𝐻𝒜𝒫𝒫𝒴 𝐻𝐸𝒜𝑅𝒯𝒮 𝒮𝒯𝒜𝐹𝐹 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
happyheartsstaff) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
angryhearts2020-06-11 07:39 pm
happyheartsstaff) wrote in angryhearts2020-06-11 07:39 pm
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.
...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?
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.
The Queen will not respond to any messages sent back to her.
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!
© tessisamess
no subject
"I just thought you might like some company. It doesn't have to be sparring. Whatever you want, you know?" he smiles a little easier.
To hear that there's no solution probably should have frustrated him, or at least sparked in him a contrary argument, but... maybe if Lan Zhan thought so, that's just how it was?
"Figure things out... like what?"
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Mark your words when you said, whatever you want. Such words make Lan Wangji slowly coming out of his shell and talk more. "I do like your company if you don't mind it. We can think of something to do later on when AC unit came back on. I don't know what, but it will be something..." Something. He can't think much, not with how much humid it is.
"I don't know. Perhaps, maybe answers from the Queen. A way out of Wonderland. Getting our spiritual powers back."
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"I wouldn't offer if I didn't want to, you know me," Wei Wuxian wasn't the sort to take on a task if his heart wasn't in it, after all.
"The pool is fine enough for now," he gives another laugh when Lan Zhan can't seem to think of anything that they could do together. He splashes a little water, playfully in Lan Zhan's direction before downing the rest of his tea. "Or you can always join me in my depravity at the bar."
Not that Lan Zhan would take him up on that one, but it was an amusing thought all the same.
"That would be a good start, wouldn't it? I'd be pretty happy with any one of those!" he adds. Oh, right, speaking of...
"I heard a rumor though, about getting our powers back."
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"Sparring. I'll think about it. If you do rusty, we can compare the Lan style with the Jiang style." The sect where Wei Wuxian came from. He observes him, and he felt comfortable with him around. Something about his smiles puts him at ease, and he gently lowers his shell that he builds around himself. When he splashes at him, he didn't retaliate by splashing back.
Ah, wait. This Wei Wuxian can be easily happy...? He's wondering. "Ah, I don't drink. I can join you to make sure you don't go over your limit. But..." Can he control himself by not losing his cool over a bottle of liquor. "You can ask the server to bring a drink to you." He suggested.
"Rumor? What's the rumor?"
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"Oh, good idea!" he waves one of the staff over and orders one of their sweet cocktails, remembering that this was the Lan Zhan that had said it was alright, even if he broke all the rules in Cloud Recesses. He waits until the staff member leaves to fill the order before leaning in to whisper conspiratorially.
"It sounds silly, but what here doesn't, hm? So, I heard that some of the teas are actually imbued with the powers of the people here. And when you drink them, you gain the power, at least for a time. It'd be hard to try them all, just to see which work, right? But there's apparently a secret to it," he explains. He wouldn't have believed it if he hadn't seen it himself. And even then, he wasn't sure if the man had passed him bad information on the next it or not.
"The scent of the teas is just like the person it came from," he watches Lan Zhan's expression, just to see if there's a hint of doubt. He can hardly blame him if there is, but...
"So I've been curious ever since. What do I smell like?"
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He allows Wei Ying to have his drink. After all, Wei Ying is Wei Ying when he drinks, so he becomes accustomed to his habit and he gave him permission because it doesn't seem fair to impose the rules on him in this place.
He was startled when he starts whispering to him because he is leaning so close. But eventually, he listens. Well, he believes everything he says, because he knows Wei Ying is always honest with him.
It was then he was staring at him blankly and then he becomes curious too. "I don't know about your scent, but if I ever find your own tea, I'll bring it to you."
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"Mm, see, I thought the same thing," he nods, holding the glass close to his chest as the ice cubes clink. It's cool and comforting and sets him at ease.
"The one who told me said his... friend smelled like... tea and marshmallows? And when he drank it, he got powers that were definitely his friend's," he explains, tapping his nose, "so I couldn't help thinking, what different people smell like. I feel like none of the ones I could think of would make terribly good teas though. Lan Zhan always smells sandalwood incense, but I don't think I'd want to drink that."
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"Mn." He nodded, listening, and then he realized he calls him Lan Zhan. He wonders if he calls the other one, the same birth name too. He figured he does since it seems to him that he calls him his birth name out of habit.
"I wouldn't know Wei Ying. But if I ever find yours, I'll bring that tea to you." Yet, he is curious now that he describes it. "Hopefully, it wasn't a bad flavor." If he gets lucky to obtain those teas.
Oh he remembered he did receive one. "I received mine, but it's very robust and strong for the taste. Like cinnamon and spice."
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"Oh, you found one? What did it do?"
Cinnamon and spice, well, he supposed that did seem tasty. Maybe it was less how the person literally smelled and more like an impression of them. He hoped his would smell like Emperor's Smile and freshly peeled lotus seeds, if only because he missed the taste of both.
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"I believe the power belonged to someone. I don't think it's a good tea, but it's all right."
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"Lan Zhan, you were gifted with temptation and sweet talking?" he can't stifle a laugh at the thought. How many times had he told Lan Zhan he could have his pick of girls if he just learned to talk to them a bit more sweetly? Temptation seemed a waste, since anyone with working eyes could see how handsome Lan Zhan was. But to think, such a power and he'd used it for... poetry?
"Was it dirty? Did you seduce anyone with your salacious words?" he hides more laughter as he takes another drink, the bite of the alcohol barely noticeable with the sweetness of the fruit.
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Lan Wangji turns into many shades of red across his smooth jade-like face and to the tip of ears when he laughs at him, teasing him. "No. Absolutely not. It's about power nature and removing oneself from worldly desires."
No, he won't admit he did compose a love song about his feelings and perhaps written enough love poetry to last a lifetime.
"No, I don't speak of any of it. Not necessary."
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"Aaa~ah. Such a waste," he sighs. "All your sweet talking wasted on nature and rules? Only you would use a power like that in exactly the opposite way it's meant!"
He imagines an ode to all the stifling rules of the Lan sect, condemning all worldly desires, like it's such a terrible thing to have fun. Wei Wuxian takes a long sip of his cocktail, considering.
"I want to read it," he sets his amused gaze on Lan Wangji's face.
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Looking shyly away. Even now, he's in turmoil over the other Wei Ying. But this one wants to read his poetry. How very kind. Lan Wangji is a recluse and hides in his own shell.
After much thought, "Perhaps...another time. I'll write a poem. Just for you to read." A poem he hopes he'll enjoy reading.
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If he had to sit through one of Lan Qiren's lectures on such things, he was pretty certain he'd be bored to tears and falling asleep in his seat. But perhaps between Lan Wangji's artful writing and being gifted with sweet words, it would be amusing.
Though, he's a little worried his teasing has gone too far, when Lan Zhan looks away. He tries to lean back into his line of sight, and is relieved to hear that he's not so bothered, especially if he's offering to write him a poem.
"You don't have to go out of your way, Lan Zhan," he grins, but offers a slight nod of his head. Why not, after all?
"But poetry, a nice ambiance, and a bottle of wine, mm, sounds like a time well spent," he says agreeably. Now if he could only go outdoors and look at the stars at the same time. That would be all but perfect.
"It's not much but, hmmm, I could draw you something, in return. What do you think?"
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At his offer, "You draw? Yes, I remembered you draw. You drew a picture of me instead of copying the rules for your lesson." Once he managed to find the words. "It might be a different version of what you remembered, but I still kept it."
He then made up his mind and decided. "All right. A poem in exchange for your drawings. How soon? Later in the evening after the sun goes down?"
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Lan Zhan had kept it? That silly drawing with the oversized flower in his hair? It'd been little more than a distraction, while he'd hidden some of Nie Huaisang's erotic art in Lan Zhan's texts. He was sure it'd ended up in the trash, along with every other scrap of paper he'd bothered Lan Wangji with over his month of punishment writing out the sect's many rules. He wondered if his soul-twin knew.
"I doubt it's up to par with the great Hanguang Jun's distinguished poetry, but I'll draw whatever you want!" Wei Wuxian agrees readily. If not for the heat, he'd say why wait?
"Tonight, mm, so long as it doesn't interrupt all your solitary activities," he adds, with a nudge of his elbow.
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If he still has it with him, he'll show Wei Wuxian the picture to show and compare similarities. He kept it well-preserved as if it was drawn yesterday. As to why he still kept it, he is very sentimental on holding onto memories and mementos.
The light color of his eyes lights up. "You won't be interrupting at all." Anytime with Wei Wuxian is always a good time. "Would you...would you draw me rabbits and hares?"
no subject
Still, he nods his thanks and smiles in reply, before taking another long pull from his drink. It's all but dregs and bits of fruit, so he starts picking at them next, breaking into a wide grin at Lan Zhan's request.
"Mm, I should have guessed. Like the one on our lantern, right?" he nodded. Even if his memories were patchy in places, it would be hard to forget the first time he'd seen Lan Zhan smile.
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Still, the idea that this Wei Wuxian will draw him a picture, he would like to have it to keep as a memento of their friendship. So inspired, he will write good poetry for him to read and that which will please him and impress him.
Smiling softly, "Lantern? I recall Wei Wuxian draw rabbits on a lantern before. Probably not the same as yours, but I would like that. A picture of a rabbit."
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"Right, not ours, I meant- mm, you know what I meant, right?" he always seems to stick his foot in his mouth around this other Hanguang Jun lately, doesn't he? His worry eases though, when he catches the little smile on Lan Wangji's face. The other Wei Wuxian really is lucky though, that the Lan Wangji from his world thinks so well of him.
"Lucky you, you'll get to have original works by two Wei Wuxians," he sets the drink aside on the edge of the pool, already wishing for another.
"I guess I'll... later tonight, right?" he took a couple steps back.
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"Later tonight. Pick a place of your choosing. It can be the pool again or the lobby."
He didn't want to leave the pool because everywhere else is hot due to the AC unit is broken. But he must go to his room where the paper and brush are at and start writing.
Being the first to leave the pool and gather the towels to dry, then put on his robe.
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It's hard to explain, being around this other Lan Zhan, he thinks. So, in the end, he doesn't make much effort to try to reason or make sense of it. Lan Zhan is still Lan Zhan, so there's no reason they shouldn't be friends, at least, right?
He watches Lan Wangji go, taking a moment to kick his feet in the pool and order one more iced tea, to-go, before climbing out of the pool and toweling off.
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Perhaps no explanation necessary. It was a strange connection, but friendship is all he could ever ask for.
"Let's meet again."
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"Oh, yeah, they took the name and it's not the same at all, is it? Don't worry, I figured it out eventually!" he assures, passing him a brief wave.
"I'll see you!"
(no subject)