【 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.
The small, tinny sound gets Red's attention and with a little groan she sits half-upright, rubbing a hand through her mane of hair. She didn't sleep that long or that hard, right? What even is this-?
This was definitely not camp. Or a trench. This was - a car? In an underground garage? A really fancy car now that she took a closer look. Real leather seats and of a design she's definitely seen before. Oh, and she's in a robe. A very nice, fancy, robe, but not a lot else. There's a long moment as she starts to register that she's not alone and then- ]
What the Hell?
[ There's a note of disbelief in her voice as she examines the little device on her wrist. ]
How did I even...? I didn't even drink last night!
II. Welcome to the Party
[ Red is doing her best not to freak out, but it's hard to keep your cool when you wake up in a strange place and find out you're... what? Stuck in a weird hotel? She's still trying to wrap her head around it and she's already being urged to go and attend a fancy party. Or required, really. She's not that sure she actually wants to go, but she finds herself being steadily drawn in. And at least they've given her the clothes for it - a very fancy suit that seems to fit her a little too perfectly. She's even had her hair slicked back, despite the rather uncomfortable look on her face. In fact, her limbs seem to be moving on their own, almost as if she's being dragged.
So Red is a little, uh, red in the face by the time she's been shoved by the invisible ghost hands onto the floor of the casino, her head spinning, her expression a bit of a scowl. A casino. A damn casino. And here she'd been on the front lines of a war. This had to be some kind of joke, right? A dream? But her eyes and ears (and nose) weren't lying to her. This place felt real.
Maybe she'd died and this was Hell or something...
First things first. Food. She couldn't object to food, right? She hovers at the buffet, eyes a little wide, picking at things and loading her plate up with a bit more enthusiasm. Although... she does lean over to a neighbor with a conspiratorial whisper. ]
...you think they're really just giving this away? I don't get this place. I'm not gonna complain about the food - haven't eaten like this ever - but what's the game here?
[ She's not getting loud and angry. Yet. ]
III. Dice, Dice
[ Through no fault of her own, she's been half invited and half forced into a game and she leans over the table, her hands cupped over her mouth as she waits for someone to settle in across from her. Or maybe they're already there. She pulls a little sardonic grin and then gestures at the dice. ]
...this feels like something out of a dirty magazine, you know? You really want to do this?
[ She's pretty sure they don't have a choice, but hey. ]
IV. Women's Parlor
[ Well. She can't complain too much about there being a little hideaway for just women, even if so far she finds that the rest of this place is a little insane. Or a lot insane. She's pretty sure she's dead or just hallucinating or - you know what, this might as well happen. She's taking a bit of a break from the casino floor as the party wears on... and on... and on. She's honestly a little relieved to have a bit of quiet. Even some cats to poke at. So she's settled in a comfy chair, looking a bit shell-shocked, a cat in her lap and a cup of tea in hand. She glances at her opposite number with a long exhale. ]
...why do I feel like I oughta have my pinky out or something?
[ This whole place is more opulent than her own wildest dreams of wealth. It's a little unsettling. ]
V. Wildcard!
[ Invent something. Happy to run with just about anything - or hit me up via PM or at dragoon1940. ]
( most people would be complaining about being taken against their will, undressed and stuffed into a strange world that looked like an endless casino. to someone as self-indulgent and full of pain as reira, she viewed this as a much needed vacation. especially considering she was getting the high class treatment, being allowed into exclusive lounge without much of a doubt.
by the time red is inside and taking a break, reira is strolling in herself with wet hair, almost naked [save for a thin towel around herself]. she has a small black kitten in one hand and a martini glass in the other. )
A pinky finger? like those fancy British royals?
( don't mind her jumping into the conversation with the most sing-song voice imaginable, sparkles seeming to be around her. )
You could always try it, see if you'll get access to something even better than these lounges~
[ Honestly, Red's not sure how she feels about it. Well, not entirely true. She's itching to get back to where she was for a variety of reasons. Even if a part of her enjoys the break from an ongoing war... well, that just makes her feel guilty. She glances up at Reira and then coughs and turns her eyes away for a moment.
Nope, still not used to how casual some of the people here are. She's showered with other soldiers of course, but this feels way more intimate. ]
...I don't know who the British are, but yeah. I guess royals. Nobility. Rich people stuff.
[ She shakes her head and carefully extends her pinky. She frowns. ]
( while reira would feel a bit more ashamed about the state she's currently in, frankly they were both women [or at least she was assuming], and she was far too comfortable now to truly care.
so she immediately plopped herself in one of the chairs near red, her kitten sprawling out onto her lap for a nap in the meantime. )
And I thought I was clueless about the world around me!
( don't mind her, she's not trying to be mean. she just hasn't realized most people weren't from the same world as her. )
But anyways, what's wrong with being silly sometimes? I mean look at where we are. It's the only way to stay sane here.
[ She's definitely a woman. It's just a different setting. A public shower set up in the shattered ruins of a village is very different from a sensuality-infused casino, at least as far as Red is concerned. Regardless, she's managing. She leans over a little, reaching out a hand for the kitten to sniff. ]
It's not a matter of being clueless! Why should I know who they are?
[ Alas, she has no idea they're the source of one of the most powerful world empires on another world... ]
"Silly" is a word. This whole place is... over the top. I feel like if I keep my eyes open too long I'm gonna get a headache.
( There were a fair number of people being dragged here by those terrible ghost hands, and Jae Ha had taken note of that quickly. How ugly was it, to force people to something as enjoyable as a party? He'd learned enough about the purpose of this place, and so distrust of the food and the drinks had been first on his list, as well.
So, her question is something of a relief, that she's got enough intuition to sense something is up. )
If something from a captor is free, it has to have a purpose. ( He hasn't tried warning someone out loud about the food and drink, yet, and he's not sure if he's allowed to, so he lowers his voice a little, bending down to speak to her better. )
If not encouragement to be satisfied in your own chains, then to manipulate you in some other way. In other words, at least some of the food is spiked somehow.
[ She hadn't wanted to say it out loud, but it makes sense. Although she can't always agree with people giving stuff away for free - this is just too weird to not be all kinds of suspicious. She glances down at her plate with a frown. ]
...guess that's true. But we gotta eat eventually, don't we?
( Be wary, but don't starve yourself. It's a careful balance, and Jae Ha hesitates for a moment before reaching out to take a piece of something from her plate. It's a little rude, maybe, but he's going to test it for poison, after all! And he doesn't want to leave the space to be stopped. So he pops it right into his mouth. )
[ she's not the only one who feels a little out of place, but at least ishmael's better at hiding her trepidation. she's sitting well far away from the more well-established crowd and just... chilling with tea in hand, though can anyone really be chill in this situation?
oh well. ]
No one's forcing you to, right? But I guess I can't blame you for feeling that way. [ siiiiiiip. ] This place is too fancy, even for me.
[ Honestly? Respect. Red kind of feels like she's got to do some chilling herself after the whirlwind that the casino feels like. She's slumped a little in her seat, trying to just... decompress. ]
Same here. Never been to a place this high class. Or... a place that feels as high class, I guess. Even if they are keeping us basically locked in...
[ oh, if only ishmael is capable of decompressing by just slouching on some lounge. she's too pent-up, and not necessarily in a sexual way either. there's a lot to process, and she can't even afford to disassociate for a moment to get her mind straight. ]
Makes you really wonder if it's better staying here with all this luxury or fighting for your life outside if it means being free.
[ she's kidding. no one is ever free. ]
Anyway, the last thing you need is stress yourself out by following some sort of etiquette. Not like the attendants here are paying attention to that in particular anyway.
[ This is certainly the longest mandatory party Edelgard has attended and she is long past the need for a quiet cup of tea. She's helped herself to a limited edition pastry, seemingly harmless, and had a few chocolate-dipped berries and taken the time to freshen up. She's sitting more or less across from Red, her long gloves still on as she sips her tea, something of her typical proud posture and regal manner softened as she uses a feather tickler as a cat toy to lure an adorably playful orange and white kitten over toward her chair.
At Red's question she looks up, feeling as though she's missed something while she's been focused on the cat, and then pieces it together. ]
Our captors haven't thrown a party quite like this one in a while. Are you a new arrival?
[ Is it that obvious? But she's not sure she likes the sound of "new arrival". It implies people have been around for a longer. And it implies that she might be stuck here. Not a pleasant thought. ]
As of a few hours ago. Or however long it's been. Right before this whole party started.
[ She leans over to watch her play with the cat - and maybe her eyes linger a little on her hair. It reminds her of a certain someone. ]
[ A crease briefly appears in her brow, there and gone in the span of two heartbeats. ]
Well, in that case, welcome.
[ Her pause with the makeshift cat toy leads to the kitten rearing back and launching itself featherward, paws reaching. ]
Ah. A warrior, I see.
[ The cat, that is, and where she would once take care not to draw attention when feeding strays at Garreg Mach she can't quite keep evidence of being charmed out of her voice now. After a moment she looks up toward her new acquaintance again. ]
I arrived about a year ago, believe it or not. It's still my hope that many of us will one day rise up against those who have brought us here but so far we have learned little about them.
[ When Coquelic settled in across from the other woman, she did so lazily, stretching out like a cat on the opulent sofa, drink in hand. One gets the sense she's very at home here in the Golden Peacock. Case in point: ]
If you're too shy, you could just forfeit right now to me.
[ She doesn't have any qualms about playing this game.... if they're going to be made to play, well, she's going to do everything she can to win. Competitive, yes, but more than that? Hungry for more power and status in this place, and willing to play along with their little parlor games to get it. At least she might have some fun while doing it. Coquelic splays a hand out at the dice in front of them, laughing — the sound airy and haughty. ]
[ There's something oddly familiar about this woman - or maybe she just reminds her a bit of Luce in a few ways. Red isn't sure. She shifts in her seat with a little frown and then leans forward, putting her elbow on the table and her chin in her hand with a little grimace. ]
It's not about being shy!
[ Well, maybe a bit, considering getting intimate in front of other people wasn't something she had a lot of practice in. Nor was it something she necessarily sought out... ]
I'm not going to back away from it- [ She reaches out to grab the dice and before she can think better of it, she gives them a roll. There's a clatter and then- ]
...tickle lips? How the Hell...? [ She gives her "partner" a little look, as if she's trying to gauge how this is going to work.
[ Red's apparent hesitation makes her bust out laughing, the sound sharp and unrestrained. Aww, how cute. ]
How else? You don't seem very experienced, so I'll give you a little demonstration...
[ Since Red is still leaned forward over the table, she props herself up more on her elbow where she's lounging, reaching across with her free hand to dance her fingers across the others lips, the movement playful but sultry. The pads of her fingers, skate across the skin there like disturbing a calm pond, a tap-tap-tap that keeps going up toward her cheek until she pulls her hand away. The phantom sensation of her long nails dragging across the skin likely leaves a phantom sensation, ]
Like that. Or is even that too hard for you?
[ If she's being a little condescending, it's only to challenge her into competing more seriously. No fun in a game if she's not goading her opponent on, after all! ]
[ The resort is abuzz with talk of new arrivals filtering in from, of all places, the snazzy rides housed within The Golden Peacock's parking garage. Nosy as all get out and presently lacking the appropriate lackeys he'd typically employ to do the investigative legwork for him, J takes it upon himself to sniff out just who the resort has managed to kidnap next, more motivated than ever to rule out if anyone from his world has made an appearance. Those who find themselves pulled into the resort's clutches don't always end up becoming a permanent fixture, so time is of the essence. Incentive enough for him to slip into the parking garage with demonic senses attuned to any whiff of the familiar.
When that fails, what else is a bored demon with a mile-wide indulgent streak going to do in a parking garage but scope out the interior belonging to one of the gaudiest, most extravagant vehicles in the lot? With a shut of the door and a groan of the car taking on J's not-inconsequential size later, he's shimmed himself into the plush, leather-trimmed interior. Even as sizable wings, paws and the rest of him occupy one of the backseats of the spacious SVU, it miraculously doesn't even disturb Irene's little corner of the car with how massive it is.
Which might offer some explanation for why it takes the demon a hot minute or two to acknowledge the other occupant sharing the confined space. Done without a glance upwards as he scrutinizes a bottle of vintage champagne plucked from the vehicle's built-in bar. ]
Perhaps someone ought to rethink their life choices if being bagged, tagged and relocated to a comfy new cage like an animal is par for the course after one too many. [ Enjoy a helpful hint or two about what's going on buried within that pointed jab! ]
Red is trying to identify exactly who or what J is; at first she just notices wings and so it's perhaps not a surprise that her hackles go up, considering the war she's fresh from. But a moment later he's speaking up and she takes a moment to just stare. What is her life? Why is she here? There are so many questions and she is not at all sure what she's going to do to answer them. ]
It's not. And I don't drink that often anyway-!
[ She snarls and clambers half upright, clinging to the back of one of the seats. ]
[ It feels a lot like dressing for a costume event. A theme cafe or cosplay party, and he doesn't mind humoring people, but the House always seems to have an ulterior motive waiting. At least it doesn't seem that bad so far. He can't blame anyone for being wary of them, though. Seimei can't resist a little grin at Red's flushed face as she loads up on all the buffet's offerings, even as she questions them. ]
Ah, I wouldn't say they were just giving them away. They're simply more creative about the payment is all. In fact, they're already starting to collect.
[ He smiles brightly, maybe a bit too widely, in answer to Red's look. He's a fox, so naturally he can't help being a little playful with the newcomer. Particularly one that seems ready to chow down on the party food with no worries. ]
What does everyone want? What do you want right now?
[ Seimei points to Red's plate full of bits of various dishes. ]
Hm... [Sidling into the seat across from her, Miko leans over the table to examine the dice. She's dressed in black, an old Hollywood vibe emanating from the sleek silhouette and fur stole draped over her elbows.] No, this is too simple to make waves in publication.
[She scoops up the pair of dice, tumbling them in the palm of her hand, clicking them without rolling.]
If this were going to get published, they'd need to add a little more if they wanted it to be anything more than a cut-out insert at the back of the issue. Little tips and tricks, variations on the theme, maybe a quiz.
[She chuckles, then stops jiggling the dice in her palm. Hm. Well, this subject material is a little beyond the typical scope of her business's literature - though not completely foreign. It's not one of the House's more intricate games, either. In print or person, either way, the delicate nuances of the game rest in the psychology of it.
She pauses as if startled by only now becoming aware of the other woman - as if she wasn't leaning over the table just a few inches away - and chuckles.] Silly me. Normally, I wait until the game's begun to get ahead of myself. [A stranger would be hard-pressed to call if what she says is true, but she speaks like someone who knows very much what she's doing, actually.] If I'm going to have those sorts of ideas, I'll just have to playtest.
[ Red furrows her brow and gives her opposite number a long look. At first she's really not sure what she's talking about. Then she figures out that she's taking the whole dirty magazine comment at face value. Or at least diving deeper on it than Red ever intended for it to be taken. She shakes her head wit ha little sigh. ]
That's not really the point, you know. It's just - you know what? Never mind.
[ Red sighs. ]
I don't think they care about publishing it. I think they just want us to play this dumb thing.
Not interested? Tut. [There's the small click of Miko's tongue against her teeth as she tsks in disappointment that her little thought experiment won't be entertained. She could sit here for quite some time and examine the possibilities... but, she supposes with a little burst of something that meters between disappointment and longing, capitulating too much to the unending revelry will make that time feel stiff and unmoving. Oh, well; she still has no doubt that this seemingly unending revelry, too, will fade.]
You must really want to play, too, if you're so eager to cut to the chase with no embellishments.
[The dice tumble in her hand with another pleasant little crackle before she lets them spill out and roll across the surface. Pinch Ear. Miko's own ears, tucked close to her hair and a near-identical shade of cherry pink, flutter slightly. Shifting a little in her seat to give her the reach and range of motion, she extends a hand to run the back of it up the side of Red's head until it finds an ear.]
May I? [But she doesn't immediately catch the cartilage between her nails, even if and when signaled to proceed. Instead, she skirts the ridge of Red's ear, tracing it between the first and middle finger so her nails just barely tickle. Then, she strikes. There's no electro running a real current through her fingertips, but the pinch is sharp and precise, with the same brief bite of a static shock.]
Irene Red | On a Leash
[ Beep. Beep. Beep.
The small, tinny sound gets Red's attention and with a little groan she sits half-upright, rubbing a hand through her mane of hair. She didn't sleep that long or that hard, right? What even is this-?
This was definitely not camp. Or a trench. This was - a car? In an underground garage? A really fancy car now that she took a closer look. Real leather seats and of a design she's definitely seen before. Oh, and she's in a robe. A very nice, fancy, robe, but not a lot else. There's a long moment as she starts to register that she's not alone and then- ]
What the Hell?
[ There's a note of disbelief in her voice as she examines the little device on her wrist. ]
How did I even...? I didn't even drink last night!
II. Welcome to the Party
[ Red is doing her best not to freak out, but it's hard to keep your cool when you wake up in a strange place and find out you're... what? Stuck in a weird hotel? She's still trying to wrap her head around it and she's already being urged to go and attend a fancy party. Or required, really. She's not that sure she actually wants to go, but she finds herself being steadily drawn in. And at least they've given her the clothes for it - a very fancy suit that seems to fit her a little too perfectly. She's even had her hair slicked back, despite the rather uncomfortable look on her face. In fact, her limbs seem to be moving on their own, almost as if she's being dragged.
So Red is a little, uh, red in the face by the time she's been shoved by the invisible ghost hands onto the floor of the casino, her head spinning, her expression a bit of a scowl. A casino. A damn casino. And here she'd been on the front lines of a war. This had to be some kind of joke, right? A dream? But her eyes and ears (and nose) weren't lying to her. This place felt real.
Maybe she'd died and this was Hell or something...
First things first. Food. She couldn't object to food, right? She hovers at the buffet, eyes a little wide, picking at things and loading her plate up with a bit more enthusiasm. Although... she does lean over to a neighbor with a conspiratorial whisper. ]
...you think they're really just giving this away? I don't get this place. I'm not gonna complain about the food - haven't eaten like this ever - but what's the game here?
[ She's not getting loud and angry. Yet. ]
III. Dice, Dice
[ Through no fault of her own, she's been half invited and half forced into a game and she leans over the table, her hands cupped over her mouth as she waits for someone to settle in across from her. Or maybe they're already there. She pulls a little sardonic grin and then gestures at the dice. ]
...this feels like something out of a dirty magazine, you know? You really want to do this?
[ She's pretty sure they don't have a choice, but hey. ]
IV. Women's Parlor
[ Well. She can't complain too much about there being a little hideaway for just women, even if so far she finds that the rest of this place is a little insane. Or a lot insane. She's pretty sure she's dead or just hallucinating or - you know what, this might as well happen. She's taking a bit of a break from the casino floor as the party wears on... and on... and on. She's honestly a little relieved to have a bit of quiet. Even some cats to poke at. So she's settled in a comfy chair, looking a bit shell-shocked, a cat in her lap and a cup of tea in hand. She glances at her opposite number with a long exhale. ]
...why do I feel like I oughta have my pinky out or something?
[ This whole place is more opulent than her own wildest dreams of wealth. It's a little unsettling. ]
V. Wildcard!
[ Invent something. Happy to run with just about anything - or hit me up via PM or at
— women's parlor
by the time red is inside and taking a break, reira is strolling in herself with wet hair, almost naked [save for a thin towel around herself]. she has a small black kitten in one hand and a martini glass in the other. )
A pinky finger? like those fancy British royals?
( don't mind her jumping into the conversation with the most sing-song voice imaginable, sparkles seeming to be around her. )
You could always try it, see if you'll get access to something even better than these lounges~
no subject
Nope, still not used to how casual some of the people here are. She's showered with other soldiers of course, but this feels way more intimate. ]
...I don't know who the British are, but yeah. I guess royals. Nobility. Rich people stuff.
[ She shakes her head and carefully extends her pinky. She frowns. ]
Nah... I just feel silly.
no subject
so she immediately plopped herself in one of the chairs near red, her kitten sprawling out onto her lap for a nap in the meantime. )
And I thought I was clueless about the world around me!
( don't mind her, she's not trying to be mean. she just hasn't realized most people weren't from the same world as her. )
But anyways, what's wrong with being silly sometimes? I mean look at where we are. It's the only way to stay sane here.
no subject
It's not a matter of being clueless! Why should I know who they are?
[ Alas, she has no idea they're the source of one of the most powerful world empires on another world... ]
"Silly" is a word. This whole place is... over the top. I feel like if I keep my eyes open too long I'm gonna get a headache.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
2
So, her question is something of a relief, that she's got enough intuition to sense something is up. )
If something from a captor is free, it has to have a purpose. ( He hasn't tried warning someone out loud about the food and drink, yet, and he's not sure if he's allowed to, so he lowers his voice a little, bending down to speak to her better. )
If not encouragement to be satisfied in your own chains, then to manipulate you in some other way. In other words, at least some of the food is spiked somehow.
no subject
[ She hadn't wanted to say it out loud, but it makes sense. Although she can't always agree with people giving stuff away for free - this is just too weird to not be all kinds of suspicious. She glances down at her plate with a frown. ]
...guess that's true. But we gotta eat eventually, don't we?
no subject
( Be wary, but don't starve yourself. It's a careful balance, and Jae Ha hesitates for a moment before reaching out to take a piece of something from her plate. It's a little rude, maybe, but he's going to test it for poison, after all! And he doesn't want to leave the space to be stopped. So he pops it right into his mouth. )
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
iv.
oh well. ]
No one's forcing you to, right? But I guess I can't blame you for feeling that way. [ siiiiiiip. ] This place is too fancy, even for me.
no subject
Same here. Never been to a place this high class. Or... a place that feels as high class, I guess. Even if they are keeping us basically locked in...
no subject
Makes you really wonder if it's better staying here with all this luxury or fighting for your life outside if it means being free.
[ she's kidding. no one is ever free. ]
Anyway, the last thing you need is stress yourself out by following some sort of etiquette. Not like the attendants here are paying attention to that in particular anyway.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
👀 iv!
At Red's question she looks up, feeling as though she's missed something while she's been focused on the cat, and then pieces it together. ]
Our captors haven't thrown a party quite like this one in a while. Are you a new arrival?
heeeeeey <3
[ Is it that obvious? But she's not sure she likes the sound of "new arrival". It implies people have been around for a longer. And it implies that she might be stuck here. Not a pleasant thought. ]
As of a few hours ago. Or however long it's been. Right before this whole party started.
[ She leans over to watch her play with the cat - and maybe her eyes linger a little on her hair. It reminds her of a certain someone. ]
How long have you been here?
no subject
Well, in that case, welcome.
[ Her pause with the makeshift cat toy leads to the kitten rearing back and launching itself featherward, paws reaching. ]
Ah. A warrior, I see.
[ The cat, that is, and where she would once take care not to draw attention when feeding strays at Garreg Mach she can't quite keep evidence of being charmed out of her voice now. After a moment she looks up toward her new acquaintance again. ]
I arrived about a year ago, believe it or not. It's still my hope that many of us will one day rise up against those who have brought us here but so far we have learned little about them.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
iii!
If you're too shy, you could just forfeit right now to me.
[ She doesn't have any qualms about playing this game.... if they're going to be made to play, well, she's going to do everything she can to win. Competitive, yes, but more than that? Hungry for more power and status in this place, and willing to play along with their little parlor games to get it. At least she might have some fun while doing it. Coquelic splays a hand out at the dice in front of them, laughing — the sound airy and haughty. ]
So, what will it be, young lady? Are you playing?
no subject
It's not about being shy!
[ Well, maybe a bit, considering getting intimate in front of other people wasn't something she had a lot of practice in. Nor was it something she necessarily sought out... ]
I'm not going to back away from it- [ She reaches out to grab the dice and before she can think better of it, she gives them a roll. There's a clatter and then- ]
...tickle lips? How the Hell...? [ She gives her "partner" a little look, as if she's trying to gauge how this is going to work.
no subject
How else? You don't seem very experienced, so I'll give you a little demonstration...
[ Since Red is still leaned forward over the table, she props herself up more on her elbow where she's lounging, reaching across with her free hand to dance her fingers across the others lips, the movement playful but sultry. The pads of her fingers, skate across the skin there like disturbing a calm pond, a tap-tap-tap that keeps going up toward her cheek until she pulls her hand away. The phantom sensation of her long nails dragging across the skin likely leaves a phantom sensation, ]
Like that. Or is even that too hard for you?
[ If she's being a little condescending, it's only to challenge her into competing more seriously. No fun in a game if she's not goading her opponent on, after all! ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
I. Here In My Car
When that fails, what else is a bored demon with a mile-wide indulgent streak going to do in a parking garage but scope out the interior belonging to one of the gaudiest, most extravagant vehicles in the lot? With a shut of the door and a groan of the car taking on J's not-inconsequential size later, he's shimmed himself into the plush, leather-trimmed interior. Even as sizable wings, paws and the rest of him occupy one of the backseats of the spacious SVU, it miraculously doesn't even disturb Irene's little corner of the car with how massive it is.
Which might offer some explanation for why it takes the demon a hot minute or two to acknowledge the other occupant sharing the confined space. Done without a glance upwards as he scrutinizes a bottle of vintage champagne plucked from the vehicle's built-in bar. ]
Perhaps someone ought to rethink their life choices if being bagged, tagged and relocated to a comfy new cage like an animal is par for the course after one too many. [ Enjoy a helpful hint or two about what's going on buried within that pointed jab! ]
no subject
Red is trying to identify exactly who or what J is; at first she just notices wings and so it's perhaps not a surprise that her hackles go up, considering the war she's fresh from. But a moment later he's speaking up and she takes a moment to just stare. What is her life? Why is she here? There are so many questions and she is not at all sure what she's going to do to answer them. ]
It's not. And I don't drink that often anyway-!
[ She snarls and clambers half upright, clinging to the back of one of the seats. ]
Where are we? Who are you?
ii
Ah, I wouldn't say they were just giving them away. They're simply more creative about the payment is all. In fact, they're already starting to collect.
no subject
[ She shoots her new conversation partner a look and slows down for a moment as she tries to assess him. ]
I've heard a few things. What is it they want out of us? In your words.
[ She's hungry, though. So she's still gonna eat. ]
no subject
What does everyone want? What do you want right now?
[ Seimei points to Red's plate full of bits of various dishes. ]
Food. That's what we are.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
iii.
[She scoops up the pair of dice, tumbling them in the palm of her hand, clicking them without rolling.]
If this were going to get published, they'd need to add a little more if they wanted it to be anything more than a cut-out insert at the back of the issue. Little tips and tricks, variations on the theme, maybe a quiz.
[She chuckles, then stops jiggling the dice in her palm. Hm. Well, this subject material is a little beyond the typical scope of her business's literature - though not completely foreign. It's not one of the House's more intricate games, either. In print or person, either way, the delicate nuances of the game rest in the psychology of it.
She pauses as if startled by only now becoming aware of the other woman - as if she wasn't leaning over the table just a few inches away - and chuckles.] Silly me. Normally, I wait until the game's begun to get ahead of myself. [A stranger would be hard-pressed to call if what she says is true, but she speaks like someone who knows very much what she's doing, actually.] If I'm going to have those sorts of ideas, I'll just have to playtest.
no subject
[ Red furrows her brow and gives her opposite number a long look. At first she's really not sure what she's talking about. Then she figures out that she's taking the whole dirty magazine comment at face value. Or at least diving deeper on it than Red ever intended for it to be taken. She shakes her head wit ha little sigh. ]
That's not really the point, you know. It's just - you know what? Never mind.
[ Red sighs. ]
I don't think they care about publishing it. I think they just want us to play this dumb thing.
[ She gestures. ]
So, you gonna throw or what?
no subject
You must really want to play, too, if you're so eager to cut to the chase with no embellishments.
[The dice tumble in her hand with another pleasant little crackle before she lets them spill out and roll across the surface. Pinch Ear. Miko's own ears, tucked close to her hair and a near-identical shade of cherry pink, flutter slightly. Shifting a little in her seat to give her the reach and range of motion, she extends a hand to run the back of it up the side of Red's head until it finds an ear.]
May I? [But she doesn't immediately catch the cartilage between her nails, even if and when signaled to proceed. Instead, she skirts the ridge of Red's ear, tracing it between the first and middle finger so her nails just barely tickle. Then, she strikes. There's no electro running a real current through her fingertips, but the pinch is sharp and precise, with the same brief bite of a static shock.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)