funnyhearts | TEST DRIVE MEME 002

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TEST DRIVE MEME 002

HAPPY HEARTS HOTEL

You wake up in a padded box. It rocks, gently, as though suspended in mid-air. You begin to stir, confusion or distress pushing you to try to sit up — and then the air begins to smell sweet, and you fall back asleep.

You wake up in a padded box. For a moment, you are beatifically calm. You don't know how you got here, or why, but that isn't really all that important. You don't need to know where you are. You're just... here. And here is a wonderful place to be.

But there is a niggling suspicion growing in the back of your mind. A suspicion that here is not somewhere you wanted to be. That it is not where you're supposed to be. You remember... chasing a white rabbit (or was it a person)? A mirror? Bright light, and green ivy crawling over your skin... Before you can worry too much, the box jolts, and then settles, and after a long moment the walls fall from around you to reveal —

A hotel lobby?

"Welcome to the Happy Hearts Hotel and Casino," says an attendant behind a desk. "We're so pleased you could join us. We have your room keys and Empathies here, please make an orderly line and we'll hand them out once we've confirmed identities. After that, feel free to explore the hotel! We highly recommend starting with the casino. Everyone's a winner here in Happy Hearts!"

Is this normal? It doesn't feel normal. And hey — you could swear you had shoes before!

I. THIS IS OUR GET ALONG SHIRT

You haven't been at the hotel long when you run into another Oyster. Hardly unusual for the hotel, after all. But there's something about this person, something that draws you in. Do you know them? Perhaps they're from your world, perhaps you've seen them around the hotel before, or perhaps you've never met at all?

No matter. Hopefully you enjoy this person's company, because suddenly you're unable to go more than a few feet away from each other. Maybe it's like a cord that snaps you both back together when you try, invisible but somehow there all the same. Maybe it's a feeling, a desire to stay together, a fear of being apart. Maybe it's physical pain when you're separated, and the sensation of comfort or pleasure when you're together. Maybe it's any combination of the above.

Whatever it is, looks like you'll be getting to know each other very well. The connection doesn't appear to be going away any time soon.

II. HONORARY STAFF FOR A DAY

It seems the hotel is a little short-handed at the moment. Why? Oh, no particular reason. These things happen to every establishment, of course. But since you're here, would you mind lending a hand? It's a two person job, and the staff member giving out assignments is just far too busy to help. Find a partner and report to your assigned area! They're preparing for something very exciting the Queen is putting on for guests. And of course, you'll be rewarded for your assistance.

There are a number of possible tasks that you could be assigned to.

Perhaps you'll be asked to assist with food preparation. You and your partner will be granted temporary access to the back area of the buffet to work with the kitchen staff — you can cook, can't you? Well. Perhaps you can put together some sandwiches. It will soon be clear that the food you're helping to prepare is all things that would be perfect for a picnic. Staff members will cheerfully inform anyone asking questions that the food is for the Queen's special surprise.

Or perhaps you'll be put to work sorting and cataloging a large inventory of items. Sleeping bags, tarps, pillows, toiletries, first aid kits, fire starting materials; all must be counted and sorted. A staff member will hand out a number of backpacks, and request that each be packed with one of every item. Not to worry about the size — each pack will have exactly enough room to store all the items.

Still others may be placed in a room lined with bookcases overflowing with books and loose leaf pamphlets. Examination of these will find that all are related to identifying native Wonderland plant life. Some are about edible plants, some discuss those that are medicinal, or poisonous, or likely to try to eat you should you get too close. Buried in all of that, you may even stumble across a particular poem. You will be given heavy card paper, pens and water colors, and tasked with condensing the information into portable, easy to read info packets.

At the end of the work shift, anyone who assists will have the expressed gratitude of the staff members they supported. They will also find an additional item from home, aside from what they were carrying with them, waiting for them in their room.

III. TIME TO UNWIND

What better way to unwind after a long day of work than with a massage? A staff member will hand you a token for the hotel spa. Yes, yes, all services are free, but this is an enhanced service. Premium massage oils, access to a relaxing tea, the devoted attention of the most skilled massage therapist, all for you.

When you arrive to take advantage of the offer, you'll find another Oyster waiting there as well. Did the staff member not mention it was a couple's massage? Oh dear, it must have slipped their mind. Or perhaps they just assumed, given how so many of you Oysters seem to be in pairs. Well, you're both here, you might as well take advantage of it.

Or perhaps something that gets the heart pumping is more to your speed than relaxation. A staff member may excitedly tell you about a rave occurring at the The Rabbit Hole nightclub. Invitation only, of course, but the staff member is happy to tell you the code to get in.

There is indeed a party in full swing at the club that night. Live music, flashing lights, alcohol flowing freely, the works. You may find that the alcohol packs more of a punch than you're used to. You may even find that drinks that are supposed to be nonalcoholic, ones that you've had before in other parts of the hotel, suddenly pack quite a punch as well.

It's all in the name of enjoying yourself, right? Hopefully you won't be too hungover in the morning.

IV. WELCOME HOME

Maybe you just want to be alone — well, that's what you have your room key for! Oysters room on the second and third floors of the hotel, one to a room. You were assured your room would be exactly what you'd always wished for — and for some, that's right! It's exactly as you would have decorated it yourself. But for others, their rooms are totally wrong. A grizzled cowboy can't have a pink room! Hotel staff are firm, though: every room is exactly as its owner wants it to be. Search your feelings, Oyster. You know it to be true.

On each bed are the Oysters' personal effects, minus weapons, as well as a towel folded in the shape of a heart, and a single foil-wrapped chocolate. If eaten, the chocolate is delicious, and incites a feeling of tender warmth in Oysters — not lust, but a desire for closeness. Why spend time in your room, when you could go find a new friend in the casino?

For purposes of the TDM, you're welcome to play with having more than one linked partner! If you choose to app in the next round after playing on the TDM, there will be an extra add on to the application for you to claim your additional item from home. Please direct any questions to the first comment on this page, and happy playing, Oysters!

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Wei Wuxian hops away from the elevator as it suddenly opens and then realizes that it was exactly what he had wanted to happen! He tries to hop back in when he realizes he is being lifted into the air. His long ears perk up and those red eyes focus on the familiar face. His front feet paddle the air as if reaching for him and then he gets deposited into those arms.

He has become very familiar with these arms over the last few weeks. He has been able to enjoy their warmth and strength in may ways and finds that he is quite content to settle into them in this form as well. He snuggles down as they walk, resting his chin on the man's arm as he carries him.

I get to see just how much you like rabbits, Lan Zhan. You'll not be able to hide it now!

He is smirking inwardly as he listens to that heartbeat so close to those big ears. Enjoying it's sound as his head gets scratched. When he sees their destination he almost groans in boredom. Of course they would end up here...

In the room, there are books lining the shelves, overflowing with books and loose-leaf pamphlets. Pulling a book out, he finds a seat to sit in the corner to read and study. It's a quiet hour where he studies, knowing that Wei Ying is somewhere else in the hotel explore or having fun, since he doesn't expect him to be attached to his hip all the time, but will join later. Little did he know, he was with him all the long.

He's reading the same book about the plant life of Wonderland. Information about edible plants, medicinal, poisonous...part of him wonders how to obtain plants if he doesn't see any within the hotel.

He placed the rabbit on his lap, stroking between the ears, and order a mug of coffee and sweets to be brought to him for his reading. Eventually, he strokes around his chin and soft belly with his big, warm hands, massage the small rabbit body lightly as he reads his book.

He lays down in Lan Wangji's lap, rather enjoying all the attention his body is getting from those hands.

No wonder animals like being petted..this feels amazing.

It's like a full body massage! He starts to nap off and on as those hands relax him and because Lan Wangji is so distracted by the books he is reading. Wei Wuxian has no interest in reading up on plants even though he can probably still read them even in this form.

After awhile he decides it's time to get a little exercise and see what else this room has to offer. He stands up and tries to figure out how to crawl out of the nest he has created in Lan Wangji's lap.

While the rabbit took a nap on his lap, he laid his hands on the side of his body, keeping him warm, gently petting while idly reading and studying.

When the rabbit woke up, becoming alert, and decided to rise and attempted to hopped off to explore, Lan Wangji laid the book aside and gently picks him up to lowered him on the floor, so that he can hop around with Lan Wangji watching him.

He explores around, hopping along the bookshelves and investigating the new space. Maybe if he eats all these books he won't have to come back in here. Then he hops up to the table that Lan Wangji is sitting at and puts his paws up on the edge, as if trying to see onto the top of it.

He knows there is interesting stuff on the table. He could see the brushes sticking up out of a container.

What's on the table, Lan Zhan?

Was it his imagination or the rabbit is investigating with purpose? Now he's staring up at the table where he is sitting at, pawing at the edge.

"Hm? What do you want to see?"

He leans forward to pick him up and puts him on his lap again so that Wei Ying has his comfy spot on his place back on his lap. He should be able to see what's on the table clearer from a higher view.

The rabbit looks up at the table and if his little red eyes could get any bigger..then they would. He spots the water colors and the brushes.

Wei Wuxian tucks himself under Lan Wangji's sleeve, trying to cover himself up because he needs hands to be able to use those things he sees on the table. And He doesn't have anything himself to cover up with.

Prepare yourself, Lan Zhan..

And seconds later a regular sized..very naked..Wei Wuxian is in Lan Wangji's lap. Rabbit ears still on his head as he is reaching for those brushes.

"You didn't tell me there was watercolors, Lan Zhan!"

Imagine his surprise as there's a flash of blush across his pale cheeks to the tip of his ears when the rabbit he has been giving belly rubs and ear rubs is no other than his beloved.

"W-Wei Ying! The rabbit. It's you! You're the rabbit." Of course, Wei Ying is quite naked. "Wait. Get up, let me give you my robes. I won't let anyone looking at you." Because that's unacceptable and Wei Ying's body is for his eyes alone.

Once Wei Ying will do as he command, Lan Wangji will remove his outer robes with the sky blue cloud patterns printed on his coat and dresses Wei Ying in it.

"Wei Ying, please wear this. My robe to cover you."

Wei Wuxian stands up and holds out his hands for the robe, which is going to significantly too long for him. But at least he can wrap it around his naked body. So now there is a rabbit eared Wei Wuxian wearing Lan Wangji's robes. This would be quite the interesting sight for anyone else who might walk in.

"Sorry about the surprise, Lan Zhan." He wouldn't have changed if there was anyone else in the room with them, but since they were alone he didn't seen any harm in it.

"Not too worry." The robe is long at the sleeves and because of the height difference, the robe touches the floor.

Lan Wangji looks relieved to see him wearing his robe. "Much better." At least, he provides modesty and his robe is quite light and loose, but made of good material to keep him warm and less chilly.

Holding him with him sitting on his lap, "The watercolor and brushes, we can paint together."

He orders a native to bring a set of jars of water for dipping the brush and mixing the paint. He makes the paint wet to collect the color. Picking up a sheet of heavy paper to place in front of them.

"What should I draw for Wei Ying? Maybe rabbits? An ocean? Flowers? Stars? Whatever Wei Ying likes, I will paint for him."

He settles back down into his lap, pushing the sleeves up to his elbows to try and keep them out of the paint. He doesn't know how Lan Wangji deals with such billowy layers. He definitely prefers his tighter sleeves.

"Whatever you want, Lan Zhan. Should I paint you again?" He picks up his paintbrush and stares at the paper as he tries to decide. He then dips the brush in the paint and starts to carefully draw out the outline of his image.

"I don't think we are using these for what they want us to use them for." He's pretty sure they are supposed to be copying the books or the images in the books. But he doesn't particularly care.

"Mn. But we can paint whatever we want."

On the right side, picking up a brush, he dips the tip of it into a bowl of water. Then he pours a thick liquid of indigo paint in one bowl. Mixing it together, he draws a pattern on the paper. He's drawing an ocean.

"Why do you ever want to draw my face...? Am I an interesting subject?" Wei Ying has his own bowls of water on the left side.

"Because it's a handsome face so why wouldn't I draw it?" He can't exactly hide what he is drawing since he is sitting in the man's lap but it does appear to be a similar picture to the one he drew at Gusu all those years ago in the library. but there are slight differences appearing as he doesn't seem to be reading anything.

The brush moves easily across the paper, doing everything without even looking at his subject. He already knows every line that should be drawn. Those ears flop over a little as he concentrates and eventually a second figure starts to take shape on the paper and it becomes clear that the two are embracing in a hug much like they are sitting at that moment.

"Boring subject. Pick another subject to draw. Or make it interesting by placing some rabbit ears on me also just like you."

In the meanwhile, he felt calm. Calmer than ever before. He paints the oceans and the waves, and then adding some light brown paint to the bowls, dipping his brush in water and paint, he paints the sand and seashells on the scenery, adding in details from memory as he hasn't seen anything natural in wonderland.

Looking at the painting, Lan Wangji decides to add detail to his beloved's drawing. He pours red paint into the bowl, and with it, he dips his brush and gently paints heart shapes over the characters on the paper.

Meanwhile, he's humming a song softly. It's a familiar tune that Wei Wuxian always hears and plays, the song he sang many years ago in the cave.

"Lan Zhan! Hands on your own paper." He pouts but his scolding is more playful then mean. He sets the paper aside as he considers it complete and picks up another one.

He taps the end of the brush against his lips as he considers his next masterpiece. Then he remembers something and begins to draw again. He hasn't ever drawn a monkey before but he is going to try now.

Selecting a brown paint, he sketches out the little creature.

His body moves a little as he listens to Lan Wangji hum that tune.

"Hm..." After some thought. "No." It was a thoughtful, soft. He thinks that picture with the couple hugging is actually incomplete, so bringing that painting back. He sees a couple hugging with small red hearts, but it looks empty.

"Wei Ying, you're rushing through this. This picture is incomplete. Let me show you." So while he is painting the picture with a monkey, he's going to show Wei Wuxian his vision.

Lan Wangji demands a lot of black paint, and with a generous amount, he paints the picture with black around the couple. It wasn't clear at first, but then he draws in details like stars in the blackness, and it's clear he's drawing a starry night and with white paint, draws a moon in the corner.

As he is finishing his monkey he looks over at the other picture. He smiles as he turns his attention back to his own.

"Is that our night under the stars?" Of course it is. Either the one they had here or the future one they will have when they actually get to return to the outdoors.

He adds a few more details to the photo like a tree the monkey is sitting in as well as the grass below before looking back at the other picture a Lan wangji finishes it up.

"Yes, that's correct. It's our night." As his reward, he dips his head between his shoulder, nuzzling him, and kisses him on his cheek.

Continuing with his picture, he draws a lot of stars against the nightsky, then adds in the trees, painting the branches pink which is cherry blossoms, drawing out his dream.

"Do you like monkeys, Wei Ying? If you like, I can tell you the story of Sun Wukong and his journey to the west. I read the original book and I have a copy in my Jingshi."

"Mm..I'd like to listen to the story." He has other reasons for drawing the monkey though that Lan Wangji might not want to know. He sets this picture aside and relaxes against him, closing his eyes. He's comfortable like this and if Lan Wangji is going to tell him a story then he doesn't want to be distracted by painting. He sets the brush down on the table.

Lan Wangji was about to tell him, but it's a story he already memorized well when he noticed Wei Ying's picture is unfinished and incomplete when he puts the brush down.

"I'll tell you all about it later because it's a very long saga. I'll usually tell you everything eventually. But first, your picture. Finish it. Your story comes first. Tell me, why the monkey?"

Opening his eyes he looks over at the painting. He's quiet for a moment before picking his brush back up. He resumes painting on it, filling the page with the branches of the tree around him.

"When I was with the other Lan Zhan, we were discussing the notes to tell people to be careful. And I drew a rabbit on the paper. I agreed to not draw rabbits for anyone else and to draw a monkey instead. Since I've never drawn a monkey before, I wanted to practice."

He still doesn't know how his Lan Wangji will react when he tells stories about what he does with the other one. So it makes him hesitate in telling them. He doesn't want to hide the fact that he spends time with him, and has promised to always tell the truth to both of them.

Lan Wangji for once is actually calm. He already knows. He can feel the other hesitate and become tenses. In response, he only rubs his back, and then watches him paint. If anything, he is perplexed.

"You agree not to draw rabbits? But why? I don't understand. Why monkey over rabbits?"

He smiles a little, amused by the reasoning really. He washes the brush so he can select a new color and adds little buds of red flowers to the branches.

"Because..rabbits are our thing. So not everyone is allowed to have my drawings of them."

And by 'our' he includes this Lan Wangji in that statement as well. It's Lan Wangji being selfish in his own way.

"That's why I agreed to give them monkeys." And which is why he wants to give the other one this drawing of a monkey..almost to tease him.

Watching him painting flowers gives him pleasure. He loves flowers. The red flower, it's a Peony. He remembers he threw one at him when he was blindfold at Phoenix mountain, and he kept it as a bookmark. But he figured Wei Wuxian do not remember at least for now.

"And that's fine. Drawing rabbits only for me. I preferred rabbits, but it's good to draw monkeys or whatever you wish for others."

He nods and finishes by placing one of the flowers in the monkey's paw. Then cleans the brush out so that he can change to black and scrolls his name lazily in the corner of the photo to sign his artwork. Then he sets the brush back down again.

"Now it's done." He will deliver the photo to the other Lan Wangji later once it has had time to dry. But it probably means this one will have to carry it back to the room since it is likely Wei Wuxian will be in rabbit form once they leave. It wouldn't be decent to wander around the hotel in just the white robe.

He relaxes back again, content to sit like this while Lan Wangji reads or draws.

HAPPY HEARTS HOTEL

I. THIS IS OUR GET ALONG SHIRT

II. HONORARY STAFF FOR A DAY

III. TIME TO UNWIND

IV. WELCOME HOME

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