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

II - rat + cat

[malpwactice]

[That "friendly" look was the kind that made you run to the other side of the street in Lungmen. It's the kind of look you immediately regret locking eyes with. Of course, the possible malice of the situation is really undercut by the robe, itty bitty swimsuit, and extra beach gear.]

[Aak's thinking of just leaving it at that, a weird thing he saw, something to then put behind him. Unfortunately, the conversation's been initiated. His shoulders hunch up and his cat-like eyes are wide.]

Ah, eh- [It takes him a moment to put his business face back on. Up close, it becomes much more apparent that the Feline is covered in fur from head to toe. The ears aren't a prop, the tail's attached. The wetsuit he was wearing hid a lot of it.]

You doin' some sort of scavenger black market, my dude?

gonna chase him?

[ratratrat]

[So he's a Gangrel who's been through some shit - got it.

One corner of Charlie's smile twists as his victim prospective customer approaches. For how openly the guy talks, he doesn't look too comfortable.]

Huh? Me? You're the one who looks suspicious! Not because 'a [He gestures widely to the whole furry face and ears thing.] -all that.

It's... you look like you wanna buy something you're not supposed to.

So.

[He leans forward, blatantly conspiratorial. Anyone who sees them could surely assume they're in cahoots.]

Do you?

[Of course, Aak doesn't look that delinquent - Charlie's just playing it up. The whole 'act like its the truth and gaslight the person into playing along with you' schtick.

We're in the black market together, buddy.]

[malpwactice]

[What are the suit effects if not just compulsion by another name? Truly, we are all vampires at the end of the day.]

[Aak's shoulders do come down. Charlie's rapid-fire speech does actually follow the flow of his reactions. His brow furrows, like he's going to object to being called suspicious, and then the conversation's moving past it. The corners of his mouth drag down as he waits for a pause.]

[Do you?]

Well, yea. [Since pretty much day one he's been trying to get all the tools he usually used back. And, you know, if someone really didn't want him to buy something it does make him wanna buy it.]

But not sandals and shades. I saw what they're paying out for that scavenger hunt, dude, it's nothing worth running around for.

[He shows some restraint in not immediately listing the contraband he'd actually be interested in. Not yet.]

[ratratrat]

[Blazé, but interested. Charlie's tongue flicks over his lips as he straightens - assuming the demeanor of a man about to talk very legitimate business.]

What is worth running around for? I don't have a lot of time- [This is a lie.] -but you've got something in mind.

Tell me what it is, and I'll find it for you. [He punctuates this guarantee with a point towards his furry customer.] No payment until after you got it. [Another sales pitch, augmented once again by hand gestures.]

Whaddy'a say?

[malpwactice]

[If there was no payment until procurement then there wasn't nearly as much risk. It does seem like he's caught the metaphorical ball of yarn for this catboy. A potential source of contraband and it's a guy he wouldn't care if the House disappeared? Almost too good to be true.]

Of course, of course, you're busy with your sandals racket right now. [a smile slips back onto his face, folding his arms behind he back as he starts to really consider business]

This place really considers the guest experience, yanno, no room to be doin' any hobbies that look remotely like work. So I'm pretty short on petri dishes, scalpel blades, and hypodermic needles. I'm sure the clinic's got them but,

[a pause, a downward look,]

Far be it from me to bother medical professionals trying their hardest day to day!

[You don't even have to insight check that one, of course that's not why he hasn't pinched more of his own medical supplies.]

[ratratrat]

[Charlie nods in appreciation of his own hustle. Yes, he is busy with his sandals racket. It's a good gig!

Dominating Convincing some nurses to hand over basic supplies is a good gig, too. Charlie's eyes narrow with faux accusation.] Now... if they really valued the guest experience, they'd give you anything you asked for! If people want to fuck mermaid heads, they wanna have fun with scalpels too.

[Is he assuming this is all a kink thing or just teasing? Who knows!]

If you don't want to be a bother- [He knows that isn't why, but let's run with it. You told a lie, now you're stuck with it buddy.] -I'll talk to 'em for you.

And, eeh, this piece can stay between us. [He leans forward and beckons his feline customer to do the same. His voice is almost quiet as he continues.] Make anythin' fun with those supplies?

[malpwactice]

[Aak may not be getting off on cutting people up with scalpels but someone's gotta be. He finds the careful control of what they can and can't have so irritating. There was a purpose to it, sure, but like any free spirit he's annoyed by someone saying "have fun any way you like (except that one)."]

Oh, what, all this ain't stayin' between us? [This time Aak does lean in, accepting the outwards appearance of being no-goodniks.]

I was trained as a medicine-maker but, in the absence of crisis, I do dabble in various stimulants and concoctions. I've got something that'll knock someone out in three minutes or something that'll keep them up for three days. I don't bother makin' anything to turn folks on because lemme tell you the market's way too crowded on that.

[He's also made horrific continuously-expanding sludge and watermelon scented bug repellent that makes you milkable. Those aren't as bragadocious. He would still say they were impressive for the limited tools he made them with, of course.]

[ratratrat]

[Aak you're so right and you should say it. Anything is a kink if you believe.

Charlie's hand rises to his chin, taking in the feline's background and current hustle alike. The way he nods along is a bit too eager-]

And when you make 'em, what do you do with 'em? Like is this a, uh, friend thing or do you sell? [He's not being incredibly subtle about running the numbers in his head - if he provides you with tools to create useful concoctions and drums up customers, you'll give him a cut of your profits, right?

Doesn't even have to be money - he'd rather know what people are using that shit for.]

[malpwactice]

[While the older man still definitely sets off some of Aak's gang-related alarm bells, the actual conversation has relaxed him a bit. The people in gangs that talked this much were at least not the kind to take sudden swings at his jaw.]

I've done a few deals. Some over the counter, some under. [He gestures, swiping his hand back and forth high up for above the counter and down low for below. He also just does them for fun but you don't bring that up when someone's crunching numbers.]

And a few have been heartfelt gifts to close acquaintances, sure.

[He smiles, omitting the fact some of these "gifts" have been "given" without the dear friend knowing. It still counts.]

[ratratrat]

[Let's follow the formula: Drugging your friend can be a nice gift too, if you believe.

Charlie's tongue toys with his cheek, a gesture of satisfaction as Aak tells him exactly what he wants to hear. Less important is whether everything is strictly true - these are the terms of their business, after all. What's said is said.

He taps his foot, running a finger along his jaw idly before his mouth opens and that hand joins his voice in Italian Communication.] That's good to know! You've got the right angle...

Though I'm not sure I understand - what do you have that makes a good gift? [This is bullshit he understands he just wants a more explicit menu he can pitch to other people when he's sending them Aak's way.]

[malpwactice]

[It's a shame Aak only has a popular view of the Siracusan mafia so he can't realize exactly how Italian Charlie is. Even though the cities in his world were different there were underlying similarity that made things comfortable. Instead, he gets overlaid on the different but still shitty Lungmen Triad.]

What doesn't! [Charlie's act of playing dumb has Aak leaning even more into his salesman voice.]

Even in a resort there can be aches and discomfort. Pain relief is one of the basics. If a person is tossing and turning then there's sleep aids. Or, perhaps energy and wakefulness will serve them better! And, well, I haven't been playing with them as much, back home I worked on quite a few stimulants for physical strength and stamina...

I could probably even swing something to clear up someone's skin! Might put color on your face, dude- I mean, Sir.

[ratratrat]

[I'd rather the absence of Italians from a canon than Al Capone being a Catboy]

[Charlie's lips purse, amused that he's crossed the professional barrier to 'dude'. He gives Aak a look meant to communicate that he heard it. And that he won't be commenting. Instead he just chuckles silently.

Eyebrows still raised from the acknowledgement of their newfound friendship, he stands up straighter. An avian lifeguard coos in the distance - Charlie turns towards it, but doesn't stop talking.] Yeah... sounds like you've got your gifts covered. Thoughtful, too, matchin the person with the poison.

What about your materials? [He looks back to Aak, a casual over the shoulder glance.] Ever used blood before?

[malpwactice]

[The mafia is mostly wolves, if that helps.]

[In his daily life, "dude" was just as easy as the general "you" but it did tend to not go over well with some people. That's why he tried to keep it out of his more professional pitches. So, he doesn't feel dread at the slip-up, at least. He'd have to come up with some line, maybe blame the carelessness of youth. Lots of people loved a young person prostrating themselves and apologizing for the crime of being young.]

A gift given without thought to the recipient is just selfishness. [he says, as if it's natural, and as if he would never consider being selfish]

[At Charlie's question, a pause, a twitch of the big, furry ear]

Used? [The phrasing just strikes him as a bit strange.] There's some stuff where you want to use plasma proteins... and in some cases you want to expose the compound to blood to make sure it doesn't blow up in their veins.

I've used it for diagnostics but please don't go sending people to me for basic medical care. [he waves a hand dismissively]

[ratratrat]

[wan-chan capone]

[One corner of Charlie's mouth twists into a lopsided smile. He agrees, giving a gift for the sake of making someone a recipient is as selfish as you can get. But, thinking of someone's needs can be even more self-serving. If Aak hasn't had that realization yet, no need to push him along.]

I mean, yeah, please do make sure your shit doesn't blow up in people. [There's an incredulity to his tone that implies he thinks this has happened before, but he moves on quickly.] Sorry, I just. I find it funny that you complain you're lacking resources but you haven't done much with it.

You said yourself its in abundance with all the uh... 'flirting' goin on around here. Surely you could find a use?

[malpwactice]

[So long as he was safe, he was going to relish in not needing to cater to anyone's whims. He does let an annoyed look slip through his business talk.]

Look, they're givin' me the stuff I need for an orgy, not sterile blood draws. I only managed to get the tools for that a month ago and keepin' 'em sterile is a real pain.

[In the back of his mind, he's trying to put together what the angle could be. He doesn't like an implication that he hasn't used his resources properly. Still, with so many different angles, he's not confident he couldn't be missing something. Using the blood, using the aphrodisiacs, what, maybe using the cum?]

I'm a pretty frugal person but the use case for blood that's dripped down a guy's leg onto the floor is pretty low.

[ratratrat]

[Charlie can tell he's snagged Aak's interest, much to the feline scientist's dismay - it's clear on his face. And satisfaction is clear on Charlie's, as he continues to look over his shoulder at the boy.

His eyebrows raise and his head tilts in agreement.] Well, yeah, goes bad real quick. You'd have to take it directly, and sterilizin equipment with the vodka here might end up with some weird effects, huh?

Let's say you had it, though, a steady supply of clean blood. Be worth researchin, right?

[When lacking a blood sorcerer, a catboy chemist will do the trick!]

[malpwactice]

[The fact Aak can't pin down the exact angle is like the fish hook wriggling in his craw. He can tell he's being propositioned for something. He can tell he stands to gain. So what was the other guy getting out of it? Was he connected to someone who would stand to gain?]

... well, you know, it'd be miracles on top of miracles. It's already a pretty big ask to get all the tools I'd need for extraction. For proper research I'd need a lot more glassware, a microscope, centrifuge...

[he taps a finger with each thing he's adding to the list]

But, of course. It's something I enjoy. If the stars aligned, then, yea, I'd want to take advantage of it and do some research.

[He wasn't promising anything and he was making it clear that he'd want to see the materials before he did anything. If he did get everything he wanted then, well, he'd deal with it then. It was probably worth a lousy deal just to get all those tools.]

[ratratrat]

[Charlie nods his head along with each piece of equipment Aak lists. His hands are at his side, Italian Silence, but his fingers tap his leg in sequence from thumb to middle along with the requests.

Add all that to the petri dishes, scalpels, and needles...]

That's quite the order! But, I am curious what you'd do with all of it.

Let's say I can get you the resources you need. [Including the blood????] How about you let me know of any new products you come up with? Maybe share a few on the house?

Fair payment? [Charlie turns his shoulders to face Aak once more and offers his hand along with his proposition.]

[malpwactice]

Any large-scale distribution is out of the question.

[He says that with the care of someone who has been held to that before.]

But I could certainly share some things with a new acquaintance. The more comfortable I am the quicker I work and the quicker I work the more creative I can get.

[With that said, he'll go and shake that cold hand.]

Deal.

[ratratrat]

[Charlie's grip is firm as he shakes to seal their agreement - it lasts just a bit too long,] Deal.

And don't worry, I'd rather not contribute to too much uh, distribution either. [Only now does he let go of Aak's hand.] I'll get you equipped, comfortable, and working.

Then I look forward to what you churn out. [With the extra affirmation given, Charlie adjusts the way his collection of sunglasses hangs from the hem of his robe. There's another wildcard passing by - Charlie leans around his new partner to make eye contact with the poor bastard. Need anythin?]

[OOC: Ending Charlie's piece here!]