all at once the winter's here —

[happyheartsstaff]

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

© tessisamess

Comments

[lucklessgege]

He feels slightly embarrassed by what he just watched but also hopeful. He looks up at Hua Cheng and smiles, "I hope so, San Lang. I would like to be able to stay together for as long as you want us to."

Because if anything he figures Hua Cheng will grow bored of him eventually. He doesn't have a lot to offer the man and his home is not nearly as exciting as the one he has in Ghost City.

[crimson_rain]

"Gege, I belong to you in body and soul." He said calmly, in absolute and the truth. "If it's your wish, I will stay with you forever."

The fire is comfortable as they huddle close, while the warm glowing light of the fire glow. He pulls a blanket to cover around his shoulder to make him comfortable.

"Gege, there's a lot of books. Shall I read a book to you? I'll pick." He smiles again, he'll pick a story or a poem that is most pleasing to him. He wants to spend time with him. There's plenty of time to whisk him away to his own room of paradise manor or sleep on the bed in his temple, he doesn't care where he ends up tonight.

[lucklessgege]

He smiles and settles onto one of the couches with the blanket around his shoulders. He would gladly listen to Hua Cheng read to him. He enjoys hearing the man's voice.

"If you would like. I'm curious what the stories of this place might be like."

[crimson_rain]

"En." He looks up and reads the titles on the spine of the books, that seem to comes from other worlds. How does this place does that? Many caught his eye. He remembers he doesn't have his powers anymore, so he silently gets up and picks a few books and goes to sit back down next to him.

"I have a poetry book. Would you like me to recite a few to you?"

[lucklessgege]

"I would like that." He smiles as he shifts slightly so that he can watch him as he reads, still being relaxed against the couch. He places the blanket over both of their laps.

[crimson_rain]

He sat next to him, laid the book on his lap, flips opens and reads a few pages, and reads out a few. One caught his eye. "How about this one? The title is, Unending Love..." He reads the poem slowly.

I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times…
In life after life, in age after age, forever.
My spellbound heart has made and remade the necklace of songs,
That you take as a gift, wear round your neck in your many forms,
In life after life, in age after age, forever... … … .

He reads out the rest of poem and when he finished, he turns to look at him. "What do you think gege?"

[lucklessgege]

"Ah..it's a very pretty poem. The writer was clearly very much in love with someone. I hope they ended up together happily."

Xie Lian tries not to think too hard about the poem that Hua Cheng selected. After seeing what he did in the fire and now the poem, Xie Lian is feeling a little uncomfortable with some overwhelming feelings.

[crimson_rain]

"It is. I like it very much." He can see his discomfort, and that will not do for him, so he sets the book aside and read no more. "All right, I think that's enough."

Kindly, he wants him to relax and feel at ease. "What does gege like to do? Shall I order food and tea for you?"

[lucklessgege]

"Ahh no no..It's okay San Lang. I enjoyed listening to you read, you don't have to stop." He feels bad that he made the other stop and he doesn't want him to go to so much trouble as to order food.

He realizes this is question he should have asked much sooner... "What was the last thing that happened before you came here, San Lang?"

[crimson_rain]

At that, at his answer, he cupped his face for a good long time, his thumb rubbed against his cheek. Through his touch, he gazes at him with affectionate longing.

In a tone soft, sweet, and sad. "I'm scattered with the wind gege. And I'm sorry."

[lucklessgege]

Xie Lian feels his heart sink as he realizes that the moment they got separated was the last thing that Hua Cheng experienced. He had been treading so carefully because he wasn't sure what the man remembered and he didn't want to get his hopes up that perhaps he wouldn't have had to experience that. Or that perhaps he had and their memories would match up. Now that he has seen the future in the fire it makes him realize he really did see them getting reunited.

"San Lang..You don't have to apologize.." He feels tears sting the corners of his eyes.

[crimson_rain]

"You gave me everything you have, your spirit energy to save me. You tried." With his thumb, he wipes the tears at the corner of his eyes. If the vision in the fire is true, he completely believes in it without question or doubt.

He continues to hold his face, comforting him. "You're the only love in my life dianxia."

[lucklessgege]

He hesitates because that statement is so lovely and heavy at the same time. Hua Cheng has loved him for so long and he was so blind to it all. "I love you too, San Lang." And he knows that he does. Even if he doesn't know when it happened.

[crimson_rain]

"Dianxia." He smiles sweetly at him and gives him a kiss on the lips, light, slow, and lingering. He holds his hands, do they often tremble? To kiss him again.

The food and drinks arrived upon delivery, and he breaks away. "Let's try to eat gege." He doesn't need to eat, but if gege finds any peace in eating with him, he can feed on that.

[lucklessgege]

He practically melts from that kiss, almost upset when the food comes to interrupt them.

"A-ah..yes. Let's enjoy the meal." He tries not to appear too distracted as he settles by the food, picking up his chopsticks to start to eat. He finds he isn't feeling particularly hungry but Hua Cheng went to so much effort...

[crimson_rain]

He lifts up the silver lid to reveal a grand full-course meal, suitable and fit for a prince and a king.

"It looks delicious, gege. Let's eat." If anything, he'll eat and dine with him to keep up appearances, appearing to be hungry, when he's more hungry to see the prince to eat and enjoy himself.

He has every plan to continue where they left off after they have a quiet mealtime eating together.

[lucklessgege]

He smiles and starts to eat, "Thank you for getting this for us San Lang. We would eat our fill." Even if the ghost doesn't need to eat, it's lonely to just eat alone. And he knows that he can eat since he has stomached Xie Lian's cooking so many times.

So it makes him happy to be able to share each meal time with him, grateful to have him back in his life.

[crimson_rain]

Good thing Hua Cheng doesn't need food to survive anymore, he just wants his smiles and his happiness, learning to be devoted to him with his entire being, so he will stay with him and appears to enjoy the meal. Every meals he cooks, he eats only to make him happy.

He smiles, sharing this meal with him, and even help himself to a glass of wine to go with it. It's a quiet time to spend together, so his gege doesn't feel lonely.

Once the dinner is eaten and over, plates and dishes taken away. "Shall I read more poems for you?"

[lucklessgege]

"I would like that very much, Hua Cheng." He smiles as he shifts back onto the couch to get comfortable again. It takes on a little more meaning now that he knows how the other man feels and what he remembers. He really does want to cherish every moment he has with him now.

[crimson_rain]

"Okay, I'll read more poems for you." He got up from his chair, and browse through the books. He picks one, then a few more, and then sat next to him to read more romantic poems from the pages as he cuddles up and snuggles with him under the blanket to keep him warm.

[lucklessgege]

He closes his eyes and relaxes against Hua Cheng as he listens to him read, resting his head on the man's shoulder. There is something rather pleasant about listening to his voice as he reads the sweet poems.

[crimson_rain]

He reads out the poems, picking the ones he thinks is pleasant and pleasing for him to hear. He reads slowly, with ease, keeping his voice soothing, but he'll stop every now and then to check if his dianxia is sleepy.

He looks at him when he closes his eyes, using his shoulder as a pillow. "Gege you sleepy?"

[lucklessgege]

"I'm okay, San Lang. It's just very relaxing and comfortable like this." He doesn't feel that sleepy and he doesn't want to make the man stop reading if he doesn't want to. He simply wants to enjoy this nice and comfortable moment.

[crimson_rain]

It gives him most pleasure as long Xie Lian is comfortable leaning on his shoulder, all relaxed and happy. He continues reading the poems and even selected fairy tales of prince and princess of faraway lands living in castles, of enchanted lands, faeries and witches, until night falls.

"Your highness, I can read stories to you all night until you retire. Shall we go to your room or mine?"

[lucklessgege]

Xie Lian sits up, having dozed lightly as Hua Cheng read. He didn't realize it had gotten this late until the man suggests going to their rooms. He feels oddly embarrassed by the question and smiles softly.

"Ah..either room is fine. Wherever you are comfortable." He can sleep anywhere.