wounds themselves don't appear as deep as he thought. )

[wray]

[ Six can sense the guilt in every touch.

It's in the way that Sunday treats him like glass, as if he's bound to shatter at any moment. Maybe that's true, maybe it isn't and the other man is just being too careful, but Six can't help but lean into his touch. He doesn't close his eyes when told. not yet, at least.

He's more entranced by how Sunday cleans his wounds. It's so rare for others to be this kind to him— or rather, it's rare for Six to allow it to ever get to this point.

If this is a dream, maybe it won't hurt to remain asleep for a little bit longer. ]

[befehl]

( His flesh is tender behind the mask, and he traces the cloth across his wounded jaw, up near his temple and over his hairline. Tending to others is a delicacy and a must for any leader. In his heart, he can’t shake his duty as Family Head.

After he’s mostly done, he dabs a part of the clean towel over his chin and bottom lip. He tests which areas he’s allowed to touch carefully, ready to pull back at the hint of a twitch. )

Feeling better?

[wray]

[ This is already much further than he would have usually allowed others to touch him, but there's something about this moment that compels him to seek solace from another. A soft exhale escapes him once Sunday asks him a simple question, followed by a nod. ]

I am. [ The memory of those who called him a monster has all but faded, but their echoes still linger if there's nothing else to distract him. So he chooses to focus on Sunday instead. ] Are you?

[ A beat passes before he continues. ]

I could sense your fear earlier— it felt tangible when I fought the crows.

[ Maybe it's because they're in a dream, but it felt suffocating out there. Like it wasn't just him who wanted the earth to swallow him whole. ]