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

[sadflutenoises]

What the hell? He's gonna follow him around like this, and then completely ignore him? Without even the smallest acknowledgement? He huffs an annoyed sigh and follows the boy to the next machine.

"Hey, hey! If you're already playing the same games as me, you could at least play one we can both use," he scrunches his nose a little, making a face before a smile slowly breaks over it.

"Unless you're worried you'll lose."

[inquiryguqin]

He stiffens and pauses, considering it. He frowns as he stops playing, seeing that as a challenge from the other boy.

Turning to him, golden eyes spark at his challenge. "Not going to lose. Not to you. You're on. Pick your game and I will win." The truth of the matter is, he wants to play a game with him, but only if he wants to.

[sadflutenoises]

That seems to have done the trick, at least. Though why this guy is so obsessed with beating him at some arcade games is beyond his understanding. He taps his lips in thought for a moment before pointing out the skee-ball machines.

"Oh? You wanna make a wager on that?" he teases. Sure, Wei Wuxian only had the day's experience with playing it, but he's always up for some friendly competition.

[inquiryguqin]

He took some time to consider it. He finds it strange that he is being friendly with him and teasing him since the last time he remembers of him, he won't return to Gusu with him and told him to get lost, not wanting to do anything with him, as he is already made his mark in the Cultivation world with his growing powers in resentment energy.

He felt he is loosing in rekindling a friendship with him when he offered a wager, and perhaps there's a chance, so he relaxes the tension in his body somewhat. "Wager? What do you wager?"

[sadflutenoises]

That seems to have got his attention, he's definitely interested! Wei Wuxian's grin widens. He doesn't know much about the other boy, but the robes and headband are unmistakably Lan sect. And his clan had received an invitation to study in Cloud Recesses soon, so it would be nice to have at least one familiar face when he got there. He'd heard the twin jades were strikingly handsome, but it was hard to believe there were other Lan members better looking than this one.

Whatever this Lan-gege might be thinking, or why he might be following him, Wei Wuxian's wagers are of a decidedly more innocent nature, nothing beyond the scope of what he can win next in the arcade.

"What do I wager? Hmmm. How about all my tickets? Unless you want something else?" he starts patting down his robes to see if he has anything else to bet against the other boy.

[inquiryguqin]

At the price of his wager, he gives a nod of approval. "I want rabbits." Indicating the rabbit dolls on display. "So, your tickets will do."

After a while, he squints. The other boy seems familiar. He is just perplexed why he's friendly and cheerful, and he's trying to recognize him. Back home, he was angry and vowed vengeance, and has already killed a number of people on his warpath and he couldn't stop him.

"It's been a while. Wei Wuxian by your courtesy name?"

[sadflutenoises]

"Rabbits, I should've known."

He's about to offer up one of the slap bracelets, or maybe a mood ring, but ah, rabbits huh. This guy just gets curiouser and curiouser. And then he has to throw him off completely by pulling his name right out of the air.

Well, it shouldn't be too much of a surprise, if that's why he's been followed this whole time, it makes sense that the other knows him, or has at least heard of him. But he's certain if he met someone this handsome dressed all in white, he'd definitely remember it.

"So, you've heard of me, hm? That's right. Wei Ying, courtesy name Wei Wuxian," he nods, puffing out his thin chest a little with pride.

"And Lan-gege? What should I call you?"

[inquiryguqin]

Just like that, at his question, consider Lan Wangji surprised, and his tension dropped. He asked him for his name and he didn't recognized him. At first, he thought it was a cruel joke, but then perhaps the hotel pulled him from a different time in his past, so that's why the other boy is friendly to him, and this makes Lan Wangji even more confused.

"Oh...I..." He clears his throat. "Wangji. Lan Wangji." He said softly. "Nevermind, let's play. What are the rules of the game?" He managed to speak, pushing the previous heaviness in his chest aside, from the memory that Wei Ying has transformed and was becoming widely know as the Yiling Patriarch, and his cold expression from before started to erode and fade.

[sadflutenoises]

"Ah- I knew it!" he looks rather pleased with himself for having figured it out, "I thought you must be one of the rumored twin jades of Lan."

Though it still didn't answer just how Lan Wangji had known who he was in return. Probably had to memorize all the students coming to study in Cloud Recesses, he reasoned, it seemed as good an answer as any. He's pleased when the other boy seemed to relax and become a little friendlier once they've made introductions. Maybe a bad rumor about Wei Wuxian has gotten around? He could be a little hellion at times and he's pretty sure it doesn't mesh with the Lan sect's thousands of rules and values.

"So," he starts, tugging on Lan Wangji's sleeve to steer them in the direction of the machines, "these are the Skeeball. I played 'em a little earlier. You take one of these wooden balls..."

He picks one up to demonstrate, then rolls it down the worn pathway. It hits the ramp at the end, then flies up and into one of the larger rings. A display above the machine lights up, indicating the point-value for his throw.

"...just like that! And the highest score wins, that's it!"

[inquiryguqin]

Quietly, "I am. The other twin Jade is my brother."

Even if he asked, he rather not let him know of what will happen in his future. The student in Cloud Recesses will be a good explanation if any, coming from an earlier time in his memory.

Listening to his explanation, "Mn." He picks up a few wooden balls and insert a coin into the machine to start the timer and score counter. "Okay, when we count to 3, we'll start throwing and get the highest score. 1...2...3..."

He's going to throw the balls into the hoops, throwing them as the timer ticks going down and the score numbers keeps going up.

[sadflutenoises]

"I thought that must be it!" he remarks, "I mean, the headband and robes are a giveaway."

Besides that, the twin jades were rumored to be flawlessly handsome, and who else could possibly fit that description?

Wei Wuxian starts in on the game right after. He's been playing this one for a while, and if you can rebound the ball off one of the corners, he found, it's much easier to hit the higher point targets. So maybe he shows off a little, rolling the balls down the aisle and hitting the smallest target half a dozen times as the timer nears the end of the game.

[inquiryguqin]

"Mn. Most of the members of the Gusu Lan Clan wears them."

With a nod, he kept playing, and following his strategy, did the same to score points. Eventually, the game is finished, and with the tickets printed out, he takes it to add to his bank of tickets. Everyone is a winner.

Eyeing the prizes of rewards being hung on display, where they are hung to exchange for tickets. "What kind of prize you are going to get?"

[sadflutenoises]

He supposed Yunmeng Jiang was a little less obvious, in their purples and deep blues, but at least they didn't look like they were going to a funeral.

"What kinda... hm... I dunno, maybe a mood ring? They say it can tell your emotions by changing different colors when you wear it. I wanna see how it works," he nods.

"What about you?"

[inquiryguqin]

"..." Lan Wangji is pink at the tip of his ears. He can't reveal that even at his age, he wanted a rabbit doll.

So, listening to his request, he goes to the front desk and exchanges his tickets to get a mood ring that he wanted. With the mood ring in hand, he hands it to Wei Ying.

"Here. For you. As for myself, I don't need anything."

[sadflutenoises]

Nothing, huh? He supposes this Lan-gege is probably too old to think about toys and fun, meanwhile Wei Wuxian is always happy to indulge in every new experience offered to him.

"Ah! You're the best, thanks Lan Wangji!" he grins, turning the little charm over in his hands before putting it on his finger. The stone is black now, and formed into the shape of a circle. He can already see it starting to change color, subtly.

"You sure?" he pulls a blue slap-bracelet from his wrist and holds it out, "you can have one of mine. It's only fair!"

[inquiryguqin]

Seeing his smiles and his the offer of his blue bracelet, he gingerly takes it. With emotion, "Are you sure in giving this to me? I could have it?"

Adjusting the bracelet, he puts it on and wrapped it around on one of his wrists. "Wear it like this?"

[sadflutenoises]

"Do you want another one?" he misunderstands, thinking maybe Lan Wangji finds the trade unfair, "the slap-bracelets aren't worth quite as much as the rings, so you can have more than one if you want."

He pulls another one from his wrist, snapping it out straight and then slapping it over his wrist to show how it works, "Yeah, you can wear it however you want!"

[inquiryguqin]

He closed his eyes as he sees this as a gift given. "I want...I want it." He said slowly. This is more than he could ask for.

"One is enough, but whatever you wish to give, I will treasure it." He'll treasure it forever. Even if it's a cheap trinket, he likes it and it looks nice on his wrists.

"Thank you, Wei Ying."

[sadflutenoises]

Treasure it? This Lan Wangji is nothing like the rumors have said. Everyone describes the jades of Lan as beautiful but aloof and cold. Lan Wangji just seems pretty soft and sentimental, in spite of their silent competition.

"Two seems more fair," he concedes, and grabs a red and black one he's rather fond of and hands it over as well.

"But only if I get to call you more familiarly too! How did you know it's Wei Ying anyway?"

[inquiryguqin]

"We know each other as classmates. You came to Cloud Recesses with your brother and shijie to study lessons of the Lan Sect." He said, almost in a hollow voice. "So that's how I knew your name."

Though he wasn't sure what they are now, considering back home, Wei Ying was angry and is set on the warpath to kill using his new power. Hence the confusion of his friendliness.

Wordlessly, he took that as a gift too and kept it. "Of course, you may. It's Lan Zhan."

[sadflutenoises]

It's hard to make Wei Wuxian speechless, but the explanation leaves his mouth hanging open. They... what? If things weren't already so unbelievable just being here, he might have questioned the legitimacy of such a claim, but...

"So, we're friends already!" he grins. Because it does make an odd sort of sense. Why he's call him so casually, why he'd been surprised when Wei Wuxian didn't notice him, why he was willing to play along so easily.

"Lan Zhan!"

[inquiryguqin]

Lan Wangji managed to smile, even if it's a just a little. His heart flutters when he glances at him, looking at him, smiling at him. He's a little warm and pink at the tip of his ears with the way he says his name.

"Y-yes. We're friends. I'm glad we are." He doesn't want Wei Ying to think of him as his enemy. "If you don't mind I came from a clan with so many rules. We're very strict."

[sadflutenoises]

He's almost sure he's seen a smile from the other boy, and he can't help being thoroughly pleased with himself for it. Whatever had sparked a friendship between them, it hardly mattered, he was just excited to find out he had a friend outside of Yunmeng Jiang. And one who was just as competitive as he was!

"Mm, as long as I don't have to follow them," he laughs. Well, he probably would have to, when he and Shijie and Jiang Cheng visit, but outside of Cloud Recesses is fair game.

[inquiryguqin]

With the game over and gifts exchanged, "Not for now." Since he doesn't see a reason for reminding him of the rules. "Right now, I'm trying to figure out a way to return home. This wonderland place is a strange place."

With a softened expression since he has a whole day ahead of him. "What would you like to do next, Wei Ying?" Since he is here with him now, so there's time they have for the evening to spend in each other's company.

[sadflutenoises]

Right. Getting back home. He might've been a little more preoccupied making mischief around the hotel, rather than looking for a way out, but both were important.

"Mm, I haven't found any leads on a way out," he shrugs, "but um- are you hungry? Oh! Or I found a really great way to bug the staff here, it makes a huge mess."