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!

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© tessisamess

Comments

[scaredofdogs]

"That's a promise." He had already promised to see him every day, so he looks forward to whatever adventures they can have in the days to come. But he also knows that with the two Wei Wuxian around, Lan Wangji can't really keep a promise of seeing this particular one every day. But he will most likely see at least one of them. He realizes he isn't the priority in this Lan Wangji's heart, but he hopes that no matter what happens he won't just get tossed aside.

He buries his face against Lan Wangji's chest, grateful to this one for so much. "If you need your blanket, you know where to find it."

[billowing]

Is it even possible that they are both the priority in his heart? How does one even go about explaining such a thing? But he doesn't know Wei Ying has such thoughts or he would put them to rest.

"In Yunmeng, where I left it."

His heartbeat does all the talking for him, but if his thoughts weren't clear, he threads his fingers into Wei Ying's hair and leans down to kiss the top of his head.

[scaredofdogs]

He smiles brightly up at him. Between that heartbeat and the kiss, he feels overwhelmingly happy.

"It will always be here waiting."

Even if they can just have moments like this, where he gets to enjoy this contact and be held in these arms, then he is content.

[billowing]

Lan Wangji feels his heart flutter like a school of butterflies, but he tries to remain calm.

"Will you be alright?" he asks. He was tired earlier, and it's been a long day.

[scaredofdogs]

"You don't have to worry about me. I didn't play as much as I did earlier. I'm not going to need to be carried to bed or anything." He won't immediately collapse in exhaustion. He will certainly sleep well whenever he does finally go to bed. But his brain is too full of thoughts at the moment to truly be able to rest for awhile.

He leans up and places that same soft kiss as he did earlier in the pool.

[billowing]

Wei Ying tugs so gently on Lan Wangji's heartstrings, that he wonders if he would not be a natural talent at the qin.

He doesn't want to extricate himself from this embrace, holding onto the feeling of how soft Wei Ying's lips are, tightly to his chest, something that is to be shared only between the two of them.

[scaredofdogs]

Wei Wuxian is content to hold onto Lan Wangji until the man has had enough. He could live just like this forever.

"What am I going to do, Lan Zhan? When you hug me, it makes me never want to let go."

He places another kiss on his cheek.

[billowing]

He feels the same. He knows Wei Ying knows he feels the same. And so, he kisses Wei Ying between his brows, where he might have drawn a flower in rouge, and carefully removes his arms and stands.

He will be the responsible one.

[scaredofdogs]

He already misses the embrace as those arms fall away. That kiss is like a precious memento of their time as he lets the feeling of it linger on his mind.

He stands up as well and takes the note that he had written. He carefully tears around the rabbit photo and holds the two pieces in his hands.

"This one is for you to keep, this one is for you to give away."

[billowing]

Lan Wangji takes both of them, and smooths them out, and places them carefully inside the fold of his shirt.

He opens his mouth as if to say something, as if to move forward, but then he simply says, instead: "Good night."

[scaredofdogs]

"Good night, Lan Zhan. Sleep well."

Wei Wuxian doesn't press for what the other would want to say. He simply accepts that there are some things that he can't tell him.

[billowing]

He gives a curt nod instead, leaving many things unsaid, as he moves to leave, and fights himself not to look back.