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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Comments

[scaredofdogs]

Since he can't cover his mouth with his hand, he hides his laugh by placing his lower face against Lan Wangji's chest. It muffles the soft sound into his robes. He can't help but be amused by the expression that crosses his face in regards to the instructors approaching.

He has managed to turn Lan Wangji into the troublesome student and that pleases him as well.

[billowing]

He'll back away as the song starts, but he doesn't prefer to dance like this. He likes it much better to hold Wei Ying close. So he modifies his steps so he can do just that, much to the ire of their instructor.

[scaredofdogs]

"We are making them mad, Lan Zhan." As if he cares. How many instructors has he irritated in his lifetime? He can just add them to the list. He moves his arms so that he can drape them around Lan Wangji's neck, making it easier to move with him.

As long as the instructors don't try to pull them apart or give them different partners, then he can just ignore them.

[billowing]

Lan Wangji, of course, studies the movements and so he does them quite well considering that he isn't much of a dancer. Anyway, they are learning for their respective weddings, so naturally they will want to dance the way they want to dance.

"They are not getting married."

[scaredofdogs]

He laughs as he follows along, "We will get to dance together on that day as well, right?" He wasn't sure how everything was going to work but he assumed that he could dance with anyone he wanted.

[billowing]

"I will ask my husband," he responds, because he really should ask for permission, but he really also needs to have that talk with Wei Ying, still. It isn't fair to either of them, but yet.... He's still frightened of the what-if. What if Wei Ying doesn't want this arrangement. What if Wei Ying thinks Lan Wangji has been unfaithful because his heart contains two spots. What if, what if.

[scaredofdogs]

He pouts a little as he realizes that the answer could be no. He certainly would hope that the other him would be reasonable, but even if they are the same..they are also just enough different that he can't be sure.

"Then I guess we better do all the dancing we can now, just in case!" His expression is positive and upbeat even if beneath the surface there is unrest.

His own Lan Wangji promises that nothing will change even when they are married and that Wei Wuxian can still do whatever he wants and spend as much time with this one as he desires. It made him happy to to know that, but he also knows that just as easily the other him could say the opposite and then it won't matter. His time with this Lan Wangji could be limited, or soon be cut off completely, and that thought makes his heart ache a little.

[billowing]

He supposes he could dance with Wei Ying a few more times, even if it would ultimately make the break hurt worse. But he wouldn't say no to Wei Ying, whom he loves so dearly, whom he wishes to spoil more than anything else.

"Mm. We have to work on your footwork," he comments, pulling him tightly into another freestyle dance against their instructor's wishes.

[scaredofdogs]

"Let's keep dancing until I get it right." Of course he could purposely screw up the moves just so he has an excuse to keep dancing. But he knows eventually he will get tired or the instructors get frustrated enough that the kick them out so they can have the space for people who actually will pay attention.

[billowing]

"I have all day set aside for this," he says, sweeping Wei Ying past the other dancers quite effortlessly. "Is it getting easier to follow?"

[scaredofdogs]

"All day set aside just to learn to dance, or to learn to dance with me?" He is content either way since he is Lan wangji's partner and he will gladly spend all day in his arms.

"It is. I'm not stepping on your toes so clearly I'm doing something right."

[billowing]

"Mm, all day to do as I please, and I would like to continue dancing with Wei Ying." He holds onto these precious moments lest they slip away, even if there are a pair of eyes glaring at his back but not daring to say anything because it turns out that Lan Wangji is rather good at the waltz.

[scaredofdogs]

"Then let's dance the day away and show them just how good we are at dancing anything they throw at us." Wei Wuxian might like to mess around, but he's also smart and learns quickly so he knows that he'll be able to pick things up quickly with Lan Wangji as his instructor. He's already moving far more effortlessly and less stiffly then he was when they started.

[billowing]

Lan Wangji is making up moves but fitting them to the beat, and the instructors can't even be mad about it because he's technically waltzing and he's also looking very elegant doing so.

"You know, you might have to teach the other me these moves."

[scaredofdogs]

"Ahh..the student will become the teacher." He laughs and considers that. He'll have to bring the man here while the instructors are still around just in case he forgets how to do something. But certainly teaching the other one won't be that hard.

"Which means I've learned another new skill!" He's learning all kinds of things in this place. He's a better student here then he ever was when he was actually taking lessons.

[billowing]

It gladdens Lan Wangji's heart to know Wei Wuxian is learning so much, and gladly. He was a terrible student. Even when Lan Wangji had been the one teaching, all those years ago. But now, things were different. Because they have an easiness, it all flows naturally.

"You still must practice calligraphy with me."

[scaredofdogs]

That makes him stumble. Of course the man wouldn't forget about that discussion in the woods.

"Ahh..right right.." He would probably be rubbing the side of his nose if his hands weren't already occupied.

"There is plenty of time for that."

[billowing]

"Oh? I think we should get started right away," he says, leading him into another dance, this time the instructors try teaching them a foxtrot.

It's very different.

[scaredofdogs]

This is a very strange dance and he looks down to stare at the feet again as he watches the movement.

"Do you really think my writing is so bad that it will take a long time to fix?"

[billowing]

"No, but Wei Ying does not care to fix it. An enthusiastic student is always better," he respond.

[scaredofdogs]

"I can't exactly get enthusiastic about writing practice. It feels too much like writing the rules out a hundred times." It's no wonder his writing is bad. His hand was disfigured after that punishment.

[billowing]

"Not even to write me poetry?" he inquires, thinking it might incentivize Wei Ying just a little bit.

[scaredofdogs]

"Poetry?" He lifts his head up and tilts it a little as he considers that. "But I don't really know many poems." But at least he does look slightly more interested.

[billowing]

"I can recite them to you," he offers. "And you can write them."

That might be a way to get him to learn.

[scaredofdogs]

"Hm..okay, I think I would be willing to do that." It's more interesting then copying the rules at least. As long as he can stay interested in the task then learning won't seem so bad. And maybe eventually he can actually remember or come up with a poem on his own.