【 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.
( truth be told, aventurine doesn't really care about the exuberant luxury the face cards are given within the resort - he has been an ace for a month now, and there's something to the way the staff now treats him that is so superficial it tastes foul on his tongue.
but he can't be blamed for partaking in their shallow demonstration of wealth through unhealthy gambling now, can he? not when he seeks the thrill of it, the high risk and the higher reward in the ecstasy in putting his life on the line every single time, and coming out of it victorious (or, at times he would argue, an unfortunate loser).
that's a thing from the past, though, as aventurine leaves one of the tables where he had just been gambling to see a familiar face lounging about. that's one extra glass of champagne that he brings rufus, offering him with a particular grace of someone who knows his etiquette. )
Wriothesley's friend, ( remember when they fucked him on his birthday. good times. ) Rufus, was it? We didn't have the chance to chat much before.
[Now that's just one of those resort experiences that you really can't find anywhere else — a first meeting socially after the technical first one where you were both occupied stuffing a hapless third party full of dick. "Friend" is a fairly loose term for it. He could probably think of a better one, but why bother, in a moment like this.]
We didn't. Though I do recall a certain...commonality of interest.
[At least in the form of being the two most vocal of the sadists in that group. He takes the glass of champagne, holding it and making it swirl in its glass with a flick of his wrist that speaks of plenty of practice — how to socialize without making it obvious that you haven't actually drunk anything yet.]
Ahah, you remember. ( not that he ever thought rufus wouldn't, but appearances are everything.
aventurine takes a seat across from him, a demeanor so fitting for the place they're currently in it's almost impressive, though it all comes from practice and adaptation. rarely has it been the times where aventurine partook in parties for the rich and powerful; the times he had been there had much been as an accessory or, at the very most, a disguise for the ipc, for all that he has the capital, money is about as easy to win as it is to lose.
but maybe it's fun, to play pretend. for what it's worth, he certainly fits in. )
Are you seeking refuge in here, away from the party? You don't seem the kind to enjoy such public displays of intimacy. ( a half-lie, because he doesn't yet have the most solid reading on rufus. ) Hopefully my company isn't so bad?
[Such interesting conversations they could have someday, on the topic of being an accessory to the rich and powerful. Granted, in Rufus's case it was limited exclusively to precisely one man, now deceased — but it had also left an impression.]
Mm. I'm here because I can be.
[He says, with the sort of offhand simplicity of someone so accustomed to privilege that it never really occurs to them that they might not be entitled to go anywhere they like, whenever they like, whatever the reason or circumstance.
Still, he does smile a bit, sensing the bait for what it is and seeing no reason not to take it.]
Though the quiet is a welcome respite. The games and spectacle lose their novelty after awhile.
( truly the possibility of a conversation about being accessories for the now deceased rich and powerful; unfortunate, that aventurine would never truly talk about that time of his life, not so openly, not so honestly. if nothing else, it shows on his demeanor, that the wounds and scars still linger.
funnier yet, he almost sees rufus as one of those. he certainly comes across as powerful or, at the very least, familiar with being in a position of significant power. the entitlement in his voice doesn't spare him from the assumption. )
Ahah, so you also believe that things should be consumed in moderation? The games, the spectacle, the people.
( spoken a little from a place of understanding, as though something he has personally experienced. but the smile on aventurine's face doesn't falter, nor does his gaze on rufus waver. )
You seem to have a short tolerance. How long do I have until my shine becomes dull?
( a little bit of a jest, all things considered. )
More that excess tempts even reasonable men into becoming fools. And it's hard to enjoy the circus when you're one of the clowns at center stage.
[But he knows bait when he hears it, for all that it might be delivered in a cloak of humor. And since he sees no reason not to take it, he gives Aventurine a slow and thorough look-over, head to toe, as he sips at the drink in his hand, before eventually speaking again.]
That depends on if you're propositioning me. My interest in people tends to track to what they want from me, because they always want something from me.
[And somehow, he suspects that's something Aventurine will relate to, as well.]
( it's a reasoning aventurine understands, both on the matter of consumption and excess, and the world of benefit. there's something overly ironic in the way there's similarities in their reasoning - not all, no, but enough that it leaves aventurine wanting to pursue more. the golden peacock strives for encounters of the sexual nature, but aventurine enjoys a good conversation that has no true physical benefit behind it.
so - funny, that rufus says that. propositioning, huh. regardless whether he is or isn't, at least he knows rufus hasn't all turned him down. )
Haha. Is that so? I do suppose the foundation of Game 52 includes using and being used, for mutual benefit. But we're past that, aren't we? ( all thanks to wriothesley's exciting birthday party. ) I would argue there's something more interesting in people who don't want something from you, for once, though I wonder if that makes you more or less wanted.
Does anyone ever get past that, really? We do have to live here, after all.
[He shrugs slightly. It's not as though the concept of being permanently entrenched in a game of advantages and costs is altogether foreign to him, after all; quite the contrary, in some ways his time at the resort really has been almost like a vacation. At least here the incentives and penalties are reasonably straightforward, and on some level predictable in nature. In Midgar, the knives behind curtains were endless, and so the vigilance had to be, too.]
And how many people here have you found to be like that? Wanting absolutely nothing from you?
You almost make it sound like I have to be like everyone else.
( the truth of the matter is - there's truly nothing he so wants from rufus, aside from getting to know him, reading the kind of person he is. maybe a contact, maybe networking. nothing so physical or material, nor anything so immediate. instead, there's a particular amusement in this subtle game they play, of people who walk the same walk of life, at least before they were brought here.
evil corporations, etc. aventurine takes a sip of his drink, unconcerned. )
Hm~ But I will indulge you. Perhaps I'm looking for entertainment. Like you said, some things do come too much in excess, and we strive for things shinier and newer each and every time. Maybe I simply lament we didn't get to speak much at Wriothesley's birthday party. Is that not enough?
I'm suggesting you are like everyone else. Unless you're thinking of proving me otherwise.
[It's less a challenge and more an invitation, regardless of the tones in which it comes cloaked; given the way Rufus leans back in his chair and inclines his head at a practiced angle that does particularly flattering things for his profile and the column of his throat, he's settling in for the prospect of entertainment as well, whatever form it might take.]
Why not both, then? Let's chat. And while we're at it, let's play a game.
Oh? Color me surprised. A game you haven't grown tired of yet?
( the curiosity is genuine, all things considered. the way aventurine's gaze almost glistens in curiosity, in spite of the dullness of traumatized eyes. the offer of a game is much like dangling fresh steak in front of a starving lion, to a gambler. aventurine shifts in his chair, leaning slightly forward. rufus has his full attention. )
I suppose that counts for talking as well. It will give me insight into the kind of person you are. ( for a man whose work revolves around connections and understanding how deeply his client's ambitions and desires go, at least. ) Do tell. What game are we playing?
The sort that ends in us both earning a card for our respective decks.
[He lets that notion linger in the air a moment, affording ample time for all the implications to sink in, before offering the second half of the remark: ]
And that involves you being shown a similar time to the one we gave Wriothesley.
( well. color him... not surprised, but certainly amused. )
I wonder who's propositioning who now.
( not that aventurine is in opposition, because nothing in his demeanor seems as such. instead, he sips on his drink, calm and unbothered, as though waging the pros and cons. the truth is that there's no cons to consider, and doesn't aventurine love deals made in mutual benefit? )
[Smug little bastard, he is. But like knows like, and Aventurine will surely clock posturing when he sees it — intentional bravado offered for the sake of setting the scene moreso than anything else.]
( that he does certainly see it for as it is, and he can only laugh in response; something to an extent genuine, entirely too amused by rufus' behavior.
besides, he enjoys playing the long game, stretching it thin until right before it snaps. such concerns never existed here, and aventurine takes another sip of his drink, musing his answer. )
I'm happy to indulge in whatever interests you have, with no complain - unless you want me to, of course. I prefer to play our game with only the two of us, at least as the main players. Guest participants can be a staff or a guest neither of us are familiar with.
And more importantly, the game itself has to be interesting. That's enough of a challenge, when we're stuck in a casino. But don't blame me for being curious what someone like you could come up with. The attention of a gambler can be quite fickle if the game isn't worth his time, after all.
So much the better. I like to keep things exclusive as well.
[He glances about the lounge, finding one of the waiting attendants and motioning them over with a flick of his finger; when they draw near, he murmurs in their ear for a moment with some direction or another, which earns a very good, sir before the attendant discreetly departs again.]
We'll continue to chat. We'll order refreshments. Everything that might be expected of two VIPs spending some time away from the masses. And your extra challenge, Mr. Gambler, will be to keep concealed the fact that you're wearing a toy in my control. Fair enough?
( the first thing aventurine thinks is that... rufus would really get along with sunday, or at least the sunday aventurine knew, head of the oak family and an absolute control-freak. for what it's worth, he's interested for sure. one entire year in the resort and that's the first time he has been propositioned such an idea, but the way he can almost sense the makings of a power dynamic is all too amusing to ignore.
he's hardly against it, either way. )
I wouldn't have expected less from you. ( and he really wouldn't, if their little party with wriothesley had been anything to go by. ) Lucky for you, I'm quite familiar with games of resistance. I'll be sure not to disappoint as an opponent... though I wonder if this is a game you can win.
Mm. I suspect that no matter the outcome, I won't consider myself to have lost.
[So he says, neatly timed, as the attendant he'd spoken with shortly before returns with a sleek black box, opaque and discreet, and offers it to Rufus with a slight incline of his head. The accessories necessary for their little endeavor, evidently; as the attendant leaves, Rufus passes the box over to Aventurine.]
I can't guarantee it's your color. But somehow I doubt that'll matter in the long run.
( no, of course not. because in truth, they're both only winning something here, aren't they?
the box is as fancy looking as one would expect of face cards, and opening it reveals a packing to match. there's three items surrounded by luxurious foam: a remote, with more buttons than aventurine can even attempt to guess what each is for; lube, because it's an essential; and the main participant of their game - a bright pink butt plug big enough that aventurine can tell will be more of a challenge than he thought.
his smile doesn't falter. it does match his eyes, at least. )
This is yours, I believe. ( he hands rufus the remote, nonchalant. there's a particular pointed look around them - they're still very much in public, after all, even if there's not as many guests around -, before it returns to the box, then to rufus. ) Would you like to do the honors, or should I?
( because he figures he won't have the privacy of a bathroom to put the plug in. )
[He accepts the remote easily, but makes no move to try to sneak a peek into the box — quite the contrary, he seems to be deliberately avoiding looking at it, keeping his eyes on Aventurine's face.]
It's more fun if there are some things I don't know. Yet, at least.
[He smiles faintly, rolling the slim plastic controller down the backs of his fingers before catching it again in his palm — a deft, practiced movement, albeit not one really suited to something of the size he's doing it on.]
You do it. I'd like to find out what you're experiencing...secondhand. From context.
i missed this somehow and i have no idea how this got so long help
( frankly, aventurine weighs his options here. there's a particular appeal in actually turning on his heels and finding privacy; rufus had said it himself, that it's more fun if he remains oblivious to some things. almost a gamble, or a game of trust, whether aventurine is playing by their rules once he leaves beyond rufus' sight or if he's a cheater whose talk of his luck is just a red herring.
but then he has a much better idea, instead. when aventurine stands, it's only to cross the table in between them, so he may stand right before rufus; easier to enjoy the show that way. everything he does, then, is with a particular, almost impressive show of skill. the unbuckling of a belt, unbuttoning of his pants, and a zipper he pulls down - all with a single hand. he does not strip off of his pants.
the lube would've proven a challenge if aventurine didn't so much care for appearances that much; when the bottle itself is small and almost pocket-sized, it's the kind he can simply uncap and squeeze the lube out - something he does so, when he holds it between his teeth, and applies some on his own free hand. it works in his favor like that, when he has to reach back and into his pants, finding his own hole to finger himself. the good thing is that whatever reaction he would show here, aventurine does not. not when he still holds lube in his mouth, and his eyes barely flinch in response. only one more thing to add to the list of things rufus doesn't want to know, of course.
the rest comes much more streamlined, when aventurine judges himself properly prepared. taking the lube from his mouth, so he may apply some on the plug, that typical inscrutable smile ever on his face. when he takes it out, he makes sure to hide it behind the box still, to keep that air of mystery for rufus lest he spoils their fun. an arm that reaches behind him, into his pants again, past his underwear - and at least this time there's more of a reaction, as a treat, when aventurine bites on his lips, perhaps holding back a moan or two. a sign of honesty, that he's willing to play their game, and doesn't intend to so much cheat where rufus can see, though he'd certainly argue it's both an impressive and bold feat.
when the plug is in, and certainly intrusive in his body, is when aventurine shows both empty hands and an empty box to rufus. )
Hope you enjoyed that little show. ( and now he can fix his pants and set the box down, though he doesn't quite return to his seat yet. ) Figured I would add that in as an extra. Was that enough for you to experience it secondhandedly?
[It's telling, the way that Rufus almost reaches for Aventurine when he circles around to put himself so easily within reach — not the eagerness of a man who can't keep his hands to himself, but rather the confidence of one who's never been told he can't put his hands on anything in the world he desires. As it is, one set of fingers ghost in the air while the others hold firm to the remote, and his eyes are dark and intent, fixed on Aventurine's face even as far more interesting activities go on below his belt.]
You're gorgeous, you know.
[It's a simple, matter-of-fact statement; pretty blondes were far more to his father's taste than his own, but he's certainly not above appreciating beauty where he can find it — and moreso even than looks, Aventurine's beauty is in his willingness to play the game, to be just as dirty as the situation calls for to put the ball squarely back in his opponent's court.
His arm comes up to dangle against the back of his seat, effortless in the way it dangles and reveals just a glimpse of the remote within his fingers. His other hand brushes against his own thigh, casually indicating his lap.]
You have a seat waiting for you over there, but maybe you'd like one right here, instead?
So I caught your fancy? How lucky of me. ( a lighthearted jest, a throwaway comment, for the most part, for aventurine doesn't so much care for it beyond the value of a business relationship between men who are trading cards.
but it is true, that aventurine is always so willing to play the games; whether issued by the house or between players, what is a gambler without the one thing that gives their life value? it is never about the outcome, but the process in itself, the highs and lows that come with not knowing whether he'll be sent to heaven or hell.
this too is just the same, the probabilities and differences in the end-result that comes with accepting the invitation or returning to his seat and keeping their distance. there's appeal to both, he thinks, appeal in denying rufus of what he wants, but appeal to playing along, to put his life on someone's hands and let them do with it as they wish.
perhaps the answer is all too obvious. ) And lucky you, this kind of control looks good on you. ( a compliment paid back, in genuine sincerity.
aventurine doesn't move into rufus' lap just yet, aware that the moment he does, he'll be able to feel the plug a little too well. perhaps something to look forward to, a beat and two later, when aventurine reaches to straddle rufus, a practice motion as though nothing out of the ordinary is afflicting either of them. his smile remains the very same, not an inch out of place, settling in neatly on his lap with his arms around rufus' shoulders. comfortable, if not a little intrusive in certain places. )
[It feels like a continuation of their negotiation, these initial exchanges between them — positioning, posturing, trading pawns in their openers as they progress toward the middle game. There's something nice about the way Aventurine drapes his arms over Rufus's shoulders, casting an illusion of intimacy that they can either pretend to buy into or acknowledge for what it really is. Because of course, Aventurine is right: they do make an exquisite picture like this, pretty blond on pretty blond, not just wrapped up in each other but so bathed in power that they have the luxury of not paying attention to anything else around them.
Of course, having Aventurine in his lap comes with other benefits — like making it natural for them to lock eyes and hold it there, to size each other up.
Like drawing attention away from the remote in his dangling hand, so it's inconspicuous when his thumb moves and toggles the vibrator on to a low setting.]
Do you like being controlled, Mister Gambler? Or do you just like playing games?
( though the surprise hits him, the change in his expression is minimal. only an inch do his eyes widen, at the sudden new feeling inside of him, and aventurine can certainly already tell that a higher setting and the right positioning could easily be his undoing. that's a game in itself, he thinks. that if rufus is truly lucky enough, or if such close proximity works to his advantage, he might just learn that priceless information.
but for now, the ball still lies in aventurine's court; fingers that play with soft hair on the back of his neck, mindlessly and carefully. everything he does is always practiced, measured, deliberate. )
They're both much the same, wouldn't you say? For example, ( and here, he brings a hand over to rufus' mouth, running a slow thumb over his lips, and his gaze sits on it. ) At a poker table, there will always be one person the table will single out as a threat. Whether because they're winning, or because they know how to play the game, or because they can't be read in the least...
( aventurine looms above, almost haunting, leaning in close enough that they could feel each other's breaths, but not nearly close enough that they could kiss. )
Which means, they control the game, do they not? Once all eyes are on that person, when each of their movements are meticulously studied, it gives them power. Is that not why we're playing our little game right now?
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peacockstop2025-01-15 09:00 pm
high class oasis, rufus counts for my turks bingo. kinda. even if they've met b4
but he can't be blamed for partaking in their shallow demonstration of wealth through unhealthy gambling now, can he? not when he seeks the thrill of it, the high risk and the higher reward in the ecstasy in putting his life on the line every single time, and coming out of it victorious (or, at times he would argue, an unfortunate loser).
that's a thing from the past, though, as aventurine leaves one of the tables where he had just been gambling to see a familiar face lounging about. that's one extra glass of champagne that he brings rufus, offering him with a particular grace of someone who knows his etiquette. )
Wriothesley's friend, ( remember when they fucked him on his birthday. good times. ) Rufus, was it? We didn't have the chance to chat much before.
( geez i wonder why. )
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We didn't. Though I do recall a certain...commonality of interest.
[At least in the form of being the two most vocal of the sadists in that group. He takes the glass of champagne, holding it and making it swirl in its glass with a flick of his wrist that speaks of plenty of practice — how to socialize without making it obvious that you haven't actually drunk anything yet.]
Aventurine, correct?
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aventurine takes a seat across from him, a demeanor so fitting for the place they're currently in it's almost impressive, though it all comes from practice and adaptation. rarely has it been the times where aventurine partook in parties for the rich and powerful; the times he had been there had much been as an accessory or, at the very most, a disguise for the ipc, for all that he has the capital, money is about as easy to win as it is to lose.
but maybe it's fun, to play pretend. for what it's worth, he certainly fits in. )
Are you seeking refuge in here, away from the party? You don't seem the kind to enjoy such public displays of intimacy. ( a half-lie, because he doesn't yet have the most solid reading on rufus. ) Hopefully my company isn't so bad?
no subject
Mm. I'm here because I can be.
[He says, with the sort of offhand simplicity of someone so accustomed to privilege that it never really occurs to them that they might not be entitled to go anywhere they like, whenever they like, whatever the reason or circumstance.
Still, he does smile a bit, sensing the bait for what it is and seeing no reason not to take it.]
Though the quiet is a welcome respite. The games and spectacle lose their novelty after awhile.
no subject
funnier yet, he almost sees rufus as one of those. he certainly comes across as powerful or, at the very least, familiar with being in a position of significant power. the entitlement in his voice doesn't spare him from the assumption. )
Ahah, so you also believe that things should be consumed in moderation? The games, the spectacle, the people.
( spoken a little from a place of understanding, as though something he has personally experienced. but the smile on aventurine's face doesn't falter, nor does his gaze on rufus waver. )
You seem to have a short tolerance. How long do I have until my shine becomes dull?
( a little bit of a jest, all things considered. )
no subject
[But he knows bait when he hears it, for all that it might be delivered in a cloak of humor. And since he sees no reason not to take it, he gives Aventurine a slow and thorough look-over, head to toe, as he sips at the drink in his hand, before eventually speaking again.]
That depends on if you're propositioning me. My interest in people tends to track to what they want from me, because they always want something from me.
[And somehow, he suspects that's something Aventurine will relate to, as well.]
no subject
so - funny, that rufus says that. propositioning, huh. regardless whether he is or isn't, at least he knows rufus hasn't all turned him down. )
Haha. Is that so? I do suppose the foundation of Game 52 includes using and being used, for mutual benefit. But we're past that, aren't we? ( all thanks to wriothesley's exciting birthday party. ) I would argue there's something more interesting in people who don't want something from you, for once, though I wonder if that makes you more or less wanted.
no subject
[He shrugs slightly. It's not as though the concept of being permanently entrenched in a game of advantages and costs is altogether foreign to him, after all; quite the contrary, in some ways his time at the resort really has been almost like a vacation. At least here the incentives and penalties are reasonably straightforward, and on some level predictable in nature. In Midgar, the knives behind curtains were endless, and so the vigilance had to be, too.]
And how many people here have you found to be like that? Wanting absolutely nothing from you?
no subject
( the truth of the matter is - there's truly nothing he so wants from rufus, aside from getting to know him, reading the kind of person he is. maybe a contact, maybe networking. nothing so physical or material, nor anything so immediate. instead, there's a particular amusement in this subtle game they play, of people who walk the same walk of life, at least before they were brought here.
evil corporations, etc. aventurine takes a sip of his drink, unconcerned. )
Hm~ But I will indulge you. Perhaps I'm looking for entertainment. Like you said, some things do come too much in excess, and we strive for things shinier and newer each and every time. Maybe I simply lament we didn't get to speak much at Wriothesley's birthday party. Is that not enough?
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[It's less a challenge and more an invitation, regardless of the tones in which it comes cloaked; given the way Rufus leans back in his chair and inclines his head at a practiced angle that does particularly flattering things for his profile and the column of his throat, he's settling in for the prospect of entertainment as well, whatever form it might take.]
Why not both, then? Let's chat. And while we're at it, let's play a game.
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( the curiosity is genuine, all things considered. the way aventurine's gaze almost glistens in curiosity, in spite of the dullness of traumatized eyes. the offer of a game is much like dangling fresh steak in front of a starving lion, to a gambler. aventurine shifts in his chair, leaning slightly forward. rufus has his full attention. )
I suppose that counts for talking as well. It will give me insight into the kind of person you are. ( for a man whose work revolves around connections and understanding how deeply his client's ambitions and desires go, at least. ) Do tell. What game are we playing?
no subject
[He lets that notion linger in the air a moment, affording ample time for all the implications to sink in, before offering the second half of the remark: ]
And that involves you being shown a similar time to the one we gave Wriothesley.
[He smiles.]
A private party for just we two.
no subject
I wonder who's propositioning who now.
( not that aventurine is in opposition, because nothing in his demeanor seems as such. instead, he sips on his drink, calm and unbothered, as though waging the pros and cons. the truth is that there's no cons to consider, and doesn't aventurine love deals made in mutual benefit? )
And what are the terms of our little game?
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[Smug little bastard, he is. But like knows like, and Aventurine will surely clock posturing when he sees it — intentional bravado offered for the sake of setting the scene moreso than anything else.]
What terms did you have in mind?
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besides, he enjoys playing the long game, stretching it thin until right before it snaps. such concerns never existed here, and aventurine takes another sip of his drink, musing his answer. )
I'm happy to indulge in whatever interests you have, with no complain - unless you want me to, of course. I prefer to play our game with only the two of us, at least as the main players. Guest participants can be a staff or a guest neither of us are familiar with.
And more importantly, the game itself has to be interesting. That's enough of a challenge, when we're stuck in a casino. But don't blame me for being curious what someone like you could come up with. The attention of a gambler can be quite fickle if the game isn't worth his time, after all.
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[He glances about the lounge, finding one of the waiting attendants and motioning them over with a flick of his finger; when they draw near, he murmurs in their ear for a moment with some direction or another, which earns a very good, sir before the attendant discreetly departs again.]
We'll continue to chat. We'll order refreshments. Everything that might be expected of two VIPs spending some time away from the masses. And your extra challenge, Mr. Gambler, will be to keep concealed the fact that you're wearing a toy in my control. Fair enough?
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he's hardly against it, either way. )
I wouldn't have expected less from you. ( and he really wouldn't, if their little party with wriothesley had been anything to go by. ) Lucky for you, I'm quite familiar with games of resistance. I'll be sure not to disappoint as an opponent... though I wonder if this is a game you can win.
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[So he says, neatly timed, as the attendant he'd spoken with shortly before returns with a sleek black box, opaque and discreet, and offers it to Rufus with a slight incline of his head. The accessories necessary for their little endeavor, evidently; as the attendant leaves, Rufus passes the box over to Aventurine.]
I can't guarantee it's your color. But somehow I doubt that'll matter in the long run.
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the box is as fancy looking as one would expect of face cards, and opening it reveals a packing to match. there's three items surrounded by luxurious foam: a remote, with more buttons than aventurine can even attempt to guess what each is for; lube, because it's an essential; and the main participant of their game - a bright pink butt plug big enough that aventurine can tell will be more of a challenge than he thought.
his smile doesn't falter. it does match his eyes, at least. )
This is yours, I believe. ( he hands rufus the remote, nonchalant. there's a particular pointed look around them - they're still very much in public, after all, even if there's not as many guests around -, before it returns to the box, then to rufus. ) Would you like to do the honors, or should I?
( because he figures he won't have the privacy of a bathroom to put the plug in. )
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It's more fun if there are some things I don't know. Yet, at least.
[He smiles faintly, rolling the slim plastic controller down the backs of his fingers before catching it again in his palm — a deft, practiced movement, albeit not one really suited to something of the size he's doing it on.]
You do it. I'd like to find out what you're experiencing...secondhand. From context.
i missed this somehow and i have no idea how this got so long help
but then he has a much better idea, instead. when aventurine stands, it's only to cross the table in between them, so he may stand right before rufus; easier to enjoy the show that way. everything he does, then, is with a particular, almost impressive show of skill. the unbuckling of a belt, unbuttoning of his pants, and a zipper he pulls down - all with a single hand. he does not strip off of his pants.
the lube would've proven a challenge if aventurine didn't so much care for appearances that much; when the bottle itself is small and almost pocket-sized, it's the kind he can simply uncap and squeeze the lube out - something he does so, when he holds it between his teeth, and applies some on his own free hand. it works in his favor like that, when he has to reach back and into his pants, finding his own hole to finger himself. the good thing is that whatever reaction he would show here, aventurine does not. not when he still holds lube in his mouth, and his eyes barely flinch in response. only one more thing to add to the list of things rufus doesn't want to know, of course.
the rest comes much more streamlined, when aventurine judges himself properly prepared. taking the lube from his mouth, so he may apply some on the plug, that typical inscrutable smile ever on his face. when he takes it out, he makes sure to hide it behind the box still, to keep that air of mystery for rufus lest he spoils their fun. an arm that reaches behind him, into his pants again, past his underwear - and at least this time there's more of a reaction, as a treat, when aventurine bites on his lips, perhaps holding back a moan or two. a sign of honesty, that he's willing to play their game, and doesn't intend to so much cheat where rufus can see, though he'd certainly argue it's both an impressive and bold feat.
when the plug is in, and certainly intrusive in his body, is when aventurine shows both empty hands and an empty box to rufus. )
Hope you enjoyed that little show. ( and now he can fix his pants and set the box down, though he doesn't quite return to his seat yet. ) Figured I would add that in as an extra. Was that enough for you to experience it secondhandedly?
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You're gorgeous, you know.
[It's a simple, matter-of-fact statement; pretty blondes were far more to his father's taste than his own, but he's certainly not above appreciating beauty where he can find it — and moreso even than looks, Aventurine's beauty is in his willingness to play the game, to be just as dirty as the situation calls for to put the ball squarely back in his opponent's court.
His arm comes up to dangle against the back of his seat, effortless in the way it dangles and reveals just a glimpse of the remote within his fingers. His other hand brushes against his own thigh, casually indicating his lap.]
You have a seat waiting for you over there, but maybe you'd like one right here, instead?
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but it is true, that aventurine is always so willing to play the games; whether issued by the house or between players, what is a gambler without the one thing that gives their life value? it is never about the outcome, but the process in itself, the highs and lows that come with not knowing whether he'll be sent to heaven or hell.
this too is just the same, the probabilities and differences in the end-result that comes with accepting the invitation or returning to his seat and keeping their distance. there's appeal to both, he thinks, appeal in denying rufus of what he wants, but appeal to playing along, to put his life on someone's hands and let them do with it as they wish.
perhaps the answer is all too obvious. ) And lucky you, this kind of control looks good on you. ( a compliment paid back, in genuine sincerity.
aventurine doesn't move into rufus' lap just yet, aware that the moment he does, he'll be able to feel the plug a little too well. perhaps something to look forward to, a beat and two later, when aventurine reaches to straddle rufus, a practice motion as though nothing out of the ordinary is afflicting either of them. his smile remains the very same, not an inch out of place, settling in neatly on his lap with his arms around rufus' shoulders. comfortable, if not a little intrusive in certain places. )
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[It feels like a continuation of their negotiation, these initial exchanges between them — positioning, posturing, trading pawns in their openers as they progress toward the middle game. There's something nice about the way Aventurine drapes his arms over Rufus's shoulders, casting an illusion of intimacy that they can either pretend to buy into or acknowledge for what it really is. Because of course, Aventurine is right: they do make an exquisite picture like this, pretty blond on pretty blond, not just wrapped up in each other but so bathed in power that they have the luxury of not paying attention to anything else around them.
Of course, having Aventurine in his lap comes with other benefits — like making it natural for them to lock eyes and hold it there, to size each other up.
Like drawing attention away from the remote in his dangling hand, so it's inconspicuous when his thumb moves and toggles the vibrator on to a low setting.]
Do you like being controlled, Mister Gambler? Or do you just like playing games?
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but for now, the ball still lies in aventurine's court; fingers that play with soft hair on the back of his neck, mindlessly and carefully. everything he does is always practiced, measured, deliberate. )
They're both much the same, wouldn't you say? For example, ( and here, he brings a hand over to rufus' mouth, running a slow thumb over his lips, and his gaze sits on it. ) At a poker table, there will always be one person the table will single out as a threat. Whether because they're winning, or because they know how to play the game, or because they can't be read in the least...
( aventurine looms above, almost haunting, leaning in close enough that they could feel each other's breaths, but not nearly close enough that they could kiss. )
Which means, they control the game, do they not? Once all eyes are on that person, when each of their movements are meticulously studied, it gives them power. Is that not why we're playing our little game right now?
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