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

[extramortem]

That’s the sense that I’ve gotten from my time here, yes.

( he has his own minor evidence, though he isn’t really sure how the pieces line up necessarily. makoto has in his possession a mirror which reveals the “other” side of the Golden Peacock—one where, rather than gilding and glitz and glamor, it’s instead decrepit and decaying. even more alarming is that the long-term guests that had preceded his own group appeared similarly ghastly and desiccated. he isn’t really sure what it means, since this “other” world is also a place he’s physically visited on his own. is it the “truth” of what’s around them, or a parallel world?

he’s still investigating that himself. but, for now, he keeps this information close to the chest; he tends to offer it only when he trusts someone… or when he feels like it’s a good enough bargaining chip to get something from them that he wants. )

I… don’t think he’s told anyone that. At least, not from the rumors I’ve heard. He’s rather hard to get information out of. ( makoto had been going about it in a different approach, fostering a relationship with the ghost based on what he hopes are… shared interests. that guy still owes him a date (and, by that, he means a guided tour of his collection of repossessed limbs and organs). )

You could try to ask him more yourself. His name is J, and he runs a place called Roost in here. The thing is, the Roost moves every night, and the entrance is typically hard to find… But he does reach out to us sometimes. He finds us interesting, for some reason.

( a thought occurs to him: ) He’s a ghost named J. There’s a demon here named J, too, but— ( makoto’s expression is becoming particularly strained as he fringes on this topic. ) I recommend staying away from him.

( they have a… complicated history.

his hand goes to his chin. ) I don’t think so… But I haven’t really heard of anyone asking, or being asked. But I guess it’s possible.

[blastedass]

Fuck.

[there's no reason for this guy to lie to him, and he's been frank about other things so far. taking into account what bakugo's hear from other people, a grim prognosis spills out in front of him. taking down a villainous syndicate with perverted intentions after six months isn't hard at all. (he says.) but destroying something that's been going on for fucking years?! that's going to take a lot more effort. effort that he's had repeated people say is hard to earn any kind of reward for.]

If you ever see him, pin him to the damn wall and get some answers! [right, because it'll work like that without a problem. going after someone with lore information that seems to be based on just rumors is a shit gamble. but with nothing else to do other than grasp at straws, why the hell not? he scuffs at the side of his head in frustration. it's a lot of information to process and none of it is comfortable. that said... he gets a name and location.

does this mean J is safe now? maybe not. whoops. leveled the live grenade at your companion, huh, makoto.] The Roost? Is it some kind of restaurant or something else? How the hell's a door hard to find?

[it's a door that has to be big enough for someone like makoto to go through, right? a brief grunt acknowledges the ghost vs demon aspect, but dismisses the warning. if he has a reason to go after the demon to get out of here, then he'll go after the damn demon. it's that fucking simple. until then, warning at least noted.]

They probably won't answer low ranks with anything helpful.

[he slams his fist into his palm. time to threaten the staff.]

[extramortem]

( makoto just gives bakugou a strange look. did he miss the part where he said he’s a ghost? how’s he going to pin him to a wall?

then again. makoto has heard rumors of guests sleeping with him, so he’s probably more tangible than one might assume a ghost would be. even still, one can only really intimidate information out of someone when they have something to fear they can lose. it’s not like you could threaten someone beyond the coil of mortality with pain or death. or, well, you could, but it wasn’t going to be effective. makoto would know, because he’s tried (though with demons rather than ghosts).

no. he’s been trying a different tactic with J—it’s likely a longer game than bakugou has patience for, but it’s more in-line with his own traits and talents. ) I’m working on getting answers. ( probably not a very convincing thing to say when lounging on the beach, but he seems to believe it! ) I don’t think he’s the type of individual you can just strong-arm your way into getting your way with. He only works in trades. If you want something from him, you’d better start preparing something he’d find valuable.

( he’s not particularly concerned about lobbing this grenade because, regardless of how formidable bakugou might be, he knows there are people in this resort just as powerful if not more so. if they haven’t forced J to give them answers, he doubts bakugou will. that, and roost… )

The door moves. Every night. And it doesn’t really advertise itself. So you basically need to either get really lucky in stumbling across it or you need a way to find it reliably.

( which makoto happens to have. (: whether or not he would trade a use of it to bakugou, however… )

[blastedass]

[don't look at him like that! ghosts usually have supernatural powers! besides, how the fuck is a ghost who can't touch someone supposed to "work" in a place that demands sex?! he's banking on that aspect and thus stands by demanding makoto pin this bastard to the wall for answers. hmph.

as for threatening a ghost, bakugo's not someone who really believes in spirits or ghosts outside of some traditional idea that they might exist in some... weird manner. haunted house bullshit or lingering spirit in a festival. it's crap. throw some salt, draw a circle with chalk, chant something, there are apparently ways to deal with ghosts. if a ghost is sticking around some place, that means they have something to hold onto, and thus something to lose. not his expertise and he's not dwelling on it!

bakugo narrows his eyes at makoto's answer.] Uh-huh. With no success.

[apparently. this guy's relaxed back on a beach, the very antithesis of getting answers! then again, it's not like the blonde's doing anything to drag answers out of J either. apart from learning about this spook.] What's he find valuable?

[makoto's not wrong; bakugo's already come across people who are powerful and they're obviously still trapped. that makes a reality that's hard to argue with. but damn if he's not going to try! lobbing grenades and all.]

Tch, if this guy does regular business with people- [especially at some damn club or restaurant or whatever the fuck the roost is] -he has to be located regularly.

[extramortem]

( he’d leave that up to bakugou—he seems more the type to pin someone to the wall and try to intimidate and threaten answers out of them. as for makoto, it’s probably the last method he’d ever try if he wanted information from someone.

regardless of whether or not he believes in it, this whole casino and resort basically is a giant haunted house. ghosts are a common feature (and typically the culprits behind the irritating “pranks” that get played on them, forcing them into untoward situations), and not to mention all of the different types of individuals who are brought here as guests. makoto might not command much of an oppressive aura right now, but he is a demon… albeit a fresh-faced and largely powerless one.

he did have someone threaten to try to exorcise him once, though. he still doesn’t know what, if anything, would happen…

makoto huffs. ) Not yet. Some things take time. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

( and as one might suspect, J tends to juggle a lot of attention from a lot of people. makoto is still waiting for a date he had been promised… )

Information, actually. Or… I guess it’s more accurate to say that he likes secrets. Things that you tend to keep hidden from other people.

( hidden depths, obfuscated darknesses sequestered within people. makoto had already given him several morbid secrets about himself, much to his delight. )

He contacts us sometimes on the network, so there’s a possibility that could happen. He also made Roost stay in one place for a while a few months ago. Outside of something like that happening, though… there are some people who have ways to find Roost more reliably. You might just need to ask around.

[blastedass]

[sometimes the direct approach is the best route to getting what you want. for bakugo, that's usually all the time. even if he's not always physical with the person he's interrogating. intimidating threats can be pretty damn effective.

ghosts. if that's what's behind a lot of this shit, there'd better be a way of dealing with them! what do they need, a rosary and a cross, salt with talismans, a fucking vacuum cleaner?! this guy's someone who would definitely try to blow up a goddamn ghost and then yell about it being a cheat after failing. how do you fight an undead disembodied spirit? maybe he'll find out.

that huff doesn't change bakugo's mind at all.] And we've got all the time in the world here.

[he's not saying that in a positive sense. this mysterious J person seems to have more answers, but if he's also a prisoner as well, his knowledge about what's going on has to be likewise limited. unless he's in with whoever, or whatever, is controlling this place.

bakugo's expression flattens despite his usual angry visage. one corner of his mouth twitching in irritation, brows angling lower. seriously? this person's going to do trades in shitty secrets?] So he wants a means to embarrass or blackmail people.

[because apart from demanding proof of trust, those are the only other two reasons people would ever ask someone for personal secrets. it's an invasion of privacy, that's what it is. mentions of the network and roost picking a location are a better reveal and bakugo narrows in on them.]

Fine. [he'll do his own investigations and research.] Let me know if you find out anything extra.

[extramortem]

( maybe it’s not the best approach all the time. if makoto wasn’t completely convinced that this young man would take the nuclear option immediately upon him showing him to Roost, he might very well have offered to take him there himself…

the young demon has his own irons in the fire. as far as he can tell, J seems to be a faction onto himself, seemingly opposing to the House within the resort itself. it’s a curious situation that he would like to learn more about before he decided how to make the best of it for himself. the goal of “getting home,” which most were so devoted to, is less important to him than gaining power. winning the House’s game could seemingly be used for any goal, if they really would grant any wish, but it does lead him to wonder—was there anything to gain by supporting J instead? or, perhaps, attempting to play both sides off one another to take whatever boons either would give him?

it’s the type of thing that would take time to figure out, which is why he’s here right now, on the beach, trying to enjoy himself.

makoto smiles. ) Some of us, more than others.

( he’s not even mortal anymore. he would admit that does make him a little more amenable to the “wait and see” option than those still tethered to its wheel.

he nods. ) Basically. He seems to like favors and secrets, either told to him in confidence or told to… everyone.

( a cloud passes over his expression as he mentions that. you have to be careful about certain conversations you have on the network… sometimes it doesn’t really tell you that they are impossible to lock or keep private. makoto has gotten more and more cautious about what he’s willing to share via text. )

Will do. ( if this information has value to bakugou, makoto is more than willing to deal in it—that’s what a proper demon would do, after all. though, he does say one last thing, ) …For whatever reason, J seems more interested in our groups of guests than others before us. I’m not really sure why… but it makes him more likely to reach out once every few months or so, or at least that’s how the pattern has seemed thus far. It’s worth asking around, of course, but you might have your own opportunity to try to get answers soon enough.

( or maybe not. it’s not like he understand’s resort-J’s thoughts and plans any more than his own master’s. )

[blastedass]

[alas, that's something bakugo will have to contend with later. would he really blow down a door that could open for him with a bit of permission? no. but when it's made to seem like that door won't open, and it has something behind it he needs, then blowing it down is the next intensive option. hopefully he can get in contact with J before it comes to that.]

Meaning they can send us home as quickly as they kidnapped us?

[he doesn't take the comment to be makoto personally. even if this guy looks like a vampire crawled out of a coffin. minus the stereotypical cape and dark suit. the idea of staying here the rest of his mortal life is fucking ridiculous.]

Tch. Bastard. If you tell him in confidence, how do we know he's going to keep it confident?

[bakugo notices the dour glamour pass across makoto's expression, assuming it's due to J's request for secrets than something else. he already figured the network is being monitored, since someone already pointed out the watch on their wrists are tracking them all the time. way to make him feel even more imprisoned and watched. good thing bakugo's not keen to talk about sensitive shit over text.]

Our group? [the young hero furrows his brows in clarifying suspicion.] You mean people from the past six months and on? [because that's the time frame he learned from someone he knew who was brought here with others. the hotel had been doing it long before, but something about the past six months had been different. makoto's comment makes the singled out period even more questionable. for whatever reason, as he said.]

[extramortem]

Probably? ( he can’t say he knows for sure. but he can look at the facts in the discerning, cunning way that a demon might. ) What they do is promise a wish as a prize for winning their game. But you don’t necessarily have to wish to go back home the way you are now, right? Maybe you could just wish for being returned where and when you were taken from. Then you wouldn’t have to worry.

( okay, maybe that’s considered slimy or rules lawyering, but who knows? he figures that the House is just out for whatever they get out of all of the guests playing the game. they might even appreciate the cleverness involved. that, or maybe they would hate it and try to twist or punish it somehow. it’s a mystery!

he shrugs. ) I don’t think you can. I think… you just have to decide what’s worth telling, even if you risk that secret getting out.

( the ones that makoto shared over the network had been things that squirmed beneath his skin to have others know, but they wouldn’t have sent him into a spiral of panicking if they were suddenly public knowledge. what he’d told J in private, however… he at least hopes that the ghost also values their friendship, as that would keep it between them.

makoto nods, fingers interlacing in his lap. ) I think so. Or, at least, I didn’t really get the sense that it also applied to other people who arrived prior to my group. I feel like I remember rumors that this place hasn’t taken such large groups of new guests in a while, or nearly so often? ( or was he just thinking he remembered hearing that… you might have a bit of an unreliable source of information, bakugou, but it’s a possible piece of the mystery. unfortunately makoto is far less interested in solving it than he might be. )

[blastedass]

Che. [great. nothing helpful outside of vague agreement he can't take as solid. he'll take it though, frowning as the other guy explains. that's a wide range of possibilities for a wish, but when someone's offering a wish for "anything", that leaves it open-ended for obvious reasons. bakugo still plans to wish for this place to grow a horrible allergy to kidnapped people, causing it to spit them all back out where they came from, and preventing it from kidnapping more. childish? yes. ingenious? hell yeah! will it work? it fucking better!]

I know what I'll wish for when I win.

[this place isn't the only one that can try to bend the rules to their advantage. casinos always try to put the advantage in their favor, so he doesn't expect anything less in whatever this place opts to give them. knowing how to combat them at their own game is going to be important.]

Fine. I'll think about what I want to tell him. It won't matter if I can't meet him.

[that's more important. learning how to get an audience with this J person and go from there. if it's really a random crap shot as makoto makes it out to be, he'll have to keep an eye out and be ready. that's all he can do.]

If this place has been kidnapping as long as you say, it wouldn't suddenly decide to take more people without a reason.

[extramortem]

( that sort of wish would certainly be a unique solution to getting them all out of this place! makoto would be highly dubious to how well it might work, but… well, it’s bakugou’s wish, after all. who is he to pass judgment…

the young demon chooses this moment to stand. the other teen is a little bit taller than him, but considering most people in the golden peacock are a good deal older than they are, it’s actually not so much of a height difference as he’s used to. that’s kind of a relief, in its own way. he hates having to look up so much to people all the time—though, on the whole, demons had tended to be even taller. )

My thoughts exactly. ( they’d come to the same conclusion, with the limited information they were given. what was it that changed, that caused so much more people to be brought here? is there any other way it could be addressed? makoto isn’t even really sure if addressing the “needs” of this place will return them home any quicker—if you catch three fish but only need one for dinner, why one earth would you let the rest go when you could instead of keep them to eat for later? ) It hasn’t been very easy learning more about this place, but it’s not impossible, and I think we’ll get the clearest picture if we all work together.

And if we’re potentially going to share information, we should know one another’s names, right? ( he cants his head slightly to one side. ) Mine’s Makoto.

( just makoto. he intended on letting his family name remained buried with his human body. )

[blastedass]

[if that wish didn't work, then the game itself is rigged by promising something that can't-- or won't --be granted. cause enough for a revolt as soon as that's brought to light. though even with that goal in mind, the sheer scope of how to win, in addition to the myriad of pitfalls the resort might shove at them, makes it a damn pipe dream.

bakugo arches a brow when the other boy finally decides to stand up. he thought he'd be taller, but apparently this guy's a shorty. he's not the tallest person in his class, though he's in the upper half of height percentile. red eyes take a quick up and down on makoto, for nothing other than getting a better look.]

Hn. So you've been thinking about it already. [which makes sense, considering makoto's been here for a while now. who wouldn't be thinking about the "why's" of their capture and what led to it? some people would obviously be distracted by this lifestyle, or willingly dive right in with no urge to think too hard. bakugo's not one of those people. he has a similar doubt as the demon, wondering if the hotel would even honor its promise of a wish, a test his wish has basically built into it. kidnappers suck, and they ultimately only care about themselves.]

No shit. The staff won't say anything if you ask them about it. [it's all just "welcomes" and "greetings" and directions. nothing useful even when bakugo threatened one in anger. just a caution about security. bastard.

he makes a slight noise in annoyance when "working together" comes out of makoto's mouth. of course. as much as he wants to say he can do it on his own... reality's a bitch.] Tch. Bakugo Katsuki.

[fine. he'll play nice. makoto's given him enough information to earn this much.]

[extramortem]

( makoto had been fairly short for his age when he’d died, and he wasn’t going to grow any taller—though, he supposes he could replace this body with a taller one… if he ever happened to come across one missing its head. he gets the feeling that coming across something like that on its own would be virtually impossible, though; it’s fortunate enough that he doesn’t have too many qualms for this body that J got for him, except that it’s still entirely too human and normal for how he had pictured himself as a demon.

because, really, he isn’t all that impressive. small, scrawny, deathly pale, weird eyes, scar around his throat. that’s about it—only those last three items had changed somewhat after he’d died.

he nods. ) Whether we’re willing to use this place’s “game” to get what we want or try to fight against it… you need to understand what you’re up against, right?

( it’s one of the first few things he’d learned in hell: when strength is an illusion, the greatest pillar to power was knowledge, and the cunning and wherewithal to utilize it properly.

there’s no inherent danger in giving a demon your name—not unless you sign it to a contract in blood, at least. makoto gives a faint smile at the introduction. ) Okay, Bakugou-san, ( because, with a name like that, he feels it’s relatively certain he’s Japanese… ) If you learn anything interesting, feel free to reach out to me. I’d be happy to trade some things I’ve found out myself for it.

( basically confirming that, despite all he’s shared with him here, there’s some things he’s kept to himself… yep! regardless, he’s not leaving much opportunity to dig down further into that; he’s giving a short wave, chiming, ) Until then! ( and striding away. )

[blastedass]

[later on there's going to be headless statues running around, if that's any interest... not that those are living bodies.

bakugo thinks the guy looks like an onryō of sorts, not really having the image that scream stereotypical vampire. but not a gross onryō, rather the light skin, dark hair, enhanced eyes of a vengeful spirit. his gaunt figure doesn't help things either.]

Don't look down on me! I'm not going to run into this blindly!

[he knows how combat works. rushing forward without a plan or information is stupid and only gives your opponent the advantage. this place is old, smart, and manipulative, and honestly bakugo doesn't even know how he can take down an entire fucking resort. but damn if he's going to roll over and play peaceful here! he'll fight back, whether by looking for ways out or angrily taking part in the game with victory as vengeance.

the "-san" part isn't too surprising. the other guy's name is makoto after all. it's better than "-kun" or "-chan", though don't expect any honorifics from this explosive jerk. he nods at the invitation. good to have someone to discuss these things with.]

I'm not trading you shit. If I want to tell you something, I'll fucking tell you. [this isn't some exchange. he wants to get out of here and withholding information from an ally in that is dumb. while it's annoying to know makoto's kept things to himself, on the other hand, getting overloaded with information would've pissed him off.]

Tch. Ja. [a quick dismissive farewell. it's not the worst first impression.]