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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© tessisamess

Comments

[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.

[billowing]

Lan Wangji would like to see him try to write a poem; he wonders what it would be about. Emperor's Smile seems likely.

Until then, they have to go back to dancing the Foxtrot, a dance that Lan Wangji does not seem to like as much as the waltz.

[scaredofdogs]

This dance is definitely more jerky then the smooth waltz. Wei Wuxian likes it being a little more upbeat feeling but doesn't like that it feels a little more awkward as well.

"Do you really think everyone will dance like this at the wedding?"

[billowing]

"I hope not," he answers, hoping there's a way they can just ask them not to play any foxtrot songs at the wedding so they won't have to do this. But if it were up to him, he'd clone himself so he could play music at his wedding.

[scaredofdogs]

He laughs and decides to break out of the typical steps, letting himself go more freestyle and seeing if Lan Wangji will follow along. He still comes up with a way to follow the beat and energy of the movement, but with a more fluid cadence once again earning the scorn of the instructors. These two are clearly hopeless..

"Let's make up our own then."

[billowing]

He does follow Wei Ying's lead, seeing what he does first, trying to keep up with him. It's easy to do, because of course, he's used to Wei Ying's moves, used to the way he thinks.

It's just nice, being free with him like this, the dancing feeling like flying through the air again.

[scaredofdogs]

He definitely enjoys this a lot more then that crazy foxtrot. "I could dance like this all day." Nothing wrong with the other dances, but not having to worry about particular steps or movements makes him a lot more relaxed. He is sure with enough practice and committing the steps to memory the other dances will be just as relaxing, but just doing his own thing trumps it all.

[billowing]

"We'll make sure there are dances like this at the wedding," he resolves, because in the end, it's Wei Ying getting married. So he should get to dance how he wants to.

[scaredofdogs]

"What else do you want to do at the wedding?" Both Lan Wangji always seem to ask him what he wants to do but never really talk about what they want. It's their day too.

[billowing]

"I wish to tell everyone in the hotel that Wei Ying is my husband." And he wishes to stand up there and take his bows, and kiss away his tears, and make a wish and let a lantern go into the sky.

[scaredofdogs]

"A-ah.." The other one of course. He knows that on that day, the chances he will even get to speak to this Lan Wangji might be more limited then he would like but that he will have no right to really wish to spend any time with him. He wonders if his own feels the same about telling the whole hotel.

"I think everyone will know since..it's a wedding." He smiles but even despite the happiness of knowing such an event is going to occur, there are also so many other emotions mingled into it. Even stress of planning it.

[billowing]

"Mn," he agrees. "But. It is the principle of the matter." He wishes to shout it from the rooftops as much as Lan Wangji could shout anything from anywhere. He wants the whole world to know how in love he is, and how no one could touch a hair on Wei Ying's head without answering to Hanguang-Jun.

"My wishes are simple."

[scaredofdogs]

If the wishes are simple then why do they seem to want to plan such an extravagant wedding? It seems that is how they are going to shout everything. "I hope you get your wish, Lan Zhan."

If that is all he desires then Wei Wuxian would like to make sure he gets it no matter what. Even if it means stepping back and letting the others have their day without him. A small part of him still wonders if both weddings were to occur at the same time, one might distract from the other. They are out numbered from their world by a lot and despite the acceptance he feels, there is still that fear that when it comes down to it...they are simply the outsiders of this family. That they might look like they are latching on to something they have no right to being a part of.

His steps falter a little as those thoughts run through his head. He's never been particularly good at hiding his feelings but he smiles despite it, not wanting to cause the other an unnecessary worry.

"Actually I don't need to hope...I'm sure you'll get everything you want."

[billowing]

"Mm, because I will make it so." He gives Wei Ying a soft look, and fights the urge to take his hand. They'd made agreements, after all. And despite them being outnumbered on this world, Xichen considered both of them family, of course. And in Lan Wangji's heart, he had enough room for anyone so long as he was Wei Ying.

So he doesn't think these things, but rather that they will have a lovely double wedding, full of auspiciousness.

[scaredofdogs]

As the music ends, Wei Wuxian stops and leans up to kiss Lan Wangji lightly on the cheek. Even if he behaves himself for the most part, he can't help but indulge just a little bit. It's hard for him to simply stop showing his affection to this one when he isn't usually afraid to do whatever he wants. Eventually perhaps they will be lucky enough not to have to have such an agreement so he doesn't have to always hold back so much.

"Thank you for the dances, Lan Zhan." He lowers himself back down, and smiles with an equally as soft expression.

[billowing]

Wei Ying is cute, and Lan Wangji hates himself a little bit for being so weak to his cheek kisses, to these furtive little gestures, to holding him so close.

"Mm," he says, and then, slightly more sternly: "You should teach them to your Wangji."

[scaredofdogs]

"I will, I will. It's a promise." It's not like it would do him any good to be the only one who knows all the dances. Even if he did modify a couple of them slightly. As long as he teaches him the modified ones and not the originals then he doesn't have to worry about doing that normal odd foxtrot.

It's like being punished for misbehaving. To show his affection for this one and then immediately be reminded of the other. His own Lan Wangji is always on his mind. He doesn't forget him when he is with this one.

"I'll be a very good teacher."

[billowing]

"And he, an enthusiastic student." He watches as the other couples bump into each other and laugh trying to learn the foxtrot. He really doesn't understand it.

"Wei Ying," he asks, out of the blue. "Which animal is your favorite?"

[scaredofdogs]

His eyebrows shoot up in surprise at the random question. He asked the same thing of Lan Wangji once before but that was a long time ago. He wonders what is prompting it now. He tilts his head slightly as he considers the question.

"I haven't ever really considered what my favorite animal might be..but I think if I had to pick something I would say a fox." Bunnies and donkeys are fun and he has grown attached to them but he certainly wouldn't consider them his favorite animal.

"Why do you ask?"