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

[sadflutenoises]

He's ready to argue that Cloud Recesses has at least a couple thousand too many rules, but he doesn't miss the overtly pouty face Lan Zhan makes. Okay, maybe hate was a strong word, but-

"Even then?" he says with something like awe. He knows better than to think Lan Zhan would ever lie, and definitely not over something like this, but he'd been such an obnoxious little shit back then! For all his teasing, he'd never think to blame Lan Zhan for feeling anything but annoyed with him back then. He was a menace, and the only real difference between then and now is he's willing to take a little more responsibility for his actions.

"You put the silencing spell on me so many times though!" he tries to lean closer, to see Lan Zhan's expression, to confirm it for himself. Perhaps he was guilty too, having tormented Lan Zhan so much during his time in Cloud Recesses. It was barely different from the way children would pull the hair of the one they liked, too flustered to know what to do with their emotions.

"Were you just worried I'd keep flirting with you? Hm?" he grins.

[billowing]

"Hm," he says, still looking away from Wei Ying. He hadn't known what to do with his emotions then, and Wei Ying was... strange. Talented, yes, frustrating mostly, but certainly not the type that Lan Wangji had ever thought he'd go for, that he'd fall in love with. And so, when he had found that he respected Wei Ying more than he'd been annoyed by him, he was just unable to cope.

But he shakes his head. "Wei Ying... flirted with everyone." Which is why he never said anything, because he thought, how could Wei Ying really like him in return? He had so many others to choose from, and after all, Lan Wangji was just a stick-in-the-mud old fuddy-duddy or whatever he'd said.

Surely Wei Ying was more likely to seek out the company of a beautiful maiden, and then eventually after years and years of breaking girls' hearts, he'd settle down with one of them, and have several children. Lan Wangji hadn't thought he'd fit into this plan, especially when Wei Ying kept saying he wasn't flirting with him. Maybe the idea of him - Even as a young boy Lan Wangji was always preceded by his title - but certainly he'd had no real interest in the boring, studious Wangji.

[sadflutenoises]

What was he supposed to have thought? That the highly esteemed Lan Wangji actually had an interest in the nothing, minor servant of the Jiang clan? A servant who was constantly in trouble, and flagrantly disregarded the rules of his sect? And that was just thinking about their social standing, Lan Zhan was also one of the best looking(the best looking in his opinion) cultivators anywhere, and the one place he'd felt like they stood on equal ground, he'd lost when he'd given up his golden core.

"Mm, maybe so, maybe so... but Lan Zhan was the only one who would never look at me," he smirks a little, thinking back on it, and reaches over to put a hand over Lan Zhan's, squeezing it gently.

"So, maybe I was a little obsessed with getting his attention. And then trying to hold onto it for as long as I could," he couldn't put words to that feeling when he was younger, mistaking it for admiration perhaps, or just the driving need to make friends with someone who made him excited by his presence alone.

[billowing]

"Then we had both been fools," he responds, feeling his head spin from all the alcohol, and by all the alcohol I mean the one drink he had. Except Wei Ying's foolishness hadn't driven Lan Wangji away, hadn't done anything. Lan Wangji's foolishness had cost him Wei Ying.

He looks so sad, thinking that if maybe he had said something earlier, if maybe when Wei Ying had returned from the Burial Mounds, he'd listened to him, and given him a reason to stay... If maybe when he'd said it was a family issue between him and the Jiangs, he'd offered to marry into the family...

Wangji reaches for Wei Ying and pulls him close. "Never leave again."

[sadflutenoises]

"We were just kids," he gives Lan Zhan's hands another soft pats, before running his thumb back and forth in what he hopes is a comforting sort of way.

"Kids are foolish."

He's not sure it helps, for how sad Lan Zhan still looks, and he can't help feeling guilty for being the cause, both in their history and in drawing these feelings out with his stupid prank. When Lan Zhan moves to pull him closer, he goes willingly, if awkwardly, trying to cling to one another across two chairs. If it makes Lan Zhan happy though, it's definitely worth the discomfort.

"I'm right here," he tries to sound reassuring, "Lan Zhan, I'm not going anywhere, okay? Here, why don't we ah... take a walk, okay?"

If Lan Zhan was going to crash suddenly, as he had in the past, it was better if he could at least get him to his bed.

[billowing]

"Hmm," he says instead of anything useful, but he gets to his feet, wobbling to and fro as if he can't find his footing. He leans onto the chair to get something stable to hold onto before Wei Ying can stand up to help get him.

"Where are we going?" he asks, somehow still coherent despite how drunk off his ass he is.

They had indeed been foolish, and they had also been children, but does that mean that they couldn't have avoided such a grand mistake? And how many more are they making now? The only thing he knows for sure isn't a mistake is finally telling Wei Ying how he feels, finally taking an arrow to the knee and asking for his hand.

[sadflutenoises]

"Wherever you want, Lan Zhan can pick," he says with a laugh, reaching to catch Lan Zhan's arm and help steady him as he gets to his feet. Those wings really can't be helping much with his balance. Once there, he holds his hand tightly. Okay, so maybe he wanted to have a little fun first.

"Or a game, how would Lan Zhan like that?" he offers. When the other Lan Zhan was drunk, he'd been an absolute menace, dumping a load of chicken nuggets at their table, then tearing off through the hotel. So maybe... getting out of the restaurant first was a good idea.

[billowing]

"Mm? What kind of game?" Wei Ying likes games, so Lan Wangji wants to like games as well, because they mean that Wei Ying will play them with him and hopefully have a good time.

He also gets an urge to go get some wild chickens and present them to Wei Ying, but unfortunately there are no chickens available here for some reason.

He looks at Wei Ying and then his facial features soften, but honestly from anyone else looking in, he'd seem to have a rather dumb expression on his face, like someone with a big ole crush and none of the social skills to look away.

[sadflutenoises]

"Mmmm... whatever Lan Zhan wants. We can play hide and seek, or tag, or you can tell me about one of the games you played when you were little in Cloud Recesses," he suggests. Surely even if Cloud Recesses is stuffy, they let their kids play.

He escorts Lan Zhan from the restaurant, careful of his wings when going through doorways. It takes a moment or two before he notices the lingering gaze and Lan Zhan's heart-stoppingly soft expression. His own smile widens in return, wide and amused, and he tugs gently on one of Lan Zhan's locks of hair.

"But if Lan Zhan keeps looking at me like that, I'll make him tell me just what he's thinking," he teases, running a finger under his chin.

[billowing]

He doesn't know if he wants to play any game more than the other, but he doesn't know how to explain that he never really liked playing games as a child. It wasn't like they were forbidden for everyone, but Lan Wangji stopped wanting to do anything but study and develop skills since a very young age.

He's still in the middle of deciding when Wei Ying hits him with that smile, and suddenly he's forgotten everything else. Wei Ying touches his chin and Lan Wangji's answer to him is to lean in and steal a kiss that tastes of drink.

He really shouldn't, they're still very much in a public place, but he can't believe how he could be felled so quickly by just an upturn of lips and a flash of pearly whites.

[sadflutenoises]

Lan Zhan is anything but shy and private behind closed doors, or even just out of earshot in the woods, but in public it's slightly different. Besides, Wei Wuxian is always the shameless one, flirting openly and troubling his husband, not the other way around!

He smiles against Lan Zhan's lips, but pushes back lightly on his shoulders as they part.

"Lan Zhan! That's hardly an answer," he laughs.

[billowing]

Lan Wangji pouts as Wei Ying pushes him gently away. "I am always thinking of Wei Ying," he answers, hoping that's enough to sate his curiosity. It's not even false. He fell, and fell deeply, drowned himself in Wei Ying and never emerged.

His pout deepens as he whispers, looking at Wei Ying's shoulder. "Husband now." The other one had accused him of having wedding on the brain, but honestly it's so true. He's waited many years, he can indulge a little bit.

[sadflutenoises]

That pout has to be against one of those several thousand Lan rules. It's absolutely devastating, like an arrow to the heart, and he immediately wants to coddle his poor drunk fiance. He cups his face in one hand, running his thumb over Lan Wangji's high cheekbones.

"That's right. And what did I ever do to deserve such a good husband, hm?" he smiles warmly, favoring him with a kiss on the corner of his mouth.

[billowing]

Lan Wangji reaches out with his arms, and gathers Wei Ying close like a child brings in a doll. "Mm, everything. Everything Wei Ying does is deserving." Of love, of respect, of good things.

Then his face falls.

"Wei Ying wanted to play a game." He should entertain his husband.

[sadflutenoises]

He gives a short laugh, and lets himself be enveloped in Lan Zhan's arms, feeling warmed by the comment, both inside and out.

"Lan Zhan is definitely the only one who thinks so," he shakes his head, even as he gives another light laugh.

He takes the moment to consider, what game would be most fun with a drunken Lan Wangji?

"Hey, don't be sad, game or no, we're still having fun," he tries to wiggle in Lan Zhan's grasp, even if he is content to be held like this, surrounded by the one he loves, and buried in the scent of sandalwood.

"You really want to play? I know, I know," he says after a moment, not yet thinking of the potential disasters they might cause, "We'll make it an easy one. I'll run away and Lan Zhan will have to try to catch me."

With any luck, he could lead them on a chase and get Lan Zhan back to his room all in one neat little game. Well, if Lan Zhan could follow along without toppling over. He had his doubts.

[billowing]

"Ah?" he asks, looking surprised except that his eyelids and eyebrows don't work while drunk the way they're supposed to, so his mouth sort of hangs open awkwardly for a moment, very uncharacteristic for an esteemed Lan such as himself.

"I have already caught Wei Ying," he protests, gently tugging at his hair. This is sound drunk logic, Lan Wangji doesn't think Wei Ying could possibly disagree with this.

But mostly it's just an excuse not to have to let go of him. It's a very flimsy one.

[sadflutenoises]

"Ah, so you have," he nods along with Lan Zhan's drunken logic, "best not to let go then. I can be very slippery, I'm told, so you better hold on tight."

That might eventually pose a problem, if he was ever to get Lan Zhan to bed, but for now, he's happy to play along. Consequences, as ever, are for later.

"What games can we play this close then, hm?" there were some word association games, but that seemed a bit stuffy, he'd much rather take advantage of how chatty and straightforward Lan Zhan was being.

"Oh, I know, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, I want to hear about what you're most excited for, at our wedding. The robes? The lanterns? Eating all kinds of tasty things? Or are you only thinking about afterward?" he grins at the last, thoroughly enjoying himself.

[billowing]

At being told that Wei Ying is slippery, Lan Wangji mutters an, "ah?" and holds on even tighter; good luck getting out of these strong Lan arms.

He was, indeed, being very straightforward today, and seemed to have much to say. Whether it was the drunkenness or the effects of something else remained to be seen, though he also seems more... affable, almost. As if, without having to hold himself back, he loses some of his trademark cold aloofness.

"I want to give Wei Ying the gift I made for him," he confesses, without meaning to do so.

[sadflutenoises]

"So tight!" he laughs, wriggling, as if to prove how difficult he can be to hold onto. True to his word, he remains well and truly caught. Not that he doesn't plan to make the most of it.

"I guess Lan Zhan will have to carry me, just to make sure I can't get away," he reasons.

Hearing that Lan Zhan has made him something, no matter how small, sets his heart beating faster. He doesn't want to spoil the surprise, but he can't help being curious.

"Ah? A gift?" as if Wei Wuxian hasn't also been searching, amid all the new shops and craftsmen, for something perfect for Lan Wangji as well. His drawing had turned out nicely, even if he wasn't sure he could look at a few of them without having a couple drinks first. But Lan Zhan definitely deserved something better.

"I want to give Lan Zhan something nice too," and maybe it's cheating, a little, to just ask, but...

"Is there anything he might like? Or miss from home?"

[billowing]

Not so easy, Wei Ying. "Bichen," he answers, sadly, with another pout. But it doesn't matter, because he isn't expecting a wedding gift. He just wants to give something to Wei Ying, to make sure he knows that Lan Wangji is always with him, always by his side, never again to part from him.

He is overcome with emotions, and gives Wei Ying messy kisses on his cheek.

"Mine," he says insistently, trying to nuzzle Wei Ying but not quite making it, really.

Ah, and yes, Wei Ying said something about being carried? Lan Wangji will reach down right now and scoop him up, though he totters back and forth because he's drunk right now and honestly can't remember why he's holding Wei Ying like this, aside from the fact that he wants to...

"Home?" he asks, gently.

[sadflutenoises]

Bichen? It's so rare for Lan Zhan to want something, or at least, voice that he wants something, so it's disheartening that it's not something he can spoil Lan Zhan with by providing. It's not as if he hadn't checked over that new marketplace thoroughly, looking for any sort of weapon, really. Since their makeshift ones from outdoors had been left behind, but there was nothing of use, not so much as a walking stick.

"Lan Zhan!" he laughs, trying to hide his face from the onslaught of messy kisses, to no avail. It's an excellent distraction, and he lets out another whoop of surprise when his legs are swept out from under him. His arms go instinctively to hold Lan Zhan's neck and grip the fabric of his robes for balance.

"Yours, yes, yours!" he affirms, even if he's still shaking with laughter. He only waits a beat before kissing him back, a quick press of lips to the corner of his jaw.

"Can you make it all the way without dropping me?" he teases.

[billowing]

At least he understands when Lan Wangji calls him his. It had been a long journey to get here, and Wei Ying welcomes him with kisses and laughter; this is what he wants to come home to every night. There's no room for sadness here, no worries. All of them fade away, carried on currents of his sweet husband's voice.

And so, he tries to get them home, and he takes two steps, one after the other...

...And pitches forward, tumbling onto the ground, but with his hands up in the air to keep Wei Ying from falling.

Which means he's fallen right onto his own face.

[sadflutenoises]

He really should have seen this coming. He's dealt with enough drunken friends and family members to know better, but it'd been too tempting, and he'd little reason to doubt Lan Zhan's strength- of course this was much less to do with strength and much more balance and the ability to walk a straight line. Very different skill sets.

Wei Wuxian recovers quickly, fumbling out of his hands, but it's not in time to keep Lan Zhan from landing face-down in a heap of white robes and feathers.

"Lan Zhan! Lan Zhan, ah- oh-" he scrambles to help his poor husband up and check his face, oh, he'll never forgive himself if he's hurt Lan Zhan's perfect face! He crouches beside him, reaching down to check him carefully for injuries. Did he scuff his forehead ribbon? There's probably some crazy punishment for scuffing the sacred Lan's forehead ribbon, and...

"Aah, ZianZhan, what am I going to do with you? Are you okay?" even if he is a bit worried, the thought that Lan Zhan might have a bruise in the shape of his headband as a souvenir of tonight's escapades is... well how can he not laugh? At least he manages to do it quietly, into his fist, pretending it's a cough.

[billowing]

Lan Wangji's nose is bleeding, but he looks otherwise okay, if a little bruised in the ego. He looks a little bit shy, and guilty, like a cat who's just knocked over a vase and been confronted with it. He pouts and looks away from Wei Ying.

"I'm fine," he says, but he gets up to a seated position and looks up at his husband, reaching for him, crawling against him, hanging onto him again. "Didn't see the ground," he murmurs into Wei Ying's chest. He's barely audible.

He'll probably need help getting back upstairs, and bathed, and dressed for bed, and then to sleep with him. Otherwise, he'll just be totally useless all night.

Speaking of totally useless, he'll try to get up again, but teeter-totter all the way... Why would you ask Lan Wangji to drink? Once he tries to get up, he places his hands on Wei Ying's shoulders, and very delayed, he says: "tag."

[sadflutenoises]

When he sees the blood, he's quick with- well, he's not got a handkerchief on him, so he tries to pat at it with his sleeve. Better on black than to try to get blood out of Lan Zhan's pristine whites. Besides, it was kind of, okay definitely his fault in the first place. Not that it matters much, because his face goes directly into Wei Wuxian's chest anyway, so he gives it up as something of a lost cause.

"A~ah, right, that sneaky ground," he gives Lan Zhan's back a couple of gentle and reassuring pats, "happens to me all the time."

Lan Zhan has become such a terrible drunk with age! When he was younger, he'd just had to put him to bed a few times, tease him into calling Wei Wuxian, Gege, and maybe a few other harmless games. Now he was trying to wrangle a giant clingy toddler. With wings. It was only fitting that he employ similar tactics that he'd once used when convincing A-Yuan it was time to get ready for bed.

"Oh, yes, you won! You got me," he tries to hide a laugh behind his fist, as he works to loop Lan Zhan's arm around his shoulder, to get him up on his feet and steadied, "first prize is a nice hot bath!"