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

Re: spa day

[sadflutenoises]

"I um- I got it!" he squeaks out, fumbling for the bottles and stuffing them into his sleeves and pockets messily. It's absolutely not his nerves, and he can feel the heat spreading from every point of contact, like lightning dancing on his skin. Even the smell makes him feel like he's growing warmer from the inside out, and his breath comes a bit shaky as he pulls himself up from the ground.

"Yes," he agrees firmly, "I...In our room. Right away."

He tries to tug out of Lan Zhan's grasp, did any of it get on him? His worried eyes cast over Lan Wangji's form, and it's hard not to let his thoughts wander in ways that are entirely unhelpful. But Lan Zhan, at least, seems stoic as ever.

Re: spa day

[billowing]

Of course he does, but Wei Ying should know well enough by now that even if Lan Wangji feels a certain way, there's no guarantee that he will act a certain way in response. In fact, it's infinitely more guaranteed that he will push those feelings aside and continue on stonefaced.

He tries not to wipe off the oil on either of their clothes, but it's clearly all over his hand, coating it in a slightly shiny substance which smells overpoweringly of rose and vanilla. As they make their way back, he wonders what on earth is happening to him today.

Usually, he has himself in check, but clearly he's feeling a little bit... excited today. He doesn't understand; his needs are taken care of daily, and there isn't anything happening right now that should make him feel particularly...

...But the more he can smell that rose and vanilla, the more it feels like that heavy lust a few weeks ago when they were sharing their feelings and--

"What is in the bottles?"

[sadflutenoises]

"Oh- Um- You know, you know, just the usual, the sort of stuff we've been picking up from the spa for-" he coughs, lacking the face to say anymore than that, and nearly stumbles over his own feet when he turns to make sure Lan Zhan is following.

They're almost to the elevator, and all he can do is pray that no one else decides to join them on their way up to the room. He's sure his face must be sunburn-red for how hot he feels, and the urge to just throw off every scrap of clothing he's wearing is painfully strong. Other urges, just as frustratingly apparent, and he can only hope the folds of his robe are enough to hide his growing excitement.

"They might have mentioned that ah... these particular oil have a um... an added effect?"

[billowing]

The sort of oils they pick up at the spa are only for activities that that shouldn't talk about in public.

He has his eyes focused on Wei Ying and has that slightly concerned look on his face that says, "okay, continue, I'm listening..."

And then, he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. "What sort of added effect?" he asks, finally figuring out why exactly he's feeling this way, and then tearing his eyes away before he pins Wei Ying to the elevator wall.

But now the question is: "--Why did you think we needed those?"

[sadflutenoises]

If there's one thing Wei Wuxian does not do well, it's lie, on the spot, under any sort of pressure. Especially when he's already feeling the pressure of whatever they've put in this oil thrumming through his veins and lighting his skin on fire.

"I-I-I didn't!" he replies honestly, because what else can he come up with that wouldn't sound much much worse?

"I didn't! They just- they kept handing me things and- and-" he rambles, still somewhat amazed that none of it seems to have affected Lan Wangji. Maybe it can only have one target? Maybe Lan Zhan is somehow immune?

"-and I thought we were low on oil anyway, so- so what harm could it be? I mean- every other vendor in Caiyi sells something like that, and it's nothing but garbage!"

[billowing]

Lan Wangji walks out of the elevator and heads toward their room, thinking that he will need to let Wei Ying clean himself off first and then go clean off after, just being careful not to get anything on himself in the meantime.

Once they get inside the room, it's so hard not to just lift Wei Ying and deposit him onto the bed. "What if you had gotten this on someone else?" he asks, before he does anything else.

Husband is clearly slightly annoyed at the action of Wei Ying going to the pool to play with these oils. He tries very hard to usher Wei Ying into the bathroom and to close the door on him without following him in.

[sadflutenoises]

Wei Wuxian's legs feel weak, and he's so overheated, eager to strip down to a more comfortable level as soon as it's not going to traumatize their fellow hotel guests to do so. He starts fumbling with his belts once they're in the door.

"I-!" he huffs, "I wouldn't have even gotten it on myself if- if I hadn't been startled by someone!"

But now they're inside the room and it hardly matters, right? And he's so desperate for Lan Zhan to touch him, he can barely stand it. He doesn't want to argue, he just wants... he just wants.

Before he can so much as vocalize that, he's led to the bathroom, and thinking it's as good a place as any to undress and seduce his near-husband, he goes along, at least until he hears the door click shut behind him.

"Lan Zhan?" his voice has risen slightly, a note of worry in his tone. Is Lan Zhan really that mad about it? He tries to turn the knob to leave again, but it doesn't help that his hand is still slick with the oil.

"Lan Zhan please, I..." he tugs the last of his belts away, dropping them messily on the floor, but he only gets his robes halfway off before his legs wobble and he half-collapses against the bathroom counter, breath coming in quickened little puffs.

[billowing]

Perhaps he shouldn't have startled his husband, but if he was working with something so dangerous, he should've taken better precaution! It's not that he doesn't love him, doesn't desire him, but he wants to be desired on his own merit, not because of some aphrodisiac drug that's addled his husband's brain.

He stands at the door, keeping something at the handle to stop Wei Ying from opening it. "Clean it off," he commands through the door, becoming a little breathless on his side, hot and bothered, wishing to open the door to angrily push him up against the sink basin and take him in front of the mirror, showing him himself.

Or else, to crowd him up against the shower wall, pushing him against the tile.

His head swims and he frowns deeply. "Are you cleaning?"

[sadflutenoises]

Wei Wuxian wants to cry out of frustration alone, feeling picked on and punished for a moment's curiosity. He leans his weight against the counter, shucking off his robes and struggling with the ties around his forearms. His fingers are fumbling and still tingle where the oil made contact with his skin.

"I'm trying," he insists, unable to keep the needy whine from his voice.

"Lan Zhan, why won't you help me?"

He doesn't like admitting to weaknesses, but this drug is a force to be reckoned with. There's another off-balanced moment, as he makes for the tub, still in a thin pair of black linen pants, and he has to hang onto the towel rack as he attempts to ease himself into the tub.

It works, for the most part, though there's a loud thud as he slips, his elbow smacking into the tub as he falls the rest of the way in, making a pathetic pained sound.

[billowing]

He wonders if Wei Ying is doing this on purpose, but even so, he can't ignore his husband who falls into a tub, so he opens the door to go help him up and inspect him for anything that might unnecessarily bruise. He's such a menace.

"Wei Ying, are you alright?" he asks, no longer caring if the oil stains his clothes, not really caring that Wei Ying just fell into a tub of his own volition and he's a grown-ass man who's had worse wounds growing up from his own adoptive clan.

He tries so hard to focus, but this close all he can really think of is how Wei Ying's lips look so close, plush and ready for kissing. He shuts his eyes but he thinks he can practically feel Wei Ying's pulse racing next to him.

So he turns on the tap and blasts them both with some cold water.

[sadflutenoises]

Any thoughts of turning on the shower evaporate when he sees Lan Zhan, looking over him with so much concern, and Wei Wuxian can't be sure if he's imagining the hungry look in his eyes. It's hard not to let those heated thoughts take over; and he knows full-well what Lan Zhan is capable of. He probably knows ever curve of his body better than Wei Wuxian himself, and just where to touch him to wring pleading gasps and lustful moans.

He's almost painfully hard by now, squirming slightly, reaching up toward Lan Zhan's soft features and-

Wei Wuxian lets out a completely undignified yelp, scrambling like a cat away from the cold water, and only managing to further drench himself in it. It's cold-cold-cold is all he can think for a moment, giving him a much needed bit of clarity.

"Lan Zhaaaan," his voice takes on a childish sob, though it's clearly much more coherent than his earlier pleading, and he managed to pull himself up into a sitting position, hugging his knees against his chest, as he's soaked with the frigid water.

"I'm clean! I'm clean! Stop! Such a cruel husband you are!"

[billowing]

"I'm not clean," he replies, moving his arm underneath of the tap to wash off the stench of roses and vanilla, trying to forget how Wei Ying just looked reaching out to him, hand so close to his cheek, eyes pinned on him and looking so gorgeous and so desirous -

- He really needed this cold blast of water. Once he's finally calmed down, he shuts off the tap and grabs a big fluffy towel to sling around Wei Ying's shoulders, to warm him up and dry him off.

He moves the towel off a tiny bit if only to kiss Wei Ying's forehead to try and placate him. "Is your question answered?" he asks, about the oils. Clearly they work. Way too well. Though to be fair, they have an unfair advantage considering that Lan Wangji already wants Wei Ying twenty four hours a day.

omfg DW QUIT EATING MY NOTIFS I'M SO SORRY HUSBAAAAND

[sadflutenoises]

Even without the spray directly on him, the water is bracing, and he runs a hand through his now-quite-messy hair in a vain attempt to right it. At least he'd managed to get out of most of his robes before falling into the tub, and he was quickly shivering off the effects of whatever those oils had contained.

He pulls the towel around him, when it's offered, and at least it helps with the goosebumps rising all over his chest, arms, and shoulders. It's hard not to want to hide his face, when Lan Wangji leans in, for such a chaste kiss to his forehead.

Question? What question? Had he had a question? It feels like coming out of a night of binge drinking, trying to clear his head. Oh. Right. About whether or not the oils work.

"W-w-well," his teeth chatter just a little, "apparently it works well on me and has the reverse effect on you."

[billowing]

"Hm?" he asks, because he has no idea what Wei Ying means it has the opposite effect on Lan Wangji. "They did not," he responds, curtly. Which, he's not sure that explains anything but he's not sure why Wei Ying even got that impression.

Surely, he knows by now, that Wangji has always wanted him, and had spent the most part of his life denying himself and denying that he felt such ways for Wei Ying, and he'd gotten pretty good at dealing with the effects.

He hopes that the warmth of his embrace will help to get Wei Ying back to a manageable state, and wraps his arms around the slightly smaller man. "Is this comfortable?" he asks, to make sure. He may not understand why Wei Ying thinks he may want to shirk his duties as attentive, loving and desirous, but he sure doesn't want him to continue believing so.

[sadflutenoises]

"D-didn't have an effect?" he repeats, shaking his head slightly under the towel, "yeah, I noticed."

It's not as if he's blind to the strength of Lan Wangji's desires, when the mood strikes him. But that had been after a handful of emotionally charged conversations, surely it wasn't the sort of thing he felt all the time. That would be exhausting!

"It's- it's fine, yeah," he scrunches his nose a little. Apologies are still a foreign and difficult thing, practically non-existant when one was raised in the Jiang household, but he can still admit mistakes, "I'll warm up in no time. And okay, yes, I'll be more careful picking up any oils from the spa."

[billowing]

There shouldn't be apologies between them, and there are no need for them. But he is still confused. "No, didn't have the opposite effect." He blinks a little and backs away only to look Wei Ying in the eyes.

"Believe me, Wei Ying. I desire you. But I do not want to take advantage of you in any inebriated state." He thought he'd said something along those lines earlier, but perhaps he could stand to be more clear. He does want Wei Ying, all the time. Whatever Wei Ying wants, he would find it hard to deny him.

But at the same time, he would have to exercise such patience when Wei Ying was throwing himself at him, if it was for a reason such as being influenced by aphrodisiacs! "We would have no use for these oils."

[sadflutenoises]

"Oh," his lips form a soft 'o' in understanding, eyes widening. Lan Zhan had a will of iron, for certain. That aphrodisiac had made his knees weak and his libido impossible to ignore, but he also didn't have a lifetime of pushing down every hormonal urge he had. Wei Wuxian acted on his impulses often, and this drug just brought out the worst in him, apparently.

"Take advantage of me," he laughs dryly, "like I'm some blushing maiden, hm?"

He can't think of a circumstance where he wouldn't want his husband, if he's honest, but just like the Lan sect's rules, even if he doesn't understand the need for all of them, he respects Lan Zhan's wishes to follow them. He respects precious little, but Lan Wangji most of all, even if it earns him a freezing cold shower.

"So I just have to make sure to only throw myself at you when I'm sober," he reasons, but raises a dubious eyebrow next to his crooked smile, "no promises."

[billowing]

Dubious indeed. But on the bright side, if they're in agreement, then they can leave those slightly lecherous oils to another pair who might find them more palatable. In any case, neither Wei Ying nor Lan Wangji need any sort of convincing to go to bed, so it's best they leave any substances the hotel might have to offer out of the equation.

Especially considering the hotel.

Though... "Mn," he answers Wei Ying, thinking it is a good plan if Wei Ying throws himself more at Lan Wangji to let him know that he is requesting that they go upstairs and head to bed. Because he never knows if he's being demanding or something, and he could honestly get in the mood at the drop of a hat.

He brushes the back of his hand against Wei Ying's cheek, and asks: "Do you still want to? Now that you are... sober?" for lack of a better term. That was the question: would he still want to, when he was in the right state of mind?

[sadflutenoises]

It's taken some getting used to, for his flirtation to be taken at face value. He's grown far too used to playing as he likes, with little consequence. While he's accustomed to being coy and never saying things outright, Lan Zhan has no problems cutting right to the chase.

"Mm," he glances over, when those knuckles brush his cheek, and manages to hold his eyes, at least for a moment, "Lan Zhan froze me half to death, it's only fair he should help warm me up."

[billowing]

This is sound logic, even if it is Wei Ying logic. So he drags him close and lays a kiss on his lips, because resisting his husband is honestly one of the worst exercises of restraint he's ever had to follow these past years.

His lips are warm and welcome, and Lan Wangji feels the tension from before slip away from him and melt as he indeed, puts Wei Ying into his embrace to get him nice and warm instead.

Standing up, he pulls Wei Ying with him and leads him out of the bathroom and towards their bed, hands laced together, feeling overly-excited as if they were still young as they had been studying at Cloud Recesses together.

[sadflutenoises]

The kiss settles any lingering worry, and he does, admittedly, feel warmer for it. Though that could also be partly due to the arms wrapped around him, solid and unwavering.

Wei Wuxian lets himself be led, despite how his lower-half is still soaked from the tub, his pants leaving a trail of little puddles all the way to their bed. He's not sure he dares sit, and leave a large peach-shaped spot on the bed, where he's been, so he squeezes Lan Zhan's hand instead, hesitating.

"Lan Zhan, you have way too many layers, and mine are all soggy," he laughs, "I suggest we get out of them, so I can throw myself at you properly."