【 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.
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▶ 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.
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( her kindness is appreciated, though the question written on the card is not. )
A very leading question. Would the very act of me telling you not prompt the desire to seek out the answer to that same question?
( but then, there would hardly be any entertainment to be found in this game if all questions were so easy and straightforward. and, in truth, there are few questions he has ever minded answering. he has always prided himself on honesty, on impartiality. moreso than anyone else, the iudex will always be bound most heavily by the law lest he wish to lose the faith and trust of his people.
another moment's silence, and then: )
I suppose it would have to do with my past. ( the inheritance he has received, the memories of a life once lived. ) Those are answers I cannot give, simply because I am still in the process of unraveling those answers for myself.
( a pause. )
Do you also wish to answer, or shall I select another card?
No, it's all right. [ she shakes her head, voice calm. ] I'd have said the same thing myself.
[ her past that's been dragged up from the bottom of the sea, the horrors she'd seen and encountered. no one else has to see that, and even then, she's more or less defeated her inner turmoils and should be able to move on from all that on her own terms. besides, hardly anyone is that eager to share their sordid backstories, and perhaps the gentleman in front of her must've committed a grave sin of his own as well.
( another fluid motion of his arm, another card carefully pulled from the top of the tower. he flips it over, light eyes scanning across the text written on its surface. )
"What would constitute a perfect day for you?"
( the card goes down as his gaze lifts back up. well? )
[ ah. that question should be easy enough, but instead it's giving her considerable pause. it's hard to think of perfect days when you're always trying to survive the Horrors™️ of everyday life in the City, but she'd be lying if she hadn't thought about it.
her gaze rests on the tower before them, expression solemn as she dredges up the silly sketch from the recesses of her mind, back when she was younger and much more naive. ]
I'd be walking alongside someone in some small port, shrouded in mist and the smell of fish permeating from one stall to another. I could be holding large textbooks in my hands, or even carrying well-maintained weapons.
[ not that her harpoon is nothing but well-maintained. she'd whetted and sharpened it down to a science. ]
Or... maybe I'd just be heading somewhere with my hands full of tasty treats for the day. I don't know. [ she lets out a short, awkward laugh. ] I haven't really thought about things like those in a long time, so you'll have to forgive me if they're too simple for anyone's liking.
( he watches her think and ponder, expression softening at the sheepish lilt to her words. hers may be a simple dream but that makes it no less valid. he has witnessed so many of the hopes and dreams of humans over the years, some grand and far-reaching, others limited to a single sphere of influence. and yet all had brought equal amounts of joy and sorrow into the lives of those who had dreamed them.
truly, the range of human desire and hope will always be astounding. )
There is no need for forgiveness. ( not when there has been no crime committed save for that of uncertainty. ) It sounds like a pleasant day indeed. Sometimes it is the simplest of acts that can bring forth the most joy.
( his own answer too would be simple, comprised of a few activities. )
[ still, it's embarrassing. she didn't expect herself to be so open about that detail, and now she wonders if these cards can somehow compel people into telling the truth without realizing it. ]
But that's just what most normal people would wish for. What would someone as sophisticated as you would enjoy?
[ she's just some girl, surrounded by these people who seem larger than life -- almost like Whales on the prowl for their next prey. but this time, she's defenseless. ]
( sophisticated? him? the offhand observation makes him frown. there are several things in which he is particular, yes, but he has never considered himself all that highbrow. if his status in fontaine is elevated, it is simply due to the position thas has been bequeathed him and not any personal preference.
he refolds his hands in his lap. )
In truth, much the same as you. I rarely get much time off, but when I find myself with a free afternoon, I enjoy taking walks behind the Opera Epiclese. It is much closer to the water than the Palais Mermonia, and I find the air much more clear and refreshing there.
( easier to smell and taste the sea without the interference of metal and human innovation. )
[ to survive in her world, one has to read the waves as well as one could read people, and ishmael likes to think that she's good at doing both. from the way he sits and talks, she can tell that he's from the upper crust of some sort, like the richer people in her Nest before she decided to abandon it all.
at least that what she initially surmises, but when neuvillette says his piece, she flushes slightly in embarrassment. ]
I... I see. I apologize for jumping to conclusions, then.
( there isn't much for her to apologize for as far as he's concerned, but he accepts her apology nonetheless with a small nod of his head. mistakes and assumptions are a natural part of life; after all, he too has committed his fair share of errors. the fact that she can catch and improve on her own shortcomings speaks highly of her character.
but the meandering of the conversation to one of his favorite subjects brings a rare smile to his face. )
I do, indeed. And yourself? Are you a water connoisseur as well?
( truly? a fellow appreciator of water in this desolate place? suddenly, it feels as though the clouds have rolled in, the promise of incoming rain hanging in the air. he leans forward, eyes wide with interest.
the card game appears to have been forgotten. )
Really? Then tell me, from where do you prefer your water to be imported from?
[ he's anticipating her most-awaited answer. what does she even say to that? the guy may be upper crust, sure, but why does he sound so fascinated when it comes to drinking water of all things than. you know. wine or juice???
must be a rich person thing. damn rich people.
a bout of silence follows, before she lets out a sigh. ]
I think we're not on the same page here, sir. When I say I like the waters, I meant the ocean. The lakes. Any body of water, really.
[ and yet, she is going to try to answer his question anyway. it's what diligent honor students would do. ]
I don't import my water, first of all. But there is definitely a difference between the poorer part of a District, and the well-to-do side of it. I just hadn't considered it until now, is all.
( there is some disappointment to be found in her answer, yes, some of the light fading from his eyes, but the fact that she remains interested in water in general keeps his own interest piqued. there is still plenty of room for discussion.
but first, with a small dip of his head: )
My apologies. I should not have assumed.
( that she was also a fan of various types of spring and lake waters. once again, it seems he is to be on his own when it comes to appreciating the finer tastes of water. literally and metaphorically. )
[ nooooo the disappointment in his eyes are so palpable. normally ishmael wouldn't care about what most people feel, but the fact that he got a little bummed about it made her feel a tiny bit bad. damn. ]
Mm. It's the ocean, but we call it the Great Lake. I used to work as a sailor, that's why.
[ and she's going to end it right there, before they delve into anything deeper than that. she isn't ready to talk about the rest of it.
besides, they've got a game to play. she hurriedly takes a card, and the tower wobbles with the sudden movement. whew, that was close. ]
( how very interesting, that so many people would name bodies of water so haphazardly. an ocean referred to as the great lake, versus a terrestrial inland lake colloquially termed as the sea. but it's clear the young woman wishes to move on and so he keeps his peace, patiently waiting for her to draw her card and read off the question printed on its surface.
it is, thankfully, not particularly risque, though nevertheless a question that requires some amount of thought and another stretch of silence falls between them both as neuvillette's gaze shifts downwards and then finally back up. )
I suppose that I am far more emotional than I appear. ( a slight sigh. ) Do I really look like someone who would cry at the drop of a hat?
From first impressions alone? You don't look like it, no. But...
[ her voice trails off as her thoughts go back to her own experiences -- back in the day, she would've freely shed her tears every time one of her fellow mates died at sea, with the ones who were left behind only leaving her alone to cry her heart out.
but it's not like that anymore, is it? she's grown from it like most people, so maybe that's the case for the older man here. and yet. ]
It's more or less like a dam, the way I see it. You can't keep it all inside forever. There will come a day when the floodgates will break, and sweep everyone along in the mighty currents. Including yourself.
( it's an oddly personal anecdote, descriptive in only the way someone familiar with the concept would be able to imagine. for all that he, outwardly, does not appear the type to cry, neither does she. but if he's learned anything over the last 400 years of presiding over court cases, it's that appearances can be more than deceiving.
he nods once at her reply, a slow and considering agreement. )
Such is the natural course of water, to flow free and unobstructed.
( much like emotions themselves. and yet one he is intimately familiar with down to his very core, while the other remains very much a mystery. )
[ she seems to have realized this just now, too. normally she'd introduce herself first before anything else, but it seems that the game was distracting enough for the both of them.
not that it's a bad thing. aside from some weird icebreakers, this session hasn't been all that bad. one of her more pleasant encounters, in fact. ]
Call me Ishmael. [ a small smile. ] You haven't answered my question yet, Sir...?
Miss Ishmael, then. ( the words are accompanied by a polite incline of his head. ) In return, you may refer to me as Neuvillette.
( no point in bringing titles into the mix, especially when said titles hold no sway here in this place. all that matters is the rank and suit he will be given once his status as a wildcard is cleared. )
As for your question, are you referring to the question printed on the card or something else?
[ not me forgetting to backread threads LMAO. she waves a quick hand as she gestures back to the tower. ]
Never mind. I thought you wanted to add more to that answer. Please, your turn to ask, Sir Neuvillette.
[ what a fancy name, one that she's able to pronounce properly on her first try. sometimes it helps having a fantasy fr*nch seatmate on the eponymous bus. ]
( he's been greeted with all sorts of titles during his long life, from the polite to the disparaging. most were deserved, some were not, but he accepted all as a part of the role he was expected to play as iudex of fontaine. here, he has no such obligation to fulfill, no responsibility to carry out.
here: )
Just Neuvillette is fine. There's no need to stand on ceremony with me.
( for all they both know, she could end up higher ranked than he. perhaps she already is. beyond her name, there's little else he knows about her.
but he does draw a card as requested, pausing as the house of cards wobbles dangerously for a moment. it doesn't, and he lets his hand relax before reading off the question. )
[ once again, she pales at that question. it's just like being asked about her ideal day in a life from earlier, but this time it asks for an entire lifetime. how can she answer something like that when she'd only recently come to terms with wanting to live once more?
a minute passes as her face scrunches up in deep thought, before smiling helplessly at neuvillette. ]
...I don't know. I wish I had a better answer for you, but I really don't know. And that is why I wish to travel the world once I'm free from all my other obligations -- to discover that meaning for myself.
[ she shrugs with her hands. the fact that she usually tries to have an answer for everything means that she's truly stumped on this one. ]
( he can't fault her for her answer, not when he would have underwent the very same struggle not too long ago. even now, any answer he might give to this particular question remains hazy at the edges, obscured from view as he tries to solidify a foundation he has only recently built.
he smiles gently at ishmael, reassuring. )
Certainly. There is no shame in admitting ignorance and uncertainty where one's future is involved.
( a particularly raucous laugh from nearby catches his attention, and he frowns as he glances to the side. )
Though I fear you may meet with some difficulty in achieving your goals while you remain here.
( unless her ideal future involves copious amounts of gambling and sex. )
[ yeah, she can't help but scowl at the same direction neuvillette was looking at. this is going to be a challenge, and she knows that she won't get out of here alive without fooling around with someone.
still, while she did not foresee copious amounts of sex before coming here, she has gambled with her own life on the line far too many times before arriving here. she looks back on the tower of cards and scans for a good one to pull. ]
I know. Right now, I'm just thinking that this is some sort of pit stop before I can truly go out there and explore. Not that this place isn't worth exploring either.
[ if anything, it's making her even more curious. but she'll hold that thought for now, wiggling at a card before quickly snatching it up --
and the tower of cards fall in a jumble, just like this. ishmael sits there, stunned. ]
...Shit. Um, I guess this is your win. Congratulations.
[ there goes her payout u_u but eh, she'll try again later. ]
( there it goes, the house of cards all fallen down, swept away like autumn leaves in a forceful gust of wind. were he another person, he might find joy or satisfaction in his victory; as it stands, the only feeling that swells in his chest is that of relief over one of these party games come to an end.
though it hardly seems fair for her to lose such a sum over a simple game of chance. thus, he holds up one hand and says: )
Miss Ishmael, if you wouldn't mind waiting a moment.
( such a pronouncement would usually precede something important, but instead of addressing her again, he motions instead for the nearby staff to come over before engaging in a quiet discussion with them. give him a moment. )
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peacockstop2025-01-15 09:00 pm
no subject
A very leading question. Would the very act of me telling you not prompt the desire to seek out the answer to that same question?
( but then, there would hardly be any entertainment to be found in this game if all questions were so easy and straightforward. and, in truth, there are few questions he has ever minded answering. he has always prided himself on honesty, on impartiality. moreso than anyone else, the iudex will always be bound most heavily by the law lest he wish to lose the faith and trust of his people.
another moment's silence, and then: )
I suppose it would have to do with my past. ( the inheritance he has received, the memories of a life once lived. ) Those are answers I cannot give, simply because I am still in the process of unraveling those answers for myself.
( a pause. )
Do you also wish to answer, or shall I select another card?
no subject
[ her past that's been dragged up from the bottom of the sea, the horrors she'd seen and encountered. no one else has to see that, and even then, she's more or less defeated her inner turmoils and should be able to move on from all that on her own terms. besides, hardly anyone is that eager to share their sordid backstories, and perhaps the gentleman in front of her must've committed a grave sin of his own as well.
regardless, she gestures at the unmoving tower. ]
Please, go on ahead.
no subject
( another fluid motion of his arm, another card carefully pulled from the top of the tower. he flips it over, light eyes scanning across the text written on its surface. )
"What would constitute a perfect day for you?"
( the card goes down as his gaze lifts back up. well? )
no subject
her gaze rests on the tower before them, expression solemn as she dredges up the silly sketch from the recesses of her mind, back when she was younger and much more naive. ]
I'd be walking alongside someone in some small port, shrouded in mist and the smell of fish permeating from one stall to another. I could be holding large textbooks in my hands, or even carrying well-maintained weapons.
[ not that her harpoon is nothing but well-maintained. she'd whetted and sharpened it down to a science. ]
Or... maybe I'd just be heading somewhere with my hands full of tasty treats for the day. I don't know. [ she lets out a short, awkward laugh. ] I haven't really thought about things like those in a long time, so you'll have to forgive me if they're too simple for anyone's liking.
no subject
truly, the range of human desire and hope will always be astounding. )
There is no need for forgiveness. ( not when there has been no crime committed save for that of uncertainty. ) It sounds like a pleasant day indeed. Sometimes it is the simplest of acts that can bring forth the most joy.
( his own answer too would be simple, comprised of a few activities. )
no subject
[ still, it's embarrassing. she didn't expect herself to be so open about that detail, and now she wonders if these cards can somehow compel people into telling the truth without realizing it. ]
But that's just what most normal people would wish for. What would someone as sophisticated as you would enjoy?
[ she's just some girl, surrounded by these people who seem larger than life -- almost like Whales on the prowl for their next prey. but this time, she's defenseless. ]
no subject
he refolds his hands in his lap. )
In truth, much the same as you. I rarely get much time off, but when I find myself with a free afternoon, I enjoy taking walks behind the Opera Epiclese. It is much closer to the water than the Palais Mermonia, and I find the air much more clear and refreshing there.
( easier to smell and taste the sea without the interference of metal and human innovation. )
no subject
at least that what she initially surmises, but when neuvillette says his piece, she flushes slightly in embarrassment. ]
I... I see. I apologize for jumping to conclusions, then.
[ but also: ]
You like the waters, too?
no subject
but the meandering of the conversation to one of his favorite subjects brings a rare smile to his face. )
I do, indeed. And yourself? Are you a water connoisseur as well?
no subject
record scratch ]
W-Water connoisseur? [ blinks. ] If you can call it that, sure. I do like me some water.
[ help she only meant she likes the seas, but maybe that's what he meant?? ]
no subject
the card game appears to have been forgotten. )
Really? Then tell me, from where do you prefer your water to be imported from?
( said with the utmost seriousness. )
no subject
[ he's anticipating her most-awaited answer. what does she even say to that? the guy may be upper crust, sure, but why does he sound so fascinated when it comes to drinking water of all things than. you know. wine or juice???
must be a rich person thing. damn rich people.
a bout of silence follows, before she lets out a sigh. ]
I think we're not on the same page here, sir. When I say I like the waters, I meant the ocean. The lakes. Any body of water, really.
[ and yet, she is going to try to answer his question anyway. it's what diligent honor students would do. ]
I don't import my water, first of all. But there is definitely a difference between the poorer part of a District, and the well-to-do side of it. I just hadn't considered it until now, is all.
[ so sorry to disappoint........... 😔 ]
no subject
but first, with a small dip of his head: )
My apologies. I should not have assumed.
( that she was also a fan of various types of spring and lake waters. once again, it seems he is to be on his own when it comes to appreciating the finer tastes of water. literally and metaphorically. )
Did you grow up near the water then?
no subject
Mm. It's the ocean, but we call it the Great Lake. I used to work as a sailor, that's why.
[ and she's going to end it right there, before they delve into anything deeper than that. she isn't ready to talk about the rest of it.
besides, they've got a game to play. she hurriedly takes a card, and the tower wobbles with the sudden movement. whew, that was close. ]
Um. "What's the biggest misconception about you?"
no subject
it is, thankfully, not particularly risque, though nevertheless a question that requires some amount of thought and another stretch of silence falls between them both as neuvillette's gaze shifts downwards and then finally back up. )
I suppose that I am far more emotional than I appear. ( a slight sigh. ) Do I really look like someone who would cry at the drop of a hat?
no subject
[ her voice trails off as her thoughts go back to her own experiences -- back in the day, she would've freely shed her tears every time one of her fellow mates died at sea, with the ones who were left behind only leaving her alone to cry her heart out.
but it's not like that anymore, is it? she's grown from it like most people, so maybe that's the case for the older man here. and yet. ]
It's more or less like a dam, the way I see it. You can't keep it all inside forever. There will come a day when the floodgates will break, and sweep everyone along in the mighty currents. Including yourself.
no subject
he nods once at her reply, a slow and considering agreement. )
Such is the natural course of water, to flow free and unobstructed.
( much like emotions themselves. and yet one he is intimately familiar with down to his very core, while the other remains very much a mystery. )
I will keep that in mind, Miss....?
( ah, that's right. they never exchanged names. )
no subject
not that it's a bad thing. aside from some weird icebreakers, this session hasn't been all that bad. one of her more pleasant encounters, in fact. ]
Call me Ishmael. [ a small smile. ] You haven't answered my question yet, Sir...?
no subject
( no point in bringing titles into the mix, especially when said titles hold no sway here in this place. all that matters is the rank and suit he will be given once his status as a wildcard is cleared. )
As for your question, are you referring to the question printed on the card or something else?
no subject
[ not me forgetting to backread threads LMAO. she waves a quick hand as she gestures back to the tower. ]
Never mind. I thought you wanted to add more to that answer. Please, your turn to ask, Sir Neuvillette.
[ what a fancy name, one that she's able to pronounce properly on her first try. sometimes it helps having a fantasy fr*nch seatmate on the eponymous bus. ]
no subject
here: )
Just Neuvillette is fine. There's no need to stand on ceremony with me.
( for all they both know, she could end up higher ranked than he. perhaps she already is. beyond her name, there's little else he knows about her.
but he does draw a card as requested, pausing as the house of cards wobbles dangerously for a moment. it doesn't, and he lets his hand relax before reading off the question. )
"What is your definition of a fulfilling life?"
no subject
a minute passes as her face scrunches up in deep thought, before smiling helplessly at neuvillette. ]
...I don't know. I wish I had a better answer for you, but I really don't know. And that is why I wish to travel the world once I'm free from all my other obligations -- to discover that meaning for myself.
[ she shrugs with her hands. the fact that she usually tries to have an answer for everything means that she's truly stumped on this one. ]
Can I take a raincheck till then?
no subject
he smiles gently at ishmael, reassuring. )
Certainly. There is no shame in admitting ignorance and uncertainty where one's future is involved.
( a particularly raucous laugh from nearby catches his attention, and he frowns as he glances to the side. )
Though I fear you may meet with some difficulty in achieving your goals while you remain here.
( unless her ideal future involves copious amounts of gambling and sex. )
no subject
still, while she did not foresee copious amounts of sex before coming here, she has gambled with her own life on the line far too many times before arriving here. she looks back on the tower of cards and scans for a good one to pull. ]
I know. Right now, I'm just thinking that this is some sort of pit stop before I can truly go out there and explore. Not that this place isn't worth exploring either.
[ if anything, it's making her even more curious. but she'll hold that thought for now, wiggling at a card before quickly snatching it up --
and the tower of cards fall in a jumble, just like this. ishmael sits there, stunned. ]
...Shit. Um, I guess this is your win. Congratulations.
[ there goes her payout u_u but eh, she'll try again later. ]
no subject
though it hardly seems fair for her to lose such a sum over a simple game of chance. thus, he holds up one hand and says: )
Miss Ishmael, if you wouldn't mind waiting a moment.
( such a pronouncement would usually precede something important, but instead of addressing her again, he motions instead for the nearby staff to come over before engaging in a quiet discussion with them. give him a moment. )
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