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

Kaijin | Original | New

[catmemes]

i. THOSE WHO POUND SAND

[ The sun is shining, the sound of the surf fills the air, and a pack of lifeguards have apparently found a new victim if the way they're all crowding into one spot is any indication. They're jostling in, quickly working themselves into a frenzy before the knot of them suddenly breaks apart in a flurry of feathers and sends each of the lifeguards scattering away across the beach. Which, in fairness, is probably the correct response to suddenly finding yourself face to face with a six foot tall cat.

Intimidating enough if you're a bird, and certainly said cat could look plenty impressive, solid black and seeming to almost be disintegrating into ash at the edges as he is. The problem with that is that the unexpected altercation has left him with a parting gift in the shape of a very fetching pair of bikini bottoms currently tangled over his head, pulling uncomfortably at his ears and draping to cover one glowing eye.

Every attempt he makes to paw it off just ends up with the bikini's strings tangling further into his long fur, and it doesn't take long before Kai is abandoning every pretense at dignity or logic to roll around in the sand in an attempt to free himself. Perhaps a spare pair of opposable thumbs could be of help? ]

ii. DAYDREAM PARASOLS

[ So beachtime has not exactly gotten off to the best start. The water has earned a number of deeply suspicious looks and the sand's not much better. The only thing so far that hasn't earned a scowl has been the surprisingly comfortable chair he's found, so it probably shouldn't be too much of a surprise that he's asleep almost instantly, his human form still somehow managing to form an impressively tight spiral.

It takes a moment to realize something's off, when he looks around again. The beach seems more or less the same, if slightly more pastel-colored, and the forest that's suddenly appeared behind him just makes sense. Really the most noticeable change might be Kai himself, namely the fluffy black cat ears poking out through his hair and the new green, feline eyes.

Those eyes will snap over to the person next to him at the first sign of movement, pupils going wide and round enough to almost eclipse the green. ]

I think something is weird. [ He says, as someone in a skimpy bikini and absolutely no face wanders by. Give him a moment and it will click, he doesn't usually dream much. ]

iii. TUMBLING DOWN

[ He knew the water wasn't to be trusted. But he'd heard something about a waterfall and he'd just had to have gotten curious and happened across a raft just large enough to let him keep himself mostly dry as he paddled around. It took roughly half a second of ending up in the choppier waves to figure out that the entire thing was a terrible idea, but by then he was already being resignedly swept away. Well, at least he'd found the waterfall.

But rather than being dead or whatever passes for it, Kai seems to have found himself damply bedraggled, mostly naked, and knee-deep in a bathtub. Which is presumably either in or about to be in use, so. Awkward. ]

...hi. [ There's a brief pause where he just sort of stares unblinklingly that draws out almost a second too long before he shifts a little. ] Do you have a towel?

iv. WILDCARD

[ Hit me with anything you like! PM or poke me at talkincodes to chat.

Kai has been on a TDM before, feel free to recognize him from his previous trip or not. OTA for smut, no real limits other than gore, noncon without discussion, and bathroom stuff. Probably Diamond or Spade for the Parasol prompt, let me know if you have a preference! ]

Those Who Pound Sand

[leavening]

[Hyunsu has never seen a six foot tall cat before, but honestly he's seen things that are a lot stranger at this point, so he's not really bothered. As a monster himself, he's not in a position to judge anyone or anything else that might be monstrous. And at the moment Kai really does seem to be more cat than monster.

Hyunsu pauses, a couple of feet away so as to not startle him and make thing worse. He decides to work on the assumption that the giant creature can understand human speech. He's not sure what he'd be doing here if he didn't.]

That's making it worse. Let me help.

[Look, he has thumbs.]

[catmemes]

[ It takes a moment for the words to filter in, and then the wriggling pauses briefly so that Kai can contort himself to actually look at whoever is speaking. Granted, it means that he's all but upside-down at the moment, but considering he can only see out of one eye at the moment anyway it's not that much of a problem ]

Ah. Yes, thank you.

[ Yes it means that there's someone here to witness his indignities, but it also means that he'll get free faster so what the hell. He slowly untangles himself from the knot he'd made of his own body to lie flat, head resting on his front paws so that it's in easier reach. ]

I don't know what their problem was. [ The birds, presumably. ]

[leavening]

[Once the cat has settled, Hyunsu approaches and is careful as he untangles the bikini bottoms, pulling them away from his face.

Though at the last comment Hyunsu pauses and blinks. He would have thought it was kind of obvious what the birds lifeguard's problem is.]

Birds are afraid of cats, right?

[Especially giant ones, probably.]

[catmemes]

[ Finally free of the offending garment, Kai lurches back onto his feet, the better to shake out. It sends his long fur puffing up and ash escaping in clouds, but it feels a lot better as he settles back onto his haunches to regard his rescuer with a mildly confused look. ]

Yeah, but why did they come after me in the first place?

[ And armed with swimwear, no less. If this is the same place he'd been pulled to before, Kai has to expected a certain amount of weirdness, but this whole beach situation is a bit much even for a giant talking cat. ]

I was just standing there.

[leavening]

[Ah, well. That's a valid point. Hyunsu had missed the initial approach and had only seen the chaotic aftermath.]

I don't think they're very smart.

[They really don't seem to be thinking about much of anything other than food and forcing people into swimwear. He seriously doubts their ability to save anyone from drowning if it comes down to it.]

[catmemes]

[ And well...fair enough, really. Kai can't even complain too much because it means they were easy enough to scare off, but it does mean that he's going to have to been on the lookout for future issues, huh.

He does have an easy solution for that, at least. Even if it does mean he's getting an uncomfortable amount of sand in his fur. The thought does make him cock his head in his new friend's direction, though. ]

Have they been bothering you?

[ Considering they seem to be giving the cat a wide berth now, his general vicinity seems to be a bird-free zone. Someone should at least get something out of that. ]

Tumbling Down

[dispassioned]

[A bath seemed like a good idea about 10 minutes ago, when he first started to fill the tub. Now he's standing in his robe, having second thoughts. At least he hadn't gotten into the tub yet. That would probably make this more awkward than it already is.

He's not sure what's stranger, the fact that Kai has appeared in his tub out of nowhere or that he recognizes him from his first day at the resort. He hadn't seen him since, so he thought maybe the resort had let him off the hook.]

Hello again. [He takes a fresh towel from the rack nearby and offers it to him.] Who messed up this time? [Last time people started appearing in bathrooms it was because Steve fucked up. Chishiya assumes it's too soon for him to have don it again. He's still being punished.]

[catmemes]

[ The greeting earns a single slow blink before recognition filters into Kai's expression. He hadn't really thought much about the last time he'd been dragged into a strange location, tucking the memory aside as just one of those strange events in a strange life, but if this is the same place that explains...a lot. ]

I don't know. There was a waterfall? [ He grimaces a little as he accepts the towel and then gingerly steps out of the bathtub. The last thing he'd need now is to slip and end up right back inside, he's had more than enough water for the time being.

With that in mind, he scrubs the towel over his hair probably a little more vigorously than it really needs, mostly to tame the urge to shake off instead. Chishiya might have been heading for the bath, but Kai is fairly sure he wouldn't appreciate an impromptu shower. ]

I didn't know there was a beach here.

Those who pound sand

[silversunshine]

[After learning that his new watch is basically a smart phone Prompto has taken to exploring all of the features with his favorite being the camera. It's nowhere as satisfying as having the physical bulk of a full camera and he's feeling the loss of his favorite fidget toy but the technophile in him is shouting with glee. What follows is a mad dash to take pics of everything and leads him back towards those bird babes to snap proof that they exist.

He does not exactly expect to come across a huuuuge cat with... bikini bottoms wrapping around him? His knee jerk reaction is to take a picture, a quick panicked snap, before he rushes forward to help an animal in need.]

Hey little-er- BIG buddy, you've gotten yourself into a mess, huh? [He kneels down, walking forward slowly in a crouch with his hands up in appeasement.] Let's get you out of those. Just.. don't attack me please?

[His heart is racing but he's not giving into his fear. The giant kitty obviously needs help and his quick reflexes will help him run away if needed. Prompto waits for a lull in its movement to dive in and his nimble fingers untangle the swimsuit, tossing it to the side. Mission accomplished he does a barrel roll backwards, just in case the beast decides to attack, but his face is finally showing his fear even as he forces a smile.]

All clear big buddy, you're good to go! No attacking me?

[catmemes]

[ Caught up as he is, it takes a moment in the midst of his flailing to realize that he's suddenly been mysteriously freed. Connect that with the voice he hadn't really been paying attention to and--oh, someone had been talking to him, hadn't they?

It takes a bit of effort to right himself, settling just in time to see his erstwhile savior go rolling away. Huh. While he's going that, Kai takes a moment to shake himself, sending sand and ash flying in small clouds before his sits back on his haunches. ]

Thank you. [ There's a pause while those glowing eyes vanish for a moment in a sort of blink. ] Are you alright?

[ It will occur to him exactly what that reaction is about in a moment. This isn't the form he usually considers frightening. ]

[silversunshine]

[By the time the giant feline has shaken himself off Prompto is squatting back on his haunches, dubiously eying the big kitty before it speaks. WHY IS THE FREAKY CAT COMMUNICATING? With that shock he falls backwards but at least he isn't scrambling away again because this is a polite cat.]

Ooookay, I was told I'm not hallucinating earlier so I'm gonna pretend that you're as real as bird brains over there. You're welcome? Uh... just give me a minute. Sorry buddy but you aren't what I'm used to.

[Prompto sits down and takes a couple deep breaths, inhaling the breezy ocean air as he builds himself up. This place is hell on his emotions already and the day's nowhere near finished. Finally he raises his fist up with a determined 'yosh', looking much peppier with a bright smile on his face as he faces his new feline friend to explain what happened.]

Sorry 'bout that, this place is something else. Where I'm from we've got coeurl, uh giant cats that attack people with fangs, teeth and shoot lightning from their whiskers. I don't even know how many Hunters they've taken out. You're totally nowhere near the size but I still freaked. Sorry again.

[He bows the top of his body forward in apology. He feels really bad for freaking out now.]

[catmemes]

[ That...is a lot of reaction in one small space, and Kai considers it all for a long moment before deciding it's fair enough, really. This might not be his weirdest shape, but he also doesn't wear it very often for a reason. Combine that with whatever other weirdnesses this place has to offer and well, getting outsized responses is probably the least of his worries. ]

It's fine.

[ And the bird-lifeguards seem to have very definitively found something else to do, so mission accomplished at least. Which means that Kai feels perfectly comfortable in letting himself dissolve into a cloud of ash and smoke to reform into his much more innocuous human shape.

Could he have done that at any time to have escaped his swimsuit predicament? Probably. Did it occur to him at any point in the midst of his very stupid panic? No comment. ]

Better?

[silversunshine]

[The giant cat just turned into a pretty normal looking human guy. Yep. This is his day. He's obviously been playing too many video games and readily accepts his newfound delusions with a friendly smile.]

Uh yeah, much better! [His tone is a step away from proclaiming 'DUH'. It's much easier to talk to the guy now he's no longer a cat.] You know you reeeeeeally could've done that sooner buddy. Instead of giving some poor defenseless stranger a heart attack.

[His smile turns into a teasing grin. Now that he's no longer scared he's finding himself with an excess of energy which he channels into rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet.]

Sooooo... inquiring minds need to know, what the heck just happened there? Did you get in a fight with the bird babes? 'Cause if so I think you totally took the L.

[catmemes]

[ Thanks for rubbing it in, Prompto. That particular reminder earns a more than slightly dry look before Kai immediately ignores it with every bit of feline dignity he has. Which isn't much, at this point, but let him keep what little he has.

Though the question does earn a slight shrug. He's a lot more unimpressed by it now that he's no longer being menaced by either birds or swimware. ]

I don't know. They just swarmed and started shoving me.

[ Turning into a giant cat had seemed like a fairly normal response, in that case. He hadn't even taken a swipe at any of them, no matter how tempting it was. ]

Does that happen a lot here?

those who pound sand (w/ assumed CR from last tdm!)

[worldbent]

[In the wake of fluttering feathers, Matoba has few priorities before taking noticing of the bakeneko struggling around in the sand; he stoops over to collect a few of the rumpled quills that have landed in the sands, smiling to himself in satisfaction as he tucks them away into the pocket of his (uncharacteristically floral) camp shirt.]

[That's one item from the scavenger hunt checked off the list, and a few extra for some experimenting. By the time he's dusting the sands off his fingertips and strolling up to Kai proper, the frustration and heat has well and truly gotten to the poor beast. Matoba tsks, and kneels down in the sand to shift the paper parasol in his hand to at least shadow the ayakashi from the sun.]

We meet again, kitty-cat. Goodness, aren't you struggling a little too much for your own good?

[His eye and his smile narrow with meaning as he says the next words:] This is a place with "rules".

that is a shirt worth appreciating

[catmemes]

[ He feels the vibration of something right before the voice hits, and somehow Kai can't bring himself to feel too surprised when he shifts around enough to find himself face to face with the familiar-looking exorcist. His one visible eye blinks, but he does make an attempt to right himself, stretching up to his full height even as he sits back. Any attempt at looking respectable is probably doomed to fail with the swimwear still on his head, but there's something about Matoba that puts him on guard.

Experience, probably. ]

Rules? [ Which okay yes, he'd noticed that there's a certain specificity to this odd world he's been pulled to, but considering the strange places he's been dumped in both of his impromptu visits he hasn't actually considered much about how it all works. He doesn't even know how much time has passed since he was here last, or if time has passed at all.

But there's two ways this can go, Matoba can either make him ask outright or be far too happy to explain whatever Kai doesn't currently know. He can hope for the latter, but he's got a sneaking suspicion he's going to be disappointed.

Also the elastic is still really uncomfortable where it's pulling at his fur. It takes a lot more effort not to start pawing at it again than it should. ]

[worldbent]

[The exorcist very much takes pleasure in the surprise and immediate tension that comes with being recognized; it was a good thing to become known and feared by ayakashi in this place, as it should be. Too long had it taken for him to build up a proper reputation again as Matoba.]

[But it wasn't all for the purpose of being threatening; it also meant that he was one with which you could bargain, if you were willing to make an exchange. Just as Kai expects, Matoba's expression turns idle and aloof, spinning the parasol in his fingertips.]

You haven't yet realized it? It's the same here as it was in the patisserie... Well, a lot less in your favor this time. [His eye draws across the cat, far larger than the first time they crossed paths, and far more true to his form. His aloofness once more narrows into sharpness.] The powers that control this place are very particular, as you ayakashi tend to be. In order to remain in this "domain" [The beach. He just means the beach,], you must be wearing proper attire.

[Fingertips reach out to tug at one of the bikini strings dangling from Kai's head.] I'm afraid just fur isn't going to cut it. Is this design not to your liking?

[catmemes]

[ Part of him sort of wants to roll his eyes at the drama of it all, but the rest earns a mildly thoughtful look. Is that what the birds had been doing, trying to dress him up? That at least explains the bikini. Sort of. The vehemence of the attack might be attributed to Matoba's rules, or it might just be a bird thing. Kai won't judge, but he's not exactly feeling guilty about scaring them off either.

He can't help but grimace as Matoba tugs on the stupid thing and it pulls just short of painfully, but he does have at least enough pride not to beg for the exorcist to just pull the stupid thing free. If he wanted to do that, he would have done it already. ]

I'm not not dressed properly. [ Currently wearing nothing at all as he is. It's a certain kind of logic, at least. It's hard to fight the urge to get snippy when Matoba's tone wants to drag it out of him. ] What difference does the fur make?

[worldbent]

[Welcome to Matoba................ who wouldn't mind "dressing up" Kai, either, though perhaps not in a bikini. Maybe in a cute beach-appropriate collar. Maybe a nice cone to protect him from the fake sun would suit nicely?]

[While he's scheming away ridiculous things to stuff him into, he makes note of the wince as he tugs on the string. Hmmm, was spandex not doing for him? After a moment more of smugly enjoying Kai's misery, he carefully watches to ensure he's not going to get a swipe of cursed claws as he slides fingers into smokey fur, finally extricating the tangle of bikini straps from over Kai's head.]

Cats are such talented little escape artists, and you couldn't manage to be free of this? [He dangles the rest of it off the tip of his finger, swaying it back and forth.] Ahh, no matter... It isn't my place to split hairs, little bakeneko. These rules were sent to us by "the house". [He turns the wrist of the hand dangling the bikini, to show off his Watch.] Didn't get the memo?

those who pound sand

[emyoji]

[ Seimei has been having difficulty with the seagull lifeguards. It's mostly because he doesn't particularly like to use his spells for violence, and especially not in the resort where his energy is more limited. He's been trying to dodge them for the most part, but when he sees the impressively tall and intimidating looking cat, he naturally heads right in his direction. What better way to avoid being bullied then to make friends with a mean looking predator who can scare the bullies away for you!

He grins as he comes up to the cat struggling with his new headgear. ]

Oh, I think you should leave it. You can treat it like a trophy and warn others not to mess with you.

[ Really helpful advice there. Yes it's just to amuse himself, but it might also be true? It does look a bit like he beat up a lifeguard. ]

[catmemes]

[ The wave of energy hits him right before a familiar sensation, and Kai finds himself going completely still even if it means his current position is a little precarious. He shifts himself around until he can get a good look at the...fox? with his one unrestricted eye.

Okay, that expression definitely looks like a fox. The sheer sense of power probably means an old one, too. Huh. ]

Pretty sure I'm more intimidating without it. [ Not that he generally tries to be intimidating, but you work with what you have.

Slowly, Kai untangles himself to sit back on his haunches, swimsuit still prominently featured. ]

I don't suppose you'd be willing to help?

[emyoji]

[ The cat looks at him with one bright eye that clearly recognizes that he's not just an average, friendly human, and Seimei grins at the acknowledgment. Well, apparently he can't completely hide his scent from another spirit, but that's all right. He'll figure things out. So far he's managed to handle new faces without being too drained. He can surely deal with a big fluff. ]

But you're charming with it. Why be intimidating when you can be cute?

[ It's like a hat! In fact, Seimei reaches out not to remove the swimsuit but to get Kai's ears through the holes to make it fit more like a cap. At least he can see better? ]

There, does that feel better?

[ He's so cute. ]

[catmemes]

[ He stills as the fox reaches for him only to end up with an incredibly dry look at the actual result. Or as much of a dry look as he can manage at the moment, which isn't much.

But the ties aren't pulling uncomfortably at his fur anymore and he's got both eyes visible, so that's something at least. ]

Will being cute stop the birds from coming after me again? [ So flat. But he doesn't have a ton of experience with foxes, so it's probably best to operate on the side of caution here. Especially when in a very weird place. ]

Slightly? Thanks.

[emyoji]

There! It does fit you. Maybe they have a good eye for size after all.

[ He grins, assessing his work as if moving the swim suit around on the cat's head actually did something useful. If he was expecting any better from a fox, Kai is sadly going to continue to be disappointed. ]

Ah, those guys bully everyone. They've been ganging up on me every time they see food, so I've been staying out of their way.

[ Hiding. He's been hiding like a little shit, letting everyone else deal with the bird mob. ]

They run the beach more or less, so it's better to avoid them if you can. Unless you want to eat them. Don't cats eat birds?