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

[aries_saint]

Mu watches as she fetched the green shiny thing that is embedded in gnarly wood. He beamed with a smile. "You got it?" And waits for her to fly back down. He looks at what she is holding and he takes it, to examine it closely.

It turns out to be a piece of heavy green paper hidden away. "There's a message written on it with numbers. It said, call a friend. Hmm..." He shows it to her, but it turns out to be a picture of a cute caterpillar on it.

[song_princess]

She beams back down at him. "I did get it!" She calls down and lands, letting him take the trinket from her to examine it.

Which was a good thing since there was something written inside it. "I wonder who this friend is." But then she sees the cute caterpillar and giggles. "Cute...."

[aries_saint]

After reading the paper and thinking it through, an idea popped in his head. "It looks like a phone number. Let me try this out..." Looking at the paper, he pulled out his empathy device and starts pushing the buttons to dial the number to call it.

"..." To his surprise, there's an answer. "Hello...?" For a few minutes, he concentrates on listening on the other line. Then it disconnects, and he has a perplexed expression. "Huh, that was strange."

[song_princess]

Leanne blinks as he moves to make the phone call, taking a step back to give him space to do so. She goes to keep herself as quiet as possible as he focuses on listening.

She tilts her head once he seemed like he was done. "What is it? What was said?"

[aries_saint]

"It's an answering machine, so nobody picks it up and answer. It said, How doth the little crocodile improve his shining tail?"

Mu collected his thoughts. "I think it's a riddle, but that's very strange indeed. I wonder who am I calling? Is it a friend or ally?"

[song_princess]

She blinks and tilts her head. "Answering mach-Shine?" Though when the riddle comes, she couldn't help but to perk her wings a little.

"That is a strange riddle indeed... They claim to be a friend but so does the queen. We will need to see them for ourselves in order to better determine if they are friend or foe."

[aries_saint]

"Basically it stores voice messages." He explains. "Somebody will speak into it, and it saves the message."

Putting his device away. At her remark, "It could be a clue to something? But you are right. I wish I know more. But no one gets close to the queen and she left cryptic messages."

[song_princess]

"I see.... What a peculiar device."

Her ears goes to start wiggling as he speaks more and more about the riddle. "I wonder if there is a crocodile somewhere in the hotel, there could be a clue about it near it. What if her messages were riddles in of themselves that were providing the answer to our questions."

[aries_saint]

"Crocodile...now that you mention it, I haven't seen any animals since arrived here. Except for the pictures of them in the books, and they are Wonderland creatures."

At the moment, "I don't know. We'll just have to wait and see."

Then with a smile, "Oh that's right. We're here for the flamingos. Do you want to get on one and go for a ride?"

[song_princess]

"That is odd indeed.... Unless you count me as I know that your race sees us as animals."

She lets out a long sigh and goes to fidget a little with a lock of her hair. "I guess we will wait and see."

She blinks when he smiles again and mentions the flamingos. "I guess that we can get on one. Not sure how to ride one myself."

[aries_saint]

"I don't see you as an animal. If you are, what kind of animal are you anyway?"

In the meanwhile, nearby The Pool of Tears there are dozens of small vehicles in the shape of pink flamingos that are parked along the grounds by the pool. Closeby, there are guest instructions standing by the vehicles to offer teaching lessons on how to operate on the flamingos.

Mu hopped on a flamingo and the vehicle begin to hum and vibrate, ready to fly. "Leanne, pick one and climb on."

[song_princess]

"A Heron. I am a Heron."

When they arrived, she perks her wings up in a brief moment of curiosity before relaxing again. Leanne goes to follow Mu closely, choosing to walk behind him as they listen to the instructions.

Emerald eyes goes to watch him climb on a flamingo before following suit. "It.. feels a little wrong to be sitting on something like this..." She isn't sure how to explain it though.

[aries_saint]

"A heron? Heron." He thought about it, trying to remember. He doesn't know what a heron looks like. "I regret to never see a heron back home. Back home, I had seen swans and cranes." By regret, he died young before experience what he should.

The instructors all too cheerfully give instructions. From riding the vehicles properly, to turning on the machine to start the motor.

Perhaps because a bird is sitting on a bird. He's amused, and he actually chuckles. "What's wrong Leanne? Is something the matter?"

[song_princess]

She frowns remembering that he was dead back on his world. "Perhaps should I regain my powers, I can show you my Heron form."

But for now, it's time to listen to instructions and she jumps at the start of the motor. She almost missed his chuckle... Almost.

"I am sure that you know what is the matter." She pouts and goes to stick her tongue out at him.

[aries_saint]

"I think someday we will. If you can turn into a heron, you could show me."

Shaking his head, he doesn't quite understand what she meant. "I do not know. Unless...you're a bird sitting on a fake bird. Is that why it's strange for you?"

[song_princess]

Her wings briefly drooped at the word 'if' but it was true... They don't know if she would regain her powers. "Yes... If I ever regain that ability."

This... This ad to be the worst. She was no different now than if she mated with a human and gave birth to a Branded. She idly brings a hand near her face to take a few sniffs at it... She still at least have her scent. There... is some comfort in that.

Her pouts never left and she was tempted to glare but settled on just pouting. "I am a bird.... Bully." She really couldn't explain it why it just didn't feel right.

"It's nothing, Mu." She finally just goes to coo and smiles at him.

[aries_saint]

What a strange bird woman. He pretend he isn't amused by her.

"My apologies." He stated, and then turning the key on the vehicle, the engine hums to life and the mechanical bird begin to more or less take off through air and fly, though he drives slowly flying around the area.

[song_princess]

If only she had her powers, she could sense his amusement. For now, she will pout.

But then he apologizes and she goes to tilt her head at him. "For what?" What? She watches him fly around slowly and goes to start hers up... Only for the small vibrations to cause her to quickly fly off and hover in the air.

Emerald eyes goes to follow him as he drives and flies around on his strange bird?... This area, even though it is large enough to fly using those things but with real wings.... She should give it another try. But would it be the same as using her own wings?

[aries_saint]

Because he listened to the instructors closely, he learns quickly, and it turns out, he's a decent pilot as he flies the vehicle around and steers it precisely.

When he sees her flew in fright, he actually chuckles, "Leanne, you're missing out the fun. But it turns out your wings are much better for flying." He shouts over the motor of the vehicle, so she can hear him.

[song_princess]

They were loud and feel weird to sit on.... And also weird in general to sit.

She blinks when she hears him shouting and she remains in spot in the air. "Too bad there really isn't enough space for me to fly with you like this."

[aries_saint]

Mu flew the vehicle around her in circles around and around.

"I know, but if we do, we have the freedom of riding through the skies I think."

Eventually, the vehicle will run out of fuel, so he gently lands the vehicle back to the pool and hopped off.

[song_princess]

She giggles as little as he flew the vehicle around her like that and decided to tease him a little.

"If I didn't know any better, I swear you are showing off in order to woo me to be your mate." It was a tease as she knew that no male in their right mind would want her.

She goes to enjoy the rest of the time, flying with him.... Well him flying around more while she hovers in the air. When he moves to land the vehicle, she goes to fly down and land next to him, idly dusting off her dress.

"That was fun."

[aries_saint]

When he hopped off, he waited for her to join him.

"Do you think I'm showing off to impress you? My apologies, that wasn't my intention." In his mind, he doesn't want her to get the wrong idea that was his intention when it's isn't.

"I was having fun flying around. I was thinking it maybe the same for you too, flying around with wings. You can go anywhere."

But they're a part of the hotel, so there's no way out in the meanwhile.

[song_princess]

She frowns a little and shakes her head slowly.

"I was just teasing you, Mu. I knew that you wouldn't do that. Especially for one as myself."

A small sigh. "Yes, you were... Even without my abilities I could see that you were having fun." She goes to idly smile and nods. "Yes, it would be.... But there is something in this place that prevents me from truly flying."

[aries_saint]

"Ah, I think I get it. Back home, people hardly tease me because I'm their teacher."

He smiles just for her sake. "They had taken people powers away, this I know and turned it into teas. So maybe your ability to fly, they had taken that too. I lost my powers when I woke up here."