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]

"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!"

[billowing]

Lan Wangji has become even more of an insufferable drunk because before, he was merely sleepy. And also, he had been at least somewhat under Wei Ying's command. Right now, he's gotten much more comfortable with Wei Ying, and feels safe with him. Which means he's a big giant baby, with big giant wings, and a bloody nose in his husband's chest.

"Bath," he repeats, his mind thinking that if they're taking a bath, then Wei Ying will take a bath with him, and if they take a bath together, then Wei Ying won't be able to resist his charms, of which, Drunk Lan Wangji thinks he has plenty. "Mn."

He takes Wei Ying's hand and starts marching him in the direction of their room. He seems to be in quite the hurry for some reason. And, not carrying Wei Ying, somehow his balance seems a lot better. Almost like he could even fight like this. But who knows.

[sadflutenoises]

Wei Wuxian breathes a silent sigh of relief when Lan Zhan agrees, and even seems pretty eager about his "prize," which makes getting him back to the room a tiny bit easier, even if they are weaving and wobbling through the hallways.

"Inside, Lan Zhan, that's it, mind your wings through the door," he tries to free his hand, so he can help him get under the door without toppling back should the wings catch the doorframe. Now... how on earth was he supposed to undress with all those layers and wings? Sober Lan Zhan was the one who'd figured it out before, but he was not here right now.

"Alright. Bathtime, remember? How do we get you out of all that, hm?"

[billowing]

Lan Wangji takes Wei Ying's hand and moves it to his waistband, so he can take it off of him. That's obviously the problem here, isn't it? That Wei Ying doesn't know where to start? He moves closer, starting to undo some of his many ties.

How he'll actually get out of his clothes is a bit of a mystery, but as he untucks his shirt from his skirts, he looks Wei Ying directly in the eyes. He does always want his husband, it's true. And he's having a hard time hiding that fact now that they're here, now that he's undressing and he's drunk and Wei Ying said he gets to claim a prize...

He shrugs his upper clothing-- uh.

....Well he tries to shrug them off, but they get stuck on his wings. Very sexy.

[sadflutenoises]

He's helped Lan Zhan undress before, though it's usually in the heat of the moment, with robes flying and thrown every which way, little care or regard to where they landed or the occasional popped seam when things got a bit too rough and desperate. Trying to undress a drunken Lan Wangji who could barely stand straight was a very different beast, and with the wings, quite literally so.

Wei Wuxian reaches around his middle, feeling for the ties of his belt and loosening them with dexterous fingers. Lan Zhan, on the other hand, is for once the one struggling. To be fair, those wings must make it difficult even if he weren't inebriated, but now he just looks like a toddler, unable to get his arm out of his sleeve without help. Wei Wuxian tosses the belts aside and puts his hands up to help, one bracing the wing, the other trying to gently slide the garment around it. If he could just free one side, the other should come along easily.

"Ah- Lan Zhan- can you just- no, this way- and then-" he tries to direct them through it, and tosses the white robes into a frustrated heap on the floor once they're off. Getting them off was bad enough, and Wei Wuxian swears off trying to dress Lan Zhan again after his bath. At least, not in any of his robe-like tops. He'll have to settle for a pair of loose pants.

"Wait, wait, your hair ornaments too, let me get those," he fusses, trying to get Lan Zhan to bend his head so he can reach them.

[billowing]

"Hm?" he asks, but does as he's asked and dips his head so that Wei Ying can get his headpiece, but now that he's drunk and near-naked, he has some other things on his mind than taking a bath. And after all, hadn't he won something? Surely he got to claim a prize, right? Bathing's not a prize...

If Wei Ying thought that Lan Wangji was trouble with just the wings, he has another think coming. He bites his lip and leans into Wei Ying to catch him in a kiss, but he misses and gets the corner of Wei Ying's mouth instead.

He seems more confused than anything. But very quickly, his brain shuts off any sort of higher thought process, as he decides that Wei Ying is too dressed and he should also be naked. With alarming dexterity for the fact that he's drunk off his ass, he reaches for Wei Ying's belt to take it off.

[sadflutenoises]

He might not be as practiced at it as Lan Wangji, but he manages to pull out all the pins and sharp bits of metal in Lan Zhan's hair. At least he's less of a hazard to them both, but taking them out requires just enough of Wei Wuxian's attention that it's easy to miss the lurid looks he's getting, at least until there's a mouth nearly on his and hands reaching all-too-nimbly for his belts.

The studded outer belt clinks to the floor, and the wider cloth belt is halfway untied before he catches Lan Zhan's wrists and tries to give him a scolding, stern face. Which is difficult, considering Lan Wangji is far too close to even see more than a bit of it anyway.

"Lan Zhan," he tries to lean away, catching the faint taste of wine on his lips, still baffled that Lan Wangji can be this drunk from a single cup.

"Bathtime, remember? You earned a nice bath! You want bubbles?"

[billowing]

"Mm," he pouts, not wanting to take a bath if they aren't dirty first. But he has a plan for that, as he tries to swipe for Wei Ying's ties. He's the worst baby when he's drunk, for certain. He even sees Wei Ying's stern face and pouts distressfully.

"Bathe with me," he requests, knowing full well that he doesn't intend to get any bathing actually done. He's a menace, and he thinks he's so smart like this, having come up with a fool-proof plan to get the both of them disrobed.

He tries to slip out of his pants, but ends up just kind of getting them to pool at his ankles forgetting to slip out of them. He is absolutely hopeless at the moment.

[sadflutenoises]

Lan Zhan's aim is true, if little else in this state, and the last tie holding his belt together slips free and slides down his hips. Who would guess that Lan Wangji, famed paragon of propriety, would be such a handsy menace with just a sip of alcohol?!

"All right, all right," he concedes. As if there's any reasoning with him in this state. It's not like they don't bathe together regularly, anyway, "but you better behave yourself."

Words he never thought he'd have to say to Hanguang Jun.

And of course, they're met with the last bits of his clothing falling to the floor. He coughs into his fist, hiding a laugh, because he's supposed to be the responsible one right now, and starts shooing Lan Wangji toward the tub.

[billowing]

If Lan Wangji can be the responsible one ninety-nine percent of the time, surely Wei Ying won't mind taking up the reins for that last one where his husband is plastered?

But he hadn't expected Wei Ying to laugh at him, because even drunk he can tell that wasn't a cough, and he looks a bit put-out. He's no longer a dragon being and therefore, he's got his belly button and - and other things - back and everything! So surely he looks fine!

He'll just have to try harder. He wasn't the second-most best-looking cultivator of their generation for nothing. He takes Wei Ying by the wrist, and pulls him forward. It was always harder to resist when being so close to Wei Ying, so maybe it was similar the other way around.

Master of seduction, this one.

[sadflutenoises]

The one advantage to a drunken Lan Wangji is that his emotions are that much more obvious, his minuscule expressions magnified. He doesn't miss the pout, but it could be anything from his stifled laugh, to telling Lan Zhan to behave himself.

Whatever the reason, it certainly hasn't dampened his enthusiasm. Lan Zhan's grip is as firm as ever, and he's pulled close, almost flush against that well-muscled and very naked body.

"Already bending the rules, I see," he smirks, leaning in to kiss the corner of Lan Zhan's mouth. His free hand goes to Lan Wangji's waist, and he uses it to urge him in the direction of the bathroom, none too subtly.

"Such a troublemaker you are."

[billowing]

"Ah, you are the troublemaker," he replies, but lets himself be guided to the bathroom. He honestly can't believe his techniques aren't working, but at least he got a kiss.

He goes to sit at the edge of the tub, leaning back a little, trying to summon a come-hither look on his face but it's Lan Wangji so it looks more like one of mild annoyance.

This isn't going too well for him.

But maybe if he just leans over and draws a bath, and Wei Ying joins him... but he forgets to put the plug in, so he's just turned the water on for precisely no reason.

[sadflutenoises]

"Any other day you'd be precisely right," he grins, tapping the end of Lan Zhan's nose with his finger. No matter how sour the faces Lan Zhan makes, they've rarely stopped Wei Wuxian, and drunk? Not a chance. His smile only widens in response, and he throws off his outer robes and wrist ties, down to his red inner robes before he realizes Lan Zhan is just letting the water spin down the drain, rather than filling the tub.

"Ah, what a helpful husband I have, filling the tub for us," he manages to hold back his laughter this time, and pats Lan Zhan's hand a couple times for good measure, then reaches to place the plug.

"Go ahead and get in, I'll just be a moment," he urges, "and bubbles? Or no bubbles? You never did say."

[billowing]

He tries to catch Wei Ying's hand when he taps the end of Wangji's nose. He'd always meant to ask what that was supposed to mean; it was a gesture he did a lot, but he wasn't sure when Wei Ying did it to him instead.

But that thought is quickly forgotten in lieu of the bath. Right, the bath.

"No bubbles," he answers. He likes the idea, but not so much the execution. And he gets in, even though the water is cold, and folds his legs up so that there's plenty of room for Wei Ying.

If he wants.

Clearly.

[sadflutenoises]

If Wei Wuxian ever stopped to think about it, he'd probably realize it's a trait he picked up from Shijie, who would always tap his nose, whether when he was a child, or just acting like one. So the gesture just feels natural, as does the smile that follows it.

"Right, no bubbles then," he shakes his head, reaching his hand under the faucet. He's sure Lan Zhan would hardly notice whether it was hot or cold, not with how frigid the cold pools of Cloud Recesses are, and sure enough, Lan Zhan has seated himself in a shallow pool of cold water. He huffs a sigh and pulls the plug for a moment, taking the time to adjust the temperature himself to something respectably warm and steaming before he pushes it back in.

"Not too hot?" he reaches over the tub to the pooling water and flicks a bit in Lan Zhan's direction.