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

I'ma get your heart racing In my skin-tight jeans?

[sadflutenoises]

[Wei Wuxian could swear he sees white robes no matter where in this hotel he goes. And more often than not, it's this same boy with the sour expression. It's a real shame, given how pretty his face is, Wei Wuxian thinks. He could get just about any girl he wanted if he just smiled a little!

Every time he sees that somber expression, he wants to startle it off his face, just to get a rise out of him. At the moment, that means he's currently the one doing the stalking, having followed Lan Wangji to the gym. It's almost impossible to hide, what with all the mirrors, so he just peers over, close enough that the other boy can be certain to see him, and offers a wave.]

There's so many fun things to do, and you're in here? Really?

[billowing]

[ What else would Wei Ying expect of him? ]

Just because I am no longer at the Cloud Recesses, does not mean I will not continue my training.

[ And boy, is he training. Do you see his arms? The slight sheen of sweat on his forehead? The way his robes stick slightly to his skin? ]

And if they will not tell us why they have brought us here, or allow us to leave, then this is the best way to utilize my time.

[sadflutenoises]

[Just the sort of boring answer he'd come to expect. He wanders closer though, shamelessly looking over the other boy. He's reminded of what a pity(for the women, of course) it is that such a handsome young man won't even smile, and thinks it's even more of a shame, given how strong and well-muscled he is. Any girl would be absolutely charmed! Even Wei Wuxian can admit defeat, if only in his heart(because that's definitely what those feelings are, just normal appreciation and envy).]

Even when there's no one around to make you do it? That's so boring.

[He squats, a few feet away, arms resting on his knees.]

There's way more fun stuff to do here, you know?

[billowing]

So you said.

But it is merely a distraction.

[ After all, Wei Ying would waste all his talents playing fun games instead of training to defeat whomever it was who brought them here. ]

My goal is to return home.

[sadflutenoises]

Isn't this just as much a distraction?

[A much, much less fun one.]

Are you so dead-set against having a good time?

[A thought seems to cross his mind, before he leans in closer, incredulous.]

Wait, this really is fun for you, isn't it?! A~ah, how pitiable!

[billowing]

Wei Ying.

[ He does that thing where he looks up at the boy as if trying to say "don't."

But it's never really effective. ]

I did not ask you to join me.

[sadflutenoises]

Lan Zhan!

[He tries to mimic the stern tone of his voice and fails, utterly. He can hardly even keep the frown going before it turns into another wide smile.]

Then ask! I'm already here!

[billowing]

You do not want to train.

There are more entertaining activities for you.

[ Isn't that what he just said? So why would he want to be here any longer? ]

[sadflutenoises]

Well, yeah, but it doesn't mean I won't. Even stuff that's a chore is more fun when it's with a friend, you know?

[He might not have known Lan Zhan more than a couple days, but still, they were friends weren't they?]

How many repetitions do you have left? What if... I help you finish, and then we can go see the arcade? Everybody wins!

[His smile is nothing but excited at the idea, and he bounces just a little, on the balls of his feet.]

[billowing]

Mm.

But no more distractions.

[ Which means that will need to get a really decent workout in before Lan Wangji is satisfied. He also just glosses over the fact that Wei Ying called them friends - he doesn't want to address that at all. ]

I have 236 left.

[sadflutenoises]

[His smile grows even wider when Lan Wangji actually agrees to the deal. For that, he's pretty sure he could handle a few hundred... of whatever it was Lan Wangji was doing.]

236 what? pushups? Situps? Sword-form repetitions?

[He stands up straighter and starts to stretch, ready for whatever it might be.]

Whatever it is, I'll do 250, just to catch up!

[billowing]

36 chest flies.

100 handstands.

50 squats.

50 deadlifts.

[ You sure you're up for the challenge, Wei Ying? ]

I was going to do an hour of running after, but we can do that later. The training area does not close.

[ But how cool are treadmills, Wei Ying?? ]

[sadflutenoises]

[Wei Wuxian is pretty fit, and he doesn't slouch when it comes to his sword-work, but hearing Lan Wangji list all of those off... he already knows his arms will be sore in the morning. He tries to school his face into a look of unimpressed indifference, even if it's a moment too late to be convincing.]

Right, that's nothing! I do twice that before breakfast!

[Where to start... handstands first? Yeah, probably good. He doesn't want his arms giving out while he's upside-down and tired.

Wei Wuxian takes a second to dust off his hands before turning over to balance on them. His hair is just barely brushing the floor, his lanky legs taking a moment to balance properly, and then he's off, walking on his hands over to Lan Wangji, a ridiculous grin on his face.]

Ready?

[billowing]

Mm.

[ A Lan is always ready. He steps over to a clear spot and does a handstand effortlessly, using his ridiculous upper arm strength to do pushups this way. His legs remain strong and steady, completely unwavering above him as he continues this, counting one, two, three...

He has not a single hint of strain in his voice.

And he doesn't slow down for Wei Ying, who does this "twice before breakfast." So naturally this should be a cakewalk, yeah? ]

[sadflutenoises]

[He might not have arms that could punch through tree trunks, but he's strong enough! His style of swordplay is much more acrobatic, relying on his strong legs to kick off or flip or any number of tricks. Lan Zhan, on the other hand, is he even feeling this?

Wei Wuxian does reasonably well, admirably, some might even say, in keeping up. At least until Lan Wangji hits fifty and keeps going, steady as a heartbeat. Wei Wuxian doesn't start to lag too badly, not until the seventies, when he can't hide how his arms are shaking anymore.]

Gotta be all those ah... pushups I did earlier...

[Yeah. He was definitely doing that and not sleeping-in well past noon.

He takes a steadying breath, refocusing, and fixing his pace to one he can keep up with, even if it galls him to let Lan Wangji get ahead.]

[billowing]

Mm.

[ The only change for Lan Wangji seems to be that his voice gets slightly more heavy when he does the counts. He hasn't even slowed down significantly. ]

Eighty-seven...

Eighty-eight...

[ Only when he gets to the nineties does he slow down and have to gather himself in order to push up. But he makes it to a hundred, and gracefully lands on his feet as he rights himself. ]

[sadflutenoises]

Eighty-three...

Eighty-four...

[He hits eighty, but Lan Wangji is already nearly done. The last twenty or so are absolute torture, but he refuses to stop, his pride on the line. At one hundred, he lets his body roll down and sink to the floor, letting his arms flop uselessly to either side of him. His angry muscles throb in time with his heart and he lets out a weary sigh.]

Ninety-nine...

Ugh, one-hundred! I... totally got this... what... what's next?

[billowing]

Next is squats, then deadlifts.

[ He walks over to the free bar and moves the bar off, then starts loading it up with a ridiculous amount of weight, and snatching it up, resting it over his shoulders.

There aren't as many repetitions of this, since there's more weight than just his body weight. Because of this, he does sets of ten at a time, making sure his form doesn't suffer.

And if Wei Ying doesn't start right away, he'll probably want to study Lan Wangji's form. From behind. ]

[sadflutenoises]

[Squats, okay, that's way more his speed, he thinks, as he rolls his shoulders out and tries to diminish the ache settling in. It's all in the legs anyway, so he can give his arms a rest.

At least, he'd thought so. Seeing all the weights Lan Wangji piles onto the free bar before lifting it over his shoulders, there's no way he's gonna make it through fifty squats with all of that! Just who is he trying to impress?!

He really can't help watching, his eyes betraying him to linger over Lan Wangji's form, and of course, just like the rest of him, it's perfect, despite carrying what has to be several times his own weight.]

Seriously?

[It comes out as a whiny sigh, but he drags over a fee bar and starts loading it with weights, even if his pride stings to put on fewer of them than Lan Wangji. He soothes himself with the thought that cultivation is about a lot more than just raw strength, and that if he had use of his core, this would be nothing, but instead he just huffs and grunts as he shoulders the weight and begins.]

Lan Zhan... really... if this is fun for you... are you some kind of masochist?

[billowing]

[ He chooses not to answer that and instead, focuses on his squats, making sure he has proper balance, making sure all of the weight is going to his legs and not his back.

There are no mountains here to climb, so it's very difficult to keep up his usual exercise, which is to go into down and come back up home. That usually takes quite a bit of walking up steep mountainside, and so generally keeps his legs in good shape.

Instead, he only keeps counting under his breath. Twenty, twenty one, twenty two....

Cultivation isn't about raw strength, which is why whenever they're done with whatever games are downstairs, Lan Wangji will have to take a few hours to meditate.

Yes, to meditate.

Maybe he is a masochist. ]

[sadflutenoises]

[No answer. Ugh, why is he not surprised? Wei Wuxian gives a theatrical groan as he starts the squats. At least he's got great form, he thinks, though his eyes travel over to Lan Wangji. Just to... see if the Gusu Lan form is any different. Yeah.

He hardly wants to be seen slouching, whether in his posture or how quickly he follows after Lan Wangji's count. Lan Zhan can't be that much older or stronger than he is, and he's nothing if not terribly competitive.]

You really are... such a good... little disciple, huh? Even here... you know... there's plenty of other ways... to get a workout.

[He only gets a few words out between breaths as he squats, but he can't abide silence, not even while training. And if his words are suggestive, it's at least mostly an accident. He'd be more interested in sparring, or swimming, or even running laps around the hotel. Weights were so... boring.]

Hey, hey! What's... what's Gusu Lan's hand-to-hand like? Wanna try?

[billowing]

[ He counts to fifty, and gently places the weights back on the ground. ]

After deadlifts.

[ And then he prepares for those, by spreading his legs a little further than he does while squatting, and bending over in order to pick it up. Because his form is so good, his back is straight, and there's no arch.

He'll just respectfully look over at Wei Wuxian to make sure his form is correct and there's also no arched back. Otherwise, he might hurt himself.

Obviously he's just trying to be a good gym partner.

Nothing else. ]

[sadflutenoises]

Ugghhhhh. Fine.

[It was as close to a compromise as he was likely to get from Lan Wangji, and it takes every bit of his self-control not to groan and whine and grouse about it.

Deadlifts too, seriously? How were they going to have any arm-strength left for sparring? At least they'd be on equal ground, but it was definitely going to test his endurance.

He finishes his fifty, unaware of any lingering eyes, and if the weights clank and jar a little as he sets them down, he can't be too bothered to care. Wait, is Lan Wangji really doing his deadlifts with the same weight he just took off his shoulders?!

Wei Wuxian is putting it off and knows it, but he bends low and takes his time stretching out his burning muscles.]

Sure you'll have anything left after all that?

[Once satisfied, he sets his stance in front of the weighted bar and starts lifting, well behind Lan Wangji.]

[billowing]

[ Yes, he does deadlift several times more than he weighs, and he looks pretty effortless doing it, again, in 5 sets of 10. His form is immaculate, and he does slow down around thirty when he can feel that it might start to suffer otherwise.

If he looks over at Wei Ying to check how he's doing, then. Well. It's just sportsmanship. ]

If you are tired, we can spar tomorrow.

[ If he's not sore, that is. That could be another possibility, but Lan Wangji will try to go easy on him even though he really should be better at weightlifting. After all, what will happen someday if he needs to carry something? If he needs to help someone up?

From a cliff?

With a broken arm? ]

[sadflutenoises]

[Is Lan Wangji even breaking a sweat? Augh, he feels pathetic! There's no way he can lose to someone else! Not even if the Lans have ridiculous upper-body routines!]

Who's tired?! I was only saying so for your own benefit! I'd hate for you to have any excuses when I knock you flat.

[It's all bluster, as he's only on his second set of ten. At least this works a slightly different muscle group from the ones used for hand-stands, but he can feel the burn starting to creep in before he's hit halfway.]