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

[equivocations]

[ Hearing Wei Wuxian's voice from the other side of the door causes a spike of relief to cut through the anger he feels - but it's brief, considering that what he hears is Wei Wuxian telling him to run if someone comes.

When someone comes, because Lan Xichen has no doubt that whoever set this trap would be aware of someone setting it off, and would come looking to see who he caught before long. For the moment, the uncharacteristic anger that threatens to consume him is directed entirely towards whoever is trapping Wei Wuxian like this, but there is a shade of it left for that question itself.

He chooses not to dignify it with a response, instead keeping his attention on how to pry the lock panel apart. He looks around for something to use as a lever, but - there is nothing, no more than there was when he was looking for something to mark the other door with.

Well. No. There is one thing, and while Lan Xichen would not have risked damaging his flute simply to mark their way, getting Wei Wuxian out before someone finds them is another matter entirely. He wedges the instrument in the gap in the panel, braces himself in the doorway, and applies as much pressure as he can.

He can hear liebing strain, and he doesn't have to look to know that cracks are beginning to form in its frame, but he disregards that entirely when it proves successful, and the panel to the lock is pried off. Another kick to its now vulnerable inner mechanisms weakens its integrity even further, and Lan Xichen follows it up by slamming his shoulder into the door one more time - and, finally, feeling it give and break open. ]

[sadflutenoises]

[When there's no response, he feels a spike of worry. Are they already here? Have they caught Lan Xichen? A moment later though, he can hear the scrape of metal as something seems to give. He stands clear of the sliver of light, eyes flicking nervously between it and the ever-increasing watchers. There's hundreds now, all focused on him and his movements, though there's not so much as a sound from them.]

Zewu Jun? L... Lan Xichen? Is everything okay?

[A heavy kick thunders in response, and the sliver of light dances and widens for a moment. He's close. But what's going on, on the other side of that door?

He doesn't have to wonder long, as the door bursts open with a thunderous sound. Wei Wuxian doesn't hesitate. As soon as the door is open, he bolts toward it, nearly plowing into Lan Xichen as he does so. He nimbly sidesteps, without losing much momentum, and grabs at Zewu Jun's sleeve, trying to tug him along.]

W-We have to go.

[equivocations]

[ No, everything is far from okay, but at the moment he's too preoccupied with trying to get Wei Wuxian out quickly to answer. Really, only some of it can be blamed on the tea - even without the strange anger pulsing through him, he would not be willing to abandon Wei Wuxian, and he would be intent on getting him out before anyone can come find them.

He only might not be quite so forceful about it.

When Wei Wuxian rushes out and sidesteps in, Lan Xichen stays where he is, just in case someone is following him. He holds Liebing up as though it was his sword, and he could use it to shield Wei Wuxian from whatever may have trapped him in there. He is beyond trying to conceal the anger he feels, and it's likely apparent in his expression.

The tug to his sleeve works to get his attention, though, and there's only a moment of hesitation before he follows after Wei Wuxian. ]

Stay with me this time.

[ There's an undercurrent of anger, but it's fainter than his concern. Being angry at Wei Wuxian is different than at their captors, and in this, at least, he will try to restrain himself. ]

[sadflutenoises]

[He stutters to a halt when Zewu Jun doesn't immediately follow, and sees his defensive posture, waiting for whatever might follow, but there's only darkness, and the subtle reflection of those watching eyes. Luckily, Lan Xichen doesn't hesitate long, and Wei Wuxian keeps pace with him as they run down the long hallway and toward the exit.

Though he glances over his shoulder a few times, nothing seems to follow, and the eyes are soon far enough away that they fade into the darkness. He doesn't stop until they're well through the next door and into the safety of the hotel's more common areas. His heavy breathing turns into a rough laugh as he leans against the nearest wall in relief.]

A~ah... That could have gone better... I suppose...

[equivocations]

[ The tentative dissipating of the adrenaline pumping through him when they make it out to something like safety without anyone following them, paired with Wei Wuxian's breathless laughter, might normally have made him smile in response. But even away from where they weren't supposed to be, he's still finding that he has to keep a tight hold on his nameless anger. He can do nothing more than give a shaky sigh of relief.

Yes, that could have gone better, and for a moment he looks apologetically down at the instrument he's still holding. As he suspected, there is a deep gouge at one end, and cracks fracture its frame.

Well. He can give it a proper apology later. For now, the more important thing is making sure nothing happened while they were separated, and he looks over at Wei Wuxian. ]

Are you injured?

[sadflutenoises]

[He lets out a shaky breath, trying to forget that dark room and all the intense eyes, focused on him, or think too hard about what might've happened, had Lan Xichen not been able to break him out. He'd had his first warning, what did the second lead to?]

Mm, no harm done.

[Just a little shaken up, but that's hardly worth mentioning. His eyes follow Zewu Jun's gaze, looking at the damaged instrument, and he winces. Ah. That was... how he'd pried the door open.]

And you, Zewu Jun? I'm sorry about your...

[He trails off. How would he feel if it was one of his spiritual tools? Broken like that? It wasn't like they could easily replace it, not here.]

[equivocations]

[ The last of the sharpness of concern drains from him when Wei Wuxian says there was no harm done. No physical harm, at least, but he doubts Wei Wuxian would be entirely truthful if another type of harm occurred even if he asked.

He expects to feel relief from both the worry and the anger, now that the cause for concern is past. And it seems like he will, for a moment, when Wei Wuxian asks about him and begins to apologize. It's only when he realizes that Wei Wuxian is apologizing for Liebing, and not for putting himself in a dangerous situation, that the anger surges back up. ]

That is what you are sorry about? How can you be so careless with yourself and so concerned over another's spiritual tool?

[sadflutenoises]

[He's seen Zewu Jun upset before. Usually quiet and contemplative while others rage and argue, carefully taking both sides into account. But he's never seen that anger pointed at him, and it's hard not to feel small. He should probably be sorry for dragging Lan Xichen along in the first place, for not checking it out more carefully himself first. For a number of things, he's sure, but mostly...]

You... can't replace it.

[Wounds would heal, and he didn't have more than a couple bruises from their escapades. But his tool couldn't be fixed so easily.]

[equivocations]

[ There's a soft, sudden inhale, and he rocks back the tiniest bit as though those words were a physical blow. Sixteen years he watched the one person who he wanted to shield from all manner of harm struggle to keep grief and regret from consuming him after Wei Wuxian's loss, and after his return he has seen - he has supported - the lengths that his brother will go to in order to keep Wei Wuxian safe.

And Wei Wuxian thinks himself worth less than a flute, simply because this time, the damage done to him could be fixed. ]

You are what cannot be replaced. Has no one ever told you that your safety is worth more than any object, even a spiritual tool?

[ He tries to make it gentle, to keep the question as soft as he would normally ask something so heavy, but his anger makes it sharper than he would like. ]

[sadflutenoises]

[He'd known it was the wrong answer, the moment it slipped out. And he couldn't help a short, nervous, and completely inappropriate laugh at Zewu Jun's question. Patchy as his memories might be, it's hard to forget how many times he's been called worthless or a mistake or had people actively calling for his death. Besides, compared with his last run with Lan Zhan, he'd been at least a little more careful this time.]

It's fine Zewu Jun, that's not- I- appreciate your concern, but I wasn't injured, really!

[It's a roundabout way of skirting the question.]

Besides, I'm sure no one's going to be too upset if the dreaded Yiling Laozu gets himself into trouble yet again.

[equivocations]

[ Skirting the question is its own answer, and there's another rush of anger - this time at all the people who treated Wei Wuxian as though he was the worst evil any of them had ever seen.

At himself, for not speaking up the way he wished he could have. For trying to keep the peace and appease everyone, and in the end only contributing to violence and discord. ]

I will be upset. [ A fact which he suspects hardly matters, when placed next to Wangji's feelings on the matter, but he also assumes it will at least be information newer than the fact that Wangji would be very, very upset should anything happen to Wei Wuxian. ] Your safety is worth more than any object, even a spiritual tool.

[ It's perhaps unnecessary to repeat it, when asking the question in the first place should have made it clear that it's what he thinks, but even angry he remembers his conversation with Wangji about sometimes needing to be more explicit. ]

[sadflutenoises]

[He'd hoped Lan Xichen might let him laugh it off and change the subject. However, his need to clarify is enough to make a nervous lump rise in his throat. Would he really be that upset? He had broken his instrument, in his hasty rescue, so that was proof, wasn't it?]

Why?

[He forces a laugh, even if it falls flat, and tries harder to smile.]

Come on, so serious Zewu Jun! Like I'd be taken out so easily. Lan Zhan and I ran into much worse last time!

[equivocations]

[ That would normally be Lan Xichen's cue to allow the subject to be easily diverted, to duck his head with a small smile and perhaps make some kind of comment regarding both Lan brothers getting into trouble. If he's honest - his cue should have come from Wei Wuxian skirting the question in the first place, if his attempt at controlling his anger hadn't made it difficult to divert his attention.

But truthfully, even without that, it would be hard to divert him now. That why pierces his heart as easily as seeing Nie Mingjue or Meng Yao in pain ever had, and the obvious answer - that it is for Wangji's sake, of course - is set aside for the moment. ]

Because there are no set rules, no clear lines between right and wrong. People shouldn't be labeled so easily as black and white, without looking deeper to see the intentions of their hearts. [ It's been a long time since he first had a discussion like this with Wangji, but despite how many almost unbearable things have happened since then - he still believes it. ] And you are a good man.

[ He hopes - Wei Wuxian doesn't yet know about Jin Guangyao, doesn't know just how little merit Lan Xichen's ability to assess the intentions in someone's heart truly has. He hopes it may still mean something, coming from him. ]

[sadflutenoises]

[He's ready to laugh it all off and move on, maybe start looking into other leads. But Lan Xichen keeps talking, and it's hard not to let his mouth fall open, as he tries to grab hold of what to say. To hear a Lan, especially a sect leader, saying that the rules didn't matter, that right and wrong weren't always clear, that was well more than enough to leave him floundering. But to add that he thought Wei Wuxian, of all people, was a good man?]

Ah... Well... Zewu Jun, it's not... I don't disagree about things like that, but...

[But why have I never heard this before? Just how much has changed in the time he was gone? Why the change of heart? Especially when it contrasts so deeply with many of the Lan sect's rules?

He can't help the nervous remnants of a smile that cling to his lips.]

I'm not sure what I've done to earn your favor, but it's ah... kind of you to say so.

[equivocations]

They are easy words to say. It took no effort to say them to Wangji before the war and it takes no effort to say them to you now.

[ That's not entirely true. It had been somewhat difficult to admit to Wangji that he read everything and determined that the truth of the world could not be ascertained solely by the works in the Library Pavillion, to encourage him to find his own balance between the Lan's teachings, those of the rest of the clans, and the world itself. And it is a little difficult to say them now, to allow someone outside the Lan sect in to see what exists beside the extensive rules -

But no more difficult than it had been to shelter Wangji and Wei Wuxian before they had proof of the accusations they made, and he still wonders if both are too little too late. The point is supposed to be action to follow up words. ]

The promise that I have sought to make you today is that you have my support. I would highlight the reasons for it - [ Not in the least because of how happy he makes Wangji ] - but you look as though you wished this conversation had ended the moment we re-entered the hotel.

[ And he's having difficulty restraining his emotions, at the moment, but that is too much to admit. ]

[sadflutenoises]

[It's a lot to take in. How is it both the twin jades speak so infrequently, yet have such weighted, heavy words? It's one thing to be speaking to Wei Wuxian about right and wrong and all the shades of grey in-between, but he'd said the same to Wangji? Even before the Sunshot campaign? For all his trouble at keeping the many rules while he'd been there, he was blinded to the idea that its disciples might see beyond them as well.

To say he didn't understand the sudden show of support was an understatement though. His last memories were of people wishing for his death and swords pointed in his direction, family and former friends, and he couldn't even refute them in the end. But since arriving here, first Lan Wangji, and now his brother, acting in full support of him? ]

Having one's shortcomings and weaknesses brought up is rarely an easy conversation, Zewu Jun.

[equivocations]

[ He winces a little at that, his hand tightening on his flute for a moment before he takes in a deep breath and lets it out. As reluctant as he is to admit that he's struggling with restraint, he doesn't want Wei Wuxian to think it's his fault - not looking after himself properly aside, anyway. ]

I apologize, I - am not sure why I seem to be so angry. It isn't with you. I have my own regrets, Wei-gongzi. I -

[ How can he begin to explain that he wishes he had done more to speak out against the Jin clan's actions after the Sunshot Campaign? How can he say that too often he compromised, that in trying to keep the peace among everyone he only facilitated further violence? How can he speak of the delicate political situation he had been in, of the devastation of his clan and the level of support he could not afford to offer, without making it sound like he's only offering excuses?

No. What is done is done, and his regrets there cannot be changed. What can be changed is the slow realization that's come from Wei Wuxian's return, from Jin Guangyao's betrayal, even from his talk with Wangji after arriving here - there are times when being implicit is not enough to be sure that he was truly understood. ]

When I came to visit you in Yiling, and I spoke about the effects of your actions on those who care about you, I didn't intend it is as a recrimination. I disagreed with your methods, but I believed your purpose was just. I wanted to reach a common ground, to tell you that there were those in Cloud Recesses who cared about you and wanted to help, even if they didn't know how to express it. I have had some time for self reflection, and have come to suspect I didn't adequately express myself, either.

[sadflutenoises]

[He can handle yelling, blame-throwing, and caustic barbs meant to leave scars. But what he's always struggled with are apologies. Whether giving or receiving, it was difficult to find the right words.]

You don't have to- I'm not hurt, Zewu Jun.

[Hearing about Lan Xichen's regrets is even harder to come to terms with, somehow. He knew the man meant well, even then. But letting himself be hidden away in Cloud Recesses while the remnants of the Wen clan were left to suffer, alone and vulnerable in the Burial Mounds? No, no matter how honeyed Zewu Jun's offer, he couldn't have accepted.]

What's past is past. I'm not without mistakes of my own, but surely we can work together here? There's no clans or politicking to worry over. We have a mutual goal, don't we?