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π–˜π–†π–‘π–™π–‡π–šπ–—π–“π–™ π–’π–”π–‰π–˜. ([personal profile] saltburntmods) wrote in [community profile] draino2025-01-04 08:00 am
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π“π‡πˆπ’ πˆπ’ 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐈 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 β–£ JAN TDM





JANUARY 2025 TDM: IMMORTALITY


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, the menu has been redone by some guests in the manor. 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."




8-BALL

CONTENT WARNINGS: drugs, nsfw.

In all 700 (and change!) years of Saltburnt's existence, never has the new year been rung in with anything less than a bang. Similarly, the manor is a bustle of activity in the post-Christmas week, setting up predominately in and around the Operating Theatre. Formally, all guests are welcomed to celebrate on the 31st of December leading into the new year by a fancy, handwritten invitation, delivered individually by Giles. BLACK TIE, the invite says. LET'S MAKE IT A GOOD YEAR, DAWG.

Upon arrival, it's plain to see the Operating Theatre has gotten a glow up since last visited. The amphitheater stairs serve as a dramatic entrance to walk through, the main floor usually designed for holding cadavers for dissection instead replaced with a dance floor. Everything is black, white, and as silver as surgery tools, the room seemingly a great deal larger than when it was last observed β€”Β though, maybe that's your eyes playing tricks on you. Don't worry about it!

Celebrate instead, ringing in the new year with loud, Eurodance music and American rock, bodies dancing together for one last hurrah of 2006. In true Saltburnt fashion, there's a snack spread on the organized operating tables β€”Β Vietnamese spring rolls, glass noodles, Prosecco jello shots to go with the tall flutes of champagne passed around on silver plates. Additionally, there are some silver platters circling the venue full of tall mounds of white, powdery cocaine, already spliced into lines for convenience. The name of the game is indulgence, as ever, getting one's worst habits out of the way to make room for better, healthier choices in the new year.

For the last hour of the year, a mock time ball in the shape of an magic 8-ball is set up in the center of the room, slowly inching up as time ticks down. At 11:59, the ball reaches its zenith, much more rapidly moving the other way as the countdown starts. Once the countdown drops to the 10s, everyone in the room is pairing up in couples (or trios?) to kiss at the strike of midnight, loudly chanting the last five numbers in chanting succession, 3, 2, 1, and happy new year!

Several things happen at once, following your kiss, or the strike of midnight if you're more of a lone wolf. Firstly, everyone's clothes disappear, left completely naked in the theatre. Any fabric they might think to dress themselves in will miraculously disappear once they put it on, and any attempts to escape the room are likewise barred, doors unopenable for the time being. At the same time, the 8-ball which reached the bottom of its stand rolls over, presenting its windowed side to all who look upon it β€”Β and all who look upon it will see one of 20 different instructions.

For a fun game, roll a d20 and see what you get!



































Naturally, the doors only permit you to leave after achieving whatever challenge the 8-ball gave you, where you can run nakedly back to your room and find some clothes, saying goodnight to a wonderful year. Any and all party poopers uninterested in taking part will be let go an hour or so post midnight β€”Β approximately when it stops being funny.






NEW YEAR, NEW ME


CONTENT WARNINGS: homophobia, misogyny, implied grooming, cultural insensitivity.

New year is a time for new beginnings, and it's no surprise that many resolutions involve the bettering of one's self. Exercise and eating healthy are all usual suspects, but what if you could take a little something that did it all for you, effort-free? New Years Resolutions the easy way β€”Β try ReSculpt, an organic supplement using exotic kinds of sea kelp, as provided by Portia's personal life coach SHAMAN LEAF, for making a better you. Fat melts away and wrinkles smooth out, complexions clear and muscles strengthen, all with the help of this miraculous product! Simply apply the topical ointment on yourself, and watch a new and improved you emerge β€” even those of you who wouldn't choose it willingly can take part, as it's stocked in every bathroom, in the shape of an ordinary lotion bottle.

Of course, it doesn't only effect your looks. The road to a better you requires a full makeover, changing you from the inside out. Be the son your father always wanted, or the wife your husband deserves β€” become a better partner, a better housewife, a better soldier, a better friend. Whatever any of that means to you, whether changing your style or the people you're attracted to, this magical lotion seems to clear it up and straighten you out, turn you into a true, decent member of polite upperclass society. Even Portia in the days following New Years appears younger, nearly like a girl in her teens thanks to the power of ReSculpt. On your journey to self-improvement, you might feel inclined to sign up for Shaman Leaf's 12-step guide to proper English behaviors, including lessons in etiquette, fine dining, lovemaking with respectful hands-on accompaniment, and a suggested sizable donation on towards Shaman Leaf's travel fund. All of it concludes in a graduation for the enlistees in the form of a debutante ball.

Not to worry if you didn't take the course β€” all are welcome to witness the caterpillar become the butterfly in this re-introduction to society in one of Saltburnt's many exemplary ballrooms. As opposed to the more carefree party that welcomed in the year, the debutante ball is steeped in the premeditated societal structures of an aristocratic family, everything proper and regal by design, complete with huge, expensive dresses and expertly tailored, starch-collared suits. Luckily, ReSculpt will see to everyone conforming to the expectations of society, without complaint. Unluckily, the side effects seem to kick in at the debutante ball.

Step one: paranoia. Is this who you really are? What happened to the person you were a few days ago? Where did everything that made you who you are go? Dread creeps in, a discordant note, a cold breeze. Step two: touch repulsion. The dances at the ball are all respectful, leaving plenty of room for Jesus, flirty little wrist touches and soft, careful hands β€” and you're disgusted by wanting more, confused by it. Consumed by it? Scared of it. The sick touch of skin on skin is as offensive as it is arousing, like gripping ice cubes in your hand and flinching at the numbing, burning pain. Step three: hallucinations. You turn in a dance and the hand that slips into yours is more bone than flesh. The ballroom itself seems to grow more decayed than decadent, ghosts and horrifying faces spliced between the crowd, all looking at you, angry and disturbed. Is that face looking back at you your own? Can your friends tell you from a doppelgΓ€nger? Who even are you anymore?

And finally, step four: rehab. As it turns out, Shaman Leaf is not actually a good guy. That is, he's not a guy at all but a pΓΊca, here to unleash a humble amount of chaos and then quickly skedaddle while the iron's still hot, escaping with mischievous shapeshifting behaviors through the closest door, galloping to the forest. Though his exit from the premises doesn't clear up the effects of ReSculpt, it's nothing a little week spent very fashionably in rehab can't clear up. Going cold turkey is the only way to remove it from your system β€” and you do want to remove it from your system. A depleting supply will force you into withdrawals regardless, in the form of continued paranoia and hallucinations, acting hot and cold with touch, alternating between your true self and ReSculpt self, fevers, nosebleeds, puking, and blacking out. A good detox for the new year.



DIRECTORY


gganbu: (Default)

seong gi-hun | squid game, new character currrent player

[personal profile] gganbu 2025-01-05 07:44 pm (UTC)(link)
cw: minor spoilers for Squid Game Season 2

arrival;

( There's a gun at his head one moment, and then there isn't the next as time almost stops for Seong Gi-hun. Reality comes crashing down harder than anything prior along with the knowledge that it all ultimately led to this moment....

He wakes up in a bed, one more comfortable than those that had been provided on the island and he gives a small groan as he sits up and looks around blearily. This isn't the large hall room he had been in, nor is it the dormitory they had all been reluctantly sleeping in. This is somewhere else and all Gi-hun can do is stare suspiciously as someone walks in to throw open the curtains, letting in the daylight before making an exit. Being knocked out and waking up somewhere new isn't as uncommon as he would like it to be, but those had somewhat been from his choices. This was not and eventually he moves, staring silently at the green uniform that hangs unceremoniously in the wardrobe, still stained with blood before he moves it to one side to grab some slacks and a shirt.

It's easy enough to make his way to breakfast, looking around the room and at those currently eating with an incredulous expression. These people didn't look like staff, which meant they were in the same situation? Seriously? A quick look around confirms no obvious security cameras and when he's unable to find anything else that would give him a clue, Gi-hun turns to the nearest poor soul who has opted for breakfast that moment.
)

How could you eat at a time like this? You just wake up in a strange place and decide to eat, huh?


new year 8-ball;

( Eventually Gi-hun is given the talk about not being able to leave, and there's a few days where he actually tries to do as much, each time a hazy memory that fades away when waking up in bed the next day. The whole thing feels like some kind of game is being played they're unaware of, that being stuck in a place with "no escape", being fed and watered, there just has to be something going on.

He sits at the bar and watches the festivities taking place around him he can't help but wait for the other shoe to drop. The manor has provided a black suit and black bow tie for him that evening, an outfit he wears uncomfortably as the memories that come with wearing a similar outfit are all too prominent. Thoughts of friends who left too soon cross Gi-hun's mind more frequently than he'd like right now, and his drink remains untouched as he watches the world move around him like it seems to these days. The plates of white powder are declined with a stunned look.

The countdown begins and he watches the timer, idly wondering if the games were still going on without him. Had he simply been added to the pot of money like all the others who never made it to the end? Not that there's much time to mull that one over as suddenly things are a lot more chilly than they had been, his clothes instantly gone.
)

What — !?

( A look around confirms everyone is in the same boat as Gi-hun covers himself with his hands, flustered and stunned by what's evening happening. The shoe, it seems, has dropped and taken everyone's clothes with it. )


network;

[personal profile] 456

So which part of this is the game?


wildcard;

( Gi-hun can be found wandering around the manor, looking for hidden cameras under things like vases and behind pictures. Or he can be found at breakfast pushing the food around his plate, stunned that this is even happening. His kinks are here, happy to play out anything. Please let me know if you don't want Season 2 Spoilers and I will avoid them in tags. )
Edited 2025-01-05 20:02 (UTC)
leavening: (pic#17125979)

arrival (i've watched up to episode 7 of season 2)

[personal profile] leavening 2025-01-05 10:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[Hyunsu is piling his plate with sausage and eggs like he usually does, initially oblivious to Gi-hun and his confusion just a couple of feet away. But then he starts to speak and Hyunsu does a double take. The only other Koreans here are all people Hyunsu knows. This guy is new.

Which is also obvious by the question he's asking, really. Hyunsu blinks, silent for a moment as he looks down at his plate and then back and Gi-hun.]


It's not that strange to me anymore, I've been here awhile.

[He can understand the sentiment of distrust, though.]

Don't worry. The breakfast food is safe to eat. It's just kind of boring.
gganbu: (3)

Brill ~

[personal profile] gganbu 2025-01-05 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Don't worry......?

( Gi-hun can't help but mouth the words back, taken aback by the young man's casual demeanour. He's seen a few like it in the games but they usually realise the severity of the situation quickly enough if they manage to get past the first round. This though? It's a whole new level of relaxed and the older man can't help the small spike of worry. Does the kid not understand the situation...?

He takes a seat next to Hyunsu, brows drawing together in concern as he tries to get his point across complete with small hand gestures.
)

Good food or bad, doesn't make a difference when we should be finding a way out of here.
leavening: (pic#17478648)

[personal profile] leavening 2025-01-05 10:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[Hyunsu stares at him a moment sympathetically. Again, he understands the sentiment, but it's more complicated than that.]

That's easier said than done.

[If the house was easy to escape there would be far fewer people here.

Society might have collapsed in Hyunsu's world, but it still feels rude to eat before an elder, so he just idly pushes his eggs around on his plate with his fancy fork as he studies him.]


When did you wake up here? Just this morning?
gganbu: (6)

[personal profile] gganbu 2025-01-05 10:52 pm (UTC)(link)
( Normally Gi-hun would get his own food and release Hyunsu from his etiquette dilemma, but right now there are more important things such as escaping before whatever this place is up to takes hold. If they escape they can figure out what's going on before taking it down. It's enough to excuse Gi-hun's impolite hand motions in his own mind at least.

He glances over at the doorway before raising his eyebrows at the kid. Even now there's little urgency in the other's movements and he can't help but wonder if he's missed a trick somewhere.
)

Easier said than done? There's a door over there, and a man who says they will call for a car. Or are you saying that's too good to be true?
leavening: (pic#17478646)

[personal profile] leavening 2025-01-05 11:15 pm (UTC)(link)
They're lying.

[It's blunt, but honest. Or at least, it's honesty from his perspective. It may be that the servants don't realize they're lying. That whatever magic governs the house has them believe what they say is true even though it's not. Hyunsu doesn't know enough about magic to really understand it all. He just knows what doesn't work.]

They'll say they're calling for a car, but the car will never come. You can try leaving through the gate on foot, but...there's something wrong outside the manor grounds. It will make you sick. You'll end up waking up back in your room tomorrow morning, like you did today.
gganbu: (5)

[personal profile] gganbu 2025-01-06 09:28 am (UTC)(link)
( They're lying. It's as simple as that, and as much as Gi-hun wants to argue the point and potentially drag the kid out of here, he knows it's the truth. The sense of dΓ©jΓ  vu is considerable, as if somehow he's been here having this morning before now. But then only the manor really knows that it's Gi-hun's second day, not his first, and he stares in silence for a moment before silently getting up and walking away.

Hyunsu could be forgiven for thinking that the end of it, but only for a few minutes as the older man returns to the table with a plate of eggs and what he hopes is a mug of coffee. This time he sits opposite, taking a reluctant mouthful of the breakfast as he considers next steps. There has to be next steps, just waiting for something to happen doesn't feel right when things back home are so chaotic. Everyone had to believe he'd been killed by now and Gi-hun briefly wonders if he'd be mourned for a few minutes before the next round began.
)

You said you've been here a while. How long?
leavening: (pic#17128618)

[personal profile] leavening 2025-01-06 09:54 am (UTC)(link)
[The silence that hangs in the air feels heavy. Gi-hun looks downright dejected and Hyunsu feels some regret for being so blunt with his words, although if he's honestly not sure if there's a nice way to explain the reality of this house.

And when Gi-hun stands and leaves Hyunsu is...concerned. He thinks he should call him back or check if he's okay, but as is often the case Hyunsu is slow to speak. In the end he just sits awkwardly, as Gi-hun goes to get his food.

He's a little surprised when Gi-hun returns and sits again and it takes him a moment to process the question.]


A few months. Close to four now, I think.
Edited (Typo) 2025-01-06 09:55 (UTC)
gganbu: (3)

[personal profile] gganbu 2025-01-06 10:35 am (UTC)(link)
Four months?!

( It's such a large number that Gi-hun almost misses his mouth with some fried egg, shocked by the idea that someone could be here so long and not just leave. It lends credence to the idea of not being able to and the familiar feeling of dread settles back around his shoulders. A strange place, no way out and nothing set in stone as to what the deal actually is. As much as he hates the games, Gi-hun can at least admit those had some kind of criteria to fulfil.

Gi-hun looks around the room briefly, noting how everyone is just enjoying their breakfast and not frantically climbing the walls in an attempt to escape. How could so many be in one place and no-one notices? Back home no-one noticed because those who went missing were those already down on their luck, people who could be written off as in dire trouble to begin with. This? This is something else entirely.
)

What's your name? Has no-one noticed you are missing? ( Friends, parents, anyone? )
leavening: (pic#17137141)

[personal profile] leavening 2025-01-06 10:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Cha Hyunsu.

[That first question is easy to answer, but the second one makes him pause. He's not sure that time here works the same as it does back home, but if it does he doesn't think anyone would actually notice if he were missing. Not right away, anyway. Not when the people most likely to notice are here with him.

Maybe Yi-Su and Yi-Kyung would eventually, but he'd already separated from them, so it could take awhile. And, really, in his world people go missing all the time at this point.

Eventually he shrugs a bit.]


My friends are here, too.
dwelt: (pic#17617341)

network, @september (seen all of s2! ❀️)

[personal profile] dwelt 2025-01-06 02:39 am (UTC)(link)
debatable.
it would have to be a really long game.
gganbu: (6)

[personal profile] gganbu 2025-01-06 08:59 am (UTC)(link)
You think it isn't one?
dwelt: (pic#17617290)

[personal profile] dwelt 2025-01-06 03:26 pm (UTC)(link)
it might be.
i think it's something else.
varieties: (qX8R2Sr)

network | texting: @shifts.

[personal profile] varieties 2025-01-06 06:20 am (UTC)(link)
why, having fun?
gganbu: (Default)

[personal profile] gganbu 2025-01-06 09:07 am (UTC)(link)
You think this is fun?
varieties: (zP378vL)

[personal profile] varieties 2025-01-06 03:16 pm (UTC)(link)
oh yeah, i'm having a fucking blast.

[ sorry, gi-hun, they speak fluent sarcasm. ]

games usually like this where you come from?
smudgy: (Default)

@GETJINXED

[personal profile] smudgy 2025-01-06 12:39 pm (UTC)(link)
u haven’t rolled the dice yet?????
better find it fast !
gganbu: (4)

[personal profile] gganbu 2025-01-06 02:39 pm (UTC)(link)
And what if I don't find it?
deferences: (β™ͺ crosstalk)

8-ball (i've seen all of s2 so i'm good with any spoilers!)

[personal profile] deferences 2025-01-07 05:51 am (UTC)(link)
[β€œwhatβ€”?!”

sizhui's attention directs toward gi-hun, his eyebrows lifting with consideration and his head tilted to one side. so, it's not just him then, huh? good, a part of him thinks, he doesn't have to worry about being the only one embarrassed. his initial idea of stealing a tablecloth doesn't go over well either and when all else seems hopeless, he just accepts the fact that he's naked, casually strolls up to the other man, and turns so his back is facing him, giving gi-hun what little covering his smaller frame offers.
]

Don't be too surprised, [he says over his shoulder.] These sorts of things happen in places like this.

[places like this because this isn't his first time experiencing strange new worlds and it certainly won't be his last. also: here's hoping gi-hun doesn't get embarrassed by this position, even if sizhui's making sure to leave a respectable amount of space between the two of them.]
029: (Default)

network; @029

[personal profile] 029 2025-01-07 02:05 pm (UTC)(link)
what game are we even playing?