𝐻𝒜𝒫𝒫𝒴 𝐻𝐸𝒜𝑅𝒯𝒮 𝒮𝒯𝒜𝐹𝐹 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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angryhearts2020-10-12 12:31 am
happyheartsstaff) wrote in angryhearts2020-10-12 12:31 am
NOW DON'T CLOSE YOUR EYES —
HARVEST FESTIVAL
10/01 - 10/23
The sun rises early in the garden, the air cool and crisp. Gentle breezes occasionally stir up fallen leaves of orange and red. The sun never heats the day enough for it to become warm despite shining until late in the afternoon, creating perfect sweater weather. Hotel staff are stationed out in the garden to provide ladders and baskets for apple picking, instructions on how to operate the hand cranked presses for cider, ingredients and recipes for cobbler and tarts cooked over the fire. Long tables are set up by the pumpkin patch in between the festive scarecrows, lined with paints and carving tools.
As the sun sets, more bonfires are lit while small, twinkling lights appear in the trees. Cider made during the day is heated over the fire, along with hot chocolate, hot dogs and marshmallows for s'mores. Blankets appear folded neatly in baskets by the fires, and there always seems to be a storyteller near by willing to spin tales of ghosts and goblins.
The longer Oysters spend in the garden, the more hints they may pick up that all is not as idyllic as it seems. The scarecrows seem to grow more numerous every day, spreading from the pumpkin patch to the rest of the garden. Asute Oysters may notice that some of the scarecrows seem somehow familiar. Is that one wearing the same clothes as a family member? Does another have the eyes of a former lover, the facial features of a long dead enemy? None will be exact replicas, they are after all only made of straw, but the resemblance will be undeniable. Now that it has been noticed, Oysters will begin to see the scarecrow all over the garden, and will hear indecipherable whispers that are also all too familiar.
The scarecrows can be demolished, should any Oysters have a particular tendency towards violence. Their faces will twist into expressions of horror at any scarecrow destruction, mouths open in silent screams. They will be back in the garden the next day as though nothing happened. Those Oysters who choose fire as their method of destruction will find a much different reaction — these scarecrows will scream in the voice of the person they bear resemblance to until they are reduced to ash. They will not return the next day.
Determined Oysters who tire of the garden, or who maybe wish to test their luck at escaping, can find the entrance to the hedge maze that borders the entire garden. Hotel staff will warn against it, of course, but it can still be entered. No matter what time of day it is in the garden, it will be night in the hedge maze, with no lanterns to guide the way. The entrance back to the garden will glow warm and bright for only a few moments after stepping inside, and will then disappear entirely.
It seems there is no way to go but forward.
The deeper into the maze, the darker it gets, as though even the moon and stars are growing dim. Oysters may catch sounds of soft breathing in the night, and may even observe that the hedge wall itself seems to sway as though something just beyond it — or in it — is moving. Those who enter the maze will find themselves wandering for what feels like hours, days. Does that turn look familiar? Have you been down this way before? Who can tell, when nothing about the maze ever seems to change.
Eventually, Oysters will find that they have been lead back to the garden, exhausted and hungry, though no time at all has passed for everyone else.
As the sun sets, more bonfires are lit while small, twinkling lights appear in the trees. Cider made during the day is heated over the fire, along with hot chocolate, hot dogs and marshmallows for s'mores. Blankets appear folded neatly in baskets by the fires, and there always seems to be a storyteller near by willing to spin tales of ghosts and goblins.
The longer Oysters spend in the garden, the more hints they may pick up that all is not as idyllic as it seems. The scarecrows seem to grow more numerous every day, spreading from the pumpkin patch to the rest of the garden. Asute Oysters may notice that some of the scarecrows seem somehow familiar. Is that one wearing the same clothes as a family member? Does another have the eyes of a former lover, the facial features of a long dead enemy? None will be exact replicas, they are after all only made of straw, but the resemblance will be undeniable. Now that it has been noticed, Oysters will begin to see the scarecrow all over the garden, and will hear indecipherable whispers that are also all too familiar.
The scarecrows can be demolished, should any Oysters have a particular tendency towards violence. Their faces will twist into expressions of horror at any scarecrow destruction, mouths open in silent screams. They will be back in the garden the next day as though nothing happened. Those Oysters who choose fire as their method of destruction will find a much different reaction — these scarecrows will scream in the voice of the person they bear resemblance to until they are reduced to ash. They will not return the next day.
Determined Oysters who tire of the garden, or who maybe wish to test their luck at escaping, can find the entrance to the hedge maze that borders the entire garden. Hotel staff will warn against it, of course, but it can still be entered. No matter what time of day it is in the garden, it will be night in the hedge maze, with no lanterns to guide the way. The entrance back to the garden will glow warm and bright for only a few moments after stepping inside, and will then disappear entirely.
It seems there is no way to go but forward.
The deeper into the maze, the darker it gets, as though even the moon and stars are growing dim. Oysters may catch sounds of soft breathing in the night, and may even observe that the hedge wall itself seems to sway as though something just beyond it — or in it — is moving. Those who enter the maze will find themselves wandering for what feels like hours, days. Does that turn look familiar? Have you been down this way before? Who can tell, when nothing about the maze ever seems to change.
Eventually, Oysters will find that they have been lead back to the garden, exhausted and hungry, though no time at all has passed for everyone else.
THEY FOLLOW
10/23 - 10/30
At the end of the third week of October, the garden will no longer be accessible. The entrance to where it once was will simply be gone.
"Why would it be there?" hotel staff will ask if questioned about it. "The festival is over."
But it seems not everything in the garden wanted to stay there.
The scarecrows will begin to appear inside the hotel itself. At first it is in public areas, always just out of reach, voices faint and distant. They being to grow closer as the month winds down, voices growing louder, until eventually Oysters may find them in their bedrooms, hiding in their closets or showers. Their voices are curses now, death threats and words of warning filling the air despite that their lips never move.
It becomes apparent that there is something moving outside the hotel windows, where before there had only been twilight looming over the lake and forest, and the skyscrapers in the distance. Whatever it is that lurks outside is too quick to be seen out of anything but the corner of one's eye, a creature made of shadows. Before long, it will no longer be movement outside that may catch Oysters' eyes, but something in the corners of their room. The breathing heard once in the hedge maze will now follow Oysters, sometimes right behind them, sometimes just out of arms' reach. Always, there is the ever present looming feeling of eyes staring at you from behind.
Oysters may notice that they don't seem to be the only ones effected. Hotel staff are more tense than ever, paranoid and afraid, constantly looking over their shoulder.
"You let it out!" a hotel staff may shout, unprompted.
None will answer questions if pressed further.
"Why should we? We told you not to. You never listen to us."
"Why would it be there?" hotel staff will ask if questioned about it. "The festival is over."
But it seems not everything in the garden wanted to stay there.
The scarecrows will begin to appear inside the hotel itself. At first it is in public areas, always just out of reach, voices faint and distant. They being to grow closer as the month winds down, voices growing louder, until eventually Oysters may find them in their bedrooms, hiding in their closets or showers. Their voices are curses now, death threats and words of warning filling the air despite that their lips never move.
It becomes apparent that there is something moving outside the hotel windows, where before there had only been twilight looming over the lake and forest, and the skyscrapers in the distance. Whatever it is that lurks outside is too quick to be seen out of anything but the corner of one's eye, a creature made of shadows. Before long, it will no longer be movement outside that may catch Oysters' eyes, but something in the corners of their room. The breathing heard once in the hedge maze will now follow Oysters, sometimes right behind them, sometimes just out of arms' reach. Always, there is the ever present looming feeling of eyes staring at you from behind.
Oysters may notice that they don't seem to be the only ones effected. Hotel staff are more tense than ever, paranoid and afraid, constantly looking over their shoulder.
"You let it out!" a hotel staff may shout, unprompted.
None will answer questions if pressed further.
"Why should we? We told you not to. You never listen to us."
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
10/31
On the morning of Halloween, the movement of the shadows stops. The scarecrows are no where to be found, their disembodied voices silent. The oppressive feeling of surveillance seems to have lifted, and even the hotel staff seem to be in better moods.
A ballroom has opened up off of the hotel lobby, decorated for the Halloween party that is announced to be later that day. There are stations set up for karaoke, pumpkin carvings, bobbing for apples, piñatas, and a stage being laid for dancing and a costume contest at the end of the night.
Many of the hotel staff are already in costumes, and will encourage Oysters to select one from This Elegant Thimble for themselves.
The first part of the party goes off without a hitch, but as it gets later, the lights begin to flicker. Or maybe it's the shadows themselves that begin to shift and waver, coiling in on themselves and coming alive. Screams come from the hotel staff at the party before the shadows have finished solidifying, and they retreat to barricade themselves in a staff only area as some of the shadows break off to chase them.
The majority turn their focus on the Oysters. The shadows move as one at first but quickly begin to take on an individuality. All have wickedly curved claws and a mouth of sharp teeth, but their fighting styles slowly start to diversify as they take more solid form. Their features become more unique, and they develop voices — the same voices once connected with the scarecrows. Oysters will quickly find themselves facing off against shades of the people they know, and these shades are not afraid to play dirty and pretend to be the people they look like.
A ballroom has opened up off of the hotel lobby, decorated for the Halloween party that is announced to be later that day. There are stations set up for karaoke, pumpkin carvings, bobbing for apples, piñatas, and a stage being laid for dancing and a costume contest at the end of the night.
Many of the hotel staff are already in costumes, and will encourage Oysters to select one from This Elegant Thimble for themselves.
The first part of the party goes off without a hitch, but as it gets later, the lights begin to flicker. Or maybe it's the shadows themselves that begin to shift and waver, coiling in on themselves and coming alive. Screams come from the hotel staff at the party before the shadows have finished solidifying, and they retreat to barricade themselves in a staff only area as some of the shadows break off to chase them.
The majority turn their focus on the Oysters. The shadows move as one at first but quickly begin to take on an individuality. All have wickedly curved claws and a mouth of sharp teeth, but their fighting styles slowly start to diversify as they take more solid form. Their features become more unique, and they develop voices — the same voices once connected with the scarecrows. Oysters will quickly find themselves facing off against shades of the people they know, and these shades are not afraid to play dirty and pretend to be the people they look like.
If you have any questions, please leave them over here! Like the scarecrows, the shades can be destroyed with fire. The monster will retreat from the hotel back into the hedge maze once many of its shades have been destroyed.
© tessisamess
no subject
He'd spent most of his time admiring costumes and gossiping here and there until the moment the attack begins and then his stomach twists in fear. He's not good in these situations, that's not a bumbling fool deception. Luckily, he's near Xichen and he hears those words. He starts to go to Xichen but then he gets a surprise of his own.
It's not Jin Guangyao for him. It's Nie Mingjue with his head sewn back to his body and his eyes full of rage. And it freezes him even though he wanted to go to Xichen.
no subject
He doesn't have that problem when he sees Huaisang being approached by one of the shadow creatures. All thoughts of either of their states of undress had disappeared the moment the monsters had attacked, and now he is focused only on the safety of everyone here.
The talisman he'd been drawing in the air to deflect the creatures had flickered out mid-completion when he heard Jin Guangyao's voice, but now blue flares to life at his fingertips again as he starts forward.
The shade cuts him off.
"Oh, er-ge," Jin Guangyao sighs. "Again? He did not even have to say anything this time."
Lan Xichen refuses to look at him, looking for another route, and yet - yet he still cannot stop himself from talking back, no more than he could at the temple. "It is not manipulative to need help."
"Is it not? Isn't that what you have always needed, Zewu-jun, to help? To be needed? Do you think that I did not know that, that it did not make things so much easier?"
There - a second way, and Lan Xichen ducks past the shade, gritting his teeth. It's only keeping his eyes focused on Huaisang and the other shadow creature that keeps him from replying again, that gives him motivation to start running.
"Huaisang!" he calls. "Come here, I-"
He cuts off as he gets close enough to recognize the shape that this shade has chosen.
"A-Sang," he says quietly. "Get behind me, please."
no subject
"Da ge," his voice was tight and if he wasn't frozen he would have run to the shade even despite the anger that terrified him. But perhaps it was a form of self-preservation that he was frozen where he stood.
The only thing that seemed to break the spell was Xichen's voice calling to him. It snaps him back and he turns his head to see the other and he quickly moves to him, not arguing as he gets behind him, pressing close to his back and more or less hiding behind his form. He's too emotional too speak and has to resist the urge to bury his face into the other's back and clutch the other's robe in his fingers.
no subject
He will have to destroy the shade, he knows - there is a small, selfish part of him that wants to leave it, to go after one of the other shades and let someone else be the one who has to deal with this one - but he knows he will not. He cannot endanger others simply because his heart falters when faced with something that resembles his sworn brother. Besides - there is a vicious voice inside him that reminds him that he had been responsible for Mingjue's death before, should he not be the one to stamp out his shade?
More than that, if he leaves it for someone else he will be running the risk of having it go after Huaisang again. The creatures seem to be able to read them well enough to know what will faze them, and Lan Xichen doubts it will leave Huaisang alone.
"I cannot hold it forever, but I have enough time for you to get out of here."
Huaisang had watched his brother die once - he should not have to be here to see Lan Xichen destroy this mimicry of him.
no subject
He shakes his head and he continues to clutch the other's robes, keeping his eyes squeezed shut now. He didn't want to leave Xichen alone even if he was completely useless in this situation, maybe he's a liability if he stays.
"Won't leave you alone," he says just loud enough to be audible.
no subject
Lan Xichen forces his gaze away from Mingjue - from the thing that is not Mingjue - to look at Huaisang, to swallow around the surge of emotion he feels. He doesn't want to do this alone. If he must be the one to destroy the shade that pretends to be his sworn brother, if he has to carry out what he's seen so many times in his nightmares, even in his waking moments when he was at his lowest - he wants someone to be there to ground him after, to remind him that it was not real.
Someone he trusts.
"I do not want to be alone," he admits, very quietly, his heart lodged in his throat. It hurts him more to say outloud than it had to admit it to himself, to acknowledge the utter selfishness of even entertaining having Huaisang stay here with him for this, but -
They said they were in this together, no pretenses. He can acknowledge that much.
"But I do not want you to have to see this."
no subject
"I won't look," Huaisang says quietly, his face pressing into the other's back, eyes closed.
"But I won't leave you alone."
no subject
At the moment, though, he doesn't care if it falls open entirely, too busy with the warring fear and grief from knowing he's going to have to destroy the shade that resembles his sworn brother, and the fierce pride and affection at Huaisang's bravery and insistence that he won't leave him alone.
"Stay behind me," he says. "And cover your ears when I tell you, please."
He reaches behind him to grasp Huaisang's arm, carefully backing them both up to a nearby display of candles. Then he twists his hand to dissolve the barrier, picking up one candle in each hand as the Mingjue shade roars in anger and charges towards them.
no subject
"Alright," Huaisang agrees, although he doesn't find that he'll want to let go of the other's robe to do so but he will obey. He backs up, not so gracefully.
There's an ache in him when he hears that roar of anger and a sob catches in his throat, the urge to call out 'da ge' to hope that he calms as he often did before he could harm Huaisang but Huaisang had to remember that it isn't really his brother.
no subject
He should have sent him away, he should have insisted - Huaisang is not helpless, he is well aware, but neither of them make the most sound decisions when it comes to Mingjue.
But Huaisang wanted to stay, and Lan Xichen needs him, so he reminds himself again that this is not Mingue. This is a shadow monster, nothing more.
With Huaisang holding onto his robes behind him, he can't risk physically fighting the shade long enough to set it on fire. Instead he throws one of the candles at it as it gets closer - it hits its chest, melted wax splattering and igniting, though it doesn't burn much of the shade before it fizzles out.
His fingers draw the talisman for another barrier, activating it when the shade gets within arms reach and ignoring the way it shouts in even more anger. He unties the sash that holds his bathrobe together, using the candle to light both ends of it. The barrier drops, and he ties the sash around the shade's waist, angling himself as best as he can to protect Huaisang from its claws as it lashes out.
Then he kicks it back, drawing the barrier back up to seal it off again as the shade burns. As it screams, and rather than ask Huaisang to cover his ears - Lan Xichen turns around and does it for him, holding him close.
no subject
He's so lost in the ache that he doesn't notice the claws, he can't really think about much of anything but the sound of Mingjue, the sound that only gets worse. The scream that starts even as he's held close to Xichen who covers his ears.
It can't be blocked out completely and... somewhere he's realizing that if the other is covering his ears then Xichen's aren't covered. He reaches blindly to press his own hands over the other's ears and knowing how little it really does.