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

[bedroll]

Sounds like my kinda place.

[ He manages a crooked smile, an attempt at boosting a mood that refuses to lift between the two of them. It's a strange feeling, not just for its abrupt onset but in general. He isn't like this, normally. He doesn't dwell on things, refuses to let others around him dwell, and so feeling as if they've managed to fall into some sort of pit that even he can't reach the top of is unsettling. It also puts things into perspective, here and there, particularly with relation to friends he hasn't seen in ages.

So he's equally grateful, then, for her company and her own attempts to boost their spirits with a weak joke and a rosy gaze that searches for a laugh in response to it. ]

The sea, sort of. The lifeguards, not exactly. [ She gets a laugh, soft but genuine, though he does break their eye contact briefly to scan the shore for any lingering gaggles of those gulls. They're unsettling too, in a way that other things that have happened in the last few months both have and haven't been. He's not sure whether he's grateful or not that this place still manages to surprise him. ]

Can't be sure about the mermaids either way. There's rumors of a giant fish back home. One of those legends where all the details get exaggerated. For all anyone knows it might just be one of those mermaids. [ A pause. ] I can't exactly say I'd be any more comfortable if they were the other way around though. Mermaids don't exist where I'm from, even as stories.

i'm so sorry for the late reply!! this got lost in my inbox orz

[theidlemaiden]

If there was a way to show you Goneril or a way for you to come visit, I think you'd like it. We just might have to keep you out of eyesight from my brother though. He's a little...protective.

[ Inviting someone to Goneril and mentioning Holst in one breath might seem a little forward to anyone who had the context. Maybe even a little too eager depending on who was on the receiving end. But protective big brother who could quickly jump to conclusions aside, there's a sincerity there that shows just how much she means it. The pull of wanting to go home and the realization that she may never have the chance now dawns on her. Regret chases on the heels of that. The irony that she should have appreciated it before it was too late pricks at her heart in a way that she has to ignore. ]

If mermaids exist in Fódlan, I haven't seen them. [ A little furrow appears between her brows as she lets out a somewhat nervous laugh at the thought of Demonic Beasts and other creatures. ] There are definitely other kinds of monsters though. I think I'd almost take the reverse mermaids over them. They seem harmless at least.

[ There's a pause as she mulls over what he had said earlier, about this place being miserable for him. ]

You mentioned the last couple of months have been miserable for you. Is there a reason why?

don't sweat it! i'm big on backtagging.

[bedroll]

[ He laughs. Of course he laughs, at the idea of hiding from someone else's brother, a girl with bright eyes and a round face and an earnest sensibility around her. He's not sure he buys into the idea of parallel worlds, but he can't deny the immediate comparison that comes to mind, nor the small spark of warmth that it ignites in him. It's not going to do him any good to already be looking at her through any particular filter, but just for a moment he tells himself that she'll at least understand if things turn out the way they're both seemingly used to.

Gods he misses Iris. And the mention of monsters—yet another commonality—all but quashes the barely-there flame of familiarity. He misses everyone. And for the first time he realizes that he's taking the peacefulness of this night for granted, that even away from the firelight nothing looms or growls or stalks through the darkness. That there are no spotlights staggered along the beach for safety, to keep daemons at bay.

He startles, then, at the question, gaze scanning the shore for signs of manifestation, for the telltale light of a Bomb. And it takes a moment for him to reply. ]

Not my kind of place. I'm used to the way money makes people difficult, entitled. But the resort isn't just about money. Whoever's running this place likes having power over people. [ Softer, he adds: ] And I'm not sure anymore whether I wish my people were here, or if I'm glad this place hasn't found them.

[ He swallows the last of his drink, ice noisy against the plastic as he sets it in the sand again. ]

Everyone's playing the Game differently, so it's not even like it's easy to find new people here either.

💕

[theidlemaiden]

[ The sound of his laugh serves to lift her spirits - even if it is at the expense of a terrifying older brother and a potentially embarrassing scenario. Holst's overbearing nature when it came to her had never failed to grate on her nerves in the way that it would any younger sibling. But as the years went by and the war forced her to grow up a little more she found that irritation waning. He still gave her an infinite amount of grief, but she worried for him during the war. She worries for him now. The thought almost barrels her over like a wyvern and she has to burrow her feet a little deeper into the sand in an attempt to ground herself.

Hilda would have never thought the day would come when she would both worry and miss Holst the way she does in this moment. There had barely been time to think about him, her parents, and what they would do when and if her body was ever returned to them. Guilt and the bitter taste of failure mingles with the sweetness of the drink. They both seem to lose themselves, Hilda only cluing into that mere seconds before he answers. Whatever she had said or asked seems to have sent his mind elsewhere - probably home if she has to guess.

Her gaze softens, understanding the care that is woven into that sentiment. She misses her friends and family, sure. But not enough to see them here. Following his suit she drains the rest of her drink. ]

I don't know what this says about this place, but after being here for a very short amount of time, I think I know what you mean.

[ She doesn't have to ask for clarification anymore about what the Game is. Sylvain had given her a far better primer than the welcome packet had which means she understands that this isn't a strange version of an afterlife - there's an undercurrent of something more at play. Each of the Lords at home were many things, but at least she understood their motivations. For the most part, anyway. ]

New people as in...people to play the Game with?

[bedroll]

[ While it's a small favor to not have to play tutor in such a state, it doesn't save him from needing to explain himself. Simply allowing words to spill out of him, lamentations and wistfulness alike, was only ever going to lead him into a storm drain of revealing too much, too soon. He doesn't really like the vulnerability, steels himself to her question even as she asks it. But then, what else could his plea have invited except curiosity, its open-endedness not so much deliberate as simply how things are here.

One, rough hand reaches up to rub his unscarred cheek. His answer, when it comes, is thoughtful, wanting to be just as understood as everything else he's been saying. His body language sort of says otherwise, one, large arm draping around a knee as if to shield himself. ]

Sort of. Plenty of people around, obviously, but you have to learn to make concessions. About the Game. About yourself.

[ A particularly humiliating encounter, from not all too long ago, digs his heels into the sand. ]

You can find people to play with wherever. Using the term loosely, obviously. But it's not easy to find people playing the same way as you might. Lots of...necessary things happen.

[ It's the most delicate way he can think to put it, particularly in trying to save a little face. He doesn't know what she might already know about this place, would prefer not to have to be the one to educate her on it, but also isn't going to lie to anyone about what kinds of expectations get set with or without one's total consent on them. ]

It'll make more sense once you get assigned a Suit. Although I think we're all just sort of grasping at straws about what those mean, too.

[theidlemaiden]

[ The way he tries to protect himself from the topic at hand doesn't go unnoticed. It's a difficult thing to not notice considering how it starkly contrasts with his tone. Had she asked too personal of a question? Her openness and curiosity had been known to overstep from time to time and the thought of making him feel uncomfortable - of potentially chasing him away - has guilt pricking at her cheeks like the heat from the fire.

Despite her worries, he eventually answers. A part of her appreciates that he's trying to soften the reality of what she's been brought into, using the word play to mask something that she hadn't really been all that shy about in the past but was now something integral to their survival here. To her, it comes across as a kindness. A kindness to a stranger that has little understanding about how this place functions and the guests that have been brought here. Everything that she's learned so far, including from him, is shaping up to be a different sort of political landscape that she wanted no part in trying to navigate. But like before, there's no choice but for her to play the game. ]

If I get assigned a Suit, you mean. Maybe I won't even have to worry about it.

[ The note about being temporary means it didn't guarantee anything. The state of her future aside, there are more questions she wants to ask - but seeing the way he holds himself now makes her hesitate. So when she does ask a question, it's something else entirely. ]

This might seem out of the blue but could I sit beside you?

[ She knows that the arm around his knee has nothing to do with the chill of the evening settling in, but they doesn't have to acknowledge that. In fact, she'd be happy to say that the thing gnawing at her heart needed the company more than anything else which is why she's more than happy to tack on - ]

I'm a little cold.

[bedroll]

If.

[ Echoed readily, with a stiff smile, and without the same sense of determined hopefulness she seems to carry. Is that still the drink talking, or something else buried not quite as deep in him as he'd thought? Maybe the drink isn't even causing anything, just opening floodgates in the same sort of way most of the other food and drink around here does. Either way, it embarrasses him to feel almost flayed bare in front of a complete stranger, especially one clearly trying harder than she has any reason to to make sure he doesn't teeter too far over that unseen ledge. It's only been with words so far, distant enough that he figures it's probably just some ingrained politeness, or some measure of decency most of those waking up here find for their fellows.

His relief is almost palpable then, certainly clear enough in the way his expression softens, lightens as if a burden lifts alongside the very question. Out of the blue, yes. Unwelcome, hardly. His smile remains hesitant, but still looks like a step back onto steady land. ]

Sure. Beach is a lot like a desert. Sand doesn't hold heat the same way soil does.

[ There are a couple of abandoned towels around, sand-covered and half-buried, but not quite within even his long arm's reach. So, he does the next best thing he can figure, not asked for but in anticipation all the same, and strips off his tanktop. It's not exactly a blanket, but she's petite enough that it'll cover her shoulders at least, if she wants it. Besides, between the fire and the alcohol and his own seemingly bottomless shame, he's running a bit hot despite the air. He'll hold off on offering an arm too, though, unless it looks like she's wanting or expecting it. ]

[theidlemaiden]

[ For once she’s glad that her curiosity hadn’t gotten the better of her. It was all harmless in theory. She enjoyed speaking to people and getting to know someone happened through a combination of talking and spending time with them.

But she feels like she’s teetering on the brink of her own breakdown. It hasn’t been that long ago since several tears had slipped out despite herself. And it hadn’t been the first time she’d cried that day either. If she’s wisened up to the fact that it might have something to do with the drink, it may not matter at the end of the night because the feelings still had to come from somewhere.

So really, her question is as much for him as it is for her. And when he agrees, she feels the heaviness in her heart lighten just a touch. Hilda wastes no time getting up and making her way across the circle of light to sit beside him. A part of her expects him to leave it at that. But then he’s taking his tank top off and offering it to her. With it off she catches the black ink that adorns his back, but with the dim light it’s not so much a priority at the moment.

Offering him an appreciative smile that seems to melt away some of the gloom. It disappears beneath the tank top as she slips it on, popping her arms out briefly modeling it for him. Being seated, it practically engulfs her knees. ]

How does it look?

[bedroll]

[ Somehow the irreverence is enough. The lighthearted acceptance, without a beat missed, and the small twirl before she sits, as if showing off a new dress. It could be argued that that notion wasn't too far off, and that, finally, is the thing that gets him laughing just a little bit. Even if it's just at himself, for a foolish notion that, while it didn't quite backfire, also didn't quite turn out like he'd expected either. But the way she looks in it, seated in the sand beside him, he thinks a little self-deprecation is worth it. ]

Looks like we won't be sharing a closet after all.

[ His gaze isn't quite so heavy now, his chest not quite so tight. Despite their mutual pining for worlds neither one of them can be sure they'll see again, and likely not any time soon, there's a familiar spark he sees in her of people he knew back home. And right now, he'll do just about anything to shield that spark from the cool ocean breeze, the threat of sand dousing it—or even just any further sips from cups that feel bottomless when really he's just been foolish enough to keep returning for more misery.

With a small sigh, finally one not full of discontentment and longing, he settles back with his arms propped behind him, eyes focused on the way the waves give a convincing performance of a tide. ] Thanks. For keeping me company like this. Name's Gladiolus. Just in case you end up having to stick around this place.

fin! 🎀

[theidlemaiden]

[ That earns him a cheeky grin. ] 

I don't know about that. If I need any nightgowns, I know exactly who to go and ask. 

[ She's probably worn something similar before in the past - albeit with a little more lace. It smells nice at least; she can catch the faint smell of whatever it is he wears and it's comforting in a way that she doesn't expect it to coming from a near stranger. Was she really just that homesick? Or was there something more familiar about him that she wanted to latch onto in this strange, new world that she had found herself in?

If the former were true, that wasn't fair of her to put on him.

Before curling a little tighter into a ball she scooches a little closer to him, both in a desire to seek warmth and simply to continue chasing away the loneliness that had ensnared her. ] 

I'm Hilda. And really, it's nothing.

[ Without thinking she rests her head upon his shoulder for a brief moment following his gaze back out to sea. Her eyes stay open for just a beat longer before they close, allowing the sound of the waves to wash over them along with a sense of peace that she hadn't felt since arriving. ] 

I should be the one saying thank you.