you want to hear it? well —

[happyheartsstaff]

ONLY, MY SECRET'S MINE, AND I WON'T TELL

The garden may no longer be available upon return to the hotel, but there is still a bustle of energy. How fortunate all the Oysters are, to reside in such a renowned place! It's a great honor for those in Wonderland to be granted opportunity to teach their skills or ply their trade here, and the Queen permits only the best. Hotel staff themselves seem to delight in the presence of the traveling merchants. Many trade teas or favors for enchanted items, and will eagerly discuss their purchases. "Oh, it happens regularly enough," they will say if asked, "but you never know if the merchant you liked or the item you eyed will be back next time!"

The talk lingers after the guest instructors and merchants have departed, but it isn't the only thing left behind. Glimmers of green may catch your eye, tucked away in hidden places that seem almost impossible to reach without drawing attention to yourself. Those who manage it will find a scrap of heavy paper with a drawing of a stylized caterpillar, a series of numbers, and the words call a friend.

Are you curious enough to input the numbers into your Empathy? It will ring, if you do, until an answering machine picks up and asks a single question — How doth the little crocodile improve his shining tail? Do you dare leave a message? What will it be? Whatever you decide, the call will disconnect after a few minutes. It seems the only thing you can do now is wait for a call back.

But of course, the hotel is not in the habit of allowing such a thing as idle waiting. Her Royal Highness has noticed that some of her beloved Oysters seem quite reluctant to partake of the many splendors that the hotel provides, and she will be offering a special treat — indulgence.

QUEEN'S GAMES

8/12 - 8/22

What's more fun to indulge in than a little healthy competition? It's time for the Queen's Games, a truly dazzling spectacle. Competitors come from all over Wonderland, and this year for the first time ever, Oysters are invited to join! Announcements for the games schedule will be posted all throughout the hotel, along with directions on how to register to join.

The games will be held in either the pool area or the gym, which seems to have expanded to accommodate the number of spectators. Available games include:

• archery
• chess
• croquet
• artistic swimming
• diving
• gymnastics
• flamingo flying
• ice skating
• ice sculptures

Of course, even the games that Oysters are familiar with may not be quite the same. Chess in Wonderland is a team sport, for example, with each member of the team filling a role as a chess piece and a coach as a strategist directing the plays. Attempting to capture one of the other team's pieces includes having to successfully win a fight against them. Gymnastics and diving competitors include growing and shrinking in size to their routines, ice sculptures come to life when they've been completed, artistic swimmers and ice skaters change costumes and swap partners in the blink of an eye.

If they're lucky, Oysters may find one of the competitors willing to show them the ropes. If they're even luckier, or more persistent, there may be a spot or two open on one of the teams that Oysters can slot themselves into. For the most part, team members will be delighted to have Oysters there.

"You all just feel so much," one may say, sounding a little awed.

"Show off those emotions, it'll get us points," another will add.

Although competitors are friendly, with Osyters and with each other, it's clear that most of them are here to win. Rivalries may flare up throughout the month, ex-lovers may be reunited and broken up again, infighting may spark among the teams — all things that can be soothed or exacerbated, for Oysters who may have inclinations towards utilizing such things to increase their chances of winning.

Or to fan the flames of drama for its own sake.

THE CALL

8/16

Starting in the early morning hours and continuing late into the night, any who left a message will get a call back.

Those who completed the poem will be greeted immediately by a friendly male voice, with an apology for the delay. "Ugh, our lines are backed up like crazy," the caller will say. "Where are you reporting in from?"

Those who somehow identified themselves as an Oyster, as residing in the hotel, from off world, being held by the Queen, or otherwise potentially against the Queen, will have their call returned by a cold female voice, guarded and wary.

"Show me your Oyster mark," the caller will request. "We can't risk giving you anything without proof."

Regardless of which caller contacts them, anyone who cooperates will receive similar information.

The friendly caller will readily provide assurances that the resistance base was not found, despite Mad March and the Order's attempt at reconnaissance in the old kingdom.

"Can't say much more than that over these channels, you know, but worry not! Everyone is safe. We have a follow up from the last mission — sorry about the air conditioning, you know, couldn't be helped — you ready for this? Keycodes. Access keycodes. Didn't get more than a handful, of course, and the intel is vague about what they access. Are we glad to get your call! How about it, you ready to try one out and see what information you can get?"

The guarded caller will allude to the Order not being able to find what they wanted out in the ruins.

"Did you think they took you out there to show you the sights? They're looking for us, obviously. No I'm not going to tell you more than that — just because you're an Oyster doesn't mean we can completely trust you. All right, look. Last time we broke into the hotel, we recovered a few access codes. We had to get out of there before we could find out what they accessed. How about a trade? We give you the code, you call us back and tell us what you find."

INDULGENCE

8/13 - 8/23

Throughout the event, there will be a number of activities available alongside the games designed to encourage unwinding. A concert set up in the hotel lobby will kick off the start of the games, at which indulgence teas will be made available for the first time. They will continue to be served readily at all hours of the day. Enhanced spa facilities will be made available as well — dazzling pedicures and manicures with nail polish that can do anything from change colors based on your mood to emit light so bright it can function as a flashlight; makeup that gives you a kiss that will literally stun the recipient; aromatherapy that will cure any kind of hangover; oils that double as aphrodisiacs, for those interested; healing massages that will take away your aches and pains, wiping away any bruises or injuries with no questions asked. A clean slate, ready to indulge again.

Then, of course, there are the less official activities. Whispers will begin to spread about another kind of competition being run after hours, when all good competitors should be sleeping. No one quite knows who's running it — one person heard it was the coach of one of the chess teams, eager to get her players extra practice; another heard it was one of the chess players themselves; still another will say it is an ice skater, a flamingo pilot, a gymnast. After all, it hardly matters, does it, as long as it runs, and there is a fight every night? Oysters are welcomed into this competition as well, where the only rule is not to kill your opponent. Teas of all kinds exchange hands as bets are placed on the fights, and the champion is rumored to receive a truly spectacular prize.

If fighting is not to your speed, fear not. All of the competitors seem to have different ways to unwind after the games are completed for the day, and all are happy to allow Oysters to indulge in attending the various get-togethers and parties they host. The knight on one of the chess teams has the most renowned wine collection, and he's brought some of his finest with him to be enjoyed alongside cheeses and poetry. One of the swimmers is a passionate musician, and has recruited anyone who can play an instrument to discuss musical theory and play together. A croquet player is known for hosting the wildest parties, with free-flowing moonshine and sips of ecstacy tea readily available. There is a flamingo pilot with a book club, an archer who is a fabulous chef, a diver who is a skilled debater with a wicked tongue — whatever you like to indulge in, chances are, someone's throwing a party for it.

The games will end on the 23rd, with a roaring celebration of all who participated in the competition. The pool area will be taken over for the farewell party, with music, food, alcohol, and dancing available. It is here that the winners of the competitions will be announced, and prizes will be awarded.

If you have any questions, please leave them over here! Results for the access code sign ups and the distractions will go out on the 14th, so players have until then to sign up. Characters can use the keycodes to access areas and cause distractions from the 16th through the 23rd — and beyond, but after the final party they may no longer have an easy excuse. If you wish to have your character compete in one of the competitions for the prizes, you can sign up here! Winners will be RNGed.

PREMISE RULES FAQ TAKEN RESERVES APPLICATION MOD CONTACT HIATUS & DROPS WORLD INFO NPCS CALENDAR AC REWARDS PLAYER CONTACT

© tessisamess

Comments

[billowing]

[ He holds Wei Ying so tight that he might cause his second death from constriction or suffocation, but he refuses to let go. He hadn't held on tightly enough, once. Look how well that had turned out? ]

I didn't know if I would see Wei Ying again.

[scaredofdogs]

Wei Wuxian's eyes practically flash with excitement as he feels the fact that Lan Wangji is possibly..enjoying..this little activity. It's hard not to notice with the position he currently has on his body. But before he can even remark on it that all too familiar silencing spell spoils his fun.

His expression changes to one of rather pathetic disbelief as he whines through sealed lips. He already knows he can't break this kind of seal and now his arm is pinned behind him as well. So if he can't move his upper body...well his lower body is still in play. So why not take advantage of the situation.

He rocks his hips, using those legs to practically grind against the other. This makes his heart pound just a bit harder but he tries to keep himself calm as he hopes he can get the other to release the choke hold. Figuring he will want to use those hands to try and stop this shameless fighting tactic. Using his new gravity manipulation technique he flips them over in the air so that his body is above Lan Wangji's.

[scaredofdogs]

Honestly.. I didn't think anyone would.

[He had no idea that dying would not be permanent. He thought for sure his life was ending for good in that strange room and that he would never see Lan Wangji's face again. Apology after apology had run though his mind while those dogs tore him apart and he only hoped that perhaps he would come back as one of the spirits that live in the hotel so that he could still talk to him somehow.]

At least now we know death isn't permanent here.

[billowing]

He might flip them, but Lan Wangji keeps his grip like a constrictor - he has increased his upper arm strength since last they'd fought, so naturally he finds it easy to hold on, even if Wei Ying pulls a little trick like flipping their positions.

He bites his tongue to keep from groaning, and with his famous restraint, manages to avoid bucking his hips upward as he distractedly closes his eyes and tries very hard to push certain images out of his head.

On the other hand, he doesn't have much leverage but tries to make a little gap between them so that he can flip back over on top, though without anything to push or kick off of, it might not work out for him.

[thotsandprayers]

"I haven't met them yet, no."

But maybe she will later. She's gotten so behind with socializing with her fellow Oysters that she really should make up for lost time.

"And the rabbits are quite nice, but there's still something rather charming about the birds. More than the others, they feel quite whimsical. Like something out of a fairy tale."

[sadflutenoises]

He probably should have pulled that first kick, but Shepard has proven herself a fierce competitor in every fight he's seen her in. Wei Wuxian makes the mistake of holding back on the second kick, even if only a hair, and Shepard tries to shove him off-balance. He can feel the shift in balance, the moment he starts to lose advantage, and rolls with her instead of fighting it, attempting to use the momentum of his fall back to fling her from his leg.

Barring that, if he can't shake her loose, he'll at least try to force a shift in balance, so he can come out on top, and use his beanstalk legs to pin her to the floor.

[billowing]

Stop.

Don't.

[ If he thinks like that, then he'll stop believing that his life holds any value, and continue to make such dumb and sacrificial moves. ]

[scaredofdogs]

Several of the onlookers have started to turn away, not sure they should be watching such a display while others seem to be enjoying the show.

Meanwhile, Wei Wuxian is still struggling with not being able to talk. It has been years since he has been forced to endure this spell. He's a bit distracted by that when Lan Wangji successfully gets them to turn back over but it seems to be rather short lived as now they are on an endless spiral, continuously switching positions.

Looking up into Lan Wangji's face, he notices the closed eyes and smirks a bit. That grinding continues, aware of the effect it is starting to have on his own body as well, but also knowing he can easily shift into another body to avoid it.

The hand not bent behind him suddenly shifts into a long and squirmy type of tentacle that is now doing to attempt to assault Lan Wangji's sides and body to find his most sensitive of places to tickle.

[scaredofdogs]

[What is a few more gold marks on his body if he can find out more about the hotel or the queen or protect someone else from having to deal with that same fate. He's died before, he can handle dying as many times as he has to. It's unpleasant but better him then someone who doesn't know that pain.

He sighs softly and stays silent. At night his dreams are still plagued by what he went through. He would do anything to spare someone from this same ongoing torment.]

[billowing]

Oh, rude! And uncouth! Well, at the very least, the tickling solves his other problem, because now there's no way his body feels like doing any of that.

It's during one of these spirals that he lets go, and kicks Wei Ying away from him; they'll both have to fall back to the ground, but he is hoping to have enough momentum in his push that he might actually wind Wei Ying or something. He's not actually trying to hurt him.

In fact, this fight might go on a long time precisely because both of them want to fight but neither of them wants to inflict any serious damage.

[billowing]

[ And Lan Wangji would give anything to spare Wei Ying of this pain another time. ]

Promise me.

[scaredofdogs]

I can't...

[Because he promised once before and broke it. He can't handle making yet another promise that he might not be able to keep. As much as Lan Wangji wants to keep him safe, it isn't in Wei Wuxian's nature to sit back and do nothing.]

I'm clearly not good at keeping them so I just can't. Knowing I broke a promise already hurts just as much as what happened.

[billowing]

[ Lan Wangji waits a moment, and then, he disentangles himself, and gets up out of bed, stumbling around as he's still quite drunk. ]

[scaredofdogs]

A-ah! Lan Zhan!

[He scrambles to get out of bed and follow after the other man. His room is much bigger then the last time Lan Wangji was there so he doesn't mind if he wanders around in here, but he doesn't want him to go stumbling out into the hallway or back downstairs.]

I'm sorry, I'm sorry...

[sadflutenoises]

It's fascinating to watch her fight, he thinks, the style definitely unique and clearly effective, but it's hard to take his eyes from the rest of the crowd without risking another gutsy brawler trying to tackle him to the floor. Still, he makes note of the names; Alliance standard, vanguard, and saves his questions for later.

"I hope I never have to see you in a real fight," he laughs. The first time he'd met her, she'd been quick to suggest shivving as a stealth tactic, and seeing her now, he was even more certain she'd meant it.

Keeping Shepard at his back means less dodging, but it also means there might as well be a wall behind him. He crouches under a swinging arm and lands a solid palmstrike to another fighter's torso, sending him flying back into a few others. Not bad, that tea, he thinks, though he might want to dial it back a little.

"Lots of numbers," he agrees, "much less actual skill, oop-"

He catches a fist, using the other's momentum to lead them out of his way, then follows with a kick to their rear as they pass him. His fighting style definitely borders on playful, rather than efficient, though it's obvious he's having no less fun.

[scaredofdogs]

There is a victory in finally being freed from that hold. His arm goes back to normal but he doesn't fall to the ground. He still has the benefits of no gravity at his disposal. He had been clasped on so hard that the push was fairly significant to get him to unhinge. And so it takes him a moment to catch his breath back as he stays a healthy distance away to get it.

He still can't talk with is frustrating. He considers his next attack, and then it hits him. He lands on the ground and immediately changes into a tiny lizard. He's been in this body before so he does know fairly well how to maneuver in it. And so he hurries as fast as he can, grateful for the fact that speed seems to be one of this bodie's strengths. Because he is aiming to go into Lan Wangji's clothing and right up his leg.

[sadflutenoises]

When he puts it that way, he feels a little silly, not having thought to try the characters and strokes in such an order, or that such subtle changes could yield such results. But just as he could reverse a talisman that could repel spirits, to one that attracted them, with only minimal changes, this too, wasn't so different.

"Ah, mm," he nods along, "I can't believe I missed that."

The paperman flutters into stillness, and Wei Wuxian turns it over a few more times, making mental note of the changes before tucking it away into his robes.

"Is there anything you're not good at?" he asks, only half-joking.

[gravescholar]

"Age is relative. We're all young because we aren't them."

Wu Xie fixes his hair by simply running his hand through it, letting the messy locks fall however they want. It never was really that important anyways, unless he had to impress someone. Since his list of people he wanted to impress did not make it with him, he was just not going to care.

"Aziraphale?" He squints at the guy, nose crinkling before he chuckles. "I'm Wu Xie."

[blessmefather]

[ Matt didn't expect an ally to chime in. He doesn't remember meeting this guy but whoever he is, he gets a grin and a nod. ]

I sure can! My father was a boxer- let's just say my punch lives up to that legacy.

[ The man in charge sighs. "Sure. Whatever you say Hot Shot. It's your funeral! You're up after this round is through."

Matt turns to his unexpected ally again. ]

Hey, thanks. Are you a local or another oyster?

[blessmefather]

[ Only two months... Of course a lot can happen in two months. ]

I'm guessing there's no way for us to know if those people were sent home safely.

I was told not to drink the tea. That it's somehow made from our emotions.

[blessmefather]

[ Matt recognizes the volunteer's voice and grins. He jabs him back in the shoulder immediately. ]

Sam! I take it you've been winning if you're ready to throw down again.

[ The man in charge still seems hesitant but notes them on his clipboard for one of the next matches. ]

[blessmefather]

Yeah. New Oyster. That obvious?

[ He laughs, not entirely sure why she can tell and too care free to think on it more. Her description of the peach schnapps ice cream is far more intriguing and he groans. ]

That sounds heavenly! I have to try this.

[ He asks the bartender for a bowl and turns to Shepard to question. ]

Two bowls?

[gravescholar]

That's what they call me. I just arrived right before all this started.

[ Wu Xie continues to smile at the guy in charge until he goes to set up the match and then sighs, scratching at the back of his neck. and glancing over the opposition. ]

You might have to be careful, there's a guy with rocky skin... huh, never mind. Aim for his right side, he's got a gimp leg there.

[earthborn]

"And yet, we're still not being eaten by giant birds," Shepard replied, knowing full well what a tall tale that sounded like. She couldn't help it; she was in a good mood, full of adrenaline rush. It made it easy to make friends.

The pipe whistles as it goes over her head and she joins him in the mutual seeding of future trauma in its former weilder. What the hell, was this supposed to be a bare-knuckle brawl or a literal murder scene? If the former, bad form, but if the latter...

"Some people have no manners," She isn't even wearing shoes, let alone her best face-stomping boots, "This is getting old. I'm hungry— You?"

[jinlingers]

"What made you think that was a good idea??" The place is loud and crowded and not a place that any donkey would want to be much less such an obstinate one. He looks at the poor thing and he always sort of liked animals, not just his dog.

"You could have just brought apples to her."