leave her behind with the kids —

[happyheartsstaff]

THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT

Does anything in this hotel ever stay put? Those who go looking for the gym, the hotel spa, or the nightclub are out of luck one day, as they're simply no longer there. The hallways themselves go topsy-turvy, only staying put when one looks directly at them. For those who've been here long enough to have seen the last time the hotel shifted like this and remember how unhelpful the hotel staff were — it seems little there has changed. The only difference is the manner in which they are useless. They will acknowledge the shifting hallways, of course, and even provide direction back to the lobby, but profess they are much too busy to provide an escort.

Eventually, the hallways settle. Gone are The Caucus-Race, the Pearls Within, and the Rabbit Hole in favor of new amenities. Where once there was a gym, there's now an indoor playground. The nightclub has been replaced with an arcade, and the spa is now a massive movie theater. Were there always quite so many kids items on the restaurant menus? When did This Elegant Thimble get such a large children's section?

If asked, the hotel staff will shrug. Some will insist things have been this way for as long as they've been working there. Others will state that, like their wonderful Queen, the hotel will always know what's needed for any occasion and make suitable preparations.

ARCADE

9/11 - 9/23

The arcade, if possible, seems even larger than the nightclub that once stood in its place. There are rows of pinball, action games, shooting games, driving games. An entire room of air hockey, and another of dancing games. Clusters of skee-ball, whack-a-mole, and claw machines. The floors seem to be eternally sticky with spilled soda, and the smell of pizza and sugar permeates the air. No matter how many patrons are within sight, the sound of laughter and excited shrieking somehow seems to echo throughout the arcade.

Token dispensers are scattered amongst the games. Hotel staff will be stationed at the snack bar and the prize counter, ready to hand out tokens or trade tickets won from the games for small prizes.

Occasionally, one of the games will spark and short out. If asked, hotel staff will say it's out of order and put up a sign proclaiming it so. They don't seem all that concerned about fixing it. Soon enough, it will seem to fix itself and switch back on. It will still spark every so often, and something about the music will seem off. Anyone who decides to play one of these games anyway will find themselves feeling slightly dizzy. Is the arcade spinning around them, or is that just them?

When the spinning stops, they will no longer be where they were before. They will find themselves in the middle of the game they had previously been playing, regardless of what it was. Welcome to the other side of the arcade — where the game play is more realistic than ever! Hopefully they had a partner brought in with them, or someone else comes along to try to play who can help them win the game to get back out.

MOVIE NIGHT

9/11 - 9/23

The entrance to the movie theater is lined with concession stands. Snacks and drinks of every kind can be picked up here before going into one of the theater's two auditoriums. Films will be playing round the clock in both, a different one on each screen. Oysters may find the same movies they would have seen on their own world, movies one might find on modern day Earth, or even movies about old folktales or traditional stories that might have been told where they were from. The only thing that will not be showing is any version of Alice in Wonderland, or any story set in Wonderland itself.

At times, particular showings may be billed as interactive. These will be of all genres: musicals, adventures, mysteries, romance, comedies, even horror. Oysters who attend these will be encouraged to dress up, and will even be shown to a dressing room with a selection of suitable clothes. It will only be after they've been seated and the film starts that what is meant by interactive will become clear.

The musicals will have sing alongs, with people from the audience being pulled up to participate in the dance numbers. The adventures and mysteries will have characters on the screen turn to the audience as though they are part of the story, inviting them along in the investigation or interrogating them as a suspect. Protagonists and antagonists alike will walk off the screen of horror movies, seeking help from or looking to torment the audience until their story is completed and they are sent back to their film world. Comedies and romances will find those in the audience being pulled up to act out parts of the story — and may find themselves transported into the setting until they do.

DAYCARE AND PLAYGROUND

9/11 - 9/23

The front of the daycare is small, with a place to check in and drop off or pick up kids. This is the only area that Oysters who are not either helping out at the daycare or being dropped off themselves will be able to easily access. Behind this are sectioned off areas for quieter activities, with materials such as books, art supplies, toys, etc. There's a small kitchen that will be off limits to the kids, and an area for snack time and nap time. Hotel staff are very present and interactive in these areas — reading to children, making crafts with them, telling stories, fixing snacks. Some will be taking a quiet break for themselves in the kitchen, and may be willing to talk to Oysters helping out at the daycare.

The back of the daycare is an expansive indoor playground. Here, the children are mostly left to their own devices. There are some hotel staff out there to keep an eye on the children as they play, but they tend to cluster together for conversation. Oysters helping out at the daycare will be somewhat warily included in this if they approach. These hotel staff will mostly be dismissive of any children coming to them unless they are injured or crying. There are multiple parts of the playground that can be used to sneak in and out to the hotel area at large, if one is looking carefully! Any children who are not supposed to be there have a low risk of being caught unless they draw attention to themselves or try to enter the other area of the daycare.

The other children in the daycare fall mostly between the ages of 6-11, with three or four outliers who appear to be toddlers or in the 12-13 age range. Astute Oysters likely to observe the behavior of the children will notice that there are clear social groups among them, as though they have known each other long enough to have friends they're accustomed to playing with. There are some who seem friendly and popular, some who seem to keep to themselves, some who seem to have good relationships with the hotel staff and others who seem determined to cause trouble, those who are bullies and those who are picked on. Their willingness to play with or answer questions from Oyster children or adults is equally as varied.

There will be a posted list of Oysters banned from helping out at the daycare. It will not be easily seen from the front of the daycare, but hotel staff will identify who is on it if asked. It will include the below names:

• Lan Wangji (novel)
• Wu Xie
• Wei Wuxian (novel)
• Crowley
• Commander Shepard
• Matthew Murdock
• Lan Wangji (TV)
• Sam Wilson

Characters on this list who have been de-aged will also find that hotel staff are reluctant to accept them into the daycare. They will be allowed only if someone not on the list vouches for them, and otherwise will have to sneak in through the playground.

If you have any questions, please leave them over here! For those interested in asking questions or interacting with the daycare staff, please reply to the first comment on this page, and the second comment for the other children!

PREMISE RULES FAQ TAKEN RESERVES APPLICATION MOD CONTACT HIATUS & DROPS WORLD INFO NPCS CALENDAR AC REWARDS PLAYER CONTACT

© tessisamess

Comments

[billowing]

It's a good thing that the theater is so dark because that comment makes Lan Wangji's ears turn a flush of pink. That is, until he mentions his future wife, and he draws his lips together into a bit of a scowl.

The thing is, he had always assumed he'd eventually be attracted to girls, and marry one, and fall in love, and have children and carry on a brood just like he was expected to. But instead, he had to go fall in love with a gremlin, and realize that he didn't like girls at all. And he didn't even really like boys, either, just the one, and he was an annoying, blatantly heterosexual, brat.

"Hn," is what he says, clearly annoyed with this topic. Why is Wei Ying so concerned for Lan Wangji's future wife anyway? Just because he'd no longer be able to flirt shamelessly with her...

He places his arm on the armrest not realizing Wei Ying's is already there, and jerks his hand away as if burned.

[sadflutenoises]

Not even the smallest rise out of him, Lan Wangji is so serious! Jiang Cheng will start bellowing at the littlest thing, but somehow it feels like a challenge, trying to get Lan Zhan to react to him and his teasing. The more he's pointedly ignored, the more he's dying for Lan Wangji to look in his direction.

Luckily, he doesn't have to look far for a new thing to pester him about. The warm weight of a hand on his only lasts a moment, before Lan Wangji is pulling away like he just stuck his hand in the fertilizer bucket and not Wei Wuxian's hand. He can think of a number of reasons for Lan Zhan to look so scandalized just because he's touched his hand, but certain ones are more fun to tease about than others.

"Oh? Lan Zhan, are you shy? If you wanted to hold my hand, you could just say so," he grins, infinitely amused.

[billowing]

Lan Wangji is annoyed with these antics of Wei Ying flirting with him meaninglessly, because he doesn't know that he does, in actuality, want to hold Wei Ying's hand, and kiss him like the couple has finished doing on screen. He wants to be as joyful as they are, and break rules as they do, in the name of teenage romance.

But Wei Ying is blatantly only interested in other girls, not boys. There will be no kissing, there will be no joy, only awkward looks at best, resentment and jeering at worst, but certainly there would no longer be a Wei Wuxian in his life, if he knew that he did want these things.

He says, "boring," but what he wants to say is, 'is everything a joke to you?'

[sadflutenoises]

Somehow, the less Lan Wangji deigns to look at him, the more he wants to make him turn his head. He really thought that might get enough of a rise out of him, but boring, boring, always boring. Fine then.

"Right, she'd probably have to be basically perfect for Lan Zhan to want to hold her hand, right?" he asks, and instead of withdrawing his hands from the armrest, he shifts his whole body, resting his elbows on it instead, so he can cup his chin in his hand.

"Lan Zhan, what's your ideal, hm? I bet you like a classic beauty. Someone refined. Sorry to tell you, but Shijie is spoken for," he does wrinkle his nose at that, because it's a reminder of that flashy peacock family, but his smile returns quickly enough.

[billowing]

"Wei Ying," he admonishes, his voice frustrated. "Annoying." Were those complaints, or an answer to his inquiry?

He is not the type to be vain, but he is not stupid. He holds a unique position in that he is a high-level cultivator with a title, with money and prestige. He is good-looking. Women who do not want to marry him would marry him for those qualities alone, knowing they could have a good life for themselves and for their children. After all, wasn't Jin Zixuan agreeing to marry Jiang Yanli despite not being in love with her?

But he doesn't want to think about a life with someone.

[sadflutenoises]

He's pretty sure he's getting under the other boy's skin, just in the irritated note to his voice, but still, Lan Wangji won't look his way. At this point he's turned almost completely in his chair, legs drawn up and crossed haphazardly in the seat so he can focus on bothering Lan Zhan.

"Lan Zhan," his voice drops to a half-whisper as he leans in a bit closer, mostly so he can grab a fistful of popcorn from Lan Wangji's bucket. If being called annoying bothered him, he was pretty sure he'd wither and die in the Jiang household, from how often he heard it from Jiang Cheng.

"Lan Zhan, did you ever kiss anyone?"

[billowing]

Wei Ying might be able to see Lan Wangji's ears turn slightly pink, or see the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. From this close, he can smell the comfortable summery scent of Wei Ying over the popcorn.

And then he has to go and ask that.

"No," he simply responds. Because it's the truth, and because maybe Wei Ying will drop the subject since they have no notes to compare.

But speaking of, jealousy grows in his heart.

[sadflutenoises]

He's not sure what he expected, especially from Lan Wangji. Wei Wuxian leans back slightly in his seat, the pad of his thumb sliding over his lower lip in thought and he makes a soft humming sound. His shameless eyes travel from Lan Zhan's lips, up to his dark eyes and yes- it's definitely a shame no one has kissed him, especially with a face like that. Then again, he's sure Lan Zhan has scared off plenty of interested young women with that stern expression of his...

What was he talking about? Kissing, right. He had two options, either lie through his teeth, or admit his own inexperience. To be fair, he was only fifteen, so it wasn't as if he had no chance, but if he could say he had, wouldn't it be great for bragging rights?

"Tragic," he shakes his head, "just tragic, that two of the most handsome cultivators have never been kissed. Am I too intimidating? Maybe we're just too good-looking to approach."

He nods to himself, that seems like reasonable enough logic. And he was sure it was probably true in Lan Wangji's circumstance. Heaving a sigh, he turns back toward the screen, stretchy out his scrawny limbs before propping his feet up on the chair in front of him.

[billowing]

He does look at Wei Ying when he confesses this, staring him up and down as if trying to discern if he is lying in order to - in order to what, make Lan Wangji feel better? No, he wouldn't do that. He's certainly telling the truth.

But - but Wei Ying always flirted with others, didn't he? Always talked a big game.

He turns back towards the screen as the protagonist picks out a dress with the rival love interest and discovers she might be falling in love.

Lan Wangji takes the tub of popcorn, and places it onto Wei Ying's lap. He takes the ridiculously large drink they've been given, and places it on the armrest between them. And in doing so - because these armrests are quite small even though these chairs are quite spacious, he does brush against Wei Ying's hands again. He doesn't jerk away this time, but he doesn't react at all.

[sadflutenoises]

Seriously? That's what finally gets Lan Wangji to look over? Probably doesn't think Wei Wuxian is on his level, if he's even close to being competition. But just like that he turns back toward the screen!

Wei Wuxian takes the popcorn and tries not to look as dumbfounded as he feels. Ah, of course, Lan Zhan is commiserating, sharing in their tragedy, and it seems they've finally found some common ground!

"Don't worry, we've got plenty of time! It'll happen," he observes, a lopsided smile coloring his features.

Where Lan Wangji is hypersensitive to their shared arm-rest, Wei Wuxian hardly seems to notice at all. He repeatedly bumps and touches and Lan Zhan's hand might as well be part of the furniture, when he doesn't react. He devours his popcorn with all the same grace he does his liquor, which is to say about half of it makes it into his mouth, the rest cascading into his lap, and sometimes as far as the seat beside him.

"Come on," he heckles, throwing a few pieces of popcorn at the screen, "is anyone really that oblivious? Didn't you just kiss the other one?!"

[billowing]

He can't see the smile, but all the same, it makes his heart do little flips in his chest. It's a good thing Wei Ying can't feel his feelings at the moment, and that Lan Wangji doesn't even know that that's a thing that happened once.

"Yes," he answers, finally. "Some people are that oblivious." Why does he seem to be annoyed when he says that?

To be fair, he really is always annoyed... maybe that's just the default. But in any case, the character seems conflicted whether or not he wants to be with the one that he's with now, who would be good for the family, or the one that he loves, who has little social standing and who wouldn't be the "right" choice by the standards of his extended family.

And honestly, Lan Wangji is rooting for love.

[sadflutenoises]

With how few words Lan Wangji has said to him, it's something of a miracle that he's managed whole sentences now. If Lan Zhan was so sure about someone being oblivious, didn't that mean there was someone he had in mind?! Someone who'd dared to ignore or completely miss the advances of Lan Wangji?

It seemed impossible, with a face like that turned his way, even Wei Wuxian would be moved!

"I can help!" he leans forward to steal a sip of the soda that now sits on their shared armrest.

"You just need to grab her attention, right? Have someone talk you up to her," he presses a thumb to his chest, "I'm good at talking, you might have noticed, and Lan Zhan is practically covered in bragging points."

[billowing]

He shows absolutely no facial reaction to this. But he wants to know - what things would Wei Wuxian brag about to someone else on Lan Wangji's behalf?

In the meantime, he takes the soda from Wei Ying and takes a sip as well, even though it's grossly syruppy and disgusting, but he is thirsty. Very, very thirsty.

After a pause, and seemingly returning to the movie, he asks...

"What would you say?"

This is the most relaxed he's been, and he even lets his fingers linger on the cup for a second before returning it to the spot on his lap.

[sadflutenoises]

Wei Wuxian is absolutely sure he's earned himself some sort of one-word annoyed grunt. Boring, or annoying, or even a well-placed get lost. But the other boy just quietly goes back to the movie.

His grin returns in full-force when Lan Wangji speaks up again though, and for some reason he's ridiculously pleased that Lan Zhan is interested in his idea at all. Were it just about anyone else, he'd be teasing them mercilessly for needing him to shower them in compliments, but he's having fun with it, so he plays along, for the moment. He completely misses the drink Lan Wangji has taken back, noticing it only once it's gone, and glad that the other boy didn't seem to realize he'd stolen a sip.

"Well," he starts, feet tapping away their nervous energy against the seat in front of him, "I wouldn't start with all the stuff just anyone would know. I'm pretty sure she's aware you're from an affluent clan, top of the class, a model student, all of that."

His gaze lingers on Lan Zhan as he considers, "and there's little point to mentioning your looks, because anyone with eyes knows they're not going to find someone more handsome."

He fumbles his popcorn a little as he tries to sit up, "oh- uh-! Present company excluded of course."

Okay, even that was a fib; as much as Wei Wuxian bragged about his own looks, Lan Zhan was as obscenely handsome as his family was rich, and that was saying something. Just because he was a man, didn't mean Wei Wuxian couldn't appreciate good looks.

"Anyway, I wouldn't start with that, cuz it's all obvious. No, you gotta mention the little things, stuff that makes Lan Zhan more approachable, or things that seem like secrets, that pique her interest. Like..." he shifts the popcorn bucket on his knee, "...sure he's good-looking, but did you know he's got a soft spot for romance stories? He might look like cold jade, but imagine if you could be the one to make him smile! Oh- If you could watch him doing handstands, you'd swoon for sure!"

[billowing]

Hm. He hadn't taken into account that Wei Ying had noticed those things about him, that he likes romance and that he's the only one who ever gets to see his smile, and that he makes sure his form is extra impressive if he ever sees Wei Ying looking his way.

And yet, Wei Ying did not swoon over his handstands, and does not want to be the one to make him smile. He feels crack solidifying in his heart, knowing Wei Ying does not return his feelings.

"Mm," he answers, at last, seemingly satisfied.

"It will not work." Because Wei Ying is unable to convince himself that Lan Zhan is the right partner for him, so Lan Zhan is, indeed, doomed as a result.

[sadflutenoises]

Maybe he hadn't seen every facet of Lan Wangji's personality, but he never would have thought there'd be one that that seemed so uncertain and fragile when it came to matters of the heart. Not that he had experience, or could even say he'd been in love, but that someone who was already so highly esteemed still had his doubts, what chance did anyone else have?

His features sour at that answer, "Lan Zhan, if all of that isn't enough, then- then she really doesn't deserve you! Who needs someone who can't appreciate what's right in front of them?"

Really, he was annoyed on Lan Wangji's behalf! Why did all the best people end up with the crummiest partners? Shijie deserved way better than that Jin peacock, no matter how much money and silk he pranced around with. And now Lan Wangji?

"Marriage and all that seems like such a hassle anyway. If I could, I'd just be a rogue cultivator. Go on night-hunts whenever I want, have adventures, go wherever the roads take me! Hey, hey! If it doesn't work out with your girlfriend, you should just come with me!"

[billowing]

He is about to Qi Deviate, that Wei Ying says things like the girl of his affections doesn't realize what's in front of her. No, he does not. And then, Wei Ying goes and asks him to be his cultivation partner, because he... doesn't want to get married and have children?

But then Lan Wangji would have to deal with his incessant flirting and trying to find them a pair of women to entertain for one or multiple evenings, and that sort of arrangement holds zero appeal to Lan Zhan.

"You promised Jiang Wanyin you would stay and be his subordinate," Lan Wangji responds.

The couple on-screen seems to finally get a moment, and gaze into each other's eyes, losing track of the rest of the room. They avert a kiss, but only just barely, adding to the tension. And Lan Wangji is feeling tense.

[sadflutenoises]

"When did I say that?" he laughs a little as he reclines in his seat, twining his fingers behind his neck. He let out a short, thoughtful sigh.

It definitely sounded like something he'd say, but he couldn't really recall a set time or place. Not that he had the best memory, but he was pretty sure he'd recall a promise like that. He owed a great deal to the Jiang family, and if that weren't enough, he knew it would be hard to be long separated from any of them, despite how fun it sounded to go running off on his own for a while.

"I mean, that's probably more likely, huh? Imagine the sort of messes Jiang Cheng would make without me there," he adds, "still, it's fun to think about."

[billowing]

He was certain Wei Ying had said such a thing, but in either case, they both know which one of them has the worse memory.

And perhaps, if things were different, they could be cultivation partners. It wasn't exactly what Lan Wangji wanted out of their relationship, but he could take this secret to the grave. He wouldn't want to alienate Wei Ying, that's the last thing he would want.

After all, Wei Ying is his soulmate. His platonic soulmate. That he has a very big, no-good crush on. Still, friendship and sworn brotherhood, those relationships were just as sacred. He would not complain to have that with Wei Ying.

"We can go," he answers, finally. "Only for a month, or two."

[sadflutenoises]

Just hearing Lan Zhan wants to get out for a little, have a fun trip with the two of them, it's enough for him to light up, a broad smile returning to his face.

"Yeah?!" he asks, as if someone like Lan Wangji even knew how to joke around, "think you can get away for that long? Is that allowed?"

Wei Wuxian grabs another handful of popcorn, managing to get most of it in his mouth, and barely waits until he's finished chewing before he launches into his ideas for the trip.

"Maybe we'll find you someone even better on the way, hm? Or at least get you some practice in!"

[billowing]

It would be allowed because he's not sect leader and if he is, it would mean that Xichen has passed, which he will not allow. And it would mean that Xichen bore no children before his passing, which would be even worse.

Lan Wangji, whether or not he wants to be, is free. He can choose to do whatever he wishes, it's just that he chooses responsibility. He chooses to help his elder brother, the way Wei Ying offered to stay and help Jiang Wanyin. It's out of loyalty.

He's about to say something, but naturally Wei Ying always bulldozes on ahead. "I will not."

But then, he furrows his eyebrows. Giving it a little moment's thought, he asks: "What practice?"

Does he mean flirting practice? Wei Ying wants to teach him how to pick up girls? He abhors the idea.

[sadflutenoises]

Won't what? he thinks. Find someone better? Or try getting a little more experience? He's sure he can count on Lan Zhan to be a stick-in-the-mud about anything that seems even a little fun, but that's part of the adventure isn't it? Trying new things? Walking new paths?

"Practice... flirting, kissing, whatever, I mean- have you ever even talked to a girl?" he asks, completely ignoring the movie at this point.

"Ah, nevermind, nevermind, pointless chatting isn't really your thing, let's not set the bar too high. Maybe you should start with smiling and holding hands, huh? Here, you can try with me if you're nervous," he offers an open palm, but knowing Lan Zhan dislike of just about any kind of physical touch, he's not expecting much. This might be harder than he thought.

"You know, just hold her hand, look into her eyes, and say ah- y'know, whatever comes to mind! Romantic stuff."

[billowing]

Wei Wuxian is holding out his hand for Lan Wangji to hold and his face bluescreens for a second. Because - hadn't he also said that he could practice flirting and kissing? Hadn't he just offered those things?

Was this Wei Ying trying to slyly clue him in on something? Was he, perhaps, shy, and thinking that Lan Wangji for some reason, likes girls?

He does keep mentioning the girls.

But for all these actually not-dumb thoughts, he is too busy currently thinking with his heart instead of his head, and so, he slots a hand into Wei Ying's hand, and holds on tightly, and looks him dead in the eyes as the two main characters finally get over themselves and walk down the altar.

He thinks of something romantic to say. What is something he could plausibly say to Wei Ying but also a girl?

With his straight stare, he says: "I wish to night-hunt with you."

[sadflutenoises]

Wei Wuxian can't help thinking that Lan Wangji probably wants to hold his hand about as much as he wants to stick it in dirty pond water, especially when he watches him freeze up. Okay, first of all, Wei Wuxian isn't that hard to stomach, even if he doesn't want to hold his hand for this little exercise, he doesn't have to look like the idea alone is giving him qi deviation.

He's taken quite by surprise though, when Lan Zhan reaches out and grabs his hand, threading their fingers together and holding on like it's his last lifeline. Wei Wuxian can't help a grin from spreading, though he catches himself a moment later, remembering that he promised to play the part, to give Lan Zhan his best advice for his girl troubles.

"Good, good, that's a good start! Something you both like, right?" he nods. Night-hunting probably isn't a terribly romantic idea, but spending time is never bad.

Just his luck though, that he finally gets Lan Wangji to well and truly look at him today, and it's when they're role-playing a game and he's pretending to be some girl Lan Zhan has gotten himself attached to. He can feel his heart do a little hiccuping flip in his chest. No one should be able to stare that intensely! If even Wei Wuxian feels intimidated, he's sure Lan Zhan would make any girl faint with that kind of gaze.

"You don't have to hold quite so tight," he teases, giving Lan Zhan's hand a little pat-pat with his free hand, "I can handle it, but you'll probably crush a poor girl's fingers. They're a lot softer, remember?"

He gives a gentle squeeze back, just so Lan Zhan doesn't up and let go, or get scared off by a little friendly advice. It's hard to guess what his mystery girl might say in response to that, so he tries to keep his comments general, for now at least.

"Right, so night-hunting, and then? Hm... you should probably follow up with something you like about her. Tell her that her hair looks pretty, or you like her eyes, or the way she smiles, right?"

[billowing]

Wei Ying smiles. He smiles, when Lan Wangji takes his hand, and it isn't a satisfied, triumphant smile. It's a genuine, happy smile, and it makes his heart do all sorts of funny things in his chest.

And then he starts talking about girls again. Girls this, girls that. Hadn't Wei Ying had cut-sleeve novels he'd shoved under Lan Wangji's nose? At the time, he'd thought that Wei Ying was trying to make fun of him, that he'd known, that he'd chosen that particular book to tease.

But now, he's starting to regret his kneejerk response.

Then he goes off again, giving Lan Wangji advice on what he should tell the object of his affection. And that person does have such shiny black hair, and a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, and a smile that could melt away the longest winters.

"Nothing moves me like your laugh."

He sounds so serious when he says it. He doesn't say: I would recognize it anywhere. I would pick you out from a crowd of thousands. I would move Heaven and Earth to hear it.