angryhearts | it's getting hot in here

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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.

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Well a lot of things. And there was several memories that didn't match up. But some of the things I wasn't sure of..because of this place..helped become a little more clear." The meaning behind the headband helped a lot. And the fact he was able to piece together the memory of the archery contest. He might not be able to fully accept a lot of things yet, but he's a little less scared of them now.

"I might not be ready for.." He stares at his hand in the water and his face starts to heat up. "..some things. But I know what you said is the truth..or..at least I can trust that it is and not just a trick of this place anymore."

But he doesn't want to hear them again and so he talks very quickly, "But maybe if we take it slow...eventually..maybe I can be ready. And I know you've felt those things longer..or at least have realized them for longer then I have. And maybe it isn't fair to keep making you wait..but..I still need that time."

He doesn't even know if he is making sense at this point as he just continues to talk.

"Memories? You...if you asked, I can explain if you care to listen."

Lan Wangji trails off, not wanting to speak more, being mindful of his words. Not when the feeling is raw and new, and he can't risk another outburst that is entirely his fault but he now learns what terrifies him. If anything, he has thought he and Wei Wuxian gotten along better if one is blind and the other mute. Perhaps, literally and figuratively.

There's much tension in his own body and then he tries to relax, keeping his voice and expression even, his heart steady, forcing himself to slow. Even if he is still in the dark, not making any sense and...

"Take your time. Go slow. Ask questions. I'll continue to wait. It's all right."

He lets out a short uncomfortable laugh as he reaches up to rub the side of his nose. "This place makes you think things and do things and feel things that aren't necessarily true..or maybe they are true and they have just been locked deep inside of us. But because of that I didn't trust anything you said that night..mostly because I knew that I was acting in ways that I didn't trust either."

He looks upwards, towards the ceiling of the pool area. It's rather ironic that this conversation is taking place in the very spot where everything started..going wrong. Where his own body betrayed him to desires that he hasn't let himself trust were real.

"I..I.." He sucks in a breath. This shouldn't be this hard but for some reason it is, especially given the rough time they've had recently. He lets the breath out slowly but then his words come out fast, "I like you, Lan Zhan. A lot..but these feelings are new for me. And before I was always messing with you because I didn't know you liked me and I feel guilty about how I behaved because I feel like I was taking advantage of your feelings..like when we were at Cloud Recesses and I refused to leave your bed and you put the binding spell on me. Had I known..I would have behaved better."

Again he rambles..and he needs to just get back to a clear thought so he can say what he wants to.

Lan Wangji stares at the water at his own reflection, and then at Wei Wuxian's reflection. He listens to every word he said. Yes, this is the same spot where it begins, but hopefully, they're back to the same place, they can hurdle this obstacle together.

He said nothing when he finished. Not once, he interrupts him. He only nodded once, absorbing what he said. He didn't run. He stayed put and slowly looking at his reflection, he's looking up at him.

He knows Wei Wuxian to be reckless, chaotic, and at times, tries to find a balance between right and wrong. For some reason, he's calm. He wants to answer, but perhaps, with all of that rambling, no answer is given at first, allowing him to speak. Until, once again, he set himself aside for his sake as he promises to give him the time and space he needs.

"Okay. And what about now? Do you feel any different...?"

Okay Wei Wuxian...get it together. No more excuses.

"I think I've actually liked you for awhile, but didn't realize it. I think that's the moral of this whole story. And I want to be by your side, and travel with you and be partners. Not seeing you every day was hard."

Finally he moves, coming to a stop right in front of Lan Wangji, his eyes meeting the other man's. His expression becoming more confident as he finally manages to get out every small thought that had been on his mind for the last few weeks.

"As long as you aren't still mad at me..and still care enough about me to keep me around..then I'm willing to accept your feelings you confessed on that night...Because I like you too."

Love is a strong word and he has to save that for a better day that isn't full of apologies..a better place then a pool.

Even if Wei Wuxian has excuses, he would happily take it anyday than none. He won't get tire hearing those excuses all the time. His only condition is for Wei Wuxian to don't be terrified of him and don't find him scary, and come to him softly and speaking to him, anything.

He simply stood there, looking at him in the eye. "Be by your side...travel with you...be partners." He echoes after him, after every word he said. Each word he has spoken, hoping it's true. "Not seeing you everyday is hard."

Shaking his head vigorously, "I'm not mad at you. I care a lot about you. I want to keep you if you keep me. You don't have to accept. I was being too straightforward and forceful, so I scared you and overwhelmed you because I'm too strong for you. I thought...you'll be gone forever and you won't come back."

After some thought, very touched by his sincerity. "I think even now, you're still very brave and handsome, and I'm happy you come back. If you only accept my apologies...for expressing my doubt." And Lan Wangji is only human with his deepest fear and insecurities which is transparent.

An energetic smile spreads across Wei Wuxian's lips and he grabs Lan wangji's hand to pull him away from the side of the pool and more towards the center.

"Apologies accepted all around. No more doubts from either of us. I told you I needed time..and I did. And now I've had lots of it and realized just what I didn't want was to not have you around. You were very straight foward..but you always are. But this time it was stuff I wasn't ready to hear. No one has ever confessed to me before."

But it was the unexpected actions that shocked him more then anything. Activities he wasn't quite mentally prepared to do. And he still isn't to that point, but as long as Lan Wanji is willing to slow things down, then Wei Wuxian will have time to be ready.

"Now it's all out, no more secrets."

What a smile he has. Lan Wangji always find his smiles beautiful and mysterious like the moon. It lights up the darkness of night itself. It's the smile that captured his heart and melted him, happily foregoing the rules if anything to make him smile again.

He can't help himself, but to follow him to the center of the pool without any resistance, not wanting to be alone anymore, so his heart racing when he's holding his hand which hasn't been weeks for him.

And yet, he regrets making him cry as well, being harsh on him, scolding him, but he clearly intended to show him the right away, when the opposite effect happens. "Straightforward? No, I was harsh. I only wanted...to show you the right way, but I was clearly wrong and mistaken. I was too harsh on you."

But his fun-loving nature changed all of that. Any doubt and heaviness he has in his heart is gently being cleared away.

"No one until now. I always liked you for you. Except for your drinking. You made worried if you drink too much, because it's bad for your health but..." Slightly feeling his own shame, "I know drinks are free here and you tease me at times that I must pay for you. If you want me to pay you back, tonight I'll sit with you as you drink."

He waves off the suggestion to drink together, "Drinking alcohol will make me warm and it's too hot to do that. If we are going to drink, then let's just drink tea. We can still sit together and do that." He's not worried about his drinking habits. He enjoys a good drink and this world has so many more options.

"Time to put it all in the past." The anger, the fear, the uncertainty, the regrets. Everything can be pushed aside so they can move forward again. He doesn't have to walk that single plank bridge after all. He let's go of Lan Wangji's hand once they are away from the wall.

"From this point on, no more saying we are sorry." He slides closer to Lan Wangji and that smile becomes significantly more mischievous as he looks up at him. "And no more getting mad, right?" Careful Lan Wangji..Wei Wuxian is up to something.

He felt his own face heats up. As much he doesn't want to let go of his hand, he lets go, accepting.

"Drink and sit together. I would like that. They have iced tea today, so it helps with the cooling. It's hot today. Do you have iced tea, Wei Ying?" He said his name in gladness this time, after not being able to say his name for so long.

It takes Lan Wangji a very long while to think. He's asking something of him that is a great challenge. But if he's willing to move forward, then so is he. His expression softens as he would rather prefer Wei Ying to be playful and mischievous.

"Okay." Then looking at him solemnly. "I promise. No more of that."

"Good." He reaches up and wraps his arms around Lan Wangji's neck, drawing him down closer to him. He looks in the eyes that are now very close to his own.

"I'm going to kiss you, Lan Zhan. No excuses of drunkenness, no blindfolds, no hotel driving it to happen. Just because I want to."

Because that is what he is ready to do and he wants to make sure he does it before the hotel can do anything else to them to make things different. He wants this kiss to be honest and true of what they actually feel.

And so his lips meet Lan Wangji's, a light and gentle kiss, but full of everything he knows that he feels for this man.

Now that Lan Wangji made a promise, he's going to be a man of his word and honor it.

However, he truly doesn't expect that. Not expecting he will return and welcome him back, not what after what happened between the both of them, but if he's willing to start over, he will start in determination.

"Wei Ying...?" He looks at him with a bewildered look, and he's quite startled, a little shock at his boldness and brazenness, and how close they are, he preferred not to resist.

His lips is soft and warm. "Okay..." He kisses back, out of reflex, but in a way, he wanted too. Has been yearning for it. And he is quite touched because Wei Ying has wanted to do so without both of them hiding from each other and without the hotel's influence.

He stood still when the kiss is over and he feels...better. Calmer. Peaceful.

Wei Wuxian smiles up at Lan Wangji as the kiss ends. It feels good to be able to do that when he isn't drunk and the fact that the man didn't knock himself out afterwards makes him feel better too.

"Do you believe me now that everything is okay?"

He doesn't let the other go. He is content to hold on to him until the other man is tired of him. He hadn't exactly planned this part of things but didn't see anything wrong with going with his gut.

He hesitates to answer at first, and then quietly. "I believe you. That we'll be okay. But..."

The warmth of the kiss lingers like a warm tingle, the warmth that thaws and disentangles the confusion in his heart. That has been nested there for decades.

"I want..." So much want, but he doesn't want to rush or go too fast or panic like the last time where he smacked himself, because he could not truly believe that this is happening.

"I want to be sure and certain that you're all right with all of this and..." Searching for words. "It felt right with you...with liking me. That you feel safe. Because I want to be together with you, no matter what."

"I'm sure and you need to stop worrying. Like I said..I want to go slow, but I know that liking you is right. And that is how i feel."
He already knows how Lan Wangji feels. Even if he had shut down that night, he will heard every word. He heard every word outside of the bar a few days later as well. He had a lot to sort through and he has come out with with this conclusion. That the feelings he was most scared about were the ones he had in his own heart.

"Mn. Okay. I'll stop worrying. I'll go slow too."

At that, feeling more trusting now, he eased up. More relaxed. A lot less tense. He gives himself permission to be selfish after what seems like an eternity of not seeing him, being patient with his pain and his fears, and wraps his arms around him for a hug, finally returning the embrace, and gently pulls Wei Wuxian close to his chest to have him listen to his heartbeat.

He settles against him, smiling as he listens to that beat. Lan Wangji's emotions are very easily betrayed by that heart beat even when he looks perfectly calm.

He closes his eyes, "Your heartbeat is fast, Lan Zhan. I must have made you happy." He's happy as well. Finally free of all the bad emotions of the past couple weeks and free to enjoy more happy times.

He smiles back, accepting all of him, at least learning to. "Because Wei Ying makes me happy. When he's happy, I'm happy. When he's sad, I'm sad too. And I believe you're doing your best. Always."

He holds him in his arms for what seems like a long time, but because it can get hot eventually, he gently lets him go as well, trusting himself he is able too without fear and doubt.

"Do you feel better as I am...?"

"Yeah, Lan Zhan. I feel better. Except for the heat. The heat makes me sad." But it also gives him an excuse to camp out at the pool and there really isn't anything wrong with that in his mind.

When Lan Wangji lets him go, he flops backwards into the water as if he needs that to cool back down after all the contact.

"If the heat makes you sad, then let's get iced tea. You'll feel better." Feeling more relaxed and at ease, he wades in the pool. It's the only cool place in the entire hotel.

It's a simple matter of calling for the servers to bring them a tray of iced tea, which they happily provide to the both of them.

"Was it hot in your room too? Maybe I'll spend the night here. I can't bear my room."

"Lan Zhan..are you really going to trust any tea that they serve us?" Wei Wuxian has his doubts...He sits in the water and watches the staff bring the drinks. Anything called a 'tea' at this point is considered suspicious in his mind. He's had enough bad experiences with tainted beverages.

He blinks, feeling the emotional weight has been lifted, and let himself be cooled down. At his question, he did wonder if the tea is to blame, but he did drink more than he usually does.

"No. But I'm really thirsty. And this iced tea is different. It helps me cool down."

Just like that, very calmly he drinks the iced tea that he knows gives him a measure of relief for the heat and he sinks further into the pool.

He moves to the edge of the pool and still looks at the tea a little uncertainly. He finally reaches out and picks up the tea to take a small sip.

It's not a bad flavor and right away it doesn't seem to do anything so he drinks a little more. Then he starts to feel it cool down his body. He still doesn't trust it but at least it does help with the overall heat issue.

"If we start feeling weird...let's promise to go in opposite directions." He doesn't want to end up with the same issues he had last time the hotel played games.

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...?"

"Cooler." That is what he feels. But besides that he still feels normal..almost..calm. That's an odd feeling to have from a tea but he won't complain about feeling calmer.

"So far it doesn't look like we have to worry about anything crazy." Which is a relief because he doesn't want to have to run away from Lan Wangji again but he is prepared to if he starts to feel strange.

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

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

CLICK CLICK... THUMP 06/14 - 06/21

QUEEN'S ADDRESS 06/21

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CLICK CLICK... THUMP
06/14 - 06/21

QUEEN'S ADDRESS
06/21