saltburnmods: (Default)
๐–˜๐–†๐–‘๐–™๐–‡๐–š๐–—๐–“๐–™ ๐–’๐–”๐–‰๐–˜. ([personal profile] saltburnmods) wrote in [community profile] draino2024-11-09 08:00 am
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๐๐‹๐ˆ๐’๐’, ๐๐‹๐ˆ๐’๐’, ๐๐‹๐ˆ๐’๐’ โ–ฃ NOV TDM





NOVEMBER 2024 TDM: RENAISSANCE


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 โ€” 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 ยซ NEW CHARACTER/IN GAMEยป 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 isnโ€™t, stay in bed and wallow โ€” eventually a maid will be in to tear your curtains open, saying, "Breakfast is served," and scurrying out quietly, invisibly. Breakfast? Maybe itโ€™s normal for you. Maybe it isnโ€™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 โ€” have you been here before? Were you drawn up to this estate in a car? Havenโ€™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

๐“๐‡๐„ ๐‰๐Ž๐๐“๐˜: 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.
๐„๐†๐†๐’ ๐๐„๐๐„๐ƒ๐ˆ๐‚๐“: vinegar poached eggs with hollandaise foam on a bed of toasted freekah and baby spinach.
๐„๐†๐†๐’ ๐’๐‡๐€๐Š๐€๐’๐‡๐Ž๐”๐Š๐€: two eggs poached in a ramekin of pureed tomato, served with a crispy grilled cheese cut to dip.
๐“๐‡๐„ ๐’๐˜๐ƒ๐๐„๐˜: french omelette with a light cheese filling, topped with crushed potato chips and chives.
๐Ž๐„๐”๐…๐’ ๐๐‘๐Ž๐”๐ˆ๐‹๐‹๐„๐’: fluffy scrambled eggs in brown butter, served on sourdough.
๐’๐๐€๐๐ˆ๐’๐‡ ๐“๐€๐‘๐“: mini-quiche made with caramelized red onions and jamon pata negra ham.
๐„๐†๐† ๐Œ๐‚๐’๐€๐๐ƒ๐–๐ˆ๐‚๐‡: bacon, egg, cheese and sausage breakfast muffin that tastes weirdly like it was made at a popular chain with golden arches.

THE SWEETS

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


If you want to leave, youโ€™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 heโ€™s as good at being invisible as the rest of the house staff. Of course, thereโ€™s no reason why you canโ€™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 doesnโ€™t want you to leave. Those more sensitive or fragile might find they canโ€™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 doesnโ€™t dissipate, though โ€” 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, itโ€™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."




2 GIRLS 1 CUP

CONTENT WARNINGS: nudity, potential for nsfw.

Over the past few days, a bit of construction has taken place on the grounds of the Saltburnt estate, and while it's difficult to piece together what exactly is being built, it's clear to see: whatever it is, it's massive, taking up a huge percentage of the grounds with multiple included structures. On the outside it seems almost like a neighborhood is being sprung up โ€”ย new houses for people to live in, maybe? New shops, disconnected from the manor at large? All is revealed on opening day, when upon entry all are greeted with cheery hellos from jauntily clad persons shouting, "Huzzah!" and "Hail and well met!" For the more medieval and fantasy inclined among you, it might feel like stepping somewhere familiar and homey. To the rest, you know โ€” you've just walked into a Ren Faire. Costumes are expected.

Not sure what to wear? Those born between SEPTEMBER to FEBRUARY are dubbed part of the Unseelie Court, which is associated with darkness and decay, generally dressed in deep, dark colors. Those born between MARCH to AUGUST are part of the Seelie Court, which is associated with stars and sky, in lighter, brighter colors.

On either side of the split path, you're assaulted by the scents, sights, and sounds of any ordinary Ren Faire. Vendors pawn off garlicky mushrooms and full turkey legs, or flower crowns and juggling sticks in exchange for a kiss, a secret, a lock of hair, or something of equal nonsensical value. Step inside a shop and see sellers offering crude jewelry and satchels of loose leaf tea, fudge sold by the ounce and porcelain ocarinas. Essentially, if it's kitschy and thematic, you can find it here, being sold to you by people in costume who refuse to break character.

Shopping not quite your style? Fear not! If you're lucky in your wanderings, your might spot the Unseelie Queen ALICENT HIGHTOWER or her counterpart and opposed Seelie Queen LAURALAE carried on palanquins towards the very back of the faire, where the real heart of the show takes place in a small stadium for entertainment purposes โ€”ย a tourney for distinguishing yourself as the best among your peers in the manor. Prior to the tourney, all characters are given a favor of some kind ( an embroidered handkerchief, ribbon, garland, or piece of jewelry ) to give to a person of their choosing, be they a competitor or not, to show their support. Strangely, this favor seems to link them through an empathetic, sensation-based bond, so they feel everything their chosen competitor experiences. Mutual favors result in a mutual bond.

The challenges are set: ARCHERY/KNIFE THROWING, SWORDFIGHTING/HAND-TO-HAND, and a BARD'S TOURNEY. In addition to the more ye olde flavor of competition, there are also challenges for COUPLE TENNIS, HORSE POLO, and CHESS. And, in true Saltburnt fashion, there is also a somewhat lewd display of voyeuristic NUDE WRESTLING, where the first person to have an orgasm loses. (You can sign up for these competitions HERE.) To every challenge there is dubbed a winner, who in the old Westerosi tradition gets to crown a chosen "maiden" with the title THE QUEEN OR KING OF LOVE AND BEAUTY and an extravagant wreath of flowers, their victory dedicated to the lucky lord or lady. These wreaths are both fashionable and functional โ€” while wearing them, no one can resist following whatever queenly command your character gives. Additionally, winners will receive prizes courtesy of Saltburnt, all to be determined upon victory.

Whichever queen has the most winners at the end of the tourney is crowned HIGH QUEEN OF THE FAE. The Queen is paraded around and celebrated by all, and while tribute is not necessary, it certainly is appreciated!






RING AROUND THE ROSEY


CONTENT WARNINGS: potential for nsfw.

The Ren Faire fixture runs adjacent to the tree line of the forest, which one can enter through a booth manned by THE GREAT WIZARD ARCHIBALD, who warns you to be prepared to enter the Realm of the Fae beyond his backdrop curtain, before handing you a flower and a pair of antlers (or a head piece from your fauna choice) for your journey to the beyond. Upon entering, you are greeted by a forest that bears no resemblance to the woods you've grown to expect in your time at the manor, everything more exaggeratedly lush than it had been even a day or so prior. Plump fruits with slightly glimmering skins grow fat on the vine, every leaf on every tree vibrant and healthy despite the changing of seasons, gone orange and red with the cold. Despite that, it's surprisingly balmy in the forest, everything illuminated by glimmering fairy lights and strung up lanterns. Flowers bloom under your feet, alongside perfect little red mushrooms, everything so idealistic it almost borders on discomfort.

Despite any reservations, there is a wild compulsion to everyone who enters the forest. The flower the wizard gave you is pungent enough to dizzy your head, leading you to the instinct of frolicking โ€” or if you're not the type to frolick, then wandering โ€”ย through the woods, to find some counterpart to your particular flower in a very innocent (or not so innocent) game of cat and mouse. Once you find them, a simple kiss will serve as enough to claim your prize and ease the compulsion. Unless, of course, you want to give a little more. It couldn't hurt, right?

Wander further through the seemingly never ending woods, drawn on of the beauty of faerie, and find yourself at a somewhat rundown chapel surrounded by foliage, the roof and walls broken down with age, invaded by exploring plant life that crawls and vines through every crack and opening. While the stone altar of indeterminate denomination seems like it hasn't been seen for hundreds of years, let alone cleaned, there's the distinct impression you are walking on hallowed, sacred ground when you move to inspect it. Those clever among you might note different runes etched on what appears to be a wooden tabernacle on an ancient pillar at the back of the chapel. Looking into it, there's a word from an unknown language carved inside, complimented with a cheat sheet bit of yellowing paper which reads F. M. K., with further explanation: FRIENDS, MARRY, KINK.

What could it mean? Well. You and whoever you entered the chapel with, or whoever enters next, are stuck until further notice unless you complete one of the proffered options. FRIENDS, it's time you bury the hatchet, let bygones be bygones and accept our faults moving forward, together, to the future. MARRY, let's seal our bonded union with the trees as our witness, in a church of our own making. KINK, if the altar can't be used for the former, it can certainly be used for the latter. Nothing vanilla will do โ€”ย kink up or shut up.

Once completed, you're free to leave and roam around the forest at your leisure. If you wander far enough you might hear a distant, organic sound whirring and clicking from the trees, but don't worry. Whatever is watching you probably doesn't bite.




DIRECTORY


berrying: (pic#17094309)

๏ผฏ๏ผฐ๏ผฅ๏ผฎ๏ผŽ

[personal profile] berrying 2024-11-17 12:55 am (UTC)(link)
๏ผฒ๏ผฅ๏ผฎ ๏ผฆ๏ผก๏ผฉ๏ผฒ๏ผฅ๏ผŽ
( from the moment that zoro steps out onto the grounds and into the elaborate โ€” festival that the balfours have concocted this time, he knows that he's going to like it, even if every single rational part of him is absolutely yelling that he should keep his guard up, that this is just another trick of the house, leading to some inevitable bloody, fucked up conclusion.

except. the outfit they'd given him is comfortable, almost a touch familiar โ€” and there's even a sheath for his sword at his side (there was a fake plastic one inside when he got his costume, but surely they couldn't expect zoro to do anything but throw it out the window of his bedroom in favor of the wado, right?). there's music and vendors and tournaments, a few of which he happily signs up for. the smell of meat hangs in the air precisely for zoro to follow like a man hypnotized, inevitably taking a picture of the abnormally large turkey legs on display and sending it to luffy with the addition of a selfie holding one in front of his face for scale before devouring it.

the part that really catches zoro, though? the bars. there are a few of them, each of them with their own little quirks and gimmicks, different styles of beer, and he's pretty god damned determined to sample them all. maybe it's because he's already tipsy that he doesn't read the name of this one: the naughty wench. he's barely through ordering a can of some kind of fruity beer before the barmaid has him reaching up and gripping the metal loops above his head so she can tip the can back and make him drink from it, talking about how he's so strong that she's sure he can take it, how he's such a good boy, keep sucking, keep sucking, keep sucking, good boy, oh, good kitty, and โ€”

zoro finally chokes out a cough, sweet liquid dripping down his chin as he drops his arms and steals back his beer, face almost as red as his ears are. to whoever has the (mis?)fortune of standing beside him, whether waiting for their own turn or just sheepishly watching with morbid curiosity, zoro impolitely nudges them towards the barmaid, grumbling: )
Your turn.
๏ผฉ๏ผฎ๏ผด๏ผฏ ๏ผด๏ผจ๏ผฅ ๏ผท๏ผฏ๏ผฏ๏ผค๏ผณ๏ผŽ
( still a little drunk from this morning's revelry, zoro gets a flower crown dropped atop his already pretty leafy-colored head by some guy calling himself a wizard (which โ€” yeah right; zoro knows the vibes that witches give, so surely this guy isn't real), a white lily in hand that eventually ends up tucked into the leather harness across his chest. you know, for safekeeping.

the forest is one of the things he still kind of misses from his time in the village, prowling through the underbrush as a tiger to catch a deer to help feed his little family for a few days, climbing up a tree and sleeping on a branch as a cat when sanji was pissing him off and he needed some peace and quiet, and sometimes just ... wandering, as himself. maybe it was the familiar, animalistic part of him that wanted to be in nature.

here? zoro doesn't really have any excuse for why he feels like wandering deeper and deeper, carefully stepping over errant branches, looking around for something, but โ€” what? unfortunately for zoro, his sense of direction is still shitty, so even when he decides to turn back around and head back to the faire, he's absolutely fucking lost.

there's nothing else for him to do except take what is, in zoro's opinion, a well-deserved nap. and it's easy to, with how pretty the light filters through the trees, the way the breeze makes everything sway, birds singing a soothing song, the flowers and plants warm and inviting as he lays down amongst them and drifts off, dead to the world. sleeping beauty, anyone? )
onlyvibes: (pic#17526985)

[personal profile] onlyvibes 2024-11-20 03:05 am (UTC)(link)
[Gideon is dressed in his seelie best and is, indeed, only standing near the bar due to morbid curiosity. Gideon doesn't know Zoro but him chugging that beer certainly is...something. Fascinating in much the same way a train wreck is fascinating and Gideon finds himself wondering if there are any medics nearby.

This of course means that he is the one getting shoved when Zoro is done. Gideon takes it well, though, maintaining his balance and lifting his hands in a hasty gesture of refusal.]


Oh, no. That's a very bad idea.

[In general, Gideon avoids drinking alcohol very often. He's already prone to randomly falling asleep and booze just makes it worse.]
berrying: (pic#16782668)

[personal profile] berrying 2024-11-26 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
( zoro wipes his mouth and his chin with the back of his hand, graceful as ever, laughing when gideon very decidedly waves away the pretty bartender. )

What, dirty talk not your thing?

( said over the mouth of his can of beer as he leans on an elbow against the bar, not usually one for heckling strangers, but he's mmmmaybe a little bit drunk already after imbibing at quite a few stalls. )
onlyvibes: (pic#17522813)

[personal profile] onlyvibes 2024-11-26 03:19 am (UTC)(link)
[To be honest, the dirty talk had been the last thing on his mind, so he kind of blinks at that, bemused rather than baited.]

I was talking about the beer, but I suppose that might have been awkward, too.

[It's not not his thing, but in this particular situation and with a woman it probably wouldn't work out very well for anyone.]
berrying: (pic#16788683)

[personal profile] berrying 2024-12-08 11:14 pm (UTC)(link)
( he just looks at gideon for a moment, brows a little furrowed, eyes a little narrowed, contemplating. considering. what could possibly bring someone who's not down with beer or dirty talk to a bar full of beer and dirty talk? )

Ah, ( zoro says, a very stupid lightbulb going off in his head. ) You're here to watch the show.
onlyvibes: (pic#17365965)

[personal profile] onlyvibes 2024-12-09 03:52 am (UTC)(link)
[Gideon has only just met Zoro and therefore canโ€™t tell yet if heโ€™s just very drunk or actually a himbo in general. Though, really, in the end it doesnโ€™t matter. Itโ€™s not like Gideon is judging him.

He shrugs in something like agreement.]


Well, it was very impressive.
semicharmed: (fairy circle)

into the woods (nap!!!)

[personal profile] semicharmed 2024-11-21 04:09 am (UTC)(link)
[ Matt has left his coat and scarf behind, quite some ways back now. They're hanging on a weirdly hat-rack-shaped branch, while in their stead, Matt has pushed his sweater's sleeves past his elbows and plucked up an armful of ultra-bright flowers. He's got anemones, thistles, black-petaled roses with orange and red edges that make them look almost like they're ablaze. One of the only flowers he doesn't have, it seems, is a white lily.

Though it's not the flower he notices first, but the guy whose chest it's on. ]


Zoro? [ he says. Matt's heart seizes with a moment's panic, worried the worst has happened. But then he catches the regular rise and fall of Zoro's chest, and his shoulders slump in relief. He approaches, footfalls soft on mossy ground, and ducks down. He leans close to Zoro's face, and in a softer, lilting sing-song, says again: ] Zoro ...

[ Damn, he is out. Matt feels a slight urge to move on, to find the bearer of the yellow cowslip that Archibald gave him, but ... he hasn't seen Zoro in a long time. Since before he died. And they haven't had unofficial gym hangout time in weeks.

So Matt figures hell, he can wait. He curls up on the ground a few feet away, facing him, and waits with his head pillowed on one arm for Zoro to wake. ]
berrying: (pic#16788706)

[personal profile] berrying 2024-11-26 03:41 am (UTC)(link)
( zoro can sleep like the dead even in a crappy hammock on a tiny boat rocked by ocean waves with an excitable captain hollering at the top of his lungs because being a pirate is so awesome โ€” so matt can be forgiven for his brief moment of panic. a place as downright idyllic as this forest is right now may as well be as close to naptime heaven for this one, laying on his back beneath a tree, a hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

has it been minutes? hours? it's hard to say, considering the sun's still up โ€” but he's pretty sure it's been up for longer than it should be, surely just another trick of this particular forest's magic.

zoro's awakening is slow, a deep inhale as he comes back to life, blinking his eyes open to blearily take in the foliage above him, almost ... thinking he's back in the forest surrounding the witches' village again, but no. he's just himself, no heightened senses, no connection tugging at his heart. with a small sigh, he stretches out his limbs, turning his head and โ€” isn't surprised to see matt, strangely enough. it's been a weird day, so a friendly face is more than welcome.

through a yawn, corners of his mouth turning up into a small smile: )
Good morning.
semicharmed: (snugglebunny)

[personal profile] semicharmed 2024-11-26 05:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Matt doesn't think he's going to fall asleep himself. This despite the sweetness of the day, the surprising softness of the moss beneath him, the gentle nature sounds trilling in perfect ASMR amid the trees. So he's a bit surprised to find the words good morning sifting down like sunlight through leaves, penetrating his doze.

Matt spends a moment genuinely wondering if he's fallen asleep here overnight and it's the actual next morning. The wash of adrenaline does wonders for his alertness. ]


--Morning, Zoro. [ Matt's own smile is crooked, apologetic in the way he can't help being with everyone he knows when he sees them for the first time post-revival. ] You were so peaceful, I didn't wanna wake you.

[ Also, it might have been physiologically impossible. ]

Have any nice dreams?
berrying: (pic#16782635)

[personal profile] berrying 2024-12-09 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
( everything kind of feels like he is dreaming right now, all warm with sleep, the crown of fragrant flowers on his head that he's definitely accidentally squished because he forgot about it. he must be dreaming, because matt's here, and matt's dโ€”

except.

matt really is here, laying adjacent to zoro on the bed of boss, smiling sheepishly at him. the dreamy, sleepy smile fades as he sobers, eyebrows knit together, propping himself up on an arm as his gaze traces him from head to toe and back again, looking for โ€” the obvious shit. the black wounds all over his skin. the brand on his chest. there's nothing. )


I had a bad one where you were dead.
semicharmed: (I'm sorry what?)

[personal profile] semicharmed 2024-12-10 07:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[ A look of sadness spreads across Matt's face, in time with Zoro's examination. Dying sucks, of course, but nobody could have prepared him for all the ways in which it sucks. Agony, mortal dread, those you can more or less anticipate. But having your death posted publicly, infecting the manor like some psychic illness? Coming back and seeing how miserable people were? Matt would never have expected it. ]

That one wasn't a dream, [ he murmurs. ] Sorry to say.

[ He gusts a sigh, regarding Zoro with a pained look. ]

I'm sorry if I scared you, [ he adds. ] Or--made you sad. During the game, I wrote some messages for people, and I forgot to take the spell off, so ...

I didn't know I'd come back.