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π–˜π–†π–‘π–™π–‡π–šπ–—π–“π–™ π–’π–”π–‰π–˜. ([personal profile] saltburnmods) wrote in [community profile] draino2024-09-07 10:00 am
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𝐈 πƒπŽπ'𝐓 ππŽπ‘πŒπ€π‹π‹π˜ π‹πˆπŠπ„ π‚π‡πŽπ‚πŽπ‹π€π“π„ π‚π€πŠπ„ β–£ SEPT TDM





SEPTEMBER 2024 TDM: LUGHNASADH


Welcome to SALTBURNT, a panfandom smut/thriller game based off the film Saltburn, where characters are encouraged to indulge their deepest desires. The money never runs out and the liquor never stops pouring, so you may as well indulge from the bounty. Of course, things are rarely what they seem, and the manor itself seems to have a consciousness of its own. Throw parties, trash the house, engage in youthful merriment, but remember β€” dangers come out at night, and no one, no matter how rich you are, is safe from demons lurking in the shadows.

Threads can be considered game canon, provided the players agree. Players can also start fresh upon acceptance into the game. In game characters can post to the TDM directly, using Β« NEW CHARACTER/IN GAMEΒ» in the header. There will be a spot below for new characters to link their toplevels for easy access. Alternatively, prompts on the Test Drive can be used for in game logs.







WELCOME TO SALTBURNT


It's the hangover more than the light streaming in through half drawn curtains that wakes you up, your brain rattling in your skull, your mouth dry and cottony, your stomach churning with whatever it is you drank last night. If self preservation is your strong suit, you might turn over in bed and see a few painkillers laid out for you on a silver dish, accompanied by a glass of water. If it isn’t, stay in bed and wallow β€” eventually a maid will be in to tear your curtains open, saying, "Breakfast is served," and scurrying out quietly, invisibly. Breakfast? Maybe it’s normal for you. Maybe it isn’t.

You're drawn from the room, either by the mystery, or an undefinable urge that could be supernatural in origin, or could be your hunger catching up to you. It's almost nostalgic, the walk to the dining room β€” have you been here before? Were you drawn up to this estate in a car? Haven’t you done all this already? Maybe you mosey around a library, maybe you run into your suite mate in your adjoining bathroom. Regardless, seemingly all hallways, covered in priceless artworks and ancient relics from times long past, lead to the dining room, where a comically long table houses the Balfours and their many guests, some who seem just as disgruntled and confused as you. No matter. "Breakfast will be out in a minute," they say. What's that?

EDIT SEPTEMBER 2024: For those who have attended breakfast with the Balfours before, a change in routine might come as a shock, given how rarely they stray from form. However, as of September, CARMY BERZATTO has taken over Head Chef position, alongside his cousin RICHIE JERIMOVICH and always the bridesmaid never the bride, SANJI. In place of the self-serve style breakfast, there is an elevated menu, including: a self-serve juice bar, with pitchers of various juiced fruit and vegetables, shaved ice, coconut water, green and black tea syrups, potted microherbs, sliced whole berries, and finger limes. There is also, naturally, liquor and champagne available. Guests can make their own drinks, or ask the allocated staff member to serve them one of the "specials" if they're feeling adventurous.

That said, these are world class chefs, so the gold is really in the menu:
THE EGGS

𝐓𝐇𝐄 π‰πŽππ“π˜: one runny boiled egg shelled and recoated in edible gold leaf, seated on a throne of fried bread soldiers, plated with whipped butter and italian parsley.
𝐄𝐆𝐆𝐒 ππ„ππ„πƒπˆπ‚π“: vinegar poached eggs with hollandaise foam on a bed of toasted freekah and baby spinach.
𝐄𝐆𝐆𝐒 π’π‡π€πŠπ€π’π‡πŽπ”πŠπ€: two eggs poached in a ramekin of pureed tomato, served with a crispy grilled cheese cut to dip.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 π’π˜πƒππ„π˜: french omelette with a light cheese filling, topped with crushed potato chips and chives.
πŽπ„π”π…π’ ππ‘πŽπ”πˆπ‹π‹π„π’: fluffy scrambled eggs in brown butter, served on sourdough.
π’ππ€ππˆπ’π‡ 𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓: mini-quiche made with caramelized red onions and jamon pata negra ham.
𝐄𝐆𝐆 πŒπ‚π’π€ππƒπ–πˆπ‚π‡: bacon, egg, cheese and sausage breakfast muffin that tastes weirdly like it was made at a popular chain with golden arches.

THE SWEETS

❖ momofuku's "cereal milk" ❖
❖ fette biscottate with a sour cherry jam and peanut floss ❖
❖ a warm cinnamon bun served with a shot of espresso coffee for dipping ❖
❖ a macadamia-marzipan croissant with a wattleseed and burnt-honey filling ❖
❖ poffertjes with a liquid nutella injection ❖


If you want to leave, you’ll have to tell Giles, the housekeeper, who will arrange a car for you that mysteriously, or perhaps suspiciously, never arrives. Unfortunately, confronting Giles about it is near impossible, as he’s as good at being invisible as the rest of the house staff. Of course, there’s no reason why you can’t just walk out. The front gates are easy enough to jump over, even if the walk towards them gives you a strange sense of foreboding, or just outright discomfort, as if the ground itself doesn’t want you to leave. Those more sensitive or fragile might find they can’t make the jump, no matter how physically able, or desperately wanting. Still, a strong person could continue on, over the fence and into the lush English countryside. The feeling doesn’t dissipate, though β€” this sense of wrongness, almost sickness, like a weight on your back. Walk into the evergreen, carry on, but the strongest will make it perhaps a mile or so before the weight of dread and paranoia brings you to your knees, and then to your face, flat in the middle of a dirt road. What were you thinking? Is this really better?

Wake up with a hangover, in a bed, the curtains drawn, the maid saying, "Breakfast is served," before scurrying out. The painkillers are there, just like you remember. In fact, it’s all exactly how you remember, as if you never left an imprint the first time, or any mess you made was cleared away while your back was turned. Walk to the dining room, find everyone there eating away at their breakfast.

"We dress for dinner," says Portia, with a kind, if discerning smile. "Black tie."




ITSY BITSY TEENIE WEENIE

CONTENT WARNINGS: drugs, alcohol, nudity, potential for nsfw.
POOLSIDE PLAYLIST courtesy of Robin

It's an innocent enough, offhand suggestion from the mouth of one (1) DIARMUID about wanting to learn how to paint, and honestly, the house couldn't agree more: a party is necessary. As August winds down, it's important to go out with a bang, and what better way than through an explosive end of summer pool party? To say goodbye to the waning summer nights, the manor is throwing a pool party with an artistic neon twist. Per the growing complications of everyone's relationship status in this new age of bisexuality, polygamy, and pegging, glow-in-the-dark bracelets with matching solo cups have been set out with the appropriate labels β€”Β TAKEN, SINGLE, OPEN, and IT'S COMPLICATED, depending on your interest. Lounge by the water in your cutest bikini or trunks or nothing at all and engage in some very relaxing full-body painting using the supplies provided β€” that is, the paint is supplied, though brushes and sponges are few and far between. Better just to use your own body to paint your masterpiece. Put yourself on display as a model by the pool, or engage in a brutally competitive game of chicken fights, wherein the loser loses their clothes and the winner gets to keep them.

Not your style? Sneak off somewhere more private like the twinkling gardens illuminated with multicolored tiki lamps, lakeside decorated with bio-luminescent rocks, or the (perfectly safe, wolfless, we promise) maze to indulge in your inner desires. You might find that certain colors glow beneath the moonlight and unlock desires you’ve kept tightly under lock and key. It's hard not to feel impulsive or unrestrained under the full moon's light, with your body paint as armor. People might appear more attractive to you under this witching light like a magic spell cast β€” but really, you haven’t had any trouble with that, here. Have you?

If you’re thirsty, the house has tasked RICHIE, CARMY, and SANJI (dressed as cabana boys) with an extensive poolside drinks menu, since they’ve been so helpful with breakfast. Thanks, boys. Ask them for anything. In fact, ask them for everything. They're here to serve.

As the night closes out, turn your eyes heavenward for a spectacular fireworks show. Many apologies to those of you who suffer from PTSD; you can head inside for an early night and cover your ears with a pillow, but do be careful not to suffocate yourself, unless you're into that. The fireworks shimmer and shatter, and those watching closely might start to see hidden messages written in the stars for you, though is that your eyes playing tricks? Better ask that friend you’re snuggled up with. As anxiety weighs a little heavier on your heart, you might feel compelled to confess a few secrets on this last night of summer, big or small, something loving or not. Seek out that destructive habit, or take some steps toward healing. Let the fireworks drown out the noise.






FRUITS OF LABOUR


CONTENT WARNINGS: body horror, gore, cannibalism.

Saying goodbye to summer means welcoming in the new season, and as August nights turn into September mornings, the landscape of the grounds changes from verdant greens to egg yolk yellow and sunburnt orange, a gradient of autumnal colors. To that end, a week long festival erects outside to enjoy the last of the year's good weather β€” a generous harvest bounty fills up tables and tables of ample displays, full of ripened fruits and fresh baked breads, baked potatoes roasted in the coals of a bonfire, sausages, wheels of cheese, marshmallows, cider and apple juice, tomato soup, apple and blackberry compote, rhubarb crumble, all richly decorated in sunset hues. Among the servings, anyone with a birthday in August or September will find themselves a individualized cake, perhaps with some motif to define them, otherwise just with the harvest decorations of gourds, leaves, wheat, and fruit. Alongside that, a new smaller maze has been made from hay bales on the lawn. During the day it's just a silly and fun maze, but at night it takes on a new form and characters can easily become lost and find themselves in a maze that seems to go on forever, with the ominous lowing of a bull somewhere in the distance. Luckily, everyone is released at daybreak, maybe a little traumatized, but all in one piece.

What would a festival be, without some games to indulge in? Around the celebratory grounds, there are four pumpkins painted gold, hidden around the festival. Anyone who finds one is entitled to a boon from your very generous hosts (join the race HERE). Hunting not to your tastes after the last few goose chases? No worries, there's plenty still to do β€” from apple bobbing, jumping over bonfires, throwing discus/shotput, horseshoes, and more, it's a festival jam packed with games and prizes to be won, from little jars of handmade jam from France, to stuffed chicken plushies, to tin cans with the labels ripped off, full of ... well, it's anyone's guess, really. Crack it open and find out!

In honor of the handfasting ceremony, characters are selected at random and tied together at the wrist, much to everyone's amusement. Once knotted, the ribbon will not give way under any physical or magical duress, meaning you'll be stuck together until the tie undoes on its own. It could be day, a night, two nights, or more, but it seems like the ribbon is waiting for something in particular β€”Β a genuine heart to heart, maybe? Consummating the marriage? Hopefully you like the person you're tied to, because you're going to be spending a lot of time with your temporary spouse, in immediately close quarters.

At the end of the week, there's a final end of summer ceremony, wherein the vampire ARMAND is given special homage for being an especially adored guest, donned in floral regalia and ordained with crowns of flowers, much to his growing malcontent. In fact, he and all the vampires present in house seem to be given the regal treatment from the staff with less grand flower crowns of their own, honored at the head of the festival's final gluttonous table, lined with naked, giggling bodies covered in autumnal produce, sprouting mushrooms, blooming flowers, and distinctly meaty dishes β€” steak and kidney pie, blood sausage, pumpkins stuffed with zebra meat. It's only after you drink the wildflower tea and locally (Very, Locally) crafted beer that things start to feel a little off. The happy bodies used as serving platters look sometimes, between one blink and the next, like masticated corpses, the gourds and fruits set more deeply in the cornucopia their opened chest cavities make. Despite that, there's no real sense of death in the air β€” get a better look, and you might find the veins of the dead work more like the vines for the plants, giving them life.

The question becomes: which is the hallucination? The smiling faces or the blooming corpses?

Though hysteria rankles through the crowd the more people come to terms with the visions they're seeing, given the population at the head of the table, it's a fairly easy riddle to crack. Can vampires eat the cursed food? In short: yes, they can. Sorry we made you eat people again.



DIRECTORY


chaosmenu: (pic#17353044)

carmen berzatto / the bear / existing character

[personal profile] chaosmenu 2024-09-07 03:02 pm (UTC)(link)
BREAKFAST.
Fire 2 omelette 1 shakashouka 1 quiche!.

"2 omelette, 1 shakashouka, 1 quiche, chef," Carmy repeats back.

Richie is running expo like a pro, which he knew, he had faith, but it's still throwing Carmy back to being locked in the walk-in. Apart from that? It's going okay. Nobody's dropped any uncooked eggs yet. People are hungrier for the pastries than he would have expected, and the chef he has on the McMuffin is frankly pitiful, too British, does not understand how to steam-fry an egg... but that's probably fine because it's a fucking McMuffin and anyone who orders it gets what they get.

Carmy himself is carefully placing gold foil on peeled boiled eggs, something he practiced so much this last week that he's got it down to less than a minute turnaround. Richie calls for hands, for another three cinammon buns, for a slow down on the shakashouka. Carmy wants to argue that last thing, but he also needs to sprinkle potato chips over these omelettes so he just chimes in on the collective yes chef.

"Hands!" for two plates of The Sydney. He wishes Syd was actually here.

(Then the girl on the Benedicts burns a full tray of freekah and it turns out no, Carmy does not have the capacity for encouragement and understanding on the line: "Can you read, Jessica? Can you read the dials on the oven? Fuck!" Dumps the tray into the dish bucket angrily, the water at the bottom of it sizzling in contact with the hot grain.)

When service is over, except for one person who keeps ordering more eggs, it's time to clean up and get the fuck out. It would be cool if he felt any sense of accomplishment at pulling it off. He doesn't. Not for himself - he at least gives Richie a "Great job." before he dips into the staff area where he strips out of his apron and chef jacket down to his tshirt. Carmy heads to the balcony to crunch leftover fette biscottate and smoke, dissociate a little. Try not to think about The Bear. Cleverly swerve a panic attack, look at some birds in the distance instead. There's bacon grease in his hair, and he burnt the tips of his fingers peeling boiled eggs and he smells like chives and garlic.

And tomorrow, if he's lucky, he'll get to do it all again.


TEXT POST.

username: carbs

BREAKFAST FEEDBACK
go.
I don't take dish requests.



POOL PARTY.
Several things are pissing him off right now.

First: Carmy keeps a strict routine that involves moving consistently between about four places each day: the gym, the kitchen and dining room, the library, and the pair of rooms he and Richie are sharing. The pool is not included in those lists of places.

Catch him tucked out of the way of the party, smoking a cigarette and trying to find his chill, overwhelmed by the music and the crowd, annoyed at himself for his inability to just loosen up and have fun.

Second: Carmy reads and watches everything about food he can get his hands on, has done all sorts of roles in the kitchen, went to culinary school, so he's not unfamiliar with liquids. He'd personally selected the juice bar ingredients at breakfast. But he's also not a trained mixologist, or anything near a bartender, so he spent the night before frantically trying to refresh his cocktail knowledge.

"Hey," he says low to someone at random, offering a grapefruit twist martini, "Can you try this? The guy I made it for said it was disgusting. And I don't drink, so." He'd tried a sip and wasn't sure if it was even meant to taste like it did. Useless.

Third: Portia Balfour's MILF friends keep finding excuses to touch him in the little cabana boy outfit he's been made to wear, and while it was flattering at first it's now getting kind of stressful and he doesn't know what to do about it.

He tried wearing one of the bracelets. First IT'S COMPLICATED, because it fucking is. But now he's upgraded to adding TAKEN.

Regardless, another manicured hand heavy with rings slips over his abs and Carmy mcloses it a little, rounding on the woman with the cunty bob: "Get your fucking hands off me." Oops. Probably not going to win him points for hospitality.


WILDCARD.
(( if you're in the game i also have some generic open prompts of carmy around the mansion in his open log.

other possibilities i ran out of steam to write opens for:
- ask carmy about working in the kitchen
- push him into the pool.
- the fireworks inspire an anxious confession.
- coaxing carmy into harvest festival games.
- randomly end up tied to him in the handfasting.

i welcome new or existing players, and new or existing cr! prose or action brackets. for shipping: carmy's preference is for women 25-60, and he is unlikely to commit to anything serious. but i also love friendship, fwb, found family, and neg cr. ))
break: (055^)

daniel molloy / interview with the vampire / existing character

[personal profile] break 2024-09-07 03:05 pm (UTC)(link)
FRUITS OF LABOUR.
[ Daniel has been kept on a fairly short leash since his transformation a fortnight ago. He sleeps through the day, pulled down into a death-like unconsciousness every morning as the sun peeks over the horizon; and even at night he doesn't get out to his usual activities.

But he's here at the festival, leather jacket, sunglasses that aren't really needed this deep into the evening, violet flowers woven into his white curls. Beneath the shades his eyes are flickering candle flames, shifting between blue and orange based on his temperament.

Mostly orange right now, with all the bodies around, both the human platters and the guests. Daniel darkly aware of the blood pulsing along people's veins. He avoids close conversation, slipping away to the shadows β€” he's just gonna go puzzle out the maze; he's just gonna go looking for those pumpkins; he's gonna get a bite to eat. If you aren't up to date with his condition it might be easy to misunderstand and think he's avoiding you in particular.
]


PUMPKIN SPICE.
[ Catch him, maybe, at the food table, munching on some pumpkin stuffed with cilantro lamb. It still tastes a little like soap, but that's the cilantro; he's surprised and pleased to discover he can eat this stuff. Wild, considering he made a whole thing out of putting himself together a last meal, aware he'd never enjoy the taste of human food again. He opens his notepad, jots down: food is definitely people again. Glancing around at other people, wondering if he should let them know too. Maybe ignorance is bliss? ]


A-MAZE-ING
(( this prompt is specifically for mortals who are interested in being nibbled on; drop me a quick opt-in here! ))

[ Catch him, maybe,in the maze. Notebook out again, tracking every turn he makes, counting his steps. Using his improved hearing to try and place himself in relation to the ongoing party. He was arrogantly certain he could solve it β€” but he's as lost as anyone. When he senses the approach of another person, his senses sharpen, and he approaches with a smile. ]

Hey! I feel like I'm walking in circles.

[ Friendly enough, but he doesn't feel friendly, eyes a luminous orange behind the sunglasses. He feels hungry - always so hungry, now. And despite the generous provisions of their hosts, he still can't help his fascination with the the thrum of living blood. He hasn't hunted without Louis or Armand there to guide him β€” to restrain him. But hey, first time for everything. ]


HANDFASTING.
(( open to handwaving the reality of time and space so multiple people can take this option, going to assume it's his first time every time. ))

[ Pushed forward by the crowd, the thread loops tight around the wrist of Daniel and this other person. He goes along with the ceremony, chill, jovial, it's all in good fun, man. Hippie shit. Sure.

The game moves on, and Daniel follows along with his new bride/groom/whatever.
]

Is this gonna count as a third divorce, d'you think?

[ Playful, as he goes to untie the knot and slip free.

It β€” it's a little tricky.

He's just gotta β€”

Maybe with the glass edge of his vampiric claws, he can snip the β€” nope.
]

Hey, uh, can't seem to get this off. You wanna have a go?
Edited 2024-09-07 15:06 (UTC)
nishtha: (pic#17340521)

Armand | Interview With The Vampire (AMC) | existing character

[personal profile] nishtha 2024-09-07 03:19 pm (UTC)(link)
FRUITS ON THE VINE β€” cw: vampirism
As the days shorten and the night draws in, the turning season finds its echo in Armand. It's been a long time since he felt at peace, able to set aside his vigilance and concerns for his own kind, but the last month or so has pulled him closer to that state of being than he would have thought possible. It means he can enjoy some of the celebrations for their own sake, marvelling at the ways mortals track the passage of their short lives.

He browses the tables of harvest fare, though he doesn't join in the festival games. There is, after all, an unfair advantage in apple bobbing when one doesn't technically need to breathe. But he watches, applauding the winners, accepting small gifts of sweets and breads from eager servants -- those he passes to the nearest guest, pressing them into hands and pockets with a smile from behind round orange-shaded sunglasses.

The hay maze is more interesting; he strolls through during the day, though an uncharacteristically careless disregard for the setting sun might well land him in trouble. At least spending a night in an endless labyrinth isn't so bad -- at least not for the predatory vampire who is more than capable of fending for himself. You might want to hope, however, that he's not arrived hungry.


HARVEST THE SAVAGE GARDEN β€” cw: cannibalism, vampirism, blood drinking, food play, possible dubcon vibes
Strange as it may seem, Armand isn't actually used to being the center of attention. He's spent most of his long life dictating from the shadows, working offstage to arrange things to his liking. That position is far more comfortable for him than being thrust into the limelight himself and forced to perform for vampires and mortals alike -- as he finds himself at the banquet, much to his disgust.

He can't turn down the requests of his hosts, however, assuming still that they have some powers of control he cannot match. So he accepts the floral crown and cloak covered with dried leaves, acorn husks, wheat stalks and flowers, and takes his seat at the head of the table, his face a mostly emotionless mask.

A β€” open to vampires β€” During the feast, Armand stays where he is, watching the procession of naked bodies as they are lain on the table and offered up to the guests. He drinks the blood that's poured into a wine glass for him and samples, after a little while, some of the fruit plucked from between the breasts of a smiling young woman. It pulps softly between his fingers, thick red juice running down his hand -- he licks it delicately from his palm and isn't entirely surprised to find that it tastes sweet and heady, iron rich. Nothing like the chalky aftertaste that usually comes with mortal food.

Folding his hand around the fruit, he leans towards a dining companion, his nascent and unfortunate family, and lifts it to let the juice drip down.

"Here. Open your mouth." Who wouldn't want to feed from the hand of the vampire king?

B β€” open to mortals β€” It's a hideous and beautiful thing to watch. Armand's distaste for the spectacle wars with his fascination as the drugs take hold and the hallucinations ripple through the crowd, revealing the truth -- or the convenient lie. He watches it in their minds and thinks about how Santino and his former coven would have enjoyed the wicked excess, the gluttonous sin of the mortals who appear to feed, unknowing, on their fellows. His apprehension of their hosts grows even as he sits there, toying with his glass, unable to look away.

As it continues, he reaches out, finding a mind he knows -- or perhaps one he doesn't, untouched but closely observed. Sliding, seductive and veiled, into their thoughts:

"Rise, and come to me."

WILDCARD - cw: none
[ OOC: Here for pretty much anything and everything in terms of wildcards with these prompts!

You can also find Armand:
  • Swimming in the indoor pool or the lake, reading in the library, or tending to plants in the solarium on the second floor.
  • At the pool party, looking delicious but aloof in some very tiny swim briefs and a sarong. He'll be wearing an OPEN bracelet and keeping a close eye on his new fledgling. It's a hot dad summer!!
Hit me up at [plurk.com profile] laetificat for plotting or PM on here!
]
microbasil: (pic#17353542)

Richie Jerimovich | The Bear | existing character

[personal profile] microbasil 2024-09-07 03:23 pm (UTC)(link)
GROOVE IS IN THE HEART - cw: none
Somehow, being asked to serve as everyone's personal cabana boy still isn't at the top of the most humiliating things Richie has ever done in the name of earning some money -- or, in this case, free room and board, and possibly the even more valuable respect of his workaholic cousin. He's done far worse for far less, so he's not feeling too bad about being asked to help out by the Balfours. At least the costume isn't too bad, at least he's not selling questionable shit to questionable people. Making sure everyone's having a good time is what he's supposed to be doing anyway, right? All part of the service.

Buoyed by this sense of responsibility, Richie winds through party in his mandatory Hawaiian shirt and matching shorts, carrying a tray of watermelon shots (watermelon, peach schnapps, white rum, simple syrup, lemon juice; blend, chill, and serve). He's got fluorescent orange body paint striped under his eyes, and has unfortunately been reassured by an otherwise innocent guest that it makes him look "cool". He also has, for some reason, decided to wear every color of situationship bracelet on both arms. If anyone asks, his real relationship status is "divorced".

Catch him handing out drinks and bar snacks or taking selfies with Portia's MILF friends at the poolside. He's not shy about getting involved or enjoying himself, singing and dancing along to 'Livin' la Vida Loca' and 'Baby Got Back' as he meanders around the party.


WILDCARD - cw: none
[ OOC: Here for pretty much anything and everything in terms of wildcards with these prompts!

You can also find Richie:
  • Helping his cousin Carmy out with breakfast in the mornings -- he's running the dining room and the expo in the kitchen, which means he's the one making sure everyone has their orders and is happy with the food. Bring him complaints and compliments!
  • Trying his hand at some of the harvest festival games. He's okay at horseshoes.
  • At the feast trying not to appear too alarmed at the cannibalism and the confirmation of his vampire cult theories. Yikes!!
Hit me up at [plurk.com profile] laetificat for plotting or PM on here!
]
unapparent: (005)

handfasting.

[personal profile] unapparent 2024-09-07 04:22 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Alicent allows the ceremony, won over by the amiable tenor of the day (and the comfort of a familiar partner). There’s something childish about it all, like a game of come-into-my-castle. ]

[ innocently β€” ] Are you so eager to renounce our vows?

[ Mayhaps he isn’t and only plays at difficulty. His hands should be steadier now, shouldn’t they, changed as he is. Her gaze catches on his sharpened nails, thinking of how Lestat’s elegant hand slides across the piano, the same razored points plucking at the keys.

A thought for another time. For now, she tries to tug her wrist from his and finds no give, instead pulling them aside from the group. ]


Let me. [ She cups the back of his hand in her palm to steady their shared grip, teal sleeve slipping to her elbow. Delicate fingers try to unpick the knot and find no purchase. ]
godspark: (Default)

[personal profile] godspark 2024-09-07 04:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Sign me up!
rationalism: (24)

pool party πŸ–οΈ

[personal profile] rationalism 2024-09-07 04:58 pm (UTC)(link)
"Mitzy, Mitzy, Mitzy, you little minx. His bracelet says taken." It's hard to be insulted by Grace's sweet, knowing voice. She gets it, Mitzy, her brain screeched to a halt entirely at his little outfit and it's only just come back online more than five minutes later when she saw him getting pawed at.

Her voice drops, empathetic in that southern 'oh honey' way, exaggerating a drawl she does not normally let slip past her teeth. It's hard enough being a foster kid, it's harder still when the world at large looks down on you for your accent. Now Grace simply doesn't have one until it is useful. "He's not in the market for mommy, but don't worry, I forgive you."

Mitzy doesn't splutter, they're above that, but she's speechless enough for Grace to take Carmy's hand and drag him away. She holds out her cigarette for him to borrow.
bubblegumheart: (pic#16061248)

[personal profile] bubblegumheart 2024-09-07 05:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Sign me up for this!
godspark: (s i d e)

Daniil | Original | Existing Character

[personal profile] godspark 2024-09-07 05:21 pm (UTC)(link)
i. ITSY BITSY TEENIE WEENIE


Dani's having a great time. He has a pink wristband and cups, and he hangs around by the pool with sparkly alcohol in said cup. He's not in swimwear, though, and apparently he's not budging on that front; he's in a black tank with an open shirt over it, sleeves rolled up just slightly past his wrists, and long black pants. The large brand on his neck is visible, but the rest of his scars are hidden and that's how he intends to keep it.

But, admittedly, when the paints come out, he does look interested. He doesn't immediately get involved, but...

Well. He's watching, anyway.

When the moon comes out his mood changes, and he goes to sit under its light.

"Hello, Artemis," he murmurs, and leans against one of the fences, eyes turned up. This is as open and calm as he's been since he got here. "Isn't she beautiful? I'll never get used to her."

ii. FRUITS OF LABOUR


A. FALL FESTIVAL

What is all of this?! Anyone who spends time in the gardens may well have seen Dani there in his first few days, gazing at flowers and other plants as though he'd never seen their like before. He'd gotten more accustomed to them the longer he'd been around, but now, all of this?! Is there no end to what can be produced in this world? The tastes - cider, marshmallows, cheese, rhubarb crumble. he wants to try all of it.

"Oh my gods, this is amazing! Have you tried this?!" He's holding a glass of regular apple juice in your face. "Can you believe it, and there's chocolate cakes over there." Word to the wise, because you don't want to be missing out on that, okay, chocolate is incredible. "Try it, try it, seriously it's amazing."

And then there's the whole thing with the pumpkins, which is equally fascinating to him. He absolutely joins the hunt to look for them, plus he gets in line for the apple bobbing, whatever that is.

He is less sure about it when he sees what it actually is, though, and leans across to whoever's near to him to discuss.

"What's the point in this, why are we trying to bite them out of the water? No, seriously."


B. HANDFASTING

Well, all right, the ribbon ceremony is a bit of a surprise. Dani isn't wild about being tied to anyone, and he tries to protest it a bit, although his general desire to not upset his hosts in any way overpowers his complaints.

That he's not untied straight away isn't the best, though. He smiles awkwardly at the person he's been paired with, and tugs his wrist a little.

"Okay. I guess. Well...now what, I mean, are we supposed to do something? I didn't think it was as serious as all this."


C. A VAMPIRE FEAST (cw. PTSD, slavery, abuse)

People had hinted that there were things about this place that weren't as wonderful as they seemed. But they'd hinted at, like, drugs and stuff. Nothing that had overly concerned Dani, not really. And this week's festivities have been fun. The scavenger hunt, all the food, the fireworks, all of it.

And then he sees that table. Human bodies as serving plates, those flower crowns. Dani stops smiling. He doesn't taste the food, doesn't even get close. He backs right off, eyes wide and upset. He doesn't need to drink that tea to see something horrifying here, and it doesn't matter that those with food piled on their bodies look happy about it.

"No, no I can't, I'm sorry, I--"

He's in full reverse, backing away and knocking into people as he goes. He's aware of it, but it doesn't slow him down. He can't be here for this, and the panic bubbling up through his chest is more obvious by the minute. ]

"Let me through, I can't do this, let me go!"
Edited 2024-09-07 17:25 (UTC)
redsoil: β€” PLEASE CREDIT! (Default)

[personal profile] redsoil 2024-09-07 05:25 pm (UTC)(link)
ME!! πŸ₯³
godspark: (c h a t t y)

breakfast; balcony

[personal profile] godspark 2024-09-07 05:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Dani ate at the very end of today's breakfast, not particularly by choice but because he overslept. That's happening a lot, lately. The food is as amazing as always, and he's just polishing his plate off when he sees one of the chefs come out and head to the balcony.

He follows, curious - he doesn't think this is the one he spoke to before.

"Hi," he says, because this guy clearly thinks he's alone, and Dani's approach was quiet.

His appearance is pretty standard for him - all black clothes, arms covered, dark curls messy on top of his head, visible brand on the side of his neck. He looks cheerful.

"Are you...the one who cooks? Or one of the people. I thought...I saw you come out of there."
ghostface: blood quantum (2019) (Default)

[personal profile] ghostface 2024-09-07 05:59 pm (UTC)(link)
pls
missed: (149)

itsy bitsy teenie weenie;

[personal profile] missed 2024-09-07 06:03 pm (UTC)(link)
It's a rare afternoon that Louis wakes early and it's fortunate, too, considering the party. It's nice that it's out in the open, easy and familiar without wild costumes or silly gimmicks. He's been making the rounds to some familiar faces when he catches the hint of something among the minds of others.

Dani.

He should cover up before he approaches, but he doesn't - dressed only in short, low riding swim shorts in a sunny yellow color. It shows off the dusting of dark curls along his chest, down the smooth line of his stomach. Louis stays quiet, approaching Dani from behind and giving a soft tap on his shoulder.

"You gonna let yourself have a little fun or just stare at it all day?"
holyposition: (desperately close)

[personal profile] holyposition 2024-09-07 06:20 pm (UTC)(link)
timbo pls
rationalism: (47)

groovin'

[personal profile] rationalism 2024-09-07 06:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Grace takes not one, but two shots, with a cheerful "thanks, babe!" She has two hands after all! And they match her red and white stripped bikini.

"Facebook would have a field day with the mixed signals you're giving off right now." She gestures to his plethora of bracelets with the shots before she tosses one back, breathing out a soft oof when the schnapps hits her tongue. Oh wow, tastes like a high school party. She could get plenty wasted on this.

Grace doesn't have a bracelet on at first glance, because she thinks blue would also give off mixed signals considering she still wears her wedding ring. But she is using her bracelet as a hair elastic at the moment.
semicharmed: (silhouette)

a-maze-ing with a twist

[personal profile] semicharmed 2024-09-07 08:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It’s not the first time this has happened.

Specifically, it’s not the first time an older partner has been, or appeared to be, wildly attracted to him, they consummated their mutual interest, and then there was nothing else. No texts, no DMs. A conspicuous absence from the places they both frequented. People act like millennials invented ghosting, but truly, they have nothing on an over-45 with sexy buyer’s remorse.

Matt’s always found that a strange term, ghosting. He’s the one clinging in this equation. Lingering over something gone.

Has he reached out to Daniel? Well, first he got stabbed, and then he turned around and realized it’d been awhile since he’d heard from him, and it’s not like he expected flowers but it seemed like the lack of communication might be, in its own way, a communication, so not to put too fine a point on it but … no. Matt hasn’t asked Louis or Armand about it, either. The way he sees it, his relationships with Louis and Armand (whatever they are) are his relationships with Louis and Armand, and Daniel’s relationships with them are his, and it’s not really appropriate to go fishing. Especially since they all seem to be pretty primary to each other, and he’s pretty firmly in the outer orbit.

It’s not the worst thing in the world. Not a big deal, in the grand scheme.

But it makes him a little sad.

Anyway, it was probably not a good idea to wander into this maze with no plan except maybe there’s a monster and if there is a monster I’m probably better equipped to handle it than most people here despite my success rate so far of zero. Matt is doing his best to follow that animal sound, to trace it to its source, but after what feels like an hour, all he has to show for it is a lot of walking. And now it’s dark. Matt lifts his hand, conjuring a golden bauble of light.

He hears something. ]


Hello? [ Matt calls, like the prom queen in a horror movie. You know, the one that dies first. Stepping gingerly towards the nearest turn in the maze, he rounds it to findβ€” ] Oh.

[ Matt may not be the most forthcoming person around. But he’s no good at disguising his feelings. Illuminated by his witch-light, Matt’s face clearly shows surprise, affection, anxiety. Something like erotic nostalgia. All flickering and gone in a moment as he stares at Daniel. ]

Ah … hey. [ He can’t help sounding fond. Matt musters a small smile as he adds, ] Are you lost too?
rakta: (Default)

[personal profile] rakta 2024-09-07 08:38 pm (UTC)(link)
OwO
rakta: (pic#16248517)

garden B

[personal profile] rakta 2024-09-07 08:42 pm (UTC)(link)
The scent of blood is thick and heavy in the air, and Lauralae is basking in it, a strange familiarity warring with her own comfort in this strange place. She is used to the feel of it on her tongue, the stain on her teeth, but it is new and novel that it is the flesh of a human that has come to her rather than that of an animal, crushed between wolfish teeth.

It is glutton, excess, too much, begging to be torn asunder and have the magics undone, but she is less captivated by that and more interested in the familiar voice in her mind, slipping in there as if it belongs. It's as if her mind itself is a little warm home for Armand's touch, and she turns her dark eyes to him, pushing herself up.

If it was anyone else, someone unfamiliar, she would riot over the touch, furious with anger at the idea of being summoned, of magic being used to whisper into her very mind, but her awareness of Armand makes it easier. She goes to him, dressed carefully, arms as covered as they were when they first met, hovering in front of him with a tilted head.
rakta: (pic#17343468)

lauralae 🐺 original 🐺 current character

[personal profile] rakta 2024-09-07 09:01 pm (UTC)(link)
ITSY BITSY TEENIE WEENIE.
[ Lauralae had agonised over the notion of swimming for longer than she would care to admit; the idea of going out so bare was entirely foreign to her, despite how eagerly she had once stripped down in the midst of the parties. Having her hands, blackened and charcoal, so obviously on display was another level of discomfort, and so she agonised for longer than perhaps she needed to, wandering around the house and trying not to scowl at anyone she walked by, irritated and frustrated by her own indecision.

It has been a long time since she was desirous of company, and being put in the position of caring about clothes feels like fitting a mould her mother once wished for her, and she has no desire to be that child.

Eventually, with a little help, she finds a black swimsuit with some long sleeves that will suit her well, and it means she can venture out into the party, even if her ears twitch from how loud it is and her face twists into something like discomfort. The parties she is used to, from her younger years, were softer, more akin to balls than a celebration like this, and the sound of modern music echoing from the speakers makes her chew on the scar on her lip without too much hesitation.

Cup in hand, with a matching blue wristband, Lauralae tries to mingle, wandering around and evading the water as much as she can. For a long while, she sits beside the paints, curious and interested, especially since she's just been given her own book and art supplies to record herbs - this is different, though, and she sticks one of her pale legs out to try and paint shapes on her body, to see how it feels to have winding black and red vines colouring her skin.

When the fireworks come, she tucks herself in a corner, staring up at the sky with wide eyes, looking enthralled by the explosions of light and the wonder of it, all so very new to a girl more accustomed to isolation than celebration. ]
FRUITS OF LABOUR.
[ Throughout the winding maze, there are moments when it seems as if Lauralae appears out of nowhere, emerging from around a corner or slipping up behind someone without making a sound. It might take a moment to figure out just where she comes from, or how she arrives, but anyone paying attention will see her body shift and slip, transforming into an animal as she makes her way through the bales of hay, either a wolf or a raven, whatever seems to best fit the moment.

She flutters around, or leaps across the gaps, and seems to be genuinely enjoying herself if the small smile on her face as she turns back into her elven form is anything to go by.

The games interest her, for at least a moment, and she seems more than content to slip up beside someone and start to play alongside them without a word, like some kind of ghoul more interested in the prize than the novelty of getting to play. She is desperate to win one of the plushies to go with her hideous Garfield toy - not that she knows that the Library gave her a monstrous cat. She likes it.

The feast, when it comes to it, does not alarm Lauralae. In fact, the odd hallucinations don't seem to bother her at all; if nothing else it seems to excite her, the way that the hall fills with the scent of flesh, the vines turning to arteries, the taste of it on her tongue. She looks like she is indulging in the decadence of it a little too much, tucking herself at a table and stroking her fingers along the feast, touching the mushrooms, leaning in to smell it all, more monster than girl with the sharpness of her teeth and the blackness of her fingers.

As she eats, her ears twitch, and perhaps she is actually more wolf than girl. ]
WILDCARD.
[ Feel free to find her elsewhere, sign yourself up to be handfasted to her (go crazy with it!) or DM me for something and we can figure it out! ]
kobes: ([:)] i'm ready)

[personal profile] kobes 2024-09-07 09:12 pm (UTC)(link)
meeee~
metalkinetic: (pic#17282132)

erik lehnsherr 🧲 x-men 🧲 current character

[personal profile] metalkinetic 2024-09-07 09:21 pm (UTC)(link)
ITSY BITSY TEENIE WEENIE.
[ The last time Erik Lehnsherr went 'swimming', he almost drowned, so he gazes at the pool with a look of disdain that could curdle it if it was paying attention.

Somehow, someone manages to coerce him into a swimsuit, and he can be found lounging around the pool for a few hours, a book in hand and his body stretched out. Anyone paying attention will see that, throughout the party, the wristband he's wearing seems to switch colours from 'single' to 'it's complicated' and then back again, seemingly at random. Someone cannot make up their mind about how they're feeling about certain situations, it seems.

He doesn't seem particularly interested in the painting games, but who knows, perhaps the right person can persuade him to give his artistic talents a little trial; he might be better at drawing portraits of the man he wanted to murder, but he could indulge a little if pushed.

When the evening comes, Erik has slipped away to somewhere a little more quiet, hearing the whispers of secrets being shared and the rumour about honesty. The last thing he wants is to unburden himself, keeping his secrets too close to his chest for comfort. If anyone approaches him, he raises his eyebrow, a small glass of scotch in his hand. ]


Come to share your woes?
FRUITS OF LABOUR.
[ Erik can't remember if he's ever played festival games like this.

It's possible that at one point in time he and his mother and father had done something similar, but he can't recall it. There's no bright spark of the memory in his mind, no soft moments of joy to inspire him into giving the games a go - and it almost doesn't seem fair when he does, since when he steps up to try the horse shoe tossing it's too easy to use his mutation to make sure that he hits it every single time. Who's going to know?

Anyone who ends up handfasted with one Erik Lehnsherr, on the other hand, will have to deal with a moody mutant for however long it takes them to untie themselves, especially considering he had plans for the evening. His irritation is obvious, and he's a touch snappish, especially if it's someone he's unfamiliar with; if it's somone that Erik might dare to call a 'friend'...? He'll be somewhat more tolerable, even if he'll still be an ass about the whole situation.

During dinner, you might be lucky enough to come across Erik playing with a handsome piece of headwear, frowning at it as he spins it around in front of himself. ]
WILDCARD.
[ Feel free to find him elsewhere, sign yourself up to be handfasted to him (go crazy with it!) or DM me for something and we can figure it out! ]
rakta: (Default)

closed for alexei.

[personal profile] rakta 2024-09-07 09:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The night goes on, and Lauralae watches like a voyeur, gazing at people as they move by and scenting them as they wander by her. It's as if she is a predator on the hunt, and perhaps that's not too far away from what she is intending to do. Her strange fixation on the feast from inside the mansion has slipped away, even if her desire and the intensity of it is still overtaking her, making her want something she can't name.

It feels as if her jaw aches, as if her fingers are aching, and she doesn't know why. She's on edge, the nakedness in broad daylight a strange discomfort for her when she has done far worse in the cover of darkness, but she has been enjoying the newness of it. People are dressed down for the end of summer, but she is doing the opposite, covering herself as much as she can as she slips out of her strange little corner and begins to make her way out -

until.

She runs into a body, slamming her forehead straight into them, and she frowns as she takes a step back. Lauralae has to lift her head, tilting her neck rather far back to gaze up at Alexei, and the height different makes her pause, frustration cowing her for a moment. Her irritation bleeds away, but she shakes her head, watching him with dark eyes. ]


... I apologise.

[ It comes out begrudgingly, irritatedly. ]