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]

[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.]

[billowing]

I do not make excuses.

[ He accepts his defeats, but there certainly won't be any to accept with Wei Ying huffing and puffing over there. He makes his way through all fifty and then goes to rerack his weights, and in the meantime, stretches to cool down.

He makes his way over to Wei Ying, gently studying his form, hands behind his back, looking on placidly. ]

[sadflutenoises]

[He's on his last set, by the time Lan Wangji finishes all his stretches and returns, only to hover nearby, probably counting to make sure he does every last lift. Under such scrutiny, it takes a tremendous effort not to let on how fatigued his arms are.]

Admiring my perfect form? Or just keeping count?

[He grins. Teasing and levity always setting him more at ease. When he hits fifty, he straightens, shaking his arms out, feeling the acidic burn throughout his muscles. So maybe he couldn't win in a straight test of strength, but where Lan Zhan has strength, Wei Wuxian has speed, and he's eager to show as much when they spar.]

Alright, how should we do this?

[billowing]

[ He is clearly admiring Wei Ying a little bit, but his face is passive. Xichen would be able to see it though. ]

Mm.

You might want a rest first, before we begin.

[ Or Wangji is just going to kick his ass while he's sore. He wouldn't want to; it just wouldn't be fair to him. Instead, he'll wait. He'd rather spar than go play arcade games anyway. ]

[sadflutenoises]

I'm fine, I'm fine, I just have to shake it out a little.

[He's already doing so, stretching his sore arms and shoulders, rolling his neck, and if there's anything different in Lan Wangji's gaze, he's not yet keen enough to catch it.]

Any rules before we start? I know you Lans are sticklers for those.

[billowing]

No underhanded tactics. Staying down for ten seconds is an automatic forfeit.

[ And he is an honorable young man, so he'll wait for Wei Ying to tell him he's ready. He hasn't had an opportunity to fight with him since the night they met, and he looks forward to it. Wei Ying is a formidable opponent, which is one of the reasons Lan Wangji fell so hard for him in the first place.

People, for the most part, don't impress Lan Wangji. Especially when they try too hard, and for many things, Wei Ying indeed does try too hard. But his skills as a fighter - and, loathe to admit, his countenance - are not things he brags about without merit. ]

[sadflutenoises]

Underhanded tactics?! Of course not.

[Wei Wuxian feigns offense at the suggestion, no matter how true it might be. Besides, he doesn't need underhanded tactics, his martial skills are nothing to scoff at, even if his arms are pretty weary at the moment.]

Right, so no cheap shots, and down for ten or until you give up, hm? You're on!

[He takes up a stance on the mats, balanced and practically bouncing on the balls of his feet. Even if he can't control the flow of his qi or use any of his cultivation in this fight, he knows the foundations well enough to feel confident.]

[billowing]

[ Lan Wangji also gets into a stance to fight him, and as soon as he sees that Wei Ying is in position, he starts to circle him, find a vantage point.

And then he runs over to tackle him, try to get underneath of him to topple him down.

Wei Ying is wriggly, but Lan Wangji is strong, and quick, and has a high pain tolerance... ]

[sadflutenoises]

[He'd hoped that Lan Wangji would be the first to make a move, and he's not disappointed. They'd been circling each other for a bit, and Wei Wuxian found himself eager to study the other's footwork. When Lan Zhan rushes him, he's- well, he's faster than Wei Wuxian had anticipated, for all that weight-training.

There's not enough time to dodge completely, but at least he can control how he falls, throwing his weight around so he ends up on top. His arms feel pretty weak, so he's not sure he can subdue Lan Wangji's hands, but it doesn't stop him from trying, struggling for a hand-hold so he can gain the advantage.]

You're... ngh- faster than I thought.

[He's grinning as he says it, still clearly having fun.]

[billowing]

[ Lan Wangji lets himself get pinned by Wei Ying only so that he can get his legs around Wei Ying's waist and try to use his superior weight to topple him over from the middle, not to mention that he'd just demonstrated that he's stronger in the leg than Wei Ying in both squats and deadlifts.

Clearly, using his leg strength will also come in handy, not to mention using how tired Wei Ying must be from leg day and handstands day. ]

You are not as fast as I thought.

[ Boom, roasted. ]

[sadflutenoises]

[Wei Wuxian knows better than to meet strength for strength; it's easier to divert a river's flow than stop it up completely, after all. He doesn't waste anything trying to push back against Lan Zhan's legs, instead rolling with the force of them to disentangle himself and regain some distance between them.]

Aw, you had such high opinions of me? I never would have thought.

[He's on his feet in a bare moment, graciously waiting for his opponent to rise as well. His robes are a lot messier for the scuffle, hanging open enough to see the thin rise and fall of his chest.]

[billowing]

[ He won't let himself get distracted by this, and continues the roll, though he doesn't stand up and instead, arcs his feet to hook around Wei Ying's, so that he can topple him over once more. It's a good thing they're on a soft gym mat, which is a lot more forgiving than the ground.

The goal is never to hurt Wei Ying. ]

[sadflutenoises]

[Hadn't Lan Wangji been the one to say no dirty tactics? He wants to say as much, but he doesn't land as well as he'd hoped, and it knocks some of the air from his lungs as he hits the mat.]

Augh, you're so-

[It's hard to get the upper hand on the floor, especially when he knows Lan Wangji is the physically stronger one of the two. He aims a kick for Lan Zhan's solar plexis, or at least square in the chest, hoping to stun more than injure.]

Just try that again, I dare you!

[billowing]

[ It gets him straight in the chest and knocks a little wind out of him, but he wraps an arm around Wei Ying's leg and tries to twist it with him while he rolls again.

All of these moves are in the playbook, at least for Gusu Lan. No eye-poking, no hair pulling.

And, even if he could, no spiritual energy. ]

I would not repeat a move you have already seen.

[sadflutenoises]

[The kick is satisfying for the whole half-second of impact before he's pulled into Lan Wangji's roll, foot twisting along with the rest of him. The last thing he wants is to get stuck in a hold, and with his foot already caught, he's halfway there.

He tries to swing his weight into the motion of it. It's a high hold, to have his foot like that, but if he can settle his weight on Lan Wangji's chest, he's might still be able to pin him instead.]

Right. Oof- hate to be- predictable.

[billowing]

[ Wei Ying is sitting on his chest and it's a good thing he can't see Lan Wangji's face, because he turns a shade of red that he is absolutely blaming on the exertion of this activity.

He hooks an arm around Wei Ying's waist, and attempts to shove him off sideways, his urge to win overriding his inane urge to lose on purpose. ]

[sadflutenoises]

Augh, just stay down already!

[It'd been a risk, if Lan Zhan would try to keep grabbing onto his leg, use it to try to twist him into another hold, or focus on trying to get Wei Wuxian off of him before the count can begin.

Lan Zhan's arms and upper body are no small obstacle, and even if he tries to plant himself, to squeeze his thighs together, press his knees in on either side of Lan Zhan's torso, it's just not enough, and he can feel himself shifting, headed to the floor once more.

This time, at least, Lan Zhan is the one leaving an opening, small as it might be. He latches on to arm around his waist, rolling back, even as he hits the mat, attempting to twist it and lead Lan Zhan face-first toward the floor.]

[billowing]

[ Wei Ying's thighs are dangerous, as they wrap around his waist as they squeeze. Which is why it works when Wei Ying shoves him onto the mat, because he's distracted. Very distracted.

His face is on the floor, but he kicks back, trying to buck Wei Ying off of himself without twisting his arm even further.

The thing about Wei Ying is that he may not be the strongest, but he thinks quickly, and he's scrappy. It's something Lan Wangji admires about him. ]

[sadflutenoises]

[He's quick to press the advantage, holding tightly to Lan Wangji's arm as he pulls it back, leaning his weight toward Lan Zhan's back so he keep him facedown in the makeshift hold. Lan Zhan might try to shake him loose, and for the rest of the fight, perhaps, he'd rolled with those, rather than go strength for strength, but now he holds on for all he's worth. If he can keep Lan Zhan down just long enough to count to ten!]

One.... Two...

[billowing]

[ It seems that bucking him off isn't working.

He doesn't let Wei Ying get to three before he rolls over just to get off the floor, lying on top of Wei Ying, both of them facing the ceiling.

He'd gladly pin Wei Ying like this too, but he did say no underhanded tactics, so he merely uses this as an excuse to wrest his arm free. ]

[sadflutenoises]

[Wei Wuxian makes a surprised squawk as Lan Wangji rolls, switching their positions briefly before yanking his arm free. In arm strength, it's no contest, so Wei Wuxian is left grasping air, and fumbles to get up.]

Sure you don't wanna give up?

[He's quick to go on the offensive this time, launching himself toward Lan Zhan's middle in an attempt to drive him back to the ground.]

[billowing]

[ Lan Wangji can see him barreling forward, and dodges with just a second left, waiting for Wei Ying to pass where he once was and then using that momentum to elbow him in the back, to push him down towards the ground again. ]

Never.

[sadflutenoises]

[When Lan Zhan manages to dodge, he's expecting a fall, ready to roll back to his feet, but instead an elbow catches his back, making him stumble, and he lands on his side, hard, breath coming heavier now. It's getting harder each time to push himself back up, but he does it, taking on a cautious stance.]

Fine, I'll just- [A breath.] See your surrender... looking up at me from the floor.

[billowing]

[ Wei Ying gets back up, because of course he does, and Lan Wangji immediately looks for a weakness. He's already hard of breath, which is a good sign for him, tireless as he is. He has his hands up defensively, as he rounds Wei Ying, expecting them both to be part of this dance around each other waiting for the other to strike.

Once he gets close enough, he does, reaching for Wei Ying's arm to trip him up. ]

[sadflutenoises]

[Fatigue is the worst, because even if he can see the attack coming, his body just doesn't want to respond in time to do anything about it. When Lan Zhan reaches for his arm, he tries to tuck it in and spin away, but it's not quite enough, and not only does Lan Zhan have his arm, he manages to make him stumble.

He can feel himself heading for the mat once again, and tries for all he's worth to drag Lan Zhan down with him.]