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]

Lan Wangji's eyes widen momentarily, but he rests his arm around Wei Ying's shoulders. Because nothing seems wrong or strange about this to him at the moment.

"Only from select people," he responds, though there is twinkling in his eyes that basically say that Wei Ying is on that very short list. The only other people on it are Sizhui and Xichen, so he is in excellent company.

[scaredofdogs]

"Then I'm going to keep hugging until you peel me off."

Wei Wuxian is quite pleased to be on that short list. Even enjoying the slight hug back that the other arm around him gives. He turns his head, resting his ear against him and listens to the other man's heartbeat. It's a calm and steady sound that is rather soothing.

"Is being like this going to make you too warm?" He doesn't even know what question he is on at the moment, nor does he particularly care. He's likely to just keep asking them until Lan Wangji gets annoyed by him.

[billowing]

"Yes, but I do not mind." Being around Wei Ying means that he can somehow never be too comfortable, and somehow be so comfortable he never wants to leave. There is just something strange about him, that he'd tolerate this behavior from no one but Wei Ying.

This carefree Lan Wangji is selfish, and doesn't care if Wei Ying monopolizes his time. He welcomes it.

[scaredofdogs]

"We can sit back down if it will help keep us cool." They did stand up out of the nice coolness of the water and they aren't in a particularly deep part of the pool.

Wei Wuxian doesn't mind Lan Wangji being selfish. He will gladly spend all the time he can with him.

[billowing]

"Wei Ying will have to let go first," he counters, because he thinks it might be awkward for the two of them to sit down together like this while still attached.

[scaredofdogs]

He pouts but he slowly lets go. He does have to accept the fact that he is right. He will have to come up with his next set of questions while Lan Wangji situates himself. "Okay okay..you are free to sit!"

[billowing]

He does take a seat again, and it is so refreshing that he thinks he may just lay down as he did when they first arrived here and Wei Ying showed him this pool.

[scaredofdogs]

He splashes back down into the water and scoots close again. Like a cat chasing a bird, that troublesome expression returns and he's about to give Lan Wangji his wish. He lunges at the other and sends them both tumbling into the water.

[billowing]

Oh. Well, he hadn't been expecting that, but he falls into the water and lets Wei Ying pin him down, looking up with the same expressionless face he usually has.

He blinks up at him, and cocks his head just a little to the side, as if inquiring what that was about.

[scaredofdogs]

No resistance. No scolding. No harsh calling of his name. It's almost too easy. It really is like he is drunk which makes it so hard to resist. He sits on Lan Wangji as he pins him down. But just enough that he can still have his head out of the water. It wouldn't do any good to drown the man in his games.

He brings his face very close, studying the eyes. Everything is the same except the eyes. And yet they are still the eyes that are so familiar, that always look at him with a cold kindness. "You have pretty eyes, Lan Zhan." It's not a question but that game is momentarily forgotten as he gets distracted. Everything about the man is pretty but he likes the eyes that don't look at him with hatred, or judgement.

"Are there any questions you want me to ask you?"

[billowing]

Wei Ying is very hands-on today, and usually Lan Wangji would bristle at this much contact, but today he is just calm.

"No." If he wanted Wei Ying to know, he would tell him. However--

"But I wanted the Wei Ying at home to ask me to night hunt with him, every night."

That's more of a request than it is informational. So it doesn't count.

[scaredofdogs]

Wei Wuxian gives him a look. That is not a question. Lan Wangji is not good at this game. Wei Wuxian is in a good mood. He has an excuse to spend all day at the pool and he finally is back on good terms with the Lan Wangji of his world. And a good mood means that he is in full on teasing mode, especially when he doesn't get fussed at for doing it. Lan Wangji can fuss at him about the contact after whatever this is wears off of him.

But in a way that also leads him to a new question! "So if I found out there was spirits in the hotel, would you night hunt with me?" He's not the Wei Wuxian of his world but the man already promised he wouldn't just cast him aside. Plus they just made a new promise a few minutes ago with the lantern.

"Ahh but maybe you won't since yours is here now. So you don't need me any more."

[billowing]

Lan Wangji is not very good at games. But he sees that he has lost this one. "I would night hunt with you," he says, affirmatively, solidly. But there are no spirits, and they can't draw their weapons, he doesn't say. Wei Ying knows this. He hadn't meant to imply preference for one, just that the situation here didn't allow for night hunting at all.

"Every night." Just in case Wei Ying wasn't sure.

[scaredofdogs]

That is where he has the upper hand. He leans down so he can whisper in Lan Wangji's ear, not wanting to startle anyone that might be in earshot of their game. "I actually know for a fact that there are spirits here. I talked to them." He seems rather pleased with himself even though he isn't sure how long he will get to enjoy this ability and it's not like he can get rid of them in anyway. But even just discovering they exist is a step in the right direction.

He sits up again, shifting so he can help Lan Wangji also sit up and not make him continue to lay in the water. "So when we get our abilities back, we will night hunt." because he feels like it's only a matter of time.

[billowing]

Lan Wangji sits up when Wei Ying lets go, looking surprised. There are spirits here? "How were you able to determine that?" he asks, because he is definitely interested.

And, of course, he has noticed several people gaining... some sort of ability. So perhaps there is a fluctuation, and their abilities will become unsealed.

When that happens, he will be more than happy to night hunt with Wei Ying again.

[scaredofdogs]

"I think the hotel got confused and gave me Inquiry." Or perhaps in some way it was karma..Lan Wangji played Inquiry for him to try and get him to return and now here he is..with the ability itself. He got a couple other interesting teas as well but he hasn't tried them yet. Better to go one at a time and not have some overwhelming multi-power going on.

He would have preferred his own abilities back but he can't complain about being able to crack open one of the mysteries of this place.

[billowing]

"You have inquiry?" he asks, surprised.

And then, as a follow-up: "You understand the language of Inquiry?"

Somehow that surprises him, even though he knows that Wei Ying masters tunes by listening to them once.

Actually, he's rather impressed. It takes most of the Lan students months to learn how to properly interpret Inquiry.

[scaredofdogs]

"I guess I'm a genius." He smirks. He's always been pretty confident in his skills but even he didn't quite believe how well he picked up inquiry. He knows it has to be a trick of the hotel because there is no way he would learn something like that over night...and without even trying.

"It's interesting because I can use Chenqing to do it." Perhaps his musicality helped him understand it a little quicker as well. It took paying with it this morning to get the hang of the questions and understanding the answers..but it gives him a new respect for the times he has watched Lan Wangji use it.

[billowing]

That's interesting, to say the least.

"Take me with you. I wish to see." Even if he can't use inquiry himself, he can still understand and interpret the language.

And he has never considered inquiry with another instrument. But then again, is he really surprised? Wei Ying is always making up his own techniques. His inventiveness is part of his charm.

""

[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."

[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.

[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.

[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.