it's getting hot in here

[happyheartsstaff]

SO (PLEASE DON'T) TAKE OFF ALL YOUR CLOTHES

Days are almost meaningless, here in Wonderland. With the eternal twilight outside the windows and many of the hotel's amenities open around the clock, it can be hard to keep track, can't it? But you must sleep, or at least return to your room, some time. It's on one of these times that you may begin to notice a faint sound coming from inside the walls. Or is it the ceiling? The floor? Something that sounds like scratching, or tapping, or the strained whir of machinery. Then it fades away. Whether it's moving on to another room or stopping entirely, it's hard to tell.

After a few nights, or days, of this happening, it suddenly stops. There's a brief period of peace, and perhaps you even get some rest. Then there's a series of thumps, sharp clicks and a loud stuttering sound that signals the hotel's air conditioning unit giving out.

At first it's not so bad. It's dark out, right, how hot can it really be outside? The air itself still seems to be circulating, albeit more slowly, but it's enough that you can breathe. But the heat seems to keep building, and building, the air hanging heavy and thick and leaving a lingering feeling that it's pressing down on you. Even sitting still no longer becomes enough to ease the suffocating heat.

The staff don't know what's happened to the air conditioner, when you ask. "Oh, that finicky thing", they say, as if it's a minor inconvenience. They assure you that the Queen's mechanics will have it fixed in no time — they always do. In the meantime, can they interest you in a refreshing iced tea? Perhaps a dip in the pool?

Is it your imagination, or do a few of the staff seem a little uncertain as they try to brush off your questions? A little less confident than they always have been before? Whatever their demeanor, it seems they still have no answers to give. The astute may notice that after a conversation with one of these staff, they can't seem to be found again.

As if that weren't enough, the scratching in the walls starts up again. With the oppressive heat, the rising tension and frayed nerves, is it any wonder that the staff might seem more apprehensive?

THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT 06/11 - 06/13

Sleeping is probably hard enough, in a hotel where the activity never seems to cease. At least it's generally quiet in the upper floors, at least Oysters can turn out the lights in their own room and find some peace.

...usually, anyway.

At first it's only the faintest sounds, something only noticeable to those who sleep lightly. The staff, if asked, don't acknowledge hearing anything and seem politely concerned about anything disturbing the rest of their guests. Oysters may be offered ear plugs, or a device to listen to music, or a trip to the spa for relaxation.

Then it grows in both volume and frequency, disturbing even the heaviest of sleepers at night. Some staff still say they haven't heard anything, other staff acknowledge the sounds but brush them off, unconcerned. Every building has its quirks, after all! There does seem to be an increase in staff milling about, however, making it difficult for those who may want to look into things without being seen.

CLICK CLICK... THUMP

06/14 - 06/21

The fourth day of the event begins with a short period of blissful silence, quickly ruined by a loud, persistent clicking sound, audible in all parts of the hotel... And then an even louder THUMP as the air conditioning unit gives out.

At first, it's not terrible — the air is still circulating, and while the heat is uncomfortable it's not unbearable. As time goes on, though, the heat builds and builds, until not even staying in place will provide any relief.

The staff profess ignorance to whatever happened to the air conditioner, if asked — some more convincingly than others. They all offer iced teas for relief, and suggest a dip in the Pool of Tears, though those who seem uncertain when answering any questions will try to leave the conversation faster, and won't be easily found again.

While the iced teas are incredibly effective at helping to beat the heat, they once again seem to offer some strange effects — enough glasses, and Oysters will be overcome either with anger and irritation, or a sense of serene calm. Any little thing could set off an Oyster who's been affected by the anger-inducing tea; an Oyster who drank the calming tea is utterly unflappable. These effects persist for just as long as it takes for the cooling effects to wear off, at which point Oysters are left with a choice — deal with the heat, or take their chances with another tea?

And to top it all off, the scratching noise in the walls has started up again. The few staff remaining at this point are as unhelpful as ever, but they don't have the same infuriating calm to their answers — but who could blame them being a little nervous?

QUEEN'S ADDRESS

06/21

And finally, the tenth day brings relief in the form of a loud shuddering sound, and then the quiet whoosh of a working air conditioner. Over the course of the day, the Hotel gets progressively cooler, until it is once again at the comfortable, cool temperature Oysters had grown used to in their first month here in the Hotel.

It also brings an address from the Queen.

"Oh, my curious Oysters, when you try to play with that which you don't understand, you break things! Not to fear, all has been set to rights now that our dear Dormouse has fixed what some careless guest disrupted. If you wanted to play games, you should have simply said! I have a dear companion for you who is so eager to join in the fun."

The Queen will not respond to any messages sent back to her.

If you have any questions, please direct them to the OOC post here. RNG results for the off limits areas will be going out tomorrow, so if anyone would still like to sign up for those that hasn't yet please do so tonight!

PREMISE RULES FAQ TAKEN RESERVES APPLICATION MOD CONTACT HIATUS & DROPS WORLD INFO NPCS CALENDAR AC REWARDS

© tessisamess

Comments

[billowing]

"You will heal," he answers resolutely, as he takes a seat and begins to strum.

He plays, of course, their song.

[scaredofdogs]

He smiles again, watching him play for a few seconds before closing his eyes. The sound of it is calming and heals his soul even if it doesn't heal his ankle. It doesn't take long before that exhaustion takes over and he falls asleep.

[sadflutenoises]

[Wei Wuxian wears an easy smile as Lan Xichen follows him out of the bar, and slows his pace to walk side-by-side toward the lower levels. It's a bit of a relief, not only is it nice to have another set of hands, it's a lot easier to not look suspicious when it's just a couple of friends out for a walk.

It's only a handful of words, but it's hard not to pick them apart. Isn't it obvious that if he can't use talismans, any sort of cultivation would be similarly affected? And then to casually mention Meng Yao? Not Jin Guangyao? They seemed odd mis-steps from someone like Zewu Jun.]

Mm. It's unfortunate. Oh- but...

[Cultivation, demonic or otherwise, just wasn't an option here. He didn't have Chenqing, or even a simple bamboo flute with which to channel resentful energy, and while even a whistle could work as a crude means, that connection he'd had just... wasn't there.

Still, Wei Wuxian wasn't the sort to give in, just because certain powers were lost to him. If there was another way, he'd find it. And in fact, he'd at least a lead to follow in regards to that.]

...if we're looking for other options, some of the teas will grant new abilities, at least temporarily. Or maybe release the seal on our own? Finding which will have the desired effect is the difficult part.

[The emotional whiplash the teas had a tendency to give out might be worth it, if one of them granted power in exchange. Rather than explain, he gives a simple shrug, leading them to a stairwell. He glances around for any prying eyes before slipping through the door.]

[sizeofyourbaggage]

[ Damn, Shepard. Sam is both suitably impressed and not at all surprised.

He doesn't see what's in the room at first, busy watching her back just in case someone comes at them from one of the other doors - the dissonance of the quiet associated with such a forceful act is creepy as shit, but it doesn't mean no one heard it. It's only when he hears her curse that all of his focus goes back to her, just in time so see her walk dazedly into the room.

Shit.

Sam follows, eyes taking in the sheer scope of what's before him - oh, yeah, he knows what this is despite having never stepped foot on one. It should be impossible, for the hotel to have a door that leads to a spaceship, but then, a lot of things about this hotel should be impossible.

And then the door closes behind them, disappearing seamlessly into the ship as if it was never there, and this time Sam curses out loud. ]

Shit.

[ He pauses from going to check to see if it's really gone, just in case, when he hears her identify it as not just any spaceship, but hers. That - oh, that makes things so much more complicated. ]

Were you on it before you came here?

[sadflutenoises]

"Let me guess... Unrequited?" he sniffs, feeling a bit more satisfied after having his own feelings poked at.

"I mean, that's good, isn't it? If some of us can use them, it's better than none at all," he shrugs. Maybe a little confusing, but when one path closed to you, sometimes you had to seek out another way. Even if it was a more difficult path.

"Had, yes, yes," he waves his hand inconsequentially, "no talismans, no talking to spirits, no cultivation, demonic or otherwise. Just a mediocre human, I'm afraid. But I wouldn't mind hearing more about the tea you found that got you to this point in the first place. What set it apart from the rest?"

[spoilers]

"Yes, it is, isn't it?" She sounds...bitter. Bitter and angry. Because he's right. The hotel, or whoever is in charge of it, is toying with their emotions. And River hates being used that way.

As for his second question. "Perhaps in a bit. More important things to worry about."

[spoilers]

"Probably not," she agrees and smiles wider.

River loves a good mystery to solve, an adventure, the thrill of the chase. With or without the Doctor.

"Any theories?"

[stargazed]

"Forgive me if I don't know how much that should be making me 'quake'," Mikumo says, her tone amused but not in a scornful way. She legitimately has very little knowledge of belief systems with Heavens and Hells considering she's a cloned priestess from a society before humans, and was only really programmed with knowledge she needed for her work. It means most of her concept of cosmic powers comes from the very people she was cloned from in the first place, as they're the most meaningful and lasting cosmic power she knows of in her world.

His potshot at how to test her powers gets a laugh, but there's something humourless about it. He's slightly closer to the mark than she'd like, and certainly closer than she's going to admit since that part of her powers shouldn't be accessible here anyway. "Something along those lines. Make sure it's a song you can put a lot of feeling into, because the emotion is the important part. They won't feel it if it's not there, and then you'll just be left with a functionally useless tea."

[stargazed]

[Mikumo gives a slight, reminiscent hum of amusement when he mentions the happy tea, because she did try one of those soon after she arrived, and she can see how it would help in a certain way. Not necessarily with getting to the bottom of any problem, but with being able to handle it.

However, the mention of an enforcer takes her mind off that for the moment, and her brows draw, curious but also as if something she's been concerned about has been confirmed. She didn't particularly push any boundaries last time, just explored, having wanted to get a better read of the place.]

No, but I've been quite careful not to rock the boat so far. I wanted to know what the consequences would be before I made that decision. [She figured someone would - she's been around plenty enough people to know that there's always someone who'll step out of line if they think it's right.] Did he say much to you? Considering how much control the Queen seems to have over this place, I'm not sure I want to know what kind of powers an enforcer would have to punish someone if it went that far, but we're hardly going to stay "docile" for long.

[A somewhat dry stress on that word, since she imagines most of them are just biding their time more than anything. It would be useful to know what might be hanging over their heads if they move a little too boldly.]

[stargazed]

I got one of those too, though I haven't tried it yet. [She wasn't completely sure what emotion it involved, honestly, so while she is curious about certain emotions she hasn't had much reason to feel before now, she's been saving it until she has a better idea of how this place functions.

She does give an amused sort of grin at his follow-up.] I suppose the Queen wouldn't be a royal if she walked among us common Oysters. And it would be a little too easy for us if she slipped up like that.

[When the Queen seems to have so much control over this place, Mikumo can't imagine she'd make an oversight like that and let someone with a useful power take advantage of it on her.]

[stargazed]

[Mikumo's not really wired to register creepy, so it just looks kind of strange to her, and the smile she offers back is more amused than anything. Not something she would've expected to see today, but for all she dislikes this place there's certainly a lot of novelties.

That amusement in her smile only increases once he mentions not telling Crowley, but whether she does that or not really depends on if it takes her fancy.] I do know him. I might've asked about the wings earlier, otherwise, I haven't encountered any Protoculture descendants with them.

[There's some weird humanoids where she comes from, but winged ones specifically she hasn't met yet.] Maybe it'll have slipped my mind by the next time I meet him, but I suppose that depends on how soon it is. We'll see.

[stargazed]

A little of both. It's, ah... [She pauses, brow furrowing slightly with thought. A lot of the terminology surrounding what she does is fairly specific to her world, so she takes a moment to consider how to describe it outside of that context. It's not something she's really had to think about before now.]

In the last few years, a strange condition appeared in the part of the galaxy I live in. You could call it like a disease, but it can stay hidden until something sets it off, and it makes people uncontrollably violent and very difficult to stop. Outbreaks of it are usually wide-scale, so imagine a city where a fraction of the population suddenly becomes murderous, and then add to that the fact that it's not uncommon for it to affect military bases or armed troops. My voice, and those of the others I sing with, have a certain quality that interferes with that condition and can return people affected by it to normal or protect unaffected people from having it activate.

[In other words, they calm things down so nobody ends up dead from the weird outbreaks. In an ideal situation, at least, and they've had plenty of ones that weren't ideal.]

[lunchbreaks]

Ah--hmm, well, yesss, I... cccertainly hope so. Thank you.

[ He's not sure if that was an affirmative or not, so his thanks sounds a little bit confused, a little bit unsure.

But it doesn't matter, because-- ]

I'm sorry, what exactly is a Protoculture descendant?

[ He's never heard that term before, and he doesn't like terms he doesn't know. Therefore, he seeks to get rid of them by knowing them instead! ]

[inquiryguqin]

"It is. So many stars." But he wanted to sit under real stars under the open nightsky with him. If only there are real stars out and they're out in the field with the donkey to accompany them. How he wished they are back home again.

He sat still to allow him to kiss him and clean him as he gazed at him up close. Closing his eyes, he leans forward to quietly kisses him back on those soft lips. The first kiss, then the second, and followed by a third. Instinctively curled his tongue around his.

It comes to no surprise. It's something that comes naturally, wanting to kiss him. After a series of kisses, he finished by gently rubbing his forehead against his, and quietly finished eating the rest of the drinks and snacks.

[inquiryguqin]

He figured then, the room releases him first, and he was held prisoner much longer.

"Mn. Same. Except you're not with me. You're in the other room. I was released much later, probably after you." He continues to rub the ointment around his foot, then taking out an elastic ace wrap from the first aid kit, he wraps it around his foot for a tight compression to help reduce pain and swelling. He finished wrapping it up with two metal pins to keep it in place.

He finished the treatment by placing a pillow beneath his foot to elevate it and placed a bag of ice on the area. "The ice will help reduce the swelling."

His impression remain impassive as he treats him. Calmly, "So he did. I'm glad." Glad that he saved his life when he couldn't, so he's setting his own selfishness aside. "I'm here now, so I'll be able to help you."

[inquiryguqin]

"It was mushrooms. But she is grinding it and mixing it."

At the mention of pies, perhaps he was assuming it. That it goes into the cookie and cakes, but he can't help but to wonder. He did see a few pies, but he can't help but to wonder...

"Pies? Perhaps." But still, he remains suspicious.

[lunchbreaks]

He does look on suspiciously. "Well, if you see those at the dining hall, could you point them out to me? Maybe we can study them."

He looks on, wondering.

"But why... would they feed us such things?"

[billowing]

I see.

[ In that case, he's glad that other places have the sort of calming quality that he thought was unique to the Lan Sect magic. ]

I would like to hear your music sometime.

[ If possible, and if she's willing. They both might have something to learn! ]

[scaredofdogs]

He returns those kisses eagerly, finally knowing what it feels like to enjoy them when they are both sober and there is nothing pushing them to be too eager. There is something nice and sweet about them.

Wei Wuxian pouts a little when the kisses end. He feels like he has a lot of making up to do in that department...he has a lot to make up for in a lot of areas but he wants it to happen naturally. And probably not in the pool area...Especially there are still stragglers around who wander in also trying to escape the heat.

But he also knows there is still a lot to talk about between them. He still feels like Lan Wangji might be a little upset with him and he doesn't really know how to fix it.

"Are you okay, Lan Zhan?" He wants to make sure there isn't anything left bothering him. Wei Wuxian wants to be completely open and honest about everything and his feelings from this point on and he doesn't want Lan Wangji to hold anything back either.

[scaredofdogs]

Wei Wuxian whines as that ice gets applied, "It's cold, Lan Zhan!! If it were still hot in here it would be different but the air is back on and that is really really cold..." He knows he can't really argue and that it has to be on his foot but that doesn't mean he isn't going to be a bit of a baby about it for a few seconds.

He pulls the blanket up and around him more to try and combat that cold feeling on his foot. He watches him, for a moment as he considers what Lan Wangji might be thinking about the other one saving him. It wasn't really saving in a hero kind of sense..but in a way he did save him from walking on that foot any more then he already had.

But there is just something about his expression that seems a little off. And Wei Wuxian has gotten pretty good at those expressions. "Do you not like the other you?" How can someone not like..themself? It's an odd question even in his mind but how else is he supposed to ask it?

[inquiryguqin]

He was upset and he got hurt from the outbursts, letting his emotions gotten the best of him, but not right now. At the moment, nothing comes to mind, so there isn't anything to bring up for Wei Wuxian to feel guilty for. There is much to talk about when the topics of the heart will come up, but for now, Lan Wangji is placid, looking at his reflection in the pool and then looking at him.

There's nothing to fix if that is what Wei Wuxian is worried about since he is content to stay by his side and stay with him for the entire time.

"Wei Ying, I am okay as long as you are. I just want a quiet evening by spending time with you." He is honest and open, open to anything to receive and give. "If you want to kiss me or hold me, don't hold anything back." Then he blushes lightly, but it must be said. "If you want to sleep with me, let's do it when we're both ready and prepared. We'll figure things out together."

[scaredofdogs]

"Oh? What are you worrying about?" Besides being angry at the staff obviously..not that being angry is really going to do anything. The staff seems rather unflappable. Well..usually. Lately they seem a little out of sorts.

[inquiryguqin]

"I'm sorry it's cold, but I don't trust the medicine they gave me. Not until I'm certain it's safe. So endure it."

The ice inside the bag will eventually melt slowly, so it's going to be a cold, wet feeling on his foot.

At his question, he looks to the side to think and consider. He has been imprisoned for hours, and felt helpless during that time. His own knuckles hurt and bleed. Taking the pain-relieving medicine they given him actually works, so he's pretty sure the pain-relief pills aren't poisoned.

By Lan principles, he is guided to tell the truth. "I do not know him well enough. If you wish, I will confer to him and express my gratitude." Since it's a polite thing to do.

[earthborn]

No, I... [she stops, distracted by some small detail. It's just so eerie, so strange. All the indication of power and life, but no sound, no hum.] ...I was on the Citadel. Normandy shouldn't have been within a dozen light-years of where I was.

[She takes a deep breath and suddenly snaps to purpose, turning to look back at the place the door had been. It's an airlock now, or rather it's the interior shielding-door to the airlock, with at least ten feet of air and another three of shielding and armor between where they're standing and whatever it is that's outside the ship.]

I can get us through there, physically. But we don't know what's on the other side anymore, and if it's hard vacuum then we'd both better be in kit. [Assuming, of course, that more doors don't simpy lead to more strangeness.] I've got a spare in my cabin, and there might be something in your size down in cargo.

[scaredofdogs]

Careful with them..they make you a little weird. [His lust tea did not go over well for him.]

She is a little different though. Maybe she does walk among us but she doesn't look like you expect her to. She could be in disguise just so she can spy on what we do.

It's hard to know what she does when the staff around here doesn't even want to talk about her.