𝐻𝒜𝒫𝒫𝒴 𝐻𝐸𝒜𝑅𝒯𝒮 𝒮𝒯𝒜𝐹𝐹 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
happyheartsstaff) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
angryhearts2020-06-11 07:39 pm
happyheartsstaff) wrote in angryhearts2020-06-11 07:39 pm
it's getting hot in here
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.
...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?
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.
The Queen will not respond to any messages sent back to her.
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!
© tessisamess
no subject
[She doesn't afraid of no nothin'. And especially not tidal swimming pools. This is possibly because she has no experience with this particular pool, but let's not let important details obscure the facts.]
You don't look like you work here. [This is not a particularly revelatory observation, but then Shepard's only been here for a few short days. She's still finding her feet, such as it is.] Got a name? I'm Shepard.
no subject
[ He tries it out, mouth a little awkward around the sounds but managing it all the same. He's noticed people here have such short names. ]
My name is Lan Wangji.
[ Usually he includes his clan information, but he figures that's not going to be appropriate or understood here. ]
I have been kidnapped, as you have.
[ Yes, he really sounds this serious all the time. ]
no subject
[It is so, so easy not to care about things, when you are dead. Or at least, when you think you are. But this one she knows; there's a real benefit to the N7 training, in moments like these.]
Lan Wangji... Hell of a getup. China, yeah? 中文？
hover for translation
对。在下姑苏蓝氏蓝湛蓝忘机。
[ And because I'm too lazy and Lan Wangji is hard to write in Chinese, he'll be speaking Chinese in italics. ]
Do you know who has resurrected you?
being too lazy confirmed for the Cool Kids Club
[Her phrasing is a little awkward, but Shepard quickly warms into it. It's been a hot minute since she needed to use anything but English— or a translator— conversationally, but that N-school training wasn't wasted effort.]
As far as I'm concerned, this where people go when they die.
no subject
I am not dead.
[ He's not shocked or surprised or anything, just very stubbornly adamant that this is not the afterlife.
He considers it a moment, and then adds: ]
You have a body.
[ If they were dead, they wouldn't. Right? That makes sense to him. ]
no subject
[She goes for another sip of the drink, still seemingly unconcerned, and gestures with it at his current position. It helps that he looks like a doll someone lost in the bath, what with the long hair and the interesting fashion choices.]
Appearances can be deceiving. And since the last thing that happened to me was a fiery mass-field implosion. [A technical term, long fussed about in international politics. Aliens were so much simpler.] It should have rendered everything within a hundred meters down to dust, so I'd say I know what I'm talking about when I say I'm dead. You can believe whatever you want.
no subject
[ Or so he's noticed. He isn't trying to challenge her thought to be difficult, though many times people find him difficult in such ways. But rather, he wants to offer an alternative explanation, because, quite honestly, he doesn't like the idea of any of them being dead. Two people he knows here just came back to life. He's not ready to mourn again. ]
no subject
[Case in point, straw in mouth, check and mate. You take those rose-tinted glasses off and face the brutal facts, young man.]
But you're the big fancy name standing fully-dressed in a swimming pool, so who am I to question your obvious expertise?
no subject
The nature of this place is only for the Queen to understand.
no subject
[Humility will only get you so far, mister.]
You just don't like the possibility that I might be right.
no subject
And Ms. Shepard does not wish to yield to an enchantment of such power.
[ Have I mentioned he doesn't really look at people directly? He might actually be having this conversation while they're both facing the same way. ]
no subject
[First time in a very long time she's had to point that out. First time she's had a conversation with very nearly the back of someone's head, too.]
And if I were the kind of person who submitted to any kind of power, there'd be a few billion more corpses in the world. So no, I'm in no hurry. But I've got lots of time.
[Because she is dead, you see. Cheers.]
no subject
But his world also didn't have billions and billions of people, not to kill, not at all. ]
Pray tell, Commander, did you die in battle?
no subject
[Or at least, no worse than most. She can be proud of what she left behind, at least; no more or less than her absolute best effort, right to the end.]
Why?
no subject
[ Should she not be concerned if she thinks she's dead and they're not with her?
He does suppose she could have died alone, but then... would no one try to contact her, afterward?
Whatever future she comes from, it seems quite bleak. ]
no subject
[Because she'd ordered them clear, true, which wasn't always a guarantee. But still.]
Not really my problem, anymore.
no subject
[ He still doesn't understand why the afterlife would look like this, or just be like this in general. Why it would bring him here with people from other worlds... Why there would only be a handful of them. ]
no subject
[She kicks a little, splashing at him. Lighten up, guy. It literally cannot get any worse, and even her they have free drinks and a pool. So what if there's a heat wave? It's the least she deserves.]
You're exhausting, you know that? Tiring.
no subject
He places a hand on the small of his back and looks out across the way, as if there was a vast distance before them. ]
I know.