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

[loosestrifes]

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

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

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

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

[blastedass]

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

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

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

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

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

[loosestrifes]

No? But you seem to be struggling.

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

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

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

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

[blastedass]

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

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

What'd they do with what they saw?

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

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

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

[loosestrifes]

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

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

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

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

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

[blastedass]

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bakugo Katsuki.

[loosestrifes]

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

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

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

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

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

[blastedass]

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

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

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

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

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

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

[loosestrifes]

Haha. You'll kill them?

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

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

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

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

[blastedass]

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

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

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

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

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

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

[loosestrifes]

( Quirk, he says, and there's a subtle shift in Esikko's already growing interest. A rather unique way of referring to an ability, magical or otherwise, that he knows for fact Dabi uses. So, from the same world? It's something he files away immediately, humming in thought over the words. )

This may seem inconsequential to you, but the House, and each of us "players", seem to benefit from the connection of sex. It's not enough to get off alone in your room, and interestingly, even while far apart and messaging one another over the Watch, you can get cards together. But it involves a connection.

( He curls his fingers at his own cheek, watching Bakugo's face now with fond interest. He doesn't feel like being subtle about it. Not when he's this funny. )

So, you know. It might work if you did it right here, in front of me. Or I could give you a hand, leave it impersonal. Or you could stubbornly refuse all of my offers, and I'll then expect to find you later in the clinic.

( His head tilts. )

By the way, people come here from all sorts of realms, so it's easiest to think of magic, like what I would use, as something similar enough to your "Quirk". They're all abilities, not sleight of hand.

[blastedass]

[Subtle, but not invisible, prompting Bakugo to notice the motion. Is it really that unique? Probably. Stronger words, like powers, abilities, or the like, would usually be used. "Quirk" is more a funny or unusual trait. But there's a historical reason for it that Bakugo's not bothering to get into.]

WHAT THE FUCK!? [Thanks for just slapping it right out there in the open, dammit! So he can't just retreat to his room and deal with it alone?! That's aptly fitting from everything Esikko's said, and now he's just more pissed about it. The only thing that piques him further is the mention of-] What cards?!

[This better not be some damn game of poker or a card collector's fantasy! One's just gross; the other's sleazing up what should remain a pure childhood memory! And then Esikko goes for the jugular, prompting the blonde to round on him with a flared-up face and jerking his head away like the guy just put an asp to his cheek.]

You don't give up, do you?! [Esikko's been hinting at it the entire time. Now it's laid in front of him and Bakugo's stuck with a raw choice to the face. What the hell?! He's really expected to jerk off in front of this guy?! Or let him shove his hand down his pants to deal with it?! ... The short answer is, "yes", and he hates that.]

Clinic?

[Let him come back to "magic" in a moment.]

[loosestrifes]

Yes, when you explode from pure frustration.

( Playfully. Well, he can never write off blue balls making someone end up in the clinic somehow, anyway. Leaving it at that, he shrugs simply. )

I'm told my persistence is attractive.

( But all teasing aside, he doesn't mind stringing this along more with the talk of useful information, with a helpfulness he's sure to remind Bakugo of later on, if he doesn't recall it himself. Helpfully, he taps at his own Watch, on his right wrist due to his left-handedness. )

Once you're checked in, you'll be assigned a playing card. A suit and a rank, like a number. For example, I'm a 3 of Hearts. That's why that mark I showed you earlier is shaped like a heart.

( He doesn't feel like discussing how he, a Prince, has ended up such a low rank, or the way it irritates him every moment of every day... And so he rolls right past the significance of that, focusing instead on the main point with a few more gestures of his hands. )

The point of the little game we're forced into is to collect all 52 in order to gain a wish... Or something like that. That Watch on your wrist has a lot more information. If they haven't set you the rules yet, they will as soon as you've been forcibly checked in and assigned. To put it quite simply, you'll want to collect cards. It's how you get money to survive, first and foremost, but it's also our only trail of potentially getting out of here.

[blastedass]

I'm not going to blow up, you idiot! [Not again at least... fuck. This isn't the best kind of day to happen after fucking heart surgery. But he's handling it. This damn hotel probably helped in some regards as well, considering the damage he would've arrived here with otherwise. Bakugo pulls another face at Esikko's "attractive" persistence.] They have shit taste then.

[Yeah, there's an undeniable truth that the guy's offering more help than hindrance, even if it comes in waves that rankle his patience. Trying to get more information out of him without stepping on another erotic landmine is a chore; he doesn't wanna see Esikko's cheeky ass smile before the guy drops another lewd bomb in his lap!]

Tch. They really went all in on the casino aspect. [Couldn't have been hanafuda cards suits, huh. Bakugo glances at his Watch, though his eyes flick across his hand and arm as if he might be able to spot some secret symbol appearing somewhere.] What if I skip the check in?

[Can't throw him into the game if he's never considered a "guest" in the first place! HA! ... Though considering he already woke up here and they treated him as a "guest" when he came out of the room, it's little more than a growling question of ego than a real protest. Bakugo doesn't ask about the rank, since some games treat the lower cards as the high cards and vice versa. The Ace is sometimes the all-powerful best, and sometimes nothing more than a measly one.]

Collect cards? [All of a sudden, a lot of things fall into place regarding the game and half of it abruptly ignites a challenge he can see... while the other half twists his stomach in pure revulsion at the potential requirements. FUCK!! Seriously?! That's what they're reduced to?! FOR A SHITTY LITTLE GAME?!] Dammit! I'm gonna wish this fucking place never existed!

[Right. Cause that'll work.]

[loosestrifes]

( Esikko laughs, a light and gentle thing he normally doesn't get to experience. It's just that even if Bakugo is suffering, he's so heated about it, so loud, so angry, so yelly. In a way, it's almost refreshing. As someone with a hot temper himself, in certain topics, to have someone with even more of a fuse is amusing. Cute, in a way, even? )

I wish I had your optimism. Unfortunately, the check in will happen regardless, as you'll wake up. You should be glad you didn't wake up in wedding attire like I did, married to someone you wished you weren't. The time that I arrived, everyone else showed up just like that, paired off and given rings.

( That he is, notably, not wearing. He threw his somewhere and he can't be bothered to remember where. )

Next, if you wished for that, then there wouldn't be a wish you could make in the first place, either cancelling it out or creating some sort of paradox. You'll have to save your wish for freeing yourself, I suppose.

( Now, with his scarred hand pressing into the sandy stretch of beach between them, he leans in, voice a little quieter. For Bakugo's sake, not his own. )

I'm in a rather patient mood today, since this scenery here is unique to me and not so unpleasant, so I'm going to give you one more chance. I can help you, in whatever way you'd like, without an utterance of any teases... Or I could leave you to squirm around alone on the beach and get hassled by who knows who else. There are others eating that meat, and they're going to be far less able to hold back than you are, you know.

[blastedass]

[He better laugh carefully or that sound's gonna be the last thing he hears before getting an explosion to the face! Bakugo's blown people up for less than that! Dammit, why does this guy have to simultaneously give him good enough information he can't kill him and vex him to no end while doing it?! It makes the other issue going on right now even worse.]

WHAT THE FUCK?! [Gross! Esikko gets a brief point for that one because Bakugo is instantly relieved he woke up in a perverted beach party rather than a shitty forced wedding! His fingers tighten on his upper arms and he grits his teeth in a scowl as the thoughts quickly swarm as uncomfortable as those damn lifeguards. Finally, a silver lining. And no, Bakugo does not look for Esikko's ring. He figures the guy ditched it.] This place is insane.

Tch! [Yeah, he figured that would create a paradox, but only clicks his tongue in annoyance when it's pointed out to him. Despite his anger, he was being half-serious, half-facetious about that wish.] Then I'll wish for this place to grow a fucking allergy to kidnapped people.

[There, that takes care of both aspects. It has to get rid of the kidnapped people it does have, and then can't get anymore or else it'll puke all over the place! Or break out in hives. Whatever allergy it gets. Make it a bad one... Unfortunately, Esikko has to bring up the proverbial rabbit in the room. It's as much a warning as it is a brokered deal. For a while, he's quiet, weighing his options and everything he's heard. Ultimately, a resigned growl rumbles in his throat. Fuck or die, right?]

I'm not doing shit out here. [And makes to get up off the sand.] We can go back to the damn room.

[loosestrifes]

( An allergy to kidnapped people... It's interesting, how endearing that is. How he's never been around the sort of late teen attitude that Bakugo radiates, never had the friends, never had acquaintances who would dare to call him anything other than a title or some full name. Maybe that's what makes it so appealing, to stay in his company? That he's not afraid to say (or yell, really) just about anything. That he's so stubborn, so aggressive, but that he's clearly still so shy. Too shy to commit to much of anything without constant pestering, too shy to agree to anything in public, too shy to admit to wanting or needing help at all.

Esikko smiles to himself, again, as he pushes against the sand to stand. We, he said, after all— and that means his offer was accepted. )

Sure. ( Easy, agreeable, he gives a calm response, folding his arms behind his back once he can fall into step beside him. )

One of those cute little, what was it, "bungalows?" Is that where you've been temporarily assigned?

[blastedass]

[Damn right it's creative! That leaves it an out to bring in people who AREN'T kidnapped, aka: people who get invited and come along willingly. With a checkout option if wanted. Or maybe the invite's permanent. Who fucking knows. So long as it's willing participation, then future "players" can make their own wishes to get out of the proverbial contract.

Anyways, glad he's making such a positive impact on this guy. Bakugo finds Esikko more annoying than he'd usually tolerate, but also too helpful to bury up to his ankles in the damn sand. He has to make do with a damn compromise to himself. Learning more about this place is more important than blowing up someone who offers that information in bratty doses. It bothers him the guy's been banking on this the entire time, though even his own anger can't deny the embarrassing reality Esikko's honestly offering to help him get out of this pressing issue. It's the main reason why Bakugo angrily capitulates to the agreement and stands.

All he has to do is think about it in a distanced mindset. It's just... jerking off. That's all. It's not like maybe he and Eijirou wouldn't have possibly tried it out at some point in time back home. They were young, in the same dorm, he spent time with his best friend over there, maybe one day they might have tried it out, who the fuck knows- Just think of it like that!

Bakugo keeps his eyes ahead of him, arms by his side and hands shoved into the pockets of his boardshorts. Better than that damn makeshift sarong from the robe earlier.] Yeah. It had four beds in it, but no one else was in my room.

[loosestrifes]

How lucky for you. Most of them are overflowing with new faces. Some of them have even shoved some of the older faces in, I think, for the fun of it.

( Not him, though. And maybe that's one thing he should be grateful for, being such a low rank. As they walk, his eyes focus down on the sand occasionally, watching the way it runs over his feet, sandals and all. It still feels so strange, to be on a "beach" like this, rather than the cliffs and icy waters he's used to. To hear the roaring of waves and not feel like it's something threatening. )

The way it normally works is for a card to pop up on your Watch the moment the deed is done. But as a "Wildcard," right now, the reward will be delayed until you're assigned.

( He feels like he needs to clarify this, so he's not called a liar. )

[blastedass]

I didn't ask to be put anywhere, dammit! That's what I woke up in!

[No idea what'll happen tomorrow, but all he knows right now is the room was empty when he woke up and left. If there are others in the room in the morning, he'll... deal with them then. So long as this place doesn't decide to shove someone into the bed with him. Then they're going to have a very rude, loud, explosive awakening.

Bakugo glances to the side as they walk, eyes lingering on the sea rolling into the shore. This looks so real even though he knows it's fake. No matter the pleasantries and distractions provided, a gilded cage is still a cage. How many people here have forgotten that? Or just no longer care... He'll never wind up that way.]

So the Watch tracks the cards. And each person has a rank. Duplicates probably don't count towards your full deck, huh.

[It's not hard to figure out. Even if he feels sleazy talking about it.]

[loosestrifes]

Not towards the 52, but they help considerably with payments.

( Subtly, he's been trying to shift closer to Bakugo as they walk, anyway— and now he has an excuse. Lifting his right wrist, he pulls up his own collection of cards on his Watch, swiping through quickly with his left hand. )

You can also use hands to rank up. Unfortunately, I found out that others can also use them to rank you down. So, while I came here as a 4, I'm now just a 3. Cruel, isn't it?

( He can spot the bungalows just up ahead, but he sees enough of the seagull-lifeguards that he wants to stick close to Bakugo all the same. The last time he passed by this way, they harassed him for no reason, so he'd rather not have a repeat while they're trying to get somewhere for an... urgent task? At least semi-urgent, by this point, right? )

My room is currently flooded, thanks to all of this up here.

[blastedass]

Is there any other way to earn money here?

[The idea that he'd have to do some damn sexual favor just to buy food is sickening. Bakugo notices Esikko gravitating closer to him, but asides from his usual "fuck off" posture (slightly hunched shoulders, hands in his pockets, head down a bit) he doesn't respond against it.

But when he brings his Watch up on his arm and starts looking through his cards, Bakugo turns his head enough to look at it, frowning at both the display and collection. More in concentration than in distaste. Some day he's gonna have a full deck, huh. How the hell is he gonna feel about that?]

What?! They want us to fight each other?! How the hell can someone rank you down?!

[Because that sounds like a major wrench in the plot for people to get along well enough to fuck. The alternative is a goddamn crime! (Unwanted sex.) Bakugo leaves the sand for the boardwalk, heading towards the same building he arrived in. He's already blown up two flocks of gulls, so perhaps those idiots will choose to stay the hell away from him. Cause he'll do it a third time without hesitation.]

Where are you staying then?

[Making someone stick around in a flooded room is asking for them to get sick. Again, not conducive to sex.]

[loosestrifes]

Right?

( That's the anger he was hoping to receive when he posted about it on the network, but everyone seemed far too busy criticizing him for being trapped in a room to begin with, or for not wanting to trust complete strangers to help. Esikko sighs at the memory of it, and with the added relief of seeing that Bakugo seems to keep those seagull lifeguards at a distance, follows close as they walk up the boardwalk. )

All because that stupid dog wanted to keep me reliant on him. Just so you know, the doors are locked in the normal rooms via the Watch, so it's entirely possible for someone to lock you inside of somewhere.

( He frowns, running his hand through his hair a few times as an idle fidget as his eyes scan ahead. )

But, it's fine. I'm borrowing a guest room of someone who won't lock me in, now.

[blastedass]

[No seagulls want to be turned into grilled chicken apparently...

Who the hell wouldn't get angry about something like that?! If someone wanted to rank themselves down, that's their fucking problem, but it's their choice! Happy to get out of the sun for a bit, he pulls open the bungalow door and steps into the cooler foyer. Not but a few hours ago, he'd been in this same stretch of hall, on the verge of turning the entire place into a smoldering pile of debris. Luckily, the two of them had silently opted not to start fighting... but it'd been close.

Bakugo brushes the memory away as the door closes behind them, leaving the pair in the wrap of shade and some air conditioning. Certainly not a frigid blast from a store, but it's enough to ensure the bungalow isn't a beach-side oven.]

Someone else locked you inside his room? [Bakugo's just going to assume "dog" is an insult, not an actual animal. Because that'd be even weirder. Back to the locking aspect.] Or any room can be locked by anyone with a Watch?

[The latter spells a lot of trouble...]

[loosestrifes]

The first.

( At the very least, that's probably a reassurance, isn't it? It's only him who's likely going to have to deal with this stupid sort of thing. As for whether dog is literal or an insult, it's a bit of both, not that he's going to clarify. Maybe when Bakugo runs into a few of the resort members with animal features, he'll understand.

Until then, it's fine to leave it assumed as an insult. It absolutely is that, too.

Esikko leaves his shoes by the door as he steps inside. The temperature feels much nicer than the false "outdoors" they were just in, and he stretches his arms into it as he helps himself to walk inside. Nice, much better like this. )

Anyway, let's focus on the end goal here, right? ( With a little smile, he drops his arms only to fold them behind his back, feigning innocence. ) Which kind of help did you want? Should I just watch or listen from afar? Or did you need a hand?

( It's a little joke, if you think about it. )