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ɢᴏʟᴅᴇɴ ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴏᴄᴋ ᴍᴏᴅs ([personal profile] goldmods) wrote in [community profile] peacockstop2025-01-15 09:00 pm
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TDM 007



【 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
WELCOME TO THE GOLDEN PEA... CAR? ► Thanks to a classic move called “overbooking,” new arrivals aren't being checked into rooms — the front desk and concierge have made an executive decision to temporarily house new arrivals in the parking garage. This may actually not be as bad as one may think! All of the vehicles in the Golden Peacock's garage are luxury; some are even bigger than the basement suites. There are, however, a limited number of cars available. Guests are booked into cars in pairs or sets of three.

► All vehicles in the Golden Peacock's parking garage are top of the line models. While the body style and year vary, their common denominator is that they are expensive. New arrivals may wake up in any kind of luxury vehicle from a zippy little Maserati to a SUV limousine. Guests waking up in larger, party-style vehicles may find the inside bar stocked with booze and snacks. Due to the nature of waking up in cars, they may wake up anywhere in their new ride. Even the trunk!

► New arrivals wake up naked save for a robe, as is standard for the Golden Peacock. This round’s robes are dramatic sets bedazzled with precious gems. These robes are inspired by the 1920s. Some are silk, some are sheer, some are lined with fur. All are over the top. If it has the flavor of old Hollywood or wealth your character can wake up in it. Some lucky guests may even find old fashioned smoking pipes or extended cigarette holders in their robe pockets.

► After briefly being dumbfounded, the valet, who normally has nothing to do, will scurry down with a few racks of clothes. All articles on the racks have been dragged out of storage; the majority of the pieces are old-fashioned or mismatched. All he can do is continue to bow deeply and apologize for the lack of amenities in the parking garage. No one ever comes here!
SUITES DON'T DO THIS!The cars in the parking garage are temperamental. Guests may find doors locking and unlocking of their own accord when they're trying to exit the vehicle. When inside with someone else, the radio will change to a channel playing romantic music. The lights will flicker, dim, or turn off to create some sexy ambiance. They've been in the parking garage for a long time and haven't seen any action in decades. That famous car that starred in Titanic got people to have sex in it. Why can't they!

Some of the cars may act strangely in other ways. The AC or heat will blast unexpectedly, the horn will go off at the least opportune moment, the engine will steam, the seats will spring back without anyone pressing the lever... if it can go wrong in a car, it can happen.

If asked, the valet will explain that over the past few months parts have gone mysteriously missing from some of the cars. Stolen, by no good dirty thieves! But what kind of ragamuffin would snatch car parts in the Golden Peacock? Regardless, he will apologize about the issues. They will continue until those missing parts are returned or replaced.

He will offer a monetary reward to anyone that can bring him any information about the guests that have been stealing car parts. It makes him look incompetent at his job, you see. All he has to do is watch these cars that don't go anywhere! If the house catches wind that they're needing repairs on his watch he's liable to lose his job. He's got four engaged daughters and he's got to pay for their weddings. He can't afford to get fired!



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.
AT THE DOOR ► Guests must adhere to the black tie dress code to enter. Those that show up in less than their best won't be turned away — but they will be stuffed into a rental outfit provided by the staff. All provided outfits are gaudy, flashy, and encrusted with jewelry. Also — itchy. Too much starch.

Guests that do not want to come will be "helped" to the party by the casino's favorite ghost hands. They will be dragged, levitated, and thrown across the resort until they've "joined" the party. Those that wish to opt out will be conveniently overlooked, completely forgotten by both the house and the hands because they, "lack presence." Ouch!

► Guests that wish to leave the party before it reaches its official end 168 hours later will find obstacles getting in the way of exiting. Staff pop out of nowhere to cheerfully guide them over to this new game they must try. Waiters stop them with trays of steaming food that they think they'll really enjoy. Long-standing guests stumble directly into their path and drag them into some drunken shenanigans. The doors will randomly get stuck. While guests can certainly escape the party, the forces that be are determined to make it difficult for them to call it a night.
REFRESHMENTSWHAT THE RICH FOLK EAT: A massive buffet table lines the back wall of the casino. This nod to overconsumption and gluttony features expensive and exquisite eats from land to sea. Everything on the table is decadent; only the best for guests of the Golden Peacock. The servers working the table encourage guests to eat and eat and eat, even going so far as to help them load up their 16 inch plates until they're overflowing. Less is more? Nonsense. More is more.

IT'S GETTING BUBBLY: While there are plenty of libations to go around, there is one special champagne that's guaranteed sweep you off your feet. A few sips of the bubbly will have you floating in the air like you're the grandpa from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Guests that drink the bubbly will become like a bubble themselves, rising to the ceiling and swimming through the air. Unlike Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, however, burping isn't the answer to grounding safely. The bubbly wears off randomly and without warning, so be careful of falling on another guest or someone's game table.

JUST A PUFF OR TWO: There's a new smoke that's captured the attention of party-goers. This popular new drug is called twig. Smoked from a very thin joint with an earthy taste. Need to add some pep to your step? Twig is the smoking equivalent of two hundred cups of coffee. Who needs sleep? With twig, it's possible to stay awake for upwards of three days without feeling tired. Guests report feeling "brilliantly energized" after smoking twig. However, reports also note that once the high wears off, the user might feel like a deflated balloon that's been run over by a truck. Long-standing guests will encourage newer guests to give it a try. You can sleep after the party, bro!
GAME ROOMS
TRY YOUR LUCK

DIRTY DICE: EVEN DIRTIER A crowd favorite — Dirty Dice is BACK and now it's even dirtier. The creators put their heads together to come up with funnier and more dynamic dice options to keep things interesting for players. While the original game used a pair of standard six-sided dice, Dirty Dice: Even Dirtier debuts a pair of hefty twelve-sided dice.

► The rules for Dirty Dice: Even Dirtier remain the same as last year. Players will be seated at a two-top (though group Dirty Dice games are also encouraged!) with a set of dirty dice. The starting player rolls both dice. The action created with the dice must then be done to the opposing player — however, the rolling player does have the option to turn down the action if they're chicken. The second player will then roll the dice to create an action, similarly able to turn down the action if they're also chicken. Players continue to take turns until there is a winner.

► The first player to complete four actions will receive bragging rights, an extra large chip payout, and the resounding applause from the audience. For low rank guests, winning Dirty Dice: Even Dirtier may also come with an invitation to one of the exclusive lounges.

DIE A
1: TICKLE
2: FINGER
3: KISS
4: SUCK
5: CARESS
6: SLAP
7: FONDLE
8: PINCH
9: LICK
10: BITE
11: SNIFF
12: GRIND ON
DIE B
1: LIPS
2: THIGH
3: CHEST
4: ASS
5: MOUTH
6: ELBOW
7: NECK
8: EAR
9: NIPPLE
10: GENITALS
11: KNEE
12: NOSE


SEX TOY ROULETTE Come one, come all, step right up and try your luck with Sex Toy Roulette! Several giant roulette wheels (an ode to our favorite morning TV show, The Price Is Right) are waiting for those brave enough to give them a spin. Sex Toy Roulette is a game of chance that comes with risks and rewards. Are you daring enough to give it a go?

► Sex Toy Roulette is very easy to play. The player steps up to the wheel, grabs the handle, and gives it their best spin. Whatever the needle lands on when the wheel stops is what the player wins! Lucky ducks might land on one of the fabulous instant prizes which can be claimed immediately. Less lucky ducks land on one of the sex toy options.

► If the needle lands on one of the sex toy options the roulette manager will give the player the corresponding sex toy. The toy will sync with the player's Watch and begin a countdown of 4 hours. The instructions for further steps are also transmitted to their Watch: Use this sex toy in a sex act with another guest within 4 hours.

► Players that complete the game and use the sex toy within 4 hours will receive no penalty. They also get to keep the sex toy. Yay!

► Players that do not complete the game and do not use the sex toy within 4 hours will be penalized. Not only will a substantial amount of chips be drained from their bank account, guests may experience a sudden and intense suit flare. Wildcards may randomly experience symptoms of ANY SUIT.

1: BLINDFOLD
2: CHOCOLATE SYRUP
3: PADDLE
4: DILDO
5: INSTA-PRIZE
6: G-STRING
7: CLIT SUCKER
8: ANAL BEADS
9: ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH
10: INSTA-PRIZE
11: MAGIC WAND
12: GUN

13: A REGULAR SPOON
14: VIBRATOR
15: INSTA-PRIZE
16: ROPE
17: BALL GAG
18: FLESHLIGHT
19: BONDAGE TAPE
20: FLAVORED CONDOMS
21: INSTA-PRIZE
22: BUTT PLUG
23: GARTER BELT
24: KNIFE

25: NIPPLE CLAMPS
26: INSTA-PRIZE
27: LEASH & COLLAR
28: RIDING CROP
29: SEX DOLL
30: BEN WA BALLS
31: CHASTITY CAGE
32: ANKLE CUFFS
33: COCK RING
34: INSTA-PRIZE
35: CUCUMBER
36: HANDCUFFS

► Guests that land on INSTA-PRIZE may select from the following prizes:
  • An extra-large chip payout and money box experience. Stand inside a narrow box and enjoy being showered with the bills of different cultures across the multiverse! Dollars, yen, euros, yuan... you name it.
  • The royal experience. Travel around the party in the coveted Pure Gold Peacock Palanquin. Enjoy 24 hours of topless servants and constant hand-and-foot service. All of your commands will be obeyed.
  • Select from an assortment of luxury watches, necklaces, earrings, and other expensive articles of clothing. Cashmere, pure silk, Mongolian wool — high quality items for keeps. May also select from appliances that would not be normally found in low rank suites.
  • A brand new car or motorcycle!!! Yes, the car will have to live in the garage, but it's all yours. Winners who choose a motorcycle may ride it around the hallways of the resort.

  • ► The specific details of the sex toy a character is given is left to OOC discretion. For example, if you choose to land on "vibrator", you may have your character given any kind of vibrator. Have fun!

    1 or 11 Down the hall from the main hub guests may find a clandestine room with a silvery sign on the door — ARE YOU 1 OR 11? Crossing the threshold brings a different atmosphere from the card tables and slot machines. The game manager stops every person that comes inside, offering four cards and asking the new player to select one.

    "This will be your role inside Lovers' Hideaway," she explains with a smile. After selecting a card, the player will be guided past the velvet curtains to join in the amorous atmosphere of a silver-studded lounge with several private bedrooms.


    1 or 11 is a game of dominance and submission. The four hidden cards offered at the door are all Ace cards. The specific Ace card that the player draws indicates their role of either Dominant or Submissive. For the rest of their time inside Lover's Hideaway that is the dynamic they are expected to play. Players will win a large payout after any intimate D/s encounter.

    ► A player must redraw every time they leave and return to Lovers' Hideaway, so it is possible to play both dynamics.

    A♦: ACE OF DIAMONDS — 1, Submissive.
    A♥︎: ACE OF HEARTS — 11, Dominant.
    A♣: ACE OF CLUBS — 1, Submissive.
    A♠: ACE OF SPADES — 11, Dominant.


    ► The rules of 1 or 11 are otherwise very relaxed. Doms and Subs seek one another out inside Lovers' Hideaway and find mutual satisfaction together. The staff of Lovers' Hideaway are happy to provide any amenities that the couple would like to use in their play.
    HOUSE OF CARDS Ladies and gentleman! Do you dare to test how steady your hands are? Are you ready for a new challenge? Come play our new game, House of Cards. Step up to any table with a house of cards and prepare to go head-to-head with another guest in a game of strategy and luck.


    ► Players take turns removing one of the cards from a house of cards. Similarly to Jenga, players must be careful not to knock the house of cards over when removing a card. The player that causes the house to collapse is the loser. A large sum of chips will be transfered from the loser to the winner after the house falls.

    ► Each card has a question. After successfully pulling a card, the player must then answer the question honestly. Questions vary in intensity, ranging from simple inquiries such as, What is your favorite color? to more complicated, Would you betray a loved one for financial gain?

    ► Failure to answer the question or to answer it honestly will register as a loss on the player's Watch. The player will then be flagged as the loser and a large sum of chips will be transferred to the winning player.
    EXCLUSIVE LOUNGES
    ONLY FOR THE FEW

    HIGH CLASS OASIS Being a high rank in the Golden Peacock comes with perks. 168 hours is exhausting, so staff have arranged a luxurious respite for the high rank guests that need a break from the party. Guests ranked 10 - King are invited to come relax in the High Class Oasis. Suit-clad and sunglasses wearing security stand at the door and check each guest's credentials before they're allowed to enter.

    Security are strict about monitoring who is allowed to come into the oasis. They won't even allow a high rank to bring a mid or low rank with them; they won't risk upsetting any of the other high ranks. However, while these security guards are loyal and diligent, they aren't especially smart. It is possible for low and mid rank guests to sneak into the oasis with a bit of ingenuity. But be careful — if you don't walk the high class walk, one of the royal long-term guests might call for security to drag the peasants away.
  • Private bedrooms and sleeping pods.
  • Bathroom featuring showers, bath tubs, hot tubs, sauna, and steam room.
  • Racks of complimentary clothing.
  • Top-shelf bottles of wine, champagne, and spirits.
  • Complimentary cigarettes and cigars.
  • Full body massages and masseuses on call.
  • Birdbucks baristas serving up any and all coffee drinks, on the house.
  • Peace and quiet away from the peasants!


  • HIGH ROLLER CLUB Guests that are willing to bet high and gamble hard are invited to play in the High Roller Club. The High Roller Club isn't for the faint of wallet or heart; everything played inside this exclusive club is high risk and high reward. Guests that refuse to match the high risk energy of the club will be escorted out immediately. Entrance to the High Roller Club is dependent upon the means to bet high. If the dealers judge a guest to be broke and/or a coward, unable to put forth chips and unwilling to bet their bodies, they will be denied access.

    Guests that have been denied access but are caught trying to sneak in will be conscripted into drink service. They will be dressed up in a sexy bird costume and made to serve drinks to high rollers. Think sexy casino bunny, bird edition. Hey, at least that gives them a bird's eye view of how the extremely wealthy (and gambling addicts) play?
  • All games require large bets, either monetary or bodily.
  • Sex acts may be offered in lieu of chips if the player has no chips left to bet.
  • All drinks are complementary when playing in the club.
  • Wins and losses must be large enough to be impactful on a player's daily life.
  • Players can end up in the red, which triggers instant conscription. Players in massive debt will be forced to work in other areas of the party to begin paying back the house.
  • Any kind of game may be played in the club, including games under the "Game Rooms" tab.


  • WOMEN'S PARLOR A pair of eight foot Amazonian bouncers guard the doors to the Women's Parlor. Only guests that identify as women will be allowed to enter the parlor. Guests that identify as men will be blocked by the bouncers' crossed spears. This lounge is a private space for women to relax and refresh during the festivities.

    Like the other lounges, it is not impossible for guests that identify as men to sneak into the Women's Parlor. However, these Amazonian bouncers won't move an inch from the door and refuse to engage with men, leaving little room for persuasion or sneaking. Men who wish to sneak into the Women's Parlor will have to crossdress as women in order to pass the bouncers. It's important to keep up the act, too, lest the long-standing guests inside the parlor realize that men have snuck into their haven and call the Amazons to come catch them.
  • Comfortable couches and sofas; blankets and pillows.
  • A few showers stocked with amenities.
  • Quick laundry service for gowns and pantsuits.
  • Exclusive dessert bar, featuring limited edition pastries.
  • High tea at all hours, featuring limited edition tea blends and mini sandwiches.
  • Running chocolate fountain and numerous dip-able foods such as fruits and marshmallows.
  • Numerous kittens and cats for cuddling.
  • Complimentary shoulder and/or foot massages.






  • HANGOVER AFTERCARE
    DID YOU HAVE FUN?
    A LITTLE AFTERCAREThe morning after the party ends, characters will find themselves waking up with someone else in their bed. Did you go to bed with someone last night? Oops, looks like they got misplaced in the shuffle, but please enjoy this new person. No one should wake up alone after a party — or so the house thinks. Affection and intimacy have been reported to increase happiness in humans and semi-human individuals after an exhausting escapade. Plus, it's heard that hangovers can be torturous. Not that it would know.

    ► Guests won't just be waking up to each other. Waiting for them are trays with steaming hot breakfast and a large cloth bag labeled Hangover Kit. While you're enjoying some coffee and munching on bacon, feel free to dig into the bag and check out what the house has sent for you! Isn't it the best host?

    Please enjoy your complimentary: water bottle; aspirin packs; Pepto-Bismol; Gas-X; Imodium; anal douche; enema kit; viagra; face masks; a box of Bon-Bons; and one (1) random sex toy.

    Have a pleasant sleepy morning!


    OOC NOTES

    INVITES | RESERVES | APPLICATIONS
    BLANKET CW: Alcohol; altered states; BDSM dynamics; coercion; drug use; exhibitionism; food play; gambling; servitude

    ▶ 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.

    ▶ Happy New Year and 2025! ♥
    NAVIGATIONLOGNETWORKOOCMEME
    diuturna: (pic#17617763)

    [personal profile] diuturna 2025-01-17 01:41 pm (UTC)(link)
    '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. )

    I am Neuvillette, a resident of Fontaine.
    philancer: (014)

    [personal profile] philancer 2025-01-18 06:00 pm (UTC)(link)
    Yeeeah, you could say that... [ comes the still sleepy reply.

    Then the rest of that introduction sinks in and his brain stumbles over that name. Fontaine. Why is that familiar? Does he know someone...?

    The realization might take a moment, because he really is still half asleep, as well as slightly hungover, but when it does sink in, he suddenly sits bolt upright to blink at the man in room. ]


    Wait. Fontaine? The place with all the water? Do you know Wriothesley?
    diuturna: (pic#17617772)

    [personal profile] diuturna 2025-01-18 07:31 pm (UTC)(link)
    Yes, the 'place with all the water'.

    ( said dryly, with a smidgen of emphasis placed on water. not an incorrect summary of the nation of justice, and yet to state it so feels overly reductive. but more important to that is the connection this man apparently has with wriothesley, a far more interested fact than any generic description of fontaine. it's this part that has his eyes widening with more than just polite interest, form straightening. )

    I am familiar with Wriothesley, yes.

    ( more than just familiar, considering how many years he has kept a silent but watchful eye over the man. )

    Our respective occupations have necessitated a working relationship from time to time. Do you know him?
    philancer: (032)

    [personal profile] philancer 2025-01-18 07:56 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ Look, he doesn't actually know much about Fontaine beyond the water bit. And the prison bit. What he's learned from Wriothesley in their time together has been... very situational.

    But the common acquaintance between them has Sylvain's expression brightening, both with excitement and a considerable dose of affection. ]


    I do! We arrived during the same event, little over a year ago. We've been good friends, ever since. He typically lives across the hall from me.

    [ Have they timed all their rankings to keep that situation going? Maybe. >.> ]

    Oh, he'll be thrilled to see a familiar face, if he hasn't spotted you already.
    diuturna: (pic#17617770)

    [personal profile] diuturna 2025-01-18 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
    ( a friend then. a good friend, even. a knot inside of him loosens and he lets out a small exhale of relief. and, with the conversation well underway, he pulls out a chair and takes a seat, folding his hands in his lap. )

    We had the fortune of meeting earlier. He seemed pleased to see someone from home, though I daresay anyone would after a year away.

    ( and though sylvain does not seem like the type to need additional praise, neuvillette cannot help but add: )

    He is a good man. Trustworthy, for all that he can be overly flattering at times. Has he been...well, all this time?

    ( has he already asked the very same to wriothesley and gotten an answer, yes, but corroborating between multiple viewpoints always paints a far clearer picture of the truth. and while he would never believe wriothesley to lie to him, he also knows how careful the man is letting slip only the information he wishes to and nothing else. )
    philancer: (030)

    [personal profile] philancer 2025-01-18 08:18 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ Yeah, Sylvain has picked up on that bad habit of Wriothesley's too.

    The man making himself comfortable has him relaxing somewhat. Even if... he is still naked in bed, but at least the sheets are wrapped up around his waist, making him... mostly modest? He bears just as many scars on his torso as the warden does, however, if from different sources. It certainly speaks of a man accustomed to a lifetime of war. ]


    He's spoken of missing familiar faces a few times, so I'm glad there's one more here. There've been a few who have come and gone, I believe, in our time here. [ Don't ask him who though. he might be great with faces but he's less so with names. not to mention even knowing which ones shared a homeworld with Wriothesley. Although it seemed to be a favorite spot to pull from, for the House. ]

    He's been as well as one can be, in this place, lets put it that way. The resort can be a bit... spontaneous, in nature. Changeable and unexpected. Some days are easier to deal with than others. but overall, yes, I'd say he's done well here. And I'm sure he's not the only one with trust issues in this place. [ Not by a long shot. ]

    I'm Sylvain, by the way. Sylvain Gautier.
    diuturna: (pic#17617763)

    [personal profile] diuturna 2025-01-18 08:59 pm (UTC)(link)
    ( the near nudity is, undeniably, a little jarring, but the least of his concerns in the face of everything else he's learned thus far. and if nothing else, he's gotten very good at maintaining his composure in the wake of absolute chaos and directing his gaze to where it needs to go.

    which, right now, is level with sylvain's face. )


    A pleasure to meet you, Mister Gautier.

    ( and, despite all the chaos this place has dragged him into thus far, he does mean it this time beyond more than just a trite greeting. this sylvain must be an interesting fellow indeed, especially if wriothesley's seen fit to confide in him. )

    My condolences that you also have been kept here this long. ( is he to be the next victim? how sobering. ) Do you also at least have the comfort of having friends from home here with you?
    philancer: (021)

    [personal profile] philancer 2025-01-18 09:14 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ What a gentleman. It's okay. You can look, if you like. He won't mind.

    He can't help but chuckle at Neuvillette's condolences, though. ]


    Condolences aren't really necessary. Believe it or not, finding myself here was a vast improvement over the mess I was mired in back home. [ One he's also in no hurry to return to. ] There are a few friends here from my home here, yes. And more distant acquaintances [ he means enemies ] as well.
    diuturna: (pic#17617763)

    [personal profile] diuturna 2025-01-18 10:26 pm (UTC)(link)
    ( but his victorian sensibilities. :(

    having experienced little-to-none of all the resort has to offer, the admittance of enjoyment comes as a surprise. still, the more he thinks upon it, the more it makes sense; not everyone carries or enjoys such heavy responsibilities as his, and there are plenty in dire straits that would find this resort to be a veritable paradise.

    none of that changes the discomfort still lodged in his chest, though it's easy enough to ignore in favor of focusing on his companion. )


    Were things truly so bad at the time of your departure?
    philancer: (005)

    [personal profile] philancer 2025-01-21 06:59 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ Those sure are gonna be in for a shock around here, sorry man.

    Sylvain waves a hand dismissively at the question of his homeworld, though, his nose wrinkling a little ]


    They certainly weren't great. My country was tangled in a war it didn't want to be fighting, but were left with little choice. Although I suspect the same can be said of many wars. It... wasn't going well.

    [ Although Dimitri's return, along with Byleth, had at least given them a fighting chance. Before that... it had mostly been he and Felix delaying the inevitable. ]

    Let's just say, I'm in no rush to return to that.
    diuturna: (pic#17617772)

    [personal profile] diuturna 2025-01-21 11:02 pm (UTC)(link)
    ( a war....not an uncommon occurrence in many nations. indeed, he recalls the nation of natlan and their constant skirmishes against the abyss. it is no easy task for anyone involved, full of hardship and suffering. it certainly isn't something worthy of being romanticized.

    and yet he finds himself curious about this man's answer, so blase and casual. )


    So you would leave your friends and allies to fight alone?

    ( he doesn't mean to ask such a pointed question. there is no shame in wishing to prioritize one's safety and continued existence in the world. and yet... )
    Edited 2025-01-21 23:03 (UTC)
    philancer: (022)

    [personal profile] philancer 2025-01-23 05:06 am (UTC)(link)
    [ He doesn't hold it against the other man, instead offering him a crooked, rueful smile. ]

    Well. Not quite. This place... it messes with time somehow. There are others here, from my world. From what would be considered my future. [ He spreads his hand in a shrug, treating it lightly and not with the more complex grief and guilt he'd been dealing with for the better part of a year. ] Apparently, if this place hadn't kidnapped me when it did... I wouldn't have walked off the battlefield that day anyway.

    [ Alternate timelines were confusing as hell. And he hasn't even figured out how that works yet. But he did believe his old classmate wouldn't have lied about that. ]
    diuturna: (pic#17617766)

    [personal profile] diuturna 2025-01-25 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
    ( how...confusing, to say the least. he's had to grapple with missing memories of his own but never anything as widespread as difference between the memories of multiple people. but then again, wriotheley had mentioned something along the lines of not being entirely present during the final days of the prophecy in fontaine, so there's clearly some greater power at play here.

    even more to think about during his time here. )


    I see.

    ( his voice is grave, sobered by the talk of conflict. he doesn't see, not quite yet, but the cogs in his head are turning. not unlike the gears of all the clockwork meka that patrol the streets of fontaine. )

    I am glad to hear that you are still in possession of your life. I only hope that you and your allies and your nation find the peace you are so ardently fighting for.

    ( in this, he is sincere. but enough about that. )

    But since you are here, what do you enjoy best about this place?
    philancer: (017)

    [personal profile] philancer 2025-01-25 07:51 pm (UTC)(link)
    I hope so, too. [ Even if he doesn't sound all that optimistic about it. Fodlan had been a mess. But Byleth had always been a wildcard in their past, and it seems that she was still. Even if he didn't understand how or why.

    As for that question, he gives a thoughtful hum, because it's a good question. ]


    Well, this might not make sense without context, but... I enjoy the fact that no one knows who I am. It doesn't matter who I am. I don't have a reputation preceding me, or a title that defines me. Traps me, honestly. I'm just one among many other "guests" here, and my position, my rank, my reputation - it's gained or lost through my efforts. What I want to define myself as.

    It may sound silly to some, saying the thing I appreciate most is just being no one special, someone ordinary here, but... it's something I never got to enjoy back home. It's a sort of freedom all its own.
    diuturna: (pic#17617763)

    [personal profile] diuturna 2025-01-25 08:21 pm (UTC)(link)
    ( once again he's struck by the depth of human tenacity, and their fervent need to steer their fates with their own two hands rather than any outside influence.

    he offers sylvain another wan smile, polite and a touch sympathetic. )


    I understand. There will always be those that revel under the spotlight and those who prefer to be part of a nameless audience.

    ( though perhaps the comparison isn't quite apt. being the chief justice is not easy, and even though he has become a point of pride in the daily lives of fontainians now, things weren't always so simple. even if it is a role he would never shirk and has grown quite accustomed to, there are some days where )

    Speaking of, what 'rank' are you here?

    ( mona had taught him a little of the system here. might as well start getting used to the hierarchy. )
    philancer: (022)

    [personal profile] philancer 2025-01-25 08:51 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ He chuckles at that, leaning back against the headboard as he settled a little more comfortably. He's still not dressed, but as all he's got keeping him decent is the sheets tucked around his waist, it's probably safer for Neuvillette if he doesn't get out of this bed right now. ]

    I just became a 10 of Diamonds - the same is Wriothesley. We both started out as 4's, with our doors across from each other, and we've kept moving up each time together as we had enough points to rank up. Even though he seemed pretty reluctant about it at first. The ranking, not the rest of it. He apparently also has an aversion to the spotlight.
    diuturna: (pic#17617765)

    [personal profile] diuturna 2025-01-26 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
    ( he can't help but chuckle at the description of familiar habits, a soft exhale of breath that dissipates quickly in the air. )

    That he does. I can't recall the last time he agreed to be photographed, either by Sigewinne or the reporters from the Steambird. But I imagine the anonymity suits the needs of his work much better than the spotlight.

    ( being the warden of the most infamous - and admittedly, only - prison in fontaine while having all his secrets revealed to the world may as well be a death sentence. neuvillette has never been much for secrecy himself, but he can understand the need for it in others. )

    I take it he has told you about his job?
    philancer: (036)

    [personal profile] philancer 2025-01-29 08:56 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ Sylvain... doesn't really know what a photograph is, but he gets the basic gist of that statement anyway. And yeah, that sounds like Wriothesley, alright.

    He chuckles as he shakes his head fondly, then nods in response to that latter question. ]


    A bit. The prison, the whole underwater thing. And I've... seen things. From his past. When he was a child. And a teen. This place has strange ways of... dredging things up unexpectedly.
    diuturna: (pic#17617776)

    [personal profile] diuturna 2025-01-30 03:26 pm (UTC)(link)
    ( now that is interesting. also: deeply disturbing and highly invasive, especially for a man who values his privacy as much as wriothesley does. though it would be no less acceptable even for someone open about their feelings and past. )

    Is that so?

    ( any trace of good humor has since vanished, leaving behind only disapproval and unhappiness in the downward curve of his mouth and hard glint in his eyes. )

    Is that another one of this resort's tricks to try and 'encourage' us to form closer connections with each other?
    Edited 2025-01-30 15:30 (UTC)
    philancer: (017)

    [personal profile] philancer 2025-01-30 08:22 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ He grimaces slightly, lifting his shoulders in a shrug. ]

    Honestly? I'm not entirely certain. Sometimes whatever game they're trying to play can backfire in ways they don't expect. Or perhaps its more accurate to say it plays out in unanticipated ways. The lower levels got flooded at one point, and something last month happened with our suits that had them all mixed up from what they were meant to be. I honestly don't know if reliving some of our childhood memories was what they intended, although I sort of doubted. Kids aren't all that interested in sex, after all.

    Although it did bring us closer, in its own way, I suppose. Nothing brings people closer, I guess, than getting to witness each other's terrible traumatic childhoods. [ His voice is utterly dry, because Wriothesley wasn't the only one who kept his past secretive and deeply buried. Even his prince didn't know most of it. ]
    diuturna: (pic#17617766)

    [personal profile] diuturna 2025-01-30 11:22 pm (UTC)(link)
    Indeed.

    ( his own voice is dry, though not so much as sylvain's. wit and humor have never been coping or defense mechanisms he's sought to use often - or at all. )

    Well, I am glad to hear the experience did not irreparably damage the relationship between you two. ( his voice softens with the next line. ) Though I am sorry to hear your own your childhood was difficult as well.

    ( children should be loved and cherished, and provided with safe homes and families to grow and prosper in. )
    philancer: (014)

    [personal profile] philancer 2025-01-30 11:26 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ He acknowledges the words with a rueful smile, but is quick to change the subject, too. ]

    We all have our difficulties, I suppose. But you must have known Wriothesley a long time ago, then?
    diuturna: (pic#17617770)

    [personal profile] diuturna 2025-01-31 04:31 pm (UTC)(link)
    ( it's an easy change of subject, smooth and easy to follow. neuvillette sees nothing wrong answering this particular question. he is not the sort to pry, in any case. though he doesn't answer right away, letting the silence lull between them for a few breaths as he considers what would be most appropriate to say. )

    Yes, I have. ( a small nod. ) We have worked together in a professional capacity for many years now, and I had been made aware of his actions in the Fortress of Meropide prior to that due to a mutual friend of ours.

    ( which sounds a little illicit when phrased like that. )
    philancer: (005)

    [personal profile] philancer 2025-02-02 08:23 pm (UTC)(link)
    [ This place has a way of making everything illicit anyway.

    But Sylvain’s lips quirk faintly as he nods in understanding. ]


    Well, I suppose it’s very reassuring to know he wasn’t your warden. [ Not that it likely would have affected Sylvain’s opinion about him even if he had been.

    But he has a feeling Wriothesley will want to know of this new arrival - if he doesn’t already. And Sylvain… is still stuck here naked. ]


    …I don’t suppose you see anything down there that might be my pants…?
    diuturna: (pic#17617765)

    [personal profile] diuturna 2025-02-03 04:34 pm (UTC)(link)
    ( can't believe sylvain is out here insinuating that neuvillette might be so crass as to ever consider breaking the law? inconceivable.

    but the innocent question about clothing does prompt neuvillette out of his chair, eyes widening in surprise and cheeks coloring in apology. despite his own disheveled appearance - shirt partially unbuttoned, strands of hair sticking out every which way - his movements as he crouches towards the ground remain graceful nonetheless. )


    My apologies for the oversight. Please, allow me.

    ( to fish out the various clothes scattered on the floor. blame waking up in an unfamiliar room with an unfamiliar person at his side, a first in all the hundreds of years he's been alive.

    some sixty seconds later, he pops back up with a shirt dangling off the fingers of one hand and a pair of pants dangling off the other. as for underwear......sylvain will either have to find those himself or simply go without. )


    Do either of these belong to you?

    (no subject)

    [personal profile] philancer - 2025-02-10 22:50 (UTC) - Expand