【 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
♦ 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.
♥ 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...
♣ 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.
♠ 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.
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!
▶ 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.
[Kotone blinks at the coconut, a little mystified by its presence and the boy offering it to her. What is she meant to do with an unopened coconut...?
Still, she accepts it with a bit of a laugh, smiling up at him. Ooh, he's lucky, he got sunglasses. Meanwhile the best she can do is loosen her uniform bow and unbutton the first few buttons of her shirt. It's way too hot to wear her winter uniform, and yet, here she is!!]
Thanks! I'll find something to crack it open with!
[Scott's smile only falters for a second when she looks confused by the coconut. Shit, guess he didn't really think about the fact that she may not like coconuts in the first place. Dumbass. Look, he knows that if you give the wrong present to someone in an otome game, it might even lower the relationship--
But no, she's smiling and whew! It looks like he didn't completely fumble with all this (and he probably shouldn't think of this as some otome game when he knows he's talking with another guest). Still, Scott can feel his anxiety leave him, the teen echoing her laugh with one of his own. Well, if he's stuck in this VR game and this is the person he's supposed to make an 'emotional connection' with, he's definitely okay with that. She's... pretty cute, isn't she? And probably dying in that uniform of hers.
...
Oh cracking open the coconut, maybe that's why she was so confused earlier--]
Wait? Are you saying that you don't just eat a coconut like this? [He jokes lightly. Still, the smile he makes is almost sheepish, like he forgot about that, though he tries to hide it behind something a little more cocky.]
I've never tried it. You'll have to show me how it's done!
[Her eyes sparkle as she teases him, mock-offering the coconut back -- but not actually giving it back. This is a precious gift from a new friend, or something like it, anyway. It's a little thing, but it matters that he thought to offer her anything at all.]
Or I guess we could crack it open. Let's go! [And she pumps a fist into the air, picking a direction and starting to walk in it. Maybe there are rocks this way, maybe not. Oh, and maybe just as importantly,] I'm Kotone Shiomi. What's your name?
[Would Scott lick an uncracked coconut straight out just to prove a point? 100% he would, no questions asked. Luckily for him, she's already holding the fruit back to her with a mischievous look, so no licking required. Yet--]
Shouldn't be too hard to find a rock. Or maybe there's something in the hut that we can use. I saw one out in the distance earlier.
[But she's already walking in a direction and Scott finds himself catching up to her so that they're side by side. She is his 'companion' throughout all this and he doesn't want to lose sight of her. It'd be a pain!! Plus, she's already nice to be around, like there's a certain enthusiastic energy she has that's almost infectious. It's easy to relax and he smiles at her with a small head tilt.]
I'm Scott. Scott Summers. It's nice to meet you, Kotone.
[Just calling her by her first name.... none of the other Japanese teens corrected him on that yet.]
[That sounds like a good way to get out of the sun, and maybe find some additional supplies? The coconut is nice, but one coconut does not a meal make. She's not hungry yet, but it feels wrong to be at the beach and not be thinking about having something nice to eat.
Scott Summers, huh...? He's very casual, just calling her by her first name. In some ways, he reminds her of Junpei, bringing a fonder curve to her smile as she glances sideways at him. She's never been one to stick to formality herself, usually just following whatever the other person decides, so-]
'Summers,' huh? Are you why it's so hot here, Scott?
[He teases her lightly, steps slowing to a stop just in case she wants to take the opposite path and head to the hut. Or they can continue trying to find a rock to smash this coconut against. Maybe they'll find more fruits or a wild animal to kill along the way. He wouldn't mind showing off just a little in front of her, as he can still feel the hum of his powers going through his head. It's why he's still wearing his sunglasses anyway.
At least he's blending in like this.
Speaking of which... she must be scorching in that uniform. How to politely tell a girl you don't know that it's okay to walk around with less clothes on? Uh, he's working on that.]
Wow. [Scott responds, the mutant putting no effort from hiding his snort. So she's cute and silly.] Yeah, that's me. I make everything hot. Well, it's probably that and the fact you're wearing a full on school uniform still.
[Oh. Well, alright! She immediately turns on her heel to start walking in the opposite direction, exactly as Scott said. After running into enough dead ends in Tartarus, realizing you'd gone the wrong way kind of stopped being embarrassing. As long as they keep moving, that's what's most important!
Kotone can't help but giggle at the way he snorts, her nose scrunching up a little with amusement.] It's not my fault! [she protests without any heat to it at all, just a lingering laughter.] They gave me a super-short skirt when we were practicing for sports, and then in here they gave me my winter uniform!
[He makes a good point, though -- without a second thought, she unzips the jacket and shrugs it off to carry over her arm. She can also probably fiddle with the bow a little to loosen it and maybe undo a button or two of her blouse. That'll have to help, right?]
[A super-short skirt and a uniform that is far too hot to actually wear. Yeah, that pretty much sums up the Golden Peacock; they really like putting people in outfits that leave little to the imagination or overdressing them so that they want to fully take it off-- is she doing that now?? Scott watches as she unzips her jacket and... she mostly stops there. Okay. That's super reasonable. That and loosening her bow. And undoing a couple buttons. All reasonable.
.....
But hey, wait. As his mind stops being stupid, it goes back to something that she specifically mentioned and he can't help but ask.]
Wait, are you new to this casino? [...] And want me to carry your jacket?
[If she realizes he's watching her take her clothes off, it doesn't show on her face. He was right -- it's hot, and she was wearing way too many clothes! He's asked a question now, and she pauses to think about how to answer it.
>No. >Yes.
And in the time it takes for her to decide, he's asked a second question. Luckily, the answer to the second is the same as to the first!]
Sure! Thanks! [Her want for independence pales in comparison to getting someone else to do work for her, even if it's something as simple as having him carry her jacket for her. After passing it over, she loosens the bow a little more comfortably and adds,] And yeah, I guess so.
[This time, anyway. Some people had recognized her from a "before" that she doesn't remember, but if Scott doesn't recognize her from then, she's not going to mention it; instead, she gives him another friendly, interested smile.]
[He folds her jacket over his arm, sliding the cloth carefully over so that the sleeves don't dangle and get all sandy while they walk back to the hut. Does it really matter all that much if this is a VR thing in the first place? Maybe not, but he's still not going to drag her jacket around after offering to carry it. Seems like a dick move.]
Mmm, I'm newer compared to a lot of guests here, but I've still been here for about five months now.
[Geez, has it really been that long? Nearly half a year? At this point, he can say he's been here longer than with his friends and team back home. It's a thought that's bittersweet, because he still misses them so much. He wants to train with them, hang out with them... they're really important to him.
But he can't deny the bonds he's made here either. All sorts of people reaching out to him when he first got here. Helping him through shit. It's only kind of recently that he sort of eased into things, at least to the point where he feels like he needs to step up and help the newcomers here.
Like her.]
You've been adjusting okay? [He smiles a little, something understanding crossing in his features.] I know it's... a lot. Like, super a lot.
Five months... [she repeats pensively, her gaze shifting to somewhere in the distance as they walk. Five months ago for her, she'd met Ryoji for the first time; a little before that, they'd lost Shinji. After that, in those five months, everything had cascaded and crashed and led to...
Well. That's not important, really! Whatever time she has here, whether it's five months or five years, she'll try to make the most of. After that moment of distraction, she glances back to him, drawing another smile to her face. He's gonna think she's a weirdo if she keeps staring out into space like that, and he'd asked another question. What was it...? Oh, adjusting.]
New places always need getting used to. This one doesn't seem too bad so far, though!
[...And she thought the silence would make her sound like a weirdo. Sometimes the stuff she says is equally as weird.]
[...Huh, she's drifting off into her own little world, isn't she? Scott turns his head enough so that he can look at that more faraway expression that's taken a hold of her. Is 5 months something significant to her? Or maybe a lot of stuff happened to her in that timeframe. Honestly, he understands. His entire life shifted in a span of three days, from ditching his old life as a regular human, to becoming a mutant-- one that shoots uncontrollable eye beams.
He wonders if that's a face he makes a lot, except harder to read.
But she's back to smiling again, like she didn't just have a mind journey right next to him. It's cute, honestly.]
It's a sex casino out in the middle of who knows where. We didn't just move to the next city over. [He feels pointing out, even if it's totally obvious. Scott lifts an eyebrow at her, both amused and just a little curious.] What kind of places have you been to?
[She's so easygoing about this. It's almost impressive. Maybe it hasn't hit her yet? Or is it something more?]
[Moving from place to place after her parents died, being put with different families or in different orphanages -- it had been hard to make connections for a long time, knowing they'd be ripped away the moment she started to feel comfortable. Tatsumi Port Island had been the first place that had felt like a home, not because of the place, but because of the bonds she'd been able to forge.
Will she be able to form bonds like that here...? Maybe. But whether she can or not, it's not like she can just go back to her life in Iwatodai anymore. Plus, a sex casino in the middle of "who knows where," is probably less dangerous than Tartarus. Right? She gives him another smile and shrugs a little, skipping a few feet ahead.]
[Never stayed in one place, huh? Like those students that had to go from school to school because of their parent's job or someone in the military. He never experienced it, of course, but he's seen other teens like that. He's not envious-- sounds like an annoying thing to deal with.
He watches as Kotone takes the lead ahead of them, nearly bouncing ahead a few paces as she keeps smiling at him. She really doesn't seem worried at all about being trapped in this place, huh? That isn't for show. That's probably a good thing, in a way?? Still, a part of him feels the need to at least caution her, because even with the bright sun shining on them-- the extravagance this place gives to its guests, he believes there to be something sinister beneath it all.
In the end, they were still taken from their homes without consent.]
It can be. [Scott's tone turns just a little more serious, something contemplative appearing on his face, like he's considering what he wants to tell her. It wasn't easy for him at first and he's better now, but it took weeks. Months. With the help of others. He's decided that wants to really try and help those that are new to this place, just like how they helped him.
If it involves him being a little more open about some stuff, that's fine.]
Dangerous in ways that you may not expect. [Then a little softer:] But there's also a lot of people here that are good too.
["It can be"... huh? Her smile softening into something almost neutral as she glances back to him, taking in his own serious expression. It's easy to project a devil-may-care attitude, but it's definitely better to try to make his own. While she doesn't completely mimic his expression, her tone shifts to something a little less cheerful.]
Good people like you? [The corner of her lips turn up into a much smaller smile as she shortens her steps to fall back beside him again.] In what ways should I expect then, Scott?
[There's relief that she isn't just brushing him off. She's taking his genuine concern with seriousness and Scott really appreciates it. Helps explaining this whole thing just a little easier.]
I try to be. [Something lighthearted briefly returns in his smile, small but still present.
He soon extends his right hand to her, maybe even offering her to grab, and there's a strange looking clubs symbol on the top of it. Seems almost innocent, something that a teen would just get a tattoo of just because, but that's not the case here. There are definitely other things to watch out for in the casino, but this feels the easiest to explain right now... not to mention it's unavoidable.]
I'm assuming you don't have a suit yet, but it'll happen at some point. It... can really influence your emotions, how you act around others.
[She hesitates only a moment, glancing up to meet his eyes for confirmation before taking his hand to look more closely at the tattoo. If he weren't explaining it, she might assume it was just something he liked -- or maybe a symbol for a gang? It's not like she knows anyone who has tattoos, after all! -- but instead it seems to be something else entirely. Tracing the outline with her thumb, she hums quietly again as if he's sharing something deeply personal, committing it to memory.]
Influence emotions how...? [she asks quietly, glancing up at him again without letting go of her loose hold on his hand. Her expression is hesitant and tentative, making it obvious that she isn't sure if it's something he's comfortable asking, but she's still willing to try nonetheless.]
[It may be hard to fully read Scott through those seemingly ever present sunglasses, but maybe it's the way that his mouth is turned upwards just slightly that makes him appear patient. He never thought he would be a patient sort of person, but it's honestly not hard being like this. Maybe it's from meeting the other mutants back home. Maybe it's even from being here.
Or Kotone is just that cute. Look, he has eyeballs.]
It differs for each person and there are different suits, representing the cards of a deck, but... [There's finally a pause this time, like he's thinking how to fully word this and also feel comfortable with what he wants to say. Scott doesn't want to talk about how he lost control of himself, but he needs to mention how strong those influences are.
It's important she's at least aware of this. Scott was thankful when he learned more about this from others.]
For me, thoughts that I normally would be able to push down come to the front of my mind. [...] It gets worse the longer you um.
[Okay, there's a hint of embarrassment that floats in his voice because uh. Saying it out loud to someone you just met? Definitely more difficult.] ...when you don't have sex.
[Don't worry Scott, you're not so bad to look at either! Though honestly it's more his behavior than any difficult-to-read expression on his face that makes Kotone want to trust him. Not that she's the most distrustful person out there -- she tends to think the best of most people she meets until they've proven otherwise -- but he's been nothing but kind to her. Her thumb presses gently into the back of the tattoo as she looks back up at him when he hesitates.
Her cheeks flush pink when he mentions sex, and she lets go of his hand. Oh... well, that makes sense, she guesses. It's not like she hadn't noticed the general attitudes of most of the staff and some of the guests, but it's still embarrassing to have it just stated plainly like that! Still... it could be worse. It's just forming social links with people again, isn't it? Just more intimately...
After a beat, she laughs, trying to banish the awkward atmosphere.] Well then, I guess that's easy for a cute boy like you, huh? [she teases, taking a step back and starting to skip ahead, still in the vague direction of the hut he'd mentioned.] I bet you've got lots of girlfriends.
[He really didn't realize it until now, how cold her hand actually was. The slight chill that was cooling his skin instantly leaves when she lets go, letting the VR's hot temperature start warming up his hand once more. Huh... what was that? There's a flicker of surprise that travels in his eyes, along with a twinge of concern for her, and it's a thought and feeling that he keeps close to the front of his mind.
He'll bring it up soon. It seems like a problem he should point out, right? If she's not feeling good... then he needs to do something about that. He can't just offer a coconut and call it a day. She may be laughing and look okay right now, but Scott also thought he was fine for a while until he just wasn't.
Then she's teasing him and Scott huffs, temporarily distracted.]
Oh, yeah. That's me. I have a line of girlfriends wanting to go out with me every single day. [No hiding the sarcasm in his voice. Guess he could pretend that he has a bunch of girlfriends, but that's never been his thing.]
And look who's talking, I bet you'll have a line of boys wanting to go out with you. [He teases back, and one can almost hear the eyeroll his his voice before his voice dips into something more cautionary.] ...But hey, I am serious about that. The suit getting worse over time.
[The sarcasm makes her laugh, because she'd half-meant it! He is pretty cute! But it's nice that he's still modest, too, and funny about it to boot. The grin she tosses him is genuinely amused, redoubling her laughter as he continues.]
Maybe! [Her eyes sparkle with amusement. Maybe there will be a lot of people, maybe there won't. She opens her mouth, maybe to make a joke about the two of them getting together, but oh- no, he's being more serious. She once again matches his tone, letting her smile fade into something smaller and more heartfelt.]
I'll remember that, [she promises softly, giving him a nod. She might not have a suit yet, but there's a weird feeling in the back of her mind, like she's absolutely certain that he's telling the truth -- and beyond that, she's already experienced it herself. That has to be impossible though, right?] Do you know how long it takes...?
[There's absolutely no way that she wasn't someone that had a lot of boys interested her back home. She's cute and really friendly, and... that's pretty much all boys need to be interested in a girl at first. What? He's just speaking as one of those said boys, even though he won't even try to ask her out. Him and popular never really mixed.]
Okay. [He returns, voice soft but accepting when she tells him that she'll remember. He's going to hold that to her now. Shit, does that mean he should check on her after this VR experience ends? ...Well, he was going to anyway, but he really wants to now. Just make sure that she's doing okay, even if the implication is basically asking her if she had sex lately. Wow. God. That place is so embarrassing.
Anyway. He breathes in, taking this all seriously because it really is. It's not just dumb teen sex talk. It's something that affects emotions and thoughts.]
Usually around a month before the effects fully hit. It gets worse as more weeks pass though.
[He is sweet, isn't he? Unconsciously, her hand goes to her as she mentally spins the loaded barrel of the revolver she imagines her Personas inhabit. Does one of them match Scott...?
Helel clicks into place. The Star, the Persona she'd awakened with Akihiko's help. A reliable guiding figure. Maybe that's him? It's hard to tell from a first meeting without Theo's help, so she leaves it be for now, shivering a little as she drops her hand. In spite of the island heat, she still feels cold deep inside.]
A month, huh? [she echoes thoughtfully. It's impossible not to think of the Shadows they'd fought every full moon. Seems like she's once again on a monthly timer, though if she's meant to spend that month training like she and her team had done in Tartarus...? Who knows.] Are you doing okay?
[Like yeah, they'd joked about the lines of girlfriends, but still. Doesn't hurt to ask! She knows as well as anyone that a joke and a smile can hide a problem.]
[There's that shiver again and okay, now he's certain that something is going on. His concern increases, because he doesn't feel cold at all despite wearing less than her. Something to do with her egg pod? Or something else? He really can't leave this alone now.
Scott just stalls for a couple seconds longer, surprised by her question because she's the newcomer and the one that's apparently cold in hot weather, and yet she's asking if he's okay? ...She's a really kind person, huh? Cute and more than just outwardly friendly and charming, but truly nice. He smiles a little, before nodding, although he starts taking a few steps closer to her.]
I'm okay, promise. [And he is, definitely better compared to his first couple of months.] But Kotone... are you cold? Did you want your jacket back? I noticed earlier that you've been shivering and even your fingers felt cold.
[Well, okay! She won't push it, then. If he says he's okay, then she'll trust him. They barely know each other anyway, so it's not like she can demand he tell her things. That doesn't mean she won't check on him herself though!
She hums at his question, her brows furrowing with thought. He'd noticed, huh? Maybe those sunglasses aren't as dark as she'd initially suspected!]
It comes and goes. Sometimes I just get this chill. [Her hand goes to her heart once again, as if she could somehow reach inside and find whatever was making her feel cold. A glance toward him, then she shrugs, clearly trying to brush it off.] You probably felt the same thing when you first woke up here, right?
[The heat from the beach still makes sweat prickle on the back of her neck, but somehow that doesn't do anything to eliminate the chill. Maybe it'll go away once she stops thinking about it!]
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goldmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
peacockstop2025-03-15 09:00 pm
hearts hearts hearts hearts
[Kotone blinks at the coconut, a little mystified by its presence and the boy offering it to her. What is she meant to do with an unopened coconut...?
Still, she accepts it with a bit of a laugh, smiling up at him. Ooh, he's lucky, he got sunglasses. Meanwhile the best she can do is loosen her uniform bow and unbutton the first few buttons of her shirt. It's way too hot to wear her winter uniform, and yet, here she is!!]
Thanks! I'll find something to crack it open with!
hearts uwu
But no, she's smiling and whew! It looks like he didn't completely fumble with all this (and he probably shouldn't think of this as some otome game when he knows he's talking with another guest). Still, Scott can feel his anxiety leave him, the teen echoing her laugh with one of his own. Well, if he's stuck in this VR game and this is the person he's supposed to make an 'emotional connection' with, he's definitely okay with that. She's... pretty cute, isn't she? And probably dying in that uniform of hers.
...
Oh cracking open the coconut, maybe that's why she was so confused earlier--]
Wait? Are you saying that you don't just eat a coconut like this? [He jokes lightly. Still, the smile he makes is almost sheepish, like he forgot about that, though he tries to hide it behind something a little more cocky.]
How about we find something together to crack it?
no subject
[Her eyes sparkle as she teases him, mock-offering the coconut back -- but not actually giving it back. This is a precious gift from a new friend, or something like it, anyway. It's a little thing, but it matters that he thought to offer her anything at all.]
Or I guess we could crack it open. Let's go! [And she pumps a fist into the air, picking a direction and starting to walk in it. Maybe there are rocks this way, maybe not. Oh, and maybe just as importantly,] I'm Kotone Shiomi. What's your name?
no subject
Shouldn't be too hard to find a rock. Or maybe there's something in the hut that we can use. I saw one out in the distance earlier.
[But she's already walking in a direction and Scott finds himself catching up to her so that they're side by side. She is his 'companion' throughout all this and he doesn't want to lose sight of her. It'd be a pain!! Plus, she's already nice to be around, like there's a certain enthusiastic energy she has that's almost infectious. It's easy to relax and he smiles at her with a small head tilt.]
I'm Scott. Scott Summers. It's nice to meet you, Kotone.
[Just calling her by her first name.... none of the other Japanese teens corrected him on that yet.]
no subject
[That sounds like a good way to get out of the sun, and maybe find some additional supplies? The coconut is nice, but one coconut does not a meal make. She's not hungry yet, but it feels wrong to be at the beach and not be thinking about having something nice to eat.
Scott Summers, huh...? He's very casual, just calling her by her first name. In some ways, he reminds her of Junpei, bringing a fonder curve to her smile as she glances sideways at him. She's never been one to stick to formality herself, usually just following whatever the other person decides, so-]
'Summers,' huh? Are you why it's so hot here, Scott?
[The joke was right there. It had to be made!]
no subject
[He teases her lightly, steps slowing to a stop just in case she wants to take the opposite path and head to the hut. Or they can continue trying to find a rock to smash this coconut against. Maybe they'll find more fruits or a wild animal to kill along the way. He wouldn't mind showing off just a little in front of her, as he can still feel the hum of his powers going through his head. It's why he's still wearing his sunglasses anyway.
At least he's blending in like this.
Speaking of which... she must be scorching in that uniform. How to politely tell a girl you don't know that it's okay to walk around with less clothes on? Uh, he's working on that.]
Wow. [Scott responds, the mutant putting no effort from hiding his snort. So she's cute and silly.] Yeah, that's me. I make everything hot. Well, it's probably that and the fact you're wearing a full on school uniform still.
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Kotone can't help but giggle at the way he snorts, her nose scrunching up a little with amusement.] It's not my fault! [she protests without any heat to it at all, just a lingering laughter.] They gave me a super-short skirt when we were practicing for sports, and then in here they gave me my winter uniform!
[He makes a good point, though -- without a second thought, she unzips the jacket and shrugs it off to carry over her arm. She can also probably fiddle with the bow a little to loosen it and maybe undo a button or two of her blouse. That'll have to help, right?]
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.....
But hey, wait. As his mind stops being stupid, it goes back to something that she specifically mentioned and he can't help but ask.]
Wait, are you new to this casino? [...] And want me to carry your jacket?
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>No.
>Yes.
And in the time it takes for her to decide, he's asked a second question. Luckily, the answer to the second is the same as to the first!]
Sure! Thanks! [Her want for independence pales in comparison to getting someone else to do work for her, even if it's something as simple as having him carry her jacket for her. After passing it over, she loosens the bow a little more comfortably and adds,] And yeah, I guess so.
[This time, anyway. Some people had recognized her from a "before" that she doesn't remember, but if Scott doesn't recognize her from then, she's not going to mention it; instead, she gives him another friendly, interested smile.]
What about you?
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Mmm, I'm newer compared to a lot of guests here, but I've still been here for about five months now.
[Geez, has it really been that long? Nearly half a year? At this point, he can say he's been here longer than with his friends and team back home. It's a thought that's bittersweet, because he still misses them so much. He wants to train with them, hang out with them... they're really important to him.
But he can't deny the bonds he's made here either. All sorts of people reaching out to him when he first got here. Helping him through shit. It's only kind of recently that he sort of eased into things, at least to the point where he feels like he needs to step up and help the newcomers here.
Like her.]
You've been adjusting okay? [He smiles a little, something understanding crossing in his features.] I know it's... a lot. Like, super a lot.
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Well. That's not important, really! Whatever time she has here, whether it's five months or five years, she'll try to make the most of. After that moment of distraction, she glances back to him, drawing another smile to her face. He's gonna think she's a weirdo if she keeps staring out into space like that, and he'd asked another question. What was it...? Oh, adjusting.]
New places always need getting used to. This one doesn't seem too bad so far, though!
[...And she thought the silence would make her sound like a weirdo. Sometimes the stuff she says is equally as weird.]
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He wonders if that's a face he makes a lot, except harder to read.
But she's back to smiling again, like she didn't just have a mind journey right next to him. It's cute, honestly.]
It's a sex casino out in the middle of who knows where. We didn't just move to the next city over. [He feels pointing out, even if it's totally obvious. Scott lifts an eyebrow at her, both amused and just a little curious.] What kind of places have you been to?
[She's so easygoing about this. It's almost impressive. Maybe it hasn't hit her yet? Or is it something more?]
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[Moving from place to place after her parents died, being put with different families or in different orphanages -- it had been hard to make connections for a long time, knowing they'd be ripped away the moment she started to feel comfortable. Tatsumi Port Island had been the first place that had felt like a home, not because of the place, but because of the bonds she'd been able to forge.
Will she be able to form bonds like that here...? Maybe. But whether she can or not, it's not like she can just go back to her life in Iwatodai anymore. Plus, a sex casino in the middle of "who knows where," is probably less dangerous than Tartarus. Right? She gives him another smile and shrugs a little, skipping a few feet ahead.]
Do you think it's dangerous? The casino, I mean.
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He watches as Kotone takes the lead ahead of them, nearly bouncing ahead a few paces as she keeps smiling at him. She really doesn't seem worried at all about being trapped in this place, huh? That isn't for show. That's probably a good thing, in a way?? Still, a part of him feels the need to at least caution her, because even with the bright sun shining on them-- the extravagance this place gives to its guests, he believes there to be something sinister beneath it all.
In the end, they were still taken from their homes without consent.]
It can be. [Scott's tone turns just a little more serious, something contemplative appearing on his face, like he's considering what he wants to tell her. It wasn't easy for him at first and he's better now, but it took weeks. Months. With the help of others. He's decided that wants to really try and help those that are new to this place, just like how they helped him.
If it involves him being a little more open about some stuff, that's fine.]
Dangerous in ways that you may not expect. [Then a little softer:] But there's also a lot of people here that are good too.
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Good people like you? [The corner of her lips turn up into a much smaller smile as she shortens her steps to fall back beside him again.] In what ways should I expect then, Scott?
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I try to be. [Something lighthearted briefly returns in his smile, small but still present.
He soon extends his right hand to her, maybe even offering her to grab, and there's a strange looking clubs symbol on the top of it. Seems almost innocent, something that a teen would just get a tattoo of just because, but that's not the case here. There are definitely other things to watch out for in the casino, but this feels the easiest to explain right now... not to mention it's unavoidable.]
I'm assuming you don't have a suit yet, but it'll happen at some point. It... can really influence your emotions, how you act around others.
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Influence emotions how...? [she asks quietly, glancing up at him again without letting go of her loose hold on his hand. Her expression is hesitant and tentative, making it obvious that she isn't sure if it's something he's comfortable asking, but she's still willing to try nonetheless.]
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Or Kotone is just that cute. Look, he has eyeballs.]
It differs for each person and there are different suits, representing the cards of a deck, but... [There's finally a pause this time, like he's thinking how to fully word this and also feel comfortable with what he wants to say. Scott doesn't want to talk about how he lost control of himself, but he needs to mention how strong those influences are.
It's important she's at least aware of this. Scott was thankful when he learned more about this from others.]
For me, thoughts that I normally would be able to push down come to the front of my mind. [...] It gets worse the longer you um.
[Okay, there's a hint of embarrassment that floats in his voice because uh. Saying it out loud to someone you just met? Definitely more difficult.] ...when you don't have sex.
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Her cheeks flush pink when he mentions sex, and she lets go of his hand. Oh... well, that makes sense, she guesses. It's not like she hadn't noticed the general attitudes of most of the staff and some of the guests, but it's still embarrassing to have it just stated plainly like that! Still... it could be worse. It's just forming social links with people again, isn't it? Just more intimately...
After a beat, she laughs, trying to banish the awkward atmosphere.] Well then, I guess that's easy for a cute boy like you, huh? [she teases, taking a step back and starting to skip ahead, still in the vague direction of the hut he'd mentioned.] I bet you've got lots of girlfriends.
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He'll bring it up soon. It seems like a problem he should point out, right? If she's not feeling good... then he needs to do something about that. He can't just offer a coconut and call it a day. She may be laughing and look okay right now, but Scott also thought he was fine for a while until he just wasn't.
Then she's teasing him and Scott huffs, temporarily distracted.]
Oh, yeah. That's me. I have a line of girlfriends wanting to go out with me every single day. [No hiding the sarcasm in his voice. Guess he could pretend that he has a bunch of girlfriends, but that's never been his thing.]
And look who's talking, I bet you'll have a line of boys wanting to go out with you. [He teases back, and one can almost hear the eyeroll his his voice before his voice dips into something more cautionary.] ...But hey, I am serious about that. The suit getting worse over time.
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Maybe! [Her eyes sparkle with amusement. Maybe there will be a lot of people, maybe there won't. She opens her mouth, maybe to make a joke about the two of them getting together, but oh- no, he's being more serious. She once again matches his tone, letting her smile fade into something smaller and more heartfelt.]
I'll remember that, [she promises softly, giving him a nod. She might not have a suit yet, but there's a weird feeling in the back of her mind, like she's absolutely certain that he's telling the truth -- and beyond that, she's already experienced it herself. That has to be impossible though, right?] Do you know how long it takes...?
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Okay. [He returns, voice soft but accepting when she tells him that she'll remember. He's going to hold that to her now. Shit, does that mean he should check on her after this VR experience ends? ...Well, he was going to anyway, but he really wants to now. Just make sure that she's doing okay, even if the implication is basically asking her if she had sex lately. Wow. God. That place is so embarrassing.
Anyway. He breathes in, taking this all seriously because it really is. It's not just dumb teen sex talk. It's something that affects emotions and thoughts.]
Usually around a month before the effects fully hit. It gets worse as more weeks pass though.
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Helel clicks into place. The Star, the Persona she'd awakened with Akihiko's help. A reliable guiding figure. Maybe that's him? It's hard to tell from a first meeting without Theo's help, so she leaves it be for now, shivering a little as she drops her hand. In spite of the island heat, she still feels cold deep inside.]
A month, huh? [she echoes thoughtfully. It's impossible not to think of the Shadows they'd fought every full moon. Seems like she's once again on a monthly timer, though if she's meant to spend that month training like she and her team had done in Tartarus...? Who knows.] Are you doing okay?
[Like yeah, they'd joked about the lines of girlfriends, but still. Doesn't hurt to ask! She knows as well as anyone that a joke and a smile can hide a problem.]
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Scott just stalls for a couple seconds longer, surprised by her question because she's the newcomer and the one that's apparently cold in hot weather, and yet she's asking if he's okay? ...She's a really kind person, huh? Cute and more than just outwardly friendly and charming, but truly nice. He smiles a little, before nodding, although he starts taking a few steps closer to her.]
I'm okay, promise. [And he is, definitely better compared to his first couple of months.] But Kotone... are you cold? Did you want your jacket back? I noticed earlier that you've been shivering and even your fingers felt cold.
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[Well, okay! She won't push it, then. If he says he's okay, then she'll trust him. They barely know each other anyway, so it's not like she can demand he tell her things. That doesn't mean she won't check on him herself though!
She hums at his question, her brows furrowing with thought. He'd noticed, huh? Maybe those sunglasses aren't as dark as she'd initially suspected!]
It comes and goes. Sometimes I just get this chill. [Her hand goes to her heart once again, as if she could somehow reach inside and find whatever was making her feel cold. A glance toward him, then she shrugs, clearly trying to brush it off.] You probably felt the same thing when you first woke up here, right?
[The heat from the beach still makes sweat prickle on the back of her neck, but somehow that doesn't do anything to eliminate the chill. Maybe it'll go away once she stops thinking about it!]
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