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peacockstop2025-09-15 09:00 pm
goldmods) wrote in peacockstop2025-09-15 09:00 pm
Entry tags:
TDM 011
【 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!
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!
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!
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!
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.
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.
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 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.
OOC NOTES
▶ 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.
▶ 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.
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[ And just like that, the little whirlwind is gone. Poof! Vanished.
They are Ancient Powers that complement each other well, considering their sources. Even their particulars work well with each other. ]
The Fire of Destruction rested on a bed of lava at the top of the mountains. In order to obtain it, you needed to throw money into lava bed. When I went there, I had accumulated two hundred thousand silver coins just to throw at the challenge. Not only was that the point, as money is what the original owner desired in life, but it also served as the means to fully unlock both the potential for both of the powers I mentioned.
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[ And to obtain it, Cale had to pass their 'trial'. A power that either springs forth upon existence, or is inherited, passed down to another once their trial is completed to their satisfaction. Seems his earlier assumption, that this might be similar to the Coreflames of his own world, isn't too dissimilar at all. Just... much more limited in scope.
His brow creases, ] How many of these Ancient Powers have you obtained? -If, [ Phainon adds quickly, ] You're concerned about divulging any weaknesses, I'm not about to ask what they are. I'm curious about how many that body can house.
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[ Some details just weren’t written into the novel. And while Cale has certainly learned more about the previous owners of the Ancient Powers he possesses, he hasn’t asked for that. Why would he need to know? ]
If you want to know how many someone can have? One, in nearly all circumstances. Two, perhaps, if someone is lucky enough to happen across two that share the same elemental affinity.
[ And here Cale has shown that he has at least two that do NOT possess the same elemental affinity. ]
Currently, I think I am up to… [ Cale is doing a quick count. ] Six?
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Phainon sits up a little, his gaze more watchful, cautious.
-No, concerned. ] That much power can be safely contained in a mortal body?
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He’s alive. Functioning. Not pushing himself. So what’s the issue? ]
One power of mine keeps the others in check, more or less.
[ Which isn’t exactly a confirmation… ]
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Then please answer me truthfully.
[ Phainon’s unerring attention remains fixed on Cale, as his hand points at the fire, still ablaze despite the rain. ]
When you lit the flame, you coughed in a way that worries me. Are you unwell because of that power?
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[ He sighs and rubs at his temple. Spoken like a man that often gets pestered about his condition and well being while also dismissing concerns. ]
That small usage of power won’t have me passing out.
[ Which implies he has before, to be able to have an estimate of what his limitations are. Using the Fire of Destruction for the first time was a lesson in that. ]
Once the Resort goes back to normal, I’ll have it sorted.
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And no! This isn't hypocrisy! The lives of a whole world - and countless, unseen others in the universe beyond the sky - were hanging in the balance, the stakes were a lot higher, so it was worth it!
Okay, so Phainon's being just a smidge unreasonable. Is that stopping him? No. Does Cale need his pestering? Also no. He sighs. ] What do you mean?
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He’a not asking for that level of concern? In fact, Cale would prefer it didn’t exist at all. ]
When did this turn around to be about me? I’m fine as long as I don’t push myself. After this situation dies down, I’ll just handle stabilizing all my powers then.
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[ His usually affable expression pinches, somewhere between frustration and concern. Phainon deserves this. He's been putting his friends through something a little similar, too. That is, ignoring all the other times when he was an altogether different problem for them.
Phainon rallies his composure, and asks calmly: ] What does stabilizing them entail?
[ And what's that supposed to mean, when the resort returns to normal? ]
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This just takes it to the next level. The man is actually frustrated. …But why? Suspicions.
Cale raises a brow as he folds his arms over his chest. He could lie. Could refuse to answer at all. Though he has a feeling this man won’t let it go. ]
How else does one obtain something or avoid unpleasant situations in this place?
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NeiKos496.exe is buffering. ]no subject
Phainon is no prude. But every Hour of every day has been footstomping the point that all roads lead into one another's arms, even in situations that don't even seem to call for it. He's allowed to be a little exasperated. ] Of course.
[ His chair creaks as he gets out of it, and as he crosses the space between them, his sandalled foot conspicuously avoids the symbols he left scratched in the dirt. Firelight catches on the gold in his skin, his quiet, somber approach might even be a little intimidating for the gravity of his expression, but then, the man Cale used to be was of sterner stuff.
He flattens out his palm over Cale's chest. He knows injuries, has taken more of them than he can count anymore. He knows the sound it makes, when blood grows sticky in one's lungs, and that shove intends to prompt Cale to breathe - or cough - and potentially betray the severity of his condition.
Or he's just shoved a man for no reason! A risk he's willing to take. ]
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[ At least it means that intimacy isn’t how it would normally work. Honestly, if he had his necklace full of that water or even a water-based Ancient Power, then he’s be fine. There would be no issue.
Cale almost looks a little surprised to see Phainon get up. His eyes narrow, suspicion settling beneath his skin. It’s not intimidating, not to him, but Cale isn’t sure what Phainon is up to. He continues to eye him warily, right up until the shove.
Normally he’d be fine as long as he wasn’t actively pushing the limits of his powers. Now, he has been excessive with his powers. Using then too much and not enough rest between. This is the real issue and that is actually watch causes Cale to jerk forward a bit, coughing.
…Coughing up exactly what he had been trying to hide. Not much. Just a little bit of crimson. But enough to be damning. ]
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[ Regret pinches his expression. If he'd taken better care of the fire, if he had thought to protect their camp a little better from the storm, Cale wouldn't have felt compelled to use that power. And now...
He turns his head, lips peeling back from lightly gritted teeth, eyes screwing shut. There is enough blood on his hands to fill the seas of his homeland, and yet, the still-tender part of him that had been ignorant to the truth until days ago cannot abide being a contributor - in whole or in part - to his injury. ]
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His russet eyes look up at the expression the other man wears. Yes, this is the sort of thing that he had wanted to avoid. Why is it that people always blame themselves for the decisions that others make? Then, when things are reversed, they are adamant that it is their choice? Cale certainly doesn't want to see that pained sort of look. ]
You'll ruin your handsome face if you keep doing that. [ Eyes slide towards the blood stains and then back up to Phainon. ] It's obvious what you're thinking.
[ There's a sigh and he leans back before pushing himself up from the chair. Cale is smaller than Phainon, but that doesn't mean he won't bully the man by invading his space. ]
Do you really think that this [ Gesturing to the fire ] was the final push? If I am cold, I'm going to start a fire. If I am wet, then I am going to use wind to dry myself off. If someone wants to attack me, I'll use a different power. It has nothing to do with you.
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You play it off like you’re driven by selfishness, but your actions tell a different story.
[ As though he values his health very little - or has an overinflated sense of confidence in his ability to overcome the Ancient Powers he’s amassed within that fragile body. ] I can’t tell if you’ve overestimated yourself or underestimated the effects that power has on you.
If you keep going like this, you’ll shatter. And who will you help then? Who will lead those children to that gentle, quiet future you wish for?
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I am primarily driven by selfishness and a desire to have my needs met while using others to get there. Don’t misinterpret me.
[ Unfortunately, Cale is also unaware of how his actions actually help others when he’s just doing what he wants. Maybe that’s why people view him differently than how he views himself. He’s always thought of himself as a trashy person, even as Kim Rok Soo.
So excuse him as he tries to remove Phainon’s hands from his person. Cale isn’t unaware of the fact he no longer has a strong body. He just carries on like it doesn’t matter. ]
I won’t shatter or break or burn myself down to nothing. That would defeat the purpose of everything I have done up to this point. Unlike you, I am not so self-sacrificial.
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The forget-me-not dual tones of his stare search Cale’s, calculating, a frown on his mouth.
Phainon may have been given a temporary reprieve from the crushing heat of the Coreflames, spared their everlasting immolation, but he still remembers that agony, when the burden numbered fewer than a dozen, and was still new. ‘I’m fine, just a little more’ became the goal posts he kept shifting with each recurrence.
He doesn’t like being on the other side of watching a man chip away at himself. It reminds him too much of his teacher.
That callout reminds him of Anaxagoras, too. Regret might be a contributing factor. Obligation, and a desire to abolish suffering are others. ]
What do you need to recover, [ he asks, ] if that’s really the case, then use me to stabilize yourself.
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When his eyes meet Phainon’s, he finds what he sees interesting. The man is thinking about something. Maybe a little too lost in his thoughts, gear turning and watching. Waiting to see what Cale is going to do or say so that an adjustment can be made. Despite his own frustrations at being called out and fussed at, Cale actually does appreciate someone who can be glib yet is sharp.
Ultimately, though, it does come back to those other nasty things. Guilt. Duty. Obligation. A need to stop someone from potentially suffering, to save then of it’s possible. Cale knows the look.
Who did Phainon lose… The man behind the “was” they talked about earlier? ]
You should be careful of that. I’ve kept everyone who has ever agreed to be used by me. [ Whether he made it a condition or they forced the idea onto Cale. ] So rethink that idea.
[ In the end, Cale will accept if Phainon pushes for it. Right now, he is giving the man an out. ]
If you are still here by the time the Resort reverts back to normal and still feel the same way, then seek me out.
no subject
The atmosphere has changed, like a shift in temperature as a storm rolls in. Phainon gravely regards Cale with an expression that’s a little complicated - weary, grim, indomitable. ]
You’re awfully confident if you think you’re capable of keeping me.
[ That’s not going to get him anywhere close to ‘well’; if he means to restore him to a more stable condition, he’ll need to take action. But…
This is more delicate than just fending off an attacker or slaying monsters.
Frowning, he stoops, …and in one smooth motion, sweeps Cale up off his feet, one arm under the man’s knees, the other around his shoulders and nape. ]
Quit messing around. Tell me no, and I’ll leave you be.
[ Either way, that man is going to bed. He’s making an executive decision, and will listen if he’s rebuffed. ]
no subject
Are you saying you’re capable of walking away after assisting me? It won’t tug the back of your mind that I could be in the same state in a different situation?
[ Cale is calling into question Phainon’s ability to become indifferent after learning all of this. From how stubborn this man is already, Cale is pretty sure he won’t be able to resist checking in on him from time to time. Thus, it is less about Cale’s ability to keep someone on the hook and more about Phainon’s need to help people.
Now he would taunt the other a little more. Maybe Phainon will change his mind after seeing how stubborn Cale is and what a horrible personality he actually has. Instead, he finds himself being swept up in a pair of strong arms. Cale actually yelps in surprise, stunned. Flabbergasted. ]
W-wait! What are you doing!?[ Well, there goes the idea of maybe he’s pissed the man off enough for this nonsense to stop. ] I can walk!
no subject
So, Cale has a point, but so does he: ] You’re an intelligent man, you’ll either learn your lesson, or your hubris will end you.
[ The shelter has a section that is more properly for sleeping; a thermal mat and bedroll with pillow rests behind the open flaps of the tent door. He ducks to shoulder his way in.
While he isn’t so brusque as to drop Cale on the bed, he isn’t treating him like he’s made of glass when he deposits him there at the height of a kneel.
As for Phainon, he sits at the foot of it, folding his arms across his impressive chest. For a
not sosmall miracle, his crossed ankles preserve his modesty. ]At the very least, rest.
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He’s not turned down any offers and encounters here, when presented. So, really, what makes this different is that Cale hadn’t anticipated it. Rather than two individuals having a good time, it feels heavier. What Cale is looking for isn’t that type of experience. ]
That only applies when there is no one who stands with you. More often than not, they are the ones that suffer instead.
[ Since that’s the reason why he had been so determined to not allow people close to him. Why he doesn’t want to really get involved. Cale has already dodged death, others meeting it so he wouldn’t have to. And that’s just unacceptable.
So he’s oddly compliant as Phainon sets him down - gentleness hardly matters. His arms are still crossed over his chest and he sits across from Phainon in a similar manner. Cale’s eyes watch him as they sit in silence for a fee moments. There’s an internal debate as he goes back and forth between replying and just ignoring the man so he can rest.
Then he sighs. A scowl appears on his features as he realizes that this man is some weird mix between Choi Han and Alver. Which means that he should just be blunt instead of dismissive. For the moment. ]
Accepting help isn’t below me, Phainon of Aedes Elysiae. I’m not that sort of idiot who thinks that they can, or should, manage everything himself. [ He closes his eyes and waves a had in the air. ] If you want to help out of concern or, hell, even for the payout that would come with it, fine.
[ Then he opens his eyes again. Cale leans back on his hands for a moment. Still half scowling. ]
If it’s because you feel guilty or obligated to, then I don’t need it. In fact, I find it insulting.
no subject
As much as he dislikes bringing down the mood, and for as much as he enjoyed meeting Cale, the banter, the man's sharp wit, this is heavy. He has his reasons, just as Cale has his.
Does Phainon feel guilty? Yes. Does he feel a little obligated? Yes. Is he concerned for his health? Absolutely. It can, in fact, be all of the above... the only part of it Phainon couldn't care less about is the payout.
It boils down to what seems more palatable to Phainon: Walk away, knowing this man might sicken in the worsening storm? Lie by omission, and potentially save his life? A man coughing up blood is no laughing matter, and Phainon considers this with the gravity it deserves. ]
I believe your condition to be serious. [ He's coughing up blood! That's cause for a lot of concern! ] If improving it costs me only this, it is of no consequence.
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🎀