TDM 011

[goldmods]

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

We are thrilled to announce that the Golden Peacock will be embracing autumn with a special outing. Current and new guests are invited to join us for a refreshing outdoor experience where participants can unplug, unwind, and connect with nature. During this time, all Watches will be disabled to the most basic functions (texting, calls, checking chip account) in order to encourage guests to disconnect.

Please look forward to two weeks of finding yourself amongst the trees. We hope you enjoy your stay, and have a fan-CAMP-stic time. 】

CAMPING

GETTING OFF THE GRID

As the resort moves into what it claims is autumn, the days grow shorter. The projected sun in the Vale sets in the afternoon, after which a faint chill falls. Then there’s the most excessive transformation of all – a portion of the Vale has transformed into a campground complete with a scenic lake, seemingly overnight. Statues nearby have been dressed up with flannel jackets and suspenders. Folksy banjo fills the air without any discernible source.

A section of the campgrounds have been reserved for tents. These tents vary in size, shape, and supplies. All tents, regardless of quality, are supplied with sex toys and lube. Staff and long-standing guests all agree — pretending to live in the wilderness and 'rough it' for a while is thrilling. This is what the peasants feel like all the time!

NOT ALL TENTS ARE EQUAL

► High-rank guests are allocated spacious and luxurious tents. These elaborate mini-homes come with TVs, beds, heaters, and plenty of supplies. Provided camping gear is high quality, ranging from state of the art flashlights to designer backpacks. It can't quite be considered roughing it in these tents, but glamping is camping too!

► Mid-rank guests are allocated moderate tents that comfortably fit up to three guests. These tents come with cots or sleeping bags, as well as standard camping gear to make their time living off the land fairly comfortable. While these tents lack the bells and whistles of the high-rank accommodations, they are more than enough for a comfortable but realistic camping experience.

► Low-rank guests are allocated the shabbiest tents. These sagging accommodations can shield one guest comfortably, but that doesn't stop staff from pairing low-ranking guests together in order to save space. Their 'sleeping bags' are a single blanket and hay bale pillow. There are no other included amenities aside from sex toys and a single lantern.

► Last but certainly not least: our Wildcards! All Wildcards have been randomly assigned. Whether they end up in a glamping tent or sleeping beneath a propped up sheet is left to chance. Wildcards also may find themselves waking up beside a current guest or another new arrival.

► Guests that "go camping" will discover that the door connecting the Vale to the rest of the resort has mysteriously vanished. Uh oh! Looks like there's no going back to the comfortable life anytime soon. Don't worry, the door will return when it's time to pack up and head home.

LET'S GET CRAFTY

► New characters still wake up naked save for a robe, as is standard for the Golden Peacock. This round’s robes are flannel gingham to embrace camping and autumn aesthetic. Some of these robes are much shorter than others; watch out that the lake breeze doesn’t reveal more than you wanted.

► Unlike the standard, there are no racks of clothes waiting for new arrivals outside of their tents. You're roughing it out in the woods, remember? Instead of clothing, Wildcards will find an assortment of raw materials to make clothes.

Fabric rolls, hemp, buckets of leaves, leather, and other assorted goods are waiting to be cobbled into something new. The staff have been kind enough to leave some small hunting knives and wooden needles to make crafting a bit easier. Of course, they won't stop anyone that wants to embrace the wild side and strut around naked.

HOME ON THE RANGE

Welcome to the Peacock Campgrounds! Nicknamed the Stomping Grounds by long-standing guests. Rustic and right off a sparkling lake, guests will find everything they need to live in the wilderness. Staff have expertly set up fire pits, benches, hammocks, and a wooden shed to act as a tool depository. There's even an outhouse, which is a real novelty to many of the long-standing guests. Do they just... squat over that hole and do their business? How wild!

Unlike previous resort-sponsored excursions, guests are expected to manage without the help of staff. That pile of wood won't be replenished once used; guests will have to go chop down trees and split their own. Food won't magically appear in their tents regardless of rank. Camping is all about living off the land. Though staff make themselves scarce to make the experience feel real, they lurk in the shadows, discreetly providing necessary tools and fixing broken equipment so guests won't struggle too much. It isn't fun if it's real hardship, after all!

DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO COOK?

► On the first camp morning, guests will find barrels of ingredients and cooking utensils left beside the central fire pit. These barrels are stocked with fruits and vegetables that won't spoil quickly, many of which are seasonal to autumn. They have also been left a few protein options like eggs, jerky, and canned ham. These ingredients are communal and limited. Once they run out, guests will have to hunt and gather in the Vale to collect more.

► Guests must prepare their own meals while camping. Not even the high-ranks are given any special treatment on this! While oil and firestarter are included in the initial supply, these too are limited and won't be replenished after use.

► Staff would never let their precious guests go without a sweet treat. A generous supply of hot cocoa and all the fixings for s'mores has been left behind as well. While none of the other food will be replenished, the hot cocoa and s'mores goodies seemingly never run out. A night around a campfire without roasting marshmallows or sipping cocoa would be too cruel to subject guests to.

SUPPLIES RUNNING LOW

► Guests will have to hunt and gather once ingredients dwindle if they want to eat. The wooden shed is home to a selection of tools that can be used to hunt: bows and arrows, hatchets, axes, fishing poles and line, etc. All tools are rudimentary and can break if not taken care of.

► The Vale is lush with wild fruits and vegetables. However, much like in reality, not all vegetation in the Vale is safe to eat. While some berries and mushrooms are consumable, others are toxic or psychedelics. One must also not forget that they're in the Golden Peacock: some unusual plants that grow in the vale may trigger arousal. Watch out that you don't eat something funky by accident!

► Before 'leaving', staff will explain that guests can fish or hunt small game running throughout the Vale. One particularly enthusiastic staff member will suggest guests track down the snoggleboffs, as they're extremely delicious after roasting on an open fire.

ACTIVITIES

TWO WEEKS OF ROUGHING IT

Camping can't be all about survival. Where's the fun in that? Before 'leaving', the staff arrange activities and events for guests to enjoy. A wooden bulletin board outlines times for group hikes, camping experiences, and wilderness delights. Adirondack chairs line the edge of the lake and a few tire swings hang over the water, tied to strong tree branches. For the first week and a half the weather is pleasant and sunny. Perfect for camping.

At night, acoustic guitars and other wooden instruments come out so that guests can make music around the bonfire. Projected stars dapple the night sky, forming various constellations sourced from guest worlds. The moon enters a different phase each night, shining a gentle silver across the campgrounds. Why not pull your sweetheart in and cuddle beneath the night sky? It's so romantic.

IN CAMP

► Guests that don't want a cold shower should make their way over to the shower stalls quickly. These outdoor showers hold very little hot water and run cold after about five minutes. First-come first-serve!

► A wood-chopping competition begins around lunchtime. There are two goals: to split as much wood as possible and looking sexy while doing it. Guests that chop wood unsexily immediately fail! Alternatively, sexiness with a pathetic number of chunks is more acceptable, but still a loss. Those that achieve both goals will instantly win a large payout. Failing to sexily cut wood won’t have any penalties associated with it, and you can always try again tomorrow!

► Bear hunting is a popular activity that even the spoiled long-standing guests are getting in on! No, not hunting real bears. That would be insane. Peacock's version of bear hunting involves hunting down bear-like guests and capturing them! Any guest that fits the criteria of big, thick, and strong may potentially be assigned the role of bear. Hunters who manage to tie up, handcuff, net, or otherwise 'capture' a 'bear' will instantly receive a large payout.

THE LAKE

► This sparkling lake is rich with fish. Enjoy sitting back on the long pier with a fishing rod or take one of the wooden boats out for a row around the lake. It's also safe to swim in, for guests that would like to take a dip and rinse off the sweat of camp living! Don't mind the random swim trunks or drink umbrellas that pop up now and then. This water is definitely fresh and not recycled from the summer beach extravaganza.

► Guests that do decide to take a dip may encounter a familiar friend. Fernando the tentacle monster is camping too! This randy tentacle monster is as horny as ever, eager to embrace guests and stick slippery tentacles into any reachable orifice.

► Once the sun goes down, many of the long-standing guests strip off their shoddily crafted clothes and sprint into the water for skinny dipping by moonlight! What's a camping excursion without a lake-side orgy? The best way to drown out those erotic moans from the lake is to head to the central fire pit and join in on some campfire songs.

OUTSIDE CAMP

► Those that head out of camp for a hike or hunt can enjoy any of the Vale's usual wonders. With autumn, shiny apples dangle from the trees and pumpkins pepper beneath their protruding roots. Along with autumnal fruits and vegetables, canned beef and ham have been mysteriously left in pockets close to the campgrounds. A little act of kindness from the staff; not everyone is cut out to hunt their own game!

► For those interested in hunting down some fresh game, walking around the forest in the morning may come with a stroke of luck. Strange little creatures the size of an adult's fist are active during this time. These hairy beasts come in brown and white, and screech, "Scrun scrun screeee!" when agitated.

Yes, these are the alleged snoggleboffs! Don't feel bad about hunting them, they're an invasive species that are unfriendly and eager to steal from unsuspecting guests. Their main strength is their speed, but once caught, they don't put up much of a fight.

► Guests that explore deep into the Vale may find a dark cave mouth that leads downward into a damp chamber. The ceiling glitters with stalactites and, along the wall, they'll find a horizontal crease with what seems to be... hair? If touched, this crease will creak open, revealing a large eye that darts back and forth before focusing on whoever woke it. Black pupils and iris bleed into one endless abyss.

Those that gaze directly into the eye will freeze. Their mind will remain active while their body locks in place, not unlike sleep paralysis. This trance will break once the eye blinks, which it will do after some time... but it can also be forced into blinking by force if there's someone who hasn't made eye-contact around to help. Frozen guests will be overwhelmed with the fear of abandonment for the duration of their paralysis. This fear will fade after the connection is broken, as if it wasn't their fear at all.

Like a regular eye, dirt or debris can force a blink. If this route is taken, the eye will go bloodshot and shut, refusing to open again. Any guest that inflicts damage to the eye may find that their suite, upon return, has been trashed. As if someone or something threw a big tantrum in there while they were gone. Wonder why that happened...?

HOWLING

CALL OF THE WILD

Temperatures drop drastically at night as the camping excursion nears its end. Nights become so chilly that morning dew frosts over, crunching beneath guest feet. Every day the light and its warmth set a little bit earlier. Staff remain elusive and do not provide warmer blankets or clothes for guests, leaving them to cuddle for warmth or find other ways to sleep comfortably during nightly cold snaps.

The moon hits its apex on the final night of camping. Unlike the other nights, this full moon shines blood red. The Vale stills under this ominous sign, silent. Snowflakes begins to fall, spreading an endless clean sheet across the campgrounds. That reflected pink hue is inescapable.

THE WEATHER TURNS

► Along with chilly nights, the last few days of camping feature inclement weather conditions. Clouds overtake the sun and rain falls, alternating between light mist and heavy downpour.

► Winds pick up, with speeds threatening to whip away the less stable tents. Guests that don't hunker down and add additional support to their tents may end up chasing them into the storm. Other loose items around the campgrounds may end up blown away as well.

BLOOD MOON

► Wild instinct rises with the blood moon. As crimson moonlight beckons, some guests may begin to feel ... strange. As if they need to claw their true selves free. Those that answer the call to bathe in the light of the blood moon will undergo a transformation.

► Basking in the light of the blood moon triggers a were-transformation. While the standard were that the blood moon inspires is the classic werewolf, guests may transform into any kind of were. Along with hybrid transformation, the blood moon stirs mating and sex impulses in these new weres. Remaining humans are at risk of being eaten... in the sexy way.

► Transformation into a were is not mandatory. Other guests may step into the blood moon's light and not experience any kind of transformation or impulse. These guests are now actors in a sexy horror scene, given the task of surviving the night surrounded by monsters! At least they're sexy monsters? Giving in and fucking on the wild side may be more fun.

PACKING UP

► After the crazy weather and horny werewolves, the staff judge that it's high time to wrap this excursion up. Guests will once again openly see these diligent workers the morning after the blood moon. They come flooding into the site with clothing, snacks, and other comforts while praising everyone for surviving for so long without the resort's usual luxuries.

► A first aid tent and cleaning station are swiftly erected. All guests that volunteer to treat injuries sustained over the course of the camping experience or help clean up the site will be compensated with a large payout.

► Every guest that participated in the camping event, regardless of whether they help wrap things up, will be issued a spa voucher. Go relax, you've earned some pampering after all of that hard living!

OOC NOTES

INVITES | RESERVES | APPLICATIONS

▶ BLANKET CW: altered states; eyes (descriptions only, incl. eye injury); exhibitionism; hunting (incl. hunting fantasy creatures); orgies; public sex; survival; temperature play; tentacles; transformation; violence

▶ 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 September event. Camping will ICly begin September 15th and end October 3rd.

▶ 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.

▶ 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

[smokedout]

[Of all the things to trigger a memory-bleed, this one catches Dodger the most off-guard. Enough that he ends up mumbling something as his nose starts to bleed.]

Sure, they're great for sending messages out of Hell.

[At least that's what he assumes... someone... was doing. Someone who he can remember the general shape of, who he knows he watched using rabbit carcasses for a ritual of some kind, but who he can't remember the face or name of. Someone he knows he cared a great deal about.

Dodger screws his eyes shut, and curses under his breath as he plugs his nose. God damn it... what's the point of having his medication if he keeps forgetting it and getting random memory-bleeds in front of hot people? And also, what the fuck was he just talking about?]

....I'm more into fish, anyway.

[loosestrifes]

( Esikko finishes his s'more, but he's left staring at Dodger as he deals with yet another nosebleed. Again? Dusting off his lap, he shifts to lean forward and over slightly so that he can peer more directly at his face. )

Do you get those fairly often with everyone, or is it just me?

( He's curious. And no longer wants to talk about hunting, anyway, because he'd much rather survive off of hot cocoa and s'mores. )

Do you not have your medication here? I still need to look at that, you know, so I can see if I can make more.

[smokedout]

[Dodger instinctively turns away a bit, preferring to give Esikko a cagey side-eye.]

I've got my medication. I just... forgot to take it.

[Again. Some days he rationalizes it as building a stockpile, in case the House ever decides to stop providing them. But realistically, he's just awful at remembering to take it in the first place.

He hesitates, but pulls the bottle of pills out of his pocket and hands them over. Small, blue and glowing - the label calls the medication "ceruloxetine" and is prescribed to one Jamison Kingsley.]

It's not just you. It's not everyone, but... I don't know. I don't know what other versions of me went through, so I don't know what my triggers are.

[He's sort of lying, but he doesn't have very solid answers. Esikko is a reality-shifter of some sort too, he imagines that sets him off more easily. And then there's a memory-bleed he'd had, where he saw Esikko... troubling, but he still isn't sure what to do with it. And he's certainly not going to tell him about it.]

[loosestrifes]

( Jamison Kingsley...? He makes a mental note of it, a small smile the only hint to him noticing it at all, and then tilts the bottle to get a better look at the things inside. They're glowing, which already gives him a few ideas about what plants he might want to look at— but he's going to have to take a closer look at one of these later to be sure. )

It doesn't help very much with that if you forget to take it, now, does it? That fancy little Watch on your wrist does have an alarm function, if you weren't aware.

( He thinks it's very convenient, since technology of most sorts are so new to him. So, wording aside, he is genuinely trying to be helpful with that. )

Do you feel anything when you take one of these?

[smokedout]

I uh... hadn't really looked into it.

[Having an alarm set feels like a great way to give himself away when he's sneaking around, since he doesn't really have a sleep schedule and is up to shit at all hours. But that's not a good argument and he knows Esikko is probably right.

While he's at it he might finally figure out how to take pictures, since that's the main thing he misses about his phone.]

...Not really. It's made with a metal that affects my powers, but it's too low a dose to actually dampen them. [A pause.] Thalassium, if you want to try looking it up. I found a book on a different reality I've lived in, so there's probably books on my world too.

[loosestrifes]

( Thalassium... Another mental note. He's going to have to write these down tonight if he wants to remember it all reliably. He jiggles the pill bottle a little, and then pops it open to take one of them out, passing the rest back to Dodger. )

I'll look into it. It may take me some time, of course.

( Especially since they're stuck in the woods. But he carefully tucks this one into his pocket, snug and safe. )

...Want to make me another marshmallow?

[smokedout]

[Dodger nods, and dry-swallows one of the pills before putting them back in his pocket. No more reality-shifts for a while... once it actually kicks in, at least. And while he assumes Esikko's research is going to have to wait until after they're out of the woods, he does trust him to get somewhere with it. Eventually.

The question gets a nod, and he picks up another marshmallow to cook. He tries putting some genuine effort into not burning it, but he's far from mastering the skill. So Esi gets another mostly-cooked, heavily burnt marshmallow.]

Don't burn yourself on this one.

[loosestrifes]

Oh, shut up.

( But his huffiness isn't anything deep, clearly. He's watching the marshmallow with such focus... and his stomach might be growling a little. But he covers that with a shift on the log seat, catching this burnt treat in a sandwich of graham cracker and chocolate again.

It's torture waiting for it to cool. )

Have you made these before?

[smokedout]

[The growling of his stomach catches Dodger's attention - he knew it, this is probably all that Esikko is eating. It's just like being around his dipshit boyfriend again. Dodger's brow twitches, but he tries not to call too much attention to it. Not yet.]

No, I haven't. My family weren't really the type to do shit like this.

[He pauses.]

We didn't cook much, in general. The closest I got was usually... if Benny and his girlfriend were out of the house, I'd heat up cans of ravioli with my hands so my brother had something warm to eat. That sort of thing.

[That sounds so incredibly sad, because it is. His cheeks end up turning pink while he speaks.]

[loosestrifes]

Is this something that families generally do together?

( The question that Esikko bounces back makes it clear that he's completely unaware, at least, so there's no judgement. Sure, he's heard of canned food, but never experienced it— in fact: ) I don't even know what a ravioli is.

( With that, he takes a bite of s'mores, this time managing to avoid burning his tongue. )

But— ( And as soon as he's finished that bite, he leans a little to bump their shoulders together, playfully, before straightening back out. ) You're so scowly, but the truth is you're quite caring, isn't it? How cute.

[smokedout]

[Dodger hesitates, and nods.]

Camping is... a family thing, or a couples thing. It's dangerous to be out on your own - if you break your leg and your phone's out of reach or dead, then you're just fucked. But uh... it costs money, it takes time, and my brother's parents didn't think we were worth that.

[He considers explaining ravioli, but.. maybe later. If he could get his hands on a can of it, that would probably be more educational than his piss-poor understanding of food.

Being called cute, too, makes his cheeks color in more. There's more hesitation, before he answers with a shrug.]

I'm not a good person. But I see things that need to get done, and I do them. If you want to call that caring, I guess that's a word for it.

[loosestrifes]

Being alone in the woods with my family sounds like torture.

( That's his simple comment, as he finishes up this s'mores snack next, licking each of his fingers. Yeah, he's well aware that Dodger isn't a good person, and he thinks that he "cares" selectively, but it's still caring, isn't it? Someone could easily just walk away and let others starve. Wanting to help others in situations you're familiar with instead of wanting them to suffer the same? Is nicer than Esikko ever had been.

But he keeps all that to himself, standing up from the log and dusting his jeans off. He's dressed fairly modern, despite his usual style— jeans, a tank top, and an oversized zip-up hoodie that he's purposefully left hanging off both shoulders. His hair is in a low ponytail for the sake of keeping it from his face, or getting too messy, too. With a few steps, he comes around in front of Dodger. )

Let's go for a walk, then.

[smokedout]

[That earns a huff of laughter. He has to agree - he might have enjoyed camping with his brother, but being alone in the woods with his whole family... he probably would have killed Benny much sooner.

Dodger's gaze strays to Esikko's mouth while he's eating the s'more, lingering whenever he has a chocolate smear on his face. It keeps him distracted from speaking any further, locked somewhere between the quiet interest of getting to watch the younger man eat, and the nagging thought that he should make sure he's actually eating.

But the offer to take a walk manages to rattle him out of that, and he nods before pushing himself to his feet.]

Sure. Maybe we can forage something while we're out.

[He's somewhat pointed in that - he trusts Esikko to know what plants are edible, because he sure doesn't know, but something is going inside of him that isn't sweets.]

[loosestrifes]

Yes, yes, whatever you say.

( He's not sure how he's supposed to have an appetite over any of this, but he recalls Dodger's mentions of his issues regarding food. It's probably for the best he feeds himself something better to keep his body going, anyway, since it's so rough just even existing out here, for someone as frail as him. But, you know. Eating is hard.

He twirls on his feet and starts walking in one direction, expecting Dodger to follow along. He's intending on heading out near the lake, so that's the way he's going. )

Have you been keeping to yourself here, too? Or is it a little easier with all this false-open space?

[smokedout]

[Dodger makes a point of falling into step next to Esikko - he's not sure why, it just feels important to not be following him exactly. He is a little more comfortable once they start walking - even if he's still very aware of the space around him, he only feels the need to keep glancing around when there are people nearby.]

It's uh. Worse. Actually. [It feels uncomfortable to talk about his social anxiety, but if Esikko's picked up on it then there's no point in brushing it off.] I don't like crowds, but this is... different. I don't know what I'm looking for.

[There could be danger anywhere - there must be danger, because humanity built cities specifically to get around having to move through the wilderness to get things done. And with a whopping zero hours of actual experience being in the woods, Dodger has no idea what signs to look for or what to avoid. It's much easier to just be suspicious of everything.]

[loosestrifes]

( It's interesting. He doesn't fully understand it, the sort of nervousness that plagues Dodger, but he does sort of want to try and help. But how? He kicks a few rocks as he trudges deeper into the woods, eyes scanning some of the plantlife they cross by. )

Hmm. So, would you want a distraction, to feel at ease? Or something to focus on?

( Esikko glances over, offering his hand with a curious little tilt of his head. )

[smokedout]

[Dodger hesitates - and then catches himself hesitating yet again whenever Esikko offers something he wants - before reaching over to take the younger man's hand. It makes the walk feel... date-like, almost.]

I don't know. A distraction, probably.

[That always feels like the safer option - but they're sort of the same thing, aren't they? Something to focus on, to help distract himself from how much he feels like his skin is crawling when he doesn't have complete control over the space around him.]

Why, did you have something in mind?

[loosestrifes]

Not particularly.

( The smile he shoots Dodger is a little flirty, despite himself. After all, he's not the only one who could use a distraction under these circumstances. Esikko's a little uneasy for a variety of his own reasons, but he doesn't want to share that or make it known, so focusing on Dodger's feels convenient.

And, maybe, it feels a little nice to help someone. )

But it's easy to wander far enough for it to be just us, out alone in the woods. You know? ( He laughs, a little. ) I was going to head towards the lake, just to settle somewhere near it. Water still makes me nervous, but it's not so bad to be next to.

[smokedout]

[That flirty smile draws him in immediately, and Dodger nods without entirely paying attention to Esikko's plan. Somewhere near the lake, alone with Esikko. And for once, as far as he knows, Esikko doesn't have anywhere to be after - the unavailability before makes this feel much more enticing than it would otherwise.]

Sure.

[It takes a while longer for his mind to actually catch up with the rest of the words. A bit more to think about them, before he speaks up with a glance at Esikko.]

...Water makes you nervous. Is that from another death?

[loosestrifes]

( Dodger's such a puppy sometimes. Esikko barely manages to hold back a laugh, settling on a smile that draws down to him swinging their arms a little, idly.

It's the water question that gets him to slow them, and he sucks on his teeth a little. )

I did drown once. Nearly died from hypothermia a second time, after that stupid dog let me fall in just to be able to "save" me.

( He curls a few loose strands of hair behind his ears as he walks, peering between the trees. )

Where I'm from, everything is well below freezing most of the year. It's a death sentence.

[smokedout]

[He doesn't mind the swinging hands, just like he doesn't mind them slowing. It's cute - he always seems to end up with people that are much more affectionate than him, and around here he doesn't feel the need to hide it like he did in Boston. There's no one to impress, at least not in terms of coming off as straight.]

Sounds like there's a story there, with your dog.

[Every time he hears about Kirma it's something that makes him wonder why the man sticks around Esikko in the first place. But he supposes he can't actually judge that - Esikko has a draw to him, and Dodger has definitely been swept up in worse wakes.]

...We can stay away from the water, though. I'm not too keen on it myself.

[loosestrifes]

( Of course there's a story. There are many stories. He doesn't want to bring up how he dragged him from life to life, how he had chained him to him against his will just to have some sort of company.

Instead, he completely allows that topic to fall away, and instead hums thoughtfully. )

Just the woods, then. We should be able to find a clearing~ ( He squeezes his hand gently. ) It's so far away... No one could hear us at alllll.

( Oh noooo, whatever could happen??? )

[smokedout]

[It figures, that's something that isn't any of Dodger's business. At least, that's how he interprets the dropping of the topic - if it was worth telling him, Esikko would have told him by now.

The new topic, though, cheers him right up. It doesn't show much - just another little huff of laughter, a softness in his tone when he answers.]

Sure... no one will hear you scream.

[He's letting Esikko lead the way, going wherever the younger man wants, but he has to pause and pull him closer to seek out a kiss. He hasn't completely shaken the nerves of being in an unfamiliar place, but being alone with someone he trusts is doing wonders for his comfort.]

[loosestrifes]

( Esikko puffs out a small breath of a laugh himself, allowing the tug to redirect him just enough to the side to meet Dodger in a kiss. He likes kisses, so it's not a difficult think to press back.

It's interesting, though, how when he breaks from it, the path ahead seems so different. He could have sworn there were more trees to nudge through a moment ago, but right now, his steps slow and his free hand reaches to ghost along the mouth of this strange cave.

Ever curious, especially to see if there's anything worth coming back to in here, he tugs Dodger to come with him, stepping inside. )

[smokedout]

[The sudden appearance of the cave catches Dodger's interest, and he tenses up even as he follows Esikko into it. For a moment, he doesn't expect it to be real - but it's cool in here, it smells like damp stone and his footsteps are echoing in a way that must mean it's real.

His own instinct is to turn back, in case something was in here waiting for them. A bear, maybe - although he can't really think of a reason for one to be here. He just knows that new things tend to be dangerous. But Esikko wants to explore, and he wants to come along for whatever the younger man is up to. So he has no choice.]

Stay close to me.

[A bit of protectiveness slipping through, but at least it's somewhere vaguely useful for the anxiety to go. Dodger's free hand raises up and sets on fire with a snap of his fingers, acting as a sort of torch so he can take in the cave with... honestly, quiet wonder. It's so incredibly different from anywhere he's been on Earth, he manages to entirely miss the crease in the side of the wall while he's staring up at stalactites.]