【 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 parking garage for all new arrivals. We aim to have all guests moved into their reserved rooms as soon as possible. We deeply apologize for any inconvenience!
All are invited to There Is No Tomorrow, a Phoenix Casino soiree to celebrate our beloved guests. The festivities will begin at 1800 hours on January 20th and end at 1800 hours on January 27th. Please look forward to 168 hours of delight.
In an effort to raise happiness and encourage better guest relationships, attendance is required. The house will assist guests that are too shy to appear of their own accord. Please note that black tie attire is mandatory. As always, we hope you enjoy your stay! 】
PARKING GARAGE
ANY CAR IN A STORM
PHOENIX CASINO HALL
WELCOME TO THE NEXT 168 HOURS
Phoenix Casino is a-flutter with activity and packed to the beak with guests. As a famously ever-changing space, the staff would be remiss if they didn't deck the crown jewel of the Golden Peacock out. The casino glitters from top to bottom, shining brighter than diamonds, rubies, sapphires, opals! Party-goers are shiny and glamorous with picture perfect makeup, fluttering gowns, and sharp suits. Card tables are packed and the slot machines are a-ringing as guests play, play, play! Prizes, luxury, booze, attractive people, it's the place that everyone wants to be at.
Those people being dragged inside by some invisible force...? Silly, they were so excited to come that their bodies moved before they realized what was happening. Those are struggles of joy and definitely not the casino's infamous ghost hands dragging unwilling guests to the party at the behest of the house. Look, they're literally hurling their bodies at the card tables with unrestrained glee!
All clocks indicating day hours and night hours have been removed from the casino. Once a guest has entered, their Watch will jam, making it impossible to keep track of the time. You don't need to worry about that tonight.
▶ 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 January event.
▶ 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. This month we also have an ongoing ATP / EMP where players can connect. Please feel free to utilize this for all of your peafowl needs!
▶ 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!
▶ 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.
[ said succinctly, like it's the most obvious thing in the world: ]
Of course.
[ and to mona, it is.
she resettles in her chair now that ishmael has taken a step back, one leg crossing over the other as she coolly brushes back her pigtail. should it not be obvious already, this topic has reinforced mona's prideful nature, visibly expecting awe. ]
(seeing as how partying is tiring even for her, who was already used to the idea for a whole week? it didn't take much for texas to lie her way in by mentioning she had friends among the royals that were allowing her to use their names to traverse back and forth. given texas is friends with a few of the upper crust, that was more than enough to get her entrance covered. for the most part, she's been indulging in the women's lounge and getting the occasional nap. although that was to get chocolate from said lounge, she wasn't disappointed in the high quality effort put into that. maybe more that this was part of her first real meals (given she was avoiding the buffet table like the plague) since she didn't trust anything down in the casino hall as not being spiked.
which left having to eat up in the oasis whenever she got hungry while being vigilant about what she's being given. anyway, texas at this point had obtained a nice meat platter that she had tested on and off by eating pieces of it to make sure she wasn't about to suffer. all while nice and dressed up in something that wasn't fit for a carnevale, this time. so far nothing came of eating it, so she decided to trust that once she spots a familiar face. ragna? she hadn't seen him in a bit (aside from dropping off his christmas present) somehow she finds it less surprising that he's worn out. she's definitely feeling it herself, but she's used to parties. one of the mottos of penguin logistics is "keep the party going". well. the other is also "go with the flow", but that wasn't exactly as easy to do in the resort now.
it didn't stop texas from taking a seat in front of him, all quiet and not to disturb him much if he needed a nap (given that's always been her style) while also partially glad that she herself was avoiding that new designer drug going around. the guests were trying to get her to smoke it. they knew she was one already from her cigarettes, but she would often reject it by making sure that she wasn't caught anywhere alone.)
Good to know that we're both not having much of a good time.
(forced compliance for an event by dragging unwilling guests in was not quite her idea of a good time, anyway. which left it unsurprising that cellinia was wall flowering it up and dodging the crowds. she did indulge in the games a bit (even got a nice payout from them) but that didn't mean she was enjoying herself.)
[ with their height, there's plenty of room for mona to enact that little spin. she's unpracticed, admittedly, but his hold on her prevents her from stumbling over her heels. mona directs a pleased smile up at him once they have returned to their original positions.
and, oh, a change of topic she is very excited to lean into, too. ]
I do. I won a wager against a person in power and restored my Vision's magic. It has been possible to do readings wherever I like. The 'sky' here functioning similarly to that of Teyvat's [ false sky, etc., etc. ] has made it so that there have been no issues performing divinations.
[ this time, she nearly trips as she adds, ]
But I wouldn't recommend wagering as riskily as I did.
[ Lighter shakes his head, the tousled mess of his hair sweeping every-which way but naturally coming to fall over the shadow of his brow, across his right eye. Reality settles in, but only so much — "reality" as a concept has slipped through his fingers on more than one occasion over the last 168 hours. Desert sand felt less treacherous. Fingertips poised at the bottlecap's rim, he deposits it back on the nightstand quietly, a halting gentleness to the way he carries himself despite his appearance.
It could have a little something to do with how (presumably) likewise hungover he is, but also seems ingrained, measured too much as a matter of instinct rather than conscious effort. Rolling over, his arm steeples to pinch his brow, massaging some of the ache away with the pads of his fingers. ]
Don't worry about it. I'm just causing a fuss on account of how terrible I feel. [ He flashes a weak thumbs up from the mess of blankets. ] As for food...
[ Its scent does drift in among the skin musk of the bedding and it doesn't immediately turn his stomach. ]
I could go for some. How — [ lifting his gaze in what he'd intended to be amiable despite the many questions he has, he finds himself quieting again, at the heart of her focus. His pupils are red, a fluttering thing, like something once injured, or a creature caught unaware by the light. Clearing his throat, he looks away in deference and finally continues. ] ...how about I wait here, and we can eat together when you're done.
[ It seems about the least he could offer, all things considered. ]
[ her lips part in surprise before it melts down into something more tender, caught off guard by such a kind request. there's a curious ache in her chest—is it from the fact that he still considers her even now, despite everything around them? or the fact that he considers this to be selfish at all? ]
That doesn't seem very selfish to me. [ her laugh is light, a little more fond. ] But are you sure you want to offer that to me? I may end up wanting to find you more often than not.
[ Wei Wuxian has no idea that he’s really giving this washed up retiree a sensation that he felt back in the glory days— waking up next to an attractive stranger and not hesitating at all to get down and dirty. It’s precisely the kind of lifestyle he was wanting to get back into. What a crazy way to fall into it again.
It really is amazing how well their energy bounces off of one another. For Beowulf, he’s a true switch and can adapt to whatever his partner throws his way, but he’s also an honest and nice person despite being full of himself. Ultimately, he wants his partners pleased just like his fans.
Once their kids has parted, Wei Wuxian will feel a tug of his hair, exposing his neck even further. ]
Let’s see it, then.
[ The stroking of their cocks stops, and Beowulf can maneuver that lithe body with ease if he doesn’t resist. He turns the other man around, pressing his face towards the dashboard. A little more adjusting and his cock is nestled nicely along those plump asscheeks, hotdogging him properly. He makes a sound of approval, and gives the side of his hip a brief pop with his hand. ]
Your ass is something else, you know. Rock it with me, baby!
[ just add him to the exhaustive list of people who like wwx ass i guess… love pretending this car is gigantic on the inside ]
[ What's funny is if Wei Wuxian was a little more familiar with Troy's history and abilities, he'd probably see similarities there. Wei Wuxian is feared for his abilities, commands ghosts and the undead with ease, tries not to be the most fearsome thing in the room but ends up being so anyway.
But not here! Here, he has a blank slate. No one has to know about his history here, no one has to be afraid. ]
That's good of you, being respectful of the dead and other creatures around.
[ Wei Wuxian is not respectful of the dead, at all. They are a tool to be used and that's it. ]
[ Wei Wuxian can see the pain on Dan Heng's expression as he tries to answer and he feels for him, he does. If this was years ago for him, he'd probably be stuck in a similar boat. But as it is, his list has shifted over time and these days, he's alone aside from just one person.
But still, it feels cheap to win in this way and Wei Wuxian doesn't know what to do. His expression goes a little blank for a moment before —
Suddenly, he strikes out, knocking the house of cards over completely and watching as it falls apart on the table. On his watch flashes the word LOSER and on Dan Heng's, WINNER with a large sum of chips being transferred to him as a result. ]
Ha... ha ha! Clumsy me, looks like I lost. Sucks for me, I guess.
[ Wei Wuxian goes easily into Sylvain's lap, leaning forward to rest against his chest when he's pulled in by the waist. It leaves them close, probably too close for strangers but just fine if they're the couple they're pretending to be. It helps that Wei Wuxian doesn't shy away from skinship, a clingy, touchy guy even in normal circumstances so when given free reign like this, he's absolutely going to take it. It also helps that it seems Sylvain is similar, if the touch to his spine is anything to go by. He likes it.
He looks surprised at the suggestion Sylvain makes, and a little delighted. ]
An apple wine? Or just apple alcohol in general? Either way, count me in. That sounds really good.
[ He loves apples! And he loves fruit wines! He can already imagine the taste. ]
You'll share with me, right? I don't want to be drinking alone, after all.
[ He's not expecting his jaw to be grabbed and jerks back instinctively, but Xue Yang's grip is too firm for him to pull away and so, he's pulled in. At the same time, his hands land on Xue Yang's chest, just pressing against him for now because his mind is whirring and he's trying to think of any route to safety right now.
He's kind of trapped himself, hasn't he?
Okay, okay. Time to give up the gambit and just see what happens. Pull the trigger. Do the thing. He squirms a little, looking away from Xue Yang for a moment before back to him, sighing. ]
Wei Wuxian. I'm Wei Wuxian.
[ And now he waits to see if Xue Yang has a reaction to that name or not. This is really the worst predicament he could've put himself in, he realizes. He sure fucking hopes he survives this. ]
[ —Ah? There's a very confusing moment where Wei Wuxian isn't sure if Xiao Xingchen's choking is because of his name or just happenstance. Paranoia makes him think it's his name, wondering quickly just what this man knows about him especially when he's not even sure if he's Xiao Xingchen. A blind man, in white robes, reacting to the name Wei Wuxian.
Agh. Fuck. Shit. Maybe he should have lied? Fuck. Fuck. Shit.
A soft sigh and then, gently, he lifts a hand to rub Xiao Xingchen's back to help soothe after the choking. Hopefully he lets him and doesn't flinch away. ]
So — you know of me. Or you just choked by accident.
[ It is a sentiment they both share — the relief at the lack of expectation. Wei Wuxian has a terrible, terrible reputation where he comes from and he knows at least half of it is well earned. But being here, where he can freely introduce himself as Wei Wuxian and not feel the bite of fear or hate in response — it's a heady feeling.
He eats his bacon and looks contemplative in response to Sunday's question. Well, if he was home, that'd be an easy thing to do — simple. But he's not and he doesn't know how it works here, so he might as well give the warning. ]
There's a skill I know. Empathy. You allow the ghost to possess you to relive their memories when they were alive and they can show you their story. What they want you to see. It's a dangerous skill though because if you're not careful, the ghost will possess you fully and won't give your body back.
While most ghosts aren't fully cognizant of what they're doing, they have impulses they follow, sometimes malicious sometimes not. It all really comes from how they died and how they've come back as well. So their minds are not always all there. It takes a lot of skill to bring back someone's consciousness when they're already dead. Not impossible, but a whole lotta work.
[ Which, well, he's done. But he's only done it the one time, only needed the one person to come back. ]
Er, I should also make it clear — this is how they work where I come from. Chances are it might be different here? I have no idea if the dead works the same across different worlds.
[ The shitty retort does not phase him, he just continues to smile. ]
Well, they could have fallen off too.
[ Who knows! He doesn't. But then Fuuta is asking him a bit about his own world and why he isn't surprised by this and he gives a hum, fingers tapping on the floor underneath him. ]
Mmm, you won't see people walking around with horns or tails where I'm from, no. But physical transformation induced with magic isn't really the most unusual thing ever. There's all types of mystic arts out there, should I be shocked at every new one I hear of?
Anyone would be apprehensive when getting an answer like that. Also, I'm not apprehensive.
[ lmao ]
So. My secret standing aside, [ he's still not a knower... ] I wouldn't say that I'm comparing our situation to these cars. At least not one-to-one. But I think it gives us an idea of what kind of place this is. Why all the luxury just to let it rot down here? Even the most cautious bigwigs back home would be parading these things around for self-satisfaction, if nothing else.
[ And here, in the dim chaos of their displacement, where car horns and music are intermittently blasting, people are crawling out of (or into...) backseats, and constant engine reverb sounds off concrete, it's all just decay. More than any wasteland he's been in, where unapologetic life has shattered things into an earned disuse. ]
Seems to me like we're not here for our own benefit. [ He lifts his hand to swivel his be-watched wrist around. ] No matter what this thing says. But then, looking at all this down here... it doesn't exactly yield a good picture of our hosts, either.
[ He levels a look at her before he can consciously stop himself, slightly bewildered by the nature of her agreement. Of course it's selfish — why should it be him? Right now, despite the way they'd woken up, he can see they have their faculties about them. After the last however many days of revelry, of booze and smoke and preternatural heat so unlike the fires or fevers he knows, he can't guarantee that'll always be the case. ]
I just don't want you to think you don't have a choice in all this. It's selfish, asking you to choose me.
[ Once he's sure he's got a good grip on the table, Lighter steps back to observe his handiwork, forgoing the opportunity to take a seat. Loose as the electricity in his body seems, he's still fairly on edge, never knowing where the next source of insanity is going to come from. All in a day's work, he supposes. ]
Honestly, even without the bubbles, alcohol makes me dizzy. [ It's the least of the lore he can offer... ] But if they've got anything sweet on the room service menu, I wouldn't say no to that.
[ With a tip of his shoulders and a sweep of his shaded glance around, he takes in the surrounding room. It's outfitted to the nines, good grief. ]
And don't worry about debts. At least not with me. If we're all stuck here in the same fishy situation, the least we can do is look out for one another. At least, that's how I see it when it comes to obligations.
Why shouldn't I choose you? [ and before he can rattle off a whole laundry list of reasons why she really shouldn't (because she knows his type): ] Tell me, why is it that you want me to find you?
[ she has an idea. it's easy to look at his scars and see the lifetime of violence and pain and think that's all it is. but she knows scars, and she recognizes the patterns they make over his body. sometimes, you have to hurt the things you love to protect them. ]
[ words that caress the shell of his ear like a blush of wind or pass of down feather, soft but purposeful — and obvious in its purpose. Getou thinks about whether or not to rise to the bait, head tilted on an invisible axis, mouth a question of whether or not he should flash the bloody chicken coop in his teeth. thankfully for Seimei, he likes some kickback. the world would be boring without dissent. ]
I'd argue the service provider should name his price... [ instead, this, the thoughtful stroke of a chin that pulls into resignation. ] But I did offer.
[ responsibility taken, the bargaining begins. how to flatter a fox into a menial task? ]
Outside of the joy of the thing, [ who doesn't love telling obnoxious people off, ] you could, of course, piggyback off of my current status... Don't you like the idea of being the one I chose out of this flock, hm?
[ he's pretty enough. familiar enough. Getou recalls — vague and distant, not disliking this. he smiles, ]
[ capable of taking one to the chin, he lets the situation roll on without comment, gentled into polite obedience by any number of factors, though his penchant for mischief and the champagne are liable to percolate in due time. straight to business... why, who's dying now? ]
[ and who even still thinks about trying to get out of this place or figure it out after as long as Nanami has been here now? gotta respect the diligence, even if there's nothing but futility in questioning the Six Eyes. if something were breakable, wouldn't the crack have been found by now? ]
I was here, I turned into stone, and now I'm here again. [ a hapless shrug, noncommittal. ] Blink and you miss it.
[ a better fate than a bullet in the brain. around the nonstop party-induced weariness, there's that thing that's been there for too long now: the same tired pity that watches young girls die, underclassmen lose eyes, one boy stand above it all. heavy is the crown. ]
Is the thing that did that to you dead? [ even in training, Getou's never pulled punches; he doesn't start now. tit for tat, his furthered cooperation hinging on the reception. ]
If you told me that, I'd say... [ He knows he's caught. He walked right into her hands. ] that I don't argue with a lady.
[ Deflective, but not uncharacteristic of him.
And still, with the scant time spent here, listening to her share things with him that feel like gossamer sunlight cutting through thick grey, he thinks he knows why she hadn't let him answer the first question, instead saddling him with the second and third. Exhaling, he lifts her hand again, this time to press the flats of her knuckles to his lips. ]
I wouldn't regret you.
[ Lighter isn't familiar with the taste of defeat, but like this, he thinks he could get used to it. ]
( OOC; screams hihihi. Thank you so much for the thoughtful Christmas present for Ragna. ;; And I'm sorry for my own radio silence while life was kicking me hard these past couple months. I'm back into the swing of things! Hope the holidays treated you good! )
[ Suffice to say, Ragna the Bloodedge + Partying was already a comically asinine combination. Given his criminal record and the reputation he upheld for himself back home, the only rambunctious scenes he was involved with were the ones that ended up with something getting blown up. One didn't get the rank of SS-Class by sitting on their thumbs, after all. Not even a near-on year of blending in at the Golden Peacock fully pacified the Grim Reaper to the festivities. By this stage? He's already indulged and played a couple of games. Took a couple wrong turns, cards at the end of those corners or not. The fact that there didn't seem to be any catch to using the Oasis was...actually a serious relief. It gave him a chance to message others at the party. Talk of his own accord without the trouble of getting interrupted.
Not that it helped many of those lower ranked looking for a chance to get away from it all. But he can fuss with trying to smuggle someone in later. If they're feeling on the fatigued side and need that little extra pampering. Luckily for one Texas, neither of them have to try that given she's cleverly talked her way in. Head tipped back as his heavier-lidded gaze is set on the ceiling, it's not until her quiet venture to have a seat in front of him that his attention is grabbed. Blink. A soft breath out and when he's met with a familiar face? ]
Oh, Cellinia, it's you.
[ There's a relaxed fondness to his cadence as he leans forward in his seat, gloved hands folded over the other as he works back to a small smile. It's easier to do for the ones that you trust. Especially when she pulled a fast one on him and left a very thoughtful gift for him on Christmas. The language looked familiar to him, even if he didn't speak a lick of Italian himself. Another language that fell to the wayside in the wake of the Dark War... But that didn't stop him from taking a moment on that day, setting the cutting board and recipe book on the marble counter, unaware of just how broad of a smile graced his lips.
He still hasn't forgotten. Nor did he intend to let it slide as he planned on making it up to her. The number of folk in this world that he managed to get along with was...surprisingly a bigger one than he expected- in contrast to the list of enemies back home. But there's an even smaller list of those that he would consider having a "soft spot" for amidst everyone he's amicable with.
Texas barely needed to try before she made that list. Huffing at her remark, the smile turns into a smirk. ]
Oh yeah? What gave it away?
[ Well now that he has company, something to compliment the meat platter she's tested, he might as well play host(?) in the booth. He doesn't even question how she got in yet as he reaches for the freshly brewed pot of coffee. A medium blend- not bad despite the fact he usually prefers a deeper roast. ]
[ it's the second time he's held her hand so closely, but this time feels completely new, if only for the sensation of his lips pressed against her skin. she can't stop the tremble this time, full-bodied rather than just in her fingers; her cheeks flush with a warmth that rivals his own, but she doesn't pull away.
it's strange—she's barely moved at all in the past few minutes, but her heart is beating so quickly. ]
I hope not. [ she's teasing a little bit; the fondness has yet to leave her expression. ] I wouldn't regret you either. I know I won't.
[ and she'll continue to tell him that, even if she has to do so for the entirety of their stay here. ]
( a perfectly bland reaction. it's to be expected, because the majority of the crowd doesn't seem to know her here, and even so — this young man doesn't seem the type to be a fan.
still. it's a relatively novel experience to be watched like this, with his face kept so impassive, shockingly still even with the marked burst of smoke that might have meant that he had just held his breath. it blows a small amount of it in the direction of her face, all warm and bitter and acrid, and before she can debate if it's worth it to look below surface-level for some real emotion, he's already up and out of his seat.
hardly any reaction at all, and that could be boring. it could mean that he's so wrapped up in protocol, that even something like this is just another task to check off of some to-do list. it's business, it makes it easy, and so robin hums some lilting note that may not quite be assent. )
Alright then. I suppose this means we'll be perfectly boring together.
( as for her charm and dignity... well, the sad, dark, mottled heap that was once her disguise is all tangled up on the thin carpet where she unduly... steps onto it, as she gets off the stool. arguably she doesn't have much of either, either.
but he affords her some dignity of not commenting on it, at least, and commits to the very serious duty that is his burden to bear. the straight lines of his suit present so severe, he looks ridiculous with something bright pink in hand, holding it in no certain way, and yet it springs to mind some battle-ready stance, how someone might hold a weapon, a blade.
a stark contrast to the kindness he still thinks to offer, and robin blinks to look at the full tray on the countertop, considering— )
( — right before it's swept right off of it, tray tumbling behind the bar top and the shatter of all of those neatly stacked glasses ringing harsh and loud, even above the clatter-call of the casino bursting with the life of the party in the golden backdrop.
of course she jumps, startling, but it's only when a couple goes barreling onto the countertop, too keyed up with ripping their clothes off to really pay attention to people who are just minding their own business, that she gets shoved out of the way and into aki's direction where she's reaching out to regain her balance.
she has gloves. but it's still a lot of skin showing with her uniform: bare arms and collarbones and the stretch of her back underneath those beaten-up bird (angel) wings. and he has — what.
[Vil elicits a hum of interest at the mention of the tropics, averting his attention from the concrete boxes to the taller man.]
I can't say I've spent much time in tropical weather myself. Maybe a few days for a shoot or vacation, but most of my time has been spent in milder climes.
[But he does feel it's worth mentioning...]
Still, snow isn't pleasant to walk in barefoot, regardless of how many years I might have spent exposed to it.
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