TEST DRIVE MEME 003

[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. SHALL WE DANCE, SHALL WE FLY

Those of you hoping to make use of The Pool of Tears today are in for a disappointment — it appears to have been shut down for the day to make room for a special event! Dozens of small vehicles that resemble pink flamingos are parked along the grounds by the pool, and others are being flown above it with varying levels of skill.

People wearing name tags identifying them as guest instructors mingle around the parked vehicles to offer lessons on how to fly the flamingos. They'll also allow the flamingos to be checked out to be used for recreation, regardless of whether the person checking them out has had flying lessons or not.

Why is this taking place in the pool area and not outdoors, you may ask? Why, because a crash landing in water is so much softer on the bones than on solid land, of course.

Or perhaps you were hoping to spend some time at the Caucus-Race, making use of the hotel's private gym. It seems that, too, had been taken over for an event — dance lessons! There are more guest instructors there to lead dances of all kinds, from groups to couples to private instruction. Even if you didn't intend to partake of them when you came here, you may find yourself bustled away and facing your partner for the lesson before you know it.

Still another handful of guest instructors have set up in the Mad Tea-Party, offering a variety of art lessons — from paintings to drawing to pottery to glassblowing! Have a glass of wine, or something stronger, and try your hand at one! Anyone who chooses to do so will get to keep whatever masterpiece they produce.

II. WE TRADE IN FAVORS

The guest instructors aren't the only ones visiting the hotel today. It seems some traveling merchants have come to pitch their wares, and they've set up shop in the hotel lobby. There's display cases of delicately crafted jewelry, all manner of glassware, bolts of fabric, boxes of precious stones and crystal.

Why come to them when you can get what you need for free from the hotel's boutique? There's just no comparison when it comes to exquisite craftsmanship, of course, or the quality of their raw materials. But should you need a reason beyond that — there's something a little magical about their wares. This necklace is spelled to ward off evil, that circuit will grant clear thought, anything made from this bolt of cloth will always keep the wearer perfectly warm or cool, carrying that crystal will give a boost of healing or luck.

They deal only in trade. Teas, if you have them, will fetch the highest price and get you the most unique items. If you don't happen to have a tea, you're not out of luck — they will also accept favors. Perhaps they will ask you to convince someone else to make a purchase as well, perhaps they will send you on a hunt for a specific item. Perhaps they will ask you for something more intangible, like the shape of a smile or the salt of tears. Not your own, of course, you must inspire them in someone else. Hopefully there's someone nearby who can help you with that.

III. SECRET MESSAGES

By your second or third pass around the hotel, after all the visitors have left, you may notice something that looks a little out of place. A loose rock in the otherwise solid structures of the pool area, a shimmer of green tucked in among all the white abstract sculptures in a hallway, an odd knot in the wood of a bench or chair somewhere in the hotel.

No members of the staff seem to have noticed it so far, but for that to remain the case you'll have to work quickly — and work together. Maybe the rock is up too high for one person to reach, maybe the sculptures are too heavy for one person to move, maybe someone needs to stand guard or distract the hotel staff while the other pries out the wood knot.

All those who succeed in retrieving the piece of heavy green paper hidden away will find the same message: a drawing of a caterpillar, accompanied by a series of numbers and the words call a friend.

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?

Anyone who participates in the second prompt will receive an item with a minor enchantment of their choosing! For players apping in this round, you can include it in your list of items. Current players can reply to the second comment on this page to receive approval of their enchanted item. Please direct any questions to the first comment on this page, and happy playing, Oysters!

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© tessisamess

Comments

[billowing]

[ He stops. ]

Stand with your feet on mine.

[scaredofdogs]

[He tilts his head and looks at him in surprise.]

Why..?

[But he does what he is told, gripping the front of Lan Wangji's robes tightly as he balances.]

[billowing]

[ Because then Lan Wangji can focus on just the steps he has to make, and Wei Ying can feel what directions he should be moving in.

He easily starts up the dance again, back in time. ]

[scaredofdogs]

[The movement unbalances him and he yelps softly as he wraps his arms around Lan Wangji's middle to keep himself steady. This is a strange way to learn but he can't complain.]

[billowing]

[ Lan Wangji will hold Wei Ying tight and keep him steady. ]

Just hold on. It will get easier.

[scaredofdogs]

[He tries to concentrate on the movements and not be too distracted about being held. Dancing would be easy if this is all he had to do.]

I need to work hard and learn all these dances, right?

[He's assuming he will have to dance like this at the wedding..but probably on his own feet.]

[billowing]

Yes. Go through the motion with me, and you can try it standing.

[ On his own feet, he means. ]

[scaredofdogs]

[He stays quiet and listens to the music and times it along with their steps. It's all about musicality and he certainly has enough of that.]

[billowing]

[ Lan Wangji, of course, doesn't miss a beat, because he moves along to the music. And there are patterns to this dance, so it isn't difficult for him to pick up.

He waits for Wei Ying to notice the patterns. ]

[scaredofdogs]

[Another round of the pattern and then he nods.]

I think I've got it.

[billowing]

Mm. Do you care to try?

[ Without being on Lan Wangji's toes, he means. The song ends, so they can wait for the next one to start. ]

[scaredofdogs]

Okay.

[He steps off of him and let's go of the hold he had on him. But then he realizes that he might have figured out the feet but the rest is still a mystery.]

What do I do with my hands?

[billowing]

Just hold on. Like this.

[ He takes Wei Ying's hands as the music starts up again, and starts up the dance. ]

[scaredofdogs]

[It still feels a little awkward but at least he isn't stepping on the other man's toes.]

Ahhh..why does it have to be so structured?

[He isn't one for sticking to planned motions.]

[billowing]

That way, more people can dance and you won't hit each other.

[ That is Lan Wangji's kind of dance, ok. ]

[scaredofdogs]

But does everyone really see this as fun?

[He probably will like it a little more once he is more comfortable with it, but the learning part makes it seem a little strange.]

[billowing]

I do not know. If not, why would they dance?

[ He doesn't think this is fun, but he gets to hold Wei Ying, so he also has zero complaints. ]

[scaredofdogs]

Well..dancing is fun when you are just enjoying the music.

[He looks around at the others learning and they do seem to be enjoying themselves.]

It does look like others are enjoying it. I'll just have to give it more time.

[He returns his look to Lan Wangji's face and smiles.]

At least I have a good partner.

[billowing]

You no longer need to flatter me, Wei Ying.

[ He is already such a large part of his heart.

As long as he has fun, that's what matters. And he will try to make this more fun by taking liberties with the basic steps to do some more advanced footwork; Wei Ying only need let Lan Wangji lead. ]

[scaredofdogs]

But I like flattering you, Lan Zhan.

[He laughs and starts to relax as he worries a little less about the footwork and just follows the man's lead.]

If I don't direct my flattery towards you, then I would have to give it to someone else. Isn't it better that you are the recipient?

[billowing]

[ He has a point. Perhaps someone else would take his flattery seriously and try to wrest him from the Lan Wangjis. Well, they'd have to go through both. ]

You will be married soon, and you are thinking of flattering others?

[scaredofdogs]

Because I'm getting married, doesn't that mean I need to flirt and flatter more? Because my time to do so to other people is running out!

[He's teasing but there is some truth to that. His time is running out to do such things.]

[billowing]

No.

Your time ran out.

[ Speaking as his husband's soul twin, who would be very upset to find his Wei Ying flirting with anybody else. ]

[scaredofdogs]

Ahh..I guess my flirting days are over. Do I not even get to flirt with you?

[Certainly that is still okay.]

[billowing]

Only if your husband considers us the same.

[ And the odds of that? Who knows. ]