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!

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

© tessisamess

Comments

[song_princess]

We shall dance we shall fly:

Pottery was something that Leanne would have never thought she wanted to do. But here she was, with a cup of tea by her side, unbeknownst to her that it was spiked. She was doing her best to not get dirtied and was failing miserably as the only things not dirtied was her wings....

At least until just a moment ago when somehow, someway a large portion of pottery clay smacks her in the wings and proceeds to make them dirty now.

Welcome Home:

After an exhausting day and she was at her limits of meeting humans... Just humans. There were no Laguz here. No others with wings. She goes to let out a sigh and now the weight of loneliness sets in. She wanted to go somewhere to let everything out. To let out all of the pain and now fear, anger from her.

She enters the room, that they told her was her, still having the smile on her face as she enters to keep up appearance. It only lasted until she entered and saw how her room was just like what she remembered as her own, the only difference was a huge gaudy pink heart shaped bed in the middle of it and plants all over. This was too much and before she could really stop herself, she let out a wail of a sob before sliding to her knees, crying, unable to stop and help herself.

Wildcard:

Choose your own adventure or make one up!

I.

[aries_saint]

[ooc: Just handwave and say they know each other for a few days loosely basing on the last TDM because time don't exist]

This place is strange enough, but there at least there is some activity to pass the time. He was sitting next to her, wanting to try pottery after painting different pictures, his hand working with clay.

"Are you trying to make a pot, Leanne?"

Re: I.

[song_princess]

[ooc; What is this time called time?]

Leanne goes to look towards Mu, a small pout forming on her face as it did have clay on it.

"Yes or maybe a cup, Mu."

[aries_saint]

[ooc: Time is a construct]

With a nod. Mu is trying to make a vase, which shaped out all right with the right timing.

"A cup. There's clay in your wings."

[song_princess]

[Ooc; A mere idea.]

She goes to look over to see what he has made.... And pouts as he has already done it so much better than her.

A blush forms on her face and she goes to look away a little.

"I... I know. My wings, they are sensitive so I can feel it."

A quick attempt to get his focus back on his work. "Yours is so much better than mine. It already looks beautiful."

[aries_saint]

"Well, pottery takes so much patience and right timing when the clay goes swirling around." He said.

Seeing the mess she made, the clay sticking to her wings. "Why don't you go to the sink to wash them off?"

[song_princess]

She goes to give him a look before sighing. He seems to know just about everything it seems, judging by his paintings and now his pottery skills.

"I will... I shall pray that I won't inconvenience anyone while I do so." And you know what, out of sheer pettiness, she goes to try and flick some of the clay unto his hair.

[aries_saint]

His paintings is that of the sanctuary and sheep grazing on the field. It can't be compared to the paintings and calligraphy done by the others, putting on display on the wall.

Mu by instinct easily evades the incoming clay coming towards to him. Back home, he can easily evade punch and kicks, and cosmos attack coming at him at the speed of light.

"Go wash your wings." He said calmly. He nudges to the sink at the back of the room.

[song_princess]

That... That wasn't fair. Not fair at all. She can't seem to touch him or take petty revenge on him. Maybe, that was truly the difference between Beorcs and Laguz now.

"I am going there." She whines at him a little before going to the sink and washing not only her wings, but everything else that is dirty besides her dress.

We Shall Dance

[scaredofdogs]

Wei Wuxian has been enjoying a little bit of all of the arts and crafts in the room. He likes being able to draw but when he spots the pottery, he decided it might be fun to try and learn something new. But unfortunately he wasn't having the best of luck and a piece of his clay goes flying off before he even realizes that it was possible for it to happen.

He gapes in horror as it lands right on a person's wings. He jumps to his feet and rushes over, "I'm so sorry about that! Let me help you clean them up!"

This is my only surprised icon. Lol

[song_princess]

Leanne jumps as she feels the clay smacking her wings and then... A male Beorc is rushing towards her! A small squeak leaves her and out I f habit, she takes a step back.

"Ah, it is an accident! You didn't mean it." She tries to deflect the small storm of words. "Perhaps just bring me some water and a cloth to clean my wings with." There, that will be a happy middle ground... She hopes.

XD!!

[scaredofdogs]

"Ah, yes! Okay..I'll be right back!" He hurries off to find what they need. Considering where all the arts and crafts are taking place it doesn't take him long. He returns with a few soft clothes that the kitchen staff lent him and a small bucket of warm water.

"I hope this will make it easier to clean..I can find soap or something. Does soap hurt feathers?" He may be able to give himself wings whenever he wants to but that doesn't mean he necessarily understands how to care for them.

Re: XD!!

[song_princess]

This Beorc... he certainly has a lot of energy to run around like that. She goes to let out a sigh and idly glances back at the clay on her wings. This is going to be a pain.

Emerald eyes blink as he comes back and she smiles at the sight of the bucket and few cloths. "It will, thank you, my lord." She coos out.

She moves to take one of the cloths in order to order to soak it in the water before moving it to the clay covered wing spot to start cleaning herself. "Some soaps does hurt my feathers and it would be best to remove them. They do need a certain kind of soap but usually it would be hard to find so it would be easier to just use water." A small lesson in cleaning wings for you, Wei Wuxian.

[scaredofdogs]

"Ahh..that's good to know." At least he will know what to do if he ever gets his own wings dirty. He wishes he could help since it's his fault that this happened but he sits there rather obediently while she does it herself.

"Are you an angel?" Since those are the only creatures with wings he knows about he figured everyone with wings much be angels. It would mean that Aziraphale is no longer alone at the hotel which is kind of exciting.

[song_princess]

She was glad that he was giving her enough space to clean her own wings. He has help by fetching the cloths and warm water. "Thank you my lord... For fetching this one a bucket and cloths to clean my wings with."

Leanne blinks at the question and tilts her head. "Angel? I fear that I do not know what those are, my apologies. I am a Heron."

[scaredofdogs]

"Heron? Ahh..I'm not familiar with that term. Angels have wings like you do and apparently they are messengers of God. There is one here! Also a demon. They both have wings."

He reaches up and rubs the side of his nose, "And you don't have to call me lord. My name is Wei Wuxian. And if you need anything else for cleaning them with, just let me know and I can fetch it."

[song_princess]

She tilts her head. "You haven't?" That was curious. With a small breath she goes to chirp and cheep like a heron/crane. Maybe that might put him on the right path. Though when he mentions that angels have wings as well as demons (whatever those are), she perks up a little. "Really? They have wings? God? There is only two goddesses though."

She smiles as he introduces himself. "Are you sure? I don't wish to be disrespectful to you. I am known as Leanne, the daughter of Lozerth of Serenes." She coos before shaking her head. "You have done more than enough by fetching this one those items."

II. Voice

[aries_saint]

[Leanne's device empathy started to ring]

Leanne?

Re: II. Voice

[song_princess]

[Leanne blinks as she hears her empathy device starting to ring.]

Yes? Hello?

[She blinks as she hears Mu's voice.]

Whats wrong?

[aries_saint]

[He is spending the evening painting in one of the make-shift libraries. He's only bored]

It's nothing. It's quiet here. What are you up to?

[song_princess]

[She lets out a small sigh as it seems like nothing was wrong.]

So you have nothing else to do but to talk to me? [She teases a little.]

Nothing much. Tending to my plants, some of the little ones are finally sprouting. What about you? What are you up to?

[aries_saint]

Painting pictures and yes because I want to talk to you.

[But he is feeling restless. It's hard finding something to do in the hotel or find entertainment.]

Do you want to go out for a stroll?

[song_princess]

What are you painting? [She giggles.] I guess then I should speak to you.

I would love to go for a stroll. Where should we meet?

[aries_saint]

It's a forest with tall bamboo meeting the sky. The way I remember it. Bamboo is like tree, but it's like a tall green pole. It's strong and sturdy. I'm going to wait for the painting to dry.

You can meet me in the lobby in half an hour?

[song_princess]

What is it, if it isn't a tree? Is it more like a reed? I would love to see your painting.

I can do that, should I bring anything with me?