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peacockstop2024-06-15 12:00 pm
goldmods) wrote in peacockstop2024-06-15 12:00 pm
TDM 04
【 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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
▶ 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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
▶ 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
▶ 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.
▶ 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.
no subject
Bakugo's not expecting to suddenly find some blonde guy walking through the fading smoke and picking up the feathers from the air and ground. Sure, he's seen some people go birding in Japan, once or twice in his life, and picked up bird feathers when he was a kid. But this doesn't look like that. Hence the weird expression he's giving Hiyori as the guy thanks him.]
Haa?! I didn't help you! [He doesn't even know this guy! Though if he's collecting feathers, he guesses that's help? If you really want some burnt or ruffled feathers. Wasn't like he was getting the nice ones from the wings either. An ashen brow arches when the guy gets closer to him. As soon as Hiyori mentions his head, Bakugo sweeps a hand up and forward, brushing the one or two feathers off his spiky crown.] Tch, why would I wanna keep them?
no subject
[He doesn't explain why he needs the feathers. He just keeps smiling, stepping close but not too close. Personal space invasion doesn't seem wise, as this person seems like he might have an explosive temper. He'd rather not be sent flying next.
Keeping a polite distance means he isn't able to catch the feathers in time when Bakugo brushes them off his head. That doesn't please him as much—couldn't he have handed them over so he doesn't have to pick them off the ground?—but whatever. He'll forgive it just this once. He's just glad to have the task complete!]
Great!
[Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth (or at least not at this moment), he bends down to pick up a fallen feather. That makes five, which he slips into his hoodie pocket for now. (Walking around shirtless isn't an option thanks to that ugly suit tattoo he has on his back, but whenever a staff member squawks at him to show more skin, he just unzips the hoodie and sends them a flirtatious wink. That takes care of it!)
He could explain the whole scavenger hunt, and he will if Bakugo asks. Once he's back on his feet, however, he decides to steer things in a different direction.]
That was a great show, by the way. The way you sent them flying with your magic really wowed me ♪ Or at least I assume that was magic. You weren't just throwing grenades at them, were you?
no subject
[He's not going to argue the "give" part since this guy's just collecting what naturally got removed when a seagull gets smashed with a damn grenade. That continued smiling is fucking weird, like someone's on a constant high. Bakugo notes another step forward, but doesn't seem keen to blast the stranger into space. Yet.
Should've told him what was on his head rather than saying he just had "something" in his hair! It's natural for someone to swipe at their heads after being told that! It's not like this guy can't pick the feathers off the ground. There's a few more floating around the beach until the next breeze takes them away forever.
Is it a good idea to put delicate feathers in a hoodie pocket? That's asking for them to get crushed... Not his problem. Bakugo's distracted from the previous query by the change of topic to his ability.]
It's not magic! [So not used to people not understanding that. The blonde immediately detonates another explosion in the palm of his hand, sending up a burst of smoke.] It's my Quirk. People from my world are usually born with a superhuman ability.
[In short.]
no subject
[No one tell him about Hard Mode.
As for his smile, well, that's a permanent fixture, more or less. He loves to smile! He knows he has a nice one, and he loves encouraging others to show him their smiles. But the offending smile falls right off his face when Bakugo denotes another explosion. His eyebrows jump way up his forehead, and he takes a great leap backwards. He doesn't want smoke in his face!! Or to get blown away like those seagulls, for that matter.
But, thankfully, he doesn't get blown away, nor does he end up inhaling a lungful of smoke. So, no reason to complain, let alone panic. He still has one eyebrow arched, looking surprised and intrigued by the other boy's explanation.]
"Usually"? You mean it's not just a chosen few?
[What kind of world is that?]
no subject
[Not that he heard anything about said game, so can snap about ignorance if someone does mention it. As for the penalty, well... he already nuked those damn seagull guards without a single issue. It doesn't help this guy's talking as if the place puts these kinds of games out regularly. Bakugo bristles further at the mention of "obscene" but shoves the topic aside to avoid asking more about it. Something tells him he doesn't want to know.
Relax, the explosion's no bigger than a basketball, though the wind and heat gusting by are no joke. Smoke rises from his fingers for a few seconds before he shakes his hand and clenches it, blowing the smoke away with the action. Bakugo's someone who would rage at another person smoking a cigarette where he might accidentally inhale it, so he's not about to force someone else to deal with his own smoke. Not for long at least... outside of battle.
Hiyori's skittish, huh. Wuss.]
About 80% of the population has a Quirk.
no subject
Must you shout so loud? I can hear perfectly well, thanks.
[... Really. He hears him loud and clear on multiple levels.
This kind of outrage is refreshing. He's been here almost four months, and just about everyone seems to have accepted Game 52. Few are actively rebelling, whether or not they like it. And it's no wonder, since now he knows that if you do resist sleeping with others, you get turned to stone.
But that doesn't mean they should lie down and take the abuse. They should all be putting up more resistance, in his opinion. In big ways, in small ways, in subtle ways and loud ways. So, the angry boy's attitude—and his powers—have Hiyori thinking.
As do his comments about how powers work in his world. Really, 80%?]
That sounds mighty chaotic, assuming other people's powers are anything like yours. Not that I mean anything bad by that, of course. I think your power is very impressive ♪ Or, er, your "Quirk," you said it was?
[He's still learning. But rather than wuss out and leave the guy with explosive anger alone, he sticks around, dropping some casual commentary.]
Why, I bet you can even blast through walls. Or perhaps entire buildings! Am I right about that?
no subject
[Don't go dropping this kind of crappy information on him and then expect him to take it with a simple "oh" and naught else! Now he's wondering what kind of reaction Hiyori had to learning about all this... Probably that creepy ever-present smile.
It's to be expected from someone new here just learning about all this ridiculous shit. Most people would hear it and think they were either pranking them or trying to give the worst reason imaginable for random pickup lines. Once he learns more about the way things are done here... Bakugo's still going to be a loudly yelling about how stupid it is!
He has zero respect for kidnappers, even less so when they start making shitty demands and trying to get the people they kidnapped to take their side of things. What a fucking lame ass joke!
Really. 80%.]
Che! My Quirk's one of the strongest there is! [So proud of it!]
A lot of people have shitty Quirks. What're you gonna do with an extra finger on your shoulder? Losers. [Granted, he's not as aggressive on them as he used to be, but reality is a bitch and doesn't care about all your dreams and hopes. A weak Quirk is weak, and unless you do something amazing with it, Bakugo's not gonna respect it.]
Uh-huh. You looking for a demonstration or something? [He can level a skyscraper at his strongest, but it would certainly take more than one blast to bring the building down.]
no subject
Or birds to fry. Whichever.
First his eyebrows lift and he blinks at the "extra finger" thing.]
That's a real example?
[Yeesh. But he starts to smile again, feeling like he's come to an understanding.]
How sad. But I guess it's like anything else. For example, looks—you could say 80% of the population has at least one good-looking feature, but it's much rarer to find someone who's lovely from head to toe. Just like it's rare to find someone with your level of power. Lucky people like us are hard to come by ♪
[He's referring to himself as someone who's "lovely from head to toe." Not someone with a high power level. He's got no powers!
Apart from his dazzling aura and dazzling smile. Those he puts on full blast, hoping to entice Bakugo to do something useful. ... or at least that was the idea, but...
He does feel obligated to give the full picture. He'd rather not be the one to explain Game 52 to him if no one's told him already, but it wouldn't be fair to ask a new arrival to do something that could land them in trouble. Not before they even have any awareness about their environment. That's too scummy for him.]
Sort of. I was wondering how much damage you could do around here. I don't know if you've noticed yet, but this isn't a real beach. It's just an illusion, and we're actually indoors. And since all of us are trapped here, I thought, "It sure would be nice if a big strong hero could come along and bust us out."
[Still smiling. But honesty compels him to add:]
I'm not sure what'll happen if you try, though. Our kidnappers don't seem fond of rebels. And there is a jail here, though it's rather cushy.
no subject
Uh-huh. Some Quirks aren't anything special. An extra digit, a pair of horns, levitate small things. [Powers that can definitely be useful in niche circumstances or personal projects, but something that's going to get a career built out of it? Hell no.] People with strong Quirks usually become heroes.
[Or villains, but that's probably a given. And he's not praising those bastards. Bakugo arches a brow when the guy tries to compare Quirks to attractive features. That's... not incorrect, but seriously? His expression turns slightly "ugh" at it, but if that's what Hiyori needs to understand, sure, do that and die, kid.]
Stop trying to sound like you know how my world works. [It comes off as pompous. The "us" part also rubs him the wrong way. It's like someone trying to get too chummy too fast.
The idea of damaging things around here, however, is a different topic altogether and he looks around the beach with a scowl, even though his eyes say he's giving the idea some thought. It's not like he wants to run amok and destroy things like a fucking villain, but if he has to go through some walls to reach the people in charge, he's not gonna stop at that.] Feels pretty dam solid for an illusion.
[He has a slight grasp of what's going on here, thanks to someone he's not going to mention. But more information is helpful.] Tch, tell me where the bastards running this are and I'll slaughter them.
[He slams one hand into his other fist, detonating an explosion in his palm.]
no subject
[It's a good thing Bakugo isn't preparing to kill him. He'd rather live, thanks. Though it's not much of a "life" being stuck in this place. 90 floors or not, it's still a cage they can't spread their wings in.
He shrugs off the admonishment about his know-it-all comment—he doesn't really think he knows everything, it was just a (silly) comparison—and focuses on the issue at hand. He's been searching for someone powerful enough to blow a hole in this resort for a while now. But he's been told the resort has some kind of magical forcefield surrounding it, and most people won't even try. Here's someone who probably is brash enough to try, and he's reluctant to pass that up.
He just doesn't want to treat the poor newbie too badly. Even if he is ill-behaved and rude!]
I'm afraid I can't do that, since they're too cowardly to show their faces. But if you do want to try tearing down one of the walls, I'd recommend going down about 90 floors. Right now we're up on the topmost floor, so even if you did knock them all down, we still wouldn't be able to leave. See that sky up there?
[He points a finger at the ceiling.]
It's not really a sky, it's just a screen. That's the roof of the building we're in. If you want to go down, I can show you the way there. If not, that's that, I guess.
no subject
[And that's not even getting into the Mutant type Quirks that can make people look... well, monstrous regardless of their personality or alignment. Heteromorphs, as they're more officially called, don't see much stigmatism and prejudice in cities and developed places, but the war revealed an undercurrent that ran strong in many rural and underdeveloped places. Even one of Bakugo's own classmates was almost killed in his home village for that...
Anyway, he's not planning on becoming a bomb for this guy. Despite his attitude and reckless impulses at times, Bakugo's quite the intelligent and efficient person. Crashing into something he knows little to nothing about isn't going to happen. These people have kept others here with probably similar strength, and if they haven't gotten out, then there's a reason. He doesn't think he's the first person in this place who has powers.]
Che! What a bunch of cowards. [It doesn't surprise him. People like this usually sit behind the curtains. He's more stunned by the floors aspect.] 90 FLOORS?! They have a fucking wave machine on the TOP FLOOR?!
[And that's no small piece of machinery. It's almost two to three levels down of working mech and this is one floor?! How big are all the other floors? How big's the fucking BUILDING?! Bakugo grits his teeth as Hiyori starts explaining more, paying attention despite his incredulous anger.] Yeah?
And no one's tried to break through it yet? [Getting out the top seems like a lot more rapt way of escape compared to 89 floors down... He'll get to the offer of stairs in a minute.]
no subject
[As for that last question...]
I'm honestly not sure. It seems as though someone ought to have tried by now. I do know someone from my world tried tearing down the "artificial view," but he didn't have much luck. He doesn't have special powers the way you do, though. Then I heard from one person who does have powers that there's some sort of force field or enchantment surrounding the place. That might explain why no one's done anything. That, or everyone's too busy being distracted by things like beach parties and "Game 52."
[Which he'll namedrop, but he won't explain to Bakugo. Someone has to be the bearer of bad news, but he'd rather it not be him! Instead he'll strive to keep the mood from getting too dour, fixing Bakugo with yet another smile.]
Which makes this the perfect time for a hero to step in. Don't you agree? I think someone like that is exactly what we all need right now.
no subject
[Look, he appreciates the information in his own grouchy way, but this guy's rambling along a fucking mental train track and jumping topics without a shit in the world! This prison is expanding? Suddenly there's "magic" involved?! Then ramps right back to Bakugo's world with another assumption that sounds like some gamer talking about their console game. Ugh. There are way too many questions he has about this place and Hiyori's... shotgunning the answers.]
Someone tried? What happened? [Does that mean he went at a wall with a sledgehammer or was he up on the "ceiling" with some other tool? Don't just say "no luck" without any kind of detail! That's the IMPORTANT kind of detail!
Okay, the notion of a barrier seems more legitimate... Bakugo scowls in thought, trying to decide whether attempted breakout is worth the potential trouble in the face of either punishment or previous experience begetting failure.] A barrier, huh...
[He glances up when Hiyori mentions "Game 52" in a way that says "important keyword" but it's glossed over. Probably on purpose. That smile proves it.]
I'm not your fucking missile. Heroes don't blindly run in. [Sometimes they do, but in this case, he wants more information.] But once we've got a shot-
[He cracks his knuckles.] -I'll kill 'em.
no subject
If all you want to know is the building layout, you'd be better off seeing for yourself! Or opening the digital map. Your watch should have one of those.
[Of course it isn't fair to expect this new arrival to know that. It took Hiyori a day or two to realize his watch had anything like a map on it, and before that, he was getting horrifically lost. ... though he still gets horrifically lost even with the map sometimes. This place is just unreasonably huge!
As for who tried to break the ceiling:]
That was Rinne-senpai. Apparently it wouldn't come off no matter what he did. Then he got chased away by staff once they saw what he was doing. He didn't use dynamite or bombs or anything like that, though, so I'm not sure if things would go any differently for you.
[He has a feeling they won't. Their escape route can't be that simple, or everyone would've figured it out by now. What he wonders instead is what will happen if enough people start taking Bakugo's approach—if they start reacting to their imprisonment by tearing down walls, setting off explosions, and blowing the staff to smithereens. Will the House finally be forced to reconsider their methods? Could someone possibly overthrow them? Someone like a big, strong hero?
Bakugo won't be his bomb. Hiyori's eyes narrow a bit in appraisal when he hears that, but his smile doesn't fade. As it turns out, this guy isn't a reckless idiot (could've fooled him). But he is a self-proclaimed hero, out to bring their captors to justice, and that's promising. Hiyori can work with that.]
Fine by me. If it goes to court, I'll hire you a lawyer ♪
[Then he adds,]
I'm not the type to get my hands dirty. I don't have your kind of firepower, so that sort of role doesn't suit me. But I'll be sure to let you know if I do see a "shot."
no subject
A digital map? [Muttered to himself as he starts messing with the watch. While smartphones are rampant in his world, he's not bothered with smartwatches. Why the fuck is the screen so small?! If they wanted it this tiny, give a collapsible stylus or something so they don't have t-
*bewoop*
-and there goes a blown-up version of the watch screen all over the wall beside them. Bakugo narrows his eyes at it, but then reaches out into the projection to swipe his finger through it. The watch responds and now that's a lot easier to work with. Resuming the search for the map.]
So those bastards are watching. [Considering how his Quirk works, Bakugo would only have a short time attacking the ceiling before the guards showed up. Even more reason not to waste the element of surprise. Tch-! Patience was never his strong point.] Then we need to get out the first time we try.
["We" being everyone united in a bid for escape. Bakugo might hate the idea of being kidnapped, but he's a hero, and leaving behind people in the clutches of whatever's running this place is not something he'll accept. Like Hiyori's thinking, if it were that simple, people would've figured it out in six months. Guess he's gonna have to start talking to people about that and see what the idea is for revolt. If it's a one-shot attempt, it has to go through.]
You wanna escape, you better be ready to fight. [He finally gets the map up and the image blooms up on the wall. Huh, Hiyori wasn't kidding; the place is huge.] Was Rinne the only one who tried to get out, or have other's tried too?
no subject
There's strength in numbers, though, and he hears that "we" loud and clear. It helps keep the smile on his lips. This guy is rude, brash, and has the power to deal real damage to people, but he's not just out for himself. Which makes sense, because a real hero wouldn't be!
It'll surely take more than just one hero to solve this mess, though.]
I'm prepared to do whatever's needed, but I do think my strengths lie elsewhere. I wasn't raised to be a soldier, but I can divert the enemy using other means. Or I could boost morale from the sidelines, like one of those singers who's sent to rally the troops! ♪
[He chirps that last thing while knowing full well that the other boy will not be impressed. Then he adds, almost offhandedly:]
And I'm not too bad at setting traps, either, I guess.
[Or scheming. He doesn't like it, really—he'd prefer to just relax and not have to fight or manipulate others. But those skills, honed during the "War" and through competition with other idols, could come in handy in a place like this.
His eyes glance towards the map. The place really is huge, and Bakugo will have to scroll a lot and zoom in if he wants to see what's on every floor! But as for that question:]
I'm not sure how many people have taken a direct approach like that, but he can't be the only one. At the very least, all of us have searched for an exit at some point. But there just isn't one—not in the lobby, the garage, anywhere. Or at least that's what they want us to think, since we're supposed to believe "Game 52" is the only way to get back home.
[And then his smile finally falls off his face, his expression turning grim as he says his next piece.]
There should be an explanation about that on your watch. I'd rather not explain that one myself. Just be sure to take everything they say with a grain of salt. There's absolutely no reason to think they wouldn't lie to us, in my opinion.
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Trying to escape right now is a foolish idea. They need to know more about the protections of this place, how they keep them, how they procure them, and if that can be reversed to get out. None of that's going to be apparent on the first day. Or even longer, considering what Hiyori's said. Of course it's a "we" situation! One person's not going to cut through this, dammit! Loathe as he is to admit that even in his head...]
You can be live bait. You're loud and colorful enough. [Distracting their enemies like a gay little green parrot flying around with annoying songs. That's a good option. Hell if he wants Hiyori as a cheerleader.]
what kind of traps? [Oh now he has to add something interesting. He's not too bad at communication once he gets past the chaff. Hiyori's giving him better information than before. Bakugo continues to scroll through the map, but he's still paying attention to the other boy. Multitasking skills.]
Fine, I'll read it later. [Consider it a compromise for Hiyori offering all he has already. The way he's talking suggests Bakugo would be better off reading about it alone.] What else do I need to know?
the phrase "gay little green parrot" is going to live in my mind forever now, thank you
But he doesn't explain that.
He'd rather not be considered "live bait," but Bakugo isn't wrong. With his flashy persona, he's good at diverting a crowd. All his "traps" spring from that same personality. Though if Bakugo was hoping he's good at setting literal traps then he's about to be disappointed. He shrugs a bit and says,]
That depends. But you can trick someone into revealing more than they ever meant to, if you know which buttons to press. And getting people to do what I want is the same deal: that's just a matter of figuring out what appeals to them, not letting them have any openings, throwing out distractions, and other such things. But as far as appealing to "the House" goes, first we have to figure out what it is they value—other than just card games and debauchery—so that's what I'm on a quest to do now.
[Hopefully that suffices.
The other boy doesn't demand a Game 52 explanation, which is a relief. That still leaves plenty of other stuff he should warn him about, though. Goodness, where does he even begin...
He holds up one finger and smiles grimly.]
First of all, they like drugging us. A lot of the restaurants and cafés are safe to eat at, but you should still be careful. Someone on the Network put together a list of places that are safe if you scroll back far enough. And some of the places with drugged food say so on the menus, because apparently some people like to ingest that stuff on purpose—I don't have the foggiest clue why, so don't ask about that... But that's thing number one.
Second, [he holds up two fingers] some of the flowers aren't safe to sniff, either. I've been around the garden without any issue, but if you're the type who likes to stop and smell the flowers, I'd think twice about it.
Third, [he holds up three fingers] there are monsters here. There were these creepy "crawler" things at one point—they looked sort of like giant spiders, only a lot more monstrous! I've heard there are monsters with tentacles, too, though I've never seen one. I think those are only found on the lowest levels, so if you have a room on a higher floor, you should be safe. Although I guess with your powers, you could probably make them all explode, couldn't you?
haha it's fitting!
Look, if Hiyori can't set literal traps, can't or doesn't want to fight, isn't a good hacker, etc, but still wants to participate in whatever fight that happens to break them all out of here, then he's getting the "live bait" role! Unless he opts for cannon fodder. It wouldn't be horrible to launch the annoying guy into their opponents and have him, uh, flash them to diversion.
Bakugo frowns at the information, more in thought than irritation. Hiyori brings up a few good points. It sounds simple on paper, but getting it into action isn't that easy. He growls in acceptance.]
Have you found anything at all, or did you just start?
[What does a place that kidnaps people to serve in some fucked-up perverted game want to get out of it? And what can be done to eschew that need enough they don't need to kidnap people? That sounds more like capitulating to the villains rather than busting into their control room and beating the shit out of them until they open the gates...]
Bastards! They're really trying to piss us off! Fine, I'll cook my own food! Where's a fucking grocery store?
[Expect him to do the scrolling to find the network post for that list. He appreciates the warning though. Bakugo's face screws up at the idea of someone wanting to be drugged, but hey, people smoke and shoot up, so it's not uncommon. He's not gonna ask about weird people.]
Haa?! Do I look like someone who wants a bunch of flowers?!
[While he's not someone who'll go stomp on a flower patch for the hell of it, no one's going to accuse Bakugo of stopping to stick his nose in a flower. Some flowers look nice, and he secretly leans into any that look "explosive" or cool. No one's going to know that though.]
Monsters? [He detonates another explosion in his hand, a wicked grin curving at his face.] Bring those fuckers on! It'll be something I can tear apart here! [Musclebound Gull-headed junks apparently count too.]
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[He rattles all this off without pausing to go into detail about any of it. Or to take a breath, really. But at least he's a good sport about being peppered with questions! It helps that he likes talking.
Even though the subject matter is less than enjoyable.]
There are all kinds of stores, including ones that sell ingredients. I don't really cook for myself, though. That's what Jun-kun, my partner, is for! ♪ So he'd be better able to answer your question than me. But they did have a big "welcome market" shortly after we arrived, so maybe they'll do the same thing now that they've kidnapped another batch.
[In response to the flower comment, he smirks slightly. No, Bakugo doesn't look a thing like someone who's ever stopped to smell the flowers, so that was a tease. But it's also a fair warning.]
Not really, but you never know! ♪ It's best not to judge a person by their looks too much. That's how people get swindled.
[And now onto discussing the monsters.
Bakugo's reaction would not have been Hiyori's if anyone had been kind enough to tell him that stuff after he arrived. But honestly, if this guy can handle himself, then it should be handy to have someone like him around. They sure could've used him last month when all those crawlers invaded the lobby! Hiyori had to be rescued twice from those.]
I don't like seeing gore, but good luck with that, I guess. It'd help relieve stress, it'd be a public service, and you'd get to show off your flashy powers to everyone, so by all means, feel free to take care of the monster problem ♪ Perhaps your show of bravery will win you some admirers!
[Though whether or not the long-term guests and staff will admire him depends heavily on his "rank."
... which is probably something Hiyori should also explain. Ugh, it never ends.]
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[A vague reference to a bar owner who wants favors, diary entries that said nothing, and a useless drunk you can't get information out of. This guy loves to hear himself talk, doesn't he. Or he desperately wants to be useful and runs his mouth with anything he thinks will be seen as such. Bakugo gives Hiyori a flat, annoyed look, barely able to take away something he can use from all that ramble. At the very least, it proves the parrot's not standing around doing jack shit. Some progress... he guesses. As for spirits and magic, that sounds like bullshit.
Thankfully they can move onto a better topic: food. Bakugo snorts in visible relief to hear there are stores that sell ingredients. While he's not afraid of eating out, considering what Hiyori's said of this place, cooking his own food seems a better idea. Less risk of getting drugged.]
A welcome market? What kind of asinine decision is that?! [Kidnapping people, then throwing food at them they don't have the money to pay for, but obviously need. Way to force their perverted hands. He hunches his shoulders in annoyance.] Whatever! I'll get my own food and cook it. If that market shows up, tell me where it is.
[Yeah, he's ordering the parrot around just in case there's something fucked up with the hotel's communications on Bakugo's part. A backup isn't a bad idea, so long as it's his idea! Just gonna ignore the swindled comment; he's rather insightful for someone of his temperament. A thief trying to steal from him is a dead man.]
Wuss. I'm not gonna be their fucking pest control! If I wanna kill some monsters, I'll do it on my terms! [And yeah, he'd end up protecting people if they were attacked by said monsters. Hero. Yell at them for letting themselves get attacked in the first place, but whatever. At least it's a way to vent.] Heh, they better not be shitty fans. I want awesome fans.
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I wish you wouldn't say that. Those were just some examples of stuff I've found! And stuff I'm trying to find out. I could go into specifics more, but I'm not sure how much sense those would make when you haven't been here long.
[And when he doesn't know what Game 52 is. How does Hiyori explain the concept that the resort gets its energy from sex when this poor angry soul doesn't even know he'll be forced to do that yet? Hiyori doesn't feel like being the one to break it to him, so he'll be skipping over that for now.
Regarding the welcome market thing... look, he doesn't take kindly to being bossed around. But does he object to being this guy's contact person? Nope! He was already planning to stay in touch, less because of the guy's charming personality and more because of his usefulness. As pest control, as a jailbreaker, as a "hero," you name it! It's best to be on good terms with someone like that, not bad terms or no terms.
Though he can't resist pointing out:]
You don't look like the type who cooks, either, you know. Which just goes to show that you shouldn't judge books by their covers! ♪
But sure, I can do that. Perhaps you can shop for ingredients together with Jun-kun ♪ I'll probably go too, though, since you never know what you might find.
[Last time he saw several porn doujins for sale featuring himself. And Jun. And some other people he knows. He's morbidly curious to know how Bakugo would react if he saw something like that with his own lookalike on the cover. He assumes he'd explode the whole sale table, which would be another public service.
Now, as for the monster-killing thing...
It's about the reaction he expected, but he does blink when the guy admits he does want fans. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it's pretty funny. In his anger, and in his desire to be seen as a cool hero, the guy seems charmingly pure.
He has some bad news about the fan situation, though (and whether or not said fans will be shitty).]
Well, you'll definitely make people like me happy who hate dealing with monsters! And you might impress the longer-term guests, too. Although how they feel about you is going to depend on your rank, pretty much. Not that you should even care what they think, but have you heard about that whole system yet?
yo! i just wanted to say i'm loving their cr already; thanks so much!
[Whether Bakugo gathers the guy's talking about his language or referring to his evaluation of his results is up to Hiyori to decide. Though privately, the explosive blonde admits, even if the information's not that useful, it proves the parrot's actively looking for means to understand this place better. Hopefully with the intent to escape. He'll support him on that.
Bakugo waves off the suggestion to go into more specifics. That's something for later. Right now, maybe they should stick to the basic surface-level shit. Learn as much as he can before digging into the details.
He's already made a mental note to look up Game 52 on the watch later. Due to how cagey Hiyori was about the thing, the results are probably going to suck. Indeed, there'll be explosions in his room once he learns about it. And a lot more bad language. At least two pillows will due a gruesome fate.
Luckily there's no push back about being designated Bakugo's contact regarding the market. He would've snarled about it. Hiyori's not someone the young hero would look to contact for anything on his own, but as it is, he's useful, with both information and experience on his side, so the contact's tolerated. Expect demands and angry questions, not pleasant requests. But he'll get some decent conversation out of it as well.]
YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO SAY THE FIRST PART!! [You want him to have some kind of emotional whiplash via backhanded compliments?! Admire his cooking skills and keep your damn pearls of wisdom to yourself! He knows that!] I'm full of skills!
Ngk! [Great, now he just got roped into going shopping with two dumbasses, one he doesn't even know! They're gonna slow him down if they're both as talkative as Hiyori. But if drugs and weird shit are abounding in this place, having someone who can point out what not to buy is... Ugh, he'll tolerate it ONCE. That's it.
Hiyori is correct. If he saw such an insult, he'd blow it up with a vengeance. Ironically, Bakugo grew up wanting legions of fans and the world looking at him as he stood a glowing pinnacle of hero society! And while he does want people to acknowledge his skills, victories, and power, he's quickly found out how annoying people can be. Very cat like. Praise me! Praise me! ENOUGH, YOU BASTARDS, FUCK OFF!!]
I don't give a shit what people think about me. [He both does and does not. It's kind of complicated.] What rank system? Who's the best right now?
[Yeah, guess where his eyes are now aiming. THE TOP!!]
Ah, thanks! Same tbh. Good luck with apps!
[Prettier language. Politer language. But he can already hear the other boy saying "You expect ME to be polite?" or "You expect ME to talk pretty? I'll kill you!" so he won't say that. He doesn't have a death wish! Explosions are only good news when they're happening a safe distance away from him!
Though he does laugh in response to Bakugo's shouting. So on second thought, maybe he has a death wish after all.]
Fufufu! ♪
[Yeah, this probably does not quell Bakugo's rage. ... at least his next words are complimentary?]
You certainly sound it! Very well, I won't doubt your skills again! Now I want to see you have a cook-off with Jun-kun, actually. Do you ever use that power of yours for cooking? It seems to me like you could use it to fry birds, at least. Though seagull is not considered a delicacy, so I'll pass on ever trying that.
[Fortunately, Jun is not as talkative as Hiyori. He's not as quiet as he used to be! He can hold a conversation now. And you might even get him to talk a lot if you get him started on one of his interests, like exercise or manga. But he's not an irritating chatterbox (or a gay little green parrot), and he's had to tell Hiyori once or twice to put a sock in it.
Unfortunately, Hiyori's not done talking yet, because now he has to explain the rank system.
First thing's first: he is not going to explain that the only (or at least the most effective) means of raising your rank. Maybe Bakugo would be fine with it. He is a boy, and he's at that age. But Hiyori finds the whole thing distasteful, and as an idol, he'll pass on the whole competitive-sleeping-around thing himself. It'd be a betrayal of his fans if he did that. He's hoping to bust out before anyone can force him to properly play Game 52.
Though the rank system is still something he finds distasteful, even putting aside how you change rank. He predicts more swearing to follow! Time to brace his delicate ears.]
Alright, here goes!
[He takes a breath, straightens up, and then begins another tl;dr infodump, wagging a finger in the air as he explains stuff.]
After you've been here a week or so, they give you a rank. The rank is based on playing cards—that's another thing they're obsessed with here—and the lowest is two, while the highest is King and Queen! Or at least I think those are the highest. Ace and Jack also seem to be treated like "royalty," though.
Basically, your treatment and accommodations depend on what your rank is. So if you're a so-called "royalty card," the longer-term guests will all gossip excitedly about you and worship the ground you walk on. You'll also be given a grand room—I visited a Queen's suite last month for a birthday celebration, and her "room" was more like a private villa. There was another fake beach inside like this one, and she even had her own private pool with a waterslide. She had her own elevator, too.
[Then his expression darkens.]
But if you're a low rank, like in the two to four range, you'll be stuck in a shabby room without its own bath. The staff will treat you like you're invisible, or so I've heard. And those rooms are located on the lower-level floors, where there's all sorts of unpleasant stuff going on: ghosts, monster attacks, chemical spills, you name it! It's that kind of corrupt system: the kind where they take one look you and decide whether you're somebody worthwhile. And everyone's meant to accept it as "just the way things work around here."
[His tone and the negative framing should let Bakugo know what he thinks of that. Though it's not like the world he comes from doesn't also have similar hierarchies in place. Some people are at the top of the food chain, some are on the bottom!
But he, Hiyori Tomoe, has never been anywhere close to the bottom. Not even in this place, though he's also far from the top here.]
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[Definitely yelling at him with the underlying comment as expected. Does he really expect Bakugo to change his manner just because it makes Hiyori squirm?! Fuck no!! A hot glare burns under his choppy bangs at that laugh, one hand curling in a threatening fist, though he isn't punching the guy in the face. Yet... He wants to get more out of the other boy before he buries him in the sand!]
Haa?! Of course not! I use kitchen utensils like everyone else. [It took him a while to be able to light a fire with his Quirk without blowing up all the logs or the brick oven. But no, he doesn't actively cook with his Quirk, even if he can technically heat and reheat a pan with it.] I'll blow those shitty birds up any time they piss me off.
[If a cooking challenge shows up, he'll likely get caught up in it, provided someone actually convinces him into it (or pisses his off enough to make it personal). Bakugo's a tricky balance like that. He quiets down as the other boy starts diving into the next part of the system. Figures a place like would have some kind of hierarchy to avoid chaos.
Fuck, this guy reminds him of Midoriya, running his mouth with all the details. At least in this case, he wants to hear said details, so... jaws set and he listens with a glare.]
Tch, fucking royalty... What bullshit. [Pretending to be better than other people just cause they have a higher rank. It breeds dissatisfaction and competitiveness, though is it really all that different from grades in school? Well kind of, since you don't get treated (or you're not supposed to get treated) better depending on your grades. It's an evaluation of your knowledge, not your damn status. A sex game, a casino, a hotel, card suits... Ugh.]
So they incentivize you to play their game by pitting us against each other and simultaneously reward or punish based on how you play it. [Whether you win at it or lose at it. Meaning... yeah. He puts the pieces together quickly enough. A disgusted look crosses his face and a growl rumbles in his throat.] Goddamn bastards! You think I wanna play your shitty games?! FUCK OFF AND DIE!! I'LL GET TO THE TOP AND WISH YOU OUT OF FUCKING EXISTENCE!!
[Screw wishing for a way home; he'll kill two birds with one stone!]
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bless you, hiyori
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