TDM 05

[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 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

A cool breeze lofts across the room. Gentle, soothing. Cotton sheets and silken covers slip with the tired stretch of limbs. New arrivals dozing in the comfort of their king-sized beds wake to the balmy warmth of a hazy sun and the rhythmic lap of waves on the shore. Clouds mist around the floor, granting ethereal ambiance. Gauzy curtains flutter, revealing a majestic stretch of sky in all directions. This temple is nestled at the top of a mountain, one where the sea somehow meets its edge.

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.

MARK OF THE GODS

None of the traditional suits have manifested on these Wildcards. Instead, all new arrivals will discover intricate patterns winding their arms and legs, each one different from the next. Thorns, vines, stars, or moons — the commonality of these marks is that they come in either glittering gold or shimmering silver.

► BENEVOLENT DIVINE: Those with marks of gold running along their skin have been identified as benevolent deities. The powers that be have sensed the kind spirit within. All benevolent Wildcards may experience the effects of any RED SUITS over the course of the next two weeks.

► MALEVOLENT DIVINE: Those with marks of silver running along their skin have been identified as malevolent deities. The powers that be have sensed the muck that lurks beneath the surface. All malevolent deities may experience the effects of any BLACK SUITS over the course of the next two weeks.

MADDENING HUNGER

Itchy throat, dry mouth. Headache. Hungry. It comes on slow, at first nothing of note. But, surely, it begins to deepen. Grapes don't feel filling. Water barely quenches thirst. All new arrivals will wake up in a state of hunger. They will find that despite the complimentary snacks left in their room by room service, nothing hits the spot.

No matter how much food they eat, these new arrivals, who have been dubbed as divines, won't find any satiation from food or wine. This gnawing hunger is exhausting; as it increases, their strength decreases. They cannot continue on like this for long.

All Wildcards, regardless of divine differentiation, will need to be worshipped for sustenance. Otherwise, they risk falling into a frenzied state.

There are many ways they can be worshipped. While having their bodies worshiped through sex is the most effective, they can find minor relief in acts of praise, affection, offerings, service, and so on. The longer a Wildcard goes without being worshiped, the more their god mark will leech their energy, and the faster they will lose their sanity. Loss of sanity can result in any kind of frenzy, from general mania to breaking from reality.

GILDED CAGE

AN ENDLESS FEAST

Doors to the grand banquet hall of Gilded Cage have been opened. A singular massive table stretches throughout the entirety of the restaurant, every available inch loaded with trays of food and goblets of wine. Waiters seamlessly dip in and out of the kitchens with platters over their shoulders, bringing delectable cuisine from all avenues of every earth around for guests to enjoy. Vibrant fruits, roasted meats, and decadent desserts funnel into the hall without end.

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.

ROYALS

► Royal cards are King, Queen, and Jack ranks. All ranks beneath them must comply with their demands, no matter how whimsical or stupid. They are waited on hand and foot, with low ranks throwing themselves forward for the honor of pleasing them. Royals do not need to obey the commands of anyone aside from Wildcards. While it is good manners for a lower royal card to defer to a higher royal card they will not be punished if they decline.

► Royal cards are encouraged to eat, drink, and be merry. Be selfish! Be greedy! Take everything you want! There is no end to the pampering and indulgence offered to royals. Long-standing guests line up to flatter them and give them gifts. Resort staff are desperate to make them laugh or smile. A royal card frowning strikes terror every servant. Resort staff will insist that they seek their own pleasures and not worry about the feelings of those lowly cards. All numbered cards exist to satisfy the royals; being concerned about their peasant feelings is unnecessary.

► Royals can command any numbered rank. If they find a numbered rank they particularly like they may monopolize them for their exclusive use. The word no does not exist. Whatever a royal wants, a royal gets. They can also issue punishments to numbered ranks that do not please them. There are guards prepared to discipline servants at their command. They may also dominate unruly servants with their own hands if that pleases them.

SERVANTS

► Servant cards are ranks A - 10. Hierarchy exists within the servants as well. While a rank 10 servant must flatter and please the royals, they may issue orders to any servant rank beneath them. This continues down the line — a rank 6 servant must obey and adore any rank above them but may command and bully any rank below them.

► The Ace rank shows its fickle nature. All Ace cards are bottom-barrel servants sitting at Rank 1 that anyone can bully. They are automatically ordered to clean up trash, scrub sticky floors, and dance provocatively for any rank that demands a show.

► Servants must obey anyone that outranks them. There are guards standing along the walls waiting to discipline any servant that defies the hierarchy. However, the guards are mostly for show — suits enforce real compliance. Any servant that disobeys an individual who outranks them is at risk of their suit flaring. If their suit does flare, submitting and obeying or an orgasm can abate suit effects.

WILDCARDS

► Wildcards are akin to deities. There is no greater honor than to serve or possess a Wildcard. Royals want to own them and servants want to please them. All Wildcards are showered with endless adoration. Fights break out for the chance to feed them grapes or rub their calves. Wildcards may do whatever they want without consequences, even toward royal ranks.

► Wildcards are encouraged to indulge in the finest of everything. Servants must tend to them and obey their commands. While royals do not need to obey them, there is great prestige in claiming a Wildcard’s affection. Wildcards are encouraged to be selfish and enjoy themselves to the fullest.

► Any royal or servant that satisfies a Wildcard can collect a Wildcard token. This is an electronic token that appears in their bank account once a Wildcard has climaxed during sex. Physically pleasing two Wildcards bring about great blessings. Players may submit two Wildcard tokens under their rewards thread to collect a small item voucher.

PHOENIX CASINO

ALEA IACTA EST

Phoenix Casino has been reborn in antiquity. Stone pillars line the aisles and embroidered linens cast a gauzy filter over every corner of the gambling center. The number of statues has increased, with every corner decorated with marble figures in provocative poses. The feast continues into even here; scantily clad servants and waiters carry around platters of succulent fruits and pitchers of wine.

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.

WILDCARD AUCTION

► All shiny new Wildcards have a unique number pinned to their robes. Early in the night these nubile virgin Wildcards will be paraded across the stage and asked to introduce themselves to the crowd. After, the bidding will commence. Don't miss this opportunity to claim a resort virgin and beloved divine!

► Bidding for a Wildcard can get intense! Numerous long-standing guests are already obsessed with these stunning new arrivals and are quick to bid high. Bidding wars can break out at any time. Some very eager long-standing guests are willing to get violent if it means they get to monopolize one of these Wildcards. Security is on stand-by for cases of Wildcard theft; some guests are so desperate for these Wildcards that they'll even try to kidnap them if they see the chance.

► The hierarchy is temporarily set aside for auction purchases. Any rank can dominate a Wildcard if they have the means to bid high enough and buy. In the case of Wildcard purchases, their god marks will force compliance to whoever buys them during the auction.

CASTING LOTS

► This special game of lots is designed for a high rank and a low rank to play together. In the case of guests of the same rank playing together, a coin flip will decide who plays the "low" rank for this game.

► The high rank guest will roll a six-sided die. The number rolled will reflect the game rule by which the low rank guest must try to satisfy the high rank guest. If the low rank guest manages to satisfy the high rank guest they will receive a large payout. If the high rank guest is not satisfied they may discipline the low-rank guest in any way they see fit.

ONE: Without using hands.

TWO: Using only mouth.

THREE: While blindfolded.

FOUR: Using only butt cheeks.

FIVE: Using only legs.

SIX: While remaining on knees.

► The high rank decides if and when they have been satisfied. Work hard, low rank!

HEADS OR TAILS

► What's a casino without a bit of risk? There's a special game of Heads or Tails happening at the game tables. All guests must bet their rank in order to play. Winners of the game will have the option to either swap ranks with the loser, or keep their rank as is and move on to another game. With a little bit of luck, even a Rank 2 can experience living the high life.

► All rank swaps are temporary. Winners that choose to swap ranks with the loser of their game will have 24 hours with their new rank before they revert back to normal. They may continue playing on with their "new" rank if they want to test their luck.

► Heads or Tails is played with a physical Golden Peacock coin. Players will take turns as the coin flipper, with their opponent guessing if the outcome will be heads or tails. The first guest to reach three correct guesses is the winner.

BEAK

ENTERTAIN YOUR BETTERS

A massive circular arena has been erected in the middle of Beak. Staggered seats rise up to the ceiling, where royals lounge in luxury viewing boxes. The gaping mouth of the arena is wide and desolate. An assortment of weapons, such as spears and shields, hang along stone walls. It waits for the taste of blood and stench of battle. The sound of the audience cheering and booing echoes throughout the Wellness Quarter.

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.

BATTLE ROYALE

► Numbered ranks have been conscripted into battle for the amusement of the Wildcards and royals. While high ranked servants may be able to wiggle their way out of a fight, low ranked servants will be thrown into the arena without mercy. Warriors that win their battles will be showered in accolades and payouts while losers will be mocked and pelted with rotten tomatoes. Warriors that try to forfeit their match will be stripped naked, strung up on a pole, and mocked for 24 hours.

► Battle rules are simple. Any means and methods of fighting are acceptable when in the arena. The arena’s overseer will decide if a battle will end when first blood is drawn or if it will continue until one side can no longer continue. There are rare instances of battle to the death, typically reserved for warriors who have deeply offended a Wildcard or royal.

► Royals and Wildcards are welcome to join in the royale if they wish. They will not be forced and they will be given any armor they want before stepping into the arena. Low rank warriors are given no armor — some may even be forced to fight nude.

SUBDUE THE BEAST

► Any numbered ranks that have displeased a Wildcard or royal will be thrown into the arena to fight barehanded against hungry tigers and lions. If there are no troublemakers on hand to throw into the arena for entertainment, low rank servants will be forcibly volunteered instead.

► Those alleged hungry tigers and lions? They are other servants dressed up in sexy animal costumes. While staff will take genuine volunteers for this role first, they will forcibly volunteer low rank servants into the role if needed. All costumes are revealing and offer little protection. There is an assortment of looks to choose from, not just tigers and lions, though whether or not a servant gets to pick their outfit depends on how charitable the arena master is feeling.

► Matches will end when one party can no longer continue or the audience is sufficiently amused. Royals and Wildcards are permitted to partake if they please, and there will be no consequences if they decide to withdraw.

RACE TRACK

► Royals and Wildcards are invited to participate in horse racing. Only, there are no horses to be found — all the “horses” are servants! Any chosen servant must carry their master over the finish line. While piggyback rides may make the most sense for a race like this, many of the high class prefer more elegant positions, so anything goes. Horses are required to wear a bridle at all times during the race.

Servants are also allowed to participate as jockeys as long as they observe the hierarchy. Servants may ride any servant of a lower rank. Aces are ordered to walk around with a poop shovel and bag, even if there won’t be any real horse poop lining the track (probably).

► Royals and Wildcards are also invited to participate in private horse racing. These races involve no track, taking place in the back of Beak in private rooms furnished with cushions and silks. Like with the public races, royals and Wildcards may select any servant that catches their eye. Unlike the public races, the goal here is to make their ‘horse’ orgasm as quickly as possible. Times will be saved on their Watches. The faster a master makes their horse come the more bragging rights they have.

Servants are once again allowed to participate as jockeys as long as they observe the hierarchy. The higher ranked servant must make the lower ranked servant orgasm as quickly as they can. While the ‘horse’ may offer mutual comfort they will receive no accolades for their skills.

TALON

SHOW OF STRENGTH

Talon is bustling with warriors training for the arena. Several strength building stations have been set up, including benches for royals to perch on while warriors bench press them. Additions have been made to Talon as well; multiple mud pits have been dug for warriors to participate in some mud wrestling between arena battles.

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.

MUSCLE CONTEST

► Who can appeal to the royals and Wildcards most? It’s a competition based on aesthetics! Strip down, oil up, and flex your muscles to earn a high score from the judges. Royals and Wildcards may issue a score between 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest.

Wildcards and royals are welcome to join in the competition. For some reason, their scores always end up being 10 no matter how skinny or noodly they may be! The flattery and praise for their stunning looks and bodies is endless. No need to work out, my lord, my lady. You’re stunning as is! Truly no body is more perfect!

► Servants are not only allowed, but encouraged, to bribe royals and Wildcards into giving them a high score. While chips and gifts can certainly be offered, isn’t the most compelling argument some hands on experience? Staff will hint to competing warriors that offering sexual favors to the judges may help improve their scores. What better way to prove their physique is the most superior than to put it to work?

► Royals and Wildcards may purchase warriors for their exclusive entertainment if they so desire. Staff are eager to impress these nobles and make a pretty penny in the process. While this isn’t an official auction, these sneaky staff aren’t above making sure the elite and their requested warrior are left alone in a locked room. You grease my palms, I’ll make sure that sexy warrior greases yours.

WRESTLING MATCHES

► Guests will find that a deep mud pit has been added to the front hub of Talon. Servants are stripped and oiled down before being thrown into the pit to wrestle for the entertainment of the nobles. While staff will take volunteers for wrestling matches, they will also grab whoever looks good, even if they’re just passing by! On-lookers place bets during the matches. The winner of the match will receive a small cut of the prize money.

► Wildcards and royals may enter as well. Servants are expected to throw their matches if they’re facing a noble… and if they don’t, they may be facing some unexpected consequences! All suits are sensitive to the hierarchy and will suddenly flare if a servant starts thrashing a noble.

► During a match-up of nobles, it is expected that the lower ranked noble will throw the match in favor of the higher ranked noble. While royal suits will not flare if this isn’t adhered to, discipline between royals isn’t unheard of!

► Some matches are held under “Special House Rules” — which means that the winner of the match gets to claim and fuck the loser. On-lookers will jeer and demand that the winner publicly fuck the loser where they can watch, but private rooms are available for the winner to claim their spoils of war without sharing.

WAYWARD ARROWS

► An archery range with targets has been established for warriors to show off their shooting skills. Like the arena, there are benches and boxes for the audience to admire this graceful art — or to throw tomatoes from when a warrior misses the mark! Both servants and nobles are welcome to participate as archers.

► Servants have been conscripted to act as moving targets across the range. They are told to heckle the archers while avoiding their arrows, and only advised that the arrows won’t pierce their bodies if they get hit. It’s all fun and games. We can’t have all of our servants dying en masse!

During this portion of the games, archers will be given an assortment of charmed arrows with chalk tips that elicit different effects:

RED ARROW: Chalk powder from red arrows will trigger an intense need for physical release by grinding, humping, or frotting.

BLUE ARROW: Chalk powder from blue arrows is pure aphrodisiac. Inhaling this powder will cause close spike to near-orgasm, one that the target will find that cannot be completed by their own hand.

GREEN ARROW: Chalk powder from green arrows will stir neediness. The hit target will suffer cravings to be sticky and hug, climb, and generally latch on to another person.

PURPLE ARROW: Chalk powder from purple arrows will cause a bad case of loose lips. This may manifest in a compulsion to loudly speak in pretentious purple prose, dirty talk, or say otherwise hilarious things for the amusement of the audience.

► Effects from the arrows will wear off within the hour. Multiple hits from differently colored arrows can create fun new effects so feel free to get creative!

INDULGENCE

DESIRES FROM THE VOID

The spirit of the festivities rouses something primal. With emotions heightened, the core of the Golden Peacock responds in kind. It drinks in the sweat of the warriors in the arena. Inhales the laughter of the royals using servants as furniture. Basks in the brilliant glow of fresh Wildcards. The portraits in the elevators are rowdier than usual and the chandeliers lining the hallways gleam with new vibrance. Energy is palpable.

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.

GALATEA

► Statues around the resort begin to stir. First it’s with a hazy blink, moving to the slow creak of their stiff mouths. Eventually they break off of their pedestals and out of their poses before clumsily making their way down the hallways, stone feet an emphasized thump with every step. They tremble, their cold stone bodies aching for warmth and human embrace.

► Statues around the resort have begun trying to kidnap guests for themselves. Once they’ve spotted a guest they want, they will stop at nothing to try and drag them back to their pedestal to spend forever locked in love’s embrace with them. They do not need food, drink, or rest.

► There are two ways to put a statue to rest. One is to engage the statue in battle and break off its head. Once the head is broken off, it will cease to have a spirit and crumble to dust. The second is to involve the statue in a physical act of intimacy — have a threesome with it! Or twosome, if someone is willing to watch. In the case of the second, statues will return to their pedestals satisfied upon completion.

► Statues that end up destroyed may drop a small lore hint. They will wheeze as their stone begins to disintegrate, their stone eyes dripping liquid gold tears. “I just wanted to feel alive again… I wanted to feel like you again… to be whole,” will slip past their marble lips before they crumble away.

NARCISSUS

► Gaze into the water. Admire your pretty face, the curve of your lips, the squint of your eyes... wait, are you winking at yourself?! Over the next few weeks, water-based reflections will begin acting of their own free will. They have the ability to move within the scope of the water and speak, their voices muddled but understandable.

► These reflections are extremely flirtatious and charming. They smile and bat their lashes, pretending to be innocent while drawing the original owner in closer. How about a smooch? How about more than a smooch? Their whispered promises are sweet. Salacious. Loving. Anything to get closer to you. Leaning in too close to the water is dangerous — these reflections will reach out and try to drag unsuspecting guests in. Whether this is out of malice or affection is unclear, but how can they possibly make love to you unless you join them in the water?

► Once caught, it is challenging to escape from their phantom limbs in the water alone. Several long-standing guests need to be saved from The Nest’s decorative fountain because they keep coming close to drowning after trying to kiss their reflections. Unfortunately, not every location with water is as prepared to save unsuspecting would-be lovers. No body of water is safe — not even a cup of it!

► Reflections will become increasingly indignant if they're ignored. Their sweet words will take a sharp turn into insults similar to, "I'm the better looking one between us anyway!" They may also let slip some personal secrets like, "This is why Johnny will never love you back! You're so cold, ignoring even yourself!"

Any mention of the fact that they'll end up drowning the character in question will earn a scoff and another small lore hint along the lines of, "Why are you being such a baby? Only the resort can really kill you anyhow. It's not like you'll die forever if I fuck you in here for a while!"

PANDORA’S BOX

► A spider's web threads through the resort. Invisible, but audible to those that are willing to listen. One of the Punishment Rooms on the maintenance levels is unlocked. Without the padlock on the door to keep them silent, silvery whispers drift up from the basement. A brush of thought, a tickle of an idea that won't quite go away — come down… come down and see… what is inside… don't you want to know?

► Those that heed the call and explore the maintenance levels will find the unlocked Punishment Room. The closer one comes to this door, the stronger these voices grow. They will continue calling, eagerly encouraging whoever stops in front of the door to step inside.

► The inside of this Punishment Room is plain. White walls, a single card table, and two plastic chairs. A single lightbulb offers a dusty glow. There is nothing particularly interesting upon first glance. Slowly, the door behind will creak closed until it is closed, locking itself in the process. That small lightbulb will begin to dim until everything inside the room is plunged into darkness.

► This Punishment Room senses the worst memories and fears of one of the captives inside and forces them to experience them in real time. The manifestation of memories or fears inside this room are realistic, to the point that it's impossible to discern whether or not this takes place in reality or the mind. The Punishment Room will randomly select which prisoner to dig from if there is more than one, but all guests inside will experience the room's effects.

► The door cannot be unlocked from the inside. Someone must either open it from the outside or captives must wait until the punishment is over and the door unlocks itself. How long that takes is random, ranging from a few minutes to a few hours. That’s what you get for listening to disembodied voices!

OOC NOTES

INVITES | RESERVES | APPLICATIONS

▶ 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! ♥

NAVIGATION • LOG • NETWORK • OOC • MEME

Comments

realtalk im not actually sure who's in the lead now LMAO

[snakelace]

In a manner of speaking…

[ Except he doesn’t really have to act so mysterious and shady about his powers when this is the most innocuous of them. But hey, they’ve still got a game to get to! ]

But please, let us proceed.

[ Because he absolutely will cheat and summon that snake again to make it land on heads for her. ]

I THINK?? THEY'RE TIED? LMAOOOO

[theidlemaiden]

[ Even if she is curious to know whether or not he's cheating, one time won't prove anything. But they are tied which means that she only has one more opportunity to find out. ]

Last one. Ready?

[ And when she does flip it she watches with keen interest to see if the same green flash will appear again or if it was just a trick of the light. ]

YEAH LET'S GO WITH THAT

[snakelace]

[ Aaand right on cue, out comes his magic to make sure the coin lands squarely on heads.

All the while he’s watching her reactions with a perfectly innocent and totally not at all mischievous smile— ]

Oh dear, will you look at that? You’re quite good at this game.

🤝

[theidlemaiden]

[ As she flips it she doesn't pay any attention to where the coin may fall. All of her attention is solely focused on Baizhu. This time it's clear that he's not making an effort to hide it either and as the coin clatters to the table between them, her lips quirk a little bit higher in amusement. She can't help but wonder what exactly his motivations are. But perhaps it doesn't matter too much when this will technically be to her advantage. ]

I don't feel like my win was hard won but [ It's already too late. Their Watches chime simultaneously signalling the temporary transfer of their ranks. ] I guess rules are rules.

[ On a dime her expression turns from amusement into a self-assured one. ]

And for my first act as a higher rank, I'd like it if you could take me back to your suite.

[snakelace]

Wonderful. I’m pleased to oblige.

[ All the better to get them out of the bustle and noise of this place. It’s stifling in there, and it’s ever so much easier to breathe in the relative quiet of the hallways as they make their way to his suite.

Where he can hopefully examine her scars and everything— ]

By the by, are you fond of tea? It wouldn’t do for the lady of the house to be without refreshment.

[theidlemaiden]

[ It will become ironic to her later when she realizes that they both were attempting to achieve the same goal in very different ways.Though how Hilda feels about asking for a second, probably more educated opinion about her scars is  probably vastly different from how Baizhu feels about it. They weave quickly through the crowd towards the elevators. ]

I love tea. Though, I'll be honest I haven't had very good tea since arriving.

[ Which probably has everything to do with her rank. ]

Now you're just trying to flatter me. I'm hardly the lady of the house. And definitely not at my real rank.

[snakelace]

I do recall that it’s the lady that makes the house, and not the other way around.

[ If a certain ultra-rich merchant leader from back home is any indication…

But soon enough they arrive at his humble home. It’s a small and cozy enough place, though the way that room exhales the scent of the bitter herbs growing in pots, drying in pans and racks, or hanging from the ceiling might take her by surprise.

There’s even a lovely view of a terraced field full of lilies on that holographic panel to one side of the wall. A small reminder of home. ]

So allow me to show you the hospitality befitting of one.

[ He’s gonna make her some damn good tea, but that might also be subjective because what is using cream and sugar??? ]

[theidlemaiden]

[ He's not wrong. Rank and title have always been things that she's cared little for despite growing up in that sort of world and possessing unofficial titles herself. But like some people in Fódlan, the staff here fully believed in rank. That Baizhu doesn't seem to outwardly care very much for rank is a nice change after today.

As for his apartment the smell definitely does take her a little by surprise. But what comes more as a surprise is the pinprick of homesickness that the smell incites. The view of the lilies is beautiful and doesn't go unnoticed, but it's the herbs that draw her attention. She recognizes a few of them by sight alone though if the names are the same is anyone's guess.

Baizhu's offer turns her gaze away from the herbs and she trails after him. ]

Well I'll never turn down an offer for tea. Did you need help?

[snakelace]

I only need to know how you like it. You’re the one getting spoiled today, after all.

[ Is she looking at his vast collection of herbs rather oddly? Ah, maybe it’s just his imagination, though—it’s not like this is even the first time his little experiments have thrown people off their guard.

It’s rough when you don’t have a proper pharmacy to store all these things. ]

Though I wonder if you’re also interested in something else…

[theidlemaiden]

[ At that prompt she seems to slip back into an easy countenance that suggests she's used to being treated to things like tea. ]

I prefer sweeter teas over bitter ones, with a splash of milk. But if you don't have sweet teas I'm open to trying something new.

[ Perhaps it's because he had asked something familiar to her that she answers as smoothly as she does in return. ]

There could be any number of things that could fit that description. Although I have to wonder if that means you're also interested in something else besides tea and good company.

[snakelace]

Who knows? In a world like this, the answer to that is quite clear, isn’t it?

[ He shrugs, completely shameless, because he would like to see if that reply gets a rise out of her. It’s not like he’s opposed to the idea, though he’d brought her here to make sure she’s comfortable and attend to her medical needs, first and foremost.

In any case, that definitely does still mean that he’s interested in her body…

While she mulls his response over, he’ll just dig out some of his more fragrant herbs to start steeping them, letting their pleasantly sweet aroma fill up the little suite. ]

[theidlemaiden]

[ Hilda quietly watches him prepare the tea, taking the elegant lines of his figure while still getting the impression that they had entered into some sort of dance from the moment that he'd sat down at the table. ]

Well here, it could mean anything.

[ There's no beating around the bush about that.

Any good dance requires a give and take though. And for that she steps up beside him gazing up thoughtfully at him as she does. ]

But say that there was something else I was interested in. Not just in what the house wants us to do way but in the more, I could use your doctorly expertise in - would you be interested? And could I rely on you for some discretion?

[ Which is to say she's not opposed to the former even though she'd be remiss to let it go without saying her true intentions. ]

[snakelace]

[ He gently places the lid onto that teapot to let the sweet tea leaves properly steep, and turns to her with a knowing, mischievous smile.

Yes, they have started something here, haven’t they? Not that he’s in the least bit sorry about it. ]

As one of a lower rank, I am but your humble servant, my lady.

[ With that cheeky delivery though, it’s clear that he isn’t totally buying into this whole ranking business the resort’s forcing on them. Still, he does straighten up a moment later, something a touch more serious in his gaze, even if a part of him is certainly excited at the prospect of what she’s offering. Of both those things, anyway. ]

And as a doctor, I’ve devoted my life to ensuring my patient’s good health. Confidentiality is naturally a part of the procedure.

[theidlemaiden]

[ If the faint hint of a smile on her face is any indication, she doesn't seem to regret stepping into this so-called dance with him. Though she'd probably enjoy it more without the Houses's silly rules of servitude. Despite having grown up with servants and those that took care of her, there's no enjoyment in bossing people around like this for her. ]

I hoped that would be the case.

[ And that's enough for her to trust his word. But even with that trust there's a clear sense of hesitation that hasn't been there since he'd sat down across from her to play heads or tails. How did you go about telling someone that you think you might be dead? By ripping off the bandage she supposed. ]

Before I arrived here I was on the middle of a battlefield and was...wounded. [ Her hand flits briefly to rest over her chest. ] I'm not sure what happened after that.

[snakelace]

[ That cheerful front he’d been putting up before drops at the mention of a battlefield.

Of course. That would explain the severity of those scars, and yet... ]

I’d...like to see it all, of course. But perhaps it will be easier to begin only with what you’re comfortable with showing me.

[ He’s beginning to see why she’s hesitant about this. Even from a distance he’d thought those scars looked nasty, and that’s not even getting into the fact that she’d been in battle to begin with.

Sometimes it’s so easy to forget that a lot of people in this resort are seasoned warriors. ]

[theidlemaiden]

[ The way the levity seems to dissolve at the mention of battle dampens the mood considerably. There's very little that can be done about that though. War isn't meant to be a lighthearted conversation piece over tea though she had certainly tried in the past. 

Surprisingly however, it is a small comfort to see how he reacts and the seriousness with which he approaches it with. It makes it easier for her to solidify a decision that she had already come to a conclusion the minute she'd walked across the threshold into his room. ] 

My arms are probably the easiest to look at. The worst one is here.

[ And at that she motions to where her hand has settled on her chest. And while levity and talk of war don't always mix, her lips lift humorlessly all the same. ]

I should have you know that this is a little more forward than I usually am during tea time. 

[snakelace]

I’m honored that you would make such an exception for me.

[ Hey, now, he can kid around a little, too! Even if he isn’t smiling at all, his brows creased with worry now that she’s given him a closer look, lifting her arm to examine the wounds there, touching them in places to see where they might still hurt, assessing just what sorts of battle wounds would create scars like these. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have much experience with battle, so… ]

Could you tell me more about these wounds? Or even just the battle, in general terms.

[theidlemaiden]

[ Hilda's eyes crinkle, all too pleased that he's playing along. ]

An act of kindness should be rewarded in some way, right?

[ And though she's playing along as playfully as ever it is in some ways a means to cover up the nervousness that dances along her skin. She wonders if he can hear the way her heart leaps in her chest when his hands make contact with her skin. Even if he can't, it would be impossible to hide the way her skin pebbles at his touch as he traces the scars that she hadn't been able to treat herself in time. ]

I think those ones are older.

[ She peers at the faded scars hating that she can tell from looking at them what the cause probably had been. ]

They were probably from a sword that got through my armour. The one here [ And then she motions to another one, her voice somewhat detached as if reciting something from a book. ] is a spear from the looks of things.

[snakelace]

[ Yes, he can definitely feel how nervous she is, and he has to wonder if it’s more than merely due to the fact that she’s letting a man she’d just met touch her in this way.

There are more to these scars than she’s telling him, he suspects. How much further must he pry? ]

There is…rather a lot…

[ It’s as though he’s talking to himself at this point, stating the obvious like that, in a faint whisper that barely disguises his increasing concern over the state of her wellbeing.

He glances up at her, frowning now, eyes devoid of humor, something clenching in his gut as he speaks— ]

You’re very lucky to even be alive.

[theidlemaiden]

[ Surprisingly it isn't the touch of an unfamiliar man that makes her worry. It's the fact that the thing she's been worrying about since she had arrived is slowly being forced out into the light. A doctor might not have all the answers, but he might have enough to help her determine a fear that she had been harboring.

And when he does it she nearly has to choke back a laugh.

In any other instance she'd relish being able to soak in the attention. But this isn't the sort of attention that she wants. ]

I've had wounds on my arms before. They're not that bad.

[ She draws back a little from his touch but not out of discomfort. ]

There's a worse one. [ She touches the place between her breasts, hesitation clear as day on her face. ] Here. ...It was what I wanted to ask you about. Would you mind if I showed you?

[snakelace]

[ He wishes it were just her arms. That’d be one thing. But the totality of it all, the fact that there always seems to be more, just out of sight…

That sinking feeling doesn’t go away when he replies: ]

Please do.

[theidlemaiden]

[ There's another moment of hesitation before she begins to disrobe. The dress that the staff had insisted she'd wear to suit the theme of the Roman times makes it easy to do so which, could be a good or bad thing depending on your view of it. Regardless, there's truly nothing to hide once the draped fabric falls to the ground.

And what it reveals is a scar that practically cuts diagonally through her breasts. It probably isn't hard to tell, even to an untrained eye that the weapon that left it was a brutal thing. By all accounts she shouldn't have survived. And she seems to understand that with the brave face that she puts on. ]

[snakelace]

[ He can’t help that little gasp of shock when she fully reveals herself, the massive scar drawing his attention immediately. Given that he’d come from a peaceful country, it was rare for him to come across truly horrific wounds, but this… ]

May I…May I touch it?

[ He’d certainly like to heal it and all the rest as well, but there’s something they both need to confirm first, isn’t there? ]

[ OOC: jsyk in the interest of not shutting her out of scar play she can just consent to his healing later and it can just Not Work for whatever reason!!! ]

[theidlemaiden]

(ooc: that sounds good to me!! 💕)

[ Baizhu's gasp has her wincing inadvertently, breaking the brave face that she had attempted to put on for him. But she had never tried to put a on brave face before; misty eyes and tears were tactics that she had employed for so long that it was practically second nature some days. Wouldn't it make more sense to illicit more sympathy out of a practical stranger?

But that had always been for play. Everything she had experienced leading up to arriving here, the scar, is real. His reaction only makes her feel like that what had happened to her couldn't have been a dream. After a moment she nods, the exposed skin pebbling at being exposed. Though the mask had slipped she tries to push a smile, however feeble, back onto her face in an effort for some levity. ]

No one has yet. You'd be the first.

[snakelace]

[ She’s brave to even attempt a smile in the face of this, he thinks. He’s only a stranger, after all. It’s not her job to dampen the horrible reality of her situation—let alone to someone whose job it is to make it all better.

And yet…

With a wordless nod, he reaches out to trace the outline of that scar, his mind already turning to the monsters adventurers from his homeland sometimes encounter, to the kinds of brutal weapons that would create equally brutal wounds like these. ]

It’s…certainly a miracle that you’ve survived this.

[ On top of those other injuries she’d already showed him, no less.

He takes a deep breath, summoning up the professionalism he’d been known for back home. ]

But wounds like these can come with their own complications, even when healed. Have you been feeling ill, perhaps? And how are your movements? Are they impeded in any way? Your breathing appears to be fine, but…