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

[relater]

[ He takes notice of the way his memories flourish with the release of his feelings, more forthcoming than ever. Kizuna doesn't need to be linked to feel the strength of its influence, its clarity. Like this, it feels as though he's able to recognize the same stars when he looks up, thoughtfully tracing the splashes of them in fiery, unfamiliar constellations. ]

After all that time, it must have left an impression on you for you to remember it so vividly. Did it help ease some of that weight you felt?

[ Even with an affinity for water, breaking the surface did have a way of making one breathe easier. ]

[armwriostle]

I never really looked up to the stars after I ran away. [Maybe as a child with countless siblings, the stars were a beautiful thing to gaze at. After that though...] If I could see the sky then it meant I had no roof over my head.

[Kizuna might not have known he was homeless for a good part of his childhood, but the memory they saw was enough implication that he was.] It was day when I went down, but it was raining. The sky couldn't be seen by the rain clouds. [He pulls the other closer to him, burying his face into Kizuna's hair. He smells salt from the water lingering with the scent of Kizuna's shampoo.]

There were so many things that had to be done if I wanted the Fortress to become a better place, but at that moment, I didn't have to think about any of it. I could just enjoy the scene before me. [There were plenty of moments where he felt like he would drown from it all, but things as simple as seeing the night sky kept him grounded.

It's the littlest things that really propelled one to keep going.]

[relater]

[ Tucked into his side, Kizuna is quiet as he listens, the overlay of memory and the resonance of his emotions painting a fuller picture with every word. Kizuna is adept at connecting the dots, drawing gentle lines between the memories he'd seen with what Wriothesley tells him, a little more light shed upon him each time. Betrayal and heartbreak, loneliness, exposure, resolve. Retribution enacted with hands too young, but not young enough to escape its penalty. He remembers the feeling of his Vision pressed to his palm, the chill and the weight of it, imbued with aspiration simply waiting to be unleashed. A will made tangible. It pairs so well with a compassion hard-won. ]

The stars have a way of putting everything into perspective. [ Time, especially. An enormity that was capable of absorbing anxieties. ] They were waiting all that time for you to be able to look up at them.

[ Wriothesley might be looking up, but Kizuna's gaze is pulled aside by him. His arm eases around his back in a similar embrace. ]

And now look, you have a memory of them worth sharing.

[armwriostle]

[He lets out a low hum for a moment.] That's a romantic thought. It's not one I would consider in such a way, but I like the sounds of it. [It's a sweet sentiment to say the least and it says a lot about Kizuna's way of thinking more than anything.]

Are you fond of stars then? You have quite the view about them. [Pun not exactly intentional.

He turns to press a kiss to Kizuna's cheek.] Mm, even if it wasn't worth a memory worth sharing, you seem like the type who's happy to hear it anyways. [A smile.] Learning about someone through the stories they're willing to tell you...it's preferable, no?

[relater]

Aha, you know me so well. [ He can't help it, tipping his head up in a bid for more touches of his lips. He's really so warm right now. ] I like the feeling of it too, but there's something about hearing it from you... maybe I just like the way you say things?

[ A gentle rib that's half-truth. There's a certain cadence and weight to the way the other man speaks of his life that's more than a little captivating. ]

As for the stars... I have an appreciation for them. You don't think there's a natural romance to them?

[ Objectively speaking, of course. ]

[armwriostle]

[Wriothesley is happy to oblige, pressing gentle kisses to their cheek and then lips.] I prefer hearing it too. I think what people are willing to say holds more weight than what I can dig up. Truthful or not. [There's a lot that you can infer from someone's words whether they're honest or not. It says a lot about a person.]

Hmm, I think people naturally have a romantic view for the sky. It is probably why people are enamored about being able to take to the skies. That Fontaine's engineers are aiming to help people take to them is telling. Perhaps the dream to be able to touch them is truly human.

[He rubs his nose against Kizuna's, skin warm against the empath's.] I'm more fond of the waters, but people often imagine the sky to be characteristic of the ocean, so maybe they are not as far apart as we think.

[relater]

The truth is much easier to get to the more someone is willing to speak with you. [ Canting his face up, he returns the kisses once they fall to his lips, thoughtful and light, threaded through his words. ] It has a natural way of coming up...

[ In his experience, anyway. Perhaps his perspective is somewhat unique though, given how long he's spent learning to navigate others in pursuit of a favorable outcome. Even at his worst, he's throwing open doors and shedding light on everything he touches. ]

They do mirror one another. People are drawn to things much bigger than they are... places where they can feel weightless. [ Dipping in against him, his nose scrunches when they meet. ] Or maybe I just spent too long looking at the horizon today, waiting for you to finally come up?

[armwriostle]

It's harder to get criminals to talk about things at first. Most think it'll be used against them. Some think that no one will care. Little feel like that their stories will be heard. [Wriothesley is popular among the inmates for a lot of reason. His surprisingly laidback way of handling things and letting a lot of stuff slide as long as there's peace being met. That, and Wriothesley has obviously been handling the Fortress' affairs with the inmates wellbeing in mind.

Wriothesley barks out a laugh.] Are you upset at me for that? You know you could join me. [He presses a long kiss to Kizuna's cheek like he's trying to placate them.]

Sorry, sweetheart. I can't help it. The Crane's Respite just isn't enough for me. What can I do to make it up to you?

[relater]

Lucky that you have a way with words then, isn't it?

[ His roommate, boyfriend, lover, [ REDACTED ], the sea creature. Kizuna shakes his head, laughter welling in his chest. ]

No, no, my stamina would never last all the way out there. It's better that it happened this way. [ Slanting sideways, Kizuna brings his arms up to circle around the other man's shoulders, tugging him in for the continued sensation of those kisses being laid against his cheek. ] Besides, I had fun up here too. It really feels like summer.

[ Tipping his head a little, he plants a soft kiss against Wriothesley's mouth. ]

But there is something I wanted to show you... you just seem tired out.

[armwriostle]

Hah, falling for my voice are you?

[Maybe he should not be flirting this deeply, but what if he was a bit of an idiot who isn't always thinking straight?]

That's what the drink is for. You can just idle under the waters with me. It's a lot more relaxing than it seems once you get over the moment of trepidation. [He knows that people might be hesitant to try to breathe underwater, the fear easily capturing one's heart when they're unused to the idea.

His smile softens as he rubs his nose against Kizuna's cheek.] It won't feel bad. [It'll feel more like what Kizuna had felt when linking with the boxer.]

Mm, I'm tired, but it's because I've been out a lot these last few days. It's just swimming and the sun all day would make anyone tired, right? [He pulls away finally, but only because he moves to get to his feet.] You should still show me whatever it is.

[relater]

That depends. Trying to lure me out to sea?

[ As if he hasn't been answering this siren's song for a long time, now. He feels the nature of his smile shift against his skin and he's absolutely not immune to that type of sincerity and fondness. He tugs his arms tight, just for a moment. ]

I remember what it was like to breathe underwater with you. I'd do it again, though it should probably wait until you get some sleep.

[ Not that this is stopping him from following the other man as he climbs to his feet, idly brushing bits of mottled sand away from his skin. This won't take long anyway — Kizuna turns his attention aside to pick up a little packet of something resting in his towels and clothes. He plucks a slender wooden stick out of it and hands it to Wriothesley before ushering him back out towards the sea. ]

Hold this. Let's get a little closer to the waves.

[armwriostle]

Oh, that's quite tempting. I wouldn't mind pulling you into the waters with me.

[It's said playful enough that one could just see it as playful flirtation. Nothing too deep or anything, but Kizuna can feel it's more than that. An honesty tucked away that the man genuinely enjoys the idea of it. As though he wanted to covet the other for himself away from everyone.

Perhaps that's no surprise, given the man being someone who stays deep under the surface of the water in a metal fortress.]

Tomorrow then. You'll join me? [His tone lights up and that hopefulness touches his voice and shines in his eyes. It's truly the simple pleasures that means the most.

His steps are a little unsteady, but it can easily be assumed that it might just be gaining footing in the sand. He rights himself well enough, instead, curiously turning the stick he was given in his hand as he tries to identify it. He turns his attention back at Kizuna even as he's being ushered to the calm waves of the shore.]

What is this?

[relater]

[ He stops them just short of the shoreline where there's a cool breeze, the rhythmic hiss and bubbling of the tide. ]

I'll join you. [ With his free hand, he reaches up to boop the pad of his index finger to Wriothesley's lips. He pauses to study his expression, the physical flourish of hope on it almost as compelling as his feelings are. Something soft dances across his expression. ] So make sure you save all that temptation until then, okay?

[ With that, he fishes a lighter out of his pocket. ]

Hold it this side down and watch your fingers.

[ Cupping his palm against the air, Kizuna flicks the lighter and touches its flame to the stick. It takes a moment for it to catch, fizzling to life in a colorful pop of gentle sparks. ]

[armwriostle]

[Wriothesley was truly the dichotomy of man. The way he contradicts in so many way. How he's secretive, yet he wears his emotions so visibly to his soft demeanor towards people despite his potential to have such a cold countenance. It shows so visibly, the way his expression brightens into a smile at Kizuna's agreement.

It's so easy to be happy when someone is willing to share the experiences of something that means so much to you. It glows warm in his chest.

He almost is completely distracted until the sparkler crackles to life, sparks and colors brightening and reflecting off the dark waters that lap at the sand. The boxer's eyes widen and they shine with a childlike awe and curiosity.

When one spends most of their life under the sea, there was a lot that was missed. Fireworks in the sky. A childhood that never got to breathe life. The man watches, completely enthralled by the bright sparks the pop from the thin stick in his hand. He doesn't have any words, but Kizuna can feel the swell of emotions, as though bursting in colors like the object in his hand.]

[relater]

[ Watching his reaction, Kizuna's expression lights up likewise. It's such a simple thing and yet... ]

Ahah. See, I thought you'd like that. [ Tucking the lighter away, Kizuna gently taps the end of his sparkler to the lit end of the other man's, watching it catch and shower into that same rainbow-hued light. ] It's called a sparkler.

[ Just as Wriothesley wants to share the waters with him, Kizuna is glad to share this little reflection of fond memories he's had. He kneels down, balancing on the balls of his feet and beckoning for Wriothesley to do the same. Being closer to the ground seems to make the light throw brighter, sparks dancing in effervescent patterns across sand and skin. ]

They're common during the summer where I'm from.

[armwriostle]

[It's such a simple thing, yet Wriothesley is completely enamored by the way the stick sparks. He crouches down with the other, holding his close to the other's own, watching them brighten the space. It lights up the small area around them, and for a moment, he looks up and watches the way the light from them illuminate Kizuna's face.

It's there, the gentle sweet of emotions that lap at his heart like the waves that gently wash over their feet and sand. It's soft and sweet, yet bursts with intensity like the fireworks within their hands.

Wriothesley laughs softly.] The sparks from these are far more enthralling than what you see in the production zone of the Fortress. [This was enchanting and radiating in comparison.]

They're beautiful.

[relater]

[ Sensing that his eyes are going to rise to him, Kizuna likewise looks up to meet his gaze. He smiles, tapping the sparklers together to make them fizz brighter. ]

I'm glad you think so. It's worth being back on shore for, right?

[ He's just teasing, attention falling back to the lights. They bounce off of one another, falling into the calm roll of the waves like stars. He thinks there's something to it, sitting here like this — that people really do naturally think of times when the sky meets the sea. ]

We can go when these finish up. You might have more familiarity with the sea, but I wanted to share something from home too.

[armwriostle]

I have plenty of reasons to always come back to the shore. [Wriothesley says those words with no hesitation, gaze on the other unmoving. They're vague, obscuring who or what he means that would bring him out of the ocean everytime. It's something that doesn't really need to be said though. The sentiment is merely there that there are such important things in his life that the water merely cannot replicate.

Something precious exists on land for him.

Wriothesley looks back at the sparker, watching them slowly fade until the sparks and flame die, leaving the pair in the darkness of a simulated night.] I would like to know more of the things from your home sometime. [Maybe not now, but he hopes he'll be able to hear and experience more that Kizuna seems so very fond of.

He lets out a yawn though. Definitely not right now.]

[relater]

[ With the way his gaze lingers on him long and steady, Kizuna can't help but be caught by it, mouth running somewhat dry. He swallows, smile waning into something softer but no less earnest as the light fades. ]

Next time. [ Climbing to a stand, Kizuna reaches for Wriothesley's hand to pull him up alongside him. ] I'll have plenty to tell you.

For now, [ He leans up to kiss his cheek. ] it seems like you should get some sleep.

[ With that, he's going to lead them back up the beach to collect their things and head back into the resort proper, skin warm and heart placid. ]