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

[radishgrown]

He was worried? A-Yuan hugs him tighter. He didn't mean to worry Xian-gege. He is in a strange place and wearing strange clothes and he just wants to go home even if it means eating Xian-gege's terrible food. He lets out a sniffle before shaking his head.

Though his stomach betrays him, grumbling and rumbling at not eating anything in a while.

"Xian-gege, I couldn't find the food place. Just long hallways and people I did not know."

[sadflutenoises]

A-Yuan hugs him, and he can swear he feels his heart melt in his chest. He's ready to throw down with whoever brought this poor kid here and upset him so much and took away his Jiejie and Shushu.

Of course, he hears the tiny tummy rumble, and has to wonder how long the poor boy was wandering. If Shijie was here, she'd no doubt be able to make something way more comforting, but Wei Wuxian gets shooed away from the kitchen anytime he comes close, so A-Yuan will have to settle for whatever is readily available.

"Ah," he nods, "good thing Xian-gege knows where it is then! We can eat til our tummies are ready to burst!"

[radishgrown]

"Can we afford the food, Xian-gege?" he asks, voice tiny.

He knows that they work hard to till the soil on the Burial Mounds with some crops that sprout out. And how Ning-shushu and Xian-gege bring them down to Yiling to sell and trade with. Sometimes, they return without much of a bounty and they're forced to eat the fruit that somehow grows on the trees in the Burial Mounds.

[sadflutenoises]

A child this small shouldn't have to be worrying about money! Weren't the Lans supposed to be super-rich? What kind of monsters were they to let a child be troubled over something like this? It was lucky the food here was free, or he might have his own trouble paying but even so! He was fifteen, almost full-grown! A-Yuan couldn't be more than, what, five? Maybe six?

"What? Don't be silly, that's not for A-Yuan to worry about!" he ruffles the boy's hair, quickening his pace toward the restaurant.

"You're allowed to eat as much as you want here, okay?"

[radishgrown]

Three years old and already, he understands how scarce food can be for their little home. Xian-gege always told a-Yuan to not worry about food. But he sees how lean Xian-gege gets when there isn't enough and he gives to Granny Wen.

"Will there be enough for Xian-gege, Qing-jiejie, Ning-shushu, and Granny Wen?"

If there isn't, then he would refuse to eat.

"Is Rich-gege paying for it?"

[sadflutenoises]

Even if he's having a hard time trying to parse what the boy is talking about, it's clear enough he's been worried about money and food for a while now. And who is this other new person he's talking about? Granny Wen?

No way, there's no way this kid is related to anyone from the Wen clan, right? Not dressed like a Lan as he is, and knowing someone from Yunmeng Jiang. How would that even happen? It's probably just baby-talk, or a nickname for someone. Probably...

"There's definitely enough for everyone," he insists, pointing out the restaurant now that they're close enough to see it up ahead.

"Rich-gege?" yeah these were definitely made up people. Had to be.

"Ah, who's that now, tell me about Rich-gege," he tries not to laugh.

[radishgrown]

He shuffles the white headband up again, scratching at it a little. a-Yuan looks at the restaurant, smelling the good food that seems to waft from it. He creases his brow and looks at Xian-gege when he asks about Rich-gege, concerned.

"Why don't you know Rich-gege?" he asks.

a-Yuan starts to squirm in his arms. Maybe this is a trick. Someone who has Xian-gege's face to take him away.

[sadflutenoises]

Apparently that was the wrong answer, since A-Yuan is already squirming and fidgeting like he wants to be set down. The last thing he wants is for the kid to go tearing off somewhere, still hungry and scared, and thinking there's one less person he can trust.

"Ah, Xian-gege feels so bad for forgetting. The bad people here took all of his things, his cultivation, and even made him forget Rich-gege." no one can say Wei Wuxian lacks for imagination or theatrics. Besides, it wasn't entirely a lie.

"Can A-Yuan help poor Xian-gege remember?"

[radishgrown]

That was certainly the wrong answer. a-Yuan squirms and fidgets in his arms. When he tries to explain, a-Yuan looks at him, not sure if he should believe him. The suspicion is written all over his face and he shrinks a little away from Xian-gege.

Well...this place did take away his shoes and his clothes, giving these white clothes. The bad people took away Xian-gege's things. a-Yuan looks around his person, not finding Chenqing tucked anywhere on him.

"Why would they make you forget Rich-gege? a-Yuan remembers. a-Yuan remembers everyone."

[sadflutenoises]

Nothing like a child's suspicion to hit him like a punch in the gut. A-Yuan is already looking at him like he's a hungry wolf instead of someone trying to help him.

"Hmmm," he nods, trying to look thoughtful, "A-Yuan must have the best memory then. Maybe this Xian-gege just doesn't remember his nickname. Can you tell me what Rich-gege looks like and maybe that will help?"

He flashes him a laughing smile, trying to ease his worry with a little gentle teasing, "or does A-Yuan only remember Rich-gege's money?"

[radishgrown]

The teasing has the corner of his lip twitching and a giggle bubble out before he schools his face again into something more serious and concerning.

"...Rich-gege is tall with a cold face. He wears blue colors like the sky and has a headband like this one."

a-Yuan reaches up and tugs at the white heandband around his forehead.

"He doesn't say much. But he is Xian-gege's friend."

[sadflutenoises]

It's good to see the smile start to return, even if it fades quickly. Now he just has to hope that he actually knows this Rich-gege. Or can pretend a lot better than he has been.

Much to his surprise, he does know Rich-gege. Or at least, someone who checks every box on A-Yuan's list. Who else could it be? The Lans were definitely rich, and it explained the clothes the boy wore. Maybe it was a recent development?

"Oh! That's Lan Zhan!" he grins, still teasing, "did he buy you those clothes? I see, I see, A-Yuan's loyalty lies in Rich-gege's wallet, hm? Well, we'll see how you feel with a full tummy!"

[radishgrown]

That's a familiar name that he remembers Xian-gege saying. There seems to be recognition on Xian-gege's face and that eases his concerns a little.

"a-Yuan woke up with these clothes," he insists. He thinks on it. "Did Rich-gege buy them for a-Yuan as a surprise?"

[sadflutenoises]

He's glad that it seems to help, though he's known Lan Wangji for all of a couple days here. It doesn't get him any closer to solving the mystery of where A-Yuan has come or how he knows so many people from so many sects.

"Aah,is that right?" well, it beats how he's woken up here the last couple times. It did nix the idea of the Lan sect being a bunch of heartless monsters, he grudgingly admits.

"I wouldn't doubt it," he taps the little headband, "I bet that Rich-gege is trying to snatch you up into his sect! You know, Xian-gege is supposed to visit soon too. Maybe that's why I had those robes in my room..."

[radishgrown]

"Xian-gege is leaving a-Yuan and the Burial Mounds to visit Rich-gege?" he asks, head tilted in curiosity. "...how long will Xian-gege be gone? Will Ning-shushu go with you?" His eyes widen. "Will Qing-jiejie go with you? Who will play with a-Yuan? Granny Wen is nice but she doesn't play like Xian-gege does."

Xian-gege had seemed sad when Rich-gege left. Is this one of thsoe grown up things? He clings again and sniffles, not wanting Xian-gege to leave for a long time.

"Does Rich-gege live far away?"

[sadflutenoises]

Wei Wuxian could hardly remember being as young as this child, let alone precocious enough to ask so many questions or remember so many places. Burial Mounds?

"So many questions! I'm sure A-Yuan gets to come too, since Rich-gege got you such nice clothes!" he tries, giving the boy a hug when he begins to cling.

"Here now, let's fill our tummies first, and then Xian-gege will tell you all he knows about Gusu, where Rich-gege comes from," he promises, settling the boy on his hip once they enter the restaurant.

"Now what looks tasty, hm?"

[radishgrown]

The hug is reassuring and a-Yuan clings tight. He settles and tucks himself against Xian-gege. He doesn't even let go as he looks around at all the different food that are available.

"Steamed buns. And soup! Ning-shushu brought a-Yuan a soup once and it was delicious! Do they have that soup, Xian-gege? Ning-shushu said--he said it was lotus root soup made by Xian-gege's shijie."

[sadflutenoises]

The buns were an easy enough request, and Wei Wuxian manages to juggle a toddler in one arm and a lunch-tray in the other. He hands one right to the boy to start on, before stacking a few of the buns on his tray, a the while trying to puzzle through how exactly A-Yuan knows about Shijie's soup.

"Ah, Shijie's soup is the best, isn't it?" he nods, "it's too bad they don't have it here. But they do have ah... let's see. Egg drop, vegetable beef, or something called minestrone? What does A-Yuan think?"

How did this Ning-shushu know Shijie anyway? And well enough that she would make him soup? It was getting more confusing by the moment.

[radishgrown]

He holds the tray carefully as they load it with food. He looks over the soup options, eyes widening at the fact that they have options to choose from. He puts a finger to his lips as he considers them.

"a-Yuan would like to try the egg drop soup."

[sadflutenoises]

"Ooh, good choice," he agrees, and has the presence of mind to let A-Yuan down while he takes on the wobbly soup-laden tray. He fills a bowl for himself and one for the boy. Probably good to start with just a couple things, he figures, and points out an empty table.

"That look like a good spot?" he asks, leading the way so he can settle the trays and lift A-Yuan into the seat. They're definitely a different style of furniture than he's used to, these chairs instead of just simple cushions, but they're familiar enough to get used to.

[radishgrown]

a-Yuan nods and walks alongside Xian-gege, hand clenched tightly in the black and grey robes. He watches him as he sets the bowls and trays down and helps him up onto a seat. He grabs a spoon and tries the soup, smacking his lips at how delicious it was.

"Does Xian-gege still miss his shijie?"

[sadflutenoises]

The boy seems in better spirits, at least, now that he's eating, and Wei Wuxian can't help feeling a little relieved to have achieved that much. The seemingly idle questions and comments A-Yuan keeps dropping though, have given him cause for concern, well beyond the imaginations of most toddlers. It was a puzzle, and one that was missing too many pieces for him to solve properly.

"Aah," he nods, trying the soup out for himself, "of course I miss her. But I'm sure we'll find each other again soon!"

He grabs one of the buns for himself, leaning back as he takes a bite.

"We just have to figure out how to get out and then we'll find our way home and go see everyone, hm?"

[radishgrown]

He looks at him as he has his soup. Xian-gege seems more sure that he would see his shijie now than he did when a-Yuan saw him last. He slowly sets down his spoon and looks at him with the same suspicion as earlier. This doesn't seem to be the same Xian-gege he had last seen. But...he sounds like him, looks like him.

a-Yuan tilts his head to look more closely. Xian-gege seems more...happy. But Xian-gege wants to figure out how to get out. That was important so he could see everyone again.

"Xian-gege, are we trapped here?"