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

[blastedass]

[Bakugo's always been a perceptive guy. Something about this guy's response to him sets off a wary alarm in his mind and his red eyes narrow at him. Ashen blonde brows furrow, a look of irritation settling on his face as he chews another piece of meat. Only pausing when the stranger starts to slide to the side. It takes a second to realize he's starting to circle him.

That's it. Now he's graduated from weird stranger to fucking creep.]

Know what? Stop circling me and spit it out, asshole!

[The way his voice lifts like grates on his nerves, but before he can actually do something about it, that bomb gets dropped. Bakugo tenses up. Drugged?! He instantly spits out the piece of meat, backing off from it and wiping at his mouth with his free hand.

What the fuck?! The worse part is, he finds it hard to actually... not believe this guy! Who would say shit like that while looking and acting like that if they weren't telling the truth. (A dead man if this is just fucking with him.) Bakugo's hand lights up for a split second before BOOM! what looks like a grenade explosion goes off in his hand, torching the meat and skewers into ash and slag in a second.]

Don't fuck with me! [Now he can't even go for the water to try and dilute it! Is that not trustworthy too?!]

[loosestrifes]

( Oh, he's found such a fun one to play with, here. For the most part, Esikko prefers to play the part of a gentle, pink prince, going along with dull polite comments and so on... But he's been bored here, and every so often he runs across someone just asking to be poked at. Makoto had been one of them. Bakugo seems to be now.

Is it so wrong that he thinks that sort of reactivity is a little cute?

Ah, but the explosion catches him off guard. He blinks in his surprise, stopping his circling to stand where he is. Magic, huh? Even more of a point in his interest. )

Oh, I didn't mean to upset you. I'm being serious, though.

( He folds his arms in front of himself, a loose, comfortable thing. )

Take a moment to consider it. If you quiet your yelling for just a moment, can you perhaps feel something a little different? Is your body a little warmer, perhaps?

[blastedass]

[How far did he get into that skewer?! He torched the other one, had only gotten two or three pieces into the first one, the fourth piece is on the ground. Other people are still lined up to get their food, seemingly not at all bothered about the potential "drugged" affect this stranger's talking about. Wait- did he just trick him into wasting food?! He better not!

The problem being, he's already had two interactions with other people already that clued him into the nature of this place (more information than he wanted) so the idea of something being drugged leans toward plausible. Unfortunately, whoever this asshole is, he's being serious. Bakugo can tell that already. Even if he did come across as a sleaze in the process.]

Urusei! I don't have to tell you shit!

[The way this guy instantly describes being warmer as a symptom hits the nail on the proverbial head. But that's probably just the damn spices! If this place really is kidnapping them for that kind of shit, poisoning them wouldn't be a smart idea. He wipes at his mouth again, a trickle of sweat wandering down his temple.]

You sound like you've dealt with this before.

[loosestrifes]

Of course I have. I've been stuck here for... let's see, I believe three months, is how you'd say it? Nearly four.

( The calendar system is a little different from how he's used to speaking about it, but he's adjusted over the course of his stay here. Esikko's eyes are sharp, watching with great curiosity as he dares to take a step closer, slow and testing as he taps a finger against his own cheek in thought. )

You don't want any help with it? ( A pause, a tilt of his head. ) Or is it that you're shy? You know, that sort of thing won't carry you very far, here. I'm only trying to help the poor newcomers.

( That last part is absolutely a lie, he is not Just here to help. There are cards to be gained from some of these wildcards, and even more than that, information. )

Would it help if we exchanged names~?

[blastedass]

They've held you extras that long?! [It unfortunately fits within the timeframe given by someone else... He'd hoped that had just been a stretch to rile him up, but now it seems far more likely to be true. Fuck. Whoever's running this place knows how to keep people prisoner. Even strong ones.

Bakugo rubs the back of his wrist against his forehead, then moves forward, cursing under his breath at the heat. It's just the fucking spice, it's the hot sun, that's all it is. Everyone else is eating the damn thing and not keeling over dead or puking! Where's a cool place to go and not burn up?]

I don't need anyone's help! [Something about that suggestion makes his blood boil. In multiple ways. He instantly bristles at the "shy" comment, snarling over his shoulder when the guy tosses "poor" at him.] Piss off! You've been watching from the start!

[He's calling this guy out for pegging him as an easy target for whatever! And that nice-guy facade is shot right through.]

[loosestrifes]

( Ahh, so angry. It's almost refreshing, in a way, to earn those kinds of reactions. Esikko doesn't back off so easily, simply turning to trail after him. He does keep a safe distance to the side, but it's clear that he's still angling his eyes and comments Bakugo's way. )

Haha, I wonder, are you always this short-tempered, or have I caught you in a bad mood? I was watching from the start to see what I'd be getting into; I hardly think that's a crime.

( Uninvited though it is, he places a hand over his chest as he walks, as if this introduction is regal in any sense. )

My name is Esikko, by the way. If you're truly so insistent on dealing with this on your own, then I could leave you to it, but... ( He hums, drawn out, eyes trailing upwards in thought. ) Getting off on your own won't get you any sort of reward.

That is what you're feeling, isn't it? That sort of desire?

[blastedass]

[This bastard's not backing off. Heat swells in his chest and he can't tell if it's from the spice, the potential drugs, or his own rage building into a boil under his ribs. Where he hell can he go? Even if he crashes into the water to cool off, the pure existence of it will only make him even more thirsty. Is the water safe? Fuck... They have a bar, but it's alcohol.

Gum Wad's still talking...]

You're gonna get into a fucking coffin if you keep pissing me off...!

[Snarling that under his breath, it's loud enough to float over his shoulder and stalk around Esikko's head in pure warning. He's already rankled enough about the drugs in his system; it's worse to know this guy was sharking him the entire time. Was he in cahoots with that damn cook? Unlikely. He just knew.]

WHAT?! [Throwing Esikko's rambling in ear and out the other isn't hard, but that last part clogs into his head like a knot in a rope. Bakugo whirls on him with a furious look on his flushed face.] I DON'T FEEL SHIT, PERVERT!!

[loosestrifes]

( Good lord this guy's volume is something else. Bakugo whirls around to yell at him, and Esikko tilts his head slightly in the opposite direction as if physically blasted by it, his smile now so sharply thin it's practically a straight line. )

Do you think the truth has to be screamed that loudly?

( Despite the noise pollution, though, this is still rewarding enough— he lifts a hand to idly twirl through a strand of hair, eyes tracing along Bakugo from toe to head. )

You're quite red, though. ( That could be true, or that could be a lie. He says it either way, taking another slow and calculated step forward, angled like a cat approaching a cornered rodent. He lifts a hand to touch a finger to his own cheek, putting on an oh-so-concerned expression. )

If you wander off like this, you might just stumble into some other stranger's arms. Do you hate me that much, when we've only just met?

[blastedass]

[Maybe he should've blasted him physically. Bakugo's already had his meal ruined by potential drugs, and now this guy's stalking him with words about needing to get off. The worst part is, when he says it, the heat in his body responds with a harsh rush, as if to mockingly prove Esikko's telling the truth.]

I'm not screaming, dammit!

[Totally is. Bakugo bares his teeth, a rumbling growl climbing in his throat as a pink flush across his face starts to make itself known. He's got light skin as it is, and the sun (even if it's fake) doesn't detract. Obviously enough for Esikko to notice. The blonde snarls and twists his head around so he's not facing the other boy.

Still walking, wanting to put distance between himself and other people in case what this guy says is true. Esikko's not about to leave him off is he. Bastard. He balls his hands into fists in his shorts.]

Of course not; I don't fucking know you. [Certainly not enough to hate him. He hates what this place is doing to him.] Why do you care?

[loosestrifes]

But I just introduced myself~?

( Playfully, though he's actually in agreement about that. They don't know each other at all. So why does he care? Hmm, well. There's always something to be gained when meeting someone new in this resort. Information, interesting connections, owed favors, a fun time— he's not picky about which one it ends up being, so long as he doesn't end up wasting his time in the end. And so far? He's having a bit of fun, distracting himself from everything else that's been happening lately.

So he keeps up his steps, gesturing out in a symbolic little offer of his hand— a palm still sporting a scar from the burn that had healed it over, completely unmatched from the rest of his too-royal appearance. He doesn't expect it to get any sort of response other than another snarl, another turn away, but he's nothing if not persistent. )

Hehe, but truly, it's that I find you interesting. There are so many of you new folks here, wandering around and waiting to be torn apart in the lion's den... But you caught my eye. ( He smiles, his other arm shrugging like it's just that simple. ) Is that so wrong?

[blastedass]

That doesn't mean shit!

[Does he seriously think that merely introducing himself equates to knowing him?! What the hell kind of life did this guy come from? Following him around after he got drugged doesn't endear him to Bakugo any easier. A deliberate machination, watching him eat that crap, knowing what it would do, and not saying a damn thing until it was already too late. Esikko said he'd been there from the start. Bastard. Once he gets this damn shit out of his system, he's gonna bury the pink-haired prick in a sand coffin!

That offered hand earns a sharp glare from the explosive hero as he moves into the shade, trying to fight the rising heat inside. Ever since the other boy said those words, reality he doesn't want to face has been pounding in his head, a mocking red throb of what his physical wants need. What he's not willing yet to deal with. Bakugo notes that healed-over scar with little more than filing away as trivia for another time.]

Don't you dare look down on me! No one's tearing me apart! [He'll blow all these potential lions sky high! The flattery of "catching his eye" is juxtaposed with the mild pity insult. Someone really needs to work on his "help or hinder" balance.] I'll outlast this damn drug without a fucking problem!

[loosestrifes]

( It's the sort of reaction he expected, and so he withdraws his hand easily, even as he steps into the shade. He can see what Bakugo's logic is here, what he's hoping to accomplish, but he's always found it so laughable, trying to stubbornly run away from the whole idea of this place that was strong enough to warp them away from home. )

I believe you're misunderstanding something. The drug is far from the only thing that will affect your body here.

( This time, at least, his voice dips a little lower, out of his teasing playfulness he's been harassing him with the whole time. Esikko is wearing a buttoned up beach shirt, too ashamed of the scars on his chest, but he has no trouble rolling up a short sleeve to show his heart tattoo, a slightly darker pink of vine-like windings in the shape of a heart. )

Should they manage to check you in— and this isn't up to you, I'm afraid— you'll get a mark similar to this. ( He drops his sleeve back down. ) You're not going to be able to wait out every time you feel like this, and if you try to, it's only going to get more intense until you can't anymore.

( Again, he folds his arms, shrugging his shoulders. )

I'm not looking down on you. I'm only speaking from experience.

[blastedass]

[Even if this place has the power to drag him and everyone else here away from their home, that's doesn't mean he's ever going to submit to them without a fight! He'll battle down to tooth and nail to make sure they pry their victory over him out of his bloody, death-gripped hands! Giving up isn't in Bakugo's vocabulary. Never was, never will be.]

What the fuck?! [There's more bullshit in here?] Fine! Tell me everything you know about this fucking place!

[Esikko seems determined enough to stand here for the entire battle. Comparatively, Bakugo's open button down clearly shows the burst-like scar blown open in the center of his chest, fresh enough it seems to have only recently been healed from whatever wound he received it from. His looks down at the tattoo on the other boy's arm, red eyes narrowing in focus. They mark people here?

Despite the vague what Esikko explains the tattoo, Bakugo picks up on the implicates easily enough. He doesn't want to put those thoughts into words either. From kidnapping them to branding them to manipulating them with drugs and whatever the hell that mark's going to do, it riles his anger at all these shitty attempts to control and coerce him.]

What happens if you resist?

[loosestrifes]

( The scar is interesting, to say the least— but it's that stubborn attitude that's even more intriguing. Far better than some of the cowards around here, wanting to give up on everything. In the shade here, Esikko gestures at a pair of towels that have been kindly left out on the sand, an offering for a seat. Maaaybe? )

I've heard that it gets more and more intense, until there's not a single thing you can think about otherwise. It's curious— despite all of the people that come in with stubborn mindsets like you, I don't think I've heard of a single one who managed to successfully resist it.

Maybe the ones who do have something happen to them?

( He shrugs, eyes drifting up in thought. )

The House is an entity on its own, not some lifeless building, so it has more pull than you might think. The four suits that we're sorted into seem to be in some kind of a constant war for power, for energy, and we get thrown into "games" along with it.

Hmm, what else is relevant... ( He's so nonchalant about it. ) Any follow up questions?

[blastedass]

[Bakugo's content to stand, not trusting his body heat to get crunched together right now. Sweat's already starting to bead on the side of his face and brow, his heart rate pounds a little faster, and his stomach's shifting. Running back to his room feels like a cowardly thing to do, compared to the alternative, he doesn't want to be out here if shit happens!]

Brainwashing's not a damn joke. [His voice is rough, suggesting he's experienced something like that before. It's never happened to him (he's never fought Shinso and knows how his Quirk works anyways) but he's seen how powerful it is. To have that kind of influence be used like this... It pisses him off. Especially since Esikko's talking from experience.] I'm not gonna give up! This shit won't break me.

[Focus on something else! Not the heat! Not the thoughts. Not Esikko! He can fight this, resist this, outlast the drug until it leaves his body! Good thing the other boy's information is pretty astonishing.]

The hotel?! [They're in a living building?! That sounds like complete bullshit! What's easier to believe? A perverted corporation? Ghosts and spirits? A sentient building? ... He slams his fist against the tree trunk. Great.] Why the hell would a single entity incite a war for power inside itself?

[More just musing, but it's a question at least.]

[loosestrifes]

( Well, while Bakugo can stay stubbornly standing, and stubbornly trying to ride out a drug that's only going to make him hornier by the second, Esikko wants to be comfortable. He helps himself to one of the towels, stretching his legs out with a little sigh. Resting back on one palm, he lifts the other in a vague rotating gesture. )

I'm still looking into things. The most recent time I pried into the House, it pried back, and I'd rather approach it a little more carefully next time. Everything is in a constant shift of energy, to put it simply.

( Dropping his gesturing hand, he looks up to Bakugo again, sizing him up. )

There are things here that will draw energy from you constantly, and the best way to replenish it is sex. Rather unfortunate if you're a prude, I'd say.

[blastedass]

[It's not the easiest thing to resist. He's a healthy teenage boy, he's dealt with arousal before, and the scorching pressure inside his body is threatening to get stronger every passing moment. The urge to abscond to his room clashes with his pride in not giving up, also crashing against the reality of this place wanting him to get... assistance with it.

Still hasn't dropped his irritation towards Esikko for sharking him down for this whole purpose.]

Pried back? [Bakugo furrows his brows in concerned focus at that comment. The House being alive is one thing; the idea that he can return on someone trying to go where it doesn't want is even more alarming.] A constant shift of energy, huh.

[Like the ocean and beach-themed resort appearing on the top floor. He bristles instantly at the insinuation.]

I'm not a fucking prude! [But screwing around with a stranger is so messed up! Even if Esikko is -- reluctantly admitting it -- trying to help him.]

[loosestrifes]

No? But you seem to be struggling.

( This time, Esikko only teases him briefly before a light laugh signals his willingness to have some mercy, a hand lifting to wave it off. )

As I was observing the shift in energy myself, using my magic, the House decided to rifle through my memories. That's what it felt like, at least. Something in my head, digging around.

( Though he's complaining, it's more like the sort of annoyance of someone pestering him, rather than any serious concern. He doesn't feel like adding details about his passing out, or the terrible nosebleed afterwards... Esikko pulls his legs back to his chest, now, arms wrapping around them loosely as he looks up to Bakugo. )

You see, though? I'm offering some helpful information, aren't I~? There's no need to be so stiff.

[blastedass]

I'M NOT STRUGGLING!! You think someone's just gonna take all this bullshit?!

[Granted, he's certainly not happy taking it, but he's taking it. Whether he believes all that he's been given is something for Bakugo to think for himself. That small laugh from the other boy earns him a death glare. If looks could kill...]

What'd they do with what they saw?

[He'll ask about the magic thing later; it's more important to find out whether the memory rifling actually poses a threat or if it's just an inconvenience a person can relatively ignore. Not that Bakugo wants anyone digging around in his head.]

Che! I haven't buried you yet, dumbass. [The fact he's still engaging in this guy in conversation says he's tolerating Esikko enough to continue. If he thinks Bakugo's going to randomly mellow around him so quickly, however, prepare to be surprised. The blonde's insanely stubborn.

And stiff is... another problem entirely, which might be why he's slouching more against the tree.]

[loosestrifes]

( It's more fun when he's stubborn like this, anyway, Esi thinks. More of a prize to be the one to break him of it, if he can— and right now he's biding his time a little, watching his posture shift, quirking a smile at the way he tries to hide it. )

Nothing, yet. Though I won't be surprised if it comes up at some point. It was invasive enough to make me pass out, though, so I was a little irritated...

( This time, he leans over a little closer to the tree, parting an arm from his hugged legs to pat the towel next to him. )

You look awfully uncomfortable. Are you sure you don't want to sit? I won't bite. ( He decides not to add the playful unless you want that comes to mind, but he's smiling enough for the vibes to be there. )

I haven't even learned your name, even though I've been so helpful. I could answer more questions, you know?

[blastedass]

[He's keeping his damn arms crossed and alternating between scowling at the sea and glancing at the other boy, trying his best to keep his mind off the heat thrumming under his skin. And to not look like he's grinding up and down the fucking tree. A hard grunt of annoyance answers the lack of real retribution from this place.]

They're probably gonna blackmail you with something or try to trick you with a memory.

[If he had to take a guess why this place wanted to rifle through someone's thoughts like that. But if it's eye-for-an-eye when the hotel comes to people trying to learn about it or break it, well... Let's see who can take a bigger ass kicking.

Bakugo tenses up. Shit, don't call him out on that bullcrap!]

Don't play fucking coy with me! You know exactly what's going on!

[Even if he's wanting to deny the drug's affect on him, it's obviously working. He's determined to sweat it out if he has to! If that'll even work... It doesn't feel like it will. Reluctantly, he has to admit the guy's been helpful...]

Bakugo Katsuki.

[loosestrifes]

Bakugo. See? I'll repeat mine again for you, but I'm Esikko Bloemrose.

( A simplified version of a longer name, one that he hates to begin with, one that hardly matters here, where he's a Prince of nothing. Still, the way that he sounds out Bakugo's name is purposefully accentuated, his eyes focused and watching for any reactions. Some people really like to hear their names, so he's just a little curious. )

In any case, is it playing coy to try and offer you a bit of subtlety in this embarrassing sort of moment? You're so hot-tempered. I doubt that's helping your situation right now.

( All that heat, all that blood rushing to one head and now to another? Goodness. He stretches his legs back out, another insistent pat on the towel beside him. )

Come on, you're bringing attention to yourself up there. Those lifeguards are going to rush over if they notice you in need like that.

[blastedass]

I DIDN'T FORGET IT ALREADY, SLY FACE!!

[He's certainly not going to use it though. So if Esikko hates it, then he's gonna enjoy not having to answer to it. The way the guy says his name is really annoying, accented in all the wrong places, probably just to piss him off. One sharply-angled ashen blonde eyebrow twitches in annoyance, as if tempted to lash out in a second. Hanging by a thread...]

Why the hell do you have to offer me anything?! I could just go back to the room and deal with it myself!

[His way of finding out if that is indeed a valid option or if it's gonna be shot down as expected. But hell if he's going to ask about it straight up! That's fucking embarrassing. Getting agitated certainly isn't helping his other problem either.

That extra pat on the towel doesn't get him sitting down, but the threat of the lifeguards bothering him with this problem is enough. Bakugo snarls and drops down on the towel crosslegged, one elbow jabbed into his knee and his chin shoved into his palm.]

If those bastards touch me, I'll kill em.

[loosestrifes]

Haha. You'll kill them?

( It's such a funny thing to hear, so casually, but from someone he saw make an explosion out of nothing. Satisfied by his presence on the towel next to him, Esikko smiles. )

With that little magic trick of yours? Well, but it wouldn't solve your problem, and I doubt that returning to the room you arrived in would, either.

( He steals a glance down, shamelessly, and then glances back over the beach with a lightly exasperated sort of sigh. )

Though, to be honest, I'm not sure if the drugs they lace the food with have the same rules that the "game" does. Wouldn't it be a bit disappointing, though, to go through all that only to end up with the same neglected sort of pain?

[blastedass]

[ooc: sorry for taking so long! holiday weekend and family coming over really axed me.]

You didn't see what I did to those fucking seagull bastards.

[Which are, of course, still alive and kicking, just blasted around a lot and tending to their smoking feathers. Bakugo glares out into the ocean, still glowing over everything that's happened. The heat burning within his body doesn't help.]

It's not a magic trick! It's my Quirk, dammit! [Don't equate his powerful superhuman ability with some petty sleight of hand! He narrows his eyes when Esikko mentions his problem, and counters his intent of retreating to his room.]

Haa? Why the hell wouldn't it work? It's what they want.

[Fingers tighten against his cheek when he feels the other boy look down at his lap. Shit, it's not like the boardshorts are doing a great job of hiding anything.]