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]

[ Maybe it's a little foolish of him to think that anyone else might have a flush of red feathers on their back. Or maybe part of him was nervous that what he's heard others guessing at might be true, about people popping up from different points along the same timeline. So even when Hawks does turn, greeting him with a warm smile and the warm gold of his gaze, Gladio still holds his breath a little. It isn't abundantly clear that this is the man he'd met a few months ago, shared an impromptu tryst with back in his suite—hadn't seen again any time after that, until now. ]

I won't say no to that. [ Said with an easy laugh, rich and low, and a touch nervous. ] Don't wanna test the patience of those lifeguards though. Not sure if they'll count them separately, or if they have to be from separate people.

[ The suggestion does put another idea in his head, though, coupled with the sight of them practically mirroring each other with what they've gathered. No wonder they'd gotten along so well, so quickly, he thinks; great minds and all. ]

You know, if we combined resources, we could probably wrap up the hunt pretty quickly...

[redfeathers]

( The mention of the lifeguards makes Hawks glance over towards a pair of them nearby where they're flexing near the lifeguard tower. There's a thought that the lifeguards are more amusing than anything else, though he's caught a few of them swarming on a few unfortunate guests. The thought makes him glance back up at Gladio, grinning wider. )

You're not scared of a few seagulls, are you Gladio-san? ( There's a teasing edge to his voice, playful in the lets the large sunglasses slide down his nose to look up at the other. ) I think a big strong guy like you could take them. ( He says as he pushes his glasses back up, nodding his head as if he's certain of just that. Maybe it's his optimism talking or just a confidence in the other's strength based on their last interaction. How Gladio had carried and manipulated him like he weighed nothing. )

We can always find someone else. I'm sure it won't be too hard. ( It's probably a lot easier than it should be, but he won't complain.

The idea of working together earns a nod, and he reaches out, taking Gladio's wrist to look at the other man's watch. ) The sooner we finish, the sooner we can relax on the beach. ( His head tilts back up expectantly for a reply. There's a thought that he should ask if Gladio even wants to spend more time with him, instead of just assuming he's free to take up the other man's time as he pleases. But they can work that out later. They've got a few things to do, now. )

I haven't gotten any drinks yet. We could start there and then find something you need next. ( He taps the screen on Gladio's watch before releasing the other's wrist. He doesn't say that the reason he hasn't gotten any drinks is because everything he's come across has been cold. With this strange chill he feels lingering under his skin, the few minutes he'd even had a drink earlier had been uncomfortable with the chill of the glass and ice. )

[bedroll]

Don't have much experience with birds the same size as me. [ He pauses, cracks a smirk, and sweeps his gaze over Hawks. ] Present company not included.

[ He's not fully sure that won't be taken as an insult, but he hopes the teasing in his voice is obvious. He's not quite certain what Hawks might be considered back home, but he'd been more than human enough before—and nothing seems to have really changed about him, outwardly. He seems just as handsy and flirtatious as ever, at least, and Gladio's more than pleased with that much. Enough that, even if he somehow has become more birdlike, he doesn't think he'd mind it. ]

Drinks it is. My treat.

[ Said with a somewhat hammy wink, though he doesn't go quite so far as to link hands or elbows. He does lead the way, however, towards the nearest drink station, swarmed as they all are with thirsty guests, clamoring for a sip of the latest liquors on offer. It feels like this place is always cranking out something new to lure people in, and it gets harder and harder to trust anything without a lot of observation beforehand.

So he uses his height to his advantage, eyes scanning the crowd while a hand finally takes Hawks by the elbow just to draw him in, keep him close in the throng. ]

You have any preferences? Or should we just get two of the same? Not really a cocktail guy myself, but I can make an exception on a hot day.

( ooc: totally okay with derailing their scavenger hunt for some drink reaction shenanigans instead if you like! either is good with me. )

drink shenanigans it is~

[redfeathers]

( Being called a bird isn't anything new. He even does it himself from time to time. Unlike other heteromorphs back home, Hawks doesn't have any reservations or concerns about his avian qualities. So he smiles up at the other man easily, fluffs his feathers up a bit as if he's pleased with the grin and tease. Even more pleased to be treated with a drink. )

I never say no to free food or drinks.

( Hawks isn't expecting Gladio to do much in the ways of touching given they don't know one another that well. Not that holding hands or linking arms seems like much compared to having someone's dick in your mouth. But there's no reason to get into that. Instead, he follows along without another word, softly rubbing his own hands along his forearms as if that might be enough to beat the lingering chill he feels.

It's no surprise to see the busy area around the drinks, and even if he can't see over most of the people around - he can hear more than enough. There's a careful tilt of his head, and he lets himself be tugged closer. There's a few seconds where it might not be clear if he's going to answer, eyes closed behind the ridiculously large sunglasses. But he blinks after a moment, tilting his head up to look at Gladio. )

It sounds like the Blackberry Rosemary drink is pretty good. ( From where they're standing, Hawks can't actually see a list of drinks. But there's another pause and maybe it's clear that he's listening to something with the way his wings flex a bit behind him and his hand goes up, fingers touching his chin thoughtfully. )

The mango one sounds good too, it's sweet. ( And he does like his sweet drinks. ) We could get the Blackberry and share? Or you can surprise me. I trust you not to pick anything too crazy.

(shots! shots! shots— )

[bedroll]

[ While Hawks listens, Gladio takes in the sights, not all of them anything he's particularly keen on seeing. As expected, there is a certain amount of caution to be had in taste testing any of the signature drinks on off, with arguments seemingly bursting from nowhere alongside the lamentations of homesickness. And he's pretty sure that one guy just turned into—

His thoughts are interrupted by Hawks' answer, pulling his gaze down from the crowd to meet a thoughtful pair of golden eyes, tinted by those gaudy, overlarge sunglasses. ]

I'll just get one of each, then. Couple beers, too.

[ Whether those are to share or just for him remains to be seen and neither would be a bother. Truly he is just trying to wriggle out of to many sweet things, near constantly at capacity for them of late, thanks to Satoru. His size makes acquisition easy, just a quick wade through the shallows and the crowd, a tap of his Watch before his hands are full. It's the wading back out that proves cumbersome, though trusts Hawks to carve them a path back out to the sand easily enough.

Truly, though, the most troublesome of all proves to be finding a relatively quiet place to settle in, with the sand littered with seemingly abandoned towels—and occupied ones. One particularly carnal coupling earns an almost judgemental tilt of Gladio's head in the opposite direction, though it is honestly more the flush of shame that makes him not want to look. Not of what they are doing, but the recent memory of being in not so dissimilar position himself. And with Hawks, to boot. ]

Looks like we might have more luck up that way. You mind carrying one of these? [ He gestures with the beer bottles, nestled between his fingers for ease while the same hand cups the sunset colored mango whatever-it-was. The blackberry is offered to Hawks for safekeeping—or preemptive testing, if he's interested. ]

[redfeathers]

( There's something familiar about following after Gladio. It's like walking alongside Endeavor with their difference in heights, the crowd parting easily for him. He follows quietly after him, caught momentarily in a thought that this is almost like home. Only people are flocking to the two of them for pictures or autographs, and there aren't whispers about any of their recent activities. That's probably a good thing, he figures, but a part of him misses the attention in his own way.

But he's more than content with the company he has for the moment. When those drinks are offered, his hands go out for the blackberry drink, cradling it neatly between his hands as his feathers zip out, slipping under a couple of the bottles and anything else that needs to be carried to give Gladio back the use of his hands. It's easy to keep moving forward even with his feathers carting along their drinks, a couple of others even floating forward to nudge a few people out of their path as they go. )

It looks like there's some space over there. ( He lifts one hand, pointing towards what looks to be unoccupied seats. The area around them seems pretty quiet too, accompanied only by a couple people who seem content to simply lounge instead of get caught up in the buzz of energy on the beach.

He glances up towards Gladio expectantly, lifting the drink to take a curious sip. It doesn't taste bad, he muses, but it could be sweeter. The chill of the liquid and the glass it's earns a short, uncomfortable shiver that rolls down his spine and through his wings. But he doesn't say anything or comment on it, instead taking another sip of the drink. Wherever Gladio goes, he moves alongside him, glancing up back up at him every so often. )

[bedroll]

[ He's more than keen to sit just about anywhere, between the baking heat of the artificial sun and the sea water-wet crowd they have to fight through twice just to come away with their hands full. He's glad he'd asked for the extras, then, not keen to manage that again, and is all too happy to settle into one of a pair of lounge chairs facing the surf. Complete with a wide parasol overhead and tiny table to connect them, even. ]

So you've been gone for awhile. You just hiding somewhere, or you find a way out only to get caught?

[ The question is asked amiably before he takes a swig of beer. The mango drink is left to melt in the heat for a little longer, white chocolate truffle fairing even more poorly than the ice cubes. He is curious though about whether the latter is the truth, whether it's actually possible to escape from here rather than win one's way out, even if it comes at the risk of being hunted down. The Watches probably come equipped with some kind of locator signal, making that a losing game, but if escape is possible it just becomes a matter of removing the watch. And it might be a terrible thing that he comes from a place where he has access to the technology and the financial means to make sacrificing a limb a reasonable risk to take if it means getting out of here. ]

[redfeathers]

( Even if there hadn't been a crowd to get to the drinks, Hawks is grateful for the variety and the extras. He's not one to stop himself from indulging, after all, especially not when it seems like Gladio doesn't have any problem letting him do as much. He realizes as he walks, though, that there's a strange lingering thought that some people are a bit too close to the other man as they go. But he keeps sipping as they walk, pausing to watch Gladio as he settles into the chair.

There's a few, long seconds where Hawks looks between the empty chair beside him and Gladio, feathers setting down the extra drinks on the small table. Then finally, it seems he's decided on something, heading towards the other to perch himself neatly in his lap, arranging his legs across his thighs. One arm stretches, winding around the broad shoulders as he uses the other arm to continue holding the drink he's still sipping on. If he sits here, he notes, no one else can really get close to him.

Satisfied with his decision, he lowers his drink to look at the other thoughtfully, considering the question. )

I'm not sure if I ever really left. ( It's a slow, careful response, and he doesn't bother to hide how carefully he's thinking about the question. ) I remember being in my room own day, then it's... ( A soft, thoughtful sound. ) I remember something. Being cold.

( The glass is back at his lips as he takes another drink before leaning the short distance to set the glass down. Even if it's already starting to get warm with all the heat, the chill of the drink is starting to feel uncomfortable when combined with the chill he still feels. )

I'm still feeling cold, even out here.

lmk if you want captcha escape

[bedroll]

[ Part of the reason he'd picked a pair was to give them each a comfortable amount of space. To his surprise and amusement, however, Hawks takes the opportunity to ignore that silent offer and plant himself in his lap instead. He's unbothered, but certainly confused, dark brow furrowed with laughter as he simply helps Hawks settle. There's no sense of that cold as he circles an arm around his slim waist, but he somehow doesn't quite doubt any shiver or shudder to be a consequence of it. ]

It's definitely not cold out here, but I gotta say that whole story leaves more questions than answers. [ He hikes Hawks up a little nearer, as if his own body heat might help alleviate the feeling, though he'd mindful of the beading of sweat across his skin. Not exactly self-conscious, seeing as Hawks seems to hardly mind it, but knowing enough that it's likely to just make things worse for him, too. ]

Kinda makes you wonder if there really is any escape, then. Maybe they just put us in cryo-sleep or something and wake us up when they've wiped our memories.

[ It sounds like something out of a book, or one of Noctis's stupid games, but even as the words leave his mouth he can't help feeling like it might be a little uncomfortably near the truth. Sure, there are some well-hidden pros to the idea, but the first and foremost thought in his head is how in the hell he's supposed to get back to doing his job. ]

But you remember being here before? Does it feel like any of those memories are missing?

Yeth plz

[redfeathers]

( Hawks knows the reason for the pair of chairs is for the two of them to be able to have their own space, but the more the seconds tick past, the more he aware of a strange thought of how close he wants to be close to Gladio. And Gladio might feel the way his hand flexes where it's resting on his shoulder whenever someone walks past and happens to look in their direction. He's never considered himself to be a possessive or jealous person, but he can't ignore the one that keeps sounding in his thoughts. The one telling him that Gladio is his, and everyone they pass should keep that in mind.

Gladio's voice, though, helps to ground him a bit, his head turning to blink at the other man as speaks. He even offers out his glass for the other to try as he nods in his own agreement. ) Yeah. I was hoping there wouldn't be more mysteries to this place, but that might have been wishful thinking on my part. ( And his optimism. As bad as all this is, he keeps reminding himself that it could be worse. A lot worse. But sitting here on Gladio's lap, getting to feel the warmth of him so close is nice. Comfortable.

The idea of cryo-sleep, though, earns a short laugh. )

Sounds like something out of a movie or comic book. ( But his own thoughts aren't much different from Gladio's in that regard. It could be true, and it wouldn't surprise him. But he hopes that isn't the case.

He nods, though, with a bright grin at the question. )

Yeah. Don't worry, I didn't forget you, Gladio-san~ I remember our time together in vivid detail~ ( As if to emphasize this, he leans his weight into the other man's chest, playfully nudging their foreheads together. )

[bedroll]

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