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

Lan Wangji has the decency to look a little embarrassed, but it is true. He won't let himself flirt with Wei Ying, how can Wei Ying go and flirt with anyone else?

"We will find a better way."

"Should we try to go further up? Or do you think we should give up and head back down before we get caught?" Who knows if they are actually supposed to be in the stairwells but it's not like they have really done anything wrong.

"I don't think we will find anything up there without a card."

Which means they should go back and steal one first.

"Unless the spirits can hear you down the hall. Then we can stay in the stairwell." That's a thing they could do, but... definitely dangerous if they get caught.

"I think they can hear me anywhere in the hotel. But it's just easier to hear the notes when there isn't a lot of noise around." That's why he always migrated to the stairs. No one ever took the stairs but there is always people wandering the hallways and the noise of the casino is too much.

"Then let's go up a flight more," he suggests. That way they'll be out of the area in general, somewhere quiet, where he can focus.

He also wonders... such a tall building in the middle of nowhere. Is there really no town nearby? Where does all the food come from?

He nods and starts up the next flight of stairs. The questions surrounding this building only build the more they find out about it. He wonders if they will ever be able to answer them all or if they will eventually make the queen so angry that she kicks them out into whatever unknown is beyond these walls.

Right now, Lan Wangji is thinking of the latter, but isn't considering the consequences when they are at such a disadvantage.

Not like the both of them haven't been trouble before.

He gets to the next landing and looks upwards again. He really does wonder just how high this building goes. He's never been in one that went more then a couple stories. It makes him curious but he also doesn't know if he has the strength to find out. He knows he can handle a lot of stairs but what happens if there really isn't an end? and then they would have to climb all the way back down them.

He lifts Chenqing to his lips and plays a few notes, curious to see if he can speak to any different spirits then he did before. When the response comes it is fast and almost angry. He stares at the flute as if it just yelled at him.

"Wow..the spirits on this side of the hotel are a little..grumpy."

"It would appear so," Lan Wangji responds, though he made no motion when he heard the notes being played. After all, he's used to such restless spirits.

"I do not think we will get the answers we are searching," he admits, finally. They will just have to come up with another plan. It's difficult to have reluctant spirits. Even the one where they found Jin Ling - that was frustrating, and that one hadn't even been mad at them.

"I wonder what we have done to offend them so," he ponders aloud.

"It might just be the fact we are asking questions. If they are scared of the queen then it might be they figure if they talk then they could get in trouble...and some don't want that risk." People who are alive can be just as unwilling to talk when there is something they are afraid of.

"We need to find someone who is living that is wiling to be a little more..talkative." But even that is probably an impossible task. He rests his back against the wall, feeling defeated. He is usually pretty good at figuring things out but this place as got him completely stumped. Even with the things the spirits have told him today he feels like he is just a little more confused then when he started.

"We will have to get one of the badges from the staff, or talk to the one they say is asking questions."

Both of which don't sound like tasks that they should engage in and will be disastrous if caught, but there's very little else to go on and Lan Wangji would like to go home eventually.

"...someone else has been asking questions?" This is the first he has heard of anything like that. He perks up a little. "Do we know who? Are they one of us or a local?"

If there are other things going on besides the noises in the walls and the spirits, then maybe they can piece it all together somehow. If everyone is finding out little bits then they need to be able to compile everything.

"I don't know. The barkeep just said that someone had been asking questions. We may have to ask around."

They might have to ask around a little more... clandestinely. So as to not rouse suspicion. "If it is one of the guests, we are a small number."

"If it's one of the guests then it is time we all come together and compare notes. I wonder if anyone else has gotten an ability that might also be able to get some extra information."

Not that he thinks he has been particularly successful with Inquiry but at least they know a little bit more then they did.

"If it's someone else..well..what are they doing here? If they aren't one of us and they aren't staff then that means there really might be more to this world then just this hotel."

"Yes, but I haven't seen anyone like that." Unless they're hiding from the rest of them, undercover or something. Perhaps there is a mole. If so, it would be dangerous to discuss aloud, when he doesn't know what the spirits can hear and what they might report back to the queen.

What they might be asked to report to the queen, who he now knows has Inquiry, and can understand it.

What's worse is, they recreated the Cloud Recesses. They recreated Lotus Pier. They've read through their memories.

He takes Wei Ying's palm, and he writes, "I think they are listening."

He stares at his palm as Lan Wangji writes. He frowns as he realizes the possibility exists and that maybe the only reason they got these particular powers was so the queen could see who might be a problem. In which case..Wei Wuxian is in big trouble.

He looks up at him, wondering what they should do now. If the spirits might not be safe to talk to..and the staff isn't..then the only people they can trust is each other.

He points down, indicating they should probably head back to the lower levels and out of the stairwells for now.

Lan Wangji nods and moves down, trying to get back to where they should be. If she can show them that Wei Ying can play Inquiry, then they're in trouble.

She has both their golden cores at her disposal, and apparently their powers and memories as well, to do whatever with.

Not only that, but... he does realize, she has messed with their minds more than just downloading their memories. After all, he shouldn't be able to understand anybody else besides those he knew from home.

He follows Lan Wangji down the stairs quickly. His grip on chenqing tightening. He doesn't mind if his actions get him into trouble, but he doesn't want the other man to get caught up in it as well.

This is a more dangerous situation then he was expecting. He should have known considering no one should be able to make powers into a drinkable tea. It doesn't make him to anxious to drink the other two even if his curiosity is still there.

The memories aren't the only thing that the queen is messing with. Their emotions are her plaything as well. As Wei Wuxian looks at Lan Wangji he realizes once again just how carefully all this could be laid out as a means to hurt them. Why else would she bring the most important person in the world to him here in two different forms.

Lan Wangji has a similar thought, that this was proving dangerous and ultimately, the thing that would hurt him most is not pain, it's not dying.

It's what happens to Wei Ying.

It's what happens to Xiongzhang.

He thinks about that as well - Meng Yao is here. He feels suddenly dizzy at the thought, how his private emotions, his memories have all been plucked and dissected one by one. They've made him a facsimile of a paradise: a place he loves, the people he loves, freedom as Wei Ying had said to travel around. To go home every night.

And now, a gift again, to Cultivate.

Wei Wuxian's steps slow, almost afraid of going back out into the main part of the hotel. He doesn't like the uncertainty it puts in his heart. They figured out a lot in this stairwell and none of it is good. He doesn't trust that the minute they go back to the main area, they will once again be a part of her game. But it is even less safe in the stairwell.

He will give up this gift if it means he doesn't become a pawn of the queen or her test subject or whatever this is. He knows how to live without his core..without cultivation. What he can't live with is not being by Lan Wangji's side. And he's afraid that the queen knows that as well. He just figured out these feelings, as complicated as they are, and he doesn't want them to be used against either of them.

But now he also wants to find the person asking the questions. If they aren't one of them..and aren't a person under the queen..then they might be the one person who can stop all of this. An answer to the puzzle they find themselves in.

Once they get out in the main hallway, Lan Wangji takes Wei Ying's hand again, and leans over him. If anyone else were to see them, they'd probably assume they were just having an intimate moment.

He writes, "We need a way to message the other oysters."

Without the spirits overhearing. Without the Queen overhearing.

They might have to do this one by one, set everyone aside, write into their hands. But how many others even knew Chinese? He'd met a handful of people who spoke languages he had never heard, that perhaps had been invented after they had both ascended.

Wei Wuxian nods but he isn't sure the best way to go about that is. It would be impossible to be able to find everyone without knocking on every door or going into every room of the hotel. And even if they do, there is the chance they could still miss people in passing. And even though Wei Wuxian has met a lot of people..he in no way has met everyone to know if they would actually have found them all.

The little devices they were given when they arrived is something he only carries when he needs to and it's not like his swim trunks have pockets to put it in. And even those they can't really trust since the Queen is the one who gave it to them.

The only thing he can do is think of the one place that seems to be the coolest area and where the most people have been gathering. Perhaps they could put up signs..and that's when it hits him. The don't know every language but there are a couple people in this hotel that probably do.

Aziraphale...

If he could get Aziraphale to hand write notes in each of the possible languages of the people in the hotel and slide them under the hotel room doors, maybe they could reach everyone. But how does he get that plan to Lan Wangji without speaking.

It's terrible difficult for Wei Wuxian to stay quiet for very long and it's already starting to drive him crazy. He looks up at Lan Wangji desperately. He can't exactly write out his thoughts on their palms.

But..Inquiry. Lan Wangji knows the language of Inquiry and perhaps if Wei Wuxian could play the questions out without actually using the cultivation part, he could get the other to understand without talking to any spirits.

Lan Wangji is fairly certain that playing the notes of inquiry without actually trying to play inquiry doesn't invoke spirits, as he has taught those techniques to the juniors himself. And it would be a madhouse if every single time they all played, the spirits were expected to come answer.

That is, unless the Queen has given them something specific too. And - he is sure they are deaf to him, because he has attempted to play Inquiry at the hotel and he is unable. He always thought it had to do with his core, but somehow, Wei Ying is able to play it without--

--Well possibly, he has another Lan core. But Wangji has always thought if his brother were to pull Bichen for any reason, that Bichen would yield to his need. He would not do so, after all, unless it was very important.

There really wasn't any other way to check.

Wei Wuxian grabs Lan Wangji's hand and pulls him towards his room as quickly as he can. He doesn't care who sees them at this point. He has to get back to a place that is quiet and try to get as many of his thoughts out as possible. He doesn't know how much longer he can keep himself from actually talking. And he has to use Inquiry to do this while he still can. He isn't sure he will remember the language after the tea wears off.

Scooting into his room he holds up Chenqing, making sure Lan wangji knows exactly what he intends to do without ever directly saying it. This isn't how he expected to use the power, but that doesn't mean it isn't the most useful way.

All he knows is that the weak little core inside Mo Xuanyu's body is the only thing he has to help him through any sort of cultivation practice, and he doesn't know if it is that or the queen that is helping him use Inquiry..but he has no more time to try and figure that out.

Lan Wangji listens to him, intently, at first not understanding what tune he is trying to play before realizing he isn't trying to play music at all. No, this is Inquiry. But he's not... doing any asking. He's playing for Lan Wangji.

He understands. Well, he thinks he understands.

When Wei Ying is done playing him the instructions, he holds his hand out as if asking for Chenqing. They don't have time to go get his guqin for him to relay a message back.

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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fml i forget which thread came first

LMAO. It's all fluid at this point

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

QUEEN'S ADDRESS
06/21