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

"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.

He knows it takes the other man a couple seconds to work through his intentions and so he tries to make things as clear as he can. It's not easy..this still isn't something he is used to doing but if he can get his message across..well then it's a good way to communicate between the two of them at least.

When he finishes and Lan Wangji reaches out, he places the flute in his hand. His expression is one of deep focus and concentration as he waits to hear what Lan Wangji has to say in response.

He takes Chenqing and he starts by playing a few notes that aren't doing much of anything, he just wants to figure out how to play the flute, which he hasn't done since childhood. Once he's gotten a good feel of the notes he wants, he plays:

"We shouldn't leave physical written paper. Not unless we can ensure everyone will burn it."

Also it definitely took him awhile to parse what the heck an "Aziraphale" is. He figures it's one of the others, and by the context he's going to go with either the pink-haired girl or one of the two odd-looking men with large wings and familiar color scheme.

But now he has to think of the best way to explain how they know, without explaining Inquiry. How many people will think them mad if they say, "we asked the ghosts"?

He hands the flute back to Wei Ying.

He frowns and taps his lips with his finger as he thinks. The burning of the paper is easy. The note simply needs to include something in it that says exactly that. Then people will know that they have to eliminate it as soon as they are done with it. But they can't expect everyone in the hotel to go silent. All they can do is make sure they try to limit anything bad they say about the Queen or the hotel and only relay information through written text when they can.

Aziraphale and Crowley already know what he used to be able to do so they won't question it. Chances are most of the people he have met won't. He hasn't been shy in explaining what he used to do. Perhaps leaving out the more scary parts of things and the fact that he caused a lot of deaths...

But for the most part if they explain they found out while investigating that people are already suspicious enough that they might not question it.

He tries to come up with the easiest way to explain and just says, "They know what i used to do so they will trust and believe me if I explain. I've made a lot of friends here and no one trusts her."

Lan Wangji will trust him and his opinion on that matter.

He doesn't want anyone to be listening and doesn't want anyone to think they're planning anything, so he takes Chenqing back to play, "If you tell your new friends, I will tell our old friends."

He will leave that decision up to Wei Ying, because of course it is kind of personal for him, isn't it? And Lan Wangji doesn't know any of these people, doesn't know if any of them are moles, if any of them are careless... He'd like to think not, he'd like to think they all want to go home.

But Wei Ying has always been better at making friends. At reading people.

The only old friend that Wei Wuxian has..is his Lan Wangji. The others are all from this man's world. And even if they are the same people that they know, the differences are still there. And they might also not trust him as much as they would one of their own. That realization does make a bit of a knot inside his stomach, knowing that even this might be one of the things that the hotel does to try and create rifts.

He simply nods, not needing to relay his agreement through the flute. He can talk to the angel and see if he has any thoughts on it as well. But he does lift the flute one more time.

"If we say nothing..she will be just as suspicious." meaning they can't keep silent forever. It just means they cannot discuss what they have discovered and must simply try and pretend everything is normal and go back to talking about things like they normally would.

Will she be suspicious of Lan Wangji remaining silent? Probably not. The man could go several days without exchanging a word with another human and people will probably just assume he is in a good mood.

But he acquiesces, and if they have to make small talk to keep from rousing suspicion, then so be it. Particularly in Wei Ying's case, who couldn't stop talking if Lan Wangji so much as answered him with "mn."

"You are a good teacher," he responds, saying so as if reminding him of something they didn't actually agree on but which doesn't seem so suspicious as to why Wei Ying isn't saying much. They've been playing. Lan Wangji has been learning flute.

Wei Wuxian feels so relieved to be able to talk again. "Only because I have a good student! You picked it up very quickly." Thank goodness they both could understand Inquiry and his train of thought had worked. It won't be an option soon though unless he can somehow commit to memory everything that had just come naturally as soon as he drank the tea. Once he loses Inquiry..that option might be gone.

He wants nothing more then to break down the doors in the stairwell and find out exactly what is going on, but he knows doing so could also makes things significantly worse. It might not be much of a plan, but at least he has something to try. They can handle all the notes for anyone who speaks the same language as them if Aziraphale can handle the rest. Hashing out exactly what needs to be written down it going to be the most tricky part.

They need to figure out just how strong the spies are..if they even exist and if there is someway to block them out from hearing them. He reaches out and latches onto Lan Wangji's arm, looking up at him with an expression that pleads with the other to be careful with anything else he decides to do in the hotel when they are not together. Wei Wuxian isn't one to be particularly careful himself, and there is no promises that he won't go off and try to find things out on his own just to protect the other man.

Lan Wangji is careful in all things, save for when it comes to Wei Ying. Wei Ying has and will always be both his strength and his weakness, the one thing that could keep him going but also that he would forsake all else for.

He places his hand on Wei Ying's opposite arm and looks at him with kind eyes, not cold like he used to be. He will be careful because he always is, and they will be fine.

Lan Wangji is also thinking of the things they should say. Should they keep it brief? Should they expand on what they know? If it were up to him, he would just tell everyone: The Queen may be able to speak to spirits. There are some in the hotel, but they are scared of her. Careful with what you say.

He picks up the flute, and relays that exact message to Wei Ying. Is it sufficient?

He listens to the notes and nods. He then takes Lan wangji's arm and writes, 'she has killed people'. The spirits mentioned losing their heads to him before and also that there were two queens but they wouldn't say which queen was worse. But it is important for people to know that she is dangerous and that they should avoid doing anything that might get them in trouble with her.

He doesn't want to scare people but he also doesn't want anyone to be caught off guard if something dangerous does occur. Perhaps he should have seen something like this as possible with the way the pool sometimes breaks down. It's dangerous in there when the waves get violent. And now with the cooling system also broken..there is no telling what could happen if other systems started to also fail. And if there is something in the walls that is causing those failures then that is also a concern. But unfortunately they didn't get any closer to figuring out that problem then when they started.

No, they haven't. But the waves breaking and the air conditioner breaking - those are things that are part of the electric system, which is a system neither of them know about.

Perhaps one of the more modern folk could clue them in, like Shepard or Mikumo.

What else would they rely on electricity for? Most of them have lived their whole lives without it, after all.

Wei Wuxian has a lot more investigating to do it seems and more people to talk to. At least he has met a lot of people so figuring out what everyone else has found out should be a fairly easy process. And perhaps some don't even know that strange things have occurred. He thinks back to the times when large meeting were help with the sect leaders to deal with difficult situations. It's too bad they can't do something like that..but unfortunately doing so would only alert the Queen.

The minute they lose the kitchen and have to go back to cooking things over fire..that's the minute Wei Wuxian starts missing electricity again. He's gotten to used to trying all the really good food that the kitchen staff prepares.

He starts to wander around his room looking for any sort of paper or ink in order to start writing out the initial letter.

If that happens, Lan Wangji will just cook for him. They'll eat like they do at Cloud Recesses. If they could get outside again, they could start a farm, do a little planting. Wouldn't be so hard, living like that. Lan Wangji already gets up at five every morning, he can tend to the crops. Wei Ying can wake up later and catch fish in the river.

But anyway, so much for that imagined life, they're stuck in a hotel eating things like ugh, chicken tenders and barbecue sauce.

Lan Wangji digs up his sleeve and hands him a ballpoint pen that he'd forgotten to return at the store. He doesn't really know how to write with it, because everything he writes turns ugly, but the only thing he'd really written on was a napkin. Didn't really help.

He stares at it, turning it over in his fingers and wondering how they put ink on it. He touches the end with his finger and watches as it does it on his own. His eyes widen and he scrambles to find anything to play with this new item on. Finally finding some paper he scribbles out what they wanted the letters to say. His handwriting is bad even with a normal brush so it isn't much better with this pen.

He then starts doodling on the paper because..well just because he can. The fact that he never has to add any ink or do anything else with it is fascinating to him. He does a quick sketch of a rabbit and holds it up proudly. So much for that note...it was a good practice one.

"You've been holding out on me, Lan Zhan! Where did you find this?"

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

LMAO. It's all fluid at this point

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

QUEEN'S ADDRESS
06/21