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

[blastedass]

[He can learn through watching someone and through instruction. He prefers the latter since he's actually the one doing it. And if he watches, he'll just have to do it after listening. Bakugo crouches beside the man and grips the buck's back leg with one hand. He pulls it up, watching muscle stretch and drag under its fur. But all that kind of fizzles for a moment when Dodger lights his cigarette without match or lighter.]

Magic or heat manipulation? [Yes, there's a difference. Bakugo narrows his eyes at the buck's torso, then slips the knife onto the chest. He presses a few times, not enough to penetrate, but to get a feel for where the ribs flow and end. Then takes the plunge below the sternum. Doubts this knife's gonna go through the bone without some more force. But once it's in, he drags his arm to the side, slicing clean through the animal's lower half in a smooth, neat swipe. Might be his first time, but he knows how to cut meat.

Thanks for the bucket save. Whoof, he wrinkles his nose at the sudden rush of copper and beast. Gross.] We can use those once we've washed them out. Here.

[Bakugo passes the knife to Dodger. The man let him do the cut, so he earned a modicum of respect.] You said you can skin it.

[smokedout]

[His eyes sharpen at the question, with the look of someone running across a peer. He already sort of assumed Bakugo was a mutant (although he does with most people who show powers) but this confirms it, in its own way.]

Heat manipulation, invisibility, teleportation and super-strength. I usually call myself a fire-starter to save time.

[Bakugo has seen all of his powers in some form or another, so there's no point in masking them. And anyway, it's nice to not have to start a conversation about power-sets by explaining that it isn't magic. That deserves some openness.

He takes the knife with a gesture of thanks, and wastes no time in sliding it under the skin to loosen it. It's not a perfect job, but mostly because he's unfamiliar with deer specifically - he's butchered other animals about the same size, and he at least knows enough to get the skin off in one piece without too many nicks through it. And more importantly, he gets the meat divided out, cut into manageable chunks with the intent to cut them into actual portions afterward.]

...Do you know how to cook all this, or do we need to go searching for a third person?

[One it's done, Dodger takes the time to pull off the now-bloody bandages that were covering his forarms, but doesn't really bother with the blood that got on his shirt or pants. It's hard to say if he even notices it. But if Bakugo's observant enough, he'll get a view of what Dodger's hiding under those bandages - lots and lots of thin scars across his inner wrists.]

[blastedass]

[Esikko already bitched at Dodger for calling him a mutant, but Bakugo hasn't given much a shit about the label. He actually knows a real mutant here. Not sure if Dodger's the same kind. And he can't argue the reality either. His power comes from genetics as well, with no explanation in his world. So mutation's not out the window.]

Heat manipulation, huh. [Not the same as fire manipulation. Interesting. The has some different applications. A lot of powers lean to the fire side; someone who focuses on only heat is kinda cool. The other three would work well in tandem with his initial ability. Fucking grab bag of powers in Dodger's arsenal.]

Does your strength include reflexes and speed? [Someone who has superspeed might hit like a wet paper towel, but someone with superstrength might move like molasses. If it feels like he's making a mental map of Dodger's strengths... duh. Who wouldn't? (Uh, not nerds?)

Red eyes narrow as Dodger starts working on the buck's skin. Different from fish or chicken, the things Bakugo's practiced skinning the most. It clings more in some areas, but comes looser in others easier. He quickly reaches for the meat to avoid it hitting the ground, laying it out on the flayed skin for the time being. While he was gonna grip about not getting to do the butchering, eh... he learns from Dodger's tactics. Next time, he'll handle it.]

Haa?! Of course I know how to handle this! We'll grill it if we can't find enough for a stew. [Which include a pot. Actually, considering the amount of meat they have...] I'll cure and dry what we don't cook now.

[No comment on the wrist scars. This are never a good topic bringer.]

[smokedout]

Or fire manipulation, whatever term your world uses.

[Bakugo's about to be disappointed, because Dodger snaps his fingers as an example and their tips light on fire for a bit before he waves it away. It is in fact just fire manipulation - but he can control his heat with a lot of precision, which not every fire-starter can. He honestly finds the heat part more useful in most situations - and it's more intimate to burn someone's skin with his own, rather than chucking fireballs.]

Not really. But I'm not slow either. Do your explosions have a charge-up, or were you just being gentle last time?

[While he speaks, Dodger casts a steady look in Bakugo's direction - not questioning, he knows exactly what he's doing. More like a challenge, trying to decide if this means they're going to fight at some point or if an offer to spar is coming. Bakugo doesn't strike him as the type to be curious for purely scientific reasons.

...And despite how frustrating Bakugo's attitude is (not actually that bad, he reminds him of how Dodger was as a teenager), he looks impressed that the younger man can cook. Or at least, seems confident about it. Even better, he doesn't have to deal with a comment about his wrists, which means they're getting along just about as well as he could possibly hope.]

Works for me. Have you done shit like this before?

[Camping, butchering, cooking things he caught himself. Dodger's just nosey curious, in general, and figures he should get what he can before their personalities inevitably clash again.]

[blastedass]

Tch. So much for being unique. Heat manipulation and fire manipulation are different.

[Disappointed. Heat can always start a fire, but using fire to generate heat isn't the same as raising a temperature. Bakugo has some control over heat, given his Explosion Quirk, though his manipulation of it is more a side effect, residue of combustion. Still, it makes for useful survival skill tools. He's made sure to drag out all sorts of versatile uses from his Quirk. It'll do anything he needs it to; the rest of him handles anything his Quirk can't. Together, he'll take down whatever obstacle shows.]

Depends on whether I want to make them stronger or not. [Bakugo turns his hand and instantly detonates a large explosion, somewhat larger than a basketball, sending a plume of light, heat, flame, and smoke into the air as it rises. Normally he's keen to brag the hell out of his Quirk, but enough time spent in this place left him wary about tilting his entire hand at once.] Che! I didn't feel like having a blackened crater in the background last time.

[Certainly didn't have anything to do with morals staying his hand and Esikko vouching for Dodger despite Bakugo's explosive rage at being spied on. While the man continues carving up the meat, he disappears around the side of the tent and returns with a large black cauldron-like pot. Only takes a moment to fit it over the firepit, which looks manually pulled together with all its rocks piled up in a circular build.]

I went camping a few times as a kid, and I took wilderness and survival training growing up. I'm not gonna be some wuss helpless in the woods. [What kind of idiot would be caught without knowing how to live outside society? At least have a few ideas.]

[smokedout]

[Dodger raises a brow at that - they aren't different, most fire-starters he knows can do both to some extent or another - but he interprets the words slightly differently. Not everyone who controls fire has a body that can handle the heat, so it makes sense to split hairs if they're talking in that sense. Those people don't tend to last long, though, because powers tend to be tied to emotions and kids are very emotional.

He's mostly distracted, though, by the sight of another explosion. It's impressive - he doesn't think he's ever seen a mutation like Bakugo's, and he can certainly see a lot of applications for it. Chief among them, not having to wire bombs, which Dodger always finds fairly tedious.]

I bet Bloemrose would've gotten off on it.

[Maybe not. Esikko did specifically tell him not to get himself killed, but he also seemed to be getting a real kick out of watching Bakugo and Dodger fight. And Dodger has always had a fairly warped sense of when violence stops being sexy.

Once Bakugo starts messing with the cooking pot, Dodger steps back to dampen a washcloth with water and start washing his hands - anything past butchering is well outside of his wheelhouse, and he'd rather give the kid space to work.]

Lucky you. [A pause.] I used to work on a fishing boat for a few years. That's the closest I've ever gotten to leaving the city.

[Which begs the question of how, exactly, Dodger knew so much about butchering deer. Don't worry about that.]

[blastedass]

[Don't make him get into the damn technicalities. Bakugo tries to keep his nerdy side stuffed down in the darkness, but it likes coming to the surface when superpowers are involved. He's not as bad as his childhood friend, but... close. When it happens. He's well aware of powers versus bodies, whether they compliment each other or clash. The latter fucking sucks, but the former's not always the best combination. Some assholes take a complimenting power as meaning they don't have to work on control or improvement.

Bakugo scoffs at the suggestion. Man, he hasn't heard Esikko's last name in... well, since he first introduced himself. Then again, he's the one going around calling Esikko "Prince Prick" since Bakugo never calls someone their real name unless they reach a rare level of respect or like from him.]

Not as much as he did with two of us.

[First time he ever shared someone between himself and another person. It wasn't horrible, even if he did end up playing some kind of tug-a-war with Esikko's attention. Plus trying not to throw sex to the wind and just lay into Dodger full bore.

He returns again with a bunch of kindling: twigs and leaves mixed with smaller sticks. These get shoved into the firepit, stuffed good within the rocks, before he pulls a small faggot of sticks out, the bundle wrapped in vine.]

Nothing lucky about it. [He cups one hand again like before, but this time the surface of his palm sears into a glowing orange and yellow, tiny sparks crackling and popping over the surface like a sizzling sea of miniature fireworks. One end of the bundle gets pushed just over his palm, letting sparks and heat jump into the tangled collection. Only takes a few seconds before they're glowing red hot and smoldering in small flames. Bakugo thrusts it into the firepit's kindling and a minute later, the fire's going. He waits for it to be stronger before adding larger sticks and logs.]

How'd you learn to carve a deer on a fishing boat?

[smokedout]

[They'll have to argue semantics later - since Dodger isn't quite as much of a nerd about it, but he definitely just likes arguing as a sport. And it's a rare treat, to compare notes on power-sets.]

Sure, but he's a slut. Nothing's better than getting overwhelmed, right?

[Despite the words, and the dogged insistence on using Esikko's last name as if there's any hope of maintaining distance, there is some affection in his voice that he's failing to keep out. Esikko was the first person he met at the resort, and he's still the person Dodger trusts above anyone else, even if they barely know each other. It really doesn't take much for the infatuation to take hold.

The question is expected - it had to come eventually - but Dodger still pauses before answering. Considering, for a while, how much information he can give without jeopardizing his plan to get Bakugo in bed at some point.]

I carved up a lot of fish, the mechanics are the same for most animals. And... at my new job, I help with crime-scene clean-ups, when they need me to.

[He figures it's fairly obvious from... everything about him, that he's a career criminal, but he's hesitant to just hand out information about exactly how much of a lunatic he is. Still, the dots aren't hard to connect.]

That was my first time skinning a deer, but y'know. Transferable skills.

[blastedass]

[He'll find a very loud combatant in Bakugo as far as arguing goes. How will the argument is arguing rather than yelling at the other person to shut the hell up and die... good question. But nerding about superpowers, he'll do. Grumpy and arrogant, but studious and annoyingly observant on the details.]

Tch. That's what this place likes. Making everyone forget what it really is. [Overwhelming people with the ritzy glitter, saturating their brains with all the 'free' and 'chance' happening everywhere, clouding any thoughts of rebellion or departure by stuffing their pleasure glands full of bliss until the whole fucking golden cage vanishes entirely.

Bakugo pushes up from the fire, satisfied it's going strong enough. He grabs two covered buckets and pours the water inside into the cauldron over the fire. Already boiled and strained those earlier, so it's as safe as he can make them for consumption.

Dodger's hesitance in answering reminds him a certain conman, though he can tell the man's less trying to come up with a feasible lie and more attempting to massage the answer in a better light. Red eyes narrow in response. Crime-scene cleanup can be either working for the police as forensics, or working for crime as a cleaner... Does he want to know? A potential law-abiding person or a potential criminal. Neither of which matter in this place. In the end, what he doesn't know won't technically hurt him. He's had to begrudgingly accept that reality a long time ago.]

Carving a deer's a lot different than a fish. [But Dodger did a good job. Screw the rest.] Once we get the meat off the bones, we can clean and dry the hide.

[smokedout]

[Can't argue with that, so Dodger just nods idly. In all honesty, he hadn't really considered much about the resort yet other than how much he prefers it to being home. It's opulent and overwhelming and frustratingly full of people, but no one bats an eye at his powers and he's had so shortage of drugs, alcohol and sex to pass the time with. He even has Esikko, who's been giving him jobs and stopping him from feeling directionless without his boss around. It's paradise, and he can't really see why anyone would want to leave.

He also, once again, appreciates Bakugo not pressing. Not that he isn't happy to talk about his job, but that tends to become the whole conversation through a mixture of Dodger's degenerate criminal record and his zealous love for supervillainy activism.]

Sure. I uh... I can clean the bones, but I don't know if I'll be any help with the hide.

[Presumably heating it would dry it too quickly and unevenly, which is the only thing he can think to offer.

There's a pause, and he glances down at his clothing and then back at Bakugo.]

...I'm probably gonna need to wash these at some point, by the way. Think I could hang around here while they dry out?

[He could absolutely just dry them with his body heat, and often does. This is just a very, very thinly veiled excuse to flirt.]

[blastedass]

[Some people see this place as an escape from home. Better lives here than whatever shit waiting for them in reverse. Yet for each one who finds paradise here, more find a prison. Stealing them and holding them captive from the world they came from. Unable to return home to people they're worried about or care for, shackling them from goals and ambitions they have no damn hope of achieving here. Two vastly disparate sides who can't come together in alliance if the only option is killing this fucking place to send everyone back. Bakugo's not sure what the answer is... but he doesn't plan on giving up his way home.

Best not to kick off a great conversation of supervillain praise; he's had enough of that bullshit back home. And after what he went through a week ago, no one's gonna wanna see what might come out of what he so recently suppressed.]

You wash the underside and hang it up to dry! It's not that hard, dammit! [More comes the following day, but he really doubts they're gonna be in this stupid forest long enough to tan a damn hide. At best he's gonna dry it out and then cut it into strips so they can use it as a makeshift rope or lash for ulterior use.]

Huh? [He glances at Dodger, then follows his eyes to the man's clothes. Right. They look like they came out of a horror movie.] Che, fine. You wanna wash your clothes, do it in the lake or bring a bucket up. I've got a little space in the back of the tent for showers.

[Bakugo is... not the best with flirting. Too direct, grumpy, and reactive to really catch on most of the time. Still, he's got a bucket with holes in the bottom for a shower... and he's offering it.]

[smokedout]

[Honestly, Dodger doesn't mind a missed signal or two. It's common enough, and it's taught him to be painfully blunt when he wants something. Although he's used to clarifying by moving closer, and he isn't sure he actually wants to do that while covered in blood. Not because he has any issues with it, but because he sort of assumes Bakugo will.]

Probably not enough room for two people, huh.

[He lets that hang for a little bit before continuing.]

I'd offer to keep you warm as thanks, but I assume you're covered there. I've just been, uh... cruising for nicer tents to crash in.

[Because sleeping in a low-rank tent feels a little too close to being homeless again, and trading sexual favors for a real bed is a win-win deal for him. (Ignoring that he can't really sleep around other people, he's... just tanking that.)]

[blastedass]

[He's not afraid of blood. He's a hero. Blood comes with the job. Even if it's fucking gross.

Bakugo crouches beside the deer, grabs one of the legs, and with a twist and jerk, pops the lower half clean off the top half. Then gets to work cutting and trimming the meat around the bone. Dodger did the heavier butchering work, so now he can focus on more fine-tune things. Chunk after chunk, strip after strip, goes into the pot in slimy gory slops. He's gonna wash it off once he's done taking everything out. Will it all fit? Not sure... but he'll give it a go! The thing's not a huge ass buck with an antler rack. Younger buck. His knife flicks again and finishes up the leg.]

Hmph. There is if you don't mind squeezing.

[If Dodger's gonna be that blunt, Bakugo picks up on it instantly.]

Haa? If you're looking to stay the night, tell me! Don't pussy around the issue. [Right, the hotel would dump low rank guests in the crap tents. He's seen a few of them. Pisses him off. Of course the hotel's trying to encourage them to bunker down with each other! Fucking perverted bird.] You're helping out so you can stay.

[He's not heartless. Pitch in, do the work, he earned his keep.]

[smokedout]

[Dodger raises a brow. He's a little bemused by Bakugo's attitude, accepting his advances while acting like Dodger's annoying him. But given how he acted at the gala, Dodger assumes that's just sort of... how he is.]

Sure, yeah. Thanks for having me.

[He's stumbling over the words, a little unsure of what to say since he's been knocked off-script. There's more of that awkward, anxious energy he showed at the gala, before Esikko gave him enough instructions to let him put his macho act back on, although he's very hesitant to look to Bakugo for guidance. That's much too vulnerable, much too open to teasing.]

...How long do you think that'll take to cook?

[blastedass]

[Another leg and the same treatment starts anew. Thigh first, then working the calf. How intense is this survival going to be? He can't fathom the hotel would let people starve on purpose; people were talking about finding canned items in the woods. They aren't going to need these deer trotters. He can stick with the leg from calf to thigh and dispose of the rest. There's still plenty on the ribs, shoulders, back, sides, neck, rump, plus the innards. Leaving the head, tail, and feet to be discarded with the eventual bones. Unless they want to fashion tools or weapons out of them...]

If you got any special needs or shitty habits, spit 'em out now, Scruffy.

[Mostly he wants to know who he's rooming with. If Dodger's gonna wake up in the middle of the night punching the walls. Or if he has some need to sleep on the floor or has to piss every two hours. That kinda crap. Bakugo's grown to accept others smoking and drinking thanks to his year and a half here, though if they're gonna to it around him, expect to get bitched at for chain smoking and chugging till you're drunk... Moderation, dammit!

He picked up on Dodger liking to have some instruction laid out instead of being left to pinwheel free through space. Can't fault him for that, though he's not gonna coddle him like Esikko. Learn to decide and think on your own, Scruffy.]

Half an hour to ninety minutes depending, after it's washed.

[Whether they're gonna boil the meat in a stew, grill it over the fire, smoke it over the flames, and how well done Dodger likes his meat. Yeah, Dodger landed one of the resort's most capable guests, but also a detailed monster with a perfectionist streak and pride for days.]

[smokedout]

[Dodger lets out a little huff at the nickname, but opts not to stop him. It's not the worst nickname he's ended up with.]

Sure. I get handsy in bed, and I smoke.

[Which, he's taking a moment to light a new cigarette. He's actually been going slower with them during the camping trip, since he isn't completely convinced they won't run out - sometimes he goes over ten minutes without one in his mouth.]

And if we get there, I always top.

[If. Like that isn't half of the reason he wants to be in Bakugo's tent.

He pauses again, just watching the kid with mild curiosity. He's pretty considerate, completely at odds with his piss-poor attitude. And pragmatic. He thinks he can see why Esikko likes him so much, and that reluctant respect is adding to his determination to sleep with him.]

[blastedass]

Wake me up in the middle of the night and I'll bury you.

[Fair enough warning. Bakugo stands up from the cauldron stuffing, its body practically stuffed to the top with meat. There's still more on the buck, but the majority is all packed in the iron pot. He's having second thoughts on washing it in the lake. But the resort does an insanely good job at making sure germs and viruses, damaging bacteria and the like, don't have a foothold here. People getting sick naturally is unheard of... Duh. That'd get in the way of people fucking.

As for Dodger smoking...] Tch, your lungs.

[He'll deal with it for now. Hopefully Dodger doesn't feel like lighting up while he's in bed. Some burly bastard chain-smoking in his sleep's only gonna piss him off.

Bakugo twitches his head back and barks a laugh. Oh that's fucking rich!]

Oh? You think you can't challenge me? [His expression splits in a wicked grin, eyes widening in a challenge half angry, half interested. One bloody hand slams into his other soaking palm, splatting right before his knuckles crack in a threatening gesture.] I'll have you face down in the pillow whimpering!

[smokedout]

[Yeah, fair. Dodger would likely have the same attitude, if he could handle actually sleeping around other people in the first place. As is, he'll probably just be... resting his eyes, and getting up for smoke breaks every once in a while. Which means yes, he's probably going to be disturbing Bakugo's sleep, but he's planning to deal with that once it happens.]

I'm fireproof, the smoke doesn't hurt me.

[The tar does, but, that's not the point.

That last part, though - there's that moment again, a flash of anxiety crosses over his expression and he takes a half-step backward. The look in Bakugo's eyes, the blood on his hands that splatters when he cracks his knuckles, is incredibly hot. But it comes with the mental image of being pinned down, trapped under another body- and worse, his fire raging out of control when he inevitably panics.

He does want it, somewhere in there. He was largely a bottom for most of his life, he still loves being forced down. But it doesn't help the fact that his breath picks up and his chest starts to ache. Bad memories, bad thoughts, that he covers up with bristling body language and a harsh glare. But it's a defensive stance he takes, not quite rising up to the challenge.]

I'm stronger than you, and I can burn you. Don't test me.

[blastedass]

[There are multiple places to sleep inside Bakugo's tent. He's an Ace after all. Whether they sleep together tonight the whole night or only at the start is up to Dodger. Interrupt him twice and the man's getting booted to the floor or another bed. Hmph. Bakugo gets pissy (even more so) if his sleep's broken. Intermittent slumber's not healthy, dammit! If Dodger needs help, he's got a frying pan or a chokehold ready.]

Smoke inhalation's not the same thing as fireproof, dumbass. [But if Dodger says he's not affected by smoking, that's on him. Bakugo isn't immune, so as long as the guy's not gonna be puffing his entire pack while sitting next to the blonde, he won't shove a gallon of water into his face to put his cigarettes out. One or two's enough. Stay downwind. It's a compromise.

Sexual position, however? Oh, that's not a compromise. That's a fucking challenge. He's not gonna submit just cause someone tells him to! If Dodger has any indication he's topping simple because he "doesn't sub", ha! Wonder what kind of face he'll make. The current one splashing over the man's brawny visage flares Bakugo's interest and temper simultaneously. Yet he doesn't chase or press further. Dodger's piqued, but something else licks behind his eyes, and he picks up on it silently. So he doesn't like bottoming because something bad happened? Hmph... Not the first time he's shattered someone's bad memories for something better.

Bakugo lowers his hands as Dodger bristles and glares, his expression a bit muted after noticing the man's hidden depths. Right. A defensive flare up. As callous as he is, there are battles Bakugo opts not to dig into.] Say that after you ride me.

[Heh. A taunting dare. No one said Dodger had to be under him as he's getting fucked.] Go get rinsed off. If we both go, someone's gonna steal all our work.

[smokedout]

[There's a moment of deep hesitation, after Bakugo speaks. He recognizes some level of compromise happening - from being pinned down to riding the younger man, getting to be on top. Honestly, it feels a little worse than insistence on the first position. It means that if he wants to sleep with him - and he very much does - he's going to have to actually talk about his issues, lay out his limits.

It went well enough with Esikko. He doesn't have much experience talking about it beyond that, but he set a good precedent. But he'd been forced to show some vulnerability when that happens, and he's far more reluctant to show weakness around someone like Bakugo.

An awkwardly long time has passed while he thinks this through. And then he moves forward, giving Bakugo a searching look. It's guarded, but he's seeking something - guidance, probably, or just more information on the younger man's intentions. He's never been particularly good at understanding what other people are thinking, and he's struggling to connect the ideas that Bakugo is being considerate and pragmatic (and honestly, showing a Bostonian's idea of kindness) with the fact that he won't just let Dodger do things the way he needs to.]

We're not done talking about this.

[One more look - although, really it's just lingering on Bakugo's lips - before he teleports into the tent. Bursting apart into flames, which follow his path through the canvas and reform somewhere in there. He's taking a moment to explore the tent before actually washing up, more out of mild curiosity than anything else. He doesn't expect to learn much about the man from a temporary shelter, but he can learn the layout. And he'll be back in a bit, heating up his skin enough to dry off his clothes and hair because despite his words earlier, he actually doesn't need to wait for shit.]

[blastedass]

[Silence, huh. Bakugo picks a slab of meat from the pot and turns it over, inspecting either side before using a knife to slice it open halfway. Another two cuts to either side have the entire thing flayed apart in a sprawl. No odd colors, no moving gross, no weird surprises. Che, fitting. The Peacock likes to appear perfect and wonderful. Why would the animals in the Vale be crawling with disease or parasites? ... He's still gonna check a few sample pieces! Like hell is Bakugo trusting the resort 100%

Whatever issues Dodger's getting hung up on, he'll deal with them when they show up. Top or bottom, he doesn't mind as much, so long as the person he's with doesn't think less of him for whichever position he chooses or accepts. Dodger's already puffed his chest and they've clashed personalities before. He has no intention of showing something soft or vulnerable to this guy! Better not to planning on laying out a bunch of rules or go on some fucking tangent before they do something.]

Huh? What? [Red eyes narrow, brows furrowing. This guy suddenly gets into his face and the blonde bristles in a mixture of wary and challenge. Searching for something? Oh right. Dodger's the kinda person who likes being told what to do. As much as Bakugo likes bossing people around and getting his way, he isn't interested in people overly servile with no backbone or drive of their own. They piss him off. Another slip of the knife opens a chunk of breast meat.]

Scram. [His lips curl slightly in a scowl, barely showing his teeth as he gives his head and the knife a small cant sideways. And Dodger does. Teleports right out of sight and into the tent. What the hell?! He jerks at the sudden flames, eyes widening before rushing his hand in front of his face a few times. Fuck! Did he really have to exit so flashy?! Walk like a normal person next time! Bastard.

And no, there's nothing much in the tent to give away Bakugo's preferences since he only had a day with it so far. Still, everything is neat, put away, and supplies like logs are already inside to be used and stored properly. The tools he procured from before rest on a small counter, ready to be used while staying in proper place. He'll busy himself with trimming down the meat in the pot for smaller pieces in the meantime. They can use skewers to cook it over the fire while the rest bubbles in a stew.]

[smokedout]

[There is some information, at least, although it's something he already got the sense of - that Bakugo likes his space tidy, he knows what he's doing out here, and he likes to do things properly. It's a little different from Dodger, who tends to pick and choose when he puts meticulous effort into things, but he respects anyone who's more on top of things than he is. Nothing to clean up after later.

Dodger appears in another flash of flames, lighting another cigarette while he settles down to sit by the fire. He's still watching Bakugo work, but making no move to help - they've gotten to the cooking stage of things, and he's less than useless with that. Better to keep his hands away, they'll both get frustrated if he ends up burning something and wasting good food.]

You probably don't want to leave me alone with those skewers. I can watch the pot, but I'm... not gonna know when to take those off the heat.

[He almost went for the more familiar lie of I'm just not going to touch them, but he's testing the waters. Admitting a small weakness, seeing how it goes with something he's less precious about.]

[blastedass]

[Who the hell wants to waste their time scrounging around through clutter and fumbling their way without knowing where something is? If he wants something, he's gonna go where it has and take it. Tomorrow he'll start strengthening the tent, adding branches to the poles and frame, putting stones around the base and sides. Though he's never seen a rainstorm happen in the Vale, he's seen blizzards happen and he doesn't trust the hotel not to give them a rainy night for shits and giggles. Fucking bird.]

OY! Stop bamfing appearing like some fucking devil outta hell! [He's gonna throw fire all over the place! Bakugo's added water to the pot, stirred the meat, drained it, and then added more water to start the stock. Little more than boiling the meat, but... whatever, it's all they've got. Two wooden skewers sit nearby if Dodger wants to stab a piece of meat and cook it over the open flames around the cauldron.]

Urusei. They're fine. I'll be back before they burn. [Bakugo pushes himself up, trusting Dodger to simply keep an eye on things. Their food's stable; his job's to make sure nothing comes outta the woods or from other campsites to steal their stuff. With that, Bakugo heads towards the tent, grabs a small towel, then goes for the lake further away. Gonna wash off in the water, mostly his arms and lap to remove the blood. He'll save a full-body wash for later, since he'll be spending the next hour or so around a fire.]

[smokedout]

[Dodger ends up cracking a smile when Bakugo startles - no matter how in his head he is, he really does like scaring the crap out of people by just appearing. Even if Bakugo isn't jumping, it's still enough to scratch the itch.]

Sure. Just don't take too long.

[With that reassurance(?) Dodger does end up stabbing a piece of meat and holding it on the flames, or... pretty much directly in it, he doesn't know what he's doing. But at least he has the sense to pull it back when the outside starts to get black spots, and try to adjust how much heat it's getting.

But his attention is on the edges of the woods. Not sure what he's looking for, because his city street-smarts don't exactly help him here, but aware that something or someone could come out to steal. But also watching for snakes and startling if birds call too loudly, because he has almost no sense of what is actually worth worrying about out here.]

[blastedass]

[He didn't scare him at all! Anyone's gonna start if fire's abruptly shoved in their face! Hmph. He barely flinched when those idiots from Class 1-B tried spooking him in the forest. Dodger's flashy appearance isn't gonna do shit.]

Oh? Gonna get lonely? [Bakugo's smirky taunt tosses over his shoulder as he departs. Good thing he isn't there to watch Dodger completely screw his first attempt at roasting over a fire. Slogging into the water, he washes his arms and the parts of his clothes he needs to, then sloshes back out and wrings what he can from them. Bleh. Gonna have to spend a week or however long they have in only a few scant changes of clothes. Otherwise they'll be making shit out of sheets and blankets.

It only takes a few minutes and Bakugo returns in five, looking half soaked in places and dry in others. Mostly his upper body above his stomach.] Oy! You're holding it too low! Get it outta the fire! You wanna peel charcoal off raw meat?!

[Tromping over, he hooks a hand around Dodger's and gives it a brief cock upward at the wrist. Springs the meat out of the flame and angles it properly above the fire.] Keep it at this level.