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]

The paperman waves back enthusiastically, once he's reached the summit, then seats himself on the edge of a cake, little legs swinging back and forth.

"Oh um, I just call them papermen," he brushes a finger over the end of his nose. Perhaps naming things hadn't been his strongest point, but he was sure he was better at it than Jiang Cheng, at least.

"This one just has a little bit of my spiritual energy," he explains, "but I can also use it as a vessel, if... I guess if there's somewhere this guy can sneak into that a full size person like me couldn't."

[lunchbreaks]

"Papermen," he repeats. "Interesting." But mostly that part about being able to sneak in with someone else.

He likes the idea of it, but he also thinks it's interesting that Wei Wuxian feels a little embarrassed about the name as if he was the one who'd invented the talisman.

"How long can he last? --What happens if he gets harmed?"

[sadflutenoises]

The little paper doll jumps up from the cake, dusts himself off, then glides over to Aziraphale's sleeve, patting it twice.

It's also a great communication tool! But I'm afraid it just works one way.

He tries to send the thoughts through, the same way he'd once begged Wen Qing to help him on the march to Xuanwu's cave. He wasn't sure it would work as well with heavenly miracle workers, but it was worth a try.

"Hmmm, it varies, I guess? On how much spiritual power I give it, and how detailed the commands. These simple sort... maybe a couple incense stick's time," he explains, "and not much, I suppose? I used to send them out to bother Lan Zhan, when we were attending classes together as teenagers. He'd crinkle them up if he caught them."

If it was while he was using the paper body as a vessel for his own though, it was hard to say. It wasn't as if he'd tested it extensively, but in any sort of spell that put the user's soul in a fragile casing as paper was bound to have consequences. If his research was right, it could be anything from losing consciousness to losing bits of what made him who he was.

"The longest I've had it last while I was using it..." he scrunches his nose for a second. The timeline was vague, since he didn't know how much time passed between activating it, and the trip back to the hotel, and then waking again in the Carpenter's operating room.

"Several hours? I think?"

[lunchbreaks]

"Doesn't seem very nice to crumple you up," he says, gingerly picking up the paper man and then placing it onto his shoulder as a sort of shoulder-angel, which is ironic, a not-so-fallen angel who didn't exactly follow the rules of Heaven, getting a shoulder angel in the form of a slip of paper representing a demonic cultivator who didn't exactly fit everyone's given image of him of Hell.

"Useful, except the one-way communication thing. I wonder how easy it would be to give this little man some ears."

He snaps his fingers to give the talisman some paper ears, and whispers into the paper, "Hello there, can you hear me?" and then hums a little song for it.

[sadflutenoises]

"Oh, no, I absolutely deserved it, I was a menace," he concedes, knowing full well how often he'd pestered Lan Wangji in those days. Lan Zhan couldn't even go for a soak in the cold springs without Wei Wuxian following close behind.

The paperman runs around, exploring his new heights before coming to a rest near Aziraphale's collar. Wei Wuxian is relieved, and a little delighted, that the communication aspect of it still works, even with people who might not be quite human. The talisman's round, nubby hands go to reach up and touch his new ears, and though he bobs along to the tune, he shakes his little head.

"I'm sure if I fine tune it, change some of the sigils around, I could get it to work like that. Or if someone else finds the tea with that same ability, we could each make one to talk to the other?"

He shrugs. Something to think about, at least. He'd sort of forgone that step when he placed his soul into one, since he could then just experience what the paper doll did. But he can definitely see how it could be useful. Who would've thought his childish toys might have uses outside of bothering the object of his affection?

[lunchbreaks]

Aziraphale picks up the paperman carefully to get a good look at the sigil. After all, he did know some Chinese and he was very familiar with all sorts of sigils for all sorts of reasons, even having a summoning circle hidden underneath one of the rugs in his shop.

"May I?" he asks, though he's not sure it'll work because he doesn't have cultivation powers, and certainly he is not doing any cultivation sitting around drinking wine.

Still, he thinks it's fascinating, and he always thinks of humans as making such interesting inventions to help them with their lives and livelihoods. Watching them grow and improve over the years, it really made him a proud angel.

He'd stayed out of their hair, mostly. It would be disallowed to help the humans with their inventions, their literature, their natural growth. Most of the time it'd been forbidden to even protect or heal them from things that needed happening: plagues, wars, that sort of thing.

He's no longer bound to those rules, and it makes him feel a little gleeful.

[sadflutenoises]

"Sure, sure," Wei Wuxian waves a hand in a sort of go ahead gesture. It's not as if he makes any great secret of them. Aziraphale had already proven his wealth of knowledge before, and while he didn't know if the man would understand how it worked, as an incredibly curious natured person himself, he could hardly fault him for wanting to know more.

"Handwriting's a little messy, I didn't think anyone would be looking up close," he laughs, tucking into the rest of his taishi cake as Aziraphale looks it over.

[lunchbreaks]

He takes the paper and studies it for a bit before adding a few short strokes to it with a brush that materializes out of nowhere, and disappears into the ether.

He doesn't have any spiritual power, but he thinks maybe a miracle might work - that's his spiritual power.

He snaps, and then tries to whisper again. "Hello?"

[sadflutenoises]

He fully expects the little paperman to flutter lifelessly to the dessert trays, but instead he hears Aziraphale's voice echoing in his mind. Wei Wuxian sits up, startled, and scrambles for the paper, intense curiosity winning over any sort of pride at being shown up at his own game.

"Wait, wait, what strokes did you change? How did you-" he starts turning it over in his hands, scanning for the differences himself, and okay, maybe just slightly annoyed he hadn't thought to try that particular array.

[lunchbreaks]

He tries to point them out, and explains, "When you connect it here, I think, it's slightly more fluid than here... And I thought, perhaps then there was this connection missing here..."

And that was that.

"But I would have never thought to make these strokes together," he says, pointing to some on the original. "Very clever!"

[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.

[lunchbreaks]

"Oh, yes," he says. "Plenty." he smiles, sweetly. "But you're very kind, Wei-gongzi." Not very often did people praise him anymore, nor did they have any reason to. Crowley, of course, being a recent exception.

But he'd always liked the feeling, being such a strange angel as himself. It gave him such satisfaction.

"But I do hope you like the cakes. Let me know how your dear husband-to-be finds them?"

[sadflutenoises]

"Oh, I do, I do," he assures Aziraphale, still finishing off the last of the cake he'd started eating. Dusting off his hands, he takes the large plate full of the little desserts and nods his head in place of a formal bow, so he doesn't overbalance the tray.

"And I will," he laughs, before heading on his way, "I'm sure he'll love them."