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]

[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.

[smokedout]

[That initial touch gets a shiver out of him - he isn't really used to being touched outside of sexual contexts, and the ruminating he's been doing plays into things to make him very aware of the feeling of Bakugo's skin.

But he is still listening, and moves his hand exactly as instructed.]

If it ends up fucked up, I'll just eat it.

[It's not like he's picky - he'd rather have raw meat than burnt meat, but anything is better than throwing something away just because it doesn't taste good. And because he's such a garbage disposal, he doesn't mind leaving the well-cooked food to other people with sensible palates.

There's a pause, where he focuses for a bit on just keeping the skewer at the right spot, maybe turning it so it's getting even exposure. That, at least, he can figure out on his own. But after a bit he glances at the younger man again.]

...Do you need help drying off?

[blastedass]

[Strong fingers. Surprisingly tough-skinned palms. A secure grip. He'll notice all these things as Bakugo adjusts the man's hand to a proper degree. Despite the jerk and rough appearance, he isn't wrenching Dodger's wrist or snapping things. Only moving in a quick, sure touch. Right there. Bakugo is the furthest person from touchy feely and hates people getting into his personal space. Doesn't mean he follows those rules himself, as he'll fist collars and haul people around, grab wrists and jerk them after him, even clothesline someone to drag them away if he feels like it.

Apparently that includes firmly adjusting someone's meat cooking angle.]

You wanna eat shit, do it outside my campsite!

[And there's the perfectionist talking. He doesn't anyone leaving his space talking about how bad something was! Besides, if Dodger left that in the fire too long, there wouldn't be anything edible left! Might as well start chewing on the fucking logs. He releases the man's hand and checks the cauldron bubbling away. Water, meat, a scant bit of salt from the kitchenette inside his tent. No herbs or spices because they didn't have time to hunt for any. Whatever. As long as the meat's cooked. They can preserve it later if they have to.

He skewers a piece for himself and takes a seat, holding the slab over the flames.]

Don't bother. I'm gonna get a shower after we're done.

[smokedout]

[Probably for the best, since pulling on Dodger tends to feel a little like pulling on a brick wall, until he figures out how he's being positioned and moves with it. But he makes a note of Bakugo's skin texture, and he can get a sense of the man's strength this way even if it doesn't seem to match his own inhuman strength. That is comforting, in its own way.

That correction gets a rye smile on his face. That sure is a perfectionist attitude. He can't help feeling a little bemused, that it matters what he eats - surely the most important thing is that he is eating and that the food didn't get wasted, right? Even if it gets burnt into charcoal, Dodger isn't sure he'd feel right giving up on it.]

I wouldn't offer if it was a bother.

[But he's not going to push, if Bakugo's fine being wet. His focus slides back to the meat on his skewer, just... watching it, waiting to be told when it's cooked enough so he can learn what to look for. Because sure, it looks done but that doesn't mean the inside is actually cooked through.]

[blastedass]

[Tch. Like dealing with someone's strength-enhancing Quirk. Pretty damn sure he could throw the guy unless he planted himself down, but out muscling him? Bullshit. If they get into a spar, he won't be able to overwhelm Dodger with pure brute force. What kind of weakness does a man have with this quartet of abilities? Something to think about later and come up with a few ideas before they go at each other in battle.

Burning food down to charcoal is wasting it as much as throwing the damn slab into the woods. Unless he sees Dodger munching away on a briquette later... Bakugo slowly turns the makeshift spit in his hand, trying to keep the roasting meat juicy as it cooks. He didn't recall seeing any potatoes or ginger in the forest while hunting. Then again, he found the deer quickly enough.]

I'll dry out fast enough. [He's sitting in front of a fire. Hm? Dodger's staring at his meat like he's studying some kind of specimen. What's he so focused on- Oh.] The only way you're gonna tell is by cutting it open. Some meat you can judge based on how it moves when you shake it. The more it's cooked, the stiffer it gets.

[But it's not a foolproof solution compared to cutting it.]

[smokedout]

[Dodger glances at him, and pulls the meat back to give it an experimental shake. It... sure feels stiff, but he still needs to break it open to get more data. Figuring that this piece is already probably a lost cause, Dodger rips it in half with his fingers to take a look at it. It's... not awful on the inside, despite the deep chars on one half of the outside, but definitely more well-done than he'd want.

He's a man of principle, though, so he's going to eat it. It tastes better than rotten meat so, everything in perspective.

As soon as it's in his mouth, though, he squeezes his eyes shut as if he'd getting a migraine. That taste is drawing a memory to mind, one that doesn't belong in Dodger's head. Holding a hamburger patty in his hand, lighting it on fire and being gently corrected when it turned out charred on the outside and raw in the middle. He'd tried eating that too, out of guilt for wasting it. But he can't remember who was teaching him, and the memory starts to blur back out of his mind by the time his eyes open.

His nose is bleeding.]

[blastedass]

[For an experimental piece stuck in the fire however long, it's not horrible. A little rawer on one side, too done on the other. Dodger's gonna eat it anyway. Bakugo draws his own piece out and gives it a small quiver on the skewer. Definitely needs more time; back it goes. He glances to the pot, watching water and juice boil away inside. Those are gonna take around forty five minutes for the entire pot to be done. Then they have to deal with storing it. There's a small fridge in his tent, but will it fit this much meat? ... Depends on how hungry he and Dodger are.

His thoughts break as he glances to the man beside him, catching a lack of chewing out his peripheral. Haa?!]

Oy! [What the hell?! Did he just fall asleep?! It can't taste that good! Better not be dealing with a narcoleptic. Uh, no, apparently something weirder?] Oy, Scruffy! Your nose is bleeding!

[smokedout]

[Fuck... another person he has to explain these episodes to. He winces again, finishing the bite of meat in his mouth while pinching his nose closed and tipping his head back. It really just sets the blood down his throat instead... but that's better than getting it all over his shirt.]

Yeah, I know.

[It's not as bad as it could have been, at least - he can feel it slowing down already, even if he's distinctly uncomfortable with Bakugo seeing it.]

It's an... allergy thing. Don't worry about it.

[It so very clearly is not an allergy thing.

And just to make sure it doesn't happen, he's reaching in his pockets and popping one of his pills. Something small, glowing and blue, although Dodger is oddly careful not to let Bakugo see any of the information on the label.]

[blastedass]

[No one's asking him to explain shit. Only pointing out he's got a damn bloody nose. Could be a sickness, could be the air, could be he punched himself in the fucking face while Bakugo wasn't looking, who the hell knows or cares? Bakugo pulls a face when Dodger opts for the pinch and tilt solution. Is it any worse than the plug and wait? Both are gross...]

Haa?! [He "knows" like it's a normal thing?!] Tell someone if you're expecting to gush blood at random, dammit!

[Kind of important to know! Otherwise someone's gonna think Dodger's thinking perverted thoughts. What would've happened if he started leaking during the threesome? Ew... Some people might be into that.

His eyes lid halfway, lips slightly parted as his expression focuses into disbelief. He's calling "bullshit" without saying it; Dodger can read it all over Bakugo's face.]

I'm not worried. But if I come out of sex looking like a butcher's slab, I'll stuff a pillow up your nose!

[A pill?]

Oy, is that shit something the hotel gave you? Last time they gave medicine to people, they were whacking off in the halls. [Specifically the cruise liner's "remedy" seasick passengers.]

[smokedout]

[It's odd, hearing this strong of a contrast between the kind intention and the harshness of the words. Because that is what Dodger's reading it as - he's from Boston, he's used to people responding to an injury with "what'd you do that for?" while trying their best to help out. Bakugo is asking about his medication, not out of nosiness or a search for weaknesses, but because he's worried the hotel is drugging Dodger with something. It does relax him a little, and especially that butcher's slab comment gets a soft huff of humor out of him.]

If you look like that after I fuck you, it'll be on purpose. And it won't be my blood.

[His tone is mild - he's been getting complacent, with how many people around here don't seem to mind getting cut up and wrecked.]

But no, it's my medication from home. This just... happens.

[And it's not like he needs encouragement to be a hornball... not that the House got the memo, since they branded him with a suit that seems to darken by the hour.]

[blastedass]

[Dodger's not wrong to read it like that. Bakugo wouldn't be caught dead admitting he cared about someone, but then goes about yelling at people for getting themselves in trouble or grousing about helping them when he, you know, helps them. Can't have people questioning that distanced badass person he is!

He's got multiple reasons for asking about Dodger's medication. As much as he's aware, people don't arrive in the Peacock with anything on them. Clothes, gone. Weapons, stripped. Paraphernalia, left behind. Only their bodies and innate powers are brought along, and even some of the latter can be muted or removed.]

How the hell'd you get medicine from home? No one brings shit when they wake up here.

[Any potential chink or sliver of "flaw" in the hotel's normal activities and machinations instantly captures his interest. A change in the normal, an outlier it missed, a mistake, etc. Of course someone else could've made the medicine, but a lot of world-based serums tend to have their own world-based ingredients... And glowing blue pills aren't "Earth" style meds.]

Che! It will be if you get a damn nosebleed in the middle of it. [That comment about Dodger being face down in the pillow from before is looking even better.]

[smokedout]

[Dodger hesitates, trying to decide exactly how much he should talk about this. Well, no one else is from his world, right? At least, no one he recognizes and no one who calls themselves a mutant. So he probably doesn't have to worry about anyone extrapolating a weakness from this... as if his illness is even predictable enough to take advantage of.]

I don't know. It showed up in my room when I got here, more showed up on the first of the month. [Presumably it will keep showing up, but twice isn't a pattern.] It stops the nosebleeds, it should kick in in an hour, and it'll last until tomorrow.

[Which means no need to shove his face into the pillow! For that reason only, and definitely not because he has any hang-ups about it.]

...That's not a hard and fast rule, right? Someone else I talked to brought a guitar with her.

[blastedass]

[Bakugo narrows his eyes. It "showed up" in his room? For a moment, he seems like he's about to respond, but cuts it off. This place is interested in making sure people are able to fuck and bond. And fuck. Someone showing up with an illness preventing that would probably incentivize the resort to "help" fix the problem.

He had a similar issue himself when he showed up here right off the cusp of major wounds and almost-fatal injuries. But when he woke in the bed, his recovery had been escalated to the point he wasn't a walking wreck anymore.

Maybe it's the same for Dodger and his illness. Esikko likewise said the resort had helped his own failing health, even if the blonde has serious misgivings about the resort's "aid" to the prince...]

Hmph. We're not going inside for another few hours anyways. [THERE IS A NEED TO SHOVE HIS FACE INTO THE PILLOW! ... But he might not require it for Dodger's sake. Doesn't mean he won't keep a towel beside the bed tonight. Just in case.]

I've never met anyone who brought an item with them. Everyone who's regained something had to earn it back.

[Dodger's smart enough to figure out what he means by that. Fuck enough, get a few cards or a reward token, and cash in.]

[smokedout]

Then I'll ask Mitsuki about it, whenever I actually meet her.

[Or he could message her, but. He's holding off until he manages to get some of the CDs he'd mentioned to her. And he's been busy being cock-thirsty.]

That's actually part of why I'm ah... earning my way into tents. Win-win, more cards for everyone. And you've got a card that's useful to me, lucky you.

[Granted, any card is useful to him in some way or another, but having a bunch of Aces to go with all the doubles he got from Esikko isn't a bad idea.]

[blastedass]

Hmph. Let me know what you find out.

[Text him, call him, whatever. He's curious to know. The hotel's not above breaking its own rules sometimes. There's something from his own world he'd like to get back, even if it has little reason to be here asides from comfort.]

Duh. That's how anyone gets shit around here. [Bakugo figured Dodger's angle a short while after they started talking. Plenty of easy hints.] You can double up on cards too, so unless you're going for a full Deck, do whatever you want.

[He's not even sure a full Deck is possible. The peacock seems to... not like losing.]

[smokedout]

[He nods - no reason not to, although whenever he does he'll probably ask for some sort of payment. It's a principle thing more than anything, Dodger is an information broker by trade and it doesn't feel right to let information slip for free.]

That's why you're valuable - I've got four Aces from Bloemrose, and one from you. If I keep matching them, I've got fodder to make Full Houses with.

[Dodger pauses, thinking for a moment.]

I don't care about getting a full Deck, just getting some stuff from home. No one's gonna miss me and I'm not in a rush to leave.

[No one except his dog, maybe, but he doesn't actually... like his dog. So while Dodger doesn't actually trust that time is staying still or whatever while he's here, he also doesn't care one way or the other.]

[blastedass]

[He's not the first person Bakugo's met here who demands something in exchange for something. Hell, he's done the same thing. Not often, once because the other person was uncomfortable taking help for "free". What Dodger wants... he'll cross that bridge when he comes to it. Information's information.]

Haa?! [Bakugo's expression wrenches in an indignant stare, lips curled and one eye wider than the other.] Piss off!

If all you see me as is a damn card value, you can fuck yourself while I read!

[He's not gonna waste his time on anyone who looks at him so shallowly! Don't think for a second this is some sappy "I wanna be friends" bullshit other people might protest over. No, this is pure pride!

He's more than this shitty assigned value some fucking pervert bird slapped on him! Anyone who thinks differently can fuck off!]

[smokedout]

[Rather than being put off, Dodger lets out an amused snort.]

We're all card values. Including me. It's not that different from seeking out a warm body at a club, right? Except we both get paid.

[He pauses again, to light yet another cigarette, directly after tossing the last one into the fire.]

I'm not going to pretend we're friends, but I think you're interesting. You're worth talking to outside of sex, and I think it's probably worth my time to keep you happy. I figure that's a good place to start, and railing you is a bonus.

[To a certain extent, Dodger just... doesn't entirely understand how to think of people as separate from sex. Turning it down just because the other person is getting something external out of it feels short-sighted - wouldn't Bakugo rather ask something from Dodger in return, since he clearly wants the card so badly? That's what he would do, if the roles were reversed.]

[blastedass]

We have card values, idiot! We're not card values! Don't get so lost in this place you forget yourself!

[Their origin, who they are, where they came from, what they left, what they were taken from, where they want to go, their goals and ambitions. Hearing Dodger reduce him to a fucking card value pisses him off! As if this shitty bird can erase him from Dodger's eyes for nothing more than a damn spade.

For someone who strives to find a way to return home and make this entire place a mutual permission, he rubs wrong hard with those kind of comments.]

I don't care if you think I'm interesting or if I piss you off. You look at me and you see Bakugo Katsuki! Not some fucking rank this piece of shit slapped on me!

[There's a big difference. To him. The sex isn't even part of this momentary flare up.]

[smokedout]

Sure.

[His tone is dismissive, mostly because Bakugo's attitude is so different from his own. It seems counter-productive, to worry about anyone past what they can offer him. Because Dodger is defined by what he can offer, so that's how the world works, right?

He is listening, though.]

I see Bakugo, a kid that knows how to keep himself alive and cares about other people getting by too. I see a friend of Bloemrose's, which makes you worth keeping an eye out for if you need me. And I also see an Ace of Spades that'll get me one step closer to getting my guns back, but whether I get that card is up to you. Is that better?

[Dodger hasn't actually had a reason to force any of these exchanges, which means that he doubts Bakugo understands how big a sign of respect it is that he's willing to acknowledge consent. But it's probably telling that he felt the need to point it out explicitly.]

[blastedass]

[His hackles are up at being dismissed, a snarl curling half his lips. This fucking bastard. He's so ready to see them as nothing more than a fucking card to gain? Doesn't he see the people here instead, the ones imprisoned and forced into this shitty game?! If everyone here is nothing more than a damn number to collect, Dodger as good as gone as the rest of the damn staff!

Listening to him list off what he sees is...] I'm not a kid, you damn geezer!

[Why the hell do people call him a kid just cause he's younger than them?! They don't know what he's been through or what he's done in his world! "Kids" don't fight in wars, risk their lives against other adults who'd slaughter them without blinking, shoulder the weight of a past generation who royally fucked up all over!

Unfortunately, Dodger's not putting him down beyond that, mellowing his bristling attitude somewhat with a compromise. Dammit. Factually, he's not wrong. Slippery tongue or getting stupid lucky.]

Tch! You better keep telling yourself that whenever you see me. I'm more than some stupid label. [Yes, it was better. And though he knows little about Dodger, the man's willingness to correct himself and see where Bakugo's coming from (if a little) pushes the blonde's temper back down.] If you're done eating, let's go wash off.