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

[scaredofdogs]

He blinks a few more times, finally able to focus on the fact that someone is in front of him and shaking him. "Ah..what.." He shakes his head and realizes that the face in front of him is that of his soul twin.

"Huh? What..why am I out here?" He looks around himself, not even entirely sure where here is at the moment.

"Did you bring me here?" Because he doesn't even remember who he was with last.

[sadflutenoises]

At least he isn't shocked to see his face, which means it's definitely not the same sort of memory issues he had when he'd returned before. So what was it? If even his soul-twin couldn't recall why he was here, maybe he'd stumbled onto something he shouldn't have? What other reason would there be?

"It wasn't me!" he's quick to insist, "you were out here shambling around like an old corpse. I was about to ask you the same thing."

[scaredofdogs]

He looks very confused as he takes another look around, the last of that fog finally lifting from his mind. "I don't remember what happened..I don't even remember the last thing I was doing.." What was his last memory? He can't even be sure at this point.

He knew he had a bad memory but to suddenly lose time and show up in a random part of the hotel with no recollection of getting there...that's a new one even for him.

"Maybe the queen did this..." Or that fucking Mad March. He swears at him a hundred times in his mind as he considers that possibility.

[sadflutenoises]

That's... not great. It left them with no leads and nothing to follow up on. No memory of any of it? He curses under his breath.

"That seems a good possibility," he frowns, "did they leave anything with you? Or was anything taken?"

Even if he couldn't remember where he'd been or what he was doing, maybe they'd left a clue among something he'd been carrying?

"Maybe one of the new teas?"

[scaredofdogs]

"Tea..." He doesn't remember drinking any tea. Or maybe there was that one..He normally avoids the teas in the lobby area but the staff was very convincing. But he isn't sure that is what did this. "I did drink a tea but I can't believe it would be a memory tea. I saw lots of people drinking it." But he never noticed anyone being spaced out like he was.

He starts looking over himself to make sure he had everything. Chenqing was at his waist and all his robes seemed to be intact. He pulls out the piece of paper that has the code written down on it.

"This...why do I think I know this?" It's familiar and not familiar all at the same time.

[sadflutenoises]

True, he hadn't seen anyone else wandering around, looking like they'd been drugged. It was possible he'd had a bout of bad luck and picked a bad one of the bunch, but when he pulls out that scrap of green paper, Wei Wuxian's eyes narrow, his smile diminishing. If his soul-twin had his memory tampered with because he'd pursued the clues behind it, they were all at risk.

He pulls a matching scrap from his own pocket.

"Did you call them?" he tries, worried about asking more if anyone else might be listening.

[scaredofdogs]

He looks around quickly and tucks that piece of paper back into his robes. Since they both have them then it makes it even more obvious. He remembers making that call. "I did..I was with someone who knew how to finish the poem. And then they called back!"

He remembers that much which means his memory is still in tact up to that point. "Did you get a code too?" Because he definitely was going to be following that code. It didn't matter what happened, if there is some place he can access because of that code then he needed to do it. He promised both Lan Wangji he would be careful but he can't help himself. He needs to get answers when opportunity presents itself.

[sadflutenoises]

Following his soul-twin's lead, he folds the paper and slips it away. There's some reassurance, knowing others have had a similar experience, but also plenty of reason for worry.

"Mm," he nods once, in confirmation, "Lan Zhan is... well- we're going to try it, but he's really... really stuck on making sure we're careful, so we haven't done anything with it just yet."

It's possible that's what got him all turned around and having memory troubles. They hadn't expected any of this to be easy, not with so much beyond their control, and worse, beyond their understanding.

"Did you try yours yet?"

[scaredofdogs]

He tries to think really hard about it but he can't seem to remember. "I..I don't know. I was supposed to make a distraction for Lan Zhan.." Was he successful? If he was then how did he end up all the way in the opposite area of the hotel?

"I'm not sure why I don't remember." It is really troubling that he doesn't remember but he is pretty sure he hasn't tried his code yet. "I was going to use a couple of the tea abilities to distract the staff. Maybe one of the teas wasn't any good."

But which one could possibly have been bad..he has had the shapeshifting tea enough at this point that he trusts it. Certainly it wouldn't suddenly be a problem.

[sadflutenoises]

The answer does little to calm his worry. If Wei Wuxian was supposed to act as distraction for Lan Zhan, then it left few options for the outcome. Either he'd successfully drawn the enemy away from Lan Wangji, but been caught and... drugged, maybe? Or their plan had failed, and Lan Zhan had been caught as well.

"Maybe," he tries to sound hopeful, "were you caught? Er- I guess you probably wouldn't remember... Have you tried to contact Lan Zhan?"

[scaredofdogs]

He doesn't remember and he hasn't tried to contact the other. He shakes his head in response. "I haven't..since I didn't really realize I was walking around alone until just now."

He really must have gotten hit with something powerful to have forgotten everything like this. He just hopes whatever happened in that amount of time wasn't terribly important.

"Do you think this might have happened to him as well? If this is a side effect of the distractions then we need to stop everyone from doing any others."

[sadflutenoises]

"Hopefully that's not the case, but- Lan Zhan seems the best person to ask, at least. If he remembers, maybe we can put together some of those missing pieces?" he looks thoughtful, "and if he doesn't, mm... we should probably make sure he's not off wandering somewhere too."

It was a fair point; if pursuing those keycodes was just going to send them on a confusing chase and wipe their memories, it was treading into really dangerous territory. And with all his recent warnings, it was probably a safe bet.

[scaredofdogs]

He reaches up and rubs his head, "Ahh...Every time it seems we can get close to something or obtain a clue it's like we just end up with even more questions." They really need to start coordinating better and working together. Because if the new trick is making them forget then that can be dangerous.

"I really hope he remembers everything."

[sadflutenoises]

"It's getting old, yeah," he nods. That, and the lack of safe ways to communicate. He was no tactician, perhaps, but even he could see they weren't going about this wisely. If they found things that were vital to know, how were they to share them quickly and safely? He didn't trust the Empathy for more than generic messages, or tracking someone down to talk in person. They didn't have talisman to carry messages either. Maybe they could figure out a coded system, but that would take up an obnoxious amount of time, and...

"Gonna be a whole lot harder if we can't even remember the clues we do find," he grumbles, not liking the sound of that one bit. How were they supposed to get around it? Writing things down carried risks, if found. Staying in pairs and groups maybe? Even if one was caught and had their memory tampered with, if the other got away... it wasn't great, definitely would need some work-shopping.

"Are you... gonna be okay?"

[scaredofdogs]

He had once discussed the possibility of written notes with the other lan Wangji. His own fears about communication having come about at one time. But the notes ran risks and even with telling people to destroy them after reading it wasn't always a guarantee. He has inquiry at his disposal but not everyone does and even that might be a dangerous route to take if the hotel figures out what they are trying to do. Working together has only gotten everyone so far and perhaps the hotel has started to figure out that they tend to work with certain partners to do things they shouldn't. There is no way to know how much the hotel watches and just what they know and if their attempts to gather information is actually putting them even more at risk then they realize.

But he can't worry too much about that when his own brain is already too scrambled to even remember the hours before. "Maybe we do need to start writing everything down..almost as soon as it happens. Just in case. We have to find a way to share all the information with each other better."

There might be things that have overlapped that they don't realize because they haven't been sharing it between everyone.

"You know us..A little memory loss has never stopped us before." Their memory isn't the best when it comes to certain things anyway. All he has to do is go back and see if he can't retrace what he has been doing for the last day. Perhaps it doesn't have anything to do with the note at all. It shouldn't be too hard to figure out who he has seen and what he has been doing.