【 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.
( as a general rule, neuvillette declines most invitations for parties that are sent his way. they are crowded, the chitchat often banal, and the constant attention lingering on his person - the title of chief justice will always hold water, no matter where in fontaine he goes - always leaves him feeling even more like an outsider.
there is, however, no escape from this particular gathering, no matter how he protests.
and what a gathering it is, blinding and decadent, beyond even any that the highest fontaininan noble might have thrown. in his finely tailored suit, ivory-white with a translucent sheen, hair tied back in a loose braid with a blue silk ribbon, he hardly stands out in the crowd. with the veil of anonymity, as it were, draped over his face, he finds himself more willing to mingle with the crowd, ghosting his way across the floor to examine a thin-necked vase here and inspect the foodstuffs laid out there.
the buffet tables nearly buckle under the weight of all the dishes on display, and yet his eyes skim listless over each dish, frown deepening as he searches for one particular thing. )
No water?
( surely not. )
HOUSE OF CARDS
( though he has no wish to play any of the 'games' on display, his observance of a few having left him with a sense of discomfort and dismay, he allows himself to be cajoled into a chair next to a house of cards. it's a simple game of question and answer, he is told, with the only loss being that of his chips should he be so unlucky as to knock the whole thing over.
with his gloved hands folded neatly in his lap, long legs crossed in front of him, he meets the gaze of his partner, violet eyes clear. one hand lifts, gesturing elegantly towards the neatly balanced cards. )
Would you like to go first, or shall I?
MORNING AFTER
( when he wakes, it is in a room he does not recognize, next to a body he is unfamiliar with, the memory of falling asleep absent from his mind. the only mercy is that, unlike when he first awoke in this place, he is clothed, though not in very much. he slips out of bed, careful not to jostle his companion, then sets towards the trousers and shirt tossed casually over the back of the chair
there is a proper order to these things, after all, and the adherence to a schedule (inasmuch as he can) helps settle him in this unfamiliar place. once clothed, he sorts through the basket on the table, through the medicine, the water bottles, the face masks and lotions…and the particularly large dildo, ridged all around.
he sighs. )
I should hope they at least sanitize these before adding them to the baskets.
OOC
( permissions here, no kink list yet but would prefer to keep to non-penetrative acts/lighter kinks for the tdm. send a pm with any questions or if you'd like to do a different prompt. )
[Wriothesley had long since gotten used to one of the following: waking up in a space that wasn't his own or waking up to someone in his space that definitely wasn't there before.
How fortuitous that Neuvillette has ended up in the man's space after he had grown in rank once again. While his room as a 7 wasn't bad, it was definitely nothing close to the lavishness of his room as a 10. Usually he would have been awoken to someone else in his space, but Neuvillette wasn't just some random stranger. They were someone he trusted, even if he had not seen the man in quite awhile now, so rousing him is a slower process than the usual. He stays curled under the sheets, tufts of hair just barely sticking out and he only moves to sit up with a yawn when Neuvillette speaks.]
Trust me, they have enough toys in this place that giving sloppy seconds would be an insult to their image. [His sleep addled brain has picked up the words, but hasn't quite placed the voice as he rubs his eyes to try and rid himself of the remnants of his slumber.]
( perhaps he should have investigated his bedroom partner more closely upon waking.
unfamiliarity breeds caution and awareness, and so he's wide awake when that voice filters to his ears. the unfortunate addition to the basket goes forgotten in his surprise, his body first stiffening and then straightening as he turns, eyes wide. )
Wriothesley?
( not the person he would have expected to see, and yet he's grateful for the presence of someone he knows and trusts. the knot in his stomach loosens slightly, his shoulders evening out ever so slightly. )
They've brought you here as well?
( even as the question leaves his lips, he can't help but begin to tally up other names in his mind. the party had been vast, the crowd dense. it's very likely he would have missed any additional familiar faces in the throng. )
[It's the cadence in which the man speaks; the familiar tone in which it was spoken that rouses him properly. It feels a little like home had crept its way into the corners of his heart, trying to fill in the emptiness that has grown the longer that he's away from Fontaine.
Sleep is already forgotten as he looks at the other with something akin to shock. It'll never stop catching him by surprise when a familiar face shows up in this place. There's always a complicated feeling of happy to see them and not wanting them to be here.
He swallows audibly before finding his words.] I've been here awhile, actually. [There's no point in lying to them and Wriothesley had no reason to lie about the reality either.]
I'm afraid they frequently encourage drinking here, monsieur.
[ really, after everything mona has experienced over the last year, witnessing the iudex attending this party simply doesn't surprise her. rather, she pities him; mona understands the initial displeasure from such a debauched setting, especially if he is seeking water of all beverages. at the very least, the alcohol being served doesn't appear to be of special origin. that would've made for an interesting first encounter.
mona approaches neuvillette's side and plants a hand on her hip. having given him a clearer view of her now, he'll see she is wearing a short, stylish dress with a garter, choker, and gloves. she soon gestures towards the gourmet food laid out in superfluous proportions. ]
I could conjure a little Hydro for you, but you might find it distasteful to drink it.
( decades in the court have left him with a sharp eye and a sharper ear, and the combination of 'monsieur' and 'hydro' has him turning to face the woman with a searching look. at first glance she is unrecognizable; then again, he has seen so many faces in the opera epiclese he would be unlikely to recognize her even if she hailed from fontaine.
nonetheless, he affixes a polite smile onto his face. )
My thanks for the offer, but I'm afraid I will have to decline.
( he may prefer water above all else, but he can and has imbibed other drinks in the past when left with no other alternative. so long as it isn't fonta, he should be able to make do. )
Though you appear to have me at a disadvantage, Madamoiselle....?
( please state your name and occupation for the court. )
[ a good answer, she thinks. better for him to acclimate sooner than later. struggling against the current here usually results in unfortunate circumstances. it's more suitable to play along, even if it's something as simple as accepting a drink.
still, rather than return his smile, mona arrogantly lifts her chin and lowers her lashes. regardless of his position in fontaine, she is still prideful enough to assert herself in front of him. introducing herself to others is something she enjoys, as well. it's the perfect opportunity to gain their admiration and respect. that, and mona is just eager for praise. ]
I am Mona Megistus, meaning the Great Astrologist Mona. I write for the column 'All Things Astrological' in The Steambird.
[ she gives neuvillette a firm look, and then, at last, smiles. ]
Perhaps you have heard of me. If you have not, I'll be certain to change that.
( as a general rule of thumb, reira indulged in most things except food. having the weight of the music industry on her shoulders, she was often forced to be quite attentive of her figure and condition. no excessive smoking, food consumption, avoid the sun— all the things needed to remain perfect and pristine.
so while she was more than eager to engage in the party and the games, she knew she needed to stay hydrated. wrinkles, bags under eyes, all caused by the lack of water. so much like neuvillette, she too was standing before the buffet in dismay over the lack of that sweet elixir. )
Criminal is what it is.
( dressed in a corset style black dress and gold hoop earrings, she turned to face this stranger with a rather annoyed expression. )
It's like they want us to pass out of dehydration or something.
( could it be? a comrade in arms in his lamentations? a kindred spirit in search of that life-giving elixir?
it's someone pretty, fashionable, insofar as his understanding of such things go. time and again, sigewinne has tried to impress upon him the intricacies of fashion trends, but as a man whose sole duty is to preside over a court of law, neuvillette has never seen the need to keep up with fashion when his judge's robes have become expectation seven days out of the week. )
Indeed. Hardly what one would expect from a business centered around satisfaction of its guests.
( but his middling opinions of this place aside, he's more concerned for the young woman next to him. concern colors the edge of his voice, his head canted to one side. )
Have you need of anything else beyond water, Miss? Perhaps I can flag down a nearby waiter for the both of us.
( the annoyed expression doesn't linger for long— in fact, the moment he offered to service her, she's all smiles but still clearly perturbed by the overwhelming nature of this place and the lack of something everyone needed.
she turned to face him fully this time, eyes giving him a quick run down before she finally spoke. )
You'd think they would have taken that into consideration, but I suppose we could find out if they at least have sparkling water—
and you can just call me 'Reira', a pleasure to meet you.
( don't mind her holding out her hand delicately, to offer a proper introduction. )
[ what a prim and proper gentleman. not going to lie, going toe-to-toe with a guy like him on a simple game of what's essentially just truth and... truth? is a little intimidating, but ishmael's faced worse things and people at sea that at this point, she's got nothing to fear anymore. probably. she's got nothing to hide for the most part anyway.
and thus, she'll volunteer. ]
It's fine, I'll do it. [ she caaaarefully pulls out a card from the stack and reads the question off of it. ] "What’s the strangest rumor you’ve heard about yourself?"
( he waits politely for her to select a card and read off the question written upon it. a harmless question, with a harmless answer. perhaps this game will be a pleasant enough time after all.
a few seconds tick by as he mulls over his answer. four hundreds years is quite the length of time for any number of rumors to have circulated regarding his person. the strangest must surely be that he is fond of crying, but in lieu of revealing his true identity so soon to a complete stranger he settles for: )
I believe a tabloid magazine once reported me to be the only male Melusine in the entirety of Teyvat. ( his lips pinch at the edges. ) Despite having no evidence to back up their claims and knowing full well that Fontaine law dictates all Melusines to be referred to as 'she' rather than 'it'.
( to try and go against pre-established law? a foolish endeavor. )
And to think they referred to themselves as the 'leading edge of journalism.'
( an aggravated sigh, followed by a lean forward of his body as he reaches out towards the house of cards. his hand hovers and then chooses, pausing momentarily in place as a nearby card shudders and wobbles, and then retracts fully to flip his card over once the house stabilizes. )
[ there's a lot to take away here from his response alone, and luckily, ishmael is observant enough to catch them like the honor student that she is. the fact that he's been featured in a tabloid once means that he already has quite the reputation in his homeland, for example, and... something about laws? are they the same as the laws of the Great Lake where she's from, she wonders. and what even are melusines...?
but before she can go ahead and ask for further inquiry, he's pulled out a question and reads it aloud, to which ishmael responds with her face going pale with embarrassment. right, not all questions are going to be tame like the one she got just now. ]
Wait, can we go back to what Melusines are, exactly? That question is a little...
[ help, she hasn't really thought too deeply about that -- assuming that the question wasn't just pertaining to chicken. give her a minute to reboot. ]
[ Now this guy? This guy sets off Wei Wuxian's need to bother and poke and prod. He's much too proper and dignified and it reminds Wei Wuxian of the Lan clan back home, which just makes him want to ruin his image as a result. Which is probably why they've ended up playing this game together in the first place. Wei Wuxian is friendly, overly chummy, and with a gaze that is too clever by half.
So, here they sit and Wei Wuxian takes a sip of his drink — alcohol, of course, because he is a lush. When Neuvillette offers for him to go first, he smiles brightly and says — ]
Not a problem.
[ And very deftly, he plucks a card from the stack. Somewhere in the middle too, challenging himself.
The card reads: If you could go back in time and change the past, would you?
Wei Wuxian's smile turns a bit strained at that but he bounces back fairly quickly before giving a shake of his head. ]
No way, what's done is done. There's nothing for me to change. What about you?
there have been many in his life who have attempted to befriend him and irritate him, some even at the same time. this unfamiliar man's antics are nothing new, though to his credit he is keeping himself well in check. so long as he behaves so too will neuvillette continue playing this game.
that, and he finds himself curious as to how the other patrons of this establishment are fitting in, and what methods they might have used to acclimate themselves to this new way of life. observation is the key to understanding, in many situations.
he watches the man select his card - from the middle too, how impressive - and the way his smile flickers in and out. but every person here has their secrets, himself included, and so he does not pry. merely waits for an answer with his hands still folded in his lap. )
I must concur. Were we to simply go back and revert our choices from the past, then it would annul all the experiences and lessons learned as a result of those choices.
( both good and bad. though….hmmm. he cants his head. )
Though I have heard that many novels are often predicated upon this basis, that the main character must go back in time in order to fix a mistake made in their youth.
[ He doesn't want to make an enemy, at least! He genuinely wants to make a friend. He just also has. The impulse. The Itch. The need to bother. Still, he doesn't know Neuvillette yet so he's trying to restrain himself. If they're both stuck here, there will be plenty of time to grow this relationship. Since, Wei Wuxian is pretty sure he's stuck here for an indefinite amount of time anyway.
They're both on the same wavelength though in terms of observation. Everything here is new and different, especially for a guy like Wei Wuxian who comes from a place not as technologically advanced as this. Might as well take it in stride and make sure to take your cues from the others.
Wei Wuxian toys with the card in his hand, slipping it between his fingers in a loop as he listens to Neuvillette. The man seems to understand what Wei Wuxian's perspective is, even if he hadn't explained it. That bodes well for a budding friendship. ]
Exactly.
[ But ah, the mention of novels has Wei Wuxian giving a slow blink and a curious head tilt. He's read plenty of fiction but science fiction isn't exactly a popular genre in his time just yet. So, while he has read similar stories, not many. More go back in time because of magic or gods than science. ]
An interesting concept, for sure. Entertaining enough for a story, good enough to have a moral at the end of it. I could see myself spooking my juniors with a story like it.
[ it would be impossible for clorinde to miss neuvillette no matter how much time has passed since she'd last seen him. she's certain it would have been no time at all from his perspective, but for her, it's been at least six months. it's strange—the surge of recognition she felt is immediately tempered by a sinking feeling of... not quite dread, but something adjacent to it, knowing that he too is now trapped in the same way she is. clorinde would have rather he be spared from the debauchery of the resort, but there's little she can do about it now.
but there are some things that remain the same, in spite of it. whatever emotions she had felt are carefully tucked away by the time she approaches him with a glass in hand, taking her spot at his right as she's done before. ]
( whatever he expects this place, filled with sensuous bodies and overwrought decor, it isn't clorinde stepping up to him with a glass of water in her outstretched hand, appearing out of seemingly nowhere as though this were just another day in the courts and not the height of a ribald party.
neuvillette straightens, surprised, though there is relief on his face as well. )
Clorinde. You have my thanks.
( the water is taken, the cool glass held between his hands for comfort, but he does not drink straightaway. instead, he fixes her with his gaze, searching for any signs of harm or distress. as always, she is calm and unwavering, the very qualities that set her at the top as a champion duelist now stabilizing her here as well. )
I did not expect to see you here as well.
( should he be searching for furina next? though no doubt he would have heard her long before catching sight of her. she always did have a knack for landing herself directly in the spotlight, intended or otherwise. )
[ he takes the glass (it's not his favorite water, unfortunately, but she's doing the best with what they have) and clorinde's hands move to settle behind her back, her posture loose but alert even while under his full attention. anyone would be intimidated bearing the weight of neuvillette's scrutiny, but clorinde takes the time to look at him in turn, both to ensure that he's as fine as he could be under the circumstances and to allow herself a brief moment to feel a certain degree of homesickness. at least, until she stifles it again.
nothing changes with his arrival; her goal remains the same: to find a way back to where she belongs. but until then, it's easy to recalibrate her focus, to feel the familiar weight of purpose again now that he's here. ]
I can say the same for you. [ despite the time that's passed, clorinde looks relatively the same, now in a tailored suit with matching heels. her hair is gathered into a neat braid draped over her shoulder, tied off with a navy ribbon. ] How was your arrival?
[ Sylvain's still getting used to the new room, but it's not all that odd for him to be waking up with someone else these days. 'Waking up' used loosely, of course, because he's not a morning person and he barely stirs when his partner for the night gets up and starts to dress. He spares a sleepy thought for being grateful they're being quiet before that voice breaks the morning's sleepy silence.
And it doesn't take him long to realize that's not a voice he recognizes and therefore... probably doesn't belong to one of the people he normally wakes up next to.
Amber eyes blink open with groggy confusion to stare at the stranger. Trying to place him, or perhaps the events of the night before that had led to this strange morning, perhaps. ]
Uhh. Pretty sure they're new. At least. They have been every other time. Who... are you? Did we meet and I just forgot?
'Every other time?' So you mean to say these occurrences happen on a regular basis?
( a note of questioning that yields quickly to displeasure. that ought not be surprising given all he has learned about this place thus far, and yet he cannot help but be aggrieved by it all. the dildo is passed over again, his hand reaching in for the only thing that sparks any amount of interest in him: the bottled water. )
But to answer your question, we have never met before, to my knowledge. I believe we have simply been placed together at the whims of this resort.
( perhaps this too is one of the forms of 'partnership' that miss megistus had mentioned. another tidbit to file away for later, when he isn't surrounded at all times by strange company. )
[ jing yuan is quite a sound sleeper.. at least, when he is comfortable in his own bed. here in a foreign land to which he did not agree to come is another story entirely. though it has been decades since last he saw real war, his senses are honed nonetheless to alert him to movement and change, when he is sleeping somewhere unfamiliar and therefore perhaps not entirely safe.
so when neuvillette stirs, jing yuan's eyelids flicker, then lift. the lovely man beside him seems to mean no harm, however, so he makes no move just yet, instead content to watch blearily as he dresses himself. it isn't until the dildo is plucked from the basket that jing yuan reacts, a smile curving his mouth, and a low chuckle rolling in his chest like distant thunder. ]
.. I would also hope so. Ideally, they would be brand new and unused.
[ and given how luxurious this resort is.. well. that's the least they could offer, isn't it? ]
neuvillette turns, dropping the foreign object back in the basket. there is poise in the way he holds himself, an almost inhuman grace, and yet there is tension present as well. for all that he deals with strangers on a daily basis, presiding over and witnessing the darkest parts of their history he never wished to know, there has always been a distance between him and them. between his high seat and their pleadings on the opera house floor.
here, there is none of that. it all feels far too personal.
and yet this is the new role he has been assigned, one he must learn to play as well. the frown on his face cannot be missed, and yet it is colored more by irritation than true anger. )
Ideally, they would have brought us all here with far more warning and consent.
( surely this breaks some sort of international law somewhere? perhaps there is a library present somewhere, with law texts he can peruse. )
My apologies. I did not mean to disrupt your sleep.
[ In a game like this, where they're supposed to be revealing information and risking toppling a more and more precarious structure.... going first is the obvious choice, at least in her mind. Anything else would show uncertainty and insecurity. He might not have a taste for this casino's over the top festivities and games, but at the very least, sitting across from him, she looks to be having a good time, appraising him like a jewel in the rough. Is he fun to toy with? Or a total killjoy? That's what she's more interested in, than the house of cards in front of them.
Plucking one of the horizontal cards out of the structure is easy enough, without disturbing any of the surrounding ones, so she does that first, flipping the card once through her fingers to get a look at the question. ]
Let's see... "what is your favorite season?"
[ Lucky, she got an easy one. She tosses the card nonchalantly onto the table in front of them, crossing her legs just as he is. ]
Spring. It's when all the flowers start bloom again.
( a simple answer for a simple question. he doesn't doubt that there won't be more probing, more personal questions shuffled in with the rest, but for now he is more than content to take the cards he has been dealt.
the aura around her is nonchalant, confident; by contrast, he sits straight as cardboard in his seat, more akin to one of the statues that dot the resort at irregular intervals than a living, breathing being made of flesh. though his movements are deft enough as he takes a card from the carefully balanced stack - one near the top, with the least chance of toppling the whole thing over. he has never been a risk-taker, and now is no different.
a flip and—a furrow of his brow as he reads the question aloud. )
"What pet name would you choose to call your partner in bed?"
( a question well-suited for the resort and ill-suited for him, a man who has never addressed anyone by anything less than their name and necessary title. )
Would it not be considered more intimate to simply use the name they have already been given?
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peacockstop2025-01-15 09:00 pm
neuvillette | genshin impact
( as a general rule, neuvillette declines most invitations for parties that are sent his way. they are crowded, the chitchat often banal, and the constant attention lingering on his person - the title of chief justice will always hold water, no matter where in fontaine he goes - always leaves him feeling even more like an outsider.
there is, however, no escape from this particular gathering, no matter how he protests.
and what a gathering it is, blinding and decadent, beyond even any that the highest fontaininan noble might have thrown. in his finely tailored suit, ivory-white with a translucent sheen, hair tied back in a loose braid with a blue silk ribbon, he hardly stands out in the crowd. with the veil of anonymity, as it were, draped over his face, he finds himself more willing to mingle with the crowd, ghosting his way across the floor to examine a thin-necked vase here and inspect the foodstuffs laid out there.
the buffet tables nearly buckle under the weight of all the dishes on display, and yet his eyes skim listless over each dish, frown deepening as he searches for one particular thing. )
No water?
( surely not. )
HOUSE OF CARDS
( though he has no wish to play any of the 'games' on display, his observance of a few having left him with a sense of discomfort and dismay, he allows himself to be cajoled into a chair next to a house of cards. it's a simple game of question and answer, he is told, with the only loss being that of his chips should he be so unlucky as to knock the whole thing over.
with his gloved hands folded neatly in his lap, long legs crossed in front of him, he meets the gaze of his partner, violet eyes clear. one hand lifts, gesturing elegantly towards the neatly balanced cards. )
Would you like to go first, or shall I?
MORNING AFTER
( when he wakes, it is in a room he does not recognize, next to a body he is unfamiliar with, the memory of falling asleep absent from his mind. the only mercy is that, unlike when he first awoke in this place, he is clothed, though not in very much. he slips out of bed, careful not to jostle his companion, then sets towards the trousers and shirt tossed casually over the back of the chair
there is a proper order to these things, after all, and the adherence to a schedule (inasmuch as he can) helps settle him in this unfamiliar place. once clothed, he sorts through the basket on the table, through the medicine, the water bottles, the face masks and lotions…and the particularly large dildo, ridged all around.
he sighs. )
I should hope they at least sanitize these before adding them to the baskets.
OOC
( permissions here, no kink list yet but would prefer to keep to non-penetrative acts/lighter kinks for the tdm. send a pm with any questions or if you'd like to do a different prompt. )
Morning After
How fortuitous that Neuvillette has ended up in the man's space after he had grown in rank once again. While his room as a 7 wasn't bad, it was definitely nothing close to the lavishness of his room as a 10. Usually he would have been awoken to someone else in his space, but Neuvillette wasn't just some random stranger. They were someone he trusted, even if he had not seen the man in quite awhile now, so rousing him is a slower process than the usual. He stays curled under the sheets, tufts of hair just barely sticking out and he only moves to sit up with a yawn when Neuvillette speaks.]
Trust me, they have enough toys in this place that giving sloppy seconds would be an insult to their image. [His sleep addled brain has picked up the words, but hasn't quite placed the voice as he rubs his eyes to try and rid himself of the remnants of his slumber.]
no subject
unfamiliarity breeds caution and awareness, and so he's wide awake when that voice filters to his ears. the unfortunate addition to the basket goes forgotten in his surprise, his body first stiffening and then straightening as he turns, eyes wide. )
Wriothesley?
( not the person he would have expected to see, and yet he's grateful for the presence of someone he knows and trusts. the knot in his stomach loosens slightly, his shoulders evening out ever so slightly. )
They've brought you here as well?
( even as the question leaves his lips, he can't help but begin to tally up other names in his mind. the party had been vast, the crowd dense. it's very likely he would have missed any additional familiar faces in the throng. )
no subject
Sleep is already forgotten as he looks at the other with something akin to shock. It'll never stop catching him by surprise when a familiar face shows up in this place. There's always a complicated feeling of happy to see them and not wanting them to be here.
He swallows audibly before finding his words.] I've been here awhile, actually. [There's no point in lying to them and Wriothesley had no reason to lie about the reality either.]
I should be asking that, if anything.
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party
[ really, after everything mona has experienced over the last year, witnessing the iudex attending this party simply doesn't surprise her. rather, she pities him; mona understands the initial displeasure from such a debauched setting, especially if he is seeking water of all beverages. at the very least, the alcohol being served doesn't appear to be of special origin. that would've made for an interesting first encounter.
mona approaches neuvillette's side and plants a hand on her hip. having given him a clearer view of her now, he'll see she is wearing a short, stylish dress with a garter, choker, and gloves. she soon gestures towards the gourmet food laid out in superfluous proportions. ]
I could conjure a little Hydro for you, but you might find it distasteful to drink it.
[ 'hydro'. purposefully said, of course. ]
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nonetheless, he affixes a polite smile onto his face. )
My thanks for the offer, but I'm afraid I will have to decline.
( he may prefer water above all else, but he can and has imbibed other drinks in the past when left with no other alternative. so long as it isn't fonta, he should be able to make do. )
Though you appear to have me at a disadvantage, Madamoiselle....?
( please state your name and occupation for the court. )
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still, rather than return his smile, mona arrogantly lifts her chin and lowers her lashes. regardless of his position in fontaine, she is still prideful enough to assert herself in front of him. introducing herself to others is something she enjoys, as well. it's the perfect opportunity to gain their admiration and respect. that, and mona is just eager for praise. ]
I am Mona Megistus, meaning the Great Astrologist Mona. I write for the column 'All Things Astrological' in The Steambird.
[ she gives neuvillette a firm look, and then, at last, smiles. ]
Perhaps you have heard of me. If you have not, I'll be certain to change that.
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— party
so while she was more than eager to engage in the party and the games, she knew she needed to stay hydrated. wrinkles, bags under eyes, all caused by the lack of water. so much like neuvillette, she too was standing before the buffet in dismay over the lack of that sweet elixir. )
Criminal is what it is.
( dressed in a corset style black dress and gold hoop earrings, she turned to face this stranger with a rather annoyed expression. )
It's like they want us to pass out of dehydration or something.
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it's someone pretty, fashionable, insofar as his understanding of such things go. time and again, sigewinne has tried to impress upon him the intricacies of fashion trends, but as a man whose sole duty is to preside over a court of law, neuvillette has never seen the need to keep up with fashion when his judge's robes have become expectation seven days out of the week. )
Indeed. Hardly what one would expect from a business centered around satisfaction of its guests.
( but his middling opinions of this place aside, he's more concerned for the young woman next to him. concern colors the edge of his voice, his head canted to one side. )
Have you need of anything else beyond water, Miss? Perhaps I can flag down a nearby waiter for the both of us.
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she turned to face him fully this time, eyes giving him a quick run down before she finally spoke. )
You'd think they would have taken that into consideration, but I suppose we could find out if they at least have sparkling water—
and you can just call me 'Reira', a pleasure to meet you.
( don't mind her holding out her hand delicately, to offer a proper introduction. )
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house of cards
and thus, she'll volunteer. ]
It's fine, I'll do it. [ she caaaarefully pulls out a card from the stack and reads the question off of it. ] "What’s the strangest rumor you’ve heard about yourself?"
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a few seconds tick by as he mulls over his answer. four hundreds years is quite the length of time for any number of rumors to have circulated regarding his person. the strangest must surely be that he is fond of crying, but in lieu of revealing his true identity so soon to a complete stranger he settles for: )
I believe a tabloid magazine once reported me to be the only male Melusine in the entirety of Teyvat. ( his lips pinch at the edges. ) Despite having no evidence to back up their claims and knowing full well that Fontaine law dictates all Melusines to be referred to as 'she' rather than 'it'.
( to try and go against pre-established law? a foolish endeavor. )
And to think they referred to themselves as the 'leading edge of journalism.'
( an aggravated sigh, followed by a lean forward of his body as he reaches out towards the house of cards. his hand hovers and then chooses, pausing momentarily in place as a nearby card shudders and wobbles, and then retracts fully to flip his card over once the house stabilizes. )
'Breasts, legs, or thighs?'
( what. is this about chicken....? )
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but before she can go ahead and ask for further inquiry, he's pulled out a question and reads it aloud, to which ishmael responds with her face going pale with embarrassment. right, not all questions are going to be tame like the one she got just now. ]
Wait, can we go back to what Melusines are, exactly? That question is a little...
[ help, she hasn't really thought too deeply about that -- assuming that the question wasn't just pertaining to chicken. give her a minute to reboot. ]
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house of cards!
So, here they sit and Wei Wuxian takes a sip of his drink — alcohol, of course, because he is a lush. When Neuvillette offers for him to go first, he smiles brightly and says — ]
Not a problem.
[ And very deftly, he plucks a card from the stack. Somewhere in the middle too, challenging himself.
The card reads: If you could go back in time and change the past, would you?
Wei Wuxian's smile turns a bit strained at that but he bounces back fairly quickly before giving a shake of his head. ]
No way, what's done is done. There's nothing for me to change. What about you?
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there have been many in his life who have attempted to befriend him and irritate him, some even at the same time. this unfamiliar man's antics are nothing new, though to his credit he is keeping himself well in check. so long as he behaves so too will neuvillette continue playing this game.
that, and he finds himself curious as to how the other patrons of this establishment are fitting in, and what methods they might have used to acclimate themselves to this new way of life. observation is the key to understanding, in many situations.
he watches the man select his card - from the middle too, how impressive - and the way his smile flickers in and out. but every person here has their secrets, himself included, and so he does not pry. merely waits for an answer with his hands still folded in his lap. )
I must concur. Were we to simply go back and revert our choices from the past, then it would annul all the experiences and lessons learned as a result of those choices.
( both good and bad. though….hmmm. he cants his head. )
Though I have heard that many novels are often predicated upon this basis, that the main character must go back in time in order to fix a mistake made in their youth.
( reading….the bulk of his education. )
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They're both on the same wavelength though in terms of observation. Everything here is new and different, especially for a guy like Wei Wuxian who comes from a place not as technologically advanced as this. Might as well take it in stride and make sure to take your cues from the others.
Wei Wuxian toys with the card in his hand, slipping it between his fingers in a loop as he listens to Neuvillette. The man seems to understand what Wei Wuxian's perspective is, even if he hadn't explained it. That bodes well for a budding friendship. ]
Exactly.
[ But ah, the mention of novels has Wei Wuxian giving a slow blink and a curious head tilt. He's read plenty of fiction but science fiction isn't exactly a popular genre in his time just yet. So, while he has read similar stories, not many. More go back in time because of magic or gods than science. ]
An interesting concept, for sure. Entertaining enough for a story, good enough to have a moral at the end of it. I could see myself spooking my juniors with a story like it.
[ He gestures to the house of cards. ]
Your turn.
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party.
but there are some things that remain the same, in spite of it. whatever emotions she had felt are carefully tucked away by the time she approaches him with a glass in hand, taking her spot at his right as she's done before. ]
Your water, Monsieur.
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neuvillette straightens, surprised, though there is relief on his face as well. )
Clorinde. You have my thanks.
( the water is taken, the cool glass held between his hands for comfort, but he does not drink straightaway. instead, he fixes her with his gaze, searching for any signs of harm or distress. as always, she is calm and unwavering, the very qualities that set her at the top as a champion duelist now stabilizing her here as well. )
I did not expect to see you here as well.
( should he be searching for furina next? though no doubt he would have heard her long before catching sight of her. she always did have a knack for landing herself directly in the spotlight, intended or otherwise. )
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nothing changes with his arrival; her goal remains the same: to find a way back to where she belongs. but until then, it's easy to recalibrate her focus, to feel the familiar weight of purpose again now that he's here. ]
I can say the same for you. [ despite the time that's passed, clorinde looks relatively the same, now in a tailored suit with matching heels. her hair is gathered into a neat braid draped over her shoulder, tied off with a navy ribbon. ] How was your arrival?
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steals another morning after, this is fine >.>
And it doesn't take him long to realize that's not a voice he recognizes and therefore... probably doesn't belong to one of the people he normally wakes up next to.
Amber eyes blink open with groggy confusion to stare at the stranger. Trying to place him, or perhaps the events of the night before that had led to this strange morning, perhaps. ]
Uhh. Pretty sure they're new. At least. They have been every other time. Who... are you? Did we meet and I just forgot?
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( a note of questioning that yields quickly to displeasure. that ought not be surprising given all he has learned about this place thus far, and yet he cannot help but be aggrieved by it all. the dildo is passed over again, his hand reaching in for the only thing that sparks any amount of interest in him: the bottled water. )
But to answer your question, we have never met before, to my knowledge. I believe we have simply been placed together at the whims of this resort.
( perhaps this too is one of the forms of 'partnership' that miss megistus had mentioned. another tidbit to file away for later, when he isn't surrounded at all times by strange company. )
I am Neuvillette, a resident of Fontaine.
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morning after;
so when neuvillette stirs, jing yuan's eyelids flicker, then lift. the lovely man beside him seems to mean no harm, however, so he makes no move just yet, instead content to watch blearily as he dresses himself. it isn't until the dildo is plucked from the basket that jing yuan reacts, a smile curving his mouth, and a low chuckle rolling in his chest like distant thunder. ]
.. I would also hope so. Ideally, they would be brand new and unused.
[ and given how luxurious this resort is.. well. that's the least they could offer, isn't it? ]
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neuvillette turns, dropping the foreign object back in the basket. there is poise in the way he holds himself, an almost inhuman grace, and yet there is tension present as well. for all that he deals with strangers on a daily basis, presiding over and witnessing the darkest parts of their history he never wished to know, there has always been a distance between him and them. between his high seat and their pleadings on the opera house floor.
here, there is none of that. it all feels far too personal.
and yet this is the new role he has been assigned, one he must learn to play as well. the frown on his face cannot be missed, and yet it is colored more by irritation than true anger. )
Ideally, they would have brought us all here with far more warning and consent.
( surely this breaks some sort of international law somewhere? perhaps there is a library present somewhere, with law texts he can peruse. )
My apologies. I did not mean to disrupt your sleep.
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house of cards!
[ In a game like this, where they're supposed to be revealing information and risking toppling a more and more precarious structure.... going first is the obvious choice, at least in her mind. Anything else would show uncertainty and insecurity. He might not have a taste for this casino's over the top festivities and games, but at the very least, sitting across from him, she looks to be having a good time, appraising him like a jewel in the rough. Is he fun to toy with? Or a total killjoy? That's what she's more interested in, than the house of cards in front of them.
Plucking one of the horizontal cards out of the structure is easy enough, without disturbing any of the surrounding ones, so she does that first, flipping the card once through her fingers to get a look at the question. ]
Let's see... "what is your favorite season?"
[ Lucky, she got an easy one. She tosses the card nonchalantly onto the table in front of them, crossing her legs just as he is. ]
Spring. It's when all the flowers start bloom again.
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the aura around her is nonchalant, confident; by contrast, he sits straight as cardboard in his seat, more akin to one of the statues that dot the resort at irregular intervals than a living, breathing being made of flesh. though his movements are deft enough as he takes a card from the carefully balanced stack - one near the top, with the least chance of toppling the whole thing over. he has never been a risk-taker, and now is no different.
a flip and—a furrow of his brow as he reads the question aloud. )
"What pet name would you choose to call your partner in bed?"
( a question well-suited for the resort and ill-suited for him, a man who has never addressed anyone by anything less than their name and necessary title. )
Would it not be considered more intimate to simply use the name they have already been given?
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No thank you to my keyboard for hitting enter early