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]

"They might be really excited about something like that, especially if they can all enjoy it too." He doesn't mind most of the staff. They are usually fairly friendly to him but they aren't always the most forthcoming with information. But this is something they could use to relax a little as well.

"Everyone should be able to join the party."

[billowing]

"Everyone should celebrate with us," he agrees, even if he doesn't like the staff, because they wouldn't be able to marry without them. He'll hold his ire for the occasion.

[scaredofdogs]

As long as Mad March doesn't come and crash the party he will be content. "When we have a better idea of when we want to do this, then I can ask the staff about what they can provide for us." Since he knows he probably has the best repertoire with the rest of the staff out of the lot of them.

"Everyone can tell me any requests they want to have and I will take it to them."

[billowing]

"Yes, the date will be important. We will have to figure it out first." It's a lot of stress to pick a date, because of course, it's one of the most important things.

[scaredofdogs]

"I'm not worried. I know we will find the best one even if it takes awhile. I can wait as long as necessary." He already has Lan Wangji's heart and being married will just be a bonus.

[billowing]

"It will be the best because we will be married on it," he answers. But he hopes for the longest, most fortuitous marriage.

[scaredofdogs]

"It's true." But that is a decision for another day. He spins the man in a circle and then tosses his arms around his neck. "No more wedding talk! No need to stress out anymore about it today."

[billowing]

"Mn," he concedes, even though he's not stressing. Wei Ying may be stressing, and that's a good enough reason to talk about something else. Or just dance, which he does, following Wei Ying's lead, practically floating.

[scaredofdogs]

He wants to be able to help plan but the more he hears about it, the more details come up that need to be figured out and it is all a little overwhelming.

So instead he focuses on the dancing, twirling and moving with the music and just enjoying the freedom of the motions they create. Nothing systematic or set in stone as far as movements. Simply a fluid whirl of bodies, carefree and fun.

[billowing]

It is a lot of fun to just make beautiful shapes with Wei Ying like this, until the instructors start up a new sort of dance and they're once again forced to see what this one's all about.

[scaredofdogs]

He pouts a little as the next dance gets chosen and he has to behave himself again. He settles into Lan Wangji's arms once more so that they can practice what the instructors tell them.

"Hopefully this is better then the last one."

[billowing]

The music that starts up is a tango, and the instructors seem to be uh - doing a demonstration that is very.

That.

That Lan Wangji is not sure he wants to perform at his wedding.

[scaredofdogs]

His eyebrows shoot up as he watches the dance. "This one is..exciting." They definitely do not need to dance all of these at the wedding. At least this one looks more fun then the Fox Trot.

[billowing]

"--Are they not just a little close?" he whispers the way that Cultivators whisper behind each other's backs at a banquet not thinking that they'll be heard for some reason.

[scaredofdogs]

"This is the kind of dance to be done in private." Not..in front of wedding guests. He looks up at Lan Wangji wondering if he thinks they should be practicing it anyway.

[billowing]

He looks at Wei Ying and then sees if maybe they can do this standing a little further apart.

But then the instructors come over and ask them if they aren't getting married?

[scaredofdogs]

Figuring the dance would probably be more awkward and harder to do further apart he side steps around that question and turns to Lan Wangji to take his hands in the position they have demonstrated.

"It's okay, Lan Zhan. It's just a dance."

[billowing]

He moves with Wei Ying, and there's something slow and strange about this beat. But he get used to it, guiding Wei Ying through more moves, eyes locked with his.

[scaredofdogs]

He feels his ears heat up slightly as his eyes are captured by that intense gaze. This dance surprisingly easy to follow despite what seems like complicated moves. Perhaps only simple because they are able to meld together so easily. He feels his heart seem to pound in time with the beat.

[billowing]

He feels like he can hear it, pulsing in time with his own, as he moves with him, the two like currents of water against the other.

He welcomes the feeling, warming him, stoking a passion in him.

[scaredofdogs]

The instructors finally seem a little impressed as they move about the room. Wei Wuxian easily following the lead of the other man, a flurry of robes and beauty of movement that comes with a perfect pairing. Lost in themselves and the music and unaware of anyone else in the room.

[billowing]

When they get to the more complicated footwork, Wangji is already thinking in his head not how he'll make the move, but how he'll get Wei Ying to follow smoothly by his action alone.

He kind of likes the mechanics of this dance, and picks it up quite quickly.

[scaredofdogs]

Wei Wuxian's focus is completely on Lan Wangji and so when the change occurs, he is perfectly lead into them. Perhaps a little bit of a break in fluidity to a trained eye, but quickly covered up and the dance continued on. Wei Wuxian is a quick study when he wants to be and right now he has no desire to mess things up or joke around.

[billowing]

It feels like swordfighting with him again, to be moving with him like this, Wei Ying anticipating his move, Lan Wangji trying to be one step ahead of him.

It is, of course, one of the reasons he'd fallen in love with him in the first place, and so, he keeps trying to push with his footwork, his guiding arms, to see: now it's a game.

[scaredofdogs]

Wi Wuxian is smirking slightly, an expression that clearly says he isn't afraid of any move that Lan Wangji decides to throw into the dance. The dance is intense, almost intoxicating as it makes the heart pump with adrenaline like any good battle. The thrill of seeing what Lan Wangji will do and the confidence that grows each time he manages to stay matched with him.