funnyhearts | TEST DRIVE MEME 003

TEST DRIVE MEME 003

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"It is a cup but an ugly looking cup." She... She wants to try and make it look better.

She watches as he goes to put his vase into the kiln as she moves to sit down again to start working on the cup again. She wanted to make it and to give it to him, her first friend here. But should she bother anymore? Especially compared to his vase.

With a sigh, "The cup is fine the way it is. You just need to bake it, so it could turn out right, and then if you wish, paint over it to make it look pretty. Honestly, it's fine because I like the color of earth on it. It's best natural."

Eventually, his vase is done and it's a fine vase as the clay becomes harden from the heat as it should be. It was hot, so he used a tool to bring it out and let it cool on the shelf. Leaving the kiln open for her to bake or the next person waiting their turn.

Her wings drooped a little at his sigh and words. She looks down at it and could only see the imperfections in it. "If you are sure... It's shape is all wrong, especially when I look at yours."

It was a small manner of pride as despite how she acts most of the time, she does have a lot of pride in her. When he left ht kiln open, she moves to place her cup in it, carefully closing the door with a sigh as her wings moves back to their normal position.

"I think the cup is all right." He looks dismayed when he couldn't add anything else about her cup when her wings droop.

He's going to try something new and dangerous to make, and that's glassblowing which is in another side of the room. By the looks of it, it deals with melting hot glass.

"I'm going to try glass blowing."

No, she doesn't want to see that look on his face! He should never have that expression. She goes to coo up at him and moves a wing to try and brush his face in a comforting gesture. "I just... Want to make it better. For you." She goes to admit.

When he goes to announce what he was going to try next, she forces her wings to perk up and she smiles up at him. "I would like to watch, if I may be bold enough to." She won't try it though it looks fun to do so.

"You do? I think it's fine. It's not an ugly cup once you can add some color to it. Or make some more for me." He'll figure out how to use her cups later. Maybe make tea and drink out of them?

"Sure, you can watch." It's going to be a long process of him wearing protective gear, heating up the glass, blowing into the hot glass through a tube so that the glass is taking shape. By the looks of it, he makes another simple vase with color. It's dangerous since glass blowing require using fire.

Which...using fire, Leanne should keep a fair distance.

"Yes, I do, but it looks like a nestling made it." She pouts as she looks at her cup. It made a little sense as with most things, she just has the skills of a nestling.

She goes to follow him but yeaaaaah, fire... Leanne is going to stay far away from it. In fact, she stopped in the middle of the room and watches from where she is standing, purposely avoiding looking at the fire.

That is until her cup is done in the kilin and she goes to take it out, still frowning at the looks of it. No, this cup wouldn't be good as a gift.

Mu is trying to make sense of her language as she pouts over her misshapen cup. He was blowing into the tube, so that the glass takes shape. He's listening, despite wearing a welder mask for protection against the hot fires require to melt the glass.

"The cup is fine. But what's a nestling?"

He was always so much deep in thought that she tried to pick up even the tiniest emote to see what he was really thinking. She goes to let out a sigh and shakes her head. He probably wouldn't really understand what is wrong and why she is focus on the cup.

"A nestling is what Beorcs call a child. A small babe."

Without their respective psychic powers, it's hard to tell what each other is thinking or feeling as he seems to be so deep in thought and seemingly stoic, and speak rather straight-forwardly.

"Oh. I see. Your cup isn't so bad. You can still use it to drink water or have tea with." Which...his remark isn't helping!

Either way, he won't be speaking for the next few moments as he is using a torch to take shape of the handle for his vase...which he's determined to make a water pitcher out of it.

Edited 2020-07-31 22:02 (UTC)

She idly goes to fidget with a lock of hair as he remains so stoic. She blinks as his remark doesn't help at all with her pride.

"Yes, it still can be used but still..."

But then, he is using a torch to make his vase. His can make just about anything so perfectly. While she... She can't help but to only see remainders of the childhood she lost, never getting the chance to learn things and gain skills.

"It looks beautiful so far."

"Your cup is fine."

Using the tools, he makes the handle into a curved shape. With finishing touches, the water pitcher is done and he uses the cold water to carefully cool it down, rolling it into shape.

Then gently lay the water pitcher on display to cool it down. It has a certain glow of light green as the light bounces off the surface of the glass.

He turns to her and finally smiled, "Thank you. For your cup, this glass pitcher can be yours."

He may say that it is fine but it almost sounds like he was just trying to picante her. Which almost makes it much worse. More of a stab to her pride.

She goes to watch him make the water pitcher. A part of her felt jealous and her own inadequacy was making itself known as he watches him make it perfectly again. A part of her was praying that this wasn't his first time doing this type of craft. But she kept it all in, only showing a smile on her face towards him.

Her eyes blink at his offering of the glass pitcher. "Thank you Mu, for the kind thought but I couldn't accept such a trade." She coos as she shakes her head, the smile never leaving her face.

It wasn't perfection. He studies and paid attention to the offered lessons. He paid attention to details. He was careful because he's using a blow-torch and fire. He takes his time. He is slow in making the water pitcher, making sure it's sturdy. The glass and color shines.

"It's for you." He insisted. In the meanwhile, he left the water pitcher on the table for her to accept it. He cleans up the tools and then, quietly, wordlessly, he takes her cup the way it is.

"And I shall take this one."

Compared to hers, it was perfection. She was also paying attention to the offered lessons.

She watches as he sets the water pitcher down before taking her cup wordlessly. "Mu! It isn't good." She protests a little before sighing. He was going to accept it... No matter what then.

Another sigh as she goes to pick up the water pitcher and cradles it in her hands. "We should... Go and drop them off so we won't break them. Especially something so beautiful."

He managed to smile a little, taking the cup in his hands. "It's fine to me. You made it for me, right? The cup will hold water and that's all that matters."

Seeing she's taking her glass pitcher, "I'll take it to my room for safe-keeping."

Her wings briefly droop as she nods her head before they perk back up again. "I did but..." She was stubborn but she also knew when to back off.

She cradles the glass pitcher and nods her head. "At least... Until I make one that is more worthy of being a gift?" And here is an attempt at compromising.

"A...a gift?" He's not accustomed to giving gifts, let alone making one.

"Why do you want to give a gift? What's the occasion?" He is curious now, as there's a look of confusion, but only because he's trying to understand.

"Yes, a gift." She quirks a brow up at him.

"Because you are my friend and I want to give you one. No occasion is needed to do that. At least, I hope no occasion is needed..."

Finally, after a few moments, understanding and he managed to smile brightly.

"Oh. Okay. Gifts are good. I like gifts. If you like the glass pitcher, I can make something else to give more gifts...?"

She goes to blush and looks away.

"Ah you don't have to for one as myself. This pitcher will be enough, really it would be Mu."

"I can make many more glass pitchers. You can fill it with water and you can use it to water plants."

But then after some more thought. "Unless you like something else? What does Leanne like?"

"One will be plently. Truly, this gift is so much more than one as myself could ever be."

She blinks at his question and goes to look away, thinking hard. "I can't think of anything... I am truly content, Mu. Truly I am. I dare not to be selfish and ask for things."

"It's hard to think of something to give in this place. In my world, it's much more modern than this. And I live in a rural place near the mountains."

Now Mu truly thinks it's a shame that he die for a cause much bigger than himself. Still, he managed to smile at her.

"If you like it, then I can make other things." At least, if he could make something for someone it will keep him going with a purpose and have much to live for.

"Modern? I fear I don't understand the term. But even in a place like this it shouldn't be hard to give gifts. Just give what you wish to give."

She goes to smile back up at him, moving a wing to brush it against him to give a bit of comfort.

So much blushing as he seems to be determined to give her things. "I do like it but you should make things for yourself."

HAPPY HEARTS HOTEL

I. SHALL WE DANCE, SHALL WE FLY

II. WE TRADE IN FAVORS

III. SECRET MESSAGES

IV. WELCOME HOME

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