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

I.

[inquiryguqin]

Lan Wangji has been here for many months already as a long time resident. The games are getting stale because no matter what, everyone wins. But sometimes, there's an interesting traveler who doesn't know the wiser.

Sitting next to him at the table, he sees the other gentleman wearing a similar fashion like his own. "The Queen of this place just wants you to have fun, so you don't have to feel unlucky."

At his question, "There is. Do you want to take a look around for games with dice?"

[lucklessgege]

Xie Lian looks over at the one who has seated himself at the table beside him. White robes much like his own but with a bit more flair. His own a fair simpler style. How interesting it is to encounter another cultivator in this place. Xie Lian wouldn't assume that but there are enough indicators to prove it to be true. Their styles are simply too similar to ignore. He wonders if this is one who has ascended as well since his clothing is of such fine quality.

His smile is welcoming as he gives a small bow in respect. A difficult task given he is seated at the table so it is a bit awkward. "Wouldn't winning all the time have the opposite effect after awhile? I would think it would cause everyone to become bored of participating."

He would like to find a way to play with the dice and determine if they are completely closed off from their homes. He has an acquaintance that certainly wouldn't take kindly to him being flitting away to some unknown location. And if Xie Lian's luck is so good at the moment, perhaps he would be able to roll what he needed to either reveal his location to that associate, or open a distance shortening array to send hi back home.

"I would like to play a dice game so if you are able to assist me in locating one than I would be very appreciative."

[inquiryguqin]

Lan Wangji isn't the only cultivator trapped and kidnapped into this place. There others from his homeworld and parallel version of his homeworld. For now, he will welcome him as a guest and introduce him to their temporary home. If he asks questions, he will be disappointed to learn that Lan Wangji is only humble in origin and hasn't ascended yet, but he does have a high-leveled golden core that took him years to meditate and cultivate.

Speaking in his language, without the need for the empathy device to translate. "It would, but this place is enchanted. This place is called Wonderland and it's a hotel and casino." Though he said in a hollow tone, as this place isn't anything but happy. All the indulgences and sweetness of the games, entertainment, and the staff are what's only on the surface to please the mind and senses. "Everybody wins to feel good. That's the part of the game."

He slowly rose up to show him one of the tables. "By the way, my name is Lan Wangji. Courtesy name Wangji." He said, quietly. Xie Lian's guess that they are completely closed off to home is a good one because they are. The hotel is a prison.

"Over here." He said, waving to one of the tables where they have dice games. "They have dice games, so I hope it's what you're looking for."

Lan Wangji doesn't know how to play craps. The table is green with marks label on the surface and there are chips on the table. The dealer is friendly. It wouldn't matter how many bets or how many dices he throw, because everyone will win anyway.

"You can ask the dealer how to play. The empathy device you have will translate for you."

[lucklessgege]

"This building reminds me of a place back home." Minus all the dead and crazy ghosts. "It's colorful and loud like this and they enjoy their gambling establishments as well." Ghost City is certainly the most vibrate place he has ever been to.

He can sense the different tones in the man's voice as he speaks about this place and wonders if perhaps this isn't all as cheerful as the decor seems to suggest. He will have to be on alert at all times. Without any of his spiritual energy, he is nothing but mortal and human and so he can't afford to make any wrong moves and end up wounded.

But as the man stands, he follows suit, letting him lead the way to the table that is a dice game. He isn't so much interested in the game as he is in throwing the dice. He pulls a couple from his robes and hand them to the dealer.

"If it is alright I would prefer to use these. You are welcome to check them to make sure they are fair." The dealer does and sees nothing wrong with them so he returns them. He doesn't know if using other dice will have the same effect and he wants to make sure he does everything correctly in order to test it.

He doesn't know how to play the game and he doesn't particularly care. All he really wants to do is throw the dice. When he does he is impressed that even his own unlucky tendencies can't seem to break the curse of luck this place has. Two sixes show on the dice.

He picks them back up and tucks them away, looking around the room as if searching for something. When no one arrives he determines that either this is a world Hua Cheng can't get to, or it is just simply closed off to him. It's disappointing but it just means Xie Lian will have to figure this out on his own.

"Thank you for your assistance in locating this. But apparently my luck here really is still no good." Because he is stuck with no way of calling for help.

[inquiryguqin]

Lan Wangji simply listens to him. For the months he has stayed here, he is still trapped. For now, he lets the other man enjoy entertainment, even if everyone wins every time.

He observes them playing. He tried it himself, rather in a boring way, having played everything before, and he wins. His dice came up with lucky numbers and he won again. Predictable. "It seems like you win." Turning to the dice he threw. "I also had won."

He shook his head. "No need. Try to find your room by the end of the day." Seeing he is searching for something. "Did you come alone? Do you want me to look for your people from your homeworld?"

[lucklessgege]

He hold the dice, a fondness in his expression but it is fleeting and gone by the time he looks up at the other man. "The reason I needed a dice game is because I have an associate who is able to travel and locate me based on the dice. And in the same way, depending on my roll I could travel through a door to get to him."

But it seems they will not work here and that is quite disappointing. He will just have to find the actual door that will take him back.

"I don't really need to trouble you further. As far as I know I have arrived alone. If I hadn't, they would have already sought me out." That includes not just Hua Cheng but also FengXin or Mu Qing. They wouldn't just let him wander off and put himself in danger. The fact that he had been kidnapped under their noses is a very strange power and one he will have to investigate.

[inquiryguqin]

"Any power you use will not work here. The Queen took it all away. Most of us tried, but we're locked in." He said quietly. A painful reminder that this is the situation for all of them for the past few months he has been living here.

Hopefully, he is not trapped here like the rest of them. If he is, without his associates or a loved one, that's where his luck may truly run out.

Taking his mind off the situation that he is kidnapped for the time being, "You're not troubling me. In the meanwhile, you should go have a look around. The hotel has a gym, a pool, a bar." Just to name a few to keep themselves distracted, as there is some amenities to provide a minor comfort.

[lucklessgege]

"Taken away or simply suppressed? I don't really have much power for her to take so I hardly seem like a good candidate if she chooses to steal them."

Xie Lian's spiritual powers have been quite limited and as far as martial gods go, he is certainly lacking in over all power while still maintaining strength, skill and intelligence. He has had to rely on basically being a human for so long that his skills without such abilities has become finely tuned. He was a crown prince before he was ever a god after all. So this queen certainly hasn't taken anything from him that is particularly useful.

"I will have to do quite a bit of exploring if this is to be my new home for awhile."

And since he couldn't summon Hua Cheng or open a portal door...that does seem to be the case.

[inquiryguqin]

Lan Wangji is going to stroll with him a bit, orienting him on the details of the hotel. "Taken away, I think. And she does this to everyone who arrives here, so it's not just you." He said grimly.

"There isn't much to explore. They lock us in, and they prevent us from going outside. Even the garden is closed." He sighed. "I wouldn't call him this home. We'll stay until the Queen decides to release us."

This can be troublesome to him because he won't leave not without his partner. So this new guest odds in going home is good.