TDM 008

[goldmods]

【 Thank you for choosing the Golden Peacock, 5-star resort and casino. You are currently registered as a WILDCARD in our system.

It has recently come to our attention that many of our guests have not been focusing on their health and wellness. In an effort to encourage healthy living and help our beloved guests get in shape, a grand sports festival will be held in the Golden Peacock. This sports festival will include many small games and four large games.

Prior to the festival, guests will have the opportunity to train and prepare for the games with our expert coaches.

We hope you are as excited as we are! And, as always, we hope you enjoy your stay. 】

BEAK

MEET THE TEAM

WAKING UP IN THE BARRACK

► For the first time in months the Golden Peacock hasn't run into an overbooking issue. There's plenty of room for everyone inside of Beak's training barrack. This barrack is one large room lined with dozens of bunk beds and wall pods. Guests will wake to sleek concrete walls, polished metal accents, and raw, industrial finishes. All guests waking up inside the barrack will find that, instead of their usual clothes, they're wearing revealing athletic wear. Tight, elastic, sheer, mesh... those that aren't squeezed into crop tops and tiny shorts are dolled up in various sport uniforms instead.

► In antithesis to the Golden Peacock's usual belief that more is always more, Beak's training barrack is designed to focus on basic needs without luxury or excess. Each bed comes with a simple curtain for each bunk, offering basic privacy while also keeping the space functional. They will also be provided with cotton sheets, blankets, and pillows that are easy to maintain.

► There's so much available room that current guests may also find themselves temporary moved into the barrack. During this time, their Watches will not connect to their room’s lock pads and they will not be able to enter their normal suite. Don't worry! Your possessions and room are safe. Access will be reinstated after sufficient team bonding.

HIT THE TRAINING FIELD

► The coaches will blow their whistles at 0600 hours every day. Be ready to wake up and get your gear on! Guests that don't make it out onto the field before roll call at 0615 hours will be the day's gophers. Gophers are guests tasked with cleaning up equipment, collecting balls from the fields, resetting obstacle courses, and getting water for other guests. Training ends at 1800 hours. Between 0615 and 1800, guests are expected to train in Beak and build their relationship as a team.

► Guests may plan their own training schedule and work at their own pace. They have access to a variety of sports equipment and courts, so they can go wherever their heart leads them! Basketball, tennis, golf, soccer, running, swimming, batting cages — we've got it all! Don't miss the general fitness areas, either. Guests have access to every tool to reach their wellness goals.

► Meals in Beak are simple. All guests are entitled to three nutrition pouches per day. Nutrition pouches contain a jello-like substance designed to provide all the dietary requirements a human needs per meal. Snacks and desserts are given to VIP players. If those hard workers want to trade or sell those delicious temptations to other guests during their downtime, the coaches will look the other way.

♦ DIAMONDS GAME ♦

OMEGADOME: HUNTING GAME

A cheerful pair of game managers stand outside the conservatory doors and block all guests that try to enter. They quickly explain that a special Diamonds game is taking place inside and only guests that agree to participate may enter. This game is a physical exercise that riffs on "Hunting", which is a popular sport in many different countries and civilizations. Of course, it is one hundred percent safe, and all guests that play are eligible to win massive chip prizes, store vouchers, fabulous prizes, and more.

Details about the game? Those can't be shared outside of the conservatory. Only the brave and those willing to risks will reap the benefits of this Diamonds game. So step right up, dear guests, and sign this waiver before stepping into the flourishing beauty of the conservatory for a brand new adventure.

WELCOME TO THE OMEGADOME

► Guests that agree to participate in this Diamonds game and will be asked to sign a game waiver and, upon completion, will have the back of their hand stamped with a Diamond stamp. They will be advised that every round of the game lasts 24 hours. They will not be allowed to leave the dome until these 24 hours have been completed. Guests may enter a new round anytime after their previous round has ended. The more you play the more you can win, with all rounds cumulative when claiming rewards. Enticing, isn't it?

► Given their stamp, guests are then allowed to enter the conservatory. A massive dome now covers the entire conservatory, blocking all exits and pathways to the gardens and vale. The only way to leave is through the doors monitored by the game managers, who are also available for questions. The 24-hour countdown begins as soon as a guest crosses the threshold.

► The conservatory is blooming in verdant greens and pastel pinks. Cherry blossom trees are blossoming, streams are babbling, and the brush are thick with leafage. Guests will find that numerous small cabins have been installed amongst the flora for their use. Comfortably furnished patios and courtyards can also be found throughout the groves.

A MESSAGE TO PLAYER WATCHES

【 Welcome, new player! You have entered the OMEGADOME.

The OMEGADOME is a 24-hour high contact sex game that will indulge your physical senses on a whole new level.

The Diamond stamp you received will assess your body and select a designation within 30 minutes. This designation will alter your physical chemistry to heighten pleasure derived from sexual encounters. Three designations are available in the OMEGADOME.

Every sexual encounter in the OMEGADOME is worth 1 point. Collect as many points as you can. These points can be exchanged for chips and prizes.

Good luck and happy hunting! 】

DESIGNATIONS

► ALPHA: The highest rank in the dominance hierarchy. Alphas may exhibit "dominant" behavior or have other temperamental quirks, such as aggression and possessiveness over their mates. Alphas may have a knot when in rut. Female alphas may temporarily grow a penis or their vulva may grow into one when they present. Both are able to “knot” themselves to their mates during intercourse when rutting. Alphas also have the ability to emit pheromones to dominate or subjugate others. The pheromone scent is unique to the alpha. They can mark both betas and omegas with their scent or through biting.

► BETA: Subordinate to alphas in the dominance hierarchy. Betas have typical human anatomy, with none of the special attributes of alphas or omegas. They do not have a rut or heat period. Betas typically have no sense of pheromones and do not produce them. However, some betas may be able to smell pheromones and be mildly affected by them. They do not possess the ability to mark but can be marked by alphas and omegas. Betas may experience submissive impulses toward alphas and dominant impulses toward omegas.

► OMEGA: The lowest rank in the dominance hierarchy. Omegas are the most fragile of the three designations, with frailer bodies compared to alphas and betas. They can go into heat, which may trigger desperation to be bred or mated. During their heat, omegas biologically produce a sweet scent to arouse alphas in order to breed. Male omegas may be self-lubricating. Omegas may have nesting impulses or become depressed when separated from their mate. They can mark both betas and alphas with their scent. Omegas can easily become pregnant, but while in the Omegadome, the Diamonds suit acts as a natural birth control.

GAME RULES & PRIZES

► Rules within the Omegadome are straightforward. Players are not allowed to kill or otherwise seriously injure one another while inside the conservatory. Guests may not leave the conservatory until their 24-hour round has ended. Guests are also asked not to destroy the conservatory grounds, if possible.

► The goal of the OMEGADOME is to get fucking and collect points. Each time a guest has sex they collect a point. Point collection is based solely on frequency. Six points can be collected by fucking six different guests one time or fucking one guest six times. Otherwise, guests may freely enjoy the conservatory however they like during their stay in the dome.

► Guests may cash in their points for chip payouts, prizes, or vouchers. The more points a guest has to exchange, the better the selection of payouts and prizes.

DIAMONDS' INFLUENCE

► The Diamond stamp changes every guest that enters the Omegadome into an alpha, beta, or omega. Each guest is unique and the way that the Diamond stamp interacts with their body chemistry is similarly unique. No two alphas are the same. One alpha may have the full body experience and have manifested all of the qualities of an alpha while another may only experience ruts and emit pheromones. Guests that experience a stronger change are considered dominant. Guests with subtle changes are considered recessive.

► The Diamond stamp allows Wildcards and other non-Diamond suit guests to enjoy any effects of the DIAMONDS SUIT. Many guests will find that, at baseline, they are aroused and more sensitive upon entering the Omegadome.

► Guests that already fall under the Diamonds umbrella may find the strength of their usual suit symptoms doubled. They may also suffer from Double-Diamonds phenomenon. Reports of Double-Diamonds phenomenon include, but are not limited to: a frustrating degree of stamina; difficulty climaxing; excessive chafing and dry skin; erections that exceed 4 hours; swollen nipples; deflated scrotum; nosebleeds; excessive bodily fluids; etc.

♥ HEARTS GAME ♥

DOUBLES' THERMO: SURVIVAL GAME

Chickadees is sparing no expense on advertising their e-sport games over the course of the sports festival. Posters, notifications, stickers, fliers! Come one, come all. Sports don't need to be physical. Guests that duck into the arcade will find a variety of e-sport games to enjoy, but the real showstopper that every single employee is aggressively promoting is the new immersive VR game, DOUBLES' THERMO.

A large swath of egg-shaped pods have been installed in the back half of Chickadees. Any guest that shows an iota of interest will be assaulted by employees encouraging them to give it a try. They will offer vouchers for a free session, encourage with mentions of prizes that can be won from the arcade's coveted prize wall, and persuade by praising how high tech and immersive the experience is. Some employees are desperate enough to trick or push guests into the pods if they aren't willing to go in themselves.

However they've ended up inside the VR egg, guests will find themselves submerged in strange fluid as the lid closes. Everything fades away into darkness as the game loads...

WELCOME TO THERMO ISLAND!

► When they open their eyes again, guests will find themselves waking up on the shore of a remote island beach. This VR game is hyper-realistic, beyond what anything the Peacock has offered before, even compared to the VR in high rank suites. The sand is coarse, the sun is beating, and the flavor of salt is thick in the air. Thermo Island is a small island, uninhabited and overgrown with vegetation.

► Guests will wake up on the beach wearing an outfit that has some kind of significance to them. While the Hearts suit leans toward positive associations, it might select an outfit that a guest has a negative association with. It may even load the guest with an appearance reflective of a different point in their life — be it past or future. Above all, this suit likes to elicit an emotional response.

► Other than lightly furnished huts that line the beach and spot through the jungle, this island offers none of the luxury provided by the Peacock. Guests are stranded on this island with no tools, food, or weapons. While it is completely virtual, guests still experience hunger and exhaustion as they normally would. And that sun? It's strong. Watch out for sunburn!

A MESSAGE TO PLAYER WATCHES

【 Welcome to DOUBLES' THERMO! You have been marooned on this remote island. In order to survive you must cook your own food, collect water, and survive with limited resources. Thermo Island is dangerous at night so please take care when the sun goes down.

Your mission is to leave this island. In order to leave, you must "double up" with another player by making a significant emotional connection with them. You will not be able to leave Thermo Island until you double up with another player.

DOUBLES' THERMO'S artificial intelligence will gauge emotional connections and notify guests when they have met the threshold for doubling up with another player. All of our guests in the Golden Peacock are unique; this threshold is dependent upon the individual. Both players must meet the emotional threshold before doubling up.

Good luck and enjoy surviving this little taste of paradise! 】

GAME RULES & PRIZES

► The name of the game is to survive and make a mutual emotional connection with another guest in order to log off. After the initial welcome message is sent, guests are completely left to their own devices on the island. The only way to log off is to make that connection, so characters can end up spending virtual weeks or months on the island if they're not diligent in reaching out to their peers! If they do spend an extended amount of time on the island before making a connection, they'll find that only a few hours have passed back in the Peacock when they finally do log off.

► The emotional connection guests make do not have to be objectively significant. The connection need only be significant for them. However, the game does have a fail-safe function in case of a particularly helpless guest. If too much time passes it will automatically trigger the emotional connection notification with someone that they've worked to survive the island with. Surviving harsh conditions together naturally creates some kind of bond, right?

► Being able to log off can be considered a prize itself. After completing the game, guests may choose one of the fun prizes off of Chickadees' prize wall. Stuffies, erasers, finger traps, plastic toys, pencils... absolutely worth fighting for your life in VR!

HEARTS' INFLUENCE

► Hearts would never really leave its players alone. It knows that the guests of the Golden Peacock need a few extra shoves when it comes to matters of the heart. Another fail-safe programmed into the game, called Romantic Scenario Pusher, can be triggered at anytime.

► Romantic Scenario Pusher is exactly what it sounds like: the game's AI randomly creates a situation and throws a guest into it in hopes of forcing an emotional connection. The AI has no restraint and is not tied to moral compunctions, so it may end up pushing characters into dangerous or awkward situations. Giant spiders might suddenly appear and attack, twenty hungry lions could manifest out of nowhere, a random pit appearing in the ground where someone is walking... this AI is willing to do anything for the sake of emotional growth.

► Romantic Scenario Pusher can be triggered in rapid succession. There is no limit on how many times a guest might be victim to the AI's whims.

♣ CLUBS GAME ♣

QUACK AND COVER: SHOOTING GAME

Cloaca & Dagger has temporarily outfitted itself as a neon-bright paintball course. Gone are the wild sex setups in exchange for series of obstacles and obstructions for guests to navigate while in pursuit of paintball championship. This high intensity game of strategy and physical fitness promises to exhilarate! Welcome to Quack and Cover, a game where your shooting skills and ingenuity will be put to the test.

So say the game managers at the door before following up with a few disclaimers. Cloaca & Dagger is not responsible for any physical or psychological trauma guests may incur while inside. Guests that join the game will then be outfitted in tight black underarmor and supplied with a paintball gun and protective mask before being let loose on the course.

WELCOME TO QUACK AND COVER

► Cloaca & Dagger offers a massive paintball course that spans across twelve different rooms. Every room has obstacles and blockades for guests to utilize, but there are also stretches of empty space that force shooters into the open to move locations. The club is dimly lit, offering both additional coverage and challenge for guests.

► Guests are given a few paint canisters at the beginning of the game. However, these canisters don’t last forever. In order to reload on paint during the game, guests will have to restock by heading to the pile of cans left in wide open sections of the course.

► The paint used in Quack and Cover is very unique. This spectral paint makes clothing vanish. A clean hit on a target’s shirt will make the shirt disappear. Splatter from the hit may or may not make additional pieces disappear too, depending on how much transfers. The spectral paint is otherwise completely harmless and has no special effects on anything except fabric/clothing.

A MESSAGE TO PLAYER WATCHES

【 Welcome to QUACK AND COVER, a paintball game designed to challenge both your body and mind. Unlike standard paintball, there are no teams in this game. QUACK AND COVER is every man for himself.

Your goal is to collect points. Every hit on another player is 1 point. The more points, the higher your ranking in QUACK AND COVER. The leaderboard can be monitored on screens provided on the wall in every room.

Our paint, SPECTRAL PAINT, is designed to eliminate an article of clothing with a clean hit to the corresponding piece. Any players that loses all of their clothing has lost the game and will be removed from the rankings. As long as a single sock remains on your body, you may continue playing.

Fully eliminating another player from the game adds 20 points to your score.

Go forth and take aim! 】

GAME RULES & PRIZES

► The main goals of Quack and Cover are to rack up points and to eliminate other players. Each body hit earns 1 point. Elimination earns 20 points. Every room on the course has a large screen where points are calculated and rankings are updated in real-time. The more hits you get the higher your ranking on the board; eliminated guests will be dropped from the board completely.

► As long as you have some article of clothing left on your body, you’re still in the game. The spectral paint will remove clothing, generally one piece at a time — unless a particularly good shot hits a seam and knocks out two. Guests stripped completely naked will receive an alert that they lost. They will then have to do the walk of shame off the course.

► The main prize of Quack and Cover is bragging rights. Guests that score highly will be paid out for winning and their picture will be forever enshrined in Cloaca & Dagger’s hall of fame.

CLUBS’ INFLUENCE

► Guests aren’t safe from the Clubs suit’s mischievous nature. Clubs will focus on two particular tricks that have proven to be very effective in the past: hallucinations and delusions.

► The first trick is based in hallucination. Guests may see a familiar person, someone they’ve loved or hated, in the midst of the course. No matter how hard they try to chase this figment, it will always manage to keep a safe distance and turn corners before it can be caught.

► The second trick is based in delusion. Guests may see another guest as someone they’ve loved or hated. Though their “loved/hated one” may be acting kind of strange, it definitely looks like them! From head to toe! It even sounds like them.

Guests perceived as someone else are not actually changed in any way. They’re still themselves; it’s all in the affected guest’s mind. However, telling that to the person with crazy eyes and a loaded paintball gun may not go so well… good luck!

♠ SPADES GAME ♠

PECKING ORDER: MMA GAME

During night hours, many long-standing guests make their way through Talon toward the gym’s creaky basement stairs. Three floors down and then through a desolate hallway with littered with abandoned equipment. Double doors wait at the end, unassuming until they’ve been opened…

Flashing lights, jeers, and the thick odor of sweat. You’ve found the Pecking Order, a late-night mixed martial arts event where guests show their prowess in the ring. Spectating guests shout and messily eat snacks on make-shift bleachers while fighters clash inches away, using only their bodies to fight for dominance and win. Pecking Order is very informal; guests only need to sign up in order to get added to the docket. Anyone can watch, though they will be vaguely warned at the door that even spectating comes with risks.

WELCOME TO THE PECKING ORDER

► The basement level of Talon has been overtaken by fight fanatics. Everything in the Pecking Order is rudimentary, lacking the glitz and glam of the Golden Peacock. The ring is grimy and stained with blood. Cages are rusted. Gloves and tape are dingy. Even the seating for guests is lackluster, slapped together with old exercise equipment and boxes. Nobody cares about any of this because the Pecking Order is all about the love of battle.

► Guests can either fight or spectate. Guests who enter to fight are randomly paired up with no consideration to size, age, or weight class. Those spectating are encouraged to bet on who they think will win. They’ve also somehow managed to make a “bar” where warm beer and greasy nuts are sold.

► Game runners consider fighters eligible to enter the ring as long as they’re conscious, no matter how battered and bloodied from previous fights. There is no official first aid at the Pecking Order. The closest they have is Creepy Jim, who carries around a box of bandages and strokes the muscles of his “patients” while patching them up.

A MESSAGE SCRAWLED ON THE CRAPPY BASEMENT WALL

PECKING ORDER RULES
1. Respect the strong
2. The strong get to do what they want
3. The weak belong to the strong
4. Cowards get out
5. No supernatural or magical shit
6. Match ends when someone yields or KO
7. Fights to the death OK

GAME RULES & PRIZES

► The rules of the Pecking Order can be referenced at any time from where they’re written on the wall. The group takes these rules very seriously. Those found breaking the rules will be thrown out.

► All fighters must wear the provided wristband that blocks supernatural and magical abilities. The ring is all about physical strength with no additional fluff. Fighters are expected to go fist-to-fist without assistance from tools or magic. The wristband won’t impact passive supernatural/magical abilities.

► As a prize, the winner of the match may take anything from the loser. This can be money, their clothes, their date, or even the loser themselves. Many fights end with the winner fucking the loser into the mat while the audience cheers.

SPADES’ INFLUENCE

► Thought you were safe in the audience? Think again. Spectators may be randomly picked out from the benches and thrown into the ring to fight. On the surface, there isn’t a clear reason why — but the game runners will be drawn to guests that have a taste for violence in their heart. Or, alternatively, they will select guests that they recognize as being too cowardly.

► Those that win multiple matches are considered strong. The strong may choose anyone from the audience to claim for themselves. They can do this at any time and as many times as they want. Anyone not considered strong is considered weak and the weak are not allowed to deny the strong anything.

► Those that do not submit to the strong will be dubbed cowards. They will be swarmed, tied up, and then strung from the rafters for the remainder of the night.

LOCKER ROOMS

YOU WASH MY BACK, I'LL WASH YOURS

Every training and game location has a door labeled LOCKER ROOM right outside the entrance. These doors all connect to the same massive locker room. The magic of these locker room doors goes one way. Trying to go back to the place you just were by backtracking will not work — you’ll just end up in Beak! All guests will be advised to finish their games before hitting the showers.

The Golden Peacock is proud to present our upgraded and extended locker room. Please come in and enjoy the facilities, catch-up with your teammates, and enjoy some healthy drinks provided by our favorite resort convenience store, Cock-a-doodle-doo’s!

AMENITIES TO ENJOY

► RAINFALL SHOWERS: High-pressure, overhead rainfall showerheads mimic the sensation of standing under a gentle cascade of rain, providing a soothing experience. Adjustable settings allow guests to switch between a relaxing rainfall effect and more intense water pressure for a revitalizing cleanse.

► MASSAGE SHOWERS WITH JET OPTIONS: Showers equipped with various body jets positioned strategically to target different muscle groups. These jets can be customized to deliver a pulsating, massaging effect for tension relief, which is perfect for post-workout recovery.

► STEAM ROOM: These rooms offer a gentle mist of soothing steam, with the added benefit of aromatherapy. Customizable essential oil dispensers release calming scents like eucalyptus, lavender, and citrus, turning the steam room into a rejuvenating sensory experience.

► CEDAR SAUNA: A luxury cedar sauna that transforms the traditional sauna experience into an indulgent, spa-like retreat with a focus on relaxation and sophistication. Cedar wood, with its natural beauty and therapeutic properties, offers a rich, aromatic environment that is perfect for enhancing overall wellness.

► GIANT SHARE JACUZZI: A high-tech pool that seamlessly blends relaxation, elegance, and advanced technology. This indulgent oasis provides a rejuvenating retreat after a workout, a soothing escape for relaxation, or a peaceful moment of reflection. Essential oils can be added to the water to enhance the experience.

► ICE PLUNGE: The ice plunge offers guests a rejuvenating and invigorating contrast to the warmth of the sauna and jacuzzi. Step inside the igloo room and enjoy a shock to the system. An ice plunge promotes recovery, circulation, and muscle relaxation.

► DRYING PODS: After enjoying the amenities, guest can step into a high-end drying pod, which uses gentle warm air to dry the body. These pods are equipped with adjustable settings to suit different preferences, such as a light, cool breeze or a warmer, more intense dry.

► BEVERAGE BAR: The beverage bar offers a curated selection of drinks for guest enjoyment. These selections are healthy to promote hydration, relaxation, and overall well-being. Guests can find infused water, herbal teas, cold-pressed juice, protein shakes, smoothies, cold brew, and kombucha.

OOC NOTES

INVITES | RESERVES | APPLICATIONS

▶ BLANKET CW: altered states; aphrodisiac; blood; body modifications; breeding; coercion; competition; dangerous situations; delusions; dominance themes; dubcon; emotions; exhibitionism; gambling; guns; hallucinations; hierarchical themes; injuries; mind games; omegaverse; pheromones; sports; survival themes; violence; virtual reality

▶ 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 March 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.

▶ 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.

NAVIGATION • LOG • NETWORK • OOC • MEME

Comments

[memori3s]

[ So there were others out there. Had their assignments taken place side by side, separated across space and time?

The Seal truly works in strangest of ways. It's the only explanation. Minato must be here for a specific purpose. Why shouldn't the same be said for Akira? ]

I was.

[ Not anymore though. That's a life he'd already chosen to leave behind. And yet, it seems that very same life continues to haunt him even now.

Minato gazes back at Akira. The Velvet Room's influence -- it feels stronger in comparison to his own. Perhaps this is a wild card who hasn't yet completed all that laid in his future. He still had time.

He rises from the stream to wipe sweat from his brow. So there were more of them out there.

...why? Had the Velvet Room sought out a new guest as a novel danger arose? ]

But not anymore.

[survivaltricks]

[fate and destiny have a funny way of tying together the people who complement each other the most. not that Akira believes in such abstract concepts; he prefers to be the one deciding the course of his own life, thank you very much. but. . . that doesn't mean he is safe from the whims of the Velvet Room, and the way it guides his own Journey through life]

[he imagines this is one such instance. he imagines. . . his meeting with Yu had been something similar]

"Not anymore?"

[hm. that's one way to put it, and Akira frowns as he watches Minato stand. it's true that he feels more than just the Fool when he looks at his fellow Wild Card. it's another arcana entirely. something. . . similar to the World, but also. . . far more powerful]

[a power that he can't quite comprehend]

Ah. . . does that mean your Journey has ended?

[Akira's has, too. though that doesn't mean he isn't still a Wild Card]

[memori3s]

[ Minato, on the other hand, maintains a more balanced approach towards fate and agency. Fate, destiny: such things were inescapable. But surely humans at least had the ability to choose how they'd steer the course of their life towards that end? ]

Mhm.

[ And thus, Minato had done the same, grasping onto that fate with his very own hands beneath a that final full moon. It's why, as he looks to Akira, he can wear such a serene smile. Ethereal, even, as though he might not be a person at all -- a ghost, a figment of Akira's imagination. ]

That end brought me here though. ...so maybe I have unfinished business after all.

[ Why else would the Seal have released his soul to this place? Even if it was a bit of an eccentric location, there must be a purpose behind his stay? ]

...maybe you have unfinished business too, Akira.

[survivaltricks]

[oh]

[well]

[okay. jesus christ]

[Akira doesn't know why, but there is something about that smile that sends a shiver down his spine. it feels so ephemeral. . . like it might vanish if he blinks for even just one second. maybe that's why he can't look away, gray eyes locked with gray as his mouth falls slightly open, then shuts again rapidly with a small click]

[he is not one to be immediately taken by strangers. and yet, that smile, ghostly and pale and wan, is the most precious thing he has seen in a very long time. something to be. . . protected. cherished, even]

[something rare and valuable, worth more than a million of the stars in the sky and the moon along with it]

[he hastily looks away]

. . . yeah. Maybe.

[whew!! what the fuck was that, Akira??]

And there's no reason why we can’t finish it together, right?

[memori3s]

[ If Minato notices Akira's look of wonder, he doesn't comment on it at all. Instead, his expression shifts to one more pensive as he nods in agreement. Perhaps that's why he'd been plucked from the Seal, to accomplish something at another wild card's side. ]

We'll have to find a way out of this game first.

[ One step at a time...! They haven't found any shelter. Or food, for that matter. Can't solve the mysteries of the universe if you die in a VR game first. Maybe shelter would be the easier of the two to locate, considering one of the alleged guys would likely be easier to spot compared to potential food.

...although -- ]

Did you actually come across coconuts on your way here?

[ Minato hasn't forgotten his partner's comment. Cannibalism or not, those coconuts could be a valuable source of food! ]

[survivaltricks]

[a sharp exhale to dispel the sudden rush of emotions that he doesn't know how to explain, and a tiny grin curves its way onto his features]

Are you thinking about starting a coconut family after all?

[with his thirst satisfied and the location of the pond memorized, Akira hops to his feet, hands lifted above his head in a very catlike stretch]

I did, though. It's just a short walk south.

[HOW DOES HE KNOW WHERE SOUTH IS???]

[memori3s]

[ How DOES he know where south is...

Minato doesn't, so he offers Akira a shrug. ]

You'll have to take the lead.

[ Between the two of them, they could probably carry enough coconuts to tide them over for the rest of the day. And then after that, they'd need to find a new food source. ...unless coconuts respawned overnight in this VR game? ]

...and while we walk, tell me what's with that mask you're wearing.

[ Among the rest of Akira's getup, but the mask in particular is what draws Minato's attention. ]

[survivaltricks]

[. . . good question. do coconuts respawn in VR survival settings? the thought certainly has not occurred to Akira. the island is realistic enough that he doesn't even consider the possibility that this place might operate via video game mechanics]

[he is a great fisherman, though!! they'll at least have that as an option when they're feeling the need for protein]

Hn? Ah— right. The mask.

[he starts making his way south (what. . . he believes is south), picking his way through island foliage as he drops the mask to shade his features with wagging brows]

Doesn't it make me look cool and mysterious?

[serious answers please, Akira!!]

[memori3s]

[ Surely the game wouldn't allow them to starve to death? That seems counterproductive. ]

Hm...

[ Minato glances over at his company, inspecting the pristine mask. The entirety of Akira's outfit looks like a partial costume; the mask probably came with it. ]

Maybe not mysterious, but you'd probably look cool enough with the rest of your outfit.

[ For starters, he's missing his shoes... ]

...is it special?

[ Didn't all players show up to the game dressed in an "emotionally relevant" outfit, or something like that? Granted, without his blazer, Minato probably looks like he's wearing fairly ordinary clothes. ]

[survivaltricks]

"A Persona is the mask one wears to face the hardships of society."

[the way Akira says that. . . it is almost like he is quoting someone word-for-word. he gives the edges of his mask a gentle tap, before tracing the lines with red-clad fingers, his grin widening]

You could say this is a physical manifestation of my power.

[and a fun accessory that truly makes him feel like a thief]

[. . .]

[and speaking of—]

You're right, though; it's way better with the rest of the outfit.

I just didn't want to melt.

[as Minato will see eventually, that black leather jacket is HEAVY]

[memori3s]

[ A familiar phrase: reassuring, in this unfamiliar phrase. Minato hums to acknowledge it while continuing to study the mask. The thought of running around and slaying Shadows while dressed in an outfit to match it though -- that's veering a little into absurdist territory for him.

...then again, SEES started on a pseudo-shoestring budget, left fighting for their lives through Tartarus in their school uniforms. Maybe they were the exception and not the rule. ]

I had to ditch part of mine too.

[ Nothing as severe as what Akira probably left behind, he figures. ]

It was just the blazer to my old school uniform though.

[ It makes complete sense that he'd landed here in it. It makes complete sense that his "emotionally significant" attire would be the one he'd worn while keeping his Graduation Day promise. But from an outsider's perspective, perhaps it's a little odd that a school uniform would have such sentimental value to someone. ]

[survivaltricks]

[no no. Akira's group is the exception, not the rule. please make fun of them and their silly outfits]

[but anyway!! to Akira, there is nothing strange about a school uniform being considered an emotionally significant outfit. going to Shujin sucked, but. . . it was also where he had met the people who would change the course of his life forever. if Minato is the same, then it makes sense for him to be clad in the clothes he associates the most with his friends]

[a hum of acknowledgement, and Akira stops walking as they approach the first coconut-laden tree]

Shujin's blazers sucked in the summer, so I get it.

[and then, playfully]

Don't worry; nobody here is going to rat you out to the student council.

[memori3s]

[ "Shujin"? That name doesn't sound familiar at all, not that Minato was well-versed with all the different schools scattered across Tokyo. ]

Yeah. Doesn't help that they're black.

[ Something that Akira can sympathize with, given their earlier discussion...

The blazer's probably still where he abandoned it on the sandy shore. Now that he's thinking about it -- maybe he should retrace his steps later. If the temperature drops when night falls, he'll be grateful for that extra layer.

He'll shelve that thought for now. There's something else they need to presently address. Minato gazes up the tree and cranes his neck to look at their target. ]

...

[ The tree is pretty tall... ]

Should we find something to knock the coconuts down?

[survivaltricks]

[man. truth be told, Akira wants to ask Minato so many questions right now. questions about his school, about the friends he made there. . . the people on his team, the Journey he traveled, the battles he conquered, the things he was fighting for. having such an open an honest conversation about the responsibilities of a Wild Card with Yu had been so eye-opening!! he is more than eager to get yet another perspective on the strange twist of fate that life had thrown them]

[but]

[. . . they are also stuck on a deserted island. with no food. there will be time for those questions later; Akira is certain of it]

[. . .]

[he thinks back to that ephemeral smile and hopes that he is right]

[FOR NOW: COCONUTS! NO CANNIBALISM]

I'm pretty good at climbing trees. [at climbing anything, honestly] I can get up there myself. Watch--

[although the thing about coconut trees is. . . they don't have low hanging branches. so Akira has to wrap his arms around the tree trunk, dig his feet into the bark, and. . . very slowly. . . inch his way up]

[this felt more cool in his head]

[memori3s]

[ Admittedly, Minato is a bit impressed by Akira's ability to scale the coconut tree. Sure, he's crawling up its trunk inch by inch like a lumbering, giant squirrel, but he'll make it to the top eventually.

...and Akira volunteering to do said climbing means Minato gets a free pass. ]

Keep going, you're almost there.

[ Words of encouragement! Words of affirmation! But alas, all spoken in an unenthused tone.

Minato moves to stand beneath the tree, one hand lifted at his brow to block out the blinding sun. He looks up where the coconuts are nestled against the tree's thick branches. If Akira can shake them free one at a time, he can probably catch each in his arms.

Or... maybe they should harness gravity to crack them open? The meat of the fruit is probably more useful than the actual liquid, considering they'd already located a source of water. ]

Hey, Akira. Should I catch them? Or let them hit the ground?

[ You're the leader now, buddy. ]

[survivaltricks]

[excuse you senpai why are you foisting leader duties off on HIM???]

[it's true, though-- it takes time, and Akira looks stupid the entire way up, but eventually. . .! he does reach that lovely bunch of bright green fruit, securing himself by grabbing the base of a branch and digging his heels into the (admittedly kind of sharp and uncomfortable. . .) tree trunk. whew. what a workout, made even worse by the sun baking him like a fried egg. even his heavy vest feels awful in this weather. . .]

[a deep breath in. a slow breath out. and then Akira calls back down to his companion]

Just let them hit the ground. . .!

[don't get knocked on the HEAD while trying to catch them, Minato]

Ready?

[which is all the warning Minato has before Akira begins to vigorously shake the coconut branch. the fruits are pretty solidly stuck to the tree. . . but after a whole lot of elbow grease, one loosens itself and begins its short descent to the ground below]

[HEADS UP!]

[memori3s]

[ Listen Minato Arisato is always just here for the ride. Akira take the wheel.

He flashes a thumbs-up at his partner though. Just let them hit the ground? Sounds like a plan. And then they can pluck them off the floor, just like a video game he'd once played with little anthropomorphic animals wandering around a quaint neighborhood.

Minato watches as Akira starts shaking the branch. Nothing happens. The fruit remains stubbornly attached to branch. It's probably a little rude to yell up at Akira to tell him to try harder, huh.

Fortunately, one does come loose! It tumbles through the air and lands with a definitive thud. Minato knows better than to step forward to retrieve it immediately. Better wait and see if more will follow.

He looks back up at Akira, cupping his hands around his mouth to let his voice travel further. ]

Nice work, keep going!

[survivaltricks]

[how dare you YOU'RE JUST LUCKY HE HAS NATURAL LEADER ABILITIES]

[anyway, yes. it was smart to wait, because a few seconds after the first one drops. . . a second follows! then a third. and a fourth! WOW IT'S COCONUT CITY HERE!!]

[. . .]

[the final thing that falls is neither coconut nor plant. it's. . . a Joker. because someone lost his grip and footing on the tree amidst all of the shaking. don't worry; it's preceded by a startled, strangled yelp, before Akira plummets to the ground, landing on his back with a hard whump]

Ow--

[memori3s]

[ Four coconuts is... just barely scratching the surface of Minato's own appetite. It's fine though. He'll live with two if they split it equally, or perhaps just one if Akira needs the other three more.

Minato steps forward as Akira lands on the ground. Oh... That looked like it hurt. Maybe he should have tried to break the fall?

Too late now. He crouches next to Akira with a concerned frown. ]

Are you okay? You fell pretty far.

[ It wasn't a towering tree by any means, but Minato thinks he would Also be saying ow if he'd been the one to fall from it. ]

Looks like you got all four though.

[ The concern eases when he sees Akira's probably doing all right, frown shifting into a small smile. ]

Good job.

[survivaltricks]

[Akira does not have the bottomless appetite of his senpai. . . he will be full on one coconut, which leaves three for his companion. not that he knows exactly how much Minato can tuck down in such a short period of time. don't worry; he'll learn]

Nnngh. . . [honestly, despite the groaning he seems more put out than actually hurt] . . . If this weren't VR, I'd be worried about this hurting tomorrow.

[but. . . naw. he'll be fine. look how confident he is about getting out of here by tomorrow, too. anyway, he holds out one hand, clearly expecting Minato help hoist him back to his feet]

[memori3s]

[ That minor detail doesn't slip by Minato. "Tomorrow," huh? He hadn't paid too much attention to the details, but he recalls that days and weeks could pass in-game within the span of a few minutes outside of it.

Getting off this island and out of the terrible heat ASAP sounds like a good idea though. He'll give Akira that much.

Minato sighs a bit, faux exasperation as he takes Akira's hand in his own. Fingers wrap around it as he stands -- wait, actually, he needs a second hand... It encloses over the other side of Akira's hand as Minato pulls Akira back to his feet. ]

Looks like we're just missing shelter now.

[survivaltricks]

[it has yet to occur to him that he may spend actual in-game days stuck on this island, and that those days may pass differently than the days in the real worl. it's fine. he'll figure it out when the sun starts to set]

[FOR NOW, Akira grasps his companion's hand-- correction, hands-- as tightly as he can as he pushes himself backt to his feet, a lopsided grin playing on his features]

Good thing we don't have to figure that one out for ourselves. [dusting himself off now; there's dirt smeared all over his face from the fall, too] I saw some huts back on the shoreline.

[scooping up their hard-earned coconuts, ready to carry them back]

Personally, I'm ready to get out of this heat.

[memori3s]

[ That's reassuring. Minato tries imagining the two of them attempting to jerry-rig something together with stray branches and leaves. The image is, for better or for worse, not good at all.

Perhaps Akira actually did have some survivalist knowledge. But for the time being Minato thinks it's safe to assume the two are in good company as fellow city mice. ]

Looks like you'll be leading the way again.

[ Before he can crouch back down to help grab some of the coconuts, Akira proves to be quicker on the uptake and has already scooped them into his arms. This guy -- he's pretty on the ball, huh. If that's the case, Minato's content to let him take the lead on that too. ]

...wait, come here. Close your eyes.

[ He reaches out as his fingers grasp onto Akira's vest to stop him from heading off. Minato lifts a hand to Akira's face, carefully wiping some of the dirt off his cheek with a thumb. There's some on his nose too, which Minato gently removes as well.

He steps back once it's done and nods with satisfaction. Okay. Now they can go looking for one of those huts Akira saw earlier. ]

1/2

[survivaltricks]

[whispers what the fuck]

2/3 actually so sorry jin so so sorry

[survivaltricks]

[Akira gives his companion a curious look at the request, but otherwise obliges without complaint, eyes slipping shut as he shifts the coconuts underneath his arms. and then he feels. . . something warm brush across his dirty face, the pad of Minato's thumb unintentionally tracing the lines of his cheekbones]

[his eyes fly open then, brows raised, openly bewildered. and yet, despite his surprise. . . he doesn't move, his entire body completely and utterly still as he holds his breath in his lungs. as if breathing out would betray the way he suddenly feels his heart thrumming like a hummingbird in his chest]

[. . . what is this?? is this part of the bonding exercise they're supposed to be doing. . .? is Minato just being kind because Akira shook down a few coconuts from the tree for them? his mind is racing, because he genuinely has no idea what to make of this]

[. . .]

[it's not. . . bad, though. Akira is usually pretty twitchy when people step into his personal space-- it comes with being as guarded as he tends to be with strangers. but two months is more than enough time for those walls to have crumbled a bit. and. . . he has learned that physical affection like this is. . . kind of nice, actually]

[. . .]