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

""

[scaredofdogs]

"Right now?" He looks surprised but he has at least cooled down enough that wandering the hotel won't be too bad for awhile. He does feel like showing off what he can do and he keeps Chenqing pretty close by wherever he goes, so all he needs to do is fetch the flute from where his towel is.

Standing up, he reaches up to wring the water from his hair. "Let's find a quieter place. The stairwells are the best."

[scaredofdogs]

He concentrates on the notes and deciphers it as best he can. Although not trained in Inquiry, he has managed to figure it out by listening to the notes chosen.

"Apparently they don't know why the sounds are in the walls..but it's not their fault and they want it to stop too." And that came from about three different spirits and it was hard to keep track when they were trying to all talk at once.

[billowing]

"Mm." Lan Wangji pauses for a moment while Wei Ying gets his flute, and he takes out his hair from its ponytail, shaking it loose. It's got a wave in it from being up so long, and when he shakes it out, it looks voluminous and wavy as if in a commercial for shampoo.

Naturally, he only does this to readjust, and he decides it's too hot for a ponytail, and gives himself a long braid instead.

[scaredofdogs]

He dries off and collects his flute before wandering back to Lan Wangji's side. When he comes back the man is braiding his hair..while his own still is a rather messy and unkempt ponytail at this point. Unconsciously he reaches up and touches it. Looking like a mess while standing next to a perfectly put together Lan Wangji just seems like it is the natural flow of things.

[billowing]

Lan Wangji notices this, and when he's done putting a plait into his own hair, he tugs on Wei Ying's ribbon to let it loose, and cards his fingers through.

Then he moves towards the back of him, to fuss with putting his hair up.

Things that go bump

[sadflutenoises]

Another late night. Wei Wuxian can hardly keep to the Lan's strict rules regarding when to go to bed, so of course he's up late tinkering. His room isn't terribly inviting, so he's been wandering, especially with the strange sounds of late. While unnerving noises in the night should make things feel more like old times, he can't say he's missed the whispers and groans of the dead.

He's been sitting in a hallway, fiddling with his latest obsession, the device he'd been given on his arrival. Empathy was what they'd called it, and the coincidence wasn't lost on him. That such an inert looking object could do so many things was baffling, and he wished he had a toolkit, if only to see what the inner workings were like.

As he's tapping away though, it's impossible to miss the sound of a bamboo flute. It's faint and muffled, but unmistakable. He pockets the Empathy and hurries toward it, driven by curiosity to the nearest stairwell. His first thought is of course, that it must be the other Wei Wuxian, who else would have such a specific tool? Such a familiar tune? But why what need does he have to use it. Is there trouble?

"Wei Wuxian?" he calls, though it feels very odd to be yelling his own name, and what need was there for formality talking to himself?

[scaredofdogs]

He feels his ears heat up at the feeling of those fingers through his hair. Not too many people have played with his hair before, barely taking the time to brush his hair himself most days. It's a rather enjoyable feeling.

"Are you going to make us hair twins again?" Something about wandering around as a match with Lan Wangji is a nice thought. Somehow his experiences with both of the Lan Wangji's are oddly unique for two people who are the same. And he likes to enjoy both sides of this coin.

[scaredofdogs]

Hearing his old voice calling out his name is..surreal. It brings back the strange reality of the fact he is not the only version of himself in this place. It would be a little unnerving if he hadn't already had a drinking contest with himself and knew that it wasn't just a strange dream.

He pushes the door open and peeks outside of it, knowing that he can't really hide from the staff for long when he is very clearly playing music, but also not wanting to call too much attention to himself. But he doesn't see any staffers around, only his soul twin.

"Come here. I've discovered something."

[billowing]

It probably helps a little bit that they drank wildly different teas. But at his request, Lan Wangji starts to braid his hair into a plait, tying the ribbon into a knot at the root and weaving it through, finally tying it into a bow at the end. Because of this, it leaves a much shorter tail than the ponytail does.

[scaredofdogs]

Wei Wuxian can't see it but the weight of it is oddly different then his normal pony tail. It's also a lot cooler and now dragging against his back like it usually does. It's an interesting difference and he kind of likes it.

"Do I look cute?" That playful tone returns as he looks over his shoulder at the Lan. Eyes big and cute expression on his face as he teases.

[sadflutenoises]

[He shakes his head. He rarely comes here, to be honest. It's just one of many reasons that the few possessions he has with him have been slowly migrating to Lan Wangji's room.]

Oh- actually I think there was a sewing kit.

[He crouches in a corner of the room where he's been keeping his clothes, unsurprisingly, it's little more than a messy pile. In fact it's hard to tell washed from clean. Rummaging awkwardly while tucking his injured hand close to his chest, Wei Wuxian eventually holds the little kit aloft.]

Found it!

[billowing]

Lan Wangji's ears turn pink and he suddenly gets the urge to do a handstand as he looks off into the distance and completely away from Wei Ying's big eyes and soft mouth.

Even the carefree tea can't fix all the Lan in him.

"Mm."

[billowing]

[ He takes the sewing kit and rifles through for needles, holding up a piece of glass to the light to set it on fire in order to sterilize it, waiting for it to cool down again before heading into the bathroom, waiting for Wei Ying to follow.

It's so nice that everything here is sterile and the bathrooms are so well-lit. ]

[scaredofdogs]

He sees that look away and it only makes him want to push the issue. He turns around to face him, goes up on his toes and tilts his head so he can try to catch Lan Wangji's eyes.

"How can you tell if I'm cute if you aren't looking at me, Lan Zhan~?"

[sadflutenoises]

[He hesitates only a moment before following, and once in the bathroom, sets down a towel and seats himself on the counter beside the sink. His trunks are still slightly soggy from the pool, and he should probably find a robe before long. If it wasn't so hot, he'd already have goosebumps rising on his skin.

He should probably unwrap his hand, but he just sort of holds it out helplessly, an uneasy look on his face.]

Be gentle!

[sadflutenoises]

Finally something that felt like progress. The staff had been so hard to talk to, so hard to get a proverbial foot in the door, or needle for information. Before he can formulate an answer to the man's question though, Lan Zhan has already asked one of his own.

"You're not going to trick me. I know, I know. The resistance can't get a hold in here."

When the barkeep realizes what he said, he looks furious with himself. The thrill of a new mystery tingles in Wei Wuxian's veins though, and even if this is the smallest thread, he's eager to see where it leads.

He shows the mark on his arm, the one that designates them as the residents and not the staff here.

"Sure we are, look here, marks and everything. We just need your help so we know who to watch out for. You all have been so busy keeping us safe," he tries to sound sympathetic, amiable, as if he really does just want to help.

[billowing]

He flashes his eyes up for a split second and then answers. "Mm."

He can't even say the word cute.

He patently refuses to say the word cute.

Is it just him or is this AC being broken a really, really bad time right now?

[billowing]

[ Lan Wangji is gentle, and undoes the towel, careful because Wei Ying's skin might have started healing and he might be adhering to the cloth.

It smells a bit of chlorine, so he moves his hand under the faucet to activate the tap and gently tugs at Wei Ying's wrist, smoothing his thumbs over parts of the blood that have started to congeal, trying to get the smudges out of the way without opening up any of the cuts.

He has an absolute look of concentration on his face, as careful as if he were setting a cast for a bird's wing. ]

[sadflutenoises]

He lets out a quiet breath when the door to the stairwell opens. As he guessed, the other Wuxian was behind the melody, but the response he gives is cryptic at best. He wants to ask where he got a flute, if he's able to use it for channeling anything, or if it's as inert and useless as all their golden cores in this place.

Something? What kind of something? His curiosity piqued, he followed, shutting the door quietly behind him.

"What is it?"

[scaredofdogs]

It's really not fair to the other man that he knows how Lan Wangji feels about him. If he can even fluster him when he is feeling this calm, then that is some serious power that Wei Wuxian holds.

He taps Chenqing gently against the other man's chest, "You look very cute with your hair like that too, Lan Zhan."

[sadflutenoises]

[Wei Wuxian isn't squeamish, but he also doesn't want to look up close at his cuts and injuries if he doesn't have to. If Lan Zhan weren't here, he'd probably just try to suck the remaining bits out with his teeth and watch it closely for infection.

He can feel the cool water on his hand, the careful way Lan Zhan inspects his wound, but his eyes are fixed on his face. It's rare he gets to appreciate Lan Zhan's beauty up close, and though time has passed, he looks just as flawless as ever. Wei Wuxian hardly notices whether or not he's still working on it, nor how soft his smile as gotten as he watches Lan Zhan work.]

[scaredofdogs]

"This place has spirits..and I can use Inquiry. I guess that is kind of two somethings. But still! I can finally get answers." Or maybe more questions depending on what the spirits say. But at least he knows that there are people here who have died, so this place isn't completely as innocent as it makes everyone think.

He was lucky in that he had arrived with Chenqing. He doesn't question it and most of the time he only carries it out of habit more then anything. It's just a normal musical instrument but today he actually managed to use it.

It has taken some practice and that is what he has been doing in the stairwell, trying to work out the intricacies of Inquiry and learning the language as best he can on the fly.

[billowing]

Lan Wangji supposes they should play good-cop good-cop, except the thing Wei Ying told him about his face was right. He makes children cry, because children can't tell that his resting face isn't actually annoyed in their general direction.

Which means the best thing for him to do is try to look the least intimidating as possible, which means he makes the world's greatest attempt at thinking of calm waters, and rabbits. Lots of fluffy rabbits.

Lan Wangji lifts his robes to show where his mark is, hoping that's enough to prove that they are in fact, just as helpless and in need of this man's assistance and information. They must somehow supplicate to him.

press f to pay respects for this dumb idiot

[billowing]

If he cared at all, he would tell Wei Ying not to tease, because he had always flirted with him aimlessly, and after hearing a resounding rejection from him the other day, he doesn't think that he could handle more of it. At least before, there was hope. But if after all these years Wei Ying doesn't know how he feels, then it just wasn't meant to be.

It's alright, he will always accept whatever friendship that Wei Ying is willing to give him. It wasn't fair to either of them, but Wei Ying would eventually love someone, and Wangji... Wangji had already resigned himself to this fate a long time ago.

But he doesn't care right now, so all he does is look down, sheepishly, though smiling as it's sweet to hear. He couldn't change that Wei Ying isn't attracted to men despite his annoyingly incessant flirting, so he should let it go. Instead, he hopes in their next life, perhaps they could be reborn in a way where their love can be shared.

[inquiryguqin]

With a sad look, he doesn't want to part from him, not after waiting for so long for him.

But reluctantly, he's felt peaceful at the idea. "Agreed. Opposite directions. I think I'm all right. I want you to stay. I want to stay with you." But now he remembers his promise, he will keep his word in case it's a game of the hotel.

After a few several moments, "Do you feel anything...?"