【 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.
"He vanished. We've noticed some of the hotel occupants turn into the statues you see. So most likely, that is what became of him, though I haven't seen his statue, specifically, yet." At least, that's what Shanks has surmised. He's sad about it. The young Marine had seemed clever, with a strong moral compass. That's not something he can say about most Marines.
"Not currently," Shanks admits with a small shrug, not wanting to talk about their falling out, ever, not even to himself. "Buggy. Perhaps you've into him, already. Seems most of the Straw Hats do, at one point or another."
None of them have really talked specifics, though, so Shanks doesn't know the connection between than Orange Town, even though he knows of what happened to Orange Town, just not who saved it.
Shanks' own expression shifts with compassion. It's not encouraging, no, to hear others have been stuck that long.
"We'll figure it out, yet. Nami has been making details maps of the area, and we explore it. Sometimes new areas open up, as well," Shanks tries to assure Zoro.
There's a shake of Shanks' head as his hand moves to clap Zoro's shoulder, if Zoro allows it.
"Nonsense. Stay as long as you like," he offers. And if Shanks had any idea of Zoro's tendencies, he might feel obligated to escort him. At least he does ask, out of curiosity, "where is room? Did they assign you one, yet? Sometimes they take a while."
[ it's okay. leona's here to more or less think for others when it's needed. as he fights the urge to wrap an arm over akira's shoulder and ends up doing it anyway, because most things are just unconscious and he's... feeling pretty comfortable with the guy... ]
But it's still a good motivator. You make people hunger and thirst and they'll get to a point where they'll do anything to sate themselves.
[ unfortunately the new third new requirement comes in the form of... well. funky little suit markings that make people need to do things. so technically thirst works doubly so in what he's said but ]
I'm sure if you're smart enough, you'll be able to take care of yourself over time.
Aventurine, ( and a hand extended for him to take, because aventurine is nothing if not polite. ) Truly a pleasure.
( with that out of the way, aventurine can put the gears in his head to work. wei wuxian doesn't seem the kind of person to wear concern on his shoulders; a few days of endless partying and unexpectedly sharing a bed with a stranger don't seem to affect him as it would most people. that, and worse yet, it's almost like he doesn't so much care about it - either an usual occurrence, or he doesn't think aventurine is so much a threat, or he has the means to defend himself, maybe, if worse came to worst. or maybe he's really just the kind who doesn't stress the details so much. something like aventurine, in a way, who rides the situation as is and relies on something that shouldn't be so relied on to deal with it.
he hums, pleased with the thought. meeting people who tend to be on the same wavelength as him is always fun. so much better than those who rely too much on minute planning. )
I assume the mystery of why we were both sleeping on the same bed partially nude isn't so much of a mystery to you. ( not because he thinks he has the answers, but he assumes he's about as confident that nothing would have happened rather than the opposite. ) Though,
( pointed look at his new friend's face... then down... then back up, ) I doubt I would have so much minded.
[Ah. Though he recognizes that his discomfort wasn't exactly subtle, he can't help but turn his own self-chastisement inward for making it obvious enough this man noticed. His own gaze strays to the clothing rack in consideration. Surely there will be something on there preferable to this... flimsy excuse of a robe wrapped around his body.]
It's nothing I can't stand. Besides, with your help, I am no longer soaking wet.
[A bit of a charitable interpretation, since Neuvillette was the reason he became a drowned rat in the first place.]
How about we both change together? Facing away, of course. I don't mean to invade your privacy. Our circumstances are difficult enough at the moment.
[He withholds anything personal about himself or his own circumstances, because it's obvious either way.]
Nothing should be done against anyone's will. There must be a reason for such forced compliance, then — something that stands as the goal or outcome. And it must be... significant.
[And what would that be, in a place seemingly fixated on sex...? Sunday can't begin to guess.]
[He can see it processing on Stelle's face, for a moment wondering at how she manages to — do as she does with such bravery and confidence (and lack of consideration for consequences), but it doesn't take much to remember she's a Trailblazer for a reason. It is something Sunday has come to admire in all of the members of the Astral Express.
... Well, he's flattered she thinks he's a genius, even if he considers the compliment too extreme. Oh to be reckless without anxiety.]
Ah.
[Nothing happens.]
You were trying to summon your weapon? [Sorry if this is embarrassing for you, Stelle.] I wonder if whatever traps us here is preventing it. Hm. In that case, it could be... a puzzle. [Sunday stands again, moving down the aisle to investigate the two doors on either side of the vehicle.] Have you noticed anything strange in our surroundings?
( he does see it all, the ways in which such a question seem to mean so very much to sunday that he does not wish to loosen his hold of it. in a way, aventurine understands. it is less about remembering bygone days, or giving it up entirely - it's who sits at the other end of the table. it's the show of vulnerability that he's sure sunday wishes not to expose to aventurine.
so this is where they sit, still. a particular caution that might be ever in their acquaintance, as a head of the family, and an envoy of the ipc. )
You must've been busy with your duties to the Family to play it again. ( a throwaway comment, in part, as aventurine stares down the house of cards as sunday ponders which card to remove next. ) It would be unfortunate if you forgot it.
( and aventurine means it, whether sunday wants to believe his words or not. )
Hmm~ Bedtime routine? I just put on pajamas then hit the bed. What's left to do?
( the thing is - it's not an entirely truthful answer, but one that aventurine experiments with. his watch rings with a notification again, that more of his chips have been forfeit and sent over to sunday. figures that the house doesn't want half-truths to a game built on questions and answers, huh.
aventurine does not so much address it - let sunday wonder why he'd lie about such an innocuous question -, carefully reaching for another card. the better question is - how long would either of them forcibly make the house fall? )
Do you pour milk before your cereal, or after?
( ough. do they have cereal in penacony. probably huh. clockie themed cereal... )
[Genya. Also unusual, but hailing from a place where so many cultures intermix, Sunday doesn't question its origin.
He's more concerned with that answer. It's vague, but in a way that reveals a seeming ambivalence toward the subject matter of time. Given what little he's begun to learn about those long-term guests and their own ghostly nature, fully surrendered to the hedonism of the resort, it is no wonder. If someone were to wake up in this place against their will day after day, would such an apathy compound? Isn't it inevitable?
That thought nags at him, reminiscent of the Dreamscape in ways that are uncomfortable to consider.
The interaction with the staff calls him to pause — he's grateful for his own discipline, schooling features into cool neutrality at the discussion of sex toys (or lack thereof requested). Just a comb. And then they're alone inside the room, door soundly shut in the man's face.
He's grateful, but he doesn't know quite how to express that, so he simply... obeys. Coming forward, sinking to his knees on the carpet, facing partially away from Genya — not without a glance at scarred hands. He looks so young. What exactly is it that he's endured in his life already? The thought aches.]
... Would you mind, ah... [The request is hard to ask. No one has been this close to him since he was a child.] My ear wings are sensitive. If you could avoid touching them, that would be preferred.
[The wings in question flicker, a little, and tuck in closer to his cheeks to keep out of the way.]
[Generous? Hah! Rin can only guess that Yae is as generous as she, herself, is. Despite the warmth that floods her cheeks and the color that dusts across the tips of her ears, Tohsaka decides to be a little pain. Because why not? Someone who gets to have all the power should actually work for it.]
Thank you, Lady Yae.
[She replies with more attitude and less reverence than she should. No need to roll her eyes when the bite of disobedience is clear in her voice. Rin turns her nose up. Haughty and clearly meant as a taunt — in the same way the gesture of her pushing a lock of her wavy, dark hair over her shoulder is.]
[No one suitable? Hah, of course not. If he's the type of man to spend a few days with her and deem her an "ideal master," for him... well, it's only natural he'd find a difficult replacement. Tohsaka is such a bundle of contradictions and oddities that it would be a surprise if he found someone similar to her.
Her hold on him ends, and she instead turns her attentions to her breakfast. By some unknown miracle he has relented, and as such she should reward that by allowing him some space. The medicine still has yet to kick in, so her assessment of the food and tea is slow.]
Good. They do put their own little additives to these things, but not usually when their "big bash" celebrations are winding down. The highest risk is at a party or a shop. A constant threat isn't a very effective one, after all.
[There needs to be certain types of "safe havens" in order to slowly frog-boil your prey, after all.]
[Only one sex toy... that is a miracle. Scott refrains from asking what it is, partly because he doesn't care, and partly because there's a 70% chance he has no idea what it's used for. Maybe. And it's sort of embarrassing to let something like that be known.
Perhaps, surprisingly, Scott does as he's told, sitting cross-legged on the bed as Kizuna shuffles around the room. With that bit of water in him and early morning crabbiness fading away, he actually feels kind of... content? Maybe comfortable? The bed's nice and he could've woken up next to someone far worse than the rather affectionate man that's bringing plates of food to him. He's still annoying of course!! But... he's feeling a little grateful now.]
Yeah, I know. [...] I'm not saying no to free food.
[Unless it's drugged, which is possible because that's how this place operates, but he's too hungry to think about that much. Plus, he's a broke ass rank 3. Scott just grabs a nearby fork to shovel a mouthful of eggs into his mouth, only stopping to answer Kizuna with his hand partially covering his mouth.]
Coffee. [The word sounds a little muffled because of the food, but it should be audible enough.]
[It's a good thing he can't see inside this guy's head or he would've given him an even stranger expression. At least he has some experience with people coming from different time periods and worlds. From futuristic to archaic. Bakugo crosses the remaining spans of the garage with a deliberate pace, not wanting to stay in here with more of those damn alarms blaring as other people start waking up and causing a ruckus.
If this guy wants to stick around, he's welcome to. Bakugo's done with the experience for now.]
Some cars have motion sensors; they'll go off if something moves within their range without the proper key.
[And if this guy means "accidentally bumped it" by "landing beside it" then he's gonna set the damn thing off anyways. Finally, the stairs. They can head up and towards the hotel proper.]
I'm not dragging your ass around the entire place! [So get that idea out of your head! He will give a generic one with map help for other out of the way areas.] Bakugo. [He doesn't need the whole name each time.] The garage comes out to the ground floor. You can get to almost any place in the resort from here.
If the diary entries we've found are legit, this place has had the power to pluck people from the branches, but it's still mostly on us to make them connect.
That's where Game 52, the hedonistic atmosphere and the various incidents come in.
And if you're wondering— when people from the same world have sex, it contributes your deck in the game, but not to the connections this place is aiming to gather.
[ she grumbles into a pillow in frustration. ]
If it isn't about sex, and connections between people in the same world don't matter, the game doesn't make sense.
The man is approachable in a way Alice isn't sure how to describe. Despite the way his shoulders square his frame with assertion, she doesn't worry that his response will be negative. In fact, when he snorts his amusement at her honest commentary, Alice immediately feels herself ease in his presence. Even if it's barely two seconds of a sound, it doesn't feel like she's being laughed at so much as being innocently endeared. It isn't generally her goal to earn that perspective from others, so Alice is surprised when the tiniest approval licks her insides with warmth like the flame of his lighter does when he ignites the cigarette for her.
"Perfect," she replies on her exhale, the smoke billowing above her momentarily like some kind of rain cloud sidekick. It dissipates as quickly as it gathers, and her body relaxes in response to the initial hit, handing back the lighter with only slight hesitation. She might need it again soon, unsure of how strong a dose is required to reach its full potential. Alice wants nothing more than to procrastinate falling asleep as long as possible lest this strange, indulgent, beautiful dream come to an end.
"I figure I'll go and explore some more after this. I'm really so curious, it feels like the halls never actually end."
Where she expects to feel immediately wired, Alice prefers the way Twig calms her senses, clearing her mind completely. It's as though the drug is designed to eradicate concern so the next four days awake can be "productive." Any small semblance of consciousness that what is about to happen might have real consequences is swept away by the drug and replaced with an assuredness that rivals the other man's confident nonchalance.
A man who isn't leaving, Alice notes from her peripherals. The silence of absorbing the atmosphere together doesn't feel uncomfortable, so she lets it hang there as she continues to quietly smoke and contemplate. She speaks up at what feels like the right time, slowly swivelling on her bar stool to look out toward the crowd first, then back at him. Her eyebrows narrow curiously before she says anything, trying to catch his gaze again. She tilts her head slightly, smoke curling from the corner of her lips, as she offers the cigarette with an inquisitive lift of her brow.
[ It’s a relief when she lets go. He lets his hand fall away, and thankfully, he manages not to do so as if he’d just been scalded with something.
He can’t make heads or tails of the gesture, and he isn’t going to try to. He does feel a bit annoyed that he agreed to eat now — but what’s done is done, and he won’t take it back.
Suppressing a sigh, Archer walks back to the food trays and stares critically at all of it before putting a few things on a plate. He also makes a cup of tea…which is more what he actually wants than food. Eating is…strange. No matter how much staff kept shoving their choice delights at him during the party. ]
I noticed.
[ He didn’t enjoy the hedonist forever party. Not at all. He thought he managed to avoid the drugs and more questionable consumable items…but considering the present circumstances, that’s debatable.
He settles at the foot of the other side of the bed so they can continue talking — and so there’s space. He takes a bite of his food and debates what to ask before settling on one question. ]
[That... Was probably true. Especially given whatever was guarding the exits knew her by this point.
She reached up, rubbing at the bridge of her nose. She really missed her hat right now. Then she might have been able to hide her reddening cheeks.][The last part came out in a rush.
Then she just kinda...leant towards him. It was less of a faint and more of a flop.]
[Naoto's head snapped to look at his watch, blinking at it. Then frowning at the other players, It turned into a scowl when she heard some of the whispers.
Yeah, she was going to stand and follow him. He was more pleasant than the others and he seemed important. Because she knew she was missing something.]
[Akira rocks to the side a bit with the lean, his entire body tensing in that instinctive "being-touched-by-a-stranger" reaction. Leona will be able to feel it-- taut shoulders, tense muscles, like a coil tightly wound and ready to spring free at any moment]
[he doesn't, though. not yet!! though he does give Leona a bit of a side-eye, more curious than judgmental, because those words do bring to mind that funky little suit marking that makes his hackles raise. the most infuriating part of this place. . . and the main reason he wants to tear it all down, if he can]
[. . .]
I'm not really worried about myself.
[he is scrappy and resourceful, doggedly (and stupidly) determined to maintain whatever sense of agency he can while he is here. he is pretty sure he'll be okay]
. . . you seem like you've got things figured out, too.
Well, thanks for not using it in this round, I guess. It probably wouldn't be as much fun if you can predict what's coming.
[ and the fact that mona can just do that at any time yet chose not to has earned her some points in ishmael's book. at least there's one other person here who wouldn't fuck her over despite having the power to do so. probably. ]
Still, I'm curious -- does that mean you know which among us is going to win this round?
[ the dice has been pretty nice to them so far, so maybe ishmael has a chance...... ]
but the compromise is acceptable and he nods once in the affirmative, appending a quick very well, before turning towards the creaky clothing rack and sorting through the options hung up for display. high collars, ruffled sleeves, all similar to the fashion he usually wears, though the fabric itself is stiff underneath his fingers and a touch dusty as well.
a small moth flies out from underneath one coat lapel, careening past sunday's ear before vanishing in the dim light. neuvillette frowns. )
It seems as though these have not been worn for some time.
( might there be mold growing on the inside of some of them....? hopefully not. with a shirt and pair of slacks pulled off the rack, he gets to work changing. turned away from sunday, of course. )
[ she peers at her watch, her eyes widening. she should be grateful, especially since in a few more days, she'll find out that she's landed on the bottom rank compared to virtually everyone else here in this resort.
but she can't help the crease that forms between her eyebrows as she faces neuvillette again, carefully scrutinizing him. ]
You're... not just doing this because you feel sorry for me, are you?
[ she'd thought the conditions of this game are fair enough. she lost, so she must pay. it could've been a lot worse, like paying for her literal time or worse, her own life. her time on the pequod and in the City as a Whole has trained her to be more cautious of the hand that feeds her, after all. ]
[ Seeing Sizhui's fluster is very cute and makes him want to tease him more but he doesn't want to derail the conversation entirely either. So, he just smiles and resists the urge to ruffle his hair instead.
And then Sizhui goes again and calls him Xian-gege and now Wei Wuxian is the one who is flustered and touched. Ahh!! He's Xian-gege again!! That makes him, honestly, want to cry. But no, he'll power through it and focus. Focus!! ]
Oh, that — hm. [ Turning into stone, huh? ] Sounds bad.
[ But right, the second world. Amani. A world full of technology he he didn't understand? Sounds kind of like Wei Wuxian's current predicament here in the Peacock. Maybe Sizhui will be able to help him learn a bit more about the ways things work here, especially this gadget on his wrist. ]
Amani on the other hand sounds... a bit fun? Learning new technology, traveling to different worlds, it's all interesting. I guess that's the bright side of being taken to these different worlds, you get to see and learn a lot.
[ First, there is gratitude from Wei Wuxian. A bow of his head and a small smile because he appreciates the condolences. He has mixed feelings about his shijie's death and blames himself for a lot of it — should blame himself for it, in his opinion — but it doesn't mean he doesn't miss her. He misses her so much, every day.
And then the next bit has him nodding as well, Neuvillette's words ringing true.
Still, this has become a very serious topic suddenly and Wei Wuxian wonders if they should change it. He swallows and looks to the card house. ]
Hm. I could pull another card but there's a chance it might be equally depressing. Two questions in and we sure have learned a lot about each other.
[ Hmm! ]
How about we ditch the game and go get a drink instead? I think it'll be fine if we both choose to forfeit.
[ THE CAR IS TOTALLY BIG ON THE INSIDE. Probably. Maybe. Either way Wei Wuxian does not fight it as Beowulf moves him around, letting his hand grab the front seat in front of them, since they're probably at least in the backseat to give them. Some room.
He jerks backwards instinctively when his ass is popped, making a pleased noise at the feeling of Beowulf's cock between his cheeks. Then he's going to start rocking against him, grinding against that cock and letting the sensation of it overwhelm him. At the same time, he reaches a hand underneath himself, curling it around his cock and stroking it as he grinds up against Beowulf's cock.
Ah, fuck, that's nice. ]
Ha...! You're crazy but your cock is nice. You should fuck me when we're not stuck in some room later.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
goldmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
peacockstop2025-01-15 09:00 pm
Page 178 of 213