angryhearts | all at once the winter's here

all at once the winter's here —

all the lochs are frozen over

SNOW FUN
11/11 - 11/15

By the middle of the second week of November, the winter snow has spread out from the Pool of Tears and into the rest of the hotel. It falls gracefully in the hallways, the bar, the restaurants, even the nightclub and the gym. There's a gentle chill in the air, though there never seems to be more than a faint dusting of snow on the floor and it doesn't gather on the furniture.

The lobby quickly becomes a different story. Here, the snow begins to stick, and hotel staff can be seen piling it up in some kind of structures.

"Snow forts!" they will exclaim excitedly, and do their best to get any curious Oysters to help or make their own.

Shoes and foot coverings are still not available other than the ice skates in the pool area, but any Oysters who participate will find that the snow feels soft and fluffy beneath their bare feet, not cold at all.

Before long, multiple snow forts have been built in the lobby. It is then that hotel staff will start a game of capture the flag. Oysters will be encouraged to join one of the two teams and either try to sneak into the opposing side's heavily guarded forts to steal their flag, or guard the forts of their own team.

The game will span multiple days, and all Oysyers who join in the fun for any of it will receive a special reward!

HOW ABOUT A CUP OF TEA
11/12 - 11/23

If you can avoid all the commotion in the lobby to get to them, there are a few cozy spots tucked away that certainly weren't there before. Fire places have sprouted up in these, and though no one ever seems to tend to them, there's always a fire crackling merrily away. The fires seem to change colors, and will never be the same color twice.

"Of course it changes colors," hotel staff will scoff if asked. "Next you'll ask how it knows what it knows."

If pressed further, the staff member will share a Wonderland legend about the fire. Anyone who burns something in it and asks it a question will get an answer in the form of a glimpse of the future or a truth of the past.

Sofas, arm chairs, and bean bags are scattered around the fire places, with small tables covered with snacks and hot teas between them. Bookcases have also sprung up here, filled with fiction stories from all different worlds. Except, of course, for anything related to Alice in Wonderland.

BABY IT'S COLD IN HERE
11/24 - 11/ 30

In the final days of November, the novelty of the snow seems to wear thin. The uniforms of the hotel staff change, all of them now wearing coats, hats, and gloves even on duty. Whatever it was that kept Oysters' feet from freezing in the snow begins to fade. The air shifts from crisp and clean to cold and sterile, sinking deep into the bones of anyone who stays out in it too long.

Oysters will find some relief in their rooms, as the snow still doesn’t fall there, and the chill in the air is more bearable. It will drop lower at "night," and Oysters will find it harder to ward off the cold. Unless, of course, they happen to be one of those lucky enough to have someone to keep them warm at night.

Hotel staff won't admit to seeing a problem with this, when asked. Surely this is the perfect time to find that special someone, or discover the benefits of platonic cuddling! Why not try it in front of the fire, first, it does wonders to combat the cold in the hotel lobby!

Of course, their first recommendation is always going to be to enjoy a lovely cup of tea.

If you have any questions, please leave them over here! All characters who participate in the game of capture the flag will receive an item from home (which must follow the same rules as the AC reward) and a superpower tea of the player's choosing. This can be one of the character's own abilities, but it will not be permanent. Any character who chooses to burn something in the fire will be able to see a scene from their future or past. The future scene could be one from further in their canon, or could be a potential future either in canon or at the hotel (feel free to make this up!). The scene from their past can be any scene from their past. Anyone in the vicinity of the fire will be able to see either of these.

PREMISE RULES FAQ TAKEN RESERVES APPLICATION MOD CONTACT HIATUS & DROPS WORLD INFO NPCS CALENDAR AC REWARDS PLAYER CONTACT

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

In one of the forts, he guards the fort while his team of wonderlanders are making snowballs for ammo. Fort easily made, though he has to build one using his own effort, which makes it a more interesting challenge.

He raised the flag in plain sight. He doesn't make it easy for the enemy staff or oysters to capture the flag, but for dianxia...

Calling him over using the empathy device, "Dianxia, the flag is right here if you want it. Unless do you want it to not make it easier for you? I can tell my team to attack you on the offense with snowballs."

"Ah..San Lang you shouldn't sabotage your own team! You need to play fairly."

Not that he really wants to get assaulted by snowballs but he knows that is part of the game and he has to do his best to avoid or power through them.

He can feel that little silk bandage around his arm practically vibrating with anger over hearing about being attacked. It is still an unfair advantage but he won't be able to stop him if Ruoye decides to act on its own.

Hua Cheng is relaxed and laid back in his own fort, letting the humans have their fun and the play they deserved, and let them fight out their own battles in their respect forts. Meanwhile he lazily ducks an aimless snowball being thrown at him and the snowball becomes a powdery slush upon impact.

"I never cheat. I only win because I'm happen to be lucky. I just think they wanted an interesting challenge. It wouldn't be an interesting game or victory if they don't fight to earn it."

And Xie Lian is definitely not lucky. And in that way he is having a difficult time with this game. Every time he gets close, he loses his balance and by the time he can right himself, someone has moved the flag further away. He really doesn't want to use Ruoye in a way that is unfair to those playing honestly.

Even if he were to get the flag, there is no guarantee he would ever make it back to his own fort with it.

He is just about to respond to Hua Cheng when he suddenly gets assaulted by snowballs coming from all directions and he goes falling backwards into the snow. Apparently he got too close and became everyone's target.

Hua Cheng frowns. Even if this is a game, this brought bad memories, and he never likes to see Xie Lian being a target even if the game is for fun and it's only snowballs.

"Gege." He steps in, to stand on his side. He opens up red the umbrella to cover over him and uses it to protect him against the flying snowballs heading straight toward him as the target. The snowballs dusted on the umbrella upon impact.

Reaching for his hand to pull him up on his feet. "Gege, are you all right?"

He laughs as he takes Hua Cheng's hand and gets to his feet. "I'm fine. It's just snow. It doesn't hurt." Very few things do hurt him but still, it is all a part of the game.

"You don't have to worry about me. They are simply defending their flag which is their right to do so." During which time, the little silk bandage has sneaked out to circle the end of the glad and quickly retracts back to Xie Lian's sleeve with it in tow.

Xie Lian grabs the flag as it gets close and holds it up victoriously. "I got what I came for anyway."

He hovers the umbrella over their head, just to be sure, and he pulls him back on his feet. He knows Xie Lian isn't fragile and he's a lot stronger than he appears to be, but he won't abide the idea that he's being a target by anyone. No more snowballs followed after that as the staffers seeks a new target once Xie Lan captured the flag.

With a soft smile, "That's good. Your highness has won and captured the flag." He wants that more than anything for him, for highness to win at everything and be proud of it.

"I'm not quite done yet. I believe I need to place it on the other side in my own fort before it is completely a victory. Would you like to walk me back?"

Might as well have his own personal guard from the snowballs so that he can get the flag to the goal safely. He may not completely understand the rules of the game but he will do as he is told. And the captain of the team told him to return with it.

"For you, I will." He walks on his side on the path to return the flag back to its rightful place at his highness's fort.

He holds the red umbrella over his head as a shield against the snowballs, but any snowballs coming to him and himself he can easily smack away with the palm of his hand.

"Does your highness find this game fun?"

"It's different from what we are used to and it's nice to relax for awhile. So I suppose in that way it is fun."

He hands the glad over to one of his teammates who celebrates they victory as Xie Lian then heads out of the playing area to give way to those that are still engaged with the game.

Holding the umbrella over his head, walking by his side mindfully. "Different is good. I'm glad your highness is having fun and is relaxed too. The humans aren't too bad."

He continues to walk as he lets Xie Lan heads out to the play area, but eventually he set his umbrella aside to participate in the game also, making snowballs to throw randomly at or make snowmen. He always admire him helping out the humans and it's an activity he encourages.

"You always work hard to help them." He said with admiration.

He kneels down and starts to roll the snow into large balls, "I have been human for over 800 years..way more years then I was a god. So of course I want to help them. I've lived with them and they still deserve protection."

That is all Xie Lian wants. To be able to protect everyone..or at least as many people as he can. He knows that he doesn't have hte luck or fortune on his side to be able to help everyone but he hopes that he can at least make things not as unpleasant somehow.

He too kneels down and rolls the snow into balls using his hands. It felt cold, which is a strange sensation to him.

"Even if they turned their backs on you and forgotten you? Dianxia..." He made a pile to add to his accumulation of snowballs. "You deserved to be remembered like you once were." He said quietly.

Even if he doesn't feel like he has a lot of luck, he wants to give every bit of his luck to him. "I will help you to help them. Would you like that...? My help?"

"Of course. I'll always be happy to have your help San Lang." He finishes with a very large snowball. Or at least it is several sizes larger then any of the others and he leaves it in its spot while he starts to work on another one.

"I don't need to be remembered as the crown prince or as the god they knew. So much has changed since that time. I'm content with the little shrine that I have."

He doesn't need thousands of worshipers to be happy.

He knew he has been here for quite some time. Though it worries him if they ever go home, he'll be alone again, though he is never alone. He is quiet for a few moments, just helping him forming snow balls and made a very large one. He then realized, it could be a snowman, so he helps him built one.

Hua Cheng wishes him to have worshippers, as many worshippers a god should have, but for now, he will always one, himself, and he worships him and reveres him devotedly forever. "I remember you as you are. And your shrine is fine. It could be better. I can fix it for you if you want and if you let me."

He brought a big snowball to put on top of the other one, so it becomes a head.

He starts to look around for something to put on the snowman. He seems so lonely without a face or any sort of limbs. Unfortunately the only things around seem to be more snow..

He reaches into his robes and pulls out a little group of grapes that he had been holding onto since he didn't want them to go to waist. It's sad that they will end up not being eaten but at least they will help the snowman. He starts to use them as the eyes and mouth.

"The shrine does need a lot of work. I will appreciate all the help."

"Gege." Hua Cheng smiles as he finds his snowman cute and charming in his own way. It doesn't have to be perfect, even if he's the more skilled sculptor, but to him it was gege who built it. The snowman won't last forever, but it's cute.

Thoughtfully "How about we do that?" He suggests. "Built your shrine here. We could do that. It won't be perfect, but it will make you more comfortable." Anything that will put him at ease and feel a little bit like home in the meanwhile they're prisoners here.

"It won't be a big following. But I am your most devoted follower. Just ask me to fix it and I will."

"My room already looks like the inside of the shrine. I don't know that the hotel will really let you do much to it." The little snowman doesn't have much but at last he has a smile. He stands up and dusts the snow from his hands.

"I appreciate your desire to do so, San Lang. But we shouldn't do anything that might upset the staff here." And he doesn't know if they would take kindly to them remodeling his room.

With a nod of acknowledgment, he is always touched by his humility and his concern for humans. But he felt the room can be remodeled as he discovered he moves his bed and furniture to experiment.

"The shrine should be dedicated to you. It could be better. Does anyone brings you flowers and incense?"

"In this place? Of course not. I am not a god to be worshiped here." And hardly one back home. He certainly wouldn't expect anyone to pay tribute to him. It might make things awkward since he can't really fulfill any wishes or anything.

"In this place? Of course not." He echoes after him. "But I worship you because to me, you are god. My only god."

He reaches for his hands, holding them, to try to warm him up. "Gege, is your hands cold?" The scent of crisp snow is on him. "If you have enough of playing in the snow, I can figure out a way to make your temple warmer. But there is also a fireplace in my room at Paradise Manor."

He is always surprised whenever Hua Cheng tells that to him. He often forgets that the man has been his most devoted of followers for quite awhile. Since he only just learned about everything before coming to this place it almost feels like a dream.

He feels his ears heat up when the man takes his hands and he smiles awkwardly, "You have a fireplace, San Lang? How lucky. I don't think we'd have much luck building one in the temple."

Luckily the rooms appear to be heated for now so its not like the real temple where they will have to use the stove for heat when the time comes.

800 years is a very long time. Many centuries more if he wills it. Centuries spent in loneliness, in solitude, meditation, cultivating his love and devotion for all of this time until he becomes strong enough to protect him.

If this place is like a dream, then he hopes he shares this dream with him. Maybe not forever, but he'll be in his dream so he isn't alone. Gently, one day at a time.

"I have a fireplace, just like the fireplace that is all over the hotel. Your hands and feet, they're becoming cold from all the snow. If your temple doesn't have one, I will build one if you wish." He smiles, always a dreamer. "But my manor will suit you and you're welcome to it."

Holding his hands, he gently pulls him toward his body, a warm body, the scent on his robes, as he wraps an arm around his waist.

"You need fire to keep you warm. Would you come to my place, gege?"

Hua Cheng has always been a charmer..a flirt that Xie Lian has often cast off as just being a part of his personality and not something meant exclusively for him. But a part of him hopes that it is as an arm encircles him, drawing him close.

He feels his heart pound a little harder in his chest as he turns his face to look up at the other man's face.

"A-ah..alright, San Lang. We probably should take a few moments to get warm after being out in this snow barefoot."

Xie Lian tries to laugh it off as an obvious need to do so instead of being drawn into the romantic tone of the way it was asked of him.

Hua Cheng is a flirt, but he never does so with anybody else. He has been devoted to him that lasts for centuries. He finds him warm, and not hug quite enough.

He hugs him briefly, to coax him to change course from the game. His gaze is unwavering.

He can sense it's an obvious need, so he smiles. "Yes, let's take a few moments to get warm." He'll take his hand to lead to one of the fireplaces and there are sofas and soft bean chairs scattered.

"Look gege, the fire changes colors." He pulls up a chair to make sure he's comfortable.

all the lochs are frozen over

SNOW FUN 11/11 - 11/15

HOW ABOUT A CUP OF TEA 11/12 - 11/23

BABY IT'S COLD IN HERE 11/24 - 11/ 30

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SNOW FUN
11/11 - 11/15

HOW ABOUT A CUP OF TEA
11/12 - 11/23

BABY IT'S COLD IN HERE
11/24 - 11/ 30