【 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.
[ At the very least, there's no time limit when it comes to the game. The only rules are: answer. If you fail to answer, you lose. It doesn't say the answer has to be immediate or that once a card is pulled, there's a clock going. So, they can continue talking as they like.
The question comes and he looks a little surprised, before his brain processes it quickly. Different world, different culture, there's a chance people don't know what a cultivator is. Huh. How odd that feels, like describing what a farmer is, what a monk does, professions that are so obvious that no one really has to learn what they are. ]
Cultivators are those who use martial and mystic arts, through the use of spiritual energy. Cultivation is the practice of how to do this. Meditation, swordsmanship, the six arts, so on and so forth. I guess it's sort of like magic? Yeah, you can classify what we do as magic.
[ He pauses for a moment, wonders if he should describe what he does. Demonic cultivation. Hm, probably not. Wouldn't want to sour the mood. ]
( no, perhaps not. best save that one for a rainy day.
but it is all very interesting to learn about. magic and the supernatural may run free within - and outside of - teyvat's borders, but each branch differs in their specific practices and conjurings.
and to most commonfolk, are visions not also a form of magic? regardless: )
It sounds like something requiring much time and effort. ( like any other learned skill. ) Was it a path you had always planned for yourself?
[ It's helpful that Neuvillette is experienced with some type of magic, so Wei Wuxian doesn't have to describe it down to the fundamentals. But he does hope his explanation helped a little bit. At Neuvillette's reply and follow up question, he does give a nod. ]
My parents were cultivators and I was raised in a large cultivation clan. It was an inevitable path for me, though I never thought of doing otherwise.
[ No, his thoughts veered more towards how could he make cultivation better, how he could push the boundaries of it and discover new methods. The idea of being a mundane person instead, that was never a possibility for him. ]
Are you familiar with arts like this where you come from?
In a manner of speaking. They are given different names, of course - the adeptal arts, forbidden curses, shamanism - but in concept, they would all fall under the umbrella of what most would term 'magic'.
( and then there are visions and the gnoses, but those are so closely intertwined with the will of celestia and the heavenly principles that he cannot help but feel a familiar curl of contempt. )
But we appear to straying from the original path intended for us.
( with a gesture towards the house of cards. their game....even if he does find the current conversation far more scintillating. not often does he get the chance to learn about the nations outside of fontaine's borders - and even those of teyvat. )
[ Interesting. So, this man has his own experience with mystic arts — with magic. He wants to ask after his skills, what differences there might be in what Wei Wuxian does and what Neuvillette does but then Neuvillette gestures to the game to return to it and he smiles, bright.
Right, right, the game. ]
I think it's your turn, so hit me with what you've got.
[ He already pulled the card, right? So, time to read what it says. ]
But that. Is a hell of a question. The surprise of it shows on Wei Wuxian's face, not even going to hide or downplay it. He's genuinely caught off guard by such a question and immediately tries to wonder over his answer, but isn't sure what he could come up with. He's been told he's evil, a tyrant, a murderer and a vicious fiend time and time again. But he knows he lives with a clear conscience so does any of that count as regret?
... Ah, wait. He knows what his answer is. But does he want to share it? ]
Are you going to answer, gongzi?
[ A word that basically translates to sir or master, Wei Wuxian is being respectful to Neuvillette. He doesn't know his name yet but he can tell the man is elegant, well mannered. ]
it is a rather heavy question, so neuvillette cannot fault the other man for the way his expression freezes for a brief moment. his own countenance remains grave, the question prompting a resurgence of old memories in his mind.
and while he doesn't expect to be asked for his own answer, he doesn't decline. )
It would only be fair.
( and he is nothing if not fair, just, equitable. though give him a minute or two to mull over how best to phrase the thoughts in his mind, and another few seconds to slowly draw forth the tale, voice solemn. )
I have always regretted not being able to save two of my former compatriots. Though I knew of the difficulties they had been facing at the time, I was unable to step in to prevent their deaths. Indeed, it feels as though there is little I can do some days despite how much I wish otherwise.
( the curse of being bound by the law. still, neuvillette cannot cling onto past regrets forever, not when both carole and vautrin would not - and had not. )
[ LISTEN........... he might get along with Childe, ok.
Maybe it's fair to ask, but less fair to pass the buck and make Neuvillette answer first. But he really doesn't want to answer, though he knows he'll have to if he wants to continue to play and hopefully win this game.
He'll wait for however long it takes for Neuvillette to find his answer though and when it comes out, he looks a bit sympathetic. A lot sympathetic, actually. He knows what it's like to lose people close to you, knows what it's like to feel like if you just did something different it wouldn't have happened.
So, Wei Wuxian bows his head slightly, giving his understanding to the other man. ]
I get it. Sometimes even when we approach life while trying to keep a clear conscience, there are moments where that's not enough. Where the bad thing still happens.
[ A pause and he's quiet for a long moment before he confesses — ]
I lost my shijie that way too. It — it was an accident, but if I had just...
[ He trails off, growing quiet, unable to say what he wants to say. A soft shake of his head and he sighs. ]
There are some things in life you just can't fix, no matter how good your intention.
( what a strange conversation to have, so terribly serious and personal in the midst of this overly extravagant and rowdy party. and yet he finds himself appreciative of the other man's sincerity, put oddly at ease by their shared camaraderie.
perhaps this place is not so bad. the company makes it all that much more tolerable, at the very least. his own expression turns sympathetic in kind. )
I am sorry for your own loss as well. Accident or no, these things are never easy to bear.
( the words sound trite, a little distant, though not because he intends them to be. this sort of thing has just never come easy to him, no matter how much he tries. )
But you are right. There's no use in lingering on something that cannot be changed or bemoaning situations that are outside your grasp. One should instead turn one's gaze towards the future, and towards that upon which we might still be able to impact.
[ First, there is gratitude from Wei Wuxian. A bow of his head and a small smile because he appreciates the condolences. He has mixed feelings about his shijie's death and blames himself for a lot of it — should blame himself for it, in his opinion — but it doesn't mean he doesn't miss her. He misses her so much, every day.
And then the next bit has him nodding as well, Neuvillette's words ringing true.
Still, this has become a very serious topic suddenly and Wei Wuxian wonders if they should change it. He swallows and looks to the card house. ]
Hm. I could pull another card but there's a chance it might be equally depressing. Two questions in and we sure have learned a lot about each other.
[ Hmm! ]
How about we ditch the game and go get a drink instead? I think it'll be fine if we both choose to forfeit.
( it's a reasonable suggestion, and one that caters to his desire to leave these trivial party games behind. and yet there will alwyas be a part of him that feels obligated to obey rules that have been laid out before him, and to follow protocol whenever possible.
so: )
If I may...
( he doesn't wait for a reply, leaning forward one last time to draw a card from the structure between them. this time, there's no elegance to the flick of his wrist, only a crude tug of a card at the very bottom that sends the rest of the house toppling immediately down, cards fluttering every which way through the air.
satisfied, he sets his card down without even glancing at question written upon it, and motions towards wei wuxian as he rises from his seat. )
I do believe we are free to go.
( the loss of a large sum of chips doesn't bother him as much as it could; his immediate needs have always been fewer than most others anyway. )
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peacockstop2025-01-15 09:00 pm
no subject
The question comes and he looks a little surprised, before his brain processes it quickly. Different world, different culture, there's a chance people don't know what a cultivator is. Huh. How odd that feels, like describing what a farmer is, what a monk does, professions that are so obvious that no one really has to learn what they are. ]
Cultivators are those who use martial and mystic arts, through the use of spiritual energy. Cultivation is the practice of how to do this. Meditation, swordsmanship, the six arts, so on and so forth. I guess it's sort of like magic? Yeah, you can classify what we do as magic.
[ He pauses for a moment, wonders if he should describe what he does. Demonic cultivation. Hm, probably not. Wouldn't want to sour the mood. ]
no subject
but it is all very interesting to learn about. magic and the supernatural may run free within - and outside of - teyvat's borders, but each branch differs in their specific practices and conjurings.
and to most commonfolk, are visions not also a form of magic? regardless: )
It sounds like something requiring much time and effort. ( like any other learned skill. ) Was it a path you had always planned for yourself?
no subject
My parents were cultivators and I was raised in a large cultivation clan. It was an inevitable path for me, though I never thought of doing otherwise.
[ No, his thoughts veered more towards how could he make cultivation better, how he could push the boundaries of it and discover new methods. The idea of being a mundane person instead, that was never a possibility for him. ]
Are you familiar with arts like this where you come from?
no subject
In a manner of speaking. They are given different names, of course - the adeptal arts, forbidden curses, shamanism - but in concept, they would all fall under the umbrella of what most would term 'magic'.
( and then there are visions and the gnoses, but those are so closely intertwined with the will of celestia and the heavenly principles that he cannot help but feel a familiar curl of contempt. )
But we appear to straying from the original path intended for us.
( with a gesture towards the house of cards. their game....even if he does find the current conversation far more scintillating. not often does he get the chance to learn about the nations outside of fontaine's borders - and even those of teyvat. )
no subject
Right, right, the game. ]
I think it's your turn, so hit me with what you've got.
[ He already pulled the card, right? So, time to read what it says. ]
no subject
but for now, neuvillette flips over the card in his hand, first silently reading over the words in his head before repeating them aloud. )
"What's your biggest life regret so far?"
( ....an awfully deep question for a sex casino. )
no subject
But that. Is a hell of a question. The surprise of it shows on Wei Wuxian's face, not even going to hide or downplay it. He's genuinely caught off guard by such a question and immediately tries to wonder over his answer, but isn't sure what he could come up with. He's been told he's evil, a tyrant, a murderer and a vicious fiend time and time again. But he knows he lives with a clear conscience so does any of that count as regret?
... Ah, wait. He knows what his answer is. But does he want to share it? ]
Are you going to answer, gongzi?
[ A word that basically translates to sir or master, Wei Wuxian is being respectful to Neuvillette. He doesn't know his name yet but he can tell the man is elegant, well mannered. ]
no subject
it is a rather heavy question, so neuvillette cannot fault the other man for the way his expression freezes for a brief moment. his own countenance remains grave, the question prompting a resurgence of old memories in his mind.
and while he doesn't expect to be asked for his own answer, he doesn't decline. )
It would only be fair.
( and he is nothing if not fair, just, equitable. though give him a minute or two to mull over how best to phrase the thoughts in his mind, and another few seconds to slowly draw forth the tale, voice solemn. )
I have always regretted not being able to save two of my former compatriots. Though I knew of the difficulties they had been facing at the time, I was unable to step in to prevent their deaths. Indeed, it feels as though there is little I can do some days despite how much I wish otherwise.
( the curse of being bound by the law. still, neuvillette cannot cling onto past regrets forever, not when both carole and vautrin would not - and had not. )
no subject
Maybe it's fair to ask, but less fair to pass the buck and make Neuvillette answer first. But he really doesn't want to answer, though he knows he'll have to if he wants to continue to play and hopefully win this game.
He'll wait for however long it takes for Neuvillette to find his answer though and when it comes out, he looks a bit sympathetic. A lot sympathetic, actually. He knows what it's like to lose people close to you, knows what it's like to feel like if you just did something different it wouldn't have happened.
So, Wei Wuxian bows his head slightly, giving his understanding to the other man. ]
I get it. Sometimes even when we approach life while trying to keep a clear conscience, there are moments where that's not enough. Where the bad thing still happens.
[ A pause and he's quiet for a long moment before he confesses — ]
I lost my shijie that way too. It — it was an accident, but if I had just...
[ He trails off, growing quiet, unable to say what he wants to say. A soft shake of his head and he sighs. ]
There are some things in life you just can't fix, no matter how good your intention.
no subject
perhaps this place is not so bad. the company makes it all that much more tolerable, at the very least. his own expression turns sympathetic in kind. )
I am sorry for your own loss as well. Accident or no, these things are never easy to bear.
( the words sound trite, a little distant, though not because he intends them to be. this sort of thing has just never come easy to him, no matter how much he tries. )
But you are right. There's no use in lingering on something that cannot be changed or bemoaning situations that are outside your grasp. One should instead turn one's gaze towards the future, and towards that upon which we might still be able to impact.
no subject
And then the next bit has him nodding as well, Neuvillette's words ringing true.
Still, this has become a very serious topic suddenly and Wei Wuxian wonders if they should change it. He swallows and looks to the card house. ]
Hm. I could pull another card but there's a chance it might be equally depressing. Two questions in and we sure have learned a lot about each other.
[ Hmm! ]
How about we ditch the game and go get a drink instead? I think it'll be fine if we both choose to forfeit.
no subject
so: )
If I may...
( he doesn't wait for a reply, leaning forward one last time to draw a card from the structure between them. this time, there's no elegance to the flick of his wrist, only a crude tug of a card at the very bottom that sends the rest of the house toppling immediately down, cards fluttering every which way through the air.
satisfied, he sets his card down without even glancing at question written upon it, and motions towards wei wuxian as he rises from his seat. )
I do believe we are free to go.
( the loss of a large sum of chips doesn't bother him as much as it could; his immediate needs have always been fewer than most others anyway. )