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

[scaredofdogs]

"Ah..well I've never done this before and I thought a bowl might be easy. I was wrong." He reaches up and rubs the side of his nose in embarrassment.

"One try and it went flying. So clearly I'm not made for this kind of crafting."

[song_princess]

She goes to chuckle before reaching over with a wing to try and brush his cheek in a comforting gesture. "I was trying to make a vase... I don't know what it has ended up like."

An soft giggle. "Maybe and maybe not, I know that I will keep at it. Especially since I am not good with the other things."

[scaredofdogs]

"I think I'll stick to drawing." He smiles at that wing and admires them. Trying to get a good look at them so when he does his own then they will look as nice.

"If you keep working at it, I'm sure you'll make an excellent vase!"

[song_princess]

She notices him trying to get a good look at her wings and tilts her head. She then goes to slowly stretch them out so he could get a better look at them."Drawing? I bet you can draw wonderfully. I would love to see your drawings one day!"

Leanne blinks at his encourage and nods her head firmly. "Thank you! I will do my best." She will just have to work extra hard at it.

[scaredofdogs]

"I can draw a picture of you if you would like!" He's pretty good at portraits. Of course most of his experience is with drawing Lan Wangji, but he knows he can handle another model.

"I can draw you while you are working on your vase. Then we are both being creative."

[song_princess]

"Only if it would not be a burden to you, Wei Wuixan." She coos but blushes as she never thought to be a subject of a portrait.

"Only if you don't put me in an embarrassing light." Cause she was pretty bad at pottery. "I shall pray that you won't end up dirty from my failures." She jokes before moving to grab some clay.

[scaredofdogs]

He laughs and moves to grab some paper and the paintbrushes. "I promise to make it look good and you'll be making a beautiful piece of pottery."

He arranges a table and settles down at it, facing her so that he can start working on the drawing.

[song_princess]

She giggles and nods. "Even if I have to be here all night."

She goes to work and one of the things that could be noticeable is her having difficulty keeping the pedal pressed with her foot while working with her hands. But she does try to mold the clay after pressing the pedal once, emerald eyes completely focused on the task before her.

[scaredofdogs]

He studies her quietly for a few moments before starting to draw. He is pretty skilled when it comes to drawing and his models usually don't know he is drawing them so he is used to the person moving while he is working.

He doesn't want to distract her from her task, considering her project is much harder then his own. So silently he works, occasionally looking up to make sure the image stays true.

[song_princess]

Leanne continues to focus on her task. Her skills was still like that of a child. Her ears wiggled with every sound of the pencil moving to draw her.

After a while, her first break finally came and she goes to stretch everything. While her vase was still no where near what it should be, it does look a little better than her previous attempt. During one of the times he looks up, she goes to smile up at him.

The silence was definitely deafening so she goes to start humming as she works.

[scaredofdogs]

He listens to her tune for a few moments and then once he figures it out, he starts to hum along with her. He has pretty good musicality and most music has some form of repeat that makes it easy to learn. So even if he goes off track at times, the overall flow of the song is consistent.

He finishes with drawing most of her and starts to work on the wings, adding every little detail to the feather with a speed of someone who is used to drawing quickly but accurately. Detail is important in any sort of picture and he certainly doesn't stay away from them.

[song_princess]

She blinks and her wings perk up before smiling. He wasn't doing too bad with keeping up her singing. It did help her relax in his presence a lot more. Eventually, her humming slowly turns into singing.

The vase was starting to semi-look like a vase. A very deformed vase but it was a lot better than her last attempt.

[scaredofdogs]

He listens to her sing and continues to hum along softly as he sketches. It's a nice song and it just adds to the calm atmosphere. He starts to work on the part of the image that is constantly changing, the wheel and the vase. The vase he draws it a little more uniform then the one on her wheel but it is very clearly her vase as well, wanting the image to be as true to form as possible.

[song_princess]

Poor Wei, he doesn't know what it means for him to join a Heron's song. Luckily, Leanne isn't really instrested and also knows that he probably doesn't understand. She giggles as soon as the song finished.

"How is your drawing going, Wei Wuixian?"

[scaredofdogs]

"You're a very good singer." He smiles and holds up the drawing. "And you finished at the same time I did." It's really a very lovely imagine, putting her in a very nice pose with a well shaped vase being created in her hands. The detail he is able to capture is impressive and it's obvious that he has done this quite a bit.

[song_princess]

"Thank you.... But my family's voices were far fairer than this one's." She chuckles and just looks at her handiwork. It was better, yes but it still not all that good. At least in her eyes it wasn't. She blinks when she takes a look at his drawing of her and couldn't help but to blush, quite a bit.

"I... I don't really look like that to others? Do I?"

[scaredofdogs]

"Ahh..I think you look very pretty! And I hope the picture shows that." He looks back at the photo, hoping that she also liked it. He's fairly confident in his drawing abilities but sometimes he wonders if others might not appreciate it.

"This is my gift to you to welcome you to the hotel."

[song_princess]

The blush remains on her face. "Thank you... I love it." And here, she moves towards him in order to give him a kiss on the cheek. Since they are friends, she can troll him just a little bit.

"I love my gift, Darling." She coos with a sweet smile.

[scaredofdogs]

He blinks a few times in surprise, "A-ah..I'm glad." Darling?! That's an odd name for a friend. As for the kiss..well..maybe that is how they greet friends on her world. He can't really question the things other people do.

"Is darling a usual term for someone?"

[song_princess]

She felt a little bad for his reaction but it was a little funny. She can't wait to see how this will end.

"Yes, it is. What else should I call you after you proposed to me so wonderfully to be your mate?"

[scaredofdogs]

With that he nearly falls off the chair, "I..I..WHAT?!" He thinks back to the last few minutes and wonders just how exactly he managed to do that. Was drawing someone a proposal? If that is the case then he has proposed to Lan Wangji at least a dozen times by now!

"I'm sorry..but..when did I propose exactly?"

[song_princess]

His reaction was rich. She should stop but she can't help it, she had to keep going.

"When you joined my song. Twice even, darling. So romantic if you think about it." She added that line for the cheese factor but also to continue to egg on his current reaction.

[scaredofdogs]

[He jumps up from the chair and takes a couple steps away, leaving the picture behind. His mind whirling with with the fact that apparently he now has two fiances without meaning to.]

I'm really sorry...I didn't know that was a proposal! Ahh..I'm already engaged! This is a problem...

[song_princess]

Oh goddess! He really didn't pick up on her tone. This was too rich and she was tempted to keep it going but she should end it.

"Oh dear... This is a problem. This wouldn't do at all. How mean of you."

Okay, just one more trolling push for the sheer entertainment value of this whole thing.

[scaredofdogs]

He doesn't know what to do and he is certainly panicking. Lan Wangji is going to kill him if he finds out. "Ahh...I'm sorry. I'm very sorry."

Flirting will be the death of him yet..he needs to learn to turn it off. Normally he could probably take something like this in stride and perhaps even falling into a teasing way with it but the fact that he already has an engagement to an extremely jealous and possessive individual makes this a bit harder to handle.

"I am sure I wouldn't be a very good husband for you."