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peacockstop2024-08-15 09:00 pm
goldmods) wrote in peacockstop2024-08-15 09:00 pm
TDM 05
【 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 in our KING SUITES for all new arrivals. We will endeavor to have all guests moved into their reserved rooms as soon as possible. We deeply apologize for any inconvenience.
As a token of our gratitude for your understanding, front reception has arranged for a GRAND FEAST to welcome our newest guests. The attendance of all guests is required. The house will enforce compliance.
Please note that rank-appropriate attire is mandatory. Guests found breaking social code may be disciplined. We hope you enjoy your stay! 】
ARRIVAL
DIVINE AWAKENING
All King suites have been set to the Heavenly setting for the comfort of these new Wildcards. To call this place a room feels like a misnomer; all of the senses scream that this is a real temple at the top of a crisp oceanside mountain. The only clue that this place isn't what it seems is the door in the distance. It stands dark against light, a stark rectangle distinctly out of place.
New arrivals aren't waking up alone. Reception would never expect their guests to wake up in a cold bed. All new guests will be waking up next to another Wildcard or a current guest snatched up from the hallways. Guests waking up in these heavenly King suites will wake dressed in sheer white tunics and togas that leave very little to the imagination.
GILDED CAGE
AN ENDLESS FEAST
Rugs and cushions have been laid out for low rank guests. All high rank guests have thrones and benches covered in crushed velvet and delicate linens. Wildcards have a seat of honor amongst it all, each fresh new divine lead to the grand dais for their own semi-private tent with daybed and eager servants.
Low ranks are carefully watched by security and wait staff. Some low rank guests may even be dragged in by resort staff to assist serving high rank guests and Wildcards. All high rank guests and Wildcards are revered and catered to during the feast. Low rank guests are expected to feed them, rub their feet, and comply with any whimsical demands. Any low rank guest that defies a higher ranked guest is at risk of being shackled, forced to scrub chamber pots, and other humiliating punishments.
PHOENIX CASINO
ALEA IACTA EST
The game tables are abuzz. Special games have kicked off in honor of the new godlings that are waiting to check in. Even here, those of different ranks are distinct from one another. The lowest ranks wear small slips of clothing. Some are even collared to show they belong to a particular royal or Wildcard. Royals and Wildcards dress luxuriously in thick robes and golden jewelry.
Game managers clap and encourage guests of all ranks to join in on the fun. While there are numerous card games, slot machines, and raffles happening around the casino, staff are promoting three events in particular.
BEAK
ENTERTAIN YOUR BETTERS
Beneath the open arena is a smaller closed arena and the warrior’s bunk. Warriors will find cold showers, rustic wooden benches, and training weapons available for their use. Deep in the earth is a grimy prison where servants who refuse to battle are thrown to wait for their turn. There are also cages where the hungry “animals” wait to go out and entertain the masses.
A long track rings around the perimeter of the arena. Gone is the standard green fuzz and white lines, replaced with stone and dust to elicit the real feeling of running beneath the hot Grecian sun. Foot and chariot races take place throughout the day.
TALON
SHOW OF STRENGTH
Servants that appear too fragile to handle mud wrestling have been conscripted into the oil bearer role. Their job is to slather the warriors in oil from head to toe, and otherwise prepare them for their matches in either the arena or in the pit. This includes styling their hair, tending to their wounds, and wiping the sweat off of their bodies if so desired.
The locker rooms that connect Beak and Talon have been fully stocked with first aid kits and luxury bathing supplies. Warriors that have won their matches get first pick, leaving the dirty towels and shampoo that smells like ass for the losers to sift through. Those sneaky ghost hands are having a field day, snapping rat tails at unsuspecting bathers and locking naked warriors together in the supply closet. Guests lacking vigilance may find their bottoms unexpectedly pinched.
INDULGENCE
DESIRES FROM THE VOID
Things begin to move around the resort. The forgotten and the old exhale a dusty breath. Like the hunger that the Wildcards woke up with upon arrival, as its heart begins to beat quicker, there is a tension in the air of those things hungering to feed. To join in, and indulge. To get what they want.
And they’re coming out.
OOC NOTES
▶ BLANKET CW: Alcohol; aphrodisiacs; battle; blood; bondage; compulsion; costumes; discipline; dominance; drowning; dubcon; fears; fighting; food; hierarchy; humiliation; indulgence; kidnapping; noncon; paranormal; power imbalance; roleplay; servitude; stalking; submission; supernatural; terror; violence; weapons
▶ All characters on the TDM are WILDCARDS, which means they have not yet been assigned a card value. Suits will not manifest until characters are accepted into the game.
▶ All TDMs are game canon. This TDM acts as the game's August event. Changes to the above locations will ICly be present from August 15th - September 1st.
▶ 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 would be interested in a game invitation, you can note that in your comment header.
▶ If you aren't satisfied with these prompts, please feel free to check out our LOCATIONS to explore more of the resort!
▶ 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!
▶ Wildcard tokens from the GILDED CAGE prompt may be redeemed even if the newbie(s) in question do not join the game, but only for the small item reward; the token does not carry over to Game 52.
▶ 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 to relax and enjoy the end of your summer! ♥
▶ All characters on the TDM are WILDCARDS, which means they have not yet been assigned a card value. Suits will not manifest until characters are accepted into the game.
▶ All TDMs are game canon. This TDM acts as the game's August event. Changes to the above locations will ICly be present from August 15th - September 1st.
▶ 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 would be interested in a game invitation, you can note that in your comment header.
▶ If you aren't satisfied with these prompts, please feel free to check out our LOCATIONS to explore more of the resort!
▶ 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!
▶ Wildcard tokens from the GILDED CAGE prompt may be redeemed even if the newbie(s) in question do not join the game, but only for the small item reward; the token does not carry over to Game 52.
▶ 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 to relax and enjoy the end of your summer! ♥
it's auction time
So while overt heroism may not be her style, milking every advantage she has for all it's worth certainly is, and she’s prepared to quietly win the freedom of any new arrival if they seem like they’re outright in distress. She’ll deal with the compulsion to obey her later, maybe make them dust a few shelves upstairs in her suite’s library or something, but for all her plans on plans on plans, the one thing Nami did not anticipate was seeing the cook get led onto the stage as the most recent bidding war reaches its end.
Like she’s taken a blow to the gut without warning, Nami’s eyes go wide as she presses back against the chair she’s situated on, her posture suddenly rigid and straight. ]
Fuck. [ It’s a shaky whisper that leaves her pressing her fingers against her mouth in an unconscious effort to stop her voice from sounding as rattled as it does, her eyes blinking rapidly to quell the sting of unexpected tears in her eyes. If ever there was a time to keep it together, it’s when there’s cash (or the casino’s chip equivalent), and a crew mate on the line. That she’s cautious by nature is the only thing that stops her from not leaning into the roiling excitement and mad hope now parading through her. Half of everything she’s accumulated at the resort is enough to silence the other bidders, buying her enough time for that gavel to bang and the deal to be sealed.
She’s out of her seat without realizing, her heart beating hard, twisting in her chest as she’s elated and dismayed in equal measure. That he’s trapped here hurts to think about almost as much as it pains her to dwell on her own messed up situation – but fuck, has she missed seeing a face as familiar and friendly as Sanji’s.
Certain that there’s no way she’s going to make it to that stage without those sobs she’s keeping caught in the back of her throat breaking free, Nami smacks the arm of one of the staff members lingering and waiting to serve, directing them to get her purchase to her elevator before she stalks off to meet them there, and, hopefully, pull herself back together during the short walk from the casino to the private lift back to her suite.
To her credit, she doesn’t cry until Sanji’s ushered past the sliding doors, but once they’re alone her face crumples, mourning his predicament, and too relieved to put the feeling into words, she launches herself at the cook, arms going tight in a nearly strangling hug. ]
You idiot! What are you doing here?
congrats nami this mess is your prize
That should set him off— especially with the gnawing, insistent hunger that’s returned during his time darting through the crowds at the casino— but it does represent an opportunity at the same time. It’s a chance to get up on an elevated platform and get a broader view of the crowds around the casino, much of which already appears to be migrating in that direction. None of his crewmates are really the types to buy someone and force them into servitude, but they could be new as well and up for sale or just watching or— well, regardless, it’s another chance to potentially find one of his crewmates. Sanji recognizes there’s a kind of futility to his search, that with all the people here, it might be impossible to determine one or the other, but it’s too soon to give up yet.
He isn’t particularly pleasant to the staff as they prepare him backstage and coach him on exactly what to expect, eyes constantly flitting to the sides to glance at anyone that walks by… and finds that none of them are the people he’s searching for.
By the time he walks out on stage, dressed in the same luxurious robe and gaudy jewelry as everyone else that’s being paraded across, he almost wonders if it’s worth it. Not that he has a choice, really, the expression on his face more vaguely annoyed than anything else. The crowd gathered to bid on them is, of course, extensive, and he doesn’t have enough time to really take them all in. ]
Hi, my name is Sanji, the next prize in this shitty auction. [ His eyes sweep over the crowd anyway, desperately looking for anyone he might recognize, voice clearly lacking enthusiasm. He brightens slightly as he catches a glimpse of several female bidders near the front of the crowd, but doesn’t stop looking around to admire. ] If any beautiful navigators or crazy captains or lying snipers are out there, you should buy me.
[ The rest of the time he’s on stage passes by in the blink of an eye, and it’s only near the end that he thinks he catches a glimpse of someone with orange hair, just near the back. But the bidding ends before he gets a good look at whoever it is, and he’s summarily marched off-stage, a pair of staff members escorting him out of the casino itself to meet whoever’s bought him for the rest of the day. There’s still a thin tendril of hope that it isn’t some stranger he doesn’t know, fueled by that fleeting peak of someone he thinks— hopes— prays— is Nami.
And then he sees her, right there, waiting by the entrance to a lift and his whole face lights up in unmitigated joy and relief at seeing someone familiar— someone he cares about— in this strange, alien place he still isn’t used to. ]
Nami! [ It bursts out of him before he’s even inside the lift, just as joyous as the huge grin that decorates his face. Some part of him knows it would be better if she wasn’t here— Sanji still doesn’t understand the full extent of this place, but he understands enough to know this isn’t anywhere any of his crew would choose to be— but after the strangeness of the past couple of days, he can’t help the feeling of comfort that just seeing her brings him.
At the same time, he doesn’t miss the telltale sign of barely restrained emotion on her face and in her eyes, something simmering below the surface that he only just notices before the doors clang shut and suddenly, she’s wrapped him in a hug so tight that it feels like it ought to make his ribs creak while tears stream down her face. Before he can even think about it, his arms are circled around her shoulders as he hugs her back as tightly as he can. ]
Hey, hey, it’s going to be okay, Nami. I know this place is pretty awful, but… I’ll manage. [ Even though they’re all alone already, his voice is naturally soft as his fingers gently stroke and rub her back, trying to provide whatever comfort he can. Being near her makes his heart full of all kinds of emotions— joy and worry and protectiveness chief among them— and the warmth that spreads through his chest is at odds with the burning pit of anger in his gut that something has made her cry. ] I wish I knew why I was here. I didn’t really have a choice, you know?
ty she'll take excellent care of him probably
He's trapped now, which means they're both screwed, but selfishly, she's so goddamn happy to see him, Nami's heart could burst. ]
You'll manage– [ Nami echoes, her voice thick with emotion, dubious and dismayed at the same time, shifting from sadness to annoyance the longer she goes on, but forever tempered by the greedy gladness that keeps her holding onto him tightly, like she's unable to let go even if she wanted to. ]
Of course, you'll manage Sanji, but there's no way out of here. [ One of her arms loosens, her hand moving to his chest where she can curl her fingers into the front of his shirt, because merely hugging him is simply not a firm enough hold at this moment. Her eye red, still rimmed with tears after she draws back enough to look up at him, her expression dark with concern. ]
I've been here for months. [ Something she thinks he should know, all things considered, but while that detail might be baffling under normal circumstances, it doesn't matter right now. She's too fixated on how much better it feels having a crewmate around to think critically about the situation. They'll figure this out. ] I'm no closer to finding out how to get home.
no subject
He sighs when she elaborates and dips his head in a short nod, arms holding her tighter as her fingers clutch around his tie and into the fabric of his shirt. ] That’s what everyone says. That there’s no way out. [ The consequences of which are something he’s still dealing with. Finding Nami here is both a comfort, some small slice of what his life should be like, but also disturbing because now he knows what this place is like. Bright, concerned eyes watch her intently, refusing to let his gaze waver as the elevator vibrates around them. ] I’ve been here a few days and— yeah, found that out early.
[ From the moment Nami opens her mouth and repeats his words right back to him, Sanji can feel the shifting, flickering emotions that radiate off her, a blend of grief and joy and exasperation that tugs hard on his heart strings. That protective streak of his flares again at how distraught she is, lips clenched tight as he forcefully suppresses the rising tide of anger— there’s nothing he can do with it, not when it’s aimed at an entire place and there’s a woman in his arms who needs him.
He sighs when she elaborates and dips his head in a short nod, arms holding her tighter as her fingers clutch around his tie and into the fabric of his shirt. ] That’s what everyone says. That there’s no way out. [ The consequences of which are something he’s still dealing with. Finding Nami here is both a comfort, some small slice of what his life should be like, but also disturbing because now he knows what this place is like. Bright, concerned eyes watch her intently, refusing to let his gaze waver as the elevator vibrates around them. ] I’ve been here a few days and— yeah, found that out early.
[ There’s a question he’s about to ask and doesn’t because she provides an answer before it even touches his tongue. His eyes widen. Months. It seems impossible, even though he knows it isn’t, that she wouldn’t lie to him, not after everything they’ve been through, no matter what his memories might tell him. ]
Shit— how? I believe you. I just remember seeing you a few days ago. Back on the Merry. We did the castoff ceremony, had dinner with everyone, went to bed… when I woke up, I was here. [ Even though he doesn’t doubt her, it’s the first thing that comes to mind, and it slips out as he hugs her as tightly as he can, refusing to let go for a long moment. When he does, it’s only to wipe away the dampness beneath her eyes with the back of his fingers. It's an odd thing that he feels guilty— absurdly so— over something he had no control over, but he does, that protective instinct still flaring hard.
Uncertainty and concern war in his eyes as he looks down at her with his lips pressed into a slight frown and shakes his head. ] Are you okay? Are you— [ Alone. ] —are any of the others here?
no subject
Sanji confirms her suspicion as he recounts his last memories leading up to his arrival. The knowledge that he'd seen her on the ship mere days ago, when she knows it's been the better part of a year that she's been away from home, leaves her even more shaken than she already is. Her eyes are dark and thoughtful until his thumbs sweep over her damp cheeks and clear away the tracks left behind by her tears, a slight gesture that helps steady her. Having a Straw Hat around to look after is the most correct-seeming detail in a sea of everything feeling all wrong for months, even if she hates the circumstances they're both in.
Nami's expression is still pinched with emotion as she shakes her head, trying to clear it before the lingering prickle of tears forces her close again. For her sake, she hides her face against his shoulders, as a thousand and one confusing ideas about the nature of time and the universe add a maddening air to an already intense situation. ]
Yeah, I'm okay, of course I'm okay. [ Never mind that her voice is muffled against his shirt when she says it, somehow Nami manages to pull her poker face on just long enough to sound as though she might be on the verge of bristling in offense after being asked a question like that. Sanji makes her grateful for her foresight a split-second later, though there's nothing good about the feeling that sweeps through her, heavy as ever, after he asks about the others.
He doesn't remember the same things she does – if anything, it sounds almost like time totally reset for him, something Nami doesn't put past the House in the slightest after everything she's seen, but it's disconcerting in a way she wasn't prepared to deal with. At least she's still too out of sorts to be as baffled as she would be, the rising tide of emotions that seeing Sanji has stirred to life is massive enough without the added fun twist of working out the layers in the multiverse. ]
Just me, Shanks, and Buggy. Everybody else is from another world. [ She starts, clinging to the details that conjure the least amount of ache in the pit of her stomach, while she tries to figure out how to tell him about how the rest of the crew had come and gone months prior.
Nami is granted a reprieve when the lift comes to a smooth stop, the doors sliding open again to reveal a walkway over a pool lush with massive lily pads, leading to an equally huge doorway. ]
Come on. I need a drink.
no subject
Of course I’m okay.
No matter what her voice says— no matter that it sounds like she might call him an idiot for asking at all— his heart says that’s a lie. He knows Nami, remembers the way she gave the map to Arlong to save Luffy’s life while acting like it was nothing more than a casual act of betrayal, remembers the way she icily collected offerings from the villagers at Coco Village all while secretly trying to save them. She might act okay, say she’s okay, but the act doesn’t fool him. How could she be okay? How could anyone be okay after being trapped here for that long? ]
Good. [ Sanji doesn’t call her on it, but the way he says that one word is gentle and full of concern. Tentatively, he presses his palm against the back of her head and lets her keep his face pressed against his shoulder and keeps a tight hold around her. If it gives her comfort to do that, he’s going to let her even as that feeling of unwarranted guilt swells in his chest. The desire to keep her safe— to keep everyone on their crew safe, too— burns strong inside him still and it feels like an unforgivable failure that he wasn’t somehow here with her.
Hearing that it’s just her, Buggy, and Shanks just makes it worse, too, because if she’s going to be trapped her, she should at least have some of her crew with her. There are questions he could ask— like who Shanks is— but when his mouth opens, it’s not to ask them but utter an apology for something that’s out of his control.
And then the elevator door dings open and it’s like walking into an entirely different world than the gauzy, airy decor of the casino. It’s unlike anywhere he’s been in the resort yet and his eyes widen as he takes everything in. He follows, of course, regretful for the loss of comfort and warmth when she slips out of his arms. ]
Where are we? [ He’s still looking around, a thoughtful expression on his face, because there’s one other place he’s been to so far where a door lead to something fantastical, something impossible on the other side, and that’s the suite he’s temporarily been assigned. ] Is, uh, this your room, Nami?
no subject
And right now, that's being too overwhelmed to hold onto herself as tightly as she could after running into almost anyone else.
It's a small win that by the time the elevator slides open, she's got her tears under control enough that she can pull back, turning quickly as she leaves his arms to take advantage of the second of time she gets to wipe her damp cheeks with her hand unseen. Her suite provides the distraction Nami hoped it would, and she nods at his question, pushing open the door of her suite, revealing the expansive confines, the beach at the rear of her accommodations framed in massive windows. ]
Yeah, this is my place, I'll show you how to get up here without me later. [ She worked hard for this personal fortress, but it wasn't solely for her benefit, though Nami isn't sure how to feel about discussing that part of her time here with him yet. ] This place doesn't make sense, Sanji. A suite like this, a beach? It shouldn't be able to fit, but–
[ Nami trails off with an uneasy sigh, leading him from one room to the next, until they're coming to a stop inside the expansive kitchen. The surroundings might be new, but a kitchen is a kitchen, it'll be familiar territory for him, which is good, because if he's here, he's going to get an earful. ]
You're okay, right? [ She knows he's tough, but a horny casino that doubles as a very haunted prison is a brutal foe to square up with. ]
no subject
Yeah, it feels impossible. The room they’ve got me in for now is like this, but different. Everyone says they’re gonna move me somewhere else eventually. [ A few conversations over the course of the past couple of days have pretty quickly revealed that where he’s staying now isn’t permanent— he’s a Wildcard still, after all, but won’t be one forever— and will eventually have much simpler accommodations. Probably. He still gapes at their surroundings, taking them all in curiously. ]
This place suits you. It’s as gorgeous as you are. [ Despite the overwhelm from being here and seeing her here, he can’t quite resist the temptation to flirt, voice still quiet, the smile on his face not quite so large because he’s still distracted— by this place, by the complicated mix of joy and grief and guilt that swirls inside him, by the unrelenting, gnawing hunger that’s built up after a day without worship and reminds him so, so much of being trapped on that spit of rock on the sea.
He doesn’t say how much the beach and sea remind him of home. That part’s obvious. It’s a small comfort amidst everything that’s happened.
The kitchen is, too, perhaps even more so. Bright blue eyes light up with delight at it, a broad grin settling on his face as he glances around the expansive space and kitchenware. His fingertips touch the marble countertops almost reverently. There are few places he’ll ever feel as at home in as a kitchen, and it relaxes him for that brief moment before she turns his earlier question around on him. ]
Me? Yeah, of course I’m okay. [ The smile on his face doesn’t falter and give away the half-truth, that while he has every confidence he can make it through this, the past couple of days have been a struggle. Taking another quick glance around the kitchen, he blurts out something that’s been on his mind since they walked in here. ] I’ll come cook for you whenever you feel like it. Every day, even, if you want. Want me to whip you up something to eat right now? Maybe a fruit tart? Or a souffle?
no subject
It's from her periphery that she catches glimpses of the marks on his body, as well. He stuck to his suits back home, but she's fairly sure if he had moving, glowing marks on his limbs she would have noticed. It's one more detail that feeds into the knot of anxiety stewing in the pit of her stomach, ensuring that Nami doesn't keep still once they're in the kitchen.
Crossing the room towards the well-stocked bar cart, she favors him with a hushed laugh and a good-natured roll of her eyes after Sanji takes it upon himself to turn this moment into an opportunity to flatter her. ]
Please– [ Nami starts, trying to look admonishing, but the familiarity of dodging his compliments leaves her seeming more fond than anything else. ] Don't be ridiculous.
[ She knows he'd never listen to a request like that. Sanji unwittingly proves her right a moment later, offering to come to her suite whenever she wants, offering to start cooking for her now, eager to be close and be of service, just as she remembers him from their brief time together aboard the Merry. ]
You'll come up here whenever you want, Sanji. Wherever the House sticks you, you can always come up here. [ Nami lifts a bottle of liquor from the bar cart, raising her eyebrows at the offer of pastry as she tilts it towards Sanji. ]
How about you make me a drink and tell me about what's going on, on your arms.
no subject
Almost.
All he has to do is glance around the kitchen to be reminded of exactly where they are. He’s at home in any kitchen, but this one is a stark contrast to the simple ship’s galley that he’s slowly started to get used to. And then she’s telling him he can just come up here whenever he feels like it and Sanji’s eyes widen after a quick blink. ]
Are you sure about that? [ No matter how big it might be, this is still her room— her personal, private space— and he doesn’t want to intrude. He’s still smiling, though, big and wide because he’s touched by the offer. ] If you leave it up to me, I’ll be up here everyday cooking you breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s my job, you know? Gotta make sure you’re fed right.
[ Which… he’s aware is ridiculous considering that she’s been here for months without his cooking, but if he’s here, and she’s granting him access to a kitchen, then he’s damn sure going to make sure she’s eating right. It’s something small he can do, all things considered, to make her stay here more comfortable and to bring them both at least a tiny sense of normalcy. ]
One drink coming right up. [ As he takes the bottle of liquor from her, he sighs at her question, not really eager to talk about it. Preparing the drink doesn’t take long— he keeps it simple, a drink with liquor and orange juice and a few other ingredients— and slides it over to her before he starts talking. ]
Like I said, I woke up here a few days ago. When I did, I had these all over my body. [ His shoulders lift in a quick shrug as he watches her, bright eyes intent. ] All the Wildcards have them. They make us hungry when we haven’t had sex recently. It gets worse the longer you go until it’s almost unbearable. [ There’s a slight grimace as he ignores another sharp pang of hunger that comes as he talks about it. ] And— and more, sometimes, too. Things like feeling feverish, or sweaty, or— all kinds of things. You know, the kind of things you’d expect at this place.
no subject
And that would make two of them. She hides that concern behind a wall of dubiousness, narrowing her eyes at him skeptically after he asks if she's sure, before shaking her head. ]
Look at all this room, Sanji. Of course, I want you up here. [ She'd keep him on a leash for reasons beyond the kinky ones the resort would likely set them up for. Having him here is enough to feel more restoring than she could have imagined, and the thought of the ache she would be left with if he disappeared again is something she doesn't want to have to live with if she doesn't have to.
So she'll keep him close, even if the definition of that word becomes multifaceted fast while subjected to the whims of the House, and as he reveals what the marks do, Nami can't help but think that notion will be proven right again.
Sighing, she reaches for the glass he slides over, lifting it to her lips to hide a frown behind her first sip. ]
Are they bad now? [ She's seen what happens when a regular suit gets activated, and her eyes are wide and filled with worried curiosity as she raises them to meet his, lips pursing slightly as she tries to keep all her concern from rising to her expression. It's wonderful to see him, but knowing it means Sanji's as much at risk of being exposed to the casino is a steep price to pay for happiness. ] If they are, then we'll fix it.
no subject
But that’s part of what being on the same crew is about— worrying about one another when times are tough. ]
Since you insist— [ While he might be able to tamp down some of the worry and keep it off of his face, there’s no hiding the obvious delight at the invitation. Staying close to her is high on his list of priorities because out of all the people here, she’s the one that’s irreplaceable to him. They need to have each other’s backs, no matter where they are, and that’s doubly true here. He’s practically beaming as he looks at her, feeling better about being in this strange, impossible place now that she’s near. ] —it would be my pleasure to stay here.
[ Sanji would have been thrilled to receive that offer from any member of the crew, even Zoro, but getting the offer from her in particular delights him. He still hasn’t forgotten about everything she did for her village, a kind of self-sacrifice that speaks to him in a way that few other deeds can, or the way she saved her Captain all the way back on the Baratie.
His expression shifts a little as the topic turns to his hunger pains, blinking as he processes the full implication of what she’s saying. ]
Ah, Nami, you don’t have to— I mean, I wouldn’t mind but— [ He blurts it out almost instinctively, still not quite used to the bluntness with which everyone discusses the demands the House makes on them. It isn’t that he’s against the idea of sex with her, but doing it because this shitty place requires it of them feels wrong.
Shaking his head a little, he stuffs a hand in his pocket and clenches it for a brief moment. ] Shit, sorry. What I mean is you don’t need to worry about me, you know? I’m tough. [ His stomach grumbles internally again, but none of the other symptoms are active. Smiling at her, his shoulders raise in a quick shrug. ] And they’re bearable for now. We just got to see one another again, yeah? We can, uh, figure that out later.
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And that's a chilling realization to have, made doubly so by Sanji's arrival. Now she's got to worry about him, along with herself.
Some of the fear sitting heavily in her gut lightens after Sanji agrees to take her up on her offer, and use her space as often as he wishes. He's never concealed how much he wants to be around her. It might be manipulative to use that to keep him where she feels safe having him, but given the circumstance, Nami isn't aiming for the moral high ground.
That pragmatism is what makes it easy to get to the point – the House's game and what happens when a person doesn't participate in it. She's seen a few things and heard a few more, and it's been enough to keep her (mostly) in line, playing it safe. Back home, she wouldn't pull anyone into bed as quickly and easily as she has in this place, especially a crewmate, over time, however, she's learned what works anywhere else doesn't help anything here. ]
Yeah, yeah, you're tough. [ Bearable for now. And maybe up here and away from the rest of the casino he might be able to hold out, but Nami knows better. ] So is this place. It's not normal.
[ It's not enough to leave it there, but Nami momentarily goes quiet, her lips pursing together in an agitated frown as she steps close enough to set her glass down and rest her hand on his arm, her fingers covering some of those marks. Nami's eyes are round, as she looks up at him, forehead creasing with worry as she exhales a mirthless chuckle and shakes her head, looking back at him as she forces herself to press on. ]
Fuck's sake, Sanji, I grew cat ears a few months ago, there's a secret marketplace full of ghosts. This place can do whatever it wants. [ She looks down at his arm and shakes her head. ] Just don't try to ignore it if it gets worse. I don't want to lose you too.
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And when she touches his arm, it’s enough to make him shiver. He isn’t foolish enough to believe that she’s inviting him to stay with her because she’s somehow grown as fond of him as he is of her, just as he knows that her second invitation— the one to let him sate that gnawing hunger— isn’t due to anything more than her worry over him as a crewmate and a friend.
That’s something he’s okay with. ]
Cat ears? Shit, Nami, that— [ must have looked fucking adorable on you is what he almost blurts out, vaguely picturing it in his head. He gives his head a little shake, and looks at her, eyes serious, lips pressed into a slight frown. ] It will, you know? It gets worse slowly but— but it’ll get worse. [ The idea of being a burden repulses him, but there aren't any other options. His voice grows softer, blue eyes intent on her face, as he says the next part. ] I’ll tell you when it’s too much. Promise. I don’t want to leave you alone here. Not anymore.
[ What else can he really do? It’s not like he has other allies here, not yet. And if it came down to it, if the choice was really his, he’d choose her over anyone else in this shitty resort in a heartbeat. ]
Mind if I pour one for myself? [ Between all the talk of his mark, he still doesn’t have a drink of his own. It won’t do anything to help with the gnawing sensation of his hunger, but it can help distract for a brief minute. His eyes flicker up to meet hers and his lips curl into a small smile, tentative after that last promise. ] You can tell me more about this shitty casino, or your room, or how you are, or— whatever you want.
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Of course, it's going to get worse.
She could have told him that about almost anything this casino does to a person, but knowing a thing and hearing it from a crewmate are two different things. Her fingers curl almost possessively around his forearm, answering him with a slow nod as determination clinches tight in her gut. She's seen what someone who neglected their suit for too long started to become, she's not letting that happen to Sanji. ]
Tell me before it's too much, idiot. [ Nami reiterates, voice quiet, visions of gray, stony looking skin growing up another's arm dancing through her memory. ] Even if it's not with me, we can find you – someone. [ Not that any candidates spring to mind, but the thought of laying this all out has her cagey, and feeling as though she needs to fumble around and present alternatives lest he start to feel boxed in. It doesn't seem likely, but, maybe it's not even a woman he'd want to help him out.
Strangely enough, it wasn't awkward until she started thinking too much about it. Sex is how things get accomplished in this resort, but–
It always hits differently with a crewmate.
His asking for a drink reminds her of her own, and Nami pulls her hand back and grabs for her glass, muttering a series of yeah of courses until she silences herself with a big sip. ]
I wouldn't even know where to start.
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It takes more effort than he’d ever admit to keep from shivering when her fingers wrap around his arm like that, like he’s something precious and important. That she wants to protect him and keep him safe aren’t surprising— they’re crewmates and that’s what they do for one another— but it still feels new given his short tenure on the crew. ]
I will. [ He agrees with a quick nod of his head, determinedly ignoring the slight feeling of warmth that starts bleeding into the rest of his skin from the marks. A part of him wants to tell he that it’s almost too much already— each hunger pang is an uncomfortable reminder of that damned rock— but no, not yet.
And in that time, as she offers to find someone else, he shakes his head before he really has time to think about it, words tumbling out of his mouth quickly. ]
No, no, I’d, uh, rather it be you. [ He takes a deep breath, eyes focused on hers, teeth worrying his bottom lip. ] If anyone’s gonna help me, I want it to be someone I trust, you know? [ It’s awkward to admit and awkward to talk about, but yeah, given the choice… even though they’re crewmates, he’ll always take her over anyone else in this place.
Watching her take another drink, he starts to pour himself one, a thoughtful frown on his face. It’s just straight liquor over some ice for himself, nothing fancy as he nods and decides to start with something specific. ]
How about this? [ His voice is quiet as he looks at her, leaning forward and lightly resting a hand on her shoulder, and tries something easier to break the ice. ] Tell me what you like to do here when you’ve got free time.
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Once she drains the last of the cocktail away, and Sanji's filled his own glass with little more than ice and spirits, Nami tops herself off with the same. Fancy cocktails are fine and all, but if she's supposed to talk about the long, strange time she's had for the better part of a year, anything with a mixer might not cut it. His question gets a quiet, exhale of a laugh out of her ]
Alright, but you have to tell me everything that's happened to you since you woke up here after. [ It's a good way of feeling out not only what he knows, but which of the casino's awkward traps Sanji has fallen into already.
After one more drink, she sighs, picking over her words even as she begins to speak. ]
All I have is free time, you know? I started drawing here, since it's not like there's a lot to make maps of, other than the casino itself, which, I'll give you a copy of. [ It's far from complete, but it's at least got a fair number of dangerous, or otherwise horny places clearly marked, which she hopes will help keep him out of trouble, a thought that makes her lift her hand to rest atop the one he's placed on her shoulder. ] I go to the casino a lot, and– [ Nami frowns. ] This can't seriously be interesting to you after everything that's happened.
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Not that he says as much, looking down at the glass of dark liquor and briefly swirling it. He still hasn’t gotten a lighter and a pack of cigarettes yet, but staring into the liquid gives him that moment to clear his thoughts just like a long inhalation of a cigarette does. ]
Deal. [ His reply is accompanied by a quiet laugh and a soft smile. There isn’t anything that’s happened that he isn’t willing to share with her anyway. ]
Yeah, can’t imagine there’s much to do outside of the whole, uh, shitty game they want us to play. [ While she gathers her thoughts, Sanji takes a long sip of his drink, letting himself savor that too as she begins to speak about making maps and visiting the casino and drawing. Drawing is the only surprise on that list, but even then, it’s not really something out of the realm of possibility. He watches her, bright eyes intent on her as he drinks in every word she says, genuinely curious to know more about how she spends her time. ]
It’s very interesting to me, Nami. [ Maybe not the most interesting of the things he wants to know about, but it’s a start. He grins at her, soft but wide, and shrugs his shoulders. ] I want to know everything about you and your time here. Telling me what you like to do with your free time is just a good starting point, yeah?
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I started on the five's floor, but after seeing how shitty it was for everyone below that, I decided to secure my position. [ What Nami doesn't say, however, is that a good portion of that motivation stemmed from the knowledge that she'd be giving others in the casino a safe place to hide out as well. Instead, the more obvious explanation is offered– ] One of the friends I made here started out as queen, that's how I learned the casino doesn't really fuck with the face cards like it does the lower ranks.
[ Nami swirls the alcohol and ice in her glass and has another sip before her eyebrows pinch up at Sanji. ]
Okay, your turn. Don't tell me you woke up naked in a jungle like I did.
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[ And then it’s his turn to swirl the alcohol in his glass and take a swallow, letting the burn of it help him gather his thoughts, before his gaze returns to her. ]
Woke up here a few days ago in a room that looked like it was carved into a fucking mountain. I could see the sea just like earlier. Had no idea what was happening. [ There’s a moment of hesitation as he thinks about what to say next, another pang of hunger distracting him. ] I, uh, woke up next to a friend of yours. Weiss? She helped me out. Told me you were here. Been looking for you ever since ‘cause I didn’t want to go any longer without seeing you. And I knew if I was here, you’d wanna see me, too.
[ And had a lot of help along the way, although that’s neither here nor there for the moment. ] After that, there was this whole feast thing they did. That’s where I learned about… about the hunger thing. And some of the other shit that happens. [ His shoulders lift in a quick shrug as he drains the glass of it’s remaining liquor, still watching her carefully. ] Spent the next couple of days roaming around the casino to see if you were there. And then they roped me into that shitty auction and now, I’m here.
[ He sets his glass on the table, trying to ignore the spark of joy that comes with remembering that moment where he finally saw it was her and failing to keep it off his face, grin and eyes full of warmth. ] Guess it wasn’t too bad since it finally let me see you, huh?
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Instead, Nami listens, nursing her drink right up until Sanji mentions Weiss. It's not a turn she expected his story to take, despite being aware that people end up in this casino in all sorts of weird ways, but out of everybody being kept prisoner here, Weiss is someone she's come to like and trust. While she can imagine what might have happened there, there are worse hands he could have fallen into. ]
I wasn't even gonna go to that dumb auction. [ The corners of her lips quirk up in a subdued smirk. ] Guess you got lucky. [ Or, she did, not that Nami's the type to come out and express a sentiment like that. ]
Wish I had something hopeful to offer, but at least you're here now, and I won you fair and square.
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Yeah, yeah, I did. I got damned lucky. Most luck I’ve had since coming here, you know? Maybe I should go back down to the casino and see if it holds [ Even waking up next to someone as friendly and helpful as Weiss just doesn’t quite compare. He’d been prepared to end up as some random person’s prize— and that had been a truly distressing thought then— and she’d just been there by a stroke of luck and happenstance.
Sanji doesn’t usually gamble, but it feels like he’s hit the jackpot. ]
You did at that. [ He glances down at his drink for a brief moment, laughing with a shake of his head, before looking up at her with another broad grin on his face. ] What’re you gonna do with your prize? Force him to cook you the finest damn dinner you’ve ever tasted? Make him whip up a tangerine tart for you? Something else, like wipe down your countertops?
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Don't think I'm going to forget how many chips I had to spend on you, either. You owe me. [ With interest, but right now isn't the time to go over the finer print, not when the drink in her hand and the sight of such a friendly face have paired together to put her at ease to the point where she's dryly joking around with him. ]
I think we'll start with all of the above, then– [ Because she hasn't forgotten about his predicament, and wants him to know that. ] See how hungry you are.
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Since that’s what you want, Nami, I— [ The hunger hasn’t disappeared, still rumbling away in his stomach, but he’s fully prepared to cook for her first. That’s what he’s prepared to do, but then it feels like something twists, a ripple of something along his nerves and his bones. One second, he’s talking, ready to move to the refrigerator and look through what she has on hand, and the next, all he can do is stare at her lips— soft and warm and thoroughly inviting— as the impulse forms in his head.
He should kiss her, right? It’s a sudden urge, but it burns like fire in his mind and he just can’t stop himself.
Before he has a chance to think, his glass is back on the bar cart as he steps around it, both hands catching her face by the cheeks and he kisses her, mouth moving greedily against hers, as hungry as the pangs inside him. It’s such a sweet feeling, her lips soft against his, but the kiss only lasts a moment before he breaks it, gasping. ]
Shit— sorry, Nami— I think it’s the damn— [ But the impulse isn’t done with him because the second he’s finished taking a break, he’s kissing her again, harder as want blooms inside him. ]
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Besides, out of all the bullshit positions this place has thrust her in, this doesn't even rank among them. She wants to be there for him about as badly as she wants Sanji to be here for her. ]
Don't– [ Nami breathes on the heels of that apology as the way she's flush against him leaves her senses crackling with new awareness. ] Don't apologize.
[ This place will do exactly this to a person, something Nami doesn't get a chance to point out before Sanji's kissing her again and her hand's on his cheek, guiding him closer. While Sanji might be subject to the resort's whims more than she is right now, Nami's captivated, with or without the added push, the thought of getting him close and keeping him there urging her arms to wrap around his shoulders tightly. ] It's okay, Sanji. [ She whispers, her voice earnest despite the softness. ] I want you to.
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