TEST DRIVE MEME 002

[happyheartsstaff]

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

© tessisamess

Comments

[scaredofdogs]

One has dark eyes, one has gold eyes. The one with dark eyes has been to a temple where apparently a lot of things happened with Jin Guangyao. The one with gold eyes just left Yi City.

[Are you questioning why this random person knows so much yet? But apparently not enough about the temple to really expand upon it. Which will bring him to the next point.]

Also two...Mo Xuanyu? [Because all he can assume is that this boy may never actually find out who he really is. In which case saying the name Wei Wuxian would hardly get him anywhere. But if he has figured that much out then simply saying Mo Xuanyu will allow him to understand that point as well.]

[deferences]

Dark and gold eyes, [he repeats, considering the actual timelines he's being told. so, the one with golden eyes doesn't know about what's to come? sizhui will make sure to watch what he says, then.] The first one is— [‘my hanguang-jun’ doesn't sound right!] —he's Hanguang-jun from my world.

[if he hadn't been before, he definitely is now. abandoning what he's preparing for a moment to move so he's standing in front of the man once he reveals one of the things he was uncertain about.

with that confirmed,] Are you Mo Xuanyu? [is what he starts with, though as sizhui pauses, he dips down somewhat, moves even closer and skeptically narrows his eyes (although not unkindly). gosh, he's going to feel like a fool if he's wrong but—] Or are you Wei Wuxian?

[scaredofdogs]

[He starts to respond with an affirmative answer to the first acknowledgement but then pauses as it seems this one knows more then he expected. He shuts his mouth for a moment as he weights his options. But really..lying or holding back will do him no good so he nods.]

I am the Wei Wuxian that matches the Lan Wangji with the gold eyes. And our memories are the same.

[So what he knows of this disciple ends with what happened at Yi City. Even the events at the inn the night after could potentially be different and so he goes no further then that.]

So..answer me this..when do you find out who I really am? Or have you always kind of guessed it?

[deferences]

[the silence both makes him think he's guessed correctly but also has him wondering if he's way off and has just made a fool out of himself. surely not, he knows far too much about hanguang-jun to just be mo xuanyu, after all. how else would he know everything he does?]

That means, ah... [sizhui trails off, blinks once then a second time before withdrawing somewhat. he knows more, of course he does, though should he say that or is that something to keep to himself?]

Speaking honestly, I don't remember the exact moment, but it was quite some time after Yi City. [the burial mounds is when i began questioning other things.] I... I can't say I always sort of guessed? Something did always feel a little off, however.

[scaredofdogs]

[He sighs as comes to the realization that he is not nearly a good a liar as he used to think he was. He saw it first hand when he first met his soul twin. But now it is just confirmed. It's a real strike to the confidence.]

Well the truth is out now so I suppose that is what matters. It's easier that way.

[He considers how difficult it might be for this one to accept the fact that there are two of them. And how awkward that may make things.]

If it seems odd to call me anything else, then you are welcome to keep calling me Mo Xuanyu while you are here. I know I don't really look like the Wei Wuxian you are used to.

[deferences]

[aw gosh, he hadn't meant to hit him right in the pride. sizhui's just too observant for his own good, don't take it personally, other fun dad!] Far easier. Less reasons to dance around the truth are never a bad thing, after all.

[he draws upright once more, takes a step back and clasps his hands together over the front of his apron, brow knitting thoughtfully.]

That's not your name, though. I'd much rather call you by your actual name, even if it means... hm. [following the contemplative noise, sizhui faintly tilts his head, regarding the man in front of him.] Perhaps we could distinguish between you two with nicknames of some sort?

[scaredofdogs]

[He quirks his eyebrow at the suggestion, giving a curious head tilt. Nicknames...it's an interesting thought and not one any of them had bothered to figure out. He still finds it a little awkward around his soul-twin since he doesn't really want to call him by his name. But it would make things a little easier for everyone if they could skirt around the fact that there are two people with the same name in such a small space.]

Nickname could be a possible option. Do you have any suggestions as to what we could use?

[Obviously he is open to the concept considering he was open to allowing the other to use the name of this body if it made him more comfortable. At least for him, they don't share a face. Unlike the two Lan Wangji's. They are the ones that are harder to distinguish. But it might be fun to see what the disciple comes up with.]

[deferences]

[wei wuxian wants his thoughts? well, whenever he stops and considers: what makes him any different than the one from his world? there isn't much that comes to mind; they're similar in ways yet opposite, just like both hanguang-juns. sizhui thoughtfully chews his bottom lip, loosens his hands and lifts the left one, thumb underneath his chin, forefinger and middle resting against his cheek. a couple ideas come to mind:]

What about ‘xiongzhang’ or ‘shushu?’

[later on when he eventually runs into them, it seems sensible that he'd be observant enough to realize one of them has golden eyes. once that's noticed, sizhui'll know exactly how to tell them apart afterward because the lan wangji he knows has dark eyes. (the clothes they're wearing is another thing altogether, too.)]

[scaredofdogs]

[He nods his approval of either name. He rather likes the idea of shushu. It seems oddly appropriate. He smile spreads across his face. Since he isn't from this one's world, it only seems appropriate that they should use a name like this for him.]

Shushu it is! Decision has been made and accepted. I knew you were smart because the one from my world was equally as such.

[deferences]

[an unexpected smile quirks his lips, which sizhui tries biting back but can't help it and, with one nickname accepted, he lets his expression lift a little further. shushu does seems oddly fitting, given the circumstances.]

Ah— [he hesitates as heat floods his face at the compliment.] Considering who we were raised by, it makes sense.

[scaredofdogs]

Ahh..Hanguang-Jun is a good teacher, isn't he? Hopefully he isn't too strict.

[He wonders what Lan Wangji's teaching style is like. He would like to see him in that role someday.]

You can continue your teachings while you are here. I'm sure the two of them would be happy to do so.

[deferences]

He's as strict as he needs to be. [but quite likely has a soft spot for lan sizhui of all people.] So long as students follow the rules...

[nobody has to worry about the wrath of hanguang-jun when they least expect it. however, would it be different if wei wuxian were there? something to consider while he wonders what exactly he'd have to learn here since it would be difficult for proper teachings from their homeworld.]

Both of them? Oh. [a beat of silence then he grins and:] I suppose we don't need to be in Cloud Recesses to have a lecture.

[scaredofdogs]

At least here you don't have to follow all the Lan sect rules. It's a little hard to do so..even Hanguang-Jun has to relax a little.

[Most of the relaxing and rule breaking is his fault but he isn't exactly going to say that. It's probably assumed anyway.]

I'll make sure they don't get too crazy with the lesson plans for you.

[deferences]

No, I imagine it wouldn't be easy, considering this hotel is nothing like Cloud Recesses. [everything is too... modern (in the sense for anyone from ancient china, really) and advanced, sizhui's still a bit overwhelmed by it sometimes.

nothing's been exceedingly daunting but, hand-in-hand with wei wuxian's promise, it sounds as if it'll only get easier.]

I wouldn't mind a challenge here or there. It might liven things up a bit.

[scaredofdogs]

Trust me..this place keeps things plenty lively. Just when you think everything will be peaceful, it decides to throw something new at us.

[Being blind was the most shocking of things that happened to him. Followed pretty closely by being turned tiny.]

But it has it's fun times too. This place isn't all crazy even if you are currently talking to an alternate version of the person you know.